He felt something. It was a tingle, going through his arms and down to the tips of his fingers. It was odd. It was cold. It was new.
He felt something like wood beneath his hands, and the lose restrains around his wrists, fastening him to the board. The air felt hot, from the remaining sparks of electricity and the leftover kerosen of lamps hanging above him. The thunder outside grumbled while the boy tried to open his eyes.
They weren't his own, or at least, not the same...did he even HAVE the same eyes? He couldn't remember.
All he knew was that he was alive. And that in itself, was a wonder.
The boy could see his hands and legs tied to the board. He was fastened good and tight, and his body looked very strange. His skin was stitched with black thread and buttons, and the tags on him were colored green and gray, like he was a makeshift ragdoll.
His hair, black and ruffled, got in the way of his eyes as he faintly blew them from his view. He was in a laboratory, with lights and switches and a scientist working away at a table not far from where he was laying.
"Hhh..." he could mutter. He couldn't exactly speak.
"One moment, I have one last thing to check.." the doctor said.
The boy groaned; he felt tired.
The scientist finally arrived by his side. Taking off the goggles he wore, he revealed his bright blue eyes. The boy got a semi-better look at him; grey and brown haired, a serious expression and a demeanor much like a rouge assassin.
"Hmm...you seem to be alright. Tell me, can you understand me?"
The boy nodded faintly; the scientist nodded back.
"Good, good. Well...welcome to your new life, my boy. You'll be feeling a little bit shaken up for the next few days, but eventually it'll be fine. Also, since your vocal chords haven't been used in a while, you can't talk too much. Is that understood?"
The boy only muttered "MMHMM" in reply.
"Nice. Okay, well, I'm Brian; kinda your...maker. You can just call me Brian or Dr. Wecht, whichever you prefer. And...you might need a new name."
"Dan, Arin!" Brian called. The boy lifted his head faintly as he heard footsteps coming from a doorway, and to his shock, two more people much like him came into the lab. One was scrawny and tall, with curly hair going everywhere and one ghost grey streak in the front. The other was mildly larger, with short brown hair, facial hair, and a blonde streak on his locks. They both grinned upon seeing the boy on the table.
"Awww Brian, he's so cute!! You made him perfectly." the tall one gasped, going over to the boy's side.
The other came over and nodded "Yep, he looks pretty good to me."
"Good to know, but I do need some help with a name for him." Brian replied.
"Oh, umm...oh boy, I don't think we came up with any beforehand, Arin." the tall one frowned. 'Arin' thought for a moment "Yeah...I don't think we did. I guess, we make up one right now?"
"Oh oh, um...what about...Leigh?"
The boy tilted his head at the name.
"Nah I don't think he likes that one." Arin said. "What about...Joseph?"
The boy didn't like Joseph.
"I was thinking maybe...Michael or Stephen." Brian suggested.
"Stephen...Stephen...Steven...Steve..." the tall one mumbled.
The boy heard the last name and nodded.
This got the tall one's attention "Wait, Steve? You wanna be called Steve?"
The boy nodded again. He liked it.
"I think you got the right name for him, Dan." Arin smiled. This made 'Dan' suddenly hug Steve right on the board, which was somewhat uncomfortable and a bit awkward.
"Welcome to the family, Steve!!" Dan said excitingly.
Steve was...very confused.
