Burn Bright (Sequel To Bare Hands)

The Fringe

Tris hasn't checked in for the night.

I check my watch - 10:36 P.M. and past the time that she usually turns in.  I wonder what could be so important that she has to stay out all night.

There's no doubt in my mind - I trust Tris, but I can't keep waiting for her to come back; keep waiting for her to have time for me.

It's about time for me to make myself useful.

And with that thought tucked safely away, I stand up from the doorjamb and leave Tris and the other's room. 

Right away I know where I'm going, although every time I think about it it seems weirder.  Nita is the Pure one that is assigned with showing me the ropes, training me and such.  After deciding how I could make a difference here she is the first one I thought of; the only person of authority that could help me with going through with this.

I know I am only going to inquire about a certain aspect I've never really understood about the Bureau and although that is completely innocent,  if someone were to spot me, they could make it seem like it was something more and it could get back to Tris.

And right now..I'm not confident she'd take my side.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Once I've made it to Nita's room I raise my fist and knock on the door three times to make sure she hears me.

The door opens and her face shows that she's both confused and surprised that I'm here.

"Tobias, what are you doing here?  It's late; you should be resting, we have a long day of training ahead of us." She says with a hand on her hip and a mask placed over her initial surprise.

"The next time you and your superiors go to the Fringe I want in." I say with finality, knowing that if she questions me there isn't much I could do to encourage her to say yes,

She raises an eyebrow. "You're new and barely know how to use the weapons. No way." the way she says it is almost like she wants to say yes but wants to warn me first.

"Then we can train more often.  I'll be fine." 

She takes several long seconds to answer and I'm almost sure she's going to say no when she rolls her eyes. "Fine Dauntless, but don't screw up - you're my responsibility." 

+++

Another week goes by before the next trip to the Fringe.  Nita heeds to my advice and trains me more often and soon I'm almost as good as her - almost.

Time with Tris is hard to come by...she hasn't been getting back before I doze off lately and while it worries me, I don't have that gut feeling I get when she's in danger, so I don't question it - for now.

Right now, she's up in David's office, most likely planning their upcoming trip to the Council - the people who will decide the fate of Chicago - our home, my home. I'm not happy about it being in their hands, but there's only so much I can say out loud.  With Matthew trailing behind Tris at nearly every turn, it's hard for me to talk to her anymore.  Our encounters usually consist of things of the mildly intimate variety.

When I get back to the room after a long shower, my gear and such for the Fringe is laying on my bed.  It looks futuristic - certainly newer than anything we had at Dauntless, but I'm pass the stage of focusing on how much more developed they are.

Now, ten minutes later, I'm dressed in my gear and ready as I can be when the alarm sounds, signaling our soon departure.

I jog out of the room just as Nita is leaving hers and we make our way - side by side - to the boarding station and follow suit.

The man in charge of this ship tells us that it will take maybe fifteen minutes to get to the Fringe.

"Once we land, try to get as many kids as you can. Remember, we're rescuers, not invaders." He tell us. We all nod somewhat and sit back in vain attempts to enjoy the bumpy ride.

It is obvious when we've landed - the door opens immediately after and the rest of my team files out. Nita and I follow suit.

Just as I'm about to go off on my own, Nita catches my forearm. "Just focus on rescuing as many kids as usual and try not to kill." 

It's almost the same thing the captain said on the way here, but it's obvious there is more than just protocol speaking.

I give her a curt nod and go the opposite way.

Subconsciously I signal my drones with my left hand - Nita's training is finally paying off. I send them in the direction in front and around me and moments later, they beep, telling me that a target is near.

In the near distance I hear someone yelling and then rapid footsteps.  Without a second thought I run in that direction, my drones making it nearly impossible to lose them.

As I get closer I see that it's a kid and what looks like his dad. 

"We're not here to hurt you! You're safe!" I yell in their direction as they dip into an oncoming building.

They're not listening to me.

I slide into the building and put my hand out and my weapon to the side. "I'm here to help you, everything is fine." I try to sound as calm as possible, but the kid keeps yelling and his father continues telling me to stay away.

Just then, another Bureau soldier runs out and grabs the kid.  I don't necessarily agree how he's taking him away from his father, but before I can protest, him and the kids father tumble down the steps and a gunshot sounds.

The soldier comes back up

His father does not.

+++

wOAH YALL HEY HOW ARE YOU

I REALLY MISSED YA <3

hope no one's bailed haha