As usual, Four rises early and heads to the training room to attempt to put together today's fighting pairs. He has decided to start Tris off with Will. He knows Will won't go 100% at her and it will still help her with her ranking. As he enters the arena, he sees a figure standing by the chalkboard. Eric turns around, putting down the chalk in his hand, smirking at Four. "I knew you got here early but this is a little ridiculous. Don't worry I already took care of it. I want to speed things along; really get to know the initiates." As he says this, Four catches a glint of something in Eric's eyes but can't quite place it. As his eyes drift over the board, he notices Tris' name in the last spot, across from Peter.
In that instant, Four realizes two things. Tris is being punished for his actions by the chasm yesterday and if that is the case, Eric must suspect his feelings for her. "What do you think Four? Should be an interesting day today shouldn't it?" Eric gives him a hard look, waiting for him to react. Four has been suppressing his true feelings for a while so it is the only saving grace in this situation. The thoughts inside of him are screaming, cursing at Eric for doing this to her and knowing he is going to have to watch it, yet he keeps his face calm, relaxed as if the board has no effect on him. His brain moves quickly finding an explanation for what he is about to say.
"It looks good except for Edward's pairing. Molly isn't much of a challenge for him. After watching all of them during practice, I notice Peter is much closer to Edward's skill level and it would be a good chance for both of them to fight someone more equally trained." His face is blank, showing no emotion except for a trainer looking to get the most out of his initiates. Inside him, a war is waging between smashing Eric's face in and running, grabbing Tris, and leaving the compound forever or staying to see this through. The latter of the two win out with the hope that he can do something to help her.
"Well, I admit a fight between them would be interesting, but I think seeing what the Stiff has to offer would be much more beneficial today." Eric begins to leave the room, "I'm going to grab breakfast. These matches are final, no matter how much you are attached to the Stiff." He walks out and Four is frozen to the spot for a moment and then walks over to the gun cabinet, removes a weapon, and fires as many rounds as he can imagining Eric's face on the target. His emotions are in check when everyone begins to arrive.
They all file in, nervously checking the board to see what hell they will be put through today. Four's entire mind is focused on Tris and her reaction to the board. Her face pales and eyes widen as she reads the name next to hers, glancing at him for a second. He realizes she must think he did it, why would she think any different, and he immediately curses Eric wondering if this was part of his plan. Christina walks up to Tris and looks in the direction she is looking. Four watches her read the board, swear under her breath, and put a protective arm around Tris. How he wishes it was him comforting her, reassuring her he doesn't want her to fight Peter anymore than she does. But he walks over and announces the first fight, trying to remove himself from this situation as much as possible.
As the fights progress, Eric reenters the room and Four sees that disgusting smug smile on his face. He glances at Four and it's all Four can do to pull the corner of his mouth up in a half greeting. Her fight approaches and he sees Al move closer to her, which really sets off Four's emotions. As he wanders around the room, he nonchalantly moves in their direction and overhears Al saying, "Maybe just take a few hits and fall down. They might take mercy on you." Tris nods along but Four knows she is smart enough to know this would not be smart after what happened to Christina. He hears the others in the corner and glances over at Peter stretching and mouthing off to Drew and Molly about this upcoming fight. Four fights the urge to punch him in his smart-ass mouth.
The two enter the arena and Four is about ready to call it off. He pushes himself further away from the arena as he hears Peter begin to taunt Tris. "Alright there Stiff? It looks like you are going to cry." Four's back is up against the wall next to the door, pressing his body weight against it, fighting the urge to intervene. He knows this is just as much of a test for him as it is for Tris. Eric will be watching him to try to confirm his suspicions of Four having feelings for her. He pushes his body away from the wall and tries to attempt a casual stance but finds his body rigid as Peter's next taunt is spit at Tris. "C'mon Stiff. Just one little tear, maybe some begging." Four wants to tear him apart, silently rooting for a miracle, hoping Tris at least remembers to look for weaknesses. He knows Peter is lacking in that area but he is grasping at any hope she will make it out of this.
Eric seems amused as Tris is thrown to the ground after attempting to kick Peter in the side. Four realizes she is terrified and trying anything she can to get the first hit in. She is letting that fear take her over. 'Get up Tris! He won't be afraid to kick you down there!' Four screams in his head. "Stop playing with her," Eric demands, as Four clenches his fists.
He thought he was bracing himself but the first blow to Tris' head makes him step slightly forward. He roots his feet to the spot and refuses to take another step. As he watches, he can see Tris is disoriented. He watches her take a kick to the stomach and feels it in his own. Her breath is forced from her body as she crashes to the floor and he can barely bring any air into his lungs either. She struggles to her feet and he lets a small smile escape thinking, 'Smart girl, stay off the ground. Peter is all about the cheap shots.'
Peter wastes no time and Four barely has time to brace himself as Peter grabs Tris by the hair and punches her in the nose. He hears the bone crunch and pop while his nails cut into his palms from clenching them so hard. Before she can gather herself, Peter punches her in the ribs and smirks at Tris as he throws her to the ground. Four realizes she is barely conscious and would call this fight if Eric weren't here. She is stumbling but gets back to her feet. Peter doesn't hesitate and kicks her in the side causing her to stumble, her feet barely able to support her.
He can feel Eric's eyes on him as the fight continues. Four tries to keep his face neutral as Tris attempts a weak punch at Peter's stomach but when he slaps her across the face, the perfect mask drops. Eric must know now, if he didn't before, as Four storms out of the arena unable to watch the last moments of this fight. Just as the door closes, he hears her. A piercing scream that will haunt him forever. He knows he is the reason she had to endure that today.
He rushes all the way to Zeke's room, barging in without knocking. Zeke looks surprised as Four finds the punching bag in the closet and begins to smash his hands into it as hard as he can, imagining Peter and Eric's face as he pummels the bag. Zeke eventually pulls him off from it and pushes him on the couch. "What the hell man?" "Eric knows, or at least suspects. He made Tris fight Peter right now. She got the shit beat out of her and the worst part was I had to watch as if it wasn't affecting me. I had to watch him as he joyfully beat her into unconsciousness standing there like it was my job. What if she is permanently injured? You should have heard her scream Zeke, it was chilling. Peter definitely didn't hold back, he was enjoying every second of it, the sadistic son of a bitch." "Four, you've got to calm down. Eric is already suspicious which means you and Tris are in danger. You know he wants any excuse to throw you out. He is just as sadistic as Peter. Take a moment to calm down and then let's head to dinner. If he asks you can tell him you had to meet me and were late. It's a flimsy excuse but maybe he won't put any more thought into you leaving early." Four nodded his head, even though from the look on Eric's face he knew that Eric figured it out, and storming out didn't help.
They head to dinner and Four notices Christina, Will and Al come in without Tris. That must mean she is in the hospital, hopefully without too much damage. As he watches them sit down, Christina looks over at him and gives him a bitchy glare. She must think that was all in his plan, to have Tris beat up. After a few minutes of enduring her glares, Four walks over, grabs her and drags her out of the cafeteria. "What?!" Four demands of her. "Did you enjoy that? Or was it too boring for you since I saw you leave before she was fully unconscious? I know she acts tough but she hasn't been fighting her whole life. She didn't deserve that shit. What were you thinking?" Christina is in his face, not caring that Four is her superior. He admires how she defends her friend. "I have no power when it comes to Eric, he's the one who set up the fights today. What did you want me to do? If I had stopped him I would have been kicked out of Dauntless." "So you let her get the shit beat out her by Peter, a person who hates her and enjoyed every second of that, just to save your own skin? You're pathetic. At least she finally woke up so Peter didn't get what he wanted." Christina turns and walks away from Four. He wished he could tell her it was to save Tris but that would raise too many questions. He breathed a sigh of relief in finding out Tris was awake.
Four decides he is no longer hungry and finds his feet leading him to the infirmary. He sneaks in and sees Tris lying on her bed asleep. He quietly walks over and assesses the damage. Her face is bruised all over and her side is bandaged up. He checks if anyone is around and when he sees no one he very gently glides his hand over her cheek where the lump has already formed from Peter's slap. Four decides he is going to come back later that night to talk with Tris. Even though it is a dangerous choice, he feels like the only way to move forward is to be honest with why he left early.
When he returns late that night, he finds her bed empty, realizing she went back to the dorm. He knows she did it to look strong and not allow Peter any more power than he has, but the thought of her in the same room as him again makes him sick to his stomach. Knowing he isn't going to get any sleep tonight, he heads up the ladder to the glass room. Maybe some time in his own fears will help him move past the idea of her in that room with a monster.