NERV

Asuka went to the locker room to get changed. She was standing in front of a mirror. Wearing her swimsuit, she was looking at her reflection. You look great in that swimsuit. She remembered what Shinji said earlier.

'Of course I look great. Everyone would admit that'.

She didn't care about what others were saying. But when Shinji said it, it was different. She took off her swimsuit top. They're perfect. That's what he said. She rose her hand and touched the mirror.

'I bet he said that to her too'.

She ran her finger across the reflection of her face. She stopped at her lips. She remembered their sync training. He tried to kiss her. Was he thinking that she looked great back then? What if she let him kiss her? Would that change anything?

'It's too late to find out now. And', she sighed, 'she's here'.

She started to change her clothes. Her yellow dress was lying on the bench next to her. She liked that dress. She wore it when she met Shinji. Dressed, she sat on the bench.

'Baka. He thinks that hurting him would make we feel better'.

She grabbed her bag. She remembered what Misato said. Your down five points. 'I need to stop thinking about that baka'.

NERV Research Center / Mount Asama

Asuka was leaning against the railing. She was observing how NERV crew were preparing her Eva. She saw Shinji talking with Maya on the lower platform. Maya was probably explaining something to Shinji as she was pointing at something.

"Hello pilot Sohryu".

Asuka turned to see Kaori approaching her. She stopped next to her. Kaori rested her hands on the railing. "We didn't have a chance for a chat earlier". She looked at Asuka and smiled.

"What do you want to chat about miss Hyuga?"

"Please, call me Kaori". Asuka didn't respond to that. She was looking at her Eva. "I want to get to know you guys more".

"Why?". After a second, Asuka realized she sounded just like wondergirl. It annoyed her but she wanted to keep her distance to Kaori.

"We'll be seeing each other here at NERV more often. I would like to be in good terms with you guys". She saw Rei standing next to commander Ikari. "Shinji told me that you and pilot Ayanami are not getting along".

"Already on first name basis with Shinji?" Asuka said with a mocking voice.

Shyly, she answered "Yes, we already talked". Asuka rolled her eyes. "I also want to talk to you and pilot Ayanami. But she scares me a bit".

"Figures. She's a doll and commander's puppet".

Kaori smiled. "So that's why you don't like her". Both girls stood in silence. Crew on the lower deck were almost done preparing the Eva. Kaori broke the silence. "Thank you".

Asuka was puzzled. She looked at Kaori. "What for?"

"For saving us. When angels attack, people run away. And you. You go inside that giant robot and fight. You risk your life for us. Today, you're going to do even more. You're going to dive into a volcano! Thank you".

Asuka was surprised. No-one ever thanked her for being a pilot. This was something new for her. She was confused but also happy. "I…", she looked at Kaori, "it's my duty. I was trained to be a pilot".

Kaori looked at the Eva. "Are you scared? Diving inside a volcano?"

"I can't wait".

Kaori was surprised. "Really? I would be terrified! You're so brave". She saw Maya waving at them and pointing at her watch. "I guess we'll have a briefing soon". They started to walk towards the stairs. "Good look pilot Sohryu".

"Luck doesn't have anything to do here. I was trained for this". She sighed. 'She doesn't sound that bad'. Before they reach the stairs, Asuka decided, "...and call me Asuka".

"Thank you. Godspeed Asuka".

Eva-01 and Eva-02 were standing at the edge of the volcano. "Ready Asuka?"

"Yes Misato".

"Hook her up Shinji". Shinji moved closer to Asuka and attached her unit to the crane. He checked if everything was looking good.

Misato looked at the screen. "Do we have exact depth to the target?"

"Negative. We have only estimated depth" said Maya.

"Eva-02 is ready" said Shinji.

"Let's begin".

Asuka unit started to descend into the volcano. Soon, she touched the surface. When she was fully submerged, she reported "I have no vision. I'll switch to sonar".

Eva reached 100 meters and was descending further.

200 meters

300 meters

"What was the last depth?"

"About 700. We cannot confirm that for now".

"It's getting quite hot down here". When Asuka reached 700 meters they slowed down the descent.

"Asuka, do you see anything?"

"Nothing for now"

"Keep going"

When she reached 900 meters, there was a crack sound. Makoto reported "We're almost at maximum operational depth".

1100 meters. The belt that held Eva progressive knife broke. "I've lost my knife". Soon sensors, picked up the target. They stopped the descent. "I see the target. Move me forward so I can catch it". Slowly, they moved the Eva towards the target. Asuka grabbed it inside a cage. "Target captured".

Satisfaction was heard in the command center. "We'll begin to pull you out". Misato looked at Ritsuko. "It wasn't that bad". She said that too early. Just above 700 the angel started to grow. There was a loud alarm. "What's going on?".

Ritsuko rushed to the screen. "Angel started to hatch! Asuka if it frees itself, destroy it!"

Angel broke from the cage. It floated away from the Eva. "Come on, lets dance". Asuka wanted to grab her knife but forgot she's lost it. "I don't have my knife!"

"Shinji just threw his knife. It will reach you in 30 seconds. Keep an eye on it".

The angel started to move in Asuka direction and speed up. She blocked it attack using Eva hands. The angel started to wrap around Eva head. It opened its mouth and started to suck on Eva visor.

"Hey you creep! I don't kiss on a first date!"

"This much heat and pressure and its still able to open his mouth!" shouted Maya.

"Well, it's been evolving down there" said Ritsuko.

"Knife will arrive in 10 seconds" reported Maya.

Misato looked at the crew. "Maybe you have some ideas instead of admiring the angel?"

Asuka saw progressive knife and was able to catch it. She started to hit the angel on its back with the knife. It had no effect. Angel squeezed Eva more. The D-equipment was taking more and more damage. There were more cracks being heard. "I can't break through its thick armor!" She remembered what Shinji was reading on the pool `Thermal expansion`. She cut one of the coolant pipes and she pressed it in the face on the angel. "Redirect all cooling to third pipe!"

"Good thinking Asuka!"

The angel started to loosen its grip of Asuka. Now it was weakened. She managed to cut through the armor. Now the angel core exposed. 'Yes'. She used the knife to stab it. It worked. She hit it multiple times. Angel was defeated. Falling down, the angel was able to cut most of the wires that were attaching Asuka unit. She looked up. But before she could do anything, last wire snapped. 'Great ending to a great week'. Her unit started to fall.

Suddenly, her unit stopped. She looked up and saw Shinji. One hand holding her and the other holding wires. "Quick, pull us out!". She smiled. 'Baka'

Finally above the surface. Shinji swing Asuka a bit then threw her to the ground. Soon he jumped himself.

"D-equipment is damaged. It blocks entry plug from ejecting".

Shinji moved to Eva-02 and removed part of D-equipment blocking the plug. Asuka entry plug ejected. It fled a bit and landed not far away from her unit. LCL splashed all over the place but the hatch didn't open. Shinji ejected from his unit. His entry plug was not damaged so he could leave it easily. He reached to Asuka entry plug. He grabbed the lever with his hands. It was very hot. His hands got burned so let go of the lever. He took a deep breath and placed his hands back on the lever. Putting as much force as he can, he tried to open the hatch. Pain started to overwhelm him but he managed to open the plug. There were a lot of steam running from the hatch. He looked inside.

"Asuka?! Are you alright?!"

She looked at him. "Yes baka. I'm alright".

He pulled her out of the plug. "I'm glad you're ok". After a moment, he started to feel dizzy. Adrenalin was wearing off and pain was getting worse.

She smiled. "Thanks Shinji"

The medical team arrived just few seconds later.

"Medical team here. We've secured both pilots. We're taking them to the infirmary".

Misato sighed in relief. "Good job everyone". She felt weak on her legs so she sat down. 'That was close'. Kaji walked to her.

"There are hot springs nearby. You could go with the kids. You need it". He leaned over her and whispered "and you could use a drink later".

"Maybe".

Asuka left the changing room. She saw Misato standing in the hallway.

"I've heard you're all good. Ready to go?"

Asuka made a few steps towards Misato. "I have a surprise for you Asuka!". She looked inquiringly at her guardian. "I've booked a hot spring just for the two of us. I know it's not Okinawa but you might enjoy it after today's fight".

'The two of us?' Asuka stopped. "What about baka Shinji?"

Misato winked. "Oh worried about Shinji already?" Asuka gave her annoyed look. Misato waved her hand. "Ok, ok. I won't tease. He can't go. He's still in the infirmary".

Asuka looked at Misato. "Daddy's boy got little burn and everyone has to take care of him?" She said with a mocking voice.

Misato had a serious face. "Asuka, please be nicer to him".

"Yeah, whatever. Thanks for sending him down there".

Misato crossed her hands. "I didn't give the order". Asuka looked at Misato. "He acted before we could think of anything". She started to walk down the hallway. "We can have this discussion at the hot springs. Kaji will give Shinji a ride home".

Hot springs

Asuka saw a scar on Misato belly. Misato noticed that. "Second impact". Redhead took her eyes of her guardian. "It's a pity Shinji couldn't come with us. This water is perfect".

Asuka couldn't agree more. The water was perfect. "Yeah, it is. You said that you didn't order him to jump?"

"He jumped by himself. He didn't have D-equipment. It was both brave and reckless". Misato plunged deeper into the water. It felt very good.

Asuka leaned back and started thinking. 'Right. It was boiling down there. It had to hurt him'

Misato took a glimpse at the redhead and knew what she was thinking. "He didn't spend much time down there. He got hurt on the surface. While he was trying to open your entry plug".

"Oh. Yeah I could feel the heat in the plug".

"I feel bad for him. When he leaves the infirmary, he'll be scolded by commander's Ikari for endangering Unit-01".

Asuka plunged herself up to the neck in water. "So commander will scold Shinji for hurting himself? Big deal".

Misato sighed at that. "God, your hopeless sometimes". Asuka gave Misato a puzzled look. "Did I say endangering himself?"

"You're saying that commander is more worried about Unit-01 than Shinji?"

Misato smirked. "For someone who should be so smart, you're quite dense".

Asuka rose from the water and protested. "Hey!"

"Didn't you ever wonder, why he's living with a complete stranger rather than his family?"

Asuka eyes widened. No. She never thought about it. When she arrived, he was already living with Misato. She didn't give that much thought. "Maybe commander's a busy man?" Misato chuckled. "What are you suggesting?"

"You tell me. You're supposed to be the prodigy child". She smiled and opened a bottle of water. "Think what you want. I hope that you at least said thank you. He burned his palms pretty badly while rescuing you".

They enjoyed the hot water. Especially Asuka. It was very pleasant after the volcano. 'So, he got hurt saving me? I bet it's nothing serious'. Misato stretched her hands.

"So. About your recent behavior. My gut is telling me that you've heard our conversation. I didn't know you're the eavesdropping type".

"I don't know what you're talking about".

Misato smiled to herself. 'Sure you don't'. Looking at the redhead, she said "Since you don't know. I guess, I don't need to worry about hearing any rumors?". She winked. "I would be very unpleased if I did". Asuka didn't say anything. She was just looking in front of her. She looked pensive. After a while, Asuka asked

"Why did you hire her?"

'Game on'. Misato smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about".

Asuka wanted to insult Misato but decided she'll play her game for now. "Then I guess you don't know about their past".

'So you already know' Misato thought. "And why do you assume they have a past?"

"It's obvious they know each other".

Misato sighed "I didn't know as first. I've found out just before she stared".

Asuka stayed in the water. Misato looked at her. "Want to hear a story?"

Asuka moved a little. "Can't I just enjoy the water?"

"I'll tell you anyway". Misato stood up from the water and sat on the edge. "So, I have this coworker. I think she likes a guy from work. Still, she always denies it. And now, she's also angry at the guy. For what, you wonder? For something that happened before she even met him. Stupid, isn't it?"

"I think that, you don't understand this coworker of yours". Asuka stood up and wrapped herself in a towel.

Misato laughed. "Oh, I think I do understand her. She's as stupid as I am". Puzzled, Asuka turned to face Misato. "Are you hungry?", Asuka nodded, "We'll get some food before we head home. We should buy some for Shinji".

Misato apartment

They entered the apartment. Misato put the food into the fridge. She headed to her room to change. Not long, she was back. "I'll leave you kids for now. I'll be back late. Don't wait for me and please don't fight".

Asuka didn't see Shinji so she called him. "Hey baka, are you home?"

"I'm in the bathroom".

She went to her room. She exchanged few messages with Hikari. They landed in Okinawa yesterday. Her friend sent her few pictures she made. 'They will be having a lot of fun'. After a while she left her room and went to the bathroom. She noticed that's Shinji is still inside. Standing in front of the door, she called him.

"Hey baka, I need to use the bathroom. How long are you going to stay there?"

She heard a voice coming from the bathroom. "It's open Asuka. You can come in".

"I hope you're not doing anything perverted in there. You will be sorry if I see something I don't want to see!" She opened the door to the bathroom. She saw Shinji sitting with his hands in the sink. There were also bandages and some medications laying around. "What are you doing? What is this?"

He looked troubled. "I need to apply this gel and change bandages". Uncomfortable, he said "It's more difficult than I thought it would be. With my both hands like this". She gave him a look.

"Geez. Go to the living room. I'll help you but I need to pee first!". He left in a hurry.

She went to the living room. She saw him sitting on the floor in front of the table. "How hard can it be?" She sat next to him. He stuck out his hand. She removed last part of the bandages and froze. She was terrified of what she has seen. 'Mein Gott in Himmel. What the hell is that?' She was staring for a while before Shinji called her. 'Did that happen after the fight?'

"Hmm, Asuka?"

She look at the boy. "Does it hurt?"

"N-no". He lied. It did hurt. A lot. "Umm. There are disposable gloves in the first drawer".

She took the gloves out and put them on. She took the two tubes with gel.

"The green one goes first".

She put some gel from the first tube on her finger. She gently put her finger on his palm. He gave a small yelp and moved his hand. She looked at him. He had glassy eyes. "Baka! I can see it hurts!"

"I-it does". He paused. "A lot. But please don't stop. This first one is a painkiller".

She tried to rub the gel as gently as she could. 'He did that for me?' She could clearly see that it was hurting him like hell. She finished with his first hand and started with the second. 'This looks even worse!'. When she finished, he said "We have to wait for it to get absorbed. Then, the second one".

She looked at him. He's suffering because he helped her. "Thank you Shinji". He looked at her. "For saving my life. Misato told me that you did this on your own".

"You're welcome". He gave her a faint smile.

'Is this the first time I see him smile?' she thought. She tried to remember when last time she did see him smile. To no avail.

"Umm, Asuka?"

She shook her head. "Oh, sorry". She started to apply the second gel. "What did the doctors say?"

"They say I need to apply those for three days. After that, they will decide what's next".

"I can help you with that".

He looked at her. "You don't have to. I don't want to be a burden".

She insisted "Can you do it yourself? That's the least what I can do for saving me". He chuckled. She gave him a look. "What?"

"You always say I'm a baka. You have a proof of this in your hands now. I could open that entry plug differently".

"Of course I'm right". She started to wrap his hands in a bandage. "How many times do you need to apply this?"

"Twice a day".

"Here. It's done. I'm going to sleep".

"Thank you Asuka. Good night".

Laying on her bed, Asuka tried to sleep. She couldn't. She was thinking about what has happened today. 'He's cute when he smiles' she blushed a bit. Her thoughts were disturbed by a noise. 'Was that in the kitchen? Misato's drunk again?' She got up from her bed and went to the kitchen. She saw Shinji sitting on the kitchen floor, with a piece of a mug in his hand. His eyes were red. 'Was he crying?'

"What happened?"

He looked up. "A mug slipped from my hands. Sorry. Did I wake you?"

"No. I couldn't sleep". She was looking at the boy. He looked away. "Why are you on the floor?" He didn't respond. "Tell me Shinji. What's wrong?" Reluctant, he rose his hands a bit towards her. "What?"

He looked like a beaten puppy. "I-I can't use my hands". He rubbed his eyes with his forearm. "I can only grab with the tips of my fingers". He showed her a piece of a mug. "I just wanted to drink some water".

After looking a bit at him, she took a bottle of water from the fridge. She handed him the bottle. "Here. You can't break this".

He looked at her. "What?" He looked at his hands. Ashamed, he said "I can't open the bottle".

"Oh". She opened the bottle for him. "Thanks". He took the bottle with tips of his fingers and started drinking. She observed him. It struck her how difficult was it for him to drink from that bottle. 'He's very thirsty'. He choked on water and spilled some on himself. She took the bottle from him.

"You ok?" he nodded. His stomach growled.

She frowned. "Did you eat anything after the battle?"

He was embarrassed. "One chocolate bar".

"What?! Why didn't you eat?"

He looked at the floor. "It was the only think I could open with my hands".

"Are you dense? Why didn't you ask anyone for help?"

"I-I don't want to be a burden".

Angry, she grabbed his shirt and shouted at him "So you prefer to starve to death?! I was right to call you a baka!". She released him. Still mad, she took the food from the fridge.

"We bought this on our way home. I'll heat it up. Get up and sit by the table". She put the food in the microwave. While she was waiting for the food to heat up, she noticed that he was looking at her.

"I haven't seen you without your hair clips before", he started to blush, "You look nice with your hair like that".

She looked away and blushed at his comment. "I don't wear them to sleep". The microwave beeped. She took out the food and put it in front of Shinji. She looked at the boy while he was trying to use chopsticks. 'This will take forever!'. She took a chair and placed it next to him.

"Give me that", she grabbed his chopsticks, "I'll feed you". It took a while but she managed to feed him.

"I'll make breakfast tomorrow". She took the plate from him. "If you get hungry or thirsty, just tell me!" She had a very serious look. He tried to apologize but was interrupted by her threat. "Don't say you're sorry or you WILL be!"

He gulped. He never saw her that angry. "Yes Asuka".

"Good"

Kaji apartment, morning

Misato opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling. 'That's not my room'. She looked down and saw that she's naked. 'Shit'. She covered herself with a quilt. She looked to the side. She saw Kaji. 'Is he asleep?' He opened his eyes and smiled.

"C-can you pass me the blouse?"

He moved his hand, faking he cannot reach it. "Sorry, it's too far away".

"Umm. Listen. There was a big misunderstanding yesterday".

He giggled. "I thought so too when you started to undress me".

She threw a pillow at him. "Asshole". He grabbed her and kissed her. She didn't object.

Notes:

Now I'm at the point where this story stared in my mind. The scene where Asuka is treating Shinji wounds was the first scene I had for this whole story. Hope you enjoyed it.

Reviews:

SheriffJohnStone – Thanks.

Midsully – Thanks. At first, I was thinking of using Kaori only as a topic for conversation.

spartanman2 – Thanks

skyf0x – Thanks! Shinji doesn't know how to deal with Asuka. When she get mad, she yells at him or punch/kick him and gets back to her normal self. This time she was mostly avoiding him. So I figured he would try something that worked before ;)

Calborghete – Thanks. I like when she struggles with her feelings. It's shows how complicated their relationship is.

Hghg – Danke sehr!

Greg242 – Thanks. I want to add a bit humor to the story. Keyword for next chapter is blood :)