I don't own anything.

Angel Eyes

-Chapter Fourteen

Shinji stared at the man before him as his brain ran through a number of possibilities. "So, are you going to tell me what I did?" It never hurt to buy time.

"What haven't you done?" the man asked blandly.

"Touché," Shinji admitted. "You know, last I heard, SEELE considered me no longer a problem."

"I'm not here from SEELE," the man stated. "I'm here of my own volition."

"You don't strike me as the kind who's doing this out of your desire to see a better world," Shinji stated. "I hurt you, didn't I?" The man's eyes narrowed. "No? Then someone close to you, right?"

"Actually, it was a whole team." That gave Shinji pause. The man was obviously a fake angel and not a real one, so CAS? When had he wiped out a whole CAS team personally? Oh.

"You know, I could have sworn that I killed you."

"No, just all my men," the man spat.

"To be fare, you were trying to kill my right hand man," Shinji pointed out. "Joshua, yes?" He remembered that assassination mission aimed at Al. SEELE had sent their most powerful and Shinji had killed them all with barely any effort. "Those things weren't really men."

"They were my men!" Joshua snarled. Neither of them saw Misato slip into her room and come out firing. "Bitch!" Shinji could feel the man's AT field roar to life as the bullet's ricocheted wildly.

"Quit shooting!" he snapped as a round whizzed by his ear. Shinji's mind was working even as his body acted. Joshua was strong, much stronger than he should have been, but it still took too much focus to create a bullet-proof AT field. He didn't see Shinji pick up one of the halves of the couch until said furniture hit him hard enough to send him slamming into the wall.

"Shinji?"

"Stay there!" Shinji snapped. The best way to fight an angel was to keep them from focusing. Shinji had learned that from a human. Of course, that man had been killed, by an angel. Shinji pounced on the dazed CAS agent and promptly began pummeling him. Hopefully a semi-decent ass kicking would keep him from focusing long enough for Shinji to kill him the old fashioned way.

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Misato watched in shock as her boyfriend attempted to beat the other man's face into the floorboards. "Shinji?"

"Stay there!" Shinji snarled again. A particularly hard blow sent Joshua's head snapping to the side and a spray of blue across the floor. Misato took an unconscious step back as she realized what that meant. The man was an angel. Well, that explained her overly poor shooting.

"Shinji, get out of the way!" Misato ordered as she raised her old USP again. Shinji glanced up, his attention diverted apparently just long enough for the other man to gather his wits.

In a flash, Shinji was flying across the apartment and slammed into the far wall hard. Misato fired twice and cursed as the rounds snapped off an orange hexagon. Joshua carefully sat up and spat out a mouthful of blue blood.

"I forgot how quick you are," he stated.

"Actually, I've slowed down recently," Shinji gritted as he clutched his left shoulder.

"Why am I still alive?" Joshua demanded. "I should be dead. You're the most powerful one in existence."

"I've gotten tired of murder," Shinji bluffed. "What do you say we let bygones be bygones?"

"You wouldn't get tired of murder," Joshua spat. "Asuka said you were burned out."

"She was right," Shinji stated.

"She was lying," Joshua corrected. "I know her. I know when she's lying. What are you hiding, Berserker?" Shinji chuckled even as he heard Misato gasp.

"Well, I was hiding that," he stated. "I guess that's the end of this vacation." He stared at Joshua and smirked. "Get out of here kid, before I take your apart piece by piece, just like your team."

"Shinji?" Misato ventured hesitantly.

"You're bluffing." Shinji paused and glanced at Joshua with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm bluffing?" he asked. "I'm the Berserker, you stupid fuck! I've personally killed thousands! I don't need to bluff!"

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Asuka had to smile as she listened to Shinji. He certainly could bluff when he needed to. He sounded so much like her Berserker that it made her heart ache. "Alright," she stated as she stepped forward and drew the attention of every person in the room, "I think that's enough." Her AT field rose. Joshua tried to match her for a split second before she casually tore his own field apart and turned him into an orange smear. "How's your arm Shinji?"

"Just perfect," Shinji gritted as he clutched his arm and sank to the floor. "You waiting for anything specific before you stepped in? You've been here since Misato started shooting."

"You always did know when I was around," Asuka commented. She moved to him and kneeled at his side. "You want a gag?" The annoyed looked Shinji shot at her answered that question. She seized his arm and rotated it harshly. Shinji's whole body tightened and the veins on his forehead and neck stood out in stark contrast, but he didn't make a sound. "I'd suggest a sling."

"Is that your official suggestion Doctor Sohryu?" Shinji growled.

"Yes it is," Asuka replied and she sat beside him. "I should have squashed that bug the first time he came to me." She glanced up and smiled at Misato. "Well, hello Katsuragi. You're looking rather horrified." Asuka felt Shinji's body tense again.

"Asuka?" Misato asked, sounding rather dazed.

"That's right," Asuka stated.

"What do I have to do to get rid of you?" Shinji asked as he touched his lip. His fingertips came away crimson. Asuka felt her stomach sink as she stared at his blood. She gently took hold of his hand and curled his fingers into a fist, hiding the offensive color from her sight. "I told you."

"I know," Asuka replied. She forced a smile. "You would have killed him if you could. You've never been stupid enough to just give up your like without a real fight." Shinji's lips curled slightly. "Did you bite your tongue?"

"Yeah," he admitted. He seemed to have trouble keeping his eyes open. "I'm tired."

"The adrenaline is wearing off," Asuka replied.

"Haven't felt this in a long time." His eyes slid shut and he slid to the side, come to a rest with his head on Asuka's shoulder.

"Shinji?" Misato ventured.

"He's fine," Asuka replied.

"He's really. . ."

"Oh, yes," Asuka interrupted. "Ask him. He's not ashamed. Even now he's proud of what he's done." Asuka leaned back against the wall and glanced at Shinji out of the corner of her eye.

"Who was that?" Misato asked after a second.

"Just some insect," Asuka replied. "My Shinji would have killed him without blinking. Hell, he almost did it once. That's what this is all about."

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Misato watched as Shinji lay sprawled across her couch. He had been unconscious for nearly four hours now. Only Asuka's assurances had kept her from calling an ambulance. Shinji jerked upright suddenly and nearly sent Misato tumbling out of her chair in shock. "Asuka!"

"She's gone," Misato stated. Shinji stared at her for a moment before he took a deep breath and lay back on the couch, cradling his left arm.

"Oh," he stated. He ran his right hand through his hair and paused as he noted the dry blue blood splattered across his knuckles. "So fucking weak."

"You could have killed him easily before, right?" Misato asked quietly. Shinji snorted humorlessly.

"I wouldn't say easily," he commented. "I'd go with casually. He was a lot stronger than he should have been. His abilities were beyond Second Sphere, probably a low Throne, but it still wouldn't have been a problem for me."

"I thought the CAS didn't have anyone above a Dominion," Misato commented.

"They do," Shinji replied, "but once they get into the First Sphere, they go a little crazy."

"How crazy?" Misato asked.

"Crazy enough that they're usually lobotomized," Shinji answered. "Joshua managed to hold himself together pretty decently."

"You are the most powerful, right?"

"I was," Shinji answered. "There are only two Seraphim Angels. I've always had more raw power, but Asuka's always had more control."

"Why?"

"My powers weren't my own," Shinji explained. "They belonged to Rei. She gave them to me before she died."

"Is that why you did it, Shinji?" Misato asked. "Is it all because of Rei?"

"Maybe at first," Shinji admitted. "After that, I did it because I wanted to." Misato stared down at him for a while. He led a war because he wanted to? That couldn't be right. Shinji sat up again and climbed to his feet. "I'll make this easy on both of us. Good bye Misato." Misato caught his wrist as he walked by.

"You promised you wouldn't leave."

"I promised I wouldn't leave until you asked," Shinji corrected. He tried to pull away, but Misato held him fast. She pushed herself to her feet.

"I haven't asked you to leave," Misato stated firmly. "What would you do if you got your powers back? Would you run back to Europe?" Shinji looked away from her as if considering the question.

"I don't know," he stated after several long moments.

"What about before?"

"In a heartbeat." Shinji turned to look down at her. "Just so you know, I'm not repentant. Given the choice, I'd do it all over again."

"I didn't ask that." Shinji's blue eye stared at her with a focus that was almost frightening. "I want you to stay with me."

"Why?"

"Because I love you, you jack ass," Misato stated. "I told you already."

"You have lousy tastes in men," Shinji stated, the corners of his lips tweaking upwards slightly.

"Obviously," Misato agreed before wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him down so she could kiss him.

(:ii:)

Shinji stared out the window and quietly sipped his beer. Misato led out a grumble and he glanced back to see the woman tossing in bed. She latched onto a pillow and settled back down. Shinji turned back to the window. "So, what did They say?"

"They're pissed," Asuka answered as she moved to stand by his side. Shinji handed her a beer and she happily opened it. "People aren't supposed to be able to hide things from SEELE, especially not members of the CAS."

"What are They going to do?" Shinji asked.

"They're going to tear apart the CAS and have it reexamined," Asuka answered as she sipped her beer. "How's your arm?"

"It hurts," Shinji answered. "What about Joshua?"

"What about him?" Asuka asked. "He went against SEELE. That doesn't even need a cover story."

"I see." They stood in silence for a while, drinking their beers and watching the world go by.

"It really is over, isn't it?" Asuka asked suddenly.

"Yes, it is," Shinji answered.

"You have to believe me, I didn't mean to end it," Asuka stated, glancing over at him.

"Hmm." Shinji just sipped his beer.

"God, you're such a bastard, Shinji."

"I am what you made me."

"Now I'm flattered," Asuka replied. "I'll see you around, Shinji."

"Don't know why you would." Asuka stared at him again for a long moment, looking like she wanted to say more, before she simply disappeared. Shinji finished his beer and carefully raised his left arm. There wasn't even a twinge of pain.

"Shinji?" Shinji turned, quickly letting his arm drop and smiled as he saw Misato sitting up in bed, not bothering to hide her naked form from his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Just getting a drink," Shinji replied as he held up his empty beer can.

"All done?" she asked.

"Yep."

"Good. Get over here." Shinji smiled and set down the can before climbing back into bed. Misato immediately climbed on top of him and pinned his shoulders.

"You know, you don't always have to pin me down. I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," Misato replied. "I just like having you pinned." She snuggled into his chest and Shinji wrapped his arms around his waist. "Love you."

"Love you too, Misato."

-End

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-Author's notes. Yo. Long time no gripe. If it makes you guys happy, I wasn't just chilling last weekend. It all started with a bus breaking down Thursday night. We got exactly three hundred feet from my reserve station before the cab was so filled with smoke that even hardened chain smokers such as the Marines of my unit were coughing.

That led to a multiple hour wait for another bus. I can tell you, catnapping in full combat gear is not fun. At about two in the morning of Friday, we got bored. Needless to say, I stopped trying to sleep after that. We got to Fort Dix at four, woke at six, and were on the range by eight or so. Of course there was a torrential down poor that higher powers in dryer places tried to ignore. It was almost a relief when lightning struck.

The next day was windy. Okay, understatement. The wind could have carried off a small child. It almost took one of our Marines, good thing she had body armor on. It kept her from being blown over the burm like some of our targets.

Alright, now back to the story. This one is done folks. I just felt that this was the best place to end it. Does this mean this is the last we've heard of the Berserker? Fuck no. I had a lot more planned for this story, but I realized that if I just kept going with a second arc instead of a second story, this thing would probably end up huge. I don't like huge stories, I think they're intimidating to new readers.

So, even though this is obviously the first of probably two stories, what did you think? I like the way it turned out personally. I'd even go so far as to call this a success. It's definitely a departure from my previous works and it's still a good story.

P.S. I told you guys I'd make it up to you for missing so many updates. Now, listen up because I'm going to be real subtle. Before the month is out, the Naruto section is going to have a new story, a story I do believe you guys will actually like.