Through the hole Four could see a small figure falling through the air. But Marlee can't be that little.
She landed, and bounced in the net a few times. She had big brownish-green eyes and long blonde hair. Four helped her out of the net.
"Name," he plainly stated.
A look of confusion crossed the girl's face. "What?"
"Name. What is your name? Pick carefully, you only get to choose once."
"Oh. Er… I'm Bea— no, I'm Tris."
"Beatrice?" he asked. Beatrice Prior. Four only remembered seeing her and her brother as children.
"No. Just Tris."
"Well then, Just Tris, go over there while I help other initiates out."
She walked away, and she wanted to roll her eyes at him. He was just too intimidating, plus she was too worried that people would think her real name was "Just Tris." She decided that at some point she would show him she wasn't scared. That he was just an easy obstacle.
Four helped Marlee out of the net. "I told you to go first."
Marlee half smiled. "She just stepped right up there. And that Eric guy kept yelling at her to get it over with, so I wasn't going to put up a fight."
"Well, next time, put up a fight."
Marlee shook her head, but she followed her brothers finger and walked over to Tris.
"I'm Marlee," she smiled. "What's your name?"
Tris was jealous. How could she just talk to him like that? "I'm Tris," was all she said.
"Cool," Marlee smiled. "You nervous or excited?"
"Both," Tris didn't want to talk to this girl.
Marlee turned and watched the boy help everyone else out of the net.
Tris was curious. Now she wanted to talk to this girl.
"How do you know him, Marlee?"
"Oh, Tob— Four? He's my brother."
"Interesting. You said his name was Four?"
"Yep, he only has four fears."
"I see."
And that was the end of the conversation. Marlee didn't seem interested, which didn't bother Tris.
"Alright initiates, this way. Come with Eric and I," Four said, which made Eric half smile.
"You're good with them, Four. You should really stick with them the whole time."
"I don't need any 'words of wisdom' from you right now, Eric."
"Fine, I was only trying to make friends."
"Oh please," Four waved him away. He and Eric never really talked, and when they did the conversations were not pleasant. One person always blowing off the other. Once, Four had tried to befriend Eric, but Eric wouldn't have it, claiming Four was selfish and not the least bit brave. Eric said it was plain and clear why Four left Abnegation, but no one knew why he came to Dauntless.
But that was two years ago, when they first met.
Initiation. Marlee is going to have to fight someone. This cannot be happening.
"I have to go. Computer stuff…."
"Right. I guess you're still that coward I knew before," Eric smirked.
Four didn't seem to notice and left. He passed Marlee on the way, but didn't acknowledge her touching his arm, or the questioning look on her face. He knew he let her down. He told her he would be there. She knew he would protect her from harm if he were there. She knew if he wasn't there anything could happen. But he couldn't bear to see her hurt.
Marlee decided she had no choice but to follow her brother. She knew it was dangerous, she was aware of the trouble she could get in. She cared about her brother more than whether she had a faction to call home or not.
Marlee turned to go, but someone grabbed her arm.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a woman with dark hair said.
"I have to see my brother! I need h—"
"No, you could become factionless because of that one action."
Marlee considered this. She knew that would have happened, but it wasn't like she really cared. She needed her brother more than anything. That's her point! I need my brother more than anything, and if I became factionless then I wouldn't be able to see him anymore.
"Fine. Okay. Whatever," it was like Marlee was talking to her father.
"I'm Tori. I'm the tattoo artist here."
"I'm Marlee. I'm nothing here."
"Not yet, Marlee. I think you have some potential. Now get over there so we don't get in trouble."
"Bye, Tori."
"See you later."
Just then Marlee noticed something. She hadn't helped that boy who had fallen down earlier. She hadn't even noticed until she practically tripped over him. I'm no longer Abnegation! I can feel it. She was proud. It meant she was less like her father.
—
Four sat down on his bed. He knew he couldn't see Marlee hurt, but she needed him. He saw the way she looked at him when he left her. He knew he would have to go back at some point, so why not now?
He changed his clothes and put on a sweatshirt. He opened the door of his room and made his way through the labyrinthine hallways to where the initiates would fight. Four probably missed the introduction, but that part really didn't matter to anyone.
As soon as Four got there he noticed that Marlee was on the mat throwing a punch at Tris. This wasn't good. My two favorite initiates are fighting. Then he realized he said Marlee and Tris were is favorite initiates, not just Marlee. Four found this weird, he didn't even know anything about her. He did know she was extremely pretty and kind of short. And when she fought she seemed like she wanted to kill someone.
Marlee's nose began to bleed, and Tris was holding her stomach. Four wished he could stop them.
"Stop," surprisingly, the word came from Eric instead of Four. "I can't watch you go at it for any longer. This has been taking forever."
"Does that mean we're done?" Marlee was practically whispering.
"Does 'stop' mean something else?"
Marlee and Tris walked off the mat together. Four walked over to them.
"Nice job, Marlee. Nice job, Just Tris," he put a hand on Marlee's shoulder.
"Couldn't go any longer." Marlee whined.
Four smiled. He had missed Marlee so much, and even though she and Tris had just practically fought to the death, he was grateful she came back to him.