Chapter 1:
Broken
The first words he heard that morning were, "Wake up, stupid!". Another normal morning at Misato's place. Shinji had gotten used to being woken up in this manner since Asuka had arrived, and to tell the truth, he began to find himself fond of it. He rolled slowly out of bed, went to the bathroom and relieved himself, then returned to his room and changed into his uniform. After that he walked to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Shinji was greeted by an angry glare when he entered the kitchen. Asuka was sitting at the table waiting for her breakfast. Her next words to him were, "What took you so long? I am starving, and we have to leave for school!"
Shinji walked over to the stove and turned on the gas, and then while reaching for a pan said, "I had a hard time finding a clean pair of socks: Misato forgot to take our wash down to the laundry room again."
Still giving him an angry glare she said, "I guess that's an acceptable excuse. I'm sick of Misato and her absent minded crap, too."
While eating, Asuka talked to Shinji about their class project. Over the months she had gotten to know him, she had grown a tolerance for his whining. She even began to grow slightly fond of him and his reactions to the way she teased him. He was always cooking for her as well, which made her feel a slight obligation to make him feel slightly liked. As they walked out the door that morning she said to him, "I hope you realize how fortunate you are that a nerd like you gets to walk to school with a stunning belle like me." She smiled as Shinji gave her an overwhelmed look.
They began walking to school on their normal route, with Shinji listening to his SDAT along the way. As usual he was oblivious to the world. This frustrated Asuka to no end that every day he would do this. Today she decided to teach him a lesson, and going along with that she snatched the headphones off his ears saying, "Let me have a quick listen, Shinji!" He protested with his look, then resigned himself to the fact he was not getting it back until he got to school.
They kept walking, with Asuka listening to Shinji's music all the while. She actually seemed to be enjoying it, and Shinji thought to himself that he should see if he could find her one at a local hardware store. Suddenly, as they reached the intersection, he heard the whirring of bike wheels and realized that a cyclist was approaching the intersection from behind the wall at which he stopped. Asuka kept walking, however, right into the cyclist's path. Suddenly, Shinji jumped into action, pushing her out of the path. Asuka fell to the ground and the headphones of the SDAT fell off her head.
Asuka was about to turn and yell at Shinji when she suddenly heard a loud thump, a crack, and a scream of pain. She turned around to see Shinji passed out on the ground with tiny puddles of blood forming around his right arm and leg. The cyclist was on the ground, too, but he quickly got up and started running. She screamed at him for a while and then returned to Shinji. As he was still passed out and his leg was bent slightly out of shape, Asuka opened her cellular phone and called NERV Emergency services.
When they answered, she told them what happened and where they were. Only after she hung up did she realize what had really happened. That cyclist was about to hit her and Shinji pushed her out of harm's way. She began to tear up and sob, and at that moment she truly began to worry Shinji would not survive this. Even if he survived, he might not be able to pilot an EVA: they might have to send him away; it would only be her and Rei until they find a new pilot.
When the NERV personnel found them, Asuka was still crying over his collapsed form. They quickly came and asked her what exactly happened, all the while giving Shinji a quick examination. They whisked him onto a stretcher and put him into the medical van when they finished. Asuka jumped into the back of the van with them and said, "I'm not leaving his side!" The staff consented and closed the van's doors.
As they began driving to the NERV medical center, Asuka pulled herself together and called Hikari to let her know what had happened and why they would not be making it to school. Hikari said worriedly, "I hope Ikari is okay. Please tell me when we can all come visit him."
Asuka agreed to tell her and said, "I have to go now; I want to ask the medics what's going to happen to him." She shut her phone and tried to get the attention of the medic. She said to the medic, "Do you know how bad it is yet?"
The medic gave her a kind smile and said, "He should be okay. Judging by what you said there is no head trauma; it seems he only passed out from the pain."
"What's wrong with him then?", she said.
He answered, "He has a twisted ankle, a broken leg, broken arm, a gash on his arm, and a few small abrasions on his leg. It's nothing serious. Recovery time is six weeks and he will be as good as new. The doctor, however, will have to set the bones and perform X-rays when we get to the hospital."
Asuka was not completely relived, but she felt a little better knowing Shinji will be okay. She held onto the side of the van as they turned into the medical center parking lot.
When they got into the emergency room, the doctors told Asuka to wait outside until they got Shinji a room. Asuka waited for the longest time. As she waited she looked at a few magazines fleetingly and watched the TV in the waiting room. Shinji's favorite game show was on the television as she watched, and her thoughts lingered back to him constantly. Soon a nurse came and said she was allowed to come back.
Shinji slowly opened his eyes trying to fight through the fog in his head. The last thing he remembered was the feeling of relief when he pushed Asuka out of the way of the bike, then the pressure and nothing. As he opened his eyes the first thing he saw was Asuka. He managed to squeeze out in a weak tone, "A-s-u-ka? Are you... okay?"
Asuka's eyes began to tear up again as she said, "I should be asking you that same question, dummy."
After he woke up a little more she told him what happened. "You worried me, Shinji; I thought you might have been dead."
Shinji blushed and replied, "I'm sorry I worried you, Asuka, I just didn't want to see you get hurt. I hope you're not mad at me."
"How could I be mad at you when you're in this condition, look at you!", she said, "According to them you can't get the casts wet, so someone is going to have to give you sponge baths for the next six weeks. And you're going to have to guide me through cooking our meals since you can't do it. Not to mention you're also going to have to be in a wheelchair for the next six weeks. And I'm going to have to take notes for you, since you can't use your right arm. I am going to have to write out your homework for you."
She stopped when she saw Shinji's bewildered look and said, "But it's okay; you deserve this stuff after what you did."
Shinji blushed and said, "Um, thanks, Asuka. But who's going to clean me down there when I have those sponge baths?"
Asuka suddenly gave Shinji the look of death. He gulped and added, "I - I just don't want Misato doing it; you know she's kinda grabby." Then he whispered, "I think she might have a think for small boys."
Asuka smiled and said, "I guess I could if it spares you from Misato the hebephile, but no funny business or I'll chop it off." Shinji shuddered and consented.
Asuka got up and turned on the TV. As the game show was still on, she watched it with Shinji. As they watched together the nurse came in and gave Shinji lunch. Shinji asked Asuka if she wanted some, but she declined and opted to go to the cafeteria instead. As she left the room she told Shinji she was going to bring him a special treat.
As Shinji ate he felt fortunate that Asuka was by his side. She really did not have to do all this for him. All the same, for him this turned out to be a happy accident. He really liked Asuka and now he was getting all her attention and a special treat to boot! He felt damn lucky.
Very soon Asuka came back holding two soft serve ice cream cones. She handed one to Shinji and began to eat hers. Shinji smiled and began to eat his. As he ate he said to her, "I haven't had this in the longest time, not since the day I met Misato. I bought one on my way to the train station today."
They ate a little longer, and then Shinji said, "I'm - I'm glad I joined NERV, just because I got the chance to meet you."
They both blushed. Asuka thought, "Usually I would kick his ass for saying something like that, but it's kinda sweet." They finished their cones in silence and then continued watching the TV. Soon Misato arrived with Kaji and a bag of clothing for Shinji in tow, a worried look painted on her face. Shinji was surprised that Asuka did not fawn over Kaji when he walked into the room, but instead continued to pay attention to him.
As Misato was asking Asuka what happened, Kaji came over to Shinji and said, "Well, those are some injuries you've got there, Shinji. Inflicted in the course of protecting a beautiful damsel I suppose?"
Shinji replied yes and told Kaji what happened. Kaji smiled and said, "Well that's good for you; it takes a real man to risk his wellbeing for a woman he loves." Shinji blushed and nodded.
Misato came over and began smothering Shinji with questions like, "What were you thinking!", and, "Why would you risk yourself like this!"
After Misato lectured Shinji, the nurses gave her the discharge papers and asked everyone to leave while they helped Shinji change out of the hospital gown and into the clothing Misato brought. Misato with Asuka went to the lobby where she filled out the papers. The nurse wheeled Shinji out to her. She handed Misato a bottle and a slip of paper saying, "These are the prescribed pain killers. This should last him a week, fill out the prescription before then. Make sure he takes one tablet every six hours." Misato thanked her and began to wheel Shinji out to the car.
Asuka and Misato helped Shinji into the back seat, put the wheelchair in the trunk, and began to drive home. Shinji was surprised during the entire ride. Asuka talked to him instead of ignoring him and trying to talk to Kaji. As they talked Misato turned around and said, "You're not going to school for two days, Shinji; I don't want you traveling to anywhere but your room, the kitchen, the bathroom and the futon in the living room."
Shinji nodded and Asuka said, "Don't worry; I'm going to take good care of him." Misato look at her surprisingly.
When they got home Misato told Shinji to go to his room and lie down. Asuka wheeled him in, then came out and said, "I'm going to move the TV to Shinji's room so he has something to do, and so we can have a justification for spending more time with him."
Misato look at her oddly but did not disapprove. She wondered what had gotten into Asuka that was suddenly making her act kindly toward Shinji. Whatever it was it was a welcome change from the usual screaming and yelling from her, which always seemed to be projected towards him.
For the rest of the evening they watched TV with Shinji. He fell asleep soon after he took his painkillers, so Misato and Asuka retired to their rooms. After a while she heard Asuka walking around the kitchen. As she looked out the door, she saw Asuka walking into Shinji's room with a glass of water. She closed her door and smiled thinking, "Considerate Asuka is truly a rare sight. This little incident struck a chord in her for the better. I wonder if it will be the same tomorrow morning when she has to cook breakfast by herself."