Chapter Text
Circus Baby’s Pizza World, in Michael’s professional opinion, was one of the worst places to be.
Michael sighed and leaned back further into the wall. He had no idea why William had insisted on dragging the two of them to the pizzeria. Well, he might have some idea. It probably had something to do with his mother and Elizabeth’s constant chattering about wanting to go.
Speaking of Elizabeth-
Michael glanced around and frowned when he saw her trying to sneak off. No doubt trying to go to Circus Baby. The exact place she had been told not to go.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Michael asked once he grabbed her. Firm enough that she wouldn’t be able to escape, but gentle enough that she wouldn’t get hurt.
“I was just-” Elizabeth stuttered as her eyes darted around the room. Looking anywhere but him. A telling sign that she was about to lie to him. “I was just going to go to the bathroom.”
Michael raised a brow at her, “The bathroom isn’t this way. I know that you know that.”
Elizabeth sighed and hung her head. Clearly disappointed at getting caught.
Michael frowned, and began to pull her back to where he had been. Far from the animatronics, far from the show, far away from William.
“Liz,” Michael began softly once the two were in the corner, “You know that you aren’t supposed to be around Circus Baby.”
Elizabeth pouted and stamped her little foot. Her free hand clutched the hem of her skirt angrily, “It’s not fair! I just want to see her once!”
Michael inhaled and resisted the urge to remind her that life was not fair. As he was thinking of what to say, something on the wall caught his eye.
A smile spread across his face. It was a little mean, but, it would sure as hell be entertaining. Plus, if she got too upset, he’d get her a bow or buy her ice cream.
He gently lifted his sister and walked to a poster on the wall. He bit his lip to hold back his laughter, as he pointed at the Circus Baby on the poster.
Not understanding, his sister looked at him questioningly.
“You said you wanted to see her. You can see her just fine on this poster,” Michael explained with a wide smile. He couldn’t help but chuckle as Elizabeth glared at him.
“You jerk! You know what I mean!” She screeched as she squirmed in his arms.
“Sorry, Liz, but I can’t let you near Circus Baby. I’m already on thin ice with Father, one wrong move and he’ll probably write me out of his will.”
If he was in the will, to begin with.
“What’s a will?” His baby sister looked up at him with wide curious eyes.
“You’ll find out when you’re older,” Michael dismissed as he set her down. "Now, what else do you want to do?"
Elizabeth shrugged. Seemingly not interested in anything other than seeing Circus Baby.
Michael narrowed his eyes slightly at her. She was lucky that he was used to people testing his patience.
Glancing at his watch, he felt a piece of his soul die. There was still another hour left before closing. And they would likely stay for another hour while William did whatever.
And from the look on Elizabeth’s face, she would definitely make at least two more attempts to get to Circus Baby before the hour was done.
-
Michael deserved a fucking medal. He deserved a trophy of some sort. He was right on the money.
The first time that Elizabeth had tried to make her escape, she had pointed behind him and shouted something, in an attempt to distract him. It was a successful attempt at distracting him. Unfortunately for her, though, his reflexes were fast enough to grab her before she could take three steps.
The second time that she tried to escape, she seemed to realize that distracting him wasn’t enough. So, she threw her doll at him. It hadn’t worked out the way she had planned. Michael caught the doll with one hand and used the other to grab her.
Not too long after the second attempt, the pizzeria was closed and emptied of its guests. Nearly an hour after that, the three were heading to the car.
Michael had just got Elizabeth’s seatbelt on when she screeched. Causing Michael to jerk out of the car, and William to whip around and snap at her.
“I forgot my doll!” Elizabeth wailed as she scrambled to get out of the seatbelt and out of the car. Michael hurried to soothe her, not for fear of her escaping, but because he didn’t want to deal with William.
William inhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose, “Elizabeth, you’re not going back in there to see Circus Baby.”
Elizabeth looked up at their father with wide, watery eyes. There were already some tears sliding down her cheeks, “I won’t!” Her gaze shifted to Michael, “Please just let me get my doll! She’s my favorite!”
Michael froze with an aching heart, he always had a hard time denying his baby siblings. Especially when they were this upset.
Michael turned his gaze to his father, while he wiped tears from Elizabeth’s face, “Can I go get it, Father?”
William met his gaze, an unsure look on his face. He seemed hesitant, and something else. There was a look in his eye, that Michael just couldn’t place.
There was quiet as William thought, well, minus Elizabeth’s pleading whimpers. A sharp exhale was the only warning Michael got before the keys to the pizzeria were thrown at him.
“Be quick.”
Michael got three steps into the pizzeria before he realized he had no idea where the doll was. He glanced at the corner where the two had been sat, and it wasn’t there. Which left the room that William had been in.
Sure enough, there was the doll where Elizabeth had been standing. She must have dropped it, Michael guessed. As he grabbed the doll, he couldn’t help but glance at the newest animatronic. If Michael remembered correctly, the animatronic was named Ballora.
It was a nice animatronic. It was slightly questionable, but the colors were nice. It was also nice that it could dance. Instead of standing in one place and singing.
Unable to help himself, he moved closer to the animatronic. He had a couple of moments to spare. He had been pretty quick in finding the doll. Especially since Elizabeth hadn’t said where the doll was.
He couldn’t help but feel as though he was breaking a rule, though. Which was weird, because Father had only ever told Elizabeth not to go near Circus Baby. He hadn’t said anything to Michael, so, technically he wasn’t breaking any rules. Michael ignored the small part of his brain that questioned why Elizabeth couldn’t see Circus Baby.
Stepping forward, Michael quietly whispered, “Ballora, Power on.” As he had heard his father say many times. He watched as the animatronic slowly came to life with intrigued eyes.
The animatronic stayed still for a moment before her eyes slowly slid open, revealing purple
eyes. Michael didn’t have the time to question the glowing before an agonizing pain hit him.
The doll that had been clutched in his hand fell to the floor in front of Ballora.
In front of the doll stood Ballora, now alone. Her eyes flashed blue before they slid shut.