I don't own anything.

Intelligence

-Chapter Fourteen: Promise

"Hey Princess." Misato smiled as her former charge swept his daughter up into his arms and swung her around before setting her back on the ground. "Thanks for bringing her, Misato."

"No problem," Misato replied. She fell into step beside Shinji as he led the way towards the Commander's office. "You didn't come home at all last night, Shinji."

"Yeah," Shinji replied quietly.

"Are you okay?" Misato pressed. "Tell me the truth."

"No," Shinji replied. He smiled down at Kimi. "Were you good for Aunt Misato?"

"Yeah," Kimi replied. "She said if I wasn't good she'd cook breakfast." Shinji laughed. To Misato it sounded painfully forced, but Kimi didn't seem to know the difference.

"So, where'd you go?" Shinji asked.

"A little diner up the street," Misato replied.

"I got pancakes and she let me put powdered sugar and butter and syrup on them!" Kimi exclaimed. Shinji shot Misato a look out of the corner of his eye and she just smiled sweetly.

"That's disgusting."

"It's actually pretty good," Misato countered.

"You wouldn't know steak from hamburger," Shinji pointed out cheerfully. "Here we are." Misato looked up at the Commander's ominous door.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Misato asked.

"Nope," Shinji replied. "But I have a backup plan."

"And that is?" Misato asked, wondering if she really wanted to know.

"You distract Kimi and I cut his throat," Shinji stated. Misato stared at him, trying to see if he was joking. It was no use of course, he could be the hardest person in the world to read if he wanted to be. Shinji pushed the doors open and led them into the Commander's office. Much to Misato's surprise, the old man was standing in front of his desk leaning back on it instead of sulking behind it. His glasses were sitting beside him.

"Hello Shinji."

"Morning," Shinji returned, careful not to use his father's title.

"Hello Kimi."

"Hi," Kimi replied cheerfully. "You're Mister Gendo?"

"I am," Gendo replied, his face and tone never changing. "What has your father told you about me?"

"He said that he used to work for you," Kimi replied. "He said it was a long time ago, is that true?"

"It is," Gendo replied calmly. "That was many years ago."

"Back when he used to live with Aunt Misato, right?" Kimi pushed.

"Correct." For a moment no one spoke. "I'd like to speak with you in private, Shinji." Shinji nodded.

"Take Kimi outside, okay?"

"Sure," Misato replied. "Let's go Kimi."

(:ii:)

Shinji watched as his friend and his daughter walked out and closed the door behind them. "She looks a lot like her grandmother," Gendo stated.

"I noticed the similarities between her and Rei," Shinji replied. "That's really the only basis I have to go on." Gendo was silent for a moment.

"Does she have her mother's eyes?" he asked. "No one in my family or Yui's had green eyes."

"They're her mothers," Shinji answered. "Is that all you wanted?"

"It may not seem like much," Gendo began, "but all I hoped for was a happy young girl to carry on the Ikari name. She's not like either of us, that's what I truly hoped she'd be like."

"Well some of us can carry on with raising a child after their wife dies," Shinji stated. Gendo stared at Shinji calmly.

"Some of us just choose different pursuits to loose ourselves in," he countered smoothly. "You view me as a monster for my actions, but how many men have you killed, Shinji?"

"A whole lot," Shinji answered flatly. Gendo nodded and walked around his desk. He opened one of the drawers and took something out.

"Take this." Shinji stared at the piece of paper he was being offered. It was a happy family picture of a man, a woman, and a little boy.

"I thought you burned everything." Shinji was proud of how he kept the lump in his throat from affecting his speech.

"I lied," Gendo stated. "Don't tell me you're surprised."

"Of course not," Shinji stated. He took the picture and stared at it.

"All the files are yours now," Gendo added. Shinji nodded and slipped the picture into one of the inside pockets in his suit. He nodded to the older man and calmly strode out of the room.

"Is everything done?" Misato asked.

"It is," Shinji replied. "Could you take Kimi down to see Rei? I need some time to think."

"Sure," Misato replied. "Maybe you should spend some time with her though."

"I don't want her to see me like this," Shinji replied. Misato stared at him.

"I wonder if another man might have used that excuse." She turned and led Kimi away. Shinji stared at her until she was out of sight. That was cold.

"Sir?" Shinji turned and saw one of the analysts.

"The files are open now."

"It doesn't matter," the analyst stated. "We've been ordered back to Tokyo-2." Shinji felt his mouth go dry.

"Why?"

"All the counter-German operations are done with," the analyst stated. "Haven't you gotten a call yet?"

"No, but I'm about to make one."

(:ii:)

Nagao nearly leapt out of his seat as his phone began to ring. He was far too edgy after spending the entire night making phone calls. He picked it up and flipped it open, not even thinking to check the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Explain now." There was only one man who could make something almost like fear go down Nagao's spine.

"Ikari?"

"Why the fuck are my analysts heading for home?" Nagao sighed and leaned back in his seat.

"The ISDF has struck a deal with the German embassy," he stated tiredly.

"I thought only the Counter Intel department knew what was going on," Shinji stated. "This department was made to be free from the bureaucracy. Why did we just get fucked by it?"

"My department was supposed to be the only one," Nagao stated. "It is my belief that the Chief of the ISDF has her own man in this department. She saw the German situation as something that could be ended by paying them off."

"We bribed the Germans?" Shinji demanded. "What the fuck, sir?"

"I've been keeping some thing from my officers," Nagao stated. "For months now I've been getting official warnings from that bitch. I thought she was just trying to cover her own ass, but apparently she thinks that we can keep this country safe without getting our hands dirty."

"What's going to happen to the department?" Shinji asked.

"I think I'm about to get kicked out of office," Nagao stated. "My AD, Assistant Director Yui, will take my position. He's a conniving little dick, a politician through and through. I'll bet my life that he's the Chief's man."

"Where does that leave us, sir?" Shinji asked.

"If the Chief thinks she can resolve everything without violence, than I don't think she's going to keep a bunch of violent, boarder-line psychotics around."

"That's fine for me," Shinji replied, "I'm on loan to the department, but what about the others?"

"They'll be fired," Nagao replied. "Now listen to me. Don't come back here right away. Spend a day or two in Tokyo-3. As a matter of fact, take the week off."

"Why?" Shinji asked.

"Because there you're heavily armed and you know the terrain," Nagao replied. "I wouldn't trust anyone who isn't like you, do you understand?"

"I do," Shinji replied. "I'll pass the word on to Naota and Dan."

"See that you do," Nagao replied. "You know what a code twelve is, don't you?"

"You think it's going to come to that?" Shinji asked.

"We were never liked from the beginning," Nagao stated. "This department is just like the Black in that aspect. We're the snarling, barely-trained attack dog that would bite the hand that feeds it while killing the burglar. They don't want us. I doubt the Chief would attack us directly, she prefers subterfuge, trying to get you killed by making sure you didn't have the right gear."

"The SAPI plates?" Shinji asked.

"Yeah," Nagao replied. "I created the code twelve for a reason. Keep your guard up and take care of yourself." Nagao flipped his phone shut.

"Sir?" He glanced up and saw Nanasawa standing in the doorway.

"I think things are going to get ugly," Nagao stated. "You're HQ personnel, not a field officer. How far are you willing to go?"

"I'm a patriot," Nanasawa stated. "I know what's good for this country. I'll fight by your side until the end." Nagao nodded. How could anyone consider getting rid of men like that?

(:ii:)

Asuka froze and stared at the man sitting in one of the benches overlooking the Geo-Front from Central Dogma's pyramid. He knew she was there so there was no point in running. "Hello Shinji."

"Why are you still in this city?" Shinji asked. Asuka decided that being behind him was extremely dangerous to her health. She walked around the bench slowly and sat on the opposite side. "Your job here is done, isn't it?"

"You knew all along," Asuka stated.

"Don't feel bad," Shinji replied hollowly. "I'm too good. You never had a chance."

"Why didn't you try to apprehend me?" Asuka asked.

"I was giving you time to set up a ring," Shinji stated. "How far did you get?"

"Twenty people," Asuka replied truthfully. "Not bad for a week's work."

"It certainly isn't," Shinji replied. "Actually, that's astounding. You're way above average. If I'd suspected how good you were, I'd have brought you in days ago." Asuka examined him carefully out of the corner of her eye. He seemed tired, no, defeated fit him better. His jacket was thrown over the back of the bench and his sleeves were rolled up. She stared at the bandages on his right arm. She had heard about what happened to Joseph. Somehow, she thought that was how he would have wanted to go.

"I'm sorry about Takeo."

"I took care of it," Shinji replied. "Little German girl, matched a friend's description well enough. Put a knife it her." Asuka almost felt relief. He didn't know what she had done. Than her thoughts turned to Agatha, the secretary who had been packing her equipment up last night at the warehouse. She was supposed to have left early, but had demanded to make sure her equipment was put away right.

"You look like shit," Asuka stated. Shinji laughed humorlessly. His stomach growled and Asuka reached into her purse without thinking. She found the energy bar she had been saving for lunch and pulled it out. "Here." Shinji looked up and stared at her. "When was the last time you ate?"

"What do you care?" Shinji asked, not angry just curious.

"We were kind of friends once, almost," Asuka stated. She opened the bar and took a big bite. "It's not poisoned." Shinji took the bar and ate it quickly.

"How can you go from being my enemy to being so apathetic?"

"I'm a professional soldier, at least I try," Shinji stated. "I keep things from being personal. I never had a problem with you until I was ordered to. Now I've been ordered to stop, why would I keep going?"

"Don't tell me Somalia wasn't personal," Asuka stated.

"I said I try to be a professional soldier," Shinji stated. "Sometimes I don't try very hard and sometimes I don't try at all."

"You don't approve of what happened, do you?" Asuka asked.

"It's not my place to say," Shinji stated.

"What are you going to do now?" Asuka asked.

"I still have two years left working for the ISDF," Shinji stated. "They'll find someone else to send me after."

"What about your partner?" Asuka asked.

"Its not the first time I've lost a partner," Shinji replied. "I'll get a new one." Asuka stared at him in open disgust.

"You aren't human."

"Not when I'm working," Shinji admitted. "Now, why are you still here?"

"I'm just meeting some of my old friends," Asuka stated. She saw Shinji glance at her out of the corner of his eye. "Socially, not for work." She paused for a minute. "I don't have a lot of friends back at the embassy. I work too much to have a healthy social life. I'm just enjoying some contact with people; well, contact that doesn't involve me asking them to get me information. I;m sorry."

"What for?"

"I was planning something really bad for you," Asuka stated. The corner's of Shinji's lips twitched.

"Don't worry. Its nothing compared to what I was planning on doing to you."

"But. . ."

"Nothing you could possibly have planned could be nearly as bad as what I was planning."

"There you are!" Asuka turned and saw Misato and Rei walking onto the observation deck with a little girl between them, holding their hands. "Oh, hi Asuka."

"Hello," Asuka returned.

"We're heading down to the cafeteria," Misato stated. "Do you two want to come?"

"Alright," Shinji replied as he stood. "You coming, Asuka?" Asuka stared at the man for a moment.

"You have really pretty hair." Asuka turned and looked down at the dark haired girl.

"Thank you." Kimi smiled up at her and then turned to her father.

"Come on! I'm hungry."

"Didn't you have breakfast a few hours ago?" Shinji asked.

"Well, I'm hungry again!" Kimi argued.

"One day your metabolism will slow down and you'll swell like a balloon," Shinji stated seriously. He turned to Asuka. "You want to come?" Asuka stared at him for a moment. How could someone be so completely different from themselves?

"Sure."

(:ii:)

Shinji had to smile as he watched Kimi and Asuka talk enthusiastically about hair care. "Hey Dad, can I dye my. . ."

"No," Shinji replied. "And hay is for horses, Kimi." Kimi pouted.

"Aunt Misato dyes her hair." Shinji glanced up and saw Misato tense up.

"That's for a different reason, Kimi." Misato glanced up and Shinji grinned at her.

"Mention that ever again and you're a dead man, Ikari," Misato hissed. Shinji held up his hands peaceably. His phone vibrated and he pulled it out of his pocket. The little screen showed Naota's number.

"Excuse me." He stood and flipped the phone open. "Have you heard the news?"

"Yeah," Naota replied. "This is bullshit."

"It gets better," Shinji replied. "We're all heading for job termination."

"Shit," Naota growled. "I'm too old to get back with the Black. Now where am I going to get money?"

"Have you heard of the Far East Asia PMC?" Shinji asked. "They'd probably love you for an instructor. It's where I'm heading once I get too old for the field."

"If you live that long," Naota commented. "Dan and I are heading back for Tokyo-2 this afternoon. Will we see you there?"

"How about you cancel that and hang around here?" Shinji asked.

"What for?" Naota asked. Shinji frowned. His cell phone signal was currently traveling through an advanced system of receivers in the Geo-Front. It'd be easy to tap it. Nagao had taken a big risk to warn him.

"I'll tell you later," Shinji replied. "How about we meet tonight?"

"We just turned in the heavy toys to some HQ prick," Naota stated.

"Get them back."

"Dan, catch that dickhead and get my guns back. I don't care if you have to cut his head off!" Shinji heard Dan agree. "Something big is going down, right?"

"Could be," Shinji replied. "I'm going to call Manfred and tell him to meet us too. Remember where we first met?"

"Yeah."

"Be there at twenty-one hundred."

"Got it." Shinji flipped his phone shut and walked back to the table.

"Miss Sohryu said that she could dye my hair for me," Kimi stated. Shinji stared at her and then at Asuka. He sighed.

"Fine. Asuka, you'll have to come to Misato's, alright?" Just because he wasn't her enemy didn't mean that he trusted her. He did, however trust Misato. She was smart and a surprisingly good marksman for a field grade officer. "I'm going out tonight to meet some friends anyway." He glanced at his watch. "You're on your lunch break now?"

"Yeah," Misato answered. Shinji took a deep breath. He didn't want to involve Misato in anything, but he didn't have a choice now.

"You mind watching Kimi, Rei?"

"Not at all," Rei replied. "I have a Wii Three in my office." Shinji paused as he thought of Rei playing video games. A lot had changed since he was an Eva pilot.

"Alright. We should be back soon."

(:ii:)

Misato watched as her friend opened the door to the apartment and walked in. "What's this about, Shinji?" Shinji disappeared into his room for a moment. "Shinji?"

"One second." He reappeared with a large black duffel bag. He sat down on the couch and gestured for her to join him. "You know I don't investigate fraud."

"Yes," Misato confirmed.

"Right now I'm on loan to the ISDF from an unnamed group," Shinji stated. "My job is to hunt down and kill people from other countries that are trying to get information. A lot of times I kill the informants too." Misato nodded slowly. For all her pretense, she had known it would be something like this. It still didn't make her happy.

"What are you going to do when Kimi asks what you do for a living?" she asked.

"I'm going to lie, just like I've been doing," Shinji stated. Misato nodded, accepting his answer. How could he explain to his daughter that he was a killer? "By staying here I might have put you in danger."

"I'm fine with that," Misato stated. "You're a dear friend, Shinji."

"You don't know how much that actually means to me," Shinji replied. He unzipped the duffel bag and pulled out a briefcase. "If anything happens to me or you, anything at all, don't try to find out if I'm okay. Just take Kimi and this and go to Okinawa. There's a slip of paper in an inside pocket with a name and an address. Find that man and explain everything to him."

"I understand," Misato stated as she took the case. "Just what might happen to you?"

"Things are looking kind of shady at my job," Shinji stated. "I don't think they would go after Kimi, but I don't want to take the chance." He reached into the bag again and pulled out a small black pistol with clear side panels. "This is an H&K USP Tactical Compact. It holds eight rounds and is double action. It kicks hard, so get a good grip. It's loaded with .45-caliber +P blended metal slugs. If you hit a man in the torso, he will die. If you hit him in an appendage, he's out of the fight. How do you carry it?"

"Hammer down and chamber empty," Misato stated.

"You train like that?" Shinji asked.

"I haven't trained in a while," Misato admitted. Shinji raised the pistol and tugged the slide back.

"Round in chamber hammer down," he stated as he lowered the hammer with his thumb and dug in the duffel for a smaller bag. "Ten clips." He held out the bag and the pistol.

"Alright," Misato replied as she took the diminutive pistol. The next thing Shinji pulled out nearly gave her a heart attack.

"You know how to use one of these?" Shinji asked as he hefted the wicked looking carbine.

"Yes," Misato answered. Shinji nodded. He ejected the rifle's dual drum magazine, pulled the charging handle back, and locked it open to show that it was empty. He pushed the magazine back in and let the bolt snap forward. "Condition one weapon, Misato: magazine inserted, round in chamber, bolt forward, safety on, ejection port cover closed. You set it to kill and pull the trigger. Keep it hidden in your bedroom."

"Do you really think I'm going to need something like this?" Misato asked.

"If anyone comes to take Kimi, you'll be happy this is here." Misato took the heavy weapon and set it aside.

"Listen to me, Shinji." The younger man stared at her calmly. "I love you, more than anyone else. Don't get yourself killed." Shinji smiled and hugged her.

"Don't worry." Misato buried her face in his chest.

"Say it."

"Say what?"

"You know," Misato replied. She felt as much as heard Shinji chuckle.

"I love you too, Misato." He took her shoulders and held her out at arm length.

"I'm serious, if anything happens to me or to you, take the case and go to Okinawa. Everything you'll need is in it. If something happens to me, don't try to find out if I'm alive, just go. Understand?"

"You'd better not get hurt," Misato stated as she snuggled up to his chest again.

"Oh, I'll get hurt," Shinji stated as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "But I'll heal. Keep an eye on Asuka tonight."

"Why?"

"She's about as much an innocent as I am a government accountant."

"Is everybody here except me a secret agent?"

"I'm pretty sure Pen Pen wasn't," Shinji replied. "Although, I can't say that with complete certainty."

"Come home to me."

"Alright."

"Promise?"

"Yeah."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I won't do that ever again."

"Liar."

-End

(:ii:)

-Author's notes. Wow, this chapter came out so quick I'm worried it'll seem rushed. Right now I'm sitting on my rack, sipping Jack neat, and also working on an end of the semester paper. I'm going to have to reread the paper tomorrow. My drunk side likes to sneak up on my and do weird things.