Life's Never Simple
A/N: This will be from Shinji's POV again, and will take off immediately after Chapter 1.
Chapter 2
When Will This End?
"Get in." Rei ordered, her red eyes glistening with… something. She was pointing to her car, an old, pre-Second Impact limousine, it's front bumper bent from the weight of a telephone pole.
Not willing to cause a commotion, I obeyed, entering the old limo. She motioned for me to take the far seat, and I did so. She sat down in the middle, and her guards, two ex-UN military personnel wearing a black suit and sunglasses, got in. From their form, they seemed to be amateurs, but they all carried what looked like powerful, fifty-caliber handguns, so I knew that I had no choice for two reasons. I also began to dread the moment of my betrayal.
I put my suitcase down on my lap, and inwardly smirked. They really were amateurs, not even bothering to check it. For all they knew, I could have six pounds of bombs in there, yet they didn't check. Yet, at the same time, I welcomed their stupidity. That was my rifle. I also fingered my handgun, which I kept in a small, hollow hole I had cut into the suitcase, and then covered with fine black cloth.
"Ikari, let's get down to business. Are you, in any way, associated with your father?" Rei asked, motioning for a guard to take aim at me.
The guard followed Rei's order. Gently, I lowered my gaze to the floor, trying to inconspicuously create an escape plan if this goes wrong. "No, Ayanami-san, I am not. Or at least, not anymore." I said, and wondered how much of it was true. Presumably, it was all a lie. But was it really? Why couldn't I fire yesterday?
Rei was disturbed by my answer, that much was obvious. I had grown proficient in reading other's faces, and even those who were able to hide their emotions would be easy to discern… Well, not easy, but possible.
"So, Rei, how's… Shoot, I forgot. I've been forgetting everything. I might even forget my name one day!" I joked.
Instead of easing the tension, as I had intended, my comment only made it worse. Apparently, that sparked Rei's suspicion, which was the worst mistake I could have made.
"Interesting story. Now, why don't you tell me the truth?" she asked, whipping out her semiautomatic pistol.
Damn. Looks like I'll have to get my hands dirty after all. I thought nervously. Rumor throughout Father's higher-up divisions said that Rei was dangerous to cross, and a skilled martial artist. I would have to face her in a car at close range, and she had the first move.
I quickly moved my hand to get under her pistol, forcing it to point at her face. "Will you listen to me now?" I asked calmly, although sweat was pouring across my brow.
"Yes." Rei replied sorrowfully, returning her gun to her holster. "Ikari, how would you like to join my protective detail?"
This was the best opportunity I had. "Very well."
"I'm hosting a ball tomorrow at UN HQ. They've been rather friendly with NERV since Third Impact was averted." She said. "I expect you to be there. If you are okay, I will add Eva pilot in addition to your protection duties."
"I understand, ma'am."
Later, at the ball, the detail assigned me to guard the balcony. Silently, I prayed that Father would not send an assassin to watch over me. Then I would have to fire, or risk my charade being blown. But was it a charade? Or was there something… Deeper? What was it I felt around Rei? Loyalty? But I was supposed to be loyal to Father, not Rei… Rei was my target… But did I care?
I decided to spend the time I was up there cleaning my pistol. After all, no matter if my behavior around Rei was really an act or something else, I would definitely fire if Father attacked.
That was when I caught a glimpse of an assault rifle barrel. I quickly brought my pistol's sights to my face, judging where the target's head would be. I had placed a silencer on the pistol so that any shots I might fire would not frighten the guests. Then I pulled the trigger three times, and the assault rifle vanished behind the curtains. But then came the sound of automatic gunfire.
"Code Red! The commander's under attack!" my radio crackled to life, and I realized that I would need a different gun. I whipped out my sniper rifle, the same one I had used when I was ordered to merely assassinate Rei… How I wished that those had remained my orders.
I looked around for the shooters, and then quickly located them. They were on the adjacent balcony. Slowly, I crouched down, taking careful aim with my sniper rifle. I would have to be fast and accurate. My breath naturally speeded up, but I forced myself to relax. Too much nervousness would cause a miss… And my death.
My finger naturally tensed on the trigger, and I completely stopped breathing. Then, I fired off one shot. Two shots. Three.
Another gunner spotted me, and he opened fire. Bullets whizzed over my head, shattering glasses, windows, and mugs. I pulled my pistol out and fired three times, missing.
Suddenly, Rei rushed at the attacker, a sword in her hand. Caught unaware, the guard was impaled on her sword.
"Stack up! Secure the area!" blared my radio. I ran down the stairs, holstering my pistol as I went, and joined up with the others in the center of the ballroom.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but I was having trouble formulating many parts of the story, preoccupied with other stories, and massive school and social troubles. However, that was the second chapter of Life's Never Simple.
