Disclaimer: I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion. I am making no profit from this.
Unseen Smile
Note: Depending upon your perception, this could be with romantic undertones, or a simple friendly understanding. Take it as you please.
-Unseen Smile-
It was the silence shared between them, that can only be shared between two people so comfortable with each other, that words become superfluous. It's all been said before, but will never be said enough. The time for words will come, but it doesn't have to be now. It was the unseen smile between two individuals when their eyes meet, like beams inevitably drawn to each other. The absent brush on the other's shoulder was gentle enough to be meaningful. It was a moment for only two, and something no one else would've noticed.
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"Have you ever seen the way Gendo looks at Rei?" Ritsuko asked, not bothering to lower her voice. Misato looked up from a druken stupor and nodded uninterestedly.
"Yeah, I guess so. I guess because she's so faithful to Gendo and his work. He needs someone to be his puppet."
"Maybe," Ritsuko shrugged. "It just seems deeper somehow. I don't know. I guess that's their business," she said, dismissing it easily.
That was one of the many conversations said in private about Gendo Ikari and Rei Ayanami. No one knew what was between them, if anything. All anyone could do was speculate, and speculate they did.
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Rei commonly walked to school with Shinji, and Shinji commonly asked the same question.
"Rei, I want to know the truth," Shinji would begin. "Why do you do everything my father tells you? He's using you- he must be- it's something he'd do." Rei would remain unanswering for a few moments in comfortable consideration.
"Because, I have faith in Dr. Ikari's work," she would answer simply. Shinji considered probing further, but realizing his futile attempt, dismissed it with a sigh.
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Gendo would hear of such things also. On occasion, an innocent question upon his relationship with Rei would find its way into idle conversation.
"Dr. Ikari, about Rei..."
"What about her?" Gendo would reply sarcastically, almost tensely. "I don't see why you find it so essential to bring her up so frequently. She does what is necessary and appropriate to the success of our projects."
"But she's so devoted to you, and she continue to treat her so inhumanely."
"I think I'll be the deciding factor of what is humane and not. You know very well that morals have never been allowed to interfere with our projects, so I suggest you not start now," Gendo replied harshly.
"Sir--"
"We're no longer discussing this," Gendo snapped, putting an abrupt end to the conversation.
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The tone of conversation was much different after everyone had left NERV, and retreated to their own separate personal havens. Two individuals would eventually stay afterwards, to wander idly, and eventually find their ways back to each other.
"Dr. Ikari," Rei began. "They've been asking me again. Why am I so indebted to you?" She paused. "They don't realize however, that I'm not indebted to you; I never have been." Gendo stepped closer to Rei, his hand resting on her shoulder. She reached up to gently pull the glasses from his face, their eyes meeting in an unseen smile of kindred souls. "I am here because you are, Dr. Ikari."
"Rei..." he began, but felt the words lose their potency on his tongue. Finally, he sighed and brushed her hair with the back of his hand before turning. Looking back, he opened his mouth as if to include a few more words, but quickly decided against it. Slipping his glasses on his face, a smile tugged at the sides of his mouth as Rei watched after him as Gendo Ikari left NERV headquarters for the evening.