"LOOK WHO WE HAVE HERE."
Syn and Cal turn to look over their shoulders, watching as Caine saunters into the tattoo parlor. Cain's previously shaggy auburn hair was bleached silver and shaved at the sides, and a shiny black ring curled over the center of his bottom lip. He had taken his free day and gone all out, celebrating the end of their first stage of initiation.
Cal notices Ben step closer, averting his eyes down to his feet. Her blond friend was still quiet, but was slowly becoming more comfortable within the twins company. He was one of the top students in class, but his reputation of being with the twins immediately put him on Caine's bad side. The blond wasn't one for words, so only endured the verbal abuse when the twins weren't around.
Syn looks over Caine with a blank expression before lifting up a newly pierced brow, "Even with the make-over you still look like shit, Caine."
Cal runs a finger under her nose, trying to pull her lips back down to stop the smile. Ben coughs into his fist and turns his head, hiding his eyes under his blond hair.
Caine sneers at them, crossing his arms over his chest, "Nice to see you copying our instructor with the brow piercing, Synodic."
Syn hums, scratching the side of his jaw almost lazily. He looks at Cal and Ben for a moment before shrugging his shoulders heavily, moving his gaze back to Caine. There's a fire in her brothers eyes, but he keeps his face calm and unaffected - a look she knows will infuriate Caine, "You know, that was such a good jab. I think - I think I might have to walk away and recover?"
Caine's jaw tenses and his nostrils flare, but he says nothing. Instead he walks steadily into the room, moving his eyes away from the twins and over to the tattoo samples that scale the walls. Cal rolls her eyes and laughs softly at his anger.
"He tries too hard."
Cal hums in agreement, glancing at Ben for a moment. His hair was shaggy on top, but like Caine he had shaved the side and a silver septum ring hung from his nose. That was as far as her friends body modifications went. Ben runs a hand through his hair and shakes it, moving his eyes over to the tattoo example in front of the trio.
Cal looks at the tattoo that the boys are looking at and purses her lips. She subconsciously runs a hand over the bandage that runs over her forearm.
"Dad's gonna throw a fit when we see him," Syn murmurs, a crooked smile pulling at his lips.
Cal smiles back, fingering the outline of the black sword both Syn and her got tattooed only moments earlier.
TWIN SWORDS.
"Look at you two!"
Syn and Cal are both tugged towards their fathers white-clad chest, he holds onto their clothing tightly and inhales deeply. Cal and Syn move to hug their father back, leaving them standing in an tight and awkward embrace.
"You both look so strong," His voice shakes and Syn starts to laugh - trying to steady himself.
"Come on, no tears," Cal pulls away, setting a firm hand on her fathers shoulder. She squeezes his jacket reassuringly, "No tears."
Her father nods his head, running a finger under his nose and blinking his eyes quickly. A smile pulls at his lips, defining the laugh lines on his face and the crinkles by his eyes, "I'm just ... so proud of you two. You've grown so strong in the weeks I haven't seen you. But - But son, what is that thing on your eyebrow? Did you get taller, Syn? And did you finally gain some muscle in that lanky frame of yours, too? And goodness, Caldera, the bruises on your face look like someone painted you blind. Look at - wait what are those?"
The twins had pulled back to show their father the detailed sword on their forearms, Syn's on his left, and Cal's on her right. Their father blinked in confusing, reaching forward to poke at the fresh black ink.
"Do you remember reading that book to us?" Syn starts, "It was one of mom's."
A former Erudite, their mother never lost her interest in reading. Their father often read bits and pieces to them when they asked, but never indulged too much into their curiosity.
Jared blinks, his smile faltering for a moment while he begins to put the pieces together.
"FEAR CUTS DEEPER THAN SWORDS."
"It's like having a piece of you and mom with us," Cal's voice is low, almost afraid of being heard.
"Cal and I got the same thing," Syn continues on, running his palm over his arm, "Faction before blood, but we're blood in the same chosen faction."
"Plus," Cal smiles lightly. Her throat feels tight and her eyes burn the longer she stands in her fathers presence, "Syn wanted to get matching tattoo's."
"You'll be seeing your families today.
Jared lets out a shaky breath, bringing up his hands to rest on each of the twins faces, "You're mother would be so proud of you both."
Syn visibly cringes, while Cal holds in her emotions better. Though, her feelings betray her when her eyes begin to water. She tries to keep her voice steady as she speaks, but it's getting harder with the accumulating tears in her fathers eyes, "Thank you."
I want you all to remember that you're Dauntless now.
"I'll miss you two," Jared's voice is starting to become softer the longer he stays, the thought of visiting day ending causes his heart to break even further.
The twins struggle to maintain a steady eye contact, both of them choosing to look at anything but their fathers watering eyes. Faction before blood had never seemed so ridiculous to them, but the longer they sat with their father the louder Eric's words rung in their minds. The harder Eric's gaze from the top of The Pit seemed to burn into their skin.
We Dauntless take faction before blood very seriously."
"Never forget," Jared whispers, hugging the twins tightly, "You were meant to be here."
REMINDER:
LAST 3 CHAPTERS WERE DELETED AND ARE BEING REWRITTEN.
AUTHORS NOTE
Yes, I did quote Game of Thrones. But the idea fit the twins, in my opinion.
Tatum and Sonny are still present in the story and will appear later.
Rankings + other stuff + start of fear sim is in the coming chapters.
Thank you for reading!
