Right this is part one of a double update like I promised. This first part more or less follows on from the last flashback and goes from there. I'm fairly happy about how I portrayed Chang, the man is so laid back I'm surprised he can stand up straight. But he isn't always like this in the main story you will see his serious side later on.
Shinji was excited when they pulled up outside the office of the man Revy had described to him as his uncle in strange way, but since the man himself was slightly strange, well slightly is an understatement. The man was off his rocker sometimes.
"Uncle Chang!" Shinji bellowed as he all but sprinted past Chang's bodyguards and into his office. The middle aged Chinese man barely had time to look up from the morning paper before the Shinji-express slammed into him, knocking them both over onto the ground.
"Your ancestors must have been ninjas Shinji, but…" Chang sounded serious as he lifted Shinji above him with a blank expression, and for a moment Shinji thought he had crossed a line but when Chang started laughing so did he, "Where's my hugs!" he called out joyfully as he got to his feet and swung Shinji around in circles, holding him under his arms.
When Rock and the others arrived they saw that Chang was already wishing Shinji a happy birthday and they had briefly wondered what was going to happen to his guards who hadn't even tried to stop Shinji from running through the corridors, but they saw they were trying not to laugh at seeing their boss act like an idiot.
"Shin don't run off like that again alright?" Revy asked leaning on the desk, "Ah two-hands don't be a downer, Shinji's always welcomed here!" Chang said as Shinji ended up on his shoulders, "Besides how old are you today?", "Five! Fuck yeah!" he giggled as Chang picked him up and swung him around again before finally setting down on the desk.
"Finished?" Rock asked with an amused smile, "Ah Rock of course you're here for the young mans gifts aren't you?", "That's right Mister Chang." Dutch said, "We've got a few more stops to make too.", "Of course. But I think I'm allowed to spend some quality time with my nephew.".
Chang reached under his desk and pulled out a box, "You'll love this Shinji." opening the box in a flurry of movement Shinji pulled out a custom made coat for him, it was exactly like Chang's long coat, "Your gift is to try and turn him into a mini you?" Revy asked as Shinji pulled on the coat and pulled out a pair of sunglasses that was in the box, "Fear me Roanapur! Mini-Chang has arrived!" the whole room, guards included descended into fits of laughter.
"Miss Sawyer I'm sorry I didn't see you there…" Chang said through laughs looking at a young lady standing in the doorway, "Come in please… you haven't met my adopted nephew have you?" the quiet gothic lady shook her head and entered the office, drawing looks from the Lagoon crew minus Shinji who was looking at her with curiosity.
"Shinji Ikari meet Frederica Sawyer, one of my employees.", "Careful Shin…" Revy warned only for Shinji to stretch out his hand, "Hi Sawyer-chan!" Chang only chuckled at the faint blush forming on her cheeks as she shook the young mans outstretched hand, "Sorry Shinji looks like Sawyer has forgotten her Ultra-Voice today.", "Ultra-what?".
Chang explained that she couldn't speak without the help of a small machine that allowed her to talk and that she used to break down without it, however over the years she had been learning to deal with not having over short periods.
However Shinji surprised her and everyone by walking over and hugging her, "Sorry you lost your voice." Sawyer opened her mouth to say something but stopped, looking up she stared at Rock and clicked her fingers at him, "What? Me?" she pointed to the spot next to her, once he was there she turned him around so his back was facing her. She began writing on his back with her finger, "You can write Japanese… oh right." she wrote a rather obscene word on his back and told him to speak what she wrote, "She wants to tell you… Thank you Shinji-kun…I hope I don't scare you.", "No why would you?" Shinji asked, "Never mind… I hope I can see you again soon." handing Chang a folder and left the room quickly.
"Well that was interesting…" Chang said, "But I must say thank you Shinji, you treated her better then most people have.", "Why?", "She's different Shinji, her job isn't the normal one you expect." Rock said, "Besides she did try to kill us…" Revy said looking out the door.
September 23rd
"Revy stop shouting… it's not going to help." Rock said as his wife stormed around the apartment, she was a tad upset that their date night was going to be ruined. She had hated the idea at first but after taking her to a few places that he knew she would like, after that it had been a common thing for them. Of course now that they had to look after Shinji they needed a sitter, which was harder then expected.
"Fuck off Rock…I'm just pissed that Dutch and Benny just pissed off like that.", "They got a last minute job and they didn't need us.", "And Chang…", "He's got a sit down with Balalaika, she only got back into the city yesterday and he offered to help fill her in on what's been happening while she's been in Russia." Revy mumbled to herself about the Triad leader and ran her hand across her face in frustration. "What about Eda?", "Not a chance Revy…I'd rather not traumatise Shinji again.", "Fine…" Rock was quickly running out of names of people they could trust with Shinji, until once sprang to mind.
"What about Sawyer?", "Not a chance in hell Rock.", "Why not? They get along and Shinji likes her, plus I'm pretty sure she's free." Revy glared at him before stomping over to the phone, "I'll do it Revy… don't want to scare her off." he muttered as he dialled the number that Chang had given him for Sawyer's apartment.
Sawyer could just about hear the sound of the phone ringing but couldn't be sure as she continued to hack and slash away on the games console with Lotton as she always did when she wasn't on a job. "Can someone get that. Stop playing on stupid game all the time!" Shenhua called from the shower, clearly not wanting to leave it just to answer the phone again, "Fine…" Sawyer sighed as she paused the game, getting a groan from Lotton, "She's your girlfriend deal with it." she said before answering the phone.
"Hello?", "Hello Sawyer. It's Rock from the Lagoon Company, are you free tonight?" Rock said getting to the point, "Isn't your wife… going to be angry." she teased, "She already is… but we're looking for a sitter to look after Shinji while Revy and I go out." Sawyer froze and thought back to her first meeting with the young boy, who didn't shy away or anything because she was different. "My place or yours…" she asked, "Ours, no doubt I'll be bringing back Revy drunk tonight so it would be best. You'll be paid for your time if that helps?" Rock asked hopefully, "Sure. I'll be there as soon as possible." she wrote down the address and smiled as she put the phone down.
Rock was never happier to see Sawyer in his life when he opened the door. "Thank you so much… you've just saved me from being Revy's target for tonight." he chuckled as he let her in, "Shinji's in the living room, there is a pizza on its way. You can let him watch a film but make sure he's in bed by nine at the latest. And there are beers and drinks in the fridge, feel free to help yourself." she thanked him as he led her into their apartment where she saw Shinji reading a book while glancing up at the television every now and again.
"Shinji… Sawyer's here. She'll be keeping an eye on your while Revy and I go out, okay?", "Sawyer-chan…" Shinji looked up from his book and smiled when he saw her, "Revy are you ready?", "Have fun…" Sawyer said as she sat down next to Shinji who snuggled up next to her, "Take care both of you. And Shinji don't give Sawyer any trouble.".
"I was wondering if I'd ever get to see you again Sawyer-chan." Shinji, "I really like you, your so cool.", "Thank you… what were you reading?", "Just a book I found laying about electronics." he looked up at her, "Your Japanese is very good Sawyer-chan.", "Thank you. I also know Chinese and English as well due to my friends and working for Chang. You really like him don't you?" she asked with a small smile, "Best uncle ever." he said simply, "Uncle Chang maybe a triad boss but he's still the greatest.", "You don't seem to mind much that he is Triad.", "At first it was a little scary that Revy and Rock were both smugglers and criminals but they promised me they would always be there for me and they have been. They're my family.", "Your very lucky Shinji…" she said quietly.
"Sawyer-chan… what about your family?", "My family… that isn't something I like to talk about Shinji, but I will tell you… they abandoned me when I was young after slitting my throat.", "My father abandoned me… after my mother died." he said after a moment of silence, "I'm sorry…" they hugged each other in understanding of their pain.
Hearing a knock at the door Sawyer quickly went to answer it and saw it was the pizza guy, she couldn't believe that someone would do that to their child. "What's on the pizza?", "Spicy beef and jalapenos." Shinji said cheering up when he smelt the pizza, "How can you stand that?" she asked as she laid out the pizza in front of them on the table, "I don't know I just like the taste." Shinji said shrugging before tucking into the spicy pizza.
Before Sawyer could ask what film he wanted to watch he held up a DVD of his chosen film, "Oh… your one of those…", "Spaceball's is a classic.", "Your five you can't say that." Shinji stuck his tongue out as Sawyer took the film, "Just how many times have you seen this?", "Seven…" rolling her eyes again she sat down and pressed play.
When Rock opened the apartment door and dragged in a sloshed Revy he saw Sawyer's mop of dark hair sticking over the top of the sofa, clearly she was sleeping but when he entered the room he saw Shinji curled up on her lap with a half eaten slice of pizza sliding down his face.
"How in the hell is he Gendo's son?" he wondered, putting Revy down carefully on the sofa, snapping a picture of her sleeping form for his growing collection, "But he is just like Yui…" Rock sighed as he started cleaning up the mess made by the two, remembering back to Yui's all night revision sessions where she would fall asleep at her desk or even with a book across her face, he even found her sleeping standing up once.
Rock gently removed the pizza from Shinji's face and tossed it in the box, picking up Shinji he carried him to his room, "Your going to be more trouble every passing year aren't you?" he asked as he tucked him in, "… damn right…" a dreaming Shinji mumbled.
Alright. The whole writing on Rocks back is actually shown in the manga but its in the new Arc only but I'd head over and have a look if I were you if you haven't already done it, hasn't been released yet so you can only get online translations.
And I put Spaceballs in because its such a good film, I'm a huge Mel Brooks fan.
