Damn, this is a long ass chapter but its going to be a while until I post again. I've been waiting literally years to share this scene with you guys so I hope you enjoy it and don't hate me too much… ;)
Eric's POV
Eric sits at the table with a few of the other Leaders. He tries to listen to whatever Max is talking to Harrison about but Eric can't help but keep an eye on the doors as he waits for Issy to join him. Eric catches Max's eye when the younger Leader glances back to his plate and Max grins at him.
He's not going to lie, when Eric saw that message in the group chat from Issy he nearly lost it. Interventions were never good, especially when it involved everyone in their group. Eric was in a monthly meeting with Max when he received it. The meeting was more like a catch up about Eric's department but it was still important. Not that Eric gave a single shit when he stormed from the room with Max shouting after him.
Then there was the fact that Issy looked really upset when Eric arrived. His whole world stopped and Eric was ready to destroy whoever made her close to tears. It hurt when Issy didn't respond to him, even more so when she didn't let him touch her. When hands pulled at his shoulder, Eric almost growled and lashed out. Issy wasn't looking at him. She wasn't allowing him to touch her and Eric needed that to make sure they were okay – that whatever was wrong didn't affect them. But when Issy nodded, still not looking at him, Eric's shoulders slumped and Josh guided him away from her.
And then, of all the things she could have said – out of all the things that were running through Eric's head – Issy announced that she had been promoted to Squadron Captain. Eric's heart stopped. Not out of dread but quite the opposite. Nothing was wrong but it still hurt that Issy had basically played them all into thinking something bad had happened. Eric relaxed as he watched her make rounds through the family, getting congratulated at every turn until she stepped closer to him, grinning sheepishly. Eric hugged her as tight as he could without hurting her. Relief flooded through him that they were okay. He let go moment later when her alarm tore them apart and she left him with a kiss to his cheek and the promise of meeting for dinner.
Someone kicked him out of his thoughts and Eric shot up. Max motioned his head to the doors and Eric turned around to see a group of their family with a few people missing. Alec and Four led the group to the Leaders' table and stopped by it.
"Anybody like to join us for a game of Manic?" Alec asked with a grin.
"Sure." Eric immediately responds.
Max grins. "Why not?" He says to the surprise of the others.
Eric searches the group behind Number Boy and Alec but is disappointed to see that Issy isn't amongst them. He misses the knowing look that is shared between Max, Alec and Four.
"Issy's gonna meet us there." Alec says and Eric's disappointment lessens. "She's just rounding up a few more players."
It's not long before they're all on the train with a lot of others, most of Issy's initiation class and her squad before Eric realises she's not on the train with them. Eric shifts on his feet when the train starts to leave the view of the buildings making up the compound when a few more bodies jump in and Eric breathes a sigh of relief when he spots Issy amongst them.
Issy's POV
Issy jumps onto the train followed by Clark, Bree and Noah. They were cutting it a bit close but Bree was adamant that they weren't leaving without Noah and so they nearly searched the whole compound before they found him.
Clark, Bree and Noah join the rest of the members that are waiting to be sorted into teams when Issy's eyes find Eric. With the red band on his arm, Eric stands at the top of the train cart with Four, obviously waiting for Four to start choosing. Issy snickers, realising no one had let him into the loop. Four grins at Issy, sharing the same thought as he pulls the yellow Manic band onto his arm.
Eric frowns, taking a small step forward. "Then who's –" Eric breaks off as Issy comes to stand next to him.
"Don't have a problem, do you?" Issy says with a challenging smirk, pulling the blue band up her arm, and Four leans against the wall of the cart, a grin on his face as he watches the two captains.
Eric's eyes narrow at her and Issy grins. "Ladies first then." He motions to the group standing around them.
Issy schools her expression as she looks over the group. "Declan." Eric shoots Issy a look like she's just destroyed his whole game plan and she sends a devious smile back, rocking on her heels as snickers break out. "Problem?"
Eric grinds his teeth together. "Max." The older Leader walks to Eric's side of cart.
"Are you feeling threated Eric?" Muffled laughs come from somewhere in the back. The glare he sends her is almost murderous as she bites her lip to keep in her laugh. "I just can't but think it if you feel like you need another leader on your team to make up for a loss."
His glare intensifies and she stares him down. "Are you choosing or not?"
Issy bats her eyes innocently at him before calling out for her twin.
They each get divide eight people between them without any comments. Currently Jason, Lynn, Luke and Sam have joined Eric's team while Bud, Rainbow, Flare and Josh have joined Issy's.
"Lilah!" Eric barks and when Issy sends him a knowing look as he picks Lilah and Eric growls lowly in response. "I swear, I'm gonna throw you from this train."
Issy laughs then, her eyes glowing gold with mischievousness. "Nah you wouldn't," Issy lightly bumps her shoulders with his, grinning widely. "You'd miss me too much." She hears the distinct laugh from Max as Eric glowers at her. Issy stares him down a moment longer before she turns back to their friends in front of them, all of them are trying to hide their grins from the increasingly annoyed Leader. Issy grins back. "Bree? C'mon sister."
They go through the rest easily enough with Eric shooting Issy annoyed looks and Issy grinning back each time. On Eric's team is Max, Jason, Lynn, Luke, Sam, Lilah, Billy, Hugo, Blake, Zeke, Noah, Cody, BD, Clark. On Issy's team is Declan, Alec, Bud, Rainbow, Flare, Josh, Red, Bree, Kayden, Hector, Will, Uriah, Geek, Tris.
Issy moves forward with her team as the drop off comes up. She stays behind as her team jumps off and with a smirk she looks back.
"Hey Eric?" He turns to look at her and her smirk widens. She shoots him in the calf like he did in the first game and he falls to one knee. "Good luck, you're gonna ned it!" She jumps out of the cart with most of the inhabitants laughing after her.
xXx
"Okay freaks!" Issy calls out with a teasing grin when all her team stands around her. "Game plan! What's it gonna be?"
"Well, quite obviously," Bree starts with a sly grin. "You'll be going after the flag so that you can shove it in Eric's face." Many people start laughing as Issy simply shrugs in response.
"What about if we hide the flag in the hall of mirrors?" Josh looks around. "I know the route in and we could place a few people at other rides as if we've hidden the flag there."
"What, and leave the flag unguarded?" Dec asks.
"Nah," Alec nods to Josh. "We'd place people inside but divert the attention elsewhere."
Issy nods, handing the flag to Josh. "Okay, so how about Alec and Josh guard the flag inside. We put Hec and Bree outside another ride further on and then place Will on some high ground for that added defence?"
"And the rest of us go hunting."
Issy grins. "Game set. Let's head out! Watch your backs for Number Boy."
xXx
Issy crouches behind some rubble with Declan, Kayden, Tris and Geek surrounding her. Eric had chosen the old water tower to hide his flag and Tris grinned, telling Issy he had used the same place during her initiation. Issy was somewhat surprise but told them all not to expect the flag to be in the same place.
Uriah had led the charge with the rest of their team as a distraction. Uri's brilliantly wicked plan had the rest of the team to loudly announce that they had hidden the flag in the carousel – five rides down from where it actually was. As Uri, Bud, Rainbow and Red loudly stated that Issy and the rest of the team had apparently thought Eric's flag was near the Ferris Wheel and went in that direction, Issy saw a part of Eric's team sneak away in the direction of the carousel.
"Stick close to the ground and the edge of the buildings," Issy told the others as she kept to the darkness and moved forward. "Eric will have Blake and Clark placed near the edge so that they can do damage from afar."
"How'd you know that?" Geek whispered.
Declan sigh but Issy saw the flash of his teeth as he smiled. "Because Issy did the same with Will. Strangely, they have similar battle strategies but that's what makes them work so well together."
Issy snorted quietly. "Are you just gonna talk about me like I'm not even here?"
"That's why it's gonna be fun to see who wins this 'cause it's basically pitting the same person against themselves. They're both ruthless to do whatever it takes to win. Added with the sexual tension back on the train…" Declan shakes his head and whistles quietly. "Damn, I thought he was either gonna kill you or fuck you right there."
"I'll take that as a yes." Issy rolled her eyes. "Don't mind me."
Dec turned to Issy with a grin. "Oh. I'm sorry Issy, did you say something?"
Without much difficulty or more comments from Declan, they got to the water tower and snuck in. But they froze as somebody screamed. It sounded a lot like Uriah's girly screech. Though its more what he said that had them glued to one spot.
"MANIC!"
"Shit!" Tris hissed.
Geek held up his hand and gestured for them to be quiet and hide. They did that and heard storming footsteps incoming. Then they heard Eric snarling and Issy grinned.
"Watch out for Four when you leave. There's no way I'll believe Issy will be stupid enough to allow Uriah to run his mouth like that."
"In all fairness," Zeke started. "Uriah doesn't realise how loud he talks so he may be telling the truth."
"I'm not quite sure." Hugo said. "But I don't like the idea of leaving the flag defenceless."
They stopped walking. "We don't have enough people." Eric hissed. He didn't sound happy at all and Issy guessed this night wasn't going the strategy that Eric had in mind. "We need to keep to the diversion up on the roof." Soon enough, they ran upstairs and Issy's team waited until silence greeted them.
"You were right." Tris grinned at Issy. "The flag isn't in the same place, its down here."
"No, it's not." Everyone looked to Kayden in confusion. He turned to Declan. "You said that Issy and Eric have similar battle strategies right? So surely Eric would have thought about it and placed the flag where it's least expected to be?"
There was a collective gasp. "It's upstairs."
Issy narrowed her eyes at the ceiling. "Just to be sure, Tris and Geek, check down here for the flag. While the rest of us go up to the roof."
"Don't use those stairs," Tris grabbed Issy's forearm as she moved towards them. "There's a set towards the back that comes out near enough where the flag was in my initiation."
"Okay, thanks."
xXx
Tris was right. Issy, Kayden and Declan climbed onto the roof just by the little tower where they could see the flag glowing. Eric's team had their backs to the three, their focus on the entrance of the other stairs. Blake and Clark were placed at the ledge of the roof, making them great for victims down on the ground but completely useless to those on the roof itself. Zeke, Jason and Lynn were closest to the stairwell with Max somewhere behind them as a second defense. The third and what seemed like the final defense was Eric. He stood with his feet shoulder length apart, his hands on his gun and his head forward. He didn't think to tilt his head to the side and spot the three with blue bands on their arms.
On their way up, they had discussed a battle plan, and Issy nodded to Kayden to start it. Kayden sneaked around them and started throwing small pebbles to make it sound like there was commotion coming up the first set of stairs. The red team tensed, readying their guns. Kayden slipped past the second defense when Four opened the door with a shit eating grin on his face…
Well, shit.
Four took out the first defense and Kayden took out the second. Declan nodded to Issy and quietly ran past Eric to the door leading up to the flag. Issy strode forward, the barrel of her gun against the back of Eric's neck and she clicked a dart into place.
Eric froze.
Then exploded.
Eric swiveled round and kicked the gun from her hands, throwing his fist for her shoulders. Issy ducked and landed several blows to his ribs before jumping away before he could grab her. They throw and parry blows. Issy trips slightly as she hits his jaw and Eric swipes her legs out from underneath her. Refusing to go down alone, Issy grabs the back of his neck, digging her nails into his skin and knees one of his legs and Eric fall down on top of her. Though before Issy can gain some control, Eric pins her down.
His hips – and his very obvious excitement – push down into her own and Issy gasps. Eric bites his bottom lip as his head ducks down to nuzzle her own. "Now who's in need of luck?" He whispers as Issy squirms, trying to find a way out. "I'm starting to think you just like me pinning you up against things darling."
Issy stills, but not for the reason that Eric is thinking of. She looks up at him apologetically and leans up to peck his lips. "I'm so sorry." Issy says as she leans back…and slams her knee into his groin.
Eric's face goes completely red like he's trying to silence the scream that's in his throat, and ever so slowly, he rolls off her. His hands grip his dick as he rocks from side to side. "Bitch!" Eric hisses, his expression held betrayal like Issy's just turned around to him and said she's dating Four.
"I'm sorry." Issy begins to stand up when there's a blinding pain in her legs and upper back. She falls to her knees and curls into a ball by Eric. Speaking of Four… "Bastard!" Four walks around and places the barrel by Issy's thigh in a silent warning.
Through his pain, Eric's eyes narrow dangerously. "Don't you dare Four. Shoot her again and I will kill you." Eric's threat wasn't taken very seriously seeing as the Leader was still holding his jewels on the floor. Four smirks at Eric before shooting the back of Issy's thigh before looking up and disappearing. Issy whimpers, leaning her head against the ground as Eric gingerly gets up and pulls Issy closer. "I'm gonna kill him." Eric whispers into her hair as Declan comes closer with the flag in his hands. Eric growls slightly and his grip on Issy tightens. "I've not forgotten what you've just done Issy but help me kill Four."
It wasn't a question as Eric already knew her answer. Issy nodded against him and his grin promised danger.
xXx
After the pain had worn off Eric pulled Issy to her feet. When Issy looked up and her eyes met his, there was a sadistic promise that she'll regret kneeing him in the groin and she shivered. Issy pulled away from Eric as they waited for the rest of the team to join them outside by the building.
Her team grinned as they spotted Eric's flag in Dec's hands but tried to hide their smiles when Eric bared his teeth at them. They were all worse for wear, but excitement crept through them at the thought of grounding Four.
"So, how we gonna take him out?" Jason whispered as they all formed a tight circle.
"Four's a sly bastard, we know that." Zeke glances around with a frown. "We have to find something to bait him with."
Issy grinned, her golden eyes settling on Tris. "Wanna ground your boyfriend Tris?"
Tris grinned back. "Hell yeah!"
xXx
Four was a hard person to track. They gave up and went onto the next idea when they spent nearly an hour trying to find him. Instead, they literally yelled that they were going to spilt up to look for him – Uriah's idea – and then wait in the shadows for him to come to them, well, to Tris.
From the edges of the buildings they watched as Tris fell over and make a scene of not being able to get up. Everyone but Tris turned the volume of their radios off and waited. Tris was nearly crying into the radio that she couldn't get up and her leg felt funny when they all heard someone running.
Four practically sprinted to Tris but before the mighty Number boy could reach her, Eric tackled him to the ground. To say that no one expected that would be lying. They all could tell that Eric was absolutely furious with Four from shooting Issy when she was already down. Josh, Declan and Zeke jogged over to make sure that Eric didn't go through with it and actually kill him.
In that moment Issy didn't know what to do. Sure, Issy was good at calming Eric down but that was when the Leader wasn't also livid with Issy. Instead she went over to Tris and watched as the guys battled it out.
When Josh finally reached ten, Eric shoved himself away from Four before settling his dark gaze on Issy. Issy bites her lip, thankful when Bree pulled her towards the tracks. Once they all get into the train, Uriah produced a large flask of alcohol from somewhere, backed up by a near identical one that Zeke pulls from his jacket.
The flasks get passed around, probably not the smartest idea any of them has had, and by the time the train pulls up to the compound they're more or less drunk. It's a miracle none of them died when jumping out of the train but that may have been due to the grass they landed on.
Issy stays towards the back of the group, watching her tipsy family stagger inside the compound when she feels eyes burning into her. She glances back to see Eric still glaring at her, though his gaze is no longer just charged with anger. The sadistic promise from before darkening his eyes and sends shivers down her spine.
"I'm going to kill you." He whispers hauntingly and Issy laughs at him, staring up at him from beneath her lashes.
"No you wouldn't," Issy moves close to Eric and traces her fingers down his arm. A muscle in Eric's jaw ticks as his eyes portray a caged animal, ready to pounce. "You can't catch me." She bounces out of his reach before he can grab a hold of her and Eric growls before running after her.
Issy is grinning, the adrenaline of the hunt sparking through her. She takes several turns to try to confuse him but out of nowhere a body pushes her into a wall on the edge of the Pit
Eric pins her there and Issy looks up. Eric is breathing heavily and it's not wholly from the chase. They stare at each other for a moment before their mouths are on each other, their teeth clacking together in their impatience. Issy grabs his t-shirt and twists it in her hand, pulling him down to be closer. He's not close enough and Issy pushes herself onto her tiptoes. His hands wander down her body until they settle on her legs. "Jump." Eric whispers against her lips and she does, his hands gripping her thighs, lifting her up the wall and her legs wrap around his waist. Issy can feel his erection through his jeans and she whimpers, her hips bucking into his. Eric groans, his mouth breaking away from hers as his head rolls back and his eyes close. Issy's lips find his neck instead, sucking and biting at the Leadership blocks until he hisses, grinding their hips in a steady rhythm. When Issy pulls back to admire her work, Eric returns the favour. His teeth find her constellations and Issy groans, rolling her hips into his with more force. Eric bites harder until her back arches and his mouth finds hers again.
"What do you think you're doing?" A voice calls out and they are pulled to the present. Eric moves his body over hers, making sure Issy is covered from view. Issy peaks around Eric's hulking figure to see Josh staring at them unimpressed. Josh moves forward slowly. "Eric let go." Eric growls wildly, his black eyes contrasting her whiteish golds and he grips onto Issy's thighs so hard that she knows she'll have bruises in the morning. "Max needs to see you now."
Eric growls again and bites the nook of Issy's neck. She cries out even as he sooths it with his tongue. "Mine." He hisses into her skin before slowly putting her back on the ground. Though before he leaves, Eric pulls her into a draining kiss, his lips hard against her own and when he does leave with a glare in Josh's direction, Issy grips the wall as her legs shake.
After a moment of staring after Eric, Issy turns to Josh. "You and Declan and Bree have been complaining about no progress and that was progress! Make you minds up!"
"Well I'm sorry I didn't want the next hot topic of gossip to be about how my little sister had sex with a Dauntless Leader in the middle of the Pit." Josh watches with pursed lips as she staggers slightly. "Especially when they're both drunk."
"If we want to have drunk sex then let us." Issy pouts. "Now I'm frustrated."
Josh rolls his eyes as he grabs her arm to steady her, pulling her in the direction of North block. "You'll be fine."
Her pout deepens. "Where are you taking me?"
"To the rest of your brothers. They're camping out in Eric's flat and wondered where you were."
"How are you and Hugo? Have you had drunk sex or sober sex?" When Josh's face blushes, she practically hangs off his arm. "OH MY GOD! YOU HAVE! TELL ME!"
"I'm not telling you anything." Josh pulls her into the lift and presses the button for her floor.
Issy leans into him and tries to glare at him. "I'll ask Hugo."
Josh doesn't even glance in her direction. "Cool beans."
"Jooooshhhh!" Issy whines.
He sighs. "I'm only answering shit throughout this lift ride."
"What made you become less oblivious to each other?"
Josh shifted on his feet. "I guess it was when you were healing. We helped each other and meet up for lunch and we started to get closer."
"How did it happen?"
"Hugo got jealous over the fact that I was talking to my ex and he dragged me away and, well…"
"Did you enjoy it?"
The doors slide open. "Oh! Look at that! End of the ride!" Josh sarcastically announced as he pulled her out. "I'm not answering anything else."
Issy grinned as she walked slowly behind him. "You enjoyed it; I know you did." Josh sighed deeper when he got to Eric's door and started unlocking it. "Would you do it again?"
"You're pushing your luck Issy."
She grinned and placed a wet kiss to his cheek. "Love you brother!"
"Yeah, yeah, love you too." Josh pushed Issy inside while rolling his eyes.