Respite of a Distant Dream

The New Kid In Town

¨So..." Evan asked, a curious gaze peeking back into Gregory's own eyes- they had been walking in silence for merely a minute or two. ¨Do you enjoy coming to Fredbear's Family Diner as well? The place my Uncle Henry and my Father own, I mean.¨

Gregory tightened his lips- the place their Uncle Henry and their Father owned. Their childhood- their family, their happiness before tragedy ripped everything away from him and left him to drift in between now and eternity before his awakening. He had to restrain himself from correcting the boy who's grip intertwined snugly with his hand before yet another exhale of breath left him.

¨...You could call it my happy place, of sorts,¨ he replies simply, to which Evan nods and responds meekly, appearing pleased to be in the presence of a kindred spirit: ¨I love to go there, too- I walk down to there along this same path with my brother every so often. It's a wonderful place... minus the animatronics and the sensory overloads at birthday parties, of course,¨ he chuckles to himself before his eyes cast themselves towards the sky in thought. ¨I'm supposed to have my birthday there, Dad says... oh, yeah- speaking of which- when is your birthday?¨

The answer is simple and blatantly correct, for any other date feels wrong on his lips: ¨March 13th.¨

The eyes of the boy in the black shirt widen, and he squeezes the arm of his Fredbear plushie that was dangling at his side. ¨Well, wonders never cease! It appears we share the same birthday... and most likely the same age, judging by your physical appearance. Couple that with how you knew the names of me and my brother, and how you look so alike to me. How strange...¨

¨Yeah,¨ Gregory replies tersely, body tensing up as the truth reminds itself to him in his mind. ¨What an odd coincidence, indeed...¨ he is grateful when Evan senses his apprehension and quickly changes the subject of their conversation: ¨Anyhow, you have my gratitude for diffusing the situation back at Fredbear's. My brother and his friends would've pummeled me into a pulp for sure had you not been there," he expresses.

"Hah, it was nothing," the blue-shirt boy reassures. "M- your brother and his friends are simply halfwitted teenagers- nothing more, nothing less. They're the type to be placated from their hormones with a slap to reality. In the face, preferably," he quips, to which he chuckles when he sees Evan terrified at the thought. "Why do you look so shocked? I was only kidding!"

Relief floods the other boy's body.

"For defending me so selflessly, though," Evan continues. "I feel as though I owe you something...¨

Oh no.

¨O-oh- you misunderstand-¨ Gregory begins, only for Evan to finish before he could speak. ¨Let me introduce you to my family. I'm sure they'll like a good-of-heart person like you- we could all be friends!¨ he exclaims, and Gregory's already breaking out into a nervous sweat because oh my god what if they suspect me the moment they see me.

¨Is it really worth all the trouble?" he asks, only for Evan to vehemently shake his head, grabbing him by the wrist where his now-dysfunctional Fazwatch lay snugly attached. ¨Oh, come now, don't be ridiculous- as I've said before, they're going to love you! Especially Elizabeth! Don't concern yourself with Michael, though- it takes some time for him to warm up to new people, but I've a feeling you two are going to get along incredibly well once amends are made!¨

Me and Michael. Me and my brother- our big brother. Best friends, forever intertwined with one another and always together like a team- family, like we were, and like we always should have been.

His heart yearns for the distant past as he seals his fate in stone and utters his final answer: "Of course... things change with time, after all. I'd... actually be very happy to be introduced to the rest of your family- thank you, Evan."