The Lost Number (A Darling in the Franxx male reader insert)

Prologue 2

Prologue 2: The Lab

Everything was dark and hard and your head was still ringing. Trying to roll over didn't work either, as you felt a tug on your ankles and wrists. The coldness of the metal on them hadn't been apparent at first due to how badly your skin was burning.

You moved up, testing the length of the chains. The room had to be quite small as well, since you could reach both of the walls adjacent to the one you were tied to. Returning next to the wall you bumped into something. Looking at it more closely you realized it was a book. The picture book. You took it and stuffed it inside your clothing, clinging to it.

Just in time as well, since a pair of steps suddenly stopped and a light crack appeared along the wall opposite to you, the door opening fully soon after. You stood in the same place, curling up tighter. While the first escape had worked you were quite certain it wasn't an option anymore. As such you let yourself be dragged off with minimal resistance. While walking through the hall you noticed various rooms with more adults inside. And you soon entered one, being tied to the table and blindfolded. Then you felt a stab in your arm and heard some hushed voices.

"What are you doing to me?" you asked.

Unsurprisingly there was no reply and without a way to move you were forced to wait. Then, a good while later, a male voice spoke out, loud enough for you to hear:

"We found him with the girl. His yellow cell count came back inconclusive. We don't know where he's from."

"We'll have to check the records of pruned children. For now put him with code 002. He might tame her a bit."

You were roughly grabbed and thrown back onto the ground shortly after. This time though you felt someone else.

"Daling! Daling!" the girl said, grasping at your blindfold.

"Zero Two!" you replied as you could finally see her. "I'm so glad you're fine!"

The girl smiled weakly at you and you returned it. Things could definitely be worse. Then, moving simultaneously you both reached underneath your clothes and pulled out something, presenting it. You both chuckled, looking away, before exchanging the objects. From all of the pages you had taken only one was left. Your crude attempt at a portrait. It was a little embarrassing if you were to be honest, but appreciated. You fell asleep reading the book out loud.

The next morning was different. As the adult entered the room you grabbed Zero Two's hand as she growled at the her, causing her to slow down. You then began stroking her hair, whispering in her ear. You were put through a variety of tests, before another adult took you aside and strapped you to a table, much to Zero Two's distress.

A man with metallic implants appeared, looking at you with an expression you couldn't quite read. Zero two began screaming, trying to break free from the assistant that was holding her, covering up what words were being exchanged. A flash and a beep later you felt searing pain in your arm. The process repeated twice, before you passed out, as a new person entered the room.

You woke up later with Zero Two licking your arm. Looking at it you saw a hole, quite small for the amount of pain you had felt. Getting up you managed to see a different room, reminiscent of the one you had found Zero Two inside. It only lasted for a second, as you were tackled down by the girl, coming face to face with her.

"Did they hurt you?" you asked, getting a shake in return. "Good… that's good…" you continued, falling back into unconsciousness.

Timeskip

It had been two days and you had gone through a gauntlet of testing, mostly Franxx related, but also biological. While in the middle of the final test, as you were about to pass out, a person entered the room.