MATERNAL PROGRAMMING
7:42 AM
TOKYO-III FIRST MUNICIPAL SCHOOL
GATES
Shinji and Rei, walked through the school gates, a mere three days after the First Angel Attack.
"Hey Rei, Is it me or is everyone staring at us funny?" Shinji said. Rei noticed both.
The students stared at the two. Soon the other students began to crowd around them and began asking one question.
"Are you two the pilots of the giant robots?!"
The two were swarmed with different questions about the battle a few days ago. They got closer and closer to the pair.
"What was it like inside?"
"What's it called?"
"Can you show us the robot?"
"Was it scary?"
"Alright, break it up!" Three Section 2 agents stepped in between the pilots and the crowd.
The student crowd dispersed as they had heard of the men in suits before, Making people disappear.
"Thanks for that." Shinji said to one of the agents, who responded with a curt nod. The agents then escorted the two to class, who were very much embarrassed by this.
Shinji sat down at his usual spot along with Rei, who went to her's.
"So… They found out, I'm guessing." Kensuke fiddled with his new camera.
Shinji nodded, annoyed. "Did you tell them?"
"No, but your mom saying she is a lead in NERV, and you two being missing a few times a week kinda gives it away."
Shinji gave a sigh. "It really was that obvious, Wasn't it?"
"Yup, I think the NERV ID badge and secret agents following you might have given it away, I'm not sure."
"Smartass."
"That's what I'm here for!"
Hikari then walked up to the two and spoke. "If you need any help curbing this newfound fame, just let me know. I'll keep everyone in line."
Shinji smiled.
"I'll let you know."
MATERNAL PROGRAMMING
EPISODE 3
"Pasts not Forgotten"
4:32 PM, AKAGI RESIDENCE
"I'm home!" Shinji took off his shoes and left them on the rack.
"Welcome home!" Ritsuko said from the living room, watching a rerun of an old Japanese show. Shinji walked from the entryway of the house, went over to the living room and sat down next to her.
"So why are you home early?" Shinji said. His sister lolled her head to the side, still watching the TV.
"Mother sent me home for the day, one for 'overworking' and two, she told me about your stressful day so, I'm here if you want to talk about it. I heard you almost punched a kid today."
Shinji gave her a look. "Was it really that obvious I was a pilot?..."
Ritsuko smirked and paused the show.
"I mean… Your scheduling is odd, and you are trailed by Section 2 alot, and Mother does like to boast about her position at NERV a lot…"
Shinji humphed at that. "Kensuke said the same thing. What are you watching?"
She turned back to the screen. "Oh, it's some old pre-Second Impact show. Like very old. It's about some doctors in the army . Im watching the Original version."
"It seems interesting."
Shinji sat along next to his sister, and they continued to watch the show. Shinji heard a meow at his feet.
"Oh, are you hungry Mamo?" Shinji got up to go and feed the orange tabby who gladly followed its food giver. "Ritsuko, I thought you were supposed to feed him," Shinji said
"He had food earlier, he's just being greedy!" Mamo meowed as a retort. Shinji finished refilling his food bowl and went to sit back down. As he returned, Ritsuko unpaused the show.
"I'm guessing if those doctors saw the world we lived in today, they would've given it up." Shinji sighed.
Ritsuko shook her head. "A doctor's job is to help the people who can't help themselves. They would've helped everyone. Not because they have to, but because they want to."
Ritsuko leaned over and hugged her little brother. "Just like you, I remember what you said about a certain girl you know."
Shinji had a face of embarrassment.
"Thank you Shinji, You made both of our lives better."
Shinji hugged back.
"No, Thank you two, for accepting me and taking care of me."
The two siblings hugged for a minute before letting go. "Misato asked If I want to come over later, do you want to come with me?" Ritsuko asked before getting up to stretch. Shinji then thought about it for a good moment, before remembering that her place was a mess, and that Misato can't cook.
"Maybe. What's in it for me?"
"How about some exotic coffee? It got sent here by some of the UN reps. They have some nice Jamaican and Columbian!"
Shinji huffed before speaking again.
"Fine, but I'll cook for Misato, I don't want food poisoning again." Ritsuko laughed before pulling out a piece of gum and chewing it.
Shinji took notice and smiled. "I'm glad you stopped smoking. I really don't want to lose you to lung cancer." She stuck out her tongue at him, before the two laughed.
"I did it for you and mother. And because you managed to find a nicotine gum with my favorite flavor."
"Yeah I spent my month's allowance getting a bulk shipment of it from America. You have no idea how hard it was to find cherry flavored nicotine gum."
Ritsuko took notice of the first part. "I thought it costed you less."
Shinji shook his head. "No, It costs a lot, because it was directly from some pharmaceutical company, and because I had to pay extra for customs."
Shinji sat down and pulled out his ID card. "Even a NERV ID doesn't get you a discount. Especially since they thought it was fake, because I'm fourteen. Guess where more money went?"
Ritsuko nodded as she kept chewing. "Yeah I can see how you would lose that much so quickly. But even then you didn't need to get the gum, I was planning on going cold turkey."
"Well I did it anyway." Shinji said. "So when are we heading over?"
"In an hour or so. Bring the stomach medicine, just in case."
Shinji remembered the last time he ate Misato's food. He had to get his stomach pumped. The memory made him grimace."I'll bring the antacids as well." he said going to the medicine cabinet.
5:23 PM
MISATO KATSURAGI'S APARTMENT
Shinji pressed the buzzer on the door, and heard some crashes and footsteps. The door slid open to reveal Misato in casual clothes.
"Hey Ritsuko!" She then saw Shinji standing beside her. "Oh Shinji! It's good to see you here!" She then stepped to the side to let them in. The two stepped into a surprisingly neater apartment.
"I see you've cleaned since I last came." Ritsuko said, setting her bag down on the table.
"Wark?" A penguin stepped out from the fridge it was residing in.
"Hey Pen Pen!" Shinji went over and petted the bird, who gladly accepted the head-pats.
The penguin warked.
"I'm glad to see you too!"
Misato then gestured to the seats at the table. "Please have a seat, I'm almost done cooking!"
Ritsuko and Shinji glanced at each other from the corners of their wide eyes.. Pen Pen seemed to give a sympathetic look to the two.
"So Shinji," said Misato, bringing the gazes back to her. "I may have said it already, but you did amazing that day."
"I mean, you've said it over ten times, but I still appreciate it."
"So, I got that thing you wanted approved. Unit 00 and 01 now have a 3rd angel stamped onto their pylons!"
Shinji clapped. "Now we can be called Angel killers!"
"Alright, dinner is ready!" Misato said, bringing over the food.
Shinji handed Ritsuko a pink tablet and they both took it quickly. Misato sets down the oddly colored rice and some curry in a bag. Shinji reluctantly got some rice and curry onto his plate, Ritsuko followed suit.
After a few bites here and there, He couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey Shinji, do you mind getting something from the mailbox for me?"
"Sure." Shinji quickly got up and left to go and get the mail, mainly just so he doesn't have to eat the fine cuisine bestowed upon him.
As soon as Shinji left, Misato and Ritsuko began talking again.
"So what's with the commander? Anything new that we should know?"
Ritsuko sighed. "He is still in the dark about this whole thing. Sometimes I think he is planning something else to get rid of us."
Misato took another sip from her beer before setting it down."The commander can kiss my ass."
"Same."
"But I also do have another complaint about your Mother, She's been kinda… Pushy and too assertive lately. It's getting kinda annoying."
"She's been stressed out, the council gave all of us a warning"
Misato drank the last of the beer before going to get another."But Still, Naoko doesn't have to be a bitch about it."
The sound of paper could be heard falling on the floor.
"Who doesn't need to be a bitch about what?"
There stood Shinji with an angry look on his face. Misato's face drained of all color the moment she saw him.
Ritsuko moved to say something, but the glint in his eye told her she wouldn't get through to him. He shook his head. "She works her ass off, just so I can be safe! She works even harder, Just so humanity doesn't die! She Works so hard just to keep NERV Running! She is Stressed out! This ' Bitch' has saved my life more times than one!"
Words hanging in the air, Shinji stormed out of the apartment before Misato could even respond.
"Fuck."
Ritsuko stood up to go after him. "I'm sorry about that. I'll go calm him down." Misato held her hand up and stopped her.
"No it's fine, I'll go get him. After all, it was my mistake to say that." She got up and walked to the entryway, before she stopped. "I'll bring him back." She got some shoes on and left the apartment to go get Shinji.
The door closed behind her, and she kept going. She knew how much Naoko meant to Shinji. Ritsuko told her all about it when they were in college. Naoko basically raised him. In Shinji's eyes, she was his true mother.
She got into the elevator and pressed for the first floor. As she stood there, she remembered a time before this insanity. She remembered her father, Always working. But the thing is, Naoko wasn't like him. She took care of Shinji, and made time for him even. She was jealous of the treatment Shinji had growing up, But She took it out on Naoko.
The doors opened and she stepped out, making her way to the parking lot, where she found him sitting next to Ritsuko's car.
"What do you want?" Shinji said, not even bothering to look up. Misato sat next to him, but that prompted him to scoot away.
"Shinji, I'm sorry for what I said. Even though we won, We are all stressed lately." She hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder, but he wiped it away.
"I don't want to hear it."
Misato sighed and pulled her hand back."Shinji, I-"
"I don't want to hear it! Go away!" he shouted, not even turning to face her.
Misato was taken aback by his still hot anger. She slowly got up and walked away, sparing a glance at him. When she looked back forward, she saw Ritsuko walking towards her, Already ready to go.
"I'm sorry Ritsuko."
"It's fine Misato. I'll take him home.Maybe he will be better next time you two see each other."
Misato gave a small nod and headed back to her apartment. Ritsuko walked up to Shinji and ruffled his hair.
"Come on hot head, let's head back home."
Shinji sighed, stood up and got into the car. Ritsuko got in and started it up, before pulling out from the parking spot.
"You know Misato didn't mean to insult her."
Shinji stared out the window before speaking.
"I know, but…"
"It's fine, let's just head home and get ready for bed, Or do you want to make a quick stop and get some edible food?" Ritsuko finished her offer with a soft smile, to which he gave her one back.
"Sure, I would like that."
Thank you so much for the reviews and suggestions! I will be taking a break from this story for a week or so, so I can work on my other projects.
Thank you to:
SheriffJohnStone
Chad Commander
and Toasterman
For proofreading and making suggestions.
Im very glad you all enjoy this story as much as I do. Thank you for your time.
"And I promise there will be plenty of fanservice!"
-DerpymanMT