It was ingrained in her now, an internal clock that happened to rip her graciously from her deep sleep of fretting over clashing memories of the past and her weaknesses now, the people she loved. This night, she was thankful for it, and for the warm body next to her, reminding Tris that she was okay and alive. Though she supposed it was early morning now instead of night, 6 a.m. on the spot according to the black box of an alarm atop the bedside table; it's green numbers boring blind spots into her pupils as she stared through the darkness. The only sounds that could be heard were her beating heart drumming in her ears, the faint whisk of tires on sputtering cars on mist damp streets outside from even earlier morning dwellers, and Bethany's even deep breathing.
The blonde sighed through her nose, blinking one long time before sitting up from the undisturbed still warmth of the teen beside her. Iddly she eyed the neatly placed and equally crisp folded clothes at the window in front of her. They were a modest pair of dark jeans, underclothes with the same shadowed tone and a grey t shirt. Not too far from her usual casual style. Silently she rose to her feet and grabbed her clothes, glancing at Bethany as she snuck to the door, shutting it silently behind her and retreating to the bathroom down the hall.
She relieved herself, showered, cleaned her teeth and applied other bodily hygiene requirements until she was fully dressed and satisfied. All within 30 minutes of course. Sparing just a glance at the mirror into her fog grey eyes she opened the bathroom door and stepped out, finding her loyal companion at the foot of the door, laying on her paws and stomach, looking up at Tris with her big blue puppy dog eyes. The woman smirked and knelt down, scratching her nails at the scruff of Emily's ears and muzzle, earning grateful huffs and eye rolls. After a minute she looked up, standing from her friend and noticing how the house was no longer still, untouched and grey, cowering from the brilliant peeks of white gold rays of the sun.
Silently she padded toward the kitchen, the coffee pot on the counter gurgling and sputtering, chortling on water to coffee grinds, the setting on one quarter a pot. Tobias was awake, she found as she didn't drink coffee, and her eyes landed on the upright form of him on the couch. A bit more carefree she walked deeper into the kitchen greeting him gently, "Good morning," he turned to look at her, eyes taking in her damp hair and still tired expression. Slowly he rose to his feet, joining her silently in the kitchen, and following suit their old routine, wrapping his arms around her small frame and pressing his lips to her hairline. His arms nearly crushing her as he was not yet used to his strength in the morning, still he whispered softly, "Mornin'," then he released her, opening the half full fridge and pulling essential breakfast ingredients out. Silently, comfortably they worked on breakfast together, still Tris rushed a bit and nearly cut herself, even though she had a little over an hour before she had to leave for work. Observing this, Tobias sparked idle groggy conversation, "Caleb called," he said,
"Did he?" Tris spoke sharply, body growing rigid, "When?"
"A few months before Zeke called me, told me he'd like to spend Christmas with us,"
"Thanksgiving is closer, what's the occasion?" She muttered, sprinkling herbs into over easy eggs while her brother fried ham beside her. Tobias shrugged one shoulder, not looking up at her, "Said he's got a break from school, and that he'd like to see us, it has been a while, Tris,"
"Of course," She snorted, flipping the eggs, "Always so impersonal," Tobias didn't respond, just continued tending to the ham before setting up a tray for sausage and bacon, placing parchment paper down and setting the oven. After a few minutes he asked, "How long am I permitted to stay here?"
"As long as you like," Tris said, pulling a tray from a nearby cupboard at her feet,
"I was thinking until the next season starts," He said, sliding the meat dish into the oven. Tris paused, glancing at him and furrowing her brows. This was very unlike him, to take such a leave from work. Briefly she pondered if he was feeling well, but removed that thought, and instead took in the relaxed yet stiff posture, straight back and downcast eyes. She returned to her sizzling and hissing eggs, transferring them to a dish mumbling, "Seven months,"
"Is that okay?"
"It's your house too Tobias," Tris cast offhandedly, "but if you are staying that long, I need your help, Eric needs a job and he went to college but dropped out, and I don't know what major he wanted," she explained, grabbing bread slices and cheese, and some of Tobias's already made ham, he smirked at her, "So you need a spy, is that it?"
"No," she said with a smirk, buttering the bread before placing the eggs on a separate platter, "I need you to talk to him, things are rocky between us, and I trust you," Tris watched him nod from the corner of her eye as she began frying cheese and ham and bread in her pan, making a melty ham and cheese sandwich. When she was on the second one and had placed the other on the pan she pulled out she said, "Thank you, Tobias,"
"What for?"
"The clothes, and for coming home," she said softly, looking up at him through her eyelashes. She had missed him, missed the routine they had, just talking and hanging out the way that siblings do. Tobias looked over at her, brows knit together and lips pulled into a frown, "I know," is all he said before pecking her forehead and pulling out the bacon and sausage. Four sandwiches later all topped and on top of cheddar cheese on the pan later he asked, as Tris carefully slid eggs atop the sandwich, "So when does your shift end?"
"Depends," she shrugged one shoulder, "Usually my day ends at six, I lock up and come home. When I have a patient I need to take care of I close at 9, why?"
"Trying to make a schedule, do you have the holidays off?"
"Halloween no, Thanksgiving, Christmas and maybe New Years yes," Tris affirmed, sliding the sandwich tray into the oven.
"Okay, I might start at 12 then maybe after, teach Beth how to use a knife and help Eric with his stances. Have you put him through therapy yet?" The ding of the coffee machine following shortly after his words.
"Not yet," She mumbled, pouring him a cup of coffee,
"Then I'll start at 9 tomorrow morning, and stick with it from there on. When were you thinking of taking Bethany to school?"
"After she got basic training," Tris said, handing him the steaming mug. Tobias nodded his head in thanks and took it from her, pulling down plates from the cupboard and silverware from the drawers. Tris grabbed any of the pans they used and began washing them, "I got that," Tobias said, walking over and taking her position, "Keep an eye on the food," He instructed before pausing, "Speaking of, I noticed you taught Beth to make real tea,"
"I want to teach her to cook," she began, "She's here because her brother is a meth head, and she's a dependant in a broken legal household, she was pulled here because of that. Teaching her to feed herself is the least that I could do,"
"You're too kind Tris," Tobias mumbled, drying his hands and grabbing his coffee mug, turning and facing her just as she pulled the breakfast items from the oven. Wordlessly he helped her make plates for them all, soon taking over as Tris left to gather her work things, such as papers and her laptop.
A quarter after 7 Tris and Tobias sat and ate their food together in silence, well partial silence from the smacking of jaws and the swish of food and saliva in closed mouths. They finished their food quickly, enjoying the old familiar recipe passed down from their grandmother. And while Tobias sat content and full with his coffee cup cradled in his hand, Tris took one plate down the hall to Beth's room. Sweet good morning coos sounded from her lips to the still sleeping girl, her hand caressing the teens hair behind her ear and tucking her in. Promises of a good day curling around her tongue before Tris kissed Beth's hairline, bidding the girl restful sleep before retreating back to the kitchen, the plate left with an encouraging note on the bedside table.
Next was for Eric, Tris silently treading up the stairs and tapping the door with her fingertips. Knowing he was awake she walked in, shutting the door softly behind her and smiling shyly at the tousled blonde haired man who glared at her in a drowsy stupor. Eric was still half asleep, and even better, shirtless. His eyes were still foggy with thoughts of dreams and reality blending into one just as the sun rose over the city, his back was not straightened and he looked like he needed a shower and to shave. Thick stubble lined his jaw and hollow of his cheeks, and his normally gelled hair stuck out in places and ways that made Tris doubt the laws of Physics. Timidly she greeted him, "Good morning," and she got no response, as expected. Quickly she wondered if he was a morning person or not, either way she'd find out soon.
Boldly she walked up to him, sitting on the bed by his knees. Scooting back and sitting up fully he continued to stare at her, and she watched the dream like haze lift from his sharpened steel eyes, and turn into something much more earthly. Though it was just a flash, a quick scope change on his face, she caught the concern on his face and held back a scowl, and in doing so she presented the meal to him, "Here, breakfast. Tobias is a good cook and will make lunch, I've already talked to him about your training schedule, I'll be back home around 6, that's the plan anyway,"
"What could change?"
"I get a few clientele instead of paperwork,"
"Oh," Is all he said, his lips pressing together and his eyebrows sewing themselves together, staring off at the food in his lap. Tris bit her lip gently before saying, "You should try to eat, and get some more sleep, you're going to need it,"
"I'm fine," he huffed, turning his face away from her general direction, defiance and annoyance spreading clean on his features. Tris cocked her head to the side and let out a silent sigh, "No, you aren't, as much as you think you are anyway. Eric, you may be out of the first initial stage of withdrawal but you've got a long way to go before you are out of stage two, okay? Please just work with me here," Tris dragged out, lacing her fingers in her lap and resisting the urge to clench her fists, and make her palms wheeze in agony with red crescent moons. She tried not to get frustrated, but he seemed to know all of the right buttons to push. Or maybe he was childish on purpose. Eric only bothered to look at her, with a somewhat remorseful expression when her weight was banished from the side of the bed.
Tris was halfway to the door when he weakly called her name, and even though she paused at first, she turned to face him, eyes tired. For a moment he struggled, not wanting to apologize for being rude when it was who he was, but wanting to for the sake of preserving her energy and good feelings. But it was Eric, and if anything he knew he couldn't say a proper 'sorry' to save his hand. So he did what he thought was the next best thing, "Tris, are you sure you're good to go to work?"
"Yes," she said hesitantly, "I am,"
"Promise me, that you'll be okay," he said awkwardly, eyes on the floor instead of her,
"So we're promising things now?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and taking a quiet step toward him. He jerked, eyes wide as he realized just what he did and stared at her approaching form, "No," he began, struggling to come up with words to mask the way his groggy state had so foolishly proclaimed, and then he had it, "You've been stressed, sickness rarely helps the sick," still that sounded weird coming from his mouth. However, Tris made no move or spoke any words that pointed out his declaration of adoration, of how much he had actually come to care about her well being. And one curious thought floated into his mind if this had happened to her before, with any of her other clients. Then she did something that rivaled his slipped up words. Tris fell onto the bed slowly, perching on her knees in front of Eric's upright form, only a few inches above his eyes, "I promise," She mumbled to him before leaning down, and pressing her soft lips to his forehead.
Her lips burned against his skin, sizzling and giving him a throbbing skull of racing thoughts while his hands moved on their own, reaching for her hips. They didn't land, however, because as soon as she was there, she was gone, and the door to the room was clicking shut.
Tris descended the stairs quickly and quietly, meeting the gaze of her brother, who still cradled a steaming mug to his abdomen. He was on the couch now, his hair less messy and his clothes had been changed to that of an under armour grey t and some shorts. He was ready to begin the training, and start an early morning run. Tris grabbed her keys and her laptop case before pausing, glancing at her brother asking, "Why did you change your mind?"
"What do you mean?"
"You told me you'd stay for two weeks, why ask if you can stay longer? What changed your mind?" Tris clarified, her expression indifferent, Tobias continued to stare at her for a few moments, uncrossing and recrossing his ankles before saying, "I missed my sister," as if that was a complete answer. Maybe to him it was, but to Tris it wasn't, and though she wanted more she smiled and nodded, knowing that a great deal of conversation and the release of once upon a time secrets would have to be in order. She yelled through the doorway at Tobias, "Don't forget to feed Emily!" and left the house with thoughts of her brother, of the reactions she expected of Bethany and of Eric once she told them who exactly her ex boyfriend was, and what he did. With the self appointed promise of catching up with Tobias, and resolving everything that happened between them before their year gap.
Oh yes, Tris had too much explaining to do, after long years of running from her secrets. She had used her silence as a protective bubble for herself and for her loved ones, but now that her inner demons are out of the closet, her secrets are what could suffocate the very people she fought to preserve. It was when she was walking up to her building door, fingers outstretched for the cold steel handle that she switched her gears. Mumbling a single sentence to herself that changed the way she acted towards everyone she knew and cared for, "Time to go on the offensive."
Offensive moves, Eric thought, were his favorite. The ebb and flow of defense turning tide into something sharp, jutted, dangerous. Like the drugs he had done, life threatening. He stood in the gym on the edge of the mat with his arms crossed over his chest, and a smoldering look on his face. He watched as Tris's older brother Tobias, or "Four" trained Bethany in the ways of a knife. Part of him was pleased that Beth had used the very knife that he had given her, to throw at a board between her fingers and to slash at the air in various styles. Eric was impressed that she caught on so quickly, and took pride in the pleased look that spread over Four's lips when Bethany performed excellently.
He watched as Four commanded taught stances, and Bethany followed, watched as Four perfected her pose, and then instructed she go through the motion of various attacks and blocks in various ways from each position. Four was nudging her legs in place and angling her arms when his wrist watch went off, signaling 3:30 on the spot. Silencing the cursed device Four glanced at Eric who took to doing more sit-ups and pull-ups while watching them. Tobias tensed for a fraction of a second when Eric passed a malicious smirk to his lips while staring the trainer down, still the professionally trained fighter relaxed himself and began instructing Beth as soon as he saw her stance to be fit, "Go through the motions a few times, and use your knife first since you seem to be used to the weight already," Beth made no move until he backed a few steps from her proximity. Then fluidly for a beginner, she went through the pivot as she bent her arm, and angled her shoulders, then went back to her original relaxed stance, and repeated the motions until she was confident enough to pick up the speed, and feel the blade slip.
Catching this, as she jerked and struggled to catch the falling knife, Four grabbed a few of his own throwing knives and stalked dangerously up to her. Beth grabbed her hilted blade and resumed her position, starting out slow again before picking up the pace. Suddenly, just as she was slipping her blade, Four swung his arm in a side ark, casually as if tossing a stone behind him to the side and a loud hollow sound echoed through the reflective room. Beth yelped and threw her blade to the matless floor a clang following like glass shattering, staring at Four with wide eyes, "What the hell?"
"What?" He asked, "Why is it on the floor? Your stance was perfect Beth,"
"I- What?" She demanded,
"You can't afford to get distracted," He says, approaching her, though there was hardly a gap to close. He points to the set target, staring her dead in her green eyes, "Imagine that was someone trying to kill you,"
"But it wasn't," Beth hissed, suddenly upset that Four was seemingly calling her a failure for her missed mark. It surprised him even, but only to a point, to which he saw some instruction was to commence in the form of discipline. He tensed, squaring his shoulders and cocking his head a bit before he smirked, "Okay, test, I'm trying to kill you, what do you do?" Beth looked him up and down incredulously a frown on her face before she said, "But you're not-" Then she was shoved to the mat, stumbling on her feet, her eyes wide and a gasp on her tongue. It was such a simple motion but it launched her so far, she wasn't out of her shocked state before she realized Four was approaching her with his fists clenched, and a dark look on his face.
Fear sparked and ignited, eating up her insides like methane. She froze like a deer, her mossy eyes growing glossy and her lips parting; he wasn't really going to hurt her, was he? Then he was in front of her, a sneer on his lips as he shoved her to the ground, the mat breaking her fall but failing to kick start a reaction in her. Still she stared at him, flinching as he spit venomous words at her, "What's wrong little girl, you scared?" he drew his foot back, as if preparing to hit her, seemingly oblivious to Eric's hurtling form.
Four blocked Eric's poor swing at his jaw and grabbed his wrist and arm, using Eric's momentum to flip him to his back on the mat. A grunt escaped the blonde as well as a small shriek from Beth, and quickly she moved to scramble away. Kicking her legs and moving back by her arms as Eric didn't move, and Four got closer. She screeched again when Four made a move to grab at her legs, "Wait, stop!" She yelled when he did land his hand, and pulled her somewhere far, she struggled to kick and pull away from him, her training for the day seemingly lost for the day, "You scared little girl? No one here to save you,"
"Four you're not serious, right- right?" she pleaded, nails dragging against the black leather like fabric. His answer was a sick smile, and he nearly picked her up by her ankle and threw her to a far corner of the mat. This time she was more reactive, moving ungracefully to her feet and holding her fists up in the wrong positions, failing to protect her jaw and chin. She stopped, noticing that he did too, looking at her curiously, "Four-" she tried before he lunged at her, swinging a fist low for her stomach. She couldn't block and coughed, whimpering at the unexpected hit, he continued and shoved her back. She stumbled less and went in for a defensive stance, fixing her errors and narrowing her eyes at him.
Four placed his left foot down and fainted with his right leg, making her flinch for that side and entirely missing his right fist coming down for her head. His knuckled landed directly at her temple and knocked her down. Hot and explosive white framed her vision as an intense ringing replaced her ears. She was aware that she screamed, but she wasn't sure it was loud. Her head hurt and her body seemed heavier than lead, weight sat upon her form, and she was aware of hands sliding up her sides and around her more untouched areas. Her brain screamed at her and suddenly, color was back on, sound was back on and she could hear Four talking to her. She was also able to tell by his motions, just what he was going to do. Bethany flipped herself, bringing her elbow flying straight into Four's jaw.
Stunned, he fell back allowing her the time to jump to her feet. In a rage she yelled profanities at him, swinging her fist at him and landing again on his jaw, she mounted him, pinning him in place at the ribs with her thighs much like he taught her and hailed down as much hurt as she could muster. She couldn't even see and she didn't want to hear his yelps anymore. Tears fell down her cheeks as she hit him over and over again, her limbs growing tired by the time she gripped his hair and slammed his head down twice. Crying and scared she climbed off of him and ran, slipping a bit on the mat before crashing into someone's arms.
Screaming for a moment, afraid it was Four she thrashed in the arms that held her. Words echoed into her ear canal and she registered the feeling of warmth, and safety, and love. She ceased her motions and cried, gripping the soft shirt that felt feminine. Unaware of Tobias sitting up on the mat and staring at her apologetically. Unaware that her brother was just fine and that the person holding her was in fact Tris, who was on her lunch break and had wanted to check on them. Tris soothed the girl slowly, whispering sweet nothings and safety pleads to the girl, holding her as she convulsed and shook.
Probably don't like me right now for ending the chapter like this, but the next chapter will be a part two. Tobias isn't as bad as he makes himself out to be in this chapter, I promise.