Price.

If there was one thing Tris had learned from the ordeal that had started the moment her blood fell and burned in Dauntless's fire at the Choosing Ceremony, it would be that everything, everything, had a price.

Another thing she had learned would be that it was almost always someone else who paid it for you.

Because she couldn't forgive, Al had paid with his life.

Because she had shot Will, Christina had lost her love, both for life and her friends.

Because she kept secrets, she caused the others to second-guess themselves and their relationships.

Because she was Dauntless, her parents had lost a daughter.

But, she had also learned that it wasn't just her that made people pay, oh no, she'd paid a good deal herself as well.

In order to keep Dauntless safe and unbroken, she had paid with her humanity. Sacrificing it so she could become the cold killer and guardian they needed.

To help Christina deal with her pain, Tris had fallowed her wishes and left her alone. Losing Christina as a friend in all but the most public occasions, when they were forced to be together by the public's expectations.

As a way to keep her brother safe, she had sent him faraway to Candor, with the knowledge that he'd never forgive her for not letting him fight.

In order to keep her new home as it needed to be, she'd gave up her every human fear she still had and became their new leader.

No one knew of this, though. Tris had given up her ability to wear her heart on her sleeve before she'd ever stepped foot in Dauntless. The only person who really had a clue was Tobias, and even then she tried to keep him at a distance when that subject was approached.

It wasn't hard really, she mused. Giving so much up and hiding so much more. When you thought about it, both the aforementioned things were really just the basics of being an Abnegation, something she had spent so much time practicing at that it was impossible for it not to stick.

Sacrificing your wants and hiding your needs.

Paying willingly and keeping quiet about it.

Never taking more than absolutely necessary.

That was why the Abnegation were the leaders, she supposed. Not because the embodied selflessness and had a holy want to help others, but because from the moment they were born, they were taught how to give everything up. How to pay for everyone and thing that needed it, and how to do it with the most utter and utmost silence.

Holy hell, can you believe it? I just completed a chapter that A) didn't fight me. B) I actually like. And C) isn't ridiculously short! It's a bloody miracle!

But anyway, on to other things.

1. Can you believe we're on chapter 16? Just ten more drabbles nd we're done! *Brakes out in happy/sad tears.*

2. Thank Yous! They go to: Pixie Clouds (love the username), LiveLaughLove53, iuhcidieh, Awesomet88, HyDrOmAtlc (my first and best Reviewer), TheyCantSeeMe4WhoIAm and gracie1998.

Okay, and also I'd like to ask you all something.

Recently I got a lovely PM asking me to do a piece (which will most likely be a separate 1000-2000 word oneshot with romance and tragedy for the genres) for the currently nonexistent fanfiction pairing of AlXTris. Why am I telling you this? Because I'd like to know if anyone else thinks I should do it.

Anyway, I hope to see you all in the Reviews/Favourites/Alerts! (Ps. don't forget to give your answer on the AlXTris thing.)

Thank You and Sincerely,

BlackRoseGirl666