The Holiday season springs upon the children full force, and Kaworu is completely, downright fascinated. From the gleaming, colorful lights, to the act of giving, then also receiving gifts, he wants to absorb and understand it all. He grasps the concepts fairly quickly, but what goes over his head, literally and figuratively, is the idea of mistletoe.
Misato, Asuka, Shinji, and himself spent an afternoon hanging (throwing) ornaments (at each other), placing (fighting over) decorations, making cocoa (Shinji giving Asuka plain hot water), and overall, getting into the Holiday “Spirit.” Yes, Kaworu had to endure the tornado that was Shinji and Asuka getting tangled in garland while screeching, but it's nothing new, so he simply giggles and enjoys himself.
Misato pulls a small plant out of the bottom of a box, red berries speckled on it. “The final touch,” She says, and Kaworu watches in wonder as she pins it to the top of her main doorway. “Shinji, come give Misato-san a kiss!!”
"Nooo!" Shinji groans, the blush on his cheeks popping up in only seconds. Kaworu tilts his head, "Why?"
Shinji peers through his fingers, “Hm—”
"Why would you give Misato-san a kiss?"
"It’s mistletoe, silly!" Misato sighs, "Lovers hold hands beneath it, and give only the most precious, heartfelt smooches—"
"Eugh!" Asuka sticks out her tongue and skips into the next room, Shinji slumping forward in relief. Immediately, he perks back up, wide-eyed—
"Well, I want to kiss Shinji-kun," Kaworu grips Shinji’s hand, and glides them over to the magical plant that will make Shinji kiss him, (kind of) gently pushing a very confused Misato to the side. Facing Shinji, Kaworu takes the stuttering boy’s hands, closes his eyes, and purses his lips (because that’s how humans kiss, they push their lips together real tight, he HAD this).
… When nothing happens, Kaworu squints. Shinji had never looked so abashed. Suddenly, Kaworu’s cheeks flush too, “I-I’m doing it wrong, aren’t I?! Oh no, oh no, I’ve messed up the missile-tone!”
"… What?" Shinji and Misato said in unison.
"I’ve messed up its spirit, I thought perhaps it’d make Shinji-kun want to kiss me, how foolish I was to think such a thing!"
As Kaworu speaks, Misato slowly inches away, Shinji giving her sharp looks.
He sighs, squeezing Kaworu’s hands, “Kaworu-kun, I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it’s not that I, um, it’s not that the kissing is, well, you know, mistletoe doesn’t have spirit, it’s just a thing, but I would, I would kiss, maybe I would kiss, ya know, even without the, mistletoe is a silly tradition—”
Kaworu looks so perplexed and intrigued with a hint of hope, Shinji snorts. Kaworu doesn’t understand why, but they start laughing. Their hands never disconnect the entire time.
Shinji smooches him very quickly, and Kaworu gasps, gazing up at the mistletoe, like he’s still convinced those leaves have some sort of enchanting quality.
And guess which two girls are watching from around a doorway, one swooning, and one nearly puking? “Disgusting… “
