Authors note: Forgive me, this has taken me so much longer to get posted then I had hoped. With back to school, a tropical storm chaos, and schedules I had to put this on hold for a bit. This is my own take of what happened after the first movie and the first book. With a little of Insurgent sprinkled in. I do not own any characters or certain content related to Divergent, They belong to Veronica Roth. I only own my OCs. Was surprised to see the mass of new followers, and I have to say thank you to all of you. So I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Ok this contains nudity, possible graphic and/or disturbing scenes, lots of profanity, and some violence. Because seriously it would be boring to read without something interesting. :P
Enjoy, Fave, Follow!
Chapter 1
It had been over four years since the war on abnegation. Since Erudite had fallen with the failure of their very own leader, a tyrant known as Jeanine Matthews.
Eric had played his role as Jeanine's most loyal experiment. All the way until he snapped out of his simulation after Tris shot him in the leg. Stalling Max and others just long enough for Four and Tris to shut down the simulation and torture for others trapped mindless.
The factions, including the Faction-less, had ultimately decided to choose one from each of the faction leaders to represent the New Government. Elder members of each faction felt it would help prevent another war among the factions. Every faction had an equal say and no one faction was ultimately better then another. Once the video from the cities founders was released, Divergent were no longer hunted. Also now with new knowledge of other cities like theirs, it opened a possibility of a new and better normal. The Government had set forth communication with the far away cities working with Erudite. They would gain any new knowledge they could.
Tris had volunteered to be ambassador, being Divergent gave a kind of unbiased opinion in faction matters. Despite Four proposing to her, they agreed to stay engaged at least til after the deadline. The feeling of wearing a ring felt so foreign to her, but it was given to Four for her by Evelyn, Four's mother. For Evelyn it was a piece of hope, that she would gain some kind of relationship with her son. For most of his life, he long thought her dead, and she was afraid he would shut her out completely if she pushed him to far. So putting the wedding on hold was so they had one less thing for either one of them to worry about with everything else going on.
In those four years, Jeanine and Max were placed in restricted solitary confinement, for of their role in creating the war. They were executed upon final decision of the new government after standing trial in Candor, within the first year. Eric was given amnesty in return for his cooperation and his part in helping stop the rebellion. The Candor truth serum proved his actions up until he was shot by Tris were a result of the simulation serum like the others.
Eric and Four became the new leaders of Dauntless, with a couple of exceptions. They had to report to the other factions as a sign of good faith. The five year deadline was soon approaching. If all went well they would no longer have to report in and could continue on as normal. Tris, as ambassador, was given the responsibility of communicating between the factions of her city as well as Detroit's ambassador as part of her position. Christina, Peter, Zeke, and Lauren would be in charge of training all new initiates. The factions returned to old traditions as far as the choosing ceremony and initiations went. This time allowing members of the faction-less back into the city. The new government wanted to help rebuild the fallen numbers of the factions and to prevent another war brewing. The Faction-less were given a chance to rejoin a faction if they chose to.
Hel, a girl from initiation a year after Eric and Four. Her old faction was Erudite and jumped at the chance to leave. For Hel, Erudite was suffocating, a living hell of childhood torment. When she was a child, she was considered awkward and was occasionally the victim of her peers. For years she suffered nightmares, leaving her feeling trapped. One nightmare she wasn't sure if it was a memory of something she'd blacked out...
'White stairwells, white walls that met with white tiled floors. Running from something, something just out of sight behind me. Then water, lots of water and pain. Lungs burning as the struggle to breathe, to keep my head above water, gets harder and harder. Slowly drowning as someone keeps holding your head under the surface. Then nothing, but darkness. Then as things seem to fade in and out of focus. Everything fades in and out between darkness and blurriness I'm being carried, the sounds of dripping water and footsteps echoing in my ears..."
She refused to be seen as weak any longer. A few of her childhood tormentors giggled as she headed toward the bowls. Once her blood dripped onto the hot coals of Dauntless, their giggles silenced as Dauntless cheered. She let out all her frustrations in the first two stages of her initiation. In the end of the final fear simulations she ranked third place. Earning attention of Dauntless, by being the only female in the top five that initiation year. So she selected to work in the faction's Administration. Handling reports and running errands for the Leaders and security within Dauntless.
After the war, she woke up in the med ward. No idea of how she got there. She wasn't alone, many in dauntless were still trying to put the pieces back together then. Once Tris had become ambassador, Hel was appointed as faction supervisor. Overseeing the new initiates, simulations, and even various members of staff. In the years to follow it seemed that Eric made an appearance to watch the training of the transfers when she was there. Occasionally she would catch him staring at her, watching her. She'd go back to her report as soon as she felt the blush threatening her cheeks. She had always seen Eric as cold and unrelenting. A simple look made her question what she knew about him. She couldn't deny she found him attractive, he was gorgeous. Even by her standards, looks wise he put all her ex boyfriends to shame. It had been close to three years since her last relationship. Dean might have been storybook Prince cute but he was far from charming. With not wanting the drama that seem to follow Dean around. She wanted to focus on her job and with the deadline approaching, everything had to be going as smoothly as possible. They needed the Government to trust them again.
Today must have been a very bad day for all in Dauntless. The sound of yelling had snapped her out of her thoughts. Looking up from her tablet to see Eric towering over a guy, in front of the knife table. Four standing off to the side with the rest of the initiates going over techniques and stances waiting for their round to start throwing.
"If you didn't act like your afraid of the knives, you might actually hit a target." A sick smirk played on Eric's lips.
"I'm trying."
"Then try harder."
The boy's shaky hand lifted a knife and threw it. Only to watch it hit the target at an angle before skidding across the floor. Pointing, Eric silently motioned for him to retrieve the knife from the floor. When the boy refused Eric grabbed the boy by the collar and began to drag him around the table.
"I can't, I'll be hit."
"What don't you trust your fellow initiates?" As he shoved the boy in the direction of the targets. The boy froze, unsure of what to do, as Eric continued to lay into him. -"Then you better move fast then. Don't be a pussy."
As Four turned to intervene, he noticed the woman heading toward the pair. Putting his hands up as he backed up, went she sent him a glare. Trying not to laugh at what was unfolding before him.
Walking up to the Dauntless leader, Hel told the boy to wait until Four gave the all clear before retrieving the knives. Pointing her finger in Eric's angry direction and yelled at him. She was not in the mood for Eric's bullshit ego tripping today.
"YOU! In my office, NOW!"
He didn't answer, responding would only make him sound weak, and he couldn't have that. Shaking her head, and mumbling obscenities as she left the training room. Once in her office, she grabbed a hold of the bottle of bourbon sitting on a low shelf behind her desk. Tossing the tablet on her desk, almost sending a small stack of files to the a big swig of the amber liquid before returning the bottle to its place. Trying to calm herself for the verbal fight she knew would be coming. Finishing up the last of the weeks reports to be sent to Tris as she waited. Without knocking he came in like a raging bull. For a moment Hel could swear she seen smoke coming from his ears.
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Slamming the steel door shut behind him. Quickly standing to meet him. She refused to be backed into a corner, let alone a chair.
"Well, I'm not being stupid. I'm doing my job." Stepping closer to him in defiance. His height towering over her slightly.
"Your not in a position that dictates mine." His jaw tensed. He never thought that the moment they were this close, they'd be fighting.
"With the way your acting? Treating people were supposed to be training like animals, that deadline is so close?"
"Well Dauntless isn't for pussies, if they're scared, they don't belong here."
"Then why are you here? You could very well fuck this up for everyone." A victorious smirk played on her lips as she poked him in the chest with every word.
"I may be an asshole, but I'll never be a pussy. If we were using guns instead of knives, we could all be dead right now."
Shaking her head slightly as she scoffed at him. Her heart racing from the adrenaline. How did this cold, pig headed man have such control on her emotions, let alone her body. His anger started to turn her on, even if she was just as pissed off.
"No, I don't think your an asshole." Poking him in the chest again, biting her lip as she offered him a fake smile. Grabbing her arm before her finger could make contact a third time. Gripping almost hard enough to bruise the tender flesh covered by her sleeve.
Her eyes snapped between his to her wrist, but she didn't show fear. She didn't cower and surrender. He raised a brow at her lack of shock. With her wrist tight in hand, he leaned down. Putting his face right in front of hers.
"Then what am I?"
"You really want to know what I think?"
"Coming from a smart ass like you, I'm curious."
"I think your a fucking dick!" The anger dripping in sarcastic defiance as the words rolled off her tongue."-Now let go of my arm."
Pulling to free her wrist from his grasp only tightened his hold. Yanking her slightly closer to him. Neither her answer or her attempt to remove herself from him didn't seemed to phase him. One thing she learned early on was to not let her pain control her, but for once since she was a child she found herself wavering. He wasn't going to let her belittle him.
Leaning close enough to her ear, she could feel his breath on her neck. When her breathing picked up in response, the heat of his breath sending chills down her spine.
"No." he growled into her ear. "And I think your a little bitch."
Her jaw dropped momentarily but she managed to catch herself. The smell of his cologne helped distract herself from the pain of her wrist.
"Wow, a little bitch. So so clever, is that the best you got."
For a moment he lost himself when he pulled away slightly. For a moment he caught sight of her bluish green eyes, for the first time since he got shot, he hesitated. He couldn't explain it, and loosened his grip slightly. Her other hand balled tightly in a fist at her side. Before he could stop himself, he slammed his lips hard into hers. She had been officially stunned. After a few seconds, he leaned back to gauge her reaction. She blinked away the haze, and stared at him. It was like he hit the off switch on her brain, she thought about hitting him, instead she gave in. He kissed her a second time. This time she kissed back, biting his lip, her once balled up fist had found itself clinging to the front of his shirt. Slowly backing her into her desk. Hovering over its cold metal edge. He snaked his free hand around her waist. When they stopped for air, he went to kissing her neck. When his lips made their way to her collarbone. She stopped him. The toe curling moment was over and she was pushing him away.
"Wait, stop. We can't do this."
"What? Why?"
"I should hit you, that's why."
"But you didn't, you wouldn't have kissed me back if you didn't want too."
He attempted to pull her closer, and was failing. Still he had a hold of her arm.
"Because you can't just kiss me and expect me to forget we were fighting fifteen minutes ago."
"That's not why I kissed you."
"Oh really then why did you?"
But before he could respond, the sound of the door made her jump, causing Eric to completely lose his grip on her all together. Pushing him a few more inches away from her before the door swung open. It was Four, walking in on what looked like an awkward scene before him. Both Eric and Hel both looking mad and irritated. Shrugging it off to what happened earlier at training. Much to Hel's relief, she didn't want to have to explain that she was just having a make out session with Eric.
"I'll talk to you later." His tone was cold and bitter as he stormed from her office. Four looked on as Eric turned the corner and was out of site. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding causing Four to look at her quizzically.
"Everything okay? You look pretty upset even for you."
Her eyes were red as if she was about to cry or had been crying.
"No, No, I'm fine. He just has me pissed off."
"Yeah he has that affect on people. What happened?"
"Nothing...Eric's being his usual asshole self, nothing new. I'm starting to think my lack of sleep is getting the better of me."
"I'll talk to him, next time I see him. Oh and Tris wants you to stop by and have dinner with us in the Pit later."
"You don't have to do that, I can handle him. What time?"
"Around seven if you can make it? If you want, once you've sent those reports, you can go home."
"Thanks, I'll see you guys tonight."
Soon as he was gone, she slumped back into her chair. Leaving both mind and body on fire with what happened. Finishing up the last of her reports. A dull throb ached in her chest as she ran her fingers over her now sore wrist. Stretching as she stood, briefly contemplating another big swig of bourbon, as she grabbed her keys and headed out.
Quickly entering the housing complex, not stopping to talk to anyone. Once inside her apartment, locking the door behind her. Looking at the clock, she let out a groan of exhaustion, she had roughly five hours. Setting a alarm on her tablet. Plopped on the couch, she let her boots fall to the floor. Covering herself with an old throw blanket, hoping to forget about her worries even for a little while. Her dreams wouldn't quite let her rest. Deep in her mind she could still feel the chill the heat of his breathe on her neck.
Eric joined Four and they watched over the last transfer training sessions of the day. Standing quietly as he eyed the stance of the second round of initiates. This lot having better luck with the last. He and Four never really got along. They bickered and argued like small children on a playground at times. Eric would never admit it out loud but he saw Four as his friend. Four was the only one he trusted enough to actually work with. As for Tris and Christina, he found them annoying, but he respected them. Peter and Lauren were probably the least annoying. There was only one day left in stage two, initiates would learn to handle guns tomorrow. With arms crossed over his chest, he eyed the stance of each transfer. Slowly pacing up and down the row as each attempted to hit each target. Only stopping once to show two of the initiates a better stance. Allowing them to hit the target two out of three times. He didn't yell or degrade them, much to Four's surprise. Even when he slightly began to raise his voice, he still kept his cool. Once the new rankings were posted for the day, the initiates were dismissed.
"I never thought I'd see the day." Quietly chuckling under his breath as the last of the initiates disappeared through the doors.
"What the hell are you babbling about?" Eric snapped back.
"Since when do you play nice with the initiates?" The playful grin on Four's face, had caused Eric to laugh.
"I'm never nice, but she had a point." Shaking his head as he recalled the argument from earlier.
"I was going to ask you about that."
"She reminded me that I could fucked this up for everyone. We're so close to that fucking deadline."
"Yeah, but even without the deadline, would you have listened?"
Letting out a sigh, he hadn't really thought about it at all. "Honestly, I don't know. Things aren't the same anymore. We have to be tough, I can't just baby them."
"There's a difference between being tough on them and being an asshole."
"Shut up, stiff. Lets grab a few beers before you head off to your little woman?" Nodding, they headed out to the Pit's bar.
"You know no one says that anymore?"
"Ha ha yeah, I just love the pissed off look you get when someone calls you a stiff."
Taking up two stools near the end of the bar. It was loud but not overly crowded. Which worked out good, Eric didn't want to be overheard. Ordering a couple of beers between the two.
"Care to tell me what happened earlier?"
"What? When I told that transfer to stop being a pussy?"
Four let out a laugh, almost choking on his beer.
"No. I'm talking about afterwards when I came to Hel's office."
"We argued. I yelled then she yelled, and I left."
"Is that all? I mean she looked pretty upset."
"What do you mean upset?"
"Like she was about to cry or kill something, that kind of upset."
"She was fine, good and angry, then...you came in"
"I've seen the look you two give when you think no ones looking."
"What fucking look, Four?" Eric was getting irritated and Four was pushing his buttons. Finishing his beer, before slamming it down on the bar and ordering another.
"I've seen you both staring, a few times, occasionally."
"What the hell do you know? I've met your girlfriend."
"Its the same look, that used to be passed back and forth between me and my girlfriend."
"Is it that constipated look? Like the one she had right before she shot me in the leg." Eric let out a laugh at the look on Four's face. Four choosing to push him half off the stool where he was sitting. He too started laughing, but not at the comment, at the memory of Tris shooting Eric.
"You shouldn't of said she wasn't going too."
"Hey, hey. My bad, my bad. I guess maybe I do kinda like her." Throwing his hands up in mock surrender.
"Like as in you liked that girl from our initiation year? What was her name? Anna? Morgan?"
"Eva?...I didn't like that girl. She gave me head once or twice while we were all drunk as shit at one of those parties midway through initiation. It never really went beyond that. She just wasn't doing it for me and didn't want to take the hint. I didn't want a girlfriend."
"Yet you still let her blow you. It's probably why she opted for a job working the wall."
"Lucky for me. She was sleeping with Zeke for a while not long after that."
The too burst into laughter as they finished the next round of beers. Before Four put on his serious face and tried to get Eric to continue.
"So what happened in there?"
"We fought "
"What do you mean lost it?"
"I called her a fucking bitch."
"I see. Did she say anything?"
"Nope, you came in before she could come up with a comeback."
"Wow, does the Big bad Eric have it bad for this girl."
Without looking up, he simply nodded as he finished the last of the beer. Before looking back to Four's face.
"Its why I came to you. I don't know what to do."
"Seriously? Its not like I'm an expert. Your the one with the track record my friend. Your not still friends with benefits with Cara or are you?"
"No, we haven't hooked up in a few months. She wanted to see how things would go with that new doctor from Erudite. We're still friends but we don't fuck around anymore."
"Well that's good if your serious about this Eric. Like a serious relationship or are you just looking to get laid?"
"I want to try for a seriously relationship, if she's willing too."
"Well I'm suppose to have dinner with Tris and Hel in a couple of hours. But if she's still mad, you need to let her calm down before you start trying to romance her."
Almost choking on his recent swig, he finally spit out the words in between coughing. "Wha what?...Why the hell are you having dinner with them together?"
"It was Tris' idea." Shrugging it off as it was no big deal.
"Is that the only way she'll put out? With some weird three-way? I guess stiffs can be freaks in the sheets." Laughing at the pissed expression on Four's face. He truly did enjoy pissing him off, even if it was temporary.
"That's bullshit, and what happens in my bedroom is none of your business. For your information, I see Hel like a little sister."
Putting his hands up in mock surrender as he continued to laugh. Four just rolling his eyes.
"Very true, plus I don't want details of what you two do in there. Just sayin."
"Have you tried talking to her?"
"No, our first conversation resulted in being called a dick and me calling her a bitch."
"Maybe you should start by trying to be less of a dick. I got to go, I'll see you later."
Standing, waving his hand to point at the beers they drank to pay. Patting Eric's shoulder as he left. "Later, stiff." Laughing at the glare he received from Four. He knew full well what the nickname did.
With Four gone, left alone with his thoughts he didn't the see bartender clearing the bar.
"Hey you done with that, you've been babysitting it for thirty minutes." Snapping Eric back to reality.
"Huh, yeah." Sliding the bottle away from him. His expression unchanging, and since he was still sober enough to think, he decided to head back to his apartment.
Waking up groggily, disagreeing with the screaming alarm waking her up. She sat up on her couch, looking up at the clock, slamming the off button. Figuring she had just enough time to shower and clean up before meeting up for dinner. Stretching as she padded her way over to her bathroom. Turning on the shower, she faced herself in the mirror. Rolling her eyes at her tired reflection staring back at her, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
Starting the shower, she stretched again. Peeling off the layers, then began releasing her now tangled mess of hair from its tie. Grabbing the brush to tackle the knots, before attempting to wash away the thought of anything that might have to do with Eric. Once the water ran cold, she quickly got out, not realizing what time it was. Wrapped in a towel, she stood in front of her closet pondering the possibilities. Finally she settled on a black v-neck top and jeans. Wanting to keep a low profile as much as possible. Sticking with her combat boots, little makeup, and her jacket. She grabbed her keys and headed out. Hoping she could avoid Eric at least til tomorrow. Tonight she wanted to eat, maybe drink a little, and crawl into bed alone tonight.
Entering the Pit she found Tris and Four already there. Letting out a breath of relief at Eric's absence and joined them. Waving at her friend Rena who was at a table a few tables over before sitting down with the couple. Her subconscious mind scanning the room for any signs of Eric, as she made herself a plate.
"Did you get any rest, Hel" Tris eyeing her suspiciously.
"All of a few hours." Staring down at her now cluttered plate.
"Well lucky for you, Stage one of Initiation ends tomorrow."
"Great, I get a full three days of sleep."
"Not exactly two. We do still have that thing going on tomorrow night. If your up too it."
"You should join them Hel. A little fun will do you some good."
"Ah, how could I forget about that thing." To passing by initiates and the unknowing it probably sounded like they were discussing something dirty.
"Your more then welcome to join us, you can be a co-captain."
"Four, why do I sense a 'but' coming on?" Hel eyeing him in between bites. Tris looking between the two with suspicious curiosity.
"But I can't guarantee that Eric won't be joining us."
"As big an asshole that he is I won't let him ruin it for me. Plus I can't avoid him forever."
"Did something happen?" It came out more of a surprised reaction then Tris intended but unbeknownst to Hel, Four had slipped his hand onto Tris' thigh. The small squeal that escaped Tris' lips earned a raised brow from Hel.
"Nothing I can't handle or deal with myself. Seriously when he is not being a dick...So everyone can stop asking me."
The truth in the statement left them all laughing. The trio finished up their food, going over work schedules for the last two stages. Tris wouldn't be joining them for Capture the Flag, she had been swamped with meetings and decided she just wanted to get some rest. Promising she would go to the next one.
Rena, had made her way across the Pit, and took the free seat next to Hel. Her hair in a messy bun, some of her blond and purple strands had come lose and she wasn't intent on fixing them just yet.
"Sorry to interrupt your dinner. I think we can all agree our girls need a girls night. If I'm wrong, I think they have the day off tomorrow."
"I do have the day off tomorrow, but what do you have in mind?"
"A little clubbing, some dancing and probably lots of alcohol."
"I would but me and Four made plans for tonight." Tris trying to get her point across without making it completely obvious.
"We do?" Gaining a glare from Tris as she hit him in his side. "Ouch...Oh..Oh we do."
It was no secret, Tris was never much of the partying type. Sometimes even in the long years, her Abnegation roots would shine through, she was always so modest. She finally had time off from being shipped by train all over the city from faction to faction. Planning on spending as much alone time with Four as she could before having to go back to work.
"Then I guess we'll have to take you out next time. Hopefully its not just for your bachelorette party."
"I'm serious Rena, no strippers. I don't think its a good idea after what happened at the last Dauntless bachelor party." Four looking at her with a slight glare.
"I had nothing to do with that. I just sat back and enjoyed that train-wreck of a show."
"I'm just letting you know. We can't have half naked people bursting in to another Dauntless meeting again."
"We'll let you too finish up here. Come on Hel, before you try and talk me out of taking you with me."
"See you tomorrow, don't get into to much trouble you two."
"Yes, mom and dad, we'll be on our best behavior. Scouts honor."
Four and Tris rolled their eyes at the two giggling girls, waving good-bye before going back to a more slightly personal conversation. Half way through the Pit, Hel felt eyes on her. Looking up to one of the upper levels, she spotted him. Not even bothering to look away from her, after they made eye contact. She flipped him off, before turning to rejoin her friend as the made their exit. He kept his eyes on her long enough to watch her leave before heading down to join Peter and Lauren.
A/N: Not 100% where I want this to be but I have big plans to come.