Neon Genesis Evangelion
Pilot's Table
By D.A.
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Title: Tears and Dinner Dates
Prompt: Set 01 / Prompt 03 (Pain)
Word Count: 2k+
Rating: T
Summary: Asuka recalls part of her time in Germany after the final battle, and she and Shinji spend time with Hikari.
Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or anything connected to it.
Notes: Was listenin to some music, Love This Pain by Lady Antebellum, when I saw a motivational phrase and just had to write.
The long-awaited: Part 4 of the "Returned" arc! Includes more Kensuke, just for you Tasermon's Partner, hope you enjoy.
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[12 years pre recovery effort]
Asuka turned further down the street, letting her drunken stumble take her where it will. She just about had it perfected, getting to that one perfect bench in the park that was so much like the one at the school where she and-
She screamed in rage, jerking away from the thought. Maybe she'd not had enough this time, left too early from that back road bar. Drink, drink, drink, all to try and bury memories of someone who never should have been buried himself. She hiccupped as the memories started filing passed her alchohol-weakened walls, spotting and stumbling to her bench right as the tears and sobs came.
Every time, she thought in the back of her mind, arms wrapped around her waist as sobs racked her frame and she screamed his name, all the rage and pain poured into it, every damn time. I just want it to not hurt, damn it!
Nearly half an hour later, just starting to get her tears under control, she caught the sounds of heels click-click-ing down the cobblestone path towards her. Looking up through tear-clouded eyes, Asuka spotted Misato walking straight for her, a soft and understanding expression on her face. Just as the older woman reached her charge, Asuka turned her back to her and hunched in on herself.
"Asuka." Misato called, voice gentle as she placed one hand on Asuka's back, "You can't keep doing this."
"Who says, huh?" the redhead snapped, leaning back into the touch despite of her words, "You used to do it all the time, why can't I?"
"You know he wouldn't want you like this..."
"I know!" Asuka cried, tears starting again, "I know that! I only knew him for a year, but we connected so well after the synch-training, actually talked enough I feel like we really knew each other!"
"Asuka-"
"NO!" she screamed, jumping to her feet and spinning around, the mix of tears and intense glare making Misato freeze where she sat on the bench, "It doesn't make sense! It's like I lost part of me! He's been gone for years! How can it hurt this much, when- when I never said I love you..."
Her voice was almost too low for Misato to hear by the time she finished, but the raven haired woman heard it nonetheless. It caught her, froze her in place again when what she wanted to do was hold the hurting young woman in front of her.
"What am I supposed to do, mama?" her expression collapsed, and Misato rushed forward to hold her, a mix of shock and warmth at the call directed to her as Asuka broke down in her arms, hiccupped sobs and stuttering, "I can't- I can't be the adult right now. You did s-so much for us that you didn't have too, it was like you adopted us. Take me ho-take me home, mama, I c-can't do this right now."
"Hush Asuka-chan, I've got you." Misato gently scooped up the twenty-two year old disturbingly easy, and carried her too-thin form the short distance back to her car, "Tomorrow, I'll book a flight back to Tokyo-3 for a week from now. I think we've spent enough time away from home."
"...'kay..."
0o0o0o0
Hikari watched her friend walk out of the airport and into the sun, skittish and her eyes slightly red, the German's clothes hanging from her body in a way that told the brunette her friend was far too thin. It hurt to see her once vibrant and energetic friend look so broken, and Hikari couldn't stop herself from running to her and wrapping the redhead in a tight hug. Eight years was too long without her best friend.
"It's so good to see you again Asuka." she cried, the hurt from losing Touji still there though not as bad, "I wish you hadn't left, you know I'm here for you."
"I know Hikari," Asuka relaxed into the hug, then pulled back as Misato stepped up beside them, "I just couldn't stay here. And I'm sorry I didn't come with Misato when-"
"Don't." the brunette cut her off gently, then gave a small smile, "Let's be happy for a day, then we can do our remembering."
"Okay." Asuka smiled, looking happier than she had just moments ago, and grabbing her bags she walked beside her friend as they followed Misato to the car, "Thanks for the lift, Hikari. How's your restaurant doing?"
"Oh, it's not mine yet," Hikari blushed as they got into her car after stowing their luggage, "But it's doing good. Mia-sama said she might sign it over to me next month!"
"That's wonderful!" Misato said as Asuka cheered, "Knew you'd get it!"
"Thanks." she blushed again.
0o0o0o0
That evening, after a dinner prepared by Asuka with some help from Hikari, Misato sat Hikari down in the small living room.
"She's still crying, isn't she." though phrased as a question, Hikari's tone made it a statement. She'd seen enough similarities to when she had still been crying over Touji's death, "Nothing helps her?"
"She's let me in, the last few years," Misato sighed, sorrow etched on her face, highlighting the few wrinkles around her eyes and mouth which in turn drew attention to the grey starting to appear at her temples, "But she won't let me close enough to really help. It's like she's convinced that Shinji's loss is her fault. It doesn't help I think she was going to tell Shinji she loved him."
"I wish I knew what to do for her." the brunette murmured, "All I can think of is to be there for her."
"Asuka is an amazing girl, and you're her best friend," Misato said, resting a hand on the younger woman's shoulder, "I think what she needs is a bit of your experience and support."
Hikari gave a sad smile, and the two lapsed into silence for several minutes before the raven-haired woman sighed.
"All the same, try not to mention Shinji. Let her bring it up, and follow your heart." Misato said, then smiled mirthlessly, "I'm afraid I set a bad example, so don't be surprised if she shows up drunk looking for a friend."
"That bad?" Hikari asked, wide-eyed.
"Worse, sometimes," the raven haired woman admitted, her tone bitter, "She's been getting drunk since she found a bar near NERV-Berlin that would serve her back when she was eighteen, usually once a week. A couple times she went a whole month between visits."
"Look, just-" Misato continued, "Just be there for her. Trust her when she asks for it."
"I will, She's my best friend." Hikari said, not realizing what that would mean years from now, when Asuka would be kneeling in the snow as tears poured down her face.
0o0o0o0
[post recovery effort]
Now, years later, Asuka walked down another path in another city. This time, though, Shinji walked beside her and held her hand. They talked, aloud and mentally, laughing and sobering as she told him what he'd missed since that fateful battle.
"We should visit her," Shinji said, smiling at Asuka, "We haven't seen her since I woke up on the catwalk."
"We'll just invite ourselves over for dinner," Asuka grinned, tugging Shinji along, "Come on, Hikari always has dinner at the same time, we've only got thirty minutes or we'll be late!"
Laughing, the two of them dashed back to Asuka's Renault and made their way to Hikari's small apartment just a block from her restaurant. Asuka gave the buzzer a single tap, then grinned at Shinji when they heard Hikari call out she was coming, and wrapped her friend in a hug before she had a chance to do more than open the door.
It was spacious place for a single woman, and Hikari kept it immaculate and organized, so when Asuka saw the second pair of shoes haphazardly left next to Hikari's conservative flats she gave her friend a level stare. The brunette rolled her eyes at her friend, then ushed the two inside.
"I invited Kensuke over for dinner." Hikari said, giggling at the looks on the faces of her two friends at the name, "As usual when I make for more than just myself, there is plenty for you pair to have some as well."
"Who was it Hikari?" Kensuke's voice preceded him around the corner, and when he saw Shinji and Asuka he stepped over and gave them both a hug, "How have you two been?"
"We've been good," Asuka declared as she poked Kensuke in the chest, smirking playfully, "Have you been behaving with my best friend?"
"Asuka!" Hikari gasped, lightly slapping the redhead's shoulder, "It's not like that!"
"I never said it was." the German grinned, "You only assumed I meant it that way. Honestly Hikari, does my best friend really think my mind is in the gutter so often?"
"Coulda fooled me back in school, considering how often you tried to convince me all boys were perverts." the brunette teased back.
"And now you're the one assuming something perverted when I talk," Asuka smirked, wiggling her eyebrows, "For shame, woman."
The four of them shared a laugh, moving to the table to eat and converse.
Dinner was simple but good, typical of Hikari, and after eating they moved to the conservative living room to enjoy a movie Kensuke had brought. It started as a military action movie, to be expected of the Sub-Commander, but nearly halfway through it surprised the other three by adding in an element of romance. It was subtly introduced and well acted, surprising them only because they hadn't expected Kensuke to willing own a Military/Romance no matter how good the action. By the end of the movie both Hikari and Asuka had smiles and tears, and seeing the redhead's reaction Shinji was already planning to purchase a copy.
With the credits rolling, Shinji and Asuka stood along with Hikari and Kensuke, preparing to leave for their own apartment. With Shinji quietly apologizing to Hikari and Kensuke for interrupting what was obviously intended to be a date night for them, the two Pilots said their goodbyes and made their way outside and downstairs to her car.
0o0o0o0
Latching the door behind her friends, Hikari turned back to Ken as he shut off the TV and moved back into the kitchen behind her.
"They look happy."
"Happiest I've seen Asuka in years." he agreed, moving over to Hikari and setting his hands lightly on her hips as she wrapped her own hands loosely around his neck, "Shinji knew it was date night and he's only been back a month."
"Think he'll tell Asuka?"
"I think he'll wait for us to tell her, then point out he'd already guessed as much."
"Shinji wouldn't gloat." the brunette frowned, eyes twinkling in mirth despite her words.
"Shinji wouldn't," he parrotted, smirking, "but she'd expect him to let us have some privacy, and they'll both laugh about him figuring something out before she does."
Smiling, she leaned up as her eyes slipped closed and Kensuke met her halfway, the kiss chaste and short.
"Day after tomorrow at my place?" Ken asked afterwards, gently pulling back as Hikari let go and smoothed her blouse and skirt, "You pick a movie and I'll cook."
"Of course," Hikari unlatched and opened her door while he slipped his shoes back on, "We can tell Asuka over the weekend. I'll call her tomorrow and we'll plan a lunch on Saturday."
"I'll look forward to it. Until next time. Good night, Ms. Horaki."
"Next time. Good night, Mr. Aida."
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A/N: Drinking Disclaimer: Don't think this means I approve of drinking underage. As mentioned in the first chapter of Returned, there are places that will serve an under-age customer. Usually, at least in the States, it's because they are military. Which is fine by me, if you're old enough to fight and die for your country, then you're old enough to have a few drinks -but not drunk, no justifying that-. In Asuka's case, it because she's Germany's heroine, Pilot of Unit-Two and saviour of the world multiple times.
Hope you enjoyed it, and the introduction of Hikari/Kensuke.