Despite his unfamiliar surroundings, Luc was still comfortable in his pilot suit. The dark gray surface clung tightly to his skin, the orange joints moving with him. He strode down the corridor towards the hangar. He looked through a nearby window, and was comforted by the sight his EVA's long, beaked face.

"Bonjour, mon vieux ami. Il y a beaucoup que nous devons apprendre."

Luc started as he heard a voice behind him.

"You know, it's just a bunch of metal, plastic, and oil. It's not going to say anything back to you."

He turned, and was confronted by Asuka, arms akimbo.

"Don't worry, mon vieux ami," she said, "I do it sometimes too." She walked past him and leaned on the window sill. "Sometimes, it seems like they are trying to tell you something, and you just can't understand them. Maybe they are. Maybe that's why they look so human."

Luc joined her at the window. "Well, they understand us pretty well." He looked to Asuka. "You know, for someone with such a tough exterior, you sure do some deep thinking."

She chuckled, more sad than anything else. "Shinji would have just said that was nonsense." She turned to face him. "Most people around here don't take me seriously. No one takes the time to give me any thought, except for Shinji and his friends, and they're just afraid."

Luc frowned slightly. "How could anyone be afraid of you? I mean, sure, sometimes you can be kind of intimidating, but you mean well."

Asuka looked out the window and chuckled again. "If you told that to Shinji, he'd faint."

Luc followed her gaze to his EVA. "I guess if you save the world on a daily basis, you can't exactly see eye-to-eye with other people. Even other pilots. The three of you here have some interesting relationships."

Asuka cocked an eyebrow. "How do you mean?"

"Let's just say that Major Katsuragi can't keep a secret."

Asuka giggled, then grinned. "I still can't get over that little debacle between Rei and Shinji. If he ever got up the nerve to come clean with her, they'd be just fine."

"But he hasn't."

She looked back up at him, with a look in her eyes that Luc hadn't seen before. It seemed like she was holding something back. "I guess a lot of problems could be solved by a little courage."

It was Asuka's turn to jump when another voice came from behind them.

"Ah! Here are the two lovebirds! Misato's been going out of her head looking for you! You better hurry up."

Asuka's face lit up as she turned around. "Mr. Kaji!"

Luc turned himself, to see a tall, unshaven man with a silly grin on his face. Mr. Kaji shooed them both down the hall before she could continue. "Off to the tests with you! Sorry, Asuka, I don't have time to steal your heart today."

Asuka pouted as Mr. Kaji leaned down and whispered in Luc's ear. "Thanks for taking her off my hands. She's all yours."

He left Luc with something to ponder as he shoved them into the waiting room and slammed the door. Shinji and Rei, sitting on opposite sides of the room, looked up at the sound. Shinji looked away again after glimpsing Asuka, but Rei stood up and walked towards Luc.

"Pilot Benoit. Greetings. I am Rei Ayanami, pilot of EVA-00. I look forward to working with you." She turned around and sat down again, leaving Luc with a cold feeling in his gut.

Asuka, after looking back through the door for Mr. Kaji (who had mysteriously disappeared), surveyed the room, taking special attention to Shinji and Rei's distance.

"Well Shinji, as always, your self-control amazes me. Let's get this show on the road." She walked towards the door to the hangar.

The heavy metal door nearly hit her in the face when it opened, revealing Misato. She had another knowing grin on her face.

Asuka, still standing in the doorway, was a bit surprised. "Misato, when are we going to start the synch tests?"

Misato put on an expression of mock confusion. "Synch tests? What synch tests?"

Asuka was becoming frustrated already. "Come on! Let's get this over with!"

Misato didn't move. "What, Asuka? Do you have a date or something?" Asuka blushed, but only Misato could see. She turned to the rest of the room.

"Today we'll be trying something new. Since you've all met your new teammate," she glanced at Asuka with a hint of a smile, "We'll help you get to know him, and especially his skills, a bit better. So instead of boring old synch tests, today we'll be doing personal combat."

Shinji, Asuka, and Rei looked at each other, then at Luc. He shrugged. "I had no idea about any of this."

Misato chuckled. "Of course, but Command did. We've wanted to get you guys into better shape ever since Shinji got attacked at the arcade."

Asuka turned on Shinji. "Yeah, I don't want to have to save your ass from every thug who wants your pocket change."

Shinji just grumbled.

Misato took advantage of the brief silence. "Okay, everyone. Pair up now. Asuka and Rei, and Shinji and Luc, to start. We'll mix it up when we get farther into training."

Once he had gotten changed into his new workout clothes, Shinji inspected his garments. They reminded him of his pilot suit, but with no sleeves and short legs. Luc followed him out, similarly dressed, and they both started to explore the room. Punching bags lined one wall, with boxing gloves on a rack nearby. There was also a fencing strip (with swords and equipment), a boxing ring, and a wrestling mat, all good distances apart. Asuka and Rei exited their locker room and also inspected their new training room.

Misato joined them a moment later and let them wander around for a minute or two. Then she took out a brand new coach's whistle and blew it. Shinji, Rei, and Luc jumped, and Rei turned towards Misato, completely unfazed.

Misato stood ramrod straight, with a measure of authority. "Welcome, children, to boot camp. For the next three weeks, I'll be drilling you into shape, so don't expect me to go easy on you. Now, everyone pick a sport, and we'll start from there."

Luc smiled. "I see where this is going."

Shinji walked over to the fencing strip, and picked up a foil. "Cool." Asuka strode to the boxing ring and put on a pair of gloves. She started bouncing back and forth, punching an imaginary opponent. Luc made his way to the wrestling mat.

Misato looked to Rei, who hadn't moved. "Rei, why don't you join in with someone?"

She looked up at the mention of her name. "Major Katsuragi, I would rather work independently. If I were to engage one of my fellow pilots in personal combat, it would only weaken one of us, and encourage hostility."

Misato scratched her head for a second. "Well, I guess that makes sense. But for now, why don't you go work with Shinji. I'm sure he won't feel any hostility towards you at all."

Shinji frowned at her, and she countered with a smirk. Rei picked up her own foil, and took up a fighting stance.

Misato looked to Asuka and Luc. Come on, you two. For now, we'll watch the two of them go at it. And Shinji, Rei?" They looked up. "Don't worry about the pads. Your suits should protect you well enough."

Luc and Asuka sat down on one side of the strip, and watched as Shinji and Rei stared each other down.

Shinji raised his sword, only to have it knocked out of his hand by Rei. She poked him in the stomach with her own weapon. "Touché is the phrase, I believe."

Shinji rubbed his wrist and picked up his sword again. He lunged at Rei, but the attack ended the same way. Shinji looked down Rei's sword, pointed at his chest, and slumped. Rei settled back into her stance. "Do not be discouraged, Pilot Ikari. You will improve."

Asuka laughed. "She's got a point, Baka! If you keep getting beaten down, you might learn a thing or two. Like knowing when you're outmatched!"

Misato glared at her, then looked sympathetically at Shinji. "Okay Shinji, that's enough. You go work with Luc on the wrestling mat. Asuka, it's your turn with Rei."

Asuka swiped shinji's sword from his hand leaving him to walk dejectedly over to the mat, where Luc was waiting for him. He was already in a low wrestling stance. Shinji mimicked him.

Luc extended his arm, and they shook hands. They began to circle each other. Luc reached for Shinji's arm, and in a matter of seconds, Shinji found himself staring at the ceiling in a daze. Luc got off him, and stood up straight.

Shinji got up shakily. Luc steadied him.

"Okay, Shinji. Try not to fall on your back. In wrestling, if you stay on your back for too long, you lose. So try to fall to your stomach."

Shinji nodded, still unsteady. Luc crouched, and they shook hands again.

This time, Shinji went on the offensive. After shaking his head, he ran at Luc and lunged for his legs.

Luc put his feet out behind him and threw his weight on Shinji's shoulders, flattening him to the mat. Shinji just went limp and groaned.

Luc helped him up again, and looked at him with concern.

Misato, who had been watching, picked this time to speak. "Oh, Shinji! I forgot to tell you. Luc here has been wrestling for four years now, league champion twice. Sorry about that. I guess it just slipped my mind..." she tapped herself in the head.

Luc gave Shinji a sympathetic grin. "don't worry. You're already improving." He reached towards Shinji. "here, give me your arm. I'll show you a little trick."

Shinji reluctantly obeyed. He knew he would be sore by the end of training, but at least he wasn't boxing with Asuka. He would survive the day.

But as he found himself counting the ceiling tiles again, he wondered at the truth of that statement.

After a rather depressing day of training with Shinji, Luc was looking forward to meeting Asuka. Once in the locker room, he stripped off his training clothes and tossed them in the towel bin at the end of the aisle. He hung his head and let cool air from the vent above him wash over his shoulders. He let the silence of the empty room enfold him, clearing his mind. He took a deep breath in his nose and slowly let it out his mouth.

Now fully relaxed, he put on his street clothes and walked towards the door. He passed Shinji on his way in, who was limping slightly from his prolonged beating.

Luc looked up at him. "Sorry about today, Shinji. I guess I just had a lot of pent up energy to let out."

Shinji gave him a weak smile. "It's okay." He grimaced and held his side. "Just try to leave me in one piece next time."

Luc smiled back at him. "No problem." He patted Shinji on the shoulder, then apologized when Shinji gasped in pain.

Luc opened the door to the waiting room, still talking to Shinji, and almost ran into Asuka. He stopped just in time, and heard Shinji chuckle and shuffle quickly away behind him.

Asuka didn't back up. "Well! Did you have fun with Baka today?"

Luc grinned back, a bit sadly. "I feel kind of bad for beating him up like that."

"Oh, don't worry about it." She leaned closer and whispered in his ear. "Just put it out of your mind. We've got more personal things to do."

Well, she's sure making it easy. he thought.

He breathed in, just becoming aware that he had been holding his breath. He caught the sweet scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin, so close to his. She reached up an arm to his shoulder.

And pushed him away.

"Well I guess we should get going. Do you have something planned for us tonight?"

Despite Luc's sadness at her distance, he smiled. "Indeed I do. Shall we go?" He offered his arm, which she took.

"Who says chivalry is dead? Lead the way, good sir knight."

They left the room, leaving a certain sore male observer curious, and slightly disturbed. He frowned, thinking.

When Asuka had whispered over Luc's shoulder, she had been looking intently at Shinji.