Tori and Tris

by secretkeeper0024

Tori is a resistance fighter, part of a secret alliance within Dauntless against their tyrannical Leadership Group. Tris is a struggling initiate with a powerful secret. With Eric stacking the deck against Tris, Tori provides with secret training sessions. Can Tori and the Alliance keep Tris alive long enough to pass the final test or will she lose the love of her life. Complete.

20. Chapter 20 - Safety zone - blown

Tori and Tris - Chapter Twenty - Safety zone, blown

Wasting no more time, we dressed and prepared for the day - me for the parlour and Tris for the Compound. I can't say I am not terribly afraid of losing her. Of her incurring harm - whether it be Eric tormenting her, or an unintentional injury let alone something more sinister. I am scared shitless, I am powerless. This is the price of love.

There was no way she would be up for any physical training but simply being seen is resistance in itself. I must be more one eyed than even I thought because I can't separate the two. I have always been convinced, rightly or wrongly, that the value of one's life under tyranny is only worth being measured in degrees of resistance. And whilst that's my call as far as my own life is concerned - I suspect it's probably going to far to apply that standard to another person. Even if that person is Tris, or perhaps especially if that person is Tris.

Still, I can't help thinking about the value of Tris being seen out in public, with her faded black eyes, her bald patch, her fragile body and heightened startle reflex. Everybody she looks at will be forced to make a choice. I can afford to think like this because I don't think there will be any attempt to harm her. Firstly, nobody will be expecting her to turn up and secondly there will be so many eyes on her that it will not be possible.

We set off from the studio together, hands deep in our pockets, eyes firmly on the ground before us, silently lost in our own thoughts. My mind was obsessively collecting examples of possible harms and threats to Tris but I had firmly forbidden myself to mention a single warning or piece of advice. Tris isn't stupid. I was aware of the growing attention we were receiving as we got closer to the Pit, I spared a couple of curt nods to familiar faces.

When we reached my turn off to the Parlour, I paused. "I'm happy to walk with you to the pit?" Tris squared her shoulders and put on a brave face, "I've got this," "You know where to find me," I gave her hand a small squeeze, I was unsure whether to give her the kiss I knew she wanted but Tris, never backward in coming forward, took from me a soft kiss conveying my tender devotion. "Have a great day," I said, trying for a bright smile and went on my way hoping to impart more confidence than I felt.

For myself I was pleased to be outside the walls of my studio, to be breathing in the fresh air, I felt like running far and fast. I was genuinely pleased to be back at work, part of the community, to be pleasantly employed and part of my team again. I was welcomed back generously by the people who knew and loved me best, my people, who had missed me and had been concerned for me. I was hugged, supplied with coffee, invited out the back to bond over endless cigarettes, people could not wait to update me on all the news - both Parlour news and news with more general appeal. No one introduced issues relating to Triss, neither the assault she had been subjected to nor our unconfirmed relationship.

Due less to my return to work than Tris' extraordinary return to the Compound - there was a general heightened excitement, an electrified social buzz. For my part, the parlour became unexpectedly colonized by curious parties who were prepared to pay for and suffer the pain of a tattoo for the opportunity of being part of something exciting or the chance of learning something of interest. Some of the younger transfers, or those less discreet or perhaps even unfamiliar with the who's who Dauntless made general references to either having heard or seen the return of Tris. This gladdened my heart to learn that she was going ok, that she was generally well regarded and had indeed elicited sentiments of resistence.

I went to the mess for lunch and couldn't help looking around for Tris, I gave her what I hoped was a circumspect wink but happy to see her surrounded by her peers had no intention of imposing. I joined some of my own cohort who were obviously very pleased to have me amongst them again. I didn't have much to say for myself but was happy to listen to all their news and conversation. Before I could finish my meal, I was made aware of a lull in the general hullabaloo of the mess, I felt eyes on me from all over and laid down my cutlery preparing myself for whatever was coming.

I actually felt the chill of Eric's shadow as he leaned over my person from behind, placing his military boot at the base of my spine on my bench, invading my personal space like a lusty irrepressible predator. "Tori, I am so sorry to hear you have been, unwell. We are all pleased to have you back. You have been away so long and we got along so well without you - I was beginning to think I would have to replace you, permanently." Although he spoke in a low tone, at my ear, I have no problem believing he had achieved his aim and been clearly heard by the all at the surrounding tables.

I am not afraid of Eric. He could be ripping out my heart and I would not be afraid of Eric. It's why he hates Tris. She is entirely immune to his only source of power - fear. Without turning, I affected a little cough, "Oh, Eric, I can, of course, be replaced, just another happy little cog in the Dauntless machine. However, don't get too close, it's entirely possible I could make you, unwell." The moment was palpable. "Careful" he said straightening up and removing his boot. I can be sure he has taken himself off when the chilling temperature of the room is tempered by a measured return of friendly relations in the vicinity.