A/N: Happy 2015! Thanks for all the support, and I hope that you all enjoy this update! Please don't hesitate to leave reviews, message me, etc as it makes me so happy.
"You're late," Marcus speaks, his familiar voice booming in my ear. The sound makes me cringe. I don't have the patience to deal with him right now. The man scowls as he stares over the three of us- me, Caleb, and Tobias- his eyes stopping on the sight of his son. I mentally curse. We almost made it without being seen, but of course, with my luck, nothing ever works out like I want it to. Marcus takes a few steps forward. With every inch closer, it sounds like his footsteps are echoing throughout the room, creating some sort of twisted, ear-splitting song. He doesn't stop staring at Tobias, and I can't find a way to stop my heart from racing. It's beating so loudly that I'm positive that Marcus will be able to hear it.
"What's this?" he asks, finally breaking the silence. Marcus's battered hands touch Tobias's face- to his shattered nose, which hasn't stopped bleeding. Turns out that Al liked to fight back. He had gotten in a few hits before Uriah and Caleb broke the fight up, our groups leaving each other in messy goodbyes. My gaze falls on the boy next to me. The blood on his face makes him look so fragile, and even though he straightens his back and lifts his chin, I don't believe for a second that he is not at least somewhat afraid.
"Blood," Tobias spits, and I almost laugh at the irony. Only he would have enough defiance to state the obvious. To do the one thing that might actually bother Marcus. His father seems to be undefeatable. Everything that he does has at least one person cowering, but it is right now that I really notice how defiant Tobias is. Four, I remind myself. His name is Four.
"Why are you bleeding?" Marcus growls. The change in his voice puts me even more on edge. Instinctively, my feet shuffle over so that I am standing closer to Four- one hand clenched into a small fist. I can feel Caleb tense up beside me. I know that he won't want me starting any fights, but I am beginning to think that it might be worth it. The scene in front of me is unfolding into something that will require an extra hand. Tobias stays quiet. He looks into the eyes of his father, eyebrows raised.
"You're not supposed to be fighting people, Tobias. You know what kind of reputation that will give you and this family. This is why I don't allow you to have friends!" Marcus suddenly screams. I throw myself forward, ready to get involved, but I'm too late. The hit has already been sent to Tobias's face, causing his nose to start bleeding even more profusely. This is the first time that Marcus has shown his true colors in front of Caleb and I. I've expected this all along- but judging by the shocked look on Caleb's face, he had no idea. My concern immediately goes to Four. I stand protectively in front of him, ready to defend him, and Marcus seems to notice. He doesn't say anything about it.
"That goes for all of you, now," Marcus states, staring us down one by one. I don't like the look that he gives me. "-Behave yourselves."
With that, the man walks away, and I am left with my brother and a broken boy, whose nickname might be the only good thing that his father hasn't taken from him.
"You don't have to do this, you know," Four mutters. I have him sitting on the side of the bathtub. Water rushes warmly from the faucet, and I dip the small washcloth into the liquid. It seeps into the material and turns the pink cloth into something red looking. Caleb went to bed. Probably what was best- he needs to relax- to sleep off whatever hell we just faced. But my main concern is Four's well-being. I suppose it always has been my main concern, and right now, I'm finally acting on it.
"- 'Course I do," I say. My cold fingers press the rag to his nose, gently. The dried blood easily wipes off. I hold the towel steady for a long few seconds. Pressure is supposed to stop the bleeding. I'm not sure what else to say, so instead I just look at him, concentrating on the way that his eyebrows seem to crease rather perfectly.
"..So now you know about Marcus," he sighs, sounding defeated. I give him a slight nod.
"He doesn't scare me."
"Of course he doesn't," Tobias laughs, color radiating in his once empty eyes. "-I don't think that anything scares you, Tris."
"Some things do," I say, searching my mind for something that I'm afraid of. "-Drowning seems scary," I suggest, eyes falling on the bath water that has started to pool at the bottom of the tub. Four smiles. He takes the washcloth off of his own nose, throwing it to the floor. I am about to protest but I find myself laughing as he splashes water all over me.
"Hey!"
"Scared of a little water, Tris?" he teases, splashing even more on me. I return the action by throwing it back on him. Soon, we are both practically drenched, blood still pooling on his face. I lean forward, eager to get some more water, when his hands catch me. One of them rests on my waist. I can practically feel the strength that radiates from him, the feeling of his fingers bringing a jolt of shock throughout my body.
Everything falls silent. The water makes a dripping noise, and I slowly lift my head, realizing that we are closer to each other than I imagined. His eyes are only inches away from mine. I open my mouth to speak- to say something to him about water, or books, or blood or his father- but all of my thoughts disappear as his lips press against my own.