Chapter 1: Welcome to Dauntless

Hi! So as you can tell from the title, this is basically Divergent in Tobias' POV starting out the night before choosing day. Enjoy!

Tobias hated choosing day.

Whenever he thought about it, he needed a drink. And even though tomorrow marks the anniversary of his of decision to leave Abnegation and his father, the memory still brings a bitter taste to his mouth.

"How many transfers do you think there will be this year?" his best friend, Zeke asks while digging through the fridge for a beer.

Tobias shrugs, wanting to move on from this topic and talk about something else. But knowing his friend, the more Tobias showed his discomfort, the more it was pressed. "Hopefully not too many. I don't feel like babysitting 50 kids for three weeks."

"Uriah wouldn't tell me his results." He says. "But I'm almost sure that he's a dauntless. I don't know what mom would do if he was anything else."

Uriah is Zeke's little brother, and he is choosing tomorrow. Tobias is almost certain that Uriah is Divergent, with another aptitude for Candor. Being his initiation instructor, Tobias is more than ready to protect his friend's brother from the Erudite government if the time comes.

"I'll ask him." Tobias smirks. "He's always liked me more, anyway."

"Oh shut up, Stiff." Zeke laughs. The nickname makes Tobias smile as he takes a sip from his bottle. "Or I'll force you on another double date."

He rolls his eyes, looking over at the framed picture of Him, Zeke, and Zeke's girlfriend, Shauna. The two have been dating for about a year and Shauna is one of Tobias' best friends. He'd taught her how to fight, how to master simulations, and even made Zeke realize that the girl of his dreams was right there in front of him. Uriah wouldn't stop calling him cupid for months.

"That wouldn't be so bad. It would be like initation all over again." During their initiation, Zeke dragged Tobias along on so many double dates that he couldn't even remember them all. They'd always end the same, with Zeke making out with the girl he brought and Tobias either being slapped, kicked, or punched, all depending on the level of harshness of his words.

He didn't mean to offend the girls, some things just came out that were incredibly rude or overly insensitive. Zeke would laugh at him every time.

"I'm still not fully convinced that you're straight." Zeke grins.

Tobias shrugs, a smile playing on his lips, the anticipation of tomorrow finally receding, "Neither am I."

Every screen in the pit was all turned to one channel- the choosing ceremony. It was almost halfway over, and in about thirty minutes the first jumper, Dauntless born or a transfer, would hit the net and start the initiation process for the year.

"I think it will be one of yours today, Four." Lauren, the other initiate instructor said to him.

Lauren was tall, with crazy hair and an arm filled of tattoos. Tobias considered them friends, but he was almost sure that she was in love with him. "How are you so sure?" He asked.

She smiled, happy that he was in a better mood this year. Last year, he was a grumpy dick to everyone that even tried to hold a conversation with him. To his defense, though, it had only been a year since he left Abnegation. And back then; talking about choosing day was like squeezing a lemon on a fresh cut.

"Just a guess." She said.

She was right. Before he knew it, a gray blur dropped through the gap of the two buildings and into the net without a sound. No scream, no squeak, no… nothing.

"Holy shit, a Stiff!" Someone shouted. Besides that comment the entire crowd was silent, unusual for a first jumper.

Tobias was grinning. Finally another Abnegation transfer was in this place with him.

He shook his head as he made his way to the net, wiping any sign of happiness off his face. Within seconds, he was transformed into Four- Dauntless protégé.

Tobias caught her before she fell off the side of the net and smacked into the floor. She was frail and bony, with blonde hair and bright gray-blue eyes. Everything in him deflated. She would not make it here. She was too small, no muscle. And if stage one rankings didn't put her with the Factionless, surly the Dauntless compound and it's citizens would send her running.

He picks her up off the net and sets her on the floor. She huffs out a mumbled "thank you" as she looks up at him.

"Can't believe it," Lauren chuckles. "A Stiff? First to jump? Unheard of."

Again, she was right. Even he didn't jump first. And the last Abnegation-Dauntless transfer before him was over ten years ago.

Tobias suddenly felt protective over the girl. Since they were from the same faction, he wanted her to find success here. "There's a reason she left them, Lauren." He called, voice deep. "What's your name?"

"Um…" She hesitates and Tobias' bravado loosens a little. A small smile plays on his lips as he understands what she is thinking. Changing his name was one of the best things he has ever done to separate himself from his past.

"Think about it," He whispers gently to her. "You don't get to pick again."

A new place. A new name. You can be remade here. Those were the same words that his initiation instructor, Amar said to him. He would never forget it.

"Tris." The girl says firmly.

Tobias wanted to smile, the name fitted her well.

"Tris," Lauren repeats, grinning. "Make the announcement, Four."

"First jumper- Tris!" He yells across the room. The crowd cheers and pumps their fist in the air as another person drops into the net with a scream.

He sets his hand on Tris' lower back instinctively and says, "Welcome to Dauntless."