I don't own anything. (My new idiot-proof disclaimer.)
Lycanthrope
-Chapter Seventeen: The Seventeenth Messenger
"Shinji!" Shinji jerked awake groaned as light flooded his vision.
"What's wrong Misato?" he grumbled as he looked around his room and scratched his head.
"We're needed at NERV," Misato said.
"Why?" Shinji asked as he glanced down at Yuki and brushed her bangs out of her face. She looked so peaceful when she was asleep.
"It's a surprise," Misato said. She sounded very agitated. Shinji did not care.
"Tell Ritsy to shove her synch tests up her ass," he said as he lay back down and snuggled closer to Yuki's nude form.
"They found the Fifth Child," Misato said. "The failed to notify me and tried to pass it off as me being behind in my paperwork."
"You are behind in your paperwork," Shinji grumbled.
"Just get up or I'm coming in there and dragging you out," Misato threatened.
"Feel free," Shinji answered. "I need a new scratching post."
"Get up or I'll send Asuka in there," Misato said.
"Now that's a threat," Shinji growled as he disengaged himself from Yuki and climbed out of his bed. "I'm up."
"Good," Misato said. "Now hurry up and get dressed. I want to get to NERV before my righteous anger wears out."
"If you want I could slit a few throats," Shinji offered.
"I might take you up on that offer," Misato said. Shinji quickly found a pair of black pants and a dark blue and black Hawaiian shirt covered in little Tiki dudes and palm trees.
"I'm coming," Yuki muttered.
"You don't have to," Shinji said.
"You already woke me up," Yuki said with a frown. "You know I can't go back to bed once I wake up."
"Okay," Shinji said. "It shouldn't be any trouble getting you through security."
"Why?"
"Because most of the Section-2 agents nearly piss themselves around me," Shinji said proudly. "My last killing spree freaked them all out and they're mad as hell that I got away with it."
"Why did you get away with it?" Yuki asked.
"They ran out of Section-2 agents willing to try and capture me."
(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"So where's this new kid?" Shinji asked irritably.
"Somewhere," Touji said vaguely. "Do you have any threes?"
"Go fish."
"Damn it."
"Do you have any aces?"
"Go fish." Shinji sighed and drew a card from the deck. He glanced at Asuka and waited for her to speak.
"Do you have any aces?"
"God damn you."
"Actually you damned her," Touji said. Shinji growled angrily at the hybrid and forked over his three aces to Asuka. She beamed happily and set down her four aces.
"I win." Shinji scooped up all the cards and began to shuffle them.
"How many games is that?"
"Five," Touji said.
"She's kicked your asses five times?" Yuki asked in surprise. "Why don't you just do the underhanded thing?"
"This is Go Fish," Shinji said. "If there are any ways to cheat at Go Fish then I don't know them." He glanced up and saw Rei watching them. "You want to play?"
"I don't know how," Rei said.
"We can teach you," Touji said. "I mean it's almost pathetically easy."
"And yet you are both loosing to a girl," Yuki said.
"I meant easy to learn," Touji said. "Besides, its not like there's anything wrong with loosing to a female."
"Bardiel must have been a real supporter of equality," Shinji commented.
"Why do you say that?" Touji asked suspiciously. Shinji grinned broadly at his friend for taking the bait.
"Because Touji Suzuhara viewed females as objects. What a disgusting little pervert her was."
"Fuck you Shinji."
"It's the money making games that are hard," Shinji said to Rei. "But cheating makes everything easy."
"Cheating is dishonest," Rei said calmly.
"Do we look honest?" Touji asked.
"No."
"She's learning," Shinji said. "You just have to watch the hands and the eyes to make sure someone doesn't cheat." With that said he flipped the desk of cards across his hand and sent the cards flying into his opposite palm.
"Show off," Touji grumbled.
"It's skill," Shinji said with a smirk.
"Knock it off you two," Misato growled as she rubbed her temples. "You argue like a pair of old ladies."
"There you are." Shinji looked up and grinned toothily a Ritsuko. He took great pride in how she shuddered slightly. "I've been looking all over for you."
"Well here we are," Asuka said. "Now introduce the Fifth Child so I can kill him and go back to bed."
"No killing other Eva pilots," Shinji said in exasperation.
"Fine," Ritsuko said, ignoring them. "Meet the Fifth Child, Kaworu Nagisa." Shinji watched as a young man with silver hair and crimson eyes stepped out from behind the blond doctor.
(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"He feels gay," Touji said. "The vibe just roles off him like a wave."
"What's wrong the gay people?" Shinji growled. "I have a friend who's gay."
"Really?" Touji asked. "Who?"
"You."
"I had that coming," Touji said. "But really?"
"Yeah," Shinji said.
"Who?"
"Ashitaka," Shinji said.
"No shit," Touji said. "Would never have suspected him. Nice guy though."
"Really," Shinji said with a nod. "I'm just glad that he isn't like those strait guys who play gay guys on sitcoms."
"God I want to make them die," Touji grumbled.
"Are you two done yet?" Misato asked in annoyance.
"I think so," Touji said.
"Yeah." Shinji turned back to the kid. "Well I didn't see that coming."
"Tabris being the Fifth Child?" Touji asked.
"Don't even act like you saw this coming," Shinji growled.
"Can I kill him now?" Asuka pleaded. Shinji glanced at the young man. He seemed royally confused and very disturbed.
"Well I told you yes already," Shinji said. Asuka grinned and her claws extended.
"Freeze!" Shinji froze and stared at Misato in wide-eyed shock. 'I did not know that she could do that.'
"Could you show me how to do that?" Yuki asked.
"Sure." Shinji felt a shudder run down his spine. "Anyway, there will be no killing of the Fifth Child."
"But he's evil," Shinji whined. "He needs to die."
"You're evil!" Misato yelled.
"She has a point," Touji said.
"Okay. He's good!" Shinji declared.
"That's not a bad thing!" Misato yelled.
"Yes it is."
"No it's not!"
"Yes it is."
"No it's not!"
"Children!" Shinji shut his mouth and turned to look at Ritsuko.
"Fuck toy!"
"What?" the woman screamed.
"Let him live," Shinji said. "It'll be fun to see the looks on their faces later."
(:::::::::::::ii::::::::::::::)
"This is all wrong," Tabris said as he wondered through the Geo-Front. "The Second is conscious and a monster, the Third is an abomination, and Bardiel is here." He paused at the top of the elevator and smiled as he saw the First. 'One thing is as it should be.' The blue-haired woman looked at him and her eyes narrowed. "You are like me."
"I am nothing like you," the young woman said in disgust.
"She's got a point," a new voice said from behind. "You see she's what we call a fairly-well formed female." Tabris turned and stared at the Third. The dark-haired man boy smirked and his golden eyes danced dangerously. "I won't allow these people to be killed."
"They're not even your species," Tabris sneered.
"They're prey," the abomination said with a smirk. "My species does need to feed."
"You are disgusting," Tabris said.
"And you're alive by my good graces," the young man hissed dangerously. "Come on Rei. Everyone's going out to get something to eat. Do you want to come?"
"Yes."
"Cool," the monster said with a smile. "The place we're going to has one of the greatest vegetarian menus in town."
"Alright," Rei said. Tabris watched as one of his own kind walked past him and moved to walk next to an abomination.
"Both Bardiel and Lilith," he growled in disgust. "Their time as Liliums has ruined their sense of purpose."
(::::::::::::::ii:::::::::::::)
Rei looked around the large table and watched curiously as Shinji argued with their waiter. "I'm sorry, but I can not serve you alcohol without proof that you're over twenty-one."
"What are you?" Shinji demanded. "The fucking beer Nazi?"
"Calm down," Yuki said. "You can drink all you want when we get home."
"Whatever," Shinji growled. "How about soda then?"
"Pepsi?" the waiter asked.
"That's fine," Shinji said with a sigh. The waiter wrote that down and walked away.
"Looks like there'll be another nameless victim on the streets of Tokyo-3 tonight," Touji said.
"Nah," Shinji said. "I like that guy. He stood up to me over something as menial as a drink."
"Do you take pride in making Charles Manson look like Barney?" Touji asked. Rei remained silent and continued to observe their interactions. She has seen many teenagers interact in school, but this odd group of non-humans was different. They seemed to be able to read each other's minds and actions and respond with cutting insults almost instantaneously.
"So," Shinji said, his voice suddenly perfectly calm. In an instant Touji's rambunctious laugh died away. Shinji turned and his golden eyes found Rei's. The young woman had to repress a shudder of fear and loathing. Similar feelings came up as she looked at Asuka and the other woman, but when she looked at Touji there was an odd kinship. "Do you know what the Fifth Child is?" Shinji asked.
"He is the Seventeenth Messenger," Rei answered.
"Right," Touji said. "The last of our kind."
"And you still feel no sadness for aiding in the slaughter of your own species Bardiel?" Yuki asked.
"Tabris is actually closer to being my species then the others," Touji said. "I'm not an angel entirely, but I'm far from simply being a human."
"He's the same as you," Shinji said. "Allow me to introduce Bardiel, the Thirteenth Messenger."
"I never liked fancy titles," Touji murmured tiredly. "Have you introduced yourself Fenrir?"
"That's not important," Shinji said with a shrug. "The name Shinji Ikari will do for now."
"You speak as if you are no longer Shinji Ikari," Rei said quietly.
"I'm not," came the calm reply. "I am no longer human, ergo I am not Shinji Ikari."
"Let's get down to business," Touji said. "What are we to do about Tabris?"
"Wait for him to make his move," Shinji said calmly as he lit a cigarette.
"That runs the risk of having the world destroyed," Touji growled. "What could possibly be worth that risk?" Rei watched as a grin lit up Shinji's face.
"Because I want to see the looks on Misato and Ritsuko's faces when I say I told you so!" he cheered happily.
"There's no smoking in here," someone said. Shinji turned and calmly extinguished his cigarette on the man's hand.
(::::::::::::::ii:::::::::::::)
"Why did you ask to accompany me?" Rei watched as Shinji lit another cigarette and took a long draw on it.
"Whether we like it or not we're all in the same boat," he said finally. "We need to work together to survive this."
"So I am just a convenient partner?" Rei asked. She heard Shinji snort in amusement. "Is that amusing?"
"No," Shinji said. "You just jump to conclusions like every other woman I know."
"Oh," Rei said as she looked around at the buildings. Shinji had insisted on walking her home.
"Look," Shinji said seriously. "I asked you to join our little crusade because I feel that you are trustworthy and strong enough to help us."
"I understand," Rei said.
"Good," Shinji said. "Can I ask you a question?"
"You may," Rei said.
"How much of the second Rei's memories do you have?" Shinji asked.
"I have enough of them to know who you and Pilot Sohryu are," Rei said. "I. . .also remember you telling me to smile." Beside her Shinji chuckled. "But you are different now."
"Did the eye color give it away?" Shinji asked.
"It is not that," Rei said. "I believe the term is insane. I think you are completely insane."
"Maybe you aren't that bad of a judge of character after all," Shinji said with a deep chuckle. "Do you know what your role in this little Greek tragedy is?"
"I am to merge with Lilith and unite all of humanity after being merged with Adam," Rei said.
"When you say it like that," Shinji began. "It doesn't sound that bad."
"I do not wish to be the Commander's doll anymore," Rei said, anger slowly filling her.
"That thought pisses you off," Shinji said. "You don't like that at all, do you?"
"I hate the thought of being used," Rei said.
"You can not merge with Adam," Shinji said. "That would be living up to his plans."
"But the call," Rei began. "It is so strong."
"I understand," Shinji said. "But you need to be strong."
"I will try my hardest," Rei said quietly. Shinji smiled at her.
"That's all I'd ever ask from you Rei."
(::::::::::::::ii:::::::::::::)
Yuki looked up and watched as a grinning and bloodied Shinji stepped into the apartment. "I guess the old Fenrir Charm didn't work on her."
"Funny," Shinji said as he limped to the couch.
"So what really happened?" Asuka asked.
"Just ran into a pack that was trying to move in on my territory," Shinji said with a dismissing shrug.
"How many were there?" Yuki asked.
"Before? There were four," Shinji said. "Now there are about two hundred."
"What?" Asuka asked.
"He means there are now about two hundred pieces of those four lycans scattered around Tokyo-3," Yuki explained. "So what did Rei say?"
"She's with us," Shinji said.
"She doesn't have an Eva," Asuka said.
"Neither does Touji," Shinji said with a shrug. "In case you've forgotten, they don't need Evas to fight the angels."
"Okay," Asuka said. "I still don't really understand why we don't just kill him."
"It's because you sire is a complete loon," Yuki said sourly. "When NERV comes to you for help you're going to rub their noses in the fact that the Fifth Child is the Seventeenth Angel, aren't you?"
"Only a little," Shinji said as he stood up. "I'm going to go tend to my wounds." Yuki watched as he limped towards his room.
"Wait up!"
-End
(::::::::::::::ii:::::::::::::)
-Author's notes. This is was we call beating around the bush. I swear I'll stop writing fillers, well maybe a few more. Anyone else notice that the Seventeenth Angel was introduced in the seventeenth chapter? What a coincidence.