+++++ 4th Angel + 6 : Wednesday (27)

"Hey hey!" Yang danced over when she caught sight of Shinji sitting in his classroom-assigned seat, "Where've you been stranger? I was starting to worry that you graduated early and left us mere mortals behind!" Hugging his head close, she whispered, "You worried me, Shinji. Please, please, exchange numbers with me and call me when this stuff happens, ok?" Slipping back, she turned to Hikari and raised her voice to a normal timbre, "We supported the Class Rep as best we could, though. She was solid as a rock the entire time, even with you in the hospital."

"Yang-chan," Seika bumped her out of the way, moving to stand before Shinji, "you're blocking traffic. You, sir, need to be more careful." Wagging her finger at him, she scowled at him in wounded despair, "You can't go around being a hero all the time. You nearly died! What would have happened to everyone if the train hit you?"

Natsuko hugged him from the side, burying his arm between her more prominent assets, "It's not his fault, Seika-chan, Shinji-kun's just a bona fide wonderful person. He saw someone in danger and he acted, it'd be like asking a fish not to swim," her voice became darkly teasing, "or you not to eat all that chocolate."

"Shinji-san," Tsuru stood next to Seika, "how are you feeling? Hikari-san told us that you were unconscious for quite some time, my grandfather said that it can cause serious complications. Are you well enough to be in class?" Without jockeying for position, she managed to fill his vision, her eyes expressing without words the full range of her feelings.

"I-I'm fine," attempting to recover his arm from the, in his mind if in nobody else's, wildly inappropriate location it was in, he looked to see Hikari giving the trio a flat glare, "if Hikari-san wasn't there, Kodama-san was. At least, that's what Noelle-san told me." The shift in his girlfriend's demeanor was subtle; while the glare continued, it was more triumphant than anything else at the moment.

Four voices chorused simultaneously, "Who's Noelle-san?" His 'helpers' all looked at each other with varying measures of frustration, then turned back to regard him. Seika seemed darkly curious and annoyed, Natsuko's stance conveyed irritation that another woman had been around him where she might have been, Tsuru was confused by the foreign-sounding name as well as the way Shinji looked when he said it, and Yang was visibly hurt that someone else had been by his side but she wasn't even consulted.

"She's our friend," Hikari calmly explained. "Captain Minders was one of the two pilots that flew Shinji back to NERV for treatment, she's become close to the two of us."

Shinji nodded, then looked back to Hikari and tilted his head towards the pocket holding his phone, "She wanted me to keep my evening free, tonight. After training, we'll be having that meeting with all of the pilots. It was in that text message I was just talking about."

"I can't, tonight," Hikari mouthed 'Later' where nobody could see. "So you go, I'm sure you'll behave. I trust you to be responsible, even if Shinsuke-san and Noelle-san try to encourage you not to be."

"Always." He caught a mop of blue behind the group of young women that had him penned, "Rei-san," pulling his arm slightly more forcefully, he stepped to the side so he could see her, "you're out of your bandages! That's great!" With his attention on his coworker, he failed to notice the four increasingly dour looks of jealousy being directed at the albino pilot.

"Doctor Akagi approved my return to normal duty status," she looked at the 'helpers', then to Hikari, then back to Shinji. Turning to face the Class Representative, she tilted her head, "You should not permit our fellow students to encircle Shinji-san. Your claim to him is primary, and their behavior is disruptive to established social norms. As your peer, I must request you make clear your place as his paramour."

Hikari blinked, stunned. She…she's not trying to…. "Well, I agree that it isn't socially acceptable for them to flirt with him in the classroom, but I have to set an example which means I can't either. It's also rude of them to flirt with my boyfriend, and while I'd like them to stop I have to let Shinji show that he has his boundaries well in hand. I also don't want to be too overbearing during non-class hours. It's not conducive to people relaxing, which makes learning difficult when they have to be on their best behavior." She smiled slightly at Shinji, "Besides, I trust my boyfriend not to be lured in by anyone that happens to walk past." I haven't forgotten, little girl, but I am willing to listen.

Flushing with gratitude and joy at being trusted, Shinji shrugged, "I…I don't know that they're flirting, Rei-san. They're just worried that I missed so much class. It's nice to have friends that miss me when I'm gone." I'm taken. If they are flirting, I need to be clear with them. "Like Hikari and I miss you when you're not in class," he looked to his girlfriend, hoping that she'd pick up on the signal and continue encouraging the reclusive bluenette.

Ignoring the pack surrounding Shinji, Rei closed in on him, forcing Seika to move aside as she paused to consider him for a moment. "I decided on sandalwood today. Your thoughts?" The question was delivered in the same emotionally dead monotone as every other statement, giving no clues as to its origin or intended destination.

Shinji frowned, confused for a second, then remembered the conversation at the mall, "Oh!" Leaning down slightly, he caught her scent and considered it. "I…don't believe so, Rei-san. At least, not in my opinion. If you like it though, then it's your body, and nobody else should ever tell you otherwise."

Nodding once, she turned to consider Hikari again. After a second, she stepped over to the freckle-faced beauty, "Representative Horaki, I would appreciate your opinion as well. As someone that Shinji-san trusts, I believe the additional data point would be valid as a basis of comparison."

Hikari looked to Shinji, then back to Rei, puzzling through what little information she'd been able to gather. Leaning in slightly, as Shinji had, she caught the scent of sandalwood and everything clicked into place. She's trying to learn better grooming habits! "I agree with my boyfriend, Ayanami-san. Something softer, perhaps. Maybe vanilla, or even coconut." She's never seemed particularly concerned with being well-kempt, and now that I look at her…this is interesting.

"Thank you," Rei frowned slightly, nodding to something unspoken. "May I request a moment of your time in private, Representative Horaki? I would appreciate an opinion on a separate matter, and would prefer to not contaminate other possible sources of similar opinions by your response."

Hikari looked up at the clock, "Sure. We have a few minutes." Maybe she's really not after Shinji, she's just trying to be a part of his life. I may have just been seeing things where they weren't.

Shinji smiled, a secret joy at seeing his fellow Child reaching out to his girlfriend. If anyone could be a patient, giving, friend it was Hikari. "Yang-san," Shinji looked over to the one 'helper' he felt he could trust, "I hate to ask, but do you happen to have any extras today? For some reason, I'm still very hungry, even though I ate a good breakfast."

The cloud that had been building over her vanished as she beamed a grin at him, "Absolutely!" Yang swung her bag out, bumping Natsuko away from his desk, and settled it down before him, "You know, Ma says that you need to come visit. She wants Ba to take a look at you, make sure you're ok." Rifling through her bag, she pulled out one of the packages, "Just one? More?"

"Just one for now," Shinji took it carefully. "I don't want to have an upset stomach in class."

"When did you meet Yang-chan's mother?" Seika toyed with her hair, a calculating gaze in her eyes, "I didn't know you two were close."

"He visited my restaurant," Yang smiled, rubbing her status as preferred 'helper' in. "Got a good meal in him, spent an hour or two talking with me and my mom, it's when I gave him that charm. Oh," her eyes flicked back to Shinji, "can I borrow your phone?"

His mouth full, Shinji quietly handed the device over. She was right, in that as a friend of his it was wrong of him to not let her know that he had recovered. Swallowing his bite, he spoke softly, "I am sorry for worrying you, Yang-san. You're my friend, and I should have at least sent word that I was ok. I'll see what I can do about making another trip to the Blue Crane, once things are a little calmer at home."

"Troubles on the home front?" Natsuko bounced from side to side, her jiggle becoming increasingly intentional, "Did they move you again? After you left that supermodel's apartment, I thought they'd put you somewhere more stable."

"I…." Forgot that nobody knows I live with my girlfriend but Yang.

"There we go," Yang shoved the phone before his face, cutting off the conversation before it had a chance to start, and showed him her entry under 'My China Girl '. "I took your number down, that way if I get a call from you I'll know who it is." She pushed his hand back up to force the meat bun into his mouth, "I promise I won't call unless it's seriously important. If I need to get in touch, I'll send a text."

"Still hungry?" Hikari's voice preceded her through the door, "I told you we didn't need to rush, you could have stayed at the table for another bowl." Nodding to Rei as the bluenette moved to her desk, she smiled in exasperation, "You work out for three hours in the morning, Shinji, you need to eat more. I know it's new, but if you don't eat, you don't perform well."

"Wise words," Yang nodded exaggeratedly. "Almost as if there are a whole bunch of people saying the same thing, you silly man." She grinned at the premier woman in Shinji's life, "You and I, Hikari-chan, we need to keep our eyes on him. He'll let himself waste away to nothing if we let him!"

+++++ 4th Angel + 6 : Wednesday (27)

Lunch arrived far later than Shinji had hoped, his hunger growing stronger during each class. As he went to leave the classroom for his typical spot, if it was open, he heard the next in an expected line of distractions.

"Shinji-kun!" Shinobu's voice carried over the crowd, causing him to turn and wait. When she reached him, she latched her arms around him squeezing tight, "Oh I was so worried! Poor Hikari-chan was all alone, and she was so sad. Are you ok? Did you make it through the morning classes well enough? Do you need to lie down? We can-"

"Shinobu," Hikari cut in on the young inn-resident's worried diatribe calmly, "he's fine. He heals quickly, he even fought an Angel again, remember?" Taking the arm that wasn't connected to her boyfriend, she guided her forward which brought Shinji along in turn. "Why don't you join us for lunch, you can hear his stomach eating itself from here."

"I didn't think I'd be this hungry," Shinji blushed. "I'm not normally, but I feel like I haven't eaten anything today." Reaching the old oak tree, Shinji cleared a spot for the two ladies before seating himself. The weather outside was cooler than usual, a slight breeze improving the area. He could see a number of groups eyeing him cautiously, concern obvious in their demeanor. Acting on an impulse, he waved collegially, receiving many relieved waves in return. Simple acts, he thought, I was a fool before.

"Does your new guardian not give you enough to eat?" Shinobu continued her parade of concerns, "I thought you were being paid, are you not taking proper care of yourself, Shinji-kun?"

"Shinobu," Hikari laid her hand on the young woman's knee. "Calm. Down." She smiled reassuringly, "He's not leaving, he's not wasting away. He's learning about his new body, and he's learning how much of a cost working out accrues." Motioning for Shinji to begin to eat, she pressed on, "Why don't you tell us about your date with your boyfriend? It was a day or so before the Angel attacked, wasn't it?"

"Ex-boyfriend, thank you," the shift in her demeanor was sudden. "He got drunk three nights ago, one of the other women in the inn was celebrating a big break and dragged him out to a bar." She snapped her chopsticks apart viciously, "Then he comes back the next day, having been out all night without calling, and he has lipstick all over his collar!" Stabbing her lunch, she scowled down at her lap, "He says nothing happened, but can't explain the evidence on his shirt. I was a fool to think he'd change, still the same idiot that can't say no to anyone." Raising her eyes to Shinji, she let her voice soften, "I need to find someone like you, Shinji-kun. Someone that has honor, and will treat me with respect."

"I'm sorry that happened," Shinji frowned with genuine remorse. "From what Hikari told me you were pursuing him for some time. Even if nothing did happen, he let himself enter a situation that…." What can I do to help, Ritsuko? "That…." His face fell, the hypocrisy becoming clear to him. Is that what she wanted? Is she actually…with me?!

"Shinji-kun?" The bluenette looked to Hikari, noting the irritation on her other friend's face, "Hikari-chan?"

"I've asked that you just use my name, Shinobu," Hikari's voice was placid, even if her features remained displeased. "We're friends, and you've asked us for advice far too much to worry about formalities." Giving a brief smile to the young woman, she opened her own lunch, "Shinji has had a number of people act in unexpected ways around him lately. It's been very challenging for him, and despite my reassuring him that I trust him implicitly, he blames himself for things that aren't his fault." She motioned for Shinobu to eat, "Much the opposite of what you think, Shinji treats me with far too much respect. He acts as if he is in total control of every situation he enters, all with the best of intentions. When other people act in ways he can't control, he assumes blame for their actions without considering that he bears no responsibility. It might just be that your ex-boyfriend did nothing but try to act like a good friend, a good manager."

"But the lipstick," Shinobu shook her head, "it was all over his collar. He smelled of perfume and…."

"I'm not saying I'm right, Shinobu," the freckle-faced beauty reached over to squeeze Shinji's knee, "I'm saying that there is a balance to be struck between demanding your partner avoid all women, and letting them do whatever they want without consideration of your feelings." She could feel Shinji watching her, "Where your Keitaro-san didn't seem to take you into consideration, Shinji too often focuses everything around me. I'm happy that he's friends with you, I even think I'm beginning to understand Rei-san. Misato-san? The woman he used to live with, she's actually someone I'd trust with him whole heartedly. It might be instead of focusing on finding a partner that wears blinders, you need a partner that understands limitations and can set them firmly with other men or women."

"Balance," Shinji recalled his lessons from earlier in the day, "yes. If you pay too much attention to your front foot, your back foot becomes the weak point. I need to…I'm a very lucky man, Shinobu." He relaxed visibly, "I have a girlfriend that lets me explain myself, she trusts me to be honest and when I give her what I see as the truth, she guides me through that truth to the real truth hidden behind my own…silliness."

Shinobu's eyes became sullen, "So…was I too harsh with Keitaro?"

"Can I ask you something," Shinji set his now empty lunch box aside, "and ask that you give me a truthful answer? Nobody will be upset with you for the truth, here. Hikari is far more patient and understanding than I could ever hope to be, and I know that I'll be patient with you no matter what."

"O…k," she nodded, "ok. If it will help me, I'll answer."

"If I weren't dating Hikari, and I asked you to go see a movie with me…say, 'Falling Blossoms', even though you were dating Keitaro-san. Would you consider it?" He tilted his head, "If you don't want to answer, that's fine. But if you do answer, be honest."

"Why would you be asking?" She hesitated, "Would you be asking because you…it's a romance movie, of course it would be a date." She frowned, looking inward. "I…I might. It depends. When I get angry at him, when I think about how he's just waiting until one of the others…." She blew her lips out, "I see."

"You want it to be love," Hikari asserted quietly. "But you aren't willing to trust him. Without trust, can it really be love?"

"Locker room naked," Shinji half-quoted. "Kodama's right, as horrible as the image is. I trust you, Hikari."

"I'm going to slap her," his girlfriend growled. "She had no reason to put that horrid image in your mind, Shinji. There were other ways to prove that point, and I am never going to do anything that terrible to you." Spearing her sweet bun, she grumbled, "I think my sister just has a twisted fetish she's not willing to admit to."

"Auuuu," Shinobu bounced, "why can't I have a boyfriend that's like you, Shinji?" She pouted, "I know what you're saying, and…I know you're right. But…let me turn the question around! If you weren't dating Hikari, and I asked you to go see a movie, would you go?"

"I don't know," Shinji answered honestly. "Hikari…she saved me, Shinobu. Where I thought of myself as a burden, she's held me up as a boon. Every time I make some stupid decision, she's right there to bring me back to center. I honestly don't know what you would see in me, and I can't say that what you think is in here actually exists." He looked towards the school, to all of the memories of the past, "If it wasn't for her, I'd be drifting through life. I'd hang around people who'd use me for my status, people that didn't want to get to know who I actually was. I'd end up…living with her." The thought of Asuka confused him. How much of what she did was because she couldn't trust anyone? The call from her step-mother, how alive she sounded only to turn around and have it all be a lie. Her voice terrorized his life, but was she to blame for his weakness? Recalling himself, he turned back to the bluenette, "You are a beautiful, talented, generous woman, Shinobu. But the man that you think I am only exists because of the woman I love. Without her," I was to help you die, "I might have just gone insane and died. Considering what my job is, I might have taken everyone with me to oblivion."

+++++ 4th Angel + 6 : Wednesday (27)

"Shinji!" Maya greeted him with a huge hug, "I'm so sorry that I haven't called, I've been setting up the new department, going through meetings after meetings after meetings," she clasped her hands around his, holding them under her chin and frowning cutely, "you forgive me, right?"

"O-of course," he blinked. Am I supposed to call them? Is…should I call Misato more often? "What, uhm…what are we doing today?" He looked around the NERV office where he had been asked to present himself, "I thought we were doing more sync tests." The next Angel is coming soon, if we're not doing tests, we should be practicing.

"Not until we decouple them from the Science Division," Misato's voice came from the other side of the room, behind a huge stack of paperwork. "Because oh boy, is there a hilarious amount of tree murder happening right now just trying to switch over the responsibility for funding to the new department. Come here," he saw a hand pop out from the side of Mount Deadtree, waving him over, "I want to show you something."

Maya took his arm, walking him over with a broad grin, "You're going to love it, Shinji. You've impressed the Sub-Commander so much that he's rewarding you and rewarding your housemate." Her grasp on his arm was friendly. Affectionate, but not in the manner that Ritsuko's had been. The contrast between the two was adding more fuel to his worry that he might actually need to be seriously concerned about the bottle-blonde's motivations.

"Sign here," Misato handed him a pen, tapping a paper with a ludicrous amount of fine print. After he placed his mark, she tapped another section, "Initial." He followed instructions, "Initial, sign. Sign. Date. Initial. Sign. Kiss."

He paused, blinking, then shrugged and bent down to kiss his former guardian on the temple.

"Aww," Maya exclaimed happily, "he fell for it!"

Misato's smile was content, "You didn't have to do that last one. But…thanks, it's nice to feel appreciated."

"I…uhm, Hikari and Kodama say I should try to step out of my comfort zone with people I enjoy being around." He looked down to Maya, then to Misato, "The two of you are…kind of like big sisters to me. You stand up for me, and you try to stop me from doing anything outrageously stupid."

Misato's exuberant hug blocked Shinji from seeing Maya wince at the term 'sister' being applied to her. "I'm going to be the best big sister I can, Shinji," the violet-haired bombshell squeezed him tightly. "Thank you," she murmured with her head against his chest, "for forgiving me, for giving me a second chance to get to know you." Stepping back, she tapped the paper. Noticing that Maya had a contemplative look on her face she filed that away for later, "You have just formalized your position in NERV."

"I…what?" Shinji blinked, "Was I not formally a pilot?" I don't remember needing to sign anything other than the security clearance forms. Even those were no more than sign and date. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

"You, Shinji Ikari, are now officially Lead Pilot of the Eva Corps." Misato took his dumbfounded expression as surprise and not the sudden impending doom he was feeling, "Which means that you have an official support team, all of whom report to Maya as your supervisor, and through her the Sub-Commander."

"I'm…Lead?!" Shinji looked down at the paper, "B-but why? I barely have any experience…."

"Two dead Angels worth of experience more than any other pilot we have," Maya re-entered the conversation. "Shinji, you have the most combat experience in this field of anyone else on Earth. All of the simulations in the world won't ready Ayanami-chan for actual combat, and she'll need to look to you for advice. She'll need to trust that she can come to you with questions about how to handle herself, and you need the official standing to step in if she needs that advice in the field."

"Maya and I talked about this for quite some time," Misato took his hands and held them gently. "We approached the Sub-Commander, and he approved of the idea quickly. He's eager to see you continue to grow, to have you take on more challenges, more responsibilities, so that you aren't just 'that guy who pilots robots'. So when all of this is over, you have something to stake yourself to and take pride in beyond…you know, the whole saving the world thing." Watching him slowly begin to adjust to the idea, she pressed the advantage, "I need you to follow orders, but I also need you to feel empowered to make tactical decisions based on what you see in the field, Shinji. These first two encounters, your instincts have been rock solid, and giving you the rights and responsibilities of a formal position will help your fellow pilots accept your experience as valid."

"Well…ok," he nodded slowly, "if, uhm…if you think this is the best idea." Shaking his ponytail back behind his shoulder, he looked between the two women, "I'll do my best. I'm curious, though, what does this have to do with the people I live with?"

"Oh!" Maya clapped, happy to have a chance to draw his attention back to her, "Kodama-san is going to be graduating early, with the expectation that she works with the Corpsmen here in NERV. They'll handle the last of her residency, then begin training her in their methods and tools. And, she'll be assigned with a rotating sponsor from their unit to overseeing your health and safety." She rubbed her fingers together, imitating money, "Her student debt will be paid off entirely so long as she stays employed in this position for the time that you're a pilot with us. Imagine how nice that's going to be for her, to not have to worry about employment, debt, and then there's the benefit of having the bullet point on her C.V. that she worked with not only an elite medical unit in NERV but held the responsibility of your health and safety. It's a huge opportunity for her, the Sub-Commander has a meeting with her tomorrow to go over it."

"You'll also be assigned a pair of folks from the pilot's corps," Misato picked up the thread, "they'll be the only ones authorized to take you and the other pilots anywhere that you might need to travel. Noelle Minders is currently alone in accepting the position," she rolled her eyes, "she's canvassing the other pilots to see who else will take the responsibility seriously." Tapping Shinjis elbow, she wagged her finger at him, "Do not allow Shinsuke Moritama to talk you into him being the other pilot. He is a horrid influence, and I do not want you picking up his cowboy habits."

"We should hurry," Maya looked behind her at the clock. "Noelle-san did say that she wanted to introduce him to the rest of the pilots tonight, and he has school in the morning. The tests we have planned for today, Shinji, are all reaction-based drills. We're not going to tell you the situation in advance, we want you to react using what you've practiced in a simulated environment, ok?" She took his arm again, "We'll walk to the lockers while Misato gets the bridge crew ready."

"Right," Shinji nodded. Setting his pace to match the much shorter woman's, he held the door open for her with his free hand, "When will Rei-san be joining me for practice?" Closing the door quietly behind him, he kept his eyes moving around the hallway, the morning sessions with Suzuki and Gen teaching him the value of being aware of his surroundings. "If we're going to work as a team, we really should practice as a team, shouldn't we?"

"She is testing under Akagi-san," Maya stated blandly. "We've asked her to let us hold joint practices, we were hoping to start today actually, but she insists that it wouldn't be in Ayanami-chan's best interest to have her first complete day back in 'that environment'," she air quoted. "We've asked the Sub-Commander to review the situation, but I wouldn't expect her to be practicing with you today. Even tomorrow would likely be too soon."

Shinji frowned, "A lead pilot with no…what do I call them?"

"Wingmen," Raffle added as she jumped up onto his back. "The people you fly with are called 'wingmen', doesn't matter who's lead or who's wing, we're all wingmen to each other." The pilot had snuck up behind him as she exited an elevator they had passed, taking the opportunity to gauge how her newest friend was feeling.

Instinctively grasping her legs with his free arm to stop her from falling, Shinji looked over his shoulder at the blonde's lupine grin, "So I have two wingmen," nodding he turned back to Maya, "and neither of them will be practicing with me. That doesn't make me a very good lead pilot, wouldn't you say?"

"Two?" Noelle hopped off, happy that he hadn't shoved her away or hunched away from her, "I only know about Little Girl Blue. We get another robo-jockey in?"

"No, only Ayanami-san," Maya tilted her head in confusion. "Who are you talking about, Shinji?"

Me and my idiot mouth. Have I been told about her? Do they know I know? "W-well," he rolled his hand, "I'm…uhm, I'm the 'Third Child', and Ayanami-san is the 'First Child'. Doesn't that mean that there's at least a 'Second Child', somewhere out there?" Good job, Shinji. You don't seem like you're making this up at all. Idiot.

"Oh, well yes," Maya laughed at herself. "You would put that together pretty easily, wouldn't you? There is another pilot at a NERV facility in Berlin. She's the pilot of Unit-02, and once they finish the shakedown of that Eva, they'll be transferring it and her to us here. You'd have to talk to Misato, though, because I haven't been involved in that at all. She could show up tomorrow, or next month, or next year for all I know."

"Two ladies, to one man?" Raffle slugged him in the elbow, "You get to be the odd duck. Another thing you and I have in common to grouse over." Tossing her thumb behind her, she rolled her eyes, "There's only one other lady driver here, and she's the bird that flies the Commander everywhere. Not exactly a bastion of combat experience, let me tell you." Leaning forward to look around him at Maya, she grinned, "So, did our boy here tell you what we call him?"

"No," Maya looked up at the man between them, "are they teasing you, Shinji?"

"N-no," he came to a stop at the locker room. "It's…I think it's kind of the opposite."

"You're darn tootin' it is," Noelle smirked. "If it's any kind of teasing, it's the friendly type. Now go get your zoombag on Paladin, I want to hit the O-Club while the night's young."

"Yes, ma'am," Shinji bowed politely, walking into the room to begin the process of changing into his work clothes.

"Paladin?" Maya pursed her lips, "It fits." With a smile she pulled out her phone, typing a text to remind herself to find something thematically appropriate as a gift for his birthday. Or whenever. I have to show him I'm able to be more than just a sister. Can't let myself be pigeon-holed before I've even had a chance to talk to the two of them.

+++++ 4th Angel + 6 : Wednesday (27)

Ripping his progressive knife out of the simulacrum, Shinji kicked the false Angel away and pulled up his sidearm. The two closest approaching targets received four bullets each, forcing him to stop to reload. That action provided enough time for the three next Angels to make their approach and fall atop him, burying him under quivering mock-ups.

"Not bad," Misato applauded. "I wouldn't leave you out alone in this situation in reality, but you took down seventeen before you were overwhelmed. Had your pallet rifle not jammed, you might have been able to keep the string going." Pressing a few keystrokes to end the simulation, she gestured to Makoto, "Go ahead and pull them off him. What do you think, Paladin? I think this is a good place to end for today, gives you a lot to contemplate, come up with some ideas for how to handle a crush of numbers."

"Ma'am," the lead engineer's voice was respectfully low, "would you please have someone teach your pilot how to properly swing the rifle as a hand-to-hand weapon? Repairing the rifles eats into our budget for overall repairs, and you have to admit that it would improve his combat ability as well. Everyone in my old unit was taught, and I'm sure you have people on your team that could handle it."

"The baseball swing was effective," Misato stated with a smirk, "but I agree. Paladin, you and I are going to spend some time soon teaching you basic rifleman tactics. Sound good?"

"Yes, ma'am," the Third Child was engaged with helping the false Angels move into positions so that the Engineering teams could transport them back to where they needed to go. "Please tell Sugihashi-san that I am sorry for causing his team extra work, and that I will try to be more cautious in the future."

The engineer smiled appreciatively, "You have a good subordinate, Captain. My team deeply appreciates his hard work and strong sense of responsibility." Bowing in farewell, the man left to go begin triaging repairs and other necessary work that followed any Eva activation or exercise.

"Once you're done, Paladin, bring her in. Wash up and meet me in my office, we'll debrief and then I'll let you get going." Eyeing her ward's 'date' for the evening, she frowned slightly, "Bridge out." Flipping the switch on her console to allow everyone to control their own microphone connections to Unit-01, she walked over and leaned in to speak with the energetic pilot, "Minders-san, do you have a moment?"

"Sure," the woman had changed into a tight pair of jeans and form-fitting t-shirt, "let's head to your space. I'll wait outside while you tell him to be careful tonight, and then when he comes out I'll remind him that he's supposed to keep his guard up even while he's reloading. Leaves himself open sometimes, tunnel vision. Never a good thing for a pilot to develop."

Misato nodded, agreeing with her assessment. Once the pair were in the hallway, which was as private as any place they would find in NERV, she addressed her main concern, "What is your intent with my ward?" She tried to keep the question free of baggage, having already had her nose smacked with a rolled-up paper for assuming anything once, and not feeling terribly keen on repeating the experience.

Raffle rolled her eyes, "Oh I plan on taking him to the Officer's Club, getting him nice and soused, then ravaging his young nubile body until he can't see straight." Raising her eyebrow, she gave her fellow Captain a sidelong look, "I told you, Katsuragi, I want him to meet the other pilots. He needs to loosen up, if he's going to live long enough to enjoy his pending marriage to Hikari. You tell me you don't see the darkness whirling around in him, and I'll tell you to find an optometrist."

Taking a final gauge of the woman, Misato sighed and nodded, "Ok. Just remember he has school in the morning, and don't let any of those assholes push him into anything he's not ready to do." Stopping outside of her office, she shook her head slightly and grimaced, "I'm not his mother, I'm barely his guardian, but I can't stop from worrying that I'm not doing enough to make sure he's taken care of. You're getting a pass tonight because Hikari responded to my text to her that she knew you were taking him out. Don't abuse my trust, and I won't have Unit-00 abuse your motorcycle, clear?"

"Don't fret," the blonde pilot let her wolfish smile free, "he'll be fine. I doubt he'll drink more than one glass, doesn't seem the type, and he definitely won't do anything that would endanger his relationship. A Paladin is nothing without his Light, and he knows that through and through." Her grin faded, "You sure you want to take him to the 'Over the Rainbow' with you? Leaving the city with only Bluebell to take care of it doesn't seem strategically sound."

"It isn't my call," Misato shrugged. "The Sub-Commander insists he goes, which means you go. Unless you want to trust the other pilot you choose?"

Raffle rolled her eyes, "Bah, Pally'll be my co-pilot. Teaching him how to handle an Osprey will give me something to do on the flight. I'm not upset I have to go, Katsuragi, I'm worried that he'll spend the whole trip worrying about the city and his lady love instead of being excited to get out of the city. Even if it is to meet his new wingman. Speaking of," she frowned, "did anyone spill the beans? He asked after her obliquely today, said he had two wingmen and neither was in his sandbox to play with him."

"He hasn't said anything to me," the Tactical Commander shook her head slowly. "He probably just put two and two together, with him being the Third, and Ayanami-chan being the First. He's not stupid, even if he does dumb things from time to time."

Noelle smirked, grim amusement evident in her eyes, "Yeah, well, you already know we need to be cautious. Soryu's a sack of wet cats on her best days, and she doesn't like me much after I popped her current guardian in the craw for getting handsy with me. I'll leave the intros to you, when we go." An idea popped into her mind, "Hey, why don't we take Hikari with us? Give you and her some facetime, let Shinji show her him acting all professional and suave."

"Hmm…I like it," Misato nodded approvingly. "It'll be a family trip. Good thinking, Minders-san." He won't be as worked up with her where he can see her, the girl calms him in ways I wish someone did for me. Make him meeting Asuka easier too, introducing her to her new Class Rep…maybe they could become good friends. Someone needs to befriend her, and Hikari's got ten times the patience of anyone I know. Except maybe Shinji. She looked down the hall, anticipating her ward's approach, "Good thinking."

+++++ 4th Angel + 6 : Wednesday (27)

Taking a deep drink of the mead one of his fellow pilots set down in front of him, Shinji determined that not all alcohol was as noxious as the stuff Misato preferred. The honey-flavored brew was just sweet enough to be enticing, but not so sweet that it hurt the tongue or teeth. It reminded him of Kodama, after a fashion.

"Nah, see," Feelgood held his hand up and still, miming a V.T.O.L., "a stationary target's a dead target. The only time you should be flat-footed is when you're loading or off-loading personnel." A peanut shell bounced off of the side of his hand, Glitch grinning happily, "As you see, it makes it easy for S.A.M.s to drop you to the ground. Or, in your case, for Angels to dog-pile you and take you out of the scrum." The rockstar-looking pilot picked up his glass of beer, taking a swig, "Always be in motion, it makes it easier to jink if you have to."

"A little sway goes a long way," the man introduced as Toggle nodded. "Which is good, because a little sway's all Raffle has."

The table exploded in laughter, redoubling as the young captain made a rude gesture to her comrade, "I'll have you know that Paladin likes my sway. If he weren't taken, he'd be a hell of a lot better catch than any of the rest of you blighters." Her wolfish grin ratcheted up to eleven as she wrapped her arms around the neck of the young man on her left, she winked, "In fact, he's going to challenge Glitch in my name."

"Oh?" The lanky pilot receiving the challenge raised an eyebrow, "And what's the game?" His dark skin stood in sharp contrast to his bright smile, the eagerness obvious to any who saw him.

Raffle pointed her mug at him, "A footrace. Four hundred meters, your speciality."

The man's eyes lit up, "And the stakes?" His fingers danced on the table, his interest keenly provoked.

"He loses, I pick up the next four tabs. He wins, you get him one of those knives Vidar prefers." She gestured towards the big towheaded pilot, who had been the one to give him his drink, urging him to show Shinji the blade. "Everyone needs a good knife, boyo, and these monsters are some of the best I've ever seen."

Quietly, as it seemed he did everything, the blonde giant drew out a western-style survival knife. Rotating it easily in one hand, he offered it hilt-first to Shinji, nodding to indicate that he had permission to hold it.

Taking the blade carefully, Shinji could tell that it was heavier than he was used to, but not so heavy that it made it unwieldy. Tilting it so it caught the light, he noted that only the very edge of the blade seemed to generate a reflection, the rest of the metal was somehow matted and dull preventing any shine from giving away the metal, "It is a very nice knife, what's it made of?"

"He won't say," Feelgood shrugged. "Stupidly expensive, but I've seen him carve stuff apart with it that shouldn't come from together that easily, so I'd say it's worth the cost. It's a fair exchange, Glitch. The Knight Errant against the Errant Night." He mused for a second, "Sidebar: Paladin wins by more than half a second, I'll host a pig burn at my place. He wins by less than half a second, he hosts. He loses," he pointed to Noelle, "you host."

"That's not really fair," Glitch shook his head, "since I'm going to win. She doesn't have the space in that rabbit warren she lives in for all of us plus crew." He smirked at Shinji, a friendly competitive vibe that reminded him of Toji, "It's up to you, though. I'm fine with the wagers, since I won't lose."

Returning the knife, Shinji bowed his upper torso slightly in thanks to the big man for letting him see the weapon. "Noelle-san, are you-" He stopped as she tightened her grip on his upper torso, "Sorry, sorry. Raffle, are you certain you want me to do this?"

"I'm positive," she stuck her tongue out at him. "If you and your Light don't work out, I'll just hold you to that promise of a date. We'll do this tomorrow, before your driving practice for the day. I'll get Ibuki's permission to use the time as a crew morale event, you bring the ladies since Kodama should be starting work tomorrow if all goes well." She turned back to the table, "Anyone else wants to show off the F.N.G. to their plus ones, we'll have a nosh while he gets battered around in that big purple bitch, it'll be a grand old time."

"I like it," Toggle knocked on the table. "My old lady's been bugging me to introduce her to you, Paladin. Ever since word got out that you," he gave an apologetic half-grin, "you know, don't have a family no more. She's a sucker for sob stories, and yours is about as sobby as they come. So come on," he leaned forward, "give us a good race."

Shinji looked down at the cup of mead, his third of the evening, noting that it was mostly gone and yet not feeling even slightly light-headed. "If everyone agrees; but I don't want anyone to be held accountable if they can't afford their end of the wager. We shouldn't be hurting each other," his frown darkened, "we have too many enemies willing to do that for free."

"Good man," Vidar rumbled. Reaching over and taking Shinji's glass, he walked over to the bar and got him a refill.

"I'd say you're in," Glitch winked at Shinji. "Big guy never says peep, poo, or baa to anyone unless he likes 'em." Laughing as Vidar flicked the back of his head as he brought Shinji his drink, he hefted his own mug, "Well then, we have our first reason to toast. To the newest member of the Damned! To Paladin, Defender of the Light, Guardian of Tokyo-3, and second fastest Pilot in the Corps."

"We'll see," Raffle raised her mug, prompting Shinji to follow suit, "about that last bit tomorrow."

The conversation turned at that point to simple matters, old stories, and attempts to get Shinji drunk. Lines were opened between the pilots and their newest ally as they grew to appreciate the calm, gentle, nature of the Third Child. To them, it seemed as if he wasn't the kind of man cut out for killing, but the proof of his actions set any such doubts aside easily. As the night went on, the numbers at the table dwindled with people tapping out or passing out as their tolerances decided. Finally, after far longer than Shinji had thought they would have been interested in talking with him, it was only him, Raffle, and Vidar at the table.

"I'm just sayin'," Raffle slurred, "you an' that lady of yers should get hitched. She's a vision, an' 'struth, an' ye love her."

Shinji shook his head, still as sober as he had been when he entered the Officer's Club, "She can do far better than me, Raffle. And I'm never going to be the kind of husband she deserves so long as I have to fight the Angels. What kind of life would I offer her, never knowing when I'll be home? Whether or not I'll come home when I leave? I appreciate where you're coming from, and I do love her dearly," it still felt almost illicit of him to admit that in public, "but she can't be my first priority now." Turning to face the big Norseman, Shinji shrugged, "You see what I mean, right Vidar?"

Nodding once, the giant patted Raffle on the back, "Come, little one. I will get you someplace to sleep this off. The Paladin knows what is best for those he protects, and we must respect his devotion to duty, if not his devotion to his loved ones."

"An' you," Raffle's head drooped back as she gazed up at her would-be nursemaid, "why din ye speak when everyone else is about?" She made a half-hearted effort to fight him off when he picked her up, carrying her as one would a small child, "Ye've got good stuff in the thinkin' box, but ye din share it."

"Because it doesn't matter what we say," Shinji stood, picking up their glasses to carry to the bartender. "It matters what we do." Returning the woman's nod from behind the bar, he held the door open for Vidar and his cargo and snorted a laugh, "I think I understand that better than most, Raffle."

"Good man," Vidar favored Shinji with a tight grin. Nodding a farewell, he carried Noelle towards his truck.

"Don't worry about her," Akane appeared from the position she'd taken on a nearby bench. "It's not the first time Haraldson's carted her home. His wife has a cot set aside just for her, she'll be fine."

"I don't doubt it," Shinji asserted calmly. "I do doubt Noelle-san would have been as calm if she didn't feel safe with him." Turning to face his shadow, he sighed, "I was out a little later than I thought I should be, do you know what time it is?" Looking up to the sky, he saw the stars were out in force, "There wasn't a clock in there that I could see."

"It's around twenty-two thirty," Mikoto stepped out of the doorway behind him. "Let's get you home, I'm sure Hikari-chan's nice and worried that you're going to be drunk as a lord." She looked him up and down, "The way you were putting those away, I'm surprised you're not. Guess you can handle your drink pretty well." Holding up two hands, she set two fingers down, "Eight mugs of that stuff Haraldson drinks, you couldn't tell by looking at him."

"It…probably just doesn't have much alcohol," Shinji looked down, uncomfortable with knowing how much he'd actually taken in. "But we should get going, I have to get up to workout in five hours." Not giving the other two women time to ask more questions that he didn't have answers for, he moved towards their vehicle, and home.