The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 24

She let herself go, and bolted straight for Up. Taz threw her arms around his neck, and wrapped her legs around his middle. She put her chin on his shoulder, blushing brighter red than she had before as he looped his arms around her waist. He was surprised to say the least, but Up was smiling over Taz's shoulder. Her mind raced with a thousand things to say, but those three little words had sent her reeling.

'Up?' She mumbled into his shoulder. 'I gotta confess something... Te amo actually means...' She tried, but couldn't get the right words out. She had enough trouble saying te amo, let alone what it meant.

'I know.' Up replied calmly. 'I knew just after the first time you said it. I knew it when I said it too, Taz.'

He felt her stiffen slightly on her shoulder, and bury her face. Taz's face got hotter and hotter, until she pulled back the slightest bit from Up- just enough to look him in the face.

'So you don't think I'm too young?' She asked quietly, her arms still loosely hanging around his neck.

He grinned and shook his head, his blue eyes staring straight into her chocolate brown. 'I could never think that, Taz. But... am I too old?'

Taz rolled her eyes and put her forehead to his. 'No.'

Up grinned and leaned in for a kiss, but Taz put her hand in the way. 'What is it, Taz?'

She looked a little frightened, and was suddenly distant. She shook her head quickly, coming back to her current situation. 'I just haven't... and I don't know...'

Taz slipped to the floor, chattering away with her face frozen on shock. Up knew her like the back of his hand, and wasn't going to let her get away. He grabbed her upper arms from behind, dragging her back. She stopped talking, and turned her head to him.

'You don't need to worry about any of that, Taz. And I know that you haven't had any relationships or nothin', but we're both in the same ship here.'

He hasn't ever had a relationship? How is dat possible? I gotta distract him... 'Come on Up- I'm cansado. Let's go to sleep!'

Up yawned and escorted Taz back to her room. He had tried to slip his arm around her, but he could feel her annoyed glare instantly. 'Night Taz.' He chuckled, creeping back to his room.

Taz waved and rushed inside, feeling a grin building up inside her that she couldn't let him see. The second the door was closed, Taz screamed into her pillow. Now what am I going to do? I can't just treat him de same... but dey would notice if we changed. Agh- how difficult is dis mierda going to be?

A few hours later, Up's alarm went off and he sat up grumpily. I am not a mornin' person. He dragged himself out of his bed and made his way to the small kitchen for coffee. Up stretched and yawned as he walked in, causing Alex to jump. His eyes had dark circles underneath, and it looked like he hadn't slept in a week.

'You alright there, Alex?' Up asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

'Kitt was sleepwalking again and he kept tripping over stuff.' Up snorted at the thought of the "careful Kitt" tripping over anything. 'And why did we have to share? All of you guys get your own rooms.'

'We were tryin' to use as little rooms as possible, and that just means that one gets the short straw.' Up replied with a sarcastic smile.

Alex stood up from the table and started heading towards the showers. 'We are heading home, aren't we, Commander?'

'Of course- what would make you think any different?'

'Well... do we have to do any of our chores today? Or physical exercise?' Alex asked hopefully.

Up laughed and slammed his hand into Alex's back. 'Of course! It's good practice for our next mission!'

Alex sighed and his shoulders dropped. 'Later, Commander Up. I gotta shower before we arrive back at the Academy- my whole family's coming to see me!' The thought of his family cheered him up, but he still dreaded having to do any form of training with Lieutenant Taz at the helm.

Ten minutes after Up had finished his coffee, he was in the control room sitting by the front window. Ruth had dragged Kitt to the control room, clearly angry about something.

'Tell him.' She demanded, giving him a little shove towards Up.

Up stood and crossed his arms, his face now set on serious. Kitt was trembling and his voice was extremely weak. 'IdidnotdoitbutsomeonedidandRuthisblamingme!'

Up raised his left eyebrow, trying to catch up with Kitt. 'Try again, private.'

Kitt dropped to the chair, but Ruth grabbed his collar and made him stand. 'FINE. Somebody screwed up the gym and it wasn't me I swear!'

He shot a little glare at Ruth, but she just ignored it. Up excruciatingly slowly walked down the three stairs, walking right up to Kitt and staring down his nose at the trembling boy.

'Thank you, Ruth. I'll deal with it.' He answered slightly gruffly, his glare not shifting from Kitt.

Ruth giggled and skipped off down the hall, leaving Kitt to the wrath of Up.

The second the door slid shut, Up laughed and gave Kitt a swift whack on the back. 'Calm down, private. I know it wasn't you.'

Kitt nervously looked at Up, hoping he wasn't joking. 'But all the same, you had better go clean it up.'

He winked at Kitt, who backed away and suddenly took off down the hall. Up turned back to the window, chuckling to himself. 'And the fearless Commander Up strikes again!'

'You better watch it, Up. You might get a mala reputacion.'

Up turned around yet again, but this time with a smile. Taz smiled back, walking through the doorway with a coffee in her hands. 'Morning, Up.'

'Mornin' Taz.' Up replied. 'And if that means "bad reputation" then looks like I'm in trouble.'

Taz blushed, instantly hating herself. She finished her coffee and sat down in the chair, spinning slightly. 'How long before we get back to base?' She asked casually, looking down into her coffee cup.

Up pressed a few buttons, his tongue slightly poking out as he focused. 'Hmm... about fourteen hours. Maybe it's time for a trainin' session with the absolutely amazin' lieutenant?'