(A Siren Song sequel. ♡)

Things were blissful. How could they not be? Freddy had precisely what he wanted, and no one was going to interfere. Not so long as they assumed he was changed for the better. But it only meant that he had to be very, very cautious with his temper.

But they all knew better than to come between him and his beloved siren. Did they not?

*****

"... yes. Yes of course, I thoroughly understand. No, it would be good for the company. Yes, all right. Goodbye."

You sighed, settling the phone in the cradle with a slow movement. There was no use in arguing. With careful motions you returned downstairs, which had more or less become your living quarters for the past five months.

Did you need it? Was it necessary? Of course not, not logically. You were perfectly capable of seeing again, so you were free to return to the home that your brother and you had shared for years.

But memories- and a more pressing matter- kept you away.

Footsteps echoed down the stairs, heavy ones that you already knew. "He's hiring another guard," the low voice spoke up. Freddy could only sigh; he knew this was coming. You were hidden away, and couldn't very well work overnights every single night. A second guard was necessary.

To the owner, anyway. You never left the pizzeria.

The bear's hands rested on your shoulders, squeezing them in a reassuring manner. To be able to touch you, to hold you whenever he pleased was a luxury that Freddy was scared he couldn't always afford.

Your hands covering his sent a chill down his back, a feeling he relished. Even after so long, you weakened him. "Its fine. You'll... take care of the guard, won't you?" you asked, albeit hesitantly. To take care of the night guard... you knew what that meant. And you knew that Freddy was more than capable of handling someone.

You knew it all too well.

No. No, I won't think about that. It's in the past. He needs me here and now.

You spun around and hugged the brunet tightly, though tears began to leak from your eyes. The bear couldn't stand to see them, his mind beginning to panic. "My dear, please, whatever is the matter? Please... please don't cry... have I done something wrong?" Your tears pained the bandleader, and he wiped them away as gently as he could manage.

"N-no... I'm sorry, just... bad... bad thoughts," you murmured, burying your face into his shoulder. No, to be reminded of his cruelty would be a poor decision. Maybe even a deadly one. And you loved the bear dearly, far too much to remind him of the awful things he had done.

But the feeling of dread simply would not pass.

*****

"We're getting a new guard?" Bonnie's eyes blinked, surprised. He looked up from his practicing, eyebrows raised. Getting another guard, did that mean what he thought it did?

"Aye. Heard th' owner talkin' of it." Foxy sat down on the edge of the stage with a sigh. "I ain't positive, but I be thinkin' we're goin' back t' th' same old, same old." The pirate seemed depressed at the thought; he didn't enjoy killing night guards. He wasn't fond of killing, period.

Bonnie lowered his instrument in thought. "What about...?" he began, not finishing the question. It was understood what he meant, and Foxy merely shrugged.

"Th' lass ain't got a choice. But if she be trainin' th' new one, maybe we don' gotta kill, after all." The redhead sounded hopeful.

"But it's not her decision," the guitarist replied softly, his expression darkening.

He always gets his way. This new guy won't stand a chance.

*****

The remainder of the day passed by without incident. You sat in the office quietly, Freddy in the nearby doorway with a cross expression on his tanned face. He didn't want another night guard in the pizzeria; it would spoil things. The basement may not have been on the cameras, but that meant fuck all. The new guy might get curious, and wonder what was beyond the basement door.

Simple. If he wants to know what secrets my pizzeria hides, I'll be glad to show him.

"I'll leave the decision up to you, my beloved," the bandleader murmured, kissing the top of your head. "I'll return to the stage, we'll not give you trouble tonight. Find out what sort of person this Schmidt is."

With a heavy heart Freddy left you alone in the office, his expression growing darker by the moment. He didn't want to leave you alone in the office with a strange man, but he couldn't possibly reveal all their secrets to the stranger at once. Their cover would be blown.

So it was up to you to find out if Mike Schmidt was trustworthy. But that was a quality you didn't care about as much as you should have.

What worried you was Freddy's reactions. Old feelings of panic, fear and dread began to resurface, and you had to shake your head violently to try and clear them away.

Freddy Fazbear always gets what he wants.

*****

There was a problem. And it would become an even bigger one if you weren't careful. Your heart had been pounding for the better part of two hours as you tried to train the new security guard. You stumbled over your words, and more than once you could feel the blood rushing to heat your face.

The problem was that Mike Schmidt was gorgeous, funny and kind. He seemed oblivious to your poor training ability, taking everything in easily. It was almost as if the job was meant for him, really.

You sighed, looking down at the tiled floor, mid-sentence. You could put it off no longer. "Mike, listen... the animatronics... they walk around at night. They have to; we can't shut them off or their servers will lock up."

"Which means you're screwed in the morning. No, I get it," he replied with a grin. His eyes were so dark they were nearly black... and it had finally hit you that you could see them. Really, truly see them. Sure, after the surgery the first thing you wanted to see was the bear... but for whatever reason the feeling of actually seeing someone had hit you right then and there.

"Shit, shit, what'd I say?! Did I say something wrong? I am so sorry!" Mike stood up from the chair you'd insisted he take. Tears had begun to prick your eyes, and you turned away, waving a hand at him. "I'm so sorry," he repeated.

"No, no, it's not you," you pressed, carefully wiping your burning eyes. "I just... I had eye surgery a few months ago, sometimes I have to get used to being able to see again."

His voice went soft, the tone was like music to your ears. "Again? You were blind?"

"A long time ago. It's in the past," you insisted, trying to smile and succeeding only partially. The sense of dread began to return, and you couldn't place why. Mike was being nothing but kind to you, so then why...?

Oh. Oh, no.

*****

Had he been in his human form, he would most likely have begun to pant. But Freddy was the essence of proper decorum, and he remained in his mascot form to prevent any unnecessary emotions from showing through.

He was supposed to have been fixed. But Gold's altered memory chip had been crushed; Freddy could not afford to lose you. To lose what you were to him. He would rather have died, and the both of you knew it.

But this newcomer, this Mike Schmidt... he was a threat. A threat that the bear had hoped he would never have to deal with. Yet Freddy could hear you perfectly clear: how softly you spoke to him. How sweetly. Your voice had been made for Freddy, not for a stranger! Why were you giggling quietly-- no. That wasn't a giggle.

You were crying.

He could hold still no longer, yearning to stop your tears. The bandleader made his way slowly off of the stage, heading for the office. Towards you, towards the sound of your voice. But the music was different; you shouldn't be so happy to talk with another man.

*****

You were sorry to admit that, ever since your surgery, your perfect hearing had begun to fade. Being able to see things had taken away some of your other senses, had dulled them somehow.

So when Freddy appeared in the doorway, you didn't notice at first. You hadn't even heard his footsteps! It was so unlike you, flinching at his sudden appearance. Mike, on the other hand, had every reason to yell and freak out, even after being told that the mascots could wander. "What the actual flying fuck?!" he cried out, pressing the door button repeatedly with no luck. It made only a clicking sound, useless. "Who the fuck are you?!" he cried out, pounding on the button still.

"Mike, I told you, they walk around at night," you answered softly. Mike merely turned to you with an expression of severe confusion, gesturing to the tall man in the doorway. "They... that's Freddy. It's Freddy," you explained.

This did nothing to ease his confusion. "Okay, first of all, fuck this shit. Secondly, Freddy Fazbear is a BEAR. Not... whoever the fuck this dude is!" There was silence, and Mike began to frown. "You've gotta be pulling my fucking leg. Are you telling me-"

"What we are telling you is that your language is inappropriate for my pizzeria. Please cease your cursing." Freddy interrupted before you could explain things further, making you sigh. This was just going to cause problems.

The question was, how troublesome would they get?

*****

Arms crossed, he paced in the basement, which had more or less become your living quarters ever since... well, for awhile now. You sat at the edge of the bed, looking down at your hands in silence.

Freddy was unhappy. More than that, he seemed furious about... about what? Mike? About the fact that there was another night guard? "I hope you realize we intend to get rid of him," the brunet spoke carefully, watching for your reaction.

You frowned. "Why? Why go back to that? Why can't you just leave him be?"

Your words were harmless, casually spoken, but they cut him to the bone. He had to physically stop himself from pacing so he could get control over his anger again.

No, no, no... it isn't that simple, my beloved... he is a threat, how do you not see this?

Heart pounding in his chest, Freddy leaned against the wall. He so badly wanted to take Schmidt by the throat and tear his head off, but to do so meant blowing his cover. "My darling, please... if I mean anything at all to you, I beg of you..." Shakily, he reached out, stroking your cheek. The flesh there was warm, alive. Pulsing with your blood, your energy. His knees went weak. "Do not go near him any longer."

"Freddy, what the fuck are you talking about? He's a cowork--" You hesitated, voice failing. You realized the problem. Frowning, you glared at the brunet, whose expression went from desperation to fear. "I get it. You don't trust me."

What?! "N-no, no, my dear, that isn't at all the case, I swear to you!" Now he was beginning to panic. Put so simply, he was coming off as mistrusting. He couldn't afford that!

"He's just a coworker. A new one, at that, one that I have to train. So if you think I'm gonna just sit back and let you try to stuff him, Freddy--"

Your words were promptly cut off with a kiss, one that the bear tried desperately to use to silence you. He couldn't handle the accusations; he meant well, couldn't you see that? Couldn't you see how badly he wanted you, even after all this time?

But you shoved him away. His vision went dark, seeing stars, then seeing nothing. His head spun. No. No, this wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening!

My.... my beloved siren, you.... no...

No.

I need not your permission to protect what is mine.

As he left, you didn't see his expression, his eyes going dark.

*****

"Sorry about that," you spoke carefully, having returned to the office. Mike had not followed you when you left, thankfully. He seemed too stunned to move from the chair he'd collapsed into.

"S-so, uh... that guy... is it.... really...?" he stammered, seeking your reply with his dark eyes. He was begging you for it not to be true.

With a sigh you nodded. "The mascots can turn human, Mike. I don't know how or why, but they can. So... I think you're safe now." You tried to smile, succeeding only a little.

It brought him no relief. Instead, Mike replied, "Isn't that even more dangerous?"

What did he mean? "Mike, you're not a threat. They understand that."

He bit his lip, apprehensive. He knew what he had seen in the bear's eyes. He knew that look. "You two... you're awfully close," the dark-haired male spoke slowly.

You merely shrugged, but the heat rushing to your face was a telltale sign. "I guess so."

"He loves you."

Put so matter-of-factly it made your heart skip a few beats, pounding in your throat painfully. "Y-yeah. He does."

Mike went quiet for a little while, too nervous to look back up at you. He had the terrible feeling of being watched, but he vehemently ignored it. The look in the bear's eyes was... it hadn't been all there. Like he was so in love with you that he would have snapped Mike's neck the second he looked away. And Mike had the sneaking suspicion that things had transpired long before his arrival. "Do you love him?"

You looked up, still red. "Of course I do."

"Why did you go blind?"

He changed the subject so abruptly it took you a moment or three to get your bearings again. "My family was in a car accident," was your soft reply. "My parents didn't make it, so my older brother had raised me. He used to work here, too," you added. Why were you telling him this?

"Cool, do I get to meet him?" Mike grinned.

You could hear your heartbeat in your ears. Your mouth tasted bile. "N-no, he... he p-passed away a few months ago," you stuttered. Your grip on the desk was so tight that your knuckles were white. You looked away, hoping he wouldn't ask any further questions, but you weren't so lucky.

"What happened?"

"It's none of your fucking business!" you cried out, defensive. But all you could see was your brother, now long dead, his body who knew where.

Freddy knows where.

No!! Don't think like that!

Tears in your eyes you buried your face in your hands, sobbing hysterically. Blinking wildly, Mike got back up and pulled you into a hug. "I'm so fucking sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. Was it bad? How he died?" Why wasn't he letting this go? Why couldn't he let the dead lie?

And why did he have such an awful feeling about this place?

*****

No. No. No. I mustn't. I must not do anything. I cannot. I have to trust her. I DO trust her.

But why would she push me away?!

Freddy remained downstairs, one hand clutching his vest, over his rapidly beating heart. He was close to having a panic attack, eyes bulging, unable to catch his breath for the life of him. He sat that way for what felt like ages, panting and feeling his heart being ripped to pieces.

He loved you as he always had, and things were blissful.... weren't they? Bonnie and the others had backed off; without showing his rage they all assumed the bear to be fixed.

But there was nothing wrong with him, save for his deep, deep love for you. So deep that his very core was breaking at the fact that you had pushed him away from his kiss. Sure, it had been done to silence you, but that wasn't the point!

My... my beautiful goddess, what has happened to us?

Another painful heartbeat made Freddy wince. Damn it all! He could feel his anger rising. The new night guard surely had something to do with your behavior.

And the brunet had to take care of it.

But how?

*****

You were held for a long, long time. He didn't let go, not so long as you were crying. Mike wouldn't stand for it. He wasn't entirely sure why you were crying but you clearly needed to let it out. Perhaps you were still grieving. If that were the case...

"How did it happen?" he asked gently. One hand rubbed your back in a comforting manner, the other held you close to him.

Slowly you peeled yourself away to speak, but you shook your head. "I c-can't say... n-not.... I can't..."

What? You couldn't explain how your own brother died? You were definitely still mourning, and he couldn't blame you; hadn't you told him that your brother raised you? "I'm guessing it was really fucking bad." There was a fresh wave of tears and Mike grimaced. This was painful. "Let it out. I won't leave, it's all right."

"No, no, it's not all right!" you cried suddenly, jerking yourself away from his hold altogether. Your arms wrapped around your body, cupping your elbows and turning away. "H-he died here. Here. He didn't just die, he--" You bit back the words. To relive them would be to....

It would ruin everything. Crack the entire thing wide open.

Just like his skull.

Mike, on the other hand, still didn't quite understand, and yet... he had the sneaking suspicion that there was a part of it that you were avoiding.

Why am I pressing her for this shit? It's clearly hurting her.

There was silence for a few long minutes, as he tried to process, to piece together a mystery that for whatever reason he was adamant about solving. With a deep breath, Mike sat back down, glancing up at you, still hugging yourself. "He died here, you said? Did... the mascots have anything to do with that, like the tapes say?" Your hesitation spoke volumes, your breath caught in your throat. "That's it, isn't it? They stuffed your brother. Damn... what a fucking way to go."

No, of course he wasn't right, but how could you be daring to think of telling him the truth?

Do you love him?

... Do I?

Of course I...

He killed my brother. He fucking. Killed. My brother. And I still....!

*****

His feet had taken him out of the basement, albeit slowly. Wandering, yet with purpose. It was clear now, wasn't it? What needed to be done.

The rage had returned, but he suppressed it as he walked by the rest of them. Neither Chica nor Foxy seemed to take notice, but Bonnie lowered his guitar with a perplexed face. "Freddy? You okay?"

The bear did not answer, instead heading for the kitchen. Such a shame, to be given free access to things. Deadly things. Hadn't the kitchen been the source of all the awful, awful deaths lately?

No. It wasn't awful, it was necessary. My dear, dear siren, I cannot have you singing for another man.

Freddy's head spun wildly as he walked in his daze. The kitchen door swung shut behind him, and he gazed at what he needed. Almost dreamily.

Things are not as they should be. He has ruined my plans, and I cannot suffer the bastard to live with what he's done.

Things had changed, yes. And none for the better, no matter how happy Freddy seemed on the outside. Those few months after your surgery should have been like heaven, shouldn't they? So then why was he so...

Perhaps I AM broken.

The brunet hesitated. If he were broken, then couldn't he simply go to Gold again? Admit his faults, get himself fixed back up? Then things would go back to normal.

But then... he would lose you. The one sole thing he cared for, his reason to continue on each day. He loved you beyond anything he could ever hope to love.

But she is crying. Singing her beautiful voice and heart out in front of another man.

I am not the broken one. Things are not as they should be.

"Freddy?"

*****

You sat in an awkward silence, staring at the floor, your sobs having tapered off at last. Strange, really... how the one person you expected to come rushing to your side hadn't shown up.

No, don't think like that! I still love him!

A fresh wave of tears began to stream down from your eyes, as aching as they were.

No, no, no, think about all the shit he's done! How can I still love him?!

You were clearly fighting an internal battle, and so Mike had fallen silent. He wasn't entirely sure that anything he had to say would have been helpful, anyways. But after a good half an hour passed, with you crying silently, he couldn't take it anymore. "Is there anything I can do? Say, even? I... I don't know you, I know, but... you seem like a sweet girl. And you obviously need someone."

You did. You didn't. Wincing, you looked away to the opposite wall, away from him. A stranger wouldn't have understood, but... third-party advice was oftentimes the best sort. A fresh viewpoint, so to speak.

Carefully, you spoke as softly as you could manage. "Y.... no, I..." You sighed. "Look. I don't know you, and you're probably going to judge the shit out of me. But... y-yes, my brother was killed here. Not in the way that you're thinking." Swallowing hard, your voice faltered. "F..... Freddy killed him," you whispered, "because he was trying to get in the way."

Mike's expression fell to one of severe wariness. "Get in the way... how?"

"Of us," was your choked response. "My brother didn't trust Freddy, and..."

Holding his hands up to stop you from going further the dark-haired male blinked wildly. "What do you mean, 'of us'? Don't fucking tell me you and that bear thing are..." When there was no further explanation, Mike scratched at the back of his neck. "You're joking. You have to be! Are you in a fucking relationship with a fucking animatronic?!"

Put so bluntly, your face flushed a furious color. "W-well... when you put it like that..."

"So let me get this straight. You two worked here, and, I don't know, you get some crush on the dude in a top hat. Or maybe he had it first, whatever. But he fucking killed your brother. Y'all aren't fucking, right?" Another silence, and he began to pace. "You got issues. This is some twisted Beauty and the Beast bullshit right here." Suddenly Mike grabbed your shoulders and shook you a little. "The fuck are you thinking?! He murdered your brother and you still--"

"I don't know, all right?!?!" More tears, but there was fury behind them now. "I don't fucking know what I'm thinking! Don't you fucking get it?! He's all I have left!" He stepped back from you and you wiped your face hastily. "And fuck you, by the way, fuck you for trying to judge me."

"You are fucking your brother's murderer, woman! I got every right to judge the shit outta you!"

*****

Blood smeared on his hands, he gazed down at the body. The poor, idiotic rabbit. Always getting in the way.

Freddy's heart raced in a way he hadn't felt in months. It felt good. Felt right, justified, even. He was excited.

The kitchen door swung open suddenly, but Freddy took no chances. The blade dove deep into her gut before she could say whatever it was she had come to say. Her eyes bulged, staring with confusion at her bandleader. "Wh...... wh....y...." she choked.

Leaning in to whisper, the bear replied, "It must be this way." He kicked her body to the side when she dropped to the floor, her blood mixing with Bonnie's in a pool, staining the tiles. True, maybe his death wasn't as satisfying as before, but a quick death was necessary. Less suspicion, less time.

My darling... oh, how I've missed this.

The blood dripped thick from his fingers, and he smeared it along the tiled wall, as he had once before. But instead of writing in a panic as he did then, he merely drew a heart. Freddy smiled; you would have appreciated it had you seen it.

This time, however, he knew precisely where you were. And who you were with. In a daze again, he smiled, slowly wandering from the kitchen. He had one last talk to complete before he could attend to you.

"Foxy."

*****

"Listen. To me. What you're doing is so beyond wrong, I don't even have enough words to explain it." His hands remained on your shoulders, shaking you a little bit for emphasis as he spoke. "I know you probably think I'm crazy, but--"

There was a scream, then a terrific crashing sound. Startled, you got up to see what all the commotion was about but Mike would not let you leave the office. He grabbed you by the upper arms and pressed you to him instead, but in a protective manner. "No. No fucking way am I letting you go out there now."

But you knew that scream. "Mike, fucking let me go, Foxy doesn't just scream for no fucking reason!" When he didn't budge, you squirmed even more, trying to break loose. "Mike! God damn it let me go!!"

"Release her." Freddy's black eyes appeared in the darkness. Your heart dropped; he was covered in gore. Stomach churning, you squeezed your eyes shut, flashbacks all but overwhelming you.

No... no, not again... please... please don't tell me this is...

"What the fuck?!" Mike, of course, tried to shut the door, like before, and like before it clicked uselessly.

The brunet stepped inside, his eyes never looking away from you. "My darling, you've been crying, haven't you...?"

"Yeah, I fucking wonder why!" Mike didn't seem to be exactly terrified of the sight of a bloody Freddy, like you were. Instead he grabbed the desk fan, intending to wield it as a weapon however he could.

The bear, on the other hand, roared. You flinched away, backing up against the wall with your hands over your face. "No.... n-no, no, not again, Freddy, please...!" you cried.

Your voice, pleading for him to stop. And he was already bloodied a good deal. Your voice calmed his roaring...

Or at least it would have, once before. But not now, not yet. He had one last matter to take care of now. But Mike could sense his intentions, and tried to run.

Freddy slammed both doors shut, trapping the three of you inside. Bravely the dark male whipped back around, holding the fan still. "All right you motherfucker, let's see what you've fucking got!"

What he had was just a fan. What the bear took was the entire desk, flipping it end over end and knocking Mike flat on the floor. Tossing the knife aside, Freddy shifted to his mascot form and stood on top of the desk with his full weight.

You heard bones start to crack, and you screamed. "Freddy, stop, you're killing him! STOP!!" Mike, trapped beneath the desk and the weight of a metal animatronic, could only gurgle, unable to draw air as his breaking ribs punctured his lungs. But Freddy crouched, adding still more weight until the male's head at last split open.

You continued to scream, not seeing the bear shift back to his human form. Not seeing him approach you again, prying your hands from your face to kiss you with bloodied lips. He smeared the blood onto your cheeks as he held your face, keeping you in place even as you tried to pull away. "Do you not understand, my lovely goddess? Do you? You know what needs to be done," Freddy cooed.

"Wh-what are you--"

"Things are... different now. And not in the manner I had hoped for. Things were better back then, don't you agree?" There was a metallic flash in the corner of your vision, but the bear did not let you move your head to see. "Oh, my sweet darling, I promise this will only hurt but a moment... then we can go back to being happy." Because Freddy wasn't happy, no. Not in the least. Not when you could still see.

He had been wrong about it hurting for just a moment, of course... but Freddy didn't want you to worry. His cut was clean, one line. Straight across your eyes.