2. Eternal: A lot of people on the Starship thought that Taz and Up's relationship wouldn't last for more than a few weeks. However, they didn't know that Taz and Up had been best friends since she was fifteen and he was twenty-three and that even if they did break up, which was highly unlikely, they would remain best friends no matter what. Even after those few weeks, there were still people that doubted their relationship, despite the fact that rumours had been floating around the ship since the day Up brought Taz aboard. What they didn't understand was that their love was eternal, and would last forever.
14. Pauses: This was the first time they watched the Harry Potter movies. Taz had read the books when she was younger. Up, having been raised in a orphanage, had not. This resulted in pausing the movie several times throughout the night.
"So, wait, who's that again?" Up asked while Taz paused the movie with an exasperated sigh.
"Dat. Is Hagrid." Taz replied pointedly.
"And is he a wizard or not?"
"Can jou just watch de damn movie?"
Up grumbled unintelligibly and settled further into the couch, his arm around Taz. After a few minutes without interruption, Up had to ask a question again, making Taz pause the film. "I thought wizards used wands?"
Taz shot him a puzzled look. "Dey do."
"But Hagrip just gave that kid a pigs' tail with a pink umbrella!"
"Uno: It's Hagrid. And dos: His wand is inside de umbrella, jou idiota!" Taz pushed him to the side, frustrated with his lack of understanding. "It's not dat hard to get!"
"Well I never read them when I was a kid. I have no idea what's going on." Up lied. He could actually follow the plot pretty easily, Taz was just cute when she got frustrated. Five minutes passed before Up started speaking again. "Hey Taz, why does..." He chuckled when she paused the film again and shot him another look.
25. Vehement: "No, Up. Jou are not going into battle without me." Taz had been injured recently, leaving her with a broken wrist and broken ribs. Her wrist had since healed, but was still very tender, and her ribs were bandaged. Up slammed his coffee mug on the counter, spilling some out of it.
"Dead-goddamit Taz, no you're not! You're too fragile to go into battle yet." As soon as the word 'fragile' escaped his mouth, he knew it was a mistake.
Taz looked up at him, a rage burning in her eyes. "Fragile? Jou think I'm too frágil to fight? Are jou forgetting dat I took down three robotos when I was fifteen? With a dead-goddamned rake? I am going to go into dat battle, and dere is nothing jou can do to stop me." Taz was vehement. When she had her mind made up, there was no stopping her. But Up was adament.
"No, Taz. I won't allow it and neither would the people in the Medi-bay."
Taz scowled at him. "I really don't care about de Medi-bay people. Dey always say dat I need more rest den I do."
"But you do care what I say." Up countered. "And even if you didn't I'm your commanding officer, so it wouldn't matter." Taz glowered at him and Up softened his tone. "I know you want to fight, but you're not ready."
"But I am re-"
Up cut her off. "Please Taz. Just sit this one out. For me?" His blue eyes were so pleading, Taz hardly had a choice in the matter after that.
95. Shadows: Junior lurked in the shadows, spying on his crew. He had noticed that Megagirl was still on about loving Tootsie, Krayonder seemed to have a thing for Specs, and Bug wanted to tell February something. However, the most interesting development was between Up and Taz.
"Taz, c'mon."
"No, Up." The small Mexican whirled around to face the older man. "Jou are not de same Up dat rescued me all dose years ago."
"But Taz, I miss you."
Her expression softened and she bit her lip. "I miss jou too Up. But jou're not de same."
"I am Taz, I really am. Trust me."
"Really? Den do something dat old Up wouldn't hesitate to do."
It took him a few seconds, but Up finally moved. With two long strides he was by her side, looping his arm around her waist. He leaned down and captured her lips with his, finally letting himself do what he had been dreaming of for ages.
Taz was stunned. She knew that if the old Up felt like this, he wouldn't have even paused before kissing her. But somehow, it seemed as though Up was only doing this because he had gone soft, that he didn't think of her this way before that. She kissed him back nonetheless, relishing his chapped lips against hers. Their lips warred for several minutes and it wasn't until Up bit on her lip that she realized what she was doing. Taz pushed him away.
There was hurt in his eyes. "Jou are not de old Up." She said with a shake of her head before spinning around and running off. Up just stood there, shocked that she had let the kiss go on for that long, and what had happened afterwards. Shit. He thought. How can I live with myself if I don't ever get her?
46. Disaster: What happened that day on Qo'nos was a disaster. They both wish it never happened. Taz can still remember it like it was yesterday though.
Taz and Up stood back to back, shooting the robots whenever they came close. They seperated for a moment as Taz took out an Autobot approaching on the southern horizon. As she was shooting, Up noticed that Optimus Prime was coming up behind her. Just in time, Up jumped in front of her, the robot grabbing him instead. Taz turned, expecting to see her partner, but instead saw a vast expanse of ground and destroyed robots. She looked up, and there he was being held spread-eagle in the air, Optimus Prime aiming his circular buzz saw at his head. She tried shooting at the robot, but her shots either missed, or hit his protective armour. Taz winced as she heard the crunch of bone and closed her eyes as she felt the spatter of blood on her face. As soon as the robot dropped him, Taz fired her Zapper, hitting Optimus Prime in the neck and blowing his head off. She ran over to where Up was lying, separated into two halves. Tears streamed down her face as she hunched over his dead body.
A hand rested on Taz's shoulder. "You okay? You looked upset." Up commented as he sat down next to her.
A small smile graced her face as she replied. "It's nothing." She wished she had known that Up was going to survive, it would have saved her a world of grief. But at the same time, that disaster had brought them even closer, if that was possible.
82. Panic: One morning, Taz rolled over to find an empty bed. Panic set in; she almost always woke before Up did. She got out of bed and walked around the small quarters they shared, not finding him anywhere. The shower wasn't running, and there was no note. Without even bothering to get out of her pyjamas, she started running through the halls to the cafeteria. When she burst in, there were a few wolf-whistles from a couple of the other Lieutenants, but Taz ignored them. She ran outside, sprinting towards the lake. She finally found him sitting on the stone bench beneath their willow tree. When Up caught sight of her, he got up off the bench and swung his arms around her.
"What's the matter Taz?"
"Woke up... after a nightmare... jou weren't dere. I panicked. I needed to find jou." Taz wrapped her arms around Up, needing to make sure he was there. "Don't do dat. Stay in de apartment until I wake up, okay idiota?" Little tears were forming in her eyes before she leaned in and kissed him.
"It's fine Taz. I'll always be here for ya." Up replied when they broke apart.
74. Ballad: Up was drunk. Very drunk. Taz was almost completely sober. Now usually, this was the other way around, but today was the fifteenth anniversary of the day that Up's family was killed. So he drowned his sorrows in whiskey and beer.
"Hey Taz, I'm gonna go sing some karaoke, you wanna come with?" His words were slurred and his mannerisms pointed to the obvious.
"No." Taz replied simply.
"But Tazzie! I want ya to sing with me!"
"No, Up. I don't sing."
"Ya do when yer drunk." He mumbled
"I'm not drunk, though. Jou are. So go sing if jou want to."
Up walked onto the karaoke stage and grabbed the microphone. The beginning of a cheesy love ballad from the movie Grease started playing. Up started singing, rather awfully. As he continued, Taz buried her face in her hands until she couldn't take it anymore. She finally got up and dragged Up off the stage, much to his dismay.
"What're ya doing Taz, I was singing!"
"Si. And now jou are going to go to bed, come with me." Taz pulled him towards her room. She typed in the passcode and they walked in. Taz flicked on one of the lights.
"Taz, you're really pretty."
The Mexican girl blushed. "Idiota, jou don't know what jou're saying. Jou're drunk."
"Naw, Taz, no! It's true. You're beautiful."
Taz scowled and rolled her eyes, despite the fact that it was warming her heart. She knew she couldn't believe him though, he was intoxicated after all. "C'mon Up, get into bed." He climbed into Taz's bed as she pulled the covers over him. As his eyelids drooped into sleep, he mumbled one final thing.
"Taz, I love you."
64. Least: "Up I can't believe that jou got me an offer for Commander!" Taz exclaimed after Admiral Albain spoke with Taz in her office.
"It's the least I could do. You made me back into what I used to be, not that damned softie that I was." Up said with a shrug. "So, when's your first mission? Are you excited to be commanding for once?" While on the outside, he tried to be excited for Taz, and even though he did recommend her for the position, he wanted her to still be his Lieutenant. The one at his side at all times.
"Never." Taz said in reply to the first question.
"What? Why?" Up was shocked. He thought that Taz would jump at the opportunity to yell at more people.
"Because, idiota, I'd rather be jour Lieutenant. Rising up in de GLEE ranks is de least of my worries. I'd rather stay wherever jou are." Taz explained with a tender look on her face.
Up's face broke into a warm grin as he enveloped the small girl in a hug.
She tried to wiggle out of his grass with no avail "Let me go, Up! Jou're not going all débil on me again are jou?"
He finally released her. "Naw, I'm just happy you pick me over the stupid position."
"If jou didn't want me to take it, den why did jou recommend me for it?"
Up shrugged. "I dunno. I figured jou might want a break, or a chance to yell at more people."
"Jou're de only reason I joined de GLEE, Up. Why on Earth would I do anything without jou?
57. Haze: Taz's emotions were in a haze. Up was her mentor, teacher, superior officer. Yet he was also her best friend, the person she felt closest to, and the person... she was attracted to? No, that couldn't happen. But no matter how hard she tried, she could stop her eyes from roaming to Up's form when he took off his shirt to work out. She pushed the feelings back as a heat rose up in her and tore her eyes away.
Across the gym, Up felt the same way. He couldn't keep his thoughts straight, and he was usually lucky that his words didn't come out as a garbled mess when he talked to Taz after a workout. When she was still wearing the sweat-soaked tank top that clung to her skin. He shook his head as his cheeks started to heat up and went back to punching his punching bag. But as he continued his workout, he caught his eyes drifting back towards the petite girl, watching the way here muscles were tightening as she lifted the weights or started a kick. Dead-god, he was falling for a girl eight years his junior, and he was okay with it.
38. Health: "Okay everyone, grab a dummy and get practising." Up called through the hall. It was his turn to teach the emergency health unit. He hadn't seen Taz yet, and while it was entirely possible that she skipped, this material was crucial for her final exam. After the class was over, Up found Taz in the gym.
"Hey Taz," He started "You missed the health session today."
Taz stopped hitting the bag in front of her and looked at Up. "Shit. Dat was today?"
Up chuckled slightly before responding. "Yes it was. Do you want me to teach you the things we learned?"
Taz looked at him shyly. "Si. If it wouldn't be too much trouble."
"No problem." The pair walked back to the Health room, only to find that it was locked. "Shit. The dummies for CPR are in there."
"Don't jou have a key?"
"No."
"Damn. When's de test on dis unit?"
"Tomorrow."
"Well den, it's settled. I'm fucked."
"No kiddin'." Up said, sighing. Suddenly he snapped his fingers. "Come back to my quarters and I'll teach you."
Taz didn't question him. They ran back to his room. Up cleared off the bed and lied down on it.
"Wait- what?" Taz asked, confused as to what he was doing.
"You're gonna have to use me as the dummy." Up explained.
Taz bit her lip, blushing at the thought of putting her lips on Up. Not that she didn't want to, but it would be so awkward.
Up looked at her expectantly. "So tilt my head back and pinch my nose." Taz did as she was told. The next instructions came in a pinched, nasally voice because Taz was blocking air from his nose. "Okay now press your hands on my chest." Again, Taz obliged, putting her hands above his stomach. "No, here." Up corrected her, sliding her hands up to his sternum. "Now thirty chest compressions."
Taz pushed on his chest thirty times, then waited expectantly for more directions. "Okay, now check my airway for any signs of blockage." Taz looked over his throat and chest before looking at him again. "Okay now give me two rescue breaths."
Taz blushed slightly, but followed the instructions. She sealed her mouth over his and gave one breath, watching his chest rise.
When Up felt Taz's lips on his, his stomach dropped. He knew it was just CPR training, but Dead-God, he could get used to that feeling. She breathed into him again, and then pulled away.
"Is dat it?" Taz asked. Her heart was racing, and her cheeks were far more pink than usual.
Up sat up and ran his hands over his face. His colouring mirrored Taz's, and he seemed rather flustered.
"Yeah. Good job."
A/N: Hi there! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Again, sorry it's kind of late, tumblr has distracted me yet again, and I've been ushering for my schools' production of RENT.
