Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ Neon Genesis Evangelion: Wings of the Seraphim ❯ 02-Return to Life ( Chapter 2 )

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Wings of the Seraphim

by Alexei Seranov

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Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion. Don't sue, I'm a poor Jew.

"Blahblah" is Dialogue.

'Blahblah' is Thought.

<Blahblah> is Telepathic Dialogue.

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CHAPTER 2:

Return to Life

"…I dunno Ken. Y'think he'll be good? Shin-man didn't look so hot when we were here last…" These were the first words Shinji Ikari heard as he woke, the mechanical hiss of the cell door bringing him from a rather blank state of mind. Since finding his mother, Shinji realized he didn't have nightmares anymore, but there was only blackness and a comfortable silence. He assumed it meant he needed to make some dreams for himself. But more pressing this were on his mind at the moment.

'Alright! Free from this place at last.' Shinji gave himself a mental high-five.

"Sure Touji. He'll be fine. He's fought giant monsters, I'm sure a few days in a cell ain't gonna hurt him." The voices of the other two members of the 'Three Stooges,' Kensuke Aida and Touji Suzahara, rang loud outside the cell. Opening his eyes, albeit languidly, the young prisoner is greeted to a silhouette of a group of people standing outside his cell door. "See Touji! I told ya' he'd be fine." Sitting up, he puts on a genuine smile. Throwing his legs over the side of the bed and putting on the shoes he has been given, Shinji stands and walks to the door.

"So, how is everyone? Miss me?" With a playful wink and another smile, the young Pilot seemed much different than when he had entered the small detention block cell. His question was answered briefly by the few that cared enough to welcome him out of his imprisonment, starting with his best friends.

"Good t'see ya, Shin-man." As Kensuke and Touji mimicked each other, they simultaneously smiled and gave Shinji a playful punch in the arm. After Shinji had recovered from the force of the impact, he turned to the most important women in his life... If you could call them that…

"Welcome back, Shinji-kun." Misato gave him a quick hug, then stepped back to allow the two young girls to greet him.

"Hello Ikari." Ayanami was as reserved as ever, his mind quietly noted. With a nod on her part, she turned away and walked out, probably to do whatever she did when she was alone at NERV. Lastly, there was his loudmouthed German roommate, Asuka. She glared at him lightly, with far less conviction then usual.

"Welcome back, Idiot. Hmmph." She turned away, but he knew that he caught the traces of a smile on her face.

"So… can I go home now?" Shinji looked to Misato, and she was smiling. She nodded once, and he smiled back. "Great." Giving the guards a slight glare, the young man and his rag-tag group of friends left the detention block. However, it was very apparent to the group that Shinji wasn't acting like himself. His head was held high, his strides were nowhere near as sluggish and tired as they had been. It was as if… something… had happened to the boy in that cell. He almost moved with a grace none had seen from the boy before.

The pervert must have been having hentai fantasies about me… There's no way he could be this happy otherwise. The thoughts of Asuka Sohryu were focused on this anomaly. Shinji is a loser and a weakling. Why does he look to happy and… strong…?

Damn. Shinji-man's nev'a been like 'dis. I wonda' why? As typical, the thoughts of the designated Fourth Child were rather simplistic, but he had his heart in the right place.

I wonder why my Shinji-kun's so… upbeat? What have his poor eyes seen in this place? Misato Katsuragi, in standard fashion, kept her thoughts to herself. She wouldn't ask the boy she considered her son, nor would he talk to her about it. That was how it was, and that's how it would be. Just like always… My poor Shinji-kun… Why must you hide everything from me? Her sad thoughts were stopped by a certain blue-eyed pilot's quiet statement.

"No, I haven't been possessed by aliens…" The calm, yet more enthusiastic-than-normal voice of the Third Child pitched in.

"We didn't think you were, Idiot." Asuka was in rare form, irritated at being dragged from her introspection.

"Oh… okay. Hey, I'm not a mind reader, it just you guys seem all spaced-out. If you want to know why I'm like this, you're gonna have to wait 'til we get home…" And wait they did. Within a good hour, they had all seated themselves in the Katsuragi/Ikari/Langley household. "Well. This is how it is…"

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Fifteen minutes found the entire group staring incredulously at the young boy. "You saw your WHO?!?!" Misato was the first to break from the trance. She was saddened that it had not been her constant visits and bringing Shinji's friends that had helped him regain hope. Instead, it had been someone else…

"I saw my mother." Shinji stated placidly, as if it was everyday stuff to talk to your dead mother, and have her talk back.

"But… but Yui Ikari is… she's…" Misato stuttered in a low voice.

"Dead? Not really. Just a little indisposed. She's stuck in Unit 01." His face brightened slightly at the mention of the enormous Purple-People-Eater.

"IN Unit 01!?!?" Asuka chose this time to add her two yen. "Are you stupid? That's not possible! The Evas are just big dumb robots! There can't be people in them!" Asuka stood in her trademark pose, glaring at the Third Child, only to find him smiling in response.

"Why don't you just ask yours? I'm sure it'd be glad to have a nice talk to you. Just show it you want to be aware of others. It'll do the rest. At least, that's how it worked for me. I have to thank you, Misato, for that," He turned his smile and his gaze to the now slack-jawed Major, "You made me open up. If it weren't for you, I'd still be weepy and angry about what the Dummy Plug did to Touji. I admit it: I'm sorry I couldn't stop it more quickly, but that's the past. I'm going to do my damndest to protect each and every one of you." Kensuke and Touji were still struck speechless, but Touji seemed to smile faintly, and Kensuke had a slight gleam in his eye. Shinji threw them a smile, and turned back to the others.

"I don't need protection from someone like you, Idiot. I'm sure I'll be fine on my own," Asuka practically sneered at him, apparently her initial good-will had worn through.

"Too bad, Asuka. You're getting my protection, like it or not. You can bitch and moan about it all you like, but I'm sure as hell not going to let you go out and get killed. As long as I have my mother protecting me, I'll be unstoppable!" An uncharacteristic shimmer of determination and sheer-will glinted in the dual steel-blue abysses that were Shinji's eyes. It was all it took for everyone to just shut up and nod dumbly, agreeing with him. "Good. Now, we've got some catching up to do…"

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Elsewhere, in the bowels of NERV HQ's Geofront, specifically the medical ward, one of the most powerful men on Earth awoke from the worst, not to mention only, dream he had experienced since Yui's death. He grunted, sitting up in the bed. That was… interesting. Let's hope it doesn't happen again… Why am I in the medical ward? The Supreme Commander of NERV glowered around stonily, however, it was actually the nearest to a perplexed look he could muster. He reached for the call-button on the desk next to the bed, and calmly pressed it once. He sat himself up, and waited for someone to answer the call. Finally, a young nurse, most likely no older than 24, walked cautiously in. The Commander was universally feared by all who worked at NERV, from the cafeteria attendants, all the way up to the Command Staff. It is good to know that they are aware of my wrath. It makes them work harder towards my goal. Gendo used his customary impersonal and very frightening baritone to keep the nurse of guard. "Why am I here?" The question was phrased as more of a statement than a query. Apparently, Gendo had a dislike for people that had no discrimination: everyone was treated equally poorly. Regardless, the nurse attempted to stutter out something the Commander could not hear. "Repeat that. Louder this time."

"Uhh…sir… we… uhhm… found you and Commander Fuyutski… unconscious… in your office…" She was greatly terrified. The man she was talking to could make entire cities disappear if he damn-well-pleased. Having her killed would be like blinking: He could have it done without conscious effort. She was greatly relieved when he nodded. "Sir… should… should I… have your uniform brought here?"

"Indeed." The man looked away, apparently done with the conversation. His eyes wandered to the window, giving a view of the Geofront and its main pyramid. A few minutes later, the nurse returned, dropping his uniform carefully onto the bed. She quickly stole away, leaving only a quick 'Goodbye' before practically flying out of the room. All is most definitely not going according to the scenario. If I am in the infirmary, then that means it was no dream. If Yui does not want to be with me, what is the point of this decade of work? What should I do now…? Commander Gendo Rokubungi then proceeded to take his uniform into the small bathroom. Emerging mere minutes later, he walked out of the room purposefully. As he left the medical wing, he was already plotting again. If this scenario has failed, then I will begin anew. If she doesn't want me, I will MAKE her want me…

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Once again, at the Katsuragi/Ikari/Sohryu household, peace and quiet was regained. This wasn't a deafening silence, nor was it uncomfortable. Again, Shinji Ikari lay in his room; acting as a beacon to the two women he lived with. He was the pillar, yet he wasn't even confidant in his abilities. He was the man of the house, yet he did all the chores. He was many things, and many things that defied the first set. And now, as he lay awake upon his own futon, he smiled as he realized these things. "Familiar ceiling… absolutely…" Listening to his music, Shinji's thoughts settled on his group of friends. First to step forward, in her usual manner, was Asuka.

She was a flame, a variable in Shinji's life. They say that a fire burns brightest before it burns out, but she just burned. And she burned others quite often. This was something the boy was acutely aware of. He appeared to be the redheaded pilot of Unit 02's favorite target. She called him 'Idiot,' "Pervert" and 'Moron.' She would berate and yell at him for no other reason than she felt like it. But he would take it all, and never say a word in return. Lord knows, he should have stood up for himself. The girl was just stuck-up and full of herself. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was that the Third couldn't see anything but the hurt little girl he had glimpsed after the almost-kiss while preparing for the Seventh. She could yell at him, beat him, and rub it all in his face for all eternity, but all he could see was that tear rolling down her beautiful face and the word "mama." She was everything he wished he could be, but he could tell she was just like him under all the anger and pride. A warm feeling passed through the young man's chest. It confused him. Little had felt like that. It was a glowing warmth, vague, yet sharp to his senses. What the hell? Shinji thought, confused at the sudden sensation. Oddly enough, as swiftly as it had come, it was gone. Oh well… Next, there was his guardian and surrogate mother-figure, Misato.

She was lively and high-spirited, beautiful and intelligent, and she cared for Shinji almost like he was her son. She gave him a home, friendship, and most importantly, she had given him love. Shinji felt a different form of the heat that had struck him earlier. It was less of a burning, and more of a dull heat. He smiled, as he could see Misato smiling back at him. She gave him a wink, and then she stepped back. So like her… Step in, give it a go, and then step back. She's so self-sacrificing. I hope I can protect her. I'm glad I ended up here, if for no reason more than I get to meet a great person like her. Next, was the ever-enigmatic Rei.

She was the direct opposite of Asuka. She was like ice, cold and hard. She was the hardest to understand of any person Shinji had ever met. She kept to herself, almost never spoke, and seemed so out-there that Shinji had once dismissed it as being anti-social. But time had brought him to the conclusion that she simply had no idea how to socialize. She was beautiful, on par with Asuka, but she was unique. Her short cobalt hair and blood red eyes proved she was most certainly not a normal person. But she was unique, and Shinji felt a draw to her. She had been the first he had protected, and he would keep protecting her until he died. He would do the same for everyone he cared for, but the almost brotherly need to keep her safe was first and foremost in his relationship with her. Shinji knew that, although she was attractive, he had never felt an actually pull towards her. Even when he'd accidentally landed on her, he was more intensely embarrassed at the fact that he had landed on her, not that he was on top of her. It may not have made much sense, but the mind of an unquestionably not-average teenager is hard to decipher. I wonder what Rei's like on the inside. Is she like me? Is she like anyone? And finally, there were the other two Stooges: the Third Child's best friends.

Kensuke and Touji were… unique individuals. One was a geek and computer nerd, almost constantly hacking into things he really shouldn't have been hacking into. The other was a jock and an amateur eating-contest member, his stomach was most definitely the way to his heart. The two had been his consorts and confidants for a while now, despite the rocky start of their friendship. Shinji was still happy that he could befriend the two. Although the fact that he had almost killed one of them was still there, the guilt was weakened by the knowledge that he had done all he could to stop the berserk monster he piloted. Touji's fine. I don't have to worry about Kensuke, he's smarter than that. At least Touji'll be in the geofront with us during the next Angel attack.

<Indeed he will, Shin-chan. It's good to see you have so many close friends.> Shinji was slightly surprised that his telepathic link with Eva-01, and therefore his mother, reached this far. <Silly Shin-chan. I can talk to you, no matter where you are. I'll try to not snoop around, though. I don't want to loose the innocent picture I have of my baby…>

Mom! I'm not that bad! Really! Touji and Kensuke are far more perverted than I am! Shinji turned bright crimson, a mass of blood flowing to his cranium. Over the time he had spent imprisoned, he had learned to channel his thoughts back to his mother. But I admit, I am happy to have so many people care about me. Before them, you'd been the only one. That bastard Rokubungi sure as hell didn't.

<Hush, young one. There is no need to mention that man anymore. He's gotten what he deserves.> Shinji could feel her grin. One quickly grew on his own face. <Well, I'm going to let you sleep. Good night, my little Shin-chan.>

Good night, Mother. Talk to you tomorrow? Shinji's voice was rather neutral, but she could sense the fact that he wanted to. She had so much she wanted to speak with him about, but it wasn't prudent at the moment. She would wait, but only a long as necessary, and not a moment more. She had made that mistake before.

<Of course. Ja, my Shinji-kun.> With that, Yui's voice was silent. Shinji smiled to himself, and slowly drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

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Through the wall, Asuka's mind was full of scorpions. Just as Macbeth was tormented by the past, so is the young female savior of the world. A long hallway, a young girl clad in red, a door, and the shouts of happiness were all that could be seen in her mind. The girl reached the door, and flung it wide open. She charged in, still shouting, only to be met with a swaying corpse, the smell of urine and decay, and the tattered body of a red-haired, button-eyed doll. The shouting stopped momentarily, only to be replaced with the shrieks of a young girl. The words, "Die with me, my Asuka!" rang in the air.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" As Asuka awoke screaming, she rolled herself into a fetal position, tears streaming down her face in chorus with the quiet sobs she emitted. Soon enough, something had come to check on her. It had yelled to something or someone else, but she couldn't make out the words. The image of the broken doll was all she could see. No Mama! Don't kill me! I don't wanna die! The first figure lifted her from the bed, and pulled her into an embrace. She didn't even realize she had grasped onto whomever or whatever it was that chose to comfort her, until she heard the soft, tender words coming from a decidedly male voice.

"…Calm down Asuka. Everything's gonna be alright. I'm here now. It'll be okay…" The slightly nervous, but very worried boy who held Asuka seemed to be ignoring the fact that he was going to be beaten severely, or that she'd torment him for the rest of his days. He was attempting to comfort her, and she was too far-gone to care about punishments. So she dug her head into his shoulder and cried in front of the first person ever. "That's right. Let it all out. I'm here for you…" Shinji didn't seem as nervous as before, and more enthused as he noticed she wasn't crying as hard now.

"Ba… baka-Shinji. You," She paused to sniffle, then continued, "tell anybody 'bout this, and," Again, she stopped to rub her nose. "I'm gonna kill you…" She looked up at him, and his hand moved up to wipe away her tears. "Moron…" She smiled slightly, before resting her head on his chest again.

"Of course Asuka. I won't." Shinji didn't know where the will to touch her face had come from, or the ability to just hold her. His mind was in shambles, but as long as he was comforting her, it was fine. She laid her head on his chest for what seemed forever, before drifting into a deep sleep. Shinji fell asleep soon after, and two women watched the event with barely-suppressed happiness. One stood at the doorway, her purple locks hiding her eyes, but not the gentle smile she wore. The other watched from inside Unit 01, smiling happily. Maybe her Shin-chan would be alright after all…

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AUTHOR'S NOTE, VER.2.0:

You know the deal with the changing. I've added a little more description, and changed a few things. I feel you'll enjoy this version just as much as the last. Enjoy!

Ja matane,

Alexei Seranov - May 24, 2003

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey again everyone. Alexei Seranov here, dropping another chapter of Wings of the Seraphim into your waiting arms. It's been a pleasure to write this one, and I hope you enjoy it. If you have any comments, just leave a review. Any hate mail? Send it to superjew27@hotmail.com. I will deal with it in my own… special manner. Anyway, I want to thank you for reading Chapter 02 of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Wings of the Seraphim.

Ja Mata,

Alexei Seranov

P.S.: Big thanks AGAIN to my prereaders, ChiRho and TekkaDark. I <3 you guys in a fully platonic manner. :D