Another installment in the Emergent and Hero of Chicago universe. Eric and Tris face the challenges of love and leading Dauntless, and have an unexpected encounter with the woman who helped Eric take down Jeanine Matthews. 4 chapters. Eric POV.
xxxx
Saturday, May 28
Sometimes when I go running, I still travel the path I used when I was working on taking down Jeanine Matthews. I grew fond of the challenge of running through the streets of Chicago and up and down to the elevated train platforms. I sometimes check locker number eleven, which Nat and I used to leave each other messages, but it's been empty since a week after Jeanine paid for her crimes with her life. On the day Jeanine was executed I left a letter there for Nat, thanking her and her people for everything they did. A week later it was gone, so I hope she received it.
I really wanted Nat and her people to know how much I appreciate their reaching out to me. I was a pawn in Jeanine's diabolical scheme, helpless to free myself from her web as she threatened the lives of my parents and younger sister. I was desperate, and Nat gave me the spark of hope that I needed to change my life.
Every good thing in my world started with that contact. We were able to catch Jeanine and her confederates in their kidnapping, human experimentation, and murder scheme. My family was saved, and I have been able to have a relationship with them again. I could make friends without fearing that contact with me endangered their lives. All of this led to the greatest gift of all, my relationship with the beautiful, intelligent, caring, and brave Tris Prior.
Tris and I have been seeing each other for over a year now. Our relationship started when she completed training to become a leader in the Dauntless faction. Tris is the youngest person to ever complete leadership training, and she earned the highest score in the faction's history on her final exam. Both of the records she beat were mine until she came along, and I like to tease her that her records should have an asterisk next to them since she's divergent. I mean, I set the record with just my Dauntless aptitude, but she has aptitudes for Dauntless, Erudite, and Abnegation. I'm only joking, of course. The truth is that I could not be more proud of Tris and everything she has accomplished.
Things are good between Tris and I. We're technically next door neighbors, but I've pretty much been living in her apartment for the last few months. We've established a comfortable routine that helps us navigate our chaotic lives as leaders in the warrior faction.
A knock on my office door shakes me from my reverie. I snap to attention and see our head leader, Max, standing in my open doorway.
"Eric, we have a situation," he says. His face looks grave, and I'm on my feet immediately. "A group of factionless have attacked Amity. There are a number of dead, and damage to the food stores there. The attackers have acquired weapons somehow. Surveillance shows more factionless headed that way. I'm dispatching a platoon, and I'm about to call up a second. I've also called up a group of soldiers, repairmen, and a couple engineers from Erudite to fortify the wall wherever they're getting through."
"How many factionless attackers are we talking about?" I ask.
"Initial reports ranged from fifty to over a hundred. The Amity are in chaos, so they weren't sure. Children, the elderly, and some of the women are hiding. The leaders tried appeasing their attackers, but that has just led to greater and greater demands. There are a handful of hunting rifles at their disposal, but they really don't want to 'take up arms against their fellow man.'" Max uses finger quotes and we both roll our eyes at the Amity hippies who would rather risk starving the entire city than have to kill a couple criminal attackers.
"Eric," Max continues, "this is big. I need you out there. We have to plug the leak in the wall, put down this attack, and deal with the aftermath in Amity."
"Yes sir," I reply. It's my only option. I may be a leader, but I'm also a soldier, and my commanding officer just issued an order. "How soon do I ship out?"
"The next group leaves here at 1600 hours," he says. "That gives you almost five hours to get yourself together. You will be gone for at least two weeks, possibly more, so plan accordingly. And Eric," he adds, his face both soft and serious, "be careful out there, and don't forget your Kevlar."
I nod at Max as he turns to leave, then I take in a deep breath and release it slowly. My mind is a jumbled mess of everything I need to do. The only clear thought I have is of the diamond ring hidden in my sock drawer, and the girl I was going to propose to next week. I had it all planned. Next week is the second anniversary of Tris' arrival in Dauntless. Even though we didn't get together until she had been here for ten months, her choosing day was the day she literally dropped into my world and changed everything.
Like everyone in the compound, I noticed the tiny stiff with the courage to be first jumper. As Jeanine's lackey I wasn't free to pursue a relationship then, and as I was a leader and she was an initiate it wouldn't have been allowed anyway, but I noticed Tris. She frustrated me to no end - brave, yet always too smart and too selfless to blend in. I knew she was divergent early in her initiation. I worked hard to keep her from being caught by Jeanine even as I watched her begin a relationship with my then rival, Four. It stung, but I kept reminding myself that I didn't do relationships.
After turning on Jeanine and bringing her to justice I was free to develop real relationships, but the only girl I wanted was Tris, and she was with Four. When she started leadership training we became real friends. It was torture getting to know Tris and letting her know me. Every day I fell for her a little harder, and every night I dreamed of being with her. It took a lot of self-discipline, and more than a few cold showers, to settle for friendship.
My resolve was further tested when her relationship with Four started to deteriorate. I wanted to rip off the proverbial bandage and snatch her up, but Tris is not a possession or a small child who needs someone to take care of things for her. So again, I waited. She and Four truly care for one another, and their common upbringing in Abnegation made them both self-sacrificing, so it took time for them to accept that it wasn't going to work and that they would be happier as friends.
I thought I was strong before, but resisting Tris once she was single was pure torture. I knew she needed a little time after her breakup, but when I heard her tell our friend Uriah that she didn't want to date until she finished leadership training, I knew I had to hold back. Disinterested Tris had attracted me, but flirty, single Tris drove me wild. I was constantly stopping myself from touching her and kissing her. One night our banter got so heated that I had to leave before I just took her right there on her couch.
I literally marked Tris' test date on my calendar, and I asked her out just minutes after she completed her leadership exam. She accepted as friends, but from that dinner on she was mine, and I let myself show her more every day how I felt about her. I supported her through her ordeal of seeking justice from a cowardly attack that took place when she was an initiate, and I walked with her through a minor health crisis as well. In the end we emerged stronger and, happily, together. Over a year later I'm still amazed that it worked out and that I get to share my life with Tris.
Marriage isn't really expected in Dauntless. Many couples live together and raise families without a legal contract. But I have to admit that my inner caveman loves the idea of Tris sharing my last name and wearing rings that tell other men to back off. In Abnegation marriage is considered sacred, and is expected of every couple, so I know Tris grew up with that understanding. We've talked about being married someday, but I don't think she knows how serious I am, or that I bought her a ring.
I leave my office a man on a mission, and head directly to our apartment. I stay just long enough to grab the ring, and march right back to the leadership offices. The office wing is chaos by now. Commanders, leaders, and administrative staff run around throwing together plans for the battle to come. One of the lieutenants stops me to give me the latest update from Amity. Thirty confirmed dead, and one warehouse breached by the factionless. I take this in with a nod, then look for Tris.
I find her in her office, hastily going over the food supply order for the mobilized troops. She is simultaneously on the phone with the cafeteria ordering tonight's dinner scaled back to reflect that fewer people will be in the compound. I hear her telling the kitchen head to start practicing conservation methods as the food stores at Amity may have been compromised. She's so smart thinking ahead like that.
When the supply list is approved and she's off the phone, I close her office door and pull Tris into my arms. She sighs as she hugs me back.
"They're sending you, aren't they?" she asks sadly.
All I can do is nod, the lump in my throat preventing me from speaking. Tris sighs again.
"I'll worry about you," she confesses. "How long do they think you'll be gone?"
"Max said at least two weeks," I confess softly, running my fingers through her silky blonde hair in what I hope is a soothing manner. "We have to push back the factionless, fortify the fence, and get Amity back on its feet."
I feel Tris crumple a bit, then square her shoulders and nod against my chest. I can't help but admire her strength and resolve. She doesn't like this situation, but I know she will carry on and lead well in my absence.
"I ship out at four PM," I inform her. "I have to get packed, but there is something pressing that I need to do before that."
Tris takes a step back from me. I see unwashed tears in her eyes, but also resolve and understanding.
"What can I do to help?" she asks, selfless as ever.
I drop to one knee, pulling out the ring box.
"Say you'll marry me," I say breathlessly. "It will be a big help going into battle if I know you will marry me when I get home." Tris looks shocked, and I start to ramble, panicked that she'll say no. "I bought the ring a couple weeks ago. I had it all planned. I was going to ask you next week, on Choosing Day. I made dinner reservations and I planned this whole speech about how your arrival at Dauntless was the day my life truly began. I even…"
"Yes," Tris cuts off my rambling.
"What?" I ask, afraid to trust my ears.
"Yes, I will marry you," she repeats.
I stand and pull Tris into my arms, lifting her off her feet. She laughs, a choked sob escaping with it. I fumble with the ring, remove it from the box and place it on her shaking finger.
"I promise," I say to her, my voice little more than a shaking whisper, "I will come home safe to you. And I will make you my wife as soon as you will have me."
Tris nods, then pulls me in for another hug. "I wish we could just get married now," she whispers, "before you leave."
I pull back so I can see Tris' face. She looks sincere and wistful. I pick her up again, this time throwing her slight form over my shoulder. She squeals and laughs as I cross her office and throw the door open.
"Max!" I bellow into the hallway.
"Office!" he yells back.
I march down the hall, my giggling fiancee still tossed over my shoulder. Our co-leader, Harrison, scurries out of his office, startled by the commotion. I wave for him to come along and we enter Max's office together. I set Tris back on her feet facing Max's desk, and stand behind her, wrapping my arms around her petite form. She places her hands on my forearms and leans back into my chest.
Max looks at us inquisitively, and I see the moment his eyes his eyes catch on the ring sparkling on Tris' finger. My grin, which I haven't been able to wipe off my face since Tris said yes, grows even wider as I watch Max's face light up with realization and joy.
"It took you long enough!" he exclaims as he jumps to his feet.
"Wait. What?" asks Harrison, lost in the exchange.
Tris holds up her left hand, and before I know it Harrison has us both engulfed in a bear hug. Max walks around his desk to give his congratulations as well, and while he hugs us Harrison runs next door to Veronica's office. A moment later Veronica and Kyle join us, and the room is filled with joyful celebration.
When the noise dies down, I turn to face Max. "I'm done wasting time," I tell him. "We want to get married before I leave for Amity tonight."
Kyle hurries to the filing cabinet in the corner and pulls out an official form. He hands it to me, and I look Tris directly in the eyes. "Are you sure about this?" I ask her.
She nods. "I never wanted all the fuss of a big wedding, Eric. I just want you."
I'm overcome by the sincerity and love in Tris' voice. I pull her to me for a lingering kiss until Max interrupts us by clearing his throat. "I'm afraid all that honeymooning will have to wait until you get back from Amity," he says ruefully. "In the meantime we have a battle to plan and a faction to run. You two fill out this marriage license. Veronica, grab a camera. Kyle, order lunch to be sent up, and don't forget we'll need cake. Is there anyone I should call to come witness this event?"
I look to Tris and am surprised when she shakes her head in the negative. "No," she clarifies, "we only have a few hours until Eric has to leave. I love my friends, but I'm not wasting what precious little time we have worrying about what I'm wearing or putting on makeup. This is just about Eric and I. I just want to marry the man I love and not waste any time on frivolity when we're in the middle of a war with the factionless. I'm sure Christina will insist on a party, and I'll be happy to celebrate when this is all over."
I smile at Tris' thoughtful and sensible response, and we get to work on the marriage license as our fellow leaders get back to battle plans and whatever else they're working on. I'm caught up in Max and Harrison's strategy talk when Tris taps my forearm to get my attention.
I turn to her and smile. "Is there something I can help my beautiful fiancee with?" I ask, flirting.
Tris is chewing on her bottom lip, a nervous habit that I find sexy as hell. I reach out and gently tug her lip free from her teeth. She responds with a sheepish smile and points to the form.
"Um, I, uh, I don't know what to put here. It wants to know what my name will be after marriage."
I have a sudden moment of panic and sorrow realizing that she might not want my name. She has always been so strong and independent that I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it stings anyway.
"I don't want my parents to be hurt," she says. I try to swallow the lump in my throat and nod for her to continue. "I've never liked my name anyway. Plus, 'faction before blood,' and all that. I mean, here in Dauntless I'll be Tris Coulter either way, so does it matter if I hold on to Beatrice? My parents can still call me that if they want. What do you think?"
For a moment all I can do is grin stupidly, my inner caveman gratified that she wants to share my name.
"What?" she asks, confused by my reaction.
"Tris Coulter," I reply. "I like how that sounds."
She blushes and leans into me for a moment.
"Do you think they'll be hurt?" she asks, referencing her parents again.
"I think you should do what makes you happy," I encourage. "If it makes you feel better, you could add a middle name that honors them if you go with just Tris."
Some factions use middle names. Here in Dauntless we all have legal names, but usually go by nicknames or just our first names. Dauntless names tend to be short, and use a lot of hard sounds, like x's and z's. Abnegation names are old and traditional, and they're rarely indulgent enough to include a middle name, much less give nicknames.
In Erudite and Candor kids are given first, middle, and last names. Middle names usually come from successful ancestors or famous people - scientists in Erudite and historical figures in Candor. My full name, for example, is Eric Charles Coulter. My physician father gave me the middle name Charles in honor of a doctor who started one of the world's most famous hospitals with his father and brother. Dad picked Charles over William (the father and brother's names) because Charles had lived in Chicago for part of his life.
Amity is, unsurprisingly, a free for all. Their kids have at least one middle name, and names trend toward nature. Flower and bird names are common for girls and tree species for boys, but some of the hippies get crazy naming their kids after celestial bodies and landforms. Amity kids who transfer almost always change their names or shorten them in some way.
Tris hands me the marriage license. She's biting her lip again and blushing slightly. I give her a reassuring smile and look it over. She settled on making her legal name just Tris Coulter. She filled out everything, so I just sign the form and slide it across the desk to Max.
Max keeps us busy for a few minutes going over more information and plans related to the Amity situation. I hold Tris' left hand in my right the entire time, my fingers playing with her engagement ring. Our looming separation weighs heavy on my mind as we discuss strategies and potential pitfalls.
Veronica breaks into the conversation to announce that lunch has arrived, and we follow her to the conference room. Tris lets out a gasp when the door opens, and I look up. In less than half an hour, the conference room has turned into a wedding venue. The big table is pushed to one side, and a nice lunch is spread out, complete with a whole Dauntless cake and a flower arrangement. Across from the table, a handful of chairs are set up facing a lectern decorated with paper hearts from the office's Valentines day decorations. Twinkling white Christmas lights are strung around the room. It's simple, hastily put together, but full of love from our co-worker friends. We hug and thank them all, including Max and Harrison's wives who have mysteriously appeared.
"I know you didn't want to invite people," Max says, "but if I came home tonight and told Carissa I married you without inviting her, I'd be sleeping on the couch for weeks. My best marriage advice is to not piss off your wife! You two are the kids we never had, and I couldn't see leaving her out."
Tris replies for us. "I'm glad you called them. We love you all. I know a number of people are going to be upset about us eloping, but with Eric leaving, I just want this done and settled."
Max takes his place behind the lectern, and the others take their seats. I offer Tris my arm, and together we step before Max.
"Tris and Eric," Max begins, "never in all my life have I rooted for two people to get together the way I hoped for the two of you. You are both so brave, and you balance each other so well. Where Tris is self-sacrificing to the point of putting herself out, Eric is protective. Where Eric is headstrong and impulsive, Tris is thoughtful. You make each other braver and stronger even as you look out for one another and balance each other. Having you as my friends and fellow leaders is a gift, and I am honored to join you in marriage today.
"Tris, do you take Eric to be your husband; to bravely walk beside him on the journey of life, through richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death parts you?"
"I do," says my beautiful bride.
Max continues. "And do you, Eric, take Tris to be your wife; to bravely walk beside her on the journey of life, through richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others until death parts you?"
"I do," I reply confidently. Tris and I exchange small smiles and I gently squeeze her hands.
"Tris, repeat after me," says Max. "I, Tris, take you, Eric, to be my husband. I promise to love you, support you, and share my strength and courage with you for as long as we live."
Tris repeats Max's words, and he turns to me.
"Eric," he says, "repeat after me. I, Eric, take you, Tris, to be my wife. I promise to love you, support you, and share my strength and courage with you for as long as we live."
I repeat the vows, putting my whole heart into the words and the looks I give to Tris.
"By the power granted to me by Dauntless and the city of Chicago, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss."
In that moment, I have everything I never dared to dream of. I pull Tris into my arms and kiss her with all the love and passion in my heart. I feel the steel of her piercing as our tongues dance together. We pull apart, breathless, as our friends applaud and cheer. Max gets our attention for one last announcement.
"Friends," he says triumphantly, "may I introduce to you, for the first time as husband and wife, Eric and Tris Coulter!"
Our friends cheer again and we exchange another round of hugs. Even before lunch is over, everyone returns to talking about the mission at Amity. Situation reports are rolling in from the first Dauntless troops to arrive, and things look bleak. Casualty numbers are higher than originally reported, and there are more armed factionless than we thought possible. As the reality of the situation settles on us, Tris curls into my side, her smile faded. An icy pit of guilt settles in my stomach. What kind of wedding day have I given the woman I love?
As if sensing my unease, Tris squeezes my hand. I look at her, half expecting censure or condemnation on her face, but instead I see the calm resolve I love about her.
"Thank you for marrying me," she says softly. "I hope it didn't cause too much trouble pulling everyone away from the planning."
"I should be thanking you," I reply. "You gave up the wedding every girl dreams of. I hope you don't regret it."
"Never," she declares, swatting at my arm as if offended by my apology. "We need to go home and get you packed; you leave in less than three hours."
I inform Max that my wife and I are going to pack my bags, and he gives me a knowing smirk. We leave the leadership wing, but when it's time to turn right toward the apartments, I pull Tris left toward the Pit instead.
"One errand before we go home," I explain.
She follows me through the throng of scurrying Dauntless. With so many being deployed today, it's chaos in the Pit. I walk to the tattoo shop and pull open the door. It's quiet inside, and Tori looks surprised to see us.
"I thought with the trouble in Amity you two would be busy today," she says in greeting.
"We are," I reply, "but I need a quick tattoo before I ship out tonight. Do you have time?"
"What kind of tattoo?" Tori asks suspiciously.
"A ring," I say, holding up our joined hands so Tori can see the ring on Tris' finger. "I proposed this morning, and we decided to skip the engagement. Max married us less than an hour ago."
Tori's face lights up, and she pulls Tris into a tight hug.
"I knew this was coming sooner or later!" Tori squeals.
She and Tris laugh and Tori calls Bud from the back room to tell him. After another round of hugs and congratulations, Tris reminds us that we don't have much time.
I tell Tori that I just want a solid black band on my finger, and she gets to work. The tattoo is simple, so it doesn't take long. Tris sits beside me for the twenty minutes or so that Tori works on it, and we go over plans and details for our pending separation.
I see her chin quivering by the time it's done, so as Tori cleans up, I pull Tris into my lap.
"I'm going to miss you so much," I say in her ear. Her face is buried in my shoulder, but she nods against me. "You're going to be busy at work while I'm gone; you won't even have time to miss me."
"I miss you already," she says quietly. "I love you, Eric. Please be careful."
"I will," I promise. "Now let's pay for this tattoo so we can hurry home. We may be able to make time for more than packing if we hurry."
Tris grins and swats at me playfully. Tori refuses payment, declaring the ring tattoo her wedding gift. She even offers to add more to it when I have time, and to do a ring for Tris. We thank her and hurry back to our apartment.
xxxx
By 3:30 we're back in the leadership offices. My bag is packed, but I'm nowhere near ready to leave for several weeks. The reports coming in from Amity get more and more grim by the hour, and Max calls up even more troops who will head to Amity tomorrow. Tris orders the kitchen and maintenance crews on deployment staffing. Many Dauntless workers double as soldiers in times of need, and fewer of them are needed to maintain the compound with so many gone, anyway.
Four and Zeke will be busy in the control room working communications on top of their usual security work. Four's wife, Tiffany, is a midwife in addition to her duties at the Dauntless coffee shop, so she will stay in the compound. Her medical knowledge frees up one of the infirmary staff to join a unit in the field, but I haven't heard if Will is going to be working in the compound or coming with us. Christina manages a retail shop, but her squad isn't one that was called up yet, so she will run the store shorthanded, with just the dependents under her, as the two other managers go on active duty. Shauna and Marlene were called back to the fence when the skirmish started. They will either do their usual patrols or be assigned to the team reinforcing the breach.
Uriah and the other ambassadors have their hands full dealing with interaction relations and picking up the slack in the leadership office. With me in the field we're down one leader in the compound, and the way things are going, Harrison may be joining me at Amity. Uriah brings a report to my office as I'm preparing to leave. Tris is in her office, so I take the opportunity for a word with our friend.
"Don't leave," I snap, my voice former than it needs to be. "Sorry, I'm not barking orders, I just want to talk to you about something, and I'm kind of stressed out right now."
Good-natured even under stress, Uriah waves off my apology. "What's up?" he asks.
"I'm leaving to join the troops in a few minutes," I begin, and Uri nods in acknowledgment. "I'll be gone for a while, at least a couple weeks. I know Marlene is back at the wall, too, and this is going to be hard for all of us. I'm just… Could you… Can you keep an eye on Tris? Help each other through this? She has a tendency to overwork and not take care of herself when she's stressed. And damn it, I think I screwed up. We got married this morning, and I'm leaving. I'm such a selfish asshole. I'm afraid it's all going to hit her tonight, and I don't know what to do."
I let my head fall and shoulders slump as the guilt overwhelms me. Across my desk, Uriah chuckles. "Well, first off, congratulations," he says. "And don't worry about Tris. Marlene and Shauna are both gone, so Zeke and I will keep an eye on her. We think of her as our sister anyway."
"Make sure Christina doesn't give her a hard time about the wedding," I continue. You know how she can be about parties and stuff. It was kind of spur of the moment, and no one was with us but the leaders. We'll so something with our friends when this business at Amity is settled.
"Try to get Tris to socialize. Make sure she eats and sleeps if you can."
"I'll do my best," Uriah says solemnly, putting a hand on my shoulder as we walk out of my office.
We get Tris, and the three of us head down to the garage where the troops are loading into trucks. I greet the officers I'll be working with, stow my gear, and turn to say goodbye to my wife.
"I love you, Mrs. Coulter," I say quietly into her ear. She smiles and blushes slightly at my use of her new name. "I'll email you every chance I get. Don't expect much at first, but once we have things under control I'll even try to call if I can."
Tris nods. Her eyes are shiny, and she swallows hard before speaking, but the tears don't fall. "I love you," she finally manages in a voice that's little more than a whisper. "Be safe."
"I will," I assure her.
We hold each other for a minute, then I kiss her soft lips. I place one last kiss on her forehead as I wave at Uriah, waiting a few feet behind Tris. I climb on the transport vehicle, find my seat, and take one last look at my wife as the truck pulls away. She waves at me and I see Uriah wrap her in a hug. I feel better knowing she's not alone right now.