Tobias POV
I wake up wrapped up in Tris, our limbs tangled together as if someone dared to pull us apart. I push her hair out of her face, and gently kiss her cheek careful not to wake her, she stirs slightly before awakening with sleepy eyes, starting directly into mine. There goes not waking her.
"Good morning." She says softly.
Before I have time to reply the doctor walks in. When he sees us still tangled in each other he looks at the floor until we have separated ourselves from each other.
"Hello Dr. Teller." Tris says next to me.
"Hello Tris. Sorry I haven't been to see you yet, I've been so busy. The nurses reassured me you were being well taken care of."
"That I have, and I don't like it. When can I leave?"
"Well, that's exactly what I came to talk about. I have your release papers here. You're all good to go. Nurses said the healing salve is working wonders."
I can't help but smile when I look at Tris, she is glowing with happiness. I only hope it lasts, she deserves it after all she's been through. We deserve it.
"I only ask you come for a follow up in a couple of weeks to make sure everything is looking ok." Dr. Teller says kindly.
"What if I go into the city? Can I just to a doctor out there?"
Dr. Teller nods and then he exits the room. I raise my eyebrows and turn to look at Tris.
"Go into the city? You want to go within the next 2 weeks" I ask.
"Yeah, there's nothing here except for Uriah. And as soon as he wakes up you know he's not going to want to be out here." She replies
"Okay, but he's not awake yet. So what's the rush?" I ask suspiciously
"Tobias. I want to be a dauntless leader. For that to actually happen I need to be with my faction.
I sit there, stunned. Tris actually wants to be a leader? Why? She turned down the offer when Tori, her and I were first elected. Tori. I feel a tug at my heart when I think of her. I never realized what a good of friend she always was to me and Tris.
"Are you mad? I was thinking about it last night and it's what I want but I hadn't considered what you wanted." She says anxiously.
"I'm not mad at all, Tris. I was just surprised that's all. I underestimate you too much."
"Yeah, it's a bad habit you've got." She smirks nudging me with her elbow.
"Alright, well when do you want to go?" I ask.
"Well, tonight. I want to go tell Zeke and Chris, see Uriah. We don't have anything here of our own except for our guns. And I don't want those, we have plenty at dauntless compound."
Once we stop by and tell Zeke, Christina decides to join us. Zeke says he will come as soon as Uriah wakes up. People have been driving others into the city for the past week so finding a ride is easy. Once we get inside the fence there is a silence in the truck. For all the people lost in the recent months.
When we get into dauntless we head to the pit knowing that's where everyone would be at this time of night, and find everyone. So many less then there were before, I look into the crowd searching, for what I don't know. And then it hits me, I'm looking for Tori, Lynn, Marlene, even Eric. Then I remember all the changes that have happened, all the people we lost.
Shauna comes over to greet us, and that's when the rest of dauntless notice us and they all start surrounding us. Nodding at us, but they all remain silent. When I meet eyes with people I see respect and sadness.
I don't know where it starts but I hear it. Coming from one voice, and then two, and then everyone is yelling it. My heart rate picks up as I realize what it is, the dauntless manifesto. I don't remember joining in, but my throat burns because I am yelling it, and when I turn to see Tris, she is also chanting it. We keep chanting, until our throats are raw. That was not just words, but a promise to ourselves and to each other, that no matter what, we will never stray from these values again. We will never have another leader like Max, or Eric, who let us become slaves. We will be brave but we will be kind. We will be free but not irresponsible.
When everyone breaks apart, we all stay in the pit. Drinking, exchanging conversation. Christina, Tris and I are in the corner talking when Elena approaches. She's tall, and thin. Light skin, and dark black hair, stopping just at her shoulders. She has big brown eyes and walks in an almost arrogant manner.
"Hello Four." She says before turning to Tris.
"You must be Tris, I've heard so much about you, from, well- everyone. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm sure Tobias told you was elected as the third leader."
"Hello, Elena, right? It's nice to meet you too."
They exchange an awkward handshake before Elena turns to someone calling to her, she turns back to us smiles and then walks off.
"I'd like to go to bed, it's been a long day." Tris says.
"What's wrong? Don't want to stay here get a little drunk, maybe play some Candor or Dauntless?" I reply smirking at her.
She's about to retort something sarcastic back when her face hardens. I look over my shoulder to see Peter approaching me. I forgot to tell her he reset himself.
"Hello Four, Tris." Peter smiles, too kindly at her for my liking.
"What do you want?" she replies sardonically
A look flashes across his face, a look of hurt. Before he says anything I explain to her, and her face softens but she still has a guard up. He smiles again and leans forward kissing her cheek, and whispering something into her ear. I am too shocked to register what happens, and he's gone before I get the chance to chase him down. When I look at her I don't see anger, but surprise and she's blushing.
"Tris, what is wrong with you? " I shout.
"Peter just kissed your cheek, and you're blushing like a little school girl."
"Tobias, you just explained to me that the peter I knew is long gone. I'm not blushing because I liked it, you know how I feel about affection. I was surprised and embarrassed."
I storm off before I say anything stupid, and I find myself in the tattoo parlor. Then I have to remind myself Tori's not here to give me guidance or to calm me down. I sit in the chair where she once tattooed my whole back, and slowly drift off.