Chapter 6: Teamwork

 Treya was already in the training room, taking out her anger on a punching bag, when Eric walked in.

“Don’t you ever sleep?”

She didn’t respond, hitting the punching bag again, with a hard, deliberate punch.

Eric’s brow furrowed. He noticed her punches were a bit less controlled than normal. It was a slight change, one that wouldn’t be noticed if a person hadn’t studied her as much as he did. It was the slight dart of her eyes, almost a blink, when she landed each punch, that gave it away. Something was bothering her, but she didn’t seem like she wanted to discuss it.

He made his way over to her anyway, grabbing her left wrist firmly.

She half heartedly tried to pull away from his grasp, not really caring, but more out of the habit of shying away from such touches. 

Eric turned her to him, taking her other wrist into his freehand, and examining her knuckles. They were bruised and cracked, and red with irritation. She had been going at that bag for a while. His eyes glanced up at her’s, but her eyes darted away from him. He turned her hands in his, “You need to wrap your hands when you’re on the bag. You can take them off when you’re in the ring.”

She wrenched her hands away more forcefully this time, “I don’t need special treatment.”

“You’re pulling two-a-day training when everyone else is pulling one. I’d say you’re hardly getting special treatment.”

“Are we done here?”

Eric narrowed his eyes, quiet a moment before stating in a low voice, “I don’t know what’s gotten to you, but knock it off. Focus on the bag, and quit flailing. Deliberate punches.”

Treya turned back to the bag, and Eric put a hand out, between her and the bag, to stop her, “after you wrap your hands.”

The training room door clicked open, and Michael, Nick and Stephen filtered in, looking up in surprise at Eric. 

Eric’s eyes darkened as he glared at the three, “squeezing in extra practice time, initiates?”

Treya glanced at them as well, to find Michael looking over her figure with a smirk. She turned back to the bag, the hair on the back of her neck standing on edge.

“Yeah, figured if Stitch was getting extra practice, we should too,” Michael stated, amused.

Eric’s brow furrowed at the nickname, and he turned to Treya, his hand still in front of her. Behind him, the three boys snickered. Eric saw Treya physically tense at their snickering, and his eyes moved down her form before back up to her angry expression. The realization of where the nickname stemmed from finally hit him, and he straightened, his eyes hardening, “why don’t you jump on the weights,” his voice echoed over to the three, then he added just loud enough for Treya to hear, “all of us.”

Treya followed Eric to the weight training corner. 

Michael was quick to slide weights on a bar, and position himself underneath. Nick stepped behind him, ready to spot him while Stephen sat on a bench across from them, with two large dumbbells, curling them.

Eric led Treya over to the bench press. When she tried to sit on the bench, he stopped her, and motioned her to move. He slid on the large weighted discs, and Treya wondered if he was trying to kill her. There was no way she could press three hundred pounds. It would crush her.

But it was Eric who sat on the bench and laid back.

Treya took the spot of spotter, positioning herself at his head. When he adjusted his grip on the bar, Treya bent her knees, and gently put her hands under the bar. It was silly to think she could actually spot for him. If something were to go wrong, she would be of very little help to him, as the weights were much heavier than she could ever manage. But she humored him, watching him closely as he lifted the bar, and lowered it to his chest. 

He repeated the process a few times, and the three boys were soon watching, in awe about the weight he could manage. They were beginners, and could only average about half the weight Eric could move. 

Eric’s muscles tensed, and the veins in his arms bulged as he continued. When he finally lowered the barbell back onto its stand, he sat up with a smirk, his sinister gaze on the three boys. “Nothing like a good warm up lift.”

The boys turned away, mumbling amongst themselves.

Eric turned to Treya and nodded towards the chin up bar. 

Silently she made her way to the bar. It was above her head, and she usually had to jump to reach it, but Eric stepped behind her, and placed his hands firmly on her hips. 

“One, two, three,” he murmured in her ear, and she jumped on three. He lifted her, and she quickly grabbed the bar. His grip on her hips stayed firm a moment longer as she adjusted her grip on the bar, and pulled herself up. “Lock your feet.”

She crossed her ankles, and continued to pull herself up.

Eric moved in front of her, watching her closely. When she finished her rep, he grabbed her by the hips again, and helped her back to the floor. “Your grip is lax, hard to hold on with busted knuckles?”

She nodded, her arms burning from the chin ups. The three boys, who had moved further away, and were laughing at one another, had challenged each other to a push-up contest, and their laughter caught Treya’s attention. Her eyes darted in their direction and her body tensed.

Eric glanced at the boys and then back to Treya. He slid in front of her, breaking her stare, “why don’t you go run it off.” It was an order, not a suggestion, and Treya turned and jogged her way to the perimeter of the training room, and then around the outside.

Eric watched her take off, and when he was convinced her attention was not on the boys, he made his way over to them. He stood over Michael, who seemed to be doing push-ups with more ease than the other two. His eyes narrowed as Michael laughed at Nick, who had given up trying to keep up with the other two. Eric placed his foot in the middle of Michael’s back, between his shoulder blades, and pushed. 

Michael let out a groan, struggling to push himself from the floor with Eric’s foot pushing him back down.

Stephen had stopped as well, and he and Nick watched silently as Michael struggled underneath Eric. They were nervous for their friend, but knew better than to intervene.

“Well push,” Eric snarled, and Michael let out another groan. “If you find your training is too easy for you, then maybe it’s time to step it up a notch,” Eric growled. “Quit taking the easy way out and step up. You’re never going to get better if you don’t push yourself. Now push,” he snarled down at Michael like a hungry wolf over a frightened rabbit.

Michael let out another frustrated groan, and Eric rolled his eyes as the boy flopped to the ground, giving in.

Eric leaned over Michael, who was huffing in exhaustion, “Dauntless never give up,” he growled at the three, and then he lowered his voice toward Michael “and watch yourself. We work as a team here, and you’re a team with your fellow initiates.” Eric straightened himself and turned away from the three. He turned his attention back to Treya, who was making another lap around the room, her eyes on him.

——

The boys had left Treya alone the rest of the day.

Eric cut training short, since it was visiting day, and initiates quickly filed out of the training room to shower and find their visiting families. 

Treya made her way out of the room behind the others, mauling over what to do with her evening. She knew she’d end up back in the training room, but she figured she would wander the shops in the pit for a bit.

She hadn’t ventured into them since she was ordered to buy a bra, and she wondered what other shops there were.

Up the narrow stairs on the edge of the pit, Treya wandered into a small shop with shelves of prepackaged food. Treya had never seen foods like these. The plastic packaging said things like ‘energy bar’ and ‘protein packed.’ There were canned beverages in dark metal with shaky and distorted scripted names. There were packages of dried meats, and sweets; lots of sweets. Dauntless all seemed to have a sweet tooth. It was one thing Treya hadn’t grown accustomed to.

She wandered the shop, not really looking for anything in particular. After having wandered every aisle, she made her way out and towards another shop. This one was a clothing shop; filled with different shades of black fabrics, and metal grommets and studs, and leather boots of all styles.

There was a petite, blue haired girl, with metal piercings throughout her face, behind a counter, tapping away on a small computer tablet, and had barely noticed Treya at all.

“Gonna replace those kicks?” The girl nodded towards Treya’s feet, not looking up from her tablet, “those boots have seen better days.”

Treya looked down at her boots. They were tattered and almost worn through in spots, “I’m sure I don’t have enough credits for those.”

The girl huffed, “just use your boyfriend’s.”

“Excuse me?” Treya turned to the girl, giving her a dark questioning gaze. 

“You’re Eric Coulter’s girlfriend,” the girl returned Treya’s gaze, her voice and eyes both annoyed. When Treya didn’t respond, the girl sighed and put down the tablet. She made her way around the counter and to Treya’s side. “If you’re that worried, go with these,” she picked up a pair of plain black boots and handed them to Treya. “Cheap but durable.”

Treya took the boots and looked them over, “how much?”

“20 credits,” the girl made her way back to the counter. 

Treya nodded and followed the girl, “alright.”

“Last name?” 

“Price.”

The girl typed on her tablet, then turned it for Treya to sign her name on the screen with her finger.

Treya signed, then picked up her shoes. “Why did you call me Eric’s girlfriend?”

The girl turned her tablet back around, “aren’t you?” She didn’t receive a response, so she added “Gregory told James, who told Amber, who told me, that he was dating the factionless initiate.”

Treya blinked at the long explanation, then made her way towards the shop door, “we’re not together,” then she left the girl in the shop without a chance to respond.

Back down the steps, Treya made her way across the pit floor, ignoring the initiates and their families who were hugging and laughing together. She was almost to the other side of the large cavernous room when she heard him.

“T!”

She froze, her body tensed and the hair on the back of her neck stood on edge. By the time she turned around to face him, he was practically right behind her. Her eyes darkened.

Her half brother, Jordan, smiled down at her. He was tall and slim, with shaggy black hair, and a half head taller than her. Although he was under weight, as all factionless, he was solid muscle. His eyes hungrily looked up and down Treya’s form. “You’ve grown.”

Her grip on her new boots tightened, and her dark glare only darkened, as a figure shifted behind him.

“Treya doll.”

Treya’s body shifted to a fighting stance, her right foot back, and hands low, but ready to defend herself. Her throat tightened, hearing her father’s voice, “What are you doing here?”

“It’s visiting day,” Jordan stated playfully.

“Figured we’d visit our favorite doll,” Thane’s voice was low, his smile was dark, murderous.

Despite all her training, both as Evelyn’s fighter, and as a Dauntless initiate, this man still sparked the unnerve that radiated through Treya’s tense form. She hadn’t seen either of them since she was twelve; since they made games out of abusing her in every possible way. A childhood she wished she could forget.

Thane’s piercing blue eyes never left Treya’s, but she could feel Jordan’s brown ones continue to roam her body. 

Thane’s smile was unnerving; the same hungry smile, bordered by his graying goatee, that she remembered as a child. His bald head tilted slightly in her direction as he took a step toward her.

Instinctively, her weight shifted to her back foot, and Thane paused to look her over.

“You think you could fight me?” Thane sneered. He was taller than her, and his dangerous smiling down on her made her feel two feet tall. Thane growled down at her, “why don’t you come home now, doll. We miss our plaything.”

“Thane Price,” Eric’s voice boomed and Thane, Jordan and Treya turned toward him as he made his way to them in long, powerful strides.

Treya seized the moment to take another step away from Thane, and Eric smoothly stepped between them.

“Surprised to find you down here in Dauntless,” Eric growled, “seeing as you’re a traitor and all.” Eric crossed his arms over his chest, his large form creating a barrier between Treya and her unwanted visitors.

“It’s visiting day,” Jordan hissed from behind his father.

Eric’s eyes shot a warning glare at Jordan, “surprised you even had the guts to show your face around here, coward.”

Thane glanced back at his son, then around Eric at Treya, “we were just discussing Treya’s return home, once she fails out of Dauntless.”

Treya shifted to the side, giving Thane a dark glare, but still behind Eric.

“Your daughter,” Eric’s voice raised, getting Thane’s attention again, “is doing very well here at Dauntless. She’s a talented fighter, and sitting at the top of her class.”

Jordan’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but Thane’s eyes narrowed in anger. “She’s a factionless whore and nothing else,” Thane snarled, reaching out to snatch at Treya.

Treya was quick to dart back, and Eric was just as quick to put his arm between the two, stopping Thane.

“I suggest you take your little tag along, and leave,” Eric matched Thane’s snarl. “Or I’ll have to inform Max of your presence. I believe he put a bounty on your head if you were to ever return.”

Thane’s eyes narrowed and the two stood nose to nose, neither backing down.

Jordan snuck around his father, and made a grab for Treya. She sidestepped him and planted her fist into his nose. He yelped in a mix of surprise and pain as blood started to trickle down from his nostril.

The two men broke their standoff, and Thane growled in fury “you little whore!” He grabbed for Treya again, but Eric slid between them and shoved Thane backwards.

By now, the other initiates and their families were watching and whispering. A few Dauntless members whispered Thane’s name as they recognized him. 

Thane glanced around, unnerved by his name being whispered in echoes through the cavern. 

Eric slid his arm behind Treya, and his hand found the small of her back. “Come on,” he mumbled to her, guiding her towards the edge of the pit.

Thane growled, seeing the two leave, “so that’s how you stay on top. You just fuck your way there! Once a whore always a whore!” His voice was a roar, and echoed through the pit. 

Eric stopped and Treya could feel him tense. She glanced up at him to see his upper lip quiver as he held back a snarl. He turned, and in large strides, was back to Thane, toe to toe.

“If you want a fight, why don’t you step up to a real opponent, and stop beating around little girls. But that’s your thing, isn’t it? Little girls.” Eric’s voice was a low growl, but quiet enough that no one but Thane could hear.

Thane matched his tone, a poisonous smirk crossing his face, “you give her an extra two points every time she licks up your shaft? Another when you bend her over? I’m sure you enjoyed that tight wet hole. Hard not to when she whimpers and begs you to stop.”

With lightning speed, Eric landed a hard punch to Thane’s cheek, knocking him to the floor. Eric’s form followed him down, pinning the man and landing punch after punch to his head and ribs. 

Jordan jumped onto Eric, blood dried on his face, and wrapped his arm around Eric’s throat. Eric thrashed, trying to shake off Jordan and continue his assault on Thane.

Treya was quick, and ripped her half brother from Eric, before giving him another punch to the face. Jordan fell backwards, and Treya turned her attention to Eric.

“Eric stop! Get off him!”

Eric was seeing red, and Treya had to push herself between Eric and her father, “Eric look at me!” She caught Eric’s eyes, and his face changed from the murderous look he had, to a softer one as Treya pulled him up. “Leave him.”

Thane was panting, barely conscious from the assault. Jordan hovered over him, trying to pull the man up. “Come on da, we have to get out of here,” he hissed quietly.

Treya continued to push Eric away, but his eyes were on the two men. He glanced up, seeing Max watching from a bridge above the pit, not making any effort to stop the fight.

“Eric,” Treya mumbled, annoyed.

Eric glanced down at her, then pulled her to his side with one arm, and pointed at a group of Dauntless who were watching from the corner, “get these two traitors to Max,” he growled before turning with Treya and exiting the pit.

There were days Treya questioned whether Eric was more Erudite than Dauntless. Today wasn’t one of those days. Today he was all Dauntless.

——

If either Treya or Eric were embarrassed by the events earlier that day, neither of them showed it.

Treya retreated back to the training room, where she sat on the floor and folded the toes of her new boots, back and forth, attempting to break them in before going back to her training.

Eric on the other hand, had climbed his way to Max’s office, to follow up on Thane and Jordan’s appearances.

“They’ve been escorted out of Dauntless,” Max mumbled without looking up as Eric quietly shut the office door behind him.

Eric’s brow furrowed, “what happened to that bounty on Thane’s head?”

Max sighed, but continued with the paperwork on his desk, “Dauntless leaders decided he was just to be banished.”

“That was twenty years ago, and you’re the only leader left from that reign.”

Max finally looked up, giving Eric a very serious look, “I’d like nothing more than to see the life drain from that man’s face, but as a Dauntless leader, my job is to uphold the law, in and outside of this faction. What kind of standard would I be setting if I killed Thane, after his fate has already been decided?”

Eric’s jaw clenched. A lot had changed since the uprising, including Max’s attitude. Max was more concerned with pulling Dauntless together, and mending where the uprising had ripped it. There were no cuts to be made this year, as so many Dauntless died during the uprising, and their numbers plummeted. He was returning to the original Dauntless manifesto and standards, no longer making decisions without thinking them through. Although his alliance with Jeanine was still intact, he also made efforts to align with Jack Kang, the Candor leader. Amity and Abnegation weren’t currently on his radar for alliance, as those two factions were weaker, and more forgiving. 

Eric crossed his arms over his chest, “has justice been served for Ethan?”

Max’s eyes darkened, “Ethan was laid to rest long ago, and the Dauntless leaders brought Thane to justice with his banishment.”

“No,” Eric growled, “Dauntless leaders were afraid of Thane because he had such a following. I’ve read the reports.”

Max stood, his muscular form was relaxed, but firm, matching his tone, “reading reports does not mean you know what happened. It means you know what was reported.” Max was always guarded when talking about his son, Ethan, and the circumstances of his death.

Eric’s jaw relaxed as Max reminded him of his place. When Max was satisfied that Eric had submitted, he sat back down at his desk.

“You were quick to defend your initiate.”

Eric shifted, glancing away from Max, and out the glass window that overlooked the pit.

“That was good. We want to instill a sense of teamwork among Dauntless, you were certainly modeling that teamwork. I know that was hard for you.” Max knew that Eric struggled treating his fellow Dauntless as equals. 

“It’s different with her.”

Max sat back in his seat, giving Eric a hard look over, waiting for him to go on.

“She’s strong like Dauntless, but humble. She’s not like the others,” Eric’s eyes shot to the floor.

“I’ve seen your reports. She’s what we’re looking for here at Dauntless.”

Eric’s eyes shifted back to Max, “you think she fits in here?”

Max nodded slowly, “I think she may be fit for leadership. She’s not a meathead soldier.”

“I don’t think that’s what Jeanine had in mind for conforming factionless.”

Max’s eyes narrowed, “I’m not concerned about Jeanine’s opinion of who I choose to run my faction.”

Eric cocked his head, “then why play out her theory on factionless at all?”

“Her ideas are right. If we conform factionless, we run less of a risk of riots. Kang is in agreement with her, Johanna knows better than to argue, and Abnegation is still rebuilding.”

Eric nodded, thinking. Since the uprising, the government had been run by the faction leaders. Abnegation currently had no leaders, as they were all killed by the Dauntless attacks two years prior. At first, the leaders struggled to share common ground, which allowed the factionless to continue rioting. Eventually, with Jeanine’s coaxing, they all seemed to agree that the factionless were the problem. 

“This builds our bonds with the other factions, and reestablishes our reputation as the protectors of this city,” Max continued. 

Eric was willing to listen to the lecture. Although he was a leader, Max was still his superior, and Eric could still learn from him. He ran his fingers through his hair as he listened.

Max paused his lecture, giving Eric a questioning look. “Still bothering you?”

Eric’s hand shot down from his hair when he realized what he was doing. “Has its moments,” he mumbled, crossing his arms again. The throbbing pain was constant, but every once in a while the pain heightened, and Eric found himself rubbing the scar along the line of his mohawk. Being shot, dragged to the Erudite headquarters, and revived just in time to have the bullet removed from his skull, had made Eric think more deeply about life; his own life. Life was fragile, and the human body was weak. After being shot, Eric had been determined to strengthen himself both physically and mentally. Part of that strengthening was to be open to learning, and learning in all situations. Eric hated to admit that he did not know everything. It was too humbling, but there was strength in it as well.

He often caught himself running his fingers over the bump of the scar that was carved into his head. Especially when contemplating life’s fragility.

“Have you talked to Anne?”

Eric was quiet. Despite the pain in his head, he’d rather tough it out than find himself in the infirmary, admitting that he wasn’t made of steel. Especially to Anne, the fearless, no nonsense Dauntless doctor. Instead, he shot Max an annoyed look, and Max only shrugged in response.

“Have you finished your report this week?”

“I was going to do that tonight,” Eric mumbled.

Max nodded, looking back down to his paperwork, “good.” When he didn’t respond further, Max glanced up at Eric, “anything else?”

Eric straightened before turning to head out of Max’s office.

“Eric,” Max stopped him, returning his gaze back to his paperwork as Eric turned to look at him, “don’t question my decision again.”

Eric paused for a moment, then turned and quietly left the office.

——

Week 3

Subject continues to show improvement in fighting skills. When asked to spar a skilled Dauntless member, the subject obliged and proceeded to display knowledge of both basic and advanced fighting techniques. Subject displays leadership and teaching skills. Subject’s fitness training proceeds to improve as well.

Subject displays a sense of protectiveness and loyalty over weaker initiates. Subject engaged in attack on a fellow initiate who bullied a weaker initiate. However, subject does not engage in attack if bullying is targeted to her.

Subject’s dietary habits have improved slightly. Subject dislikes mess hall food, but consumes foods that are not deemed “heavy and rich.” Subject prefers fruit, vegetables, and grains.

Subject had a physical exam the prior Monday. Results are outlined below:

• rental damage in left eye

• cartilage damage in left shoulder

• cartilage damage in right hip 

• pelvic trauma

These injuries are the result of trauma sustained during early childhood, aggravated by lack of proper medical care. Subject displays high pain tolerance. Subject was cleared to continue training, but will be watched closely.

Subject does not engage in socializing with other initiates or Dauntless members. Subject was visited by father and brother, but the subject declined to socialize. 

Subject is still ranked #1 with a 97 point lead. 

Any updates will be included in the next report.

Respectfully,

Eric Coulter

Dauntless Leader

——

Eric didn’t return to training after lunch the following day, and Treya found herself slightly disappointed. She enjoyed Eric’s advanced training, as it always pushed her to learn more and be better. Four certainly tried to push her, but it wasn’t the same.

“Treya, I’d like you to work with Jessica today.” Four had pulled her aside, away from the others.

“I didn’t think we were partnering today.”

Four smirked sweetly, “we’re not. But I think she would benefit from working with you.”

“I’m not her trainer.”

Four’s smile doesn’t waver, “no, you’re her teammate.”

Treya sighed. He was right, and a team was only as strong as their weakest member. She made her way over to Jessica, who was attempting to punch a bag in the corner.

Four watched Treya and Jessica, through the session. Jessica really seemed receptive to Treya, and Treya fell into the role as trainer very easily. The two had gone from the bag to hand pads, and Treya was demonstrating how to throw body weight into attacks.

With Treya’s help, Jessica had vastly improved in one session, and Four felt much more confident that all his initiates were on track in their training. 

He dismissed them for dinner, and they all scurried out.

Treya was content to forgo a heavy Dauntless dinner, and so she steered away from the mess hall. She hadn’t planned on going to Eric’s apartment, but that’s where she ended up. She stood outside his door, unsure of what she would even say if he answered. Her knuckles found the door on their own.

Nothing.

She was just about to give up, shaking her head at her stupid idea, when the door clicked open. Treya looked up in surprise, and then in more surprise at the state of Eric.

He was shirtless, his chest was tight with muscles, as was his stomach, both coated with a fine layer of hair that trailed down below the band of the black sweatpants that hung on his hips. His hair, tousled and out of place, opposite the usual perfectly gelled mohawk he typically sported. His skin was shiny with sweat, and he was barefoot.

His brow furrowed at the sight of her, “what’s up?”

Treya was just about to stutter a response when a female voice from inside the apartment called out “who is it Eric?”

Treya’s mouth snapped shut, and she gave him an awkward smile before awkwardly turning to walk away. 

“Treya,” Eric’s voice was firm, and she paused, her back still turned, “wait here.” He shut the door and Treya was left in the hall, wondering if she should really wait or not.

The door clicked open again, and a girl with tousled hair and smeared makeup, wearing an oversized shirt, and carrying a bundle of clothes and shoes, marched out angrily, giving Treya a shove with her shoulder as she passed.

“Treya,” Eric’s voice was softer this time, and she turned to see him standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He had put on a black T-shirt, but was still barefoot.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have,” she stammered before Eric interrupted her.

“Hungry?”

Treya’s brow furrowed. She had obviously interrupted a very intimate situation, and here he was, acting like it was nothing and more concerned about her stomach than the awkwardness of it all.

He nodded his head into the apartment and moved out of the way for her to step inside.

She did, awkwardly sidestepping around him. The door to his bedroom was open, the lights off inside, but she could still see his bed and the tangle of blankets on top. Eric had followed her inside, and made his way to the kitchen, instantly setting to work at the stove. 

She watched him silently for a while, before swallowing hard and mumbling, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come here uninvited.”

Eric didn’t turn away from the stove, his back to her, “it’s fine.”

“No,” Treya found a bit more strength in her words, “it’s not. You didn’t invite me, and I obviously interrupted you.” She thought about what was going on, but Eric just huffed a slight laugh.

“It was time for her to go anyway.”

It didn’t make Treya any more comfortable.

He turned around, and set a plate in front of Treya. Chicken and broccoli. He then slid a fork across the counter at her, before setting a glass of water down.

She poked at the food awkwardly with her fork, while he stood across from her, eating his own. She cleared her throat, “Four had me work with Jessica today.”

Eric’s brow furrowed, “I’m sure that fight wasn’t hard.”

Treya shook her head, “no, he had me train her.”

“That’s what Four should be doing, not you.” He seemed annoyed, but not with her, “you should be focused on your own training.”

“I am focused,” she looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. “Working with Jessica was interesting. It made me stop and think about what I do in fights, my movements, my thinking.” She shrugged, “and Jessica learned a lot too. She’s fighting better.”

Eric’s brow stayed furrowed as he chewed a bite of chicken, his eyes on Treya, “if Four can’t do his job as trainer, he shouldn’t be having you do it. You’re an initiate, you’re not a certified trainer.” He swallowed, “maybe Four’s training certification needs re-evaluated. I’ll mention it to Max.”

Treya pushed her plate away, “why are you so hard on Four?”

“Because he’s an idiot,” Eric nudged her plate back to her, not satisfied with how much she hadn’t eaten.

“He’s actually really smart, and you know it.”

Eric let out a tsk, setting his plate in the sink, “he hasn’t let go of  Abnegation. He’s still just a stiff.”

“Have you let go of Erudite?” Treya snapped in response, not angry but more as a devil’s advocate. “Cause that’s an awful lot of books for a Dauntless.”

Eric shot her a glare.

“He’s no more Abnegation than you are Erudite,” when he continued to glare, she added “come on, why do you really hate him?”

Eric leaned back against the counter behind him, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at Treya, trying to analyze her. “We never saw eye to eye. We both have very different views of Dauntless, and very different wants for it.”

Treya nodded, waiting for him to go on.

He turned away from her, to clean off the stove, mumbling “he shot me.”

“He shot you,” her statement almost came across as a question as her eyebrows raised in surprise. “That’s not what you do to someone who disagrees with you.” There was more he wasn’t telling her, and she knew it.

He sighed, his body tense and his back still to her, “our vision for Dauntless was so vastly different, that our actions resulted in us trying to kill each other.”

Treya sat back, her arms crossed her chest as she thought about what he said and waited for him to go on.

“He and his girlfriend are divergent. We were on opposing teams.”

It made more sense, Eric hunted divergents, which means he had hunted them. Four probably shot him out of self defense, but Eric seemed to not want to discuss it anymore, so she didn’t try to confirm.

“I hope I didn’t upset your girlfriend.” She bowed her head, looking down to her half eaten plate.

Eric turned around, his eyes hard and his brow furrowed, “she’s not my girlfriend.”

Treya shook her head slightly “friend, then.”

“I don’t date,” his voice was cold and hard, and Treya wondered why he seemed so defensive.

Her eyes met his, “neither do I.”

——

“Alright listen up,” Eric’s voice echoed through the training room, “tonight at nine sharp, you are to be on the train, dressed in your training fatigues.”

“What’s going on?” Oliver asked, a wide grin across his face.

“Field trip,” Eric snapped, “and I’ll drop ten points from each person who’s late.” He almost growled, causing the smile on Oliver’s face to fade slightly.

He dismissed them for dinner, and they all hurried out. Eric snagged Treya’s arm as she passed him. “You want dinner?”

She didn’t respond, her eyes darting from his hand, clasped firmly around her upper arm, to his face.

“Bring your fatigues, you can get ready at my place.” He let go of her before walking away.

Her brow furrowed, unsure of why he seemed so adamant that she get ready at his apartment. She shook her head. Eric’s dinners were always preferable to the ones from the mess hall, and if getting ready there meant she didn’t have to suffer through a heavy meal, so be it. She grabbed her water bottle, and headed out of the training room, towards the barracks.

“How come we never see you at dinner?” Alex, the feisty Candor girl, with choppy black hair, pulled back into a ponytail, asked as Treya made her way to her bunk.

Treya shrugged, “don’t care much for Dauntless food,” she mumbled.

“Well you might as well get used to it. There’s no doubt you’ll make it into Dauntless,” Benny, the jokester of the initiate group, and always blunt with his remarks, flopped down on Treya’s bed, as both he and Alex watched her. “Besides, you gotta eat.”

Treya eyed him, “I eat.” She knelt down and slid her trunk out from under the bed. Each initiate had a trunk they could keep their belongings in. After initiation, they would be assigned apartments, and could keep more belongings than a trunk full. Most initiates had filled their trunks with clothes and snacks and souvenir type goods, but Treya’s just held her Dauntless issued clothes and her old factionless ones. She pulled out her fatigues, and shut her trunk.

“Where do you go for dinner then?” Benny asked suspiciously.

“Out,” was all Treya snapped, but when he and Alex seemed to not be satisfied, she added “away from people.”

“Once an outcast, always an outcast,” Michael announced from across the room, making his friends snicker.

Treya ignored them, shoving her trunk back under her bed.

Michael made his way over to her, “you’re never going to fit in here. No one wants you here anyway, so why don’t you go back to your little factionless friends?” 

The smirk across his face annoyed Treya, but she continued about her business, folding her fatigues neatly.

Michael reached out and shoved Treya’s shoulder, “What are you deaf now? I’m talking to you, Stitch!”

Treya turned, instantly putting herself nose to nose with him, her eyes dark and warning, “my score is proof enough that I fit in here, or did you forget who’s ranked first?”

His eyes narrowed, “no one wants you here. You’re everyone’s enemy. You’re the one everyone wants to take out. The factionless girl who thinks she’s so much better than everyone else, but you’re just some Frankenstein monster who should watch her back,” he growled.

“Leave her alone,” Alex groaned.

Michael turned to Alex, the smirk across his face growing, “you lost your brother in the riots, didn’t you?” When Alex’s face dropped, he continued, “she’s Evelyn’s pet, you honestly think she’s innocent in all this?”

All eyes turned to Treya, and her own eyes met each and every one, daring any of them to try her. Her eyes finally landed back on Michael, “you want the top spot? Come and get it,” She snarled.

No one moved.

“Didn’t think so,” she growled, picking up her fatigues and walking off.

——

Treya had just clicked the door behind her when Eric suggested, “you can take a shower if you want.”

She froze, watching him as he hovered over a sizzling skillet on the stove. 

He glanced over his shoulder at her, then took a double take, noticing her wide eyed confusion, “what?” When she didn’t respond, he added, “figured you’d want to before war games.”

She composed herself quickly, “war games?”

He nodded, shaking the skillet a bit, “final test of the first stage of training.”

She didn’t respond, making him glance back at her.

“Door straight ahead, bathroom’s on the left,” when she didn’t budge, a smirk crossed his face, “if you need help, you’ll have to wait until after dinner.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly walked to the far door, trying to hide him from seeing her embarrassment.

His bedroom was monochromatic in grays and whites. There was a dark gray rug on the white tile floor, and a large bed with muted gray blankets and pillows. A small black nightstand stood on either side of the bed, and a matching back dresser sat on the wall to her right. To her left was the open bathroom door, and an open door frame next to it that led to a walk-in closet.

Everything was neat and tidy and in its place. 

She stepped into the bathroom, flipping the light switch on the wall. The bright white lights flashed on, lighting up the white bathroom. The only offset to the brightness was the black vanity with steel knobs, and the black tiled shower in the corner. 

She clicked the bathroom door shut behind her, and opened the glass shower door. She fiddled with the shower knob a moment, finding the right temperature, and then shimmied out of her clothes, grateful for the privacy behind a closed door.

Treya stepped into the hot water, her body relaxing as the water pounded her shoulders. She dipped her head back, letting the water wash through her short hair. Eric’s shampoo smelled clean. It wasn’t overly scented like most men’s shampoo, and Treya figured it could be much worse, given she had no other shampoo option. She worked it into her scalp, letting the water fall onto her chest as she lathered her hair. 

The hot water fogged up the glass shower door, and Treya found herself content to just stand under the water, eyes closed. She hadn’t heard the knock on the bathroom door, but when she opened her eyes again, there was a hazy form moving on the other side of the foggy glass. She gasped in surprise, turning her body away to hide, “what do you want?” Her voice was a lot more angry than she’d meant. 

The form crouched down at the sink for a moment before standing back up again. “I didn’t think you knew where the towels were, and you didn’t answer when I knocked.” Eric’s voice was smooth and even, and if he had noticed her anger, he hadn’t reacted.

Treya turned off the water, and the glass door cracked open slightly as Eric’s hand slipped in with a towel. She took it awkwardly, noticing how he turned his head away to give her some privacy. Quickly, she wrapped herself in the towel, and opened the glass door further.

Eric turned to her, giving her a quick look over, “food’s ready.”

She nodded, her hair dripping water down to the floor. 

Eric gave her another quick look over before leaving her alone to get dressed.

She was quick to towel herself off and slip into her fatigues. She rubbed the towel over her hair before running her fingers through it to tame it down. When she emerged from Eric’s bedroom, he was sitting on the couch, plate in hand.

He looked up at her and scooted over on the couch. He set his plate down on the coffee table in front of him, next to a second plate.

Treya sat next to him, looking at the plate before her. A filet of pink fish sat on a bed of dark green lettuce. A hard boiled egg sat between the fish and a scoop of small red and brown balls. She recognized the red ones as little tomatoes, but the brown ones were foreign to her. What she recently learned was a plant called avocado, sliced and neatly fanned out, opposite the egg. 

At her hesitation, Eric mumbled “chickpeas” before picking up his plate again, and stabbing at the fish.

They ate in silence. The chickpeas reminded Treya of the beans she used to share with Edgar, but they weren’t quite the same. They tasted more like a nut, but seemed just as filling. Eric’s meals were good, impressive even, but sometimes Treya missed the simplicity of a can of beans, shared around a fire and passed among friends.

“So what do war games entail?” Treya asked through her last bite of food, as she set the plate back down on the table. 

Eric smirked and shook his head, “can’t let you get a leg up on the competition.”

“I don’t need a leg up.”

“You sure don’t,” Eric huffed in amusement. “You’ll find out when we get on the train.” He stood, picking up both plates and walking them to the kitchen.

Treya took a moment to adjust her boots before standing and following him to the kitchen. 

He quickly cleaned the plates and set them aside to dry. When he turned around, he found her watching him. With a smirk, he tugged his shirt up over his head and off his body. 

Treya forced herself to keep her eyes on his, but his teasing smirk only dared her to glance down. She didn’t need to look to know he had rock solid abs, and a toned chest. She had felt his muscular form every time his body pressed against her when they sparred. Although she wanted to, and his smirk urged her, she knew if she looked, she wouldn’t be able to hide the red in her cheeks. 

He watched her for a moment, his smirk never fading. “Give me a moment to change,” he flashed her a quick smile before making his way to the bedroom.

It wasn’t long before he re-emerged, dressed in fatigues that matched Treya’s. He quickly made his way to the door, ushering Treya out into the hallway, then led her through Dauntless and out to the train tracks. 

Other initiates, both transfers and faction born, appeared in groups, and it wasn’t long before they could feel the ground vibrate as the train neared. The group was quick to start running as the train rushed past them, everyone taking their turn to jump aboard. Treya was faster than Eric, but he managed to pull himself into the boxcar right after her.

When it seemed that all the initiates had made it aboard, Four shouldered his way through to the center of the car, where Eric and Treya stood. “The game is simple,” he started, his loud voice hushing the chatty initiates, “just like capture the flag.” He pulled two large neon yellow cloths from a duffle bag he had tossed to the floor. 

Eric reached down to the bag, pulling out a long thin red and black gun. It was smaller than what Dauntless usually used. He held it up for the initiates to see, “weapon of choice.”

There were a couple snickers, as the gun was not intimidating at all. 

“Is that supposed to scare us?” Michael was quick to comment.

Eric rolled his eyes, and aimed the gun at Michael’s head. “You want to test how powerful it is?”

Michael stilled, the barrel only inches away from his forehead.

It was Eric’s turn to smirk, “neurostim dart. Not deadly, unfortunately, but it’ll make you wish you were. It triggers the pain of a real gunshot. Effects wear off after thirty minutes or so.” He leaned closer to Michael, his voice lowering and almost hissing, “sure you don’t wanna try?” 

Michael eyed Eric, concern creeping into his gaze. He wasn’t sure Eric wouldn’t just shoot him.

In the past, he would have, but that was before. Before the uprising and the riots, and before Dauntless was expected to act like team players. Eric pulled the gun away from Michael. “Two teams, Four and I are captains.”

“You pick first,” Four knew Eric always went after the biggest and strongest, while he went after the smallest, who were usually easier to hide, and faster.

This time, Eric surprised him, “T.”

Treya glanced at Eric. She was smaller than most initiates, but she was fast, and powerful.

Four nodded his head, he wasn’t too surprised. Eric had taken a special interest in her, despite her small stature. “Alex.”

“Michael.”

“What?” Michael protested, his glare darting to Treya, “you expect me to be on a team with her?”

Eric’s eyes darkened in warning at Michael’s protest, “it gives you two some quality bonding time.”

Michael continued to protest, “I’m not working with factionless scum.”

Eric stepped nose to nose with Michael, ready to knock him back into place, when Treya snapped at both of them.

“Dauntless values teamwork. Guess you aren’t Dauntless enough to play as a team.”

Michael glared at her, but he didn’t argue.

Eric smirked, and Four picked another initiate.

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