Author's Notes: Well, not much to say, except this part of the story contains alot of cuss words, though most have recently. Prepare to delve into Jason's past a little. Also, a little hint at the Shinji and Asuka relationship. Enjoy!

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Chapter 3

Inside Jason and Shinji's Room

Jason growls as he listens to his CD player

Jason: (thinking) Great! Just great! My first day here... And I make a complete ass of myself... I can understand why Asuka was mad... Though it didn't give here a right to yell at me... Or make fun of Shinji... I hate it when people get picked on...

The door to the room slides open and Shinji walks in

Shinji: (nervously) Uhh, Jason? May I come in?

Jason: Yeah, you don't have to ask, this is your room, too.

Shinji walks in and sits down on his futon and looks at Jason. After a while, Jason pulls off his head phones and turns to Shinji

Jason: So, what's on your mind, Shin-man?

Shinji: Huh? Why do you ask?

Jason chuckles a little bit

Jason: You've been staring at me for the last five minutes, and I doubt it's to admire my clothes.

Shinji blushes and hangs his head

Shinji: Sorry. I didn't mean to stare...

Jason: Don't worry about it! So, what did you want?

Shinji looks up at Jason, and shifts his eyes uneasily

Shinji: I was... Wondering... W-why... Why do you defend me?

Jason: (confused) Huh? From what?

Shinji: You know, from Asuka...

Jason frowns and shakes his head in disbelief

Jason: Why? WHY? How can you ask me 'why?'... Shinji, it's wrong to pick on other people... No matter what.

Shinji: Why do you say that?

Jason sighs and lays back on his futon

Jason: Well, the reason behind that is a long story... But I'll cut it down to the short and bitter-sweet version. You see, when I was a little kid in elementary school, I was picked on, a lot.

Shinji: Really? Why? You seem like a pretty cool guy to me...

Jason: Thanks... But they didn't see me that way. They liked country music, I liked all types of rock. They wanted to ride bulls in a rodeo, I wanted to play video games. Not to mention the fact that I was found to be 'gifted'.

Shinji: Rodeo? Gifted?

Jason: Yeah... Oh, you don't know about those, huh? Well, a rodeo is where people ride different animals for fun, try to stay on killer bulls, and tie up cows or sheep or something...

Shinji: That doesn't sound very fun...

Jason laughs

Jason: Yeah, I know what you mean... Especially for the animals! And gifted just means I have a genius I.Q. of 185.

Shinji: Wow... My I.Q. is only 145.

Jason laughs again

Jason: (jokingly) Oh, yeah. I forgot. In Japan, an I.Q. of 120 is normal, huh?

Shinji: I don't think so...

Jason: I was joking, Shinji. Well, anyways, that's why I don't like people picking on other people...

Shinji: I see... You had a pretty rough childhood, huh?

Jason: Had? Shinji, we're both 16. We're still kids, our childhood isn't over just yet.

Shinji: With Eva, it seems like my childhood ended when I was four...

Jason: Well, it's not over yet. I'll help you have fun... But first, I've got to go and correct a mistake...

Shinji: Huh? What mistake?

Jason stands up and heads to the bedroom door.

Jason: I've got to go and apologize to Asuka...

Jason then walks out of the room, leaving a stunned Shinji.

---

Jason politely knocks on the door to Asuka's room

Asuka: Who is it?

Jason: It's me Asuka...

Asuka: (angrily) What do you want?

Jason: Asuka... I came to apologize...

A few seconds pass, then Asuka's door slowly opens and Asuka peeks her head out.

Asuka: What?

Jason: I wanted to say I'm sorry, Asuka. I shouldn't have called you what I did... I understand why you were angry. Some people get offended by songs, and I forgot that... So... I'm sorry...

Asuka blinks and stares at Jason for a little bit

Asuka: Well, good. At least you're intelligent enough to apologize when you're wrong. Goodbye...

Asuka starts to close her door, but Jason's hand stops it

Asuka: (angrily) What are you doing, you dumb ass? Let go of my door!

Jason: No... I need to talk to you about something, Asuka...

Asuka: (angrily) Fine, what?

Jason: Not here, in private...

Asuka: ... Fine, come in...

Asuka turns and enters her room, followed closely by Jason. Asuka then sits on her futon, and Jason sits on the floor

Asuka: So, what do you want?

Jason: Asuka... I think you need to apologize to Shinji...

Asuka: (angrily) WHAT? For what?

Jason: For calling him an idiot...

Asuka: Oh, come on! He's used to it!

Jason: Yeah, well he shouldn't be! He didn't do a damn thing to you, and you call him names! WHY?

Asuka: I'm just stating the obvious!

Jason: Asuka, let me tell you a story. After you hear it, you may just change your mind.

Asuka: Whatever...

Jason: Asuka, when I was in elementary school, I was picked on, a lot.

Asuka: So? Did they hit you?

Jason: Yeah, with rocks and sticks, and they threw sand at me. But what was worst of all was them calling me names...

Asuka: What? Haven't you heard that old saying? 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.'?

Jason: Yeah, that saying's a bunch of bull shit. The truth is Asuka, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but with time the wounds will heal. But words stay for all time...

Asuka: Yeah right... Word's can't do anything to anyone...

Jason: Haven't you ever been hurt by words? I have! One day, my best friend started calling me names and saying he hated me...

Asuka: What? Why did your best friend hate you?

Jason: Well, his mom convinced him to. One day I went over to his house, and his mom called me a perverted, mother fucking faggot.

Asuka: Why?

Jason: (angrily) I DON'T KNOW! I was only ten, and suddenly, for no reason at all, my best friend's mom hated me, and so did my best friend... I ran home, crying, when suddenly two boys started picking on me, throwing snowballs and calling me gay, a retard, a prick, asshole... I couldn't take it... When I got home, I tried to commit suicide... At the age of ten, I was admitted to a mental hospital. I was declared clinically depressed... I tried to kill myself at ten years of age!

Asuka: Mein Gott... My God...

Jason: I got over it though... But because of it, I don't like to see people making fun of others... I've also forgiven those who hurt me.

Asuka: Forgave them? Why would you do that?

Jason: Because, I'm better than them. So, Asuka... Please... Try to be nice to Shinji... Apologize to him... Please?

Asuka thinks for a little bit before she nods

Asuka: Ok... I'll apologize to Shinji... And try to be nicer to him...

Jason stands up and smiles

Jason: Thanks, Asuka...

Jason walks out of Asuka's room, and Asuka stands up and walks out of her room and toward Shinji's

Asuka: (thinking) I can't believe I'm doing this...

---

Asuka is standing outside of Shinji and Jason's room

Asuka gingerly knocks on the door to Shinji and Jason's room

Asuka: Shinji? May I come in?

Shinji: Uh... Yeah.

Asuka slowly opens the door and walks in, Shinji pats the spot next to him on his futon

Shinji: Have a seat...

Asuka nods and sits down

Shinji: So, what did you want, Asuka?

Asuka: Shinji... I wanted to say... This is hard for me, because I'm not used to doing this, but... I wanted to say... Say that I'm... Sorry...

Shinji blinks at Asuka, then smiles warmly

Shinji: Apology accepted, Asuka.

Asuka smiles a little herself, and begins to stand up, but Shinji lightly grabs her wrist to keep her from going

Shinji: Asuka, wait...

Asuka: What is it, Shinji?

Asuka slowly sits back down next to Shinji

Shinji: It's been... Ten months since Third Impact... Do you remember... When we were the only one's alive?

Asuka nods slightly

Shinji: We actually... Got along pretty well then... We both worked together to survive... I was wondering... Why that went away?

Asuka: I don't know, Shinji... When people started showing up, I just felt that I had to go back to being myself...

Shinji: But I don't want that! I love your personality, don't get me wrong, but I want us to be close! I want us to be...

Shinji trails off and looks down at the ground

Asuka: You want us to be what, Shinji?

Shinji: F-friends...

Asuka's face falters at the word 'Friends', but not because she was didn't want to be friends, well, she didn't, she wanted to be more than friends with the shy boy

Asuka: (thinking) What am I thinking! More than friends with Shinji? I must still be muddled from apologizing

Asuka smiles at Shinji and lifts his head up with her hand

Asuka: Of course we can be friends, Shinji.

Shinji: Really?

Asuka: Of course! Don't you believe me, (playfully) idiot.

Shinji smiles brightly

Shinji: Good... I believe you Asuka.

Shinji suddenly gives Asuka a hug, which surprises, but doesn't disgust, the young girl. She slowly returns the gesture.

Shinji: I'm glad we can be friends, Asuka.

Asuka: Me too, Shinji... Me too...