A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~twenty-seven~

Chapter 27

The past day-and-a-half have flown by in a flurry of bullets, punches, kicks, and sweat. Although the misfits have only been practicing what Tobias and I taught them for two-and-a-half days, I have noticed some minor improvement with everyone except for Zoey and Olivia but for markedly different reasons. Zoey is small and frail and doesn't have a lot of control over the handgun or power behind her punches or kicks but Olivia just plain doesn't give a shit, and I'm still trying to figure out what she's doing here. The remainder of the transfers are progressing as expected except for Grant and Brody, they are at a completely different level than everyone else. I look forward to a bout between the two sometime in the future. It will be close.

We gained another initiate after Tori, Will, Harrison, Tobias, and I talked about Murphy's breakdown during weapons training on Tuesday. Tori and Will wanted her kicked out immediately but the rest of us thought she deserved a second chance after listening to Dr. Shaw's assessment of her condition. I had Zander call her for a consultation since we trust her. After a long, heated discussion, the others agreed to Tobias taking responsibility for Murphy's training. Although she still sleeps with the Dauntless-born, she does her training with the transfers. She works a couple hours on target practice then talks to Dr. Shaw for the remainder of the morning and rejoins us after lunch for fight training. The psychiatrist thinks this transition period might be easier for her if she spends it with new faces.

Tobias and I have been going straight home after we pick up the kids from daycare and practically passing out. I had no idea that spending the majority of my day in the training room watching initiates train could be so exhausting. We've been pretty useless. We basically feed the kids, spend a little quality time together as a family, and then go to bed. Sex hasn't even crossed our minds since the night Tyler's bad dream interrupted us. Thankfully, he hasn't had a repeat nightmare, and Tessa is finally feeling better. She's even sleeping through the night again. I'm not sure I could have continued getting up every three hours and still function during the day.

Tobias and I each grab a couple slices of sausage, green pepper, and onion pizza in the cafeteria and head up to his old apartment, which is still vacant so we can eat and have a little alone time. I'm sure he has something else in mind but after I eat the cheesy deliciousness, I promptly fall asleep in his arms. He wakes me what feels like two minutes later telling me it's time to go.

"I let you sleep as long as I could," he says from the living room as I use the bathroom. "We have to get back to the training room. Are you alright with me making the pairs?"

"Sure," I say, shutting off the lights and stepping out into the hallway. He takes me by surprise when he pushes me up against the wall and kisses me passionately.

"Mmm," I murmur. "You taste good." He must have brushed his teeth. We let our tongues slowly dance until he groans and pushes away from me.

"What I wouldn't give to take you back in that room, rip off all your clothes, and make you scream my name ... four or five times," he says with his mouth pressed up against my ear and every inch of his body pressed against me, sending a shiver through my suddenly heated body.

"Don't tease, baby," I say, suddenly feeling weak in the knees.

"Tonight? If we're not too tired?" I enthusiastically nod my head at him.

We're the last ones to make it to the training room but it's still a couple minutes before 1:30. I feel a sense of pride knowing that the misfits are listening to us. Tobias heads towards the faded black punching bags, and the transfers follow closely behind him silently. The air suddenly chances becoming dense with equal parts apprehension, fear, and excitement as we await the first practice fights to begin. My eyes scan the transfers who are standing on either side of the big green chalkboard that hangs on the wall to the left of the fighting ring, nervously watching Tobias as he writes the names of the fight pairs.