Neon Genesis Evangelion: Blue Shift

Chapter One:

The phone stopped ringing and the answering machine clicked and hummed into life.

'Hii, you have called the Katsuragi residence! We can't make it to the phone right now, so leave a message after the beep and we'll get back to ya! Okay? Oookay! Bye now!"

Beep.

"Hi Asuka, its Misato. Just ringing to let you know that I won't be home tonight, I'll be working at Nerv until late and probably just crash on the fold out couch in my office. Order take-out if you like, you know my credit card details. Oh, and don't forget to feed Pen-pen! Umm... okay, see ya!"

Asuka Langley Soryu looked up from where she had sat slumped at the kitchen table, head resting on her hands.

"That's okay Misato." She said, staring balefully at the machine. 'Why don't you just come out and admit you're staying there because you can't stand to be around me? With your beloved Shinji gone, there's no reason to come back here anyway, is there Misato?"

Silence, and the flashing message light of the machine, was her only answer.

Rei Ayanami often wandered the streets of a night time. Just a slim wraith, almost invisible in the shadows of the darkened streetscape of the Tokyo-3 suburbs. Walking was an escape from the dreams that had haunted her sleep since the Battle with the 14th Angel. The Battle where she had been so easily defeated and tossed aside by the Enemy. The Battle where she had watched, virtually at point blank range, the rage and horror of Unit 01 going berserk and devouring the Angels S2 organ before her very eyes.

The Battle that had also taken the Third Child, Pilot Ikari, away from her.

Since that day, almost two weeks previously, there had been no comfort in sleep for Rei. The nightmares of blood and wrenching horror that had left her uncharacteristically shaken and fearful and her sheets drenched in cold sweat night after night would give the young girl no peace.

Pilot Ikari, Ikari-kun was gone. The nervous boy who had been the only person in her entire life to show her kindness and concern. This Boy had cried for her, and had asked her to smile for him. This Boy who was capable so much rage and kindness and fear. The Boy who had brought the young blue haired pilot out of her world of existing only as a tool for one man's purpose and into the realisation that the interactions of Human Beings were worthy and valuable.

That boy was gone.

Rei Ayanami didn't know how to deal with that loss. Nothing in her experience had prepared her for the pain that his disappearance had caused her. A grief, almost physically painful, had gripped the young girl's heart since that day.

So, every night since, she had walked the darkened streets of Tokyo 3. Finding solace in the simple action of wandering the city aimlessly. Or almost aimlessly. She was aware, that by accident or perhaps by subconscious design, she never walked the same way twice. It was like she was searching for the answer to her pain on the empty streets of the city night after night.

No satisfactory answer had been forthcoming as yet.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the small beep of an alarmon her wristwatch. She stopped underneath one of the streetlights. She crouched down and rummaged around in her satchel eventually taking out one tiny, red and white capsule. She stared at it in her hand for more than a minute.

Maybe here was some kind of answer to her need.

Rei then stared out across Tokyo 3. The glare of the sodium streetlights bleaching her hair and skin a metallic yellow. Only the red of her eyes stood out as she narrowed them, took in her surroundings and recognised one of the buildings in the distance.

With a silent nod to herself Rei put the capsule back into her satchel and stood up.

More purposefully now Rei Ayanami walked towards her new destination.

Asuka belched loudly, giggled, and opened her third can of Yebisu. Misato, she knew, would never miss a few cans, and besides, the redhead thought to herself, it's not like she was a kid anymore! Not like that stupid Shinji.

Stupid Shinji.

This surreptitious drinking had only started three nights ago. In the fortnight since her defeat at the hands of the 14th Angel Asuka had been spiralling deeper and deeper into a self propelled tailspin of anxiety and self loathing. She had avoided school since the battle and avoided all personal contact. This had been easy. Misato had hardly been back to the apartment since that awful day. Asuka's pretty face twisted into a sneer, Misato was too worried about her precious Shinji, more like, she thought to herself. Her best friend Hikari was too concerned with mooning over her injured dumb jock 'boyfriend' to pay any attention to the German girl. And that was it. Asuka, despite her perceived status as the most popular girl at school, didn't have anyone else in her life that she could actually talk to or call friend at any level. Just Misato and Hikari. Oh, and Shinji, of course.

Stupid Shinji.

She never realised how much she would actually miss the brown haired boy. That walking doormat of constant apologies and Freudian Father Issues. Just thinking about the Third Child brought a knot to her stomach and a painful tightness to her throat. Ever since arriving in Japan her destiny had been intertwined with that of the younger Ikari's and it seemed no matter how much she tried to push him away she almost simultaneously found herself drawing closer to him.

Then there had been that kiss. Her very first one. The one that, despite her denials, even to herself, she had never regretted. She shook her head and frowned to herself. What was wrong with her? She had pushed the boy even further away after that. He shouldn't have taken advantage of her vulnerability. He needed to suffer so that he would know how bad she felt.

She had thought him weak when he had left Nerv after the battle with the 13th Angel. Weak for deserting his duty. She was angry at him for deserting Nerv in its hour of need.

For deserting her.

Stupid Shinji.

But he had come back and defeated the Angel, of course! The same Angel that had brushed her aside like a mere annoyance and left broken both the redheaded girl and her Evangelion. Shown her up for the pathetic little girl she was. She was devastated, humiliated and... And... Alone. The Third Child had disappeared and left her alone.

Stupid Shinji.

The young girl's mind could only take so much. She felt as if she would implode from the seething emotion that was churning inside her. Being alone in the apartment all week meant that eventually something would have to break, and so it did.

Not even sure why she was doing it, she had taken the first golden can of Yebisu of out Misato's over sized beer refrigerator and just stared at it as it gleamed on the kitchen table. The condensation beaded on the surface alluringly. She knew what she was doing wasn't right, but the part of her that cared was overwhelmed by the need to do something to deaden the turmoil inside of her.

Almost on autopilot she cracked open the can and raised it to her lips.

Bleargh!

What did Misato see in that stuff? Still, she thought, No point wimping out now! So it was that she had downed her first can in a mere couple of minutes. Maybe it's not as bad as I thought? She couldn't deny the fact that while at first seeming bitter to her inexperienced palate, the stuff really grew on you. Not to mention the fact that the buzz had already kicked in and really taken the edge off her anxiety as well. The most natural thing in the world had been to have another one, and one more after that.

The next thing she remembered was waking up on the couch late the next morning with Pen-Pen snuggled up next to her.

"Ach! Get off me you perverted penguin!"

'Wark! 'Replied Pen-pen in disgust and waddled off to his Refrigerator.

Asuka had cleaned the cans off the coffee table in case Misato came home unexpectedly, brushed her teeth and spent the rest of the day in bed.

That had been the first night.

The next night had been much the same, only this time Pen-Pen had kept a respectful distance.

The next morning dawned bright and new, heavy with the potential of another day in the technological epicentre of the Globe. The citizens of this gleaming Technopolis crowded onto the trains and busses. The school children, scientists, technicians and salarymen of Tokyo 3 all following the same routine as every weekday morning as the schools, offices, labs and factories filled for the day.

All of the citizens except for one that is. Asuka Langley Soryu slept blissfully through it all, slumbering all the way past midday and into the PM side of the dial.

She awoke late and really not feeling so hot. So what? She thought to herself turning over in bed. I'm not going to school anyway! I couldn't face them there. Damn them all! I've got a freaking DEGREE from Berlin Polytechnic! Why should I go to....?

Her train of thought was derailed mid internal tirade.

"What the...?" She exclaimed.

She looked around her. This was not her room. This was not her bed! She leapt out of the bed, scattering sheets as she did so.

This was Shinji's room!

There was no way around it; she had slept the night in the Third Child's bed. The normally tidy room was festooned with rumpled sheets and there was a small puddle of drool on the pillow where she had been sleeping!

Oh boy! She thought to herself, if Misato had caught me here it would have been soo embarrassing!

Still, she had to admit, it was the best she had slept in a long time. But that was it, no more Yebisu! Self discipline and respect was too important. She would just have to live with those inner demons and tough it out without the aid of alcohol.

'''''''''''''''''''

Needless to say Asuka was already well onto her third can of Yebisu that evening when the doorbell rang.

The redhead leapt to her feet, scattering empty cans onto the floor around her.

That must be the pizza! She thought groggily to herself. Staggering slightly she stumbled her way towards the door, tripping headlong over her own shoes that she had carelessly cast off in the hallway several days earlier.

Crash!!

"Sheisse! Verdammt Schweinhundt .....!" She exclaimed sprawling amongst the carefully placed slippers and umbrellas of her flatmates.

The doorbell rang for a second time.

"Alright, alright! Keep your hair on!" She said testily. She disentangled herself from the carnage she had created at the entryway and brushing herself down she pressed the button to open the front door to the apartment.

Hang on a second... She thought to herself as the door slid open, I didn't order pizza! But the realisation came too late.

Asuka's next thought never stood a chance. It was completely blown out of the water by the apparition that stood at her doorway.

Rei Ayanami. The First Child. Wondergirl. Commander Ikari's doll. The blue haired girl stood awkwardly at the front door of her apartment, still in her school uniform with her satchel hanging loosely from her shoulder.

"Good evening, Pilot Soryu. I apologise for disturbing you so late in the day."

Asuka's mouth worked up and down, her hands flapped feebly by her side as her beer fuddled mind struggled to deal with her unexpected visitor.

"Wondergirl... "The Redhead spoke finally.

"Pilot Soryu." Rei Ayanami replied, wincing almost imperceptibly at the beery waft that emanated from the German pilot. "I wish to speak with you."

Several conflicting emotions chased their way across Asuka's face. But still the First Child stared at her. Asuka opened her mouth to speak again but all that emerged was a strangled croak.

"Pilot Soryu, may I enter?"

"Sure, "She snarled, eventually gaining control over her faculties. "Why the hell not? Come on in!"

Rei followed the redhead into the apartment somewhat puzzled. The Second Child appeared different somehow. Her clothing was wrinkled and dishevelled, her hair loose and untidy. Not to mention the odour of stale beer that clung to the German girl.

Asuka cleared the empty beer cans off the kitchen table and motioned for Rei to sit.

Rei sat.

Asuka sat opposite her, unceremoniously plonking a can of Yebisu in front of Rei as she opened another for herself. Rei looked at her with a confused look on her pale face.

"Drink up!" The Redhead said. "I'm sick of drinking alone Wondergirl. So if you wanna talk, you gotta drink!"

Rei opened the can awkwardly and raised it to her lips and took a sip. Asuka waited for the blue haired girl's reaction. There was none. She looked at Ayanami questioningly.

"Well?"

"It is not unpleasant." Rei finally said.

Asuka grinned wolfishly. "Drink up then Wondergirl! There's plenty more where that came from."

"I do not like it when you call me that Pilot Soryu."

"Fine, you call me Asuka, and finish that beer, and I'll see what I can do!"

To Asuka's surprise Rei raised can to her mouth and drank deeply, finally putting the empty can down on the table. Asuka placed another in front of Rei and took a drink from her own beer.

"So, Rei, what brings you here on this fine evening?"

"I seek advice."

A smile worked its way onto Asuka's face. This should be interesting!

"Of course you do Won... Rei. What kind of advice?" She said before downing the rest of her beer.

"I want to know about love."

The contents of Asuka's mouth quickly transformed into a beery aerosol in the space between the two girls.

"Uh... Love?" She finally said, wiping the beer off her chin with her sleeve. "Um, I'm not sure if I'm the person you want to talk to First! I don't really roll that way, if you get my drift. Maybe Lt Ibuki might be more receptive to giving you advice. Uh... It's not that you're not cute and all... "Asuka continued, the Yebisu guiding her words. "It's just, well, I... Uh... "Sheesh... this is awkward!

"No Pilot Soryu... "

"Asuka!" The Redhead called from the beer fridge, fetching two more cans and plonking them down in front of herself and the First Child.

"My apologies, Asuka." Said Rei, sipping from her can."You misunderstand me. This may help explain." Ayanami reached into her satchel and pulled out a large zip-lock plastic bag and placed it on table between them. Asuka goggled at it. There must have been at least two hundred little red and white capsules contained in that bag. This was getting weird, fast. What on Earth was Ayanami Rei, the least interesting sentient being this side of Fukuoka, doing with all of these pills?

"Rei." Asuka slurred."What on Earth are you doing with all of these pills? Are you dealing drugs to the junior school kids or something?"

Rei smiled. Oh boy, Asuka thought, it's even worse than I thought!

"No, Asuka." Rei said."These are mine. This is approximately one month's supply of the drugs NERV has supplied me with my entire life. Dr. Akagi informs me that they are the only thing keeping me alive. I no longer believe her." Again that disturbing little smile."Asuka, my whole life I have been a tool, a pawn in one man's game of total domination. Nothing but a doll, as you have so eloquently put it. "

"Umm... So you could die if you stop taking these pills?" Asuka's head was swimming and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Rei was risking death to prove her wrong?

"So Dr Akagi informs me. However I cannot live while I am taking them. Thanks to Pilot Ikari and yourself, I have begun to feel things that I have never experienced before. Things that I can only classify as emotions. The company of Pilot Ikari brings me a pleasant feeling that I can only imagine is what is called Joy. And even you, Asuka, stir very strong feelings within me."

"Ulp... erm... What kind of feelings?"

"I guess I would describe them as annoyance and irritation."

"Oh."

"I have often felt these emotions during the past few months, but whenever I take these capsules the feelings become muted and indistinct. It is like I am hollow, dead inside. I can no longer tolerate living this way, Asuka. I am resolved to cease taking these drugs as of now."

"But Ritsuko said you could die!"

Rei bowed her head. "Dr Akagi has only contempt for me in her heart. I believe she tells me this to better control me for her, and Commander Ikari's, purposes."

Asuka found her heart going out to the lonely Blue haired girl. She also had held the First Child in contempt for much of the time they had known each other. The warm, pleasant feelings that the Yebisu had brought out in her gave both a pity and admiration for Rei's plight in life.

"Aren't you scared, Rei?"

Ayanami lifted up her head. To Asuka's shock, there were tears welling in the Blue haired girl's eyes.

"Rei?"

"I am nobody's Doll!" the girl said sobbing as tears began to pour from her eyes in great torrents.

Asuka got to her feet and on wobbly legs made her way around to Rei and clasped the First Child in her arms. She held Rei to her chest, who quickly drenched the front of the redheads t-shirt as the convulsive sobs took over her body.

"No...Nobody's...Doll!"

Asuka ran her hand through Rei's cerulean hair. This is so surreal! She thought to herself. Was this really Wondergirl? This poor broken girl who was weeping uncontrollably in her arms.

"Rei... "

The Blue haired girl kept sobbing.

"Rei... "

"Rei, I need you to stop for a moment."

Rei's sobbing slowly came back under control.

"Okay, Rei. Take a deep breath, that's it! Boy, you really are a sad drunk!"

The First Child gave a weak smile at Asuka's joke. The sight of that pale tear streaked face with its red-rimmed puffy eyes attempting to smile nearly broke Asuka's heart. She had so misjudged this girl!

"That's more like it!" She said. "I'm sorry I ever called you a Doll, Rei. That was... mean of me. I don't think of you that way now, I promise!"

The First Child gave a tiny muffled sob at Asuka's words, but then her smile grew even brighter.

"Thank you Asuka." She said.

"You're welcome!" Asuka replied, smiling back at her. "I only have two more things to ask you Rei."

"What is that, Asuka?"

Asuka grinned at her."The first thing is.... Let's be good friends! It would be so... convenient!"

Rei Ayanami actually giggled! Such a thing has never been heard in all of her years on this Earth! Asuka thought that it was one of the sweetest sounds that she had ever heard.

"Even if I were ordered not to, I would still be your friend, Asuka. Only you, and Pilot Ikari, have ever shown me such kindness."

Asuka felt a pang of guilt at her previous antagonistic attitude to this girl. Coupled with another of pain at the mention of Shinji Ikari. The boy that was gone.

"What was your second question, Asuka?"

"Oh, that's easy. Why did you come here tonight? I have never shown you any kindness or given you any reason to approach me before. I am so glad you came, Rei, but in your place I wouldn't have come to you, I would have thought you would reject me out of hand."

"The answer to that is also easy. You are an Evangelion Pilot. I am an Evangelion Pilot. We are bonded that way. In the whole of the World there is no other that has the same experiences as we. I know that you have not thought kindly of me in the past, Pilot Sor... Asuka, but you are the only one that can possibly share with me and try to understand with me, what I am feeling and what that implications of the decision I have made are."

Mien Gott, I've never heard the First talk so much before. Asuka thought as she reached across and took another swig from her can of Yebisu.

"Also," Asuka said stroking Rei's hair. "You did ask me about Love. What was that all about?"

"Since the battle with the 14th Angel, where Pilot Ikari was lost to us. I have felt a deep pain inside me. I find that I think about him constantly, missing his presence and wishing he was back with us. Do you not feel the same way?"

"Uh... Me?"

"Yes Asuka. I know that you and the Third Child had become close during your time here, although I feel that you try to hide this fact from him, am I correct?"

"With Shinji? That baka? Mr Invincible? I... "

"Do you feel this way also?"

Now it was Asuka's turn to feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

"I do Rei! I miss him so much. I miss his cooking, I miss walking to school with him, I miss teasing him and calling him idiot, I even miss his pathetic apologies!" She began to sob into Rei's hair. "I want him back Rei! I want my pathetic little Baka back! I'm not strong enough to do this without him anymore!"

Rei lifted her hand up and stroked Asuka's face gently.

"Is that love?" She asked simply.

"I... sniff... I'm not sure." Asuka replied. "But I do know that I want him back."

"I also feel the same way Asuka." Rei said. "I think that it is love. Though I cannot be sure. I do know that if I continue to take these pills that Dr Akagi supplies me with then I will never know. That is worse to me than dying. I would rather die and know love than live in a twilight without emotion."

Asuka muffled a sob. "Heh, if that baka knew that there were two hot pilots weeping over his sorry butt he'd probably die of a terminal nosebleed!"

"I do not understand."

"You don't have to Rei. Let's just say if he ever makes it back, he'll never believe what has happened here!"

Rei smiled once more. "I do believe you are right Asuka."

"You know it, Blue!" Asuka grinned.

The two pilots settled into a comfortable silence together.

"Asuka?"

"Yes, Rei?"

"May I stay here tonight?"

"I'll do better than that Ayanami! You can stay here permanently! Shinji told me about that hovel you live in. Now that we're friends there's no way I'm gonna let you stay there a minute longer!"

"Are you sure?" Rei asked. Her red eyes wide.

"Damn sure! We've got enough room here for another person, and Misato won't care! We'll get those Section 2 Goons to bring your stuff over tomorrow and it'll be official!" She swept her arm out with a flourish. "Welcome home, roomie!"

"I... I... thank you."

"No Rei. I thank you!" Asuka said smiling."Now... let's drink to a new beginning!"

''''''''''''

The next morning.... 1130hrs

"Uhhhhhhh..... "Asuka groaned as consciousness gingerly made its way into her brain. Her head pounded and her mouth felt like a parakeet had been nesting in it all night. She groaned again and stretched out her arms.

"Oof"

That wasn't me! She thought. She peeled open her eyes and was startled to be staring straight into another pair of Red eyes looking back at her. She gasped for a second before the hazy events of the night before came crashing back into her memory.

"Good Morning Asuka." Rei said.

"Umm... Good Morning Rei." Asuka replied.

"Asuka, I do not feel very well."

"You're not Robinson Crusoe there Wond... Rei!"

The First Child frowned.

"I mean I feel pretty crappy myself. I'm not sure how much Yebisu we drank last night, but I'm pretty sure we would have given Misato a run for her money!"

"I do not know how I came to be here Asuka. Is this not Pilot Ikari's room?"

"Ummm... Yes it is. And no, I have no idea how we ended up here Rei. But I've learned not to question it. What I am concerned about is how we both ended up in Shinji's t-shirts?"

"Yes, that is most puzzling."

"Oh my yes!"Asuka agreed

"Does this mean we are a couple now?" Rei asked.

"What?"Asuka exclaimed sitting up in the bed.

"I is just that I have read that when two people sleep together they are often considered to be a couple. I was wondering if this were the case?"

Asuka laughed, albeit somewhat nervously.

"Umm, no."

"Very well, I understand."

The moment of awkward silence was broken by the buzz of Asuka's cell phone from out in the kitchen. Asuka leapt out of the bed and ran to the kitchen to answer it.

"Moshi moshi!"

"Asuka." Misato's said down the phone."I need you to come into NERV immediately! Ritsuko has a new test to try and free Shinji from Unit 01's core and we need the other Evangelions on standby for it."

"Sure thing Misato!" Asuka replied."Do you want me to tell Rei for you?"

"What?... Oh...um... sure. Thanks Asuka that would be great! See you then."

"Thanks Misato! Bye!"

'''''''''''

Misato hung up the phone. What was going on? Why was Asuka so happy to hear from her? And more weirdly, why was she offering to talk to Rei?

"This job just gets weirder and weirder!"

"What was that, Major?" Hyuga asked from his station on the bridge.

"Nothing. What's the status on Units 00 and 02?"

"Both fully repaired and operational Ma'am. That's the main reason Dr Akagi scheduled the test for today isn't it Ma'am?"

"Of course. We can't trust Unit 01 after the last battle. But would the others be able to stop it if it goes berserk again?"

Really Misato was more concerned about Unit 01's pilot. Her Shinji was stuck inside that monster. She knew that if it came down to it, she'd climb in there and drag him out, Unit 01 and Commander Ikari could go to Hell!

End Chapter 1.

Authors notes:

Hi there!

Let me know what you think of this one. It's one I wrote mostly in one day, so it might be a bit rough around the edges, but I'd like to know if you consider it worth continuing. I'd hit a bit of a block in writing one of my other stories –My Iron Lung—And this idea kind of popped up! I think at most it'll be about 4-5 chapters worth of story, so let me know if you like it, so I know if I should persevere with it.

Ja.

Greenfang.