Chapter 12: Tobias
A few days after our date to the pier I find Amar in his office and sit across from him not bothering to wait for an invitation.
"I need your help." He doesn't look up from the papers but tells me to continue. "You and George are the only other Dauntless that I really know and I was wondering if you could tell me about a few of the factions customs."
"Pertaining to what?"
"Marriage."
That gets his attention and he shuts the file. "Really? Are you planning on proposing or something?"
"That's the idea, so if you don't mention this to Tris I would really appreciate it."
"She doesn't know anything about Dauntless marriages though, why would you take the time to make sure stuff like that is included?"
I want to explain to him that it's part of who we are not only as individuals but also as a couple, but I can't find the right way to say it. "It's important to her." I finally say.
"Alright, well first both have to be accepted in Dauntless and through initiation which you both are, next as far as our faction was concerned the proposal had to be while you were doing something brave and daring, and finally you don't need a ring and most of the time it gets in the way anyway but it's up to you guys."
"And what about the wedding?"
"Normally it would be up to a faction leader to perform the ceremony, but since there aren't any left that might be a question for someone in charge of the city."
I thank him and stand to leave before he stops me.
"Four, you two are meant for each other and I wish you guys the best."
Heading down to the pit to meet everyone I realize that Zeke might have looked into this so when I find him I pull him away.
"Who are you going to ask to do your wedding?"
It seems to hit him why I'm asking and he throws his hands on my shoulders. "Oh man, you're gonna do it! Yes!" After jumping in a circle he turns back to me and it seems like he can't stop smiling. "I was going to see if George would do it since he's technically the most senior member of Dauntless if we still had factions, but if he refuses I was going to see if there was a politician or something that would do it."
"Thanks." We walk towards the girls and he punches me in the shoulder one more time. "Hey," Greeting Tris with a kiss I start to feel giddy and nervous at the idea of proposing.
"Hey, what's up with Zeke?"
"No idea," We promised no more secrets, but this is something I just can't tell her.
Our friend turns towards us and announces that he wants to go ziplining and with a wink I realize what he's saying. We agree and I say that I'll wait at the bottom to catch them. The train stops and the three get off, I grab Tris and place my lips on hers before telling her to be careful and watch them go until the train starts again.
I get off the next stop and race to where the line ends and wait to hear the screaming. When I do, I notice that it's Zeke first and he's backwards. Cringing I wait for him to come to a stop and he hops down to me and I catch him.
"Did you do it?"
"Yeah! I asked her right before I went."
"What did she say?"
I didn't have to wait long before I hear more screaming and realize it's Shauna. "YES ZEKE, I'LL MARRY YOU!"
He jumps up throwing his fist in the air and yells, when Shauna drops down to us I let Zeke cradle her and watch them kiss and celebrate their engagement. "I know it's not much but I got you a ring." He sets her on the ground and I notice that Tris sent her wheelchair down on the next harness and grab a box to stand on and bring it to the ground.
The ring is just a gold circlet, but I hear Zeke saying it was her moms and she gave it to him when he asked if he could propose.
Tris is on her way down and it's hard not to see the smile on her face and when she stops and unbuckles from the harness Zeke helps me catch her.
"She said yes?"
"Yeah she did."
We congratulate our friends and make our way back to Dauntless, walking into the cafeteria I notice a lot of eyes on us and don't know why until Zeke throws his arms up triumphantly and yells that they're getting married.
The pair are swarmed so Tris and I go up to get food and settle at a table with George and Amar.
"So I have a problem with one of my recruits." George gives me his full attention and I tell him about Kyle, and why I'm worried.
"You're right to be worried, I'll talk to him and let him know that's not acceptable. If you see anything else from him that might make you think let us know and he'll be out." Amar nods agreeing.
"Also, we were thinking of doing something fun with the recruits. We want them to have a paintball battle like we used to during initiation." The smirk she has makes it seem like there's something else but I know that she just wants to have a little fun.
"And you agree with this?" I nod to George who takes a bite of his dinner and looks between the two of us thinking it over. "I'm alright with it if you are Amar. You two set it up and figure it out, you're against each other and nothing serious."
Suddenly a million ideas are racing through my mind with what my team can do. "Are we hiding flags too?"
"It would make sense so that we know who wins."
The flags and paintball guns weren't touched when Dauntless was taken over so I know that they are still in the storage closet in the training room so Tris and I decide that we'll take them out the next night.
Finally Zeke and Shauna join the table still smiling broadly.
"We want all of you there when we get married." She announces and I see Tris take her hand.
"We wouldn't miss it." George says congratulating them.
My first look at a Dauntless proposal and it's for my best friend, I couldn't be happier and find myself grabbing a bottle in the pit to celebrate with him and as the four of us pass the bottle around I realize that as much as I enjoy not having factions, I miss how things were before the rebellion started.
The next day before the groups are dismissed for dinner Tris and I bring them together in the training room and explain that they need to meet us at the train platform at nine for an exercise.
Letting them think everything over we carry all of the equipment to the platform and put our own vests on before going to dinner.
"You guys are just going to freak them out aren't you?" We nod and eat dinner enjoying the stares we get from the recruits and head out to make sure everything is set up before they get to the platform.
When the first group of recruits arrive Tris and I are standing in front of the vests and guns and after everyone is there we explain the game.
"Four and I are captains, our groups are against each other." They pull on the vests and grab a gun and container of paintballs before joining us on the train. "My group will get off first, the goal is to capture the other teams flag." Pulling the illuminating flag from her pocket I hear groans.
"What do we get if we win?" Realizing the question came from Kyle I get an uneasy feeling.
"Bragging rights," I say quickly. "This game is just for fun." His eyes close the tiniest fraction before shrugging but I still think he's going to do something destructive.
Tris and her team get off the train and as soon as we're pulling away from the platform I turn to the group and grab their attention. "Any ideas on strategy?" As with the other capture the flag games I've been in, everyone tries to speak over each other with a strategy that is more defensive than offensive. Everyone wants to be in on the action and no one wants to sit behind and guard the flag.
"What do you think Tris is going to do?" The question shocks everyone and all eyes are on a small guy named Mark. "Well, we can prepare better knowing what she might do."
I'm impressed but I won't tell them that. "Smart thinking," I say instead watching him smile. "The way she did it last time was to find high ground and get an idea of where the flag was, then split into two groups. One would engage and cause a diversion while the other went after the flag, the group going after the flag was only made up of about three people so they could slip by undetected. But she won't do that this time."
"Why not?"
I smile and hoist my gun onto my shoulder as the train comes to a stop. "Because she knows that I'll tell you."
"But, what if that's her plan and she's anticipating you telling us and working on a different plan and then she goes with what she did before?"
"When did you get so smart Mark?" The guy looked sheepish and tried to hide but everyone's eyes were on him as we got off the train.
I turn towards the group on the platform and nod. "Alright, what's our strategy considering what Tris might have her team do?"
Again everyone started talking but eventually, in a way that reminds me of the way Amity made decisions, we come to a consensus and everyone gets into position.
A small group skirmishes out and tries to make it look like we were making a play for the flag and after only a few moments I see shadows from the other team. My group takes them out and hides again quickly before they're seen and eventually more work their way out, I recognize Tris in the middle and watch her movements. Finally, the teams collide and paint flies everywhere but no one notices the two smallest figures from my team work their way around the edges of the fighting and take out the person guarding the flag.
Yelling erupts as the flag is brought back through the groups and my team celebrates a victory. I can see the other team sag their shoulders but luckily this isn't being graded and none of them will be kicked out because of a poor performance.
Tris finds me and kisses me soundly, "How did you know?"
"Know what? What your plan was?" She nods. "I didn't, my team asked what you did during your initiation game and when I told them they decided that you might try the same thing. And you did."
"Well at least your team is better about strategy thinking."
Everyone on the train is spattered with paint and when we get back to headquarters the looks we get are filled with glee that we're still doing something that screams 'Dauntless'.
That night the pit is filled with laughter and screams but I don't want to be a part of it. I want to be with Tris alone, so I take her hand and lead us down to the rocks where we sit quietly leaning into each other.
"You're quiet." She whispers above the water crashing against the rocks. "Everything alright?"
Her eyes are closing little by little and I realize she must be exhausted. "Absolutely, just thinking."
"About what?"
Should I do it now? There's no way that it would be a traditional Dauntless proposal, maybe this is the best way for us though. "I was just thinking about how much I love you."
Her body relaxes against mine and she sighs into me, I know that she's tired so I don't want to keep her too long but I like this.
"I love you so much Tobias."
A/N: Boo for chickening out!