Well, I'm glad to see you all enjoyed the previous chapter, it took me a lot of time to get it to where I felt it was presentable, but even then I decided to go back and make a few nips and tucks. So thank you for the reviews:)
As you probably remember, in the last chapter, Misato had a barbeque with some of her former subordinates from NERV to catch up on old times. However, Asuka came to the realization that Shinji does not know how to swim, and is afraid to try. After some elbow twisting from the Second Child coupled with some pressure from Toji, Shinji agreed to let Asuka teach him how to swim. But is there more to Asuka's intentions than meets the eye? According to what Toji has told Shinji, Asuka might have feelings for him, which she's trying to explore. Now that the party is over and the guests are gone, Shinji doesn't know what to think.
Humans weren't meant to float
By GeekViking86
Chapter 5 – I want you to relax
Sleep still evading him, Shinji rolled over onto his side in the darkness of his bedroom. "12:48 AM" the clock read. He just couldn't shut his stupid head up and fall asleep, and his sore muscles weren't helping. Whoever invented pushups must have been a closet sadist. His mind growled, and decided that a tall glass of water was in order. After getting up from his bed and walking into the kitchen, he found Misato still up, running over a few work-related documents.
"You're still up?" she asked.
"I couldn't fall asleep, I'm just getting a drink." He said as he filled a glass at the sink. "What are you doing awake?"
"Just running over some safety reports from a project at the Tokyo 4 construction site, nothing big."
"Uhuh." He said, and sipped his water.
"So Shinji, is there something you want to talk about? After all, you had an exciting day today."
"Exciting isn't exactly the word I'd use."
Shinji sat down in the chair across from Misato, and there was silence for a moment.
"You know Shinji, Asuka was really happy that you agreed to let her give you swimming lessons."
"Yeah…"
There was another momentary pause. Shinji knew the question he wanted to ask, but wasn't quite sure how to word it.
"Misato? Do girls sometimes do stuff for guys because they like them?"
"Well, it depends on what kind of 'stuff' you're talking about." Misato teased with a wink.
"Uh-- that's not the kind of stuff I meant." Shinji blushed.
"Do you mean 'stuff' like what Asuka's been doing lately?"
"I guess so."
Misato smiled thoughtfully as she gazed at her ward. It looked like the pieces might actually be falling into place, after all this time…
"I won't pretend that I know just what's going on in her head, but from what I can tell, she likes you." Misato gave him a smile. "And seeing as you said yes, would I be correct to assume that you like her back?"
"Well—Yeah, I guess I do." Finally, he made an actual confession. It was a start, at least.
"Well then, I think you're doing the right thing to go along with her. You're confronting a fear on someone else's behalf, and that's a very noble thing to do."
"Thanks, Misato." Shinji got up and put his empty cup in the sink. "Well, I gotta get some sleep. Tomorrow Asuka wants to take me swimsuit shopping." He gave his guardian a light hug. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Shinji-kun." His guardian hugged back, while still in her seat. And with that, Shinji returned to his room.
Are my Shinji and Asuka finally going to come together? Please God, let it be true…
"Wake up, cadet! Sergeant Langley's boot camp for the hydrophobic starts today!" Shinji heard the familiar shout of his German housemate.
He glanced over at his clock. Ugh…7:00? I barely got six hours of sleep! He thought with a groan. Today was going to be a rough day. He looked over to Asuka and noticed that she was wearing a pair of running shorts and a sports bra. Great, what's she up to now?
"Um, Asuka? I thought you were going to take me shopping?"
"I am, but not before we get some morning exercise!" she gave a mischievous grin. "Now get dressed and meet me outside when you're ready to go!" She said as she turned and left Shinji's room, her waist-length hair flowing behind her.
When he was ready, Shinji found Asuka on the patio with PenPen sitting on her lap. She was now wearing a visor and had her hair done in a ponytail, and she gave Shinji a bright smile.
"Well, you certainly took long enough. Now, let's get down to the beach and run some laps!" She grinned.
"Oh come on, not laps again!" The Japanese boy moaned, to which Asuka snickered.
After the two teenagers had run for what felt like a marathon for Shinji, Asuka nearly ended up dragging the boy's limp body back up to the patio, where she soon had him doing pushups again. She wasn't done yet, though.
"Now, it's time for sit ups!"
"Sit ups? Are you crazy?"
"Just do it!" She barked. Shinji sat down on the floor and Asuka stood on his feet to make sure they didn't leave the ground. She decided to go easy on him, and only made him do six or so before letting him stop.
"Okay, that's enough for now. I'm going to go take a shower, so you'll have some time to start on breakfast. When I'm done I want you to take a bath and put on some good clothes." She gave Shinji a hard pat on the back and went into the house. Shinji simply lay on the patio, taking one exhausted breath after the next. He turned his head to PenPen, who simply looked down at Shinji with a confused look.
"What the heck is she doing to me? Does she expect me to do this every freakin' day?" He asked the penguin. PenPen simply shrugged, and waddled over to a lounge chair and relaxed on it. Stupid bird. When was the last time you had to work out?
Shinji did his best to pull himself up, and groaned as he walked back into the house. When he was in the kitchen, he decided that he needed protein. Hoping Asuka felt like eggs and bacon, he was soon frying some up in a large skillet. He set three places on the table, and had just finished devouring his helping when the bathroom door slid open, and into the kitchen stepped his new trainer, with wet hair and wearing a pink bathrobe.
"Mm... Ich rieche speck…" she groaned happily while inhaling.
"I set a plate for you. There's still some OJ left in the fridge, if you want any." He said as he slumped over to the bathroom feeling very sore.
Man, my muscles feel like they've been run through a taffy machine! Shinji thought as he sank into the bathtub. The warm water definitely helped, especially when he rubbed his muscles with it. He leaned his head back and looked up at the ceiling, and started thinking about the commitment he had made to Asuka.
Why am I doing this? I had no problem saying no to Misato when she wanted to teach me, so why is Asuka any different?
Were you afraid she'll stop being nice to you if you said no? Or, do you actually like her enough that you finally want to do something about your cowardice?
Shinji wasn't really sure. He had liked Asuka for a very long time, but he had always been afraid to act on his feelings. After over two years of doing almost nothing, he should've considered himself lucky that she hadn't already decided to move on.
Maybe that's it… With Misato, it wasn't a turning point. I knew her feelings for me wouldn't change, even if I turned her offer down. But with Asuka, this is my big chance to get close to her. If I turned her down—No, Maybe I'm actually smarter than I give myself credit for…
He smiled. He was still terrified of the idea that Asuka was going to stick him in the water and tell him to swim, but at least she'd be there to help him.
Asuka was eating her breakfast, when Misato's bedroom door slid open and she stumbled out, looking disheveled like she usually did in the morning.
"Hmm… Good morning, Asuka." She moaned while stretching as she walked down the hall. Asuka heard her slide a door open, followed by an embarrassed male yelling and a splash of water.
"Agh, Misato! A little privacy please?" Shinji shouted.
"Ah! Sorry Shinji-kun!" she apologized while hurrying back to the kitchen, a slight blush on her face.
"I—didn't realize Shinji was up already." Misato said while sitting down at the plate Shinji had prepared for her.
"I woke him up early so we could exercise together. I worked him pretty good."
"Hmm, I'll bet you did…" Misato grinned slyly.
"Ugh! Why do you always have to turn everything into an innuendo?" growled Asuka while pulling her hair.
"Because you two are so much fun to tease!" Misato joked playfully, to which Asuka simply grumbled and went back to her breakfast. "You know Asuka, I'm really proud of what you're doing for Shinji. I gave up on getting him to swim ages ago."
"Well, maybe you were too soft on him."
"Perhaps… But, couldn't you stand to be just a little bit easier on him?"
"If I cut the leash, he's just going to run away! I don't think I can get through to him otherwise."
"Well, I don't know if that's true… Shinji really likes it when you're happy."
"Yeah, I guess he does." But why? Is it just because I won't be mean to him, or is it because he actually gets satisfaction out of it? She thought silently. She wasn't really ready to ask a question like that to Misato.
"So… Why did you offer to teach him?"
"Why? Because I don't want to live with a feigling who can't swim!"
"That's not the real reason, is it?"
"Well… No."
"Can you tell me what it is? Because I'm pretty sure I already know."
"…I'm not sure yet."
Hmm… I think we're actually making some progress. Misato thought with a quiet, but happy sigh.
"Shinji is a very sweet boy, Asuka. And I don't think he would have agreed to getting lessons if it was with anyone other than you."
The two women stayed quiet for the remainder of breakfast, but they both did plenty of thinking.
I should have known it couldn't be as simple as going there, buying a swimsuit, and going home. Shinji grumbled as Asuka paid for the surprisingly large purchase. When she had brought him to the store, he was originally planning on getting a pair of plain, baggy black trunks. But Asuka talked him into getting two pairs that were slightly louder, brightly colored, and a little bit shorter—one that was red and black, and another other that was green and blue. They certainly weren't the kind he'd have chosen on his own, but since Asuka recommended them, he thought it best to comply. Besides, she was buying.
Before he realized what was happening, Asuka had picked up three dresses, two pairs of shorts, and a new set of underwear all for herself. Now Shinji would be stuck carrying no less than three bags back to the house, and after all that he'd still have his first swimming lesson to "look forward to". How can girls spend so much money on clothes? He shook his head as the cashier handed Asuka the receipt.
"Thank you!" Asuka smiled.
"Please come again!" The black-haired young woman said. Great, five bags now. Asuka picked up one of them, and left the remaining four to Shinji. He did his best to hide his displeasure, as Asuka happily led him back into the mall.
"Um… Thanks for the trunks, Asuka." Shinji said.
"No problem. But if you really want to thank me, you can buy me lunch at the food court. There's a Mexican place I want to try." She said manipulatively.
Argh… I knew that this was going to end up biting me in the wallet somehow. Shinji scowled as he thought to himself.
When they had gotten home, Asuka instructed Shinji to go and change into his swim trunks and meet her outside by the beach, while she went to her room to change. After she stripped off her clothes and folded them into a neat pile on her bed, she started going through her dresser drawer. Then, she finally found it: her army camouflage bikini. She was really playing up the drill-instructor theme today.
When she was done putting it on, she grabbed her beach towel and slung it around her neck. She went outside to the beach and found Shinji holding a folded towel, and dressed in his black and red swim-trunks just as she told him-- except that he was also wearing a white T-Shirt.
"Baka, why are you wearing a shirt?"
"Uh, I felt like it."
"Well take it off!"
"Why?"
"Because when you get in the water, it's only going to cause drag." Besides… Were you expecting to look at all of this for free? I think I'm entitled to seeing something, too. She thought with a touch of lewdness. Um… Besides, I need to see what we've got to work with.
Shinji frowned a little, and lifted his shirt off. He then hung it from a nearby tree branch, along with the beach towels. Well, he doesn't have a whole lot to look at yet. Still, he's got potential I guess. It's all the more reason to keep him exercising.
"Okay, now that that's done with--" Asuka paused, and then put her hands on her hips. "It's time for us to get in the water."
"Uh, Asuka, I'm not quite sure I'm ready to--"
"No! You're not going to back out now. And I'll have you know that when I was in Germany, I completed a full training course to be a lifeguard for a summer camp! I am not going to let anything bad happen to you!"
"You were a lifeguard?"
"Well—Not for very long." She trailed off.
"Why?"
Ugh! I didn't want to drag this up again, but I don't think he's going to trust me unless I tell him…
"Well—A couple of idiots complained that I was too strict and yelled too much!"
"Hmm… I wonder where they could've gotten an idea like that?" Shinji snickered, which really seemed to irritate Asuka.
"Just get in, you baka!" She snapped. She then grabbed his arm and led him down to the water, and she stepped in. "Now, I promise that we're going to stay close to the shore today, so don't get scared." She said in a calm voice. Shinji swallowed hard, and stepped his foot into the cool water. It wasn't long before Asuka had led him in up to his knees.
"Now, this isn't so bad, is it?" Asuka said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess… But that's because we're not in deep enough to sink yet."
"Listen Shinji, I don't know what you've seen or heard, but you don't have to know how to swim to stay afloat."
Asuka led Shinji in a little deeper, until they were both in up to around their waists. Shinji was getting a bit tenser at this point, but then he felt Asuka's warm hand on his back, and calmed down a little.
"I want you to try leaning backwards a little bit… Yeah, that's it, keep going…" Asuka said as Shinji started to go down, with the water covering most of his body. She placed her other hand on his chest, and felt his heart beating rapidly.
"Now, breathe slowly and deeply-- I want you to relax. Now, try to lift your feet up until you're on your back."
Shinji was getting very nervous, but feeling Asuka's hands on his torso helped to sooth him. Putting his trust in her, he did as she said. Soon, he was floating on his back! Wow… I never knew that I could float like this…It's actually not so bad. They stayed like that for another minute or two.
"So, how do you feel?"
"Hmm… Like I could fall asleep." He mumbled.
"Good, because now we're going to try having you hold your breath underwater. Have you ever heard of the Dead man's float?"
Dead man's float? I do not like the sound of that! Shinji shuddered, but did his best to bear with it.
Look at those two… The way she touches him, the way he's putting his trust in her… It's so cute. Misato sighed wistfully, as she looked at her two kids in the water. Asuka was showing Shinji a side of herself that as far as Misato could tell, she barely showed to anyone, and that was definitely a good sign. She's being so calm and gentle, almost like a mother… she thought. And they look so good together. Her superficial side added, causing her to chuckle before taking a sip of lemonade. She gave PenPen a pat on the head, and watched from afar as Asuka's lesson continued.
"Well, I think that's enough for today. Tomorrow, you're getting up bright and early for your exercises, and then we'll practice some more swimming." Asuka said as the two walked out of the water. Shinji was trying to maintain his balance while his body adjusted to the different gravity-- He had just spent well over an hour floating in water, after all.
"Ugh… Are we going to do this every day?"
"Hey, don't complain! That's how you're going to get in shape, unless you're happy as a skinny twerp." Said Asuka. She gave Shinji a small jab with her finger.
"Ow!"
"Now remember, 7:00 AM tomorrow, bright and early. We're going to come back out here, and get some more training!"
Shinji sighed and slumped his shoulders.
"So… Are you okay with leftovers for supper?" he asked.
"Since today was your first day, I'll cut you some slack. But tomorrow will be a different story!"
As the pair walked up the sandy bank and dried themselves with towels, they started thinking about each other. About how things were changing, and where they might be going—or more specifically, where they hoped things were going. Asuka knew it was hard for Shinji to face his fear of water, and Shinji knew it was hard for Asuka to let people see the real her. But now that they were helping each other, those walls were beginning to come down. They knew they wanted to get closer, but they still needed to learn how.
End chapter
Author's notes
Well, another chapter down! I'm glad I was able to get one more finished before Memorial Day weekend. I was working on this one almost non-stop, because if it wasn't finished by tonight, I might not have ottent to finish it for several days since my family is coming over! Having said that, I may not get to start on Chapter 6 for another few days, but it'll at least give me a little more time to brew some ideas I've had a little further, which is always a plus. At this point, I'm thinking the story will be about 7 chapters long, however I may add an epilogue after it's finished. It might actually end up a little longer than even that, if I find myself doing any more "mini-chapters" to keep the flow up. We'll see what happens!
And for those of you who don't speak German, "Ich rieche speck" is "I smell bacon", and "feigling" is "coward". ;)
Once again, thank you for reading and sending your reviews, keep a lookout for the next chapter, God bless, and have a good holiday weekend:)
