12 – Adjusting

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Eric

The last weeks had been tough for Eric. Losing his friend, nearly having Teddy taken away from him, worrying about Teddy, how to help him get over his parent's death, while he himself was still hurting from losing his closest and eldest friend. All this had worn him down and in addition he hadn't got nearly enough sleep due to Teddy's nightmares, causing dark rings under his eyes and leaving him all the more drained. On the upside Teddy trusted him and had slowly started to get over his parents death.

Teddy was more cheerful during daytime and together they had explored the toys Dan had brought over. Much to his surprise he liked playing with Teddy, watching him testing his abilities. Alas he didn't stand a chance to finish his paperwork as long as Teddy was up and keeping him on his toes. So he had stayed up late working to catch up with his workload, a habit that added to his exhaustion. He had been grateful when Sean had told him to simply do some paperwork in the beginning and to do it at home. Mike and Dan had helped him, looking after Teddy as promised, babysitting him so he could run some errands. By now Eric had returned to most of his duties fearing he'd encroach on Sean's sympathy in asking for more time off. When he had been out on patrol Julie had looked after Teddy and when he had office duties to fulfill he would take Teddy with him. Therefore his office was as littered with toys and crayons as his apartment. Rearranging the furniture in his office Eric had created an area were Teddy could play without being be seen by any visitor stepping by. Not that he wanted to hide him away, but he thought it would be easier for Teddy if he wasn't stared at by every random member of Dauntless who dropped by.

Eric couldn't believe the amount of things he needed for Teddy. He had been back at Mia' shop several times. He had also discovered, that he liked talking to her. She was one of the few people who acted normal around him. He liked it. Thanks to his harsh ways and Four's habit of warning everyone off most Dauntless never bothered to actually talk to him. They only ever came because they wanted him to do something or because they were complaining about one thing or another. So he had simply stopped at making an effort and concentrated on work instead. Mia seemed to be different. She hadn't been overly intimidated when he had been rude at their first encounter and she really intrigued him when Sean had assigned her to accompany him while he was still under the truth serum. Despite his earlier behavior she had seemed almost caring when he was in pain due to his refusal to answer her question about Teddy's parents. Also he still had to snigger at the memory of Zeke expression when she told him he couldn't ask him anything. Whenever he came to her shop Mia tried to help him as much as she could. If she hadn't what he was looking for she knew were to get it. He was now a proud owner of a step stool Terry could use for brushing his teeth, a little bathing tube, a highchair so Teddy could eat at the kitchen counter and cutlery fitting for kids just to list some.

Eric stretched. Initiation was coming up and Teddy would have to spend some time at the dauntless daycare by then. Meanwhile he seemed to have settled and maybe it would even do him some good. Perhaps he would be able to make some friends. Eric sure hoped so. In the last weeks he had talked to Sean about some things he wanted to change in initiation. He wanted an emergency stop at the no-conceal-rule, which Sean liked very much. It didn't do them any good if the initiates would be beaten into a pulp. The non-conceal rule were established so the initiates were forced to go beyond their limits. While they were initiates themselves Amar had expected them to fight until they reached their limits and then concede. Points would have been taken if someone would have misjudged his limits. To Eric's observation Four had never understood the true meaning of either conception. Now the trainers would be allowed to call off a fight before it went too far. The more major change would be the initiates earning or losing points due to their behavior. Bullies would lose points and those who stood up for others and thus perform an ordinary act of bravery would gain points. In order to see who would act dauntless under the stress of initiation the initiates couldn't know about it and since they couldn't risk Four interfering he wouldn't know. Chances were too high he'd tell some he wanted to pass. They had debated whether to tell Lauren and then decided she was trustworthy enough. Eric had offered to be the one to apply the pressure needed to see the true character of the initiates, though it would most likely make look him like a bully, but he had been willing to take it. He was used to ill guided opinions of him anyway. Many of them were due to Four, who's dislike of Eric was very well known and who liked to back is rambles up by 'facts' or what he thought were facts but in reality hold no truth. All there were, were misguided interpretations of observations Four made. In order to cut Eric some slack Sean had come up with the idea to feign situations where the initiates would have to choose if they'd be willing to put others first without anyone noticing or despite the fact they had to fear to lose points, which in reality they wouldn't. These sims would be filmed unknown to the initiates by one of the many hidden cameras on the compound. Eric liked the idea very much, since he wouldn't need to truly bully the initiates and in addition he was sure it would give them an even better insight. Though he would be tough with the initiates. There were the future protectors of the city. They had no room for cowards or people who weren't dedicated. If they wanted to protect others they should be at least able to protect themselves and not duck down, because he was giving them a hard time.

'Anyhow. What time is it?'

Looking at his wristwatch he could see it being near evening. Time to wrap things up, get home and cook something. He would wait some more before he took Teddy to the pit when it was fully crowded. Until now they only had been there a few times after hours to get some dauntless cake. Now that was something Teddy had hooked up to real quick. Eric smiled at the memory and closed his laptop. Teddy was drawing another picture and Eric was about to call him when Four walked in. Great.

"Eric. We have to talk things over about the upcoming initiation."

"Not now."

Eric could see that Teddy had gotten curious and was about to come to him, so Eric shook his head no.

"Why? You got something important to do right now?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

"Yeah, doesn't look like it." Four scoffed pointing at the bar desk and closed laptop.

Picking up at the intonation Teddy head jerked up and once again Eric shook his head at him. He didn't want Teddy to be in the middle of one of their arguments not more then he already was at least.

"Not now Four." Eric said warning him off.

"Why? You eager to get to the bar to drink some more?"

Eric looked at him stunned. That was a new one, even from Four, who talked a lot of bullshit about him.

"Oh come on. Have you looked at yourself? You look like shit."

Eric gritted his teeth. "Come here the day after tomorrow after lunch, then we'll talk."

Noticing Four was about to say some more he growled: "Out! Now!"

Huffing Four finally left his office slamming the door. Eric would have liked to run after him, releasing some anger with a well-placed punch to his face, when Teddy jumped frightend at the slam.

Scooping the boy up, Eric was glad to be used to Four's behavior by now so he was able to calm him down quickly.

"Eric?"

"Um?"

"That man was mean!"

"Don't think of it any longer."

"I don't like him!"

That was new. Until now Teddy hadn't taken an open dislike to anyone. Not even at those Abnegation morons who had been staring at him during the funeral or Max who more or less ignored him.

"Know what?"

"What?"

"I don't like him either."

At that Teddy giggled. Yeah that was more like it. Eric mood rose up at that sound. He loved it.

"Come on champ. Time for dinner." Eric said, taking Teddy for a piggyback ride back home.

Four

Four stood outside of Eric's office seething with anger. After he had finally been able to get a hold on this pure example of a leader, Eric had the nerve to order him out of his office, while it was obvious that he had nothing to do right now. Normally there would be stables of paperwork all over the desk but today it had been totally bar. Not a single sheet of paper, yet Eric acted all pompous about his nonexistent work. Stomping down the corridor Four frowned when he suddenly remembered the rearrangement of the office furniture. Odd. Why would Eric create a spot that couldn't be viewed from the door? Knowing Eric, he was probably hiding something. Perhaps next time he should just walk around the office until he could get a look. Then there had been these weird rumors about Eric and a child. At first he hadn't taken them seriously but when there were somehow anytime someone who knew someone who heard from someone that Eric had been seen walking around with a young child, he had looked into it. But whenever he had been on duty at the control room he only caught Eric by himself as rare as he appeared in public nowadays anyhow. Apparently Dauntless has gotten a new myth – the child of Eric. Four shudder at the thought of Eric looking after a child. No doubt he would expect it to be tough or would merciless try to "toughen it up", the way he did with the initiates. If he ever had come upon somebody who lacked compassion, it was Eric.

Eric

Teddy was preparing for bed, when a loud knock could be heard from the door. He couldn't believe it. The nerve of that man!

"Four!" Eric shouted stomping over to the door "I swear…"

Ripping the door open he looked at a startled Mia. Eric was surprised, since she never had come to visit him before.

"Is this a bad time?" She asked.

"No, sorry. Come in. It's just, that someone couldn't accept a 'no' for a 'no' earlier. I thought you were him."

"I see. Actually I just came by to tell you that the bed for Teddy will be there tomorrow."

"That's great, Mia. It's time Teddy gets his own bed."

"So when do you have time?"

Hu? He hadn't seen this one coming. Why was she asking that? O, she would want to know when he'd be able to pick it up. Well he had a full schedule but he could always make time to pick it up. He could switch the briefing and cancel his meeting with the head of their weapon depot, Martin. Yeah, that could work.

"How about I come by tomorrow around four?"

"Four is perfect. I can leave a little earlier tomorrow."

Not understanding were Mia was getting with this he raised an eyebrow quizzically at her.

"To help you, of cause."

"You think I need help carrying it?" Eric looked her up and down. "I think I can handle."

Mia huffed a little at this. "No, I meant to help you setting it up."

Oh, that. Eric still remembered how glad he was no one witnessed his attempts to set up the high chair for Teddy, so he quickly replied lying through his teeth:

"No need for that."

Now Mia looked a little hurt. Shit. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. Much to his own surprise he heard himself saying: "But you're welcome if you want to help."

Mia beamed at him happily: "Okay. Until tomorrow then, Eric! Bye!"

She was already at the door.

"Bye Mia."

Eric closed the door after her. 'Shit, shit, shit.' He was so going to embarrass himself. He didn't want to look like a fool in front of Mia. Hopefully a bed would be easier to put up then a high chair.