The Commander's Lieutenant

Part 41

Everyone was given a list of their subjects, duties, etc. and told to go to their rooms, which had to be shared with their senior officer.

'Each one of you Lieutenants were signed up for Level 2 under your commander, and you will stay this way unless you file to change. It may be awkward for our two females, but I'm sure they've had to bunk with fine gentlemen like you before.'

Up snorted as Taz pulled a face- in her first week, she was forced into bunking with a few other cadets who proved to be far too annoying, which earned her a private room as to prevent losing more recruits to the infirmary.

'I don't remember a few of dose personas being at de ceremony. Do jou know dem?' Taz asked Up as they were shown to their rooms.

'Nah. They graduated a year ago, but Level 2 only picks up the new batches once a year. Anyone who graduates six months early goes on a few trainin' missions or gets classes, so these guys must've graduated last week.' Up explained, then a confused look spread across his face.

'What now?' Taz hissed.

'Hell, I don't even know how I knew that.' He laughed, then tapped in a password.

The machine whirred a few times, then made two beeps and the door opened. A metallic voice called out from the machine.

'Please choose a new password.'

'Thank Dead God. I could never have remembered all dose numbers...' Taz admitted.

Up kicked his bags inside and put his hand on his hip. 'Hmm... we need to make it somethin' easy to remember.'

Taz leaned up to his ear and whispered. Up looked confused, but typed it in.

The stories were true- the first six months of Level 2 were extremely hard. They had classes every day, combat training every night, weapons and target practice every second morning, as well as house duties like clean-up or kitchen service. Taz and Up took it pretty well, and Taz had smashed her record of nine broken bones to fifteen. Not her own bones of course, but rather anyone who dared shoot her a wrong look or insult. Up may have broken one or two noses after over-hearing a few conversations, but neither were reprimanded. At the start of the year, they were told to take matters into their own hands.

Up woke to his alarm, and the first thing he did was run to his calendar. Today was it- Taz's 17th. She let him pass on his own birthday celebration, but made sure she gave him an absolutely amazing birthday present. Now, it was Up's turn to fulfil a promise.

He walked over to Taz as she slept on the top bunk, snoring slightly. He rocked her a little, but she shook him off. Up couldn't believe he'd known the girl for two years- she had grown so much, and kept her side of the deal. Not once did she break, no matter how tired she got. But this birthday was different- she could drink. Only Rangers could drink at 17, and Up had been dreading that day for Taz since he met her.

'Taz? Happy birthday.'

She rolled over to face him, but her eyes were still closed. Up put his hand on the bar and looked down. 'Come on, wake up.'

Taz reached out slapped him, then snuggled into her pillow. Deciding it was better to hit him with it, Taz then snuggled into her blanket with a tired smile.

'Have it your way.'

Taz's eyes sprung open as something lifted her off her bed, then dropped her close to the ground.

'HEY!' She shouted, pouting in a ball on the floor.

'Oh sorry- I was lookin' for my tough girl. Her name is Taz- you seen her?' Up teased, throwing a pillow back at her.

She poked out her tongue and stood up. 'Today's de day.' Taz murmured.

Up hugged the blanket burrito, and placed his hand on the back of her head. 'Go get ready. I have a few things planned for today.'

She looked up at him, almost completely drained of energy. 'Uh-uh. Coffee.'

Up dropped his arms and sighed, leaning on the bench behind him. 'Ugh... SURPRISE!'

He produced a large cup of coffee from behind his back, handing it to Taz. By the time he had turned around to get his own and then faced Taz again, the coffee in her cup was gone and she was alert.

'Thanks, Up!' She snatched up her towel, then looked around for her bag of clothes.

'On the door.' Up sighed over his coffee.

At least she said thanks. He was about to take another sip of coffee, but Taz ran up beside him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. There was a spark in her eyes, and Up knew she'd be okay. As she flicked through the bag, she laughed at the choices Up took from her wardrobe. A dark red, loose hanging shirt and black skinny jeans with a pair of black low-tops. Jou really have style Up. At least it isn't a dress...

'I am so glad they gave us the week off.' Up called from the bathroom, toothbrush in hand.

Taz nodded from his bed, putting a smile on her otherwise expressionless face. Her mind raced with horrid memories of her birthday two years ago, but she shoved them away as Up came back into the room. He smiled at her and held out his hand, but Taz froze. Up was wearing a grey short-sleeve button-up, blue jeans and black-low tops, but his bandana was still over his forehead. Her eyes flashed as she remembered the first time she saw him.

Up was sitting next to her on the old couch outside, trying to cheer her up. He had seen her looking down when her brother left, and only realised who she was as he sat down. Taz knew how she felt the second she saw him, but was taken aback by his eyes. Dey were so blue... are so blue. Up saw her tremble, and quickly dropped to his knees at her side. He grabbed her hand within his own, and waved the other in front of her eyes.

She didn't budge until Up sat directly in front of her and placed his hands on her cheeks. Taz opened and shut her eyes, and her breathing was erratic. But the second she saw him, he breathing steadied and she was fine.

'I'm fine. Let's go.'

Taz was practically in tears as they reached the dark brown doors at the end of the night. She was laughing, hanging off Up's arm.

'Jou dacked Toni on his birthday? I thought I was de only one who did dat!' Taz joked, whacking her arm into Up's back.

'Here we are, Taz. Are ya ready?' Up nodded to the doors.

Taz took a deep breath. 'Sí. Thank you for doing dis Up- it means... a lot.'

'As long as ya don't go over the top, you'll be fine Taz.' He regretted doing it, but at least this way he could make sure she didn't overdo it.

She put her left hand on the door handle, and Up grabbed her right. Taz took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the bar.

Three hours later, Taz and Up stumbled into their room. Up was leaning heavily on Taz, which was't exactly good considering the fact that she was slightly drunk and much smaller than him. She lowered him onto his bed, then dropped to her butt on the floor. Up opened his eyes and rolled onto his side, looking down at Taz. She had an awkward grin on her face, and her dark hair hung loosely from a braid. Suddenly, she pouted and shifted uneasily.

'I guess I owe jou a gracias. My birthday didn't suck dis year.' She mumbled.

'I... have another surprise. Your actual present.' Up grinned and gently put his hand on her cheek.

Taz smiled and leaned onto his hand. 'Jou don't need to do dat! Jou already did so much today.'

'I know. But it's kinda special, Taz. But I don't wanna say the wrong thing, so I think I'll do it tomorrow.' Up grinned slyly, then realised Taz had fallen asleep.

He shook his head, then pushed himself to his feet. He carefully removed his hand and Taz dropped, Up catching her straight away. 'Ranger's reflexes.' He chuckled to himself, then gathered Taz in his arms and lifted her onto her bed.

Up kissed her forehead, and laid down on his own bed to sleep.

'Don't think I'm gonna forget jour promise, Up.' Taz murmured.

He smiled, and drifted off to sleep.