Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion. The series belongs to Gainax, ADV Films, and Hideaki Anno. Should any of these parties ask, I will remove this story from public viewing. I am not making any profit off of this story.
I also do not own Nightwish or any of their music, a good deal of which appears in this story. Their music has such great fanfiction potential; consider it a compliment, guys.
This Eva story contains divergence from the storyline, sexual humor, sexual situations (most likely), discussions of rape, and bad language. Use your brain; if you don't like it, don't read it, and don't e-mail me because you got offended. Please, I have enough to deal with.
(Note: I say this with good humor. But take the warnings seriously)
To my knowledge, this pairing is previously unheard of. If anyone finds another fic that uses a Kaworu/Maya pairing, e-mail me. I wanna read it
"Wish I Had An Angel"The sound of chirping cicadas was like a clarion that night, splitting the dark, cold silence of Tokyo-3 like rocks on a windowpane. That night, all was calm; the city itself seemed asleep, a slumbering dragon guarding its massive horde. Titanic buildings of stone and steel loomed ominously in the full moon's light, the shimmering glow the only source of brightness. The night was silent, save for the rhythmic chirping of the insects. And suddenly, they stopped. All was quiet and still, until a figure of a young man began moving slowly within the blackness.
The dim light shone off of his light gray hair, casting him into an eerie kind of personal illumination that followed him as he made his way down the presently deserted sidewalk. A similar effect was produced by the silvery effulgence on his red eyes, making them glow like hot rubies, small drops of brilliant crimson upon a black canvas. His footsteps made virtually no sound, as though he were merely gliding along the pavement, floating easily through the night air like a shark through dark waters. He looked upon the older sections of the metropolis with sadness filling his expression, a look of near pity.
The young man's eyes suddenly shot upwards, locking on to an apartment complex. He stared in astonishment, but his features also had a look of grim satisfaction.
"So… there is another," he spoke quietly, his soft, pleasant voice echoing slightly, like the sound of a trickling stream, attractive and slightly melodious. "Alas, I must save that meeting for another day."
He moved on to another building and found the remnants of what appeared to be a concert hall. The amphitheater type setting was slightly battered, but in better condition than some of the structures in that part of town. Standing out from the haggard building was a black grand piano that looked brand new, with only a minor layer of fine white dust along its black sheen. Truly, the young man thought, it was a diamond that gave a bit of cheer to the rubble. Smiling at his good fortune, the young man walked to the instrument and lifted the lid, brushing off the dust on its surface. He cracked his knuckles and held his hands over the keys. He then looked out to the horizon, where a thin line of orange was beginning to make itself visible. He smiled brightly, facing the sunrise.
"He should be here in a few hours, I expect," he said. "Funny… I was sent to survey him, and him alone… but I suspect I have much more to do before this is over." He turned back to the piano.
And as the dawn broke, Kaworu Nagisa began to play, both a revelie for the coming day, and a lament for the deeds that he had been sent for.
(000)
Without knowing it, Maya Ibuki awoke the moment that Kaworu's fingers met the keys. She sat up and stretched, emitting a mighty roaring yawn before climbing out of bed, turning off the alarm before it had a chance to unleash its horrible beeping wrath. Checking the digits, she realized that she did not have to be at work for another four hours. Normally, she would have used this extra time to sleep, but instead she managed to drag herself to the bathroom, preparing a shower. Might as well get started early, she thought to herself somewhat gloomily, disrobing languidly and stepping under the stream of hot water. I'm not gonna be getting any more sleep, that's for sure.
It had been a long week for the technician. Between moving the important programs of the computer systems to NERV's secondary command center, analyzing the data from the Fourteenth Angel, and the salvage of Shinji Ikari, it had been a very, VERY long week, and didn't leave Maya much time for sleeping.
But the event weighing the hardest on Maya's mind was the dream she had had last night. The surreal images were still somewhat fresh, though Maya doubted very much that she would forget them any time soon. She could remember them all in great detail, but her thoughts were centered on one image in particular. She saw a young man, who was facing away from her, a tousled mop of gray, spiky hair blowing in the wind. He turned to face her, and she saw a pair of bright red eyes, standing out from the cold monotones of the hallucination, burning like hot embers. As he turned to face her, an enormous pair of white-feathered wings sprouted from his back.
"Don't worry, Maya," he said, in a soft voice that felt like a warm blanket to the now confused and frightened woman. "I'll protect you."
And with that, the vision had faded.
Despite the hot torrent of water pouring down upon her body, Maya shivered. The young man's words had been comforting to her, in a deep sense that she did not fully understand. She didn't know him or recognize him, but Maya felt something familiar and friendly about him. And despite their unnatural color, his eyes had held a kind of ethereal beauty that she could not deny.
Maya shook her head. I'm getting too worked up over a stupid dream, she thought reproachfully as she stepped out of the shower, reaching for the towel and drying herself off. Dreams are only dreams. Nothing more, nothing less.
Still, this did little to comfort her, as the image of the gray-haired boy lingered on in her mind, along with the nagging feeling that he was more than just a dream.
(000)
Kaworu stared up at the sky with a satisfied expression on his face. He had been playing on the piano since sunrise, and his fingers were now beginning to tire. The red-eyed youth was fixated on the small wisps of clouds that were now floating over the city, and he smiled as he realized what time it was. Sitting up from his position on the piano bench, he looked off into the distance where he saw a boy sitting on a rock nearby. Kaworu smiled still brighter, as he knew the face without having ever met him: Shinji Ikari, the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01. Kaworu had read countless reports about him before he had been sent here, and had been most anxious to meet him since he had read his files.
The Angel part of him knew that the mission came first, but the human in him (or at least, the part he assumed was human) begged him to speak with the boy. Not merely for the purposes of the mission and his superiors, but to have someone to talk to. A friend was something Kaworu might need later on, and something that he knew Shinji needed right this minute.
Kaworu straightened himself at the piano and began playing a soft tune, one he had been hearing since he was born. He only hoped that the song would catch Shinji's attention; Kaworu's weakness for theatrics was something he had been told would get him into trouble, but at this moment he was not particularly concerned. The song floated gently out of the piano's open maw and across the morning breeze, reaching Shinji's ears and catching his attention promptly. Kaworu smiled at his accomplishment and continued playing the simple melody.
Kaworu could see Shinji making his way over to the amphitheater and up the steps of the stage towards the piano, and he finished up his playing, turning to meet Shinji's eyes. Contrary to what he had thought, Shinji was not surprised much by his eye color. It must be the other, Kaworu thought, intrigued. My counterpart.
"I've been waiting to meet you for a long time, Shinji Ikari," he said.
The boy's eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"
"I know you by reputation of course. Not to be rude, but you seem to be in the dark about how well known you are."
Shinji blinked confusedly for a second. "What do you mean?"
"You are the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01, are you not?" Kaworu asked, a bit amazed that the boy didn't fully realize just how well known he was.
Shinji nodded. "Oh, yeah, yeah I am. And who are you?"
"My name is Kaworu. Kaworu Nagisa, the Fifth Child."
The young Ikari's eyes widened. "The-the Fifth? Another Eva pilot?"
Kaworu shrugged noncommittally. "Only a reserve, but I've been sent just in case something happens." He reclined slightly. "What brings you to this part of the city, Shinji?"
"Nothing, really. I'm just wandering."
Kaworu could sense that Shinji was keeping something from him, but he did not press the issue, guessing that if he did, Shinji was likely to retreat. He needed to gain his trust, so he decided to tread lightly around the Shinji for the time being. "So, where are you headed to after this?"
"I was thinking I might head home, actually. I haven't slept in a while, I could use it."
Kaworu nodded. "Alright. I'm staying in the NERV barracks, so we'll see each other soon. Feel free to stop by any time."
Shinji nodded halfheartedly. "Alright."
"It was nice meeting you, Shinji." Kaworu waved, and began heading towards NERV Central.
Shinji, meanwhile, watched Kaworu for a distance as he walked away, and then turned, heading to Misato's apartment.
(000)
Maya walked in the doors of NERV Central and headed towards the bridge, the tired expression still lingering on her normally cheerful face. I should have the day off after what happened, she thought to herself. But I guess we have more work than ever, now that we've only got three Angels left. She trudged the hallways with a definite sulk in her stride, the product of a lack of sleep, enthusiasm, or caffeine. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, and a slight frown hung off of her attractive features. God, I feel horrible.
She could see someone passing her, but didn't really register it until she noticed his appearance. His gray hair shone in the overly bright lights of the hallway as he passed by her, his eyes closed. "Good morning," he said in a cheery voice that nearly made Maya swoon, had she not known better. She could see that he was about Shinji's age, so he must be fifteen or sixteen, compared to her own age of twenty-four. For a fleeting moment, Maya wished she could turn back the clock.
"Good-good morning," she stammered, somewhat embarrassed at the train of thought she was following. The young man turned to her and smiled, his eyes fluttering open dreamily. Maya gasped.
They were red.
Images of the dream she had had flashed through her mind as she gazed into the boy's crimson eyes, becoming lost easily in them. She snapped herself out of the trance long enough to blush, stammer an excuse, and leave.
Kaworu smiled even further as he turned and continued on his way to his bunk to prepare for the synchronization test he had later on that day. Intriguing, he thought to himself. Perhaps I shall investigate this one further. His goals had forbid him to get too attached to the people here, but something about that woman had peaked his interests. Looking up, Kaworu realized he was in front of his bunk now, and opened the door, collapsing onto the small bed. It had been a long trip, and he wanted to get a nap in before his test. It's not as though it will require much effort on my part, anyway.
With that, he drifted off to sleep almost immediately, letting his imagination wander to the woman with short brown hair. He wondered who she was, and when he would get to meet her again.
(000)
His answer came not ten minutes later, when the radar unit at NERV began pinging violently, signaling that an attacker had been located. Strolling onto the bridge, not feeling particularly concerned, Kaworu looked up at the monitors, which depicted the image of the newcomer: an elegant looking Angel, a pair of brilliant wings spread to a great span, the reflecting light giving them an air of radiant beauty, but also a haze of cold fear to any who looked. Except Kaworu, who knew that the attacker would have been there.
Arael, how good of you to join us, he thought to himself. You'll be finished soon enough.
Looking around, he noticed a few of the technicians working diligently at their stations, gathering data, preparing the Evangelions for combat, and other such jobs. Glancing to his right, he caught sight of the brown-haired woman he had run into in the hallway, and he smiled despite the situation. Abruptly, a door to his left hissed open, and a woman with purple hair walked onto the bridge.
Major Misato Katsuragi, Kaworu thought amusedly. Her pictures in her file do not do her justice, he thought, fighting to suppress the chuckle rising in his chest. Instead, he merely stared at the screens, pretending to be paying attention to them, while he was truly just waiting for the action to start.
The purple-haired woman looked at him. "Who's this? What are you doing here?" she asked in an accusatory tone that would have most men cringing. Kaworu, however, let the words slide off of him and looked her in the eyes, causing her to recoil slightly as she noticed their scarlet hue.
Before he could speak, however, a voice came from behind Misato. "Major, this is Kaworu Nagisa, the Fifth Child."
Glancing over Misato's shoulder, Kaworu stared into the cold, deadened eyes of Gendo Ikari. The young man knew who Gendo was, and his significance in the big picture that most of the people working here didn't even know existed. His eyes narrowed for a moment, before he smiled. "Hello Commander."
Gendo did little more than grunt at the Fifth Child's greeting, turning back to Misato. "Pilot Nagisa has clearance to be here, Major."
Misato shrunk back a bit, then saluted. "Yes sir. Sorry sir."
Again, Gendo grunted a reply that no one understood, and made his way up to the command chair. Misato looked at Kaworu. "Sorry about that. The whole Angel attack has me a bit on edge."
Kaworu inclined his head slightly. "No apologies needed, Major. I understand. So, what's the situation?" In reality, he already knew the situation; everything had been foretold in the Scrolls, which he had memorized before age six. But he had to appear normal to them, for the most part.
"This one's going to be Asuka's job to take down. She's being moved into position to see if we can blast this thing out of the sky." She smiled. "If anyone can do it, it's Asuka."
"Good luck to her, then," Kaworu replied, a smile playing its way across his ethereal features. But the smile was more of dismal acceptance than of actual hope.
In the end, Kaworu knew that luck had nothing to do with it.
(000)
Asuka stood in the rain, hating the position she was being put in. She was having extreme difficulty concentrating, a film of sweat already making itself present on her brow as she fought for control within Unit 02, just trying to keep the massive positron rifle aloft. She looked into the visor on the helmet she was wearing, trying to get a bead on the Angel that floated leisurely miles above the surface. She cursed as she lost the contact again, having maintained it only a second or less.
"Shit! I can't focus on the damn thing!"
Misato's voice came over the intercom. "Come on, Asuka! You have to try!"
Asuka grumbled something under her breath in German, and tried again. This time, she managed to maintain a constant lock on the airborne Angel, the targeting reticule blinking and turning red. She reached for the trigger, but was enveloped in a shower of bright white light that came from the sky, blinding her completely. Then she felt something.
The Angel was in her brain.
(000)
Kaworu, standing on the bridge, watched with mute interest as Asuka's psychograph went completely insane, the technicians freaked out, and Misato started shouting very loudly "What's going on?"
Through the mayhem, there were only three on the bridge who maintained their composure. Gendo and Fuyutsuki watched silently, their eyes narrowed on the scene. And the gray-haired young man also watched silently, his smile fading despite his knowledge of this event's importance.
It is still a sad thing to witness, he reasoned, as Unit 02 began firing the rifle wildly, the spherical bolts of energy putting massive dents in the structures of the city. The red titan dropped its rifle and collapsed, clutching it's head. He could hear Asuka's screams over the commotion on the bridge. "It's raping my mind!"
Kaworu's eyes became solemn, and he lowered his head in a gesture of respect for the now raving Second Child. Such a horror is one that I have trouble imagining. But it must be done, for the greater good.
He heard a whimper in front of him, and opening his eyes, he saw the brown-haired woman from earlier, crying. Kaworu heard the voice of Ritsuko Akagi, the head scientist, scream out in frustration. "Maya! What are you doing?"
Kaworu did not wait for the woman to answer. He made his way over to her console, and without thinking, placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. She looked up at him, her chocolate brown eyes staring up at him, a mingled look of surprise and relief on her visage, her eyes clouded with tears.
As he touched her shoulder, Kaworu was flooded with thoughts, feelings that he knew were coming from her memories. He attempted to stop the majority of them, but one in particular stood out. He only heard one word, but it was enough to cause his eyes to widen and his skin to pale even further than it normally was.
"Stop…"
Kaworu released her, and stared down into her eyes again, trying to regain his composure from what he had just witnessed. "Here, let me."
Not even bothering to question, Maya slid her chair out of the way and Kaworu took a look at the console. He began typing furiously, faster than Maya had seen anyone type, even Dr. Akagi. It also struck her as odd that he knew how to work the computer systems. But seeing as no one said anything, she deduced that he must be a member of NERV. Finally, he typed in something, and Unit 02 went silent.
One of the other bridge techs reported, "Nerve connections in Unit 02 stabilizing, Asuka's psychograph is returning to normal."
"Rei," Kaworu heard Gendo say in his usual authoritative monotone, "get the Lance."
Kaworu almost choked on his tongue. The Lance? Ikari would dare use the Lance of Longinus without the council's approval? He thought hard on this, frowning slightly. You have nerve, I give you that. But you are foolish.
He snapped out of his reverie as the bridge tech he had helped placed a hand on his arm, which was still resting limply on the console. He looked at her perplexedly for a moment, then realized that he was still leaning over her shoulder. Turning about, feeling slightly embarrassed at having lingered, Kaworu noticed that she was smiling gently at him.
"Thank you," she said in an almost hoarse whisper.
"You're welcome."
Kaworu heard the lifts activating, and he turned his attention to the view screens, where he saw the blue cycloptic form of Unit 00 being hoisted up onto street level, a massive object clutched in its grip.
"Longinus…" said Kaworu out loud, though Maya was the only one who heard him. The weapon was a brilliant red, the same color as Kaworu's eyes, and was coiled in a helix shape, ending in two wicked looking points. Inside the Eva, he felt the same presence he had sensed upon his arrival from within the apartment complex.
(000)
Inside the Evangelion, Rei Ayanami took a deep breath as she prepared for the command to throw the Lance. She heard Gendo's voice over the intercom, speaking in his powerful uniform tone. "Remember, Rei. You only have one chance here. You must not fail."
"I won't," she replied placidly, gripping the weapon still tighter as she took a stance, preparing to cast the spear.
For an instant, though, she almost faltered as she sensed something within NERV. Deep below her, she could feel a presence that seemed familiar, though she did not know why. A brief image flickered through her thoughts: a pair of red eyes, just like hers, that disappeared as quickly as it had come, surprising the pilot. She shook it off, and locked onto the target again. Rei heard the countdown reach zero, and threw.
The Lance contorted as it flew, straightening out and tearing through the sky, pulling the cloud layer apart and casting the sun's harsh light on the gloomy cityscape. The Lance impacted the Angel's AT field, and pierced through it in a green flash, funneling the Angel's body along its length like water going down a sink drain. And in a flash, Arael was gone and the Lance disappeared beyond view.
Once she was assured that the target was destroyed, Rei began moving back to the catapult, and the Eva was lowered back into the cages. But as she felt the familiar jolt of the restraints and the feeling of falling, she could not help but feel apprehensive of what she would find awaiting her when she arrived.
(000)
A few hours after the retrieval of Unit 02, Kaworu went for a walk, trying to block out the images that he had seen in Maya's mind. Things that no one should have seen, and he had been flooded by them in a mere instant.
"The images were disjointed," he mused aloud, not really knowing whom he was talking to, "but to infiltrate my mind like that, she must have been feeling very strongly." He came to a halt as he noticed two shapes off in the distance. Kaworu could recognize Shinji and the Second Child, Asuka Langley Sohryu, having some kind of argument. He caught minor bits of the conversation, but was not paying too much attention.
"It seems as though the Second's resolve is wavering," he stated to himself. "Things are going much faster than I had anticipated."
Silently, so as not to attract their attention, he made his way back into NERV's belly, walking towards his bunk, having nowhere else to go, really. As he did, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. Kaworu turned around and stared into a pair of shimmering brown eyes that belonged to the bridge tech from the earlier incident.
"Hello," he said cheerfully, and smiled brightly at her, attempting to alleviate the tension he could feel in the air.
"H-Hello," she stammered, confirming Kaworu's assessment that she was nervous. "Listen, I-I wanted to thank you for what you did today."
"Oh, it's no problem," he replied casually. "Are you alright?"
Blushing, the woman looked at her feet. "Yes, yes I'm fine now. It's just… that brought back a lot of bad memories. It's hard to get past."
Kaworu nodded. "I see. Well, I'm glad you're alright, Miss Ibuki."
The woman looked at him strangely. "How did you know my name?"
"I'm psychic."
Her eyes widened. He pointed to her uniform shirt. "And besides," he added, "You're wearing a nametag."
She looked. Sure enough, she had forgotten that she was wearing her ID badge. "Oh."
Kaworu chuckled. "Well, it would be terribly rude if I didn't introduce myself. I'm Kaworu Nagisa. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ibuki."
"Kaworu..." she said in an odd kind of musing tone. "Wait – you're the Fifth Child, aren't you?"
"Yes. I was sent ahead of schedule, though I daresay it's good timing that I was."
Maya nodded solemnly, not really wanting to think about Asuka and the Fifteenth anymore. Sensing this, Kaworu continued.
"Well, I suppose I'll see you in about an hour or so, right? I have a synchronization test then."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. And here I was getting my hopes up that I wouldn't have to come back tonight."
Kaworu looked intently into her eyes, sporting a concerned smile and a look of near omniscience. "Are you sure you're alright, Miss Ibuki?"
Maya shifted under his gaze uncomfortably. "I'm- I'm fine. Just… earlier shook me up a bit, I guess."
Kaworu nodded towards the doorway. "Well, we do have an hour or so before we need to be back. Would you like to talk about it?"
"I… don't think I can."
He nodded. "I understand. Well, if you need me, I'm easy to find, you know."
Maya looked at him. "Thanks, Kaworu."
"Well, I'm going to go out for a while. I'll see you in an hour then, Miss Ibuki."
"Do me a favor. Call me Maya; Miss Ibuki makes me feel old." She chuckled slightly, feeling the atmosphere clear up considerably.
Kaworu nodded, a small, quiet laugh passing through his lips. "Alright then, Maya," he said, testing the name out. He was surprised how easily it came, as though he was supposed to use it. "Goodbye for now."
Maya waved as he walked towards the doorway. "Goodbye, Kaworu."
He walked backwards out of the doorway, allowing it to seal shut in front of him as he returned the bridge tech's wave. Once it did, he turned around again and strolled down the hallway. It had been a long day, he knew, but one with a great deal of importance.
His role at NERV had begun, and he was already gaining the people's trust.
But despite the fact that he knew the necessity of these actions, he could not help but feel guilty about keeping up this pretense for Maya. Her soul is pure, it seems a great sin to lie to one such as she, he mused, the carefree smile fading from his face as he walked up the escalator that lead to the exit on the upper floor. Kaworu sighed heavily, trying to force the guilt from him, but failing horribly. He stopped, and glanced over his shoulder, meeting a pair of red eyes nearly identical to his own. Kaworu did not have to guess as to whom they belonged to.
"Rei Ayanami," he declared in his almost musical voice.
The girl looked at him oddly, trying to hide her surprise behind her usual vacant expression. "Who are you?" she inquired immediately.
Kaworu ignored her, for the moment. "We have a lot in common, you and I, Ayanami."
"What do you mean?"
"Surely you've noticed that familiarity between us?" he said, sauntering towards her, causing the blue-haired girl to recoil slightly. "That kind of presence that can only be felt by our kind, from our kind?" He knew he had no idea what he was talking about, but toying with her mind for the moment was his primary aim. All would be revealed in time.
"I do not know what you are talking about. And you still have not told me your name."
Kaworu looked at her critically for a moment, then turned around. He glanced over his shoulder, and said, "You'll find out more about me later, Ayanami. Count on it."
(000)
Ritsuko Akagi was not happy at the moment. After the whole fiasco with the Fifteenth Angel, she had been subjected to an enormous amount of paperwork involving the Fifth Child, who she had been told arrived ahead of schedule. As soon as the mound of forms was finished, she had had to run to the Cages, where a synchronization test on the Children was supposed to take place.
Add this to lack of sleep, caffeine, and nicotine, and Ritsuko was a force to be reckoned with.
She turned around in her chair as she heard the mechanical whir of the door sliding open, and Maya strolled into the room, taking her usual seat next to Ritsuko. The bridge tech, Ritsuko noticed, was not her normal self. Maya was usually alert and attentive when it came to synch tests, but the brown haired woman looked just as disheveled as Ritsuko herself. As she slumped into the chair, Maya's head came to rest on the tabletop.
Ritsuko looked at her for a moment before placing a hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. "Maya? Maya, wake up, we've got work to do."
Slowly, Maya raised her head and faced Ritsuko. "Oh, alright Dr. Akagi."
"Maya, are you alright? No offense, but you look like shit."
"I know, I feel like it, too. I'm sorry, I'll make it through the test."
Ritsuko frowned slightly, but nodded. "Okay, if you're sure."
They checked the monitors, deciding to get down to business as quickly as possible. Shinji and Rei were already inside the simulation plugs, and Kaworu entered soon after them.
"Alright," said Ritsuko, taking charge, "Shinji, Rei, you two know the drill about these tests. Kaworu, I guess I should give you a rundown on the specifics of the…"
"There is no need, Dr. Akagi," he interjected, and then smiled. "I know how to operate this system."
Ritsuko shrugged. "Okay then. Everyone, give it a try."
There was a pause as the pilots began reaching out to the system, allowing their minds to open and the presence of the Eva to flood them. Maya and Ritsuko checked over the readings, and both stopped and stared in astonishment at the Fifth Child's readings.
Ritsuko stammered, "He-He can change it?"
(000)
Inside his simulation plug, Kaworu could sense the diminutive soul of the unit he was inside. Stretching out his energies, he could feel the connection between them begin to fluctuate, his control over the essence of the being ebbing like the tides.
Obey me…
The core of the synchronization plug began to falter, and Kaworu felt its resolve break almost entirely.
That should give them a bit of a shock, I expect.
(000)
Inside the control booth, the two scientists continued to stare at the screen as the number 99.7 flashed up on Kaworu's portion of the monitor. Maya and Ritsuko looked at each other, as if to decipher whether or not they were seeing the same thing. Once it had been confirmed that they had, Ritsuko reached for the microphone.
"Okay everyone, good work. Kaworu, I want you back here tomorrow at the same time for another test."
Kaworu nodded. "Yes ma'am."
"You all are dismissed."
The yellow cylinders hissed open and the three pilots stepped out onto the catwalk, the metal making a dull pounding noise under their feet as they headed towards the showers. Kaworu was about to talk to Shinji but thought better of it, deciding that the Third Child most likely wanted his privacy at the moment. Respecting this, Kaworu maintained silence as they entered the shower room.
I hope he will want to talk later, Kaworu thought to himself as he undid the lock on his plug suit, allowing the blue and gray garment to fall to the floor. But for now, he is distressed. Now is not a good time.
(000)
Maya had been running over the data from the synch test for three hours now, per Ritsuko's request, and was now becoming rapidly sick of staring at the same bundles of paper over and over again. Finally, no longer able to stand it, she turned to her superior. "Dr. Akagi, I don't think we're going to find anything new."
Ritsuko looked at Maya, then back at her readouts. Finally, she tossed the clipboard onto an empty table, the clatter echoing a good bit in the nearly abandoned room. "I guess you're right, Maya. I just… I can't shake the feeling that something's not right about the new pilot."
Maya looked at her incredulously. "Kaworu? He seems nice enough, though."
Ritsuko shook her head somewhat sadly, removing her glasses and sliding them into the pocket of her coat. "Appearances and demeanors can be deceiving, you know. You shouldn't instantly trust someone based on a first impression."
"But…I just have a feeling about him."
"Take your time and make observations. Feelings can be wrong, you know."
Maya looked at her feet. "Yes ma'am."
"By the way, when did you actually talk to him? I didn't think anyone had any time to talk to him because of the Angel attack."
"Oh… we met in the hallway, and talked a bit. Not too much, mostly just introductions. Still… there's something about him. Something special."
Ritsuko laughed a bit and glanced at her clipboard. "Oh, there's something special about him alright. If only I could find out what it was."
Maya got the distinct impression that she and Ritsuko were not quite on the same page.
(000)
The sound of bone connecting with metal rang out across the hallway as Asuka slammed her fist into the locker, putting a good size dent in it. She snarled in frustration, most of which was directed at herself.
Dammit, now they're gonna bring in some stupid fucktard rookie to replace me! She sat down on the bench and slammed the door on her locker shut. I don't believe it. What's wrong with me? I've been going downhill since Matsushiro…
The German girl shook her head, not wanting to remember her defeat at the hands of Eva Unit 03. Four seconds; that's all the time it took to beat me. The Angel possessed Evangelion had started the Second Child's losing streak, which had only gotten worse when the Fourteenth Angel tore its way into NERV Central, decapitating her Eva in one smooth stroke. And now this… they'll revoke my pilot status for sure.
Sighing, the girl collected her belongings and left the room, heading to the right and towards the exit. She noticed someone standing at the window, staring out at the Geofront's landscape, and the skyscrapers of Tokyo-3 jutting from the ceiling, just beginning to rise up and into the city above. As he turned, Asuka recognized his face: the Fifth Child, the one they'd sent to take her place. The orange light from the Geofront outside reflected off of his unusually pale skin and gray hair, casting him into a strange auburn radiance. His red eyes met hers and a chill ran down her spine, a sense of foreboding coming over her.
"Hello, Sohryu," he said in a pleasant voice, a half-smile on his face that Asuka found somewhat offensive. Here she was, about to lose her pilot status to him, and he was trying to make pleasant conversation!
"Shut up, Fifth," she spat in a tone reeking of venom.
Kaworu looked at her with a slight air of indignation. "My name is Kaworu Nagisa, Sohryu. I would appreciate it if you would use my name rather than my title." He said this respectfully, not wishing to seek a confrontation with the incensed girl.
"I'll call you whatever the hell I feel like! Now you listen and you listen good, Nagisa," she said, sticking her finger at him accusingly.
"I've worked my ass off for years trying to keep this job I've got. I'm an Eva pilot through and through, and I am not about to lose my pilot status to some goddamn lucky rookie like you! Understand?"
Kaworu looked ate her for a moment, considering his words for a moment before speaking. "I'm not trying to take your job from you, Sohryu. I am only doing what I am told, just as you are."
Asuka fumed. "How is it that you can be so polite about this? My life is about to go down the tubes because of you, and all you can say is 'I'm only doing what I'm told'? You arrogant bastard!"
Kaworu raised his hands defensively. "I do not mean to offend. I'm only trying to…"
"SHUT UP!" the Second Child screamed, throwing her fist in the direction of Kaworu's face. The young man caught it, and her eyes widened.
"I do not wish to fight with you, but if continue this, I will have no choice but to defend myself."
Asuka responded by throwing another punch with her other fist, which was again intercepted.
"Very well then."
Kaworu squeezed his hand, and Asuka felt the strain on the bones in her right hand begin to increase, ending with a sickening pop as several of her bones shattered. She screamed, and Kaworu let go of her hands. Asuka recoiled, stepping away from the Fifth Child as quickly as she could, staring at him in astonishment.
"I'm sorry, but I did warn you," he said. "Now let us set a few things straight." He moved forward until he was mere inches away from her face. "I did not come here to replace you, Sohryu. Not fully, anyway. My time here is short. I have a job to do, and I intend to do it. And if you stand in my way again…" He stared into her blue eyes, fiercely gazing into her soul.
"… I will kill you."
Asuka looked at him, astounded.
"Of course," he went on, "I do not wish to resort to that. But I am under orders to accomplish my mission by any means necessary."
"What mission?" asked the genuinely bewildered Second Child.
Kaworu smiled. "That will all be revealed in time. For now, though, I am simply to pilot, if I am needed. So do not fear for your job."
Asuka glared at him menacingly, shooting daggers at him through her azure eyes. She didn't say anything, however, until she began to leave. "I've got my eye on you, Nagisa. Mark my words, any funny business, and I'll have you out of here in a second."
Kaworu smiled. "You have such confidence, Sohryu. It is one of your more admirable qualities. But do not allow that to cloud your better judgment."
Without another word, Asuka left the room, and Kaworu turned and stared out at the Geofront again, marveling at the beauty of the encased civilization, a kind of oasis from the turmoil above.
Even this kind of place is no longer sacred, he thought sadly, thinking about those who risked their lives daily, just by living in the city. No place is safe now.
Kaworu heard the door at the opposite end of the room open, and he looked up, smiling as he met Maya's eyes. "Hello, Maya."
Maya waved at him, ambling over to stand beside him. "Hello Kaworu. It's a good thing I saw you. I'm supposed to tell you about a synch test tomorrow, same time as today."
He nodded. "Alright, I will be here."
Maya nodded, following his gaze out of the window, but secretly taking a peek at his reflection, not wanting to look at him directly. His expression was unusually serene, and gave Maya a sense of comfort, like he was a friend she had known for a long time. "Listen, I wanted to apologize for the way I acted earlier," she said, turning to face him. "It's just that… what happened to me was something I don't like to talk about normally."
Kaworu nodded. "There's no need to apologize. We all have memories that are best left forgotten, and experiences that are best left unspoken."
She nodded. "Thanks for understanding."
They lapsed into a silence as they both continued to stare out of the window. After a few moments, Kaworu turned to face her. "Do you know of any good places to eat in this city?"
Maya looked at him. "Why do you ask?"
"I am still unfamiliar with Tokyo-3, and I am beginning to grow hungry. As such, I do not know where to go."
"Well," Maya said, "there's a good restaurant a couple of blocks away. Kind of pricey, though."
He waved his hand dismissively. "That won't be a problem. Also, I was wondering if you would consider accompanying me?"
Maya flushed. "W-well, I don't know. It seems kind of…" she paused.
"Inappropriate?" Kaworu finished. She nodded, and he chuckled. "I don't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. I just wish to know more about you. If you do not wish to go, then I understand."
Maya looked at him for a moment, biting her lip a little. On the one hand, she was hungry, and dinner was always better with company. But she was somewhat uncomfortable with the idea of having dinner with someone of Kaworu's age, so much younger than herself. She considered this for a moment, and eventually discarded the inhibition. After all, it's not like I'm doing anything indecent, she reasoned, it's just dinner between coworkers.
"Sure, I'd be happy to," she said. Kaworu smiled, and hopped off of the window ledge. She noticed that he was a bit tall for a fifteen year old, but didn't think too much on it at the moment. They began walking to the exit, and Kaworu could not help but let his mind wander to what had happened earlier, on the bridge.
She has been hurt before, he pondered silently, stealing a glance at his companion. I must be sure to treat her well.
Leaving thoughts of his mission behind, Kaworu led Maya outside and down the crowded streets, silently wishing that he had worn a suit.
Author's Notes: And thus begins the weirdness! Hopefully you all enjoyed the first installment of "Wish I Had An Angel." I'm planning on there being at least three more chapters, give or take, depending on how much content I can get out of the story. Rest assured, though, that the pairing will go through its share of ups and downs, and I'll try and make them as interesting as possible. Divergence from the storyline is now inevitable.
First of all, I'd like to thank the people who reviewed my other Eva story, "Storm of Flower Petals/Hanabira no Arashi." You guys kept me going through a rough patch, as far as my writing goes. Many thanks for your kind words! I feel loved
Also, I'd like to thank my prereader, That Other Guy. Check out his work, it's good stuff and I promise you won't regret it!
Also, to anyone who has read the sixth Harry Potter book, please check out my Harry Potter story entitled "Ever Dream." Please? I'm begging someone to read it.
Signing off for now,
Century Child