Chapter 2: You, too, can become a hero…
"Stay down and no one gets hurt!" one of several masked gunmen said in the lobby of the First Tokyo-3 bank.
Another gunman stomped toward the gathered hostages, focusing on a crying child. "Shut up, or I'll give you something to cry about!" He growled, and the child only cried louder. He reared back and slapped him in the face. "I told you!"
When the child's mother tried to shield him, the gunman got angrier. "You want some of this too! Fine!" He went to hit them both with his rifle, but as he reared back, a large hand gripped the rifle and crushed it.
"You shouldn't have done that…" The angrily glaring All Might snarled, lifting the gunman up and throwing him through the window.
"Is he ok?" All Might asked as the hostages stared, and the mother nodded. "Good. Don't fear. For I AM HERE!" He said turning to the gunmen who leveled their rifles on him. "You on the other hand, friends. I'd fear."
Tokyo-3 Police and NERV security surrounded the bank when the door flew open and All Might walked out with the tied-up thieves under one arm and the child sitting on his shoulder cheering. The hostages walked out behind him as he smiled at the law enforcement. "Good evening, fellow heroes!" All Might said, dumping the thieves at their feet. "I hope you don't mind I ended the party before your arrival! HAHA!" He said, placing the child in his mother's arms. "Thank you all for your service, and you, kind citizens, have a wonderful rest of your day!" He said, leaping high into the air over the rooftops.
As he bounced from rooftop to rooftop, he remembered how the reunion with his father went a few days earlier. Went better than he expected. Nana always taught him to protect his secret to keep his loved ones safe. But to completely honest, after what happened in New York-2, what was the point? He didn't have loved ones anymore. All he had was the promise and the mission to keep anyone else in this world to lose anyone like he had lost everything. The All Might Smile was more to keep his own darkness at bay as much as it was to portray hope and security to those whom he would be saving.
Tokyo-3 would have the light of peace, even if he didn't truly feel it himself. It was why he was perfectly fine taking an apartment himself, but Misato had insisted that he stay with her. He could see loneliness in her eyes, and he would be lying if he didn't feel it himself beneath the pain.
He saw the apartment building coming up and took one last flying leap, aimed for the balcony. He began shrinking down as he approached and Shinji Ikari touched down, touching the door to steady himself.
He opened the door and walked into the small apartment. "Misato! You home?" He said, moving toward his bedroom, sliding out of the oversized suit and placing it in the closet, putting on a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt in its place. "Hello? Misato?" He said walking back out into the hall.
"In the bath, Shinji-kun!" Misato's muffle's voice called. "Wanna join me?" She asked impishly, causing Shinji to turn blood red.
"Hard pass, Misato…" Shinji scratched the back of his head.
"Awe, it's ok…" Misato chimed back, "Care to fold the laundry for me!"
Shinji sighed in relief, thankful for the distraction away from his flirty roommate. He saw the laundry basket on the living room coffee table and sat down on the couch. She mixed their laundry but at least she kept the colors and whites separate… His brain shut down as the first article he grabbed was raised to eye level.
A blue and red thong with writing on the front "Property of All-M". "Oh. Oh me."
"Oh, thanks, Shinji!" Misato said grabbing the thong from the traumatized teen. She walked in front of him and slid her feet into the thong and dragged it up her legs as she let the towel drop. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Shinji covered his face and threw himself away from her.
"Getting dressed. What's it look like I'm doing?" Misato asked, digging in the laundry basket.
"Do you not have any shame?" Shinji asked, shoving his face into a pillow.
"Says the guy who grows his muscles up like a god and jumps around town in spandex," Misato said, pulling on a tank top and shorts. "By the way, can understand your muscles getting all big with the superpowers, but what's the deal with the blond hair?" Misato asked, sitting down on the other side of the couch with a beer in hand, and planting her legs across his lap.
He glanced down at his lap and tried to ignore her as he explained. "Part of my quirk is physical metamorphosis. When I first started doing this, I kept my hair color, but my teacher was a big fan of Dragon Ball and I liked how when they went Super Saiyan and turned blond haired it intimidated their enemies."
Misato stared for a moment, before she started giggling, "You based your look on an anime?"
"Almost like I'm living one, right?" Shinji said, "Superpowers plus giant robots now? Bout as Plus Ultra as it comes."
The conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Shinji took the opportunity to bolt away from his roommate and opened the door to find an awkwardly standing Rei, who was staring at her feet, holding a bag tightly to her chest.
"Uh, hi, Rei, can I help you?" Shinji asked as Misato peaked behind him.
She still avoided looking at him but held out the bag. "I… do not know how to cook." Rei said, still holding out the bag. "But … I have overheard… others at NERV that said this restaurant has the best American food in Tokyo-3… and I assumed your time in America… you … l-like American food. So… hamburger…" She said pushing it into his chest. "Goodnight!" She said turning and moving quickly away from the door.
"What was that about?" Misato asked, looking over his shoulder as he looked in the bag.
"I have no idea…" Shinji said, "Ohhh cheeseburger." He stuck his head out the still open door. "THANK YOU, REI!"
"She is an odd one," Misato noted as Shinji closed the door, while taking a bite from his burger. "I feel so sorry for her."
"What's her story?" Shinji asked.
"No one really knows, at least in my paygrade. Only the Commander, and maybe Ritz," Misato said, grabbing a beer from the fridge. "Everything in her file is blacked out. I don't know where she came from, who her family is, if she has any. She lives alone in an apartment near NERV HQ. She doesn't have any friends, except maybe the commander, but he just uses her as a pilot and a gofer. A lot of people at NERV just call her Commander Ikari's Doll."
"She's not though," Shinji said, frowning. "I can see it. She's not just a doll." He said, polishing off the burger. "I'm going to try to talk to her at school tomorrow. We're in the same class, right?"
"That's right," Misato nodded, "Better get a bath and get to bed, young man," She said, pointing to the bath.
Shinji nodded and moved to the hallway, he undressed and prepared to enter the bath. He paused a moment as his mind rebelled against him. "You better get a bath and get to bed, young man," Nana said, smiling joyfully at the young Shinji, "Your training starts tomorrow. You can't be a hero if you're not clean and well rested!"
"Nana…" He closed his eyes tightly, fighting back the tears. He said, reaching for the door, hoping to wash away the sudden rush of pain. But the door flew open before he could touch it. He stood face to face with a penguin.
Misato blinked when she heard him scream.
Shinji ran out into the main room of the apartment completely naked pointing back into the hallway. "THERE'S A … BIRD!"
"You face down giant monsters and armed criminals on a daily basis with a smile on your face, but a warm-water penguin freaks you out?" Misato cocked an eyebrow, "Pen-Pen usually keeps to himself," she said as the bird walked past him and went to the fridge. "Probably why you're just running in to each other. But this presents another question. When you become All Might… does … that grow even bigger too? Cause, honestly, it's not bad." She said pointing below his waistline.
Shinji screamed again.
Shinji was still a little red from the previous night as well as being singled out and welcomed to the class. His eyes kept going to Rei who was looking out the window aimlessly, as well as hearing his classmates, Toji and Kensuke talking about how incredible All Might is, and how he saved his sister. Shinji smiled remembering the little girl from the battle with the angel a week earlier. He was happy to hear she was ok.
"What do you think, new kid?" Toji asked.
"About what?" Shinji asked.
"What do you think All Might does in his off time?" Kensuke asked, and much to his awkwardness Rei turned to look at him, a look of curiosity in her pinkish-red eyes. He hoped she wouldn't say anything. Looking back, he wondered if revealing his identity to NERV was a mistake, but he wanted to show his good-for-nothing father that he had gone beyond anything he would ever be.
"He probably has a day job or something," Shinji shrugged, "a guy has to eat, right? I bet he likes cheeseburgers…" he said, taking a glance to Rei. "He could be anywhere around us."
"Nah, he's probably got some kind of hidden base and watches over the world 24/7, keeps everyone safe, ya know?" Toji said kicking back, "Maybe even with NERV, he saw the Angels coming around and threatening everyone. Where else would the Symbol of Peace be?"
The bell rang for lunch and the class stood bowed to the teacher and chaotically left the classroom. Shinji saw Rei stop at a corner table and sat down to eat her small lunch. He quickly moved to join her.
"Can we talk, Rei?" Shinji asked, and she gave him a blank look.
"We may," Rei nodded, and Shinji sat down across from her.
"We haven't talked much since I arrived," Shinji noted opening his lunch.
"I… do not talk much," Rei noted, "Unless there is purpose."
"Sometimes the purpose could be just to get to know someone," Shinji gave her a smile, "make a new friend."
"Friendships are liabilities," Rei said, "We cannot afford to be distracted. Missions must be completed…" she gave him a look, "Not all of us are invulnerable."
"I'm not invulnerable, Rei," Shinji said, looking down at his food, his mind going back to his late teacher, he then glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "I can be hurt. I can even be killed. I just take a little more of a beating than most."
"That… is interesting information…" Rei said, a frown growing on her face. "When you came in the middle of my battle with the angel. You faced a being hundreds of times larger than yourself… And you knew you could have been killed. I am expendable. Why did you risk your life?"
"I did it because you were in trouble. And you're not expendable to me." Shinji smiled, "My teacher, she taught me that every life is precious. It's worth risking your life for. And if you're able to save someone in trouble, you have to at least try."
"I have no other purpose than to follow Commander Ikari's instruction, pilot the Eva, defeat the Angels, and help the commander accomplish his goals," Rei said.
"Is that what my Father told you?" Shinji asked, and the blank stare from her told him he was right. "Your purpose is for you to decide. If following his instructions helps save lives, do it. If it doesn't do what you believe is right. Stand for other. Fight for what YOU believe in, not what others do."
"I am not like that," Rei said glancing away, "I am not like you. I am just a doll. You are a hero. We are not the same."
"More alike than you realize," Shinji said, reaching out and squeezing her hand, "And you, Rei Ayanami, you too can become a hero." He finished his last bight of lunch and stood up, "It's up to you to decide." He said, leaving her to think about what he said.
Rei sat there, staring at her food, a faint blush crossing her cheeks as she felt her heart speed up. "She had never thought much of herself. Just what she was told to do, told to think. But could she do it? Could she be like Command Ikari's son says? Could she be a hero?
"Can I become a hero?" She asked out loud.
"DETROIT SMASH!" All Might yelled as he threw a punch that destroyed at least one segmented leg of the arthropod-like Angel. "This is a tough one." All Might said, preparing to block an attack, but Unit 01 Appeared and threw a haymaker at the monster's shovel-like head.
"Thanks, Rei," All Might said into the com in his ear. He glanced when he heard screaming. "We have some civilians in the way. Deal with this thing and I'll get the people to safety!"
All Might quickly disengaged from the Angel leaving the Evangelion to face it one on one.
"Shit…" All Might said under his breath as he leapt toward a group of people. It was a bunch of kids, most of which were in his and Rei's class. "What are you doing here?" All Might asked landing before them. Noticing some with cameras.
"We wanted to see the Angel fight the Eva," Toji said, stepping toward the hero. All Might mentally cursed. "You all are in danger here but have no fear! I'll get you to safety!"
All Might grabbed a few and instructed some to get in on his back, and quickly jumped to get them out of the battlefield.
"Is everyone safe?" He said as he let them down.
"My friend Kensuki is missing!" Toji said fearfully.
"There's another one somewhere in the field, it's Kensuki Aida," All Might said into his com turning away from the group of teens.
"I see him," Rei said from Unit 01's cockpit, "He's caught under rubble."
"On it!" All Might said, leaping into action.
He saw him not far from where Unit 01 and the Angel were fighting.
He was about to go to him when he saw a large structure about to fall on him. All Might moved quickly to catch it, but he was caught, the structure was too awkward to throw any other direction, and if he let go to try to get the boy, he'd be crushed by it.
"Hold on, I'll get him," Rei said, moving to rush in that direction.
"Negative, Rei," Gendo spoke into the com. "It is out of reach of your current Umbilical Cable. Destroy the Angel, one casualty will be an acceptable loss."
(Que "You Say Run")
Rei frowned glancing from the Angel to the young man. 'all life is precious… it's worth risking your life for…' she remembered Shinji's words, as she saw All Might keeping the boy from farther injury. 'fight for what YOU believe in…' her eyes lingered on Kensuke, 'You Rei Ayanami… you too can become a hero.'
Unit 01's Umbilical Cord ejected.
Unit 01 turned and ran from the Angel, causing it to have visible confusion. The Eva slid on hits knees toward the boy, and lifted the rubble holding him down. "Are you ok?" Rei asked through Unit 01's speakers. "Yeah, I'm ok," Kensuke said, shakily climbing to his feet. She lifted the Entry Plug and held out Unit 01's hand to him.
01 lifted him up and moved him toward the lifted plug and Rei opened it and held out a hand. "Hurry, get in."
"I've got him," Rei said, and All Might let go of the structure letting it drop. "And I've got him." She said, drawing the Eva's progressive knife. With a scream she dove toward core that was exposed from All Might's last smash, and pushed the knife into it, just as the power timer hit zero. She breathed a sigh of relief as the Angel exploded into LCL.
"That… was awesome…" Kensuke breathed, and Rei felt her lips turn up into a smile.
At NERV Headquarters Rei braced herself as Commander Ikari stomped toward her. "What were you thinking Rei? You endangered the mission."
"My mission is to protect Tokyo-3 and its inhabitants from the threat of the Angels," Rei responded.
Gendo growled to himself, wanting to say more but Misato's presence kept him from ranting about more classified info. Though he could tell she was displeased with Rei at her deviation from the mission parameters.
"You think just because my son is here playing hero, you can be one too?" Gendo narrowed his eyes.
"I thought saving lives was what you did around here," All Might said, smiling at Gendo, but not in a way that was friendly. "Or are you up to something else?"
"You… did good work today, Pilot Ayanami. Go on and get checked out by Dr Akagi." Rei nodded and turned to leave.
"Indeed, incredible job today, we would not have saved all those lives if not for your courage and bravery." All Might said. Rei seemed taken back for a moment but acknowledged him and continued down the hallway.
Gendo and All Might went into a staring contest as Misato awkwardly glanced between them.
"I guess, that's it for the day, we'll head back…" Misato started by All Might stopped her by moving toward Gendo.
"I don't know what your ultimate game plan is," All Might said, "But if it involves harming innocent people, just know you'll have to go through me first."
"IF that was my plan," Gendo met his glare, "How do you know that isn't included in the stages?"
"Try," All Might said, before turning to Misato, "Shall we, Miss Katsuragi?" He said, with a genuine smile, holding out an arm.
"What happened to Nana Shimura, Shinji?" Gendo asked, and All Might stiffened. "Can't save everyone, can you, Hero?"
All Might said nothing but pulled the curious and confused Misato along.
To Be Continued…