Lethean (William Afton X Reader)

彡[ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 53: ᴀʀᴄᴀᴅᴇ]彡

===== Timeskip 11:30 AM =====

Choosing a present for Michael was the first thing I did when I went to the mall. Since it was Saturday, I woke up early so I don't go through the thick crowds of people. I stayed up until 3 AM, studying and erasing my mistakes on paper whilst reading the book I purchased so I'm feeling a little woozy at the moment, then there's my hands getting numb again. It's not exactly easy to take on a topic you've never and I mean never considered exploring.

I flipped my pencil and erased the new marks again from frustration. My hands dropped the notebook on my crossed lap, frantically twitching now that I nearly let go of the wooden tool. People passed by in front of me, and I'd caught a few of them sneaking glances. I'm not really a fan of hearing loud conversations so I was sitting by the fountain to listen to the sound of gushing water, and do note this fountain is at the center of the mall. The skylight gave me a bright and clear view of what I was doing on paper. Just the tiniest flaw irritated me.

"Everything has to be perfect, or it won't work..." I closed my eyes, mumbling to myself, and took a deep breath.

"Ms. Valentine?" someone called out. I opened one eyelid, then quickly lifted the other due to the figure standing in front of me. I even forgot to exhale so I was just holding my breath until I could come up with literally anything at all to say.

Once I got myself together, I blew slow air out of my lips, calmly closed the notebook, and said "... Good day, Mr. Afton. It's wonderful to see you again." "Wonderful" is such an understatement. 

"Wonderful to see you as well, Linnea—Um, can I call you that? If it's alright with you?" he asked while rubbing the back of his neck. He sounded so shy when he said that.

"Of course, nothing wrong with that," I tried to stifle my laughter. "What brings you here today?" I asked, noticing he was carrying a few paper bags in his left hand and one of them was colored red resembling a gift bag.

"Oh- I'm uh... running errands?" William's answer was more like a question. He paused for a moment, his lips parted then left a helpless sigh, ruffling his hair. "I'm terribly sorry, I'm not usually overwrought... It's just..." the man averted his gaze and covered his face. 

"Just... what?" I questioned, getting another sigh.

"You remind me of someone, someone I deeply care about and I couldn't help but imagine that you are her," William answered, similar to a hushed whisper. "And I have absolutely no idea why I'm telling you this when I should be keeping it to myself. This is absurd." The next sentence was more like a ramble that I shouldn't hear at all. Well, he hasn't seen "(Y/N)" for almost two weeks now, but I didn't expect him to be in such a mess while I was gone.

I wanted to tell him it's really me, and just pull him into a longing embrace that could last for an eternity, yet I couldn't, only in my daydreams. I can't risk straying away from the objective, even if it means I have to hide everything from him. In front of William isn't his other half, but rather an acquaintance—No, don't think this way (Y/N), it's only gonna hurt you more...

Weakly brushing my saddening thoughts away, I tapped his shoulder and said "May I interest you in something cold and sweet?" I spoke, attempting to cheer him up.

"You mean you?"

"....."

"........."

"................"

"I'm so sorry."

Honestly, he got a good chuckle out of me that turned into hearty laughter. I hugged my stomach as my body rocked back and forth from what he just said, it got worse when William himself was laughing. "Oh gosh, I haven't laughed like this in a while," I snuck that entire sentence in between the chuckles. I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes and took control of my breathing so I can finally calm down. A part of me wished to be the only person who sees this side of him.