-AN-

Gotta get back into the groove of things. I didn't realize it had been a couple months since I had written anything at all. Can't get better if you don't do the things you love right?

-Story Start-

School out for the time being while the remains of the Angel were being broken down and minor damage around the city was being repaired, the EVA pilots themselves were left with plenty of time to do whatever their hearts desired. At least to an outside observer that is what would be assumed. Misato certainly thought so as she toiled away deep below ground on the mountain of paperwork and reports that had ended up on her desk. The pay bump that came with her promotion was nice and all, but the extra workload was insanity. Of course, if she really knew what the children were up to she might actually have a heart attack.

Several levels below administration where Misato's office was located, a group of three were just finishing up their own activities. Flushed and panting for breath, Ritsuko lay limply on top of the Commander's desk in post coital bliss as Rei finished putting away a camera with a smile on her face. The older woman should have known Shinji would make it up to her for their failed after party plans. The young man certainly delivered, again and again. "Mmmm Shinji, I'm not going to be able to let you go. You're my new addiction." Letting her head relax to one side, she eyed the muscled teenager with a smile. His workouts were certainly beginning to show some results and she wondered how far he would go with a few more years on him.

Chuckling from where he was putting his pants back on, Shinji smiled and nodded to the Doctor, "Like I told you Ritsuko, I'll be here for as long as you like. I care for you after all." Watching her roll onto her side towards him, his lower half gave a brief twitch of appreciation of the sight. Must be something in the water for all of the NERV women to be so beautiful.

"Anata has plenty of love to share." Rei's voice cut in as she zipped up her bag and stood. Skirt and shirt only slightly ruffled, the albino turned to her love with a rare smile, "If you do not mind, I have another task to see to before returning home."

Shrugging and trusting Rei completely, Shinji let his new senses spread out for a moment, "Think you'll need a hand with anything?" There was something at the edge of his senses, most likely the next Angel. Perhaps she had some preparations to take care of?

Shaking her head as she walked over to her topless lover, Rei leaned up and kissed him softly. Fluttering her eyes at him, she swatted his rear before heading towards the door, "This is a simple task, I won't take long and there is no danger. Continue to attend to Akagi." For Rei, it was imperative that Akagi was on their side. If all that was needed for her loyalty to be assured was some cuddle time then Rei saw no reason not to encourage it.

Moaning and shaking her head as she finally sat up, Ritsuko did her best to ignore the tenderness of her loins, "Oh no. No more attending to be had here, I can't keep up with your youth." Not that she hadn't tried. Oh she had tried.

Smirking but deciding he had made the correct fun choice, Shinji turned one last time to Rei as she reached the door, "Alright, well I'll see you tonight then. Remember, date night."

Pausing as the door opened automatically, Rei turned red eyes towards Shinji and nodded once. "Of course, I'll see you in a few hours." With a whisper she was gone, off to who knows where while leaving Shinji and Ritsuko to stare at one another while Shinji continued to get dressed.

"Should I guess you have actual work to do as well?" Shinji noted that the destruction of the last Angel was still fresh, barely a week had passed. Even so it was always uncertain when the next would come. The where was never a hurdle though. It was always here. Now with Adam firmly melded with him as well, it was unknown to the rest of the staff that he was the target now and not Tokyo-III.

Groaning as she stretched both of her arms high above her head, Ritsuko pretended to ignore Shinji's eyes following the subtle movements of her anatomy. Hah, still got it after all. "You aren't wrong, I do have work to attend to. But I'm sure you can find and harass Misato with your free time." Rei had made it clear already that she was hoping to bring the other older woman into the fold and Asuka sure believed it was already a done deal. It was liberating to just accept the situation for what it was honestly. A life that mirrored quite a bit of what her college life was like. Though this time she was the starring role instead of Misato. Shinji did make a much better Kaji in her mind. Hmm. Where was that loafer anyway?

Finishing buttoning up his shirt, Shinji took the few steps he needed to invade Ritsuko's personal space, wrapping her in a warm hug and inhaling her scent. No longer ash and cigarette smoke, now only the scent of mint and chocolate, mixed with a healthy helping of sterilizing chemicals from the labs. "I'll let her know you're thinking about her."

A small giggle, but Ritsuko returned the hug all the same. The warmth that entered her breasts almost made her want to jump the boy again. Work and her body be damned. "Continue to be such a good man and I can't promise your safety." It had been a long time since Ritsuko had felt this way, not even Gendo had made her feel this giddy.

Stepping away as the woman released him, Shinji gave her one last smile, "Safety is the last thing on my mind. Love loud-"

"-and love hard. You only keep saying that every time I start doubting myself." That was another thing Ritsuko hadn't expected. With this…relationship as it was, she had doubted herself a few times already. What could such a young and healthy boy see in an aging woman like her? What did she have to offer that she hadn't already thrown away over the years? Yet Shinji was patient with her, happy to remind her that he wanted this. Wanted her. Not as the scientist. Not as a bargaining chip. Not as a conquest. But as Ritsuko Akagi the woman. It was humbling to say the least. A purity that would have been rare to find in men even twice his age. "Go on now. We have at least another day before the Commander returns, but I should clean up properly." Only now did she focus a bit more, taking in the maelstrom of destruction that was Gendo's desk area. Some of those stains were definitely not coming out of that chair.

Nodding along, Shinji leaned over to kiss Ritsuko's forehead one last time, "Want any help?" A hand trailed along her bare shoulder and upper arm.

"No, and stop that, before we restart something I don't have time to finish." Swatting the insatiable boy away, she could only shake her head as he laughed and started to walk away. "I'll, see you tonight?"

Shinji turned back and nodded easily, "You're always welcome. Come over after work. I'll cook like always." He and the girls would leave after everyone else was asleep. Their little date had little to do with city nightlife anyway.

"You should work on domesticating that alley cat Misato."

"Like that would work." They both shared a chuckled before Shinji gave a cheeky salute as the door to the office opened behind him, "Tonight then."

Ritsuko nodded, pulling her lab coat up and over her shoulders, "Tonight." Watching the door close behind the boy, Ritsuko was left alone in the usually cold and ominous office. Today there was a touch of warmth there, more to do with the boy who just left rather than the poor excuse of the father on his way to return. Shaking herself and clapping her hands on her cheeks twice, Ritsuko settled a mean grin on her face as she decided a nice little surprise for the old man was in order. "Hell hath no fury right?"

Walking away from the office and taking a meandering path back towards the upper sections, Shinji considered what he wanted to do with the rest of the day. Asuka was out with Hikari, something about getting ready for their date tonight and he was not to see them beforehand. That usually meant lots of self care and pampering in the form of a spa day for the girls, and a long night for him. Misato had been working long nights lately so that would probably work out, though Hikari had yet to stay the night with them. Given how driven Asuka was about convincing the other girl about her way of things, tonight might finally be the night.

Reaching one of the main elevators and stepping inside, Shinji pushed his senses out in full for the first time in a while. This melding with Adam was still an adjustment and he hadn't had a chance to really practice with it like Rei had suggested, but he was slowly getting used to it. Case in point, he could feel exactly where Rei was within NERV headquarters, along with the small signal of something that she was headed for. It felt like an Angel, but not fully grown. Maybe it was the next one in line, but how was it already in the base? Well, Rei knew what she was doing, so he would let it go and let her do her thing. Warmth, love and some amusement. All feelings and emotions he could feel from her before he directed his attention elsewhere. Touching normal people was an interesting task, everyone was a collection of hodgepodge emotions that rarely settled on one distinct thing. Some that were fully focused were a bit easier to nail down. Misato was a ball of frustration, mixed with a bit of exhaustion and concern. Maybe he would convince her to take a break with him when he got there. Not far away he could feel others. The bridge crew, relaxed, anxious but cheerful. No Angels made for easy days for them. But the longer they went without an Angel attack the stronger the anxiety would become. No one liked the wait, the anticipation.

With a ding the cold silver box of the elevator opened and Shinji walked out onto the Administration level, easily folding himself into the flow of human traffic as he made his way to Misato. He would have to fess up to Toji soon about Hikari and that was a conversation he was not looking forward to. The taller boy would probably hate him, he usually did whenever Shinji pursued the Horaki sister on these runs. It didn't matter that it wasn't Shinji's fault, all that mattered was that something that was considered Toji's was taken away from him. Age and experience would fix that hopefully one day. If Shinji and the others broke free of these loops. Shrugging as he weaved around two cute technicians who were whispering while watching him, Shinji would have to be nicer to the jock the next time around. Maybe lock the two in a closet right away before Rei and Asuka could attempt a set up. Granted depending on how this run ended up, they might choose a completely different path just for the hell of it. It would be like them.

Not far away from him and unaware that she was being hunted, Misato Katsuragi mumbled and scrubbed a hand through her hair as she read what felt like the fifth identical report she had already read and signed off on this hour. Who the hell cared that the Angel blood took three times the standard cleaner to remove from concrete? They didn't have anything better and complaining about it in a report wouldn't help anyone. Certainly not her and certainly not Shiguru Notoki down in maintenance and recovery. It was through a monument act of will that Misato didn't pen a letter to his supervisor about frivolous reports, but she was certainly thinking it and hoping his pillow was always lumpy and warm for the foreseeable future. From behind her paper fortress she heard her door open and close and she silently prayed Kaji hadn't finally come back to bother her. "You better have either a beer or food in hand, because I'm one step away from murder." She hadn't been home for nearly a full day and she missed her family. She wanted Shinji to pamper her and Asuka and Rei to loaf about on the couch together with her while they teased each other. Not all this bureaucratic nonsense.

Leaning over the wall of papers with a grin, Shinji shrugged and held up empty hands, "Sorry Misa-chan, just my charming self." Seeing the flush that instantly lit up her face was a reward all in itself, bonus that she seemed to relax and lean back in her chair with a happy sigh. "Rough day?"

Eyeing her work as Shinji came around and snagged the chair Asuka had dragged into her office days before, Misato waved a hand to it all, "Gaze upon my yoke and despair. For every form I finish it feels like three more take its place."

Humming and nodding his head, Shinji snapped his fingers once, "How about a fire? I'm sure I can find a lighter somewhere."

"No to arson, too easily found out."

"Not if we bring one of Akagi-senpai's experiments in here, let it blow up."

Leaning back and stretching, Misato smiled and groaned, "Now that's a smart man. Shift the blame to someone else." Sighing and facing Shinji fully as the world continued to move along outside, Misato considered the time on her watch. "It's so late already. I missed lunch." And breakfast if she was going to be completely accurate, no wonder she was getting cranky.

"Well sounds like a good reason to get up and take a break to me. Not like the work is going anywhere." Shinji eyed the stacks of papers, some of which were leaning dangerously and looked ready to fall over any second. "Let's go get some grub, my treat."

Well, it wasn't like she had a real reason to refuse the offer. Shinji wasn't wrong about the workload. It would still be here whether she finished it all today or not. Most likely she wouldn't even come close to that anyway. Shrugging and pushing her chair back, Misato made the happy decision. "You know what, you're right. Let's get some lunch." Besides she needed a break. With the Commander gone she had been at it for nearly twelve hours now. She should be headed home for a well deserved rest. She couldn't wait for the old man to return. Standing and dusting her skirt off, she was met with a smiling and also standing Shinji, "I'm surprised you're alone."

"The others had plans of their own today, so it's just your beautiful self and me." Wiggling his eyebrows at the older woman, Shinji laid it on a bit thick.

Something Misato caught and rolled her eyes, "For the record, that does not work on mature women." Falling into step with the pilot of Unit 1, Misato let him lead the way back out of her office.

"You're just hangry. Let's get some food in you and see how you feel about me later."

"You do remember I'm your guardian right?"

"Love knows no bounds Misa-chan."

"I'm banning you from the tv, it's rotting your brain. If I had known you were such a flirt in the beginning I never would have taken you in." A lie and she knew it, but she was starting to have fun. Though the smirk Shinji threw back at her told her he knew she was lying as well. Shucks.

"I'm only blinded by your radiance Misa-chan."

Both pilot and Major continued to trade barbs and teasing back and forth as they made way for the elevator, unknowing that new rumors were beginning to spread about them. The pilot and his guard they would say. So scandalous.

-b-

Having journeyed down into NERV's depths to the level of the Pribnow box, Rei had found her way into the maintenance tunnels that ran parallel to most of the main corridors. Dark and humid due to the heat of the machinery at work, Rei only had the light of lower power red work lights to make her way. Not something she was unaccustomed to after all these years with NERV but still somewhat unpleasant. Outside of maybe Asuka she was one of the few people who knew this facility like the back of her hand. Every backdoor, access tunnel, secret entrance and escape corridors were seared into her brain after countless years exploring and wandering in her free time. Her early years had little for her to do before the others showed up and she had to fill the time somehow. She couldn't spend every waking moment planning out her's and Shinji's love life and eventually baby schedule.

Pausing at a four way intersection full of creaking and pinging pipework, Rei easily chose the left branch, trailing a hand along the left wall along the only chilled pipe to be found. White with frost and colder than all the others by a large margin, it indicated a blockage further up the line. Her quarry was nearby, unaware that it was being hunted. In another time this pipe would transport coolant to the sterilized test chamber, chilling the outer wall to maintain the test bodies fragile states. Only it had a special passenger, destined to infect everything it touched and set off a chain of events that would lead Doctor Akagi on a mad dash to protect the MAGI and prevent the facility from self destructing.

Only Rei didn't want to risk it, and instead had another idea in mind.

Feet coming to a halt, fingers trailing ice as frost fell to the floor, there was a clear line between the frozen pipe section and the warmer normal section just beyond her fingers. Rei reached into herself, feeling the half of her that was Angel and releasing a small portion of her power. With it, she was able to touch the waiting Angel within, the one that called itself the HIVE. In another life it would be coded as Ireul, the Angel of Terror.

"Oh, so you are awake. Good, that makes this easier." Focused as she was, speaking aloud did make the mental work and commands slightly easier. This was still something delicate to get done and she wanted to make sure she returned home as she promised Shinji.

Disjointed, confused, the existence that was the Angel felt one of its kin touch itself, "You…why are you-"

A thought that flowed into a command, Rei smiled slightly as she pressed her palm to the pipe containing one of the enemies of man, "I have a new mission for you. A new goal and desire. You'll heed my words, won't you?"

A new directive, an order, something for the collective to ponder and adapt to while this other impressed its will upon it. "Protect, guide? You wish to protect the Lilim?"This feeling, no, an impression. This was not father. Was this, mother?

Nodding along as her hand caressed the pipework gently, Rei could feel the Angel subtly beginning to change. "I wish to protect our happiness, nothing more. You need not sacrifice yourself. Not all of the Lilim are that bad."

"Happiness. Sacrifice. We…do not know these things."These were new concepts, new information. This opened up new questions and paths for thought. "Can this one teach us?"

Pulling away gently, Rei knelt down and pressed her forehead to the lukewarm pipe, "Over time, yes. You will learn as I have learned. Do you understand what I wish of you?" More thoughts and emotions through this tentative link. Images she did her best to force forward to a collection of thought more inhuman that even she was. The Hive was an unique existence even among the Angels. None could become what they had the potential to, a being that burned to brightly and intensely. Angel of Terror is might be, but it's other name was more true.

Of course, the brightest stars burned fast. The Terror of God would so destroy itself in the end if left to its own devices.

Something she wished to prevent, just this once. Not all of the Angels need to die. "You understand yes?"

"Yes. Defend. Outsiders will come. This is our home. Must defend our home. Must protect the HIVE."

Pulling away and standing slowly, Rei could feel the infantile Angel moving away through the pipes, "Do your best." Pulling her power back within herself with a shudder, Rei reached up and rubbed her arms quietly. It was like suddenly going blind or cutting off an arm or hand. A sense suddenly gone mute, a portion of the world denied to her.

She needed a Shinji cuddle, on the double. It shouldn't take to long to reach the surface from here and if she hurried she might be able to join him in teasing Misato. A plus in her book.

Turning away from the slowly warming pipe, returning to normal now that the blockage was gone, Rei started her trek back to more populated NERV corridors. It wouldn't do to be caught down here by maintenance technicians. That led to being detained, questions she wouldn't have answers for and eventually she would either have to have the Commander bail her out, or brute force her way free. It was a little early for the latter, and the Commander was still away on his mission. Taking a turn and considering that she wondered what Shinji would eventually do with the old man. Fun run or not, Shinji usually always prepared something heinous for his father. This tryst with Akagi wouldn't be enough, no. Shinji had to be planning something more, if only she could guess what. Maybe he would have Unit 1 eat him? Or maybe slowly crush him in hand as he had Tabris in several different runs before. Possibly something more personal instead? Shinji was working out with a singular focus, would he attempt to beat the older man to death now that he was also backed by the power of the strongest Angel to ever live?

She would just come out and ask him, maybe late at night once all the others were asleep. It could make for wonderful pillow talk.

-b-

Tokyo-III was ever a city of humanity's triumphs over the natural world. While Second Impact had done so much damage to the Earth and its people, it was here that humanity came together. To fight back against the forces that would see them fall. Where the light and fire of humanity's will beat back the cold and unfeeling universe.

To Shinji, Tokyo-III was the center of his life's problems and some of the best times of his life. Yes he met Asuka and Rei here, built countless lives where they experienced happiness and joy in abundance. But they had also lost. Lost so much. Families, friends, lovers. Countless lives where they had fought and fought and fought with no end in sight. Every run clinging to what sanity they had left in the hopes that one day they would see the end of this Angel war. To a time where their lives actually belonged to them.

With a heavy sigh as he leaned against the railing of their balcony, Shinji had just slipped away from Asuka, Rei and Hikari while all slept soundly in the girls' apartment. A can of juice in hand, he smiled as he considered their date night a resounding success. Ritsuko had yet to come by, but his phone held a message from her that she would be working late. Not unexpected, but still a little sad. The older woman needed love and plenty of it. Another point towards why his father deserved all the pain in the world directed at him and him alone. Well, Seele did deserve their own personal hell, but that was another matter entirely. One that he was sure Rei had some type of idea for once again. Each run she seemed to track down another additional member.

Pulled from his thoughts by the sliding glass door opening behind him, Shinji was greeted to a smiling Misato clad in a purple bathrobe. Closing the door behind herself, she joined him at the rail and looking up to the Tokyo-III skyline where the city lights drowned out the stars. "One of the world's saviors can't sleep? That's a first."

Turning his body towards her but continuing to look out into the distance, Shinji nodded slowly once. "Just some things on my mind. Nothing really serious. I'm sorry if I woke you."

Rolling her eyes, Misato considered the young man next to her. Something was really bothering him, his usual carefree attitude was long gone at the moment and it was something she was picking up on quickly. "I have a hard time sleeping too when my mind is busy busy. Plus, work has my sleep schedule all jacked up." Reaching out and gently caressing Shinji's shoulder, Misato continued to smile at him softly. "How about it. Penny for your thoughts?" Something passed behind those blue eyes of his that piqued the Major's curiosity. What went on in the mind of one of the chosen children?

"You know what they say, young men only think about one thing." Deflection was a hard habit to break, especially towards one that he truly cared for. There wasn't a single run he could remember that Misato was terrible to him. Always the doting one, full of life and compassion. Vendetta she may have, but she always looked out for them.

Bopping him on the shoulder, Misato slid his way to bump shoulders with him, "We both know you aren't a normal young man. Sure you and Rei get up to the usual teenage antics, and I'm not entirely sure what's going on between you and Asuka, but you've got more of a burden than most of humanity. Don't sell yourself short."

Well Misato was locked onto him now, short of breaking out some heavy teasing that he wasn't really in the mood for, she wasn't going to leave him alone until his mood changed for the better and he spilled something. Heaving a sigh, Shinji once more considered the night sky. "My old man is a bit of a sore subject." More deflection it was. He wasn't sure it was time to bring Misato in yet, at least, not without consulting the other two first.

Ah, so that was what this was. Misato was no stranger to parental hangups. "Join the club." A flash of memory. Great white wings, a cross pushed into her hands, an escape capsule bobbing on the waves. With a shake she focused on the present and the young man who lately occupied more of her attention than necessary.

"He's…well we don't really see eye to eye. Hell, if given the chance I'd probably take a bat to his kneecaps if I could. I know he's never seen me as his son, especially after mom died. Just the pilot. The tool needed to make Unit One move. If I couldn't even do that, he'd never even acknowledge that I was alive." Shinji knew it well enough as well. Once, after more than a dozen runs, Shinji had suppressed his ability to pilot. Shut himself off from mother. It was near instant how quickly Gendo had thrown him away once more. Another failure in a sea of failures for Rokubungi. Things had gone to shit rather quickly that run. Bonus for the shit pile was that it took a few more runs for Asuka or Rei to forgive him.

"Do you think, that it's just he has a lot on his plate. The Commander does have the fate of the world on his shoulders." It sounded hollow even as the words left her mouth. Misato knew it was an empty platitude and by the snort that left Shinji he knew it as well. "Okay, I know. But when was the last time you actually tried to talk to the old man?"

It wasn't necessary anymore really. Shinji knew that but Misato didn't. Shinji knew his sperm donor's obsession. His reason for this crusade. All roads led back to Gendo's perfect world with his mother. Only his mother. Shinji and the rest of the world were only ever an afterthought. "Been a while I suppose. Not like it matters though does it? If he wanted to be a part of my life all it would take is a phone call. We work for the same organization, and I can't even get so much as a hello." Shrugging and leaning a bit more into Misato, Shinji finally let his gaze fall to the earth below. The streets were quiet this late at night, just past midnight as it was. "All I need are my friends and my chosen family. The people I've decided on my own to give my love and affection to." Another dry chuckle as words given to him from Asuka came to mind, "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the waters of the womb."

Absently Misato nodded along, falling into a companionable silence with the young man who secretly to herself she could admit had a large place in her heart. Raising her arm up to his shoulders, she pulled him into her side a bit firmer. "We'll always be here Shinji. For whatever you need. You don't have to go it alone." She knew what led down that path. It was never pretty, sometime downright awful. Full of self loathing and isolation.

Leaning into the currently taller woman, Shinji smiled, "I appreciate you, Misato. Thank you, for being you." Admittedly she was very warm, and he could use the companionship. Just like the other two, he wasn't used to being alone anymore.

"Hah, I can't be anyone else now can I?" Misato turned to share a smile with the boy, before squeaking as a stronger than it looked arm to snaked around her middle. "Oh my, how bold of you." She could feel her face flush with heat, but thankfully Shinji wasn't paying attention.

Turning to look back out into the distance, Shinji considered what to do next. They had time before the next Angel's arrival, the next few some of the worst they would have to deal with. But the Angel's were never the problem in the end. No. It was always humanity's greatest threat.

Itself.

"Fortune favors the bold doesn't it? Besides, it's cold, I'm just sharing body heat." Truth there this time, it was actually starting to get colder in the evenings. Not that they would ever experience a true winter ever again.

Considering her options, Misato didn't immediately remove the warm hand on her side. "I think you've done quite enough of that haven't you? What do you need this onee-chan for?"

"I'm just appreciating beauty where I find it." Now full truth. Shinji could easily admit Misato was a very beautiful woman. If given the chance Asuka and Rei would probably be her rivals in a few years. If they made it that far this time.

"So corny." Rolling her eyes, Misato let it slide for today. Shinji was obviously going through a lot and needed something to hold him together mentally. She didn't mind being that person for tonight. "Just no keeping me up much longer, you're a growing boy, you should be sleeping."

Smirk blooming on his face, Shinji's retort was near instant, "Well why don't you put me to sleep then?"

Huffing and pulling away, Misato had to hide her grin as she made for the balcony door, "God you're like a younger but somehow sleazier Kaji when you wanna be. Bring my back my romantic and kindhearted Shin-chan." Both of them shared a look with one another before soft laughter erupted from the pair. Enough that even Shinji had to eventually clear a tear from the corner of his eye. "God, I can't tell anymore when you're serious or your joking."

Smiling as he walked past her into the house, Shinji leaned in and once more kissed the older woman on the cheek, "There's no joking when it comes to love. I love you, Misato. Don't you forget it." Then he was gone, back to his room where more likely one or all of the girls had already snuck in and were waiting for him to go back to sleep.

Left behind and frozen in place, Misato wasn't to sure if her body shivers were from the cold or from what she was feeling. Maybe it was time to finally have that chat with Ritsuko. So long as her thoughts didn't keep her up all night.

-AN-

A short chapter to get things rolling again. I think I'm going to just focus on one story at a time. To many plot-line rolling around in my head sort of paralyzed me for a while, along with life.

Anyway, we've taken a softer route with Ritsuko, while Misato seems on the fence about what she needs to do. But what does Shinji have in store for his father, and what is Rei planning with that Angel? Time will tell.