Gregory's eyes were pools of searing gold. Whatever exaltation he experienced before seemed to fade away into the backdrop of his messy recollections. There was a certain raw terror that bled into his dark pupils as she slowly pulled out of his cold embrace. He seemed frozen in place, like all the twisted words that he voiced had finally been heard by his own ears. His mouth opened, but no words could be stammered out except for the low, rapid drumming deep in his chest.

"...were all those scary things you said true? Are you going to hurt..." she swallowed thickly at the increasingly shadowy look in his eyes. His thoughts seemed bare as he only stared at her, zoned out, thinking of the right words to say. "...are you going to hurt us?"

Suddenly, sharp fingers cupped her face as she was pulled back to him. A desperate smile pulled at his lips. "No! It wasn't true! No, no, no, I didn't mean it! I didn't mean any of it! I'm just... I..."

He stared into her scared and doubtful eyes. He let out a shaky gasp as he pressed his forehead against hers. His cold breath washed over her face as she stared, terrified into silence, as he seemed to calm down a fraction. He closed his golden eyes slowly, his long eyelashes seemed to tickle hers.

"...please don't leave me. You're all I have. You're all I have."

(Y/n) mouth was a thin line as she simply averted her eyes from his gaze, as bright as the highest star, as dark as the blackest midnight. But his finger only held her chin in place. "...Gregory, I don't think you're feeling well."

It's not really what she wanted to say, but the words she meant to say couldn't be let out. You're scary. You're not yourself. Maybe this was always you. Gregory let out a breathy laugh without humor. He only leaned in more as the trembling down his spine seemed to gradually subside.

"...I know, I know. I'm a... almost like you. I'm just not what you think..." Gregory whispered. "...I'm sorry for being scary, earlier. I'm just trying to keep you safe. All I want is to keep you safe... I thought I lost you earlier, I was so... so terrified."

"..." She stayed in stiff silence as she was pulled even closer. There was a look in her eyes. The eyes of someone full of doubt, fear, and hesitation. His dark colors finally have been seen, and it would take a lot to cover them up again. All of his desperation, his hatred, his obsession, his love. It bled off of him in streams.

He held her silently and tightly for a long time after that. It was as if she would fade away if he let go. She might as well have been. Except, she was getting lost in his embrace. Disappearing into his eternal madness.

____________

Slowly, the voice box got placed into Freddy's throat. The boy's golden eyes were meticulous and calculative as he slowly connected the color-coded wires to the correct hedges. The tension in the air was palpable. She was scared of him, and he knew it, too.

Despite his obvious expertise at fixing Freddy, he felt his fingers shaking beneath his skin each time the little girl would fearfully glance at him like any moment he would pounce on her and tear her throat out. Which was what he threatened to do to Vanessa. Damn it all, he always seemed to screw things up, destroying any ties he desperately tried to make.

Whatever curse that was placed on him to make everything he ever felt love for to leave him was misplaced. Because he was determined... no, desperate to keep at least one. Even if it meant tying her up and trapping her away forever, he'd do it. He's selfish. But he'd do it.

What a vile monster he was. But he didn't care. He never got the chance to be selfish in his entire life. All of it was spent by shreds of his happiness being taken away from him while he crawled blindly in the dirt to pick up the pieces left behind. It was his turn to make them crawl in the mud and laugh and sneer at them.

He'd even steal another person's happiness to supply his own. It's only fair. Fairness. Yes, fairness. He deserved this night. He deserved this victory.

CLICK!

Freddy's jaw locked as Gregory carefully snapped it back on. The boy slid off of the table and sauntered to the old, beat-up computer. He bypassed a couple of security protocols and made a few more touch-ups. Yes, Chica's voice box was perfect. He's so proud of his little (y/n) for collecting such an important part whilst being trapped in that disgusting sewer.

(Y/n) stood nearby, shifting from foot to foot as she waited for Freddy to boot back up. Her eyes glanced at Gregory as he booted up Freddy. She knew he could sense her weary stare, as his shoulders were tense. But his golden gaze never quite met hers. He was too afraid as to what she might see if she looked any deeper.

The first sign of life in Freddy was the subtle twitch of his fingers. (Y/n)'s dull and watery eyes lit up at the sight of it. The iron manacles around Freddy's wrist snapped away, but Freddy couldn't quite move his damaged arms, even if he wanted to, anyway. He sat himself up slowly. His cracked eyes flickered across the room.

"I... Hello there, children," Freddy said with a strained smile. But there was a certain relief in his yellow gaze. "I can speak more... clearly now?"

The animatronic's voice was strange. It became deeper yet sharper. No longer was it that smooth, baritone voice that Freddy had. It was intimidating and almost scratchy sounding. The girl couldn't decide whether or not it sounded unsettling to her. But it certainly was... different.

"Yes, it will surely make further advancements to you," Gregory said, his voice hushed. He seemed solemn. It was the first time she ever heard him use that tone. It was quiet and small. Making him seem like an actual little boy. But she knew that he was not like her. He was something scary. She had little understanding as to what he was, but she knew he was not who she thought it was.

"...is something wrong?" Freddy asked with a tilt of his head. (Y/n)'s tongue froze in her mouth as her eyes flickered from Gregory's slumped figure to Freddy's curious gaze. "Did I miss something when I fell asleep?"

The girl opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She had so much to say. But she knew no way to say it.

"(Y/n)," Gregory's eyes finally met hers. They were full of shame, like a dog that was told off by its master. "(Y/n), we need to talk... please?"

The girl slowly nodded. A shiver crept up her spine like snowflakes. Gregory spun around to face Freddy who was staring at them, confused as to why the air was thick with tension and dull with gloom.

"Freddy, you are still in critical condition. It's best if you reduce your movement from little to none. We will be back shortly to discuss plans," Gregory said to Freddy. The bear nodded in agreement, but his curiosity remained unwavering. Something definitely happened between these two.

Stiffly, the girl followed Gregory out of Parts and Service. He walked with quiet steps and she hesitantly trailed behind him like a trembling tumbleweed slowly rolling into a turbulent wind. Reluctant but diving headfirst into boiling tension, anyways.

Gregory stopped. He turned towards her with blank eyes when they were far from earshot of Freddy's acute hearing. He had a soft frown on his face, and his eyes were somber. He let out a tired sigh before finally speaking.

"I want to be your friend. But I can't be your friend if you're... scared of me," there was that desperate look in his eyes again, but he blinked it away. Carefully, he picked through his words to say the little girl. "I want us to be normal again. I didn't want to hide what I was from you because I thought... I thought you'd run away. And I'm scared... of being alone."

There was a sincere waver in his voice as he averted his gaze away from hers. Something squeezed her heart at his words, but she was doubtful and weary. His twisted words echoed in her head at what he said about owning everything, like one would own a pet or a toy. The look in his eyes and his twisted smile shook something in her.

As if reading her mind, he spoke of the matter: "I said all of those awful things to keep her away from you. I just wanted to scare her. She was trying to hurt you...she's not a nice person. I just wanted to protect you is all. I never wanted to hurt or scare you, please forgive me."

Gregory held her hands in his cold ones. His fingers wrapped around her warm ones. His eyes were wide with obsessive desperation and fear. (Y/n) slowly pulled him into a hug, and he let out a soft, exalted gasp of surprise as she held him. Fingers immediately dug into her back and hair as the tension seemed to melt off of him.

"I was sure you would understand...I'll always be with you, just promise to stay with me," He closed his eyes as a soft smile spread on his lips, nuzzling into her hair. But (y/n) still felt doubt pull at her heart, her eyes were open as she gazed out to the shadows watching them from behind. In her deepest dreams she saw golden eyes. She finally understood what they spoke of in whispers.

"I..." She felt increasingly smaller and smaller in his hold. He held her chin again and lifted up her eyes to meet his. The piercing, impatient gaze that met hers almost made her flinch, her watery eyes averted from his. His face seemed to darken the more her silence dragged on as she stammered and struggled to say two simple words.

There was once a little boy she read about who captured fireflies in a jar to light his way in fairytales. Then there was a boy who stole the light from the stars to darken the sky to make others lose their path. Which one was Gregory? Was he the encroaching darkness or the new light? Only her dreams could answer.

"I... I promise."

He slowly smiled. A tear slipped slowly down her cheek, and his cold thumb wiped it away.

"Don't worry, (y/n)~" Gregory crooned at her tears. (Why was she crying?) His golden eyes were like collapsing stars as they shone brightly in the dark. He held her close as a darkly familiar droning sound seemed to purr from his chest.

"...I never let go of a promise."

Moving Up In The World Tonight from DAGames suddenly grew on me and it makes me think of this story if you alter the lyrics a little bit 🧐

Also if the writing style seemed to change a little bit, blame The Shining because I'm reading it and I feel like I'm on drugs every time I open that book cus of how strange it is. Great story and excellent writing though!