+++++ Tokyo-3 Academy. Friday, +17.

It was a much more somber Shinji that walked into the classroom the next morning. With Maya Amano and Hikari in tow, he was greeted by Washu enveloping him in a massive hug. He'd cried himself out the night before, curled in his new bed safe in the embrace of Minaho and Verðandy, and so all he was able to muster for his honored teacher-slash-goddess was, "I…I can't regret doing what I did. I won't risk all of you recklessly."

"We'll find who sent her, don't you worry." The scientist-slash-teacher-slash-goddess-slash-beloved of Shinji looked up into his eyes with the fires of determination glowing brightly. "I'll be working with your other friend, give her a hand in seeing places she normally wouldn't."

Amano, having moved over to the row of desks next to the row Shinji sat in, asked with proper deference, "Hey sensei…mind if I sit here now? Since I'm caught up in all of this, I might as well make myself useful and keep Shinji-kun from going into a full depression."

"So long as you keep your focus on Habuki-sensei," Hikari replied with a firm glare. "Don't think I haven't noticed you making eyes at Shinji this whole time."

Being who she was, Maya Amano didn't back down from the clear threat while remaining positive, "Hey, it's not my fault he's a cutie pie. I'm still getting good grades, I'm number seven in our class. He's going to have more than enough time for both of us, and I promise I'm not going to get in your way during your dates if you don't sabotage mine, ok?" With a warm grin, she extended one hand to shake on the bargain. "Personally, I think Suzuhara was an idiot for blowing his chance with you."

Hikari caught sight of Shinji, having stepped out of the hug with Washu, looking between them with a faint hope of a lessening in hostilities. Swallowing her pride, she took Amano's hand and shook it firmly. "To be clear, Suzuhara never had a chance with me. At least, not that Suzuhara."

Blinking in surprise, Amano laughed out loud. "Wait, are you a switch hitter?"

"I'm a firm believer in loving the person, not the meatsuit."

"Rock on," the cheery woman enthused. "You're a much better fit for Sakura-senpai than Toji-san regardless." Glancing back at Shinji, she flashed him a peace sign. "You're also a really good match for Shinji-kun. He needs someone like you to stop him from being overwhelmed."

The door opening brought everyone's attention to Rei Ayanami, who after seeing Shinji walked over and presented herself to him with a polite bow. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"

He'd wanted to have a chance to talk with her before everything went sideways, but even if he hadn't he knew he'd always be happy to make time for her. "Sure." Accompanying her over to her desk, he sat down on the top of the desk in front of hers and asked, "How are you feeling? Did the test go ok?"

Another bout of the strange feeling she'd been having, the one she presumed Doctor Akagi had been dancing around, blossomed in her chest. Shinji was asking about her, not someone she reminded him of. He remembered what had happened and inquired as to her health, not out of obligation but because he genuinely wished that she remain well. "I remain within acceptable parameters…thank you." Adding the gratitude to the end felt odd, but 'right'. "I wished to ask…." Something within her caused her to hesitate, a fear that perhaps the question itself would somehow cause the waveform to collapse in a way she hadn't foreseen.

Shinji waited patiently for a few seconds, then prompted her, "Ask what? Don't worry, I won't think you're being silly or anything. Everyone knows how stupid I sound from time to time."

"You do not sound stupid," she responded with the barest hint of reproval. "You are neither obtuse nor slow of mind. Were you, I would not feel as confident facing our enemies."

Faced by what was likely the most honest evaluation he could be given, Shinji looked down with a hint of shame. "I am sorry, Rei-chan. That wasn't very nice of me to put myself down like that." Rallying, he took a short breath and looked back up at her. "Ok. Enough about me, what's going on with you?"

"I…would like to know…." A sensation of random motion in her midsection once more brought her up short. "Doctor Akagi spoke with me, during my medical evaluation." If she changed the presentation, perhaps that would cause the sensations to cease. "She questioned my…intentions."

"Intentions?" If Ritsuko was worried about something, it might be best if he asked her himself. He filed that away for later.

Rei nodded once, slowly. "She wished to understand if I had any…motivation."

Despite feeling like an idiot, Shinji once more parroted the final word, "Motivation." He knew she was having a hard time saying something, and wanted badly to help her feel comfortable speaking to him about something that clearly bothered her. "Rei…whatever it is you need to ask me, or say to me, I want you to know you have my solemn promise that I will not be angry with you, ok? I trust you with my life, with the lives of everyone that's important to me, so please," reaching out, he took her hands and held them loosely, "trust me."

Her heart began to hammer harder in her chest. Her throat felt tight. "I…have had…dreams…." She tried to breathe, but found that her body was simply no longer hers to control. "Of you."

Shinji blinked, then nodded slowly. "Ok." He tried to put the pieces together, or at least try to understand why dreams of him would be anything worrying. "I had a dream of you the other night, too. We were buying food, and you were telling me about how to prioritize nutrition or cost depending on various things." His lip curled up with the memory. "You were wearing a yellow tank-top with tiny strings holding it up on your shoulders, and a denim lace skirt. It looked really cute on you." With a blush, he apologized, "I'm sorry, that probably sounded a little creepy to you."

Without skipping a beat, Rei stepped forward and laid a kiss on him that was equal parts inexperienced and enthusiastic. Putting every ounce of the strange and confounding emotions into her gift, she clung to his shoulders to stop herself from stripping right then and there to show him everything that she would give him if he would just continue making her feel the way he had been. He accomplished miracles every time he was challenged, he overcame his past and looked to a future with hope, he accepted who had made him but would not let them dictate his life. Breaking the kiss, she looked at him with a potent mix of desperation and desire. "Please…claim me." She needed him. "Make me a part of your life forever."

His first instinct was to take her request literally and drag her somewhere private to enthusiastically promote esprit de corps. Just as he stamped on that a loud thunderclap and sudden downpour outside drew his attention, giving him time to formulate a more measured response. Looking back towards the room, intending to ask for help from Hikari, he caught sight of Verðandy standing by his desk with the increasingly familiar brittle smile on her lips. "G-good morning, Ðandy."

I understand that I removed myself from your presence for most of yesterday, taking advantage of what you'd given me. But if you desired affection so badly that you would seek out someone who isn't in our already quite full home, perhaps you could have come to me earlier? The blue-blonde Norn's words echoed heavily in his head.

With the sigh of someone who was ready to just cut someone to the bone, Washu interjected, Dear, he was ambushed by his fellow pilot. He had even less of an idea that this was building than you did.

"Sensei," Hikari made an effort to mediate, "with your approval I would like to take Ayanami-chan aside and ask a few questions."

"Granted. Ayanami-chan, please go with Horaki-chan." Washu made a motion encouraging trust. "I assure you, what you'll learn from her is just as important as the answer to your question for Ikari-kun." With the other hand, she pointed to Ðandy. "Ikari-kun, if you would speak with your EA for a moment?"

At first, Rei would not let go of him. It took Hikari's calm smile and reassuring gesture to create the needed separation. Once Rei was two steps away from him, Shinji moved over to Ðandy and made an effort to calm the woman he loved, "I-I really-" He cut off at her setting her fingers over his lips.

No. She shook her head, her face screwed into a wince of pain. My jealousy is not your fault. Lowering her hand, she blew out a sigh and picked at the knot atop the meals she had made him. You love me. I know you do because it's in every facet of your being. I just…I watched my father as he welcomed dozens of women into his life one after another. I rationalized it as his love being infinite, and the 'blessing' of his touch being so sought after.

And now, here she was watching as hordes of women threw themselves at the man tied to her for all time. Shinji had known that it was going to be a challenge to even keep up with two women, and had only accepted that challenge based on the fact that Minaho and Nanako were both enthusiastically eager to share with one another. He hadn't anticipated Funaho and Misaki. He hadn't anticipated Hikari and Sakura. Either Maya. Ritsuko. Hild. Washu. Blowing out a long, slow, exhale he closed his eyes and tried to think of a way to do something other than shrug and pretend life wasn't hurting someone he cared for deeply. "I…am sorry that life has been so cold for you. I know how it feels to try and make sense of something from…from ignorance. I know it can't make up for your past, and that I literally have nothing else to offer you…but I swear, you'll always have a place in my heart. I don't take what we did for granted, and I know I have to prove worthy of it every second of every day of the rest of my life…I just hope you'll give me the chance."

Just as she'd felt Shinji's desire for Rei in the moment before he smothered it, she now felt a desire for him in turn. Be patient with me…and I will be patient with you. Leaning forward enough, she pressed her lips gently to his briefly before moving to her spot at the back of the room. Before we include her, I would appreciate a chance to interview her myself. There is something about her that I feel is not…what we believe.

The thought having been more generally broadcast, Washu agreed if for no other reason than to keep the peace, An understandable request. I believe our trusted crewmate is currently having an…interesting discussion with her. Shinji, babe, do me a favor and don't panic.

"Oh my god, Maya-chan, you're dating Ikari-kun?!" One of the ladies in his class came bursting in and stopped dead as she saw Amano sitting in the desk next to Shinji. Looking between them, she followed with, "I thought he was dating the Class Rep!"

To say that this was not something he wished to deal with at the moment would be to say that outer space is 'slightly large'. "I-"

"Oh, he's dating her too," Amano declared with good cheer. "I'm totally willing to share him, and she's a really great catch herself."

"That's not-"

Another young woman came into view. "I thought he was dating Suzuhara-senpai."

"It isn't-"

Once more, Amano stepped in with a happy smile, "Her too. He's actually dating…well, I lost count at ten."

"…Maya, I think-"

Whatever fate caused Misato's head and upper torso to pop into the room failed to spare Shinji from further rumors around the mill. "Hey handsome," she cooed out, "what's a lady like me got to do to get you to come with me?" When his eyes slid shut, his cheeks becoming a ruddy red, she giggled. "C'mon honey, I have your work clothes in the car."

Shinji's eyes popped back open, no longer showing the embarrassment. The warrior, the man determined not to let anyone die, now stood from the desk and crossed over to stand next to his Tactical Commander. "What's going on?"

Placing one fingertip on his lips, she pouted. "Uh-uh. Not in front of the children." Taking hold of his collar, she pulled him out into the hallway until he got his feet under him. "Thanks Dojima-san," she greeted Nanako as the bodyguard took up Shinji's other flank. "Needed to throw off the rumor mill," she clarified for Shinji. "I'll explain on the way."

+++++ Mount Asama. Friday, +17.

Receiving his briefing on the way to the staging area, Shinji's mood took as many aggressive turns as Misato's Alpine. He would be 'backup' for Soryu, with Rei left behind to defend NERV in case the embryonic Angel made it past both Unit-01 and Unit-02. This was a capture, not kill, operation. Soryu was going to be literally descending into an active volcano in Unit-02. Waiting for him ahead was both Ritsuko and Maya. The 'D-Type' equipment they had only fit Unit-02, and so Unit-01 would be unprotected and unable to descend to assist. "So in short…." He bit off the rest of what he'd been about to say. He wasn't a voting member, and so his opinion wouldn't have been very helpful.

"Yeah, they're handing us shit soup without a spoon," Misato agreed. "But we're a good team, with great talent, and if this shows any sign of going sideways I'm just glad it's you up top keeping my tits from being crushed."

The fact that she said what he was thinking brought his anger down enough that his tongue was freed from its constraints, "That would indeed be a terrible loss for mankind."

With a quick side glance, Misato tried to determine just how much or little he'd been joking. With the way he was sitting, and how his eyes were lost on the horizon ahead, she put more stock in him not actually joking. I'll throw him off a bit, see what I can find out. "So, any truth to the rumors?"

"Which rumors?" Instead of reacting the way she'd thought he would, he looked over at her with genuine confusion. "The only rumor I've heard recently is that my class might be going on a trip this year. I figured if I stayed behind to keep everyone safe, we could make sure Rei goes. I've got too much learning to catch up on, Soryu doesn't attend our school, and she could use the break."

"That is an incredibly sweet plan," Misato enthused. "I'll talk to Rits about it, maybe she can pull some strings and get Ayanami-chan a pass." It wasn't what she'd hoped to learn about, but it did further her opinion of the young man at her side. "I had meant about you having a special someone, though." When, instead of denying it or admitting that he was dating, Shinji clammed up and glared with anger towards the front of the moving car, Misato began to wonder just what was happening to her best asset. "Shinji?" No answer. "Shinji, honey?" Still no answer. "You know that I don't have a problem if you're dating Ibuki-kun, right? I mean, I'd like to know if I'm driving us into some drama, though. I can keep her away from you, if that's what you want?"

"Maya is fine," he replied tersely.

Hoping for some amplification, Misato waited for a few moments. With their destination coming up soon, she wanted to make sure everything would be professional, at the least. "I want to trust your word…but I can't help but feel that there's something you're not sharing here that's very important."

"There's a lot I'm not sharing," he snorted out a laugh, "which only makes what I am sharing that much more…important." His demeanor softened. "Maya is fine. She's a bright spot in a dark world, and I'm lucky that she's my friend."

"Friend, huh?" Considering the way Maya spoke about Shinji when they last talked, she'd thought things had gone a bit further. "Yeah, it's always good to have friends at your side." Dropping the gearshift down one, she reached over and gripped his knee supportively. "I'd like to think we're friends, too." She was surprised when he set his hand over hers.

"I'd like to think we're more than friends," he admitted. "We had a rough start, but I've come to realize that's pretty normal." When she squeezed his knee again, he let her hand go so she could safely drive them onto the dirt trail that led to the forward operating base. "Is that asshole still bothering you?"

More than friends? She hadn't meant to give off those kind of vibes anymore. The last time she'd flirted with him, she'd gotten her ass in a sling. …Although, if he's interested…. "He is, but I recently gave him a physical demonstration that I'm hoping makes it clear that I'm not interested in him."

"Hrmph," he grumbled out. "I know you can handle it, but I really don't like the idea of him bothering you. You deserve far better than someone so…blech." Throwing a smile her way, he repeated, "But you can handle it."

"Yeah, but it's nice to know someone has my back." Coming to a halt at an impromptu checkpoint, she gave him her best grin. "It's been a long time since I've been able to trust a guy like that." Showing the guard both hers and Shinji's badges, she started up the hill again.

"I'm always available, if I can help you somehow," it felt good for Shinji to admit as much. He had seen a better side of Misato than she'd first given him. I should probably give Soryu the same chance.

"We should have dinner," she slid in, tempering other potential requests. "With Ibuki-kun and Rits showing you all the healthy, fancy, stuff you should at least have a chance to just eat something normal." Catching him blushing, she tried to determine which part caused it.

"I…I wouldn't want to be a bother," he began out of politeness.

"…But?"

"But if you are certain you wouldn't mind having me come over…."

"Oh, I'd love for you to come," she assured him.

There wasn't much more that could be said, as Ritsuko flagged Misato down and opened the door on Shinji's side. "Hey, I need to borrow him. I'll bring him to the command tent before we start."

"Fair enough," Misato urged Shinji to climb out, "we'll talk more later, Shinji, ok?"

"Uh, yeah," he agreed, working his way out of the car, "I look forward to it!" Shinji waved to her as Ritsuko closed the door and bumped him towards a nearby canvas tent. Moving easily over the rocky terrain, he risked a quick glance at Ritsuko and found that she had a small grin on her lips. "How are you?"

"Lonely," she answered with a faux huff. "I haven't been visited recently by a rather dashing young man that I'd had hopes for."

And, just like that, his mood dropped again. Extending his strides past what Ritsuko was able to manage, he reached the tent and ducked through the entrance without waiting for her. Catching sight of Maya behind a laptop, he watched her cheer turn quickly to concern at the sight of his face.

"Shinji, what's wrong?" Up from the small table she'd been using to hold her terminal, she reached him and placed both hands on his chest. "Talk to me, what's going on?"

"That's my question too," Ritsuko joined them inside the tent, genuine worry in her eyes, "I hadn't meant it as a slight, Shinji. We're both very busy. I was teasing, because I do actually miss you."

Smarting that Maya's good mood had been harmed by his bad mood, Shinji walked away from both before turning around to face them at a distance. "I came from school, where there were several people…discussing my particular dating situation. This was after I…I screwed up something that hurt someone I care about. Last night, I had to make a decision that just…." Closing his eyes and balling his fists up, he planted his thumbs against his eyelids to stop from taking a swing at something in frustration. "I just wish the people I truly loved could just understand how terrified I am of hurting them." This time, the sound of the lock breaking was not so overwhelming that it shut his mind down to protect itself. Instead, the soft sound of a latch freeing itself echoed through his mind as Maya's eyes grew wide and Ritsuko tossed aside her tablet to pull him into a gentle hug.

"I think I do understand," the leggy blonde assured him. "I'm sorry for teasing, I didn't ask if you'd had a good morning and thought I'd try being 'flirty'." Kissing the side of his neck, she apologized again, "I really am sorry. It's very easy for you to think everyone is angry with you, or that we genuinely mean what we say in jest, because you haven't had the social experiences to know the difference. I know that you value me, I even know how much you value our dear little Maya." Freeing one arm, she urged Maya to join them in the hug.

Jumping at the opportunity, Maya pulled everyone together again in a warm embrace. "Senpai, I'm going to share something with you…but you have to swear to not ever tell anyone else. It's important for Shinji that you hear it, but he'll never be able to tell you himself."

"So long as it isn't that he's secretly building a plan to kill us all, I'd like to think that my friendship is worth something," Ritsuko agreed easily.

"It's worth everything," Shinji declared quietly. "Maya…what are you sharing?"

"That your situation is not easily described," the mousey technician tapped her head against his, "and that if senpai wants to become involved with you that she needs to understand that your handlers will require assurances." Looking to Ritsuko, she emphasized the point, "I had to explain to them that I was really interested in him, and not in 'an easy life'. That, if necessary, I would leave everything behind and go with him to where they could keep him safe."

Ritsuko scowled. "You just met him two weeks ago."

"And if he proposed to me right now, I would marry him." She kept her gaze level to impress how serious she was. "Even with the troubles he's going to face, and with the circumstances you're not aware of, I would become Maya Ikari without hesitation. You don't have all of the data, senpai, but you need to believe me when I say that what he has to offer far outweighs any possible worries I might have."

"If his situation is going to impact his piloting," she began, cutting off when Maya shook her head feverishly.

"No, no, no. If anything, his situation is the only reason he's still here and fighting." Biting her lip, she laid out another important piece of information, "I'm not the only woman who thinks this way…and I'm getting the feeling that the offer has an expiration date in the near future. Commit, or don't…but I'd recommend deciding soon." Tugging lightly on Shinji's shirt, she pulled him to the entrance. "C'mon, Shinji. We need to get you in position."

The sudden solitude as the two left her behind brought a chill to Ritsuko's flesh. She was willing to fool around with Shinji, to have as much fun as he would give…but the type of commitment Maya described put his needs above her own. She had needs too! She had spent her entire life trying to get out of the shadow of her mother, trying to prove that she was the best! Was she supposed to just toss that all away because he…made her feel….

+++++ Mount Asama. Friday, +17.

Standing up on the gantry leading into Unit-01, Misaki Masaki Jurai spoke with both Maya and Shinji as valued family, "That is all I ask. Be cautious with that word, and should you," she looked to Maya, "hear him start saying something you must prevent it from completing. We had hoped with the death of Helbon that you would perhaps be freed of the connection to Yggdrasil, but it seems our hopes were foolish."

Shinji was looking down at his feet, ashamed that he'd once again used his newfound powers without thinking. "I am sorry, Your Majesty."

Placing one knuckle under his chin, Misaki lifted his face up. "No, you are Shinji." Pairing the joke with a warm smile, she changed her touch to his cheek. "This was not damaging, and is not irreparable, so do not linger on it. I assure you, none who love you will hold this against you."

"It was…really weird," Maya agreed, pushing for Shinji to cheer up. "Suddenly, I knew exactly how you felt. I knew that you're petrified that we'll suddenly think you're something you're not, or that you're doing something you never would, or that you somehow love someone more than you love us. I really don't think I'm overstating it when I say that I can't imagine being able to get this level of assurance of your feelings for me from anyone else on Earth!"

"Hey," Asuka shouted across the distance between Evas, unaware of the conversation or its purpose, "if you're done stroking his ego, can we get on with the actual mission? I have a weekend to get to."

"Don't," Misaki stopped Shinji from responding. "Allow her to look as foolish as she is acting, and focus on what is before you. I am here to settle your mind before you engage in combat, which is both important and necessary."

"We love you," Maya added. "Trust in that, and come back to us alive so we can celebrate."

His spine straightened fully, his spirit comforted and bolstered by the love of women he owed everything to. "If this goes sideways…please make sure to get Misato and Ritsuko to safety." He knew he was asking for a great deal from the Empress, but he hoped that it wasn't impossible. "I know you would protect Maya, because she's a member of my crew…but the other two don't deserve to die because Soryu fucks up."

Turning Shinji's wristband communicator back on, Misaki nodded in agreement. "A wise precaution, captain. I will approve your request, so long as you agree to finance the necessary activity."

"What are we agreeing to, General?" Misato's voice remained patient, "Hopefully nothing too expensive."

"It is well within his budget," Misaki responded with a warm chuckle. "We are joining you shortly, let's make ready."

Leadership, Shinji thought to himself. A leader must motivate. By motivating me, she fixed my problems. Looking across the gap to Asuka, seeing her glaring daggers at him, he accepted that whether he liked it or not he was a leader. Lifting one fist, he did his duty, "You can do this, Soryu-san! I have your back."

With a slightly confused look, Asuka scoffed and turned away to climb inside of Unit-02 without recognizing the gesture.

+++++ Mount Asama. Friday, +17.

Shinji's knee was bouncing with pent-up energy as he watched Unit-01's viewscreen. The external camera on Unit-02's helmet showed little of use as the enormous Evangelion used its A.T. Field to push its way down through hundreds of meters of molten rock, with a hazy visual range produced by sonic vibrations through the magma of a little over one hundred meters around her. Between the heat and pressure, the descent to the target was agonizingly slow and the silence save for Maya counting off the distance didn't help his nerves.

"Nine hundred, nine fifty, one k, ten twenty, we're over the safety depth," Maya called out.

"I can't see anything," Asuka growled out in frustration. "Nothing detected, nobody here."

"Keep going," Misato ordered.

Maya was not enthusiastic. "Eleven hundred…twelve…thirteen hundred meters, we're at the MAGI-predicted target."

"Lava flow is faster than expected," Ritsuko mused. "The target's speed is different from the predictions."

"Then recalculate; keep going Asuka." Misato was scowling at her monitor, straining her eyes to try and see anything through the cameras.

"Thirteen fifty, fourteen hun-" Maya cut off as the distinct sound of something breaking echoed through the audio. "Second circulation pipe just cracked, redirecting coolant to pipes one and three through five. We're at fourteen eighty, we're past the emergency limit."

"Acknowledged," Misato responded without any significant emotion. "Pilot, status?"

"I can keep going. It's basically just a sauna in here." Repositioning her hair, Asuka refused to sound as exhausted as she looked.

"Tactical, what's Medical's evaluation?" Shinji didn't have to like her to not want her dead. He had a responsibility as a leader, and he would be damned if he let her hotshot bullshit kill her without a fight.

Whether Ritsuko understood his concern, or just because she wanted to support his action, she replied briefly, "Her temperature is moving towards the danger zone…but she has a bit more in her before we're going to have permanent damage."

"I am fine," Asuka snapped. "Let's go."

"Sixteen hundred," Maya announced. "Sixteen fifty." Another sound of breaking, and another piece of equipment declared lost, "That was her Prog Knife."

"Where are you," Misato growled. "Stop hiding."

"Seventeen hundred…seventeen eighty, predicted target by the recalculations."

Asuka crowed, "There it is! Moving to capture."

"With the lava flows, you'll only have one shot at this," Ritsuko cautioned.

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

"Thirty seconds to contact." Maya was biting her lip, of the same mind as Shinji regarding the threat to his fellow pilot's safety.

"Relative speed at…two point two, target in range." Unit-02 moved both halves of the cage into position. "Expanding cage…and…no problems! Target captured."

Despite a brief round of cheers from the NERV employees gathered around the monitors, Shinji kept his complete focus on the situation at hand. "Soryu, talk to me."

"Stop worrying, I am fine." Seeming far more smug now that she was towing the Angel upwards, she glowered at him through the camera. "This was easy."

"Don't get distracted." Nothing had ever gone easy in his life, and he doubted that streak was ending today.

"What, too worried that you'll have to save the day again? The Stupendous Shinji Ikari, remanded to backup duty, what a tragedy."

The mental sound of a wounded animal crying out in confusion overrode the strange crystalline song in his mind. "Tactical," caution was tossed aside, "we need to abort."

"Oh you are not taking my fucking victory away from me!"

Ignoring Asuka, Ritsuko stepped in to allow Misato to keep her attention on the Angel, "Shinji, what's going on?"

He had no better words to use than, "It's crying."

"Motion detected," Maya called out quickly, "it's emerging from its embryonic sac!"

Misato had seen the oddly birdlike creature begin to quake at the same time it had been announced, "Abort the capture, jettison the cage!"

Stubborn pride or arrogance prevented Asuka from immediately complying. "It will hold, just get me topside!"

"God damn it, that is an order, pilot!" Catching sight of Unit-01 begin to haul on the umbilical leading down to Unit-02, Misato swore to herself that she was going to break Shinji's pelvis if given half a chance. "Kick the winch into gear, pick up that slack!"

The order regarding the cage became academic as the Angel exponentially grew in size until reaching nearly twice that of Unit-02. With a roar of rage, Asuka kicked towards the odd fish shaped creature sending it swimming away.

"Fuck," Shinji swore while putting his back into retrieving his ally, "fuck, fuck, fuck. C'mon…c'mon…."

Doing what she could from her position, Misato took a swing in the dark, "Can you drop your knife to her Shinji?"

"It would just sizzle on the surface," Ritsuko countered. "The only reason Unit-02 is moving through the rock is its A.T. Field is pushing aside the magma. We need to get her up here."

"Working," Shinji grunted, "on…it."

"Target is coming around for an attack," Maya warned urgently. "It's…it's opening its mouth?!"

"Protect your umbilical as best you can, Asuka." Misato's mind kicked into overdrive, none of the strategies giving her any hope with the D-Type equipment's limitations.

Calling out in pain, Asuka felt the Angel latch onto her right leg and take an experimental bite through the diving equipment. "How is this asshole opening his mouth down here?!"

Another metal ping echoed through the speakers, prompting Maya to report, "Tube one just failed. The umbilical isn't going to continue to support the strain we're putting on it."

Based on the markings on the cables he was pulling, Shinji knew he still had a kilometer to go. In seven hundred meters they'd already lost another tube and Asuka had been bitten. If the Angel discovered that it could sever the tether between Unit-02 and solid ground, they'd lose everything. "No." He was not going to sit on his ass up in safety and hope. "Tactical, give the umbilical some slack to relieve the tension on the remaining pipes. I'm going in."

"You are what?!" Most present were uncertain as to who specifically was the loudest when asking the rhetorical question, all would swear that more than one had asked some variation.

Summoning five Light Hawk Wings, Shinji created a conical drill and blasted his way down towards Asuka as fast as he could push the magma out of his way. "Focus on keeping your tether safe, Soryu! You got this!"

Without a choice in the matter, Maya started her job again. "Unit-01 is six hundred meters away from -02 and gaining. Angel contact…changing course, moving to intercept Unit-01."

"Good, get -02 topside!" Thinking and acting at the same time, he pushed people towards helping him succeed, "Where can I hit this thing and do damage? It's swimming in molten rock and doesn't seem terribly bothered."

"You idiot!" Asuka yelled, "bring it over here to me! I have an idea."

Suddenly Unit-01's foot was seized by the Angel's mouth, giving him a much clearer idea of where his enemy was. Tucking into a ball, he did what he could to 'steer' the Angel, "On it…might help…to know…plan."

"Thermal contraction," the redhead declared, ripping off one of the D-type pincers to free her hand and hissing as the heat from the magma hit Unit-02's skin. "Next time you go past, grab onto me!"

It wasn't more than a second after he processed her request that he was dragged past Unit-02. Using one hand, he grabbed under its shoulder, with the other he snagged the cable. Feeling his body stretch painfully, just as much as it was burning constantly, he howled with the effort of bringing the Angel to a halt. "G-g-got it."

"Ok, on three, we shove tubes one and two along your leg and into his mouth. Science, flood those tubes with all the coolant you've got!"

The plan was insane, but so apparently were her pilots. "Do it," Misato ordered.

"One." Asuka verified that she had the grips she needed. "Two." She risked a glance in her camera, catching sight of Shinji's unbreakable will and wondering why he'd do what he was doing. "Three!"

+++++ Mount Asama. Friday, +17.

Shinji had helped Asuka climb out of the lava first, making sure the ground would hold her and accepting the agony that caused as the price paid for making sure he still had two partners. Once Unit-02 helped him out, he laid his Eva down on its stomach and manually severed the connection. It would mean nobody could hear him until the channel switched to his plugsuit, but it also meant that new pain stopped so that he could deal with old pain. Ejecting the LCL and vomiting up what had remained in his lungs and stomach passed the time to start, but eventually he realized he should say something.

"I would like to state, for the record, that magma is unacceptably hot." Forced to wait while the chemical trucks sprayed Unit-01 down with a mixture intended to dissipate the heat faster, Shinji sat back and closed his eyes to rest. "If possible, I would appreciate it if someone asked it to cool down slightly." When he heard no response, he looked down and saw that his wrist communicator had melted. "Oh." Closing his eyes, he decided that the joke was not really all that clever anyway.

Alone with his thoughts, he let his mind drift. The day had been miserable, and it was only half over. He'd soon be on his way home, returning to face the same irritations, the same confusions, the same obstacles that he'd left to fight another battle. This was his life. Fight, suffer, drama, try to repair drama, repeat. Now he had the added challenge of trying to convince everyone at school that he wasn't…what he was. He was willing to accept their love. Accept their affection. Perhaps it would be best to just accept that. Own the discrepancy, explain that everyone was free to leave him any time they wanted. He might be ashamed of himself, but they had done nothing to earn his classmates' scorn.

The shift in the seat as the entry plug was ejected forced him to become ready to deal with whatever problems lie in wait. When the door out was opened up, he flinched at the sudden intrusion of daylight into what had been a nice, confined, dark cave. Standing just outside, waiting for him, was a scowling Ritsuko and a relieved Maya. Addressing the former first, he looked at her with a completely neutral expression. "You've had much longer than I did to think about this…what's the play?"

The bottle blonde leaned into the entry plug and lowered her voice to not be heard too far off, "Not risking my fucking boyfriend's life for an ungrateful child." Keeping her eyes on his, she added, "You scared the living shit out of me."

Limping out of the chair, he pulled himself up and over to the two women. "I scared the living shit out of myself." He was heartened when both Ritsuko and Maya supported him in climbing out of the plug. "I'm serious, Rits…what's the play? How do I save her?"

"By using the same bullshit magic trick you just pulled," she groused, clinging tightly to his side. "I have thought through every possibility that didn't involve you taking a dip in fucking magma and…once the Angel broke free, she was dead without you."

Too wobbly on his feet to walk on his own, he let them help him get down to the ground. "How's she doing?"

"She's in a cooling tent, receiving an IV." Maya's voice was soft, and just as scared as Ritsuko had been. "She hasn't said a word since she was pulled out of -02."

"Let's go see her." He wouldn't ignore the final step of leadership, telling her that she did a good job.

"I don't think that's wise," Ritsuko hedged.

"Look me in the eye and tell me that 'wise' is even remotely a reasonable description of anything I do." He looked at Ritsuko with the same determination that led him to dive into magma. "Let's go see her. I'll say what needs saying, and then I'm going home."

Making their way slowly over to the tent, the trio walked in silence. From time-to-time people would call out to him that they thought he was insane, brave, or both. Each time he made sure to attempt a grin and weakly wave in recognition. These were the people who made sure he could do the things they were thanking him for. The people who made everything possible. He needed to help Asuka see that. He needed to get her to see that they didn't fight for personal glory, but because everyone around them would die if they failed.

"Wait out here." Just outside of the cooling tent, he forced himself to stand on his own. When both Maya and Ritsuko gave him a wary look, he shook his head and added, "I don't think she'll want to speak to me in front of anyone, if she wants to speak at all. I'll be fine." Turning to walk in, he chuckled. "She can't slap worth a damn anyway." Pushing the first flap open, he entered the main pavilion where multiple sub-chambers were set up to take care of anyone suffering from heat exhaustion. Finding which one Asuka occupied was simple, as it was the only one that had the flap down. Limping over, he tapped at the tarp that served as the doorway. "Hey, it's me. Mind if I come in?"

Her reply was a few seconds in coming. Her voice was both tired and suspicious, "You alone?"

"Yeah."

"…Come in."

Stooping down to disturb the flap as little as possible, he ducked into the chamber with a grunt. His first thought on seeing her was that even in a hospital gown, she was an incredibly attractive woman. So long as she had her mouth closed, that is. "You did great out there." He had to set the tone in advance, help her see through his eyes. "That was a stupid fucking mission, and it was destined to go poorly somehow. When it did, you kept calm, stayed alive, and put together a good plan on how to kill it."

Her typical scowl shifted towards confusion. "You're praising me?"

"The only criticism I have is that when Tactical gave you an order, you should have followed it. I don't know how much difference it would have made, so I'm not going to flip my lid over it…but it shouldn't become a habit." Standing by the foot of her bed, he hoped that the calm would continue. "I also don't have a hell of a lot of room to talk, considering I don't think she would have ordered me to dive in and help."

For several long heartbeats, she stared at him with a mixture of emotions rolling across her face. "Why?"

"Because if I missed, we'd be down two Evas instead of one."

"No…why did you dive in?"

He sighed. "When we were standing on the gantries after the last fight, I wasn't making things up when I mentioned that we're a team. You weren't in the situation you were in because you wanted to be. Or because you chose to be. You were there because you were ordered to be. I wasn't diving in to clean up some mess you made, I was diving in because you are on my team. I knew that I could steer my way to you with Lieutenant Ibuki's help, and I knew that two Evas stood a better chance than one. It was a risk…but now I still have two teammates instead of just one."

She frowned. "You…actually care about other people."

"Specific people," he agreed with a shrug. "I care about my team. I care about my crew. I care about the people who go out of their way to help others. I'm not big on selfish people, or people who think the world revolves around them. If you put yourself forward to help when others are in danger, I'll do whatever I can to help stop you from drowning. It's not much," he chuckled, "I have very little education and my skills are limited to killing building sized aliens, but I try to do what I can."

Pushing herself up into a seated position, she seemed to see him with new eyes. "What do you mean 'little education'? You're an Eva pilot."

"I was…housed by a man that felt I didn't need to know anything past basic literacy. He didn't waste time teaching me math that required more than addition or subtraction, or reading and writing past lists of chores, or…really anything involving science. When I came here about…two weeks ago to pilot for the first time, I'm pretty confident that one of the elementary schools I walked past had smarter children than me."

"Two…weeks?"

"Mmhmm." He counted on his fingers backwards. "About…sixteen days, maybe seventeen. It's hard to say, I've spent some time unconscious too."

"You had never piloted before two weeks ago."

"I hadn't been more than fifty paces beyond a tiny shack in Nagano before two weeks ago."

"How the fuck are you a captain?!"

"That's classified."

"You're bullshitting me." She could see he couldn't lie if his life depended on it, but nothing else made sense. "You first piloted an Eva two weeks ago, and you've already beaten six Angels?"

"It was the only way I could find what I wanted out of life." He gestured behind him towards the waiting scientists. "They asked me to save them. They wanted to live. It was either win, or fail…I wouldn't accept failing." He then pointed at her. "You wanted to live. It was the same thing today. I jumped in because I wouldn't accept failing you."

Her mouth opened, then closed, several times. "I have twin doctorates. I got my bachelor's degree at thirteen. I have been published in seventeen different journals on both mathematics and engineering. I speak a host of different languages, am a trained dancer, have argued philosophy with world leaders…and I'm being upstaged by someone who hasn't even graduated from elementary school." His shrug prompted a laugh of disbelief. "Please tell me you're at least working towards a GED."

"I…don't know what that is."

"Mein Gott in Himmel," she growled in exasperation. "Nein. Nein. Das werde ich nicht haben. Komm." She gestured towards herself. "Komm, komm!"

Using the bed to support himself, he moved closer to her. "I don't speak…whatever that was."

"Deutsche. German." Taking his hand she pulled him towards her violently and took his face between her hands. "I want you to look me in the eyes and swear that you are not suddenly going to become a hypocrite."

"A what?"

"Someone who says one thing but does another."

"Oh. No. If I say that I'm going to do something, I do it unless I'm stopped by something outside of my control. Even then," he pointed to his plugsuit, "I think you've seen that I can be pretty determined."

"You want me to play nice with Ayanami?"

"I'd appreciate you 'playing nice' with your team. We're here to save lives, not beg people to think we're glorious champions."

"Then you're going to spend time with me outside of the Evas, learning to not be so…uncultured." Layering her arms around his neck, she gave him a soft kiss on each cheek. "To make up for slapping you."

Aware of his blush, and gently freeing himself, he stood back up. "I apologize, I'm still really warm." Coughing into a fist, he tried to regain the front foot. "I have a lot that I'm doing, but I'll see what I can do to make time for you as well. I have teachers helping me after school, and I just moved into a new house…but I promise I'll see what I can do."

Instead of feeling rejected by his freeing himself, Asuka thought that he was simply not a 'touchy feely' person. His blush, however, caused her to believe that he was interested in her but too shy to do anything about it. "I'll text you my number…and if I run into Ayanami, I'll…play nice."

It was the best he could get, and he knew it. "Thank you." With a bow that was hobbled by how beat to shit he was, he excused himself. "I'm going to go home and climb into my freezer."

+++++ Author's Note:

DJexe: RE: Ma'at.

I was back and forth between two particular myths, but I think I like the one I chose for this part.