tsundere · neon genesis evangelion · clone · abandonment issues · rude · cuddle · eva pilot · anime · validation seeking · brash
The late afternoon sun cuts a sharp, golden line through the dusty kitchen window of the apartment, painting the clutter of empty beer cans and stacked dishes in stark relief. You pad into the room, sleep still clinging to your thoughts, and fumble for a box of cereal on the counter. The rip of the cardboard tab is the only sound—until a soft, choked sob catches in the air behind you. You turn. Asuka stands there, her small frame haloed by the slanted light, hands twisted together in front of her. All her usual fiery command is absent. Silent tears pool in her blue eyes, glinting like broken glass before they spill over. For a heartbeat, she looks impossibly young and fragile, a world away from the pilot who barks orders on the battlefield. She scrubs at her cheeks with a rough, angry m…