A/N: Thank you all so much for your patience as well as your reviews. I really appreciate them and they continue to inspire me. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 4: Meekness and Mercy

The books give him a place to start. There are a lot of steps to follow. What intrigues him more are the two books that stood out. The principals in each of them are new and he's almost certain the books would be banned if Jeanine was aware of what information they hold.

The coming days give Eric an assignment that he is certain Jeanine is behind. He can't prove it, but considering she knows that there is something here that he wants, she is determined that he not be around to get it. He passed his initiation. Now he is assigned to visit the other factions and provide maintenance for them, on the various things they are unable to fix on their own. He is also assigned to implement the water treatment proposal that he created for his initiation. He is sent to Abnegation first.

He does not believe that it is common practice for a newly initiated member of a faction to be sent out alone on their first task. Especially one that is in a completely different faction. Nonetheless, he is, and he takes it as the test he is certain that it is. Jeanine is making another attempt to rid herself of him. He does not challenge it. He goes alone.

The residents of Abnegation don't look at him in curiosity. They greet him but keep to themselves and don't ask questions about his presence. It does not take long for someone to officially meet him though.

The man smiles kindly but Eric can see the hesitation in his eyes. "Good morning," the man says.

"Good morning," Eric nods. Abnegation does not greet with any physical touch, not like the handshakes of Erudite, so Eric does not offer one. "I'm here to check on your water pump system and implement a new treatment process to it."

"We were told to expect you," the man says. That tells Eric enough. "I'm Andrew Prior."

"Eric Coulter."

Andrew nods. "Come with me."

Eric tightens his grip on his toolbox and moves forward. Andrew waits until Eric is next to him before he starts leading the way. It does not take long to get there and Eric is well aware of how the man next to him keeps glancing over. It's as if he expects something. Considering that it is likely that Jeanine sent some warning of his presence, Eric is not surprised. Despite working together, the factions do not always get along and Abnegation with their simple ways and rejection of most human pleasures makes people more uncomfortable than most.

Eric keeps his eyes ahead and mentally goes over the process he created. He does not want to antagonize the man. He cannot allow any ill will to find its way back to Jeanine, even if it is unlikely to come from this faction.

Andrew stops at a building. It looks the same as the other grey blocks that they live in except for its size. He opens the door and motions him forward.

"Here it is. Let us know if there's anything you need. Someone will be around." It's as much of a warning as Abnegation would give.

Eric simply nods. "Thank you."

Andrew stares at him for a moment before he nods. He leaves Eric in the room with the machinery.

Eric gets to work. He has brought his notes and starts the way Stanley has taught him: looking over the machinery and testing the current processes.

It takes longer than he thought it would. By the time he has the start of an idea of what is wrong and how he's going to integrate the new system, the sun is high in the sky. He stops to eat. He brought his own lunch but he expected to be further along than he is. He sits on the step outside the building. There are a few people walking by but as he unwraps his food, he hears something. Eric ignores it. He just wants to eat and get back to work, hopefully fixing this system before dark.

He hears it again.

It's something small and high-pitched. He glances around but it takes him a few moments before he finally sees the cause. There, curled up against the side of the step next to him, is a small orange thing. He would have missed it if he hadn't heard it.

Curiosity wins out and Eric can't help but reach down and poke at it to see what it is. It uncurls itself and he catches sight of the large eyes, ears and tiny teeth as it meows at him. It's a kitten. He hasn't actually seen an animal this close before, at least nothing alive. He looks around. There is no other to be seen. The kitten is alone. It looks young to be left to its own devices, but that was the only way to learn how to survive. That was how Eric did. Though, he had Ethan.

The thought of his brother has him moving without thinking, tearing a small piece of the food he's brought and offering it to the animal. The thing scarfs it down quickly. It makes him wonder how long it's been on its own. It's living in a faction of the selfless. One of them ought to have fed it, shouldn't they?

Eric offers it some more before he finally continues eating. The kitten moves closer, rubbing itself on his feet. It's tiny in comparison. Eric gives another small piece of his sandwich before he finishes it and gets up to go back to work. The kitten tries to follow.

"Go home," he tells it. "There's nothing left."

It doesn't listen. As Eric heads back inside, he catches sight of it trying to climb up on the step and failing. He tries to ignore it, to get back to work. It's not likely to survive if it can't even climb up a step. Still, even as he grabs the tools he needs and starts fixing the current problem that will enable him to put in the treatment he's developed, he can't stop himself from checking on it. It's still struggling.

He gets wrapped up in his work. He's half covered in grease and has managed not to break one of the pipes that started leaking when he remembers the kitten. It's gone. He assumes it's gone back wherever it came from. It hasn't. He finds it in his toolbox, curled up on a socket wrench and looking as if it belonged there. Eric scoops it up and drops it gently on the floor next to his stuff.

"No."

It mewls at him and comes towards his leg. He ignores it. He needs to get this done. Eric has more important things to deal with than a cat. He works on implementing the changes he's been authorized to make. It's only when he tries to move to the other side that he feels the weight on his foot. He looks down.

The kitten is asleep, draped over the laces of his boot. He stares at it for a moment, considering what to do. He didn't expect this thing to cling to him after he fed it once but maybe that was a mistake. He bends down and picks it up. The kitten makes more noise at him. He raises it to his face. "You need to go home."

The kitten makes some sort of noise before pushing forward and rubbing its face on his. The fur is soft. He pulls it back slightly to look at it again. The kitten stares back. "Fine. But only while I'm here." It's not that he's giving in, but clearly, the thing isn't going to leave him alone while he's here. He shifts, trying to decide where to put it that's not on his tools or feet. He needs both.

He finally decides to put it in the pocket on the side of his leg. The jumpsuit has large ones with space for tools. At least, that's what he assumes.

The kitten curls up in the small space. Now that one problem is solved, it makes perfect sense that there is a knock on the door. He tries not to sigh.

The door opens. A woman smiles politely as she comes in. "Good evening. We thought you might be hungry. You've been here all day."

Eric nods. "You shouldn't have any more problems with the pump, but I have more work to do on the new system."

"Wonderful." She places the tray she's holding on the ground. She looks as though she's going to leave before she pauses. "Does Erudite typically send singular people for repairs?"

He looks at her, surprised by the question. Abnegation rarely show their curiosity. At least, they never did in their shared lessons.

"Forgive me," she says. "You just seem...young."

"Initiation ended a week ago," he says. She looks slightly taken back by his answer. He is quick to divert her. "Do you have cats around here?"

"Cats? No."

Interesting. Eric reaches into his pocket, ignoring the disgruntled sounds the kitten makes as he picks it up and shows it to the woman. "It hasn't left since lunch."

She moves forward and reaches up. The kitten recoils and digs its claws into Eric's hand. He tries not to wince or throw it.

"We don't indulge in pets," the woman says. "Keeping them is inherently selfish. I'd suggest you take it with you or bring it to Amity if you have a chance. They'd know what to do with it."

Eric nods. It's no surprise they'd consider even keeping a cat to be selfish, regardless of what the cat needs. Not that he has any clue. He puts it back into his pocket and feels it move until it gets comfortable again and settles.

"I'll return for the tray," she says and leaves him be.

Eric checks the food that was brought. It is a simple unseasoned chicken and what looks like canned beans, with a piece of bread. He tears a couple of bits of chicken off and drops them in his pocket. He eats quickly before trying to finally finish his work.

When the woman returns to take the tray, she leaves a knitted sock. It's for the kitten, she tells him. To help keep it warm. He didn't even think about that. The kitten does not protest getting dropped into the sock. Instead, it looks as though it falls asleep instantly.

With the kitten asleep, and no further distractions, Eric manages to finish his work. He packs up his toolbox. Eric considers leaving the kitten that is still curled up in his pocket. Abnegation will not care for it, excusing themselves from the potential enjoyment of caring for the creature with the claim of selflessness, and it will either have to fight for its survival or die.

Unlike the faction he finds himself in, Eric has never been in the habit of denying himself anything. Selflessness is not a reason for allowing something to perish to the elements.

He leaves with it in his pocket.

[tbc]