11:59 PM

BANG. BANG. BANG.

Shinji flips Rei onto her back and covers her. Misato lowers her gun. Crrreerrrrreerrrak. SHHHHHKKKKKKK. Misato sprints forward and puts her body over Shinji and Rei.

"Finally," Ritsuko hums. All at once, the tanks explode and shatter all over the floor. The LCL pours out in bursts knocking Misato and the pilots side to side. The bodies begin to tumble out tangling together. Their heads hit the floor with a repulsive THUD THUD THUD SPLAT. Shinji covers his eyes with Rei's shoulder. Misato takes the shards of glass into her jacket, only some cut her on the leg. Ritsuko stands with her knees bent, weakly holding herself up against the flow of LCL. One Rei head lands right on her foot and she stares at it with disgust. The clones start to gasps for air. Misato covers her mouth with her hand. I'm gonna throw up. The real Rei shifts upward making Shinji back up. Shinji can't look at the other copies. Rei looks at each clone as it's breath starts to run out. Rei untangles herself from Shinji and crouches next to the nearest clone that's flipped on it's stomach. Rei grabs it's shoulder and flips it toward her onto it's back. It stares at her with it's mouth open and it's diaphragm shaking. It reaches up and grips her forearm. The death rattle starts. Cr-raaaa. Shinji jumps up attempting to run in the opposite direction tripping and landing on a Rei clone who makes a crcrcrcrcrcrct from deep in it's throat. HYUH-gah. Shinji throws up next to it's foot. Misato holds her head. Rei continues to stare as it makes it's final breath. The eyes do not close. The hand holding her falls limply.

"They were all alive like I am Doctor." Ritsuko shivers and shoves her gun in her pocket.

"You killed them…" Rei says with a breath. Ritsuko says nothing. Misato stands and lifts Rei up. Misato takes off her jacket and puts it over Rei's body covering most of her waist. Misato holds Rei close to her with one arm and leads her toward the door. She looks at Ritsuko who's holding her face in her hands. You've never looked more pathetic. Misato picks Shinji up by his sleeve and drags him to the elevator. Dink.

"It was… the only way to get him to keep you alive longer. You're irreplaceable now…" Ritsuko says in agony. None of them look back. But they never forget what she said. Ding. Misato pulls them inside and the doors close, leaving Ritsuko to stay there and relive all of the actions she has taken up to this point. Ritsuko falls to her knees and lets out a hard cry. I'm no better than you Mother.

The elevator goes up and Rei and Shinji slowly slide down Misato's sides. Rei breaks first letting out a nearly quiet sob against Misato's bare legs. Shinji goes next holding his broken fingers to his chest. Misato stands tall in the middle, yet tears roll down her cheeks just as hard. Her shoulders shudder roughly. She runs her fingers over both of their heads gently and chokes back more tears. We can do this. We're gonna figure this out.

9 AM the Next Day

The car ride back had been silent. Everyone kept to themselves and physically went into auto-pilot. They each walked through the front door of the house and kicked their shoes off. Asuka flipped the light on but said nothing. They didn't pay much mind to her. Misato went to her room and fell onto her stomach on the bed. Asuka looked at Shinji's broken hand then looked at Rei who walked in last. What the hell happened? Asuka noticed that Rei was naked under Misato's jacket. She flicked off the light and walked back to her room without a word being said.

Rustle rustle rustle. Shinji's eyes slightly open into slits and the sunlight blinds him. He puts his arm to his head. ARGGGH. Shinji's fingers are swollen three sizes bigger. He looks over at Rei to see her tossing and turning under the thin sheets. Shinji worriedly shakes her. She's sweating.

"Rei, wake up," he says shaking her harder. Rei's shakes harder and fists her hand up into a ball in his shirt. "Rei! Wake up!" Rei sits up fast and her eyes burst open. PANT PANT PANT…."Rei what were you dreaming?" he asks once she calms down a bit. Rei closes her mouth and breathes through her nose. Shinji takes her hand in his good one.

"I'm starting to remember when I died."

….

"I remember feeling nothing about it. I found solace in being replacable. I knew it was like falling asleep. I would wake up the next day." The sheets fall from Rei's shoulder revealing her breasts. Rei pulls the sheets back up and looks at Shinji. She looks ashamed. Shinji tries to lower the blankets again, but Rei holds them against her. "I saw how you reacted to them." Shinji sighs thinking back to the crippling fear seeing those bodies gave him.

"It's cuz they weren't you. I was scared because… well, any one would be. But, I'm not scared of you." Rei squints into the light. She says nothing back. She takes his hand in hers and inspects each broken finger. Shinji grits his teeth. "It… really hurts still." Rei softly kisses his palm and watches his eyes. He does not seem to look at me any different. She kisses up his wrist and up his arm. He mewls once she gets to his neck. She kisses up his jaw and gets to the corner of his mouth. She opens her eyes again and looks directly into his. Something inside Shinji panics. The image of the dead Rei flashes in his eyes. He flinches and loses his balance on the bed. He grabs for the sheet pulling it off her as he topples onto the floor. Thud. Shinji groans and sits up. Rei looks at him from the bed. The light shines brightly behind her masking her in a deep shadow. Even then, he can imagine the look of disgust with herself on her face. I didn't mean- Rei swings her legs off the bed and grabs the sheets pulling them from under him harshly. She wraps it around herself. "Rei I didn't mean it like that. I don't know why I just freaked out." Rei slides his door open and walks out. Shinji quickly follows and steps on a corner of the blanket stopping her. He takes that chance to pull Rei by the arm toward him. "Rei I'm serious I-"

SLAP

Shinji puts his hand to his face and looks at her in awe. She just hit me. Why did she…

"You never once have stood up for me Shinji," Rei scolds. "All I wanted was for you to say you still loved me." Asuka stirs and listens from her bed. "But you can not, can you?" Shinji's lip trembles and he drops his head. Rei's jaw tightens. "When Commander Ikari put me in that tank, all I did was think about you. I worried I would never see you again. But worse, when I saw you come in, I thought you arrived to help me. But you did not." Shinji jerks his head up. I DID COME TO HELP YOU! "The look on your face when you saw them…" Rei bites her lip and pulls the sheets on tighter. "I can forgive that," Shinji's shoulders relax, "But I will never forget about how you looked at me this morning." Shinji drops his head again and leans against the wall. Rei turns around and walks to Asuka's door. Knock. …. Shwoop. "May I borrow clothes Asuka-san?" Rei steps in. Shwoop. Shinji stays against the wall. I didn't know what to do. I got help. Misato-san helped. Doctor Akagi… showed us. I didn't know what to do. Shwoop. Shinji doesn't look up. He sees Rei's small feet walk right past him without pause. And a few seconds later, Asuka stops by and stops. He doesn't look up.

"You really fucked this one up," she spits. She walks past and then kicks him square in the back. He falls forward landing on his broken fingers bending them back. He screams into his forearm. Stomp stomp stomp stomp. Both Asuka and Rei leave together. Shinji lays on the floor on his stomach. She's right… I did fuck up. Shinji screws his eyes closed leaving wrinkled skin scrunched up. I'm sorry Rei… I didn't know what to do… I hate myself for it.

10:31 AM

Misato brought Shinji into Nerv's medical center. She expected Ritsuko to be there, but she hadn't come in that morning. Misato sat with Shinji as the nurse scanned his hands to see if any bones were fractured.

"It seems like you're gonna need a cast, but no bones have been shattered or fractured. However, you won't be able to pilot an Eva for at least a month." Misato scratches her head. This is not gonna go over well with the higher ups.

Ten Minutes Later

"Are you kidding?!" Fuyutsuki yells down at Misato. Misato shrugs and repeats herself.

"He fell down the stairs, what else can I say Sir?" He looks down at her in disapproval.

"Major, YOU are in charge of taking care of him. If ANYTHING like this happens again, you will be considered a threat to the furthering of the Evangelions. Do you understand what that means?"

"Yes Sir." Fuyutsuki spins around and walks toward Gendo's office. Shinji and Maya peak from around the corner. Misato shrugs and beckons them over. "It's alright, no one's in too much trouble yet." She rubs Shinji's shoulder.

"Dr. Akagi didn't even call in today," Maya wrings her hands together, "I wonder if she's alright."

"Have you called?"

"Mhm, no answer." Misato nods.

"I'll go see her later tonight," Misato finishes.

"Thank you Major!" Maya throws her head back in relief. "I better get back to work, I will see you later. Bye Shinji-kun!" Shinji doesn't wave back. He's looked depressed since this morning. I was knocked out… but now that I think about it, I didn't see Asuka or Rei.

"Were Rei and Asuka together?" Shinji nods yes. "Do you know where they are?" Shinji shakes his head no. "Speak Shinji. This isn't the time to-"

"-I messed up." Misato lifts his chin toward her but he looks up to his Father's Command Center. "I didn't stand up for Rei. I didn't… know what to do."

….

"I didn't know what to do either," Misato reveals.

"But… you're an adult."

"Adults don't always know what to do," she says with a bitter laugh. "I've made tons of stupid mistakes and later I regretted them. And I've done it over and over again, thousands of times. A cycle of hollow joy and vicious self-hatred. But even so, every time I learned something about myself. The difference between a child and an adult, is acceptance and action..." Shinji balls his hand into a fist. "Face it Shinji, you're forced to be an adult before other kids are. You have to grow up."

"That's not fair! I don't want to pilot an Eva! I didn't ASK for this!" Misato grabs him by the shirt and pulls him closer to her face.

"So what if it isn't fair," Misato growls. "Do you think Rei asked to be what she is? DO you think Asuka asked to turn into what she is? Do you?!" Shinji shakes his head no. Misato releases him with a flick of her wrist. "If Rei hates you," Shinji winces, "She has every right to. You haven't once shown her that you truly care. You just say it." That hits Shinji like a ton of bricks. She's right. I've rarely stood up for her. She always has to defend ME in battle. When Asuka yells at her, I just watch. When my Father hit her, I cried for myself. I'm such a coward.

When he says nothing, Misato walks out, disappointed. Shinji stands in the same spot Rei had been choked by Naoko Akagi. Shinji looks at his casted hand similar to the first day he saw Rei at school. He had seen her sitting in the back of the class with bandages on her head and her arm in a sling. She didn't look at him at all that day. She looked outside into the sun. he wondered if she was thinking about someplace else. Somewhere better than this.

In Gendo's Office

"Ritsuko Akagi destroyed the facility," Fuyutsuki repeats looking out the window behind Gendo who sits with his hands crossed in front of his face. "What would you like to do about her?"

"Nothing. She will still be useful later."

"Alright Sir," he says with a disapproving sigh. "Shinji now has a broken hand. He will not be able to pilot Unit-01 for some time." Gendo makes a Hhhm. "We will need another child to take his place. I say we call on the Fourth."

"No, he won't be of much use."

"But then who?"

"The Fifth child will do." Fuyutsuki spins around and leans over the chair.

"Sir? Seele will not approve. This is too soon. We're already under scrutiny!"

"I don't care. Our cause is what matters to me, not theirs." Fuyutsuki straights up. "Yui would agree." Fuyutsuki's lips tighten. He uses her name in vain.

"As you wish Sir."

11:42 AM

Asuka and Rei had been walking through Tokyo-3 for a few hours without saying much

to each other. There were so many questions, Asuka didn't know where to start. Asuka even had questions for herself. Why am I doing this with her? When have I ever cared about her before? Rei had them walk to the overlook of Tokyo-3. It was a giant hill right off of a windy road that had a thin railing separating you from the edge of the cliff. You could see the sun high in the sky peeking out between buildings.

"Wow," Asuka says leaning over the rail.

"First time here?" Rei says sitting at the short backless silver bench. Asuka looks over her shoulder.

"Yeah," Asuka responds.

"Mmm."

….

"It almost reminds me of Germany."

"Do you miss it there?"

"Not really."

"Mmm," Rei hums. Asuka sits on the opposite side of the bench from Rei. She looks over at her. She looks good in my clothes. Rei was wearing a white spaghetti strap tank top that had a cut out on the chest as well as a mid length pair of black shorts. Looks kind of baggy on her though. Jeez I'm only a small. Rei even had Asuka's shoes on, a black pair of slip ons with no socks. Damn, she probably has a cut on her heel now. One question keeps flowing through her mind.

"Why are you with Shinji-kun? He is really pathetic you know?" Rei shows nothing on her face, she simply answers,

"Because I love him." Asuka scoffs.

"We're fourteen, what do you mean love?"

"I can not explain it. Yet it makes me feel as though I am finally whole."

"But," Asuka throws her hands up, "Even you said he hardly shows it!"

"He does not truly need to. In the end, I know he loves me," Rei puts her hand to her chest. "That does not mean it doesn't hurt when he does some things." Asuka grips the edge of the bench with both hands. I guess Wonder Girl really does have feelings. Asuka sighs. Shinji-kun, you're such an idiot.

1:31 PM

Shinji had been laying on the couch for an hour in complete silence. On the train, a group of boys decided to pick on him.

"HEY!" they yelled. The train was mostly empty except for two older women and another fifteen year old. Shini tried to ignore them by raising the volume of his music. They laughed and got in his face. They started poking him. "Hey man-Don't you wanna talk to us?" Shinji wouldn't respond. "Come on, SAY SOMETHING!" The tallest boy grabbed Shinji's music player and tossed it to another boy.

"Come on, leave me alone. Give it back." The boys laughed more and tossed it back and forth. Shinji had tried to grab it but they were too tall. One of the boys dropped it and the tape inside ripped. "Dammit!" Shinji got to his knees in the middle of the group and popped the tape out. He quickly tried to repair it, but there was no use. The taller of the boys looked down at him and shook his head.

"Fuckin' loser," he said and then spit on Shinji's arm before they all got off at the next stop. Shinji held the tape. Mom left this for me.

Even now on the couch, Shinji held the broken tape in his hand and stared at it. Shwoop. Stomp stomp stomp STOMP. Asuka looked down at him. To him, she was upside down. She looked annoyed beyond belief.

"Are you just gonna lay here? You girlfriend needs you." Shinji says nothing. Asuka gets closer. "DID YOU HEAR ME BAKA?!" Shinji covers his ears. Asuka throws the pillow out from under his head across the room. "DO SOMETHING!" Asuka yells.

"I will."

"Do it now," she hisses. Shinji pulls his phone from his pocket. He clicks on her number but doesn't press call. Asuka huffs and snatches the phone from his hand. "W-wait!" Asuka presses call and throws the phone at his side.

"Baka," she says as she marches off. Shinji skittishly presses the phone to his face still laying down. BRiiiiing. BRiiiiiing. BRiiiiiiiing. She doesn't wanna talk to me, he thinks dejectedly. BRiiiiiing. Click. Shinji sits up. Anxiety sits in his stomach.

"Yes?"

….

"Shinji?"

"R-Rei."

….

"I'm scared of everything," Shinji puts his hand to his face, "I'm scared of Father. I'm scared of Asuka-kun. I'm scared of Eva. I'm scared of everything! But… I'm NOT scared of you."

….

"It seemed like you were."

"I know," he says.

"It… hurt Shinji."

"I-I know. I know. I don't know why I did it. But…" Shinji stops and thinks back to what Misato said, 'You haven't once shown her that you truly care. You just say it.' "Rei I wanna come see you."

"I am at my apartment. I must clean up." Shinji hears the sound of water in the background.

"Wait for me, I'll help."

"I suppose," she says, "You have a broken hand, you should not."

"I don't care," Shinji says getting up, "I'll be right there don't do anything else."

A few blocks down the road, Shinji passes a slimy alley way that smells of rotting fish. Shinji gags, ugh that's disgusting. He was just about to walk past it until he hears a crying noise. Shinji walks backward and listens again.

"Mrrrow, mrow" A cat? Shinji looks around, no one is in sight. He walks down the alley pinching his nose. The noise gets louder. It seems to come from in the dumpster. Shinji uses one arm to hold himself up and stretches on his toes. His good arm pulls bags of trash out. "MROWWWWWW!"

"HIYAH!" Shinji trips backward landing on a fish caracas. A small white cat springs from the bottom and lands on his chest. Red eyes. Like Rei's. The cat stares at him.

….

"Are you good now?" The cat licks his nose making him laugh despite himself. The cat hops off as if allowing him to get up. He does so nearly tripping again. "Well, bye cat," he says waving. He begins to walk again until he feels a brush on his leg. "You again?" the cat looks up and purrs as it rubs against him. "I dunno where you're from though, go find your way home." The cat continues to rub. Shinji shakes his head and starts walking again. The cat stops. He tries walking faster. Hopefully it gives up. He gets two blocks from Rei's apartment and decides to pick up some food for them. He walks into a shop and comes out within five minutes. Even got her favorite tea. He starts walking up her stairs until he hears a strange noise.

"mmmmmRAAAAAAAWWW!" Shinji ducks and the same white cat flies over his head.

"What the hell?!" He hears Rei open her door. Shinji quickly walks up the stairs and sees the flash of white fur run inside her room. Rei stares in it's direction but says nothing. "D-Did you order cat?" he tries to joke.

"I did not." Shinji shakes his head with a smile. He walks in and Rei closes the door. The cat is jumping over the mess until it decides to take it's place on her newly made bed. "Well… I guess we have a cat now."

"We?" Shinji faces her. She notices the meal he brought. It's all of her favorite things. She smiles a bit.

"It's always 'we'," he says softly.