Tris POV
I'm surprised that Four wanted to follow me, "I can take care of myself you know?" I say when he catches up.
He nods, "I know but better safe than sorry. You seriously pissed Eric off."
"I did nothing wrong," I respond, "It's his fault he ducked I wouldn't have hit him."
Four looks at me, "You really think he cares about that Tris?"
"Yes," I say calmly, "Eric was former Erudite and he knows the law is on my side. He'll plan before he tries anything."
Four stops and stares and me scratching the back of his neck an unreadable expression on his face, "Tris that's genius."
"Thanks," I say preparing to turn the corner that will take me to the dorms.
He stops me with his hand before I can go any further, though, "Wait Tris I want to show you something."
I look at Four and notice he's smiling and offering his hand, so I nod and take it, "Alright Four."
To finish this up I will use my creative license and Veronica Roth's wonderful words because I believe no one could do this seen better).
We walk hand in hand to the Pit, then on a narrow path that leads to the rocks at the bottom of the chasm; it blends in well, but Four seems to know it perfectly. He leads me to a relatively flat rock near the side where the current is less treacherous and sits. I sit next to him and we sit in silence for a full minute maybe, when I realize that Four gives no information without prompting.
"So why did you bring me here Four?" I ask slightly tentative.
He scratches the back of his neck, nervous, "I uh, wanted to, uh, tell you something Tris," he says swallowing.
I look at him expectantly, "Well…"
"My name is Tobias," he says quickly waiting for a reaction.
I pause that was not what I was expecting. The only Tobias I know of was the one that left Abnegation for Dauntless two years ago. I look at him again; he's watching me and trying to gauge my reaction. I'm not sure what to think, I know I should say something, but I can't form words. In fact the only thing I can think about is the Erudite reports. Are they true?
"So they're true?" I ask, he knows very well what I'm talking about so I don't elaborate.
Shock crosses his face, "How-What made you come to that conclusion?"
"Well for one thing you almost asked 'How did you know'," he makes an exasperated noise, "and for another it kind of makes sense. How you've adopted an entirely new name and personality for Dauntless and how you've completely cut yourself off from the past. And how you're eyes are the same color as Marcus's." I finish more quietly than before. Then even more quietly I add, "but they have none of his coldness."
Even now as he scowls and seems to be having an internal battle with himself, his eyes manage to look thoughtful. He then suddenly turns around and pulls his shirt above his head.
"I-What are you do-," I start to say but then I stop when I see his back. All of the faction symbols are tattooed there as well as flames on his ribcage. In the lowlight I can barely see them, but they are there. Scars line his back thin and white and I reach out and gently trace one of the worst. His skin is warm under my fingers and he tenses, but he neither turns nor moves away from me. As continue to run my fingers lightly over his back I feel anger towards Marcus. How dare he do that? "So it is true," I murmur to myself.
"Yeah," he says turning back and facing me again putting his shirt back on. He looks down ashamed; "You probably think I'm a coward now. You can leave if you want."
I look at Four with shock and turn towards him, "How can you say that," I all but shout. He looks up surprised. I lower my voice, "You're amazing Four. You're-you're a Dauntless prodigy. So what if you left, it's what any sane person would have done. Besides it wasn't even cowardly, if you had stayed and let yourself be controlled by him, then it would have been cowardly.
He touches my face gently with both his finger his eyes shining with emotion and he presses his lips to mine. I tense up at first, unsure of what to do, but hen my confidence builds up and I kiss him back. After a while he pulls back for air and rests his forehead on mine lacing our fingers together.
"Thank you," he murmurs quietly, "for not looking at me like I'm a kicked puppy Tris. And call me Tobias it's nice to hear my name again."
""Well you're not a kicked puppy… Tobias." I tell him pulling back slightly to look into his eyes, but not letting go of his hands. 'You're amazing and the bravest person I know. And…" I add as an afterthought. "You're a really good kisser."
He laughs a deep belly laugh and kisses me again, something I gladly reciprocate. We kiss for a while deep in the chasm the roar of the water all around us. Eventually we rise together and walk silently back to the dorms, and I can't help, but think about how wonderful this night really was.