Unfamiliar ceiling.
Well, not that unfamiliar but he'd spent almost as much time in a Nerv hospital room as he had in his original room before Asuka arrived. And if you didn't count the last twenty-four hours the last time he'd seen this ceiling was a lot longer ago. Not counting the last day would certainly reduce his life to a more normal level of ... no 'normal' could be applied to very little of his life over the past months since his father's summons.
Asuka was awake of course, for some definition of awake that seemed to involve ignoring that she was using his chest as a pillow and that her long bare legs were twined around his, holding him in place.
By unspoken agreement, they were both as fully clothed as was comfortable in the summer heat. More than so once you added their combined body heat. Which explained the way Asuka's body was arced across the bed in what looked like it should be uncomfortable but apparently was not. At least Asuka's winter pyjamas had lasted a few scant seconds of consideration before ending up in the pile in the corner. It seemed she hadn't realised just how 'eternal' Japan's eternal summer was that she'd even packed them. But short of stealing a pair of plug-suits there was little possibility of sharing a bed and not touching each other. And after yesterday, he was doubting the ability of any material acting as a barrier.
By unspoken agreement ... those were the only things that seemed to work between them. Attempts at actually talking to each other generally ended in verbal barbs and withdrawing to their respective rooms, or at least him retreating into the solace of familiar music and disconnecting from the world. Sometimes it felt like it would be better if they could have physical fights - they'd be just as one-sided of course but maybe it would release the tension he could feel building up in Asuka.
The tension that seemed to be completely absent from this strange version of Asuka that was apparently so comfortable lying on him she was ignoring her growing hunger. This Asuka who had cooked him dinner and sent him to bed. This Asuka who hugged Ayanami ... no ... Rei... like her life depended on it. This Asuka that had just looked at him and said "Wrong room" when he'd headed to bed last night carrying his SDAT. This Asuka who seemed to need him for something other than his ability to cook. This Asuka who openly appreciated his ability to cook. This Asuka who'd ignored her friends - to the point Hikari was mad at her - to watch over him. Maybe he could mess up breakfast and she would call him an idiot and sound like she meant it.
Asuka's stomach grumbled, followed by Asuka herself, "Time to get up and make me breakfast, Trödler" as if she weren't still pinning him to the bed.
Eventually she rolled off and let him up. Maybe this strange Asuka would stay close enough that the only thing he'd see when he closed his eyes was the inside of his own eyelids. He wasn't holding any hope that this would be the case.