Chapter Text
The sun rises and it sets.
We breathe in and out
We eat
We sleep
We walk
We talk
We live
That is how you operate, you have been told how to move, look and think.
You are not independent, you are part of a big operation, to please and help those who can afford you. You must please your master in any way that is asked of you, if you disobey you will be terminated.
These were the first few words you met before they fully activated you. A bright light blinded your eyes, your breathing was fast, a high pitched sound rang in your ears. Your skin was chilled to the bone, you gaze wandered down to your flesh, and no clothes were upon you. A computer called to you.
"Subject 1513, respond."
You looked up to find the source of the voice but found nothing, the room was white and empty just like your knowledge about yourself. In front of you was a large glass that reflected you standing in one spot, feet strapped down. On the floor below you a conveyor belt of sorts that led to the right, everything was pristine clean, no spec of imperfection.
You looked left then right the walls and ceiling bared down on you, you felt trapped and lonely. You didn't like it here and you didn't like the fact you had no clothes on. You looked down to your hands, you skin was clean and soft, they felt alien to you, your whole body didn't feel like it was yours.
"Subject 1513, respond."
A small opening on the ceiling revealed a small ball with one big blue eye; the thing was on the end of a white metal like arm with two small arms protruding from the sides of it. The thing got closer to you its small mechanical arms twisted and poked your skin. You flinched at the small burning white pain it left behind and a warm trickle left the spot.
You studied the red liquid with curiosity, it was something magical to view, what were you?
"Subject 1513, respond."
You looked back to the orb; its head getting closer to your face, its blue eye was beautiful and relaxing.
"Subject 1513, unresponsive to verbal commands, suggest termination."
"Termination?" You said softly.
It turned back to you and studied you more. "Subject 1513, respond."
"Hello…friend."
The conveyor moved you away from the robot, both you and it staring at one another. A small part of the wall slid up swallowing you into another room then slammed shut leaving you in another empty room, except this time there were two people to your right.
You leaned forward to study the people next to you, one was a man the other a woman. Both of them looked blank and empty, there skin clean and perfect, their eyes glazed. You waved at them to see if they would respond but you gained nothing from them.
"Hello." You spoke softly. "Who are you?"
But there was no response, you sighed and looked ahead, back in your normal place. A screen slid down from the ceiling in front of the first person. A beep echoed in the room and a voice boomed down the mic.
"Hello subjects! When the screen is in front of you, I want you to read it out loud! Alright let's start! Subject 1511."
"I am your Animator, my primary function is to serve you, do with me as you wish." The man's voice was plain and monotone; it displeased you and scared you. You knew you were different than these two and you hoped that was a good thing.
"Wonderful! Isn't he wonderful?"
"I don't give a shit four eyes." The man with the crazy speaking woman practically spat out these words.
"Oh you bore!" She giggled.
"Get on with it! I can't believe my disciplinary is watching over you for a few weeks."
"Well, you did beat that guy half to death Captain."
"Tch. Fuck off he deserved it, the little shit."
"Yeah, yeah, well next hmmm, Subject 1512."
The screen slid to the woman next to you and she repeated the same words in the same way as the man before her. It didn't make sense why they were so empty inside, you wanted to escape from here but you didn't know how. You heard the crazy 'four eyes' was laughing away at the quick and simply response and her male friend again spouted hatred about her and being here.
"Alright Subject 1513 next and oh aren't they beautiful? I like this one a lot."
"Hmm." That's all the man could muster as a response.
The word beautiful ran through your head, what did she mean? You didn't understand the term, but you wanted to, you wanted to know so much.
The screen appeared in front of you, but all you could do was stare at it. You didn't want to live the life of some empty obeying soulless thing, you wanted to live. You were told at the beginning that we live, so, why is it that right now, being here didn't feel like it? Why is it that running away, far away somewhere felt like living?
"Alright Subject 1513? Are you alright? Are we having a hard time processing things in your brain?"
You looked down at your feet and wiggled your toes; the clasps were too tight on your ankles for you to break free.
"Subject 1513? " She sang. "Please read what is in front of you."
You thought it over.
A life full of doing things others wanted you to do.
A life full of doing things you didn't want to do.
A life full of regret.
A life full of injustice.
A life with no freedom.
That was no life at all.
"Subject 1513? Please read what is in front of you." She asked again and you could only think of one response.
"No."
Silence, no one said a word, the screen was still in front of you, the empty shells of people next to you were unresponsive. You squeezed your eyes tight and your hands flexed open and closed waiting for something. You could hear your fast heart beat in your ears, your breath was shaky. You were experiencing an emotion that was building up within you, but you didn't know what it was.
"Wait…..what?"
You couldn't speak, you knew you had made a mistake in saying no, but it had felt right at the time.
You squeezed your hands tight and wished for it all to go away, for someone or something to take all of this out of sight and mind.
"Subject 1513 did you just say no?"
"Yes." You couldn't control yourself anymore.
"Do you understand your function?"
"Yes, but I don't want to."
"What do you want to do Subject 1513?"
The screen rose up and you thought about you answer. You looked up to the mirror hoping you made eye contact with one of them.
You breathed in deep. "To be free."
"Subject 1513….you?"
"I want to be free."
The man let out a small, quick and dry laugh. "Interesting, don't you think four eyes?"
"Shh! I've never had a Subject question its commands before."
"Now what?
"I'd love to study it, but it would be against the rules."
"I'm here; you really think I'm going to follow rules?"
"Captain, Subject 1513 could be dangerous."
You cleared your throat. "Hello?"
They both went quiet, but the 'four eyes' was first to answer you.
"Hello, Subject 1513."
"Tch. Hey."
You smiled at their response, they wanted to reach out to you, and they wanted to understand you as much as you wanted to understand yourself.
"Subject 1513?" She asked.
"Yes?"
"Although, you are unique and fascinating, I have some bad news."
"What?" You whimpered.
"Subject 1513? You are a faulty animator, therefore…..you are scheduled for termination."
"Why? I don't understand! Please! Help me!"
Small flying bots entered the room by the ceiling and a long metal bed rose from the floor. You kicked and fought as they dragged you to the table and strapped you down. Your heart was loud in your ears, you palms sweaty, your breath erratic and your mind confused. The cold bite of the table calmed you down; your chest slowly rose and fell as the part of the wall rose up to reveal a woman and a man.
The woman had brown hair pulled back into a messy pony tail, her oval glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. Her brown eyes gazed down at you; they were riddled with sadness and pain. The soft skin of her hand brushed your face and she placed her forehead to yours.
"I'm sorry Subject 1513, but I have to follow the rules." She produced a needle and tapped it a few times and let a sigh escape her lips.
You looked to the man on the other side of you; his steely grey eyes studied you, his raven undercut hair was slicked back. His dark red purple smart shirt clung to his chest; his long black coat tumbled past the table.
You searched his eyes for something but they were dark and hollow providing no comfort.
"Alright, Captain you're my witness. Today is the 2nd July 4223, Subject 1513 is a failure therefore termination has been scheduled. Captain, do you agree to this?"
You looked to the man and he clicked his tongue "Fine."
You squeezed your hands tight and began to shake slightly; you thought that maybe this termination will grant you some sort of freedom. You opened your eyes and felt something warm slide from your eyes down your cheek. The woman gasped at the sight of it and the man showed small signs of surprise.
"Subject 1513?" The man asked.
You let out a wobbly breath "I'm scared."
He looked at the woman and back down to you; his eyes searched the air in front of him as if he was running thoughts through his mind. The woman sighed and moved closer with the needle and wiped your skin clean.
"Such a shame and a loss."
"No."
She looked to her wrist and saw the vice grip the man had on her. She gazed at his eyes and saw the serious cold look he had, he wasn't going to let her go.
"Look."
"No, just listen to me four eyes."
She sighed. "Alright, speak."
Your eyes darted back and forth, your mind was blank, but your heart was racing. You didn't understand what he was doing; the man with such harsh eyes was helping you. His stormy eyes looked down on you but instead of holding coldness about them, they were soft and caring.
"We can't terminate Subject 1513." He looked back up to his female companion.
"I can't break the rules, no matter how much I want to keep Subject 1513."
"Subject 1513, could be useful to us."
She looked at you "You're right, Subject 1513 could be."
"Fuck the rules, do what is right."
"But Captain?"
"Subject 1513 is unique; you're a fucking freak for unique things, right?"
"Of course."
"Then break the fucking rules and save this unique, beautiful creature. Come on you shitty four eyes."
You looked to the woman you're eyes pleading and hoping she would show you mercy, that she would give you freedom.
"Please."
"Computer? Termination was successful release the body."
The grips released you allowing you to breath in your first breath of freedom. The air kissed the inside of your lungs and planted a seed within you, one that would bloom into something beautiful.
The man helped you to stand up; you sighed and looked up at him with a small smile on your face. You stepped forward and fell into his arms, your legs were like jelly but you were thankful to them because this man that held you was breathtakingly handsome.
His muscles pressed against your chest and stomach sending a fluttering feeling through you. His scent was like the ocean and his arms that circled around you were strong and protective. A slight red tinge crept across his face as he looked down at your face; he pulled his gaze away from you to let out a 'Tch.'
You looked to your hands pressed against his chest to hide your face; you didn't want his face to change, because when it did, it confused you.
"Thank you." You whispered.
The woman laughed and patted your head and said "No problem kiddo. We better leave soon Captain."
He gritted his teeth. "Yeah, yeah you shit."
"Hey kiddo?" She smiled at you in the man's arms. "The names Doctor Hange Zoe. We should give you a name don't you think?"
You softly said your name, something that had been at the back of your mind since you woke up. This name held some faded memories that were just out of reach, but would soon be in your grasp and reveal to you the horrible truth about the world.
You smiled at her, but a deep rough voice saying your name broke your concentration. You looked up to the man's soft and comforting grey eyes.
"Captain Levi Ackerman."