I apologize for my trying to sound like Tris. I'm struggling to sound like her. Anyways, here's this, and thanks for commenting!

Chapter Sixteen:

Tris

"What the hell happened to you?" I ask as Abraham patches up Larkin's shoulder. He just came back from a raid to some underground facility belonging to the Royal army and was shot. I was told that they found him lying in a pool of his own blood where helicopters were launched. No one knew the full story yet.

"I was being a super hero and got shot." Larkin says smiling. Only Larkin can smile when he his having a bullet removed from him.

"No, really, what happened?" I ask. I don't really want to hear him be funny right now, but at least I know he's okay.

"I was trying to get Vivian, like my orders told me to, and I was shot by a boy who helped her escape." He says bitterly, but the look in his eyes tells me a different story. Larkin doesn't lie to me, except in moments where what he says could cost him his life. From the look he gives me I conclude that he helped Vivian escape and possibly shot himself, or was actually shot by someone.

"Looks like she has a new boyfriend then." I say jokingly so that whoever was listening would believe his story more.

The look he gives me is murderous and I know I hit a sore spot. "Yeah, she has someone who can actually love her and protect her." He says dryly. No matter if Vivian was still loyal to him, Larkin now doubted it because there was another boy in the picture. I try to imagine that happening with Tobias, but I can't; so I don't understand Larkin's pain.

I've noticed that over time, Larkin has loved her more and more to the point where her absence physically hurts him. He had to let her go to be free, but that hurt him deeply. Now if there's another boy, Larkin might actually do something tragic. He hadn't had the best life growing up, and one little thing could push him over the edge.

I've seen what has happened to people who have gone off the edge and it is not good. Now I worry for Larkin and his life. He won't be able to last much longer and it might actually end up killing him. He needs Vivian like he needs air, and right now, he's suffocating.

"I met Tobias," Larkin says, changing the subject. "Strapping young lad, but he doesn't have much of a sense of humor. I think you deserve humor."

"That's why I have you; you give me a laugh when I need one." I say, sitting beside him.

He takes my hand in his and holds it tightly. He doesn't say anything and I'm not so sure that there's nothing I could say that would make him feel any better. I rub my thumb over his hand, comforting him with my actions.

"Larkin, she loves you." Says someone behind us. I almost forgot Abraham was there, but here he was, comforting Larkin. It was strange because Larkin and I knew that Abraham hated Larkin.

"Excuse me, Sir?" Larkin says.

"I know Vivian better than most. I taught her to conceal her emotions and she did it perfectly, except when you were in the room. I saw the way she looked at you; there was so much love in her eyes that I could've sworn she thought you put the stars in the sky. Vivian never uses her words or her actions to show how she feels, but you can see it in the way she looks at you. I bet she was looking at you the same way she always was."

Larkin looks down at our hands. "You really think she looks at me like that?"

"Even a blind man could tell." Abraham says. "You're all good; just take it easy with that shoulder."

Abraham leaves the room, shutting the door between us and him. I wonder how lonely he must've been, being locked up his whole life. Larkin told me he had cancer, and that it was slowly claiming his life. There was nothing anyone could do.

"Come on, I'll walk you back." Larkin says standing up. I follow him to the elevator and stand close to him as we rise to the second floor. I've been on parole ever since Larkin got the government to see reason about me. He told them that I wasn't defying my government, but saving the people I love instead. They always have an officer with me to make sure I don't do something like that again, even if it is to save people I love. Larkin is my officer most of the time, making us close. He's the closest thing to family I have here.

"How was Tobias?" I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

"He was wounded in the legs. Never got the chance to find out why or how bad it was. All I knew was he was in a wheelchair. He got out because some insane bastard made sure of it." I know Larkin was talking of himself, and I hug him to show my gratitude. I worry for Tobias, but if Vivian is at his side, then I know he'll be okay.

Though I haven't seen them in action, I'm almost positive that Tobias and Vivian make a good team. Tobias knows how to fight and keep himself alive in tough situations. Vivian knows how to live off of instinct and what is around her. Plus, she can heal almost any injury. I have no doubt that they both are fine, wherever they are.

"Where do you think they are?" I ask Larkin.

"Who knows? Probably safe inside a different country."

"I like safe. Safe is good."

"I wish we were safe." Larkin runs his fingers through his short hair. "They're with the right people. Things are about to change here, Tris, and for all I know, a war will begin. Just be ready."

I am. I am ready.