AN: As always, thank you for the reviews. We are close to getting our answers today. Enjoy.
Max's stern warning rang in his ears as he stares at his computer monitor, trying to concentrate enough to read the email that's waiting on his screen.
"Jeanine wants Tris, maybe she's more comfortable dealing with women, she became quite fond of Octavia while you were away. I get that you've been dealing with Jeanine since you were put into leadership, but if she wants someone new we give it to her. And I know that you and Tris haven't been working together at all since the last meeting, so this gives you something to train her on. I told you before I need the two of you to put your personal shit aside and get down to what I've tasked you with."
"Why do you keep pushing me to work with Tris? Just let her and Four deal with Jeanine-"
"Jeanine didn't ask for Tris and Four, she asked for Tris and I can get away with sending you there with her as her mentor while she's in her probationary period." Max replied.
"Who do we work for here? Dauntless or Erudite?" Eric seethes.
"I work for Chicago and you work for me." Max answers sternly, "Now I expect Tris to be working with you when you leave this office. Go."
When she shows up in his office he simply grunts at her and nods towards a stack of folders on his desk.
"What are these?" She asks.
"Work orders request forms for Erudite. The request site was down for a few days so we have a shit ton that they had sent over that we now need to manually key in." He replies. "Take their info and enter into our invoicing system, talk to me before approving anything. It's not rocket science."
She reads over the forms, basic requests for security detail, assistance with hospital coverage, training requests for the Dauntless infirmary staff, and also supply orders for the infirmary. She reads over each one, typing the information into their work order system until she gets to one that causes her to pause.
"Why are we requesting Erudite to replace our fear simulation computers?" She asks.
"That one shouldn't have been with their stuff. I guess Veronica had Four separating these and she didn't check anything before leaving them on my fucking desk. It must be too much to ask for someone to do a simple task." He growls.
"So I shouldn't enter these into the system?" She asks, interrupting his rant.
"I didn't say that. Put everything in the system. Just don't approve anything without talking to me. Follow directions better than your fucking boyfriend." He answers curtly without looking at her.
"You still didn't answer my question. Why would we need to replace the fear sim computers?" She presses.
He glances up at her and cocks his head to the side, "They seem to malfunction often, or have you forgotten your own initiation, Stiff?"
"Excuse me?"
"You know, when lover boy had to manually record your fear sims three times due to machine malfunction. Ringing any bells?" He asks.
She swallows hard, "They're certainly outdated, but why not repair them? We have a large part supply room here. Why do we need Erudite to replace machines that are less than two years old when we have a room full of replacement parts for them?" She argues.
"You seem particularly interested in these." He accuses.
"Fiscal responsibility, Eric. That should appeal to the Nose in you." She counters.
"What appeals to the Nose in me is having the best technology available to our faction. We need to successfully weed out the people who don't belong here."
"The Divergents?" She asks pointedly.
He narrows his eyes at her, "The weak." He corrects, "If I wanted the Divergents out of our faction, I believe I could have done so by now. There are several under our own noses, aren't there Stiff?"
She just chuckles nervously and continues typing. He walks over to where she's sitting and he places a hand on the chair, rolling it around so she's facing him.
"What are you doing Tris?" He asks.
"Invoices, just like you asked me to."
"That's not what I mean." He lowers his voice, "You're digging too far in and I want to know why."
"You ordered me to spend the last two days doing inventory in the parts lockers for the control room, it's fresh on my mind when I meticulously had to inventory computer parts that I've never even heard of. I just don't understand why we're going to waste the money on lockers full of parts to maintain our computer systems if we're just going to replace them. That's thousands of dollars, wasted." She replies.
"While I applaud your sense of fiscal responsibility, I still feel like we're having a conversation that's masking another, much bigger conversation." He replies.
Eric is a formidable opponent and he's seeing right through her. She pulls him by his belt loops towards her and begins rubbing him through his pants, feeling the obvious excitement beginning to strain against his jeans. He closes his eyes, willing himself not to react to her touch.
"I miss you, Eric." She says quietly.
He tries his best to control himself. It does him no good. Since his eyes were closed, he doesn't see her unbuttoning his pants. His eyes fly open as she carefully slides his zipper down.
"Tell me to stop." She says quietly.
"I can't."
She reaches through the flap of his boxers and pulls his erection out.
"I know you miss me too. You just won't admit it," She purrs at him before wrapping her lips around his straining flesh.
"Tris..." He hisses as she works her mouth further on him, hollowing her cheeks and wrapping her warm tongue around him, sucking as she moves over him.
She pulls her mouth off of him briefly, "All you have to do is tell me that you don't want this. Tell me to stop."
"No." He says as he pulls her back towards him and he watches as she parts her lips and takes him in.
He tries to find the reasonable part of his brain, the part of his mind that tells him what they're doing is wrong and that he needs to stop fucking his co-workers girlfriend. He knows that he needs to find someone else. There's plenty of other women who will willingly fuck him. They would submit to him, they would be exactly what he needs them to be, and he can forget all about Tris Prior.
"Stop." He says firmly, and he watches as she removes her mouth from him, standing slowly and he moves back towards the couch in his office.
When he feels it on the back of his legs, he drops down onto it, "We need to stop this Tris. You have a boyfriend and you obviously love him."
"I don't love him." She whispers as she approaches him.
"You want to be with him Tris. Not me. You want him."
"I don't want him Eric, I don't want to be with him. I want you." She replies.
"I'm tired of sharing you with him." He argues.
"He doesn't get this part of me, Eric, only you. You are the only man I've ever been with. You're the only man who's ever seen me, who's kissed me, who I've had in my mouth, who I've had inside of me. Only you. I've never wanted anyone the way I do you." She replies.
"This thing between us, it's fucking me up Tris." He shakes his head, "You're going to hurt me."
"I don't want to hurt you, Eric. I want you." She breathes out.
He pulls her panties off, yanks her skirt up and pulls her down so she straddles his lap. He then pulls her face towards him and kisses her hungrily.
"Tell me you want me to stop and I will. Tell me that's what you want." She says when they break apart.
"You already know that's not what I want, Tris." He breathes out.
She runs her nose against his, "Then tell me what it is that you want, Eric."
"I want you to give me whatever part of you that you can. Just give me what you're capable of right now Tris." He replies, using her own words against her. She moves over him, sinking onto him slowly as they continue to kiss.
His hands are everywhere, pulling her hair, wrapping around her shoulders to guide her down, pulling her closer to him so he can kiss her and they're both lost in the sensation of their joined bodies.
"You are fucking perfect, Tris. Your body was made just for me." He whispers in between kisses.
It's the second time he's said something like that to her and his words aren't lost on her.
"I need you, Eric, god I need you," She whispers as they move against each other faster.
When he spills inside of her she has her tongue in his mouth, moaning quietly as she rides her own orgasm out. They sit with their foreheads touching, breathing the same air, trying to calm their racing hearts.
"Leave him." Eric breathes out, "I'm done sharing you."
She shakes her head, "I can't. He needs me."
"I need you, Tris. I need more." Eric admits and Tris leans forward to kiss him again, "You need me too, you just said it." He continues when they break apart.
"Can you please trust me? Can you just trust that I want to be with you?" She asks.
"Not until you can trust me enough to tell me what's really going on." He replies softly.
"Eric," Max's voice crackles on the intercom, "Jeanine is requesting Tris in Erudite. I'm not sending her there without you as her guide. When can you leave?"
Tris scrambles off of his lap and Eric moves to press the intercom button on his desk, "Ten minutes, she needs to save her work."
"Copy. Fill me in when you two get back." He replies.
The train is where they seem to have their most serious conversations, and today is no different, except when he tries to ask her a question she silences him by pressing her lips to his.
When they break apart she places her hands on either side of his cheeks, forcing him to look at her, "When we're in there today, let me lead. I need you to trust me, if you can just follow my lead today I promise you I will tell you everything."
"Tris, what is happening?" Eric asks. "Why is she so interested in you? What exactly happened while I was gone? Was Octavia involved in something? Did she drag you into it?"
"Eric, please trust me. Please. I promise you, after this meeting I will tell you everything." She pleads with him.
"Trust you? You haven't told me shit! What did Octavia get you involved in?" He asks.
"It wasn't Octavia." Tris says.
"Then fucking tell me exactly what it is you're involved in." Eric says evenly.
"Eric, if you just follow my lead today I promise to tell you everything. Please. Everyone has warned me that you and I are on different sides of things, but I don't believe them. I think we want the same things and I am trusting you here. Please trust me." She begs.
He looks into her icy blue eyes and once again tucks her dark blonde hair behind her ears, "You're asking me for too much while offering me too little. I want more." He demands.
Tris knows the double meaning behind his words but she only shakes her head before jumping from the train. This time they're sent directly to Jeanine's office, where she waits for them. Tris puts her hand on Eric's and squeezes it one time, breaking him from his thoughts, but he still refuses to look at her. He moves his hand away from her and she steels herself when the door opens and Jeanine enters.
Jeanine's hair looks even more platinum blonde, her lips redder, and her skin paler than the last time they were there. She arches an eyebrow when she sees the two of them sitting together.
"I sent for Tris, yet I get the both of you, interesting." She says with a sinister smile.
"Max insists on me shadowing a senior leader while I'm still acclimating to my new role." Tris answers easily.
"Eric is barely two years your senior, this seems odd." She remarks.
"Age is not a factor in Dauntless." Tris replies, "He is senior to me in experience, and he is the leader assigned by Dauntless to work directly with Erudite."
"So he's taken Octavia's place?" Jeanine asks cryptically.
"Yes." Tris replies.
"I've told you before not to lie to me." Jeanine says to Tris. "He can go, you are more than capable of handling a simple meeting." Jeanine says as she reaches for the intercom on her desk.
"He stays." Tris replies firmly.
Eric watches the wordless standoff between the two women, and he shifts uncomfortably in his chair.
"I believe I was clear the last time I was here Miss Prior, protecting him won't help you." Jeanine says and Eric realizes now she wasn't talking about Four before, she was talking about him.
"I'm not protecting him, he's with me." Tris replies.
"He's with you?" Jeanine asks, furrowing her brow.
"Yes."
"Eric Coulter is not part of our plan. I've attempted to recruit him, and he's had no interest in furthering our purpose here." Jeanine counters.
"Why are you two talking about me like I'm not even here?" Eric asks angrily.
"Because you're not." Jeanine says icily, glaring at him briefly before turning her glare at Tris, "Beatrice, I've warned you that you are judged by the allies you keep. If he stays here, you are telling me he is a part of our agreement. Miss Prior, do you want this conversation to continue? I have no qualms here, but are you sure you want your co-worker to know just how dirty your pretty little hands are?"
Eric's eyes jerk to Tris.
"I trust him." Tris replies.
"You do? And what has he done to earn your trust?" She asks.
"He has proven that he is loyal to me," She replies simply.
Eric's entire body feels warm, and the tension in the room seems to suffocate him. Jeanine's eyes travel to his again, and her lips turn up in a slow smile.
"You've fallen for her, haven't you?" She asks Eric and he just stares at Jeanine.
"What do my feelings for her have to do with this meeting?" He asks.
"How hard it is for young men to avoid the call of a beautiful and powerful young woman, isn't that right Mr. Coulter?" She shakes her head, "How does Tobias Eaton feel about that, Tris?" She turns her attention away from Eric.
"Tobias and I have run our course. He is a wonderful man, and a dear friend to me, but we are better as just friends, nothing more, nothing less." Tris answers.
"Does Tobias know that you feel this way?" Jeanine narrows her eyes at Tris.
"He has suspected it for awhile now. I've confirmed his suspicions." Tris answers quietly.
Jeanine sighs deeply. "Tobias remains loyal, even with whatever you've already shared with him regarding Mr. Coulter?" Jeanine asks and Tris nods, "And you, Eric? I've requested an audience with you many times, and you've never seemed particularly interested in anything I've offered. Why now?"
"I trust her." Eric replies. He searches Tris's face and while she remains almost cold, he feels her hand threading with his.
Jeanine looks at their entwined hands and actually smiles, "You are much better than I ever gave you credit for my darling. It's good to know that Andrew and Natalie raising you in Abnegation didn't dull the senses I know you have. Now, are you saying I can speak freely in front of your new beau?" She asks.
"Of course. He is completely loyal to me." Tris replies.
"And you, Beatrice? You are loyal to him? This isn't just some fling?" Jeanine presses.
"Completely loyal. This was never going to be just a fling." Tris retorts.
"Eric?" Jeanine questions the young leader and he nods his head.
"My loyalty is with her, and with those she shares her loyalties with as well," He replies.
"Very good. Very, very good." Jeanine nods then turns back to Tris, "I take it there will be no issues with the new equipment for fear landscapes, correct?" She asks and Tris nods.
"Eric and I were just working on the invoices when we were called away, we have them all under control."
"The serums?" Jeanine asks pointedly.
"I believe if you were to enter a work order it would be approved now." Tris hedges.
"Eric, is this right?" Jeanine asks, quirking an eyebrow at him, "You've declined the work orders for the new serums each time we've requested them. Are you telling me that you are allowing their approval now?"
"There will be no objections from me." He replies smoothly.
"I knew that getting you into leadership would pay off." Jeanine's red lips part in a wide smile as she looks over at Tris. He watches as Tris returns her smile and nods her head in response.
Realization washes over him, not only is Tris working with Jeanine, she's in Dauntless leadership only to serve Erudite. He needs to get out of here, but he's frozen in place, playing right into their hands.
"Excellent. Now Beatrice, do you have Tobias working on getting the new machinery and serums to Abnegation for the aptitude tests?" She asks.
"Of course, he's still working on it, as you know Marcus is an extremely paranoid man. Tobias will come through." Tris smiles.
"Will your new relationship cause him to change his mind about our plans?" She inquires.
"Not at all. I have everything under control." Tris replies.
"I will expect a full update, Beatrice. There are things a man can do when suffering a broken heart. If you move to have this conversation with Tobias, and you feel it will impede our progress, you end this dalliance with Eric." She commands, "And Mr. Coulter, I will expect nothing less than absolute loyalty from here forward no matter what your status is with Beatrice. Tobias was here first, and if he cannot fathom a life without her you will need to remain on the outside of her life. Do I make myself clear on this?"
Eric's head is spinning, he wants to tell this woman exactly how and where she can go and fuck herself, but the hand in his prevents him from speaking freely.
"Crystal." He finally answers the sinister woman across the desk from her and her red lips pill into a smile as she turns her focus back to Tris.
Eric just watches the two women interact, realizing now that Jeanine's interest in Dauntless had everything to do with Tris Prior, and he still has no idea why. When Jeanine is called away for an emergency, they are led out by her assistant and Eric can barely contain himself as they wait for the train.
"What the fuck was that?" He asks her angrily as they wait on the platform.
"Wait until there are no eyes or ears." She replies without looking at him.
"No, I need answers now." He demands and she points at the camera that's only a few feet from them.
"Wait for the train, please."
"Is he watching us again, Tris? Do you not want him to see you with me again?" Eric asks angrily.
She pulls him down and kisses him gently, "He's not who I'm worried about right now. Please just cooperate a little longer."
He can hear the train approaching and he takes a deep breath before turning away from her.