Red's POV
Red stood in the Pit with the people he's been friends with for years. Clark was a cousin or some kind of relation a few years older than him. They never really talked much until Red join the squad during the time that Harrison was their captain. Red and Clark grew close during training and even closer when Clark's younger brother left Dauntless because he wasn't happy with where the Leaders where taking the faction. Zack, Clark's brother, left Dauntless by choice, even after he had worked so hard to pass initation. Red was also one of the squaddies that recommended Clark to take over as Captain when Harrison was leaving for Leadership.
Billy had also been in Harrison's squad before Red had joined. Before Red got to know him, Billy always seemed cold and reserved. After Red got to know Billy, he realised there was a reason for that. Too many people had used him, making him closed off but once Red and a few others cracked him open they realised he just had a dark sense of humour, often rather sadistic to people he doesn't know, pushing them away. Although once he was cracked open there was no closing him. He is loyal and caring – in his own brutal and sarcastic way – and protective. It was always other people cracking him open not Billy opening by his own wishes, until Rainbow joined the squad.
He remembers the day well. He remembers her initiation well. She was the only Amity in a sea of Erudite and Candor, one of only two girls too. There were bets against how long she'd take to leave and to everyone's surprise, she fought every other initiate that came her way with viciousness that someone would expect from a Dauntless born. Whether she won or lost her fight didn't seem to affect her. Every time she'd just get back up again, ready for the next challenge. She had quickly adapted to the ways of Dauntless by dying her natural blonde hair every other bright colour she could think of. After the final rankings and the first day of training, Red remembers her skipping with excitement glowing from her as she walked to the squad. She By this point Clark was captain of the squad and they were down a few members. They introduced themselves and the tradition of nicknames. Before anyone could think of a name for her Billy instantly said "Rainbow" and it stuck. Throughout her whole training, Billy took her under his wing. Red knew that Billy didn't feel anything but a strong sibling-ish love for her, feeding his need to protect and help her.
Clark knew that feeling when Geek joined the squad three years after. Geek was another transfer, from Erudite, and despite Clark's hatred for Erudites he took Geek under his wing. Red thinks it was Geek's sarcastic nature and his non-Erudite attitude that made him fit in. That, and the way he gets shit done quickly. Geek was the baby of the group until now.
He'd grown up with Bulldozer, his best friend and brother in all but blood. They endured initiation together, ranking third and forth before choosing patrolling together. BD's actual (older) brother was often in his room drawing while he grew up and their parents worked on the fence so they weren't home often. It wasn't that Bulldozer was neglected, his brother looked after him well enough but it was just that they were polar opposites, even if they looked very similar, and most of the time got into arguments because of their different views. Now though, they met up every so often to have dinner together. Now they acted more like brothers than they did growing up.
Like Clark and Billy, Red and Bulldozer had also taken a member each under their wing. Both of the members came a year after Rainbow, a lean lad called Curtis and a smaller girl called Julia, both were best friends who had transferred together from Candor. Red 'adopted' Julia who was renamed Jem and BD 'adopted' Curtis who was immediately named Curley due to his hair that would curl ridiculously if it got wet. Jem became a daughter to Red just like Curley become a son to BD. That made their deaths so hard for both of them. It was a normal week on the front lines. Clark and the squad would handle the slightly more dangerous Sectors, like they did when Harrison was captain. It was a normal day until grenades started going off and chaos came down on them. They managed to get out on time just after back up came and Harrison ordered their retreat. Nearly all of the squad was seriously injured and Harrison demoted the squad to safer Sectors. BD was behind the wheel so he only got a few bruises as did Red as he was partly behind the truck when shit went down. Clark had shrapnel removed from his left leg, leaving him with a limp that only shows if he pushes himself too hard. Billy had two bullets in his back that could have made him permanently paralyzed if they hadn't been taken out. Rainbow had a large scar starting from her hip bone all the way to her ankle. Geek was slightly deaf in one ear due to one of the blasts, which also made him semi-blind in one eye. The blindness comes and goes though. Curley and Jem had both been caught up in a blast from a grenade. So very badly wounded that they both died minutes behind each other on the way back to the compound. It took a while for any of them to feel better again. It took even longer for Red and Bulldozer to feel better again, even now there's still the bitter pain in his heart.
Now, the squad stood in the Pit waiting for two new members of the squad to fill the two-year gaps left by their deaths. Members of Dauntless had been more hyped about this year's class due to the twins dubbed as Golden Eyes ranking first and second, Declan and Hugo Vince's younger siblings and Max's unofficial niece and nephew. That by itself stirred up a lot of commotion. One of the twins, the boy, from what Red had heard was also in a relationship with Max's daughter and from the way Red has seen them act, its very plausible that its true. Red learns a lot from watching people, mostly a meal times or in the Pit. From this he's also gathered that the girl has caught the attention of a certain Leader, the most unexpected Leader. Eric looks at her in a way that Red didn't think possible, even if he is best friends and brother to Declan. This revolution makes him curious as to what made Dauntless' youngest Leader soften the slightest bit.
She stood in front of him now along side Hector, both of them meeting the gazes of the squad. Red knew Hector in passing, he was a good kid. A little mischievous but good and loyal and a strong heart all the same.
Clark smirked, tilting his head to the side. "Max mentioned that this year's class were tightly knit." He paused for a moment watching them. "Well done. You've passed your first test: teamwork." Billy and Bulldozer snickered into their hands and Red elbowed BD to stop. "I purposely sent that text to only one of you just to see if you could work together by communicating with each other. In this squad we go by nicknames given by your fellow colleagues which has been a tradition since 226 was first formed and it will be carried on until the end of time. Real names don't really matter here and so I'm Captain and as captain of this squad it seemed obvious apparently. This lovely lass is Rainbow and he is Red, both are quite obvious as to why. This is Bulldozer or BD for short. You'll find out why soon. Over here we have Geek and finally we have Billy. His real name isn't Billy, we thought he just looked like a Billy."
Billy rolls his eyes, flipping the bird at him. "Gee, thanks." He says sarcastically.
"Now," Clark starts more seriously, getting straight into it. "If you didn't know already, at the beginning of each month Harrison places a squad in charge of the rotas of which squad will patrol where. This will be from seven 'til six every day unless we're sent out to patrol a faction for a week and then we'll camp out in that faction." Clark starts to walk away as he talks and the newbies follow after him. Rainbow smirks at Geek before the rest of them follow after. "I suggest you buy a phone if you haven't already. It saves time trying to track you down manually. Training you guys will be easier seeing as you've both came out of initiation and patrol training is basically just an extension of initiation just more in depth. When Dauntless first started patrolling the other factions each squad member had a specific job. Nowadays patrolling isn't as tasking as it was but Harrison likes to keep tradition so each squad member will have their own jobs. In the first week of training we'll test you on your skills and that will lead to which job you'll be given within the squad. Tracker and Scout are up for grabs. Billy is the other scout but due to unfortunate events we're down two trackers." They stop at a large double door with a key card slot. Clark takes out a card and swipes it until there's a dull click and the door groans as it opens an inch. "This is where you'll spend most of your time." Clark opens the doors and leads the way in. They stepped into the garage and the newbies look around in awe. Clark leads them to the common room, unlocking the door before he spreads his arms out wide. "Welcome to the common room." Bulldozer slumped into the nearest chair, looking bored as Clark motioned to the chairs. "Please, sit." Issy and Hec sat side by side as the squaddies sat around them. All eyes were on Issy and Hector and they stared straight back. Issy cocked an eyebrow at Clark and Rainbow giggled.
"I like her." She smiled.
Clark shook his head and reached into a draw. He pulled out two bags, chucking them to Issy and Hec. "In there is three key cards, yellow one for the common, blue one for the garage and red one for the S.W.A.L.T room – which we'll look at in a mo. There is also a code for your lockers where you'll keep your personal belongings while on a patrol, it'll also store your rifle which you be in charge of. There is a small round gadget with a thin screen and a button that you'll need to keep on you always. When there's an emergency or something important I'll press mine and it'll make the alarm in yours go off and on the small screen will be the location that I'll need you get to asap and the button is to turn the alarm off. Finally your squad jackets with our patch already sewn on." Its quiet as the squad watches them unpack the bag, fiddling around with the keys for a bit before looking at the squad's patch.
"I like her." Rainbow repeats with a grin as she looks around the room and Issy grins back.
Geek hands them both a small bungee cord that has saved Red's life many times. He can never remember where he last put anything so that cord really was a god's send. "These stop you from losing your keys. Clip on end to your keys and the other to a loop on your jacket or jeans." Both Issy and Hec do as he says.
"Right, c'mon then." Clark stands up from the chair and heads back to the door. "We'll give you the tour and get you kids some guns." He looks to Red and the others, smirking. "Obviously you guys don't need the tour so we'll meet you in the S.W.A.L.T room." They nod, quickly standing up in parade rest with their backs straight and their hands clasped behind their backs before they relaxed and walked out of the room.
Bulldozer knocked his shoulder with Red's. "So what do you think of the newbies."
Red sighed, slowing down from the rest of the squad. He and BD lag behind a little and he shoots BD a knowing look. "It feels all too familiar."
BD squeeze his shoulder. "I know."
xXx
Training Issy and Hector – now renamed as Cutie Pie – was fun. Both of them are rather mischievous and troublesome, keeping the rest of them entertained when the mood was low. When it came to being serious, they were serious. They didn't joke or laugh about anything until the exercise was over and then they'd mock how each other did. Neither of them would back down from a fight and both of them liked winning too much to lose but not enough to cheat. Like Red's original thoughts, Hector was extremely loyal, sticking up for anyone as long as it was for the right cause. He liked to cheer people up and it was easy to get along with him. Issy was just like people had said. She was feisty and sarcastic and strong. She would help Hec with anything he didn't know how to do but she didn't make fun of him for it. At first, she comes across as arrogant and rude and cold but when Red got to know her he realised she was really caring and kind and compassionate. She just hid that to stop people from using it against her.
It was their third week in when Red and BD realised that they were unconsciously 'adopting' Issy and Hec. Red pointed it out to Bulldozer immediately and he just shrugged, telling Red to leave it be. That night Red nursed a bottle of beer to himself in a quiet corner of the Pit, loosing himself in his thoughts and memories. Jem was nothing like Issy is. Jem was loud mouthed and told everyone exactly what she though of them, when she thought it. Issy keeps it to herself, as if to protect herself from everyone else. Jem let everyone in but only kept a handful of friends around her. Issy doesn't let a lot of people in all of the way and yet surrounded herself with her family, which was rather big. Jem and Issy are polar opposites but Red feels like her needs to protect both of them. Maybe Issy wasn't there to fill in the gap in the squad or in Red's heart. Maybe she was there to remind them not to dwell in the past, and if there's anyone that know that best, its Issy. Red sighs, realising just how depressing his thoughts have got. Maybe Red should just let go and allow Issy to take her own place in his heart as another daughter. Not replacing Jem, never replacing Jem, but having her own place. His second daughter in all but blood.