Sins and Retributions

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Avarice

Shinji looked through his Eva's eyes, to the Second Sin outside of his cockpit. This giant was gilded, and sparkling gems covered it, like the night sky, set on a golden cloud. The creature had a human like face, adorned with a crown of finest silver.

Asuka looked on with disgust, and said, "This thing obviously has no taste in clothing whatsoever."

Shinji couldn't help but laugh, even at a time like this, the German girl could joke around.

Kaworu sat in his Unit 03, analyzing the Sin, "Avarice… that is synonymous with greed. This thing is always searching for more possessions… What! Something is wrong!"

His Evangelion began to move on its own, Shinji had a horrible realization drop on him like a brick. "Shit! Everyone, watch out! This thing can take control of things! Avarice, I should have known. This damn thing is very greedy." he barked, pulling out his progressive knife.

Asuka screamed, "W-What! This is ludicrous! How can we fight something we can't get near?"

A beam of energy barely missed Asuka, and Kaworu shouted, "Ms. Sohryu! Look out!"

Shinji barked commands, and Misato sat back in amazement as Shinji, her Shinji, was taking control of the situation. He cried, "Ayanami! Hold Kaworu down! He can't control it!"

The blue-haired girl dove at Unit 03, pinning it under her. The occupant of Unit 03 smiled, "Thank you, Ms. Ayanami."

Shinji charged at the Sin, with his progressive knife behind him, ready to strike. The blow clipped the core of Avarice, as his Eva Unit was starting to be controlled. The young man screamed, "Spreading AT Field! Sorry Asuka… This is all I can do to stop from being controlled."

Asuka called into the intercom, "Send me a Sonic Glaive!" After agonizing minutes of waiting, the girl received what she needed. The hotheaded girl charged, but faltered halfway to the creature. As her Eva was being controlled, she mused, 'Just like a doll… A…doll?'

A heart-piercing screech emitted from Unit 02, "I WILL NOT BE ANYONE'S DOLL!" The red Eva roared to life as Asuka's synch ratio jumped to 155. The fact that her Eva was going to be a doll infuriated the pilot. The girl restarted her attack, an AT Field tried to stop her, but the frenzied German ran straight through it as if it weren't there.

"DAMN YOU!" she screamed plunging her glaive straight through the Second Deadly Sin, opening a hole big enough to fly a plane through in its chest.

Misato smiled and shouted, "Lookin' good, Asuka!"

Ritsuko looked at the synch ratios, Asuka's was at 155 and receding, Shinji's was at 125 and holding steady. Both Kaworu and Rei were right at 100 synchronization with their Evangelions. The doctor had learned that extreme mental duress could push the synchronization ratio over 100. Though she still wondered why Shinji had remained over 100 after Third Impact. Maybe a strong will could also retain a synch ratio over what should be the maximum.

Gendo smirked, and his thoughts dwelled upon what had just taken place. Maybe the screwed up past of these children would actually prove to be beneficial, but all the pilots seemed to be growing steadily more normal, on the surface at least.

Asuka was shaking with rage, 'Nobody… Nobody… Nobody will ever make me their doll. Not again…' She remained silent and boarded the lift back to headquarters.

(-----)

The redhead stared at herself in the mirror, and quietly said, "I'm not a doll." Though she was in the girls' bathroom, Shinji walked in stealthily. Asuka didn't even see him in the mirror, as he crept behind her.

He wrapped her in his arms and said, "No… You could never be a doll. You're too strong. Nothing can make you do anything that you don't want to do in the first place."

She turned and buried her head in Shinji's chest, sobbing uncontrollably, "T-T-Thank you, Sh-Shinji… I-I-It all s-started w-with my m-mother…" Shinji patiently listened to her story, allowing the girl in his arms to cry as freely as she wanted. "I was j-just chosen to be an Eva p-pilot. When I got home… M-My mother had hanged herself… But next to her, hanging on a small rope… A doll… It didn't look like me at all… Sh-She thought it was m-me!"

The boy knew that she needed him more than ever, and he held her tighter to himself, and her grip tightened on his arms, crying harder in his chest.

She stopped after a time, and wiped the tears from her eyes, and spoke, "I swore I'd never cry again…"

Shinji steered her head towards his and gazed into her aquamarine eyes. The youth spoke with confidence, "Asuka Langley Sohryu… Sometimes it's alright to cry. If you don't… well, remember how I was when I hid all my emotions?"

She hugged him forcefully, if she squeezed any harder, Shinji's head might pop off. She whispered to the young man, "Thanks for being here for me. I don't know what I would have done otherwise."

Shinji nodded and spoke, "I'll leave you to take your shower, unless, that is, you need some help." Asuka smiled slightly then exploded, "YOU PERVERT!" She punched him in the gut, though it wasn't too tremendous of a blow, and Shinji coughed, while smiling back, "I take it you're fully able to bathe."

(-----)

Misato was on her way to find the boy, and warn him against contact with Asuka, and blanched at the sight of Shinji retreating from the girls' locker room. "Just what the HELL do you think you were doing in there! You better two had better not have done anything, or else I'll order a physical of both of you!" she demanded.

Shinji meekly smiled and said, "Talking with Asuka, that's all I did, okay? I got ushered out after she decided to take a shower though."

Misato smiled triumphantly, "Good. At least she knows that bathing with a man in the room is bad."

Shinji blinked and nonchalantly said, "Misato… You do it all the time."

She stopped her celebrating and shouted, "SHUT YOU'RE FACE!"

He laughed and said, "You can dish it out but you can't take it, can you?" The unnoticed penguin tailing the woman nodded in agreement. Shinji nodded to the penguin and asked, "Why is Pen-Pen here?"

Misato rolled her eyes and said, "It's a long story!"

The pilot laughed and said, "He chewed you out, didn't he?" Misato nodded while her face reddened.

The Sociable Shinji

Kaji sat at his desk, doing nothing but twiddling his thumbs. Since his former job had been exposed, the man was forced to just sit there in his office, not working, until he heard from Gendo that he was allowed to work again. Misato Katsuragi was his time filler, and would continue to occupy his thoughts. "How can I win her again?" he thought out loud, "Maybe I'll have to recruit her roommates…"

As if God had sent him, Shinji walked by the office of Ryoji Kaji at the exact time he was needed. Kaji stood and grabbed Shinji by the collar. "Mr. Ikari! I believe you need to help me with something!" he said genially.

Shinji was surprised that Kaji wanted to see him in his office, but nevertheless, the youth complied. Shinji leaned in the doorway and said, "D-Did you want something?"

Kaji nodded and started to probe the young man's brain, learning everything that Shinji thought of Misato.

(-----)

Shinji roared with laughter, "You're asking me to help with girl problems! I though you knew how uncomfortable I am around girls!"

Kaji grinned, "Well, Katsuragi is… a different story. Besides, you don't seem to be too uncomfortable around Asuka."

Shinji smiled fleetingly, "Asuka, well she and I…"

Kaji nodded and said, "I know… I see the looks in both of your eyes when you see each other."

Shinji smiled, wondering how such an outgoing person could understand him so well, but then again, Asuka was outgoing as well. He spoke, "I guess I could help you. It'll be like finding a date for my mother…" Shinji stopped speaking, 'Had I really just said that? Is Misato even like my mother?' he thought.

He had reached a conclusion, Shinji Ikari had two mothers, one, his biological mother, who was inside the Eva, and another, at home, who would always love him as much as his real mother. 'Home. Have I really come to call that apartment home? Yes. It is my home!' he reflected.

Kaji knew what Shinji was thinking about, but not what his conclusions were. The boy had called Misato his mother… That really meant something, because Shinji had a hard time relating to anyone, but he had called the Sub-Commander of NERV his mother.

The two continued to speak at length, until Shinji stood straight in the doorway, and said, "I need to get home to Asuka. She'll be worried."

Kaji could imagine what the German girl was thinking. Most likely, the fiery pilot believed him to be out flirting with girls. Kaji laughed slightly, and said, "I think I had better write you a note, about where you were for the last three hours. Okay?"

Shinji let out a sigh of relief, "This note will save my skin from being a new jacket. Thanks Kaji!"

(-----)

Asuka screamed, "Where the hell is that idiot!"

Misato cautiously offered, "Just calm down Asuka… I'm sure he has a good reason for not being home to cook…"

Shinji walked in the room and smiled warily, "Um… I'm home."

Asuka leveled her eyes on the boy and bellowed, "Where the hell were you!" Shinji reached into his pocket and said, "Before you decide to smite me, look at this." He handed Asuka the note from Kaji.

It was ambiguous at best, for it said, 'Me and Shinji were tending to some business.'

Asuka scoffed and said, "Why does Kaji hang out with a dork like you?"

Shinji smiled, though Asuka constantly lashed him with her tongue, he could still feel that she loved him. He just went straight into the kitchen and began to cook dinner.

She repeated the question, and Shinji reckoned that if Asuka asked twice, an answer was required. Shinji just replied, "He and I have reached… an understanding of sorts." Shinji looked at Asuka and quickly jerked his head towards Misato.

This was too much, Asuka burst out laughing, "How can Kaji turn to you for advice on Mi-" The girl was cut off as Shinji ushered her into her room.

Shinji shook his head, "Please don't mention this to her. He wants it to be a surprise."

She nodded and leaned closer to his face, Shinji was growing red. Instead of kissing him, she went near his ear and whispered, "Who knows? Maybe I'll even help."

As she retreated from his face, the boy let out an audible sigh, and a rushing hand struck him full on the cheek.

He groaned and the redhead said, "Don't ever push me like that again. Okay, Third Child?"

He nodded and smiled maliciously, "Don't you like being in a room with me?"

It was Asuka's turn to be embarrassed as she stumbled over the words, "Yes. I mean no- or yes? Damn! Scheisse, Shinji! It was a lot easier to just hit you and not think of the consequences!"

He just laughed and righted himself.

(-----)

The 'family' ate with a constant chatter between them. This was a rare occurrence, for mainly, they ate in silence. The conversation was about something that wouldn't happen for quite a while. Shinji laughed as they thought about sprucing up NERV. Asuka even said that they should hire a Feng Shui Master. Once they had finished eating, Shinji set to the dishes, like every other day.

It had gotten to the point where Shinji cooked six days of the week, and Asuka only did one. On top of that, the boy had to make lunches for school, clean, do his own work, and various other assorted jobs. Today was different, as Asuka decided to help with cleaning. Misato did her usual gig: make something up and pretend to work. But Asuka and Shinji worked silently to cleanse the dishes. Though there was silence, it wasn't awkward, but it was more of a comfortable silence.

She smiled slightly, "It's good that you're thinking of Misato."

Shinji nodded and said, "She is way too overworked, a relationship might help her."

Asuka started to speak, "Hey Shinji… I'm so-"

The boy cut her off, "It's okay, I've learned to love and live with you and your personality."

Asuka still had her brow knitted in worry, and thought, 'Scheisse! How can I just continue to hurt him like this?'

As if sensing her worry he said, "Please… Don't worry. I'd take a physical injury over damage to my heart." Shinji dried his hands and handed the towel to Asuka and sat down on the couch, and cracked open a book.

It may have been the first day of school, and one of the Seven Deadly Sins may have attacked, but he still had homework.

The boy's face was in a state of perpetual concentration. As he attempted to understand his Math homework, Asuka eyed him, wondering if he was having trouble. She decided that he was, and walked towards him.

She looked over his shoulder and saw a familiar sight, numbers. Though her Kanji was shaky, Asuka could cram numbers like a seasoned accountant.

Shinji was having trouble with matrices, and Asuka sat right next to him. She was close enough to feel him shudder at her touch.

The boy was nervous, for the girl next to him always made him feel this way, to some extent. When he couldn't figure something out, he truly felt like an idiot. It bothered him to no end, for he always wanted to please the German girl.

Asuka stared at the side of his head until finally, the boy looked at her, "Ye-Yes?"

She looked over his shoulder and asked, "What're you working on?"

Though she knew full well that the boy was working on matrices, it didn't hurt to ask.

Shinji just sighed, frustrated, "Hm, Matrices. I hate these things. I don't understand them. I didn't understand them last year either."

Asuka stifled her laughter, and said, "Do you need a tutor?" He nodded and disgustedly said, "That math teacher doesn't even slow down to help the class. I think having you as a tutor would definitely help."

She nodded and started to discuss the subject of matrices with the Pilot of Unit 01.

(-----)

Misato looked on the children with mild interest, because this was something that Asuka didn't do too often, although, many things that she'd do with Shinji wouldn't ever happen with another boy. Misato walked into the room in the middle of all the numbers flying about, and said, "I'm off work tomorrow. So I'm going to go out with Ritsuko for a while."

The pair nodded and continued working, and the Sub-Commander spoke again in a mock serious voice, "I'll accept nothing but perfect grades, Shinji!"

At this the boy turned around and gave Misato a look of apprehension. He just babbled incoherently, and Asuka cut him off, "Wait. How can you go out? Since you've been promoted I thought that you weren't allowed to take days off!"

Misato cheerily replied, "Kaji went straight to Commander Ikari and asked for at least one day off."

Shinji was astounded, "H-He just walked up and ASKED?"

Misato smiled widely, "Uh-huh!"

Asuka smiled mischievously, "That means that we get a day off too, right?"

Misato chuckled, "Nope! You're not full-time employees, so you don't get a day off!"

Asuka whined to Shinji, who just shrugged, "But we're the most important personnel of the whole company! What kind of moron thought of that stupid idea?"

Misato quickly said, "This one!"

The German girl's eyes flared up and she screamed, "WHAT!"

Misato spoke in a ditzy manner, "Since you're starting school, you can't just get a day off. Besides, we only call you in for Synch Tests and such."

Asuka shot daggers at her guardian through her eyes, and Shinji finally put his thoughts to words, "Misato… Since we're NERV personnel… Do we get a salary?"

Misato's expression darkened and she said, "Yeah, didn't you know?"

The two pilots looked at each other and shook their heads. Misato looked at the floor, and said, "You two are probably richer than I am."

Shinji just shrugged and said, "I'll donate half of it to the 'Family' budget. What am I going to do with that money anyway?"

Asuka nodded, "Yeah, me too. I don't want to be shown up by this Dummkopf! Besides, you know what they say: Better ingredients, Better food!"

Shinji thought of all the things he could make with the extra money. Misato stared at the two hard, and said, "Are you sure about this?"

Shinji nodded and Asuka did the same but added a comment, "As long as my share doesn't go to booze, it is fine by me."

Misato shook her head and said, "I'm trying to cut back on my alcohol consumption anyway." With that said, the woman ambled into the night.

Shinji was sitting on the couch with a blank stare on his face, "She'll never make it…"

Sleight of Hands, Vanishing Liquor

Misato couldn't get Kaji out of her head, but she knew that she couldn't succumb to his advances. Spurning them would save her from her memories, memories that were best left dead. Meeting Ritsuko at a bar would help the Sub-Commander keep her mind off of Kaji.

Kaji was busy probing Ritsuko, "So… Where are you going Ritsuko?" The doctor shrugged and said, "To pick up more paperwork."

Kaji smiled like the Cheshire Cat, he knew that she was meeting Misato, "I'll be a gentleman and help you!" He bumped into Ritsuko Akagi slightly, but she stopped him from falling.

The doctor knew there was no getting away from a sharp guy like Kaji, but pulled out her last ditch effort. "Hey Kaji! Can you grab my keys? They should be in my desk."

Kaji, being the 'gentleman' he was, complied, only to turn and say, "They're not in your desk, they're in my hands!" But the man was only talking to the air, as the Director of Project E had already run to her car.

He jingled the keys and said, "Try leaving now."

"Dammit, where are my keys!" the doctor impatiently asked to nobody in particular. She looked down in her purse, and when she looked up, a smiling face greeted her. Ritsuko flinched and cried, "Dammit Kaji! Do not sneak up on me!"

He smiled and held the keys up, with a slight jingle.

The blonde woman said, "There's no way out of this, is there?"

The scraggly looking man just chucked, "I'm afraid not Ritsi-poo!"

She faintly smiled at the nickname, and opened the door to her car. Kaji was bored during the drive, because Ritsuko was a square when it came to driving laws. The woman drove in complete silence, never going within ten miles of the speed limit.

Misato could drive, it was a thrill, because, with her, green means go, yellow means look for cops, and red means FLOOR IT! The two reached a bar finally after a half hour car ride that should take only five minutes.

(-----)

Misato cheerily greeted Ritsuko, but exploded with rage when she saw Kaji, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT MORON DOING HERE!"

Ritsuko scowled, "Blackmail, he took my keys."

Misato rammed a finger into Kaji's chest, "Why are you following me?"

He shrugged and said, "Isn't it obvious? I thought you knew me better, Katsuragi."

She grimaced and said, "Now I have to be careful of how much I drink… especially with that pig around!"

Ritsuko sighed as the Sub-Commander of NERV downed four double shots of vodka. 'Cut back, my ass!' the doctor thought, 'She probably needs to get drunk to let Kaji past her defenses.'

Kaji smiled as he formulated a game plan: Get Misato drunk! He smiled at her and held up a beer bong.

(-----)

Shinji started to cook his and Asuka's lunches for the subsequent day at school. But what Asuka didn't know what the fact that Shinji had a surprise for her. He tightened his grip on the phone as he spoke with Hikari, for she knew more about cooking than he did. Shinji was a whiz at Japanese cuisine, but anything else needed to be taught.

The girl on the other line spoke to Shinji, "You need some sauerkraut now… how you find that is up to you." Shinji had already made a batch fresh, he sure hoped it surprised Asuka. The bratwurst was very tricky to make, as the Japanese didn't have prepackaged things like that.

He snapped shut Asuka's lunch box, containing the aroma within, just as the redhead herself wandered into the kitchen, "I thought I smelled something… Nope guess not." The girl shrugged and retreated to her room, and thinking of Shinji, and the many events that happened over the course of the day. "How can so much fit in a short twenty-four hour period?" she mused.

Shinji marveled at his handiwork, "I'm glad I might have done something right!"

(-----)

Misato stumbled into the little apartment, dragging Ryoji Kaji by the arm. She spoke in a severely slurred manner, "Cummon Kaji! Lesco innamai roo'! Wecanave alittle se…" she paused, and then her face lit up, like she had just remembered what she was trying to say, "fun!"

Kaji looked at Shinji with wide eyes, and Shinji shook his head, silently saying, "Just think of what'll happen when she sobers up! It'll be like hitting an N-2 mine with a mallet!"

Kaji nodded and Shinji handed Misato some pills he had picked up for getting rid of hangovers.

Extricating himself, Kaji slipped out the door saying, "Farewell my fine lady, and goodbye to my guardian angel, Shinji. I can't just forget about my fiery little girl either can I? G'Night everyone!"

Asuka poked her head out into the hall and said, "Night Kaji!"

Shinji said his goodbyes and allowed Misato to babble incoherently, before laying her on the couch with a blanket. As an afterthought, the boy poured a glass of water and handed it to Misato, whose throat was probably on fire.

She greedily sucked at its contents and passed out on the sofa.

Asuka again looked outside and saw Misato, passed out on the couch.

Shinji walked towards their 'mother' and spread the blanket he had given her, to keep their guardian warm.

Asuka smiled inwardly, 'I know he's compassionate.'

Shinji looked over to the beautiful redhead and smiled, "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Asuka boldly strode to Shinji, and dragged him into her room. He was trying to make sense of what just happened, but he was thrown roughly on the bed.

Asuka gingerly lied down next to him and embraced him. "Now don't get any perverted ideas. This is as far as it goes, Third Child. Now I can sleep…"

Shinji continued his contented smile and closed his eyes, allowing sleep to overtake him.

Sorry about the extremely short chapter, I'll make it up to you in the next one, I promise. I don't have much to say about this chapter. Enjoy the Outtake.

Outtake

"So Commander Ikari… Can we have a day off every week?" Kaji Asked

The Commander was getting impatient. He was not used to waiting. "Yes, yes! Hurry up! Puff and Pass! Puff and Pass!"

Fuyutsuki smiled, "I told you Gendo! We should do this more often… Hell! I could bring in that bong Yui made for me. You know, the one that looks like Unit 01?"

Gendo giggled like a schoolgirl, "Hehehehehe." Then passed out.

Kaji looked at the Commander's Aid with wide eyes, and said, "He isn't aloud to laugh, is he?"

Fuyutsuki snorted, "Who gives a damn? It's more pot for us!"