(no subject)
Toji and Kensuke had overruled him. They were going to have the pilot meeting at this apartment whether he liked it or not. Asuka answered the door and let the three boys in, not making eye contact with Shinji. Shinji himself noted that she smelled of his favorite perfume. Looking around in the apartment that he lived in for nearly two years, he saw the disarray that his absence left. Scattered magazines all over the couch, two-week old dishes piled up on the sink, and it looked like the hamper overflowed from the open bathroom.
Noting his look, Asuka spoke out. "Yeah, it's gone to hell here without the great Shinji around. Now go sit. I want to hear what you have to say."
"You could be a less bitchy, you know." said Toji. "He did agree to see you today."
"Fuck off, stooge. I want to hear this dumbkopff defend himself." retorted Asuka.
Shinji couldn't help but smile. "Well, someone's got her spine back," he smirked.
Asuka blushed. "Shut up and get on the couch...FOR THE MEETING, HENTAI!" she shouted as she throw her magazine at Kensuke, who chuckled at her suggestive intro.
Shinji simply sat down in the middle of the couch, waiting for the redhead to calm down.
"Well," he began, "As we all have guessed by now, our Evas have the souls of our mothers. NERV saw fit to hide that fact from us to shield us...but we're not children anymore. That is why the first Unit 04 exploded when it was tested in the United States. Kensuke wasn't there, so the Eva's core rejected the pilot.
"The last battle we had, I tried--and I'm sorry about this, Asuka--to contact my mother within the Eva. I asked for help. That's how I managed to activate Berserk mode. The potential was always in the Eva units, but none of us ever knew how to tap into it. That's how we activate Berserk mode. We need to ask the Evas...no, our mothers...for help."
The three pilots absorbed this information. Shinji knew the implications of this revelation to Asuka, which was why he was reluctant to tell her. His instinct was still to protect her.
Asuka stood up and walked out on the patio. Giving a knowing look to Toji and Kensuke, Shinji went to her while the two quietly slipped out.
Opening the sliding glass door and seeing her pale form in the moonlight, the instinct to just embrace her was hard to ignore. But he wanted to talk to her. He wanted to know if she was OK.
As if sensing this, Asuka turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Why, Shinji?"
Knowing her meaning, he simply nodded.
Stepping forward, he took her into his arms. She didn't struggle and just cried on his shoulder.
"Asuka...I know what this means for you. More than anyone else. But we have no choice. You must face her."
"I know, Shinji," she said between sobs. "I just don't want to see her again."
"Asuka," said Shinji as he absentmindedly stroked her hair, "you do know that what happened to your mother after her test on Unit 02...the mother who ignored you wasn't your real mother. Your real mother is in Unit 02. She's protected you all this time." Shinji took Asuka's chin and gently made her look up into his eyes. "Don't be afraid of her."
"Shinji..." Asuka said, pushing on his chest with her left hand. "Shinji, we can't do this. Every fucking instinct I have right now is to kiss you, but you left me for..."
"It was your idea, silly." he said softly as he embraced her from behind, nuzzling her hair. "I just have to figure out how to leave her. And don't think I didn't notice you wearing that perfume I like."
"Hmp." grumped Asuka. "Thought you'd like it."
Turning her around, Shinji pressed himself against her, his breath hot on her ear.
"I'll always want you, Asuka Langley Sorhyu. I'll figure things out...just...wait for me."
He kissed her forehead and embraced her tight.