The Revelation of Sacrifice
Chapter 2 - The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
Based on characters and ideas created by and copyright GAINAX
Reviews/Comments always appreciated
Anything else? Requests? Questions? Contact me at: vicious471@hotmail.com
Guide:
"..." = Speech
'...' = thoughts
(...) = audible sound like a sigh or moan or click
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Neon Genesis Evangelion
(Caption) The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
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=== Apartment complex, 5 hours after the attack ===
Misato is walking with Shinji down the hall to their apartment, escorted by Nerv Security Forces.
"Don't worry Shinji, we're almost home," Misato said, trying to be reassuring to the boy.
"I'm not worried now Misato....I...I just...(sigh)...I don't know," Shinji mumbled out.
"Well, Asuka will be glad you're ok," ...then Misato actually took the time to think about what she just said.
"Hmph, yeah right....she'd be happier if I had died...." Shinji responded with a trace of venom in his voice.
"Shinji!" Misato scolded, "Do you really believe Asuka would be like that?" she honestly couldn't read the emotions between Shinji and Asuka. She had tried many a time, and failed at all attempts. One minute they would be in perfect harmony, the next, they would be bickering, ending up with a slap or some sort of abuse from Asuka.
Shinji just stayed silent, which worried Misato slightly.
They both walked up to the door of the apartment, which slid open before them. The Nerv Security Guards saluted Misato, who half-heartedly returned their salute. Shinji walked in, his fatigue apparent. Upon stepping into the living room, he and Misato were shocked to see Rei and Asuka sitting there...and not fighting or yelling, just watching TV.
"Uh.." Shinji's mind had been shocked far too many times today.
"Hi Rei, what's up?" Misato asked cheerfully.
"Good afternoon Major. I...was concerned for Pilot Ikari's well being and the sub-commander advised me to wait for his return at this location." Rei spoke dryly, without emotion.
"I..uh...I...thank you...Rei," Shinji stammered, "that was very...uh…nice of you."
"You are welcome Pilot Ikari, is there anything I may do for you?" Rei responded with a slight smile.
Shinji blushed, "I..ah...no, I think I'm..uh...ok."
Rei's smile faded and she looked almost disappointed. This shook Shinji a little.
"Uhh...Rei?" Shinji asked shyly, his blush depening.
"Yes Shinji?" Rei said, responding suspiciously quickly.
"I...uh...c-could use a good bowl of miso...?" Shinji asked, missing the fact that Rei used his first name, though his blush reddened nonetheless.
All the while, Asuka had been flipping channels, not looking at any of the company in her home. Although she was apparently listening, for as the conversation between Rei and Shinji went on, she clicked the buttons on the remote with intensifying force, literally trying to crush them with each click before Rei and Misato headed to the kitchen.
Shinji smiled to the two girls as they went into the kitchen, Misato giving him a victory sign/wave. Then he looked over to Asuka, who was shaking with anger for a reason unknown to him. He walked slowly over to the couch and sat down next to her.
"Hey Asuka...i-is there anything good on?" he asked her sheepishly.
"How would I know idiot? You two lovebirds over there were having such a wonderful conversation I couldn't even concentrate!" she yelled at him.
"I...I'm sorry," he lowered his head.
'Can't he do anything but apologize to me? Damn it! How am I supposed to live with such a spineless wimp?!' Asuka thought angrily to herself. "Agh! Shinji you are such an idiot!" she nearly screamed at him, winding up for a smack. Shinji reactively shielded his head with his arms, curling down into a ball.
Just as she was about to follow through with her hit, her anger grew. 'Damn it! What the hell is wrong with him? I KNOW he's stronger than this! Why can't he ever stand up for himself against me? He's...he's such a...god...in the Eva. It pisses me off so much to see him curl up in his shell when I know he can do better!' Asuka reached her arm's apex and was about to unleash hell on Shinji's body when the doorbell rang and disrupted her train of thought.
"You're lucky Third Child...this time..." she whispered to Shinji.
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=== Meanwhile, in the hallway outside Katsuragi apartment ===
"Really, how long has it been? I mean since we were face to face?"
"Oh let's see, Shanghai 2012? I think that was the last time..."
"Heh, I'd prefer NOT to remember that."
"You're just lucky I was there to do the same thing as you, just for some different people."
"I suppose Lady Luck is a good friend of mine in that case."
"I'd have to agree Agent Ryouji Kaji."
"Don't tell me YOU'VE never relied on luck Mr. CIA Babysitter?" asked a skeptical Kaji.
"Hey hey, lighten up there. I'd prefer to think of this as a VIP protection program, thank-you-very-much," replied a smiling Andrew Langley, "And besides, I rely on my skill, not luck."
"Whatever..." responded a still skeptical Kaji, rolling his eyes.
The two come up to the corner section where Misato's apartment is. Andrew carries a small sack over his shoulder while Kaji is in his usual sloppy attire, slouching with his hands resting in his pockets.
"Did you really need my help to get here, Langley?" Kaji questioned, his eyes narrowing.
"No, I've already been here at least a dozen times familiarizing myself with the area, but hey, this is a plausible excuse to get over to Misato's, eh?" Andrew responded, ribbing his so called 'guide'.
Andrew removed a red ID card from his coat pocket and slid it through the door's reader, unlocking the apartment adjacent to Misato's. He walked in and threw the bag on the couch, then came back outside.
"Mmmmmm," Andrew moaned as he stretched his arms into the air, "how about you 'introduce' me to my new neighbors?"
"Why it would be my pleasure Andrew," Kaji said with a wry smile.
The two took a few steps and then Kaji reached out and rang the door bell.
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=== Inside the Katsuragi apartment ===
Asuka had gotten up from the couch to get the door and was about to yell that she would get it when she found Misato walking to the door in front of her. Asuka decided to stick around to see who it was. Misato pushed a button which slid the door open, and her face instantly drained of color and her knees became excessively weak, from the dual shock of seeing Shinji's new guardian AND her ever pursuing 'boyfriend', (in a loose term) Kaji.
"Gahh...uh...Wh-What are y-you doing here?" Misato stuttered, pointing to an indiscriminant point between the two men.
"Well I came for a perfectly innocent reason...this time gorgeous," said Kaji slyly, giving one of his infamous ladykiller smiles, "our CIA agent here is an...acquaintance...of mine from a while back and we've sort of....kept in touch over the years, eheh."
"Good to meet you formally Major Katsuragi. And Kaji was just showing me the location of my new apartment and I asked him to introduce me, he had no ulterior motives I'm sure," grinned Andrew, smoothly lying through his teeth.
Misato was still white and just turned to go back to the kitchen, leaving the door open.
"That means come on in, whoever's there," Asuka sounded off, as if annoyed by something.
"And that must be the Second Child," Andrew retorted.
"Yeah it is, and who the hell is-" Asuka didn't have time to finish as Kaji and Andrew walked through the door.
For the first time, Asuka didn't immediately jump and glomp on Kaji. She was now faced with TWO devastatingly handsome men. Kaji was in his usual slack, rugged handsomeness. But this other man wore all black, from a black shirt to a black belt, black pants, black combat boots, a long black trench-coat, black fingerless gloves. Two bangs of brown hair fell down to near the corners of his mouth, each framing his face and a Kaji-style pony tail in the back, except the hair was slightly better cared for. But what captured Asuka was his eyes, they froze her in place. Green eyes that seemed somehow knowing.
"Uhhh...hi Kaji," Asuka said without her usual overabundance of emotion for him, "wh-who's that?"
"Hmmm? Oh this guy?" he said smiling and gesturing to Andrew, "he's just the guy that saved Shinji's life today."
"WHAT!?!" practically screamed Asuka.
"Oh hadn't you been informed?" questioned Andrew.
"I...yes...but...you..." stammered Asuka, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Misato was already on her second Yebisu when Rei finished Shinji's soup. Rei brought it out on a small serving board to Shinji's place on the couch.
"Thank you Rei, it looks very good," Shinji said appreciatively to her.
Rei blushed slightly. "You are welcome Shinji."
However this time Shinji did not miss Rei calling him by his first name and almost spilled the entire bowl in surprise. Some of the miso sloshed over the side and got on Shinji's shirt.
"Ugh...this is gonna stain...." Shinji said, 'and this is my favorite shirt too...' he thought. But before Shinji could put down the soup to get a towel, Rei was already walking back in with one in each hand.
"Uh...thanks Rei," he smiled warmly to her.
"It was my error," she looked downward, not letting her face show, "I was too forward."
"N-No you weren't...I...I just wasn't used to it, Rei," Shinji said, trying to cheer her up.
Rei looked up at Shinji, her eyes soft and warm. She then realized that she was staring at him and blushed rather furiously. She looked down and dabbed at Shinji's shirt with a wet towel, then dried him with another. Both she and Shinji could feel the heat in their cheeks as Rei finished cleaning off his shirt.
"...uh...ah...I...uh...th-thanks...R-Rei," Shinji squeaked out, suddenly finding his shoes to be the most fascinating things on the planet.
For the first time in recorded history, Rei Ayanami was at a loss for words. Her mouth hung slightly open trying to form a response, but none came. Realizing that she was yet again staring at Shinji, Rei tried to get up, but her body was ignoring her brain's commands.
"Hey Shinji it looked like you spilled something all over yourself so here's-" Asuka stopped mid-sentence as she found Rei kneeling near Shinji. This position from her angle looked like something quite different, and the looks that they were giving each other combined to shock Asuka effectively. She didn't yell, or scream, or hit anyone, or throw a fit or do anything but turn around and walk away. The color was slowly draining from her face as she threw the towels she had brought for Shinji onto the counter of the kitchen where Andrew, Kaji and Misato were talking. She walked quietly to her room. Then an earth shattering slam was heard as Asuka's door connected with the wall. Asuka stomped to her bed and smashed her fist into the pillow on her bed.
"Damn that Wonder-Bitch," she muttered through her clenched teeth.
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=== In the kitchen of the Katsuragi apartment ===
Misato, Kaji and Andrew had been talking when Asuka walked past, but they had stopped to watch her, and all had cringed when the door was slammed.
"Hmmmm...." Andrew wondered aloud, "she has a thing for Shinji, huh?"
Kaji and Misato looked at Andrew, each with a single eyebrow raised and a look of "what are you, stupid?" plastered across their faces.
"I'd tend to think the opposite there buddy," said a drunken Misato.
"And I'm forced to agree with old Katsuragi here," agreed Kaji, "I would believe Asuka had a thing for me, with how she is always glomping on me and asking me to take her places."
"That is just lust Kaji," corrected Andrew, "put 2 and 2 together. It's ver-"
"FOUR!!!" interrupted Misato with a hand raised in the air holding up three fingers.
Kaji and Andrew developed two fairly large sweatdrops and Kaji decided it was time for Misato to go to bed. He half carried her to her room and left Andrew in the kitchen to clean up the glasses and such. Rei walked through the kitchen without a word and nodded a greeting to Andrew as she passed. Andrew nodded and smiled back as she went out the door, even though she couldn't see him. Then Shinji walked in.
"Hey Shinji," he greeted.
Shinji froze in place as he saw Andrew's face. The shock of the day all came back in moments as he saw the face of the man who saved him. Shinji couldn't help but think of the face on the man about to kill him before it exploded in a hail of gunfire. It was too much to handle, Shinji's knees buckled as he found himself falling...his vision clouded by the tears of horror and gratitude. As he collapsed, Shinji felt something grip his shoulders and suspend him for a moment in the air, then lift him to a chair at the table.
"Take it easy there kid," Andrew said, "I think you've had enough trouble for one day. Last thing we need is a concussion."
Shinji smiled, but did not even realize he was doing so as the man turned to cleaning again.
"I..." Shinji began, the words choking in his throat.
"No need," Andrew said without turning to face Shinji, "All in a day's work."
"...I-I-I n-need to s-say it. O-Otherwise something just won't feel right." Shinji said, resolve appearing in his voice. "But uhh," Shinji blushed, "I kinda don't know your name though..."
"Well that's easily rectified," Andrew said spinning around, his trench coat creating a flowing sea of black in fluid motion. He stuck his hand out to Shinji and bowed, "name's Andrew Langley, and I'm pleased to make your acquaintance Mr. Ikari."
"Th-Thank you, Mr. Langley. And please, just call me Shinji," Shinji said with a deepened blush as he bowed and shook Andrew's hand.
"Well, then you'll have to call me Andrew, that's only fair, huh?" he responded with a warm smile.
"A-All right...Andrew." Shinji said sheepishly.
"Alright, now that we are all introduced, I have some questions for you Shinji Ikari," Andrew eyed him critically, "First off, is this place always THIS messy? I mean, I was briefed that your apartment was generally messy, but this place is a train wreck!"
"Heh, you noticed?" Shinji said sarcastically, "Well, I've tried my best to pick up after those two, but my God, I never realized two women could be such utter slobs. I thought girls were the clean, critical ones."
"You've learned something valuable about the female psyche here," Andrew chuckled, "Though in public they may seem delicate and cautious about such things as hygiene and cleanliness, in their real lives at home, they care less than us guys."
"That's pretty obvious," said Shinji eyeing the trash and numerous beer cans around the floor. "You know, I was gone for what? Three days? I-"
"Are you complaining again, Shinji?" screeched Asuka as she stepped into the room.
"I...uh...no not really," Shinji managed, getting an odd look from Asuka.
"You better not be," Asuka grinned as she eyed Andrew, "and who is this?" she said as she eyed him lustfully.
"Someone way out of your league Asuka," Andrew retorted with a massive grin, causing Shinji to chuckle.
"I think you have that backwards," she said irritably, "the two BOYS in this room are way out of MY league," she finished off triumphantly while opening the fridge.
"Is that so, Second Child? I would tend to think that the NUMBER ONE Eva pilot over here would be the best," Andrew drew a lopsided grin of victory as Asuka burned red with anger.
"Why you stupid, conceited....wait a second! You're that dummkopf that ran into me in the hospital!" she said pointing at Andrew.
"Why yes, that would be me," he said, outstretching his hand once again, "Agent Andrew Langley." 'Oh Jesus,' he thought looking up to Heaven, 'she is gonna go on about me stealing her name or some crap...oh well.'
"Langley? Langley!? LANGLEY!?!" Asuka began with the fury on her face evident. "All of you boys ARE perverts! You stole my name! What were you trying to suggest by that! RRRGGHHH!!!"
Asuka went up to Andrew to slap him but before she could react to him, she found herself pinned to the table next to where Shinji was sitting, a look of awe and bewilderment on his face.
"That...hurts...you...pervert!" Asuka yelled as she struggled to get free from the man holding her down.
"Don't you think it hurts whenever YOU hit someone Asuka," Andrew responded with a disgusted tone as he released her. "And perhaps it hurts in more ways than one...consider that the next time..."
Asuka scowled at him, massaging her wrist. Then from his position in the hall, Kaji, who had been watching the entire time came out.
"Well, I think I'll be leaving now," he said with his usual carefree tone, "old Katsuragi is changed and in bed, so don't worry about her."
"Thanks, Kaji," 'for not interrupting me' he added mentally.
"No problem," 'I don't know what you're trying to do here Langley, but as long as the kids stay safe, I'd like to see it play out.' Kaji thought to himself with a bit of curiosity. "Well, I have to be up early tomorrow, so I'd best get SOME rest tonight." he winked and smiled to the group and started for the door.
"What!?! You're going to leave us here with this psycho!? He could kill us all! We don't even know who he is!" complained Asuka, tugging on Kaji's shirt sleeve.
"Oh, hasn't anyone told you Asuka? Andrew's the one who saved Shinji's life this morning," Kaji explained, "and he is now your new guardian to protect from the growing number of possible attackers."
A stunned Asuka looked from Kaji to Shinji, who nodded with a small smile and then to Andrew who smiled and clicked his tongue while snapping his right index finger into a point at Asuka.
Asuka stayed silent as she sat down at the table across from Shinji. Kaji left the apartment, followed by Andrew.
"Well," Shinji said breaking the silence that had settled over them, "it's getting late so I guess I'll head to bed," he said suspiciously quickly as he headed to his room.
"Hold on there, Shinji," Asuka commanded, holding up a hand, "did you forget that we never had dinner, and unlike you, I didn't get any soup from Wondergirl."
"But Asuka can't-" Shinji started.
"No but's about it Shinji," Asuka interrupted, "this new guy isn't changing our lives one bit, and I'll see to that!"
"Can't you just get something for yourself for once," Shinji said indignantly.
"What was that!?" she yelled, anger filling up and then....SMACK! "Get me something to eat, baka!"
Shinji rubbed the side of his head that Asuka hit and looked at her with hurt in his eyes. 'I'll have to ask Andrew to teach me how to do that stuff he did to Asuka before.' he thought making a mental note to himself.
"...Sorry Asuka, I'll get make something for you..." Shinji's voice trailed off as he turned away into the kitchen and fired up the stove.
Suddenly Asuka had an odd look on her face as she stared at her hand. Andrew's image flashed into her brain: ' Don't you think it hurts whenever YOU hit someone Asuka, and perhaps it hurts in more ways than one...consider that the next time... ' his words rang through her head.
"Uhh...Shinji? Could you call me when it's done?" Asuka said softly as she turned to go to her room.
"Umm...sure...Asuka..." Shinji said, confused by her sudden mood change.
Asuka walked to her room and shut the door quietly. She braced herself against the wall with her hands and lowered her head in deep thought.
"Why do I feel guilty? It was that idiot's fault for not wanting to feed me...but still...I guess I COULD have let him go to bed..." Asuka's eyes grew as she thought about what she was making Shinji do. "He was almost killed today...he probably saw a lot of dead people from what I heard Misato say over the phone...and I wasn't exactly as comforting as Wondergirl was, damn her..." she felt something hit her foot...a tear. "I h-hit him...a-and he didn't even fight back...h-he just went and apologized to me...that-that idiot!"
With that Asuka punched the wall with all her might, venting some of the frustration she felt in trying to deal with Shinji. Her fist dug into the wall as her face contorted into a face of anger and pain. Blood trickled down from her now wounded hand.
Shinji heard the loud thud as Asuka's hand hit the wall.
"Oh man, I hope she doesn't hit me...AGAIN..." Shinji added with a hint of annoyance.
Shinji thought his fears confirmed when Asuka's door slid open slowly and he heard her step out. He was almost sure that another injury would be added to his already impressive repertoire.
"Asuka, the food isn't-" Shinji had no chance to finish as he turned to see Asuka next to him holding her bleeding right hand in her left. "Oh my God Asuka! Are you ok? I'll get some bandages!"
Asuka just stared blankly as if in some deep thought that no one could bring her out of. Shinji started off down the hall and quickly returned with a misshapen pile of first aid material in his arms.
"Come on Asuka," Shinji said surprisingly calmly, "let me take care of that." He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around when she did not answer his call. She was shaken from whatever fantasy world her mind had wandered to and looked down at her hand as the pain began to register in her mind.
"Give me your hand," Shinji commanded. Without thinking first, Asuka reached her injured hand out and Shinji took her wrist with a great amount of care. He washed it off with cold water, then took a cotton swab and blotted alcohol on it. "This'll hurt Asuka," Shinji said, trying to be soothing as he dabbed her cuts with the alcohol, causing Asuka's teeth to seethe with pain. "I'm sorry..." Shinji apologized as if he could control pain the alcohol inflicted.
Asuka looked down at Shinji who was paying agonizingly careful attention to all of her self-inflicted wounds. She felt the urge to cry for a reason unknown to her, but stuffed it down deep within her as she stood resolute with her promise to never cry again. She had to be strong. She had to be able to be alone, on her own. She had to be self-sufficient. She had to take care of herself...
"Ok, I think it's finished," Shinji said as he finished wrapping Asuka's hand in gauze. "Come over here while I…" Shinji trailed off as he looked over to the stove with a visible pillar of smoke ascending from what was supposed to be Asuka's dinner. "Gaahhh!" Shinji blurted as he ran to the stove and threw on an oven mitt and threw the flaming dinner in the sink and turn the water. Shinji walked over to the fridge and grabbed some instant junk and a packet of curry. He threw the instant into the microwave and then took out a box from the cupboard. Inside the box were his own selection of spices and herbs. Shinji took out a few bottles and sprinkled some of their contents onto the curry, which created a tasty blend to make the instant stuff a little more bearable. Then in Misato form, he glopped the curry onto the instant noodles and rice which formed a good tasting mixture thanks to Shinji's spicing.
"Here you go Asuka," Shinji said softly as he put a carton and some chopsticks in front of her place at the table. "Sorry, the real dinner got a little burned...'understatement of the century'...but this stuff should be pretty good."
Asuka looked at Shinji's back as he went to clean the kitchen up and then went to her eating. Or tried to at least. Since she was right handed and her right was the one currently in pain, that left her with only her left hand to do the work. She tried to use the chopsticks, but to no use.
"Rrrrgghhh," Asuka growled as she struggled with the chopsticks which were consistently proving too difficult for her to master with her left hand. Shinji had kept glancing at Asuka, not hearing a complaint about his cooking or even the sound of chewing. Then he heard her ventilation of anger through the growls.
"Oh, let me help you Asuka," Shinji said as he walked over to her.
"I can do it on my own, Third Child…" Asuka said with a definite edge to her voice. "I'm not helpless you know," her voice grew in volume, "so just back off, baka!"
"I…I…just wanted to…help….I'm sorry, Asuka," Shinji said quietly as he backed away and finished cleaning in the kitchen.
'Damnit! Why does he always do this? Why do I always do this? Why can't he just force me to accept his help?' she thought as she returned to trying to get the chopsticks to work in her left hand. With her frustration built up and Asuka's trademark short temper, she soon grew tired of trying to eat with the chopsticks. Asuka grunts as she pushes the instant box to the other edge of the table and throws the chopsticks at the box.
Shinji hears her grunt and then sees the chopsticks fly at the box. He sighs inwardly and makes a decision to help her whether she liked it or not. He walked over to the table and picked up the chopsticks and box, and brought them around the table to the other side where Asuka was. She seemed oblivious of his movements as she stared at her hand, her face switching from pain to anger periodically. Shinji thought of just forgetting his resolution and running back to his room. The voice telling him to do that was rather loud, but he was able to shove it down and continue. He took a good amount of noodles in the chopsticks and with a slight pause, moved them slowly in front of Asuka.
Asuka looked over to find the source of the sudden invasion of her face, but blushed to see Shinji holding her own gaze, just barely she could tell, but he was holding it. 'Will wonders never cease?' she thought and a retort filled with venom found its way coming up her throat, but she quickly fought it back by taking the noodles into her mouth. Her eyes lit up with pleasure as the blend of spices touched her tongue as the exquisite taste Shinji had some how produced out of this sludge came to her. Shinji smiled at this and reached into the box for another serving of the noodles...
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=== The next morning in Misato Katsuragi's apartment ===
Shinji's eyes cracked open, accompanied by a groan from his mouth.
"Ughhh..." Shinji turned over to look at the alarm clock, " Five Twenty Eight? Uggghhh..." Shinji forced himself up after seeing the time. 'I didn't make our lunches last night...' he thought with a small smile. "She actually thanked me..."
*-*-* FLASHBACK *-*-*
Shinji had just finished feeding the last of the noodles to Asuka.
"That's all Asuka," Shinji said as he got up. "You can go to bed, I'll clean up in here."
"That was really good Shinji," Asuka said patting her tummy, "how'd you make Misato's instant crap taste so good?"
"Now that," Shinji said holding up his index finger and winking, "is a secret!"
((-- Author's note: That's to all the Xellos fans out there ;) --))
Asuka started to walk to her room, but stopped as she reached the hall.
"Shinji?" she said without any trace over her usual confident overtones. "Shinji…I..I..wanted to…" she found the words difficult to say. 'Come on Asuka, it's two simple words! Just say it and get it over with!' "I......" her face suddenly gained a determined look, "thank you Shinji."
Shinji's mind's eye only saw the flashing figure of 0:00:00. His brain temporarily shut down then began a slow reboot.
"Y-Your welcome Asuka," he managed to say without too much folly.
*-*-* END FLASHBACK *-*-*
Shinji got up and groggily put on his usual school attire now that it was Monday. 'Maybe if I get everything done earlier, those two won't tease me...' he mused, 'then again, probably not…' he thought with a small laugh.
Shinji stepped outside of his room and stretched his arms in the air.
"Mmmmmm...huh? What's that smell?"
Shinji followed the scent to the kitchen where he saw something cooking on the stove, although no one was in sight.
"Ummm? Misato? Asuka?" Shinji asked timidly.
"Oh Shinji, is that you?" a very male voice answered.
"Uh……Andrew? Is it you?" Shinji questioned.
"That'd be my name, Shinji Ikari," Andrew said as he came into view. He was setting the table with plates and some silverware, which was rarely used in the Katsuragi household. "What can I do for you?"
"Umm…not that I mind having a breakfast prepared for me, but...why?"
"Why not? I figured Katsuragi would be in too much of a hangover to make you breakfast…" Andrew shrugged, "so I thought that since I'm now officially your other guardian, I might as well come over."
"Well, Misato never makes food for us anyway, either she forgets when it's her turn and I make it, or we don't eat," Shinji replied with a slight bit of irritation directed towards Misato.
"Then Asuka must clean the place?" Andrew inquired while flipping the bacon over on his pan.
"No…I kinda do that too…." sighed Shinji.
"Hmmmm," Andrew pondered as he seemingly took into account all the information he had just been relayed from Shinji. "Well, Shinji Ikari, from now on, I'll help you keep this place in order...and keep those girls of yours in check," he added with a wink.
Shinji blushed and nodded a thank you to him.
A few minutes later Andrew came to the table with two plates filled with eggs, bacon and hash browns. Shinji was not adept at eating in Western fashion and waited to see how Andrew ate until he started. Seeing him using the fork to eat the eggs, he copied so and decided they needed some salt from the shaker that Andrew had set out on the table. Then he used the fork to try the hash browns and decided that they were very good tasting and finished them off first. Then after trying the bacon, Shinji devoured it much to the amusement of one Agent Langley.
After both were finished it was 5:40 and Shinji informed Andrew that neither Misato nor Asuka got up until at least 6:40.
"Well, then I guess we have an hour or so to kill," Andrew said matter-of-factly. Then his eyes narrowed on some indiscriminant point, thinking about what to do. A thought donned on him.
"Hey Shinji? You like music?"
"Yeah, I guess so...why?"
"Hmmm..." Andrew said, wondering aloud, "I'll be right back, ok?"
"Uhh ok?" Shinji said, wondering what Andrew is doing.
Andrew walks out of the apartment and returns a couple minutes later carrying a small case.
"You play?" Shinji asked pointing at Andrew questioningly.
"Yeah..." he answered, "that surprises you?"
"Well, I didn't think that a secret agent would really like to play music..."
"It started out as something my parents forced me into, but I grew to really like it," Andrew explained.
"Same with me..." Shinji said, "I understand completely, I started playing and because no one ever told me to stop, I kept on doing it and now I like to play."
"Then you and I are the same in that respect," Andrew smiled, "a good thing...want to do a duet?"
"I don't know many," Shinji said, "I'm so used to playing alone that I never bothered to..."
"Bah! We'll give it a try, ok?" Andrew smiled reassuringly to Shinji.
"A-Alright," Shinji said a little enthusiastically, "but I'm really not that good..."
"I'LL be the judge of THAT, Third Child," a certain energetic, red haired German sounded out.
"W-What a-are you doing u-up Asuka?" Shinji's voice cracked in the fear of his torturer.
"What? Isn't a girl allowed to get up early in the morning?" Asuka questioned, her eyes narrowing.
"...some need more beauty sleep than others..." Shinji muttered under his breath.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?!" Asuka yelled, raising her fist.
"Oh, uh, n-nothing, nothing at all!" Shinji said nervously as he quickly walked toward his room. Leaving the red haired demon to Andrew for a while.
"Want something to eat Asuka?" Andrew asked.
"Uh...sure..." Asuka said slowly, thrown off by Andrew's kindness. 'He's only confronted me so far' she thought, 'why's he being nice so suddenly? He must be up to something...'
Andrew had challenged and veritably defeated Asuka in everything she had thrown at him, including her fist. Andrew smiled warmly at her and then walked over to the stove and put some sausages on the pan and began to cook them with some more eggs. A few minutes later they were cooked and Shinji had come out carrying his cello, which his was currently tuning. Asuka was sitting down at the table, waiting for her promised food.
"Here we are," Andrew said cheerily, "a nice German breakfast." Andrew brought the morning sausages, eggs sunny side up, and hash browns out for her.
"Mein Gott!" she said, taking a fork and biting into the eggs, "these are soooo good!" Asuka ravenously gobbled down the eggs and sausage with has browns and a glass of juice. "You and Shinji cook from now on!"
"It's a basic egg breakfast Asuka," Andrew said while raising an eyebrow, "you have to WORK to make that taste bad"
"Mihato...nd me," Asuka said, stuffing food in her mouth, "cammt cook ta fave our libez."
"(Ack)...I see..." Andrew said, making a comical face of disgust. Andrew walked over to his case with a violin in it and took it out to tune it. Shinji thought it was mystical how he was able to tune it perfectly in one try for all of the strings.
"Well Shinji, what shall we start with?" Andrew said, taking a chair over to where Shinji was sitting.
"Oh, I uh, don't really know…what do you think we should start with?" Shinji asked looking to him.
"Let's see…..it's been a while since I've don a duet too…." Andrew brought his gloved hand to his chin, massaging imaginary stubble. "Aha! You know Beethoven's 9th I presume?"
Shinji smiled and nodded as he took a glance over to Asuka, who was still shoveling food in her mouth. Andrew observed this and smiled to himself. Then Andrew raised his bow and Shinji did the same
as they started moments later. Beginning without much emotion, just going through the notes, then as the song continued, Shinji found himself closing his eyes to concentrate on the notes, he knew he had the back lying notes as his was the cello, but the emotions that the simple, yet incredibly powerful piece evoked came out none-the-less.
Asuka was oblivious to their tuning, but her attention was gained once the beautifully flowing notes began. Something in either how they played or an underlying basis to the song itself made her feel differently inside. She had heard it many times before, so she decided it was because of how it was played…Because HE was playing. She saw both of them had closed their eyes, so she felt it safe to simply stare at Shinji, who was playing differently today than he had been…the other time. The time they had…
Shinji could feel the clouding of his eyes even when they were closed. They were nearing the finish, and he thought he might be able to hold out until then, fearing Asuka making fun of him yet
again. The last notes of the song came in and Shinji took the cue from Andrew to hold the last note for a slightly more dramatic end. When it was over, Shinji looked to Andrew first who looked back to him and gave a thumbs up and shifted his eyes to Asuka, who had sat down in front of Shinji. Shinji followed his gaze to a glass eyed Asuka.
"Shinji….that-that…..that was…." Asuka was unable to find the words to finish.
"Simply the most beautiful thing I've ever heard," a familiar Major filled in.
"Really?" Shinji asked, wiping away a forming tear before it could fall.
Misato noticed Andrew giving her a cock eyed look, then remembered she had only put on a pair of boxers with her bra. Her faced turned red with embarrassment. Andrew merely chuckled and mock saluted Misato. Misato grabbed a Yebisu from the fridge and popped the top, taking a swig.
"YEEEHAAAW! (burp!)" Misato sounded off in her usual morning tone.
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To be continued...
Next Episode: Misconceptions
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Author's Notes: I know that Shinji's first conversation with Andrew mirrored his first meeting with Kaoru, but with Kaoru and Shinji, they almost instantly became friends, and I needed the same effect for him and Andrew. Much more real plot development in the next chapter.
Love n' Pizza
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