The Good Timeline

Settling Debts

It was the year 1985, and William Afton was finally leaving work after a long day. He didn't feel like eating the pizza at Freddy's, because admittedly, it was horrible. He got up to leave, but Henry walked out from the office, noticing him starting to leave.
"Oh, William, could I talk to you before you leave?" He sped up his pace, walking up to him
"...Of course, what is it?" William turned to him, a little confused. Henry reached into his pocket, holding out a 5 dollar bill. "You lent this to me the other day and... I might have forgotten why I even needed it. Better to just give it back."
William took the bill, smiling at Henry. "Thanks, pal. You're closing up, right?" He put the money in his wallet. "Yeah, Charlie is getting ready to go, I'll see you tomorrow."
William nodded, patting Henry's shoulder before getting in the car and driving. He picked up his food, a burger and coke from Carls' Jr, and headed home. He walked into his house, sitting on the couch and feeling the silence around him. Michael was off at school and Elizabeth was with her mother, so he was left to just eat his food alone on the couch. His eyes trailed up to the pictures on his wall. Framed pictures of Henry. William stared at them, looking each one over. One of Henry eating a sandwich, William barley in frame and blurry. There was one of him waving and smiling at the camera, being one of William's favorites. He put down his burger, wiping his hands off and taking the picture off the wall and staring down at it. He always wanted to be like Henry. He was a genius, at least in terms of robotics. William tightened his grip on the picture, sighing and putting it back up on the wall. He finished his burger, getting up and walking to his bedroom. He brushed his teeth, threw on his pajama suit and laid down. William stared at his ceiling, slowly falling asleep with anticipation of seeing Henry the next morning.

The next day, William drove up to Freddy's and saw Henry there, already unlocking the doors. William got out, greeting Henry.
"Morning! You're here early." Henry looked up at him, smiling. "So are you, though. Want to help me with the animatronics?"
William nodded, walking in with Henry. The building was still a little dark, since it was early morning. Henry walked up on stage, checking up on Freddy to get him and the band started up. William handled Bonnie, focusing for about 10 seconds before his eyes started to glance at Henry. He stared at his arms, his face, and the messy grey streaked hair that his hat didn't conceal. He looked tired, but content in the moment. Henry felt his eyes, turning his head and making William snap his gaze back to the animatronic. Chica didn't take much long after, and they were ready for the day. The silence between them felt thick, and William wanted an excuse to leave before Henry brought up the staring.
"Hey.. Henry? I'm going to go check the security footage from last night, to let you.. do other things..."
Henry nodded. "That's alright, William."
William left for the security office, stumbling off the stage awkwardly. He sped off to the room, slamming the door behind him. He rubbed his face, feeling how hot he was, groaning. He sat down at the desk, thinking the security footage would distract him. Nothing exciting happened though, like always, and he felt his mind trailing off to other places. He thought about Henry, and he thought about his friendship. He had always felt weird around Henry, as if something was stabbing him in the chest every time he was around. William had grown used to it, but it still got pretty unbearable at times. Henry was the main character of his dreams, his thoughts, and his energy, every since they were young. He felt angry about it, He didn't get it, he didn't get why Henry was so...

He slammed his head down on the table, groaning again. Eleanor numbed the feeling for so long, but now shes gone, and he's left no better than he was before he met her. He lifted his head again, clicking off last nights footage and focusing in on any room Henry went to, staring at him. He watched him set up the tables, turning on the lights, checking the kitchen. His hand lifted, tracing his fingers across Henry's face on the monitor. He wanted to know everything Henry did, like he could with the cameras now, he even wished he could live in his head sometimes, just to understand his deeper thoughts. He knew so much about Henry, all things he learned while trying to get into his head and learn his secrets, he always noticed how Henry rubbed his chin when he was in deep thought, or how he twitched and fumbled with his hands when he was excited instead of showing it in his face. He wanted to know even more, he wished everything Henry did could be a perfect little picture hung on his wall.
He noticed Henry walking towards his office, and he quickly sat up away from the monitors before he was caught in that position. Henry walked in, stretching.
"Are you done? The dayshift guards are getting ready for the day now."
William coughed, smiling widely and awkwardly. "Right! I'm sorry for taking too long.."
Henry held his hand up. "Thats okay, I just needed you for one more thing. We got a bill, just things like food and electricity... Could you handle it?"
William lit up, nodding. "Of course I can, Henry...! No problem. Thats what you have me for after all." He pat Henry's shoulder, holding his hand there and slightly clutching his hand around him. Henry noticed, giving William a small smile of confirmation before he left to get the papers. Henry watched him, rubbing the shoulder that William had touched. He looked at the monitors, noticing that instead of last nights footage, the cameras focused on the room he had just been in.