A/N: No smut, just angst. Enjoy and review!
Citing disappointment over how much the initiates had forgotten about weaponry the day before, Four had them training again with knives and firearms today. Eric met them in the training room and Fox flashed him a small smile before turning to listen to Four's lecture.
Fox surprised herself as they starting with the knives. The strain of hiding her feelings about Eric was beginning to show and she missed the target on her first throw.
"Oh, Banjo having trouble?" Peter mocked.
"Shut up, Peter." Tris snapped. Meeting Fox's eyes she raised her brows in question.
I'm fine. Fox mouthed back. Taking a deep breath she turned back to the target. She sensed Eric behind her before he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." Fox muttered. "Just a slip."
"Concentrate. You're doing fine baby." Eric murmured, ghosting his hand along her hip for the barest instance before straightening up and continuing down the line. He barked at Drew who gulped and dropped his knives. Fox and Tris traded an amused grin before turning forward again and snapping their wrists. Their knives flew in tandem and slammed into their targets.
"Oooh, the Stiff and the Banjo, the dynamic duo!" Peter spat.
"Initiate!" Four snapped and Peter flushed. "They're kicking your ass from what I can see. Stop talking and try practicing!"
Four and Eric traded a covert glance before returning their attention to the initiates. Fox frowned a moment then forced her attention back to her knives.
Firearms took up the afternoon training and Fox was surprisingly drained by the time they wandered into the mess hall for supper. Will and Christina moaned dramatically in each other's arms and Fox had to bite back another flash of jealousy. Just make it to graduation, you can fucking sit on Eric's face in the mess hall after that. She met Tris' eye across the table and saw a similar emotion flashing across her face. Sensing Fox's gaze, Tris looked at her. Soon, her eyes said. Fox ghosted a smile.
Although she doubted she'd get any sleep tonight, Fox knew she couldn't let on that she knew anything, so she prepared for bed like everyone else, changing into shorts and a muscle shirt before climbing under the scratchy blanket. She heard shuffling and rustling as everyone bedded down. Someone farted and their closest neighbours groaned.
Fox burrowed her head into her pillow and shut her eyes, trying to block out the noises around her. Eric immediately swam up in her thoughts and warmth spread through Fox. She visualized them sitting together in the mess hall, Fox on Eric's lap, his arms around her as Four and Tris sat across from them, just as close; all of them laughing at something Tris just said.
"Soon." Fox whispered.
She drowsed and was startled awake as a loud banging suddenly rang through the dorm. Blinking and shielding her eyes from the light, Fox sat up to see Four and Eric on the steps. Four was banging a wrench on the metal railing and Eric was bellowing for everyone to get up and get dressed.
"In the Pit, three minutes!" He yelled. Grinning at each other, Four and Eric left, obviously enjoying the chaos now running through the dorm.
"What the hell?" Christina grumbled, still half-asleep as she pulled on jeans.
Fox dressed quickly and was one of the first out in the Pit. Four and Eric were leaning against the rock wall, a large stack of vests laid out before them. Eric winked at Fox as she wandered up to them and Tris bumbled up beside her, yawning. Four flashed a small smile at her before he turned to the group.
"Alright, listen up!" He yelled, making more than one initiate wince. "Get up here and grab a vest! We're going to play some wargames."
"Wargames?" Christina mumbled, stumbling as she stepped forward. The tired wave of initiates followed.
"Okay, get going, we've got a train to catch!" Eric bellowed, pointing a muscular arm.
Feeling more awake by the moment, Fox lead the charge to the roof; and she and Tris were the first to jump aboard. Eric and Four were next and they flashed identical grins to their ladies before hanging their heads out of the train car and hollering for everyone to 'move their asses!'. Fox and Tris traded a questioning glance. It looked for all the world like Eric and Four were friends now, and not only that, were aware of each other's feelings towards Fox and Tris and working together to keep it secret.
After everyone had loaded, Eric dropped the duffel he had slung over his shoulder onto the floor and rolled it open.
"Weapon of choice!" He yelled, holding up a plain black gun. It didn't look very remarkable to Fox but she wasn't about to say anything.
"That's it?" Peter whined.
With a quick grin at Four, Eric pulled the trigger, hitting Peter high up on his thigh. Bright yellow paint exploded and Peter hit the floor with a scream.
"High pressure paintballs." Four explained. "Anyone else need a demo?"
Molly sneered and Four turned silently towards her, shooting her in the side. Molly joined Peter on the floor, their screams intermingling into a screech.
"Anyone else?" Eric asked, flashing Four an approving glance.
The train was silent.
"Good. Two teams, Four and I are captains." Eric turned his head. "You want to pick first? You lost last year."
Four rolled his eyes. "Thanks for reminding me, I'll take the stiff."
"Edward."
"Christina."
Fox expected Eric to say her name next and couldn't stop a frown when he called out Will's name. His eyes briefly met Fox's before flicking to Four.
"Fox." Four said and, puzzled, Fox moved beside Tris.
"You'd think Eric would've picked you." Tris murmured in Fox's ear.
Fox shrugged.
Four's team leapt out the train first and gathered by the carousel. Fox climbed up onto one of the wooden horses and leaned back. She listened as the team began to bicker about strategy then noticed Tris walk off. Leaning forward to keep her in sight, Fox saw Four follow her.
"What's she climbing up there for?" Fox muttered. Still a little pissed that Eric hadn't picked her, she focussed back on the team.
"We should divide up, one team to engage Eric's, another to find their flag." Christina said.
"Where's Four?" Uriah, one of the dauntless born, asked.
Fox pointed to where Four and Tris were beginning to climb back down. "They went high for a good vantage point."
"What'd you see?" Uriah asked as Four and Tris rejoined the team.
"Eric's flag is over there, in the tower." Tris pointed. "We should split up."
The team agreed and Fox found herself in a team with Four and Tris. They would be the ones to take the flag. The separate teams slunk along, the first team leading to engage Eric's guards when they got close enough. The second team would then jump in and cause a distraction so Four and the girls could climb the tower for the flag.
"Wait." Four breathed, holding up a fist. Tris and Fox settled back to listen. Before too long, shouts and gunshots, followed closely by screams and shouts of pain filled their ears. "Ok, go."
Peaking around a concrete building, Fox saw that both their teams were now in the fight, and paint was splattering everywhere.
"Let's go." Tris whispered then leapt forward. Fox at her heels. Four slowed to provide covering fire and Tris stopped behind another structure.
"I'll go this way." Fox pointed. "You go that way in case I get held up, we meet at the tower."
Tris nodded and Fox dashed out of hiding. She turned the corner of the next building over and nearly collided with Eric.
"Eric." She gasped.
Eric glanced around to see if they were alone, and then crushed his lips to Fox's. His tongue swept against her lips and he dumped his whole heart into the kiss, making Fox moan, her knees weakening.
Abruptly he pulled back and growled. "Shoot me."
"What?"
"Shoot me so no one suspects, how else are you supposed to get by me?"
Fox shook her head unwillingly and Eric hissed. "Do it.!"
Tris scrambled around the corner and fell on her knees, she'd lost her gun. "Run Fox!" She cried. "Peter's behind me."
Making a split second decision, Fox raised her gun and shot Eric in the chest. He growled and fell back, grabbing his side. Swivelling, she fired again as Peter rounded the corner, his gun raised to brain Tris. She fired twice, hitting Peter in the chest and gut, then reached over and pulled Tris to her feet.
"C'mon." She gritted. Tris grabbed the gun out of Peter's hands as he caterwauled and shot him once in the shin before following Fox.
Fox skirted around Eric as he lay groaning on the ground, shooting him an apologetic look and dashed to the tower.
They climbed warily, slowing as they reached the top. They'd seen only Molly guarding the flag from the ground.
"I'll go first and take out Molly, you jump in and grab the flag." Fox whispered.
"You don't want to be the one to get the flag?" Tris whispered back.
"I'd rather shoot Molly." Fox grinned.
Tris grinned back and extended her hand in a 'after you' gesture.
Exhaling sharply, Fox threw up the trap door and launched herself out with a blood chilling battle cry , going for a bold surprise attack. Tris heard gunshots and a sharp scream. She scrambled out and saw both girls down, Molly rolling on the ground howling, three different paint splashes on her torso and legs. Fox was leaning against the tower wall, her legs straight out in front of her, breathing hard. Bright orange paint covered her face and neck. Seeing she was outclassed, Molly had gone for the dirty shot, the one guaranteed to hurt.
Hearing footsteps running up the stairs, Tris leapt at the flag and grabbed it, reaching the wall beside Fox she held it up and roared down at her team. They roared back. Four appeared in the hatch and climbed up. In two strides he was at Fox's side, sparing barely a glance at Molly. He leaned down and cupped Fox's cheek.
He grinned wryly. "Eric's gonna kill me, I was supposed to keep you from getting shot. Can you stand?" At Fox's nod, he pulled her to her feet and the three team-mates shouted in triumph, leaning over the ledge, waving the glowing flag.
Fox spotted Eric standing below, still clutching his side but smiling widely up at her. Dropping the smile, he lowered his head and barked at his team, perfectly imitating a pissed-off loser captain.
"Let's go." Four said, gently steering Fox towards the steps. He reached over to help Molly to her feet but she stumbled away, her eyes bright with hatred, glaring at Fox. "Get over it initiate," Four growled. "You got your cheap shot in."
Molly had the grace to look embarrassed and scooted ahead of them, descending first.
"Little bitch." Four muttered, so lowly Fox almost didn't hear him.
As they made their way back to the tracks, most of them limping and exhausted, almost everyone splattered with paint, Uriah moved to Tris' side. She was skipping along, arm slung over Christina's shoulder. Four followed behind with Fox; he'd waved Tris and Christina ahead.
"You guys want to come with us?" He asked. "Have some more fun?"
Tris and Christina agreed, laughing but Four, who was walking with his arm resting on Fox's shoulder, shook his head. "You two go ahead, I want Fox to get checked out in the infirmary. Molly shot her in the face." He glanced down at Fox and Tris realized that he was helping her keep her balance. She hurried back to her.
"Fox, are you okay?"
"Just a little sore, go ahead Tris."
Four nodded in encouragement and reluctantly Tris caught up with Christina and the others.
"Where's Eric?" Fox whispered.
"He's behind us, rounding up the stragglers and giving his team hell. I'll take you to the infirmary and tell him where you are."
Fox nodded. She'd rather have Eric's arm over her shoulders right now, but knew they needed to be careful. It was a lot easier for everyone to swallow the sight of her team captain helping Fox along than their rival.
Eric stood up instantly and rushed to the door when a knock sounded. He'd cleaned up the paintball guns and gone back to his apartment to wait for Fox. It killed him to wait, but he knew they needed to be careful.
He threw open the door and stopped cold. "Four."
"Can I come in?"
Eric stepped aside. Four had seen Fox leaving Eric's apartment that last night, and rather than telling Max or otherwise making trouble, he'd knocked on Eric's door and asked to come in. They'd talked and realized they were in the same boat; Eric with Fox and Four with Tris, waiting and hiding their relationships until after initiation. They'd drowned their collective sorrows with a few drinks and while it would be a stretch to call them besties, they'd agreed to watch each other's backs and protect their mutual secrets.
"Where's Fox?"
Four took a deep breath. "She's in the infirmary."
Eric felt a sudden wave of rage and dread. "What happened? You were supposed to protect her!"
Four held up his hands. "Her and Tris went ahead to take the flag, I stayed back to cover. Apparently Fox attacked Molly first so Tris could run up and get the flag and that bitch shot her in the face."
Eric's hands balled into fists. "Her broken cheekbone?"
Four nodded soberly. "Direct hit."
Eric growled and Four eyed him cautiously. "Shay is on duty tonight, she won't say anything if you go see Fox." Shay was the girlfriend of one of Eric's friends and knew how to keep a secret.
Eric took a deep breath. "Thanks for taking her."
"Sorry I couldn't stop her getting shot."
Eric shrugged. "It's wargames, and that Molly's a dirty fighter. Fox is tough, one of the things I love about her."
"Love?" Four repeated.
"Yeah. Love. Fox is my everything now...don't you feel the same about Tris?"
Four blushed and Eric barked a laugh. "C'mon Stiff, your Abnegation is showing; lighten up."
Four grinned and went red. "I'd better go, it's Visiting Day tomorrow and we've got to figure out the rankings."
Eric nodded. "I'll find you in the morning...thanks Four."
Four grinned back and, with only a slight hesitation, clapped Eric on the shoulder. Turning to open the door, he left.
Eric waited only a few seconds before leaving himself, unable to stop himself from breaking into a run.
"Hey Shay." Eric said quietly as he stepped into the infirmary.
The pretty blonde looked up from the desk. "Hey, Eric. She's asleep right now. The doctor loaded her with healing serum so he had to sedate her."
The Erudite had developed a healing serum a few years before that was revolutionizing wound and injury healing. What took weeks before now took days or even hours, depending on the dose of serum given. Erudite, to their intense frustration, had not been able to mitigate the body's pain response however; and the injured person would now experience the entire amount and degree of pain they would have felt in the weeks of their recovery, now compressed into mere hours. Most, if not all people where sedated because of this. The few that declined sedation where either crazy or stupid; and some did get driven insane by the pain.
"She's down at the end." Shay pointed.
"Thanks." Eric whispered.
Pushing aside the curtain around her bed, Eric looked down at Fox. She lay on her back, her face turned so her injured cheek faced up, the skin was a vibrant, hot-looking red and Eric imagined he could almost hear her cheekbone knitting and growing back together. Fox's lips were parted on an exhalation and despite the angry colour of her cheek, she looked peaceful. Eric pulled up a chair and sat beside Fox. He reached out and took her hand, his thumb began to stroke circles on the back of it.
Fox furrowed her brows briefly and sighed breathily, "Eric..."
"I'm here, baby. Just sleep."
Fox sighed once more and relaxed completely against the pillow. Eric reached out and gently brushed the back of his knuckles against Fox's uninjured cheek, his skin tingling at the contact. If he wasn't so muscular and massive, and the infirmary cot so narrow, he'd climb up on the bed and pull Fox back against his chest, snuggling against her and burying his head in her hair. Pulling his hand back he rested it instead on her hip, and relaxed back to wait.
Too soon Shay poked her head through the curtains. "You have to go." She said apologetically. "My shift's almost done and the next nurse will ask too many questions." She retreated as Eric nodded.
With a heavy sigh Eric stood. Leaning over Fox, he stroked her cheek once more then leaned down, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Sleep well, baby." He murmured, then turned and left before he could convince himself to stay, new nurse be damned. He smiled in thanks as he passed Shay and left the infirmary.
Unconsciously he chose a darker, less used route back to the apartments; which was fine, the look on his face would have scared anyone he met. Eric's rage began to build as he walked, his footsteps becoming stomps. I hate having to hide, having to sneak in to see my girl while she's hurt. I should be able to stay with her. Dammit!" Whirling suddenly, Eric punched out at the stone wall, again and again; a snarl of rage leaving his lips and echoing down the corridor. Breathing hard but not of exertion, Eric held up his hands, his knuckles were split and bleeding. Suddenly exhausted, he turned and stumbled back to his apartment.
What did you think? :)
