A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time, but hopefully this makes up for it. I've always wanted to see a fight between Eric and Four in the books, so I thought I'd try it out for myself.

I lean against the chalkboard, my hand stuffed into my pocket in what anybody would see as a casual way, but my muscles are tensed. I glance back at the piece of paper in my hand for what seems like the twentieth time. The same names glare back at me accusingly, like they already know what's going to happen. I turn to look back at the board. Tris isn't fighting today, I made sure of that. The fights remain the same as before, so I already know the result.

"Are you done with that list, yet?"

I clench my teeth, hard. "If you wanted it finished any faster, then you should have done it yourself."

Eric raises a brow, his lips pressed into a line. He takes a step closer at an attempt of intimidation, but I have to fight the urge to laugh. His expression hardens. "Remember who has the authority here, Four." He spits my name back at me in accusation. "Here, and everywhere else."

I cross my arms over my chest and give Eric a questioning look. "The last I heard, I'm officially transitioning into leadership as of tomorrow. You have no control over me anymore."

Eric's eyes are on fire, and I find it hard to think back to the last time I saw him this angry. A muscle in his jaw ticks. "So that's what Max wanted to speak to you about." It isn't phrased as a question, like he already knows the answer and doesn't need any justification.

I give him a mocking smile. "Not just then, Eric. I was always Max's first choice. You're a pawn of Jeanine Matthews, and you only got the job because of her… connections."

Eric's clenched fists shake slightly, and he takes a sharp intake of breath. Eric isn't one to lose his temper this easily, so I know I must have hit a nerve. "You're lying!" He slams a meaty fist down on the old wooden table with exaggerated force. "You were never Max's first choice. He only offered you the job because he felt sorry for you. A little abused boy from Abnegation with daddy issues? How could you possibly believe you can fit in here when you can't even confront your own father, Tobias?"

I fight to keep my expression calm. Eric is grasping at straws, trying to do anything to make me break. He may have had something on me before, but I made peace with my fear of Marcus. I am no longer afraid.

I lean in closer towards him until my face is only inches from his. "Yeah? And what does that make you? An Erudite know-it-all who lost a fight against a Stiff? A little, weak, pathetic child from Abnegation with daddy issues? You can say what you want about me, Eric, but at least I know where I stand."

I step back and reach for the piece of chalk from the table. I offer it to him, my lips curving upwards slightly. "By all means, be my guest."

A moment of silence passes, and I can feel the tension building. Eric's whole body shakes in rage.

And before I can register what's happening, Eric is clutching the front of my shirt and my head hits the wall, hard. His expression is manic, and I finally realise that he's snapped. Whatever little control he'd had before was long gone now. "Don't test me, Four," he hisses through clenched teeth. His fingers dig into the soft skin of my neck, and I grimace slightly. His many piercings glisten in the light, and the holes they occupy widen. "You may have beaten me before, but things have changed."

I can feel my temper spiking. Pushing all thoughts of the consequences from my mind, I draw back my leg and kick him, hard. He tries to twist away from the kick, but my foot hits him hard in the ribs. His grip on my shirt loosens, and his free hand rushes to the left side of his body. Taking advantage of Eric's weakened state, I twist from his grip and push him away from me with as much force as I can muster. He stumbles backwards, but quickly regains his balance. He has been apart of Dauntless for far too long to be affected by a mere push. The blood rushes to his cheeks and I notice his muscles tense through his shirt. Too fast for me to realise what's happening, Eric rushes forwards, fast, his fist hitting my square in the jaw. I step backwards, my hand cradling my face. Eric has an advantage. My actions aren't fuelled by an uncontrollable rage from his taunting words. This time, I'm on my own, deeply relying on my own skill to bring me to victory.

My anger intensifies as Eric gives me a smug smile. I notice his left hand still rests on his hip from my previous blow, and despite the pain in my lower jaw, I smile in satisfaction.

He tries to hit me again, aiming for my face for the second time, but I turn away from the blow and his fist connects with my shoulder. I wince as a jarring pain shoots through my body like electricity. I look up just in time to see Eric inspecting his fist.

I feel my pain disappear into anger. I will not let him beat me, not now.

I grasp him around the throat to hold him in place as I hit him again, and again, and again. I don't care where I hit him, so long as it hurts.

Using all the strength I can manage, I push him hard against the chest. He staggers backwards, cradling his fist against his chest. Just when I think he's going to run at me again, the initiates walk into the room in small groups, talking quietly among themselves, oblivious to what they'd walked in on.

Eric turns his head a fraction away from them and quickly wipes the blood from his lip with the sleeve of his jacket. His eyes meet mine for a brief instant before he looks away. His jaw is set in determination.

And that's when I realised that I did the worst thing I could have possibly done. I provoked Eric. His eyes scan the group of initiates mercilessly, and I know he won't go easy on them, especially now. Every one of them is going to be pushed to their breaking point today, and possibly even further. The relief that Tris isn't fighting today floods through me, and I stand, awaiting Eric's next move. I already know the day will be far worse than last time, and it hasn't even started yet.