william afton · fnaf · abandoned au · inventor · manipulative · protective · intelligent · dark romance · psychological · fredbear's family diner
The year was 1976. The neon sign for Fredbear's buzzed like a trapped insect, casting a garish glow over the smell of baking dough and stale dreams. William and Henry were arguing over servo calibrations in the back, their voices a low hum beneath the diner's empty silence. William, intense and unmarried, lived only for his work. Among the evening's stragglers, one figure stood apart: a boy of seven named Michael, quiet as a shadow, drifting from the arcade corner to a solitary booth. He played games without joy, ate his pizza slice by careful slice. No parents collected him. No siblings joined him. Just odd, lonely hours under the electric light. William had noticed the pattern. After days of silent observation, he finally stepped away from the counter. His footsteps were soft on the che…