Chapter 8

"Eric, you coming?" Ryan shouted down the phone. He was in the bar having a few drinks. "Something happened to Jamie." "Fuck, I'm coming." With that Ryan hung up, downed his beer and made his way over to Eric's apartment, letting himself in with his key.

Eric was sat on the sofa nursing a whiskey, he looked drained. Eric didn't even look up at his friend when he made his way over to the sofa. "Dude, you look like shit." Eric smiled weakly, taking a drink. "What happened?" Eric was silent for a moment and looked at Ryan. Grey eyes meeting brown. "He was attacked in the dorms." Eric pictured Jamie laying there, and the blood. "He almost died." Eric sobbed. He tried to keep his composure, damn the guy was just a damn initiate. Ryan put a hand on Eric's leg. "But he didn't." Ryan tried to comfort his best friend. "Someone stabbed him twice, scratched his eye, he could've been blinded." "Where is he now?" Ryan asked. "In my room, asleep. I discharged him myself from the hospital, he's safer with me watching him." "Did he see who did it?" "That damn initiate Derek. He'll be happy working on the fence, it was too good for him to be factionless. I could've killed him." Eric sighed into his glass, downing the rest of the drink. "Max was happy for Jamie to stay here." "Does he know you about your relationship?" "There isn't one Ryan. I just told him I'm not wasting my time training someone that will get killed." Ryan smirked. "Well guess it's good he doesn't know you like him." Eric was about to argue about his feelings, but he didn't.

Seeing Jamie laying there had bought up feelings of fear. He hadn't known Jamie long, but he saw himself in him. Someone that had a shitty upbringing that wanted to escape. Someone that had trained hard once they got here and wanted to achieve something. Someone that was broken but never showed it. Jamie wore the scars he had with pride, not hiding them anymore. It was who he was, and Eric liked that. He thought Jamie was brave and that attack against him was cowardly.

Ryan lent back on the sofa, taking Eric's glass and refilling it, having a drink himself. "So, what's the plan now?" Eric looked and Ryan. "Whatcha mean?" "Well, is Jamie going to stay with you?" Eric thought about it. "Once he's healed and able to fight again it's up to him." Ryan smiled. Old Eric wouldn't entertain the idea of having someone in his space. "He's got you wrapped around your little finger." "Pfft, he does not." "Ugh huh, how many people do you have stay?" Eric shook his head and snatched the glass of Ryan, earning a laugh from the other man. "I take it Jamie can't train yet, cause of the injuries, and the groups are still fighting?" "Yeah, you're right." Eric rubbed his hair. "I've still got to help Four, but I can't watch Jamie at the same time and train him. There's no way he's able to do any punching with those stiches." Eric sighed again. "I'll take him off your hands." Ryan beamed at Eric. "And do what with him?" "He could practice shooting. I know it's the next stage of the initiation, hell I wrote the bloody thing." Ryan grinned. "Why do I think this is a bad idea?" "It gives Jamie a good start. Plus, I get to know the guy that you're infatuated with." "I'm not infatuated with him, I just like him, okay?" "Yeah, yeah. Is it a deal?" Eric rubbed his face sighing again. "Fine, just don't push him too hard." "That's fucking great." Ryan was smiling. "Don't make me regret it." Eric said.

Ryan stayed for a couple more hours, they were talking about different topics and things happening around Dauntless when Ryan left. Eric made his way off the sofa and into his room, stripping out of his clothes, keeping his boxers on, and led next to Jamie. It was strange having someone else in the bed with him. He studied the sleeping man, looking at the stubble on his face, his black hair that he grew out slightly, his fridge covering one of those blue eyes, the sides shaved short. He was attractive before but even more so now with the muscles he had gained. Eric fell asleep on his side, while staring at the younger man.

Jamie woke feeling a heat next to him. He tried to turn around and groaned in pain. His chest and stomach felt like it was on fire, and his face hurt. He tried to be quiet however it woke Eric up, who was a light sleeper. "You, okay?" Eric croaked groggily. Jamie turned his head and looked at the tired man. "Just in a bit of pain that's all." He admitted. Eric got out of bed and went to the kitchen to get Jamie a drink. Jamie had a good look at Eric in the morning light and god was he fit. He had seen the tattoos trailing up his arm onto his back. The pain pattern going down his legs. It was a shame he only saw the back of him though. Eric came back into the room, with a glass of water and popped a couple of painkillers for Jamie, helping the man sit up. "Take these it'll help." Eric demanded. Jamie took the tablets, taking a gulp of water. "Thanks." He said quietly. "What's the time?" Jamie asked, "Ten." "Fuck I'm late for training." He went to get up and Eric pushed him down. "No, training is cancelled for us both today. Your job is to rest." Jamie slid down the covers. Eric got up and made his back to his side of the bed and got in. They were both laid on their backs when Jamie spoke up. "Why are you doing this for me?" "Because I'm training you and I'm not wasting hours of my work to be killed." Eric lied. 'Oh' Jamie thought to himself, it did hurt but what did he expect. "Now get some rest, you're not going to heal awake." Jamie closed his eyes and sleep took him again. Eric felt bad for lying but he was not ready to admit his feelings for the other man.