"Fucking octopus I swear…" Issy grumbled at his still cold hands stealing the little heat she has in her body but otherwise didn't complain as he pulled her closer and she was enveloped by his heat. Eric hooked his leg in between hers and nestled his face into the crook of her neck. She tucked her head against the side of his and breathed out as she locked his leg between hers tighter and squirmed to get impossibly closer. "G'night Eric."
"Night love."
Her alarm tore through her dreams, waking Issy up. Normally, she'd be up at this time anyway, thanks to her insomnia, either reading and waiting to get up for the day or drinking the last of her coffee, completely dressed and ready to leave her apartment. But this time sleep didn't evade her and that was all because of the delicious weight on top of her, pinning her to the bed.
Eric groaned into her throat and shifted against her. "I'm gonna throw that fucking thing out of the window in a minute."
"Eric." Issy pushed at his shoulder with no real strength. "I need to get up."
He opened one eye and stared at her with a grimace on his lips. "What time is it?"
"Probably around half four?"
He groaned dramatically and clutched her against him tighter. "Nope!"
"Eric! C'mon, I have to get up for work!"
Eric rested his chin just below her collar bone, both eyes open and a pout on his lips. "I'm a Leader and I can order you to stay here with me."
"I can always come back for coffee and maybe even breakfast if you let me go now?"
The pout didn't move even as he flung himself onto his back, freeing Issy of his hold. "Be quick."
She scrambled up and threw the hoodie over her head before shoving the shorts down her legs and staggering slightly as she pulled on her leggings. From the bed Eric watched her, his eyes lingering on her bare legs and flickering up to her face when she pulled her leggings all the way up. Issy shoved the rest of her clothes into the pouch of her hoodie and grinned smugly when he caught sight of her bra. She rolled her eyes as she quickly pecked Eric on the nose with a bye breathed against his skin, unable to stop thinking about how cute half asleep and unguarded Eric is with his ruffled-up hair and the pout on his lips.
xXx
It took Issy just over twenty minutes to shower and change into her training gear. It took another five to clip her keys to her belt loop, pick up her tablet and phone before locking her door behind her and walking into Eric's.
He hadn't even bothered to get dressed but stood in front of the hob with a spatula in hand as he pushed bacon around a pan. Her hand ghosted against his back and he leaned over to kiss her swiftly.
"Mornin'." He said with a yawn, nodding to where a plate sat on the island with a mug next to it.
"Hey." She went over to investigate and shot a smile towards him as she got a whiff of bacon and BBQ sauce in the bun. Though when Issy picked up her mug she paused and glanced at him.
"It hasn't got any salt in there, don't worry." He shot a cheeky grin over his shoulder while he plated his own bacon sandwich up. "When do you break up for lunch?"
"Eleven to twelve, day ends at five."
He smiled as he sat down on the seat next to her. "Initiation all over again?"
"Nah," Issy shook her head as she took a bite and swallowed checking the clock on her phone. "Initiation was set at the right pace for those that have never been physical like that to make them ready for this faction. My standards of training are a little higher than Clark's was." She finishes the sandwich in a couple of bites as Eric mulled something over.
"Is that why you get up at ungodly times to set up the rooms for training?"
Issy frowned. "Set up rooms? No." She shook her head. "From six to half eight we go for a run around the compound's border. It's what we were doing yesterday."
"Ah."
Issy nodded silently, staring down at her coffee. "Are you out on patrol today?"
"Office work today doing reports on our patrol yesterday." Eric's already staring at Issy when she looks up at him. "You know, since I didn't get anything done yesterday…" He moved to face her, shifting closer until she was sitting in between his knees. "I am sorry Issy. I didn't mean to hover and all that." Issy put down her cup and took Eric's hands in hers. He began tracing patterns in her skin, and she looked down at their hands. "I trust you and my trust is in you, I just don't trust him."
She tightened her hands around his. "Then focus on that trust and trust in my squaddies that they won't let any happen to me." Issy's lips twitched into a small smile, tilting her head from side to side. "Though don't expect them to report to you on the general day to day happenings," Issy tried to keep her face straight even as Eric let out a small laugh. "They report to me."
"Are you disrespecting my authority as your Leader?"
"Not really…?" Issy grinned. "I mean, technically, Harrison's my direct Leader due to patrolling being a part of his department. In general, you're my Leader as a member in this faction and –" Issy broke off with a squeal as Eric surged off his seat. She tried getting away, but Eric caught her from behind first, pulling them both away from the island before they could knock anything over.
"You're saying I'm not your Leader?" Issy could hear the grin on his face and she struggled to get out of his hold. Instead Issy twisted in it so that she could face him. The grin on his face had a hint of mischievousness.
Issy wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning back in his arms with a look of deep thought on her face. "As a member of Dauntless you are my Leader. Though, in this case, you are my Leader."
Eric grinned, staring down at her tenderly as he sucked his bottom lip. "I'm your Leader?" Issy nodded her head. "My little soldier."
She laughed, cocking her head mockingly. "Are you talking to me or…?" Her golden eyes darted down.
He leaned forward until his lips brushed against her ear. "All you have to do is ask and I'll prove you wrong." A flush of heat pulsed through her body and she swallowed while Eric's lips moved down her jawline to her mouth, brushing against it teasingly. "You'll feel how wrong you are." Issy clung to Eric, her nails clawing at his neck, whimpering softly under her breath.
Sod's law, her half five alarm went off.
Issy swore darkly.
Eric pulled away with ease, smirking at her. "Or not."
She glared at him and his smirk grew bigger. Unable to think of a retort that couldn't be used against her, she stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed. Grumbling under her breath, she kissed his cheek before making her way out of his apartment.
xXx
The rest of the day started off the same as before. The trainees didn't complain about the run and tried their best to keep pace with the one Issy set. After breakfast, they started off on the same stations they finished at yesterday when the session was interrupted by a raging Eric.
Emmett moved up from the bottom station without any comments towards Issy. The majority of the class moved up to the rarer types of guns used on the patrols that 226 went on but it was good knowledge to know just in case.
Lunch came around quicker than yesterday. Thankfully too, as Emmett was starting to get rowdy, making comments towards Lani, Robyn, Vera and Hannah. He didn't make any to Issy though, only sending annoyed looks in her direction.
Eric sat down next to her as soon as she started eating. The smug look he sent her made Issy want to smack him. She tried to ignore how his thigh brushed against hers as he shifted, the knowing smirk still on his face when she shivered.
"How's squad training Issy?" Blake asked and she only just catched what he said when Eric placed his hand on her knee.
"No problems so far its only day one. They all seem determined to get through my program, but time will tell." Issy swallowed, the words she was going to say were stuck in her throat when Eric ran his fingers down her inner thigh. Thankfully though, Blake just nodded before turning to Hugo. Her whole body froze, thighs tensing, as he slowly ran his hand up and down. The look of indifference on his face gave nothing away and the smirk gave off amusement on whatever the conversation was currently. Issy cleared her throat loudly as she pushed his hand away under the table. "I – I need to, uh, talk to Bulldozer and Red on how they're going to teach the next session, excuse me." Issy got up as quickly as she could, ignoring Eric, before running off towards said squaddies.
xXx
Everyone stood in training room A, a little after twelve. All the trainees knew that they would be fighting during this session and they waited for instruction. Eyes kept on glancing at the board where all their names were written but no one had an opponent yet. They looked to Issy, waiting for her to start but she just snorted.
"I'm not leading this session, don't look at me." From beside her Bulldozer rubbed his hands together, his gaze moving from one to the other. The look they sent Issy after each one connected the dots was like a puppy that just got kicked and Issy just shrugged in response.
Bulldozer stepped forward. "Today as you all know is when we start fighting. First, you will all fight someone who we think will match your level so we can see where you're all at and then, because I'm curious, I'm gonna set each of you put against one of us." Most of the trainees simply blinked as the words registered in their minds, but for those that caught on quicker, they shot Issy a desperate look, pleading her to step in. "So, first pairing, Milo and Soren!"