SIXTH - DELIBERATE MISTAKES
Chapter Two
Arrivals
With a soft rustling of cloth, the Fifth Child stepped out from behind Rei, giving them their first clean look at him.
He was of average height, as tall as any of them, or as short, depending on one's point of view. A long, black trench coat hung on his body, tied tight around the waist, the two ends of the belt dangling freely. His skin, what little of it showed, was pale, not the pallor of an albino, like Rei's skin, but more the sensitive skin of a person who spent his days indoors, out of the sun. His hair could have had something to do with that. It was red, a darker shade of red than Asuka's fiery locks. It was worn short, combed straight back, leaving his forehead exposed, free of any bangs or loose hair. A pair of thick glasses perched upon his nose, behind which a pair of hazel eyes stared at each of them in turn, fully digesting whatever he was in the individual, before moving onto the next.
His face was what held them, though. It was neither handsome nor ugly, in short, a plain face, marred only by the most minuscule of scars upon the cheek/cheekbone, directly underneath his left eye. All in all, it was a face that did not seems as though it was used to smiling, or showing much expression at all, for that matter. While not stiff, the lines of his face were more restrained than a fourteen year old boy's face should have been. At the moment, his face gave nothing away, no fear, trepidation, or excitement showing upon it, merely a blank slate. A perfect mirror of Rei's expressionless mask, a fact that all four people in the room were quick to realize, with both children standing near to one another.
The silence stretched out, each person waiting for another to make a move. Finally, Avery spoke up.
"Dr. Akagi…..are these the pilots?" While slightly deeper than they had expected, his voice was soft and toneless, as with his face, not something that betrayed emotion easily.
Ritsuko nodded. "Yes, Avery, these are them, and the woman with them will be your commanding officer during missions. Her name is Major Misato Katsuragi." Ritsuko motioned with her hand. "Come on in, Avery, we need to introduce you to everyone."
Avery weaved between them, moving to stand in the center of the room. As he passed, it became clear that they had misjudged one thing. His hair was not worn short, quite the contrary, it reached down his back to his waist, tied in a tight braid that slapped against his back as he moved. Once again, he faced them, his eyes flicking from one face to the next, finally coming to rest on Misato. "I am Avery Black, Major Katsuragi. It is nice to meet you."
Misato smiled, a big, winning smile. "Just Misato, please. And it's nice to meet you too, Avery. Do you know these three?" she asked, indicating the pilots.
Avery shook his head. "I do not know them by name or face. I recall only that the First Child and the Second Child were female, and the Third Child and the Fourth Child were male. The Fourth Child was injured during the activation of Evangelion Unit-03, and the subsequent attack of the Thirteenth Angel. Therefore, I do not believe this is him," he said, indicating Shinji.
Misato nodded. "Avery Black, this is Shinji Ikari, the Third Child. The redhead over there is Asuka Soryu Langely, the Second Child, and that leaves Rei Ayanami, the First Child, here."
"Hello," said Shinji.
"Nice to meet you….," said Rei, her tone hardly matching her words.
Asuka smiled and extended her hand. "Good to have you here, Fifth Child."
For a long moment, Avery stared at her hand, then shook his head. "I understand the gesture," he stated "But I do not shake hands."
"Why not?" asked a confused, and halfway insulted Asuka. "It's just a friendly gesture."
"I do not shake hands because I choose not to. It has nothing to do with you," said Avery, turning away from her, to face Misato. "Major Katsuragi, I was told by Dr. Akagi that you were the one responsible for handling my living arrangements and school."
Misato stifled a giggle at Asuka's face, which was somewhere in between rage and confusion at being ignored. "Yes, they dumped all your arrangements on me when I came in this morning. I'll swing by my desk and give you all the papers you'll need, but I'd like to get something to eat first, I haven't had anything since breakfast today. " She glanced to the three behind Avery. "Hungry kids?" she asked.
Asuka nodded. "Always!"
Misato glanced back to Avery. "Join us?"
He nodded. "I have not eaten yet this day. I shall accompany you."
As they walked to the cafeteria, Asuka edged next to Avery, determined to at least get him to talk. "So, Fifth Child, what's with the trench coat? Isn't it kind of warm for a coat, much less one as heavy as that?"
"I always wear this," he said, turning to regard her. "It is comfortable to me. Excessive heat is not something that has ever bothered me." His voice dropped in volume, almost to a whisper. "It keeps the rain off me, as well…."
"What's so bad about the rain?" asked Asuka. "Hell, you shouldn't have to worry about that, it hardly ever rains here."
"I am not fond of rain. As well, with the amount of hair I possess, if I allow it to become damp for extended periods of time, I become ill. I do not like being ill." His gaze returned forward, breaking eye contract.
*Hypochondriac…* though Asuka. *I swear, his voice hasn't changed tone once, and his face is just that blank stare……if it wasn't for his hair and eyes, I'd think he was Wondergirl's long lost cousin or something….* She glanced at him. *He's no albino though.*
"Help yourselves, kids, you all know the drill by now," Misato glanced at the various dishes set out in the NERV cafeteria. "Looks like they actually have a decent selection today, so dig in." Each person selected whatever dish appealed to them the most, and they converged on a table.
"So, Avery, you're the new kid, you tell us about yourself," said Misato, sipping from her drink.
Avery set his plate down, and reached up to his neck, unbuttoning the top button on his trench coat, then untying the belt around his waist, shrugging the heavy coat from his shoulders. Underneath, he wore long black pants, and a black T-shirt, upon which was drawn the constellations of the night sky. His arms were thickly covered with hair, light red, attesting to the fact that this child had hit puberty with both feet running….some parts of it, at least, as he was no taller than any of them. There was a silver chain around his neck, upon which hung a cross, a pretty, crystalline thing, with a blue stone set at the center. "I have little to tell about myself. I do not have any typical 'interests' or 'hobbies'. I simply exist." His eyes dropped to his plate, as he took a forkful of pasta and chewed, seemingly having dismissed the conversation.
"So….you don't have anything you do for fun?" asked Shinji.
"I do not know what you would consider fun. I read, mainly, in the time I do not spend on school work. The past few weeks have been spent learning Japanese, so I have had little free time." He sipped from his drink. "Otherwise…..I think…….frequently. I have little desire to go out."
"We'll have to change that," said Misato, with a mischievous smirk.
"What's that for?" asked Asuka, pointing to his cross. "You don't see many people wearing crosses these days, is it an heirloom?"
"I am a Christian," he said, his tone dull, his eyes still on his plate, as he steadily consumed the food before him. "That is why I wear this. It was my mother's, and it belonged to her parents before her. So I believe it would be a heirloom." His eyes flicked to Misato. "Major Katsuragi, you too wear a cross. Should the presence of one upon myself be so strange?"
Misato shook her head. "It's not what you think." She fingered the cross, delicately. "This belonged to my father…..and he died in the Second Impact. That's the only reason I wear this. I'm like most people these days, I have no religion."
"I understand," Avery's attention once more returned to his food, as he methodically finished off his meal. He pushed his plate aside, and settled back into his chair, his eyes staring forward. Idly, his left hand brushed through his hair, tucking a few stray stands back into the general weave. "When will I be required to attend school, Major Katsuragi?"
"Tomorrow," she said. "Thankfully, the schools around here are used to sudden transfers, so they processed you pretty quickly. You'll be at the same school and class as these three, so any of them can show you the way around."
"I will keep that in mind," he replied, then stifled a yawn. "May I depart, Major Katsuragi? I fear my body has not yet recovered from the difference in times yet. I wish to be rested when I must attend school tomorrow."
"Oh…okay," Misato took a napkin and scribbled on it for a second. "Here's the address of your place, I wrote directions on there in case you needed them."
Avery read over the directions, then folded the napkin up, and placed it in his pocket. "I understand. I have not yet been issued a security card for this branch of NERV. Will I be able to use this one?" He produced a card and handed it to Misato. Asuka leaned over and peered at the picture.
*Not very flattering.* An unsmiling Avery stared at them, his hair mussed, and it appeared that he had blinked at the moment the picture had been taken.
"This should work for now, but I'll get you set up for a new ID card ASAP." She handed him his card back. "If nothing else, you need a better picture. But I can't imagine Section 2 will be too crazy about an American branch card being used around here, since you're going to be here more than temporarily."
"Very well." Avery stood, pulling his coat around his slender frame, and departed, depositing his plates as he left.
The silence stretched for a long breath, broken only by the sounds of Rei softly chewing her food.
"Not very talkative, is he?" asked Shinji. Almost as an afterthought, he picked up his sandwich and took a bite from it, as though he had just remembered that he had it.
"Try 'friendly' instead, Shinji," groused Asuka. "Is he at all related to Wondergirl, Misato?"
"I have no 'relations', Pilot Soryu," stated Rei.
"I could show you his birth certificate if you like, Asuka," teased Misato. "I guess it's just like Ritsuko said, he's just quiet."
"They're always 'quiet' Misato. I'm surrounded by people who's idea of fun is staring at blank walls...." Misato's eyes narrowed. "Yourself excluded, of course!" said Asuka, somewhat hastily.
"Nice save, Asuka…." Misato finished her meal, and rose. "And I'm back on the clock, so I'll see you two at home tonight. Take care, Rei!" Waving, Misato left, leaving the three pilots to themselves. Rei departed soon after, leaving Shinji and Asuka to walk home. Asuka took this time to vent her feelings on the new pilot.
"Still, I can't believe that boy! No interests or hobbies, you'd think that he was TRYING to be like Wondergirl!" Asuka grumbled, for the third time.
"Asuka…," ventured Shinji. "We really don't know anything about him……isn't it a little early for all this?" He sighed. "I mean, maybe he has a reason to be the way he is……or maybe he's just really shy…"
Asuka turned to face him, walking backwards as she did. "Maybe…….honestly, he can't possibly be as passive as he says he's acting…"
"Why do you say that?" asked Shinji. This was a definite change from Asuka's behavior, and it confused him. Previously, she had seemed all too happy complaining about how dead and withdrawn Avery was.
"Did you see his hair, Shinji?" she asked, as she turned back around.
Shinji shrugged. "Yes….it's really long…..why does that change anything?"
"Shinji, do you have any idea how much work long hair is?" She gestured to hers. "It takes a lot of work to keep my hair this nice, but I'm lucky. Girls grow their hair faster than boys, so it didn't take that long for my hair to get this length. For a guy to grow his hair that long, and be willing to put the time and effort into keeping it decent…" She paused in her walk, shaking her head. "….No, for ONCE, you're right. Avery may be quiet and antisocial, but he's not totally like that damn doll, either. He's laying it on pretty thick, but there might be some hope for him yet."
"Hope for me in what way, Second Child?" A voice, new, but recognizable, caused Shinji and Asuka to turn. Avery Black stood behind them, his arms laden down with shopping bags. "These are heavy. Would you move? The strength in this body is limited at best."
"Avery? Are you stalking us or something?" asked Asuka.
"I am returning to my place of residence, Second Child. There was no food there when I arrived, and my possessions had not been fully moved, so I left to acquire food." He shifted his shoulders, obviously overburdened. "I believe that I may have purchased more than I require."
"You must live close by," commented Shinji. "It looks like you shopped at the same place Misato does…I hope your taste is better than hers…..," He trailed off, as a thought began to form in his head. *She wouldn't have….*
In a rare moment of cohesion, Asuka picked up on Shinji's thought, and continued with it. "Avery…..that building over there…..that's not where you were assigned to live, was it?" She pointed, indicated the building she and Shinji had come to know as home.
He followed the line of her finger, and nodded. "That is the place that matched the description I was given by Major Katsuragi." He tilted his head to the side slightly, as he met Asuka's gaze. "Why? I do not understand the significance of this fact."
"We live there too," said Shinji. "Misato acts as a sort of guardian for both me and Asuka, since her parents are in Germany, and my….." Shinji paused, attempting to find the words that could convey the relationship between his father and himself. Eyes cast to the ground, he missed the brief flash of pain that crossed Asuka's face at the mention of her parents. "….my father and I don't get along." He sighed. "I guess I should have expected it, since you came all the way from America…..but it never occurred to me that Misato would take you in, too."
"I see," said Avery. "I was unaware that Major Katsuragi was the guardian for the pilots, in addition to her other duties."
"I'm not sure if it's official or not, but she does take care of me and Asuka……well, sorta….," said Shinji, albeit a little sheepishly, as he recalled Misato's often immature behavior. Not to mention her clothing.
"Then, it would seem that she is concerned for my ability to care for myself alone, as she was with yourselves."
"Hey!" snapped Asuka. "I can take care of myself just FINE, thank you!"
"As can I. But the beliefs of myself and yourself would appear to carry little merit. The decision was not ours to make."
Asuka smirked. "Maybe not for you, but I asked Misato if I could live with her. She knew perfectly well I could take care of myself. After all, I'm not a child that has to be coddled, not like Shinji here."
"You were fortunate to have the choice," Avery's eyes returned forward. "I would have chosen differently, I believe."
"So you don't want to be around us?" asked Asuka, a bit of an edge creeping into her voice.
"I like being alone." Avery deadpanned this, all semblance of feeling leaving his voice. "That is all. As with my refusal to shake your hand, it has nothing to do with you."
"Well, Misato won't let you," said Shinji, somewhat wryly. "They had me set up for private quarters, like Ayanami, originally. But Misato pretty much ordered me to move in with her." He shook his head. "I used to hate it……..she drinks like a fish, is sloppy, loud…..she teases me mercilessly, and so does Asuka. But…in the long run, I'm glad she did what she did. I'd have probably just made myself miserable living alone." For a long moment, there was quiet, and the silence stretched out, filling the gap, as they walked the remaining distance to their homes, both old and new.
"Same floor too….," noted Asuka, observing the empty boxes stacked in the hall. "Hell, you're right next door to us. I guess Misato really must want to keep an eye on you."
Shinji thought for a moment, weighing the words in his mind, wondering how far would be too far to delve. "What about…..your parents, Avery?" he asked. "I mean, Asuka's already graduated from college, she should be fine on her own. Were your parents just all right with you coming all the way here by yourself?"
Avery pushed the door to his apartment open, and stepped inside. "My parents….," he said, turning his head to face them. "….their opinions no longer matter….." And with that, he slid the door shut."
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"Geez, can you believe that guy?"
It was later, the opening hours of twilight, and Shinji and Asuka were, for once, working on homework together. In truth, Shinji was little more than a glorified Kanji dictionary, helping Asuka with the few symbols she still hadn't mastered.
"I mean, did you hear him? 'Their opinions no longer matter.' Maybe I was wrong about him being like that damn albino, because that just sounds like something she'd say."
Asuka, having nearly finished her work, was taking this opportunity to rant about school, life, and everything that bothered her. Avery had the dubious distinction of being singled out from the masses. It seems he had really gotten under her skin.
The sound of a door announced Misato's return. "Hey Shinji, Asuka! Working hard?" she asked, observing the scene before her.
"Oh, I'm almost done, Misato. I'm just waiting on Shinji to get done. He might need my help on some of the harder problems," replied Asuka.
"That's rather nice of you, Asuka," commented Misato, sagging bonelessly into a chair.
"Tired?" asked Shinji, looking up from his work.
"Exhausted……Asuka, could you?" Before she had even completed her request, Asuka had set a beer in front of her. Misato nodded her thanks, then downed half the can in one go, expelling a grateful sigh.
"All better?" asked Asuka, smirking at the display.
"You have NO idea……..how much I needed that…." She shrugged her coat off, stretching her arms above her head, then leaning into the chair, sagging even further into it. "Do you know if Avery got settled in?"
Shinji shook his head. "We bumped into him on the way home. He'd been out for groceries, but all he said was that they were still moving stuff."
"STILL?" asked Misato. "Damn….NERV is going to have to find a better contractor for personnel moves…Avery barely had anything to move, just a couple boxes of clothes, a couple more of personal stuff, and two or three pieces of furniture."
"If you're so concerned about the boy, why don't you go check on him?" asked Asuka. "You did move him right next to us, after all."
"I tried knocking on his door, but he didn't answer," commented Misato. "He's either gone exploring, or just isn't answering the door."
"Pfft," sneered Asuka. "I wonder what his problem is. I mean, it wouldn't hurt him to at least act friendly."
"Give him some time to get used to things, Asuka," said Misato. "Honestly, I can't think of too many fourteen year olds that would be completely crazy about this whole situation. He's left his home, friends, family, everything back in America." Misato shrugged. "Shinji wasn't so different when he first came to live with me…….it just took him some time to open up."
"Shinji was WORSE than he is now?" boggled Asuka, staring at the person in question. "Wow….whatever you did, it must have been amazing. I can't see little Shinji being even more pathetic than he is now…" She reached out and ruffled his hair, a move intended to annoy Shinji, carrying no affection at all. At least, none that Shinji could tell.
The gesture accomplished it's purpose, as Shinji glared at Asuka, then sighed and returned his attention to his work, having nothing he could say to that pleased, arrogant smirk of Asuka's. Even his annoyed glare only served to feed her enjoyment. Sighing, he changed tack. "So……was I really like Avery when I first came here? I mean….I know I had some problems with people….."
"But what, Shinji?" prodded Misato. "I know that look. You have something you want to say, but you're afraid to say it."
"You know me too well, Misato," griped Shinji, albeit with a smile. "I…….I know there have been problems with myself and……..and my father. But….I never spoke about him the way Avery talked about his parents…"
"What did he say?" asked Misato, her interest piqued.
"Well, we asked him if his parents were okay with him coming all the way to Japan without them.……and he just said that their opinions didn't matter to him." Shinji paused. "And…it isn't that he said that……..I hear someone in class say that almost daily……..it's….." Shinji sat for a long moment, unable to voice his thoughts.
"……I think it was the way he said it," said Asuka, venturing a guess. "Shinji might hate his father, or say that he does…….but there's still some vestiges of feeling between those two. Avery….his voice was dead…….completely dead when he mentioned them. It may have just been one sentence, but it was still unnatural."
"I was going to say scary…..," said Shinji, his voice quiet.
"It bothers you two, doesn't it?" asked Misato. Shinji nodded immediately, Asuka doing so a moment later. "I can see why it would…….it's like Asuka said, Shinji, whatever you feel for your father, good or bad, you still feel something for him. From what you told me….it sounds like Avery doesn't have any feelings at all for his parents." Misato frowned. "Still, it was just one sentence. We could be wrong."
"Maybe…..but there's still something wrong with that boy!" said Asuka.
"None of us are normal, dear," said Misato, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Anyone who gets involved with NERV is seriously lacking in sanity. Avery's probably no worse than the rest of us."
Asuka rolled her eyes, dismissing Avery and his issues from her mind. "So, Shinji? When are you going make your poor, tired roommates dinner?"
Shinji blinked. "My turn again?" He sighed, knowing argument was useless. "Fine, tell me what you want."
Misato waved a hand. "No, go on and finish your work, Shinji." She rose from her seat. "I'll order us something, I just don't feel like a home-cooked meal tonight."
"Thanks," mumbled Shinji, hunkering back down, and resuming work on the stack of make-up papers.
"So, what does everyone want?"
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Misato yawned as she walked out onto the balcony of her apartment, the night air filling her lungs, and waking her up, partially. She wanted to be sure to be awake when the food arrived. She had given Shinji money to pay for the food, of course, but she was hungry, and if she didn't get first shot at the food, there wouldn't be any left by the time she woke up. Shinji ate lightly, he wasn't the problem. Asuka could tuck food away at an alarming rate, however. Fortunately, she seemed to have been blessed with the same rapid metabolism that Misato herself possessed, so neither of them gained much, if any weight, from the massive amounts of food (or, in Misato's case, beer) that they consumed.
Leaning on the railing, her arms crossed over her chest, Misato stared out into the quiet night of Tokyo-3, and wondered.
NERV had only barely survived the last Eva activation test…….and the events that had followed it, and now, here they were, another Eva, another test, another pilot. Unknown factors, all of them……the latest in a growing list of unknowns. "This really stinks…..," whispered Misato, her voice lost in the night's wind.
And then…….Kaji. She could pretend otherwise, act indifferent all she wanted, and fool everyone…..except herself. She loved him, loved him so much it hurt…..and at the same time, she was terrified for him.
*Commander Ikari knows who I am, but he still finds me useful.*
*And what happens when your usefulness has run out, Kaji, what then?* thought Misato. *I've seen how he treats his own flesh and blood, when Shinji wasn't any 'use' to him, for Christ's sake. What's…..going to happen to you…..to US, when whatever game the Commander is playing with our lives ends?* For a long moment, Misato simply stood there, her head resting upon her arms, her fears, for Shinji, for Asuka, for herself, for Kaji……for all of them, overwhelming her.
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Morning dawned, as it always did, bringing with it a new day, and the problems and difficulties of a new day as well.
"You're joking, right?" deadpanned Asuka. "You just have to be."
Misato shook her head. "No, Asuka, I'm serious."
Asuka sighed. "I was afraid of that." She looked at her guardian. "Why us? Why not just order Wondergirl to do it?"
"Because you two are here, now….and because I say so!" snapped Misato. "C'mon, Asuka, it's his first day…….all I'm asking is this one little thing, make his start here easier.." She sighed. "God knows he's going to have it hard enough. He's starting halfway through the year, and Ritsuko's so happy to have a new Eva to play with, I wouldn't be surprised if he sees the inside of NERV more than I do this week. I swear, the woman was practically skipping yesterday….." Misato fixed them with a plaintive stare. "Could you just make him feel welcome…….assuming everything goes well, he will be fighting with you, soon."
"…..fine," groused Asuka. "But Shinji's coming with me."
"What, do you need him to protect you?" teased Misato.
Asuka scowled at that comment. Both of them knew perfectly well that she would be more likely to protect Shinji than the other way around. *At least…..as long as it isn't Eva combat……* Asuka quickly shelved those thoughts. Shinji may have saved her from the last two Angels….but she was STILL the best…….she had to be. "No!" she snapped. "If 'I' have to go over there, then so does Shinji. It's only fair, after all."
"Fine, Asuka, I'll go," said Shinji. "I don't see why you're making such a fuss over this…..but fine." He glanced at Misato. "Can you make sure the bacon doesn't burn, Misato? Just take it off the burner before it starts smoking….."
"I can do that, Shinji." Her smile turned to a frown as she took in Shinji's downfallen expression. "I CAN!"
"C'mon, Shinji. Let's get out of here before the fire department shows up." Though she would probably pay for it later, Misato's expression was well worth it. It wasn't often the two of them got Misato like that. *Serves her right for sending me over here, too* thought Asuka.
She and Shinji stepped from their apartment, and walked the minor distance to the apartment next door, where Avery lived. Glancing at Shinji, Asuka raised her fist, and pounded loudly on the door. "Avery?" she called out. "It's Asuka and Shinji! Open up, Misato sent us over here to ask you something!" After a few moments of silence, she tried again, this time rapping harder on the door. "If he's still asleep……hell, after all this noise even Misato would be awake….," mused Asuka.
"The door is open, you may enter," came Avery's voice, from within the apartment. Asuka shrugged, and cracked the door open, entering Avery's apartment.
It's shape was identical to the apartment they shared with Misato, and sparsely furnished, as to be expected from someone who had just moved in the previous day. A small table sat in the dining area, two chairs pulled up to it. A large desk was pushed against one of the living room walls, upon which sat a computer, not a fairly impressive machine, considering some of the machines they had seen around NERV. A pair of battered, taped headphones rested upon the keyboard. Other than these few items, the apartment was bare.
"Nice place…..," mumbled Asuka. "Must remind of you Wondergirl's place"
"Where's Avery?" asked Shinji, glancing around.
"I am in my room," answered Avery's voice. "Why are you here, Third Child? Am I needed at NERV?"
*Jerk won't even talk to us face to face.* thought Asuka. *Hell with this, it's time he squirmed some.* Asuka walked up to the door of Avery's room and pushed it open. "Oh, you, you're going to talk to us face to……." Asuka's sentence trailed off, as the blood drained from her face. "…..mein Gott….."
CONTINUED