Disclaimer: see part 1
The Lifespan of a Love Affair.
By Random1377
Week 9: Dodging Bullets
Shinji cast an uneasy glance at Asuka as the three pilots stood waiting for word from the Commander. I think I can hear her back cracking from here, he thought, trying not to let her see him staring, I've never seen her 'this' tense.
Asuka's back was very straight, and her hands were clasped behind her back in the old American style of military attention. Her crystalline eyes were locked with Misato's chocolate brown ones, seemingly trying to make the woman look away out of sheer willpower.
"Trouble making a connection?" the redhead asked quietly.
Misato shook her head, her eyes never wavering. "Satellite uplink is just taking a minute," she murmured, "no need to get antsy."
"Who's antsy?" Asuka returned levelly. "I was just thinking of your position, Captain… I'd hate for you to be reprimanded for your tardiness."
"Your concern is noted," Misato said dryly, "but I think the Commander is aware of the time required for a connection to Antarctica."
"Hmm."
As the conversation died, Shinji stole a glance at Rei. She hasn't even said a word, he thought, looking back to Misato. In fact… I don't think she's even spoken to me since that whole, 'are you sleeping with Asuka' thing. I hope she's not mad at ME – I didn't do anything…
"Connection in fifty seconds, Captain," the disembodied voice of Hyouga Makoto announced, "stand by."
Shinji squared his shoulders unconsciously.
"It's going to be sound only," Misato grinned, "all of you can relax a bit."
Shinji blushed, wondering if it was his imagination, or if Misato's smile lingered a bit longer when she looked at him.
"Noted."
Misato's smile collapsed entirely at the wintry tone in Asuka's voice. "Or," she said flatly, "you can hyperextend your spine like Asuka, and-"
"Connection established."
"Commander Ikari," Misato said, speaking clearly as a holographic square appeared in the air in front of her. "As requested, all pilots are present, sir."
"I see," Gendou's voice replied, a faint sound of waves in the background, "outstanding job, Captain."
In spite of her earlier assurances, Misato straightened. "Thank you sir," she said crisply, "but I'm afraid that Unit 01's arm sustained damages to the right arm. I take full responsibility."
"No," the Commander answered smoothly, "destroying angels is EVA's purpose… make sure it is repaired immediately, and consider yourself promoted to Major."
In spite of her training, and the rumors that a promotion was in the air, Misato gasped. "S-sir??"
"There is a problem?" Gendou murmured, his tone clearly displaying irritation.
"Well… no," Misato managed, "but I…Shinji was the one that caught the angel – shouldn't he be recognized somehow? I just came up with the pla-"
"Major."
"Sir?"
There was a moment of silence, then Gendou spoke, his tone now clearly amused. "It has not escaped my attention that the Third Child's sync ratio has increased over the last nine weeks. Your rise to Major is not based on this battle alone." When Misato admitted that she did not understand, the Commander simply replied, "Carry on, Major, and consider your… contributions, recognized. Dismissed."
Misato paled as the square blinked out of existence. Slowly, she glanced around, finding the three Children in varying states. Shinji looked as if he did not quite understand – or did not want to understand – what his father was talking about, though she was sure it would sink in very soon. Rei's face wore its usual indifference, but her eyes were carefully assessing Shinji, a glimmer of what looked like understanding in their red depths. And Asuka… Asuka was furious.
"Contributions, huh?" the redhead whispered angrily. "No wonder his sync rate's been going up – you've been training him behind my back, you bitch!"
"No!" Misato said quickly. "I'm not training him behind your back, Asuka, the Commander was talking about… something else."
"Oh sure," Asuka growled, "he just happened to mention Shinji right before promoting you – I'm not stupid!"
"You're jumping to conclusions," Misato said flatly, nervous
that the redhead was so close to the right
conclusion, "when the hell would I have time to train him, huh? In that twenty minutes every other day when
he gets home before you? You think I
drive him over to NERV for a quick sync test and shooting range run and get him
home right before you walk up the street?
You are being stupid! Use your head!"
"Where are you going?" the redhead demanded as Rei abruptly turned and walked towards the door.
"To shower," the blue-haired girl answered calmly, "Commander Ikari dismissed us."
"Yes he did," Misato said firmly, "you two go get cleaned up – you're obviously stressed about what happened, and you're not thinking straight, so go get cleaned up and we'll head home."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Asuka snapped. "I'd rather walk."
"You'll do what you're told," Misato snarled, "or we'll see how well you pilot Unit 02 with handcuffs on!"
It was an empty threat. Asuka knew it, Shinji and Rei knew it, even Misato herself knew it… but the mention of Unit 02 seemed to serve as a reminder of just why everyone was there, and what the ultimate goal everyone strove for was.
"I hate you," Asuka whispered, turning sharply on her heel and moving for the door, "and you," she said, pausing to glare at Shinji, "you stay away from me, Shinji… I'd rather walk to school alone than with a backstabber like you."
The two female pilots walked out without another word, leaving Shinji and Misato alone. "Well," the woman took a shuddering breath, "that was close…"
Shinji's eyes were fixed on the door, a look of misery and shame on his face as he whispered, "Did… did I betray her, Misato?"
Slowly, the purple-haired woman walked over to him and slid her arms over his shoulders, keeping her eyes on the door just in case. "No," she whispered, kissing the top of his right ear, "you didn't do anything wrong, Shinji… you're… good."
Shinji blushed as the woman ran her hands over his chest and closed her lips around his earlobe. "M-Misato?" he asked, his voice shaking as he recalled the intense evening of the prior week.
"Shinji," Misato whispered, pulling him back against her breasts.
We're all alone, she thought, eying the lock on the door as she considered the day's events and nibbled gently on his ear, maybe… just a little… She blinked as the boy turned in her arms, embracing her and leaning up to kiss her. Keep it under control! She thought frantically, allowing the boy to give her a light kiss before pulling back out of his reach, Ok… now let him go shower before you make a mistake.
Shinji bowed his head as the woman stepped out of his arms.
"Let's get going," she said amicably, "you need a shower, and I've got papers to file – and I wanna get home!" She patted his shoulder gently. "Maybe we can stay up late and watch a movie on the couch, you wanna?"
Somehow managing a smile, the boy nodded. "That would be great," he said weakly.
"Good."
Following her out, Shinji glanced over his shoulder. Why did I even try? He thought sadly, Stupid… so stupid – just… just never try to show her that you care, because every time you do that, she stops cold. His shoulders slumped as he faced forward once more. I wish I'd talked to Kaji last week, he mused, never realizing that he dodged a bullet by keeping his silence. I couldn't even say more than hi when I saw him – just the idea that… that she was so close to him, and she doesn't want to be close to me… I couldn't even say more than hi…
Fetching a deep, quiet sigh, Shinji headed for the locker room, thinking that he might be getting a feel for how the woman's mind worked. But he was to be confounded as he was awakened in the early hours of the morning by Misato's light knock and the ensuing repeat of the closeness they had shared the week before… though again, the morning was the same.
**
"Hey Ikari," Hikari's tone was soft as the boy took his seat, "are you, umm… ok?"
Shinji nodded, dropping into his seat and casting a weary glance at Asuka. "I'm alright," he whispered, finding the Second Child staring straight ahead and pointedly ignoring him.
"Really," the class rep pressed with some concern, "you don't look so good… come on, let's go to the nurse's station."
"But I'm ok," Shinji protested, "I'm just… a little tired."
"Well, still, I think you should-"
"He's fine."
Hikari looked over her shoulder uncertainly as Asuka cut in coldly.
"I said he's fine," she repeated, her eyes flashing. "He's tired from trying too hard to be number one, so he deserves what he gets."
"Oh," Hikari mumbled, blushing as her friend stared her down.
"Thanks, Horaki…"
HIkari blinked, looking back to find Shinji smiling wanly. "Ummm… sure…" she whispered. "No problem, just… watching out for class members, like I'm supposed to…"
Shinji nodded, yawning, "You're doing a good job."
The girl laughed softly. "So are you, Ikari… and so is Asuka… and Ayanami. It's me that should be saying thanks."
"He doesn't do anything," Asuka said quietly. "He just keeps ending up in the right place at the right time – I've seen him pilot… he's not that good."
Unsure of how to answer this, Hikari glanced at Shinji, mouthing, 'sorry.'
The Third Child did not see her. His arms were folded on his desk, and he was sleeping fitfully. Poor guy, Hikari thought pityingly, all that pressure… and now Asuka's mad at you? I'd be tired too…
Shinji slept undisturbed until the end of class, completely unaware as Hikari told the teacher firmly, but respectfully, that he had a note excusing him from class, but that he had felt obligated to arrive anyway. He did not get to see the class rep carefully explain that the note was in his pocket, and that she did not want to wake him as he was clearly exhausted. He was also spared the rough language that Asuka used to describe her friend's traitorous actions, and the brown-haired girl's staunch defense, based largely around the idea that Asuka should understand better than anyone how tired he was.
Indeed, the entire day was lost to Shinji, and when he awoke, with the sun slowly falling from the sky, the classroom was practically empty. The only student he could see, since she had taken the seat next to him to wait, was his current guardian angel.
"Morning," Hikari said quietly, "sleep well?"
Groaning, the boy put a hand on his neck and lifted his head. "Y-yeah," he managed, "but I… should have slept on the floor… what time is it?"
"You would have gotten trampled when the bell rang," Hikari said gently, "it's five fifty."
"That late??" Shinji murmured, rubbing his neck. "That means I slept all day!"
"Guess it does," Hikari said lightly, "but you looked like you needed it, Ikari."
"Guess I did…" the boy admitted, trying to remember exactly what time it was when Misato had decided they were done.
I don't understand, he thought tiredly, four days… she's come to my room four days in a row, and we've… done a lot, but every time I try to do something that's not her idea, or kiss her when she's not expecting it – bam! That's it… He put his head in his hands, I'm not pushing her to have sex… but if she keeps pushing it that way herself, what am I supposed to think do – pretend I don't notice? Keep my hands to myself? What does she want?
"Hey Ikari?"
"Yeah?" Shinji looked up.
"I saved you some of my lunch," Hikari said quietly, setting a bento on his desk, "you didn't have one with you." She shushed him as he opened his mouth, obviously meaning to protest. "Not a word," she said softly, "eat, Shinji… you need it." She waited until he reluctantly picked up the chopsticks, then nodded. "Don't misunderstand," she whispered, blushing faintly, "I'm not… you know, trying to… I mean…"
Shinji smiled down at the bento. Three months ago, he thought ironically, I would have no idea what she was trying to say… but now…
"I understand… you're not trying to ask me out or anything – you're the class rep, and I didn't get lunch…"
"Well," Hikari said timidly, "I think… it's more… you're my friend."
Shinji paused, slowly lowering his chopsticks into the bento and rising.
"What?" Hikari blinked, "What are you… stop that!" She blushed terribly as the boy bowed. "Shinji… please… you don't have to-"
"Thank you," Shinji cut in softly, retaking his seat, "I'm glad I can say you're a friend… I never would have tried to claim that if you hadn't said it first…"
"You're… embarrassing me…" Hikari mumbled, staring at the floor to hide the pleased smile on her face.
"No one's here," Shinji shrugged, grinning as he added, "besides, I-"
"Ikari."
The two students jumped, quite literally, as Rei's soft, whispery voice came to
them.
"Ayanami," Hikari paled, "you've… you didn't leave with the others?!"
"I did not," Rei confirmed, staring directly at the other girl.
"But it's been two and a half hours!"
"Yes."
When the blue-haired girl said nothing else, Shinji cleared his throat. "Were you waiting for me?" he asked quietly.
Rei nodded. "Yes."
"I'll… get your bento back to you tomorrow, ok?" Shinji asked slowly.
"S-sure," Hikari shivered, "later." She hurried out of the classroom, feeling shaken by the suddenly heavy atmosphere as the two pilots regarded one another.
Shinji frowned slightly as they sat in silence. "Want some?" he asked finally, gesturing to the lunchbox.
"I… dislike eating meat," Rei said softly.
"Oh…" Shinji fidgeted for a moment before asking, "Then… what did you need, Ayanami?"
The blue-haired girl rose to her feet and approached him, her crimson eyes regarding him closely as she whispered, "I would like to ask you some questions regarding your relationship with Major Katsuragi."
By the time the two Children finally left school, it was well past dark.
Continued…
Author's Notes: What did Rei ask Shinji? More importantly, why is he spending the night at her house days later as a result? And how will Misato react to this development?
Find out in the next chapter: Pulling Punches
Pre-read was done by LeperMessiah. Thanks, young man.
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com
