Chapter 3: Who She Is

"Tris, Tris it's okay, he's gone. He isn't going to hurt you." Tobias held her and rocked her in his arms, trying to calm her down while also trying to slow the beat of his heart. She continued to sob, pressed up against his chest as she held onto his shirt for her life. She was so scared, she was shaking. At least in her fear landscape she knew it wasn't real; but what had just happened was horribly, terribly real. She couldn't think about anything, just that she couldn't stop crying.

Tobias placed a soft kiss on her temple and pulled her in close to him. "Tris, I won't let him hurt you. I promise, you're safe." He continued to whisper comforting words into her ear as she cried. She was having a panic attack, her whole body trembling in fear.

After what seemed like forever Tris finished crying; she was finally down to a soft sniffle. Tobias still held her in his strong arms against the door where she had collapsed. They were both silent; neither of them knew what to say. Tobias did not want to set her off again, while Tris was still struck with fear.

They laid there in quiet for a few more minutes before Tobias spoke. Daringly he said, "Tris, why was Eric after you?" He braced for another panic attack, worried that asking her about it would remind her of the thing that started the incident.

"You. He wanted you." She said softly. She did not look at him, she stared into the distance. She let her eyes slowly focus and unfocus on some random point. The shock was wearing off, leaving her full of the real emotion: fear. Pure, unescapable fear.

"Then why didn't he just come for me?" Tobias' anger was sparked again. He lightly grabbed Tris' chin with his thumb and first finger and directed her head to face him so that she would look at him.

"He wanted..." She hesitated and took a breath, and then started again. "He wanted to hurt you, so he was going to hurt me." Tris was not scared now for herself, but for Tobias. She was worried that he would do something rash and impulsive, like attacking Eric. Attacking a Dauntless leader would get him in massive trouble. But she was also worried that Eric would attack him and she would lose him.

Tobias' anger was clearly written across his face. His eyebrows were furrowed, his lips were tight, and his eyes could kill. Tris put a hand on his cheek, she hoped that it would calm him down. He seemed to relax slightly under her touch; his face relaxed and his eyes softened. But there was still a sense of malice coming from him that could not be contained.

"Tris, I don't want you by yourself anymore. Don't go wandering alone." He looked her straight in the eyes. He was not joking; Tris could tell by his body language. His eyes were narrowed at her, almost challenging her to not listen. But Tris remembered the last time she didn't listen to Tobias; she almost lost him. She would not let herself lose him again.

"I won't," she promised him and stared right back. She was a very serious person, and so even though she could have made a joke about going to the loo, she didn't. She noticed the little bit of doubt in Tobias' eyes and knew he was thinking back to all the times she disobeyed him. He still did not trust her completely. To prove that she was listening she laced her fingers through his.

Tobias took this moment to study her face carefully. Her eyes were still red from crying, and they were slightly swollen. She had tears still on her face. They left a trail from where they left her eyes all the way until they dripped off her chin. Some had started to dry, but the trail was still visible. Then he looked into her eyes. He immediately got lost in them; he was in a trance. Her eyes were such a beautiful color and they showed so much emotion. They showed who she was, but they also showed the danger of being around her. They were fierce but also soft, serious but also full of love. And that is who Tris really was, Divergent. She was not just one thing, even in her hardest moments. And she was his. But he knew that she would not just listen to him, she would do what she believed in. If she got the chance to do something that would save someone, no matter what she would do it. She put herself in danger like someone from Abnegation would, but she did it like a Dauntless. She would not protect herself. It was up to him.

This moment seemed to him to last forever, but for Tris it was only a few seconds. She was nervous that he would not believe her. She worried that he would still be angry at her what she did before. She squeezed his hand gently and he seemed to jump from his trance. He smiled at her and used his thumb to wipe away her trail of tears.

"I love you," he whispered softly.

"I love you too," she said and kissed him. She let herself melt into his embrace and she forgot her pain. She forgot everything that happened and kissed him, inviting him to do the same. He got lost in her and kissed her back, knowing that it was up to him to keep her safe. He would not lose her again.

They laid there against the door surrounded by each other for a long time, never speaking. Finally after what had seemed like a little eternity, something happened to wake them both up. It was a knock at the door.

AN: Hello! I'm sorry about his chapter, it is kind of a filler one could say. I promise I will up the action, I just felt like the two characters, especially Tris, needed a bit of a break. They needed to just be together. Like always, please review!