Rei shifted on her bed again, mumbling some incoherent words which sounded painfully like her pleading Shinji to come back.
So, it was true. Rei DID dream, after all.
Shinji shifted nervously in his chair. Trying to make sense of all that had happened in the last few hours was making him feel uncomfortable. Not succeeding, he decided that a beer of Misato's would help wake him up. Not that there was any logic in any of it, but it seemed like a good idea.
Either it was that, or the fact that Rei was crying into her pillow, sobbing his name, and it was hurting him.
---
You're just trying to run away again, aren't you? It seems we were mistaken when we thought you had finally grown up... heh. The only thing which your father didn't grow a spine in was you.
Hey! That's not fair.
To who? You or your father?
I still can't figure out why I hugged her... can YOU tell me?
Only you know the answer.
Damned memories... when you will leave me alone?
When we are not needed anymore.
So, your purpose of existence is to... guide me?
No. We exist because you created us.
I... my memories. I see. Rei, Asuka, Misato... all of you...
But I don't want you to exist! Why do you still torture me?
As long as you are caught in the past, we will not leave you.
Caught in the past... is Rei trapped by her memories, too?
Only she can tell you that. The ghosts of time linger; where there is no more pain, there is only sorrow.
---
Shinji turned to the girl who had fallen asleep in his arms. The same girl, who now longed for his touch again. And he knew it.
There and then, Shinji decided that reality could go to hell. He got into the bed, beside her, and took her into his arms. embracing her frail form, Shinji couldn't help but pull her closer to him. After all, it was a cold night... No. That was just rationalisation. He was attracted to her, and not in the way most other boys were. Most of his blood still went to his brain, as proof of that.
Almost immediately, Rei began to calm down. Shinji found himself hoping to see her smile again...
This time, the only thing that Memory brought was the faint smile she had given him after he resucued her from the melted EVA-00.
Was that why I did what I did? Because I wanted to see her smile again? For entirely selfish reasons?
Actually... now that he thought about it, Rei had never really tried to hide her emotions from him. That smile had been a genuine one.
Does that mean that I enjoy seeing her happy? I know I risked my life to rescue her. But she could have mistaken me for father!
Gendo. It was strange, even to himself, how little his father meant to him, yet how much emotion Rei could invoke in him.
He looked around for the glasses he knew Rei would have on her desk.
On that desk lay a bent frame, and a few glass shards.
So... I'm not the only one trying to put the past behind me.
I wonder if the first time Rei felt any emotion was when my father saved her.
Any emotion... other than pain and hurt and loneliness.
-~-~-
Misato was anxious.
It was very unlike Shinji to be late. Even considering that she had not given him a specific time to be back, he was rather late.
That is, if one considered 7 p.m late.
After all, he was a better cook than she was... and she was hungry from a day's work. Not to mention Asuka, who was just about to blow up. No doubt, it had been a bad idea to tell her that Shinji had gone to Rei's house... no use wondering what her overactive teenage imagination was thinking. It wasn't as though they were sleeping together...
She shook herself mentally. No, they aren't sleeping. He's comforting her over the Commander's loss, and it's all my overactive imagination.
Misato took another beer from the fridge.
He'll be back soon.
An hour and a half later, not to mention twelve beers, she wasn't so convinced. In a fit of desperation half an hour ago, she had tried to make something for them. Which was the main reason she hadn't gone out to look for Shinji, despite Asuka's incessant pestering. To be more specific, it had left them... incapacitated. Even Pen-Pen turned a colour not normally associated with penguins.
Green doesn't go with red. Have to remember that next time...
She gulped down the next wave of nausea. Steeling her mind and body, the latter less effectively, she exited her apartment, Asuka trailing behind her.
Damn that bastard Gendo. Rei's gotta move in nearer if this goes on.
Needless to say, she was glad that elevators didn't travel horizontally. As she staggered towards her car, she made a vow never to drive like she did again.
The tough Major plopped into the driver's seat of her battered car. Asuka managed to drag herself into the passenger seat, before passing out. Soon, they were on their way towards Rei's apartment complex.
Now that Gendo's dead, NERV will be disorganized, probably enough for the next Angel to do some heavy damage. Thank goodness the EVA cages are still intact. Commander Fuyutsuki's already seeing Geo-Front on the way to recovery, but he just doesn't have Gendo's cold logic. Admittedly though, he is quite a nice old man after all. Maybe I can get him to give me a raise...
Misato grinned, despite herself. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the sirens until they were too late.
Hehe. And then, I'll get myself a new car...
"You in the blue sports car, pull over!"
She snapped back to reality, and was greeted by a speedometer indicating a hundred miles an hour, and a police car on her tail. Suddenly not feeling very well, she slammed the brakes and fought back the urge to vomit.
The car spinned, catching the policeman by surprise. After careening into a mailbox and narrowly missing a stray cat, it skidded to a halt beside the road. The police car tailing it swerved and stopped in front of the blue car, effectively preventing it from driving away.
Readying his baton, he walked up to the driver's door and rapped on the windshield. Unfortunately, Misato's resolve gave out at that point...
She opened the door, only to vomit all over the shocked policeman.
Aww... nuts. Could this get any worse?
"Hand over your license and registration." The policeman was rather composed, even after what happened to him, Misato noted. He'd do good at Security.
Misato pulled out her Nerv ID. "I'm with Nerv. You can let me go now."
The cop eyed her closely before continuing. "Does that mean that you're above the law?"
"You see, we Nerv personnel have certain priveledges, and this is one of them, in case we need to get anywhere in an emergency, especially in an Angel attack."
Strangely, a smile started to spread across his face. It slowly became a grin, finally turning into a bout of laughter. Misato looked on in curiosity.
"Look, if there's nothing else, I have to go. There's urgent business I have to attend to.
He sobered immediately.
Bad move.
"Now, lady, that's a good one you just told me. But laws are laws, and I'll still have to give you a ticket for speeding."
Misato silently swore. Awakened by the sirens, Asuka did so not as silently. Damn, a newbie. So, it COULD get worse.
"As I said, we Nerv personnel are excused from this. Now could you let me go?"
"You broke the law, Nerv or no. Speaking of breaking the law, do you intend to break the law again with her?" He cocked his head towards Asuka.
Catching onto what he mant, Misato was suddenly glad that Asuka ate what she cooked. Otherwise, the policeman might have becomed another casaulty.
"Misato, just take the damned ticket. I'm sick and tired of all this."
Misato opened her mouth again to argue with the policeman.
Fourteen minutes and three seconds later, an extremely disgruntled Misato continued towards Rei's apartment complex, a half-torn speeding ticket in her pocket.
Security be damned. I'm personally informing the police department of my rights next time.
-~-~-
Misato stopped at the front door to Rei's apartment. Hesitating slightly, she knocked on the door. Hearing no response, she knocked again.
And again. And again. And... oh, you get my point.
To cut a long story short, she knocked until she was on the verge of breaking the door down, then realized that it was unlocked. Letting herself in, she looked around for Shinji. Strangely, none of the lights were turned on. The only thing illuminating the place was the moonlight streaming through the window. Turning around, she happened to glance into the bedroom...
And stopped short at what she saw.
She clapped a hand to her mouth. Her heart, literally, skipped a beat.
I've seen Maya kiss Ritsuko, I've seen Kaji rise from the dead. Hell, I've even seen Gendo with a frightened look on his face, but THIS is ridiculous!
Behind her, the slap of a hand hastily raised to a mouth could be heard. Whirling around, Misato caught a glimpse of red hair as Asuka entered the bathroom. Soon, retching sounds could be heard.
Some part of Misato refused to accept failures. I bet that's not from my cooking.
So, it was true. Rei DID dream, after all.
Shinji shifted nervously in his chair. Trying to make sense of all that had happened in the last few hours was making him feel uncomfortable. Not succeeding, he decided that a beer of Misato's would help wake him up. Not that there was any logic in any of it, but it seemed like a good idea.
Either it was that, or the fact that Rei was crying into her pillow, sobbing his name, and it was hurting him.
---
You're just trying to run away again, aren't you? It seems we were mistaken when we thought you had finally grown up... heh. The only thing which your father didn't grow a spine in was you.
Hey! That's not fair.
To who? You or your father?
I still can't figure out why I hugged her... can YOU tell me?
Only you know the answer.
Damned memories... when you will leave me alone?
When we are not needed anymore.
So, your purpose of existence is to... guide me?
No. We exist because you created us.
I... my memories. I see. Rei, Asuka, Misato... all of you...
But I don't want you to exist! Why do you still torture me?
As long as you are caught in the past, we will not leave you.
Caught in the past... is Rei trapped by her memories, too?
Only she can tell you that. The ghosts of time linger; where there is no more pain, there is only sorrow.
---
Shinji turned to the girl who had fallen asleep in his arms. The same girl, who now longed for his touch again. And he knew it.
There and then, Shinji decided that reality could go to hell. He got into the bed, beside her, and took her into his arms. embracing her frail form, Shinji couldn't help but pull her closer to him. After all, it was a cold night... No. That was just rationalisation. He was attracted to her, and not in the way most other boys were. Most of his blood still went to his brain, as proof of that.
Almost immediately, Rei began to calm down. Shinji found himself hoping to see her smile again...
This time, the only thing that Memory brought was the faint smile she had given him after he resucued her from the melted EVA-00.
Was that why I did what I did? Because I wanted to see her smile again? For entirely selfish reasons?
Actually... now that he thought about it, Rei had never really tried to hide her emotions from him. That smile had been a genuine one.
Does that mean that I enjoy seeing her happy? I know I risked my life to rescue her. But she could have mistaken me for father!
Gendo. It was strange, even to himself, how little his father meant to him, yet how much emotion Rei could invoke in him.
He looked around for the glasses he knew Rei would have on her desk.
On that desk lay a bent frame, and a few glass shards.
So... I'm not the only one trying to put the past behind me.
I wonder if the first time Rei felt any emotion was when my father saved her.
Any emotion... other than pain and hurt and loneliness.
-~-~-
Misato was anxious.
It was very unlike Shinji to be late. Even considering that she had not given him a specific time to be back, he was rather late.
That is, if one considered 7 p.m late.
After all, he was a better cook than she was... and she was hungry from a day's work. Not to mention Asuka, who was just about to blow up. No doubt, it had been a bad idea to tell her that Shinji had gone to Rei's house... no use wondering what her overactive teenage imagination was thinking. It wasn't as though they were sleeping together...
She shook herself mentally. No, they aren't sleeping. He's comforting her over the Commander's loss, and it's all my overactive imagination.
Misato took another beer from the fridge.
He'll be back soon.
An hour and a half later, not to mention twelve beers, she wasn't so convinced. In a fit of desperation half an hour ago, she had tried to make something for them. Which was the main reason she hadn't gone out to look for Shinji, despite Asuka's incessant pestering. To be more specific, it had left them... incapacitated. Even Pen-Pen turned a colour not normally associated with penguins.
Green doesn't go with red. Have to remember that next time...
She gulped down the next wave of nausea. Steeling her mind and body, the latter less effectively, she exited her apartment, Asuka trailing behind her.
Damn that bastard Gendo. Rei's gotta move in nearer if this goes on.
Needless to say, she was glad that elevators didn't travel horizontally. As she staggered towards her car, she made a vow never to drive like she did again.
The tough Major plopped into the driver's seat of her battered car. Asuka managed to drag herself into the passenger seat, before passing out. Soon, they were on their way towards Rei's apartment complex.
Now that Gendo's dead, NERV will be disorganized, probably enough for the next Angel to do some heavy damage. Thank goodness the EVA cages are still intact. Commander Fuyutsuki's already seeing Geo-Front on the way to recovery, but he just doesn't have Gendo's cold logic. Admittedly though, he is quite a nice old man after all. Maybe I can get him to give me a raise...
Misato grinned, despite herself. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the sirens until they were too late.
Hehe. And then, I'll get myself a new car...
"You in the blue sports car, pull over!"
She snapped back to reality, and was greeted by a speedometer indicating a hundred miles an hour, and a police car on her tail. Suddenly not feeling very well, she slammed the brakes and fought back the urge to vomit.
The car spinned, catching the policeman by surprise. After careening into a mailbox and narrowly missing a stray cat, it skidded to a halt beside the road. The police car tailing it swerved and stopped in front of the blue car, effectively preventing it from driving away.
Readying his baton, he walked up to the driver's door and rapped on the windshield. Unfortunately, Misato's resolve gave out at that point...
She opened the door, only to vomit all over the shocked policeman.
Aww... nuts. Could this get any worse?
"Hand over your license and registration." The policeman was rather composed, even after what happened to him, Misato noted. He'd do good at Security.
Misato pulled out her Nerv ID. "I'm with Nerv. You can let me go now."
The cop eyed her closely before continuing. "Does that mean that you're above the law?"
"You see, we Nerv personnel have certain priveledges, and this is one of them, in case we need to get anywhere in an emergency, especially in an Angel attack."
Strangely, a smile started to spread across his face. It slowly became a grin, finally turning into a bout of laughter. Misato looked on in curiosity.
"Look, if there's nothing else, I have to go. There's urgent business I have to attend to.
He sobered immediately.
Bad move.
"Now, lady, that's a good one you just told me. But laws are laws, and I'll still have to give you a ticket for speeding."
Misato silently swore. Awakened by the sirens, Asuka did so not as silently. Damn, a newbie. So, it COULD get worse.
"As I said, we Nerv personnel are excused from this. Now could you let me go?"
"You broke the law, Nerv or no. Speaking of breaking the law, do you intend to break the law again with her?" He cocked his head towards Asuka.
Catching onto what he mant, Misato was suddenly glad that Asuka ate what she cooked. Otherwise, the policeman might have becomed another casaulty.
"Misato, just take the damned ticket. I'm sick and tired of all this."
Misato opened her mouth again to argue with the policeman.
Fourteen minutes and three seconds later, an extremely disgruntled Misato continued towards Rei's apartment complex, a half-torn speeding ticket in her pocket.
Security be damned. I'm personally informing the police department of my rights next time.
-~-~-
Misato stopped at the front door to Rei's apartment. Hesitating slightly, she knocked on the door. Hearing no response, she knocked again.
And again. And again. And... oh, you get my point.
To cut a long story short, she knocked until she was on the verge of breaking the door down, then realized that it was unlocked. Letting herself in, she looked around for Shinji. Strangely, none of the lights were turned on. The only thing illuminating the place was the moonlight streaming through the window. Turning around, she happened to glance into the bedroom...
And stopped short at what she saw.
She clapped a hand to her mouth. Her heart, literally, skipped a beat.
I've seen Maya kiss Ritsuko, I've seen Kaji rise from the dead. Hell, I've even seen Gendo with a frightened look on his face, but THIS is ridiculous!
Behind her, the slap of a hand hastily raised to a mouth could be heard. Whirling around, Misato caught a glimpse of red hair as Asuka entered the bathroom. Soon, retching sounds could be heard.
Some part of Misato refused to accept failures. I bet that's not from my cooking.