-AN-
Something slow and a little peaceful this time. Gotta hit all my favorite fandoms at least once.
-Story Start-
Shinji could admit at least to himself that he was not the most typically manly of teenagers. That badge went to Toji. Shinji was the type to stay home and curl up with his music or laze about with the tv. And today was no different in the grand scheme of things. It was a Sunday which meant no school and no responsibilities for once. There was no testing for the evangelions and so far at least no angel alarms.
Feeling the urge to knock on some wood Shinji rapped his knuckles on the floor below himself.
But things were a little different today in the Katsuragi/Ikari/Soryu household that had him sweating it out on the floor in the living room with all the fans going. Aparently the ac had conked out in the middle of the night, and with summer in full swing that meant it was humid and gross inside before it had even hit noon. Misato got to escape to work, where she would find working ac and most likely, some stashed beer somewhere in her office. On the other end was Asuka who was already gone and out with her classmate and friend Hikari. More than likely hitting the mall and doing everything possible to stay away from their personal hot box hell. So that left Shinji alone with nothing to do. Toji was visiting his sister and Kensuke was out somewhere, most likely either larping again or getting into trouble at the arcade. So what was a loner boy to do besides homework and escape into the tv. Sighing deeply and for once frustrated with his own lack of ambition the boy rolled onto his side and spied his cello case in his room. It had been a while since he had practiced at all and no one was home. Maybe today he could use the mental work. Standing with a groan and adjusting his shorts from where they twisted, it wasn't long before Shinji took his fairly large instrument from his stuffy room and set up a chair in the living room. From there is was almost complete muscle memory to set up, tune his cello slightly, and make sure his bow had proper resin. Once all of that was complete, he only had to think on what he could play. From the heat and lazy mood he was in, Bach seemed the name of the day. Taking a deep breath and losing himself into the first strokes of Cello Suite No. 1, time would soon lose all meaning to the boy.
Losing himself in the music was easy sometimes. Sure he could do so with his walkman, but with his cello it was different. It was his mothers, something he hadn't ever told either of his roommates though it also wasn't like they had asked. So here and working it diligently he felt closer to her and what he could remember of her. Though that wasn't much. No face to put to memory, no actions or even real feelings anymore than were left to him. She'd been taken much to early from him, and his father had never deemed to give the boy anything to remember her by. Only her teacher, Fuyutuski, had thought to give the boy something of hers. And so it was here in this space, that he could at least pretend that maybe he had something in common with the other half of his parentage. Hopefully the one half that actually cared for him beyond his use.
While the boy was deep into his groove and in his own space, it was a grumpy Asuka and an attempting to placate Hikari that were returning to the apartment for a break. While it was nice to get out and get to be with what friends she had, it wasn't all that fun to get hit on by feckless boys who didn't know what to do with a beauty like her. She needed someone cultured and mature. A man that had passion and experience. Like Kaji. Hikari at least was willing to come back with her where they could relax for a bit and escape from the sun. Maybe she could bully Shinji into leaving and getting them ice cream. As they came to their floor and walked towards their joint apartment they girls began to hear the sounds of someone playing an instrument.
"That sounds wonderful. Who plays like that around here?" Hikari didn't have an ear for classical music for the most part, but she could enjoy music all the same. And this sounded like someone who had talent.
Asuka shrugged, bright red hair trailing behind her, "It does sound good actually, but no clue who's playing. I thought everyone had moved out around here." Asuka had noticed that a lot less cars were in the complex lately. Granted Angel attacks and city destruction probably had the effect of making normal people want to run for the hills. Poor souls that had to stay behind, like them. But as they came up to their door and opened it, the music's volume increased. "No way." Motioning for Hikari to stay quiet, both girls tiptoed their way inside, shuffling off their shoes and peaking into the living room.
Nearly half an hour had gone by since Shinji had started, sweat beading his forehead and down his neck. Moving well past his first piece and now moving into something he had picked up not to long ago, 15 inventions No. 1, he set to work on himself. Playing like this allowed his body to drift and that gave his mind time to focus. Not just on the music, but on himself and his problems. Which the largest of which was both of his roommates. On the one hand Misato was a ball of energy he couldn't hope to keep up with. Like a crazy older sister that had nothing but time and a lust for life. His feelings around her didn't go much further than that in truth though he really wished she would remember he was actually a boy sometimes. Because if she kepts walking around half naked or pushing her dirty laundry on him he'd probably have a heart attack.
Which lead to the other problem, one a little closer to his heart. Asuka was fire and life and confidence in spades. She was inspiring to him in a way he couldn't fully describe but he could see himself actually putting effort into things because of her. More than just their synchronization training and living together, he caught himself wanting to push himself in an attempt to be better because of her sometimes. Sure he knew he couldn't hope to measure up to a girl who had already graduated college, nor as a pilot who had been training since a child. But she made him want to TRY, and that was something he couldn't say he had wanted to do in a long time. For so long he had been content to waft along like vague smoke on the wind. Let life take him where it would and not upset the balance of things. But Asuka? Oh no, if there was a wall in her way she'd break it. If there was some goal to get done she'd do it and dare anyone to stop her. And it was maddeningly infectious sometimes. Even more it was all so confusing! But he had no one to talk to about it to help him work through it. His father was an immediate out, barely caring his existed. Misato would probably tease him for the rest of his life and the Dr. Ritsuko? Yeah no luck there with that mysterious woman. She was, cold, in a way he couldn't fully understand. So who did that leave him with? Boy his own age who knew porn and rumors? Yeah big help there. Now transitioning to No. 5 in the piece, Shinji gave in to his feelings a bit more. Wishing he had the person connected to this cello to help him.
Hikari could admit that watching Shinji very clearly pour his soul into playing was something new for her. She knew him as the quiet one, always looking a bit like some who had their dog recently kicked by bullies. Or if you listened to Asuka, and boy who couldn't do anything right, thought Hikari had a more recent suspicion that there was more going on in that german's mind that she was willing to admit. But watching the boy move, hands moving up and down the neck of the instrument while the other stroked the bow this way and that. That took practice and talent. Skill that more than likely no one else in their class could claim to. Sure her crush Toji was an athletic star in his own right, but this boy had his own skill set that made him instantly pretty interesting if Hikari was allowed to say so out loud. Which she wasn't. Because as she turned to a transfixed Asuka, she wondered if maybe she should excuse herself and continue listening in on the impromptu performance.
Asuka could admit she was a lot to deal with most of the time. Never out loud at least, but to herself she could admit that she was in your face and never willing to compromise with what she wanted. The psychology courses she had taken could allow her to take the step back and analyze that part of herself. But she didn't really need to. She knew why she was this way. Watching her mother go distant. Watching her with that doll. Watching her end herself while taking the doll with her. Yeah, she knew why she would never again settle for being second best to anything or anyone again. Or at least knew where it started. All that said it was hard now for her to find anyone who could come close to understanding her. Most of the girls her age were still figuring out boys or what they wanted to do with their little lives. But Asuka knew those things already. She was the best Evangelion pilot and would remain as such. She'd trained hard and learned all she could to do so. She had graduated college with honors long before most of her peers had even hit high school. And while she hadn't dated, she knew what kind of partner she wanted. But she could confide somewhat in Hikari, the studious girl used to having to take charge of others and deal with trouble makers. But the boys around her were a lost cause. Horny barely thinking neanderthals. They had nothing much going for any of them except they were passably cute. And before this moment she was completely willing to put her bump on a log roommate Shinji into the same group and maybe even lower.
The boy was so spineless! Never complained and never spoke out. Did what he was told and didn't fight if someone wanted what he had. He wasn't a challenge, wasn't interesting, and he had no ambition beyond just surviving. At least, until right in this moment that she got to listen to him. Her own violen stashed away from prying eyes, Asuka had an ear for music and how people played. And right now, it was like listening to someone's therapy session on full blast. There were deep notes of excitement and exhilaration, of pain and regret and something deeper. A lust for something more, to be something more. Where was this Shinji on a normal basis? Where was this, man, that was sitting before her playing his heart out and crying out to be heard, to be seen. A dexterous hand working the cello's neck with ease, while practiced and precise motions from his bow drew forth strong and even notes. This was the Shinji that secretly her heart wanted to show the world. The Shinji that powered Evangelion Unit 1. The Shinji that was willing to shoulder protecting the world along side her, willing to pick up her slack as well as rely on her. She could never confuse this version of Shinji with the version that would dutifully do all the chores and clean up after his messy roommates. Maybe that was part of his charm though. Knowing that all of this energy and passion was hiding away behind that thin frame and meek facade. Because that was what it all was, a deception hiding away the real Shinji that when asked, when threatened, was capable and willing to tear down the world.
And in the dark recesses of her heart, she wondered if it would be for her.
Everyone missing a happy looking Misato bounce into the house, she was kicking off her shoes and walking into the kitchen. "Woah is that Shinji?"
Hearing Misato and breaking his concentration, Shinji turned back to see his purple haired superior in the doorway along with Asuka and Hikari. Standing suddenly but being careful of his instrument, he looked around with wide eyes, "Sorry! I must have zoned out, did you need something Misato? You're back early." Mind already transitioning to chore mode, he was pretty sure he hadn't forgotten to do anything today.
Waving the boy off with a smile Misato shook her head, "I got sent home. There wasn't much for me to do today and just laying around enjoying the ac wasn't enough of an excuse to stay. Plus I think I was making Ritsuko mad." Turning and winking at a blushing Asuka who wasn't happy at being caught, Misato waved over her shoulder. "You should play more Shinji. I don't know classical but it was nice." Walking away to her room to change, she was already thinking of ice and beer.
Asuka however had her own mask back on, turning to Hikari, "Let's go get some ice cream, it's still like a furnace in here." That she had ignored it for the last half hour while they stood rooted in place wasn't going to be mentioned, ever.
Hikari however could keep these teasing material in mind for later when Asuka brought up her own crush. "Sure sure, I'm in the mood."
Watching everyone pass through the house, Shinji was already putting everything away, but Asuka calling back out to him had him pausing and looking into her bright blue eyes, "Uh, what was that Asuka?"
Rolling her eyes with flair and placed a hand on a cocked hip, "I asked if you wanted anything? It's hot enough to melt brains in here, not that you have much of that. But I'm being gracious."
"Uh, an ice cream sandwich, vanilla if you would." He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth, not this time.
"Ugh, of course vanilla. Try something more exciting from time to time. It wouldn't kill ya." Already turning and leaving, flatly ignoring the smirk on Hikari's face and just knowing Misato was going to tease her later, both younger girls were back out the door. Original reason for coming back to the apartment forgotten.
Shinji had paused in putting away his cello, hand idly on the body of the instrument. Wondering briefly if the actual nice exchange between himself and his roommate was something to think long on. Maybe the warmth still on his fingers was his mother helping in her own way, just this once? With a wane smile Shinji closed the case and moved to cleaning up his mess. He could pretend and day dream later. With everyone home early maybe he should start considering dinner.
-AN-
Just something short and sweet. And idea of something that could have happened at some point in the Evangelion verse. Current plan is for this to be a complete one shot. But as I'm typing this I'm wondering if maybe Asuka and Shinji should have a duet? Eh. This was to clean my mind from one of my other stories. So who knows. Live life well ya'll.