Chapter 9: Getting to Know an Empty Shell, Pt. 1
During the following three weeks, the Third Child did things that made people's head turn. People at NERV, at school, and even strangers seemed to glance at his direction from what he was doing. One day at NERV HQ, Misato left from a meeting. Walking down a hallway with her coffee in hand, she had a weathered expression on her face. She sighed out loud to no one.
'I feel like I am working like a dog in here,' the Captain thought taking a sip of her beverage. 'Paperwork upon paperwork upon paperwork. I need a vacation already.'
Looking to her left, she passed one of the shooting ranges on the base. Stopping, she thought she saw something flash from the window. Turning around and glancing through the viewing window, the male pilot was inside. He was sitting next to a table loading pistol magazines. There was a mound of them and a clear small box he was putting the loaded ones in.
Misato knew that he spent time in the shooting range. At the same time, she didn't know how he got access to the storage armory. Upon asking security, they didn't know why either. In looking the male pilot up in their system, it showed that he had clearance. Finding something off about the male pilot having security clearance, she figured she'll find out one way or another.
'...why is he using so many clips?' she thought looking back at him. Deciding to investigate, she opened the door. When she stepped inside, he was already standing and bowing to her.
"Greetings Miss Misato, how are you today?" he replied after bowing.
'...how did he...' she thought with puzzlement. 'It's almost like...he knew I was coming in…but I should have heard him move.'
"Hey Shinji," the Captain said with a smile. "I'm alright. How are you?"
"I am well."
"So whatcha' doin'?" she asked. The Third Child sat back down and continued what he was doing.
"I am loading one bullet in these magazines for reloading practice."
"...?" Misato stated raised an eyebrow. "Couldn't you use a whole clip instead?"
"..." he replied. Putting the last bullet in the remaining magazine, he placed in the box full of them.
"I could...but…" he said standing up. Watching him grab the container, she followed him toward the booths. Stopping at a middle shooting booth, he placed the box on the small table shelf. He started stacking the clips on either side.
"…there may be times when you have multiple targets…" he started to say. After emptying the box, he started putting on his black patted gloves on.
"…the idea is eliminate them and survive," he continued. Putting on his ear-plugs, he turned toward her. Blinking and looking around, the Captain saw ear-muffs hanging in the next both and put them on slightly.
"Once you deplete your clip to one bullet left, there may be times when you didn't eliminate all…" he stated. Picking up the firearm on the table, he loaded a clip into the Sphinx 3000T. It was the same one he seemed to use base on security's investigation of footage and analysis of finger prints.
"…and you decide that suicide isn't a wonderful option."
He was about to put his gray sunglasses on when he saw the Captain staring. Blinking, he handed them to her. Misato held up her hand and pulled out her sunglasses from a jacket pocket. Putting them on, she smiled at him. Nodding and putting his on, he started his reloading training.
After a minute or so, magazines were littered on the table shelf and the ground. Shinji took long deep breaths to recover and calm down. He pressed the red button at the corner of the small counter to bring the target closer to him. All the shots hit a vital organ more than once. Hearing clapping from behind him, he turned around.
"That was pretty damn impressive Shinji going non-stop," she said amazed. The act of reloading after each shot seemed like a cumbersome act; however, he made it look interesting. In looking at the target showed that his aim was good. The aspect of hitting all vital organ spots with quick shots after reloading was impressive as it was disturbing.
"Thank you Miss Misato."
"..." she said. Her smile lessened as he still held a blank face. Though she was use to it, she still wished he would show more expressions and emotions.
"Need any help?"
"That would be most appreciated. Thank you."
Both started picking up the magazines that littered the floor and small table. After all was picked up and placed back in the container, Misato took the box back to the table. Shinji got a broom and swept the shells into the floor slots to collect them. After finishing, he joined the Captain at the table. Sitting down, both started to inspect them.
Seeing that they didn't need cleaning, they were set aside. The boy didn't take off his gloves and started to clean the gun he used. Watching him a little bit, she decided to get her pistol out. Unloading and disassembling it, she began to clean her gun as well. Time passed by till she finally noticed that there was light ambient music playing in the backroom.
"...?" Misato said. Blinking, she wondered how long it has been playing. Or even, why she didn't hear it when coming in.
"I didn't know music was played in here," she asked curiously.
"That is because I put music on," Shinji said without looking up. Misato turned to him and smiled. A conversation cue was delivered.
"So what kind of music do you listen to Shinji?" she asked. Hoping that she could finally get at least something out of the boy, her hope was granted.
"A range from ambient, progressive-metal, little assortments of jazz, classical, and my own," he said calmly then looked up. "How about you Miss Misato?"
"A little bit of everything, keeps it from getting too boring…wait, you make your own music? What do you play?" she asked with interest.
"I play the cello," he said putting the gun back together. The slide attachment snapped forward.
'He is hiding something…I can feel it,' she thought assembling her pistol.
"But you said you had your own, exactly what do you mean?"
He gathered all the magazines, accessories, and handgun and placed them in the box. She watched him get up and head toward the storage armory room. Like what security said, the card reader flashed green. Scooting her chair back a little, she peered at him as he entered. Seeing the door stay open, he put everything away.
Seeing him turn to a table, Misato saw what was the source of music. It was a S-DAT player with audio wires hooked up to the small PA system inside the room. Picking up his backpack that was inside, he pressed the stop button. Removing the audio wires and placing them in his bag, the music stopped with an audio click. Taking out the cassette tape, he placed it back in a small case. Taking his gloves off, he placed them and the media player in his bag.
Turning back to her firearm, Misato snapped her gun back into functioning order. She loaded the magazine and holstered it. Finishing, she stood up to see him closing the armory door and head toward the entrance. Following, she saw him open and held the door. Gesturing her first, he stated about continuing the discussion in her office. Nodding, both headed there.
In her office, Misato sat behind her desk while Shinji sat across from her. Both were staring at each other in which nothing was said. The skin on her arms started to feel itchy from the tension that seemed to be building.
'He still hasn't answered my question or anything since we got here…I wonder if the bastard pose will do the trick,' she wondered. Shinji saw his ranking officer doing something like the Commander's favorite pose.
"You still haven't answered my question Shinji," she said trying to sound of higher authority. He just stared at the Captain and just blinked.
"That is because I have no desire to answer it willingly," he replied calmly.
"I could order it from you. I could ask for that tape if I wanted to. It could be a lot easier if you just tell me about it."
He still stared motionless at Misato. Moments passed as both continued to stare at each other. Both were thinking of different things. His voices were in a laughing war zone. They wanted to murder and dismember her while making the office walls blush with red. A couple of snickers and evil laughs went by as well in the midst of all of them talking at once.
'Is it me or did the atmosphere get ice cold all the sudden?' the Captain thought. Feeling a cold shiver go through her, her door suddenly open. Blinking and looking at who it was, it was the bridge technician Lieutenant Ikubi. She was looking at the papers to give Misato when noticed something. There was a sudden temperature degree difference in the Captain's office from the outside hallway.
"Hi Misato. Why is your room so…so…" Maya started to say. She couldn't put her finger on the feeling.
"..." she said breaking away from the stare contest. "Clammy?"
"Yeah, that's the word. Well, here are your papers that the Commander wants done."
"Argh…not more," she stated sighing out loud. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she opened her eyes and looked across her desk. Her eyes suddenly widen from seeing the boy gone.
"Is there something wrong Captain?" the lieutenant asked. She watched the Captain looked startled and was slowly looking around her desk.
"Did you see Shinji leave?"
"He was here? I didn't see him," she said blinking.
'...what?...' Misato said more startled.
"When was he here?" Maya asked looking around the room and seeing no one else.
"...he...he was here," the lavender hair woman stated feeling uneasy. "...it...it doesn't matter. It wasn't an important aspect. Thanks for the papers."
"Oh...okay. You're welcome. I've got more work to do besides delivering documents. See you."
Misato watched as Maya walked out. When her office door closed, the Captain closed her eyes and sighed. Reopening her eyes, she jumped out of her seat to see the male pilot. He was sitting in the same spot as before and staring at her with eerie eyes. Misato backed up until she was right against the wall.
She felt her heart beat rise to a faster rate. Her breathing rose as well seeing only his eyes follow her when she backed up. His unreadable face started to give her the creeps. The silence between them made the atmosphere very uncomfortable. Seeing him blink, the Third Child slowly stood up and bowed.
"Maybe another time...Miss Misato. Until we meet again, good day."
Her eyes widen a little more when he started to leave. His eyes were locked on her despite his body turning around. It gave an unnerving feeling to her as he faced the other direction. When Misato saw him leave and the door shut close, she quickly went for a beer and tried to wash out the apprehension that formed.
Several days passed as the Captain tried shrugging off the eerie encounter. She was mildly successful due to the few developments that happened in her apartment. For one, Pen-Pen took a liking to Shinji. The boy made him feel like a human. Also, it felt good to have a communicator to answer his requests for different types of food.
Misato got a clear sign of her pet's liking to him on one particular day. She was sitting at the table when she heard Pen-Pen warking at Shinji while he was cooking. Looking over into the kitchen, she saw both of them next to each other with the warm water penguin looking up at him. Shinji took something from a sauté pan and placed it on a small dish. Placing things aside, he turned to the large bird and kneeled.
"Please tell me if this is to your liking Mr. Pen-Pen," he said. Presenting the small portion of food, Pen-Pen blinked at it then leaned forward. The large bird took a couple of sniffs then grabbed the food with his beak. Bringing it up and letting it fall down its gullet, it went down in one gulp. A happy sigh came from the bird with its eyes closed.
"…" Misato said. Staring at her pet, he nodded his head while rubbing his belly.
"I am pleased it is to your liking sir. It will be ready momentarily," the teen said. Giving a small bow, he stood back up and resumed cooking. The sight of the two brought comedic scenarios in her head. She couldn't stop snickering at the thought of a penguin master and a human butler. On the other hand, seeing Pen-Pen that pleased meant that dinner was going to be good.
To her delight, Shinji was an excellent cook. One of the days per week, he would cook. On the days that Misato cooked, he would help and instruct her. He stated that she should be able to cook like him if she wished to. She smiled at the fantasy but just nodded. Hearing him state that dinner was ready, she got up and helped with setting the table. Sitting down and waiting, the Third Child brought out the food.
"Wow Shinji this looks good," Misato said. Taking all the scents from the different side dishes along with the main meal made her hungry. Looking at the portion that he made for the warm water penguin, even his meal looked appetizing. Saying thanks before eating, all three took their first bite. Pen-Pen and the Captain's eyes glittered and accelerated their consumption. The male pilot watched them and did a slow blink.
'Must be good then,' he thought. Turning back to his dinner, he ate a slower rate than them.
After about three weeks of them trading cooking duty, she was able to leap over her bio-hazard cooking stigma. Misato thought that Shinji would be a boring teacher based on his near monotone speaking and impassive expression. Surprisingly, he was more helpful than those late night cooks she took in the past. He didn't explode when she made a mistake. Instead, he used assertiveness which helped her a lot.
Despite the times she made a mistake that blew up the entire recipe, he didn't get angry. He kept his stoic face and his voice calm each time. Despite the Captain's wish for him to not act that way, she appreciated both of his traits in this exception. After many trails and errors, Misato was able to get two meals right. Now it was the moment of truth.
She had an apron over her usual comfortable home clothes. Her thumb nails were getting gnawed on as she stared with hopeful eyes. The teen boy was sitting at one end of the table while she stood at an adjacent side. Looking at her, he turned to the food. It actually looked pleasant to eat. Even Pen-Pen agreed when passing by to go to the restroom. He took a piece and started to munch, closing his eyes in the process.
'...come on...come on...' Misato thought. She was hungry for an answer as she felt her anxiety rise. She heard him swallow and opened his eyes. Slowly, he stood up and pushed his chair out a little
'…oh no…I messed up again…ARGHH!' she thought.
However, she heard clapping and looked at him. She didn't know if it was good or bad because of his stoic face. More anxiety built as she waited for a response. A piercing sound blasted in his head before changing to static. An adult sounding voice chimed in greedily.
'Give a smile while you're at it! She'll jump on you!'
'Why would I do that?' he thought asking the voice.
'PLEASE! Please just this once play along!' the voice pleaded and begged. 'I will be your guide! Please allow me to take over! JUST THIS ONCE!"
'…?' Shinji thought. He and the other voices saw the one speaking was drooling.
Blinking, the Third Child reluctantly agreed to his voice's request. The voice shouted in joy into a megaphone that caused his ears to ring loudly. At the same time, it started to take control of his actions. Removing his senses and the control over his nervous system, the adult male was now in control. This allowed the boy to view what the voice would be doing without being effected by its actions.
"Well done Misato, the food is very good. I believe your friends will be impressed by your skill," Shinji said. He stopped clapping and the voice put on a small confident smile.
'...!?' she thought surprised. 'He…his smiling…I made good food…THIS IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!'
'He looks so cute with that smile and alluring eyes…jump him,' thought her inner voice.
"YAY!" Misato shouted in happiness jumping toward him.
She almost cleared the table, but her foot caught an edge and started to flip over. Seeing the floor suddenly, she closed her eyes. Expecting the fall to hurt, she didn't feel any pain or impact. Also, the floor didn't seem anywhere near her. Opening her eyes, she saw the Third Child carrying her as if they were newlyweds. He still had the same smile on his face.
'Oh look at that face. Man this kid has got a toned body! I wonder if he's good at-OW!' Misato whacked her inner voice. However, she got into her playful self. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Misato came close to his face.
"I didn't know you were that strong my hero," she said slyly.
"I train every day," he responded calmly still smiling.
"I can tell. Maybe something else as well," she stated. She guided a finger along Shinji's soft and curved jawline. To her surprise, the boy wasn't burning up yet.
Inside his head, the other voices were staring at a form of Shinji's actual conscious. They were all in his subconscious hospital hallway and looking at the floor. The teen boy was on the ground shaking violently with a stoic face and labored breathing. Knowing how his body reacts to skin touch like second nature, they kept a careful eye on him. A little boy silhouette sat next to him trying to keep the atmosphere calm, but was failing quickly.
"That could be a possibility," he said still smiling at her. The last remark made her grin wider.
'Maybe I need to take it up a notice.'
Misato got a little more comfortable in Shinji's arms. To her suprise, they weren't even shaking from her weight. She was impressed…a little too much. Moving closer to his face, she whispered into his ear. The Captain was confident that she'll reach his boiling point.
"Shinji…I could help you learn a few tricks about what we adults do in our spare time," she cooed.
The adult voice that took over was having a seizure shouting the ultimate bliss. Neither Shinji nor the other voices have ever heard that particular one express so much. It was probably from the different sensations that set the voice off. The innuendo whisper in the ear, the feel of Misato's breasts pressing against him, and her smooth skin that electrified his senses.
'OH YES! MY QUEEN, I LOVE YOU! OH OH OH MY QUEEN YOU'RE SO NAUGHTY!" it roared in fits of laughter and drooling. 'YES! I FEEL IT! MY INNER BEAST IS RISING! ITS EXPANDING AND REACHING FOR THAT GLORY LAND BETWEEN THOSE AMPLE AND SOFT THIGHS! YYEEESSSS! MORE! MORE! GIVE ME MORE!'
Blinking in surprise, the voices turned back to Shinji. It felt kind of amusing at first, but more depressing the more they stared. His form was having vicious spasms causing limbs to shoot out or whack the ground. Despite this, Shinji still kept a stoic face even though his skin was paling. They started to hear some doors rattle which didn't bother them much.
'Let's see how tomato red he is,' Misato thought. Turning to him, he turned his face to her and gave his lady-killer smile.
"Misato…is the couch or the bed a more appropriate place where two people could learn to become one in…" he said softly.
"...!?" she said. A surprise look came on her face as she began to analyze. His face was looking affectionate. His eyes changed a little having a shine that could stop a girl in her tracks. His face softened a little adding to the effect. His whispering made her blink and listen.
"…mind…" he inched closer to Misato's lips.
"…body…" little closer making her lips feel damp.
"…soul…" he said only a couple centimeters away from her lips to his.
Feeling his cool breath, she never took her eyes away from his. She was too transfixed on them to tear them away. Feeling herself melt a little in the young pilot's arms, his soft yet strong body felt nice. A few moments went by as nothing was said. Heat was coming from her cheeks from their closeness and the alluring look he had.
The voices where now trying to pin him down. His spasms were making his limps seem like they wanted to rip out their sockets. With all of them combined, they knew it was a matter of time till he broke free and started a massacre. They heard all the hallway doors rattling a little more loudly making the bloody doors shoot gore far and wide.
"...Misato…" Shinji spoke softy breathing on her lips.
"..." the Captain said. Licking her lips nervously, two voices in her head were battling each other. One was over what was the mature thing to do. The other was what the immature thing to do. She was hoping the immature would not win…somewhat.
"Y-yes?"
"…would you like to get down from this position or do you wish to prolong this activity?"
Both heard waddled footsteps and turned slightly. Pen-Pen was walking from bathroom when he saw the two humans. He remembered something on TV that was similar to this. A female and a male, male holding the female in his arms, someone comes in and catches them about to suck their faces.
Looking at his owner, he saw some red on her cheeks. It confirmed the idea that both were in the middle of that "mouth-to-mouth" activity. He didn't object at all. Pen-Pen approved of the human male because he was useful to no extent. He closed his eyes and smiled. With two claps and a "wark" of approval, he waddled to the kitchen.
"..." Misato said then turned to Shinji. "Don't tell me he just approved us. Did he?"
"..." Shinji said and nodded.
His expression was slowly going back to a stoic face. The pilot's actual conscious was crawling back in as the adult voice's presence was slowly exiting. Losing its grip on the senses and nervous system, he grinned evilly. It took control of the only thing he knew that would get his point across. From how long they were still close to each other, she wondered about something that was bugging her a while.
"Shinji?" Misato asked still holding onto him.
"Yes Miss Misato?" he asked still carrying her.
"Are you…gay by any chance? Because you haven't!-what is that?" she asked startled by something poking her.
"..." Shinji stated and blinked. "I am not. That would be my-"
"..." Misato said and silenced him by a finger on his lips. "That's all I need to know."
'So soft…now is your chance to umphf!' her immature voice started to say when her mature self stuffed her mouth.
'PUT A SOCK IN IT!' the mature voice yelled. Misato then remembered that he was still carrying her. It probably had been a minute or so and he was starting to shake.
"You can put me down Shinji," she said slight embarrassed but more impressed. She was treated by him putting her in the seat that he was in gently.
"You should try your food...and see what you think Miss Misato," he replied. Going o the adjacent seat to her, he sat down. Clasping his hands together on the table, he closed his eyes. The Captain wasn't really hungry but tried it. Surprised, it tasted really good even without the curry.
Misato nibbled a little more staring between her two meals and the male pilot. She first saw him clenching his hands together very tightly. It almost seemed like he was trying to break them. A little afterwards, he eased off to gently holding them. He still had his eyes closed and his breathing was calm. The Third Child looked peaceful for a change.
"Falling asleep?" she asked quietly.
"Afraid I cannot?" he said without opening his eyes.
"Why's that?"
"..." the pilot stated. Opening his eyes, he turned only them to her.
"I cannot seem to fully calm myself down."
He turned his eyes back forward and closed them again. A big smug came on her face and leaned over to see her work. She was surprised a little, it was pressing hard against his pants. Getting up, the Captain got herself a beer. Cracking it open and taking a sip, she sat back down in her chair. She still had the smug on her face.
'I still got it.'
After some minutes later, Pen-Pen came out wondering why it was quiet. Seeing the two at the table, he wondered if anything happened. Shrugging his small shoulders, he went back to the fridge. Getting another beer, he thought about the mouth watering food he had. While he did that, the Third Child stood up slowly.
"I think I will take my leave Miss Misato. Is there anything you need?"
Misato shook her head and smiled. She saw him bow and say his exiting line. Watching from the corner of her eye, something surprised her again. She could imagine how painful that must be. For a male to have it up that long straining against his pants was not pleasant. She heard her door close and thought about her last observation of the boy. A wicked smile came across her face while drinking her beer.