Daddys-little-monster Thanks for ther review, and I'm so glad the characters are in depth, as I know some really good story lines have been ruined for me by lack of character development, so it means a lot! Though I warn you Eric is slightly too nice in this chapter, but I HAVE A REASON I PROMISE BUT I NEEDED TO PUT IT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!

Garber Baby Yeah I got fed up with Kasper too! I'm glad the Eric pov was good, and since you liked the more loving side of him in that chapter I'm sure you'll like this one! Thanks so much for the continued support!

Elisa I am making sure I reply to all my reviews, so that you all know how heartfelt they are! As writing is just a hobby for me, it really makes it worthwhile! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!

Dear Charlotte, I don't know why I feel the need to write 'dear', but oh well. I hope you feel better and stay healthy, but I'm glad the last chapter cheered you up! I really didn't give Kasper ANY good characteristics, so don't feel bad about wanting him dead! I'm glad the Eric pov went well, I hadn't intended in ever writing in his point of view, but it just seemed right! Anyway, thank you as always, tu es le meilleur!

TheCloakedShadow

This is comfy.

And warm. Lovely and warm. It feels like I'm in a pool full of cotton wool.

Plus I feel clean, and I smell nice.

I must've rested well

This top is comfy too.

I must've rested well.

…

…

…

No. I've been sleeping.

12321

I open my eyes, utterly confused. The lights are dim, and the curtains closed in the room I identify as… Eric's. Of course, I collapsed here last night.

Whilst my mind has figured out how I'm here, my body notices the warm, smooth arms curled around me, one resting under my neck, the other firmly on my waist. Eric.

Then there's a deep sigh, breath laying upon my neck, as the arms around me pull me even closer to the snug body behind me.

"You awake? You can't ever pass on that much rest again." Eric's voice is gravely and low as his hands don't hesitate to pull me around gently to face him. As I set eyes on his, his hair mussed up, broad shoulders surrounding me and his bright blue eyes
startling me awake as words hide from me.

Beneath the covers I feel his legs up against me, with an ankle hooked over mine.

He stares at me for a few moments, and I can feel his eyes scrutinizing over my face before he speaks again.

"Stop looking at me like that." He murmurs before breaking looking away briefly but I'm unable to look away the ocean in his eyes.

"I slept?" I mumble confused, and he turns back to me slightly more serious, bringing a hand up to my forehead.

"Yeah. For a while. How's your head?" He asks and I blink, remembering the bash to the head I'd been given.

"A dull ache, doesn't seem like a concussion or anything serious." I tell him as his hand strokes through my hair.

"You have a bump, but it should go away." He tells me.

"What's the time, how long did I sleep for?" I ask.

"We went to sleep at around eleven… so fourteen hours."

"What?!" How the hell did I sleep fourteen hours… and not wake up? And not dream…

I splutter with my words and I can feel him observing my reaction, so I try to normalize myself.

"What about training?" I ask uselessly.

"I exempted you when I woke up, for recovery purposes." Eric tells me. I nod in response, but then it goes quiet.

I can't think of more words to say, but I can't, and don't want to get up.

Not that he'd let me, with the grip he has on my waist, plus he's already let his eyes close, and has a light smile on his lips.

But as soon as I shift my legs, and our exposed skin slides against each other and the silky covers, his eyes snap open.

He pulls my body underneath him, as he leans on an elbow by my head, and he nuzzles into my hair, lips pressing against my head. His knees pin my thighs, letting our hips press together heavily.

I don't know what makes me do it. Maybe it's the sleep. Yeah the sleep must have made me do it.

Nevertheless, I do it.

I lean my head closer to the junction of his neck to his collar, and swipe my tongue across his skin firmly.

What I can only describe as an estranged gasp escapes his lips, a noise I relish in as a rare loss of his control, as his muscles loosen and I flip our bodies over, my hips now wrapped around his.

My lips join my tongue as they journey around the base of his neck, before moving up where his Adam's apple bobs lightly through his panting breaths.

It appears once I realised he liked it, my body wouldn't let me stop as my lips rounded and sucked lightly on his throat, before moving up to under his jaw. I move further and further up before reaching under his ear and a sudden memory comes to mind.

It's that memory, that makes my teeth graze down as I suck particularly hard, and his hips suddenly buck against me, as a groan moves through him, before I no longer have control.

He flips us over once more, tangled in the covers and pulls back from me, and as I meet his eyes, it's not a serious, reprimanding face-

No, it's a breathless, hungry expression as he bites his lip so hard I'm surprised it doesn't break, before he's gone in a second.

"I'll get you some water." He says, his voice husky and sore as he stalks away. My eyes can't help but follow his figure, his thick toned legs and broad shoulders as he stretches, leaving for the kitchen.

At least I have time to bring my mind together while he's gone.

I thought he said I'd have to wait, before anything of this sort happened, if by accident or not. I had full intention of completely avoiding him after the time on the roof, though I guess I didn't really want to otherwise I wouldn't have brought myself
back here.

But I promised to wait. So I will.

"Here." He comes back through the doorway after, a good twenty minutes actually, and hands me the glass, and I sip from it carefully. And realise he hasn't gotten back in the bed.

"Time's up."

His voice was so soft I barely heard it, I doubt he even realised he'd said it himself.

"As much as I want to get back into bed with you and do some less than pure things with you, I promised to tell you when you didn't have to wait any longer." He says, clearly now, and I look up surprised.

"Is that now?" I ask softly, wondering if my mind had thought my thoughts by chance.

He just nods.

"I…" He trails off, and I'm shocked. If Eric says anything, he always says it with purpose, and this is not at all like him.

"I had to clean things up, before I get involved with you." He mumbles, his face hard despite his soft words. "Before I got any more involved with you."

He waits for me to say something, then realises, I have nothing to say.

"Before you came to Dauntless, I wasn't one to get attached. I had friends, and that was it. But I'm sure you've gathered… I was… restless, and less than honourable, so I… got around. I ended up having a few acquaintances who I only ever met to fuck."
He tells me seriously.

He pauses, for a long moment, and I wonder what he's going to say next. But the human, hopeful part of me clings to his words- 'before you came to dauntless,'.

"I was far too busy at the start of initiation for any of it anyway, and then… you came. At first I passed it off in my own head, just a good looking initiate, a little fun teasing that was all… but I must have realised something was up, because I started
cutting those acquaintances. Until I went away for Erudite for those few days, and not an hour went by without you passing my mind. And I came back, with even more purpose to cut the others off, but then you were there, and my thoughts were only confirmed…
cos damn I remember every detail of that night, and I wasn't lying about a single word, and I enjoyed every single touch more than I could ever admit."

He speaks roughly, obviously challenged by the words coming from his mouth, and he's spitting them out frustrated. His body is tense and his knuckles tight as he stands on the same spot yet is constantly moving.

"And then the morning after, every time I saw those marks on you a crazy sense of possessiveness went through me. Then we fought, and then I went away again, and I went to Axel. And then I got injured, came back and you were there, and my drugged mind
started on what I really wanted." He gazes at me, and I'm chilled by the earnest look in them, his breaths short from exertion. Meanwhile, it feels like my chest has swelled up, and my lip is quivering as my hands grip the sheets around me.

"Last night was the last one. I don't know how I planned on telling you, but that damned bastard set me off. You're min-", He cuts off abruptly, catching himself, and looks away hastily.

An overwhelming feeling falls over me, of wanting him comfortable, wanting him feeling safe, not the vulnerable skittering look in his eyes now. My lips part of their own accord as I look up at him pleadingly, wanting him next to me.

"Come here."

I don't know why it shocked him, I've never seen his expression so… off guard, as he stares at me. He says nothing, doesn't even move, and I let out a laugh without meaning to.

"Can I… ask you some things?" I ask nervously, and he treads over, sitting on the side of the bed. That's nowhere near close enough.

I drag the covers over him, pulling him back to lie his head on my lap as I sit up against the bed frame.

"The first time you brought me to the training block… it was really to train me wasn't it?" I ask, looking down at his hair as my fingers spread through it, tugging in little pieces.

"Definitely."

"Are you Erudite-born?" I ask, another normal question so he'll relax a little more. He looks up from his position, brows furrowed slightly.

"How did you know?"

"I thought it was my turn to ask the questions…" I tease lightly, but answer anyway. "Your bookcase is hard to miss. I noticed Sayers, Ruth Rendell, a lot of Agatha Christie… it seems we have similar tastes." He hums in approval.

"What was the first time you consciously did something… towards me?" I ask, stumbling over my words a little, and I'm happy to see a smirk on his face since he can't see me in his position.

"After you got your tattoo." He murmurs. "As soon as I saw it I used it as an excuse to touch you."

"When did you start cutting the knots?" I ask slightly hesitantly.

"… the first I just didn't like, I don't remember when. The first because of you… the night you were out with… the night I got back from Erudite." He explains, and I start stroking his temples comfortingly.

"Did… they ever sleep here?" I ask, now very hesitant.

"They never even came here." He says immediately, then chuckles to himself. "I let you in without realising, but I wouldn't have let you leave anyway."

I purse my lips, trying not to be too happy with myself. Oh screw it, might as well go for it.

"When did you first want to sleep with me?"

He barks with laughter, and grins.

"In the training block, when you were hanging upside down with your tits falling out… that was a nice moment." He tells me unabashed. "And if you're going in that direction, I've jacked off to you too many times to bother counting."

Thank God he can't see my face, because my cheeks are flaming easily by now.

"What did you talk to Axel about?"

"That guy just knows stuff, he's been around long enough to help me figure out what to do. Plus he knew you… I had to figure out logistics, dauntless won't take kindly to this you know, as much as I want to be able to touch you whenever I feel the fuck
like it, I can't at least not until mental stage, when I won't have any part in judging you. Even then though…" He trails off, and as I shift my position, I gasp lightly as I move onto my ankle.

"What is it?" He says quickly, sitting up pulling the covers off us, and moving closer.

I sit in just my underwear, though not a bra, and Eric's t-shirt, which just as before is slipping off my shoulders, whilst he gently examines my ankle, and I try to keep my eyes in the more… lets use the word decent, the more decent parts of his body.

"It is just a very light sprain… if anything, its not swelled up much." Eric says, before looking at the clock. "I'll go get us some food, and check on the others, okay?"

I nod as he moves off the bed, before taking a random pair of trousers, and I admire his legs as he tugs them on, giving me a rough smirk as he leaves the room, and I hear the door slam.

I myself, have the sudden need to move. So I get out of bed, not putting weight on my ankle before hobbling my way to the spare bedroom I'd been staying in prior, and find a comfy pair of black jeans, and slip on a normal bra, but decide to keep Eric's
t-shirt on. Call me clingy already, I don't care today. The man I've been… I can't even think of the words, Eric has just told me he's been… clearing his life up, so he can… I still don't have the words… so he can be with me? I've never been so happy
over such a trivial thing, it's so unlike me…

Managing to get myself back to the main open room, as I pass the bookcase I grab a book before settling on the sofa, burying myself in pillows. I flick open the pages, and let the time pass.

It's… almost four by the time the door opens, and Eric walks in, with food.

"How's your ankle?" He asks, frowning at my position on the sofa, as apposed to the bedroom.

"Fine, I should be ready to go tomorrow, though I'll probably stay off jumping on one foot for a while." I say, and he goes to the island in the kitchen and pulls some plates out.

"It will be gun work tomorrow, evaluation before fights the day after." Eric tells me, before walking over with two plates in his hands and cutlery. The warm smell of the simple Dauntless spaghetti bolognaise fills the air as I take a plate thankfully.

"Four's told your friends you're alright, he thinks that you're in the infirmary." Eric says as he seats himself next to me as I sit up against the corner of the sofa and he pulls my legs over his lap, and I feel the heat of the food through his plate
on my thighs.

"And if Four visits the infirmary?" I ask, and Eric shrugs.

"You disappear on your own often enough. Besides, he shouldn't go looking for you." Eric says sharply, and I smile lightly at his antics.

"I like Four, Eric." I say softly, knowing I'm treading in deep waters. "I trust him enough to train me, and though I wouldn't trust him with this, I know he doesn't have any ill intent towards me."

Eric looks away from me, staring intently at a wall. He doesn't say any words, but he seems to grumble something. But from what I've seen if Eric doesn't outright say he won't let me do something, then he'll accept it, even if he isn't happy about it.
As we both finish eating and put our plates down on the coffee table, our avoidance of continuing the conversation has run out.

"I don't want to repeat an argument like our last." He says, tense. "In fact, I don't even want to bring it up, so do what you want. But I don't think I need to say anything about you using someone without my knowledge." His words are taut and frustrated,
and I'm surprised. The personality of Eric I had known wouldn't have changed his mind so…

"You talked to Axel about this, didn't you?" I question gently, and Eric meets my gaze lightly, confirming my suspicion. I chuckle gently, and he looks at me confused as I scoot my body closer to him and perch myself slightly hesitantly on his lap. To
my relief his arms snake around me, one hand on my waist and one on my hip as I snuggle my head into his neck.

"You don't need to worry. Those occasions are extremely scarce, and only occur if I have no other choice." I murmur softly, stroking his arm.

I feel his breath on my forehead as he speaks.

"Then I'm sorry for giving you no other choice." His voice is a whisper, and I bite my lip as I look up at him.

I can't help but marvel in his good looks, the sharpness of his jawline from this angle, his strong set brow, and most of all his eyes. Today feels like I've been elsewhere, in a place no one has even thought of.

After many moments of comfortable lounging in his arms, Eric looks to the clock which reads almost six.

"Do you want to go somewhere?" He asks me, and I look at him confused.

"Go somewhere?"

"Go anywhere. The whole of Dauntless will be in the Pit, it's a Thursday."

I ponder the thought. I really don't mind the Dauntless compound… in fact I much prefer it to the rest of the city and the amity gathering, since other than the Pit the compound is pretty empty. It's not that there aren't many people, it's that it's so
big you'd never meet the same person in the hallway twice in one day if you take the right routes. But there is something I miss.

"The sky. I want to see the night sky, where there's no people." I mumble slightly dejected, as I feel like he'll think it silly. But he just smiles.

"I'll get you a coat." He says, lifting me off his lap and stalking towards the bedroom. I meanwhile take the dishes to the kitchen and am putting them in the dishwasher when Eric comes back, handing me one of his thick, black, fur lined hoodies. I know
I have a coat in the guest bedroom, whether he's forgotten I almost moved in, or whether he chose to ignore it I don't really care, as when I slip on the hoodie it's much more comfy than my own thin jacket, and despite it hanging over my frame the
woody smell more than makes up for it.

"Let's go."

Awww this chapter's so fluffy! When I reread it I did think if you only ever read this chapter, Eric may seem a little nice and out of character, but I think in the context of he saw his interest get ambushed, beaten, and injured the night before and has been restless about getting involved with her for a while, I think it fits. Besides, in this fic I'm not making Eric nicer than in the original books, just nicer to Avery! TBH I wanted Eric to be a little out of character here and fluffy for a reason, but it resolves itself next chapter! This chapter is slightly shorter than the others but in case anyone's realised I love to end chapters where they lead onto the next, and this was the best I could get. In terms of what's to come, there will definitely be a VERY fluffy moment at the beginning of the next chapter, but it will go back to hard training straight away. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys this chapter, review as always!