AN: I appreciate the reviews, and I hope that you're enjoying this story. See you again on Sunday.
Eric didn't even make it to the train before he'd received a text from her telling him she didn't want to run from him. He turned around and walked back to the cabin, and once inside she'd asked him point blank why he was waiting to turn her in. He didn't answer her, instead they communicated the best way they knew how, with him buried deep inside of her while the only words she could form was his name repeatedly.
He actually slept over that evening, and he never set an alarm, choosing to wake up with her in the morning.
For the first time since getting involved with Eric, he wasn't in a hurry. He'd crawled back into bed with her after relieving himself that morning, and when she'd done the same he'd pulled her close to his chest and the warmth of his naked skin pressed to hers, the beating of his heart, along with his soft snores lulled her back to sleep.
The next time she wakes, she can smell coffee and bacon, and when she crawls out of the bed and throws on his t-shirt and her underwear before making her way into the small kitchen she finds him cooking, wearing just his sweatpants.
"Hungry?" He asks her as he passes her a steaming mug of coffee.
She nods and makes toast while he finishes up the bacon and eggs, and when they're sitting at the small table he notices the way she keeps looking at him.
"What?" He asks.
"You're not in a rush to get back to Dauntless?" She asks.
"I'm supposed to be looking for you." He replies while chewing on a piece of bacon.
"So, they just let you come and go as you please?" She asks and he nods, "What about training?"
"My only assignment is you." He replies.
She studies him, his face betraying nothing and he continues to eat his breakfast. She pushes hers around on the plate, suddenly not very hungry, and the familiar feeling of nervousness flits in.
"What are we going to do?" She asks.
"I can't stay all day, but I can hang out here for a while." He shrugs.
"I'm not asking about today, I'm asking about long-term plans. I can't just hide out here forever, what's going to happen?" She asks.
"I've asked you repeatedly just to trust me, and you made your choice when you asked me to come back last night!"
"I want to know where your head is, Eric. You're asking me to trust you without giving me any indication that my trust in you won't lead to me being taken to Erudite. I deserve more-"
He slams his hand on the table, causing her coffee to spill and she jumps up. He stalks into the bedroom, slamming the door behind himself as she cleans up the mess.
She busies herself with washing dishes, putting each item into the drying rack mindlessly as she lets her mind wander. She's been thinking more about slipping away to Abnegation, if she could just make it to her parents' house she's sure that she could convince her father to go to Candor himself with what she knows about Jeanine, Max and Eric. She wishes the cell phone Eric had given her had more than just his number stored. Tobias would help her, she knows he would, and she realizes the mistake she made in trusting Eric to start with.
The mistake she continues to make by not getting away from him.
"I need to go." He says, startling her. He approaches her, leaning in and pressing his lips softly to hers. His forehead rests against hers, "I don't like fighting with you."
She's surprised at his admission.
"Me either." She replies softly.
She places her hands on either side of his face and leans up towards him, kissing him. He makes no move to separate from her and she leads him back to the bedroom. When she pushes him back on the bed he lets her, watching as she pulls his t-shirt over her head, and he sits up and pulls her back towards him. His mouth hungrily traces over her bare chest, pausing to take each of her nipples in his mouth until she moans. She can feel him pushing her underwear down, and when she's standing bare in front of him he cups her mound before pressing his thumb to her clit.
"I thought you had to leave…" She says breathily as he strokes her.
"They can wait."
His left hand is wound around her waist, holding her flush against him. His mouth nipping and biting at her skin, and his fingers curl inside of her as she shakes against him.
"Eric… I'm going to fall…"
"I won't let you." He murmurs. She feels his arm tightening around her, "Let go, Tris."
She does.
Eric supports her weight against him, and he eventually moves so that he can lay her on the bed next to him. He hovers over her, kissing her softly as he slides inside of her. She always feels so good, so tight and warm, and always wet for him. He was going to just let her go, he'd planned on giving her as much of a head start as he could before he started looking for her again, but he's not ready for it yet.
"Eric…" She whispers as she arches towards him and he captures her lips with his.
It's only a matter of minutes before he loses himself in her again.
He didn't leave until much later, with a promise that he'd be back to see her that night. She could tell he was torn, he had a hard time finally tearing himself away from her, and he'd barely been gone before he'd sent her a text that was casual conversation.
Tris was stuck in the cabin, she'd been out there for weeks now with no end in sight, and Eric's emotions had been all over the place when it came to her. Sometimes he came to her angry and confused, other times he'd hold on to her like he was afraid she'd disappear before his very eyes. She knew he still hadn't decided when it came to her, and she'd often considered making her way to Abnegation and away from him.
She knew he was dangerous with his unhinged behavior, and that she was being a fool, but she wasn't ready to give up on him quite yet.
Less than two hours later, he was sitting in his office with Jeanine across from his desk. She was already giving him a headache, and he was trying his best to feign disinterest in her ranting. He'd tried to get her to leave once she'd realized Max was out of the faction, but she seemed to be singly focused on speaking to Eric alone.
"Jack's pushing to declare her dead." Jeanine mentions and that gets his attention.
"That's actually good, it'll flush her out of wherever she's hiding once she thinks the hunt is off." Eric offers and Jeanine purses her lips.
"Your father is losing faith in you."
His eyes jerk up to hers and he narrows them at her, "Really? Because I've been trying to talk to him for months now and he's never available. When did you have the time to actually talk to him? Was it when you were fucking him?"
"Eric, you have no right-"
"I don't? You think I haven't known you've been fucking him my entire life? I'm tired of speaking to my father through you, so you can let him know if he has something to say he can fucking return my calls. Or text. Or emails, or any fucking thing I've tried to reach him." Eric spits.
Jeanine sits back in her chair and crosses her arms across her chest, "You sure do feel emboldened to speak differently without Max around."
"I have to respect Max, he's my head leader. You are optional."
She laughs, the noise grating and shrill, "You've been talking to your mother, haven't you?"
Eric just smirks at her, knowing he's successfully gotten under her skin. He had finally gotten a response from his mother, after weeks of trying, and he was actually supposed to have dinner with her later that day.
"Why would it bother you if I'm speaking to my mother, Jeanine?"
He was getting to her, and he loved every second of it. Jeanine leans towards his desk, and her ice blue eyes meet his, "Are you going to bring your girlfriend to meet Mommy? Your father is quite interested in meeting your significant other, Eric."
He furrows his brow at her, "Excuse me?"
"Max has told me that you seemed to have become smitten with someone. He had suspected you had someone in your life, especially since you'd stopped socializing outside of your home. The night you kept me waiting for over an hour while you finished having sex with someone was quite telling too. However, no one we've talked to has seen you with anyone. It was quite curious, so Max and I decided to do some digging to ensure you weren't becoming compromised."
"What I do in my personal life is none of your fucking business-"
"Except one day you'd texted me repeatedly that you thought you'd found a divergent. When I finally got out of my meeting and tried to reach you, suddenly you were mistaken. We reviewed the footage, and according to the timestamps we believe you were able to successfully give Beatrice Prior her aptitude test, and you'd locked her in the room while you were texting someone. That timestamp coincides with the timestamps of the missed texts from you. Then, you went back into the room with her, spent almost thirty-five minutes alone with her, and you exited the room separately. What might have happened during that time, Eric?"
"She got sick, I already told you that-"
"Except we also found the footage of her fear sim, where someone had purposely gone to great lengths to hide her, and she suddenly disappears from her dorm the night before we started using the scanner. Then, we find that most of the camera footage was either scrambled or missing the night before the door-to-door searches in Dauntless. Is that when you snuck her out, Eric?"
He laughs out loud, causing her to jump at the sudden noise, and when he composes himself he looks her in the eye.
"You are fucking delusional. I don't fuck my initiates, and frankly the person I was fucking the night I made you wait has long been forgotten. You should absolutely stick to your day job, Jeanine, because your imagination is running wild trying to figure out my personal life."
"Once your father no longer has a use for you, we'd have to dispose of you. We can't risk having our plans exposed." Jeanine says in a sickly-sweet voice.
"Get the fuck out of my office. If my father wants to speak to me, he knows how to reach me." He said angrily as Jeanine finally left his office.
He was going to show Byron Coulter just what he was capable of.
"We need to talk."
Eric looks up from his monitor, seeing Four leaning against the doorway of his office.
"No, we don't. I'm busy." Eric replies, turning back to his email.
He hears his door close and he's surprised when Four stands in front of his desk.
"Get the fuck out of here." Eric says, and before he can move away from his desk Four has dropped a necklace onto it.
"I didn't believe you when you told me you hadn't taken her to Jeanine until I found this in the evidence room." Four says watching his fellow leader as he drops into the chair across his desk, "This was in the shit they took from your apartment, the other stuff, it could have been from anyone. But this," he picks up the necklace and twists it around his fingers, "is hers."
"What are you talking about?" Eric asks evenly.
Four twists the locket open and then passes it over to Eric. He looks down and sees a family picture. It's a younger Andrew Prior, with a woman who looks an awful lot like Tris, and each are holding a baby.
"She's worn that necklace every day for as long as I can remember." Four says firmly.
"You have no proof it's hers-"
"I made the fucking necklace for her when we were together in Abnegation! She wore it every day because she loved it, and me, back then. Here, she didn't wear it for me, but she wore it to have her family close to her. She never took it off, unless she showered, so tell me again how this isn't hers and that she wasn't in your apartment taking showers, or doing god knows what else!" Four's reply is angry, and louder than Eric is comfortable with, "It was inventoried with a few other things they took from your place, but I grabbed it before they could figure out how to open it."
"Why?" Eric asks.
It's a fair question. He knows Eric is up to his eyeballs in whatever it is that Jeanine is working on. He's seen the serum deliveries, the meetings, and lately he's also seen Jeanine cracking for the first time, where she's been desperately searching for Tris Prior.
It got Four's attention, especially when the woman started asking Four about his own relationship with Tris. Then, out of nowhere she'd asked him if he knew anything about the woman Eric was involved with. As far as Four knew, Eric had no one, and he'd told Jeanine that even as she protested that he did have someone. Jeanine eventually changed the subject; however, the damage was done, and it peaked his curiosity. He'd used his access to check anything the security team had confiscated from their door-to-door search, and he'd found the few things that had been taken from Eric's own apartment.
There in a tagged envelope was Tris's necklace, and the notes said it had been found on a nightstand next to Eric's bed.
"I'm not exactly sure, but I thought maybe there was a reason you were hiding her." Four replies.
"I found the necklace, I'm not hiding her." Eric scoffs as he feigns disinterest.
"Eric, I know her well enough to realize that she was willingly there with you. Tris may have just transferred to Dauntless, but she was smart and brave, and there's no way she would have stayed with you unless she wanted to. I can help you, you say the word and you'll have people on your side who want this shit to end just like you."
"You think I want any of this to end?" Eric asks with a touch of amusement in his voice, "You might think you know everything because of your own snooping, but your curiosity and inability to let things go may just put you right into Jeanine's crosshairs."
"If turning me in means Tris remains safe do whatever you need." Four replies, his dark brown eyes piercing into Eric.
"Always the hero-"
"If you want to do the right thing you know how you can reach me." Four replies before standing up and turning towards the door.
"You forgot this." Eric says and he holds the necklace out to Four.
"She'd want it back. Take it to her." Four replied before heading out of the office.
Eric twists the necklace around his fingers and he screws his eyes shut. He's fucking up, and he doesn't know how much longer he can keep this up.
"I filed for divorce from your father." Marcia Coulter said as she stirred some milk into her hot tea.
Her apartment was new, something she'd bought with the money his father had given her, and she'd furnished it using the monthly alimony he was providing. It was warmer than the ornate apartment he'd grown up in, instead of the hideous antique pieces his father had insisted on, the furniture looked comfortable and inviting. There was even a blanket, unfolded, and pillows out of place on the couch.
Why couldn't he have grown up in a place like this?
"Is that why I haven't spoken to you in months?" Eric asked.
"Partially." She says before taking a sip of her tea.
Eric takes a sip of his own tea, bitter without sugar, "Partially?"
"Are you still working for the home wrecking whore?" She asks.
"I've been trying to work for my father, but he's avoided me. I fucking hate Jeanine." Eric admits.
"Then why would you even entertain any of her plans?" Marcia asks and Eric frowns at his mother.
"Because it's what Byron has been asking for." Eric replies.
"You understand that Byron isn't going to get away with any of this. I know he's power hungry, and I know he's promised that woman the world on a platter, but they're willing to murder innocent people to get that power. Eric, it's wrong, and I raised you better."
"You didn't raise me at all." Eric replies angrily, "Your nannies raised me and when they didn't, I raised my damn self."
His mother was always chasing after his father, that seemed to be a full-time job for her that Eric became aware of at a very young age. He was a pawn in the incredibly ugly game of chess his parents were playing, and as a result neither had much time for him as a child.
Marcia nods her head slowly, "While that may be true, you still know what's right. Whatever that wretched woman has dragged you into, she's going to let you burn for it. They don't want you to lead their new city, they want a scapegoat to pin it all on when their plans go to hell."
"Is any of this factual, or is this just your poor attempt at mothering now that you can't hold me over my father's head anymore?"
Her blue eyes meet his silver ones, "Eric, I have nothing left to lose. You left for Dauntless. My husband left me for the woman he's slept with our entire marriage. All I have now is what you see, but that's only material. What I still have, through all of your father's crimes, is my own morality and humanity. I know exactly what your father is planning, and if he doesn't continue to play nicely with me I'll be sure to let Jack Kang know myself. You'd be wise to distance yourself from them."
Eric narrows his eyes at her, "Are you threatening me?"
She shakes her head, "No. I'm trying to save you from yourself. Eric, I've been a terrible mother. I spent your entire life trying to keep your father interested in me. I know it all seemed material, but I adored Byron. Before Jeanine weaseled her way into our lives, he and I were happy. We were so excited to have you," She reaches for his arm across the table, and her cold fingers curl around his bicep, "I let my desperation to keep my husband prevent me from being a good mother, and I owe you an apology. I'm incredibly sorry, son. I'm sorry I wasn't better for you."
He is momentarily at a loss for words. His mother moves her hand away from him and picks at one of the croissants on her plate. He stares at his own plate, looking at the pastry she'd offered him, untouched except for a drizzle of honey he'd added.
"I'm twenty," He begins, and he clears his throat to give himself time to think, "You've had my whole life to make things right."
"I was wrong. I chased after the love of a man who would never be capable of loving me. I should have left him years ago and taken you with me. If I had, we may not have had the huge apartment, or privileged lives, but I think we would have been happy." Marcia replies.
He takes a bite of his pastry, and chews slowly while watching his mother, "Are you telling me that the love you had for my father was unworthy of chasing?"
"Unrequited love is unworthy of chasing. Your father loves no one but himself, and especially not that delusional woman." Marcia replies. There's no malice in her voice and Eric meets her eyes, "Eric, if you're looking for love or respect from him, you'll never have it. Power is always more important than love for Byron."
They sit quietly for several minutes, and when Marcia looks over at her son she finds him deep in thought.
"Eric, is there someone special in your life?" She asks and he nods his head once without answering or meeting her eyes, "Will you tell me about them?'
"She's kinder than I deserve." Eric replies simply.
"Why would you think yourself undeserving of kindness?" She asks.
"Because much like you, I've been chasing my father for years, with no regard for her." He replies.
"Does your significant other know what you're involved in?" Marcia asks and Eric nods, "Does she approve?" He shakes his head, "Are you willing to lose her over the power your father has promised you?"
"I don't know."
Marcia places her hand on his, "I think that you do."
Eric waits for the train, knowing the best thing for him to do would be returning to Dauntless but realizing that all he wants to do is go to sleep next to Tris. Things are more complicated than ever, and the irony of his situation isn't lost on him. The stress he brings on himself by willingly working to overthrow the government, all while bringing Jeanine people to test her divergent shit on is only calmed when he's with the person at the center of it all.
He doesn't know if he can just turn her over to his father.
Maybe her idea wasn't a terrible one, he could turn her in and he'd likely be tasked with guarding her. If Jeanine's suspicions about Tris were correct, she'd likely be able to open that stupid fucking box and when she did maybe he'd be able to just get her away from there.
It's not like they'd have a use for Tris once that was done, right?
Except, she's Andrew Prior's daughter, and if Marcus Eaton truly is working with Jeanine, having Tris Prior along with her brother Caleb at their disposal wouldn't be a terrible idea in case things were to go sideways with the mind control simulations. Even he has to admit that every new prototype that Erudite has come up with lately hasn't exactly been successful, and having a backup plan is imperative. But at what cost? Is he really ready to just give up a person who has actually put their trust into him?
Is he truly that heartless?
He was on his way to the cabin when he'd finally received a text from his father, asking him to come to Erudite to see him. Eric rode the train back to Erudite, and as soon as he'd arrived at his father's office his assistant ushered him in.
Byron's office was cold, much like Eric's own apartment, and when his father finally made his way in he barely acknowledged his son before abruptly asking him a question.
"What do you know about this girl?" Byron asks without looking away from his computer screen.
"The one Jeanine is having me tear the city apart to find?" He asks and his father nods once, "Not a lot. She was in training and disappeared."
"Jeanine said she is likely a pure divergent." Byron remarks as he types.
Eric scoffs, "How would Jeanine even know?"
Byron finally looks at him, and Eric shifts uneasily in his chair, "The girl has a twin brother, I'm sure Jeanine has mentioned Caleb Prior. He's confirmed his sister is a divergent, and that she was told to lie about her aptitude test to cover it. Jeanine had the woman brought in, that deadlocked and tattooed tart that administered her test. She confirmed."
"She did?" Eric asks. He knows there's no way that Tori Wu would have willingly spoken to Jeanine about Tris.
"Truth serum is a wonderful thing." Byron replied.
Eric swallows hard and breathes slowly before he replies, "Did the woman know what happened after?"
"No, however she strongly believed you were aware of the girl's divergence." Byron peers over his glasses at his son.
"I was following Jeanine's orders to get a test result from her, and I did. The girl hid everything." Eric lies, hoping his father believes him.
"I see." Byron remarks, and then he turns fully towards Eric, "We're going to put you under the truth serum as well."
"Why?" Eric asks.
"Because I don't trust you." Byron replies simply.
"You have to be fucking kidding me. I've done everything you've asked, everything your side bitch has asked, and you're telling me that you don't trust me? I've been chasing down one stupid girl for months now, abandoning my actual job for you and Jeanine to have a divergent plaything. Did mother put you up to this?"
Byron's silver eyes meet his son's and the anger is palpable, "What the fuck does that woman have to do with this conversation? Have you spoken to her?" He roars.
Eric realizes bringing Marcia up was the wrong thing to do. His mother didn't mention their earlier conversion, Byron reached out to him on his own.
"Fuck this, and fuck you, I'm leaving." Eric tears the door open and is face to face with Jeanine.
She injects his neck before he can even move, and he looks at her in horror as she pushes him inside of the office and locks the door behind her.
"I don't trust you either, and it's time we find out what you've been hiding." She smiles at him.