Chapter 13

Kazana has lived factionless her entire life, having been found by the rebels who strive to live without the faction system she becomes their new secret weapon. The plan is clear, choose dauntless, pass initiation, infiltrate the system, but what can she do when a certain leader sees through her façade? AU No War, One year after Tris' initiation.

A/N: I have created a playlist for this story which you can find in my profile. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far, I am shocked and humbled by your amazing response. This is a very long chapter in comparison to previous ones but I felt it needed to be in order to convey more than one point of view. Just a little reminder to everyone that there is no easy journey ahead for these two as they are on opposite ends of the rebellion, so without further ado… Chapter is rated M for light adult themes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent. Or Detergent, I like to opt for more natural methods of cleaning such as bathing my clothes in chocolate milk…too much? I think I need to stop writing till 4am…

8 years prior to initiation (The Purification)

Gleaming leather did not belong in a place like this. That was the first thought that crossed the withered man's mind as he fell to his hands and knees in a pool of grime. He was eye level with two pairs of shoes, tailor cut and shined to perfection, it was all the information he needed to know they had come.

"Is she safe?" a silken voice asked, the clean cut of his tone matched the sharp appearance of his hard-pressed suit. The muddied man shuddered violently as he pulled back in to a kneeling position and observed the two suited officials towering before him.

Both were dressed in their customary black business jackets and slacks, the essence of sophistication as a sleek car with blacked out windows sat parked behind them. It was of course, an unusual sight indeed to anyone who lived within the modified city, but he'd been expecting them for some time.

"I d...duh…I dunno," he whimpered, his voice hoarse and thick with fear.

"What on earth do you mean, you don't know?" the second official asked, his voice deceptively calm.

"She got away; I didn't mean for nuffin' to happen. They spotted us ya see and I…couldn't..."

"You cowered out." The first man stated, it was not a question.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed, further obscuring his face with dirtied hands. "They was gonna kill me, I told 'er to run!"

The second man rolled his eyes at his confederate and kicked out with one foot, it took little pressure to send the factionless filth to the ground once more.

"Are you telling us that you actually believed your pathetic life to be more important than hers? Have you any idea the trouble you have cost us?" he sneered.

"I'm Sorry, I'm sorry!" he cried, rocking back and forth in a cradled position as heaving tears streamed down his face.

"Did you see anything, anything at all?!" the suited man asked, desperation breaking through his cool tone.

The factionless man was silent for a few moments, his body still shaking with terror.

"There was this boy, a Dauntless lad and two others, he was clutchin' his face real h..hard, as if someone 'ad taken a chunk outta it." A steel capped toe pressed further into his shoulder, the clean, bold scent of shoe polish filled his senses.

"And this matters to us because…"

"Cuz' they was chasing her you see, at least I think it was them, maybe she managed to get away or somesort," the words came out as a jumbled plea, his saving grace. The two men regarded each other thoughtfully before the weight on his back was relieved and he breathed a thankful sigh. His ease did not long last however when his head snapped to the side with the force of an aggressive blow.

The factionless wretch had barely the energy to struggle as one arm held fast around his neck, another hand grabbing his hair to wrench it backwards. He watched with choked gasps and great trepidation as the second man came to crouch beside him, a syringe balanced delicately between his fingers as one droplet seeped from the winking needle.

"I think that's all the information we need for now. This'll just pinch for a second," he leaned in further and halted at the sliver of skin, slick with sweat before smirking at his colleague. "What's that line again? Something those brutes use to give themselves a faux sense of courage?"

He paused for a moment in thought before chuckling; his hand tightened once more on the needle in his hand. The curling smile on his lips failed to reach his eyes.

"Ah yes, be brave."

The helpless man's eyes rolled back in to his head as he fell in to a boneless heap and all of his memories fled in to unconsciousness.

Present day

She'd overslept. It didn't take a watch or the sight of empty beds for her to become aware of this fact, Kazana just felt it, that dreadful realization that hits you upon awakening. A sizeable yet taut bottom was the first thing that entered her vision as she opened her eyes and saw Wes running quite comically out of the showers.

"Don't look! Don't look! My body is a temple!" he chanted and ripped the sheets from his bed to cocoon himself within them. Kaz watched on in bewilderment as he narrowed his eyes playfully at her and shimmied in to a pair of underwear. How someone so large and intimidating could look so feminine was beyond her.

What brief amusement she had felt at his expense dissipated within moments as memories from the previous night came flooding back full force.

"What time is it?" she grumbled, rubbing her sore, exhausted eyes with rough palms.

"Time you put some pants on. We've missed breakfast." Kazana did not miss the way his tone had hardened and she did not blame him. If there was one thing she and Wes could not jest about, it was the absence of food. This morning could not get any worse.

Her morning had just got a lot worse. It had been with sprinting strides that she had made it to training on time but each initiate now stood before their assigned rope with unease. Max had decided to drop in and assess their progress but Kazana was well aware that his hawk eyes never left her own climbing form.

She did not allow his thoughtful stare to disturb her however as she gripped the rope with steady hands, it was the first time she had been given the chance since their first disastrous session and now was the chance for her to let go.

Ignoring the attempts of the other initiates, Kazana hooked her leg on to the draping material, far above her waist and hoisted herself up with one arm. Her wicked fast metabolism had grown used to the steady meals provided in the past three weeks and her body protested to the continuous abuse as she made her way up to the top of the rope and tumbled back down in freestyle positions.

On her third transition, Kaz snapped out of her trance like state when Lisa waved a frantic hand in front of her face.

"How are you doing that?" she demanded, though her eyes were alight with curiosity not resentment.

"It's not so much different to the things we did in my old faction," the lie rolled off Kazana's tongue easily, but she surprised herself with her next offer. "I could show you some tricks if you like?"

She did not know why she said such a thing, her job was to ensure her own elevation, not assist others. Lisa's face broke in to a genuine smile, and it occurred to Kazana that was the first show of real emotion she had seen from the girl, it seemed initiation had changed all of them.

"That would be great!" Lisa took hold of the rope with both hands, awaiting instruction. Kazana demonstrated the position to assume in tightening her thighs and core muscles, so lost was she in the lesson that she had failed to notice Max's additional company until it was too late.

Kazana hung with locked legs and loosened arms, upside down from the scratchy material, Lisa just a few meters below her in a twisted parody of the position.

"Not bad at all initiate," Peter remarked as he watched Lisa's improvement, his eyes drifted up to where Kazana swayed carelessly. He opened his mouth as if to say more but thought better of it when he caught the stare of the two men stood observing.

Kaz followed his gaze and felt all control leave her body as she slid down the rope at burning speed, just managing to lock her legs in time before she collided with Lisa's struggling form.

Eric was stood beside Max; the intricate tattoos on his arms were openly visible as he crossed them behind his back. The older leader nodded slowly as they muttered to each other in hushed tones and Kazana could only watch the exchange with disquiet as the steely eyes she had become so accustomed to never met her own.

Max was approaching her; she jumped on to the ground after Lisa and felt frantic visions skim through her mind at the reason for his advance. Had Eric told him about last night? Had she somehow given herself way? What if this was it, what if she was thrown out for g-

"Kaz," he greeted her warmly, as warmly as a Dauntless leader could. He placed a steady hand on her shoulder in greeting and she felt her eyes drift past him to see if Eric had followed. He had not; he stood stock still at the entrance, face unreadable and stance shoulders width apart. Eric looked every bit the Dauntless ideal, she began to wonder if the passion he had emitted in their stolen moments had just been a dream.

She turned back to Max. Still waiting in sick anticipation of his next words, he did not say anything straight away, turning to Peter and Lisa with raised brows. Lisa jumped to attention straight away and began to busy herself once more with the task of climbing whilst Peter hurried off to bark at another initiate.

"I just came to see if your skills were everything Eric had made them out to be."

Kazana balked at the comment, glancing once again at the statue like presence at the doorway.

"My skills sir?"

"How many times do I have to tell you it's Max," he reprimanded, she could only remain silent however, waiting apprehensively.

"You're advanced in ways that I struggle to find in my best officers," he explained.

"I have to wonder where it's all come from." Kazana winced; she could not afford to have this man suspecting her.

"But I'm afraid we haven't the time right now, I wanted to see if your prospects of passing initiation had changed." He grinned, a startling white smile. "You have a promising future here in Dauntless. It is clear now that your extra lessons aren't necessary. Consider them done."

"I...Sir…Max-" she stammered.

"I'm sure you'll be glad to have your evenings to yourself again!" he clapped his hand once again on her back in parting and marched out of the training area, followed by the man who had caused her restless night and late awakening, her constant turmoil and confused desire. He walked away calmly and took with him the last chance she'd had of completing her mission.

Two days passed in which she saw not a single hint of Eric, it was in the evenings especially that Kazana would find her eyes wandering to the far end table. The constant awareness that she had felt in the past weeks, the crackling energy that sent goose-bumps down her flesh, it was gone. He had successfully cut her off, and Kaz could only wander whether the sense of loss she felt was a result of her failure to Evelyn or the result of his desertion.

She had at first felt angry about the matter, in the moments following Max's departure her mind swam with various insults, simmering rage that he should have the gall to end things so abruptly. Spineless Bastard. Arrogant Piece of Shit. Manipulating, Conniving, Soft Lipped Fuckhead.

The vulgarities however soon turned to insecurities, as Kazana began to question her own role in the matter, where had she gone so wrong that he would just leave like that? There was no doubt that he had been as absorbed in the kiss as she. The Kiss, it felt strange just to voice it, to simplify such a raw, animalistic moment of yearning with a single word.

It was on the third morning since her conversation with Max, when Kazana found her mind yet again wondering to that heated night, that she grew truly angry at herself. What had she become? She was a warrior, a revolutionary, these were not the thoughts of a fighter, Kaz considered herself to be no better than the giggling fools who fawned over his very presence.

Tris stood at the entrance of the dormitories, azure eyes scanned the room calmly as she waited for the initiates to awaken.

"Today is Visiting Day."

The dormitory broke out into a myriad of frantic voices, and it took Kazana by surprise how someone so small possess such a commanding tone as she brought them all to silence.

"We are almost at the end of stage 1, some of you will have the chance to see your family before initiation is over and you are transferred to your new jobs." Kaz noted the way Tris skimmed over the matter of cuts; everyone else seemed so keen to remind them of their possible elimination.

"Here in Dauntless we take faction before blood very seriously," her voice remained firm but her eyes lacked resolve. "Keep that in mind when you go out there today."

The room burst in to motion as Tris turned to leave but Kazana found herself following the girl in a moment of impulse. Tris smiled weakly as she met the younger girl's gaze, their voices were barely audible above everyone's excited chatters.

"Have you heard any news?" Kaz whispered, her face schooled in to one of innocent wonder.

"Nothing yet, but you have someone here to see you who might be able to tell you more."

Kazana stared at her in disbelief.

"Don't tell me it's Edward or Cain?! Are they out of their minds?"

Tris shook her head. "Of course not, I believe you and her have already met."

Kaz gaped at the older girl with furrowed brows but advanced forward once again when Tris made to exit the dorms.

"Wait! Tris! I…One more thing. Have you seen anything of Eric in the last few days?"

Tris skimmed the smooth contour of her own collarbone for a moment, tracing the delicate ink there as she pondered the question.

"Not really, I know he and a few others soldiers have been making more regular trips to Erudite. Why do you ask?"

"I just figure it's best to keep tabs on what the leaders are doing," Kazana lied smoothly, meeting Tris' curious stare with a relaxed smile.

Lavender kissed sheets encased her entire body as she was greeted enthusiastically by a bustling woman in the customary Amity colours. Kazana recognized Sylvia instantly and struggled not to topple over from the force of her embrace, such fierce displays of affection were unnerving to say the least.

"My darling!" she cried excitedly, attracting the unamused stares of initiates and parents alike. Kazana tried to mimic the woman's animated tone as she pulled away and beamed.

"Auntie Sylvia!" she giggled. Giggled.

Kaz wasted no time in clasping the older lady's warm, roughened hand in her own and advancing towards a familiar alcove in which they could talk privately. Skipping all the while, she shot a glare at Vesper who was smirking at the display.

The moment they were out of earshot, Sylvia's twinkling smile fell and Kazana tried to scan her face for any sign of information.

"What's going on? Is Edward alright? Cain? Has Evelyn said anything to you? What do you know? Tell me everything!"

The older woman grasped Kaz's wrists and shook her head with shushing motions.

"All in good time my dear, Edward is fine. Cain came to me this morning in the hope that I might visit you. I'm afraid he and Evelyn are not on good terms."

"What? Why?"

"So much has changed since you came here darling girl, more and more people are beginning to speak out against the regime. Shootings do not stop at The Purification; the Dauntless guards are on orders to execute anyone who belongs to the rebellion.

When Cain found out what Evelyn had asked you to do, he was furious. Told her it was practically a death sentence, and I have to agree. I've never seen the man but Kazana, Eric is bad news. What is she thinking?!"

Kazana retreated back a step; the knot in her stomach grew heavier with Sylvia's words.

"Evelyn saved me when I had nobody; she knows what she is doing." The Amity woman observed her with a saddened smile. Her grip on Kazana's wrist tightened as she came to mumble in her ear.

"She is growing obsessed, the control she once held over the factionless members is wavering now that more people are being killed. I know that she is important to you my dear, but don't think for a moment that she will not sacrifice you for the good of her cause."

Fear and resentment had Kazana shoving away from Sylvia in a heartbeat, her jaw clenched as a cruel retort burned at the tip of her tongue. She knew however that it was not the fault of this woman that her mind had been plagued with doubt; the feeling had been crawling within her since the visit to the gate. But if she couldn't trust Evelyn, then who else was there?

Their goodbye was sickly sweet, a public display of motherly affection on Sylvia's part as she pinched Kazana's cheeks with tearful coos. It was only as she watched the retreat of her make believe aunt that she allowed her aching smile to dissipate to a grimace.

Eric was thankful for the darkened disguise the shadows afforded him as he observed the nauseating interaction. His eyes narrowed in thought as he watched Kaz's expression change to distaste at the woman's departure, had that been her mother? The simpering, doughy eyed oddity that clung to Kaz like a brightly coloured disease?

He did not allow her the possibility of seeing him as she headed in the direction of the dorms, seemingly lost in thought. Curiosity got the better of Eric as he walked determinedly to the control room and fixed Four with a sneer.

"Max wants to see you."

Four looked up from one of the screens and frowned. "Why?"

Damn stiff! Just get out! "He didn't say. But you better get going," Eric spoke with a bored drawl though his eyes were icy sharp and it didn't take long before the room was empty, but not before Four shot him a resentful glare.

Eric approached a screen that covered the expanse of an entire wall; he worked swiftly in tapping a unique passcode in to the controlling device. A range of options were available to him, but his fingers worked quickly to delve in to each category. Census. Recent. Initiates. Transfers.

10 faces appeared on the screen in two rows, the last of which had been crossed out. Deceased. He remembered the moment well, an initiate who had failed to even make it off the train. His eyes were drawn immediately to girl beside the red cross, Eric could not quell the feeling of unease that arose at the sight of her hollowed face.

He tapped the device once more so her picture was enlarged; dark empty eyes stared back at him, too large amongst bony cheeks and sallow skin. It was a shocking contrast to the girl that he had held only days before, basic information typed out across the screen beside her face.

Kazana Thomas. DOB: 2296. Daughter to Robert and Phoebe Thomas. Amity Transfer. Aptitude Results: Dauntless.

"Kazana," the name rolled off his tongue like a natural caress. Thomas on the other hand looked out of place somehow, too normal. There was nothing unusual about her profile, nothing to explain the ease with which she fired a gun or conquered a fight.

His calculating eyes scanned her face once more; he toyed with the piercing above his brow, twisting it in slow circular motions.

It had been three days since he approached Max with the request that her sessions be stopped. The older leader had shrugged him off at first but firm insistence won out in the end, still he could not erase the image of her delectable lips pursed in to a scowl, fiery contempt in her eyes as walked away.

Eric had kept himself busy in that time, the alliance with Erudite was as strong as ever and it wouldn't be long before the factionless learned their place once and for all. This just left the matter of the Divergent. He patrolled the streets at night, leading the way for his soldiers to follow and during the day he continued to correspond with Jeanine and Kang.

On the odd occasion he dropped in to watch the progress of the Dauntless Born initiates, meals were taken in his apartment only and sleep was fleeting, practically non-existent. It suited him well, a constant routine, and a way to keep his mind…distracted.

When he'd arrived at their last training session together, it was with bitter resentment. The day at the fence had been long and tedious, only to be made worse by Sloane's constant hovering. Eric had been instructing the new patrol officers in the Factionless slums when a tell-tale beep alerted his duties back at Dauntless.

He'd been clear in his resolve to ignore her, make sure the hour passed quickly as she trained at Max's request. Then she had to go and ruin that with her dusky eyes and tantalizing skin, she had practically begged him to touch her and how could he resist?

Eric was used to being in control; it was something he had exercised for years. But control was not something he possessed when she fixed him with her catlike stare, she was fully aware of her power and it taunted him, like a moth to a flame.

So he'd lashed out, attacked her with cruel words and relished momentarily in the hurt that crossed her features. He mocked and sneered at her and still she did not back down, her inky eyes had shone with angry tears, a delicious flush of red on her cheeks, and it broke him.

He did not take well to the interruption that followed, wanting nothing more than to smash the walkie-talkie in to oblivion, every command that left his mouth in the landscape room later that evening had come out as a vicious snarl.

By morning however his mind had been made up, whatever it was she was doing to him, whatever spell she had him under, it had to end.

But how she plagued his mind. When he gripped his gun, he thought again of the feel of her hips, so soft and pliable beneath his fingers. When he ate his meals in silence, he could still taste her like a sweet intoxicating spice and then his mind would drift to the husky moans in his ear and her thick hair knotted in his fist and her firm thighs locked against his own. So responsive and just fucking irresistible.

Eric groaned again at the thought, swiftly erasing the history from the device before leaving the room. He needed another diversion, so he went to the place that he had come to know all too well, and got a tattoo.

Kazana awoke to blinding darkness, a blurry figure stood above her and it took her no more than a moment to shoot from the bed and send a fierce fist square in to his nose.

"AAAHH KAZ WHAT THE HELL?!" Four cried. Flashlights flickered in her face then and the other initiates were already up, drowsily pulling on boots and jackets.

"Whoa. Sorry, what's everyone doing up?" Kazana winced as she saw him lift his shirt and try to soak up the stream of blood.

"A little Dauntless tradition, get dressed." He addressed the entire group then, narrowing his eyes at the few initiates that dared to stare a little too long at his bleeding nose. "I want everyone on the train in 5 minutes!"

Kazana grabbed the first clothes she saw, squeezing in to the customized ensemble Sophie had given her and a thick black jacket to keep away the night's chill. Everyone ran at a steady pace to the tracks, the Dauntless borns followed behind and soon they came to a stop. Her body no longer protested at the late hour as she felt the wintry air surround her, it was a harsh yet effective wake up call.

"Everyone grab a gun!" Eric shouted over the sound of the approaching train. Kaz felt her head snap in the direction of his voice, she of course was met with nothing but his retreating form as he pounced on to the train and slammed open the door.

"What the hell is going on?" Fay hissed to nobody in particular as she fumbled for a gun. Kazana shrugged and decided to just go with it as she reached for a box labelled paintballs; she rolled her eyes, thanks for the heads up Ed.

The train doors were left open as they all scrambled on, Kazana found herself leaning out to pull Lisa in as she hung trembling from the bars.

"We are all going to be playing a game of capture the flag" Four announced, Tris, Peter and Eric stood beside him with arms crossed and anticipatory grins. "You'll all be split in to two teams, an even mix of Dauntless Borns and Transfers, the first team will get off first to hide their flag, followed by the second."

Kaz frowned at the thought; there were four trainers, who would be the team leaders? Her question was answered however as she saw Eric move to the other side of the carriage followed by Peter. She determinedly kept her eyes on Four, it would not do for her pride to be further destroyed with his dismissal.

"You first," Four said, Peter opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Eric's drawl.

"What happened to your nose?"

"One initiate got a little over exuberant, get on with it."

The Dauntless Leader cocked a brow but questioned no more. "Wes."

"Kaz" Four countered. Eric's fists clenched for a moment as his eyes darted to hers, the tension was palpable but over in an instant as he looked away and smirked.

"Solomon."

"Harry."

"Bernie."

Kazana felt a twinge of annoyance as she watched the abnegation transfer grin and take her place besides Solomon. Wes made wide eyes at her and mouthed 'kill me'. She stifled a smile.

"Lisa."

Eric snorted, "You're just begging to lose now Four."

Four shrugged, but Kaz did not miss the way he glanced at Tris with a momentary wink.

Eric scowled, "Mia."

"Fay."

"Jared." Four nodded resolutely, "Dauntless Borns then."

Kazana tuned out the rest of the conversation but felt herself returning Vesper's cheeky grin when she approached their group and flicked a violet strand over her shoulder. "Time to kill it," she chimed.

Turf was on Eric's team, along with Lemon and Greenie, Kazana wondered if she should bother learning their names but instantly dismissed the thought, Nah. Eric's team jumped off first, Vesper playfully stuck her foot out as Turf jumped, causing him to land in a heap on the grass.

The train continued to move with haste, the rickety bumps had everyone jolting back and forth before Four finally leapt off the cart followed by Tris and the remaining initiates. The first to speak was a boy with a tall red Mohican, Kazana recognized him as one of her congratulators after her first fight.

"So what's the plan? Go half and half and ambush the other team?"

Vesper tutted and ran a delicate finger down her blood red lips, Kazana was amazed she managed to make it out in the middle of the night with a full face of makeup.

"No way jackass, they'll be expecting that. It's done like every year," she remarked. Four frowned at this, "Who told you?"

"Dauntless born," Vesper smirked and Four rolled his eyes, Tris nodded her head in agreement.

"She's right; Eric will be expecting us to use the same strategy as last year we need to do something spontaneous." Ideas were shouted out instantly, no one voice instantly recognizable as the various initiates tried to get their point heard.

Kazana decided she'd had enough of taking a back seat in the matter and saw a brightly coloured piece of fabric glinting in the distance, advancing towards it she found that the fabric indeed belonged to one of the animals on the carousel. A neon scarf, the ends flickered with each gust of wind, it was a strangely lonely sight.

Untying the scarf from the horse's neck, she found herself give it a sad pat before returning to the group. They all looked up in surprise, clearly unaware she had even left.

"What's that?" Mohican boy asked, nodding to the material in her hands.

"Found it on the carousel," Kaz shrugged.

"Kaz that looks just like the flag…," Tris started, the other initiates' eyes grew wide with the growth of an idea.

"We can trick them into thinking that's our flag! If one of us runs to the offending team then that will distract them whilst we find theirs!" Vesper's voice was ecstatic. The remainder of the group nodded excitedly and Kazana cleared her throat to draw their attention.

"Who's playing bait?" she asked tentatively. Everyone shared knowing glances before fixing her with a sheepish smile. Kaz's lips pursed in annoyance.

"Great."

This was how Kazana found herself running full speed down the deserted city streets, faux flag in hand and questioning the justice of her situation. Frantic shouts in the distance had the adrenaline pulsing through her veins as she was alerted to the opposing team's presence. Stuffing the flag in to her mouth she grabbed the gun from around her back and loaded it with paintballs.

Her dread soon turned to gleeful anticipation as she darted down a familiar alley way, they were not far from Erudite.

"She has the flag! Get her!" Bernie's shrill scream broke through the steady rhythm of running feet. Kazana had never been more thankful for her extensive knowledge of the city as she took detour after detour, and soon the sound of approaching steps faded away.

Kaz stopped as she came to an open bridge, transferring the gun to one hand; she pulled the damp material from her mouth and leaned on the steady frame, laughing through heavy pants. Her joy was short lived as the bruising impact of a paintball hit her straight in the thigh.

"How's it feel to lose again, Amity?" Solomon jeered. He was alone from what she could see and approaching her with slow confident steps.

"I don't know, you tell me," she smarted. Raising the gun in her hand and firing three paint balls straight at his groin, he doubled over in pain, gasping for breath.

"You BITCH!" he wheezed, Kazana had to admit it was dirty fighting but he'd had it coming for a long time. She wasted no time in sprinting further along the bridge and on to another, the street lights were beginning to fade away behind her and soon she was enclosed in darkness and reliant on every sense but sight.

Unfortunately they did her no favours as she was swept up in one fast movement and hurtled off the bridge in to the sodden marsh. She landed harshly on to her bum, the offending figure swung down beside her. Kaz felt the ache in her thigh and backside slowing her down as she tried to attack but was pinned down by a solid form.

She tensed up immediately when her clawed hands met taut muscle; she'd know that frame anywhere especially when it was secured closely to her own. He ripped the material from between her fingers and examined it for a moment before chucking it over his shoulder and using one large palm to hold down her chest, fingers barely dusting the skin of her neck.

"Where's the flag?" he grunted.

"Haven't a clue."

He pressed in deeper and she could feel the damp slush of dirt seeping through her clothes and hair. "I won't ask you again," he warned menacingly.

"Good, could you let me up then?" she quipped, glad that she could find some humour in the situation. He didn't budge, she squinted in to the darkness, the silvery outlines of his eyes were barely visible but aggressive all the same.

"Not until you give me an answer," he growled.

Maybe it was the spontaneity of the night's events that made her lose all sanity in that next moment, or maybe it was the aid of darkness, masking her from reality that had her grasping a handful of mud and smearing it across his face.

They were silent for a few seconds, she in complete horror and he in disbelief. Kazana lurched forward ready to make her escape but was pinned down once again; she struggled beneath him and kicked out with her foot so he loosened his grip. He tackled her, and she, not one to give up a good fight, faced him head on so they were sent toppling once more in to the filthy marsh.

Both struggled immensely, unsure of the goal but desperate to cake the other in as much dirt as possible. As soon as one gained dominance on top, the other would attack, causing them roll back and forth in the cold slush.

The surrealism of the situation hit Kazana as she looked up at Eric, the great and powerful Dauntless leader, battling her in a pit of mud. Laughter bubbled out of her, halting his movements. She could not cease her amusement as he stared down at her in confusion, covered head to toe in sludge; her stomach ached from laughing as she struggled to stop.

His body remained tense over hers, ready again to attack but after a few more moments of her chuckling it was clear the fight was over. Soon the infectious sound of her giggles began to break through his own façade and he could not help a small smile.

Kazana stopped then, overcome by shock as she met not his glare, not his smirk, but a real smile. It was gone before it was really there, but she knew it wasn't a look she'd soon forget. To her chagrin, the expression had made him look undoubtedly handsome.

Neither moved a muscle as they watched each other in the obscure night. Kaz didn't know why she reached up timidly to his mouth to wipe away a smudge of dirt with her thumb, but the fleeting show of intimacy had felt oddly right and it was clear to both of them now that the flag was the last thing on their minds.

"Why did you stop the sessions?" she asked, it was a bare whisper of a sound.

"You didn't need them," he answered. She found the pressure of his relaxed form over hers oddly comforting and tried in vain to remember why this shouldn't happen.

"Maybe I wanted them," she murmured, surprised at her own admission and flushed with embarrassment that she should display such vulnerabilities.

His fingers were now tracing feather light patterns over the skin of her stomach, her shirt and jacket having ridden up during their rough and tumble. She shivered at the sensation and allowed her eyes to drift shut, shocked but not displeased when Eric's head came to rest against her own.

"I can't get you off my mind," he groaned, his husky admission was spoken a hairbreadth away from her lips, his hot breaths mingling with her own. She turned her head to the side, desperate to clear her thoughts, to gain some inkling of control but all attempts became void as she felt his lips skim across the line of her jaw.

His free hand came up to grasp her chin firmly, forcing her to meet his gaze, eyes like molten steel as they bore in to her own. His thumb brushed excruciatingly slow across her bottom lip, mimicking the movement of her touch as she'd wiped away the mud. His heated palm came to a stop on her cheek, the breadth of it encasing half her face as he kept her firmly in place.

"Then stop trying," Kazana breathed, unable to keep up the pretence of denial any longer, she gazed up at him with wide open eyes, and did not protest as his mouth met hers in a searing kiss.

It was nothing like the last time, rough, desperate and frantic. This was slow and sensual and honest, his lips worked in perfect unison against her own and she could only sink further in to the marsh with a moan as he leaned in to deepen the kiss. She allowed him to taste her want and yearning in the embrace, his mouth hot and possessive as it explored her own.

She slid a single leg up the firm expanse of his calf to wrap tightly around his waist as her fingernails traced lightly up and down in his back with teasing patterns. He shuddered and moved his hand away from her hip to slowly pull down the zip of her jacket and hike her soaking wet shirt up, his warm palm left gooseflesh on her stomach as it trailed up to knead one of her breasts in tantalizing motions.

Kazana moaned in to his mouth when she felt his thumb brush over the fabric covering her nipple, firm and taut from the wintery chill and his deliberate ministrations. Her head fell back in lazy bliss as Eric pulled away, his mouth working its way down teasingly until she felt his lips graze the exposed flesh of her waist.

She exhaled harshly when she felt his teeth bite down on the faint outline of her hip bone, his nose skimmed softly along the rough fabric where her hips were then covered. He moved up to capture her lips once more, both hands moved in synchronization down her body to grasp the backs of her thighs and pull her firmly to him, they both groaned at the contact.

"I want, I w-"

"I know," he murmured against her mouth, her shivering breaths fell anxiously against his lips.

Kazana felt a single tear slip down her cheek at his assurance, how long she had wanted to simply tell her that they know, not what they know, not how, just that they do. That even for a fleeting moment she could relax in to feeling that someone else would be there.

She closed her eyes and inhaled a shaky breath as she felt him wipe away the tear with the brush of his lips, they had entered new territory and it was frightening and exhilarating all at once.

"WE GOT IT!" Vesper's ecstatic yell broke through the near silence, neither made to move straight away. Kazana was surprised when she felt him pull the hem of her shirt down and zip her jacket up in a single swift movement, his eyes never leaving hers as he did so.

She'd expected him to snarl at her, to accuse her of ruining his chances in the game with her cheap distractions but Kazana should have known by now to expect the unexpected with Eric.

Her shock only increased when she saw him remove his own thick coat and drape it over her shoulders, it was as dirtied as her own but it provided instant warmth for which she was grateful.

"I can't take this," she muttered, though her body protested to the very idea of removing it.

"But you will," his commanding tone left no room for argument as he turned away to grasp the frames of the bridge and hoist himself over it and though she did not need it, she accepted his hand as he pulled her up too.

They walked in silence to the tracks where the other initiates had already gathered. The tension remained but it had changed somehow, a buzzing awareness, thrumming anticipation.

Kazana was surprised to see Lisa in the midst of the crowd, her face alight with a huge grin as Four's team held her high above their heads, Eric's team's flag grasped firmly in one hand. She joined them enthusiastically, her friend was so lost in victory she did not mind Kaz's muddy embrace.

The ride back to Dauntless was chaotic as the remainder of her team relayed the story of their success in acute detail; Kazana tuned the voices out and leaned back until her entire body was encased in the reddish glow of the rising sun.

She turned her head tiredly to watch the Dauntless leader who stood reclined by the train door.

His gaze never left hers.