They're not-t-t here. Th-they're not here.
Jeremy finds himself watching Mike uncomprehendingly as the man stares up at Freddy, the animatronic standing barely two feet away in the cramped office. A distance that before was much too short for him to not panic at, but now he's come to associate with safety after the reaction to being told what kind of monster tracked him here. He feels relieved when it was immediately understood what kept him sprinting for who knows how long.
How did it f-f-fin-nd me!
Jeremy forces himself to take deep breaths, watching Mike's blue eyes that have been full of nothing but kindness to keep him steady. Someone who didn't shove him away when he sounded insane, or make fun of how the animatronics made him want to run and never come back. The man has been a bit crude, and the nicknames are interesting, but there's been nothing but friendship offered toward him.
Well, there was friendship.
If he's learned nothing else, it's how to read the room. And the restaurant owner doesn't seem as fond of Jeremy as before.
What did you do this time?
"Mi-"
"How. The fuck. Do you know his last name," Mike demands, refusing to look at him tucked away in the corner. Looking more like the man who wanted to break a desk in half, and less like the one who handed him a first-aid kit.
What did he do?
Jeremy takes one last deep breath as he forces himself to stand up. He needs to remember Freddy doesn't want it inside, either. He's just as worried about what it's capable of. He's safe...for now.
"The system will give me the full names of people they recognize-"
"-which are all wanted criminals or assholes breaking parole," Mike growls. "What the hell is he listed in there for, and why didn't you tell me!"
"It also recognizes former employees."
It takes the shortest in the room another minute before he finally pieces together why being addressed as 'Mr. Fitzgerald' had done more than make him jump because he'd rather not be affiliated with the title.
He can't remember all the details about the animatronics linked to the Fazbear franchise from the stories he was told, but something about a facial recognition immediately comes to mind with the description being given over a 'system'. So that means, if he only gave his first name, and then something with the technology to pull up the rest of his record, someone who knows where that comes from would've become suspicious by the sounds of it mostly dealing with safety via law enforcement.
A.K.A. the owner of a Fazbear restaurant. A.K.A. Mike.
Before he can properly yell about definitely not being a criminal except for maybe from a few hours ago in which he had good reason, his brain then allows the most important piece to click into place. The whole part about him potentially being a former employee.
Should I give them credit even though they're wrong?
Mike finally looks over at him and Jeremy doesn't hide the full body flinch at how angry the taller is. "Are you a spy for Henry?"
"Who- NO! Look, I-I need to explain a few things, but I promise I'm not a spy!"
A glance at Freddy and the bear only looks at him with curiosity, but no tips to help him read Mike's reaction. That being absolutely nothing but the still terrifying glare.
"Mr. Perfect doesn't seem like he pays well, anyway."
There's not even a hint of a smile. "Spill it, Not A Criminal."
It's a 50/50 chance he's getting tossed out with no mercy.
"I-I've never been an employee," Jeremy states. More like pleads, please don't throw him out. "My...dad was, though. I'm Jeremy Fitzgerald Jr. I've seen his high school photos and we actually look identical, so I'm not surprised I managed to pop up."
"When the hell was this?"
"You, uh, remember the restaurant that was open back in, like, '87?"
Mike suddenly whirls on Freddy at the information. And this time when the shorter flinches because he thought for sure something was going to happen, he feels a gentle kick of friendship at his shoe.
He's been forgiven. Holy hay he's been forgiven.
"Fazfuck," the man begins, voice dripping with amusement. "You're telling me this twelve year old made you think he's the same bastard we hired a decade ago."
Honestly it's a little fun- "Hey!"
"I did not," Freddy rumbles. "I am well aware that humans can look similar, if not copies of each other when they're related."
"I think he forgot humans can age."
"I think you're right, Jer."
The bear doesn't raise to the bait. If anything, he sounds almost desperate as his voice lowers as low as his ears. "Now that you're fully informed that your companion isn't an escaped criminal, I need us back on track, Michael."
Jeremy feels his heart skip a beat at the reminder of how close he is to something worse than death held behind nothing but a steel door. A statement of it being protected by magic charms won't calm him, either, because he swears they also possess magic after managing to track him down this far. Actually, it's a miracle the young man is even standing. Not with how many miles he ran on legs that aren't built for something like that.
Truthfully he should've crashed to the ground forever ago. From not eating in 24 hours. Not sleeping in 48. Running his body ragged and even now only managing to stay standing from pure adrenaline.
Mike folds his arms and nods. "What's chasing him?"
"We were Mr. Emily's first animatronics, but we're not the only ones." Freddy glances toward Jeremy's trembling figure and doesn't hesitate to offer a paw to immediately be taken. "I won't get into unnecessary details. But Jeremy's father worked where our successors called the toys entertained."
"And these toys...are hunting him. Like you did."
Jeremy admits he quickly files the question he's been wanting to ask as answered, but his attention is locked on the paw suddenly start to shake as Mike's stared at with so much intensity an eyebrow is raised.
He is never betting against the man if the opportunity ever comes up.
"Not like us. Michael, we were rational with our killing," and that's another question answered. "I made sure everyone that walked through that door at midnight deserved it. The toys don't care."
"ToyFreddy's been really stubborn lately, always trying to drain my flashlight."
"You didn't know a few dumbasses like me made it in the line up."
"Did you know I secretly adore BalloonBoy's laugh even when he tries to steal my batteries? Everyone says it's annoying, but it's so infectious!"
"They don't care who works the night shift. If you told them the teenager behind the cameras wasn't out of high school yet, that poor child wouldn't be spared."
"You know, I've noticed that ToyFoxy doesn't really appear anymore."
"I want to talk to them-"
"NO!" Jeremy screams, louder than Freddy. Louder than the painful memory threatening to surface with the others. So loud he manages to make Mike stare at him with concern.
"Jer-"
"W-W-We are not talking ab-bout this. You should listen to F-Fredri- Freddy," the shorter breathes. Begs the man to not let himself get killed. All because he led those things here.
He sees the start of an argument, but Jeremy feels himself start to fall forward, wincing with the knowledge he'll slam into the hard ground.
Well, he would've, if the arms he grabbed to emphasize the importance of staying away from them hadn't immediately caught him with a soft "I've gotchya, Jer."
Jeremy attempts to find feeling in his legs and stand up, only to flop completely on the taller as his muscles decide he's already pushed himself over the limit.
"S-Sorry."
"Don't worry, Parts And Nervous," Mike smirks. The man grunts with effort to keep them both standing at the sudden weight but he doesn't ask Freddy for support as he drapes an arm over his shoulder. "I said you looked like hell, and two band-aid's aren't doing shit. Besides, I've got a cot in the back room. You don't mind sharing with your boyfriend, right?"
He shakes his head weakly because Mike doesn't look any better than he does. Something that's quickly proven as the first step taken nearly ends with both of them face-planting on hard tile.
"Fuck!"
"I've got you, Michael."
He doesn't know how they got to the room, how much time it took to get them situated so the shared blanket covers both of them, but the next thing Jeremy knows is he's back to back with Mike and grey eyes unable to stay open as Freddy ruffles a few chunks of dirt out of his curls.
"Pr'mise."
"What, Jer?"
"You don't, toys..."
Jeremy pauses as he feels the man tense up. They might've only just met, but he knows any attempt to tell him not to do something will end up with being done secretly behind their back. He'll be the one that gets his friend at best, murdered, and at worse...
He'll regret not finding a better compromise when he wakes up. "Alone."
"...I promise."
