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The last thing Issy remembers once she had swung herself up to the top bunk was thinking that she was finally home.
The clanking of metal against metal awoke the initiates the next morning. Groans and grumbles came from nearly every mouth. Issy sat up slightly, looking at the top of Four's head as he scanned the room.
"Be at the Pit, ten minutes." Four called out. Every initiate groggily started to get ready, the only ones that seemed unaffected was those who transferred from Amity including Noah.
"How are you so awake right now?" Cody squinted at them, blindly searching for his top.
"It was normal to sometimes be up at the crack of dawn to do chores or help in the fields when it came to harvest." Noah said.
"I would have thought a nose like you would have already known that but I guess that's why you're not Erudite anymore." Kayden, a broad Amity, barged into Cody's shoulder on his way to the door followed by his minions. Cody scowled and flipped him off.
"Hey, don't worry 'bout him." Noah placed a hand on Cody's shoulder with a grim smile. "Ever since we were little there's always been something wrong with him. He'd get into fights and have peace serum injected into him daily."
"Sounds like a lovely guy." Alec remarked as he jumped up and down to get into his jeans. Bree gave him an incredulous look. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Alec's a bit podgy." Issy grinned when Alec flicked a 'V' in her direction.
"C'mon. Don't want to be late on the first day."
Jogging into the Pit they actually found themselves to be the first transfers there. Confused, they walked to where the Dauntless borns sat. Lilah noticed them coming in and waved them over.
"Hey girl, who's that with ya?" Lilah was leaning against another girl with vibrant red, yellow and orange layered hair.
"Hey chick, this is Bree, Cody and Noah." Lilah smirked at the nickname. She turned to her friends.
"Guys you remember first and second jumper right?" Hector laughed while a boy next to him pointed at Alec and then to Issy. "Back-flipper and Sass queen. Luke by the way." He winked in Issy's direction, making her roll her eyes. "This is Sam and Flare." The boy next to Hector waved and Flare grinned and saluted them. Flare opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by Four.
"Alright Initiates! Gather round." He walked over from where he stood with Eric and two other instructors. "There are two stages of training. The first is physical which is made up of fitness, combat and weapons training. The second is metal. You'll face your worst fears and work to overcome them. In the first stage you'll be trained separately and trained together in the second. You'll be ranked together from stage one." Four gazed at each individual, pinning the words with his eyes. "The rankings," he said while pointing to the board behind him. Our names were placed at what number we jumped at. "will determine what jobs will be available to you once you're in. Leadership, Patrol, guarding the Fence."
"The rankings will also determine who gets cut." Eric seems bored as looks over at them.
"Cut?" Zara, a small Amity stuttered.
Eric rolled his eyes as if the answer was obvious. "The lowest scoring initiates will be leaving us at the end of each stage. As you can see there are nineteen of you so that'll be five after stage one. After stage two, the lowest will stay until the final test and cut afterwards."
"To do what?" Zara recoiled back when Eric glared at her.
"Seeing as you can't go back to your families, you'll live Factionless. You chose us and now we choose you."
"Dauntless borns are going with Lauren and Lynn, you'll be practicing combat and throwing knives. Transfers, you'll be coming with us to the roof to start with the basics of shooting. Then after lunch we'll swap over."
After Four showed the initiates the stance when shooting, how to pull apart a gun, put it back together and reload it he allowed them to practice shooting at targets. Some initiates took longer to get the hang of it than others. Now and the either Four or Eric would go round adjusting their stances. It didn't take long before the twins turned it into a small competition of sorts. Each round they would pick a target and shoot at it repeatedly until they both hit the centre. This got some questioning and amused looks from their instructors as Issy cursed at her brother, which was more often than not as Alec had hit the centre quicker more times than she had. To the side of them, their friends laughed and shook their heads at their behaviour.
"Dammit!" Issy swore again when Alec hit the centre first.
"Alright!" Eric called out. "Time for lunch. I want the guns unloaded and placed on this table before you go down." Nobody moved and Issy was too busy glaring holes into her brothers smug head. "Well?" they all jumped into action and sped to the table in front of him. By the time the twins got to the table, most of the initiates had gone down to lunch. In a sulk, she unloaded her gun.
"Are you okay Issy?" Bree asked when Issy moved out of the way to let her to the table.
"She's just pissy that she lost." Alec grinned as he finished up, letting Noah take his place. Alec patted Issy on the check mockingly. "Don't worry sis, there's always next time." Issy's eyes narrowed at Alec then she looked over to where Four and Eric stood talking quietly and pushed him ever so subtly into the table corner with enough power for it to hurt. Taken by surprise by the action, Alec fell to the ground, groaning on impact.
"What happened here?" Eric's voice boomed when he reached the group with Four on his heels.
Issy fiend innocence by shrugging her shoulders. "I think he walked into the table sir." When Alec looked up from the ground she quickly moved her hands, signing a few words. 'Leader's office, birthday suit, tell everyone.' Alec's eyes widened a little bit in understanding.
"I didn't see where I was going when I walked into it." Eric cocked an eyebrow, not believing anything but left it be for now.
"Go to lunch initiates."
Lunch went smoothly, or as smooth as it can go in Dauntless. They were joined by Lilah, Luke, Flare, Sam and Hector. They laughed and joked about the people they've pranked, most of which were their older siblings. It was about half way through lunch when Declan and another Dauntless member, who was introduced as Zeke sat down, each pushing Hector and Alec to make more room.
"So, I heard someone lost a small contest this morning." Declan raised his eyebrows at his younger siblings. Alec immediately started beaming while Issy glared at both of her brothers.
"How?"
"Zeke saw it in the control room and Eric asked if he needed to expect you both making everything into a competition. When I asked why he explained that you challenged each other to hit the targets the quickest. And I understand someone got annoyed 'cause she lost and pushed her bother into the edge of the table." Declan smirked at someone behind her and her stomach dropped when they spoke.
"Don't forget she also threaten her brother in sign language." Eric's voice rumbled from behind her. Issy cringed slightly from being caught and looked up at him. "My next question is why are the words 'leader's office and birthday suit' enough to make him lie to a leader?" Eric moved to the end of the table so he could clearly see both sides. "Would you like to elaborate on that initiate?" He looked down at Issy with a hint of smug amusement in his eyes.
"Uhhh, funny story actually and – Ouch!" Issy threw a dirty look at Alec and rubbed her shin.
"No." Alec stated firmly. "No. Tell another story, not that one."
"Alec," Issy lowered her voice even though she was fully aware the whole table could still hear her clearly despite the loud atmosphere. "I am not about to defy someone who I know probably has the power to kick me out of Dauntless." The twins glared at each other for a moment, neither of them backing down. Issy raised an eyebrow daring him to say something but Alec sighed and motioned her to continue. She grinned at her small victory.
"I think it was a few months before Hugo left Erudite and somehow, I cant quite remember how, but we managed to get Alec to say who he lost his virginity to and it turned out to be Jeanine's personal assistant –"
"Wait, Sophie? You banged Sophie?!" Cody looked at Alec flabbergasted but almost impressed.
"Damn right I did boi." Alec smirked.
"As I was saying," she glared at her friend. "it turned out to be Sophie. Hugo worked his magic and got a hold of several bottles of whiskey to celebrate. And, well, we got a bit pissed. Everything was funny and Alec thought it would be a good idea to visit Sophie, who would have been in her office working at the time."
"Oh God, I know where this is going. . ." Declan looked at Alec with sympathy.
"We don't so carry on." Hector said eagerly, eyes wide with excitement and Issy looked at him knowingly. They both understood the fun embarrassing their siblings brings.
"He also thought it would be a good idea to strip into nothing on the way to give her a real surprise. And he did, but not in the way he expected." Issy tried not to take too much joy out of Alec blushing but she couldn't help herself. "In his drunken haze he didn't pay attention to the doors and just sneaked in." Cody choked as he realised where this was going. "I have to say, Jeanine was definitely surprised to find a naked Alec pressed up against her." The table burst into snickers. Alec had his hands pressed into his face, mumbling insults at them. Issy turned to Eric and was taken by surprise to find him smiling widely. 'He looks so fucking cute when he smiles like that.' She had to pause momentarily. 'Wait, what?' She shook her head and grinned up at the Dauntless leader. "Just as a precaution, lock your office door."
"I hate you all." Alec continued to utter insults into his hands.
"I understand now why I have to watch out for you..." Zeke looked at Issy thoughtfully.
"Why only me? Alec is just as bad when he's not blushing." She looked from Zeke to Declan in question.
"I told all of my friends to watch out for any of your pranks now that Max gave you permission."
Alec gasped dramatically. "Wait, you have friends?!" Declan turned to Alec, scowling.
"Don't try to change the subject. What you did was hilarious but nice try though."
"But why even say anything at all? Where's the fun in that?" Issy looked honestly confused and slightly offended.
"Iss, has anyone ever told what an evil bitch you are?"
"No because I'm not evil –"
"You are!" Declan threw his hands up into the air. They were both too into it to noticed Max and Four had joined Eric at the end of the table and were smirking.
"I like watching people squirm 'cause its funny –"
"Evil –"
"– There's a difference between being evil and watching people squirm –"
"There really isn't –"
"– There's a difference somewhere down the line, however small it may be, there's a difference!"
"But there's not though..."
"Dammit Declan! Just shut up!" They glared at each, having a silent shouting match through raised eyebrows, smirks and head tilts.
"If you've both finished," Four cuts through. "training starts in a few minutes." The initiates sighed quietly and got up, they were enjoying the argument, however stupid it seemed. Issy looked away and got up too.
"Ha! I win." Declan grins as he fist pumps the air, doing a small dance of victory.
"Room twenty-three B, floor six." Her lips twitch in the corners of her mouth when Declan freezes, looking up at Issy almost desperately.
"Do you know how much I love you and would do anything for you?"
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
KJewel: Thanks for that awesome review! A some point they'll prank Eric but I think it'll be better to wait to make the more obvious ones until after Initiation ;) I think the main targets will be Declan mostly and maybe Four. If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them!
Honey12bee: Thanks! Honestly I didn't think how I wrote it made sense but thank you all the same :