Standard Disclaimer
Sorry…sorry, just been sick and busy last few days and that kept me from writing. Getting colder out so my exercise is going down too, sigh raining and pouring I guess. Trying to keep up on all my stories as best I can. In other news, get ready for Halloween!
X-X
Bait and Switch
Chapter – 4
"Shouldn't take to much longer, barring Asuka keeping her temper this time," Ritsuko announced to the trio of pilots. While the test was nearly over, Ritsuko was slightly giddy about the follow-up tests. The current was just a boring harmonics test, what was to come was just Shinji and her. Gods knew Gendo had done a lot to piss Ritsuko off over the years, being a shoddy lover first and foremost, but he had made headway into Ritsuko's good graces lately. It wasn't as if he TRIED to, but the bastard's demand for constant testing till a cure for Shinji's Yui-itus could be found…She wiggled in her seat a little.
The dark cloud in the room however just had to tap Ritsuko's shoulder. "Mind if I talk to them a little. Misato's been pulling double duty in keeping me away from her precious little children," Kaji only sounded half serious with his joke. Flinching his head towards the monitors, the roguish man put his hands pleadingly under his chin and mock bowed. Slightly exasperated, "She's still upset about that little accident."
"You called her somebody else, Ryoji-san," Maya was quick to put in as she continued typing. A full week after the 'not a date really', Maya was still a bastion of flowers and happy. Love struck, maybe, but at least the tech was bashful enough to not talk to the woman she kissed then vomited on.
Lowering the plug depth further, Ritsuko nodded in dull surprise as Asuka's slowly aggregating decline stopped. "Doing much better this time, Asuka. Ayanami you're doing stellar compared to before," that was a shocker as well. Guess having a quasi-mother that wasn't a bitch, whore, and/or snark machine helped. Damn her own mother! Damn Naoko Akagi for being all three of those things and immortal! Bending the wire microphone over to Kaji, she put her hand over it for a moment, "Now don't be belligerent Maya, Kaji often envisions multiple women at the same time."
Rolling his eyes, Kaji leaned in closer to the microphone with noticeably wilted shoulders. "Good to see you three improving. Asuka, I think this calls for a small celebration," he winked at the children. "All of you, if you want, are welcome to go out with me for some grub," his lady killer smile proudly on display.
Ah so that was the plan, Ritsuko had to admit Kaji had a nifty plan. Either he was actually aiming for the fiery pits of hell between Asuka's legs, or it was a ruse. Get the real target out with him under the guise rewards. "Good idea, Kaji, would do her self esteem a real boon," just Shinji couldn't go since she had more tests to do. Not that Ritsuko let that part go ahead. "How about you go with them, Maya? You're nearly off shift aren't you?" Ritsuko could hope she'd fall for it.
Before anybody could speak, Asuka just had to nearly burst a few eardrums. "Kaji! You've been avoiding me haven't you? Ever since that night a week and a half ago, since Baka-Shinji lost her little friend," Asuka jibbed while smirking at the flustered female Ikari. Almost glowing in the plug through the LCL, Asuka's smile reached insane quantities of large. "And of course they'll want to go too, who wouldn't want to spend time with a real man?" somehow her tone lost a bit of its earnest quality.
"Is that a derogatory comment aimed at Shinji over the issue at school today?" Rei asked dead pan. Rubbing the LCL out of her eyes as the level of fluid lowered below her chin, Rei splashed the liquid off her hand. Despite Shinji's hands waving about madly and her pleading for Rei to stop, the albino saw telling signals of 'go on' from everybody save Asuka. "Dojiko Ayanakoji, Sakura Tachibana, and the Felecia Baker have all asked as to Shinji-kun's state of being. And when pressed the later two admitted to wanting a relationship. Oh and Shinji, they were intimidated by the size of your member so be gentle," Rei illuminated the masses that would rather stay dumb.
Shouting as she climbed out of the plug, "Damn gold diggers just want the notoriety of being with a pilot. Hoping it increases sales or something…" Asuka's rant was cut off as the trio of video feeds cut from the plugs, the test was over.
Thinking about the names, Ritsuko didn't have to waste much time to swallow hard and nearly choke on the air. All three names were of slightly older, sixteen for the first two and eighteen for the foreign debutante, were from excessively wealthy or successful families. Hell she'd seen the Sakura girl on the news a few nights ago at some movie premier. Leave it to the freak her mother helped create to toss supple young flesh in her path to victory.
Letting out a low whistle, Kaji just spun around and sat on Ritsuko's console. "Ok, don't think I needed to know ANY of that. Whatever got into Ayanami, just hope we can put it away again," he shuddered a little. Pulling a smoke out of his pack, he held it out for Ritsuko to snag one herself, he light up there and then. "So Maya-chan, you going to be coming with us? The more the merrier?" he gave her a sidelong glance.
Already getting out of her seat, Maya fixed her collar and shut her monitor off. Smoothing out her hair in the blackened monitor, "Sure. I'd be glad to. And somebody has to keep an eye on you so you don't get blamed for inappropriate contact with minors. Would be strange for a grown man to take teenage girls to a restaurant." Oh she wasn't fooling anybody though, that bounce in her step, that slight reddening of her cheeks. Young Maya was smitten and hardcore. Girl was going to make Kaji work for any progress with the woman he was thinking about bedding, if Misato's comments were true.
Hook, line, and sinker both Kaji and Maya were going to spend a nice relaxing evening with Asuka and Rei…well hopefully Rei too. Leaving poor neglected Ritsuko with her favorite pet project. It was odd how a full week of spending time chatting and bonding with Shinji changed Ritsuko's plans. The initial plan of just seducing the body of Yui Ikari into pictures to ruin Gendo's mind mutated and grew. Actual caring had started, after getting to know Shinji a lot better Ritsuko saw her as more than just a pawn. Damn sad as it was, being with Shinji this last week reminded Ritsuko of how lonely she had felt. The illusion of Gendo's feelings shattered, the doctor turned her mind inward to see how empty her life had been. But with Shinji, young man or woman, well…she thought she'd like to try. Just have to get Maya and Rei's harem out of the picture.
Continuing to keep her little bout of knowledge a secret until the last moment, Ritsuko just typed. "I'd go with you, but I've more work to do. Have a drink on me?" she nearly laughed as that odd warmth hit her. Was this what Maya felt like inside too? A true surge of emotions, not just the thrill of being with a powerful man, but actual emotions? Starting to laugh openly as an idea hit her, "You should invite Misato to, but then Kaji wouldn't have a good evening."
Going pale for a few moments, Kaji stared glass eyed and his smoke fell to the ground. "She'd kill me! Misato hasn't really forgiven me for the little…look I know I messed up. It's just everybody had been talking about her transformation and it was…I'm not on the make for her!" Kaji convinced nobody in the room. Picking up his fallen cancer stick, Kaji stood back up just in time to accept the Asuka missile to the stomach.
Winded from running the whole way from the showers, Asuka was half damp and had her face buried in Kaji's shirt. "You owe me big for abandoning me. I have to ask you some questions. Misato's been weird, Ayanami is too, and…what?" the German found the trio of adults gazing at her awkwardly. "I need advice in talking to Shinji…she's been avoiding me since that little date Ibuki drug her out on. And before that she pleaded for my time. Need to know how to get her to spill so I can be free of her odd moods at the supper table," Asuka panicked a bit and spilled a few to many beans.
"I told you already, Soryu-kun, it wasn't a date! Sempai and I were just trying to undo the damage Katsuragi-san's advice did," Maya squealed as she checked her purse for the fifth time. Stepping between the teenager and the man, "And I'll be going with you, so maybe we can all get Ik-Shinji-kun to open up. If she's having problems, her friends should be there for her."
Enjoying the twisted wreckage that was Asuka's happiness, Ritsuko wondered how much was real and how much fake. Misato oft spoke that the German acted a slight bit gingerly to the Third Child, but this was something else. "Guess it's a good thing Ikari-kun won't be going with you. She has a few more physicals to do as per the commander's orders. Making progress on a potential recovery," oh how she loved the twin forlorn looks on Kaji and Maya. Innocent reasons her ass.
Of the three in the room though, it was Asuka who voiced her displeasure…as usual. "But then what will she have? She's been here all day and…" her concern was noticed, something the girl didn't seem to want. Shaking her head clear of the embarrassment, "Whatever, I'll bring leftovers or something."
Joining the rest, Shinji and Rei walked into the room just a step apart. Seeing the outright crushed expression on Maya's face, the ever supportive Ikari addressed her first. "Is something wrong Maya-san?" she got close but just out of arms reach. Lingering fear from the first true showing of physical affection or courtesy was up to the viewer. Suddenly beset by all the adults in the room, Shinji took a step back, "S-something wrong with me?"
"What is wrong with her, speak now," Rei just brushed past Maya and went straight to Ritsuko. Checking the screen, "Her score is acceptable, she has lost two pounds. Shinji you must eat more," Rei quickly turned to her mother before adding, "desist from smoking in her presence." Plucking Ritsuko's smoke from the woman's mouth, Rei stomped it out.
The whirlwind cometh, Ritsuko just blinked at Rei's dramatic entrance and near abuse. "They're just upset that Shinji-kun can't go with all of you out to eat. She has a few more tests to conclude. I've made some progress in a plan to fix the whole issue at hand," and she had. Applying a few theories she had came up with, Ritsuko had combined all she knew of the Eva's and Shinji's condition. Likely it was the soul of Unit-01 that had caused the change, as such only if Yui wanted Shinji to turn back would she. Though the LCL was proving to be just as miraculous a fountain of youth as she had discovered.
With a quick head bob, Rei spun around fast enough to cause a small pop, "Then I shall not go either."
"Go Rei-san, no reason you shouldn't be rewarded for your hard work because of me," Shinji accepted her fate easily as always. Her body jerked as she past Maya, a stray hand just about Shinji's rump height twitched at Maya's side, Shinji tried to maintain her composure. "I'll meet you at home after these tests, and the three of us can play Asuka's new game…and we can go over again why you shouldn't say things to girls I don't know. Don't want to give them the wrong impression," she caressed the side of Rei's face softly.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room at Shinji's very matronly action and the immediate result of it. Rei had the most blissful face, nearly approaching a thing smile! Without a word, the albino left the room with a stunned Asuka in tow. The other diners followed suit, Maya being the last to leave and casting a confused but longing glance at Shinji that only Ritsuko saw.
"So it seems Maya is still giving you a bit of space since her little binge drinking episode?" Ritsuko just HAD to turn the nail. All was fair in love, war, and revenge and Ritsuko would get two out of three with Shinji. Oh how different the 'son' was from the father, and Ritsuko was thrilled at that prospect. Her initial samplings of bi-sexuality in college, thanks to a drunken Misato, had left her totally comfortable with the notion of female Shinji. And her knowledge of the male Shinji's anatomy left her giddy at the thought. Apple fell incredibly far from the tree in so many respects. "Want to talk about it, Asuka mentioned you've been avoiding her too?" she patted the chair next to hers.
Taking the seat, Shinji just sat there for a few moments her face showing a wide range of emotions. Mostly on the positive, she went from inquisitive to worried before settling on confused. "I don't want to add to anybodies troubles. Especially yours. You've been doing so much for me lately, and I feel I'm just being a nuisance. Maya-san got drunk while trying to be nice to me, now she's uncomfortable around me. Asuka has been accepting of Rei-san, but I can see her getting frustrated with Rei-san's being at the apartment and her less than standard social graces. I just need to face my issues," she went silent but kept her hands on her lap and eyes downcast.
Fighting the urge to grab Shinji's shoulder lightly, Ritsuko was going the hands off approach. "We're here for you because we want to be, Shinji. Misato, Asuka, Maya, even me. Don't feel bad about asking us anything, or even if we do something stupid while trying to be nice. Take Maya's drinking, it was an accident that you had no influence over," she found she didn't like seeing Shinji sad. Her past boyfriends…she hadn't given them any consolation. Hell she dropped a man in college because he was to 'emotional', but here was different. Finally breaching her decorum, she lifted Shinji's chin with her crooked finger, "So, what's on your mind." God those eyes were beautiful.
Gesturing to her body, Shinji stifled a sob mixed with a laugh. "I'm just not getting used to this. M-my mother…is this a joke of hers or something? I…I lost her when I was so young I couldn't remember her face. Now all I have to do is look at a mirror. It's like she's torturing me. And to make matters worse…I know Asuka has issues with the 'mother' issue. I wanted…wanted to talk to her about that. I think-think that my mother is in Unit-01…but if I bring that up to Asuka she'd just get angry or defensive. So now I don't know what to say to her when she finally corners me," she trembled like a kitten as Ritsuko softly held her chin with her thumb and forefinger.
Anybody who said Shinji was dense or non-observant was a fool, she had everything pegged but just lacked evidence. Well, Ritsuko could provide it, but was that a good idea? She had toyed around with the notion of telling one or all the pilots of the nature of synchronization, but Gendo's ironclad rule over her heart at the time stayed her hand. But now…well maybe not RIGHT now, Shinji was to unstable for that…
"An interesting theory you have there, think I'll look into it," Ritsuko smiled at the beauty before her. Yup, she'd go lesbian for Shinji if she stayed in the body. They were so similar in how they dealt with people. Push them away, keep themselves safe with lies and self imposed isolation. But it was time to break those shackles, "Come on Shinji-kun, lets get to those tests, and then if you want I can help you with those programming books I let you borrow."
Helping Shinji out of the chair, Ritsuko lead the woman to the medical bay and beset her with tests. Again face to face with the sheer pinkness of Shinji's bits, Ritsuko had to fight the growing urge to sample a taste. Dirty and abuse of power as it was, it was a very hard temptation. But no, no violations occurred. They chatted, joked, and just like Maya, Ritsuko found herself enjoying the time immeasurably. And at the end of the session, they had another thing in common, Shinji was a natural when it came to coding logic and enjoyed it. Birds of a feather…
X-X
Opening the door to his two-door car, Kaji pulled forward the seat so Asuka and Rei could climb in back. "Sorry for the lack of backdoors, but I don't normally have a full car. Just step on anything back there," he gave Rei a little extra space in getting in. While he wasn't afraid of the girl, he was just a little unnerved by a girl that had a whole tank full of spare bodies. A woman that could somebody could cheat on with a different version of herself…now that was a fear Kaji didn't want.
Strapping in, Asuka pouted a little as she ground a few take out containers on the ground. "So where are you taking all of us to apologize Kaji? Would have been better if it were just us though," she tried batting her eyelashes at him but the reflection in the rearview wasn't to great.
Resetting his seat after Rei got in, Kaji got in and unlocked Maya's door. "Thought I'd take you to a family restaurant. They have the largest selection of food to chose from," and they were the cheapest of the options available to him. His initial plan was to try wining and dining some information out of Shinji at a more upscale place. Asuka could have deluded herself into compliancy as Kaji worked. Well shit hit the fan with not only Shinji not being there but her trained monster and a doe eyed Maya in place of her.
Buckling in, Maya sniffed several times then waved her hand before her nose. "You smoke to much, Ryoji, it smells horrid in here," Maya was pulling out all her charm and daintiness tonight it seemed. Fixing the chair to give Asuka a bit more room, the smaller woman eyed a choice magazine on the ground and gave Kaji a telling look. Finding 'Tig ol' Bitties' was anther thing Kaji likely didn't anticipate. "And going on the cheap aren't you? Not the greatest reward for Ayanami or…apology for Soryu-kun is it?" she kicked the magazine under her seat.
Turning the key, the engine sputtered a bit longer than Kaji liked before revving up and barking loudly to life. Damn, his car didn't seem to have much longer on the lifespan meter. Giving Maya a small shrug in thanks for hiding his shame, "I'm not that rich Maya-chan. But you are right, they do deserve more." He was committed to his story now, and he was not going to expose himself…well unless Maya wanted to take a trip to the bathroom.
Kaji had always wondered what that petite tech would be like in the sack. Wild and crazy or meek and mild? Never could tell with the shy ones. While his heart did belong to Misato, Kaji had no problem playing the field a bit. Do the odd nasty things with the throw away women while keeping it clean and nice with the real interest. And, sadly, he liked to stick it in others on occasion. But honestly, that night, love and romance(sex) were not his main objective. His masters wanted details on Akagi's research into LCL rejuvenation and Shinji was the sole evidence of it. So who better to get details, and maybe sample what Gendo had going on before he went Amish, than a night of drinking?
"Anything is fine with me as long as I get a formal apology from you, Kaji," Asuka actually put her palm on his shoulder. Casting a sidelong glance at Maya from her position, Asuka's nose scrunched up ever so slightly. "And I wouldn't mind hearing a non-opinionated view of what happened at your apartment with Baka-Shinji, Ibuki. She's been odd ever since that night. She didn't…do anything perverted to you did she? Ayanami the wonder daughter her's been saying odd things," Asuka flinched her head in Rei's direction before reclining back.
Pulling into traffic, Kaji hoped his blinker light was working but couldn't be to sure. Rolling down the window and popping a smock in his mouth, "Ritsuko said a few oddities too, Maya-chan. Something about you drinking to much?" He sparked up and did his best to blow the smoke out the window he cracked open. The restaurant was a bit far from Nerv, actually close to the Katsuragi apartment, not surprising since he found it on his way one night to drop a drunken Misato off. Noticing a non-approving look on the ever doting German face Kaji made a note to drop the 'chan' on Maya's name. "And what about you Ayanami-kun? Maya's not happy, Asuka is, your take on our choice of venue?" he tilted the mirror to see those creepy red eyes.
"As long as they have a suitable vegetarian option it will suffice," Rei kept her eyes on the passing scenery. Not missing a beat though, she stuck to her defense of her matriarch, "Though I do not understand why Soryu-kun refuses to believe my details. Ibuki-san confessed her affection for Shinji-kun in either form and before she regurgitated on Akagi and her…I believe the term is hit a single?"
Sputtering out madly, Maya's whole body seemed to vibrate at the speed of Kaji's care. Now it might have just been the car itself, but when she spoke, "I-I-I did that?! Oh god no wonder she's been looking at me strange! Sempai refused to tell me and Shinji-kun has been…I just thought I puked!" Hiding her face in her hands, Maya let out a strangled sound that was a mix of a cat yowling and nails on a chalkboard.
Letting out another plumb of smoke, Kaji had to chuckle at that one. Leave it to the socially dead girl to just drop bombs like that without care. Guess Maya wouldn't be to focused now, not that Kaji could do anything. Evening was just going to cost him money, and a bit of shame. Well maybe he could work in some recovery towards Misato's good graces through the teens in back. "Don't fret Maya-c-kun," Kaji saw Asuka smile at that, "accidents happen when drunk. I'm sure if you explain that you didn't mean what you said, and it wasn't intentional she'll forgive you."
Maya let out another muffled sound that might have been words but were more suited for a squeegee on a window. Conversation dulled as Asuka took charge and filled the tiny stinky car with inane banter. Talking about fashion, television shows, and even a few times asking Kaji how work was doing it took the edge off. How Asuka sounded so chipper when half the car was annoyed and Rei was Rei was a marvel and testament to Asuka's ability to see past others annoyances.
After a good twenty minutes of driving Kaji pulled up to the restaurant, he had only cut off three other drivers and swore many expletives at one other that cut him off a new record for him. Getting out and flipping the seat again, "After you two, Maya-kun you doing good enough to join us or did you want to stay in the car?" It didn't matter to him really, just a cheaper bill if she did stay and sulk. He hoped Maya's little lip locking with the woman he tried his best not to be fixated on, he failed mostly, was just a crush or something.
Opening the door, her eyes puffy and red but just a touch, Maya got out and slammed Kaji's door shut nearly taking it off the hinge. "I'm fine, Ryoji, really. Just feel like a blundering idiot. And I won't lie to her. I'll apologize for making her uncomfortable, but I did mean it. I know I'll get odd looks from people, but I rather not hide my feelings anymore," she nodded to herself as a sense of confidence swelled about her.
"Freak," Asuka spat out as she passed the woman on her way to the door. "Shinji's a pervert and…I mean she's not really a pervert but…" she got confused as her mind warred against her. Opening the door, she left the trio outside in a maelstrom of bewilderment, pretty standard for the German as of late.
Reaching into a pocket of her skirt, Rei handed Maya a handkerchief. "She says these things as I believe she is uncertain of her own intents, take no offense. Anger over my attempts to secure Shinji a life mate would only stem from jealousy. But to watch extent," Rei petered out and just stood stoically.
Following behind Maya and Rei, Kaji had to wonder where this new Ayanami arose from. The girl he studied in the past via video feed and reports had been a perfect puppet of Gendo Ikari. Then one day she just…he didn't know. Was it an act, Gendo setting this all up to confuse and distract other, or was it real? Holding the door open for the to women, "Asuka's a complex specimen alright. Though if I had to judge I'd think she's feeling abandoned. She had Ikari-kun's ear and time all to herself till this little ordeal, and now you're around Ayanami-kun. And…are you really trying to score girls for her?" If she turned back to a boy, Kaji wanted to see the look on the poor kids face.
"You're party has already been seated, here are your menus," an elderly man pointed to the seated Asuka. Handing over the declarations of delicious foods and drinks, the balding and portly man swabbed at the sweat on his brow. "Seems a bit agitated, I apologize if it was my fault in anyway," he bowed lightly and gestured for the remaining diners to their table.
Rolling his eyes, Kaji just prayed this little tradition didn't continue in the same vein. A simple idea botched was one thing, disaster recovery was something totally different. "Not a problem, she's been having a rough couple of days," Kaji excused Asuka's behavior as he had a few times before. An incident in Germany came to mind when a waiter hit on Asuka…Kaji didn't want a repeat of that. To messy.
Undeterred by the man or Kaji's excuses Rei continued her side of the discussion. "As Shinji is still attracted to women, and she is reserved in the act of conversing with them, I have taken it upon myself to secure her future happiness," taking her seat across from Asuka, Rei scooted to the far side of the booth closest to the window. "If one cannot be found that is accepting of the nature of her current form or the prospect of her transforming back, I shall make myself available to sate any needs she/he may need," Rei opened her menu and began looking.
Was it to early to ask for the check? Oh yeah they hadn't ordered yet, damn. After Rei's little statement of willing incest, Kaji didn't have much of an appetite. Well he had to admit, incest was a bit far, they were more like cousins so close and odd but not lynch mob worthy. "Well…I bet that she's appreciative of that," but damn it sucked. Shinji was a lesbian, not really hard to accept but he did wonder how…
With her fist hosting her cheek, Asuka grumbled angrily as she gazed at the menu as if it had all life's secrets. "Yeah, if only Ayanami actually TOLD Shinji about it. No, she's keeping it a secret to form up a damn harem I bet. Number of times I saw her dragging girls out of class…did you HAVE to ask those three?" she finally bore down on Rei. Those eyes, capable of such vibrant life and excitement were cold blue orbs of aggravation.
"It would do her no good to secure a teenager for her if she doesn't reclaim her body. And as Akagi and Ibuki have the adult spots filled, Katsuragi is unlikely, I need not tell her of the girls I am contacting. It would sadden her to learn she had options but lost them due to having lost her penis," Rei pointed at several items on the list and nodded at each.
Quickly spinning the menu over for the drink menu, Kaji swore mentally that they didn't have booze. Man he needed a good hard drink. "Well lets not worry ourselves about that right now," he tried to disarm the ticking time bomb that was Asuka. Rei was pouring gas on the fuse, but Kaji had his charms. "Now why don't you tell us about your prospects Asuka? Bet the all the high school, maybe college guys, are asking you out," he didn't want her dating anybody that old but…change topic. A male Shinji would have done Asuka good. Boy knew how to take care of Asuka, but a female Shinji needed a man…not a woman a man!
"Don't think they're old enough to think about dating and the like, kids advance so fast these days," Maya muttered as she signaled the waitress over. "But then again, women need to learn quickly what men are earnest and which have ulterior motives for them," she shot Kaji an evil eye across the table…Rei joined her. Pointing at the menu, "I'll have one of these…with a side of…and a coffee." She happened to pick a mid-tier sampling of dishes.
Rei however…girl ordered nearly everything on the menu that didn't have meat in it! Going so far as to ask for a few specialty dishes made with tofu rather than the beef, Rei was wracking up the bill. Adding to the pain to Kaji's wallet, Asuka just HAD to have steak so steak she would have. At least it calmed her down partially.
Weeping internally over the damage to his wallet Kaji pointed at the old reliable number four, "American burger for me please and a water." He winked at the college aged waitress and as his luck would have it Asuka caught it and accidentally dropped her fork on his hand. Maybe it wasn't worth playing about with volatile girls around, last time he did that it landed him in Misato shit list. Just one bit of fixation, a simple mistake due to thinking to heavily on things. Not that Kaji loved Shinji, no he loved Misato, but he couldn't refute Yui Ikari was the hottest smoking pistol he had seen next to Misato.
Lapsing into more droning talk from Asuka, thankfully Maya breeched a few topics as well, Kaji was reminded of why he hated going out with multiple women. They could talk about anything and everything and still leave him bored to tears. He didn't care what Maya thought of the latest TV drama, or Asuka's opinions on sandals over shoes, but those two kept the table boisterous until the food arrived…needed a cart for Rei's.
Over his burger, a little on the undercooked side just as he liked it, "So Ayanami. Why go through all that for Shinji-kun though? No offense, but until this whole shift." He paused to chew and hope they got his reference, "You never showed much interest in our only male pilot. Then next day you're out trying to score ladies for him in the event of another shift. That is if Maya doesn't beat you to the punch." Maya had said she meant it, but Kaji couldn't see it working.
As Maya put down her chopsticks and Asuka set her knife and fork down, Rei dabbed her lips. She had polished off half the food she ordered already, "I had interest, but no reason. If Shinji-kun desired my attention, affection, or just body he had only to ask. He did not, so I was content to project him from harm. After the 'switch'," she nodded at the two and took another big bite of salad. Chewing sensuously the girl appeared genuinely happy, "And I learned she was my mother, if in body alone though her actions lately lead more to a more formal term, I wished to change my way. I desire her happy, closeness, and continued prosperity. It took that push of family to…"
Slamming her palms on the table, Asuka reached across the table and grabbed Rei by the collar. "Shut up! Shinji is NOT your mother! She's not related to you, not even remotely! I want to stop saying that! Stop the damn show, if you want to fuck her go for it, hell let the freak help you as I bet you don't know how. But just STOP with the mother bullshit! I'm more…more her family than you…so just…just go away," she reached back to slap the girl only to have Kaji catch her hand.
Well this just ramped up the understanding gauge from vaguely to crystal clear horror. Staring non-Euclidian monsters in the face would be a treat compared to this. Kaji knew of Asuka's mother and the events leading up to her untimely demise, and how it affected Asuka. Well, guess having Shinji actually acting matronly and Rei calling her exactly that wasn't doing Asuka any good. "You don't want to do that, Asuka. How about we just…" he tried but seeing that expression on her face he groaned. His act of stopping her was paramount to siding with Rei in Asuka's eyes.
Grabbing her half eaten plate of food, Asuka flipped it before grabbing more of Rei's and flinging it off the table. "Fine! You pick everybody's side but mine, what was I expecting. Wouldn't be surprised if this whole dinner wasn't just a damn lie to get at Shinji or something…oh god it is isn't it!" Asuka saw something on Maya's face that sent her over the edge. "To hell with all of you," she shoved her way past Kaji and out of the restaurant.
With her food gone, Rei looked to Maya with a hint of sadness. "I do not wish to continue eating. I wish to see Shinji-kun," she found her hand taken by Maya's who lead the girl out of the restaurant.
Sitting in the devastation, Kaji just grabbed what plates hadn't been destroyed and picked at it. "Well I handled that horribly," Kaji wasn't shocked when the owner presented him with a bill complete with damages. Games and playing around had made things worse, maybe he should have just been honest. "Talk to Misato soon, apologize outright. Then I'll ask Shinji about the LCL…no more games unless absolutely necessary," he just hoped Asuka forgave him in time. He cared about her, and seeing that look of betrayal, well it wounded him nearly as much as Misato's aghast expression after saying one wrong word.
X-X
Some days Misato just wanted to crawl into a bottle and sleep, days like today however she wanted to put automated turrets to keep reality out. Nothing was going well and it was likely to get worse before it got better, but that was just how things went from time to time. Rushing about the base, a pile of reports in her hand, her legs ached and she had a splitting headache. Add to it she had still not gotten a chance to apologize to Shinji for her current act of taking her frustration out on the poor woman.
"Katsuragi-san, you're looking good this evening," Makoto complimented as he accepted the rather hefty reports from the woman. Setting them on a growing pile of unfinished automation reports, the man showed little interest in work, Misato on the other hand. Scooting his chair closer to the stationary woman, "Been a long day?"
So it was going to get worse in this way was it, well the pain of being a beauty like her. Resigned to her fate of being fawned over she said, "Just reports and meetings all day. The commander is demanding more resources be put in reversing Shinji-kun's condition, but the defense ministry wants more resources on getting the Eva's back up and running." If she had known being a major within Nerv meant nothing but paperwork she'd have volunteered for Eva training. Not likely to work, but never knew if a few months in the goop would pay off. "How you two doing?" she wouldn't let Shigeru leave her alone with Makoto.
Casting a pleading glance back to Shigeru, Makoto's shame was full for all to see. Uneasily chuckling as Misato raised an eyebrow, "Yeah guess you do have the sh-shaft with all the paperwork. Didn't expect we'd have to do so much paperwork while saving the world." Picking up one of Misato's offerings he flipped through it idly with a grimace. "More munitions reports? I'll leave it for third shift to work on. Feel like going out for a drink?" he tried to mask shaking his hand at Shigeru.
Either trying to help Makoto or being truthful Shigeru replied, "Not me tonight. Trying to patch things up with the girlfriend so long night out at an expensive restaurant and patching things up." But that didn't stop him from keeping an eye on the budding social event on the command deck. Several other of the second shifter's nearing the end of the shift were paying rapt attention to Makoto's non-to subtle attempt to pick up Misato.
A drink, yeah she wanted one and in the worst way. "Oh yeah I could go for a drink, a fleet of drinks," maybe with a booze chaser. Not with Makoto, no she could go without the hormonal rush for the day. Not psychic by any stretch, Misato did think she got a vision though of what the dweeb intended. He'd take her out, pay her bill, and somewhere along the night profess his undying love…then expect a trip back to his apartment where they made good on their mutual affection. Then the jerk would call her… "Enough booze to drown myself in."
"Well if you want, we-we could go together, if-if you want you could invite Akagi to. She should be getting off soon," Makoto swallowed hard as his courage rose. Setting the papers back down, the technician signed off his computer station. Getting to his feet, "She's been here all day, so I bet she'd like a night out to. Nice night out with friends."
While it was normally fun to watch Makoto act the puppy at her leg, Misato just wasn't in the mood for the spastic action. Noticing Shigeru working on a sheet of paper, she got a feral grin, "So I'm not enough for you anymore Makoto-chan?" Was every man her age just a pervert looking for the first thing they could get with plans to upgrade? Stalking as softly as she could towards the would be artist, she plucked the sheet deftly from his slick fingers. Holding the paper out of his grip, she watched him flub about, "So what is our little artist doing while he should be working?"
Reaching over Misato's shoulder trying to get the evidence back, Shigeru was more than a little panicked, "It's just a joke Major, g-give it back and go back to planning your nice evening out with our dear Makoto-chan." Was it accidental or was his left hand coping a feel rather than reach for the offending paper?
Moving away from captain roman-fingers, Misato felt her irritation rise. Shinji never took liberties like these guys did, and Misato had offered her babies up as a joke so many times it was…well it literally was criminal. Stupid laws about harassment, at least Shinji never pressed charges which left Misato to daydream about him waiting for her and aging into a real hunk. Best of both worlds, charming and kind while taller and just a hint more muscular…maybe skip the waiting if Shinji turned back. Looking at the paper though, "One reason I shouldn't tell Asuka you drew this about her and Shinji-kun?"
Approaching Misato from his desk, his jacket on and his face swelling with pride, Makoto spied the picture and promptly nosebleed. "Why did you draw us like that? I-I'm not some dog!" he grabbed the paper and stuffed it in his pocket. Guess Makoto didn't like seeing himself in S&M gear under Misato leather clad heel complete with whip. Pulling Misato away from the reaching paw of Shigeru, eyes wide with terror and sputtering out apologies, "Y-you ready to go?"
Gently disengaging herself from Makoto's sweaty palm Misato was done pretending she had any intention of going out with Makoto. "I am going out, Makoto-kun, but not with anybody today. You're a nice guy, and I'm glad you're looking out for me," she could be nice from time to time. Makoto was a nice guy, just to anxious and obvious for her tastes, no fun to tease. "Just going to go, have a few, and relax at the apartment until Asuka comes back to upset the peace…maybe Ayanami with her odd notions of parenthood," she gave him a small sad sort of smile and pat on the shoulder.
With how devastated the man looked, complete with a few laughs from those watching, Misato almost caved in and let Makoto tag along. Free drinks were free drinks, but her head was bugging and she just wanted to get blotto and forget things. Rei insisting she sleep in Shinji's room, Asuka's odd attitude swings, and Shinji…she just looked hurt whenever Misato was in the room with her. Guess Asuka's surliness and her own unintentional harshness were doing a number on Shinji. Some lot of good she was doing in making Shinji's life easier like she swore she'd do…taking out her frustrations with Kaji on the poor woman.
Making a hasty retreat from the secondary command bridge, damn primary was still under construction. Misato wouldn't say she retreated to her car more of a tactical withdraw. The elevator flipped her skirt again, darn chill worked its way up her spine and flipped another switch in her head. How long had it been since she had a real date…damn loneliness. A spike of pain right between her eyes accompanied her thoughts of Kaji. She had so hoped they'd get back together after the salvage mission, but life never gave her what she wanted it seemed.
Pulling into her pockets for her keys, Misato thought she saw a stain on her clothing and grimaced. "More work for Shinji-kun to do. Been too hard on her lately, even more since Kaji…Man I can't wait to hit the bar," why did she see feet at her car? She wasn't there yet, but there stood a woman in pumps. Slowly adjusting her gaze up the body, Misato knew she had forgotten something. Nice shapely legs, firm looking rump, thin waist, Misato groaned inwardly, full and plump chest, and there it was…that darn innocent and soft face that all the men were drooling idiots over. "Forgot I was driving you hoe today Shinji-kun. Mind if I make a stop on the way?" she was looking to forward to the drink.
Looking more fatigued than Misato did, Shinji just nodded with a somber quality as she pushed herself away from the driver's side door. "You want a drink and some relaxation. After a long day, I can relate. Ritsuko-san and I were going over a lot of new tests, then we talked about computer programming till just a few ho-minutes ago," Shinji confessed as she moved to her door. How long the woman was waiting for Misato would go unsaid.
Never more appreciative of Shinji's accepting nature, Misato unlocked the doors and fired up her car. Shinji spoiled her, woman looked dead on her feet yet was letting her go out drinking. "I'll try to make it fast, you look how I feel," she gave a toothy smile as she tore off. Setting was a wonderful thing, her darn tired legs lessoned their terrible ache as she approached speeds that threatened to force them back in time. Letting out a loud whooping cheer, Misato loved the thrill of speed and the blurring of scenery. "Now this is more like it! So tell me about these tests of yours? Mad scientist of Nerv any closer to getting your cute little butt back?" she defied death by looking at the panicked woman at her side.
Trying her best to meld into the seat, Shinji's eyes were wide with unadulterated fright. Fingers bit into the leather seats and her body just one steel beam in human form, "S-she said she has a fe-few ideas. LOOK OUT CAT!" Shinji cowered behind her arms as Misato swerved with physics breaking capabilities to avoid the cute little Bombay that had dared walk on the sidewalk. Panting as she dared look after not hearing a sick thud, "N-nothing definite, but she's confident. Most of the tests were normal…but she-she needed a sample of m-m-my…" Shinji just shut up and gazed at her waist, her hands covering the region the sample came from.
Letting out a laugh as she neared her destination, Misato gave herself a new best time. Stupid panicky drivers going the speed limit, it was just a suggested speed anyway, honked a record number of times at her. "She made you diddle yourself for a sample? Don't know what she'd need that for, but times like this make me glad I'm not a scientist," if it was really what Ritsuko needed or not wasn't the issue, just teasing. Seeing a spot, she hoped anyway, she whipped her car to the left and barreled into the parking spot at full speed, stopping on the spot. "Still got it, and don't worry Shin-chan, this place is only a mile or so from the apartment. So if we get to tanked we can just walk home," she wasn't going to drink alone.
Shivering as the adrenaline leaked out of her system, Shinji got out of the car and fell to the ground. "Ouch, stood up to fast," but Shinji bolted out of that car as if it had been on fire. Rolling onto her back, Shinji sat up and rubbed her nose and patted her red scratched forehead. "And I was doing so good about not falling lately," she offered what little humor she could.
Helping Shinji off the ground, dusting off the poor woman in her cream colored blouse, Misato felt that pang of jealousy again. Shinji was darn fine material, darn fine, that even Misato considered a rival. "I think car accidents can be forgiven. Now let's hit those men in the wallets! Be a double whammy with the two of us, no drinks will be paid for!" she wrapped an arm around Shinji's waist. Approaching the fancy oaken doors to the club, the bouncer a man she knew on a first name basis held it open for her, "Evening Takeo, friend of mine and I need to forget very bad days."
Giving the lovely ladies a wink, Takeo bowed as much as his finely attired suit would allow. "Always a pleasure to host you Katsuragi-san and guest," he the mountain of a man winked playfully at the ladies but offered no further flippancy.
"I don't think I should drink, Misato-san. Just a soda or something, that night at Maya's," Shinji promptly shut up as Misato bore down on her. Bowing her head in defeat, "Just one then." Letting Misato lead the way to the polished faux wood bar, the woman was out of her depth as several men at the destination nodded with slick smiles as they approached.
Holding up two fingers to her favorite female bartender, Misato loved how she didn't have to even tell orders anymore. Waiting for the drinks, she thrust one into Shinji's long and fine fingers, "Pish-posh Shin-chan! You need to build up a tolerance is all. Just stop when your stomach starts feeling queasy or you'll make a mess." Giving her rum and coke a swig, that comfortable tingling went down her spine from neck to tailbone. Just want mamma needed! "To relaxation!" she clinked glasses with Shinji and watched her guest drink tentatively over the rim of her own glass.
A myriad of drinks and music playing softly on the speakers later, Misato was feeling floaty and happy. Sadly Shinji stuck to her one drink minimum, which allowed Misato to wet her whistle to maximum intent. Not a drink was paid for by either of them, gullible men were more than willing to hope their legs could be lubricated by cheap bar swill. Only one had the gumption to try actually talking to them, and well…the older looking salary man was teased into mush and sent off packing. But like all good things, they had to end. And that evening at the bar ended with Shinji holding back her hair at the lady's washroom.
After cleaning Misato's mess up, the woman's face mostly, Shinji hoisted Misato's arm around her shoulder and started the walk home. The night are sobered Misato up greatly, so Shinji tempted, "You doing better now Misato? I could get a cab if you didn't want to walk." Their pace was just under an actual walking gait, but Misato's occasional listing and trailing hand made it harder for Shinji to keep them stable.
"Oh a walk will do me good, Shin-chan," Misato leaned her face a mere inch away from Shinji's. Studying that face, Misato could see the old Shinji vaguely gazing back at her. "You're such a cutie, Shin-chan, you know that? Still shocked some tart of a girl hadn't got her claws in you by now," she staggered away from Shinji dragging her along. "S-seriously!" she shouted, "I-if you had been a bit older, I-I would have jumped your bones after the second week. Cute, considerate, big package." Her hand groped where said package would have been if Shinji still had it, "Oh yeah…forgot. You looked an awful lot like your mother."
Blushing horribly and taking a chance to release Misato's side to brush that wondering hand away, "Misato-san, maybe it would be better if we just…walked?" Forcing the pace to increase, Shinji avoided eye contact with the lavender haired beauty preaching her past glories. "And y-you shouldn't tease me like that in public, Misato-san. People would get the wrong ideas," Shinji re-hoisted the wobbling Misato.
Burrowing her face into the crook of Shinji's neck, Misato giggled lightly, "You've been far too good to me Shin-chan. Oh you smell good, using my shampoo are you?" Jumping up on Shinji's back, arms wrapped just under Shinji's bust, Misato gave them a playful squeeze. "Carry me home, my noble hero. And I'm not teasing you. You're a catch, both forms of you, and I'm jealous of it. Stupid Kaji…thinking of you when he was with me! Not your fault and I was taking it out on you, forgive me?" she kissed Shinji's cheek softly.
Moving her hands to her backside, making a seat for Misato to rest on, Shinji stood up taller. "Of course I do. I was just worried I upset your or something. Your teasing is embarrassing normally, but lately you've been…cruel," the little amount of alcohol in her system did loosen Shinji's tongue just a bit.
Nestling herself against Shinji, who she was amazed was strong enough to keep her lifted, Misato yawned as fatigue worked its way on her. "Just promise me that whenever you do make some young woman very happy, you don't forget or abandon your old Misato-san," she felt her arms go slack as the darkness wrapped in.
"Always, Misato-san, always. Just go easier on the…" Shinji continued speaking but Misato didn't hear. Content to drool and snore on her neck and back.
X-X
With the TV droning on about weather patterns and stock prices, Shinji shut her school book and flexed her shoulders. Misato had put a great strain on her getting home and into bed, but Shinji was glad to do it. Her fear, why Misato was being cruel to her, was alleviated. While she didn't understand it at all, knowing it had originated from something not her fault and Misato wanted forgiveness was enough. With her school work done, Shinji popped open a programming guide Ritsuko had lent her. Not much else to do with the apartment empty.
"Wonder what movie Rei-san and Maya-san went to," she muttered as she flipped past the index. It had shocked Shinji to find the apartment empty and dark so late in the evening. A flashing light on the phone illuminated Shinji as to why she had to carry Misato's heavy unconscious load alone. Asuka went to visit Hikari and Maya wanted to treat Rei. "Guessing the supper didn't turn out to go," with a cringe ideas of just what happened left Shinji unnerved. Those two girls could do any number of things to ruin an evening out. From talking openly about private things (Rei) to being just a trifle to upset at food preparation (Asuka), the options were boundless.
Skimming the book, more interesting than the homework she kept up on, Shinji gave a passing moment to listen to Misato's snores. Kicking her feet up on the couch, "Just hope she remembers she asked for forgiveness. Be a shame to go back to her ignoring me." The cruel comments Shinji could live with, bullies had been a part of her life since her father abandoned her. It was the fear of another abandonment that kept Shinji up at night. Well that and the uncomfortable sense that she was becoming accustomed to being a woman. She didn't like it, but it was growing on her and that was horrifying.
A loud crack as the door kicked open and then slammed shut signaled Asuka's arrival, that or an explosion as Rei came and left like a ninja. "Stupid shoes, need a new pair," Asuka grumbled as she found her way into the living room. Trying to peak over the couch's back, "You're da…Rei isn't laying on you again I hope?" Asuka savagely spat out.
Sighing in her mind, always when she had something she wanted to do, Shinji shut her book and set it down. "No, Rei-san is off with Maya-san right now. Maya left a message saying she was taking her out to a movie and likely going to let her stay the night," Shinji wondered how Maya got Rei to accept. Rei had been attached to her like glue whenever possible, so Maya had to have done something special. Twisting to address Asuka more directly, "I take it something happened with Kaji-san at the restaurant?"
Vaulting over the couch, trusting Shinji to move her legs or let them be crushed, Asuka bounce on the cushion with a delighted face. "You could say that, or you could believe me when I say that girl has no social graces what so ever. Maya didn't tell you anything about it?" Asuka reached over to the coffee table and grabbed the remote. Flipping through the stations, she found a nice game show playing and nodded. "Where is major liver damage?" she peeked at the kitchen.
Feeling more self-conscious than normal, the talk and tests with Ritsuko left her rattled, Shinji covered her chest with a pillow. "Misato-san had a rough day and we hit a bar on the way home. She's sleeping off the effects," Shinji didn't mind the drinking part just Misato's quantity. She'd never be one for binge drinking, but one or two on occasion really did take the stress away. Drumming her fingers over the soft cushion, "As for the call no, it was just a message left by the time we got back."
"Good, I won't have to worry about her saying something unfair or biased," Asuka's head bobbed a few times. Lapsing into a contemplative silence, Asuka's eyes hardened on the screen seeing past the garish costumes, the screen, and the wall behind it. Lost in her own world, her hand clenched so tight it popped and turned white. "You said you wanted to talk to me right, Shinji. So, what did you want to talk about? With you flirting with those two old scags so much, I doubt theirs much about being a woman you don't know now. Bet they even pulled an Ayanami and offered to teach you how too…" Asuka turned to her victim and blanched.
Sputtering out and doubling over, Shinji coughed hoarsely as her mind was figuratively bounced off a wall. Asuka's question was the bat and Shinji's peace of mind was the glass, and now there were shards all over. "She said it was needed for the test! That different types of f-fluids and…it's not like I WANTED her to!" Shinji defended Ritsuko's assault having fully believed the woman. Waving her hands about wildly, Shinji prayed that someday soon she was her old self again, it was so much easier back then. And the act of self appeasement was actually a lot cleaner, if done in the bathroom.
Staring at Shinji for a full minute with her mouth agape, Asuka's head slowly swiveled like an old animatronics toy with old springs. Turning the television off, the girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Ok, I can believe that she did it to you, woman always did come off as a freak too," Asuka finally opened her eyes and by god did she have a radiant smile alongside her inviting eyes. Snickering though, "Bet you enjoyed it though. Little pervert that you are, bet you got some thrill."
Did she enjoy it? Well duh of course she did, it was built into the human genome to enjoy such acts, was she mentally prepared for it? Blushing hard, Shinji wondered if she could drink some of Misato's private stock to drown the butterflies in her stomach. "It was different, before it was…but that was…" she couldn't believe she was having this type of conversation with Asuka. Maybe she was still a little drunk after all. "S-so how is Hokari-san doing? I haven't spoken to her since the little get together after my recovery," please change the subject PLEASE!
Sliding off the couch, Asuka just tsk'd her friend with a cheeky grin and waggled her finger. "You're not escaping this conversation that easy, Shinji. Hikari is fine, and wondering if you'd like to hang out with us, must suck to be alone all the time. Thinking I'll allow you this one time to, if you want. Be a change of pace than that walking stone wall that is Ayanami," she headed to the kitchen and flipped the light on.
Not expecting the suddenly happy Asuka, Shinji counted her blessings in the droves. While she had been on good terms with Asuka, considering her to be one of if not her closest friend next to Touji, she had thought it a one way street. "I wouldn't want to impose. Teenagers aren't often seen with an adult around. And I'd hate for people to think I'm…" oh crap bad topic! Don't bring up families or mothers, defiantly not mothers. But the sudden sound of ice hitting the floor from the kitchen was a signal that Asuka's sharp wit had gleamed the flub.
Returning to the living room with two large plastic cups, Asuka handed Shinji one with a guarded expression. "See what you mean, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun," she sipped her drink and tingled. Blinking quickly she looked down at her concoction as if evaluating the taste before taking in another larger drink. Breathing out hot and with a hint of alcohol on it, Asuka sat close to Shinji, "So tell me then, if it wasn't about woman things, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Well there went Shinji's speculation about if she wanted to raid Misato's special cupboard. Since Rei wasn't around to keep tabs on her intake, Shinji was going to enjoy herself. Sampling the beverage, Shinji nearly gagged. The bar had a nice mix of sweet to foul, but Asuka went more on the foul side. Just sniffing the stuff made her a little light headed. "Well if you're willing to put up with me, I'd be glad to talk with you two. Would be nice to have a different opinion on things than Misato's outlandish or Maya and Ritsuko's more conventional," Shinji admitted. She was grateful to all of them, just Shinji wondered how outdated some of her advice had been.
"Want to play a game?" Asuka pointed at her game console, "we haven't had a chance for a while. And with Ayanami gone I want to eat all your free time." Asuka was already moving over to the games and picking a fighter. Tossing Shinji a controller, the screen was back on before Asuka sat between Shinji's legs with cup in hand. Scoffing after a particularly large drink, "And what do you expect from old hags like them? Hardly spring chicks, you'd do good to keep away from them. Last thing you need is to get some silly notion about dating them or something."
That statement required a drink, a big one…poured directly into the brain and stirred until unconscious. Shinji didn't want to admit it, but she was starting to develop powerful feelings for both Maya and Ritsuko. Maya had been growing with time and thought, but Ritsuko was fresh on her mind and the little finger play that afternoon did factor into things. But she wasn't delusional either, both older women were just helping Shinji to adapt to things…they didn't REALLY care. And even if they did, it was Yui's body they were attracted to not Shinji's old one, and if Shinji got the old back…well super model older geniuses weren't oft to settle for scrawny fourteen year olds. Well outside of a movie Kensuke let.
Picking a character she had partial understanding of, Shinji was already feeling light headed. "I trusted they knew more factual things than Misato. Apparently Misato had been telling me exaggerations for some time," images of those exaggerations threatened to cause Shinji to dampen. Shaking fingers, tongues, and sweaty panting women out of her mind, "As for what I wanted to talk about. I think it should be saved till after we play and finish our drinks." Maybe just maybe it would do good to breach the subject.
So for the next half hour Asuka proceeded to digitally beat Shinji into paste. Polygons with impossible bust lines or chests rigid enough to grate meat on clashed in the field of blood, gore, and teenage boy fantasy land. And copious amounts of intoxicant were downed. Not content with just one drink, Asuka capitalized on Misato's absence and the lack of school the next day to have several. Not content to drink alone, Asuka always had a drink ready for Shinji when she came back. Having her suspicions, Shinji tasted Asuka's after the German went to use the bathroom, and it was as expected. Asuka made Shinji's drinks stronger than her own, but not by much. Stupid teenage geniuses capable of making drinks of equal strength for different body masses. Eventually the drinks were done, and the game off.
"Now speak Third Child, we've been hiding from each other long enough about this. You tell me what's got your panty's in a bunch, and if I like the answer I might tell you what Ayanami has planned for you," Asuka sat thigh to thigh with Shinji and had an arm wrapped around Shinji's shoulder.
Well past a healthy level of intoxication, Shinji had to admit Asuka had a great idea! Yup, why not tell her about everything, what harm could come from it? "I think," Shinji started, raised her finger then stopped…what was she going to say again? Oh yeah, "I think that…my mother's soul is in Unit-01," Shinji focused her full drunken attention on Asuka intently. "The time I died in it, and this," she accidentally coped a feel and went full red faced, "I felt her in there. Saw her too! Might have been…been a delusion or oxygen deprivation…b..b..but I can't deny I feel safe in that damned machine. L-like she's watching out for me," Shinji's hand then accidentally went to Asuka's chest and cupped her left breast.
Staring down at the offending hand, Asuka didn't knock it away or even scowl. Nope the girl smiled a bit, covered Shinji's hand with hers, and gave it a squeeze. "So wha-what makes you think it wasn't just you being stupid? Th-those big tin cans are just toys f-fer us," she started slurring as the potent rum robbed sentient thought. Wiggling closer to Shinji, a bashfulness settled over Asuka's features as she leaned in closer.
"J-just a theory and m-my experience. I-I mean we synchronize with them…what are we doing it with?" Shinji started flexing her hand on her own. Was it getting warmer in here or was Asuka always so lovely and warm? Unconsciously rubbing her thighs together, "M-makes sense too! I mean if I could turn all goopy in Unit-01 and come out my mom…my mom who vanished one day…who is to say she didn't go into Unit-01 and not come out? Maybe it stole her! Body and soul!" Shinji's head bobbed in agreement with her own statement.
Eyes popping open wide, Asuka leaned back and flung her own finger up in astonishment. "I-if that were true…momma…momma went into Unit-02 and came back…c-could it have…c-c-kiss? Kiss me!?" Asuka's mind leapt from one target of thought to another and dove at her prone flat mate. Lurching forward, knocking Shinji to the ground, the drunken Asuka explored the contours of the now female Ikari's mouth with excessive force. That continued for some time, eventually the two opted to cool off by removing their shirts. Finding it still to warm the rest of the clothing was shed to fix the issue.
What happened next neither would know, but they woke up in their own rooms, clothing on inside out, but with talk about Eva's and mothers still partially in mind. Shinji did pluck a red strand of hair from her teeth while brushing…best not to think about that. Nope, that didn't happen. Just an odd talk with Asuka and the rest a dream. Yeah…just a dream, damn another hair.
X-X
Sitting in her entry plug, Asuka felt a certain trepidation. She had all but fled the apartment that morning, Shinji giving her an awkward eye as she did. Not that Asuka felt it unwarranted, no she hardly remembered the previous night. Alcohol not being something she normally enjoyed, found it rather repulsive really, but Hikari insisted it would help get her relaxed enough to talk. So, with Misato out of the way, Asuka acted on it. Vague memories of trouncing Shinji with her buxom amazon warrior were followed by the true meat of the night. Shinji's confession of what was bothering her, and it played right into Asuka's theories…well the non-perverted ones of which she had many with the Ikari label.
"Asuka you know today was my morning off right? Couldn't this have waited until the afternoon or something?" Ritsuko droned one. The scientist's eyes were red with dark circles making her already pale skin look repugnant. An unlit cigarette hung limply from her lip as she downed hot streams of jet black coffee, woman was off her game unless said game was 'Exhaustion Runners'. Nudging Maya's side, "And couldn't you have done this yourself, you're so blasted chipper this morning. What you do watch one of those dvd's I hid for you?"
Cutting off the freaks before they got into either a lesbian love fest or outright brawl, Asuka cleared her throat as loudly and irritatingly as possible. "I have an idea I want to verify or put down. Since it is your job to run these tests I wanted you here for it!" and since Ritsuko outranked Maya her word held more sway. Asuka wasn't dumb, she saw her scores dropping lower without any stopping. But lately that fall had stopped, but what had changed? Why her thoughts about Shinji's transformation of course, and the notion of where Yui Ikari was. "So fire this puppy up and let me get it finished, or did you want me to watch you?" she worried about female Shinji's potential lovers.
"Starting primary synchronization with Unit-02 now, and no Sempai I was not…well I was but that has nothing to do with it," Maya's fingers danced on the keyboard. Taking a few furtive peeks at the screen and over at Ritsuko who was doing more to watch Maya than Asuka, the tech fidgeted. "Fine, Ayanami…Ayanami came over and we had a nice long talk about a few things. Girl is a lot more knowledgeable than I had thought," she shifted in her seat to face away from the other adult in the room.
Ok, so either Maya taught Ayanami about the wonders of womanhood or it was vice versa, Asuka didn't want to know which scared her more. Damn blue haired weirdo, just had to get all odd once Shinji popped out looking like an adult version of her. But that was a nightmare for another day, today she was going to act stupid. She was going to try and verify Shinji's little theory about souls, mothers, eva's, and just why Gendo needed to be stepped on. Once she was content Maya and Ritsuko weren't paying attention to her, "Alright mamma, if you're here…talk to me."
But as much as Asuka was trying to concentrate, the budding rivals weren't having any of it. "Look Maya, I need to know if you did anything inappropriate with Ayanami. She's very impressionable, and with how she's reacting to Ikari-kun. Well she could try to mimic anything you did to her on Shinji-kun! I can already hear Misato's shrill yell about her adult baby being abused by some blue haired harpy!" Ritsuko threw her arms up in frustration.
Crossing her arms below her smaller than Asuka's bust, "Look we only watched the movie together while I explained a few things to her," Maya explained hotly. Swiveling in her chair, the tech jutted an accusing finger at the doctor, "She hasn't been told nearly enough of what it means to be an adult let alone a woman. If we left her to try and help Shinji-kun it would have been a disaster! Now I don't know what she did on the couch, or if that stain was there before or not…but what's wrong if she is living how she wants?"
"What is wrong is she is a fourteen year old girl with social disorders!" Ritsuko shouted back. A vein throbbing on her head, she crushed the butt of her smoke between her fingers as she flicked it at Maya. After a swig of coffee, "Can you imagine the trouble you'd get in if some official found out you took a teenager to your apartment and watched one of THOSE type of movies? You'd never catch me doing something like that."
Clenching her teeth together hard, her lips drawing into a thin line, Asuka tapped her fingers on the control stirrups. "Before she reads you the riot act Ibuki, why don't you ask her what she did to Shinji during the physical yesterday? Shinji couldn't even tell me, but her pantomime was telling enough. And Akagi, ask Maya about what she said at the restaurant yesterday. Now children, I want to concentrate so go tear each other's throats out somewhere else or stay quiet!" she did not want to waste her time on this.
Grabbing at one another's uniforms, the two adults nodded once and fiercely and walked out of the testing room. Fury and betrayal radiated out of them with enough force as to cause cancer, thankfully nobody else was around.
Finally able to concrete with the crazed women of questionable motives, Asuka closed her eyes and inhaled as much LCL as her lungs could handle. Part of the girl was conflicted, but most was on task. Thoughts of Shinji and the night before flashed accompanied by the state of dress in the morning. There had to be plenty of reasons to wake up with her to wake up with her clothing inside out. Maybe she got warm during the night, undressed and got dressed again in a daze before really waking up. Sounded good to her, yep, no reason to suspect she was or had been carpet munched…not that there was anything wrong with that.
"Stop thinking about it…so what if she looks a little like she used to when up close or drunk," Asuka had to admit Shinji was attractive. Boy or girl, and after a few drinks and her vision got hazy, Shinji was easy on the eyes. "Alright, mamma if you're here," she willed herself not to think about the confusing things. It was getting harder though, a comforting and supportive female adult. A woman that cooked her food, did her laundry, talked to her when needed, supported her emotionally, yeah Shinji was causing Asuka's mother switch to get dangerously close to flipping. "But she's not my mamma…mamma got sick and…" Asuka felt a darn stinging in her eyes.
As memories of her childhood started to force their way forward against the mental blocks she put in, Asuka felt something. Her eyes popped open wide as warmth embraced and surrounded her. "W-what is," Asuka's head flailed about wildly as more and more clarity beset her. Squashing that budding feeling as a possible illusion, Asuka tried to see through it. Delusion, self-deception, or was it possible? Reaching out more and more, the sensation that she was being foolish long gone, Asuka pleaded for whatever god or gods existed that it wasn't just some trick.
"Just…go with it, it feels familiar it does," Asuka let that soothing sensation sink closer into her mind. The sensation of synchronization felt different, clearer and more pronounced than before. "This needs more proof, but it…mamma are you really here?" oh that hope in her voice made Asuka sick to her stomach. Having sworn to always be alone and never be betrayed again, to be pleading that her mother's sickness had a reason, it was to much to ignore. The insanity, mother hanging the doll of her, all of it could be because her mother she saw wasn't her real mother! Closer…she had to try to sync closer.
A loud shout pierced through the haze of Asuka's mind, "ASUKA STOP!" It was Ritsuko's face, alarmed and worried that greeted the stunned and befuddled German. "You're sync ratio was spiking all of the sudden. Don't want to have a repeat of Unit-01 right now," the doctor let out a small sigh and had a possible relieved countenance.
"I-uh-yeah," Asuka felt a spike of pain in her head all of the sudden. "Get me out of here, Ibuki, I've had enough for the day," but Asuka didn't see the mousy tech anymore. Rubbing her temples, the warmth she felt gone and the sense of regret was profound. But that feeling, it was truly as if her mother was there, being wrapped in her mother's arms again just as Shinji said. "What happened to the fre-uhm where is Ibuki?" Asuka suddenly wanted to be back at the apartment.
Eyebrow twitching, Ritsuko tugged on her shoulder and averted her eye contact with the temperamental pilot. "We got into a little argument. I thank you for embarrassing Ikari-kun and me in regards to her physical. Maya's so damn love-smitten that she thinks I did what I HAD to out of some thinly veiled romantic inclination. Had it ever occurred to you Asuka that those tests might help explain how Shinji-kun's DNA is so different?" Akagi frantically waved her hands about in a failed attempt to look sane and innocent.
Nope, never occurred to Asuka that Ritsuko wasn't some bitter old tart wanting to grab the closest body she could and keep it chained in a closet. The 'good' doctor was just as normal as she was a blond. "I guess you have a point," Asuka was smart enough not to taunt crazy ladies. Hearing the plug start to drain, she kept her face neutral as to not stir the hornets' nest that lives between Ritsuko's ears. "So aside that last bit, how were my scores?" oddly she felt assured it was improved.
Staring blankly at Asuka for a few moments, startled at how easy she was believed, Ritsuko actually did her job. "Much-much better, Asuka. You're just a little below Shinji with that score. Keep it up whatever you were doing, just not as far as you were going at the end," with a nod Ritsuko shut off the feed.
Heart swelling large with pride, Asuka dashed out of the plug on her way to the shower room. Better…she was recovering greatly! "I don't know if it really was mamma or not, but it worked. I owe Shinji more for that," she'd talk to her again. Maybe she'd cook supper today for the woman, just to thank Shinji for the idea not out of any…she felt a tingling again. "That was just a dream!" well maybe it wasn't. If that was good or bad though, Asuka was not drunk enough to consider thinking of.