A/N: Hey guys! Thanks so so so so SOOO much for reading! This chapter is a little longer, and nothing really major happens, just a filler really. But, it's important to see Tris' and Zeke and Shauna's relationship together, with all kinds of fluff :3 Enjoy, and I'll update again soon!
Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Divergent series. All rights go to Veronica Roth.
I wake up around 6:00 AM, two hours before I need to be with the Initiates. Unable to fall asleep, I slap my hand over on my bedside table and grab my phone. I text Tori, she is usually up getting ready for a jog by this time.
Hey, Tori! Got a tattoo idea, would you be able to do it before I go train initiates at eight?
A few minutes later she responds:
You got nerve, trying to get between me and my morning run. I might "accidently" make a mistake. JK! Come on down, and bring me a coffee, or else.:)
I roll out of bed, slip on my sweat pants and a big black shirt that belonged to Zeke (long story). I'll have to take it off anyway to get my tattoo. I turn on the coffee pot and tie my hair in a messy bun and look at myself in the mirror. Boring, makeup-less, baggy clothes, god I look awful. Good thing it's only Tori, I doubt she looks much better than I do, though she surprises me sometimes. Tori and I have been good friends ever since my initiation. She helped me hide my Divergence and was always up for a late night run to the coffee shop when I couldn't sleep. I pour up two mugs and make my way to the pit quietly.
When I get to the tattoo parlor, the familiar inky scent I learned to love surrounds me. The dark lighting and detailed designs and decorations cover the walls, and Tori sits in her chair, hair in a braid and pajamas on, with her latex tattooing gloves on her hands.
"Hey, Tori! Extra strong with two milk." I say, handing her the mug.
"Good morning, Tris." She says, smiling into the mug. "What kind of tattoo did you have in mind?" Tori knows my aptitude test results, so I don't feel the least bit scared when I tell her I want to add the Erudite eye to my back tattoo, smaller, between my Abnegation and Dauntless tattoos on my shoulders. She gets to work, occasionally taking sips of coffee, and finishes it in an hour and a half. I take a quick look in the mirror before she bandages it; it looks perfect, as all her tattoos do. I thank her, pay her, and head back to my apartment to get ready and train initiates.
I get to the training room, all beautified, about ten minutes before the initiates do. I stretch a little as the first initiates, Tobias and Will, enter the room. When everyone enters, still groggy and rubbing their eyes from sleep, I start handing out guns.
"The first thing you will learn today is how to shoot a gun. The second thing is how to fight." I press a gun in Tobias's hand, skimming his fingers in the process. He looks at it in awe, like he shouldn't be touching it. I understand how he feels; I was the same way at first. "You're all here so I assume you all know how to get on and off a moving train, you I don't need to show you that." I continue as I finish handing out the guns. I stand in front of them and scan them briefly, most of them are unsure of what to do, how to hold it, I grin at their uncertainty. "Initiation is divided into stages. Stage one, primarily physical, stage two, primarily emotional, and stage three, primarily mental. The stages are not weighed equally, so it is possible, though incredibly difficult, to drastically improve your rank over time." I notice the initiates looking immensely tired, rubbing their eyes and yawning. For some reason it irritates me, they should be ready for this. I make my voice louder as I say, "We believe that preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear."
"But what.." Peter says, yawning, "What does shooting a gun have to do with.. bravery?" He's right in a sense, it doesn't really have anything to do with bravery, but his tiredness completely pisses me off. I decide to scare him a little. I grab his gun and press the barrel to his forehead. I click the bullet in place, I could blow his brains out if I wanted to, but then I'd have to clean up the blood, and get rid of the body, and the training room floor will be all dirty, it's really too big a hassle. His eyes immediately ignite in fear.
"Wake up, you dumbass. You're holding a loaded gun, act like it." I say, and then I press the gun into his chest. His eyes are the size of plates, no longer tired. My work here is done. I think. "And to answer your question, if you're prepared, you probably won't drop everything and run like a coward." I glance at the other initiates, Tobias looks at me astonished, but without fear. I turn to the target and take my own gun out of my back pocket. I hold it firmly in both hands, and stand with my feet shoulder width apart. I inhale and aim, exhale and shoot. The bullet penetrates the centre perfectly. I grin and fire a few more shots into the centre, so the initiates have a chance to evaluate my stance.
I wave them away and they begin firing, most of them are awful. Actually, all of them are, except for Tobias. He hits the edge of the target on his first shot, and within fifteen minutes, he hits the center. The other initiates take much longer to excel like he does, but by the time we dismiss for lunch everyone has hit the center of the target at least once. I make a mental note of Myra's poor shooting skills. That, mixed with her jump being last, brings her to the bottom of the list. I think she and Edward are dating, and I'm suspicious that she only transferred here to be with him, she doesn't belong here.
At lunch I sit with Zeke and Shauna, like usual. My suspicions of Edward and Myra are correct when I see them kissing. I flick my eyes over to Tobias and his eyes are the side to plates. I can't help but laugh.
"Check out the stiff's face. It's priceless!" I say, nudging Zeke and laughing. They both look over and laugh with me.
"You're one to talk! If I recall correctly, you dropped a glass of water in your lap when you saw your first kiss!" Shauna says. I laugh with her at the memory. I find my eyes on Tobias again, not to laugh at him, but just because my eyes wander over to him. When he looks at me I immediately flick my eyes away, finally becoming conscious of what I was doing. Of course this doesn't escape the notice of my friends.
"Sizing up the Stiff, aren't you Tris!" Zeke says. "You should get together with him after initiation, if he makes it, of course." I nearly choke on my bread roll.
"What?" I say, completely shocked.
"Don't lie, we saw you staring at him!" Shauna says.
I roll my eyes at her, my cheeks suddenly getting warm. "I was not!"
"Don't deny your feelings! You have them, just like every other person!" Zeke practically yells.
"I prefer my computer to intelligent life forms like yourselves. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go scare the shit out of some initiates." I say, closing the topic, hopefully permanently. There's no way I like Tobias, is there? I shake my head and lead the initiates to the gym.
"Like I said this morning, this afternoon you're going to learn to fight. I'll just teach you technique today, and tomorrow you'll start your fighting one another. The purpose of this is to prepare to you act; to prepare your mind and body to fight against threats and challenges you will face in your life as a Dauntless member. I recommend that you pay attention, those who learn fast won't get their ass kicked."
The initiates watch eagerly as I demonstrate basic punches, blocks and kicks, first in the air, then with a punching bag. I dismiss them to practice on their own, pacing back and forth as the attack the bags. Some of them get really good, really fast, even getting the bags swinging wildly. Edward's stance is perfect, and Christina is incredibly strong for someone so skinny. Peter attempts more advanced kicks, always trying to show off, much like Eric. I stop by Tobias and watch his form. He has excellent footwork, but his arms are too far apart. I step in front of him and grab his wrists to bring his guard closer, covering both his face and his ribs. My hands prickle at point of contact.
"Your footwork is perfect, but bring your arms closer together, protect your face and your ribs." I say. He locks eyes with me, and for the first time I notice the peculiar shade of them, a dark, dark blue, almost black, with a patch of light blue at the edge of his iris. He nods, and I release him and step away, watching him for a few seconds, his stance is much better than before, I grin and keep walking. I try not to think of Zeke or Shauna's words until I dismiss them for dinner. After they leave I get all of five seconds peace and quiet before they come barging in. Zeke throws me over his shoulder and shriek, kicking and punching at him.
"Zeke!" I yell, "Put me down you asshole!"
"Not until you admit that you like the Stiff!" He responds. I stop kicking and wrap my legs around him, shifting my body weight; he doesn't expect it and falls to the ground, me on top of him.
"I don't like the stiff! And you need to work on your tackling skills!"
"Whatever you say, Trissy." He says. I scowl at the nickname and get off of him and help him up.
"Just admit you're a lonely girl and in need of a man in your life!" Shauna yells.
"I don't like him and you need to stop trying to pair me with every boy I meet! I still remember when you tried to hook me up with Uriah!" I say, glaring at Zeke. He frowns for a second, and then joins in laughing with Shauna and me. I roll my eyes and leave the training room.