"Gendo You need to think Rationally! You can't just abandon your son over Yui! What would she think?!"
As much as Naoko despised Yui, she couldn't let this slide. During those long days in the GEHIRN labs, Yui would ask Naoko to watch over Shinji. She must've know that Naoko wouldn't have left that computer terminal and actually go anywhere.
Naoko grew attached to the young child. He was a breath of fresh air in her rather stressful life. Even Ritsuko seemed to enjoy Shinji's company. Yui wasn't a bad mother, she was just busy alot. The same could go for Naoko. But something about Little Shinji got her to relax a bit more.
"What she thinks is irrelevant, I am doing what is best for... Shinji."
As soon as he finished that sentence, a quick hand struck him across the face.
"You bastard! That boy has been nothing but a Joy to me and Ritsuko! He is the sweetest person I have ever met, And you are willing to throw him away?!"
Gendo simply turned away before speaking.
"I cannot raise him. I am unfit to do so."
He began to walk away when he heard the cries of his only child, Shinji Ikari.
Naoko rushed over to the small child, and kneeled down infront of him.
"Shhh... Its ok. I'll take care of you Shinji. I'll make sure the bad man can't hurt you."
She said wiping a tear from the crying toddler's eye.
"You promise you wont leave me?" The 3 year asked, still sniffling.
She gave him a warm smile.
"I promise you, I wont leave you."
Shinji then quickly gave the older women a big hug, and began crying again.
Gendo stood there with his back turned towards them.
"I'll have his belongings brought to your home." He said before walking away.
Naoko looked at the man, with anger in her eyes.
"Do not ever call him your son again. You have no right to ever do so."
Maternal Programming
By DerpymanMT
"Alright Shinji, we're here."
The car ride mainly consisted of Naoko and Ritsuko making small talk to try and make Shinji feel more comfortable. After all he was just told an hour earlier that his father couldn't raise him.
Naoko switched the car off and stepped out. She then went over to the back seat and helped the 3 year old out of the car.
"Wow, your house looks nice!" Shinji said in wonder. His previous home had just been a simple apartment in a building that was built to be temporary.
Ritsuko carried Shinji's backpack of toys (which was surprisingly heavy) from the car. Naoko then unlocked the door and let them both in.
Shinji looked around and saw a bunch of weird drawings taped to the walls, and random bits of computers strewn about.
"Sorry about the mess, mother has a tech hoarding problem."
"I do not!" Naoko said before almost tripping on a disk drive.
"...Okay maybe I do..."
Shinji giggled and laughed, to which Naoko began laughing too.
"Now Shinji, This is your home now, and we will treat you as family." Naoko said crouching to meet his level.
"Im home!" He yell enthusiastically, before jumping onto Naoko and causing her to lose balance for a second. They all shared a quick laugh for the moment.
"Welcome Home."
Age 4: June 7th 2005
"What are we doing here Nana?" The now 4 year old asked his adoptive mother.
" Im going to show you a wonderful machine I've created!" Naoko replied holding his hand down the endless halls of the GEHIRN research facility. Infact today was the day it would shed that name.
Shinji seemed to tense up at hearing that.
"I-Is it the giant robot?..." He said tears threatening to come out of his eyes.
The research director then crouched down to hug him, telling him that it isnt the "Giant Robot" that he saw that day. As she began to stand up she saw Gendo standing there with a blue haired child.
"Ikari, who is that?" She motioned towards the unusually pale girl.
"This is Rei Ayanami. A pilot candidate for Unit 00."
Shinji hid behind Naoko as she glared at Gendo. The only thing he did was smirk and walk off with Rei.
"Come along Shinji, Lets not focus on the bad man."
Shinji nodded and followed her to a large room with different platforms at different level, people were all moving about, tasks in hand.
"Do you see those rectangle machines on those pillars? I created those. These machines are to help with all sorts of problems, and think faster than a normal human can. And later today, we will start it up for the very first time."
Shinji looked at the many people doing their duties around the room. They were then approached by a older man with grey hair, in a lab coat.
"Dr Akagi, I see you've brought Little Shinji Akagi." He gave a warm smile to the both of them.
"Uncle Koko!" Shinji runs over and hugs the legs of the older man.
"Thank you for taking care of him Naoko. I know you didn't really like Yui, but she would've been thankful for you doing this."
"Mind you Kozo, I did this for Shinji. Poor boy doesn't deserve to lose both parents in the same week." Naoko sighed.
"I understand. But you are aware what his duty is later in life is?... As much as I hate it." Fuyutsuki said with a heavy sigh.
"Yes, I am aware. I dont want to talk about it in front of Shinji. Right now we have a future to create."
"Yes we do." Naoko then signals to the other technicians to begin the start up procedures.
"Shinji, This is Super Computer MAGI. It is three very powerful computers all based on me. It is going to help us in the future."
Shinji then looked very excited.
"So its super smart, just like you?!"
Naoko chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Yes Shinji, it is super smart, just like me."
She picked him up and sat him down on a computer console. "Now Shinji, I'll tell you when you can turn this key." She then handed him a small red key.
"Okay!" He said enthusiastically.
"Alright everyone! Begin the power charge up to 5kW, and begin coolant flow."
Multiple people began to call out multiple numbers and big words that Shinji couldn't understand.
The thrum of the three computers began to rise, the sound of fans and pumps being started could be heard.
"Begin transferring data packets from Data Server 00, and begin BioNutrient fluid intake."
She then turned to Shinji, who was waiting eagerly to do something. "Shinji, Are you ready?"
"Mhm!" He said nodding quickly. "Ok So you can put it in now, and Turn it."
Shinji listened to his adoptive mother, and quickly put the key in and turned. The screens in the room then began to flash data across the screens. Shinji stared in awe at all the words and colors, and soon a logo with a fig leaf appeared on the screen.
"Super Computer MAGI 7th Generation Biological Computing System: Vers: 4.2.96 Copyright 2003, Special Governmental Agency NERV. God in his heaven, alls right with the world."
Naoko went over and hugged Shinji. "Good job Shinji!"
Everyone in the room, clapped and cheered, both proud of their achievement and for the young boy.
"Thank you Nana for the birthday gift!"
Age 5: August 3rd 2006
Shinji was drawing in his coloring book next to Naoko, who was typing away on a terminal. They both sat in the empty "Bridge", as they called it.
They soon heard the soft footsteps of a child approaching.
"Hi Rei! Do you want to color with me?" Shinji called out to the blue haired albino.
"No thank you, I got lost trying to find the bathroom." Naoko got up and walked over to Rei. "We can help you find the bathroom."
"Commander Ikari tells me not to talk to you, he called you an old hag."
...
"Rei, can you wait here for a moment while I go and speak to 'Commander Ikari'. ."
The young child nodded and sat down next to Shinji. The "Old Hag" looked very scary at the current moment.
She had enough of Gendo's attempts at making her life miserable. Only a few months ago, she had found out that Gendo was Rei Ayanami's legal guardian, Essentially being a hypocrite.
Naoko Stormed down the halls, essentially knocking over anyone that was unfortunate enough to be in her path.
She didn't even bother to take the elevator, It would've only slowed her down.
She bursts through the large doors leading into Gendo's office. He was in a meeting with a older man that she didnt recognized. Not that it mattered.
"Dr Akagi what are you doing in here? I am in the middle of a meeting with Chairmen..." Gendo stopped speaking as he saw pure rage in her eyes.
"Gendo Rokubungi! I know for sure, you are not calling me an old hag! Because I can bet you, I have some self respect in being a 'old hag'! You say you can't take care of Shinji, yet you are caring for Ayanami! I should report you to the committee, for even they are not as heartless as you! And maybe if you got rid of that perverted looking beard, maybe Yui will come back! Commander Rokubungi!"
She then left in a huff, completely ignoring anyone else. Including the stunned Chairmen himself, Keel Lorenz, who gave a look of annoyance to Gendo.
"Good, I got that out of my system, I didn't want to have a momeny in front of the two kids..."
She composed herself, as she walked back to the bridge. Where she saw Rei and Shinji coloring on some of her papers.
"What are you two drawing?" She then crouched over to get a better look.
"Its a picture of You, Me, Big Sis, Uncle Koko, And Rei!" Shinji held his drawing high for all to see, he was proud of it.
"You made this? Its wonderful! I'll hang it where everyone can see!"
She took the drawing and some tape, and walked over to where the commanders pillar is.
"There, Perfect!"
Age 8: October 18th 2009
"Mom... I don't like it in here... I dont want to be sucked into the robot like Ms Ikari did..."
Shinji sat inside the entry plug Of Evangelion Test Type Unit 01, waiting for his next instruction.
"Shinji I want you to relax, Big Sis is here for you, okay?" Ritsuko said, figeting with her thumbs. "Now you are going to be put in some liquid called LCL, I want you to relax and breath it in, You won't drown."
"Mom I'm scared..." Shinji started to cry a bit.
"I'll go in with you if you're scared Shinji." The technicians and Naoko gave a look of confusion to Ritsuko, who had just suggested that.
Naoko sighs. "Maybe this will help him synch up with it." Naoko then begins removing her labcoat and items on her.
"Dr Akagi, you can't just go in there! Think about the neural Interference!" A technician spoke out.
"And technically my daughter shouldn't be here without proper clearance, but neither will stop me. Ritsuko leave your stuff here that can be damaged by liquid." And Ritsuko did so.
The two then walked over to the Entry Plug Gantry and waited for the Entry plug to open up.
Once opened the two climbed in, and noticed how awkward an angle the entry Plug sits in. Naoko sat down, right behind Shinji, Ritsuko crouched next them. The plug reentered with a jolt and locked in.
"Alright, Begin stage one connection, and begin LCL flooding." Naoko said, secretly dreading having to breathe in a liquid.
The plug began to flood with a orange liquid, with the consistency of blood.
"Mom! Im really scared!" Shinji said before being immediately hugged by both Ritsuko and Naoko.
"Its ok Shinji, Its our first time doing this too, But I promise you wont drown." Naoko said patting his back.
The LCL then began to first reach Shinji's neck. He was scared, but trusted his mother. It soon went over his head and he reluctantly tried to breathe it in.
"It tastes gross..." Shinji said trying not to gag.
It was now Naoko's and Ritsuko's turn. They both tried to relax and breathe in the liquid. Ritsuko gagged at the iron taste.
Naoko looked a bit queasy. "Note to self. Find a way to make LCL taste better."
"Begin Stage Two, A10 connections."
Soon the cylindrical cockpit began flashing a multitude of colours from across the spectrum. before leading to a view of the gantry in front of them.
"Pilot SyncoGraph is stable ableit fuzzy. No system runaway. Synch Rate is at... 62.5%!"
Recognition.
Joy.
Confusion.
Sadness.
Acception.
Shinji felt all these emotions at once, and felt something he had once saw a long time ago.
"Good job Shinji!" Naoko said as she embraced Shinji.
"Mom you're embarrassing me. Im not a little kid! Im a big kid now!"
Chuckles could be heard over the intercom, and they joined in too.
"I dont care! You are still Little Shinji to me, and Ritsuko!"
Age 11: December 24th 2012
A knock could be heard at the door, Despite all the Christmas music being played. "It must be them!" Ritsuko walked over to the door and opened it.
There stood a women with purple hair, and a grumpy looking child with pumpkin colored hair.
"Guten Abend!" The purple haired women said with a bright smile.
"Its good to see you again Misato, and its nice to meet you Asuka. Please come inside."
The two came and immediately split off from one another, as Misato went with Ritsuko. Asuka walked into the living room and saw Shinji playing on a beige keyboard with a joystick attached. She then sat down next to him, causing Shinji to notice for a moment and looked at her.
"Do you wanna try? Its called Jupiter Lander. You have to try and land on those platforms without crashing." He then handed her a joystick. "My name is Shinji Akagi. Whats your's?"
Asuka gave a grin and took the joystick.
"My name is Asuka Langley Soryu, and Im the girl that will beat your high score!"
"Oh you're on!"
To be continued.
Chapter 1: Present day.
That was alot of fun to write. I would very much like to continue this story! Thank you to the AsuShin Discord server for helping me with this thank you Gum for the Idea, and thank you Chad Commander for helping me with that roast on Gendo.
Ill see you all next time, and with plenty of Fanservice too!
-DerpymanMT
EDIT: Slight edits and spellcheck.