Archive of Our Own ^beta

The patter of footsteps sounds as he approaches slowly. 

 

 

 

He has a solemn look on his face like he's been thinking something over and over again.

 

 

She sits on a wooden bench on a windy autumn day.

 

 

She looks up from the bench. 

 

 

The fall leaves sway in the air as a gust of wind goes by.

 

 

 

He sits down next to her; the old bench creaks as he does. He lowers his head in solemn thought as they watch more leaves fly by; orange and brown fill the air.

 

He lifts his head up and turns towards her. “I regret I've hidden more from you, my love."

 

She chuckles, “What more could you have hidden from me than you being an angel, Kaworu?”

 

 

He gets up from the bench and outstretches his hand. “Come, darling, I will show you.” 

 

She grabbed onto his hand as they walked down the lonely road of Tokyo-3.

 

”He’s warm…” she thinks. 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

They reached Kaworu’s apartment, the same grey as Rei’s apartment complex but less rundown, and it has an elevator unlike Rei’s.

 

 

 

 

They stand outside his apartment door as he fiddles with the keys, finding the right one.

 

 

As much as she envies Kaworu’s confidence and just his overall way of presenting himself compared to her shy and loner self, he is still only human, well, an angel; she giggles.

 

He finally finds the right key, but before he opens the door, he turns his head, cocking it in a knowing gesture. “What's so funny?”

 

Her face lightens to a pink as she waves her hands frantically in a defensive fashion. “No, no, I wasn't making fun of you. Well, I was thinking of you, but not in a way that was making fun of. I actually—“

 

He cuts her off with a warm embrace. “I know, my love, but seeing you get flustered is so adorable.”

 

“Kaworu!” He giggles to himself now.

 

 

He then fully opens the door, letting her inside. 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

She sits down on his couch. It's a regular old couch, nothing fancy. You'd think Seele would have given him some money to get some fancier furniture since he was literally like their ace in the hole, but it's whatever, or did Seele want him to die?? Their plans were so complicated…

 

 

She shakes her head of her wandering thoughts 

 

 

But despite all that, she still likes being here; it makes her feel safe and comfortable just being with him here.

 

 

Approaching footsteps take her out of her reverie.

 

 

 

“Would you like anything to drink, honey?” Kaworu asks 

 

 

She blushes at the name; gosh, she will never get used to that.

 

 

She shakes her head at her thoughts and replies, “No, I'm okay, Kaworu.”

 

 

 

He nods and sits beside her on his couch.

 

 

“Like I was saying, I do have a secret I haven’t told you. I don't know how to tell you without just showing you.”

 

Before she could respond, he got up from the couch. “Is it okay if I show you, darling?”

 

 

“Go ahead, Kaworu; I trust you. Whatever it is, I won't look at you differently, I promise.”

 

 

He chuckles softly. “I'm sure you won't, honey. You’ll finally know what I mean whenever I say we are alike..”

 

 

 

 

 

He starts to unbutton his white dress shirt; it falls to the floor as he gracefully pulls off his black undershirt, revealing his bare upper body, scars, surgical scars, it seems, across his chest.

 

 

She stares stunned, as well as her face getting even pinker.

 

 

 

 

He looks down at her as he stands in front of her. “I'm just like you, don't you see?”

 

“Kaworu…you…”

 

“Yes, my love, just like you.”

 

She looks up at him and asks, barely a whisper, “Can i?”

 

“Touch my chest? Yes, you can,” he smiles at her as she stares up in astonishment below.

 

-

 

She gingerly touches his scared chest, feeling the lines of surgical scars.

 

“You are beautiful, Kaworu.”

 

 

Kaworu blushes a light pink, painting his face.

 

“So are you my love?” He places his hand on her cheek and caresses it. “So beautiful… I'm a lucky man.

 

Her cheeks get even pinker, which she finds ridiculous. This man will be the death of her.

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

She looks up at him.

 

 

 

She looks longingly at his face, then back down to his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She says

 

 

Kaworu looks down at his feet, shuffling a little as he responds, “I wanted so badly to tell you sooner, but so much has happened, my love, with me showing you and everyone I'm an angel and dealing with Seele and your father…”

 

She grimaces at the reminders of the hectic few months it has been for everyone, especially him and her.

 

 

He caresses her cheek as she leans into his touch. “I've felt awful for keeping this from you, my love. I am so sorry…”

 

“I understand why you didn’t say anything. Don’t beat yourself up over it, please.”

 

“I will try not to, my love.” He scratches his chin with his other hand as he keeps caressing her cheek.

 

She buries her face into his shoulder. “Good…”

 

 

Kaworu wraps his hands around her as they embrace each other. He squeezes her gently as he hears loud sobs; she clings to him.

 

Kaworu, unaware of what he did to make her cry, asks, “Why are you crying, Shinko? I'm sorry if I made you upset somehow.

 

She clings even more. “I told you not to beat yourself up or apologize; you did nothing wrong; these are tears of joy.”

 

He kisses her forehead as he rubs circles into her back. “I understand now; just know I will keep no more secrets from you; this I promise.”

She hugs him back, squeezing him tightly as she wipes her eyes. “Thank you, Kaworu, but it's okay. I'm just so happy that we are the same and that you truly get me. Can you, um, also put your shirt back on, Kaworu?”

 

 

Kaworu chuckles into her neck as he lifts his head up to see her face turn crimson. “Of course, honey."