Between the Shadows

By: Ethereal Fury

Chapter Five: Getting That Permit…

The sun was low in the sky when the Akademy's gym's automatic doors whizzed open to allow a tired Zephyr to trudge out, limping slightly, mahogany hair slicked back with sweat, clothes torn and tattered from the workout, a few superficial wounds trickling crimson blood. One hand clutched Punishment's sleek black hilt, the other held several black body outlines with single bullet holes through the heads, memento of his training time at the gym's sniper facility. With a weary grunt, he lifted Punishment's heavy frame into its leather sheath and checked his watch, his eyes widening as he registered the time. It was really no surprise he had been training the whole day, he enjoyed it; it didn't require him to think, only to use his keen senses instinctively. He would often get swept away by his training, especially on days when he had too many things on his mind, and could spend entire days at a time in the gym with no rest and no food.

Zephyr stretched his tired muscles, trying to ease the soreness out of them. That robot he had teased Reed with, claiming even it was better with the gunblade than him, had put up quite a fight. Well, not really, but he had decided to fight it blindfolded and so it had gotten a few good hits in before Zephyr had let his fighter instincts take over. Now it was merely a mangled metal heap in the middle of the gym floor. Instructor Blade won't be too happy about that, he thought wryly. Or about the fact that I'm bleeding all over the Akademy's floor, he added, dabbing at a shallow cut in his left forearm with a scrap of shredded T-shirt.

Deciding that trying to stop the bleeding was useless, he dropped his injured arm to his side and limped lightly towards the dorms to shower and dress before he left to meet the Boss at the tavern. He groaned inwardly; that meant another night of sneaking out and avoiding all the security. It's not that it was hard; any student of Zephyr's caliber could do it with his eyes closed, it was just tiresome and dull. Sneaking out had lost its excitement a few years back, now it was just a nighttime routine for most of the students who crept out to downtown Zion for the nightlife. Suppressing a yawn, Zephyr tucked his hands into his tattered pockets and kept walking through the near-empty hallways.

As he was about to press the button for the elevator that would take him to the third floor dormitories, he heard a soft voice call his name. He turned around and came face to face with a familiar pair of cornflower blue eyes and strawberry blond hair. "Instructor Blade," he greeted formally, saluting the Instructor.

Instructor Brendyn Blade bowed slightly, acknowledging Zephyr's salute. She was an elite member of ZEG and the Akademy's youngest and most brilliant Instructor, a mere nineteen years in age. She taught Zephyr's Zanark History class and was the Head of Technological Developments, responsible for most of the advanced training facilities Akademy students had available to them. Zephyr knew she wouldn't be too pleased about him wrecking the Akademy's only gunblade robot, but it couldn't be helped.

Instructor Blade stood in at 5 foot 6, with long flowing blond hair with strawberry streaks framing a delicate heart-shaped face and blue eyes a shade or two lighter than Zephyr's sapphire ones. She was admired by many a male student, most of which sat in the front of her classroom and stared at her or followed her around wherever she went. Thankfully, now she was alone; those fools who pursued her like lovesick puppies with blatant proposals of marriage and love annoyed Zephyr.

Zephyr shifted his weight uncomfortably under the Instructor's intense gaze. The fact that she had still not said anything made him uneasy. What does she want? And why is she looking at me… like that? he pondered, raising a hand to tug at the minute scar above his right eyebrow. It was common Akademy knowledge that Instructor Blade had it for the aloof and lonesome Zephyr, though he could not see why. She wasn't his type and he probably wasn't hers; she most likely just saw in him the introverted lonely child she wanted to help.

Since when do you have a type, Leonstrife? She looks pretty darned fine to me, his inner voice smirked wryly. Zephyr rolled his eyes inwardly and shifted his weight again, deciding to take the initiative in a non-existent conversation. "Is there something you want, Instructor?" he asked politely. He knew better than to get on her wrong side; whether she liked him or not, she was still an Instructor and ruthless when it came to punishments.

Instructor Blade shook herself out of her reverie. She couldn't believe she had been staring at him like that, daydreaming. Sure he was handsome and everything, but there was no reason for her to lose her train of thought, like she always did when he was around. A faint blush tainted her cheeks and she took on a businesslike tone to salvage whatever dignity she had left. "Uh, yeah. Um… the… eh… Headmaster would like to… ah… speak to you," she muttered, almost incoherently. She'd failed miserably at her attempt to save her dignity—great work.

"Right now?" Zephyr inquired, frowning. He didn't have all that much time and he had to get to the tavern on time. And with his newly-obtained limp, sneaking out was going to take longer than usual.

Instructor Blade nodded. Zephyr saluted her again and turned to press the elevator button.

"Zephyr wait," she called out.

Zephyr turned around once more, askance and annoyance reflected in his eyes.

"Eh… are you okay? You look hurt and you're bleeding on the floor; maybe you should have the nurse check you out," she said with concern. She couldn't believe she'd just suggested the nurse check him out… that so had not come out the way she meant it to.

"I'm fine Instructor; they're only superficial wounds," he replied somewhat harshly. He really had no time for her concern; he had to go see the Headmaster, shower, change and sneak out. If only he could get a late-night Akademy permit… an idea began brewing in his mind. He felt bad for using the Instructor's infatuation with him against her, but he really had no choice; he wasn't in a condition for the grueling task of jumping the Akademy's wall. Besides, Reed did it all the time; if Reed could charm special treatment out of the other female Instructors, he could get Instructor Blade to sign him a permit. He put on a smile and donned a sugary tone.

"Thank you for your concern though, Instructor. I'm sorry about staining the floor with blood, but I couldn't get this wound on my arm to stop bleeding. Perhaps you could help me so I can be on my way to meet the Headmaster? I wouldn't want him mad at me for keeping him waiting," he began smoothly, holding his injured left arm out to her.

The Instructor blinked, stunned by his change in disposition. Whenever she tried to talk to him, he brushed her off with some excuse or other about training or studying, and now he was standing there asking for her help? This was too much, but she wasn't about to refuse him; she was trained in first aid after all, for the very purpose of aiding her students if they were injured in training or battle. "Certainly Zephyr. I'll need a shred of your T-shirt to make a tourniquet to restrict the blood flow to your wound and stop it bleeding," she said, taking a step closer to him.

Zephyr smirked appealingly and ripped the sleeve of his T-shirt off, revealing more of his well-toned arm. "I like it when you talk all medical," he told her with a smile, handing her the sleeve and making sure his hand lingered over hers momentarily.

Instructor Blade couldn't help but blush as she took Zephyr's sleeve and leaned over his arm, tying the sleeve tightly about his wound. She marveled at how strong his arm felt without being overly muscular… that gunblade sure gave a nice workout. A strand of her loose hair tumbled over her forehead, falling over her eyes. Zephyr reached out and tucked it back behind her ear, enjoying her shocked expression. "Thank you Brendyn," he said warmly, flashing her another smile. Now's the time, get that permit Leonstrife, his inner voice urged.

Before the Instructor could utter a word in response, Zephyr continued. "Say Instructor, I need to go out to Zion after I talk to the Headmaster to get Punishment fixed; that fight I got in with the robot in the gym really damaged the gun barrel. But it's so late I won't be able to do it without a permit, and I need Punishment tomorrow; we have Battle Techniques class and you know how Instructor Volt gets when we don't have our weapons. I was wondering if you would sign me one?" he asked sweetly, unsheathing Punishment and pointing to its gun barrel for emphasis. Zephyr knew Instructor Blade knew next to nothing about gunblades; most people didn't even know what one was, and could not tell the difference between a damaged barrel and a normal one.

"Absolutely. I can still remember how Volt yelled at me when I forgot my whip when I was a student. Here, just be back before eleven or, permit or not, the security guards will make it impossible to get back in," she replied, signing a piece of paper and handing it to him with a smile.

Oooh… a whip… kinky… wonder what she used it for. Brendyn Blade… Instructor by day, Dominatrix by night, he chuckled inwardly. "Thanks again Instructor, you're a life saver," he said with a grin, walking through the open elevator doors and heading to the tenth floor that housed the Headmaster's office. He couldn't help but smirk as he tucked his permit into his unharmed back pants pocket. His ticket to easy freedom. He had looks and charm and he knew it. Maybe rooming with Reed wasn't such a bad idea after all; he had picked up a few of Reed's charmingly manipulative tricks. A spy had to be versatile, talented in anything; no one knew what sort of skills a mission would require.

Charming information out of people and getting them to do what you want could certainly come in handy, Zephyr thought as the elevator doors dinged open and he stepped onto the plush carpet that lead to the Headmaster's office.

Hope the Headmaster doesn't mind I'm only half dressed, sweating, and bleeding, he mused with disdain as he saw the secretary direct him a disgusted glance and speak into the intercom. "Headmaster Rayn? Leonstrife is here… yes, elegant as always. (To Zephyr) Go on in, he's waiting for you. And don't bleed on those leather chairs, you hear me? They're brand new!" she chastised, wagging a finger in Zephyr's direction.

Zephyr rolled his eyes and got up. "As always, a pleasure to converse with you Gertrude. Is it me, or are you even more antipathetic than usual?" he questioned sarcastically as he strolled through the doors of the Headmaster's office.

"Don't go using big words on me again young man!" she called out at his receding back.

The only response she got was Zephyr's faraway chuckle and the muted thud of the Headmaster's office door closing. Gertrude turned back to her desk and began flipping through the dictionary.

***