Darrow’s complex and evolving relationships with his friends—Victra, Tactus, Sevro, and Roque—allow the author to explore the interwoven themes of Friendship, Loyalty, and Betrayal. As a Red sent to infiltrate Gold, Darrow struggles to connect honestly with others, rarely able to relate to them as his true self. Despite this challenge, Darrow forms lasting, reciprocal friendships at the Institute, demonstrating the human need for connection. Each of Darrow’s relationships with his friends is unique. He is wary of Victra, given her duplicitous family, while Victra’s feelings for Darrow extend beyond friendship to love—a complication that Darrow recognizes: “She does all these things not for the Julii way of gain and profit, but for that simple human emotion” (283). The relationship between them is strengthened when they share simple facts about themselves—elements of truth underneath Darrow’s assumed persona, creating a new honesty and understanding between them. Although Victra still flirts with Darrow, she respects his feelings for Mustang. After she is shot, her main concern is telling Darrow she did not know of the plan to attack him, asserting her genuine loyalty to him.

By contrast, Darrow’s friendship with Tactus follows a more negative trajectory. Darrow feels slighted by Tactus when he thinks Tactus sold the gifted violin, and he feels betrayed and disappointed when Tactus takes the escape pod at the Academy.