New shenanigans for my favourite Dauntless leaders!
"And you two will be attending the festival this year, so you'll have to leave in the morning."
Fox's ears perked up, she was in a private meeting with Max and Eric, discussing this year's upcoming initiation cycle. As a first year leader, Fox would be in charge of training the transfer initiates, and Eric would be supervising and guiding her. The meeting had been to nail down a plan and answer any questions anyone had; however, Max had thrown this little tidbit in at the end, obviously hoping neither Fox nor Eric would notice. Fox's stomach fell as she realized what 'festival' Max meant; being from that faction, she was acquainted with the upcoming event.
Fox had been halfway standing when Max had spoke and she dropped back into her chair. Eric had been tapping away at his tablet and he glanced first at her and then at Max, obviously not paying attention.
Fox could clearly see the 'shit' flash through Max's eyes when he saw that he wasn't going to get away so easily with this. Clearing his throat, he decided to bluff his way through it.
"Neither of you have attended for Dauntless before, it's your turn."
"My turn?" Fox demanded, "I just got here!"
"And Amity expects at least two attendees from every faction, you haven't gone before and Eric has never volunteered."
"I don't remember volunteering now," Eric growled.
Max kept his attention on Fox, she was the more reasonable of the two leaders in front of him. "Everyone else has either attended in previous years or is otherwise engaged, that leaves you two."
Fox glanced at the man on her right. Eric Coulter was a highly respected leader in Dauntless, but he was also a spectacular asshole. He and Four had been the trainers for Fox's initiation class last year and Fox was about the only person you could consider Eric's friend. Meaning she stood up to him and he let her, meaning she was about the only person in Dauntless that even knew he was capable of smiling, meaning that he tolerated her presence near him, but little more. Other than that, they maintained a mutual level of respect for each other, worked together efficiently and rarely did their arguments grow dangerous or violent. That was about as good as it got.
Eric glanced at Fox then dropped his gaze back to his tablet and Fox huffed, he wasn't going to be any help today.
"I can't Max, I'm busy too. Blaze is coming home from the fence and I was planning on spending tomorrow with him."
A mix of sympathy and pleading passed through Max's face. If he didn't force Fox to go to this godforsaken lovefest then he'd be stuck going with Coulter. There honestly wasn't anyone else available, all the other leaders had known what was coming and had been careful to make opposing plans. He sympathized with Fox missing out on time with her fiancé, but not enough to be willing to take her place. The last Amity festival Max had gone to, he'd woken up the next morning naked in a tree, a chain of daisies coiled ever so lovingly around his-
"Max!" Fox snapped and Max wearily met her gaze. He needed to provide some serious incentive, and fast.
"Say yes and I'll provide a clothing allowance and give you the next three days off after you return."
Fox thought quickly, she'd been planning to wear plain Dauntless black, but if the faction was footing the bill, she could dress up a bit. She countered. "Extend Blaze's stay to match my days off."
Max nodded. "Agreed." He sighed and turned his attention to Eric. "And what do you want?"
Eric shrugged, not looking up from his tablet. "My leader's jacket is starting to look a little worn."
Fox bit her lip, it was not, he's just gotten it a few months ago.
"Fine!" Max barked. "Be ready to leave tomorrow morning, and pack to stay overnight!" He shooed them away irritably, before turning his chair away with a push.
Fox rolled the window down and breathed deeply. Although she didn't particularly miss the faction, it's fresh open air was always a welcome thing after the dank, closed air of the Dauntless compound. The truck jolted again and Fox snapped her head sideways.
"Are you trying to hit every bump Coulter, or just the ones that could snap an axle?"
Eric smirked, and, maintaining eye contact with Fox, swerved deliberately to another hole in the road. Fox's head bounced off the window and she growled at him, swinging her arm to cuff his shoulder. It was like hitting rock. Eric smirked again and turned back to the road. Fox grumbled and looked back out the window. For such a fearless, intimidating leader, Eric could be such a child sometimes.
The main dome of Amity came into view and Fox found herself straightening in her seat. She'd never truly fit in with all the peace and love and ra-ra-ra of the faction, hence her transfer to Dauntless, but she'd developed friends there and still had family; this would be the first time she would be seeing any of them since dripping her blood on the Dauntless coals. She caught Eric watching her out of the corner of her eye and she turned to look at him.
"You miss all this?" He asked, something Fox couldn't identify in his voice.
"I chose Dauntless." Fox reminded him, turning to look out the side window.
Eric stopped the truck beside the dome and quirked an eyebrow at Fox before turning and leaping nimbly out. Fox dropped out of her side of the truck and stretched, hearing pops all up and down her spine. Eric appeared at her side, his breath warm on her neck and Fox fought not to jump in surprise. For so massive a man, he moved unnervingly quietly, and the heat and energy he gave off always did funny things to Fox's insides. Usually they maintained a careful distance. Taking a deliberate step away, Fox tipped her head to meet his eye, although Fox was tall, Eric was taller, Fox could tuck her head nicely under his chin if she ever wanted to.
Amusement flickered in his eyes, a playfulness that Fox recognized; he would be like a big gnat towards her until the mood left him, pestering her and bothering her, flying in her space and buzzing around, teasing her, laughing when he finally got a reaction. Fox knew she was the only one he was comfortable enough around to behave this way, and it was quite endearing at times, but right now they needed to focus and represent Dauntless.
"Eric!" She hissed, swatting his arm. "Not now."
Eric opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by a smooth and peaceful female voice.
"Arianna! Max told me you were attending the festival this year!"
Fox turned towards Amity's leader, stepping around Eric's hulking form to do so. She smiled warmly back.
"Johanna!...It's actually Fox now."
"Ah yes," the leader's gentle dark eyes sparkled then flicked upwards to Eric. Her naturally peaceful nature contrasted sharply with Eric's abrupt dominance and there was always an undercurrent of tension between the two.
"And Eric, welcome."
Eric smirked in return, he knew false politeness when he heard it, he'd grown up in Erudite for fuck's sake. "Johanna."
"Accompanying Fox to the festival this year?"
Eric surprised Fox by curling his arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side. He planted a wet kiss to her forehead and nodded. "Yep, just us."
Johanna's gaze settled on Fox as she untangled herself from the towering doofus beside her. What the hell is up with Coulter today? Fox thought and Eric crossed his arms, obviously loving every second of this, Johanna cleared her throat.
"Do you remember where the guest cabins are, Ari.. Fox?" At Fox's nod she continued. "I apologize, but we have more visitors this year than others, you two are sharing the Sunset Cabin...or perhaps Fox, you would like to stay with your family and catch up with them?"
Fox straightened her shoulders, refusing to meet Eric's amusing gaze. Johanna might not have been able to provide two cabins, but the Sunset cabin was one of the biggest, and it had two bedrooms. "No, thank you, Johanna. The Sunset will be fine."
"Alright, do you require an escort?"
"No, I remember the way, thank you Johanna."
"We shall see you tonight." With a quick nod in Eric's direction and a considerably warmer smile at Fox, Johanna turned away to welcome another arriving couple.
Fox slapped at Eric's side and growled, "what the fuck, Coulter?"
Eric just snickered, wiping tears of mirth away and Fox felt an incredible urge to stomp on his foot, or kick him in the balls, or both. Grabbing her bag Fox turned and marched away. Let Coulter park the truck and find his own damn way, it might work off some of this ridiculous immaturity he'd suddenly developed. No such luck, Fox heard his light tread falling in step beside hers. She stared straight ahead, eyes fixed on the line of guest cabins ahead. Eric seemed to have settled down, remembering that other factions were around and the sight of Eric Coulter acting like anything than an uptight jerk would soon be a topic for discussion and gossip. Fox rolled her eyes, he looked like he had a giant stick shoved up the back of his jacket. Eric caught her scoff and bumped her elbow with his.
"What?"
"You, you're acting like a twat."
"A twat?"
"Yes, a twat."
"What the fuck's a twat?"
"Go look it up Nose." Fox felt a small thrill and hid a smile as her words finally provoked a growl from him. Out of all the insults you could lob at him, 'nose' was one that really pissed him off. They'd reached the cabin and Fox slung her arm through her duffel straps to grasp the door handle when Eric's large hand appeared and pushed the door firmly closed. Sighing, Fox met his eyes.
"What?"
Eric was strangely quiet, watching Fox and she couldn't identify all the emotions in his gaze, Fox waited a moment before huffing and yanking on the door handle again, this time Eric let her.