Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion.
Chapter 04
Connection Beyond Words
"It's not your fault"
After the major's voice reached Shinji he returned her hug relieved, having an unfamiliar sense of happiness run through his body.
For several minutes they just stood there embracing each other, if this was any other day the young pilot would have blushed furiously but at that moment, even if it would cost him days and days of non-stop teasing, he just wanted to feel the warmness provided by Misato, such a feeling could only be described as happiness.
He knew they would eventually have to let go but not right now, Shinji wanted to stay like that even if just for a few more minutes, and Misato didn't seem to think different.
xxx
With a rough sound the door that had the words 'D. Conference Room 007' imprinted on it opened and the figure of commander Fuyutsuki exited the room.
"Well, one thing is for sure, even if this place got the nickname of 'Impenetrable Fortress' it will never be commended for its conference rooms..." the man was clearly drained after such a long meeting, however he still managed to talk with a humorous tone.
Fuyutsuki was surprised to see her there, he had entered the room four hours ago still the blond was standing in the exact same place she was when he left.
"I take it went well for you to be making jokes..."
"Ah doctor there was no need to wait here I was just heading for your-"
"This was my request, so I figured the least I could do was wait here... I'm sorry but could you please tell me what was decided?"
"Very well." the commander who looked tired took a small pause and continued, " All of your requests have been approved."
"Just like that?"
"Of course not. They even went as far as accusing our city of 'burning the world' with all that happened, needless to say they are already creating a cover story for the Eva Series and SEELE incident. They don't wish to spend 'unnecessary' money."
"Then how did you get them to agree sir?"
"I made use of the data your lovely assistant was capable of retrieving with the help of the MAGI. One look at the contents and the entire room approved all of our requests."
"What about the treaty?"
"That was a rather hard topic to address but after what happened with the Eva Series they must have thought it would be best that way."
"Now all we need is for phase two to finish."
"That is incorrect doctor, we still need to catch the final member of SEELE and interrogate him." the commander looked up at the ceiling with a pained expression "And we will also need them when the time comes..."
Ritsuko nodded in agreement, she knew all too well that in the end there was only so much she could do.
"Now... How is Ikari?"
Again just the simple mention of that name was enough to upset the doctor "He is stable, the wound has started to heal. Did his name get mentioned?"
"Well he couldn't just try to pull off Third Impact and expect to be left alone." Fuyutsuki smiled sadly "No matter how good of an idea or how romantic it seemed to him destroying the world for Yui would not be seen too kindly."
The blond winced at that name, it was a name she came to hate for reasons that were just too private.
"I must go now, I have another meeting about the treaty in about fifty minutes and I'd like to be ready for it." he flashed a brief smile at the blond scientist and left.
xxx
'And it begins... I just knew it.'
Shinji knew this would happen, but no matter how well he knew it, the young pilot always reacted the same way.
"Aww but you squeezed me so hard, are you sure you weren't trying to grab anything?" he found amazing that Misato could say such things while smiling, just hearing that made him blush endlessly. "It was 'Shinji's special hug!'"
"I-it's not like that..." saying this Shinji started to walk away, he knew if he didn't she wouldn't stop "I have to go otherwise I'll be late for school, lunch is already done and packed, I also fed Penpen and cleaned your room, bye!" and with that the boy walked out the door eager to leave Misato and her incessant teasing behind.
"Special hug..." the young pilot sighed "She'll never let me live this down."
Misato looked at the door and smiled gently "Thank you Shinji-kun." the major was happy to see her charge in a such a good mood.
xxx
Shinji was feeling much better, it was all thanks to Misato. He was so distracted he didn't even remember that in school he was still 'the' celebrity, so he walked into the room casually listening to his trusted SDAT player and sat down quietly.
However unlike the previous day there was no bombardment from his classmates, everyone still seemed to be eying him but no one came running asking questions.
"Good morning Ikari-kun, you seem to be in a better mood today." unlike the previous day he didn't need to look recognize the person who was addressing him.
"G-good morning Horaki-san."
She flashed him a smile and headed towards her seat. Shinji returned to his own little world that the SDAT player was capable of creating for him, so he didn't notice the freckled girl glancing at him with questioning eyes.
Despite not knowing the girl well Shinji thought Hikari was one of the kindest persons he had met, unlike the rest who were just curious to know if something amazing happened she had held back her questions not once but twice now.
His mind floated away once more. And once again he was brought back by an all too familiar voice.
"So... Are you going to tell me what happened?"
'Kensuke... If I tell him I destroyed a whole bunch of Evangelions he'll kill me...'
Shinji was aware that his friend Kensuke was a military otaku and always wished with all his heart that he could pilot an Evangelion, Shinji figured telling him he ripped apart several pilot-less Evangelions would make him snap. He just couldn't stop himself from chuckling at the thought of a crazed Kensuke Aida.
"Hmm... Aren't we in a good mood? This must be the first time I see you laugh like that... Though you could just have flipped... You okay?" the otaku was clearly joking, whatever the reason, Shinji was acting less gloomy than usual and that was always welcome.
"I-" He was cut off by the class rep apparently he had been lost in his thoughts for more time then he thought because the teacher was already entering the classroom.
Four minutes into the class and he was already half asleep. 'Second Impact again? Did we talk about anything else during the entire year?' Shinji tried hard, but the boredom was just more than he could handle.
"Shinji-kun." a beautiful voice reached his hears and he opened his eyes, to his surprise most of the students were already gone... How long had he been sleeping he wondered.
When he looked up he found the source of the heavenly voice. Shinji did not want to talk to Rei, he wasn't mad at her, after all it wasn't her fault, nothing was her fault, she was just another victim of his father... Still he hadn't been able to speak with the blue haired beauty ever since that incident... The day he found out about her, about her origin.
He figured he should be mad, it was the natural response when finding out something like that, however he didn't hate her, nor did he think any different of her, to him she was still the beautiful Rei Ayanami, his comrade in the battle field, and above of all his friend... Yet he still couldn't talk to her, was it some kind of trauma? Did he subconsciously hate the albino girl? No... He just wasn't over the shock.
Rei was the mysterious girl that seemed to alienate everyone around her, the only stable social relationship she seemed to be able to maintain was with his father, Shinji had envied the girl for that however, soon after he forgot about her relation with his father and started to notice the girl more.
Even when some called her heartless and cold or even a doll he could see she was only a little harder to reach. However that alone wasn't enough to approach the albino, Shinji was much too shy to try something has daring as that. What really brought them closer was that incident...
xxx
The 16th Angel Armisael.
"Deploy Unit 01 to assist Unit 00! Now!" Misato yelled at the top of her lungs, the situation was dire, the 16th angel had attempted to fuse with Unit 00 and there was nothing Rei could do even at point-blank the massive riffle Unit 00 carried wasn't making any kind of damage.
"Misato-san I'm ready!"
"Unit 01 launch!" with her words the bolts were released and the Evangelion was sent at an insane speed through the launch rail. "Now remember Shinji-kun the target is extremely powerful and can infect you if you allow it to establish contact, weapons don't seem to work either and there is no visible weaknesses... So what I'm saying is... Help Unit 00 retreat!"
"Got it!" the communications with Eva 01 went silent and Misato could only pray for the safety of the two children. Something she hated more than anything, even more than the Angels, was putting them in harms way and yet she did it more than once.
Xxx
With a tremendous sound the purple behemoth came to a stop at the end of the launcher. The Angel seemed to notice him but paid no attention it was fully concentrated in his prey.
"Ayanami!" when connection was established with the blue cyclops Shinji's eyes widened in horror most of the blue haired body was disfigured and she was emitting small cries of agony.
The Angel was connected to the blue Eva's abdomen and paid no attention to the purple titan, which was already sprinting towards its fallen comrade, this however triggered the Angel. It did not seem happy to be disturbed and with a swing of its body it tried to hit the death machine.
"Shinji watch out!" Misato's voice brought him back in time to force the behemoth into a spectacular jump.
He was sure it was going to launch its second attack upon the purple titan, however said attack never came. Then he realized it wasn't trying to kill him it was trying to preserve its connection with Unit 00.
"If I can separate them maybe I-"
"AHHHH!" before he could come up with a plan he heard the blue haired girl screech. "I-Ikari...kun?" her voice was not what he was used to, Rei was a very quiet person and her voice was one of the most elegant sounds he had ever heard, yet now one could hear the raw fear and pain in every word.
"Rei! REI!" Shinji was panicking, so much he forgot to formally address the girl, not only was her body disfigured but she was now crying, he had never seen such a thing before. "Rei don't worry I'm going to help you!"
"It's to late, goodbye... Shinji-kun..." with those words the First Child reached for the self-destruct lever of her Evangelion.
'I gotta do something... ANYTHING!'
In the blink of an eye the purple death machine was approaching the cyclops evading every blow Armisael sent at it. Without any better ideas the pilot of the titan took the only decision that would save Rei. He could hear it the voices from the communicator, they yelled at him to retreat, his father's voice being the loudest. Was he worried about him? No, it was Unit 01 he yelled for and that was why Shinji ignored it all.
Xxx
Rei was crying but not from the pain, she never thought this would happen, her life given to her by the commander had only one purpose yet she cried, she cried because she did not want to lose it.
But most of all she cried because of the commander she could see through her communication window that he wasn't worried about her, he would let her die if it was necessary. Of course! After all she was only a tool, nothing more, her existence only justified by her purpose to serve him. In this situation only one person came to her mind, someone who truly cared for her.
It was like he was really there... Was he?
"I-Ikari...kun?"
"REI!"
'Ikari-kun! Wait Rei?' even if it was not the place she could only think of the way the boy called for her, it was filled with emotion, and not only that but for the first time since they met he treated her by her name if she was not mistaken that was the way friends treated each other.
"Rei don't worry I'm going to help you!" his voice trembling panicking...
"It's to late, goodbye... Shinji-kun..." that was when she made the decision, she would have to do it she would have to end herself, not because of the commander and his plans not because of the human race, but because she wanted to protect him... Her friend... 'Shinji-kun'
And that was why she finally lost all control, tears now fell freely down her face, she was reaching for the tool that would finish her exitence and that was when she heard it, the voices. "SHINJI, DON'T! RETREAT!"
The major, the commander, everyone told him to stand down yet the horned behemoth didn't stop, dodging every blow the seemingly invincible foe threw at it, it continued to advance. It was a deadly battle yet the way the titan moved made it look more like a beautiful dance than a duel, dodging every attack while running at an insane speed the death machine reached its destination.
"Shinji.. k-kun, what are...!" her eyes widened as an insane amount of pain coursed through her body "Ah! AHH!"
xxx
The behemoth wrapped its hands around the snake-like Angel and forced it to connect with the titan's own body, the connection with Unit 00 was weakened, that was what he had been waiting for.
"RAAAAAAGH!" he forced the colossus to use all of its remaining strength and kick the cyclops. With a powerful kick the Prototype was sent flying against a building, and another, and another... It did not stop until after it destroyed several structures.
The young boy felt relief wash through his body, however it did not last long as pain took its place. "AGH...!"
"Limbo... That's where we are in case you're wondering..."
Shinji jolted up and saw... himself staring at him with a look or irritation clouding his face "Wh-"
"You would not understand... However I do hope you understand what you did was irritating." it... him... whatever it was it sighed "No matter, this is just as good, I'm sorry but your soul is in the way, I'll have to make you go away now."
"What?" Shinji had no idea what was happening it didn't want to fuse with him like it did with Rei, it seemed more interested in... Eva Unit 01?
It held up its hand and Shinji fell to his knees "AAAAAHHHH!" every limb seemed to disintegrate. And just as quick as it came it went away and he could see a female figure in front of him with her arms spread open.
xxx
"Damn it Shinji-kun come in!" Misato should be furious because the pilot of Unit 01 had just disobeyed her orders, however more than angry she was worried.
"Unit 00's stats returning to normal pilot survival confirmed!" Lt. Ibuki reported sounding relived.
"What ab-" the major was cut off by the commander when she was about to ask for the conditions of Shinji.
"What about Unit 01 what's happening to it?" She couldn't believe it he was more worried about his precious weapon than his own son...
"I can't tell, it went silent shortly after the connection was made!"
"Contact Rei she is to connect Unit 00 with the Angel again!" Misato couldn't believe her hears but the commander wasn't joking he was fuming with rage, she didn't quite understand why but whatever the reason sending Rei out again was impossible and insane.
"WHAT? Unit 00 can't continue fighting sir it-"
Again she found herself cut off by the commander "I didn't say fight I said make Unit 00 the Angel's target again!"
Misato was a good major and a damn good officer and that's why she knew when the commander had snapped "I'm sor-"
"BERSERK!" Lt Shigeru yelled looking at the computer in front of him.
Everyone shifted their gaze to the main screen where the titan ripped its jaw restraints apart and roared shattering the glass of several buildings. The Angel started to squirm violently trying to break free from the horned behemoth however the titan did not allow it, with a violent jolt the Angel was capable of ripping the death machine's right arm off.
The purple titan roared again as it grabbed its foe and started to squeeze it as if looking for something. Another violent jolt and the behemoth's horn was shattered leaving a massive crack in the titan's mask, but it still wasn't enough to disturb the bio-weapon.
Suddenly as if it had found what it was looking for the titan brought the misbehaved snake to his mouth and bit it down hard on the spot it had been groping earlier with an inhuman screech and a strange cracking sound Armisael evaporated.
Everyone stood looking shocked at the figure of Unit 01, the colossal monster had once again done what was thought impossible and even more impressive it had done so with ease.
"Communications reestablished." Shinji opened his eyes and he felt confused and disoriented "Pilot survival confirmed."
"Rei..."
xxx
After the incident with the 16th Angel Shinji and Rei became much closer. She talked more frequently with him and he felt more at ease around her but what was built between them wasn't something easy to explain nor was it meant to be explained. It was a connection that surpassed words, it was a wordless bond.
Even though Rei had tried to return to her former cold self after the incident where Shinji found out about her creation she failed miserably, the bond that had been forged between the two of them could not be shattered by her alone.
Shinji didn't hate her and he didn't want to lose the new connection he had been able to create with Rei. He could still read her crimson eyes like they were an open book, not that he needed to, after what happened anyone that looked at Rei's eyes could tell she was sad, not because she had become easier to read but because anyone could tell she had been crying.
He should have been there, he should have told her what he thought of the entire situation, but he couldn't not only was he affected by the overwhelming truth but he was also suffering, suffering from the events that involved Tabris...
xxx
She could tell Shinji was deep into his thoughts, about her no doubt, just imagining what he thought of her forced her to battle a tear back. She had never established with any other being the connection she shared with Shinji, and had never experienced pain liked this, she had been severely injured in battle and had nearly died, however the pain she felt now managed to be worse.
'Why is it that it hurts more than the worst of physical wounds, why...?'
Shinji raised his head and looked her straight in the eyes. "Rei-chan I-" she shook her head, there was no need for words, she could read his eyes just like she was sure he could read hers.
"I'm sorry Shinji-kun... for not telling you."
"No it's me who should be sorry."
With those simple words order had been reestablished, a brief hardly noticeable smiled adorned the beautiful albino's face before she headed off.
She was happy and felt like... Smiling.
He still thought of her as a friend.
xxx
"Misato-san" Shinji looked around the house and found no one.
After a while where he cleaned the room that miraculously managed to get dirty every 5 minutes he found a note under several piles of garbage.
I knew you'd find this if I left it in my room =P
Anyways I'm on an important mission and won't be back before late tonight so please make me a super delicious dinner and don't wait up I promise I'll give you a special hug when I return so look forward to it =3
Love (and lotsa special huggies) Misato.
"Special hug..." Shinji sighed "She'll never let me live this down..."
Author's Notes: Well I took extra long with this one, there were two reasons for that; laziness and vacations, I actually thought that being vacations and all I'd be able to write faster but I guess I was wrong...
Anyways, new chapter new hordes of haters hehe, in this chapter I wanted to make Shinji's relationship with Rei deeper, I still have not decided the pairing I am going to ship out on this fic however this is about more than one single pairing that is the center of the universe, I want to get some development out of everyone... Why did Rei get hers before everyone else? Because me likey Rei that's why!
So I thought if there was a way to get something out of this idea it would be to save Rei-chan from Armisael. As I see it any and every character development we got before the lord of the rings got there and forced Rei to kill herself was wasted... So, why not change that since I already pulled off so many changes? I do apologize for the fight with Armisael I just wasn't feeling too battle inspired.
Again I remind you that just because I like ShinjixRei pairing doesn't mean I dislike any of the others, so don't assume this will be a Shinrei fic just because of a chapter I focused more on Rei and Shinji's relation.
Now then, thanks to the OST of Black Cat (Why didn't it have the music when Eve fights Leon why? It was awesome *brooklyn range*) was very inspiring and Banya for Beethoven Virus.
Again I thank those who voted on the pool and left me kind reviews thank you very much I love your support. So keep on voting and if you felt like I deserved it leave a review behind.