Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dave Miller had many regrets in his life, echoes of the past flooded his mind. He wouldn’t fall into a state of depression, even in this endless plane of peace and comfort. He hated the way his mind would race. Which caused himself to panic as he felt as though he was missing something, like he was messing part of his soul, even though he had felt the flames dance on his skin, causing his more feral side had came into the afterlife, fully completing the Aubergine Man’s spirit and soul. His memories combined the two parts of himself connected.

He felt the blood of his victims on his hands sometimes when he shot up in his bed, a ghost of a heartbeat echoed into his ears and through his chest. He could remember the light leaving their eyes as their lives were cut short by a knife within his own hands. He could hear the echoes of his own laughs within his head, as if mocking his choices. No matter if he closed his eyes or not, he could see the visions that plagued his mind. Mocking him, echoing to himself that he didn’t deserve his happiest day. He caused so many problems in his life. He caused so much of his own downfall as well as those who had met them in their own lives.

It made him sick.

Sometimes, Dave dreamed about the void. It was very rare but when it happened he felt as though he was floating amongst the endless black nothingness, it calmed his being, as it didn’t made his thoughts go a million miles per minute. It even the more feral side of himself stayed calm and quiet there.

When he wasn’t dreaming, he stayed in the small home he had in the afterlife with Blackjack a reminder of the person he had left behind, who deserved to here and Dave would offer his own soul and being if he could see his old sport one more time.

His Jack.

Blackjack was his support, as the dog stayed beside Dave while he was awake, always sitting by the man’s feet or side. Blackjack was the reason he would get out of the small home, taking the dog out for a walk in the peaceful afterlife. That didn’t stop the whispers that the Aubergine Man heard about him from the others who lived in this afterlife. He noticed the small glances, the quiet whispers, and the hard glares that the other souls gave him. Dee and Peter had tried to calm the children, and had tried to explain why Dave was on this plane with him.

Somewhere in back of Dave’s mind he came to the conclusion the only reason they had done that was because of Jack, and how much Jack had cared about Dave. Not for the fact that they cared for him, but for the simple reason of keeping someone Jack had cared for close, and for their brother’s memory.

Today was just another day in the afterlife as far as Dave was concerned. He walked though his small home, hearing the little footsteps of Blackjack a step or two behind him. He tried to keep himself into a routine in the afterlife at least for the dog’s sake and what was left of his own sanity. He entered the small kitchen moving to get the dog his food out of its container. The black dog barked at him, sitting by his bowl.

“I know, Sport.” Dave mumbles under his breath. “Give me a minute.”

He turns and opens the container, scooping the cup of dog food into his hands. He closes the container again, before turning and walking over to the dog’s bowl on the floor, dumping the kibble into the red bowl. The dog barks, its tail wagging so much it pounds against the floorboards. He pats the dog’s head before turning to put the cup back into the container. He steals a glance to the dog, before starting to make some toast for himself.

He stopped questioning why he got hungry in the afterlife a month ago.

He started his toast and his morning coffee, making sure the machine was refilled with coffee grounds before he started it(He had already made that mistake of just making hot water). He turns to lean his back against the counter, closing his eyes as he listened to his surroundings. He heard the coffee maker behind him, as the low hum of the toaster as well. He heard Blackjack with his kibble. He could feel the counter under his fingertips, the smooth tile of the kitchen under him. His mind wandered off, feeling the sins of his life crawling up his spine. The blood dripping from his hands.

He felt sick, falling to his knees in the kitchen. He felt the hard tile under his body as he curled on his own body. He could hear Blackjack coming towards him, but he felt so broken. He felt Backjack sit in front of him, putting his paws on Dave’s legs and licking at his face, as if to calm the Aubergine Man. He felt himself flicker, as he slowly looked up to the dog in front of him, tears rolling down his face.

“I don’t deserve to be here.” He mumbles, slowly reaching out to the dog. “I don’t deserve to have a happiest day. I don’t deserve this peace.” Blackjack licks his hand before putting his chin against Dave’s palm. “I just want old Sport back. I just want to see my Jack. Is that too much to ask??” Tears roll down his face as he hiccups and his form flickers again, as he fazes in and out of existence. He notices with Blackjack’s head moved as though he was holding his chin and he felt cold air as the dog went through him. He saw the concern in the dog’s eyes as Blackjack whimpered, worried about the man. Blackjack whines as he sees Dave flicker. Dave panics, flickering as he pulls the dog close hugging the dog in his panic. He feels himself fading out of existence.

Blackjack sits in the middle of the kitchen were the Aubergine Man had sat confused before starting to bark loudly. The dog raised out the door barking as the toast finally popped up and the coffee machine went quiet.

Chapter Text

Dave felt like he was weightless, floating in the endless void, he didn’t know how long he had been there for.

Then, it just stopped, as he felt his body be tossed to solid ground. He felt a cold breeze go over his body, making him shiver. It reminded him of those cold New York winter nights of sleeping on rooftops and in the back alleys in Brooklyn. Dodging snowflakes and cars; people who didn’t care for the homeless lost child who took food from the dumpster to survive. He felt like his heart was pounding in his ears, he could barely hear anything else. He closed his eyes tight, wishing; praying that the memories would go away.

Slowly he felt the air get slightly warmer, like an early fall breeze that blew leaves around. That crisp early fall air and scents slowly entered Dave’s senses. It calmed him a little, as the air wasn’t as cold on his body and slowly, he looked up from the ground opening his eyes.

It was a little clearing, with a small cabin in the distance. He could see a little pond a bit away from him, the water slightly shimmering. There was a figure he could see, but couldn’t tell what it was. The place had an odd red tint to it, giving in to the fall feeling. Slowly, he stands up, feeling himself almost fully human here, but he still felt like himself on the flipside.

Somewhere, Dave wondered if this was a layer of the flipside, some deep part that they never needed to go into, he didn’t feel another soul here, just the figure that was fishing in the lake. Slowly, he stands, finding it difficult to get to his feet. He didn’t feel threatened here.

“William.” His eyes snap to the figure who had slightly turned his head, addressing the Aubergine Man. “Come sit. We have much to talk about.”

Dave felt the command of the figure’s voice, it reminded him a little of the Real Fredbear, but somehow different. Something almost more powerful than the Bear could ever be. Taking even steps, the Aubergine Man moves towards the figure nearing the log they were sitting on. He felt complied to follow the figure’s wishes, sitting the farthest away on the fallen log as he could from the powerful figure. He watches as the figure turns to look at him, silver eyes staring back at him. He felt like his soul has been stripped from his body, and laid bare for this being to judge. He felt the sins of his past come crawling up his spine, and it takes everything in Dave’s willpower to not shiver under their gaze. After a few uncomfortable moments, the figure turns to look back at the lake, casting his fishing line into the pond. Dave watches as the line sinks down under the water.

“William-“

“My… My name is Dave.” Dave whispers, not looking towards the being. “I wish to be called Dave….” He can feel the silver eyes of the being look back at him, as if studying him, before he sees a slight nod by the figure.

“…Okay Dave. If that is what you wish to be call, I will follow your wishes.” The Figure complies, looking back to the pond. It stays quiet between the two beings, as Dave nervously starts to play with the sleeves of his shirt. Finally, the silence gets to Dave, and he speaks up.

“What is your name?”

“The Children who come here call me Old Man Consequences. I am the protector of lost souls and spirits, as well as the keeper of making sure everyone gets their happiest day at the end for those who deserve it.”  The figure turns, and Dave can see a slight face. The silver eyes still stare into Dave’s soul, but Dave can make out the old man’s face. He can tell his being is not entirely human.

“I am not human. I am something much more forgiving for someone who doesn’t deserve it.”

Dave looks towards the lake, avoiding the old man’s sliver colored gaze. “I… I don’t deserve… I don’t deserve anything.”

“The sins of your past haunt you. You feel remorse and regret for the actions of your former self. So much so it followed you into your afterlife. It followed you and took a hold of your soul. Fear drives a soul to fight the afterlife to fight the peace that is suppose to heal their mind and spirit. It does not help that your soul was split prior to the afterlife due to you being trapped in your own creation. You have evils from a feral unreserved part of your soul.”  

“I need to go back. I promised I would take care of Blackjack-“

“Blackjack is fine, Dave. He will wait for you to return. I will make sure Fredbear tells him what is happening. I cannot send you back there; your soul is too restless. I fear that you will only crack your soul further if I allow you to go back. Tell me Dave Miller, what do you feel like you are missing?”

Dave tenses, eyes casting over to the lake. “I just want to see my Jack. He couldn’t come with us. I miss my old sport. I know he’s gone, but I can’t let him go.”

He hears the old man hum. “He’s not gone Dave. He’s out there, in the living world. His promise to Fredbear isn’t fully complete. He has more souls to free.” The Aubergine Man starts to grin, before he’s cut off. “I cannot send you back to the plane of reality, Dave. It is too dangerous for your soul, since your body was trapped inside your creation. I can however send you back to the flipside as a complete soul. You will be able to talk to and interact with Jack as he sees fit, but I cannot promise that Jack will return to the flipside. Life is ours to choose of course.”

“I… I can see my Jack again?”
“It is his choice, but that is an outcome.”

Dave nods. “Yes. Yes. I’ll do it!”

“You do realize that if you mess this up, your soul will be doomed to be in the flipside until the end of time. Choose wisely Mr. Afton.”

“I want a chance to tell Jack how much he meant to me. Even if I don’t get that chance I wouldn’t be able to stop my thoughts from asking ‘what if’.” Dave admits. The old man nods, accepting that answer.

“Very well. If that is your decision. Start into the pond, the water will drag you down. Where you end up is your flipside. I cannot promise it will look the same as it did before.”

Dave stands before starting to walk out to the shore. He turns around once he gets far enough seeing the old man’s silver eyes sparkle with gold. Dave feels himself sinking, like something’s pulling him down.

He was going to see his Jack Kennedy.

His Love.

Chapter Text

Jack Kennedy didn’t fully understand what was happening to them. He fulfilled his promise; he saved the children; he saved his family, he even saved his old boss.

He saved his Dave. He said his goodbyes. Why couldn’t he just die?

Some part of him wanted to blame Harry, Jake, and Roger; his three past managers. He wanted to blame them for dragging him out of the fire, worrying over him. Some part of him wanted to blame them for not letting him die. But that would just be cruel of him, wouldn’t it? He begged to be saved; it’s what caused him to have this curse immortal life in the first place. Jack couldn’t blame the phone men even if he wanted to. It would be selfish. They cared about him. Who knew Roger forgot to give his keys back.

The past few months had been quiet, only changed by the weather outside turning colder, as winter had slowly taken a hold. Jack kept inside his home, only leaving to go meet with the three phone men. It was boring, but their body wouldn’t die.

You won’t die; you are not finished yet.

Jack couldn’t recognize the voice; it didn’t sound like anything or anyone that he had ever met. It sounded more powerful than what the real Fredbear was. Some part of his mind decided it was better not to question this new voice.

The tv flickered with some mindless advertisement that was showing during the middle of the night, something about Tupperware. They really weren’t paying attention. He let out a sigh, before turning off the tv. The house turned quiet, as he made sure the home was locked up. If it had been a few months ago he wouldn’t have bothered with checking the locks; Dave always found a way in if the man really wanted to. Dave was gone now, and his body in that old moldy rabbit suit was buried six feet under the ground. Jack knew the Aubergine Man couldn’t come back.

But he always did come back.

Jack locked the front door before starting up the stairs to his bedroom. Stepping up the final step into the hallway he noticed the door at the other end of the always was cracked open. He tilts his head, knowing that it’s been closed since the day he came home after the fire. Slowly he walks down the hall, walking his office. The door’s hinges whine in protest as he pushes it open and his eyes cast over the room. His eyes focus on the old arcade machine that sits by the back wall. Its screen was casting a low light in the dark room, casting shadows on the tools and desk that sat in the room. Jack swore that the arcade had shut down and wouldn’t turn back on after that day. It was the reason he closed his office door in the first place.

Slowly, Jack stepped inside. His eyes still focused on the arcade in front of them. They wondered why it powered back on. He tried to figure out what was showing, but he couldn’t figure out what was through the static of the screen. He puts a hand on the screen, closing his eyes and focusing his conscious into the cabinet. They felt their mind live their body, and entered the machine.

It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the flipside. The room he entered wasn’t what Jack was expecting; rather than opening his eyes to a Freddy’s location he found himself at the doorstep of what seemed to be a home in the middle of a wooden area. It looked small but well kept on the outside, other than the leaves that were in the yard. Looking around he saw a tire swing that was hanging off the tree in the front yard; it looked almost brand new as if it had just been put up.

Jack didn’t recognize this home.

He shook his head, before turning back to the front door. He pulses a second before knocking on the door. He heard a crash inside, like a glass plate had been dropped by someone. He heard the shuffling of feet and footsteps against wooden floorboards with a quiet. “Wait a minute!” from the other side.

He knew that New York accent. He knew that voice. But that was impossible, he had seen Dave pass through the white light into the afterlife with Blackjack in his arms. Before Jack could have a second thought the door opened, his eyes met almost grey looking eyes that stared back at him, as if he had been caught off guard by Jack’s arrival.

“…Jack?”

“…Dave…?” Jack tilts his head, before his body is crushed into a hug by the other man. Jack froze up, his body tensing at the other man touch. He felt warm, not the coldness of another corpse. He felt the man un-hug him, but grabbed his shoulders.

 “Old Sport! God, it’s so good to see you, Sportsy!”

Jack looked up to meet the man’s eyes again, noticing some major changes. The Aubergine Man looked different; for starters his body wasn’t aubergine anymore. He looked almost sunburnt. His spine didn’t look as curved anymore, as he stood with good posture. His hair was in a small ponytail; it was aubergine colored, but Jack could see black in his roots. His skin wasn’t rotten and decaying.

Dave looked alive.

He looked human.

“Dave, what-“ Jack’s mind couldn’t comprehend the man standing before him. Before Jack could ask a question the aubergine hair man pulled him inside the house and he was engulfed into another bone crushing hug.

“I’d knew you come back, you always do!” Dave picks up Jack within the hug and spins him. It causes Jack to blush and fight back to get down.

 “Dave, please put me down!”

“Sportsy! I-“

“Dave, Stop spinning me! Put me down!” The shorter man protests again. He sees the frown that crosses Dave’s face before setting Jack back on his feet. Jack takes a step back, brushing himself off and getting the wrinkles out of his shirt before looking back to Dave. “Dave, why are you here? I thought you went with Blackjack.”

“I did.” Dave admits. “I wasn’t happy, I…” The aubergine hair man sighs, before turning and starting to walk. “it’s better if you come sit with me.” Jack tilts his head before following Dave into a small dining room.

The table itself was littered with stacks of papers and only had a small clear space. Jack guessed it was so Dave could eat in that spot. Dave clears a small space on the table across from him, before moving the chair out for the orange man to sit. Jack raises an eyebrow before taking the seat. Dave nods before moving to sit in the chair across from where Jack was. It’s quiet between the two men, and Dave plays with a black ring on his left middle finger.

“Dave.” Jack notices how the man meets his eyes nervously. “Why aren’t you still in the afterlife?”

Dave breaks eye contact with Jack. “I felt guilt.” The aubergine hair man mumbles just loud enough for Jack to understand him. “Little did I know having a complete and whole soul would make me actually feel guilty for my actions.”

Jack looks confused for a second, before shifting in the chair. “You feel guilt for your actions?”

“Funny; ain’t it?" The once purple man mumbles. “The kiddie strangler feels guilty for the lives he ended. For all the blood that has been on his hands. You can laugh Jack, God knows I would if I was in your shoes.”

“No; no Dave. I’m not gonna laugh. Hell, I….“ Jack trails off before shaking his head, clearing that thought. “What brought you back to the flipside? this, this is the flipside right?”

Dave gives a small sharp nod. “Yep. I flickered out of the afterlife and ended in this weird red tinted flipside with a pond and an odd figure. They said the children who visited them called them Old Man Consequences. They felt way more powerful then the Real Fredbear ever could be. They said they could sent me here, as it wasn’t safe for them to send me to reality. Something about my body being trapped in my creation.”

“Dave, your body was trapped in the spring bonnie suit remember? Your body is six feet under the ground. You’re physically gone.”

“I remember.” Dave gives a small nod. “I remember the fire. Wait how are you still alive? I thought your body burned inside the building.”

“It doesn’t matter right now.” Jack states, they notice how Dave gives them a look that they ignore. “Anyways.”

“…right, old Sport. Anyways he said you could help me with my guilt as apparently there is still things that can be helped in reality. My memories are still somewhat fuzzy on some things; having your soul literally split in half does that apparently.”

Jack nods. “I understand, I think I do anyways.” Jack thinks. “Well, I know the children are all free and Fazbear entertainment is no longer a thing. I still own the rights to the franchise.”

“…Afton robotics is probably still in business.” Dave states, looking to Jack.

“Yes, but they don’t make robots anymore.” Jack pulses, thinking back to when his employee Walt died in the springlock suit and how surprised Harry had been when Jack refused to send his body to the factory and instead they buried his body. “They were still making phone guys; Fuck they’re still selling phone guys.”

 “Bingo, old sport. Taking down Afton Robotics will be a great first step.”

“Dave, I don’t know if I own the rights to Afton Robotics, nor do I know how to get those rights or who would have it.” He watched as Dave waved his hands.

“Nonsense, Old sport. It is in your name if anything happened to me. So, you do have the rights to Afton Robotics.”

“What!?”

“It’s, uh, something I did as Davetrap, apparently. The paperwork should be in your office; in the box on the floor by the arcade cabinet. I’m uh, sorry for always breaking and entering by the way.”

“…Huh. Good to know. So would that be a good start?”

“Of course! I’d ask your phonies if they can tell you about the factory. I can’t say I’ve been there since the early 2000s.” Dave watches as Jack stands up.

“Sorry Dave. I hate to cut our meeting short but I would like to get back to reality before the sun rises.”

“O-Oh.” Jack can hear the disappointment in Dave’s voice. “You promise to come back, right old sport?”

“Of course Davey.” Jack gives a soft smile to aubergine hair man who gives a slight small smile back to the orange man. “You’re the aubergine to my tangerine, remember?”

The man smiles for Jack starts towards the door, the taller man follows him like a sad puppy. “Please don’t get into trouble with some higher up being while I’m gone.” Jack opens the door before stepping out. He glances back at the aubergine hair man who stands right in the front doorway, but doesn’t dare step outside. “I love you, Dave.”

“I-I love you too, Jack.”

And with that, Jack closes his eyes as his mind gains consciousness back into reality, leaving the aubergine hair man on the flipside by himself.