Broken || William Afton x Oc ||

5

FEBRUARY 20TH
1983

SHE HAD SHUT HERSELF INTO THE FIRST BATHROOM she saw, and hadn't come out. She didn't know how long it had been, but her eyes were growing heavy, and she felt a small yawn escaping her lips, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. She was desperate to sleep, and in her stubbornness, and weakness, she was willing to sleep in the damn bathtub if she had to.

It didn't take long for a small knock to echo off the door, three distinct taps in a rhythmic fashion. When she didn't say anything there was a soft sigh on the other side of the door... Adeline only pulled her knees closer to her chest, trying to hide her dry eyes away from the world.

"Adeline." A smooth, deep voice spoke. A British accent slithered its way around every syllable like a patient, yet venomous snake... It made tingles go throughout her whole body... But she didn't respond.

Another sigh was heard on the other end, and after a few moments there was shuffling. A few more moments passed, quiet and tense, as Adeline listened. It was then the knob rotated, and the door opened, much to her dismay. The bathroom door was pulled open with a creak, and she felt herself remembering the door at Freddie's that had groaned on its hinges earlier... oh how a day can change tides so quickly.

William gazed down at her, his gaze surprisingly soft. He didn't look irritated, he didn't look angry, he only looked calm, and soft. His eyebrows were drew downwards in a worried looking look, as he carefully took another step forward, waiting for her to send a flurry of curses at him, and push him out. She didn't.

He took another step forward, almost hesitant, as he took in her appearance. Her eyes were red and puffy, and the remnants of tears had dried up on her cheeks. Her clothes were rustled a little bit on her body, out of place, and her hair was all tussled from what he could only assume was her fingers running through it, gripping the roots for some sort of painful solace.

It was clear to him you hadn't found it.

"Adeline." He said softly again, and this time her head snapped in his direction. She was alight with caution, but the tiredness was overwhelming her senses, and numbing her usual bitterness towards the other person in the room. She felt her fingertips trace the grout between the smooth tiles on the bathroom floor, biting her lip as she looked away. She felt like if she tried to hold his gaze she'd shatter; shatter into a million pieces that she wouldn't be able to mold or glue back together... and start sobbing her eyes out again, on top of it... she couldn't do that.

She hated being weak. She hated showing weakness... and she refused to show weakness to him, especially. A murderer... a cold hearted douchebag who had done nothing but get on her nerves and threaten her since she'd arrived here. And yet... he was staring down at her with that soft, pitiful gaze... a gaze holding nothing but worry and caution, like he was afraid if he made any jerky movements or glared she might run off like a frightened bunny. And he was probably right.

But the thought of him treating her like a child only wrenched at her gut more than he already had... it only made her irritation return, gnawing at her senses just as much as the bad memories and unease was. This was a dangerous game for him to play... dancing around her emotions in a way that was risky...

"Its ok... I wont ask you about it." He commented, his gaze soft as he stood where he was. He didn't dare take a step closer, he didn't want to set her off. He was sure if he did his presence would overwhelm her... she looked so fragile.

"And... our earlier conversation?"

His expression flickered to irritation again, and he looked like he wanted to bark a bunch of insults at her... but he only sighed tiredly. Biting his bottom lip, as if it greatly plagued him, he let in a small inhale, and shook his head, looking her in the eyes.
"I wont bring it up." She let off a small sigh, relieved, until he added, "For now."