Disclaimer: I obviously don't own this wonderful, thought-provoking series, GAINAX does. And I really shouldn't have to say this, but, don't read this until you've finished the series. There might be spoilers along the way.

Neon Genesis Evangelion:

Apocryphal Rhythms

Part3

by ZERØ's Wings

As Rei stepped into the light of Shinji's doorway, his eyes focused on her and she became more than a muddled silhouette. She was wearing a white blouse and blue jeans, with a brown overcoat draped over her shoulders. Shinji would've found her laid-back manner of dress startling, had he not been too tired to notice. He did notice, however, that she was completely soaked from head to toe. Her short, delicate blue hair was sopping wet and matted down to the sides of her head. Large drops of water fell from the split ends that stuck out in front of her face. Her shoes were encased in thick mud that had also splashed up onto her jeans.

Shinji took her wet coat and hung it in the front hall closet. "You walked here in the rain?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes."

"At this hour?"

"Yes."

He blinked twice. "Why?"

"I did not wish to be alone."

I know how you feel, Shinji thought to himself. If Rei had visited earlier that week, after Shinji learned of the dummy system, her presence would've been unbearable. But since Kaworu's death, Shinji had been desperate for some human contact. He appreciated her company, especially this late at night.

"Boy, you really got soaked out there," he said sheepishly. "Maybe I could, umm, get you some dry clothes?"

She shook her head. "I enjoy wearing these clothes."

"But wouldn't you be more comfy in something dry? I mean, you must be cold."

"Being cold does not bother me," Rei said. She looked at his right hand again, and saw the cuts overflowing with fresh blood. She winced, vicariously experiencing pain just through looking at another's injury. She'd rather be hurt herself than see another in pain. "Aren't you going to attend to your hand?" she asked, a bit of concern creeping into her voice on a subconscious level.

"Oh, uh yeah," Shinji stuttered, looking at his injured hand for the first time. They were bad cuts, but he hadn't felt a thing. His body had become appropriately numb to physical injuries. The mental scarring had overridden them. He walked back into the kitchen and put his hand under some warm water.

Shinji kept his hand under the water until his fingertips started to get wrinkly. He finally noticed this, and turned the water off. He had been too busy staring at Rei. She returned his gaze in a cold, yet somehow hypnotic, fashion. He searched desperately for something to say.

"Funny, what you said, about not being cold," he blurted eagerly. "I get cold so easily. I'd much rather be warm."

"I dislike warm temperatures," Rei countered. "I would actually rather be too cold than too hot in any situation. However, I do dislike being wet. Perhaps I could borrow some dry clothes."

"Sure, I think Asuka might have some clothes that will fit you."

"She is sleeping, though."

"Uh, yeah, that's right," Shinji said. For all we know, she might be brain-dead, he thought to himself.

"Then I will not impose upon her. Anything you have will be fine."

"Rei, I hate to bring this up, but…" he turned beet red, "…I don't have any dry underwear that will fit you."

A tiny, almost indiscernible blush appeared on Rei's face, but she quickly calmed herself. "That's all right,' she said. "My shirt and pants got the most wet. I don't require new underwear."

"Oh, okay." Shinji turned away from Rei to hide his own blush and quickly adjust his pants. "Well, there should be fresh clothes in the laundry room. It's the last door on the left. My room is right across from it. You can change in there."

Rei nodded. "Thank you, Ikari-kun."

*****

Rei emerged from Shinji's bedroom wearing a floppy red and green sweatshirt and grey sweatpants. She sighed contentedly and let her hands disappear into the overlong sleeves. These clothes were remarkably comfortable for her, especially after having worn those mud-soaked jeans that were too tight in the first place. Rei noticed a pleasant aroma wafting up from the kitchen. She gingerly stepped through the hall past a sleeping Misato and went into the kitchen, the only lit room in the whole house.

Shinji was standing by the sink, wearing an apron with cartoon sushi on it and yellow oven mitts. He was holding a small iron pot, the contents of which were pleasantly steaming and burbling. "I made some chicken soup," he said. "But, I know you don't like meat, so I just put in the broth. It's the best thing you can have on a cold, rainy day." He gave her a cheesy grin and distributed the soup into two bowls with a ladle.

They sat at the table with the soup and a comfortable silence. When Rei finished her soup, she brought her legs up into the chair and pulled the baggy sweatshirt down over them.

"More comfortable?" he asked.

"Yes, I am very comfortable," Rei said, yawning delicately.

"Maybe we should try getting some sleep," Shinji offered. "My bed is free."

"Ikari, I do not think it would be appropriate for us to occupy the same bed for the night," she said quietly.

Shinji turned red once again. "Of-Of course not!!" he yelled emphatically. "What I meant was, you can have my bed, and I'll take the couch. I completely agree with you!"

Rei smiled. Shinji was taken aback. He had never seen her smile since the self-detonation of Unit-00, and only to his father or when he asked her before that. This was the first time he had ever seen her smile of her own free will. Rei smiled because she knew that Shinji was completely honest with her, and not take advantage of her surface-level vulnerabilities.

"Thank you again, Ikari. I enjoyed the time we have spent together." She uncurled herself from the sweatshirt and got up from the table. Shinji watched in silence as she deposited her empty bowl in the sink and walked off to his bedroom. Shinji scratched the back of his neck and sighed. God, I was tripping over my own feet every two seconds. She must think I'm a total moron. He didn't really believe this, but his mind simply was not yet ready to let him be happy again. It was ready to let him sleep again, however. So he slept, and he did not worry about what nightmares might come to him.

End part3

Author's Note: So, what do you think? Still like it? Think it got better or worse? Most importantly: Do you want to read more of it? Tell me! And thanks for reading!