INBOX - NHD-C12-KRI-248 - IKARI, SHINJI

[forevalone]

ikari.shinji@cdc.org
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[forevalone]

FROM: ikari.shinji@cdc.org

I'll be here.

[paraclete]

[It's a little under fifteen minutes before Kaworu can be spotted in his approach. Truthfully, he wishes it had been longer. But he's not sorry to see Shinji.

He doesn't sit when he arrives, instead standing with his hands in his pockets, angled slightly away.]

Sorry, [he says on a breath. The third time he's said it today.]

[forevalone]

_{[He's becoming increasingly anxious the more he has to wait for Kaworu to find him, so it comes as a wave of relief when he shows up. It doesn't take long for Shinji to get to his feet.]}

It's okay...can we go?

[paraclete]

Yeah, let's.

[He wants very much to hold his hand out to Shinji, to help pull him upright, to keep his posture stable. He doesn't. Instead, he waits until he's sure that Shinji's fine and standing, and then he turns. Of course he remembers right where Shinji's room is, so he starts in that direction.

Without turning, he says,] Make sure to stay close to me. [There are still strange things happening.]

[forevalone]

<sub>[Even though Kaworu is here, there's a sinking feeling inside his stomach. Kaworu's avoiding him. He's not just being paranoid. It's just like the prior day. Just what had happened in the Black Box to make Kaworu so avoidant?

As he starts ahead, Shinji keeps up at his heel as the two of them leave the safe zone. It's only then when they're a bit out of view does he reach out to snag the edge of the sleeve of Kaworu's jacket.]</sub>

[paraclete]

[Maybe when Kaworu was much, much younger, he had it in him to reject Shinji. That's long passed, though. It's really impossible now. When he gently tugs his sleeve away from Shinji's hand, it's not an act of refusal. It's so that he can slide their fingers in place, loosely interlocked, palms just about touching. He doesn't look over his shoulder, though.]

[forevalone]

_{[There's a sudden panic when Kaworu pulls away, but it quickly leaves him when he feels the flesh of Kaworu's fingers intertwine with him. At least he wasn't pushing him away. If he did, he wouldn't know what to do.]}

[paraclete]

[Kaworu, for his part, is silent while they walk. No small talk or sweetness or humming. But he won't let go of Shinji's hand.

When they reach room 015, it looks right now to be empty. That's not really surprising; there's so much going on, and besides, this isn't a span of general sleeping hours. Most likely, they'll be back later, but for now...

He stops at the entryway. This is Shinji's room; he'll let his friend go in first.]

[forevalone]

_{[He goes in first, fingers still wrapped around Kaworu's hand as he leads him inside. Off his boots go before he points to which cot is his.]}

This is my bed. It's pretty big. _{[Big for someone his size, that's for sure.]} Do you want to lay down, Kaworu-kun?

[paraclete]

Yeah, [Kaworu says as he's taking off his shoes, before he catches himself. His teeth worry his lower lip, but he straightens again, looking pointedly to the left. He's still, for the moment. He won't do anything that Shinji doesn't ask him to.]

[forevalone]

...Come lay down with me then? At least look at me, Kaworu-kun.

[paraclete]

[First, Kaworu shuts his eyes, and he lingers in his avoidance for a few moments more. Then he does what Shinji wants, and turns his head to look at the other boy. Properly, even.

Mankind has created works of art for thousands of years. Outside, through the windows of the Neheda, there are so many stars that it's incomprehensible, and they shine in vast existence. Even the splay of colors resonating from Guf was a miraculous thing. Regardless, Shinji is the most beautiful thing Kaworu's ever seen. It's incredible to be able to look at the curve of his face, to see the blue (brown) of his eyes. The weight of his heart that makes itself known in the quiver of the muscles around his mouth. It's all astonishing. Kaworu's honestly privileged to be able to stare — and he does stare.

He says quietly,] All right.

[forevalone]

<sub>[Kaworu looks at him, stares at him, and he finds himself a little more at ease. It's only then does he part their fingers, moving to climb up into his bunk, ushering for Kaworu to follow. There's certainly enough space for the two of them and with the shutter closed once they're inside, Shinji hopes it'll be cozy.

He gives a little pat to the mattress, as one would to beckon a dog or cat over to join them.]</sub>

[paraclete]

[Before he knows it, before he really means to, Kaworu's following. It's never been Shinji coaxing him like this. How could Kaworu ever say no?

He lets himself onto the bed, cautious weight, tired limbs. He's on his side, one arm curled underneath his head, facing Shinji. And he's still staring, too, eyes vivid, mouth a line. It registers to him that he's in bed, he's reclining, Shinji is with him, it's warm and quiet. All at once, he sags, his bones buckling in his exhaustion, his eyelids dropping low. Just for the stress relief, he even lets out a long exhale. Then he breathes in deeply.

It smells like Shinji.]

[forevalone]

<sub>[As Kaworu lays down, Shinji reaches over to shut the two of them into the bunk. Now it really is just them and nothing else. Like this, the two of them can forget for a little while everything else around them.

Kaworu looks exhausted as he finds himself settled. Shinji joins him, head down on a pillow as he lays on his side.]</sub>

It's okay, Kaworu-kun. We're okay.

[paraclete]

You're okay? [It's a quiet question, but he's desperate for the confirmation. That's all he needs — just let Shinji be okay.]

[forevalone]

Yeah...I'm okay. You're here with me, so I'm okay.

[paraclete]

["You're here with me, so I'm okay." Probably, that should make Kaworu feel better.

...

He doesn't regret doing what needed to be done. He doesn't. Yet...]

If you're okay, it's all okay.

[forevalone]

...But are you okay?

[paraclete]

It's all okay. [He can even smile when he says this, eyes closed.]

[forevalone]

<sub>[It's not really the answer Shinji wanted to hear, but at least Kaworu seems to be smiling this time. Timidly he reaches out with a hand to set it upon the other boy's cheek.

He'll just have to take Kaworu's word for it.]</sub>

[paraclete]

[The contact against his face is unexpected. Kaworu opens his eyes again right away. He's greeted with a sight so lovely that it both pillows and rends his heart. Shinji's human warmth is such a comfort, and it's humbling to be offered such a thing. Kaworu lifts one of his own hands, setting it atop Shinji's, over his own face.]

Thank you.

[forevalone]

You don't need to thank me.

_{[Really, he's done nothing worthy of thanks. Not recently anyway.]}

[paraclete]

I do. I want you to know it. You're... [It's so nice to be touching. To be resting. Kaworu deserves neither of those things, yet Shinji offers them. He feels swaddled in cotton. He feels like the moon swinging in orbit, and Shinji is the Earth, filled with the potential to be bursting with life. Kaworu remembers looking down at planet Earth. He'd like to have seen it when it was still blue.]

Inside of me, [he says,] there's an opera. It's carrying on loudly and fantastically. You composed the whole thing. Your voice lends to every role.

[forevalone]

_{[There's a soft, faint little laugh as Shinji smiles back at the Angel laying beside him. An opera?]}

I don't think it'd be very good then, if I sang every part. I'm not the greatest singer.