How Does Michael Afton X Reader Fiction Handle His Fear Of Intimacy Post-Ennard?

I’ve noticed a lot of 'FNaF' fics tackle Michael’s post-Ennard trauma by making him physically and emotionally distant at first. Writers often describe his skin as cold or scarred, flinching at touch like he’s still haunted by the remnant. One recurring theme is the reader character slowly melting his defenses—maybe they’re a mechanic fixing his voice box, or a night guard who recognizes the hollow look in his eyes. The best stories don’t rush it; they show him relearning trust through small acts, like sharing his past in broken sentences or gripping someone’s hand during a nightmare. Some fics blend horror with tenderness, like Michael waking from a flashback to find the reader humming a lullaby his mother used to sing. Others explore his guilt manifesting as self-sabotage, pushing people away until someone stubbornly stays. A unique twist I loved had him bonding with a fellow survivor over shared silence, communicating through notes instead of words.

The way fanfiction handles Michael Afton’s intimacy issues post-Ennard is fascinating because it often mirrors real trauma responses. Many stories emphasize his dissociation—how he zones out during conversations or forgets to eat, his body running on autopilot. One fic depicted him compulsively cleaning his wounds, not because they’re fresh, but because he’s trying to scrub away the memory of being hollowed out. The reader character typically becomes his anchor, whether through tactile routines like braiding his hair (to remind him he has a body) or challenging his avoidance. I’ve read fics where they drag him to therapy sessions with phone calls disguised as ‘pizza orders,’ using coded language to discuss his progress.

Some narratives dive into the grotesque beauty of his condition. Imagine a scene where the reader traces the seams of his reconstructed torso, and instead of recoiling, Michael laughs bitterly about how it’s the first time he’s felt human in years. Other fics cross genres, like a noir-style story where he’s a detective avoiding emotional entanglements until his partner (the reader) gets injured protecting him. The tension between his desire for connection and his fear of hurting others drives these plots. Longer stories often show him regaining autonomy—choosing to initiate contact, or using his knowledge of animatronics to build something gentle, like a music box for the reader. The most poignant fics don’t erase his trauma but let it evolve, turning his scars into proof of survival.

Michael’s fear of intimacy in fanfiction often ties into his guilt over the Bite of ’83 and his father’s crimes. Writers love putting him in scenarios where he‘s convinced he’s contagious—like his touch will spread the Afton ‘curse.’ I’ve seen fics where he wears gloves 24/7, or avoids sleep to dodge nightmares of Ennard’s tendrils. The reader character usually breaks through by appealing to his protective instincts; maybe they’re a new hire at Freddy’s who’s too curious for their own good, or a neighbor who keeps ‘accidentally’ leaving soup at his door.

Physical touch is rarely straightforward. One story had him tolerating shoulder pats only if the reader counted down first, like desensitization therapy. Another fic explored his jealousy toward normal couples, staring at their linked hands before furiously scrubbing animatronic parts. The best portrayals show intimacy beyond romance—like teaching the reader self-defense so they’ll ‘need him less,’ or letting them listen to his static-filled heartbeat. A standout AU reimagined him as a sculptor, shaping clay figures to replace the family he lost, until the reader convinces him to mold something for the future instead.