Chapter Text
The room felt alive.
Foot traffic was heavy, people talking amongst themselves as they made their way through the halls of the museum. It was a cold day, and everyone’s choice of attire reflected that. Sprinkles of snow could be seen from the grand windows that decorated the hall.
One particular quartet of teenagers were making their way towards arguably the largest exhibit of the entire museum. They were here as part of a school project. As part of their class project, they all had to write an essay on the events of the Impact, much to the disdain of the young adults that all just wanted the school semester to be over already.
“Would it kill them to turn the heat up in here a little?!” Huffed Asuka, the fiery red-headed transfer student from Germany. She was still brushing specks of melting snow off her jacket and scarf as they walked.
“Now now, Asuka. Keeping the heat on all the time is expensive!” Mari chided, giving Asuka a little nudge with her elbow.
“Oh verpiss dich.” Asuka hissed under her breath, rolling her eyes at the taller brunette.
“Are you cursing people in German again, Asuka?” Shinji asked, his signature dorky smile spread upon his face. It quickly turned into that of pain as Asuka proceeded to lash out at him, grabbing him by the ear and tugging.
“You would know, wouldn’t you, dummkopf ?!” Asuka shouted, perhaps just a tad too loud for their academic environment. Mari adjusted her glasses and smiled awkwardly at the elderly lady that passed them by with a dirty look upon her face.
“We’re here.” Kaworu finally spoke for the first time since entering the building. Shinji had noticed how quiet Kaworu seemed to get, but chalked it up to the older boy just being in awe at the marvels the museum had to offer.
And they were standing right in front of the museum’s crown centerpiece.
Kept securely behind thick layers of glass in a temperature controlled environment was the calcified remains of a towering humanoid creature. Arms spread out as if it were crucified, the giant was surprisingly intact. Although it’s flesh had long turned to stone, you could make out the features of the terrible thing. It lacked eyes, and possessed a wicked toothy smile that unnerved just about anyone that looked at it. Besides it, hung up from multiple reinforced pulleys on the ceiling, was a double-bladed weapon that was big enough to be wielded by the creature.
“... This here is none other than one of the Evangelion specimens that have been excavated and recovered across the world.” Droned a nearby tour guide to a small crowd of people, some bored and some looking on in awe.
“As many of you probably already know, this specimen is unique in a number of ways. Firstly, it is remarkably well preserved. It almost looks as if it could move at any moment; as if it were still alive.”
Mari buried her hands in her jacket pockets, looking over at the redhead that stood next to her. Asuka seemed weirdly keen on playing with her phone, browsing the likes of social media as a means of distraction from the man’s droning.
“This specimen was found right here in Japan.” Continued the tour guide, “There are eight other known exact copies of this Mass Produced Evangelion spread throughout the world. Other major countries where copies have been found include the Americas and Germany.”
“Hey, there’s one in Germany, Asuka!” Shinji piped up, taking a momentary break from his notetaking. “Have you ever seen it in person?”
“Pfft.” Asuka tsked and rolled her eyes, pocketing her cellphone. “Of course I have, dummkopf. Our relic is one of Germany’s major prides.”
“Indeed. In part because of the believed theory that one of the famed Pilots was of German descent, correct?” Kaworu asked whimsically, offering the redhead a smile.
“Heyyy, you could’ve been a pilot!” Mari teased, poking the woman beside her. Asuka unfortunately didn’t seem to take too kindly to the jest. She began to walk off, headed further into the Impact exhibit.
“And give my life away, only to be repaid by being forgotten by history?!” Asuka retorted as she left, words laced with a strange amount of venom, even for someone like her. “As if.”
It didn’t take long for the rest of the group to catch up with the moody Asuka as she weaved her way through the foot traffic. The exchange student hated doing schoolwork related to the Impact. Something about the propagandized portrayal of the fabled Pilots saving the universe from total collapse left a sour taste in the woman’s mouth. Her stomach would twist into knots every time she had to write a stupid report or essay on the subject. A feeling of ennui that she just couldn’t shake, no matter how hard she tried.
Asuka paused, casting her gaze over towards a nearby exhibit. A big emboldened plaque made it very clear what it was displaying: Evangelion Unit-2… Or, rather, what little remained of it. It’s skull was absolutely massive, but unfortunately partially fractured on the side. The Evangelion, in life, seemed to have two sets of eyes. The left two were barely recognizable as eye sockets though, with the amount of broken bone there was. Next to it were several large plates of red faded armor pieces, found buried alongside the massive skull.
“I wonder what happened to the pilot?” Mused a nearby museum-goer.
Her friend shook her head, letting out a heavy sigh. “Well, who knows. With the condition this thing was found in, it looked like it was killed by… something. It’s pilot probably didn’t meet a happy end with it.”
Asuka swallowed dryly, fists clenching the hem of her jacket sleeves. Two words rang through her mind, fueled by utterly pure unadulterated hatred-
“How disgusting.”
“There you are, Asuka!” The sound of Shinji’s voice broke Asuka out of her stupor, the woman letting out a confused sound as the boy suddenly came up and touched her arm. “We were looking for you. If it’s alright with you, we should go look at the Lilith portion of the exhibit. I need some more info for my paper.”
Asuka shook the boy’s hand off her, letting out a nonchalant shrug. “Whatever. I already know all this stuff, anyway. I’m only here for you guys.”
“Ooh, look at you! So caring about your friends!~” Mari sing-songed, trying to squeeze the girl’s cheeks. Her hands were quickly batted away though. Mari visibly pouted, crossing her arms. “Awh, my princess is rejecting me.”
“Oh shut it, Four-Eyes.” Asuka replied, quickly taking the girl by the arm and beginning to drag her in the direction of the exhibit Shinji wanted to see. Kaworu and Shinji shot each other amused glances before following after the two lovebirds.
Saving the biggest for last, the quartet entered the large room containing the absolutely massive statue depicting the supposed savior of all life across the universe, Lilith. A being of womanly image, she took the form of a nude girl with short hair and faded red eyes. She was smiling, exuding a warm motherly aura about her that seemed to wash over anyone that gazed upon her. From her back sprouted long, almost skeletal-like jagged appendages that vaguely resembled the wings of an angel.
Lilith was depicted partially hunched over, smiling at the crucifix clasped in her hands. Said crucifix was said to represent humanity’s dying wish; the desire to keep living, even if all hope was lost. It was said that Lilith was so moved by humanity’s resolve, beholden to the brave chosen child pilots, that Lilith decided to spare humanity the fate of utter eradication. But in doing so, was forced to reset the world to a point where no one could recall the names or faces of the ones that had saved them.
“This statue is pretty cool.” Shinji said, scribbling more notes into his mini notepad.
“Oh come on, Shinji. Just admit that you have the hots for Lilith.” Asuka drawled dryly.
“W-Wh-?! No I don’t!” Shinji sputtered, his cheeks flushing as he frantically tried to defend himself. “I-I have Kaworu!”
“She is very beautiful, in all fairness.” Kaworu chuckled, looking up at the figure that towered over them. “No matter how you look at her, it is hard to deny that it feels like she’s always watching over everyone.”
“Talk about creepy.” Asuka said, furrowing her brows. “Are you always this cryptic even when you’re alone with Shinji, Angel-boy?”
Kaworu shook his head, that genuinely warm smile never once leaving his lips. “I am just stating what I’ve noticed.”
“You’ve felt it too, right princess?” Mari asked, looking over at her girlfriend curiously. “Whenever you’re reading or hearing stuff about the Impact, don’t you just… get this feeling in your gut? Like Lilith is really out there still somehow, watching over everyone left on the Earth.”
Asuka gawked like the brunette was crazy. “ Of course not. I’m not some wackjob that thinks a Goddess, the literal savior of the human race, cares enough to give a shit about me.”
“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, princess.” Mari wrapped her arm gently around Asuka’s shoulders, giving her a comforting little squeeze. Asuka seemed to shrink into Mari just a tad. “You’re worth more than you realize.”
“... Whatever. Are we done yet? I’m starting to feel cramped in here.” Asuka mumbled quietly, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. Her neck was beginning to ache for some reason. It was probably thanks to all the nights spent hunched over at her desk studying, but it reminded her of the sting of her wrists all too much.
“Yeah, sure.” Mari nodded, looking over at Shinji and his boyfriend. “I think we’re gonna go on ahead. Meet you at the usual ramen joint for dinner?”
“Right!” Shinji affirmed. “Pork ramen with miso soup… I think I’m salivating already just thinking about it.”
Kaworu laughed in amusement. His partner was always an eccentric joy to be around. “Well then, shall we continue note taking for a little while longer, Ikari-kun?” He reached for the shorter boy’s hand, giving it a loving little squeeze. “The sooner we are done here, the sooner we can get that ramen for you.”
Shinji blushed but nodded, giving Kaworu a shy smile. “Yeah… Yeah, that sounds good to me.”
“We’ll see you guys at dinner~!” Mari waved with a jolly smile, beginning to lead her redheaded girlfriend towards the museum exit. She could tell Asuka was agitated, and something told her she needed a little calming down before they all reconvened for dinner.
It was midnight. Or almost, at least. Mari had long since lost track of time after the events of today. Dressed in her long pants, winter coat, and winter boots, she treaded out through the snow that almost seemed to glow under the shine of the bloodstained moon.
Up just ahead, Mari could see him - Kaworu. He sat serenely on the ground, wearing his usual attire unbothered by the weather. The snow in a small radius around him seemed to melt unnaturally, revealing unusually green and alive grass underneath.
“Hoi.” Mari greeted as she approached. She plopped down besides the white-haired albino, in the area devoid of snow. She could feel the heat radiate off him. “Sorry for draggin’ ya out here at this hour. You probably want to get all the time you can get with puppy boy.”
“It is quite alright.” Kaworu replied in his usual distant tone, gaze cast upwards towards the bloodstained moon shining above. “The moon is beautiful tonight, so I hardly mind coming out here to witness it.”
“Yeah, it really is, huh?” Mari looked up and adjusted her glasses. “Usually you can’t see it that well from here. Nor is it usually so bright.”
“Indeed…” Kaworu hummed, finally prying his gaze away from the moon to look over at the brunette. “What did you wish to speak about?”
“I think you already know the answer to that one, Kaworu.” Mari replied. “After today… After seeing the statue of Lilith - of Rei again, I just wanted to ask… Why?”
“You’ll have to be more specific than that, Mari-chan.”
“You were dead set on being the one that statue would have depicted. And you were this close to having it come true - but Rei stopped you. She took your place in the end.”
“Do you think that is a bad thing, Emissary of Lilith?” Kaworu asked, his interest seemingly piqued by the other’s prodding questions.
Mari raised a brow, shaking her head in response. “That’s not what I meant. I just never found out her reasoning behind it. And it’s not exactly like I can go and ask her now. You were probably one of the last people to ever communicate with Rei while she still had some semblance of coherent humanity left in her.”
“Yes, that is correct.” Kaworu replied, seeming to appreciate Mari’s astute logic. “I was one of, if not the last to communicate directly with the entity known as Rei.” He cast his gaze back up towards the shining sky, stars twinkling brightly.
“When I told her I was prepared to reset everything if it meant that Shinji-kun got the chance to be happy, she told me that I shouldn’t be the one to make that sacrifice.” He explained, voice calm as ever. “She told me that she could see just how much Shinji-kun loved me, and how much I loved him in return. She didn’t think it would be right to take me away from him. A little ironic, really, given how if it were Rei in my place now - I have the suspicion that Shinji-kun would have eventually fallen for her as well. He was clearly fond of her, as was she fond of him.”
Mari listened, biting her lower lip as she did. Mari could never let it show, especially around the likes of Shinji and Asuka, but the outcome of the Third Impact had always bothered Mari. Sure, this was just another timeline among countless others, but what mattered to them was the present - what was happening in this timeline, and how it would affect everyone’s long term happiness.
“... Unrelated,” Mari began after a long period of comfortable silence between the two. The brunette joined the other in gazing at the beauty of the moon; both transfixed by this overwhelming feeling that Rei was watching and smiling upon them. “But do you think they’ll ever remember?”
“... I don’t know.” Kaworu replied solemnly. “It… might be for the best if they never do. I don’t know how they’d handle it, especially Shinji-kun.”
“It’s just wild, ” Mari said. “That the likes of Asuka turned out hating herself even more after the Third Impact. Even I’m surprised that was even possible. She’ll never admit it to my face, but I know she can sense Rei’s presence. And I think she hates it. She thinks that Lilith has some kind of vendetta against her, when in reality Rei loved her more than she could have realized.”
“To accept love from others, one must learn to love one’s self.” Kaworu smiled wearily, sparing a glance in Mari’s direction. His eyes seemed to sparkle, moonlight caught in his irises that revealed the unnatural hue of Angelic blood red. “I think you of all Angels would know that the best, Emissary.”