Hero II: Powerless
At the dawn of day, Shinji Ikari was blinded by the sun.
He hated it, so he held out his hand to cover the blinding rays. Shinji had enough problems to deal with, he certainly did not need that glowing fire ball blaring down his way and making him sweat like a pig. Once his eyes adjusted to it, Shinji thrusted his hand out.
"Go!"
Nothing happened. Shinji stared at his hand again, looking for a sign, any that would carried his hopes. He raised it again.
"Release!"
Still nothing. This time he breathed in, relaxing his muscles, hoping this would help him focus. A breeze passed Shinji by.
"HONEEEEYYY FLASH!"
Nothing, again. Shinji felt a shiver from another breeze, a blush formed on his cheeks upon hearing the snickers behind him.
"Heh heh, I didn't know you were into that kind of shit, Ikari." Touji smirked. "I think my dad still has some DVDs, watch those you pervert."
"I-I'm not a pervert Touji! It's not like that!" Shinji said a bit too quickly and he just knew then that his friends won't be taking him seriously. "Look let's focus right now, this is about my powers!"
"Obvious dodge is obvious!" Touji frowned then. "Hey Kensuke, our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is a perv like the rest of us."
"Cutie Honey's pretty tame honestly." Kensuke said. "I have way worse stuff on my laptop, some of them are-"
"Okay too much information."
"You brought it up." Kensuke crossed out notes on his pad. "Still, Shinji's got a point. Nothing has been working so far. We tried sticking to walls, climbing up a rope, basic push ups… Darn Ikari how did you get by without your super strength? I think Touji choked on his bottle when he saw me run laps around you."
Shinji rolled his eyes. They didn't have to rub that one in.
"Very funny Kensuke." He looked to the ground. "I don't get it. I don't feel any different than normal but I can't use any of my powers at all. Why are they not working?"
"No clue." Touji shrugged. "Maybe NERV can give you a check up? See what's wrong with your ass?"
"Touji!" Kensuke said, having wanted to smack his friend upside the head for a good moment before deciding not to, "You know that Shinji can't just blab about his powers to anyone, that's why it's a secret identity!"
"Do you have any better ideas?"
"Better than risking Shinji's life!"
"Okay, name one."
"Well we could… try jumping between rooftops and see if they trigger his powers."
"AND THAT'S NOT RISKING HIS LIFE AT ALL?!"
"I'M TRYING TOUJI!"
As they argued, Shinji though of an awful idea. He'd rather eat glass than admit it, but he did know someone who could help. It would mean having to accept something from her, but it wasn't like he had much of a choice. To get back in the game, Shinji had to take a chance.
"I need to get going to NERV soon, I'll ask Doctor Akagi for a check up." Shinji told his friends. "She probably won't notice anything too weird but let's see how that foes."
Kensuke and Touji looked at each other.
"You sure Shinji?"
"Pretty sure. I haven't been caught yet."
"If you say so." Touji sighed. "Just great. I was gonna ask you for a favor but this shit has to happen."
Shinji raised an eyebrow. "What favor?"
His friend shifted uncomfortably. Kensuke was holding back a chuckle, which made Shinji more confused. Then, Touji blushed.
"Sakura's made a bit of a break through recently. Her hands are working better now." Touji explained.
Shinji gasped. "That's… that's incredible Touji! Why didn't you say anything?"
"You were busy being Spider-Man. It's not over by a long shot but it's a start. Anyway, I asked Hikari to help bring gifts and I was thinking… well, maybe since Sakura's a Spider-Man fan…"
Oh. Oh of course Shinji would have to lose his powers at the worst possible time. He had only seen Sakura once, but that girl was sweet. Sweet enough to forgive him for putting her in the hospital thanks to the Evangelion.
"I'm so sorry Touji," Shinji placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I didn't know I would lose my powers like I am now. I'll try to get my powers back for her. Promise."
"Don't sweat it too much. Not like you asked for a freaky Angel attack that stole your powers." Touji grabbed his hand and moved it away. "Just get to NERV already. It'll beat having to sit in the sun all day with us."
"It's days like these where I'm so jealous." Kensuke melodramatically waved his arms. "What I wouldn't give to be at NERV with all the Evas and all the precious military hardware! How many sleepless nights I had thinking about it all!"
Touji and Shinji rolled their eyes. No matter the circumstance, their friend will always be a freak when it comes to the military.
"C'mon Rei! We're over here."
Rei Ayanami blinked. "I will be over."
The girl found herself at the Tokyo-3 shopping mall, walking alongside… friends. Asuka Langley Soryuu and Hikari Hokari had asked her to come in search of a gift for Suzuhara's sister.
Though it seemed Asuka had some other ideas for her.
"Asuka, we're here for Touji." Hikari said. "Are you sure we can't do this any other day?"
"We're already here, might as well take advantage." Asuka smiled at Rei. "Try this on Wonder Girl."
It was a long sleeved teal shirt, which had had a nice flowery patter around the V-neck, with a red skirt. Rei stared at it.
"I am confused. Why should I dress in this?"
"It has to be something different than your schoolgirl clothes. Shinji may be fine with dressing up in the same uniform every day, but I figured you might like some variety, something your own."
Rei was skeptical but exactly in the mood for an argument. She simply nodded while she took the shirt and went to change. Hikari gave Asuka a look.
"You do whatever you want huh, Asuka?"
"I wanted to help Rei. Isn't that why you're helping tall dark and dumber?"
"W-well yes," Hikari blushed. "We hadn't really talked for a while ever since he started hanging out with Aida and Ikari, but since he asked, I, um-"
"Wanting to help out your crush, how cute." Asuka rolled her eyes. "Why do you like that lump of dirt anyway?"
"Don't call him that Asuka…" Hikari closed her eyes, blushing harder. "I happen to like his sensitive side."
Asuka was utterly bewildered upon hearing that. Before anything more could be said, Rei came out of the booth, ready.
"Will this do?"
It wasn't much, but the change was noticeable. Rei stood out a little better with normal clothes, but she did look pretty in Asuka's opinion. Really pretty.
"You're very pretty." Asuka grinned, holding down her own blush. "It'll definitely do Wonder Girl."
They paid for the clothes and walked further into the mall. Rei remembered being called many things. Pretty was not one of them. It was strange to be given such a compliment. The Commander told her she looked good, but Asuka called her pretty. When she said it, it felt deserved.
"You don't have to bring her much Ayanami," Hikari was quick to mention. "Something small will do, something she might appreciate."
Nodding, Rei separated from them to look around the booths. There was a booth on cosplay, one on stickers, perfume. Off in the distance there was a band playing.
"Name's Kobayashi Kotaro, we at the BB-5 would like to pay tribute to our favorite hero!" The lead guitarist said. At the start of the drums, the band began playing as Kobayashi began singing. "Shaking his bum, climbing up walls! He jumps from building to building like Tarzan! He's so cool that Spider-Man! I adore that Spider-man!"
Rei immediately plugged her ears and turned away. She may not have had much experience, but even she knew that music was awful.
Still, it did turn her attention to the wall crawler. Spider-Man. Shinji Ikari. She had seen the latter often, but the former had been missing for a week. Even with Shinji, he had been keeping his distance from her. From Asuka. He was usually over with Aida and Suzuhara. If he wasn't Spider-Man, what was he doing? Rei found herself noticing a distance between the two of them.
It made her sad. Why did he keep away from her? Was it something she had done? Was it guilt over her injury? Should she confront him, reveal she knew his secret the moment he talked to her at the park? Or wait until he revealed it himself? There was no satisfactory answer at the moment, which troubled Ayanami.
The thoughts vanished when Rei stopped at a booth. She stared at a bouquet of deep blue flowers. She picked them up and talked to the cashier
"How much?"
"10 dollars."
She got her NERV card and paid, bringing it to her friends. Hikari nodded approvingly.
"She would like that. Thanks Ayanami!"
Rei smiled. She hoped it that would work as a gift.
"Hmmm… hmhm…"
Dr. Naoko Akagi looked over Shinji's vital signs on her monitor. Being stripped of his clothes, except for his boxers, and being stuck with sensors attached to him for hours, right in view of his worst enemy, was obviously humiliating.
"Can this test go by any faster?"
"Oh please, you're in an air conditioned room with the best doctor in the world." Naoko cheerfully hummed. "You can't rush an appointment Ikari."
Shinji wondered how much Naoko was enjoying this. Who was he kidding, of course she was. The doctor never displayed the slightest bit of shame or remorse, why wouldn't she enjoy him suffering? Every so often Naoko would scratch the back of her neck for some reason while her four mechanical arms were slithering around her, pointed at him.
Like they were waiting to strike.
"Just one more thing." Naoko pulled out a syringe. "Take it like a man."
She inserted it into Shinji without warning. He yelped in surprised, before Naoko pulled it out, putting it back in her lab coat.
"The hell was that for?!"
"Just for further testing in case." Naoko rolled her eyes. "You're in luck. The results have been finalized."
Thank God, Shinji thought. He ripped those blasted things off the second he heard, then picked ups his clothes to change right then.
"How did it go Doctor?" Shinji frustratedly put his belt on while he said it. "If there's something wrong with me I'd like to know before I suddenly sprout extra arms or something."
"As amusing as the thought would be, I'm afraid there is nothing wrong with your biological structure."
He had to take a pause to hear it again.
"… what?"
"Exactly as I said." Naoko pointed to the computer monitor. "My analysis, which I may remind you has never been proven wrong in spite of what idiotic men say, indicates your biology and physical make up have remained unaltered from your previous sortie. Frankly the fact you're still so muscular should have been a clue."
Shinji stared at his hands in disbelief. He couldn't possibly believe her, he tested his powers and they still weren't there.
"That can't be right…" He stated. "If I'm still me, then why am I so weak?"
He blinked upon seeing two of the tentacles surrounding him. A yelp and Ikari adjusted his collar before staring at Naoko.
"What the- call them off Akagi!"
"I can't tell them what to do. They have a mind of their own." Naoko chuckled. "Now let's get back to you. I have a pet theory, not much to ground it on but I think you can help me out with it. Whatever is interfering with your powers has something to do with your mind."
Shinji clenched his fists. He didn't care how, he wanted out of this place as soon as he could. It wasn't like the arms were going to stop him. They had a built in protocol to prevent her from attacking anyone.
"I don't know what you mean, you're not making any sense you crazy-"
"Watch what you say, brat. I've been awfully generous to you this whole time, so maybe listen." Naoko frowned. "You were swallowed up by the Angel yes? Your powers stopped working right after, which tells me something in there changed you."
Drowning…
Seeing the boy shiver made Naoko grin in delight.
"Ha, there is my answer! Your mind clearly had been subconsciously blocking your powers as a coping mechanism for the encounter. I imagine being inside of an Angel was horribly traumatic, right Ikari? Has the great invincible Spider-Man truly been brought to his knees by an Angel?"
GET AWAY FROM ME!
"Shut up…"
A quiet whisper, hardly anyone would hear it from a boy like him.
"Maybe you're lucky." Naoko continued. "A pampered brat like you has no business with these powers in the first place. A child shouldn't be playing hero past their bed time."
HOW PATHETIC.
"I said shut up!"
I HATE YOU!
"Or what, you're going to hit me? I dare you."
An invisible force is dragging him down, further and further…
At that moment Shinji couldn't take it any longer. He threw punch Naoko. He regretted it the moment he felt his breath cut off.
One of the mechanical arms was grabbing his neck. To his horror, he felt himself getting lifted into the air as he gasped for air. He looked down at the grinning madwoman, his eyes begging for an answer.
"Surprised are you?" Naoko laughed. "Did you really think a genius like myself would sit idle without planning an escape? I had been working on deactivating the chip keeping me leashed. Now that I removed it today, I can do whatever I want. Including, if I may, killing you."
Shinji's eyes were wide as he witnessed dark shapes with cruel eyes, disgusted at his very being.
"Come on little spider, you can break out of this… you've survived worse haven't you?"
He could feel his life draining, his vision darkening every second. He needed to get out fast. Shinji grabbed the mechanical arm, trying to shake it off, hit it, crush it, anything to break free, but nothing it wasn't working. Nothing was working.
He summoned the strength he could muster-
Drowning in an ocean of red.
But it felt like he was-
Drowning…
Just as he closed his eyes, just as he felt his life pass away, Shinji felt his whole being drop to a concrete floor. He looked up to see the doctor glaring down at him in contempt.
"You are so shameful." She said. "Putrid little insect… I truly thought you would surpass us all, but it seems I was wrong. You were just weak, pathetic little Shinji Ikari all along."
He grabbed his neck, rubbing it in place, trying to catch is his breath.
"You… I'll…"
"Do what? Tell on me? I recorded our sessions. Any move you make against me, I'll hand them to the commander at any time. You hold no leverage." She turned away. "I will be transferring to NERV Germany for a special assignment. Assuming you even get your powers back I wouldn't recommend being out in the field. You and your friends weren't careful enough. Who do you think scrubbed your trail from the MAGI?"
Shinji's eyes widened in horror. In that moment he realized how badly he underestimated Doctor Akagi, how he was truly outmatched. Naoko smirked.
"Get out of my sight. I need to start packing after all."
He did leave the room, filled with shame. During his march down a hallway, all he could hear and feel was the sound of his own thoughts screaming at him, admonishing him for his failures. He wasn't strong enough. He wasn't good enough.
A phone rang, Shinji picked it up, ignoring the tears forming around his eyes.
"Ikari?"
Of course. Him.
"Nagisa, now is not a good time."
"Is it not?
"I got out of a check up with Doctor Akagi. I still don't have my powers. You must be so happy."
"You do not sound happy. You're upset."
Shinji gripped the phone. The tears were flowing down his eyes.
"Of course I'm upset! Without these powers I'm worthless! I couldn't do a single thing when she-!" He hiccuped, trying to keep his breath steady. "Just leave me alone."
"I do not think that would be a wise idea. Meet with me, I'll send you the coordinates. Don't be late."
He hung up on Shinji then. The boy was temped to just ignore Kaworu and wallow in himself. Or help Touji with his sister, however he could. On the other hand, he didn't think he would be okay enough for Sakura right now.
What the heck? He'll hear Nagisa out. He could leave if he continued being so condescending.
Touji didn't come alone today.
Sakura Suzuhara knew he would always visit her. Sometimes It was with Aida, but her big brother came to see her, asking how she felt, bringing anything she wanted. That made her happy. She played with the Spider-Man plushie she had on her. Aida said it was a bootleg he got from a shop, but she didn't mind much.
"Ikari said he had something with Nagisa to do so he'll be late." Touji said. "We couldn't exactly get what you wanted, but we tried anyway."
Shinji Ikari. She had only seen him once, but Sakura remembered how the pilot of Unit 01, a fearsome beast in the brief time she was able to see the battle, apologized to her for accidentally putting her in the hospital. She forgave him. Not without difficulty, but she could tell he wasn't a bad person and that he would be more careful in the future.
Well, so long as he doesn't drag Touji and Kensuke into an Eva fight again. That would be stupid.
"I brought the coolest thing," Kensuke put the action figure in Sakura's lap. "A limited edition RX-78 Gundam! Sweet huh?"
Sakura held it with her hands. Handing her a Mecha action figure given what she went through was… insensitive to say the least, but she appreciated the thought.
"Thanks Aida."
Just then, the three other visitors came into the room. A red haired girl, most likely Asuka given how many times Touji ranted about what a demon she was, and a brown haired freckled girl, her brother's (not so) secret crush Hikari, entered through the door, bringing their own gifts.
"The She-Devil! And Horaki…" Touji blushed. "G-glad to see you came…"
"She-Devil? I'll take that as a compliment." Asuka said. "Then again I don't expect a stooge to make a proper insult."
"Glad to see you've accepted your demonic side."
"If I'm a demon, I can kill you."
"WE'RE just glad your sister is making progress." Hikari interrupted before a fight could escalate. "I found this nice beret you'd probably like."
Asuka rolled her eyes. "I found a scarf. Things are getting windy in this boring city anyway."
They seemed nice, Sakura supposed. She put the beret on her head and a blue scarf over her neck. She decided she liked them.
"T-Thanks again Hikari…" Touji stuttered in front of Hikari. "You're pretty nice…"
"W-well it's not an issue," Hikari also blushed. "As class representative it's my job to help my fellow classmates… and everything…"
Those two were so obvious it was silly. Sakura wasn't stupid, she could see how her big brother and Hikari had a connection. They would probably make a cute couple together if they stopped acting like the other was a fire hazard.
"Rei!" Asuka said. "Bring your thing."
The other visitor entered. The new girl, Rei Ayanami, she was an enigma. Her skin was so pale, her hair was blue, her eyes were a bloody red… Sakura would say she looked like a porcelain doll with her stiff, controlled movements and impassive face. She could admit to herself she was intimidated by Ayanami.
That was until the girl placed a bouquet of flowers on her lap.
"I believe it is custom to wish someone well." Ayanami said simply. "I hope you are pleased."
Nervously, Sakura took Ayanami's gift. She softly caressed the deep blue flowers, with a nice fragrance, and smiled.
"Thank you." She said. "I really like the colors on these. You're pretty nice!"
Ayanami's upper lips twitched into a smile of her own, before it returned to a blank expression. "Thank you."
The gesture apparently meant a lot to Ayanami.
A doctor arrived, drawing attention to the other children.
"Visiting hours are over. We will be treating her shortly."
Touji reluctantly filed everyone out. The others wished her well, which made Sakura. She hated being cooped up in this place, hopefully this milestone was the set up for bigger, faster changes instead of another slow crawl through the months.
She dozed off, not noticing a scaly green hand reaching into her bed.
Shinji listened to his S-DAT player.
The train is always full, but listening to music made the isolation easier. While strangers conversed among themselves, mouthing off their boring days, whispering stories they had at work or at home. The music was loud, but the earphones did not drown the noise out.
In these moments, Shinji realized how good he had it before. Web swinging through the air, watching mixed blobby shapes below, was far more fun than sitting on the train being so up close to people. He was alone in both cases, but in the air he could breathe.
In the air, he could spot a mugging in progress and be able to stop it. With his powers, he could crawl along the walls take a break. He was more helpful as Spider-Man than he ever could be as Shinji, or as an Eva pilot.
All he could ever do was hurt people.
"Train stopping at Platform 13. Next destination…"
His stop. Shinji made his way past people, feeling a colder breeze than before. Thankfully the sun was setting by now, so the heat was less than intense than earlier in the day. He marched over to the coordinates Kaworu gave him.
There was a basketball court near Misato's apartment, which he, Touji and Kensuke would frequent to shoot the breeze or talk about Spider-Man activities. Kaworu had summoned him here for some reason.
Shinji made his way past the people, arriving at the court to find it empty. Only a basketball was lying around carelessly.
"Don't be late he says."
Kaworu come to the court In a couple of minutes, so Shinji supposed he could kill some time. He picked up the basketball from the ground and started dribbling it. Or rather, attempted to before it slipped from his hands and hit his foot.
"Ow ow ow!"
He was never good at sports to begin, why did he even bother?
In a bit of childish frustration, he tried webbing the ball. It didn't work, Shinji knew it wouldn't work, but impotent rage has a way of working against common sense.
"Garbage." He spat. "I'm the lowest of the low right about now…"
"I don't think I can agree with you there."
Shinji yelped, turning around to see Kaworu softly chuckling at the display. Nagisa had a surefire way of riling up Shinji with his smugness.
"What are you going to say? That I should be happy I lost my powers? That I'm back to being myself?"
"I do not believe saying that would be useful to you." Kaworu said. "You have tied yourself your self worth to your abilities. I don't see how losing them would affect you so."
"Where do I start? Never mind the mugging, the robbery or the murdering I could be stopping right now, Inumaru could be crawling around somewhere RIGHT NOW taking people for whatever his sick plans are-"
"You could simply present your findings to Katsuragi. It is her job to protect the city after all, not you."
"Nagisa, did you not pay attention to what happened with the Scorpion?!" Shinji wondered if Nagisa had the memory of a goldfish. "If Section-2 gets a hold on this they'll go in guns blazing and get everyone killed. I don't want anyone getting hurt."
"They're hurting right now because of your refusal to commit to anything out of your selfish pride."
Shinji furiously grabbed Kaworu by the slevees. "How dare you say that?!"
"I call it as I see it." Kaworu continued. "If this was about saving people, you would have gone to NERV and had them investigate this matter. You talk about responsibility? You can't even do the mature thing."
"I can't trust NERV."
"But a vigilante would do the job better? What is your real goal Ikari, because I do not understand how your insistence on being Spider-Man is in any way a healthy thing."
"I use it to help people."
"There are other ways, less destructive ones to yourself. You do it to feel better do you not?"
Shinji let Kaworu out of his grasp. He sat down, putting his hands over his knees.
"That's… that's not it at all." He hid his head. "You wouldn't understand."
"Then make me understand." Kaworu kneeled beside Shinji, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Why do you fight? What is your reason for being Spider-Man? Why does this Inumaru bother you so?"
Shinji sighed. He told Touji and Kensuke much, but left out several details. Even though he promised he would explain who the Lizard was, Shinji still hadn't told them. Yet here Kaworu was, offering him help. Kaworu didn't like Spider-Man, yet he never told on Shinji nor had he tried to sabotage him. Collecting himself, Shinji decided to trust the other boy.
"Inumaru isn't just a monster… he was someone I helped. He took his family with him when he went insane and now he's been kidnapping people… it's my…"
"Fault? I hardly see how the actions of a madman are your own."
"It's not fault, exactly. Responsibility. Even if Section-2 gets there, they wouldn't be able to graze him. I could, until I lost these stupid powers. Everything I've been doing since I gained them has been to help people… to make up for my own mistakes…"
"So it was about making yourself feel better after all."
Shinji dropped his head low. He was ready for another barb from Nagisa. Another judgement on how he was scum. Instead, he felt a soothing hand caressing his hair.
"I can sense you live under a lot of guilt." Kaworu said. "But taking out your frustrations with the world like this, it isn't good. Not in the long run. I am neither judgmental nor trying to hurt you. I am worried you are hurting yourself, preventing your wounds from healing. You have your friends now, but I'm worried you will eventually alienate the people you love until you're a husk only good for Spider-Man and nothing more. What happens when you grow into adulthood, when you distance yourself from people? Would Misato ever know who you were? Ayanami, Asuka or any potential friends? You have a chance at a happy life now Ikari. Take it, before it's too late."
His other free hand grabbed Shinji's own, which made him look at Kaworu.
"Your mistakes do not define you. You do. You can be yourself without living on someone else's ideals. If there is a responsibility you have, it is to ensure your own happiness."
Gazing into the other boy's red eyes, Shinji briefly thought he saw a shy girl whole smiled for him inside of them. Mayumi… she sacrificed her life for him, even though he hurt her, because of the things he found out as Spider-Man. He never tried to talk to her about what happened.
Maybe Kaworu was right. Maybe he shouldn't drag his friends into any more madness. Maybe he didn't have to do this anymore.
RING!
The phone rang then. Shinji picked it up.
"IKARI! Pick up, you have to come over here now!"
"Touji what's the matter?" Shinji asked, worriedly. "Did something happen?"
"Sakura… she's gone! That bastard took her!"
Shinji froze right then. Horror crept in at the sinking realization of what he's up against.
"Shit… Touji, we need to call someone, we need to-"
"Who are we gonna call, the circus?! We might not have much time!"
Shinji glanced at Kaworu, displeased yet concerned on his features.
"We will help Suzuhara."
At Kaworu's words, Shinji turned back to the phone.
"Okay, send an anonymous tip to Section-2, then we'll meet up to discuss plans. Let me get a few things first."
Misato drank another bottle of beer.
About an hour ago, Shinji came and left rather suddenly. It was good he did, gave her time to think. About her past, her future, her life in the moment. Especially what Ritsuko had said and shown her not too long ago.
"Let me get this straight. You helped our boss make a plan to kill humanity but now you don't want to?!"
"Death would create nothing. It's more that they lose their corporeal forms in a hive mind. Otherwise, yeah." Ritsuko lit up a cigarette. "You saw the tank downstairs. The Commander is obsessed with bringing his wife back using the Instrumentality Project. Not just him but the whole damn Committee."
How Misato possibly forget the Rei Ayanami clones she saw? So much of her made more sense now, how the Commander thought she was replaceable. They had already been using the Angel's tools against them but this far?
"Why are you telling me this now?"
"I don't have anywhere else to turn to," Ritsuko tearfully said. "He was always awful, but I was alone. I thought maybe if I did what he wanted, he would love me back. But the Commander never cared did he? Neither did Mother."
Misato wanted to scream or yell at her. To lash out. Yet she couldn't. Maybe it was the fact that it took a lot from Ritsuko to have confessed like that. Maybe it was anger at Gendo Ikari for preying on her when she was weak. Whatever the reason, Misato resisted the urge to slap Ritsuko and instead offer words of kindness.
"I care about you." She said. "This whole thing is insane, I'm not sure if I can really trust you right now, but I'm not going anywhere."
"You and Maya have stuck to me," Ritsuko sniffed. "Even though I've been such a selfish woman. I'm so sorry Misato. I just want us to be friends again."
Misato hugged Ritsuko close to her. The latter awkwardly hugged back, not used to affection. Misato rubbed her friend's hair.
"We're going to talk about this more."
"We will, I promise."
"Alright," Misato pulled back, placing her hands on her friend's shoulders. "Anything else I should know?"
Ritsuko bit her lip, contemplating her words. She took a breath.
"There were other things the Commander covered up. Spider-Man did not kill Kaji."
Blink.
"What?"
"There was an… enemy agent at the base. He set things up so that Maya would take the fall for stealing Adam. However, Kaji and Spider-Man managed to intercept the agent, who killed Kaji while Spider-Man took the blame."
Misato had to move further away from Ritsuko, shock on her face.
"That can't be…"
"That's not all. Here is as much as I can tell you…"
The Marduk Institute was a sham. The pilots had been selected long ago due to the nature of the Evangelions. The Committee, actually named SEELE, was planning to initiate Instrumentality in an effort to ascend to some higher evolution…
Ritsuko had been a part of all that until just now, betraying all their secrets to Misato. For her part, Misato took it all the way she normally did. She drank.
There were many facts she had trouble accepting. She knew she would have to, even if it was little by little. The worst part was knowing that Spider-Man hadn't killed her lover. Misato had studied up on Spider-Man. She knew how he operated, how his temper got the best of him with the Scorpion, how he was sloppy in his technique. None of these things changed for Misato.
But the realization that Spider-Man hadn't crossed a line, that he never killed anyone, made the thought she buried in her revenge bubble up to the surface.
"I would have killed a child…"
Spider-Man couldn't have been older than Shinji or his classmates. He was thin, lively, bouncy, all that power and he was young. Misato was afraid of that boy, what he could do, but he didn't deserve the wrath she would have inflicted upon him.
He could do better though. If she had such powers, she would have tried taking on an Angel. It wouldn't do much against an AT Field but it would at least been something.
At an annoying ringing, she picked up the phone.
"Major Katsuragi speaking, report."
"Major, we received an anonymous tip regarding the missing victims. They appear to be located at the Central Sewer System. A girl by the name of Sakura Suzuhara was seen carried by a monster in that direction."
Misato frowned. "Send units to the area. Leave no stone unturned."
"If we find Spider-Man?"
"Capture him too. Don't be afraid to shoot on sight."
She put the phone down, sighing. She then heard the rustling of a door.
"Unbelievable."
Misato turned to face her other ward. "Asuka…"
"He saved my life from a monster, and that's how you repay him! If it weren't for Spider-Man Rei and I would have been killed, even you have to be smart enough to know that!"
Misato did not want to have this conversation with Asuka. Not now.
"It's not personal. Spider-Man is a vigilante that has to be brought in-"
"Nothing personal from shooting on sight? What, it's not like he stole anything or killed people. He's not a wanted criminal."
"It's not about that, he's dangerous! Sometimes he hurts the wrong people and you saw how he nearly killed the thing you saw-"
"In that case, why didn't you punish the guy who actually shot that freak in the head?" Asuka stated. "I was there Misato. Spider-Man stopped himself. It was Section-2 that did it, without a single penalty. Why are you giving Spider-Man such a hard time but not the agent who did the crime? Hypocrite!"
Misato was stunned.
"Know what I think? You resent him." Asuka said. "You stand by and watch us fight, but there he goes, swinging around the city and doing more good than you do. You couldn't get what you wanted, so you punish him!"
"That's not it- Asuka, he is-"
"Whatever, wake me up when you're done moping!"
Asuka went back to her room, slamming her door shut. Misato was angry, Asuka didn't understand a single thing about what was really going on. Something about what she said didn't sit right with her though. While Misato was concerned about the power Spider-Man wielded, she had been turning a blind eye to NERV's own use of power until Ritsuko pointed it out.
She doesn't want to be him, but perhaps she has an issue with power she couldn't keep track of.
Surprisingly, Asuka opened her door. "Did anyone come by my room recently?"
"I dunno I wasn't paying attention" Misato scratched her neck. "I think Shinji was here an hour ago. Why?"
"That explains it. He took my web shooters!"
The entrance to the Central Sewer System was, unsurprisingly, rather sludgy.
It wasn't easy getting to this spot. They had to take a few trains and a couple of borrowed bikes for this part. Section-2 should be on their way right now, so Spider-Man had to be ready. He just hoped he could finish this in time.
Asuka was going to yell at him when he got home, he thought while adjusting the cartridges on his web shooters.
Shinji wasn't going to try anything too fancy. Find Sakura, get her out, lure Inumaru into a trap. As he marched further into the place, he could smell the scent of death luring him in. It was not the first time Shinji had encountered death's dizzying fragrance. He had seen it in Kokoro, when Inumaru tore apart the HERZ facility during their last encounter.
"Shinji, can you read me?" Kensuke's voice was heard over the comm, though static was popping up. "There's a large room further ahead, this is probably where the Lizard could be. Take a left, then a right, straight on ahead. Use the secret weapon wisely."
Shinji gripped the canister on his belt. "I got this Kensuke. I'll keep you posted."
Silence. He breathed in, getting ready. If he knew his enemy well, Inumaru would have smelled him by now. Good. Best to keep his attention on him, instead of his partner working on the other side.
Shinji tripped on something, the floor giving away. He blinked to find himself staring in horror.
Corpses. A lot of them. Some that Shinji recognized from seeing them as Spider-Man. Others had been… no, they were not human. They couldn't be. The scales attached, the claws that burst from their fingers, long spiraling tails and slit yellow eyes. Whatever they were before, they had stopped being human, and they had stopped living. It was so much for Shinji, so much so fast and-
Children. Dead children, long since decomposed. Dead children who also had been similarly mutated.
Unable to resists any longer, Shinji took off his mask and vomited. What had the Professor done? No, what had it done? It was nothing but the work of a monster. This would be what the Lizard would do to Sakura if he didn't hurry up…
Spider-Man immediately got up from the bodies. He used the web shooters to launch a web line above, then slowly, painfully crawled back to the hallway.
Wha was it that Kensuke said? Move left, right, straight ahead. Correct. Left. Right. Straight ahead.
"No, no please…"
Heard her sobs loud and clear. Left. Right. Straight ahead.
"My dear, you should feel honored! I'm helping you reach your full potential!"
Left. Right. Straight ahead. Shinji ran faster.
"No!"
"INUMARU!"
Shinji burst into the room. There was Sakura, strapped to a table, a strange device pointed at her. Next to them was…
He would have thought Inumaru, but that wasn't right. The professor had long since left. The creature that remained was the Lizard. He had seen better days, the green on his body still scarred gray by the fire. The Lizard looked more beastly now, his eyes burning red with the tattered remains of a lab coat over him.
"Ikari… Spider-Man…"
Shinji shivered at his name being said. "What have you done you monster?!"
"The first you say to me and it's an insult! Please," the Lizard snarled. "Frankly I expected you would find me sooner. It is so good to see you again!"
"Personally I could have gone my whole life without having to look at your ugly mug again." Spider-Man fired back. "Let the girl go Professor, nobody has to get hurt."
"I can't… not when my experiments have yet to reach the final stages."
Sakura was lying still, sobbing. Spider-Man had to stall for time, at least until he could prepare the trap.
"Experiments? You count dead people as experiments now? That's pretty morbid even for you Inumaru. Just what the hell have you been up to?"
The Lizard growled at him, sinking both hands to the ground.
"You blundering idiot! They were failed test subjects, but they are merely the first steps into the next stage of evolution."
Gazing upon the device he had, grabbing it in his hands, the Lizard licked his lips, ooze green drool dripping from them.
"I aim to lead the children to a new tomorrow! The future is arriving soon, a new age of man! To prepare for said future, I must use the Genetic Recombinator to grant the children powers beyond their own imagination! Just like me! Just like you even! Creatures of myth brought to life in the modern day."
Shinji felt sick to his stomach that Inumaru would compare them like that. Since the Lizard was busing salivating over the Recombinator, Shinji grabbed the canister in his hand.
"You're even more delusional than I thought…" He pretended to go along with the argument. "I got my powers by accident. You had them forced upon you, did you forget that? You of all people should know that you can't subject kids to that. It's too much responsibility placed on them."
The Lizard let out a cruel chuckle.
"Why not? NERV has no problem sending you children to fight the battles they started. These children do not know the inner strength they have. I will show them the way forward… I will show you! I'll show the world!"
"Spider-Man," a new voice came from the comm link. "I have the prisoners out, we reached the exit."
It was time. Shinji held the canister out. "No thanks. We'll find our own way thank you."
At that, the Lizard growled. He turned towards Spider-Man, towering over the boy.
"Of course you wouldn't understand boy. No matter, I now have my chance to avenge the deaths of my family!"
The canister dropped just as he lunged at Spider-Man.
At the same time Spider-Man entered the System…
Kaworu Nagisa was sure this plan was insane.
They called in Section-2 to raid the place. Good call. Shinji Ikari decided to put on the costume and spearhead the search for Sakura before the raid could become. Not a fan, but Nagisa could understand the need for the secret. Suzuhara and Aida had equipped Shinji with left over gas canisters from their fight with Mysterio they could use to distract the Lizard. Kaworu liked that even less.
He even offered to be the one to fight Inumaru, something that certainly raised some eyebrows from Suzuhara and Aida, but Shinji warned him that Lizard would sense him and try to attack elsewhere. The unspoken part was also not to flare up Nagisa's Angelic powers.
Instead, Nagisa had been given a different purpose. Shinji told him, privately of course, that if worst came to worst his strength would be better served protecting any potential prisoners inside of this facility.
He remembered the plans Aida gave him. There really was only one place where any prisoners would be held. On the other side of the Lizard's supposed location, there was a room where workers would check in every now and then. The rooms were wide enough that they could be used to keep groups of people together.
Sure enough, when Nagisa opened the door, he found prisoners trapped in cell-like prisons. Kaworu could tell some had been there longer than others, from the rags they wore to the more horrified expressions they had.
"Is that…" One said. "Did someone come and help us!?"
"We're saved, we're saved!"
"HELP!"
They all reached past their cells to beg for his help. Kaworu hesitated at first, overwhelmed by their cries. This Inumaru had done much to them to make them afraid. Kaworu knew he had to set them free.
"I have come to help." Kaworu said. "Spider-Man sent me to help."
"Wait really?" One of them said. "You know Spider-Man?"
Kaworu sighed. "Yes. I do. He asked me to help here while he fought the monster who trapped you all here."
That calmed them down for the moment. Kaworu went over to a nearby security console, pressing buttons to release the prisoners.
"Come on. Let's go."
The moment he said it, they fell in line. Kaworu led the prisoners out of the facility. Once they were outside they began breathing sighs of relief, speaking amongst themselves while they waited for Section-2 to arrive.
"Spider-Man," Kaworu spoke to the communications device on his ear. "I have the prisoners out, we are reached the exit."
He grew worried when there was silence on his end. Kaworu hoped Shinji's plan worked. If it didn't… Kaworu wasn't ready to explain to the others how he let him die.
"I hope Spider-Man is able to beat that monster…" A man spoke. "That poor girl deserves better than being a goner."
Kaworu heard several murmurs in agreement. That left him startled.
"You have faith in a vigilante?" Kaworu said. "You hardly know him."
"How could we not? He came to save us, didn't he?" Another person, a woman said. "I won't deny he's made mistakes. Thing is, when Kokoro was wrecked during that fuckin' blitzkrieg tornado or whatever the news called you know who helped the most? Spider-Man."
"i remember when my son was kidnapped during the disaster," Another person said. "I spent weeks trying to find him, yet Spider-Man was the one who ultimately found him."
"He took me across town to meet with my wife! I thought I lost her…"
"He's just a kid, but that time he saved the train… I was there… he was a brave one, that Spider-Man."
"Tell me about it! Spider-Man's a goddamn hero. Stopping that Mysterio freak was proof of that."
The chorus continued to sing Spider-Man's praises, which left Kaworu speechless. He had initially assumed Spider-Man only fought criminals, but he couldn't believe Shinji really did those things.
"I do not know if I can agree.." He spoke. "He has his moments where he loses himself."
"You don't need to remind us. Sometimes he caught the wrong guy." Someone else said. "For every mistake he makes though, he bounces back and does his best to fix it. I remember when he webbed me 'cause he thought I was robbing my car. He came back later and found a part I needed to fix it."
"I do not know if I would trust him after that."
"I get the jeebies from him, but I've seen his record." Another spoke. "He protects us, saves whenever he can. Sometimes I trust him more than cops any day."
"I believe it. What are cops gonna do against a friggin' sand witch or a blue electric guy?"
They laughed amongst themselves. As the people continued on, forgetting him, Kaworu was left to his own thoughts. They don't know that Spider-Man was connected to several villains, how he risks their lives right now acting without his powers, or that Shinji had his own problems as a person.
But thinking again, could he really say Shinji was responsible for the villains created? HERZ was always going to experiment on innocent lives, Spider-Man just came by and stopped them. Shinji may have risked lives, but seeing as Section-2 was not arriving soon, perhaps he was right to act. Suzuhara's sister would have been killed by now.
Spider-Man stopping Kaji may have led Misato down a path to hunt him down, but Maya was saved from a trap. If it weren't for Spider-Man, these people would have lost something, or someone, of theirs.
He worried for Shinji Ikari, but it was clearer than ever that Spider-Man was more necessary than he had realized.
"Section-2 will be arriving soon. Wait here." Kaworu turned around. "Do not tell anyone I was here."
"You gonna go back in?" One of the stragglers asked. "Not sure if he'll need your help."
Kaworu simply smiled as he ran.
"Spider-Man is in danger. He needs all the help he can get."
Around the same time…
"MY EYES! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!?"
The canister did it's job. The moment it released, the Lizard was distracted by the thickness of the fog. Spider-Man hurriedly went over to the Recombinator.
"Hey Professor, you're not lookin' too hot over there are ya?"
"This scent is unfamiliar, contaminated," The Lizard growled. "But I can still hear you Spider… You will be DEVOURED!"
That did the trick, Inumaru lunged again, taking the Recombinator down with him. The machinery was trashed as Spider-Man ran to the table where Sakura was being held hostage.
"I'm going to get you out of here, don't worry." He reassured her. "Stay calm."
He ripped the restraints off, grabbing Sakura onto his back.
"MY RECOMBINATOR?! RUINED!" The Lizard growled. "DIE SPIDER-MAN!"
As the creature stomped over to him Shinji had trouble adjusting the settings of his web shooters.
"Come on come on, don't jam on me. What does Impact webbing do-"
He launched a strong web that exploded upon impacting the Lizard, sending him flying towards a wall and trapping him in webbing.
"GRAAGH! You think this accursed webbing will save you! I WILL END YOU AS SOON AS I GET OUT!"
'I really have to thank Asuka later.' Shinji thought. 'Now we run.'
He dashed as fast he could while holding Sakura. They reached down a hole quickly. The problem with navigating the sewer system is that Inumaru probably knew the place inside and out. Shinji couldn't take any obvious path out or else he would die from an unpredictable attack.
Kensuke's schematics of the area thankfully provided plenty of alternate routes he could take. Together they came up with an exit strategy that would alternate between routes that wouldn't stop the Lizard, but would get Spider-Man and Sakura out of there in one piece.
Now if only they could get there in one piece…
"Okay Sakura, this is going to be bit of a mess." He said to her. "You might want to cover your nose."
Shinji went dipped hie legs into the sewer water. Thankfully Sakura wouldn't dip too much into it, but her feet were crazing the water.
"Yuck," Sakura pinched her nose. "This reeks!"
"I know," Spider-Man said. "But the poop has to go somewhere. We'll have to take it."
The brief moment of levity was over as soon as it began. They crawled slowly along the water, being careful not to make too much noise. The Lizard probably couldn't smell them, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
The trip continued along those lines. As they made it out of the sewer water, Spider-Man carefully examined the area, then made a straight beeline for the next route. There was howling in some distant corners, but Shinji was not expecting it to be as easy as it was turning out to be. If he was a betting man, he would have thought Inumaru was hallucinating right about now.
"We're getting close." Shinji felt Sakura relax behind him. "Just a little bit further. It'l be a piece of cake"
Famous last words.
The second he took a step, the roof burst from above. The Lizard dropped down right after, right in front of Shinji.
"I adore how you thought it was going to be easy." Inumaru grinned. "Perhaps you should actually finish your task before declaring victory early?"
Spider-Man took a few steps backwards. The Lizard could smell the fear coming from both of his prey, which made him smile harder.
"What's the matter? No quips? No daring escape? I know you had the other test subjects taken away. No matter. If I cannot continue my science, I will simply have to settle for MURDERING THE BLASTED SPIDER-MAN!"
Only a single frame of opportunity. The moment Inumaru was about to claw them, Spider-Man launched a web directly into his face!
"GRRRR I HATE YOU SPIDER!" The Lizard scratched at his own face. "SPIDER-MAN!"
As the Lizard tried to claw the webbing off, Shinji slid underneath him, Sakura in tow, and just kept running. Running was all he could do at that moment, when his options are severely limited.
Soon they came across a wider room. There were pipes at the left and right of the room, with a couple of left over tools on the floor. In just a couple of hallways was an exit out of the sewer system.
"See Sakura, we're almost there, we-"
Again, Shinji forgot to keep his mouth shut as the monster climbed to the roof, before slamming Shinji into one of the pipes. Luckily the boy dropped Sakura before the Lizard made contact.
"No more wasting time!" Inumaru roared. "TIME TO DIE!"
Shinji aimed his web shooters again, but the Lizard was prepared. The creature grabbed both of his wrists and crushed them.
"AACK!"
"Ah, what wonderful music to my ears…"
The web shooters were broken. Soon after, Inumaru grabbed Shinji's head with both hands, slowly crushing it. Even though the boy punched and kicked, it was fruitless as the Lizard continued his attack. The slits in Inumaru's eyes went even narrower, relishing the feeling of crushing the boy who had ruined his life so much.
He no longer even saw Spider-Man. His vision became blurrier, the blob where Shinji stood being replaced with a monster who's red and blue colors were crafted onto his skin, his mask became his real face, with a mouth that opened to a slithering tongue. It was exactly as Inumaru saw him, a demon that have brought nothing but misery into his existence.
"DEMON! FILTH!" The Lizard crushed Shinji harder. "YOU MUST BURN! YOU MUST DIE!"
Sakura gazed upon the monster crushing her hero in horror. Why wasn't Spider-Man fighting back? He should be stronger than this! If he gets crushed then…
Her hands stumbled upon a wrench. Sakura realized she had no choice.
"Leave Spider-Man alone monster!" She threw the wrench at the Lizard. "Let him go or you'll be sorry!"
Shinji could only gasp in horror at Sakura's action. What she did was very brave… but also incredibly stupid. Now the Lizard dropped him as he turned towards the poor girl.
"You spoiled little brat!" Inumaru snarled once again. "If you will not join the new world, then you will perish in the old one!"
In the frozen moment where the Lizard lunged towards the girl, something inside of Shinji snapped.
All the fear he had before, how would let people down, how all he could do was hurt, whether anything he did was worth it… when time was returning, Shinji forgot all of that. The only thing knew was that Spider-Man couldn't let Sakura down. Not here. Not when they were close to the end.
A newfound strength flowed through him as he latched to the Lizard's tail, preventing him from devouring Sakura whole.
"W-What?"
"You won't lay a hand on her." Spider-Man declared. "Not while I'm around."
He then proceeded to use the tail to slam Inumaru into the pipes! Heroes saved the day. That's what Spider-Man did. So that was what Shinji would do.
"Grrrr, no matter, I'll just crush the demon who wrecks my life-"
The Lizard was about to say more, but his mouth was webbed shut again.
"Frankly Inumaru." Spider-Man raised his fists. "You have no one but yourself to blame."
He threw a punch at the monster, slamming the fists into his jaw and crushing it. He threw another, breaking something in the ribs, and another and another. The Lizard towered over them earlier because Shinji lost his powers. But a malnourished, still scarred Inumaru who stayed in the shadows? He went down fast.
For the finishing touch, Shinji crawled along the Lizard, webbing him body in order to cut off his breathing. Then when the monster was sufficiently trapped, Shinji made two web lines, and launched himself at the Lizard, kicking him backwards into more pipes which burst.
After he regained his posture, Spider-Man looked over Sakura. She was still scared, no doubt from the intensity of what just transpired. He kneeled down next to her, and patted Sakura on her head.
"You were brave just then, Sakura," He told her soothingly. "I might have died if it weren't for you. Your brother would be so proud."
That made Sakura smile. "I'm glad… he's always protecting me. It's nice to protect someone else for a change."
She nodded off, falling asleep on him. Shinji couldn't blame her after the day they all had. Spider-Man picked her up as around the corner Kaworu came running.
"I came to help," Kaworu looked at the Lizard. "But it seems the situation has been handled."
Spider-Man nodded. "Everyone alright?"
"Certainly. There were more survivors than I expected." Kaworu admitted. He gave Spider-Man a curious look. "You have your powers."
"Yeah, I do. Turns out I needed some motivation." Spider-Man looked Sakura over the shoulder. "She's definitely going to therapy after this."
"Very well. I will catch up to you later."
Both boys agreed. Spider-Man ran towards the exit, as Kaworu watched over the Lizard. Nagisa was shocked to see the monster still alive, breathing through the webbing.
"My wife… my son…" Inumaru mumbled in his dazed form. "Come back to me… the demon was vanquished, I saved all mankind… Yamagishi is gone, Ikari is gone, I am here… forgive me please…"
The poor lighting disguised Kaworu's face at the moment. Even if he was in the right state of mind, un affected by Mysterio's hallucinogenic gas, Inumaru would not be able to see the coldness in Kaworu's eyes as he grabbed his head and violently snapped it.
"Spider-Man does not kill," Kaworu whispered to himself. "So I will do it in his stead."
He grabbed the body of the Lizard and began dragging away. Spider-Man must not be mistaken for a murderer.
Meanwhile, upon leaving the facility Spider-Man came across an unwelcome sight.
Section 2 had finally arrived. Good. They were pointing guns at him. Bad. Misato was leading the charge. That could be either good or bad.
"Hold your fire men," Misato warned the other agents. "What exactly are you doing here Spider-Man?"
Shinji didn't have any time for this. He can't risk Sakura in another fight. Swallowing a lump on his throat, he decided bargaining was the better path.
"Look, there's a whole bunch of people that were trapped by a monster." Spider-Man said. "They're all the way on the other side of this place. This girl needs medical attention fast, so if you could please let me go I think I might be able to save her."
Misato fixed a steely gaze on him. Shinji didn't know what she was thinking, what would she say. He thought that she would at least point a gun or argue. Instead she seemed to be contemplating something.
After a few moments, Shinji found himself surprised when Misato raised her hand up.
"Take her." She said. "Go, before I change my mind."
With a nod, Spider-Man swung ahead, rescuing the girl who believed in him.
"Major?" A Section-2 agent said. "You're letting him go?"
"He's no threat to us at the moment," Misato said. "Right now we need to get the survivors the help they need."
Fortunately, the doctors found Sakura to be in stable condition. They thanked Spider-Man for taking her back to the hospital so quickly.
Everyone else from the incident had also been taken to be treated. NERV declared that a glaring oversight had been made in the MAGI, so it payed back by giving these people the medical treatment they needed. There was work to be done in reintegrating the missing victims back into society, but they were in good hands.
Sakura herself was touched by her big brother's friends staying with her for a few hours. Asuka was angry for some reason however.
"Alright Sakura, I know this isn't exactly what you wanted," Touji said. "But I brought a special guest just for you!"
Sakura gasped at the new arrival. Spider-Man was here!?
"Hey hey, here comes the Spider-Man!" He spun a web at the ceiling. "I fight for kids, parents and your neighborhood, I think?"
Sakura smirked. "Shinji, I know it's you."
"How'd you guess?" The boy pulled off his mask to reveal a grinning Shinji. "I don't think I would make.a good Spider-Man."
"I think you could." Surprisingly, it was Ayanami who gave Shinji an annoyed glance. "You should not hide your talents Pilot Ikari."
Shinji for his part side eyed Ayanami, not sure what she was getting at. Or maybe he did. He just didn't want to think about that possibility.
"Alright, hand them over." Asuka held out her hands. "Not sure why you had to steal them from me instead of asking."
Shinji handed over the web shooters to Asuka. After their visit, Touji fiercely hugged Shinji.
"Thank you for doing this Shinji." He said. "You got no idea how grateful I am."
"Don't worry Touji, anything for a friend." Shinji smiled. "I think I'll get a soda."
After separating from his friends, Shinji went to another hallway, where there was a soda machine. He inserted a coin, then smiled when he saw a familiar person at the corner of his eye.
"Got something new to say Kaworu?"
"I suppose I found myself confused." Kaworu said. "The people trust you. Even though they don't know your name, they don't have a guarantee you would not turn on them, they placed their hopes on you and they were rewarded for it."
"Trust is a two way game I guess. If you can do the things I can do, that no one else can, then I have to use them responsibly. They believe in me, so I won't betray that. Ever."
Kaworu quietly hummed. Shinji wondered what he was thinking.
"You okay?"
"I am. I was just realizing how wrong I was about Spider-Man."
"Really?" Shinji asked. "Yen for your thoughts?"
"I thought him to be a clown, a playground bully that took out his anger by beating his foes while laughing at them." Kaworu said. "But underneath the mask, the taunts and the jeers, Spider-Man is sad. His every action stemmed from guilt, hoping to make up the mistakes he made."
"That um doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement."
"I was not finished. The guilt may have lead him to dark places, but however inadvertently, it also showed him a path of kindness. He had seen tragedy and learned to empathize with others as a result, fighting to ensure they do not suffer as he did. He is a hero who lets his heart guide him. When he fails, when he makes mistakes, he finds a way to make it right. That was how I was wrong before. Spider-Man is not an aberration, but very much a product of Shinji Ikari himself."
Shinji was surprised. "Huh… I didn't think of it that way."
"It took the night before to make a break through. Perhaps it was I who had been making the wrong assumptions. I apologize accordingly. I would like for us to try again, to be truly friends, if that is what you wish?"
Kaworu held out a hand for Shinji. For a moment, Shinji gazed into Kaworu's eyes, searching for something, for someone else. When he realized it was only Kaworu's eyes, he smiled.
"Sure thing, Kaworu."
Shinji took it. They didn't know where the future lead, but one thing was true. Things will be better from now on.
Author's Notes:
Hi! Hope you're all doing well. Spot the Toei Spider-Man reference in this chapter.
Originally, I wanted to have Shinji losing his powers go on for longer, even up until the Zeruel fight, but as I was writing this I decided to let him regain his powers sooner for a better effect. It won't be any easier for him mind you, but things are progressing nicely wouldn't you say?
I've been getting a little tired of the MCU these days. There's so much coming and some of them are looking more questionable every day, like the deal going on with Ms Marvel series. I think No Way Home will be the last one I watch, and even then I'm more excited for Across the Spider-Verse Part 1. Part 1, can you believe that?! We're getting two sequels for such a perfect movie!
Time to answer reviews:
RealRemainder: I'm thinking now would be a good time to reread the fic. XD Still i'm glad you liked the chapter, I hope you like this one too.
Tang: That would have been a much better title I won't lie.
SuperiorSuperman: No Spider-Verse elements of any kind will be appearing in this fic. The multiverse made sense to include last time given the nature of the Twelfth Angel, but if Shinji is to interact with the larger multiverse it deserves it's own story.
beamknight87: I won't be spoiling too much, but it's definitely going to be awkward at first. Shinji knows the girl from what the Angel showed him, but hadn't actually met her before. He'd be struggling a bit, right up until they have a conversation that helps him realize why he would marry her in that alternate timelime. What will that entail? You'll have to wait and see ;)
Next time: Envy.