I think I fixed it...? XD

Hey, guys! Thanks again for all of the awesome support! :D This chapter is a bit short, and it's kind of a filler since I just realized I don't really have a plot for this story... The reason I write one-shots is because I like showing the connection between Tobias and Tris without having to worry about conflict and stuff like that. So I have a question: Should I get Tris and Tobias together soon and end the story at that? Or should I write more fillers like this that develop their relationship gradually (which would become tedious and boring to read, so it's not my preference)? Or should I let them get together whenever they feel like getting together (which would probably be sooner than later), and then just write a bunch of filler chapters of their life as a couple? Idk, I'm pretty open to any of these ideas, so I'd like to know what you're interested in reading!

And I apologize that I'm kind of crappy at plot development... I have difficulty coming up with things to have happen, even if I have a general idea of a conflict, and I don't want to bore you to death XD Thanks in advance, and I hope you can forgive me! Love you all - Loopy

Tobias's third session was late in the day, beginning at four, and since he'd gotten off work at two and had nothing better to do, he went early again. It hadn't been a bad thing the first time, right? So this would just give him more time to see Tris, even if she was with another client. He'd be content watching her work from the lobby.

But as it turns out, he couldn't have been more wrong. She was working on another client when he came in, and while a part of him knew it was perfectly reasonable for that client to be a man, a much larger part of him was seething at the sight of her nimble hands working on someone else.

He tried to keep his face neutral as he plopped into one of the armchairs, nodding to Tori in the process. Poe wasn't in his corner, which meant Tris hadn't brought him today, and that left Tobias out of distractions. He could use his phone, he supposed, but an agonizing side of him wanted to watch Tris. So he did.

She was laughing. Her eyes closed, her shoulders shaking, her hand slightly away from his skin - he was getting a tattoo on his thigh - and she was laughing. Tobias felt an unexpected and overwhelming urge to go up and punch the man. She wasn't supposed to laugh like that for him.

What are you talking about? he mentally scolded himself. She was a tattoo artist, naturally social and a specialist in making people feel comfortable. Of course she was funny to other people, too. And he tried to tell himself it was good she was laughing, even if he wasn't the one causing her happiness.

Twenty minutes passed with him sitting there, silently wishing he'd just waited until his appointment time, listening to bits and pieces of her conversation with the man, until they both stood. Tobias's head lifted automatically with the movement, now noticing the lighthouse on his thigh was bandaged and completed. He walked with Tris to her desk, presumably paying, before they made it out to the lobby.

"Thank you so much, Tris," the man said, his voice scratchy. Tobias wondered briefly if he smoked. He hoped he did; Tris had mentioned before how annoying she thought the habit was.

"It's no problem, Al. Lighthouses are pretty straightforward." There was a slight pause, and Tobias felt a wave of relief at how unnaturally conversation with this man came to Tris. "And thank you for putting up with me."

"That's no problem for me, Tris." He smiled. It was too big for his face, and it made him look even more like a teddy bear. "You're really kind." His voice was admiring. In any other circumstance, Tobias would feel jealous, but when he thought of Tris he thought of sarcasm and spite and bravery and brilliance; not once when he pictured her face did he associate her with kindness. Kindness was too dull a word for the selfless practice she used.

Tris laughed again, but it was mostly air. Tobias had never heard the sound come out of her before. She waved her hand in the air between them, as if waving off the compliment.

It was then that she noticed Tobias. She couldn't see anything but his right leg and arm around Al's large frame, but she was sure it was him. His golden skin was unmistakable, especially since she thought about it so much…

"Well, Al, I hope you have a nice evening," she said politely, now trying to hurry to what she'd been waiting for these past couple weeks. Today she'd finish filling in the symbols for the virtues, and then in three weeks would be the coloring. After that, they'd have to wait two months before seeing each other again, when he'd come back for touch-ups.

And then…

"Tris-" Tobias sneezed. He didn't necessarily mean to cut off Al's inevitable date invitation; it just kind of happened. But when it did, both the man and Tris turned to look at him.

Tris scowled a bit, moving her mouth to keep it from grinning. He'd done that on purpose, without a doubt, and she was glad for the rescue. Albert was a nice man, a simple man, but she wasn't really looking for a relationship with someone like that. He'd make her feel lesser than him, like she should be kinder, and it would kill her to pretend to be.

"Could you at least try not to get your sickness all over my shop?" she couldn't help herself. She stepped slightly to the side, now meeting Tobias's surprised, grinning eyes. But his mouth was frowning, too. She could tell they were both holding in snickers.

"What do you care?" he sneered, scrunching his nose a bit. Tris noted how adorable the movement was, then returned to their banter as he continued. "It's not like you ever clean this shithole." He seemed to know exactly how to get under her skin. Her shop was her baby, her life, and he'd just accused her of not caring about it.

He was joking, she knew, of course he was. But she made a memo to herself to dig the needle in a bit deeper during their session today, as he was digging into her nerves now. With that revenge planned, she lamely growled, "Fuck you," before turning back to Al, who looked appalled.

But Tobias wasn't finished, just as he knew she wasn't. She wouldn't back away from the challenge he'd just presented; that wasn't like her. She must be saving it for later… He, however, was not that civil. So, as Al said one last awkward goodbye and started heading for the door, Tobias quipped, "Maybe some day," being sure to say it loud enough for the man to here before he slammed the door behind him.

Tobias supposed it was a protective instinct of his, to let Al know that Tris was his, despite the immature comment. He turned his gaze from the door to her, expecting to see her shoulders squared, arms crossed, eyes burning with a scowl lining her lips.

But she was blushing. Shoulders stiff, body frozen, eyes wide. They weren't blue.

She's...afraid? That didn't seem right, didn't seem like her, but he'd never seen this expression on her before. He stood up and moved towards her, brow furrowed, and it snapped her back to reality. His body froze when she backed up a step automatically. I've made her uncomfortable. The thought made him ache. That hadn't been his intention.

Focus, Tris. She took a deep breath, trying to rid her mind of the barrage of images, of thoughts, of insecurities. She admitted Tobias was very attractive, and even that she had some feelings for him, a crush of sorts.

But she hadn't considered…. Even after twenty-three years, she hadn't been with someone like that. She'd had a lot to deal with in her high school career, spending most of her junior and senior years in a hospital, and after her eighteenth birthday, she was on a straight path to becoming a tattoo artist. The only guy she'd had time to have feelings for was Poe. Her whole life, she'd never planned on getting married, having kids. It seemed nice in the movies, but she had a job, a passion, and she didn't have time to go searching for something that could potentially destroy her.

Whoa, slow down… She'd only just met this guy, and he'd simply made a joking comment about sex, and she was losing her mind, thinking of everything she didn't want and didn't need.

Tris shook her head. She had a tattoo to work on. "Sorry, lost my train of thought for a second," she tried to laugh it off as she led him back to his workstation.

Tobias's insides twisted at the breathy sound of the laugh she'd given Al. What had he done? Was it his comment?

Once he was inside the room and seated, he did the only thing he could think to do. "So who was that?" He couldn't keep the undertone of jealousy out of his voice, although he really tried to.

Tris shook her head again. Al was one of her regulars, although the tattoos he requested were usually small, minimalistic. She wasn't quite sure why he came to such a high key place for such simple art, but she didn't complain. Business was business.

"Al. He's one of my usuals." Tobias felt the pang again. That meant she saw that man all the time. Perhaps he did know her better than Tobias did. Perhaps she did have an underlying kindness that outshined her spitefulness at times.

Perhaps he'd been reading this situation all wrong.

But she continued speaking, her tone slightly annoyed. "He's an annoying prick, to be honest. But he's business, so what can you do?"

Tobias's laugh was probably too loud, too relieved at her admission, but he didn't care. Most of the worry flooded away as she prepared the needle.

"Hey," she accused once his shirt was off, causing him to turn his head to look at her. It strained his neck a bit, since he was lying on his stomach, but it was worth it to see the blue back in her eyes. They narrowed at him. "You left early last time. I just remembered."

He just shrugged. It was infuriating that he could shake off his rude action that easily, but she was somewhat grateful to him. Once she'd woken up, panicked and apologetic, Tori had handed her a coffee from the place down the street, grinning easily at her. "He wanted you to sleep. Said it seemed like you needed it. He wasn't upset, don't worry."

She'd felt a bit better after that, and even more so at Tori's "You should have seen his grin," but the guilt inside of her was causing her to confront him about it. It was her pride, her stubbornness, and she hated it, but Tobias seemed unphased.

"You looked...tired. Figured you needed the rest." Tris didn't know what to say to that, so she jokingly took it as an insult, punching his side lightly.

Tobias winced as he laughed. Didn't know she could pack a punch, but I don't know why I'm surprised. "See. You're back to your chipper self," he chirped, earning himself a glare. He watched her eyes as she brought her hands closer to her face, allowing her to better see what she was doing. The movement triggered his memory, and he abruptly laughed.

Tris was confused by his laugh, skeptical, so she didn't make him turn his head right away once she was set up. Instead, she watched his expression, watched his eyes. They were playful, like he was debating whether or not to tell a secret, and it pissed Tris off. She didn't have time for these mind games.

"You're full of surprises, you know," he said matter-of-factly. She quirked an eyebrow at him. "I figured you had tons of tattoos, since you're an artist and all." Tris scoffed. Tobias grinned as she told him to turn. He did so, although he was slightly disappointed he wouldn't be able to watch her reaction. Still, he thought of the small ball he'd seen on her wrist, and he finished with a cheeky, "I didn't know you were into Pokemon. That's hot."

He laughed heartily as he felt the needle bury itself too deep in his skin.