And on the Second Day…
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Shinji Ikari, Third Child, pilot of Evangelion 01, and currently acting Supreme Deity, strips off his clothes and walks into the shower, letting the water wash over him.
He begins to hum as he lathers himself up, not sure why he opted for the shower instead of a bath…and then remembers something about 'singing in the shower' that he heard about on the television.
And he begins to sing.
Loudly, not caring if anyone hears him, gyrating his tucchus to the music as it faces the glass door, carrying each note and word. Smiling to himself, satisfied as he finishes the shower, he opens the glass door and steps out, buck naked, onto the bathroom carpet…
And finds the Metatron waiting.
"Just promise me I'll never have to watch that again," he groans.
Tabris materializes above the blood sea that was once Antarctica, light in his hands and fire in his eyes. The sea of broken ice below him, he walks across the air, studying the scenery.
With another burst of light Arael appears, floating on wings manifest from her shoulders.
"Sister," Tabris says, "I have pondered bringing forth another Angel to act as the 15th. One who would be better suited to the role."
"Why?" she asks, "I am the 15th Angel. I am the Angel of Truth, am I not?"
"Yes…but power is what we need. Another Angel of Strength to fight the Third Child."
"But Zeruel has fought and fallen. Who would we…"
Her face seizes in horror.
"No," she whispers, "Why?"
"Because it will be necessary," Tabris says, contemplating the sea below, "The Angel of Truth you may be…but now I will approach the Fire Bringer himself."
He opens his arms, a brief glow of light escaping his eyes as he closes them. Beneath him, in the sea of blood, a pinprick of darkness surfaces…and expands to fill the sea.
It expands to consume all of what was once Antarctica, crackling as lines of white shift over it before calming.
"The sea of Dirac," Arael whispers.
"Come forth, Fire Bringer," Tabris shouts, "Come forth, oh strongest of our Kin, and take the Chariot for which I have provided!"
And a silver-white hand, large enough to fit both of them in its palm, bursts from the nothingness.
"…and so, as Second Impact shifted the poles of the world, economic and ecological collapse, lead to the present situations of…"
Shinji, as always, pays little to no attention to the droning of the teacher. However, instead of drowning in his own misery as usual, his thoughts wander and communicate with the invisible man sitting on the floor next to him.
"You know, as the Voice of God, I should at least get a chair."
Then it'll give you away.
"Thank you, Oh Omnipotent One. You could just make them forget."
Fine. I wish you had a chair.
"Bean bag."
What?
"I want a bean bag chair. I like those more."
Fine. I wish you had a bean bag chair, and that no one noticed you and it.
A bean bag chair appears under Metatron, who leans back in it, hands cradling his head.
"Much better. Want to make a wish to get this guy to talk about something else?"
I don't want to abuse my power. I know what I have done with it, but I don't…I don't want to use it in the wrong way. Just using it on the Sensei because I'm bored would be wrong.
Metatron smiles to himself, victorious in one assessment.
The Commander has never been a patient in the infirmary. He's never seen the point of it, until now.
Currently, he has a cast on his right leg, an ice pack on his forehead to cover the pronounced red mark, and a cast over his tucchus. The nurses and doctors have been sworn to secrecy, and the only person aware of the situation in its entirety is himself, and the Sub Commander standing next to the bed as Ikari puts his uniform back on.
"I've had your chair in your office and at Central Dogma padded for the…condition," Fuyutsuki says, standing stock still and trying not to chuckle as Ikari tries to pull his shoe on over his cast, "You know, your leg will heal in two weeks at most. You won't lose face by walking around with a crutch."
"I won't allow this to get out," Ikari responds in an even tone, "The Old Men are looking for any sort of weakness, especially since the incident with Unit 01."
"Yes. Yes, they are."
"And the Third Child?"
"Sync Tests should resume this afternoon."
"Good. Has the Major or Section 2 reported any abnormal behavior?"
"None. Seems more or less normal, save a little skittishness when anyone mentions the 14th Angel."
"Expected. He will still serve in the plan. We're too far in to stop now. We stand together or hang separately."
"I agree," Fuyutsuki says wearily, "Ready to go, Ikari?"
The commander nods wordlessly, and walks, shakily at first and then normally, and the two exit.
Arael manifests upon the beach she walked on earlier, facing the sun as it draws to its zenith. She turns, smiling to her relaxing creator…and her face contorts in shock as she sees his companion, thrusting her hand forward and releasing a ball of crackling light.
The blonde man raises a hand, catching it and dispersing it as he splays his fingers.
"Arael," he says, "One would think that living in the Elysium as long as you have, you would learn not to so blatantly attack your kin."
"You are no brother to I, Morningstar," Arael seethes, wings tensing as she prepares for battle, "Sir, what is-"
"Hold, Arael," God says, raising a hand as he sits up on his beach chair, "We were discussing matters. This place is a neutral zone. Even though he is exiled from Paradise, he may walk here with Myself should he wish."
He stands, a warm, inviting smile appearing on his glasses-framed face.
"What can I do for you, Arael?"
"I…have concerns," Arael responds, her wings slumping, "Tabris worries me. The Plan worries me. I need to go to the World to…see what must be done."
"Ah…as a mortal."
"Yes. I must take on Flesh to observe the changes in the Trials."
God nods, placing a hand on Arael's shoulder.
"So be it," he says, "Though I do not have the power to send you on your way. Would you be averse to my guest doing so?"
Arael looks to the smiling blonde man, trying to keep the bile down her throat. She nods, eyes closed.
Slowly, the man rises, folding out his wings, his eyes glowing.
"Very well," he says, "Walk well in the world of Men. And try not to show your wings. They tend to be…misunderstanding…of our true purpose."
And he snaps his fingers. And she disappears.
Metatron's eyes go wide, and he disappears.
In that moment, time freezes…and Shinji can feel time lurching as its ripped from his control, resetting to the beginning of that school day. He wheezes, breathing heavily as he braces against the desk, Asuka giving him an odd look.
"What's wrong, Third Child?" she asks.
"It's…nothing," he lies, "Breakfast must have disagreed with me."
He turns from Asuka to Rei, scanning her face for any sign she knew…but finds none.
Of course she wouldn't know. I'm so far above her now…no. Don't think that. You're still the same…
He turns his attention back to the sensei as he coughs to get the attention of the students.
"We have a new student today," he says, "I would like you all to welcome her."
A girl walks through the door, shyly at first…but then smiles, walking with confidence to the front of the room. She is young, seemingly younger than any of them despite being the same age. She is small, the shortest of them, but distinct nonetheless, standing tall with her pride and smiling with shining teeth.
Her hair is the color of ash, her eyes a light blue.
And Shinji can swear he sees the outlines of wings coming from her back…but puts it aside.
"Hello," she says, "My name is Ariel Nagisa. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
He looks like shit.
That is the first thought on Misato's mind the moment Gendo Ikari walks onto Central Dogma and takes his seat. Not that she hasn't had that opinion of his personality, treatment of his son and the other Children, or general history, but she hasn't thought about that in terms of his appearance.
"Major, what is the current status?"
Misato takes her attention away from the large red mark at the center of the Commander's forehead, and to the folder she's currently holding.
"All's clear, sir," she says, "No blue patterns detected, and all Eva's are operating nominally, except for 01, which is still in freeze."
"Excellent," Ikari responds as he takes his typical position and, unbeknownst to them, positions his ass-cast in a better position in the seat, "As you were."
Misato nods, turning back to the three bridge bunnies. She turns as the doors open and Ritsuko Akagi walks onto the bridge. Making a quick decision about protocol and promptness, walks to her college friend and pulls her out from the bridge.
"What is it?" Akagi asks.
"Did Kaji tell you?"
"That your pet penguin is talking? If it wasn't for him I'd have thought you actually found new levels of drunkenness."
"Yes. Pen Pen now speaks. And he's complaining a lot, to."
"Are you sure Asuka just doesn't know ventriloquism?"
Misato glares at her, Akagi shrugging and holding up her hands defensively.
"Fine, fine, I'll see if I can be over tonight," she says with a sigh, "And Shinji?"
"He's doing…okay, considering. I'll talk with him tonight. I didn't have a chance, last night, but from what I can tell he's talking to himself."
"Probably just nerves. The fact that he's not huddled in a corner and drooling after this experience is a sign that he's recovering."
Misato nods, folding her arms and leaning against the wall. Akagi does the same, a moment of silent retrospect passing between them. And soon ending as Misato grins.
"So, what happened with the Commander?"
"Don't whisper a word about it to anyone. I found him."
"Well?"
"He broke his ass."
Commander Ikari winces as the sound of loud laughter comes from the corridor immediately outside Central Dogma.
"Told you," Fuyutsuki whispers with a chuckle.
"Professor?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
Ariel walks towards her desk, smiling as she looks to Shinji and giving a small wave to him.
Metatron chooses this moment to appear, grabbing Shinji by the shoulder.
"Listen to me," he says, "Something has been put into play. One of the Angels has abandoned the Plan and has decided to move into…"
He turns, to lock eyes with Ariel, who waves to him with a smile. It takes a moment for Metatron to realize she's waving at him.
"Oh, bloody Hell."