Eric Coulter.
She remembers the first time she had set eyes upon him. He was eighteen and she was sixteen, two years away from her initiation and he had only just passed. But he had passed with tremendously flying colors.
Throughout his time there, she received small snippets of information and overheard run-downs of how this remarkable young man had slipped through the ranks unexpectedly, claiming the top spot for most of the begrudging ten weeks; all from her father.
Her father praising someone so highly was unusual.
She'd sat at the dinner table that adjoined the kitchen, finishing her dinner after getting home from curfew, listening to her younger twin sisters mumble in their bedroom just down the hall. She was flicking through some pages of a book, chewing slowly, not paying much attention to the food or her surroundings when her father entered the apartment. It was later than usual, and the smell of beer on his breath was obvious when he bent down to kiss the top of her head.
"Hello, darling. I'm sorry it's so late," her father had said in passing and she had merely shrugged, barely glancing up from the table, still slouched back and entertaining herself with her book. "You can come in!" her father had called from the fridge in the kitchen and curiosity made her pull her eyes away.
That was the first time she had seen him.
Hands pocketed, Eric stopped in the archway in front of her, shoulders broad but still growing into his obviously bulky form. He looked much older than eighteen and had already invested much time shaping himself into a true Dauntless member. His leadership tattoos on his neck were already clearly presented, his arms decorated, and piercings glinting. She watched his eyes mainly as they scanned the room and then fell on her. She had only smiled, unprepared for visitors, and sat up straighter.
"Hi," was her only conscious effort, and his expression didn't change.
"Hi."
Her father then interrupted the awkwardness, setting two glasses on the table and disappeared again back into the kitchen. She had watched the new leader take a seat in front of her, lacing his hands together on the table and then suddenly knew why he'd gotten to where he was in such a short amount of time – he already looked settled and completely confident in his new position.
He was trained solely by Mick, her father, to gain Leadership the moment he passed. Being hand-picked by the main voice of Dauntless out of the five other leaders was extremely promising.
"That's Eric," Mick called casually from the kitchen and she merely nodded, still smiling. "Eric, that's my eldest daughter, Kate."
"Figured," his voice rumbled lowly as he spoke, it was too low for her father to hear and she in return fought her expression to stay neutral at his bluntness.
Eric's eyes dropped to the book she was reading, and she closed it. "This book is…" she scans the cover quickly. "Volume Three, explaining the changes made to the train lines and mechanical adjustments that they implemented hundreds of years ago." She had felt unsure as she glanced back up to him. She already had the indication that he wasn't much of a talker and by now had probably already said too much for his liking.
"Interesting." Eric sounded bored and it disheartened her further.
"Dad makes me read them."
Eric doesn't even reply this time and it had made her feel like he was a lost cause, but also question why her father finds him so promising when their social attitudes were so different. At least her father would talk.
"Anyway, good night." Sliding her chair back and gathering her cutlery and book, she passed her father in the kitchen to dump her plate and whispered, "I don't like him," receiving only a frown and a flick of his wrist for her to go to her room.
Smiling modestly when back in Eric's view, she was quick to take the hallway and disappear into the depths of her bedroom.
After their first meeting, Eric seemed to always be around. Her twin sisters, Regina and Rose, would make it sickly obvious they fancied him by their disastrous attempts at flirting with him. Their unabashed blatantly organized routine would always make sure they were around when Eric was in the evenings. Kate never saw the attraction, though. He had the personality of a wet rag and vowed to stay as far away as possible, keep their interactions to the utmost minimum. But it was sometimes hard when that person was continuously invited by her father to join them.
Kate managed to read to volume six of her books before they spoke again.
"The infrastructure of the wall and maintenance checks." She'd heard Eric's voice behind her, coming from one of the rooms, and he'd come to a stop beside the kitchen table next to her. She hadn't even realized he was there.
"Is dad here?" Kate's question was forced, unknowing of how to reply with such little time to gather her thoughts.
"In his office." He'd motioned his head down the hall.
"Oh… thanks."
"Why are you reading this? Non-members shouldn't know the full workings or history of Dauntless until they pass. If they pass."
"I find it interesting. Dad said I should read them." She'd shrugged nonchalantly, trying not to take any notice of the tone in his voice that was belligerent. "I'm trying to figure out whether I should go into Mechanics or Public Services here at Dauntless after I pass. I'm kind of swayed by Public Services at the moment. At least then I won't be stuck in one place for too long."
"Policing comes under Public Services." He'd said it gruffly as if she wouldn't be capable of the task and it had made her frown to the book, then look over her shoulder to his back as he'd strolled back towards her father's office.
When Kate reached seventeen, Eric had dinner with her and her family most often than not.
One day after the meal, her father retreated to the kitchen with her step-mother, and the twins disappeared towards their bedroom, getting ready for a night out or whatever else the troubling two-some would usually be up to.
Eric had gotten up from the table opposite Kate and rounded into the seat next to her, taking his time as he did so. She'd eyed him suspiciously, waiting as he falsely grinned for a split second, then dropped back into his usual bland expression. "Lorraine?" He'd raised an eyebrow with the question once he had gotten comfortable, leaning on the table in front of him.
"She is my step-mother, not my real mom." She insinuated the old-fashioned hairstyle and jewelry swamped woman in the kitchen with a tilt of her head.
Eric nodded, smirking. "So, what they say is true?"
It was the first time in a year he'd even bothered to get within a couple of feet of her and to ask such personal questions. "Don't listen to every rumor you ever hear." She'd flicked a crumb across the table, then scoffed. "But this one is probably true."
"I knew it was true because you look nothing like her, or your sisters. I've noticed the difference and your preference to call her Lorraine for a while."
As he spoke, she had shaken her head, turning to look at him. "Half-sisters." She glanced over his shoulder to make sure her dad wasn't listening, then back to him. His unwavering stare was unsettling and she stammered slightly over her words. "My mom… she was Amity," she whispered. "She died when I was little. I don't remember her." She dropped her eyes slightly while admitting something that had been torturing her for a long time. The only thing she had left was a crumpled picture that had seen better days. "I've been living with Lorraine and my dad ever since. Dauntless is all I know."
"So, in your aptitude you got Amity?"
Kate thought about the test she took when she had just turned sixteen that determined their future. "Dauntless. I guess my dad's genes are stronger." She watched his lip lift a little in her grave humor. "I think there is still a little Amity in me though."
"Sense of adventure? Curiosity?"
Kate smiled toothily, chuckling to herself. "Patience. My sisters are daft, and me and Lorraine don't always particularly see eye to eye."
"Looks like you got all the brains."
"See, that's what I keep telling them, but they don't listen." It was the first time she ever heard Eric Coulter, the young Leader, the ruthless tyrant, laugh. With his barriers down, she decided it would be an appropriate time to pry further. "How is Leadership going?"
"Can you keep a secret?" he had whispered, and Kate nodded. "It's not all it's cracked up to be… A lot of paperwork." He'd spoken dismissively, shrugging back into the chair, and she'd found the way his nose scrunched up kind of cute.
Cute. She never thought she'd use that word in any way to describe Eric. "Well, your secret is safe with me."
"Oh, that's only one of many."
"What other secrets are you keeping from me?" Kate then suddenly realized how suggestive it sounded and how she'd stupidly leaned closer to him.
"Another time." Eric stood, dismissing himself and thanking her dad and Lorraine for the dinner before leaving.
Maybe her odd Amity traits of curiosity were strong, just like Eric had mentioned, because she had certainly taken a long time studying the spot where he had been sitting next to her.
At eighteen and a half, Kate had passed initiation into Dauntless, placed in tenth. Over the weeks, and especially during her training, she hadn't seen Eric very much; only occasionally or during group talks. Apparently, something to do with Erudite had been taking up his time. Something she was sure her father knew as well.
She had strolled through the pit with her friends in tow, making idle but relieved talk over their recent passing. She was surprised by her name being called, looking up to see Eric breaking away from what must have been his friends – or at least acquaintances.
Stopping, Kate placed her hands linked in front of her, waiting until he stood towering over her; far more built than he had been in previous years and far more intimidating now that he was long settled. "Hi," she had said casually, the barest of smiles while watching his mouth form a ghost of a grin.
"Hi."
It had reminded of her when they first met, and strangely, she thought maybe that this was exactly what he was thinking too since it was a second too long in their greeting silence.
"How are you doing?" "I guess congratulations are in order." They had both spoken at the same time and Kate scoffed, peering down to the floor but Eric barely moved, unperturbed by her coyness.
"You are officially a member of Dauntless now, how does that make you feel?"
She wondered momentarily if this man ever became nervous or embarrassed before she answered, "Relieved it's over. But oddly I still feel the same. Nothing has really changed for me."
"What sector will you transfer to?"
Even though before he acted like he didn't care, she'd smiled at the thought that he remembered their conversation. "I'm going for Public Service. After much debate, of course."
"Is that so?"
Kate had looked around to the gathering of people becoming more frequent in the pit, then her green eyes met his again. "You really want to speak to me about work?"
"What do you want to speak to me about instead of work?" He was good at countering her questions with questions, a great avoidance technique but extremely annoying.
So, just for his disobedience to not play dangerously for once, she asks him something outrageous for the first time and something that had been bothering her. "Are you gay?"
His lips parted to an amazing smile as he broke into a soft chuckle. He shifted slightly on the spot, his composure loosening and then replied firmly, "I am certainly not."
"Then why…" She'd hesitated, then stepped closer and lowered her voice. "…My dad was married at eighteen the moment he became a Leader. I thought that's how things worked?"
"I guess I'm not in any rush, and traditions are not something that I abide by."
She was stupid to bring up such a conversation. Maybe she had offended him? "I'm sorry," she shook her head at herself. "That was rude."
"Hardly." The awkwardness was back with a vengeance. Eric peered to his right then motioned with a shrug of his shoulder, "I'll walk you home. I'm heading there anyway."
Had Eric walked with any other girl perhaps people would've stared, but they knew Mick was her father and Eric was his most trusted operative. But that was the first time they had ever appeared side by side in public or even bothered to acknowledge each other outside of her family's apartment.
Kate thought that perhaps he had been waiting for the time of when she passed to bother viewing her as human and social enough to talk to.
But as ever, it was always a guess.
"Lorraine is difficult." Eric broke her musings while they strolled. He kept his hands pocketed, a slowed pace that Kate was happy with. She needed to be able to relax after such horrific exercises that had made her question every moral, her own mind and fears. It felt like after such a long time of holding her breath, she was finally able to breathe freely. Her future was now far clearer than before.
"That's Lorraine for you." They walked further in silence until Kate gathered enough confidence to talk. When she had looked up to Eric, he was already studying the bruise from training on her cheek. "My dad doesn't love her, you know." Eric didn't speak, there was nothing he could say to that, so she crossed her arms as she continued, "He told me that the moment he saw my mom that he knew. He would never say that to anyone else." Kate suddenly realized her mistake. "Don't repeat that."
"I don't intend to."
"They would have rebuked his Leadership or made him factionless if he wanted to stay with my mother. He left and didn't know about me until months later. He was married to Lorraine at this point already and she uses it as some sort of leverage; like she's helping my dad out for keeping me around. I wouldn't be surprised if she even guilt tripped him to get what she wants even to this day."
"She seems the type."
Pausing as they reached the living compound, Kate had felt relieved by Eric and turned fully to face him, trying to portray how thankful she was from such little words. "I'm glad you see it too. Most people don't. They see her as some sort of idol; which she does play along with and it's stupid."
She heard Eric inhale sharply, and at first, his eyes were anywhere but connecting with hers until he said, "I see more than what is presented in front of me."
It was the first time he had made her blush. In fact, it was the first time any guy had made her blush. And even after spending six weeks in a unisex chamber and washroom, she was surprised she even blushed anymore at all.
It could have only been innocent, but she thought not. "You want to know another secret?" Kate rolled on her heel, biting her lip until he nodded and glanced at her feet with a lop-sided smirk. "My first impression of you, I told my dad I didn't like you."
"I don't want to burst your bubble, but he already told me that."
"The secret is, is that I was wrong. It isn't true. I don't really know entirely what I think of you, but I know it's not all bad." She laughed lightly to herself. "And yes, I have heard things about your training preferences and strict attitude towards work."
Eric pouted mockingly, "Well, thanks. At least I have one less person off my hit list. Consider yourself safe."
When they reached her family's apartment door, she'd laughed off the remains of the conversation, turning her key in the lock and motioning for him to go inside.
"I'm not coming in, Kate." Surprise was written on her face and he seemed amused at that. "I've got a meeting to go to. Call it, the epilog after new initiates."
"But you said-"
"Yeah," he interrupted her and gave her one last smile, rubbing a hand across the stubble on his chin to hide it as he turned, and she watched him walk away with a frown.
Staring at herself in the mirror in the bathroom the next morning, Kate still feels utterly confused. She had thought about Eric's strange behavior from the moment she had stepped into the apartment to the moment she had fallen asleep. She had not paid him any unusual amount of attention before but now she felt thwarted by how he had brushed her off the night before.
Banging on the door interrupts her internal struggle. "Kate, get out the bathroom!" It's one of the twins, Rose specifically by the sound of the voice that was only slightly different. Kate huffs, dabbing her face with the towel and opens the door to one of the girls leaning up against the door frame and the other with crossed arms. She ignores both of them and barges past.
Mick is already sitting at the table in the kitchen and glances up from the paper in his hand when Kate moves quickly to the fridge. "First day on the job, how is my girl feeling?"
Slumping back on the counter, Kate sips her juice, shrugging. "Happy."
"Don't sound too enthusiastic now."
"No, I really am. I won't see those two all day, that makes me happy." She finishes and comes to stand beside him.
He smiles for a long moment up at her. "I am proud of you. I know this couldn't have been easy for you. But I need to ask you something before you get swept up on Dauntless dreams and things…" he trails off and she studies his graying short beard and the fine lines around his eyes. "Please consider staying with us. I know in a week they'll offer you an apartment in another living sector and quite frankly I don't want my eldest leaving the nest just yet. It is optional, Kate."
Kate hadn't given it much thought but knew the time was coming. "Isn't leaving and starting on my own what everyone does? It's expected."
"When I look at you, I still see my little girl and that will never change. Moving out will eat up half your points you earn each month and at the very least staying here will help. You know I can sort you out later if you change my mind." Kate doesn't reply and he sighs to himself. "Give it some thought."
This was a subject that had been touch and go for years. Her dad had coddled her throughout her life, nurturing her to the best of his abilities. And that also went hand in hand with bullying that she'd had to deal with. That bullying wasn't just coming from her year younger siblings who seemed as if they would get away with murder- At a young age, she had learned to play safe and disconnect herself from them, keeping her distance. But it was the same for certain kids and situations she'd had to put up with in the past because of her father's protective nature. Accepting to stay at the family's apartment would almost be gratifying to some people in her class, like she had accepted the rumors of favoritism when she had worked herself so damn hard to rid that image.
Lorraine struts in on their moment, killing the conversation completely. Kate and Mick knew Lorraine was a force to be reckoned with at the best of times, and from his silence, she knew this was something only her father wanted. Like always.
Kate was the last thing he had left of a woman he loved for a short amount of time but was obviously worth a lifetime. And Kate knew that, too.
"I don't know what time I'll be back." Kate glanced at Lorraine, went to her bedroom to collect her bag, and left with a simple goodbye.
The Public Sector has its own department and the six leaders of their faction took turns to overlook certain areas in selected months, especially this one, as it was demanding as it was stressful.
Kate took a deep breath and entered the small room that was alive with computers and people already buzzing in the morning mayhem. In the middle of the room was a white table, scattered with maps and other things they must use for logistics, and the low mumbling of voices completed the high-security feel in the air.
The pang of excitement was at the base of her gut already, but so was her nerves.
Her eyes land on a figure who was leaning over a colleague, a smile forming on her lips as he stood up and recognition flashed on his face. Now in a room full of people, Eric seemed massive, taking up a considerable amount of space and sucked in the air around him. He seemed amused at her presence.
"Welcome to the Public Sector."
She watches him check out her new uniform – which, in all reality, wasn't that much different than it was before. "Someone said to me once that policing comes under the public sector and they sounded highly doubtful I'd join because of it. So, here I am."
"You accepted the challenge."
"It was highly manipulative of you."
Eric shrugged. "I'm good at that."
"Figured." Kate smiles as he raises an eyebrow at her. He steps back to the desk he was hovering over before and returns with a sheet, presenting it to her.
"A week of supervised training, then you'll be placed on your own squadron."
She skims through the words on the paper, slightly more enthused. "We're going out today?"
"I'll be showing you sectors, factionless hotspots, and then this afternoon we'll be going through the logging side of things afterward. That's protocol, nothing too hard. The list of what we go through this week is on there so you can prepare yourself." Kate doesn't reply, still reading. "There is only five of you." The door opens up from behind her, and a person she'd seen in initiation nods to the both of them. "Gather at the table. We'll be starting when you are all here."
Eric loses his cool. He stands in the guard's face, hitting his gun to one side while Kate stares at one prominent vein bulging on his forehead in his anger. He pushes the trainee guard up against a crumbling wall by his jacket, pinning him. "We move as a group! Do you comprehend the damage you can inflict by not sticking to the procedure?" He gives him a shove, releasing him and addresses the group. "Rules are there for a reason. One more mistake and you're out of Public services, and I don't give second chances."
Kate's colleague, who she knew as Harvey, saw their exercise as nothing more than a chance to fool around, lagging behind, becoming too loud and obnoxious on a long stretch of crumpled street. He had disturbed the quiet that Eric had ordered.
"If this was a mission," Eric continues, "We would be compromised." He pushes Harvey up front. "You, take the lead."
Kate keeps her mouth shut, bracing her gun laxed but ready and moves forward.
"Keep it timely!" Eric instructs and the pace increases. He falls into step next to her, concentrating fixedly on his surroundings, sometimes watching Harvey advancing ahead. In a flash, he reaches out, yanks on Kate's arm, pulling her to him so close she smells Eric's cologne for the first time. "Watch it," he whispers under his breath.
Kate steps over the pothole in the street before they keep moving.
Mick enters to Eric's new office, shutting the door quickly behind him and regarding the young man placed behind his desk. "So?" It was hitting eight and Eric had finished with Kate's squadron an hour ago.
"Do you want the truth?" Eric starts, catching himself as Mick steps closer. For an older man, he was still formidable even through his calm and composed posture.
"All of it."
"She's useless," Eric states clearly without any particular expression on his face. "She's intelligent but not cut out for the role, or many others."
Mick clicks his tongue, huffing down into the seat in front of Eric and rubs his face. "You know that's not what I want to hear."
"You asked for the truth. You've made a mistake." Eric watches him carefully.
"She's my daughter, what do you expect? I've got a reputation to uphold."
"There's nothing I can do about that."
"Listen to me carefully, Eric. I placed that red carpet of Leadership out for you under one condition and I expect it to remain intact. Do you hear me?" Eric's hands ball into fists, his eyes cold as they stare at each other. "Make. Her. Better."
"She got through initiation, didn't she? I didn't come here to babysit. And, quite frankly, this is beginning to offend me. You know I'm capable of more than just this."
"It still stands. Give it a year or two and you'll be pledged higher than the other four Leaders. That I can promise you."
Eric's lip rises in disgust. "Another year or two?"
"When my day is done at Dauntless, you exceed me immediately," Mick speaks, but it's fretful. "My daughter-"
"Love makes you weak." Eric knows it's a low blow, sitting calmly as Mick scrapes his chair across the floor, standing and leaning across the desk to him.
"Don't test me, boy." Mick's tense shoulders begin to relax and a smile Eric had witnessed many times, verging more on the edge of condescending, begins to grace his face. "But I suppose that is why I chose you, after all. One thing you have got going for you is that you don't bullshit me."
Eric's eyes narrow slightly. "I aim to please."
"But lesson number… six," Mick laughs. "Always make assurances. Because trust me, one day you will fuck up, and assurances will be the only thing to get you through a bad patch."
"Noted."
"I can get you to places far quicker than anybody else can." Mick sits calmly back down into his seat while Eric smirks. "You just see to it that she solidifies herself here in Dauntless. To hell with the rumors."
"I can't guarantee that she won't fall for me on the way down though, Mick." Eric shrugs and holds his hands up in mock apology. Perhaps Eric can make his own assurances. He always liked an even playing field.
Mick squints at him in suspicion, and Eric bides his time. "Apparently, I gave off the impression to Kate that I'm a real prince charming," he explains after a moment and watches Mick roll his eyes.
"As long as she isn't looking at anybody else, then neither of us won't have blood on our hands. But that's a dangerous road, my friend." He points a finger at Eric in warning. "Need I even say-"
"All your secrets are safe with me." Eric hardly tries to suppress the joy in his voice. "I won't tell Kate a thing."
"Touch her though, Eric, and I will kill you myself," Mick hisses to which the smirk on Eric's lips falter and he merely nods.
Thanks to Murmelinchen for sorting this out for me. You're the best.
I hope you enjoyed it!