The Fall of the Aftons

030: William Afton

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for the night, Noah?" Michael asked for what felt like the thousandth time in the past thirty minutes. "William, can't you convince him to stay? Please?"

"Michael, come on now. If he said no, the answer is no," William explained for what also felt like the thousandth time in the past thirty minutes. 

Noah hiccupped. "I want to stay. But if I stay here for the night, my baby sister won't be able to sleep," he explained quietly, although it shouldn't have been needed. Michael was just too stinking stubborn! He shouldn't have needed to explain his reasoning.

"What's your sister's name?" William asked. He needed to change the subject so Michael wouldn't ask again. 

Noah hiccupped again. "Pruitt. I have older siblings, too. My big brothers Timothy, Jackyll, and Charles. Then there are my sisters Kaila, Mikayla Ann, Alexandrai, and Sunnimae." Another hiccup. "I have another younger sister, Jacquelin, who's two."

"Do you want some ice water before we leave?" William asked, a slight chuckle in his voice. "It might help rid of your hiccups."

Noah shook his head. Then he thought about it for a moment and nodded his head. "Yes, please."

~ ~ ~

"Michael? Could I talk to you?" William asked quietly as he opened Michael's bedroom door. He stepped inside the room and looked around as he closed the door behind him.

The bedroom lights were off, leaving the room in deep darkness. The shades on the patio doors were pulled, leaving even more darkness. Michael was curled on his bed in a ratty, stretched-out, oversized T-shirt and thin pajama pants. He was reading a large book he had asked for yesterday, one that was about animals in forests. A flashlight in his hand was shining light onto the page he was on--the only source of light in the room--and his blanket was wrapped around his shoulders like a cape. He clearly hadn't heard William.

"Michael?" William repeated. Michael's head snapped up, the flashlight now pointed at the doorway. The bright light burned his eyes. "Could I talk to you for a moment?"

Michael stared at him with a questioning expression, but he slowly nodded his head. He moved to the side of his twin-size bed, making room for William. William chuckled, then went and sat down on the edge of the bed. 

"Terrance told me that you don't know what boundaries are in place. Is that true?" he asked, even though he knew the answer.

Hesitantly, Michael nodded his head. "Y-Yes, it's true. I don't want to annoy you or anything, I guess. I just... I don't know." He sighed and fingered the corner of a page in his book. "I don't want to cause trouble, but I also don't want to make it seem like I don't want to be here."

"Honestly, I don't really care what you do," William told him, resting his hand on the back of his neck. He chuckled. "It doesn't matter to me whether you constantly want my attention or want nothing to do with me so you can do your own thing. As long as you at least let me try to be a... guardian to you, I'm okay with it." He smiled, and Michael gave a slight, sheepish grin in return. "And as long as you don't break any rules, but we'll discuss those tomorrow."

"Am I allowed to read some more?" he asked as he delicately grazed his hand over a photo printed in the book.

William stood up and ruffled the boy's chin-length hair. "Not tonight, Michael. It's getting late. You should be sleeping."

"Awww," Michael whined. He carefully shut his book and rested it on his nightstand as William laughed.

"Maybe next time," he promised. "Good night. Sleep well." He turned to leave and started to walk to the door, but when Michael called his name, he stopped and looked back at his son. 

"Thank you," Michael said quietly but appreciatively. He had a tight, small smile on his face. "For everything." He turned off his flashlight and the room dimmed instantly, leaving the two of them in an inky darkness.

William grinned and opened the door. "You're welcome, kiddo."