Four should have let him win. He seemed to move past the Tris issue but Four's pride had to get in the way and now all the transfers were going to be punished. He entered the training room after his morning run to find Eric setting up the knives. These were the most useless aspect of training in Four's eyes but Eric insisted after taking over. Four didn't say a word as he took some practice shots with the rifles before cleaning up and heading over near Eric. Honestly, he was hoping Eric would leave but sadly he realized he was observing or leading the lesson today.
"Remember when we learned about these? What did Amar say about them, the most useless tool a man could wield. As I recall, it was the one thing the mighty Four couldn't master in 20 seconds." Eric was attempting to intimidate Four but in reality all he was doing was revealing how insecure he was around Four. Without saying a word, Four walked over, grabbed three knives and threw them toward the board. All three hit dead center. Four glanced at Eric, "I guess some things take a little longer to perfect." He walked over and grabbed the knives knowing full well he was exposing himself to Eric's anger so close to the knives. Luckily he was saved by the initiates entering the room. He turned to see Eric fuming and Four smirked as he walked toward the back of the crowd. If Eric loved knives so much, he could take the lead today.
"Tomorrow is the last day of stage one. You will complete the last of your fights then but today you will be learning how to aim. Pick up your knives. Pay attention as Four demonstrates the correct technique for throwing knives." No one moved which caused Eric to yell, "Now!" Four let another smirk slip at Eric's lack of self control. How he was chosen to lead this faction was beyond him. Well actually he remembers that day very clearly.
Four was just announced as Number One of their initiate group and was congratulated by Max and a few other leaders he had never seen. Of course, not everyone was happy and he could feel Eric behind him spewing hate to anyone who would listen. "That stiff thinks he can waltz in here and take over? I'll show him." Four knew his threats were empty, no matter what Eric tried to do he would be protected. He made sure of that when he chose whom he stayed friends with. Four was also very careful and observant of his surroundings at all times.
It was the next day and Four was a little groggy from all the partying but as he was called into Max's office to chose his job his head was clear on his choice. He knew Amar had requested that he be streamlined into leadership but Four didn't want it. Leadership meant working with other factions and that was the last thing on his list. As a leader you had to be an open book and Four's was locked very tight, never letting anything escape about who he really was. "Have a seat Four. Well you did it, Amar spoke very highly of you. What is your choice? He recommended we set you up on the road to leadership. Is that something you envision for yourself?" Four pretended like he was thinking really hard about it and answered hesitantly. He had practiced with Zeke knowing he couldn't completely turn this down without suspicion. "Well Max, you know some of my history and I believe it wouldn't be in Dauntless' best interest to have me working with other factions. I really enjoy computers and training so I would rather work in the control room and training initiates." Max seemed shocked but moved forward with it. "If that is what you are aiming for, go for it. Just know I am really disappointed you won't be working with us. After everything Amar said about your results, not to mention your impressive fear landscape scores, you are exactly what we are looking for. Just know the position is yours if you ever want it." With that Four walked out of his office to find himself face to face with Eric. He knew if it was offered to him, Eric would grab the leadership role in a heartbeat. Maybe Four should take it just to keep it from Eric but he knew, deep down, if he ever were asked to visit Abnegation, he would not be able to control himself in the manner befitting a leader.
Four feels Eric's poisonous glance as he walked up to the targets. He knows he pushed him really far earlier with the knives, especially after beating him so badly last night. Four could feel everyone's eyes on him, especially Tris'. He had become attuned to her stare. He holds his arm steady, adjusts his stance so it's perfect, focuses not on the middle of the board but the whole thing. Having too much tunnel vision can cause a person to become tense. As he throws, hitting the middle each time, he exhales feeling tension leave his body. Eric doesn't enjoy seeing him throw perfectly again, Four assumes a little part of him wished he would mess up in front of the initiates but he is perfect every time.
"Line up!" Eric barks again. Everyone scrambles for a spot as Eric paces behind them like a caged animal. He notices Tris practing her stance and throw before even handling a knife. Smart girl, but unfortunately Peter notices and Four is tempted to let a knife slip when he hears him snidely say, "I think the stiff's taken too many hits to the head! Remember what a knife is stiff?" Surprisingly Tris ignores him and Four watches her closer. She picks up a knife, finds the balance in her hand, sets her stance, and lets the knife fly. Although it doesn't stick, she is the first person to hit the board and Four can't stop the smile on his face. The smile widens when Four hears her say, "Remember what a target is?" to Peter. This girl has fire in her.
As Four watches the initiates, they are all getting the grasp of throwing the knives except Al. He fumbles with them, weakly throws them, and hasn't hit the target yet. Eric notices and zeros in on him. Four moves closer to intervene is possible but realizes Al needs to step it up. "Candor, how slow are you? Do you need glasses? Should I move the target closer to you?" Four feels he should step in when Al throws another knife and it clatters to the floor. Four realizes he is the opposite of Tris, she wakes up in the face of fear and challenges, but Al shuts down.
At this point, everyone has stopped as Eric yells. "What was that initiate?" Al unwisely responds, "It slipped." Eric, being the bully he always is, insists, "Well then go get it." Four realizes what he means and knows he should step in but not when Eric is in this type of mood. He stands back to see how this is going to unfold. Eric turns to everyone else and snaps, "Did I tell you all to stop?" People start throwing again and Four turns back to see Al grow a backbone at the exact wrong time. "Go get it?" Al asks. "But everyone's still throwing!" Eric just stares at him. "I don't want to get hit." Al remarks. "I think you can trust your fellow initiates to aim better than you. Go….get….your….knife." Eric stands his ground and again Four wants to smack Al for talking back. "No." "Why not, are you afraid?" 'Walk away Al, you won't win this,' Four thinks. "Yes, I do fear getting stabbed by an airborne knife." Honesty was his biggest mistake.
Eric smirks and then screams, "Everyone stop! Clear out of the ring, except you." He motions at Al. "Stand in front of the target." Al shakes as he walks there. Four knows what is coming next, he grits his teeth waiting for it. "Four, help me out." 'So that is how it's going to be,' Four thinks, 'I beat you at capture the flag and you make me throw knives at my initiates.' Four steps up looking bored, hoping to diffuse the situation. "Is this really necessary?" Eric turns and stares at Four and Four stares back. "Well since I have the authority here, yes I do think it is."
Four realizes neither he nor Al are getting out of this. He just hopes the big oaf can stand there long enough to appease Eric. As he grabs his knives he hears her intake of breath making him realize he has another thing other than Al to worry about. 'Keep your mouth shut Tris, he isn't worth it.' Four thinks. As he steps up to the line, he hears her and winces. "Stop!" She pushes her way out of the crowd. Her eyes meet Four's and he gives her a hard look, telling her to shut her mouth. She turns toward Eric, "Any idiot can stand in front of a target, bullying doesn't prove anything." Eric turns toward Four and raises his eyebrow and turns back to Tris, knowing full well this is going to be hell for Four. "Well then you won't have a problem taking his place."
She takes his place and Four has no idea how he got into this situation. His eyes meet her's and she stares back at him intensely, showing complete trust in him. Four looks down at the knives in his hands and takes a deep breath. He sees her tilt her chin up, showing her bravery to everyone watching. Four sets his stance and then knows what he needs to do to protect her, wake her up. "If you flinch, Al takes your place." He says slowly carefully, appealing to her Abnegation side. She nods slightly and Four sees her eyes harden even more. Four lifts his hand, pulls his elbow back, and visualizes the board to her right and releases. The knife hits the board near her cheek. Wanting to keep her on edge where she performs her best, he goads her more. "You about done stiff?" "No," she answers defiantly burning him with her gaze. "Eyes open then," Four says as he taps his forehead. Tris' eyes connect there and he launches the second knife just above her head. "Come on Stiff, let someone else stand there and take it." "Shut up Four!" she yells at him. Four may have gone too far but now he needs to convince himself he can do what needs to be done. Eric is not going to end this until she is bleeding and he needs to be strategic. Just enough to satisfy him.
Four raises the last knife and stares her down, trying to apologize in advance for what he was about to do. It was necessary and he wished he didn't have to. He checks his stance, evens his breathing, visualizes the area for the knife, and releases. He hears her and the entire room gasp as blood runs down Tris' ear. Eric smiles and states, "I'd love to stay and see if the rest of you are as daring but I think that's enough for today." He walks over to Tris, grabs her shoulder in approval and strides out of the room followed by everyone but her. Four releases the breath he never holds and looks up at her. She is furious and headed toward him. "Is you-" "You did that on purpose!" she screams. "Yes I did, and you should thank me for helping you."
"Thank you? You almost stabbed my ear and you spent the entire time taunting me! What thanks do you deserve?" Four turned and glared at her, unable to comprehend how she doesn't understand how much danger she was just in. "You know I'm getting a little tired of waiting for you to catch on!" He backs away, close to saying things that can't be taken back. She, of course, pursues as is natural for her. "Catch on to what? That you wanted to prove to Eric how tough you are? That you're sadistic just like him!" That was Four's limit, he was nothing like Eric and it killed him to have her thinking that way. "I am not sadistic," he said in an even tone, "If I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would have already?" Four can't look at her and storms out of the room after slamming a knife down so hard it sticks upright. He may have feelings for her but after hearing that all he can think about is every time his mother confronted his father and said those same words. Four wanted to check her ear but now was not the time. As he walked down the hallway he hears her scream out in frustration and he wants to do the same.