Disclaimer: Gryffyn's mine. Yay! I share him with Rei because she needs a friend. Cedar's mine. Oh, and Icewing too. Nothing else. Not a thing.
Thanks: Everyone! I love you all! With affection unspeakable! But collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that amounts to absolute detestation...
Just kidding. :)
AN: This may or may not be the last chapter. More on that at the end. And to all those who think Rei can't conceive, I have one thing to say to you:
:P
Pthiiiiirrrrttttttt!!!!! Ptht! Prrrth! Pth! Pth!
My damn story. Rei can get pregnant if I damn well say so. I think she has every right to lead a full and happy life, and in my book that includes the ability to have children with the love of her life.
Gryffyn moved so fast he seemed to melt out of the brilliant bullet's path. Under, and up-
He disdainfully spat something red on the floor at Gendo's feet before slipping back to Rei's side.
Commander Gendo Ikari, the man who had created Nerv, the man driven insane by the things he had
seen and done, put his hands up to the rent wreck of his throat and died.
Rei watched his body slide bonelessly to the floor, not knowing how she should feel.
It only took her a moment to decide on an emotion: relief.
"Oh, Gryffyn," she sighed, reaching a hand up to stroke the side of his face, marvelling at the feel of
the little golden feathers rustling through her fingers. The ferocious beast tilted his head into the
carress, purring fit to shake the walls down; jumped a little upward to wrap one large, strong foreleg
around her, press his face against her, and hug her.
They stayed like that for several minutes, neither wating to ever let go.
Eventually, Rei stood back a little. "Let's go home, Gryffyn-chan." She blinked, and then asked softly,
"-Are- you coming home with me?"
"If you want me back," he pleaded. His voice was lower now, changed from a slightly squeaky alto to a
pleasant tenor. "I'm sorry for going away, Rei, but I had to."
"I missed you." It wasn't quite an accusation, but it was pretty close.
"I know," Gryffyn apologised. "I'm sorry."
She hugged him fiercely. "You're forgiven. Come on."
Side by side, the unlikely pair headed through the Nerv corridors: the pale-haired young woman with
her hand buried in the ruff of the magnificent golden gryphon.
He sniffed at her, chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Rei smiled, thinking: if this had been three years ago, she would have asked, 'Why
do you laugh?'
Gryffyn grinned, his beak seemingly designed for the expression. "You -did- mate with Shinshi! No
silly bird-boy for Rei!"
"You were right," she acknowledged.
"Carry Shinshi's cub," Gryffyn said slyly- and laughed gleefully. "Me, too!"
Rei frowned, not quite sure what he meant. "Wh- how?"
He dipped the wing closer to her down, showing her a quick glimpse of the bright-eyed thing half-
buried in the feathers between his wings. Gasping in soft wonder, Rei reached for the cub- but Gryffyn,
gently but firmly, folded his wing back up. "Sorry. Must-not see much humans till Shinshi. Else, not
love as-much. See?"
Rei nodded. "Of course. We will leave him for Shinji-chan."
"Not 'him'!" laughed Gryffyn. "She-cub. Icewaing. Little soft thing, fun-play, want-much!" Eyes
sparkling, he tossed his head. "Not-speak much since going," he apologised. "Words... messy."
Impulsively, she planted a kiss on his cheek. "Gryffyn-chan, I wouldn't care if you couldn't talk at all.
It's being who you are that makes you so special to me."
He wrapped his wing around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly. "Love you, Rei."
"You know I love you too," she whispered.
They walked in silence now, just enoying one another's company... until, pausing in the doorway into
a large room very near the surface, Rei spotted Ritsuko.
The doctor was sitting, alone, against the wall. Her lab coat pooled on the floor about her. She was
bracing her albows on her knees, hands clasped over the back of her bowed head, rocking slightly...
Rei stopped Gryffyn with a hand across his broad feathered chest, smiling a reassurance at him, and
walked over to the rocking woman.
Not looking up, Ritsuko asked, "Rei?"
She knelt before her. "It is I."
A shuddering sob slipped from her huddled form. "I- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"What have you done?" Rei asked gently.
"It's all my fault. I'm sorry. I... I kept you here longer than the others because he told me to. He- he
couldn't have done that to you if... if I..." She broke into sobs.
Not as confused as she once would have been, Rei put her hand over Ritsuko's. "You have done no
harm, Doctor Akagi. Not when I have my friends."
No reply.
Rei smiled. "Actually, Doctor, I must thank you. You have done a great deal to help us, far more than
could be expected."
Slowly, Ritsuko looked up. Hesitancy was written on her tear-stained face. "Did- did he...?"
She shook her head. "No. But there is a... an unpleasant mess... to clean up outside the change rooms."
A huge warm presence moved up behind her; a hard, smooth beak nudged her shoulderblade. "Ritsuko-
san, I know you had some feelings for him... I'm sorry."
The doctor laughed harshly. "Feelings! He- he -fucked- me whenever he wanted to get off. Then he
started threatening my life when I didn't agree with his crazy plans. If your big beastie here decided to
rip his guts out, he's done the -entire- world a favour." She looked up at Gryffyn and smiled wanly.
"I'm sorry, beastie. I'm a little, uh, out of it."
"My name is Gryffyn," he murmured kindly, touching her with a wingtip.
"Yeah. Yeah, sure."
Rei squeezed her fingers lightly. "Ritsuko-san, it is my recommendation that you go now to Misato-
san's apartment. You should talk to her."
Ritsuko nodded slowly. "Alright. Sure. Whatever. Take care of your, uh, Gryffyn."
Nodding, Rei put her hand back on Gryffyn's shoulder- but the beast stopped after two steps, turning
back to the doctor with a look of determination.
"Wh- huh?" Rei frowned.
Gryffyn wedged his head under the disconsolate doctor's arm, pulling her upward. "Too-sad. Too-
confused. Not leave here, else fall wing-tied. Take to friend now."
Frowning, Rei repeated, " 'Fall wing-tied'? I... do not under..." But she did, and confronted her
fiercely. "Do you intend to do yourself harm?"
Ritsuko wouldn't look up. "I... I... oh, please, just leave me be. Please."
"I will not."
Through dint of much effort, they did manage to drag her to Misato's place. The purple-haired Major
promised to take care of her old friend, kindly allowing Rei and Gryffyn to do what they obviously
wanted to do: go to the Den.
As the two young adults stepped out of the apartment building where they'd just dropped Misato off,
Gryffyn turned to Rei with a grin.
"Wanna get home quick-quick! Climb on back, hold cub still." He crouched down beside her and
folded his wings low, rump wriggling in eagerness.
Rei looked at him, a tiny indulgent smile quirking up the corner of her mouth. A question, whether he
was strong enough to carry her, was instantly stilled by the forceful visual reminder of how big and
muscular he now was. "Alright," she agreed, and pulled herself awkwardly onto his back.
"No, no!" Gryffyn corrected fussily. "Forward-sit, over shoulders." He turned his head, catlike, through
two hundred degrees to gently prod her into position.
Some moments later, Rei was seated quite comfortably over Gryffyn's shoulders, her knees hooked
over the bases of his wings, the confused cub wrapped securely in one arm while the other found a
deathgrip in his ruff.
"Hold-tight with knees," he advised. "Ready?"
"Hai."
Gryffyn stood smoothly, managing not to yelp when Rei pulled on his feathers, and walked a few steps
until his rider started to sit more comfortably: then yelled: "Fly now!"
A few lurched leaps forward... one, two, three strong wingbeats-
She clung tightly to her steed as they left the ground, almost falling off several times. Wings- and legs-
clawed furiously at the air, trying to gain height...
Windows moved jerkily past down below them... an updraft! Golden wings cupped it-
Feather-light, they soared smoothly upward, easily clearing the rooftops. Gryffyn cawed in delight.
And, despite herself, Rei gave a screaming whoop. Such a feeling of freedom, of joy!
The trip was far too short.
Rei sighed in regret when Gryffyn dropped down, backwinging, and landed a little clumsily in front of
the apartment building which housed the Den. She leaned along his neck to hug him tightly, feeling his
throat rumble with the force of his purr.
"I love you," she whispered.
He rubbed his cheek along her arm fondly. "Love you too, Rei-rider."
Reluctantly sliding from Gryffyn's shoulder, Rei tucked the cub back between his wings. The little
creature gave her a silent, wide-eyed look before burrowing back into Gryffyn's long ruff-feathers. "I
think... I think I understand something, Gryffyn-chan."
He tucked his head over her shoulder. "Mmm?"
Almost absently, she reached up to wrap her arm around his warm, heavy head, feeling his eyelid
flutter against her palm. "When... when I am one with Shinji... to do what we do... we become one.
To be with you, like this... this is another way of becoming one. It is good."
Gryffyn nodded slowly. "Many kinds of love. You share mate-love with Shinji, share rider-bond-of-
love with me."
"Indeed." She leaned her cheek against his. "Come on. Our denmates are waiting."
Hand on his shoulder, they went into the building. Gryffyn barely fit into the lift, but with a lot of
chuckles, they made it all the way to the front door.
Gryffyn silently followed Rei in, not even allowing his claws to tap the floor. The Den was highlighted
with brightly flickering lights from the TV screen, and the air punctuated by mumbles and shouts from
the two young men.
"You're -still- playing that?" Rei asked softly.
Shinji moved to sit up, but Kaworu stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Still fighting, Rei-chan," the
Angel cheerily greeted.
"Aww," Gryffyn complained. "Want-food."
"I haven't got any of your food, Gryff-..." A controller spun, forgotten, to the floor, as Shinji leapt to
his feet, turned, and gaped. "Crap, Gryffyn, you got big!"
The correct response to that, Gryffyn decided, was to leap across the room and tackle his two
denmates. And Cedar too, when the three-quarters-grown unicorn showed his face. The resultant free-
for-all left Rei watching patiently... feeling, perhaps, a little left out.
Shinji, not quite as dense as he once was, extracted himself from the ruckus, and stood by Rei, slipping
his arm about her waist. "Are you okay, Rei-chan? How'd the tests go?"
She leaned into his side. "Shinji... I have some bad news for you. Your... your father... he tried to hurt
me. Gryffyn stopped him. I- I'm sorry... he's dead."
After a moment's silence, he pulled Rei closer and lightly kissed her. "It must have been hard for you,
beloved."
"Huh?"
"Well, he was more like a father to you than he ever was to me, and you said he tried to hurt you. I'm
sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, but I'm very glad Gryffyn was."
Gryffyn suddenly bounded over, leaving Kaworu and Cedar to sort themselves out and rise. Kaworu glanced at Rei- and then glanced back, noting something: she was -radiant-. That could only mean one thing. Ah, well, let the reunion be enjoyed.
Gryffyn nuzzled
Rei's belly quickly, then turned seriously to Shinji.
"Shinshi... important question."
Shinji waited.
"For me, Rei-rider is- is mother, sister, daughter. One is here who needs a father, a brother, a son. Will
you be this for her?"
"I- uh- what?"
"Will you?"
"I- yes."
Rei smiled, and reached up to pull the cub down from Gryffyn's back, presenting her to Shinji. "Shinji,
this is Icewing."
Blinking in amazement, a hesitant Shinji accepted an armful of gryphon cub. And she was an armful,
indeed- as big as many large dogs. Her soft, downy hide was silvery-white, dappled with dark grey-
black spots. All her points- beak, legs, tail, primary feathers- shaded to the same dark colour. Her large,
slanted eyes were a deep and vivid blue, peering intently into Shinji's own.
Unnoticed, Rei led Gryffyn away, leaving the other two alone for a time.
"Icewing." Shinji slid down the wall and sat against it, holding the cub loosely. She braced her paws
against his chest, her intense eyes never leaving his. A- another gryphon? How could it be? And for
him?
Still stunned, he stroked her side gently, then lifted a hand to rub her ears the way that Gryffyn liked.
Instantly Icewing melted against him, purring fit to shake his bones.
Shinji grinned. He could see this working out.
Waaaagh!
Well, dudes, that's looking pretty close to an end. The way I see it I can do one of two things. I can write an epilogue and sum up the few things I still wanted to get done, a neat way of wrapping the story up, or I can write three or four more chapters, which will be pretty slow-moving but will go into more detail.
I'm going to rely on your good judgement. PLEASE review and let me know which way to go. Or flame me. Or something. I love getting opinions. I love to hear from YOU! Yes, you! The one in front of the computer! Write a review, dammit!
Later.
Thanks: Everyone! I love you all! With affection unspeakable! But collectively, I look upon you with a disgust that amounts to absolute detestation...
Just kidding. :)
AN: This may or may not be the last chapter. More on that at the end. And to all those who think Rei can't conceive, I have one thing to say to you:
:P
Pthiiiiirrrrttttttt!!!!! Ptht! Prrrth! Pth! Pth!
My damn story. Rei can get pregnant if I damn well say so. I think she has every right to lead a full and happy life, and in my book that includes the ability to have children with the love of her life.
Gryffyn moved so fast he seemed to melt out of the brilliant bullet's path. Under, and up-
He disdainfully spat something red on the floor at Gendo's feet before slipping back to Rei's side.
Commander Gendo Ikari, the man who had created Nerv, the man driven insane by the things he had
seen and done, put his hands up to the rent wreck of his throat and died.
Rei watched his body slide bonelessly to the floor, not knowing how she should feel.
It only took her a moment to decide on an emotion: relief.
"Oh, Gryffyn," she sighed, reaching a hand up to stroke the side of his face, marvelling at the feel of
the little golden feathers rustling through her fingers. The ferocious beast tilted his head into the
carress, purring fit to shake the walls down; jumped a little upward to wrap one large, strong foreleg
around her, press his face against her, and hug her.
They stayed like that for several minutes, neither wating to ever let go.
Eventually, Rei stood back a little. "Let's go home, Gryffyn-chan." She blinked, and then asked softly,
"-Are- you coming home with me?"
"If you want me back," he pleaded. His voice was lower now, changed from a slightly squeaky alto to a
pleasant tenor. "I'm sorry for going away, Rei, but I had to."
"I missed you." It wasn't quite an accusation, but it was pretty close.
"I know," Gryffyn apologised. "I'm sorry."
She hugged him fiercely. "You're forgiven. Come on."
Side by side, the unlikely pair headed through the Nerv corridors: the pale-haired young woman with
her hand buried in the ruff of the magnificent golden gryphon.
He sniffed at her, chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Rei smiled, thinking: if this had been three years ago, she would have asked, 'Why
do you laugh?'
Gryffyn grinned, his beak seemingly designed for the expression. "You -did- mate with Shinshi! No
silly bird-boy for Rei!"
"You were right," she acknowledged.
"Carry Shinshi's cub," Gryffyn said slyly- and laughed gleefully. "Me, too!"
Rei frowned, not quite sure what he meant. "Wh- how?"
He dipped the wing closer to her down, showing her a quick glimpse of the bright-eyed thing half-
buried in the feathers between his wings. Gasping in soft wonder, Rei reached for the cub- but Gryffyn,
gently but firmly, folded his wing back up. "Sorry. Must-not see much humans till Shinshi. Else, not
love as-much. See?"
Rei nodded. "Of course. We will leave him for Shinji-chan."
"Not 'him'!" laughed Gryffyn. "She-cub. Icewaing. Little soft thing, fun-play, want-much!" Eyes
sparkling, he tossed his head. "Not-speak much since going," he apologised. "Words... messy."
Impulsively, she planted a kiss on his cheek. "Gryffyn-chan, I wouldn't care if you couldn't talk at all.
It's being who you are that makes you so special to me."
He wrapped his wing around her shoulders and squeezed her tightly. "Love you, Rei."
"You know I love you too," she whispered.
They walked in silence now, just enoying one another's company... until, pausing in the doorway into
a large room very near the surface, Rei spotted Ritsuko.
The doctor was sitting, alone, against the wall. Her lab coat pooled on the floor about her. She was
bracing her albows on her knees, hands clasped over the back of her bowed head, rocking slightly...
Rei stopped Gryffyn with a hand across his broad feathered chest, smiling a reassurance at him, and
walked over to the rocking woman.
Not looking up, Ritsuko asked, "Rei?"
She knelt before her. "It is I."
A shuddering sob slipped from her huddled form. "I- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"What have you done?" Rei asked gently.
"It's all my fault. I'm sorry. I... I kept you here longer than the others because he told me to. He- he
couldn't have done that to you if... if I..." She broke into sobs.
Not as confused as she once would have been, Rei put her hand over Ritsuko's. "You have done no
harm, Doctor Akagi. Not when I have my friends."
No reply.
Rei smiled. "Actually, Doctor, I must thank you. You have done a great deal to help us, far more than
could be expected."
Slowly, Ritsuko looked up. Hesitancy was written on her tear-stained face. "Did- did he...?"
She shook her head. "No. But there is a... an unpleasant mess... to clean up outside the change rooms."
A huge warm presence moved up behind her; a hard, smooth beak nudged her shoulderblade. "Ritsuko-
san, I know you had some feelings for him... I'm sorry."
The doctor laughed harshly. "Feelings! He- he -fucked- me whenever he wanted to get off. Then he
started threatening my life when I didn't agree with his crazy plans. If your big beastie here decided to
rip his guts out, he's done the -entire- world a favour." She looked up at Gryffyn and smiled wanly.
"I'm sorry, beastie. I'm a little, uh, out of it."
"My name is Gryffyn," he murmured kindly, touching her with a wingtip.
"Yeah. Yeah, sure."
Rei squeezed her fingers lightly. "Ritsuko-san, it is my recommendation that you go now to Misato-
san's apartment. You should talk to her."
Ritsuko nodded slowly. "Alright. Sure. Whatever. Take care of your, uh, Gryffyn."
Nodding, Rei put her hand back on Gryffyn's shoulder- but the beast stopped after two steps, turning
back to the doctor with a look of determination.
"Wh- huh?" Rei frowned.
Gryffyn wedged his head under the disconsolate doctor's arm, pulling her upward. "Too-sad. Too-
confused. Not leave here, else fall wing-tied. Take to friend now."
Frowning, Rei repeated, " 'Fall wing-tied'? I... do not under..." But she did, and confronted her
fiercely. "Do you intend to do yourself harm?"
Ritsuko wouldn't look up. "I... I... oh, please, just leave me be. Please."
"I will not."
Through dint of much effort, they did manage to drag her to Misato's place. The purple-haired Major
promised to take care of her old friend, kindly allowing Rei and Gryffyn to do what they obviously
wanted to do: go to the Den.
As the two young adults stepped out of the apartment building where they'd just dropped Misato off,
Gryffyn turned to Rei with a grin.
"Wanna get home quick-quick! Climb on back, hold cub still." He crouched down beside her and
folded his wings low, rump wriggling in eagerness.
Rei looked at him, a tiny indulgent smile quirking up the corner of her mouth. A question, whether he
was strong enough to carry her, was instantly stilled by the forceful visual reminder of how big and
muscular he now was. "Alright," she agreed, and pulled herself awkwardly onto his back.
"No, no!" Gryffyn corrected fussily. "Forward-sit, over shoulders." He turned his head, catlike, through
two hundred degrees to gently prod her into position.
Some moments later, Rei was seated quite comfortably over Gryffyn's shoulders, her knees hooked
over the bases of his wings, the confused cub wrapped securely in one arm while the other found a
deathgrip in his ruff.
"Hold-tight with knees," he advised. "Ready?"
"Hai."
Gryffyn stood smoothly, managing not to yelp when Rei pulled on his feathers, and walked a few steps
until his rider started to sit more comfortably: then yelled: "Fly now!"
A few lurched leaps forward... one, two, three strong wingbeats-
She clung tightly to her steed as they left the ground, almost falling off several times. Wings- and legs-
clawed furiously at the air, trying to gain height...
Windows moved jerkily past down below them... an updraft! Golden wings cupped it-
Feather-light, they soared smoothly upward, easily clearing the rooftops. Gryffyn cawed in delight.
And, despite herself, Rei gave a screaming whoop. Such a feeling of freedom, of joy!
The trip was far too short.
Rei sighed in regret when Gryffyn dropped down, backwinging, and landed a little clumsily in front of
the apartment building which housed the Den. She leaned along his neck to hug him tightly, feeling his
throat rumble with the force of his purr.
"I love you," she whispered.
He rubbed his cheek along her arm fondly. "Love you too, Rei-rider."
Reluctantly sliding from Gryffyn's shoulder, Rei tucked the cub back between his wings. The little
creature gave her a silent, wide-eyed look before burrowing back into Gryffyn's long ruff-feathers. "I
think... I think I understand something, Gryffyn-chan."
He tucked his head over her shoulder. "Mmm?"
Almost absently, she reached up to wrap her arm around his warm, heavy head, feeling his eyelid
flutter against her palm. "When... when I am one with Shinji... to do what we do... we become one.
To be with you, like this... this is another way of becoming one. It is good."
Gryffyn nodded slowly. "Many kinds of love. You share mate-love with Shinji, share rider-bond-of-
love with me."
"Indeed." She leaned her cheek against his. "Come on. Our denmates are waiting."
Hand on his shoulder, they went into the building. Gryffyn barely fit into the lift, but with a lot of
chuckles, they made it all the way to the front door.
Gryffyn silently followed Rei in, not even allowing his claws to tap the floor. The Den was highlighted
with brightly flickering lights from the TV screen, and the air punctuated by mumbles and shouts from
the two young men.
"You're -still- playing that?" Rei asked softly.
Shinji moved to sit up, but Kaworu stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Still fighting, Rei-chan," the
Angel cheerily greeted.
"Aww," Gryffyn complained. "Want-food."
"I haven't got any of your food, Gryff-..." A controller spun, forgotten, to the floor, as Shinji leapt to
his feet, turned, and gaped. "Crap, Gryffyn, you got big!"
The correct response to that, Gryffyn decided, was to leap across the room and tackle his two
denmates. And Cedar too, when the three-quarters-grown unicorn showed his face. The resultant free-
for-all left Rei watching patiently... feeling, perhaps, a little left out.
Shinji, not quite as dense as he once was, extracted himself from the ruckus, and stood by Rei, slipping
his arm about her waist. "Are you okay, Rei-chan? How'd the tests go?"
She leaned into his side. "Shinji... I have some bad news for you. Your... your father... he tried to hurt
me. Gryffyn stopped him. I- I'm sorry... he's dead."
After a moment's silence, he pulled Rei closer and lightly kissed her. "It must have been hard for you,
beloved."
"Huh?"
"Well, he was more like a father to you than he ever was to me, and you said he tried to hurt you. I'm
sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, but I'm very glad Gryffyn was."
Gryffyn suddenly bounded over, leaving Kaworu and Cedar to sort themselves out and rise. Kaworu glanced at Rei- and then glanced back, noting something: she was -radiant-. That could only mean one thing. Ah, well, let the reunion be enjoyed.
Gryffyn nuzzled
Rei's belly quickly, then turned seriously to Shinji.
"Shinshi... important question."
Shinji waited.
"For me, Rei-rider is- is mother, sister, daughter. One is here who needs a father, a brother, a son. Will
you be this for her?"
"I- uh- what?"
"Will you?"
"I- yes."
Rei smiled, and reached up to pull the cub down from Gryffyn's back, presenting her to Shinji. "Shinji,
this is Icewing."
Blinking in amazement, a hesitant Shinji accepted an armful of gryphon cub. And she was an armful,
indeed- as big as many large dogs. Her soft, downy hide was silvery-white, dappled with dark grey-
black spots. All her points- beak, legs, tail, primary feathers- shaded to the same dark colour. Her large,
slanted eyes were a deep and vivid blue, peering intently into Shinji's own.
Unnoticed, Rei led Gryffyn away, leaving the other two alone for a time.
"Icewing." Shinji slid down the wall and sat against it, holding the cub loosely. She braced her paws
against his chest, her intense eyes never leaving his. A- another gryphon? How could it be? And for
him?
Still stunned, he stroked her side gently, then lifted a hand to rub her ears the way that Gryffyn liked.
Instantly Icewing melted against him, purring fit to shake his bones.
Shinji grinned. He could see this working out.
Waaaagh!
Well, dudes, that's looking pretty close to an end. The way I see it I can do one of two things. I can write an epilogue and sum up the few things I still wanted to get done, a neat way of wrapping the story up, or I can write three or four more chapters, which will be pretty slow-moving but will go into more detail.
I'm going to rely on your good judgement. PLEASE review and let me know which way to go. Or flame me. Or something. I love getting opinions. I love to hear from YOU! Yes, you! The one in front of the computer! Write a review, dammit!
Later.