Trishula

by CerberusTheHunter

A little bit of common sense, a little less rigid characters, a little bit of pulp, and a lot more awesome goes into the world of Evangelion. Things start off even worse, get even worse, but end up a little better. Well, better than getting tang'd anyway. Action, Adventure, Romance, Hinduism... wait, what? Dark and trigger warnings throughout.

15. Chapter 15

Boom, second week of double updates. Adjusted work schedule gave me more time to fill.

All relationship stuff this chapter, so if you have been enjoying that side of thing this one is for you.

Warnings: Hooo boy. This chapter may affect you negatively if: You have been disturbed by previous discussion of Shinji's issues, you have been disturbed by discussion of Rei's issues, fear of doctors/hospitals, you dislike people raising their voice.

Chapter 15

Remo, Misato, and Ritsuko, along with the commander and vice commander, sat in the main conference room. As normal, the room was dark but for the lights that shone straight down on the table and those sitting at it. Remo figured this was the home of all the meetings the captain griped about.

Gendo cleared his throat, bringing the room to attention.

"Dr. Akagi, please begin, what exactly have we seen here?"

"Thank you commander. This appears to be the first case of a human being projecting a stable AT field. Previous research, of which Mr. Williams was a part, indicated it was possible for humans to manipulate their own natural EM field, but this is the first time that has coalesced into an AT field like we see with the angels."

"And can we confirm that this is the result of Mr. Williams' instruction, and not some kind of angel infiltration, or an infection by an angel in the form of a microorganism?"

"Yes Commander, I conducted the examination myself, there are no indicators of angel genetic material."

"And the third child's collapse?"

"By all indications, the result of acute hunger and exhaustion. Given evidence that both pilots had eaten before the event, I would theorize that whatever occurred took a great deal of energy from the Shinji's body."

"I see."

"Hey, sorry to interrupt, I know I should wait my turn, but I have to throw this out. Gendo, why do you keep calling him the third child? He is your goddamn son."

"Because Mr. Williams, I know how to separate my emotions from my work. Where is the third child now?"

"We have him on nutrient fluids in NERV medical, he has yet to regain consciousness."

"And Rei?"

"The first child is with him, she was quite concerned with his health."

"Hmmm, are you sure that is safe? Mr Williams, would the first child be able to defend herself if the third child awoke and became violent?"

"Are you asking if it is going to happen or who would win if they got in a fight?"

"If you begin taking this seriously Mr. Williams, I mean if the third child becomes a danger, is it safe for Rei to be around him?"

"Commander, they are night tigers, students of Sinanju. If they become violent, it's not safe for anyone to be around them. I don't think Shinji would attack Rei, but if he did then yes, I think Rei would be in more danger than Shinji. Only because if he attacked her, it would mean he no longer had regard for her safety and she might still have some for him."

"Thank you. Captain Katsuragi, see that Rei is retrieved from NERV medical and armed guards are posted in the third child's room."

Remo interrupted before Misato could response. "Yeeaah, now that would be a reaaaaaal bad idea."

"Mr. Williams, I did not ask for your opinion."

"I noticed. See the way Rei was acting, she really wants to be there with him. I mean she hasn't left his side, at all, since he went down. I don't think she would react well to being asked to leave. In fact, didn't you try that Doctor? Why don't you tell the class how that worked out, please share."

"When I asked the first child to leave while I examined Shinji… well Commander, I meant to speak to you about this in private, but she growled at me."

"See what I mean? Bad idea to make her leave. Besides, the way Vitali tells me, she has got a little bit of thing for your son, Commander."

"… A thing, Mr. Williams?"

"Yeah, she likes him."

"I see, I will have to speak to her about that."

"Hey don't worry about it, Rei's a nice girl."

"It is not Rei I am concerned about Mr. Williams… Moving on, Captain, I would like to discuss the response time of your armed unit…"

Shinji Ikari awoke to a quite familiar ceiling. He wondered if they just kept putting him in the same room at NERV medical for a reason. Maybe they always kept a room set aside for a pilot, just in case. Maybe they were never busy and this was the first room available. In any case, it was the same room he had spent time in on two prior occasions and he kind of expected that nice nurse to walk in at any moment with more answers that weren't really answers.

"You are awake."

Shinji was much more pleased to look over and see Rei sitting beside his bed. She was still wearing her white karategi. He looked down at himself to find he was wearing only bandages on his upper body, but it felt like he still had his pants on.

"Yeah… what happened?" Shinji said, his mind awake but his body still catching up.

"What was the last thing you recall? I will begin there."

"Misato said I made something like an angel."

"I see. Misato said your demonstration was an AT field. I assume that's what that orange light was."

"What orange light?"

Rei shrugged. "When you hit that piece of wood Sensei threw at you, there was an orange light."

"Huh." Shinji said and looked up at the ceiling. When Rei got up he didn't really notice. He very much noticed when she leaned over the bed and kissed his forehead.

"W-wa-wa" Was the result of his attempt to comment on the matter. Rei sat down on the bed next to him and places her bandaged hand over his. She smiled down at him and he smiled back.

"I am glad you are okay. I believe that was a correct way for one to communicate that to one's boyfriend."

Shinji opened and closed his mouth a few times, making sounds like a fish for his first few attempts to speak. Eventually he summoned the air for:

"I am okay with that."

"I also find it agreeable." Rei replied. He was okay, she was happy.

Shinji reached across his body with his free hand, not wanting to let go of Rei's, and hit the call button. She cocked her head at him.

"They'll want to know I am awake. I'm kind of hungry too."

"Okay."

A nurse, dressed in typical modern blue scrubs quickly came and told them he would inform Dr. Akagi he was awake. He did not respond to a request for food before he left. Shinji saw Rei tense at the mention of the doctor. It was not something he would normally have noticed, thought Shinji, but spending nearly a week together attunes one's senses.

"Don't like doctors?" Shinji asked.

"I do not like one doctor. I give the rest of the profession the benefit of the doubt." Rei said. "I do not like her, I do not like her near you." She very nearly snarled out.

"Why?"

"She takes things. With her pills, and her needles…" Rei looked down. "And her knives."

Shinji thought she was just looking to the floor, but Rei was looking to her abdomen beneath her robes. Just above her hips where a thin curved scar crossed below her belly button. She turned back to look at Shinji.

"Promise you will not trust her. She lies and tells you she wants to help, but she doesn't want to help. She just wants to control you." Shinji had never seen Rei this upset. Sure she had looked angry sometimes during practice, but that's just practice, yelling and stuff just motivated the body. She was squeezing his hand enough to hurt now, even with his injuries.

"Promise…"

"Rei, hey, calm down, okay? I promise, I won't trust her." Shinji did his best to sound calm and even soothing. He didn't like seeing Rei like this. "Okay? I promise."

Rei nodded quickly, bitting her lip. That damned doctor was not going to keep taking from her. She would kill her before she allowed her to take her senses away again, to put her back in the fog. Things had finally started to become clearer now. She remembered what Dr. Akagi had done. She remembered the other Dr. Akagi, the bitch's mother, was involved. She still didn't remember why it happened, why they put her in the fog. She was still working on that.

"Rei, they are probably going to be back soon, and I guess you don't want to talk about to anyone else, right?"

Rei nodded.

"Promise you will tell me what happened, when we are alone again?"

Rei nodded again. "I promise."

They were silent for a while; just holding hands and looking at each other, as teens are want to do. Rei broke the silence.

"This will be difficult. Perhaps I should not be your girlfriend, it will not be pleasant for you."

"What?! No no Rei, I… I have things I don't want to talk about to anybody either. I think I want to talk about them with you though. I want you to be my girlfriend, okay?

"I-I want you to be my boyfriend too."

"Okay then, whatever we need to talk about, to work out, we'll do it together, with eachother, okay?"

"Yes… I would like that."

"Maybe that's what boyfriends and girlfriends do, huh?"

"Yes, perhaps it is."

It was one of those moments. Were this a film, violins would be playing, the lights would be somewhat dimmer, and someone, somewhere would be judging for rating this among the best kisses of all time. What it would lack in skill, it would make up for in the passion of young love. Though both were tired and filthy from a week of intense exercise, future persons portraying this moment would be have perfect hair and make-up, and probably be about eight years older and possibly taller. Also, in such a portrayal, that kiss would have actually happened.

Rei had in fact leaned down to the point her short bangs were just above Shinji's head when they heard the light sound of pressure being applied upon a spring within the door handle. It was due in no small part to their synchronicity after the last five days that neither was hurt in the flurry of white cloth that followed.

Misato opened the door and was followed by Ritsuko. Misato thought it was so cute the way Rei had moved the chair right up next to the bed and had her hand over Shinji's. The way she was smiling at him, Misato couldn't imagine why her friend did not like Rei. She was even sure all those horrible things Ritsuko said Rei did had to have been accident or mislayed blame. At worst, she had done them and had gotten better now. Rei could have left, gotten cleaned up, gotten food god knows she was probably starving right now. But no, she had stayed with him the whole time. The growling thing was probably just crying and Ritsuko had misinterpreted.

"Hey kids!"

"Hello Captain Katsuragi, Dr. Akagi"

"Oh, hello doctor. You didn't have to come see me Misato, I'm doing fine."

"Fine indeed, how are you feeling Shinji?" Dr. Ikagi asked as she checked the bag of fluids. She faced the bed as she did so, quite determined not to turn her back on the first child.

"Good, little tired, kind of hungry to be honest. How long was I asleep?"

"About five hours."

"Rei never left your side the whole time." Misato said cheerfully. Oh these two would be a cute couple, she thought. Two little introverts find love in their own specialness.

Indeed, thought Dr. Akagi. It had been quite the experience getting a blood sample. The first child was quite anxious around needles, a trait she must have aquired of late. Ritsuko had made sure it was in her report to the commander.

"Can we go back to training now?" Rei asked. She was sure to meet Dr. Akagi's eyes when she turned to look at her. The blond turned away as soon as their eyes met. That's right witch, I know your game, and I am not in your fog anymore. Rei had nearly laughed when she growled at the bitch and she jumped earlier.

"Ahem, well under the circumstances, Mr. Williams has decided you both need to rest."

"Remo was really pleased with you both, don't worry."

Both smiled when Misato relayed praise from their teacher.

"So what about it Shinji, home and a good meal, even get to sleep in your own bed?"

"Home would be nice Misato. Uum, could Rei come too?"

"Oh sure, you still have things at the apartment, don't you Rei?"

"Yes Captain."

"Well Rits, can he get out of here?"

Ritsuko checked the bag one last time then clamped the feed before she pulled the IV from his arm. "Mr. Ikari, I want you to drink plenty of water, but I think you will be just fine. Well there is one other thing you need, both of you really."

Shinji and Rei both cocked their heads at Ritsuko, who thought it made sense for them to be like that after the week they had had but that did not make it less creepy.

"I order you both to take a damn shower, bath, something. Didn't they let you bathe down there?"

"Um… no, hadn't thought about it actually." Replied Shinji. It is of course a well known fact among parents of males that teenage boys lose their sense of 'self-smell' for several years during puberty. How they do not realize this themselves is unknown to science at this time.

"How do you not smell it?!"

Shinji shrugged.

"Oy, out, all of you. I'd put down a sheet or something in the car Misato, probably going to have to burn these."

"Hehe, still have the motor pool POS, come on kids!"

A shot elevator ride later and they were in the NERV prius and driving away from the hospital. It was early afternoon, the schools had not even let out.

"Hey Shinji?"

"Yeah Misato?" Shinji had taken the backseat, ceding the front to Rei.

"I Know you are probably really tired, but its been kind of a busy week and…"

"You need me to cook, don't you?"

"And shop? I would rather head back and get some work done now then go back after dinner and stay super late, so would you and Rei be okay if I dropped you off at our place?"

Shinji facepalmed, not terribly surprised but far from pleased with the situation.

"Yeah, fine."

Rei was conflicted. She did not live with her guardian, but she had assumed that, had she done so, her guardian would have fulfilled certain responsibilities that Misato did not. However, this did mean they would have time alone. Additionally, if they were to purchase food for dinner, Rei could ask Shinji to make her meat, maybe even beef. Overall, positive, at least in the short term. Misato could deny her access to Shinji, but she was not sure she liked the captain.

It was a short drive to the apartment, and Misato let them out at the curb. Both pilots took the stairs in a slow measured way. Five days of training had caught up, and their shins screamed with each step. Being barefoot was not that bad really, running on steel floors had toughened the soles of their feet.

Shinji was not pleased when they finally entered the apartment. It was not nearly as bad as when he had first arrived, but it was nonetheless clear Misato had returned to her old ways while he was gone. Pen-pen slid out of his refrigerator, warked a greeting, and bowed before returning to his 'room'.

"Misato teaches him to do weird stuff, I don't even know."

Shinji insisted on cleaning up he garbage first.

"I can get this, you can have the first shower, Rei."

"No, I would prefer to help."

Between the two of them it only took a few minutes and three large bags to dispose of the built up Misato leavings.

"I swear, she's such a child sometimes…"

"Is the captain not a satisfactory guardian?"

"What? Um, well,I mean we have food, and a safe place to sleep and everything. She just doesn't clean up after herself that well. She can't cook either, so she always buys this…" Shinji held up one of the empty instant ramen bowls. "…stuff. Then there is the beer."

Rei picked up yet another can. She was mentally doing the math. She had picked up twenty-six cans so far, all of which appeared to have contained alcohol. Misato had been alone for four nights and Shinji had also been picking up cans that she was not counting.

"Does she normally consume this much alcohol?" Rei asked as she picked up yet another can.

"Sometimes." Shinji chuckled to himself. "She really is like a little kid, I have to make sure she does not sneak it in the basket when we shop."

"And you do the cooking?"

"Well yeah, I don't want to die of this poison." Shinji replied as he tossed another empty paper bowl into his bag.

"Does Captain katsuragi shoulder other labor then?"

"Ha! Only thing she does is clean Pen-pen's fridge out, but that's only because he won't let me. Nope, I cook, I clean, I even do laundry. If this whole assassin thing doesn't work out, once the angels are gone I could look for a job as a butler."

"Those who have stood to protect humanity should never have to serve at the feet of others." Rei said, plainly, but with a hint of resentment. It was that little bit of vitriol that made Shinji stop and think about it.

"You know, Misato works really hard, and she didn't have to take me in. I know I complained, but it's not that bad. This is a better place than I have lived in a long time."

"That does not make it right."

Shinji shrugged. "Maybe not, but its better than where I was before." Shinji said as he picked up the final plastic wrapper.

"There, that's better. Lets see what's left for food." Shinji said then opened the refrigerator.

Beer. Beer was what was left. Shinji slammed the icebox door shut.

"You know, Shinji, I remember something, I do not recall where I saw it, about indulgence vs compulsion. The former is a pleasure, the latter a destroyer."

"She is not an alcoholic, she just has a stressful job and the beer helps her relax."

"She takes advantage of you hunter."

Shinji gave up. He liked Rei, he did, but maybe Remo-sensei was right. She saw the world in a different way.

"Why don't you take the first shower Rei?"

"I had thought we might bathe together."

"W-what?" Was all the response Shinji could summon.

"You have complained it is difficult to clean yourself with your wounds. I wish to help."

"Um, I don't really think that's a good idea."

Rei looked puzzled. "Why?" She asked and took a step closer to him, which only made Shinji nervous.

"Uh, well, I just, its not." Dammit she was getting closer, fuck fuck fuck. "STOP!"

Rei stopped, still a stride away from her boyfriend. She was curious, why was he was distressed?

"Shinji, what is wrong? I do not wish to hurt you, only to assist you."

"Just don't come any closer okay, I know what I want to say I just have to think it out, just give me a minute." Shinji said, one hand to his head with fingers in his hair, the other on the counter behind him.

Shinji twitched this way and that as he took his time to think. It worried Rei, he appeared… she could not think of a single word. As an animal in a cage through which it had been prodded. Anxious seemed too much of understatement.

"I just, its… dammit, now I look like a fucking idiot."

"You do not."

"Don't treat me like a child! Don't patronize me!

"I am not patronizing you. I have had a similar problem vocalizing my emotions of late, if you might recall our conversation yesterday evening. I do not pretend to understand your problems, but I recognize your reactions as similar to my own. We are the same. I do not hold your reactions to your pain against you." Rei took another step forward and caught Shinji by the wrist when he tried to push her away. This was not the night tiger she trained along side. This was an angry, frightened, man. When he looked up at her, she saw the wide eyed desperation, like a cornered animal… how did she know what a cornered animal looked like? Rei filed the question away as yet another thing had yet to remember. More important were issues at hand.

"Shinji, would you prefer determining what we need to purchase while I take a shower?"

Shinji stopped twitching and nodded. He offered no resistance when Rei pulled him to her and began to stroke his hair.

"We are alike, you and I. I know this, I feel it. Promise me that, when you are ready, you will tell me what troubles you."

Shinji nodded against her chest. "I promise, Rei." He was rewarded with her finger sliding across his back, right along where his snaking scar passed from the right side of his neck to his left shoulder blade. He shivered and she smiled.

As Rei stepped away, Shinji held on to her by the sleeve. They both still wore their practice uniforms, unwilling to change into clean clothes before they had cleaned themselves.

"Rei?"

"Yes, Shinji?"

"I-is there something you would like for dinner?"

Rei grinned. "I thought you would never ask."

While Rei showered, Shinji started making a shopping list. There really was nothing but beer and fish in the entire apartment. Rei had wanted something with red meat. She didn't care what, just as long as it was red and rare. Shinji wasn't bothered by it, everyone had his or her preference. He was a medium well guy himself.

He was totaling up costs from remembered prices when he realized the problem with the whole plan.

"Crap!" Shinji barked and smacked the table with his open hand.

"Whats wrong Shinji?" Rei asked as she stepped out of the bathroom. It took Shinji a couple seconds to respond when he turned to find her wrapped in a towel.

"Oh, uh, I just realized Misato didn't give me any money for shopping."

"Well, that was irresponsible of her."

"I know I know… Maybe there is enough loose change to scrounge something together." Shinji started checking drawers before he remembered that second gift from the weird nurse. Rei was going into his room to get dressed.

"Hey Rei?"

"Yes?"

"Could you check if my wallet is in there? its black, made of cloth, I think I left it on the dresser."

"It is here."

Well, Shinji thought, if weirdos in his dreams wanted to subsidize him with real money, who was he to question?

They left the apartment a half hour later. Both were wearing their school uniforms. Rei because it was the only clothing she had present, and Shinji because it would have felt weird not to. He had left his shirt untucked. Given the time they looked like a couple walking home from class.

"Rei, do your shoes feel, I don't know, uncomfortable?"

"I would not describe it as discomfort, but they do feel different, yes. Like walking on…"

"Pillows?"

"Yes."

"I am going to ask sensei what kind I should I get."

A few minutes later they arrived at the small grocery store that Shinji and Misato most frequently shopped at. Far from the supermarkets of a large city, Shinji suspected it had probably been a convenience store originally, by the layout and size.

While Shinji was picking out vegetables, Rei asked why one was better than the other. Shinji explained how one could tell quality and freshness by feeling and looking at them. Likewise, even though the meat was all packaged with no butcher in the tiny store, Shinji showed her the difference between a good cut and one that would be all gristle.

"Now just because its expensive, does not mean its better either. Look here, see these little medallions? That is a filet, its one half of a T-bone, which is…"

"From the short loin." Rei recited. Shinji had been talking lovingly about food for some time now. She had been listening intently, this was new to her. She always thought of food as something that was brought to one or purchased in a condition to be consumed. She had not thought of it as something one prepared to maximize the pleasure in consuming it.

"Right, exactly. Now it is usually regarded as one of the best cuts, but that's not the whole story. It has a high price because it's so small. Its good quality, but it lacks natural flavor. Now season it right and its great, but if you are going to be changing the flavor anyway, why pay more for such a small piece of meat?"

"It would seem a poor return on investment."

"Indeed. That is why I liiiiiike…" Shinji reached for one of the smaller freezer shelves. "The skirt steak. Cooked right it is just as tender and flavorful as any other cut, and if you look at the prices, about a quarter the cost by weight."

When they came to the check out, Shinji gave the man behind the counter his black and gold card. Unlike Shinji, he had seen many cards in his time and did find it weird that there were no card numbers or expieration on this one. He slid it through the scanner anyway and was surprised when his register announced a successful transaction with a a high pitched 'Namaste!'. It had only ever beeped before. He gave Shinji his card back and the children were on their way.

Shinji made a mental note to ask Vasuki or the nurse if there were any rules to the thing. Whoever he saw first. She usually only visited after angel battles, but he had seen the naga two out of the last four nights.

When they returned to the apartment, Shinji went to change into casual house clothes, but stopped at his door. Would that make Rei feel weird? All she had was her school uniform. Well and that shirt Misato loaned her. She was only a little bigger than him, might work.

"Rei, I have a pair of shorts you can borrow if you want to change out of your uniform."

"That would be nice, thank you."

Shinji had changed and was putting on an apron when his phone began to ring.

"Oh, great, another one." He said then flipped it open. "This is Shinji… Hi Misato. Its not another angel is it?... Oh good… So when are you going to be home?.. Okay. Well I will have a bowl of leftovers for you in the fridge… Oh yeah, don't worry, I had my card… Okay, bye."

Rei came out of Shinji's room wearing a long white t-shirt and a pair of dark mesh shorts she had found in Shinji's things. She supposed they had probably been gym clothes from school at some point. On a younger Shinji she imagined they would have been a decent length, but with the drawstring completely undone they rode her hips and only came down an inch, maybe two, from her butt. Not that she minded, given that by Shinji's face, he certainly did not.

For Shinji's part, how the shorts looked was immaterial. Hell, at his angle they were not even visible beneath the oversized shirt. Shinji Ikari was, like his father before him, a leg man.

"What did the captain call about?" Rei asked. She knew he would have said something if it was another attack so she had already written off the possibility.

"Shinji?" Rei said again after he just kept staring.

Shinji shook off his hormone haze. "Oh, um, Misato said she had a lot of work to do and wouldn't be back until later tonight. So its just us for dinner."

"Oh okay…" Rei said, considered what she had thought in her mind, and chose to give it voice. "So, um, its just the two of us, l-like a date? Our first date?"

Shinji laughed. Rei had expected him to get nervous again but it was a pleasant laugh. Not an accusatory laugh like those stupid wenches at school. "And what is so funny, hunter?"

Shinji was still chuckling to himself as he tied the apron's strings and set his wok on the stove. It was easier to speak when he was not facing someone, even Rei. Besides, he wasn't going to get dinner done looking at her legs.

"Its nothing, just… I'm Shinji Ikari. As far back as I can remember, once mom went away, nothing has ever gone right for me. Everyone I met either didn't give a crap about me or worse were actually interested in me. Cause they could use me for something, to get something… " Shinji paused for a moment then turned on the stove for another pan to sauté in. "…other stuff. But the last few weeks, I left my worst foster family in a while, came here and met Misato…" Shinji turned to take the meat from its packaging and looked at Rei." And you. Now I am learning to be an assassin, I have real friends my own age, and I pilot a giant robot. I mean I even have a girlfriend! Me, the universe's ragdoll and for the first time in I don't know how long, you know what? I am happy."

"Well you deserve it, hunter." Rei stepped into the kitchen "Can I help?"

"Sure, here cut these up… Oh no no no, don't hold the knife like that, like this…"

It was a testement to the efficiency with which Shinji had run a restaurant, in Rei's mind anyway, that 15 minutes later they were seated at the kitchen table with hot food in front of them. Shinji always like when his cooking was appreciated, but the sounds Rei made as she ate were… disturbing on multiple fronts. They swung between a wolf tearing into a carcass and an overacted dirty movie.

Shinji did not speak English, he could barely read it, but he had seen enough subtitled nature shows in school to recognize the soft tones of one man who it seemed narritated them all.

And here we see the rare wild assassin (Homo Sapien Sinanju) female in her natural habitat, consuming the meal the male has brought for her. Notice the voracious manner in which she brings the food to her mouth, contrasting with the slow, rolling chewing motion accompanied by moans of seeming ecstasy. Though there are signs of rudimentary tool use, they would appear to be redundant, given the force with which she raises the bowl to her mouth to feed

"I'm glad you like it, Rei." Shinji said nervously. He wasn't sure that Rei would not start on the table when she finished her helping. When Rei paused, a few pieces of rice clung to her lip.

"I am not exaggerating when I say this is the best tasting thing I have consumed."

"Hehe, thank you! Let me put a bowl aside for Misato when she gets home, then you can have as much as you like." Shinji said. He was sure if he did not put some aside now, none would remain. He was correct.

Once they had finished eating, they talked as they cleaned up the kitchen. Shinji was very adamant that Misato's habits not be allowed to take hold.

"What does she do while home that stops her from helping with the chores?" Rei said, drying a pan Shinji had just finished scrubbing.

Shinji shrugged and continued cleaning the bowl in his hands. "Eats, drinks… She does clean Pen-pen's room though."

"So you said. Is he that dirty that it needs to be done everyday?"

"Oh no, once a week is fine. He is surprisingly clean actually, I always thought birds were dirty."

"So she does one chore, once a week. How about laundry, does she do her own?"

"No I take care of it, less washes to do them together."

"That's not what I mean."

"I know Rei. Misato has a hard job though, and she took me in, I want to help."

"She is treating you as a servant."

Shinji sighed "I am used to it. At least I don't have to work eighty hours a week here."

"What would you call the eighty five hours of training we did in the past four days?" Rei retorted, acid in her voice.

"Rei, calm down, did I say something wrong?"

"No, I…" Rei took a deep breath and let it out before continuing. "I am concerned she is using you because you are willing to do these things. Anger is a response to fear."

"Of what?"

"You being hurt."

There was silence for a minute.

Shinji thought hard about it. He could not remember anyone ever having said anything like that at all in his life. Rei cared. He wanted to help Misato, but she needed to help to. Rei cared about him, that's why she said something.

Rei thought hard on the matter as well. He should not serve, he should be served. He was the hunter of angels, not a maid. Rei appreciated the captain, but the situation was not acceptable to her. And she was friends with that evil doctor. Shinji was so kind. Rei decided if the drunk continued to take advantage of him like this, she would stand up for him.

"Thank you Rei."

"You are welcome Shinji."

A while later the dishes were done, the kitchen was clean and Shinji and Rei sat in his small room. They sat together, legs crossed, on the thin futon. They were, as teenagers with their first partner often do, making incredibly awkward attempts at small talk. Shinji, in the middle of rambling about school, stopped mid sentence when Rei moved a little closer, her bare leg pressing up against his.

"Rei…" Shinji forgot exactly where he was going with that as she laid a hand on his thigh. He looked back up and she is looking at him, her crimson eyes meeting his own.

"Shinji, we do not have to talk about anything. I feel…" Rei cocked her head a little, pausing to consider the right word. "… Comfortable in your presence. If there is something you wish to discuss, then we may speak of it, but do not feel the need to avoid silence."

"O-okay Rei, I'm sorry" Shinji said, moving one hand to cover Rei's on his leg and scratching his head with the other.

"Don't be." She said then smiled and leaned a little closer, pressing shoulder to shoulder with her boyfriend. Oh she loved how that sounded, HER boyfriend. Daydreaming of what he might look like when they were older, assuming they got the chance to be any older, her hand pushed just a little too far.

"Gah!" Rei exclaimed as she started to fall to the side. She pulled her hand out from under Shinji's and planted it down to stop herself. It was only after stopping herself she noticed Shinji had grabbed her supporting hands wrist very hard. She looked at the captured hand and noticed she had put her hand directly onto his crotch to stop herself.

"Oh Shinji I'm sorry I didn't mean to… Shinji?" She said, ceasing her apology when she saw the look in Shinji's eyes. She pulled her hand but he did not let go. His eyes looked like he wasn't even there. She tugged quite hard then reached to touch his shoulder.

"Shinji, I'm sorry, I know that must have hurt."

"Get away…" He said, letting go of her wrist and shoving her away by her shoulder.

"Shinji? I just-"

"I said get away from me!" Shinji said as he stood up.

"Shinji I did not mean to hurt you! I meant no harm, it was an accident." Rei said as she stood up and looked down into the shorter boy's eyes. As he moved to push her away Rei grabbed him by his t-shirt and held fast. Shinji is not thinking, she thought. Had he meant to hurt her he could have struck like they were taught, he would not thrash about like he was.

Shinji pulled away after several seconds, leaving his shirt in Rei's hands. His eyes were still hard and panicked and he was quickly looking to each side then back to Rei. It was an animal ready to run.

"Don't touch me there! I don't… I don't… Its that…" He was losing focus again, eyes darting all over the room and raising his hands to his head. Rei was between him and the door.

"Shinji!" Rei said sharply. Shinji jolted where he stood and she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around the panicking boy tightly, pinning his arms to his sides.

"I am sorry Shinji, I won't touch you there anymore, please calm down." She whispered softly in his ear and it reminded him of something comforting. He relaxed in her embrace and slowly began to return to a normal state. First he stopped twitching, then his breathing slowed, and finally he presses his face to her chest as she began to stroke his hair.

"Sssssh, its okay, I won't let anybody touch you if you don't want them to." Rei said. It was not something she really had a reason to say, it just felt like the right thing to do. She slowly guided Shinji back to the ground and laid with him on his bed, holding his head against her chest as he began to cry.

"You don't like me anymore." He said between sniffling breaths.

"I still like you, I understand you, for we are the same."

"Are we still, you know?"

"Yes hunter, we are still a couple."

There were several minutes of silence before Rei gently tilted Shinji's head back to look at her. She looked down into his puffy red eyes and smiled. Shinji smiled back.

"If I ask you a question, you will answer truthfully?"

"Rei, I'm not… I don't want to talk about that yet, I just can't."

"Not about that…" Rei said and gently laid her finger on a long white scar that went from just above his collarbone all the way back around to the base of the scapula until it was covered by the snake scar that wrapped around his body "…Where did you get that one?"

"Um, I was… I was 6. I was still living with father but he was really busy so I had to walk home from school…" Shinji told her the story of having a bike rack fall on him and pointed out the other scars from the same incident. Rei slid her fingers down his back, choosing another mark whenever he finished a story. She stopped on a horseshoe shaped mark near the bottom of the rib cage

"What about this one?" She said, and Shinji stiffened again and pressed himself into her chest. Then he told her the story of the time he dropped a dish and it broke and his father used his belt. After that it was about his second foster father. Then his first foster mother, and the next, and the next, and the next. By the time Misato finally got home hours later it was dark and Rei had heard the stories of Shinji's scars from his back all the way back around to his chest and was working her way down his abdomen. Shinji had cried until there was nothing left and the front of Rei's t-shirt was soaked with tears.

Rei grimaced when the door opened and the lights were turned on. She held Shinji's head to her chest as she looked up to see Misato standing in the doorway.

"And just what are you two doing?"

"Speaking of Shinji's time in the foster care system, Captain Katsuragi." Rei said. Shinji said nothing.

"Aha, I knew you two were a couple! Gonna have to keep an eye on your now."

"Yes, we are… in a relationship. We were not doing anything forbidden though!"

"Then what were you doing?" Misato says, hands on her hips. She may not have children of her own but she bullshitted more than enough at this age. Besides, if they hadn't been doing anything wrong, Rei would not have jumped to deny and justify.

Rei sighed and kissed Shinji on the forehead, then gently took his hands from her. She stood and walked right up to Misato, eye to eye and inches apart.

"Captain Katsuragi, have you seen his scars?"

"Well yeah, I mean we live together, its hard to miss."

"Have you asked where they came from? Have you asked him why he does not like to be touched? Do you know why he sleeps in the corner?"

"I…" Misato started before Rei cut her off with more energy than Misato had ever seen the blue haired girl muster before.

"No! You don't know! You didn't even ask!"

"Now you listen to me-" Misato tried to interrupt but Rei silenced her with a step forward, forcing her back into the hall.

"No, you listen to me! I care for him! I know what he lives through every day! I know his pain!" Rei's crimson eyes have been locked with Misato own since she stood up. She looked like some kind of predator with her teeth bared, the captain thought, she just couldn't break eye contact.

"He cooks, he cleans, HE takes care of YOU! When was the last time you spent time at home sober? Do you even remember?" Rei left the question in the air and kept her eyes locked with Misato's, daring her to turn away first. Misato blinked and turned, stepping back again and away from Shinji's room. She looked up again but couldn't bring herself to match Rei's intense gaze. Misato turned and walked to the kitchen, picking up the beer can she had already opened. She went to raise it to her lips but stopped. After another failed attempt, she dumped it in the sink.

The captain raised her head and steels herself. With a soldiers stride she returned to her charge's room. She found Shinji huddled into the corner with Rei at his side. His hands were wrapped around her arm with her hand resting on his knee. He looked to Misato and his eyes just about broke her heart.

This was the boy she asked to fight. This was the boy she suggested should be made into a killer. This was the poor little boy who despite everything, took care of her. When he had left, she had gone right back to being a slob and left him to clean it up.

Misato raised a foot to step across the threshold but hesitated when Rei growled at her. She suddenly understood very clearly what Ritsuko had meant now. It wasn't crying, it wasn't trying to talk when she was upset. Rei had raised and flared her lip and growled through clenched jaws. It didn't even sound like a person, it was like an animal. Misato took a deep breath and tried to compose herself. This was Shinji and Rei, they were just a couple of messed up kids, probably both afraid, that was all.

"Shinji, Rei, may I come in?"

Rei raised her lip again but stopped when Shinji squeezed her arm. When Rei turned to look at him, he shook his head.

"But she-" She started

"Rei, please…" Shinji replied.

Misato figured that was as close as she was going to get to an invitation and stepped through the door. Rei watched her closely, and while Misato still could not bring herself to meet the girl's eyes, she felt them on her. She was soldier, she worked well under pressure. These were the only reasons she had not begun to shake. She needed to ask for the details on Rei, just her eyes on her skin were frightening.

"Rei, you have made a… valid point. Shinji, please accept my apology."

Shinji looks at her with those big brown eyes and nods.

"Please stop fighting now." He says. Rei and Misato look to each other and after a moment of tension, both nod. It is a silent agreement; they will get along for him.

"Shinji…" Misato began. "… where… how…" She takes a deep breath "Shinji, I hope I have earned your trust enough to share your memories with me, painful as they must be."

Shinji nodded. He choked a little when he tried to speak but he was out of tears to cry. He told Misato the stories he had told Rei. He told them both things he had never told anybody.

He did not tell them about that. He had his pride dammit. He was a man, he wasn't going to talk about that.

Around the same time, in the office of Gendo Ikari…

The commander of NERV was processing procurement requests. Things like this were what got him were he was. Truly effective administrators and truly effective intelligence agents were hard to find, and he was both. He made his position inscrutable while constantly undermining those of his rivals.

When his desk phone rang, his first reaction was to check his watch. It was after 2100, he didn't have any calls scheduled. With the least audible of grumbles he picked up the receiver.

"Speak."

"Commander, this is the switchboard. I have an executive level call for you from Prime Minister Blessed of the United Kingdom."

"Did the Prime Minister say what it is he wanted?"

"No, sir, only that he had to speak with you on an urgent matter."

"Very well, please secure the line then put him through."

"Yes Sir… Prime Minister, are you still receiving? Thank you, connecting you to Commander Ikari."

"This is Commander Gendo Ikari of NERV, what may I do for you this evening Prime Minister?"

"DAMMIT IKARI, YOU COCKED IT UP AGAIN."

Gendo jumped in his seat, unsettling his glasses so much they slipped off his face. He had not spoken to the recently named Prime Minister before and had not expected a party stooge to be so… loud.

"I am sorry prime minister-" Gendo started as he slid off chair to look for his glasses, receiver still head to his head.

"BLOODY WELL RIGHT YOU ARE IKARI." Came the hurricane of a voice again, and Gendo startled despite himself, knocking his head on the underside of his desk.

"I am sorry but I am not sure on what matter you are referring to."

"REMO WILLIAMS! REMO BLOODY WILLIAMS!"

"What about Mr. Williams, Prime Minister?"

"REMO'S ALIIIIIIVE!"

"Yes, Prime Minister, so far as I am aware anyway."

"THAT'S THE PROBLEM YOU FOOL! THE MAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO EXIST! THEN YOU JOLLY WELL PUT HIM IN YOUR PERSONNEL RECORDS AND NOW EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE TO FIND HIM! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE THAT WANT HIM DEAD?!"

"Well Prime Minister, I would think anybody in his line of work would accumulate a sizeable list of enemies. Prime Minister, if you don't mind me asking, how do you know of Mr. Williams? I was under the impression he was an American agent, we only knew of him because our parent agency absorbed his former employer."

"HA! HE TAUGHT ME TO BREATH RIGHT, I WOULD NEVER HAVE GOTTEN UP EVEREST WITHOUT HIM! ENOUGH ABOUT MY SUCKING THIN AIR, BACK TO YOUR SUCKING! YOU JUST PAINTED A TARGET ON YOUR BACK IKARI, ONE I HIGHLY DOUBT YOU NEED RIGHT NOW IF THE REPORTS I HAVE RECEIVED ARE TO BE BELIEVED. GOOD BLOODY LUCK!"

"Thank you Prime Minister, if that will be all…"

"ONE FINAL THING, I SHOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VISIT."

"With all due respect Prime Minister, I see no reason to allow you to visit our operation, you have no authority here."

"IT WAS NOT A REQUEST IKARI, IT WAS A WARNING."

*click*

The silence that followed the line closing was deafening in its richness. Gendo had never realized just how beautiful lack of noise could be. He took from his bottom drawer a bottle and a tumbler and after two drinks rang Dr. Ritsuko Akagi's desk.

"You've reached the desk of Dr. Akagi, please leave a message *beep*"

Gendo hung up the phone. Now where the hell was she?

On the south end of Tokyo-3, in a restaurant overlooking the lake was were the hell Dr. Ritsuko Akagi was.

She wore a little black dress with diamond earrings. She thought it was provocative but not daring. It was tight where it counted, but came down to almost the knee and more suggested cleavage than showed it. She thought she remembered buying it for a funeral. She did not wear stockings, she wore them to work and tonight she did not want to feel anything like she was at work. Rather the conservative, low, closed toe shoes she wore to work, she had picked out a pair of strappy four inch heels in black. She had bought them after work today on a lark. With everything going on, a little retail therapy did not weigh heavy on her.

She was quite nervous if she was to be honest with herself. She had tried to remember the last time she went on a date. It had been college, a double date with Misato and Kaji. She didn't even remember the poor schmuck's name.

She had checked her coat and had taken a seat at the bar to wait for her date. Alcohol helped calm her nerves. She looked down at the dress again and was far less confident in her choice. What if her date didn't like it, what if it sent the wrong message. She wanted to look confident and sexy, not uptight.

Ritsuko Akagi saw her date arrive and downed the rest of her drink before giving a little wave.

"Well hello there." Ritsuko managed to make it sound smooth.

"Hey. You look great."

"Hehe, thanks, its been so long I wasn't even sure what to wear."

"Its okay. Are you alright, you seem nervous?"

"I guess, its just… its been a long time, and I haven't, you know, like this before."

"If it makes you uncomfortable, it doesn't have to be a date, I'm sorry."

"No no, it is just new to me, that is all."

"First time for everything, right sempai?"

"Please Maya, call me Ritsuko."

End

Well, that was out of left field.

So a whole lot of drama going on for our main cast. Hope those of you following for that bit enjoyed it.

For those of you following for the action, next chapter will be more your cup of tea. See what I did there? British actor reference, cup of tea? Oh forget it.

For those of you unfamiliar with the PM of the UK featured above, please see the TVtropes or Wikipedia page for BRIAN BLESSED. Yes his name must be written like that. Yes I do mean the actor became prime minister in this story. Cause its funny.