Ellie squints in the dark, checking her mouth, but it seems like nothing's broken. Just a bleeding lip, a blacked eye, probably some bruises under her clothes. A bruise is already starting to darken around Ellie's cheekbone and forearms, but she got off easily compared to the others.
"Well, now we're even."
She pauses, then flashes a smile. She remembers her. First jumper, Tris- and the girl who got into the zipline headfirst. She stands out. Though Ellie notices the shaking, she doesn't mention it. Instead she nudges her elbow, not ungently, urging her away from the area. The boys will come to in a bit, and Molly will probably be alerting someone. They don't want to be found.
Suddenly, intensely, she flashes back to the first time she met Riley properly. She was older, an initiate at the time. Had saved her from something very much like this. At the time, Ellie hadn't been grateful. Within the Dauntless, requiring saving is a blow to one's pride, and it makes others see you as weak.
At least, back then, Ellie had seen it that way. Riley had showed her how wrong she was. How there was bravery in standing up for someone. How there was strength in sharing a burden with friends. She shook the memory away.
"C'mon, let's go get you cleaned up."
Ellie leads the way through the dark halls of the complex, finding a smaller bathroom they can slip into. She wets a paper towel and reaches out to hold it to Tris's lip.
"Here, put the cold part on there and press down. Theeeere ya go."
By the time they slip into the bathroom, the shaking has stopped. Movement helps. Anything to keep going, anything to not think. Her lip is still bleeding, and every breath she takes stings. She doesn't remember where the blows fell, but the taste of blood is in her mouth either way. Her pride stings too, but more because she got caught, again. Wandering around alone, again. But she won't let the fear of them dictate where she goes and when.
But the walk gives her time to get a better look at her rescuer, too. She remembers her from capture the flag and the zipline. Ellie had been one of the first Dauntless-born Four picked for his team, and she didn't have to make herself memorable by stepping on her feet.
"You do this often? Just jump into a fight?"
Paper towel or no, she can't stop herself from asking.
"Some people just need their asses kicked. It's like a public service."
Ellie flashes a smile while she rinses her fingers, leans back in to check the bruising around Tris's eye. Looks nasty, but doesn't seem to have any fractures. She's been helping in the medical wing for ages now, she knows her injuries.
After a moment, the smile sobers into something more serious, as she gently prods the area with her fingertips.
"And it's not exactly my first rodeo, either. So when I see shit like that... it just pisses me off. Especially since Eric won't do a fucking thing about cowards like that in the ranks."
Tris flinches at the prod. Her eye's already swelling shut, but she can't tell how bad it is. Doesn't have any idea how Ellie can tell either. The mention of Eric immediately makes her scowl, which also hurts. But then, everything does. Especially her head. She's starting to feel dizzy again and can't tell if she's swaying, but she sure hopes not.
"I think Eric has a different idea about what makes a coward."
Her words sound like judgement, and for once she doesn't worry who she's saying what to. It's not like it's a secret that Tris isn't Eric's greatest fan.
Ellie pauses, then takes the selfsame pen she'd threatened the boys with earlier, clicks a button on the end. It lights up and she shines it into each of Tris's eyes, watching how her pupils respond to light. It's a simple check for a rattled brain, but generally reliable. Thankfully, what she finds doesn't seem to alarm her.
"You're probably okay, but stay away from balance beams-"
Cutting off, she grins sharply, something borderline vicious and angry in her eyes.
"You've got no idea." It's a cryptic statement, but she doesn't know to trust Tris yet. Four seems to, but it takes more to get past Ellie's suspicious nature. Speaking of him: "Are you gonna tell Four what happened?"
She's got some idea, at least she thinks so, but she isn't about to tell stories just yet.
"I... don't know," she accompanies her answer with a shrug, startled into honesty. "I mean, it probably won't make a difference."
Because he'll probably find out anyway, whether she brings it up or not. Besides, she doesn't expect them to face consequences all of a sudden. Cruelty and violence aren't taboo here.
It's not a question, but a realization that she doesn't think to keep in, to keep safe. She's seen all sorts of reactions to him. Many are wary, some outright afraid. Some of the Dauntless born initiates are more at ease with him, but she never got the idea that any of them were really close to him. But then, maybe some are. It's not like she's been here that long.
Setting her jaw stubbornly, Ellie wets another paper towel and swabs it across her face with a sigh. "But yeah, I trust him. More than anybody else in this place. ... he should have been a leader. But I guess the best never want that."
The bleeding from her lip is beginning to slow down some, Tris finds as she removes the towel pressed against it and dabs at it slightly with a part that isn't yet soaked. Still, time for another one. An excuse to stall for time, too, if she had to be honest.
And on the note of honesty, she's considering what to answer, while at the same time imagining what Dauntless might be like, if he was one of the leaders. And then she thinks of Eric, and of Edward and Peter and too much blood on the dormitory floor.
"I think Eric would've tried to kill him." And Eric is ruthless about everything he's after. But she isn't sure that is enough of a reason. If Four really had wanted to lead, he would be, come whatever threats may. He's no coward.
It doesn't sound like a question, but before Tris can answer, Ellie looks slowly out towards where they came from, towards where blood is absolutely still on the floor from the recent attack.
"... besides, if he ever tried, he'd have a couple of people to answer to."
Ellie pauses, then turns back to Tris, eyes serious. "You and me though, not so much. Maybe that's why those assholes thought they could fuck with you."
Tris isn't sure what she thinks. No matter how strong Four is, he isn't invincible or invulnerable. But he is also able to look out for himself, so she's never thought to worry about him before.
Herself, on the other hand... apparently there's more reason to worry there than she'd realized. Anger makes her tense, jaw clenching and eyes becoming colder. She wants to end this, (end them, maybe, but no, no she wouldn't. she can't be the kind of person who would.) but she hasn't thought of a way to. Yet.
Tris glares murder at the trail of small drops of blood they've left in the bathroom. She doesn't want them to have to worry about answering to anyone. She'd much rather they worried about her but then- maybe that's what got them into this situation in the first place. Maybe they already worry about her. Thoughts of Al rise to the surface, turning her stomach.
"Maybe. But I'm wondering what I can do about it without making it worse."
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nestbox2014-11-09 11:57 pm
no subject
"Well, now we're even."
She pauses, then flashes a smile. She remembers her. First jumper, Tris- and the girl who got into the zipline headfirst. She stands out. Though Ellie notices the shaking, she doesn't mention it. Instead she nudges her elbow, not ungently, urging her away from the area. The boys will come to in a bit, and Molly will probably be alerting someone. They don't want to be found.
Suddenly, intensely, she flashes back to the first time she met Riley properly. She was older, an initiate at the time. Had saved her from something very much like this. At the time, Ellie hadn't been grateful. Within the Dauntless, requiring saving is a blow to one's pride, and it makes others see you as weak.
At least, back then, Ellie had seen it that way. Riley had showed her how wrong she was. How there was bravery in standing up for someone. How there was strength in sharing a burden with friends. She shook the memory away.
"C'mon, let's go get you cleaned up."
Ellie leads the way through the dark halls of the complex, finding a smaller bathroom they can slip into. She wets a paper towel and reaches out to hold it to Tris's lip.
"Here, put the cold part on there and press down. Theeeere ya go."
no subject
But the walk gives her time to get a better look at her rescuer, too. She remembers her from capture the flag and the zipline. Ellie had been one of the first Dauntless-born Four picked for his team, and she didn't have to make herself memorable by stepping on her feet.
"You do this often? Just jump into a fight?"
Paper towel or no, she can't stop herself from asking.
no subject
Ellie flashes a smile while she rinses her fingers, leans back in to check the bruising around Tris's eye. Looks nasty, but doesn't seem to have any fractures. She's been helping in the medical wing for ages now, she knows her injuries.
After a moment, the smile sobers into something more serious, as she gently prods the area with her fingertips.
"And it's not exactly my first rodeo, either. So when I see shit like that... it just pisses me off. Especially since Eric won't do a fucking thing about cowards like that in the ranks."
no subject
"I think Eric has a different idea about what makes a coward."
Her words sound like judgement, and for once she doesn't worry who she's saying what to. It's not like it's a secret that Tris isn't Eric's greatest fan.
no subject
"You're probably okay, but stay away from balance beams-"
Cutting off, she grins sharply, something borderline vicious and angry in her eyes.
"You've got no idea." It's a cryptic statement, but she doesn't know to trust Tris yet. Four seems to, but it takes more to get past Ellie's suspicious nature. Speaking of him: "Are you gonna tell Four what happened?"
no subject
"I... don't know," she accompanies her answer with a shrug, startled into honesty. "I mean, it probably won't make a difference."
Because he'll probably find out anyway, whether she brings it up or not. Besides, she doesn't expect them to face consequences all of a sudden. Cruelty and violence aren't taboo here.
no subject
Ellie leans in, dabs at Tris's lip again, gives her a meaningful look. "There are some people here worth having at your back, and he's one of them."
no subject
It's not a question, but a realization that she doesn't think to keep in, to keep safe. She's seen all sorts of reactions to him. Many are wary, some outright afraid. Some of the Dauntless born initiates are more at ease with him, but she never got the idea that any of them were really close to him. But then, maybe some are. It's not like she's been here that long.
Either way, she watches Ellie closely. Curious.
no subject
Setting her jaw stubbornly, Ellie wets another paper towel and swabs it across her face with a sigh. "But yeah, I trust him. More than anybody else in this place. ... he should have been a leader. But I guess the best never want that."
no subject
And on the note of honesty, she's considering what to answer, while at the same time imagining what Dauntless might be like, if he was one of the leaders. And then she thinks of Eric, and of Edward and Peter and too much blood on the dormitory floor.
"I think Eric would've tried to kill him." And Eric is ruthless about everything he's after. But she isn't sure that is enough of a reason. If Four really had wanted to lead, he would be, come whatever threats may. He's no coward.
no subject
It doesn't sound like a question, but before Tris can answer, Ellie looks slowly out towards where they came from, towards where blood is absolutely still on the floor from the recent attack.
"... besides, if he ever tried, he'd have a couple of people to answer to."
Ellie pauses, then turns back to Tris, eyes serious. "You and me though, not so much. Maybe that's why those assholes thought they could fuck with you."
no subject
Herself, on the other hand... apparently there's more reason to worry there than she'd realized. Anger makes her tense, jaw clenching and eyes becoming colder. She wants to end this, (end them, maybe, but no, no she wouldn't. she can't be the kind of person who would.) but she hasn't thought of a way to. Yet.
Tris glares murder at the trail of small drops of blood they've left in the bathroom. She doesn't want them to have to worry about answering to anyone. She'd much rather they worried about her but then- maybe that's what got them into this situation in the first place. Maybe they already worry about her. Thoughts of Al rise to the surface, turning her stomach.
"Maybe. But I'm wondering what I can do about it without making it worse."