Tris POV

As Eric explains the basics of Leadership Training, I can't help but study his office. This is probably the most personal space of his I'll see and a person's room can say a lot about someone - or so I've heard. I wasn't allowed to decorate my room in Abnegation, but the kids at school were always talking about some new game or new poster or something for their rooms.

He has a large wooden desk painted black and sawdered with the Dauntless flames and what I think are words from the manifesto. He has a computer with 3 screens and a desk organizer full of files. Now that I think about it, there are files in stacks all over the place. It makes me wonder if Eric is the type to overwork himself. Being the youngest leader must come with a lot of pressure, especially when he thinks Four is their first choice and he's a consolation prize. I can't help but think about that first night at dinner; he came up to us and sneered and Uriah told us he was cruel and jealous of Four, but I wonder if he just wants to be taken seriously and acknowledged.

Tris, you have got to get your head in the game. Now is not the time to remanence.

"You will be expected to show significant growth in hand-to-hand combat as well as target practice. No one is perfect and no one expects you to beat me in a fight, but you need to prove you can hold your own and last against opponents who may be physically stronger than you. Any questions before we head to the training room?" Eric asks. I know he doesn't mean to sound like he's doubting my abilities, flashes of his face when I lost my fight with Peter cross my mind, but as soon as he finishes talking, I resolve myself to put him on his ass by the end of training today.

"No, no questions. I'm ready to start." I reply, maintaining eye contact. I wasn't paying full attention to most of what he said, but I figured somewhere in there was a scare tactic to see how I hold up under pressure. I thought he would've learned by now; I Don't Flinch.

"Good, let's head down." He says while standing and moving around his desk. I study his face for a second before standing from my seat and moving toward the door. I can't read him and I have no idea if I'm gaining any ground yet. I internally promise myself I'll finish looking over his office another time and shake myself to get ready for what will probably be a gruesome day of training.

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"Again." Eric commands as I lie on my back for the umpteenth time in the last 2 hours.

"How is it that I feel like I got hit by the train and you look like you just finished a leisurely stroll around the compound?" I ask as I slowly raise myself back into a standing position.

"I've had years of practice and excellent stamina. It doesn't hurt that you're so tiny." He replies with a chuckle. I've found he loves to tease me after he's put me on my ass. I kind of love it, to be honest. I'm seeing this new side of him, a playful and silly side that may possibly enjoy my company, and it makes me want to learn more.

Its a terrifying thought really: that I would want to learn more about Eric.

As we begin sparring again, I try my hardest to focus on what we are doing and not the way his arms look as he moves them. I study his form, only to find weaknesses and nothing more and, in the split second I find my self studying a little too hard, my movements slow enough for him to grab my arm and flip me over his back. Again.

"Damn it!" I shout from my position on the floor.

"Do you know what your mistake is, Stiff?" He asks, while helping my to me feet.

I shake my head, then pause and nod, "I get so focused on trying to find weaknesses I stop being present in the fight."

"Yes, and you doubt your ability to win the fight. There is a line between confident and cocky and the best fighters know exactly where on the line they need to be. You don't think you can win against me, so you forces yourself to focus in on me instead of yourself. I know I can beat you, so my movements are more fluid. I have confidence in my ability, so I don't have to spend valuable time studying everything about your stance and every little thing you do in order to keep up. Understand?" he asks.

I nod and look up curiously at him, "Do you think I could beat you?"

He makes eye contact and answers without hesitation, "Yes, with more practice. You have a natural way of moving that if you train up will make you even quicker than you already are. Not to mention you have a uncanny way of mirroring your opponents fighting stance. You were trained by Four, you and your whole initiation class shares his fight stance. You've never fought me or seen me fight, but unconsciously you mirror my stance and movements. Its a great skill to have. We'll train both of those up during the next couple of months."

I can't help but smile at him. He has a lot of faith in my ability. I don't even have that much faith in myself.

Is it possible we were all wrong about him during initiation? This Eric is completely different than the one that made Christina hang over the Chasm.

I stand a little straighter and hold his gaze, "I want to go again."

Determination blazes through me as we get into our stances again. Now that he's mentioned it, my stance is very similar to his. I take a minute to adjust and nod. Just like that we are off again, punching, kicking and blocking. This time I actually manage to land a solid hit to his ribs before he sweeps my legs out from under me and I fall to the mat.

His smile as he looks down at me takes my breath away. Have I ever seen him smile before?

"That was amazing, Tris!" He exclaims, "You landed a solid hit. Thats the closest youve gotten to me without going down immediately all day. Can you feel yourself improving? You're gonna give me a run for my money by the end of the month."

I can't help but blush at his words. Something tells me he normally plays his emotions more close to the vest; this may be one of the only times I see him lose his composure. I sit and look at him for a minute, just to take it in.

"Thank you so much, Eric! God, that was amazing." Without thinking, I stand and wrap my arms around his neck in a tight hug. He stiffens but, after a couple unsure seconds, he leans into the embrace and winds his arms tightly around my waist. I breathe in his scent with my head resting against his shoulder. I'm on my toes to try to match his height, of course still not really coming close. As he slowly pulls away from the hug, he gazes into my eyes my a long minute before abruptly taking a step back, leaving my swaying from the lack of support and the headrush being that close to him gave me.

"Go ahead and get lunch and meet me back in my office afterwards, around 4. We will start going over factions history and laws then." With a stiff nod, he strides out of the practice room leaving me standing in the center of the ring.

What the hell just happened?