Author's note

I hope you are all enjoying this. Please review and let me know what you think. If you see something that needs to be fixed let me know that, too. I have done a lot of edits but still may have missed something. This chapter is a short one but I hope you enjoy it.

Repost for minor edits: 10/18/2020

I glance at Four but he keeps looking forward. "Crap," I mumble under my breath, but just loud enough for Max to hear so he knows that I know I'm in trouble.

We follow Max to his office where Eric sits behind Max's desk, with a muffin in his hand, and his feet kicked up on the desk, while watching the surveillance loops from earlier. Max growls, "Eric, get out of my chair."

Eric grins and stands up slowly, "Couldn't help it. That was entertaining. Nice punch, Tris. I always like seeing Four getting knocked down a notch or two." He didn't call me Stiff for a change. That is weird.

Max gave Eric a look that Eric ignored, "Shut up or leave Eric."

Eric shrugs and bites his lip piercings, "I'll stay. I want to see how this ends." He flops down in a chair in the back corner of the room and kicks up his leg on a box getting way too comfortable. There were no other chairs so Four and I are left standing.

Max points to the looping surveillance as he sits in the chair Eric vacated, "This has got to stop." I start to say something but he puts his hand up to stop me, "I don't care who started it. I don't even care why it happened. I just know the bickering has to stop. I'm laying down rules for you two to live by until you learn to grow up and act like adults. Four, in times that diplomacy is needed, Tris is in charge. Tris, when in a combat situation Four is in charge. Got it?"

We both state, "Yes, sir."

Eric mumbles while picking at his food, "Who's in charge in the bedroom?"

I grit my teeth but Max glares at Eric, "Shut it."

Eric looks up innocently, "Sorry, did I say that out loud?" Then takes a large bite out of the muffin he's eating.

Max sighs and rolls his eyes then looks back at us, "I'm clearing you both of the fear landscape thing. Because frankly it's stupid and I need you both for a new project that's been handed down by the Counsel and you're both too good to get rid of at this time. When you're working on the same goals like at that hearing or in the training room you're a good team. It's only when you get on your own agendas we have problems, but I think this will work."

Four interrupted, "Sir, we both already have jobs."

Max nodded, "Yeah, this will be extra duties, If you can keep yourselves in check. You'll also get bonus pay for this. The Counsel wants us to set up a special unit for cases like last Saturday. We're having more problems like that breaking out and we need to react faster. You'll also both now be part of the training team because you'll be picking new candidates from the recruits occasionally."

In my head I was screaming, "No!" because I'm sure Erudite requested this from the Counsel and they are allowing it. And I knew that Erudite was going to find a way to turn this on Abnegation somehow. But I had to keep my mouth shut. Now, more than ever, I had to stay under the radar.

Max continued, "There will be two Teams. Team A will be made up of mostly Dauntless leaders for now. I am leading that team with Eric as my second and Diana being the go between as an Ambassador. Four you will head up Team B with Tris as your second and she'll also act as a go between since she's in the Ambassador's office. I'll send you a list of people you can choose from to be on your team once we have ours narrowed down. You'll need 10 to 15 people. I'm not asking you. This is a direct order. Team B will only be called in on big situations for backup or if there's more than one situation at a time. Mostly you'll be on standby."

I looked at Four as he stood very stoic and then back to Max, "Wait, does this mean he's my boss now?"

Max rubbed the bridge of his nose then looked back at me, "Only in tactical and training situations. Outside that you report to Di, as usual. I would suggest you stop flipping Four off behind his back every morning. It's not funny anymore."

Eric laughed, "Oh, I completely disagree."

Four turned his head slowly towards me and glared.

I just shrugged, "Not even sorry."

I hear Eric start to laugh and then choke on his muffin. Two birds, one stone. I couldn't help a self satisfied smile.

Max glared at me, "Make this work. Stop fighting with each other, and make it work. I don't care if you have to sleep with each other to get it out of your system."

My mouth dropped open, "Sir, I don't think that'll be necessary." I state embarrassingly.

Four shook his head, "And I really think your new boyfriend would be very upset."

I look at him and sarcastically say, "You think?"

Max shook his head, "Knock it off and get out. You, too, Eric."

I hear Eric stop coughing long enough to say, "Wait, what new boyfriend? Uriah? Four, you got replaced by Uriah? Tris, come on, you can do better than that."

Four and I both ignored him, walked out of the room, and down the hallway.

I went straight to supper and I saw Four head to the Control room. He didn't say why and I didn't ask. Until we're able to talk about all the events of the day I figured I would continue our original plan. I walked in the dining hall and saw that none of my friends were there yet. So I went ahead, sat at our usual table, and grabbed a tray. I should have known better than to think I'd be alone for very long. Eric apparently decided to follow me and sat down next to me at the table, filling his own tray.

"Hey," he said with a lot of cockiness.

"What do you want?" I hoped my tone of voice would end the conversation quickly.

He didn't act like it fazed him at all, "I'm wondering what the truth about Tris the stiff is? I've really been thinking about it. Did you know Four before you came here? You know from school or something? Did you come here because you already had a thing for him and thought you would follow him here? Maybe that's why you felt like you didn't fit into Abnegation. Because wanting a person for yourself would be too selfish. When all your other instincts are to jump in to help others, you throw yourself at Four." He stated as he was eating.

I kept right on eating like he wasn't bothering me at all even though the food tasted like sawdust with him there. I grab some mustard and pickles to throw on my hamburger. Add some ketchup for my fries. I had to show I was throwing away my Abnegation plus I hoped it made the food more appetizing.

He just kept going, "Don't get me wrong. I'm really enjoying the changes in you. You're turning into a true warrior and that's sexy as hell. I don't even mind my broken nose anymore, reminds me not to under estimate you again. Can't wait to see you train some new initiates. Maybe we'll let you throw knives at Four this time."

I sigh and look at him, "Do you have a point other than spoiling my dinner?"

He smiled that oily scary smile of his and winked, "Just trying to get to know you better."

"Well, for your information, I still don't know who Four is. I don't even remember him from school. I kept to myself for the most part. As far as the rest, I'm Dauntless now and I actually do take that seriously so if you wouldn't mind I'd like to finish eating. Apparently I have a lot more work to do before going to bed tonight."

He nodded calculatingly and looked over to see my friends walking in together. He smiled, "I'll leave you to your friends. Oh, look, there's your BOYfriend." Referring to Uriah, "When you're ready for a real man, come see me." He shoved the other half of his hamburger in his mouth and took his tray to a different table.