Disclaimer: anything recognizable belongs to Veronica Roth. I own only my OCs and the plot. I just randomly thought I'd try my hand at an Eric story because why not? I hope it isn't too bad.

He listens as Jeanine explains her plan to him. She isn't telling him everything, he knows this. She still doesn't fully trust him. He'll prove himself to her eventually. She's given him everything he had. He owed her.

Eric's eyes scanned the same sentence over and over again as he tried unsuccessfully to block out the raised voices coming from downstairs. He frowned at the book, wishing it would hold his attention better. It was some book on psychology and the human brain.

"You are a useless, no-good, stupid bastard! Honestly, I don't even know how you passed initiation; Erudites are supposed to be smart!"

"Oh, look who's talking! Yeah, go ahead, insult me some more, you bitch! Blame everything on me!"

"How can I not blame everything on you, it's clearly your fault, I don't know why I even married you in the first place!"

Eric sighed, dropping the book and lying onto his back, glaring at the ceiling. They'd quit fighting, eventually. Then they'd start yelling at him. He hoped it would end quickly, but it rarely did.

"What is this?!" His father snarled, thrusting the piece of paper into Eric's face.

"I-"

"I asked you a question!"

"It's a test." Eric glared up at his father.

"DON'T YOU ACT FRESH WITH ME, BOY!" His father roared. "IT'S A NINETY-NINE!"

"It's the highest grade in the class-"

"IT'S NOT HIGH ENOUGH!"

Eric ground his teeth together. Of course it wasn't enough.

"I DON'T KNOW WHY THE HELL I STILL LET YOU LIVE UNDER MY ROOF, BOY! YOU'RE USELESS, TOO STUPID TO GET A PERFECT SCORE! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT NOT GETTING A PERFECT SCORE?!"

"You said I wouldn't eat for a week."

"AND YOU WON'T!" His father stormed out of his room, slamming the door behind him so hard the room shook. Eric heard the click of the lock and sighed, resigning himself to the hunger pains that were going to start in a few hours. He opened his book again.

"You're a very smart boy, did you know?" Her voice was soft, and the expression on her face was what he assumed she thought to be motherly. He stayed silent, letting her continue. "I've been watching you for a while. You get the highest scores in your class consistently. You're determined to always be the best. That's why I've chosen you to help me."

He listened as she explained that she was going to 'take him under her wing'. His training would begin tomorrow, so that he'd be ready for his choice at the Choosing Ceremony.

"What were your aptitude results?"

"Erudite... and Dauntless."

"Interesting. I was not expecting this..." Jeanine thought for a moment, and her smile came back quickly enough. "Well, it won't be a setback. The plan will not change. You are loyal to me, aren't you?"

Eric looked at the five bowls before him. The knife moved and he felt the slight pain. He didn't wince. His blood sizzled on the burning coals, and his chosen faction broke into cheers as he moved towards them. Jeanine nodded approvingly in the Erudite section.