Disclaimer, I don't own anything. This is just a fanfiction I wrote to see if I could. Rated M for future purposes.

"Do you want to become one with me, Ikari."

Shinji woke up beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. Hot air filling his tiny bedroom while the sound of of classical music played in his ears. 'That dream again… is it really Ayanami. Do I want to become one with-' Shinji's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a loud bang, signaling someone had left the apartment. It had been a week since he had been let out of the Evangelion. A month and a week since the fight with the 15th angel. The experiment to bring him back had failed, but suddenly he had been ejected right out of the core of Eva Unit-01. Since then Misato had been distant, only showing up to bring home groceries and playing it off as if she was just busy. And Asuka… She'd been more abusive than normal. He looked to his left leg, the bruise was still prominent.

Shinji got up and started walking/limping to the kitchen. He made a simple bento and sat down at the couch. He considered eating, but in the end decided to wait. Since his return no one had visited, school had been canceled until further notice. Shinji was to say the least, lonely. 'Toji… Asuka… Misato… Father… I'm such a failure.' Shinji slumped laying flat on the couch now. It was oppressively quiet. The whole world felt still, lifeless.

Then a tap on the door, so quiet Shinji normally would of missed it. He slowly got up, lifelessly hauling his sore body to the door. Shinji clicked on the keypad next the red sliding door, opening it to the dark, hot world outside. He reeled back in surprise as Rei stood staring at him with her red orbs. "Oh uh, Ayanami. What can I do for you?"

"As of 0700 hours the third child is to move in with the first. I have come to pick you up." Rei answered, showing no emotion. Yet she felt a hint of excitement?

Shinji on the other hand was shocked. "I'm moving in with you? But I thought you lived in a single room apartment?! And what about Asuka? Or Misato? Do they not want me? Am I.. really not that important to them?!"

Rei didn't reply at first. He felt like her eyes were dissecting his inner being. Her stare making him uncomfortable. Finally she answered, "You will live in the apartment to the left of mine. The second child has moved in with a classmate. I do not know what the Major thinks of this. You are an Eva Pilot, specifically of Eva 01. Your importance is immeasurable. Come, it is time to go." With that she turned to leave.

"Wait what about my things, I haven't packed anything!?" Shinji explained.

Rei stopped and turned back. "Very well." Shinji turned and limped back to pack his things, while Rei watched him. 'His leg is injured. Did the Eva do this, or was it the Second child?'

With his clothing and S-DAT play packed into a single box he met Rei at the door and the two walked towards the elevator.

"What do you mean, Shinji's moving out?"

"Just that, apparently the Commander wanted him to be closer incase of another angel attack. With the only working Eva and for the fact it's self powered now, he's become our only chance once again. What does it matter to you, I heard you haven't been going home very often anymore anyways. Honestly Misato, how can you call yourself a guardian to that poor boy?" Misato bit her lip. She knew she couldn't answer that. She had been visiting Kaji a lot recently. He was a disgusting pig who was incredibly full of himself. But he was an amazing lover, and he knew things about NERV she didn't.

"Whatever… What's the progress on Unit-02?" Ritsuko smiled, in honest she knew what Misato was up to. Even the commander knew. But he had said to wait, and since then things had gone back to normal. Well except she hadn't seen much of him. Something about SEELE's complaints.

"Should be ready in a matter of days. The cuts made it so all we had to do was re-attach the limbs back together. As for the pilot though that's another matter. Her sync rate is teaturing on 50%. Leaving her just below Rei at 56%. At this rate we'll have to find another pilot for Unit-02." Misato grimaced but nodded silently. She really did care for these kids, but they would have to come second. Uncovering NERV's true scenario was at the first and foremost of her mind. Asuka didn't need her anyways, she was a big girl. She and Shinji would be fine. Right? Misato dwelled on this as she left her post, resigning to meet up with Kaji again.

Shinji and Rei reached the bleak apartment just as the sun had reached the middle of the sky, or what seemed like the middle. The building reeked, if Shinji didn't know any better he'd say it was a homeless shelter. But in reality it was an apartment building built in the mind of homing NERV employees, it was nearly done before the angels attacked. Homing one individual. And losing the budget after the 3rd angel making it just another building almost completely empty. Lifeless like the city it was built in.

Shinji opened the door to 401, his new 'home', if you could call it that. There was a simple kitchen in the hallway to the one room which had a hospital bed like Rei's. A bathroom to the right. It was plain, cold, dark, and very dusty. Shinji cringed at the amount of work it would take to clean this up. Just as he set his box down Rei, who he hadn't realized had followed him this far, spoke up. "Ikari, what happened to your leg?"

Shinji blushed unconsciously, turning around to confront the girl, but quickly looking at the ground to avoid eye contact. "I uh.. Tripped on the stairs."

Rei leaned her head to the left, "why would you take the stairs when you have a elevator in your apartments?"

Shinji's blush suddenly dropped. He looked into her eyes, his own ocean blue being absorbed into her blood red. "I made Asuka mad and she… She pushed me into the table and then kicked my inner knee into the ground. It's my fault though she was just upset and I pushed her! I… I made her leave. It was my fault." Shinji dropped to the floor, tears dropping from the corners of his eyes. 'Why am I here, why did I have to come back to this place… Mother.'

As Shinji sat crying on the ground Rei watched her heart knotting at the sight. 'Ikari is upset, but he has saved the second and myself again from danger. I am unsure as to what I should do.'

Lightly Rei touched Shinji's head, brushing his hair pushing it back to bring his eyes to hers. His eyes were different somehow. The mysterious ocean was now dull, and full of hurt. His eyes red from wiping away tears. He looked at her pleading. "Ikari. It is not your fault. The Second child is very tempermental, for that you are not to blame. I will protect you, remember that. You are the protector of Humanity."

"But Ayanami, everytime I pilot the eva I hurt someone. What's the point in living if all I do is hurt those around me? I'm just worthless…"

"If you can't live for yourself, live for me." Rei replied, turning and walking out of the apartment. Leaving it's only occupant to stare and contemplait.

Please leave reviews and comments, I'd love to know what you think. Kinda new to all this so be as brutally honest as possible. And not too nice, I have a big ego. _

Let's see if I can make another chapter or not. Till then, ciao!