Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion…

Hey, sorry it's been so long. I got grounded… lol. Anyway, I'm back with new chapters. I've also got great ideas for other stories, Evangelion and others alike. I think I'm going to release a Pokemon story. AH! YES! Don't worry though, it'll be plenty good. Dark, dramatic, action packed… sexy. Lol, I promise it'll be worth your while. As soon as I figure out the finer points it'll be released. Along with a Gundam Wing fic, maybe a Robotech fic, and an original fiction! Finally, I will have an original fic, maybe two. Anyway, enough gibbering and onto the story!

Story rated R for violence, language, and sexuality.

Story Title: Masochist

Author: Mosher-24

Chapter Thirteen: Awake and breathing

~*~*~*~*

Shinji's eyes had glazed over from the constant darkness and isolation. He had been in the brig for eight days, without any contact with a human, save being thrown in. His food was slid in from behind him, in a hole at the bottom of a metal wall.

The cell was in pitch-blackness. Shinji had to find his way around by feel to find the toilet to relieve himself and throw up. Now, more than ever before, he hated his father.

There was a constant drip of water in the distance, perhaps some rusty old water pipe. The relentless repetition of the drip had all but driven him mad, quietly creeping into his brain and sending him on his way towards insanity.

Shinji sat on the floor, which was also metal, cold and hard and smooth. He hugged his knees to his chest, though he could not see them.

Shinji had long since grown used to the darkness and its secrets, knew that there was nothing to fear, because the only other organic thing that made noise was the water.

Shinji was again thinking of Rei, the only thing that kept his sane: the image of her mystical beauty and grace. Her crimson eyes softening at the sight of him, her usually frowning mouth upturned into a soft smile at the sight of him, the blue hair was rested perfectly on her head and framed her face. A tear rolled down Shinji's cheek, though he could not feel it. He was numb, for it had gotten very cold in the cell, but he didn't care to notice.

Shinji couldn't sense anything. There was nothing organic emitting any energy but himself. Even the water seemed to be dead. The third looked to the ground, though he did not actually see it. There was a jagged piece of metal there somewhere.

His hands went to the ground, searching for the treasure. When he felt his hands close around it, a sick smile lit on his face.

Since he had been thrown into his prison cell, he had found a jagged piece of metal and gave himself a slash for everyday spent in the dark. Today he gave himself an eighth slash and felt the sickening, horribly addictive pain. Blood dripped to the floor, joining the ever-present water drips.

Shinji let fall the makeshift dagger and let his wound bleed until it healed. Rei flashed into his mind again and he felt ashamed of his addiction, but justified. No one deserved pain more than him in his mind, save his own father.

The lights suddenly went on, blinding Shinji temporarily. Had he been paying any attention, he would have noticed that he could sense a person coming to his cell.

"Well, have you learned your lesson, Shinji?" a womanly voice asked from a doorway that had opened up behind him. He could not see her, for the light was too bright. She looked like some angelic form outlined by the light of God. Shinji waved off this foolishness and recognized the voice for who it really was.

"Dr. Akagi, what lesson?" Shinji replied, being able to see her somewhat now.

"Why, you shouldn't speak like you were Third. It was a very real threat, and because you were crazed, you didn't mean it. Will it happen again?" she asked gently.

"No, it will not, doctor," Shinji replied, sounding calm, but on the inside was raging with anger and hatred for his father and his father's whore.

"Very well, you may go back to Miss Katsuragi's now," Ritsuko said with a smile. Shinji could now see her well enough to make out her features and saw she wasn't joking.

"What about Mr. Kaji?" Shinji asked, getting to his feet, forgetting the pool of blood and the stains left from his crude way of keeping time.

"Kaji is… busy. He will not be in Tokyo-3 for another few days and he will not have time for you when he returns. Misato has personally requested you be relocated back with her."

"Really? I can go straight to her house?"

"Straight to her house. Don't stop anywhere else, lest you be put back here. You shall not go to school for the rest of the week, today is Wednesday. Sleep and recover your strength. Oh, and Rei is not feeling well. You are not to see her," Ritsuko added this last comment with an emphasis.

"Yes ma'am," Shinji said, having no intention of following this rule.

Doctor Akagi stepped aside and let Shinji walk through the door. He found himself in an abandoned hallway, which happened to be brightly lit. There was only one other door, and that was to an elevator.

"Take the elevator to Level G and you'll find yourself outside Misato's apartment," Ritsuko said. She walked into the cell and closed the door; to clean what Shinji had left behind.

Shinji practically jumped into the elevator, his arm still stinging from the cut, and pushed the button labeled, 'Level G'.

The elevator was quite fast, and it appeared Shinji was quite a ways bellow ground, for it took five minutes before the elevator came to a rest.

When the doors opened, he found it was night. The elevator was in the doorway of an old building that read, 'No trespassing!' Shinji stepped out of the elevator and it shut and went back down. He marveled at the intricacy of the NERV underground systems for a moment before turning to the apartment complex.

It somehow glowed in the night. The building was only a couple stories high, but it meant home for him. The parking lot was almost empty except for Misato's sports car. Dust, grime, and dirt lined the walls and cement, but that was the only time Shinji found himself happy to be around it. 

He crossed the street and entered the only door to the stairs that led to the second floor. Shinji closed in on the door and thought of knocking, but a key was taped to the door. It said, 'Shinji Baka.' Shinji couldn't help but smile.

The third child's finger clasped the key and he inserted it into the door handle and turned. The door opened without a creak and he found himself looking in on a deserted living room. Snores were drifting from Misato's room and Asuka's room.

The room hadn't changed much. There was a table where most festivities took place. A couch, a TV, a plant, a window, and a bar that encircled the kitchen. Pen-Pen was sleeping on the couch, a Yebisu beer clutched under his wing.

Shinji also found his stuff on the table. His cell phone, book bag, keys, and a bag of clothes. Shinji hurriedly picked up the cell phone and dialed the number.

It rang three times before someone picked up. The voice was groggy and far away.

"Hello?"

"Rei!"

"Shinji? You're out? I was so worried!"

"Rei! What's wrong? You don't sound well at all!"

"I'm just feeling a little sick, that's all. I'll be out of school all week."

"Me too. What're your symptoms?"

"Just… nausea and headache. Nothing serious. But I need to go to bed, I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

"I love you Shinji."

"I love you too Rei. I love you too…"

*Click*

Shinji stared at his phone and set it back down on the table. Rei had sounded dreadful. He quickly made up his mind and left a note on the table telling Misato where he'd gone. After the note was in place, he left in a hurry, down the stairs and onto the street.

It was a cool night, no breeze, but no real heat either. Shinji walked quickly down the almost deserted streets, crossing here and there, making his way to Rei's apartment. No people were walking, and only a few cars drove past, most of which where people getting out of town.

The city was aglow, however. It radiated a golden light, mostly from the beautiful street lamps, which where inside square paper box decorated in flowers and calligraphy.

Shinji came upon his destination. Rei's apartment complex was deserted except for her. The construction noises had stopped, being since it was night. Shinji walked into the building, climbed the four flights of stairs and walked to her door. It was unlocked, since she needed no such security measures in an abandoned apartment complex.

Shinji slowly pushed open the door and silently crept in, closing the door soundlessly behind him. Rei was standing at the only window in her apartment, staring out at Tokyo-3.

Shinji moved up beside her and stared out with her. She had no idea of his presence, so he looked out at what she was gazing at.

It was the only time Shinji loved Tokyo-3. It was dark except for the golden glow of lights. The clouds weren't blocking anything from view, and the moon softly reflected the sun's light upon Earth.

"Beautiful," Shinji whispered in Rei's ear. She jumped and turned to look at him.

Shinji gasped. The apartment was light only by the light of the city, but Shinji could still see well after being in darkness for eight days. Rei was completely pale, even more so than usual. Her face was devoid of color. Her eyes were dull, glazed, and her veins were showing.

"Shinji! You shouldn't be here!" Rei said, turning away from him.

"What happened?" Shinji asked, ignoring her comment. He turned her back to face him and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Nothing… I just got a bad case of… the flu. It's contagious, you shouldn't be here," Rei said again. She was lying and Shinji knew it, though he did not press matters. Rei had been to the machine again, but she wasn't about to tell Shinji what the price for their love was.

"You don't look well yourself, Shinji," Rei said, looking at her lover. He was also pale, after not seeing sunlight for so long. His pupils were heavily dilated, still used to the utter darkness.

"Rei, are you going to be okay?" Shinji asked. She nodded, though she knew she would not be okay.

"I love you," she whispered. Shinji took her in his arms and kissed her softly. He whispered sweet things in her ear and gently blew on it, kissing her neck in between times.

She closed her eyes and let him lay her on the bed. He kissed her again softly, but then just took her in his arms and held her there. She had no objections, for she was extremely tired, and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

~*~*~*~*~*

"Where is that little idiot!? It's nine!" Asuka yelled.

"Shouldn't you be in school though?" Misato suggested, taking her morning beer.

"No! I need to give the little twerp a proper hello, after all, don't I?" Asuka said hotly. Misato only nodded and took a big gulp of her beverage.

Shinji came in through the door ten minutes later and was tackled by three bodies, one a small penguin, one a beautiful teenager, one a beautiful adult.

They all smothered him with hello's, a hit in the face included in Asuka's. Soon, he was telling them what had happened down in the prison cell, leaving out the detail about his cutting.

~~~~~~~~~ Continued

Author's Notes: Hoped you liked this chapter. It's a little break from all the violence, language and gore stuff. Anyway, I'm tired. Good night.

~Mosher-24