Eric rolled over and moaned. His morning wood was brushing the sheets, sending tingles of pleasure and pain throughout his body. Waking up with Fox had always been satisfying; she loved to tease him awake by stroking her hand along his erect shaft, twisting her hand and squeezing; Eric's half-asleep moans her encouragement to continue. She liked to burrow under the covers and take him in her mouth, licking him like an ice-cream cone, wrapping her lips around him and swallowing, adding in her skilful hand until Eric was bucking underneath her, groaning in sweet release. Other times she'd tantalize his senses by caressing his face with one hand and his cock with the other, gripping him stronger when he woke, locking eyes with him, their breaths getting harder and faster together as she stroked him to orgasm, watching his face, absorbing his bliss as he came in her hand. Eric would return the favour when he could, but he slept so deeply and soundly with Fox in his arms that she usually woke before him.
Eric's hand drifted down and he gave a guttural groan as he brushed against his straining cock. He'd been all but dead these last two years, ignoring his body and it's needs; hardly even noticing when his muscles would tighten like a bowstring, paying no attention. He hadn't touched or even looked at another woman since Fox had disappeared, but now that she was back, his body was waking up with a vengeance. It craved her touch, craved the feel of her sheathed around him, was addicted to her moans and soft groans, the way her breathing would speed up as his fingers curled inside her, her cries of release, the way she would shudder against him, her walls pulsing around him. Eric hissed as he gripped himself. He was a poor fucking substitute for Fox and his body knew it. His body sensed Fox was nearby and it only wanted her. After a few minutes of frustration Eric collapsed back onto the bed. He would find no release until Fox herself was writhing beneath him, on top of him, in front of him while he gripped her hair in one hand-
Eric growled and scrubbed the heels of his hands hard against his eyes. This would have to wait, he was banished from even speaking with Fox, having sex with her was definitely out. He'd always shown Fox with his body the depth of his love for her because he'd never been able to find enough words to tell her. He'd have to accept being constantly, unrelentingly horny for now.
With a snarl Eric stood and stomped to the bathroom.
A week passed.
Eric looked up from the whiskey in front of him. He'd drank all the liquor in his apartment and had come down to the Pit for more. The last seven days had been a blur, if asked, Eric wouldn't be able to tell you most of what he'd done. Work was a joke, he got little accomplished, usually waited for email updates from Max about Fox's progress and they were sparse at best. Eric's resolve to stay away had weakened to the point that he didn't care anymore, but word had gone around the guards that he was not allowed in the detention wing, and he had no delusions about his ability to either talk or fight his way past the stooges Max had lined up.
He needed to do something, he was wound tight. His body craved release and Eric was suddenly tired of the misery. The alcohol thrummed through his veins, that and the party atmosphere took away the normal inhibitions he had. He spotted a familiar tangle of hair down the bar, raised his eyebrow in question when their eyes met. She grinned and winked back.
Michelle was a beautiful but not overly bright Dauntless-born from Eric's year. She was always down for fun and before Fox came into his life, if Eric had needed a quick fuck, she had been a viable option, and usually down to party. They'd bumped a few times but Eric had always felt vaguely dirty afterwards, he was well aware that Michelle wasn't choosy about who she spread her legs for, but right now he didn't care. He needed a no-strings attached fuck, a desperate release, and any old kitty would do.
He jerked his chin at her and she rose, followed him out of the bar.
"Your place or mine?" She purred.
"Whatever."
"Yours then, my roommate's been a bitch lately."
Eric grunted.
Reaching his apartment, he keyed the code and pushed the door open. Michelle swayed through, looking over her shoulder at him, but Eric couldn't care less. He was hard and irritated, his cock rubbing unpleasantly against his jeans. Michelle stopped, waiting and Eric stepped up unceremoniously behind her, pushing her with his chest towards the couch. She turned her head, pressed her lips to his and Eric pulled away with a grimace. She tasted like cheap whiskey and bad decisions. Eric gripped the back of her neck and pushed her to bend over the arm of the couch; he fumbled with his belt, shoved his jeans down and pulled his dick free. He stroked himself roughly a few times, he was violently, insanely hard, precum glistened at the tip; his pulse was starting to pound and sweat glistened on his brow. Michelle spread her legs, lifted her skirt and tilted her ass in the air, of course she wasn't wearing underwear, it got in the way. Eric held himself steady, lined up with her entrance, ready to drive inside then froze. Ice-cold comprehension chilled his blood, dawning horror trickled down his spine. What the fuck are you doing? Fucking some cheap-ass whore just to get off? He focussed on the small of her back, on the trashy tramp-stamp there, 'LUCKY YOU'. Fuck that. Fox's tattoos were tasteful and well thought-out, her body graceful and supple, her skin soft. This bitch was none of that and Eric was suddenly sick, breathless with disgust and guilt.
What the fuck had he been thinking? This bitch wasn't worth it, no one was worth it, no one but his Fox. Nobody compared to his Fox. He had been about to make the biggest mistake of his life, for even if Fox had eventually forgiven him, he would never forgive himself. A quick fuck was never worth a lifetime of regret. Eric would rather go to his grave having never touched a woman again than betray his Fox like this.
He stepped back, yanked her to her feet and pushed her roughly towards the door. "Get out of here."
"Why? What's wrong?" She whined and Eric clenched his fist, ready to put it through the nearest wall.
"Fuck off!" He roared.
Michelle was slow, but she wasn't completely stupid, straightening her dress she left silently, saving her scoff of disbelief and scorn until she'd slammed the door.
Eric sank onto the couch and dropped his head into shaking hands. This was out of control, HE was out of control. This was fucked, he was going to break soon if something didn't give. Whenever he'd felt out of control before, like he was being overwhelmed, he'd reach for Fox, pull her to him, wrap around her and bury his head in her hair. Breathe in her intoxicating scent, let her soft skin soothe him, groan into her hair as his hands began to roam. He'd trail his nose up her throat to capture her lips in a kiss, and she'd curl against him; responding with equal fervour and Eric would give himself over to her, give her his body, his heart and his soul.
Fuck, he loved Fox so bad it hurt, he needed the pain to end soon.
Eric looked up dully as Max flopped into the chair on the other side of his desk. He was still sore and miserable from the night before. Deeply ashamed with himself he'd showered, ignoring his body's whimpered pleas for release and curled under the covers, laying awake and silent until early morning, when exhaustion had finally taken him.
"She's being released from the secure room."
Eric held his breath, heart beating painfully.
"She's getting disruptive, combative. She's bored for fuck's sake. I had a sit down with the doctors and they finally agreed to try letting her out into the compound. She'll be heavily monitored at all times and she's being fitted with a tracker wristband as we speak... so we'll see how that goes. And yes, I can't keep you two separated out in the compound, so you can see her again but GODDAMMIT ERIC, so help me if you do anything to mix her up worse."
Eric's pulse had begun to race as Max spoke. "Does she remember anything about her and I yet?"
"No, most of her childhood is back, and bits and pieces of her life here in Dauntless, but nothing yet about you. The doctor expects Fox's memories to be triggered and return a lot faster being out and about with everyone, seeing old friends and the like, so hopefully soon... Eric, I know you're about a half-second from blowing me off and running down to the Pit looking for her, but wait up. I need to tell you something, and it's going to be hard to hear."
Eric raised a brow, what could be harder to hear than what he'd already been told lately?
"That prick that brainwashed her, Reo? He didn't just want a soldier to control, he uh... he wanted... more."
Cold dread and even colder rage trickled into Eric's blood. What Max was about to tell him would dictate if this fuck Reo got a slow death or a really slow death when Eric found him.
"Fox is starting to remember herself, but those two we captured with her are also talking now... Reo used her. He figured... what better way to keep getting good soldiers to fight but to breed them? Use the best genes he could find? If it wasn't him trying, he'd have one of his best men have a go at her."
"What. The. Fuck. Are. You. Talking. About?... Because if you're saying what I think you're saying...goddammit Max.." Eric trailed off, chest beginning to heave in rage, fists clenching.
Max nodded, looking somewhere over Eric's shoulder. "She never caught though, I mean, look at her, she was starving; you can't grow a baby if you're half-dead yourself, but that didn't stop this Reo from trying. She had a baby over a year ago, but these guys never saw what happened to it. She miscarried a few times, then she finally got pregnant again, this year. The baby died, lived for a week apparently."
Eric felt physically sick. Fox had been raped repeatedly for a fucking 'breeding program', an attempt by some psychopath to create a better soldier? A better rat? He fought not to vomit, stoked the rage burning in his chest to keep himself from either vomiting in disgust or dissolving into tears. My poor Fox, what did they do to you?
Max continued speaking. "I know I forbid you from questioning them, but I want answers now. They were on medical lockdown for awhile but they're clear now and Tucker isn't being aggressive enough. This Reo is going to pay. I'm pulling Tucker and you're cleared to interrogate them as you see fit."
"Those miserable fucks... I'll destroy it. I'm going to find where the FUCK they are and bomb the whole fucking area. Get rid of his army." Eric could hardly force the words through his clenched jaws.
"There might be women, kids."
"We'd be doing them a fucking favour. Order it Max goddammit, or I will, you know I don't need your signature for it."
"No." Max said, standing and stretching to his full height. "You want to do that, that's on you. Question the bastards, find out where the asshole is and then blow them away, but the blood will be on your hands."
Eric reached for his phone but Max stopped him.
"Eric... Do what you need to, but don't go see Fox until you've got this shit under control. She doesn't need anything else right now."
Eric flexed his fist, shook the blood from it. He had to admit, the bastard in front of him was tough. Eric had been questioning him for the last hour, and blood pattered slowly to the floor beneath the chair the man was currently slumped in. Eric wasn't sure what the fuck Tucker had been doing, but it hadn't been very persuasive, and that stopped now. He'd deal with Tucker later.
Eric had hit the other guy too hard, who knew he had a glass jaw? and had knocked him unconscious some time ago, so the second man, a rangy brunette currently missing the majority of his teeth, would have to be the spokesman for both of them.
"Where is Reo?" Eric asked again.
The man groaned in response and Eric raised his fist again. He felt no remorse for the pain he was causing. For all he knew, this was one of Reo's 'best men' that he'd loosed on Fox. There was a special death waiting for this bastard, as well as the prick on the floor beside him when they finally spoke. Whether or not they believed Eric's lies about simple imprisonment if they coughed up Reo's whereabouts was irrelevant. Eric always got his answers.
Blood splattered on the floor again and Eric shook his hand, this was getting old. The brunette stayed silent, glaring hatred at the Dauntless leader.
"Be as stubborn as you want," Eric hissed, crossing his arms. "I'm never going to stop. so do yourself a favour and answer the question. Where is this Reo bastard?"
"Fuck you." The man grunted, spitting a tooth to the floor.
In the blink of an eye Eric was nose to nose with the factionless man. His cold gaze bored into the captive's remaining blood-filled eye, the other was swollen shut. "I'd rethink this if I were you, see, Cass... that woman he abused... and raped and tried to 'breed' a perfect soldier off of? That I think you had a go at too? She's mine... and nobody touches what's mine."
Slowly Eric pulled his sidearm, while he wasn't adverse to using it, he hadn't expected this son of a bitch to be so fucking stubborn. Misguided loyalty to a worthless rapist.
"You kill me and you'll never find him." The brunette hissed, blood bubbling on his lips.
"You stupid fuck," Eric leaned down, "who says I'm going to kill you?"
Pressing the barrel against the man's left thigh Eric pulled the trigger, stepping back quickly as blood and tissue exploded outwards and the man found his highest note yet to scream. Barely giving him time to realize what had happened Eric leaned down again.
"Where's Reo?!"
The man spat blood furiously at Eric's face. Eric straightened slowly and wiped the blood almost leisurely from his cheek. His eyes met the brunette's and a smile pulled at Eric's lips. The colour left the man's face, and he felt real fear. The grin on the Dauntless leader's face was single-handedly the most blood chilling thing he'd ever seen; promising unheard-of pain and misery, new levels of agony in return for his continued insolence.
The man's chin trembled as Eric casually took aim at his other thigh.
"W-wait-" he stammered.
"Too late." Eric growled, pulling the trigger.
Eric stepped out of the room and grimaced, rolling his shoulders; his muscles were sore and aching. The two factionless in the room he'd just spent hours interrogating were still twitching, but even as Eric turned and looked back over his shoulder at them, the twitches slowed and stopped, the blood already beginning to coagulate on the cell floor. The sharp smell of gunpowder rose in the air, the echoes of the final, fatal gunshots still faintly reverberating down the corridors.
"Get rid of that shit." He grunted to the waiting soldiers, storming out of the detention wing.
Armed with the location of Reo's underground lair, Eric stalked to Central Security, barking orders into his phone as he blazed down the corridors.
"Move in." Eric whispered over his comm, rising to his feet and kicking in the cleverly hidden door the now dead factionless captives had revealed to him. In the end, they had both begged for death, just like Eric had promised they would.
They'd divulged everything Eric needed to know and more, and after a few hours spent planning, he'd been ready to attack. Zeke and Uriah were with him, as well as a whole squadron of soldiers. The entire team knew implicitly that Reo was Eric's, that he was the only one allowed to take him out.
Throwing a half-dozen concussion grenades ahead of them, Eric charged through the smoke before the shockwave had even dissipated, his team on his heels. They had the element of surprise, but Reo's men recovered quickly and a vicious dogfight began. Eric lost sight of Reo when a bullet tore into his bicep, and he was forced to dive for cover when shrapnel exploded near him, slicing across his forehead. Gradually Eric's team got the upper hand and by the time Eric called for a cease fire, blood coating one whole side of his face, only a few of the factionless even remained alive. At Eric's instruction, they too were executed. A handful of Eric's team had been injured, but no one seriously, and after a quick inspection, Eric turned his full attention to a bloodied Reo, held securely between the Pedrad brothers.
"Tie him up." Eric ordered, wiping the blood from his face. He stepped towards Reo, his eyes blazing with hate and fury. This was the man who had hurt his Fox, the man he owed a excruciating, slow death.
Eric leaned down and just stared at Reo for a long, tense moment. Then he pulled a large Bowie knife from his vest and dragged it gently along Reo's jaw, gazing intently into his eyes. Eric slowly traced the scars along his face, then tilted his head to the side and pressed the blade to Reo's unmarked cheek. Reo's chest heaved as he watched Eric warily, trying to keep an eye on both the man and the blade. Suddenly, without a word, without warning, Eric pulled the blade savagely across Reo's stubbly cheek, opening a wide, gaping Glasgow smile. Reo threw his head back with a howl, trying to twist away, but Eric was eerily silent and self-possessed as he waited for Reo to stop thrashing. Panting, the bound man glared a mix of hatred and fear at the Dauntless leader, and, when Eric drew the blade a second time down his cheek, to complete a large bloody X across his face, Reo shrieked again, struggling ineffectually against his bindings. Eric wiped the blade off on Reo's shoulder, then straightened, stepping back.
Satisfied, Eric murmured quietly. "Now your face matches."
Reo sneered, blood darkening his shirt, eyes shifting uneasily from the Dauntless soldiers back to their massive leader standing in front of them, looking like Death himself. He tested the rope he'd been bound with again, but it remained secure and he spat defiantly at Eric's feet.
"Fuck you." Reo snarled.
"What do we do with him, Eric?" Zeke growled.
"Oh... Eric." Reo grinned painfully, the sliced edges of his mouth pulling and bleeding. He met Eric's glare, a sick gleam in his eye. "So you're the one Cass screamed for."
Eric froze and the entire squadron held their breath, eyes darting nervously to his broad back. The air thickened with tension, Eric's monster was going to come out to play, and things were going to get even messier. Zeke moved to his side, began speaking lowly.
"He's lying, she had amnesia, she didn't remember you then." Turning his head, he nodded to his brother and the others, signalling them to be ready when Eric exploded.
Reo continued, a sadistic smile on his face, eyes locked on Eric's, his voice almost conversationally casual, as if commenting on the weather. "She put up a hell of a fight, have to give her that. Had to have my men hold her down the first few times, had to knock her around a bit until she learned who's boss-"
Eric launched his massive body soundlessly at Reo, but the team was ready and managed to snag him before he attacked. He fought against them, eyes wild.
"You fuck!" He roared, apoplectic with rage. "Let me go!"
Reo wasn't finished, after all he had nothing to lose, he knew he was dying today regardless; maybe if he pissed Eric off enough he'd kill him quickly. "She was a hot piece of ass, but you already know that, you've fucked her too. Did you hit her? She likes that, loves when you make her bleed, loves every hole gettin' filled. Three or four of us would fuck her at once and she'd just lay there and take it, like the whore she is."
The team froze in horror and Eric shook them off easily. The rage around him was palatable, thick in the air and no one was inclined to hold him back anymore, many had to fight not to attack Reo themselves.
Reo grinned slowly, a vile expression on his torn face and nodded. "Enjoy her... I know I did."
In the blink of an eye Eric pulled his gun, aiming directly for Reo's head. A low growl started deep in his chest, his eye's luminous with hatred. Zeke, still beside him, could actually feel the internal struggle as he fought with himself. The Erudite in Eric recognized that Reo was trying to bait him, while the Dauntless in him screamed to punish the miserable fuck. He closed the distance between them again, pressed the barrel to Reo's forehead. Pulling away again Eric snarled in frustration, pressing the heels of hands into his eyes, his jaw clenched, teeth gritted as he fought not to pull the trigger.
Reo smirked. "She cried, she begged me to stop and that just made it all the sweeter as I fucked her. Choked her, bit her 'till she bled. Climbed off and had one of my guys to keep her warm for me 'till I was ready again. Yeah... we had a good time, your bitch and me."
Eric roared in rage and whipped Reo across the face with his gun. The bound man groaned and slumped over as Eric stood over him, panting, fists flexing. Reo started to laugh, a horrible gurgling sound that bubbled blood past his lips and down his chin. He lifted his head again, looked at Eric with bloodshot eyes.
"Nothing better than hearing them scream while you pound them-"
Eric pointed the gun at Reo's head and pulled the trigger. Zeke jumped as the gun fired rapidly, Eric emptying the clip, screaming, until the pistol clicked. Reo shook in terror, eyes wide, half-deaf. The bullets had brushed his hair, a warning only. Eric leapt forward, shoving the smoking barrel into the gaping wound on Reo's cheek and the bound man screamed as his skin sizzled and snapped.
"DOES THAT HURT?!" Eric screamed, inches from his face, spittle hitting him. "Did she beg for her life, Reo?! Did you see the pain in her eyes?!" He snapped another clip into the handgun and pointed it again at Reo's forehead. The factionless man finally looked scared, skin pale and sweating, eyes huge, finally realizing just what he had been provoking, just what monster he'd unleashed.
"She was my love and you destroyed her. You took my life away from me, you took the only woman I've ever loved and you turned her into a shell of who she was." He hissed, pressing the barrel harder against Reo's skin. "She's not here to kill you herself, but I am and I'll make sure you suffer to your last fucking breath, make sure you suffer like she did. You'll be begging me for mercy and I'll give you the same compassion you gave her. You'll beg me to die before I'm done with you. But Fox still lives and she will recover and I will be there for her when she comes back to me. You tried to destroy us and you couldn't. She's mine, no one hurts her. NO ONE touches her!" The gun shook slightly as Eric fought to control himself. Zeke held his breath, waiting.
Slowly Eric lowered the gun, and glanced at Zeke. "Anyone else down here?"
Zeke shook his head, "no, we searched, it's clear."
Eric nodded, then turned his attention back to Reo, locked eyes with him again. "Leave us alone."
Reo's eyes went wide as he realized what Eric had just said. He pulled at the ropes holding him, panic beginning to bleed into his eyes.
"Eric?" Zeke began.
"LEAVE US ALONE!" Eric snarled, whipping a devastating glare over his shoulder.
Zeke nodded and jerked his chin at the men. Silently they filtered out.
"Hey!" Reo yelled, watching in horror as he was left alone with Eric, an angel of vengeance straight from hell, standing in front of him still.
Eric favoured him with a small, knowing smile and nodded once.
The team shuffled nervously outside while Zeke stood closest to the door, arms crossed over his chest. He heard Reo begin to scream.
"HEY! Wait! WAIT! No, don't... don't! NNNNNOOOOO!"
A vicious thudding, then a horrible wet tearing sound reached Zeke's ears and he turned away. He had no desire to know what was going on in there. He almost felt pity for the factionless bastard. Reo's screams peaked into a shriek of agony and Zeke turned away, walked back to his men.
They shuffled nervously, waiting, still hearing Reo's screams and howls, thumping and slamming sounds, Eric's animalistic snarls and roars. It was like they were listening at the doorway to hell.
Finally, Eric appeared at the doorway, his eyes blazing. Behind him, Reo still weakly cried out. Eric held a large bottle of liquor in his hand. He took a large gulp and toasted the whimpering man.
"Cheers motherfucker." Eric spat.
Zeke watched in dawning horror as he stuffed a rag in the neck, lit it and threw the bottle inside. Zeke heard it shatter and Reo's screams again sharpened, reaching new heights of suffering.
"BURN IN HELL!" Eric screamed into the inferno.
Fire rose like a glimpse into hell and, as Eric stalked towards the team, flames exploded out of the structure. The team jumped back, heat slapping their faces, but Eric appeared unaffected. He was at home right now, lurking in these hellish shadows, his monster was content.
Reo's shouts, still audible over the fire's roar became wordless animal screams.
Zeke glanced at his leader. Eric no longer resembled a man, at least not a sane one. Blood coated his face, and Zeke knew without a doubt that it wasn't his own. Eric's knuckles were swollen and bleeding, his jacket splashed with chunks of something red and glistening. Zeke's heart thumped as he focussed on Eric's square jaw line, and he saw with sick fascination bits of skin and tissue clinging to his bloodied skin. Eric glanced at Zeke and nodded once, sadistic satisfaction in his eyes.
Eric crossed his arms over his massive chest and watched the flames calmly until the sweet sounds of Reo's screams finally stopped.
Eric crossed the Pit, rubbing absently at the bullet scar on his arm, although healed with serum, it still stung like a bitch sometimes. In the weeks since Reo's violent death he'd only watched Fox from afar, still too emotional and enraged to risk being close to her. He didn't trust himself yet. He was still far too messed up by Reo's disgusting words to control himself, his need to comfort Fox was still too strong and he was afraid it would overwhelm her.
Reaching his destination, Eric stormed into the bar and nodded at the bartender for his usual whiskey. Dropping onto the stool he sighed, resting his forehead on the heel of his hand and closed his eyes. The glass of liquor slid towards him and hit his elbow, Eric took a sip without lifting his head. The events of just over a week ago still tore through his mind, slashing and burning in their wake.
Eric picked at his chicken breast, wondering why in the hell he'd decided to eat dinner in the mess hall anyway. He could see Fox a few tables away with her friends, the women she'd been sharing an apartment with for now, until she was more settled. Her eyes flicked up to his and Eric dropped his gaze, concentrated instead on his plate. He'd been seriously messed up since Reo's death, not out of any misguided guilt or shame for killing the fuck, but out of continued horror. Even if the ugliness Reo had spewed had only been half-true, Fox had suffered untold agonies during her imprisonment. Eric found it almost impossible to sleep, he would have to go to the training area and kick the ever-loving shit out of a heavy bag, beat it until his knuckles were bloody and he was staggering from exhaustion before his thoughts were quiet enough for him to collapse in bed, close his eyes for a few hours before fresh nightmares of Fox screaming and thrashing, held down by sneering factionless men tore him from sleep again, tears streaking down his cheeks, soaking into the pillow.
He would sit at his desk, the door to his office closed and locked, and lose hours as his mind raced, turning Reo's words over and over in his head, cutting him afresh with each repeat of the bastard's descriptions of what he had done to Eric's woman, how he had made her scream, how he had abused her. Eric's heart ached, his soul grieved for Fox's pain and the worst part was that he knew himself well enough to know that he wouldn't be any help to her right now, not like this. He was too fucked up to not infect her with some of it, he needed to clear his own mind first, heal his own thoughts and purge the poison Reo had left behind before he was safe to be around her.
A tray was set down across from him, and Eric looked up in confusion to see Fox sliding onto the bench across from him. Fox offered a tentative smile, but Eric's answering grimace made her falter. For the first time in his life, Eric wished Fox would leave him alone right now, he wasn't in the right state of mind, nothing good would come from this. Fox was still too fragile, HE was too fragile.
"Eric, I-"
"Fox, I can't right now." Eric's words came out in a rush, and he closed his eyes as a sharp pain shot through his chest. He never wanted to say those words to Fox, ever.
"I-"
"I said I can't!" Eric leapt to his feet, his tray clattering and the conversations in the mess hall ground to a halt, all eyes swivelling towards him and Fox. "I'm sorry, it's not you, it's me... I need time." He murmured, horrified at himself.
Eric spared the masses barely a glance, but his eyes fell on Fox and his heart squeezed at the expression on her beautiful face. He couldn't find any more words right now to reassure her, was far too close to screaming and smashing his fists into something to speak, so he scrambled away instead, letting the rejection, the sadness, the sorrow in Fox's eyes tear the rest of the way through his soul. His feet carried him away, to the training room, where he didn't stop hitting the heavy bag and screaming in a torrid mix of rage and despair until he broke his left hand. The next day had been spent in discomfort and pain as he'd endured a round of healing serum.
He'd not seen Fox since.
After a few minutes he became aware of someone standing beside him. Slowly he lifted his head, a rush of emotions flooding him as he saw Fox leaning against the counter just a few feet away, watching him tentatively.
"Fox, are you okay baby?" He cringed internally. Calling Fox 'baby' was as natural to him as breathing, but no longer appropriate. His limbs were on fire, begging to pull her to him, crush her to his chest; but he couldn't, not yet, for all he knew, she was standing here right now just to tell him to fuck off.
Fox looked hesitant for a moment. "Can we talk somewhere? You didn't want to before but... I have all these questions, and everyone says you knew me best. If you don't want to, I understand- "
Eric exhaled, his heart racing; although he'd been waiting for weeks to hear her say this, he'd not been ready for it until now and he regretted more than he could ever say yelling at her like he had in the mess hall. He forced himself to stay calm, Max's warning to avoid upsetting her still ringing in his mind. "Oh course ba - Fox... do you want to go for a walk or something?"
"Can we go to the roof?" Fox asked hesitantly.
Eric's heart soared, whether or not Fox remembered yet, the roof had been her and Eric's special place. They'd gone there often, to sit and talk, snuggled together under the stars. They'd made love out there too many times to count, holding each other close as they'd strained together, moaning and murmuring into each other's necks, skin gleaming under the moonlight.
"Eric?" Fox asked quietly, frowning slightly.
Eric shook his head to clear it, favoured her with an embarrassed smile. "Sorry... yeah. You want to go now?"
Fox nodded, the small smile on her face lightening Eric's heart.
Eric stood and, finding himself close enough to catch a hint of Fox's intoxicating scent froze, almost overwhelmed with the sudden desire to pull her to him and bury his head into her hair. He glanced up at Fox and, judging by the expression on her face, his thoughts had been transparent. He tensed, waiting for her to start to panic, pull away and leave; certain that the level of longing on his face, over two years worth of emotions, would scare her off, but no, Fox was Dauntless to the core.
Instead of running, Fox cleared her throat and, taking a step backwards, gestured for Eric to lead the way.
Eric started walking, slowing his pace until Fox moved in step with him. He braved a quick glance at her, but Fox was looking forwards, her forehead furrowed. When they reached the roof, Eric held the door open for her and closed it gently behind her. He watched as Fox slowly walked out to the edge and leaned against the half-wall. Eric moved to stand near her, not nearly as close as he wanted and leaned onto his forearms.
"I'm sorry about last week -" Eric began.
"It's okay, don't worry about it." Fox replied quickly, cheeks reddening again. Eric nodded, waited for Fox to speak again.
"I'm remembering more all the time," Fox said quietly after a few minutes. "Being out of that room helped." She glanced at Eric but looked away quickly when Eric met her gaze. "I remember growing up in Amity now, and choosing Dauntless. Things are still kind of hazy after that, but if I don't think about it, if I don't try to remember, then flashes will hit me as I'm walking around." She rubbed absently at her arm. There was a lighter ring of skin where the tracker wristband had been. She'd had to wear since her release from her cell, it had kept her contained in the compound, alerted the control room to her location, alarmed if she got too close to any of the exits. "They just took that tracker off me this morning."
"Do you remember me?" Eric asked gently. Instantly he scolded himself, he was supposed to be answering her questions, not asking his own. He couldn't help but gaze over at her, looking for similarities to the Fox he'd known and loved. Fox was still skinnier she'd been before, skinnier and less muscular than Eric liked, but she was no longer skeletal like when she'd first been found. Rather than just a dark brush, her hair was long enough now for traces of red to show again. Her scars had faded, but were still visible, and, rather than detracting from her looks, enhanced them, made her a warrior princess. She stood straighter, more confident than when she'd first been rescued, although she was still a long ways from the awesome sight Fox had been, striding self-assuredly down the Dauntless corridors, looking like she was able to kick the ass of anyone that challenged her, and being physically and mentally able to back that up. Fox would often get lost in her thoughts now, staring blankly as her mind worked to unravel the knots of memories, some real, some planted that tangled in her brain.
Fox blushed, concentrating on the buildings beyond the roof. "That's what I wanted to ask you about... everything is confusing and tangled up. I remember feeling attached to... someone, I mean, I know I wasn't alone here in Dauntless. I dream a lot... I remember flashes, I have bits of memories of a man, but... I can't recall much about him, what he looked like, I just remember some of his tattoos... but I always felt safe with him. I was never scared or in pain around him, not like... Reo." She sighed heavily.
Eric didn't trust his voice to speak and only managed to clear his throat, blinking back unexpected tears, turning his face away. Max had threatened mayhem if Eric upset Fox too much, and the Dauntless leader viewed Fox as a daughter, would make good on his threat if Eric disturbed her too much, but that wasn't what held Eric back, it was instead a total aversion to causing Fox more pain, she'd had enough already. He knew she wanted the truth, she deserved the truth, but was she ready for the truth yet?
Fox shivered, rubbing at her arms. "Dammit," she muttered. "I should have brought a warmer coat."
"Here," Eric said immediately, pushing away from the half-wall and pulling off his jacket, leaving him in a short-sleeve t-shirt. Moving to Fox's side he slipped the jacket gently over her shoulders, rubbing her upper arms a few times before pulling himself reluctantly away.
"Thanks," Fox murmured, glancing shyly at him. Her eyes slowly slid across his face and down his throat, lingering over his leadership tattoos.
Eric watched her gaze at him, his heart aching to reach out and touch her.
Fox's eyes dropped lower, roaming across his powerful chest, wandering to his shoulders and down his arms. Suddenly she gasped sharply and, stepping closer, reached out timidly for Eric's hand. Holding his breath Eric held his hand out to her and his skin started to tingle when she touched him. One hand trailed up his wrist to his forearm while the other hand stayed in his, her skin soft and warm.
"You've always had your arms covered before..." she murmured. Her fingers began to trace the maze pattern and Eric closed his eyes, forehead creasing, biting back a moan. He forced himself to stand still and accept this, all of this; he needed to move on, past the pain of what had happened to Fox, he needed to forgive himself for not being able to spare her that agony, he needed to look to the future with her, right here, right now.
"I remember these... in my dreams, these tattoos... I love this man, he makes me feel safe... it's you, isn't it?" Fox looked up at Eric, eyes wide, tears glinting in her kaleidoscopic gaze.
Eric's heart threatened to break, his muscles were straining, longing to gather Fox to his chest. With a hiss of frustration he pulled roughly away, slamming his fists into the half-wall then dropped his head into his hands. His voice broke as he whispered, "yes, it's me... And I love you, so much baby."
Fox moved back to his side, breathing hard, her fingers tightening on Eric's forearm. "Eric-" she murmured softly, then reached up, curling her fingers on the back of Eric's neck and pulling him towards her. Their lips connected and Eric jolted as his body screamed in shock and delight. Fox gasped, pulling away from Eric, her eyes huge and awestruck. "He said it could return all at once, in a rush... if something triggered me... I remember." Her fingers stroked along Eric's leadership marks again and she looked up into his stormy grey eyes. Recognition, relief and love shone in them. "Eric... I remember you... you were my whole life. I... I love you. I always felt safe with you, you were... everything to me."
The tears Eric had been desperately holding back started trickling down his cheeks. "And you're mine... my world, my everything." He whispered. Hesitantly he reached up, stroked the back of his fingers across her forehead then curled them on the back of her head; her hair was growing back, was almost an inch long now, and soft as down. Fox tensed for a moment under his touch but then stepped even closer, leaning forwards against him. Her hands trailed gently along the leadership marks. Eric dropped his head lower, relaxing under her touch like a big cat. Their eyes met and held, a fierce stare that heated more by the second and Eric felt the beginnings of the fire that they'd shared, that had scorched the landscape around them. They just breathed together for a long moment, sharing the same air as their passion and desire increased, threatened to combust the space around them.
Fox bit her lip, the emotions engulfing her right now were both terrifying and exhilarating, and the best part was the feeling that she had felt this all before, that she'd always felt this way around Eric, alive and on fire. Her body burned for him, needed him like oxygen and her heart hammered in her chest, her blood ran hot. "I know you won't hurt me," she whispered, and he bit back a groan, muscles tightening, straining for her touch.
"Fuck baby, I've missed you." He groaned unsteadily.
"We were good together." She murmured, her voice like a caress.
Eric couldn't stop a chuckle, pressed a kiss to her hair. "Yes, we were." His jeans tightened further as X-rated flashbacks hit him and he closed his eyes, a low growl escaping him.
"Eric," Fox whispered, scratching her nails down his chest, her fingers trailing fire across his skin through his shirt. He groaned and opened his eyes. Fox clasped the back of his neck and pulled him gently back down to her. Eric's body tightened with lust, fuck, he wasn't going to last much longer, not if Fox was going to kiss him again, kiss him the way she used to. He'd been too surprised the first time to truly react, but his body was ready now, ready and howling for her.
Fox hesitated, her lips a hairsbreadth from Eric's and he inhaled her scent greedily, her breath sweet on his face. A low moan started in his chest and he inhaled sharply as Fox touched her lips to his. A wave of heat and passion swept through him and it took all his resolve not to deepen the kiss, not to throw Fox to the ground and tear her clothes off; they'd always been rough lovers, their passion scorching and red-hot. A breathy gasp left him as Fox pulled slightly away then kissed him again, harder this time. Tremors shot through him, his eyes squeezed shut, face twisted in sweet pain as he fought his rising desire. Fox's tongue swept gently against him and Eric groaned heavily, pulling away before he lost control. He rested his forehead to Fox's and panted harshly.
"Sorry."
"It's okay," Fox murmured, panting for breath too. Dropping her head again she tucked it underneath Eric's chin and sighed. "I missed that," she whispered quietly.
"Fuck baby, I missed it too."
"Yeah?"
"Mmmm-hmmm," she sighed and snuggled closer. "We used to come up here."
"Yeah, we'd sit over there, against that wall."
"We had blankets stashed up here, so we didn't have to sit on the gravel."
"Yes," Eric hummed happily, nuzzling closer. "Did you want to sit over there?" His body was still on fire, raging for his Fox, he needed to hold her now, never let her go.
Fox nodded her head against his chest, moved with Eric as he began walking slowly over. Stopping at the wall Fox reached to a weathered wooden box and lifted the lid. With a laugh she pulled the familiar blankets out and smiled up at Eric.
"They're still here." Still grinning she spread one down on the gravel, dropped the other onto the corner.
Eric smiled sadly, "after you disappeared I stopped coming up here."
Fox made a small noise of distress and looked up at Eric with tear-filled eyes. "I'm sorry."
Eric caressed her face, "baby it wasn't your fault."
Fox pulled Eric back against her, pressed her face into his neck. Eric feathered gentle kisses along Fox's throat, felt her relax under his touch. She moaned his name and it was all Eric could do to not tear her clothes off and plunge inside her. Fuck, he'd missed her, he'd missed this. Fox's fingers curled against his chest then began to trail lower and Eric unconsciously arched towards her, his body begging for her hands to travel lower, to stroke the straining bulge pressing against his jeans. Her hands ghosted against his abdomen and continued their path downwards, Eric pulling away from Fox's throat to drop his head back and groan loudly, his eyes rolling back in his head as her fingers finally brushed against the front of his jeans. His hips began to rock involuntarily against her hand and Fox started to rub harder, cupping her palm against him. Grazing his nose up her neck and along her jaw line Eric captured Fox's mouth with his, his tongue sweeping against her lips, desperate for entrance and his groans grew unsteady as she opened her mouth for him. His body jolted as his tongue curled against Fox's and she pressed closer to him, deepening the kiss and making Eric's heart race even harder, thudding almost painfully against his chest wall, surely Fox could feel it as she pressed against him.
He pulled away, gasping. "Fox?"
Fox lifted lust-hazed eyes to him. Their bodies recognized their soulmate so close to them, so close to being connected again and they screamed in protest, muscles cramping with desperate desire.
"We can't... it's too soon, I don't want to hurt you or mess this up." He panted, loathe to hurt Fox in any way. If he gave into his desire for her now, there was no fucking way he'd be able to stop.
"Eric, I want you... make me forget him, forget that pain. I'm not afraid of you, I will never be afraid of you." Fox breathed in his ear. "Please baby, make love to me like you used to, I won't break, I want this, I want you. We're not complete unless we're together... I'm ready, stop fighting this baby. Love me, take away those memories, please."
It was the please that finally broke Eric's resistance, he could deny her nothing.
With a groan Eric sank onto the blanket, pulling Fox down with him. She straddled his lap, and the last vestiges of his resistance melted when she clasped his face in her hands and kissed him again, moaning against his mouth as her hips rocked against his. Fox tore at Eric's t-shirt, yanking it over his head then pulled her own off, Eric hissed as his hand brushed against her bare breasts, she wasn't wearing a bra. Fox's fingers clawed at Eric's jeans and he batted her hands away gently. Ripping them off his legs Eric sat up on his knees and leaned over Fox, grabbing her jeans and yarding them the rest of the way off. He watched her eyes carefully, looking for any sign that she was frightened, that she was remembering her torture, but her gaze was heated, blazing with hunger and desire. Panting, frantic with need Eric lowered himself onto his forearms, braced above Fox's body.
"Yes," Fox breathed, her arms coiling around him, she pulled his head down for another kiss, her tongue plunging into his mouth. Eric's body jerked with lust, shuddered with his need to be inside her.
Eric filled her with one slow thrust and the feel of Fox sheathed around him nearly undid him right there. He stopped moving, panting into her neck as he fought to control himself and only when he no longer was on the brink of climax did he begin to move slowly, thrusting in and out carefully.
Fox moaned against him, breathed his name, and lifted her hips to meet his. Eric tensed as his body again threatened to explode, as Fox's small cries in his ear enflamed his blood all the more.
"More Eric," Fox whispered, wrapping first one than both legs around his hips.
"Fox?" Eric mumbled, his spine arching sharply. He wanted more too, but Fox needed gentleness now, didn't she? He pulled back slightly, pausing in his thrusts to look into her eyes.
"Yes," Fox replied in answer to his unspoken question.
Tightening his arm around her, Eric cupped her cheek with the other hand as he began thrusting harder; sharp, precise snaps of his hips that brushed that secret place deep inside Fox and made her cry out his name as she arched against him. Fox trembled beneath him, not in pain but in bliss, and the love that shone in her eyes as she stroked Eric's cheek nearly stopped his heart. She trusted him explicitly, trusted him with her body and mind, knew he would never hurt her, would do everything in his power to heal her. Unbelievable sensations coursed through Eric's body; he'd never thought he'd feel this again, inside Fox, hearing her moan his name again as they made love, an almost desperate edge to their motions, fueled by their devastating separation.
Eric felt his passion rising, threatening to peak and he held back, not willing to give in to his own release until Fox had. He felt his cock brush against Fox's womb and that flung her over the edge as she cried out underneath him, arching her spine, her walls tightening around him and Eric stopped fighting, gave into his release.
He gave a strangled roar as ecstasy flooded his body, his muscles tightened and he pulsed deep inside Fox, filling her with his seed. His vision greyed at the edges with the intensity of his orgasm and for a long moment he could only exist, experience this sensation, the feel of his body inside Fox, her slick heat, the spasms of her around him, the passion it brought him. He felt the cracks in his heart close and heal, the relentless trickle-loss of his soul stop. He felt at home, finally, for the first time in a long time.
Groaning, gasping for breath, Eric's body finally uncoiled and, panting, he opened his eyes to see his Fox gazing at him, a small contented smile on her face, her skin flushed and gleaming with her own pleasure. Fox exalted in the moment, in the feeling of Eric throbbing between her legs again, the warm pulses of his orgasm deep inside her, his amazingly muscular body shuddering against her, his strength and awesome power and she felt the last remnants of ugliness, of pain and fear leave her. This was her, this was Eric, they were together again and nothing was going to separate them again. Although she hadn't consciously remembered Eric or their love for each other during her capture, she realized now that on some deep subconscious level her body and mind had remembered him, and had clung to that love and those memories to keep her alive during the darkest times of her capture; Eric had kept her alive, tethered to her through their undeniable, unbreakable connection.
Eric saw this pass through Fox's eyes and sudden emotions flooded him; the thought that he'd never see Fox again, that she had died alone, without him somewhere out in the ruins of the city, the not knowing, the speculation, finally the shock of learning she was alive, but still all but lost to him and here; the now, cocooned by her body and love, sheltered together in each other's arms. They were both changed by the last two years but they were still made for each other, still soulmates, two halves of a whole and Eric let go, began to cry; tears streaming from his eyes as more than two years of anguish and heartache and devastation were finally allowed to escape and Fox curled her hand against the back of his head and pulled him down to her breast, stroking up and down his back as she murmured soothingly to him while he wept.
Eric drowsed on top of Fox, utterly contented and relaxed for the first time in years. Fox lay curled underneath him, stroking a lazy hand up and down his spine, humming gently in his ear, she'd managed to pull the second blanket over them, and they were snuggled close. Occasionally Eric would feather a gentle kiss to her collarbone or pulse point, but other than that, he was content to just lay still and enjoy the feel of their bodies pressed together. He was still inside her, still semi-hard and there was nowhere else he'd rather be right now but connected so viscerally with the woman he'd thought he'd lost forever. Eric was happy to just stay up on the roof, wrapping in each other's arms until starvation forced them back inside but after awhile Fox turned her head and nuzzled into his shoulder.
"Eric?" She mumbled.
"Yeah baby?" Eric whispered, returning the nuzzle. Fox's finger's dragged along his shoulder muscles and sent a shiver through his body.
"As much as I love laying here with you... can we go back inside? I'm getting cold."
Eric chuckled, burrowing his face into her throat and making Fox squeak as his teeth nibbled her flesh. "Your place or mine?"
Fox clasped his face in her hands, pulled him from her neck and gazed into his eyes. "Ours." She said intently. "If you'll have me."
Eric exhaled sharply in a mix of surprise and elation. "Really?" He breathed, and, at Fox's nod, grinned widely and dropped his head to her lips, kissing her breathlessly. Pulling away again, he rested his forehead to hers. "Ours then."
Pulling apart reluctantly they quickly dressed and returned inside. Eric could hardly keep from drawing Fox back against him and taking her against a corridor wall; now that he'd gotten a taste of her again, he was ravenous, but he made himself wait until they reached his apartment. He wanted her until exhaustion took them both, they'd just have to move again if they stayed in a corridor, humping against a stone wall.
Once he locked the door behind him however, Eric attacked. Fox shrieked with surprise as Eric lifted her bodily and pressed her against the wall beside the door, leaning his full body against her as he crushed his mouth to hers, and Fox responded with equal fever, her answering kiss just as hungry and desperate. Eric groaned against her, his body answering with a shudder, and within seconds they had yanked each other's clothes off and Eric was driving inside Fox with a hiss, his hips snapping against hers, his teeth clawing at her throat as he thrust almost violently inside her, nearly insane with lust and desire. Fox answered with a hunger of her own, clawing at his back and wrapping her legs around his hips, pulling him ever deeper inside her.
"Oh fuck-" Eric groaned, pressing his face into Fox's shoulder, spine arching with each thrust, Fox's body smacking against the wall with each jerk. Fox cried out Eric's name breathlessly and Eric captured her mouth in another greedy kiss before slowing his thrusts and throwing his head back with a growl of lust. Dropping his head forward again Eric looked down to where their bodies met, groaning as he watched his cock drive into Fox, biting his lip as his body threatened to unravel in a violent orgasm. Knowing he was close he dropped his head forward again into the crook of Fox's neck and groaned.
"Fuck baby... come with me."
"Yeah," Fox gasped, digging her nails into his shoulders. "Harder, Eric."
Eric dropped his hand and rubbed his thumb hard over her clit, and that, coupled with his relentless thrusts made Fox buck hard against him, plunge into a keening orgasm. Her walls pulsing around him dragged Eric over the edge too and he came hard, roaring into Fox's shoulder as his hips pressed hard against hers, his cock throbbing deep inside her. He slammed his hand hard against the wall by Fox's head as his body shuddered in release then sagged breathlessly against her, knees trembling. Aftershocks shot through their bodies as they clung to each other, and Eric burrowed his face against Fox's shoulder, inhaling her scent greedily.
Fox giggled as he traced a sweat droplet with his tongue then nibbled her skin, chuckling, his lips tickling her. Rearing back he held Fox to him, still inside her and stumbled to the bedroom, dropping Fox down on the bed and stretching out over her, capturing her mouth again and plunging his tongue inside. Clasping both her wrists in one hand Eric stretched her arms above her head. Fox arched against him as Eric started thrusting insider her again, slow and languid this time, making love to Fox rather than desperate fucking, each snap of his hips precise and stroking deep.
Eric cupped Fox's cheek in one huge palm, his hand nearly large enough to cover the whole side of her face and locked eyes with her as he thrust, absorbing every emotion that flashed in her eyes. His blood heated at the desire and love he saw, he dropped his head for another toe-curling kiss and they moaned against each other's mouths as their passion started to peak again. Eric let go of Fox's wrists and trailed his hand down her side to grasp her hip, hard enough to leave bruises.
"Eric-" Fox whimpered, curling into the shelter of his arms. Eric gripped Fox's thigh and pulled it higher on his hip, deepening his angle, stroking that secret place inside Fox and she bucked underneath him, letting go and exploding into another powerful climax. Eric's stamina with Fox was laughably weak right now, he was so starved for the feel of her that every quake of her walls around him was overwhelming ecstasy and Eric gave in, surrendering to his body's powerful response to Fox's bliss. His spine arched sharply as he shuddered, groaning raggedly as he spilled inside her, muscles trembling in release.
Fox sighed in contentment, arching like a cat beneath him and Eric collapsed beside her, panting for breath, his body temporarily sated but by no means fully satisfied. Fox curled against him, tucking her head underneath his chin, her breath warm on Eric's skin and he felt his muscles unknot, a deep peace flow through him. His hand stroked across her back and he pressed fevered kisses to her hair, breathing in her scent with a groan. Fox traced random patterns on Eric's chest, flicking gently at his nipple piercings and grinning against him when he flinched, laughing when he pinched her gently in revenge.
"Behave," he mumbled, eyes fluttering closed.
"Hey," Fox poked him, earning a grunt and leaned up on her elbow, tracing a finger along Eric's bottom lip and pulling away with a squeal with he nipped at it. "Don't go to sleep on me."
Eric grunted again, turning his head away and Fox bent over to murmur into his ear. "You still need to fuck me in the shower."
Eric's eyes snapped open and he couldn't hold back a wicked grin. Fox squeaked when he rolled suddenly, trapping her underneath him and started attacking her throat with nips and hard kisses. Fox struggled in vain against his bulk and began begging for mercy, laughing out loud as Eric started to tickle her.
Fox squirmed, still shrieking and managed to return the tickles, until Eric fell back, laughing, the first genuine laugh he'd had since Fox's disappearance. Almost giddy with exhilaration Eric attacked again and ending the tickle war by squeezing Fox to his chest and burrowing his face into her neck.
"Let me go," Fox giggled, struggling free from his grip and leaping to her feet. Shaking her ass sassily at him she dashed into the bathroom and Eric fell back against the pillows, laughing. He'd missed this, the bed-play they'd shared, the teasing and play-wrestling that had always led to more sex. No one would believe the hulking, intimidating Dauntless leader was even capable of such light-heartedness but only around Fox would he let down his guard and be silly like this.
Eric heard the shower start, then Fox poked her head out of the doorway. "You coming or just breathing heavy?" She teased, ducking back into the bathroom with a squeal when Eric launched himself off the bed towards her.
They briefly tussled under the spray until Eric used his greater strength and pinned Fox against the shower wall. Lifting her legs around his hips he pushed inside her again, dropping his head back with a groan, relishing the feel of her wrapped around his cock again, after so long without, Eric didn't think he'd ever get enough. Fox pulled him deeper and cupped his face, and they devoured each other's mouths, swallowing each other's moans as Eric thrust hard into her. He continued driving into her as the water cascaded down over them and Fox wrapped her arms around his straining back, dropping her head forward against his shoulder as her climax hit her again, making her gasp Eric's name as her body jerked with his increasingly erratic thrusts and she curled her fingers at the back of his head, capturing his mouth again as he groaned in release, shuddering against her, his cock pulsing deep inside. Falling back against the shower wall Eric braced his legs to hold them and panted heavily in Fox's shoulder, residual shocks making them shiver against each other. Finally, he pulled himself free from between her legs and unwrapped her legs from around his hips, dropping her feet to the shower floor. Smiling, Eric captured Fox's chin and pressed one more heated kiss to her lips before pulling away and grabbing the shampoo.
A half an hour later they were back on the bed, Fox sitting with her back to the headboard and Eric sprawled beside her, his head resting in her lap. He gazed up at her half-asleep as she threaded her fingers through his drying curls. They had eaten an extremely late supper and were now spending a quiet moment together. They'd made plans for Fox to move her meagre belongings from her shared apartment back into Eric's in the morning. Much of her possessions had stayed in their apartment after she had disappeared, and Eric hadn't been able to bear throwing them out. Her clothes still hung in his closet and she'd tried on a pair of her old cargo pants, stretching the waistband out unhappily. The doctor ordered meal regime was helping Fox regain her previous muscle definition but she still lacked the curves Eric loved so much, and her old clothes remained baggy.
Eric was almost asleep, lulled by Fox's gentle touch when he saw a shadow of unease cross her face. He frowned.
"Baby, what's wrong?"
Fox quirked her mouth, embarrassed. "Just worried," she confessed. "I doubt Reo's done with me yet."
A savage smile came to Eric's lips. "You don't need to worry about him again baby. I took care of him."
"What do you mean?" Fox frowned in confusion. Her hand trailed along Eric's jaw and cupped his cheek, he turned his head and pressed a quick kiss to her palm before answering.
"Those two factionless you were found with, they gave up his location. I took a team down there and we got rid of that fuck and his little army. Don't worry baby, I made sure he suffered for what he did to you."
Fox's hand stilled it's gentle stroking of Eric's cheek. "What did you do to him?"
Eric's eyes blazed with satisfaction. "After we shot his whole team, we tied him to a pillar and I gave him a taste of the hell he put you through... and then I set fire to the place and listened to him scream as he burned to death."
Momentarily relief passed through Fox's eyes before she blinked in sudden fear. "When?... Where was he when you found him?"
"A few weeks ago, half a mile east of that collapsed water-tower, a one-story structure all boarded up, looked like an old grocery store or something..." Eric trailed off, watching Fox in confusion as her expression grew more and more horrified. She pulled her hand away from his head and covered her mouth, eyes wide. Eric sat up, getting scared now and sat back on his heels, holding Fox's shoulders.
"Fox? What's wrong? He was a bastard, he deserved to die."
"You killed him!" Hysteria and horror tinged Fox's voice.
"Fox! What the fuck are you talking about?! Of course I killed him!"
The expression that burned suddenly in Fox's eyes was entirely alien to Eric, she had never looked at him this way before. "Your son, Eric... he was hiding there, you burned our son... you KILLED YOUR SON!" Fox burst into tears, clawing at her face and Eric dropped his hands from her shoulders in shock, not fully comprehending what Fox had just told him. He had a son? Fox had been pregnant? He had been there, hidden, when Eric burned Reo to death... he had burned his own child alive?
Fox scrambled off the bed and rounded on Eric, eyes blazing with hate. "DAMN YOU COULTER!" She shrieked. "What the fuck? Why didn't you talk to me first?! YOU MURDERED OUR SON!"