What Shinji didn't know was that he was also doing a very good job of these very same things. Who know being wanted was such a liberating experience. It was a good thing Shinji was selfish, because Kai was equally as greedy to stay right there. Turning back would in all likelihood probably end up just as disastrous for both of them, if it wasn't just because it wasn't working out.

Nobody needed that right now.

Kai grinned a little more, heartened by that peep of a smile amongst the tail end of all those sniffles. "Mhmm." As long as they could. Just like this. Kai tilt his head a bit, pressing a kiss just there at the safe zone of Shinji's temple. "Thanks," he whispered against that spot.