Words of Encouragement
by Majestik Moose 73 (aka Majestik Moose)
This idea came up me a LONG time ago about what if Toji and Kensuke actually stood up for and defended Shinji when they all visited the Katsuragi apartment while he and Asuka were training to defeat Israfel. I absolutely HATED when Hikari called Shinji out for something that wasn't his fault. This is intended to be a one-shot. I do NOT own Evangelion or any of its characters. Please enjoy.
•••••
The battle against the 7th angel was a complete disaster. After the Second Child attacked the Angel solo and split it in half its equal parts quickly subdued Unit-01 and Unit-02. This forced the UN to drop an N² mine disabling the target for a week. The aftermath of this humiliating ordeal found the pilots getting chewed out by Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki, NERV having to redraw the maps for the outlying area, and Operations Director Misato Katsuragi being stuck with the mountain of paperwork.
NERV had to act quickly and come up with a plan to defeat this dual threat. The plan, as the idea of Ryouji Kaji, was to attack the Angel with a synchronized attack using Shinji and Asuka in their respective Units 01 and 02. It was decided against their will that they would live together and train together for the week. After the first couple of days the Katsuragi apartment was visited by three concerned students: Toji Suzuhara, Kensuke Aida, and Hikari Horaki. After their initial horror of seeing Shinji and Asuka dressed alike and living together they were invited inside by Misato who explained their situation along with Rei Ayanami present.
"So how is the training going?" Hikari asked Misato who responded with a defeated sigh.
"Well, see for yourself..."
The light up Twister type board that Asuka was using buzzed and showed an ERROR message. The irate red-head threw her headphones to the ground.
"Well, what did you expect?! There's no way I could possibly lower myself to Shinji's level! This idea is just completely stupid!"
"Are you giving up then?" Asked Misato.
With a smug grin she responded, "You don't have anybody else, do you?"
"Rei?"
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Why don't you give it a try?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
The azure-haired girl took Asuka's place on the mat, put on the headphones, and without giving any starting indicator to Shinji matched his pace step for step in complete sync. The fiery pilot of Unit-02 was completely shocked watching those two synchronize like they've known each other their whole lives.
"It looks like I should alter the operation to pair Shinji and Rei."
Misato's statement was the final crushing blow to Asuka's already bruised ego as she turned to run out the door of the apartment.
Hikari was the first to speak up even though the intended receiver of her ire had not realized what had happened to his fellow pilot.
"Shinji! Go after her! You made her cry! Take responsibility!"
"Whoa whoa whoa..." Toji was quick to retaliate the class representative. "What the hell are you talking about?! Shinji did absolutely NOTHING wrong! It's not his fault the Red Demon can't take criticism."
"Yeah, Class Rep," continued Kensuke. "Just because Shinji and Ayanami can work so well together doesn't mean either of them were trying to hurt her."
Hikari was fuming by this point. "But, but... THAT'S NOT THE POINT! He made her cry! Boys should never make a girl cry!"
"What kind of an argument is that? This is the 21st Century, Class Rep," said Toji. "What happened to equality of the sexes? The way I see it... the way Shinji and Ayanami performed just now... I'm honestly surprised they're not a couple with how much they're alike."
"T-TOJI!"
"Admit it, Shinji. You know it's true. You're so quiet and comfortable with each other you're like an old married couple."
"Not you too, Kensuke!"
Misato in the background couldn't help but giggle at that remark.
"If anyone should be apologizing it should be you, Class Rep. You jumped on the opportunity to make Shinji the bad guy when you forgot it was Misato that did this test."
"Wha? Um..." She knew at that point that she was in the wrong. She didn't consider that Captain Katsuragi was the one that suggested Rei to try the choreography with him. With her head hung ashamed she turned to Shinji. "I'm sorry, Shinji. For once they're right." She then turned to his two best friends. "Don't you dare let this go to your heads!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Sweat beads formed on their heads as they promptly saluted their fearless classroom leader.
"I'm going to go look for Asuka," said Hikari as she headed to the door.
"If I know her well enough so far, Asuka will most likely be at a local convenience store."
"Thank you, Shinji."
Hikari left and Misato spoke to everyone else. "Well, it looks like the show is over for the night. Shinji, would you please be a gentleman and escort Rei home?"
"Umm... Sure..."
"Be sure to give her a goodnight kiss." Toji's words made Shinji blush heavily as he quickly walked Rei out of the apartment.
"Um...Rei? I wanted to apologize."
"Why?"
"For how Toji and Kensuke were acting this evening. They can be so relentless sometimes when they tease me." The blue-eyed boy paused a moment before continuing. "Don't get me wrong...they're great friends, and they really showed me that tonight. But they can be too much sometimes. I hope what they said didn't bother you in any way."
"No. It did not bother me."
"Good. I'm glad."
Shinji sighed that last statement and walked with his blue-haired friend quietly for a few minutes before she started up the conversation again.
•••••
"Ikari-kun."
"Yes, Rei?"
"Are you comfortable with me around you?"
"Wha?! Where did that come from?"
"I was thinking back to Aida's words. It is an observation I believe I have noticed as well..."
She stopped and looked at Shinji boring those crimson eyes into his soul. "Are you comfortable with me, Ikari-kun?"
He honestly didn't know what to say. He knew he couldn't lie to her because he kind of felt it as well; he just did not know how he would have been able to say it. There was something calming about being in her presence. It wasn't just her voice or the tranquility in her eyes. There was something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. That was, at least, until a breeze blew his way reminding him of the main reason...her smell. Flowers... light, and equally as calming as her other forementioned features. He definitely couldn't lie now.
"Yes, Rei." He said with a smile softening his gaze at her from the anxiousness that held his face with her initial question. "I am very comfortable around you."
Strengthened by his answer, she willed her next question.
"Do you...like me?"
This question should have knocked him to the ground, but the last question softened the surprise.
"Yes, Rei. I like you a lot."
She then did something that she hadn't done in weeks...something that she did by request before, but now of her own accord.
She smiled. Softly in a way that was only meant for the younger Ikari.
"I...like you too, Shinji-kun."
As if he couldn't be surprised enough she managed to floor him with this informality. How would one top that? There was only one possibility that could run through the mind of an adolescent young man who was told that a girl liked him.
Actually not just any girl... Probably his first real crush. The girl he saved from having to pilot Eva while injured. The same girl who in return saved him from the fifth Angel. The same girl who was his peace in this turbulent war with not just the Angels but also with his emotions regarding his father and his coldness.
He did the what he thought was the best thing he could do at the time. He slowly inched his face towards hers with eyes closed and pressed his lips onto hers. Her surprise didn't last long; she closed her eyes and felt her feelings, emotions, warmth rise from deep within herself. The kiss seemed like it lasted an eternity as their lips parted after a few seconds. Each gasped lightly for air as they looked into each other's eyes.
"Wow..." Shinji spoke in a winded tone.
"Shinji-kun?"
He would never get enough of hearing her saying those words. "Yes, Rei?"
"Can we...kiss again?"
Without a response they locked lips again more firmly. No tongue was used by these inexperienced young adults. Enough fervor was felt as they fought the urge to separate for a breath. Necessity got the better of the two and had to come up for air.
"That was...delightful." Rei's smile was much wider at this point.
He smiled at her as well as they turned to continue the walk to Rei's apartment. Feeling brave Shinji reached for and took her hand in his. She responded by interlocking her fingers with his and gripping his hand firmly. The rest of the walk was enjoyed in silence. Soon they reached apartment 402. Shinji was first to sigh heavily.
"I don't want to go back, Rei. I don't want to deal with Asuka right now. I would rather do this mission with you."
He hung his head as reality started to creep back upon him. His sullen thoughts were interrupted by the petite pale fingers of his newfound love upon his chin, lifting it up to her eyes.
"The mission is of utmost importance, Shinji-kun. Do not worry about my wellbeing while you are training. I will be here and waiting when you and pilot Soryu defeat the Angel."
Not 'if', but 'when'. She believed in him! Many constantly told him so, but it felt different coming from her. Shinji let her words of confidence settle into his soul. A light smile beautifully graced the azure-haired pilot's face once more.
"I will give you a victory kiss when you return."
Even though he showed his usual soft smile, the smile in his soul was the biggest and brightest it had ever shown to anyone.
"Thank you. I look forward to it."
"I love you, Shinji-kun."
"I love you too, Rei-chan."
They shared a hug and another kiss then Shinji turned to head back to finish his training and defeat the Angel. She watched him leave from the railing in front of her apartment.
The path from now on will be hard. Commander Ikari will do whatever he needs to do to keep us apart. I cannot and will not allow that. Do not worry Shinji-kun... I will protect you.
As Shinji walked slowly back to the apartment he was deep in his own thoughts as well.
Father won't approve. He's probably going to order her to stay away from me. Will she obey him? *sigh* I guess I don't have time to think about that right now. No matter what... No one... Not my father, not the Angels, nor any person will take you from me. I will protect you, Rei-chan.
•••••
(Reflections on "Words of Encouragement")
So the original idea of this story was not terribly different from this final product.
What I honestly wanted to see happen was for Rei to cause Asuka to slip and fall breaking her arm rendering her unable to complete the mission. I thought the best approach would have been a comical one with a banana peel. It's completely unrealistic but for someone like Rei it just seemed to fit her. (A less workable would have been removing a wet floor sign at the convenience store [lawsuits ensue!]). In the end it was more important to accept the fact that she had to be without him for a few days and trust that he would come back to her. Also, if course, Unit-02 would have never accepted any other pilot besides Asuka.
I have read so many stories recently where the anime/manga diverges from a realistic to a completely improbable location in the story. I felt this was quite probable because if Shinji's friends were actually good friends then they wouldn't have been afraid to stand up for him. Also if they would have expressed their opinions of him and Rei in her presence like they did around Shinji anyways then it would have been all the necessary 'words of encouragement' needed to push Shinji and Rei towards each other.
If the ending was a little too sappy for you I truly and sincerely do NOT apologize. I like sappy love stories. I will, however, read good Shinji/Rei stories that are sad and filled with angst, but I am not prepared to portray characters in that way...yet...
Since this is the first fic that I've posted online in 20 years (yes, I'm showing my age here) I should warn you all that I'm an ardent ReiShin supporter. And most of the stories that I am currently working on are geared towards that pairing (and I have 3 or 4 projects going at the same time [WISH ME LUCK!])