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[imusntrunaway]

The person you are trying to call is not available. Please leave a message after the beep.

[Beeeeeeeeeeeep.]

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[imusntrunaway]

[That catches him by surprise.]

Hate you--? [He thinks about the times she's screamed at him and fought with him. Does he hate her?]

... sometimes, when we talk. You're bothersome and rude. [A pause as he thinks about it.] If it makes you uncomfortable... I won't ask. That's common courtesy.

[redheadcarrier]

Why wouldn't you hate me?

[her tone still has that mocking, bitter ring to it.]

I hate me. Why shouldn't you?

[imusntrunaway]

It doesn't matter if I do.

You'll still be here.

[redheadcarrier]

So you'd be happier if I just disappeared?

[There's a little choke in her voice that she can't quite hide.]

[imusntrunaway]

[His answer is instantaneous, almost without thought:] No, that's not what I'm saying--!

[He stops himself before he can stumble into another apology. Bitterness tinges his voice.] We're stuck here.

[His trip to the wastelands accomplished nothing. Running away only brought him into a circle. No matter how much he wished, he couldn't go home (was there ever a home for him?), he couldn't leave Exsilium and its responsibilities, couldn't shut his eyes to Asuka as she was there whenever he took tentative steps into the new world. They were all trapped here, stripped of the only thing that made them valuable. For them, the only escape was to be sent back to their deaths.]

You and Kaworu, Rei and Toji... all of us...

[His voice dwindles.] We're the last ones.