So this is technically part two of chapter 27 of the outtakes, but I was getting major writers block on some of the scenes, so I split them in half…ish. This starts off more or less straight off from where we last was with Eric's POV, stretching past Alec's, Bree's and finally finishing off alongside chapter 118 of GF.
I'm sorry...
Eric's POV
Eric groaned as he stretched, his spine popping from being sat down for so long. Eric's unit had been out for the whole day patrolling, staring off from Abnegation through Erudite and driving all the way to Candor before coming home. His squaddies had been constantly swapping from walking around the truck, sweeping a rifle from out of the hatch on the roof of the truck, and resting in the bed of the truck. Gabriel's unit passed them around about lunch on Erudite's territory, heading from Candor to Abnegation. Brandon's unit was covering Dauntless into the Factionless area and onto the front lines into Erudite. Finnick and Rex's units covered the extent of Amity. They had all left the compound at four a.m. and now were arriving back home around about ten at night. It had been a long day. They packed their rifles and supplies away once their trucks were all parked in the garage and set off for home.
He had his rucksack hanging from one of his shoulders, walking towards the North block lifts when he heard a man's voice echoing down the cavernous hallways. The dude was shouting at somebody, sounding absolutely furious. Eric groaned, rubbing his face. He really wasn't in the mood to break up a fight, but he knew his conscience would feel guilty if he didn't.
As he walked in the direction of the shouting, Eric froze when he heard someone crying out – someone who sounded distinctively female. Every nerve in Eric's body lit up as anger fuelled him. Cowards had no place in his faction. He started running through the corridors, barging a few drunkards out of his way before he saw the familiar sight of Emmett pinning some poor lass to the ground. Unfortunately, this hadn't been Eric's first time pulling the fucker off of some lass Emmett thought lesser then himself. Even with the heaviness of exhaustion weighing down his limbs, adrenaline once again coursed through his body, this wasn't what he wanted to come home to. Though, it would be the first time that Eric enjoys it as it will be enough to get Emmett kicked out of the faction.
With two long strides, Eric reached forward and clamped his hand around Emmett's neck. His nails pierced Emmett's skin as Eric lifted him from the girl, his sole focus on the narcissistic bastard who thought he could defile whomever he pleased. Emmett tries to worm his way out of the hold, screeching about some shit that she deserved it, but Eric can hardly hear it past the determined heartbeat pulsing against his eardrums. Not being worried that Emmett will escape, he tightens his grip just to cause pain as he looks over to make sure the lass is okay.
Emmett's assault of the woman and intent is clear when Eric notices her jeans buttons are undone and almost pushed down her hips.
A small puddle of blood formed under the woman's head, pouring from some point near her temple, the amount of blood from the facial wound was obscuring her features along with the dim light, Eric couldn't immediately identify the girl. His attention was stolen by Emmett's struggle but once Eric adjusts his grip, he takes another look in her direction. Bruises of blue and green blotches encase her wrists that hang crookedly above her head. Her face is scrunched in pain as she coughs, spitting out blood and phlegm.
And then her eyelids wearily crack open.
Eric's heart seems to freeze in his chest. Pain pulses through his body that angers him further as he can see the pain in her eyes that struggle to focus.
His breath is stuck in his lungs, heavy like rocks that nearly brings him to his knees.
His soul was chained to those golden orbs that blearily stared back up at him.
The moment unfroze as pure primal anger frothed in every cell in his body.
A snarl rips through Eric's throat, raw rage echoing around them and Emmett seems to freeze in his hold before buckling wildly, caught between fight or flight but fearing the position he was in. Good, Emmett should fear him. Never has Eric seen Issy look so lifeless and his forearms wrap around Emmett's neck as her name repeats like a mantra in his head.
Issy.
Issy.
Issy.
Eric's arms squeeze, one hand wrapping around to grip a shoulder, his palm giving the needed resistance, the other gripping the line of the jaw.
Emmett's hands claw at his forearms. Was that meant to hurt? How truly pitiful.
Eric's eyes never leave hers.
Issy.
Issy.
Issy.
With a simple jerk and crack, Emmett's neck breaks.
Eric has never heard such a satisfying sound. Strange though, for a crunch like that the bastard must have had a spine tucked away in there somewhere…
He swallows harshly. The taste of Emmett's death is stale in his mouth rather than the sour he had expected. A soldier's brain kicked in, it and the rage fed his animalistic urges to take out anyone that deems themselves an enemy and it overwhelms him. The power of taking away life and breath in his own arms nearly topples his morals Eric long set in concrete in his mind.
Eric is high on the result of a successful kill.
Though as painful gasps disrupt his line of thought, his focus reconnects with the heavy breathing in the corridor. One of the only things that brings humility to his cause, that turns him into a protector instead of a bloodthirsty killer.
His whole-body trembles as he regains control, adrenaline still pumping through him and the rage simmers down. The threat has been disposed of and the warrior dismisses the sack of flesh that drops to the floor.
Despite the adrenaline making him frantic and shaking with the need to protect, his hands are gentle caresses when Eric picks Issy up, pulling her close, deeper into his being. Eric inhales her scent of blood and sweat and fear, and his voice is a rumble of dark promises of death in the nastiest way possible if anybody messes with what's his again. "MINE!"
xXx
By the time Eric had reached his apartment, the blood had stopped pounding in his ears and his body had stopped trembling. Issy was unconscious in his arms the moment he had picked her up and all the while he was walking, she had hardly shifted. He walked slowly into his bedroom and pulled back the covers before settling her gently on the mattress. She didn't move nor make a sound when Eric pulled away from her but that didn't stop him from practically running to the kitchen to get a bowl of water, a clean towel and a jar of healing cream that nearly empty.
Eric sets the bowl, towel and jar on his bedside table and carefully pulls her boots and socks off. His hands find the waistband of her jeans and underwear, and Eric oh so gently pulls them off too as his eyes watch her for any sign of pain. While her face twitches slightly, she still reminds unconscious. Eric pulls a pair of his boxers over her legs, his fingers ghosting them. Eric stood and eyed her top, wondering how the fuck he's going to get that off her. He shakes his head, murmuring a string of profanity under his breath as Eric picks up the towel instead and soaks it in the water before ringing it out.
It takes him a while to wipe away all of the blood from her face and neck. His fingers are gentle when he check to see if her nose is broken and Eric sighs in relief when it's not. After much contemplation, Eric decides to just cut open the top before slipping on his own, much larger t-shirt over her head. He carefully cut the straps of her bra off her shoulders, unclipping it at the back, and pulled it from underneath his t-shirt. Eric had hoped it would be under better circumstances that Eric would undress Issy, but now it seemed like a little boy's dream as his light eyes found the darkening bruises of another man's hands on her wrists.
He steps away from the bed, throwing all of her clothes onto the wicker chair by the window, and pulls out his phone, calling Max. The Head Leader picks up within a few rings and the tiredness in his voice suggests Eric just woke him up.
"What's a matter lad? It's –" There's movement on the other end before something crashes to the ground and Eric can hear the muffled cries of Livvie in the background. "Fuck! It's just gone eleven."
"Emmett's dead."
"You killed him." It wasn't a question, but it had Eric pacing at the end of the bed, nonetheless. Both Max and Harrison were aware of Eric's dislike of Emmett being so close to Issy after the younger Leader had barged into a meeting and demanded why Emmett was allowed to work with Issy. Deep down, Eric knew that it was premature of him to demand that Harrison removes him from Issy's program, but if that did happen, maybe Issy wouldn't be out cold on his bed right now. "Are you aware of the repercussions that might be held against you if someone witnessed it?"
"I couldn't give a shit right now Max! I need a clean-up crew on the North-bound corridor heading towards the lifts. Emmett attempted –"
Max cut across him with a deep sigh like he really didn't want to tell Eric something. "I know what Emmett attempted. The report has already been filed." Eric paused, trying to work out how when Max carried on. "They were low staffed in the control room and –"
Eric growls low and murderous. "...You mean to tell me that while this was caught on camera, nobody thought to check just in case someone was being attacked?!" He ran a hair through his hair and pulled at the strands in frustration.
"Four didn't know what was going on. He thought –"
Fucking four-digit wonder boy. "I DON'T CARE! Four should have sent someone anyway! It's fucking protocol if he's stuck on what to do!"
"Eric?" His name is whispered but it rings in his head, pulling him to a stop as Max chatters in his ear, and his eyes flash to Issy.
Relief flows through him and he takes a deep breath at the pain etching into her face. An odd calm washed over him as he quietly barks out his next words, hoping that it wounds Four. "If Four thought he was making the right call, tell him that his call nearly led to Issy being assaulted." Eric ends the call before Max can stutter out a response. He shoves it into his pocket instead of throwing it at the wall like he wants to, but then Eric can see the flinch that Issy would make in his mind and Eric doesn't want her to fear the anger that simmers beneath his skin – the same anger that fuels his strength as a soldier of Dauntless and her protector. He sits at the edge of his bed and raises his hand up to cup her neck but Issy flinches away. Hurt stabs his heart and he retracts his hand slightly. "Issy." Eric breathes. "Issy, please, I just want to check your injuries." Please, he wills her silently, please don't be afraid of me. Eric lets out a shaky breath as he waits for her to answer. Not now. His eyes burn and his jaw clenches. Not after everything we've been through. She stares at him. Silently. Emotionless. Guarded. Then she finally nods. Eric exhales, leaning closer and hyperaware to still giving her space as he lightly feels the side of her head for a bump. When Eric finds it, Issy winces away and inhales sharply. "Hey, I'm sorry. It's okay, I've got you." Eric picks up the jar, unscrewing the cap. "I just need to put this on the wound, okay? It's going to hurt." She nods again and the stabby pain returns when tears well in her eyes. His own eyes blink as he wills back his own tears and scoops some of the ointment onto his fingers. Eric tries to be careful now that he know where the wound is, but as soon as he applies the smallest amount of pressure, Issy almost screams. "I'm sorry baby, I – I'm sorry." Tears slip out of his eyes uncheck and Eric pauses to rub them away on his shoulder. Her nails pierce the skin on his wrist while he rubs the cream all over, mumbling his apologies. She lets go of his wrist as soon as its over and Eric lightly presses his lips to her forehead, closing he eyes as another tear slides down his face and into her hair. "It's okay."
He gets up off the bed, untangling his hand carefully from her hair, and picks up his PJ bottoms on his way to the bathroom. Closing the door behind him, Eric almost collapses against it. His heart aches to take away the pain that Issy's feeling. His bottoms drop to the floor with a soft thud and he rubs his eyes before moving to the sink. As he washes his hands, he stares into the mirror. Eric looks like a mess. His hair is ruffled and his cheeks red from crying. The shoulder of his jacket has Issy's blood on it and he cringes. The fact that there's fear in her eyes every time he touches her, hurts him and Eric would do anything to take that away. With a sigh, he changes out of his uniform and pulls on his PJ bottoms before walking back into his room. The covers have been pulled up to her chin, covering her completely and fear floats to the surface of her eyes. Eric frowns, having thought he could just pick up a couple of pillows and a blanket, and lay on the floor next to the bed to keep her comfortable but still give her space. He exhales as he grabs spare bedding and starts to leave the room.
"Please don't leave me!" The panic in her voice causes Eric to freeze.
It wasn't the response Eric was expecting… Maybe he read her fear wrong and when he looks back at her, Issy's staring at him desperately. His shoulders drop, unable to say no to those eyes, and he places the blanket and pillows back. He lays on the other side of the bed but moves even closer when she lets out a whimper. When she still looks unhappy with the distance between them, he swallows. "Are you sure?"
"Eric."
Eric shifts even closer until he's flush against her, laying on his side. Her head falls against his shoulder and he curls around her carefully, being mindful of her injuries. Tears slip onto his shoulder and Eric murmurs quietly. "It's okay, I've got you. I've got you. You're safe."
xXx
While Issy slept, Eric picked up his phone and added her squaddies into a group chat. Only a few of them were still awake at nearly one in the morning when Eric sends them a message, briefing them on the situation.
Issy won't be coming to work for a few days. Emmett attacked her last night and has been dealt with.
RED: Shit… Is she okay?
She probably has a concussion and major bruising on her back, head, and ribs.
BULLDOZER: Dealt with how?
I broke his neck.
BULLDOZER: Good.
Eric's phone buzzes with another message and Eric clicks on it to see Red had messaged him privately.
RED: After the rankings at dinner, Emmett was drunk when he confronted her. Issy handled herself well and I think someone said Declan had sent it to you. But Emmett called her a whore and a housewife…
Eric scowled. It explained the untitled video that Dec had sent him which he had yet to open…
He did what?
RED: First he implied that every female soldier was a housewife and that Max should keep them all at home where they're safe. Then he called her a whore, not many people heard it, but I thought I'd let you know…
Thanks for telling me.
Eric locked his phone a put it on the side table.
Emmett should be thankful that he's already dead, because if he weren't, Eric would kill him. It wouldn't be a quick death either, but a slow and painful one that Emmett begs for his end.
xXx
Once the bathroom door shut behind Issy, Eric sent a message to Marlene asking for some jars of healing creams specifically for bruises, minor head wounds and bruises ribs. His side pulsed with pain from where Issy had kicked him earlier that morning, but Eric was effected more by the stab of guilt that shot through his body from accidently making the bruises around her wrists worse.
Eric frowned when he heard no movement coming from the bathroom apart from the running water. Slowly, he walks closer, knowing that if Issy had fallen he would have heard it. Eric stands by the door, his head tilted towards the door, and Eric hears her almost silently whimpering. He knocks on the door, worried that she's in too much pain. "Iss, you need any help?"
"I'm fine."
Eric's head hits the door as Eric quietly groans. He just wants to help her, but Eric can't understand why she won't let him. "Okay… Well, call if you need anything I guess." Instead, Eric walks back into his room and picks up his wash basket and places it on the bed. Having nothing else to do, Eric sorts through his washing into loads. Her top is at the top of the pile and a light blush colours his cheeks. When Eric had come out of the bathroom and saw Issy holding the top, he had panicked that she had noticed he had to cut it off her and had quickly thrown it into his wash basket to hide his embarrassment.
A message from Marlene tells him that Max had already giving her a heads up and the creams are wanting outside his door. She also mentioned that she'd come over later on in the day to check Issy's injuries. Eric thanks her, quietly moving through his apartment to collect them. Marlene had added a few other to the mix too and Eric placed them all onto the coffee table in his living room. Eric picked up the one specifically designed for bruises and as he rubbed it into his skin, Eric was thankful that it didn't have to go anywhere near is face because it stunk.
While Eric was washing the rancid cream off his hands, he heard a muffled sound. He quickly turned off the tap, drying his hands on his PJ bottoms, and jogged over to the bathroom door. His heart shattered when he realised Issy was crying out. Tears prick his eyes as he leans against the door, unable to do anything. Eric has never felt so useless than in that moment as he stood listening to Issy cry to heart out on the other side of the door.
xXx
The next day Eric was catching up on his reports from the patrols Eric and his squadron had gone on. Max and Harrison had also sent him a list of coordinates that they thought would be their best bet at finding a lead to where the missing children have gone. While he messaged his commanders and set which coordinates they'd be going to next, Eric was hyperaware of everything Issy did. She mostly stayed in the living room where Eric was working, going through his bookshelf, and messaging her squaddies on his tablet, the notifications coming onto his phone and laptop too. His eyes flickered up to watch her as Issy started to make a coffee and while Eric wouldn't limit her coffee intake, he was surprised how much coffee she got through. Eric shook his head with a small smile playing on his face as he turned back to his reports.
For a while, it felt too silent in the apartment and when Eric glanced up to check if Issy was okay, he found that she was already staring at him. Eric did a double take at the blatant worry on her face as she chewed her lip.
"What's up?"
He watched carefully as she swallowed heavily. "Will you, um, will you get into trouble for dealing with Emmett the way you did? Like, isn't there some kind of protocol for things like this? You arrest them, shove them in a cell and work out the consequences later?"
Eric put the papers he held in his hand on the table and shifted his body to face her. "There are protocols for such things as this. Arresting them is for the first or second time they commit a crime. Emmett was well past his first or second attempt. I felt like I did the right thing by this Faction and if Max feels like I should have done it differently, he would have demanded a meeting by now."
"So," Issy hesitated, continuing in a small voice. "So, you're not going to get arrested for snapping someone's neck?"
He shrugged. "Unlikely." Issy flinched, her head lowered, and Eric's eyes narrowed at her. He stood up and made his way to stand in front of her. As Eric didn't know if she'd flinch again if he put his hands on her waist, he leaned his hands on the counter by her sides. Eric waited until her golden eyes looked up into his greys before speaking again. "It was an act of defence."
"I can defend myself." She responded quickly and Eric's eyes widened at her sharp tone.
"I have no doubt that you can. I was defending my Faction against a threat and I dealt with it in a way I thought necessary." Eric threw his hesitation into the wind and cupped her cheek. When she didn't flinch again, he smiled slightly. "I'm not going to get arrested." She nods against his palm and Eric moved back to his work. "Marlene's going to be coming round to check up on you and also to help wash your hair if necessary."
"Okay."
Marlene arrived sometime later, disrupting the peaceful silent between Issy and Eric. There was a little stab of hurt at Issy's happy expression when Marlene came inside. He tried to give them their privacy by carrying on with his work… Well, actually, no he didn't… Eric stared at the paper in front of him as Marlene talked to Issy about how she was feeling. His body tensed as he waited for the answer since she wasn't talking to him.
"Bored."
Marlene snorted. "Well let's see if you've healed for active work again. Coulter, out of the room."
Eric's head snapped up; his pretence of working gone. "What?"
"Out. Don't make me tell Vex." Eric was about to question why Marlene thought she could order him about in his own home, but Marlene has threatened him before with setting Bree on him and Eric didn't want to see if she was joking or not.
"Fuck sake." Eric grumbledto himself as he shuffled his paperwork into a pile and picked it up along with his laptop and he continued to grumble under his breath all the way to his room. "Fucking just want to know if my girl's okay but apparently, I can't even know that!"
It didn't seem to take Marlene long to check her over and when Eric gathered it was all over, he slunk out of his room. It felt weird sneaking around like it wasn't his own apartment but Eric quickly straightened up when Marlene said she wouldn't sick Bree on him but instead needed a chair so she could wash Issy's hair. Eric supplied them with a foldable chair Dec have given him when Eric had first moved in because he had no furniture at all.
He watched from the doorway; his eyes focused on Marlene to make sure she didn't hurt Issy. Every time Issy winced or gasped when Marlene wasn't careful enough, Eric edged further into the bathroom until he stood right by the sink.
"Coulter, I need to be there. Move." Marlene raised her eyebrows at him, and he took a couple of steps away. A smirk played on Issy's lips and Eric frowned at her. The next time the nurse told him to move, Eric rolled his eyes and shifted to Issy's other side. "Fuck off Eric! I can't wash her hair with you constantly in my way. If you don't get out, Bree will be the least of your problems."
Eric moved to the living room quickly and sat down on his sofa, huffing in annoyance. He just wanted to be there for Issy. He pouted to himself and responded to Dec's messages, reassuring him that yes, Issy was alive; no, he did not know when Issy will be cleared for work and yes, Eric was doing everything to make sure Issy was okay.
When they were finished, Issy and Marlene came back into the living room and Eric's eyes searched Issy to make sure she's okay.
Marlene snorted as she picked up her bag from where it sat. "She's fine Eric, please calm the fuck down! Issy is cleared with a few restrictions; no running for a few days, light sparring and continuation use of the creams." Issy moves to sit in between Eric's knees and without even asking, he begins to undo the towel like last night and carefully begins to dry her hair. "As cute as you both are, I'll leave you be." Marlene smirks at them.
"Bye Marlene and thank you!" Issy calls out to the nurse.
As the door shuts behind her, Eric relaxes and amuses himself for a moment with drying her hair. Then he realises Issy's just been cleared to go back to work and she'll leave the safety of his apartment. Eric has to remind himself that he is a Leader, and Leaders don't sulk. "I guess you'll be going back to work tomorrow then…"
Issy slumps against him with a sigh. "Yeah." She said gently. "I'll be careful though, and Red or Bulldozer won't let me do a lot as it is."
Good. Eric thinks to himself with a small smirk. He doesn't want her injuring herself further. "Half five start?"
Issy shook her head. "I'll be starting at half eight, I'm missing out on the run."
Eric grinned for the first time in a couple of days. At least she'll be with him for a bit longer than he thought. "Okay."
xXx
Eric jerked awake at half five the next morning.
Issy's phone had been put on charge the evening before, which he almost regretted doing until he remembered she didn't have to get up until at least seven.
He felt Issy's breathing shift, telling Eric that she had woken up too. He leaned over and shut her alarm off, setting the snooze for seven. As Eric settled back down to go to sleep, he blearily looked over to see Issy staring off into space, clearly thinking hard on something.
"Stop thinking." Eric mumbled. "I can hear the clogs turning."
She shuffled closer, allowing Eric to curl back around her as she draped her arm over his waist. "Fine."
Eric sighed happily, content blooming low in his stomach. He quickly fell back to sleep for a few moments, waking when Issy shifted in his arms. He closes his eyes again, hoping he could maybe grab her phone and turn it off before it woke her. Unfortunately for Eric, he had drifted off again and the alarm woke them both up. Eric groaned, rolling onto his back so Issy could get up.
He lays on his bed for a moment as Issy goes to take a shower and Eric's phone lights up. Frowning, Eric scrolls through his messages to see that he's due to attend a Leadership meeting at half eight. The Leader lets out a long groan again before climbing out of bed and makes his way towards the kitchen. If Eric's going to be sat in a room for god knows how long with fucking Kim, he wants something strong to deal with it. Eric makes Issy's coffee – black and three sugars – having made it a lot over the past few days. He pauses, hardly moving until he can still hear the stream of the shower before he pours a great helping of strong liquor into his own coffee and quickly re-hides the bottle like he'd get in trouble for the act.
When Issy reappears dressed leggings and a long-sleeved top, Eric squints at her over the rim of his half empty mug. How the hell is she expecting to stay warm like that? He grunted at her, shaking his head, as he walked back into his room. He pulled on his uniform with a slight sneer hanging on the corners of his mouth. The material felt harsh against his skin after spending his days in sweats and t-shirt.
For a moment Eric just stood in his room.
The material of his trousers felt heavy from the gun strapped to his hip and the two knives sheathed to his calves. His Leadership jacket felt familiar, the seven red strips on each arm comforting. The soldier knew what he was getting into when he decided to dedicate his life, his strength, to his faction and become a Leader. Eric knew what was expected of him now as the rebels were becoming more dangerous. The parents of the missing children cries resounded in his head, adding to the flowing guilt that Eric felt getting higher each time their leads came up to nought. After nearly a month, it was unlikely the children were still alive, but Eric and his squadron still tried. Though as days fell into weeks, he could feel the blood of the lives he couldn't save dripping from his hands.
The Leader swallowed thickly knowing that more lives would be lost as the war loomed closer. Out of everyone, Eric only hopes nothing happens to the people he loves… To Declan's parents and youngest sister who still reside in Erudite, or Max and his family… To the rest of their odd family in Dauntless, people who Eric would never think he'd care about in a million years, all thanks to his brother in all but blood and the woman whose held his heart since the days of their childhood, sending anonymous letters back and forth.
xXx
Eric sat in one of the conference rooms, twiddling a pen in his hands as they waited for the rest of the Leaders to join them. He had left Issy at the garage not long before, his mind still thrown deep into the possible consequences of the upcoming war, so deep that he missed the frown of confusion of Issy's face.
Max sits to his left, pouring Eric's report of the attack and disposal of Emmett Henley. Harrison sits on the other side of the round table, quietly discussing something with Winnie as he stirs honey into his tea. Lilah walks slowly, rubbing at her eyes, before snapping at Kim when the older Leader shoves Lilah's shoulder to the side to enter the room. Eric raises a pierced eyebrow at the clear anger on Lilah's face as she sits by Winnie. Kim grimaces as she sits as far away from Eric as she can, making him smirk. Max kicks Eric's boot, eyes not leaving the report, and finally Liam joins them, filling the gap between Eric and Lilah.
"Morning all!" Liam grins and gets several glares in response. He ignores them all, looking to Max as he leans back on his chair. "So what's up Max?"
Eric has the urge to kick the remaining two legs of the chair so Liam falls to the floor, although the thoughts must have been clear on his face because Max kicks Eric's leg instead.
"Most of you will be aware that a little over three years ago Emmett Henley was exiled to the fence for several rape and assault charges against his name. Two months ago Harrison and I brought him back after a clean record and believed he had changed." Max sighed pushing Eric's report away from him. "Three nights ago Emmett assaulted his commanding officer with the intent of rape and the consequences for that crime is death."
Eric stared down at his fists when silenced settled over his colleagues. He glanced up to see each of their reactions. Lilah's face didn't change so Eric guessed she already knew what happened. Liam's face lacked the usual grin. Kim's face didn't seem so punchable when it didn't hold a sneer. Harrison looked like he was about to throw up, having known exactly who Emmett's commanding officer was.
Winnie frowned. "Who will carry out the sentence?"
"Eric disposed of him on the scene." Heads snapped up to stare at Eric and he gave no amount of emotion away.
Kim snorts, and her face becomes punchable once again. "Of course he did." She muttered but in the silence of the room, everyone heard her. "To be fair though, she probably deserved it." A snarl ripped from Eric's throat, but Kim just waves him off. "Didn't you see the shutdown Beta levelled him with?" Kim seemed honestly curious and Eric's rage simmered down a bit. He hadn't had the time to watch the video that Dec had sent him. Kim shakes her head before connecting her phone up to the projector and told them to watch it.
The video started off with Emmett standing behind Issy at a table in the cafeteria, her gradient hair easily distinguishing her from the rest of the table. She turns to face Emmet and they can only just hear the conversation between them. The whole cafeteria becomes silent and then the audio become louder. Issy completely rips into him, telling him and the whole faction exactly how poor he is as a soldier. Then he says the words Eric had heard from Red; I don't take orders from housewives.
Max growls lowly beside Eric and they watch as everything becomes silent, every pair of eyes in the cafeteria stabbing knives into Emmett's back. The next part of the conversation is hissed, and the Leaders hold their breath to hear it.
Then, Issy stands up from the table and face Emmett.
"Shit…" Someone hisses as they watch Issy's eyes shift into the brightest, solid white-gold they've ever seen. It sends shivers down Eric's spine at the wicked hunger in her golds and the dangerous smirk on her lips. Even Emmett takes a step back from her as she threatens him into the fiery depths of hell. When Emmett is dismissed, the cafeteria cheers, and Issy's eyes become bluer, a soft smile replacing the predatory grin.
"She humiliated him." In no point of Eric's life will he ever admit it out loud, but what Kim said was the truth…
Eric felt pride bloom in his chest, and he knew that not much could make a man that bitter back down, nothing short of a bit of humiliation. What Issy did was humiliate him in front of nearly the whole faction and with how much the members liked to gossip, there was no doubt everyone would have known by the end of the day. His breath was caught in his chest at the primal display of dominance and Eric knew that something dangerous laid beneath Issy's skin. He didn't know whether he felt his nerves flare at the pure anger and vicious extent Issy could go to, or ridiculously turned on at the amount of power she emitted – the same wickedness and power that Eric felt within him.
"A funeral will be held for him today," Max told them, and Eric shifted in his seat, trying to focus. "It will be held as a warning for others that might think they can do the same and get away with it in this faction." Max turns to Eric and frowns. "Has Issy healed from the attack?"
"Physically, she's healing quickly with the creams that Marlene subscribed her… Mentally," Eric shrugs helplessly. "It haunts her, she's become sensitive to touch…"
"Great." Kim groans. "You're gonna be a pain in the ass to deal with now that your bitch won't want you touching her." Kim shoots him a grim smile, enjoying herself at the same time. Eric closes his eyes and tries to ignores her words. "Just don't blame her when she moves on from you because you're too much of a brute and she's finally found out how worthless you are –"
Eric launches himself across the table, seething and snarling as his hands reach out to grab her. Kim falls from her chair and jumps back from the table, watching him with a little bit of surprise colouring her features. Hands grab Eric's collar and jacket, pulling him back as he roars at her. Eric sees nothing but Kim smirking at him. He shrugs the hands off him and moves forward quickly. Eric hears nothing but the pounding of his heartbeat in his ears. He slams the table out of his way, reports falling to the floor. Eric darts across the room to Kim, slamming her against the wall and presses his forearm against her neck. Kim chokes on air as she claws at his forearm. The other Leaders are shouting at Eric to let her go but all Eric can focus on is the fear clouding Kim's dark eyes.
"You know nothing about her." He hisses, baring his teeth close to her neck and he relishes in the way Kim flinches away. "Stay out of our business and stay away from her."
"She –" Kim chokes out as she struggles to breathe. "– She doesn't love you Eric and she never will."
Eric snarls, moving to grip her throat and pulls Kim forward, only to slam her back into the wall, his grip on her neck tightening, her eyes rolling back.
Something pricked the skin of his neck.
Eric thought nothing of it as he slammed Kim against the wall again.
There was another prick and Eric immediately felt dizzy.
Slowly, his limbs stopped working – his hands let go of Kim's neck and fell to his side as Eric fell into darkness.
xXx
The first thing Eric registers is the pounding pain slamming into his head. Eric blinks slowly, heavily, and realises he's lying on the cold hard ground. The walls are bare, there are no windows and the air was stale around them…
Eric was in of one of the cells.
"Fuck!" Eric groans, his back aching like hell and a chuckle comes from the corner. He turns his head and squints at Max, who sits on the pathetic excuse of a bed that is in each of the cells.
"We had to give you a triple dose to knock you out." While his voice sounded thoroughly amused, Max's face held nothing but exhaustion. "The first one didn't do much apart from make your reactions slower and then Liam loaded a double dose and after a moment you just fell like a tonne of bricks."
Eric stares at Max, putting the information until he realised what happened. "You sedated me?"
"Technically, Liam did."
Slowly, Eric pulls himself up into a sitting position. He didn't regret anything that had happened so Eric wasn't going to apologise. Max, who knew Eric for years, didn't expect an apology from him. Instead Eric rubs some warmth into his muscles. "What time is it?"
"Nearly half past ten. You've been out for about an hour or so."
Fuck! Eric thought to himself. It wasn't even lunch yet and Eric had tried to commit murder and had been sedated… "Am I going to be put of trail?"
Max sighed but shook his head. "When Kim regained consciousness, she didn't want to press charges. She had rather regrettably admitted that she had egged you on."
Eric snorted, quietly muttering coward. "Why am I in a cell then?"
Max shot him a hard look that told Eric he had heard the small jab. "We didn't know if you'd wake up and go on a rampage, so we agreed to put you in here." Max paused and frowned at Eric. "I know she touched on your fears Eric, but you shouldn't let it affect you." Eric looked away from him and chose to stare at the wall instead, counting the marks prisoners had made in the walls. "It only gives her ammo to push your buttons with."
Eric scoffs and shakes his head. "What the fuck did I do?" He whispers before shouting at him. "What the fuck did I do to deserve this shit Max?"
"Before you became a Leader, Kim was the youngest one out of all of us. Personally, I didn't want her in Leadership, but I got persuaded otherwise. While Kim had to work her way through the ranks to get to Leadership, the time it took her to get through the program was the shortest time anyone had seen. Until you transferred." Eric listened quietly as Max continued. "The first night here, you made yourself someone to watch after getting through your fears quickly. The faction, us Leaders could tell that you were someone that had potential in this faction, even after your loss to Four. You came second in the final stage, higher than Kim did. You got through the program faster than anyone since the creation of Dauntless, believe me, all the times of each Leader have been recorded. At every challenge you faced, you won, and soon enough, you were the talk of the faction. People forgot about Kim in favour of you and since then, she's held it against you."
"What about Issy? What's Kim's problem with her?"
Max stands up and motions to the guard to open the door. "I don't know everything that goes on in Kim's head Eric. Come on, I'm sure you have actual work you need to be doing than just sitting in a cell. Let's go."
Eric puffs out a quiet laugh, taking the hand that Max offered and stands up. They walk from the lower levels of Dauntless and into the cafeteria, where there aren't many people yet. Eric and Max sit at their table and as Eric stares at his plate, a thought comes into his head.
"Is Kim alive?"
Max snorts. "Don't get your hopes up lad, she's alive." Eric rolls his eyes and Max laughs. "I think you bust a windpipe but don't be getting smug about it, tonight I want you to prepare for another mission. We've got some coordinates that need scouting out. Plan tonight and I want you leaving in the early hours of tomorrow, yes?"
"Yes Max." Eric nods.
"Good luck." Max claps him on the back before walking away, leaving Eric at the table by himself.
He watched as slowly the cafeteria started to fill up. Laughter broke him from his musings, and he lifted his head to see Issy laughing with one of her trainees as they entered the room. Issy seemed to be enjoying herself and Eric clenched his jaw. Kim's words from earlier came back to him and he narrowed his eyes when lad touched her arm. Eric frowned when she didn't flinch away from him and watch as the lad smiled at Issy, saying something, before walking away.
Issy turns and meets Eric's steely gaze with her own, and she frowns at Eric. He grits his teeth together, pushing the bitterness from his mind as Issy walks over and sits next to him. She sits too close for Eric to even move his arm and so he shifts away from her.
"Why were you laughing? What was he saying to you?" The words pour from his mouth without thinking.
Issy's head snapped to him. "Milo? We were talking about training."
"Is that all?" Eric internally winced at his own words. He didn't mean for it to come out as commanding as it did.
"What's the matter Eric?" Issy snapped at him. Eric looked down and saw tears well in her eyes and immediately, he felt awful. "What are you trying to get at? If you're implying what I think you're implying, then you can fuck off. I am trying to get my life back on track and you think you're helping but you're not and it –" Issy breaks off, cover her face with her hands. Mentally, he smacks himself and reaches out to comfort her. When his hand settles on her thigh, he feels her tense under his hand. Your bitch won't want you touching her, Kim's words resurface, and Eric pulls away, slamming his hand down on the tabletop. When Issy flinches, it hits him like a punch to the gut. His anger is making her scared. He moves away from her, hoping that distance will make it better. Instead Issy stands, her voice full of hurt and Eric kicks himself. "I'll maybe see you later?" Eric nods, knowing that he'll definitely see her later. "Okay."
After Issy walks out of the cafeteria with a little bag of food, Eric smacks the plate off the table, sending it clattering to the floor. "Fuck!" People turn to him to see what's going on but quickly turn away when they realise its Eric stewing in his own rage.
xXx
The notifications had been sent out and soon the Pit was flooding with members. Eric had spotted Issy when he was climbing down the stairs from the walkway and he pushed his way closer to her. Feeling eyes on him, Eric looked up and made eye contact with Alec, who stood on the ledge with the rest of their family. Alec's eyes drift to his twin before looking back to Eric and nodding once. Eric nodded back as he came to stand behind her, brushing against her back ever so slightly.
She turns around, wrapping his hoodie tighter around her, and glares. Her eyes soften when she realises its Eric and not just some random person. Issy smiles at him and he smiles back, having calmed down from earlier. Eric would have preferred if Issy didn't come to this, but it's not like she had much choice. He sighs as his arms snake around her waist, pulling her against his chest and leans his chin on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?" He asks quietly.
Issy sighs. "I'm a little on edge. I haven't seen my brothers yet."
"That's not all though, is it?" Issy tenses but doesn't answer. Eric knows there's more to her nerves than just her brothers. Then it hits him, and Eric pulls her closer. "I am not going to get arrested..." Has he been thrown in a cell already? Yes, but Eric's pretty sure she'd freak out if she knew that…
"You could have lost your job!" Issy blurts out. "I know you worked hard for that shit and I don't want to be the reason why you lose it." She huffs.
"It would be worth it though –"
She pulls away and looks up at him with pure disbelief. "You'd be okay losing your title and rank – the reason for those marks on your neck and you would be happy?" If I had you, yes. His mind supplied instantly but Issy just scoffed. "I don't believe that Eric. Sure, you'd be fine at first. More time off, less demands, less paperwork but then you'll grow bored, you'll want to go out with your squadron, but you wouldn't be able to, because it would no longer be your squadron or your department. It will belong to someone else." While Issy had a point about his department, she still didn't understand what she meant to him and Eric clenched his jaw. "It wouldn't be worth it in the long run and I don't want to be the reason you lose something that means everything to you."
"I nearly lost someone that means everything to me because you didn't listen." Eric hisses but before Issy can respond, a hush fall around them as Max starts talking. Issy curled into Eric and he hugged her tighter to him as Max mentioned a brief overview of what happened to Issy that night.
Members stomp their boots and slap the mental railings in out roar of what happened to one of their own. Without a word from Max, people around them reached out to hold onto the members around them, sharing respect and strength with each other. Eric knew it was one of the greatest gestures of Dauntless. With his free hand, he reached out to grip someone's shoulder in front of them, squeezing once. Hands were placed on Eric's back and his heart clenched painfully when he felt Issy crying against his chest. Eric squeezed her hip, sharing his strength with her.
When Max spoke again, it was clear that he was upset with the events and took it all to heart. "To those who suffered from Henley's actions in the past, I am sorry for only giving you justice now. We believe that cowardice is to blame for the world's injustices. We believe that justice is more important than peace. We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. We are Dauntless."
"We are Dauntless!" The members shout back before going back to whatever they were doing before.
Eric let's Issy go and she turns around to face him. He frowns at the tears staining her cheeks. "I meant what I said Issy. If it came down to it, I would rather have lost my Leadership rank and have you beside me over being a Leader and you are no longer alive." Eric places his hands either side of her face and presses his lips to her forehead, breathing her in for a moment before striding away.
xXx
Eric loses himself in his thoughts as he pulls on his bullet proof armour. There had been a time that Eric didn't need such heavy armour, but since the activity of the rebels have increased, several average patrols being attacked and children been kidnapped, the situation called for it.
Last night, Eric had called a meeting with all of his squadron in one of the conference rooms. All thirty members had turned up and put their serious faces on when Eric told them their orders. Four stood in the room too, manning the projector. He and Eric told the squadron that their orders where to scout out and infiltrate a small building in between the edge of Candor and the North side of the Factionless. Rex's and Finnick's unit will stay on their rota on the frontlines. While Eric was out, Four will keep track of their movements on the selected cameras on their journey.
"Look lively boys!" Max calls as he strides towards Eric and his squadron. "I don't know what's out there, but Blake hasn't seen any activity in a while." Eric whistles sharply and his commanders Gabriel and Brandon join Eric and Max. The other soldiers pack guns and ammunition into the trucks. "If anyone's there, I want a few for questioning. Any evidence, anything we can use. You lads know the drill."
"Gabriel's unit will be patrolling the area while the rest of us storm it."
"Be brave." Max nods to each of them and Eric motions to his commands to prepare to leave. As Eric goes to the truck with his unit numbers of 001, Max grabs his forearm. "Don't do anything reckless Eric, even if family is threatened, just stay safe and come home."
Eric's eyes narrow slightly. He knows how to do his job, how to stay professional, Max should know that. "Yes sir." Eric moves away and climbs into the cab of his truck with Axel at the wheel. Eric picks up the radio and brings it to his mouth as Axel starts the engine. "Move out!" Axel pulls the truck out of the garage, followed by trucks 002 and 003. Guards wave them past the checkpoints and then Axel speeds up the truck. "ETA an hour." Eric says into the radio before connecting it to the command centre – a medium sized room of a handful of computers connected to Four's office where the eyes in the sky watch over missions such as this. "Four, any sign of movement up ahead?"
The radio crackles as Four's voice comes through. "All activity is on the south side of the Factionless, you're clear so far. Blake is keeping eyes on the building. No activity there either."
"Keep me updated."
"Sir!"
There were only a few times Four had ever called Eric sir, though as Eric was Four's commanding officer, the situation permits respect on such a serious time. Any other time and Eric thinks Four would rather punch him than call Eric sir…
The journey is quiet and there's no conversation over the radio between the three trucks. No jokes were made as they loaded their guns and rifles, arming themselves. Eric had two handguns hidden in his jacket, one more on his hip and knives sheathed on his calves and in his boots. Once he was sure there was no ammo to be loaded, no knives to be sharpened, Eric sat back in his seat. He unzipped his jacket and pulled out his necklace from beneath his vest. The rope was aged and fraying at the knot that held the bottle and the brass fire charm. If he gets back to the compound, Eric will have to apply more glue to keep it all together. He thumbs the charm as the poem in the small bottle appear in his mind. Eric closes his eyes as his hand wraps tightly around the cork bottle.
"We're about fifty clicks away, chief." Axel's voice calls out and Eric's eyes snap open.
Eric nods and picks up the radio. "Gabriel, patrol the area. I don't want anyone patrolling on their own." Eric watches in the wingmirror as truck 002 breaks off from the line and turns right, slowing down so two soldiers can jump out of the back. "Keep to the route we planned, stay sharp and keep checking in with the radios."
"Still looking clear Eric." Four chimes in before Eric can even ask.
Eric presses his lips to his fist with the cork bottle before slipping the necklace back beneath his vest and rezips his jacket up.
When Axel and Brandon park the trucks about fifteen click away from their target, everyone gets out of the trucks. They all pull on a tactical helmet with face shields and an in-built radio. Guns snap as the safety are turned off and Cooper, a soldier from Brandon's unit, climbs into the top cover of the truck with a tactical rifle. Axel takes his place at the nose of the trucks and nods to Eric, who in turn nods to Brandon.
Armed with knuckle dusters, Brandon grins, moving forward towards the door of the building. Eric covers his sixth and the rest of the soldiers keep eyes and guns on the buildings in the distance. There are no windows on the building but that doesn't mean there aren't any armed rebels in the buildings around them. When they're a short distance away from the door, Eric hands Brandon a full body shield, made with the strongest materials Dauntless use for their trucks. Brandon takes off running, and barges straight into the door. The door gives away with little resistance and when Eric and his soldiers make their way into the building, he sends them off in small groups to check the rooms.
He and Brandon take the door to their left. Brandon uses the shield as cover while Eric points his gun forward. No one was in the room and with no cupboards or hiding spots, both men relaxed and looked around. The room was in ruin. There were a couple of desks holding smashed computers, snapped disks and a few bits of camera equipment.
"Shit!" Brandon hissed as he walked closer. "We should call Finnick out to see if he can get any information out of the hard drives."
Eric nodded, his eyes scanning the maps on the walls for any clues. There were only small crosses and pins stuck where Eric and his squadron had already infiltrated and found nothing. Some were colour coded brown, black or blue with the names Omega, Dusk and Darwin, respectively. Several clears were called from various parts of the building before his radio crackled to life.
"Uhh, Eric?" Remmy's voice called through the line.
Eric frowned at the hesitance in the lad's voice. "Go ahead."
"You, uh, I think you need to see this… Up the stairs, first right."
The Leader shot a confused look at Brandon before jogging out of the room and up the stairs. Brandon followed behind him closely. Eric strode over to Remmy. "What is it?" Remmy simply pointed to the wall behind Eric. He turns around and Brandon curses violently.
The sight pulls Eric to his knees…
What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck?
The walls are completely covered – from floor to ceiling. Photos overlap with other photos or bits of paper with notes scribbled down on.
All Eric sees is Issy.
Issy sitting in the cafeteria surrounded by family. Issy talking to Harrison dressed in her patrol uniform when Clark was Captain. Issy bent over her bike in the garage. Issy on patrol standing by the squad's truck. Issy laughing with Declan and Alec. Issy sitting in the reception with Jason and the receptionist. Issy in the tattoo parlour with Josh. Issy standing with Bree and Lilah. Issy in the process of running away from a glitter covered Four…
Issy smiling softly in Eric's arms as Eric grins down at her.
Issy standing with Eric and Max in the garage and again in Erudite.
Issy and Eric sitting side by side in one of the bars in the Pit. Issy and Eric outside his apartment. Issy and Eric standing by their alcove near the Chasm. Issy thrown over Eric's shoulder after Dec had thrown her.
…Issy bloodied and unconscious in Eric's arms after Emmett's attack…
The photos subject then shifted to purely Eric. Eric around the compound, with his brothers, with the other Leaders, with his squadron. Eric in his office, in the control room, in the garage, on patrol on the front lines.
What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck? What the fuck?
The notes on the bits of paper were written with a thick black pen. Issy's patrol rota was scribbled down, word for word. Eric's schedule wasn't on there since he didn't really have one and generally kept his work private. Their general schedule during the day, the places they would usually go, the people they would hang around with.
Pinned below one of the photos of Issy and Eric was a small note. Darwin and Omega want the Leader and the soldier together. Try to get them during a sweep, knock him out and force her along by threatening to kill Coulter – use their weaknesses to our advantage.
Eric kneels there in front of all of it with silent tears running down his cheeks. "How the fuck am I meant to protect her from this?" Eric's heart clenches as he comes to the same conclusion Brandon does but Eric grasps to a fools hope that it's not true.
"Maybe," Brandon starts carefully, moving forward to grip Eric's shoulder. "To protect her, you have to stay away…"
Eric chokes, crying quietly and he crumples down, his hands coming up to cover his face.
xXx
After they had got back to the compound, Eric sent Finnick's and Brandon's units back out to see if they could get any further information while Eric went straight to Max, and word vomited what Eric saw. By the end of it, Eric was nearly hyperventilating and crying. Max agreed that Dauntless' security needed to be ramped up and sent orders to Four to make it happen. Finnick and Brandon had come back with a few hard drives that Finnick immediately set to work on cracking. Eric assigned two of Gabriel's soldiers to ghost Issy to keep an eye on her and make sure she's safe.
No one knew of the outcomes of that mission outside Eric's squadron and Max. No one but them knew that Eric had received new orders that nearly broke him…
Since that mission, Eric has avoided Issy completely. Sometimes they'd pass each other in the hallways, see each other in the Pit and in the cafeteria but Eric made sure he was never alone with her. His heart clenched every time Eric saw Issy's hurt expression, one he knows was because of Eric's actions.
On Saturday, Eric was sat in front of a computer in the common centre, scouring the tapes for anything on who the fucker was, who took those photos. His phone started ringing and he sighed, pushing himself away from the screen. Eric picked it up and answered the call.
"What is it?" Eric asked as he rubbed at his eyes.
"Uh," Nox, one of the soldiers shadowing Issy, paused. "Issy's left the compound with her twin and a few of their friends… I got on the train behind them, but I lost them somewhere in Erudite…"
Eric's jaw clenches. "Thank Nox." He says before hanging up and immediately calling Issy. He stays away from Issy to keep her safe and now she pulls stupid shit like this. His anger boils when it rings to answerphone and he instantly sends a message.
Issy! Answer the damned phone!
Eric stares at his phone for what feels like ages, waiting for Issy to call him back. Instead he snarls quietly and starts to ring her again. When the call finally connects, Eric immediately goes off on one. "What the hell Issy! I just want to know if you're safe, you shouldn't –" Eric is quickly cut off by Bree's voice instead of Issy's.
"Eric, darling," Bree's voice was nothing short of a vicious hiss and Eric clamped his mouth shut. "Issy is fine and safe. Bunch of us decided to take a day out from the compound, didn't Max tell you?" No, he didn't… Eric answers silently, knowing better than to interrupt Bree. "Take a fucking chill pill, she's allowed to go out of the compound. If I hear that you threw a shit fit at her afterwards, I'll come for you and there'll be a Leadership spot that needs filling. Do I make myself clear?"
Eric winced. "I just want to keep her safe…" He mumbled before answering her question. "I understand."
"Great! Bye Eric!"
Eric flinches slightly when the call ends, and he pockets his phone with a sigh. He gets up, having decided he had had enough at staring at a screen and wandered down to the Pit. When Eric walked into the tattoo parlour with – Eric will deign it – a sulky expression on his face, Josh ushers him into one of the private rooms.
"Okay, what the hell happened now?" Josh asks as soon as the door shuts behind them.
Eric word vomits everything on what he saw on that mission, what Max ordered him to do, how hurt Eric is for hurting Issy and what Bree told him on the call. Once Eric is finished, he slumps down into one of the chairs and waits.
Josh stares at him, his jaw moving but with on sound coming out of his mouth. "Why is it," Josh starts slowly. "That you and Issy can't seem to get a break from all this shit?"
"Believe me Josh, I've been asking myself that question for nearly three years…"
Josh sighs, running a hand through his hair. "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Nothing, why?"
"What do you say to a poker day? Just sit in your apartment all day and relax, get drunk and maybe win some money?"
Eric thinks it through, nodding slowly. "Yeah, that sounds good."
xXx
The next day, at around half nine in the morning, Eric's apartment gets invaded by eight other people. Zeke, Billy, and Jason bring a bag each filled with several bottles of vodka, whiskey, and cider. They start to unpack it all and get glasses out of his cupboards. Declan and BD nearly destroy his living room by shifting his furniture around, so they have space to play. Hugo and Blake make the smart decision and bring a lot of snacky foods to eat as they play.
Josh stands next to Eric by his front door, grinning madly. "Is Issy joining us?"
"No." Eric says with a slight pout and Josh snickers. "You know why she can't Josh."
Josh lowers his voice. "Like hell will anything happen to her with all of us here. Anyway, I've messaged her as has Dec and BD."
"Fuck sake…" Eric hisses, rubbing at his temples.
Josh snorted, patting him on the shoulder. "Well, I'm gonna check on her, she hasn't answered any of us…"
"Where's Josh going?" Declan asked once he had left.
Eric shrugged. "Going to check in on Issy."
Dec nodded, opening his mouth to say something else when shouting on the other end of the hallway cut him off. Eric's apartment fell silent. The shouting was muffled, and Eric couldn't hear what was being said. Suddenly there was a crash and Eric's hand went to his gun, only to her Josh and Issy out in the hallway. Issy's door slammed shut soon after and Josh wandered back into Eric's apartment looking pale as a ghost.
"What happened?" Bulldozer asked. "It sounded like you were having a domestic over there?"
Josh shakes his head and looks to Eric. "You sure know how to pick 'em."
"Oi! That's my sister you're talking about!" Dec scowls.
"Everybody's getting fucking twitchy." Josh says as he walks towards the alcohol station and picks up a bottle of cider. Everybody watched Josh as he fiddled with the cap, popping it off before speaking again. "So Issy held a gun to my forehead, held a knife against me and threatened me."
"WHAT?" Nearly everyone else shouts.
"Oh yeah…" Josh nods at them with a grim smile. "Apparently I should have announced myself because Issy though she was getting attacked…" Josh took a long sip of his drink before gesturing around him. "So are we playing or not?"
xXx
Eric strides out of the lift on the Leadership floor.
He still didn't know what to make of Nox's report on Issy. The fact that Nox had waved at her, blowing his cover, had pissed Eric off. Issy wasn't supposed to know that Eric had ordered some of his soldiers to watch her. To be fair, Eric half-expected her to storm up to him and demand why he put such an order out... A small part of Eric hoped that she did… While it was against orders for Eric to speak to Issy for her protection, there was the loophole that she could talk to him.
But she never did.
Kira, the receptionist, smiled at Eric as he walked past. "Oh Eric!" She called out and he sighed, turning back around.
"Yes?" Eric sighed. He didn't want to talk to the bubbly woman right now, Eric just wanted to stew in his own misery juice in the safety of his office.
"One of the squadrons have volunteered to transfer over to the front lines." Eric perked up slightly. Even by having just one squad transfer over, it meant that he and Harrison could rewrite the rota into something actually reasonable. Kira went through the bits of paper on her desk. "Squadron 226!"
Eric inhaled sharply. No. Eric shook his head. He must have heard it wrong, but when he stood next to the desk, Eric could see the numbers clearly.
Squadron 226, Captain Beta.
His mind whirled. There was no way she could be put on the front lines, not after Zack's interrogation, not after what he saw in that building. Eric swallowed. "Yeah, about that." Even though Eric wore a sad expression, his heart was hammering in his chest. "Beta didn't want to come up herself. She thought it would look bad on her for withdrawing her request, she just didn't realise what horrors happened on the front lines."
"Oh that's a shame." Kira deflated. "It's a good thing I haven't had the chance to tell Harrison…"
"Yes," Eric breathed in relief. "It is a good thing."
xXx
A couple of days later, Max demanded a meeting with Eric. The young Leader simply assumed that Max has new coordinates for Eric's squad to scout out.
Eric knocked on Max's door before letting himself in. The Head Leader was sat behind his desk, leaning his forearms on the top with his head in his hands. There was a shot glass in front of him and a half empty bottle of vodka.
He laughed. "I thought you said drinking in office hours was a huge no-no?" Max looked up at him through his hands as Eric lounged in the seat in front of the desk. "The stress getting to you?"
Max sighed deeply. "Something like that…" He sat up and eyed Eric for a moment. Max seemed to contemplate something before he started speaking. "The transfer of squadron 226 to the front lines has approved and will not be changed."
Eric doesn't believe it.
He begins to shake his head, a rueful chuckle echoing around them. "You've got to be kidding me…" He gets up and starts pacing the office. "Are you fucking for real?" Eric shouts. "You gave me the order to stay away from her so that we have less chances of getting jumped – so that she is safe! And now you think it's a great idea to stick her where it's the thickest? What the fuck Max, you have no right!"
Max stands up suddenly. "And you have no right to withdraw her request without telling anyone!" He shouts back and Eric stops pacing. Max scoffs a little. "Do you not have any faith in her abilities? She wouldn't have been ranked first or promoted to Captain if we didn't think she was capable – hell! I wouldn't have offered her Leadership if I didn't think she was capable!"
Eric sneers. "Of course I know she's capable!"
"Then act like it!" Max growls. "Squadron 226 will not be withdrawn from their new position unless Issy comes to me herself and says so." An idea pops into Eric's head and his jaw clenches. "Do I make myself clear?"
"I understand."
xXx
At dinner that day, Eric walked into the cafeteria with a purpose and his heart hurting. He paused at the doors, searching the crowds until he spotted her and walked towards her. Eric breathed, pushing every emotion from his face as he got closer.
Bree was the first to spot him walking towards their table. Alec was next and he elbowed Issy. When he stopped at the end of the table and Dec grinned up at him, oblivious to the tension brewing.
"Hey Eric!" Dec called out. "You alright?"
Eric nodded slowly, watching as the others on the table chatted amongst themselves. Josh eyed him and Issy and rose an eyebrow. Eric swallowed and looked to Issy too. Eric's breath left him as his eyes met hers and he began to feel anxious. Even after weeks of no contact, Issy still sets every nerve alight. She's like a drug and he's been suffering from withdrawal symptoms. Eric cleared his throat, pushing the feeling away. "I need to talk to you."
He focused on how her lips parted in shock. "Um, okay?" The table fell silent as their eyes glanced from Eric to Issy and back again.
"Not here." Eric motions his head towards the cafeteria doors. He really doesn't what this to be spread throughout the Faction. "Please?"
It hurts that she hesitates… It hurts that he's caused this reaction from her… Issy stands from the table, glancing to Bree, before moving close to him. Eric breathes out a sigh of relief, not knowing what he had done if she refused. Eric gently placed his hand on her lower back and was pleasantly surprised when she didn't flinch away.
Her scent hits him when Eric guides her out of the room, and he breathes her in. It's been so long, and Eric wants to crush her against his chest and never let go. Control, I must have control! He ignores how Kim makes a puking face and how Max watches them carefully. Issy takes over his senses. He feels the shiver that runs through her body and he nearly groans.
As Eric leads her through the Pit and towards the North block lifts, he waits for Issy to demand where they'll going. He waits for her to ask him what's going on.
But she doesn't.
Issy's face is void of emotion but her eyes show everything.
Her hurt, her anger, her confusion, her worry.
And the silence almost kills him.
When the lift doors open, Issy puts distance between the as she shoves herself into the corner. Eric presses the ninth button and leans back against the wall. Eric keeps his face void, his eyes void, and his mind void, but that doesn't stop the guilt flooding his conscious. He knew Issy wouldn't react well to what he was about to suggest but Eric hopes she'll just listen to him first before reacting. He glances at her to find Issy staring at him. She looks so small shoved into the corner and his hands twitch to reach out to her.
Control!
When they reach the ninth floor, Eric motions for her to go first. His hand falls back to her back and Eric relishes in the simple touch. His hands leave her to open his apartment door and Eric waits for her to enter. She hesitates in the doorway and looks up at him. Eric doesn't want to look at her, his control is already crumbling. But as a frown pulls down the corners of her mouth, his eyes are cast down to her. Eric bites his lip as he tries to contain the conflicting emotions crashing against the walls he put back up. "Please?"
Issy stares at him for a second longer before slowly stepping inside. She stops in the middle of his living room and looks around. Nothing had changed since she'd last been here. She closes her eyes as Eric steps in and shut the door behind him.
He watches her with his head tilted to the side, silently begging her to talk to him. Her eyes open and their eyes connect, blueish golds pierce into him. This would be so much easier if Issy was scared of him like others in Dauntless. It would be so much easier if he could keep the cold, indifferent façade from slipping every time he looked at her. But Eric knew what her body felt like against his, how soft her lips were, how good she tasted.
Shut up Eric! He shouts at himself and his anger flares that he can't keep his emotions in check. His jaw clenches, his fists curl up, and he looks away from her. Eric hates that he can never keep his cool around Issy – and he loves it too… "I need you to do something for me." Eric breathes deeply, his eyes flashing back up to hers. She needs to know he's serious. "I need you to withdraw from the front lines."
Her eyes widen, colours shifting from one to another as emotions filter through. "What?"
"I need you to withdraw from the front lines." Eric says again, and internally, he flinches at his tone – one that Declan often describes as Eric's Leadership voice.
A small scoff come from her and her head shakes. Her faces creases in confusion and her eyes flicker with specs of golden flames. "So," Issy gasps and Eric's not quite sure if she's angry or about to cry. "It's perfectly okay for you to charge into enemy safe houses with bombs in the ground but I can't patrol areas with idiots that don't have proper gun training?"
Eric rakes his hand through his hair and resists the urge to pace. "You don't understand –" The photos that were stuck on the wall flash through his mind. The threat that those so-called Leaders wanted Issy made him made him angry. They didn't get to demand they have Issy like that. Eric would protect her from it, but Eric couldn't protect her if Issy demanded to be set against the very force that want to get their hands on her.
Issy snarled and Eric eyes flash up to her. "Oh, I understand that you're not supporting my decision, one that you had no right in withdrawing!"
"I'm saving your life!" Eric roars at her. It angered him at after everything she still didn't understand. Issy just looked at his actions rather than looking deeper and separating orders from his decisions. "If you didn't have to behave like a child about it, I wouldn't have had to go over your head!"
Shit…
Issy looked absolutely destroyed and Eric had been the one to make her look like that…
Four and many others would have a field trip if they knew Eric was truly the monster they painted him to be.
Tears well in her eyes. "A – a child?"
Eric shakes his head with wide eyes and hands reached out to hold her. I'm sorry! His heart cried as she stepped away for him. "Issy – I didn't – I didn't mean –" He stuttered. Please! I'm sorry!
A tear fell down her cheek when she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath before opening her eyes, blazing gold, and glaring at Eric. Issy lifted her chin up and her posture straightened. Fury swirled in her eyes and even though her voice was calm, it sent a shiver down his spine. "I have five members of my squadron who have training on the frontlines, the rest of us will begin training for it with the next week. All I ask is that you support my decision."
Eric shakes his head again. He understands that Issy wants to help her faction out, he understands how much it will lighten the load of the other squadrons battling the Factionless. Eric would just prefer it if it weren't Issy's squadron. "You still don't understand –"
"THEN TELL ME!" Issy snaps at him, her body beginning to tremble. His eyebrows raise at the viciousness she spits at him. "Tell me what is so goddamn important that you don't trust me! Tell me!"
"I –" Eric falters. It would be so much easier if he could tell her and he hesitates as he almost does. Max ordered him not to. Harrison ordered him not to. Eric can't disobey two direct orders from his Leaders, even if Eric was a Leader too… Max and Harrison have enough power between them to eradicate Eric's Leadership status if necessary. Telling Issy something that only the Leaders knew was enough to put that idea on the table. Not even Declan knew about the outcomes of the mission to that building, and Josh only knew because Eric felt like he was about to burst from keeping it all in. "I can't! You don't have the authorization." It was a weak excuse, but Eric hoped Issy would except it and leave it before they damage their relationship even more than Eric already has by saying one word by mistake.
Issy scoffs and looks away from him. "Authorization? Are you fucking kidding me?" Or maybe not… "You're telling me to back out, but you won't give me the reason?" Issy sneers at him and bares her teeth. In that moment, Eric realises that Issy's never focused her full anger at him before, and Eric wants nothing more than disappear from her disappointed gaze. "In what scenario did you think that would be enough?"
"Issy." He just wants this to stop – their argument. It his him worse than a migraine and Eric rubs at his temples to relieve the pressure. "I'm trying to protect you!"
"Protect me?" Issy laughs ruefully. "No. If you were trying to protect me, you'd tell me why I'm in danger. Fuck the authorization!"
"I can't disobey a direct order –"
"AND I AM NOT A HOUSEWIFE THAT WILL SIT AND WAIT FOR YOU TO GET HOME!" Issy roars at him and Eric blinks in surprise. They're both aware that Emmett's words hurt her more than she let on, but Eric didn't think Issy thought he was set in such archaic ways.
He frowns. Maybe they didn't understand each other as well as he thought… "I can't –" He says quietly as he stares at the ground.
"You can't or you won't?" Issy asks him, staring him down, her voice as equally as quiet. Eric looks up and his eyes meet hers. Eric stares at her, willing her to understand the position he's in. He's been ordered not to and if his Leadership gets taken from him, Eric won't be able to look out for her, especially not as just another soldier. Issy laughs in disbelief, tears slipping down her cheeks before moving towards him. Issy stops at his side and their shoulders could brush if either of them moves closer but Issy just shrugs half-heartedly. "Then I can't withdraw it." Issy continues towards the door and Eric looks over his shoulder to watch her, feeling useless and weak.
"You can't or you won't?" Eric's voice is barely a whisper as she grabs the handle.
She still manages to hear him the silence of his apartment. As Issy pulls his door open, she scoffs but it falters into a small whimper. "When you come up with a reason for whatever, I'd love hear it." Her voice is soft and quiet and defeated. His heart feels like someone's ripped it out of his chest, but this is Eric's fault. "Right now, it sounds a lot like you don't think I can't handle being a squadron captain, a soldier of Dauntless, and that fucking hurts. I'd support you Eric, no matter what…"
His eyes close when she slams the door shut behind her and Eric finally lets go of his control. Tears slip from his eyes and every single emotion overwhelms him.
He can hear her crying through the door. He did this. He hurt her.
Rage builds within Eric. Not at Issy. Not at the fuckers behind this shitstorm. But at himself.
Eric roars, lashing out and he punches the wall. He knows that'll hurt like a bitch soon but the pain that amplifies through his body after the devastated look Issy gave him hurts more.