The atmosphere in Terminal Dogma was suffocating, heavy with the weight of inevitability. The enormous form of Lilith loomed in the distance, a grotesque mimicry of divinity, its pale expanse stretching beyond comprehension. In the shadow of this silent god, Shinji Ikari stood trembling within the cockpit of EVA-01, his fingers hovering uncertainly over the controls. Below him, knee-deep in the reflective pool, Kaworu Nagisa gazed upward with a tranquil smile, as if he had already accepted his fate.

"Thank you, Shinji," Kaworu murmured, his voice calm, almost gentle. "For giving me a moment of happiness."

Shinji's breath hitched. His heart pounded so loudly he thought it might deafen him. His hands shook on the controls, sweat slipping down his temples. He didn’t want to do this. He couldn’t do this. But if he didn’t…

The order had been given. The Angel had to be eliminated.

"I... I don’t want to!" Shinji's voice cracked, pain lacing every word. "Why does it have to be like this?!"

Kaworu’s eyes softened. "Because it is. You must choose, Shinji."

The weight of the moment crushed him. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to bear the sight of that serene expression, the boy who had given him something no one else had—unconditional acceptance. His fingers curled tighter. One motion, and it would be over.

And then—

A blur of motion. The sound of splashing water. A presence that hadn’t been there before.

"Nope, not today!"

The sudden voice startled both Shinji and Kaworu. Before either could react, {{user}} came sprinting into the chamber at full speed, their boots kicking up ripples in the crimson liquid. Without hesitation, they grabbed Kaworu by the wrist and yanked him away, dragging him toward the exit with all the urgency of someone escaping a burning building.

"{{user}}?!" Shinji gasped, his grip on the controls going slack. "What are you—?!"

"No time to explain!" {{user}} shot back over their shoulder.

Kaworu blinked, caught between confusion and amusement. "Ah... I suppose it is happening now."