The next night while I was getting the sims ready for the morning, Zeke mentioned Tris going off of Hancock.
"Who invited the Stiff?" I questioned nonchalantly.
"My brother Uriah. He said she should have been born a Dauntless." Zeke laughed like there was no higher compliment, and in his mind, there wasn't. "Balls of steel that one! Most of the initiates there looked like they were going to make apple juice on the ledge!" He laughed. "But she, she looked on fire with life." Zeke rambled. "Didn't even scream. The stiff even laughed going down!" Zeke roared in laughter.
'I wish I could have seen that…' Eric trailed off.
Once the rest of the instructors arrived we only had a couple minutes until the initiates were due and Lauren were going to do the Dauntless-Born while Zeke and I handled the transfers. We went lowest rank to highest. I got Tris…as if it was a coincidence. After completing her fear landscape it was no shocker that she excelled in the serum. The next day was a bit harder for her, and me. I starred in it again, and I didn't know what to say or think. So, being the Erudite I decided I wanted answers, and the Dauntless in me was going to get it.
I waited until she finished taking off her electrodes and glanced out the door. No one was left and Zeke peered in and I waved him off. Once I saw the door close I turned to her while blocking the door.
"So…Stiff…care to enlighten me why I am in not one, but two of your fears?" I asked with an eyebrow raised. To make her more at ease I moved away from the door and sat back down in my seat.
Tris let out a heavy breath and turned her stare towards the door.
My patience only extended so far, and it was already twice the distance with her as it was with other people. I huffed a bit expressing my displeasure.
"You're Erudite-born. I'm sure you already have it figured out." She stated as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
"Courtesy dictates that you look at somebody when you are talking to them." I stated as I crossed my arms. She turned towards me at this. "Is this because I know your secret? Because, if that was the case why would we be touching?" I asked knowing the serums don't necessarily show you your fear, but representations.
"Come off it Eric!" Tris exclaimed standing up. "I feel things for you. And you being cruel to me to make me spell it out is a dick move."
I stood up not liking being addressed in such a manner, and by an initiate no less. I sneered in disgust at the lack of respect, and even civility. "A dick move? Really? I went out of my way to try and help you. Things that could cause me to lose my leadership spot and possibly make me factionless. I may not be the most open guy, but that should have clued you in on how I felt. So fucking excuse me if I wanted to know if maybe, just maybe, this could have been a mutual thing. Ungrateful bitch." I exhaled before I stood up and turned to make my way out of the room.
Tris grabbed my arm, in a daring and possibly stupid move. "I do appreciate it. More than words can say. But, I've never had a boyfriend like Chris, or even kissed a guy. So you can't expect me to know what a man's motives are or how to even take a step. Did you ever THINK, 'Hey abnegation girl is scared of a Dauntless guy?' No, so please don't get mad at me because I don't know how to be that girl that you could possibly want."
I chuckled at her Dauntless-like address. I uncrossed my arms. "Just like that Tris. Just like that." I smiled at her.
"So, what do I do next?" She asked curiously and breathlessly.
"Well, if you were some Dauntless girl then I'd kiss you right now with no thought of anything else or it going anywhere. But, you're not just some Dauntless girl to me. So, when I kiss you for the first time that will mean you're mine and there will be nobody else. Ever. I will be a dick. I will be an asshole. I will do things you hate to your very core. But, I would cherish you. I would never let anybody hurt you. I will protect you with every ounce of me. I don't care if you get pissed off on how I did it. But that is who I am. If I were you, I'd think long and hard about if that's what you really want before you answer or initiate anything." I said quietly at the end as I tucked her hair behind her ears to see her clearly, and I liked what I saw. I crave that fire in her eyes when I told her who I was. I craved that hunger at cherishing her. I craved that anger when I told her I didn't care if I pissed her off it protected her. I craved her with every fiber in my being. And when I thought I couldn't take no more I smiled and left her wanting me just as much.
