"The loners are always trouble. You know that."

― Alex Scarrow, Afterlight

"Last night I was seriously considering whether I was a bisexual or not but I don't think so though I'm not sure if I'd like to be and argh I don't think there's anything wrong with that, if you like a person, you like the person, not their genitals."

― Jess C. Scott, Tongue-Tied

Chapter 3

The recoil of the gun was expected, but I still groaned as the vibrations made my stomach lurch.

Hax was…still the Great Consumer.

The bastard.

He beat me by 12 seconds (can you believe that?!), just burped and had the audacity to ruffle my hair.

I had to use Lynn and Tris as crutches to get back to bed, which I didn't leave till the morning.

So while I was having…digestive issues, Hax's wrist is starting to scab over a bite mark.

Yeah.

I broke flesh.

He tasted of BBQ sauce, funnily enough. I suppose he really is what he eats.

Just as Four passed, the gun slammed into me again as the bullet projectile reached out to hit the middle ring. I let out a pathetic whimper, making him give me the look.

"Next time you decide to stuff your face, consider the next day of training Valentina."

I grimaced, scratching my temple. "You saw that?"

"Everyone in the cafeteria did." I swear to god, he almost smiled. It looked like he was twitching. "It was impressive. Better luck next time."

"Ch." I clicked and prepared to aim again.

Further down, the idiotic germ that was Peter was howling again.

"Did you guys see that? Bulleye, bitches!" he swung around with his gun just as Four stepped up. Let me tell you, it was unbelievably satisfying to see Four disarm Peter and point his own gun at him. "You think this is a toy Candor?!"

"N-no sir!"

"Your handling an armed weapon. Act like it!" he slammed the gun into Peter's chest. "Get back to work!"

"Burn!" Christina said, as I sniggered in agreement.

We continued on with practice, and to my dismay my shots were never smack bang in the middle. They ranged from mediocre hits in the second ring or a few good ones in the centre to completely missing the target. I cursed my failure and stupidly at that bloody bet with Hax; every time I tried to tense my abs to counteract the recoil, bile would bubble up and make my aim swing.

Next to me, Tris was doing even worse.

"Statistically speaking, you should have hit the target at least once by now, even by accident." Will drawled.

Did he really have to be so insensitive?

"Statistically speaking, you're an asshole." I snapped.

He raised his hands and adorned a dramatically defensive face. "Calm down, Solus. I was just saying-"

"What the fuck did you call me?!" I bellowed, setting my gun down I strut up right into his space. He backed up with panic, noticing how I was slightly taller and fuming.

The other initiates all stopped and turned around to watch. Before Four could reach us, I pushed him to stagger back and followed him. "You wanna repeat that again you asshat?"

Four gripped the back of my top and ripped me back, setting himself in between us. "Hey! What was that!"

"I dunno! She just blew up at me!" Will yelled.

"If I ever hear you call me tha-"

"Shut it." Four snapped, his glare silencing me. "You go at him again, and you'll regret it. No fighting outside of sparring and training. Clean everyone's guns and put them away before lunch."

"Fine." I shook myself out of his grasp, glaring daggers at Will. "Yes sir."

He nodded, and then called the others to stop and finish up for lunch. I resisted the urge to throttle Will as he smirked and joined Al to leave. He was going down.

Tris hurried up with Christina. "Why did you do that, Vallie? What did he call you?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and looked away. "It doesn't matter. Don't wait up, I'm still too queasy to eat again."

She shook her head, as I practically melted at her upset face. "Not a chance. Tell me why it bothered you so much?"

I sighed, answering as I got to work on the first gun. "'Solus'. The kids in Erudite would call me that. Will was in my class before initiation. It…means 'loner' in Latin." At their faces, I snorted bitterly. "I know, it's a pretty shitty Erudite insult. They found it hilarious though. It's a touchy subject."

Christina hesitantly asked, "Why did he call you that anyway?"

I scowled as Tris answered. "He was saying that statistically I should've hit the target. Vallie was just standing up for me."

Christina grimaced. "Shit, that was discreet of him. Maybe you should get some more practice in though."

My mood darkened even more at Tris's defeated face. "You better practice and beat him, Tris. First Peter, now this? You can't let them walk over you!"

She slumped with shame. "I don't think I'll be able to do much better."

"Oh stop complaining." I snapped. Both girls jumped, Tris looking like she wasn't sure whether she should be offended or not. "We'll come back after training finishes today and practice. I said that you would pass, so you will."

I turned to continue my work, but Christina stopped me with a suspicious expression. "Why do you even care if Tris get's cut?"

"Don't you?" I baited.

She growled, "Of course I do. I'm just wondering what your motivation is."

Really? She thought I was going to screw Tris over? I'd probably shoot myself first.

"Because she's my friend. And if that isn't enough, then I'll tell you that I made a promise, and I hate being proven wrong Christina. You understand?"

She narrowed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah, I get it. Tris, let's go. I'm starving."

"I don't want to leave Vallie alone." My stomach swirled again.

"It's fine Tris. If Four comes back and sees you guys, he'll probably think you were helping me and make me start again."

With reluctance, Tris and Christina left me. I hummed and muttered a song I picked up god knows where, and kept working until all the guns were stacked and cleaned. My hands were red and slick with cleaning oil and my nose stung from the spirit cleaners, but my stomach wasn't too bad.

Several more days passed in a similar fashion. Our training was a mix of target practice, workouts and endurance training. Will and I stayed away from each other, while I had minimal contact with Al. The girls would usually sit with them at meals, though much to my delight Tris would often leave them to sit with the Dauntless born and I.

Every time I was away from Tris, I would scold myself for caring so much, but any thoughts of shunning her would leave when she started to talk.

She seemed a lot more open than before, and had a wiry sense of humour that helped her make friends with the others.

Even Hax was begrudgingly polite, whereas with the other transfers he would blank or glare at them.

Of course, he was incessantly gloating about his victory and he knew that I was plotting my revenge inside.

We were constantly competing; who got to the table first, who could hold their breaths the longest, who could run faster and so on. His wrist had started to scar lightly, so Hax was now stuck with my shallow teeth marks.

He wasn't happy with Gabe when he called him pussy whipped.

No one was that surprised then when Gabe woke up butt naked and dyed green in the Pit, and even we didn't dare risk Hax's wrath to give him the dye remover.

As of consequence, Gabe spent an entire day as an alien until finally it would wash off after scrubbing viciously.

Tris and I had been practicing after class in the firing range. Well, so did Christina, but we weren't very close and I only was nice to her because Tris told me to stop acting like there was a stick up my ass.

Peter had for some reason decided that we were on speaking terms. He was a disgusting flirt, and him bullying Tris made me intensely dislike him. Thankfully it helped that Drew and Molly didn't like me, so he couldn't interact with me much.

Clothes had finally been obtained!

What, you think I don't like shopping?

I love it. Too much, really.

But now I have more than one bra that fits.

Hajelluh!

Other than that, I purchased several tight fitting black trousers, a skirt, jeans, tops and a thick black motorcycle jacket, with faded yellow stripes down the side. It was padded and I'd taken to wearing it with a cropped black top and jeans with my boots out of training.

Four was leading us through a fractionless area nearby on one of his outdoor morning jogs (aka marathons of hell). I swear, half the time it was for his own benefit and he forgot that we were there until we started slacking.

God forbid we take a break.

Then by some bizarre turn of mercy, Four called us to stop.

"Did I hear that correctly?"

"What's happening?" Christina said, just as confused as I was.

"Looks like they're just checking that the fractionless aren't causing trouble." Al said.

Several Dauntless guards with guns were talking to a couple of groups of fractionless homeless. Even though Abnegation had managed to stop the policing of them, saying that the fractionless were harmless and just needed help, Dauntless still patrolled the debris of the city close to the faction's area, for 'security reasons'.

Four walked up to one of the guards, who quickly straightened and saluted with a "Sir!"

"Hey, what have you got?"

"Fractionless. Not doing anything."

Four nodded. "Just leave them to it if they're not a threat."

"Check it out Stiff, that's gonna be your new family." Peter jeered.

My eyes narrowed at Peter who had that infuriating smirk on. The fractionless which had heard him, looked away with shame or angry eyes, while Tris pretended like she didn't hear. "Shut up Peter, or I'll do it for you."

He jogged closer and leaned over, which in response I practically hurled myself away. "How you gonna do that baby?"

I glared in disgust. "I'll choke you with your own castrated dick, how does that sound?"

Our group of initiates choked with laugher, and I expected with hope that Peter would get angry. He only did for a second before getting close again and whispering, "You care about the Stiff huh? When she get's kicked out or dies, I'll let you cry on my shoulder Vallie. I'll know how to comfort you."

"Fuck you!" I shouted and pushed him away.

I know, what a come back. Hax would be shitting himself if he heard.

Four yelled. "What's the hold up? Keep going or you won't be coming back!"

Instantly, we rushed back into formation. I made sure that Tris and I were as far on the edge away from Peter as possible.

We lapped back to the Dauntless building to see Eric addressing several guards in unloading a few black vans of supplies. Four called to us. "Ok, you're done now. We're starting combat training after lunch. Be late and regret it."

Myra joked, "Eddie, carry me?"

I heard Edward lean in closer and mumble. "When the instructors are gone, I'm yours."

I wasn't sure whether to balk or coo at them.

I accepted a bottle of water from Tris, who had already gulped down one from the bucket of them outside the entrance. After the lightheaded feeling left, I paced to stop my legs from cramping.

Just as I turned to walk inside, a high pitched squeal caught every ones attention and someone short latched on to my waist with all limbs, almost knocking me to the ground.

I swear, I have never been more shocked in my life.

A tiny dark skinned girl with adorably wide eyes and dirty matted hair clung to me with tears and a wide smile. She was dressed in rags of blacks and other mismatched colours like many fractionless did, and she had no shoes. She couldn't be older than 11.

And I knew her.

"YOU?!" I yelped.

This wasn't happening.

Why me?!

Eric, Four and the guards rushed over. The little girl was pulled away and started screaming, biting and scratching until a kick to the groin and a horrified squeal from the guard that released her let her run back to me and glomp me again.

Eric was seething, anger radiating from him. "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS INITIATE!?" he roared. I started freaking out in terror.

"I-I don't know! I haven't seen this kid for years!"

"Sera!" she chirped, oblivious to the confused and angry crowd around us. I heard Will mutter "Wtf?" and others express their confusion. I looked around exasperated for help, but no one seemed to want to be attacked by this feral fractionless girl again.

Excuse me.

Sera, the feral fractionless girl.

"You know this girl?!" Four said incredulously.

"Well, errr…" I gulped, "Yes… I don't know why she's here though! I didn't even know her name ok?!"

"I'm Sera!" she shrieked again. Everyone covered his or her ears, but since my arms were pinned by her grip, I winced and groaned at the frequency.

"That's nice honey," I grumbled, freezing again when she gasped. "You saved my life! MY HERO!" She landed a wet, childish kiss somewhere between my nose and lips. Saliva lubricated my skin as she pulled away.

A lot of people were now trying to not break down with laughter, but Eric snarled incredulously "What is she talking about?!"

"I err-"

"SHE SAVED ME FROM THE BAD GUYS!" Sera gasped and looked at Eric with wide eyes, as if the though only just occurred to her. "They were gonna hurt me!"

Eric seemed to be glitching. That seemed to be the appropriate term.

After a long pause of just staring (I was very self conscious about that). He looked up and thrust his palms into his eyes, rubbing them. He seemed to be fighting the urge to murder an initiate and little girl.

Four however approached warily until he was within reach. He crouched down and moved Sera's hair while she stared at me with a wide grin.

How did her face not snap off?!

"Sera, is it?" Four said kindly. I almost fell over with how nice he sounded. Eric just raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Can you tell me where you got these piercings?"

Instantly, I snapped my gaze down. True to Four's observation, Sera had little gold hoops rimming her ears like a pirate. She seemed completely unfazed about the question. "Naaaah."

Four raised his eyebrows. "You don't remember? Or you won't say?"

"I don't remember!" She said, turning back to nuzzle my stomach. I shivered when her nose and hair tickled me. A few of the initiates chuckled, but I couldn't bring myself to glare back. I would find it funny too.

You know, if I wasn't the one in this kid's clutches.

Four nodded and got up to mutter something to Eric. I tried to assess his reaction to whatever he said. Several emotions of irritation, scepticism, understanding and exasperation flashed until his usual cold and collected demeanour returned. I gulped again when our eyes locked.

"Initiate, you and the brat are to follow Four and I."

"The rest of you get out of here!" Four barked. Tris and Christina hesitated, but with a weak smile from me they left.

I grimaced as I tried to walk with Sera wrapped around me. "Kid, you gonna have to let go so I can walk."

"No! Never!" I balked as she said wailing and her eyes started to well up.

"Right. That's not really gonna work Sera. You need to come with us."

"If I let go you go away again!" she cried. Eric groaned and starting coming towards us before Four stopped him.

I shook my head and thought quickly. "I'm not going away, ok? We're going inside together. I'll hold your hand."

Sera narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Promise?"

I smiled in what I hoped was reassuring. "Cross my heart."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Eric grumbled when she agreed, but moved towards us more calmly as Sera stood on her own two feet and wrapped her arm into to my and clutched my hand so that we were linked.

She followed Four and Eric as they lead us inside without a backward glance of the city or the freaked out guards left behind.

Walking through Dauntless with a homeless girl attached to you like a tumour while following an exasperated instructor and leader earned a lot of attention.

Lots of people stopped and watched us; a few tried to ask what was up before Eric would snarl at them and Four would grab my other arm to move faster. If Eric had pulled on Four (not gay at all) we would've made a weird human choo choo train.

But of course that didn't happen.

I would die if that happened.

The idea of them together had me gasping for breath; I had to tell Lynn and Marlene about this.

I had no idea where we were going.

We kept climbing floors until there were windows with daylight streaming through, indicating that we were at the top of the fraction building. Eric and Four stopped at a door and let us girls walk into a large office, with black furniture and Max standing by the window. When the door closed, he turned around with irritation on his face, "What is it?"

The man's face went slack with shock, and then suddenly Sera had let go of me and jumped onto the Dauntless leader. I thought I would have to stop him from shooting her until I realised that he was gripping onto her just as tightly and shaking.

"What…?" Four murmured.

I almost swooned when Max pulled back and smiled lovingly. "My Sera."

Eric is so done right now.

God, I had fun writing that chapter. And now I'm really hungry after writing about Vallie and Hax's competition. :L

Love,

Renzin xo