Disclaimer: see chapter 1.
Folded Wings
By Random1377
Chapter 8
Sunday proved to be rather dull for Rei. Kaji had not returned home until well after she was asleep, and did not come out of his room before she had to go in for sync tests at NERV. She thought briefly of rapping on his door to tell him that she was going, but decided that if he was tired enough to sleep until mid-afternoon, he was probably not going to appreciate her waking him just to say goodbye.
She did, however, stand outside of his door and murmur, "I'm leaving."
It was basic courtesy, she decided.
The train ride was boring, as usual, and the sync test was even more so. Rei did not really mind, though. This was her role, after all, her very reason for existing.
How could she complain about that?
"You're up two points," Doctor Akagi informed her as the test reached its conclusion, "keep doing whatever it is you're doing."
"Yes ma'am."
It was far from praise, but it was the best she would ever get from the caustic blonde.
"Also… have you seen Maya around anywhere today?"
Rei frowned slightly. "No ma'am," she replied honestly, "is there a problem?"
"No, not really," Doctor Akagi replied absently, "it's just that she's been signed in for a while and I haven't seen her. I keep missing her somehow. Forget about it."
"Yes ma'am."
After her shower, Rei found that she had nowhere to go. Usually, the Commander would be somewhere in the building and they would arrange to eat together, or at the very least she would give him a status update, but like Doctor Akagi and Miss Ibuki, she could not seem to locate the Commander.
Sub Commander Fuyutsuki informed me that the Commander is in today, she mused as she wandered in the general direction of the elevator banks, but he does not seem to know where he is. How unusual…
The idea that the Commander may be avoiding her flared briefly in the First Child's mind, but it was discarded almost as soon as it surfaced. She had done nothing to warrant his avoidance – and he was not childish enough to shut her out simply because of her choice of living quarters.
She was eighty percent certain of this last detail.
Seventy-five, at least.
Rounding a corner, Rei nearly ran into the very person Doctor Akagi was looking for. "Miss Ibuki," she said politely, "good afternoon."
"Oh, Rei," the woman said, sounding dreamy and far-off, "how are you today…?"
"I am… well," Rei replied, studying the technician closely.
Normally, Miss Ibuki looked cool and composed… but that day she seemed distracted and hazy, smiling absently to herself as she continually smoothed her shirt, looking for all the world as if she expected to meet the Queen of England any time, and wanted to make a good impression.
It was very odd.
"Are you alright, Miss Ibuki?"
"Hmm?" Maya hummed, shaking her head as if to clear it. "I'm fine, fine… I just… had an interesting weekend."
Rei nodded as if she understood – which she did not – and replied, "I see."
Biting her bottom lip, Maya glanced up and down the corridor, then beckoned Rei a bit closer. "Can you keep a secret?"
"Yes," Rei answered, wondering what the woman was being so sneaky about.
Maya leaned closer still. "I did something I shouldn't have," she whispered conspiratorially. "Don't tell anyone…"
Not knowing what, exactly, had been done, Rei would have been hard-pressed to tell anyone about it. Feeling that some reply or comment was in order, she murmured, "Well, I hope that whatever you did was… enjoyable."
This choice of words seemed to amuse Maya, as her face split into a huge grin. "That's one word for it," she sighed, leaning back against the wall and closing her eyes as if savoring a particularly pleasant memory. "Rei," she said lightly, "I know I shouldn't be saying this to you… but sometimes, doing what you're not supposed to can feel really, really good…"
"I am… glad you enjoyed your weekend, Miss Ibuki," Rei replied neutrally.
Though not a stupid girl, Rei was still naïve in many ways so the idea that the 'something' Maya should not have done was actually a someone never crossed her mind.
Not then, at any rate.
"Oh," Maya said suddenly, reaching into her uniform pocket, "here, I got this for you."
Rei regarded the object for a moment, showing absolutely no indication that she had any idea what it was.
Grinning, Maya pressed it into the girl's palm. "Try it out sometime," she said warmly, "I think it's just your color."
It was time, Rei realized… time to use that awkward, unfamiliar phrase once more.
"Thank you…"
"Sure," Maya said happily, pushing away from the wall and starting off down the hallway. "Hey, if you see Kaji…"
Slipping the gift into her pocket Rei lifted her eyes. "Yes?"
"…tell him he can use my kitchen any time."
"I… will," Rei said uncertainly.
Her confusion only seemed to enhance Maya's merriment, and the woman practically skipped off down the hall, leaving the First to wonder at the behavior of the adults in her life.
( 0 0 0 )
Kaji did not open his eyes as the door to the apartment opened, then closed. "Hey honey," he called tiredly, "how was work?"
Several quiet footsteps brought the intruder over to the couch. "Honey?"
Smiling, Kaji said, "Guess I can't play Ozzie and Harriet with you, huh?"
There was a brief pause. "Ozzie-"
"Oh just forget it."
"Yes sir."
Heaving a huge sigh, Kaji threw an arm over his eyes. "You should grow a sense of humor."
"Mm."
There was a brief pause.
"I saw Miss Ibuki."
"Oh?"
"She said that you may use her kitchen any time you want."
Kaji snorted. "Yeah, no surprise there," he muttered.
Somehow, Rei got the feeling that the man was being smug.
"Do you often cook for Miss Ibuki?"
Frowning, Kaji said, "Excuse me?"
"I have read that couples sometimes cook for each other," Rei elaborated, "I was simply wondering if Miss Ibuki's invitation was based on previous experience with your cooking."
Kaji lifted his arm, glancing at Rei for a moment before setting it back over his eyes.
"Saturday was the first time I cooked for her," he said smoothly, his lips quirking up at the corners as he added, "I guess she must have liked the taste…"
As stated before, Rei was a touch naïve.
She was not, contrary to Asuka's belief, as dense as lead.
…and Kaji was not exactly being subtle.
"I was not aware that cooking was a metaphor for lovemaking…"
"Rei, Rei, Rei," Kaji lamented, "first off – anything can be used as a metaphor for lovemaking if you use the proper inflection and body language. Second… oh forget the second part, it would just confuse you."
No, he thought tiredly, Rei probably would not understand that what he had done with Maya the night before would probably not be construed as lovemaking by most people. It certainly was not in his mind anyway, as there was, and would always be, only one woman in his heart.
It was almost enough to make him feel sorry for Maya.
…almost.
Too bad I don't have time for pity in my line of work, he mused. I WAS a little rough with her… but she didn't seem to compl-
"Mister Kaji?"
"Hmm?"
"May I ask you something?"
"You just did," Kaji said dryly, "Yeah, sure, what is it?"
He felt the girl sit down on the edge of the couch, positioning herself a tasteful distance from his stomach and arranging her skirt for several moments before murmuring, "Do you think that it would be… inappropriate for me to invite Ikari over for dinner some time?"
Unable to resist the temptation, Kaji muttered, "If you're thinking of 'cooking' for him, can you wait until I'm out of the apartment?"
Though he could not see her face, Kaji was confident that the girl was blushing.
Hell, he thought as Rei collected her thoughts, I think I'M blushing. That was a little uncalled for…
Before he could take it back or apologize, Rei was speaking.
"Yes," she said levelly, "if I were to make love to Ikari, I would let you know beforehand so you would not be embarrassed by accidentally witnessing it." She drew a deep breath, continuing before Kaji had a chance to recover. "Your… duality confuses me, Mister Kaji. You insinuate that you would be disgusted by seeing me in an intimate position with Ikari… yet you show no regret for making love to Miss Ibuki – a woman you have known less time than I have known Ikari. You seem to view sexual intercourse as nothing particularly special, talking about it as if it was no more important to you than changing your clothes or having a shower. Also, you seem to have no qualms about sleeping with Miss Ibuki, yet you act as if I do not deserve the same pleasure or tenderness with someone I find attractive. May I ask, Mister Kaji, wha-"
Kaji regained his balance.
"I can't believe I'm getting a lecture on sex from a girl that came over here in a trench coat and a smile," he cut in sharply, pushing himself up on his elbows and glaring disgustedly at the implacable First Child. "You really do have a lot of nerve, Miss Ayanami, to come in here and tell me that lovemaking is special to you when you've offered yourself to me not once, but twice! Where – the hell – do you get off talking to me like that? You're a goddamn child! What would you know about it?"
Meeting his eyes, Rei replied, "I have made you upset… I apo-"
"Oh no you don't!" Kaji snapped, "You're not getting out of this by saying 'oh, sorry, I didn't realize I was being offensive.' You know damn well that you're being a little bitch! Now answer my damn question – who the hell do you think you are?"
Rei rose to her feet, quickly averting her eyes. "Forgive me," she murmured, suddenly sounding rather confused, "I did not mean t-"
"Yes you did!" Kaji shouted, grabbing Rei's wrist and yanking her back down onto the couch. "I know you're still new to this whole dealing with people thing," he growled, "and I know you're 'spreading your wings' and all that crap – but you know damn well that you're pushing my buttons, and I'm here to tell you that I won't put up with it, got it? Go ahead and screw Shinji if you think it'll help you fly, or whatever – God I wish I'd never told you that analogy – but don't you sit there and try to tell me that what I'm doing is wrong, alright?"
With nowhere to run, and no true understanding of her own motivations, Rei could only think of one reply.
"I am… sorry…"
It was not good enough for Kaji.
"You should be!" he hissed, yanking her closer. "I am an adult, do you understand? Who I share my bed with is none of your concern. God, you're acting like… like…"
Abruptly, Kaji trailed off.
Rei's face – her cheeks tinged faint pink – was inches from his own. Her right hand was trapped against the back of the couch, where his own hand held it at the wrist, but her left was braced lightly against his chest, leaving the rest of her body sprawled sideways against his. Her skirt, he noticed belatedly, had ridden up when he pulled her onto the couch, showing off a considerable amount of thigh… and just the barest hint of panty.
…you're acting like a jealous girlfriend.
Slowly, Rei averted her eyes.
"You are hurting me, Mister Kaji…"
Kaji released her, carefully putting his hands on her shoulders and pushing her off of him. Silently, they rearranged themselves until they were sitting side by side on the couch. Once she was upright, Rei carefully smoothed her skirt, resting her hands in her lap when she was sufficiently covered.
"Forgive me…"
"Yeah," Kaji whispered, "sure…"
Slowly, the First Child rubbed at her wrist, frowning faintly as an angry red welt began to show around its circumference. "I was… not aware that I was being so antagonistic…"
Yeah you were, Kaji thought immediately, you just don't know why…
Leaning back on the couch, he closed his eyes. This was bad… this was very, very bad.
An emotionally confused pilot on the verge of sexual awakening… sure come on over. God, the only way this could get worse is if Asuka moved in, too.
"Mister Kaji…?"
"Yeah?"
"I was not smiling."
"Huh?"
"When I came here the first time," Rei clarified. "You said I was only wearing a coat and a smile…"
Kaji chuckled. "Is that a joke, Rei?"
The faintest hints of a smile curved the edges of the girl's lips.
"Perhaps…"
The laughter was a bit less forced the second time it escaped Kaji's lips.
That's right, he thought as he rose to his feet, change the subject… avoid the issue… dodge the bullet, Rei… the Commander trained you well…
"I'm going to bed," he said lightly, "try not to sleep with anyone before morning, alright?"
"Mister Kaji…"
No, Kaji thought nervously, don't make it serious again… I just can't handle it tonight…
"Huh?"
"Have pleasant dreams."
"Oh, right… you too, Rei…"
And so, leaving many things unspoken, the two housemates went to bed, refusing to admit to themselves, or each other, that their situation had gone from uncomfortable to outright dangerous.
Continued…
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