Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion, I don't own any of the characters, I don't own any of the mecha – I own pretty much nothing. The characters, mecha, concepts, and just about everything else aside of the basic idea for this particular story belong to Gainax (and if they are reading this, please don't sue me, I'm just having a little fun with your characters in a strictly not-for-profit way.) This is part of a story line called Deviance, and a direct sequel to Asuka: Beyond her heart, so read that first (the other story, The moment when two hearts become one, is part of the same continuity, but not required reading. All you really need to know from that story is that they DID do what they discussed at the end of Asuka: BHH, and that Asuka is FIERCLY loyal to Shinji from this point forward… watch for falling WAFF.) One more thing: there are spoilers all over the place, so if you have not seen the entire series of Evangelion, and you don't like spoilers, don't read.
Part 2
(Episode 16)
Possessions
By Random1377
"Asuka!!" Asuka slowly became aware of a rhythmic pounding sound, dragging her up from unconsciousness. "G'way!" she mumbled angrily, and tried to return to the pleasant dream she had been having (something about being held close and rocked to sleep).
"Asuka, wake up!! Shinji's gone!" It was Misato's voice, sounding very worried. Asuka tried to sit up and found that she could not, most likely due to the arms that were holding her tightly in place. She looked down, confused.
A moment later, the events of the last night came rushing back – the touches… the kisses… the pleasure… the pain. The enormity of it all came crashing down on her, -Nothing will be the same,- she thought, not unhappily, -nothing CAN be the same-.
She realized that Misato was about to break down her door and said, trying to sound cheerful, "Just a minute, Misato. It's all ok!"
Misato stopped pounding, but went on talking, "We have to find him, Asuka," apparently not assured by Asuka's words. Asuka quickly pulled on an oversized tee-shirt and went to the door, -Guess she might as well find out now,- Asuka thought, not looking forward to the prospect, -though I wish I'd had more time to prepare-.
Misato heard Asuka's lock being undone, then the child's face peeked through the through a small opening, "Umm… good morning Misato," the second child said quietly, "you're up early."
Misato stared at her, "Early?" she echoed, "Asuka, it's 11:40."
Asuka blinked in surprise, -It can't be THAT late, can it?-
Misato was still talking, "I've already been to work to deal with some… problems…" She thought of the giant white being on the red cross and suppressed a shiver. "Why aren't you in school? The teacher said you were both absent, and Shinji's not in his room, did he leave a note or talk to you? His bed hasn't been slept in."
Asuka was uncomfortable, but she screwed up her courage. Taking a deep breath, she said, "He's in here… with me, Misato." She waited tensely for the explosion she knew was inevitable.
Misato looked surprised, then relaxed visibly, "Oh thank God. I thought he had run again." She smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye, shifting to tease-mode in a heartbeat, "You haven't hurt him, have you Asuka?"
Asuka blushed bright red, "Well… no, I…" she trailed off, looking at the floor.
Misato's smile widened and she quickly pulled Asuka's door open, yelling playfully, "Hey Shinji! Are you ok? Or has Asuka-"
The words froze on her lips as she was greeted by a bleary eyed, and obviously naked (at least from the waist up) Shinji, rubbing his eyes, "What is it Misato," he asked tiredly, "are we under attack?" His eyes shot open as the realized where he was. He pulled the covers up to his chin, "Umm, I can explain… I mean… umm…"
"I see…" Misato said, her voice becoming instantly business-like, "get dressed, Shinji, we need to talk." Shinji got out of the bed and started fumbling for his clothes, the blanket wrapped tightly around his waist.
Asuka surprised her by moving between them and crossing her arms in front of her, "No." she said, firmly.
Misato sighed, "Asuka you don't know what you're-"
Asuka cut her off, and the fire in the young girls eyes surprised Misato, "I said no, Misato. You won't take him from me."
Misato tried a different approach, her tone becoming soothing, "I'm not going to take him from you Asuka, I just want to talk to him so that he understands the conseq-"
Asuka suddenly stepped closer to Misato, dropping her voice to a whisper, "You're going to try and convince him that this is a bad thing, aren't you?"
Misato involuntarily leaned away from the furious girl before her; -I didn't know Asuka could be this fierce about… about HIM-
Asuka continued to speak, her eyes narrowing, "Well, I won't let you, do you understand me? I've realized that he is all that I want in this world, and I will NOT let him go!" She stepped back and wrapped her arms around Shinji's waist – making it difficult for him to tuck in his shirt, so he stopped trying and put his arm around her, not meeting Misato's gaze. Asuka, on the other hand was openly glaring at her.
-This is bad- Misato thought to herself, -I'll lose her – lose both of them – if I keep this up, and I can't afford that- Being a skilled tactician, she realized that this was a fight Asuka would not give up. She raised her hands in surrender, "Asuka, I'm not asking you to give anything up."
Asuka continued to glare at her, tightening her grip on Shinji. Misato thought he winced a little, but he said nothing.
Misato sighed deeply, "I hope you at least had the sense to use protection when you…" She trailed off, noticed the way they both blushed and looked at the floor. Asuka seemed less argumentative all of the sudden. "You DIDN'T!!" She slapped her forehead.
Shinji spoke hesitatingly, "Well, we didn't…. umm… have anything… and… umm… we…"
Misato cut him off sharply, "IF I don't decide to kill you both, and IF I decide to let you anywhere near each other again – in a few YEARS, mind you – you better ALWAYS use it!"
Asuka looked up and smiled at her, Misato shivered at the sight. Asuka now spoke in a calm, almost pleasant voice, "Misato. If you try to forbid this… I'll never pilot for you again."
Misato frowned, trying to decide if the girl was bluffing or not, "I think-"
Shinji quietly spoke up, still not looking at Misato, "That… that goes for me too, Misato. I… I won't let her go now." Asuka closed her eyes and sighed quietly. Shinji went on, finally looking at his guardian, "Misato, I'm sorry… but if you try to pull us apart, I won't ever pilot unit 01 again. I promise you that we will be safe from now on, but you cannot separate us." He held Asuka tighter, meeting Misato's gaze steadily.
Misato looked from one to the other, shocked at the sudden change in both. –They're serious… both of them. I've got to end this now.- She decided to focus on Shinji, "So. You would condemn the entire human race just for this imagined love? You must know that you are both too young to fully understand what…" She trailed off, realizing she had just lost.
Asuka felt Shinji's body tense as Misato said 'imagined love', and she looked up at his face. His jaw was set, and his eyes were hard and flat. He spoke softly after a few seconds of silence, "I think you know that I would… what has the world ever given me besides pain and sadness?" He dropped his eyes again; "I thought you knew me better than anyone, Misato…"
It was Misato's turn to blush. She looked at the floor, "I'm sorry, Shinji… I just… I don't want you to get hurt, and I think you two are taking this too lightly."
Shinji's voice softened, "I've never taken anything this seriously in my life, Misato. Don't worry about us, we can handle it." He suddenly smiled brightly, "We're EVA pilots!"
Misato smiled in spite of herself, then frowned and spoke firmly, "NO ONE is to know of this, do you understand that? If anyone found out that you two were… intimate, I would lose my job, and you might be removed as pilots. I don't care if you tell people that you are dating, but no one can know you have slept together." She turned her head, muttering, "Hell *I* don't even want to know…"
Both children nodded quickly, then Asuka spoke tentatively, "Umm, I don't know if we can… umm… pretend. If I'm… umm…" she trailed off, looking at the floor again – she was quite familiar with it by now.
Misato nodded, understanding, "We'll cross that bridge later. Which brings me to the next problem." She held up her forefinger, "One, there will be NO sex in this house." she shook her head as they started to protest, "Not negotiable. Period. Two, though you may think I can't stop you from having sex, I WILL find a way if I find out that you are not using protection." They nodded vigorously again, "Three," she crossed the room quickly and threw an arm around each of them, pulling them into a tight embrace, "and three… you have to promise me that you won't let go of each other, and that you'll always be true."
They both looked at her like she had sprouted wings. After it was apparent that she wasn't going to let go right away, they each put an arm around her. They might have stayed that way for hours, if three cell phones had not started ringing simultaneously.
***
Central Dogma was in chaos when Misato arrived, technicians were running everywhere delivering printouts and other data.
"You're late, major!" Ritsuko said angrily
"Sorry," Misato said, still remembering how Asuka had gently squeezed Shinji's hand (which she had been holding on the car ride over), as they separated to get changed, "What's going on?! The Fuji observation center-"
Aoba Shigeru cut her off, "Never detected it. It just appeared right above us"
Hyouga Makoto piped up, "Pattern is orange, no AT field detected."
Misato wondered quietly, "What is this thing?"
Ritsuko leaned over to Maya Ibuki's desk, "Is it a new kind of angel?"
Maya shook her head, "Unknown, the Magi are withholding their judgment on that."
"Damn," Misato said angrily, "another situation like this and commander Ikari is not here AGAIN!"
The three EVAs had been launched in a rough triangle at the edges of the city – surrounding the gigantic sphere – and all three pilots were sneaking peeks at it from around the sides of buildings, trying to decide on a course of action.
Misato's voice came over the communications network, "Can you all hear me? I've sent you all of the known target data – that's literally all we know right now. Approach it carefully and observe its reactions… and, if possible, try to lure it outside of the city. I want you all to back up each other, is that understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am." All three pilots spoke at the same time, then Shinji spoke again, "I'll take the point."
"What?" Misato, Ritsuko and Asuka all spoke at the same time. Misato shook her head, "That's too dangerous, Shinji, just follow my plan."
Shinji's voice still started to break up, "What's that, Misato? Go ahead? Ok." His image disappeared, replaced by static.
Asuka's voice came to Misato, followed a second later by Rei Ayanami's, "Unit 02 will back him up." "Unit 00 will back up as well…"
Misato's jaw dropped, "Did he just…?" Ritsuko smiled at her friend's back, "Shinji's hormones are kicking in, aren't they?" Misato glared at her, "I'll have to chew him out when he gets back."
Shinji had maneuvered unit 01 to within five hundred yards of the giant sphere, still well within it's shadow, and was waiting impatiently, "Asuka, Ayanami, are you in position yet?"
Rei's soft voice came back first, "Not yet…" Her EVA was slowly picking its way through the city, an enormous rifle cradled in both hands.
Asuka's voice whispered back on a private channel, "Not yet, honey… you know an EVA can't move that fast. Wait for me, ok?" She sounded a little nervous. Shinji thought distractedly, -how unlike her-. He flexed his hands, waiting.
Asuka tried to move forward, but her umbilical cable had reached its maximum length, "Shiest!" She cursed, quickly ejecting one plug and grabbing another from a nearby storehouse, -there,- she thought, -hang on Shinji… I'm coming…- she started to move again.
Rei was close to being in position, but had taken a while to get there due to a vague unease about treading in the sphere's shadow, -Something is not right…- she thought.
"Are you there?" Shinji's patience had run out, -FINE!- he thought suddenly making a fist, -I'll take care of it myself!-
With a scream, he leaned the EVA around the edge of the building it was behind and squeezed off three shots in rapid succession. He watched all three shots streak towards the sphere, -that should be a ki… what the hell?-
The sphere disappeared as the first shell made contact with its surface.
"Pattern blue!" Hyouga shouted, "Angel confirmed! It's directly below unit 01!!"
Shinji looked down as the shadow below him became darker… and the EVA began to sink, "What the hell? A Shadow…?" He aimed the over-sized desert eagle magnum down and pulled the trigger again and again, emptying the clip. "This can't be happening!! Misato! Help me!!" The sphere reappeared above unit 01. Shinji could only stare at it in terror.
"Ikari!" Rei started to bring the rifle up, -You will not have him-, she thought protectively, bracing the EVA between two buildings and zeroing in on the center of the large sphere,
Shinji continued to scream, the EVA now up to it's elbows in the shadow, "Misato!! MISATO!! Help!!! MISATO!!!" -Cold… it's so cold…- his mind registered the fact that his lower half was suddenly freezing. "MISATO!!!!" The shadow quickly enveloped the rest of the EVA. Shinji's frantic cries were cut off as the horn of the EVA disappeared, "MISATO!!!! MISATO!!! ASUK-"
A burst of static replaced the feed from unit 01.
"ASUKA! REI! Rescue unit 01, HURRY!!!!" Misato screamed, as close to hysterics as she had ever been.
Asuka was already moving. Unit 02 raced through the streets of Tokyo-3 like a red bullet. -Oh please… please let me get there in time!!- Her mind was a whirlwind of concern.
Satisfied that she was lined up correctly, Rei pulled the trigger on the massive rifle twice, the kickback causing many thousands of dollars worth of damage to the buildings she had wedged herself between.
Both shots passed through the target, smashing into the building behind it as the sphere vanished once more.
Maya yelled, "It's gone again!"
"Asuka, watch the street!!" Misato warned.
"A shadow?!" Asuka flung unit 02 airborne, grasping the side of a building and holding tight. "Uh, oh no!!" She cried out in terror as the building started to sink. She buried the ax she was carrying into the side of the building, then using it as a step she pulled her progressive knife and stabbed it in as well, pulling herself onto the roof. "The whole city is sinking…" she whispered quietly. Catching sight of unit 01's umbilical cable, she frowned and willed her EVA to stand, "Shinji...."
"Asuka, Rei, pull back!" Misato's voice came to her.
Rei's voice echoed her own thoughts, "But unit 01 and Shinji are still inside!"
-Is that… worry in her voice?- Asuka thought.
"This is a direct order… fall back now." Misato spoke through clenched teeth.
"NO!" Asuka's voice rang through the command center, drawing everyone's attention, "I'm going after him!" On screen the view changed to an external shot of unit 02: it was standing straight up, arms out to the sides, preparing to dive.
"DAMITT!" Misato turned to Maya, "Eject her plug and reel unit 02 in using the umbilical cable, now!!!" Maya keyed in the sequence and unit 02's entry plug shot from the back of it's neck. The EVA slumped forward, and was promptly pulled backward by the cable attached to it's back. Misato whispered, "Forgive me, Asuka."
***
Rei and Asuka were both leaning against one of NERVs mobile command centers, arms folded, waiting for Misato to return with a battle strategy.
-Why am I concerned?- Rei glanced at the shadow, -Why should I care if he is recovered? It was my position to back him up, but I do not understand why I am still thinking of him. Perhaps…-
Asuka's thoughts, though regarding the same person, ran along an entirely different vein, -DAMN you Misato… I could have gotten him back!- though she did not quite believe the thought herself, it did make her feel better to have someone to blame, -Hang on, Shinji… I know I'll see you again, I just know it.-
Rei spoke to Asuka quietly, "Pilot Souryu, may I ask you a question?"
Asuka regarded her questioningly, -I think that's the first time she has spoken without being spoken to first,- "What is it, Wondergirl?" Since her mind was truly elsewhere, her voice contained only a trace of her usual venom.
Rei keep her eyes downcast as she spoke, "Why are you concerned for Pilot Ikari?"
Asuka flushed, and stammered, "Because… because he's a fellow pilot, and I… I should have been there to help him."
Rei was silent for a moment, considering. She then spoke again, raising her eyes to meet Asuka's, "Your answer does not seem accurate. We have been in danger before, and you have not previously exhibited this much concern for him."
Asuka was thunderstruck, -Is this… Rei? Or has she been replaced by a talkative clone?!?- "I… I don't know what you are looking for Wondergirl, can we just drop it?" She leaned her head against the wall behind her and closed her eyes, thinking, -Great, Shinji's trapped in a 'pocket universe' and I'm getting the third degree from little miss blue.-
When she opened her eyes again, a few seconds later, she almost fell down from the shock of what she saw. Rei had stepped away from the wall she had been leaning against and was several inches from Asuka's face, regarding her intently.
"What? What is it?" Asuka asked her, slightly unnerved by Rei's calm red eyes.
Rei was silent for another moment, then spoke in the same calm tone as before, "I would prefer to not 'drop it', Pilot Souryu. I am… conflicted, and I believe that you may be able to help me resolve the conflict. You are concerned, where before you seemed to be unconcerned with Ikari's fate. I would like to know why… as I am also concerned, and do not fully understand the reason."
Asuka became aware that her mouth was hanging open and closed it with a snap, -I think that's the most I've ever heard out of her,- she looked at Rei, who was waiting patiently, -and she's not backing down.- "I…" -Why am I scared of this little doll?!- she thought angrily.
She pushed herself away from the wall, bringing her face closer to Rei's. She whispered, "You really want to know, Wondergirl?" -To hell with Misato, I don't care who knows!- "Fine. I care for Shinji – more than care… I love him! I don't want to see him get hurt, is that what you wanted to hear?"
Rei's quick response once again surprised Asuka, "Yes." She stepped back and leaned against the command vehicle again.
-Oh, you're not getting away that easily!- Asuka thought. She turned to face Rei, who was once again staring at the ground, "What about you?" she sneered, "Why do YOU care? I've never seen you care about anything but following the commander's orders."
Rei's eyes widened, -Is that so?- she thought. Out loud she said, "I do not know why." She considered Asuka for a moment before continuing, "Yet based on my current feelings I know that this emotion can only be the one described as love, and I feel that I must protect him from harm."
Asuka's brow drew down dangerously, "Shinji is mine, do you hear me? MINE!" Her hands flexed, itching to wrap around the throat of the girl who was calmly telling her that she loved Shinji.
Rei remained cool, apparently unaware of how close to death (or at least a beating) she was. She went on, cocking her head to the side, "Pilot Ikari is not yours, or mine. He is not owned by anyone." She looked closer at Asuka, "I believe that you misunderstand me, Pilot Souryu. I do not wish to unite with Pilot Ikari; I only wish to protect him. There are more types of love than one."
The anger drained from Asuka as she realized what Rei was saying. "Why?" she whispered, not understanding, "Why do you love him…?"
Rei shook her head, "As I sated before, I do not-"
Asuka waved her hand, cutting Rei off, "Not good enough, Wondergirl. I want to know why."
Rei flushed slightly, breaking eye contact with the other girl, "I believe it is because… he was kind to me."
For the third time in ten minutes, Asuka's jaw fell open, "That's IT?! Because he was nice to you??" Rei met her eyes, and Asuka's breath caught, -Her eyes… so much pain. I… I never knew…-
Rei spoke quietly, "Yes. He was kind to me, and he asked nothing in return. No one has ever been kind to me without requiring something in exchange," her mouth drew down very slightly, "and I will defend him, Pilot Souryu, even from you if necessary. I will not see him hurt."
Asuka could see that she meant it. She nodded, satisfied (choosing to ignore the threat), and went back to leaning against the command vehicle, -Maybe Wondergirl isn't so bad after all…- she thought.
***
"Twelve hours…" Shinji whispered to himself, "twelve hours since I switched to life support mode. In four or five hours… I'll be dead."
He uncurled from the ball he had pulled himself into and grabbed the butterfly handles of unit 01, pushing one of the triggers. The entry plug flashed through a series of colors, finally settling on unrelieved white. With a sigh, he pushed the trigger again, "Still nothing but white noise… nothing on the radar, either…"
He pulled his legs up to his chest for warmth, "Asuka…" he whispered her name quietly, "I… I just wanted to show you that I wasn't a loser… and now look at me." He frowned sadly, "I'm hungry…"
***
"You're going to WHAT?!?" Misato's voice rang out in the quite night air.
"It s the only thing we could come up with on such short notice, Major! Dropping all nine hundred and ninety two N2 into the shadow while the two remaining EVAs activate their AT fields is the only chance we have." Ritsuko was starting to loose her temper, -why can't she get this through her head?- she wondered.
"But… but… that kind of explosion would destroy unit 01!! Or at the very least kill Shinji! What the hell kind of rescue operation is this?!"
Ritsuko met her gaze steadily, "Our number one priority is to get the EVA back, or destroy it if that is not possible. The pilot's life is secondary."
Misato's hand flashed out, making solid contact with Ritsuko's cheek.
"Ungh…" Ritsuko grunted in surprise, then picked her glasses up, glaring at Misato, "I'm taking command of this operation effective immediately. You are obviously too emotional to handle it." She walked away, talking into her cell phone.
Misato stood still, shaking with rage, "Why… why is unit 01 so important!?" she whispered to herself. Then she thought of Asuka, and how she would tell her, -Ritsuko, it's a damn good thing Asuka wasn't here… or I think she may have hurt you…-
***
Shinji woke from a light doze, "wha?" He looked around the entry plug, sensing something different.
"It's getting cloudy!!" He yelled, finally grasping the change, "Hard to… breathe… it smells…" his eyes widened, "It smells like BLOOD in here!!!"
Frantically he jumped up and pulled on the release to the hatch for the plug, screaming, "It smells like blood! I hate this place!! Let me OUT!!!" His screams faded to whimpers as the hatch refused to budge, "Someone help me… Misato… Ayanami… father… Asuka…"
Exhausted, he slumped back into his seat, "Asuka… I'm sorry," his tears dissipated into the LCL, "I guess I couldn't be there for you after all. I'm just a failure…"
He hugged himself, shivering, "It's getting colder, too… everything is starting to fail."
He closed his eyes, "Asuka… maybe I can dream of you…"
His breathing began to slow down and become even, and Shinji Ikari DID dream…
***
"No way." Asuka's voice was flat.
They were gathered in the planning room, listening to Ritsuko outline the plan to bomb the angel (and her lover) from here to Heaven's door… the real one.
"I want no part of this!" She went on, her arms folded under her breasts.
Ritsuko calmly stared her down, "Are you done yet?" As Asuka had no response other than to glare at her, she continued, "As I was saying, there is a fifteen percent chance that Unit 01 will be able to withstand the blast." She raised her hand as Asuka began to speak, "Currently, the Magi give Shinji a zero percent survival chance." She met Asuka's gaze, "Now perhaps you understand why it must be this way, yes?"
Asuka could not hold the older woman's eyes, "Yes… I understand…" she whispered reluctantly.
"Good," Ritsuko spoke briskly, "then both of you get to your positions, there is not much time left."
Asuka hesitated and then nodded, moving swiftly for the door. Ritsuko began to turn back to the monitors, when she noticed that Rei had not left, "Is there something I can do for you, Rei?"
Rei nodded and spoke quietly, "Yes, doctor Akagi. I have a question to ask. In the event that Pilot Ikari is not recovered, who will his possessions transfer too?"
Ritsuko looked at the young girl, confused, "I would imagine they would go to his father, as he is his only relative, why?"
Rei ignored her question, instead countering with another, "In the event that his father does not want them, they would be disposed of?"
The older woman's confusion was growing, "Y-Yes, I suppose so…" -What is she trying to ask me?- she thought.
Rei looked her straight in the eyes, "In the event that commander Ikari does not want Pilot Ikari's possessions, may I have them?"
Ritsuko's eyes widened, -Why… why would she want his things?- She spoke haltingly, "I… I suppose so… Rei… but I don't-"
"Thank you, doctor Akagi." Rei said simply, then turned and left the room, thinking, -Now I know that I will always have something to remind me of this feeling, even if he is gone.-
Ritsuko could only stare after the girl with a puzzled expression on her face.
***
Inside unit 01's entry plug, Shinji was awake once more, "It's so cold… suit's failing…" He found that he lacked the strength to open his eyes, "So tired… of everything… Asuka…" he frowned slightly, "Asuka… I'm so… sorry that I couldn't… live up to my promise. If I… see you again… I swear I'll never… never… let you…" his voice trailed off and his brow cleared, a look of tranquil peace spread across his features.
On the wrist of his plug suit, a red light flashed in time with Shinji's heartbeat. The light blinked once… twice… three times… and winked out.
The entry plug was silent.
***
Inside unit 00, Rei felt uneasy, -something is…- her thought trailed off. She looked at the shadow intently, then whispered with a soft smile, "He's coming…"
Back at the Command Vehicle, Maya was yelling, "All of our gauges are going off the scale!!"
"But we haven't done anything yet!" Ritsuko shot back.
"Is it Shinji!?" Misato looked at one of the monitors hopefully.
Ritsuko shook her head, "Not possible, Unit 01 must be completely out of power!"
Onscreen the ground had begun to shake and crack apart, forming red fissures like a complex spider's web.
"What's going on?" Asuka whispered staring at the undulating street. Her attention was drawn to the sphere, which had become black like the shadow on the street and started to quiver.
Suddenly an arm thrust it's way out of the sphere, followed by a gout of blood, and a few seconds later, EVA unit 01's head.
The EVA unit screamed repeatedly as it tore it's way free of the sphere.
"God in Heaven…" Asuka whispered in awe, "is THAT what I'm piloting?!?!"
With a final howl, the giant mecha burst out, sending bloody pieces of the angel flying in all directions and falling to the street with a resounding crash.
"Eject the plug, now!" Ritsuko ordered. Maya entered the command, and the entry plug flew form the purple robot.
The EVA stood still for a moment, then collapsed face down in the street, the light leaving its eyes as it came down.
***
Shinji awoke to the feel of warm night air washing over him. Someone was shouting his name.
"Shinji! SHINJI!!!" He opened his eyes to find Misato and Asuka, one on each side of the entry plug, leaning over him. Both had tears in their eyes. Asuka was holding his hand in both of hers.
Misato collapsed against him, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing, but it was Asuka's eyes that he held with his.
"I just wanted to see you… one more time… I love…you…" he whispered before passing out.
***
When he woke again he was not at all surprised to find himself in the infirmary. He was surprised to see Rei sitting next to his bed, reading a book.
"Ayanami. Where's Asuka?" he asked.
Rei closed her book and stood, "She is in the hall. The doctors did not feel that her tears would speed your recovery, and her sobbing was disturbing the patient in the next room."
Shinji frowned at the thought of Asuka wracked with sobs, and he shook his head to clear the image.
Rei considered him for a moment and asked, "You are distraught?"
Shinji looked up at her, surprised, then he nodded slowly, "Yes, I don't like the idea of someone I love… what? What's wrong?"
Rei was frowning slightly. She set her book on the chair she had been sitting in and leaned over Shinji.
"What are you-" Shinji stopped short as Rei's arms wrapped gently around him, pulling him into a clumsy hug.
After a moment she pulled away again, "Does this make you feel better?"
"Y-Yes… it does… thank you, Ayan-" he stopped again, gathering himself, "Thank you, Rei. But why did you do that?"
She looked at him, her head tilted to one side, "It is a form of comfort to embrace a loved one if they are troubled… were you not aware of this?"
Shinji's mouth hung open as the words 'loved one' flashed through his mind.
Rei picked up her book (Relationships in the Second Impact world, by Hans Ooterbratten), and walked towards the door, "I will notify Pilot Souryu that you are awake, is that satisfactory?"
Shinji could barely get out, "Y-yeah…" as he was still dealing with the shock of hearing those words from Rei, and the fact that she had hugged him. Rei shocked him again as she opened the door, saying something only his mother had ever said to him.
"Well," she said as the door slid open, "That's good for you."
Shinji did not have time to consider the implications as he was suddenly pinned to the bed by ninety-five pounds of crying girl.
"SHINJI!!! Oh thank God!!" Asuka was showering him with kisses and whispering his name.
Shinji didn't know how to respond, -No one has ever… cried for me before…- he thought, somewhat surprised. He wrapped his arms around her and held her, saying nothing.
Once she had calmed down, she told him about the narrowly averted plan to bomb the shadow, and Rei's sudden change in behavior, "I know," he said, scratching his head, "She just… hugged me and said, 'That is what you do to comfort a loved one', or something like that. Since when am I a loved one?" He laughed at the dark expression on her face, "Of course, you're the only one I love THAT way."
She smiled, reassured, and kissed him gently. Then she laid her head on his chest and whispered, "Shinji?"
He stroked her long red hair slowly, "Yes, Asuka?"
"As soon as you're released… do you want to…" he could feel her blush through his hospital gown, "do you want to… umm… do you… last night…" she growled in frustration, unused to being tongue-tied, "Do you want to-"
"Yes, I do." He cut her off, smiling, "More than anything."
She sighed, snuggling closer, "Ok… then for now can you turn the light off? I'm all tired out from waiting for you to wake up, you inconsiderate man…"
He reached for the switch on the wall behind him to comply, but hesitated with his arm in front of his face. He frowned, smelling the back of his hand.
-It still smells like blood…-
To be continued…
Omake
(Gosh, I hope that's the right word)
From the scene where Rei tells Asuka she loves Shinji:
Asuka's brow drew down dangerously, "Shinji is mine, do you hear me? MINE!" Her hands flexed, itching to wrap around the throat of the girl who was calmly telling her that she loved Shinji.
Rei remained cool, apparently unaware of how close to death (or at least a beating) she was. She went on, cocking her head to the side, "Pilot Ikari is not yours… plus I've got a better shot than you do."
Asuka looked stunned, "Wh-What makes you think that?"
Rei put her left hand on her hip and leaned to the side, smiling slightly, "Because, I'm not a ruthless bitch like you, and I can –censored- like a wildcat. You two have only done it, what, once? Once he gets a taste of this blue love*," she pointed to her, umm… pelvis, "you haven't got a chance, honey." She brushed by a shocked Asuka, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go help MY new boyfriend."
*Excellent fanfic, by the way…
Author's Notes: This story takes place mostly as an alternative to episode 16, but things happen a little sooner (in the show, the angel attacks a few days later, not the next day). I also cut out the whole scene with Shinji's sync rate, since that was used as a plot device to further alienate Asuka, and would have had no effect here (because damn, she's not THAT shallow!) I also thought it would be interesting if Asuka took all of her devotion to piloting unit 02 and focused it on her relationship with Shinji. I kinda pictured this line, even though I didn't use it: Rei "I wonder. Do you only pilot the EVA for the praise of others?" Asuka: "No… I pilot it for his…". Obviously that would not have fit into this story, but that's the attitude I wanted her to develop. Also, any similarity to any other FanFics –HERZ and EVA-R, to mention just two – are wholly unintentional, and unwanted. I tried my best to make the characters different from theirs, but I had just read them both when I started writing, so I can't say they had no influence (they certainly influenced me to start writing again after two years away from the "pen", but I hope that is the only influence, as I strove to be as original as I could). And yes, I know Rei talked a lot, but she was confused… and she does not like mysteries :). I also think that if Misato had not interrupted them in Ep 16, she would have continued to question Asuka until she got whatever answer she was looking for.
One last note: In Episode 16, in the entry plug, Shinji dies. I am at least %88 sure of this, as he whispers, "I'm so tired… of everything…" then his breathing stops and he goes completely still. It is my opinion that Yui brings Shinji back to life; so stop looking at me like I'm crazy!!
As always, feedback is welcome (and encouraged), send it to Random1377@yahoo.com.
Part 2
(Episode 16)
Possessions
By Random1377
"Asuka!!" Asuka slowly became aware of a rhythmic pounding sound, dragging her up from unconsciousness. "G'way!" she mumbled angrily, and tried to return to the pleasant dream she had been having (something about being held close and rocked to sleep).
"Asuka, wake up!! Shinji's gone!" It was Misato's voice, sounding very worried. Asuka tried to sit up and found that she could not, most likely due to the arms that were holding her tightly in place. She looked down, confused.
A moment later, the events of the last night came rushing back – the touches… the kisses… the pleasure… the pain. The enormity of it all came crashing down on her, -Nothing will be the same,- she thought, not unhappily, -nothing CAN be the same-.
She realized that Misato was about to break down her door and said, trying to sound cheerful, "Just a minute, Misato. It's all ok!"
Misato stopped pounding, but went on talking, "We have to find him, Asuka," apparently not assured by Asuka's words. Asuka quickly pulled on an oversized tee-shirt and went to the door, -Guess she might as well find out now,- Asuka thought, not looking forward to the prospect, -though I wish I'd had more time to prepare-.
Misato heard Asuka's lock being undone, then the child's face peeked through the through a small opening, "Umm… good morning Misato," the second child said quietly, "you're up early."
Misato stared at her, "Early?" she echoed, "Asuka, it's 11:40."
Asuka blinked in surprise, -It can't be THAT late, can it?-
Misato was still talking, "I've already been to work to deal with some… problems…" She thought of the giant white being on the red cross and suppressed a shiver. "Why aren't you in school? The teacher said you were both absent, and Shinji's not in his room, did he leave a note or talk to you? His bed hasn't been slept in."
Asuka was uncomfortable, but she screwed up her courage. Taking a deep breath, she said, "He's in here… with me, Misato." She waited tensely for the explosion she knew was inevitable.
Misato looked surprised, then relaxed visibly, "Oh thank God. I thought he had run again." She smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye, shifting to tease-mode in a heartbeat, "You haven't hurt him, have you Asuka?"
Asuka blushed bright red, "Well… no, I…" she trailed off, looking at the floor.
Misato's smile widened and she quickly pulled Asuka's door open, yelling playfully, "Hey Shinji! Are you ok? Or has Asuka-"
The words froze on her lips as she was greeted by a bleary eyed, and obviously naked (at least from the waist up) Shinji, rubbing his eyes, "What is it Misato," he asked tiredly, "are we under attack?" His eyes shot open as the realized where he was. He pulled the covers up to his chin, "Umm, I can explain… I mean… umm…"
"I see…" Misato said, her voice becoming instantly business-like, "get dressed, Shinji, we need to talk." Shinji got out of the bed and started fumbling for his clothes, the blanket wrapped tightly around his waist.
Asuka surprised her by moving between them and crossing her arms in front of her, "No." she said, firmly.
Misato sighed, "Asuka you don't know what you're-"
Asuka cut her off, and the fire in the young girls eyes surprised Misato, "I said no, Misato. You won't take him from me."
Misato tried a different approach, her tone becoming soothing, "I'm not going to take him from you Asuka, I just want to talk to him so that he understands the conseq-"
Asuka suddenly stepped closer to Misato, dropping her voice to a whisper, "You're going to try and convince him that this is a bad thing, aren't you?"
Misato involuntarily leaned away from the furious girl before her; -I didn't know Asuka could be this fierce about… about HIM-
Asuka continued to speak, her eyes narrowing, "Well, I won't let you, do you understand me? I've realized that he is all that I want in this world, and I will NOT let him go!" She stepped back and wrapped her arms around Shinji's waist – making it difficult for him to tuck in his shirt, so he stopped trying and put his arm around her, not meeting Misato's gaze. Asuka, on the other hand was openly glaring at her.
-This is bad- Misato thought to herself, -I'll lose her – lose both of them – if I keep this up, and I can't afford that- Being a skilled tactician, she realized that this was a fight Asuka would not give up. She raised her hands in surrender, "Asuka, I'm not asking you to give anything up."
Asuka continued to glare at her, tightening her grip on Shinji. Misato thought he winced a little, but he said nothing.
Misato sighed deeply, "I hope you at least had the sense to use protection when you…" She trailed off, noticed the way they both blushed and looked at the floor. Asuka seemed less argumentative all of the sudden. "You DIDN'T!!" She slapped her forehead.
Shinji spoke hesitatingly, "Well, we didn't…. umm… have anything… and… umm… we…"
Misato cut him off sharply, "IF I don't decide to kill you both, and IF I decide to let you anywhere near each other again – in a few YEARS, mind you – you better ALWAYS use it!"
Asuka looked up and smiled at her, Misato shivered at the sight. Asuka now spoke in a calm, almost pleasant voice, "Misato. If you try to forbid this… I'll never pilot for you again."
Misato frowned, trying to decide if the girl was bluffing or not, "I think-"
Shinji quietly spoke up, still not looking at Misato, "That… that goes for me too, Misato. I… I won't let her go now." Asuka closed her eyes and sighed quietly. Shinji went on, finally looking at his guardian, "Misato, I'm sorry… but if you try to pull us apart, I won't ever pilot unit 01 again. I promise you that we will be safe from now on, but you cannot separate us." He held Asuka tighter, meeting Misato's gaze steadily.
Misato looked from one to the other, shocked at the sudden change in both. –They're serious… both of them. I've got to end this now.- She decided to focus on Shinji, "So. You would condemn the entire human race just for this imagined love? You must know that you are both too young to fully understand what…" She trailed off, realizing she had just lost.
Asuka felt Shinji's body tense as Misato said 'imagined love', and she looked up at his face. His jaw was set, and his eyes were hard and flat. He spoke softly after a few seconds of silence, "I think you know that I would… what has the world ever given me besides pain and sadness?" He dropped his eyes again; "I thought you knew me better than anyone, Misato…"
It was Misato's turn to blush. She looked at the floor, "I'm sorry, Shinji… I just… I don't want you to get hurt, and I think you two are taking this too lightly."
Shinji's voice softened, "I've never taken anything this seriously in my life, Misato. Don't worry about us, we can handle it." He suddenly smiled brightly, "We're EVA pilots!"
Misato smiled in spite of herself, then frowned and spoke firmly, "NO ONE is to know of this, do you understand that? If anyone found out that you two were… intimate, I would lose my job, and you might be removed as pilots. I don't care if you tell people that you are dating, but no one can know you have slept together." She turned her head, muttering, "Hell *I* don't even want to know…"
Both children nodded quickly, then Asuka spoke tentatively, "Umm, I don't know if we can… umm… pretend. If I'm… umm…" she trailed off, looking at the floor again – she was quite familiar with it by now.
Misato nodded, understanding, "We'll cross that bridge later. Which brings me to the next problem." She held up her forefinger, "One, there will be NO sex in this house." she shook her head as they started to protest, "Not negotiable. Period. Two, though you may think I can't stop you from having sex, I WILL find a way if I find out that you are not using protection." They nodded vigorously again, "Three," she crossed the room quickly and threw an arm around each of them, pulling them into a tight embrace, "and three… you have to promise me that you won't let go of each other, and that you'll always be true."
They both looked at her like she had sprouted wings. After it was apparent that she wasn't going to let go right away, they each put an arm around her. They might have stayed that way for hours, if three cell phones had not started ringing simultaneously.
***
Central Dogma was in chaos when Misato arrived, technicians were running everywhere delivering printouts and other data.
"You're late, major!" Ritsuko said angrily
"Sorry," Misato said, still remembering how Asuka had gently squeezed Shinji's hand (which she had been holding on the car ride over), as they separated to get changed, "What's going on?! The Fuji observation center-"
Aoba Shigeru cut her off, "Never detected it. It just appeared right above us"
Hyouga Makoto piped up, "Pattern is orange, no AT field detected."
Misato wondered quietly, "What is this thing?"
Ritsuko leaned over to Maya Ibuki's desk, "Is it a new kind of angel?"
Maya shook her head, "Unknown, the Magi are withholding their judgment on that."
"Damn," Misato said angrily, "another situation like this and commander Ikari is not here AGAIN!"
The three EVAs had been launched in a rough triangle at the edges of the city – surrounding the gigantic sphere – and all three pilots were sneaking peeks at it from around the sides of buildings, trying to decide on a course of action.
Misato's voice came over the communications network, "Can you all hear me? I've sent you all of the known target data – that's literally all we know right now. Approach it carefully and observe its reactions… and, if possible, try to lure it outside of the city. I want you all to back up each other, is that understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am." All three pilots spoke at the same time, then Shinji spoke again, "I'll take the point."
"What?" Misato, Ritsuko and Asuka all spoke at the same time. Misato shook her head, "That's too dangerous, Shinji, just follow my plan."
Shinji's voice still started to break up, "What's that, Misato? Go ahead? Ok." His image disappeared, replaced by static.
Asuka's voice came to Misato, followed a second later by Rei Ayanami's, "Unit 02 will back him up." "Unit 00 will back up as well…"
Misato's jaw dropped, "Did he just…?" Ritsuko smiled at her friend's back, "Shinji's hormones are kicking in, aren't they?" Misato glared at her, "I'll have to chew him out when he gets back."
Shinji had maneuvered unit 01 to within five hundred yards of the giant sphere, still well within it's shadow, and was waiting impatiently, "Asuka, Ayanami, are you in position yet?"
Rei's soft voice came back first, "Not yet…" Her EVA was slowly picking its way through the city, an enormous rifle cradled in both hands.
Asuka's voice whispered back on a private channel, "Not yet, honey… you know an EVA can't move that fast. Wait for me, ok?" She sounded a little nervous. Shinji thought distractedly, -how unlike her-. He flexed his hands, waiting.
Asuka tried to move forward, but her umbilical cable had reached its maximum length, "Shiest!" She cursed, quickly ejecting one plug and grabbing another from a nearby storehouse, -there,- she thought, -hang on Shinji… I'm coming…- she started to move again.
Rei was close to being in position, but had taken a while to get there due to a vague unease about treading in the sphere's shadow, -Something is not right…- she thought.
"Are you there?" Shinji's patience had run out, -FINE!- he thought suddenly making a fist, -I'll take care of it myself!-
With a scream, he leaned the EVA around the edge of the building it was behind and squeezed off three shots in rapid succession. He watched all three shots streak towards the sphere, -that should be a ki… what the hell?-
The sphere disappeared as the first shell made contact with its surface.
"Pattern blue!" Hyouga shouted, "Angel confirmed! It's directly below unit 01!!"
Shinji looked down as the shadow below him became darker… and the EVA began to sink, "What the hell? A Shadow…?" He aimed the over-sized desert eagle magnum down and pulled the trigger again and again, emptying the clip. "This can't be happening!! Misato! Help me!!" The sphere reappeared above unit 01. Shinji could only stare at it in terror.
"Ikari!" Rei started to bring the rifle up, -You will not have him-, she thought protectively, bracing the EVA between two buildings and zeroing in on the center of the large sphere,
Shinji continued to scream, the EVA now up to it's elbows in the shadow, "Misato!! MISATO!! Help!!! MISATO!!!" -Cold… it's so cold…- his mind registered the fact that his lower half was suddenly freezing. "MISATO!!!!" The shadow quickly enveloped the rest of the EVA. Shinji's frantic cries were cut off as the horn of the EVA disappeared, "MISATO!!!! MISATO!!! ASUK-"
A burst of static replaced the feed from unit 01.
"ASUKA! REI! Rescue unit 01, HURRY!!!!" Misato screamed, as close to hysterics as she had ever been.
Asuka was already moving. Unit 02 raced through the streets of Tokyo-3 like a red bullet. -Oh please… please let me get there in time!!- Her mind was a whirlwind of concern.
Satisfied that she was lined up correctly, Rei pulled the trigger on the massive rifle twice, the kickback causing many thousands of dollars worth of damage to the buildings she had wedged herself between.
Both shots passed through the target, smashing into the building behind it as the sphere vanished once more.
Maya yelled, "It's gone again!"
"Asuka, watch the street!!" Misato warned.
"A shadow?!" Asuka flung unit 02 airborne, grasping the side of a building and holding tight. "Uh, oh no!!" She cried out in terror as the building started to sink. She buried the ax she was carrying into the side of the building, then using it as a step she pulled her progressive knife and stabbed it in as well, pulling herself onto the roof. "The whole city is sinking…" she whispered quietly. Catching sight of unit 01's umbilical cable, she frowned and willed her EVA to stand, "Shinji...."
"Asuka, Rei, pull back!" Misato's voice came to her.
Rei's voice echoed her own thoughts, "But unit 01 and Shinji are still inside!"
-Is that… worry in her voice?- Asuka thought.
"This is a direct order… fall back now." Misato spoke through clenched teeth.
"NO!" Asuka's voice rang through the command center, drawing everyone's attention, "I'm going after him!" On screen the view changed to an external shot of unit 02: it was standing straight up, arms out to the sides, preparing to dive.
"DAMITT!" Misato turned to Maya, "Eject her plug and reel unit 02 in using the umbilical cable, now!!!" Maya keyed in the sequence and unit 02's entry plug shot from the back of it's neck. The EVA slumped forward, and was promptly pulled backward by the cable attached to it's back. Misato whispered, "Forgive me, Asuka."
***
Rei and Asuka were both leaning against one of NERVs mobile command centers, arms folded, waiting for Misato to return with a battle strategy.
-Why am I concerned?- Rei glanced at the shadow, -Why should I care if he is recovered? It was my position to back him up, but I do not understand why I am still thinking of him. Perhaps…-
Asuka's thoughts, though regarding the same person, ran along an entirely different vein, -DAMN you Misato… I could have gotten him back!- though she did not quite believe the thought herself, it did make her feel better to have someone to blame, -Hang on, Shinji… I know I'll see you again, I just know it.-
Rei spoke to Asuka quietly, "Pilot Souryu, may I ask you a question?"
Asuka regarded her questioningly, -I think that's the first time she has spoken without being spoken to first,- "What is it, Wondergirl?" Since her mind was truly elsewhere, her voice contained only a trace of her usual venom.
Rei keep her eyes downcast as she spoke, "Why are you concerned for Pilot Ikari?"
Asuka flushed, and stammered, "Because… because he's a fellow pilot, and I… I should have been there to help him."
Rei was silent for a moment, considering. She then spoke again, raising her eyes to meet Asuka's, "Your answer does not seem accurate. We have been in danger before, and you have not previously exhibited this much concern for him."
Asuka was thunderstruck, -Is this… Rei? Or has she been replaced by a talkative clone?!?- "I… I don't know what you are looking for Wondergirl, can we just drop it?" She leaned her head against the wall behind her and closed her eyes, thinking, -Great, Shinji's trapped in a 'pocket universe' and I'm getting the third degree from little miss blue.-
When she opened her eyes again, a few seconds later, she almost fell down from the shock of what she saw. Rei had stepped away from the wall she had been leaning against and was several inches from Asuka's face, regarding her intently.
"What? What is it?" Asuka asked her, slightly unnerved by Rei's calm red eyes.
Rei was silent for another moment, then spoke in the same calm tone as before, "I would prefer to not 'drop it', Pilot Souryu. I am… conflicted, and I believe that you may be able to help me resolve the conflict. You are concerned, where before you seemed to be unconcerned with Ikari's fate. I would like to know why… as I am also concerned, and do not fully understand the reason."
Asuka became aware that her mouth was hanging open and closed it with a snap, -I think that's the most I've ever heard out of her,- she looked at Rei, who was waiting patiently, -and she's not backing down.- "I…" -Why am I scared of this little doll?!- she thought angrily.
She pushed herself away from the wall, bringing her face closer to Rei's. She whispered, "You really want to know, Wondergirl?" -To hell with Misato, I don't care who knows!- "Fine. I care for Shinji – more than care… I love him! I don't want to see him get hurt, is that what you wanted to hear?"
Rei's quick response once again surprised Asuka, "Yes." She stepped back and leaned against the command vehicle again.
-Oh, you're not getting away that easily!- Asuka thought. She turned to face Rei, who was once again staring at the ground, "What about you?" she sneered, "Why do YOU care? I've never seen you care about anything but following the commander's orders."
Rei's eyes widened, -Is that so?- she thought. Out loud she said, "I do not know why." She considered Asuka for a moment before continuing, "Yet based on my current feelings I know that this emotion can only be the one described as love, and I feel that I must protect him from harm."
Asuka's brow drew down dangerously, "Shinji is mine, do you hear me? MINE!" Her hands flexed, itching to wrap around the throat of the girl who was calmly telling her that she loved Shinji.
Rei remained cool, apparently unaware of how close to death (or at least a beating) she was. She went on, cocking her head to the side, "Pilot Ikari is not yours, or mine. He is not owned by anyone." She looked closer at Asuka, "I believe that you misunderstand me, Pilot Souryu. I do not wish to unite with Pilot Ikari; I only wish to protect him. There are more types of love than one."
The anger drained from Asuka as she realized what Rei was saying. "Why?" she whispered, not understanding, "Why do you love him…?"
Rei shook her head, "As I sated before, I do not-"
Asuka waved her hand, cutting Rei off, "Not good enough, Wondergirl. I want to know why."
Rei flushed slightly, breaking eye contact with the other girl, "I believe it is because… he was kind to me."
For the third time in ten minutes, Asuka's jaw fell open, "That's IT?! Because he was nice to you??" Rei met her eyes, and Asuka's breath caught, -Her eyes… so much pain. I… I never knew…-
Rei spoke quietly, "Yes. He was kind to me, and he asked nothing in return. No one has ever been kind to me without requiring something in exchange," her mouth drew down very slightly, "and I will defend him, Pilot Souryu, even from you if necessary. I will not see him hurt."
Asuka could see that she meant it. She nodded, satisfied (choosing to ignore the threat), and went back to leaning against the command vehicle, -Maybe Wondergirl isn't so bad after all…- she thought.
***
"Twelve hours…" Shinji whispered to himself, "twelve hours since I switched to life support mode. In four or five hours… I'll be dead."
He uncurled from the ball he had pulled himself into and grabbed the butterfly handles of unit 01, pushing one of the triggers. The entry plug flashed through a series of colors, finally settling on unrelieved white. With a sigh, he pushed the trigger again, "Still nothing but white noise… nothing on the radar, either…"
He pulled his legs up to his chest for warmth, "Asuka…" he whispered her name quietly, "I… I just wanted to show you that I wasn't a loser… and now look at me." He frowned sadly, "I'm hungry…"
***
"You're going to WHAT?!?" Misato's voice rang out in the quite night air.
"It s the only thing we could come up with on such short notice, Major! Dropping all nine hundred and ninety two N2 into the shadow while the two remaining EVAs activate their AT fields is the only chance we have." Ritsuko was starting to loose her temper, -why can't she get this through her head?- she wondered.
"But… but… that kind of explosion would destroy unit 01!! Or at the very least kill Shinji! What the hell kind of rescue operation is this?!"
Ritsuko met her gaze steadily, "Our number one priority is to get the EVA back, or destroy it if that is not possible. The pilot's life is secondary."
Misato's hand flashed out, making solid contact with Ritsuko's cheek.
"Ungh…" Ritsuko grunted in surprise, then picked her glasses up, glaring at Misato, "I'm taking command of this operation effective immediately. You are obviously too emotional to handle it." She walked away, talking into her cell phone.
Misato stood still, shaking with rage, "Why… why is unit 01 so important!?" she whispered to herself. Then she thought of Asuka, and how she would tell her, -Ritsuko, it's a damn good thing Asuka wasn't here… or I think she may have hurt you…-
***
Shinji woke from a light doze, "wha?" He looked around the entry plug, sensing something different.
"It's getting cloudy!!" He yelled, finally grasping the change, "Hard to… breathe… it smells…" his eyes widened, "It smells like BLOOD in here!!!"
Frantically he jumped up and pulled on the release to the hatch for the plug, screaming, "It smells like blood! I hate this place!! Let me OUT!!!" His screams faded to whimpers as the hatch refused to budge, "Someone help me… Misato… Ayanami… father… Asuka…"
Exhausted, he slumped back into his seat, "Asuka… I'm sorry," his tears dissipated into the LCL, "I guess I couldn't be there for you after all. I'm just a failure…"
He hugged himself, shivering, "It's getting colder, too… everything is starting to fail."
He closed his eyes, "Asuka… maybe I can dream of you…"
His breathing began to slow down and become even, and Shinji Ikari DID dream…
***
"No way." Asuka's voice was flat.
They were gathered in the planning room, listening to Ritsuko outline the plan to bomb the angel (and her lover) from here to Heaven's door… the real one.
"I want no part of this!" She went on, her arms folded under her breasts.
Ritsuko calmly stared her down, "Are you done yet?" As Asuka had no response other than to glare at her, she continued, "As I was saying, there is a fifteen percent chance that Unit 01 will be able to withstand the blast." She raised her hand as Asuka began to speak, "Currently, the Magi give Shinji a zero percent survival chance." She met Asuka's gaze, "Now perhaps you understand why it must be this way, yes?"
Asuka could not hold the older woman's eyes, "Yes… I understand…" she whispered reluctantly.
"Good," Ritsuko spoke briskly, "then both of you get to your positions, there is not much time left."
Asuka hesitated and then nodded, moving swiftly for the door. Ritsuko began to turn back to the monitors, when she noticed that Rei had not left, "Is there something I can do for you, Rei?"
Rei nodded and spoke quietly, "Yes, doctor Akagi. I have a question to ask. In the event that Pilot Ikari is not recovered, who will his possessions transfer too?"
Ritsuko looked at the young girl, confused, "I would imagine they would go to his father, as he is his only relative, why?"
Rei ignored her question, instead countering with another, "In the event that his father does not want them, they would be disposed of?"
The older woman's confusion was growing, "Y-Yes, I suppose so…" -What is she trying to ask me?- she thought.
Rei looked her straight in the eyes, "In the event that commander Ikari does not want Pilot Ikari's possessions, may I have them?"
Ritsuko's eyes widened, -Why… why would she want his things?- She spoke haltingly, "I… I suppose so… Rei… but I don't-"
"Thank you, doctor Akagi." Rei said simply, then turned and left the room, thinking, -Now I know that I will always have something to remind me of this feeling, even if he is gone.-
Ritsuko could only stare after the girl with a puzzled expression on her face.
***
Inside unit 01's entry plug, Shinji was awake once more, "It's so cold… suit's failing…" He found that he lacked the strength to open his eyes, "So tired… of everything… Asuka…" he frowned slightly, "Asuka… I'm so… sorry that I couldn't… live up to my promise. If I… see you again… I swear I'll never… never… let you…" his voice trailed off and his brow cleared, a look of tranquil peace spread across his features.
On the wrist of his plug suit, a red light flashed in time with Shinji's heartbeat. The light blinked once… twice… three times… and winked out.
The entry plug was silent.
***
Inside unit 00, Rei felt uneasy, -something is…- her thought trailed off. She looked at the shadow intently, then whispered with a soft smile, "He's coming…"
Back at the Command Vehicle, Maya was yelling, "All of our gauges are going off the scale!!"
"But we haven't done anything yet!" Ritsuko shot back.
"Is it Shinji!?" Misato looked at one of the monitors hopefully.
Ritsuko shook her head, "Not possible, Unit 01 must be completely out of power!"
Onscreen the ground had begun to shake and crack apart, forming red fissures like a complex spider's web.
"What's going on?" Asuka whispered staring at the undulating street. Her attention was drawn to the sphere, which had become black like the shadow on the street and started to quiver.
Suddenly an arm thrust it's way out of the sphere, followed by a gout of blood, and a few seconds later, EVA unit 01's head.
The EVA unit screamed repeatedly as it tore it's way free of the sphere.
"God in Heaven…" Asuka whispered in awe, "is THAT what I'm piloting?!?!"
With a final howl, the giant mecha burst out, sending bloody pieces of the angel flying in all directions and falling to the street with a resounding crash.
"Eject the plug, now!" Ritsuko ordered. Maya entered the command, and the entry plug flew form the purple robot.
The EVA stood still for a moment, then collapsed face down in the street, the light leaving its eyes as it came down.
***
Shinji awoke to the feel of warm night air washing over him. Someone was shouting his name.
"Shinji! SHINJI!!!" He opened his eyes to find Misato and Asuka, one on each side of the entry plug, leaning over him. Both had tears in their eyes. Asuka was holding his hand in both of hers.
Misato collapsed against him, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing, but it was Asuka's eyes that he held with his.
"I just wanted to see you… one more time… I love…you…" he whispered before passing out.
***
When he woke again he was not at all surprised to find himself in the infirmary. He was surprised to see Rei sitting next to his bed, reading a book.
"Ayanami. Where's Asuka?" he asked.
Rei closed her book and stood, "She is in the hall. The doctors did not feel that her tears would speed your recovery, and her sobbing was disturbing the patient in the next room."
Shinji frowned at the thought of Asuka wracked with sobs, and he shook his head to clear the image.
Rei considered him for a moment and asked, "You are distraught?"
Shinji looked up at her, surprised, then he nodded slowly, "Yes, I don't like the idea of someone I love… what? What's wrong?"
Rei was frowning slightly. She set her book on the chair she had been sitting in and leaned over Shinji.
"What are you-" Shinji stopped short as Rei's arms wrapped gently around him, pulling him into a clumsy hug.
After a moment she pulled away again, "Does this make you feel better?"
"Y-Yes… it does… thank you, Ayan-" he stopped again, gathering himself, "Thank you, Rei. But why did you do that?"
She looked at him, her head tilted to one side, "It is a form of comfort to embrace a loved one if they are troubled… were you not aware of this?"
Shinji's mouth hung open as the words 'loved one' flashed through his mind.
Rei picked up her book (Relationships in the Second Impact world, by Hans Ooterbratten), and walked towards the door, "I will notify Pilot Souryu that you are awake, is that satisfactory?"
Shinji could barely get out, "Y-yeah…" as he was still dealing with the shock of hearing those words from Rei, and the fact that she had hugged him. Rei shocked him again as she opened the door, saying something only his mother had ever said to him.
"Well," she said as the door slid open, "That's good for you."
Shinji did not have time to consider the implications as he was suddenly pinned to the bed by ninety-five pounds of crying girl.
"SHINJI!!! Oh thank God!!" Asuka was showering him with kisses and whispering his name.
Shinji didn't know how to respond, -No one has ever… cried for me before…- he thought, somewhat surprised. He wrapped his arms around her and held her, saying nothing.
Once she had calmed down, she told him about the narrowly averted plan to bomb the shadow, and Rei's sudden change in behavior, "I know," he said, scratching his head, "She just… hugged me and said, 'That is what you do to comfort a loved one', or something like that. Since when am I a loved one?" He laughed at the dark expression on her face, "Of course, you're the only one I love THAT way."
She smiled, reassured, and kissed him gently. Then she laid her head on his chest and whispered, "Shinji?"
He stroked her long red hair slowly, "Yes, Asuka?"
"As soon as you're released… do you want to…" he could feel her blush through his hospital gown, "do you want to… umm… do you… last night…" she growled in frustration, unused to being tongue-tied, "Do you want to-"
"Yes, I do." He cut her off, smiling, "More than anything."
She sighed, snuggling closer, "Ok… then for now can you turn the light off? I'm all tired out from waiting for you to wake up, you inconsiderate man…"
He reached for the switch on the wall behind him to comply, but hesitated with his arm in front of his face. He frowned, smelling the back of his hand.
-It still smells like blood…-
To be continued…
Omake
(Gosh, I hope that's the right word)
From the scene where Rei tells Asuka she loves Shinji:
Asuka's brow drew down dangerously, "Shinji is mine, do you hear me? MINE!" Her hands flexed, itching to wrap around the throat of the girl who was calmly telling her that she loved Shinji.
Rei remained cool, apparently unaware of how close to death (or at least a beating) she was. She went on, cocking her head to the side, "Pilot Ikari is not yours… plus I've got a better shot than you do."
Asuka looked stunned, "Wh-What makes you think that?"
Rei put her left hand on her hip and leaned to the side, smiling slightly, "Because, I'm not a ruthless bitch like you, and I can –censored- like a wildcat. You two have only done it, what, once? Once he gets a taste of this blue love*," she pointed to her, umm… pelvis, "you haven't got a chance, honey." She brushed by a shocked Asuka, "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go help MY new boyfriend."
*Excellent fanfic, by the way…
Author's Notes: This story takes place mostly as an alternative to episode 16, but things happen a little sooner (in the show, the angel attacks a few days later, not the next day). I also cut out the whole scene with Shinji's sync rate, since that was used as a plot device to further alienate Asuka, and would have had no effect here (because damn, she's not THAT shallow!) I also thought it would be interesting if Asuka took all of her devotion to piloting unit 02 and focused it on her relationship with Shinji. I kinda pictured this line, even though I didn't use it: Rei "I wonder. Do you only pilot the EVA for the praise of others?" Asuka: "No… I pilot it for his…". Obviously that would not have fit into this story, but that's the attitude I wanted her to develop. Also, any similarity to any other FanFics –HERZ and EVA-R, to mention just two – are wholly unintentional, and unwanted. I tried my best to make the characters different from theirs, but I had just read them both when I started writing, so I can't say they had no influence (they certainly influenced me to start writing again after two years away from the "pen", but I hope that is the only influence, as I strove to be as original as I could). And yes, I know Rei talked a lot, but she was confused… and she does not like mysteries :). I also think that if Misato had not interrupted them in Ep 16, she would have continued to question Asuka until she got whatever answer she was looking for.
One last note: In Episode 16, in the entry plug, Shinji dies. I am at least %88 sure of this, as he whispers, "I'm so tired… of everything…" then his breathing stops and he goes completely still. It is my opinion that Yui brings Shinji back to life; so stop looking at me like I'm crazy!!
As always, feedback is welcome (and encouraged), send it to Random1377@yahoo.com.