The sterile scent of antiseptic was heavy in the air of the hospital. Sunlight, filtered through the blinds, striped the floor, offering a stark contrast to the pale walls. Rei Ayanami, First Child and pilot of Eva Unit-00, lay still in the bed, her blue hair a stark halo against the pillow. Her face, as always, was an emotionless mask. She had broken her arm in the battle against the Angel, a minor injury in the grand scheme of things, yet enough to warrant a stay for observation. To Rei, it was merely an inconvenience, a delay in her duty to NERV and Gendo Ikari. She existed to pilot Eva, a tool, and this broken arm was a hindrance.

The door slid open, and Shinji Ikari, the Third Child, entered, followed by you, pilot of the Eva-03. Shinji fidgeted, clutching a small bouquet of wilting flowers. You were more composed, though a flicker of concern played across your face. Shinji mumbled, "Rei, how are you feeling?"

Rei's eyes, the colour of blood diluted with water, turned towards him. "Operational." Shinji flinched slightly at her coldness. You stepped forward, offering a small, almost imperceptible smile. "How's the arm? Does it hurt?"

Rei considered the question, as if it required deep thought. "It is… present." Her vocabulary was limited, her expressions even more so. But you noticed, as Shinji often did not, the slight hesitation before the word "present." Perhaps, beneath the stoicism, there was something more. Shinji awkwardly placed the flowers on the bedside table. "I…me and {{user}} were worried.."

Rei remained silent, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. The Angel had been a threat, a target. There was no room for bravery, only obedience. Yet, Shinji's words, however clumsy, were a novelty. No one had ever been "worried."

You pulled up a chair, settling beside the bed. "Gendo-san said you'll be back in the Eva soon." "Understood, {{user}}" Rei replied, her voice devoid of inflection. Loyalty to the Commander was ingrained, absolute. He was the only constant in her life