A/n: For those reading and wishing to follow along with the challenge, you can find the link in my profile. Enjoy!

"This is bad, Asuka. We need to step up our game."

"If we can take out the leader, the others will scatter. Cover me, I'm going in."

"Let me help-"

"Shinji, just stay here. Idiot."

Asuka looked out from behind the makeshift barrier they had constructed. It was quiet; fire from both sides had ceased for the moment as the parties took time to replenish their ammo. Asuka gripped one cold projectile in her hand and shot out into the open. She could spot Misato's red cap peaking out from behind a white bush a few yards away. She grinned and moved closer.

"Asuka, behind you!"

She immediately ducked as one white orb soared over her head and into a tree. Now that her presence was known, she had to move fast. With all her effort, she hurled the snowball in her palm in Misato's direction. As she did this, she felt a hard impact on the side of her face. She cried out and fell to the ground. She held a gloved hand over her left eye, which was now beginning to throb. Her attacker peered over from a snowdrift and pumped her fist in the air. "Asuka's out!"

"Verdammt Mari, I thought the rules were no shots to the face!"

"Well excuse me, Princess! I was aiming for your shoulder, but your massive head got in the way." Mari said before ducking back down to roll more snowballs. Asuka crawled back behind her own barrier defeatedly.

"Are you hurt?" a small voice asked. Rei had turned from her pile of largely unused snowballs and was now trying to examine Asuka's eye.

"'Course not. Is it bruising? If I get a shiner thanks to her, she's really in for it."

Rei touched the side of her face and Asuka tried not to flinch. "Nothing more than irritation from what I can see. You should be fine in a day or so."

Asuka groaned. "Dumb bitch. Can't even get her back for it."

"Would you like me to assist you with that? I have yet to be tagged out," Rei said, as calmly as ever.

"Pssh, sure. While you're at it, be a dear and tag everyone else on Misato's team out too," Asuka snapped, still rubbing her face.

Rei was silent for a moment, looking from her pile of snowballs to the other side of the clearing. She seemed to be calculating her odds. "Understood," she said finally, somehow scooping up her large pile of ammo in her arms.

"Wait, what?" Before Asuka could protest further, Rei was already out in the open.

"What's she doing out there?" Shinji said.

"I was just joking around, I didn't know she'd actually do it!"

"I can't watch."

But as the other two looked out from the barrier, they found just the opposite of what they expected. Rei was expertly, almost mechanically, dodging every snowball thrown at her. She took out Toji and Kensuke without even blinking. Misato was more difficult, but with a little manuevering Rei was able to tag her as well. Mari got in a few good shots, but they all missed Rei's lithe form. Mari was unprepared and out of snowballs, so she too fell to Rei's onslaught. Misato stood up from behind her bush and brushed off her arm where Rei's snowball had hit. "Alright, Shinji's team wins!"

Everyone stood up from behind their barriers, and Asuka rushed over to Rei. "How did you even do that?! Impressive," she said, grabbing Rei's hand and squeezing it.

Rei only shrugged, though she was smiling now. The First child looked at the remaining snowball in her other hand and threw it at Mari for good measure, who shrieked in response. "The game is over, Ayanami!"

Asuka laughed loudly. "You can dish it out but can't take it, eh Four-Eyes?"

Mari smirked. "You oughta keep her on a leash, she's dangerous."

"Now, now ladies, let's keep the conversation PG, hmm?" Kaworu piped up from his place beside Shinji.

Mari made a face while Asuka flushed. "Ugh, that is not what I meant. Thanks for that mental image, Nagisa."

"Hey, hey enough fighting! I'm treating all you kids to some hot drinks at my place, so hustle up!" Misato shouted cheerfully. Everyone started following her, Rei and Asuka trailing behind. They were still holding hands. "Hope you didn't kick everyone's ass because I told you to do it. I was only teasing, y'know."

Rei shook her head. "Not really. You like winning, so I concluded that a victory on our part would raise your spirits after Mari hit you."

Asuka laughed. "A girl after my own heart," she said fondly, leaning in to give Rei a quick peck on the forehead.

Rei blinked in surprise, then began to smile. "I guess I am."