Author's notes:

We're getting close to the ending of this arc (sort of). I'm going to save commentary for next time, you'll see why when we get there. For record though Mari and the rest of the Second Branch aren't dead, they may or may not have been sent to another dimension. I'm going to answer some reviews:

Truenofan86: There will be Bully Ikari omakes in the future! As for more Bardiel plans, we'll see.

Keybladelight: Probably with Mana depending on how things go with her.

FlightLight: I had hinted at it previously, but as plans changed Kaworu just didn't fit entirely with what I wanted when I was writing the fic. He has more in common with characters like the Sentry, Ethan Edwards/Virtue, or even some Eternals than he did with Black Cat, so trying to force him into that role wouldn't feel right for the fic. I still accomplished most of the other things I set out to do with him though, so that's cool. Anyway Marie Vincennes is someone I'm excited about doing for future chapters. I think there's plenty of potential in pitting her against Shinji and Asuka, the former since he's not used to that sort of person and the latter 'cause she's had to put up with that for some time. It's going to be great.

Beamknight87: Gonna try to work on that, thanks!

C.S Allen: No, no and maybe.

Real Remainder: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, although with all due respect I don't understand your "suddenly gay" issue. Shinji in this fic has been in a relationship with a girl and is going to ultimately end up with another girl, he would not be any less interested in women just because he may have feelings for Kaworu. At most, this would make him bisexual, which… I mean, have you seen Shinji and Kaworu's interactions across canon? At the very least I suggest finishing this chapter before anything else.

Anyways, onto the story.

Kaworu

Kaworu Nagisa tapped the keys of the piano.

Ode to Joy was his favorite song. He always found the sound of it to be quite beautiful. Each key seemed to bring out a wondrous feeling inside of him. It filled his heart with beauty, so he practiced the song over and over again until he reached true perfection. It was perhaps the only song he gave a meaningful effort to master.

Kaworu always gave it his best. When he finished his song, Kaworu allowed himself to soak in the aftermath, letting his tired hands rest upon the keys. He breathed in and out to the sound of clapping. A deluded old fool smirked across from him.

"You have done well Nagisa." Keel Lorenz said, his visor unable to hide the sinister intentions he held. "If I didn't know better, I would say it was a crowning human performance."

The boy grimaced at that. "I am glad to hear that… Father."

Keel Lorenz was the man who raised him, though it would be a stretch to call him paternal. Any praise he gave was to be followed up with a barb; a nice bargain with a cruel taunt; a compliment followed by an unfettered critique. The man strolled in, daring to sit next to an Angel. He placed his own fingers on the piano, gazing upon it nostalgically.

"I remember when I was a younger man." He said. "I would play this during school proms. Nobody wanted to, so I did. Met a couple of lovely people this way."

"It sounds… pleasant…"

"There are days I wish I could go back to them, admittedly." Lorenz gazed up at the ceiling and smiled. "But the scenario demands sacrifice. Everyone I knew in my old life is gone."

Kaworu felt his hands shake. Whether in fury or nerves from having played Ode to Joy was unclear as Lorenz continued.

"When I learned the truth about the Dead Sea Scrolls, I found myself in disbelief. You lead me to believe humanity is one Angel; yet we squabble among ourselves for the pettiest of reasons? What kind of species are we that are unable to evolve beyond our preconceptions, our naked fears and wants?"

The boy knew this answer already. "One that has a barrier separating their own hearts."

"That is so." Lorenz nodded. "Whether by hand or by freakish accident. Celestial beings have made us what we are, yet are we happy? No, we hate and fear the other for what lies within their own soul. That is why I must achieve my goal. The dream of SEELE is true death, the joy of rebirth, the day we remove the AT Fields that keep us apart."

A naive dream at best. Death created nothing except even more death. Kaworu had learned long ago that if there was a next stage in a human's lifespan, this path would lead to a dead end to the species as he knew it.

Not that Keel would appreciate constructive criticism. They had ways of disposing Kaworu if he tried to rebel.

"Would you say I was noble, Nagisa?" Keel looked at him now. "Our glorious vision follows your dead sea scrolls precisely."

"… Well Father…" Kaworu had to be diplomatic. "The scrolls are but an instruction manual. It is only one outcome, a choice that needn't be followed."

"Needn't, but necessary." Lorenz continued. "You may not understand our dilemma. The human race survived as long as it had by defying nature. If we had let it take its course, we would have been destroyed by famine, by disease, or disasters that would threaten our lives… There are times, Nagisa, where man must make a choice. Let God lead us to our doom, or ursurp on the role of God and remake the Earth in our image. To achieve this ideal is to defy our fate."

Oh Kaworu understood perfectly. Humans had the luxury of defying fate. Kaworu was just robbed of that choice long ago.

"I would say that sounds rather… blasphemous, Father." He said. "Do you really feel as though you could compare yourself to God?"

Keel Lorenz patted his head like a child. He gave Kaworu a grin, as if he wasn't let in on a joke only adults would understand.

"You would not get it. Not yet. But rest assured, when the time is right, even you will find the desire to play God."

The mad ramblings of a deluded old man who's plan was doomed long ago. Across many worlds the most SEELE would bring about was death to themselves and others. It would be funny if it didn't cause the end of so many beforehand. Kaworu could only smile and nod as the Chairman of SEELE left.

"I suppose it will come some day Father."

The main office never felt so large yet so small for its occupants.

After three days, with no word from the outside world or means to entertain himself, Shinji Ikari was brought by the guards to his father. Commander Gendo Ikari sat as he usually did, his hands over his mouth, his glasses masking his intentions as the man stared down at his son.

"You will be pleased to hear that news of your release today." Commander Ikari said. "In spite of your childish attitude, the Committee deemed the incident too insignificant to keep you here for much longer. You were lucky, Third Child."

Shinji grit his teeth. There were many things, so many things he had thought of saying at that moment. Angry declarations of hate, tearful begging for answers about his friends, or even a smug declaration of how he got a win over him. But for the sake of leaving, Shinji pretended none of this mattered. Gendo himself did not matter.

'You mustn't run away from your father… and you mustn't run from yourself.'

That was what Misato said. So he would follow it now.

"I truly am lucky." Shinji said dispassionately. "This was a one-time incident. It will not happen again."

"You best keep to your promise." Gendo continued. "You will be suspended for a month over your heinous breach of conduct. Your selfishness would have cost you your life and NERV itself if it weren't for the interloper saving you. Pilot Suzuhara has collaborated on your story, so in light of his apparent possession he will remain on the combat roster."

"Will his sister get treatment?" Shinji deigned to ask. "He told me that was the condition he signed up for."

"She is in more than capable hands here at NERV. She will make her recovery in about a month or so. But this conversation is not about her. This is about you."

Gendo allowed the shine on his glasses to disappear, his eyes revealing a furious glare.

"You have failed to obey my orders. Do so again, and I will see to it you remain the rest of your time at NERV inside a cell block. A fitting end for a disobedient, foolish son."

That was the first time Gendo had said anything about their relationship. Shinji grabbed his own hand, making sure not to reduce the Commander's face to a bloody spat on the wall, no matter how much he wanted to. Instead, Shinji shook his head at that, deciding to ask more questions.

"What about the Angel? He was still inside the Entry Plug, if I recall."

"Safely secured in a laboratory. Our scientists are examining it even as we speak."

"I could point out that's a mistake that's going to cost you… but I won't." Shinji shrugged. "I'm sorry for disobeying orders, not gonna happen again, sir. Will that be all, Commander?"

Gendo shook his head. Of course, he wouldn't say anything even now. Shinji turned around and started walking out of the room. He could just leave this place without giving his Father the time of day, go home, and do some web swinging. However, there was always something on the back of his mind during the days he spent locked up. He may never have an opportunity to say it ever again, so Shinji decided to risk it.

"You know Father…" Shinji stopped just in front of the door. "I'm not angry at you for abandoning me those years ago."

A sharp breath intake. Gendo clearly hadn't seen that coming, so Shinji continued.

"I'm not happy that you did. I think I'll always hate you for it, but I was content to never see you again. Flawed as he was, Yamashiro was the man who raised me, not you. Even when you called me, I expected nothing from you. On the contrary, I was satisfied with being needed and nothing more. But-"

Shinji turned around, watching his father gaze at him. Gendo may not show any outward signs of emotion, but the ways his hands trembled let Shinji know what he needed.

"-you never explained yourself to me once since I got here. At the very least, I would have liked an explanation. A letter that said more than to come to you, or you having the guts to tell me why you left right to my face. Something honest that I could have lived with. Instead, I had to confront you myself; you told me you hated me because Mom chose you over me. I had to learn you had Rei without taking care of her yourself. You activated that system and you were smiling about it! Tell me, what is wrong with you Father?!"

"I gave you an answer." Gendo let venom pour out in his voice. "I don't need to give you more than what I already told you."

"I don't think that's it. Or at least, I don't think it was the full truth." Shinji took a step. "You know what I think? I think you're afraid."

Gendo stood up. "An interesting theory. Why would I be scared of a brat like you?"

"You tell me." Shinji said. "You've never had the guts to face me yourself. All you do is run away while we pay the price for your mistakes." His eyes widened. "I think you hate me for the same reason you don't raise Rei-"

"She has nothing to do with your tantrum."

"It has everything to do with yours. You know what I think? You're like me. You hate yourself so much that when you look at me all you could see is your own reflection. When you get hurt, you lash out at those around you… just like-"

"THAT'S ENOUGH THIRD CHILD!"

Gendo surprised himself. He immediately sat back down, failing to keep himself composed.

"Continue with this and you will be thrown back into your cell." Gendo said. "Do not speak to me again."

Shinji glared at him. "I can't believe I was ever afraid of you. You really are heartless, aren't you? What did mother ever see in you?"

He opened the door, slowly closing it behind him. As it did, Shinji heard his father spat some last words.

"You don't know anything… You know nothing about matters of love."

The door shut, and Shinji let out a deep sigh. Whether it was relief or exhaustion was a case he'd sort out later.

"I know more than you, Father."

Shinji spoke those words quietly, without a soul around to hear it, before leaving. He didn't need to be there, not when Gendo had already revealed plenty about himself.

"Look who's back, it's the Shin-man! Get over here!"

Touji hugged Shinji tightly. As it turned out, Touji had been released from the cell earlier, waiting with Kensuke and Hikari until Shinji was set free. Now that he was, they had to make up for lost time.

"Touji, ouch, you're cracking me up!" Shinji joked as he let himself out of the hug. "How are you doing?"

"Better than fine thanks to you!" Touji smiled. "Thanks again for saving me! Sakura would have brought me back just to kill me again, if she heard what happened!"

"You saved the day yet again, Shinji!" Kensuke said. "Shame the Eva got destroyed, but I heard Spider-Man was on the scene!"

He gave a wink towards his friends, which caused Shinji and Touji to roll their eyes while Hikari was left confused. She walked up to Shinji and patted him on the shoulder.

"Shinji, you have no idea how grateful I am for you." She said. "I was worried about what could have happened to Touji, worse when I heard about the Angel attack. When he said you and Spider-Man saved his life, I just had to come!"

"No problem Hikari." Shinji smiled. "I'd be a terrible friend if I just let him die like that."

"I can always count on you to do it." Hikari frowned. "If only I could say something to Spider-Man. He needs to know how grateful everyone is for his help."

Shinji smiled harder, if he could believe it. "I'm sure that if Spider-Man were here he'd say something about wanting to keep everyone safe, no need to thank him, or another cliché thing. Touji being alive is reward enough for him."

"I guess you're right, Shinji. Now all I gotta do it make sure Suzuhara doesn't get in any more trouble!"

"Eek, one scary class rep!" Touji grinned. "I love it."

At that, Hikari and Touji held hands. Shinji was confused at the display until he realized it, pointing at the two.

"You two…?"

"Yeah, we're together." Touji blushed. "Nearly dying gives you a certain… perspective. I'm not sure if we'll be perfect, but I wanna try…"

"I don't mind." Hikari kissed Touji on the cheek. "Just keep being you, Touji."

While the blushing jock sputtered incoherent nonsense due to being frazzled, Shinji smiled even wider. "That's so great, it's wonderful!"

"I couldn't even believe it myself!" Kensuke whined. "To think that my best friend got a date before me, how cruel is this world!"

"Try not being a creep sometime and you might get lucky."

"Bullshit!"

Shinji let out a hearty laugh. That was something he hadn't had in a while. His friends were here; they were… wait…

"Touji, did you hear anything about Asuka or Rei or-?" Shinji turned around. "I gotta see if they're okay!"

"Geez we're fine Third Child, no need to get your panties in a twist!"

In sharp relief, Shinji turned to find Asuka, Rei and…

"Misato!"

He practically tackled his guardian, almost crushing her in a hug. Misato, for her part, was caught between surprise and joy, happily accepting him. She was lucky he didn't hit her bandaged arm, but Misato could never turn Shinji away.

"Whoah kiddo you're gonna kill me here." She said. "I'm fine… everyone's fine. Ritsuko and Maya are also being taken care of."

Asuka and Rei stood there awkwardly.

"Wow Rei, look at him just ignoring us!"

"I do not think it was his intention. I am annoyed however."

Rolling her eyes, Asuka went to give Hikari a small hug, before she stared down Touji, who gave her a subtle glare.

"Asuka, behave." Hikari warned. "He's my boyfriend now."

"You should get higher standards… I'm glad the stooge is alive too. I guess." Asuka crossed her arms. "I got taken down in seconds. Not bad."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, De-" Touji backtracked upon seeing Hikari glare at him. "I mean, Asuka. Gonna have to get used to that."

"We'll agree to a ceasefire." She pokes at his chest. "Just letting you know if you break her heart, I break your spine."

"If that happens, I'll let you do it." Touji smirked. "Until it does though, you can't do shit."

He stuck his tongue out to her, which only served to make Asuka more annoyed.

"Boys…"

On his end, Shinji broke the hug. "Sorry you guys just… I have so many questions. I though you and the others were hurting badly."

"Not too much, but we were in a lot of trouble." Misato said. "We still aren't sure what happened when Unit 03 went crazy. By some miracle we managed to avoid getting killed in the process. All I remember was… I dunno, something protected us during the explosion, but I'm not sure…"

All she could remember was an orange wall with spiral shapes. She had seen it before, but it was impossible for it to have been an AT Field. Either it belonged to Unit 03, which protected the humans in the middle of its destruction, or it belonged to an Angel, which as far as the MAGI confirmed, there was only one present. Speaking of that…

"I read up on the reports while in recovery." Misato frowned. "I heard about what you did Shinji."

He knew this was coming. It was bound to happen the moment he made that choice. He played out this conversation several times in his head, so now he had to reveal the truth.

"I don't regret pulling the self-destruct." Shinji said. "The fate of the world was at stake, that I know. But Touji is only alive now because I defied orders. I just couldn't sit back and let the Dummy Plug run its course."

Misato sighed. "Shinji… if I can be honest, I'm torn about this situation. The fact is that the Commander, in addition to using an untested system without consideration of how it would affect its user, made terrible decisions during combat. Splitting up the Evas was stupid, not letting you know about the pilot was stupid, using the plug was stupid; If I was there, none of this shit would have happened."

Shinji sadly nodded, until Misato raised a hand, telling him to stop.

"But that said, I don't approve of you putting everyone at risk the way you did. You nearly got yourself killed trying to save the other pilot. I don't want to think about how that monster could have ended your life, much less all of NERV. It was dangerous and reckless."

"I couldn't let Touji die Misato…"

"I'm not saying you should have, but it was not a simple situation." Misato frowned. "You risked a lot, far too much, to make it work. You got lucky this time, but sooner or later you'll have to come to terms with the fact that you can't save everyone."

It wasn't said with malice, or even anger. It was the truth, as she saw it, which Shinji implicitly agreed with to some extent. But the thought of not being able to do it… that was something Shinji didn't want to think about.

"Misato, do you know where Kaworu is? I was worried sick about him; nobody's told me his whereabouts.."

Misato scratched her chin. "From what they told me, he was dispatched from hospital a couple of days ago. He might be in his room or somewhere in the city. You'll have to call him yourself."

"Thanks." Shinji started running off. "I'll be home for dinner!"

He went fast. Kaworu had told him that Bardiel was dead, yet clearly he was not. What was his reason? Why did he not come here? That was what Shinji needed to know. In his hurry, he did not catch Rei calling him out.

"Wait, Ikari!" Rei raised a hand, before lowering it. "I missed my chance."

Asuka raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's the matter Rei? What do you need to talk to Idiot Shinji for?"

"There was something I needed to talk to him about. A question." Rei looked down. "I needed to know what he thinks of me."

"Is that it? Then call him later!" Asuka shrugged. "He had enough of a bleeding heart to save that brainless stooge-

"WHAT'D YOU JUST CALL ME?!"

"-He'll probably spare anything for your feelings."

As Touji got into a fight with Asuka again, Rei contemplated what Asuka had said. Deep down, she knew that Asuka was right about Shinji, but would it truly be enough? Would Shinji reveal himself to her if she asked?

Against his better judgement, Spider-Man swung around the city.

He knew the danger of doing so with the MAGI currently active. Naoko had warned him that without her at the helm to cover up his activities, NERV would find it much easier to track him down. So far he had narrowly avoided Section-2 agents stalking him out, but it was troublesome to swing around the city to catch bad guys only to get shot at from all sides.

Even so, Shinji loved swinging around in the city. It was such a good palette cleanser to a mediocre or terrible day, it helped him gather his thoughts better than simply being alone did. Three days in an isolated cell? That'd drive anyone crazy, especially those without powers, like he did.

Shinji thought things through as he traversed the city. No ifs or buts about it, somehow Bardiel survived getting torched and took on its new black form, personally possessing Touji to fight. The most worrying part wasn't its survival, but that NERV was keeping it around for its own reasons.

"I swear, if I found out HERZ has some left over remnants…" Shinji muttered, remembering their experiments. "But why did Kaworu not tell me about this before?"

Kaworu was… weird. Shinji supposed he had to be, being an Angel and all, but there were times he couldn't understand what Kaworu was thinking. That he missed Bardiel was odd even to him; did he not say he could sense other Angels through his AT Field?

"Let's be fair here. Kaworu said Bardiel had a weaker AT Field compared to the other Angels." Shinji said. "Maybe his smaller form made it harder for Kaworu to find him?"

That made sense. It wasn't like his friend was foolproof, Shinji was definitely sure if Kaworu knew something, he would have said something sooner. Kaworu has, if nothing else, been honest with him about everything so far.

But he still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Kaworu had been discharged from his hospital bed days ago, yet he didn't show up to greet him or Touji. It was especially weird considering Kaworu promised to protect Touji before the test.

"He'd protect the Fifth Child… did he know something?" Shinji shook his head. "Maybe I should just call him… yeah…"

Landing on a rooftop, Spider-Man pulled out his cell phone, quickly dialing up Kaworu's number.

"Pick up Kaworu, come on…"

An answer came in seconds.

"The dial you have reached has not responded. Please call back."

Frowning, Shinji tried a few more times, to no avail. He then texted Kaworu.

CALL ME WHEN YOU CAN.

-Shinji Ikari

"I'll go on a patrol," Shinji decided. "If he doesn't call back, then I'm going to find him."

It was as simple as that. Until he got a proper response, there was time to kill, so Spider-Man did the best thing he could do: find some bad guys to stop.

"Can't be one too far from here!"

Spider-Man continued to swing around. His search didn't need to extend far, because he heard the sound of gunshots and police sirens down below.

Apparently a car chase had been occurring for several minutes. Criminals were shooting from their getaway vehicle as the police were chasing them, firing back. Chances are that someone could get hurt.

"Figures something like this would happen." Spider-Man let go of his web. "HOLD ON TIGHT FELLAS!"

Stopping a car chase was a routine operation for Spider-Man. Shinji would drop on top of the criminals' car, lightly tapping on the roof to alert the criminals he was there; maybe throw a quip or two like:

"I heard one of you guys ordered sushi, they sent their best guy to deliver it to a, what, Toshiro?"

There was no actual Toshiro. Shinji liked to throw names out just so he wouldn't have to keep calling every criminal he met "criminal" or something less imaginative. Upon calling attention to himself, one thug, sometimes two, would pull out a gun to attack him. Spider-Man would punch the guy out, attach them to a web so they could fly out of the car for good measure. Once he was done, he'd go to the front and disarm the driver. Only when everyone was down did Spider-Man stop the vehicle in it's tracks by launching two weblines, pushing the car back to slow it down.

Some days there'd be more goons to fight. Perhaps because God was feeling merciful, it was only these bozos on the road. Spider-Man walked up to one of them, tied up to a lamppost.

"Chalk another one up to the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!" Shinji said proudly. "Ever tried following traffic safety laws? Japan takes those very seriously!"

"Aw screw you!" The thug said. "I was on my way to my girlfriend's dinner but you friggin' ruined me!"

Spider-Man tilted his head. "You could have just driven slower, you know? Maybe the cops wouldn't have found you so easily."

"Some people are just worth risking hell for man! Lay off, you freaks wouldn't understand!"

"I'm sure I won't, let's just hope your girl doesn't mind you being behind bars." Shinji turned to see police officers coming out of the car. "Tally-up officers, got places to be, try not to shoot me while I'm on the way out!"

Sometimes the cops would let him go; sometimes try to shoot him. Not one to take chances, Shinji tended to move fast out of a crime scene. He wasn't going to go through that leg injury again. Not much to see here; just a fairly routine Spider-Man operation.

"I'm already feeling better, actually." Shinji realized. "Now if only my day gets good enough for Kaworu to respond-

Something shook in his pocket. Shinji pulled out the phone.

"There we go." Shinji took the phone to his ear. "I knew you'd have to answer eventually!"

"Did you really?"

Spider-Man almost let go of his web line, before catching himself on a flagpole. He certainly wasn't prepared to hear Rei on the other side of the call. Not that he had a problem with it, of course. He decided to climb up to a rooftop so he could better pay attention.

"Sorry Ayanami, I was expecting someone else. What can I do for you?"

"…"

"Ayanami?"

"There is a question I have. Will you answer honestly?"

Rei sounded serious. Shinji after arriving on the rooftop, he crouched down.

"Sure, anything! Fire away!"

"Do you value me, Shinji?"

An odd question, one that threw Shinji for a loop. He had a feeling there was more to what she was asking.

"Of course I do!" He responded. "We don't hang out as often as I'd like, but you're my friend a-and fellow pilot! I do care about you, you know?"

"I believe you. However… if I am to be honest with you, I feel there is a barrier between us. Something that has kept us from understanding one another."

Shinji felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. "I'm sorry about that."

"For the longest time, I thought I was valued by the Commander. As long as I had purpose, he would smile for me. But I know now that I have more value than as something for his purpose. He would throw me away at a moment's notice. Asuka would not. You would not."

The grip on his phone went tighter. "No, I would not."

"I learned to create bonds after I realized it. With Asuka, with the class representative, even on the odd occasion your friends. But you Shinji, you are an enigma I worry about the most."

"What do you mean?"

"You told me to smile on the day of the fifth Angel. I swore to myself I would protect you, but you also came for me. I was touched by your concern, but over the past months I feel as though even though I reach out to you, there is something that keeps us from bonding… I know that you have a secret Shinji. I will not tell anyone. I only wish you could tell me yourself. Do you understand?"

"… I know what you mean. I understand." Shinji said. "Look… I wish I could tell you, I really do. But the kind of things I do… It's not something I say outright, not now. I promise that when I'm ready, I'll tell you. That's all I can do for now."

"It is fine. I will see you soon."

Rei sharply hung up. Shinji wasn't blind; he had already suspected based on past comments, that she might have known his secret, but he didn't expect her to call him like this. Shinji had been spending so much time with the boys or worrying about crime fighting that he had forgotten about Rei.

Wasn't that just sad?

'I'll make it up to her. Later.' Shinji thought. 'First, I need to find Kaworu.'

Nagisa still hasn't answered, which meant there was someone else he needed to call. Shinji went through the phone and dialed up another number.

"What the- idiot Shinji!" Asuka was naturally bewildered. "Wasn't Wonder Girl supposed to call you?"

"I- She did." Shinji decided not to ask how she knew. "I'm trying to look for Kaworu. Would you know anything about where he is?"

"Oh. Him. Grrr, If that idiot's anywhere, he's bound at school…"

One of the best things about the weekend was how nobody went to school.

That made it all the easier for Spider-Man to enter through a window. He climbed across the ceiling in case someone was there, but Shinji got the sense it wasn't necessary. He crawled a bit further before his ears picked up a song playing in one of the rooms.

Shinji dropped down. It was faint, but he had heard this before a long time ago.

Ode to Joy was one of the musical pieces he had practiced under Yamashiro, who showed him how to play it with the cello. Little Shinji practiced the song for about a couple of days before he broke the strings trying to play it. Yamashiro laughed, telling him that it was too advanced for a child to play, offering to teach him other songs.

At the time, Shinji thought Yamashiro was mocking him when he laughed. In hindsight, he realized Yamashiro was probably trying to help him feel better about not getting it right. It's not like Shinji will be able to ask him anyway. The boy only faintly recognized Ode to Joy now, as he heard the melody play from a piano. The door was open slightly, so Shinji peered inside.

Much like Asuka said, there was Kaworu, playing the piano in the school's music room. Apparently he hadn't been allowed to bring his own instruments to NERV, so he would often stay behind at the school to practice. That made Shinji a little sad. Only for a little though.

He fully opened the door, watching Kaworu freeze with his back still turned to him. Spider-Man took a step closer.

"Hello Kaworu. I've been trying to reach you."

The other boy said nothing. He then continued playing the piano, much to Shinji's annoyance.

"What's going on with you? I texted you, called you… I was worried that something might have happened to you at Matsushiro. You didn't expect the Angel to come back, did you?"

Kaworu still said nothing. Shinji noticed a slight tremor in his movements.

"You didn't right?"

He stayed where he was. This time, Shinji marched towards him.

"Okay I was giving you the benefit of the doubt," He then grabbed Kaworu's shoulder. "But giving me the cold shoulder hasn't done you any favors! I want you to look at me when I'm talking to-"

Shinji expected many things as he moved Kaworu. A calm, serene smile; a sinister grin that belied his true intentions, perhaps nothing more than a taunting look at not realizing some truth. Those would have been easy, compared to seeing the tears running down Kaworu's eyes, a pained grimace on his face. Shinji couldn't help but gasp at the sight.

"… Kaworu, are you okay?"

That seemed to snap Kaworu to attention. He moved his hand to wipe some tears away, before returning to the piano.

"I am so sorry, Shinji." He said. "I could not face you, not after what I did. I have failed where it mattered most."

Spider-Man watched him for a few seconds. Sighing, Shinji took off his mask, making a move for Kaworu to scoot over. He did so, allowing Shinji to sit next to him in front of the piano.

"Hey… it's okay." Shinji wasn't used to seeing Kaworu so destroyed. He should be calmer, confident in his convictions, not be so sad. Not like Shinji himself does sometimes. "Everyone made it out safely. Touji's fine too; he's moving again."

"Moving?" Kaworu was shocked. "Then he didn't lose them this time… fantastic…"

Shinji was glad to hear the tone of relief, though he raised an eyebrow at the use of this time.

"I still have questions." He said. "Did you know that Angel was going to attack again? Why did you keep it a secret!?"

He didn't want to do this, but he wanted answers now. He let Kaworu collect himself.

"I lied to you before…" Kaworu said. "Yes, I knew he was alive, but it wasn't to protect his life, I assure you. I thought I could handle that situation on my own. You were already in enough danger as it was. I did not want you to risk everything on attacking Bardiel again, when even I couldn't properly locate him myself."

"News flash Kaworu, danger came anyway!" Shinji had to point it out. "Touji was possessed by that thing! You should have told me back then!"

"So you could do what? Break into NERV again and get caught?" Kaworu turned to him, glaring. "I didn't feel like letting you kill yourself unnecessarily!"

"Kind of a dumb plan. I wound up having to use the self-destruct while I was fighting Touji! If Father hadn't backed off, it would have gotten both of us killed, so what exactly did you accomplish?!

"Keeping you safe."

"Not safe enough. We survived in spite of you."

"I…" Kaworu looked down. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble for you."

"It's not me you should apologize to. Touji and I are alive now."

"This time you did. But what about the next time? Or the one after that, or the next? You're going to get yourself killed one day and everyone will have to live with it just like I do every time!"

"Touji and Kensuke trust me already, so why won't you?"

"BECAUSE I HAVE LIVED THIS BEFORE AND I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU AGAIN!"

The outburst shocked even Kaworu himself. He looked away from Shinji, who heard him sniffle again.

"Lose me… Shinji said. "Kaworu, what do you mean by that?"

An agonizing silence came over the room. Nothing about this evening made sense to either participant. Shinji didn't go anywhere, though, not when he could sense that Kaworu needed him. The other boy sighed deeply.

"We Angels are not human." Kaworu said. "Humans are born in the mother's womb. Angels are born in eggs that hatch upon meeting the right environment and conditions. I am the eldest of my brothers, born outside the outskirts of German farmland in the year 2000. SEELE took me in, the Chairman raising me as his own son, though I suppose to the organization as a whole I was more of a test subject. They gave me the best tutors they had to achieve high education, never allowing me to see more than one person my age at a time. That included Asuka by the way. As I grew to age 13, I knew my objective in life was to find Adam or Lilith, my so-called parents, and bring about Third Impact. I thought life was simple."

He swallowed a lump in his throat, then continued.

"Then, one night, I started having these… dreams… they were about you."

"Why hello, Shinji Ikari. It seems you took Unit 02 away from me. If I still had her, I might have survived much longer."

Tabris was held in a tight death grip in Unit 01's hand, yet he found no discomfort in this situation. The yellow unblinking eyes stared him down, his AT Field unable to protect him from the menace standing before him; yet all Tabris could do was smile, if not at his demise, then for the boy who piloted the machine.

"Kaworu…" A gentle, almost sobbing voice spoke. "Why would you do something like this? Why do any of… you do this?"

"It was our destiny to live forever, though our survival would have brought destruction to the human race. We did not realize it was possible for us to be killed."

Tabris looked up above, only to find Rei Ayanami glaring at him. It was the third again.

"Hmmm, it seems like whether I live or die makes the difference this night."

"Why are you…?" Shinji continued. "Kaworu, I don't understand what you're talking about Kaworu."

"Either you destroy me, or you will be destroyed. Only one life form can be chosen to avoid destruction and seize the future… now you may choose the existence that should die. It is what either of us would wish for."

He closed his eyes, preparing for his fate. It was better this way.

"You must kill me, Ikari."

Tabris thought death would come in an instant. Instead, the hand that gripped him let go.

"What?"

"I'm tired, Kaworu…" Shinji said. "I'm tired of all this death, all this madness… these people… I don't want to choose. Go. Everyone should just die already."

Tabris wondered what circumstances brought about this outcome. He could not peek inside the Entry Plug to hear the outcry and rants spitting at Shinji. He may never know the story to this one.

"Very well." Tabris said. "That is your choice."

Although it was Lilith that was down here, not Adam, Tabris was satisfied. He could always find his father after humanity had ended.

"In time, the world returned to nothing. I had finished my life's goal, regardless of others' plans. Alone with mother and father, I helped regrow my fellow Angels so they could repopulate our planet… but I felt an emptiness even then. I was with my species, but I was alone, with no one who understood."

Kaworu sighed, allowing his hands to cover his face.

"It made me think of you, in your last moments. Did you feel as I did? Was that why you allowed me to merge with Lilith? I became drawn to you as a result."

Shinji was quiet. He couldn't describe what he felt. Horrified? Upset? Guilty? He offered a question instead. "Those dreams… I experienced something similar, inside on of the other Angels- I think it was Leliel. It showed me these strange futures. Are they…?"

"Other timelines, other universes, another choice taken, another robbed." Kaworu smiled ruefully. "You must understand, we Angels… we are anomalies outside of the human conception of time and space. Think of how a warm cup of tea, when placed over a stack of paper, would leave residue across all the pages. That is how we exist across these separate dimensions. Sometimes identical to how you see them here, sometimes vastly different, the concept remains the same."

A concept that sounded ludicrous, but with the nature of the Angels makes a frightening amount of sense. Shinji remembered the little comments Kaworu made over the times they've known each other and realized what he meant by his destiny.

"So there's always a version of you…" Shinji said. "Are there other versions of us? Of Spider-Man?"

"Oh countless!" Kaworu laughed, a genuine one. "You, Asuka, Rei, there are many worlds where you meet, even in completely ordinary circumstances. There are many more worlds with a Spider-Man, who are not even you! There are Peter Parkers, Miles Morales, Gwen Stacy, Mayday; you are not even the only Spider-Man of Japan. the point is that in an infinite multiverse there are infinite outcomes. We Angels are some of the few that experience it, sometimes all at once."

"… But if there are other Spider-Man… then what about me?" Shinji asked. "Spider-Man wasn't my own identity then."

"How self-centered of you, Ikari. You came to that costume entirely of your own volition, nothing more." Kaworu laughed again. "As I was saying, across other worlds, I would have these dreams. Then I would investigate this feeling I had for you. I spoke with you before I made my attempt to find Adam, got to know you in several life times. Sometimes, we were enemies. Other times, we were best friends… Sometimes, we were… more… I did not understand yet, but I knew that for whatever reason, I wanted to see you no matter what."

He stopped himself then. His hands trembled before they grasped each other, trying to keep their composure.

"Experiencing these moments made my mission objectionable. I no longer wanted to end humanity, no matter what I was born to do. I would let you kill me, or I would sacrifice myself. Suddenly I wanted nothing more to do with my brethren or my orders, because it would have prevented me from seeing you."

Suddenly, Kaworu looked Shinji dead in the eye. This was a revelation a long time coming.

"Do you realize how much I care about you, Shinji? Do you realize… how much I love you?"

Shinji was left utterly floored. He shuddered, not used to anyone saying those words to his face. It was utterly unbelievable, but the conviction in Kaworu's words.

"Is… is that true?" Shinji was not ready. He could never be. "You do?"

"Yes, in spite of everything… I do love you." Kaworu started crying. "You vex me, you make me so tired of existing sometimes, but even then, I cannot help but love you, Shinji. I feel as though our names are written together in the Book of Life."

More tears poured from the Angel, much to Shinji's growing sorrow. He held a hand over Kaworu's shoulder, allowing him a reprieve.

"Do you know how exhausting it is, to die over and over and over so you can live your peaceful life? Every time you delude yourself into thinking everyone hates you, craving their affection while refusing to engage with them as people. I've seen you do horrible, selfish things to obtain your happiness while I suffered on my own. I hate you, just as much as I love you. When I saw the first Shinji die, I thought I saw myself in him… but how much of that was just… projection… how much was it real? Maybe I was wrong to find you again and again. Maybe death is the only absolute freedom there is after all."

Shinji was quiet for a few minutes. What could he say? He had no idea Kaworu suffered this much, all because of him… or some other him the other boy met. It was on a whole other level than anything he had ever been through. It reminded him of one hard experience he had.

"I don't think it's true. Death doesn't create anything." Shinji said. "Death is the last resort when you're backed into a corner… there was a girl I met named Mayumi. Mayumi Yamagishi" He blinked. "Did you know her?"

"I have… once or twice, though not in this world…" Kaworu realized. "She is the daughter of Tachiageru Yamagishi, made to be a vessel for the Formless Angel."

"That's her." Shinji nodded. "I met her at school, some time after I started being… well, Spider-Man. She was shy, quiet even, but there was something about her that I recognized… Looking back, I think I saw myself in her the day we first met. I was so alone when Yamashiro died, and she was being bullied by Kotei… I went to help her out, when normally I wouldn't."

He sighed, recalling his memories of her. "Mayumi was kind… brave too. She saved me from the Vulture early on, gave me the courage to fight Naoko when I was paralyzed by fear. But I didn't really get to know her that well. Later, I learned she had a troubled life, that her father treated her as just a tool… she was supposed to spy on me. I didn't take that well. I ignored her, practically abandoned her, because I was hurt. Not just because I thought what we had was fake, but that she wasn't what I wanted her to be. Somehow, she still sacrificed herself to save my life."

Shinji grimaced. He could still remember holding her body as she died, her blood on his hands. He was so consumed by hate for the Goblin, that he was willing to kill himself to destroy his enemy. It was only thanks to Mayumi's mercy that he is alive now, instead of rotting away at Yamagishi's mansion.

"You're a better person than I am, Kaworu." He said. "Even though you hated that I was Spider-Man, you stayed. You tried to help in your own way."

Kaworu was looking at him now. Shinji hoped Kaworu understood.

"I told Mayumi I loved her. That was true even now… and I think your feelings are real too." Shinji stared at Kaworu sadly. "I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that. I can't imagine the pain you must have felt… but it doesn't have to end in misery either. A lot of things are better thanks to you, Asuka, and Touji for example. Maybe if we work together, we can make this right."

"I don't know if I can Shinji…" Kaworu mused. "It is my destiny to die so you can live. There is no changing that."

"I refuse to believe that's true. Didn't you just say infinite outcomes? I don't know how I feel about you exactly, but I know you're someone I care about and I'm going to do everything I can to help you."

"You can't help me. Not in the way you want. At the core, I'm broken… you must put your own happiness ahead."

"A little hypocritical coming from you, isn't it?!" Shinji slammed a fist into the piano keys. "You tell me to be happy, but you constantly sacrifice your own. What, do you really think you don't deserve it?!"

"It is different. You're putting strangers ahead of your own-"

"And I'd do the same for my friends. I just defied my father to save Touji. I can handle anything that's up ahead. Call it my responsibility if you want."

Shinji let out a frustrated laugh.

"If Asuka were here, she'd call us a couple of self-sacrificing idiots. Maybe she'd be right. I don't think we need to put our lives on the line like that. Let me help. Let us help."

"… this was a mistake…" Kaworu said. "I want to believe, but the future has been determined…"

"Well, if you have an answer, let me know. I can wait a pretty long time."

A loud siren blared. It caught the attention of the two pilots, who looked at each other.

"Angel Alarm."

"Zeruel must be here. He is the strongest of my siblings, if not the most dangerous."

"Then we better hurry up."

Soon after, Kaworu held on to Spider-Man for dear life as they swung through the air.

Nagisa had never done this with Shinji before. Perhaps he should have asked, because although being so high up was a risky venture, Kaworu managed to find it… pleasant. He held Shinji close, allowing him to make the path towards NERV. Spider-Man was in his element, his swinging direct but not dull. It was a performance out on stage, where he captivated the audience with his song.

Kaworu had never seen Shinji vibrate with life like this. While they couldn't do as much due to their time limit, watching the citizens below call out to their hero, wishing him well, Kaworu could see how beautiful the city was. A perspective only Spider-Man could provide.

That was an experience Kaworu will remember to cherish.

Moments like that did not last, however. Spider-Man landed them just outside of NERV HQ. He patted Kaworu's shoulder before starting to walk away.

"Okay, I need to get changed before Section-2 fires my bacon." But Shinji needed to clarify one more thing. "I'm not going to force anything on you. There are some things we don't have any control over, no matter how much we want to. But each of us has a choice. Everyone has the capacity to do good, to make things better for everyone around them, even you. Whether you do it or not… that's the responsibility we all bear."

Spider-Man launched a web line and left, leaving Kaworu alone, thinking about what Shinji said.

He had been programed almost from birth to find Adam or Lilith, to end humanity so his brethren could exist. He had been raised by SEELE to be a weapon for a cabal of power-hungry men. He thought Death was the only escape from his destiny, but in the way only a human really could, Shinji casted doubt on that. At his best and worst, Shinji always found his own autonomy and defined himself by his own choices. Knowing that, what would Kaworu do to define himself?

As he spotted Zeruel arriving inside of the Geo-Front, Kaworu found that, ultimately, the choice had been made a long time ago.

Asuka was aware she wasn't the best when it came to battle judgement.

She had been trained her whole life to be an Eva pilot and to follow orders when necessary. Any chances for rebellion were squashed when her Tokyo-3 debut resulted in the Angel wrecking her and Shinji. She knew to trust Misato to make the correct commanding decision on the battle field.

But there were times even Asuka had to ask questions.

"This is a shit show, Misato." She said. "I don't know how much this worthless gun is gonna do against that Angel."

It took them all by surprise. The Angel breached past military defenses and broke into the Geo-Front, now slowly descending upon the two Evas waiting for it. Asuka and Rei knew they had their work cut out for them this night.

"There wasn't much time to make a strategy. We're still reeling from the last attack and the Angel is right on our doorstep." Misato said through the comm link. "On the right signal, fire that thing. Rei, you do the same."

"Roger."

Asuka prepared her gun. Zeruel continued to move towards them. Asuka remembered asking her fellow pilots why the Angels were attacking. At the time, the answers didn't satisfy her. Why would these powerful beings want to destroy humanity for anything other than incomprehensible reasons? The last Angel threw a wrench into that, though. Through the comm link, she overheard the conversation Shinji had with the Angel, where it revealed how it was searching for its Father inside of NERV.

'It could talk to us at any time, but they chose to attack us, to destroy humanity so it could run to Daddy. It makes me sick just thinking about.'

Somehow, Asuka didn't think he was lying. If NERV had an Angel somewhere inside of its base, then that explained everything about why they always came to Japan and nowhere else.

Just as Rei explained it. Asuka turned her gaze to her fellow pilot, wondering how much she actually knew… she knew Rei was hurt, but she was still the Commander's doll. Was it likely she knew? Was what she said back at the black out a cry for help? Or a taunt?

"Angel's in range! Fire!"

No time for answers now. Asuka pulled the trigger.

"HYAAAAHHH!"

Zeruel made no effort to dodge, nor create an AT Field. As expected, the bullets bounced off of him like it was nothing. From its shoulder pads came two flat, tape like arms stretching out to the rest of its own body.

"Those arms…" Rei's eyes went wider. "Asuka, take out your progressive knife!"

Asuka did, internally thanking Rei for the heads up as she dropped the gun and raised the knife in time to split through the Angels' arm stretching towards her. However, it did cause the split parts of the arm to turn into fingers, which latched around Unit 02's hand instead.

"Come on," Asuka tried to wriggle loose. "Get away from me, you psycho!"

She grabbed the arm with her other hand and ripped it apart. Zeruel did not roar; it did not even get angry. It just was. Asuka took the chance to pick up the gun and fire at the arm.

"Take THIS!"

Running towards it, Asuka was ready to strike at Zeruel, raising her hand to to stab the core visible on its chest, before suddenly Unit 00 knocked into her, causing both Evas to land harshly on the ground.

"I apologize Asuka." Rei said. "I was unprepared for the Angel-"

"WATCH OUT REI!"

They both had to dodge the arms about to stab through them. Now Unit 02 and 00 had to come up with a strategy.

"Damn it, if only Idiot Shinji were here!" Asuka said. "He would have been useful enough to stab the Angel while we fight!"

"He was late for his own reasons." Rei responded. "Now it is a matter of whether the Commander has decided to be stubborn again."

Eventually they'd run out of breathing space, so Rei and Asuka decided to take action. As the tapelike arms kept attacking, the Evas turned their backs against each other. At the right time, they crouched so the arms collided, with Rei grabbing one side while Asuka had the other. They both charged at the Angel with their progressive knives.

"Do it now!"

"I'm aiming for it, you take the shot!"

However, Zeruel's eyes glowed. In an instant, both Evas were shot down, falling to their knees as their chests were burning.

"ASUKA!"

"REI!"

They could feel sensations brought about by Zeruel's eye blast seething into their own chests. The outburst of emotion was only cut short because the tapelike arms stabbed through Unit 02's own ones, slicing them off, making Asuka clutch her own arms in pain.

"GRRAAAAAAAGGHHHH, HOW DARE YOU HOW DARE YOU!"

Asuka dared to open her eyes, only to see Zeruel towering over her. It was over for her, she knew. She failed… again… how had Asuka thought she could succeed when she didn't win any of the other times?

"My AT-Field isn't working…" Asuka said. "I'm not strong enough… not good enough… not worthy of being a pilot or being alive… finish me off you bastard…"

Zeruel launched its right arm at Unit 02's head, ready to kill her instantly. An unexpected voice shattered the suspense.

"Perhaps this requires a second opinion."

Instead, the arm collided with something else, eliminating its threat to Unit 02. Asuka dared to raise her head up, finding a disbelieving sight.

"W-what's going on? Kaworu?!"

She saw an AT Field… but it didn't come from the Angel nor her own Eva. Kaworu Nagisa rose from the bottom of her view screen, floating just in front of Unit 02's eyes.

"I can take it from here, Asuka." Kaworu said. "This Angel is more powerful than anything you had ever faced before. Until Ikari can get inside his own Evangelion, I will have to suffice."

Briefly, he looked back at Asuka. She watched him from her entry plug, a toxic mix of powerful emotions bubbling from deep within her own heart.

"Kaworu?!" She had to yell. "What the hell is this? Why are you- are you one of- HOW DARE YOU?!"

He smiled at her sadly. "I'm sorry Asuka. You are every bit as complex as other humans are. I shouldn't have neglected you."

Suddenly the entry plug became dark. Asuka screamed as she felt herself being violently pushed out of her own Unit 02, her agency taken away at the very last moment. She could only find the urge to speak again when she felt the plug land on the ground.

"I'm not finished with you, Nagisa! You better explain why a friggin' Angel would be helping us! Were you mocking us all the way?! LAUGHING at us for being so naive?! HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE AN IDIOT… You were just toying… I hate you…"

Empty words, born from her fear and guilt. Her only consolation was that not too long later, she saw Rei opening the plug herself.

"We need to go." She said. "Now. We do not have a chance."

Rei raised her hand at Asuka, only to be surprised when it was cruelly slapped away.

"How can I accept help?!" Asuka screamed. "How can you just stand there and lie to me all the damn time, not after what we just saw?! You don't understand at all, you stupid doll!"

In a more rational mood, she would have taken those words back. Instead, she missed the look of betrayal on Rei's face, who gazed down at her so-called "friend."

Meanwhile, Kaworu Nagisa had never felt more alive. There had been times where he had control of one or the other, but both Eva Units was a lot for his mind to handle. It was perfect. Even with this human form he now possessed, Kaworu could feel his power growing. Zeruel was watching him, waiting for the first strike.

"I was always distant from all of you, Zeruel." Kaworu said. "I wondered what my place in this world was, when I was an Angel surrounded by humans who didn't understand each other in the best of circumstances. I do not know if I can change my fate the way they can, but I do know one thing: to survive in this world is to go against nature. As my human Father once said-"

His eyes glowed.

"Sometimes, you need to play God."

Inserting Dummy Plug System… Rejected.

Inserting Dummy Plug System… Rejected.

Inserting Dummy Plug System… Rejected.

"Sir, it's not working."

Gendo Ikari was displeased. No, more like offended. He had been trying for the better part of hours to get Unit 01 to accept the Dummy Plug system. The system was made for this very purpose; yet every attempt the techs made was met with a resounding failure.

"Why do you reject me… Yui…?"

Her life's work, all that it entailed, was being put at risk every moment the Angel laid waste to the Geo-Front. Unit 02 and 00 were managing it the best they could, but Gendo knew better than to rely on them. The most powerful of the Evangelions was Unit 01; the one that was needed to complete the scenario, what needed the S-2 Engine, was Unit 01. It needed Yui's handiwork…

"What do I do? Should I get Rei to pilot again?" Gendo pleaded, desperate for some sort of answer. "What do I need to do to get you to work for me?!"

The only recourse when faced with the impossible: bargaining. He pleaded, begged his Unit 01 to reveal an answer, some miracle that would save all of NERV's plans from destruction.

Instead, the computer screens all started flashing, revealing a picture of his misfortune.

"What is… no…"

Shinji. Every single computer in his office showed a picture of Shinji, the son he had with Yui, her pride and joy bigger than anything they had worked together on at GEHRN.

"You chose him over me yet again. After everything he has done to harm me, you do it again. I can't believe you."

He could accept Yui's refusal to speak to him. The Eva stole worse than a voice, and he had all the time in the world to see his beloved wife again. But for her to be able to answer him inside of the machine, only to so furiously deny him what he wanted from her… to bring him up… that was worse than any compromise he had to make.

It was an insult to everything Gendo stood for.

"You can't do this to me…" He said. "I started the scenario so I could get you back by any means necessary; so we could create the perfect utopia we so dreamt of together. Do you have any idea, Yui? Do you know how much I sacrificed for this moment?"

No answer. Just the repeating photograph of his son on the computer.

"Father!"

Speak of the Devil. Gendo turned to see the Third Child below, gripping his own knees while panting heavily. He must have run all the way to the hangar, having had enough time to change into the plugsuit.

"I had plenty of trouble getting here, but you can send me out" He said. "Set up the entry plug, activate Unit 01. I can take care of the rest from here."

Gendo calculated the risks in his mind. As much as he hated to admit it, Shinji was a necessary tool for the scenario, if only for the sake of activating Unit 01's berserk mode. No matter the humiliation he put him through, Gendo had to acquiesce for now. He will find a way to profit out of this later.

"Very well," Gendo pressed a button to communicate with the bridge. "Fuyutski, prepare-"

"Sir, we came across a situation! Two Angels have arrived to battle!"

Even Gendo was shocked at this string of events. "Please elaborate?"

"First we detected a second blue pattern, when suddenly Pilot Nagisa started.. floating! He's now controlling the Units to fight the Angel!"

Shinji heard that as well, also plenty shocked at what Kaworu had chosen to do.

"Kaworu… why did you-?" He realized what had happened, then turned back to the Commander. "Father, you have to send me in! He'll need my help!"

This time, the Commander gazed back, his face keeping his emotions hidden.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that." He said. "One Angel is dangerous; two are an overwhelming force. Both Unit 02 and 00 had been compromised. We cannot risk the lives of our pilots any more than is necessary, so you are to stay put."

"But Father-!"

"We will continue to observe the situation. Stay. Put."

Perhaps this could be used to his advantage, Gendo thought. His son had a spine when backed against the wall, but standing there truly helpless to do anything would give him extra motivation to pilot Unit 01 and to lose control during battle. Gendo grinned as he realized the scenario would be back on track.

'With nothing he could do to stop me.'

Zeruel was always a stubborn one.

Physically stronger than the others and with a massive hate streak, Zeruel didn't give most battles his all. Why would he, when he could easily tear through anything with his arms?

That made it more infuriatingwhenhe was faced with an enemy that he couldn't easily destroy.

Kaworu was a small target, which one would think it'd be easier to take down, but both Evangelions were blocking the path. Worse, without pilots, the Units didn't worry about damage. Instead, they tore through his arms, making sure they didn't land a hit on their master.

For his part, Nagisa found controlling the Evangelions a bit tricky. Unit 02 was easier to manage due to having plenty more experience with that one, but Unit 00 was resistant. Its own independence made her different from the others, no doubt from who laid in her core. Did Ayanami know what lies within it? He wondered if that was the case.

Each slice Zeruel inflicted on the Units cause them to falter. Though Kaworu did not draw blood from the damage, he realized he needed to end this fight sooner rather than later.

"No longer do I wait." Kaworu said. "Prepared to meet Father, Zeruel."

The Units blocked the attacks with their own hands, grabbing onto Zeruel's own hands to keep him still. Just as Zeruel's eyes glowed, both Units plunged their knives into them, causing a loud roar. They bled furiously, leaving him unable to see.

It was all too simple for Kaworu to float to the core. Zeruel arrogantly left it exposed, thinking none of the Evangelions could lay a scratch on it. In another time, that was true. But this time?

No holding back.

Two AT-Fields clashed. The light of Zeruel's soul was the strongest of the Angels, due to how little he let it seep out. Only on the rarest occasions did it frazzle. Kaworu touching it with his own hand was one of them.

YOU FIGHT ME. WHY?

Kaworu's eyes widened. He had never heard his brother speak once. That made him smile.

"Because I like them. That is enough."

Grabbing the AT-Field with both hands, Kaworu tore it apart. He began violently punching the core. Even as they bled upon contact, his hands cracked the core faster than the Progressive Knife could beforehand. Kaworu's face never changed from the calculating look he had before.

YOU CHOSE HIM AND HURT US. BETRAYAL.

Unit 02 and 00 were holding the arms steady. However, they were starting to shake.

"If you need to ask, you will never know." Kaworu said. "Your heart is too closed."

Progress was made when one crack started leaking LCL. The blood that powered the Angels and Evas alike. He was close to the finish.

Zeruel's fingers formed again. It sliced through the Units' heads.

"Goodbye, brother."

Time seemed to slow again. Kaworu's body started shaking. Before he could sense what was wrong, he felt something burst from his chest. To his horror, Kaworu could see he had been stabbed through.

YOU PRESUME TOO MUCH.

The area around Zeruel's core started moving, creating tentacles that latched onto Kaworu, pulling him into the core.

YOU WILL FACE PUNISHMENT.

"Nagisa's been… oh God… he's been absorbed! The Angel is changing in front of our eyes!"

Shinji fell to his knees upon hearing it. He was too late… once again, he couldn't stop someone from being killed under his watch. Placing his hands over his face, he tried to stop himself from crying in front of everyone.

It had been his fault. Kaworu went up there to fight the Angel on his behalf, on the advice he gave him. There would be no turning back.

Worse still, when his father continued standing above, uncaring at the sight of his son so vulnerable around him. In fact, Gendo seemed to relish the circumstances that led to this point.

"It seems as though the situation has changed." Gendo told the techs above. "The Third Child is unable to continue. Try the Dummy Plug again; time is of the essence."

A weak excuse, but it would have to do. The scenario needed to be perfect. It needed Unit 01 to berserk and absorb the S-2 Engine. It could not be ruined by the disobedient, weak child who couldn't fight no matter what his Yui wanted-

The glass shattered behind him. Gendo felt true terror for the first time, as his whole body was picked up by a slender frame and thrown directly into one of the computer screens, destroying several with his own weight. Blood started pouring from his head, glass shredding into the back and shoulders while Shinji grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"I'm only going to give you this one chance." Shinji said. "Get me in the Eva, now, and maybe I won't punch you so hard you'd be a puddle on the floor right now."

Gendo gulped, unable to answer his son. Only now did he realize how badly he underestimated his son, how strong he could be.

"I've had enough of you controlling my life. You won't ruin anyone else's now!"

Many questions were asked, none of which made it out of Gendo's lips. How did Shinji jump that high, how did he get the strength to throw him like this, when did he get those abilities… how long he had had them… It was maddening, but Gendo did not concern himself with this at the moment.

Instead, he pressed a button.

"Cancel the Dummy Plug." Gendo said. "Get the Third Child inside the Eva as quickly as possible."

Shinji continued to glare at him, waiting for a backstab or a barb. However, after a moment, he still let Gendo go.

"I hope to never grow up to be as petty and miserable as you are."

"What's the status of the Angel?"

"Its still changing… Oh God…"

"What do we do Major? Its outside while we're sitting ducks!"

The Bridge Bunnies were each in disbelief over the current situation. Rei and Asuka were missing, lost in the shuffle of the fight; Unit 01 rejected all attempts to insert the Dummy Plug, Shinji only now getting ready; the biggest surprise of all was the revelation that Kaworu Nagisa, one of their own pilots, was an Angel. They needed someone to guide them.

Something Misato knew they needed.

"Keep your eyes peeled!" She yelled. "Unit 01 is on its way now, so stay alert!"

Misato had to yell out that order, in light of the utter chaos out there. Even she couldn't believe the enemy of NERV was working under their own noses! Misato should feel insulted that once more the Geo-Front had been breached, but instead all she could do was ask why he had not found Adam sooner… or why he died fighting one of his own kind.

What was he?! Where did this creature come from? Why would Nagisa turn against his own kind? He hung out with Shinji and Asuka; he could have killed them, or let them die at any time!

"It doesn't make any sense at all!" Misato thought out loud. "Is he one of SEELE's pawns or did he have his own agenda?"

There was so much about Angels they still didn't understand. Kaworu was clearly not stupid. He never demonstrated his power so clearly without raising an AT-Field.

What was his deal?

The visual feed appeared on the screens, revealing an angry Shinji. "I'm ready Misato."

Misato nodded. She crossed her arms.

"Launch Eva!"

Unit 01 quickly reached the surface. It approached the Angel with restrained caution, watching the creature reach its final stage of metamorphosis.

Only the upper torso remained of the Angel. Everything below shredded bulk for a slender, ghostly white humanoid frame; it had legs and arms resembling a human, with even the Angel's head growing gray hair to underscore its fused state.

All it did was make Shinji angry.

"I'll kill you, you damn bastard."

Pulling out the Progressive Knife, Shinji willed Unit 01 to rush at the Angel. Zeruel's arms stretched towards Unit 01, slicing the cable in half.

The timer was set. 5:00 and counting down.

"Shinji, the cable's been disconnected!" Misato over the comm link. "Take it out as quickly as possible! You're the only one left!"

He was already caught up in the moment, trying to claw out his enemy in the passion of anger. Up to this point, Shinji may have gotten some people injured during his Eva battles; even his Spider-Man patrols weren't clean, but Zeruel murdered Kaworu while he could do nothing. He was going to pay.

Shinji paid attention to the timer. 4 minutes left.

He tried to aim the Progressive Knife towards the core, but it was difficult to manage as the Angel kept its distance from him. Instead, Zeruel made sure to stab through Unit 01's shoulders and arms to damage Shinji. While it threw him off balance for a bit, Shinji was able to recover just enough to kick Zeruel's chest, which was distraction enough for Shinji to slice through one arm before stabbing the other.

3 minutes left.

Unit 01 tackled Zeruel to the ground. Shinji took an opportunity to grab Zeruel by the head and forced him down, making sure it would stay in place for the attack.

2 minutes left.

"Come here you monster!"

He moved the Eva to get on top of Zeruel, aiming for the exposed core. When Zeruel's AT-Field became visible, Shinji raised his fists and started punching.

1 minute left.

"DIE! Die die die die die die DIE!"

Desperate, furious punches eventually broke the AT-Field, every hit making Shinji feel angry, but also powerful. He never had an enemy like this before, where he did not need to hold back his own strength. Not since Mayumi's father had Shinji been this offended by another existence. He kept pushing on and on…

"Get wrecked, you piece of sh-"

Suddenly, the plug in his Eva went dark again. It snapped Shinji from his mad state, instead feeling confusion.

"What? What's going"

Shinji looked at his panel, an ever increasing dismay settling in as he saw the timer jo out.

"No... nononononono NO!"

He pulled on the controls, pressing any button to regain control; to regain the power he had lost during this encounter, or at least to slow down his demise. However, it was too late. Outside the Eva, Zeruel had already recovered, enough to move its arms to stab through Unit 01 again. This time, Unit 01 was lifted into the air, unable to escape.

"This can't be how it ends!" Shinji yelled. "I'm not going to die here, get this power back you stupid robot!"

He kicked and punched the controls, begging for any reprieve from the fight. Any hope he could make things right and save everyone at the base, if not himself. It seemed hopeless at that moment.

"Please… don't let them die like this… I won't rest until I beat him.. until I… get him back…"

Shinji felt something surge through his body. The atmosphere in the entry plug changed. No longer was it simply silent, but instead a rumbling noise was heard and felt over it… making the plug feel alive…

"Eva… Evangelion…" Shinji realized. "I can feel you…"

His eyes glazed over as a headache flowed in. Shinji's entire body realized things were wrong quicker than his spider-sense did, the entry plug's typical rainbow flashes gaining a sinister filter as it appeared again. The spirit that somehow invaded the plug began to ATTACK.

"NO!" He clutched his head in frustration. "No, I won't get knocked out!"

He had felt this presence before. During the time Leliel pulled him inside its shadow, Shinji realized something protected him from death. It is here again, trying to force Shinji into unconsciousness.

"Is that how you want to play it, huh?! You want to get nuts?"

Shinji closed his eyes. When they opened, they glowed red.

"Fine. Let's get nuts."

"Oh dear lord… Shinji!"

Everyone on the bridge made their way to the outside to see the battle. Misato could only gaze up in horror as her ward's Eva was about to be destroyed by the Angel. None of them would be prepared for what would happen after the Angel was done with its target.

"Major, is this a wise idea?" Makoto said. "We should head back before we're spotted! Maybe we could run!"

"Save it Hyuuga!" Shigeru admonished. "We wouldn't be safe down there anyway; let's see this fight to the end!"

Maya brought her laptop, working with Ritsuko to analyze the data. Zeruel held Unit 01 up with one of its arms now. He prepared his other arm, shapeshifting its hand into a knife, ready to strike Unit 01's neck.

"Shinji…" Misato whispered to herself. "I'm sorry… please come back…"

As Zeruel was about to deal with the final blow, the hand was grabbed by Unit 01's own. The Angel was confused as the Eva's eyes glowed.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance."

All were surprised when they heard that line from Shinji on the laptop, as Zeruel was then promptly kicked across the field. Unit 01 gripped Zeruel's hand with such ferocity that it ripped it apart, spewing blood. It was not enough for the Eva, an aura was starting to form around it.

"Come over here, you damn coward!"

A halo appeared over Unit 01's head, the air becoming desolate around it. Its destructive force could be felt around the Geo-Front, even sending shivers down the citizens of Tokyo-3, ready to annihilate the enemy with all it had. The most curious addition was a giant spider symbol that blazed over the chest, with Unit 01's mouth opening to reveal sharp red teeth.

"Holy crap…"

Maya spoke for everyone with that breathless line. Misato turned to Ritsuko.

"What's happening Ritsu? It happened again!"

Ritsuko looked over Maya's laptop, asking the questions herself to her lover.

"It seems that Unit 01's synchronization rate is… rising!" Maya said. "Shinji and the Eva are becoming one!"

"Impossible…" Ritsuko said. "The only one with a synch ration like that was… oh no, he's in great danger!"

Zeruel slowly got up, having to shackle about until he felt something attach to him. A web line, spawned from Unit 01's wrists, pulled Zeruel to Shinji so he could get closer. Shinji punched Zeruel in its skull face, cracking the mask hard.

"How does it feel now, huh?!" Shinji yelled. "HOW DOES IT FEEL WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING SOMEONE STRONGER THAN YOU!?"

Zeruel sent its other hand to attack Shinji, but Unit 01 caught it, putting its own foot down on Zeruel's shoulder pad while ripping it away. For the first time, the Angel was in a haze of panic, readying it's eye beams at the Eva before it summoned its own AT-Field to block it.

"YOU WON'T ESCAPE ME!" Shinji roared. "IF YOU DON'T LET KAWORU GO I'LL CHASE YOU DOWN TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!"

With that, Unit 01 kicked the Angel down to Earth, getting on its knees to attack the core again. Each strike was fierce and unrelenting, reflecting Shinji's own rage at the creature for what it had done to him. This time he would finish the job he started.

Misato realized that Shinji would win this fight. It was a foregone conclusion by now, Zeruel had no chance of winning.

"Kick his butt Shinji!" She cheered on. "You can do it, just go for a little longer, you got this one in the bag!"

Everyone else was horrified at Misato for doing that. Even Ritsuko gave it pause, wondering if her friend's desire for vengeance had overridden her judgement. Maya was the only one to pick up another line through the laptop.

"Come on there… Show me how to do this, Eva…"

Maya's eyes widened, forcing her eyes to gaze at the carnage above her. Unit 01's hand was raised just above the core of the Angel. The aura surrounding Unit 01 then expanded to both itself and the Angel. She turned back to the laptop, finding the most terrifying data the MAGI was able to scramble.

"Um guys?" Maya pointed at her screen. "We're not out of the woods yet."

Ritsuko looked at the data curiously as Unit 01 plunged its hand inside of Zeruel's core. The whole field was becoming red at the disaster that was about to occur. For their part, Gendo and Fuyutski could not help but realize their own efforts were for naught.

"This was not in the scenario." Gendo said. "Shinji is about to destroy us all… We have lost."

"It seems like we have." Fuyutski nodded. "Perhaps it is what we deserve for our own hubris. Tell me Yui, was this part of your scenario?"

Misato saw Ritsuko and Maya were scared, but grinned. "What's got you concerned? We're gonna get the Angel! We're winning!"

"Don't be so sure about that!" Ritsuko was still horrified. "You're not going to like the data we have!"

"What's going on? Shinji's doing it, isn't he?"

"That's the thing. He isn't." Ritsuko said. "According to the report, Shinji may be causing Third Impact as we speak!"

Kaworu Nagisa floated in a dark void. He was submerged in water.

It was not an unusual occurrence for him. Quite the opposite, it was only too common for the Angel known as Tabris to be spending days upon days, years upon years, in a space where he was a formless being; his own AT-Field dissipating, leaving him as just a soul with a picture of its own self.

He had experienced life and death many times. He should have known any attempt to rebel against his destiny would result in this. The least he could use to confide in himself was that on this timeline he had spared Shinji the pain of killing him again. If that was his destiny, it was worth it.

It was funny looking back. He disliked this Shinji at first; The fact that Shinji adopted the Spider-Man identity even though it did not fit the personality he knew, how his reasons for doing so felt self-centered, his more abrasive attitude both in and out of the costume annoying him; but coming to know him better, Kaworu realized that those same qualities were also in other Shinjis he knew, even the original.

If anything, becoming Spider-Man helped Shinji bring out the courage Kaworu knew was inside of him when push came to shove. Kaworu only wished he could have praised Shinji more; he should have shown him that he ultimately did the right thing at the end of it all.

"But that chance was now gone…" Kaworu whispered. "Along with my being… I suppose this is goodbye again…"

"Kaworu!"

A voice shattered the silence, making Kaworu's own heart skip a beat. He did not expect to hear it in this realm; yet there it was! Could it really be…?

"Impossible, he only did it for Rei once…" He said. "Would he really push this far, for my sake?"

In something he had only seen in dreams, Kaworu saw Shinji swimming towards him, concerned and worry visible on his face. He could only gaze up in shock as Shinji got closer.

"Shinji? But…" He said with a blush on his face. "You are here? How did you know to find me?"

Shinji grabbed Kaworu's wrists, smiling at him.

"The Eva… it spoke to me, inside my own mind…" He said. "I couldn't just leave you in here, not when there was a chance I could save your life."

Shinji came to save him. That was a first for Kaworu. He felt his hand slip into Shinji's own, trying not to tear up again. During this moment, he felt his heart fill with song, letting his own sing seemingly forever more.

"Come on," Shinji pulled him close. "We need to go!"

But Kaworu refused to budge. A tear fell down his face as he let go of Shinji's own.

"I can't come." He spoke so sadly. "It would not be right."

Shinji stared at him, bewildered. "Why not? I came all this way didn't I?"

"You don't understand." Kaworu looked down, even as he kept smiling. "The longer you remain here, the faster your friends will die."

That gave Shinji pause. "I don't understand."

"Angels are born from Adam. The other Evangelions were made from him as well. But you Shinji... you are the pilot of Unit 01, made from Lilith's own body. Mixing the two together would result in Third Impact occurring."

The void started shaking around them. A red light poured inside.

"No…" Shinji sad. "You can't mean that!"

"I do. It is happening right now as we speak. You feel it, don't you?"

Shinji gazed around, watching the walls for some sign. His eyes widened, coming to a realization.

"But... there has to be a way, I mean…" He continued on. "I promised I would help you, I can't... I can't just leave you here… this can't be your fate!"

"It is, Shinji. It is my gift and my curse to live, breathe and die for the sake of the future. Saving me here will only ensure a bad outcome for the human race."

"I can't accept that…" Shinji started crying. "It's not fair… It's just not fair…"

Kaworu reached around the other boy, hugging him close as best as he could. He had been here before many times. This Shinji never had.

"Go. Get out of here." Kaworu ordered. "You have a responsibility to fulfill, do you not? It would be a shame if your great power were to be wasted on me."

Shinji looked at him, trying to keep himself together.

"Anyone can wear the mask you wield, Shinji. That's what makes Spider-Man so beautiful even with the pain that comes with it. But only you can be Shinji Ikari. Promise me that when you leave you'll be the best man you can."

Some time had passed, the void shaking ever faster. At last, Shinji nodded. But not before he also hugged Kaworu tight.

"You make me a promise too…" He said. "Ever since I got these powers, I've felt chained to Yamashiro and Mayumi. I try to live by them, even as I mourn them. But if you're going to die here… if the other yous can remember, they need to know this… Please don't feel chained to me. Don't feel like you have to sacrifice yourself all the time just to make me feel better. You deserve better than that. You deserve to be happy, just as much as I do. Let's both do our best."

Shinji expected Kaworu to say something. Perhaps another one of his calm monologues or flowery parting words. He did not expect to feel tears on his shoulder.

"I don't want to die Shinji…" Kaworu said quietly. "I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die…"

They hugged it out for what seemed like an eternity. Just as long as was needed to get their feelings out. Then Shinji started floating away.

"You said our names are written in the book of life, right?" Shinji asked. "If that's true, we'll meet again some day. You'll always have my heart."

With that, Shinji vanished from Kaworu's view. As the void grew darker again, the red light disappearing and his vision blurring, Kaworu let out a final smile.

"As mine will be yours, Ikari… my life has always been meaningful because of you. But you are right. I will try to be happy in the next world."

Then all was black.

The explosion came and went.

Once the dust settled, everyone was able to recover and witness the typical cross-formation appearing from where Zeruel stood. Unit 01 stood still, its aura and halo gone. All it did then, was fall to his back to the ground.

On Ritsuko's laptop, the comm link was silent. Misato hurried to it, wanting to speak to her ward. Maya and Ritsuko moved out of the way to give her breathing room.

"… Shinji?" Misato called to him. "Shinji, come in. Third Impact was stopped, we saved the day again."

She heard crying, which made her heart ache as soon as she heard it.

"Shinji? Come in, we're here, you saved the world… you did it…"

Misato didn't know what to say or do. After moments, she heard a pained whisper.

"… all the things I could do… all these powers… and I couldn't even save him…"

Nagisa. Misato resisted the urge to throw bile at the Angel for hurting her boy, instead swallowing her pride to comfort Shinji.

"It's too late to save him. Don't worry, we're sending an extraction team to come and get you. You did the right thing."

"Misato… you don't understand… it's my fault he's dead… I told him to do this."

Told him? Did these two talk before the Angel came? They must have, Misato remembered that Shinji was looking for him. Presumably he had. Come to think of it, Misato remembered her hazy memory of Matsushiro, how an AT-Field seemed to protect her. Kaworu was also there during the incident. How much did Shinji know?

"We'll talk about this soon." She decided. "But we need to get you out of there."

"My fault… it's all my fault… my- AAAAACK!"

The sharp scream threw everyone off. Ritsuko began typing again as Unit 01 clutched its own head in pain.

"Unit 01's synch ratio is rising!" Her eyes widened. "It's happening again!"

"What's happening to Shinji?!" Misato angrily yelled. "He isn't dying, is he?"

"No, worse." Risuko sniffed. "He is going through what happened to the last pilot…"

The Evangelion fell lifelessly back, its eyes shutting off. Some time afterward, the extraction team came to find Unit 01's pilot. Instead, when they pulled out the entry plug, the team only found LCL and an empty plugsuit.

"Oh no…" Misato gasped. "Shinji…"

"It confirms what we already knew." Ritsuko said. "He has been absorbed into Unit 01."