Eric's POV
Eric watches Clark, Issy, Bree and Noah emerge with the rest of the group as he clenches his fists. Were they a few seconds late, they'd have missed the train or got caught in a nasty accident. Eric ignores the flutter in his chest at the thought of Issy suffering from another injury. His steely eyes search her out to reassure himself that she's safe when his eyes meet her golden ones. Issy stands with a wicked grin that has him shifting on his feet. Her eyes trace down from his eyes, to the red band on his arm and down his form. Eric is pulled from the trance he's in when her eyes flicker to Four – who was taking his sweet ass time to start choosing – and she snickers.
Eric's eyes narrow, flickering from Issy to Four as they share a look of camaraderie – a look that looks ridiculously out of place, especially when its directed at each other. Four grins as he pulls the yellow Manic band up his arm, making Eric step forward with confusion shifting onto his face.
"Then who's –" The words pause on the tip of his tongue as Issy steps forward, taking Four's place at the top of the cart, the blue band on her arm, mocking Eric.
"Don't have a problem, do you?" Issy grins that wicked grin that sends shivers down Eric's spine. Four moves to the side of the cart, grinning as he watches the two captains.
Eric stares at Issy through narrowed eyes, willing his façade into place to make sure no one can see how affected he is by the commanding power radiating off her. "Ladies first then." He motions to the group standing around them.
The grin vanishes as her face loses all expression and Eric swallows. Normally, he has no problem with being able to tell what Issy's thinking, but now Eric has no idea what's going on in her head and he'd be lying to himself if Eric said it didn't bother him… "Declan." His eyes harden, glancing at her with a slight sneer and she sends a devious smile back, rocking on her heels as snickers break out. "Problem?"
"Max!" Eric snaps out and his colleague walks to Eric's side of cart.
"Are you feeling threated Eric?" He grits his teeth together, side eyeing her with enough brutal anger that most people would have shut up and run away. Though, Issy isn't most people… Instead, Issy bites her bottom lip as laughs are scattered around the cart. "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 eyelashes innocently, a small grin on her lips. "Alec! C'mon brother dear!"
"Jason!"
Before long, both Eric and Issy have chosen four more players in blissful silence, but of course, Eric speaks too soon.
"Lilah!" Eric calls out only for Issy to glance at him knowingly, the smirk now gracing her lips teasing him, making him growl loudly. "I swear, I'm gonna throw you from this train."
Issy laughs then, golden eyes filled with mischievous glee. Eric's well aware that she's caught him staring at her mouth for longer than necessary, Issy knows exactly what she's doing to him and its driving Eric crazy. "Nah you wouldn't," Issy lightly bumps her shoulders with his, grinning widely and his eyes are pulled from her eyes back down to her mouth once again. "You'd miss me too much." Max barks out a laugh from behind him as Eric pulls his eyes to hers. The glint in her eyes haunts Eric and in response he glowers at her. They stare at each for a moment longer before she turns from him with a grin, effectively dismissing him. "Bree? C'mon sister."
It takes too long, in Eric's opinion, to pick through the rest of the group. He doesn't say anything, or even look in Issy's direction when her team prepares for the jump. Eric's still too pissed at himself for letting her distract him with that goddamn mouth of hers.
"Hey Eric?" When she calls out to him, he turns without even thinking only to collapse to one knee when a dart hits his calf. Laughter roars around him as Eric snarls at her. "Good luck, you're gonna need it!" She winks at him before she jumps from the cart.
Four snorts from the side after Issy vanishes, and he moves forward to the door. Four's gun raises and there's a numbing pain in Eric's other calf when Number Boy shoots him. "Later!" The fucker shouts before he also jumps from the train cart, leaving Eric with his snickering team.
"Quiet down!" Eric snaps but none take him seriously as he rubs his calves until he can feel his limbs again. When Eric stands back up, he looks through his team with a sigh stuck in his throat. He's played enough games with Issy on his team that she'll know the types of people Eric prefers on his team. Using this knowledge, Issy's chosen they people he'd go for, effectively throwing him off. Sometimes, he hates that they have similar battle strategies but right now, Eric refuses to let that affect him. Mentally, he picks through the best qualities of those in front of him. Blake and Clark are the best long-distance shooters, sharp eyes and quick reflexes. Max can hold his own against five people without breaking a sweat, as can Bulldozer. Hugo's a tricky bastard and nobody can ever guess what he's about to do – Eric's got a nasty scar across his right hip and down his thigh from when he and Hugo went at each other in a knife fight. Lilah, Billy, Sam and Cody have a strange talent of being able to go unnoticed amongst the chaos of a fight. Zeke channels his ecstatic and bouncy personality into his movements during a fight, making him impossible to catch as he's always on the move. Finally, Jason, Lynn, Noah and Luke can adapt to any situation during a fight in a matter of seconds. Slowly, Eric begins to nod, meeting each gaze. "What's most expected of my team?"
His team stare at him weirdly before Hugo slowly answers Eric's question. "You always try to play offence."
"Wait," Zeke hold a hand up. "Are you saying you want to play defence?"
"I want to do what's least expected of me." Eric shrugs, a grin forming on his face.
Max, having caught on quicker than most, nods his head. "That's going to fuck some people over…"
Eric's grin widens, lifting his chin up at the challenge Issy has given him. "That's my point."
xXx
Eric had scouted out the rest of the building with Zeke, Blake and Hugo while the rest of his team set up their trap on the roof. All the floors were cleared, and the four of them was on their way back up when they heard shouting from outside.
"It was a smart decision on Issy's part to hide the flag on the carousel's roof." A voice – undeniably Uriah's – somewhat loudly, stated.
"Yeah!" Rainbow chimed in. "Nobody's gonna spot it there, specially not with Issy and the rest of the team guarding it."
"Thankfully, Josh scouted the way to Eric's flag." The said Leader froze as Red joined the conversation. "Didn't Four use the Ferris Wheel in your initiation Uri? Strange that Eric would want to use it now…" Their conversation faded as the groups wandered off towards the Ferris Wheel.
Eric breathed out; his eyebrows pulled down as he bit his lip in confusion. "Blake, go up and tell Lilah to take a smallish group to the carousel and see if the flag is really there." Blake nodded before running to the backstairs to the roof.
A scream cut through the air, causing Zeke to whirl around in the direction of his brother. The flash of fear that went across his face were quickly soothed by the word Uri screamed…
MANIC!
"Shit!" Someone hissed quietly further up the hallway leading to the second set of stairs.
"Quickly!" Eric snarled, storming towards those stairs. "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."
Eric stopped walking, making Zeke and Hugo pause too. Eric was staring at Zeke but trying to look for the spies out of the corner of his eyes. After no such luck, Eric kept to the plan. "We don't have enough people." Eric hissed. "We need to keep to the diversion up on the roof." Zeke shook his head slightly, as did Hugo. None of them had managed to spot the perpetrators so Eric turned on his heel and jogged up the stairs. He knocked on the door twice, a code they had come up with so there was no friendly fire, before opening the door. Blake had re-joined Clark on the ledge of the roof while Lilah, Billy and Cody were missing from the team. "Bulldozer take Noah and Sam as back up for Lilah. Hugo," Eric pulled the glowing flag from his jacket, handing it to Hugo. "Take this and guard it in the tower." As Bulldozer, Noah, Sam and Hugo followed Eric's orders he looked at the remaining members of his team. "Zeke, Jason, Lynn, you hold the line in front of the door. Max, you stand behind them and I'll stop them from getting to the flag."
After everyone took their positions and loaded their guns, all they had to do was wait. It was a few moments before they could hear something hitting metal. Eric stood firm, his gun raised slightly, but something felt…off… Before Eric could register the shadow that slipped past Max and aimed their gun at Lynn, the door slammed open to reveal Four. In mere seconds, Four started taking out the first line before helping Kayden try and take down Max.
Eric snarled lowly before he felt a circle of cool metal against the back of his neck. He froze as he heard the gun click, then kicked out. The gun fell from Issy's hands and Eric snarled again. Of course it's be Issy who challenges him. He lashed out at her and she threw hits to his shoulder right back. they went on for a while like that and each time Issy jumped away from his hands. Eric begins to quickly get frustrated as Issy evades him. Though Eric finds an opportunity and seizes it when Issy trips as she punches his jaw. He takes her legs from beneath her but as she falls, she brings him down with her. He grunts when his body momentarily crushes hers and pins her down before she can regain the upper hand. Fire floods his veins and sets his whole body alight when Issy bucks her hips into his and gasps. Eric tries to control himself as he bites his lip, nuzzling into her neck. "Now who's in need of luck?" Issy squirms beneath him and Eric lets out a quiet groan. "I'm starting to think you just like me pinning you up against things darling."
Issy tenses against him and leans up to peck his lips. "I'm so sorry." She says with a hint of concern as she leans back –
– and knees his groin…
Eric presses his lips together tightly, refusing to let the shout claw its way past his lips. He closes his eyes, trying to breath as he rolls over, curling into himself. His hands grip his dick as he rocks from side to side. "Bitch!" Out of all the things Issy could have done to get him off, that wasn't something Eric expected… He looks up at her, fully prepared to threaten her, when someone creeps up behind her and Eric catches on a little too slowly…
"I'm sorry –" Issy starts to say as she stands up, only to be floored by the darts sticking out of her legs and upper back. Issy cries out and curls into a small ball near Eric. Four stands above her, grinning like a madman as the barrel of his gun presses into her thigh. "Bastard!"
Eric snarls as he tries to ignore the bolt of pain running through his body. His hands are still clutching his jewels and he sneers at Four. "Don't you dare Four. Shoot her again and I will kill you." Four simply smirks response, landing a dart in each of her thighs before jogging over to the tower with Eric snarling at his back. Eric shifts into a sitting position and pulls Issy in between his legs. He angles his knees inward, keeping Issy there as she whimpers and he wraps his arms around her waist, leaning his head against hers. "I'm gonna kill him." Eric whispers into her hair. Eric's eyes flicker to see Dec coming over with Eric's flag in his hands and Eric growls lowly. "I've not forgotten what you've just done Issy but help me kill Four."
Issy nods against him within seconds, gripping his top in her hands. Eric grins wickedly, the adrenaline of the hunt flowing through him.
xXx
As the teams came together, Eric couldn't help baring his teeth at those from Issy's team, especially when they wore triumphant grins. Issy had pulled away from him as she and Tris came up with an effective plan to take Four out. Every time Eric's eyes met Issy's a gleam of smug pride ran through him as she shivered. Eric's payback will absolutely irresistible – something that Issy will love him and hate him for. He'll probably love and hate himself for it too, at least if he still has some control left in him by the end of the night.
The plan was simple. Uriah would distract the attention elsewhere while a group of them followed after him. Radios would be turned off, all apart from Tris' who would pretend to be injured and scream for back up through her radio that she needed medical support. It was smart and mean. Tris knew how to take advantage of one of Four's weaknesses, herself... Like Tris, Four knew how to take advantage of one of Eric's weaknesses, Issy. And now, he was going to pay for it.
The rocky area where Tris had 'fallen' was surrounded mostly by building and everyone waited quietly for Four to show up. Eric grinned as he heard incoming footsteps and he jogged along the building until his target came in sight. Four came running around the corner like someone blew fire up his arse. Eric picked up speed, thanking that Four's gaze was too locked onto Tris to see Eric coming at him. Eric wrapped his arms around Four's waist, tackling him to the ground and the rest of the team swarmed out of their hiding places. Four's surprised gaze flashed at Eric while Number Boy struggled in the Leader's hold. Eric roared in his face, putting all of his weight down as the tempting idea to hold him down by his throat reared up in the back of Eric's head. As disappointing as it is, Eric pushed the thought of accidentally murdering Four. Instead, Eric slammed Four's shoulder back just as Zeke and Dec grabbed one of Eric's shoulders each and tugged him back a bit. Josh started the count and Four struggled even more. When Josh finally reaches ten, the group cheers as Eric shoves himself away from Four, sneering as he chokes on the air in his throat.
The Leader turned away from him and set his gaze on Issy. She stands frozen by Tris' side as they watched Four's downfall. Just as Eric takes a step to throw her over his shoulder and take her home, Bree intercepts Eric's intensions by dragging Issy away to the tracks.
xXx
The ride home, Eric kept his eyes on Issy while the Pedrad brothers passed two near identical flasks were passed around. As Eric took as swig as one of them passed by him for the fifth time, he knew it was a bad idea to be drinking on a train, but his priority was to get a hold of Issy, who was conveniently surround by her friends. As the compound came into view, everyone jumped out without any problems. Eric sped up, thankful when Issy lagged behind as their family staggered past the guards manning the entrance and into the compound.
Eric towered over her and she shivered again, despite her eyes lighting up with golden flecks. "I'm going to kill you." He whispers hauntingly and Issy laughs at him, her eyelashes fluttering tauntingly, and he bites his lip.
"No, you wouldn't," Issy moves closer to Eric, her finger ghosting over his arms and a muscle in Eric's jaw ticks as he tries to withhold a shiver. She leans forwards and for a moment, his eyes close. "You can't catch me." When he reopens his eyes, Issy's already running into the compound and Eric growls before running after her.
He almost laughs as she tries to lose him in the hallways Eric knows better than the back of his hand. Though, he can't help but admire the view as she runs in front of him before taking another sudden turn. Eric carries on before taking the next turn and at the next junction, he barrels into Issy. His body flattens hers against the wall and his body tenses at the feel of all of her pressing against him. their eyes catch and it feels like an hour before his mouth collide hers. Their teeth clash with enough force that Eric sees stars behind his eyes. Her hand finds his t-shirt twisting and pulling him impossibly closer. As his hands drag down her waist, momentarily squeezing her hips and falling down lower, Issy lifts herself higher. Eric smiles against her mouth as his hand reach her thighs. "Jump." As soon as her boots leave the ground, Eric lifts her up higher until she's level with him. he legs wrap around his waist and Eric groans against her mouth as her legs squeeze him slightly. He groans louder when her hips buck against his, pressing against his erection until it hurts. He breaks away as his eyes close and his head rolls back. Issy's mouth latches onto his neck, teeth tugging at his tattooed skin and he grinds their hips again and again into a harsh rhythm. When she pulls back, her lustful whitish eyes examine his neck and Eric takes that as time to return the favour. In return, Eric finds her constellations and marks little sun bursts into her skin amongst the ink. This time Issy groans as she works her hips harder into his and arches up, gasping as he bites harder.
"What do you think you're doing?" A voice calls out and Eric bares his teeth into Issy's neck while he move his body to cover hers. No one gets to see her like this, practically melting in his arms, no one but Eric. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Eric knows it's only Josh. "Eric let go." While his brother bats for the other team, the possessive side of Eric still registers Josh as a threat. The Leader growls loudly as he presses closer to Issy, gripping her thighs harder. Issy whimpers as she grips his shoulders tightly. "Max needs to see you now."
Eric rolls his eyes… Of course Max would need to see Eric now of all times. He growls again at his damned luck and he locks his jaw on the side of Issy's neck, relishing in the way she cries out and yanks his hair when he bites harder. "Mine." Eric hisses against her skin, kissing his mark gently as his hold on her thighs loosen and sets her back down on the floor. He lifts his head, very aware of Josh leaning against the cavern wall watching them but as Eric latches on the sight of Issy slumped against the wall, her chest heaving heavily and her whitish gold eyes glowing out from hooded lips, it overwhelms him. Eric surges forward and kisses her hard, making sure that his body, his taste, his essence is firmly imprinted into her every nerve. Eric steps back with the smuggest grin as he watches Issy fully slump into the wall, her limbs shaking with effort to keep herself standing. As he leaves, he throws a brutish glare in Josh's direction for interrupting them before making his way to Max's office.
xXx
After what seemed like hours scourging each report from the armoury and other reports in and out of the other departments, Max and Eric had begun to see a pattern. Each of the files were locked in Max's vault underneath his desk so no one can interfere with their new lead. Max finally adjourned the meeting when each of them could hardly focus on the page in front of them.
When Eric opened his door, he was surprised to see Declan, Hugo, Josh and Alec chatting while Issy is curled up asleep on one of the sofas. Declan grins as Eric stalls at his door, locking it with his eyes already on Issy. She sleeps peacefully, seemingly curled up in what looks like the most uncomfortable position and the racket from the lads around her doesn't bother her. Even from where he stands, his marks are stark against her neck. Eric felt an odd bubbling in the pit of his stomach. At first it felt like fear. It overwhelmed him and something merged with the tingling fear. Everything he had been working towards fell into place with the sudden sense of rightness that settled in his soul. He realises then that Issy was the cause of it all – the sight of her curled up on the sofa like she owns the place – and the fear that continues to bubble within him is the thought of her leaving.
"You guys want to sleep here tonight?" The question slips out of Eric's mouth and he glances up to gain his brothers' reactions.
Alec stares at him. "You don't mind, do you?"
Eric simply shrugs. "I wouldn't have offered. Hugo and Josh could take the sofa bed in my office," Eric hesitates, words tingling on the tip of his tongue, but he swallows them down. "The twins can take the spare room and Dec, you're with me."
Several eyebrows are raised in his direction, clearly expecting him to say something different and Eric almost did.
"That's fair enough. Thanks Eric."
"No problem."
There are a few moments before everyone moves. Josh and Hugo wander over to his office after Eric had told them extra pillows and blankets are in one of the cupboards. Alec and Dec start clearing the room of all the bottles from his coffee table and quickly cleans his kitchen. Issy, however, still sleeps deeply. He walks over and gently scoops her up. Eric doesn't acknowledge the grins from Dec and Alec as Issy curls into his arms, her head tucking into Eric's neck as he carries her into the spare room. He tucks her in as Dec calls through that he's going to take a shower and Eric steps away to find Alec standing in the doorway.
"You know I don't think she'd mind if she was with you tonight instead."
Eric shakes his head. "I'd rather it be her choice that she's vocally told me so rather than me just assuming that's what she wants."
Alec grinned. "You're a good man Eric."
"But am I good enough?" Eric mumbles as he walks past Alec.
"I can't answer that."
xXx
Eric woke up the next morning earlier than he'd like. Declan was next to him, almost falling off the side of the bed and he wondered if being able to sleep in the most uncomfortable positions ran in the family. He climbed out of bed, frowning as Declan rolled more of the duvet around him. Eric's frown deepens as he hears someone rummage through his cupboards and he checks the time. A couple minutes past eight. Why the absolute fuck would someone be awake now? – Coffee. His mind immediately supplies. Eric nods his head. Coffee sounds like a good idea.
He wanders into his kitchen, not the slightest bit surprise that Issy's pouring water into a cup. Eric moves around her, getting his own mug, dumping a teaspoon of coffee and the remaining sugar from the jar into his cup. He accepts the kettle from her with a grunt, words not even accessible right now. She moves out of his way by leaning against the island and her eyes settle on his back. Eric, while not being fully awake yet, is hyper aware of every time she moves. As he looks for the sugar packet, a thought rises in his mind and the bubbling feeling starts again.
What if this was their morning routine?
The thought flares low in his stomach as Eric refills the jar.
What if this was their permanent routine? Day in, day out.
Eric turns to lean against the counter, deep in his thoughts as he imagines what it would be like if Issy lived with him permanently as he takes a small sip of his coffee. His thoughts are pulled to a stop as the sharp liquid burns through his system. His body freezes at the odd taste of his coffee that should be sweet. He glances up and Issy's golden eyes are already watching him, taunting him with the flares of mischievousness in her eyes, as the mug is pressed against her mouth. In response, Eric just drinks it. Even though the coffee is still a little too hot to drink, he swallows it down while ignoring the want to throw up the salt infected coffee. All the while, his eyes remain on Issy's. She watches him, obviously trying not to laugh and at one point when Eric is nearing the end, Issy has to put the mug down and clap a hand over her mouth. Eric glares at her fiercely, but of course she hardly reacts until she bursts out laughing when Eric places the mug down.
"I'm sorry, but your face was hilarious." Issy doesn't sound at all sorry as she laughs. Eric quickly steps up to her, placing a hand on either side of her and she stops soon enough.
"Just recently you have a lot to be sorry for." Eric tries to harden his glare but finds it impossible as she grins up at him.
"I just wanted to see your reaction though." Eric raises an eyebrow and she wraps her arms around his neck, relaxing against him. "People spit it out immediately and so I wondered if you'd spit it out too or if you'd be the ferocious Leader you are and what is weakness?"
"You are my weakness." That abomination that Eric refuses to acknowledge as coffee clearly hadn't kicked in at all as the words slipped through his mouth without Eric realising. He swallows as Issy's grin slowly disappears but being the stubborn asshole that he is, Eric refuses to take it back… It is the truth after all… Eric's mind whirls of something to talk about, anything, before he loses control and her brothers walk in on Eric taking Issy against the counter. "I can't help but think you enjoy pranking me." Smart Eric, he thinks to himself, that's safe.
"Not only you, just people in general." Issy's grip loosens slightly. "People start asking questions if I leave you out of the onslaught of my pranks."
Eric's eyebrows rose further up as he tries to focus on the conversation and not the traitorous image he just put in his own head. "What questions?"
Before Issy can even open her mouth to answer, Hugo walks into the room followed by a very smug looking Josh. Eric slowly moves away from Issy, noticing the look she shares with Josh. "So, did you guys fuck again?"
Eric smiles, watching as Hugo starts to choke and Josh simply grins. Their new status together was being kept quite for now. Neither Eric nor Dec knew why. While Josh would label themselves as a couple within an instance, Hugo was still hesitant and preferred to keep it on the down low.
"How'd you know about that?"
Issy grins at her brother, nodding to Josh. "Josh told me."
Hugo turns to Josh with a little bit of fear in his eyes. "Are you serious?"
Josh's smug expression slips, and Eric gets the feeling their brother didn't think Issy would call him out. "What? She interrogated me!"
Issy snorts at Josh's attempt to cover things up. "Bullshit, I asked."
As Josh turns to Issy, ready to tell her to fuck off, Eric sees the exasperation on Hugo's face. He stares at his sister with one long bored look and picks up Issy's mug. It takes her a second too long to realise what Hugo does before he slams the empty cup down, swallowing her coffee.
Everybody stares at him. Josh looks like he's about to fall down to his knees and pray for his lover. Eric contemplates what the ever-living fuck is wrong with this family. Issy… Eric glances to Issy, almost wary of what he's about to witness… Sure, he's seen how Issy reacts when she hasn't been able to have any coffee. He's heard some stories that seem slightly exaggerated when someone takes her coffee away from her. Her eyes are wide, and Eric makes the snap decision to grabs a hold of her when she lunges forward. Eric likes his apartment as it is – he doesn't want any blood stains on his rugs or furnishings. She growls – whether at Hugo or Eric, he doesn't know… Eric places his chin on her shoulder and tries to drag her into his chest as Issy fights against him. Even though it's too early for anything, Eric would be lying if Issy's anger didn't turn him on right now. "Issy," Eric breathes, both in an attempt to control himself and calm her down. "It's okay, I'll make you another coffee just don't kill him."
Issy slumps into his chest, her nails still digging into his forearms from her fight to get out of his hold, and Eric doesn't know if having her subsided and against him is better or worse. "Did ya know Hugo and Jason have plans to glitter bomb your office?"
Eric's head slowly lifts up to stare Hugo down. "What?"
"Yeah," Issy nods against him and her voice is slick with a smug innocence that has his stomach tightening. "Pink glitter too."
He tosses between the pros and cons of letting Issy go. Potential bloodshed in his apartment – Josh wouldn't be too impressed, but he'd agree Hugo deserves it. Hugo would know better than to glitter bomb Eric's office and hopefully he'll keep the glitter bomb to himself. Eric will get ridiculously turned on, adding more torture for himself after the last couple of days… Dec and Alec would wake up wonder what the fuck was happening – but they'd too agree Hugo deserved it.
Eric makes a mockingly apologetic face at Hugo and lets her go. Cons be damned.
Issy launches over the island as Hugo starts running around the apartment.
"What the fuck is going on?" Dec asks as he watches his sibling vault over Eric's furniture.
Eric tears his gaze from Issy as Dec steps up next to him. "Hugo drank Issy's coffee." Declan makes an ahhhhh sound and they continue to watch them run around and Hugo glances to his eldest brother with a pleading look. Issy takes that moment to tackle him to the ground and they nearly destroy Eric's coffee table in the process. Eric bites his lip and fists go flying. Issy hits Hugo's eye and in response, Hugo punches her hip.
Declan shakes his head with a bored expression. "Alright! That's enough." He walks forward and tries to untangle them apart. After a few moments of struggle, Dec throws Eric an unimpressed look and Eric laughs slightly, moving forward too. His hands grab Issy and lifts her off Hugo with ease. Of course, Issy kicks and yells, trying to land a few more hit on her brother even as Eric pulls her down onto his lap when he sits down on the couch.
"Fuck, okay." Hugo hisses as Josh helps him up. "I'll make you another coffee."
Issy finally settles back against Eric, probably deciding that she's won the round and leans her head on Eric's shoulder. While Hugo goes about making Issy a new coffee, Alec staggers into the room. Somehow, he'd slept through all the commotion and if Issy didn't have insomnia, Eric would add if sleeping deeply to the list of what he wondered ran in the Vince family.
"What the fuck man? What happened?" Alec asks as he pulls out a mug of his own. "Did you drink Issy's coffee or something?"
Hugo blanches, glancing to Issy. "Yes."
Alec laughs, clapping his brother on the back. "You have a death wish."
As Dec, Hugo, Josh and Alec start to bicker about breakfast options, Issy relaxes back and Eric pulls her closer, his thoughts going back to his fantasy. Eric doesn't think having Dec, Hugo, Josh and Alec would be a daily thing if Issy lived with Eric permanently. They'd drop by now and then but hopefully they'd live in peace and quiet. That single thought almost had Eric laughing. Peace and quiet didn't fit the beliefs of Dauntless.
"You are mine." Issy whispers, tearing him from his thoughts once again. His heart clenches, immediately knowing what she means, and his arms tightens around her.
xXx
Eric wandered around his kitchen, making sure everything was ready.
For the rest of the day, Eric had been swamped with work from Harrison as they went over what patrols were of the top priority. Since all the leads of the rebellions' safehouses came up blank, they were back to square one with no idea were they were hiding. Towards the end of dinner Eric received a call from Declan, asking if Issy was with him.
A vein of panic flared up as Eric gripped the phone tighter. "What, no? I'm working… Why?"
"Issy didn't turn up for dinner," Dec sighed but Eric could hear the worry in his voice. "Clark said he dismissed her early and hasn't seen her since."
Eric nodded, forgetting Dec couldn't see him. Harrison lingered in Eric's office having paused his packing to fiddle on his phone. "She with Bree or Alec or –"
"Nope. Checked the chat, no one's seen her and Issy hasn't responded."
Harrison waved his phone in front of his face and as Eric's eyes focus, he realises it's a live stream from one of the cameras. Issy's sitting on the roof of the net. "I'll find her." He watches as he slightly shivers against the low wall and realises the plans he'd had since lunch have completely gone out of the window.
Now, half an hour later, Eric fills up a thermal with soup from his slow cooker. His original plans were to invite Issy over for a late dinner at his apartment but since the anger after being ignored at lunch, Harrison cornering him in his own office and Declan calling about loosing Issy, Eric had completely forgot to message her to make sure it happened. Eric shrugged on his usual jacket instead of the sleeveless on he wore that morning with smug satisfaction. On the way out, he pocketed his phone, keys and remembered to pick up the flask and a heavy blanket.
As he made his way to the roof where Issy was still on, he noticed sharp looks of envy from women that passed him in the corridors and even some sneers from the males as they realise who's its all for. The remarks are whispered as Eric passes them, not giving any of them the time of day, and guys glare at Eric. Some groups taking bets with their friends if either of them could tear Issy from his grip. Even as Issy had relieved his worries herself – her body pressed against him, tightly fitting together like puzzle pieces as she held his face in her hands – he still feels the bubbling of fear that she'll realise that she can do better.
He opens the door to the roof to find Issy sat against the wall, exactly how he saw her last when he checked the cameras. The fear is overridden by the empowering smugness of the bruises he's apparently left on her thighs and the marks littered against her stars. Eric stands there, watching her as she stares into her own world and Eric smiles. The women that want to be in Issy's place would use Eric to make themselves look better and use him to climb the ladder quicker, but Eric isn't some trophy to be won. The guys that glare at Eric would parade her round the faction like they've stolen her safely away from Eric, but Issy isn't some animal to be caged. They didn't understand Eric or Issy, no one really did, but they understood each other.
Eric walks forward, slipping the flask into his pocket and unfolds the blanket. Even as he stands right by Issy she still doesn't notice him until he drapes one end if the blanket over Issy's shoulders and tucks it in. Her head snapped up at him as he sat down next to her, pulling the blanket over his shoulders and tucking the other end in.
"You missed dinner." Eric says quietly, finally glancing at her.
Issy gazed at him and Eric wondered if he was as hard to read sometimes as she was to him. "What time is it?"
"Around seven o'clock."
"Shit."
Eric laughs quietly before offering the flask, hoping that Declan was right with his recommendation. "I brought you some soup."
Issy took the flask from him, shuffling closer and Eric wrapped his arm around her waist. The fabric of her jacket was freezing, and it'd be a miracle if she doesn't get hypothermia… "Thank you." She said once she was pressed up against his side. "Ah fuck yesssss. Chicken and Thyme." Issy whispered, gazing up at him. "How did you know?"
Eric grinned, mentally thanking his brother. "I asked Dec."
She reached up and kissed the junction of his jaw. "Thank you."
He closed his eyes at the feel of her lips against his skin, but it was gone all too soon. "No problem." He didn't speak as Issy sipped the soup. Issy seemed content to remain in silence so Eric didn't say anything.
"Eric?" Issy spoke up after a long silence. "How did you feel when you first became captain?"
Eric angled his head to look at her but Issy was focused on the setting sun. "I'm guessing you don't mean if I was happy to take the role?"
She looks up at him then with a small frown. "Were you happy?"
He smiles, remembering how empowered he felt when Max told him Eric's training was ending and Ryker, one of the current Leaders, was stepping down. The meeting to discuss where Eric would be placed was short as Ryker had already made the decision that he wanted Eric to take over his department. Eric had been honoured to train under Ryker. "Yes, I was. I was excited to lay down my own plans for the faction." Eric had added and changed a few things about the department since taking over with the support of Harrison and the help of his squadron. "I still am." There were still some changes he'd like to make, but with the raids and Factionless uprisings, now was hardly the time.
Issy nodded. "But how did you get over the fact that you had people looking to you for orders?"
Eric realised then what was worrying her. It wasn't going back out with the squadrons after the extent of the Factionless attack on the way back from the Amity Barracks. Issy was worried to make the wrong order and the worst-case scenario, it's the cause of someone's life. "I don't know." He thinks back to the first time he had a handful of soldiers looking to him – a pale comparison to how large his squadrons' numbers are now. "I guess I just realised that they trusted me to know when I needed to ask them for ideas. I trust my squad and they trust me. We look out, protect and never give up on each other." She lost herself in her own thoughts as she settled back against him, and Eric let his words sink in.
Eric jolted when Issy sat up, pulling out a slip of paper from her tablet cover. "Eric do you have a pen or something on you?"
He patted his pockets and pulled one from his inside pocket, having learnt within his first few months as a Leader to always carry a pen after several months of soldiers shoving paperwork at him to sign off. She quickly scribbled four words down and Eric squinted at the letter until he realised it wasn't English. "Is that Latin?" Issy nodded, her eyes fixed on it. "What's it for?"
Her eyes slowly moved up to meet his and she smiled, eyes like torches. "Inspiration." Issy pushed the empty flask at him, only to grab the collar of his jacket and yank his mouth down to meet hers. Eric's hands fumbled for something to hold onto, but her lips disappeared from his a second later. Issy smirked at him. "Thank you."
"Wha –" Eric's blinked rapidly, sucking on his bottom lip but his focused a second too late as Issy opened the door to the stairwell down into the compound. "Wait!"
Issy stopped, looking back at him with a grin and he fiddled with the blanket. "I have an idea and I need to get it down before I lose it." She turned and shot off down the stairs, leaving Eric roaring at the blanket. Once he had it folded and the flask shoved into his pocket, Eric took off after her.
xXx
Off from the walkway was a small room where all of the current Leaders were waiting. Eric had already said his goodbyes to Lottie and Adrian beforehand. It had been teary as the younger Leader spent dinner with the couple that practically adopted Eric when he first became Leader. Now, Eric tried to hold back the tears with a clenched jaw as Lottie and Adrian congratulated Lilah and Liam on their progress.
The was a huff and Eric turned to see Kim leaning against the wall with an indifferent look on her face. "Can we get on with it already, I've got paperwork to catch up on."
"Show some goddamn respect." Eric snapped at her and she rolled her eyes. "If you weren't so lazy, you'd be on top of your duties instead of playing catch up." And finding more forged reports for Max, Eric added quietly, knowing he'd start a brawl if he said it out loud. Now wasn't the time for that, as much as Eric would like to throw a few punches at Kim.
"At least I didn't have Erudite buy my way as a Dauntless Leader!"
Eric snarled, stepping towards her but Harrison pulled him back.
"Enough! Both of you!" Max snapped at them. "For one moment, can you not be at each other throats?" Harrison pulled Eric back a little bit more. "Winnie and Kim, go on." The two Leaders walked out onto the walkway, the Faction quietening down immediately.
Eric turned to Max and Harrison, who were already frowning at him. Adrian and Lilah walked out, side-eyeing Eric. "What? She's arrogant and disrespectful of everyone around her." Normally he and Kim could find enough common ground during meetings so that they weren't constantly fighting, and neither Eric nor Kim saw each other outside of the compulsory meetings with all the other Leaders. Though Kim disrespecting Lottie and Adrian burned his remaining control with her.
"Eric, please." Lottie said, placing a hand on his arm and Eric gritted his teeth.
"Fine." He exhaled. "Goddammit, fine. But if she's disrespectful again, I swear I will break her."
"Agreed," Harrison gripped Eric's arm and pulled him forwards. "I'd like to have Eric and Kim in close quarters for the minimum amount of time thanks." He and Eric walked out in front of all of the Faction and Kim smirked at him.
"How's the dog house, mutt?"
Eric began to sneer at her was Harrison groaned. "Behave, both of you."
Eric turned his back to Kim, and he searched the crowd instead for his brothers. Instead he found Issy's golden blue orbs staring back at him and he sighed. Eric smiled at her and she smiled back. his focus blurs until all he can see is Issy and the Faction roars around them.
xXx
A couple of days later the Faction stood shoulder to shoulder, no matter of rank of status. Eric stood on the ledge of the Pit side by side with his brothers and the rest of their forever extending family. Alec had told them all it was unlikely that Issy would be joining them, his golden eyes familiar but also foreign as he looks to Eric. While he would have like to have Issy by his side as comfort, Eric was happy standing in between Dec and Josh, until he gazed below into the crowds and spotted Issy.
Eric inhaled quietly and without a word to those surrounding him, Eric climbed down to the ground level. The Leader ignored the sharp looks that were thrown in his direction as he pushed through the crowds until he came closer to Issy.
"I've been trying to find you." Eric says once he stands close to her. Issy looks up to him and Eric can see why she didn't want to join the ceremony. Her eyes were red and filled with tears. Eric pulls her into his arms as Max starts the speech he'd written. Eric leans his head against hers, his own eyes brimming and his arms wrapping tighter around her, offering her silent comfort when he can't offer her words.
xXx
A month later Eric has a private meeting with Max. in front of them, sit more of the marked reports and they try to figure out if any of the dates correlate in any form of pattern. A headache was forming behind his eyes when Eric pushed himself away from the table.
"How's Kayden doing?" Eric asked out of nowhere, looking up to Max. The young lad had only settled into his new position within the last month or so and while Liam checked in every so often, Eric hadn't heard or even seen much of Kayden.
"Kayden? Oh, he's the one that found all of these reports." Max grinned when Eric turned to fully face him.
"I though Kim had finally been kicked into overdrive?"
Max shook his head. "I don't know how he did it, but the lad charmed the floor into sending all the reports to him for checking. He then sent over any oddities to me when he found them."
Eric felt pride blooming in his chest for him. Kayden had flourished well in his new position, adapting better than most of the workers on that floor. He was dedicated and ready to prove himself, though Eric thought that was more because of Kayden's lingering fear that his limp would make him useless as a Dauntless soldier.
Then anger fuelled through him. Kayden had basically taken over all of the paperwork for Kim's department, leaving Kim with actually not a lot. "What the fuck is Kim doing then? This is her department, not Kayden's!"
"Eric, please." Max held out his hands. "Kim's been struggling with family problems as well as work. Having Kayden step in is helping her get it all under control." Eric grits his teeth, not believing it for a moment. "Liam and I have a catch-up meeting with Kayden tomorrow at eleven, why don't you step in and see how he's doing yourself?"
While Eric knows Max is only offering him this so Eric doesn't go after Kim, Eric is also worried that Kayden is caving under all of the extra work to prove himself and Eric agrees quickly.
The next day Eric sits in on the meeting with Max, Liam and Kayden. Kayden eyed Eric as he entered the room and Eric shrugged.
"I'm just curious." Eric said as he sat down next to Max.
"You know I've learnt that whenever Alec, Cody, or Issy, or anyone that originated from Erudite says they're curious, your ass better be wary."
Max laughs as Eric simply shrugs in response. "Okay Kayden, we're at your two-month mark in your new position and you seemed to have charmed the whole floor." Max handed Eric the reports from Chad, Kayden's floor officer, of Kayden's training progress and work ethic.
"Even the grouchy ones." Liam added with a grin. "While Chad had mentioned that even with the set amount of reports that are placed on your desk each day, you started directing other reports to your desk instead."
Kayden shrugged with a sheepish smile. "At first it was by accident. Chad knocked into another guy and reports went flying, they got mixed up pretty quickly and some of the supply reports of the armoury came across my desk so, I dunno, I just checked them against the stats the online system… They weren't correct, a couple of numbers off maybe? It just annoyed me so much that I looked into it personally…" Kayden laughed, shaking his head. "When you've been around OCD people like Cody for a while, you pick up their habits quickly. I started rerouting all of the supply reports to myself and Chad didn't complain as shit was getting done. I grouped them by type and then month. The reports of fabrics, baby stuff and the less soldier-y items I forwarded onto the other Checkers because they all matched up with the system. Any reports of the armoury or uniforms weren't matching so I kept those. The ones with the oddities I sent to Max."
Max nods his head slowly at the wording. "What about the checks?"
"Checks?" Eric asks, trying to flip through the reports to keep up with the conversation.
"The reports on the armoury weren't getting better so I went down there myself and checked through the stocks we have, creating correct reports and then sending them off to the others."
Liam grinned again and despite his flirty nature, Liam made a good Leader. "Well, after your time on the fence doing reports and now taking over other peoples' reports, we were wondering if you were placed in the correct department or not…"
"But I was ranked tenth," Kayden said slowly. "I didn't have any other choice than –"
"We're aware of this Kayden," Max nods. "Your class was very competitive, with a lot of great soldiers. Normally during initiations we don't have that many strong characters within one class." Eric clears his throat, giving Max a pointed look and Liam laughs. "Expect in Eric's initiation… That was certainly interesting, let me tell you. What I'm trying to say is that Liam and I think you'd be best in Kim's department."
"But I just – I – I thought transfers between departments didn't happen."
"Not always no." Eric finally found the most recent reports on the lad before them. "But if the officers around them think they're better suited to a different department then they'll report it to the Leaders. You just have Leaders as your higher officers so its quicker for you."
"Our idea is that we'll meet with Kim and suggest any other ideas about your position. Until that meeting, your place in my department –" Eric looked away as Liam called all the operations of the fence his department… It is officially Liam's department now but after nearly eight years of knowing it as Lottie's department, it was hard to think of it as anything different. "– will still be available if you don't want the change to take place. Don't forget its still your decision to make Kayden, we are only here to advise where would work better for you." Liam winks at the younger boy before turning to Max. "If that's all, you can go now. We'll email you on any changes."
Kayden nods, smiling. "Thank you."
"Oh, and Kayden?" Max calls out as he reaches the door. "Take a couple days off Kayden. You're putting in more hours than Chad, putting in nearly more hours in a day than I am and that's saying something."
Kayden laughs and opens the door. "Sure thing Max."
After Kayden shuts the door behind him, the three Leaders sit in silence for a while until Liam speaks up.
"That initiation class definitely was something else…" He stands up and stretches. "You guys want anything before Kim arrives? No sneaky dash of vodka or rum in your coffee to deal with her?"
Max turns to look at Liam with a look of pure disbelief. "Its against the rules to come to work drunk… Hell, drinking in office hours is a massive no-no!"
"So you don't want a double shot of amaretto in your cappuccino?"
Max sighs, slumping back. "Yes please. Be generous with the amaretto though, I feel like I'm gonna need it…"
Eric laughs and Liam turns to him. "Eric? Want anything? I know there's been a new delivery from Amity of that spiced rum that works beautifully in expresso another strong coffees… Named after a big fish of something…?"
"Kraken." Max offers nodding his head. "That's good shit."
Eric looks to Liam, who seems to be vibrating with excitement like a puppy. "Go on then."
Liam throws up his arms, running to the breakroom while shouting "UNLEASH THE KRAKEN!" Max and Eric simultaneously glanced at each other. Neither of the were aware of what chaos they had let loose when they made Liam a Leader… It's not long before Liam comes back and places a cappuccino in front of Max in his usual dark mug. He placed a dainty teacup in front of his own chair and Eric didn't even want to know what was in there. Liam places a large mug in front of Eric and the older Leader raises an eyebrow both at the size and the words engraved on it. On the dark grey mug simply said Yet despite the look on my face, you're still talking. Eric smirked, the mug reminding him of Issy's collection. "I saw your girlfriend go into one of the ceramic shops in the Pit and that shop is beautiful let me tell you. So many sarcastic mugs…" Liam sighs happily ever and Eric chokes.
Eric blushes deeply and Max smirks over the rim of his mug. "I – we're not –"
"You guys wanted to see me?" Kim opens the door and glances to Eric. "What's up with you?"
Eric says nothing as his takes a large gulp of his coffee.
"Ah Kim," Max smiles tightly, gesturing to one of the chairs. "We have a young individual that would be better off in your department."
Kim slowly sits down, switching her gaze from Eric to Liam. "From who's department?"
"Liam's."
Kim reacts instantly and more violently than any of them expected. "If its that shit that scraped in joint tenth, you can fuck off!" Kim snarled shaking her head. "I don't want some little boy swaggering into my department like he owns the place and making me look bad!"
Eric laughs, and he doesn't know whether its because of the rum that Liam put in his coffee or just Kim's arrogance that sends him over the edge. "Kayden doesn't swagger and you're doing a fine job of making yourself look bad as it is, leaving the checkers to do your work."
Kim turns on Eric. "That's rich coming from you! Walking around the faction like you own it with your little bitch that doesn't know her place."
Eric stands up, sneering and ready to launch across the table when Max yanks him back. "ENOUGH! Goddammit! We are meant to be a united front to the other Factions, how can they trust us to protect them when you're constantly fighting with each other?"
Eric sits down without a word and Kim huffs. "Whatever Max. I don't care." Kim stands up, curling her lip in Eric's direction, and Eric wonders if he could move quick enough to reach over the table and break her like Eric promised before Liam or Max realised what was happening. From the look Max was sending Eric, not as quick as he'd like. "I don't want him in my department and that's the end of it." With that, she leaves the office, slamming the door behind her.
The three Leaders sat in silence after Kim left. Max had mostly been watching the interaction, sipping his cappuccino, until he had to step in. Liam had been stirring a teaspoon in his little teacup non-stop as his eyes flashed from Eric to Kim and occasionally to Max until Kim storm out.
"Well," Liam tapped the teaspoon on the rim on his cup before setting it down on the table and looked around. "That was riveting."