I WANT TO BE LIKE LUFFY
by Gunman
Disclaimer: I do not own Eva or it's characters, or One Piece.
Summary: Shinji and Asuka have a conversation about One Piece and Monkey D. Luffy.
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It was late afternoon in Tokyo-3, and Shinji and Asuka were sitting in their shared apartment watching the anime called One-Piece. This had become a routine for them for several months, even before Asuka had moved in.
The pair had been silent, just watching the TV, until Shinji finally spoke.
"I want to be like Luffy." Shinji said.
Asuka just stared at the brown-haired boy as if he had grown a second head.
"What? Why would you want to be like that idiot?! He's dumber than you!" she snapped.
"He's got a lot of good virtues." Shinji said.
"He's got no common sense! He only cares about food! He's reckless, ignorant, and impulsive and doesn't listen to other people, especially his own crew, and most of all... He Wants To Be King Of The Pirates!"
"Well...yes, but..."
"Do you even know what a pirate is, baka?"
"Yes."
"They're criminals! Thieves! Bandits! At worst, Murderers!" she snapped.
"I know that, Asuka." he replied.
"I mean the only reason this show is so popular is because of the action, adventure and overall plot. Not to mention the special effects."
Shinji mentally groaned, knowing that by 'special effects' she meant the powers and abilities of the characters.
"I know, Asuka." he said.
"Then why would you want to be like him?"
"Because he's happy."
Asuka just stared at him in confusion.
"You're right. Luffy isn't the brightest guy around. He is pretty reckless, doesn't really consider the overall consequences of his actions, he breaks a lot of laws, he's oblivious, rather simple-minded, and he's a bottomless pit. He causes his crew more than his share of headaches with his antics. He'd never make it in the real world, which is why he wants to be a pirate. He wants freedom." he said.
"But that's what rich and powerful people have. They can do whatever they want. And Luffy gave up looking for One Piece, which was the plot of the show when it started. Looking for Gold D. Rogers treasure." she said.
"The rich, the powerful, the famous, the only things they care about are the things they have, and worry about losing them. Luffy doesn't care about money or power or glory or anything like that. Because those are things that tie him down. When he started out he wanted to be a pirate because of freedom. Freedom to do what he wanted, not what other people wanted him to do. Like his grandfather wanting him to be a Marine, or the World Governments oppressing people with their cruelty. That's what he thought being King of the Pirates was all about. He didn't really care about One Piece, he just wanted to go on adventurers. To live life on his own terms." he said before he continued.
"But he is strong, fearless and he cares about other people. He wants to help them achieve their dreams because that's not boring to him. He wants to fight strong people because he thinks it's a challenge. He wants to be stronger, but he doesn't do it to achieve some kind of popularity. He doesn't aspire to be a hero, but that's what people think of him because of his actions in helping them. He fights for justice, but he doesn't consider himself a hero. He wants to do what is right, not what is popular or politically convenient like a lot of people would."
"And most importantly... he has people who care about him because of the things he does. He goes above and beyond in order to help them achieve their dreams. That's one of the reasons Nami, Zoro, Ussop, Chopper and the others are so loyal to him. That's why Boa Hancock and other girls are in love with him."
Asuka just continued to listen to him, having never heard him talk like this.
"I just wish... I just wish people cared about me like they do about Luffy." he said.
Asuka opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. It was a natural reaction with her. She always had to argue, counter and say something to win an argument. But this time... she couldn't.
"His grandfather might have been cruel to him, torturing him and his brothers when they were younger, forcing them to fight for survival like he did, but he did it so that Luffy would be a strong Marine. His own father even saved his life from that Marine Smoker. I... I never had that. I never knew my grandfather, and my own father is... well, he would rather I just die than look at me. It's almost like I was set up to be weak. To fail and die. I just... don't have it in me to live for anything."
Again Asuka was starting to see why Shinji wanted to be like Luffy. He was a sharp contrast to everything that the boy sitting in front of her was.
Shinji didn't want to be an Eva pilot. He didn't want to fight The Angels. He followed the rules and lived under the thumb of NERV and Misato and even herself. He wasn't one for being popular or standing out. He wanted to do what was right. He wanted to help people.
He did what other people told him to do. Even herself.
And what did it get him?
Shinji just didn't have a reason to live.
It was no wonder he wanted to be someone else.
Even with all of Luffy's faults, he did seem happier, especially when he had someone to care about.
They were his reason to fight.
But what was Shinjis?
It was a daunting thought that kept Asuka awake that night.
While her pride kept wondering just why she thought so much about Shinji, another part of her just wanted to know just what, if anything, she could do to help him.
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Authors Notes:
Just a short drabble of an idea I had. Nothing too special. Hope everyone enjoys.
