The Angel Attack Part 1
Misato stood waiting for the elevator, a bunch of files in her arms, most of which contained information about Eiro Narikage. He had been at NERV for little more than a week and, in that space of time, he had managed to turn everything literally upside down. And, as well as he was doing, Rei was doing that much worse. Her sync ratios had reached new record lows and her psychiatric profile had confirmed mental instability. Which meant they were short a pilot and, if another angel attacked, it would be up to Asuka and Narikage to stop it.
A pair of arms suddenly draped themselves over Misato's shoulders and she was pulled back against a strong, broad chest. She felt the slight tickle of facial hair as the person leaned close to her ear.
"I heard about Shinji. I'm so sorry, Misato," Kaji said softly, hugging her tightly from behind. "I know you two were close." The woman cleared her throat, slightly nervous.
"Thank you, Kaji. Your concern is touching." She ducked out of his arms, turning to face him, making sure they were a little more than an arm's length away. The man smiled at her, brushing some of his disheveled hair from his eyes.
"Did you miss me while I was gone?"
"Yeah, like I miss a hole in the head. Excuse me." She quickly boarded the elevator, but, to her dismay, Kaji followed. "Why are you following me?"
"I'm going home too, you know. You aren't the only one who leaves at the end of the day, Misato. You're paranoid." She glared at him, punching a button and refusing to look at him. "Oh come on, Misato. Don't be like that." He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back to him again.
"Let me go, Kaji."
"You might not have missed me but I missed you." He rested his chin on her shoulder, smiling to himself. "How about you and I go out tonight. Get you out of the apartment."
"Let's not." She twisted out of his grip but he just grabbed her arm, yanking her back so they were face to face.
"Oh, come on, Misato. I know you still have a thing for me. We'll go out tonight and forget about that kid." Her hand came out of nowhere, slapping him hard enough to send him reeling into the opposite corner. The woman's face was angry, her eyes filled with tears.
"How DARE you," she hissed, trembling with rage. "NEVER refer to Shinji like that. NEVER." Kaji blinked, straightening, a fine red handprint on his cheek.
"Wait, Misato, I didn't mean-"
"Go to hell, you son of a bitch." She hit him again before storming from the elevator. Kaji watched her go, rubbing his sore jaw.
***
"I'm home," Misato said wearily, shutting the door to her apartment. The place was filled with the smell of cooking food and she felt her mouth start to water. She hadn't had anything since breakfast.
"Dinner is almost ready," Narikage told her as she walked into the kitchen. The sixteen-year-old was standing at the stove, monitoring a pot of cooking rice. Pen Pen, who never wandered far from him when he was home, stood beside him, clicking and chirruping every so often.
"What is it?"
"Boiled rice with chicken and vegetables."
"And ramen, judging from that other pot on the stove," the woman said with a small laugh, dropping her stuff on one of the chairs.
"Hai." He turned off the burner and drained the rice. She watched his back for a moment before giving herself a shake.
"I'll go change then we can eat."
"Hai."
Misato returned ten minutes later to find the table set, her stuff having been moved to the living room, and dinner waiting. Narikage was setting out food for Pen Pen, who was trying vainly to tackle him.
"You sure are good in the kitchen," she said as she sat down. Her roommate shrugged, sitting across from her.
"I had to learn how to cook so I could eat."
"I guess so," she said, nervously laughing. A silence fell over them as they ate. After about five minutes had passed, Misato tried again. "So, how are you liking school?"
"It's sufficient." He took another bite of rice, making no move to further the statement.
"Well, have you made any friends?"
"No." Misato blinked, a little startled by his bluntness.
"No? Not even one?"
"I don't have use for friends," Narikage said, swirling his ramen around with his chopsticks.
"No use?" She felt like a broken record, repeating everything he said. "What do you mean, 'no use'? Everyone has a use for friends. You can't spend all your time cooped up in this apartment."
"You do." His eyes firmly met hers. The woman reddened.
"Y-yes, well, I work too, so-"
"I have school so we're even." He slurped up some of his noodles, his gaze never wavering for an instant.
"I spend time outside this apartment!"
"I haven't seen you go on one date or go out with friends since I've been here, Miss Katsuragi. Therefore, I don't think you should tell me I need to get out more."
"Hey, now wait a second-"
"I am quite happy spending time around here, even if I do have a penguin climbing in my lap every time I try to sit down. NO, Pen Pen. That was NOT an invitation," he added quickly when the animal scuttled forward. "Personally, Miss Katsuragi, I think YOU need to get out more."
"Excuse me, but WHO is the guardian here?" Misato said, narrowing her eyes and scowling in annoyance. "And, for your information, I have a very active social life. But, because I took a few personal days, I have a lot of work to catch up on."
"Of course, Miss Katsuragi. Forgive me," he said, sounding. . .amused?
"That's another thing. My name is Misato, not Miss Katsuragi."
"I know that."
"Then why do you insist on calling me that?"
"You are my elder, therefore I must show you respect," he said simply, standing. "I'll clean up so you can catch up on your work, Miss Katsuragi." He gathered up his dishes and deposited them in the sink. Misato stood up and huffed from the room.
"How dare that brat," she grumbled to herself, gathering up her files. "Call me antisocial will he? Humph. It's not my fault I have to work all the time."
Or was it?
Misato looked down at the files in her arms, thinking. She HAD been taking a lot of extra stuff home lately. She had started doing it right after Shinji's death and it had become a habit now within the three weeks he'd been dead.
'I'm afraid,' she realized, glancing into the kitchen where Narikage was washing the dishes. 'I'm afraid to get close to any more people, just in case. I'm shutting myself in to hide the hurt.'
As if he sensed his stare, the boy turned his head, pale blue eyes meeting brown. With a jolt, she realized something else. He was afraid of the same exact thing. He was afraid to get close to anyone lest they leave.
'What would cause him to be afraid?' she asked herself, ducking out of sight quickly. 'What happened in his life to make him so scared? Who has he lost?'
***
"Well?"
"The readings are blue. It's definitely another angel." The commander cursed.
"How much time do we have?"
"An hour, maybe a little more."
"Call Misato and tell her to get Narikage over here as fast as we can. It's time to see if this boy is a real pilot."
***
"What?! Backup duty?!!" Asuka shrieked in protest, turning red. "What do you mean I have backup duty!! Rei and I are the only ones who have experience piloting!"
"Commander's orders," Ritsuko said, not phased in the least by the teen's anger. "We need to see if Narikage is able to sync with the EVA during a REAL battle."
"What if he can't?"
"That's why you're there as well. Narikage?"
"Hai."
"Here is your new plugsuit." She held out a suit, deep green in color, wrapped in plastic. He took it, running his fingers over it.
"Arigato," he said in a soft voice, looking over at her.
"You're welcome. Suit up, you two! Let's go! We only have another forty minutes before this thing gets here!"
***
Asuka and Narikage left the dressing rooms at the same time, both of them looking very serious. The girl glanced over at him, scowling a little.
"Listen here, rookie, you just let me take care of the angel since I know how it's really done."
"I can't do that," he replied, not even glancing at her. "It is my job to take care of the angel, not yours. You're just there to back me up, though I hardly think I'll need it." Asuka spluttered for a few moments.
"H-how dare you!"
"Just sit back and watch how it's really done." He looked over at her, the most arrogant look she had ever seen on his face. Before she could stammer a reply, he had moved ahead and was getting into his EVA.
Misato stood waiting for the elevator, a bunch of files in her arms, most of which contained information about Eiro Narikage. He had been at NERV for little more than a week and, in that space of time, he had managed to turn everything literally upside down. And, as well as he was doing, Rei was doing that much worse. Her sync ratios had reached new record lows and her psychiatric profile had confirmed mental instability. Which meant they were short a pilot and, if another angel attacked, it would be up to Asuka and Narikage to stop it.
A pair of arms suddenly draped themselves over Misato's shoulders and she was pulled back against a strong, broad chest. She felt the slight tickle of facial hair as the person leaned close to her ear.
"I heard about Shinji. I'm so sorry, Misato," Kaji said softly, hugging her tightly from behind. "I know you two were close." The woman cleared her throat, slightly nervous.
"Thank you, Kaji. Your concern is touching." She ducked out of his arms, turning to face him, making sure they were a little more than an arm's length away. The man smiled at her, brushing some of his disheveled hair from his eyes.
"Did you miss me while I was gone?"
"Yeah, like I miss a hole in the head. Excuse me." She quickly boarded the elevator, but, to her dismay, Kaji followed. "Why are you following me?"
"I'm going home too, you know. You aren't the only one who leaves at the end of the day, Misato. You're paranoid." She glared at him, punching a button and refusing to look at him. "Oh come on, Misato. Don't be like that." He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back to him again.
"Let me go, Kaji."
"You might not have missed me but I missed you." He rested his chin on her shoulder, smiling to himself. "How about you and I go out tonight. Get you out of the apartment."
"Let's not." She twisted out of his grip but he just grabbed her arm, yanking her back so they were face to face.
"Oh, come on, Misato. I know you still have a thing for me. We'll go out tonight and forget about that kid." Her hand came out of nowhere, slapping him hard enough to send him reeling into the opposite corner. The woman's face was angry, her eyes filled with tears.
"How DARE you," she hissed, trembling with rage. "NEVER refer to Shinji like that. NEVER." Kaji blinked, straightening, a fine red handprint on his cheek.
"Wait, Misato, I didn't mean-"
"Go to hell, you son of a bitch." She hit him again before storming from the elevator. Kaji watched her go, rubbing his sore jaw.
***
"I'm home," Misato said wearily, shutting the door to her apartment. The place was filled with the smell of cooking food and she felt her mouth start to water. She hadn't had anything since breakfast.
"Dinner is almost ready," Narikage told her as she walked into the kitchen. The sixteen-year-old was standing at the stove, monitoring a pot of cooking rice. Pen Pen, who never wandered far from him when he was home, stood beside him, clicking and chirruping every so often.
"What is it?"
"Boiled rice with chicken and vegetables."
"And ramen, judging from that other pot on the stove," the woman said with a small laugh, dropping her stuff on one of the chairs.
"Hai." He turned off the burner and drained the rice. She watched his back for a moment before giving herself a shake.
"I'll go change then we can eat."
"Hai."
Misato returned ten minutes later to find the table set, her stuff having been moved to the living room, and dinner waiting. Narikage was setting out food for Pen Pen, who was trying vainly to tackle him.
"You sure are good in the kitchen," she said as she sat down. Her roommate shrugged, sitting across from her.
"I had to learn how to cook so I could eat."
"I guess so," she said, nervously laughing. A silence fell over them as they ate. After about five minutes had passed, Misato tried again. "So, how are you liking school?"
"It's sufficient." He took another bite of rice, making no move to further the statement.
"Well, have you made any friends?"
"No." Misato blinked, a little startled by his bluntness.
"No? Not even one?"
"I don't have use for friends," Narikage said, swirling his ramen around with his chopsticks.
"No use?" She felt like a broken record, repeating everything he said. "What do you mean, 'no use'? Everyone has a use for friends. You can't spend all your time cooped up in this apartment."
"You do." His eyes firmly met hers. The woman reddened.
"Y-yes, well, I work too, so-"
"I have school so we're even." He slurped up some of his noodles, his gaze never wavering for an instant.
"I spend time outside this apartment!"
"I haven't seen you go on one date or go out with friends since I've been here, Miss Katsuragi. Therefore, I don't think you should tell me I need to get out more."
"Hey, now wait a second-"
"I am quite happy spending time around here, even if I do have a penguin climbing in my lap every time I try to sit down. NO, Pen Pen. That was NOT an invitation," he added quickly when the animal scuttled forward. "Personally, Miss Katsuragi, I think YOU need to get out more."
"Excuse me, but WHO is the guardian here?" Misato said, narrowing her eyes and scowling in annoyance. "And, for your information, I have a very active social life. But, because I took a few personal days, I have a lot of work to catch up on."
"Of course, Miss Katsuragi. Forgive me," he said, sounding. . .amused?
"That's another thing. My name is Misato, not Miss Katsuragi."
"I know that."
"Then why do you insist on calling me that?"
"You are my elder, therefore I must show you respect," he said simply, standing. "I'll clean up so you can catch up on your work, Miss Katsuragi." He gathered up his dishes and deposited them in the sink. Misato stood up and huffed from the room.
"How dare that brat," she grumbled to herself, gathering up her files. "Call me antisocial will he? Humph. It's not my fault I have to work all the time."
Or was it?
Misato looked down at the files in her arms, thinking. She HAD been taking a lot of extra stuff home lately. She had started doing it right after Shinji's death and it had become a habit now within the three weeks he'd been dead.
'I'm afraid,' she realized, glancing into the kitchen where Narikage was washing the dishes. 'I'm afraid to get close to any more people, just in case. I'm shutting myself in to hide the hurt.'
As if he sensed his stare, the boy turned his head, pale blue eyes meeting brown. With a jolt, she realized something else. He was afraid of the same exact thing. He was afraid to get close to anyone lest they leave.
'What would cause him to be afraid?' she asked herself, ducking out of sight quickly. 'What happened in his life to make him so scared? Who has he lost?'
***
"Well?"
"The readings are blue. It's definitely another angel." The commander cursed.
"How much time do we have?"
"An hour, maybe a little more."
"Call Misato and tell her to get Narikage over here as fast as we can. It's time to see if this boy is a real pilot."
***
"What?! Backup duty?!!" Asuka shrieked in protest, turning red. "What do you mean I have backup duty!! Rei and I are the only ones who have experience piloting!"
"Commander's orders," Ritsuko said, not phased in the least by the teen's anger. "We need to see if Narikage is able to sync with the EVA during a REAL battle."
"What if he can't?"
"That's why you're there as well. Narikage?"
"Hai."
"Here is your new plugsuit." She held out a suit, deep green in color, wrapped in plastic. He took it, running his fingers over it.
"Arigato," he said in a soft voice, looking over at her.
"You're welcome. Suit up, you two! Let's go! We only have another forty minutes before this thing gets here!"
***
Asuka and Narikage left the dressing rooms at the same time, both of them looking very serious. The girl glanced over at him, scowling a little.
"Listen here, rookie, you just let me take care of the angel since I know how it's really done."
"I can't do that," he replied, not even glancing at her. "It is my job to take care of the angel, not yours. You're just there to back me up, though I hardly think I'll need it." Asuka spluttered for a few moments.
"H-how dare you!"
"Just sit back and watch how it's really done." He looked over at her, the most arrogant look she had ever seen on his face. Before she could stammer a reply, he had moved ahead and was getting into his EVA.