Business as Usual
by Za Metallium
Ayanami Rei stared out the window. Not unusual in itself, true, but this window happened to be on a plane.
She and the other Children were being flown to the coast for special training. Katsuragi-san was currently attempting to diffuse an argument between the Third and Second Children. Or perhaps keep it going; Rei wasn't paying them much attention.
No, her gaze was fixed on the little greenish-brown creature with slit pupils looking at her from its perch on the wing.
The gremlin--for that was the creature staring at Rei--regarded the blue-haired girl with curiosity. It had never been gazed at so passively before; then again, it couldn't recall seeing a human with red eyes before, either.
It hadn't been out and about in a long time--it had been hibernating until a big ruckus on the surface roused it. Now it was ready to again indulge in its favorite pastime--tearing up humans' machines, and terrorizing the pathetic things in the process.
It grinned evilly at the girl regarding it so calmly. She wouldn't be calm for much longer . . .
Rei's expression didn't change when the creature bared sharp claws and rent a thin line in the wing. There was nothing she could do about the creature; should it disable the plane, she and the others would simply use their parachutes.
The creature looked expectantly into Rei's eyes.
This was not right. Of this it was quite certain. This was where the human went into a blind panic, gibbering in fear.
This girl didn't even blink.
Fine. It would get a reaction out of her.
It scampered right up to the window and pressed its face against the glass.
Nothing.
It frowned, then started clawing at the glass, making its best Scary Face. This had to get a reaction!
The girl didn't even wince at the sound.
This was awful! It had lost its touch while hibernating! It couldn't go on like this...
It leapt off the wing.
Rei watched the frustrated creature disappear from sight, then regarded the clouds with something that was almost a smile.
