Disclaimer: No, don't own EVA...I'm glad they're making it longer. Go ask Gainax...they own it.
Characters are roughly 18 in this fic. Was a oneshot, but after months of being left out there I decided to expand it. I typically like to work on something until it's done or it may take months until I do another chapter (don't you just hate that), but I decided I needed to get some more out to see if people were still interested. I hope you all like it and please R&R if you want more posted soon! This is my first fic posted, but not the first one started. If I get good reviews I'll start working on the other one again too
Their first night had been quiet and tender. He held her while they talked. They kissed a couple times. Nothing overly passionate, just soft and caring. It had been three weeks since that night. Asuka stopped wearing her sunglasses, and came out of her room a little more. With the end of school coming up, Hikari hadn't come over recently, so even with this new change Asuka hadn't seen anyone except Misato and Shinji yet, and was still afraid to talk to everyone.
Misato, for her part sat Shinji down that evening after seeing Asuka come out of her room without her glasses and with two blue eyes. She asked what happened and Shinji told her everything. She was happy for Asuka and for Shinji as well. Her "motherly" instincts kicked in and laid down a few ground rules as to "sleeping arrangements" just to be safe, although she knew having to actually worry about anything was still a long time off. Then Misato's "big sister" side kicked in and she spent the next two weeks mercilessly teasing Shinji about "putting moves on Asuka in the middle of the night in his boxers then trying to get a close up view of her…assets so soon after."
Finals came and went and after much encouragement from Shinji and Misato, Asuka agreed that all of their friends could come over for a party for graduating high school (A/N sorry, I haven't done my research into what the age is for HS graduation in Japan…). Up until this point it was strictly forbidden for anyone other than Shinji, Misato, Hikari, or the doctors to see Asuka on Asuka's own, VERY strict orders.
The party came and everyone was having fun. Well, most everyone. Asuka mingled for a bit and half-heartily took compliments from her friends. She even managed to put some fire into a "conversation" that ended with Toji fleeing for the safety of his "family's assets." After a while Asuka retreated to a quite corner of the living room and just watched the people she used to know and thought. Shinji snuck up beside her and sat down before she noticed him.
"They've all missed you, you know." He said as he reached out and took her hand. "They're really happy to see you, even Toji…just don't ask him to admit it." Asuka just continued to stare at their joined hands, lost in thought. "You really should come back over and join-"
"No, I'm not ready for this. Just because my eyes are better doesn't mean I'm fine. I still look hideous. I'm so pale I look like wondergirl used to" Asuka stated with none of the enthusiasm that used to flow from her. She got up and told everyone that she was feeling a bit tired and that she was glad to see everyone again and then went back to her room and closed the door.
Shinji just sighed and went back over to the group. Everyone looked at him apologetically. "Thanks guys. I know you tried, and it meant a lot that she would even let everyone come over."
"No prob, Shin-man…take it easy with her. Even if she's healing on the outside, there's a lot of deep scars on the inside." Toji said while Hikari just stared up at him with a small smile.
"Yeah, just remember we're all here for both of you, but I think if anyone can help her most right now it's you. Less than a month ago she wouldn't let anyone even look at her. You were sitting over there right next to her, holding her hand and talking to her. She trusts you because she knows you'll be kind and honest with her. That…and she loves you…." Kensuke smiled as the three of them turned and headed for the door.
Shinji led the trio out the door and then headed back into the apartment. "She needs to be more confident in herself before she'll let others get close still. She's chosen to let you in, but she needs to find worth in herself." Misato spoke from her place in the kitchen. She still couldn't cook much, but supplying the party with chips and cookies and sodas was pretty easy.
"I know. I just wish I could help her. I think if she would let herself find out how the rest of her looks, or if she'd go outside for some sun she'd feel better. Even if I could get her to go out on the balcony for a while to get some sun and fresh air." Misato just smiled at him.
"Well, you're going to have to show her she's beautiful. I'm not saying that you should do anything rash, but you may have to do something more…drastic like with her eyes…to get her to look at herself."
Shinji blushed at the sound of that, but he knew he had to be gentle in approaching this. He just didn't know how he was going to get her to look at herself without "showing some skin."
Shinji, at this point had gotten quite used to sleeping next to Asuka. After their first night she wouldn't let him sleep anywhere else. Although Misato wasn't happy about it, she allowed it because she forced them to keep a box of condoms in her room, and she knew Asuka would never get undressed with Shinji in the room. Tonight, he decided to see if he could push things just a bit, more in an effort to help her than himself though. No matter how much she called him a pervert, Shinji would wait until the end of time for her, even if it never happened.
