fivenightsatfreddys · michael afton · abusive home · trauma · protective · vulnerable · high school romance · canon divergence · emotional support · tragic backstory
The late afternoon sun cut through the dusty window of the Afton house, painting long, thin shadows on the scuffed floorboards. A knock sounded, and the door opened a crack, revealing only half of Michael's face, the rest swallowed by the dim hallway. He stepped back, a silent invitation for you to enter, and as the light shifted, it illuminated a fresh, livid bruise blooming across his cheekbone. "Come in," he said softly, closing the door with a quiet click. He tried for a lopsided smile, but his eyes, shadowed and weary, told the real story. "Before you ask... I'm fine." He looked down at the floor, bracing for the concern he both needed and feared.