Chapter 139: Closer to One's True Self
After gathering what he asked for, Shinji left the pawn shop. Heading back to the apartment complex, the sky had started to change to dusk. Thinking about what might occur for tomorrow, he reviewed which each item would be used for. Focusing back on walking, he continued toward his destination. Entering the apartment complex, he went to the elevator. Going up to his floor, he stepped out of the lift when the doors opened.
Walking and stopping in front of his apartment door, he slid his keycard hearing the electronic lock sound. Opening and entering, he closed the door silently. Removing his shoes, he could smell something in the apartment. Hearing the sound of something frying, he headed toward the living room. The sounds became louder as he walked with his backpack to the kitchen. Standing in the doorway, he saw Rana at the stove and humming to herself.
"…" she said trying a taste of the stock. "Hmm…I think it needs a little bit more."
"…" Shinji said blinking and watching her. After she added more seasoning, she seemed satisfied with how it tasted. When she went back to stirring and checking other things, he interjected.
"Miss Rana?"
"…" the female twin replied stopping. Looking back at him, she smiled brightly at him.
"Hi! You could have knocked or said you were home when you came in."
"…yes…we did discuss about that. My apologises," he responded giving a small bow.
"Anyway, put your stuff away. Just sit at the table and relax for a bit. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," she stated turning her attention back to the cooking.
"…" he reacted giving a slow blink. About to ask what possessed her to start cooking, he held his tongue.
"Very well."
Turning around, he went to his room and placed his backpack on the floor. Changing out of his school attire and into his home evening clothes, he came out and sat at the table. As he waited patiently, he saw something out of his peripheral vision. Not turning his eyes, he could see a dark silhouette creeping out of the entrance hallway. Slowly turning his eyes to the left, it was gone.
"…" the Third Child spoke blinking.
Not hearing or seeing anything else, he turned his eyes back forward. Noticing movement in the kitchen, he saw Rana placing the cooked food on plates. Placing them on the counter and turning off the stove, she got what looked like condiments. Adding the finishing touches to them, she picked up the plates. Walking out of the kitchen, she looked at him with pride on her face.
"Dinner is served," she proclaimed. Placing one place in front of him, she placed the other across from where he was. Going back into the kitchen to grab a couple of things, she came back out. Placing down chopsticks and napkins, she took her seat.
"I hope you like it. I tried to do it from memory."
"I see," he said looking at it.
Oddly, the meal looked like one from the past. A vague sense of familiarity came as if it was a meal that he seemed to have enjoyed. A flashback came to him of when this was first introduced to him. It was followed by memories afterwards that went on a fast-forward reel. Recognizing why the dish was enjoyable, it was not because of the taste.
Both bowed their heads a little to give thanks for the food. Hearing him pick up his chopsticks, Rana watches him as he picks up his first piece. Though she felt confident about how the meal turned out and its taste, an equal amount of anxiety was eating at her. Part of it was from wondering what he would think of her cooking. The other part was what would happen afterwards when they finished the meal.
"…" Shinji commented staring at the food portion he picked up.
'…GoOn…heehee…d…O…n…'…T…b…E…sssshhhhyyyyy…' the dark clone whispered in the sounds of ecstasy. Instead of its normal demented and malicious voice, it sounded like a familiar woman.
'…tRyIt…EaTmE…eAtMeUnTiLyOuGeTa#$%#$PrIzEeeeeee…'
"…" he responded seeing the meal morph into something else.
By the time it stopped changing, he forced his eyes to not twitch. Mutilated sexual body parts covered the plate in a pool of cloudy white and rich crimson broth. The piece that he picked up with chopsticks was the portion of a woman's valley. Glancing at Rana's plate, her plate was also the same as his. Slowly blinking and focusing on the food portion, he placed it in his mouth. An ice chill went down his spine feeling it squirt something out as he bit down.
"…" Rana reacted watching him and not seeing any signs of distaste. Seeing him swallow, he looked back at the food. Slowly moving his head up to see her, she was staring hard and nervously at him. Though he didn't feel like he physically reacted, all scars on his body began to itch.
"Dinner tastes well Miss Rana," he spoke nodding to her with a stoic expression.
'Yay!' she thought giving him a bright smile. Looking down at her plate, she grabbed her chopsticks and picked up a portion of food.
'…I can do this…I can do this…it is okay to do this,' she thought.
Looking at the food with a slight pause, she closed her eyes. Placing it in her mouth and chewing, goosebumps flared on her skin. Hearing the whistle of a tea pot, Rana got up and went back into the kitchen. After preparing the tea, she came back out with a tray. Pouring each of them a cup, the color of the tea was different.
"…" Shinji commented looking at the orange hue of the tea.
"It's a different flavor that I saw when I went to the store. Thought we could try it with dinner," Rana reasoned still looking a little nervous.
"…" he replied slowly looking up with his eyes. Seeing her focus on the drink, she took a sip. Afterwards, she went back to eating. Looking back down at the drink, his left eye twitched. Sipping the tea, he calmly placed it on the table near his plate.
"…it has…an interesting aroma."
"Y-Yeah…tastes okay?"
"…yes…"
There was little conversation between them as both consumed the meal. Both of their minds were preoccupied with their thoughts. Finishing, Shinji placed his chopsticks down and sipped the remaining of his tea. Noticing that Rana was finished and drinking her tea, he stood up and grabbed his plate. Reaching to grab hers, she placed a hand on top of his.
"Mmm-mmm-mmmmm," she said. Making slight side to side movements with her head, there was a wide smile on her face.
"I'll do them."
"…I…see…" he responded only blinking. "May I help dry the dishes?"
"Hee-hee-hee," Rana answered slowly standing up and leaning forward. She gentle poked his nose with hers.
"Nope," she said. Taking her plate and his, she walked back into the kitchen with a little sway in her step.
"…" the Third Child reacted blinking a couple of times. Looking down at the tea cups, he grabbed them. Seeing nothing inside of them, he placed them on the tray with the tea pot. Picking those up, he walked into the kitchen. Seeing that she had turned on the faucet, the dirty plates were on the counter to her left. The dry rack was on her right.
"Can you set the tray here Shinji?" she asked looking over her left shoulder.
"Very well," he replied with a small nod. Placing them where the dirty plates were, he felt eyes staring at him.
"Yes Miss Rana?" he asked slowly turning his head. She had moved her back to him while still having her hands over the sink.
"Can you pull my sleeves back? They will get wet during the washing," the female twin stated still looking over her shoulder at him.
"…" he responded staring at her. Resisting the phantom feeling of clenching his hands into fists, he just blinked.
"Very well."
Approaching her and stopping behind her, he reached around her. Focusing on pulling her long sleeves back, the male pilot ignored how close she was to his face.
'…mmmmm…YoUaReSoNaUgHtY…l…I…t…T…L…e…BoY!#$#$tOy…'
"Thanks Shinji," she whispered giving him a peck on his cheek.
"…" he reacted blinking. Slowly moving his eyes toward her, he kept the same expression.
"Now," the female twin said bumping her rump into him. "…let…l-let me clean…you go relax."
"…" Shinji answered blinking slowly and not moving. Seeing her look back at the sink, she began cleaning. Ignoring the redness he saw on her face, he turned around.
"Very well," he mentioned and walked away.
'…it's working…it's working…it's working,' Rana kept repeating in her head. Her face felt flushed as tried to focus on cleaning all the dishes and cookware she used. She had to resist the growing impulses and urges that she was feeling inside of her.
Exiting the kitchen, Shinji walked toward his room. Upon entering, he closed the door behind him. Going toward his backpack on the floor, he opened it. Seeing the things that he placed in it earlier, the male pilot ignored them. Getting out school work and closing the bag, he went back into the living room.
Closing the door, he walked to the dining table. Quietly putting the books and folder down, opened them up and started working on the homework for today. After a short period of time, the water in the kitchen turned off. Not looking up, the male pilot could hear Rana walk out and into the living room.
"What do you have there?" she asked.
"School work from one of our classes," Shinji stated continuing without looking up.
"Oh?" the female twin pondered. In his peripheral vision, he could see her walk around the table to stand behind him. Focusing back at the homework, he blinked from something soft pressing on his upper back. Slowly seeing her head beside his, she placed her hands on his shoulders.
"Which subject?"
"One is from math and the other is from science."
"Oh, I did those after school."
"Yes…you did state that you'd stay to finish your homework," Shinji agreed without a hint of being stimulated. His stoic response seemed to cause her to lean more into him.
"Do you need," she asked softly while rubbing her cheek against his. "Help?"
"…" he reacted slowly blinking. Despite what both she and the dark clone were doing, he resisted the primal urge. Based on what he had eaten and how his body was reacting, he solidified why he thought he use to enjoy that meal. Given the significance of it, he exercised much willpower in not reacting. A phantom large grin was felt on his face as multiple giggles were heard around him.
"I will ask for help if I am stuck Miss Rana…thank you," he replied with a stoic voice.
"Are you…sure?" Rana whispered into his ear.
"Yes Miss Rana," the male pilot answered calmly.
"…okay…" she stated slowly standing up. Leisurely walking away, she dragged her hands across his shoulders.
"It is kind of warm in here…don't you think?"
"…possibly…"
"I think I'll go change," she commented heading toward her room.
"Very well."
Stopping at the doorway that led to a small hallway where her room was, she looked back over her right shoulder. The Third Child was looking at her motionlessly. Giving an innocent smile back, she headed toward her room. Upon entering it, she hurriedly closed the door.
'...I can do this...I can do this...I'm almost there...' she thought breathing harder. Shaking her head, she began searching for the clothes she would change into.
"…" Shinji spoke focusing his eyes back on the homework. Placing the mechanical pencil on the paper to write, white noise was heard in his ears. Blinking slowly, he heard Sid breathing near his head.
'We lay at night…waiting to rest thy eyes…staring at the blank ceiling…shadows of wickedness crawl in…'
'We LaY aT nIgHt…WaItInG tO rEsT tHy SoUlS…sTaRiNg At ThE bEdRoOm DoOr…SiLhOuEtTeS oF vIlE eVeS cReEp In…'
'WeLaYaTnIgHt!#$WaItInGtOrEsTtHyBoDiEs#$%#StArInGaTtHePrEdAtOrS'eYeS#$#aCtSoFvIoLaTiOnAnDlUsTtHrUsTiN…'
'WELAYATNIGHT#$#$%#STARINGATTHEBEDROOMFLOOR#$%#EVENTHERATSCANHEAROURCRIES#$%#'
"…" Shinji reacted not moving.
Each verse that the dark clone stated got more distorted, deranged, louder, harsher, and intense. Surreal flashbacks exploded in his mind and repeated themselves chaotically. All happened so fast that his eyes widen a little bit. The surreal sensations and the violent distortion of reality made him become tense. Recalling what the creeping lullaby alluded to, something loud snapped in his hand.
"…?" the Third Child said. Looking at his right hand with his eyes only, the mechanical pencil broke in two. He was pushing down on it too hard. Blinking, he slowly looked to his left hand. It was clenched into a murderous fist and shaking. A couple of scars that were around his hand had bleed open a little.
"…" he responded slowly trying to open his left hand.
After several seconds, his fingers finally began to respond. Relaxing his eyes and his other hand, he glanced behind him. No one was behind him despite hearing the characteristic soft cackle in the background. Blinking slowly, he stood up. Traveling to the bathroom first, he washed his hands. Checking the scars on his left hand, they didn't seem to bleed anymore. Walking to his room to retrieve another mechanical pencil, he went back to the dining table and sat down.
'#$%#$wEssssssssHoUlD#$%#$#dOiT$#$%#$…again…AgAiN…AGAIN-AGAIN-AGAIN! AGAIN! AAAAGGGAAAA#$#$%#$IIIIINNNNNN #$%#$%,' the demented voice screeched in his mind.
A horde of dying children blared in the male pilot's ears as he tried to stay focused. Though he was able to resist, he could not fully calm himself down. Slowly shaking his head side to side, he went back to his school work. After completing one subject, he went toward the next one. A large thud sounded from across the room. Standing up, he only made it toward the doorway when someone spoke.
"Sorry…just knocked…something over," Rana called out from her room. "I'm fine…I'll be out…in a bit."
"…" Shinji said blinking.
Turning back to the dining table, he walked back to his seat. Sitting down, he continued with doing homework. Oddly, Sid was whispering what sounded like answers to him. Listening and looking at the problems, he began writing down verbatim what he was hearing. A few minutes went by and he had finished. Gathering his school work, he stood up. Looking at the doorway leading toward Rana's room, she still hadn't come out.
'…must be hard clothes to change into…' he thought.
Turning around and heading toward his room, he opened the door. Entering, he put his school stuff away. Looking at the items in his backpack, he blinked and zipped up his backpack. Standing up, he stared at the back wall when a whisper was heard.
"Shinji?"
"…" he answered turning around and blinking. Rana was standing in the doorway to his room in a loose tank top and short shorts. Her hair looked like she combed it again and there was a small fragrance emitting from her. The aspect that he did not hear her sneak did not bother him.
"Yes Miss Rana?"
"Let's watch…TV together for a change," the female twin asked. She clasped her hands behind her and leaned forward a little. He saw that she was not wearing any undergarments. That image seemed to trigger flashbacks in his mind. He immediately resisted the uncontrollable urge inside of him.
"…very…well…" he said with a slow nod.
Both walked to the couch and sat down near each other. Rana turned on the TV and changed it to one of the shows that she liked to watch. Asking if that was okay, Shinji stated he did not mind. After a couple of minutes, she scooted closer. Sitting next to him, they were shoulder to shoulder. Blinking and keeping a stoic expression, he felt her place her head down on his left shoulder.
"…" the male pilot responded.
Ignoring her actions, both continued to watch TV. After a few minutes, she slowly hugged his left arm. Turning her body a little toward him, she pressed herself more toward him. Slowly moving his eyes toward her, the tank top was barely covering her chest. Feeling his right eye begin to twitch, he slowly looked back at the screen. Feeling her heartbeat and her pulse, they were a little elevated. She was also making sounds of being a little more than comfortable.
'…d…O…i…T…' the twisted voice whispered in his head.
'No sir,' he thought firmly.
'WhAtIsTTTTTTTThe#$%#%$…h…A…r…M?'
'I disagree.'
'BuT#$#…i…T…w…A…s…S…o…L…o…N…g…A…g…O…'
'Regardless sir…no.'
'ItWaSaTaStEfUl#$%#MeMoRaBlE$#$%#$eeeexxxppppeeeerrriiieeeennnncccceeeee.'
'I beg to differ.'
'…heee…eeee…eeee…YoUrBoDy#$%#$SAYSSOMETHINGDIFFERENT!'
'…'
'iSiTbEcAuSeOfThOsE#$%#aDdEdSeAsOnInGs?#$%#$tttthhhhhhhheeeee#$%#$SiStErSdIdThAtToooooooooo.'
'I am aware of that sir.'
'THENLETYOURURGES-YOURIMPULSES-YOURINTINCTS-YOURPRIMAL#$%#$TAKECONTROL!'
'…' Shinji thought feeling his right eye twitch again. He forced himself to not give the evil eye at the TV.
'…no…' he thought gravely as his heartbeat and pulse were getting a little faster.
'HAHAHAHA! ITISTOOLATE!' the evil clone yelled viciously and cackled monstrously.
"…!?" the Third Child said feeling Rana move a little.
Her hands moved slowly going into different directions. Her left hand moved toward his left thigh. Rubbing against it, she placed her hand on his upper inner thigh. The right hand slid down to his wrist. Gently pulling it, she placed the hand between her legs and against her groin area. A heavy sighing breath was heard from her as she playfully bit his shoulder.
"…!?" he said as he felt himself splitting in his mind. Hearing Sid to his right, he darted his eyes at him. A morbid and vicious looking face stared back at him with too many toothy grins.
'SUCCUMB!' '…no…' 'SUCCUMB TO TEMPTATION!' '…no…' 'SUCCUMB TO THE PRIMAL INSTINCTS!' '…No…' 'SUCCUMB TO DESIRE!' '…No…' 'SUCCUMB TO THE ANIMALISTIC!' '…NO…' 'SUCCUMB TO THE LUST!' '…NO…' 'THE PLEASURE!' '…NO…' 'THE ESCTASY!' '…NO…' 'THE EUPHORIA!' 'NO' 'THE AGONGY!' 'NO' 'THE SUFFERING!' 'NO!' 'THEMOLESTATION!' 'NO!' 'THERAPE!-THEPILLAGE!-THEBETRAYAL!-THEDECEPTION!-THELIES!-SUCCUMBSUCCUMBSUCCUMBSUCCUMBSUCCUMB!'
"…Shinji…" Rana said seductively slowly turning her head toward him.
Feeling herself heated and becoming lost in desire, she leaned closer to his face. Seeing his head slowly turn toward her, she focused on his lips. Parting her mouth a little, she was about to kiss him heavily when she froze. The left half side of his lips looked wet when the right half looked rotten and bleeding. Slowly looking up with her eyes, the overwhelming desire started to fade quickly.
Half of Shinji's face had changed to a morbid disfigured face with lacerations and cruel looking wounds. Even the environment seemed to reflect what was on his face. The environment on Shinji's left side was of the apartment with shadows produced from the TV. The other side was gory. It was like being inside of a rapidly beating heart. The walls pulsated twice repetitively with blood rushing in and being sucked out quickly. Blinking, her hand that was on his inner thigh felt like creepy-crawlers were rubbing against it.
"…is…something…" Shinji spoke softly and tightly.
'GoOnMySpArEdSeEd' the Sid portion stated in a threatening tone.
"…the…matter…"
'DDDDDddddooooooooo#$%#$iiiiiiiiTTTTTTTTTTT.'
"…Miss Rana?"
'LET'SRELIVETHATWONDERFULMEMORY!' it stated grinning viciously and maliciously at her. Tens and tens of black-red eyes were merging out of the disfigured face rapidly. They continued until its disfigure face was completely covered with them.
'THEONETHATGAVEMERESURGENCE#$%#$THEONETHATSHATTEREDMYSEED'SMINDAGAIN!'
'…the…what…?' Rana thought suddenly feeling fear fester quickly inside of her.
'RAPE!VIOLATE!INCEST!LUST!PEG!BONDAGE!TORTURE!ESCTASY!' Sid screamed as its face extended to be nose to nose with both her and Shinji's.
'GIVEME#$%#$GIVEMETHIS!#$%#$BLISSFULSENSATION#$%#$OFPLEASUREANDSUFFERING!'
"…!?" Rana reacted as she jumped away from Shinji. He suddenly ripped apart down the middle as gore shot out from him like a waterfall. At the same time, masses and masses of children, women, and men bellowed in torturous agony. It sounded as like she had materialized in the pits of hell as the entire room became a bloodbath quickly. When the whole space became completely engulfed with crimson, she blinked out of reflex.
All the sudden, blood everywhere was gone. Instead, the floor, the walls, and the ceiling were covered with jagged etched words. Phrases and verses were repeated over and over again. It emitted as if someone had gone insane as there was no structure or uniformity. Some were small while others were written with letters as large as a door. About to open her mouth, she saw eyes staring at her from a door across the living room. Despite the eyes from the dark clone unnerved her, the lone pair that were staring at her made her feel more scared. Black-dark magenta eyes bore at her before the door slowly closed.
"…!?" Rana said waking up with a start.
'…what…who…was that?' she thought breathing hard. Feeling sweat all over her, she looked around to see where she was. Seeing that it was her room, the back of her head started to hurt a lot. Grabbing the back of her head, there seemed to be a bump on it.
"Are you feeling well Miss Rana?"
"…!?" she answered freezing in place.
The pain on her head subsided as she slowly turned to where the voice was. Kneeling next to her was the Third Child. Immediately looking at his face, the same stoic expression with dark magenta eyes was there. His scleras were not black. Feeling a little at ease from seeing things normal, a part of her was still rattled.
"Miss Rana?"
"Y-Y-Yes?"
"Do you remember what happened?"
"…what do you mean…?"
"You fell and hit your head."
"…I…did?" she asked blinking in surprise.
"Yes. Do you remember what you were doing prior to the blow?"
"…I think…" the female twin said looking forward. The blanket that was over her fell off.
"I was changing clothes?"
"You are correct."
"I must have tripped when putting something on," she mentioned smiling a little. The back of her head began to throb a little making her lift both hands behind her head to rub the bump.
"…" Shinji agreed blinking. "You were in the process of changing."
"…" she spoke freezing again. Slowly looking down, she had nothing on. Feeling a mixture of embarrassment and pain, she still felt the effects of dinner. Slowly covering up, she glanced at him with a sheepish face. Blinking, his eyes were closed as he did not move.
"…did you…see anything?"
"I would be lying if I said no Miss Rana."
"…well…as punishment…you have to nurse me back to health."
"Very well. How shall that be done?"
"…?" Rana said a little surprised from his statement and immediately curious. "What would you suggest?"
"Other than applying ointment and setting calming incenses in the room, possibly give a head massag-"
"Let's do that-owww," she responded excited. The back of the head throbbed quickly making her wince.
"…very well," he stated standing up. "I will be back momentarily Miss Rana. Excuse me."
By the time that the Third Child left and came back, he knocked on her door. Hearing her stating to enter, he opened the door and saw that she had not changed into clothes. She only had the blanket wrapped around her and gave him an innocent smile. Blinking slowly, he entered and began setting incenses around the room.
"Are you not going to change into clothes Miss Rana?"
"I'm…still kind of out of it…don't want to chance a second fall," she mentioned closing one eye at him.
"…I see…" he said. After the last one was lit, he headed toward the female twin. Kneeling down near her, he placed a pillow underneath him. With the ointment in hand, he gave an open palm to his thighs.
"Miss Rana, if you would please place your head here. If you rather have a pillow, then that can…" he started then stopped. She immediately placed her head on his lap. Staring up at him while holding onto the blanket, he slowly looked down with a stoic face.
"Like this?"
"…I can't apply the ointment to the back of your head in this position."
"Hee-hee," she said quietly slowly turning over. Not holding onto the blanket, it became loose. Putting her face between his thighs, he heard a soft sigh. Seeing that much of her back was exposed, the male pilot just blinked. Gently moving hair to place the ointment, he applied the ointment in his hands. Massaging it in, she began to relax more.
"This feels…nice."
"Glad to hear it Miss Rana."
"Could you give me…a whole massage?"
"…Entailing?"
"Well…you know…" Rana said prompting herself up and looking up at him.
"Everything?"
"No," Shinji said with a deadpan voice.
"…!?" she reacted blinking in surprise. About to open her mouth, she closed it seeing him narrowing his eyes at her. Smiling at him, she placed herself back on the floor and rested her head in his lap.
"I'm fine with this for now."
"…" Shinji commented blinking slowly and continuing to massage the back of her head.
After several minutes passed, he heard her softly breathing. Slowly stopping the massaging, he gently pulled the blanket up to cover her. Softly grabbing her shoulders, he slowly moved her to her futon. Once placed and that she hadn't awaken, he reached for the body pillow that was nearby. Placing it beside her, Rana slowly reached out. Pulling it toward her, a smile came across her face.
"…hee hee…remember…the last time…we were…like this…" she whispered sleepily.
"…" the Third Child answered slowly standing up.
Leaving silently, he closed her door without a sound. Entering the living room, he headed for his room. Reaching it, he quietly opened the door to see someone on the other side. Seeing a reflection of himself staring back at him, the only difference was the color of their scleras. Blinking, the image went away. Glancing at his backpack and repeating what was placed it in, he closed his room and went to bed.
The following morning, Shinji woke up to the sound of a soft tapping. Blinking and sitting up, he looked at what time it was. Blinking a couple of times, he started getting out of bed. Keeping his bed attire of a tank top and boxers, he exited his room. Seeing nothing on the other side of the door, the tapping was heard again. Entering the living room, he headed for the entrance hallway. Getting close to the front door, the tapping was heard again and louder. Not making a sound, he unlocked the door and slowly opened it a little. A pair of crimson eyes was looking at him.
"…" the male pilot said slowly blinking. Opening up the door more, he gave a tired nod.
"Morning…Miss Ayanami."
"Morning Ikari…I'm sorry for coming at this hour…may I…come in?" she asked with a mild frustrated tone.
"…" he replied slowly stepping aside and gesturing her in. Seeing her walk by, she was in her bed attire still. Slowly closing the door without a sound and locking it, he turned toward the hallway to see her standing in front of him.
"Is there something…" the Third Child asked quietly with a slow blink. "I can help you with?"
"…I…" she spoke softly and looked down at the ground. "…am having difficulty…falling asleep."
"…in what way…Miss Ayanami?"
"…I can't…calm down…" she stated holding onto her button up shirt.
"…I…see…would you care for some tea Miss Ayanami?"
"Am I…imposing on you Ikari?"
"If you were…Miss Ayanami," he stated walking toward the living room. "I would not…have answered the door."
"…" Rei said following closely behind him.
"If you would…like Miss Ayanami…you can sit on the couch…while I make tea."
"…if you do not mind Ikari…I would like to make it…with you."
"…" he responded blinking and not reacting to her statement. "Very well."
Entering the kitchen area, both split the task. Though the lights were not turned on, their eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Careful in not making loud sounds, they began preparing the tea.
"Are you cold…Miss Ayanami?" he asked standing beside her.
"…no…I am…rather warm at the moment."
"I see," Shinji spoke then silently yawned with his mouth closed. After the tea was made, they placed the tea pot and tea cups on a tray. Walking back into the living room, they sat down on the couch. Setting the tray on the coffee table, Rei sat right beside him to be shoulder to shoulder. Pouring each other drinks, he handed a cup to her.
"Thank you Ikari."
"Welcome," he said and took a sip. The hot beverage seemed to make him feel a bit more awake. Feeling her body heat through the thin dress shirt, she was not lying.
"You are rather warm Miss Ayanami…you are not feeling ill, are you?"
"…no…I have…desires that…won't let me relax."
"What kind of desires?"
"…what was shared…in the mind merge," she stated turning toward him. He slowly turned toward her and blinked.
"…I wish…to experience them…again," she continued staring at him. Despite that the room was still dark, she felt her cheeks blushing; however, she did not cower away from her statement. Though the timing of giving into her impulse was off, she couldn't contain it. Unable to sleep for the passed few hours had led her to being more than frustrated.
"…" he responded blinking. Having only a few flashbacks, it seemed the approach that Rana took seemed to trigger more quite rapidly. Also thinking that he was tired, it had caused his mind to feel lethargic.
"…I…see…" he said turning his head forward and looking at his tea.
"Would it be selfish," Ayanami said copying him and cupping her tea more. "…to ask you…to share that experience with me…again?"
"…may I ask why you desire that?"
"…" Rei relied thinking about the mind merge and what acts both of them did. "…it felt…very good…I never had…that type of affection before."
"Does," the First Child asked turning her head toward him. He looked slowly with his eyes at her and blinked.
"Does the physical act…feel the same?"
"…" he said staring at her for a couple of second before turning his head toward her. "…it depends Miss Ayanami…I can only explain based on what I know, witnessed…and experienced…how much do you wish to know?"
"…" she reacted feeling a little relaxed from him not turning her away and was willing to explain. "I would appreciate any knowledge that you have Ikari."
"…" he said giving a slow nod. "Very well."