Waiting
A fanfic by Jack Chapman
Light poured through a dusty window into a cold sterile waiting room. Inside it there were a few chairs and a stack of magazines. At both ends of the room there was a door, one door lead into Doctors Ritsuko's surgery, the other leading into a cold dark labyrinth better known as NERV's hospital wing.
There were no nurses, no one to notice the two adolescent boys. One of whom was sitting in a wheel chair with an amputated leg. The other was sitting on a chair with his face buried in his hands. They had already been waiting for a little over fifteen minutes but neither said a word. So they continued to sit and wait.
Eventually the boy with his face in his hands started to whimper.
"Shinji" said the boy in the wheelchair "There is no need to cry. Soon I will get my prosthetic leg and I'll be on my feet in no time". His voice echoed through the room. The boy called Shinji continued to whimper.
Eventually Shinji muttered "if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be like, it was all my fault. I have no right to be in your presence".
The boy in the wheelchair moved to face him. "Shinji, you must give yourself more credit. It wasn't your fault; you did your best to save me. Your father is the one to blame, and even if he didn't do what he did you could have been killed".
Shinji sighed "Toji, when I refused to fight I thought you wouldn't get hurt. Then father, the bastard activated the autopilot that destroyed Evangelion unit four and nearly killed you".
Toji looked into his eyes, but Shinji avoided his gaze. "My Evangelion was out of control, if it hadn't been stopped millions of innocent people could have been killed. I forgive you".
Shinji looked up "But I cant forgive myself" he paused "Hit me, take out your anger on me, it is the only way I can end this" He was almost yelling. Toji saw desperation in Shinji's eyes.
"Well if it is the only way to end this crap" He muttered. Toji leaned forward and cracked his knuckles then he took Shinji into a head lock. He made his hand into a fist.
"Don't hold back!" Shinji muttered pathetically as he braced to be hit.
Suddenly, surprise and relief filled Shinj he felt Toji's fist rub up agenised his scalp. Shinji smiled.
"Thanks man"
"Anytime" Toji released his grip and leaned back into his chair "You cant change the past Shinji, but you can make the best of your present and try to steer the future in your favour. You cant move forward when you are bogged down by regrets of the past" he jokingly punched Shinji in the shoulder.
A flock of white birds flew past the window.
The lock on the door clicked as it opened and a woman in a lab coad stepped out.
"Toji Suzahara" she called "You can see me now".
"Good luck" Shinji wished.
"Thanks" Toji said as the wheeled towards the doctors office.
Before Shinji knew it the door shut and he was alone and again all he could do was sit and wait.
FIN