Disclaimer: see part 1
The Lifespan of a Love Affair.
By Random1377
Week 10: Pulling Punches
"Hey Third," Asuka's quiet call woke Shinji from the light doze he had fallen into, "phone call."
"Coming," the boy croaked, clearing his throat as he raised his head from his desk.
"Hurry up," came the terse reply, "I'm not going to stand here all day."
Shinji stumbled over to the door, sliding it open as a yawn forced its way out of him. "Thanks," he said, bowing slightly to the girl and holding his hand out for the phone.
How long has it been since she started avoiding me? he thought as the redhead pressed the phone into his hand and turned away, Two weeks? Three…? She doesn't even walk with me anymore…
He watched her retreating form for a moment, sighing deeply as she cast him a narrow, disapproving backward glance as she vanished into the living room. "Hello," he said tiredly, putting the phone up to his ear.
There was a moment of quiet, then a soft voice whispered, "Ikari."
"Ayanami…?"
"Yes."
Shinji slipped back into his room, closing the door as quietly as he could. "What do you need, Ayanami?" he whispered, his mind insisting that of all times, this would be the one Asuka chose to run to his door and listen in.
That's all I need right now, he thought as he waited for a reply, first the thing with Misato and Father after the angel, then this… man, she' probably think everyone is out to get her.
"You asked me to call you," Rei's voice informed him.
Shinji blinked. "Oh…" he frowned, recalling that he had indeed suggested a call, "so then, ummm… tonight?"
"Yes," the First responded immediately, "I think tonight would be the best time."
The boy closed his eyes. "You're still sure you want this?" he asked, "I mean I said I would… but if you don't want to anymore."
"I have no reason not to proceed," Rei said coolly.
There was a long, awkward moment of silence. "And you still want me to stay the night?" Shinji asked finally, resting his head against the wall and closing his eyes.
"Yes," Rei replied, "it would be the most reasonable course of action, considering the time you will arrive."
"Yeah," Shinji sighed, "you're right."
"Yes. Goodbye."
Shinji clicked the phone off and shook his head. "Someone needs to teach that girl how to talk," he muttered, conveniently ignoring the irony of his statement as he slid his door open.
"Like you're one to talk."
"Ah!" Shinji jumped as he found Asuka standing just on the other side of his door. "A-Asuka! How… how long have you-"
"Oh get a hold of yourself," the redhead grumbled, "I just got here… and I wouldn't listen to a conversation between you and the doll even if you paid me."
"So, ummm…" the boy stammered, "then… what do you ne-"
"I don't need anything," Asuka said calmly, cutting him off in mid-sentence, "but Misato said to wake her if she wasn't up by five, and I don't want to – so you can."
Shinji glanced at Misato's door. "I can do that," he said quietly.
"Yeah," Asuka said dryly, "I know it's not up to your usual standard of saving the world or anything, but if you could manage it, that would be greaaaaaaat," she extended the last syllable for well over five seconds.
The Third Child blushed. "Why… why are you…"
"Why am I what, Shinji?" the girl prompted as he trailed off. "Why am I mad? I know your memory's not that short!"
Shinji shook his head. "I was just going to ask why you you're all dressed up," he lied, thankful that he had another topic to keep him from looking any stupider than he already did.
Yes, he thought dismally, I know why you're mad – you made it pretty clear that I'm nothing…
"I'm going on a date," the redhead informed him. "Hikari's sister Kodama is introducing me to a guy she goes to school with." She frowned. "She said she'd been thinking about it for a while, and she was going to wait for the carnival that's happening in a few weeks… but for some reason she decided now would be better." She shrugged slightly. "So whatever."
"You look… nice…" Shinji managed, noticing that the Second Child was wearing the same outfit that she had chosen for their date.
Asuka pursed her lips. "I'm leaving now," she said after a moment of quiet.
Shinji sighed as she turned and headed straight for the door. "Have fun…"
"Yeah," Asuka mumbled, slipping her shoes on, "I've got other plans."
**
Misato groaned discontentedly as she was shaken awake. "G'way…" she grumbled, trying to bury her face in the pillow, "tired…"
"Come on, Misato," Shinji's voice insisted softly, "it's after five… you said you wanted to be awake…"
"Oh yeah…" the woman smiled, getting her bearings for a moment before acting, "that's right… because five is when…"
"When what?" Shinji asked, leaning closer.
"Asuka leaves."
Shinji yelped in surprise as the woman rolled onto her back, grasping the front of his shirt and yanking him into bed with her. Since she had been asleep for a few hours, she spared him her morning breath and simply kissed his cheek. "Don't move," she whispered.
The Third Child nodded, looking slightly dazed as she slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. Ahhh… the woman thought happily, splashing a little water on her face, a little quick brushing… use the bathroom real quick… and then… She grinned into the mirror as she put a dab of toothpaste on her brush.
"Then a little Shinji time."
When she came out of the bathroom a few moments later, Shinji was sitting on the edge of her bed, fidgeting idly with her cross pendant. "Can I… talk to you about something?" he asked hesitantly.
"In a minute," Misato replied lightly, putting her hands on his shoulders, "but before you say a word, I want a kiss."
Even if Shinji wanted to say a word, she did not give him the chance. Wish I could wake up like this every morning, Misato thought as she gently pushed the boy down onto her bed and kissed him, as long as it stays like this, and I didn't screw things up… mornings would be the best time of day.
Kissing Shinji, she could feel the urge to escalate things, but the issue of control made its presence known, reminding her that she had begun this relationship with the idea of keeping things from getting too wild too fast. An occasional… closeness was ok, she reasoned, provided it did not become a regular event, or get too intense. Then everything would be just fine.
Of course, she was not the only player on the field.
"Mmmm," Misato hummed, breaking the kiss as Shinji's hands moved down over her rear, "naughty…"
Shinji blushed as she slipped out of his arms and sat on the bed next to him. Ok, he thought uncertainly, so that was a bad idea.
Sitting up next to her he reluctantly murmured, "I've gotta go out in a while…"
"Out?" Misato echoed, "Where? You don't have school… nothing's going on at NERV tonight…" she laid her hand on his knee, "Asuka's gone… and I'm…" she lowered her voice, leaning closer to kiss his chin, "all yours…"
Are you?
Shinji closed his eyes, knowing he could not avoid what he was about to say. "Ayanami asked me to come over tonight."
He could hear Misato's breath catch in her throat… but when he opened his eyes, he found her covering her mouth with one hand. "Are you… trying to make me jealous?" she giggled, "I mean… you couldn't think of anyone better than REI??"
"I'm… serious," Shinji frowned as the woman started laughing, "Misato… I'm serious!"
"Right, right," Misato laughed, shaking her head, "Rei Ayanami asked you to come spend the night at her house – too funn-"
"She did."
Misato blinked, her smile freezing as she looked at Shinji's collected features. "Ok," she said finally, "it was funny at first, Shinji – you got me… good one."
"I said I'd be over there around eight," Shinji said quietly, finding it much easier to be angry at her derisiveness than embarrassed by his announcement. "So I'll be leaving in a few minutes."
Misato's expression gradually changed from amused (and just slightly irritated) to guarded and wary. "Oh really now," she said coolly, "and you don't think I'll have a problem with that?"
Shinji blushed. "It's… not like it's a date or anythi-"
"Like Asuka?"
The boy flinched. "It's not what you think…"
"I'm sure," Misato said, trying to maintain her cool, "two teenagers in a one-bedroom apartment all night – why would I think anything of it?" Abruptly, she shifted the focus of her attack. "Come on," she said softly, leaning against him and resting her head on his shoulder, "don't go. I want to be alone with you for a while, Shinji… don't go…" She ran one finger idly around the collar of his shirt. "Ok?"
"I already said I would," Shinji said carefully. "There's nothing going on, Misato, but I did say I would-"
"No," Misato cut in. In one swift motion she swung her right leg over and straddled him, cradling his head in her hands. "Nonononononono… stay home… stay with me…" She began planting small kisses all over his face, slowly pressing her body against him, "Stay with me tonight, Shinji… stay… stay… stay…"
"Misato," Shinji murmured, letting her tilt his head back and kiss his neck, "I… I promised, Misato…"
"Mmmm…" Misato ran her tongue over his neck, deftly slipping the top three buttons of his shirt free. "Tell her something came up…" she whispered, nipping gently at his collarbone, "I don't want you to go tonight, Shinji…"
"N-no, Misato," Shinji managed, inhaling sharply as her right hand slowly slid down to rest in his lap.
"I'll make it worth your time," Misato winked seductively, teasing him with her fingertips, "like last week, only much…" she lowered her voice to a whisper, "much better…"
Shinji let out a soft moan as her fingers slid up to his zipper, grasping the tab and slowly starting to draw it down. "D-don't…" he gasped, putting his hand over hers and stopping her. "Don't, Misato… I promised her I would be there – I can't just-"
"Oh fine!" the woman burst out, frustration evident in her voice as she rolled off of him and folded her arms over her breasts. "Go then!"
"Don't be mad, please?" Shinji begged. "Ok? It's really nothing…"
"Who – me?" Misato muttered sarcastically. "I'm not mad… it's ok with me if my boyfriend goes over to another girl's house to spend the night – why would that bother me!?"
"I told you," Shinji whispered, slowly zipping his pants back up, "it's not-"
"…what you think," Misato finished tiredly, rubbing her forehead, "yeah right – then tell me why you're going."
"I… I can't."
"You just don't want to be with me," Misato said softly, completely aware of how petulant she sounded, "why don't you just say it."
"I do want to be with you," Shinji said firmly, a pained expression crossing his face, "please, Misato… please trust me." He put his hand on hers. "After… last week, you should know how I fee-"
Misato abruptly rose to her feet. "There's a sync test tomorrow at eleven," she said hollowly.
Shinji bowed his head as she walked from the room. "I'll be there…" he sighed to himself, leaning back on her bed and covering his face with his palms.
**
Shinji made his way through the darkened halls with heavy, ponderous steps.
"Go then!"
Why are we stuck like this? He thought, stepping over a small pile of unread mail in front of apartment 408. I just feel like she wants… something, but I don't know what! I told her this wasn't what she thought. Why can't she trust me? We got so… close last week…
He finally reached Rei's door, standing in front of it in silence as he continued to ponder his situation. "I know why she's mad…" he whispered, glancing briefly at the broken doorbell as a memory of Rei's naked body skipped through his mind. "So I guess… I'll just have to tell her the truth when I get back." He shrugged, knocking lightly on the door. "It was too complicated to…"
He trailed off as Rei opened the door, clad only in her white school shirt and a pair of plain white panties.
Finding nothing else to say, Shinji simply murmured, "I'm here."
Rei nodded and turned away. "I am almost ready," she whispered.
Shinji closed his eyes as the blue-haired girl began undoing the buttons on her shirt. I mustn't run away…
Opening his eyes, Shinji stepped into the apartment and closed the door.
Continued…
Author's Notes: Catching Rei alone before the sync test, Misato asks her outright what happened between her and Shinji – what kind of reply could have the Major at a loss for words? And in the calm following Iruel's defeat, will she and Shinji finally break through to the next level? Or will fear and uncertainty continue to hold their emotions in check?
Find out in the next chapter: Getting Close
Pre-read on this Week was done by LeperMessiah… who, I hear, prefers the company of men. :P
Feedback is always welcome at random1377@yahoo.com
