"You don't need to patronize me, Tris," Tobias mutters under his breath. Gritting his teeth, he tries to sit up, but gives up half way through and falls limply back against the bed. I lean on the wall, watching him. Last night he demanded that I allow him to go back to his room, but instead of simply agreeing I decided I would be his kind of...nurse, should he return. And now here we are, early in the morning.

"If you haven't noticed, I could probably kill you in a heartbeat right now, so shut up and stay down," I say, casually biting my thumb. It's true, though. The Tobias who seemed invincible three days ago now lies feebly under my surveillance.

He ends of his lip twitch. "That's kind of hot."

"Please," I laugh, rolling my eyes. I sit down on the bed and lean over him, locking our stares with a smirk. "Have you seen this ugly face?"

"I have. I can't seem to take my eyes off it."

I snort. "You're masochistic," I say kissing his forehead.

"And you're sadistic," he retorts, closing his eyes. "Kiss me on the lips already."

And I do. My lips gently glide over his nose and press against his mouth carefully, yet passionately. We stay like that for what seems like years before he pulls his face away. "Still scared of me?" he whispers softly.

"I might be, might not," I murmur, lying down next to him. He puts his face in my hair, his metallic scent glazing about. I try to ignore that the only article of clothing he's wearing is his boxers. That was the awkward part of helping back to his room. I felt his skin pressed against mine the whole time we walked through the darkness.

His hot breath lingers next to my ear."Well I think it's time you face your fears, Tris."

My heart leaps. What does he mean? What does he want? He can't even move. I laugh half hysterically, my cheeks boiling, and roll out of the bed, face planting awkwardly onto the floor. It's not the greatest move but it's all I can think to do. I'm not ready to face those fears. Tobias' head peeks over the edge, his eyes gazing curiously at me. Before he can ask anything however, the door clicks and swings open. Eric emerges from the outer shadows, a bruise slightly visible under his lips. I internally smirk.

He looks back and forth coldly between me and Tobias, trying to comprehend what he just walked into.

"You're alive," he says icily.

"Apparently," Tobias replies, not bothering to mimic Eric's austerity. "Ever heard of knocking?" His voice is caustic. They stare at each other for long moments before Eric averts his attention to me. Tobias turns over on his other side so he's facing the wall, attempting to appear apathetic. The gashes on his back, though still bright red, look more solid and dry.

"Hey Stiff," Eric calls lowly at me. I'm about to ask which one, but I decide it's better to stay quiet. Tobias doesn't move. "Come to my office."

I glare defiantly at Eric before picking myself up. "Four, don't do anything stupid while I'm gone," I tell him. He doesn't look or say anything except raise his arm slightly and give me a dismissive wave. Is he scared of Eric? I glance one last time over my shoulder before closing the door behind me. He still hasn't moved.


Eric's office is simple. There's a desk, a computer, and a shifty filing cabinet in the corner topped with a single picture frame.

"So what is this about? Another guard duty?" I say, crossing my arms irritably. Eric just shoots me an icy look. It doesn't matter. I'm not scared and he's knows it. That's why he has a bruise on his jaw.

He ignores my question. "What were you doing with Four?" His voice, like always, sounds like a tyrant.

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that," he growls menacingly. His hand quickly seizes my arm and slams me against the wall. The sudden impact knocks the breath out of me, forcing my knees to wobble. Before I can regain my balance, however, his fingers grab a hold of my chin and force my eyes to meet his. He pinches his lip, his eyes trying to search for another way to intimidate me. I don't let him think it worked.

"Who cares?" I spit back. "Just tell me what you want so I can leave."

His eyes are hot with rage. His palm smacks against a space on the wall next to my head. He leans in, coating my face with angry breath. "Watch yourself, Stiff," he says coldly before pulling away. With only a few inches between us, I feel my space being invaded, threatened. I shuffle to the side, trying to widen the distance.

"Listen here. Four possesses important responsibilities despite not being in a government position such as mine," he starts, narrowing his eyes at me. "Can't have him distracted, now can we?"

"Oh yeah?" I say, observing my nails. "What kind of responsibilities?" As nonchalant as I sound, the question has been tugging at my head since the moment Tobias came back.

"He's a Dauntless spy over at the Abnegation quarters." I stop and look blankly at him, which causes him to grin triumphantly. The scars and the bruises he had when he returned to Dauntless were because of that? Fear starts to rise in my back, eliminating any lazy bend. Are they already at some undercover war? And Tobias is aiding the destruction of Abnegation? But what about the whole thing with Peter? What about my family?

What about me?

"I don't believe you," I breathe sourly.

He shrugs, smirking. "You don't have to." He turns his back to me and starts organizing papers. "You'll figure it out, since you're sleeping with him and all."

I scoff angrily and start heading for the door when he calls after me, "By the way, I'm going to need you to train this year's initiates."


"Why did Eric need you?" Tobias asked as I let myself in.

"He said I needed to train this year's initiates." I let the door close behind me, but I don't move a step further towards him. Now there's something unsafe about him. Something untrustworthy.

"Tris, what's wrong?" His voice is soft, sensing my rigidness. I'm tempted by his warmth, but kept back by Eric's words. "Don't say it's nothing," he says, already anticipating my thoughts. I never realized that I was just as secretive at him.

"You're a Dauntless spy," I say slowly, staring at the ground. "You're helping them kill Abnegation."

He doesn't say anything. He just looks at me, uncertainty painting his face. And it hurts.