7:37 PM

"Misato-san?" Shinji timidly sits inside of Misato's dark blue sports car while she drives home from Nerv center. He carefully opens his mouth while wringing his hands together.

"Do you think I could stay over at Rei's?"

SCREEEEEEEEEEEE

Shinji jerks forward so hard that he nearly hits the dashboard with his long nose.

"Wow! Already getting serious, huh Shinji?!" Misato roughly pats him on the back.

Cough! "No Misato-san," Cough! "It's not like that! She asked me."

"Wowwww! Look at Rei go!" Misato chuckles and drives toward Rei's now.

…..

"Shinji…" Misato quietly starts after a few minutes. "I'm trusting you not to do anything to take advantage of her." Shinji's jaw drops. Misato looks at him. There is no humor on her face anymore. "Do you understand me?"

"Y-yes Misato-san."

"And you need to keep this on the down-low. You know that right?"

….

"Your Father wouldn't be happy with this Shinji." At the mention of his Father, Shinji's mood plummeted. His body became limp in the comfy seat.

"Why? Why can't he see me happy for once?! Why can't he see Rei happy?" Misato pulled into the tight spot in front of Rei's desolate apartment building.

"Some people are unkind Shinji. Not everyone will like you… but not everyone hates you." Shinji lowered his head.

"I bet he hates me," Shinji whimpers. Misato couldn't say anything, and she lowers her hand that was about to reach out to the boy. "I bet he loves Rei."

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw him-sniff-He was talking to her, and-sniff-they were LAUGHING." Again. Misato failed to say anything. "She hasn't laughed with me. She won't even talk to me at school. But then she...sniff-she…" Shinji felt tears fall on his lap and he quickly scrubbed them away.

"She kissed you?" Misato quietly asked. Shinji stopped crying and sat silent. He felt scared that Misato would be mad at him. "I'll be back," and with that Misato got out of the car and marched up the stairs, locking Shinji in the car. Shinji watches her with wide nervous eyes as he tries to unlock the car from the inside. No good.

Knock Knock

"Rei?" Misato called.

Screeeeeeee

"Yes Commander?" Rei responded.

"Aren't you gonna ask where Shinji is?" Rei looked over the banister behind Misato and pointed at the car with a frantic Shinji inside. "Fair enough," Misato shrugged. "May I ask you something?"

"Yes Commander?"

"It's just 'Misato-san' out here Rei."

"Yes Misato-san?"

"What are you trying to do with him?"

"I am not sure what you mean." Misato smirks and crosses her arms, looking down at Rei past her nose.

"You kissed him?"

"Yes Misato-san."

"Have you had sex?"

"No Misato-san."

"Good…" A moment passes. It's utterly still. "Do you love him?"

….

"I am not sure Misato-san."

"Are you capable?"

….

"I am not sure Misato-san."

….

Misato releases her arms, and they hang limp at her sides.

"Please don't hurt him Rei."

….

"I will not."

8:32 PM

The wet sound of lips interlocking fills up the room. The two were curled up on her bed, knees touching and hands cautiously resting on each other's shoulders. Shinji feels hot not just in his face, but it seems to spread all over like a virus pumping his veins. They seperate, and Shinji and Rei both pant lightly. This is the third time they've done this in a row. Shinji doesn't know what this is, but he knows he's starting to become dependent on it already. Yesterday a bunch of boys at school decided to try picking on him. No one was there to save him until Touji came in and yelled loud enough for all the girls to walk into class for something to gossip about. When class finished he decided he needed to see Rei. She allowed him to walk half-way home with her and pulled him into a secluded alleyway. It lasted two minutes but it was better than the first time.

"Rei… was Misato-san mean to you?" The question was out of nowhere, but it fell out of his mouth anyway.

"No," she quickly answered, "She wanted to know what we were doing."

….

"What are we doing?"

"Kissing." Shinji giggled, surprising himself and Rei alike. "I have never seen you laugh," she stated. Her eyes were slightly widened.

"I haven't for a long time," Shinji stared into red. What am I feeling? What do I feel for you, Rei? It feels so good. And it's only ever with you. Rei… I…. Shinji teared up immediately. Rei holds the back of his neck with both hands and gets closer so their noses bump.

Why am I doing this? Why do I let myself touch him? Why is he crying? What do I feel for him?

"Rei…"

"Shinji…"

"R-Rei. I-I think I-love…"

….

"I love you," Rei confesses warmly. Shinji's eyes grow to the size of baseballs. Rei smiles at him for the first time. He feels his heart expand about three sizes and immediately pulls her in for the tightest hug he could possibly give. She loosely holds him back as he shoves his face into her neck.

"Please Rei! Please don't be lying to me! SNIFF-I couldn't take it!"

"I am not lying," she whispers into his ear, "I love you Shinji."