Work Text:
Henry had known Bill longer than he’d known his kids. That’s a fact, an objective fact cannot be disproven unless by another, therefore, facts were truth. Henry’s the kind of man who believes in the truth contained in fact rather than the unreliable subjective sentiments.
If asked, Henry can confidently describe his business partner by facts formed from interactions they’ve shared for ten years. That much is true when they opened their first restaurant together. It’s still true when both of them lost their sons and daughters. And it continues to be true even as he stood in front of Bill’s empty coffin.
Henry had then led an investigation, as whether dead or alive, he was determined to bring his business partner back. Because the facts he can pull from Bill made him worth searching for.
(-The subjective guilt of abandoning his life amidst the grief to someone else who lost as much certainly had no factor on it. Not attending Bill’s youngest son funeral and not noticing his college friend disappearance until his funeral’s notice also definitely had not factored on his, desperate-sounding as the police commented, investigation)
It’s also the same truth which brought him to where he currently stood. Inside the empty, undusted office, lies the result of his half-a-year worth of effort of day and nights, tails and dead ends, and newspapers and documents.
A blueprint. No, multiple blueprints.
Blueprints with contents containing features sounding straight from fiction. One-of-a-kind, really. He had stood there for seemingly hours (his watch denied otherwise), yet still unable to fathom the purpose, or even the fact that those animatronic existed outside those blueprints. Animatronics for children entertainments carrying the intention to lure and lethally capture kids. It’s a little ironic, but fits his friend's love for theatrics, Henry dared to muse.
Bill had created the animatronic, it’s an undeniable fact. (-unless some unknown genius his level somehow had framed his partner, which is unlikely for multitudes of reasons). He also knew for a fact Bill also had no reason to create something with such intentions.
But yet he did, and two contradictory truths cannot co-exist together. Thus, the fact which consequently solves the contradiction will exist as the new truth.
And for the very first time, He desperately wished to believe on a lie.
Henry knew nothing about William.
Ten years. Of nights filled with discussion and ideas. Of months planning and building the diner. Of years working together. And he couldn’t describe what kind of a person William is.
It’s so ridiculous. Ridiculous enough, he might have let out a chuckle. Maybe even a full-blown hysterical laughing fit, but he felt too out of it to know. It’s fine. There's only a single person witnessing what's inside the office. Together with the blueprints and the lies, he can ask the witness later.