Authors Note: No matter how many time I wish upon a star: Eric will never ever belong to me. Nor will Tris and Eric be a couple.*sob*
Divergent belongs to Veronica Roth
Yelling
After many requests, here is the next chapter, made much longer than normal since I couldn't decide when to end it when writing it. Enjoy!
~ Dauntless to the Core ~
Chapter 12: Being Romanced
After sparring with Eric, Tris and him made their way back to their offices to finish their reports before Tris went to spend time with Veronica and learn more about the Candor's way of dealing with things. She knew what Christina told her but she still wanted to know each faction just in case she needed to cover for Max, Veronica or Eric. Amity was the easiest to learn, Candor was more complex than she first thought and Erudite was just as bad but Eric had prepared her better than anyone else could have.
At Dinner Tris sat with the leaders, Veronica across from her and Eric beside her. She wanted to ask Max why he kept watching her but decided that was to rude and kept quiet, Eric's arm brushing hers and every now and then he would run his hand over her leg under the table. This side of Eric the one that had no problem giving her what she knew was Dauntless level of affection made her smile. She knew a side to Eric that he didn't show to many unless he trusted them. Veronica had hinted when they had been working together that the two of them, Tris and Eric that was were flirting. Tris had dismissed it but she knew, even more so now, just how interested in her Eric was. Tris slipped her hand under the table as she shifted and placed her hand on Eric's thigh midway and left it there. She could eat with her other hand and she wanted to see how he reacted.
"Tris? Earlier there was an incident with Four. You said something about the factionless" Veronica said Max moving forward to hear her better.
"I don't know how long he's know that Evelyn Eaton his mother has been alive, we were told she died in childbirth when we were little. I think I was 5 or 6. She's running the factionless sector from what I could see. I saw Edward, the one that got stabbed in the eye with her the one night." Tris said sipping her water before shaking her head.
"He's betraying us" Veronica said.
"Faction before Blood" Eric murmured earning nods from Tris and Max.
"We'll keep a closer eye on him. Eric I want you and Tris to focus on relations with the other factions, see if we can get our law banning us from the factionless sector lifted or amended." Max said watching Eric and Tris nod in agreement.
"Good. Both of you go home and get some rest. I heard your sparring session attracted a fair crowd of people. Rest up and see about getting a meeting with the factions soon." Max said standing and leaving the table Tris's fingers stroking Eric's thigh, making his breath catch as he sipped his water. He wasn't going to let anyone see what she did to him, how her every touch seemed to make him feel weak in the knees. That he needed her to be with him more than she was already.
Tris nodded to Veronica and got to her feet her hand slipping off his thigh slowly before she waved goodnight to the others and head to her apartment. Eric stayed at the table for a little while longer before he too left and made his way to his apartment before bypassing it and knocking on Tris's door. Tris opened the door, Eric's eyes widening slightly at the sight of Tris in short black shorts and her black lacy bra, her hair loose around her shoulders.
"I know you like what you see Eric but you're going to start drooling." Tris teased making Eric chuckle.
"If I start drooling will you be willing to distract me?" Eric asked stepping into the apartment, Tris smirking slightly as she stepped back, Eric closing the door behind him, his eyes like molten silver before he pulled Tris to his chest and kissed her. Tris gasped against his lips and grabbed a fist full of his shirt before she started kissing him back, her fingers working up into his hair before she pulled away shaking her head.
"What am I doing? I'm sorry Eric, I'm not the type of girl that does this. I ended it with Four earlier, I'm not going to just jump into another relationship or whatever it is that you want" Tris said as Eric slipped an arm around her waist and brought her back towards him.
"I know that, I just couldn't resist kissing you" Eric purred feeling Tris shiver as she grasped his shirt again.
"I'm not in a rush Tris. You do things to me that make me think like an Amity. All the peace and joy shit. If you're not ready then let me know when you are." Eric said stroking the small of her back with his fingers, Tris smiling slightly.
"That peace and joy shit going to mess with your image?" Tris teased as she rest her head on his shoulder Eric chuckling.
"Oh course." Tris giggled as her hands let go of his shirt and moved around his waist to hug him. After a while Eric pulled back and stroked Tris's cheek gently.
"Go to bed Tris. I'll see you in the morning" Stepping back Tris watched Eric go back locking the apartment door and walked to her bedroom and fell onto her bed with a huge smile on her face as she hugged her pillow to her chest.
Tris exited her apartment the next morning to see Four waiting there for her with wildflowers in his hands.
"I wanted to apologize" Four said offering Tris the flowers Eric raising an eyebrow as he watched them from his apartment.
"Thank you, I think" Tris said looking over the flowers. When Four left Tris looked at the flowers again before looking at Eric.
"I think he's trying to court you" Eric said leaning against the wall Tris still holding the flowers away from her.
"I think so too. I'm not a girl for flowers though" Tris said tossing them into the chasm as they passed it Eric chuckling softly.
"Oh I know that" Eric said grabbing Tris's hand and dragged her outside before starting to run Tris not too far behind him. Tris laughed as she chased after Eric the run both waking her up and relaxing her. As they neared Dauntless once more Tris jumped onto Eric's back almost ending them both to the ground, Eric laughing as he caught himself on the wall.
"You could have killed us"
"but I didn't" Tris said jumping off and running back into Dauntless Eric shaking his head at her and following. After showering and meeting up in the dining hall Tris sitting with Will and Uriah this morning, Eric with the other leaders.
"Trissy, what was that the other day? The fight with Eric?" Uriah said as Tris sipped her water slowly a smile on her lips when she set it down.
"It wasn't a fight. We were sparring since I was in a bad mood. Eric suggested it to calm me down. Four was an idiot and I broke up with him." Tris said taking a bite of her muffin Will and Uriah looking at her stunned.
"I never would have guessed. I mean I know that Christina was saying something about flowers last night to him but I didn't realize that you two weren't together anymore." Will said as Tris scowled slightly.
"I loved Four, I did but flowers? Really? Do you think I'm the type for flowers? Wildflowers at that?" Tris said as Uriah snickered.
"Maybe some special ones but not wild flowers." Uriah said and Tris nodded.
"I ended up tossing them into the Chasm. I mean wildflowers? How unoriginal is that?" Tris muttered as Will snickered.
"Chocolates are a no go either?" Will said as Tris giggled.
"I'll take them since they are a treat but really? He's trying to court me again and it isn't going to work. I mean Eric knows more about me and would be able to do it better than Four ever could, since Eric takes the time to ask me things."
"Eric knows you?" Will said looking confused as Uriah pointed behind him. Will and Tris looked as Tris laughed at the look on Will's face.
"Yes I know her. Like she needs her morning runs or she's a bitch to deal with." Eric said as Tris flipped him off making him smirk.
"You keep telling me to fuck off Tris and all I want to know is where, when and how hard you want it" Eric said as Tris covered her face with her hand, laughing.
"I keep telling you it's not an invitation"
"Not yet. I'll wait" Eric said as Tris started laughing again.
"We have to start getting those meetings with the other faction's in place Tris. You're going to be stuck in your office all day" Eric said tugging Tris's hair lightly as she looked back at him.
"Sure. I want to try my hand with Amity and Erudite if I can. Make them see reason, or at least our reason" Tris said getting up, Eric holding out a hand to her to help. Walking out of the cafeteria together Eric dragged Tris into his office with him and backed her into the desk, his fingers brushing her hips lightly.
"Eric?" Tris asked softly as she hopped onto the desk and looked up at Eric who stepped closer to her still and placed his hands on either side of her hips on the desk.
"I don't think I can stay away from you Tris" Eric said softly running his fingers over her hip as he nuzzled her neck making Tris sigh softly. Eric started placing kisses on Tris's neck and shoulders her hands working into his hair.
Max tapped his fingers on his desk as he thought. He knew he was going to have to step up surveillance on Four, he had already seen the footage of Four getting Tris flowers and her response to that. Tris and Eric wouldn't get together. She after all was from Abnegation and Eric was from Erudite, and those factions hated each other. Four was another abnegation so it made sense if they were together. At least in theory. Max shook his head to clear it since he was originally from Amity not Erudite. Too many thoughts like that and he would give himself a headache.
Getting up from his desk Max left his office and head towards Eric's. He wanted to see what their game plan was for the factions and getting them to let the Dauntless back into the factionless sector. Pausing outside Eric's door he looked to see if he could find Eric or Tris nearby since it was quiet inside. When he didn't seem them he opened the door and stopped dead, his mouth dropping open at the sight of Eric placing kisses over Tris's neck, Tris's hands in his hair, whispering softly as Eric moved, his hands resting on her hips, but stroking her stomach where he had pushed her shirt up. Tris opened her eyes and gasped.
"Max" Tris said which prompted Eric to stop and turn around to look at the elder, his hand on Tris's thigh. Tris tugged her hair out of her ponytail and let it fall loose around her shoulders to hide her neck from sight.
"I think I'll just go" Max said backing out of the office and walked quickly to his own,hearing Eric and Tris laughing in Eric's. Sitting down in his chair he rubbed his head and glanced at the time.
"What the hell did I walk into down there?" Max asked leaning back, his attention going to his computer as Eric sent him an email.
Could you knock next time?- Eric
I plan on it – Max
Tris looked up from the book she was looking at when she heard Eric's email go off.
"Are we in trouble?"
"Nope. He just said he was going to make sure to knock from now on." Eric said as Tris flushed.
"I blame you for what happened you realize this right?"
"Oh I know. I just don't care." Eric said giving Tris a naughty grin making her flush a rosy pink.
In the following weeks Tris managed to set up meetings in a couple months with Amity and Erudite, both factions interesting in hearing Tris's proposal. Eric and Tris still flirted and teased each other, more often than not Eric trapped Tris in his arms before kissing her everywhere but her lips. It drove her crazy but at the same time she loved it. Eric was respecting her wished not to just right into a relationship. He was just showing what he could give her.
"Tris?" Turning Tris looked at Four who was standing there holding out some more flowers and some chocolates.
"Thank you" Tris said as she accepted them and stepped into her apartment, Four following her and looked around. It was a little bigger than Four's with tons of windows that were covered in white curtains, her color scheme rich in Dauntless colors. Tris had done her best to keep Christina out of her apartment and after a couple days ago she was more than ok with the lack of her so called best friend.
"I looks nice in here. Did Christina help you?"
"No. I did this myself with minor help from Veronica." Tris said placing the chocolates in the fridge with the others she had gotten and dropped the flowers into the sink where she could throw them out later after he had left.
"I heard you and Christina got into a fight." He said hoping he was doing better at this emotion thing.
"Yes. I told her that if you wanted me back you had to do it on your own. She wasn't allowed to help you like she was." Tris said her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at Four who looked sheepish.
"I just wanted to get it right" he said as Tris sighed.
"You can't just expect things to get better after trying for a little while Four. You need to accept that I'm staying in my leadership position and I can and will have other friends outside of my initiation class. My hours are going to be long and I'm going to be a bitch." Tris said as Four nodded.
"Give me another chance Tris. I want to prove to you that I can do it. I won't say anything about Eric and you, I'll tell you more of my past. Just please don't shut me out and leave us like this" Four said pleadingly as Tris sighed. Looking around her apartment she shook her head.
"You need to prove it to me and I'll think about it Four." Tris said as Four broke into a smile and hugged her tight before leaving the apartment Tris falling onto the couch with a groan, Eric stepping in with a light knock on the door when Four was out of the hallway.
"Why was he so happy?"
"I told him I would think about his proposal to get back together if he really changed." Tris said before looking over at Eric whose face and gone from concerned to blank. Getting to her feet Tris grabbed Eric's arm before he could leave.
"I never said I would get back with him Eric. What you do to me, what you make me feel even if you do just tease me, is more than anything Four has ever done." Tris said sliding her arm up Eric's shoulder before kissing each part of his leadership tattoo. Eric's rigid body relaxing slowly until he was holding her close to him and just letting her kiss him. Tris hadn't really ever started their little teasing game but she could sometimes finish it.
"If you get back with him we can't do this" Eric said his voice low as Tris peppered kisses over his jaw.
"Something like that has never stopped you before Eric" Tris said gently biting his ear and was rewarded with a small moan. Eric was defenceless to Tris's advances, and made no move to stop her, only encouraged her but getting closer and allowing her access when she wanted it. Eric back up into the wall and ran his hands over Tris's waist as she teased him, using his hands to tease her rather than his mouth. Breaking apart some time later both of them breathing hard Eric fought his urge to kiss her. He was going to both respect Tris's wish to wait and he had to stop himself from getting lost in her like he wanted to.
"I should let you think about his offer." Eric said his voice thick Tris's hands grasping his shirt tightly.
"Eric"
"Trust me Tris I'm just making this harder than it needs to be" Eric said stepping away from Tris, neither of them not wanting to let go.
