Same day
Outside of United Nations Headquarters
4:52 PM EST
"Mr Akagi!"
"Ms Soryu-"
"Ms Ayanami,"
"Dr Akagi!"
"Ms Akagi?"
"Mr Tokita-"
"Mr Kaji,"
The endless barrage of reporters asking questions only made things worse for them internally. Each question just pissed them all off even more.
Security guards kept the crowd of angry people at bay, keeping the path clear for the survivors of NERV to head to their transport.
"Annoying isn't it?…" Ritsuko muttered to herself, glancing at the many people that came out to see them. Mixtures of cheers and jeers from all across the opinion spectrum, and reporters didn't help either.
"Like I said you'll get used to it… Eventually…"Shiro said, knowing Ritsuko wouldn't get used to it anyways.
As they all walked up to the bulky armored transport, a few armed guards opened up the back doors and allowed the group to enter.
"I don't think I will."
[break]
Ritsuko and Shiro
Chapter 2
"Dismay"
[break]
Japanese Embassy
5:02 PM EST
The building went into lockdown as soon as the survivors entered the lobby. Ritsuko sighed and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, flicking one between her fingers, letting the lighter do its work.
A disappointed yet not surprised look formed on Shiro's face as he watched his partner take a drag from the toxin producing stick. An employee walked over to say something, but Shiro just shot them an annoyed look, prompting them to quickly back off.
Puffing out the smoke, Ritsuko rubbed her temples as she watched the rest of her family head on forward, with the exception of Naoko. Her mother paused, and turned to look at her, her eyes sunken. Tired.
"Ritsuko dear, must you do this here?..."
A melancholic sadness overcame Naoko's face as she watched her daughter relapse into her old habits.
She let loose a breath, letting the cigarette dangle from her fingers, but not quite letting it go. "Just carry on, mom. I'll be there soon."
Ritsuko felt shame, knowing that it only hurt her and her family more. She didn't even remember why she did it anymore. Shiro stood by and waited for the brunette to finish, watching the clouds of smoke escape her lips.
Lips that now taste like nicotine again.
Lips that he loves.
"Just go on ahead. I don't want you to smell like nicotine too. I know you quit years ago."
There was a hint of guilt in her voice, as she essentially shooed away her boyfriend. The man who would stand by her side.
She was tired. They were tired. He nodded. "I'll uh… Be in the room."
With that, Shiro headed off, dangling the room key between his fingers.
And she watched. Watched him walk away. Watched as the embers and ashes dangled before her, falling out of reach. She did this. There was only her to blame. As much as she loved him, he wouldn't be here otherwise.
[break]
Temporary Room for Ritsuko and Shiro
5:10 PM EST
Shiro sat at one of the desks provided to them by the Embassy. It wasn't anything fancy or special, just something they had on hand.
He was given a computer, but one without any internet access. He couldn't even use his phone to call anyone. They were essentially prisoners in a foreign land. It was still Japan, but it didn't feel like it anymore.
"This thing is slow as hell…"
He was just about to shut down the laptop, but heard the sound of the door clicking open. Ritsuko stepped inside and took off her high heels, tossing them aside, and sighing. Her feet hurt from the rather uncomfortable shoes.
"Still no outside connection?"
Shiro sighed and shook his head. "None. They still won't let us use our phones either."
Groaning, Ritsuko flopped onto the cheap queen sized bed meant to hold the both of them. It was uncomfortable, but worked for the most part.
"How much you wanna bet we get another round of questioning tomorrow?" Shiro asked, obviously knowing the answer, speaking just to fill the silence. Ritsuko just rolled to her side and sighed.
Shiro got up, ambled over to the bed, and laid beside her. A slender arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him close. An almost cat-like purr emanated from the woman.
"Let's just relax for now."
"Yeah."
[Break]
January 31st
8:24 AM EST
Ritsuko and Shiro's Room
The soft sounds of Ritsuko's snores slowly guided Shiro back from the world of dreams. A blissful feeling overwhelmed him as he turned to see Ritsuko holding onto him still.
This day would be perfect if it wasn't for the fact that they were still in the Japanese Embassy and that they still had to attend a press conference…
Sighing, Shiro attempted to get up from his side, only to be yanked back down. A quiet squeak came from him as he got pulled back towards Ritsuko.
"Stay."
…
"But-"
" Stay."
"I'll stay I guess…"
"Good. The press can wait for us."
…
"Rits… Do you think that Mamo is still there?..."
…
"No."
[break]
Lobby
Same Time
Shinji sat at one of the many elegant tables that filled the room. His hands kept fidgeting around in anxiety. He was worried.
Worried about his friends.
Worried about mom.
Worried about sis.
Worried about Asuka.
Worried about Rei
But… Worried the most about what they would say about Father…
So many conflicting feelings surfaced every time he remembered the words his father last said to him. It hits him hard each time.
He loved me…
Tears threatened to form in his eyes, as she began remembering all the times his father tried to connect to him.
His stuffy formal uniform felt like a vice around him. His mind racing thoughts around him. Voices of anger and sorrow began to encircle him.
The sounds of high heels clicking snapped him out of his misery. Looking up he saw his mother offering him a small smile, empathy in her face.
"Hey mom…"
He tried to return the smile, but it only turned to a half-frown half-smile amalgamation.
"Hey Sweetie…"
She sat down on the chair next to him, placing a caring hand on his back. Her eyes showed the same pain he felt.
"It's just one more event, and then it's only the Adults that'll do the other stuff. We'll get through this…"
…
"You sure?..."
…
"I'm positive. Now we just have to wait on Ritsuko and Shiro. They were supposed to be here by now…"
That last part sounded annoyed. She never really expects her daughter to be late, but judging from the sounds she heard last night… She can understand…
The clicking of hardened rubber soles on the tiles echoed through the hall. The two turned to face the source of the noise, they saw their two other pilots along with the Tactician and Special Inspector.
"I can see that you guys made it on time." Stated Naoko, her ire bleeding into her voice.
"Yeah well, I'm not risking the public having even more mixed emotions about us. We already have people out there threatening to kill us for our involvement, so I just want to appease the public as much as possible by answering their questions, asap." Misato bluntly groaned, clearly annoyed herself by this whole ordeal.
Kaji sighed and spoke up as well. "I'll be under more scrutiny for my position as a triple agent. I doubt the pilots would have people mad at them, but knowing people, they will always find some dumb reason to be."
Asuka and Rei stood idle, silent, not really having anything to say themselves.
"Sorry we're late, we kinda overslept…" Ritsuko and Shiro both came up to the group looking a bit tired. Their clothes looked like they hurriedly threw it on.
"Well… Onto the press conference…"
[break]
UN Headquarters
Press release room
8:48 AM EST
The group made their way on stage, finding their seats. Fuyutsuki would be here, but he was still recovering in the hospital.
The large crowd of journalists and reporters sat in their chairs below, rows and rows of hungry eyes, eagerly waiting to get their questions answered. Or for them to make a mistake.
As they sat down, a UN representative came onto the stage and stood behind the podium wired with two dozen microphones.
"Thank you all for attending today's special emergency press conference. We will begin our press conference with Dr. Naoko Akagi and will proceed with our other distinguished guests afterwards."
Suddenly dozens of reporters raised their hands immediately and began calling out for her attention.
She could feel the spotlights on her, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead. As she stood, she could feel the world swim. The crowd grew louder and louder, and eventually she stuck out her finger as she randomly picked out one from the crowd.
"You in the blue pantsuit."
Immediately the reporter stood up, holding her notepad.
"Marie Kaiser, from CBC News. Dr. Akagi, how are you and the rest of the citizens of Tokyo-III going to handle the widespread destruction of the city? Is the Japanese government planning on relocating you all for the time being?"
Naoko's tongue felt dry in her mouth. She didn't know. Why didn't she know? She took one last breath before speaking.
"We aren't very sure. The majority of the damage is in the downtown areas, where most of the businesses are. Other than that, most of the residential areas are untouched. We may be able to head back…"
The reporter wrote down some notes before sitting back down.
Next up was Ritsuko, who dreaded the dozens of eyes focused on her. The crowd began begging for her to pick them.
Unsure who to really pick, she pointed at another random reporter.
"You with the glasses and the blue tie, what's your question?"
The reporter stood up, pulling out his recorder and holding up his press badge.
"Tucker Jones, Fox News; What will the remnants of NERV do? What do you plan on doing with the MAGI supercomputers and the remaining Evangelion Units?, Or is the UN going to decide this?"
They're asking the right questions, just to the wrong people.
"The fate of NERV falls into judgment of the UN General Assembly, Along with the Evangelion Units. However the MAGI is my mother's creation and is technically on loan to NERV and the UN. So the MAGI is under Naoko Akagi's control and jurisdiction. She can take it back whenever she wishes."
She finishes her answer with a nod and reclined back into her seat.
It was Misato's to answer the annoying and useless questions.
They all called out to her, raising their hands eagerly to be picked.
"Uh… You in the blue dress."
The woman stood up and cleared her throat.
"Elsa Schneider, German Press Agency, What does NERV and the JSSDF have to say about SEELE and the later Prime Minister Keel Lorenz? In the days following the Siege, Germans across the globe have been experiencing a wave of hatred against them due to SEELE'S and Lorenz's actions and nationality…"
This one seemed to actually be a good question, but one that she couldn't answer on the JSSDF's behalf.
"The Senior staff of NERV cannot say much about this, as it truly has nothing to do with us. The UN Human Instrumentality Council is responsible for the naming, and as for SEELE, its apparent it's been around for a good three centuries, so we have no part in that…"
She took a deep breath.
"So in all honesty we have no responsibility as the senior staff of NERV for this. All we can do is give our hearts out to them."
This only made more reporters call out more.
Oh brother.
[break]
Thank you to Charlie for editing this chapter and making it much better.
Thank you to those who had favorited and followed it, as well as reviewing it.
I'll see you in the next chapter.
-DerpymanMT
Deus
Rits