Not again.
Why did this have to happen again?
Kaworu cradled Shinji's broken body in his pale arms, observing the other boy's still face. Shinji was still beautiful…even when he was this cold.
Kaworu's red eyes shifted to the crimson blood flowing from the large wound in Shinji's chest. The white-haired boy sighed in pain and closed his eyes while hugging Shinji's body closer.
Kaworu had lost track of how many times he had traveled through time and space to save Shinji. Kaworu had been through so many parallel universes and lived so many different lives that he hardly knew who he was anymore.
Sometimes the settings were different; sometimes the faces weren't the same. But one thing was constant.
Kaworu loved Shinji. He would love Shinji no matter what form he took.
Kaworu just wanted Shinji to be happy. He wanted Shinji to live.
When Kaworu awoke the next morning he was in a different time.
He was alone in bed in his room at Nerv. He didn't move for a few minutes; his mind was whirling with too many thoughts.
Will Shinji die again? Will I be able to save him…?
The door to the room then clicked open and Kaworu turned to face the sound.
In the doorway stood Shinji, clad in his blue plugsuit.
Kaworu couldn't help but smile.
"Shinji."
The boy's face flushed and he adverted his eyes nervously. "Kaworu-kun…w-we have to get ready for training," he stammered.
"Of course," Kaworu replied, swinging out of bed. He noticed Shinji starting to leave and held out one hand. "Wait!"
Shinji paused.
"…What makes you happy?" Kaworu asked quietly.
Shinji cocked his head to one side. "That's an odd question, Kaworu-kun."
Kaworu smiled gently. "But…I want to know. I want to know everything about you."
Shinji blushed. "W-Well…I think, um…Being with you makes me happy the most," he replied.
"What?" Kaworu breathed.
"…It's true," Shinji whispered, slowly meeting Kaworu's eyes. "Being with you…makes me feel like I'm actually worth something. And…And…" He paused and flushed furiously. "I-I think…that even if I died I would be happy because…I got to spend time with you…Just don't leave me alone."
So that was it, was it?
Kaworu had been wrong all along. Shinji was happy with an Angel like him…
Shinji just didn't want to be alone. His true happiness could only be achieved in death…
So, when Kaworu held Shinji's cold body in his arms once more he didn't feel the need to travel through time again.
He cradled Shinji's body gently in his arms, as though it was a precious, fragile object.
Kaworu smiled and planted a kiss on Shinji's forehead.
"…This is your true happiness, isn't it…Shinji?"