Interlude 9: Home Enough

Village-3 Docks, Former Hadano Area, Another World, Mid-2022

Asuka Shikinami-Langley of WILLE (a title she was still getting used to, even after what felt like so long having it) shouldered her pack as she stepped onto dry land once again, the Fleet at rest for a week or two of shore leave.

It had been a while since the Fleet had done that much, even. Taking down the Mark.04A patrols over the last year for Captain Katsuragi's little pet project had them only touching base for resupply and dashing back out. But now, as crewmembers streamed out around her, she began the long walk towards the village proper.

All the while, as people passed her, she found the ignorance of those around her almost… comforting, now. Mari, who was usually lumped together with her, had run off somewhere else, where to didn't matter, really, leaving her with her thoughts. And the being that stalked around inside them.

"It surprises me how they let you wander so." Bardiel whispered with her own voice, sardonicism dripping from its, her, no it was its, words. "After all, they put you under such a tight guard on the vessels."

"I'm not anywhere close to an Eva, stupid."

Asuka replied. Or at least, she thought that was her replying. "And it's not like I'm going to let you near anything important."

A dramatic sigh. "As you said, it's not like I, like you, can do anything whilst we are traipsing about this… dreadfully green world. How is it still thus?"

Asuka spared a glance at one of Doctor Akagi's ACC Pillars in the distance, a tower of spinning sections that glowed a moody red. "There you go. That's about all I'll give you too, Angel."

"Ah. So much like the little spike that they've shoved into your eye socket to try and contain me? My, but this is quite a strange new development."

"It existed a long time before you shoved your way into my head, idiot."

It, she, whatever, chuckled again. "Oh, child. Old am I, and ancient is my name. Just as you seem to be."

"I could have guessed at the first part, Angel."

Asuka interjected. "What does it take for you to shut up?"

It was silent for a moment. Then a moment more. She stopped in the middle of the road, empty now, save for her, and the few sparse trees that surrounded her path. The wind blustered through, setting the trees to rustle quietly as Asuka's eye narrowed slightly.

Was she herself, still? Or had the Angel finally decided enough was enough, and just taken over, shoved her into the back of her own mind like she'd done to Unit-03? She tried to take another step, but found herself… unwilling to. Or was she unable to?

It was a quiet moment, much like all the others, as Asuka contemplated her potential insanity and possession. She focused on her breathing, trying to control it… and finding that she could.

'Okay.' she thought, beginning to go through a now-familiar process. 'I can breathe. I've got that much. Now, we get to everything else.'

She twitched a finger, then another and another, soon clenching one fist, then the other. She tapped a foot, then slowly, slowly, took a tentative step. Then another. Then another.

As she began making her way to her usual abode, she stifled a sigh of relief. One more day, conquered like the rest of them. Of course, it was. After all, she was the best Evangelion pilot in the world, wasn't she?

She waited for a response, a continuation of any kind as she left the thought mentally dangling for a moment. But nothing came of it. For now.

Asuka shook her head as she growled. She considered, not for the first time, simply biting the bullet and telling someone about this. Doctor Akagi, or Doctor Aanderson, or just… someone.

But what could they do about it?

What could anyone do?

So, she trudged on, up the lone hill, and to the rundown, lonely house that sat atop it. 'House' was probably a bit strong of a word for it. It was more of a shack really. A well-kept one, perhaps, by whoever happened to pass by and have a moment, which meant that there was still quite a bit of work to do to make it decent again. But it was her own.

She opened the door, the musty smell hitting her nostrils as she waved away the dust that floated towards her, stifling a cough. There was the bed mat, there was the dresser, there was the kitchen and the bathroom. It didn't look like someone had come in and screwed around with anything recently.

She checked anyway, her bag hitting the floor with a slight explosion of dust as she walked towards the bathroom. Even with the end of the world, technology had still marched on. Who knew what advances would allow some creep to look in on her without her knowing?

She could have sworn that line of thought was familiar, but she shook it off. There were more pertinent things to be focusing on, after all.

The only sounds to be heard were the shuffling of her feet, the rustling of things being moved or dusted or of her bomber jacket moving around, and the slight squeaking of her Plugsuit. It was the only thing she felt comfortable in now, really. Everything else was too… open. Too loose. It felt like she might fly out of it at any moment. Or was that how Bardiel felt? It didn't really matter, either way.

"Hello?"

Asuka blinked. Who the hell was interrupting her in the middle of cleaning the bathroom?

She stood, turning and leaning out to look into the common area at the man who stood in the middle of it.

He was a thin man, a similarly thin face framed by a mess of brown hair, his brown eyes framed by glasses. He wore a simple outfit, a sweater and jeans capped off by well-worn boots, and he carried a bag filled with… something.

"Who the hell are you?" Asuka said brusquely. "And why are you standing in my house?"

The man blinked, his jaw hanging open for a moment before he chuckled. "Well, I guess you wouldn't remember me. I'd forgotten the fleet was coming in today."

"And why does that matter? In fact, how does that answer my question?"

"Well, I'm the person who's been keeping this old place standing, for one. It used to be my dad's place before you moved in. So I figured whoever was living here would appreciate it if it was in decent condition. I guess that was you."

Asuka nodded slowly, then blinked. "Wait a minute. Why wouldn't I remember you?"

"Well, Ms. Shikinami, I'm Aida. Kensuke Aida."

Asuka looked at him again, her eyes narrowing. "You're… that kid with the camera." she said slowly.

Kensuke nodded. "Still am, kind of. I just… help out around the village, too. Fixing things up, getting supplies for Toji and Hikari..."

He trailed off as he looked around again, then back at Asuka. "Doesn't it get… lonely out here?" he said slowly.

Asuka shrugged after a moment. "It's a place that's away from people." she had to make a conscious effort now, to not call them Lilim like Bardiel did all the time. It was getting more and more tedious to keep up. "Why would I want to stay with anyone, anyway?"

"Because it's better than simply not having someone real to talk to. I'd imagine talking to the thin air gets boring after a while."

'You have no idea.' Asuka mused silently. "So what, are you asking if I want to move in with you?"

Kensuke nodded slightly after a moment. "In so many words, yeah."

Asuka's eye narrowed again. "And why are you asking me this, really?"

"Well… I can make sure no one else disturbs you if you don't want to be, a lot more easily than just staying on the down-low out here alone." Kensuke replied.

He paused for a moment. "But… thinking about it… it's what Toji would do." He looked down, a forlorn look in his eyes. "It's what Shinji would have done, maybe."

The silence hung in the air between them for a moment as Asuka's brow furled and a corner of her mouth twisted. 'Really? It's what that idiot would have done? That's why you're trying this? Stupid Shinji didn't even have the balls to rescue me when it counted. How could he invite me out of this place?'

And yet… if the guy was that sure…

Asuka rolled her eyes. "Look, if you really feel that strongly that you think the idiot would do it, then I might as well humor you for a little while, see how it works out."

Kensuke smiled slightly. "Thanks, Ms. Shikinami. I hope I can make it bearable."

Asuka rolled her eyes. "Please, if we're going to be roommates, you can at least drop the Ms. bit. It's going to get annoying after a while."

Kensuke nodded silently as he scanned the room again. "Anything beyond this room that needs to be carried out? It's not too terribly far to my house from here."

Asuka shook her head as she picked up her backpack. "Nope. Just what I have here."

A part of her wanted to warn him off from trying to be a pervert, but it felt… superfluous. After all, if he was a smart adult, he wouldn't go picking on someone who still looked like a kid. There were actual women he could chase after all. This dolt didn't need a tool like her.

"Anyone else I have to worry about?" she asked as they made their way out the door.

"No. Just me." Kensuke replied with a shrug as he began to walk off. "And you probably won't need to worry about anyone for however long you stay."

Asuka merely grunted as she followed behind him. She'd probably want out of there and back into this house by the time her shore leave was over.