Freddy gleefully rummaged through the junk that filled the garage. His hand-made suit slowly coming into shape. He had found suitable arms and had gotten rid of the picture frame - it just had to go! - replacing it with more sturdy parts.
It was still early into the night. Mike's friends had just left a little while ago and Mike had vanished wherever he always vanished at night.
Not that Freddy minded, he wanted this to be a surprise. He hoped that Mike wouldn't try to fight it. Sure it hadn't worked with all the other night guards before him, but Freddy was sure, that this time it would be different! He could make Mike genuinely like him and the others.
Plus he was making this from scratch - that had to count for something, right?
Freddy's exploration through the garage led him to some very interesting discoveries. From colorful balls with hook and bright papers, to a very old, and very rusted bycicle. Photos, Books, garbage, they all were sitting there in that room, untouched for who knows how long.
It actually reminded Freddy of the Pizzeria. Of how a lot of the back rooms were. They were abandoned in a sense. And sometimes Freddy thought it was only him and the others who truly knew about all the secrets that hid under that roof.
Ah, it didn't matter.
A busy mind, and busy hands led to a rather quick night. Before Freddy knew it he was done. The thing spread out in a star-shaped pattern, looking contorted and unnatural, even to Freddy. All that he needed now was something to encase it with.
His grin widened as he remembered the tiger rug that laid out in the living room. Yes… Orange was rather bright, and it was a rather hard color to pull off, but it might work for Mike.
Freddy shook his head at his own antics. Anything would work for Mike. And none of the others would question him for an instant.
Not if he had anything to say about it.
A quick trip to out of the garage and he reappeared with the orange pelt slung over his shoulder. Excitement made it difficult for him to take his time and be careful not to rip it, but he forced himself to move slowly. This was going to be perfect.
Mike's awkward slide down the stairs came to a halt at Freddy's feet. Working his way into the wheelchair he grunted.
"How's it going big guy?"
Freddy didn't respond and instantly grabbed the back of his wheelchair. Yawning, Mike forced Freddy to stop in the kitchen. An action that Freddy was obviously not pleased about with his a frustrated growl emanating from his throat.
"Woah Buddy. I'm happy to see you too, but I need a something to drink."
Not checking to see Freddy's reaction, Mike moved over to the counter and with a bit of difficulty - nothing he hadn't been able to master of his short time stuck as he was - sat back with a glass. Again, not checking Freddy's reaction, he then moved over to the glass door that let him look at the backyard and subsequently, the junkyard, letting sunlight warm his face.
He hadn't really arranged to do anything today. Maybe seeing if his friends wanted to come over. He wasn't going to go to school until next week and he fully planned on taking advantage of it.
With another yawn he set the empty glass on the counter and stretched his arms. He finally glanced over at Freddy to see him slouched against the counter. Mike could see that the bear was scowling despite the permanent mask he wore, and shook his head. What got into him this morning?
"How's your neck doing?"
Freddy jumped slightly at Mike's voice. His gaze instantly settling on him. In an instant he was next to him, his smile more genuine and his hands tapping his throat. Obviously showing that it was indeed doing better.
Nodding, Mike ran a hand through his hair trying to wake up. "That's good… I'll have to thank Gabe later."
After a moment Mike noticed that Freddy was practically trembling, bouncing on the balls of his feet so fast that it was causing eddies in the sunlight.
"Is everything okay big guy?" Mike asked.
Freddy nodded yes rapidly, before shaking his head no frantically. Another frustrated growl came out of his throat and he pointed at down at him before back at himself.
Before Mike could inquire any further, the doorbell rang.
Both of them froze for a split-second before Mike was pushing Freddy towards the closet door again. "Crap, crap crap!"
Freddy planted his feet, apparently adamant on not going back in the closet and Mike rolled his eyes. "Fine, but you've got to hide okay? At least until I know who it is."
The door opened and Mike heard Jeremy. "Hello? Mike?"
"Hey Jeremy!" Mike called. He wheeled his chair over. "What are you doing here so early? Don't you have work?"
"That's what I've come to talk to you about!" Jeremy said. He seemed rushed, his eyes alight with excitement. "So I went to the courthouse the other day and asked them some questions about the adoption, and they said that there are a few cases that have been like this. It wouldn't be all that hard to do it, I would just have to-"
"Whoa, slow down," Mike said. His heart was still pounding in his chest, but the fear of Jeremy finding Freddy, was slowly being overcome by excitement.
"I'm say that I know how to do it!" Jeremy said. He walked into the house, ignoring the unwritten rule of taking off your shoes as he walked into the living room. "They would have someone come check out this place and mine to check living conditions. If I got my place more wheelchair friendly it would be a big bonus. They said they would definitely look for that. Then the legal aspect if it isn't all that difficult at all. Especially if our folks cooperate. All I would need is some papers and for our folks to sign over the…"
Jeremy came to a stop in his explanation, looking down confused.
"Mike?"
"What?" Mike answered, suddenly worried that he had seen Freddy.
Jeremy looked really concerned. "Where is the Tiger rug? You know the one that Jeff really likes?"
"What it's right there…" Mike trailed off. His eyes widened exponentially at the bare spot where the rug was. The worried feeling quickly replaced with dread.
"No! It was right there!" Mike all but shouted. His eyes swept the room frantically. He was soo dead when Jeff got home. He prized that thing above everything else. That and the fact that they didn't know that he was in a wheelchair. It would make a very sour combination to try and explain.
"Calm down... Let's think about it logically." Jeremy stated. "When did you last see it?"
"It was there last night!" Mike answered wheel his chair back a bit. There was even a slight color difference in the carpet where it sat.
"Did you lock the door before you headed off to bed?"
"Of course I did - do you think someone stole it?" Mike asked. He prayed feverently, that wasn't the case. Jeff was going to kill him!
"If you lock the door then no…" Jeremy stated. Taking a deep breath to control himself, he looked at Mike. "We've just got to look around the house then. If it wasn't stolen it's still here right?"
"Yeah…" Mike said. Jeremy nodded and began walking towards the kitchen. "Wait Jeremy!"
Mike bit the inside of his cheeks and Jeremy turned around. "What's wrong? The faster we find this, the better."
"It's not that…" Mike began. Honestly, how was he supposed to tell Jeremy about Freddy? He didn't know how Jeremy would react to seeing an animatronic. If he had to guess, he would say he wouldn't take it very well. He had no idea where Freddy was, but was sure that if they started looking for the rug, they would run into him.
"Did you do something with the rug?" Jeremy asked.
"What? No. It's something else."
"Okay?" Jeremy paused, waiting for Mike to answer him.
Feeling as if his insides were going to tie themselves in knots he found his hand subconsciously rubbing his chest. "It's about… the pizzeria." Mike watched Jeremy carefully, gauging his reaction. He wasn't surprised when Jeremy's face when blank. It's what he always did to try to hid his emotions.
"What's there to talk about? It's in the past right?"
Mike winced at that, "Well yeah, but-"
"Then there shouldn't be any need to talk about it."
"Jeremy wait."
Without another word Jeremy turned around to go into the kitchen. Only to come face to face with Freddy.
You could have heard a feather falling in the complete silence that enveloped the room. Mike could feel his heart thudding in his chest, a deep feeling of complete helplessness over the situation surging through him.
Freddy's eyes seemed to be searing holes right through Jeremy as they stared at each other.
Mike knew he had to do something to fix the situation. He wheeled forward. "Freddy don't do anything to him."
He froze though as Jeremy immediately put a hand up for him to stop. Ever so slowly he backed up, making Mike back up behind him. "Mike we're leaving." He said, so softly that Mike would have missed it if it weren't for the overwhelming silence that reigned of the room.
"What?"
"That thing is going to kill us if we don't leave right now."
"Wait no… Jeremy I know what they did and all, But Freddy is different. He's not going to kill us."
Mike saw Jeremy's hand curl up into a trembling fist as Freddy finally moved, taking a step towards them with his his hand opened up in front of him. It was only then that Mike noticed what was in his hand.
"Hey big guy hold up."
Freddy came a stop while Jeremy jerked in surprise. The bear looked slightly confused, but held his hand farther out towards Mike and Jeremy. In it he held his severed finger and some tape.
Jeremy's hand shot out to grab Mike's wheelchair. "Mike… We're leaving."
"Hold on Jeremy he's not like that anymore."
"I said we're going."
The ring of finality in his voice cut like a knife. Without breaking his eyes away from Freddy, Jeremy reached behind him and grabbed the doorknob.
Mike shook his head, he just had to show Jeremy that Freddy wasn't dangerous. Even if that meant going against him. He ignored the strangled gasp that came from his brother as he wheeled himself over to the animatronic and he turned to face Jeremy.
"See? He isn't going to hurt us. He's different than the others, or he's changed. He's not going to hurt us." Mike pleaded. It was hard doing this. He knew how hard this must be for Jeremy.
Jeremy looked white, to the extent that Mike was a little worried that he would pass out. One hand was clasped to the doorknob, while the other was in front of him, as if he wanted to grab Mike and pull him to safety.
They stayed like that for a moment, staring at each other. Mike could see the conflict in his eyes and he tried to look as convincing as he could. The tiger rug was forgotten as a quiet, mental conflict took place.
The doorbell rang.
Mike didn't wait to see Jeremy's reaction, he turned and began pushing the bear animatronic down the hall. "You've got to hide, and this time stay hidden you big oaf!"
Freddy for his part, looked affronted. His hand closed around the digit and tape as he huffed and reluctantly allowed Mike to push him through the kitchen to the garage door. Mike could hear Jeremy open the door and greet whoever was there. "Now go in there and stay."
He quickly wheeled himself back through the kitchen into the hallway to see a woman talking to Jeremy. She looked rather professional, a black knee-length dress, pinned up hair, and a smile that seemed to have put Jeremy just a little at ease.
"Of course," Jeremy said. He turned to Mike and paused for a second making him feel guilty. "Mike this is Tracy, she's the investigator that is going over your case."
"I have a case?" Mike asked.
"Yes, any death has a case," the woman replied kindly. "And in your case, it's about the man who broke into the pizzeria and… passed away."
"Oh…" Mike said. He nervously licked his lips, subconsciously rubbing his chest again.
"Don't worry honey I just have a few questions for you."
Jeremy gestured towards the living room, "Would you like to have a seat?"
The woman smiled. "No thank you, this will just take a moment. If Mike is okay talking about this of course. I understand that what you're going through right now must be very difficult for you."
Mike forced himself to shake his head. "No, If it helps with whatever you need, I'll do it."
"Thank you," She said. Pulling out her phone she pressed a few things and then held it out. Mike realized that she was going to record their conversation. "I'm going to ask a few questions okay? Just answer them as honestly as you can. If they're too much for you just signal that you want to stop."
Mike nodded and she tapped the screen.
"So Mike, did you witness the death of Jackson R. Nicholas, the man who broke into Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria the night you were working?"
"Not completely."
"Well with what you did see, what happened?"
Mike stewed for a moment. Should he really tell her what happened? Would she think he was crazy? Out of the very corner of his eyes he saw that Jeremy was nodding for him to tell the truth?
"I… I thought I saw the animatronics go after him. Like animals."
Tracy was quiet for a moment, her expression unreadable.
"Were you injured at this time?"
"Yeah, he had already shot me."
"Did the owner, or any management go over proper etiquette of how to handle a break-in with you?"
"No…"
"Were you given anything to protect yourself in case of a situation such as this?"
"No."
She was quiet for a few more moments before her gaze softened.
"You are fifteen correct?"
"Yes."
"Did you know that it is illegal to work a minor past seven during the school year?"
Mike shook his head before remembering that she was recording. "No I didn't."
"Alright Mike I think that will be everything for now." And with that she tapped the screen again and stowed the phone away. With a sigh she smiled at them both. "Thank you very much for your time."
The quiet that fell over them after she left felt stifling and Mike nervously turned to Jeremy. "Look Jeremy I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Freddy, but I was afraid of how'd you react. I mean I know how hard-"
Jeremy held up his hand for him to stop. And Mike could just feel the disappointment rolling off his older brother. He knew what he was thinking. Why didn't you trust me?
"I've got to go." Jeremy said after a moment. Without another word he left. The door shut behind him, leaving Mike to stew in the mess he had created.