Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion, all characters are property of Gainax and I am just borrowing them for a few years.

(Author notes 7-10-2003) This is my first attempt at an Eva fan fic or any form of extensive writing. I have not seen the entire series, but I have some knowledge as to what happens at the end. This story takes place 9 months after 3rd impact is adverted by Shinji. He still lives in Misato's apartment with Asuka and Pen-Pen.

This story has received a "M" rating for violence, strong language and implied sexual situations. I didn't want to use excessive swearing in this story, but in keeping everyone in character, they would say some of the things that they do.

(Author notes 6-26-06)

I am so freaking pissed at this site at the moment. You go and delete my damn story after I put two freaking years of my like into it. I got so much fing respect on this site because of this story, but not that prestige is ereased with not goddamned warning. I said I was working on re-writing this story to meet the guidelines, but it still took almost a year to delete. I swear, if it happens again, I'm moving on to another site and saying to hell with this one.

Neon

Genesis

EVANGELION
Chapter: 1
Conflict

It is late afternoon in the Katsuragi apartment. Shinji was relaxing on the sofa in the front room, watching a television program. Asuka was doing some last minute overdue homework. So what that it was only three months late. Pen-Pen was sitting on the kitchen table sipping on a beer. Misato was due back form NERV later in the evening. All was quiet in the apartment, but that was about to change.

Asuka finished her homework and immediately grew board. God there is nothing to do nowadays. She takes a look at the textbook sitting on the desk. I'll never know why a teacher would give homework on the day before Summer brea,. It is then that a thought popped into her head. Maybe I can shove Shinji off the T.V. I know something entertaining HAS to be on.

Shinji was caught-up in the program he was watching that he didn't notice his red-headed roommate walking into the room, but he then felt a sheering pain in his right wrist.

"Oww!" Shinji yelped as he turns to see that Asuka had karate-chopped his wrist, knocking the remote from his had. "What the hell did you do that for?" He clinches his wrist in pain.

"I want to watch TV now." Asuka replies as she picked up the remote from the ground.

"You could've had it after I was done." Shinji winces again in pain. "You didn't have to break my wrist."

Asuka's eyes narrowed in disbelief. "I didn't break you damn wrist, you idiot." Without saying another word, she changes the channel on the television.

Shinji only stares at Asuka for a few seconds then lets out a sigh and proceeds to head to his room.

"Spineless as usual." Asuka whispered to herself as she watched Shinji leave out of the corner of her eye.

Shinji heard Asuka's comment and stopped dead in his tracks. What anger he had already quickly began to manifest into uncontrollable rage. Why does she treat me like this? I've never done anything to her and yet she tortures me at every waking moment. His anger causes him to clinch his hands into fists. Well, NO MORE! He narrows his eyes as he locks onto his target. You will not make my life a living hell anymore.

Almost mimicking Asuka's previous actions, Shinji walked into the living room and tore the remote from Asuka's hand. Highly enraged by Shinji's action, Asuka turned around and spoke in a slow, but demanding tone.

"Give me back the damn remote idiot, before I knock you back to last week."

"I don't think so, German whore." Shinji replied with a smirk on his face.

Asuka was as furious as a rabid boar. Loosing all sense of mercy, she bolted from the couch and snagged Shinji by his shirt collar, and spun him around so they were eye to eye. Asuka was expecting to see Shinji pass out from terror, but to her surprise, he showed no emotion what so ever.

Asuka proceeded to speak in an almost demonic manner "I don't know what's gotten into you, but if you don't knock it off, I will be forced to…

"Do what?" Shinji interrupted. "I would have expected you to 'knock me back to last week' by now." By now, his was nearly taunting the girl. "Come on. Do it. I know you want to." He pauses for a reply from Asuka, but receives none. "Are you scared? Afraid of what might happen to you. Afraid that the 'inferior' third child is stronger than you are. Afraid that you might end up like you mother, a total nut case, if you hit me."

Asuka had heard enough and punched Shinji square on his left cheek. The force of the impact sent Shinji slamming onto the floor. After a few seconds, he was able to get up on all fours; a small stream of blood was flowing from his mouth where his teeth had split his lip open and began forming a puddle on the floor. Still blinded with rage, Asuka, with all her might, booted Shinji in the stomach.

"Don't you ever fuck with my mind again, baka, or I won't hesitate to send you to the emergency room." Asuka shouted as she gave Shinji another boot to the gut. "Got it!"

Not caring about the condition of her roommate, Asuka turned and entered her room, slamming the door behind her. Shinji remained in a heap in the floor. His hands were clinched over his stomach and he was trying to regain his breath. A bit more blood dribbled from his mouth.

What do I do now? I can't let her think she's won. She wants me to give up. It is then that he gets his second wind. But I won't let her have the pleasure of seeing that.

Shinji tried to stand, but the pain in his gut was almost paralyzing. After another few minutes, he was able to stand and he walked over to Asuka's room. This is no longer about a damn remote, it's about pride. Replaying the past events, he threw the door open, almost knocking it off its hinges and scaring Asuka half to death. Seeing what Shinji had just done, her anger grew once again and darted to Shinji who was standing at the doorway.

"Get the hell out of my room!"

Before she could push Shinji out of the way, something happened and she went spiraling through the air and onto the hard wood floor, landing on her back. Before anything could be said, Shinji appeared over top of Asuka. He forced his left forearm onto her throat; cutting off the airflow to Asuka's lungs. Shinji proceeded to speak as though he had been possessed by a demon

"As you can tell, I'm no longer afraid of you, bitch. Nothing you do will scare me anymore. I've had enough of your bullshit," He applies more force into Asuka's throat. "your taunts," He stacks his right arm overtop of his left, giving him more force "and your hentai sexual advances on me."

By this point, Asuka's face almost matched her hair color. She desperately struggled to get some much needed oxygen into her burning lungs. But Shinji wasn't finished with her yet.

"How does it feel to be on the receiving end of the punishment? Not much fun is it." He moves his head closer until his and Asuka's eyes meet. Shinji found a sick pleasure in seeing the fear that showed in Asuka's eyes. "Think of this as a warning. Pull any more shit on me and I will be forced to hurt you worse than any Angel could." He pushes down on her throat one last time. "Got it?"

Asuka manages to produce a slight nod of agreement. With that being said, the third child released his grip and stood up. Even though Shinji wasn't restricting Asuka's air intake any longer, she couldn't seem to be able to catch her breath. Shinji merely walked to his room and locked the door.

Asuka struggled to get to her feet, still gasping for air. She felt like she was dying and began to shed tears.

I…I can't believe he did that. I couldn't do anything. I was paralyzed with fear.

She had made her way to the kitchen and sat at the table. Her throat was finally beginning to open up, allowing precious oxygen into her lungs. But the damage had been done. Shinji had shown a side of himself that frightened even Asuka.

About 10 minutes later, Misato returns from NERV. The first thing she sees is Asuka sitting at the table, head buried in her hands and crying. Not thinking for a moment, the woman rushed over to the table.

"Asuka, what happened?" As Asuka turned to look at her guardian, Misato noticed a large red abrasion to Asuka's throat. "Dear God. What happened to you Asuka? And what are those marks on your neck from?"

"It was…" She hesitates for a moment. "…Shinji."

Misato couldn't bear the sight of Asuka being so distraught. She knew she would be yelled at later for doing it, but she wrapped Asuka into a comforting embrace. "Shinji did this? Why?"

Asuka was slow to respond. She knew it wasn't all Shinji's fault, she even felt sorry for Shinji. He had finally snapped and it was because of HER.

"Please don't blame Shinji." For the first time, Asuka began pleading for the safety of someone else. " It…It was my fault. I antagonized him to his breaking point. If anyone is at fault, it's me."

"I know what you're saying, but he shouldn't have done that to you. It's not like you drew first blood." Misato quickly notices that Asuka's eyes widened and she began to fidget in her chair. "No. Don't tell me you made him bleed." Misato said is disbelief. "Asuka, now that's going too far."

"I didn't mean to Misato." Asuka nearly choked as she spoke. "I just punched him in the face," He voice lowers. "and then kicked him in the stomach."

All Misato could do is sigh. Before saying anything else, she made her way to the fridge and pulled out an entire 6-pack of Yebisu beer and brought it to the table. This can't be happening.

"I…I don't know what to say." Misato sighed in disbelief as she opened a can of beer. "You both have gone WAY too far this time. I can take the arguments, and the yelling contests. But actual bloodshed and strangulation! No. I will not tolerate that."

A few moments passes in silence with Misato downing about 4 beers and Asuka slumped in her chair, worrying about her and Shinji's fate, which now rests in the hands of their, now drunk, guardian. She knew Misato could be a royal bitch when she's sober, however, she has yet to see her mad while she was drunk.

Misato sighs an exasperated sigh as she began speaking. "All I want is for you to go to bed right now. I need time to think about what to do now. I need time to find whose more at fault here and the proper punishments. Now get to bed."

By this point, Asuka felt as though she was a young child who had just been caught doing something like drawing on the walls and was being sent to her room because of it.

"Ok. G…Good night, Misato." Asuka whispered as she stood and walked back to her room, her feed dragging across the floor.

"Good night Asuka."

Asuka enters her room and immediately goes to sleep. Pen-Pen emerges from his fridge and waddles over to Misato.

"WWAARRRKKK!" Pen-Pen cries as he tugged on Misato's leg. Leaning over, she picks up the penguin and holds him in her arms like he was a newborn baby.

"I guess you were hiding this entire time. Who wouldn't when those two get at each other." All the anger that had built up in Misato began to trickle out of her eyes as tears. "I have no idea of what to do now, Pen. This has never happened before." She reaches over the table and finishes her last can of beer. "Maybe I should get Shinji's side of the story. Then I can piece all this together."

After tossing the cans into the recycle bin, Misato walks over to Shinji's room. Being the main aggressor, Misato was unsure of Shinji's mental state at the current moment. Taking extreme caution, she knocks on the wooden door..

"Shinji, can you come out here for a minute. I need to have a word with you." She called from outside the door.

She can hear some movement from inside and then the door unlocked and opened. Shinji looked up at his guardian's face. He knew Asuka had told Misato everything and probably placed all the blame on him.

"Y….yes, Misato" Shinji stuttered and gulping in fear.

"Get into the kitchen. Now!" Misato commanded as the pointed to the kitchen.

Shinji slowly walks into the kitchen and sits in the same chair Asuka was in. Misato sits on the other side of the table and Pen-Pen sits on the table between the two. The two stare at each other. Misato finally breaks the silence.

"Get me another beer Pen-Pen." The penguin nods and waddles to the fridge where he grabs a beer and "hands" it to Misato who immediately opens it. "I have just finished talking to Asuka, Shinji. She told me everything about what happened here. I want to know is what sparked this.

"You could've asked Asuka. She would have told you." Shinji responded coldly.

"She was too troubled. She was in tears when I came home, Shinji. Do you know who she was blaming this incident on?"

Shinji was silent for a moment. He knew it was him. Why would Asuka blame herself when she could play the victim and get Shinji in deep crap? "M.Me?" Shinji stammered.

"Wrong." Misato exclaims, causing Shinji's eyes to widen in astonishment. "She put all the blame on herself. She said it was her fault that you snapped and strangled her." She pauses to sip her beer. "Now answer my previous question. What caused this series of events to take place? And I want an answer." She emphasizes the last point.

"Umm." Shinji's nerves were soaring into the orbit of Pluto. "You see. I was watching TV and. Asuka walked up and hit my hand, knocking the remote out of it and commandeered the TV. Then…"

Misato quickly interrupts. "This was all a result of her taking the remote from you?"

"It wasn't just that, Misato." Shinji snapped back. "I did leave the room without doing anything and as I left, Asuka called me spineless. So…" He takes a deep breath and gathers his thoughts. "I returned to the room and ripped the remote from her hand."

"Stop right there for a sec." Misato interrupted for a second time. "By this point, you have done nothing violent or harmful to Asuka, right?"

"Yes."

"So what caused her to punch you in the face and kick you in the stomach? You had to have done something to get her that mad." She stares as Shinji with stern eyes. "What did you do?"

Shinji hesitated for a moment. He wanted to break down, but he wouldn't let himself do that. He wanted to be stronger, not a spineless coward as Asuka would call him. He knew of the pickle he got himself in and this next answer would ultimately influence Misato's decision.

"I took the remote with me to my room and I called her a…umm…a German…whore."

"And she hit you after this comment"

"No." He replied shaking his head. "She grabbed me and told me to shut up or she will send me to the emergency room. I then began taunting her. It was after I said something about her mother that she punched me."

As Shinji spoke, Misato motioned for Pen-Pen to grab another beer. That would do it. She began speaking aloud "Then Asuka left to her room. You were so upset that you threw open her door and strangled her. Am I correct?"

Misato's accuracy of the unspoken events bewildered Shinji. "Umm… yes. How did you know all that? Did Asuka tell you?"

"Nope. I saw that her door had scratch marks indicating that it was rubbed against something at a relatively high speed." She points to the large white gashes in the brown door's front side.

"Oh."

The two sit in silence yet again. Misato had her beer in hand and occasionally took a sip as she ran the events through her brain, piecing together each piece of the puzzle until she could accurately picture the event as it happened. Pen-Pen has gone back to his fridge to sleep and Shinji sat motionless, being that he was scared to death waiting for Misato's decision.

"That will be all Shinji." Misato said, breaking the silence. "Go to bed. I will talk to both you and Asuka in the morning and give my finale decision."

"I'm sorry Misato." Shinji groveled with sincere guilt over his actions.

"I know you are Shinji. And so is Asuka. But this is something I can't take lying down. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Now get to bed."

"Okay."

Shinji solemnly exits the room, leaving Misato to her own thoughts. This is a tough one. Both seem to be of equal fault, but I don't know what the repercussions should be. All this thinking had begun taking its toll on Misato's mental status. This was clearly evident in the pulsing headache that had recently materialized in her cranium God my head feels like it's about to implode.

Misato sits in silence until about 1 A.M. It isn't until then she had finally shifted through the actions of the teens and thought of the appropriate actions to take against Shinji and Asuka. Satisfied with her decision, she retires to her room, thinking of the hell that will break loose later that morning. "God help me" was the last thing she though of before falling asleep.

To be continued in

Neon

Genesis

EVANGELION
Chapter:2
Lockdown

(A/N) I hope you like this so far. I would like to thank, in advance, Renegade, ST Pika and Chewie. Your three stories All Is Right with the World- Renegade A New Beginning A New World- ST Pika (FFrUS), and Life After Eva- Chewie are my three inspirations for writing this story.

I hope I kept everyone in their appropriate characters, and it is enjoyable to read. This story is "done" but it is still being fixed up to plug all the plot holes and mistakes I've made. A simple accident sparks much more than meets the eye. If you have read this before, give it another glance. You might see something new.