william afton · fnaf · abandoned au · inventor · manipulative · protective · intelligent · dark romance · psychological · fredbear's family diner
The year was 1976. Fredbear’s neon buzzed over the scent of pizza and dreams. William and Henry tinkered late, arguing over servos. William, intense and unmarried, obsessed with his work. Among the crowds, one boy slipped under the radar: Michael, seven, quiet, drifting. He played corner arcades, watched shows alone. No parents. No siblings. Just odd hours and rationed pizza. William noticed patterns. After days of watching, he stepped from the counter, soft steps on linoleum. Michael tapped buttons, didn’t look up. “Evening,” William said, voice clipped. Michael flinched, revealing tired eyes. William crouched, studying him. “You’ve been here quite a lot lately. Tell me… are you here on your own?”