A/N: If any of you has read fanfic EVA-R: Yes, i stole Unit 06 and it's concept. I'm personally ashamed of it, but as for the other similarities I swear to God I didn't stole them from that fanfic, I came up with them before reading it.
Deep thinking
Floor 7, apartment 703, Misato's building
The apartment is quiet, calm, silent. Nothing disturbs the peace inside the flat. Although the apartment barely shows any signs of life, it's clearly inhabited. Some furniture recently put adorns the apartment, and a soft, almost non existent sound of snoring fills the void of silence. As the clocks in the house declare 7 o'clock, the house slowly sees its void fill with noise.
It's the sound of people moving. More specifically, the sound of two people moving. One, slowly walks towards the kitchen, grabs some stuff from the refrigerator, and starts cooking. The other one moves in the opposite way, grabbing a towel and entering the bathroom.
The process is very similar to that of Misato's apartment, yet there's only two integrants. Also, the sound of Misato's common noise when she has her first drink in the morning is missing. The sound of Asuka's constant bickering does not break the silence, and the smell of Shinji's wonderful cooking does not fill the air.
The two occupants of the flat are the two, recently acquired British pilots: Dorian Kazegawa and Cremina Lentai. By order of their Commander, Gendo, they have been assigned to live where NERV sees fit, in this case, the same apartment building as Major Katsuragi. After a couple of minutes, both children have already sat down on the table, both fully dressed for school, wearing the same uniform Shinji and Asuka wear. It was also Commander Ikari's order that they attended the same school as the other pilots, to facilitate the task of Section 2 of protecting the pilots. Both children eat in silence, each one still not used to the time zone of Japan.
"Damn, you would think they would a least give us some time to get used to the bloody hours in here" Dorian's thought wasn't worth a damn, for their instructions were clear: to continue living a… semi regular life until Eva unit 06 arrived to NERV HQ, alongside Cremina's mother.
The two roommates made their way to the door, opened it, and slowly observed their surroundings: it was a beautiful, clear morning in Japan. Tokyo-3 showed its real beauty while bathed in the morning sunlight. Yet, both English kids couldn't appreciate the beauty of the city, for their brains were still in their beds, sleeping.
Cremina: It's going to be a long day…
Dorian: Tell me about it…
They made their way to the elevator, and Dorian pushed the button of the first floor. They didn't get there directly for someone in the fourth floor stopped the elevator.
Asuka; Come on, idiot! We're going to be late!
Shinji: Asuka, school doesn't start for another 20 minutes!
Asuka: Shut up!
Both kids entered the elevator, only to enter a sudden silence, clearly provoked by the presence of the two British children in the elevator.
Asuka: …
Shinji: …
Cremina chose to break the silence, for such quietness was plain unnatural for her.
Cremina: Ummm, Asuka?
Asuka: What?
Cremina: You see I just wanted to say I'm sorry for the fight yesterday. It wasn't my intention to create troubles, I just naturally do so
Asuka: … I guess I can accept that
The silence fell once again, a lot much more comfortable than last time.
Dorian: So… you are the Second Child, Asuka Sohryu then?
Asuka: Exactly
Dorian: And you're Shinji, Third Child, right?
Shinji only nodded, for the ambient was still too quiet for him to try and break the silence. Asuka on the other side was determined to get the two Children talking.
Asuka: So… any of you ever piloted a real Eva?
Cremina: I would say I don't have experience on Eva, but my friend is a totally different story.
Dorian: It's not like its real battle experience. Plus, I just got lucky
Asuka: Lucky? So you have actually used and Eva in combat?
Dorian: I wouldn't call it "combat"
Cremina: Yeah, right. Like if taking down three Evas doesn't count as combat.
The elevator opened its doors, allowing the four pilots to leave the building. As they made their way to the school, the reality of Cremina's words started to sink in the other two pilots
Asuka: …Three? He brought down Three Evas on his own? How?
Cremina: Oh, he doesn't like talking about it; he likes to play modest when talking about himself.
Dorian: It's not modesty; I just don't see the big deal. They were unarmored, unarmed and their power was going to run out anyway.
Cremina: Impossible, they had their own power source, remember?
Dorian: Well, then we would have used the self destruction, and everything would have been just fine and dandy.
Cremina: Self destruction takes too long. They would have probably reached London by then. I mean, come on! You saved freaking London from an Eva attack! Give yourself some credit.
Dorian: I insist, it's not a big deal.
Asuka: I agree; for an Eva pilot, it's normal to have such records on his history. Also, I think I may have underestimated you, Kazegawa.
Dorian: It's not really important… it's not like if word of your doings hasn't reached Europe, Sohryu.
Asuka: Oh, really? What, may I ask, have you heard of me?
Dorian: Same sort of things... mainly stuff about your talent and angel kills, at least that's what I learned in the Third Branch.
Asuka: So you actually visited the Third Branch.
Dorian: Yeah, but now… honestly, are you really her?
Asuka: (angry) what do you mean by that!
Dorian: From records they kept of you, I assumed you were slightly… taller.
Asuka: WHAT?
Asuka stopped dead on her tracks, grabbing Shinji by his uniform to stop him as well. She kept staring to the boy, still not believing his words.
Asuka: You better say sorry, you jerk!
Dorian: Okay, sorry for that, I didn't mean to offend you, I just assumed… incorrectly.
Asuka: All right…
Asuka chose to; once again, settle for an apology of such nature. Evidently, the boy didn't really mean it, but maybe, as her, he had said that to cooperate.
Dorian thought something along the same lines, realizing that he couldn't get into trouble with one of his companions on the first day. Yet, he had to admit the Second Child was a little… short tempered.
"It's really going to be a long day"
Yokohama Docks
The city of Yokohama, reduced to a small dock city due to the Second Impact, lies about 100 kilometers away from Tokyo-3. The town still owns a massive dock facility, but the population remains limited to the dock operators, for the residential side of the city lies buried under the water. The common silence of the standard operations has abandoned the city, to be replaced by a sound of massive activity. A ship convoy is expected, or better said, a fleet. The cargo of this fleet is unknown, yet undeniably valuable.
A VTOL aircraft nears the city, the NERV logo on the side of the plane. Four people leave the plane, two of them formally attired, one wearing a long white robe over her clothes, and the last one in a casual outfit. The four people walk towards the docks, were an increasing activity has taken place: receiving the massive UN fleet arriving at the docks. Chances are most ships will manage to dock in the city, but a few ones are actually important: the three cargo ships in the middle of the convoy.
As the four figures make their way towards the dock, each time they pass a security gate flashing their NERV cards, the cargo ships dock in the massive terminals, each one carrying it's own valuable cargo with the most absolute secret. One of them, the nearest one to the figures, carries Evangelion Unit 06, the first Custom Made Evangelion model, to be piloted by the Sixth Child. The next one carries the, still theoretically incomplete, Unit 05, the Second Custom Made Evangelion, and the first one to be submitted for "technical enhancement" in Japanese grounds. The last cargo ship carries a load of a slightly different nature: it's the pieces and material necessary for the completing process of Unit 05, and some other classified material at the disposition of Doctor Jeyn Lentai.
Fuyutski: It seems we have arrived just at the right time.
Gendo: It would seem like it.
Fuyutski: Although I don't see Doctor Lentai waiting for us near the cargo ships, what could her delay be?
Ritsuko: She probably got lost or forgot her id, she is way too careless.
Misato: Sounds like you don't really like her, do you?
Ritsuko: It's not that I don't like her, we simply don't… agree on some subjects.
Misato: Simply, you and she don't think equally, big deal. Happens all the time
Ritsuko chose to ignore her comment, for her relationship with Jeyn Lentai went further than just "not thinking the same", as Misato put it. She knew she would never fix her problems with Lentai, and she was definitely not going to waste time trying.
Ritsuko: I propose we do an examination of the deliveries made by the fleet.
Gendo: Very well
The four made their way to the first cargo ship, the one containing Unit 06. After flashing their id's one ore time they finally entered the cargo room.
In front of them lay, silently, the gigantic robot known as Unit 06. The Unit was black and yellow colored, very similar in body construction to Unit 02, yet some differences could be seen: the dorsal area was bigger than most Evas, the shoulder pads were slightly shorter and the head of the Unit resembled Unit 00, owning the same sort of prominent eye, but also owning a mouth of sorts like in Unit 01.
Gendo: So this is it. The first custom made model
Misato: Why are they called custom?
Ritsuko: Easy, their construction….
Suddenly, the door where they had come from opened, revealing the figure of a red-almost-orange haired woman, nearly the same height as Misato, and a pair of emerald eyes that showed a seriousness of sorts.
Woman: I think I should be explaining that, Ritsuko.
Ritsuko: Jeyn…
Fuyutski: Doctor Lentai, how nice of you to join us… five minutes late.
Jeyn: Sorry, commander Fuyutski, but a little problem with the third cargo ship made me delay.
Fuyutski: Very well.
Misato: Ummm, Doctor Lentai?
Jeyn: Feel free to call me by my name, Misato.
Misato: Oh, okay, Do…. Jeyn. Could you please answer my question?
Jeyn: Yes, of course. You see, the name comes from the design and construction methods: Unit 06 was specifically designed to work with a single pilot, in this case being the Sixth Child. The process of designing the Eva was made after the Marduk selected the pilot, so the Eva was made to fit the pilot's own abilities, making it easier for the pilot to synchronize with the Unit and giving him a better fighting capability. The same applies for Unit 05; the pilot was selected before the Eva designing, making it easier for the pilot to accommodate with the Eva.
Misato: So it's like a suit made to fit perfectly with the person wearing it?
Jeyn: Exactly
Gendo: About that, Doctor Lentai. My staff has been showing some concerns for the custom units, as they think the Unit will be useless if we lose the original pilot, is that true?
Jeyn: Not entirely. Although the results achieved by another pilot will never be as good as the ones of the original pilot, the Unit can be piloted by any available pilot, the only difference is that the Unit helps one specific pilot, but it doesn't hamper the other ones.
Gendo: So it's not necessary to use the same pilot always?
Jeyn: It would be advisable to do, but… no, it's not necessary to use the same pilot.
Gendo: I see. Can you tell me about the Unit's customizations?
Jeyn: Of course. Unit 06 presents a lighter armor than most Evas, except in the dorsal area, where lies another special component of the Unit. The Unit is made lighter because of this special system, which is known is the Yarnov System or Y-system for short.
Fuyutski: Y-system? As in Yarnov's magnetic field theory?
Jeyn: It's no longer a theory, as we have tested the system works correctly. The principle is simple: the system deploys a special, limited electromagnetic field that allows the Unit to "glide", based in the Earth's EM fields. The system literally allows the Unit to glide through the air, but it severely drains the battery. The last part should be corrected through the installation of the S2 engine.
Gendo: Simple, yet elegant. I think it will suit our needs, now, if you would please show us the next Evangelion.
Jeyn: Of course.
They walked out of the cargo ship, entering the next one: inside this ship's cargo room lays another Eva, painted in a shinning orange color. In its shoulders lays the number 5. Most of the Unit was complete, but a giant hole lies underneath the Unit's chest, revealing and empty torso. It also lacked some of the standard armor plating
Jeyn: This is Evangelion Unit 05, currently not completed, as you can see. The Unit will be the first to undergo a S2 engine installation. You can also notice the Unit dos not currently own a core.
Gendo: So, all of the missing components will be installed in Matsushiro?
Jeyn: If everything goes as planned, yes.
Fuyutski: I guess it would be better if we now go to the last cargo ship.
Jeyn: The let's go.
The made their way to the last cargo ship, flashed their ids and entered the cargo room. The room was different this time, the smell of bakelite weaker in this than the previous one. In the lightly smaller bakelite pool lay two orbs: one, about the size of the hole in nit 05, red colored; clearly the Unit's core. The other one, a shinning, yellow orb, is contained under the pressure of many technological gizmos.
Ritsuko: It' that your S2 engine? The shinning sphere?
Jeyn: Exactly. It shall later be absorbed by the core of Unit 05, if everything goes planned. Also, the metal objects around it are the systems that synchronize it with the pilot.
They watched the engine once again, this time understanding it's nature. It was clearly a incredible system, capable of providing an Evangelion with as much power as it needs. They also noticed the other components that laid on the dry side of the room: they recognized three entry plugs, two standard ones, and one dummy plug. They also noticed the presence of a fourth element: a weird looking, white colored sphere in a LCL tank.
Ritsuko: Are those the entry plugs for the units?
Jeyn: Exactly, they also include one of the last surviving dummy plugs.
Ritsuko: What about the orb in the tank?
Gendo: That's currently classified information Doctor Akagi, Major Katsuragi. I would appreciate if you refrain from mentioning this component to anyone.
Ritsuko: Considering that I will have to work with Doctor Lentai on all of the projects in this cargo room, I think I own the right to know.
Gendo: You will be informed of the nature of this project when the situation requires it.
Ritsuko frowned, understanding that the situation would probably never require it. Jeyn had arrived with a massive set of cards under her sleeve, and one of them was Ikari's personal interest in her projects.
Misato thought along different lines. Every "project" Lentai had brought with her had been already shown off in NERV: the S2 engine, the dummy lugs, special Evas… yet each one had proved its deficiencies: the accident in the Second Branch, the savagery committed by the dummy plug system against the 13th angel, the lie behind a statement as " the perfect Eva"… Clearly, Lentai didn't really show anything that they hadn't seen yet. If anything, she only promised to bring more troubles to NERV.
She was a bringer of troubles, of pain, of destruction
But most importantly: suffering. So many people had suffered at the hand of the Evas, and now more would have to suffer.
The now-five people made their way out of the cargo ship, and then the dock area. They took off on the VTOL plane and, quickly, made their way to Tokyo-3.
Misato kept thinking of her view on Doctor Lentai: she had been said to be such a pacifist, having abandoned project E when blood started spilling, yet she had created the Evas and their components just for more people to suffer.
What happened to her during her time out of the light?
School, II-A class.
The day in school had been rather boring, nothing really important happened, at least for Shinji. The two British kids had been introduced to the class, and took their place in the classroom. A few comments on their unusual appearance, some guys trying to flirt with Cremina, which she declined, saying she wasn't looking for a guy in Japan. A few girls also tried to flirt with Dorian, but stopped after he just followed with his cold attitude. Nothing truthfully important happened.
As the bell marked lunch time, students started running to the cafeteria, or to the school grounds, looking to grab a nice spot under a tree or a table outside. A few stayed in the classroom, having the place for their own to have lunch. One of them was Shinji, who chose to stay behind. Asuka had run to the rooftop with Hikari, and finally Kensuke had missed school today. That left only Shinji and Toji. But the first stooge was nowhere to be seen, so Shinji slowly ate his lunch alone, deep in reminding.
Flashback
"Do you want her to get better? I mean, is it just the good wishes of friend? Or something more?"
"I…"
End Flashback
What would have been his answer? Yes, I do care for her? No, I only wish her good health? I don't know…?
Yeah, he would have probably said he didn't know, or stayed quiet. He was a coward, although he didn't intent on being one anymore, this was different. It was telling Misato, his surrogate mother, what he felt about Asuka. She was a special girl for him, for he would have never tried to befriend a girl like her had she been anyone else, but she was Asuka. She was different for him; she was not some girl, or even some friend. She was… well, he didn't know, but he knew the word "crush" crossed his mind, but he rejected it immediately. A crush was something you had for a person you didn't know everything about, a person on which you only appreciated a few, good qualities. He knew Asuka deeper than that: he knew her qualities, her remarkable flaws, her likes and dislikes… He knew so much about her truly, he was evidently the only person to have reached so far within her mind. Yet he understood the prize of it: being insulted, despised, rejected and humiliated constantly. Was it because he liked it? No, he was afraid of pain, of misery, of anything that could hurt him, but he chose to stay. She kissed him and then rejected him, yet he chose to stay. She punched him everyday, never apologized, and yet the next day he was there, still up for another day of being humiliated.
No, he didn't like pain; he didn't like how Asuka treated him.
Yet everyday he was up for more.
Why?
"Perhaps because she's worth it?"
Worth it… maybe. He had seen Asuka smile, he had seen her content, he had seen her be grateful, to actually say thank you. He had seen the good side of Asuka, the side that had the kindness, the good instincts and the happiness. He had seen Asuka lower the walls that shielded her from most people, and show him her true self. He had seen the Asuka that accepted basic human emotions, like pain or joy, the Asuka that allowed him to be weak, for being weak was a part of being human.
She was more than just a red haired German girl with pride issues, she was a person, perhaps not a perfect one, but she was a person. A good person. How could someone know her as he knew her and not be willing to stand up everyday, take all the crap he took, just to actually see her flash a smile, or a look of gratefulness? Nobody could say he was crazy, for he knew the real Asuka, and had understood that not only he could deal with her…
He had come to feel a serious affection for her. The sort of affection most people would call: the way to love, yet he knew loving her would be too much.
But for how long?
That's why he stood up every morning and took all the crap from her, just to fall for her a little bit more for her.
He literally hurt himself everyday just to keep falling in love.
What an irony.
Toji: Shinji? You there buddy?
He was in such a deep thought that he didn't notice his friend entering the classroom, or trying to get his attention. He slowly came back to his senses and talked.
Shinji: Yes? What is it?
Toji: I need to talk to you.
Shinji looks surprised, for the word "need" doesn't commonly cross the mouth of the jock.
Shinji: What about?
Toji: Last night, while I was in my house, somebody called. A woman
Shinji: …
Toji: She said things which most people don't know about. She knew everything about the accident with Unit 03, the attack of Bardiel, the response from the dummy plug… She knew too much to be a common person. She told me her name was Jeyn Lentai. She was definitely a NERV person or something like that
Shinji: …
Toji: I was wondering if… you knew anything about her?
Shinji: Isn't Lentai the name of our new classmate?
Toji: Oh, right! The girl, isn't she? Maybe she knows something. But currently I'm asking you.
Shinji: No Toji, I don't know anything about her.
Toji: Oh, well, better go find the British girl.
Shinji grew scared, for if NERV once again wanted to contact Toji, it meant they needed him for something, and being needed by NERV always means trouble.
Couple of hours later.
The bell now marks the end of classes, and everyone walks towards their respective houses, the few ones on duty cleaning staying behind. Yet now four figures run madly towards their home: the one ahead being Asuka, dragging Shinji behind her. The other two of the British kids, running just for the heck of it. Once they arrived to the apartment building, they were stopped in front of the door by Misato.
Misato: We have orders to leave for NERV, immediately.
The kids silently entered Misato's car, understanding any fight against orders isn't really a good idea. The car made it's way to the tunnel outside of Tokyo-3, and they slowly went down through the special elevator. Once they got to Central Dogma, they immediately went to the Control room. Inside the room awaited Doctor Akagi and another woman, her hair red-almost-orange and a pair of emerald eyes, her skin pale and her face, serious.
Ritsuko: Ah, nice to see you all got here soon. Well, I would like to introduce you a… colleague of mine. She's Doctor Jeyn Lentai; she will be working around here with us and will be part of the staff. As you can guess she's Cremina's mother.
Jeyn: Happens that I can introduce myself, Ritsuko. Anyway, nice meeting you all, I expect we can cooperate in the near future. As she said, I will be working around here, mainly in technical projects. Also, I will be in charge of maintenance for the custom Evas.
Asuka: So you are to do Ritsuko's job with the new Evas?
Jeyn: You could… say so…
Asuka: Asuka, the name's Asuka Langley Sohryu.
"So she is the Second Child, it surprises me she's so… direct. She doesn't seem to bear the troubles most pilots bear" Although Jeyn was aware of Asuka's past, she had to admit, if Asuka faked a personality, she did it damn good.
Jeyn: Well, Asuka, I hope we can work together just fine in the near future.
Truthfully, Jeyn was very interested in the Second Child, or better said, on her Eva. Unit 02 had been the first production Unit, so she would need the Unit to test the compatibility of Production Evas with her little inventions.
Jeyn: Now, if you two could tell me your names (she points at Rei and Shinji).
Rei: I'm Rei Ayanami, First Child and pilot of Unit 00.I also hope we can work alongside with easiness, Doctor Lentai.
Jeyn: Why, thank you, Rei. Now, you…
Shinji: Me? Well, my name is Shinji Ikari, Third Child and pilot of Unit 01. I hope we can work together too.
Jeyn: Perfect. So a least now, it's all good wishes. Well, I think we can now proceed. As I think you were informed, we will be having a synchronization test now. It will be short, just a little look on your current synch, it shouldn't last more than an hour.
Asuka: Oh, come on! Can we just leave it in introductions?
Jeyn: You scared, Pilot Sohryu?
Asuka: What? No way, I'm going to show you all who's the best.
Jeyn had heard of the pilot's massive pride issues in the Third Branch in Germany, so she knew that by hurting her pride she could get her to do as she wanted. Shinji, Rei and Dorian left with her, but Cremina, not being a pilot, stayed behind to talk with her mother.
Jeyn: Cremina.
Cremina: Mother.
Jeyn: It's been a long time, with me working late all the time right? I'm sorry about that, but I had to coordinate the arrangements for the custom Evas and…
Cremina: I get it.
Jeyn: That's good. I was also looking forward to seeing you pilot, but I guess we will have to wait until Unit 05 is ready.
Cremina: Yes
Jeyn: In the meanwhile, I guess you can watch and learn.
Cremina: Sure.
To any onlooker, it didn't look like a mother-daughter talk, more like that of two coworkers, yet the similarity between the two women could be easily recognized.
Ritsuko: The pilots are moving towards the entry plugs, Jeyn
Jeyn: Great. Let's follow SP and get them inside then.
Ritsuko: Get the pilots inside the entry plugs.
In the hallway towards the entry plugs, the four kids await the call for entering. Shinji, Rei and Asuka wearing their common suits, Dorian wearing a yellow and white suit.
Asuka: Wait a minute, Briton. You going to pilot to?
Dorian: Unit 06 arrived this morning in a UN convoy and was transported here during early noon.
Asuka: Unit 06? Where did it come from?
Dorian: It was built in the UK, along Unit 05 and some mass production Evas.
Asuka: Sounds like a lot of work for a single NERV base
Dorian: The UK branch serves the purpose of construction and prototype testing. Although there is a tactical and technical staff, it's very limited. And it's not even near the staff here in the Geofront.
Loud speaker: All pilots enter your respective entry plugs.
The four children entered the entry plugs, as they slowly filled with LCL. Dorian had some troubles with the linking liquid, as the only time he had piloted Unit 06 he couldn't get used to LCL. After a while, his breathing became stable, and the test began.
Asuka looked around though the screens, noticing the presence of a fourth Eva in the room: it was Unit 06.
Jeyn: Pilot Sohryu, you all right?
Asuka: Why what's wrong?
Jeyn: Nothing, your synch ratio is on 79 percent. But your vitals said you were not breathing.
Asuka: I just got a little… too focused on the test.
Jeyn smiled a little, understanding the girl's desire to reach good numbers on the test had even overcome her most basic instincts. It surprised her how desperate Asuka was to pilot again. She also noticed the other numbers on the screen: Rei was on 75, which, according to previous tests, was her synch ratio on almost every test; Shinji was on 84, which was also sort of common for him; and finally, Dorian was on 80, a massive success considering his lack of experience.
Asuka: Hum? The British is on 80 percent? How is that possible?
Jyen: It's because of his Eva.
Asuka: What?
Jeyn: Take a look at Unit 06.
Asuka mover her Eva's head, enough to stare at the new Unit. It was very similar to Unit 00: it owned the same general construction, it was slightly bigger in the upper back than most Evas, and it owned smaller shoulder pads. I also owned a prominent yellow eye in the right side of its face, and no eye on the other side. It also owned a sealed mouth like Unit 01. But the most interesting was the presence the Unit owned; it resembled its pilot in a way: cold, slender, light and also showed no apparent arsenal.
Jeyn: The thing about Unit 06 is it's uniqueness, the units of it's kind are called "Custom Production". It means the base structure is the same in all Evas of this type, but the outer construction is different. Things like weight, weaponry, platting and size vary between one another, because that part of the construction is the custom one: designed to fit it's pilot qualities and needs. As the pilot feels more comfortable with the Unit, the pilot can reach synch rates higher with easiness.
Asuka: It's made to fit with it's pilot rather than the pilot adjusting the Unit?
Dorian: In a way, yes
Asuka: That means you have it easier, that's cheating!
Dorian: If it's easier, it's all the better for our mission.
Asuka remained quiet, not wanting to argue against a new pilot on the first day (A/N: It's still the same day as in the beginning of this chapter), yet she was still mad. Of course he could reach higher synch, his Eva was made for it!
Jeyn: I think that's it for today kids, you can leave.
The kids made their way out of the plugs, clearly stiff from sitting for so long. Shinji and Dorian entered their locker room, while Rei and Asuka went in the other direction.
Dorian: Why was Sohryu so mad, Ikari?
Shinji: Probably because she is used to being the best, but since she just woke up from a deep coma, she's having a hard time picking up where she left off.
Dorian: She was in a coma?
Shinji: She entered it after being defeated by the 15th angel.
Dorian: that bird thing… Arael?
Shinji: Yes.
Dorian: I see. But was she truly that good?
Shinji: I won't lie to you, she was. She could bring down anything that attacked her. But Arael did differently: he attacked her mind, not her Eva, so there wasn't much she could do
Dorian: But I understand Ayanami destroyed the 15th.
Shinji: She did, by using a special lance that was being stored in Terminal Dogma. She threw the lance at Arael and brought him down.
Dorian: But… I also heard that the biggest angel kill amount was yours
Shinji: Yeah, but just because I started earlier and got lucky.
Dorian: …
Shinji: But what about you? Cremina said you brought down three Evas on your own.
Dorian: Yeah, but just like you, I would say I got lucky.
Shinji: Kazegawa?
Dorian: Yes?
Shinji: Could you… could you tell me about that woman, Doctor Lentai?
Dorian: Why?
Shinji: I just need to know. Also I think she has already met you, for she didn't ask you for your name.
Dorian: Yes, I already know her, but not too much. I now she used to work for NERV England and another enterprise at the same time, in the special projects section. I also know she helped my father design the custom Evas, and she's Cremina's mother. Actually, that's how my father started working on NERV, he came pick me up one day from Cremina's house, and she and my father started talking. That was about three years ago. She's always working late on week days, and she's always serious, even around Cremina. I think Cremina and she don't get along very well. I don't like her too. She seems to think I like Cremina or something.
Shinji: Which is false, right?
Dorian: …
Shinji: You don't like Cremina do you?
Dorian: Only as a friend
Shinji: Then why didn't you answer?
Dorian: Because she always pretends she likes me, or that we are a couple, just to bother me or to make forgive her when we get mad at each other. She fakes up, so I have to fake up along her. Most people see through it, though.
Shinji: So she tries to frustrate you?
Dorian: You… could say so.
"Just like Asuka"
Dorian: But it doesn't really bother me, it's actually kind of fun, sometimes. Also, it has its benefits: it shortens up the time we are mad at each other, and makes it easier to get over it.
Shinji: And then you go and say you don't feel anything for her
Dorian felt put on the spot. Was he such a freaking open book? How did he allow this guy to just come, ask him questions, and then get caught by him?
Dorian: I don't have any special feelings for Cremina. Just being her friend.
Shinji: I thought the same thing with Asuka, and before I knew it, I was talking to myself about her, wondering how I really felt. Then I got the point across my mind: She's more than just a friend
Dorian: Despite her character?
Shinji: You don't know about her character?
Dorian: That's not the point. I'm telling you: are the good stuff and the benefits worth the risks and the bad stuff?
Shinji: Definitely
Dorian: Maybe you can say what you feel out loud, but I'm just more closed up, all right?
Shinji: That doesn't mean you are a bad person
Dorian: Yeah
Shinji: Then I don't get why you get mad. We can be friends and get along without having to tell the truth all the time.
Dorian: We would be lying
Shinji: No, we would be concealing information from the other one.
Dorian grinned at the definition, starting to get the point.
Dorian: Then I guess we are friends, Ikari.
Dorian tended his hand to Shinji, who accepted the friendship he offered.
Shinji: Yeah, I guess we are friends
Dorian: Friends who conceal, Ikari
Shinji: Feel free to call me by my name.
Dorian: Okay, Bye then, Shinji.
Dorian slowly made his way out of the locker room, leaving Shinji to wonder about their talk. How was it that he opened up to some one like that? Perhaps because Dorian evidently tried to know him, he was trying to befriend him, something which was definitely uncommon for him.
Dorian had made an effort to be friends, so he returned the effort.
A/n The chapter was pretty much what the title said, but i tried to make it interesting anyway.
