Chapter 10
Just to let you know I've changed this from the original, in this one Eric comes first in his class and Four comes second!
'What' he says quietly, his voice deadly and it's more intimidating than his loudest shout.
'Nothing Eric let it go' I say back my anger quickly draining when I realise my mistake.
'Explain. Now' his words as blunt as a brute force punch.
'He just made a comment, it was nothing Eric calm down' I say imploringly trying to sit up.
'Stay there' he growls at my efforts 'What comment, I want to know everything don't make me ask again'
'can you just come closer and I'll stop moving' I say pouting if I can hold onto him maybe I can stop him attacking Huck as soon as I tell him.
He stalks over grumpily and stands next to the bed, I can feel his rage pouring of him its potency astounding. I shuffle over a little bit ignoring the pain, he glares at me but I shuffle just a bit more just enough for him to sit next to me.
I look at the bed next to me expectantly, he glowers but I just raise my eyebrow and he sits down. I grab his arm to keep him calm but I know it only sets him even more on edge.
'he called me a whore, and a slut and he said that I slept my way to my rank. Dean and Ryder had my back and I thought we had settled it obviously not' I get it all out quickly adding the last bit on quickly to try and soothe him.
It doesn't work and he tries to get up quickly, I lock onto his arm and keep him on the bed. He stops moving not wanting to jostle me and now I'm glad that I made him sit down.
I can tell he wants to pace, or go and Kill him. But I know one will lead to the other and so I just hold onto him wishing I could help but I can't move, and when i try the pain overwhelms me and I stop.
He looks at me and his features soften ' I thought you were going to stay still' he growls out.
'Look at me' I murmur to him.
He does turning his head but he can't control the anger he feels, and I understand it but I don't want him to get into trouble avenging me. I lay my hand softly against his face and rub his cheek softly.
'You need to let me handle it, I don't want you to get in even more trouble over me' I whisper to him.
'I can't let this stand' a deep rumble from his chest 'But I won't get in trouble' he smirks slightly.
I grimace unhappily 'Do you promise' I ask quietly dropping his gaze.
He pulls me chin up 'I promise' and he drops his mouth to mine ever so briefly, barely skimming my lips and I groan.
'you can't break a promise you know' I whisper as he draws away.
'To you. Never' he whispers back, before sitting up.
I take my hand away from his face and lace my fingers through his, he looks down and I can't read the emotion in his eyes but I know that he likes it when he squeezes my hand back.
The doctor takes that moment to come back into the room, he takes in Eric sitting on the bed looking somewhat more calm and he lets out a relived breath. I would laugh if I wasn't in so much pain as it is all I can manage is a small smile, Eric snorts.
It's only then I realise the other nurse and doctor that my original doctor had obviously brought for back up, and that makes me smile even more. Eric is like a wounded animal when he's angry and I'm not surprised they were scared.
The x-ray doesn't take long, and what with a growly Eric who would just put me wherever the doctor wanted me it was even quicker.
We finally get the news that my ribs aren't broken, but the third rib down had been chipped in two places. The chips have broken off the end and so basically the only effect is that I now have a shorter rib, the downside to this is that the tissue surrounding my ribs is bruised to shit and I'm back to square one.
Eric looks less than pleased about this, but I know he's happy that my ribs aren't broken the same as I am. Finally, the doctor gives us some more of the cream Eric had in his bathroom and a pain relief shot, then with a recommendation of rest which I snort at and Eric glowers at he sends us on our way.
Now that I'm laying down I really don't want to move, I give Eric a look and I think he gets it when he takes off his jacket and wraps it over me before he picks me up to carry's me out grabbing the cream and dressing on his way out.
I giggle when I see the shocked faces of the people we pass, Eric's glares sends them away quickly though. That just makes me giggle harder, then I'm laughing at me laugh.
'That pain shot is really hitting you' Eric grumbles amused.
'I don't feel pain' I mumble through my laughter confused.
Eric just snorts and carries on, it takes me longer than it should to realise we aren't on the way back to the dorms.
'I think I've stayed in the dorms a grand total of twice' I murmur 'no wait I think three times! I exclaim loudly like I've just discovered something amazing.
'Do you want to stay in the dorms' Eric asks from above me as I nuzzle his shoulder sinking into him.
'No your warm, and you smell nice. But it's because I don't want to sleep in the dorms that Huck said what he said' I murmur sleepily.
'Huck's an asshole you can sleep where you want' Eric grumbles clearly mad again.
'Where do you want me to sleep Eric' I mumble my words slightly slurred.
He doesn't answer but a short while later I feel him open the door and carry me to bed, he lays me down softly and then begins to leave but I cling to him tightly I want him with me. He's given me my answer.
'I'm not leaving I'm just getting changed' he murmurs softly.
'I need my jammies too' I whisper softly.
I feel a shirt be tossed onto the bed and I grab it lazily i manage to take the jacket off and get the shirt on, but I can't bend to get my shoes or socks or pants. Even through the pain shot it hurts too much.
Eric grunts before coming over to me, he kneels down and starts to unlace my boots. I sigh softly leaning back into the pillows, he takes off my boots and my socks but doesn't touch my pants.
I look up and see him watching me softly, he has changed into some loose bottoms but hadn't put a shirt on yet. I smile at him and I can't tell whether I'm dreaming or not when he smiles back.
I undo my button and start to try to wiggle them of Eric looks at me and growls before he grabs them and pulls them off.
He goes to get up but I don't let him, I just scoot back and pull him in after me. He seems to hesitate for a second before climbing in next to me.
I lean against his bare chest and I've never felt more at home, never felt safer. I smile and kiss his pec he grunts but brings his arm around me holding me close.
'Eric' I whisper as I feel sleep start to claim me.
'Yea' he grumbles.
'Thank you' I whisper softly.
He doesn't reply but I feel a soft brush against my temple his lips are the last thing I feel before I let sleep take me.
A short while later I'm awoken from sleep by the feeling of Eric getting up. I mumble incoherent things and he shushes me softly.
'Sleep' is all I hear and I grumble moving into his warm spot unhappily as I fall back asleep, knowing he won't go far.
I'm woken again what I can tell is hours later when I feel the bed dip, and warm hands lifting my shirt, as my brain starts to come back to me I realise it's Eric and I sigh rolling over so he can get better access. He growls a little now clearly able to see my underwear and I smirk at the sound.
The smug feeling is short lived however when I feel something wet hitting my side, I open my eyes to look down glaring to see Eric spreading the bruise cream over my ribs.
'The more you do it the quicker It heals' he murmurs before finishing up and rewrapping my side.
I'm awake now and turn my head so I can see him head back into the bathroom, I hear the tap and assume he's washing his hands. Then I hear his soft footsteps as he makes his way back to bed. He slides in quickly and I immediately mould myself to him.
'Where have you been' I murmur softly.
'Nowhere important, let's sleep' he says softly and I can tell he's tired never having heard this voice from him before.
He pulls me over him softly mindful of my side and I curl into him softly listening to his even breaths and his strong heartbeat as it softly lull's me to sleep.
It's morning the next time I wake and surprisingly Eric is still sleeping, it's the first time that's happened and it gives me time to properly study him. His face is almost angelic in his sleep and he's lying flat on his belly his arm stretched around me possessively.
I slip out from under his arm, but it's only when I try to stand up that I realise that the pain in my side is excrutiating. I grab the bed post to stay standing but it's a challenge to be upright.
I slowly hobble out of the room grabbing the cream of the side as I pass, the pain bringing tears to my eyes as I walk but I power on determined. I head to the kitchen and put the kettle on first and then I apply the cream hissing tears leaking as I redress it.
I brush them off putting my game face on before I grab the kettle and find the coffee making one for me and one for Eric. I move even more slowly back to the bedroom determined not to spill any, proud of myself.
Then I put Eric's cup down gently on his table, I start to hobble back to my side when I hear a noise.
'What are you doing' a sleepy Eric asks adorably.
'I made coffee' I whisper back putting my cup down now on my side, before slowly sliding back into the bed.
I rearrange my pillows so I don't have to lay back down, before resting back exhaling slowly I close my eyes briefly before opening them to see a now mad Eric glaring at me.
'Are you trying to make it worse' he asks angrily sitting up.
'I got coffee' I say holding up my cup with a smile ignoring him and taking a sip sighing in bliss.
'You shouldn't be walking around Lexi, how stupid are you!' he practically shouts at me.
'I'm not stupid' I shout back getting angry.
'Then why are you acting like it' he growls running a hand through his hair in frustration.
I sniff hating the tears coming to my eyes, not from pain this time but from frustration.
'I just wanted to do something' I shout back at him and he reels seemingly shocked.
'You do everything for me, I just wanted to do something nice for you' I whimper shocking myself I'm not an emotional person and this sudden flash of emotions is odd.
'Lexi you don't have to do anything for me, I don't do anything I don't want to do' he says leaning over to brush away my tears.
'Just drink your damn Coffee then!' I shout back, and he sits back thoroughly chastised with a little smirk on his face as he takes a sip of his coffee.
We sit in silence for a few minutes before I dare to look at him and when I do I can't help but burst out laughing. He snorts at me like I'm crazy but I see the smile he tries to hide behind his mug.
I can't help but stare at him, his chest is ripped and I want to run my tongue over all the bumps, obviously, I can't in my current condition but the thought still makes me shiver, next I start trying to understand the tattoos they tell a story but I'm not sure what of yet.
'See something you like Lexi' Eric's growl breaks my concentration.
'Indeed, I do' I murmur salaciously.
'You're not well enough to continue down this road Lexi' His growl is darker now to match his eyes.
'Another time then' my voice holds a promise.
'Defiantly' he voice is sure and steel and it makes me grin.
'Explain your tattoo's to me' I say letting my gaze trace them.
'Most of them are leadership tattoo's I have a few personal ones, some of them are marks of an accomplishment' he shrugs them off.
'So some are like awards' I say hesitantly.
'If you want to see it like that' he says warily.
'Which ones' my curiosity gets the best of me.
'Some' he answers vaguely.
'Eric, just show me one' I growl out impatient.
He points to the thin jagged band on his wrist 'This one is for fighting' he says grumpily.
But it's progress, he's sharing with me even if it's only a little bit.
'What kind of fighting, like the kind we do' I say curious.
'About 10 people in Dauntless have this mark and 4 of them are other leaders the 5th being Max, there are different ranks and you move your way up' he point down his wrist then showing the lost of different other layers under that layer.
'So it means you're the best' I grin at him 'Can I get one of the other ones?' I say excited.
He smirks back at me 'You get the top one after you finish your initiation it's a plain one so when your reach the top level they just change your first one so it's at the top not the bottom, the one down from that is coming first in your class' his smirk widens at this.
'You came first' I cock an eyebrow
'Did you expect any less' he grins smugly.
'So, I'll get those if I do well in initiation?' I smile happily.
'You can get a tattoo before that if you want to though' he says drinking more coffee.
'I don't know what I'd get' I say softly thinking it over.
I want something with meaning, but I don't know what yet. Yet I'm still desperate to get one.
'did they hurt' I ask tracing over the one on his neck.
'No' he grumbles closing his eyes.
'What do you think?' I ask curious for his answer.
He gives me a look and I can't help but snort 'What's your last name' I ask laughing.
'Coulter' he says confused.
'I could have Coulter in a big Heart across my face' I say trying to sound serious.
Eric looks at me and snorts and I can't help but think it's the equivalent of his laugh, I smile back.
'I'm serious think about what I should get I have no idea' I tell him sternly.
We relax for a moment with me talking and occasionally laughing and Eric grunting with the occasional snort. It's peaceful until I hear a knock on the door. I look at Eric in confusion, he ignores me and get's up, I'm about to start getting up after him when he turns around and glares.
'Stay there!' he commands and I roll my eyes doing as he says.
I hear murmurs through the wall and I hear Eric raise his voice slightly, he really needs to work on his people skills. Then Eric walks back into the room.
'Max, Four and Paul are here' he growls out.
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