Disclaimer: Evangelion is not owned by me. This work is fan-made, and is no way intended for profit. Please enjoy.
Shinji Ikari shook, uncontrollable emotions engulfing him in a hot internal bonfire. Whilst the Angel stormed ominously on towards EVA 02, he could do nothing but kneel and cry. His EVA 01 was in flames yards to his right, a maimed, battered and a helpless wreck, just as he was at that moment; Shinji's knees and elbows were flowing with red blood, his forehead was a wet mess of sweat and grime and his chest subconsciously tensed in pain. Adrenaline rushed through him, as he forced himself to the other crippled entry plug ahead of him. There was a small figure unconscious, sprawled outside like a neglected doll. As he got nearer, it gradually became easier to decipher who it was, even in the dust and ash. An unmistakeable forest of blue hair, the dirtied pale skin, fair features…it was Rei Ayanami. Shinji's breathing at once grew shallow. He stumbled over to her, and with one last defiant act against the Angel, wrapped his trembling arms around her frail body. Her mouth was losing its colour. Her body was losing its heat.
"Not now."
"Not now!"
The boy screamed in anguish and roared at the unforgiving sky. No tears came. There were no more to cry. Bringing her closer, he shielded her from the burning trees around him, falling successively, one after the other, lighting up the overcast night with an artificial light. Thunderous crashes knocked at Shinji's chest. A sharp pain overwhelmed him, and his vision flashed away in a flurry of red…
(***)
Rei awoke to find herself staring at a white, tiled ceiling, lit by strips of cold, blue light. She was in the hospital again – too much a common occurrence, she noted. Her eyelids ached with the shock of light, making her blink.
"Ayanami!" shouted a hoarse voice.
Slowly, she turned to face the source of the sound, grimacing with the almost unbearable pain in her shoulder. Her eyes widened in surprise and the muscles in her face tensed.
"Ikari-kun," Rei managed to spell out with a weak voice, "Are you alright?"
"We didn't think you would make it," Ikari-kun whispered shakily, "I'm alright…Asuka's alright too."
As he said this, he shuffled in his chair awkwardly and averted his gaze to look at the interestingly blank wall by Rei's sickbed. Hoping what he was going to do was inconspicuous, he adjusted the positioning of his scruffily worn shirt with his left hand (that was the uninjured one), as to conceal the bloodstained layers of old bandages underneath. Nice try, Shinji. Unbeknownst to him, Rei was staring silently at his chest, with a sympathetic expression painted vaguely across her eyes. Ikari-kun looked up at Rei again, to see her eyes gazing at the floor and her faintly red face.
"D-did he sustain those injuries in the process of protecting me?"
Psychologically, Rei covered her face with her hands and squealed with embarrassment and contentment and, and…something else…
At a loss, Ikari-kun quietly cleared his throat, before looking away, slightly red too.
Desperately, he changed the subject.
"Um. How are your wounds? Would you like me to walk you back to your place? I can make you a dinner if you like. I can cook! I've been doing so since my father he – he left me!" spurted Ikari-kun in a big flurry.
Rei nodded without hesitation.
"Ikari-kun wants to go with me to my apartment and he offers dinner. It would be a pleasant alternative to bread and lettuce, I suppose…"
(***)
The sun's rays warmed Ayanami and Shinji, loosening the uncomfortableness of their battle scars, slowly dwindling away behind the far-away horizon of the sky. Its absence was not unnoticed, and the heavens replaced it with a beautiful, white, round moon that hung serenely, carefree, content, oblivious, friends with the countless stars that hung above the Earth. Shinji peered up at the sight of the mountains, blocks of apartments, the streetlights. What a surreal moment. Brace yourself, my boy, because it's about to get more surreal.
Ayanami let out an exclamation. Shinji swivelled around, fearing the worst. He relaxed his breath slightly when she told him her ankle felt painful. At least it wasn't anything too bad.
Fidgeting with her hands, she muttered, "Could Ikari-kun please assist me with my leg?"
A slight pause.
"You want me to carry you…?"
"You don't have to if you don't feel comfortable."
Hesitantly, the boy nodded.
"…I'll do it." mouthed Shinji.
Now both were as red as a tomato.
Being gingerly lifted onto the boy's back, she gasped at the exhilarating wind and the immense strength of his. She felt comfortable and safe from harm, like a cat wrapped up in a warm, fluffy blanket.
"Now don't go making weird noises, Ayanami!"
"My apologies."
(***)
Rei stared into space, lying on her bed. She scrunched herself into a tight ball underneath the covers, recalling how nice the food was…the warmth, the satisfaction, the taste…
"I wonder if that's what Shinji's like." thought Rei, aloud.
She gasped at what she just said.
"I wonder if that's what people call 'being dirty minded' and having 'naughty thoughts'…I shouldn't think things like that. Shinji saved my life. I should feel thankful."
Flustered and tired, Rei decided to go to sleep instead. Tomorrow was going to be more exciting.
(***)
Shinji half covered himself with his bed sheets, hung his legs over the side, and with unfocused eyes, peered out of the window. Slowly, he blinked, before rubbing his chest and wincing. Under the comfort of his blanket, he yawned and turned the lights off, closing his eyes and relaxing, dozing into a deep sleep.
He dreamt that he was back in Ayanami's apartment and was sitting on the side of her bed. A gentle voice whispered into his ear from behind; two warm hands rubbed his back, sending chills flowing down his neck. His legs and chest suddenly felt quite cold: he was naked without anything covering him. Blushing furiously, he shot his hands out to grab something to hide his nudity, but before he could, the pair of hands reached out and stopped him. They clasped his wrists carefully and slid their way up his arm, around his shoulders, under his neck, over his chest, and on his tummy. Shinji calmed down and exhaled.
"Sleep, Shinji. I'll spoon you. Sleep." spoke the voice, softly.
"Rei…"
He felt lips on his cheek and an unspeakable warmth wrap around him. The shuddering of his spine intensified, and he moaned involuntarily. An intense white light enshrouded his vision…
Sweating profoundly, Shinji shot up, awake as daylight. He sighed in relief. It was only in his mind.
"Eh?"
There was something wet in his pyjama shorts. Slightly apprehensive, he peered furtively down his shorts, lifting his blanket slightly.
"Oh shit!"
It appears that Shinji just had a wet dream.