Disclaimer: See the Prologue
Edits made 12/8/14:
Changed the ending.
Chapter 11 – The Line
EVA-01 held the prog blade tightly in its right hand; Shinji gritted his teeth and looked in the direction of EVA-00 from within the plug, "Rei, can you copy my stance and my movements?"
He willed EVA-01 to raise its right hand, which EVA-00 was quick to emulate, after already assuming the same stance as Shinji, both EVAs facing the Angels with blades pointed forward towards them. Rei noted the glaive was bigger than Shinji's prog blade, and so snapped the pole off the rest of the melee weapon so and held it so like a knife, before EVA-00 reassumed the stance.
"We have to strike the Paya Amedhas' cores at the same time," Shinji explained. "If both halves are moving and attacking as one then maybe the only way to damage them is to be as one as well."
Misato's image on the holographic communications window appeared thoughtful, mulling over Shinji's theory.
Ritsuko…?
(SSJNYH)
"…did you get all that?"
Pushing a button down on the console that patched her through to NERV, Misato gripped the receiver tightly enough that she heard it creak slightly.
MAGI has already run calculations: It's…feasible, Ritsuko stated, sounding hurried. It may be the only way to defeat the Angels, in fact. But it would require at least five days of training the pilots to properly synchronise the pilots' movements, equilibrium, bodily functions-
I'm not waiting that long! And they won't either, Shinji exclaimed irritant, pointing at the 7th Angel halves, which were just standing there as if waiting for him and Rei to make their next move.
You'd be putting the EVAs under considerable risk, Kasumi, Ritsuko didn't bother to mask her irritation towards Shinji, the feeling by now having being established as mutual.
Misato raised her eyebrows, puzzled.
Just the EVAs? Not the pilots, Rits?
Shinji scoffed, Risks? There's always risks! On the screen he then looked straight ahead at Misato and stated, calmly, pleadingly. Misato, we can do it. Just give the word and those things die right now.
Misato bit her lip and stared at the screen of the Angels as they begun to advance upon the EVAs, tapping her left shoulder with her fingers as she struggled to decide whether to go with Shinji's strategy that MAGI actually says that it's feasible and risk everything, or to retreat and properly expand upon this strategy and at the same time give the Angels time to advance towards Tokyo-03.
We need time to prepare, Captain, Ritsuko said. Pull them back for now.
"Captain?" Maya called out from her terminal, knowing time wasn't on their side right now.
Looking sternly up at the screen, Misato asked, "Can the two of you pull this off?"
Yes, ma'am, both Shinji and Rei answered, much to the latter's puzzlement that she would go along with Shinji.
Misato's smile was filled with confidence as she exclaimed, "Go get em'!"
(SSJNYH)
In his usual manner of posture, Gendo watched the battle from his desk at Central Dogma, Fuyutsuki standing beside him, attentive, and with a small smile on his face.
"I half expected him to just keep charging at the Angels until the EVA is completely wrecked, given his obvious berserker upbringing," Kozo admitted. "Again, Shinji has surprised me."
Gendo remained unruffled, "The aliens have obviously taught him how to use a certain level of tact with any given situation. He craves violence, but not enough to let it cloud his better judgement."
"You sound impressed," Kozo stated.
"…it is to be expected from him," Gendo answered.
It must come from his mother.
Gendo furrowed his brow…
His mother...also connected to these xeno.
Raised by them.
...as he couldn't stop himself from trying to piece things together in his head.
It can't be a coincidence that Subject BM-03 found Shinji with…Yui's sister's family. But it would appear that it didn't know Shinji was her…is our son.
…does something else wish to disrupt the Scenario?
"Sir!" one of the techs called out to him. "Units 00 and 01 are preparing to counterattack. Should we intervene?"
"I see no reason to," Gendo replied. "Allow them to proceed. I'll personally deal with the pilots afterward."
"SIRS!" one of the techs called. "Outlying sensors detect EVA transport approaching!"
A holographic image of a triangular vector approaching the shoreline where the battle was taking place generated itself
"What?!" Kozo cried. "Identification?"
"Unknown, sir."
Again, Gendo was unruffled.
"Interesting…"
(SSJNYH)
Their EVAs holding their blades tightly in their hands, one being opposite to the other, Shinji and Rei stared down the Angels. Shinji glared intensely at his prey, before compelling EVA-01 to suddenly to charge at them, the motion of putting one foot ahead of the other perfectly emulated by EVA-00 and Rei, shocking Misato and the support crews on the shoreline. Both switched to holding their blades in reverse grip as they closed in on the Angel, both immediately side stepping to avoid the Angel halves thrusting their left and right arms at them respectively, both EVAs raising their blades to slash the Angel upward diagonally across their 'chests', leaving matching gashes travelling upwards in opposite diagonal directions.
Both EVAs then pushed their left/right feet off the ground, propelling themselves backwards and landing opposite one another, both pilots waiting to see if their synchronised attack had any effect. They waited for a few second before the Angels charged them, both swinging their arms at the EVAs as both purple unit and blue unit suddenly pushed off each other's hands to dodge the blow.
And the gashes on the Angel didn't appear to heal themselves.
Shinji, Rei! Misato shouted enthusiastically over the com. Keep doing what you're doing! It's working!
"Right," Shinji responded. "Rei?"
Shinji?
"Let's keep chipping away at it until we can get a clear shot at the cores."
Yes.
(SSJNYH)
Back at NERV Kaji felt intrigued as he watched the battle unfold on screen, as both EVA-01 and EVA-00 continued to quickly synchronise their movements as they continued to strike the twin Angels again and again with their blades, leaving simultaneous, matching gashes on the Angels that it's healing reflex curiously didn't kick in. He raised his eyebrows at the fact that Shinji had come up with the strategy and brushed is chin thoughtfully.
He smiled…
MAGI probably would have come up with this battle plan of yours if you didn't beat it to the punch.
You're a lot of things, Shinji-kun. And stupid definitely isn't one of them.
Impulsive, vengeful, possibly sociopathic…but not stupid.
(SSJNYH)
To say that Shinji was surprised that his strategy was working could be considered somewhat an understatement.
Rei Ayanami. An ooman that doesn't look like any other. I thought I would grow to hate her for catching Ikari's eyes. But, the first time I saw her, I felt…something. A connection. Not like what I have with Mother or Misato but…something.
Here, this moment, right now, our movements, our strike, our counters…
We are one.
And it frightens me.
(SSJNYH)
They are one.
It frightens me.
Gaun watched as the EVAs and the Angels fought a seemingly synchronised battle against each other, both EVAs and Angel trading perfectly timed blows and dodges; prompting Gaun to immediately guess whom was piloting the blue-coloured God Machine, to her chagrin. She glared at EVA-00 with contempt through her bio-mask's eyeholes.
C'jit, I just utterly HATE her! Her very existence mocks me, reminds me of what I threw away.
She found herself mentally putting a few pieces together…
She looks like Yui when she was of fourteen cycles, except for the hair and the eyes. The eyes that match that body-snatcher. Yui is…was…Shinji's true bearer. Right now they are both piloting the God Machine, the flow of their movements, their strikes, their counters…all in perfect harmony…
She her mandibles clicked angrily.
They cloned HER!
They violated HER!
They would take my son away from me…through HER!
"Gaun!"
They won't take him from me!
"WHAT?!" the Huntress looked over her shoulder and angrily snapped at Nam, mandibles spread, startling Merl'we and Mana who looked up from their work at the older Huntress.
"They're cutting it real close!" he exclaimed, nonplussed about Gaun's attitude. "And you know what happens to an Paya Amedha when it's killed!"
"Sei-i!" Merl'we called out, the younger Huntress packing their equipment with Mana's help. "We should think about moving on out of here before we go up in smoke along with those twin freak Payas."
Gaun regarded them for a few seconds before turning her attention back to the battle.
"All of you go on," Gaun replied. "I'll be behind you."
Alarmed, Mana dropped the case containing her school uniform and called out, "N'yaka-de!"
She paused when she felt Merl'we grab her by the shoulder and she spun to glare up at the younger Yautja Huntress.
"She'll be fine, Mana-chan," Merl'we reassured her with a smile. "And so will Shinji-kun!"
"AW C'JIT!"
Both females spun to see an excited Nam gripping the side of the window, digging his fingers into the concrete.
"They're about finish them off!"
(SSJNYH)
EVAs 01 and 02 and raised their knees and struck both Angel halves cores, cracking them and causing them to stagger back. Rei gripped the reins of her EVA tightly as she saw the 'eyes' of both Angels glow with energy.
"Shinji!" she exclaimed. "We have an opening!"
We'll take it!
Both Angels fired beams of piercing energy at the EVAs, both of them were quick to pull of backflips, narrowing dodging the beams that travelled the length of the ruins and struck the hills behind them, immediately causing hovering VTOL aircraft to perform evasive actions and people on the ground to immediately cover as rock and debris were sent flying…
(SSJNYH)
…Misato grabbing hold of a nearby chair as the mobile unit shook from the aftershocks of the Angel's energy attacks barely skimming past the UN/NERV forces positioned near the shorelines, the lights dimming and the console screens and assorted systems briefly being scrambled.
Misato! Shinji cried over the com. Are you guys alright?
"We're fine!" Misato exclaimed. She then ordered, "You got an opening! ATTACK!"
(SSJNYH)
"Right! Rei!"
Yes!
Both EVAs picked themselves off the ground and charged the Angels, both leaping two nearby buildings and throwing themselves into the air, simultaneously performing a somersault that ended with them descending their left legs pointed downward at their cores like two flaming asteroids. Shinji grinned the resulting force of impact would be enough to shatter the Angel's core simultaneously.
Then…
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
…his smile faded and chill went up his spine when he heard Asuka wail over the com-lines. At first he thought she was in trouble until he looked down…
"W-wha…?"
…to see EVA-02 charging the Angel halves, it's pilot gritting her teeth with a look of maniacal fury.
"C'JIT!"
…EVA-01 and EVA-02's legs skimming past EVA-02's shoulders. They heard Asuka growl…
OUTTA MY WAY DUMMKOFT!
…throwing her arms backward and knocking them both out of the air, throwing them off course and sending them plummeting into the ruins, bringing up pieces of structure everywhere…
(SSJNYH)
"PAUK! INCOMING!"
…a large piece of which hurtled towards the Yautja's hideout, Nam tearing Gaun away from the window, both crying out as they dived out of harms reach, as the piece of structure smashed through the window followed by the entire length of the room, Merl'we dropping their tech and shoving Mana out of the way and protectively throwing herself on top of her as the debris blew out the other side of the room, blanketing the entire room in dust where the sound of Mana coughing could be heard, followed by her waving the dust out of her face.
"E-everyone alright?" Nam called out, glancing out the big hole where the window used to be, dumbfounded to see that EVA-01 and EVA-00, Shinji and whom he assumed was the blue-haired albino to be his consort besides that older ooman female known as Misato, were down and in there place was EVA-02, presumably piloted by that redhead that Nam also assumed was trying to get a piece of Shinji as well.
"Yeah!" Merl'we shouted as she rolled off Mana, the ooman girl. "What about-?"
"I'm fine!" Gaun shouted, quickly picking herself up and dashing to the big hole in wall that used to be a window. "SHINJI…!"
Nam was quick to grab Gaun by the arm to stop her from leaping off the building they were in and swimming towards the seemingly wrecked EVA-01.
"LET ME GO!" Gaun screamed, her mask speakers making her woe piercing to the eyes, maternal instincts that she still felt overwhelming to her dictating her actions "SHINJI...YUI!"
"Yui?" Merl'we called out, puzzled.
"STOP, DAMNIT!" Nam exclaimed, frustratingly. He yanked her back and forced the frantic Huntress against the wall. "Trying to get between the Paya and those bio-abominations, your death would be pointless!"
"B-but…-" Gaun stammered, already disgusted with herself for the way she was acting, so unbecoming of a Huntress; but becoming of a mother. Especially when she realised how Shinji would react if she died standing in between him in a God Machine and a Paya Amedha.
She hung her head low in resignation, "Curved Blade, Straight Bla-"
"Straight Blade is dead," Nam reminded her, firmly. "What stands in her place…is an abomination."
Knowing he couldn't see the cross look on her face, Gaun growled at him. Nam only stared back at her, intensely.
"Time to go…little sister!" Nam growled at her, calling her that title he had stopped using almost 50 years ago.
(SSJNYH)
Unit-01's umbilical cable severed! Now switching to internal batteries.
EVA-01's internal battery countdown timer blared on screen, Shinji barely able to keep his eyes opens long enough to see the timer reach 4:55. His eyes flew open when he realized what happened.
"SOHRYU, YOU KHA'BJ-TE!" Shinji screamed in pain as the feedback from EVA-01 hitting its back amongst the ruins making him feel like he just slipped a disk. "STOP!"
NEVER! Sohryu practically pressing her face against the holo-screen as she bellowed angrily at the Boy Predator, chest heaving as she panted. YOU'RENOT GONNA GET THIS ONE EITHER!
ASUKA! Misato shouted in anger. She then whispered, Oh God.
She was then screaming over the com.
SHINJI, REI!
Still trying to comprehend what just happened, Shinj gritted his teeth and snarled angrily, staring out the entry plug to see EVA-00 in a similar, damaged state nearby. He then looked ahead to EVA-02 flailing away at the Angels, no doubt mimicking Asuka's anger and jealously. The 7th Angel halves wounds slowly began to heal before they simultaneously struck the red Evangelion in the head and chest, dazing her before they slammed themselves into EVA-02, sending it and Asuka flying backward and landing right beside EVA-01 and Shinji.
"Rei? Can you hear me?" Shinji called out, her holo-screen broadcasting nothing but static. "REI!"
Shinji gritted his teeth and felt his head.
Head hurts…
"Misato," Shinji groaned, feeling like a concussion slowly growing.
Sohryu, you SHIT!
(SSJNYH)
She…I-I can't believe…she would…
…Asuka…
Misato was staring up angrily at Asuka's screen, the redhead appearing dumbfounded with herself.
I…I had them… Asuka muttered.
"Cut pilot's synchronization to EVA-02 NOW!" she bellowed angrily.
What? Asuka said quietly. NO, WAIT!
The interior of EVA-02's entry plug darkened as the Evangelion was rendered inactive, the last thing that could be heard was Asuka screaming before it got cut off as static filled up her screen. Visibly distraught Misato slumped over the console, tapping her headset and feeling everyone in the command unit looking at her, waiting for orders.
She sighed…
I knew this would happen. But Shinji…he knew how to beat them!
"Scramble rescue teams to all EVAs right now," Misato quietly ordered. "We're pulling back for n-"
NO!
Stunned silenced overtook NERV's mobile command unit as they watched EVA-01 shakily force itself to stand back up, a reflection of the pilots own physical state. Misato knew that Shinji had to be suffering from a concussion, and couldn't stop herself from admiring the fact he would never stop himself from fighting, even if it meant his life.
"Pilot's psychogram approaching unsafe levels!" Maya cried out, knowing from experience what this meant. "W-wha…? Oh God's, synch ratio's climbing! 78%! 83%!"
He's attempting to induce berserker state! Ritsuko cried.
What?! But how?!
Captain, cut the synch now!
"Shinji!" Misato shouted. "ENOUGH!"
I…I can beat them… Shinji's smiled deliriously. I can…I can…
He shook his head, gritted his teeth…
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHH!
…and EVA-01 charged Israfel, prog-knife at the ready.
"SHINJI!" Misato cried, now angry. "Goddamnit…"
She turned to the tech.
"…cut pilot's synch to-"
"Ma'am!" another of the techs called out to her. "Evangelion air transport approaching shoreline!"
Misato's eyes widened in surprise, "W-what? What's its designation?"
"Unit Zero…Six?"
"Six?"
Misato gasped lightly and turned back to the main screen to see EVA-01 approaching the Angel halves.
"SHINJI!"
Suddenly, EVA-01 halted, catching Misato by surprise.
"…Shinji?"
(SSJNYH)
Pilot, prepare for descent!
Kaworu closed his eyes and relaxed as the entry plug filled itself with LCL, which was warm to the touch as it submerged him. Gripping the reins tightly he opened his eyes to see the shoreline below, and EVA-01 charging the Angels with its prog knife.
"I'm ready," Kaworu announced.
Disengaging locks!
He smiled…
I'm on my way, Shinji.
(SSJNYH)
…Shinji?
Adrenaline and that ever-present desire to kill something still coursing through him Shinji was surprised in that he had managed to stop himself mid charge, EVA-01 arms still outstretched and looking like it was going to trip over its own feet, several yards before the Angel halves, both of them continued to stand there, arm outstretched and waiting for him to rush them. Shinji glanced up at Misato and how distressed she looked, obviously having thought he had been about to hurl himself into oblivion for his honor's sake.
For his honor…not for her. His eyes widened in realization. He would have died, left Misato all alone send her right back into the misery she had been drowning in before. His Mother, his friends – Nam, Merl'we and Mana…Toji, Kensuke, Hikari, they would all mourn him. For his friends in the Clan, all taught to expect that friends and family would lose their lives in the Hunt, the intensity of bonds they all shared with him, who knows if they would ever truly move on without him?
Shinji glanced at his wrist-comp, and the death he would be obligated to give himself if he ever failed in the Hunt. He shook his head, feeling like his eyes were start to mist over…
How selfish am I? To have people I care about, only to lose them all in heartbeat?
…he blinked rapidly, then glanced at Misato, who was staring back at him.
Shinji? she sounded hopeful. There's always another day.
Can't go on acting like I don't give a crap whether I live or die, blaming Ikari for everything that has happened to me or will happen to me. For the first time in so very long…
EVA-01 took a step back and lowered the prog knife.
…the idea of dying TERRIFIES me.
EVA-01disengaging! Makoto's ever helpful status reports still chimed, much to his annoyance.
Then, up in the sky in the distance, Shinji saw it.
What?
Descending rapidly towards his position, a dark blue and orange blur that radiated a field around it that appeared to be distorting reality itself. Shinji glowered as it got closer and he saw that it was another Evangelion – almost identical to EVA-01 only that armor dark blue with orange and it appeared to be wearing a visor that covered it's glowing red eyes.
The halo radiating above the top of its head was steadily becoming more intense, the lance it was armed pointing downward towards the Israfel halves.
SHINJI! Misato cried.
"I KNOW!" Shinji shouted back as he willed EVA-01 to resume, not breaking a beat as its leg resumed its motion in touching the ground beneath the water and its prog blade gripped tightly. The Angels swung their arms to strike EVA-01, but Shinji imagined himself sliding underneath their arm onto his back underneath the water, and with both hands thrusting the blade forward into Gold-Israfel's core.
EVA-01 complied with his wishes…
"SCRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
The Haloed Evangelion's lance pierced the back of Silver-Israfel and out through the core just as EVA-01's prog blade pierced Gold-Israfel's core. Two simultaneous cracks of the Angels' cores followed, followed them shattering.
A ghost of a smirk spread across Shinji's pained face…
Perfect harmony achieved.
…which quickly disappeared as the 7th Angel exploded, blanketing the entire coastline in white flames, propelling him backwards into the air. As he fell he could see the twin crosses in the sky, signaling the Angels demise. He then closed his eyes tightly and inhaled, bracing himself for the pain that will follow shortly once he lands on something hard.
Time stops. In case I die, I ponder…
Misa-chan mentioned these Paya Amedha they refer to as 'Angels' also has the same name as the messengers from this world's Heaven.
So…oomans are fighting against their Heaven's wrath? Brought upon them by the Great Cataclysm that they started? They are just delaying the end of this world.
…Misato.
He opened his eyes, to see he was about to land in some very uncomfortable looking mountains.
Time resumes.
I'm falling.
…
He found himself floating in midair, upside down. Suddenly it felt like was cutting the circulation to his left foot; something was grabbing him by the left ankle, keeping him from crashing back down to Earth. He looked ahead to see the Haloed EVA towering above him, holding EVA-01 by its left leg, time saving him from experiencing more painful feedback.
Shinji Ikari.
A holo-screen came to life, broadcasting an image of a smiling light-grey haired adolescent boy in a dark blue/black plugsuit around his own age, and the red-colored irises in his eyes immediately bringing up horrific memories of a certain corpse-stealing abomination that reminded him of the worst things that inhabited the galaxy.
"Who are…-?" Shinji started, struggling not to let exhaustion claim him.
Your eyes, the boy begun, the text beneath the screen identifying him as Kaworu Nagisa, pilot of Evangelion Unit Zero Six. His smile became a sad one, They're supposed to be blue, you know?
"…what?" Shinji croaked. "Look…just drop me off…near Misato…"
Kaworu's blinked and he stopped smiling, Excuse me-?
"MISATO!" Shinji exclaimed, angrily. "TAKE ME TO…urk!"
Shinji passed out.
(SSJNYH)
"Is…everyone ok?"
Misato groggily managed to stand back up, the explosion following both EVA-01 and that mysterious new Haloed EVA managing to pierce both Angel clone in the core at the same time, destroying it and once and for all proving that Shinji was right about how and that he really was smarter than he looked as was as tactically versed.
"Blue pattern has disappeared," Makoto called out once he climbed back into his seat. "We did it!"
Misato wiped her forehead and smiled lightly, "Y-yeah…"
She then frowned when she remembered that Asuka had nearly cost them the battle, not to mention both Shinji and Rei's lives. If it hadn't been for the Haloed Evangelion then the outcome of this sortie would have been radically different.
"Status of the EVAs?" Misato requested.
"Units Zero through Two have shut down," Maya reported. Her eyes flew open, "W-wait…EVA-01 is being moved towards our position…by the unknown EVA."
Misato gasped lightly before she was suddenly shouting and startling the crew, "SCRAMBLE RESCUE TEAMS TO EVAS 00 and 02 RIGHT NOW!"
Alarmed, Misato dashed outside the mobile command center in time, much to her fright, Evangelion Unit-06 carefully dropping EVA-01 onto the highway where it crumpled into a massive heap, bringing up dust all over the place before landing itself and kneeling down, allowing it to eject it's entry plug and allow its pilot, a grey-haired teenager in a dark blue plugsuit, to climb out, traverse the length of its arm and drop down onto the asphalt.
"EJECT EVA-01'S PLUG!" Misato shouted back at the MCV.
Rescue teams were quick to reach EVA-01 as its entry plug popped out. Men in protective suits had been ready to cut the entry plug door open with a welding laser when it opened by itself, and out staggered Shinji, who immediately toppled over and collapsed several feet onto the ground.
"SHINJI!" Misato shouted as she ran over to him. She then began muttering desperately to herself, "Please be alright…please be alright…please…OUTTA THE WAY…!"
She shoved several of the Hazmat personnel as Shinji managed to stagger back onto his feet, clutching his shoulder that still pained him more than the rest of his body. Misato managed to catch him just before he could collapse again and sling his leg arm across her shoulder.
"M-Misa-chan?" Shinji's voice was slurred.
"C'mon, Shinji…" Misato groaned with exertion as they moved toward a waiting ambulance. "MEDIC! SOMEONE GIVE ME A HAND!"
"Allow me to assist, captain," the pilot of EVA-06 approached, with a smile on his face. "Kaworu Nagisa, Fourth Child reporting for duty, ma'am."
Misato chuckled mirthlesssly, "You might have just saved us all, Nagisa-san."
Kaworu nodded, smiling warmly as he moved to sling other arm over his shoulder and help move him, "Let me help, Shinji-kun…"
His smile faded when Shinji battered Kaworu's arm away, only allowing Misato to help him, surprising both of them.
"…get…your hands off me…" Shinji muttered, glancing disdainfully at the pale-looking boy his age, who could only stare back, looking confused.
And hurt.
(SSJNYH)
Normally Shinji would never resist a helping hand, but in this case every one of his instincts, his warning bells was blaring, telling him to keep this boy as far away from himself as possible. He noticed how taken back the Fourth Child was, the way he stared at him as if unbelieving that Shinji would rebuke him. Even Misato looked taken back. Shinji sighed loudly.
"…please…don't touch me…"
Kaworu stopped looking dumbfounded, and instead nodded and took a step back from him, "Sure, Sh-Ikari-san."
"Kasumi," Misato corrected him. "His name is Kasumi."
Kaworu inhaled deeply, again finding out something that seemed troubling. He watched as Misato walked Shinji to the VTOL and waiting paramedics, hearing them speak to each other.
"Not saying you were rude or anything, Shinji-kun," Misato said. "But-"
"I…didn't feel like being touched by a stranger…" Shinji replied weakly. "Misato I…about before…"
Stranger?
"Shinji," Misato softened considerably. "Forget about it."
The paramedics laid Shinji out on the stretcher and rolled him out of it, then watched as Misato suddenly bent over and kissed him on the forehead. To everyone else it would have been affection between a guardian and her ward, but, but Kaworu , still watching, believed there was more to it than that and a frown threatened to tug away at his face.
"See you back at HQ, ok? I'll take care of Rei and Asuka."
Shinji nodded and soon after he was airlifted away towards the nearest access point to the GeoFront and NERV HQ. Misato turned towards him and immediately forced a small smile on his face.
"Captain Katsuragi," Kaworu said as Misato approached. "I thought you would have received the memo my arrival."
Misato shook her head, "Nope. Welcome to Tokyo-03, kid."
She tapped her headset when she heard it beep.
Captain, rescue teams have recovered both Pilots Sohryu and Ayanami.
Misato glowered at the mention of Sohryu.
(SSJNYH
An hour later back at HQ, and Gendo's office…
"Interference in NERV combat operations. Reckless endangerment of human lives. Misuse of NERV property," Gendo read off his terminal screen, Kozo looking over his shoulder and shaking his head. "Am I missing something, Pilot Sohryu?"
Still in her plugsuit with Misato standing beside her, Asuka tried to keep the bile down as she fought hard not to shake from nerves before the Commander of NERV, Shinji's own father. She had imagined, rehearsed even, that standing before the Commander for the first time he would be congratulating her on a mission well done; for killing the Angel, for protecting humanity. Not because of her doing the exact opposite of those things, of which she can't stop herself from blaming Shinji and Rei for.
Stupid Meathead! Stupid Doll!
"N-no, sir," Asuka replied, keeping her back straight, drawing upon her time participating in all those drills back in the German Air Force. "In my own defense I-"
"The Third Child had devised an appropriate strategy in fighting the 7th Angel, which Dr. Akagi and MAGI itself verified as feasible. You no doubt heard the communication, correct?" Gendo queried.
Gott…he's starting to sound just as impossible as Meathead!
"Yes, sir."
"Then why did you interfere with Pilots Kasumi and Ayanami? Charging headlong at the Angel and nullifying their progress," Gendo asked as he rotated his terminal monitor, revealing the wounds EVAs 00 and 01 had inflicted on the Angels healing themselves, followed by EVA-02 knowing both EVAs aside.
Asuka's left eye twitched lightly as for a brief second she frowned, "I…had it all under control. Meat…I mean Pilot Kasumi and Ayanami were in my way."
Silenced enveloped the room, Gendo staring at Asuka as if she were the most insignificant being the universe, which of course she couldn't help but feel anyway.
"Is this going to be a habit with you, Pilot Sohryu?" Gendo queried out loud. "Because if it is, I must seriously reconsider your status as a member of NERV."
I can see why Shinji hates him.
Asuka eyes widened and she just managed to stop herself from gasping.
"S-sir?" Asuka stuttered.
Gendo turned to Misato, "I will leave the Second Child's punishment to your discretion, Captain. I trust you have no objections?"
"No, sir," Misato replied, firmly.
"Very well, dismissed."
(SSJNYH)
Both pilot and captain turned and stepped out of the office, Asuka slightly hunched over and trying to avoid eye contact with Misato, who was looking rather crossly at her. Gendo disregarded them and turned to his terminal, bringing up the file on the Haloed Evangelion, Unit Zero Six, which he had just received twenty minutes ago.
"So that was the purpose of Tabgha base all this time?" Kozo queried. "SEELE were constructing their own EVA? And quickly if I may add, in only about a month. Unit Six was deployed way ahead of Four and Five"
"Another deviation in the Scenario, on account of the Third Child," Gendo said. "As well as the deployment of the 4th Child here regardless of the Marduk protocol."
Kozo nodded…
Marduk. The cover invented in the selection of the pilot candidates.
...seeing Kaworu Nagisa's profile up on Gendo screen, "He was sent here specially because of Shinji? Or is it 'for Shinji'?"
Kozo appeared intrigued.
"Even knowing of his emotional bond with Katsuragi?" Kozo smiled lightly. "I couldn't imagine Shinji's society would allow one to enjoy the 'company' of their own gender."
Knowing what Kozo was implying, Gendo was nonetheless unfettered, "Gender would have played no part in whomever the Third Child would have chosen to latch on to..."
And I suppose species either for that matter when it came to Shinji's mother.
"…it was just unfortunate, to the Old Men, that he chose the Captain instead of their puppet."
"Speaking of which, Katsuragi managed to rein Shinji in," Kozo pointed out. "If it weren't for EVA-06's surprise entry he would have withdrawn just as she ordered."
He paused, contemplating whether he should continue and confirm what Gendo already knew.
"Their relationship-"
"…is exactly where we need it to be. It may be only way we have to begin exhibiting control over him right until we able to reacquire Adam," Gendo stated. "His ties…"
His terminal screen brought up files on three names: Toji Suzuhara, Hikari Horaki, Kensuke Aida.
"…will be our leash to him."
(SSJNYH)
"Asuka, wait!"
Misato called out to the redhead when she tried to walk ahead of her, as if expecting her to not do as Commander Ikari ordered. She paused and turned around, a smile on her face, despite seeing that Misato wasn't happy with her at all.
"So what's it going to be, Misato?" she crossed her arms. "Dismissal? Imprisonment? Ground me for a month?" she stopped smiling. "I got news for you: The Angels can come any time and you need me to pilot EVA."
"…don't test me, Pilot Sohryu," Misato muttered, frustratingly. "That thin ice you're standing on is just about to shatter."
"Besides, I really don't see what the real deal is," Asuka snorted, arrogantly raising her head with her eyes closed and continued speaking matter-of-factly, unaware of Misato's shaking right hand. "Meathead and Wondergirl's still alive and that weirdo Fourth Child actually managed to kill both of-"
SMACK!
For a second Asuka couldn't breathe, letting out a panicked whimper as she felt Misato's palm strike the side of her face, leaving a red imprint upon it. Her eyes quivered and she felt moisture beginning to pool in the corners of her eyelids when she realized that Misato had just struck her across the face. Slowly turning her head she could see that Misato, her righthand still outstretched, was angry. At her, and at herself for laying a hand upon the redhead.
Wha-what?
"W-why?" Asuka could only mutter pathetically.
"HOW DARE YOU?!" Misato unleashed upon Asuka, the girl would have jumped out of her skin if not seeing Misato so angry didn't paralyze her with fright, along with most everyone on their current level within earshot, all shocked to hear Misato so angry. "EVERYONE COULD HAVE DIED AND ALL YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS SHINJI, REI AND NAGISA MAKING YOU LOOK BAD?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, PILOT SOHRYU?!"
Misato found herself sucking in oxygen after her tirade.
"Answer me!" she demanded.
"I-I-I…" Asuka visibly shook her place, having a put a hand against the wall to stop herself from keeling over. She answered, quietly, "I just wanted to show everyone what I can do."
"Well, mission accomplished!" Misato yelled. After a few moments of respite she then sighed, "You've demonstrated that you're willing to get everyone killed just for yourself and own goddamned ego!"
"B-but I don't…"
Misato sighed even louder and face palmed, eyes closed, "Hggghhh…I didn't want to do this to you, but if this is something that's going to repeat itself every time you deploy I'll have seriously consider grounding you until further notice."
"What?!" Asuka cried. She then grounded her teeth, now feeling rage, and begun shouting. "You can't stop me from piloting EVA! YOU NEED ME!"
Misato shook her head and looked at her intensely, "Not with Kaworu Nagisa and EVA Unit-06 being transported to the cages as we speak. Did you actually believe our entire operation relied just on you? You're part of a team, Asuka, and I can't risk something like this happening again and killing one of you."
"I could have beaten the Angels!" Asuka exclaimed, now desperate. "I REALLY could have! Meathead and Wondergirl got in the way! Why won't any of you believe me?!"
Misato groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Asuka, just stop, alright?"
Asuka was speechless, and she wanted to beg Misato, BEG her to allow her to continue piloting and promise never to do something so stupid ever again.
And against all odds, thinking about Shinji and that she would have never another opportunity to show him up if she was never allowed to pilot again, she did so. She bowed her head lightly, Misato losing her frown as she was caught off guard.
"I'm sorry, Katsuragi-san," she felt sick as she more-or-less forced herself to beg. "It won't happen again. Please don't remove me from pilot status. I won't do anything to get in Pilot Kasumi's way ever again."
I'm think I'm gonna throw up!
Even with her head down, Asuka could tell Misato knew that this was an act; also that taking EVA-02 away from her would end up shattering what little was left of her psyche. Evangelion was her life; her reason to live, for now at least, and to deny her that would be like killing her.
"Look, I-I haven't decided anything yet. Just…just go and get changed, ok?" Misato stated. "You've been assigned living quarters in the GeoFront, and you're being confined there until tomorrow morning."
Asuka frowned briefly, before raising her head and nodding.
"Dismissed," Misato said, walking right past her.
Surprised, Asuka turned and asked, now rubbing her aching cheek, "Where are you going?"
"To check on Shinji," Misato answered, not turning to face her. "Goodnight, Asuka."
Asuka raised an eyebrow, looking disgusted.
Of course. Need to check up on your boy toy and everything, Katsuragi. Both of you probably were swapping spit in the EVA cages.
She shook her head and growled frustratingly to herself.
No, that's just STUPID! I was seeing things. She can do better than Meathead!
Asuka then shook her head again, growled some more and walked off to the change rooms.
She hit me. She fucking hit me.
Stupid drunk…
(SSJNYH)
"Take these every six hours. Concussion symptoms should go away in about three weeks, so don't do anything too strenuous until then."
"…" Sitting atop the hospital bed and still in his plugsuit, Shinji looked at the doctor like if he was stupid.
"Outside pilot duties, of course."
'Of course,' Shinji thought.
He then gulped down the painkillers and struggled not to shatter the glass of water in his hands as he drank the entire glass down, then put the glass down roughly on the table next to the bed he had been lying down on, the doctor standing next to the bed with the pretty nurse holding the clipboard and smiling warmly at him. Shinji disregarded her and got off the bed, immediately feeling pain in his forehead and causing him to almost go weak in the legs and fall over, grabbing hold of the bed to steady himself.
"Careful," the doctor said, sounding devoid of emotion as the nurse helped Shinji onto his feels. "You're not completely made of iron, you know?"
"...yeah," Shinji muttered dryly. "Know that for sure."
He brightened up slightly when an irate looking Misato appeared in the doorway.
"Can we get some space here?" Misato asked.
The doctor nodded, "Make sure he takes those painkillers and he doesn't exert himself for the next three weeks. Concussions can last for a long while."
Yeah…good luck with that.
Misato nodded and both doctor and nurse left the room, leaving Shinji and Misato alone, the woman leaning against the wall while Shinji sat back down on the bed, both content in just being silent and enjoying the others company for a couple of quiet minutes, both of them smiling lightly and reveling in the fact they were still alive.
"How's Rei?" Shinji asked, no longer smiling.
"She's fine," Misato said, her smile faded as well. "She should be up and about soon enough."
Shinji bared his teeth slightly as he frowned, "Sohryu?"
Misato glowered, "I've already talked to her, Shinji. I don't think…you need to do anything."
"…wasn't planning to," Shinji replied. "Don't think I ever want to speak to her again."
"…" Misato appeared downcast. "I think you should."
"Why?"
"…I was looking forward to going out tomorrow," Misato changed the subject, weary of the camera in the room and the listening bugs probably situated close by.
Holding the medicine bottle in his hands, Shinji chuckled, "A week, maybe? I could use the time to figure out what we could do."
"…so you didn't have everything planned, then? Shinji-kun," Misato smiled teasingly at Shinji.
The smile then faded, and Shinji could guess what was coming next.
"You almost did it again, Shinji," Misato said sadly, believing she hadn't gotten through to him about charging straight at the enemy following the 4th Angel. "I swear I thought my heart was going to stop."
"I stopped myself," Shinji bowed his head slightly. "I…I thought about…I didn't want to leave you…"
Misato's eyes widened.
Me?
"…or Mother, or Merl'we, or anyone else I care about. I didn't want anyone to go through the grief of losing me so…I just stopped."
The older woman felt herself become misty eyed.
He only stopped because of HE thought of me?
He then chuckled lightly, "At…at least until Nagisa arrived and gave us a chance at taking those things down, I mean, so..." He rubbed the back of his head, "So I…didn't mean to worry you-"
Shinji froze up lightly when he suddenly felt Misato pulled him into an embrace, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and bringing his head to rest against her chest. His eyes widened when he heard Misato sniff lightly, realizing she was crying lightly, her nose in his hair as the woman held him for everything that he was worth. The Boy Predator's eyes dimmed as he returned the embrace, enjoying the warmth radiating from her body.
"Why?" Misato whispered.
"Because…I do," Shinji looked up at her as he pulled away slightly from her chest. "Is that enough?"
"More than enough," Misato replied, smiling lightly.
They pulled away from each other just as the door opened, hands still touching as Kaworu appeared, in his plugsuit, emotionless in the doorway.
"Nagisa-san?" Misato was surprised to see him.
"Captain," he acknowledged her with a nod. He turned to Shinji with a smile, "Shinji-kun."
Shinji raised an eyebrow at him, uncomfortable with the level of familiarity this ooman thinks he has with him.
"…hi," Shinji greeted, hesitantly.
Kaworu's smile faded and the two boys just stared at one another, a cloud of utter awkwardness enveloping the entire room. Misato watched the quiet exchange between the boys and future colleagues, confused over Kaworu treating her boyfriend…
Yeah, boyfriend. Let's go with that.
…like an acquaintance, an old friend even.
"Have we met before?" Shinji asked.
Kaworu blinked, as if not knowing how to continue the conversation with someone who obviously doesn't want him around, "Not until today, Shinji-kun-"
"Stop calling me that," Shinji interrupted harshly, causing Kaworu to flinch lightly. "It…doesn't sound right."
"Sorry," Kaworu said, no longer feeling, jovial. "Would you prefer, Ikari-san?"
"Kasumi-san," Shinji once again corrected him. "I don't go by…that name anymore."
"That…" Kaworu began, a genuine loss for words. "Seems more fitting."
"Did you come here for a reason?" Shinji asked him, rubbing his temples as he felt a headache brewing, growing more annoyed with this ooman by the second.
"Only to see if you are well," Kaworu replied. He smiled again as he tried to alleviate Shinji's distrust of him, "I expected you to be bedridden."
"…disappointed?" Shinji narrowed his eyes at him, sounding venomous.
Kaworu's eyes widened, "N-no, of course not."
"I'M…sure Nagisa-san was just worried about you, is all," Misato butted in with a broad smile, trying to diffuse the situation between them. "That was some entry, by the way."
"I'm looking forward to working with NERV," Kaworu nodded. His smile was a small one this time, "And with you, Shinji. I'm hoping we can be friends."
"…why?"
And again Kaworu's smile was wiped from his face, and even Misato looked taken back.
"Uhhh…look, I'm sorry, ok?" Shinji got of the bed. "My head's paining me and I need to get out of this suit. Don't wait up, Misa-chan, Nagisa-san!."
Before Misato had the chance to ask if he needed help getting to the change room,Shinji walked right past Kaworu and stepped out in the hallway, leaving the grey-haired boy alone with Misato.
Misato sighed, "Trust me, he's usually a lot nicer than this, Nagisa-san."
Kaworu nodded, "I know."
He then turned and stepped out of the hospital room, leaving Misato alone with her confused thoughts.
I should have chided Shinji-kun for being rude, but he sounded like he needed to get as far away from Kaworu as possible, and I have to admit the Fourth came off a bit creepy towards him.
Misato shook her head, got off the bed and headed towards the door. She paused when she remembered what Shinji was saying, about him thinking of her during the battles against the 7th…
I've never heard such…warmth. And coming from Shinji, no less. Not even from Kaji those years ago…not like he was ever poetic to begin with.
Shinji. He sounded like someone in love.
Misato's eyes brightened in realization, and she blushed lightly. She could only smile lightly.
No way…
(SSJNYH)
Kaworu watched Shinji walk down the hallways, knowing he would be heading for the change room. He contemplated following after him, maybe even see if he would be willing to…talk…with Katsuragi absent. Shinji stopped walking, and looked over his shoulder, glaring at him.
"You're following me?"
Kaworu swallowed lightly as he couldn't help but feel intimidated by him. He bowed his head lightly, and quietly replied, "No."
Shinji snorted in annoyance, and continued walking, sensing that Kaworu was standing there and watching him go. For the life of him he couldn't understand why he was being short with the Fourth Child. He was trying to be friendly to him and he was tossing it all back in his pale face. He even saw that Misato was surprised by his behaviour. At that Shinji groaned louder and rubbed the bridge of his nose
"Nagisa, wait…"
Having walked the opposite direction Kaworu stopped and turned to see Shinji, now fully turned to face him properly.
"…thanks for helping me with the Paya Amedha," Shinji said, his expression neutral. "I…think we can be friends."
Kaworu's eyes lit up. That bright smile then returned to his face.
"I'd like that…Kasumi-san."
Shinji nodded, and continued on his way towards the change room, desperate for a shower to alleviate the effects of his concussion, to get rid of the stink of LCL and start planning his 'date' with Misato, all the way feeling Kaworu's eyes on him until he turned the corner and disappeared.
The 4th Child's smile then became a sad one, and immediately he decided not to follow after him and leave him be.
"Friends…" he repeated to himself.
Just…friends, Shinji-kun?
So, you have eyes only for Katsuragi this time?
(SSJNYH)
Shinji stepped into the locker room, depressurized his plug suit and tore it off, tossing it aside and reaching for a towel hanging on nearby rack, intent on cleansing himself that awkward exchange with Nagisa coupled with his headache having done little to bring down the good mood he was feeling because of Misato. As he turned towards the showers he could hear the door leading in to the female side of the locker room open, followed by a frustrated scream and the sound of a foot making impact with the lockers as she kicked it.
"SHE HAD NO RIGHT TO DO THAT TO ME!" Asuka screamed. "IT WASN"T MY FAULT! IT WAS THAT ALL THAT SAVAGE'S FAULT! I…I…."
He heard her pause.
"You're in here right now, aren't you Meathead?!" she exclaimed.
This was followed by the sound of fists banging on the partition.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS, IKARI!" she was now screaming at him. "YEAH, THAT'S YOUR REAL NAME, IKARI! JUST LIKE YOUR BASTARD FATHER!"
Shinji grunted as he headed for the shower, his mood shifting to weary as he prepared himself for more violence.
Well, that's one thing we both agree on.
(SSJNYH)
Amidst her rant she heard her cellphone go off in her locker. She came close to tearing the door off its hinges and reaching in to grab it. On the screen it read PAPA, prompting Asuka to scream in a mix of rage and frustration and cancel the call, dropping the cellphone onto the ground as she started to feel even angrier.
"YOU HEAR ME, THIRD CHILD!" Asuka screamed at the partition. "YOU BETTER BE DECENT CAUSE' I'M COMING IN THERE…"
She then stormed over toward the door, gritting her teeth and balling her hands into fists with intent to inflict bodily harm on the muscle brained idiot who made her look like a fool not just in front of NERV and Tokyo-03, but the aliens, and probably no doubt the entire frickin' universe once they let everyone and everything else know how much Shinji showed her up. She wasn't thinking anymore when she made her way into the male side of the change rooms and towards the showers and the stall he was standing in.
"KASUMI!"
With a loud cry of exertion she kicked open the stall.
"W-wha-?"
And found herself gritting her teeth significantly less and her snarl lessen when she found herself staring at the hideously scarred naked back of Shinji. His wet hair appeared longer, reaching to his shoulders as they had been loosened from their gold binding rings, no longer resembling dreadlocks giving a rather unkempt, 'wild' appearance. Asuka's eyes shrunk to the size of pin pricks as she felt her breath catch in her throat when she laid sight on the massive scar that ran down the length of his back, just above his buttocks which she couldn't herself from gazing at.
"K-Kasumi?" she uttered in disbelief, not because of seeing him naked but because at seeing firsthand every scar on his body, the extent of the abuse he had been put through.
She felt ashamed of herself. Not just because she had been screaming a minute before about hurting him just because he and the 4th Child managed to beat the Angel and she got chewed got out by Misato but because here she was staring at his scarred, well-honed muscled frame like the pervert she kept accusing Shinji of being.
(SSJNYH)
The first thing he noticed about Asuka was the redness on the side of her face, as if she had just been struck. Curved Blade wasn't bothered by the fact that Asuka was staring at him in the buff, and while he was bathing no less. Back turned to her, Kasumi slowly turned to reveal, to Asuka's shock, he appeared nonchalant about his nudity, clutching the bar of soap in his left hand. The blood rushing to her face, Asuka struggled to stop herself from keeling over backwards and to keep staring at his face and not anywhere else.
Why, this…this ooman?!
"Did you need something, Sohryu?" Shinji found himself grinding out
"Ach!" Asuka spun around, blushing madly and covering her eyes. That was all she needed as she tried to twist things, "You stupid pervert-"
"How am I the pervert?" Shinji inquired, eyes dimmed. "You're the one who just kicked open my shower door."
Clenching his hands into fists, Shinji remembering that she had nearly cost him and Rei the battle against the Angel if she hadn't pulled that stunt. Now that she had the audacity to blame him for her failure and was perfectly willing to attack him, he wanted to strangle her until she was near dead. Call her the most terrible things for nearly getting them all killed. That way she would never do something so stupid ever again.
"Y-yeah, but…" Asuka stuttered, now thoroughly embarrassed. "Mein Gott, did those things teach you the first about decency-?"
Things?!
SMACK!
Asuka yelped when she felt Shinji's strike her across the other side of her face, now both cheeks matching in redness. The redhead stared at Shinji in disbelief, glancing to see his hand retracting back before focusing back on the glare in his face. She let out of sob, then she screamed…
"DAMN YOU!"
…and lunged at Shinji, only to feel herself get shoved against the far wall as he stepped out of the shower stall, both hands on her shoulders against her and the locks of his wet hair covering his eyes and casting a faint darkness over his face, giving him the appearance of someone very disturbed. Which summed up the Boy Predator's feeling nicely he felt rage towards this…ooman.
Asuka mouth was agape as she began shaking in fear of Shinji and her realization that he had finally lost patience with her and he looked ready to kill her for barging in when he was at most vulnerable. She felt tears well in her eyes when Shinji pulled his left hand and clenched into a fist and it hovered very dangerously close to her face.
"K-Kaji…" Asuka whimpered, the tears running down her face. "Papa…"
Shinji raised his head, making sure Asuka could see his narrowed, angry orbs as if staring into the very fabric of her soul. He then opened his mouth to utter two words that were almost enough to send her into shock right there and then.
He quietly said…
"…get out"
(SSJNYH)
Asuka came barrelling out of the boy's room, breathing hard as she stood in front of the door that closed behind her. Now crying, she collapsed against the door, now reduced to a sobbing, slightly wet mess as she held her legs against herself.
W-why'd I do that?
What the hell is wrong with me?
Kha'bj-te – Maniac/Reckless
A/N: And so ends the fight scenes, for now.
Can't remember the last time I suffered a concussion so sorry if I got the medical facts wrong. Besides, Shinji Curved Blade is one to recover from any injury pretty quickly.
Yeah, the original ending was bothering me too much where it seemed like Asuka was getting off lightly, so I changed it. But here's the first ending wrote for this chapter. But I scrapped it because Shinji reminded me too much of Mal'Kafir…and as much as he can't stand Asuka…well…it's not him.
-OMAKE-
In an Alternate Universe
Back turned to her, Kasumi slowly turned to reveal that he looked disturbed and angry enough to go several rounds with a rabid bear with his bare hands; he was that angry Asuka struggled to stop herself from keeling over backwards in fear and to keep staring at his face and not anywhere else.
Only Misato was supposed to see me like this.
"What…are you doing in here?" Shinji was slowly gnashing his teeth together, the movement of his eyes almost daring her to continue staring at him au natural.
Asuka tried to mask her fear. Fear of the naked, gnashing Boy Predator who appeared to be seeing red, and making no effort to shield himself from her.
That was all she needed as she tried to twist things, "You stupid pervert…"
"SCCCCRRRRRRYYYYYYY!"
Shinji's bellowing out for red as he stepped out of the cubicle, grabbed Asuka by the straps of her dress…
"N-NO LEMME' GO NO…ARGHH!"
…almost tearing it as he tossed her to the ground away from the shower cubicles. Groaning in pain she turned herself to fearfully stare up at the angry looking negligee youth staring back down at her. The way he seethed in anger he looked like he was contemplating whether he should kill her or…do other things to her before killing her. Fright paralysed her being when she suddenly thought that the idea of him doing that to her wasn't beneath him and in a panic scrambled to get off the floor. Shinji however grabbed her and slammed her into the lockers and peered in close so that they could feel one another's breath. Asuka's pupils shrunk in fear, before she forced it back and tried to lash back.
"HANDS OFF ME YOU FUCKING PERV-!" she tried to sound furious but was cut off when Shinji grabbed her by the throat, pushing her even harder against the locker, hurting her.
Asuka couldn't stop herself from quivering in fear as Shinji snarled like an animal, his appearance more that of a beast then a human being.
"You… almost got us all KILLED you stupid, ignorant kha'bj-te lou-dte kale c'jit pauk!"
His hands wrapped around her throat and began choking the life out of her as he devolved into alien rambling and cursing Asuka realised that she had pushed Shinji too far. Despite Misato's warnings, despite everyone's warnings, she kept up her unpleasant demeanour, her mask, her charade, and she pushed him too far. And for the first time in her life, she blamed herself for her own error.
Suddenly her phone buzzed again, no doubt her father sending her another message asking her to call him, worried sick about her after her fight against the Angel. That just made feel even worse.
Tears welled in her eyes when the truth dawned on her: She was never cut out to be a pilot.
BEEP!
And she knew she was going to die.
"Shinji?"
Still frenzied looking, Shinji turned his head to see Kaworu standing in the doorway and staring at him, and with a look of disappointment on his face. Shinji's eyes widened and he let go of Asuka, allowing her to slide down onto the ground, coughing and struggling to breath, redness around her neck where Shinji had strangled her now evident. Reaching for a towel Shinji wrapped it around his midsection, finally covering himself. For some reason he didn't want to be naked around Kaworu.
"You…y-you could've killed me!" Asuka cried, angry tears spilling from her eyes.
"Were you planning on killing me?" Shinji's glare prevented her from glaring back.
"I-I wasn't gonna, I j-just wanted to make s-sure you wouldn't-" Asuka was crying now as she rambled.
"What? Teach me a lesson? Stop me from showing you up again?!" Shinji shouted down at her, now angry and not caring that Kaworu was watching. "You're delusional, Sohryu, if you think I'm gonna just take that c'jit from you!"
Her pride and ego wounded, Asuka's looked close to breaking down. She then smirked angrily, her hair obscuring her eyes, "Admit it, Kasumi! Right now you imagined screwing me into the floor like the fucking savage you are. Didn't you?!"
Shinji looked repulsed, which serve to wound Asuka even further.
"WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE?!"
All head turned to see Kaji appearing from behind Kaworu as he pushed past him; immediately shocked with the display before him. Asuka sprawled out on the floor and a naked Shinji looking ready to kill her; and the possibility that she started it, but that didn't give him the right to hurt her in retaliation. Before she had the chance to open her mouth again.
"Inspector Kaji?"
He turned to Kaworu, who appeared calm and collected.
"I can explain everything that happened."
Keeping a wary eye on Shinji, Kaji said, "I'm listening, Nagisa."
Asuka bowed her head, eyes closed tightly and gritting her teeth as tears still continued to trickle. Now Kaji was a part of this.
"Noooooooo…" she groaned.
Her phone was still beeping.
(SSJNYH)
A/N: The Shinji/Misato this chapter was inspired by the works of RealRemainder. Big thanks to him once again for proofreading this chapter.
Next chapter: Shinji and Misato finally go out on that date…