"Without a Heart (We Can't Become Legends)."
By B.B. Asmodeus.
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Main pairing: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler aka Byler.
Secondary pairings: I'm still undecided between Lucas Sinclair/Max Mayfield (Lumax) or El/Max Mayfield (Elmax). I like both ships very much. Mentions of Suzie Bingham/Dustin Henderson, later on.
EVA Pilots Fusion:
Shinji Ikari…Will Byers.
Rei Ayanami…Jane Hopper/El.
Asuka Shikinami Langley…Max Mayfield.
Important warnings:
(1) Violence through mechas.
(2) Depression themes.
(3) Apocalyptic themes.
Rating: Mature for violence, for now.
Categories/Warnings:
Neon Genesis EvangelionAU. Why the hell not?
Romance, First Meeting, First Love, Action/Adventure, Humor, Drama, Hurt/Comfort, AU, Explicit Language, Team!fic.
Since it's a Fusion Fic, I will adapt concepts from Evangelion to the plot of Season 4, but very slightly. Don't expect this to be a depressing and existential crisis trip like in the original anime. I'm going to lean heavily in the Rebuilt series, instead. The Judeo-Christian lore will be replaced by the Upside Down & Vecna lore.
Timeline: The plot is set three years after Season 4, but all you need to know is that the gates of the Upside Down opened in Hawkins in 1986 like in the show. Mike now sports a sexy mane like Eddie, and Will is still the Will we all love. No one in the Party knows Will, or El, yet.
Spoilers: Obvious spoilers from the anime and the "Rebuilt of Evangelion" movies. Spoilers from the entire "Stranger Things" show.
Synopsis: "How many EVAs are here in Hawkins, again?"
Notes: Come on, we all know who the title of this story belongs to. *wink-wink*. I just revamped it a bit, because I've seen lots of other fics with the same title.
Special Disclaimer: This work is a translation made by me from my native language, Spanish. You can find the original work under the title "Sin Corazón (No Podremos Ser Leyenda)."
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01.
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"Young man,
become a legend."
-Yoko Takahashi.
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1989.
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In retrospect, it hadn't been the most dignified way to meet.
One minute, Mike was sneaking around the Weathertop Hills with Dustin, wanting to take video of NERV's gated facility, and the next, a gigantic hand was protecting them from being eaten alive by the Demogorgon of the Week.
Mike had never been this close to an EVA in his life.
"Shit, shit, shit, shit!"
"Dustin, leave that alone! Cover your head, man!" Mike was tempted to slap his friend to snap him out of the shock. They were trapped in a monumental five-digit cage—what exactly the EVAs were made of was still a puzzle to Dustin, Lucas and Mike, they had rumors, many assumptions, but in itself—
Dustin stuffed the video camera back in his backpack in time to witness the cybernetic hand move above their heads. Lying on his back, Mike's mouth hung open, and his eyes threatened to pop out of his sockets.
The huge hand rose to the heavens, after releasing them. It partially covered the sun from Mike's line of sight. Behind the EVA, sounds of battle echoed through the hills. The ground under their bodies received the continuous impacts against its surface. Mike and Dustin felt the vibrations down to their fucking bones.
There was another EVA participating in the battle, holding off the Demogorgon. And from a new angle, both Mike and Dustin got a better look at their savior.
"It's THE CLERIC." Amazement filled Dustin's whisper. "Holy shit. Mike, do you see it? Holy shit. Lucas is SO going to HATE us now."
One more sentence and Mike was sure his friend's head was going to explode.
The Type-01 purple-hued armor made that clear, though. Unit EVA-01, nicknamed THE CLERIC, was here. Right in front of them. It was freaking surreal. So far, both had only see the EVA on the news.
Mike was this close to start losing it too. "Dustin, dude, we need to get out of here!"
Always the leader, Mike started to get up. His shaking knees had other ideas, so it was a work in progress. Dustin suddenly griped his shoulder, making look over the EVA's direction again.
"Mike! Mike, wait, look!"
Mike blinked.
THE CLERIC was extending its palm in explicit offering, hovering just a few inches from the ground.
"Oh my god." Dustin was the first to get the message, reacting before Mike's brain cells could. "Mike, man, I think it wants—"
"Get up here!"
Mike blinked again. The voice came from speakers installed on the EVA. The voice, even faintly echoing, was young to his dazed ears. It also sounded incredibly young.
"Pilot of Unit 01, two civilians are not a priority!"
"Get up here right now! I will take you away from here!"
The pilot. The pilot was communicating with them. Duh. Mike moved on survival mode, pulling at Dustin up to the CLERIC's hand.
"HOLD ON!"
Huh.
Beneath them, the robotic palm felt warm.
Weird.
Dangerous.
Freaking scary.
The EVA's fingers covered them, careful not to crush them. As instructed, Mike held on as best he could, finding the cylindrical shape of one of the EVA's fingers the best anchor point.
Then the actually flying around started.
It was the worst.
Except…
No. The sounds were the worst.
Between the spaces of the EVA's fingers, Mike spotted chaos involving the Demogorgon fighting the other EVA. White armor. Crap, EVA-0.11 was the back up, then. That would be so cool to witness if Mike wasn't about to piss himself.
A reddish glow around the Demogorgon showed its AT field activated. Covering EVA-01's momentary escape, EVA-0.11 tried to reach the Demogorgon's core with its machine gun, distracting him at the same time.
With each step THE CLERIC took, the earth groaned—almost cracked open. No wonder there were always earthquakes reports around the state of Indiana, NERV's restricted area being the epicenter.
On more than one occasion, the path to safety was slowed down by the Demogorgon's attempts to drag their rescuer into combat.
The vertigo was to be expected, after a good while trapped in that swing of things. Dustin and Mike held onto each other; their arms and legs tangled together. Curses spawned from their mouths continuously. They began to sweat from the incredible heat generated from their prison.
Fuck. The roars. The Demogorgon's screeches. Mike was sure he was gonna have nightmares about them the rest of his life.
The pit of Mike's stomach eventually disappeared, subjected to permanent free fall state. For an endless amount of time.
Battling a Demogorgon in the flesh was no comparison to watch it televised. That ugly bastard just wouldn't give up.
To Mike's astonishment, CLERIC never let go of them.
He protected them. Made it clear that he was incredibly swift in slipping past the enemy, time and time again.
When, finally, Mike felt the EVA's hand open, the sky had morphed into an orange hue. The sun was setting.
"Come on, get down! Head to the emergency tunnels, they are reinforced!"
Dustin rolled off the huge palm, babbling to himself. Vomiting sounds soon followed. Mike, for his part, crawled across the expanded palm as fast as he could. He landed in a well-known wooded area.
"Dustin, are you okay, man?"
"We will never do that again. Ever." Dustin defiled the foliage once more time to make his point. Mike made a face.
"Never say never, pal. Come on, up! We need to head to the tunnels he mentioned!" He helped his friend up, wrapping his arm around his shoulders.
"Wait a minute… Lovers Lake?" Great. Dustin's brain was back in service.
"More walking, less talking, Dustin! Let's go!"
Mike glanced behind him, spotting the formidable figure of CLERIC rising to its feet.
"Hey! T-Thanks!"
-Smooth, Mike. Very smooth.
Gosh, where had THAT come from?
It wasn't like the EVA could hear him. CLERIC was already running back to its EVA partner. The pilot had no time for goodbyes. Of course. He had bigger business to attend to. Like annihilating interdimensional monsters that just continued to be a plague Hawkins couldn't get rid of.
Speaking of Hawkins.
It looked like the lake area had received a modern makeover. There were NERV signs everywhere, and part of the forest area leading to the lake was now a concrete path leading to the emergency tunnels. These routes had been planned, designed, and built, in order to offer protection to their personnel, or to civilians.
Hawkins was no longer the town he had grown up in. The Wheelers had left it like a bleeding wound three years ago, and now it was a military shield against the supernatural.
To have access to the tunnels, they had to show their faces on an infrared panel. The doors opened and in seconds Dustin and Mike found themselves locked in another kind of prison.
Dustin smiled. "More like a bunker, right?"
Mike rolled his eyes.
There was electricity, air conditioning, cushioned benches, and canned food. Hurray.
Mike being Mike, though, couldn't contain his impatience after five minutes of exploration. He started pacing around the bunker like a caged tiger in no time.
"Hey, catch!"
A twinkie fell into Mike's hands. "Oh, fuck yeah."
Dustin was already biting into his. "Oh, fuck yeah!"
Mike returned to Dustin's side, lying next to him on the floor. They both devoured their twinkies, trying to ignore the subterranean growls that signaled the ongoing fight on the surface.
Mike sighed. "Home Sweet Home."
Dustin placed his hand over Mike's knee. "You were missed, Paladin. Now you know what we've been dealing with."
"I just can't believe it... I mean, I've seen the news, sure, the documentaries, but—God—I'm not sure if I wanna scream Holy shit, give me a plane ticket back to Chicago, or Holy shit, why the hell did I leave?"
"Well, it's not like you had a choice. You were evacuated." Dustin opened his backpack to check the status of the video recorder. "Come on, Babe, I know what you're made of. Don't break my heart."
Mike snorted through his nose. "Babe?"
"Shut it, Wheeler. You have no idea what we're being through together this couple of years… Ooooh, yes! You turned on, Babe!"
Well, at least the SONY Handycam would survive another day. Small victories. "Have you ever recorded anything like this before?"
Dustin stopped his inspections to pay attention to him. He raised his eyebrow. "You mean being carried around by an EVA like a sack of potatoes? Uuuuh, nope. Not even close to it. I've recorded moments where the evacuation alarms go off. I've recorded the military running in terror—don't let their tough act fool you, they're a bunch a pussies—Hell, I hadn't even seen a Demogorgon this close before! It was…"
"It was…" Mike was already grinning. Breathless.
"It was awesome!"
-Yeah, it fucking was. Mike wanted to share some of the geeky enthusiasm with Dustin a little bit longer, but there was a part of him that wondered…
"I hope he's okay." He licked his lips. "I hope he wins." Then, for some reason, immense heat centered on his entire face. He cleared his throat. "That they win, I mean."
"Hmm." Dustin nodded, trying his best to be optimistic as well. It always came easier for someone like Dustin than to Mike. "They sure got this. With a name like that, CLERIC has to kick some major butt."
Mike's lips curved. With a name like that, he couldn't help but be curious about the pilot. Was he aware of the reference to D&D, or was it just some weird coincidence?
The pilot had ignored orders to save them. Mike hadn't forgotten that. Whoever had reprimanded the EVA by radio, had been pretty upset with CLERIC's intervention to save 'two civilians.' And EVA 0.11 had agreed to the diversion, covering for its partner, so that Mike and Dustin would be taken to a shelter.
Mike hoped they were both okay.
"How many EVAs are here in Hawkins, again?"
"Just these two." Dustin found two Cola cans. They were lukewarm. "Last I heard, NERV just finished testing another prototype in California. EVA-02. Although, I don't think Hawkins will transfer it so quickly. It seems the California Government and NERV are fighting for custody of the prototype. You already know that there are rumors about portals opening in other parts of the world, they don't want to be caught with their pants down, so to speak…"
Mike nodded. His mother had vehemently denied the existence of more portals the few times Mike had dared to bring it up at dinner. To shield Holly, mostly. Mike wasn't that naïve, though. He was aware of the real stakes, thanks to the constant's transmissions with The Party, during all this time. CEREBRO for sure had been useful for that. The local news was bogus and only showed what was convenient for them. They all knew that.
"I heard they're brother and sister." Dustin smiled at him open-lipped, fascinated by the subject at hand. Mike raised his eyebrows curiously. "The pilots, CLERIC and EL. That's why they fight very well together. They almost read each other's freaking minds."
EL? Hmm, it seemed CLERIC wasn't the only one with a nickname. "Huh. Make sense. EVA-0.11 didn't hesitate to collaborate with CLERIC, you notice that? She's loyal to the other pilot. Is it true they're sort of our age? When I heard the pilot…"
Dustin shrugged. "It's what they say." A hard expression settled on his friend. "Can you believe it if it's true, though? Man. To fight Demogorgon's once a week, for two years straight? I don't think they sleep very well at night."
Mike took a deep breath. "Maybe they do... knowing they're keeping us safe."
What Dustin would have been about to contribute was interrupted by alarms inside the bunker. The red spotlights installed at the entrance turned on and a computerized voice echoed through the room.
"THREAT NEUTRALIZED… PLEASE EXIT WITH CAUTION… THREAT NEUTRALIZED… PLEASE EXIT WITH CAUTION…"
Both boys needed no further push to leave the shelter. As soon as they were outside, Mike urgently inhaled the taste of the coolness of the night. He hated being locked up.
"There are fires near the city reconstructions, look!" Dustin already had his video camera on his face. Figures. "I bet that's where the Demogorgon said its last words!"
At this distance, the quality of the recording would be very low, but there was no denying the boy's determination. Dustin wasn't wrong. The firemen's sirens were easily recognizable.
Mike bit his lower lip, now with the adrenaline slowing down considerable. He hugged himself, walking back to the main concrete path that had led them to the bunker.
"Dustin, do you see any pay phones around?"
"Whoa Mike! Have you seen how many helicopters are up there?" Dustin smiled at him. "Do you think any of them would give us a ride?"
Scanning the starry sky and the metal wasps hovering over Lovers Lake, Mike knocked his shoulder against Dustin's. "Depends. Are you going to throw up your Skittles again?"
"HA HA." Dustin fired with pointed sarcasm; his eyes glued to the sky. "Hey... Is it me, or is one of the helicopters closing in on us?"
For a moment, Mike wasn't convinced. After Dustin scrambled to get the binoculars out of his backpack, Mike felt his heart pound with confirmation. One of the NERV helicopters was indeed heading in the direction of the bunker.
Dustin tugged on his arm, backing away towards the wooded area. "Damn it. We should get a move on! Won't they arrest us for breaching their pathetic security?"
Fuck. Good point.
"I—Uh." -Brilliant, Mike. Try again. "They won't arrest us... I think."
"How do you know?"
Mike opened and closed his mouth more than five times in thirty seconds. He knew that he should have been more honest about his reasons for coming to explore the NERV facility. Now his reluctance to share was going to explode in his face.
The helicopter was already landing at a safe distance where their heads wouldn't be chopped off. One of the passengers wasted no time after landing to jump out of the flying sardine can, covering her curly hair with a work folder.
Mike sighed internally. -Here we go.
"You're crazy!"
The fierce accusation overcame the sound of the helicopter's blades.
Because Nancy was furious.
"Michael Wheeler, I swear to God—you're dead!"
"NANCY?" Dustin was now running back towards the Wheelers.
Mike shrugged one shoulder. "You should've picked me up at the bus station."
Nancy looked even more shocked. "I sent an escort for you, you idiot!" The work folder went flying, hitting Mike on the stomach. "I ordered you to wait for me at the hotel!"
"To do what? Play with my thumbs? They don't even have cable." Mike muttered under his breath. He managed to escape the second folder-slap. "Hah!"
"Wait a moment! Nancy, what are you doing here? Do you work for NERV?" Dustin got between the brothers, and he noticed the logo on Nancy's uniform. "Oh shit. You do work for NERV."
Nancy took a moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath. "Very well. This incident can be contained. I can deal with this. There are no reporters around. No one died."
"Are you trying to convince us, or yourself?" Mike injected sharply. He earned an elbow in his side from Dustin. "Hey!"
"Save it, pal. I can't believe you forgot to mention your sister works for NERV!"
Oh. Yes. That tiny little detail. Mike rubbed his stomach. "It was… classified information."
"Please. Like you care." Nancy took command of the situation again. She pushed Dustin aside to latch her claws on her brother. "Get in the helicopter. Right now. Keep your mouth shut. And maybe mom won't regret sending you with me. Whoa, wait—is that a video camera?"
"Hey! Nancy, no, wait!" Too late, the security guard accompanying Nancy already had Dustin's backpack in his hands. "It doesn't work, you're wasting your time, man! Did you all miss the part where I was bounced like a baseball all over Hawkins? I couldn't get anything good!"
"There's no seats for the both of us in here, Nancy!" Mike pulled up at the edge of the chopper's door, his Converse screeching over the concrete. "No way I'm leaving Dustin here all by himself!"
His sister was just behind him, pushing at his lower back. "Dustin doesn't have access to where you and I are heading, Mike. I'll send one of my drivers to pick him up."
"Oh, come on!"
"Nope!" Mike shook his head, determined. He already had his own experience with one of the so called "drivers". Shady as fuck, it's what he'd call them. "I won't leave him alone with your Terminator-like weirdos, Nancy!" Mike might be skinny, but he was taller and was able to slip out of Nancy's tiny hands.
"Mike, for God's sake!"
"I can take them. Over."
Mike froze.
Nancy alike.
Slowly, brother and sister turned to the east side of Lover's Lake.
Mike swallowed hard.
The night did many favors to camouflage EVA-01, now the emergency searchlights had dimmed considerably. Mike was mesmerized by how easily the shadows of the forest wove around the impressive robotic silhouette.
EVA-01 had been spying on them.
Nancy picked up the radio that hung from her belt. Mike watched her lick her lips before answering.
"There's no need, Will. Didn't you go check on Jane's condition? Over."
"She's okay, Lieutenant. She's resting in the infirmary with Hopper. He asked me to make sure that the civilians were unharmed… Really, it's no bother. I can mobilize both quickly and without spending more resources, over."
A pause.
"If they feel up to it, that is. Not everyone can handle a day like today. Over."
Mike raised his eyebrows, exchanging an indignant look with Dustin. -Oh, so you want to play it like that, huh?
Nancy shook her head, "Kids." She reopened her lipstick-faded lips…
Mike stole the radio. "Can say the same for Dustin's stomach, but I sure feel more than up for it, CLERIC. Over."
"Mike, give me that." Nancy hissed. The woman rose on her tiptoes to try and retrieve the radio. It was kinda hilarious to see.
"I hate you." Dustin was already resigned to the change of plans. He held his stomach with a grimace, apparently remembering his last trip. "You're so right, but I hate you, Mike Wheeler."
"Problem solved." Mike smiled at Nancy. Oh boy, the lecture he would get later. "Take Dustin to Hawkins-2, and I'll wait for you at—well, wherever this 'classified place' is."
"Central Dogma, Mike. You'll need to be debriefed about today's events." Nancy hissed again. The girl's almond eyes gleamed between her brother and the EVA that was gliding towards them. "Weren't you afraid of heights?"
"Geez. I was eight years old." Mike rolled his eyes. As a show of good faith, he returned the radio. "I'm over it now." Sure as hell he was after today.
Nancy made a face. She raised the radio to her face again. "Will, do me a favor? Over."
"Of course!"
The Pilot—Will—definitely sounded very young. Sweet, in a way, with the enthusiasm shown. He had even forgotten to add over in his transmission.
Nancy directed him to the point where they would meet CLERIC. "Could you eject your entry plug and let Mike get in with you on the trip to Central Dogma? I know my brother; one slip and he would break his neck. Over."
Mike would be offended, if it weren't for the fact that he had barely understood a quarter of what his sister had said.
His entire face twisted in confusion.
"The entry plug of what, now?"
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End of Part 01.
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NA: I left EVA-01's appearance almost the same in honor of the Cleric costume Will wore to play DnD :) For EVA-0.11 I adjusted it to a mostly white hue in honor of the last scene in "The Piggyback" and her outfit when she was inside NINA. I think the white/pink combo works for El.
Next part: Byler meets face to face!