So, there weren't any knives hanging from the ceiling, nor were there any attached to the walls. In fact, Eric's apartment was pretty plain, furniture and decorations wise. On the ceiling in Eric's bedroom, was the Dauntless flame. Like any other Dauntless, the room was full of the colour black. The sheets on his bed were black, the carpet was black, most of the furniture was black, or at least some varying shade.

Blaze stood in front of the bathroom mirror, running his fingers through wet hair. He'd just taken a shower. Eric had offered him a shirt to borrow, and he didn't bother with giving Blaze pants. Blaze was short and thin and Eric was... not. Blaze grinned at the thought. Eric was most definitely not. Blaze flopped his hand around, amused at how much longer the sleeves were on this shirt.

"What are you doing in here?" Eric demanded, flinging the bathroom door open. Blaze waved, the sleeve covering his hand flying around.

"Can I keep this shirt?" Blaze asked with a smile. He raised his hands up, but they weren't visible of course because of the longer sleeves. Eric made a noise that was mixed between a scoff and a groan.

"You look stupidly adorable," he said with a roll of his eyes. "Come out here." Blaze saluted.

"Aye aye, Almighty Dauntless Leader." Blaze practically skipped after Eric, who led them to the kitchen. There was a table and two chairs on either side. Blaze sat in the one facing away from the kitchen entrance. "You never answered if I could keep the shirt." Eric sat in the chair opposite him. He observed Blaze with a appraising look.

"Can you lie?" Eric questioned, sounding serious.

"Every human has the mind capacity to lie," Blaze responded almost instantly. He licked his lips.

"That's not what I meant." Eric crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"If I really wanted to, I suppose I could..." Blaze trailed off. "It's second nature for me not to lie, however." Eric taps his fingers on the darkly coloured table.

"If someone asks where you got the shirt, what do you say?" Eric stopped tapping on the table.

"Why would someone ask...?" Blaze wondered.

"Everyone can already make a well-educated assumption that you enjoy wearing skin tight clothing." Eric makes an amused grin for a second and then he is serious again. "This shirt is too long and baggy, which will be blatantly obvious. It will be noticed significantly more, at least by your friends."

Blaze nodded. "Andrea would definitely ask, now that I think about it," he said. But, Andrea already knew about this, so... Blaze tapped his fingers against his thigh. Eric leaned forward, laced his fingers together and raised a studded eyebrow

"If someone asks where you got the shirt, what do you say?" Said Eric once again. Blaze leaned back in the chair, and crossed his legs.

"I got this shirt..." Blaze began. He paused for a moment. "There wasn't anything in my size, but I really wanted it." Blaze licked his lips. He'd never lied before, at least nothing he can distinctly remember.

Slowly, a sly smile formed on Eric's face. "Well done, initiate." Blaze's mouth slipped into an irritated smirk.

"How could you have any doubt I'd do well, oh mighty Dauntless Leader?" Blaze stood, his hands planted firmly on the table. "I'm learning all of the bad from the best." An intense silence fell. Any trace of humor had left the room. Blaze glared into Eric's eyes; pale green on grey-blue. Eric stood and approached Blaze. The redhead did not back down. His glared didn't falter for a second and soon enough, he was face to face with Eric.

"I'd watch my mouth, if I were you," Eric said lowly.

"Good thing you're not me then," retorted Blaze. "I do what I want." Eric grabbed Blaze by the arms and tugged him closer.

"We're not trying to train rebels here." Eric shook his head. "You're going to get yourself into trouble." Blaze smirked.

"Trouble already found me..." Blaze pulled out of Eric's hands. "He's a good kisser." The twitch in Eric's jaw meant Blaze needed to run.

With a small laugh, Blaze darted out of the room. He'd barely missed Eric lunging for him. "Goddammit, Blaze! Don't you take anything serious?"

Blaze took a lot of things serious, but this definitely wasn't one of those times. He looked around the living room for his clothes. He'd never put his pants back on. He was running around here in just Eric's shirt. With a sigh, Blaze entered Eric's bedroom. The blonde man entered hardly a second after. "How very subtle." Eric raised an eyebrow. Blaze looked over his shoulder to roll his eyes at Eric.

"Oh shut up," Blaze huffed. "I'm looking for my clothes." Blaze let out a startled gasp when Eric roughly pushed him, causing him to fall onto Eric's bed. Eric quickly climbed onto the mattress along with him, hovering above Blaze, his expression intense... As it usually was. Eric's hand was pressing against Blaze's chest, willing him to lie down. Swallowing thickly, Blaze complied and Eric's hand slid higher until his fingers curled around Blaze's throat.

"You have this knack," Eric began in a low tone, leaning closer to Blaze's face. Blaze inadvertently licked his lips, forgetting for a moment his snake bites. Eric watched the movement before continuing. "This knack for simultaneously getting on my nerves and impressing me."

"Since you love your honesty so much, how about you answer me this," Eric shifted a bit above Blaze, his fingers tightening slightly against the boy's throat. "Are you riling me up on purpose? Does it please you to see me irritated?" Blaze abruptly sat up and Eric barely backed away in time before their heads collided. Green stared into blue for a few fleeting seconds. Blaze knew he could change the mood here with the simplest lowering of his gaze.

"You look very hot when you're angry," he said instead and slides backwards, away from Eric and off the bed. "I should go before people start worrying." Eric watched him walk towards the door, his expression moody as always. Blaze grabbed his pants off the dresser. Once at the doorway, Blaze smiled brightly at him and waved his fingers as he walked out into the hallway.

Once out in the hall, Blaze pulled his pants on. He crossed his arms and began the walk back to the dorms.

Blaze spotted Andrea, Tris and the others as soon as he walked into the cafeteria. They weren't sitting near Four this time, thankfully. He did spot their instructor, though, and they made dreaded eye contact. Four's expression was unreadable. Blaze swallowed and averted his gaze and he hurried over to his friends.

He slipped into a seat next to Christina and across from Andrea. Her dark eyes widened? "Where have you been, angry red?" Andrea reached across the table to swat at him with her fork. "You had me worried!" Blaze chuckled and grabbed the spoon mid-swing.

"I'll tell you... Later." He gave her a pointed look. Andrea stared blankly at him. A look of realization flickered across her face.

"Ohhh, alright." Andrea nodded and smiled knowingly. Christina looked between the two curiously.

"You guys are hiding something," she said. Blaze smiled at her.

"Indeed we are," he retorted, grabbing a fork and stealing food from Andrea's plate.

"That's not your shirt is it?" Tris asked suddenly from next to Christina. Blaze slowed his chewing. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, that isn't your shirt, is it?" Will chimed in. "You tend to go for much tighter clothing choices." Blaze shrugged and brought his hand up to curl a lock of his hair around a finger.

"I didn't realize my fashion preferences were under such scrutiny," he muttered after a moment. He gave Andrea a panicked look. She knew that lying and deflection were difficult for him to do. She straightened up.

"I've been thinking of getting a sleeve," she announced. Everyone, excluding Blaze, gave her a confused look. She rolled her eyes. "It's a collage of tattoos that fully covers an arm. If you're gonna be Dauntless, learn the lingo." She had a playful grin. Blaze fell himdelft swell with pride. She learned that from him, of course.

The conversation died down into smaller talks. Blaze eyed Tris, thinking about the fight she'd had with Peter the other day. "How are your bruises?" He asked her. She seemed startled that he'd asked.

"Oh um, they're not as bad now." She smiled uncertainly. Blaze could not help but smile back. She reminded him of his sister at times. They were both blonde and their personalities were fairly similar. He supposed Alice could have easily have chosen Abnegation as she did Amity.

She may have been a bit too vain for that, however, and Tris had a fieriness to her. Alice, however, was always calm, never angered. He missed her. He needed some calmness in his life right now. Eric had pissed him off, but now that Blaze thought about it, he wasn't sure why he'd gotten so angry... That was a lie. He knew why. He didn't want Four to be right.

...
Sleep alluded Blaze. He laid laid in bed for what felt like forever. A few beds over, Tris finally slipped into hers. A few seconds later, people burst into the dorm and Eric's deep voice resounded across the room. "Everybody up!" Blaze groaned and rolled out of bed. He had no pants on and was still in Eric's oversized shirt. "Have you gone deaf, Stiff?" There he went again, yelling at Tris. Blaze rolled his eyes and chose to glare at the blonde Dauntless leader. How dare he interrupt his not-sleep.

"You have five minutes to get dressed and meet us by the tracks," Eric stated. "We're going on a field trip." Us? Blaze then noticed Four. Oh.

Blaze pulled on his pants and some comfortable boots before jogging out of the room with Andrea, who hadn't said a single word. She was sleepy. Hopefully the run would wake her up.

Blaze noticed Tris was wincing as she ran. He'd figured she'd been more hurt from the fight with Peter than she had let on. Once at the tracks, there was a pile of guns waiting for them. He grabbed one and examined it. It obviously wasn't a real gun you'd use in battle. From beside him, Eric grabbed one of the guns as well. Blaze took a gun for Andrea and turned away quickly. He heard an aggravated sigh and couldn't help but grin. Annoying Eric was too easy.

"You call these guns?" Molly muttered to Peter, sounding unimpressed. Eric pointed his gun in her direction and fired, hitting her in the leg. She dropped with a shout of pain.

"Neuro-stem dart; simulates the pain of a real bullet." explained Eric. "Lasts for a minute. How much time is left?" The question is directed at Four.

"Any minute now," answered Four. "Why don't you learn the train schedule." Eric shrugged.

"I don't see why I should when I've got you to do it," he said, shoving Four in the shoulder.

A few moments later, the train was rolling down. Eric hopped on first and opened the doors. More people piled on and Blaze hopped on after Andrea.

"Tonight we'll be playing capture the flag with us as captains," Eric said as everyone jumped on. "There will be equal amount of transfers and Dauntless-borns. Let's start dividing transfers first."

"You can go first," Four muttered. Eric shrugged.

"Edward."

"I'll take the Stiff," Four responded after a quick observation. Eric snorted.

"Interesting strategy; picking the weak ones so you'll have someone to blame when you lose?" Eric raised an eyebrow at Four. It was Four's turn to Shrug.

"Something like that."

Blaze frowned. Both of their instructors were jerks, apparently. "Peter," Eric chose next.

"Blaze." Four lifted his hand to his mouth. Blaze tilted his head. Four's strategy definitely had nothing to do with them being weak. Eric gave Four a dark look and his mouth twitched.

"Molly."

"Will," said Four, biting his thumbnail.

"Al."

"Drew."

"Andrea."

"Christina."

"Last one is Myra, so she's with me." Eric did not sound happy about it. Blaze waved to Andrea and she made a sad face back.

After splitting up the Dauntless and getting off the train, they headed to the Ferris Wheel at the suggestion of Uriah. Blaze trailed behind Tris as they ran to the giant contraption. He observed the area as they ran. They were offensive as there wasn't much room for defending where they were. Before they attacked, however, they needed to find their flag.

"Can you believe people used to ride that thing for fun?" Will said, shaking his head, eyeing the red passenger cars dangling from the white wheel.
"They must have been Dauntless," Tris commented. Blaze nodded in agreement.

"A lame version of Dauntless," laughed Christina. "A Dauntless Ferris wheel wouldn't have cars. You would just hang on tight with your hands and good luck to you."

They walked down the pier, taking solace in the clean and peaceful emptiness of the old buildings. Blaze smiled lightly and looked up at the bright moon in the dark sky. It was very relaxing out here.

"In ten minutes, the other team will pick their location," Four announced, taking the flag out of his pocket. "I suggest you formulate a strategy. Mental preparedness is one aspect of your Dauntless training; arguably, the most important." Will takes the flag from Four.

"Some people should stay here and guard, others should go scout the other team's location," he proposed. Blaze thought this was a fair idea, but apparently, Marlene did not.

"Yeah? You think?" Marlene took the flag from Will. "Who put you in charge, transfer?"

"No one, but someone's got to do it."

"Maybe we should try something more defensive plan; wait for them to come to us," Christina suggested.

"No way, that's the sissy way out," said Uriah. "I vote we go all. Hide the flag well enough that they can't find it." Everyone burst into conversation. Blaze rolls his eyes. He figured that something like this might happen. He didn't bother trying to give his two cents; no one would listen. He sighed and backed away from the arguing cluster.

He saw Tris walking off from the group. He raised an eyebrow and snuck after her. He tapped her on the shoulder once he caught her. "Where are you going?"

"Ferris Wheel," she whispered. Blaze nodded, instantly getting what she was doing. She was going for higher ground to see if she could spot the opposing team's flag. She was smart. As she hesitantly reached for a rung, Blaze was tapped on the shoulder. He stifled his gasp and turned his head to see Four. Four nodded in greeting before approaching Tris.

"Tris," he whispered in a low voice. Blaze felt his cheeks heat up. Four was kind of attractive now that he really observed the instructor.

"Yes," Tris said in reply. Blaze huffed. She hadn't seemed the least bit startled by his arrival.

"I came to find out what you think you're doing."

"I'm seeking higher ground. I don't think I'm doing anything." Blaze can tell Four his smiling when he speaks again.

"All right. I'm coming." They begin to climb up the ladder. Blaze sighed with a stupid grin on his face because those two were totally in to each other and yet completely oblivious. Aw.

Blaze could hear them talking but they were pretty high up. He noticed that Four kept glancing down, which was not such a good idea. He must be afraid of heights; people who are afraid of heights tend to check to see how far they are from the ground and calculate in their head if they'd die or not if they fell. He watches them as they make it to the platform. They paused there for a moment before Tris begins to climb higher. After a certain time, Tris points to something. Blaze can hardly see them and his head is tilted extremely far back. They begin to climb down and something goes wrong. Blaze's eyes widened in horror when Tris shouted a very audible, "Four!" The crossbar she'd attempted to step on must have broken, because she was dangling in midair. Four yelled something to her in reply. Blaze couldn't see what he was doing but a few moments later, the wheel begins to move. Blaze can hear Tris begin to laugh. She sounded giddy, borderline hysterical. She dropped from where she was holding on and rolled to the side, a car almost bearing down on her. Blaze sighed in relief.

He began to walk to her but Four beat him to it and pulled the blonde girl to her feet. Blaze grinned and turned away from them for a moment. He definitely needed these two to end up together. If not, he'd lose his mind with all this tension. They got back to the group and they formulated a plan. "Tris, Christina and Blaze will head up to the tower while the rest of us will distract the opponent from behind and the front." It wasn't a failsafe plan, but it could work in their favour. Blaze jogged next to Christina as they approached the enemy hiding spot.

"They're here!" He heard someone shout. Almost immediately, shots began to rain out. Blaze dodged a few and jumped behind a wall. He leaned over and fired twice, hitting both marks. He got one person in the hand and the other in the shoulder. He ran around the corner and rolled to another wall. Across from him were Christina and Tris. He gestured for them to go on ahead.

"I'll cover you," he said. They nodded back at him. They went from behind the cover and moved forward as Blaine walked behind them and observed the area. He spotted Eric and some other Dauntless-borns. "Get back!" he yelled. They ran behind cover as he fired and hit the two Dauntless-borns. He fired at Eric the same time Eric fired at him. Blaze's shot hit its mark but he had to do some evasive maneuvering to avoid getting hit by Eric's shot. He ended up dropping his gun. Eric fired again but was met with a click. Blaze rolled to his feet. He raised and fired his gun and Eric dodged and moved closer to the redhead. Blaze backed away and continued to fire, and Eric used his empty gun to deflect the would-be bullets. Blaze was met with a click and threw the gun at Eric before rushing at the taller man. Eric grunted and fell back but caught himself. Blaze brought his knee up to Eric's side but he was shoved away before he could make contact. Tris and Christina had already moved ahead, Blaze noticed. Eric did not. He was too focused on Blaze. A shot fires and lands in Eric's leg. Eric keels down and grips his calf. Another shot fires and this one lands in his chest. Blaze turned around and spotted Four. He gave a thumb up just as Tris and Christina emerged from the tower window, glittery and glowing flag in hand. Blaze laughed. They had won.

..
The "thunk " sound of knives impacting the targets was filling Blaze's head. He'd rather listen to gunshots any day. To Blaze's right was Al and to his left was Andrea. He frowned and glared at his target as Eric came walking down the line of initiates. He felt the leader's presence behind him. He knew Eric would stop behind him. There was no comment, though. Eric continued down the line and Blaze huffed out a breath. He pretended the target was Eric's face and suddenly his accuracy improved. His jaw ached and he realized he'd been clenching his teeth together.

To his right, Al was failing at even getting a knife to reach the target. Unfortunately, Eric noticed. On his way back across the row of initiates, he stopped next to Blaze and observed Al. Once again, Al's knife clanged to the ground about a foot away from the target. Eric scoffed. Four was standing by him as well.

"Well that was pathetic."

Blaze looked fixedly at his target and threw another knife as Al said, "It slipped." Eric was unimpressed.

"Well go get it!" Eric sounded aggravated. Blaze concluded that Eric was a sore loser. Al looked a bit worried.

"What, while they're still throwing?"

"Are you afraid, initiate?"

"Afraid of getting hit by an airborne knife, yeah, I am." Mistake; saying that was a mistake.

"Everybody stop." Eric commanded. Blaze shifted his weight and rolled his eyes. He was going to do something awful and claim it was to teach them something bravery related. They weren't taking a walk, so no one was getting dangled over the Chasm. Eric pointed at the target with a knife. "Stand in front of the target." With defeat in his shoulders Al went to go stand in front of his target. Blaze could see where this was going.

"You're going to stand in front of the target while he," Eric looked to Four, "throws those knives. If you flinch, you're out." Four gave Eric a look before focusing on Al. Blaze chewed on his cheek as Four poised to throw his knife.

"Any idiot can stand in front of a target." Blaze wanted slap himself. Why couldn't he control his stupid mouth? Eric's intense gaze was now focused on the redhead. A studded eyebrow rose.

"Really?" said Eric. Blaze lifted his chin in defiance. "Then it should be easy for you to take his place." Eric looked expectantly at the target and pointed once more with his knife. The Dauntless leader was officially on Blaze's shit-list.

Blaze went to the target in easy strides. He stood there with his hands clasped together behind his back. Once again, he raised his chin in defiance. Blaze could see Four sigh before changing his stance. He threw a knife. Blaze blinked slowly and turned his head a bit to see it. It was wedged to his right by his arm. He looked back to Four.

"Oh, C'mon Four," Eric drawled. Four flipped a knife in his hand and made an irritated smirk. He threw the blade. This one was impaled to Blaze's left, by his head. Blaze breathed out a stiff sigh. "You can get closer than that." Blaze wanted to glare at Eric.

"Hm." Four hummed and threw yet another knife. This one was hardly an inch above Blaze's head. Blaze could feel his heart going a mile a minute, but he remained calm on the outside. Without warning, Four hurled another knife. Blaze blinked and opened his mouth. He tilted his head to side. Four had cut his ear.

"I would love to stay and see if the rest of you are as daring as he is," said Eric, his voice smooth, "but I think that's enough for today." People start to pile out of the room. Eric kept his eyes on Blaze and Blaze looked pointedly at the wall, reigning in his anger. Four had cut him. On purpose, no doubt. Andrea and Tris approached him.

"Are you alright?" Tris asked him. He nodded slowly as he walked away from the target. "He cut me," he said, bringing his hand up to his ear and pressing his fingers to the bloody part of his ear. Tris makes a strange face and turns to face Four.

"You cut him" she accused, a strange sense of anger in her voice. Four looked up from where he had been putting knives away. Blaze did not want to be there for the sexual tension that was going to ensue, so he grabbed Andrea by the arm and dragged her out of there.

"Hey, what was that all about?" Andrea asked. Blaze scoffed. "Those two have got some weird sexual tension going on between them; it's annoying to witness, trust me. I've seen it in person many times now," Blaze answered. He and Andrea turned a corner and there was Eric leaning against the wall. They both froze.

"Andrea, is it?" Eric pushed off of the wall. "I need to talk to Blaze; alone, I might I add." Eric raised a studded eyebrow. Blaze licked his lips and looked to Andrea. "I'll meet you in the Pit later," he muttered. Andrea nodded slowly and as she walked away, kept her eyes on Eric until she had no choice but to turn and walk. The two remaining people in the hallway stood there for a moment before Eric sighed deeply.

"Look," he started. He paused. Blaze tilted his head and Eric scratched his chin and looked away. "I'm... sorry."

"What?" Blaze was completely not expecting that. Eric looked annoyed.

"Stop making me repeat shit; I said I was sorry, damnit," Eric hissed. Blaze lifted a hand to his chest.

"Whatever for?" he questioned innocently. He grinned like a jerk as Eric turned a light shade of pink.

"I know, sometimes, I let my position get to my head…" Eric huffed.

"Uh-huh, you do," Blaze agreed. He stepped towards Eric and raised his finger like he was scolding a child. "Don't treat me like I'm some inferior peasant, you asshole. That's what really bothered me." Eric huffed again.

"I realize this, you hot-head," Eric retorted. "Now c'mon."

"What?"

"You're coming to my apartment with me."