"Quite the gambit you took there, Ikari. I didn't take you for a gambling man."

The night after they lost the Lance found Gendo and Fuyutski once more in the former's office, musing over the events of the day. Ultimately, Gendo found he didn't have any regrets whatsoever. The whole battle had been quite fruitful: they had lost the Lance, possibly disabled SEELE's boy and defeated the Angel in one fell stroke.

"I'm not," Gendo growled, "But if the situation demands it, then there is little choice."

"The old men are going to give you hell for that," Fuyutski told him, a sardonic smile creasing his lips.

"As if I wasn't already aware of that," Gendo replied, "But the Lance had to be taken out of play and the Angel defeated. It's as the saying goes: two birds, one stone."

"I'm surprised you feel so positively about the battle. Considering you had to use your son in the end."

Gendo frowned. Perhaps...he had one regret. But he was backed into a corner; when it came down to the Second Child and his son, he trusted the latter far more. That didn't even cover how problematic it could be, allowing the Adam-derived and S2 Engine-gifted Unit 02 anywhere near Lilith. He deflected, "The committee would be more furious if we had to use Unit 02 once more, if we didn't absolutely have to."

"I more mean I'm surprised you haven't considered this painting a target on Shinji's back."

Gendo's frown deepened. He...hadn't considered that. He murmured, "They wouldn't dare put him in harm's way. I don't believe Unit 01 will answer to anyone else."

Fuyutski almost prodded him, wishing to ask which he was more afraid for: his son or Unit 01.

But he knew he'd never get a straight answer.

---

The night after the engagement with Arael, Misato's first burgeoning forays into patching the gaps in Kaji's knowledge began to bear fruit. After things had settled down, she had pulled Hyuga aside to see if he knew anything regarding the "Eva Series". He didn't but, as she expected, eagerly agreed to see what he could find.

She wasn't stupid; she knew the Lieutenant had a crush on her, one she didn't return. It made her feel terrible to be using him in this manner...but it would be all worth it. If they made it through this, she'd apologize for stringing him along.

He had an impressive turnaround time and had summoned her to a discrete location within the Geofront a mere hours later. She leaned over the bench he was sitting in, "So construction of Evas up to 13 has been been going on for some time? And in seven different locations, to boot."

He nodded, "It's from Shanghai so you can trust it. I bet that's your Eva series, Major. It even lines up with the idea it happened right after the incident in Nevada though I suspect some of the series were in construction even before then. They're really rushing them out, aren't they?"

"I was just thinking that," she agreed, "But what for…?"

Hyuga shrugged, "Considering we've already lost two Evas and Unit 04 might no longer be an option…" he trailed off before he continued, "Maybe they think our ranks need to be bulked?"

"I don't think that's it," she shook her head, "Germany is freely giving us parts from Units 05 and 06, not to mention the budget's been doubled in that area. They're happy to support our current Evas. I'm getting the sense the committee's getting impatient…"

Hyuga raised an eyebrow. He was aware NERV owed its funding to a committee but why exactly they cared was lost on him. He said, "Maybe they're anticipating a scenario where multiple Angels attack us?"

"It's plausible but they wouldn't need to go behind our backs then. I think they've got another objective in mind," she mused.

He frowned and the two fell into a silence as they mulled over this information. Finally, he broke the silence, "How's Kaworu doing? Last I heard he was in poor shape."

"Poor shape's an understatement," Misato sighed, "On the bright side, Ritsuko says he doesn't have any mental contamination."

"...but that doesn't account for damage to his psyche."

"That's what I'm afraid about. He won't talk to Ritsuko about whatever he saw. She says he just sits there...and shakes."

Hyuga frowned deeply, "Poor kid. He shouldn't have had to go through that."

"I'm going to be taking him home in the morning so I'm thinking maybe I'll try to talk to him then. And if that doesn't work, I'm sure Shinji or Asuka will get through to him," she sighed, "Here I thought the Angels could only hurt them physically. I never imagined they'd go so aggressively for the mind. I just don't know what to do for him, Hyuga."

He shrugged, "All you can do. Your best."

---

Kaworu was glad to go home, if only because the hospital was quiet and in that silence, his mind was happy to replay every detail of his encounter with Arael. It didn't help that Dr. Akagi had been poking and prodding him for what happened. He refused to tell her, to give those thoughts a voice. Holding Arael's final revelation close to himself felt right. She had hurt him terribly but in the end, he had gotten through to her.

Then she died.

He could hardly fault Shinji for his actions in saving him. He had used the Lance to do it, no doubt a gambit played by his father. A pity, as it could have done a lot more good here on Earth and not lost in lunar orbit.

He had planned to escape the Geofront without anyone noticing but that ended up being a pipe dream when he found Misato waiting at the trams for him. She had a look of exasperation on her face, "Good thing Rits told me you were leaving."

Of course she would insert herself into his business! Something she hardly understood!

He stopped himself. He hadn't thought like that in quite some time…

He murmured, attempting to walk past her, "I don't need a drive home."

She stepped out in front of him, arms crossed and clearly not taking no for an answer, "Listen, I'm not letting you walk home all by yourself. We don't have to talk but I am driving you home."

"You have work. You don't have to do anything for me."

"Hey, anything to get out of the paperwork!" she joked lightly.

When he didn't respond, she sighed and continued, "It won't take long at all. I might not be your guardian but I do still feel a duty to your safety, Kaworu."

He weighed his options. He could make a run for it but where would he? Back, deeper into the base? But surely when they caught him, they'd put him back in that terrible hospital room. Probably for good this time.

So that only left one choice: go with her without complaint. The choice was clear and he hung his head, "Fine."

True to her word, the pair left NERV with no words shared. As they drove, Misato cast a glance at the boy when he wasn't looking. His whole body was left loose as a puppet with its strings cut and he stared into space. Whatever thoughts were going through him were for him and him alone.

She frowned deeply as she recalled his screams, when he sounded not like his serene self but like a small child, begging for mercy.

"STOP IT, YOU'RE HURTING ME!"

She wondered idly if Kaworu had believed the Angel didn't mean to hurt him and that, when it did, it came as a surprise.

The thought made her stomach twist uncomfortably.

Kaworu on the other hand couldn't help but find the silence awkward and oppressive. Surely, she wanted to know and he couldn't help feeling an obligation to say something to soothe her. But when he tried to put his words together to say something, they died before they could even reach his throat.

None of them could understand. He couldn't tell any of his Lilin companions why he was so rattled.

Kaworu didn't find the words to soothe Misato during their journey home. In fact, the first words the pair shared since leaving base was Misato bidding him, "Hope you feel better," while squeezing his shoulder, just before he got out of the car.

She dropped him off at the entrance of the complex and he at least lingered long enough to watch her blue Alpine disappear back down the street. Then, he trudged up the stairs, to his apartment, where he intended to remain. Once there, he laid on the floor and stared at the ceiling, willing his mind to think of nothing at all.

He hadn't been home long before there was a knock at the door. Shinji's voice drifted through, "Kaworu? Misato told me you were home so I wanted to check up on you."

He stared at the ceiling of his living room. There was no point in answering the door. The question of whether he was alright or not was a moot one. And it wasn't as if he could tell Shinji what really bothered him.

"Well...I guess you don't want to talk. That's fine. I'll...I'll see you later."

And judging by the fact there were no more knocks, he must have gone home.

A few minutes later, someone was hammering at his door. Asuka yelled through it, "You're gonna ignore Shinji like that? You better not ignore me! C'mon, answer the damn door!"

He couldn't help but smile slightly. Typical Asuka...unfortunately, he had even less ability to share what bothered him with her. It was better, perhaps, if he started getting her acclimated to the idea of being without him…

"Fine. Be that way."

And once more, he was left in silence. Laying on the floor, he let his mind wander.

Armisael was next and then after that, his mind refused to consider what would happen. The final Angel was a black box in his mind; he refused to even name it, lest he confront what he was running away from.

Running away? That was ironic. Oh, Shinji would be so disappointed in him.

If he had let him die, things would be much simpler.

Shinji and Asuka would both be disappointed to hear that one.

---

Everything was terrible.

That was the refrain going through Shinji's head the past two days. Kaworu was pushing away not only him but everyone else. According to Asuka, she was only able to get one phrase out of him after the battle:

"You don't understand. I think...I think she might have understood."

Shinji's only guess was the Angel understood...something...before she was killed but what it was, neither could guess. He decided against pointing out the significance of an Angel communicating. Surely, Kaworu made why it would be significant clear to Asuka...right?

At least right now, he had something to distract him. Misato had pulled him out of the apartment with a rushed excuse of wanting him to come with her to pick up drinks. Well, it wasn't entirely an excuse. He had come out that morning to find her pouring all her beer down the sink.

She returned to the car with two bulging bags of coffee drink packs. She took one out for herself then handed him something special, a fizzy strawberry drink. And then they were off again to the outlook.

He asked as they drove, "Drinking coffee now, Misato?"

"Gotta keep sharp," she answered, "Alcohol dulls the senses, don'tcha know?"

He smiled around his drink, "Never stopped you before."

"Things change," her reply was more terse than he expected and he pulled his drink away from his lips to properly regard her.

She was staring down the road with a determined gaze and he realized that she was actually obeying traffic laws for once. No casual running of red lights or even going a little over the speed limit! She was right. Something had changed for her and if he had to make a guess, it had to do with Kaji leaving the city.

He wished he could impress upon her that it would (hopefully) not be forever but he had appearances to keep up.

They came onto the outlook and when Shinji exited the car, Misato had already rounded it. She grabbed his shoulders and leaned down to his level. "You saw it?" she asked, her eyes wild, "When you grabbed the Lance?"

"L-Lilith?!"

"How do you know that name?"

He brought his shoulders up, eyes darting away. Shouldn't have let that one slip. He nodded and lied quietly, "Kaji mentioned it."

"You've talked to Kaji? Did he tell you where he went?"

Rather than say anything, he quickly shook his head, making sure to stare her right in the eyes so he wouldn't be caught in a lie.

Part of him wanted to come right out, tell her the whole sordid story, from how he made the wish to his and Asuka's encounter with Kaji. But he couldn't. Not yet. "I talked to Kaji but...I don't know where he went. He just said he had a really important job and that he'd be careful. I was helping him with his melons...that's when he said so."

"I didn't realize you two were so close...but I guess it's good you've got a good male figure in your life!" she smiled gently.

Bullet dodged. He couldn't help but sigh in relief.

She turned to look back over Tokyo-3 and if Shinji wasn't behind her, he might have realized she was looking in the direction of her favored entrance to the Geofront. She commented, "You could have killed that thing with the Lance. If it could kill that Angel in one shot, it could have killed it too."

"I could. I think. I dunno. My father asked me if I wanted Kaworu to suffer so I stopped thinking about trying."

"...typical. I suppose, officially, you weren't supposed to tell me any of that."

"...no."

"Good thing you're not the person who told me about Lilith."

Shinji furrowed his eyebrows, considering if he should ask who told her, then decided against it. It was a certainty that it was Kaji. So he had roped her into this too, though not nearly as deeply as he had ended up being.

She rounded the car again, retrieved her coffee drink and got up on the hood. Taking the cue, he followed. She asked conversationally, "So Kaworu still won't talk to you?"

"Or anyone else." he grimaced, "It's not just me."

"Well, if he won't talk to you, he certainly won't talk to anyone else," she frowned deeply, "According to Ritsuko, he's physically fine but she expects some sort of mental trauma. She even tried to get him to open up to her but he wouldn't talk. Hell, I took him home that day and he seemed to rather I let him walk home!"

There was no lack of ammunition the Angel could have used against Kaworu, Shinji thought. But whatever it had done, whatever it understood about him, rattled him so terribly. So terribly he was in a worse state than he had ever seen him in before. "I'm gonna try to talk to him again," he declared.

"Even if he doesn't take it, extending a hand is always good," Misato encouraged.

Shinji smiled, remembering Kaworu's own words from when they comforted Asuka. Yeah, it was time to turn that advice onto him.

---

True to his word, Shinji, after getting home and helping Misato put up all her coffees, went next door. He started with a quiet knock, calling, "Hey, Kaworu, it's me Shinji again!"

Silence.

He frowned, "I wanted to come see you. If you...um, if you don't want to talk about the Angel, we won't."

Yet more silence.

Alright, one more try with the secret weapon he had devised on the way back.

"We could...go on a date? Boyfriends do that, right?"

For a few moments, there was silence and Shinji decided this time was a bust. But in the quiet, he barely heard a shuffling. Trying to not get his hopes up, he waited until, to his immense relief, Kaworu opened the door.

He had dressed in his typical garb of a button-up and pants, though he noticed the top button was unbuttoned and he was wearing a pair of rumpled jeans, rather than his typically ironed slacks. His eyes were shadowed, as if he hadn't been getting much sleep. Shinji still smiled, glad at the effort, "You really want to go, then?"

Kaworu nodded slowly, rocking from leg to leg. He murmured, "I think I should. I've been rather selfish, haven't I?"

Shinji was quick to aggressively shake his head, "Don't say that!"

"Well, I offered to be your boyfriend then immediately locked myself in my apartment."

"Considering you got assaulted by an Angel between those two things, I think it's perfectly reasonable!"

Kaworu made a face but didn't argue. He didn't seem extremely convinced.

Shinji crossed his arms, "You're really nice Kaworu but it's not all about me…"

Kaworu opened his mouth to protest then stopped himself before he could say anything. He closed his mouth with an audible pop, looking suddenly really guilty. Shinji didn't need him to say anything to know exactly what he wanted to say. Going through this song and dance just about a dozen times, he got a sense of what motivated Kaworu.

He wished he would find something else.

Instead of saying anything about that, he offered his hand, "Let's go? I've got an idea of what we can do."

Kaworu looked at his hand then took it with a hopeful smile.

Now the problem was Shinji actually had no idea what to do for a date. He hadn't thought this far; getting Kaworu out of his apartment was more than he had thought would happen!

He decided they needed to get away from the complex. Asuka was a good friend of Kaworu's but he didn't want her to overwhelm him. And they needed to reconcile on their own time.

So he drew upon happy memories and decided to head to the ice cream shop from so long ago. It was a bit of a gambit, considering last time they went was with Toji...and Kensuke. But if Kaworu thought anything like that, he didn't show it, instead happily following him with a small smile on his face.

Once there, they sat outside, Kaworu with his sundae bowl and Shinji with a fudge-dipped cone. He ended up doing the most of the talking but he honestly didn't mind it, especially when he had his boyfriend listening with rapt attention, as if his words were the Gospel itself.

He talked about how Misato had switched to coffee, how Pen-Pen had gotten spoiled and only wanted the expensive fish, how Asuka had been ramming her head against the dark fantasy game Kensuke showed her some time ago and how even Rei had visited a few times. He didn't bring up that she seemed to be spending a lot of time around them because nightmares, filing that under 'serious things to not talk about right now'.

The sun was lowering towards the horizon when they finished their ice cream. Shinji, staring up at the fading sky, looked back at him, "It's nearly sundown...it might be time to go home…"

Immediately, Kaworu's cheery expression collapsed and he murmured, "Must we...couldn't we do something else?"

Misato would worry...but then again, he had told her he was going to go visit Kaworu. He had explained his idea to Asuka so hopefully she'd pass that along, though hopefully not use the word "date" when she did. He nodded, "How about the movies? Do you like the movies?"

Kaworu gave him an appreciative smile, "I haven't seen many but I'm always up for new things."

Sliding out of his chair, Shinji gestured for him to follow, "Let's go then. I think the new Godzilla film just came out and you'll never believe the robots they've got him fighting."

The movie was wonderfully nostalgic for Shinji, having watched all the old ones as a kid. His aunt and uncle never really watched anything with him but they did have a cabinet full of VCRs so many of his days were spent watching them by himself. Kaworu had found the fact the robots in the new one had an uncanny resemblance to the Evas funny—just as Shinji had thought he would.

As they walked out, Shinji told him, "That was fun! I thought it might be dark like the last one but it really felt like the old ones!"

"You've seen the old ones?"

"Mhm!" Shinji nodded, his eyes lighting up, "My aunt and uncle had all the old ones so I must have watched each half a dozen times as a kid."

"We should go rent them then and you can show me them. I've only see maybe two? But I liked them!" Kaworu beamed so brightly that, if Shinji didn't know better, he would think he was back to his old self for good.

He blushed, "You'd want to do that with me?"

"Yeah," Kaworu squeezed his hand, "It'll get me out of my apartment and we can spend time together."

By the time they left the theater, the sun had gone down and the streetlights had turned on. Kaworu reasoned that they'd better take the train to the nearest stop near home and walk from there. So they took off into the night. Shinji couldn't help feeling a rebellious streak. He hadn't told Misato how long he planned to be out and had no way to contact her. It was like he was a normal teenager.

They were about halfway to the train station when Kaworu stopped suddenly under a lamp post. Shinji stopped beside him with a frown. He had never noticed but his eyes glowed a little in the dark, as if they weren't effected by the darkness. He asked, "Are you alright?"

Kaworu shook his head slowly.

"You did have fun, right?"

"I did," Kaworu turned his brilliant red eyes to him. In the gloom, they stood out. "It's not that."

They remained there for nearly a minute in silence. Finally, Kaworu broached, "You're sure I'm not selfish?"

"Of course not," Shinji told him, "I saw just how much the memory of it effected Asuka. I can't imagine how terrible it was."

"It was terrible," Kaworu confirmed, "But I don't think what she showed me was as bad as the fact she seemed to understand me too. Before she died."

"The Angel?"

"...yeah."

Shinji rocked uncomfortably. His words had brought up an uncomfortable truth, one that he knew had to be true as it had been in his previous world. The other boy had never called attention to it but he decided he couldn't bet on that meaning he was...like him. He asked quietly, "Everything's going to work out, yeah? You have to promise me that, Kaworu."

"Of course."

"You know what I'm talking about," Shinji repeated, a note of desperation in his voice, "We can't be doing this if you're on a timer. Like everything's supposed to be normal."

...of course he would remember that. Kaworu hadn't considered that if Shinji remembered the past few go-arounds, he'd guess at the role he played in this cosmic play. He didn't know whether to feel overjoyed that that hadn't stopped Shinji from treating him kindly...or feel despair that the worry of what would happen to him consumed his thoughts.

He said softly, "I'm telling the truth, Shinji. It'll work out."

Shinji squinted at him, as if trying to find evidence for him lying. Seeing no such tells, he relaxed, "Alright, Kaworu, I believe you. You'd know better than me. Just please don't lie to me...like people have before."

Ouch. Whether he meant to or not, Shinji Ikari really knew how to hit him where it hurt.

"I've been through this enough times," Kaworu assured him, but the words tasted like ash.

He said it would work out—that just didn't necessarily mean for himself.

They returned back to the apartment complex, stopping at Kaworu's apartment first. But he didn't go in immediately, even after they had shared their good nights. He watched Shinji turn away, about to go back home, but Kaworu shot his arm out to catch his wrist.

"Wait!"

Shinji turned to him with wide owlish eyes. He stammered, "What is it?"

Kaworu squeezed his hand then decided to go ahead and ask something he thought rather selfish, "Would you...like to stay the night? For old times sake?"

He wasn't sure why he said that. Shinji wouldn't remember that.

Nonetheless, Shinji smiled, "It doesn't have to be for "old times sake". I'd love that."

He cast a glance down the hall, "Erm. I should tell Misato I am first so she doesn't go on the warpath."

Kaworu let himself chuckle, "She would do that, wouldn't she?"

Shinji chuckled right along before turning away, as if to leave. Then he furrowed his eyebrows in thought. Quick as a blink, he grabbed his face and pressed his lips to his.

Kaworu nearly yelped in surprise. Then, just as quick as he had done it, Shinji whipped around and all but fled back to his apartment with a cry of, "Okayberightback!" said so quickly, the words slurred together.

He opened his mouth and closed it, gaping at his fleeing frame. He raised a hand to brush his lips, where he had planted the kiss. Shinji had changed in so many ways under his nose.

It made his heart ache in just as many ways.

---

Misato had an uncharacteristic break from work which meant, for once, she was home early in the night. Initially, she was happy when Shinji's visit with Kaworu grew long. Then she became worried when he wouldn't answer his phone (especially when she found he left it in his room) and no one answered Kaworu's door. Then just confused when Shinji showed up an hour later, beet red and informing her he was going to stay over at Kaworu's. She was left with naught but her confusion when he left just as quick with an armful of sleeping clothes and his SDAT.

Asuka emerged from the shower, "Was that Shinji?"

"Left just as quick as he came," Misato commented, leaning dangerously in her chair as her gaze lingered on the door, "Was going over to stay with Kaworu for the night."

"Of course, when he finally opens up, it's to his boyfriend," Asuka commented wryly.

"...boyfriend?" Misato raised an eyebrow.

"...ah, scheisse," Asuka facepalmed, "Didn't mean to let that slip."

Misato couldn't help but snort, both at her slip up and at the fact Shinji had kept such a thing from her! "Boyfriends, huh? I never would have expected that! You know when that happened?"

Asuka crossed the space, tucking her towel in tighter around herself. "Right before the Angel attack, when Shinji made us all waffles."

"Couldn't have had worse timing if they tried," Misato frowned, "But I'm glad Shinji finally got through to him."

"I knew one of us was eventually going to. Guess I shouldn't be surprised it was Shinji," Asuka shrugged.

"Does that bother you?" Misato cocked an eyebrow, "I know how good friends you are."

She shrugged, "Not really. I know Shinji's been pining after him a while, he should get at least one good date in with him. Y'know...just in case things go tits-up in the future."

"...I'm going to choose to pretend you didn't say that like that. Language like that doesn't become a lady!" Misato teased.

Asuka stuck her tongue out at her, "And drinking a 6-pack a day doesn't either and look how long that took you to quit!"

"Low blow, Asuka," she shook her head, hiding her smile behind her can of coffee, "Low blow…"

---

When Shinji got back to Kaworu's, he realized he had made a critical mistake: he hadn't considered where he was going to sleep. Kaworu had a couch he could sleep on (helpfully provided by Kaji so many months ago) and his own bed. The pair had lingered around for a few moments before Kaworu suggested what they were both thinking, "Come get in bed with me. There's plenty of room."

Shinji opened his mouth to protest then closed it. They were boyfriends; it wasn't that scandalous, right?

Kaworu quickly made the bed, apologizing all the while as he did. Shinji, watching him, shrugged, "You should see how Misato and Asuka leave theirs. I swear...I'm the only one in that house for a sense of cleanliness."

To his delight, that earned a snort from him. He turned to the TV and asked, "Want me to turn it off?"

"No!" Kaworu cried then, softly, added, "The light and sound...it helps me sleep."

Mutely, Shinji nodded. He supposed that made sense. He had used his SDAT player plenty of times to lull him to sleep, when his mind was too loud for sleep to come. He fiddled with the remote while Kaworu tidied up, eventually landing on a public broadcast of an orchestra playing music. He turned the TV down low and turned to find Kaworu was already settling in bed. Faintly blushing, he joined him.

Shinji nodded off quickly enough, much faster than he had expected. He wasn't sure how long he had slept but it was still dark when he was roused by Kaworu murmuring in his sleep.

He turned, blinking blearily, to look at him. Kaworu's face was pulled into an expression of discomfort and he was murmuring something panicked and indistinct. He watched him shift in his sleep for nearly a minute before slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around him. Almost immediately, Kaworu went quiet though he still shook in his arms.

Shinji murmured, "It's gonna be alright."

He wasn't sure if the other boy could hear him but the sound of his voice seemed to be enough. He eventually stilled and went completely silent, slipping back into a restful sleep. Shinji stayed awake for a while more, staring at the ceiling, unsure if he could find it in him to go to sleep again. Eventually, he decided he probably wasn't without help.

He fished out his SDAT where it slipped under the corner of his blanket and placed it between them. He notched one earbud into his own ear then put the other in Kaworu's, hoping the music would bring another layer of comfort to him. He mentioned all the time how much he liked music so it felt like a fair chance it would.

He closed his eyes and, between the soft tone of his music and the warmth of Kaworu, he dozed back off.

---

It felt pretty odd not having Shinji in the apartment. Even though he was a mere few doors down, Misato still couldn't help but ponder how much more empty the apartment felt. She really had gotten used to him being around...hadn't she?

After Asuka went off to bed, Misato retired to her room and resumed her combing of Kaji's flash drive. She was finally starting to get a picture of things, even with so many pieces of said picture missing.

At the turn of the century, the Katsuragi Expedition had happened. Despite her father's starry-eyed ambitions, the whole trip was doomed from the start. This committee, or SEELE Kaji called them, had pulled strings to make sure things went a specific way. By introducing human genes into Adam, they caused the Second Impact. A gambit to buy them time in some ways...and in others, to pave the path towards a Third Impact.

She had to stop multiple times reading as she kept having to wipe away burning, angry tears. Complex feelings for her father aside, she couldn't believe he had ended up being a mere tool for these people!

After a short break to digest that, she was back at it, skimming as she refound her place...a folder merely titled, 'The Fourth Child'.

She blinked in surprise. The Fourth Child...that was Kaworu. His records had always been sparse but back then, months ago when he came to Tokyo-3, she had written this off as something similar to Rei. Weird but ultimately not something to worry about.

Equal parts anxious and curious, she clicked the folder.

There was only two documents inside: a copy of Kaworu's official records and a document of Kaji's notes. She decided to investigate the records first, in case Kaji had found an unredacted copy.

There was something there...though not much more. It confirmed his transfer had been from NERV Germany, in Berlin though it added he had been transferred there from some unknown secondary facility.

She went to Kaji's notes and found them frustratingly short...but still baffling.

'Most certainly an asset of SEELE's...but to what end?'

She read the sentence over and over again, as if she might glean something new from it. SEELE...this all-powerful committee whose motivations were certainly not pure...were responsible for Kaworu? Did this mean they had been the ones to send him...but what for? If he was there for some sinister purpose, he hadn't done a very good job of fulfilling it.

Maybe he was like the other Pilots; a kid who was roped into something against his own will by the powers-that-be.

She frowned, remembering how haggard he looked when she brought him home. If he was SEELE's...why were they content to let him suffer so? Thinking about it in cold logical terms, a broken asset was no good at all.

She leaned back in her chair, staring at her familiar ceiling, and sighed.

"Kaji," she spoke into the empty air, "Will any of this ever make any sense?"