Tal everyone!
I failed trying to get this out quicker. A thousand most sincere apologies. I hope you like how it came out though and I will try to be faster next time.
Please enjoy and if ya do, leave a review! If ya don't… leave a review anyway! I'm not picky!
We pick up right where we left off, with Rei awakening in hospital, young Shinji Cabot having kept a restless vigil while she recovered from the battle with Ramiel.
Rebuild: A Warrior From A (Counter) Earth: Chapter 7
"No… more… interruptions." These were her first words upon awakening.
Shinji rose as though thrown forward, his arms bracketing her shoulders, his fingers in her hair, his lips upon her lips. Only when he felt her attempt to gasp for breath did he relent, his nose hovering above hers, an elated smile upon his lips.
In short, ragged breaths, Rei regained herself. Her time since the defeat of the angel had not been placid sleep. It was not restful either. Her mind had been filled with so many unfamiliar feelings and memories. Some both new and exciting, other atavistic and frightening. Elusive details hid in the dark corners of skull, impossible to reach despite desperate searching. Instead of knowledge, Rei was instead left with feelings and impressions.
Rei's chest began to quickly rise and fall as her breathing turned from tired to a panic.
"Vana'she, your girl is sorry. She begs your mercy."
"Mercy? For what?" Shinji said, turning his head this way and that like a beast as he watched the signs of desperate fear raise across her face. "What is wrong?"
"It's… It's just… Vana'she wants to use his girl and everything still hurts." Rei continued, averting her eyes.
"Use you…? No, no, I am just happy you are have woken. I had thought I might have lost you forever."
"But Vana'she does want his girl…. Yes?"
"Yes...?"
"Then you musn't wait. It was foolish of your girl to ask mercy." Rei said, starting to pull at the sheet and hospital gown until Shinji's hands stilled her own.
"Look into my eyes, girl." He commanded, and she obeyed. "I will have your body when I want it, but that time is not now. If you are in pain then I am more concerned with that than my needs as a man. Do you understand me?"
Rei nodded.
"I asked you a question."
"Yes, my Vana'she."
"Good girl."
Rei gasped, then smiled more brightly than Shinji had ever seen her before. Her hands slipped his, her arms wrapping around his neck when the door opened and be-scrubbed doctors and nurses flooded into the room. Shinji was thrown out by the weight of the humanity coming between Rei and himself.
The gorean was not too bothered as he leaned against the wall beside to the door to wait.
She was awake. They were worried. Shinji shrugged.
He was not a physician, so it was not as though he would be of any help right now. Besides, warriors and physicians had a special relationship. Warriors loved physicians for healing them. Physicians hated warriors for sending so much work their way. However the warriors did not think it could not be true hate. After all, without all that work, they would surely be bored and poor.
Shinji yawned, the full weight of his exhaustion only now making itself known. Shinji crossed his arms over his chest and let his chin fall to his chest. He could close his eyes for just a moment. Other's were watching Rei, he had been relieved from his post for now.
Shinji woke to a boot prodding his leg. He was seated upon the cold floor, his legs to his chest with his arms across his knees.
"Hey there sleepyhead." Misato said. Shinji looked up and she smiled down at him. "How's our girl?"
"Hm? Awake. Pleased. Still in pain. How long have I sleep?"
"I think it has been about an hour and a half since she woke up."
Shinji groggily did a quick bit of math, running his index finger along his knuckles to count. A short nap, but just enough to take the edge of exhaustion off.
"The physicians crowded me out."
"Well, they are gone now. Come on." Misato offered her hand and Shinji accepted the aid to rise. His body, still bandaged in some places from his own wounds, protested. "They tell me she is ready to go home."
"Captain, she lives alone, I do not think that would be wise. Perhaps she could stay with us, if only for a few nights?"
Misato grinned. Behind the tough exterior, Shinji could be so caring when he wanted to be. "Sure! It's another for the victory party tonight."
"Oh, and how many will we have?"
"With Rei… three."
The warriors shared a chuckle and went in as the last nurse left.
Misato stopped mid-stride when she saw Rei… smile? It wasn't an off putting smile, it was just… unfamiliar.
"Vana'she!" She squealed before slapping her hands over her mouth, wide red eyes looking to Shinji.
Shinji quickly looked at Misato. She looked… surprised. Not cross, not terribly shaken, just surprised. If she had understood the word, her face did not show it. She would ask and Shinji needed to have an answer ready. For a lie to pass inspection would need to be a quick answer too.
"What was that, Rei?" Misato asked. Rei shook her head, hands still covering her lips. Shinji picked his moment and mounted his interception to head off this turning into a mess.
"Rei is a little embarrassed of me I guess." Shinji said, turning as he stepped to put himself between the captain and the girl. "The truth is our relationship… well you saw. That word… it is… a word from my language. It is hard to directly translate into English, it is something like protector. But a girl who loves a man very much could call him that, if you understand my meaning."
"Ooooh." Misato said. "Like honey or sweetheart."
"Exactly that kind of term, yes."
"Okay. There is no need to be embarrassed Rei. What happened before, I wasn't mad at you two for being in love. I just didn't like that you two were having sex."
"Thank you captain." Shinji said to Misato then looked back at Rei. The girl had trouble with these sorts of cues, he dearly hoped she would understand to go along with his half-truth. Her eyes met his again and held his gaze for a moment before once more looking away, towards Misato.
"May I go now?"
"Yes Rei, the doctors have cleared you to leave. However…" Misato's eyes turned to Shinji for a moment. "Shinji and I would feel better if you stayed with us for a few days."
"With you and Vana'she?"
"We're just worried about you. And yes, provided you both can agree to some rules, you can stay with…" Misato gave the gorean another look. "your vana'she."
Misato had to smile as Shinji looked at her slack jawed and Rei squeaked out a thank you. Misato shooed him out to let Rei get dressed. The young man was much more verbal about his indignation over it after a little bit of sleep, but did as he was bid and stood guard outside the door.
Misato had meant to step out as well, until she saw Rei move to stand up. Unflappable, stoic, Rei, who had shown more emotion squealing over a boy a moment ago than Misato had seen from her before, looked like she was ready to cry. Rei's pain was so clear Misato could feel the pain in her own bones, the stiffness in her own joints.
Rei's eyes were screwed shut, her teeth clenched and her lips drawn back. It had been easy before to separate herself from the pain. Before Rei had met Him. Before Rei had learned of her place in the world. Before decades of knowledge had flooded Rei's mind with the unbridled joy of existence and ebbed away as quickly.
One strong hand took Rei by the arm. Another touched the small of her back, soft skin touching hers through the gap in the hospital gown.
"I will help you." Misato said. Something within Rei told her that this woman recognized the girl for what she was. She had not asked if she needed help, nor asked if she could help. A warrior had told a slave girl what she meant to do, and done it.
This pleased Rei, and she felt a small bit of relief.
Misato guided Rei back down to sit on the hospital bed. Her fingers started on the knots holding the back of the gown together.
"Can you tell me what hurts?" She asked.
"Everything." Rei replied in a squeak.
"What kind of hurt is it, Rei?"
"I am sore. Everything is sore."
"I will be gentle."
"Thank you." Rei said. Another word escaped her lips before she could form the thought. "Avan'shea."
"What was that?" Misato asked.
"What was what?"
"What you said."
"Thank you?"
"After that."
"Nothing, I just… it hurt and I groaned. I am sorry." Rei lied. She had not thought the word her mouth had breathed and her tongue had formed. It just was. In the same way she had not known the meaning before it passed her lips.
As Vana'she was Master, Avan'shea was Mistress.
It was not the last thing Misato helped Rei with. Misato had never felt much of anything for Rei, but now she felt a sadness and an empathy for the red eyed girl. Rei could not even dress herself without stopping to whimper. So Misato helped her, from her panties to her bra to her dress to her shoes.
"Shinji, could you come in here please." Misato lifted Rei to her feet, keeping her hands over the girl's shoulders to steady her.
Shinji obeyed his captain. Rei rushed to embrace him, but only Misato's quick hands stopped her stumble from becoming a fall. Before she stood straight again, He was there. With His arms around her, Rei could stand aided by His strength.
The captain and her Vana'she, her master, were talking. Rei really didn't care to listen too closely.
"... Gentle with her. Maybe we should get a wheelchair."
"A what?"
"A chair with wheels on it, is that really such an not obvious word?"
"I've a better idea."
Rei squeaked as her master swiftly lifted her off the ground to carry her across his chest.
"Woah, I thought you were still, y'know, dealing with the gravity change."
Misato watched Shinji adjust his legs, his knees shaking only a little until he found more stable footing.
"She is light, and I am happy to do it. I…" Shinji looked to Rei's face and smiled. "We've rested enough."
"Well alright then, loverboy."
"Perhaps we should be on our way though…" Shinji said, adjusting his grip again.
"We should walk slow. Y'know, to be gentle."
"Captain…"
"Maybe a couple of extra laps…"
"Captain!"
Misato did not take them for extra laps, or even the long way. Shinji carried Rei without a single sound of complaint, though there was much groaning of effort. The boy strained until he was red in the face to put Rei down in the backseat of Misato's car without her feet ever touching the ground.
"Jashi, Vana'she." Rei said as he took the seat beside her, leaving the passenger seat beside Misato empty. Once he was seated, Rei lay against his shoulder, a small smile on her lips.
"And what does that mean?" Misato asked, securing her seatbelt.
"Thank you." they replied together. Misato looked back at the kids once before starting the engine. Rei's head was on Shinji's shoulder, and his own head was over hers.
Cute kids, she thought as she slid the Alpine into gear. Shinji could be a little asshole sometimes, but he was a teenage boy and that is how they are. At least he did not seem as mad about not getting his sword back anymore. Rei was really coming out of her shell with him too.
"I can walk."
"Are you sure?"
"Aye, Vana'she." Rei said, her hands nonetheless tightly holding onto his arm as she pulled herself out of the backseat.
"I think your confidence is unwarranted." Shinji said, laying his free hand over hers to hold them to his arm. "Keep hold of me. If you do not need it, I still have the pleasure of a pretty thing on my arm."
Rei giggled and whispered something to Shinji while Misato made a gagging face as she took the groceries from the trunk at the front of the Alpine. "You two are disgusting."
Misato slapped the trunk shut to find Shinji staring at her.
"Captain, I fear my linguistic abilities have failed me, did you just say we were-"
"It's a figure of speech." Misato said before holding out a grocery bag for him to take. She continued as they moved inside. "A couple being affectionate is called sweet. Well sweet is nice, but have you ever eaten something that had way too much sugar in it? Well, then it is disgusting."
"I see… I think." Shinji replied. Misato stepped into the elevator and the children followed. "So on what are we going to feast? I believe you only bought alcohol."
"Chef Suzuhara apparently thinks you're a little skinny, or me too… or everyone in the neighborhood if you go by how much food he sent his kids over with."
"Oh very good."
Shinji of Ko-Ro-Ba was quite familiar with wine. Warm mulled wine called paga was the drink of choice on much of Gor in fact. Rei Ayanami had partaken of this drink at the Suzuhara home and found it pleasant. Wine however was not often found in the apartment of Captain Misato Katsuragi, as she and her penguin quite preferred beer and spirits.
Thus it was seated around the table that Shinji asked Misato if he could try some of what the captain was drinking, and Rei partook as well.
Shinji commented that he quite enjoyed it, and asked of how this 'whisky' was produced. Rei began to feel warm.
The conversation moved on, but Rei was no longer listening. Instead she could not force herself to look away from Vana'she. Why, she thought to herself, was she sitting in a chair when he was right there and so close?
"So, how goes the repairs of the city and the evangelions?" Shinji asked.
"Good and bad." Misato replied, sipping at her tumbler. "Unit One we just had to swap out armor, its ready to go again. Most of downtown is going to be closed to vehicle traffic for a while though and Unit Zero is looking like a total loss."
"A single evangelion, and each angel has been more dangerous than the one before. These are not good odds."
"Won't be a problem for long. Unit Two and its pilot will be arriving soon. It is undergoing final work in Germany…" Misato said, then added after a moment. "Other side of the continent."
"Thank you. Tell me of the pilot."
"Her name is Asuka. She is a few months younger than you, really into martial arts so you'll have someone you can practice with." Misato said. Her shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. "I haven't seen her in a few years."
"Hm…" Shinji sipped at his drink, thinking. He had seen enough of the warrior women of earth not to be bothered by the new pilot's gender. A fighter was good, but it did not escape Shinji's mind that Misato had spoke of martial arts, not military experience. It was perfectly possible to learn much about fighting and killing without a warrior's discipline to temper it.
Any man, or woman in this case, could wear crimson if they dared. They could gird themselves with weapons and wear the iron helm. They could fight whether it be in the name of glory, their homestone, or mere gold. None of that made a warrior, those things are not needful.
What makes a warrior is their codes and their adherence to them. Misato was right though, it would be good to have another to practice with and perhaps to learn from.
Shinji's thoughts were interrupted by Rei, who he had not even seen rise from her seat, touching his shoulder. When he sat up straight in his seat to look into her eyes, she sat down upon his lap, wrapping one hand around his shoulders and laying her head on his.
"Rei?!" Shinji started as she sat down without warning.
"Vana'she is warm…"
Misato laughed at Shinji's startled face and quiet little Rei sitting on his lap as easy as you please.
"Well…" Shinji said, one arm around Rei's waist to steady her. "I would say spirits agree with you, Rei."
"Mmmhm." Rei mumbled, shifting on his lap. "Vana'she, it's hot. I'm hot."
The beer had just started to pass Misato's lips when she saw Rei shrug out of the top of her uniform dress and reach for the buttons of her blouse. Misato nearly choked on beer that was not otherwise trying to escape out her nose.
"Ack-gah, blah. Goddamn Rei, no more whisky for you."
Three buttons open and her white cotton bra open to the air, Rei wrapped herself around Shinji's shoulder again.
"Better."
Shinji adjusted his hold on Rei to keep her steady and looked to Misato, who was presently splitting her attention dabbing at alcohol on her shirt and looking at him quite suspiciously.
"Captain, what could I have done to earn such a glare?"
"I better never catch you taking advantage of her being such a lightweight."
"I've never even given her alcohol, have I? You gave her the whisky. And if by taking advantage of her you mean indulging in bodily pleasures, it is hardly as if alcohol is required for Rei to be willing…"
Shinji stopped talking as Rei started mumbling in his ear in a slurred mix of Japanese, English and a few choice words of Gorean. Across three different languages the words were a mess, but the meaning was quite clear.
"On that matter in fact…" Shinji said, slowly goading Rei to move and placing her hands on the table to balance so he could stand. The red-eyed girl was becoming insistant and explicit, and using words Captain Katsuragi could understand and would not like the meaning of.
"What? What's wrong?" Misato asked, watching Shinji finally lifting Rei by the bum off his lap and holding her up as he rose to his feet.
"Lady Rei has requested that we adjourn to my quarters to continue upon where we left off when you interrupted."
"Hold on just a minute there." Misato said. "First we need to have a talk."
"About...?" Shinji asked, his head askew. "I assure you I do not require instruction and I do believe I can handle any questions the good lady may have."
"Shinji, I'm not sure how they go about this where you are from. Is there something a woman or a man does during sex to make sure…" Misato began, almost relieved when Shinji picked up her meaning and interrupted.
"Oh! By the Sardar in their mountains, how many times do I have to tell you I am not a savage? Yes, there are contraceptive medicines freely available to women in my city. Most women of our age have already begun using it." Shinji said, holding the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "Don't tell me you still use livestock intestines like a bunch of barbarians."
"What?! Fuck, ew, no. Goddamn, I just wanted to make sure nobody gets pregnant and give you guys some condoms."
"What are condoms?"
"Rubber sheaths to collect any, y'know…"
"Artificial livestock intestines then."
Rei was growing tired of these conversations which had a habit of arising between the captain and her master. They always derailed so quickly. There was a place she wanted to be and a thing she wanted to be doing and it was not here and talking about this.
"I am barren." Rei said, a little louder than either Shinji or Misato had been speaking. Both warriors snapped their heads around to look at her.
"I see." Shinji responded after a moment of silence.
"Oh Rei honey, I'm sorry I didn't know."
"I presume that supersedes the rest of the planned conversation?" Shinji asked impatiently.
"Um...yeah." Misato said. "Uh, well I guess… be, uh, careful you two. You both are still recovering."
Shinji swiftly had Rei in his room and the door shut. Even as the warrior helped her down to his sleeping mat, she was pulling at her clothes and his.
"Take me, master." Rei whined in English and loudly enough Shinji was becoming worried.
"Ssssh, wait girl." Shinji said, pushing her hands away so he could see to her clothes himself. Her clumsy hands were making little progress. She began to pull on his shirt instead. Shinji ground his teeth, she wasn't being quiet, she was getting louder.
"Master!" She said, loudly, in English, and far more clearly than her slurred mumbling at the table.
Shinji let go of her dress and slapped his hand down over her mouth. "Girl, be silent. Now!"
Rei's eyes were locked on his. His angry eyes and bared teeth.
"When I command, you will obey. Do you understand me, kajira?"
Gone was half intoxicated haze. Rei nodded quickly, her red eyes full of momentary fear. Master had not treated her this way before. She had longed for it but having now received it, it terrified her.
"Speak quietly and be careful of what you say in earshot of the captain." Shinji said, lifting his hand from her mouth.
"Yes master." Rei whispered.
"Good girl. Now get your clothes off."
"Will you take me as your slave now?" Rei asked, bunching her blouse and dress together to pull it over her head. Once the garments were off, she looked at Shinji with pleading eyes in the dim light.
"No girl, not tonight."
"Please, pleeease my master…" Rei said as tears welled in her eyes.
"No."
"But you swore…"
"I did, but you are not yet ready. You are still in pain and you're injuries have yet to heal."
"I cannot bear to wait, please master I beg of you." Rei cried, pulling away from him and grasping at his chest. Her red eyes were redder still with desperate tears. "Your slave girl begs of you."
"Not until you are more recovered, I will not take you as I will take a slave. Tonight I will take you as the free woman Rei Ayanami. Because I do not wish to hurt you. You are after all the most precious thing I will own."
"Your most precious?"
"Yes, my most precious."
"Always?"
"Would you have me say sweet nothings to you, Rei?"
"No, but…"
Shinji silenced her with a kiss and Rei melted before him.
What followed was not a world shattering event. It was not the best that ever was or anything like it. The sounds they made were quiet and in pain as much as pleasure, their sore bodies protesting. They had begun before the angel arrived, on the floor of Rei's apartment. This was merely finishing the act.
Rei's squeal when he entered her turned into a deep groan as her body accepted him again, as she was fulfilled by him again. True to his words he was tender tonight, not at all like the first time. Then he had used her body, but not tonight. Instead of holding her down, his hands found her most sensitive spots where a gentle squeeze or a scratch sent her mind reeling.
Her body shuddered and Rei cried out from the pain as much as anything else as she softly climaxed. He finished only a moment after. Rei laid still, breathing heavily while Master got up once and returned. She did not consider what he might be doing, she had little enough capacity for thought at the moment.
Soon though her master returned and Rei was more than pleased to press herself against his body when he wrapped his arms around her.
"Good girl Rei, you did well."
"Jashi, Vana'she." Thank you Master, Rei said, a swift heat rising in her cheeks at just saying those words. "I like it when you say my name."
"Cherish it. There will come a time when it is yours no longer and I will name you as my slave."
"What will you call me then?"
"Whatever I wish. Perhaps I will not name you at all, and you will only be a slave girl. Perhaps I will give you the name Rei, though it would not be your name…"
"Because it will be the name my master gives me."
"Aye."
"Good night, Master."
"Good night, girl."
Shinji of Ko-Ro-Ba took one deep breath before he began. First, he closed his fingers around the knurled steel. Then he pulled down with his chest and shoulders and only when he felt his muscles pull tight across his torso did he engage his arms. Shinji ground his teeth and pulled his hands downward with all of the strength he could muster across his upper body
Slowly, and with halting progress, Shinji's heels, then his toes, rose. His captain, Misato Katsuragi, called out to him.
"Come on, lift your legs!"
Shinji's abdominals burned as he raised his knees up above his waist. Finally, Shinji felt his chin rise above his hands.
"And one!"
Shinji groaned and let himself drop back down, his bare feet touching down on the plastic stool set beneath him. He really was not this weak. Back home Shinji could complete at least a score of chin-ups like this without stopping. It was the ridiculous gravity of Earth.
Shinji and Misato were in the small gym on the first floor of the apartment building. Like the building, they had it to themselves. Which was good because even one more person moving around would have made it crowded. Even with mirrors lining the walls it was clear that the space holding only a couple exercise bikes, a rack of weights and a lifting cage with olympic bar, the top of which Shinji was using for chin-ups, had been converted from an apartment. Or maybe half of one.
Shinji wore his school issued gym clothes, a red cuffed white T-shirt and blue shorts. Misato, not actually doing any exercise herself but instead acting as Shinji's 'coach', wore grey sweats emblazoned with the NERV logo.
As well she wore a whistle on a line about her neck which Shinji could not divine the purpose of. Perhaps it was like a tarn whistle and summoned that strange little bird of hers?
"Do you need a break?" Misato asked him, one hand on his back.
"No!" Shinji snapped, letting go of the bar and swatting her hand away. He was head and shoulders above her, standing on a stool so he could reach the bar without jumping.
"Maybe high reps with free weights would be more your speed for now..."
"I'm fine."
It was day one in the gymnasium for Shinji. A medical examination after the fifth angel had shown, he was told, that his gain in muscle mass to compensate for the higher gravity of Earth as compared to Gor was not what it should have been. As such, Shinji had been assigned a regimen of 'physical therapy'. As if he was an invalid or something.
Not helping matters was that he was still sore from last night. And the night before that. And the day before that when Rei had finally woken up. The girl had been quite adamant about no more interruptions and rather insistant, not that he minded. In fact by his own reckoning he'd plenty of exercise of late. All of it 'low impact' and 'explosive' as they might say here.
"Alright, well get back on the horse then."
"The tarn. The phrase is get back on the tarn."
"Whatever."
Shinji took the bar in hand once more and began to lift himself again as Misato moved to stand in front of him. Damned woman must mean to catch him like a falling infant.
Rei was a good girl. Since waking she had spent nearly every moment at his side, waking and restful. What she lacked in experience and skill she certainly made up for in enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn. She had already learned enough Gorean to say the most salacious things of how she wished to yield to him next, all with Misato none the wiser! Shinji had explained that the good Lady Rei was using words from his language that meant lover and sweetheart, when the girl was blushing over calling him her master openly. And the captain had believed him!
After the battle and his vigil at Rei's bedside, Misato had given up all resistance to any sex between them. In fact Rei had only left their apartment this morning at Misato's insistence to get more clothing and toiletries. However she had begun to express curiosity over more… advance techniques.
"Oh goddamit Shinji, could you at least stick it in your waistband or something, Christ!"
His mind having wandered to pleasant things, Shinji had once again raised his chin above the bar. However that did place his hips and so his body's expression of arousal in front of Misato's face, separated by only two layers of fabric.
"My apologies." Shinji said as he dropped back down.
"How do you even have it in you? You two have been going at it day and night!"
Misato watched the boy shrug with a big stupid smile on his face. The little shit. Him and Rei had been getting up to it more in the last two days than Misato had in the last two years.
Misato rolled her eyes. "Boys…"
"Captain, I am no child."
"Fine, men, ugh!" Misato said, sticking her tongue out to him. "Get moving, eight more of these and you still have push-ups and sit-ups to do and then the exercise bike."
"Aye, Captain…"
Misato yanked the emergency break up hard, drifting the Alpine onto the highway before slamming the lever back down and straightening out. This stretch of road was once a route through the mountains. In post-impact Japan it was the scenic coastal highway.
"I can see the angel now, activate task One-Zero-One!" Misato yelled into her phone. "Shinji get your ass in here!."
Shinji had hoisted himself halfway out the passenger window, holding onto the roof of the car with his ass on the door. He was watching the unbelievably tall and fragile looking angel walk upon the ocean, steps freezing the salt water beneath and heedless of the massed fleet of steel ships in its path. The thunder and flash of their guns did not faze it.
"Negative Captain Katsuragi. Task Two-Zero-Two is already in effect."
"Two?" Misato startled. "No way!"
Shinji looked up and saw a sparkle of light drop from a trio of black arrowheads high in the sky.
As the second fleet was impaled on spears of blood red water below, Unit Two spread its limbs and fired its S-type boosters briefly to stabilize.
"Loslasse EM Armbrust." Asuka said, calmly. Evenly. Asuka knew, as all pilots knew, that no matter what happens, when speaking over the radio you must always be calm and clear.
Asuka applied the smallest pressure to the control yokes, nimble fingers tapping at the controls as the angel turned its attention upwards. A green light blinked in the corner of Asuka's vision, as she maneuvered her evangelion around the black spikes shooting up from below. The angel's razor sharp tentacles missed by meters but to Asuka it may as well have been miles. After all it does not matter by how far the attack has been avoided. To think about a danger that has passed in the distraction of an amatuer. Asuka's mind was on the coming danger and the move to avoid it, and then the move after that, and after that, and after that.
Asuka spared a moment's attention for blinking green icon moving towards her position. She didn't like how the path of descent was looking to intercept with her own.
"Hm." Going to have to do something about that, Asuka thought.
Unit Two boosted upwards, right arm extended. The right hand closed, the evangelion tucked, rolled, and when its legs and airfoils were once more spread against the wind, the EM crossbow was sighted downwards, crossmembers snapping into place.
Asuka fired once, twice, then a three bolt burst. The angel's 'head' exploded and the black gossamer body began to disintegrate.
"Nein, erzähl es der Oma." Asuka said, keeping the weapon on target. It came as no shock when there were suddenly many, many, more black tentacles reaching for her Unit Two. Far more than she could avoid for any length of time. Asuka's gaze flicked to the magazine indicator for the crossbow. Far more attacks than she could drive off with this weapon either.
Asuka aimed for the mass of the fast approaching black spears and held down the trigger.
"Loslasse progressiv klinge Terminus Est." Asuka said. A new green dot began falling towards her position.
Tha magazine indicator reached zero. Asuka tapped a button and released the empty crossbow as Unit Two fired its full complement of thrusters to shoot straight up. The black spears converged where the evangelion would have been, but instead skewered the empty crossbow, the self destruct mechanism of which Asuka had primed. The explosion was modest, but it created an opening as Unit Two rendezvoused its next weapon. And one opening was all Asuka ever needed.
Asuka found using melee weapons in an evangelion different from projectile weapons. There was a much more visceral connection, a much closer synchronicity with the full control necessary to use such a weapon as opposed to the layers of targeting and assistance programs in place with ranged weapons.
As Unit Two's hands closed around the deeply cut handle of the massive progressive sword still shrouded in in an aerodynamic shell, Asuka felt that true and deep connection. She felt the diamonds of steel pressing into her palm. She felt the jolt of vibration as explosive bolts cleared the shroud away and the blade came to life. The crossguards snapped down into place from their travel positions flat against the edges as the blade roared like thunder.
Terminus Est, literally 'this is the end'. Asuka had named this final product of her mother's work. Nearly as tall her evangelion, the wide shovel head of the monstrous weapon had reminded her of an executioner's sword and so she had named it after a like weapon from The Book of the Old Sun. It was far too big to attempt to thrust with, but anything too tough to cut through could well be crushed beneath the force required to move such a thing.
Unit Two's broughts its legs to its chest and opened its flaps, spinning in a summersault through the hole blasted open by the detonation of the EM crossbow. Below was the angel, one huge red core now.
Airfoils and rocket nozzles adjusted as Unit Two arched its body with the great sword overhead. Asuka flicked away a warning as she disabled all limiters and restrictions on power use and fuel consumption.
Below, Shinji could only now see the shape of the red evangelion, a ridiculous sword held in both hands before a burst of fire sent it straight downwards.
Terminus Est passed through the angel. Whether there was resistance or not was imperceptible. A great many details are lost, after all, when the executioner's sword falls with hundreds of thousands of tons of mass and force behind it.
A sudden wave sent Misato's alpine skidding across the broad road. When Shinji recovered his wits, it appeared to him as though a rainstorm had come as water fell from the sky. All that still stood was the crimson evangelion, waist high in the red water, the tip of its massive sword buried in the sea bed below. Steam rising from the sea and the evangelion completed the illusion of a storm.
Shinji watched from the walkway beside the mouth of one of the great service elevators that led to the Geofront. Evangelion unit two was being brought in, recumbent over several parallel trains. Even in the hot sun, Shinji's clothes had not quite dried out yet from the thorough drenching he had received along with Misato and her car. Rei stood beside him with her hand entwined with his and her head on his shoulder, still in her plug suit. A plan to put her in Unit One had been aborted when Asuka took the field.
"Tal, Shinji. Rei." Kensuke Aida said, mounting the nearby staircase to the platform. He sounded casual, bored. The exotic greeting had become normal.
"Tal, Kensuke." Shinji said, looking at him with eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here?"
Rei said nothing. It had been a thought of her own that her master had approved of. Unless it concerned their mission, the conversations of free persons were really not something she needed to pay attention to unless something was required of her.
"A new evangelion arrives, you seriously think I'm going to miss it?" Kensuke said, lifting his camera to his eyes. The tips of the evangelion's pylons had begun to pass their position.
"So the second unit is red. Fitting for a warrior, right Shinji?" kensuke said, his camera clicking away to captures series of images with each press by Kensuke's finger.
"Aye, like a red comet."
"The differences don't end with color!"
The young men and Rei looked up into the glare of the sun. Perched atop Unit 02's chest, arms akimbo with the afternoon sun as her halo, stood a valkyrie in crimson. As Shinji's eyes adjusted and the pilot moved, sliding down the armor plating of the giant, Shinji saw brilliant fire red hair, surmounted by… horns? No, only the A-10 nodes. That color though, he'd only seen twice before. The leader of his city, Matthew, had hair that color flecked with steel and so too did his son, Shinji's teacher.
"My Unit Two's S-Type equipment gives her three times greater mobility than the test type and the prototype! She is the first true evangelion, constructed specifically for battle!"
"She is…" Shinji began softly, his sore muscles protesting as his body tensed in anticipation of battle.
"The ace of the European Forces..." Misato explained, stepping out from the enormous elevator the railway line was taking the evangelion into.
"Asuka Cabot Shikinami." Misato finished.
"No… that can't be." Shinji said to himself, just above a whisper.
"Vana'she?" Rei said as her hands, still covered in the rubbery grip surface of the plugsuit, wrapped around Shinji's arm. What was wrong, why was master so tense?
Shinji watched her gracefully skip down the recumbent evangelion. She moved like a sailor on the lines of a ship, like she was born to walk the angular and slippery shapes without a thought. It was not just her hair that now screamed her identity. Everything from the grade of her nose, her cheekbones, the blue of her eyes, her lanky and powerful limbs, even her long musicians fingers.
"Misato, long time no see!"
"You're dead!" Shinji blurted out.
"Is that a threat skinny kid?" Asuka said, snapping around to glare at him.
"No, you… Sardar take me, Tarl thought you were dead!" Shinji said, pointing at Asuka.
With that Asuka was incensed, her muscles visibly tense through her plug suit as she turned on Shinji with the look of a lioness in her eyes. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TARL CABOT?"
She moved like wildfire, crossing the distance between them in an instant. With her face so close, Shinji could see his teacher all the more clearly.
"He said your name was…"
"Don't you fucking say it!" Shinji felt her hot breath on his face. Rei shrunk back from the woman's anger and Shinji raised a hand to shield her, to separate the females.
It was perhaps a combination of the stiffness of his own muscles and his surprise at her identity. Or perhaps Shinji had simply let himself become distracted, or maybe there was not a way he could have avoided what happened next in his present condition.
One foot swept Shinji's legs out from under him. He felt his head knock the concrete and when he opened his eyes she was standing over him, straddling his legs.
"My name is Asuka Cabot Shikinami. My other name? Only my mother uses that one. If you use it, I'm going to knock your teeth in. Now tell me what you know about Tarl Cabot."
"He is my teacher." Shinji replied.
"And who the fuck are you?"
"Asuka!" Misato was over him now, one hand on Asuka's chest. "He's the pilot of Unit 01."
"This is Shinji Ikari?" Asuka asked, aghast. This guy?!
"Cabot actually." Shinji said from the ground.
Asuka's attention snapped back to Shinji. "Why did you just call yourself that?"
"Because I carry the name of the man who raised me as his son with pride."
"Do you mean to tell me that my father, Tarl Cabot the barbarian deadbeat, left me alone for years, kidnapped Commander Ikari's son, raised him like his own, and told everyone that I was dead?"
"Well… yes? Are you angry?"
"Third child, I am something beyond furious." Asuka said, shoving Misato's hand off before turning away to leave. "And you, with the camera! Who the hell are you? Who gave you permission to take pictures?"
Shinji rose stiffly, one hand up to decline assistance from Misato or Rei. Tarl's daughter, Asuka, had turned her attention to Kensuke now. Shocking as it was that she lived, Shinji couldn't say he was happy about it. He was happy for Tarl, a little bit anyway. He felt sorry for his teacher a good deal more, should he ever reunite with his child.
Temporary peace was made by separating the Cabot 'siblings', however later that day Shinji was sent down to a practice room that had been set up to 'make nice' with Asuka. Shinji entered what had been a large storage space to find the ground covered in foam mats that squeaked beneath his boots and the walls line with racks of imitation metal weapons.
Practice weapons Shinji supposed, though such things were not used on Gor. Shinji had learned with sticks and staves before being given edged weapons. In sparring and training, thick leather sheaths were tied over blades. A bit like how the barbarians equipped themselves for intercourse.
The room was lit by unnatural bright white lights above, the kind that always gave off the low, infernal buzzing noise. Asuka was already present, dressed in a form fitting black outfit that covered everything from her neck to her wrists, to her feet, where she wore lightweight red and white shoes. She was moving through the motions of combat when Shinji entered.
"Lady Asuka." Shinji said, as politely as he knew how under the circumstances. This woman was high caste, being Tarl's daughter and fancying herself a warrior. Shinji just needed to placate her pride and all would be mended.
"Hey third." Asuka said, one hand on her hip.
"You were quite skilled earlier. Though you may find the comparison offensive, I mean only praise when I say that you clearly have the strength of your father."
"No I don't. I have my own strength because I work every day to be the very best." Asuka said. "Did you come down here to start training or just to try and patronize me, Third?"
"I think I would enjoy a spar." Shinji said, gritting his teeth to stay calmwith very grating girl.
"Tell you what Third." Asuka said, lazily lifting a blunted longsword from the wall with two fingers. With just a flick, she spun the sword along its guard to hold it with her strong hand high on the grip. "Let's have us a wager just to make it interesting."
"What do you propose, Lady Asuka?" Shinji spat out her name, hissing out the S and snapping the K such it sounded like a cat spitting.
Asuka stepped back towards the gorean. "Some sparring, just touching."
Asuka held the practice weapon, not much shorter than herself, straight out with her right hand, her left hand resting on her hip. The tip hovered just to the left of the boy's head, past his peripheral vision. Perfectly still of course. It was a power move, and Asuka's favorite psych out.
The gorean did not flinch. The cocky ass, Asuka thought. Impressive, but not overly. Some people are just too stupid to avoid getting stabbed in the face.
"You do want to touch me, don't you?"
"The wager, woman."
"For each touch we receive, we shed one article of clothing. The first one to be nude, or to forfeit out of modesty, loses."
Shinji crossed his arms across his chest. "Accepted."
Asuka let the tip of the sword fall and touch his shoulder with a smile. She thought it was a seductive smile, but it made Shinji think of a sleen, a cunning and vicious predator.
"Well that is first touch." Asuka said, spinning the sword back to rest across her shoulders. "So take it off."
Shinji stepped back and away from her, then pulled the white shirt over his head. Sardar take the stupid buttons. He cast the shirt to the ground and began to browse the racks for a weapon.
"I'm waiting…"
Wait till the ground opens and swallows you up, Shinji grumbled. He found an edgeless steel sword with a thin but stout blade about the length of his arm, a good size for a single handed weapon. A cage of wire wrapped around the grip to protect the hand. Most of the shields were full metal, but far too small. Shinji found one wide enough to be passable, made of wicker covered in cloth.
"Now we may begin, woman." Shinji said as he turned to face Asuka. Or he would have. He got as far as 'now' before she charged with that enormous sword moving faster than she had any right to, a woman so burdened.
"Lay on!" She cried. She launched her attack hands first, her fingers loose and her blade still pointing back and over her head, and Shinji reacted on instinct, taking the obvious opening and cutting at her hands held forward. It was foolish to present such vulnerable targets with no protection. Too late he saw the trap.
Asuka's fingers snapped shut and her sword swung down with a burst of speed. Shinji's probing cut to her hands was crushed and it was only by years of training and no small amount of luck that he brought his shield upwards to protect his head. The result was little better though. Asuka's strike had pushed his sword hand down and across his chest. With the pressure on his shield, Shinji was stuck with both hands locked down and his weight trapped too far forward. And with his shield up, he was blind besides.
Then the pressure changed and Shinji was off his feet. He bounced off the floor by his shoulders and managed only to turn himself to face upwards when the tip of her blunt longsword poked him in the ribs.
"Two." Asuka sneered down at the gorean. This little twerp was disappointing. His attack had crumpled and when he hid under his shield it had been too easy to turn their bind into a throw, leveraging his own weapons against and using her federschwert like a lever to pull him over her hip and cast him to the ground.
Asuka took two steps back, bringing her longsword up to her shoulder.
"You gotta take off something else now, third."
Shinji said nothing and set the sword and shield aside, taking off his heavy leather boots. The gorean made to stand then stopped and sat down again, pulling off his socks as well.
"Oooh, taking a handicap." Asuka chuckled. "I would have let you count yours shoes as one and each sock as another.
Shinji ignored her. His bare feet would give better traction. Situated, he rose once again, sword in one hand, shield in the other.
"Again." The gorean said, his shield raised away from his body, his sword held low with the tip in line with his opponent's face. Certain assumptions about his opponent had been dispelled in the initial exchange. Her weapon though large could move very quickly. She had no aversion to engaging in wrestling. And most striking of all, she was stronger than he was.
Asuka launched her attack in the same fashion. She transitioned seamlessly from a casual stance to a fighting position, one leg bent forward and the other back, her sword pushing out from her shoulder and her grip loose at first. This time the tip of the sword swung in from the high diagonal to Shinji's right.
Asuka had expected him to hide beneath his shield again. Her quick analysis had been that the gorean had been taught to fight like a hoplite, safe behind the shield wall. Thus attacking at his unprotected side would force him to bind himself up again by crossing his body with his shield arm.
Shinji punched out with his sword, the wire basket guard catching Asuka's sword with a punishing vibration through his arm.
Asuka began to wind her sword, to twist the blade around and strike the gorean with the short edge. That was her last thought before her bottom jaw slammed into her upper as Shinji brought his shield under her chin in an uppercut that dragged the wicker across her face.
"Ena!" Shinji barked.
Asuka instinctively shut her eyes and knew her mistake immediately. She tried to gather backwards and recover, but she felt the pressure leave her sword and something roll across her right arm. Then the burning sting as the whippy metal sword struck across her back from her right, the hard punch of the guard coming down on her right shoulder.
"Duo!"
Shinji had taken a risk, turning away from his opponent in combat. However he had kept in contact with her and by touch he knew where she was. He swung blind as he left her and felt the way his guarded hand struck her arm while his blade slapped her across the shoulders.
Shinji gathered himself to face Asuka, looking at her back from her right side and the haughty girl still recovering. He had matched her, now it was time to pull ahead.
It took only a flick of the wrist to whip her behind the knee with the rolled tip of his sword.
"Tria!" Shinji said, Asuka's knee buckling. Shinji had a banquet of choices before him to strike next, but it was at this point that the warrior became more prideful than he had right to be.
"Tessera!"
Shinji brought his leg up to thrust down at her back and send her to the floor. And that was when he saw Asuka turning letting herself fall in order to spin and face him from the floor.
Asuka's sword clattered to the ground. She grabbed Shinji's foot with both hands. The gorean had just enough time to see how disconcerting it was for her to smile with blood running over her lips from her nose, before she flung him face first into the ground.
"Three! And speak English, 'cause I don't speak asshole."
Shinji lifted himself from the ground. Asuka already stood and was stripping off garments, stepping out of her leggings. Shinji remembered their terms and pulled off his own pants.
"Alright, I got one question for you before we finish this." Asuka said with a bloody smile. It disturbed Shinji. Something about the way that instead of wiping off the blood, she showed no sign of having been injured at all sent shivers down his back. She was barely a woman! She should be asking mercy or offering herself, not grinning like some slaughter mad raider.
"Does Tarl Cabot fight like you?" Asuka asked. She stood now in only her undergarments, a black brassiere and high cut panties that disappeared between her flanks.
"He taught me much." Shinji answered, finding his feet. "So I would think our methods bear a likeness."
"Can't you give a simple answer?"
"Tis not a simple question for a warrior."
"Hmph." Asuka looked down her nose at the gorean with his sword and shield raised. "Well if there is any similarity at all, you'll be a great sparring partner. Because when I find that man, I intend to kill him."
"You would kill your own father who you've-"
"Tell you what, third!" Asuka interrupted, reaching one hand behind her back. "My shoes, my top and my bottoms were three. I wasn't going to give you that fourth one since it ended with you face down on the floor, but I'm feeling generous."
There was a click, and Shinji watched with a suddenly blank mind as Asuka removed her bra and dropped it to the ground.
"W-what in the name of the priest kings are you doing?"
"Abiding by the rules of our bet." Asuka replied. She looked at her sword on the ground then shook her head. "I think I have your number. I'm going to finish this with my bare hands. Do what you want."
And so Shinji watched as the nearly naked young earth woman with the fiery hair and the devil's smile lowered her body into a fighting stance, her open hands front and center with her fingers curved like claws. Granted he was wearing only underwear himself, but he was a man and that was different.
"This is ridiculous. It would be a farce to fight you."
"It'll be a farce when I shove that sword up your ass."
Shinji dropped the sword and shield to the floor and raised his fists. "As you'd have it then."
Dr. Akagi entered the command bridge to the unusual sight. She looked up from her reports, staring over the rim of her glasses at two shifts of bridge technicians standing over one console. Ritsuko approached them with none having noticed her presence, or at least reacted to it.
"Two thousand yen on Ikari."
One dark eyebrow shot up.
"He goes by Cabot. Or just call him Shinji."
Maya was participating in this?
"... and he is still fighting gravity. I'll match you two thousand on Asuka."
Ritsuko cleared her throat and six suddenly tense faces turned to greet her.
"And just what is going on here?"
"Sempai! Oh, well...uh."
Aoba spoke up. Maya thought his usual nihilism must have extended to suicide by what came out of his mouth.
"The second and third child are fighting and we're placing bets."
"And it's awesome!" Makoto Hyuga interjected. "Come here, check this out."
"Lieutenant Hyuga, the pilots fighting is unacceptable, and certainly not a matter to..." Ritsuko started to say, until enough bodies moved aside that she could actually see the console screen. There were several camera feeds from the room set up for the pilots to practice in.
"Gamble… over…"
Ritsuko's annoyance had vacated her mind, along with everything else not related to watching and analyzing what she was seeing.
Two bodies in furious and opposing motion, physics expressed as Ares and Athena, both alike in fury. So similar and so alien.
"Um, Doctor Akagi…"
"Be still Lt. Agano." Ritsuko shushed the relief shift tech, her eyes flitting from one camera feed to another as a bee to flowers. "My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention."
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Ditto, Sempai!"
Ritsuko spared Maya a look from the corner of her eye. "Ditto?"
"Uuum."
"Now everyone just shut up. And get me some paper. And a fresh pack of cigarettes. And here, five thousand yen on the second child." Ritsuko said, fishing a bill out of her lab coat.
One eye shut, Shinji felt Asuka's thumb bounce on his eye socket as her punch slipped by his head. He had pulled to the side just in time. Shinji turned his chest towards her arm and grabbed her limb in both hands before she could pull away.
By the Sardar this red haired monster of a woman was quick! Shinji had only just established his hold to lift her by her arm and hopefully compel her by pain when he felt her leg behind his. Only by releasing her arm and throwing a shallow elbow to Asuka's chest did he escape her hold and the hip throw that would have put him flat on his ass.
Shinji nearly stumbled before spreading his feet and dropping his hips, his arms low and held near together before him. Asuka retreated one step, on the balls of her feet with her fists raised. They were both short of breath, both with bloody knuckles and both sporting a number of scrapes and bruises besides.
"Ready to surrender, Third?" Asuka said between breaths. The smile that so disturbed Shinji returned to her face for a moment.
"I would say the wager is long over Lady Asuka. You are a fine warrior."
If this smile was disturbing, the laugh that followed was absolutely bone chilling.
"Flattery will get you nowhere. If you give up I promise to show you the same courtesy a warrior would a show a woman." Asuka said. Her smile stretched across her face when she saw Shinji twitch. "Don't worry, I won't collar you. I'll just have my way!"
Shinji could do nothing as Asuka suddenly leapt like a cat, taking him from the ground and landing on top of him as they hit the ground together, Shinji's bare back sliding across the floor. Shinji's composure broke and he barked in pain when Asuka slammed his wrists down, his arms outstretched. There was a stillness then, Shinji held on the floor by Asuka straddling him and pinning his arms down. Her long hair was loose and formed a curtain around their faces with copper hued twilight between them.
"So tell me Third, if this was reversed, and by that I mean I was a man and you were a woman, what comes next?" Asuka asked. "And before you answer, I am all for equal opportunity, I'm just phrasing the question that way so you know exactly what I am talking about."
"Get off me."
"Then get me off. Or get me off you, I'm good either way."
"Woman, let me up this instant or I will-" Shinji snarled, struggling to no avail.
"Or you'll what!?" Asuka cut him off, pressing her weight down on him until his struggling did not move her at all.
Asuka began to move her hips over Shinji's own. "You see Third, I want you to understand a very specific point I am trying to make here. If the situation was reversed, what happens next? Well in your neanderthal brain I would think, taking into account your cultural background and feel free to correct me if I am wrong, that I would rape you. I might even keep you, like a pet, or a toy. I would brainwash you into thinking that not only are you enjoying yourself, but that this was the only true way of things."
Asuka brought her face closer to Shinji's, until he had no choice but to breath in what she breathed out.
"But I'm not gonna do that. Because not only am I stronger than the big tough gorean warrior, I'm a human fucking being and not a monster."
Asuka smiled again and Shinji turned his head away his clenched teeth revealed by pulled back lips. He showed her the swollen left side of his face, where her punch had nearly taken his eye out.
"And just one more thing before I let you go. Rei saw you get your ass kicked and I saw how you two were getting on. She's been watching the last few minutes, didn't notice that did you?"
And with that Asuka threw her head back and let out the most obscene noise. Shinji winced against the sudden bright light.
"Oh god yes!" Asuka said before devolving into laughter and rolling off him. Shinji looked up to see Rei for a moment through the doorway before she rushed away.
"Dammit, stop looking at me like that." Misato said, arms crossed over her chest. She was sharing an elevator with Kaji, heading towards the room that had been set up for the pilots to practice in.
"I'm just looking at you." Kaji said with a shrug, hands in his pockets.
"No, you are looking at me like that." Misato said, glaring at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Whatever do you mean?"
Misato grabbed his arm and pulled him close enough to whisper.
"You are looking at me like I'm about to suck you off or something."
Kaji grinned. "Well well I know what's on your mind."
Misato growled and shoved his arm away. "You know what I mean. You've always been able to do that look."
"Hey, I'm just looking at you. Not that I would say no if…"
Misato raised a knife hand just under his nose. "One more word, Kaji."
Kaji could not help but smile. She had always been cute when she was so mad that that vein over her eye started to pop out. He made a zipper gesture across his lips, still smiling and looking at her.
"You better not look at Asuka like that." Misato said, moving to other side of the elevator and looking away from him.
"Ew, no. Beautiful girl, will make someone very happy, but she is like a little sister."
"Not a daughter?"
"Pfff, Katsuragi I am nowhere near old enough to settle down. Come on, if you really want a date, you can just ask."
"Keep dreamin' Kaji."
"Dinner and a movie?"
"Nope."
"Netflix and chill?"
"Uh. No."
"Quickie in the supply closet?"
The elevator stopped and Misato was quickly out the door.
"Byyyye Kaji." Misato said, turning just in time to see one of the strangest sights of her career. Shinji was wearing nothing but his underwear, the front of which looked positively soaked. That was not at all helped by his flesh beneath straining against the fabric.
"You are a louse, Shinji Cabot." Rei said, tears running down her cheeks. Her hands were balled into fists at her side as she marched towards Misato.
"Rei, wait." He said in a low but angry tone.
"No." She said, without breaking her stride. Without facing him. Shinji ground his teeth and reached to grasp her arm. The girl was not listening to him.
"Girl, stop and-" Shinji said, fingers closing around her bicep. Then, like water through his fingers, her arm was gone and she was turning.
"No!" Rei said, louder and sharper than Shinji had ever heard her speak before. In his mind he was critiquing himself for overreaching to grab her this way, because her pale hand was quickly rising and growing ever larger in his vision as it came speeding towards him.
The CRACK of skin upon skin echoed through the hall.
Rei was experiencing another new sensation. Satisfaction in another's misfortune. It brought her the briefest flash of joy to see him stumble and grasp at his face. Even the burning, stinging feeling in her hand was new and interesting.
"My name is Rei Ayanami. Lady Ayanami, if you insist on your custom. You will call me nothing else, Pilot Ikari."
These new feelings had bolstered her resolve. She felt confident but more than that she felt powerful. Power over her own body to deny him access, yes. More than that, she had dictated how another would speak to her. This was new and wonderful power over her own existence. So empowered Rei did not even flinch under his gaze, beneath those sky blue eyes that hid no emotion and right now were so full with fury she did not give an inch.
"Is that clear?" She asked.
He said nothing. He did nothing at all save for glare at her for several seconds. And then he nodded.
"Good."
And then Rei Ayanami walked away.
"And so I've not an idea of this came to be or what to do to affect change." Shinji said to Misato. They were finishing dinner, Suzuhara leftovers, at home.
Misato, having listened to Shinji relate the torrid and violent incident with Asuka and Rei's discovery of them, was laughing. Loudly. And so hard her sides were beginning to stitch.
"I sense you lack sympathy for my situation."
"Oh my god... Its like perfect fucking karma!"
Shinji had no more luck finding a sympathetic ear the next day at school.
"Dude, you really don't understand what you did wrong?" Kensuke asked.
"No!" Shinji earnestly replied.
Toji sighed and smacked his own forehead. "Meathead."
While the always understanding Lady Maya had help for him, what she did not have was a moment to hear him out.
"No."
"I've not even explained."
"I saw the camera footage. Now tell me, yes or no, do you really not understand what you did wrong?"
"No."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Yes?!"
"I mean No. No, I do not understand why Asuka… did what she did nor why Lady Rei is angry. I tried to explain myself right away but she would not stop to listen."
With that, Maya set down her pen, carefully closed her notebook, sat up nice and straight in her seat and took a deep breath. She really had no other way to prepare to give the freaking alien an introduction to basic interaction with girls.
"Let's talk about Rei first. In case you didn't know, monogamy, that is having only one sexual partner at a time, is the norm here."
"Well of course I knew that, but it's different..." Shinji began, but he stopped when Maya held up her hand for silence.
"No, no matter what you think of the situation, it is not. What happened here, no matter your or Asuka's motives, is that an innocent young girl's first love betrayed her trust and shattered her heart."
"I had not intention to do anything of the sort!"
"And that does not matter at all."
"Of course it matters! It is the fact and reality of what occured."
"Do you want to fix this or not?"
"Fix it?"
"Do you want Rei to talk to you again?"
"Yes."
"Then forget about making her understand your intentions."
"Fine… I am listening."
End
Next time on Rebuild: A Warrior From A (Counter) Earth:
Reconciliation, new allies, new threats, and plenty of fanservice!
See you next time everyone, and don't forget to leave a review!
P.S. It being October I think the time is right for some creepypasta inspired stuff. Check out The Shinji Ikari One Shots later this month for a story about a multinational organization that fights things beyond human comprehension so the rest of us can live another day. No, not NERV! It's the SCP foundation in The Shinji Ikari One Shots 20: SCP-5268: Strange Bedfellows.