Standing there waiting out in the hallway Maya was visibly
nervous in her uniform, checking to see if the collar was too tight.
"How much longer?" she asked weakly.
Ritsuko smiled at her gently, "Relax, Maya. We're all friends
here."
Maya looked down shyly, "I know, it's just..."
A hand on her shoulder, a smile from the blonde. "Misato
hasn't got any surprises planned," Ritsuko said, "it's just going to
be us, Rei, Asuka and a few of your better techs in there."
The door to the room opened and Asuka smiled, the borrowed
military uniform fitting her neatly. "We're ready to go," the orange
haired EVA pilot smiled.
Maya puffed out a breath, "Let's go."
Asuka held the door open as Maya and Ritsuko walked inside.
Rei wore a blue dress over at one side, a few techs dressed in uniform
nearby, while in the middle Misato stood. She was wearing her standard
garb, her face lit up with a gentle smile. A small box was held in her
hand, presumably carrying the new rank insignia.
"Maya Ibuki," Misato said crisply once Maya stood in front of
her.
"Hai!" Maya jerked straight.
"You served well during the Angels crisis," Misato smiled,
"and now, you've been laboring to rebuild the damaged EVAs. Thanks to
you and your staff's efforts NERV has regained the ability to defend
this city and the world."
"Ma'am," Maya was blushing furiously and only feeling the fond
gaze of Ritsuko on her back kept her from bolting right out of the
room.
"Because of that," Misato opened up the little box, "I have
been authorized to promote you to the rank of captain, with all the
responsibilities and privileges carried by that rank." She pinned the
insignia to Maya's collar, then stepped back with a smile.
"Congratulations," Misato said loudly, "Captain Maya Ibuki."
Maya saluted, face flaming. "Thank you, ma'am," she managed
weakly.
Then all order broke down as Asuka stepped up to slap her on
the back. Rei joined her to gently shake her hand, then the techs
descended on her, whooping in pride over the promotion of someone that
they regarded as one of their own.
From the room's other door a cart was pushed thought, bearing
a large cake with the words 'Congratulations for your promotion!'
written on it in red icing. A few candles were artistically placed on
top, giving off a bright, cheerful light. At the others urging Maya
bent forward, taking a deep breath to blow the candles all out.
"Just be glad I didn't cook it," Misato smiled at the still
brightly blushing Maya, "or it would look good but be completely
inedible."
"Here, you cut it," Ritsuko picked up the knife and gently
pressed it into Maya's hands. Their fingers touched, and the two women
stood there frozen, gazing into each other's eyes.
Asuka cleared her throat, and the two jerked apart, suddenly
aware of the people standing in the room with them. "Uh, right," Maya
cut slices of cake off with a shaking hand.
'They sure are cute together,' Misato noted, watching the way
that Maya and Ritsuko stood together, both women seemingly happy just
to have the other near them. She accepted a piece of cake from Ritsuko
and had to smile to herself as Rei took her first bite of cake, the
girl's eyes widening with happiness as she had some of the treat.
"Asuka," Rei turned to beam up at the still cakeless Asuka,
"try some of this." She cut a fork full of cake off, bringing it to
Asuka's lips.
She tried to get the cake off as delicately as possible, but
Asuka's lips still brushed the metal of the fork. She suddenly
remembered the Japanese custom of an indirect kiss and blushed,
thinking of pressing her lips to Rei's. "It's good," she managed.
Rei looked up at her curiously, "Is something wrong? Your face
is all red."
"I'm fine," Asuka answered, realizing she was blushing a bit
harder.
The group of techs left pretty quickly after getting their
pieces of cake, stopping only to congratulate Maya one more time
before they left. The soft sounds of music started up, the meeting
room's stereo system activated by a slightly smiling Misato.
Maya hesitated, then she looked up at Ritsuko. Mustering her
courage she asked with a gentle smile, "Could I have this dance?"
"I'd love to," Ritsuko gently took the younger girl's hands in
her own while letting Maya lead them to rhythm of the music.
Rei's hand slid into Asuka's without the taller girl realizing
it, and she gently squeezed on Asuka's fingers. "Could we do that?"
Rei asked softly.
Not letting herself think about it too much Asuka took Rei
into her arms, swaying gently to the music. Echoing the others Rei
leaned in to Asuka, her blue hair resting on Asuka's shoulder as the
taller girl tentatively put her arm around her. "Is this all right?"
Asuka asked softly.
"Hmm," Rei sighed happily.
Misato watched them, her own eyes dark with.. something. Not
loss, exactly, but thinking of what might have been, if things had
been just a bit different. Once the song ended she pushed off from
where she was leaning up against the wall, "Ritsuko, Maya?"
"Yes?' Ritsuko asked, unconsciously keeping Maya's hand in
hers.
Misato smiled, "You've both got the rest of the day off, and
if I see either of you around here before your shifts start tomorrow,
I'll be very displeased."
"Thank you, ma'am," Maya smiled happily.
"Just don't get too hung over," Misato smirked, "I want you to
be a good example as the new commander of our technical division."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Ritsuko smiled, squeezing the
younger woman's hand. "Well, if you don't want us around," she tugged
Maya towards the door, "we'd better get going."
"Have a nice day, everybody," Maya waved as the two hurried
out.
"That was so cute," Asuka shook her head with a smile.
"That they are," Misato agreed. She looked over at her two
pilots, "I hate to bring this up, but the new versions of the plug
suits are ready. Would you mind trying them on?"
Rei smiled, "Sure."
Asuka hesitated, thinking of the scars that she still carried.
"All right," she made herself smile as Rei looked up at her
entreatingly.
"Thanks," Misato directed it mostly to Asuka. She knew how
difficult some of this must be for her, even after her return to the
simulators. "Let's get going," she leads them out of the meeting room,
down the hallway to an elevator.
The room they arrived in was a modified changing room, and
when Asuka looked over at the two plug suits she frowned slightly at
their odd, gray color. "They aren't individually colored?" she asked
Misato.
"It's a specially made 'smart' fabric," Misato explained, "not
only will it mold itself to your body, but it will also change colors
based on whatever you input."
"Not bad," Asuka fingered the soft material, "but I'll stick
with my red design."
"Could mine be blue?" Rei asked softly.
Asuka raised an eyebrow slightly, while Misato kept her
expression perfectly blank. "I don't see why not," Misato managed to
smile. She walked over to the door, and turned back to say, "I'll let
you get changed."
As soon as the door shut, Rei slipped the blue dress over her
head, folding it up carefully dressed only in her bra and panties. She
reached back, her motion pushing her breasts forward and unsnapped the
bra, releasing them.
With a loud gulp Asuka turned, stripping her own uniform off
quickly. 'I was practically ogling her,' she blushed, setting her
pants, shirt and jacket down in a pile. A soft touch on her back
startled her, and she turned to meet Rei's gaze.
Rei gently traced a white mark on Asuka's arm, "Those are
scars, aren't they?"
Asuka gulped, trying to steady her racing heart. "Yes, they
are," she managed, "I got most of them while fighting the Angels."
"I wish I had been here, able to help you then," Rei said
softly. She looked up to meet Asuka's eyes, "I like you, Asuka."
Asuka blinked, "Well, that's good."
"No," Rei shook her head firmly as she pressed her lips to the
stunned Asuka's lips, "I think I love you."
Asuka gaped after her in honest surprise as the blue haired
girl calmly walked away to pull a plug suit down from where they were
both hanging, wondering if she had actually heard Rei say what she
thought she had.
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