Chapter 22 -Eric's POV

It takes her a few minutes and she blinks several times and nods. I already have her gloves off and rub her back still talking to her because I can feel her pulse and see the rage.

"Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. You obviously use some type of meditation so go ahead and do that again. It will help break the bleed through adrenaline and rage." I say softly to soothe her and watch as the life comes back and she does meditation breathing and closes her eyes.

I take this opportunity to just look her over and get close to her. I had moved us out of view as Shane is hauled out still out fucking cold. My hands had somehow made it to her wrists as I gently stroked and soothed her.

I felt the coiled tension in her body fade and heard her sigh and closed my eyes for a moment. I want to enjoy this fully because I just know she is going to shutter off now that she is calm. She doesn't though, her eyes open and she looks into mine and smiles.

"Thank you sir I wouldn't have stopped and I am glad you realized that." I return the smile happy she hasn't closed off again yet. She doesn't look away or pull out of my hands. Keep with me Raven, keep talking to me.

"It was a good fight and one of the fastest we have had. You changed your style of fighting didn't you?"

She nodded and took a breath and gave a very slight gasp as I felt her pulse pick up slightly under my fingers. Was I imagining that?

"Yes, we fought before we came here as our own sparring to prepare. Even then he knew my style and I ended up in the hospital for a day…" my growl left my throat before I could take it back but she still didn't pull away from me "...but he was there for three days. As soon as I realized I would have to face him I have been working on it in off hours. That and my accuracy and speed for weapons. Oh and I have been doing moving targets too."

I could tell she was trying to get me to calm down and I focused on that last bit. Really she has been working on all of that during her off hours? "So you have been doing this on off hours? That's good."

I need to get more information on that.

She nods and smiles slightly. I love this openness she has right now. "Tris, Four or Zeke come in with me so that I am supervised of course. I always ask the others if they want to go. Lex, Astrid, Benji, Scott and Hector are the only ones that join me. Like I said I don't take this as a joke."

I see Gale and Tris come back from dropping the piece of shit in the infirmary and I move my hand along her arm letting it skim along relishing in the feel of her skin. The reminder of Shane prompts me to check on her. They were together a long time. I cup her and softly stroke her cheek. She sighs leaning into the touch as she closes her eyes briefly and I smile. I need more of this. Her eyes open and I look into hers searching to see if she is ok. "Are you ok? I know you had been with him a long time."

Her smile of sadness almost kills me but I am reassured by her answer. "I am a bit hurt and disappointed in him but I think I was expecting it. Our relationship was…difficult. When we got here he started to change but I just didn't want to see that. I also should be more upset than I am I think. That has to say something about our relationship. That I am pissed but not exactly destroyed by everything. I am actually kind of relieved and feel a bit free." The last part she said almost as if she just realized and frowns slightly.

I smile at her and give a bit of nod, approving of her outlook on it. "I am glad you aren't feeling like that. You deserve better." I reluctantly let go of her as Tris walks up her eyes looking worriedly at me.

Tris pulls Raven in for a hug and smiles at her. "That was amazing Raven. How are you feeling?" She pulls back and looks into her eyes much like I had done.

She has dimples I didn't know about, but do now as she looks at Tris like the beloved sister she sees her as. "I'm ok really. I don't know how you are supposed to feel when you end a relationship but I don't think it is how I am feeling right now. I was serious about me being more upset about his attitude to initiation. I mean yeah I am pissed that he couldn't just man up and tell me he wanted to move on and date or whatever. But I am more pissed about that the thing I spent four years preparing for, he is treating like it is a joke. I think I am also relieved Tris and feel like I have finally been set free from them all." She smiles and shrugs meaning every word. I have been storing every part of Raven that I have seen, heard and felt so far. I may not be what she deserves, but I am going to fucking try anyways.

Tris smirks "Well we aren't going to complain. You know how we felt about the fucker. Just so you know he has two broken ribs and a cracked jaw by the way. I had to take him to the infirmary with Gale."

She doesn't look like that bothers her at all as she is still smiling and shrugs. "I could have made it worse, I sure as shit was about to."

I chuckle and smile briefly. I shake my head remembering why Tris is here and I have to get serious. "Go ahead and tell her."

Tris nodded and frowned not looking forward to this anymore than I was even before I found this out. "Peter is going to be involved in the next stages of training. He was offered the chance to pick from a few jobs to move him from patrols. He will be working in Control and with initiate training; starting with the survival training after the time off."

Her smile gone she nodded but was breathing shaky and already I want to gut Peter at her look. "Well it was bound to happen sooner or later. How do I handle it, I mean…" she shakes her head and her spine goes straight and I feel this surge of pride in her. She isn't going to let it get to her. "Fuck it I'm not going to let him get to me. I never really considered him my brother because he never acted like it really. I am not sure he is capable of it to be honest."

Tris nodded but I tilt my head and try not to grin at Raven and her fire. "We will keep an eye on him. He can't be directly involved with your training anyways because you are related by blood even if only from your father. So one of us will be the ones to provide any training or help for you." Tris reassures her.

Raven lets out a small relieved "Sounds good to me. So what do you want me to do for the rest of training today? I don't mind hitting the bags or doing the course we set up in that unused training room again."

Obstacle course? What the fuck? I mean I know she said she had been doing extra training. I needed to get information about this shit.

Tris laughs "You obliterated that course so it wouldn't benefit you anyways. We will make another one at some point and you can run through that one. You can stick around and watch the fights or take the rest of the day and go do something fun or relax. You deserve it you did really good during the fights Raven. We are really proud of you."

Yeah, going to have to check this shit out.

Raven frowned playfully "What's fun or this word relax you speak of?" Tris laughs and punches her arm as she smiles cheekily at her. "Seriously I don't know what the fuck to do with myself. Maybe I will go read or something. I can't do what I normally do to relax because you are here so the tattoo is out." She shrugs "Fuck it I will go to the parlor and draw up some more designs." Yeah so going to ask Bud about that. Especially since Tris is now looking at me like there is something to hide. What is it with them and their fucking secrets with her? Obviously Raven doesn't know it is supposed to be a secret.

"Sure, Tori and Bud said there have been a few people that have gotten your designs already. I will be up there in an hour or so anyways." Tris hedges trying to be vague.

She nods "Right, well I will work on that modified design for you. You still wanted it without the mechanical or robotic aspect right? But with the two knives?"

I feel myself tense….are you fucking kidding me? Raven did that? And Tris obviously doesn't want her to know I picked that design. Asked for the sketch to keep and so no one else would get it. I see Tris tense and I am pissed at her for this.

Raven sees our demeanor change and frowns in worry looking between us.. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

Not a fucking thing baby. But someone sure as hell did.

"Tris go back and help with the initiates." I grit out to Tris.

She looks to me and then back at Raven and nods resigned. She gives her another hug "I will see you in a little bit."

Raven frowns and nods and watches her a moment before she looks at her hands. She starts to take off the tape.

I let out a breath to release the anger and reach out to help her. I can't let my anger at Tris get into this conversation cause I needed to know more about Raven being the person that made the design. Is it the same reason I was so fucking drawn to it I practically tore it down and got it right fucking there?

"So you designed some tattoos?" I ask softly as I feel the warmth of her skin and the skittering of her pulse.

She looks at her hands in concentration and nods "Yeah, drawing is one of my relaxation things. I designed the one I am having done and Tori asked to see some of my sketches so it just went from there."

"You mentioned something about mechanical or robotics in your designs?"

She smiles and laughs softly. "Yeah I kind of have a fascination with this style from pre-war era called steampunk among other things that I like from pre-war. So I took a few things from that and worked them into my drawings. I have a tattoo on my is 3D and is made to look like a lace pattern has been cut from my leg but in the shadows and underneath you see that instead of muscle and bones there is robotic or mechanical workings. As if you are getting a peek of what is underneath everything. It also has a garter belt above that with a gun tucked into it. I did another one with the robotics and mechanical parts but that has the flesh being ripped pulled back to reveal the gears that could be put on the ribs or even ribs and hip area. I don't know I just think it fits with being a Dauntless. Sometimes I feel like I am a machine, maybe not made up of all that tech but not far off from it I guess."

Well hers sounds fucking sexy as hell and completely the feminine coin of the masculine one she drew that I have.

I smile. Exactly why I fucking wanted it. And she gets that? Fuck Prior for trying to keep that from me. I let out a nod and sigh. I had just worked the tape off of both hands and had already kept on hand in mine, but now the other one is in mine as well. "Believe me I get it. Our bodies are fine tuned into weapons but the way we train to get them into top performance also is machine like." I bite my lip in thought trying to figure out how to keep getting to know her. I squeeze her hand lightly before tracing soothing circles around her knuckles. She did mention she liked reading.

"You should go take the day for yourself. You mentioned reading, do you have books?" I could see about lending her something, let her come and pick something out.

She shakes her head "No I have a tablet phone. Tori and Bud insisted that I get something because of my designs so they, along with some other help, traded it for getting that for me" Well, that has possibilities as a way to talk to her about books.

She smiles at some thought. "I have my books and music on it. Once I get my housing I can get the real thing again. There isn't anything like holding an actual book and reading. There is something about the smell of a book and turning a real page. That contact with the book and its weight in my hand, I guess I am just a very tactile person and that is a big part of the draw for me. I loved my room because my headboard, hell my entire room was basically a library. " Gods this girl is amazing.

I smile because fuck if I don't get that completely too. My biggest carry over from Erudite is my book addiction. "I prefer actual books myself. I have a few if you ever want to borrow one."

She smiled and her dimples show again. Her eyes meet mine and her pulse skittered again as she looks at me. "That would be great. I have missed real books and reading. That is the one of only things I regret having had to leave behind. I had a pretty great book collection." She says in this breathy whisper and there is no mistaking that is because of me. I can't even believe how fucking happy that makes me.

I don't even try and stop the smirk or me moving closer to her. Her breathing has her chest heaving again but not in rage like it was before the fight. And it sends desire coursing through me. Her eyes showed desire and confusion causing me to feel even more pleased. I moved one hand up to her cheek again and cupped it to softly stroke it with my thumb. She licked her lips slightly and left her now wet and perfect lips parted enough to just invite a kiss.

Her look lips so inviting as I let my eyes roam over her face then lock with her eyes. "Meet me after dinner at The Chasm tomorrow. You can go to your party after." I say with it still being a command but not being a dick about it. She blinks a few times but then nods and tries to control her breathing.

A movement behind her catches my attention and I see Tris stopping to speak to Zeke who looked our way but then heads out. I huff a bit wondering what the fuck that is about but dismiss it as I lean forward only meaning to brush my lips to hers. But she sighs my name so softly. "Eric…"

I smile and let my lips mold to hers for just a moment but have to pull back because I am losing any control I have. I move slightly from her and look at her dazed expression and promise myself that she will never call me sir again. Not after saying my name like that. Like she had been saying my name in her head just that way.

Her jacket is near us so I scoop that up. "Don't call me sir again Raven." I command and find the tablet phone she was talking about. One look at it and my eyebrow raises because this is new shit. I had just gotten this, so who helped Tori and Bud get it. I quickly look at her messaging and phone information to memorize and then put mine into hers. I will be talking to her again at least if she doesn't meet me.

I hand both back to her and can't resist one more touch to her face with the knuckle of my finger. She sighs again and I move away quickly before I take more than I should right here during fucking training.