While seasons were a thing of the past for the planet, lately the weather in Tokyo-3 had been highly erratic. One day it could be unbearably cold, while temperatures rose into the high nineties the next. Today the weather proved to be especially treacherous. In just an hour, a blizzard had swept over the region and the whole area was soon covered in thick, heavy snow. Travel was impossible in the storm's conditions, which meant the city's inhabitants were stuck in their homes. Or wherever they happened to be. For Asuka, stranded at NERV headquarters with company she was less than favorable towards, this was not her ideal night.
"There's got to be something one of you can do! I'm in a building full of scientists and engineers that can't even handle a little storm?!" Asuka yelled indignantly.
"We're all still human, Asuka. Even we can't control the weather," Misato replied with an eyeroll. "Would you settle down for a minute? I'm trying to get a hold of Shinji." She pressed her phone closer to her ear and turned away from Asuka.
"Of course he wasn't around to get stuck here, that idiot," she growled, now starting to pace around the room anxiously.
The door to the room opened and Rei entered, walking over to Misato. "Dr. Akagi told me to tell you that we can expect to stay here until morning at least," she said. Asuka overheard but said nothing, instead moving to the wall to lean against it and pointedly ignore Rei and Misato.
"I thought so, I can't even get any reception in this weather. I just hope Shinji got back to the apartment alright," Misato said worriedly.
"Don't you think you coddle him enough as it is? What about us? I hate being stuck here!" Asuka said angrily.
Misato chose to ignore her remark. "Asuka, why don't you go downstairs and grab everyone something to eat? We keep canned goods in the storeroom for just such an emergency as this. Besides, you seem to have a lot of energy to work off."
"Do it yourself, I don't even know where that is!"
"I could guide her if you'd like me to, Katsuragi." Rei offereed.
"That would be great, thank you. Go along and help her, Asuka. You should really know these things by now," she said, using just the right tone to suggest that Asuka was being incompetent. Attacking her pride was really the only way to get through to the stubborn girl. It worked, for Asuka exited the room without even waiting for Rei to follow.
The two rode the elevator to the bottom floor, Asuka jamming at the buttons too hard and making no effort to keep her bad mood concealed. When they got out, Asuka stared Rei down expectantly until she continued down the hallway. Asuka hugged herself as goosebumps spread along her bare arms. "Why is it so cold down here? Are we underground?"
"No. The vents down here were removed a long time ago, since this floor is long out of use. Hardly anyone ever comes down here, so it's mostly used for storage."
"Know-it-all," Asuka muttered under her breath before considering. "So there's a way outside from here, right? If it's just the ground floor."
"Yes, but it probably would not be advisable. It's dangerous to be outside right now-"
"Please Wonder Girl, just because you can't handle it doesn't mean I can't! Now which way is out?"
Rei stopped suddenly, almost causing Asuka to run into her. To their left was a weathered looking door with a small dirty window, giving them a peek to the winter wonderland beyond. Rei stepped forward and twisted the doorknob, and immediately a cold gust of wind rushed in. The storm was still going strong outside. Snowflakes pelted the two girl from outside and admittedly Asuka was a bit intimidated. But she couldn't back down now, lest she might appear weak to Rei. She pushed the First child aside and tried to exit the building.
The snow was nearly up to her knees. When she tried to move forward, her feet sank in the stuff and chilled her to the bone. She managed to get a few feet away from the door. Trying to stare ahead of her and get a good glimpse of the streets, she realized this was impossible. The flakes were whipping around her too fast. Her teeth began chattering. Quickly realizing that she was not going to be making it home, she started making her way back to the entrance.
Another big gust of wind picked up, nearly knocking Asuka off her feet. Suddenly she heard a great, ear-splitting crack. She tried to look around, but everything was a blur. She felt something tug at her arm. Rei was there. She forcefully pulled her along, plowing through the thick snow more quickly than Asuka had. Rei slammed the door wordlessly as soon as they were both inside. Asuka had stumbled against the wall after Rei had let her go. She shook her head and started to shout "What the hell is your-" but was interrupted by something heavy landing right in front of the door. They both stepped forward to look out of the window. A large pine tree had fallen directly where Asuka had been standing moments before.
"Next time don't be so reckless," Rei said quietly, glancing at Asuka for a moment before continuing to the storeroom.
"I...I would have been just fine," Asuka barked, taking a long stride to catch up to her. "And you better not tell anyone about it." The last thing she needed was Rei blabbing to everyone about how Asuka couldn't even make it outside on her own. The thought was infuriating.
"Tell anyone what?" Rei responded coolly.
The two unlikely companions actually shared a smile with each other.