Disclaimer: see part 1.
The Lifespan of a Love Affair
By Random1377
Week 3: Telling Lies
"Something wrong with Shinji?" Misato ask, doing her best to look quizzical. "What do you mean?"
Ritsuko Akagi, the head of Project-E, nodded. "You know what I mean," she said conspiratorially, "He's been pretty upbeat lately. Thought maybe you might know if something was going on."
Misato tried to keep cool. "Can't think of anything," she said lightly, picking up one of the cat figurines on the other woman's desk and setting it back down. "What do you think it is? Should I be worried?"
She kept her smile firmly in place. He's not that different, she thought with a trace of anger, how can she tell??
It had been three days since her second date with Shinji (dinner again, with another, barely-there kiss at the close of the evening) and so far, the boy had not told a soul, as near as Misato could tell. Her smile became a touch more genuine as she thought of the boy's timid request to hold her hand for a minute before bed.
That first time must have really made an impression, she thought happily, I just need to keep it at this level…
"I thought he might have a girlfriend or something."
Misato kept her voice smooth. "Girlfriend?" she asked innocently.
"Uh huh," the blonde nodded. "I see that kid every day – and I can tell you that he's just thaaaaat much more confident," she held her thumb and forefinger apart, squinting at the gap between them for emphasis.
"Well," Misato began carefully, "that could just be because he's getting more comfortable with EVA, and-"
"He smiled at me, too."
"He what??"
"I thought that would get your attention," Ritsuko chuckled. "Yeah, it was kind of funny," she said thoughtfully, "he was passing me in the hall, and I swear – I swear – he looked me up and down, and smiled at me." she snapped her fingers. "Just like that."
Misato almost fell for it. She could feel her anger rising at Shinji for being so deceptive as to make her feel bad for a relationship that was long since over… all while looking at another woman. I should go talk to my 'boyfriend,' she thought, almost rising to her feet, yeah, we're just trying this out, but that little innocent, wide-eyed boy routine won't… her thought trailed off.
It was the small smile on the doctor's face that saved her from embarrassment.
"So," Misato murmured, "you gonna go for it?"
"What?" Ritsuko replied, finding her carefully laid trap collapsing in front of her eyes.
"You heard me," Misato said levelly, "did you smile back, Ritsu? Should I let you have the apartment for the weekend so you two can be alone?" She lowered her voice, leaning forward even as the doctor leaned back, a slightly stunned expression on her face. "You can borrow the black lace teddy," she told her conspiratorially, "but try not to let him come on it, k? It cost me-"
"You're sick!" the blond cut in disgustedly. "Shit… take a little joke like Shinji hitting on a grown woman and turn it into some fuck fantasy." She rolled her eyes. "Classic Misato."
Yeah, the other woman thought grimly, classic…
"Look," Ritsuko said dryly, "he does seem a little more… easygoing lately. Shouldn't you, as his guardian, try to find out what's going on?"
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Misato made a choice. "Ok," she said reluctantly, "he didn't want anyone to know, and you can't tell anyone else… but Shinji's dating a girl."
"I knew it!" Ritsuko cried, pointing at the purple-haired woman. "I knew there was something different." She grinned, leaning closer. "So tell me!"
"Tell you?" Misato echoed, feeling a touch sick.
"Yeah, have you met her yet?" the blonde asked. "What kind of girl would date someone as introverted as Shinji?"
"Well," Misato shrugged, "she's a little older…"
Yeah, she thought, a little.
"Eh, that's no big deal," Ritsuko said dismissively. "But why Shinji? I mean, sure dating an older girl is all fine and dandy, but why would she want to date him?"
"I think…" Misato said carefully, "that she… used to sleep around – but that she's trying to get back to being a good person." She averted her gaze froze the Project-E director's shrewd stare. "Maybe she sees Shinji as a little better than the guys she's slept with, maybe even… a little bit better than her. Maybe she thinks that, by dating Shinji, she can find something she's been missing."
Ritsuko rolled her eyes. "Oh please, people like that don't change," she said firmly, "once a slut, always a slut, Misato. If she's really like that, he should dump her… otherwise one of two things is going to happen."
"What two things?" Misato asked, feeling a slight flush on her cheeks.
Ritsuko held up a finger. "She'll fuck him," she said quietly, holding up a second finger, "or she'll fuck someone else and break his heart."
"Why do you think that?" the other woman whispered.
"Oh come on," Ritsuko said sarcastically, "women like that can only relate to others through sex – so she'll start to get antsy… feel a little… mmm… lonely – like she's missing something… and she'll want to get laid, so she can feel like she's alive again." She shrugged. "Trust me," she said confidently, "to a woman like that, sex is like a drug: she'll treat him like a substitute for a while until she can't resist the craving anymore, then… she'll score. With him, or with the closest willing male."
"Drug users can go to rehab," Misato pointed out with a weak laugh.
I'm not like that, she thought, feeling rather scared, I can… relate to others without wanting to – I can be with him, I can! And I think… this is good for him. That's one of the reasons I started this… she nodded to herself, one of them…
"Sure Misato," the blonde was saying sympathetically, "just keep your eyes on her, and remember what I said. Because if Shinji, as timid as he is now, gets dumped like that… it'll be really hard to come back from."
Misato considered this for a moment before getting to her feet. "I've gotta go," she said quietly, "see ya."
"Later," Ritsuko shrugged.
Misato strode quickly through the halls of NERV, her long hair streaming out behind her as her thoughts raced. Shinji was better than her, she knew. He was good, honest, and gentle – nothing like the guys she had dated in the past. Even Kaji, with his gentle smile and dazzling eyes, had a dark side – she knew that better than anyone else.
Ritsuko's scenario, though… no, she would not allow that to happen. She would not let Shinji get hurt because of something she did – with him or with another man.
Because… she thought, stepping into an elevator and slamming the button for the top floor, because I'm not like that…
She raised her face to the ceiling, closing her eyes and envisioning Shinji's timid smile.
"I'm not…"
**
Shinji stared at the wall, running over the events of the last week in his mind. First she came to school, he thought dejectedly, not even noticing when his SDAT switched from track 25 to 26, then we fought the angel – and lost… now we have to be perfectly synchronized. And I haven't even gotten to see Misato for five minutes alone…
He rolled onto his back, trying not to remember the brief, tantalizing glance Asuka had provided him earlier in the evening.
The wall of Jericho, huh? he thought pensively as his mind insisted on replaying the image of Asuka, on all fours, slamming the door to the other room after warning him not to come near her.
He was just trying to bring his mind back to focus on Misato, reminding himself that they were boyfriend and girlfriend, when the door slid open. Immediately, he turned off his SDAT and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep as the girl made her way slowly across the room. The sound of the toilet flushing reached him a moment later, followed by the bathroom door opening and quiet, still-unsure footsteps moving across the floor.
A brief whisper of sound and a disturbance in the air forced Shinji to open his eyes, and it was only out of sheer willpower that he was able to keep himself from gasping.
Asuka was lying on the futon next to him, her breathing already slowing and evening back out.
"A-Asuka?" Shinji stammered, pulling his eyes away from the redhead's tantalizing cleavage (which had somehow ended up inches from his nose) and looking up into her face. "Are you awake, Asuka? You're… ummm… not in your bed…"
The girl shifted slightly, but did not reply, her face momentarily falling into a frown before smoothing out once more.
For a moment, nothing happened. Shinji lay still, mesmerized by the girl's slightly parted lips and smooth, glowing skin.
I wonder if she tastes like Misato, he thought suddenly. Slowly, he leaned closer, sweating lightly as his pulse pounded in his ears. Just once, he promised himself, breathlessly drawing nearer to the girl, just to see… if it's the same…
His lips were almost touching hers when a soft, childish whisper filled the night.
"Ma… ma…"
Thirty seconds later, Shinji was lying on Asuka's futon, his knuckles white as they clenched the covers tightly. "You're just a child yourself," he whispered, trembling with shame as he thought of how close he had been.
He could almost hear Misato's voice in his mind, murmuring, 'If you can't even trust me not to jump in bed with a guy I used to be close to…'
I don't even have that as an excuse, he thought, rolling onto his back as Asuka murmured something in her sleep. Ok, he thought decisively, if I'm going to be Misato's boyfriend… I can't even think of other girls. How can we make this work if I won't even try?
Closing his eyes, the Third Child forced himself to relax, trying his best to think only of the upcoming battle.
At four AM, when Misato slipped into the living room to check on the teens, she had to smile at how peaceful they looked. As she turned to leave, however, she felt her heart stop as Shinji softly whispered.
"Misato…"
Slowly, she glanced back over her shoulder. "You're awake?" she murmured.
Shinji's eyes seemed to be glistening in the dim light coming in the window. "I wanted to see you," he said quietly, glancing at Asuka briefly to make sure she was sleeping before concluding, "I missed you today…"
Misato smiled. "I kinda missed you too," she admitted, "but you really need to go to sleep, Shinji… tomorrow's going to be a big day."
Shinji nodded, wetting his lips and taking a deep breath, fully intending to tell her about Asuka… but instead, he sighed. "Night," he whispered, rolling onto his side so that she would not see the guilt in his eyes.
The captain stole a glance at the Second Child, pursing her lips as she tried to determine if the girl was truly asleep. You really have grown, she thought uneasily, when Kaji gave me that music… he told me how you've been trying to get him to notice you. She shook her head, looking back to Shinji. Wouldn't it be easy, she mused, if I fell for Kaji again, and you fell for Shinji? Then everyone would be happy, right? I don't think Ritsuko's right, but maybe…
She sighed. "What am I thinking?" she whispered to herself, leaning up against the wall and looking from one Child to the other, "we tried it once, didn't we? I couldn't make it work… I was the one that ran away – I admit that – but what about now? Maybe if-"
"Misato?"
She jumped slightly, not expecting to hear anything but her own, quiet musings. "Shinji?" she replied hesitantly. I wasn't talking loud enough for him to hear, was I? she thought nervously. I don't think I could explain myself…
Though the boy was facing away from her, it was not hard to pick up on the anxiety in his voice as he whispered, "I'm sorry…"
"Sorry?" Misato echoed. "Sorry for what, Shinji? You're doing a really good job with Asuka… I think you guys will be able to beat that angel tomorrow with no problem." She frowned as he made no reply. "Shinji?"
After a minute of tense listening, she shrugged. Must have fallen asleep…
"I'm sure whatever it is you think you've done… it isn't that bad, Shinji," she murmured, watching closely for any sign that he might be listening. "Sleep well… do your best… and when all of this is over, I'll take you out again…"
Slowly, she crept over to the boy and crouched at his side, making sure that her back was to Asuka – just in case – and putting a hand on his shoulder. She pulled gently, rolling him onto his back and leaning forward to kiss his forehead.
"I know you're awake," she teased, her voice barely a whisper, "sweet dreams."
Shinji's cheeks shone a rosy pink in the dim moonlight, but he kept his eyes firmly closed.
"Meanie…"
Unable to withstand the slight pout in the woman's voice, Shinji relented and looked up at her. "Sorry…"
"Good thing you opened your eyes," Misato winked, "I was about to play Sleeping Beauty with you."
Shinji grinned, reaching out to take her hand. "M-Maybe I should close them again?" he stammered, feeling slightly giddy at how bold he was being. "Or maybe we should just play-"
"What are you two doing?"
Misato yelped, losing her balance and toppling backwards onto Asuka's bed. "You scared the shit out of me!" she gasped, pushing herself quickly off the girl and straightening her skirt.
"Hey!" Asuka grumbled, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, "I'm not the one who was hanging out by your bed and making a bunch of noise – what the hell were you two talking about at this hour, anyway??" Her eyes narrowed as she looked from one to the other, "If you were telling him something about the angel so he can do better, I'll-"
"It's nothing like that," Misato replied coolly as she rose and started for the door. "Go back to sleep… it's going to be a big day tomorrow."
Asuka glared at the woman's back for a moment, then lay back down with a disgusted grunt. "Yes Ma'am," she muttered sarcastically, yawning as she rolled over onto her back. "Just don't… play…" she yawned again, "Sleeping Beauty with me…"
She was already sound asleep when, a moment later, Shinji sat straight up, a look of shock on his face as he stared at her.
Sleep did not come to the Third Child for some time.
Continued…
Author's Notes: With the defeat of the seventh angel, and Asuka's subsequent placement in Misato's apartment, alone time becomes almost nonexistent for Shinji and Misato… so how can they continue calling themselves boyfriend and girlfriend? And when a momentary indiscretion exposes their affair to a key individual, how will Misato react?
Find out in the next chapter: Keeping Secrets.
Pre-read for this chapter was by LeperMessiah. Sorry about not using that suggestion on that one monologue, dude… just didn't have time to fit it in and make it look good! _
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com
