Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay, everyone. These scenes took some effort to write, and it wasn't fast. I also held off on updating here since the scenes just kept getting longer then I expected, and the good chapter break point I wanted before I posted just kept moving back. As it is, Chapter 8 - Advent, still has a good part to run, at least as long as this portion. But since this portion itself has hit over 11,000 words and it's been 2 months since the last update, I thought I should put this part up.
As always, if you don't like waiting this long between updates, come over to SufficientVelocity. com, where the updates go up first and faster. I generally post every 1,000 words or more there as I go, scene-to-scene, and collect them for posting here every 6-10k. Just search for the title. You don't have to register to read, and I put a lot of story notes and character discussion there.
In any case, the long-awaited moment has arrived: Shinji and Asuka go public with Misato about their relationship... and what they've learned about their mothers. Then we back up a bit, and see what Ritsuko and Rei were up to during that week.
Enjoy, and please review with your thoughts.
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XXX
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Major Katsuragi steeled herself and opened the door to her apartment. This time she wasn't going to accept any more shenanigans. Last night had been too damn surreal. Shinji and Asuka hadn't 'broken character' all night. Asuka had been meek, polite, and self-effacing as she did all the cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning. Shinji had watched TV, read fashion magazines, complained about everything, and ordered Asuka around all evening until Misato had told her... him to go to his room. Shinji had stalked off, muttering in German, and gone into his old room, now Asuka's. Misato, fairly buzzed at that point in self-defense of her sanity, had looked at Asuka helplessly. Asuka had merely shrugged and gone back to preparing the lunches for tomorrow. At that point Misato had given up and gone to bed.
Tonight... Ok, a week of this was enough. No more funny games. If Shinji and Asuka were up to anything tonight, she was done putting up with it. She'd demand and get some answers. She stepped inside and let the door slide shut behind her.
She could hear their voices in the kitchen, accompanied by the sounds of cooking. So far, relatively normal. No TV playing, but that wasn't too unusual. They didn't sound like they were arguing, either, which was a bit unusual. Whatever, she was ready. Nothing the Second and Third Children could throw at her was going to rattle her this time! She rounded the corner and halted in surprise.
They weren't arguing. They were dancing.
Shinji came out of the kitchen with a large hot dish in his hands, turning without looking as he came around the corner of the kitchen nook on a course that should have taken him right into Asuka, who was walking back from putting down some other plates on the table. But Asuka somehow anticipated his movements, and smoothly spun herself around him in a move that looked too graceful to even be practiced, and they exchanged positions without even looking at each other. The dance repeated itself a few seconds later as Asuka came right back out with another set of laden plates and spun around Shinji on his own return course.
Misato stood there staring for a minute. This was even smoother and closer synchronization than they'd showed at the end of the week of training she'd run them through in order to defeat Israfel. She perked her ears up. Yup, they had music playing, slightly low volume, but definitely there. She realized they were singing too, both on the beat and in harmony.
They both vanished into the kitchen, and returned into her view a moment later, spinning around each other in steps that were clearly unnecessary, and just for fun. Shinji let his plates drop down to the last open spots on the near side of the table to the kitchen without taking his eyes off Asuka. She did the same with her plates on the far side of the table a moment later as their path curled around. Once their hands were free, they wrapped around each other and continued their dance until they were back near the kitchen.
Misato goggled and rubbed at her eyes. They were... holding each other, dancing together, and smiling? Her mouth twisted in annoyance. So this was the game tonight? Playing the cutesy newlyweds? Obviously a trick, though she had to wonder how Asuka had gotten Shinji to go along with it.
They didn't seem to have noticed her yet. At least, they hadn't overtly reacted to her standing in the shadows of the entrance hall. So why were they doing their act already? Even their 'role-reversal' one hadn't really done anything until she'd gotten home and they had to have noticed her. So why were they alread-... Misato stared.
Their latest twirl done, Shinji had shifted his grip on Asuka's back, and was now dipping her in a slow, tight movement. Asuka was grinning, molding herself into it. Shinji had an almost matching smile. Their faces were very, very close...
"Alright, that's enough, you two! What the Hell is going on here?!" Misato's sharp, loud question made them both jump. "I've had enough of these games. What are you two playing at this time?"
"M-misato-san! W-welcome home!" Shinji stuttered. He carefully brought Asuka back upright and let go of holding her. "Um... we were... we were..." He looked at Asuka, who only folded her arms and stared right back at Misato.
"Getting dinner ready, as you can see," Asuka said unflinchingly. She waved at the table. "See?"
Misato narrowed her eyes at them. "Sit down, both of you."
The two young Pilots looked at each other for a moment and nodded. They walked to the table and sat down at their usual places facing her seat, waiting silently. Misato looked at the frankly startling array of food laid out on the table and thought about going to change out of her uniform before sitting down to eat, but her stomach growled at her and her mouth filled with saliva at the delicious aromas coming off the table, and that decided her. She sat down and matched stares with her young charges. 'Eh, maybe staying in my uniform will remind them I'm once again their commanding officer and not just their den mother. I need to lay down the law after this week.'
"Alright... you two have been playing silly games all week, and I've let it slide since I'm tired and you two playing games isn't entirely a bad thing to come home to. But it's over. Singing and dancing around like a couple on a honeymoon is enough. No more playing to mess with my head," she declared firmly. "You're both Pilots again. Playtime is over."
Shinji just met her gaze calmly. "This wasn't a game, Misato-san. We stopped playing yesterday." Asuka nodded. Together they brought their hands between them up from below the level of the table and let them rest on the table. Asuka's left hand was on top of Shinji's right, fingers interlaced in a tight grasp.
Misato stared at the clasped hands. "I don't appreciate you making fun of things when I'm laying down the rules, Shinji-kun. Am I supposed to believe you and Asuka are suddenly going out?"
"Not suddenly," Asuka said calmly. "Months."
Misato shot her a sarcastic look. "Really. You two have secretly been dating for months and pretending you're not at home? Sure. Shinji swept you off your feet one day, bowled you over in a wave of passion, and stole your heart with his too-smooth moves. Next Kaji will confess he's been pining for me the last 8 years and offer to run away with me to his cabin in the Geofront!"
Asuka blinked, and started laughing so hard she fell over and landed with her head in Shinji's lap. Shinji just nodded at Misato and said, "Um... sort of? You're kind of right, but I r-really wouldn't call me 'smooth'. We just sort of... started talking to each other one day a few months ago, and... found out we're... a lot more alike than we'd though. It all worked out." He absently ran his fingers through Asuka's hair in his lap as she kept giggling. "Do you really think Kaji-san will confess to you like that soon, Misato-san? I know he thinks about you."
Misato forced herself to remain calm. This had to be just an extended joke. Shinji's question had to be part of it, not a serious probe. Kaji couldn't have told Shinji anything like that... could he?
"Yeah, Misato," Asuka finally managed from her position lying in Shinji's lap as her giggling eased. "Kaji knows about us. This week was about us shaking you up before we told you. Kaji insisted we... come clean to you. But my dearest baka and I have been in love for a while now. Surprise."
'Ok, now I know they're messing with me,' Misato thought. 'Kaji knows? And they're 'in love'? I know they're attracted to each other, but successfully hiding a relationship from me for months? No way. Fine. Asuka wants to push it? I'll call their bluff.'
"My my, Asuka. Who knew you'd be knocked head over heels for 'that baka Shinji'," she said in a sugary, mocking tone. "It's so romantic! Let me see you plant a nice juicy kiss on your sweetie's lips. Go ahead."
Asuka looked at her again, slightly surprised. Then she shrugged, slid her right hand behind Shinji's head, and pulled him down into a soft, languid kiss.
Misato watched their faces draw together, waiting and waiting for them to stop at the last minute and admit it was a game. She waited in vain. Her jaw dropped open. 'What... how... no way... They...they're really doing it? They... they can't have been hiding this for as long as they say, could they?'
It was a long, long moment before the Pilots broke the kiss and Shinji sat back up. Asuka just laid there with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin on her face, looking utterly pleased and at peace. Shinji looked calm and happy too. Neither of them had reopened their eyes.
Misato just gaped at them for a minute. She forced herself to shut her mouth with a click. Silence stretched out. Asuka slowly cracked an eye open from Shinji's lap. "Anything else you'd like us to do, Misato?" she said amusedly.
"...you're not kidding, are you?" Misato slowly asked.
"Nope."
"You've been secretly in love for months?"
"Yup."
"And you were hiding it from me be-" Misato started to ask, then stopped as she kicked her brain into gear. Shinji at least was well aware she found the idea of he and Asuka together amusing and cute enough that she'd made no secret about encouraging him to ask the German redhead out. And if they were dating, he must have told Asuka that. So they should both know Misato would if anything encourage their dating each other. Unless...
"Because you'd freak out and try to tell us we couldn't do what we've been doing for most of that time," Asuka said. "We're together. We wake up together, we eat breakfast together, we go to school together, we train together, we fight together, we come home together, and at the end of the day..." She sat up so that both Pilots were facing her squarely. Their hands sought each other out and renewed their tight clasp without either of them breaking eye contact with her. "We go to sleep together," Asuka finished calmly but firmly.
'Unless there was something they were afraid I'd blow up at them for...' "No," Misato said in a tone of rising anger that said she'd already figured it out. "No, you two cannot be-"
"We are, Misato! We did it last night, the night before that, the week before that, and the month before that! And we're going to keep on doing it!" Asuka shot back hotly. "I have waited most of my life to know that someone loved me again! I haven't felt loved since I fucking found my mother's body! And now I risk my life every mission to protect the fucking world! So if you want to take away the only thing that's made me happy in most of my damn life, you can go to Hell!"
"'Most of your life'? Asuka, you're fourteen! You two can't be doing this!"
"You'd have done the same at our age!"
"At your age plus a year I was catatonic from watching Second Impact at Ground Zero! You are still a child!"
"A 'child'?! Sure I am, the Second Child! And Shinji's the Third! And we're sure as Hell old enough for you to have us fight for our lives as soldiers! We've earned this, Misato!"
"You are way too young to be sleeping together! Are..." Misato's eyes widened. "You're not just 'sleeping together' literally, are you? That's why you hid this," she all but whispered.
They both nodded; Shinji a shade guiltily, Asuka defiantly. "Since Leliel," Asuka said sharply. "You know, when I almost died. Again. I decided I didn't want to maybe die the next mission regretting that I never told Shinji I love him. So I did. And then... we did."
"You... Alright. Fine. It's done. But you're stopping right now and going to your rooms. Separately, while I-"
"We are not stopping, Misato," Asuka interrupted. "We'll stop Piloting before we'll stop sleeping next to each other."
"And leave Rei-chan to fight alone?" Misato replied coldly.
Asuka's hot retort died on her lips. She looked like she'd bitten into something sour, working her jaw for a moment before replying, "Commander Asshole just tried that one. Look how well that worked out. It took me, Shinji, and Kaji's insane driving skills to save the day. Remember the part where we saved the damn world? We've earned the right to sleep where and with who we want, Misato."
"You are teenagers. You are not ready for this," Misato growled. "You are too young for all the complications sex brings. What if you got pregnant and couldn't Pilot when an Angel attacked? You could risk the whole world on your being horny?"
"Contraceptive implant from Doctor Akagi before we did anything," Asuka snarled, stretching the truth only a little. "We're not stupid, Misato. This isn't about being horny. This is about us having earned the right to grab as much life and love as we can when we risk our lives every time we get in our Evas."
"Both of you, go to your rooms," Misato repeated lowly.
"'Go to your room'?! You can't treat us like kids, Misato!" Asuka almost shouted back. She started to rise from her chair, but stopped halfway as Shinji's hand pulled her back down.
"This is me treating you like an adult, Asuka," Misato said tightly. "This is me sending you two to your rooms so I can think and not react at you. Because right now, I'm very angry at the two of you not just doing this, but concealing it from me for months. Sex and teenagers is a damn explosive mixture, and you two have been risking all our safety on you both not screwing it up somehow. What if you-"
"Our Synch Rates have been going up steadily since we got together, Misato-san," Shinji interrupted quietly. "Asuka went up four points the day after we first... kissed. I went up six. We've both gone up 27% since we started. You saw how closely in-synch with each other we were against Bardiel. And we only managed to joint Pilot this last time because we are so close. If we weren't sleeping together... if we weren't in love..." He looked at Asuka and smiled, then turned back to Misato. "We wouldn't have been able to stop Zeruel and we'd all be dead now. We are stronger together, Misato. I've never felt this strong. And I know Asuka feels the same way. Please don't separate us."
Misato just stared at Shinji for a moment. His quiet listing of facts to back up their position, combined with the agonized sincerity of his plea let it sink in a bit more for her. This wasn't just two horny teens wanting to get off. She knew too well how isolated Asuka really was from her time as the girl's guardian. She'd seen the same sort of hedgehog-like isolation and loneliness from Shinji when he moved in with her; the cell phone that never got calls, the lack of friends for so long until those two classmates of his had slowly become more than just people he knew... This was two very lonely people finding someone to... keep the lonely darkness away with. Like another couple she knew.
"Shinji... you don't understand how delicate this is... what if you two broke up? Or if-"
"We won't," they said in unison. She saw their clasped hands squeeze tight, until they were almost shaking.
"...or if one of you got hit in a battle? Could either of you stand watching that happen, ignore the screams, and keep fighting? There's a reason military commands ban romantically involved people from being in the same unit, you know."
"How would separating us change any of that, Misato-san?" Shinji asked quietly. "Sex or not, nothing's going to change how I feel about Asuka, or her me. It won't do anything but make us both miserable outside of battle, not more effective in it."
"That may be how they do that in normal military units, Misato, but nothing about this is normal. Yes, we're Children. We Pilot because only we can," Asuka said in an odd tone. "Haven't you ever wondered why that is?"
Misato turned her stare to the redhead. "...I have. Ritsuko has been... not entirely forthcoming on the topic. And..." 'And from what Kaji's been telling me, the Marduk Institute is a hollow shell. And if Marduk isn't finding and selecting the PIlots... who is?'
Asuka's anger had vanished, replaced by something colder and harder. "We figured out why we are the Second and Third Children. We planned to ask Rei to see if we were right... but I'm certain we are," Asuka said in that same odd tone. "How secure is this apartment, Misato? Any bugs? Section 2 isn't listening, right?"
The cold, stark expression on Asuka's face made Misato repress a shiver. This didn't sound good. "No. No bugs. Section 2 doesn't listen in on me. Go on."
Asuka nodded. "Good. We learned something ugly about NERV. We're adult enough to handle sleeping together, Misato. I know we're mature enough because I haven't already stolen your pistol and gone after Commander Asshole and demanded some answers from him. And I haven't greeted you at the door with a knife because I'm pretty sure you don't know..."
Misato froze. She and Asuka had been pretty friendly while she'd been the girl's guardian. So a coolly delivered threat to kill her... "Know what?"
"I know where my mother is," Asuka said.
"And I know where mine is," Shinji echoed a second later. His face hardened into a near snarl. "And my father owes me some answers."
There was no doubt in their voices. Misato felt her skin crawl. "'Are'? Asuka, your mother died in the hospital. I... I know you found her. And Shinji's mother died in the first Contact Experiment with Unit-01 eleven years ago."
"My Mama was mad after her own Contact Experiment, Misato. With, funny coincidence, my Unit-02. And I'm the only one that can Pilot it. Another amazing coincidence."
"And no one can get Unit-01 to move like me," Shinji said. "Rei's best is less than half as high a synch as I manage."
"And we talked to Hikari after she came out of Unit-03's core... she said she talked to her mother in there. Yet another funny coincidence."
This time Misato couldn't suppress the shiver. "That... you really think..."
"Our mothers are in our Evas. I don't know how, but I'm certain of it. We both are," Asuka said grimly. "And that can't be an accident. Someone at NERV has to know that. And I don't think it's you. And above you, there's only..."
"Ritsuko, Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki, and-" Misato listed.
"And my father," Shinji growled. "He knows. He has to."
Misato didn't want to believe it. She'd have to check notes with Kaji. But... it fit too well with what she knew. The way all the kids in their class were candidates. No mothers for any of them. Statistically impossible, so it had to be part of the selection criteria. But she'd never imagined it was anything like this. And Hikari's reemergence had proved beyond a doubt that a human could be absorbed by an Eva Core and still live. And she'd told Shinji and Asuka that she'd seen her mother? "There's... been nothing in the reports about Horaki-chan about... anything like this." It was a feeble straw, she could feel it even as she said it.
"We intend to try direct communication with them the next time we're in our Evas, Misato," Asuka said. "So yes, we're not going to stop being Pilots. Not when we finally know where our mothers are. But... don't try to separate us. We've earned this. You know what I was like. You think I'd say 'I love you' to anyone easily?"
"Or me?" Shinji added.
"NERV has been up to some very creepy things, Misato. So Shinji and I sleeping in the same bed at night? Small thing next to that. And we've more than earned it. Please," Asuka finished.
Misato tried to force her mind back to the first crisis of the evening. "I'll... think about it, Asuka. I know this means a lot to both of you. So I'm not going to react by reflex here. Is that acceptable?" she asked in a level tone. "You've given me some other major things to chew on here, you realize."
Asuka lips compressed together and she looked at Shinji. He didn't look happy either, but gave a small nod. Asuka turned back to her and nodded as well. "Fine. We'll... sleep separately. Tonight. But... you've got to let us. I haven't had a single nightmare since we started sleeping in the same bed. If I have one tonight, I know why and I'll blame you."
Misato let it pass. She could hear the real worry in Asuka's voice. "I'll think about it," she repeated. "You two have saved the world, yes. But this is... delicate. And Commander Ikari could override any orders I give about it anyway."
"So don't tell him," Shinji said, low and angry. Misato blinked and looked at him. She'd never even heard Shinji this angry before. "My father forfeited any right to order my life and take away my happiness when he dumped me at a railway station and walked away when I was four, and then ignored me for ten years. He gets no say in this. I love who I want to love, and he can go to Hell."
Misato blinked at the sheer fury radiating off the Third Child. She was even more surprised when Asuka leaned closer and tightly hugged Shinji until his anger ebbed. "Easy, love. He can't stop us. No power in the universe can stop us. We smash Angels like it's nothing. Your stupid father can't even begin to match us."
Shinji just let his hands come up and stroke the outsides of Asuka's. "Thank you," Misato heard him say softly to her.
Misato shook her head slightly. Even more than the kiss they'd both obviously enjoyed, this drove home how much they'd been concealing. A week ago, she'd have laughed at the idea Asuka would just reach out and comfort Shinji just because she cared about him, or that Shinji would automatically accept it and give back little nonverbal signs that he understood and appreciated what Asuka was doing. Now... she was surprised to find a tiny trickle of envy begin to bubble up from her own heart. 'Why can't I have that?'
"You really... love each other," she said quietly.
Asuka looked up, but continued to hold Shinji. "I told you, Misato. This isn't about us wanting to just fuck. This is because when we're lying there together at night, I never feel alone and unloved anymore. He's all I want. I don't need anyone else but him, not even... Kaji." A faint smile appeared on Asuka's lips. "Kaji's all yours now, Misato. Go get him." She looked back at Shinji. "I've got everything I want. Someone who understands me, fights beside me, and drives me to always be more."
Suddenly Asuka snorted. "Ok, I admit it, I also want him in my bed because oh god is he good. Musician's hands, Misato..."
The envy got worse. She hadn't seen Kaji in days. "Just... let's eat. Then you two can... have the evening to cuddle on the couch or something. You're still sleeping in your own rooms until I can think about this." Misato's frown deepened. "And the... other thing. You're not due for a Synch Test for another week at least, but... I'll see what I can do."
Asuka just nodded. So did Shinji as his head came back up, his face calm again. "Thank you, Misato-san. We made your favorites tonight."
Misato quirked an eyebrow. "'We'? Asuka willingly helped cook?"
Asuka snorted again. "Told you. You won't believe how much about us you don't know. Dig in. We worked hard to impress you here. We wanted to make a good impression for this," she waved her hands. "This whole reveal. It's important, you know?"
"I'll think about it," Misato promised once more. "Now, let's eat."
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XXX
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The Previous Monday
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"I'm going to go question the Fourth Child again. She has to know something more than she's said."
Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki looked up from the shogi board at his former pupil. Long practice kept his lips from flattening into a line. "Is that wise, Ikari?" was all he said.
Gendo's penetrating stare shifted from the air in front of his desk to the old man's face.
"You managed to terrify the poor girl into silence in just 15 minutes last time. And all she could tell you was she thought she'd seen her mother, had no idea how she'd gotten in or out of the Core, and had only the vaguest understanding of what the Angel had done to take over her Evangelion. You going down there to interrogate her will likely only frighten her further and gain us no additional information."
Gendo rose from his desk and began to pace back and forth like a caged lion. "She must know something. She must. She came out, Professor!" he said in a voice almost vibrating with chained tension.
"If you wish, I can go speak to her. She may respond better to me," Fuyutsuki offered.
Commander Ikari just stood silently for several minutes. "Speak to her. Find out what she knows. Everything. She must know something," he bit out.
The Sub-Commander of NERV rose to his feet and nodded. Long acquaintance let him see the way Gendo was holding down tension that would have had an ordinary man screaming and clawing at the walls by now. He made a small placating gesture. "I will handle it."
Gendo just tightened his lips and jerked a sharp nod. He returned to his desk and pulled up a report on the repair estimates for Unit-01, his hands assuming their standard position folded under his nose as he stared at the screen, but Fuyutsuki could tell he was not seeing the words at all.
He sighed quietly and walked to the door. The Fourth Child likely had little new information to offer, but he would make the effort. He'd not seen Gendo this wound up in more years than he could remember, if ever.
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XXX
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Muzzy, painful awareness swam slowly back to her. Her head hurt... so much... where?
She was lying in a bed. The steady beep-beep-beep of a heart monitor came from her right, and she realized she'd been hearing it in the background of her senses for a while. Every part of her hurt. Her injuries from Matsushiro all screamed at her afresh, and a new, even more painful little dwarf had apparently evicted the last one that had begun drilling at the inside of her skull, and gone to work. She groaned from the pain.
There was a weight on her right leg, and someone was holding her right hand. They twitched and squeezed it when she groaned. She pried her eyes open and tried to focus on the blurry mass of brown hair and khaki NERV uniform that was slumped asleep on her legs, half on the hospital bed, half in the chair next to it. "M...Maya?" she rasped.
Her young assistant blinked awake and wiped absent-mindedly at the dribble of drool at her mouth. "Gwha... sempai!"
Ritsuko found herself gently, but quickly wrapped up in a hug as Maya Ibuki began to babble happily. "Sempai!Sempai!Iwassoworried!TheceilingfellonyouwhenUnit-01hitHQandyouwerebleedingandIwassoscaredandworriedbutCommanderIkariwoudn'tletmehelpyoubecausetheAngelwasstillattackingand-"
"Maya! MAYA!" Oww, damn it, shouting made her head pound worse. "Slow down! Start over! What-...nggg. What happened? The last thing I remember is... is..." Her head pounded. "Ung... uh, Unit-01 falling into the Geofront? The Angel was coming after it, and... the launch catapult was activating?"
"Th-the catapult was Unit-03! Shinji-kun and Asuka um... borrowed Unit-03 and attacked the Angel! They stabbed its Core out, and Rei shot it before it could blow up like Sachiel!" Maya babbled excitedly.
Her head was spinning. "Sh-shinji and Asuka... together? They dual-synched again? In... Unit-03?"
Maya nodded excitedly. "They were amazing! They... they ran out of power before they killed the Angel, but then the vestigial S2 Organ in Unit-03 activated!"
'Oh god... Unit-03 was possessed by an Angel, and now has a functioning S2 Organ?' Ritsuko shivered. 'What... what the Hell are we supposed to do if that thing awakens? And...wait..." "How did Shinji and Asuka manage the dual-synch? That... Unit-03's Core was configured to work with the Fourth Child, not them. And she was absorbed!"
Maya blinked. "I... I don't know, Akagi-sempai. I... I left Central Dogma as soon as the combat alert was over and came straight here. I... um..." Maya blushed. "I... haven't left your side since then. That was... um... last night. Afternoon... er..."
'...you haven't left my side since the end of the fight, and I woke up with you asleep on my leg and holding my hand. Goddamit, Maya. I've been trying to ignore your crush on me for months. This is not helping.' "Maya, maybe you should-" Ritsuko's stomach took this opportunity to growl like an angry badger. "...ah,... go ask the nurse to bring me something to eat?" she finished weakly.
Maya wobbled to her feet. "Y-yes, sempai! I'll... ooh... um... get something to eat too! I'll be back soon!" She turned and zipped from the room, almost bowling over the person coming in on the way. "Ahh! Sorry, Major Katsuragi! Excuse me!"
Misato looked back at the retreating Lieutenant and shook her head. "Your girlfriend is very devoted, Rits."
"Shut up, Misato. And don't call her that. I've been trying to ignore her raging crush on me all year," the blonde doctor replied testily. 'It's... Hell, she's... I want Gendo, not... some pretty young girl that idolizes me. ...right? He needs me. He'll listen to me about how dangerous the Evas are becoming. He has to... He's not just using me. He's not.' The thought wasn't as sure as it had been a few months ago. 'She's... I'm not who she thinks.' "This... what am I supposed to do with this?"
"Take her out for drinks next time instead of me and Kaji?" Misato said with an impish grin. "It's not like you've never kissed a girl before. Or done far, far mo-"
"And you promised that we'd never speak of it again, and that it was only because we were both hammered out of our minds and hadn't had a guy in months," Ritsuko fired back, then put a hand to her head to try quieting the throb. "Nnng... don't make me shout anymore, please?"
"That's not what you said back then..." Misato joked. The smile dropped away fast, though. "How do you feel?"
"Like Unit-01 punched me in the head," Ritsuko mumbled through clenched teeth. "They leave any painkillers for me? I'll order some myself if they didn't. Then borrow your sidearm and go shoot the doctor that forgot."
"My, someone's grouchy..." Misato deadpanned. "Here. The nurse handed me these on the way in. Vicodin good enough for you?" She held out a small bottle of pills.
Ritsuko took the bottle with hands that only shook a little and quickly swallowed one of the pills. "It'll do. How bad do I look?"
Misato chewed her lip. "Nnnnnot great. You got a good knock on the head from a falling chunk of ceiling, and that didn't help your previous injuries... Doc said you should stay in bed for a good week before trying to get back into things, even desk work."
"Fine, fine. Maya says she came straight here from Central Dogma after the battle. Obviously we won, but what else have I missed? How the Hell did Shinji and Asuka get Unit-03 to work for them? The Core was configured for the Fourth Child, and she was absorbed in the last fight!"
Misato shrugged. "You're the Metaphysical Biology expert, you tell me. And Hikari's back. She just... appeared in the Entry Plug after the Angel was dead and they shut down the combat alert." Misato's lips quirked. "Appeared in Shin-chan's lap, in fact."
Ritsuko screeched to a mental halt. "Wait... what?! She... came out? How?!"
"Hell if I know, but she's just down the hall here from you right now..." Misato went on, not noticing her friend's turmoil.
Misato filled her in. The Evas smashed up, weeks to repair. Hikari out of the Core, somehow, with no idea how. The Commander interrogating her, and ordering her on medical suspension until totally cleared of possible Angelic contamination. The Second and Third Children commended and put back on active status, assigned to Unit-03 for now, for lack of any other Eva that can fight at all. The Fifth Child coming in from NERV Berlin to replace the Fourth.
"The...Fifth Child? What? How the Hell are we supposed to configure a Core for them? I... I can't do this in a vacuum! What the Hell is NERV Berlin playing at?" Ritsuko complained.
Misato shrugged again. "I only know what Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki told me. We've got about a week before they arrive, he said, and we're to assign the other Children to getting the Fifth Child up to speed as fast as possible, so Shinji and Asuka can get reassigned back to their own Evangelions as soon as they're back in shape." She sighed. "And that is going to take a while. Only Unit-03 can even stand up right now, and it's still missing a hand and has a lot of damage. Commander Ikari left Central Dogma as soon as the fight was over and left me to handle everything. He spent the entire evening camped out at the recovery site for Unit-01. It took them hours to get Rei cut out, and then he still stayed there most of the night. He questioned Hikari-chan right after that, then left. "
'Of course he spends half the night making sure she is ok... plus that stupid doll. And he came to see Horaki, but not me? Damn it, Gendo... you need me! Don't I warrant a bit of your time?' She smothered the wave of anxiety and desire that she almost hated herself for feeling sometimes. Misato was still talking.
"The surface defenses and the Geofront access point are all mashed to Hell, too..."
"Coordinating the repairs for that is your problem, Major," Ritsuko said primly. She forced a small smirk. Her friend didn't know who she was seeing, and didn't need to. "And if I'm going to be laid up with bed-rest for a week or two, you're going to have to ride herd on the Evangelion repair crews as well."
"Oh, gee, thanks, Project E Chairwoman, ma'am," Misato retorted sourly. "Since I had all this free time just laying around, waiting for-" The phone by the head of the bed rang loudly. Misato raised an eyebrow. "Expecting a call?"
Ritsuko's head pounded a little more with the annoying electronic ring. She scowled and reached over to pick up the handset. "Hello, this is Akagi."
"Doctor Akagi. Are you alright?"
Her heart soared. 'He's calling to see if I'm ok? That's not as good as a visit, but he does care! Take that, Misato!' "Yes, sir, " she answered professionally.
"Can you work?"
Ritsuko paused. Her head pounded, but... she could think, and there were probably important things that- "...I guess so?"
"Come to Terminal Dogma immediately, then. There is much work to do." Click.
Ritsuko stared at the handset, trying to decide if she wanted to throw the phone across the room or slam it. 'Come down here'?! Not even a 'how are you feeling?' What the Hell?!' "Motherfucker!"
Misato raised an eyebrow. "You... ok, Rits? You look like you're about to stab someone, and I'm the only girl in range, so I'd rather you don't. Who was it?"
"Commander Ikari. The ringmaster wants all his clowns back out to the center ring. I'm to report to Terminal Dogma immediately."
Misato blinked in shock. "What? You're in no shape for that. You're supposed to stay on your back for a week at least."
"In a sane organization I would be. But I'm apparently critical. And the Commander speaks, and we all hop to obey," she said bitterly. 'Visits Horaki but not me. Gets Rei out of Unit-01, but doesn't see me. Makes sure she's fine in the Core... but not me. Damn it, Ritsuko...' She struggled to sit up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "Guess I'll have to take that breakfast Maya's bringing to go..."
"Ritsuko, what the Hell? You should sit back down and-"
"And what, Misato?" she barked back. "Sit back and have a few beers? Hang out with a bunch of Children and have your meals cooked for you? Some of us have to do real work!"
Misato's head snapped back at the surprisingly angry tone. "Fine then, Doctor, I'll let you get on with things." She turned and left without another word.
Ritsuko winced again as she left, only a little from the pain the shouting had roiled up in her head. 'Damn it, Misato, I'm sorry...' She sighed. She'd have to apologize later. For yet another screw-up with her oldest... and nearly only friend.
Mentally cursing herself, she staggered out of the bed, made sure to collect her painkillers, and slowly made her way out the door.
.
XXX
.
"Alright, Rei, that's enough for today." Ritsuko shut down the scanner with a tired sigh. Progress had been slower than she'd liked. Rei had a lot more thought noise than usual, and all sorts of interesting spikes and patterns in her AT-Field and psychographs. Well, they would have been interesting if Ritsuko had been in good health. Right now it was mostly a source of annoyance, since her head still hurt like mad and the painkillers made it tougher to think with the level of concentration she needed for advanced topics like Metaphysical Biology. She massaged her neck with one hand and reached for the pill bottle again.
"Doctor Akagi." Ritsuko tried not to jump. Dammit, why was she so nervous? There was no one down here but her and the First Child, who was still in the tube filled with LCL under the scanner array. Rei's quiet question shouldn't have her startling like a nervous cat.
"I am to remain in the tube overnight for the healing procedures?" Rei asked.
"That's correct, Rei." Ritsuko's eyes narrowed. Had Rei's expression... flickered? The usual placid blankness had for a fraction of a second been... something else? Ritsuko scowled. Not like Rei never showed other expressions. She had been smiling gently the entire time Gendo had been there, like she often did.
Ritsuko tried not to grind her teeth. Gendo had hardly been here long today. He'd been there to meet her, set Rei up in the tube of LCL, and begin observing the scan, but he'd left after scarcely an hour. An hour during which he'd only stared at Rei, hardly speaking at all. Rei of course had smiled slightly and stared back.
"I might as well have been furniture..." she muttered.
"I'm sorry, Doctor?" Rei said.
Ritsuko shook her head, then regretted the motion. "Nng. Never mind, Rei. Just stay put and sleep. I'll extract you in 2 hours for food, then you'll have 90 minutes to digest before you're back in. Commander Ikari wants these accelerated healing procedures done as fast as possible, so that mean minimal breaks for both of us."
"Yes, Doctor."
Ritsuko spared a moment's look at the bluenette. Rei sounded... disappointed? That couldn't be right.
.
XXX
.
Tuesday
.
"Rei, all these psychograph spikes are slowing down the recording. This will take until Sunday at this rate if it continues."
"Is there anything I can do to smooth the process, Doctor Akagi? I have kept my mind as clear as possible."
Ritsuko glared at the screen and tried to will the spiky graphs into line. "No, Rei, this is... almost structural changes in your AT-Field. Not part of your thought process, though they're creating noise on the recording." She punched up the last quarterly scan. Almost nothing. So this was a recent change. "Rei, I'm going to have to do more in-depth scans on your AT-Field, compare against previous ones. I think... that last Angel's AT-Field was so strong I think interacting with it had some strange knock-on effects on yours. Just... sit tight and I'll run them."
Rei's AT-Field was... she'd never seen it acting like this before. It was flaring far more active than ever before, and... Damn it... this was too strange... "Alright, Rei, I've got to go up to the hospital wing to check in on the Fourth Child. I've left the scanner running, so just stay calm and empty your mind, and I'll be back in two hours or so."
"...yes, Doctor Akagi."
Ritsuko flicked another momentary glance at the First Child. That reply had been... no, that couldn't have been resignation. Rei didn't get bored.
.
XXX
.
"Alright, Horaki-san, you're... healthy enough in normal physical terms. I'm going to need to get you into one of the labs to do a check for more exotic Angelic effects, though," Ritsuko said while snapping off her rubber gloves. "We'll set that up for tomorrow."
"W-when can I... um... be released, Doctor? I'd l-like to see my b- family," Hikari asked, anxiously.
"I don't know, Pilot. That's up to Commander Ikari." Ritsuko saw her twitch. "And he's said you're not going anywhere until I've fully cleared you of any Angelic contamination or other dangerous effects. You were dissolved into LCL and absorbed by Unit-03's Core while it was possessed by an Angel, so we can't be too careful here."
Hikari looked severely unhappy about this. "But... I haven't gotten to see anyone but the medical staff, Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki, and Commander Ik-kari since yesterday. They haven't let my sisters or Touji in to see me!"
"Touji?"
"Touji Suzuhara. He's my..." Hikari blushed. "B-boyfriend. Um."
Ritsuko grimaced. 'She has a boyfriend. Of course. Even the damn Children have boyfriends. Well, this one does. It's not like Rei can even frame the concept, or the Second or Third get over their own issues long enough to ask someone out. But what have you got, Akagi? You can't even admit in public you're sleeping with the Commander.'
Aloud, she said, "No guests of any kind, sorry. Until you're cleared, we can't risk exposing you to anyone outside of NERV Medical Staff."
"But... but Asuka, Rei, and Ikari-kun visited me the day I got here!" Hikari protested.
"They are Pilots, and protected a bit," Ritsuko lied smoothly. "And they really shouldn't have, but Commander Ikari hadn't issued the quarantine order until after they'd been here. The aftermath of the battle was a little chaotic, you understand."
Hikari looked dismayed. "S-so... how long will I be... um, quarantined?"
"Only a few more days, I think. We'll get you into the lab tomorrow, and we should be able to release you, from the hospital at least, by Sunday or Monday."
"Can I have any visitors? Please? I know Touji wants to see me, and I miss him! I'm sure I'll be better with him here!" Hikari pleaded.
Ritsuko forced herself not to grind her teeth more. 'Of course, her boyfriend wants to see her. After the First, Second, and Third, at least one of the Children had to be normal. It's not like the other three could ever unscrew themselves enough to have a relationship. But God, is it annoying to see this girl chirping about her boyfriend...'
"I said no guests, Horaki-san. You're in an unknown and delicate medical situation, and we don't want anyone else exposed to you while we determine if you're safe. So sit tight," she not-quite growled at the young girl.
Hikari subsided with a flinch. "Y-yes, Doctor Akagi."
'Great, now I feel like I kicked a puppy, too. This girl is just a bucket of fun. And she's got a boyfriend that worries about her. What have you got, Ritsuko? Cats? Him? The cats at least worry they won't get fed when you're not there. Him? Damn it...'
.
XXX
.
"The Fourth Child showed similar odd spikes in her AT-Field and psychograph as the First, but at lower levels. This is possibly due to Rei's... unique nature." Ritsuko paused, waiting for Commander Ikari to give a miniscule nod before she resumed. "I am still investigating the other odd harmonics I detected in the Fourth Child from her re-embodiment from the Core of Unit-03, but I-"
"That is your priority project, once the upload on the First Child is complete, Doctor Akagi," Commander Ikari interrupted. "The recovery of the Fourth Child from the Core of Unit-04 is... unprecedented. Her case should be given your highest attention once the scan of Rei is done."
Ritsuko bit the inside of her cheek to keep her face still. She knew what he was really talking about. The other person he wanted to see come out of a Core. 'Don't I matter? You need me! None of this would be possible without me!' "Understood, sir. There are enough variable elements in Rei's readings it's going to take until Sunday to complete her upload and healing."
She paused. She had to know if... he still had room for her. Need for her. He had to. "Sunday night I'll be... available. Do you want me to personally brief you on our results?" she hinted.
"No," was all Commander Ikari said. "Begin working on the Fourth Child and the Core as soon as possible. The Fourth Child will be barred from active Piloting until you are completely finished with her. Allow her to contact her family next week, but only via phone, and have her report to you daily for any additional examinations."
Ritsuko did her best to keep her face impassive, to not let her wince show. She was a grown woman. She didn't need to beg. Didn't need him that badly. She was not her mother, or Misato.
'Yes you are, you stupid bitch. You laugh at Misato for being all moony over Kaji, but look at you. Practically begging him to let you come over. To be held. And yes, to scratch that itch, damn it. I have needs too, is that wrong? And he's good, just the way you like it...'
"That will be all, Doctor Akagi," Gendo said, and returned his attention to the screen embedded in his desk.
Ritsuko pressed her lips together and turned on her heel. Terminal Dogma was a long walk down.
.
XXX
.
Wednesday
.
'These spikes and flares in Rei's AT-Field are...dammit, they are familiar. Why can't I pin them down? And the Fourth Child is showing similar signs, but at much, much lower levels. Was her AT-Field being in the Core for most of the battle the reason? Rei was facing Zeruel for a lot longer, is that it?'
Ritsuko glared at the screen. The AT-Field scan results of the Fourth Child were displayed side-by-side with First's. The similarities were easy to spot, and quite consistent. They were annoyingly absent from reference scans she had looked at for the Second and Third, though she had yet to get a post-battle scan for those two. She tapped a note into the MAGI terminal to order them in for a scan as soon as she could. If the same AT-Field oddities showed up in them, that would... well, it might not answer any questions yet, but it was a data point she needed.
'The point of commonality for the First and Fourth is exposure to the Fourteenth Angel. Note to self, get the scans of Unit-03 and Unit-01 for comparison. The Fourth and her mother were providing the main effort for the AT-Field, but if I can isolate the same sort of spikes in the Second and Third Children, and see bigger spikes in Unit-03 or Unit-01, that could confirm my theory of the origin, at least.'
Ritsuko pushed her chair back from the desk and shifted her stare to the First Child, still floating serenely in her tub of LCL. Most of her wounds from the battle were almost gone already, healing at an impossible pace under the LCL-enhanced treatment. Ritsuko felt another pang of envy flash through her. No LCL-accelerated healing for her fractured bones and bruises; Commander Ikari wouldn't let her be laid-down for even the few days it would take, and she was the only one qualified to run the treatment anyhow. So slow weeks of old-fashioned slings and bandages for her. 'Unlike the precious First Child, oh no.ยด
Ritsuko's stare sharpened. The stupid doll was smiling faintly. Like she did when Commander Ikari came down to see them. See her. But he hadn't been here today. The First Child was smiling nonetheless. 'What's she smiling about? She's stuck in that tube until I decide she gets out. She can't go see the Commander like I can... in fact, I think I will. Been stuck down here all day. I deserve a break. I deserve... yeah, I deserve some of what I want. Time to go get something from Commander Ikari that little doll can't.'
She stood up, set the scanners and recorders to automatic until her return, and quickly walked towards the elevator. She noticed Rei's eyes tracking her abrupt movement with faint curiosity, and smirked. 'You can't give him what I do, First Child. And that's why I'll win in the end.'
.
XXX
.
Thursday
.
Ritsuko stubbed out yet another cigarette and stabbed her fingers at the keys of her computer like she could kill them. Rei's red eyes calmly watched her, the routine of the week going on. Except now she was furious, depressed, and hating herself again.
It had been a perfect mistake. She'd gone to his office, stormed inside like a force of nature, and all but pounced on him at his desk. He'd finally acquiesced to her very plain desire and taken her, right there in his office. Again. It had been everything she wanted from him. Forceful, controlling, relentless, dominating... She'd moaned and cooed all through it, reveling in her pleasure and her pride that she was the only one who could give him this... Not Rei, her.
Right up until he'd gasped it, almost silently, at the moment of climax. Just the tiniest whisper, but she'd heard it.
"Yui..."
It'd all turned to ash on her, right then. She'd silently collected her scattered clothes and left without a word spoken by either of them. She'd managed to contain the few hot, bitter tears that had escaped her until she'd reached the sanctuary of her labs far below his office.
The humiliation had been too much to let her face Rei's stare again that evening, so she'd blown off returning, retreating to her apartment to feed her cat and try not to think about the fact that for all the times they'd fucked, the last person who'd actually just hugged her had been Maya.
'Who thinks I'm some sort of admirable paragon, someone to crush on and stare at like that. Not some pathetic woman who is losing a fight to a doll and a dead woman's soul. Look at you: you can't even keep his attention when you're right underneath him!'
She shifted her glare back to the girl in the tube. She was still smiling. It was infuriating. Why was she happy? She was a stupid doll! She was a toy, a tool made for the Scenario! She wasn't supposed to be happy.
Her stare sharpened. Happy. Smiling. Rei was not prone to such things, and all the drugs in her system should have her so dulled any active emotion at all should be difficult. Yes, Rei would frequently react that way to the Commander, but... "Rei, why are you smiling?" she asked neutrally.
"I... do not know, Doctor Akagi," the clone replied.
"What are you thinking of?"
"I was thinking of... Pilots Ikari and Soryu. I experience positive feedback in their presence. I look forward to seeing them again next week. They are... my friends?" Rei seemed to be trying the word out.
"Your friends," Ritsuko repeated doubtfully. 'Her friends. Her friends. She has friends. Her. The doll. Friends, plural. Who do you have besides Misato, the one you implied was a lazy alcoholic the last time you talked? Maya, the girl who's crushing on you because she doesn't know what you're really like? Rei fucking Ayanami has more friends than you?'
"I have experienced positive reactions and increased Synch Rates due to their association on your orders, Doctor," Rei continued.
'And you managed to make the doll happy instead of yourself. Good job, Ritsuko. Wait... she shouldn't be happy. Damn it, her hanging around with the other Children must have caused a change in her neurochemistry that's overpowering her tranquilizers. I'll have to fix that.'
She pulled herself back to the keyboard, pulling up Rei's last drug test results. All perfectly normal, just like the last one, but apparently no longer adequate. Definitely need to increase the dosage.
'I don't want to have to factor that into the healing process or the brain scans. I'll leave that until they're done. But I definitely need to up her dose. Can't have Rei waking up one day and deciding she wants to start doing her own thinking. Little dolls don't need to think.'
She carefully didn't think about little dolls taking a certain Commander's attention away from her. That had nothing to do with it at all. She was no petty, insecure woman scrabbling for any advantage to get ahead, no.
Ritsuko entered a note into the system to remind her about the dosage change at the end of the scan and upload. She didn't want to forget about it.
.
XXX
.
Friday
.
The stupid doll was smiling at him again. Gendo smiled back at her, which was even more irritating to Ritsuko.
"I want the upload implanted in the Dummy Plugs as soon as it's completed, Doctor Akagi."
Ritsuko could not entirely suppress the shiver of fear that ran through her. 'Gendo, those things are dangerous and the last Angel tore them apart.' "Are you sure, sir? The Committee ordered-"
Commander Ikari cut her off. "The Committee ordered us 'not to field them while you have Children available with superior performance'. That may not always be the case, and it is our duty to be prepared for the day that is so."
'The last time 'that was the case' was because you caused it. And you don't listen when I tell you the Evangelions are too dangerous to be allowed outside of human control! We shouldn't use the Dummy Plugs. I keep telling you there's too high a chance they could go berserker or worse, but you don't listen to me! You weren't there, watching Unit-02 come out of that Dirac Sea, covered in blood and screaming like a demon! Or Unit-01 answering! That's your precious Yui there, Gendo, howling blood and madness like something from the depths of Hell! Is that what you want back?'
Gendo noticed her hesitation. "Is that a problem, Doctor Akagi?"
She bit the inside of her cheek. "No, sir. They'll be ready. We'll have the scan and upload completed by Sunday. I'll have it coded and installed Monday."
He nodded, a hair-thin smile on his lips. "Very good, Doctor." His expression shifted minutely. "Would you like to discuss the operation upstairs with me?"
She knew the question meant more than seeing if she wanted to have a mere technical discussion. It was how he arranged their trysts from his side. She fought with herself. 'You've still got cast on one arm, bandages on your head, and feel like you could sleep for a week. ...and you still want it. Damn it. Damn you too, Gendo, for making me want it. Just do it, Ritsuko. You know you want to.'
"Of course, Commander." She stood up, and put the scanners on automatic again. She wouldn't be back soon. She fell in right behind him as he started to walk out. She cast one last look over her shoulder at the First Child. Unsurprisingly, she was no longer smiling. But... she was meeting Ritsuko's eyes with... empathy? What? That couldn't be it.
Ritsuko shook it off and obediently followed Commander Ikari out of the lab.
.
XXX
.
Saturday
.
"I hate this."
Shinji looked down at his girlfriend's face, her head pillowed in his lap. "Hmm? Usually you really like this." His hands kept stroking through her hair.
She reached up to tweak his nose. "Baka. I mean the waiting for Misato to figure out she should let us sleep together. Last night sucked enough. I think the only reason I didn't have nightmares is I barely slept anyhow. And I'd bet it was the same for you. Also, don't stop stroking."
Shinji frowned. His hands kept stroking, though. "It's... I think it's not just the fact we were, or even the...um... more than literally sleeping together parts, but the fact we... lied to her about it for months. You know I never liked that."
Asuka frowned too. "I know. And it wasn't lying, it was just... not mentioning it bec-...fine, alright, I know what lying by omission is," she conceded as she saw his frown deepening. "I just... I knew she'd react like this. Treating us like we're kids who can't be allowed to do 'adult' things like this, and then shove us back into the Entry Plug the next day. "
"She hardly has to push hard. We went willingly last time," Shinji pointed out. "Against my bastard father firing us, even."
"You know what I mean. Making us shoulder responsibility for defending all of humanity from Angels, but treating us like kids when she finds out we're acting like we're mature."
"We are still just teenagers, Asuka. Your 15th birthday is still a few weeks away, even."
"Why are you trying to defend her side here?" Asuka asked, a little annoyed.
Shinji was quiet a minute. "Because Misato took me in when she didn't have to. She was the first person to be kind to me here. She's the closest thing to a mother either of us have had for years. I hated lying to her. And... I don't want her to be an enemy. I...I can see her capitulating, letting us sleep together... but not because she thinks we've earned or we can handle it, but because she decided she can't stop us from doing it anyway, since we've been doing it behind her back for months already." Shinji hung his head, shaking it slowly. "I don't want her to...give us what we want but give up on trusting us as a price."
Asuka closed her eyes, letting her annoyance dissipate. "Arrgh. Fine, you're right. I'm just... I know how bad it will be for both of us if she makes us stop. As strong as we are together... We saved the world! ...I'm...afraid of what it'll be like if she takes that away from us." Her hand rose from laying on her stomach to desperately seek his free one, gripping tight.
Shinji gripped back just as firmly. "I... we won't let that happen. It... if we have to go back to... sleeping in separate rooms, we will, but... that's all. Nothing else will change. She can't take us away from us," he said quietly. "I... I want to sleep next you every night, Asuka. But... if this convinces Misato-san we're mature enough to handle it, it's worth it. And... I don't have to be right next to you to be with you always. You said it; we're together. Even sleeping apart won't stop that."
Asuka snorted. "Baka," she said softly, but seemed calmed by his words. She rolled onto her feet, rising from the couch and his lap. "We may even behave of our own accord and sleep apart until she realizes we've earned the right to sleep in the same bed, but that doesn't mean we have to spend even a minute apart during the day we don't have to. Come on, you're taking me out on another morale-raising date. I want to swan around downtown with my boyfriend on my arm again. And I'm going to rub it right in the faces of that pack of harpies at school on Monday that you're all mine. Especially that bitch Tanaka."
Shinji took her hand and stood up too. "Maybe that will finally get them to stop chasing me like I'm a prize to be won." He cocked his head. "How come I'm the one with the pack after them? You were ten times as popular as I was, a week after you arrived, miss incredibly-hot-exotic-foreign-transfer-student. I know Touji and Kensuke were making crazy amounts of cash selling beauty shots of you almost right away. Why haven't I had to chase away a pack of boys drooling after you?"
"Because I already had them properly terrified and respectful after I mashed the first two flat when they tried to ask me out the week I got here and refused to take 'no' for an answer," she said, grinning like a wolf. "Putting a couple of them on the ground with a few punches when they got rough taught the others to keep off. You're just too polite and sweet to girls to scare them off, my darling baka. Now let's go out and... How long have you been standing there, Misato?"
Shinji blinked and turned around. Their guardian stood in the doorway to the kitchen/dining area, arms folded as she leaned against one side. "Long enough. You two are adorable," she said drily. "And it's heartening to hear you deciding to behave."
"We're responsible and mature, you heard it, Misato," Asuka said flatly. "And now my darling baka is going to take me around town and treat me to lunch, the works. If you know about us, there's no reason he and I can't go out on dates all the damn time now." Asuka chewed her lip for a moment. "Have you decided anything?" she asked in a little more subdued tone.
Misato shook her head. "Not yet. I want to talk this over with Kaji first, since you said he knows about you two already. I want to hear how and why he found out, and why he didn't tell me right after. But we haven't been able to meet up yet. Too busy, today. We're meeting for lunch tomorrow."
"He was waiting here when we came in, and overheard us talking about things that made it clear what we were up to," Asuka admitted. "And he didn't tell you because this was literally 15 minutes before Zeruel arrived and interrupted things. Afterwards, I convinced him to give us a week to tell you ourselves. Hence, last night."
Misato opened her mouth to probably make a remark about the other things Asuka had orchestrated over the last week, but was interrupted by Asuka's next question.
"So you haven't talked to him about... our mothers, either, have you?"
Misato looked grimmer at the reminder of the other revelation from last night. "No. Believe me, that's going to be a big one. NERV's got some dark things going on we don't know about."
"And I bet my father is neck deep in it," Shinji almost growled.
Misato blinked at him in surprise. That level of anger coming from Shinji was very unusual, and directed at his father no less. "He's the Supreme Commander of NERV. He has to know everything, yes. I'm... sorry, Shinji."
"Just...be careful, Misato-san. After all we've already seen from my father, I wouldn't be surprised if there's even more horrible things he's hiding from m-...us," Shinji replied. His tensed shoulders relaxed a bit when Asuka took his hand.
"We'll be out for a while, Misato," Asuka told her, heading off anything else that would feed Shinji's anger. "We'll probably have dinner out. Baka owes me a night on the town. So you're on your own for dinner."
"But it's Shin-chan's night to cook!" Misato protested. "That's way better than even my best curry!"
"The last time you fed 'your best curry' to Pen Pen, he spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling and barking." Asuka's face held no mercy. "You've cut off my supply of Shinji-cuddles at night. Until you see reason and let us sleep in one bed again, you can suffer deprivation too."
Misato shot a pitiful look at Shinji. "Are you going to make me suffer like that, Shinji?"
"Sorry, Misato-san. She's my girlfriend, not you. And I miss the cuddling too."
"Fine," Misato huffed, mock-dramatically. "Stay in touch on your phones, be back before 2100, and no funny business just because you're out of my sight. I'll suffer through on take-out."
"Good!" Asuka declared, pulling Shinji along towards the door by his hand. "This is a proper date, dear baka, so you're paying for everything. Spend some of that munificent Pilot's pay for once."
"...We get paid?"