Authors Note: No matter how many time I wish upon a star: Eric will never ever belong to me *sob*
Divergent belongs to Veronica Roth
Yelling
~ Dauntless to the Core ~
Chapter 7: The Reveal
The rest of the week passed like the beginning. Wake up, run then spar in the training room for a couple hours then eat breakfast. Move back to the back training room and work on everything from flexibility, to strength to speed before breaking for lunch and getting changed. Some days Eric had her practicing with her knives or guns, helping her learn to shoot people and not just targets. After Lunch they always retreated to Eric's office to work on the paperwork aspect of the job, Eric always giving her some of the standard reports to work on and every now and then an odd one that came across his desk. One afternoon Tris went to Candor with Veronica and learned how to deal with the Faction of Honesty. A couple days after that she went with Max to Amity to meet the Faction of the Peaceful. She had had a busy week and when she had seen Christina, Will or Uriah they had been suspicious. Almost as suspicious as Tobias was being. He had started questioning her about the little things, to escalating to saying she couldn't go for her runs in the morning. He wanted her as far away from Eric as she could be, even Veronica or Max were soon put into the same melting pot of hate as Eric.
"Ready for telling everyone your job of preference today?" Eric asked leaning against the wall where they had paused to catch their breath. They had been extending her run slowly and now they were halfway to Candor.
"Yes and no. Yes because then I don't have to lie about it or make excuses, and No because of the fight I know is coming with Four." Tris said looking across the ally at Eric.
"Understandable but if he can't be happy for you then you are better off finding someone who would be." Eric said calmly as he pushed himself off of the wall.
"I know that but I want to see if this works out first. He doesn't know yet." Tris said following Eric's lead and rejoined him in running once more. Once they were back at Dauntless, Eric beating Tris again he shook his head as he looked at her.
"Either way you are going to have to make a choice Tris. Your job that is going to keep you busy or a boyfriend that won't understand." Eric said calmly as they entered Dauntless together.
"The fact that you are so worried about me is nice" Tris said glancing over at Eric and noticed him looking at the floor.
"Eric I mean it. You're a really nice guy, just people are terrified of you. Well aside from the kids." Tris said giving Eric a smile.
"You saw that huh?"
"Of course. You let them use you as a jungle gym. Not to mention I saw you braiding one of the little girl's hair." Tris said bumping her shoulder against Eric's.
"I normally make sure no one see's that" Eric said glancing at Tris.
"I liked seeing that side of you. I just wish that others knew you like I do." Tris said as she watched Eric make a face.
"And lose my reputation?" Eric teased Tris chuckling as she rolled her eyes.
"I don't think your losing much there tough guy" Tris said getting a smile from Eric.
"You say that now. But wait until you're a leader. Veronica isn't the fondest of children. Out of us leaders I am the only one. At least at the moment." Eric said as Tris nodded.
"Well once it's announced I might just join you. I've always liked children." Tris said before getting quiet.
"You're thinking about a family with Four again aren't you?" Eric said after he saw the look on her face.
"Yeah but right not it's not really that possible is it?"
"What do you mean? You could start a family at any time you want to" Eric said as they walked closer to the main part of Dauntless.
"But right now is not a good time. Not with me in training and an impending fight" Tris said with a sigh.
"True. I'll meet you in the Pit for the choosing. Join me on the table when you make the announcement ok? I'll keep an eye on Peter." Eric said as they parted ways. Tris had slowly been buying things and decorating her apartment, Veronica even going clothing shopping with her and she had a ton of new clothes in her new closet while she currently stayed in the transfer dorm. Making her way into the dorm she grabbed clean clothes and her towel before heading to the bathroom and showering quickly and started to get dressed again slowly.
"Looking good there Stiff." Peter jeered from behind her making Tris sigh.
"Morning Peter" Tris said pulling on her shirt, glad he had chosen to come when she was mostly dressed.
"What you're not going to give me a show?" Peter taunted making Tris scowl. She had been watching her temper and while it was better she found she fought back a lot of nasty things she wanted to say thanks to Eric and Veronica. They had both encouraged her to say what she thought when she was with them.
"I'll pass on that Peter." Tris said leaving the bathroom or at least attempting to when Peter grabbed her arm tight.
"I'm not done talking to you Stiff. You aren't going to go for the leadership position today or I'll kill you."
"You tried that once and it failed" Tris said looking up at Peter hating her short stature at the moment.
"I won't fail this time bitch" Peter hissed shoving Tris against the wall and held her there by her shoulders, his fingers tight enough to cause bruises. Tris said nothing and once he didn't get a response Peter let her go before heading to the showers. Gathering up her fallen belongings she went back to the main part of the room and sat on her bed. She had no others shirts unless she wanted to showcase what Peter just did to her. Biting her lip she changed her shirt and worked the towel through her hair slowly to dry it as she waited for Christina to wake up. She was going to display the marks and let Max, Veronica and Eric see and she knew Veronica would want to kick Peter's ass, Eric had already said he would so she was going to have to talk to them both.
After watching Christina spend an hour on her makeup (something Tris would never understand) they finally left the dorm and made their way to the dining hall. Eric was already there talking to Max and the second he spotted Tris and her bruised arms his jaw tightened, Max turning to see what had upset his fellow leader before making Eric look away. After breakfast was over Max stood and head up to the balcony, Eric standing as well and climbing onto a table set up on the lower level and let out a shrill whistle.
"Alright listen up. Today those of you who have survived and become members of Dauntless get to choose your career here. Max will read off the order and you will come and select your job, I will announce it and then you join an instructor." Eric said before nodding up at Max.
"Our first ranking initiate this year is a transfer. Tris Prior" Max called and Tris stood up to her friends clapping, already whispers starting when they spotted her bruises. Tris made her way to Eric who had knelt down so he was closer to Tris.
"Please tell me that wasn't Peter?"
"We can talk about it later. After all I'm going to join leadership" Tris said as Eric stood.
"Leadership" Eric announced before offering his hand to Tris and she used it to get up onto the table. From her new stop she could see Christina looking upset, Will confused, Peter pissed and Four was livid.
"Second ranking initiate. Peter Hayes" Max called, Eric stiffening slightly and turning to face Peter as he walked to the front to get his job.
"I think there has been a mistake. A Stiff can't be a leader" Peter said glaring at Tris who said nothing deciding to take the back seat to this and learn.
"Former stiff. And unless you're going to pick you can wait until the end" Eric said calmly, to calmly Tris noted. She knew Eric well enough by now to know he was itching to hit someone or something.
"I'm going for Leadership. Just because she choose it doesn't mean I won't" Peter said stepping towards Tris who simply tilted her head to the side.
"Do you really think attacking me in front of anyone is going to win you any points Peter?" Tris said calmly not bothered by Peter at the moment. Eric had been training her so she knew she was better than she had been at the start of initiation. Eric was also standing right there and Veronica was not too far off either.
"You little bitch" Peter spat and jumped up onto the table Tris sighing and glanced at Eric who nodded. Jumping off the table Eric crossed his arms over his chest and watched Peter get fed up with Tris's lack of return in taunts, which were mostly about her family and former faction, before he struck out at Tris only to miss as Tris moved calmly to the side. Four made his way forward intent on stopping the fight before Eric grabbed his arm.
"What do you think you're playing at Eric? He already sent her to the infirmary once!" Four yelled at Eric pissed that he looked unconcerned.
"She'll be fine." Eric said calmly his voice being heard around the room. Everyone had heard of Peter's ability in fights and doubted that Tris would last long in a fight. Eric glanced over at Tris and smirked.
"She'll knock him on his ass" Four stared at Eric like he had two heads before looking at Tris and noticed she was dodging all the attacks, not letting Peter touch her, her fighting style that he was able to note, much more like Eric's now, a thought he really didn't like. How long had Eric been training her? Tris side stepped one more time before stepping behind Peter and slammed her elbow into Peter's back and swiped his feet from under him at the same time, Peter hitting the table with a crack. Eric let go of Four's arm and walked over to Peter before kicking him off and onto the floor.
"Not bad. I'd give you a five on that." Eric said prompting a scowl from Tris.
"Next name Max" Eric called out turning to face the rest of the room, Tris glancing at Veronica then Eric and shaking her head, Veronica nodding to whatever their silent conversation was about. Once everyone had chosen Eric smirked and jumped off the table Tris following him a moment later, Eric's hand moving to her back as he leaned in and started speaking with her. Mostly on what they would be doing that afternoon but he wasn't going to talk too loudly about it. Tris was in many ways his protégée and he kept her well-guarded from others.
"Tris why didn't you tell me you were going to take leadership?" Christina asked coming to stand by Tris once Eric had moved to talk to Veronica.
"I didn't tell anyone Christina. Besides I'm a better choice than Peter. I'm not going to abuse my power." Tris said as Christina frowned.
"Yeah but you're learning from Eric." Christina countered and watched as door seemed to slam closed on Tris, her entire posture shifting and her kind look hardening to mimic Eric's cold look.
"There is nothing wrong with Eric being my instructor aside from the fact that you hate him for hanging you over the chasm." Tris said her voice turning cold as Eric walked up behind her.
"What's going on here?" Eric asked before looking over Tris and nodding.
"Your glare is better. Still wouldn't scare a rabbit. Give it a pause maybe." Eric muttered before looking at Christina and Will.
"Well we all have to start somewhere" Tris said offhandedly to Eric who smirked.
"Fine. If you are going to be mouthy then I'll give you some things to go. Like paperwork." Eric said placing his hand on Tris's back and started to lead her from the room, Tris saying nothing this time. Christina and Will followed behind at a distance and watched them pass over the chasm without any issues before vanishing towards Eric's office.
Later that night as Tris was leaving Eric's office she was laughing at Eric's complaints about the paperwork before she stopped when she saw a livid looking Four outside the door. Stopping suddenly she gasped as Eric bumped into her before wrapping his arm firmly around her waist and pulled her back against his chest.
"Four" Eric said coldly, Tris able to feel Eric stiffening behind her, his whole body becoming ridged.
"Eric. Let go of my girlfriend. There is no need for you to be holding onto her" Four said measuring his words out slowly to keep his temper from boiling over. Tris heard it and stiffened Eric fighting the urge to step back into his office with Tris.
"I guess he rather you fall on the ground" Eric said to Tris as he slipped his arm slowly off of her waist. Taking his time to partly make sure she was ok to stand on her own and to piss Four off.
"Thank you Eric. I'll see you tomorrow morning" Tris said softly turning to place her hand on his arm before stepping towards Four and after a moment Eric sighed and nodded.
