Warning: this one has more adult content. That's all I'm going to say.

Repost for minor edits: 10/18/2020

The next evening, several of us were sitting at our usual table, when Christina looked at me seriously, "Did you get that message from Max to meet in the training room on Friday night?"

Will and Uriah said, "Yeah, what was that about?"

I was sitting across from Four this time and glanced up at him meeting his eyes when he said, "We aren't at liberty to discuss it. Just follow orders and be there."

Christina looked between us and then and said slowly, "Okay," and things get awkwardly quiet for a few minutes until I notice something on Christina's hand as she reaches for another roll. It was a silver ring that had words stamped into it.

"Did you get new jewelry?" I asked curiously.

She grinned shyly which was completely out of character for her and Will piped up, "I asked her to marry me. She told me to ask her again next year so I got her that."

She reached over to show me more clearly what the words said. "Until then," one side said and the other side said "I'm yours."

I look at her and then back at Will, "That is the cheesiest and most romantic thing I've ever heard of," I laughed.

"Don't knock my ring," she laughed, "I love it."

"I'm not," I said and meant it, "It fits you two perfectly."

Uriah was still playing the part of boyfriend by hugging me close, but I saw his eyes drift to Brandy across the room who glanced up and glared at me. I looked down at my plate and take a couple of bites then glance at Four. He looks up at me with a blank look, but for some reason I knew what he was thinking. He was remembering when we declared our love for each other last night.

I look back down at my plate and I hoped he could feel right now how much I loved him and that I didn't need jewelry or anything else as long as I knew he loved me. I glance back up and I see his lips quirk up as he looks down and stabs his food with his fork. I know then that we're going to keep stealing looks at each other and not be able to hide this much longer. I have to talk to Uriah about Brandy and break it off with him now.

When supper was done I looked at Uriah while we were leaving the dining hall and asked, "Can we talk?"

He looked at me curiously, "Sure, babe, what's up?"

I pointed down a hallway that would provide some quiet space and no cameras, and he followed my direction, "I really don't want to die by Brandy's hand so I think we should break this off."

He smiled and asked, "What makes you think she'd try anything against you."

"Oh, I don't know, the death glare she gave me tonight was a good indication," I said sarcastically, "She's into you , but she just needed to know what might happen if she played it cool too long," I said.

He grinned, "Okay so how do we play this?"

"We have an argument because my career is too important to me." He nods but I have to add, "But I'm going to warn you, if you're going to make your move with her, do it quickly. The next few weeks you won't have time. But don't tell a soul I told you that." I whispered.

He nodded, reading between the lines, "Okay, then we need a bit of a scene. Leave it to me."

I nod and follow him out of the hallway into the more public area, then he yells back at me, "No, Tris, one day you're going to realize there are things just as important as work."

"Uriah, stop, let's talk about this," I say back. I was getting way to good at ad-libbing whatever I needed too.

"No, I'm done Tris, we never spend time together because you're always working or training. There's always something." He saw Four on the other side of the pit and said, "You're like the female version of Four."

Four looked up in surprise when he heard his name, and we both watch as Uriah storms off. Brandy follows him a few seconds later.

I walked to the railing trying to look upset. Resting my arms against it and resting my head on my arms. I feel Four walk up beside me and hand me a bottle of whatever he's drinking. "So, that was dramatic."

I take a sip and hand it back to him, laying my head back down, I nodded against my arms, "Yeah, apparently. Like everything else in my life since I came to Dauntless. I'm just entertaining the masses."

He let out a short bark of laughter and handed the bottle back to me, "And somehow I got wrapped up in it again."

I took a longer swig, "This one was really not my fault."

He took the bottle back, "Well this time I'm not really bothered. I mean he isn't completely wrong. It's kind of a complement in my book." he gave me a long meaningful look.

I take the bottle back and take another long drink. "As much as I don't want to agree with you I see your point." I hand him the bottle and turn from the railing, "I'm going to bed and sleep while I still have the chance."

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll walk you back," he said taking the last drink and throwing the bottle in a recycle bin.

He walked me to my door and as I unlocked it he leaned against the wall, "You okay?"

I stopped, and looked at him, "What's weird is I'm more worried about losing a good friend than a boyfriend."

He nodded, "probably a good sign that you two weren't meant for more than friends."

I rested my forehead against the door frame, "I just don't think I'm cut out for relationships."

"Or you're better at it than the guys you pick. You expect them to be in the same place in life you are and they just need time to catch up with you." He said looking at me seriously. He looked down at the ground then back at me, "Max wants to see us tomorrow to outline our training strategy. In his office at 17:00 hours?"

I nodded, "See you then."

"Okay," and he went across the hall and opened his own door. "Night, Tris."

"Night, Four," I said, barely remember that this was Four because it sounded so much like Tobias.

I walked in my apartment and locked my door behind me. It was still pretty early but the next few weeks were going to be brutal. And I was just tired of playing pretend all the time in front of my friends. Lying to them was taking its toll. I jumped in the shower and the heat of it relaxed me to the point I was just standing there resting up against the wall. Then I felt warm arms come around me and I turned to see Tobias looking at me with a hooded expression. He was in my shower with me and we were both naked. And it felt perfectly natural. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. Between kisses he asked, "Is this okay?"

I reached down to shut off the water, "no, I think the bed would be a better idea."

He smiled just a little and said, "I think I agree. "

It was a good thing the doctor sent along a backup plan because this was happening tonight.

He grabbed a towel off the rack and dried me off. Taking care of me as usual.

It was the most amazing night of my life. I've never felt closer to another human being. The one time in my life that Dauntless and Abnegation complemented each other. We were both so willing to give to the other but also brave enough to say what we needed for ourselves. Afterwards we lay on our sides facing each other kissing gently and touching.

"Are you okay?" He asked me.

I smiled against his lips, "I'm better than okay, but thank you for asking."

He chuckled, "I'm not sure how I'm going to keep my hands to myself now. I didn't know that it could be that good. This could make things a lot more difficult when we aren't supposed to be at this point in our little act."

I smile, "mmmm….yeah, we still need to be professional outside this room."

He laughed, "At some point I want to get you back in MY bed."

Why that reminded me of what Eric said I will never know but now that I had the chance I needed to ask. "Can I ask you a question?

Tobias smiled, "Always and anything."

"Not to ruin the moment but Eric has been making some comments to me and I don't know what he means. So I don't know how to react. I was wondering if you would understand and can help me."

He set up in the bed, "What's he been saying?"

I push up on an elbow next to him, "Well, the best way I can describe it is he's been aggressively flirting. But it's scarier than flirting. I've told him I'm not interested obviously but he said he wanted me 'not just in his bed' and also something to the effect of 'he wasn't good at sweet and nice but he'd try it if I would give his way a shot'. I don't know what he's talking about.

Tobias threw off the covers and started angrily throwing his clothes back on, "Wait, what's wrong?" I asked in surprise.

"What's wrong is I'm going to kill him," he said in the angriest voice I'd ever heard him use.

"Tobias, NO!" I jumped up and get in his way as he's heading for the door, "You can't do this."

"Oh I can, and I will," he said reaching for the handle around me.

"NO, I won't let you become a murderer. Plus you can't go out the door. They're still watching us for any sign of our relationship starting during initiation. No matter what they tell us, we are still being watched. I just need to know what Eric is talking about so I can respond appropriately."

"You're response should be 'Fuck off'" he said angrily.

"Why are you mad at me? I don't even know what he's talking about but apparently you do," I stated feeling like I had done something wrong. I had ruined the whole night.

He took a deep breath and let it out, running his hand through his hair, "I'm not mad at you." He threw the shirt he hadn't put on yet, and went and sat on my couch. "I just don't want him treating you like that. EVER. Some guys get off on rough sex. I, mean, REALLY rough sex. This can include pain. Apparently Eric is one of those guys, which doesn't surprise me any." He said shaking his head.

"I can't imagine why anyone would want that. Pain doesn't equal love to me." I stated.

He beckoned to me to come to him and sat me on his lap, "It's not about love really. I mean with some couples both enjoy it, I guess, but for a lot people it's just sex. Physical gratification separate from love. I doubt Eric loves anyone."

"Oh," I say simply snuggling into his arms. "Well, I still don't want you to kill him. He might enjoy it too much then."

He let out a big guffaw of laughter, "Probably." Then he hugged me in closer and I used my fingertips to trace the flame pattern on his ribs and then draw little designs on his chest.

He tweaked my nose to get my attention, "Do you realize you aren't wearing any clothes?"

I look down at myself in surprise, "Well, you've seen it all by now so I don't have anything to hide."

He kissed me then and I feel the tension melt out of both of us. He pulled back from me and asked seriously, "Are you sore?"

I laugh and turn to straddle his lap, "A little but I'm also Dauntless." And I kiss him back.