This fiction has characters and situations which are owned by their respective parties, I.E. not me. Huge OOC warning, but whatever, nothing you haven't seen before.

N E O N G E N E S I S E V A N G E L I O N
-An Obvious Tangent-

It's whispering in the back of my head. She is not present in the apartment. Here I am on this couch; only by watching news programs am I even aware of myself . It is ironic that I have to have the news tell me everything that actually happened. Misato and the few others responsible for me don't attempt to bring me out of it. I only go limp and respond with "yes" or "I'm sorry". I'm sure she feels bad about it, but she has a huge burden on her shoulders.

Asuka also has a similar mechanism. She simply complies, or brings her fist across the face of a person that might insult her with an action she does not care for. I only hope that this is our darkest hour. That I will see a time and place I am not afraid of reaching her and all the others.

I am no longer able to despair my fate. The lady in the television goes on and continues on about the angels; she acts as a proxy to send messages to what remains of the populace of Tokyo III and its outskirts. How annoying, in these moments of rest must you really nag me with these complaints? She is not targeting me directly, but my personality is such that I have to take criticisms in this manner. I want to cry. I want to hold someone close. I want to protect and be protected. None of these things is possible because I cannot feel a single thing at the moment.

Killing things, hurting people, what do I have to show for it? I really wish I could…

"Third."

I want...

"Ikari, get the hell up."

At least I thought she wasn't in the apartment. I'm certain that my face looks nearly the same as hers. The red hair looks out of place against her tired and emotionless face.

"Quit bitching."

"Asuka, I haven't said a word."

"I know your game. You're sitting there and thinking backwards, just shut up. Don't say another word, nothing."

She pauses for a moment and looks as though she is thinking through something. She completes this with a roll of her eyes and brings attention back to my lounging form on the couch.

"We're going. Bring your wallet and a jacket."

When I don't make a move, she creeps toward me and raises her leg, bending at the knee. Suddenly I didn't feel that receiving her foot to my crotch was worth the standoff.

"Alright, just a minute," I huffed shallowly and made for my room. Returning, she appraises me.

"Asuka?"

"Come along," she says with mock exasperation. I follow her as indicated, to the rail station. Walking quickly we catch a train just as its doors were closing. For a good number of minutes we just sit as the train quietly ran its course. She opens her eyes when she hears the name of a stop broadcast over the cabin speaker. Quickly she walks off as the train comes to a halt.

This district is full of retail venues and fancy places to sip coffee. Curiously, the area was populated with a large number of young people despite our war with giant creatures that wanted to decimate us. I became more and more relaxed as she passed clubs and crowds without a second look. It is only a little before the sun is setting when she stops in front of a large glass window on a prestigious looking building. Now that I look, the entire bottom floor is glass windows.

She is knocking on the locked sliding door entrance. A man in well pressed slacks, a shirt, and tie comes to the door and indicates that they are closed for the evening. Asuka reaches into her pocket and brings out a huge bundle of Yen notes and several plastic cards. He warily changed his tune and unlocked the door. Confused, I looked around and saw a large plate in one of the glass walls. It was divided in four parts, blue white blue white. In the ring of black around that the letters BMW were placed in silver plating.

I dumbly followed her lead into what I could only guess was a dealership. The man was as confused as I was, but saw money in Asuka's hand. They began talking and my vision wandered. Appealing cars met my eyes each way I looked. Some of them were bulky but had styles that looked as though they were flying while simply standing still. Asuka and the man were still talking at length, so I walked about through the several cars present in the room. Atop a raised platform a notable car sat. From ground to cab it was a simple black. Not excessively shiny, even the large tires were a black that absorbed the light from the showroom fixtures above. I strolled around, eyeing the car, even its windows allowed no light to pass. A single badge on the back of the car repeated the round logo, and to its side was a blue white and red set of lines to the left of a roman letter M.

It was odd, only now having seen such a car. I've seen giant robots that must cost the price of several million of this one vehicle. Jaded thoughts aside, this is really exciting. Strange how it all looks like one piece, a single solid block. Even the lines of the four doors did not seem as though they separated one part from another. This is a race car isn't it?

"At least you aren't a total write off Shinji." Asuka came up behind me and gestured at the vehicle. I just nodded stupidly.

The man came up behind the two of us looking at the car.

"This particular M3 is not a Japanese model and is no longer street legal due to upgraded parts within the engine. I do have a…"

Asuka cut him off quickly with a hand pushed in front of his face.

"A figure would be nice."

"Ma'am this one is not able to be sold. It also occurs to me that neither of you are old enough to be licensed drivers."

"Sir, I don't expect you to know who I am, but I'll have you realize that this is a situation where you will not be putting things like that in my way." She spoke clearly and in eloquent Japanese. I had no idea she could do that.

Once again she brought out the wad of bills and her Nerv ID. He flustered only slightly at her picture on the identification card.

"Ma'am you aren't the only one who works at Nerv, we have a large contract with the establishment to provide high security vehicles. Flashing this card won't sway the legality of the matter." I was impressed with the salesman, he was very frank and at the same time absurdly polite. Everything in this building is probably a ridiculous level of quality.

"Sir, it is not a question of if you are going to sell me the car or not. It is only a matter of how soon you will see I am perfectly qualified to buy this vehicle."

She is going to buy it? I don't see why she would need it. However, I find myself becoming deeply jealous. Envy over material objects, that's a new one in my book.

Becoming slightly condescending he joked, "So, I guess you are the girl who fights the giant aliens in the big space robot?"

She looked at him with a stiff expression, not saying a word.

He looked at me watching them, I became suddenly uncomfortable. I put my hand on Asuka's shoulder and asked that she should just ask Misato to come with them later.

"Katsuragi? The Renault Katsuragi?" The man looked pale suddenly. I caught on not too much later. Misato's car was extremely high maintenance and she always complained that there were only a few places in the area which had certified technicians for the vehicle. It was a bit of a stretch but maybe this dealer had a service department that Misato had dealt with before.

Asuka held out her right hand, to which the salesman automatically brought his hand out to meet.

"I am Asuka Langley Sohryu, pilot of the second designation Evangelion Unit. This idiot behind me is Shinji Ikari, he is not important."

Even as he was shaking her hand his mouth was working out the name Ikari. Politely retracting his hand, he then bowed to each of them individually.

"Miss Sohryu, Mr. Ikari, I am deeply sorry for any previous disrespect I have allowed on part of our business here."

Asuka was not impressed, but to his credit, the man continued without wavering.

"I am not able to give any one person title to this car, however I can transfer it to the Nerv fleet account under Gendou Ikari's name with the permission of him or his son."

"How is that?" I ask, wondering why my name is on anything aside from the pilot documentation.

"Your father had instructed his name be placed as the head of our account here at the dealership. He orders special vehicles with precautions built in for VIPs and what have you. It may just be an unintentional coincidence, but your name is on the list able to order a vehicle or modify the account."

"It's not why I brought you with me Shinji but you turned out to be pretty useful after all." She whacked me on the back as absorbed all the weird information.

"Miss Sohryu, so long as Mr. Ikari agrees to be the recipient of the car, we can allow it to be purchased via the fleet account. I will remind you however that this is not a street legal car here in Japan."

"It will be issued Nerv fleet plates, will it not?" She asked with a smile on her face.

"That….. well, I envy your power Miss Sohryu."

"It is all a moot point then. Run me up the papers if you wouldn't mind."

He bowed and walked around a corner to what was probably a finance or purchase office.

She turned around and looked at him. She looked down and to the left, he followed her stare. His hand was touching one of the mirrors of the car.

"Shinji. Mine."

I quickly moved my hand away. Name or not, She was the one paying for it. I shouldn't get too excited right?

"Are you sure about this Asuka? Can you even drive a car?" I only asked for the sake of asking, I don't doubt that she could do all manner of things.

"Don't be a dumbass. I can shoot a gun, I'm trained in the use of assault rifles, and to top that I drive one of the world's largest biomechanical robots. Can I drive a car?" She asked the last question with more sarcastic energy than I had seen from her in a long time.

"You'll sign for it, right Shinji?" That was definitely not a question.

"Whatever makes you happy, okay?" I stuttered and stepped back slightly. Did I get to at least ride in it? Was Asuka any better than the notorious Misato when it came to driving? Did it matter?

Asuka smiled when the salesman came back to them standing by the car. He made a brief statement about the warranty and the coverage provided by the Nerv fleet account.

"Details." Asuka handed the pen and the clipboard from the salesman to my hands.

"If you would, Mr. Ikari." Asuka said in a slightly mocking voice. I looked at her bouncing figure, she was alive somehow. I felt put out that my name had to be used like this, but it seemed like a small price.

I signed off on the paper, I didn't have a seal with me, but it did not appear to be an issue. Asuka took control at that point, asking several questions of the man, pointing at a brochure. The salesperson went to get an attendant to remove the car and ready it for use.

"I cannot remember if you know anything about cars Shinji, but this is a special machine." She brightened considerably when I asked why. She went on for a few minutes describing its heritage and level of quality. A younger man came to the car and opened one of the doors, readying it to move to a preparation bay. Asuka and I peered into the cab.

"Holy shit." Asuka marveled at the interior. All deep black fittings, with a dark wood trim. All that I could do was be amazed at its sheer difference from the several cars I did know. The attendant showed abundant glee as he first pushed down one of the pedals and then turned the key in the ignition. The car immediately showed muted signs of life. It did not roar or sputter a violent sound. I could only hear a vague hum from the long engine compartment.

I did hear Asuka make a squeak. The attendant pulled the car into drive and the machine moved out to the special door made for moving the vehicles out of the showroom. It did not sound like a car. I only heard the gentle sounds of the tires yawning from their long rest.

"So, are you coming along?"

"Asuka?"

"Don't know about you, but I'm going on a road trip."

"Where are you going?"

"It does not matter." She was now on the verge of breaking into jubilant dance. I can see it in her eyes. Something that could make her that happy was probably enough to melt my body. I have not figured any of this out yet.

"I am going to just take off for a while. Section 2 can hunt us down if they need something. You sent the last angel packing just a while ago; it would only be decent of them to give us some relaxation time."

I honestly doubt they think in those kinds of terms, but I find myself agreeing with her humorous take on our raison d'etre.

"You'll be a good carpool dummy, so you are welcome to come along Shinji."

"What brought this on Asuka? You don't see too many fourteen year olds driving something like that." As I ask this, she flinches a little bit.

"Do you know what today is; Shinji?"

"December 4th I think. Why?"

"Doesn't matter." She quickly excused the conversation and walked out to watch them prepare the car. I think she might just be excited, but something felt off about her when she directed her attention elsewhere.

When we arrived at the covered bay, the attendant was putting a large piece of material over the front portion of the car. A giant bib for the nose of the car, Asuka explained offhand that it was for preventing dings and wear. Another attendant was adding fuel and oil while the first was now moving a cloth quickly over all the body parts. The salesperson brought in a single plate that read simply Nerv – 0042. He placed it and then screwed the plate to its spot on the hatch of the trunk.

Asuka was now grinning with teeth out as the salesman brought over a black box that contained three keys.

"I am at first obligated to have Mr. Ikari have one key, and as such have provided not only the spare but a key for you Miss Sohryu."

Asuka only shrugged and refused the key when I attempted to give it to her. Several congratulatory babbles later, she and I stood next to the car. I moved to get in the passenger side, but then became aware of this car's foreign origin. I moved over to the right side of the car and waited. Asuka played with the remote key for a minute to get the hang of opening multiple locks. We both sat down inside and sat for a full minute without a word.

I reached out to begin pressing buttons on the console. My hand was batted away and Asuka jokingly exaggerated that one of the buttons might blow up the car. She played around with something on the other side of her seat and I heard a soft motor sound. I watched as her seat moved in a variety of motions to fit her to the driver's controls.

A final moment passes after she presses one of the pedals and then turns the key. The gauges jump tightly and the pleasant hum sings lightly through the car.

"Shinji, thanks for helping."

Asuka is beside herself, a small cackle coming from her throat. She drops the parking brake and shifts the car. She experimentally makes the car tug forward, finding the sensitivity I guess. Behind us through the dark windows I see the three men waving us off from the dealership.

The car navigates easily though dealer's back lot and then out onto public street. The car feels more like an airplane. If it is touching the street, it seems to do so only momentarily.

"I think it's actually a submarine." I remark idly. Asuka just laughs and continues driving down a street following signs to an elevated highway.

"Is it supposed to be faster I wonder?"

Asuka just balks at my stupid question. I think that perhaps Misato's driving has made me a closet speed freak.

"I still have to get some things down. I have not driven much since Germany. Believe me Shinji; I think we are probably the fastest thing on wheels in this city at the moment."

We stopped at the light just before the on ramp for the highway. Asuka made a quick adjustment of her seat and then pulled the belt tight to her body. She held tight to the steering wheel with her left and the shifter with her right. I heard the engine race in time with the movement of her right leg. The engine spooled up and backed off as she ran it up without being in gear, as she put it.

The light turned green and she threw the shifter to the left and then forwards. Shortly there after the car was flying. My heartbeat grew audible in my ears. She was laughing loud and outward into the cab of the car. She pulled the shifter straight down and the car gathered its second helping of air. Explosive force pushed us back into the enclosing seats. When she leveled out into the final gear, we were flying among the sparsely placed vehicles on the highway. They did not delay in moving to one side.

She was still laughing. The car was laughing too. Children set free on the hunt. Look at the two of them, running the ground in search of where the sky met earth. I had not only just found my life once again; I short order I had remembered to fear losing it. Asuka began paying attention to where we were. She touched the small screen on the center console and vocally told it our address.

The soft robotic voice came from everywhere and instructed Asuka in the correct turns to take to reach Misato's apartment. She looked over at me. When she saw my confused look at the center console she laughed that much more. By the time we reached the apartment, Asuka had somehow triggered the voice to refer to her as Miss Sohryu.

As the car parked and Asuka turned off the instruments, I let a sigh of breath loose.

"Different, isn't it?" Asuka asked quietly, her head against the back of the chair. She caressed the wheel and the center console with her index finger.

"It's amazing." I had nothing else to explain it. All at once, I wanted to try it, own it, discuss it, and most of all to fly again. This was not Misato's destruction derby brand of racing.

"So, we need clothing, one of the laptops, and a note for Misato." Understanding her plan I made way to the apartment. She followed: our eyes both caught on the machine sitting there, the ambient light just barely reflecting off its surface. In tandem we shook it off and went into the apartment.

As we quietly traipsed into the first hall of the apartment we were caught by surprise. Misato looked at Asuka and me, knowing that she was going to receive cold and aloof stares from her surrogate children. I froze and contemplated what to think. Should I show Misato how good I feel right now?

Should I be feeling good? Fuck it. Saviors of the world have a right to a little fun time.

Asuka was astute and keen where I failed to be. She walked right into the kitchen and retrieved two cans. Showing her utmost finesse she cracked both pop tops simultaneously with her index fingers. Quickly she tempted Misato's instinct and handed her a beer. The foreign girl also passed the remaining one in my direction.

Asuka must see quick glimpses of the future. Our guardian quickly made a ridiculous face and loudly spoke out a call to cheers. So as not to ruin this cloud I am walking on, I returned the silly proclamation with haste. Our beers knocked in the air and we both brought them to our mouths.

My own bottle only drained half way before I had to come up for air. My young roommate caught our falling guardian as she slipped back into a warm buzz induced slumber.

"How did you figure that one out?" I was baffled that Asuka had been so quick on her feet.

"When is Misato not at least several beers in?" Asuka quickly retorted with a joke: a joke that made too much sense.

She and I tucked Misato in for the night after carrying the older woman to her room. I was suddenly aware that there are normal things in my life. The sleeping lady nuzzled her pillow and smiled. She sleep talked some gibberish to which Asuka bid her sweet dreams.

Treating me to the title of cohort, Asuka spoke low and gave out her list of objectives. The pair of us retrieved our respective overnight bags. Asuka met me at the table and added her student laptop to our modest luggage.

"What should we write to Misato?"

"Idiot," Asuka quickly scribbled out a note in her rough script, "We tell her we went for a drive. That will confuse the hell out of her. I bet the first thing she does is check for her keys."

That genuine laugh is scaring me. Asuka is obviously real; but I'm so afraid that she will vanish.

"Where are we going anyways?"

"If you ask anymore dumbass questions, the only place you're going would be flying into the cupboard." I flinch as she gives a mock demonstration of a right-handed upper cut.

"Right, open road then."

She raised her eyebrow at me and set her jaw sort of skewed. A slight disbelief passed over her features and then she nodded.

"I think you get the idea, for whatever it's worth." Admitting this, Asuka moved past me gathering her bag as she went. She rounded the corner into the hallway; her hair spending its inertia trailing after her in a wide arc. When I trailed her wake into the hall, I noticed that the beer can I had set down earlier was still half full.

"It's half full." I declared with my genius intellect and wit.

"Fucking idiot," Asuka resolved the Zen equation by grabbing it from my hand and holding it up to my lips. She quickly dumped it upside down. I proceeded to choke on the air I had swallowed under the torrent of alcohol. "Better now?"

I looked at her sourly and jaunted to my room to change into a clean shirt. We made short work of locking up.

She shifted the laptop and her backpack and pulled out the key from her pocket. As she approached she fumbled with it until we heard a click from the rear of the car. I gently lifted the trunk and it floated into an open position. Bags were stowed and the trunk pressed firmly closed. The passenger side lock opened as I approached. Asuka crept around the stationary car to its front.

"Shinji, turn on the headlights a moment." This would have been a difficult request normally, but I had been watching everything she did with the car and had a good guess how to go about it. After the headlights and the lower running lights were brightly beaming, she gazed at the car another moment before coming around and then ducking into the driver's seat.

I caught myself before I again asked where she planned to travel to. Probably better that I didn't pursue that. Whatever it was that brought her to such lengths was best left unknown. More over, I wanted to go where she was going rather than pester her about it.

She pulled the seatbelt over her and shifted in the seat. Finding it unsatisfactory in some way she started playing with something to the left of her seat. Curious, I mirrored the action and found the seat moving backwards and humming silently. For a moment, both driver and passenger seats were automatically changing posture and height. I chuckled at the insane luxury provided by such a thing.

"Shinji, glove box, grab me the instruction manual." I stopped tinkering with my seat and pulled out a sizeable leather folder. Asuka laughed at the large parcel and took it from me. She weighed it with both hands and with a laughing groan exaggerated how heavy it was. I brought my attention to the LCD screen on the center panel. At a touch it came to life. What could only be the main menu was expressed in Roman characters.

"Asuka, weren't you talking Japanese to it earlier?"

"I can't read Japanese as well as I can speak it. You can set voice and the text to be different."

I recalled an earlier homework assignment that I had been practically forced to do for her. The menus were not in English, but actually in German. I wonder slightly if this thing has limits. Did they forget anything at all? I browsed through the menu options, and eventually had the computer speaking along side every written option. Eventually the computer asked if I would like to assign a name to the vehicle and its onboard AI.

Asuka looked at the LCD screen and shooed my pointer finger away. She jammed several presses and hit what I could only assume was a confirmation button.

"Input confirmed, car designation and computer name is to be April."

This is getting stupid. Asuka, having either given up or found what she was looking for, dumped the set of manuals on my lap and turned the car on. The engine spun up in a snap of the finger. Asuka again turned her eyes to the LCD. She selected an internet radio stream from several preprogrammed ones. A modern jazz floated out from all around me. How strangely appropriate.

The girl's hand quickly came at my face and I coward away expecting something to ruin my mood. Asuka rolled her eyes and pressed her hand against the back of my head rest. Already the car was shifted into reverse and she twisted backwards to watch as we backed out of the parking spot.

From the corner of my vision I saw the lion's smile take over her face once again. In the back of my head, there were whispers. Throw care to the wind for now. I'll follow this bewitching girl into the night.

After all, it could be far worse.

Notes: More later? I dunno. All the same, keep the Evangelion fanfiction alive if you have something to write.