My head whips away from Eric's gaze as I hear an all too familiar voice.

"Axel!" He's standing right behind me and before I realise he's got me in a tight hug before moving back, looking me over with his hands on my shoulders.

"You're all dauntless! I can't believe you're finally here!" He grins and I smile back. I had been wondering at the back of my mind where he'd been. He moves us to the side of the pit.

"Were you with the patrol team that came in this morning?" I ask him, remembering Fours words.

"Sure was, but that doesn't matter, what matters is… you idiot." He finally addresses my arm, a pointedly "oh no she didn't" look on his face. I hadn't gone to see him since before the aptitude test, since I had broken my arm and there was no way I could train. "What did you do? How are you using it in training?"

"I got run over." I state curtly, and we share a deadpan look.

"She's been of gun shooting and fighting, and started throwing left handed." Four walks up to us, a small smile on his face. "Good to see you back, Axel."

"Four, handling initiation all right then?" Axel and Four slap each other on the shoulder, and it's obvious they're friends. "Tell me how's this one doing? You haven't been too hard on her for her goddamned stupidity have you?" Axel points behind his shoulder to me and Four raises his eyebrows, giving a hesitant glance to Axel.

"… I haven't been in charge of her." He admits grudgingly. Axel raises his own eyebrow, and luckily for me he doesn't seem irritated, only amused when he realises what Four meant.

"I have been." Sure enough Eric has walked over, and I'm slightly surprised as Axel gives him a smile and greets him the same way he did Four. I would've thought it would be impossible to be friends with both Four AND Eric, but I guess I don't actually know too much about Axel.

"In fact, how do you know Amity here Axel? I didn't realise patrol teams had been in contact with initiates." Eric suggests suspiciously, but Axel merely laughs it off.

"I befriended her in the Under 16 fitness sessions Max forced me into." Axel says.

"Forced? You're the only one who fit erudite requirements." Four adds as a side note, and I look up at Axel. I guess I really don't actually know much about him.

"And what did this befriending include? It wouldn't happen to include any pre-initiation training would it?" Eric questions slyly, though somehow I get the feeling it isn't a threat to Axel. Unusual.

"Maybe. I don't really remember." Axel replies cheekily, his arm around my shoulder smirking at me. I will myself not to smile and keep a straight face. He may not get threatened by Eric, but I know I sure do.

"And that would explain the kicks." Four says, glancing at me.

"Yes, it would." Eric agrees. Those two agreeing? Something is really up. Who on earth is Axel? Unfortunately my silent question isn't answers as Axel's brow furrows and he turns strictly on me.

"What have you done? You already broke your arm what else have you done?" He almost grills me, getting closer and closer to my face, but I hold my ground.

"Nothing." I say emotionlessly. Our gaze is locked as he waits for me to give some indication of lying, but I'm proud that I don't falter.

"You young lady, are lying. If it were true, your two trainers wouldn't be talking about your… kicks." He continues to stare me down, and I let a few silent moments pass before replying.

"Beats me." I flick a glance to Eric, who luckily only seems amused. I think I've been granted a miracle. Not only was Eric not absolutely furious at me for knocking him out this morning, but he wasn't revealing it either.

Axel huffs, obviously annoyed before I turn on my heel.

"I should go, there's three minutes till I have to be in the training room and I'd rather not have extra circuit rounds today." I say, ignoring Axel's suspicious glares, bowing my head to Eric and Four before getting to the training room.

After finishing some circuit training for muscle build up in the first hour of training, sure enough we go up to the gun range. I make small talk with my usual group, ignoring their wary gazes as we line up and assemble our guns.

"So, this is the mid-distance. It's actually the farthest distance you shoot without moving onto snipers, which we train one on one, much later in the course. Up till then you'll be perfecting your mid and short distance, for those who haven't already, and then we'll start moving targets." Four explains as we all wait in our lanes. "We're not giving instruction for this, it's up to you to figure out any and all adjustments you need to make to shoot the farther distance. Of you go."

I'm wary as he says no instruction. It's not that I don't think I can do it, it's just I don't have an excuse for already being able to shoot when I know I shouldn't. There isn't much I can do about it though, unless…

And then I realise, Eric isn't here. By the sounds of what he told me yesterday, Four won't know about me learning to shoot already, and his watchful gaze on me confirms it. If Eric were here he'd kill me standing, but since he's not, I can just explain.

As I step into position, I know my friends are watching me, so for the first few shots I stumble back, the shots randomly hitting a far, with no specific target. I slowly reign down on it though, and instead of aiming for the heart or head, I decide to aim round in a circle. I start on the left shoulder, left forearm, left thigh, left calf, right calf, right thigh, right forearm, and then the right shoulder. Though none of my objectives have very specific points of impact, they still get me good practice, especially at this distance. I figure I can work on the nitty gritty shots later on, or in the other training block, for now I can act it down.

And so the training goes on, and though as I anticipated my shots were shaky to begin with, I quickly improved. After glancing over at the other initiates targets, I appeared at the back of the pack with the failing erudite born girl, Isobel. However, the best shooters were indeed, Ben, Lily and Zander (the stiff), though first ranked Kasper and second ranked Jay were close behind. Anyway, this was the first try at mid-distance, after more practice those five would all be on par.

Since I've been aiming at completely different spots, it's hard to compare with them, but I'm glad to see they're all hitting around the bullseye, with a couple lucky shots perhaps.

When we disassembled our guns so we could change the destroyed targets, Beth and Lily on either side of me comforted me.

"You're doing brilliantly for a first try. I think it's very mean to make you start at this distance, it's hard for all of us too!" Lily tells me as we walk to the targets.

"Your targets just like mine when I first started, but better really because it's at a further distance! You should be proud!" I can see the exaggeration in Beth's words, but I smile nonetheless as we put fresh new targets up, and start again. I start to move my shots to the torso area, but still quite far off from the heart.

As the shooting session starts to end, I start to think I've gotten away with it. But oh no, a new spectator decides to arrive. I don't even turn around, or hear his voice. No, it's the burning shivers that go down my spine. I don't turn around, I carry on shooting. I know he's expecting me to perform, I know it. And while something within me from the very start has been telling me not to stand out, I don't want to disappoint him. And I'd rather risk standing out, than disappointing him.

So, as I begin the last couple of rounds, very aware of the eyes on the back of my head. I aim true. I empty the rounds, and sure enough, there's multiple shots on the inside rings of the heart and the head, when I step away. My brow furrows, as I realise just like yesterday, the majority of my shots are an inch or two to the right of the heart and head. It seems to be a pattern, one that I need to fix.

Four order us to clear up and head to lunch, and I'm sure not to even glance in Eric's direction, hoping to keep up avoiding a confrontation from this morning. I shouldn't count on luck though.

"Avery. Stay behind, and explain this pitiful attempt." Eric's gruff order sounds, just as I'm about to leave with Lily by my side. I look back and meet his eyes, and realise Four's already left, and Eric's holding my last target. I wave a hand to Lily to go, but she stays by my side.

"Um, Eric sir, Avery did really well, she even got to the inner circles, which is amazing since this was her first time shooting!" My eyes widen as Lily moves to defend me from what we can assume is a thorough beat down. I silently will her to leave, as I don't understand why she's even doing this. I thought she would've taken my generally cold demeanour as a signal not to get too close.

"Leave, initiate, I decide what's good and what isn't in this training room." Eric barks at her, but she seems determined to stay. He glares at her solidly, and I have to commend her for not backing down, though I can tell she's afraid. I guess this is her version of bravery, staying, despite being afraid.

Eric's cold glare leaves Lily to give me a look, and as if knowing what words hid behind his eyes, I open my mouth.

"Lily, I'll meet you at the pit, you should go." She looks up at me and I can see the worry in her eyes, but with both Eric and I looking at her, I can tell she realises its best she leaves. Once she's scurried round the corner and her footsteps have died away, Eric speaks again.

"I won't ask you again Avery." I turn my gaze to his hard eyes and he tosses the target onto the floor. "Why are you holding back?" I stay silent. "Don't think you got out of this morning. Attacking a superior, a leader nonetheless is not acceptable."

"Surely attacking an injured initiate is just as unacceptable, if not more so?" I ask innocently, looking up at him. For a moment I'm looking up at an intimidating, powerful figure, but then I see the smirk lifting on his face. It lifts mine too. I can play this game.

"Since you were so kind to show your fighting abilities this morning, I'm sure it won't be a surprise to you that I too, was holding back. You won't survive if I'm forced to fight you again." Eric baits me, but I smile up at him innocently.

"But then if we were both holding back, how can we know who'd truly win?" I'm unable to stop the tease in my voice, but it seems we are both in the same mind. "And I'm sure the honourable man in you wouldn't count a victory against an injured, a true victory."

His silence answers me.

"So you'll just have to wait till I'm healed, how irritating…" I trail off. "In this case I held back so the others didn't think to be suspicious, which could've potentially led to them discovering the training you've given me. I take it my instincts were right in that it should be kept quiet."

"You'd be correct on that aspect." Eric confirms. "So you wasted your two shooting hours pretending to be an absolute fucktard?"

"No, I went round in a circle, shooting to disable. I believe it would be a good tactic if the objective was to capture, rather than kill?" I lift my voice at the end, as if waiting for his confirmation. "Shoulder, forearm, thigh, calf. If an enemy were cornered the shoulder or forearm would be best to disarm them, if they were fleeing the thigh or calf would stop them."

I look up at Eric, waiting for a reply and I feel the nerves in me arise. His smile is still on his lips as is mine, and I don't do anything to interrupt our gazes. As usual his presence has a warm tingling effect on me, and I'm not stupid to pretend it isn't attraction. I know it isn't fear, and I know my thoughts have often enough gone towards his lean muscled figure, and the smooth pale skin of his back in that tattoo parlour.

"Go to lunch, initiate."

There was a possibility that could have ruined the delicious tension between us, but his voice just ignited the shivers down my spine as I turned to leave.

I settle down into my lunch quite happily after calming my nerves, welcoming the chatter of Jay, Ben and Beth around me. Lily's silence doesn't go unnoticed, but I still ignore her. But I pause just before I take another bite of my hamburger, when I realise she starts to talk.

"He didn't punish you too much did he?" Lily asks me, and the other three also stop their talking. "You never seem to stand up for yourself you know. Whenever Four or Eric says you're not good enough when you clearly are. I mean look at your knife throwing! And then Eric still critiqued you? I don't understand."

I expected her to ask about Eric "scolding" me, that's why I had a story prepared. I didn't expect her to ask about my behaviour. How unusual.

"I don't talk back because I know it will just get me into more trouble. Hot-headedness seems to be a very common dauntless trait, so if I seem like I'm agreeing with them, they'll scold me less. Besides, if they think I'm not good enough, it's their opinion, and they know how to do it better than I do. As long as they tell me how to get better I see no problem with it." I tell her non-committedly. It really doesn't bother me, I guess it's true though.

"So you just let him berate you for doing really well? Your arms broken for goodness sake!" Lily argues. Her brow is furrowed with frustration.

"My broken arm is my fault, so I should take responsibility for it anyway. Plus, being good at something is a matter of perspective. Compared to the rest of us transfers it may be pretty good, but in the mind of a leader and trainer, who no doubt is an expert, it's probably still pretty shit." I feel bad as I see her understanding my words.

"Lily, we really didn't know each other before dauntless. I'm a very straight-forward, blunt person. Pretty much why I didn't like amity, whereas you fit in pretty well, apart from the temper. Our outlook on things like this are bound to be different, so don't get worked up. Besides, I'm fine, Eric just gave me a few warnings, let me off easy I guess you could say." I finish the last couple of bites of my burger before standing.

"It's laps now, so I suggest no one's late." I finish, a small smile to Jay, Beth and Ben who have been looking between Lily and I warily, before heading off back to the training room.

It's been four days since Lily started to stay with Beth rather than me, and I've been staying closer with Ben and Jay. I've seen Axel a little as well, but even so, I can't believe I'm saying it, I'm almost missing the little bubble of innocent kindness from her. Almost. It may take a little longer for that.

However training carries on almost the same, routinely workouts and shooting, a little less of knife throwing sadly. But one interesting morning, Beth and Lily walk in 5 minutes late. And unfortunately for them, the number of extra laps per minute late has increased.

"20 extra laps initiates." Eric growls out to them both, and Beth's eyes widen.

"20?" She gasps, and I throw a concerned look their way.

"Yes. 50 overall. You'll be missing training with someone new, both Four and I have business to attend to afterwards. Let's get going." He turns on his heel, and there are a few surprised looks around the room. Eric's taking us running, and it's not going to be fun.

The differences between Eric and Four's running are instantly obvious. Eric starts faster. Notably so. And then he adds the stairs in, the ones I've been doing whilst everyone else had been shooting.

"Stairs as well… this is going to be hellish." Jay says from next to me after a short glance behind. He's been the one up front with me on the runs for Four's runs, until Four started telling me to lap. We enjoy a leisurely conversation usually, but no such luck with this run. After the first two laps he's already falling behind, and ends up dropping next to Ben with an apologetic look to me as I press to run a few strides behind Eric. What looked as though everyone's fitness had been levelling out on Four's last run, the distances between us a lot shorter, doesn't exist anymore. In fact we're separating faster than we did on that first run.

I notice I'm pushing myself to keep up with Eric, and though I know it's not the right thing to do, there's a sort of challenge in my mind. I don't want him to think I'm weak. But sure enough, I realise our pace has slowed ever so slightly, but enough for me to notice. I cast a glance at Eric as he moves so he can see me alongside him.

"Looks like you're not going to last 30 laps. We've gotten through 12 and you're already sweating." He tosses the comments to me, but I don't miss his watching for my response in his peripheral vision.

"True. But it seems we both have the same weakness of stamina." I reply, my voice even as his oh so welcoming smirk glides onto his face.

"Are you implying I'm weak, initiate?" He drawls, daring me to answer.

"Not at all. Merely that it is not your strongest attribute." I say, a smile on my face. I try to tell myself it's just the running that's making my body burn, but it's a nice feeling, very nice, so it must be coming from elsewhere. "How many times do you think we can lap them?"

"Depends on how pathetic they're being today." He says, vaguely amused. A swell of pride hits my chest as I'm not included in "they". I know it's arrogant and dare I admit it mean of me, but I don't care. A flash of short blonde hair catches the light as we round the next corner and that malicious grin worms onto Eric's face. "Let's find out."

It seems our conversation has spiked renewed vigour in both him and myself, as the burning in my muscles increase as we pass Lily. I stay a couple of steps behind Eric, and can't help but give a small but confident smile to Lily as I pass, ignoring any looks she may have returned. We pass the rest of the group, the erudite girls and candor boy's I don't pay any mind to, and pat Jay and Ben's shoulders as we pass.

We get to 21 laps when we pass Lily again, and there's a secret flush of gladness in me when I see the distance between her and the erudite girls has decreased. And the next time I see her, its 25 laps. And then, on the 29th lap, with a short glance to the thoroughly glistening Eric (which I haven' been admiring to distract me from the lactic acid…), I sprint. As I pump my arms past him, I don't look back to see whatever outraged face he's pulling, and merely move to the side in order to pass Kasper and Ben, before pushing to pass Jay. Lily's a good few metres ahead of me, and though I wouldn't usually be able to lap her before reaching the training room, the heavy, sprinting footsteps right behind me make me scramble for it. I think I'll make it. I think I will. And I could have, if I hadn't looked to the side, and saw the easy smirk on Eric's lips that made me pause. I don't know how long I paused, but even the smallest moment was enough, for us to tumble into the training room ahead of Lily, Eric grabbing my arm as we step into the threshold. For a second, something like happiness, perhaps pride, runs through me.

But it passes, as I've in fact thrown myself into the training room, along with him as it seems, so I merely feel the scratches of the floor against my skin.

The corners of my vision are extremely blurry, and I don't move from the floor, merely rolling onto my side to focus on my breathing, closing my eyes. My mind is focused on the warm skin pressed against the skin of my calves, revealed by my cropped leggings, and I try not to focus as those legs are unwinded from mine as he stands, as usual, to tower over me.

"You'll have to have more than a head start to win against me, Avery." It's a straight up order, a reprimand, but it warms me to my core. I stay lying there for a couple of minutes, before opening my eyes and sitting up to see Eric playing with some of the knives.

"That was fun." I breathe out, before standing weakly with a smile to Jay who just ran through the training room, Ben following.

"You broke my student!? How am I meant to train them when they're dead Eric?" I hear a familiar voice a turn to smile at Axel.

"You're training us?" I question obviously, and Axel grins.

"I didn't break her, she was the one who decided to sprint the last lap." Eric grunts out.

"Oh no, Avery doesn't do anything unless she has a reason." Axel says truthfully, but I cast him a look to tell him to shut up. Eric stares at me for a long moment.

"The rest of the boys have 3 laps left, two of the girls have 8, and the other two have 24. I'm off." Eric says, throwing a hand over his shoulder in farewell.

"Seems we've got 10 minutes to ourselves then." Axel smiles to me, and I look back at him, challenge dancing in my eyes.

Yay another chapter! I'm loving the introduction of Axel, I think he brings out the more comfortable side of Avery instead of her always being on guard. In terms of Lily, I think she's going to have an impact on Avery, but for now they're staying away from each other TT. And Eric. Such a perfect human being (in my eyes lol). Anyway thanks for any and all reviews, favourites and follows, please continue to do so.