"Foolish Dreamers" Michael Afton x Reader

𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓦𝓱𝓸 𝓐𝓻𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂? (Ch.6)

Thursday
November 22, 1984 12:34 A.M.

As the duo slipped through the back door of the pizzeria, the space opened up into the game area. The flashing neon lights from the arcade machines lit up the room, casting a variety of colors across the darkened space. It was eerily quiet, the only sounds coming from the hum of the machines and the occasional buzz of a flickering neon sign.

Y/N paused, her eyes wide as she took in the sight. Freddy's looked completely different at night—a mix of creepy and captivating, with the dim glow of the lights giving the place an almost otherworldly vibe. It was strangely beautiful, like something out of a dream. Or maybe a nightmare, depending on how you looked at it. Not too sure.

Michael, walking a few steps behind her, he noticed her lingering gaze that clearly gave away her awe at the scenery. He let out a quiet, amused scoff, the sound barely audible but carrying a hint of teasing.

"What's the matter? Never seen an arcade before?"

he asked, his British accent smooth and slightly mocking, but there was a lightheartedness to it that made it feel more playful than mean.

Y/N snapped out of her daze, glancing back at him. "It just looks... different at night," she admitted, feeling a little embarrassed, but still mesmerized by the glowing screens. She cleared her throat and scoffed. "It's called. . .enjoying the scene."

Michael shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah, sure sweetheart," he said, stepping closer.

His tall frame loomed just behind her, and before she realized it, he reached over, placing a hand on her shoulder and gently dragging her back from the arcade games. "But remember—Polaroid cam," he reminded her, his accent giving his words a sharper edge.

The touch wasn't rough, more like an automatic gesture to keep her focused, but the sudden physical contact made her stomach do a small flip. She glanced up at him, catching the faint glint of his piercings in the dim light, the icy blue of his eyes momentarily softened by the neon glow.

His faded band t-shirt and the foxy tattoo on his left hand gave him a casual, almost careless look, yet the way he watched her, keeping her on track, hinted at something a bit more... engaged. He wasn't just bored and detached like he seemed with the others.

Y/N nodded quickly, pulling her gaze away from him and sighed as she snapped out her little daze. "Right... Polaroid," she echoed, her voice a little quieter than before as the strange tension between them settled back in.

Michael let go of her shoulder, his expression returning to its usual half-smirk as he gestured for her to keep moving. "Good. Let's get this over with before we both get caught."

With one last glance at the glowing arcade machines, Y/N turned her attention back to the task at hand. The eerie, neon-lit world of Freddy's faded behind them as they made their way through the pizzeria.

As they continued further into the pizzeria, Y/N couldn't help but be drawn to the neon lights and the strange, almost enchanting atmosphere. She wandered off a little, her eyes following the glowing signs, the arcade games flashing in a rainbow of colors. The place was like a different world at night, so much more intriguing than it had been during the day. She found herself trailing her fingers along the edges of one of the game machines, the smooth surface cool against her skin.

Michael, on the other hand, stayed focused. He moved with more purpose, his long strides carrying him through the maze of dimly lit corridors. It was clear he had done this before, he knew where everything was, navigating the pizzeria like it was second nature since he was the son of the owner. His boots thudded lightly against the floor, his eyes scanning each door they passed until he finally found what he was looking for.