Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion.
Chapter 26: Transparency
"That was a hell of a bolt," the copilot hissed, still frightened by the intensity of the lightning.
"Relax. This plane is designed to take much worse." The captain remarked. "See, the systems are getting back to normal."
"We should've waited for the thunderstorm to dissipate before we take off," the copilot said.
"It's not our decision. NERV values punctuality."
"Let's just get this over with. Increasing the altitude to forty thousand feet."
Under the transport plane, the eyes of Unit 04 dimmed.
XXXXXX
"How rare of you coming out with us, Shinji," said Kensuke happily as he walked along with Shinji and Toji from school. "I thought you'd spend all your time with the Red-err Soryu-san."
Shinji smiled. Indeed he preferred spending more time with Asuka, especially now that they're together, but today Asuka went shopping with Hikari for cosmetics and accessories. She clearly stated that she didn't want him to tug along since she wanted to surprise him for their date tomorrow. "Well, I finally get out from the Devil's grasp."
"Hey Shinji," Kensuke lowered his voice into a near-whisper, a tone Shinji knew all too well. "I heard Unit 04 is coming to Japan?"
"Wait, where'd you hear that from?" Shinji inquired.
"My father. He's a technician at NERV," Kensuke smirked. "Anyway, do you know who the pilot is?"
"I think they're sending us one from America," Shinji replied with a shrug.
Kensuke's face promptly fell in disappointment. "Damn, I hoped they could let me be the pilot!" In fact, this time, Shinji actually thought about making Kensuke or Toji as the pilot of Unit 04, the Fourth Child. It's not like there was an Angel in there. He'd never met this new pilot from America ever before since the pilot would always vanish in the Nevada incident. Even though fighting Angels could be dangerous, Shinji wanted at least someone he could trust fighting by his side. "Man, it's really cool to be a pilot, isn't it?"
"You might change your mind after fighting an Angel." So saying, Shinji threw a glance at the Jock on his other side, who was checking his newest lottery.
"Tch, I didn't win anything this time." Toji huffed and threw the lottery aside.
XXXXXX
Bathing in the pale yellow light of the setting sun, Shinji paced his way back to the apartment after breaking up with Toji and Kensuke from the arcade. Asuka should be back at home very soon - making her wait for food to eat would be beyond cruel, especially when she just came back from some shopping trip with loot.
As he walked past the building that was the Geofront entrance area, a particular person captured his attention. He had blond curls and pale skin, so Shinji could easily classify him as a foreigner. Though foreigners were not a rare sight in Tokyo-3, an international fortress metropolis, the fact that he just came out of the Geofront still intrigued him.
The blond boy seemed to be reading a pile of documents of sorts. He raised his head and saw Shinji, then looked back and forth between him and the paper. "Shinji Ikari, the Third Child, right?"
"Who are you?" Shinji said without confirming his own identity.
"Oh, I am the candidate of the Fourth Child," his Japanese was a bit crooked but recognizable nonetheless.
"I see. I am the Third Child, Shinji Ikari, pleased to meet you," Shinji replied in a courteous voice. After countless cycles of redoing, he finally met the original test pilot for Evangelion Unit 04 in person, who had always been sucked into the sea of Dirac and never came out when the activation of the S2 engine on Unit 04 gone wrong.
His first impression of the boy was guilty. After all, every time he knew the Nevada incident would happen, but he couldn't do anything except watch. "So, I hear the activation test will take place tomorrow?" The arrangement still annoyed him a little since it was the day when he and Asuka would have their date, but since this time Unit 03 was still in America, he deemed it wouldn't be too much of a deal.
"Right." The Fourth Child replied nonchalantly. Shinji narrowed his eyes as he recognized the documents he was reading – they were he, Asuka, and Rei's personal files. Even though everyone who worked in NERV had access to these files – the ones without too many details of their background information – he still felt a bit uncomfortable seeing others reading them, especially Asuka's. "Say, are the girls here all so pretty and hot?" Speaking, the Fourth Child scanned up and down Rei's profile picture, then Asuka's.
A slight scowl crept up Shinji's face. He didn't like his attitude, at all. Asuka was needless to say, and now even Rei, whom he considered his half-sister, was being objectified as well, and this time by a pilot - whom he had to work together with from now on.
"I've never known people can have blue hair before. Did she dye her hair or something? I like it," the Fourth Child smirked.
"Her name is Rei Ayanami, I consider her as my cousin," Shinji lowered his voice, getting close to the known direction.
"Is that so? You wouldn't mind me dating her, would you?" The Fourth Child, apparently displeased by his tone, starting to add a note of threat and arrogance in his voice. "Hmm…how about this one with red hair? She looks hot. I wonder how she looks like in her plugsuit," the Fourth Child licked his lips.
"She's my girlfriend." Shinji's voice started to drift into a familiar tone.
Truth to be told, the Fourth Child visibly shivered under the suffocating pressure. However, as a veteran womanizer for his age, he stood up to the challenge. "It only makes it more exciting, am I correct? How about I date both of them?"
"Try me."
The Fourth Child felt his blood temperature decreasing as Shinji's freezing voice swept through him. Shinji Ikari's Absolute Zero Degree Beam Cannon shot out from his eyes, a look only twelve most evil people in the world could endure. He didn't necessarily need to threaten the Fourth Child, though, knowing who Rei was and who Asuka was. Still, if he wanted to play that game, Shinji would as well.
"Tch. I w-will," the Fourth Child maintained his breaking down composure with visible effort.
Shinji chuckled, retracting his looks. He almost felt bad executing such an attack that was saved for his father on a 14-year-old boy who was also a pilot, who could be a great helping hand in the final battle against SEELE.
Almost.
XXXXXX
In recent times, Asuka Langley Soryu often found herself under a particular state of mind – daydreaming about the incoming events, mainly caused by the anticipation of the time she and Shinji would be spending together later. As of today, such anticipation grew to a peak since it was her birthday and they were going to have their first date, and Asuka had promised to knock his socks off with it.
Of course, no perfect day was without its flaws.
"Hey guys, please meet the candidate for the Fourth Child." Major Katsuragi's courteous voice floated to her. Throwing a side-way glance at the boy standing beside the Major, Asuka cringed as she recognized the look he was giving to her and Rei Ayanami. It was a look she knew all too well – a perverted leering gaze, trying to tear off your clothes through pure willpower.
Asuka suppressed a wave of nauseous feelings that surged up from her stomach. Knowing that she probably needed to work with him while wearing plugsuits in the foreseeable future didn't help, if not making it worse.
Damn it. Shinji would never look at her this way – he looked at her with love, not lust. Not to mention Shinji was much more handsome than him. Speaking of whom, they had a date today. Oh yeah, she had it well-planned. They would go to the cinema first, then if they still had enough time-
"…Asuka! Pay attention!" Major Katsuragi's annoyed voice snapped her out of her train of thoughts. "It's the third time you've spaced out today. I don't know what's going on behind the beautiful face of yours but could you please at least focus for now?!"
"Ah, sorry," Asuka blurted out. "I just have a lot on my mind."
Misato exhaled an exasperated sigh. "Well, now it's your turn to introduce yourself."
"Oh right." Asuka cleared her throat. "I'm Asuka Langley Soryu." She said on autopilot. "Are we done here? When can w-I leave?"
"Why such a hurry?" Misato probed.
"How about I have a date waiting for me? Is that a good enough reason for you?" Asuka said back, a bit annoyed, not noticing the raised eyebrows from the Fourth Child.
"Fine. If you want, you can leave now. Just…" Misato rubbed her chin. "I'm going to Matsushiro today with our new pilot for the activation test of Unit 04. I'm probably gonna be away from home for a few days, so I'll ask Kaji to look after you, he'll come tonight. Don't do anything I would disapprove of at home, alright?"
The Fourth Child narrowed his eyes. Apparently, the redhead lived together with the Third Child. He could only imagine the unmentionable stuff they must've been doing on their own. Damn.
"Alright, alright." Asuka turned around and grabbed Shinji's wrist, who offered no resistance whatsoever and was dragged along. "Let's go Shinji. We have a long day ahead of us."
With the pair gone from the meeting room, only Misato, Rei, and the Fourth Child were left. "Well, surely we've got some beauties here," the Fourth Child started, throwing a wink at Rei. "Rei Ayanami, correct?"
Rei Ayanami looked intently at the Fourth Child. From her objective analysis, he was moderately handsome, even a bit manly, much more mature-looking than other boys at his age. "Yes?" She replied with her usual monotone.
"I'm new here. Could you please show me around this…labyrinth?" The Fourth Child smiled a smile that could be easily labeled as seducing.
"No." Rei's response came out clean and neat.
"Why?" The Fourth Child frowned a little.
"Because I am an undateable subject."
The Fourth Child blinked in surprise. How come this looking quiet and cultivated girl had such a sharp tongue? And how was she so insightful? Having abundant knowledge dealing with girls, the Fourth Child wouldn't submit just yet, though. "I wasn't trying to date you. Maybe we can just be friends, right?"
"No. You're not interesting." Her voice decreased by several degrees, if that was even possible for her. "Only if I'm ordered to, then I will." Finished speaking, Rei turned around from him and promptly left the room with delicate footsteps, leaving a wholly defeated Fourth Child in the room.
Misato watched the whole scene with amusement, though her identity wouldn't allow her to laugh just yet. "Alright, let's go. People at Matsushiro wouldn't be too happy if we're late."
XXXXXX
Under the cerulean sky and scattered white clouds, Shinji and Asuka hand in hand walked along the busiest pedestrian street in the middle of Tokyo-3's commercial district. Since their newly acquired relationship was already public, Asuka spent every second she could to hold his hand, seeking reassurance.
After years after years of being alone, she wouldn't let this trusting and loving company away from her any more than absolutely necessary.
"Seriously Asuka, a horror movie for a date?" Shinji chuckled, his voice half-amused, half-exasperated. It wasn't that he was afraid of horror movies, but the fact that Asuka practically used him as a punching bag when jump-scare happened, considering the combat training she received, was not a pleasant experience for him.
And he got a few bruises on his thigh to prove it.
To Shinji, Asuka's appearance today wasn't too much different than her normal looks, save for the missing A-10 hair clips that got replaced with ordinary bead-shaped ones. She wasn't wearing heavy cosmetics – not that she wouldn't look divine even though she didn't – much to Shinji's surprise.
Maybe their introduction to the Fourth Child interrupted their plans? Shinji shook the thoughts off. Asuka, no matter what state she was in, always looked pretty to him. The fact that you're staring at the sun in different weathers, whether sunny, cloudy, or even foggy, didn't change the fact that you're staring at the sun, the brightest thing you can look at in your life.
The clothes she was wearing weren't new to him as well – a simple sundress with scattered patterns on it. For once he asked her why she didn't wear the green dress she used to wear for the date Hikari had set her up with, Asuka said she only wore it when she didn't care about how she looked like.
"Baka, don't tell me you were afraid of…a little tone shift, because I certainly wasn't," Asuka huffed, still being too proud to admit her…insignificant slip of composure.
"Oh well, better hurry up. It's almost one-thirty," Shinji said after taking a glance at his wristwatch. "You've got our spot reserved, right?"
"Of course," Asuka held her head high, her nose pointing up to the sky. "My planning skills are impeccable."
"Is that so?" A smirk crossed Shinji's face. "Then why did you keep losing to me in chess? Not to mention-"
Suffering mild physical damage was something Shinji had already gotten used to while being overly cheeky in front of Asuka, so when his back was pressed against the wall, his panic vanished as quickly as it came. "Since it's my birthday, I don't particularly feel like murdering anybody today," she hissed, the beautiful grin on her face contrasting the sharp tone. "Consider yourself lucky, Third."
A long while ago, Shinji's first reaction would be to apologize, which had been proven problem-inducing and Asuka-enraging. Pushing back and friendly banters were always fun, especially when they were together. "I could never wish to be luckier, having you by my side."
And yeah, sweet-talking was another skill he had mastered, though it usually wouldn't work on the torrent of pride that was Asuka.
He could swear a gleam of surprise flashed in Asuka's eyes. "Hmph, I suppose you know your place." Blushing faintly, Asuka let go of Shinji and continued heading toward their destination.
"Say, what do you think of our new pilot?" Shinji abruptly brought up, breaking the companionable silence between them.
"New…what? Oh, you mean the Fourth Child? I almost forgot about it, if not for you mentioning it," The designation was spoken with loathing. Asuka rubbed her forehead and continued, "he…bleh, he looks at me funny, like those perverts in school. I can't believe I have to walk in front of his eyes wearing my plugsuit! What's his name again?"
"Nathan, I think," Shinji replied, his tone unreadable.
"Oh? Are you afraid of him being a competition?" Asuka winked at him, switching to a full-swing tone.
"Not really. Just curious."
"You shouldn't worry about it. You know that I'm yours." Asuka took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, sending bolts of electricity through his body.
Shinji smirked. Oh, he knew that better than anyone - maybe only except Asuka herself.
In one of his earlier cycles, when he was still completely engulfed in the guilt and self-loathing of the terrible crime he committed against her, he tried to set her up with one guy in school he thought was able to give her happiness.
"Well it turns out he's really a cool guy." Asuka deadpanned, drinking a bottle of milk.
"I'm glad you found someone, Asuka," Shinji smiled, though only carried a subtle hint of sadness in it.
"Indeed I have," Asuka stood up from the chair and grabbed a defenseless Shinji into a longing kiss. After pulling away from the intense make-out session, Asuka grinned like a cat that just ate a canary, "Annnd he's well within my reach, just a bit too stupid to see by himself."
Shinji chuckled at the memory. Even though he didn't think he deserved her, he could still try and make her happy. "As long as you'll have me, Asuka, I'm yours as well."
XXXXXX
"Let the pilot into the entry plug." Dr. Mayumi's voice came from the PA system, echoing in the testing chamber. The candidate for the Fourth Child huffed and clipped the A-10 Neural Connectors on his hair.
Knowing how hunky and masculine he was, he was sure he could have a bunch of girls for him to date with when he arrived in Japan. In fact, back in the US, as a candidate for the pilot of Evangelions, he was already a fantasy for girls in his school, and he throughout enjoyed the attention by switching girlfriends as fast as he was required to take sync tests.
The Fourth Child punched the wall of the entry plug in annoyance. He thought he was lucky that the female pilots were all hot and pretty, but his first attempt went much worse than he imagined. 'You're not interesting?' How dare she say it to him? And the red-haired one…she didn't so much as take a straight look at him, like he was not even there.
Growling in frustration, the Fourth Child stepped inside the entry plug and sat on his pilot seat. His charms had never failed to get attention from girls ever before, so why did those two make a difference? And how come the normal-looking Third Child claimed the redheaded tempest? What did he do to deserve that? He was more handsome, more manly, more mature-
The Fourth Child shook the thoughts off. Nevertheless, he knew he still had ample time ahead of him to make moves on the girls after this boring activation test. Even if he wouldn't have a chance with the pilots, he still had many girls from the local school that he would be attending.
The Fourth Child huffed and closed his eyes.
"Begin activation.
XXXXXX
Shinji sat on the couch as the TV in front of him played some old recorded music concert, the mixture of sounds produced by hundreds of different instruments flowed like a running stream, accompanied by the soft dripping sound coming from the bathroom.
The day was hot, and both he and Asuka were soaked with sweat when they got home, and Asuka insisted he took a shower before her, for whatever reasons. In the original plan having dinner at a romantic restaurant was the last on the to-do list, but Asuka decided since they already had lunch together, she preferred to try some of his cooking for dinner.
Shinji wasn't going to complain, at all.
Kaji had not yet been home, and Misato went to Matsushiro to supervise the activation test of Unit 04. Shinji lazily stretched on the couch, yawning. Finally, he could get some rest and not deal with the whole mess with Bardiel anymore, and he felt happy about it.
Even though this new Fourth Child was annoying, as long as he could help in the endgame, it was still a worthy trade-off for him.
"Asuka? Are you finished?" Shinji asked after he could no longer hear water running. "Should I start making dinner?"
No reply came. A slight frown spread across his face. Shinji stood up from the couch, heading to the kitchen. Just as he turned around the corner, though, a towel-wrapped redhead came into his field of view. "Ah, Asuka," Shinji's smile faded a bit as he saw the inscrutable expression on her face. "Asuka, are you alright?"
The redhead closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she spoke up. "Shinji, today I've had my best birthday so far, and I'm really happy. So, I want to do this for you…" She reopened her eyes, fixing her look with Shinji's, sapphire met cobalt. Shinji's eyes went wide a little as he recognized the familiar fire inside her eyes.
Before he could get the first syllable out, Asuka removed her towel and let it fall to the ground.
Shinji's jaw proceeded to do the same thing.
XXXXXX
AN: Consider this as personal revenge to a certain fic. Next chapter is rated M, read at your own preference. Special Thanks to AsuShin shipper, skyf0x, HeyThereMrBlue, ChaosDisposal, tomdj1701, spartanman2, Midsully, Greg242, bandiras2, and SheriffJohnStone's reviews!