Finally Beaten ~Taz x Up~

Chapter 12

Taz had been lifting weights all day, training. There wasn't anything to train for, she just had nothing to do. She thought about the things she'd do if Up were okay: knife-throwing competitions, play fighting, even a water fight if she was up for it. Suddenly Taz set her weight down and sat up, dragging the heel of her hand across her brow to wipe the sweat from it. Thinking of the Commander made her hurt. It was an unfamiliar feeling to her, unlike anger or sadness. It was a pain in her chest that she couldn't ignore. Taz walked out of the gym and down corridors, passing several rooms on the way. In one, she saw Tootsie and Mega-girl kissing passionately, Tootsie's soft brown hair swaying in the wind made by the fan. Taz felt like vomiting. Tootsie didn't understand that MegaGirl wasn't a human - he never would. Taz rolled her eyes and continued down the corridor. She entered the hospital and knocked on the door of Up's room. A blond-haired nurse poked her head out of the door, a questioning smile on her face.

"Could I see Up?" Taz asked, though they both knew the question was posed as a command. The nurse nodded, but before letting Taz in, she leant inward and whispered,

"Commander Up is in a very unstable condition at the moment. He's unconcious and I wouldn't disturb him. But don't worry," she added hastily, seeing Taz's face transform into a worried frown, "We have the right equipment to-"

"Sí, that's what the doctor idiota told me." Taz interrupted listlessly, pushing the nurse to the side and entering the ward. There was only one bed inside, and on it lay Up, barely recognisable. His skin was pale and plastered with sweat. His white hair, like snow, was tousled and in need of a haircut. His face was gray against the blindingly white sheets. Nonetheless, he was still her Commander, and she sat in the gray plastic chair next to the bed and slowly inched her hand toward his. Both were damp with swear, but that didn't matter to Taz. She looked into his blank face, and for the first time since they met at her Quinceanera, Taz noticed how carelessly handsome he was. She lifted her other hand and gently peeled back his closed eyelid. His eye was pale blue with a ring of darker blue on the outside. They shined like a thousand stars. With a pang, Taz remembered the night before his famous injury.

Up dropped his zapper on the ground with a clang and collapsed on his knees next to Taz, who was already on the ground. Robot remains were everywhere, metal fizzling with sparks. Dead human bodies littered the floor too. One included Up's old friend Shayn. Up, very deliberately, didn't grieve. Get back up and move on, he always thought. The night sky was dotted with one thousand stars, blinking at them, smiling at them. Up shifted his position so he sat cross-legged, and smiled in spite of himself. Even in the heat of battle, stained with blood, sweat glazing her body - she still glowed with beauty, though Up was never going to tell her that. She put her arm around his shoulders and said,

"We did well today."

Up nodded.

"I'm proud of you, Lieutenant." Up congratulated, grinning. Taz saluted, also smiling.

His eyes glowed just like the stars in the sky.

With a jolt, Taz was brought back to reality, and she wondered when she became so soft. It seemed just the other day she was jeering at Up, calling him a "sad, spayed little puppy". She didn't know where the anger had come from that day; she was just so pissed, she'd exploded and started to yell at him. Now though, she couldn't imagine anyone ever yelling at him. Just another one of those fallouts we have, Taz thought to herself. She was going to miss the good times they had together. But then Up was going to get through this. He was a fighter; Taz knew that. He was going to get through this.

A tear rolled down Taz's cheek. She brushed it away feircely and leaned forward, towards Up's forehead. She planted her lips on it, then withdrew them.

"Get well soon, you big idiota." she mumbled, her voice muffled by emotion. Taz stood up, wiped her cheek dry, and strode out of the ward.