Title: Return from Middle Earth
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Spoilers for Eva, no event spoilers for LotR. Must read Children In Middle Earth first.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of The Rings or Neon Genesis Evangelion. I would buy them but I am broke.
Summary: After fourteen years and a new life in Middle Earth, Shinji, Asuka and Rei return to Tokyo 3 twenty-four hours after they left, reverting to teenagers again. (Sequel to Children In Middle Earth)
AN: Just to clarify in this I am ignoring the whole 'Rei is a clone' thing. She is the original and she bears no relation to Shinji whatsoever. Set just after the eleventh Angel.
"__" means speech (Japanese or denoted), '__' means thought, *__* means ME Common --__-- means computer messages.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shinji awoke from the most peaceful sleep he had had in weeks. He felt the familiar pressure of Rei sleeping on his chest. She felt just as right sleeping there in their current, fourteen year old bodies, as it had in their older bodies. He looked around the tiny, filthy apartment and decided that it was unsuitable for his wife to sleep here when there were no other occupants in the entire apartment building that Misato, Asuka and himself lived in. After a moment he realised that before their other life, Shinji would have had a compulsion to clean this room, he had been a total neat freak, but now that part of his psyche was mended and he did not feel that compulsion. He noticed that the sun was shining and it indicated that it was early morning, they had slept away all the afternoon and night after visiting the cemetery. As he felt Rei awaken he realised that they had school today.
"Morning Sleepyhead." Shinji said, sparking the memory of them waking after his injury all those years ago.
"Morning. Don't we have school?" Rei asked, to which Shinji nodded.
They quickly got dressed and had a small breakfast. They walked to school in a comfortable silence for a while, before Shinji broke the silence.
"Rei? You don't have to answer this. Ok?" Shinji said, waiting for Rei's nod before continuing. "Why did you follow my dad so blindly? Before I mean."
Rei contemplated the question for a minute before answering, searching through her memory.
"When I was younger, your father, the commander, saved me from Dr. Akagi's mother who was choking me. I had innocently repeated something that the commander had said, and it was insulting. He killed Dr. Akagi and saved me. Then he ordered me to quite, and I obeyed because he had just saved me. He kept ordering and I kept obeying." Rei replied in her soft voice. "I now know he was using me, but back then he made me feel wanted, needed."
"I understand. I used to want to feel needed." Shinji replied, feeling relieved about the issue, which had only bothered him since their return.
Shinji placed his arm around Rei as they walked, projecting his comfort at her presence and his relief to her. She leaned into his encircling arm and let go of the nervousness she had felt at his question.
'He still loves me.' She thought with a smile.
********
Asuka stormed into the classroom. Last night had been hell for her. First she had to sit through Misato's drunken rant about 'her Shinji' not coming home, then later, in the dead of night, she had rolled over and found her bed empty, and the loss of Faramir had hit her all over again. She had wept until dawn. As she slammed her bag down on the desk, she noticed Shinji and Rei, sitting in their new spot, looking at her sympathetically. She smiled inside, knowing that they would help her, and that they had lost more than she could ever imagine with the death of their daughter, Yui. Touji had noticed the glace to the 'new couple' and misconstrued it and her current mood.
"Aww. What's the matter? Can't the demon find a man of her own?" he said mockingly.
Shinji had recognised his tone of voice instantly and was out of his seat in seconds, which is why he was close enough to intercept Asuka's fist. All Touji saw Asuka launch the punch and knew that he could not dodge it, and then there was a fleshy slapping sound a second before he should have been hit. Opening his eyes, Touji saw Shinji holding Asuka's fist, the muscles on both their arms straining and he idly noticed several small scars on Shinji's arm that he had never seen before, but they looked old.
*This is not the way, Asuka. You, Rei and I know about Faramir, and that's enough. He would have done anything for you and you know it, so calm down!* Shinji said authoritatively, leaving all the other students confused at the strange language he was speaking.
*It hurts so much, Shinji.* Asuka responded.
*It will get better. The pain will stay, but it will get easier to deal with. I promise.* Shinji said.
Asuka slowly nodded and sat in her seat, while Shinji turned to face Touji.
"Say anything like that again, and I will beat you to a living pulp, then I'll let the girls have a go at you, and I guarantee that they won't be as nice." Shinji threatened, before returning to his seat as the teacher entered.
*He's just lucky I did not have my bow, or he'd be dead already.* Rei whispered after he had sat down.
*Yah, but its Touji. He was born with his foot in his mouth.* Shinji whispered back, causing Rei to grin.
********
After lunch, the class had Physical Education, and due to the pool being cleaned, and the lack of imagination of the teachers, the class was going to have a mixed game of Soccer. To 'be fair' it was decided that the best male and female athletes would be the captains, which meant it was Touji and Asuka, who had put her hair into the ponytail that her older self had always worn, captaining. Asuka, who had first pick, chose Shinji first, before Rei to make sure she didn't lose him to Touji. Touji, concerned about losing Shinji, picked Kensuke, allowing Asuka to pick Rei. The picking continued till all thirty-two students had been chosen, 8 male and 8 female a side.
Shinji, Asuka and Rei set up their team to compensate for the extra players, they had the Goalie, and four defenders, four centre fielders and four forwards, with the three of them playing roving positions, creating fairly even conditions. Touji however, set his team up with a Goalie, Six defenders, three centre fielders and six forwards. As the game started, it seemed that Touji's numerical superiority on offence and defence would give his team an advantage; however Asuka, Shinji and Rei's roving provided their team with an extra player or two around the ball, depending on where the ball was, which nullified Touji's strategy.
The game ended with Asuka's team winning 3 to 2, with Asuka, Shinji and Rei's roving being decisive despite the fact that Touji's team had several of the school Soccer team players on it. Seconds after the full time whistle blew, the Angel attack sirens were blearing. Without hesitation, Asuka, Shinji and Rei ran for the closest access point to the Geofront.
********
The three Eva's rocketed to the surface and ghosted through the now abandoned Tokyo 3. This Angel had suddenly appeared above the city, in the form of a black and white sphere.
"We've just sent you all the data on the current Angel. That's literally all we know. I want you to back each other up on this one." Misato ordered over the radio.
*Belay that.* Shinji ordered. *I got an idea.*
*Thank god, Misato's couldn't manage a real battle if her life depended on it.* Asuka replied, gaining nods from Shinji and Rei.
*Alright, Rei, I want you to set up a sniper nest in around here,* Shinji said rattling off coordinates while drawing a rough map's image just above the street. *Take any clear shot.*
*Rodger.* Rei said, before moving off to her area.
*Asuka, I want you here, to the North. Set up an ambush. I'll lead it up past Rei to your position, then once you engage, I'll sweep around and attack from the back.* Shinji continued, indicating leading the Angel from the South up past Rei's position to Asuka's ambush.
*Right. I'll call in when in position.* Asuka said.
********
"What are they saying? What the hell are they doing?" Misato asked.
"Ambush." The Sub-Commander said.
"Huh?" the confused Major asked.
"Shinji just set up an ambush. Looks like Shinji's going to lead the Angel past Rei's sniper nest and into Asuka's ambush. Not bad set up on the fly." The Sub-Commander explained.
"Oh." Misato said slightly confused.
********
*Sniper nest, set up.* Rei called in.
*In position.* Asuka said a minute later.
*Alright. Engaging.* Shinji called.
Unit 01 stepped around the corner of a building and fired three shots at the Angel. The Angel disappeared just before shots reached it. Shinji swore, already on the move to lead it to Asuka's location. Suddenly he noticed that his steps were sticky, and the next thing Shinji knew Unit 01 was being swallowed up to its knees by a large, pitch black shadow.
*Asuka, Rei. Abort. Repeat, abort. The sphere is a decoy. Fall back. I'm being swallowed by a shadow. Go now!* Shinji ordered.
*No! I won't leave you.* Rei argued.
*Rei, Go! Please?* Shinji begged.
Asuka started withdrawing, reluctantly.
*Come on Rei. We'll rescue him but not if we get caught ourselves.* Asuka said.
Rei slowly began to move away from the shadow.
*I love you, wife.* Shinji said, just before the horn of Unit 01 disappeared into the shadow, cutting off communications.
*I love you too, Shinji* Rei whispered as she retreated.
TBC
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: Spoilers for Eva, no event spoilers for LotR. Must read Children In Middle Earth first.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of The Rings or Neon Genesis Evangelion. I would buy them but I am broke.
Summary: After fourteen years and a new life in Middle Earth, Shinji, Asuka and Rei return to Tokyo 3 twenty-four hours after they left, reverting to teenagers again. (Sequel to Children In Middle Earth)
AN: Just to clarify in this I am ignoring the whole 'Rei is a clone' thing. She is the original and she bears no relation to Shinji whatsoever. Set just after the eleventh Angel.
"__" means speech (Japanese or denoted), '__' means thought, *__* means ME Common --__-- means computer messages.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shinji awoke from the most peaceful sleep he had had in weeks. He felt the familiar pressure of Rei sleeping on his chest. She felt just as right sleeping there in their current, fourteen year old bodies, as it had in their older bodies. He looked around the tiny, filthy apartment and decided that it was unsuitable for his wife to sleep here when there were no other occupants in the entire apartment building that Misato, Asuka and himself lived in. After a moment he realised that before their other life, Shinji would have had a compulsion to clean this room, he had been a total neat freak, but now that part of his psyche was mended and he did not feel that compulsion. He noticed that the sun was shining and it indicated that it was early morning, they had slept away all the afternoon and night after visiting the cemetery. As he felt Rei awaken he realised that they had school today.
"Morning Sleepyhead." Shinji said, sparking the memory of them waking after his injury all those years ago.
"Morning. Don't we have school?" Rei asked, to which Shinji nodded.
They quickly got dressed and had a small breakfast. They walked to school in a comfortable silence for a while, before Shinji broke the silence.
"Rei? You don't have to answer this. Ok?" Shinji said, waiting for Rei's nod before continuing. "Why did you follow my dad so blindly? Before I mean."
Rei contemplated the question for a minute before answering, searching through her memory.
"When I was younger, your father, the commander, saved me from Dr. Akagi's mother who was choking me. I had innocently repeated something that the commander had said, and it was insulting. He killed Dr. Akagi and saved me. Then he ordered me to quite, and I obeyed because he had just saved me. He kept ordering and I kept obeying." Rei replied in her soft voice. "I now know he was using me, but back then he made me feel wanted, needed."
"I understand. I used to want to feel needed." Shinji replied, feeling relieved about the issue, which had only bothered him since their return.
Shinji placed his arm around Rei as they walked, projecting his comfort at her presence and his relief to her. She leaned into his encircling arm and let go of the nervousness she had felt at his question.
'He still loves me.' She thought with a smile.
********
Asuka stormed into the classroom. Last night had been hell for her. First she had to sit through Misato's drunken rant about 'her Shinji' not coming home, then later, in the dead of night, she had rolled over and found her bed empty, and the loss of Faramir had hit her all over again. She had wept until dawn. As she slammed her bag down on the desk, she noticed Shinji and Rei, sitting in their new spot, looking at her sympathetically. She smiled inside, knowing that they would help her, and that they had lost more than she could ever imagine with the death of their daughter, Yui. Touji had noticed the glace to the 'new couple' and misconstrued it and her current mood.
"Aww. What's the matter? Can't the demon find a man of her own?" he said mockingly.
Shinji had recognised his tone of voice instantly and was out of his seat in seconds, which is why he was close enough to intercept Asuka's fist. All Touji saw Asuka launch the punch and knew that he could not dodge it, and then there was a fleshy slapping sound a second before he should have been hit. Opening his eyes, Touji saw Shinji holding Asuka's fist, the muscles on both their arms straining and he idly noticed several small scars on Shinji's arm that he had never seen before, but they looked old.
*This is not the way, Asuka. You, Rei and I know about Faramir, and that's enough. He would have done anything for you and you know it, so calm down!* Shinji said authoritatively, leaving all the other students confused at the strange language he was speaking.
*It hurts so much, Shinji.* Asuka responded.
*It will get better. The pain will stay, but it will get easier to deal with. I promise.* Shinji said.
Asuka slowly nodded and sat in her seat, while Shinji turned to face Touji.
"Say anything like that again, and I will beat you to a living pulp, then I'll let the girls have a go at you, and I guarantee that they won't be as nice." Shinji threatened, before returning to his seat as the teacher entered.
*He's just lucky I did not have my bow, or he'd be dead already.* Rei whispered after he had sat down.
*Yah, but its Touji. He was born with his foot in his mouth.* Shinji whispered back, causing Rei to grin.
********
After lunch, the class had Physical Education, and due to the pool being cleaned, and the lack of imagination of the teachers, the class was going to have a mixed game of Soccer. To 'be fair' it was decided that the best male and female athletes would be the captains, which meant it was Touji and Asuka, who had put her hair into the ponytail that her older self had always worn, captaining. Asuka, who had first pick, chose Shinji first, before Rei to make sure she didn't lose him to Touji. Touji, concerned about losing Shinji, picked Kensuke, allowing Asuka to pick Rei. The picking continued till all thirty-two students had been chosen, 8 male and 8 female a side.
Shinji, Asuka and Rei set up their team to compensate for the extra players, they had the Goalie, and four defenders, four centre fielders and four forwards, with the three of them playing roving positions, creating fairly even conditions. Touji however, set his team up with a Goalie, Six defenders, three centre fielders and six forwards. As the game started, it seemed that Touji's numerical superiority on offence and defence would give his team an advantage; however Asuka, Shinji and Rei's roving provided their team with an extra player or two around the ball, depending on where the ball was, which nullified Touji's strategy.
The game ended with Asuka's team winning 3 to 2, with Asuka, Shinji and Rei's roving being decisive despite the fact that Touji's team had several of the school Soccer team players on it. Seconds after the full time whistle blew, the Angel attack sirens were blearing. Without hesitation, Asuka, Shinji and Rei ran for the closest access point to the Geofront.
********
The three Eva's rocketed to the surface and ghosted through the now abandoned Tokyo 3. This Angel had suddenly appeared above the city, in the form of a black and white sphere.
"We've just sent you all the data on the current Angel. That's literally all we know. I want you to back each other up on this one." Misato ordered over the radio.
*Belay that.* Shinji ordered. *I got an idea.*
*Thank god, Misato's couldn't manage a real battle if her life depended on it.* Asuka replied, gaining nods from Shinji and Rei.
*Alright, Rei, I want you to set up a sniper nest in around here,* Shinji said rattling off coordinates while drawing a rough map's image just above the street. *Take any clear shot.*
*Rodger.* Rei said, before moving off to her area.
*Asuka, I want you here, to the North. Set up an ambush. I'll lead it up past Rei to your position, then once you engage, I'll sweep around and attack from the back.* Shinji continued, indicating leading the Angel from the South up past Rei's position to Asuka's ambush.
*Right. I'll call in when in position.* Asuka said.
********
"What are they saying? What the hell are they doing?" Misato asked.
"Ambush." The Sub-Commander said.
"Huh?" the confused Major asked.
"Shinji just set up an ambush. Looks like Shinji's going to lead the Angel past Rei's sniper nest and into Asuka's ambush. Not bad set up on the fly." The Sub-Commander explained.
"Oh." Misato said slightly confused.
********
*Sniper nest, set up.* Rei called in.
*In position.* Asuka said a minute later.
*Alright. Engaging.* Shinji called.
Unit 01 stepped around the corner of a building and fired three shots at the Angel. The Angel disappeared just before shots reached it. Shinji swore, already on the move to lead it to Asuka's location. Suddenly he noticed that his steps were sticky, and the next thing Shinji knew Unit 01 was being swallowed up to its knees by a large, pitch black shadow.
*Asuka, Rei. Abort. Repeat, abort. The sphere is a decoy. Fall back. I'm being swallowed by a shadow. Go now!* Shinji ordered.
*No! I won't leave you.* Rei argued.
*Rei, Go! Please?* Shinji begged.
Asuka started withdrawing, reluctantly.
*Come on Rei. We'll rescue him but not if we get caught ourselves.* Asuka said.
Rei slowly began to move away from the shadow.
*I love you, wife.* Shinji said, just before the horn of Unit 01 disappeared into the shadow, cutting off communications.
*I love you too, Shinji* Rei whispered as she retreated.
TBC