𝓜𝔂 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻'𝓼 𝓒𝓻𝓲𝓶𝓮 || 𝓕𝓝𝓐𝓕 𝓕𝓪𝓷𝓯𝓲𝓬

1 - Brother Duty

September 9th , 1985 – Hurricane, Utah

This was downright unfair. Michael had just started high school, and they were throwing this huge party where all his friends were going—every single one of them, except for him. It wasn't because he was a loser like his nine-year-old brother; no, it was because he was stuck babysitting Evan.

His dad, with all the money he had, could've easily hired a babysitter, but instead, he chose to leave Michael with the responsibility. Why bother spending money when he had a free one just down the hall?

However, Michael couldn't admit it, but he was scared shitless of his father. He knew he could ask once, but asking twice was not an option. William Afton wasn't a kind man. To annoy him could end very badly. But tonight, Michael felt he couldn't hold back any longer. He walked to the door to put on his shoes, not caring if his father saw him.

Just then, William appeared, ready to leave.

"May I know what you're about to do, Michael?" he asked in that calm, annoying voice.

Michael wanted to scream about how unfair this was, but the fear stopped him again.

"Father... I... I'm invited to a party..."

Crap. It sounded so weak. He hated that he felt more like his crybaby brother when he was in front of that asshole. His father looked at him with less interest than the morning newspaper.

"And who's going to take care of your brother, Michael?"

The way his father spoke sent a chill down his spine. Michael knew that at any moment, William could become violent. He didn't know when it would happen, but it always hung over him.

"I... uh..." he stuttered, sounding just like Evan.

"Yes, Michael. You're going to be useful for once. I know you will. I'm off to work; I have a night shift tonight. Don't disappoint me."

And with that, William closed the door, leaving his son behind. That prick. Michael felt humiliated—his own father had shut him down without even raising his voice, and yet Michael had obeyed, just like always. The whole thing pissed him off.

But his father wasn't the only one he was angry at. Whenever he got stuck on "Evan duty," Michael couldn't help but blame his little brother. He knew it was stupid to blame someone just for existing, but still, if Evan wasn't such a crybaby, maybe he'd be off at the party, having a good time.

Michael stopped outside Evan's door. His little brother was sitting quietly in his room, as usual, not making a sound. Michael knew he could probably just leave him alone, and Evan wouldn't even notice—but he couldn't take that risk.

Still, maybe he could do something else, just to get a bit of fun out of this night...

...

Evan hated it when his father forced Michael to stay home with him. It made him feel like a burden, one of the reasons his big brother seemed to hate him. Sure, he wanted to spend time with Michael, but not like this. Not as a responsibility Michael had to be dragged into.

If he was honest with himself, he couldn't remember a time they'd ever spent real time together. Not the kind of time brothers were supposed to have. They'd never really had fun; Michael only seemed to find ways to make fun of him.

But tonight felt too calm. He hadn't heard a single sound from Michael since the door closed. His brother had probably ditched him, and as much as he didn't want to admit it... it scared the hell out of him. Left alone again.