“Thanks. It's been a long time since I had fun”

“So did I. Let's do it again. Come whenever you desire, Ikari Shinji-kun”

“Yeah… By the way… Who are you?”

“I'm Kaworu. Kaworu Nagisa. I'm a boy, wrapped by destiny, just like you”

Once again missing the keys on the piano caused the release of an annoying sound.

Shinji sighed slightly, a bit discouraged.

For a few weeks now, his days were limited between being locked up in his room and practicing with the piano (also trying to talk to Ayanami, tho the few occasions he saw her, the answers provided by the girl were nothing more than monosyllables). It was not annoying to play the piano, it was entertaining and at least during these hours he could stop thinking.

But always reaching a step where he failed and that bubble popped. A simple demotivation due to failure, that ended up reminding him that, no matter how much or how hard he tried, it always ended up ruining everything.

‹From now on, you will do nothing›

Asuka and Misato words still resonated in his head. Inside UNIT 01, he slept for 14 years and his entire world had changed. There was no one who trusted him nor to explain him what had happened, there was nothing left, they even placed a choker that could kill him at any moment. The anxiety was eating him alive, even more than those times they forced him to pilot the EVA.

Not knowing what to do nor what to think.

But at least he managed to save Ayanami, no matter how much they tried to trick him into believing she no longer existed.

Everything was so confusing…

“Try again” the voice by his side called his attention, releasing him from his fractious thoughts.

Seated by his side, Kaworu watched him tentatively, waiting for him to resume the melody that they were playing just a few moments ago. His look was as calm and soft as always; Shinji tried to fake a smile.

He was another of the motives that kept him so nervous.

“I don't think I'm good at this” admitted the brunette with his recurring pessimism. “I always make the same mistakes”.

“We all make mistakes, it is an essential part of learning something new. The more you practice, the better you will do”.

Sometimes envying a little how optimistic the albino could be, as always looking for the positive side of everything, even on him. And he didn't understand why he behaved that way with him in particular, when they had only met a few days ago; he knew that both of them would have to pilot an EVA together and they had to be synchronized correctly, but that didn't explain the nice and attentive treatment that the taller boy gave him.

Acting in such a comforting way without demanding anything or looking for something in return, and always seems to understand what he was thinking, as if he had known him all his life.

Kaworu was quite an enigma to him.

He shuddered when noticing how the white-haired delicately placed his hand on his and held it firmly. His first instinct was to tense up and stutter.

“Na-Nagisa-kun?” his voice came out in a high pitch, as he noticed the taller boy approaching him.

“Let me help you” he said as calmly as always, he guided his hand over the keys once more, remaining way too close to him. Ikari's face heated at the sensation of his breath kissing his cheek. “Now, let's try together”.

Despite the nerves that invaded him and how much his heart raced, he closed his eyes in silence, letting the albino move his hand against the keys.

Starting again, the piano strings sounded harmonically. The previous rhythm managed to be regained and little by little he was getting used to the order in which he had to play it. Knowing it was due to how Kaworu was guiding him, but the sound of the music still relaxed him.

The warmth that the albino's whitish-skin gave off upon his own.

His presence was enough for his constant anxiety to decrease, which surprised him since no one had provoked that in him in the same way that Nagisa did. He felt like being with someone close who he could trust, who he could allow to get close to him knowing he wouldn't hurt him.

It was the only thing that kept him stable since he woke up.

He was brought out of his thoughts again when he heard a slight laugh from the taller boy. He widened his eyes in confusion.

“Nagisa-kun?”

“I stopped guiding you long ago, you were the one who kept playing” he admitted, making him notice that his pale hand remained motionless on his.

“Huh?” was the only thing he could express with the confusion that invaded him. “But…”

“You're improving very fast” he continued. “You will make more mistakes as you progress, but if you work hard, you will learn how to do it. You only require confidence in yourself to achieve what you want”

Ikari, still unable to take his eyes off the keys of the instrument, felt a slight blush returning to settle on his cheeks. Those kind comments and words of encouragement disconcerted him.

Since he woke up, the white-haired boy supported him at all times. When something went wrong or he felt listless, he always seemed to find the right phrases to say to get him motivated again; he never seemed confused about him or how to act around him. As if he understood him from moment to moment, and he knew what he needed.

It was impossible for him to comprehend how someone like Kaworu would be so kind with someone like him, that didn't deserve it.

Nonetheless, he could not stop a smile forming on his face.

He could not remember the last time he allowed himself to smile in such a way.

“Thanks, Nagisa-kun…”

He turned his head to look at the other boy and thank him properly, completely forgetting the non distance between them. Kaworu got so close to help him play that, when the brunette turned, their faces were just inches away. He swears that their noses could even touch.

It lasted for just a few seconds before Shinji turned away terrified.

“Ah! I'm sorry!” he exclaimed, almost screaming, looking away. All the skin on his face was as red as the eyes from the other one.

But Nagisa only smiled, like he was feeling tenderness from the reaccion on the smaller one.

“Don't apologize. I'm not displeased with having you close” admitted without hesitations, causing the other one to look at him quite confused.

This type of thing also got him off balance about Kaworu.

The occasions in which the albino got close to him excessively were multiples, tho also with careness as to not make him uncomfortable.

And actually he did not. Shinji was not annoyed at all.

All his life he was terrified of approaching and opening up to others; he couldn't allow the possibility that it would end up being used against him to hurt him again, or for him to hurt someone. That's why he preferred to stay away and alone, because no one would understand him anyway.

But with Nagisa it was different.

He wasn't scared. Feeling that he could tell him anything, without being judged by it; if he expressed his thoughts to him, he would make an effort to understand it in detail and would give him his ever-recurring smiles.

He could have any type of contact with him and feel comfortable.

But at the same time it got him… Nervous?

His presence calmed and relieved him, yet his chest seemed about to explode at having him so close. He liked when he was next to him, but that also made him tremble from head to toe. No one had ever done that to him. It was so contradictory.

Kaworu didn't seem affected by that either; he behaved as if everything was normal or as if he didn't mind at all being on top of him that he even felt his breath on his face. Those attitudes confused him even more, wanting to ask why he treated him so confidently.

Even tho, Shinji said nothing.

He remained silent, as he always chose to do.

“Let's keep practicing, all right?” continue to say the taller one, without erasing any trace of his serene and constant smile.

“Y-Yeah” the brown-haired one whispered, trying to hide his nervousness and the still remaining color on his cheeks.

As if nothing had happened, Kaworu returned his attention to the instrument, still waiting for him to get up. He followed, a little more confident now than a few minutes ago.

Trying not to think about the tingling Nagisa caused him.

It's my first time posting a story in english and I'm so nervous.

I hope you like it♡