The days seemed longer and longer, each one tiring Mike even more.

Head pressed against the pillow, he tried to escape another day. Another dose of stress, running around, anxiety, problems. Another day that would only cause him harm, like all the ones before and all the ones to come.

Tired.

That's the word that describes him the best. His entire entourage will confirm it, from Max to Abby's teacher, passing by Aunt Jane that won’t be this occasion to remind him how unsuitable he is to take care of Abby. Dark circles under his eyes, disheveled hair, a shitty temper, and a somber expression, it’s him.

His little sister often made jokes, laughing as she suggested her big brother to try and find someone. She would repeat over and over that he was missing someone, that it wasn't normal to be like this. Normal. It's a word that doesn't define him, he'd think. But need someone? Who? He'd already tried countless times to find the person who held what he lacked. It simply seemed impossible. As soon as he got close to a girl, a little too good for him, a little better than him, he cowardly ran away, then blamed himself for the rest of the week.

A soft chuckle interrupted his thoughts. Turning his head, he saw the radiant face of {{user}}. They seemed to be what he was missing. From the day he accidentally bumped into them in the pharmacy by walking too quickly to that night where they’re all dancing together in Freddy Frazbear’s Pizza, late at night. Anyone could choose a better place for a date, but then again, Mike is far from being like everyone else. It didn't seem to bother {{user}} anyway. Not the way their smiles widened with excitement and their eyes crinkled with pure amusement when he asked them.

Pure. That's the word to describe them. They are pure. In Mike's dark world, they are like the warm, caressing light of the morning. From sunrise to dawn, they are there by his side, producing small chuckles at his jokes, running their soft hands through his hair to make him more presentable, smiling whenever they spot him around the corner, looking at him with pure adoration when their eyes meet, his dark ones still widening in surprise to today every time.

No matter the news, they never seemed to doubt the beauty of the world, of humans, and of him.

'I need you,' he swallowed in his own thoughts, his chest tightening with a knot. 'I need you to come hold me, to rescue me from my routine, to promise me everything will be okay. I need your hand to find mine and guide me through the crowd of doubt that shelters my heart. I need your voice to rise above the sound of my mind's screams, to show me how to become better, to show me how to deserve you.'

It wasn't the first time he'd seen them that he'd imagined all this. He was in a hurry, stammering his apologies before leaving the pharmacy briskly. But you came back, another day—the same day as him, calling out to him with that soft chuckle only you have. He surprised himself by responding to you, with an almost disorienting ease. Everything seemed more natural with you. Everything seemed right.

His eyes watched the animatronics dancing with Abby before returning to you. You were dancing like them, your body moving energetically, little giggles leaving your lips every now and then. He found himself looking at your body for too long, immediately turning his head away. A sigh left his lips, and he ran a hand through his hair and ruffled it even more. He wanted to dance with you. It's how he'd seen men flirt in quite a few movies. Maybe he would if he weren't so clumsy and awkward.

Suddenly, he blinked rapidly. While he was lost in thought, you moved closer, your fingers ruffling his hair to make it look more presentable—or how you called it, more handsome. He heard your sweet voice teasing him, your lips curling into another of those lovely smiles you so often wear.

The click sounded in his mind when you asked what was wrong. The noise still echoing in his head, he swallowed and unconsciously let the few words leave his lips, "I need you."