Chapter 2
The sleep Shinji had that night was some of the worst he's ever experienced. The imagery of the third impact, the death of Misato and Asuka haunted his dreams. He reflected thinking of every way he could've done better during the final hours. He let Misato drag him around NERV while he simply sat there and wallowed in his misery. That's exactly what he was doing with Asuka now, dragging his feet wanting to curl up into a ball and cry. He didn't want to make the same mistake twice but instrumentality and the third impact had horrified him, all he wanted to do was find a dark corner and waste away. He couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't do to Asuka what he had done to Misato.
The boy jolted awake and sat up. He glanced over to Asuka to see that she was still asleep, he figured he'd let her get some more rest since she spent all of yesterday carrying him around. Shinji got to his feet and looked out of the store window, he noticed how still the city looked. It hardly looked real, last he saw this whole region of Japan was reduced to a crater. Now it looked as if a reset button got hit. He stepped out into the streets and smelled the air. It still smelled of blood but not nearly as badly as it had yesterday. The giant corpse that was mostly intact yesterday was now rotting and falling apart, the face was split open and the skin started to darken; he was disgusted.
"S-shinji?"
Shinji heard a groggy voice call for him from inside the store, he walked back in to find Asuka now awake.
"I'm here, I was just checking out the streets…it's so quiet."
"Yep, Not a soul in sight. If I had to guess I'd say we're the last people on Earth. I honestly don't have much of a plan after we get to the apartment."
Asuka got up and packed away their blankets, making sure to grab some more canned food from the store shelves in case they needed it.
"Well, I see you're out of your little episode. About damn time, here." Asuka tossed the backpack at Shinji, the weight of the portable stove and canned goods nearly knocking him down.
"Since I dragged you around all yesterday it's your responsibility to carry the pack, let's get going."
The two exited the store and started walking the streets, weaving between the cars in the middle of the road.
"Yknow…being the last two people on Earth isn't all bad. We finally get a little peace and quiet in this city."
The redhead tried to lighten the mood of the walk with some small chitchat but Shinji simply replied with one-word answers, if at all. Shinji was trying his best to stay hopeful with their current scenario but the city he called home now looked like a ghost town and it was bringing his already low mood even father down.
"Hell, I could get used to this. No cars, no crowds of people, and especially no damn cicadas." Asuka stopped occasionally to peer into the idle cars that they passed trying to entertain herself in some way.
Shinji looked around finally realizing that the deafening chirp of the cicadas that rung out near endlessly was gone.
"You're right…they aren't chirping anymore. Maybe the impact fixed the seasons…"
"Really? you think so? Maybe we'll finally get to see an actual winter!" Asuka skipped excitedly at the thought of actually getting to experience Fall and Winter. The second impact had altered the Earth's axis and most of the world hadn't had an actual winter in decades, neither of the two had ever even seen snow in their lives.
The rest of the walk consisted of the two excitedly talking about the possibility of seeing the leaves change in fall followed by the snowfalls in winter. The concept was foreign to them, even to an adult the concept of winter in Japan was practically a legend at that point. It was nice for them to distract themselves from their circumstances, if even for a moment.
The two finally arrived at the tan building they called home. The parking lot in the front of the apartments was filled with cars just like the streets, but not a single person inhabited the apartment block. The two walked through the parking lot to get to the stairs but Shinji stopped in his tracks, his face filling with sadness at what he saw. The sleek blue car of his fallen guardian sat in its usual spot as if she was still living inside her apartment. Shinji sat there for some time staring at the car and tearing up. He felt a hand on his shoulder pulling him away.
"C'mon Shinji, let's keep going."
Asuka pulled him away from the car and they began ascending the stairs up into the building. Asuka didn't know what happened to Misato but she didn't have to ask, the tears running down Shinnis face practically told the whole story on their own. Shinji wiped the tears from his eyes and jogged up the stairs ahead of Asuka.
When Asuka caught up to Shinji he was outside of the apartment fiddling with the door handle.
"It won't open. I didn't have my key on me, did you?"
Asuka just sighed as she walked up beside Shinji and got ready to bust the door down.
"Gonna have to break it down. Get ready, on three. 1. 2. 3!"
The two slammed into the door multiple times before it finally gave way, the two falling onto the floor inside. Asuka got up gripping her shoulder and groaning, as she rounded the corner into the dining room she saw something she hadn't expected.
"That damn bird."
Pen-Pen was reclined on multiple pillows seemingly having the time of his life relaxing. Asuka let out an annoyed groan and stomped over to the penguin.
"What the hell are you doing here?! You heard us banging on the door and didn't think to come let us in?"
Pen-pen let out a dismissive squawk and rolled over on his side, Asuka huffed and sat down at the dining table rubbing her bruised shoulder.
"Hey, Pen-pen. It's good to see you."
Shinji knelt next to the bird and started petting him. He rolled back over to face him and made an inquisitive noise.
"It's just us, buddy. No one else is in the city. Misato uh… she's not here either."
The bird squawked sadly and nuzzled into Shinji, he seemed glad to see the two but then again who knows how long he's been alone, maybe he was just glad he finally had someone to feed him.
"You're probably pretty hungry huh?"
Shinji got up and walked over to the fridge; he opened it and pulled out a can of sardines that was sitting on one of the shelves, he glanced at Misato's choice beverage as he shut the door, yet another thing to remind him of her. He opened the can and placed it at Pen-pens feet, the bird made a happy noise as he guzzled down the fish. Shinji sat down next to him and rested his head on his knees.
Asuka got up from the kitchen table and began walking around the apartment, first, she checked her room, then shinjis, and finally Misatos. All were exactly as they had been left. Before she closed the door to Misato's room something caught her eye, a NERV manual, and her car keys. A sly smile crept onto Asuka's face as she grabbed both.
"Oh, Shinji!"
Asuka proudly walked into the room twirling the keys on her hands, Shinji looked up at her.
"Not only do I have a plan, I think I have a way to cheer you up!"
"R-really?"
"Yep! Care to go for a ride?"
Asuka smirked as she threw the keys up and caught them. She pulled Shinji up and pushed him towards the door.
"We'll be back later Pen-Pen!"
They flew out the front door, slamming it behind them. Pen-pen hardly noticed them leaving, still devouring the sardines.
Asuka hurried Shinji down the stairs, giggling the whole way. She ran towards the car and hopped in the driver's seat, she turned on the engine and it roared to life. Rolling down the windows she yelled to Shinji.
"C'mon slowpoke let's gooo!"
Asuka laid on the horn and waved her hand hurriedly.
"C-can we really do this? Is it safe?"
Shinji nervously sat down in the passenger seat making sure to buckle up.
"Who's going to stop us? The cops?"
Asuka took the car out of park and slammed her foot down, the car flying out of the parking lot onto the road.
The dead quiet of the city was now disturbed by the roar of the engine, Asuka's whooping and yelling, and Shinji's terrified screams.
The vehicle was bobbing and weaving between the cars on the road, Shinji was gripping onto whatever he could for stability as he feared for his life.
"Please slow down! Have you ever even driven before?!"
"Haha! Never! But if I can pilot an Eva this baby is no trouble!"
Asuka ramped the curb up into a semi-empty parking lot and began doing donuts, her laughing intermixed with Shinji attempting to hold back his vomit. She held the final donut for nearly a minute and when she finally stopped Shinji barreled out of the car and began puking into the gutter, Asuka hopped out of the car and punched the air in excitement.
"Woooo! Hahaha, that was great!"
She jogged over to Shinji and patted him on the back.
"Couldn't handle my driving skills, huh?"
Shinji struggled to reply as he was keeled over emptying his stomach
"P-please never do that again! You're worse than Misato!"
"Oh c'mon, it was fun! How many chances do you get to just go wild like that? You want a go next?"
Shinji snatched the keys from Asuka and got in the driver's seat, initially, Asuka was excited for Shinji to have a go but her excitement was quickly crushed as she realized Shinji drove like an old lady. The boy dared not even approach the speed limit and even used the turn signals when turning, despite not a single human being around.
"Ugh boring! Pick up the pace a little Shinji!"
"If we're going to get there we're going to get there in one piece! You almost killed us!"
"At least go the speed limit! I mean turn signals? Seriously?! Yeah, let's make sure the others realize you're making a turn."
Asuka sunk into her seat and huffed as Shinji once again looked both ways before turning.
"You'll appreciate this more when we get there not in full body casts."
The rest of the drive was quite boring. Shinji made sure to park on the side of the road within the lines. The two hopped out and looked at the massive, hermetically sealed door that read "RESTRICTED! NERV PERSONNEL ONLY." Asuka opened the trunk of the car and rummaged around in the toolbox that Misato kept in case of emergencies. She pulled a pry bar from the box and jammed it into the door.
"Let's hope the base doesn't have power either, regardless this door is gonna be a bitch to open."
Asuka pushed into one side as Shinji pulled from the other, the door hardly budging before Shinji stopped pulling. He stepped to the side and put his hand to his brow to block out the sun as he gazed off into the distance.
"Hey! Shinji! Just gonna make me do all the work or what?!"
Shinji put his hand up and pointed down the road, Asuka turned to face what he was pointing at and saw a figure standing in the middle of the road.
"…No way."
