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* BadDreams: [[OfficialCouple Shinji and Asuka]] had been suffering from awful nightmares during the series. Then [[DespairEventHorizon the]] [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt events]] of the movie happened and their nightmares got way, WAY worse. Shinji's nightmares consisted of him letting Asuka dying and getting the whole humankind killed. Asuka's nightmares features her mother's insanity and suicide, her MindRape, her extremely bloody death, and later the abuse that she heapead on Shinji after Third Impact.
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** Shinji’s guilt and extreme self-loathing became a nightmarish version of himself that tortured him night after night, reminding him all his wrongs and sins.
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** Shinji’s Shinji’s guilt and extreme self-loathing became a nightmarish version of himself that tortured him night after night, reminding him all his wrongs and sins.
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* MoodSwinger:
** After Instrumentality, Shinji's mood could change abruptly and instantly when he was pushed the wrong way. He could go from [[TheQuietOne quiet]] to [[TheBerserker maddened berserker]] to depressed to happy to sad in a matter of seconds.
** Ironically, [[LoveInterest Asuka's]] mood stopped being so [[{{Tsundere}} shifty]]. After [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Third Impact]] she was nearly permanently angry and paranoid. During the fic she makes an effort to control her temper, and she is constantly gloomy and depressed.
** After Instrumentality, Shinji's mood could change abruptly and instantly when he was pushed the wrong way. He could go from [[TheQuietOne quiet]] to [[TheBerserker maddened berserker]] to depressed to happy to sad in a matter of seconds.
** Ironically, [[LoveInterest Asuka's]] mood stopped being so [[{{Tsundere}} shifty]]. After [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt Third Impact]] she was nearly permanently angry and paranoid. During the fic she makes an effort to control her temper, and she is constantly gloomy and depressed.
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* DopeSlap: In episode 12 Asuka and Shinji are having a bonding moment when [[DeadpanSnarker Shinji ruins it with a smartass comment]]. In reaction, Asuka bopped him on the head.
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* OneTrueLove: [[spoiler:Rei]] visited thousands of realities during Instrumentality. Not matter what reality she visited or what world she went to, [[ShrinkingViolet Shinji]] and [[{{Tsundere}} Asuka]] were always together, always bonded by destiny. They were one.
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* IfYouEverDoAnythingToHurtHer: After their CatFight in chapter 12 Rei warned Asuka that if she hurt Shinji again, she would kill her. Asuka's answer was: "I know that."
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* GuiltComplex: Shinji blamed himself for absolutely everything in this fic. The MP-Evas murdered [[LoveInterest Asuka]]? His fault because she needed him and he left her to die. The EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt? His fault because he set it off, even if he was a mere pawn into other people's schemes. Asuka is physically scarred and emotionally wrecked? His fault because he allowed it or contributed to her mental state. She got so scared, confused, traumatized, paranoid, unstable and unable to control her anger that she abused him for eight months straight before [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone getting]] [[HeelRealization act]] [[TheAtoner together]]? His fault because he was the one got her so screwed, and not even ''think'' of blaming her or judge her because [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend he wILL go berserker on you]].
** The only times where he is not blaming himself is why he is blaming his father, his mother or Ritsuko.
** The only times where he is not blaming himself is why he is blaming his father, his mother or Ritsuko.
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After beginning to open up to each other, Shinji and Asuka often sleep together, holding hands as they are sharing a bed.
** In chapter 13 they link hands after feeding each other.
** In chapter 13 they link hands after feeding each other.
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* WhenSheSmiles: After Third Impact Asuka spent most of time looking angry, depressed or sneering. When she smiled, though, Shinji thought that she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
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* WhenSheSmiles: WhenSheSmiles:
** After Third Impact Asuka spent most of time looking angry, depressed or sneering. When she smiled, though, Shinji thought that she was the most beautiful girl in theworld.world.
** GenderFlipped when Shinji smiles and Asuka thinks that his childish, relaxed smile melt her heart.
** After Third Impact Asuka spent most of time looking angry, depressed or sneering. When she smiled, though, Shinji thought that she was the most beautiful girl in the
** GenderFlipped when Shinji smiles and Asuka thinks that his childish, relaxed smile melt her heart.
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* PleaseDontLeaveMe: Asuka is frightened of hurting Shinji again so in a scene she asks him if he wants her going away. Shinji pleaded her staying with him. This is because after events of the series and Third Impact [[LivingEmotionalCrutch they had become so codependent that they would never want to be apart from each other]].
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* {{Continuation}}: It starts out eight months after the End of Evangelion and narrates how Shinji and Asuka repair their damaged relationship as [[AfterTheEnd humankind returns and the world is beginning to recover]].
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* HouseHusband: This is in fact a plot point: Shinji was the one made all household chores in Misato's apartment, and he is hospitalised for several weeks. During that time Asuka realizes she is barely capable to cook and keep their house and herself clean, and she feels mortified thinking that Misato and she took him for granted and never showed enough gratitude.
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-->‘‘‘Misato’’’: "SHINJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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-->‘‘‘Misato’’’: "You know what? You deal with this shit. I’m sick of this, I’m sick and tired of having to run here because my children suffer from the deepest traumas anyone has ever seen, I’m sick of not being able to relax in my own fucking house, I’m tired of waking up and being loaded with the world's personal piles of shit on my table, I’m sick of having to deal with all of these fucking media parasites trying to get answers that I don’t have, I’m sick of feeling so fucking guilty of all the time and I’m sick of you!"\\
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* SlapYourselfAwake: Variant. In chapter 12 [[HurtingHero Shinji]] is going through a horrible nightmare, so that he started to smash a fist into his chest to try wake himself up.
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* CrazyJealousGuy: In the beginning of a chapter Shinji suffers a nightmare where he sees Asuka kissing other boy. He gets utterly distraught and feeling the impulse of killing both them. At the same time it severely disturbs him feeling so jealous and possessive.
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** [[spoiler:Gendo Ikari]] is accustomed to play powerful, influential people against each other. And in chapter 11 he proved that his skills are unmatched in that area. He was confronting a bunch of politicians planning to extradite him or execute him on the spot, and he drove them mad. He compared him with fishing with dynamite.
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** [[spoiler:Gendo Ikari]] is accustomed to play powerful, influential people against each other. And in chapter 11 he proved that his skills are unmatched in that area. He was confronting a bunch of politicians planning to extradite him or execute him on the spot, and he drove them mad. He compared him it with fishing with dynamite.
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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: In chapter 8 Toji, Hikari and Kensuke start to berate and insult Asuka in front of [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend Shinji]]. Shinji is usually [[ShrinkingViolet a quiet, shy and non-confrontational pushover]] but after [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Third Impact]] [[BerserkButton he could not stand when anyone -anyone- insults Asuka]]. So [[BewareTheNiceOnes he exploded and started to shout at them]]. The three of them stood petrified.
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* TearsOfRemorse: Asuka often cried when she remembered how she had treated Shinji [[AfterTheEnd for several months]] after [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Third Impact.]]
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* FromBadToWorse: You would think that after TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt things can only get better, but they actually got worse for Shinji. In the [[AfterTheEnd post-Impact world]] some people hates him for getting the whole humanity killed and other people hates him for giving them the possibility to return, and all of them beat him when ran into him. Likewise, Asuka became completely unstable and unable to control her temper due to her ordeals during the Angel War and Third Impact -together with Shinji's actions and inactions during those events- that she physically and emotionally abused Shinji for eight months until she nearly got him killed. The fic starts right after that action, when she is so [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone horrified]] and [[HeelRealization sickened with herself]] that [[TheAtoner she decides to change and earn his forgiveness]]. Both children start to rebuild their relationship and it looks like if they are finally having a break... but then it turns out that Seele has returned, Unit-02 has reactivated itself and it wants its pilot back, assassins-for-hire are targetting both Shinji and Asuka...
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* JerkassWoobie: Consider ''everything'' what happened in the series to Asuka since her mother's insanity and suicide to her LoveInterest trying to kill her again. After Third Impact she is so miserable, frightened and miserable that she starts to torture Shinji physically and emotionally... and still she hates herself for it, feeling sickened with herself after every beating but being unable to stop. Finally she manages to snap out of that vicious cycle, but for then everyone but Shinji hate her. On top of that, her father declares that she is not his "trouble" anymore -for reasons completely unrelated to her personality, behaviour and actions-, and she and Shinji are being targetted by hired assassins.
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* GiantEqualsInvincible: In one scene Ritsuko comments that their giant robot can not be beat with anything other than other giant robot.
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** He managed finding her in the Blood Red Sea because he spotted several red hair strands floating in the LCL. It is true, he would recognize her red hair even if it was floating on a red ocean!
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: The fic seems being aiming for that direction with all characters.
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* EarnYourHappyEnding: The This fic seems being aiming for that direction is very dark, with all characters.characters (Shinji, Asuka, Misato, Ritsuko...) making awful things or grave judgement lapses and then regretting them and seeking atonement and expiation for them. However it looks like if there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.
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* ReformedButRejected: [[HeelRealization After realizing her action’s result]] Asuka decided making a sincere attempt for changing. Most of the cast –minus Shinji and Misato- sees her like an evil and abusive bitch that enjoys torturing Shinji. [[spoiler:Rei]] on particular refuses even believing that Asuka cares for Shinji.
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* ReformedButRejected: [[HeelRealization After realizing her action’s actions' result]] Asuka decided making a sincere attempt for changing. Most of the cast –minus Shinji and Misato- sees her like an evil and abusive bitch that enjoys torturing Shinji.Shinji, and at one point Asuka wonders if she has to almost die for her friends giving her a second chance. [[spoiler:Rei]] on particular refuses even believing that Asuka cares for Shinji.
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** Toji, Kensuke and Hikari thought that it would be a good idea picking a fight with Asuka in a hospital room and insulting her relentlessly in presence of Shinji. Shinji exploded and they had their ears ripped good:
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** In chapter 8 Toji, Kensuke and Hikari thought that it would be a good idea picking a fight with Asuka in a hospital room and insulting her relentlessly in presence of Shinji. Shinji exploded and they had their ears ripped good:
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* StressVomit: Before the beginning of the fic Asuka had became highly unstable, distressed and paranoid due to the events of the series. Severely traumatized and unable to control her temper she lashed out at Shinji, hitting him and then feeling sick with herself for beating him. After eight months she goes too far and hospitalizes him. Feeling guilt-ridden and full with self-loathing, she goes to visit him, and Shinji asks her leaving for a short while... instead of demanding it or shouting at her like she feels she deserves. Asuka could not stand it anymore and ran to the nearest bathroom to vomit.
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moving ymmv tropes
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* MarySue: Dmitri. He has all classic marks: he has a troubled and dark past, he is an Eva pilot, he is a teenager that is a better soldier, warrior, sniper and spy than experienced adults, he is praised by characters such like Gendo –of all people- or Kaji, it is told that the canon pilots cannot beat him… and [[TheScrappy fans hate him]].
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* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[MarySue Dmitri]] got twisted into a psychotic monster for Seele. He is helping to hunt them down because it gives him the chance to personally torture them and murder them in horrible ways.
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* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[MarySue Dmitri]] Dmitri got twisted into a psychotic monster for Seele. He is helping to hunt them down because it gives him the chance to personally torture them and murder them in horrible ways.
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* TheScrappy: Dmitri. Fans hate him because he is a CompleteMonster and a {{Jerkass}} with no redeeming qualities and a painfully obvious MarySue that is derailing the plot. The author has said that he is meant to be unlikeable.
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** Toji, Kensuke and Hikari thought that [[WhatAnIdiot it would be a good idea picking a fight with Asuka in a hospital room and insulting her relentlessly in presence of Shinji]]. Shinji exploded and they had their ears ripped good:
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** Toji, Kensuke and Hikari thought that [[WhatAnIdiot it would be a good idea picking a fight with Asuka in a hospital room and insulting her relentlessly in presence of Shinji]].Shinji. Shinji exploded and they had their ears ripped good:
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* {{WAFFY}}: In spite of how dark the story is, it has plenty heart-warming parts. They are the best parts of the fic, actually.
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* {{WAFFY}}: {{WAFF}}: In spite of how dark the story is, it has plenty heart-warming parts. They are the best parts of the fic, actually.
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* WAFFY: In spite of how dark the story is, it has plenty heart-warming parts. They are the best parts of the fic, actually.
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* WAFFY: {{WAFFY}}: In spite of how dark the story is, it has plenty heart-warming parts. They are the best parts of the fic, actually.
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* ViolentlyOverprotectiveGirlfriend:
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* ViolentlyOverprotectiveGirlfriend:ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend:
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-->‘‘‘[[spoiler:Gendo]]’’’: Perhaps God does exist, and perhaps He does have a plan, the only inconvenience is that we humans are far too blind to glimpse at a truth that stands before us as clear as daylight.
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-->‘‘‘[[spoiler:Gendo]]’’’: Perhaps God {{God}} does exist, and perhaps He does have a plan, the only inconvenience is that we humans are far too blind to glimpse at a truth that stands before us as clear as daylight.
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* TheMasochistTango: Shinji endured Asuka's abuse for eight months, blaming himself for everything and refusing be separated from her or pressing charges. If someone badmouthed Asuka he reacted violently. If someone told him that she would kill him, he retorted that he did not care. Things got better for him, fortunately.
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* TheMasochistTango: TheMasochismTango: Shinji endured Asuka's abuse for eight months, blaming himself for everything and refusing be separated from her or pressing charges. If someone badmouthed Asuka he reacted violently. If someone told him that she would kill him, he retorted that he did not care. Things got better for him, fortunately.
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* OutYourDamnedSpot: After her MindRape Asuka always took long baths. As stated in chapter 11:
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* OutYourDamnedSpot: OutDamnedSpot: After her MindRape Asuka always took long baths. As stated in chapter 11:
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* OverprotectiveGirlfriend:
** Shinji. Calling Asuka names is enough to make him losing control of himself. And when he does he is very frightening. Misato compared him once with a wolf defending his mate.
--->Of course, in the middle of the open war against Asuka's presence, everyone in the room failed to notice Shinji's change of mood. With every insult directed towards Asuka, he felt rage unlike any other build inside him like a deadly current threatening to consume him completely. He could stand anything people directed his way, as long as it was him who was offended. No-one, NO ONE had the right to insult Asuka, they had no idea what she had been through, what she had suffered. Such a thing would not stand.
** Asuka. After almost killing Shinji her behaviour completely changes and she becomes ''extremely'' protective of him. And she gets very angry whenever she perceives that someone has hurt him.
** Shinji. Calling Asuka names is enough to make him losing control of himself. And when he does he is very frightening. Misato compared him once with a wolf defending his mate.
--->Of course, in the middle of the open war against Asuka's presence, everyone in the room failed to notice Shinji's change of mood. With every insult directed towards Asuka, he felt rage unlike any other build inside him like a deadly current threatening to consume him completely. He could stand anything people directed his way, as long as it was him who was offended. No-one, NO ONE had the right to insult Asuka, they had no idea what she had been through, what she had suffered. Such a thing would not stand.
** Asuka. After almost killing Shinji her behaviour completely changes and she becomes ''extremely'' protective of him. And she gets very angry whenever she perceives that someone has hurt him.
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* ViolentlyOverprotectiveGirlfriend:
** Shinji. Calling Asuka names is enough to make him losing control of himself. And when he does he is very frightening. Misato compared him once with a wolf defending his mate.
--->Of course, in the middle of the open war against Asuka's presence, everyone in the room failed to notice Shinji's change of mood. With every insult directed towards Asuka, he felt rage unlike any other build inside him like a deadly current threatening to consume him completely. He could stand anything people directed his way, as long as it was him who was offended. No-one, NO ONE had the right to insult Asuka, they had no idea what she had been through, what she had suffered. Such a thing would not stand.
** Asuka. After almost killing Shinji her behaviour completely changes and she becomes ''extremely'' protective of him. And she gets very angry whenever she perceives that someone has hurt him.
** Shinji. Calling Asuka names is enough to make him losing control of himself. And when he does he is very frightening. Misato compared him once with a wolf defending his mate.
--->Of course, in the middle of the open war against Asuka's presence, everyone in the room failed to notice Shinji's change of mood. With every insult directed towards Asuka, he felt rage unlike any other build inside him like a deadly current threatening to consume him completely. He could stand anything people directed his way, as long as it was him who was offended. No-one, NO ONE had the right to insult Asuka, they had no idea what she had been through, what she had suffered. Such a thing would not stand.
** Asuka. After almost killing Shinji her behaviour completely changes and she becomes ''extremely'' protective of him. And she gets very angry whenever she perceives that someone has hurt him.
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-> "There's nothing to say, Baka-Shinji. You've done some stupid things, I've done a lot of stupid things and somehow we're still here. It's like scar tissue, you know." Shinji lifted an eyebrow at her.
->"Scar tissue?" he asked, intrigued.
-> "Yeah." Asuka answered, smiling as she noticed the long, vertical line going up her arm. "Scar tissue is never like normal tissue, it's broken, sensitive, disfigured and simply different from before, and it can never go back to what it was." She traced the calloused circle around Shinji's palms, for once feeling no disgust or rejection for the reminders of the power once given to him.
-> "But… scar tissue is stronger. It'll endure much more than normal skin or bone, because it's already been hurt but managed to heal and get better. It might never be the same, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing, after all. Maybe a scar or two are the true proof that you've lived and grown."
It has been almost one year since Third Impact and humankind is slowly recovering. Unfortunately the Third Impact and Instrumentality have aggravated Shinji and Asuka's mental scars, giving them frequent nightmares and increasing their feelings of guilt and self-loathing. As a result of it Asuka becomes unable to control her temper and her behaviour gets increasingly abusive and violent until one day she goes too far and Shinji gets hospitalized. Horrified at the result of her violence she realizes how bad her attitude has got and she resolves to change and atone for her actions.
While both Children begin to mend their relationship [[AfterTheEnd humanity struggles for rebuilding a devastated world]], the returning members of Nerv get entangled in a web of politic intrigues, and Seele prepares to strike Nerv in order to seize the last remainder Evangelion.
‘‘Scar Tissue’’ is a post-Third Impact ‘‘Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion’’ DarkFic written by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1166503/deathbringer374 Deathbringer374]]. It can be found [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5334678/1/Scar-Tissue here]].
----
!!This fanfiction provides examples of the next tropes:
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Shinji feels thoroughly sickened with himself for having masturbated over Asuka’s comatose body. Later it is revealed that sometimes he felt tempted to do it again when she slept on his bed.
* AfterTheEnd: Most of Governments have been reinstated, and the half of world population has returned. However the major cities are in ruins, the roads are broken, the other half of people keeps missing and the returned ones are living on refugee camps as cities are being rebuilt, there is a lack of supply water, crops are damaged and there are riots due to the lack of food and water. In other words, the world has became ‘‘[[Manga/FistOftheNorthStar Kenshiro]]’’’s [[CrapSackWorld world]].
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Gendo caused [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Third Impact]] because he wanted to save his wife and he did not care for everybody else. And Shinji… a character summarized his actions regarding Asuka in chapter thirteen:
-->"You killed last every human being because you wouldn't have the guts to save her. Then, you gave a big fuck you to Instrumentality to bring her back."
* TheApocalypseBringsOutTheBestInPeople: Played straight when it is said that people are working together in order to survive, helping each other and sharing resources. However it is subverted when we see that some people still keeps very ugly attitudes.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion:
** Ritsuko is telling Misato how Shinji and Asuka’s health was recovering quickly after several months of deterioration:
--->'''Misato''': "So what you're saying is that they're good for each other? I wish I could believe that, I really do Ritsu, but Asuka almost killed Shinji, with her bare hands, for touching her. She broke his fingers that time, too, I guarantee it."\\
'''Ritsuko''': "Dislocated. She dislocated one of his fingers, she didn't break both."\\
'''Misato''': "It doesn't matter! If they're so good for each other's health, how come this happened!? How come they've both been wasting away all this time?!"\\
'''Ritsuko''': "How should I know? I'm not their guardian, I'm their doctor."
** [[spoiler:Rei]] returns and tells Shinji that she will protect him from Asuka from now on. Shinji replies that whatever goes between Asuka and him is their concern and he does not like when someone else try to meddle. When she insists his safety is HER concern, he angrily retorts:
--->'''Shinji''': “Then where the fuck were you!”
** Asuka later also uses this line during their [[CatFight fight]].
* TheAtoner:
** After nearly getting Shinji killed Asuka spends the whole fic trying to atone for her behaviour and earn his forgiveness.
** On the other hand, Shinji endured whatever Asuka did to him because he thought that he deserve it after his actions (never helping her when she needed him, leaving her alone after her MindRape, masturbating over her comatose body, leaving her alone as she fought for her life before losing and getting quartered and eaten alive, trying to kill her twice…).
** Ritsuko is trying to help both kids and eradicate the Eva technology in order to make up for her actions.
* BerserkButton: Do not insult Asuka, do not pick on her, do not threaten her and do not hit her in presence of Shinji. If you do so much as badmouthing her or being rude to her, Shinji... will snap.
-->"How dare you threaten my Asuka?!" Shinji slammed his foot against the beast's chest, forcing it to drop its grip on his throat and step back.
* TheBerserker: Shinji. Do you know all of those times that Unit-01 went berserker? It was SHINJI the one that was really going berserker. Unit-01 merely copied him.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Shinji is a wimp, but he is really scary when he gets angry or he loses control of himself.
* BrokenAce: Asuka was the best of all pilots and the one with more hours of training on her belt. She was defeated, humiliated, raped, impaled, chopped into pieces and murdered… several times. As a result of it, her mind was a complete mess before the start of the fic.
* BrokenBird: Asuka got severely traumatized and abandoned by her parents when she was a child. During the series she got hurt in all possible ways. She tried to cope with it for becoming as badass and self-reliant as possible, but it did not work, and she became a neurotic, unstable wreck instead.
* BullyHunter: Subverted. Toji, Kensuke, Hikari, and later [[spoiler:Rei]] want to teach Asuka a lesson for mistreating Shinji. Too bad that: Asuka had stopped bullying Shinji before they decided going after her (therefore, their actions were late and pointless); Shinji does not want their help and hates their meddling; he hates the infuriating feeling of being treated like a helpless victim; and as far as he is concerned, THEY are bullying Asuka.
* BullyingADragon: Asuka abused and hit Shinji even though she believed that he could kill her easily.
* CantLiveWithThemCantLiveWithoutThem:
** Shinji and Asuka developed a co-dependent relationship during the series, but the war against the Angels and the Third Impact scarred their minds further. Due to Shinji's actions Asuka abused him constantly and Shinji was torn between blaming himself and resenting her. However, Shinji refused being apart of Asuka, and as soon as Asuka thought that she could lose him or never see him again, she was utterly terrified and mortified.
** In one scene, Fuyutsuki modifies the sentence:
--->'''Fuyutsuki''':''"Can't live with them, can't successfully control the Armageddon without them."''
* CatFight: Rei picked a fight with Asuka as soon as she saw her.
* ChangedMyMindKid: Misato quit her job and wanted it back the next day. Much to her annoyance, Risuko expected that and actually guessed every word that Misato was going to tell.
* ChefOfIron: Shinji is a great mecha pilot and also an excellent cook (echoing ‘‘[[Anime/MazingerZ another mecha pilot]]’’. Surprisingly, Asuka is also a great cook when she sets her mind to it.
* TheChessmaster: You have to give him credit. Arrested, jailed and surrounded by people who hates him and wants him dead and knows that they can actually kill him and get away with it… and even so [[spoiler:Gendo]] ''has'' a plan.
* ChildSoldiers: Shinji, Asuka and Rei are teens forced or raised to wage a war against [[EldritchAbominations alien monsters]]. And they have been broken by it.
* ClusterFBomb: Most of characters seem incapable of uttering a single sentence without swearing at least once or twice.
* ConverseWithTheUnconscious: Asuka often did that when Shinji was in the hospital, as soon as the first chapter. She also did it when he got his mental breakdown.
* CoolDownHug: In episode 9 Shinji is going through a horrible nightmare that is shattering his sanity. Then Asuka lies down with him, hugs him… and Shinji calms down and relaxes right away.
* DespairEventHorizon: During eight months Shinji has suffered of nearly daily nightmares about what he did and went through before the Third Impact (that led to his earlier Despair Event Horizon) and after it. In episode 9 he found out that Asuka muttered his name right while she was dying, and that was the final straw that broke his mind.
* DisContinuity: Maybe it is due to the long time between updates, but there are several continuity errors. For example, when [[spoiler:Gendo]] returns he knows that Shinji and Asuka have also returned, but two chapters later he is shocked of hearing that Asuka is alive.
* DomesticAbuse: [[PlayedForLaughs Unlike the original series]] the issue is treated seriously.
** The Angel War and Third Impact completely broke Asuka’s mind, worsening her nightmares and turning her paranoid, unstable and unable to control her temper. When she returned she was mad at Shinji for his past actions –masturbating when she was unconscious, letting her die, killing her…-, she was afraid of him and she was frightened of him fading away. She was so sickened with him and herself that she started to abuse him to make him react and ensure that he would not leave. Gradually her actions escalated. Often her bursts of rage were not even conscious: she entered a trance and she did not wake up until it was too late. She mistreated him and then she felt sick with herself –and often cried and vomited afterwards- and promised herself that she would start to treat him more nicely, but she forgot after a short while and started tormenting him again.
** Shinji always covered her actions up or he affirmed that he did not feel threatened and refused pressing charges. He endured her abuse and never fought back because he thought that he deserved it after what he did to her (regarding her like the real victim and another person that he had screwed over)… and because he was afraid of killing her if he snapped and lost control.
** Finally after eight months Asuka went too far and nearly killed him. Seeing him dying in front of her was such a shock that she started to make a serious effort to correct her behaviour.
* DudeShesLikeInAComa: When Asuka was in a coma, Shinji [[ADateWithRosiePalms jerked off upon seeing her naked breasts.]] Asuka was so sickened for it that for a long time she did not let him touching her.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: The fic seems being aiming for that direction with all characters.
* EldritchAbomination: The Evas, the Angels, Lilith...
** [[spoiler:Unit-02]] regenerated itself and devoured the white Eva series and Lilith whole, becoming something even more powerful, more dangerous and more unstoppable.
* EnemyMine: The United Nations did not like [[spoiler:Gendo]]. However they REALLY do not like Seele, so they are willing to strike a deal with the former in order to get rid of the latter.
* TheFettered: Shinji tolerated anything that Asuka did because he thought that he deserved the punishment… and because he was afraid that he would kill her if he lost control of himself.
* FieryRedhead: Asuka became more hot-headed and more short-tempered, much to her regret.
* {{Forgiveness}}: It is a very important theme in this story. Many characters feel that have done unforgivable, terrible things, and hope atone for them:
** Asuka wishes that Shinji can forgive her someday, although she thinks she does not deserve it and she does not dare to hope that he does.
** Shinji wishes that Asuka forgives him for everything that he did to her, although he thinks that he does not deserve it.
** Former Nerv higher-ups like Ritsuko, and later [[spoiler:Gendo]] and possibly [[spoiler:Yui]] are working to make sure that the pilots can led happy lives in the future as a way of expiation.
* FreudianSlip: In chapter 10:
-->'''Asuka''': "I´ll tell him whatever I dam well please! You just want him for his looks!"\\
'''Misato''': "Oh! So you admit he´s handsome!"\\
'''Asuka''': "I… I did not! You just have a thing for pretty-boys!"\\
'''Misato''': "So he´s pretty, huh?"\\
'''Shinji''': "I´m pretty?"\\
'''Asuka''': "Shut up! Both of you! Just… just watch the damn movie! Misato, go get us some food, we´re starving!"
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Asuka still wears the scars of her last battle: pale lines around her eye, a long white streak along her right arm and a network of lines and dot-like scars crisscrossing across her chest. She thinks that no one will love her cause she looks like an ugly freak now. Shinji disagrees.
* GreenEyedMonster: Chapter 12’s first word is “Jealousy”, and that chapter features Shinji, Asuka and Rei getting jealous in different situations.
* GuileHero:
** [[spoiler:Gendo Ikari]] is accustomed to play powerful, influential people against each other. And in chapter 11 he proved that his skills are unmatched in that area. He was confronting a bunch of politicians planning to extradite him or execute him on the spot, and he drove them mad. He compared him with fishing with dynamite.
** Deconstructed with Misato. She is Nerv’s Sub-commander now, and she hates it. Every day she has to deal with politicians, army officers, civil servants and mass media, assist pointless meetings, staying late in work, oversee Tokyo-3’s rebuilding… and because it she missed what was happening to her wards. She is sick of the feeling of being loaded with all troubles of the world, of being unable to relax in her own home and of having her wards physically and mentally wrecked.
* HairTriggerTemper: Asuka's temper had got way more volatile after Instrumentality. Often her bursts of rage were unconscious: she entered a trance and she did not wake up until it was too late. After the events prior to the fic she makes a conscious effort for keeping it in check.
* HeelRealization: Asuka got hers before first chapter when she snapped out of her trance, saw Shinji bleeding on the floor and thought that he was going to die because of her.
* HeroesWantRedheads: It is an Asuka/Shinji fic. It is noted in the story several times that Shinji is obsessed with Asuka's red hair:
-->Asuka still hadn't raised her head to even look at him, all he could see were her beautiful, if somewhat unkempt fiery golden locks. Even then, after all that had happened, he dreamed of running his hand down those eternally beautiful locks. He loved her hair, just as much as he loved every last part of her.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: As part of a last foolhardy attempt to destroy Nerv, Seele decided unleashing Project-X –his own [[ChildSoldiers trained pilot]]- to kill the Children. But then someone made him a better offer and he started to hunt Seele members down. Oops.
* HoldingHands: After beginning to open up to each other, Shinji and Asuka often sleep together, holding hands as they are sharing a bed.
* HumongousMecha: The Evas.
* IGaveMyWord: Misato swore that she would take care of Shinji and Asuka and she is determined to fulfil her promise, even if it is very hard.
* IMissMom: Subverted. Shinji and Asuka missed their mothers the whole time. Now that they know the exact cause of their deaths they are torn between missing them and resenting them.
* InMysteriousWays:
-->‘‘‘[[spoiler:Gendo]]’’’: Perhaps God does exist, and perhaps He does have a plan, the only inconvenience is that we humans are far too blind to glimpse at a truth that stands before us as clear as daylight.
* ItsAllMyFault:
** Shinji blames himself for the demise of the whole humanity and Asuka’s death, suffering and mental instability.
** Asuka also blamed Shinji for everything. Now she blames herself.
** On the other hand Shinji accused Ritsuko of screwing him and Asuka up. Ritsuko felt that it was the truth.
* KangarooCourt: [[spoiler:Gendo]] assists a meeting with a group of politicians that intend to extradite him to the International Court. During the procedure it is obvious that they plan turning him in a scapegoat to cover up their dealings with Seele, and they would love an excuse to get him shot without prior trial.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: During the events of the series and the Third Impact, Asuka and Shinji became this for each other. However they were wasting away because their increased issues prevented them from opening up and leaning on each other. As soon as their relationship stopped to be abusive and they started to rely on each other, their mental and physical health improved greatly and instantly.
-->Maya paused, taking a breath to remember what Sempai had told her regarding Shinji and Asuka. She had told Maya those too had developed a codependent relationship, they could not function correctly around each other or anyone else for that matter, they were simply too alien to the entire human experience, too deeply hurt to risk getting close to anyone, but due to the vast amount of traumatizing experiences they had both suffered together, neither Shinji nor Asuka would even think of leaving, since they believed nobody else would ever be able to understand their pain. To be without the other, it was beyond unthinkable in their minds, even when they were not consciously aware of it. Asuka had managed to put up a good show during the incident of the 14th, but almost everyone who had in any way interacted with the volatile redhead through that period clearly noticed she was affected.
* LoveHurts: And how.
* MamaBear: Misato considers Shinji and Asuka her children. She would kill with her bare hands whoever threatens them (or she would shoot his/her brains off. She has a gun and is pretty trigger-happy).
* ManipulativeBastard: Gendo ruthlessly manipulated everyone in order to engineer the Third Impact and to reunite with his wife. Yui manipulated everyone –‘‘including’’ Gendo and Shinji- in order to engineer the Third Impact and fulfill Seele’s plans. Shinji honestly cannot decide who is worse.
* MarySue: Dmitri. He has all classic marks: he has a troubled and dark past, he is an Eva pilot, he is a teenager that is a better soldier, warrior, sniper and spy than experienced adults, he is praised by characters such like Gendo –of all people- or Kaji, it is told that the canon pilots cannot beat him… and [[TheScrappy fans hate him]].
* TheMasochistTango: Shinji endured Asuka's abuse for eight months, blaming himself for everything and refusing be separated from her or pressing charges. If someone badmouthed Asuka he reacted violently. If someone told him that she would kill him, he retorted that he did not care. Things got better for him, fortunately.
* MindRape: Asuka suffered one before the beginning of the fic which contributed to her mental instability. Shinji suffered several ones, and they were performed by himself.
* MindScrew: Shinji and Asuka go forcefully through several. They suffer frequent nightmares that torture their minds with horrible hallucinations that blend with distorted, warped and twisted visions of the past.
* MoralMyopia:
** Shinji thinks that his friends suffer from it. They are quick on damning and hating Asuka for everything and anything, but not matter what he does, they always forgive him, are supportive or blame it on Asuka.
** [[spoiler:Rei]] also shows signs of this. She is so blinded with rage and jealousy that she refuses admitting that Asuka genuinely cares for Shinji or believing that she will stop abusing him.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This shows up in two different ways:
** Asuka, who has been physically and sexually brutalizing Shinji for months, has minor moments of this whenever her temper finally abates, then has a ''massive'' moment of this coupled with VillainousBreakdown when [[spoiler:she finally beats Shinji badly enough to nearly kill him]]. The fic starts after this moment; when it's not filling in back-story, it's detailing her attempts to atone for her actions.
** Shinji, on the other hand, blames '''himself''' for everything Asuka has done to him, seeing his actions during the canon story (especially the hospital scene in EoE) as so unforgivable that he can justify her abuse as karmic retribution.
* NervesOfSteel: You ‘‘can’t’’ faze [[spoiler:Gendo]]. Torture him, threaten him, blackmail him… and he will always remain calm and look colder and more inexorable than an ice statue.
* NotSoDifferent:
** Shinji and Asuka. It is pointed out several times for several characters:
*** During a fight Shinji shouted to Asuka that she was right like him.
*** In chapter 5 Asuka thought that he was right, they were the same.
** A much darker example when Asuka saw Shinji naked, collapsed over the floor and spitting blood because of her, and she imagined in her mind the MP-Evas grinning and telling: "You see, we're not that different, you and meeee…"
** As much as Shinji hates thinking about it, he and Gendo are not very different. Both were willing unleashing [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the end of the world]] after losing the woman that they loved.
* ObligatorySwearing: Most of the cast (Shinji, Asuka, Misato, Ritsuko, Toji…) swear nearly every time that they open their mouths (even [[spoiler:Gendo]] swore sometimes). It is completely out-of-character for them, since in the original material they never swore.
* OutYourDamnedSpot: After her MindRape Asuka always took long baths. As stated in chapter 11:
-->She took long baths; she had always taken her time to make sure she looked her best, but ever since the 15th, Asuka remained for at least an hour in the bathroom, trying in vain to clean off the dirt in her own soul.
* OverprotectiveGirlfriend:
** Shinji. Calling Asuka names is enough to make him losing control of himself. And when he does he is very frightening. Misato compared him once with a wolf defending his mate.
--->Of course, in the middle of the open war against Asuka's presence, everyone in the room failed to notice Shinji's change of mood. With every insult directed towards Asuka, he felt rage unlike any other build inside him like a deadly current threatening to consume him completely. He could stand anything people directed his way, as long as it was him who was offended. No-one, NO ONE had the right to insult Asuka, they had no idea what she had been through, what she had suffered. Such a thing would not stand.
** Asuka. After almost killing Shinji her behaviour completely changes and she becomes ''extremely'' protective of him. And she gets very angry whenever she perceives that someone has hurt him.
* ParentalSubstitute: Misato considers that Shinji and Asuka are now her children, especially now that she knows how Yui and Kyoko left them. However she feels she has failed them.
* ParentalAbandonment: Asuka’s father refuses to take care of her and he even says that she is not his “trouble” now.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Shinji suffers a violent nightmare and Asuka wakes him up. Misato barges in Shinji's room, and misunderstanding the situation, she grabs Asuka to hurl her off his bed, when Shinji grips her wrist, glares at her and states:
-->'''Shinji''': "She didn't do anything. Let. Her. Go."
* RedIsHeroic: Asuka wears a red [[LatexSpaceSuit plugsuit]] and rides a red [[HumongousMecha robot]].
* RedOniBlueOni: Asuka is the red oni and Shinji the blue one.
* ReformedButRejected: [[HeelRealization After realizing her action’s result]] Asuka decided making a sincere attempt for changing. Most of the cast –minus Shinji and Misato- sees her like an evil and abusive bitch that enjoys torturing Shinji. [[spoiler:Rei]] on particular refuses even believing that Asuka cares for Shinji.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[MarySue Dmitri]] got twisted into a psychotic monster for Seele. He is helping to hunt them down because it gives him the chance to personally torture them and murder them in horrible ways.
* SayMyName: In chapter 2…
-->‘‘‘Misato’’’: "SHINJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: During a meeting, Dmitri announces that Keel Lorenz and several other Seele members have not returned from the Read Sea. Since Third Impact was a global phenomenon that happened eight months ago you wonder why he is so sure that Keel did not return several months ago in any place of the planet and immediately hid out in a remote area where nobody knew him. Is he is aware of how huge is a planet and how easy is for one single person hiding away, vanishing or blending among several billions of people? Did he have a network scouring the globe for anyone and everyone who wears funny metal glasses?
* TheScrappy: Dmitri. Fans hate him because he is a CompleteMonster and a {{Jerkass}} with no redeeming qualities and a painfully obvious MarySue that is derailing the plot. The author has said that he is meant to be unlikeable.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After learning that [[spoiler:Unit-02 had reactivated]] Misato decides that she has got enough, and she quits. Ritsuko, though, guessed that [[TenMinuteRetirement it would not last long]].
-->‘‘‘Misato’’’: "You know what? You deal with this shit. I’m sick of this, I’m sick and tired of having to run here because my children suffer from the deepest traumas anyone has ever seen, I’m sick of not being able to relax in my own fucking house, I’m tired of waking up and being loaded with the world's personal piles of shit on my table, I’m sick of having to deal with all of these fucking media parasites trying to get answers that I don’t have, I’m sick of feeling so fucking guilty of all the time and I’m sick of you!"\\
"You can deal with all this shit, it’s your mess after all, you know. I’m gonna wait for my Shinji-kun to heal, and then I’m gonna go on a long, expensive vacation that you will be paying, so consider this my official resignation to all this crap, find yourself a new Sub-Commander."\\
"Oh, and I expect a huuuge bonus with that’ll keep me having to work another day and live a life of luxury, as I expect tons of cash for the kids, and of course that includes college, cars, parties, travels, the works. See ya!"
* ShoutOut:
** In chapter seven Shinji watches a scene of ‘‘Film/TheDarkKnight’’.
** The post-Impact world is eerily similar to ‘‘Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar’’.
* SoProudOfYou: After Gendo hears what his son had been up since the Third Impact, Gendo said:
-->'''Gendo''': "The boy successfully shattered SEELE's plan for the next step of evolution and gave a big "Fuck You" to Keel Lorenz himself, completely burned my scenario along with any hope of reuniting with his mother, and bit me in half. Literally. Then, he proceeded to refuse the godhood I devoted my life to and the endless ecstasy of Instrumentality so he could return to the deserted wasteland we once called home, only to be beaten half to death by the deranged banshee he fell for… saving mankind in the process. […] What's there not to be proud of?"
* SoulJar: After Third Impact, Yui’s soul remained locked up inside Unit-01 which is now floating in space. Shinji bitterly hopes that her “tin can” rusts.
* TakeMyHand: Shinji was drowning in his worst nightmare episode, and he was ready to give up and lose his sanity irremediably... when he felt Asuka grasping his hand, holding him and giving him warmth.
* TalkingToYourself: Shinji and Asuka developed two versions of it:
** Shinji’s guilt and extreme self-loathing became a nightmarish version of himself that tortured him night after night, reminding him all his wrongs and sins.
** In contrast, Asuka’s common sense and compassion manifested like a voice that pleaded her stopping to hurt Shinji and help him, or blamed her for his pain.
* TenMinuteRetirement: After hearing that [[spoiler:Unit-02 had reawakened]] Misato quit her job in Nerv. She returned the next day after finding out that [[spoiler:Gendo had returned from the Red Sea.]]
* ThanksForTheMammary: Shinji accidentally touched Asuka's breasts as he was sleeping in chapter 9. When he woke up and realized he panicked, but Asuka reassured him.
* ThroughHisStomach: Often Shinji and Asuka make meals to apologize or make each other happy.
* TitleDrop: In chapter 12: "It's like scar tissue, you know."
* {{Tsundere}}: Asuka becomes a a Type B during this story.
* UnbrokenVigil: In chapter 9 Asuka remained the whole night sleeping with Shinji until he finally woke up.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Although Misato and Ritsuko have repaired their friendship they still enjoy trading barbs.
* WAFFY: In spite of how dark the story is, it has plenty heart-warming parts. They are the best parts of the fic, actually.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Subverted. Shinji had yearned for his father’s approval or acknowledgement or… or something. ‘‘Anything’’. But after the events of the series he no longer cares for it. Ironically, after [[spoiler:returning from Instrumentality Gendo praised his son.]]
* WhatTheHellHero:
** In chapter 6 Shinji blames Ritsuko for his and Asuka’s suffering:
---> "You did this. […] You did this, you made me like this, you fucked us all up, you and that bastard. [...] I can’t go to bed in peace, I can’t get a good night’s sleep, Asuka hates everything, she’ll never be the same. You did this, you bastards, you made me into this, this monster that I am…"
** Toji, Kensuke and Hikari thought that [[WhatAnIdiot it would be a good idea picking a fight with Asuka in a hospital room and insulting her relentlessly in presence of Shinji]]. Shinji exploded and they had their ears ripped good:
--->"SHUT UP!!!!!!!!" Roared Shinji, enraged. His outburst came with a high price, though. As soon as he yelled, he started coughing violently, the machines around him ticking like crazy. Amazingly enough, Asuka turned her back on her attackers as soon as Shinji coughed, forgetting them completely.\\
"Shinji?! Shinji are you okay? Don't strain yourself!." Asuka wore a worried expression, hoping for the best yet fearing the worst. What if Shinji had reopened his wounds?\\
The boy, however, was busy getting his breathing in control and glaring hell at his so called friends.\\
"What… what do… any of you… (cough) know?! HUH?! What do you know?!" Shinji was breathing rather heavily, but he paid no mind to it, nor did he pay any mind Asuka's concerned eyes. No, he was focused on putting someone on their place.\\
"Nothing! You don't know shit! You didn't do SHIT! Asuka fought for you assholes, she fought nine Evangelions to save you!! And this is how you thank her, by insulting her?!"\\
'Shinji…" Muttered Asuka, finding his left hand and squeezing it, as to calm him. It was the first time she touched him since the incident.\\
"NO!! I will not just sit here and listen to this shit! She was the bravest of all of us, goddamnit!!! I did nothing, NOTHING while she fought alone, because I'm a good for nothing coward, but she didn't let that stop her!! She fought for everyone, until her last breath! And because she was alone, because I'm a fucking coward, she was ripped apart!! Literally!! And you… you dare insult her?! You have no right, you hear me?! No right!! No… (cough) (cough) right!"
* WhenSheSmiles: After Third Impact Asuka spent most of time looking angry, depressed or sneering. When she smiled, though, Shinji thought that she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Misato sent Toji and Kensuke to Ritsuko because they were driving her crazy and mad. In revenge, Ritsuko tried to get Misato drunk in front of all her staff.
----
->Two parts of the same mark, two wounds bound together by the slow healing process of growth. No more words were exchanged between them; there was nothing else to say. Finally their worst doubts, their dreadful insecurities and hesitations had been laid to rest. They felt stronger, different, forever to remain damaged in some way. Harsher, but sensible at the same time. Like scar tissue.
->"Scar tissue?" he asked, intrigued.
-> "Yeah." Asuka answered, smiling as she noticed the long, vertical line going up her arm. "Scar tissue is never like normal tissue, it's broken, sensitive, disfigured and simply different from before, and it can never go back to what it was." She traced the calloused circle around Shinji's palms, for once feeling no disgust or rejection for the reminders of the power once given to him.
-> "But… scar tissue is stronger. It'll endure much more than normal skin or bone, because it's already been hurt but managed to heal and get better. It might never be the same, but maybe that isn't such a bad thing, after all. Maybe a scar or two are the true proof that you've lived and grown."
It has been almost one year since Third Impact and humankind is slowly recovering. Unfortunately the Third Impact and Instrumentality have aggravated Shinji and Asuka's mental scars, giving them frequent nightmares and increasing their feelings of guilt and self-loathing. As a result of it Asuka becomes unable to control her temper and her behaviour gets increasingly abusive and violent until one day she goes too far and Shinji gets hospitalized. Horrified at the result of her violence she realizes how bad her attitude has got and she resolves to change and atone for her actions.
While both Children begin to mend their relationship [[AfterTheEnd humanity struggles for rebuilding a devastated world]], the returning members of Nerv get entangled in a web of politic intrigues, and Seele prepares to strike Nerv in order to seize the last remainder Evangelion.
‘‘Scar Tissue’’ is a post-Third Impact ‘‘Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion’’ DarkFic written by [[https://www.fanfiction.net/u/1166503/deathbringer374 Deathbringer374]]. It can be found [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5334678/1/Scar-Tissue here]].
----
!!This fanfiction provides examples of the next tropes:
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Shinji feels thoroughly sickened with himself for having masturbated over Asuka’s comatose body. Later it is revealed that sometimes he felt tempted to do it again when she slept on his bed.
* AfterTheEnd: Most of Governments have been reinstated, and the half of world population has returned. However the major cities are in ruins, the roads are broken, the other half of people keeps missing and the returned ones are living on refugee camps as cities are being rebuilt, there is a lack of supply water, crops are damaged and there are riots due to the lack of food and water. In other words, the world has became ‘‘[[Manga/FistOftheNorthStar Kenshiro]]’’’s [[CrapSackWorld world]].
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Gendo caused [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the Third Impact]] because he wanted to save his wife and he did not care for everybody else. And Shinji… a character summarized his actions regarding Asuka in chapter thirteen:
-->"You killed last every human being because you wouldn't have the guts to save her. Then, you gave a big fuck you to Instrumentality to bring her back."
* TheApocalypseBringsOutTheBestInPeople: Played straight when it is said that people are working together in order to survive, helping each other and sharing resources. However it is subverted when we see that some people still keeps very ugly attitudes.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion:
** Ritsuko is telling Misato how Shinji and Asuka’s health was recovering quickly after several months of deterioration:
--->'''Misato''': "So what you're saying is that they're good for each other? I wish I could believe that, I really do Ritsu, but Asuka almost killed Shinji, with her bare hands, for touching her. She broke his fingers that time, too, I guarantee it."\\
'''Ritsuko''': "Dislocated. She dislocated one of his fingers, she didn't break both."\\
'''Misato''': "It doesn't matter! If they're so good for each other's health, how come this happened!? How come they've both been wasting away all this time?!"\\
'''Ritsuko''': "How should I know? I'm not their guardian, I'm their doctor."
** [[spoiler:Rei]] returns and tells Shinji that she will protect him from Asuka from now on. Shinji replies that whatever goes between Asuka and him is their concern and he does not like when someone else try to meddle. When she insists his safety is HER concern, he angrily retorts:
--->'''Shinji''': “Then where the fuck were you!”
** Asuka later also uses this line during their [[CatFight fight]].
* TheAtoner:
** After nearly getting Shinji killed Asuka spends the whole fic trying to atone for her behaviour and earn his forgiveness.
** On the other hand, Shinji endured whatever Asuka did to him because he thought that he deserve it after his actions (never helping her when she needed him, leaving her alone after her MindRape, masturbating over her comatose body, leaving her alone as she fought for her life before losing and getting quartered and eaten alive, trying to kill her twice…).
** Ritsuko is trying to help both kids and eradicate the Eva technology in order to make up for her actions.
* BerserkButton: Do not insult Asuka, do not pick on her, do not threaten her and do not hit her in presence of Shinji. If you do so much as badmouthing her or being rude to her, Shinji... will snap.
-->"How dare you threaten my Asuka?!" Shinji slammed his foot against the beast's chest, forcing it to drop its grip on his throat and step back.
* TheBerserker: Shinji. Do you know all of those times that Unit-01 went berserker? It was SHINJI the one that was really going berserker. Unit-01 merely copied him.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: Shinji is a wimp, but he is really scary when he gets angry or he loses control of himself.
* BrokenAce: Asuka was the best of all pilots and the one with more hours of training on her belt. She was defeated, humiliated, raped, impaled, chopped into pieces and murdered… several times. As a result of it, her mind was a complete mess before the start of the fic.
* BrokenBird: Asuka got severely traumatized and abandoned by her parents when she was a child. During the series she got hurt in all possible ways. She tried to cope with it for becoming as badass and self-reliant as possible, but it did not work, and she became a neurotic, unstable wreck instead.
* BullyHunter: Subverted. Toji, Kensuke, Hikari, and later [[spoiler:Rei]] want to teach Asuka a lesson for mistreating Shinji. Too bad that: Asuka had stopped bullying Shinji before they decided going after her (therefore, their actions were late and pointless); Shinji does not want their help and hates their meddling; he hates the infuriating feeling of being treated like a helpless victim; and as far as he is concerned, THEY are bullying Asuka.
* BullyingADragon: Asuka abused and hit Shinji even though she believed that he could kill her easily.
* CantLiveWithThemCantLiveWithoutThem:
** Shinji and Asuka developed a co-dependent relationship during the series, but the war against the Angels and the Third Impact scarred their minds further. Due to Shinji's actions Asuka abused him constantly and Shinji was torn between blaming himself and resenting her. However, Shinji refused being apart of Asuka, and as soon as Asuka thought that she could lose him or never see him again, she was utterly terrified and mortified.
** In one scene, Fuyutsuki modifies the sentence:
--->'''Fuyutsuki''':''"Can't live with them, can't successfully control the Armageddon without them."''
* CatFight: Rei picked a fight with Asuka as soon as she saw her.
* ChangedMyMindKid: Misato quit her job and wanted it back the next day. Much to her annoyance, Risuko expected that and actually guessed every word that Misato was going to tell.
* ChefOfIron: Shinji is a great mecha pilot and also an excellent cook (echoing ‘‘[[Anime/MazingerZ another mecha pilot]]’’. Surprisingly, Asuka is also a great cook when she sets her mind to it.
* TheChessmaster: You have to give him credit. Arrested, jailed and surrounded by people who hates him and wants him dead and knows that they can actually kill him and get away with it… and even so [[spoiler:Gendo]] ''has'' a plan.
* ChildSoldiers: Shinji, Asuka and Rei are teens forced or raised to wage a war against [[EldritchAbominations alien monsters]]. And they have been broken by it.
* ClusterFBomb: Most of characters seem incapable of uttering a single sentence without swearing at least once or twice.
* ConverseWithTheUnconscious: Asuka often did that when Shinji was in the hospital, as soon as the first chapter. She also did it when he got his mental breakdown.
* CoolDownHug: In episode 9 Shinji is going through a horrible nightmare that is shattering his sanity. Then Asuka lies down with him, hugs him… and Shinji calms down and relaxes right away.
* DespairEventHorizon: During eight months Shinji has suffered of nearly daily nightmares about what he did and went through before the Third Impact (that led to his earlier Despair Event Horizon) and after it. In episode 9 he found out that Asuka muttered his name right while she was dying, and that was the final straw that broke his mind.
* DisContinuity: Maybe it is due to the long time between updates, but there are several continuity errors. For example, when [[spoiler:Gendo]] returns he knows that Shinji and Asuka have also returned, but two chapters later he is shocked of hearing that Asuka is alive.
* DomesticAbuse: [[PlayedForLaughs Unlike the original series]] the issue is treated seriously.
** The Angel War and Third Impact completely broke Asuka’s mind, worsening her nightmares and turning her paranoid, unstable and unable to control her temper. When she returned she was mad at Shinji for his past actions –masturbating when she was unconscious, letting her die, killing her…-, she was afraid of him and she was frightened of him fading away. She was so sickened with him and herself that she started to abuse him to make him react and ensure that he would not leave. Gradually her actions escalated. Often her bursts of rage were not even conscious: she entered a trance and she did not wake up until it was too late. She mistreated him and then she felt sick with herself –and often cried and vomited afterwards- and promised herself that she would start to treat him more nicely, but she forgot after a short while and started tormenting him again.
** Shinji always covered her actions up or he affirmed that he did not feel threatened and refused pressing charges. He endured her abuse and never fought back because he thought that he deserved it after what he did to her (regarding her like the real victim and another person that he had screwed over)… and because he was afraid of killing her if he snapped and lost control.
** Finally after eight months Asuka went too far and nearly killed him. Seeing him dying in front of her was such a shock that she started to make a serious effort to correct her behaviour.
* DudeShesLikeInAComa: When Asuka was in a coma, Shinji [[ADateWithRosiePalms jerked off upon seeing her naked breasts.]] Asuka was so sickened for it that for a long time she did not let him touching her.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: The fic seems being aiming for that direction with all characters.
* EldritchAbomination: The Evas, the Angels, Lilith...
** [[spoiler:Unit-02]] regenerated itself and devoured the white Eva series and Lilith whole, becoming something even more powerful, more dangerous and more unstoppable.
* EnemyMine: The United Nations did not like [[spoiler:Gendo]]. However they REALLY do not like Seele, so they are willing to strike a deal with the former in order to get rid of the latter.
* TheFettered: Shinji tolerated anything that Asuka did because he thought that he deserved the punishment… and because he was afraid that he would kill her if he lost control of himself.
* FieryRedhead: Asuka became more hot-headed and more short-tempered, much to her regret.
* {{Forgiveness}}: It is a very important theme in this story. Many characters feel that have done unforgivable, terrible things, and hope atone for them:
** Asuka wishes that Shinji can forgive her someday, although she thinks she does not deserve it and she does not dare to hope that he does.
** Shinji wishes that Asuka forgives him for everything that he did to her, although he thinks that he does not deserve it.
** Former Nerv higher-ups like Ritsuko, and later [[spoiler:Gendo]] and possibly [[spoiler:Yui]] are working to make sure that the pilots can led happy lives in the future as a way of expiation.
* FreudianSlip: In chapter 10:
-->'''Asuka''': "I´ll tell him whatever I dam well please! You just want him for his looks!"\\
'''Misato''': "Oh! So you admit he´s handsome!"\\
'''Asuka''': "I… I did not! You just have a thing for pretty-boys!"\\
'''Misato''': "So he´s pretty, huh?"\\
'''Shinji''': "I´m pretty?"\\
'''Asuka''': "Shut up! Both of you! Just… just watch the damn movie! Misato, go get us some food, we´re starving!"
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Asuka still wears the scars of her last battle: pale lines around her eye, a long white streak along her right arm and a network of lines and dot-like scars crisscrossing across her chest. She thinks that no one will love her cause she looks like an ugly freak now. Shinji disagrees.
* GreenEyedMonster: Chapter 12’s first word is “Jealousy”, and that chapter features Shinji, Asuka and Rei getting jealous in different situations.
* GuileHero:
** [[spoiler:Gendo Ikari]] is accustomed to play powerful, influential people against each other. And in chapter 11 he proved that his skills are unmatched in that area. He was confronting a bunch of politicians planning to extradite him or execute him on the spot, and he drove them mad. He compared him with fishing with dynamite.
** Deconstructed with Misato. She is Nerv’s Sub-commander now, and she hates it. Every day she has to deal with politicians, army officers, civil servants and mass media, assist pointless meetings, staying late in work, oversee Tokyo-3’s rebuilding… and because it she missed what was happening to her wards. She is sick of the feeling of being loaded with all troubles of the world, of being unable to relax in her own home and of having her wards physically and mentally wrecked.
* HairTriggerTemper: Asuka's temper had got way more volatile after Instrumentality. Often her bursts of rage were unconscious: she entered a trance and she did not wake up until it was too late. After the events prior to the fic she makes a conscious effort for keeping it in check.
* HeelRealization: Asuka got hers before first chapter when she snapped out of her trance, saw Shinji bleeding on the floor and thought that he was going to die because of her.
* HeroesWantRedheads: It is an Asuka/Shinji fic. It is noted in the story several times that Shinji is obsessed with Asuka's red hair:
-->Asuka still hadn't raised her head to even look at him, all he could see were her beautiful, if somewhat unkempt fiery golden locks. Even then, after all that had happened, he dreamed of running his hand down those eternally beautiful locks. He loved her hair, just as much as he loved every last part of her.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: As part of a last foolhardy attempt to destroy Nerv, Seele decided unleashing Project-X –his own [[ChildSoldiers trained pilot]]- to kill the Children. But then someone made him a better offer and he started to hunt Seele members down. Oops.
* HoldingHands: After beginning to open up to each other, Shinji and Asuka often sleep together, holding hands as they are sharing a bed.
* HumongousMecha: The Evas.
* IGaveMyWord: Misato swore that she would take care of Shinji and Asuka and she is determined to fulfil her promise, even if it is very hard.
* IMissMom: Subverted. Shinji and Asuka missed their mothers the whole time. Now that they know the exact cause of their deaths they are torn between missing them and resenting them.
* InMysteriousWays:
-->‘‘‘[[spoiler:Gendo]]’’’: Perhaps God does exist, and perhaps He does have a plan, the only inconvenience is that we humans are far too blind to glimpse at a truth that stands before us as clear as daylight.
* ItsAllMyFault:
** Shinji blames himself for the demise of the whole humanity and Asuka’s death, suffering and mental instability.
** Asuka also blamed Shinji for everything. Now she blames herself.
** On the other hand Shinji accused Ritsuko of screwing him and Asuka up. Ritsuko felt that it was the truth.
* KangarooCourt: [[spoiler:Gendo]] assists a meeting with a group of politicians that intend to extradite him to the International Court. During the procedure it is obvious that they plan turning him in a scapegoat to cover up their dealings with Seele, and they would love an excuse to get him shot without prior trial.
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: During the events of the series and the Third Impact, Asuka and Shinji became this for each other. However they were wasting away because their increased issues prevented them from opening up and leaning on each other. As soon as their relationship stopped to be abusive and they started to rely on each other, their mental and physical health improved greatly and instantly.
-->Maya paused, taking a breath to remember what Sempai had told her regarding Shinji and Asuka. She had told Maya those too had developed a codependent relationship, they could not function correctly around each other or anyone else for that matter, they were simply too alien to the entire human experience, too deeply hurt to risk getting close to anyone, but due to the vast amount of traumatizing experiences they had both suffered together, neither Shinji nor Asuka would even think of leaving, since they believed nobody else would ever be able to understand their pain. To be without the other, it was beyond unthinkable in their minds, even when they were not consciously aware of it. Asuka had managed to put up a good show during the incident of the 14th, but almost everyone who had in any way interacted with the volatile redhead through that period clearly noticed she was affected.
* LoveHurts: And how.
* MamaBear: Misato considers Shinji and Asuka her children. She would kill with her bare hands whoever threatens them (or she would shoot his/her brains off. She has a gun and is pretty trigger-happy).
* ManipulativeBastard: Gendo ruthlessly manipulated everyone in order to engineer the Third Impact and to reunite with his wife. Yui manipulated everyone –‘‘including’’ Gendo and Shinji- in order to engineer the Third Impact and fulfill Seele’s plans. Shinji honestly cannot decide who is worse.
* MarySue: Dmitri. He has all classic marks: he has a troubled and dark past, he is an Eva pilot, he is a teenager that is a better soldier, warrior, sniper and spy than experienced adults, he is praised by characters such like Gendo –of all people- or Kaji, it is told that the canon pilots cannot beat him… and [[TheScrappy fans hate him]].
* TheMasochistTango: Shinji endured Asuka's abuse for eight months, blaming himself for everything and refusing be separated from her or pressing charges. If someone badmouthed Asuka he reacted violently. If someone told him that she would kill him, he retorted that he did not care. Things got better for him, fortunately.
* MindRape: Asuka suffered one before the beginning of the fic which contributed to her mental instability. Shinji suffered several ones, and they were performed by himself.
* MindScrew: Shinji and Asuka go forcefully through several. They suffer frequent nightmares that torture their minds with horrible hallucinations that blend with distorted, warped and twisted visions of the past.
* MoralMyopia:
** Shinji thinks that his friends suffer from it. They are quick on damning and hating Asuka for everything and anything, but not matter what he does, they always forgive him, are supportive or blame it on Asuka.
** [[spoiler:Rei]] also shows signs of this. She is so blinded with rage and jealousy that she refuses admitting that Asuka genuinely cares for Shinji or believing that she will stop abusing him.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This shows up in two different ways:
** Asuka, who has been physically and sexually brutalizing Shinji for months, has minor moments of this whenever her temper finally abates, then has a ''massive'' moment of this coupled with VillainousBreakdown when [[spoiler:she finally beats Shinji badly enough to nearly kill him]]. The fic starts after this moment; when it's not filling in back-story, it's detailing her attempts to atone for her actions.
** Shinji, on the other hand, blames '''himself''' for everything Asuka has done to him, seeing his actions during the canon story (especially the hospital scene in EoE) as so unforgivable that he can justify her abuse as karmic retribution.
* NervesOfSteel: You ‘‘can’t’’ faze [[spoiler:Gendo]]. Torture him, threaten him, blackmail him… and he will always remain calm and look colder and more inexorable than an ice statue.
* NotSoDifferent:
** Shinji and Asuka. It is pointed out several times for several characters:
*** During a fight Shinji shouted to Asuka that she was right like him.
*** In chapter 5 Asuka thought that he was right, they were the same.
** A much darker example when Asuka saw Shinji naked, collapsed over the floor and spitting blood because of her, and she imagined in her mind the MP-Evas grinning and telling: "You see, we're not that different, you and meeee…"
** As much as Shinji hates thinking about it, he and Gendo are not very different. Both were willing unleashing [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the end of the world]] after losing the woman that they loved.
* ObligatorySwearing: Most of the cast (Shinji, Asuka, Misato, Ritsuko, Toji…) swear nearly every time that they open their mouths (even [[spoiler:Gendo]] swore sometimes). It is completely out-of-character for them, since in the original material they never swore.
* OutYourDamnedSpot: After her MindRape Asuka always took long baths. As stated in chapter 11:
-->She took long baths; she had always taken her time to make sure she looked her best, but ever since the 15th, Asuka remained for at least an hour in the bathroom, trying in vain to clean off the dirt in her own soul.
* OverprotectiveGirlfriend:
** Shinji. Calling Asuka names is enough to make him losing control of himself. And when he does he is very frightening. Misato compared him once with a wolf defending his mate.
--->Of course, in the middle of the open war against Asuka's presence, everyone in the room failed to notice Shinji's change of mood. With every insult directed towards Asuka, he felt rage unlike any other build inside him like a deadly current threatening to consume him completely. He could stand anything people directed his way, as long as it was him who was offended. No-one, NO ONE had the right to insult Asuka, they had no idea what she had been through, what she had suffered. Such a thing would not stand.
** Asuka. After almost killing Shinji her behaviour completely changes and she becomes ''extremely'' protective of him. And she gets very angry whenever she perceives that someone has hurt him.
* ParentalSubstitute: Misato considers that Shinji and Asuka are now her children, especially now that she knows how Yui and Kyoko left them. However she feels she has failed them.
* ParentalAbandonment: Asuka’s father refuses to take care of her and he even says that she is not his “trouble” now.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Shinji suffers a violent nightmare and Asuka wakes him up. Misato barges in Shinji's room, and misunderstanding the situation, she grabs Asuka to hurl her off his bed, when Shinji grips her wrist, glares at her and states:
-->'''Shinji''': "She didn't do anything. Let. Her. Go."
* RedIsHeroic: Asuka wears a red [[LatexSpaceSuit plugsuit]] and rides a red [[HumongousMecha robot]].
* RedOniBlueOni: Asuka is the red oni and Shinji the blue one.
* ReformedButRejected: [[HeelRealization After realizing her action’s result]] Asuka decided making a sincere attempt for changing. Most of the cast –minus Shinji and Misato- sees her like an evil and abusive bitch that enjoys torturing Shinji. [[spoiler:Rei]] on particular refuses even believing that Asuka cares for Shinji.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[MarySue Dmitri]] got twisted into a psychotic monster for Seele. He is helping to hunt them down because it gives him the chance to personally torture them and murder them in horrible ways.
* SayMyName: In chapter 2…
-->‘‘‘Misato’’’: "SHINJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
* SciFiWritersHaveNoSenseOfScale: During a meeting, Dmitri announces that Keel Lorenz and several other Seele members have not returned from the Read Sea. Since Third Impact was a global phenomenon that happened eight months ago you wonder why he is so sure that Keel did not return several months ago in any place of the planet and immediately hid out in a remote area where nobody knew him. Is he is aware of how huge is a planet and how easy is for one single person hiding away, vanishing or blending among several billions of people? Did he have a network scouring the globe for anyone and everyone who wears funny metal glasses?
* TheScrappy: Dmitri. Fans hate him because he is a CompleteMonster and a {{Jerkass}} with no redeeming qualities and a painfully obvious MarySue that is derailing the plot. The author has said that he is meant to be unlikeable.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After learning that [[spoiler:Unit-02 had reactivated]] Misato decides that she has got enough, and she quits. Ritsuko, though, guessed that [[TenMinuteRetirement it would not last long]].
-->‘‘‘Misato’’’: "You know what? You deal with this shit. I’m sick of this, I’m sick and tired of having to run here because my children suffer from the deepest traumas anyone has ever seen, I’m sick of not being able to relax in my own fucking house, I’m tired of waking up and being loaded with the world's personal piles of shit on my table, I’m sick of having to deal with all of these fucking media parasites trying to get answers that I don’t have, I’m sick of feeling so fucking guilty of all the time and I’m sick of you!"\\
"You can deal with all this shit, it’s your mess after all, you know. I’m gonna wait for my Shinji-kun to heal, and then I’m gonna go on a long, expensive vacation that you will be paying, so consider this my official resignation to all this crap, find yourself a new Sub-Commander."\\
"Oh, and I expect a huuuge bonus with that’ll keep me having to work another day and live a life of luxury, as I expect tons of cash for the kids, and of course that includes college, cars, parties, travels, the works. See ya!"
* ShoutOut:
** In chapter seven Shinji watches a scene of ‘‘Film/TheDarkKnight’’.
** The post-Impact world is eerily similar to ‘‘Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar’’.
* SoProudOfYou: After Gendo hears what his son had been up since the Third Impact, Gendo said:
-->'''Gendo''': "The boy successfully shattered SEELE's plan for the next step of evolution and gave a big "Fuck You" to Keel Lorenz himself, completely burned my scenario along with any hope of reuniting with his mother, and bit me in half. Literally. Then, he proceeded to refuse the godhood I devoted my life to and the endless ecstasy of Instrumentality so he could return to the deserted wasteland we once called home, only to be beaten half to death by the deranged banshee he fell for… saving mankind in the process. […] What's there not to be proud of?"
* SoulJar: After Third Impact, Yui’s soul remained locked up inside Unit-01 which is now floating in space. Shinji bitterly hopes that her “tin can” rusts.
* TakeMyHand: Shinji was drowning in his worst nightmare episode, and he was ready to give up and lose his sanity irremediably... when he felt Asuka grasping his hand, holding him and giving him warmth.
* TalkingToYourself: Shinji and Asuka developed two versions of it:
** Shinji’s guilt and extreme self-loathing became a nightmarish version of himself that tortured him night after night, reminding him all his wrongs and sins.
** In contrast, Asuka’s common sense and compassion manifested like a voice that pleaded her stopping to hurt Shinji and help him, or blamed her for his pain.
* TenMinuteRetirement: After hearing that [[spoiler:Unit-02 had reawakened]] Misato quit her job in Nerv. She returned the next day after finding out that [[spoiler:Gendo had returned from the Red Sea.]]
* ThanksForTheMammary: Shinji accidentally touched Asuka's breasts as he was sleeping in chapter 9. When he woke up and realized he panicked, but Asuka reassured him.
* ThroughHisStomach: Often Shinji and Asuka make meals to apologize or make each other happy.
* TitleDrop: In chapter 12: "It's like scar tissue, you know."
* {{Tsundere}}: Asuka becomes a a Type B during this story.
* UnbrokenVigil: In chapter 9 Asuka remained the whole night sleeping with Shinji until he finally woke up.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Although Misato and Ritsuko have repaired their friendship they still enjoy trading barbs.
* WAFFY: In spite of how dark the story is, it has plenty heart-warming parts. They are the best parts of the fic, actually.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Subverted. Shinji had yearned for his father’s approval or acknowledgement or… or something. ‘‘Anything’’. But after the events of the series he no longer cares for it. Ironically, after [[spoiler:returning from Instrumentality Gendo praised his son.]]
* WhatTheHellHero:
** In chapter 6 Shinji blames Ritsuko for his and Asuka’s suffering:
---> "You did this. […] You did this, you made me like this, you fucked us all up, you and that bastard. [...] I can’t go to bed in peace, I can’t get a good night’s sleep, Asuka hates everything, she’ll never be the same. You did this, you bastards, you made me into this, this monster that I am…"
** Toji, Kensuke and Hikari thought that [[WhatAnIdiot it would be a good idea picking a fight with Asuka in a hospital room and insulting her relentlessly in presence of Shinji]]. Shinji exploded and they had their ears ripped good:
--->"SHUT UP!!!!!!!!" Roared Shinji, enraged. His outburst came with a high price, though. As soon as he yelled, he started coughing violently, the machines around him ticking like crazy. Amazingly enough, Asuka turned her back on her attackers as soon as Shinji coughed, forgetting them completely.\\
"Shinji?! Shinji are you okay? Don't strain yourself!." Asuka wore a worried expression, hoping for the best yet fearing the worst. What if Shinji had reopened his wounds?\\
The boy, however, was busy getting his breathing in control and glaring hell at his so called friends.\\
"What… what do… any of you… (cough) know?! HUH?! What do you know?!" Shinji was breathing rather heavily, but he paid no mind to it, nor did he pay any mind Asuka's concerned eyes. No, he was focused on putting someone on their place.\\
"Nothing! You don't know shit! You didn't do SHIT! Asuka fought for you assholes, she fought nine Evangelions to save you!! And this is how you thank her, by insulting her?!"\\
'Shinji…" Muttered Asuka, finding his left hand and squeezing it, as to calm him. It was the first time she touched him since the incident.\\
"NO!! I will not just sit here and listen to this shit! She was the bravest of all of us, goddamnit!!! I did nothing, NOTHING while she fought alone, because I'm a good for nothing coward, but she didn't let that stop her!! She fought for everyone, until her last breath! And because she was alone, because I'm a fucking coward, she was ripped apart!! Literally!! And you… you dare insult her?! You have no right, you hear me?! No right!! No… (cough) (cough) right!"
* WhenSheSmiles: After Third Impact Asuka spent most of time looking angry, depressed or sneering. When she smiled, though, Shinji thought that she was the most beautiful girl in the world.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: Misato sent Toji and Kensuke to Ritsuko because they were driving her crazy and mad. In revenge, Ritsuko tried to get Misato drunk in front of all her staff.
----
->Two parts of the same mark, two wounds bound together by the slow healing process of growth. No more words were exchanged between them; there was nothing else to say. Finally their worst doubts, their dreadful insecurities and hesitations had been laid to rest. They felt stronger, different, forever to remain damaged in some way. Harsher, but sensible at the same time. Like scar tissue.
