A/N: Holy Shix! You guys are amazing. I'm so excited about all the positiveness. Okay enough of my rambling. You know the drill. I Don't own anything, nor do I take credit for it. I only OWN my OC's. If you all have any questions let me know and I'll try and answer without giving away anything vital.
A shout out to 'MyWritingisThis' and my bestie 'Missy' for being awesome! You have helped me one to many times in breaking the walls of my writers block and I thank you for not letting me give up.
Fair Warning: Contains Cussing, sexual acts, possible violence, and anything some may take offense too. Don't like it don't read. Everyone else- Enjoy,Review, Like and Follow.
Chapter 3: The Morning After
The morning to follow was just as he said it would. Early. Almost painfully early. Groaning, as she collected the small pile of her clothes where she had left them last. The dress was now a ball of wrinkles, she didn't feel like dealing with. To really be a cause for discomfort Eric seemed awful awake and it was starting to grind her nerves.
"How are you such a morning person. I'm supposed to be off today."
"It's not like I'm forcing you to go to work today. Even if I should."
"Should?"
"Yeah or have you forgotten your little stunt a few hours ago?"
"No and it wasn't even my idea."
"Uh huh." Handing her a cup of coffee.
With a raised brow, she accepted it. "What is it poisoned?"
"Just be glad I offered you any."
Eyeing him over the cup, she quietly sipped it. Placing it in the sink and crossing her arms. Looking at him with a placid look on her face.
"So how is this going to work?"
"If your referring to your little problem last night, it'll be handled."
"Okay but what about the security footage near my office."
"That has already been taken care of. Are you going to let me take a look at your lip now?"
"Fine." Rolling her eyes at him as she leaned back against the counter. Grabbing a clean towel and faced her. Calmly taking her chin in his hand, and slightly tilted her face to get a good look at it. She closed her eyes as he gently dabbed at it. She kept her eyes closed as she heard him wet the towel. He smirked as he heard her swallow, she anticipated the pain. Letting a soft hiss escape her, slightly flinching.
"Since when do you flinch?"
"Oh shut up. Why do you care anyways?"
"Since you drooled all over me and my bed."
Shoving him away from her, all he really could do was laugh.
"It looks fine, barely any bruising and it doesn't look swollen."
"Can we just go already?"
Walking barefoot back through the halls to her apartment. Before turning the last corner she hesitated for just a moment. Backing up just enough to back into Eric, who wasn't keeping his eyes straight ahead. Rolling her eyes at him again when he cleared his throat, causing her to quickly get a handle on herself and kept going. Searching the folds of her things she pulled out her key. Something on the door caught her eye, she slowly ran her fingers over the small dents in the metal.
"Looks like you really pissed this guy off."
"Well maybe he sobered up and wont remember exactly how I kicked his ass."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then I guess I'll have to kick it again. I can't run..." She fumbled with her words as well as her keys but much to her relief when the key slid into the deadbolt. His breath was hot against her neck.
"I said I would handle it. I can't have members acting like fools."
"And I can't always have a big bad Dauntless leaders fighting my battles for me." Turning the knob and opening the door. Stepping just inside before turning to face him, placing her hand on his chest, stopping him from following her inside. Crossing his arms as she quickly dropped her hand. Biting her lip as she pondered the possibilities of having left it there to long.
"Not that I'm complaining but next time keep the drinking games away from my door." He turned to leave, not waiting for her to say more. Shaking her head free of the fuzziness, as she called out to him.
"Last night doesn't change anything."
"Yeah yeah." Is all she could manage to hear before he was completely out of sight.
Closing the door, locking it, and went straight for her bathroom. Taking a proper shower, and dressing in her real clothes made her way to the Pit. The girl with hot pink hair, Selena, would for sure be there early to open up her shop. It was Hel's day off, she had a few hours to kill before the night's Capture the Flag game. Hel was in need of a change, and she would start with her hair.
Chopping off the long locks til it was just below her shoulders. Now that the purple hues were gone, it had been long time since she had seen her hair's naturally dark color. Opting for a change color this time. Selena added a mix of pinks, blues, and a little teal. Keeping the roots their natural color, it help make the other colors even brighter. When Selena was done, she took a step back to admire her work. Hel paid her and even left her an impressive tip for all the hard work. Walking upstairs to her favorite store, greeting the two girls working behind the counter. The asshole that had attacked her had ruined her dress. Maybe not physically but just looking at it made her sick. Eyeing a few things, both nothing really caught her attention. Pouting, she made her way to the skirts and shoes. Grabbing new pair of combat boots, she cashed out and headed down for breakfast. Once she started picking the top off a muffin, Rena joined her shortly after.
"I forgive you for not letting me know you made it home last night." Playing with a piece of Hel's newly chopped hair.
"My bad. I didn't exactly make it home." Rena's hand fell, and rested worriedly on Hel's arm, causing her to put a pause on the destruction of the muffin.
"Hel?" The tightening grip on her arm made it harder for Hel to ignore the silent question between friends.
"I slept in my office okay. That big old chair is deceptively comfortable."
"But why didn't you go home?"
"Have you by any chance seen my door?"
"Not since we left for the Pit last night." She let go of Hel's arm long enough to grab two coffees from the other end of the table, one of the workers had just sat down a tray full of.
"Some asshole whose ass I kicked last night, was at my door. So I sobered up in my office til morning."
"Why?How? Who?"
"Honestly I don't know who or how he found out where my apartment was."
"What are you going to do? This is Dauntless my friend, you cant hide."
"Oh Rena if you weren't my best-friend. I'd deck your ass."
"Chill, I'm just stating a fact."
"I'm not hiding, shits being taken care of."
"And seeing as how your not one for details in these matters, at least tell me by who."
"By Eric actually."
"What? After what happened last night?"
"He's still pissed about that. I guess seeing me with my busted lip sneaking out of my office this morning, helped."
"Holy shit." Rena's mouth hung open from the shock.
"My thoughts exactly."
"What does he get out of it?"
"I know right. He asked me in few words what happened, then said he would take care of it."
"So he is doing it out of the kindness of his heart?"
"Or he feels he owes me after our argument yesterday."
"Or maybe its a thank you for showing him what your working with under all those clothes."
The serious look Hel attempted faltered, both of them bursting into laughter. The compound was officially waking up and the crowd started filling the Pit. Now it truly was no longer quiet. Calming herself before returning to seriousness.
"Lets hope its the first one. Uh so how was the rest of the party last night."
"Peter seemed a little bummed you left but we found out something interesting about him last night. Oh and by we I mean any of us that were still sober enough to listen."
"Okay spill. What is it?"
"Oh no we swore an oath and shit not to tell." Her crossing her finger over her heart, made Hel almost spit coffee across the table.
"You better tell me. Damn it I want to know."
"Ugh fine. But you sure as hell did not hear it from me. Apparently when they initiated-' Scooting closer and looked around. - 'he and Tris kinda had a thing."
"WHAT!"
"SSshhhhh! Apparently it never went very far, soon as round two came around, she was into Four. It was history before it started but he swears they never did anything other then kissing."
"Why are we just finding out about this now?"
"Not something to write home about I guess."
"Lets keep it that way then. That's one shit storm I never want to see."
"Yea just the thought of it just oozes with drama."
"So anything else interesting happen last night?"
"Speaking of interesting, guess who slept over?"
"No way, you didn't? Did you?" Hel couldn't hid the growing mischievous smirk as she gently pried for answers.
"If by that you mean he was a gentleman and slept on my couch then yeah."
"Now where does that leave you two this morning?"
"Apparently seeing each other again. After work."
"I see shopping in your future."
"You bet your ass my friend. Lets go."
Grabbing a few outfits, finding items Hel hadn't even noticed the first time she went. This time she found a jacket nothing like her favorite hoody and a great pair of jeans. Rena followed her back to her place so she could grab her stuff from yesterday and head to work. Once Rena left she put her things away. Setting aside her clothes for the late night game of capture the flag. It was still early and she could take a bath before taking a nice long nap. Weighing her options she decided on wine in the tub. Drawing herself a hot bath, one with lots of bubbles. As the tub filled with the jasmine scented foam, she pulled her newly colored hair, and stripped down. Once the tub was filled, she slipped in. Half a glass down and unknowingly fell asleep. The lack of sleep that morning had taken its toll. The little sleep she did get was while she was in the arms of Eric. The nightmares didn't come, it might have been the best sleep she had in years.
Jolting upright in the tub, sending water and suds in every direction. The water was still hot so she knew she hadn't been asleep for long. Rubbing her face just long enough to hear the glass of wine she hadn't finished hit the tile floor. Sighing out loud in frustration, grabbed a towel and got out. Carefully minding the array of tiny glass shards surrounding the tubs edge. Wrapping the towel around tightly, as she started to clean up the mess. Jumping at the sound of an incoming message on her tablet, causing one of the shards to cut her hand.
Muttering cuss words under her breathe as she finished cleaning the bloody wine stained water and glass what she could and tossing it in the trash. Grabbing a small towel and wrapping it around her hand. Unplugging the tub and retreating back into her room. Opting for a comfy pair of sweats, a tank top and a band-aid. Grabbing the tablet off the end table and crawled into bed. The bed would be much safer then the tub. The message had been from Four. Letting her know the time they were leaving, making sure she didn't miss the train. Setting an alarm and tossed it to the empty space on the other side of the bed. Laying back she spotted the shirt she had worn when she first came home this morning. Eric's shirt. Grabbing the wad of black material, she laid back down, finding that getting comfortable was easier this time. It still smelled of him. Before long her eyes grew heavy and she drifted back to sleep. His shirt still in her hands.
Eric's day was going slightly better then usual. Getting rid of a few minutes of footage from the hall by her office wasn't easy. Her lip had bled more the she had let on. It angered him that she gave up so easily in finding him. Instead of taking herself to a party. He would never admit that even though he enjoyed the sight of her almost naked body in front of him just with different circumstances. He would have enjoyed it more if she did it because she wanted to, because she wanted him. Not for some stupid dare, not for the entertainment of others, but just for him.
He rubbed his eyes as he tried to rub away the memory of her standing in front of his door this morning. Switching to the footage of her floor. The camera's angle sucked but just like she said there was two people in front of her door just before she showed back up at his place. His only problem was he couldn't tell who, just that they were both males. He would check with the staff in medical about members coming in last night. Dauntless needed to update their internal surveillance, something he would have to discuss with Four later.
Setting to work on his usual duties, the thought of Hel asleep on his chest was starting to get to him. They didn't discuss what it meant or even why she had woken him up from the couch to begin with that morning. He had to control himself a few hours ago. She had pulled off his shirt and tugged him into bed with her. Even if all they did was sleep. He woke up before her and for a moment he watched her sleep. So peaceful and yet so dangerous. Slowly tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, before he quietly slipped out of bed.
Soon as he was done reviewing what he could of the remaining footage, began to sort through the stack of files left on his desk. Files upon files on initiates and transfers, each explaining the basics of ones personal histories. Their strengths and weaknesses. The files would end up on Hel's desk by Monday morning, so she could review them before helping with round two's simulations. Peter let himself in and took a seat, without as much as a word. Eric looked up at him and shock his head.
"What is it Peter? I'm in the middle of something."
"Oh I'm here about this morning." The words peaked Eric's interest, he slowly looked up from what he was doing. Trying to seem as disinterested and still pissed about the possibilities.
"Yeah what about it?"
"Don't be mad at Hel. It was a dare and we were all pretty drunk."
"Who said I was mad at her? I am very aware it was a dare."
"I just assumed because you yelled at her, you would still be mad..."
"Well you assumed wrong. Dare or no dare she'll still have consequences, but that isn't any of your concern."
"Consequences? Come on Eric it wasn't her fault. After what happened at my place before we headed to your place, I feel I should at least be the one to take responsibility."
"What do you mean what happened at your place?"
"We were all drinking, and from what she said she was drinking before hand so. I mean she didn't hesitate when I was dared to kiss her."
Eric's temper and with the knowledge of events that happened before and after Peter's party. He started grinding his teeth, to keep from letting Peter know what he knew. Maybe she liked Peter, but why would she be at his apartment instead of Peter's. It was just a dare but why was he hearing it from Peter and not her. Unless it didn't mean anything to her. He needed to talk to her himself. He was going to drive himself crazy.
"If she didn't hesitate then isn't that on you? I mean who's idea was it for her to flash me at two-fifteen this morning then?"
"One of the other girls at the party. Hel chose Dauntless and she was dared to flash a dauntless leader."
"That doesn't explain how I ended up on the receiving end."
"Because she didn't want to risk getting murdered for interrupting Four and Tris."
"Yeah I could have went the rest of my life without that information."
"Hey you asked." He couldn't help but start laughing.
"Get out of here before you make me lose my breakfast." Shaking his head as he shooed Peter from his office.
Three hours went by before he was done sorting through the initiates files. He stomach rumbled as he entered the Pit in the middle of lunch. Swinging his keys around his middle finger as he eyed the tables. Making a couple of the new initiates more uncomfortable then usual. Smirking as he watched them squirm in their seats as he past. Finding Four at one on the outer tables and took a seat across from him. Grabbing a burger and stared at his plate.
"Why is it that it seems to be an essential for people to keep playing Dauntless vs Candor?"
"What makes you say that? Let me guess we have a handful of initiates bitching about stupid ass tattoos they woke up with this morning."
"Something like that. I have to head to medical to check on something when I'm done here."
"What's in medical? I think Hel's set for a supply run for them on Monday."
"I'm hoping to find out who someone is."
"What did he do?"
"Got his ass beat and went looking for revenge. Cameras suck so..."
"Checking into medical is the next best thing."
"Its a start."
"Who handed out the ass whoopin?"
"Hel."
Four almost choked on his food.
"What?What happened?"
"From the looks of it, he tried to bite off more then he could chew. Busted her lip and so she broke his nose."
"Yeah that sounds like her, what do you mean he went looking for revenge?"
"Him and another member we're banging on her door while she was at Peter's party."
"How does she know?"
"She saw them and didn't go home."
"How do they even know where she lives if no one seems to know who he is."
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"Wait if she didn't go home last night where did she go?"
"Oh I don't know. I bumped into her this morning and walked her back."
"Okay. Seeing as the cameras suck I see you already checked those."
"I told her I would handle it. We really need to get Erudite in here about updating our surveillance."
"I'll talk to Tris when she gets back from Candor about it. I think she has a meeting at Erudite first thing in the morning."
"Good. We can't afford to have any more incidences."
"Find out what you can. Find me later and let me know what you find out before you do anything else."
"Fine."
"Oh and Eric don't do something stupid." With that he left, again leaving Eric just sitting there. Eating the last of his burger he got up and headed to medical.
The med ward was a little busier then usual. It usually was around initiation. Passing a few full beds of patients being attended too. Close to the nurses station he bumped straight into a nurse carrying a tray of utensils. Nearly dropping it, shifting its contents to one side in with a loud clanking sound.
"Watch where the fuck your going next time. I don't have time for this shit." The poor girls jaw nearly hit the floor as her eyes flooded with fear the moment she realized just who had bumped into her.
"Calm the hell down, it was an accident. I'm looking for Cara."
Collecting her self in the blink of an eye and quicker to comment. "She's not interested in a booty call Eric."
"That's not why I'm here, Tess."
She gave him a sly smirk in disbelief. "It was the last time you barged in here."
"Me and her aren't even together anymore and haven't been for a long time. Not that its any of your business." Crossing his arms in irritation, towering over the small girl.
"Then why are you looking for her?"
"Dauntless business."
Cara had appeared from behind one of the curtains, just behind Eric. Taking off her gloves when she noticed the awkward stand off before her.
"What Dauntless business?"
"Hell if its any of my business." Said Tess as she shoved passed Eric, heading for one of the beds. From the looks of it, someone had somehow cut their hand pretty bad.
"I need some information about someone who might have come in last night."
"Sure, follow me." They headed to her office, pausing only briefly so she could direct a few to tending to people who were probably still waiting. Waving at her new Doctor boyfriend, Scott, as they stepped inside.
"To be honest Cara, I don't have a lot to go on."
"Well if the person your looking for showed up last night, chances are I saw them."
"A guy who looked like he got his ass handed to him by a girl." Eric couldn't help but laugh.
"I need something a little more specific."
"He was kicked in the face. Possible broken nose?"
"There were at least three people with similar injuries, actually only one broke his nose now that I think of it."
"Dark hair, about my height?"
"Yeah, that would have been-' Her fingers flipped through a stack of files and notes til she found what she was looking for. "Ah here it is. I can't wait to things get switched to digital. I can't even tell you what the top of this desk even looks like." Handing him the file and taking a seat.
"Long shift?"
"Ya think? I've been on my feet for almost twelve hours it seems. Thankfully I have a fully capable boyfriend who can help with everything."
"Lucky you."
"What about you? Anyone catch your eye lately?"
"We're getting off topic. Can we get back to why I'm here?" Flipping open the file, taking in the guys picture and his name.
"Always such a buzz kill, you know that. Why do you need this file to begin with?"
"Dauntless business. Can I take this, I'll see that its brought back as soon as I'm done."
"Your a leader, take whatever you need."
"Thanks and by the way, who I'm screwing is no longer your business." Laughing at her mock look of disbelief.
Eric headed to Four's office, upon finding it empty, he left the file on the desk. If anything he'd get it when he came in for work in the morning. Eric already wanted to beat the shit out of the guy, but he couldn't. It would be bad for all in Dauntless if it wasn't handled properly. It was bad enough the guy sought the need for revenge but Eric knew that Four was more then capable.
Waking up to the sound of pounding on her door. Groaning at the sight of the bright sunlight still flooding through her window. She hadn't slept nearly as late as she had hoped. Slowly making her way to the window, slamming its curtains shut. Her room was again bathed in darkness. As she was about to crawl back into bed but remembered the pounding that had woken her up to begin with. Groaning again and almost screamed to the door. Thinking better of it, she headed to the door. Yanking it open without a second thought of who could be out there. Low and behold it was Eric. He didn't wait to be invited in, he pushed past her. She let him, scoffing as she closed the door, locking it. Leaning against the wall beside the door. He stood near her, in the entry way.
"Care to tell me why your invading my sleep?" Yawning as she watched him.
"Looks like your awake to me."
"Well I was asleep, until you decided to come banging on my door."
"I wanted to let you know that I might have found out who it was."
"You mean the guy who's ass I kicked last night."
"Yeah. I'm have to let Four handle it."
"Why is he handling it?"
"I can't risk doing something stupid. Like ripping this guy's head off and throwing him in the Chasm."
"Yeah that would be pretty bad."
"And I really don't need another lecture from you on just how badly I could screw this up."
"But I do enjoy yelling at you."
"Yes you do. There haven't been anymore uninvited guests?"
"I was asleep, so if someone came over I couldn't tell you."
"Keep me posted when you do."
"Will do."
"Yeah I should get back to work. A lot of preparations before tonight."
"Wait." Catching his arm. He just looked at her.
"What is it?"
"About this morning."
"Lets not talk about it."
"Thanks."
She let go, even offering him a small smile as he left. Before she could close the door he stopped, back still to her.
"Try to stay out of trouble in the mean time."
"Oh yes sir." Mock saluting him as she giggled. Shaking his head he headed down the hall and for a while she watched him disappear around the corner. Finally closing her door when the echos of his footsteps disappeared with him.
