Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent

Chapter Nine

As the limp body of my initiation rival is cleared from the ring, I am paraded around the ring. With the crowd gathered around me, it's easy to spot the lone figure of Javier. I almost forgot the entire reason I'm here! He's hunched over, fingers shaking as he runs a hand through his hair. I signal to Tobias to let me down.

Brushing the imaginary dust off my clothes, I straighten up and lift my head high. I leisurely stroll towards Javier, glancing round the room as I do. Almost everyone's watching me know. Watching the little boy who's supposed to fight me. I almost pity – no. I can't pity him. I shouldn't have any sympathy for the little snot – he got himself in this mess when he first insulted me.

"Hey, kid," I call.

His head snaps up so fast that it's surprising a great crack didn't resound through the room. As he spots whose talking, he glares sullenly before crossing his arms and staring at his feet.

"I'll give you one chance," I start.

"Oh yeah?" Javier looks up challenging me.

"Yeah. I wouldn't give this chance to others."

"Then why're you giving it to me?"

"Hold your horses, Pansycake! You don't know what the offer is yet!" I snort, lip curling, "So, here's what I'm saying."

He glances at me before grimacing.

"You don't have to fight."

"What?" his response is explosive, "What do you take me for? Some coward?"

"Found your fire, eh?" I muse, "Too bad. I'll just have to defeat you. Simple."

I fake a yawn, discreetly signalling Eric to start the fight.

"Oh," I add, "yes, I do think you're a coward. You must be stupid, too, because that's exactly what Pansycake means!"

This time, no silly 'get in your corners' precede the fight.

"Go!" Eric yells into the mic.

I rush towards Javier with all the speed I can muster. A solid kick to the chin is all it takes to knock him out cold. I straighten myself up, straighten my clothes and nod to Eric.

"Time?" I ask him.

"Not even three seconds," he scoffs.

"Good enough," I acknowledge.

"Zero," he mocks the name, "What is it with you and 'good enough'? When will it be perfect?"

"When they faint from the sight of me," I grin.

"Oh, but Zero!" butt in two voices, "We already do!"

"Ezekiel, Uri-poo!" I smile.

"Zero!" they complain.

"You asked for it," I reply in a sing-song voice.

"Okay, okay!" Eric says, approaching us, "Is no one going to mention the fight? I mean, seriously, Zero! You could have made it last a little bit longer!"

"I was bored at that point," I roll my eyes.

"Only you could be bored," Tobias sighs. I smile up at my boyfriend a bit too innocently. He gulps, a feeble smile flickering on his face. Our friends start sniggering at him.

"Four," Zeke drawls.

"Zeke," Tobias copies his tone.

"She has you wrapped right around her little finger," Zeke cracks up, patting him consolingly on the back.

"You bet I do!" I smirk.

Eric coughs, "Sorry to break your bubbles, but what are you going to do about the rest of the day with initiation?" I look up at Eric, pulling the puppy eyes out.

"No."

"It was worth a try," I sigh.

"Alright initiates!" I shout, "You have me again! Eric didn't agree to babysit you again so I have to waste my time here again. Edwards!"

Javier's head snaps up.

"I don't think that kick knocked out your sole brain cell, so if you would answer this question?"

His head moves left to right. When will he learn that I don't take no for an answer?

"Too bad, your opinion doesn't count. How far along did you get with Eric?"

"W-we learnt the basic moves for fighting," he whispers so low that I nearly can't hear him. From the tell-tale blush on his cheeks, he's embarrassed about the fight.

"I'm sorry, you'll have to say it louder," I declare. Once again he shakes his head.

"My apologies, you seem to be ashamed of you particular… lack of fighting skill that you displayed earlier."

"I wasn't supposed to fight!" He explodes, "Peter was supposed to take your place while you were – "

His lips clamp together, an expression of utmost horror on his face.

"While I was… what?" I growl as I prowl towards him.

He quivers and gapes at me in a splendid impression of a goldfish. I tut at him, still slinking towards him.

"I was supposed to be dead, wasn't I?" I whisper in his ear.

A harsh jerk of his head brings us back to reality.

"Good," I draw myself up and clap my hands together.

I am reminded of the rest of the initiates as a voice bursts out, "What?"

"Yes?" I raise an eyebrow. The speaker must have been Anna. She's standing at the front of them, one foot forwards as if she was going to run at me.

"How can you just – I – "she fumbles with the words as she waves her hands about.

"How can I what, exactly?" I ask, a bit confused.

"You went from that – to that – "

"Ah, yes. You see, that's just me being me."

She just stands there. Confused? I don't know.

"But – "she frowns.

"No buts!" I interrupt, "You will accept my word, initiate, or next time I won't deign to answer."

She nods her head, stepping back. All the initiates are evenly spaced out in a line. It reminds me of something said in history, about the army. A little idea pops into my mind as I hold in a menacing grin.

"Attention!" I shout.

They snap up, backs straight and heads up. Staring at me, I start laughing. Someone else's laughter joins mine as I sink to the ground clutching my stomach.

"She's gone mad," someone mutters.

When I hear that, I laugh even harder – if it's possible. After a while I sit up and wipe the tears from my eyes.

"Worth it," I grin.

"You bet, Zero," the other person voices.

"Four!" I exclaim. I run towards him. He opens his arms as if for a hug. As soon as I reach him, I grab an arm and yank it behind his back. Due to his sudden loss of balance, he falls to the floor with me on top of him.

"Why do I never get a training session without someone interrupting!" I shout.

He winces before saying, "Sorry?"

I glare at him before letting him up, "Sorry doesn't cut it."

"I am most distraught that I have caused you anger, fair maiden," he bows.

"Four?"

"Zero?"

"Shut up."

Sorry Sorry Sorry! Another week, I know :( I've started school again and I don't get that much time. My wifi isn't really working in my room so it's useless. Oh, and I've hurt my wrist so it hurts to type. Wednesday I'm getting a wrist support so that's better, hopefully the wifi will fix itself and as for school... yeah.

Sorry for the rant! Anyway, I got a question about what happened in the fight. Sorry if I didn't make it clear enough. Tris beat the snot out of Peter.

Please keep up all this amazing support, it makes me want to siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

Sorry...

So thanks for being great people and just generally being fabulously kind, nice, brilliant, and any other good thing.

Virtual hugs,

MG