Summer Meeting

Home Alone

Shinji washed up after lunch. Kaworu seemed to enjoy it a lot, even though it was nothing special.
He could hear Kaworu humming as he sat at the dining table, waiting for Shinji to finish the dishes.

Kaworu stared at Shinji as he hummed, a soft smile on his face, he wasn't sure why he felt so happy. He hadn't felt happy in years, but after meeting Shinji, that changed.
He had something to look forward to now, someone he genuinely liked to be around.
He worried a little because Shinji didn't always talk a lot, especially about himself, so Kaworu worried that Shinji might not trust him the way he did.
He was honestly a little confused about the way he was feeling.

Shinji walked to the dining table, "I-I'm finished now..."
Kaworu looked at him, "Great. So how about watching a movie or something?"
Shinji was a little shocked, he was sure that Kaworu was probably getting tired of him by now, just as everyone usually did.
"Are you sure?" Shinji stared at the ground.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Kaworu chuckled. He's always so insecure... he could use a confidence boost..

.
.
.

They'd got distracted and lost track of time, they'd watched a good couple of movies and had had a good time.
"It's quite late.." Shinji looked out the window, the sun was starting to set.
"You're right. It is." Kaworu glanced outside too.
Shinji stared out the window of a couple moments. Kaworu couldn't help but stare at Shinji.
A thought came to Kaworu's mind, "Shinji, shouldn't your father be back sometime soon?"
He'd just assumed that he worked odd hours and worked late tonight.
Shinji looked at him, he looked a little shocked, then a little sad.
He shook his head, "Father won't be home for a few days..."
"So you'll be alone?" Kaworu asked.
"Mhm..." Shinji nodded.
"Does that get lonely?" Kaworu asked, he didn't know if it was an intrusive question or not.
Shinji stayed quiet. He didn't want to reply. He didn't want to show signs of weakness.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to lie to Kaworu so he just nodded slowly, he looked down at his lap.

Kaworu went silent for a moment.
Shinji wasn't sure if he was thinking of a way to make fun of him or a way to tell him how pathetic he was. Shinji simply assumed whatever Kaworu was thinking about was bad.

Kaworu looked at Shinji, his expression was gentle, not the face of someone pitying him or attempting to make fun of him.
"Would you mind if I stayed the night?" He asked.
Shinji's eyes widened and he looked Kaworu in the eyes.
He eagerly wanted to say yes, to tell him not to leave him here alone.
But he couldn't just say that.
"Y-you don't need too... I'll be fine..." Shinji's eyes were a little watery, "I don't want to bother you anymore than I have already."
Kaworu smiled once again, "You haven't been a bother. And I'd like to stay."
Shinji felt a sickening feeling in his stomach, he didn't quite believe what Kaworu was saying.
"A-alright..." Shinji agreed to let him stay though.
"I'll call my mother to make sure she's okay with it." Kaworu got up and stepped into the hall.

Shinji could briefly hear the conversation. It seemed like a pleasant exchange.
I wish I could have a conversation with my father like that...

Kaworu walked back over to Shinji, he was beaming, "She said it was alright, I've got to leave early though."
Shinji smiled a little, "I'm glad.."
He was nervous, as the only one who'd ever stayed over was his childhood friend Ayanami Rei, and even then his father had been present.
But dispite that, he was glad Kaworu was staying with him for the night.