1st Mission - The landing

Shinji Ikari was aware of the looks he was receiving from the other passengers, and admittedly he couldn't really blame them. It wasn't everyday that you see a 14 years old boy wearing the prestigious uniform of the SeeD afterall.

10 YEARS BEFORE

Young Shinji looked in awe at the enormous building before him. Then, bringing himself to move, he went to the entry with his trolley. He had to admit it, this Garden sure made a big impact. He was in the main hall, a big circular structure with many corridors leading in various rooms and a big elevator right in the middle, with many people of different age, from children of his age to veteran SeeDs.

"Wow..." Said Shinji, then with a tiny excited grin he began to explore the place drawing the attention of the many persons in there. He laughed out loud to the sight of a desperate blondie who's been denied a burger from the canteen-lady, he didn't remember a time when he laughed so much, he was an introverted and shy boy afterall. Never in his 4 years of life had he been so excited. He continued to explore the place, ending up in the library. He again felt himself in awe.

"So many books..." The boy whispered.

Shinji ran toward the nearest bookshelf, he took a random book and began to flip through the pages even if he wasn't capable to read yet. Still browsing the book, he suddenly felt a touch on his shoulder, making him jerk away from it, almost falling in the process. He turned around and saw a blond girl who was smiling to him, making him blush. He tried to drift away from her, wondering what she wanted from him. Introverted and shy indeed.

The girl softly smiled at him, trying to make him feel at ease. "First time here ?" Shinji just nodded shyly. 'What a shy boy..:' The girl thought. She bent down to be on the same eye level of Shinji and with the softest voice she could muster said: "Do you want me to take you to the headmaster ?"

Shunji blushed even more, wondering why this girl was so nice to him, he didn't even know her ! He began to fidget nervously when he decided to speak up hoping to not make a fool of himself on his first day in the Garden.

"There's no need to, miss. I don't want t-to be a burden to you..." The boy stammered shyly. The girl chuckled, it was the softest thing that Shinji ever heard in his young life.

"Oh my, so young but so well-mannered !" She smiled then continued, "How old are you sweety ?"

"Four..." Said Shinji blushing even more.

The girl stretched her hand out, for the boy to take. "C'mon, sweetheart, I'll take you to the headmaster's office." Said the girl smiling sweetly to the boy.

Shinji bit his lower lip, he really didn't know what to do now. A pretty girl just offered to help him find the way to the headmaster, a girl who he never met. Shinji was a nice boy, but his past experiences taught him to be wary of people. Not too long ago he was abandoned by his own father, entrusted to a man he never met before. At only four, Shinji knew the pain of loneliness and betrayal, it's obvious that something like that would leave a sign on the boy.

But this girl...He didn't know how to describe it, but he felt something different from her. He felt safe. There weren't many people that could make him feel like this. And so he took her hand and just for this time he decided to trust this girl. With this thought he began to smile, only a little, but hey it was a start.

The girl entwined her fingers with Shinji's and lead him out of the library and toward the elevator.

"What's your name ?" Asked the girl on their way to the elevator.

"Shinji...Shinji Ikari." Answered Shinji.

"I'm Quistis. Nice to meet you Shinji." Answered the girl now know as Quistis with a smile. Shinji just replied with a shy: "Nice to meet you too…"

Quistis took Shinji to the elevator, and together went to the third floor, where the headmaster's office was located. Shinji hung his head low staring the floor, he was very nervous, unconsciously he squeezed Quistis' hand. The girl's grip on his hand tightened, Shinji looked up to meet Quists' eyes, trying to find some reassurance. Quistis was smiling at him, Shinji found himself smiling back, reassured by the girl next to him. The elevator stopped with a 'bing', the two passengers step out and went ahead toward the headmaster's office. Now Shinji's anxiety came back with full force, they were right in front of the office, Quistis knocked on the door and opened it, Shinji took a deep breath and went in. There were two people inside, a man with blue eyes and brown hair behind a desk, who Shinji considered to be Headmaster Cid, and a young man with brown hair a deep blue eyes. The thing that more caught Shinji's eyes was the scar that ran diagonally on the man's forehead.

"-and that is all, sir."

"Ok Squall you can g-Oh Quistis, didn't see you there, and..who's this young man ?"

Shinji actually considered the idea to hide behind Quistis' legs when all the attention of the room was focused on him. He gulped very hard when he felt the scarred man's intense gaze on him, he felt like he was being studied, and the fact that the man oddly reminded him of a lion didn't really make him feel better. At this point Shinji kinda expected the man to growl and jump on him. And eat him. Now the idea to hide behind Quists' legs didn't seem so silly. Only Quistis gentle push made him realize that he was standing there like a fool, he looked up and saw Quistis mouthing the words 'C'mon'. Finding some reassurance in the girl, he took a step ahead getting more close to the men and presented himself.

"My name is Shinji Ikari, sir. My tutor have sent a letter with a request for my enrollment in this academy."

Shinji felt quite happy with himself, he actually talked without stuttering and so without making a fool of himself, which happened quite a lot, Shinji thought gloomily.

"Shinji Ikari…Yes, I should have that letter right here."

The headmaster opened a drawer and looked though various files searching the one he needed. At least he found the one putting it on the desk.

"Here it is. Ok Shinji, we've already accepted your request, I guess that now you're part of this academy."

Shinji tried to control his emotions at best, but he couldn't really stop the ear splitting grin.

"But.."

Which quickly turned in a frown.

"I know that's not really any of my business but I have to ask you this."

Shinji looked nervously at the headmaster, his serious face was beginning to unsettle him

"Son, are you really sure that this is what you really want ?"

Shinji just nodded vigorously. Headmaster Cid grimaced and continued.

"Shinji you have to understand, being a SeeD is.." Cid struggled to find the right words, then he continued: "..Hard. It is a very difficult and dangerous life, people get hurt all the time and well-" Cid sighed then scratched the back of his head. "Well what i really want to say is that you're young Shinji, are you sure that you want to do this kind of choice so early ? You can wait 'til you get bigger you know ?"

Shinji hung his head low, balling his hands in fists. He was being rejected, again. Not even these people wanted him. He could feel the tears that were forming in his eyes, threatening to fall, he than felt an hand on his shoulder, he looked up and saw Quistis' gentle smile. The girl bent down to be on the same eye level as Shinji.

"Shinji you need to understand this. The headmaster here is not trying to turn you away, it's just that you're so young and…I don't really know how to say this." Quistis sighed then turned her head toward Squall, clearly wanting for him to say something. Squall gave a shrug then staring directly at Shinji's eyes, which made Shinji gulp nervously, he crossed his arms and laid upon the desk.

"Look, as the headmaster said, a SeeD has a hard life. Basically a SeeD is a mercenary, we do everything a person orders us to do for money, this means that you have to learn to execute whatever order you shall be given. SeeDs are given the harshest training to be able to pull through in any kind of situation. We are the best at what we do, but what we do is not nice. So you see, nobody on their right mind would want this kind of life, every single one of us had a particular reason to join this academy. Most of us are just people without a family and with nothing to lose."

Squall paused for a moment to let Shinji absorb everything that he said.

"There is no honor. There is no shame. There is only the mission."

Squall stood up and walked past a wide eyed Shinji, he turned the doorknob and opened the door, then he turned his head toward the boy.

"Do you have your reason ?"

And with just that he walked away and closed the door behind him. Cid had a frown on his face, he sighed then he brought a hand on his forehead. What Squall said was all true but damn, he sure could have been a little gentler.

"Listen son, I'm sorry for Squall-"

"I do have a reason."

It was so soft that the two barely heard him. Shinji's hands were shaking, he was staring at the floor, he squeezed his hands so tight that his knuckles turned white. He slowly lifted his head, showing such an intense gaze that Cid for a moment wondered if the boy in front of him was still the same boy that walked in five minutes ago.

"I do have a reason." This time they both heard right, Shinji spoke with confidence, his voice never wavering. "I don't want to be useless. I don't want to be a burden. I don't want to be weak. I don't want to cry anymore. I'm gonna prove it to him, I will become strong ! I will prove to him that I don't need his acceptance, that I don't care if he thinks of me as a burden, because I'm not one ! I want to become strong, and I want this academy to teach me how to become strong !"

Both Cid and Quistis were stupefied by Shinji speech, the boy's demeanor completely changed, his eyes shone with such determination that Cid found himself thinking that this boy would become a really fine SeeD. The frown on his face was replaced by a smile, the headmaster stood up from his seat behind the desk and made his way to get closer to Shinji. Standing now right in font of the boy, Cid put his hands on Shinji's shoulders. Shinji's intense gaze never wavered, he just waited for Cid to say something.

"Well, I guess there is nothing to say anymore. Welcome to this garden son. And don't worry too much about Squall, that boy is a grumpy pants half of the time." Cid chuckled softly at his own joke, while Shinji just grinned and nodded.

"Quistis, would you please bring little Shinji to his room ?"

"Of course headmaster."

Quistis took Shinji's hand and led him outside the office. Shinji smiled for the rest of the day.

PRESENT DAY

Shinji Ikari was observing the contract stipulated with this NERV, he couldn't understand why his father asked specifically for him for this mission, he didn't even know what were his orders yet. Shinji hadn't seen his father for two years, last time was when they met on his mother tomb, he remembered that the only words exchanged between the two were 'good morning'. Shinji crossed his arms and sighed, as he always did when something didn't turn right.

'Bha, it's useless to think too much. I'll have my answers when i'll meet him" Shinji thought while observing the big black case that held his Revolver Gunblade inside.

4 YEARS BEFORE

Shinji was kind of annoyed by his situation, wait, forget annoyed, he was very, very, pissed. He was sparring with his master, who is none other then the SeeD commander Squall Leonhart, and was losing. Badly. As usual.

"Tighten your grip on the hilt, you'll get disarmed way too easily like this."

Shinji almost growled, and instead of doing as his master said he charged head-on. And, as his master said, he got disarmed with incredible ease. He gulped very hard, staring at the point of the Lionheart, his master's personal Gunblade. Squall eased his stance and rested his sword on his shoulder while watching his gloomy student with a sympathetic smile.

"Don't make that face. You're actually pretty good for a 10 year old boy."

"But I always get my butt kicked by you…" Grumbled Shinji. Squall then raised an eyebrow.

"You do realize that i have like 15 years of experience with a Gunbade right ?"

Shinji just grumbled incoherently. Squall gave an amused snort then he got closer to his pupil and put a hand on his shoulder.

"C'mon let's get somethin' to eat."

PRESENT DAY

The train was finally stopping. He took his gunblade and exited the station. He sat on a marble step and waited…and waited…and waited…

Shonji Ikari was in a bad mood. He was waiting for this damn Misato Katsuragi for over an hour, and to make things worse the telephone lines were cut off, why he didn't know. He soon had his answer.

Four fighter aircrafts were firing against something, what he didn't know, but that was the most ugly giant…thing…that he ever saw.

"W-what the…?" Still looking in wonder, a car suddenly arrived screeching.

"Get on ! Quickly !"

Shinji sprinted toward the car and got on. The woman inside pushed instantly on the accelerator and darted across the road. The driver was a very pretty woman with purple hair. Shinji instantly recognized her as Cpt. Misato Katsuragi.

"You are the SeeD Shinji Ikari, correct ?"

"Affirmative. Cpt. may I ask what the hell is that thing ?"

"That thing is what we call an Angel."

Shinji couldn't help but think that those Nerv guys sucked in codenames. He looked for a moment outside on the side window, two of the aircraft had been destroyed while the other two were desperately trying escape.

"Is that my assignment ?" Asked Shinji putting much emphasis on that, while pointing at the monster, which destroyed another craft.

"Yes, though i don't know how much of use one SeeD can be, no offense."

Shinji hated to admit it but he quite agreed with the Captain, how in the hearth could he possibly hope to destroy that thing on his own ? He looked again out of the window, some back-up arrived while the last aircraft escaped.

Those aircrafts…Wait a minute, those are bombers ! Shit !

"They're gonna trow N2 bombs !" Shouted Shinji.

"WHAT ?"

"Captain stop the car I'll create some protection !"

"'The hell are you saying ? I'm not stopping until we get to somewhere safe !"

"STOP THE DAMN CAR CAPTAIN !"

With a glare the beautiful woman did as asked (ordered) and just waited for her doom. Or not. Misato Katsuragi in that moment, saw the most incredible thing she had ever seen or heard in her life. Cars, trees, damn even tanks were all blown away from the huge explosion, everything except the car she was on was swatted away like a mosquito. Really it was a sight to behold, there was an apocalypse on a small scale happening right in front of her, with only a tiny transparent blue shield that protected her. Shinji, on the other hand, was quite stressed by his situation, it was not an easy task to maintain a magic shield against such an explosion after all, really he never casted a Protect as big as the one he was forced to cast to avoid to be swatted away.

"Holy crap on a cracker..."

Misato really couldn't help herself.

"Close your mouth, Captain. Flies could fly in."

Shinji couldn't either.

NERV-Hangar

"So this is what my father has been working in these years…" Shinji was watching the behemoth with an unreadable expression, MIsato said they called it EVA-01. 'They truly suck at codenames…' thought Shinji.

"That's correct."

Shinji turned toward the voice. There he was, his father. It was two years since they last met. The man who abandoned him when he was just a child was right in front of his eyes, but Shinji didn't blame him, really he didn't. After all it was thanks to him that he managed to be SeeD, he found new friends and a new family in the Garden, so in a way he was actually thankful of the man. Of course he still thought of him as a total asshole. Shinji put his right hand in front of his forehead and gave him the SeeD salute.

"Sir."

"Shinji."

Father and son studied each other for a moment when Gendo started to spoke.

"You actually did it. I'm impressed, Shinji. To become a SeeD at such a young age…"

Shinji said nothing, waiting for the Commandant of NERV to continue.

"Shinji you were called here for a reason. I need you to pilot the EVA and defend the city from the Angel."

Only silence met the man's words. To say that the crew was shocked was an understatement. Shinji on the other hand remained calm.

"Sir, you can't be serious ! Rei's took six months only to get the EVA to move !"

"I've never discussed a client's order, but I can't help it now. I've never received any kind of training to pilot this thing. How can you expect me to go out there with it and fight ?" Said Shinji taking a placid tone.

"The only thing I ask you to do is to sit in there." Responded Gendo.

Shinji then crossed his arms and stared to think. Of course his father had gone insane. That's the only explanation he could think about, fight in a enormous ugly ass purple robot he had no training with against an equally ugly ass monster giant thing ? That didn't see right to him. Well there was still the option of his father actually had a plan. Yea right. Shinji then thought about the odds of his survival. Shinji getting out unscathed ? Pretty low. Shinji getting dead ? Uncomfortably high. Still, he was a SeeD, and as a SeeD he din't have much of a choice, he had to obey the orders of the client. So Shinji made up his mind and uttered a single word.

"Affirmative."

End of the first chapter ! So what do you think ? Is it good, does it sucks ? Please tell me what do you think of this !

Ok i need you to know that I'm italian. I don't think there are a lot of grammatical errors but just in case bear with me ok ?

PS I NEED A BETA !

PPS The title of the chapter is based on FF8 OST, check it out it's pretty good ;)