Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion. Pure and Simple.
All right, I would like to take time and acknowledge some of the people reading my fic. First of all, thank you very much for reviewing it. It has been mostly positive so far. I know that my second chapter was very close to the Manga, but here is where is strays from that path. There are still slight parts from the manga, but most of it is original (Except for being based off Evangelion {lol}). Thank you Laval for giving me detailed reviews. I am working my best, but when you're in 8th grade, the teachers don't spend much time with creative writing. (That's right, I'm in 8th grade). Anyway. I have tried to make the format more readable. I apologize for the format of the third chapter; something went wrong with my computer when I submitted it. Here we go…
Thingies are Character thoughts
CHAPTER FOUR: AWKWARD
***
Shinji bit his lip as he slowly cleaned his earrings with rubbing alcohol and Q-tips.
"Ah," he gasped as he finished. The slightest trace of a smile crossed his face.
"SHINJIIII!" Asuka called from the hallway. "TIME FOR SCHOOOL!" the redhead whined, throwing the bathroom door open.
"Oh god! What happened to your ears?" she gasped, sounding slightly worried.
Shinji shrugged and walked passed the second child. Asuka bit her lip and followed the third child out the door.
Asuka kept quiet as she walked next to Shinji. He hadn't said much of anything since she found him in the bathroom. I can't help but feel worried Asuka thought, running her slender fingers through her golden-red hair.
Shinji's wary feet carried him through the dirty, grimy streets of Tokyo-3 and slowly carried him to his middle school.
"I'll see you later Asuka," Shinji said quietly, walking to his locker.
"Yea," Asuka whispered, observing the brown haired pilot for a short while before moving to her own locker.
***
Shinji dozed during the lecture…again. He had tried to stay awake, but ended up slumping onto his blank laptop.
Across the dull room, a blue haired girl stared out the window, her drooping crimson eyes gazing at the boring landscape.
On the other side of the room, a red-haired girl sat yawning, pondering Shinji's new behavior.
***
A quick ringing sound woke Shinji from his slumber.
"See you after lunch," the teacher droned. Several students were making their way out of the classroom, chatting excitedly.
The tired boy stood up and made his way toward the door. His mind was set on self-disgust mode as he thought back over his newly found addiction.
Whispering surrounded Shinji and he knew that if he were to stick around long enough, the students would round on him and his ears.
Just as someone began to walk toward him, he sped off to the door of the lunchroom.
Toji and Kensuke hadn't arrived at the lunchroom yet, so he took another choice.
"A-Ayanami? May I sit here again?" he stuttered as he walked up to the first child, who sat eating her small lunch.
"Yes," she replied quietly. Shinji sat down next to Rei and grabbed a plate of noodles.
"Got feelings for Ayanami eh? Strong enough not to sit by ya friends?" Toji asked loudly, a little hurt showing on his voice.
"I, er, no, I mean, that is, uh, er, well…" Shinji scratched the back of his head and blushed as he tripped over his own words.
"Eh, it's okay buddy. Don't worry 'bout it," Toji said, waiving his hand in the air.
The whole lunchroom giggled, and Toji blushed and mouthed, 'I'm sorry' to his friend.
Shinji nodded and blushed. Rei had stopped eating to listen, but then began to eat again with small bites.
"We have got a synch test again today," she said softly, looking up at the boy next to her. He gave her a soft smile and stood up.
"See you later," he said to Ayanami as he made his way to the door.
The girl stared after him. She then finished her own meal and made her way out of the door.
***
Shinji sat staring at the mysterious blue haired pilot sitting on the other side of the fence. She had her knees drawn to her chest and she was staring off into space.
"Who ya staring at Ikari? Hikari? No…Ayanami? Boy, ya sure go for da sullen ones," Toji said rather loudly.
Shinji jumped and blushed; looking around he noticed several people staring at him.
Geez. She has good hearing he thought as he noticed Rei's gaze now fell on him.
Rei considered the young Ikari for a moment before returning to her previous thoughts and staring off into space.
Shinji blushed and stared at Rei again, not listening to what Toji and Kensuke were saying to him.
She seemed very anti-social, but when you talked to her, it was more like she didn't know how to carry on a conversation instead of not wanting to.
***
Shinji didn't realize when the bell rang. He just sat there stupidly as everyone left.
"C'mon Ikari!" Toji called to Shinji. "Yea, C'mon!" Kensuke said, yanking on Shinji's new earring.
"Ow!" Shinji exclaimed as he got up and followed his friends to the locker room.
***
Shinji spent the rest of class pondering Ritsuko's new tests. Wonder what she's going to have us do today. Hope it's nothing stupid he thought as he slipped off into a light sleep.
***
Shinji put his books into the book bag in his hands and put it over his shoulder. The sheer weight of the load almost made him fall to his knees.
His feet carried him down the familiar, dirty path back to Misato's apartment. His face contorted as the weight of life seemed to be pressing against him.
A soft voice behind him snapped him out of the days he seemed to be in. "That is not the way to NERV headquarters Ikari," the voice called softly.
Shinji turned to see the first child holding her briefcase in front of her.
"Oh, I forgot," Shinji said, turning to follow his fellow pilot.
He walked behind her, trying to keep up with her fast pace until the familiar site of NERV headquarters came to view.
"Gods in his heaven. All's right with us," he read softly. Hardly he thought as Rei swiped her I.D. card through the security check system.
Shinji stepped in after the girl and followed her down a series of passages that ultimately led to the locker rooms.
The small doorway led into a little room with marble floors that were split down the middle by a gray curtain.
Rei walked on the other side of the curtain and quickly stripped down.
Shinji had been watching her silhouette and, as Rei's undergarments came off, Shinji shivered. "Oh, good god," he shuttered as he watched the shadow with a somewhat lusting feeling.
Shinji changed into his plug suit as quickly as possible and walking out the door and through some more passages until he reached the EVA cages.
Rei came in shortly after him and they both stood in front of 01 and 00, awaiting Dr. Akagi.
Ritsuko and Misato walked in with smiles on their faces. "Hello Shinji," Misato said, her smile increasing warmly.
"Hello Misato," Shinji replied, a smile crossing his own face.
"Today's synch test will be to compare your compatibility with Rei. You know, how well you work with her. We've already seen you and Asuka," Ritsuko explained.
Rei's right hand subconsciously clasped her left arm.
"We're just going to see how well you coordinate together," the blonde doctor said, smirking and walking out.
"You may get into your Evas," Misato said, turning and walking off after Ritsuko.
***
Shinji sat in the rather uncomfortable metal seat. "I hate LCL," he said as the little capsule filled with an orange liquid.
"Ready?" came Misato's voice.
"Yes sir," came Rei's reply.
"Activate!" Misato ordered.
A simulated Tokyo-3 came into Shinji's field of vision. It was filled with tall, dirty, boring looking buildings. Shinji looked over the apartment building in front of him. It had several small black windows and repetitive designs on him. He saw a strange orb floating above the city.
"Units 00 and 01 are to observe the angel threatening Tokyo-3 and wait for further orders," Misato said over the communications link.
"It can't be too dangerous," Shinji said, willing his large Eva to make its way toward the ball.
"Ikari! Look out!" Ayanami called.
"Huh?" Shinji grunted dumbly. He looked down and saw 01 being sucked into a
large hole.
"End simulation," Misato sighed tiredly.
"Come to the control room!" the purple haired woman yelled angrily. Uh oh… Shinji thought.
***
Shinji looked at the floor after being severely scolded for not waiting for orders.
"Now, you will be spending five days with Rei. The angel in the simulation is heading this way and will arrive in approximately six days," Ritsuko said, a smirk inching its way across her features.
"W-What?" Shinji stuttered, his jaw dropping open.
"Ah, Rei. As I was just telling Shinji, you'll be spending five days in the same apartment…to get your coordinating synch ratios up," Ritsuko said to the now entering blue haired girl.
"Yes Doctor," Rei replied without emotion. Shinji blushed and looked at Ritsuko.
"It's JUST to get your cooperative synch ratios higher," the doctor repeated.
He sighed and looked at the floor.
"Where's the apartment?"
***
This is going to suck. I'll be trying to strike up a conversation and I'll just end up embarrassing myself he thought.
Ritsuko led them to a tunnel that led to a monorail. It was dark and only the small white transport was illuminated.
It had a small door that led to a chamber with ten seats inside.
"Get off at the first stop. It's room 13," she said as she handed Rei the keys.
Rei's slender, pale hands clasped around the golden keys.
"Is it still inside headquarters?" Rei asked, stepping onto the transport after Shinji.
Ritsuko nodded to Rei as the door shut. The monorail's door shut and the transport took off at a slow pace. The walls seemed to hum as it gently glided down the tunnel.
Rei sat down and didn't speak for the rest of the time. She just stared out of the windows into the dark.
Shinji stood, shaking with nervousness. What am I going to do? he asked himself.
As quickly as it had begun, the monorail stopped and the doors creaked open.
Rei stood and briskly walked out the door, followed by Shinji.
Rei walked up the dirty stairs and straight down a hallway to a door marked "13".
Misato stood outside the door, her arms crossed.
"Here you are. It's a standard room: stereo, TV, refrigerator, microwave, etcetera. Make yourselves at home. The doors will lock from Nine PM until Six AM to ensure that you don't run off," she looked straight at her charge when she said this.
Shinji blushed and clenched his fist at his side.
"Video cameras have been installed to secure your safety," she added, winking at Shinji.
Why do I get the feeling it's not just for our security? Shinji asked himself.
"Good night," Misato said, turning and walking toward the monorail.
Rei turned and inserted the golden key into the door of apartment thirteen. She turned it and opened the creaky door.
The room inside was a little bit bigger than Rei's apartment. There was a TV stationed in front of two twin beds, a stereo system lay right next to the TV, and the refrigerator was outside the bathroom.
Why am I so nervous? Shinji thought, blushing more as he stepped into the room. The two beds were quit close together.
He walked to the bed on the left and sat down on it. The albino girl sat down on the bed to the right and put away some of her cloths.
After she got done putting her things away, she stood up and walked toward the bathroom door.
"I'm going to take a shower," she said to him.
"Okay," Shinji replied, blushing, though he didn't know why.
Rei disappeared inside the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Shinji blushed even more as he noticed that she hadn't locked the door. No...that would be wrong... he thought, blushing a deep maroon.
***
Rei slipped her school uniform off and threw it to the side. She turned the shower on cold water and stepped in.
Why was Ikari so bothered by staying with me? she asked herself as she let the water run down her body. She wasn't bothered by it's temperature.
Am I...unpleasant? she thought with a frown. I thought he said he likes me... she thought as she lathered her hair with a shampoo NERV had supplied.
***
Shinji sighed. He looked up as Rei emerged from the bathroom. Her body was covered lazily by a towel and she was eyeing the third child curiously.
Rei threw her towel off and changed into her cloths right in front of Shinji.
The boy covered his eyes and looked away. His cheeks turned so red, it looked as if they would ignite in a ball of fire.
"What is wrong Ikari?" Rei asked, tying the bow on her uniform.
"I, uh, well, er, um, I..." he stuttered, turning back to face her.
She sat on her bed and decided not to push Shinji any farther for an answer.
Shinji stood and walked into the bathroom so he could escape Rei's questioning.
The door shut behind him and he looked over Rei's dirty cloths.
He picked them up and threw them in the hamper next to the toilet. He threw his own cloths into the hamper also and he stepped into the shower.
***
Rei stared at the bathroom door. Why was he so embarrassed? she thought. After a few minutes of contemplating, she decided to read.
She pulled out a book and flipped to the front. She read a couple of pages before Shinji emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed.
Shinji sat down on his bead and grabbed the TV remote. Ayanami watched the boy curiously as he switched through channels.
The young Ikari stopped at a channel entitled, 'Comedy Central'.
"Cool. It's Dennis Leary," he said to no one in particular. The comedian walked across the stage telling dirty jokes.
"Dennis Leary? Who is that?" Rei asked quietly. Her crimson eyes drooped almost sadly as her blue hair gently grazed her pale skin on her forehead.
"A comedian," Shinji said simply, staring forward at the screen.
Rei watched the TV curiously as Shinji laughed at the rather raunchy comedian.
She did not find the jokes funny, nor did she find them remotely entertaining.
"Why are you laughing?" Rei asked solemnly. Shinji stopped laughing and turned to look at the first child.
"You don't think he's funny?" he asked, an embarrassed look on his face.
Rei watched Dennis Leary's next joke and kept a straight face.
"No..." she said quietly, a slight look of disgust showing on her face.
Shinji shrugged and changed the channel. Nothing else was on, however, so he turned the TV off and put the remote on a bed stand to his left.
"W-Wanna go get some dinner?" Shinji stuttered slightly as his stomach grumbled.
Rei glanced at the clock to her right and looked into Shinji's face with that dead gaze.
"Yes," she said simply, standing up and walking to the door.
***
They walked in silence until the NERV cafeteria came into view.
"Ikari? Where are you going?" Rei asked as Shinji walked passed the cafeteria.
"I wanna go someplace different...Would you come too, please? I've got some yen..." he said to her, blushing slightly.
Rei walked next to him, answering his question without words.
***
As they walked down the moonlit streets of Tokyo-3, Shinji kept stealing long glances at Rei. She didn't look back at him, but she could feel his stares.
Shinji led her to a small Ramen Shop.
"Is this okay?" he asked the girl next to him.
"Yes, it is acceptable," she replied quietly. She slowly followed Shinji up to the counter and stood quietly waiting for the clerk.
"Oh, what a cute couple!" said a lady who had just walked up, her hair was pulled back into a bun and she was wearing a red dress.
"No! We aren't a couple...We're just friends!" Shinji said hastily, blushing horribly.
"Sure..." the lady said, grinning.
Friends? Rei thought. What is a friend? Is Ikari my friend? Rei's thought process was broken by the blonde lady behind the counter.
"What'll you have hon?" the woman asked, looking right at Rei. "The vegetarian ramen cup," she replied emptily.
"Okay, coming right up," the lady said, fixing Rei her meal quickly.
"Thank you," Rei said as she turned and found her seat, holding her food out in a bowl.
Shinji was already sitting at the table, eating his own meal. As Rei sat, they both ate in silence for quite a while.
"Am I your friend Ikari?" Rei asked quietly, taking a break from her food.
"Huh? Yeah, why?" Shinji asked, looking up from his steaming cup. His blue eyes found their way to her face and gently surveyed her features.
"What does 'friend' mean to you? I have read that it is a relationship between people..." she looked up into Shinji's face and her crimson eyes locked with Shinji's blue ones.
"Friends...to me are...people you could trust with your life...who will be there for you...who I could count on..." Shinji blushed as he finished.
The blue haired girl continued to stare at Shinji, her expression staying the same as ever.
***
Shinji finally stood up as he finished his cup. "I'm full, how about you?" he asked, not looking at Ayanami.
Why am I so embarrassed? I hate adolescence! he thought angrily.
"Yes, I am full also," Rei said as she stood. She followed Shinji to the door and walked out after him.
The way back to their apartment was boring and uneventful and by the time they reached it, they were both tired.
As Shinji opened the door to the apartment and let Rei go through, Rei finally decided to voice all her thoughts.
"Why did you kiss me before, Ikari? I have read that 'just friends' do not do that..." she asked quietly, avoiding his eyes.
Shinji stared at the ground and didn't answer. His cheeks felt like they were on fire.
"I..." he never finished because the lights out bell issued.
"Goodnight Ikari..." Rei said as she undressed before him and climbed into her bed.
Shinji blushed furiously and climbed under his own covers, taking his cloths off from under the privacy of his own bed.
Rei sighed and closed her eyes. Both teenagers fell asleep in a few minutes time.
***
During the night, Shinji woke to hear Rei shivering. Odd... he thought as he walked over and pulled his only cover onto her.
She stopped shivering almost immediately. Shinji smiled and walked back to his own bed, which was now only covered by a thin sheet.
As Shinji climbed back into his own bed, he started to shiver uncontrollably. His eyes drooped despite the cold, however, and he soon was on the edge of slumber.
Just as he was about to slip into a dream, a cold body pressed up against him, followed by a heavy blanket being laid upon him.
"W-w-w-who?" he stuttered as he turned to see the bare body of Rei facing him.
"What is wrong Ikari?" she asked quietly, no change in her expression.
"Y-y-y-your n-naked!" Shinji stuttered, barely able to keep consciousness.
Rei furrowed her brow and looked into Shinji's face.
"What is the problem? This is how we are born. Is it not? We are born nude, thus it is natural," she replied, not able to see why it had bothered Shinji.
"Why in m-m-my bed?" he asked, blushing furiously.
"You would be cold would you not? This way, we can share the blanket instead of just one of us getting it, thus, we are both warm," she stated as though it were obvious.
She had a point. Shinji shuttered as Rei's slender hand reached out and touched his cheek.
"What is wrong? You do not like me?" she asked, a little hurt appearing in her soft voice.
"I-I-I-I," Shinji's brain felt like it had derailed.
"Yes," he finally said, gathering enough courage to state this without stuttering.
"Do you not want to touch? I have read that people who like each other touch," she looked at him strangely. "You-You like me?" Shinji asked in disbelief.
Maybe this'll be the luckiest day of my life instead of the most embarrassing...maybe both he thought.
"Yes," Rei said, touching Shinji's cheek once again.
Shinji stared at her for a long time. The feel of her hand on his cheek sent tingles down his spine.
Shinji closed his eyes and leaned in. For the second time in their life, the two teenagers kissed.
It was a short, deep kiss that lasted about ten seconds.
Shinji put his hand in her blue hair and smiled.
They both fell asleep in that embrace.
Author Notes: Well...sorry that took so long. I hope you liked it. I did stray farther from the manga. In fact, I only had a couple minor parts in there from the manga. The Shinji/Rei relationship is developing nicely, I think. Chapter Five will be out soon enough. Please keep watching this series. It gets interesting.
NEXT CHAPTER: JUST FRIENDS