'Twas bored. It's silly. And short. It's Zeke. It's fight club. Have fun.

smooches,

~wk

In Dauntless, the sounds of training are universal, whether you're a tattooed, pierced veteran, or a skinny transfer fresh from the net. Hits and grunts, thumps and kicks, cheering and laughter and groans and curses – it's the soundtrack of the compound.

The Stiffs must run on elevator music.

They're uncertain and polite, practically apologizing to the dummies they're pounding, ugly makeshift human-shaped punching bags filled with rice. Maybe it's because Christina topped each one with a life size cutout of Jack Kang's face.

She's the one circling them now, yelling "harder, faster, hit it like you mean it!" Uriah is staring at her instead of the kids he's supposed to be coaching. It's pretty obvious what he wishes he was hitting.

"Here," I say, handing him a towel.

"What's that for?"

"To wipe up all the drool." I nod my head toward Christina, who just landed a vicious right hook to one of the photo-Jack's jaws.

"Shut up."

I grin and push him towards Stork and Whizz, who need all the help they can get. I wince as Stork aims a bony foot at the dummy's back, misses it completely, and falls over. Next to him, Unibrow closes his eyes every time he throws a punch. Bunhead is in tears because her knuckles hurt, and Marshmallow has somehow managed to knock himself out. I shake my head in disgust.

"Just go ahead and say it," a quiet voice says from the corner.

I turn towards it. "Four…they –"

"Suck."

"Yeah," I say, "they do. But I'm sure with a little practice –"

Four raises his eyebrows, and I start laughing.

"OK fine. Yeah, they suck. Utterly and completely. A whole new level of suckitude."

He sighs heavily. "I guess I was hoping for a little more…bravery."

"Look, they can't all be Stiffs-turned-Dauntless prodigies. Tris wasn't, not at first. From what you told me, she got the shit kicked out of her more than once, and now look at her."

We both turn to look at her as she blocks Dwarf in mid-punch, and lectures her about protecting her left side. Four's sour expression lifts into a faint smile.

"Plus, I know you hate to admit it, but we do have one kid with a little bit of promise." I motion toward Perv, who seems to pack some consistent power behind his punches. Unfortunately, the kid chooses that moment to stop and wink at Tris as she shows Dwarf how to use her elbows.

THUNK.

The knife point slams into the wall, an inch from his cheek, and he jumps a mile, tripping over his own feet in an attempt to back away from the guy that threw it.

"Pay. Attention," Four snaps, each word like a bullet. The Stiffs wince, their eyes wide. Tris chokes back a laugh. He stalks over to Perv, who looks ready to piss himself.

"You're here to learn to fight, not flirt," Four says quietly. "Your aim is poor, your moves are sloppy, and you have no follow through. You're distracted, and it is going to get you killed."

Perv swallows and nods. Four glowers at him. I clear my throat.

"Anywho, what Four here is trying to say, is that you have to stay focused under fire," I say loudly.

"Especially if someone is trying to kick the shit out of you," Uriah calls out from behind me.

"Yeah, you need to concentrate, whether someone is trying to kick you," I say, "or –"

"Kiss you," yells my brother, who grabs me in a headlock, twists me around, and plants a big juicy one right on my lips. Disgusting.

"Now that's a bromance," snarks Christina, and even the Stiffs start laughing. Four rolls his eyes. Then I spoil the moment.

"Perv. Claws. You're up first. Let's fight."