Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

While Eddie headed straight out to the balcony, no doubt to get some fresh air, Buck lingered inside. There was something that had been bothering him since earlier, something that hadn’t seemed significant until after learning who Eddie really was.

Slipping the hoodie off his frame, the one Eddie had given him the night before, Buck pulled the backside into his view, looking it over carefully, Ravi’s words from earlier swirling around his head. ‘I’m guessing it’s Four’s since his name’s on the back.’

Buck had stupidly thought the word, or even the number, was etched across the backside of the hoodie, but as he looked at it now, it wasn’t the four letters he’d been expecting. He ran his fingers over the ‘D’ first, finishing on the ‘Z.’ Eddie Diaz.

It all made so much sense to him now. Buck wasn’t sure why he’d never put it together before, when it appeared everyone else had.

And so, it ended up being the first thing he asked Eddie when he went to join the other boy outside.

“How come everyone knew who you were except for me?”

Eddie turned to him, brows slightly furrowed.

“Guess you’re just not as nosey as everyone else.”

Buck snorted. “Yea, or I’m just too self-centered like my parents always said.”

Eddie fully turned toward him then, leaning back against the balcony.

“The guy who volunteered to jump first so no one else had to, the guy who willingly let knives be thrown at him to save his friend, and the guy who constantly puts himself in dangers to save others? I dunno, he seems pretty selfless to me.”

Buck ducked his head down, hoping Eddie couldn’t see the flush of his cheeks.

“Your dad, he’s um, he’s the reason you left and came here?”

“Yea, well, he didn’t exactly give me a choice. It was either that or live Factionless.”

Buck swallowed thickly, trying to get past the lump in his throat; if he didn’t pass the final test, he’d be met with the same fate.

“That baby, he’s—that’s your kid, yea?”

“Christopher.”

A deep pain situated itself in Eddie’s eyes then, one Buck was desperate to take away.

“I’m sorry Ed—Four. You don’t deserve that, especially not from your own parents.”

Eddie shrugged his shoulders, waving it away.

“Hey, call me Eddie. It’s-it’s nice to hear my name again.”

Buck couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face then.

“Yea? Ok then, Eddie, what’s ah, what’s your tattoo?”

Buck could see it again now, sharp lines of ink sticking out on either side of Eddie’s neck where his t-shirt didn’t cover.

Eddie smiled over to him, turning and ducking his head briefly before meeting Buck again.

“You wanna see it?”

All Buck could do was nod, watching as Eddie pushed off the railing and turned his back to him. Eddie’s muscles flexed as he used his hands to slip it off his head, and then down his arms, keeping the fabric loosely held in his hands.

Buck couldn’t help the gasp that escaped him, his feet moving forward on their own accord.

“Eddie, this is—it’s incredible.”

Buck raised his hand to the ink, letting his fingers slowly trail across it, Eddie leaning back into his touch.

The tattoo covered the entirety of his back, the outer parts like a tree, branches going all the way out to his shoulders, the sharper ones stopping right at his neck. Buck ran his fingers down the middle, tracing the bumpy ink as he went. Each of the Faction symbols were there in a row, starting with Dauntless at the top, followed by Abnegation, then Candor, Erudite was next, Amity at the bottom.

Eddie’s breath hitched a little for his touch, Buck keeping up his ministrations.

“The Factions.” Buck said more to himself than anyone, following it with, “why do you have all of them?”

Eddie turned his head just enough for Buck to make out his face as he spoke.

“I don’t wanna just be one thing. I can’t be.”

That made sense to Buck; it was hard to fit into one box when you were always being forced out of it. Being Divergent made him understand a little why.

“I want to be brave, selfless, intelligent, honest, and kind.” Eddie turned to face him then a bit of a smirk covering his face. “I think I’m still working on the last one though.”

Buck’s hand had dropped from Eddie’s back, his fingers itching to reach out and touch again.

“The guy who let me change my name that first day, the guy who literally caught me when I fell, the guy who saved me from getting beat to death and then took care of me? I dunno, he seems pretty kind to me.”

Eddie gave a fond roll of his eyes, Buck flushing a little for it.

“Do you ever stop talking?”

“Only when my mouth is kept otherwise occupied,” Buck said while playfully wagging his eyebrows.

Eddie stepped closer then, those big browns of his searching Buck over before he was ducking his head and brushing their lips together. Buck had to admit—it left him pretty speechless.

Eddie kissed like he did everything else, passionate and purposeful, a soft tenderness laced within it.

While Eddie’s arms came to wrap around his waist, Buck moved his up to the back of Eddie’s neck, letting his fingers scratch through the short hairs there. Eddie leaned into the touch, the two of them all but sharing one breath as their kisses deepened, Buck opening up to let Eddie right in.

When they finally pulled apart, Buck moved his thumb to replace where his lips were, sliding it across Eddie’s kiss-swollen lips. Eddie’s lips were darkened with desire, Buck ready to reel him back in, but not quite yet.

“I uh, I don’t wanna go too fast.”

Buck had never had control of anything, something about Eddie feeling precious; Buck didn’t want to ruin it before they’d even gotten started.

Eddie brought his hand up to cover Buck’s wrist, his lips placing the gentlest of kisses over his thumb.

“We can go as slow as you want Buck. I’ve got my spot on the floor.”

Buck shook his head. “Not that slow.”

Eddie raised a brow, clearly confused.

“I want—I want you close to me.”

He felt vulnerable letting the words pass his lips, but Eddie simply smiled, leaning forward to place his lips over Buck’s birthmark, kissing his cut just above it.

“I want to be close to you too.”

They made their way inside then, Eddie never pulling away from him, the two crawling into the bed, Buck taking the spot closest to the wall while Eddie took the other, the one that placed him closest to the door.

Eddie laid on his side, using their grip to pull Buck to him.

“C’mere.”

Buck did so easily, their bodies perfectly sliding into place, Eddie’s head resting just over his, their hands linked together over Buck’s chest. He felt safe, wanted, brave.

“Can I ask you something, about-about your fears?”

Eddie nodded into him, Buck taking that as his sign to continue on.

“Why haven’t you, I mean—”

Shit. This was harder to put into words than he’d thought.

“Why haven’t I tried to go back and get my son?” Eddie finished for him, Buck letting a heavy sigh fall past his lips.

“Yea.”

Eddie shifted behind him, though he didn’t pull away.

“Because I’m—I’m afraid to be dad, that I’ll—that I’ll never be allowed to.”

Oh.

Buck turned in his hold, looking into those browns that were usually hardened, tears now lining them. He used his thumb to brush them away, Eddie pushing into his touch, burying his face in the crook of Buck’s shoulder.

“I’ve never–I don’t think I’ve ever said that out loud.”

Buck only held Eddie tighter, brushing his hands across his neck, letting his fingers trail down to the ink he now knew was there.

“You’re brave too, you know?” Buck whispered in Eddie’s ear.

Eddie pulled out of where he’d been hiding in Buck, reaching up a hand to brush through his curls, the ones he’d been able to grow back out since being here.

“You make me feel brave.”

Their lips met in the middle, Buck falling asleep with the lingering touch of Eddie wrapped all around him.

There was a lot to fear, but Buck didn’t feel so afraid anymore, not with Eddie at his side.

~

There was a gentle touch to his side, another to his face, Buck stirring in the hold.

His eyes opened to those honey browns, Eddie’s face illuminated by the sunlight pouring in.

“Hey.”

Buck smiled up to Eddie, turning his head so that his cheek pressed completely into Eddie’s hold; he could stay like that forever.

“C’mon, I wanna show you something.”

Or not.

Buck gave a sigh of protest as he tried to bury his face in Eddie’s hand, the other boy chuckling aloud.

“Something tells me you’re not a morning person.”

Buck gave a few more grumbles before Eddie’s hand slipped from beneath him, Buck all but pouting as he walked away from him. Huffing out a breath, Buck finally untangled himself from the bed—Eddie’s bed—washing himself up a bit in the bathroom before relocating Eddie’s hoodie, following the other boy out the door.

Eddie led him up one of the buildings, Buck following closely behind. When they reached the roof, Eddie ushered Buck toward the edge, some kind of commotion below.

There were trucks and people littered all about, moving boxes while giving orders.

“Erudite.”

Eddie nodded his head. “Mhmm. I’ve been watching them the last several weeks; see them here every morning.”

That didn’t make any sense. What the hell was Erudite doing over here at Dauntless? His thoughts immediately went to Maddie.

Seeming to read his unsaid thought, Eddie said, “they’re loading all kinds of supplies, computers, and these.” Eddie pulled something from his pocket then, holding it up for Buck to see. It was a small vile with an orange type of liquid, Buck looking to it quizzically.

“What the hell is that?”

“I think it’s like a cognitive transmitter, one you would inject by serum.”

Buck frowned at that. “Why would they need that?”

Eddie shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s supposed to make you more susceptible to suggestion.” Eddie let a sigh fall past his lips, his attention tilted down below them again. “As many as they have—they could create an army.”

None of it made sense to Buck. What would they need an army for? And better yet, who were they going to try and make this army out of?

“Attention, all initiates report for final testing.”

At the sound of the loudspeaker, Buck was suddenly nervous for an entirely different reason.

Eddie’s hand came up to cup his cheek, the boy ducking his own head to meet Buck’s gaze.

“Hey, you’re ready.”

Buck wasn’t quite sure, but Eddie always wanted to make him believe, so he nodded his head, the two of them making their way back inside.

Instead of doing it in a private room, there was a setup inside the main halls, Claudette and her hench people all around. Jonah was there too, something about the guy’s presence always unsettling. There was a chair in the middle of the open space, TVs all around so that everyone would be able to see what was going on inside his head.

Buck instantly panicked, turning quickly, only to run right into Eddie, his voice low and right in Buck’s ear.

“Hey, you’ve got this. Remember how we practiced?”

Buck nodded into him, willing his mind and body to calm.

“Right now, you have to be Dauntless. Make them see how brave you are.”

Buck only had time to offer Eddie a half smile before he was being called up, watchful eyes all around.

You can do this Buckley.

He tried to keep himself neutral so as not to reveal himself, keeping his heartbeat steady as he’d taught Eddie to do.

If he was too good, they’d kill him, but if he was too slow, then he’d die. No pressure.

A familiar face greeted him with the serum, Buck grateful to see Athena. If he couldn’t have Eddie giving him the serum, at least he had another person he’d come to trust doing it for him.

“Good luck son. Be brave.”

He let his head fall back to the seat, closing his eyes as he did so.

His fear scape started the same as always, Buck landing in an open filed, birds flying high above him, honing in on him. He wasn’t exactly scared of birds—not like Chimney was—but it was rather he was afraid of being picked up and hauled away, bitten at piece by piece until there was nothing left of him; that’s how he’d felt a lot of days living back in Abnegation.

As he began to run in the opposite direction, Buck was met with a puddle of water, one he wanted to fall into, but couldn’t. He had to be Dauntless.

The fire came next, the orange flames already blazing high above him, just off in the distance. Something about fires had always scared yet intrigued him; he thought it’d be cool if he were the one left in charge of putting them out.

Think, think, think.

Surging forward, Buck ran toward the fire, the birds coming at him from every angle. He picked up a large branch, the flames just settling on the edge of it, Buck whipping it around to fend them off. Once he’d taken care of that problem, his hands were suddenly bound by rope, Buck’s body tied to a pole. He hated being confided, the way his parents always made him feel. Evan you shouldn’t do that. Evan get down. Evan what were you thinking.

The flames began to rise around his feet, Buck using his quick thinking then, bending to place the rope just over the flames, watching as the strings burned away, freeing him.

With his hands nearly on fire, Buck ran to the puddle, submerging them in the cooling water. As he reached to take them out, he was back in the glass chamber, water filling around him. Drowning. He always felt like he was sinking to the bottom, like there would never be a way for him to reach the top, or anyone there to help him once he had.

Be Dauntless.

He tried kicking at the glass, trying not to panic while doing so. When his fingers pressed against it, Buck imagined tapping at it, knowing it would release him, but he couldn’t, Eddie’s voice ringing in his ears. Dauntless don’t break the glass like that.

Book shook the thought as his eyes wandered all around, finally spying a hole at the bottom. He removed Eddie’s sweatshirt, reminding himself this was only a sim, before diving under and stuffing the hoodie in, smiling gleefully to himself as the water halted.

When he surfaced, Eddie was there. They were in Eddie’s room, the other boy stalking toward him to congratulate him. Buck wholly invited Eddie in, their lips crashing together just as their arms wrapped around the other. There was a noise in the background, a baby crying, Buck instantly pulling away from Eddie.

Eddie was talking to him, but Buck couldn’t hear it, lost on the sound of the baby. He wasn’t ready for all of that. What if Eddie and him didn’t even have a future? Buck might never make it out of this test alive. Would Eddie even want him to help coparent? Hell, did Eddie even want to be a dad?

It was all too much, Buck shouting “no” before he came to, flying up and out of the chair.

There was clapping all around him, Buck thankful that the nightmare was finally over. Eddie was the first person he saw, Buck groaning a little for it.

“Please tell me you weren’t watching all of that.”

Eddie gave cheeky smile with a raise of his brows.

“Would it make you feel better if I said no?”

Before Buck could answer, Claudette was there, his nerves taking over once more.

“You did well. Now. One final test.”

Buck wasn’t sure what she meant, the woman holding out a gun to him. He took it without hesitation, not wanting her to doubt him now.

“I think it’s time you chose, once and for all.”

He still didn’t understand, turning to where she was looking, his sister stood there in front of him.

“I think you know what to do,” Claudette said, voice void of any emotion.

“No, no I won’t.”

Buck stood firm, Claudette keeping up her same words.

“Chose.”

Buck fought against every instinct. He was Divergent, but right now, now he had to be Dauntless.

‘Your last fear is your worst, the one that lives in the deepest part of your mind.’

Buck inhaled sharply, closing his eyes, letting everything around him cease to exist.

This wasn’t real.

He pulled the trigger without looking, just as Eddie had done, Buck waking up for real that time. Gasps fell out of him, a strong and comforting hand coming down on his shoulder. “Hey, you’re safe. You’re ok. I’m sure your sister is too.”

Buck gave a slight nod, Eddie helping him back onto his feet.

Claudette and the others were talking, though he couldn’t hear about what.

“Everything looked good to me, ok?”

Buck bit at his lip, finally turning his attention from the others.

“Yea, yea ok.”

~

The next several minutes seemed to last for hours while Buck waited for his teammates to finish their tests and for everyone to get their results.

They were all gathered together in The Pit, Buck surrounded by all the friends he’d made, Eddie off with the other leaders, Doug unfortunately still among them.

“Congratulations, new members of Dauntless.”

Everyone cheered, Buck whooping and hollering, Hen and Chim helping him to lift Ravi into the air. They all hugged and celebrated, Buck never feeling more alive. It wasn’t quite like being with Eddie, but it was pretty damn close.

They made their way back down the halls then, toward the bunk room, all of them coming to a halt in the next room over. Instructions were given for them all to find a line, Buck looking around to try and spot Eddie.

“What’s going on?”

Hen shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure. Maybe some kind of award for completing initiation?”

Buck somehow doubted that.

Jonah’s voice rang out from above them, Buck instantly knowing that whatever was happening was definitely bad news.

“Everyone, listen up!”

They all turned to attention, Buck desperately seeking out Eddie, the other boy nowhere to be found.

“Everyone will get a tracking device before leaving tonight. Don’t ask questions; it’s just a precaution.”

None of this was adding up to Buck, his friends seemingly unfazed by it all; they weren’t Divergent.

He watched as everyone was injected, eyes darting all around.

“Have you guys seen Ed—Four?”

They all shook their head, Buck ducking away from them as he desperately searched around. This was reminding him all too much of the little bottles of serum Eddie had shown him only hours ago.

“Congratulation’s, Stiff.”

Jonah was right in his ear, a cold an unwelcoming chill slipping down him.

“If you wanted to be first in line, all you had to do was ask.”

A sharp pain was suddenly pressed to his neck, something injected into him, Buck instantly pulling away, all but snarling at Jonah.

Jonah was unphased, smiling menacingly to him.

“Now you’re really one of us.”

He didn’t want to be any part of whatever Jonah was.

They were all herded into the bunkroom then, Buck not having any choice but to follow suit, lest he make himself a spectacle. There wasn’t any way to reach Eddie, Buck slumping down onto his bed. Everyone chattered around him for a bit, Buck joining in as much as he could, but his heart wasn’t in it. Something was wrong.

~

Buck had finally managed to fall asleep at one point, only to be woken again when it was still dark inside the bunkroom, everyone moving about.

Confused, Buck sat up, noting that most of his teammates were gone, the few left just finishing putting on their boots. What the hell was going on?

Hen and Chimney were among the last, Buck asking them as much, though all he got back was an odd stare. They seemed to be looking through him rather than at him.

Pushing the covers off, Buck looked around some more, memories from last night creeping in. He reached to his neck instinctively, feeling where they’d injected him, Eddie’s words coming back to mind. ‘They’re supposed to make you more suspectable to suggestion.’

Buck made quick work of dressing as the others had, Hen and Chim waiting oddly for him to do so. He wasn’t sure what had woken him, but whatever it was, he was grateful.

They all shuffled down the stairs and hall, all in an orderly line. Buck made sure to follow everyone else’s movements, trying to blend in as much as possible.

Their feet stomped along like some haunting rhythm, Dauntless silent otherwise; it was chilling to say the least. It became even more so when he heard Jonah’s all too familiar voice, a few of their other leaders stood nearby. There was still no sign of Eddie anywhere.

“They can see and hear us, but can’t process it the same way. The commands come in through the transmitter.”

Tracking device his ass.

Buck kept his head forward, steps matching the others, grabbing up one of the guns when everyone else did so. Unfortunately, there was a girl behind him, one who clearly hadn’t gotten the same memos he had, the girl walking out of line, asking what was going on.

He heard Jonah mutter something about the girl being Divergent before he heard a sickening thud behind him. If he wasn’t careful, that’d be him next.

They were marched outside and onto the train, the cars fuller than Buck had ever remembered. Each of them was stood in a row, the line seeming to go on for miles. Since there weren’t any leaders among them, Buck risked looking around, his blues instantly honing in on familiar ink markings. Eddie.

Carefully, Buck took a step forward, moving his position up by one. No one seemed to notice, so Buck did it again, keeping his face forward, motions robotic. One of the others turned to look at him for a moment, Buck taking in a breath, holding that position a little longer. Eddie was still about four rows up—yes, he realized the irony—Buck’s heart all but ready to beat out of his chest.

He wasn’t sure what he would do when he reached the other boy; he was just as gone as the others. Still, Buck needed to get to him.

He passed between Hen and Chim next, their bright and sunny features nowhere in sight, Buck hating it all. Next was Ravi and Lena, Buck a little disappointed Lena didn’t give him any crap for running into her shoulder.

There was one more pair to pass before he reached his destination, Buck more cautious than ever now, his hands sweating at his sides. He took an extra-long pause between the last two, wanting to make certain that he hadn’t been made.

Exhaling, Buck took the last step, the one that placed him right in line with Eddie, the other boy just beside him now. Buck thought back to Eddie’s tattoo, how he wanted to be all of the Factions, how he’d known about Buck and how to help him. But Eddie wasn’t…he couldn’t be—right?

Buck didn’t dare turn to face Eddie, keeping his head forward, arms tightly pressed against his sides, voice quiet. It was all very difficult for Buck; he’d never been able to sit still, let alone keep silent.

The tap against his hand almost made Buck scream, though he managed to contain himself, his fingers twitching on instinct. Slowly, Eddie’s hand pushed into his space, linking their fingers together. When Eddie squeezed them into place, Buck let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. He heard Eddie gasp for the touch as well, Buck doing everything he could not to turn toward Eddie and crash their lips together.

The train ride seemed to last an eternity after that, Buck holding Eddie’s hand firmly in his, or maybe it was the other way around; either way, they kept their grip tight.

When the train finally came to a stop, the other Dauntless members got off in the same uniform matter, guns held tightly across their chests.

Buck and Eddie followed suit, reluctantly breaking their hold to follow everyone else, all of them marched along in their dark leather uniforms, heads held high, eyes straight ahead. Eddie was the first to break position, looking around to their left, Buck keeping his facing forward, only looking from the sides of his eyes.

As they approached the buildings, it quickly became evident that they were in Abnegation, Buck’s throat instantly tightening. He was grateful Maddie wasn’t there, though he was worried about her all the same. What had Erudite been having her do, and had she been complying?

Their eyes met in that instant, the two of them silently worried about the other. His parents were here somewhere, along with Eddie’s parents, and his son. It was the latter that had Buck worried and ready to take action.

There were Abnegation children playing outside as they approached, sirens following just seconds later. Bile rose in Buck’s throat, not doubt in Eddie’s too.

The Dauntless faction surrounded all of Abnegation, Buck watching as families were herded out at gunpoint one by one.

“Eddie, where’s your house?”

Eddie turned to look to him then, the two of them pausing for the first time since this whole charade began.

“What about your parents?”

Buck quickly shrugged it off.

“We can find them later. Let’s get your son.”

Something like love and desire spread over Eddie’s features then, Buck having to ignore them for the time being. He had to focus on them finding Eddie’s son, Christopher. Everything else could come later. He hated that he cared about his parents, that he was worried for their safety, because they’d never give him a second thought if the situations were reversed, but he couldn’t change who he was. He cared; sue him.

There were screams of terror coming from all around them, Buck watching in horror as one of his teammates shot an innocent. Eddie shook his head, nudging Buck along. “C’mon, we have to keep moving.”

Buck wasn’t built to be a machine, a robot. Being in Dauntless meant bravery, freedom—not cold-blooded murder.

There were bodies they passed as they went, Buck trying to keep his head up, ignoring the lump settling in his throat. He followed Eddie along, the other boy eventually stopping at a door, pausing a moment before moving in. Buck couldn’t imagine how difficult this must be for Eddie. The guy hadn’t seen his parents or son in nearly three years, forced to leave and never come back.

The house was white inside, the only light coming from the scarce windows lining the walls. It was just like the house he’d grown up in, same layout and all. He followed Eddie around the house and up the stairs, but there was no one in sight. Eddie stopped in front of a door, the one Buck remembered seeing in his fear scape. There was a little bed, a few toys littered around, the life of a little boy Eddie had never gotten to know.

Buck reached a hand out to squeeze Eddie’s shoulder. “C’mon, we have to go. We’ll find them, promise.”

He knew it wasn’t something he could promise, but he did it anyway; he would do anything to help those he loved, and Eddie was right up there on that list, even if he hadn’t expressed that aloud yet.

They exited the house as quietly as they entered, Eddie going first to scope things out. Buck was right behind him, the two of them with their guns pointed, ready to fire. Buck didn’t plan on killing any Abnegation, but not everyone around them was innocent.

Just as they rounded another corner, Jonah came into view, smile smug as ever. God did Buck wanna knock him down about ten pegs. Instead, they kept up the façade, pretending not to notice anyone was there until Eddie nearly ran smack into him. Buck kept walking until he was behind Jonah, stopping at a soldier’s stance. In case things went south, Buck wanted to be ready.

“Ah Four, the mindless drone.”

Jonah’s voice was full of arrogance, Buck already wanting to whack him over the head.

“First in your class, huh? Now look at you—you’re nothing.”

Buck wanted to point out that Eddie and Jonah had been in the same class, and that Jonah obviously hadn’t fared as well, but he decided to keep those comments to himself for the time being.

Eddie kept his gaze neutral, not budging in the slightest. Buck couldn’t help but to think he was grateful Jonah had picked Eddie instead of him; he didn’t think he’d be brave enough to hold it together like that.

Jonah gave Eddie another once over before moving in the opposite direction, his minions close behind. He didn’t get too far though, neither Buck nor Eddie having moved yet. Jonah turned back, looking Eddie up and down, clearly thinking something over.

“Do you think he might be…?” one of Jonah’s henchmen asked, Jonah shrugging his shoulders. “Guess there’s one way to find out.”

Buck watched in horror as Jonah lifted a gun to Eddie’s head, Eddie staying still as ever, unflinching.

“Say goodbye Four. Maybe you can find the other three on your way down.”

Buck had had enough. He quickly raised his gun, placing it to the back of Jonah’s neck. “I think you’re the one who should be saying your goodbyes, Jonah.” It was the first time Buck had ever addressed the asshole by name, his minions quickly moving to place their guns on Buck, Eddie raising his in turn. “Move and you die.”

Jonah let out a sickening laugh as he turned to face the barrel of Buck’s gun.

“The Stiff?” Jonah turned back to Eddie then, menacing laugh following. “Two Stiffs—two dead ones that is.” One of the others said something about not letting any Divergents slip through, Buck swallowing down the ever-growing lump in his throat.

“He’s not gonna shoot me,” Jonah said with another chuckle thrown Buck’s way.

“I think you might be overestimating my character.”

He wouldn’t shoot the innocent, but he had no qualms about getting rid of Jonah.

At the same time Jonah turned to knock Buck’s gun down, Eddie kicked his leg out to slam it against Jonah’s, knocking him down, Eddie quickly taking out a few of the others as well.

“Run!”

They took off at a full sprint, the two of them barely making it around the corner before another group was swarming them, Eddie taking one down, but not before a bullet managed to graze Buck just on the side of his shoulder. He winced out with the sharp pain, Eddie seeming to forget about the battle ahead of them, turning to look at Buck with wide eyes.

“You’re hit.”

Buck nodded his head, muttering through clenched teeth. “Mmhm.”

It was too late then, both of them completely surrounded now, guns raised all around.

“Drop your weapons.”

They did as asked, not really having any other options, both of them herded down the walkway, Jonah’s vile hands clasping tightly around Buck’s shoulders as he pushed him forward, Buck refraining from crying out in pain to give Jonah the satisfaction.

They were led into one of the Abnegation homes, both of them coming face to face with the head of the entire operation—Claudette.

She looked them over, seeming to be puzzled, though quickly understanding why they’d been led there.

“Edmundo Diaz,” she said with a stare thrown Eddie’s way before turning to him. “And you, Evan.” His name came off her lips in a harsh tone, the same one his parents had often used.

“I thought that it was intellect I was sensing in you.”

“Maybe you’re not as smart as you think you are,” Eddie said, very sassy like.

Buck had to stifle a laugh, keeping himself neutral as they had been trying only minutes ago. He tried for a different tactic, hoping to get some of the heat off them.

“Why are you killing all these innocent people?”

Claudette snorted, like he’d said the funniest thing in the world.

“Innocent? Oh honey, wake up. Abnegation will destroy the faction system if they’re left to their own devices.”

That wasn’t true. As much as Buck had hated the way he grew up—mostly due to his parents—Abnegation were good people; they always had the others best interests at heart.  

Claudette looked the two of them over, shaking her head.

“The same can be said for you two. Can’t have people like you running around and ruining the peace we’ve worked so hard to build.”

People like them? Buck couldn’t believe what he was hearing. How had they let this woman stay in charge for so many years?

“You’ve already taken care of that yourself,” Eddie spit back harshly.

“Oh Edmundo, how little you know. Having a baby out of wedlock only to leave them alone and unprotected.” Claudette tutted her tongue, shaking her head once more. “We’ve been called upon to restore the peace, one Divergents have come to ruin. This time—it will last.”

Both him and Eddie scoffed, the holds on them only tightening, Claudette still not backing down.

“There’s a new serum I’ve created, one that can control just about anyone. Edmundo, you’ll be my first test subject.” She looked over to Buck then, carefully eyeing his shoulder as she stepped forward, placing her hand to it. Her finger dug into his wound, Buck crying out in pain.

“Looks like this one’s injured. He’ll be of no use to me then. Get rid of him.”

Eddie lunged in that same moment, knocking one of his holders down and going straight for Claudette, nearly managing to grab her at the neck before he was being pulled back down, Buck only able to watch as they beat Eddie back into their hold.

With them secured once more, Claudette stepped outside, the others dragging Eddie first, followed by Buck, Jonah’s sickening hands still tightly wrapped around him.

They took Eddie one way, Buck another, their eyes never leaving the other, not until Eddie was forced into a car and quickly driven away, Claudette in the passenger seat. Jonah looked all too happy to push Buck to the ground, three of them stood over him, guns honed in on him.

“It was fun while it lasted Stiff.”

There was a puddle of water below him, Buck desperately wishing he were in a sim for once, then he could just fall into it, tell himself that it wasn’t real. But this was, real that was, and he was going to die. Eddie would be made into some robot, never knowing what happened to Buck or getting the chance to meet his son. Everything was ending before it began.

Buck closed his eyes as the gun was aimed at him, wishing for it all to go away. The gunshot rang out around him, Buck willing himself to be brave.

~

Three more shots sounded around him, but the only ache he had was in his shoulder, from his previous bullet wound.

“Evan! Evan!”

At the shouting of his name, Buck knowing it could only be one person, his eyes popped back open, Buck knowing he must be in a dream. Running toward him, shouting like their life depended on it was Maddie, gun held loosely in her hand. Yep, he was definitely dead.

“Evan, you have to get up! Now.”

As she came closer, Buck took in his surroundings, finally understanding that this was real, that he was alive.

“Maddie?”

She reached him then, their arms wrapping around each other on instinct.

“Are you hurt? Are you ok?”

“Me? I’m—Mads what the hell are you doing here?”

Maddie quickly looked him over, frowning at his shoulder where there was no doubt blood leaking from it.

“I’ll explain later, but right now we have to get out of here.”

As the chaos continued around them, Buck knew she was right, taking her hand so she could help him up. He kept his bad shoulder limp at his side, trying not to put too much pressure on it. They ran together just like he and Eddie had—Eddie—he had to find him.

Maddie tugged him along, Buck snatching a gun from one of the fallen soldiers; they were going to need all the protection they could get.

They found an alcove to hide in, bullets spraying all around them.

“Maddie, I-I have to find him, and his son. I don’t know where his parents are, but Maddie—”

“Hey, it’s ok. We’ll find whoever you’re talking about, as soon as we get to safety and can come up with a plan, yea?”

Buck nodded his head. He was grateful one of them was having coherent thoughts. Bucks were a mix of Eddie, Chris, and the raging pain coming from his shoulder.

As the shots rang closer, the two siblings looked to each other, giving a nod of their heads before springing into action. Buck had no idea where his sister learned to hold and shoot a gun, only that he was grateful for it now.

They were basically trapped where they were, stuck between two buildings, only one way out, the Dauntless soldiers blocking them on all ends. The two of them managed to take most of them out, another one coming from the clearing, a boy that looked to be a few years younger than Buck. There was something familiar about him, something Buck couldn’t quite place. At the moment, he couldn’t focus on it. This kid only had two targets in mind, Buck knowing he had to take the kid down before shots came their way.

He tried calling out to the boy, tried to get his attention. If he could just deter him, he wouldn’t have to take another innocent down, one who was being controlled against their will.

“Stop. You don’t have to do this. Please.”

There was no stopping the kid, Buck’s pleas not getting him anywhere. The kid came closer, aiming his gun at Buck, finger on the trigger; Buck took the shot, just dodging the bullet that came toward him, the kid falling with a sickening thud.

A hand to his shoulder startled him, Buck almost knocking Maddie out in the process.

“Hey, I know, ok? But we have to go. More soldiers are coming.”

There were tears in Maddie’s eyes, his sister no doubt just as torn up by all of this as he was. With a curt shake of his head, they moved on, Buck not looking down as they went; he never wanted to see that kids face again.

When they approached the next corner, Maddie looked back to him.

“I’ll cover you.”

No way. Maddie might be his older sister, but no way was he willingly putting her in harm’s way.

“No, I’ll cover you.”

Buck raised his gun, grunting as another bolt of pain shot through his shoulder, Maddie sighing a little, though not protesting thankfully.

A truck of soldiers approached, Buck closing his eyes and letting out a breath. Be brave.

Gunshots rang out all around, zooming by them, colliding with others. They managed to make it out unscathed, Buck insisting on looking Maddie over himself before they kept on.

They found a building that appeared to be unguarded, one Dauntless had no doubt already picked through.

With the door closed behind them, the leaned back against it, heaving out sighs of relief. Buck closed his eyes, willing the tears to go away. He wanted nothing more than to start this day over, to go back to how happy he was last night, when he’d finally been accepted into Dauntless. It was the first time he’d ever felt like he’d belonged, but he should’ve known it was too good to be true. He didn’t belong anywhere.

“Hey, we need to get you checked out.”

Maddie’s voice was soft, her touch just as gentle as she led him forward. She found him a chair to sit on, Buck slouching his long legs so his height didn’t completely over tower her.

She helped him to lift his shirt off, Buck gritting his teeth through the entire process, feeling a sense of relief to have the wound freed. Maddie got right to work looking at it, furrowing her brows while doing so. “Well, the good news is its a through and through. But we still need to clean it and get the bleeding to stop.”

“I’m a doctor. I can help if you want.”

Buck swiftly pushed Maddie behind him, raising his gun in a matter of seconds.

“Buck,” Maddie hissed from behind him. “We know him. You remember Mr. Diaz?”

Diaz. As in Ramon Diaz, as in Eddie’s father.

Bile rose in Buck’s throat once more. He didn’t want to kill the guy—never wanted to kill anyone—but the thought of tackling him to the ground certainly crossed Buck’s mind.

Slowly, Buck set the gun down, never taking his eyes of Ramon.

“Who else are you here with?”

No way this guy was here alone; there had to be others somewhere.

Ramon raised his hands as if to further prove that he was unarmed.

“Just my family, and yours.”

Great. Just fucking, great.

Maddie stepped closer to him, her presence always comforting.

“Do you mind?” Ramon said with a nod toward Buck’s shoulder.

He wanted to say that he very much did mind, but he didn’t exactly have a lot of options at the moment.

Buck gave a sharp nod, grabbing onto Maddie as she moved to step away. She moved to his other side, squeezing his good shoulder. “I’m right here, ok?”

He pulled in his lower lip, trying not to flinch away from Ramon’s touch, wishing it was Eddie’s instead. Eddie who had hardened callouses on his hands, ones that smoothed over Buck’s face, hands that were made for gunfire but that held him so gently, tenderly holding him through the night.

Ramon came to the same assessment Maddie had before moving around to find some needed supplies.

“So,” Buck started, trying to sound nonchalant. “Your grandkid around?”

Ramon turned to him with a raised brow, Maddie looking just as puzzled.

“If you’re talking about my son, then yes. He’s with my wife right now.”

His son?

“Your son, huh?”

Ramon simply nodded, clearly unphased by the term, moving over to Buck once he’d gathered some supplies. From his other side, Maddie mouthed, “what the hell?”

Buck waved her off. He was only letting Ramon help him because he needed it; he certainly didn’t want it.

Ramon lifted his arm up for several minutes to help stop the bleeding, every second passing making Buck sicker to his stomach. When the bleeding stopped enough, Ramon cleaned it up, Maddie holding his other hand to help with some of the pain. Once it was wrapped and deemed good to go, Buck quickly stood, putting a distance between him and the man that had hurt Eddie so.

“Tell me Ramon, does Christopher even know about Eddie, or are you lying to him too?”

That was what finally got Ramon’s attention, his eyes wide as saucers before he tried to play it off again.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about son.”

Buck scoffed, though he didn’t get any further before his parents were coming into view, along with a woman who was carrying a child that was no more than three, unruly curls atop his head.

“Evan, Maddie—what have you done?”

Of course, everything was automatically their fault.

“We saved each other mom. We’re fine by the way,” Maddie said, always coming to his defense.

Philip shook his head, looking almost disgusted as his eyes fell over Buck’s bare torso. “Just look at you. Such a disgrace to this family, permanently inking your body and joining those lunatics.”

“Those ‘lunatics’ are being forced to do those terrible things against their own will.”

Their parents both scoffed, his mother looking to him quizzically. “Then why aren’t you out there with them?”

Before Maddie could intervene, Buck held up his hand. He could fight his own battles now; he wasn’t afraid of them anymore.

“Well, you’ll be happy to know that I’ve become a complete abomination. I’m Divergent, in case you cared.”

It was so worth it for the looks of outright horror on their faces, Buck not missing the little look of triumph that spread over Maddie’s.

The little boy, the one Buck knew was Christopher from his smile alone, the one that mirrored Eddie’s, giggled then, a smile spreading across Buck’s face for the first time in hours. One look at the kid and Buck was gone; he knew that no matter what, he would do whatever he could to protect the boy, always.

Getting back to business, Maddie spoke up once more.

“I left as soon as I found out what they were planning. It’s awful.”

Buck agreed. “We have to get back to Dauntless. That’s where they’re controlling it.”

Ramon shook his head with a scoff. “Good luck son. It’s a fortress there.”

“I can get us in there.” He wasn’t the scared boy that had left all those months ago, the one that his parents had picked apart pieced by piece. He was strong now, brave.

Not bothering to wait for further questioning, Buck motioned for them to follow, Maddie right on his tail. He heard his parents and the Diaz’ muttering things behind him, pushing on, knowing time wasn’t on their side.

They all boarded the train, Buck keeping his gun close in front of him. He didn’t want to use it again unless he absolutely had to, but he wanted it by his side nonetheless.

“Get ready,” he said aloud, everyone looking over to him.

“For what?” Maddie asked, looking a little skeptical.

“You’re not gonna like it.”

He moved to push the button, the car door opening. Buck looked over to Ramon, motioning toward Christopher. “Give him to me.” He wasn’t asking, Ramon shaking his head anyway.

“I’m not giving you my son.”

“He’s not your son,” Buck said as he stepped forward, invading the man’s space. The little boy reached out of him, instantly tugging at Buck’s heartstrings. His parents began their own protest, Maddie shutting them all down.

“He knows what he’s doing. We don’t have time to waste.”

Reluctantly, Ramon finally handed Christopher over to him, Buck cradling the boy carefully in his arms. Chris snuggled right into him, Buck instantly softening. “I’m gonna protect you buddy. Don’t you worry.”

With Chris safely in his hold, Buck made the jump without another thought, expertly landing on his feet. Chris giggled with joy, Buck reaching down to poke at his belly. “If you think that was fun, just wait to see what’s next.”

The others were soon joining him, Ramon barely making the jump, rolling to the ground as he did so, only further proving Buck’s point. His parents didn’t fare much better, Buck stifling back a laugh.

Pointing to the hole below, Buck motioned to them.

“There’s a net below. Don’t think, just jump.”

Maddie went first, followed by their parents and then the Diaz’, Buck last, Chris still safely nestled in his arms. “Ready buddy?”

“ump, ump!” Christopher chanted, Buck smiling down to the boy before stepping off, Chris giggling once more. “Fun. Again, again!”

Buck really hoped there would be another time, but it would have to wait for now.

As Ramon came toward him, Buck instinctively held Chris closer, but he knew he had to hand the boy back. Maddie was right—they didn’t have time to waste.

He led them down the halls of Dauntless, the ones he knew like the back of his hand. Buck kept his weapon out in front of him, ready to take action if it was needed.

When they came to the control room, Buck saw the one person he’d hoped to never see again; besides Jonah’s that was. With their back turned to him, Buck told the others to wait, kicking the guy right in the back, sending their gun sailing. Doug quickly turned with raised hands, Buck telling him to get back against the wall.

“How’re you awake?”

No way this asshole was Divergent.

“Because I’m smarter than you. And they need me.”

Well at least the last part made sense.

“Tell me where they’re controlling it from.”

“Why would I do that? It’s not like you’re gonna shoot me or anything, Stiff.”

He was really tired of people underestimating his character.

Just to prove his point, and because Doug was a dick, Buck aimed his gun, shotting Doug once in the knee, the guy instantly knocked down a few pegs or two, Buck demanding to know where they were controlling it from once more.

Doug was suddenly willing to help out, Buck ushering the others to follow.

“Did you really need to shoot him?” Philip asked, Buck looking to him sternly.

“Every minute wasted another innocent person dies or becomes a murder.” He didn’t add the part that yes, it really had been necessary. Doug deserved far worse for what he’d put them all through, especially Buck.

“Let’s go!”

Buck followed directly behind Doug, making sure he didn’t try anything, and that Buck would have time to defend himself and the others if need be.

They got up higher, Doug leading him to a room that he’s never been in, but has seen the Dauntless leaders and Claudette go into on more than one occasion.

It was heavily guarded, Buck telling the others to stay back while he moved ahead, taking Doug along with him. Maddie was by his side before he could stop her, the two Buckley siblings taking on the fight together.

They all made it out unscathed, unfortunately Doug too, Buck pleading with Maddie to stay back while he headed inside. She let him go, but not before linking their pinkies together, making him promise that he would be safe. He did so, hoping that this wouldn’t be the last time they saw each other.

Sliding the doors open, Buck looked down the long hallway, not seeing a sole in sight. It was eerie to say the least. There were wires bunched up all along the floor, Buck knowing whatever was happening was big, needing lots of power.

The room opened up at the end, computers and control panels everywhere, people littered all around them. There was a giant screen that showcased all that was happening, people still fighting for their lives this very second.

Buck turned to his left, spotting another darker room, a Dauntless soldier at in the middle of it, hooked up to wires, one that put them in a simulation.

Eddie.

Buck moved toward him on instinct, calling out to him. Eddie seemed to look through him, staying as he was. Noting that he was tied to the chair, Buck used the knife hooked at the bottom of his pants to free him, while simultaneously keeping watch of the other room and its occupants.

“I’m gonna get you out of here, ok?”

There was no answer in response, Buck keeping up his ministrations. As soon as the first restraint was off, Eddie’s hand was firmly gripping onto his, knocking the gun from his hold, followed quickly by the knife. Buck should’ve known from that look that Eddie wasn’t himself—he was trapped in a simulation.

Eddie stood from the chair then, pushing Buck back and knocking him into the wall.

“Eddie, it’s me. You’re-you’re in a sim.”

Buck tried to reason with him, Eddie continuing to look right through him, his gaze as lifeless as the other Dauntless soldiers they’d been with earlier that morning.

“He can’t hear you.”

Buck swiveled around at the sound of Claudette’s voice, several of her guards following right behind.

He didn’t care. He knew Eddie was still in there, somewhere.

“Eddie! Eddie!”

“He’s gone son. And we’re all safer for it. Apparently, I should’ve taken you out myself.”

Safer? How the hell were they safer? Eddie was trapped in his own mind, Buck knowing just how awful that could be.

“Divergents threaten our faction system. Anyone trying to exercise independent will must be taken care of.”

He wasn’t a threat, and neither was Eddie. The only ones hurting people were Claudette and those following her lead.

Claudette nodded to one of her persons then, her heels clicking along the tile as she made her way out, all but one following her. Buttons on a computer clicked away, Buck ignoring them in favor of moving toward Eddie.

“Eddie, it’s me. I-I need you to wake up, please.”

Buck dared to reach a hand up to cup one side of Eddie’s face, willing the other boy to see him. Just as he felt Eddie leaning into the touch, Eddie pushed him backwards, grabbing Buck at the neck. He grunted out while placing his hand over Eddie’s wrist, trying to loosen the hold. When it didn’t work, Buck began hitting his fist over Eddie’s arm, the other boys grip slowly loosening. It wasn’t long before Eddie was pushing him backward again, slamming Buck’s head into the wall.

Buck quickly recoiled before charging into Eddie at full force, trying to knock him down. It didn’t work, Eddie only flipping them over, the two separating once more. As he got back up, Eddie was on him once again, using Buck’s shirt to tug him down, Buck knocking over some of the software as he went. They were both grunting, Eddie fighting against him while Buck was fighting for his life, Eddie’s too; he wasn’t in his right mind.

Getting back into a standing position, Eddie began to swing at him, Buck expertly dodging the punches, using all the skills he’d learned in Dauntless, some of which Eddie had trained him on. He managed to get his arm around Eddie’s neck, squeezing just on the side of too tight to get his attention, though not hurt him.

“Eddie, Eddie it’s me!”

Eddie didn’t listen for a second, easily shrugging Buck off before throwing him down to the ground, Buck gasping as his shoulder connected with the hard floor. There was another solid punch from Eddie before Buck was kicking back, releasing the hold once more. While Eddie played offence, Buck went for defense. Eddie wasn’t hurting him on purpose, and Buck didn’t want to hurt him either. He wanted to save him, fix him.

Another round of hits and Buck collided with the floor. He didn’t stay down long, tackling Eddie at the knees, dragging him down, though only for a moment. Buck landed on his bottom, Eddie stalking toward him as if he were prey.

C’mon dammit, I know you’re in there Eddie!

As he scooted backwards, his hands connected with metal, gunmetal.

Taking the gun in his hands, Buck pointed it towards Eddie, trying to keep his hands steady.

“Eddie, stop! It’s me Eddie. Please!”

Eddie came to stand over him then, Buck pleading with him still, gun raised between them.

“Four, Eddie, stop…. please.”

Looking to Eddie, Buck only had one idea left, acting on it quickly. He twisted the gun in his hold, adjusting it so that it was pointed at himself, Eddie bending to sit over him in an instant, hand curling around Buck’s that laid on the trigger.

Eddie’s breaths came out sharp and ragged above him, Buck letting his head fall back to the cold floor.

“It’s ok Eddie. It’s ok.”

Buck looked straight up into those browns, ones that were now dark and conflicted, Buck’s blues pleading and hopeful.

“You’re safe Eddie. It’s ok.”

The words were similar to ones Eddie had told him that night, the one when Buck thought he was going to lose his life and fall right over the chasm.

There was a flicker of something in Eddie’s eyes before the warm honey color started to seep back in, those little specs of green shimmering down to Buck like a last hope.

“I know you’re there Eddie. See me. Please.”

Almost as if it were to painful, too hard to fight it, Eddie looked away, Buck not having it. Lifting his hand, Buck placed it to Eddie’s jaw, willing the other boy to look at him.

“Come back to me Eddie, please. I-I need you. I need you to be brave.”

Eddie turned toward him then, his Eddie, Buck’s thumb slipping just into Eddie’s parted lips as the other boy leaned toward him.

“No, you don’t,” Eddie breathed out. “You’re brave all on your own.”

Buck hadn’t realized he was crying until the first tear slipped free, Eddie instantly reaching to brush it away, the gun between them dropping free, Eddie’s lips meeting his in the next instant.

“How-how did you do it?” Buck asked between their next kiss.

Eddie looked deep into his blues, goosebumps lining Buck’s skin.

“I don’t know. I just—heard your voice.”

Oh.

A footsteps began to head toward them, they shared one last look, each of them giving a nod. Eddie stood up in an instant while simultaneously grabbing the gun and hauling Buck up onto his own feet, Buck securing his knife by his boots.

While Eddie took care of the guards, Buck went for the main source, watching as Claudette stalked toward the central software, telling her cohort to ‘finish’ the program. Whatever that meant, Buck didn’t like the sound of it, and he definitely wasn’t going to let her go through with it.

Buck had to take out a few others on his way, keeping his focus on the task ahead, the person that was the real threat.

 He watched the screens in front of him with alarm, the Dauntless soldiers being forced to corral more of the Abnegation. As he ran toward Claudette who was currently pressing buttons on the screen, someone tried to pull him back, Buck swinging his elbow back harshly, taking them down. Grabbing for the knife at his boot, Buck pulled his arm back so it was just above his head, knife placed firmly in it. He sailed it forward, the knife landing square in the center of Claudette’s hand, her fingers just missing touching another deadly button.

“Shut it down!”

Just as he reached Claudette, two more soldiers tried to take him down, Eddie intercepting them, knocking over the cart filled with the lethal vials of serum.

Claudette was right next to him now, the woman smiling wickedly to him as she shook her head.

“No.”

With the screen right in front of him, Buck looked up to it, seeing all too familiar faces.

Hen, Chimney, Lena, and Ravi were all lining up the Abnegation in rows, guns pointed at them, faces void of any emotion. It made him sick, Buck’s stomach knotting together.

Buck swiftly pulled the knife from Claudette’s hand before pressing it to her neck, getting right in her face.

“I’m not gonna ask again! Shut. It. Down.”

Claudette barely seemed phased, still unwilling to back down.

“While you might be willing to die for your cause, so am I.”

Buck just looked to her, rage building inside of him; they were running out of time.

Claudette let out a villainous laugh. “You can’t do it, can you Stiff?”

Killing Claudette wouldn’t solve anything, not to mention Buck didn’t want to add any more deaths to his list.

Ignoring her, he focused his attention around them, Eddie raising his brows. They needed a new plan, like right the fuck now.

Sirens were wailing from the tv, his friends lining up the people he used to call family, Buck knowing they were out of time.

There. On the floor beside them, Buck’s eyes landed on one of the glass vials Eddie had knocked over, one that was still intact. As if reading his mind, Eddie was bending to grab for it in the next second, loading it into the holster. Buck let go of Claudette, the woman smiling smugly to him.

“Hah, guess you’re not as Dauntless as you thought kid.”

Buck shrugged his shoulders, Eddie’s hand colliding with his in an instant. He curled his hand tightly around the syringe, making his way straight for Claudette.

“You’re right, I’m not.”

Just as the needle plunged into Claudette’s skin, Buck gave a triumphant smile of his own.

“I’m Divergent.”

Claudette winced in pain for the needle, the serum quickly taking over. Buck didn’t waste a minute, demanding once again that she shut the program down, Claudette not hesitating to abide now that she was under their control.

Several swipes of the screen happened, Buck and Eddie both all but holding their breath, watching as their friends aimed the guns, ready to take fire. Just as the guns were calked, fingers closing over the triggers, the system came to a standstill, all the Dauntless soldiers looking to each other in confusion, immediately dropping their weapons to the ground.

The screen faded to gray in front of them then, Buck looking to Eddie with a relived smile, the two embracing once more.

Warm lips curved to the back of his neck, Buck shivering for the touch.

“C’mon, we gotta go.”

Buck nodded into Eddie, the two grasping hands before taking off, stepping around all the soldiers that laid around them, Claudette standing in shock before her masterpiece, the small dose of serum quickly wearing off.

“We have to find my sister, and-and the others.”

In all the chaos, Buck had almost forgotten about meeting up with his parents and Eddie’s, Christopher at the forefront of his memory. The security cameras showed more soldiers swarming the building—ones that would follow Claudette willingly—the two of them getting a move on it, feet thudding against the ground as they went.

As they rounded the corner, they nearly ran straight into Maddie, his sister looking between the two of them, a smug smile spreading across her face.

“So, you must be Eddie.”

Eddie turned to Buck with a raised brow, Buck ducking his head sheepishly.

“I’m Maddie, Ev—”

“Buck’s sister. Yea, he’s told me all about you,” Eddie said, cutting her off.

Maddie’s smile quickly became questioning.

“Buck?”

Right. His sister hadn’t been there for that.

“It’s uh, it’s what I go by now.”

Maddie looked to him then, seeming to understand without having to ask. She reached out to squeeze his forearm, smiling sincerely. “Buck. I like it.”

Footsteps from the other side had them all pulling out of their moment, the three of them making a run for it, Buck breathlessly asking where the others were.

“They went to Amity. That’s where the others are.”

Amity huh? Well, they were always the peaceful ones. He could only imagine Doug trying to fit in there.

They ran through the halls of Dauntless, Buck and Eddie easily guiding Maddie through it, throwing open the door once they’d reached the end. The train was flying across the tracks in front of them, Eddie swiftly running alongside it and hopping into the car, holding out his hand for Maddie. Buck tried to keep up, watching that Maddie was safely on, his shoulder throbbing as he went.

He could make the train, knew he could, no matter how bad the ache in his arm became.

With Eddie hanging half out of the train, watching, Buck increased his steps, putting forth all his momentum. Just as he passed Eddie, readying to jump on, Eddie dipped his arm out, ready to catch him.

“I’ve got it.”

“I know you do.”

Eddie’s arm came around him, scooping Buck up tight, their eyes meeting in an instant. Buck let himself lean his weight into him, Eddie safely pulling him inside the car. There were a few stragglers among them, ones Maddie appeared to know, sitting across the car from them, a light smile touching her lips.

“You ok Mads?”

She nodded over to him, reaching across the space between them, pinky poised. Buck reached out to take it with his own, scrunching up his nose as pain shot through his arm and up to his shoulder.

“Hey,” Eddie said softly, helping him to sit back. “Let me look at?”

Buck gave a sharp nod, wincing as Eddie helped him out of his jacket, the cool air chilling his bare skin. Eddie frowned as he hovered over Buck, removing the gauze. Buck heard more than saw, Eddie ripping his own shirt, using it to re-cover Buck’s wound. It did not make him swoon.

Eddie settled Buck’s arm over his own then, trying to help relieve some of the pressure, linking their hands together over his lap. His other fingers came to brush over Buck’s arm, right where his two banded tattoo laid. “What’s this one for?”

No one had asked him as of yet, Buck happy that Eddie was the first.

“It’s uh, it’s me. Kind of like yours,” Buck said, gesturing to the lines poking out at Eddie’s neck.

“One band is me after entering Dauntless, and the other is from before. And the middle, it’s—who I want to be, who I’m trying to be.”

He’d gotten the tattoo not long after joining Dauntless, needing something to help represent himself. He wasn’t quite Dauntless or Abnegation, but rather something in-between. Divergent.

“What about that one,” Maddie asked, pointing to the two birds above his heart.”

Buck looked down to them before smiling over to his sister. “That’s me and you. We’re both free now Mads, free to fly wherever we want.”

Maddie sniffled at that, her eyes welling with tears, Buck’s not doubt looking the same.

He tried to rest a little after that, watching as his sister nodded off across from them, Buck leaning into Eddie, wholly pushing into his space. Eddie moved impossibly closer, wrapping him up tightly.

“Now we have nothing. No home, no faction.”

Eddie’s hand came to brush across his temple.

“We have each other.”

Buck huffed out a faint laugh, opening his eyes to those big browns, Eddie’s voice endearing as ever.

“I have something to tell you.” Buck ran his fingers across Eddie’s arm that was holding his other, not breaking their stare.

“I might be in love with you.”

Something swelled inside of him, the dopiest grin passing across Buck’s face.

“Might be?”

Eddie nodded into him, flexing his fingers in their hold.

“Yea, just thought you should know.”

“You know Four,” Buck started, Eddie scrunching his nose a little for Buck using his nickname. “You’re my favorite number.”

Eddie gave an exasperated, yet fond roll of his eyes, Buck ducking his head into Eddie before looking back up. Eddie leaned forward, placing his lips right between Buck’s brows, placing a tender kiss there, lingering in the space after. Like Eddie’s hands, his lips had hardened edges, one’s Buck had only saw, but never felt.

“He looks just like you. Has your smile.”

Eddie pulled back then, eyes honed in on him.

“Your son…Christopher. I-I got to hold him in my arms and the whole time I wished you were there with—with us.”

A tear dropped down from those darkened browns, ones that were sad and stormy, so different from the day Buck had met him, back when they were stoic and controlled; Buck wasn’t sure which was worse.

They held each other tight, holding onto the only thing they had left, Buck sticking his long leg out to press against Maddie, keeping his two favorite people close to his side.

It was hard to feel broken when he felt so alive. He was selfless, brave.

They lived like the Factionless now, everything left behind them. Even so, they’d found themselves, each other. Tomorrow, they may have to fight again, fight for themselves, those they loved, and for what was right.

For now though, they would ride the train until the end of the line.

And when they got to the end, they would jump.