A/N Hello!
I'm on holiday, so for the next week I'm hoping that I'll be able to update extra. I've been away for four days WITH NO WI-FI (my Tobias I survived as well) at a church youth Easter conference in Brighton, so that was fun (I mean the camp was actually fun but the no wi-fi bit wasn't. At all.) Oh, and I've also started writing a book - but I will be putting that on hold for a few weeks because I love you all so much I'm going to spend my time writing fanfiction instead.
Also, we hit 50 follows! Thank you!
Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I think I'll become a unicorn before I own Divergent. Meaning, never. (I wish I was a unicorn though srsly)

Four/Tobias POV

I grit my teeth as the cold metal gnaws into my skin. "This is for your own good," Marcus hisses through his teeth, sweat forming beads on his brow. The look in his eyes is rabid and hungry, and I know that he's gone - there is no fetching him back until he comes back himself, a human that is turned monster. This is blind anger, and fire at its most furious.
I will not scream, I tell myself, when the next blow comes. I will not scream and show him that it hurts, that I am weaker than him, even if it is the truth.

Another blow lands. I scream silently, white hot pain coursing through me.
I will not scream.
And another, Marcus grunting with the force he puts into it.
I will not cry.
Marcus takes a breath, gathering his strength again, and then lands another blow on my already bleeding skin.
I will not be weak.

But I am, I am, I am.
A shuddering breath, an inhaled scream. I will stay silent. He will not win.
Marcus drops the belt to the floor, panting heavily. "It's enough for now. Go to your room."

I drag myself up the stairs.
Lift one leg, ignore the pain.
I almost laugh when I realise it's my 18th birthday tomorrow. Meaning, that was the last beating I'll have. Meaning, I can leave.

I'm free.

xXx

A few weeks before Tris came to Divergent High, I skipped school to look at flats. Marcus may be an asshole, but he's an asshole with a considerable amount of money. He had opened up a trust fund, back in the days when Evelyn was still here and we were a normal family. He forgot about it, but I didn't. There are still monthly deposits that he makes from his bank account to my trust fund, and when I was 16, I was granted access. I didn't waste it all, instead saving so that I could afford to rent a flat. I hate that I have to rely on him so I can get away from him, but there's nothing I can do. Hopefully, in a few years, when I have a job, I can fend for myself.

It's a fairly reasonably sized apartment, with a small bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and even a tiny sitting room. I don't have much at my house. Two days ago, I packed the meagre things I had into a small bag that I often take out with me anyway, so Marcus wouldn't suspect anything. I'm sure I can buy whatever I need for living alone from the money I already have, including the bills. All my books are in my locker at school. Everything is going to plan. I'm not going to school today to move in.

The morning of my birthday, I act normal. I wake up early, get dressed, shower and take a cereal bar as I go out the door. "Have a nice life," Marcus sneers sarcastically, not knowing that I'm gone forever.
You too.
He won't care if I'm gone. He won't even notice, because half the time I'm never at home anyway.
My heart beats fast as I step out onto the street. I really am free. I'm gone.

Tris POV

"Um... hey, Tris. It's... Tobias here? I have something I need you to help me with, so, uh, meet me outside school at the end of the day. Thanks."
Tobias and I haven't really talked since...
Since he told me that he liked me. Since we nearly kissed.

Since Caleb went and blundered in at exactly the wrong moment.

He was going to kiss me. I think.
Ha. I hope.

Slowly, the day passes by. Tobias isn't in school today, which is odd, because to my knowledge he's never missed even a day. According to Dad, Marcus is a stickler for education. Just like Caleb.
I wince as I remember the thick awkwardness in the room when Caleb interrupted us.
The bell goes off. I manage to shove my way through the crowds of students who are pleased it's Friday and wait by the main entrance for him. I glance up from my phone to see a tall guy with tousled brown hair and dark blue eyes trying to fend off the gaggle of girls that descend on him.

"OMG, FOUR! Where were you today?" Lauren shrieks. "I missed you soooo much!" She flips her sleek highlighted black hair (with extensions, because what spoilt brat isn't complete without some?) over her shoulder and casts me a dirty look when she sees me approaching.
"What are you doing here, bitch?" whispers Molly as I go past her. I don't let it get to me. Instead, I smile sickly sweet at her and say, "Tell me, where do you get the ape in your family from? Is it on your father's side, or your mother's?"
It definitely isn't the best insult I've come up with, but it's enough to make the people close by 'ooh' under their breath.
"What are you doing here, Four?" Lauren asks, batting her (obviously fake) eyelashes at Tobias. He raises an eyebrow and says, "I'm here to see Tris."
"Ooh, that's just hilarious, Four!" Lauren laughs, high pitched. "Stop messing around with me! Have you got a car? I really need a ride. Pretty please?"
I curse her with all the rude names under the sun under my breath and tap her on the shoulder. She whips around, snapping, "What? Oh."
"Hi there, Lauren. What a pleasure to see you." I say. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did that come out sarcastic? How rude of me."
"Go away, bitch. He's mine." she spits out, furious.
"No, I'm not." Tobias says, calmly. "Let's go, Tris." He grabs my hand (Lauren's eyes opening wide with envy at this) and pulls me away. "You watch out, little miss!" Lauren screams at me as we cross the car park. "I'll get you for this!"
Tobias laughs under his breath, staring at me.
"What?"
"I never knew you were so good at handling people like that."
"I'm not," I say. "The whole time I wanted to slap her bony ass."
He laughs even more at that and replies, "You have no idea how much I hate her and her group. She seems determined to get me, despite all the times I've turned her down." He opens the car door for me and I slide in.
"Where are we going?" I ask, bemused.
"It's a secret."

The last time I was left alone with a boy, the worst thing in my life happened to me.
I wince.
"What's wrong?" Tobias asks, keeping his eyes on the road as he pulls out.
"Nothing."

I can trust him. Can't I?

I reach over and change the radio. A song comes blaring out.

I know you're an emotional girl
It took a lot for you to not lose your faith in this world
I can't offer you proof
But you're going to face a moment of truth
It's hard when you're always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart if you must
It's a matter of trust

Tobias winks at me and begins singing along in a terrible out-of-tune voice.

This time you've got nothing to lose
You can take it, you can leave it
Whatever you choose
I won't hold back anything
And I'll walk away a fool or a king
Some love is just a lie of the mind
It's make believe until it's only a matter of time
And some might have learned to adjust
But then it never was a matter of trust

"Oh, my god," I laugh as he parks the car, humming the outro. "What was that?"
"What, you didn't like my voice? I thought it was amazing! I'm on the way to being a star!" he says, Lauren-style. "Come on."

We've arrived outside a block of apartments. We climb up the stairs. Tobias pulls out a set of keys and unlocks a door.
"You live here?" I say. "But don't you live with your dad?"
"Not anymore."
"Oh!" I say. "I forgot because you weren't in school today. Happy birthday!"
"Yeah. I have something I need to show you."

He turns around and pulls off his shirt to reveal a medley of bruises and scars along his back.
"Tobias..."

I run my fingers delicately along the marks on his back.
"Did he do it to you?" I say, biting back my anger.
"Ahh. That area's sore."

"I'm sorry," I say, immediately taking away my hand.
"No, it's OK. And yes, he did."

"How long?"
"Since when?"
"He started."
"I was 6."

"The selfish bas-"
"It's OK, Tris. I'm an adult now, remember? I can live on my own."

I pull him into a hug, making sure to avoid the fresh bruises along his back.
"I'm sorry, Tobias." I say softly.

I release him slightly.
"Thank you," he says.
"For what?"
"For being amazing."

He presses his lips to mine. I rise up and wrap an arm around his neck, deepening our kiss. His lips are soft and sweet and gentle, the opposite of Peter's. This time, I don't let his memory stop me.

Tobias/Four POV

We walk out, hand in hand. The radio starts up again.

So we've been outnumbered
Raided and now cornered
It's hard to fight when the fight ain't fair
We're getting stronger now
Find things they never found
They might be bigger
But we're faster and never scared
You can walk away, say we don't need this
But there's something in your eyes
Says we can beat this

Because these things will change
Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
This revolution, the time will come
For us to finally win
And we'll sing hallelujah, we'll sing hallelujah

Tonight we stand, get off our knees
Fight for what we've worked for all these years
And the battle was long, it's the fight of our lives
But we'll stand up champions tonight

It was the night things changed
Can you see it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back fell down
It's a revolution, throw your hands up
Cause we never gave in
And we sang hallelujah, we sang hallelujah
Hallelujah.

A/N OH MY GOD THEY FINALLY KISSED YAY
I'm sorry my updates are so infrequent now, but I'm hoping that the longer waits mean slightly better and also longer chapters.
And this is where the fluff begins because they finally kissed YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW DESPERATE I WAS FOR THEM TO KISS BUT I COULDN'T BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T BE SO GOOD IF I RUSHED IT AND OMG IT WAS SO HARD

Songs listened to: I Don't Care, Fall Out Boy
Change, Taylor Swift (which is also the last song by the way. The first one was A Matter Of Trust, Billy Joel. If you're clever, maybe you can see what I'm foreshadowing or suggesting here.)

I'm hoping to update in about a week or two. Meanwhile, have a good day!

~Joanna