Chapter Two
Tris's Point of View
The box is heavy and the edges sting the skin of my inner arms, but it's okay. This is the very last box I have to move into my new apartment. Out of all of the living spaces available, the apartments are the most popular among the Dauntless. Sometimes I miss Uriah, Lynn, and Marlene who chose to live in the large Glass Building above the Pit - that's where most of the higher up members and leaders live. I was expected to live there, but I picked the apartment one door away from Tobias.
Peter chose to live in the Glass Building, and Uriah tells me that they terrorize him as much as possible. That always makes me laugh. I'm thrilled I don't have to see Peter much anymore, but his newfound closeness with Eric and Max makes my stomach turn into knots. Every Dauntless member has their own schedule, but the times when we all gather for meals, I see the three of them basically inseparable. It was a couple of weeks ago when I told Tobias about it.
"Why are they always together? What could they all have in common?" I asked.
He dropped his stack of work files on his coffee table and pulled me onto his lap.
"Besides that they're all psychopaths? Not much."
I smiled and he kissed my cheek.
"I know what you mean though, I've noticed it as well. You have to be really high up to spend that much time with Dauntless leaders and Peter isn't. Not to mention that Max is antisocial and Eris is an asshole, so they're not easy to make friends with. I don't get it."
His eyes tightened in the corners.
"I'll look into it, promise." He said.
With one hand, Tobias traced the side of my face and with the other - he drew small circles on my hipbone where my shirt had ridden up and my pants had ridden down.
I nodded and kissed him.
I drop the box on the island in my kitchen. I unfold the edges and find wall hangings, artwork, and a note from Christina.
To spice up your new apartment. At least put some of it up.
Love you Stiff,
-C
I sort through the frames and find most of the canvases colored with spray paint in different words like Dauntless, Fight, and Family painted so intricately they are like mazes you have to go through to find the word. A larger painting is one of a silhouette of our city. The buildings are all painted black, but they are illuminated by brilliant, white stars hanging gracefully in a sky of midnight blue. It reminds me of the night we played paintball, and I feel myself smile at the memory. The very last painting is at the bottom of the box. The thick canvas is painted with huge, black, feathery wings that span out like they're in flight.
Tori's name is at the very bottom right of the painting, and I'm marveling at her artistic ability when I hear a knock on my door. Tobias looks in and I wave for him to come inside. I need to get him a key. He closes the door behind him and comes to stand next to me.
"What's up with all the art?" he asks.
"It's from Christina. She thought I needed something to break up all the empty space. The city one is great but I think this one is my favorite."
I point to the wings and he nods.
"It's beautiful." He traces his thumb over Tori's signature. "I didn't know she painted."
"Me neither, I should probably tell her thanks for this."
"You can come with me if you want to." He wraps an arm around my waist. I feel his chest against my shoulder blades, generating warmth through my tank top.
"What do you mean?" I ask and he shrugs his shoulders.
"I'm going to the tattoo parlor, and I'm guessing she'll be there."
I set the painting on the counter and loop my arms around his neck. His large hands rub up and down the length of my back in smooth strokes.
"You're getting a tattoo?" I ask.
He kisses me quickly.
"Wanna come?"
I nod rapidly.
"Lets go then."
He takes my hand and intertwines his fingers with mine.
"Four!" Bud shouts. It comes out a little garbles because of the cigarette in his mouth. "What've you been up to man?"
He takes a paper towel and wipes away the excess ink from the arm of a man he's tattooing.
"Not much." Tobias replies.
It's like a light switch with him - changing his personality. There's Tobias when he's with me, and Four around everyone else. Only I get to see and be familiar with the side of him that's passionate, funny, and animated. Even the Dauntless members who have known him the longest, don't have a clue about who he really is. They know Four. I know Tobias and that makes me feel special.
"You needing some new ink?" Bud questions. "Or is it you craving the needle, First Jumper?"
I like Bud. He's just one of those guys that is always in a good mood and has a funny story to tell.
"Me." Tobias says shortly.
Bud laughs and ashes fall from his cigarette, nearly singeing the guy he's working on.
"Well I've got my hands full with this one," He motions to the man. A sketch of a huge, intimidating snake winds up the length of his arm, but barely any of it is filled in. "but Tori can help you out."
"Tori!" he yells.
"What?!" She emerges from the backroom. Several small containers and large sheets of plastic wrap, fill her arms and she almost drops them when she see's us.
"Oh! Hey guys, what's up?"
"Do you think you'd have time for a tattoo?"
Tori's face lights up in surprise.
"Sure!" She motions toward one of the large, reclining chairs.
Tobias squeezes my hand quickly before he strips off his shirt. As he walks toward the chair, I'm wondering where he's going to put this tattoo. His back is completely covered in ink and only the left side of his chest remains unmarked. I know he wouldn't tattoo his arms, Tobias isn't like that. He doesn't want his tattoos to be shown off or admired. The permanent marks on his skin are for him only.
"Where were you thinking?" Tori asks as she snaps on a new pair of black latex gloves.
Tobias traces a long finger along the underside of his left pectoral. Where he marks is so far over, it's almost on the side of his ribcage but not quite. Tori nods as she pulls out the gun and wraps it with plastic.
"Alright Four, you know what you want?" She sits on a stool with wheels, scooting until she's against his left side - gun in hand.
He motions for her to come closer. He whispers so quietly, I don't have a chance in hell of hearing what he's saying. Why would he even bring me along if he didn't want me to know?
"Alright. Here we go."
She dips the tip of the gun into a small pot of black ink.
She touches the needle to Tobias's skin. He doesn't even flinch. I want to see - I slowly walk toward the back of his chair.
"Don't even think about it Tris." He snaps. "Go look at the wall or something."
Tori laughs but doesn't look up.
"He's right, girl. This wont take long at all."
I sigh loudly. I hope he knows he's pissing me off. I walk to the wall and see that they've added several new pieces since the last time I was here. There are templates of eight legged creatures with red stripes down their backs, tribal animals made up of different shapes, but the most striking image is a head of a lion. The outline is huge, but it's so amazing I feel a craving to see it on my skin. There's so much detail - I can see the short hairs of his muzzle, the glossiness of his eyes, and the thin precise lines of his whiskers. His mane is just as beautiful, thick and full, with feathers infused into the hair. Feathers.
"Oh Tori!" I gasp. Her eyes flash up to me, but only for a second. "Christina gave me that painting of the black wings. It's fantastic. I just wanted to say thanks."
"Yeah," She smiles. "I remember that one. I didn't really know what I was doing until I'd finished. It reminded me of you ... couldn't tell you why. It just did."
I smile at her. I don't really care if there was some deeper subconscious meaning, being associated with something that beautiful is a big compliment.
The vibrating noise of the gun stops and the room sounds strangely silent. Tori is rubbing a gel onto his torso.
"All set." She pulls off her gloves. "You want a covering for it?"
"Nah, I'm good. Thanks Tori."
He stands and picks up his shirt from the ground.
She winks at me, gathers her materials, and disappears into the back room.
Tobias comes toward me, holding his shirt over the new tattoo. I want to see it so badly.
He smirks.
"You wanna see?"
I swing my fist and hit him in the arm. The blow creates a satisfying snapping sound and his wince is even more satisfying.
"You know I do, smartass."
He drops the shirt with a smile.
IV & VI
Four and Six. Permanently etched into his skin with thick black lines - right under his pec, right above his heart. I feel my own heart speed up in my chest.
"What do you think?" He asks.
He looks nervous. I reach my hand out to touch the fine hair leading down his belly button. I slide my hand down to the button of his black pants, reaching my fingers to grip the fabric. My knuckles brush his groin. His handsome face is frozen in shock. I stare into his eyes as I tug as hard as I can, his body crashes into me roughly.
His chest heaves against mine with heavy breaths. Sweat is beading up on his skin as I wrap my arm around his lower back, right above his butt. I vine my other arm around his shoulder blades and run my finger down his spine. I hold him tight and inhale the scent of him - musky with a hint of metal that pulls me in deep every time I smell it. It's his scent I crave daily when he isn't by my side.
His arms come around me, his muscles contracting as his hold gets tighter. Tighter and tighter and I feel like I'm being suffocated but I like it. I notice my head fits perfectly where his neck meets his shoulder, so I rest it there. I kiss every part of his skin I can reach without having to move. He shudders against me.
I don't care if anyone sees us. I don't care if Bud tells the whole compound about us doing whatever we're doing in the middle of his tattoo shop. It doesn't matter. Nothing does, except Tobias.
I've known his love for me for quite a while. He's told me countless times, just as I have told him. There is no doubt or underlying layer about what we feel for each other. It's love. We're a couple and he's a man that means more to me than anything else in the world. I love him more than I thought could be possible. I've known all of these things and feelings for a while, so it's no great revelation or anything. But seeing this new tattoo has made me feel this whole new surge of possessiveness. He is mine. He belongs to me and no one else.
I tilt my head so my mouth is next to his ear.
"I love it. I love you."
He turns his head and kisses me. The kiss is so strong, so much, I feel the air being sucked from my lungs, being replaced with desire to always feel this way.
"Let's go upstairs."
I nod quickly and lace my fingers with his.
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