Bare Hands (Sequel To No Sympathy)

Talk

I'm still holding Tris to me well after the Dauntless have secured our safety. I'm not ready to let go of her yet.

"How did you find me?" She asks, her voice muffled by my shirt.

So I tell her.

I explain to her how the gurl came to the hallway and told us what was going on. I tell her how I got the Dauntless to a split up and look for the Divergent and to help the others. She nods every now and then, reassuring me that she's listening.

When I'm done explain in, I let go of her so I can see her face. Although it's partially wet with her tears, they're mostly dried, so I guess that she stopped crying a while ago. She wipes her bloody hand on her pants and glances at Eric's unconscious form.

Then she adverts my eyes and doesn't say anything. It's like her body is with me, but mentally she's a thousand miles away.

After about three minutes of silence, I get up and leave her to whatever it is she's going through. She probably doesn't even want me there right now and it hurts my soul to think that even though I know it's probably true.

Intent on going to the dining hall, I turn the corner, praying that I haven't forgotten the way.

At the end of the hallway, someone is walking in my direction looking just as sullen as I'm sure I must look right now. He looks familiar but I'm not close enough to see exactly who it is.

But as he gets closer, I know exactly where I've seen him before.

"Hey Zeke." I say clapping him on the shoulder. "What happened to you? Everyone's saying you're a traitor."

"Sorry... That wasn't the impression I wanted to you guys to have..." He says, scratching his head.

"So what, you got bored?"

"Are you kidding me? They didn't even have cake. How could I have stayed?" He smirks.

"It's always about the food, isn't it."

"How long have you know me? Of course it's always about the food! A man has to eat you know."

We laugh as if nothing is wrong right now, as if we're the Abnegation transfer and the Dauntless born, him pranking me and me trying to predict it before it happens. It fills me up with the knowledge that if we make the right decisions, everyone can go back to normal, doing whatever it is they liked, just like before the attack.

And as stupid as the idea is, I still let myself believe it for a second or two.

It gives me hope.

"It hasn't been the same without you, Zeke." I say once we've stopped laughing. "You hurt a lot of people, you know that right? Shauna..." I trail off. Something tells me he's been thinking about her a lot lately.

"You know that wasn't what I wanted to happen, Four. Is Shauna mad...?"

"I think she's more sad than mad honestly." I let this sink in, hoping I haven't discouraged him too much. The look on his shows so much vulnerability the he doesn't even resemble the reckless, obnoxious Dauntless boy from years past.

"How did you make it work?" He asks out of the blue. "How did you make it work with Tris?"

Surprised by his question, I hesitate to answer, thinking about our recent fights and encounters.

"To be honest, I don't even think we've made it work."

+++

Of course, Zeke couldnt talk about eating and not want to, because right after our conversation, he beckons me to accompany him to the dining hall. Considering the fact that that was where I was headed before I ran into him, I follow.

When we get there, I spot several Dauntless Traitors milling around, trying to find somewhere to sit, away from the rest of the people. It sickens me to see them among us, but I try my best to ignore it.

When we have gotten our food and are searching for seats, I see that Zeke is eyeing Shauna, who is sitting at a table sort of out of the way alone.

I elbow von and gesture to her when he looks at me. He goes over there.

And then it's my turn to look for Tris.

Its easy to spot her, but when I see what she's doing I wait to go over there.

She's talking to Uriah and they look like they're in deep discussion. She looks relaxed, carefree - the opposite of how she looks around me.

They hug and she walks off, and even though I know there's nothing between them, I still envy their conversation. I'm supposed to be the one that makes her feel that way, and I hate that I'm not.

Now that he's gone, I make my way to get. As much as I want to grab her into my arms and hold her there until the world resets itself and is fine again, but I more that that's like wishing upon stars, which is a waste of time, so I leave the canyon between us untouched.

"You okay?" I ask.

"I swear if I have to answer thay question one more time. I don't have a bullet in me do I? So I'm fine."She snaps.

Her words and attitude are like a knife to my heart. Gosh what have I done?

"You just witnessed a firefight and stabbed Eric. I'm not allowed to ask if you're okay?" I say, hurt.

"I'm fine." She sighs, dropping her frown.

Forget it. I say and wrap her in a fierce hug.

"I have to talk to you about something in private. Do you have anywhere we can go?" She asks after a few minutes.

"Sure. Follow me." I say, breaking the hug and proceeding to the nearest elevator.

+++

Again, forgive me for not updating yesterday! I got grounded right when I was about to start and had to postpone it until today. Hope you liked this! =) FOURTRIS FOUREVER!