NGE belongs to Gainax, but if they botch the new NGE projects they're coming out with, I'm taking over.
Sorry it took so long for the new chapter, my uploading page was having issues.
Thanks to all of my reviewers.
Please enjoy and review
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"I AM SO BORED" Asuka yawned out as she lay on the couch.
She'd been off duty for 2 weeks now, following a small run in with a drug needle, specifically a used drug needle that just so happened to be in the lining of and HIV-positive druggie's coat that she was patting down. She still had another 2 weeks until the tests came back. She wasn't really worried about the results, since HIV was now curable. The doctors thought it unwise to give her the medicine ahead of time due to its severe side effects, so she just had to wait it out. Asuka HATED waiting.
Asuka sat up on the couch with her legs crossed, one hand rubbing her chin, in deep thought.
'It's been ….what? 4 months since Misato woke up…..she's been moping for the last 2. I hate mopers. Hmm I wonder why she's moping…….she's got a job, she's got that super fast car that she's always wanted, she's got to think of it she hasn't really dated anyone since she's woken up. I wonder if she's still mourning for Kaji-san?...I hope not….I know that she really loved him, but…..technically it's been 20 years, maybe I could get her a date with someone from my unit……mmmm no she's too good for all those slobs. Who else? The only single guys that I know and Misato know are…Kensuke…..cringe he's not nearly as nerdy as he used to be, but still…ugh. The other one is the Baka…..hmmmmmm……a little weird…but it could work. ……..I need to talk to Rei, we've got some scheming to do….ooooh this is gonna be fun!'
Asuka picked up the phone and dialed Rei's office number.
"You've reached the private office of Dr. Rei Ayanami, please leave your name, number and a brief message after the beep" beep
"REI I KNOW YOUR THERE PICK UP!"
Rei groaned, she was trying to catch a small nap, she'd been up since 2am and since then she'd been on her feet non-stop, 2 transport-deliveries and a hysterectomy later, she'd finally caught a minute to herself, only to be interrupted by the one and only Sohryu.
She got up from the couch in her office and answered the phone.
"Hello Asuka" She answered in a tired voice.
"Wake up sleepy head, I've got an idea!"
"What? Like that one time when we we're 22 and you decided that we could install a new set of drawers in the closet? We all know how that turned out, no more building…anything."
"Nonono nothing like that. I want Misato to date."
"Don't we all? She's been moping for awhile now, she's driving me nuts. Who do you want her to date, there's this guys I work with who….""NO! We know that all of the guys that work in your department are either gay or are hentais, so no one from your creepy work. I'm thinking of someone she already knows"
"The only singly men we know are Kensuke….and that's just weird…Misato and Kensuke. …..hahahahahahahaha.ahem. The other is….Shinji…hmmmmm…..I see where your going with this. But how are we going to get them together? Yeah, they're the same age now…..but they're still probably going to think it's kinda weird, I mean, she WAS his GUARDIAN. Don't you think things would be awkward?" Rei's mind was going a mile a minute.
'Would it work? It'd be great if it did, two of my favorite people in the world finding love in each other's arms……god Rei you've got to stop reading those romance novels' The good doctor thought to herself as she propped her feet up on her desk.
"Well it might be at first, but come on, you and I both know that Shinji and Misato are good friends, and that's a definite plus. I know that during Misato's coma, things were a bit difficult for me and you, but for Shinji, she was everything. He wouldn't even go on tour with his band because it would keep him away from Misato for too long. I mean I'm not saying that we didn't care, but Shinji…..he went above and beyond ya know? He genuinely cares for her, and that's also a plus. They'd have to be setup, lord knows they won't get together of their own accord. Hmmm….I'm thinking blind date."
"Your right, Shinji went on with his life for the most part, but Misato was always his anchor, not in a bad way, but in a cute, devoted way. A blind date sounds like the perfect idea……"
- A few days later in a dimly lit café-
'Asuka and Rei better not have chosen some bimbo to set me up with, maybe the studio got to them too….naaaw they wouldn't do that to me….I think Oh well guess I'll just have to suffer through this date and then I'll just dump whoever it is right afterwards'
Shinji was slouching in his seat, Asuka had told him to hide his face behind the book she had given him, and that the girl would know it was him by the title of the book and how he responded when she asked him a question.
The book, was House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, an odd book to say the least, frightening even, Asuka had given it to him the day before and he hadn't been able to put it down, the structure and format of it was highly unconventional, but then again when had anything in Shinji's life been, conventional.
He paused for a moment and looked around the small café, it was one of his favorite places, they always played classical music, it wasn't too loud, and it wasn't too quiet, it was the perfect place to go on a first date, an easy place to have conversation in.
He had his elbows on the table and the book in front of his face, Asuka insisted he wear something a little nicer than what he usually did, he opted for a green button down dress shirt, with his signature black t-shirt and jeans, he had rolled the sleeves of the shirt up to just below the elbow since it was a warm spring day.
'Where the hell is this woman?'
- Outside of that same café -
'What the hell am I doing? I haven't been on a date in ….20 years. Why am I so nervous? It's not like I've never been on a blind date before. I trust Asuka and Rei……mostly. Alright Misato-girl you can do this, you look HOT!'
Misato was leaning against the outer café wall, trying to give herself a little pep talk. She knew she looked good, in her tan jacket, white blouse and jeans. She'd never been one to be self-conscious of her looks, and she wasn't about to start now. It's just that…….she was pretty nervous about the whole thing, from the moment the girls sprung it on her she'd been nervous. She knew that it'd be a good thing for her to get out and date a bit; maybe she'd actually find a good guy and settle down.
She'd finally accepted the fact that Kaji was never coming back, and of course it still hurt, and of course she'd always love him, but Kaji had told her to 'move on and not to hesitate', it was easy for him to say, he was….dead. She had hesitated, but she decided that she WOULD start anew.
She stepped away from the wall, checked her hair in a nearby window, took a deep breath and entered the café
'House of Leaves, House of Leaves, House ofOh there he is, hmm his arms are nice and toned, let's see what he looks like behind that book'
She walked over and stopped behind the chair that was setup across from him.
'Here goes nothin' '
"I've heard Danielewski novels are difficult to follow" A clearly womanly voice rang out, jolting Shinji from his reading. He steadied and kept the book in front of his face
"It depends on how you look at things" And with that he plastered his 'charm the pants off any lady' smile on and slowly took the book away from his face.
'Oh shit'
"Shinji!""Misato!"
Talk about awkward.
'What the hell were Asuka and Rei thinking!' They both thought.
And then they recalled the threat that Asuka had made to each individually.
"No matter who it is, you'd better ACTUALLY try and treat it like a date, because it is. I mean it! Don't try and ditch out or anything or I'll smack you clear into the middle of next week"
Misato and Shinji both cringed at the memory.
"Well…I guess you'd better sit then" Shinji said, trying to keep his cool.
"Yeah…." Misato sat down across from him.
"This is going to be weird…" Shinji said as he ran his hand through his medium length hair. Making it look even messier, to which Misato thought 'Has he always been this good looking?'
"Yeah, but I told Asuka and Rei I'd give it a try no matter who it was, and we're both adults now, so it shouldn't be so weird….." Misato said with a smile.
'I'm actually kinda relieved that it's him, at least we know that we can have a good conversation together'
"That's what I told her too, after she got me in a head-lock" Shinji said with a gentle laugh "Besides, you did tell me awhile back that we'd 'do the rest later'." Shinji grinned at her, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"Oh psssh you remember that? That was ages ago….." She recalled that chaotic night.
"Well I guess I'll have to work my way up to that" He said cheekily
"Obviously Asuka and Rei saw something between us, and thought we'd make a good couple…..I'm not saying that it won't be weird, and I'm not saying that I won't be difficult at times, but I'm willing to try…..if you are" Shinji said as he stared at his clasped hands that were resting on the table.
'Could this possibly work? No doubt I think she's really attractive, and we're already pretty much best friends…..so why not?'
"I……yeah. I'd like to try. I'm not promising anything, I think we both still have a lot of issues to work out, but maybe it would be easier….if we had each other to get through the rough times with" Misato said as she gently placed her hand on top of his larger, calloused hands.
They smiled at each other, and the others around them smiled, knowing that they were witness to something new and beautiful.
Shinji stood up and took Misato with him.
"Let's go for a walk, and we can talk….and…stuff" He said with a blush at his returned awkwardness.
'Damn if she already makes me blush like I did 20 years ago, imagine what'll happen if this actually works out in the long run'
"That sounds great" Misato said shyly.
'Shyly?? What the hell I haven't been shy in ages, he's already making me weak at the knees and we haven't even kissed yet…..technically'
The two walked out on to the street, his fingers gently intertwined with hers, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
'This is…..nice' They both thought as the sunlight lay warmly on their backs as they walked aimlessly along the streets, talking about nothing in particular, but already enjoying this new found support that both had been lacking in their lives.
- Across the street, inside a nearby store –
"See Wondergirl! I told you this'd work!" Asuka said, her UN issue binoculars pointed towards the new couple
"Asuka it's my turn!! I want to see!!" Rei said as she snatched the binoculars from Asuka and pointed them at Shinji and Misato, focusing on their intertwined hands.
"Aww they're already holding hands and going on walks, just like an old married couple" Rei said excitedly.
"Well I'd say we did a hell of a good job matchmaking, now we've got to go find us some men, or we could go drink our loveless night away."
"I vote for option number 2"
"Alright let's go get drunk and bitch about how we don't have anyone"
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So what'd you think? The M/S pairing won unanimously. Woohoo!
This story is M/S focused, but maybe eventually I'll make separate fics for Rei and Asuka's love lives. But not for awhile.
House of Leaves is an excellent book, but it is very difficult to read because of the chaotic format, but check it out at your local book store!
Please review and tell me what you think!