Colors

Tribus

"What are you talking about?" I asked Ben. He smirked.
"Follow me," he gestured, and I hesitantly followed. He led me over to a large cabinet, and, feeling around underneath it, pulled out a magnificent, shining key. He stuck it in the cabinet and it opened, and I found that it was hollowed out and a huge hole spanned across the back. Through the hole was another hole in the wall. So, you went through the holes to reach whatever was on he other side, I assumed.

"What is this?" I asked, crossing my arms, slightly annoyed. Ben narrowed his eyes at me and crouched down in the cabinet.

"This is the way to get to the heart and soul of Black- and no, it's not the headquarters. It's the Black City."

"The Black City?" I ridiculed. "That sounds like the name of some storybook city."

"Watch it," Ben merely replied, glaring at me.

"Gosh, sorry. Quick-tempered, I guess," I muttered, crossing my arms like I was bored. But really, I wasn't. I was extremely excited to explore this so-called Black City.
Before we left, Ben gave me a backstory of the city.

As the colors were developed with strict guidelines, the creators knew that there would be some people who just didn't fit in. They knew that they would be... Different. Just like me.
The Black Society was the last to be created, but unlike the other Colors, there were no guidelines. You didn't have to be overjoyed all the time and you didn't have to have a rambunctious Disposition; the one rule upon entering Black was that you didn't fit in anywhere else. Never have, never will: that's how the story goes.
Once you're deemed Black, you have to pass initiation. Ben admitted that he pulled his little "let's take a detour" bit on everyone. To pass, you need to show bravery in one of two ways: you either have to willingly get a tattoo, or (what most people do) have the guts to say no. The others are the ones who chicken out at the last second, and those are the ONLY ones who are sent to the Death Row. So my childhood wasn't a complete lie after all.
After passing initiation, the escort is supposed to lead you right through the cabinet and wall, but Ben and I got a little... carried away. And so, here we are, in the present.
The first Blacks knew they needed a secret way to enter and exit their newly developed city, so they made a secret entrance in none other than the tattoo parlor. They obviously had to build the parlor first, which was risky, seeing it was inside of the Chromata HQ. However, they managed to convince the government to build the initiation site, and soon, the Black headquarters building project was complete. You would enter through a secret doorway (the cabinet) to a long tunnel, and after walking through, you'd finally reach your destination.

"And so," Ben finished,"that is the full history of Black. Now, are you coming or not?"

I nodded. Then, to my surprise, he stepped out.

"I kind of need my clothes back," Ben told me. I grinned and blushed, realizing he was still in his boxers.

"I'll go change," I said, but Ben stopped me.

"Where are you going? I need my shirt too you know," he replied. I took off his shirt and slammed it in his chest.

"My God, Ben, this is ridiculous. If you want to go 'commando' with someone, it's not going to be me. You don't understand, Ben, I'm a girl! Not to be sexist, but maybe guy Blacks are more comfortable with stripping than us girls are. We just met and I slept with you- NAKED, for goodness sake! If this is how you are, if this is how you're going to be, then that's fine, but we're done!" I was nearly screaming. "You better pull your shit together or I'll literally snap your neck."
Ben was silent. He looked at the ground.
"I meant what I said before," he said softly. "About taking it slow. There are some extra clothes in that cabinet."

He walked to the bedroom, probably to change, and I stood there for a moment, slightly dumbfounded at myself. Then, I took a breath and walked to the cabinet, where I grabbed a handful of clothes and slipped into the bathroom to change.

I emerged minutes later. I was wearing a tight, V-cut black tank top. It had 2- inch thick gray stripes in the front, that didn't wrap around and stopped an inch before the seam. My bottoms were tight, shiny, leathery- looking black capri leggings. I was also wearing black lace-up combat boots. My hair was tied in a ponytail like my mother had taught me. My mother. I almost winced at the thought. Almost.

I noticed that Ben had changed, too. He was wearing a simple black t-shirt and long black workout pants. His hair was what struck me the most. It was naturally a light brown/dark honey color and yesterday, Ben had it sculpted in the front. However, today, he still had it flipped up, but he had shaved part of the sides of his head. I had to admit, it looked pretty cool. For the first time, I also noticed his earrings.

"New look?" I asked him, as he simultaneously told me: "Nice body."
I blushed, realizing for the first time how my natural curves were showing.

"Thanks," I replied, still marveling his beauty. He was naturally handsome, and he looked a lot like the boy who was in front of me yesterday: piercing eyes, a square jaw. They both had this naturally handsome quality that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"Yeah, I decided to switch it up a bit," Ben replied. He didn't say anything else. After a long pause, I knew I had to break the silence.

"That's it?" I asked. "You aren't gonna say anything else?"

"No, I'm not, actually," Ben replied assertively. "You told me to pull my shit together, and I am. But have you know, this isn't me, and I'm not going to like it. You have to understand, Ventus, all Blacks are like this. All of us are showy and provocative and both the boys and girls are comfortable with 'stripping,' as you put it. We're very demonstrative and we show what we feel, and I just felt so incredibly passionate about you from the moment I laid eyes on you that I decided to show it. If you're not willing to accept the Black lifestyle, living in the edge, being wild and free... please, Ventus, for your own good, leave and return to your smoky gray life of wonder. Don't come with me if you're not ready to embrace this lifestyle." He took a breath.

"But, Ben, what I don't understand is why I have to be someone else when in Black, I just came to be myself."

"You can be yourself, in your own way. That's how it's been, that's how it'll always be."

"But we can change that. Can't you see that society needs a change?"

"Change? Our society is perfect, that's all it is, and all it will ever be. The only way to escape is... well..."

"To pass the wall."

"Yeah."

"What? You don't think I can do it?" I asked, challenging Ben.

"No, actually, I don't. I don't think you can do it. It's virtually impossible."

"Well, I'm about to prove you wrong. I bet that by the sundown of December 31st, the last day of the year, I will have found a way to bypass the wall."

"Fine. I'll take you on."

"And if I win... you come with me to see what's out there."

"And if you lose, you let me tattoo your breasts."

"What? No freaking way. Nuh-uh."

"Then you better win."

"Fine. I will."

I turned away smugly, feeling the rush of energy die down. I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding. Then, I turned back to Ben. He stood under the cabinet, with his head ducked and his knees bent, and outstretched a hand to me.

"So, my beautiful Ventus, are you coming?"

I took his hand and let him lead me through the holes to my new life.