This is the last of the edited chapters :) I won't be able to update until Thursday as working until then :) It will be worth rereading the story again as things have changed. I will try to update weekly.

Eric walked into the training room and took a quick glance at Jamie. They made eye contact and Jamie blushed, making Eric smirk in return. Four addressed the group, taking Jamie's attention away from him. "Your fights will start tomorrow, and they will last two weeks." Eric then spoke up. "After your fights, you start your weapon training. Again, you will be ranked." "Start your warmups, practice your fighting techniques." They all broke apart and began to run laps around the room. Four turned to Eric, he saw the exchange between the two men earlier "Why was Jamie blushing?" "We fucked, this morning." Eric lied. "He really enjoyed it, who knew that Stiff wasn't much of a Stiff after all." Four gaped at him and rolled his eyes. "Whatever Eric, he's not that stupid. I've noticed you've been hanging around him quite a bit, as a leader I thought fucking initiates was beneath you." Four couldn't help feeling like he needed to protect his brother. "Four, Jamie told me you were his brother, don't you think it's a little late to act like one now?" Eric raised an eyebrow at him. "It's none of your business." "Oh, but it is if it's going to affect his training." Eric replied. "The only thing that will affect his training is you, does Max know what you've been doing with him?" Eric felt himself getting wound up. "Max knows I've been training Jamie yes. Nothing else is going on." Not like fucking Four would need to know. "Any reason you're taking this on? Thought you'd be too busy with your leadership work." "Talk to fucking Max if you have a fucking problem with it." Eric hissed and walked away from Four. Four looked towards Jamie with concern on his face, hoping his brother knew what he was letting himself in for, Eric could not be trusted.

Eric and Four were watching the group practice on punch bags when he saw Derek, an Erudite transfer, shove into Jamie making him loose his stance and get hit by the bag. Derek and his group of friends were laughing, Jamie recovered and looked at him. "What the fuck?" Jamie stood in front of Derek. He was tired of the pranks, jokes and the comments that he faced everyday even though he had tried to avoid the whole group. Four was about to interject when Eric put his arm out to stop him. "Let them deal with it." Four stood down and watched. They heard Derek speak. "Sorry Stiff didn't see you there." He laughed. Jamie reacted by punching Derek in the face, making the man's nose bleed. Eric was impressed with Jamie's reaction, however worried about the consequences in the dorm room later. Derek was about to punch back when Four stepped in. "Stop fighting, the fights are tomorrow." Eric looked at the time on his watch and saw they still had three hours left of training. Eric them spoke up. "Looks like we're starting out fights today." He knew Jamie would be ready, and he was already at an advantage. Derek looked at Jamie. "You're dead." He spat. "Jamie, Derek on the mats." Four looked at Eric. "Are you crazy?" "Last time I checked I was the leader here." Eric smirked and walked to the mats, with the rest of the group gathering round.

Jamie and Derek were staring at each other, Jamie studying his opponent, who was stronger than him however he remembered what Eric said, everybody has a weak spot and let them punch first so you can see how they move. Derek went to punch Jamie and he blocked it easily, taking note that Derek leant heavily on his right leg when he was about to strike, which left his left leg vulnerable. Derek went to swing again, and Jamie stepped to the side, kicked Derek's left leg, making the latter loose balance. Jamie managed to use that to his advantage and struck Derek again in the face, hitting his already bloody nose. "Fucking Stiff." Derek spat and he charged Jamie. With Jamie's weight being less than Derek it was easy for him to be pushed onto the floor. As soon as his head hit the floor Derek began to punch Jamie in the face, one after the other; out of the corner of his eye he could see the look of disappointment in Eric's face. Jamie began to taste blood in his mouth and his vision was starting to blur however he wouldn't tap out. He then heard Four speak. "I think he's had enough." Four said, ready to end the fight. "Didn't see him tap." Eric spat. "Continue." "He will kill him." "Let him." "Max won't be happy."
"I want fucking soldiers not cowards." Eric stared at Four. Four turned and continued to watch the fight.

Jamie noticed that Derek was running out of steam, and he remembered what Eric said about fighting dirty if he was stuck in this position. A disgusting thought entered his head, while the blood was gathering in his mouth. A split-second decision later, Jamie spat the contents in his mouth onto Derek's face. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" Derek was disgusted and went to wipe the spit off his face, Jamie used this to his advantage, he shoved Derek off him and began to rain punches on Derek's face. All Jamie could see is red until he felt someone hold him back. "I said enough." Eric shouted at Jamie. Jamie stood down and breathed. Eric's grip relaxed and he looked at two of the initiates. "Take him to the infirmary." Eric turned to Jamie, "And you, infirmary now!" Eric said looking at Jamie "I'm fine." Jamie argued back. "You can't even stand straight without wobbling." Four pointed out. Jamie was about to argue when Eric interjected.
"Don't make me drag you there, initiate. We do bravery not stupidity." Eric barked.
"Okay I'm going." Jamie mumbled.

Jamie walked into the infirmary and the nurse looked at him. "God, I hate these fights." She said looking at his face. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, I didn't want to come."
"Well I'm glad you did. Looks like you took several punches to the face, and head. I'm worried that you might have concussion, plus that eye looks sore. Come with me." The nurse walked into a sterile room. "Lay down and I'll be back in a second." Everything in the room was black, the walls, floor, bedding. Jamie lay down in the hard bed and sighed. He almost fucked up his first fight, the training he did with Eric was not enough. He got lucky today and only won by playing dirty. Jamie leant his head back, feeling tired and was about to shut his eyes when the nurse came in. "Open those eyes, I don't want you sleeping." She handed Jamie an ice pack and he held it to his face. "That should help with the swelling. I can remember my fights and the beatings I took." She smiled. "I am glad I do not have to fight anymore." The nurse was a short muscular lady, with pink hair, that was tied up. She had snake bites in her lip and cherry blossom tattoo peeking out of her tunic. "So, is that why you went into medicine?" Jamie asked, he had to admit the icepack felt good. "Yes, the fighting was never my thing, however I can put up a good fight when needed." She grinned. "I've got other people to tend to, and more are coming in from the fights. I'll check up on you and stay awake." She smiled. Jamie rested his head on the pillow staring at the light.

An hour later the nurse came back and smiled at Jamie. "How are you feeling?" "I'm feeling okay, can I go now?" He asked. "Will you just discharge yourself if I say no?" Jamie had no reason to lie to her and nodded his head. She sighed. "Fine. Here are some painkillers, take these four times a day with at least four hours apart. If you feel worse come back." Jamie stood up and made his way to the dorms, which were empty. He got dressed and went to sleep.

SPACE

He wasn't sure what time it was, but he felt a sharp pain over his right eye and someone on top of him. "Told you, you would be dead." Someone spat at him. He felt a sharp pain in his stomach and his chest, which turned into a burning pain. Adrenaline kicked in and he managed to push whoever it was off him, and he made it to the door, running out, blood pouring out of his wounds. Jamie couldn't see out of his right eye and began to panic but knew he had to get away, he was running towards the pit.

After the fights had finished Eric had to go back to his office to finish some paperwork. He looked up at the clock in his office and thought to himself 'fuck it' and messaged Ryan to see if he wanted to go for a drink. He made his way to a bar and noticed Ryan sat there already with a whiskey next to him and a whiskey in his hands. "Eric, you're alive. I haven't seen you in sooooooo long." Ryan laughed.
"I've been busy." "Ugh huh. Busy doing who?" Ryan winked. Eric rolled his eyes and sat next to Ryan downing the whiskey in front of him. Eric ordered another round of whiskey. "So how is life with Eric?" Ryan asked finishing his drink. "Fine, just all this damn paperwork and training the pathetic initiates." "Now, now, they are the future of Dauntless." Ryan mocked, trying to put on Max's accent.
"That is such a bad impression." Eric laughed. "Wow you remember how to laugh." Eric rolled his eyes. "So where have you been? I haven't seen you around in ages." Ryan asked. "Been training an initiate." "What just one?" "Yeah." Why?" "Because I want to." "Eric, I have known you since we were babies, you don't just do stuff like that." "He shows protentional. On his first day I caught him training on his own after hours." "So?" "We need people that are dedicated." "Ugh huh. You know you sound like Max." "I do not. We need good soldiers; he knows he was the weakest and did something about it." "You mean you're training the Stiff?"
"Yes." "Do you like him? I mean he does seem attractive, especially now he's gained muscle. "Eric choked on his drink. "I haven't noticed." He lied. "I'm not stupid Eric, I've seen you two around together in the early hours." "Are you spying on me?" "No, I was on my way home." "I swear you never do any work." "Hey, my role as an assistant I take it very seriously." Ryan gasped. "You mean sitting there in my office pretending to be busy?" Ryan laughed. "Seriously though, you like him, don't you?" Eric paused. "Did something happen?" Eric pushed his hand through his hair again and sighed, downing his whiskey. "I'm getting another drink." "Nope you're staying there, I'll get these." Ryan disappeared back to the bar and Eric went deep into thought. He had admitted to Jamie that he had gotten under his skin. He had remembered the Stiff looking at him during the aptitude tests. Those piercing blue eyes had gotten his attention, the look of hopelessness that was in them. It was a quick look, but his face had stuck. That look of hopelessness was the look Eric had shared just before he deflected to, Dauntless too. He couldn't get Jamie out of his head. 'Oh fuck I like him' Eric finally admitted to himself.

Ryan came back with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. "Whatcha thinking about?" "Nothing." "Liar. So back to my last question, did something happen?"
"Yeah." Eric poured himself another glass and downed it. "What happened?"
"We kissed, and you know, foreplay with clothes on." Ryan raised his eyebrows.
"Doesn't sound like you." "He's a virgin." "So? Usually wouldn't stop you." "I don't know." "You like him?" "No." "Liar." "Stop saying that." Eric started to raise his voice a bit. "Did I touch a nerve?" Ryan smirked taking a drink. "I think I do like him." "Wow, enough for you to want a relationship?" "I don't know, it's too early to tell. And I wouldn't be allowed until after initiation." "See isn't it easier just talking about it? Don't you feel lighter?" Eric gave Ryan a death stare. Ryan laughed. They began talking about other things after, Ryan giving Eric a break on his questioning, until next time

Eric was making his way home when he saw someone slumped in a corner. Eric approached them and his blood went cold.