I'm sorry I missed another week, life has been too busy for me lately! I've now got more exams coming up, but at least during revision period I should be able to get some good writing done!
Zelda I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! It was more fluffy than previous chapters, so I'm happy it still worked out!
Bob- this chapter is gliding right into kicking ass again, though it really builds up through next chapter as well
ShadowDragon03 I'm sorry updating has been a little slow lately, but I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'll work on getting the chapters longer, for the most part it's just been how much I can write in a week but, once my exams are over I should be able to write more (I hope)!
"Wake up beautiful…" A voice rumbles into my hair as I groan myself awake and my eyes blink open. Eric's arms are still wrapped tightly around my waist with my t-shirt ridden up, our legs hooked together. Hang on…
I sit up abruptly.
"Hang on… I slept. I actually was asleep." I murmur this to myself, as I'm sure Eric is looking at me curious. I meet his questioning eyes as his fingers stroke my skin.
"If you're wondering why I don't sleep… I can't exactly answer… because I don't really know." I tell him honestly, and it's the truth. Ever since I can remember, I've never been able to sleep. If my eyes drift shut, I'll wake up within half an hour, and that process can repeat innumerable times.
"Chronic insomnia…" He remarks. Exactly that. I can't remember ever having even a few hours sleep, yet in the last couple of days I've slept almost a full day. "At least you're well-rested now, you've got fights tomorrow, Four's picking though. Not that it matters, they've got nothing on you."
Eric's words are surprisingly straight-forwardly nice, and a light blush coats my cheeks as he pulls me back under the covers.
"I was contemplating waking you up… let you sleep or wake you up to train." He tells me, his head resting just above mine. My body still aches, and faced with a full day of training, I really don't feel like training. But with a glance at the clock, there's still an hour till training actually starts.
Biting my lip, I look up at Eric. "Are you sure there wasn't a third option?" I ask slyly, sliding my leg up between his to lie dangerously high between his thighs.
"A third option could be considered… if it could be proven more valuable." Eric murmurs huskily with a smirk.
I don't know what's gotten into me… though I don't remember dreaming, so it could be my subconscious imagining something up. Nevertheless, his smuttering of lazy blonde hair, half-closed eyes and ridiculously low voice, not mentioning his taught, smooth, hard, muscles surrounding me, is giving me a hard opportunity to miss.
"Well, for one… I don't know about you but this cage I'm in at the moment is much more… welcoming than outside." I start, stroking his arms tightening around me, and at his sharp intake of breath I bravely let my leg press that little bit higher between his.
"Not to mention, I won't be able to wake up like this for a while, and I'm really going to miss it…" I trail off, letting my teeth catch on my lip, sucking gently for him to see as I shift myself to let our skin stroke against each other.
"You make a good case." Eric replies, and I let a hand trail down over his t-shirt, circling his exposed navel. "Plus, if we go training, I'll have to drop everything I'm holding." He plays, before shifting his body over mine, pulling us closer than I'd imagined we could be, his hips pressing down onto mine.
He brings his face closer and my lips part in anticipation, as I further my hand downwards…
"But unfortunately, Max called me in for a meeting, so I really should go."
He speaks right above my lips, before placing his on mine in a light peck, before pushing himself back, trying to untangle our legs. I pout and whine instinctively, my eyebrows furrowing as he climbs out of bed, but my eyes catch something that makes me grin nonetheless.
"A different part of you says otherwise."
"That part of me always says otherwise when it comes to you." He replies snarkily, walking into the bathroom. "And don't even think of joining me in the shower, I can't be late." He yells back as he pulls his t-shirt off, so I just admire his back muscles as he leaves me alone in bed. Such a shame, he may have said something about not wanting to fuck me yet, but I wonder if that includes non-penetr…..
"And don't even think about touching yourself either!" Another yell wakes me from my thoughts and I smile lightly through my blush.
"Someone needs to stop thinking dirty thoughts if they want to fit into their trousers…" I yell back cheekily, before running to the guest bedroom to escape any more of his comments.
Somethings obviously wrong with me, it must be yesterday's antics. I've been on a high around him ever since I told him I was his, and my thoughts have been getting dirtier and dirtier, not even considering what his are like.
I change into simple training gear, the usual black leggings, sports bra and t-shirt, slipping on my trainers before going to the kitchen. I start to make coffee… Eric will want some. I think he takes it black as well, but then again I've only ever seen him drink it a few times, he may like it differently when he's in a better mood. I usually have a café latté when I'm in a good mood, and this is definitely a good mood. Hopefully he'll be out soon enough so I can just ask.
Just as I finish steaming the milk I hear the shower stop, and after I've made my latte he walks through into the living space pull his vest on over his t-shirt.
"Coffee?" I question, and he eyes the latté I just made.
"Latté." He replies shortly, and I beckon him over to take the one in my hands as I start on another.
"Thanks." He murmurs with a light grin, kissing me on the cheek as he takes the cup. "I maybe at gun practice, if not I'll see you at the training block." He tells me, and I smile sweetly as he looks back before leaving.
This is so sappy. I kind of like it.
Time to get back to training. I drink my own coffee fast enough before heading out for a run. I let my feet carry me at a reasonably fast pace, my steps feeling lighter. I take a much longer route as well, and manage to miss any signs of Lily and Jay running, though they may be taking a break today.
"Avery?" After finishing my run I stroll into the Pit, looking through the tables for someone to sit with. Ben calls my name.
"Hey, did Lily and Jay tell you what happened?" I ask, sitting down next to him.
"Yeah, it sounded pretty rough. You're joining training anyway though right?" He replies and I nod.
"Where's Beth and the others?" I ask, and he nudges his head to where Lily and Jay are queuing for food.
"Dunno about Beth." He says non-committedly. "Those two have been cosying up a lot recently though, you wouldn't have anything to do with it right?"
"I may have pushed for them to spar a little more often than necessary, but nothing drastic. They'll get there on their own." I mutter with a light smirk. "Have you heard anything about Zander and Mickey?"
"Zander got let out last night as well, Mickey's still in the infirmary though, broken arm." He says, raising his eyebrows at me.
"If I survived, so can he. Though whether he'd even pass initiation with working limbs is a different question." I say dryly and Ben chuckles, as Lily and Jay sit down opposite us, exchanging greetings.
"You guys seen Beth this morning?" Lily asks, and we shake our heads. "She's been kinda down recently, has she told you anything Ben?"
"Nah." Ben says, but as he turns his head to the side, scratching the back of his neck, I can see the lie in his posture. I thought I noticed something when I asked him about her as well. Trouble in paradise I guess.
"Come on, I'm going to go early, I make up time." I say to them before standing and leaving, jogging lightly to the training room. I hope Four's already in there, he obviously knows about the real events of that night, so I should probably talk to him if I can get a moments spare.
And sure enough, he's tidying up the knives table.
"Hey Four." I announce my presence, and he turns immediately.
"Avery, how are you? I got written off you were healing, but you haven't been in the infirmary." Four questions me immediately, and I meet him with calm eyes.
"Resting, I got some painkillers from the infirmary and left before they could ask any more questions. I'm guessing you know the details?" I reply smoothly.
"Yeah, I saw the footage." He says, walking closer to me. I let him move, and at his height he tilts my head slightly to look at the bump on my head. "Tch… Avery I don't even know how you got yourself into that shit."
"Well, the bastards gone now, and I only lightly knocked Zander out so there shouldn't be anymore." I drawl, but he just gives me a pointed look. He gazes down at my stomach questioningly, but I hear the door swing open and I take a quick step back.
"How's the ankle?" Four quickly starts the conversation anew, and I answer swiftly.
"May or may not have sprained it, but I didn't use it yesterday and this morning it was fine on my run." I inform him honestly. He gives me a look I'm supposed to understand as the others filter in, all on time since the severity of the punishments became unbearable. Though I notice Zander isn't here.
"Right, I was going to evaluate your gun work, but the dauntless-born have claimed the shooting ring this morning, so we'll do that in the afternoon. For now, knives. In fact you should be happy, your knife-work is a mess. And don't forget, you're ranked with the Dauntless-born." Four tells us sternly before we line up in our usual spots. I see Beth move next to Lily, but she doesn't meet my gaze. I mentally sigh, I swear, I didn't do anything.
I let a group of five knives slip through my fingers as I remember my hold. Four was right, I have no idea how I'll rank with the Dauntless-born. Maybe I've been too complacent, despite being friends with Leon, Mark, Raven, Kray ad DT, I have no idea how they're ranked. They're probably all above us if we were put together, though the transfer level of improvement has been extremely fast. Not to mention there's bound to be some Dauntless-born who stayed because of family pressure, there always is.
With that in mind, I take my stance, lightly pressing on my bad ankle to make sure it won't be worsened by my weight shift. And I throw. A nice star shape around the heart. Ugh, the sound of knives, so relaxing.
After we've walked to collect our knives the third time, I notice Zander walk in. He looks fine, quickly talking to lining up, but it's easy to catch the glance my way. I can't read it from here, but it doesn't feel hostile, at least.
After the fourth set, Lily looks at me sideways.
"Don't you get bored of a star?" She questions, somehow without an ounce of sarcasm. I shrug.
"It means I have to change the angle, for the bottom ones I have to completely change my grip to get it upside-down, so not really." I answer simply.
"Why don't you change it up? How about a simply smiley?" Jay jokes from my others side as we walk back to our positions. I give him a quick smirk, before drawing my arm back and narrowing my eyes. Lets do it in the head, why not. Two knives embed themselves as eyes, whilst my other three land more horizontal in the shape of a small smile.
"Aw, you should've made it grin, or smirk, that would've been fun…" Jay starts jokingly, but as I feel Four's presence behind me he drifts off.
"If you have time to draw maybe I should increase your difficulty." Four remarks, and I give him a small smile.
"Changing the angle's still hard enough." I say softly, trying to communicate to him how much I don't want to be special. It's probably gone down the drain, but I want to save it as much as possible, at least for the dauntless-born, though the time I cut Leon's hair off doesn't help me at all.
"You managed 25 that one time, have you been practising it?" He questions, but his eyes show me he knows I have been.
"I wasn't aware it was a requirement." I try to brush it off, but Four isn't letting up, he just stares meaningfully, until I scowl.
"Target?"
"Hmm…" Four smiles playfully, looking around the room. "I guess you need a test of accuracy as well… Oh look, there's Axel."
I roll my eyes at him obviously, as sure enough Axel is leaning back in a chair at the other side of the training room shifting through papers. His right ankle is resting on his left knee, and he looks completely concentrated.
"Cut his laces off." Four mutters to me, with quick glances at Lily and Jay to carry on what they were doing. Axel's wearing black trainers, and I can just see his laces, just. But I'll need to hit the knot, because the laces won't cut if I just hit the loops. But as I move into position, I look back at Four.
"He'll notice, and move before it gets there, this is Axel we're talking about." I mutter in return. Four just grins at me, and I shift my jaw in annoyance. "Fine then."
And right then, I flick back my wrist, stepping into the throw with the power I need to reach the longer distance, and release.
"Fuck! Shitting little arseholes!" His curses echo in the hall as he stands, and I quickly turn back to my smiley face, taking a knife from Four and adding a nose to my face.
"Four?! You little bastard…" I can hear Axel's thundering footsteps as I move uniformly with the other initiates to collect our knives, leaving Four to summon up an explanation that won't get him beaten up. But when I turn up, Axel has him in a headlock, yet Four's whispering to him urgently.
"You did it? I'M NOT TARGET PRACTICE!" Though he's yelling, I can see the laughter in his eyes, and it makes me grin.
"I'm just an initiate, all I can do is follow orders." I tell him, holding my hands up in surrender looking pointedly at Four. Axel turns back to Four.
"I'll get you for this. I will." He says, stalking away and out of the room. As soon as he's out of the door, I let my chuckles out.
"You arsehole, you rat me out!" I whisper accuse Four, who's shoulders are shaking with mirth.
"Well I wasn't going to lie was I?" He replies quietly, before catching the other initiates looks of curiosity and going back into intimidation setting. "Get back to work!"
He elbows me lightly. "That includes you." He mutters, before walking off to yell at Lottie for her technique.
"Bastard." I mutter as I get back to the usual targets, though I catch the side eye from Lily and Jay.
"You're still the star child though, you get off lucky." Lily says smiling.
"Because she always challenges him in the runs I'd bet." Jay agrees, as they share smiles across me.
"I least I'm not making eyes at anyone across the training room." I say bluntly, watching amused as Lily quickly looks back to her target, though I catch Jay's gaze lingering. I have to bite my lip to keep from sniggering as we get back to training.
12321
In the afternoon, gun practice. My head isn't lingering on Eric saying he may be here, not at all. He hasn't been in training or evaluation for weeks because of the patrol and his following injury. And you can tell, as soon as he enters the gun range, nerves are on edge.
Sure, Four's intimidating, and his punishments are hard, and unrelenting.
But Eric's are worse. Not to mention, he has this way of making any punishment, and any comments he gives feel like insults, as if they don't have any benefit whatsoever. Four is a little more straight-forward with his criticism, Eric you have to work it out for yourself. Not that I mind.
"It's been three weeks, initiate, yet somehow I don't see any improvements." Eric snarls as he stands before Isobel, who has her head down, and I'm sure I can see her shaking. Luckily, we're not idiots, and the rest of us carry on shooting, in attempt to avoid his wrath.
My shooting's been better since Eric figured out my eyesight is uneven, causing me to see the bullseye to the right of where it actually is. So, overall, I've been getting better. Though I still can't use a bloody shotgun, the control on that thing is disgusting. But I've definitely excelled with the handgun, which has become my favourite over the rifle.
As I feel Eric's presence behind me, I easily start a new magazine on the handgun, and shift into my stance. He'll want these concise, I think Isobel not answering him earlier made him a little impatient.
So I do all six at a regular pace. The first is off, ever so slightly, still in the heart but to the left, as I overcompensated for my eyesight. However, the other five I adjust accordingly, and they all go straight for the bullseye.
I don't hear any words as he moves on from Lily and I next to each other, and I see Lily also aced her full six, all in the heart.
"Low five." Lily whispers to me with a side glance, and I smile slightly, obliging her.
"Right, now Eric's here we're going to run the moving course. Line up!" Four yells and we do as he says. We've run the course a few times over the last few weeks, and now everyone's using a shotgun except for myself. The rankings haven't changed much, in fact Lily and Zander have stayed up top, though Zander outscored her the last couple of times we've done it. I've stayed at third the entire way through, and the lower scores have jumbled a little but not drastically.
"Next." Four calls me up and I move into my stance. I won't lie, I did hold back in the other runs, I have no idea whether it would actually change my rank, but now Eric's here I know I have to go full out.
The targets move out, and I get to work. I keep my reloads sharp and concise, and my shots are all pretty much dead on. I guess I'm still in a good mood.
As I step away, I know all my shots were to the head or heart, that ended up being my strategy. I probably could've gotten a few more in if I went to injure rather than focussing on the headshots and all, but that's just what ended up happening.
"Next." Four says, with a short look at me, and I meet eyes with Eric as I pass.
"You were using the wrong gun, initiate, you should know that by now." Eric says sternly, and for a moment I realise I had forgotten how he was in training, I forgot the bite between his words. I can't let myself be distracted by whatever words he gives me elsewhere.
"I am aware of it, my performance is stronger with the handgun regardless of it not being as suited to the situation." I answer calmly. He takes a slow step towards me.
"Then maybe you should stop being shit at what you should be doing." He growls, and I nod my head slowly, letting my breath draw out.
"Of course, I'll work more on the shotgun, sir."
The rounds go through, until we're all done. Eric was his usual threats throughout, and I think I just managed to pass off mine. I was too reckless, I was almost about to reply cheekily, mock him, tease him as we had in the past few days. Exactly what I wasn't supposed to do. At least I caught myself, it should be easy enough not to make that mistake from now on.
Another chapter gone, this one was getting back into the initiation rhythm after all the fluff, and I think I got there. Anyway next chapter I'm introducing a new theme, and I think I've figured out where the paintballing will be going chronology wise. For now though, this wasn't the most interesting chapter, but I'll be building up to something new soon! Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, read and review as always!