While they were on their way back, Beatrice's face started to swell where Eric had hit her. She touched her check and winced. This was not good. She definitely did not want anyone knowing what happened back there. And now it was literally written on her face.
"Are you ok, Tris?" Tobias carefully offered.
"No, I'm not. Can't you see that?" She motioned to her check. She was still upset with him from before. She didn't want him to leave the faction and that's what was going to happen in a couple months if Tobias got what he wanted.
They walked for a while in silence. Tobias didn't know what to say. He was getting angry with Tris for not seeing his point of view. But how could she? He didn't give a chance to know what was going on for him. She had every right to be upset with him.
"Stop, Tris." Tobias said. Beatrice kept walking. "I said, stop." Tobias took her arm and held it until she stopped.
"I need to tell you this. I know I've hinted at it, but it's not fair to you not to be up front about it." Tobias paused.
Beatrice waited with bated breath. He was opening up to her. He really did care about her and trusted her. She couldn't believe she had been so childish to run away from him. She shouldn't have done that. Look what it got her, a bruised face that she would have to explain.
Tobias started again, "I know you know my father isn't the best. It gets complicated because he's the head of the council, but he's not a good father. He wasn't a good husband to my mother, and I think she died because of him. He's also almost killed me a few times. Let's just say, I've been lucky. But my luck will run out if I don't leave. There's nowhere for me to go but out of here. I need to get away from him. I can't tell anyone, and no one can help me. My only chance is to choose another faction. And that means making the choice to leave you. And that part is killing me. But you need to understand, my hands are tied." He stopped and looked at Tris. He hoped to God that she understood.
Beatrice just stared at him. How stupid could she have been? It was so much worse than she thought! Marcus Eaton could be murderer! She couldn't let him go on hurting Tobias for her own selfish reasons.
"I didn't know how bad it was, I feel so awful. I'm so sorry." Beatrice closed the space between them and she hugged him as tight as she could. "I'm so sorry."
Tobias just relished in her comfort. He hated that he didn't have a normal family, a decent father. He had finally found his reason to stay in Abnegation and it just wasn't going to work out. He hated his father. He was standing between Tobias and happiness yet again.
"Why can't you tell anyone? He shouldn't be head of council! That's not right," Beatrice broke out of their embrace.
"No one would believe me, Tris. He is above everyone. He controls so many things. He has too much power and he knows it. This is the only way to let the system work for me. It's my choice and he can't do anything about it once it happens. He has to let me go."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Beatrice said regretfully. If only she had known, she would have acted differently; she wouldn't have made it so hard for him.
"I don't know. I wanted us to just be us for as long as we could. I didn't want to burden you."
Beatrice could see the pained look in his eyes as they settled on her cheek. It was getting worse, there was definitely going to be a mark. He moved his hand to try to touch the bruise and Beatrice moved her head away. Tobias wasn't deterred, he put his other hand on her other cheek and quickly brought her closer to him in a passionate, hungry kiss.