Shinji Steel 6

Disclaimer; I do not own Neon Genesis Evangelion or Max Steel. Wish I did, though.

(Kyoto-2)

As Ritsuko lies in bed, she writhes in ecstasy as she imagines her boyfriend making love to her.

"Oh, Shinji. Yes. Oh, oh, oh! AAAAHHHH!"

Slumping down onto the bed exhausted, she groggily opens her eyes. Only for them to bolt open, causing her to curl herself into a ball. Intense blush on her face.

"How, how long…"

"Was I standing here?" Ritsuko's adoptive Mother Deidre Takamiya smiles softly as the beautiful Chinese woman walks into Ritsuko's bedroom. "Just enough to hear you cry out Shinji's name."

"Sorry if I disturbed you, Mom."

"No need to apologize, Ritsy. You're a girl and girls have needs too. Just as much as boys do. If not more." Ritsuko's face calms down, allowing her to smirk archly.

"Which one? Girls or boys?"

"Oh, you're going to get it now." Deidre flings a pillow backhanded at Ritsuko, the latter blocking it with her right hand. "Your reflexes are sharper than ever. Being crazy about Shinji's having a good effect on you."

"I'm more than crazy about him, Mom. Which is why I'm thinking about…"

"About what, Ritsy?"

"Going to Tokyo-3 to be with him. After all, you know what his 'Father' is like. Who knows what that dork will do to him?" Her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, she adds, "If anything, just being around 'him' is grinding Shinji down."

"Tokyo-3 is a war-zone, Ritsy. What with those aliens attacking and that one Evangelion fighting back against the threat." Shaking her head, Deidre adds, "I can't approve, baby. And I seriously doubt Shinji wants you anywhere near there." As Ritsuko slumps back down, Deidre smiles sadly. "I'm not saying that to be mean, you know that. Right?"

"Yeah. I know. I just can't help feeling Shinji needs me with him." She reaches out her right hand to Deidre, adding, "Just like you need me, Mom."

Deidre can't help but smile softly at the girl as she takes it into her right hand.

"I still remember when I found you after Second Impact. You were so alone and your parents were just gone." Her eyes shedding tears, Deidre gently embraces the girl. "Somewhere in the South Pacific, you were orphaned. All because of a meteor. A lot of people died and/or lost their families in that disaster."

"Yeah." Starting to blush again, Ritsuko softly adds, "I'm legal now, Mom. I can see myself making a family with Shinji. Giving you and Shinji's adoptive family beautiful grandchildren to spoil rotten."

"Well, I don't know about them, but I'll relish spoiling them rotten." Deidre smiles wickedly before adding, "If I consent and you go, don't be afraid to come back with a bun or two in the oven."

"I won't be, Mom." Deidre gives Ritsuko a nod before turning her smile into a smirk.

"Truth be told, though, I'm surprised you haven't gotten knocked up yet. Then again, it's hard to get that way when condoms are used." Ritsuko's blush returns and intensified as she goes on. "Let's see, how many did I find in the trash last month?"

"MOM!" Deidre decides to show Ritsuko mercy and softly pecks her on her forehead.

"Sleep tight, Ritsy. I'll let you know tomorrow evening whether or not you can go."

"Okay, Mom. Night."

"Night, Ritsy. Sweet dreams of Shinji."

Deidre is unable to resist giggling at Ritsuko's blush as she closes the door to the girl's room. From there, she goes into her own room. Where dreams of her past wait to haunt her.

(Tokyo-3; same night)

After his bath, Shinji exits the bathroom wearing a pair of black shorts and a black sleeveless t-shirt. The first thing he smells can only be described as 'foul beyond all belief'.

"Hey, you're just in time for dinner, Shinji. I hope you like my 'Katsuragi Special'. It'll stick to your ribs. Put some meat on those bones of yours." Misato smiles widely, adding, "Just look at Pen-Pen with his portion." Shinji does so and sees Pen-Pen taking a bite before falling sideways. "It's not that bad!"

"I can tell it's that bad and I'm not even there." Berto's reply brings a slight smile to Shinji's face until Misato catches it.

"Berto just said something about my cooking, didn't he?"

"He did."

"Berto, if you're listening to or hearing me right now, you better hope I don't decide to invite you for dinner one night. Who knows what I'll put in there?"

"I'd prefer if you didn't make dinner at all." Shinji's sweat-drop tells Misato all she needs to know.

"What did Berto just say this time, Shinji?"

"He'd prefer you didn't make dinner at all."

"Oh? And why is that, Berto?"

"I'll put it to you like this. If my Geiger Counter can pick up your food, it'd be glowing in the most worrisome manner." After Shinji relays what Berto said, Misato angrily sniffs.

"Okay, then. Let's see if Shinji can do any better!"

"I do believe that's your cue, hermano."

"I do believe you're right, Berto."

With that, Shinji goes to work. Misato can only watch stunned as Shinji fades into a black and tan blur, followed by delicious smells she hadn't smelt before. If not a long time. Once he's done, Shinji bows beside the reset table. A definite grin on his face.

"Dinner is served."

A stunned Misato snaps out of it before seating herself at the table. At the sight of the food before her, she can't help salivating heavily. Wiping her mouth to avoid looking even more ridiculous than she already does, she looks up at Shinji.

"How… Did those probes of yours teach you to cook or something?"

"Nope. I learned to cook before I got the probes." Starting to smirk, he adds, "But since then, though, I've gotten to be a little more efficient at food preparation. Even though I actually prefer working slowly to ensure high quality."

"Are you kidding me?" Taking a deep sniff and moaning in ecstasy, Misato adds, "I haven't smelled food this good and made at high speed since my college days. If anything, I'd say your high speed improves the food."

"Maybe, but back when I first got them… well, things got a little 'hectically messy' for me."

"In what way?"

"There'd be food on the walls, appliances, cabinets and even the ceiling. Not a pretty sight. At all."

"You were used to being before the probes, Shinji." Berto's voice has a hint of humor is he adds, "You were just wanting to see if you could be more efficient by moving quicker with the food prep. You remember what Josh and Kat were like when they saw the kitchen, don't you?"

"Yeah. They were torn between laughing at the sight of me and the kitchen covered in food and skinning me alive from their facial expressions."

"Actually, Shinji, it was taking everything in us to not start laughing ourselves silly." Kat's voice has a giggle to it as she adds, "You looked so cute with a sheepishly hapless expression on your face. Your clothes all covered in food. I bet if Ritsuko had seen that mess, she'd have giggled and done a different kind of 'cooking' with you." Misato can tell from Shinji's blush that someone other than Berto's talking to him now.

"Who is it, Shinji?"

"Kat."

"Hello, Kat. I'm Misato Katsuragi." Shinji listens to Kat before nodding.

"Kat says hello, Misato. She also thanks you for not spilling the beans about me to 'Father' and the rest at NERV."

"No problem, Kat. I just wish I could do more to help Shinji. Especially with his family's history and all." At that, the phone rings, prompting Misato to sigh. "I guess talking through you is more trouble than I thought, Shinji."

"I guess, Misato." As Misato crosses to the phone, Shinji sighs heavily. "Thanks for the phone call, Kat. My jaw was getting kind of tired."

"Um, Shinji, I'm not calling. Someone else is."

"Gotcha." Looking toward Misato, Shinji says, "It's not Kat, Misato. It's someone else."

"Thanks, Shinji." Picking up the phone, she then says, "Katsuragi here."

"Misato, it's Ritsuko. Just calling to remind you about the preparations for the Third Child."

"I know, Ritsu. Thanks. By the way, you hungry?"

"Um, Misato, the last time I ate your cooking, I had to go to the Hospital to get my stomach pumped. And that was just last week!"

"Oh, it wasn't that bad and you know it, Ritsu." Sighing, Misato adds, "It's not my cooking, it's Shinji's."

"The Third Child can cook? That wasn't in his dossier."

"Then maybe it should be. So, what do you say?"

The next thing she hears is the 'disconnect' tone before her doorbell chimes. Blinking before hanging up the phone, she crosses to the door before opening it. A wide smirk on her face.

"What took you so long, Ritsu?"

"Well, you know me, Misato. I just had to look my best for dinner." Striding elegantly to the table, Akagi starts salivating at the sight of the food on the table before her. "I must say, Pilot Ikari, your culinary skills are undoubtedly without equal." Shinji can only scratch the back of his head, a small smile on his face.

"Um, thank you." With that, the three humans and a freshly-recovered Pen-Pen proceed to eat.

After dinner, Akagi hastily wipes off her mouth before sitting back in her seat. A contented smile on her face.

"I haven't eaten that good in years." Turning to Shinji, she adds, "You have got a talent, Pilot Ikari. You are truly a master of the kitchen." Checking her watch, she grimaces. "I better go. Got a big day ahead tomorrow. Pilot Ikari, I expect you there at 9am sharp. Be there or…"

"Be a square?" Akagi turns to Misato aghast as the latter laughs raucously. "I gotta admit, Ritsu, you did pull of the '50s expressions pretty good. So good, I can't help but spring it on you."

Giving Shinji a wink, she asks, "Need I go on about Donald Rininso at University, Ritsu?"

Misato blinks. Akagi's gone so fast, the only thing in her place is an Akagi-sized wisp of smoke. Looking over at Shinji, she sees he's struggling to keep from laughing.

"You don't suppose it was something I said, do you?" Shinji can't keep it in anymore and bursts out laughing.

After getting everything cleaned and put away, Shinji makes for the sitting room when Misato stops him. Her hands behind her back.

"I've got something for you, Shinji."

Shinji blinks perplexedly at her, causing her to smile softly before bringing them forward. In her hands a green 'N-Tek' symbol, with the lettering, 'Shinji's Lovely Suite' on it.

"Berto told me everything, remember. He also told me to do what I can to keep your spirits up." Shrugging, she adds, "I didn't quite know how to start, but…"

"It's nice, Misato." Shinji smiles before giving her a hug, adding, "Thanks." Misato grins before clamping her arms around him in a bear hug. "Ack! Misato! Air! Air!" Five minutes later, Shinji's in his new room, lying on his bed when he hears Misato's voice.

"You did something very brave and noble, Shinji. If not two things."

"If you're referring to the EVA and 'Birdman', you'd probably be right on the first and not so much on the second."

"Why's that?"

"The EVA because the human race is at stake. The second because 'Birdman' is a chronic nuisance. Dealt with him about ten times this year."

"Aren't you worried about him carrying out his threat, though?"

"Not really. His chirp's worse than his beaking."

"Meaning?"

"He's all bravado until time comes to act. The way he chooses to do so often brings him down easily."

"Ah. So he's kinda like clockwork then."

"Something like that. Only not in the way you'd expect. He goes, I show up, we banter, and he gets his ass kicked before going to a jail." Rolling his eyes, he murmurs, "Typical of him. So typical, I can't help but feel a little sorry for him." Misato can't help but feel confused by that.

"Why? He's one of your foes."

"True, but he wasn't always like that. At one time, he was a highly respected ornithologist. He'd compile facts and other things you'd wanted to know about a particular bird, but were afraid to ask. He took it in stride, all the inane questions, comments and the occasional innuendo."

"So, what happened to him?"

"He was researching a Gold Eagle in the wild when his rappelling harness snapped. He landed headfirst into the eagle's nest and accidentally destroyed one of the eggs. He was so horrified and disgusted by what he'd done, his mind simply went. Every time I saw him, he'd have a pair of Gold Eagle wings, as a tribute to his first victim."

"So, in a nutshell, he became 'Birdman' as a penance of some kind?"

"Yep. Sad, isn't it? All those years of hard work, flushed down the toilet because of a mishap that can happen to anyone."

"It is sad. Hasn't anyone tried helping him through it?"

"Oh yeah. His fellow ornithologists, foreign dignitaries. Even his ex-wife tried. All to no avail. They ultimately gave up on him, labeling him a 'hopeless case' and not worth listening to anymore."

"What was the first time you encountered him?"

"He'd gone to the bird sanctuary in Seattle Washington to seek solace with the American Bald Eagle. It all went downhill when he came across a poacher. He'd become so enraged, he started clawing at the poacher's face with his fingernails. Fingernails he'd sharpened to be talons. When I arrived on the scene after getting word of a poacher, the poacher was screaming bloody murder. Face torn almost to shreds."

"What happened then?"

"I stepped in to keep the strange-appearing man from going too far when I saw who it was. It was then he attacked me, calling me an 'enemy of birds'. I knocked him out cold in one punch and arranged for the poacher to get medical attention before jailing."

"What became of the poacher?"

"Considering he was poaching when he got attacked, the Judge figured he'd been punished enough. To this day, though, as far as I know anyway, the poor man wakes up screaming every night. Joseph, however…"

"He was declared a menace to society at large." Shinji's blink tells Misato she hit the nail right on the head. Along with a slight tear. "I'm afraid he's beyond trying to help, Shinji. Once NERV gets their hands on a hostile party, that one is not long for the world."

"That sucks." Misato can only nod in agreement. From there, the Katsuragi/Ikari apartment is silent.

(Kyoto-2; four hours later)

Deidre writhes in agony on her bed as her nightmare gets to be too graphic for her. She then screams out.

"RITSY! NO!"

Snapping awake, Deidre pants as she bolts up. Without bothering to put on a robe, she gets up and exits the room. Making her way to her cherished daughter's room. Hoping that Ritsuko was alright, not in the state in her nightmare. Opening the door, she then sags in relief upon seeing Ritsuko sleeping soundly. Alive and intact. Making her way to the side of Ritsuko's bed, she drops to her knees to take in the girl's facial features.

Lightly brushing her fingers through Ritsuko's hair, she can't help but smile softly.

"You are the best thing that ever happened to me, Ritsy." Deidre's voice is so soft, she has trouble hearing herself. "If I lose you, I wouldn't want to live. As I'd have nothing left to live for."

(Next morning; NERV HQ)

"Oh, Pilot Ikari. I can still feel your food in my belly." Akagi can only rub her stomach before lightly burping. "I better watch myself around your food or I won't be able to fit in my wetsuit anymore."

"Meaning?"

"I'll put it to you like this. If you cook this good and everyone ate it, we'd be having sudden gains of weight around Tokyo-3. If not within NERV. In fact, I doubt very much your Father would be immune to it."

"Can we please not talk about that deadbeat varmint and get this underway? It's bad enough I'm in the same building as he is."

"Agreed." Hiking her thumb to the table, she says, "Strip down and get onto the table." At Shinji's beet red face, Akagi rolls her eyes and adds, "You haven't got anything I haven't seen before. So strip, Pilot Ikari." A still beet red Shinji nods before doing so.

'I'd rather be stripping down in front of Rits. Maybe if I picture her, it won't be too bad. Nah, better not. Just gotta close my eyes and hope she'll be professionally dignified about it.'

Some of the details of the physical exam are standard, prompting Shinji to relax. Other details, however, cause him to raise his guard. As those details are too personal for his taste. Then comes the fun part of the whole physical.

"Let's get a blood sample from you."

As Akagi prepares a blood-drawing syringe, Shinji grins inwardly. Recalling that the probes within him self-destruct if extracted from his body by dissolving into the extracted blood. Only for the grin to fade quickly away when he sees a wryly reassuring grin on her face.

'If that's trying to put me at ease, it's not. If anything, it's freaking me the fuck out!'

Nonetheless, he stays still as Akagi draws the blood sample from the vein in his left arm. Once she's done, she presses a piece of gauze onto the point and has him hold it in place. Once she's secured it with stretch-tape, Shinji allows the probes to move to the damaged site and begin repairs.

Looking at the site, he mentally adds, 'It should be done repairing by now, but I'll wait until after I leave before I take this off. Just to keep up appearances.' As Akagi works, Shinji then asks, "How's it looking, Doc?"

"So far, you seem to be in excellent health." Looking at the work-up on his blood, she adds, "You have an unusually high amount of iron in your blood." Giving him an amused smile, she then asks, "Have you been eating nails in your spare time, Pilot Ikari?"

"Nope. No nails. Just a lot of foods high in iron." Remembering the day he arrived, he asks, "What about the girl? How's she doing?"

"You mean the girl on the gurney?" At his nod, Akagi lightly frowns before replying, "Pilot Ayanami's doing fine. Why? You interested in her?"

"Nah. Just wondering. She did look like she went through a meat grinder and then a pottery kiln." Akagi can't help but snort at the imagery.

"She'd sustained some injuries during a sync test when Unit-00 went berserk. With her in it."

"Resulting in me being 'summoned' here."

"It is as you say, Pilot Ikari." Her frown becoming a little more pronounced, she asks, "You were joking with your comments toward the Commander, right?"

"Wrong, Doc."

"He is your Father, Pilot Ikari."

"Like I told Vice-Commander Fuyutsuki, he may have fertilized the egg, but he's no 'Father'. At all."

"That's a little harsh. I mean, he had his reasons for…"

"What kind of reasons could possibly justify leaving a four-year-old child alone at a train station?" Shinji's retort has an effect on Akagi, causing her to sigh.

"We're done with this. Stay naked, though. You need to be fitted for your plug-suit."

"Okay. How?"

"Step over to behind the screen on the other side of the room." Shinji looks and quirks his eyebrows.

"A body scanner?" Akagi's left eyebrow can't help but rise in admiration.

"Wow, right on the first try, too. Yes, a body scanner. Ideal for detecting internal injuries and taking external measurements."

"So much for the old tape measure, huh?"

"Actually, I do have that here. But I only use it as a backup should something go wrong with the scanner."

'Great. I made a sarcastic remark and she took it seriously.' Mentally shaking his head, Shinji steps to the scanner and goes behind it. Once Akagi has turned it on, he asks, "Just how long is this supposed to take, anyway?"

"Not too long. Why? Got a hot date today?"

"Nah, though I wish I did."

Shinji's reply has Akagi snickering lightly as the scanner's sides collapse to surround him. Once the sides have collapsed, he can hear her speak.

"By the way, think of a pretty girl you'd like to see naked and have sex with."

At that, Shinji's mind goes right to Ritsuko Takamiya and into the gutter from there. As he'd seen her naked, and done quite a bit with her. As he imagines her, the sides emit a green laser grid. As the grid encompasses him, he hears Akagi murmuring about his sizes. Including one that's really none of her business. Though he was wondering why Akagi said for him to think of a pretty girl he'd like to see naked and have sex with.

"I don't see where that would be relevant to me fighting the Angels."

"On the contrary, Pilot Ikari. As a young man, you're undergoing puberty. As a Pilot, you'll be close to Pilots that are female and probably get an erection. That potential erection has to go somewhere. So I'm including space for it."

"Oh. Okay." Physically shrugging, he asks, "What's after this, Doc?"

"We start your training, Pilot Ikari." When the lit grid goes off, she adds, "It'll take ten minutes for your plug-suit to be made. So, if you need to relieve yourself…" Akagi needs to say no more, for Shinji is already making a bee-line for the washroom.

(Kyoto-2)

As she wakes up, Ritsuko's eyes pick up the outline of her Mother. Stone asleep, with dried marks on her face. Marks of tears. Lightly rising, she's suddenly startled by Deidre bolting upright. Panicked.

"Mom? You okay?" Deidre blinks wildly for a minute before glancing over Ritsuko. "Mommy? What's wrong?" Suddenly, she's wrapped in a frantic Deidre's arms. "Eep!" As Deidre shakes, Ritsuko gently runs her fingers through Deidre's hair. "It's okay, Mommy. It's okay."

Deidre lets out a sob/laugh before releasing Ritsuko from her frantic embrace. Wiping her eyes, she takes a minute to recompose herself. Once she's done so, she smiles widely at Ritsuko.

"If you're going to go, I'm going with you, Ritsy." Ritsuko's eyes go wide before she nods.

"Okay." Curious about earlier, she asks, "What's wrong, Mom?"

"I just had a bad dream is all." Pecking Ritsuko's forehead, she gets up, adding, "It may be a little late for breakfast, so we'll make it brunch instead. After brunch, we've got travel plans to make."

"When do we leave?"

"A week and a half. It'll take us that long to get housing, work and your education lined up. The remainder of the time will be on the road from here to Tokyo-3."

"Road trip?" The eagerness in Ritsuko's voice is contagious as Deidre gives her reply.

"Road trip. A bonding trip between Mother and daughter."

"Sounds good to me, Mom."

"Yeah. Me too, Ritsy." Giving Ritsuko a sly smirk, she adds, "Of course, you'll have to wait a bit longer before you can see Shinji again. Along with get him into your bed."

"I can handle it, Mom. But, how would I go about finding him?"

That, in Deidre's mind, is a very good question.