Song of the Chapter: Put the Gun Down by: ZZ Ward
Contingent- Chapter 4
As I open my eyes, they find the pitch black room, the lamp in corner now turned off. The only thing illuminating the area would be the alarm clock that sits on the table beside me, the green numbers read '5:46'. Only fifteen minute before we have to get up. I lean over to turn off the alarm, and once I push the button, Tobias' arms wrap around me tighter. Stronger. Keeping me from going anywhere as I once was. He pulls me back closer to him, as where I was laying half way across the bed in order to able to reach the alarm. I'm not sure if this is instinctively, or if he's awake, but I curl into his chest anyway. I lift my hand up to place it near the bottom of his jaw, right above his neck, and move my thumb across his cheek. He looks so much younger when he's sleeping. His face relaxed without the permanent scowl that creases his eyebrows, or clenched jaw as he bites back words of menace. I realize now, how much him and his father, and now sister, are alike. Though I'd never admit that to him. But both of the siblings have their father's temper, quick to snap, and not easily forgiving. Then Eliana and Tobias' stubbornness. Surely from their mother.
It's not much longer until a voice breaks me out of my thoughts. Deep and rough, "what're you thinking about?" Tobias asks. I come to the conclusion that he was awake before me, only watching. And I strangely don't mind. I shrug, and he captures my eyes with his, and I slowly slip under gaze. Drowning as he captivates me.
I ponder on whether to tell him what I was really thinking or not. But I settle on telling him mostly the truth. "You…. And El" I tell him, and he nods. Agreeing. "How similar you two are," I continue, and it's now that I realize how quiet my voice is. Only a whisper.
He nods again. And pulls me impossibly closer, his chest pressed against mine, as our legs tangle together. "Can we talk about something else? Or not talk. I think I've had enough of my family for a life time" he tells me, his voice also hushed, as sleep is still evident. I nod, understanding why he doesn't want to talk about this now. But I have so many questions.
"What do you want to talk about then?" I ask him, and I move to sit up but his arm wrapped around me stops me from going anywhere.
"Initiation, us, you…" he says, and his lips turn up slightly. Not in a smirk, but almost like a shy smile. A smile that could only belong to Tobias.
I smile at him, and wrap my arm around his torso, and slide my leg up his as I try to find warmth, because it's always so cold in here. "I'm starting to think that you keep it so cold in here on purpose, Tobias" I say to him.
His grin spreads wider, "Yes Tris. The method to my madness is that I keep it so cold in here that you move closer to me to stay warm. Though it is kind of nice," Tobias respond, as he winks. And I laugh. And he chuckles a little with me.
Though I hate to ruin a moment, I have to ask him. The one moment that we get alone, I have to. "What were you sorry for?" I ask, my voice quiet once again. He looks at me questioningly. "Last night, you said you were sorry. I didn't want to ask when you said it because I could see that you were tired. But I was…just wondering," I say, as my voice gets progressively softer. He finally understands, as recognition crosses his features.
"For pushing you away," he says simply. And I expect that it will be all that he will say, before he continues. "I didn't want to have you involved in my problems, and put that weight on you. But Tori made me realize that if I do that to you, you'll only do the same to me. And soon enough the walls will split us apart. And you have no idea how much I don't want to lose you Tris. So, I'm sorry for pushing you away; that was never my intentions. I can't tell you that everything will change right away, or soon even, because that'd be a lie. But I'm really going to try. I can only hope that you'd want to be involved with my sister, and maybe help us…" Tobias answers. Though I'm surprised that he said so much, but I'm glad he did. So I nod. All I want is to be a part of his life, any way that I can be. And this is a start.
Instead of responding, I close the small gap between us as I press my lips to his, and he kisses me back. "I love you," I mutter against his lips before I can even stop the words from slipping out. He fully pulls back from me before responding.
"I love you," I smile, kissing him once more, before sitting up, and Tobias does also. "I guess we've got to get up, as much as I'd love to spend all day with you" he says, smiling as he kisses the top of my head before standing up and going to the bathroom. I lie there, just thinking. Hoping that our relationship will get better.
Before waiting too long, I jog down to the cafeteria grabbing two muffins as well as two coffees for Tobias and I and walk back, eating my muffin on the way.
When I finally make it back, I hear water running from the bathroom, the door cracked open slightly. I smile, as I remember going through Tobias' fear simulation together, how close we were during his fear of enclosed spaces. Though I don't want to leave without telling him, I have to go back to my room to get cleaned up before training. I knock on the bathroom door, "Tobias…" I call out, but no response. So I conclude to leaving him a note. As well as his breakfast, and I leave quickly, taking my coffee with me.
I run back to my apartment, realizing that I only have ten minutes left before I have to wake up the initiates. I quickly get dressed in black leggings, as well as a black tank top, with a leather jacket over top of it, and black combat boots. I take one look in the mirror before leaving, slamming the door behind me. Luckily, the dorms are only two hallways away from me so I take my time getting there, and it's then that I realize I forgot my coffee.
Once I make it to the dorms, I flip the lights on, and about half of them sit up rubbing their eyes, muttering complaints. "Get up!" I yell out, deciding to establish my authority now, before someone tries to defy me. "Be in the training room in fifteen minutes. If you're late, you're out," I tell them, before turning my back, and leaving. I hate to be like Eric, or even like Four, but if I have to then I will. I have to be Dauntless. Once I'm done waking up the initiates, I find that I have fifteen minutes to spare, so I make my way to the training room. Maybe a sad attempt to release this caffeine head ache before this becomes a very bad day.
I unlock the door, and enter, and it closes behind me. I find all of the orange punching bags hanging, and go to the one closest to me. I take it easy in the beginning, throwing only light punches, but it quickly escalates. Not broken out of my trance until I feel a hand on my shoulder. I quickly snap, throwing my fist at whoever is behind me, but they catch it. I finally look up to see that it's Four, his hair still gleaming with water, and I smile sheepishly at him. I hear a few chuckles in the corner, and find that Zeke and Uriah had entered with Four. "Geez Four, get the woman some coffee, will ya?" Comments Zeke, jokingly, and I glare at him.
"I left it at my apartment," I grumble, and despite me nearly punching him, Four smiles at my childish acts. He goes to hand me his, but I shake my head. An angry Four is worse than an angry Tris, especially with initiates that will be testing his limits all day. Not a minute later, before Zeke and Uriah can make any further snarky comments, the initiates begin to enter one by one. I look at my watch to find that it's a minute till seven. And eventually they all arrive, on time might I add.
"And we're off. See you later Four, Tris" Zeke says, now seriously. And I smile a little. But I'm pulled out of my thoughts by Four's voice.
The initiates gather around as he begins to talk. "Today and tomorrow we'll be shooting. Wednesday and Thursday will be knife throwing. And Friday will be finals for both." He says, and everyone begins chattering with excitement. I urge them to be quiet, before Four loses his temper for being interrupted. They quickly quite down. "Next week, we'll begin fighting, and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the next week will be finals for fighting. You'll have that Thursday off, and Friday will be rankings. And those below the line will become factionless," Tobias explains, his voice strong and firm before he directs their attention to the rankings board. The board where I was below the line for nearly half of my initiation. But what Tobias said, about only training for fighting for one week, that's wrong. It was supposed to be training for a week and a half. "Then the remainder of you will go through the mental training. Go warm up" he finishes, before he walks off in the opposite direction to get things ready.
I follow, hot on his trail. "Why is fight training only a week now? Who changed that? That gives barely any time for the weaker ones to develop some kind of strength. It's completely-" I say, beginning to rant as I attempt to keep my voice quiet.
"Tris!" Four bursts, "trust me, this wasn't my idea. I completely agree with you. But I know you can guess who did this?" He's right, I can. Eric.
My features turn into a frown as I ask, "Four, why do you let him have so much control over us… over you… You've been a leader for almost a year now, there has to be something you can do" I plead quietly, the initiates nearby staring at us, I'm sure.
Four looks at me, with an expression that's impossible to describe. "You know the only reason I became leader. To protect you. Other than that, I'm uninvolved with everything. I can't have them hurting you, because of something that I do Tris," he whispers to me, his voice soft. I nod. I understand, but that doesn't mean that I agree. Someone has to stop Max and Eric, otherwise, there'll be no one but brain washed Dauntless left. And someone's actions shouldn't be retaliated against their loved ones.
Four finishes setting up the guns, and shows the initiates how to use them. Only some tend to understand. Others hardly realize what the trigger is. As I walk back, and forth, and back again. Like I'm pacing, if I were really nervous about something. But I'm not, I'm only angry. Pharaoh, Keegan, Kiel, Charlotte, and Eliana (surprisingly) seem to get the hang of it, and eventually hit near the center of the target, while the others take a bit longer only we're only left with Garrett and Addy.
"You know. If you weren't so damn stubborn, and apply the corrections I've given you for the tenth time, you'd be done by now." I snap, frustrated and anxious to get this over with, while Four is helping Addy on the other side of the targets. Though I can't hear what he's saying, I watch as her face lights up and a smile spreads across her features as she nods in understanding. And though it's small, and quick, Four smiles a bit too. I can tell he see's something in her. I was wary, and I still am a bit, of how well she'll do, but now I'm somewhat confident in her.
Maybe a minute or two later, I hear chuckles as the two doors swing open, and I look to find Zeke and Uriah. "Man, the transfers are going to get killed this year!" Uriah exclaims happily, and Zeke laughs with him as he nods in agreement.
"Really though, from the looks of it, you guys aren't doing so well. Meanwhile, the Dauntless born are well oiled machine," Zeke adds dramatically, and this time I laugh.
Four joins us after helping Addy. "Yeah, also remember that this is my third year doing this, while this is everyone else's first. I think I know what I'm doing" he says, with a different kind of happiness in his voice, and I smile.
Zeke and Uriah act as if they're whispering to each other, and I laugh again, and a smile reappears on Four's face also. "We'll see about that" Uriah snaps goofily.
Eventually, Addy and Garrett hit the target and are dismissed for lunch. And Zeke, Four, Uriah and I, all join the others at our usual lunch table.
A/n- Hiii! So this is kind of a filler but oh well, I like it! :D Can I get 10 reviews pleaseeee? Thank you. I don't have much time, but as I promised, I'm going to give you the synopsis of my new story, 'Carry You Home', which is coming out next Friday! :D Left me know what you think.
Four is a husband, a father, a marine, a casualty. What will he do after recovery, when his wife, Tris, and daughter, Brynn, as well as some of his best friends who are temporarily keeping Tris safe while Four is away, are all there, and begging him not to go when he's being deployed again? Will it end well for them?
So yeah, thank you for reading! Bye guys!
