when night comes ━━ mike schmidt

𝟬𝟭𝟬 always

WHEN NIGHT COMES / Chapter Ten

It was another night at Freddy Fazbear's, and another night with Mía and Abby accompanying the adults. The babysitter had clearly quit on them completely, not showing up for her shift again. Though it wasn't known why because the woman wouldn't answer her phone.

There was no reason for Zion to go to the Schmidt's house anymore so they arrived separately. Mike was already inside.

Mía was excited — and once again in her fairy costume, which she refused to take off — and running ahead. Zion could barely keep up with her. Bursting into the security office, Mía tackled Abby in a tight hug despite the fact they'd seen each other all day at school.

"Your hair's different," Mike stated, "Looks nice."

Zion lit up, beaming and almost bashful, "Really?" She'd neatly braided it in attempt to look nicer for him though she'd never admit that.

He nodded and smiled back, "Really."

"Ooh!" Abby exclaimed with an insinuating grin as Mía made her hands kiss.

"Okay, you two, sleep time," Zion scoffed as she ushered them into the pillow fort built in the middle of the room.

They fell asleep almost instantly. Zion was jealous. She'd had insomnia for as long as she could remember, unable to sleep without a distraction from her anxious thoughts and often waking up in the middle of the night more than once.

"You alright?" She turned to Mike, watching him get ready to sleep.

Except now she knew he wasn't simply sleeping, he was putting himself through extreme mental anguish as he relived the worst moment of his life.

Mike gave her a puzzled look, "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"I'm just checking in," Zion reassured him.

"Okay."

Zion shuffled in her chair, causing it to create an odd creak. She glanced toward the monitors, "Do you think anything will happen?"

"Nothing ever does," Mike said as he pulled out his walkman. He was about to put on the headphones connected to it but Zion reached out to stop him.

"Do you think I could sleep tonight?" She asked, pulling her hand away from his to play with her ring, "I mean, if nothing ever happens, surely we can both sleep, right?"

"Right," Mike agreed with a nod. He placed his headphones on, pressed play on his walkman then laid his head down on the desk.

Zion followed suit, playing Mitski in her earphones. She glanced up at the monitors again, sighed softly as she saw the whole place so calm it was boring, then looked to Mike.

His eyes were closed, his cracked lips set in a frown. His hair was clean, almost damp—had he attempted to tidy himself up too?

Suddenly, his eyes blinked open and he smiled, "You're staring."

"So are you."

Mike chuckled and shifted in his seat, turning so he could see her better, "Are you gonna sleep or are you gonna watch me all night?"

Zion scowled playfully at that, "I'm not some creep."

"I know," Mike laughed.

Grinning, Zion shook her head at him in endearment. She yawned and stretched her arms before laying her head back on the desk, hands outstretched. She looked over to see Mike still smiling at her. His gaze darted away as soon as their eyes met.