Chapter 4

"A bit of a hike she said." Eric muttered while panting with effort and watched the backside of Elle a good bit in front of him. "A bit of a hike and scaling a fucking mountain more like it."

The buzz from the whiskey he had, what seems like days ago, had long ago wore off. It had been replaced with a growing headache reminiscent of a hangover. A hangover he did nothing to deserve but seemed to be hell bent on happening regardless.

Eric was tired, cold, and ready to just get this shit over with already. Even if it meant being stuck in the land of the flower children for who the fuck knew how long. If he was tired, he couldn't imagine how Elle was feeling. Not that she was showing any bit of it or talking to him.

She had said few words to him after telling him when it was time to jump. Lost in thoughts and plans that needed to be made or had already been made. By the time they made it to the dwelling where Eric would be staying she was realizing it was going to be impossible to head right back out. The problem was that meant at least spending a night there.

A night alone with Eric in a small cabin. That presented a problem, but in her mind only for herself. Eric would probably get a kick out of taunting and torturing her if he knew exactly why it would be an issue for her.

It was with relief that she spotted it. A small but well built cabin that blended into the terrain. It was an earthen home. Using the rock and ground to form some of its structure. Not quite completely buried under the earth and not all hewn from the mountain rock but a combination of both. Perfect to remain out of sight and could be defended easily.

For all the ruggedness of the material composition of the home, Eric was surprised that it was also almost nice inside. He for sure wasn't expecting to have certain luxuries like power, running water and comfortable furniture.

He raised an eyebrow when Elle moved around, showing him the different features.

"Obviously there isn't a way to pump out sewage. So the latrine is one that has the ability to either be put into a composting mode, which isn't something I see you using; or incinerating the waste. There is running water from the stream and power is sourced from a few things. Solar panels and a hydropower system set up where the mountain stream has the largest force available. The water that is used drains to a barrel outside that can then be used for things besides drinking water, like watering the garden that was planted here on the bit of land around the side." Elle said by of explanation as she saw Eric's look.

The Erudite was strong in both of them and this was evident in how they shared and spoke about things of this nature. It was something they had unconsciously always done around each other but never when others were present. As if with each other they had always felt comfortable enough to show that side without ever realizing they were doing it. Even when they seemed to be at each other's throats or doing their best to piss each other off.

"What about heating? The walls here are mostly stone and the floors are all stone, but to the touch…" Eric had been running his hand along the wall of the bathroom where the most stone was present "it isn't nearly as cold as you would think."

Elle nodded with a smile. "Hot springs. There is one not far from here and the water apparently conducts that heat through the stone to produce a natural heating in the area closest to that source, the bathroom. It couldn't be pumped here but you can get to the springs for a dip if you want. It is just a bit of a…."

"Hike?" Eric muttered shaking his head. "I can live without it then."

While not the fanciest of furniture it was well made and gave the place a comfortable feeling. It was also certainly designed for comfort. He found this out when he tiredly sank onto the small couch in the combined living/eating area.

"There is also, if you see here, a small heating stove. It looks like a wood stove but it uses small synthetic logs that are stocked up. It might look small but it puts out enough heat to warm the entire home." Elle informed him as she moved to make sure that the kitchen area was stocked as arranged beforehand.

"Mmmhmm." Eric mumbled as he sighed with his eyes closed.

Not wanting to get into her needing to stay at the moment and knowing there were a few things that still needed to be done, Bree headed towards the door and was intent on leaving Eric to whatever he wanted to do.

"I am just going to go and…"

She never got the rest of the words out because, despite looking like he was already on his way to passing out, he was up like a shot.

"Oh no you fucking don't." Eric barked out.

His body might be ready to give out but he had long learned how to push past that when needed, and hell if it wasn't needed now. He had been a passenger on this fucked up ride for too long already in his estimation. He wasn't used to taking a backseat in his own life and security and he was not about to start that now.

"I think I have been a good little boy for just about long enough. Last I checked I still outrank you. So if there is something that needs to be done that concerns me or my security then I am not going to just sit back." He had grabbed her arm and was towering over her with every bit of authority he possessed. "Now you were saying we are about to do what, exactly?"

She wasn't surprised he had hit his breaking point in going along with her plans. She honestly expected much more resistance then she had gotten so far. She nodded her understanding and motioned out of the door.

"I don't expect to find anything, but I was going to do a perimeter sweep. Obviously the way this place is situated should put a stop to anyone trying to sneak up on us. I was going to need to show you the perimeter and where the arranged supply drop is set for before I leave tomorrow anyways."

Hearing that she would be leaving, put a damper on his anger somewhat. "You won't be staying? That puts you at risk, surely they will know I am not dead."

Elle shook her head. "I think I took care of that, or it was in the process of being taken care of. It is a risk I have to take though because...it isn't just you that I have to see to. You were just the first on the target list."

Eric licked his lips in thought and nodded. "Fine. Let's get moving then so we can both get back here and rest. You can have the bed."

He grumbled that last part and pushed past her out of the door so she couldn't argue. Not that she didn't still try to argue with him for the first ten minutes before it almost became a full blown shouting match. Only him pointing out they were probably drawing unwanted attention to themselves by their behavior shut her up.

The rest of the time was spent exchanging non verbal communications of glares, grunts, rude gestures on occasion, and basic hand signs. When their tempers had cooled off and everything that needed to be checked or shown to Eric was done, they headed back.

"You can have the shower first. I am going to check out what the food situation is and try to make something to eat before I pass out." Eric said in a clipped tone without looking at her.

Bree gave an internal sigh but didn't argue. She was sure he could figure out the kitchen pretty easily. A shower did sound pretty amazing especially since she didn't really know what she was going to be returning to. She made a mental note that she would need to stop by to see Johanna and see if there was any reports for her.

There wasn't much in the way for a change of clothes for her. She had only grabbed clothes for Eric for a few days, all the other clothing here in his size was more suited to Amity. She settled on wearing the same clothes the following day and just sleeping in one of the shirts stored here for him.

She was coming out of the shower, thankful for the heat of the hotsprings that was able to put some warmth to the water for the plumbing in the bathroom, when she spied Eric working at the kitchen counter.

The smells that drifted to her were surprising with how good they were. She slipped on the pilfered shirt and padded into the living room. "That smells really good."

Eric smirked and turned to reply but then caught sight of Elle in a oversized red long sleeved shirt that went to a few inches above her knees...and nothing else. Only her shifting her legs and shuffling closer broke him out of the heated look he had taken on as he took her in.

Turning back to the two 'burner' induction cooktop he had found in the cabinets; he scowled as he stirred the arrangement of veggies he had cut up to saute.

"You sound surprised. What did you think I was surviving off of when I didn't make it to the dining hall for most meals?"

Bree shrugged and then replied honestly, not measuring her words before she spoke them. Something Eric always seemed to bring out in her. "I never really thought about it since it always seemed you were there when I was."

Realizing what she had said her eyes widened but then narrowed when she heard Eric chuckling quietly.

"Imagine that." Was all he replied but didn't elaborate.

She moved closer to the counter to take a look at what he was making and saw one pan with julienned veggies cooking and another pan boiling water for the rice she saw he had measured out.

"Stir fry?" She asked with a small smile.

Eric nodded and pointed to a cutting board with what passed for meat in Amity, which was a soybean meat substitute. "That is as close to chicken as we are going to get but it will work. I actually preferred that over the tofu in Erudite to be honest."

Elle shivered in revulsion, letting Eric know she was on board with that sentiment.

Stir fry with noodles or rice was a favorite of hers and a common meal in Erudite. It was one of the first things she had learned to make after her half-brother had taught her himself before he left the faction.

She moved automatically over to the cutting board without being asked and started to prepare the next portion. "This was the first thing I learned to cook in Erudite. That and eggs. I can make some mean scrambled eggs."

Eric made a face, a half-hearted grimace. "Scrambled eggs." He said with disdain and shook his head. "No thank you. Omelettes all the way."

The next little while was spent in a meaningless debate on the best way to prepare and eat certain of their favorite foods. It was an interesting way to learn things about each other but that is what they were doing. Even if it was all just to avoid talking about the heavier things weighing on their minds.

Sitting down to dinner, even that conversation disappears.

"Are we going to talk about what I am looking at here? Truthfully. Don't sugarcoat things, Elle. You obviously have more information then I do after Jeanine basically cut me out when I didn't give her any divergents that last round of training." Eric asked finally after they were mostly done with their dinner.

Elle pushed her food away from her with a sigh. "I only have second hand knowledge of what is going on within her camp, Eric. I can tell you it is pretty reliable though. It is going to hell for her, but the thing is it isn't that much better for the opposing side either. To be honest...I don't know what we are looking at other than the possibility of it all coming crashing around us."

Weight descended on both of them at what this would mean, not just for them personally but the city in general. Their young ages, nineteen and eighteen, were belied by the haunted looks in their eyes. The weight of saving a city that might have been long beyond saving was crashing around them.

Having to hide away was driving Eric slowly insane and he couldn't keep that inside any longer. "I don't think I can do this, Brielle. What was it all for if I just...run with my tail between by legs and hide?"

"Eric, you were one man working against a well organized faction with multiple informants and resources in other factions. Even you have to admit that logically, the best you were going to do was save those lives you did by getting them out of the city. I can admit even with what I have to draw from, I don't know that I could have pulled it off. What it was for - was you standing up in the only way you could."

She wasn't just placating him and he could tell this by the tone and look in her eyes. Her tone was soft but firm while her eyes blazed with determination. He knew she was right but was just too damned stubborn to admit it.

So he sat there for a few seconds, their eyes holding each other before he looked away and to their plates. Pushing back from the table he reached for hers and went to the kitchen. He didn't speak as he cleaned up from the meal and she didn't either as she slipped off to bed.

Sleep claimed her quickly after she had buried herself under the quilt. Normally she had such a hard time sleeping but with how tired she was and drained, it found her in no time.

Eric waited until he was sure she was asleep before he went to the doorway to spy on her sleeping form. She was practically a small lump under the patchwork bedding, only her black curly hair escaping indicated it was a person under there.

He wondered what it would be like to curl up with someone and sleep for once. To curl himself into her and hold her close to him. He shook off that thought and craving before he headed to the bathroom just outside of the small bedroom and took a much needed shower. He thought about tossing the wig and fake nose but decided on putting them away in case they were needed again. He did shove them deep into a drawer with a look of disgust and then sat looking at his reflection.

If he was doing this...then might as well do this shit properly. A search in the bathroom cabinets and he found what he was looking for. With the flick of a switch the buzz from the clippers sounded and the last bit of his Dauntless life fell to the ground in long strands.

Eric began to regret his giving her the bed and not at least trying to share it when he realized there was a definite size issue facing him. There was more of him than couch and getting settled while trying to lay down was impossible. Growling he ripped the pillows and blanket from his makeshift bed and made his floor the substitute.

Trying to reason that it was for only one night didn't help his temper when he realized that was because come tomorrow night Elle would be gone and he would be on his own for the first time in his life.

The thought actually terrified him. This was how sleep claimed him and the nightmare he suffered was proof of just what was the fearless leaders ultimate fear.