DISCLAIMER: I own neither the Divergent world nor the characters, they belong to Veronica Roth.
Tobias
After today, the Allegiant will no longer be necessary as a group, so we've just finished what probably was our last official meeting. There were still several things to sort out among us, but only little time. Patience is certainly not a Dauntless virtue.
We decided to take fifteen minutes to reflect on our decisions before we go on the stage to speak to Dauntless. I'm not sure if it's such a bad thing that we can't take longer, otherwise I'd probably start to question what I'm doing. I hope it's enough to convince Tris that she should do the same. I take her hand and lead her into an empty office beside the official Dauntless leadership meeting room that we've been able to use today. Tris quietly closes the door behind us.
"So, you're sure you want to become a leader?" she asks.
There was a time when I'd read criticism into her question, or doubt. Thankfully, I'm over that.
"Yes. I want to change the way this faction runs. I want to focus on the ideals written down in the manifesto and shape Dauntless into what our founders imagined it to be. And with Marcus outed as the traitor he is, I won't be forced to work with him like I would have been in the past."
"I'm so proud of you, Tobias," Tris says as she closes the distance between us and pulls me into a tight embrace. "So proud."
For a few seconds, I can't speak. But then I think of the time that's running out for us.
"I was hoping you'd want to try to join me in leadership."
"Do you really think I'd be capable of leading this faction?"
"Of course, Tris. You're so brave and strong, and on top of that you're fair and kind. You're more than you give yourself credit for."
At that, she gives a small laugh.
"What's so funny?", I ask, amused by the way she looks at me, her fingers scratching my neck where she's holding me.
"I could say the exact same things to you. You're brave and strong and fair and, well, kinder than you seemed when I first got to know you."
"Hey!" I playfully scold her.
"What? It's true." She holds my face between her palms gently, her thumbs brushing over my skin. "You're more than you give yourself credit for, too. I wouldn't be here without you. And I'm not only talking about how you saved me from Erudite. I mean it in a much wider sense. You made me the person I am today."
"It was already in there," I say and put my palm over her heart.
"Fine, I get that you still have a core in you that's Abnegation," she sighs. "Even if all this was already there within me, you remain the person that brought it all out. You gave me the strength I needed. You taught me how to fight. It was you who made me want to overcome my fears."
"It can be difficult to compliment you."
"Thank you, the same to you," she grins.
There's no need for anything else to say at the moment, so we move on to letting our bodies speak. Somehow we quickly end up in a kiss that turns rather heated, with Tris sitting on a dusty desk and me standing between her open legs, our arms slung around each other.
I love how we can do this now, just let go and live in the very moment. With Tris' fears gone, I feel much safer with her. I can allow myself to let go, a freedom I hadn't been able to enjoy before she literally jumped into my life.
I tighten my hold on Tris' as I pull her closer to the edge of the desk in search of friction. She gasps into my mouth and heat rushes into my groin as her hand reaches under my sweatshirt and runs up my naked back.
Someone clears his throat.
Tris and I break our kiss and pull our hands away from each other. We stare at Zeke and Christina in the open door.
"Ever heard of knocking?" I snap at them as soon as I have collected myself enough to be able to say something.
"We did," Zeke says.
"Twice," Christina adds.
"Maybe, if there isn't a reply, that means you're not supposed to come in."
"Tobias," Tris whispers so only I can hear her. "They seem to be as surprised as we are."
I turn back to our friends and realize Tris is right. Zeke is running his hands trough his hair for lack of anything else to do and Christina is looking down at her feet that she's shuffling.
"I'm sorry," I say, instantly calmer.
"We were looking for you to tell you that we need to get down to the pit in two minutes," Christina informs us, her eyes up on us again now.
"Alright," I nod.
They leave and close the door behind them. Tris and I look each other in the eye.
"That was awkward," she finally says while she adjusts her shirt and hair back to the way it was before we stopped talking.
"You don't say," I state dryly as I take her hand, and she hops off the desk.
"This affirms the fact that there's still enough Abnegation in both of us to still be ourselves," she says, and then we can't help but laugh about ourselves.
"Come on, time to meet the others," I say after we've calmed down. "But I hope we'll find a moment soon to continue what we were doing."
"We can pick up right where we were interrupted," Tris grins and smacks my butt as she walks past me and out of the office.
XXX
So many people! I'm glad I've been training to be Four for a long time, or I wouldn't be able to step on a stage in front of a completely assembled faction, let alone take the mic and give a speech in which I try to convince them to vote for me as their new leader. I'll still keep it short anyway. There are others who want to say what they have to say, too.
At the moment, we're taking turns to inform Dauntless about the faction meeting this morning and sum up the ideas we share for the future of Chicago and our faction. I've hardly seen the pit so quiet as everyone listens. The seriousness of the situation is evident.
After sharing a large part of our morning in Amity, it's time to let them know about our decision and give them the chance to reach theirs. I take the mic from Zeke.
"Jack Kang asked us to determine one or more leaders for Dauntless. According to the law, there has to be between one and five leaders for each faction. At the moment, we're more. The other leaders don't mind that we come to the meetings as a bigger group, but they want someone who's in charge. That's why we need to decide who's gonna take over the job and we discussed this matter already.
As a result, we want you to decide. You're going to be able to vote for who you think are the most capable of us. Since the next meeting with all factions is already scheduled for next weekend and we have to start a mission to capture the rest of the fugitive traitors as soon as we can, we want the election to take place today. We know that's on short notice, so that's why we'll have the next elections a year from now. That gives us enough time to organize it and those who want to try to become a leader can prepare themselves and join the competition. We hope you'll agree with this procedure."
The applause and cheers entitle us to go through with our plan. I pass the mic to Christina.
"As a former member of Candor, I'll oversee the elections and take care that nobody cheats giving their votes. I won't run for a leadership position myself, my strength lies elsewhere, I think. Anyway, you're invited to cast your votes this afternoon in the cafeteria, between four and six pm. After that period, we'll take some time to count the votes and the results will be published during the party tonight."
I exchange a secret glance with Tris as Christina mentions the time frame for voting, and I know she caught what I did by the smile on her face.
Then it's time to pass the microphone around again, so that Dauntless knows who throws their hat into the ring to become a leader: Lauren. Will. Tori. Zeke. Lynn. Uriah. Me. And, finally, Tris. I clap my hands until my palms turn red after she announced her application. I have my fingers crossed that we'll both make it.
My thoughts drift off until I'm nudged in the shoulder by Lauren. Oh, right, we have a last duty as instructors before we're done for this year. Suddenly, it's just the two of us in the center of the stage while all the others have retreated to the sides. Lauren takes over.
"Okay, I know that in the light of the recent events, this might seem irrelevant, but we still haven't announced this year's rankings. Eric wanted us to wait until this weekend, and we know now that it was because of the war he was about to start. In that case, this moment wouldn't have come at all due to the chaos we'd face in Chicago. So, with that in mind, Four and I are both happy to present you this year's rankings."
I only have time to nod in approval before Lauren pulls me to the left with her and the list of initiates appears on the screen behind us.
Initiation results
1. Tris
2. Uriah
3. Lynn
4. Marlene
5. Will
6. Christina
7. Jess
8. Kyle
9. Nick
10. Molly
11. Drew
Edward
Myra
Tris
I'm first!
I'm really first!
I haven't thought about the rankings in a week or so, and now this!
Uriah, who's standing next to me, pulls me into a tight hug.
"I told you, you're one of us! Now you have it in black and white. Don't you ever doubt yourself again!" he basically shouts into my ear due to all the noise that's suddenly filling the pit.
"Thanks!" I shout back, grinning, and then I let go of him to give Marlene the chance to hug and kiss her boyfriend.
Tobias gives me a wink, and I love the smirk on his face, although it says something like 'I told you so'. It just looks so sexy on him. I can't wait to be alone with him again. The wanting I felt for him in our heated moments in the office is back.
But first there's a huge amount of hugs to go through, and I don't mind. We're celebrating our success, and that can never be irrelevant, no matter the circumstances. It's been a long way from my first day at Dauntless to this moment. I have officially completed my transformation from gray and shy Beatrice to strong and self-confident Tris.
And it's not just me, it's all of us. We made it together.
Christina clasps me so tightly it almost hurts, and Marlene additionally thanks me for saving her life while we're holding each other.
"Quiet once more!" Lauren shouts into the microphone several times until her word receives attention. Unthinkable in Abnegation, or in any other faction, really, but normal in Dauntless.
I love to be here.
"We have to explain one last thing about the rankings," Lauren continues. "As you may have noticed, there are two names on the bottom of the list that don't have a number. Edward had to leave during initiation after being attacked by Peter, the fucking coward traitor. His girlfriend Myra left with him out of love. Four and I decided to give them a second chance to go through initiation next year, as it was unfair of Eric and Max not to persecute Peter and punish the victim instead. Edward, you and Myra will get an apartment to live in until you've completed initiation. You can go and bring Myra here tonight if you want."
Seeing Edward's remaining eye light up at this news forces me to swallow past a sudden lump in my throat. He steps towards Lauren and Tobias and thanks them, and although I don't understand what he's saying through the anew noise and the music suddenly blaring from somewhere, I can see how thankful and happy he is.
There is more than one way in which we can save each other and recover.
The final chapter will be up next weekend!