Chapter Text
Ivan’s face felt plasticy and unnatural. He shifted the features of his face, clenching and unclenching his jaw, feeling how stiff it was. He overheard an alien speaking quietly to another, claiming that he would get used to it quickly.
Ivan doesn’t think he could.
The red eyed boy brought his hands up to his face, observing them. The front looked artificially smooth, oddly perfect. Turning his arms over, he looked at the fading pinkish blurs charring his skin, with a unphased face. They didnt fix the back of his arms. People wouldn’t see the back, Ivan thought with an oddly bitter note.
He watched a bustle of aliens quickly wander around the small off white walled room which he sat in. They didn’t notice that the man they had dedicated the last 7 years of their life to, was awake. Ivan had been in and out of a cryo sleep, only awakened for more medical tests and syringe injections which he didn’t remember.
Ivan sat up slowly, leaning on his hands. Suddenly the aliens closest to him startled, staring with wide eyes. Gradually, all the other aliens turned to him, the noise of moving and conversation had stopped. Instantly, every being started talking at once, a few rushing up to him and touching him- checking his pulse, holding his hand, pushing him back down.
Everyone was moving ,lively, maybe cheerily, except for Ivan.
Ivan who was sickly pale and stiff.
Ivan who had just remembered Till, a wave of nerves and dread washing over him.
Ivan who was unnaturally still, like he was a corpse, like he was dead.
Ivan who almost wishes that he was.