"Don't Wanna Miss A Thing"
A side story to Evangelion: Awakening
CHAPTER 2
Scene One:
Maya awoke from her slumber with a new sense of joy. However, this joy was short lived when she looked at her clock.
"8 o'clock!! I am going to be late! Ritsuko is going to kill me!" She quickly brushed her teeth and got herself ready for the day. As she left her apartment and the door closed and locked itself, she ran for her car. When she hopped in her car, and began to take off for work, she took a good look around her car and noticed something. A small white envelope lying on the black leather cushion of the passenger seat.
"What the heck is this?"
0000
Shinji looked up at his apartment ceiling that morning feeling overzealous. He needed to do something. Almost instantly he realized he had gotten a picture from Misato and wanted to frame it.
"Where is that damn picture? I swear I put it in he-" Damnit.
It was now he thought the only place it could be is Maya's car as it must have fallen out of his pocket in the car.
Calmly, Shinji put on some clothes and made his way to the train station to try and get to NERV. Just as he was about to reach for the door he could feel his heart leap forward and felt as if someone had jabbed a knife in his knees. I'll just get it from Maya later…he thought to himself.
0000
Maya was wondering what the contents of the envelope were and her curiosity was getting the best of her. Is it a letter? A picture? What is it? Maya did not want to open it as it was sealed, but placed it in her books so that it would not get crumpled.
"Maya. Maya? Maya!" She jumped as someone startled her from behind.
It was none other than Misato. Creeping around NERV, as she usually did in her somewhat older age, poking her head into everyone else's business.
"Oh sorry Misato, I was dozing off for a second there."
"Working late last night?" She said smugly with a sip of her coffee.
"Yea, I had to write these reports for Dr. Akagi…and they took me forever!"
"Did you drive Shinji back last night? I'm sorry if it was any trouble, I got a little out of hand last night!" Putting her hand out in front of her face in an apologetic manner.
"Oh, it was really ok, it was no bother at all!"
"Good then, well did anything happen?" A smirk covering her face.
"Miss Katsuragi! Heavens no!" Maya looked like a cherry. Her outburst and crimson shade thwarted off Misato's teasing.
"Jeez lighten up will ya' it was a joke! Oh! I almost forgot are you heading to Ritsuko's? Because if you are I need you to take these files to her."
"Sure, I was heading to her office anyway."
0000
Shinji began to grow restless once again just sitting in his apartment. It had gotten quite lonely with no one around, and boring without any battles…not that he was complaining.
"I don't care if it hurts a little, I'm still going to go somewhere just so long as I don't have to sit around here all day. I suppose I'll drop into NERV and run some errands while I'm out."
Shinji still had to go in and check on Eva unit 01 to make sure everything was working properly, even though it was Ritsuko's job. He would pay a visit to Misato while he was there as well, and see Maya to retrieve his lost picture.
He got dressed and left the empty apartment. When Shinji was riding the Metro to NERV HQ, he was reminiscing on all the memories he, Asuka and Rei shared as they would ride the train to and from HQ. He pulled into the main gateway where he slid his card and made his way through the steel doors into the maze of escalators as he had done many times.
0000
Maya stood tapping her foot eagerly awaiting the elevator to take her to central Dogma.
I can't believe these elevators take so darn long to get here! I am carrying an ass load of paperwork, this uniform is getting uncomfortable and on top of that I am starving! Come on! Get here!
Almost as if her wish was granted the door allowed her access to its benefits.
Thank God! Maya could feel herself become less impatient with each passing second in the elevator bringing her closer to lightening her load. It was almost as if every single person in her division decided to give her their paperwork. It wasn't new…as everyone knew she worked directly for Dr. Akagi, and never wanted to see the dreaded "Cat Lady."
Her small sense of tranquility vanished as the elevator stopped halfway through her journey. Her anger was now visible with a vein sticking out of her forehead.
The doors opened and in flew none other then the famed Shinji Ikari.
Scene Two:
"Maya! What a surprise I was looking for you." He said with a smile.
That smile again! His genuine smile caught her off guard for the second time. "H-Hey Shinji! How are you?" She managed, trying not to stumble over her papers.
"Hey that looks heavy, would you like some help with that?" He gestured with his hands outward as if to accept the heavy workload.
"Thanks, but Im used to this kind of thing so I'll be ok! By the way what did you want to see me for?"
"I came to see if you happen to come across a white envelope in your car or somewhere."
Oh… "Well, I have it with me here if you would like it, its right in my office." She said with a head nod in the direction outside the doors. BING. She had finally reached her destination.
"Here, follow m-Eek!" Her heel clipped the elevator shaft and was causing her to fall face first onto the floor, losing her papers on the way down.
However, just then she felt two arms grab and bring her so that her back was now facing the ground, thus saving her and all her papers from flying everywhere. Looking up she saw Shinji's face and felt his arms around her. She became like a brick.
"Nice hands." Was all she could manage at that moment.
"Watch your step there Maya. You ok?" He said as he steadied her to her feet and then grabbing her documents. "I'll hold on to these til' we get there."
"I'm fine, thanks Shinji! Well then, my office is right down this hall." The two made their way into a large room, with no windows and dim computer screens lighting up the room in the dark. Maya flicked a light switch and Shinji could see just how big the room was now.
"Here you can set the papers here until Ritsuko gets here and I'll get that envelope." She indicated with a finger to the only available space on her one desk.
Damn, this a lot of papers…what the hell are they made of? Sheet Metal?!
"Here you go Shinji. If you don't mind me asking, what is inside that you came all the way here for?"
"Just, a good memory." He felt content now having the picture back in his possession. Shinji's moment of serenity was broken by a familiar voice.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Ikari. How are you feeling?" Ritsuko said as she came into the room.
"Hi Dr. Akagi! I'm feeling fine, how about you?"
"Good, busy as usual. Ah, Maya I see you brought me a nice present today." Sarcasm filling her voice.
"Hehe yea, there was a lot today." As soon as she said this her stomach groaned fiercely. Both Shinji and Ritsuko looked at her as she blushed slightly.
"Maya, you should take a lunch break. You've been at it for a while now. Shinji…can you do me a favor and go with her to make sure she doesn't eat anything instant? That stuff will kill your figure…believe me." It was true Maya had been eating more instant food recently as she stopped making lunches now that Shinji was out of the hospital.
"Um, sure no problem."
"Just one thing, it doesn't need to be done now, but at one point next week I need you to stop by and do some tests with the Eva."
Maya's attempt to subjugate would prove meaningless to her subconscious. She was getting a chance to go out for lunch…and with Shinji no less!
"Will do Doctor. So should we go?" He asked Maya.
"Umm, yea! Lets." Maya couldn't help but feel set up by Ritsuko for this one.
That girl needs Shinji more than he needs her right now. I don't want her to end up being like me.
0000
Lunch with Shinji was just what she thought it would be, he asked questions about her and what she was up to. A lot of "this and that" type of conversation. By the end of their time together however, she couldn't help but feel like she was imagining things.
What if he is interested? I mean, it would seem normal to want to move on…but what am I thinking?! There is just no way! He is much younger than I am and I couldn't do that with him…he would never…would he?
"Maya?" His question broke her chain of thought.
"Oh, I'm sorry, what?"
"I was saying its getting a little late, don't you have to get back to work?"
"Yea I do." Looking at her watch verified this much to her dismay. They then started making their way back to the train station.
Do I like him? Or just want to be close to him? We are good friends, what if something happened? What if we slept together?
These thoughts kept recurring in her mind and the sex question made her blush a little. I had been a long time since Maya had ever gotten any male attention. Her only lover in college turned out to be a scumbag. Since then she had no room for men in her busy life.
Before she knew it, they were already at Shinji's stop.
"Well, Maya this was fun and hopefully we can do it again sometime!" He said as he exited the train, giving Maya almost no time to respond except with a quick "Yea!"
When Maya got back to her office she saw Ritsuko waiting for her there.
"So? How did it go?"
"You know, I don't know why everyone is suddenly so suspicious with my small time with Shinji." She scuffed and continued walking to her chair, handing Ritsuko a small container with sushi in it.
"Maya, don't kid yourself. You need a man and you know it!"
"I have no idea what you are talking about." She said with her eyes diverted turning her computer on, avoiding the conversation.
"You can tell me, you like him don't you?" She pried.
"I…don't know."
"What is there not to know? You either like him or not? So which is it?"
"I, uh…"
"Out with it already."
"I, I do like him. A lot, but I don't think it would work out between us."
"No one is saying that you have to marry him or anything, how long has it been since you last had a real man?" She was beginning to sound like Misato.
"Its uhh, been a while…" She admitted with a sad expression.
"I just want to see you happy Maya, if you like him and want him more than a friend tell him, and then if it is just sex you need - get it out of your system."
Maya blushed again at the thought of having sex with Shinji.
"Tell you what, this is the best possible move you can make right now. Wait until Shinji comes back next week to talk to him next, or wait until he calls you. He needs to initiate contact with you."
The thought of waiting seemed rather harsh to her.
"What if he doesn't call?"
"He will, trust me."
Scene Three:
Despite Ritsuko's assurance that Shinji would call, Maya never received a call. Days turned into two weeks.
"When the hell is gonna call me?" She checked her phone daily, her email, and just about couldn't get him out of her head. This is getting pathetic! She screamed to herself.
"Screw it, I'll give him a call." Ignoring what Ritsuko had told her to do, she grabbed her phone and dialed his number.
0000
Shinji was walking around in his room brooding in thought. He did not really feel like going to NERV at all these last two weeks. Being around the EVA and all those people there started to make him feel sick. He didn't want to be reminded of all the bad memories. Having been in a state of heavy depression multiple times, he could feel himself being sucked into yet another one.
He climbed onto his couch as he did often to dwell in his thoughts. This time was different though. He got to the edge of the couch and his knees gave way again just like they had been doing recently.
There was no logical explanation for his sudden spurts of weakness. He made his way onto the couch where he took his usual place staring up at the ceiling.
Here he pulled out the white envelope, and gazed at the picture inside of it. A tear went down the side his face, and before he knew it more soon followed.
"I miss you…so much…"
He looked at the picture for a good while and could feel himself start to fall into a deep sleep. The tears made his eyes sore and his comfortable couch made him very sleepy.
A vibration in his pants sent him jolting awake. After realizing it was his cell phone he took it out and looked at his caller ID.
0000
"Maya?"
"Hey Shinji, how are you doing? Is everything ok over there?"
"Yes, I'm just relaxing a little bit is all, how about you?"
"I'm doing great, but I was just wondering…if maybe you'd want to come over, I mean that's only if you want to, for dinner tonight? I get off work soon, and I can come pick you up if you want?"
A silence was lingering for a few seconds.
"Sure! I'll wait for your call, what time?"
"Awesome! I'll come pick you up in about 30 minutes, does that sound good?"
"Sounds great, I'll see you then."
"Great, see you then."
Maya was swept with relief and thought about what tonight would be like. She would make a good dinner for the both of them. All she needed to do was not let her thoughts and imagination get the best of her.
Maybe what Ritsuko said was true, I really do want to spend time with Shinji at more than just a friend level…
0000
The time on the clock was now roughly 9:00, Shinji thought that it was much later at night when he finally stepped out of his apartment complex. Having cleansed himself and shaved, he felt more refreshed and was looking forward to Maya's meal with great anticipation.
As she pulled up, Shinji was remembering the time where he accidentally brushed up against her breast and began to blush mentally just a little.
"So how are you doing Shinji? I hope you're hungry!" She said as he took his seat next to her.
"I'm fine, and yes I'm very hungry!"
The two made their way back to Maya's apartment in no time. Maya made her way into the kitchen and began to throw around some pots and pans and foods of all sorts. It almost sounded like a ruckus.
This was his first time in her apartment and he was just guessing, but she had obviously cleaned up the place knowing that he would be over. However, he couldn't take in the atmosphere long enough due to the clatter that was going on in the kitchen.
"Maya would you like some help?"
"No I'm fine thanks! I think I got it." Without hesitation Shinji popped into the kitchen to aid Maya in her cooking.
"Shinji, you really don't have to, after all, I am cooking for you!"
"That may be true, but it'll be more fun if we both cook, don't you think?"
Maya agreed. It's almost like we're…married or something.
Getting lost in her thought slightly, she felt a sudden sting and yelped in pain. The side of the wok she was using burned her finger.
"Here let me help with that. Run in under here." Shinji led her by the hand and placed it under the cold water coming out of the kitchen fossit.
"Feel better?"
"Mhm…" Was all she could manage while trying to hide her embarrassment.
Luckily, the remainder of the dinner making went well and the food ended up excellent. The two sat together eating and as the time was drawing nearer where Maya knew he would say he had to go home soon, she asked him something.
"Hey Shinji, would you be interested in maybe watching this movie I just got?" She really wanted to be with him tonight, and she was able to take the day off tomorrow.
"Well, its getting kind of late, I don't want to be a burden." He said as he began to collect her dishes and put them in the sink.
"Its no problem with me, I don't get to do this often and I was hoping to get to watch this movie is all. I've rented it three times and haven't been able to watch it!"
"Well then, I would love to join you, get it set up and I'll finish up with the dishes." He said with a smile.
"Ok." Misato was right, he really does do everything, cooks…cleans…
Shinji finished all the dishes and Maya turned off the lights to her apartment living room and the glowing reflection of the television lit up the room. Maya invited Shinji to sit with a pat on the part of the sofa next to her.
He took his seat and the movie went on. Maya positioned herself by laying against Shinji's side. He had to admit, he was not paying much attention to the movie and knew that his focus would lie solely on Maya.
She looks really good… He admitted …and she's so soft. He realized as she was laying right next to him. Either on purpose or accident, she just happen to be wearing a top and be in a position where Shinji could see right down her shirt.
This was going to be a long night he thought to himself.
END CHAPTER 2
