Chapter Six: Comfort

Yelling.

Lots and lots of yelling.

The voices weren't clear.

The scene blurry, coming in and out of focus.

When everything became clear, a full out brawl was taking place in front of me in the street outside Erudite headquarters. Frowning, looking behind me, I knew that that was where I needed to go. Starting to run down the street, taking side roads and alleys, the buildings passed by in blurs. But ahead of me, the route was clear. It was as if each turn I needed to make was the only one in focus. Despite the speed I was running, my breathing was even, my heart steady as I raced toward my destination.

Sliding into a small square, there was a door across from it, a pulse emitting from it like a beacon, calling me toward it. Stepping forward, there was no sound, not even the air was moving. Then the door opened of its own accord, letting loose the sounds from inside.

Eric was screaming.

Rushing forward through the door, I saw him and his parents. He was on his knees, his father striking him with a belt while his mother spit at him. Eric's face was agonized, his shoulders hunched, and his head bowed. Blood was dripping down the side of his face, a drop sliding down his arm. His shirt was ripped open, blood covering his skin. His father turned his head and looked at me, blood dripping from the end of the belt. His face contorted and in the next second fire burned across my cheek, feeling hot blood spill from the cut he'd just made.

A feral yell escaped me as I lunged at him, ripping the belt from his hands, swinging it toward him as I put myself between him and his son. He gripped it, punching the cut across my cheek. Screaming, I yanked on the belt, jerking him forward, before punching him hard across his cheek. Landing another blow to the side of his head, gripping his hair and slamming his face into my knee before shoving him to the floor. His wife was screaming now, lunging for me. But they weren't fighters, easily gripping her hair, I swung the belt, wrapping it around her neck and tightened it until she gasped for air.

Looking down at Eric, he was no longer the man I knew but a boy with sandy blond hair and blue eyes full of fear. Tears slid down his cheeks as he looked up at me. He thanked me, though the sound of his voice was slow as if now time itself was slowing down. He stood, smiling at me before he ran from the house. Looking at his mother, I jerked the belt, hearing a satisfying snap, watching as she fell to the ground. Looking at his father, he was attempting to scramble away from me. A gun appeared on a small table. I didn't hesitate to pick it up, stepping to his father who was now pleading as I kicked him over onto his back. Putting my foot against his chest, I didn't blink as I shot him three times in the head. Only one was needed but the rest were for good measure. Each one sending a jolt of pleasure through me.

Looking to the door, I rushed to follow Eric, stopping as soon as I'd passed the threshold. He stood in front of me, the man I loved, his hands in front of him, one gripping the wrist of the other. He was whole. The blood gone. A fond smile on his face. Stepping closer to him, I smiled, reaching my hand up and lightly trailed my fingers across his brow and down his face. He brought his hands up, his fingers against my cheeks as he tipped my head back with his thumbs. Leaning down he kissed me sweetly. Moving up onto my toes, I cemented his face to mine, my hand on the back of his head, deepening the kiss until I couldn't breathe.

"Thank you." He told me.

"I'd do anything for you."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Pen

Frowning, it was like a whisper. His voice but it wasn't coming for the man whose arms were around me.

Pen

Turning from the Eric in front of me, stepping away from him, there was caressing against my cheek, despite him not touching me.

Baby

The dream faded and I opened my eyes. Eric was smiling at me, now slightly propped up. Quickly standing, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, taking his hand.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." He told me softly.

Clearing my throat, I licked the sleep from my mouth, "How are you feeling?"

"Like crap." He smirked.

Nodding, I sighed, smiling at him as I ran my fingers through my hair, "That'll happen when you drink your weight in alcohol."

His smile disappeared and his brows furrowed. "I didn't mean to get drunk. It just sort of..."

"Happened." I nodded running my hand across his hair. He looked at me questioningly. "It's okay, baby."

"You're not mad?"

I gave a short laugh, "Oh I'm mad as hell. But I'm not going to lay into you until you've recovered." He nodded, sighing as the grip on my hand tightened. "I was worried about you."

"You always worry about me." He replied, smirking again.

"I do." I nodded. "But that's only because I love you so damn much."

He laughed lightly, meeting my eyes, "I love you, Pen."

Leaning down to kiss him, he stopped me. "What is it?" I asked.

"My mouth tastes like ass. There's no way I'm letting you kiss me right now."

Raising a brow at him, I took his head in my hands and kissed him before he could stop me. Parting his lips with my tongue, he couldn't resist me, kissing me back. Leaning away from him with a vivacious smirk, he just grinned and shook his head. Then a frown crossed his face as he shifted. Something must have dawned on him, he leaned his head back against the pillow, his jaw clenching.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"Nothing." He replied. "Is Four awake?"

"Eric, what is it?" I repeated, moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

"No!" He yelled.

Frowning, I felt the bed, feeling dampness. Looking up at him, he was staring at the ceiling, his cheeks flushed and his jaw grew tighter than before. Leaning over him, I trailed kisses across his cheek until I reached his temple, resting my forehead against it, letting my eyelashes brush against his skin. Leaning away, he turned his head, frowning at me. Smiling, I leaned down and kissed him. Bringing his hand to the side of my head, his fingers disappeared into my hair, deepening the kiss.

"How can you even look at me right now?" He asked.

"The real question is: how am I not laughing at you right now?" I smirked. His face went hard and he returned to staring at the ceiling. "Baby, it's okay." I told him, running my hand across his hair. "You've never drank this much in your life. There is bound to be a few ramifications." He frowned harder. Sighing, I leaned down and pressed a kiss against his forehead, "I love you, Eric. This doesn't change anything. You're as amazing now as you were yesterday before all this happened."

"You should just go." He frowned, shutting his eyes.

For a long moment, I just stared at him, loving him in his moment of weakness. "I'm not going anywhere, Eric." I told him softly. He opened his eyes and looked at me, still frowning. "You're stuck with me for life. It doesn't matter what you do, I will always love you and I will always be there for you. Always, Eric." His expression softened and he brought his hand up to my face. Grinning, I leaned down, letting my lips hover over his, barely touching them, "For as long as we both shall live." He laughed lightly and kissed me, pinning me against his chest. "There's something you should know." I told him, pausing for dramatic affect.

"What?" He frowned, rubbing my arm.

"If you think this is bad, do you remember anything that happened before you passed out?"

"No." He frowned harder.

Nodding, I crinkled my nose at him, "You kinda...threw up...like all over me."

He looked horrified. "Please tell me you're joking."

"Nope." I told him, slowly shaking my head. "From my stomach to my toes, you drenched me in your own vomit. So I find you wetting the bed during your drunken stupor sort of satisfying. There's a sense of poetic justice in it."

For a moment he held his horrified expression. Then laughter burst from him. It took only a moment before I joined him. Laughing louder than was probably necessary. Rubbing his chest, his head was lolled to the side, a grin on his face as he looked at me. Still laughing lightly, I leaned down and kissed him, deeply and repeatedly.

"You do taste disgusting." I told him and laughed again.

"Yeah, well, if I had my -" He had to cut himself off as I grabbed his toothbrush and paste from the bag I'd brought. "And I'm gonna need a clean set of -" He had to stop again as I showed him a clean pair of clothes. "Well, I hope you don't plan on going anywhere. What am I supposed to do if you -?" He stopped a third time as I dropped his book onto the table next to him. "Damn." He said in mock disappointment. "You are perfect."

Laughing loudly, I shook my head at him. "I am far from perfect. But I am perfect for you." I told him, kissing him again.

Getting a basin and some water, I held it up while he brushed and rinsed. Setting it aside, I got him out of bed, grabbing a washcloth and cleaned him up before getting him into clean clothes. We had fun getting the IV bag through his shirt sleeve without hurting him, and then he stood and held onto the pole the IV was hanging from, watching me as I stripped the bed, and remade it with sheets I'd found in a drawer. Helping him back into bed, I made sure he was comfortable before sitting on the edge, putting my arm across him so I could lean closer to him.

"Thank you." He told me softly.

"You're welcome." I smiled. "Now get some more sleep."

"I'm not tired." He smirked.

Leaning down, I kissed him several times, slow and deep. By the time I leaned away from him, he was already drifting off. Grinning, I kissed him lightly before standing, wanting to go inform the others. I was sure that they knew he had woken up, but he was probably going to sleep a while longer now. Even a couple more hours would do him good.

Before I could move away from him, his grip on my hand tightened, "Stay."

Settling back down, I lifted his hand to my lips, kissing the top of it, "Always."

Waiting till he was sound asleep, I slipped from around the curtain. Tori was sleeping in a nearby bed and no sound was coming from Four and Tris. Slipping into his small area, Tris was asleep, pressed tightly against Four's side. He was awake, cracking an eye open as I stepped next to him. Leaning down, I pressed a kiss against his forehead, momentarily leaving mine against his. Sighing, I sat down, resting my chin in my hand as I propped my arm up on the edge of the bed.

He gently ran his fingers across the slant of my bangs, his finger trailing the edge of my face, "You okay?"

"Yeah." I nodded at him. "I am. So is Eric. So are you. So is Tris. We're all okay."

"I'm sorry." He told me with furrowed brows.

"Don't be." I said mirroring him. "I'm the one who's sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so mad at you."

"Yes, you should've." He replied. "I should have been watching him more closely."

"Can I confide in you?" I asked him.

"Of course, Opie. You don't have to ask that." He scolded.

Nodding, I took his hand in mine, kissing the top of it before resting it against my shoulder. "He didn't want to go with you tonight." He frowned and sighed. "He wanted to stay in with me. He wanted to be held and comforted."

"Then why did he come with me?"

"For you." I smiled. "His weakness was exposed and all his walls came crashing down. He would have loved to stay in and let me see that weakness. Instead he went with you, got drunk, confronted his parents, got hurt, and is now lying in the bed next to yours." By the end I was starting to sound angry again. Softening my tone, I ran my hand up and down his arm. "But he went with you because he knew that you wanted him to go. You needed it just as much as he did. You both have experienced abusive parents and he knew that you would need a release as well. It hits home for both of you."

He smiled, his eyes moving in Eric's direction. "I never thought the day would come where he did something for my sake."

"Welcome to that day." I smiled.

"Now I'm really sorry." He told me. "If I knew he wanted to stay in then I would've brought the liquor to your place."

"And he probably wouldn't have gotten drunk." I stated with a raised brow. "And if he did, it would have been under my supervision."

He laughed lightly, "He's definitely mellower around you."

"I don't think mellow is the word." I smiled with a slight blush.

"Opie." He frowned.

"He's exciting and fervent and -"

"Opie." He said with a hard tone.

"- sexual."

"Stop." He said but was grinning at me. "He's better with you. That's all my saying."

"I know." I replied. "He's become the good guy."

He sighed lightly, "He has."

"Are you two going to start a bro-mance or something?" I teased.

"When all this is over he'll basically be my brother-in-law so I might as well start now." He smirked.

I was just kidding but his tone was completely serious. I was about to have the first real conversation about it. It seemed everyone assumed it was going to happen but it was time I confirmed it. "I asked him to marry me." I said softly, looking in Eric's direction.

"Congratulations." He smiled, squeezing my hand. "It was bound to happen eventually."

Nodding, I couldn't help the shit grin that crossed my face. "He had given this beautiful speech and I thought he was going to ask. When the words didn't come out of his mouth, I knew there was only one thing to say to him. I asked and he accepted."

"I'm happy for you, Pen. I don't think I could be any happier for you."

Reaching my hand up, I gently played with his hair. "You may not be far behind."

"I've thought about it." He admitted staring at the top of Tris's head. "I don't know if she'd go for it."

"She will." I told him quickly. "She loves you. It'll happen."

"We just need this all to be over."

Furrowing my brows, I stood and perched on the edge of bed so I could look at him better. "What did you and Tris mean when you said that you needed to go?" He frowned at me. "When Edward was shot. You said that you needed to go. Does that mean what I think it does?"

He sighed and nodded, "Yeah."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means that we need to leave." He told me. "We can't stay here. Not under Evelyn."

I sighed and nodded, "Do you actually have a plan or just an idea?"

"When it happens it'll happen quickly. I don't think we can plan much for this."

Nodding again, I looked toward Eric, "Okay."

"Okay?" He frowned.

"I'm in." I told him. "As long as Eric is in, I'm in."

"Do you honestly think he'll want to stay?" He frowned.

"No." I replied quickly. "I think he'll want to leave as soon as possible."

Looking at his hand held firmly in mine, I felt a wave of anxiety move through me. I wasn't sure exactly why. I think part of me was actually scared to leave the city. This was home. This city was home. I know things were going to be different but we had no idea what was on the outside of the walls. At least we knew what to expect within them.

"What are you thinking?" Four asked me softly.

"Tobias." I said meeting his eyes. "I'm not sure I want to go."

"What?" He frowned. "You can't stay here. I won't leave you behind."

"Isn't it my choice?" I asked him.

"And Eric?" He frowned.

Opening my mouth, I shook my head, "I don't know. But I'm afraid to leave."

"Don't be." He told me reassuringly. "Please, Pen. Please don't do this." Taking a deep steadying breath, I nodded at him. "Please, Pen." He repeated.

"Okay." I nodded.

"Pen." He said again.

"I said okay." I frowned at him.

Attempting to let go of his hand, he held it firmly, "Pen. I need you."

"You've told me that before." I stated, still frowning. "And then you took Eric and marched into Erudite without me. So I'm sorry if I don't fully believe that you need me. You need Tris. You need Eric. But where do I fit in, Tobias? Because I'm not so sure anymore."

A deep frown crossed his face. "You're not actually considering joining Evelyn are you?" He shot at me.

I honestly hadn't thought about it, but it flashed through my mind now and I couldn't deny that sitting at her right hand held more security than fleeing the city like cowards. I wasn't a coward. None of us were cowards. Yet I did feel like staying here in the city and taking my place at Evelyn's side was just as brave a move as leaving would be.

"You can't be serious." He shot at me.

Sighing, I stood and crossed my arms. "I didn't say that."

"But now you're considering it." He told me, standing up. He was steady on his feet.

"Then maybe you shouldn't have mentioned it."

"Don't spin this on me."

"I'm not."

"Then what do you want me to say?"

"Nothing!" I yelled before lowering my voice. "I don't want you to say anything. I'm not going to stay here with your mother. I am where Eric is. And I wouldn't abandon you." I told him. "You are my brother and one of my best friends. I just don't know what to do."

"Eric said he'll go with us when the time comes." He told me.

"You've already talked to him about it?" I frowned at him. "Why do I feel like everyone is keeping something from me?"

"We're not." He told me. "We discussed it before all the drinking happened." Sighing, I rubbed between my eyes with my fingers, feeling tears start to fill my eyes. "If he goes, you go, right?"

"Yes, Tobias." I said softly. "If Eric goes, I'll go."

"Then be ready."

Nodding, I turned from him, passing through the curtain. Pacing up and down the room, he didn't follow and the room fell silent. Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair, fighting the tears that wanted to flow, feeling exhausted despite the sleep I'd just gotten. My mind kept moving through the pros and cons of either choice. Though I knew the answer was simple. Whatever Eric wanted to do, I'd follow him. I would never force him to stay here where his parents were. I wouldn't make him live in Amity where mine were. Dauntless was no more and that was the only place that truly felt like home.

As the same time I was eager to see what lay on the other side of the walls. We'd been held within these walls for so long that we had no idea what to expect once we were outside of them. But Edith Prior had ignited a spark that was not going to be so easily extinguished. Many would follow Four if he left. He was a leader to many. If Tori went, many would follow. For she too was a leader. Evelyn was not our leader. She was simply the person who took claim on the title and now felt like she was worthy of it.

Moving back through Four's curtain, he was staring at the ceiling, his brows still furrowed. Stepping up to him, I leaned over him, my hand against the head of the bed. "Just because I am leery of leaving the city does not make me any less." I told him angrily. "I stand with you because you are one of the few I trust most. I'll follow you because you are my brother in all but blood. I don't want to fight with you, Tobias. I don't want to feel like you keep me around just because we're close. I need you to include me. Don't let me in after the decisions are made."

"Okay." He told me softly. "I'm sorry."

"And I don't need you to be sorry. All I want is for you to trust me as much as I trust you."

"I do, Opie. I trust you above all others."

"Really?" I asked with raised brows. "And the sleeping girl in your arms?"

Tris was still soundly sleeping despite the noise and movement we'd been making. She needed the sleep and now that everything had seemed to settle down, she was finally finding it. Especially when she wasn't supposed to be here to begin with.

"She's kept a lot of things from me." He said sadly.

"Only because she thinks she's protecting you."

"She's wrong."

Leaning further, I pressed a kiss against his forehead. "She loves you. Don't let her indiscretions make you lose faith in her. She'd do anything for you. And I know that you would do anything for her."

"For you as well, Opie." He told me with seriousness.

Smiling, I kissed his forehead again, "And I'd do anything for you too."

"After Eric."

"And me after Tris."

He laughed lightly, shaking his head, "We're idiots to let one person hold so much of us."

"Yeah." I nodded. "But so far I find it well worth it. Eric is amazing."

"So is she." He replied looking down at her.

Nodding, I kissed his forehead once more, "Sleep."

He nodded, "You should too."

"I did sleep." I told him.

"Sleep more." He stated.

Nodding, I slipped past the curtain and into the next, only to see Eric looking at me. "You're awake." I smiled.

"And have been listening." He frowned at me.

"And?" I asked sitting on the edge of the bed, putting my arm on the other side of him.

"And I don't want you to leave if you don't want to." He replied.

Frowning back at him, I ran my finger from one side of his face to the other. "Are you saying you'll leave me?"

"No." He frowned harder. "Hell no."

"Then what are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I would stay here with you if that's what you want."

"If you were listening than you'd know that it's not what I want. It was a momentary lapse in judgment." I replied, leaning over him.

"Are you happy?" He asked next.

"Is that a serious question?" I retorted.

"It seems like you haven't been happy since before all this started." He stated.

"Baby, I am happy. I'm happy because of you. Looking at you makes me happy." I replied, smiling at him. "Things have been different since all this started. But I've never known happiness until you. Not like I do now. So, yes, Eric. I am happy. Very happy."

"Are you sure?" He asked with furrowed brows.

"Yes, baby. I'm sure." I told him, leaning down and kissing him. "I know I piss you off. I know I say things that make your temper flare. So now I'll ask you, are you happy?" For a long moment he just looked at me. Feeling my chest clench with every passing moment, I took a slow deep breath. "Have you changed your mind?"

"About what?" He countered.

"Me."

"No." He finally told me, a broad smile crossing his face. "I just enjoy seeing you squirm." Grinning, I leaned down and kissed him again. "And I haven't forgotten."

"What haven't you forgotten?" I asked, but knew what he was referring to.

"That I said yes to you. I said yes and I will never take that back. You're stuck with me." He smiled, repeating my words from earlier.

"Good." I said kissing him again. Running my hand between his thighs, I deepened the kiss.

"Can we get out of here?" He asked.

Nodding, I grabbed a piece of gauze and some tape, placing it against his hand as I gently pulled the IV from his vein. Helping him up, I grabbed our things before putting his arm across my shoulders, leading him from the room. The halls were quiet with only a few hours of night left. Opening the door to our room, I let him go, shutting and locking the door behind us. Turning to him, he slowly made his way to the bed, crawling onto it.

Sighing, I followed him, moving around the other side of the bed, putting the pillows against the head of it. Propping myself up against them, I pulled him into my arms, cradling him as I pressed my lips against his temple, whispering words of love into his ear. He hugged my arm and I could feel his tenseness. Humming softly to him, I gently rocked, my lips never leaving his skin. He sighed, finally relaxing against me.

"I love you so much." I whispered lovingly into his ear.

"Never leave me." He whispered.

"Never, baby." I whispered back. I wanted to counter with the fact that he was the one who left me, but he still needed to rest. I could feel the pounding of his head against my lips. "Sleep, my love. I will be here when you wake."

He was asleep moments later. This was far better than the beds in the med area. To have him in my arms always made everything right in the world. We'd lost so much. He'd suffered more than I had imagined he had. Yet here he was, still strong despite the night's events. And even he needed comforting. He had wanted to be held before Four had dragged him away. So I would hold him now. Hold him until he begged me to let him go.