Shinji's mind began spinning furiously.
On the one hand, he had never been unaware that Misato was a woman of great beauty, either before the changes or now, and a good deal smarter than she pretended to be off-duty, at least when she felt like it. They got along well together, too, for all that he had sometimes groused good-naturedly to his friends that she was a slob. He had occasionally had some rather guilty thoughts about her that he was pretty sure would shock her, if only she knew.
But I'm not ready for this, he thought. And isn't she in love with Mr. Kaji?
He forced a very phony smile at them all as he tried to think of something to say that wouldn't make matters worse. His father was staring at him in a way that was starting to make him distinctly uncomfortable, and his mother—
Yui Ikari was standing there with a maniacal grin and he noticed that a pair of mechanical arms sticking out of one of the computers near her were holding what looked for all the world like a pair of hand puppet miniature Yuis just above her shoulders. "I always thought a young man needed the touch of an experienced older woman, and forbidden shota love is so beautiful! Oh, the story of Prince Genji and the Lady Fujitsubo, it still brings me to tears, and that's what makes it PERFECT!" she shouted, and the puppets chorused, "You're the greatest matchmaker in the world, Dr. Yui!" "Yeah! You're the smartest scientist in the galaxy!"
Gendou smirked, hooked his thumb over his shoulder at her, and said "That's my Yui-chan!" Dr. Fuyutsuki was hanging on her every word, Shinji noticed, and Dr. Akagi was scowling at Misato.
Oh dear God, thought Shinji. Misato was smiling at him now too, in a way that made him consider how far it was to the nearest door.
What can I say? What can I say? he thought. Then it came to him. It had just the right tone to fit in with this world.
He bowed to Misato and said "I'm not worthy of you."
She grinned and tacklehugged him to the floor, pinning him in place with parts of herself that he had to work very hard at not thinking about. She said, "We're asking you to risk your life protecting us. Isn't that what heroes do?"
He took a breath and began a bit shakily.
"Katsuragi-taii, you are beautiful and cunning and strong-willed, but you must command me in battle and sacrifice me if necessary. You must be able to do this without hesitation, because all humanity depends upon it. I am your sword. Swing me at the foe."
She blinked at him. He drove forward, with more confidence.
"I'm a soldier. I may die today. You deserve better than to be such a young and beautiful widow. An old soldier told me that once. When you live by the sword, if you care about someone you have to leave, to spare her the fate of a soldier's bride. Find someone else to love, Katsuragi-taii. You deserve someone who isn't going to come home to you in a box and leave you to weep."
She began to speak. "Oh, Shinji—"
He shook his head. "No. It cannot be, at least until the war is over."
Her voice was very soft this time. "They did ask me, you know. I had a choice."
As they stood up and dusted themselves off, he sad, as softly, "It's more than that. In these desperate times, our lives are not our own to live as we would choose. Too much depends upon us. We must live and die with eyes open, seeing our duty and doing it. Those we protect have the luxury of following their hearts. We do not."
She turned away from him, and he rounded on her to face her. He was mildly shocked by her reaction. She was crying. Hesitantly, he put his arms around her, attempting to stroke her hair, only to notice the unsettling silence in the room which was suddenly broken by a joyful squeal:
"My son is so noble! He's so manly!" Yui Ikari pulled out a pair of halisen fans and began dancing across the bridge, taking attention off him, at least for the moment.
All Shinji could think was, Thank God for that Gundam Wing doujin I read last week, the one with all the cheesy over-the-top speeches.
Fortunately this awkward scene was interrupted by yet another dramatic event. What is due to happen next in the plot? Oh, right, it's time for:
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(Posted Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:17)
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