Chapter 15

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"Look who's there!" Eric and Tris heard with dread Uriah chanting over the loud noise of the cafeteria. "It's the limping couple!" he yelled louder than ever and the whole compound erupted in laughter, all watching the couple making their way to Eric's usual table.

Indeed both of them were forced to walk around with the help of crutches, under the order of Katie, the head of Infirmary; Tris because of her wounded right thigh and Eric because of the foot Jeanine had shot.

They glared at Uriah as they continued to limp to their table, their crutches thankfully silent against the floor.

"Fuck off!" Tris yelled at no one in particular. She was in an extremely bad mood because it was the first time she had to walk with crutches and had just discovered how hard it was. The hard knobs were exercising too much pressure against her palms which were by now red and painful.

As she sat down she practically tossed her crutches down and gave the finger at Uriah who was still laughing greedily.

"Calm down," Eric said in his deep voice as he sat down beside her and settled a hand at the small of her back as soon as his hands were free of the crutches. When Tris sighed heavily and focused on her swollen hands, massaging them, he glared pointedly at Uriah waiting for him to notice his stare. And when he did, Eric made a deadly gesture with his other hand. He smirked when the younger boy suddenly choked on his laugh, paled and warned everyone at his table with large arm gestures.

He stroked her back with his thumb, "Look Uriah stopped laughing. It's fine, everyone's back to their food."

Tris looked up and sighed in relief.

"Let's just eat and then hide somewhere," she muttered.

"We're Dauntless, we don't hide," Eric shot back with a smile as he took a huge bite of his meat.

"So I'm not a Stiff anymore?" she raised an eyebrow in defiance.

"Of course not," he moved so that his thigh was right against hers and he placed an innocent hand on her knee. He smiled triumphantly when he got the reaction he wanted; her cheeks were visibly coloring and she gulped. Then leaning close to her ear, he whispered, "you're not a Stiff; just my Stiff."

She jerked her head away and he laughed.

.

When the couple finished their lunch, Tris caught sight of Tobias and called him over their table, ignoring Eric's rude comment.

"How are you doing, Tris?" He asked her when he reached their table.

"Such a Stiff," Eric muttered under his breath so that only Tris could hear him. She elbowed him hard and smiled.

"I'm fine, Four. I didn't really get to see you since- uh," she trailed off.

"Yeah, well, I was busy. Do you think we could hang out somewhere? I mean, I've got nothing to do right now."

Tris glanced at Eric in worry; she didn't know how he would take it if she just went away with Four.

"I don't care," he said roughly as if he'd read her thoughts. "I've got something to do anyway," he added while he fumbled at his sides to take a hold of his crutches.

Tris gripped his wrist to gain back his attention. Don't be like that, she wanted to tell him but she was afraid he wouldn't like it.

"I'll meet you after that?" she asked softly.

He sighed when he saw the hope in her eyes and nodded. "Where will you be? We won't take long; I just want to talk to him."

"Try the leaders meeting room," he murmured, "if I'm not there, check home." Tris felt a blush creep up her cheeks as she watch Eric limping away. Home. She didn't know if he meant it as his home or-

"Can we go somewhere else?" Four cut her thoughts.

She shook her head, "Sure."

Tobias was patient as they walked to the Pit; Tris was moving at a slow pace, stopping one time to massage her red palms for a moment. They settled not too far, in a corner of the Pit.

"I never had the chance to thank you," she spoke first.

"For what?"

"You helped me. You always help me. And I'm really glad you're alive. I watched your body crumple to the ground and really believed that-" She stopped in mid-sentence, "By the way, what happened?"

"I wasn't exactly shot. The bullet grazed my thigh and- and like a novice I stumbled and hit my head on a rock in the process," he grumbled.

Tris couldn't help but let out aloud laugh at that. That was so ridiculous. Here she had been thinking that boy was dead when in fact he had stumbled and knocked himself out. "You stupid-" she hit him on the shoulder, "stupid jerk."

"Hey. It's kind of humiliating. Don't laugh."

"Of course I'm going to laugh. Do you know how much I was scared? And oh God. I was mourning you. I hate you so much."

They fell into a comfortable silence after that; Tris still had trouble to comprehend the situation and Tobias was trying to hide his blush. He was embarrassed that the blond girl now knew what a novice he had been when he had been supposed to protect her.

"You stumbled," she murmured disbelievingly.

The dark-haired boy cleared his throat. "So, you alright? I mean, your wound?"

"I'm fine. Still trying to figure out how to walk with crutches without hurting my hands but otherwise I'm good. Eric is fine too. I think his foot will be all new before my thigh."

"Tris you know what I think of him, right?"

It was tempting to roll her eyes or clench her fist in anger but she forced herself to stay calm. After all, Four was a friend and she was so glad that he was alive. She sighed. "Yes, Four, I know and I won't change my mind," she said softly.

"Then you must know what I think about you and him being a couple," he clenched his jaw at the last word.

"You know I won't change my mind," she repeated, "but please, try to see him differently."

"You don't know how he was before you came up!"

"No and I don't care! What's the matter with you? Why should we focus on the past? He is what he is now and it's all that I care about!"

"Tris-"

"No! You shut up and listen for once! Did he kill me like you said he would? You're smart, Four! You're not like the others, you actually think. So try to chuck out your resentment and feelings for him just for a minute and consider everything that he's done the past few days!"

She was so annoyed at Four that she hadn't noticed Christina heading toward them. Her chest heaving, she startled when she heard Christina's voice.

"No you listen, Tris," the dark-skinned girl crossed her arms over her chest, "you're just upset that someone else sees Eric for what he is. A sadistic manipulator. That's what he is. He's manipulated you!"

"Christina," Four put a hand on her shoulder, "I think you're wrong."

Tris's hopeful eyes snapped back to Four.

"Just because I hate him doesn't mean that I think Tris is stupid. She hasn't been manipulated or anything." He looked back at her, ignoring the gaping Christina, "I think you just have a heart too big for your own good."

Tris let out a small chuckle at this; she was recognizing the friend Four that she had known before.

"I think you should leave, Christina," he leaned threateningly toward her.

Tris almost burst out laughing when she recalled it was the same tone he had used on Christina the very first day of initiation when she had mocked his nickname. She scooted closer to hug him when Christina had finally left without sparing them of her usual huff.

"Thank you, Tobias."

He tugged on her shoulders to see her face. "You remembered. I thought you'd never remember!"

"Actually I never forgot," she smiled, "I just never think about calling you Tobias because I've simply always called you Four."

He laughed, "And what the hell is wrong with Christina? She's being worse than me," he scratched the back of his head.

"I was thinking about it last time and you know, I just think I didn't truly know her before. During initiation it was all about tattoos, shopping and making fun of me. She was never a good friend. But now I know that just because she's the first person I've talked to on the train doesn't mean we have to be friends." Tris knew she was ranting but Tobias was still listening, and it pushed her to continue. "I used to hate when she was upset with me. But then I realized I was better without trying to bond with her. And if she hates Eric that much it's because of the Chasm thing. She hates him because she almost died."

He nudged her, "If I were you, I wouldn't have forgiven him for the knives thing either."

"Technically you're the one who threw the knives at me," she answered cheekily. They laughed for a good minute after that and then Tobias regained his serious composure.

"You know, I won't interfere with you and Eric. It's just hard for me to forget the guy he was during the past years."

"I know," she nodded, "thank you. For trusting me."

"Anytime, Beatrice," he said in a very serious voice and just like that he darted away and ran for his life.

"What the- Four! No. Tobias! Say it again! Be a man and face me!"

She stood up as quickly as she could with her crutches.

"Tris!" a woman's voice boomed and when she found the source of the voice, Tris recoiled slightly. It was Katie, the frightening nurse that took care of her thigh. She was sprawled on a rock a few meters away with a man. "Don't even think about it!" she shouted warningly at Tris.

Tris's shoulders slumped and she groaned in frustration as she watched Tobias running away.

"It's not fair!" She yelled after him.

He only laughed in response; he was already out of the Pit a few seconds later. She decided to head back home instead of struggling to sit back down.

:::::

"You wanted to see us, Eric?"

The five leaders were gathered in their small meeting room. They made an interesting image together, all of them of different appearance and size. Raze was obviously the dominant person in the room and Victr, Katlina and Shaw all looked like youngsters in comparison. It didn't help that Victr had a plate in front of him with several pieces of chocolate cake.

Eric focused for a second on his bandaged foot under the table.

"Well?" Raze said impatiently.

"I'd like to drop my position as leader."

"What?" They chorused, except for Victr who choked on his chocolate cake.

"You heard me," he sighed.

"Wait a minute," Raze held up his hand, "tell me first why you want to drop out?" He was frowning in genuine incomprehension. For a moment Eric felt like a kid having a serious conversation with his father. It was kind of refreshing; being able to count on an adult that wasn't supporting him just for their greatest interest.

Eric thought for a moment about Tris; somehow he always managed to talk openly with her about his feelings. Something he didn't appreciate doing. Hell, he hated talking about feelings. But he knew he had to explain to the four other leaders his torment. So he pushed his ego and his pride back in a corner of his mind for the conversation.

"I don't think I deserve to be at the top of the faction. I've betrayed everyone." He succeeded in holding their gazes while he spoke.

They were silent for a few seconds and then Raze leaned over the table, "You little shit. Then why did you insist on staying in leadership right after you saved the faction from the first attack?"

Eric's eyes widened slightly, "It's not the same!" He shot back. Raze crossed his arms over his chest, his huge muscles bulging in the process, as if to tell the younger man that he was waiting for an explanation. "I had to be at the command," Eric raised his voice, "because I was at the lookout for Jeanine's next attack! You didn't know her like I did! She had such a wicked mind-"

To his surprise, Raze laughed out loud, "I refuse," he said.

"What?"

"I refuse. You're gonna stay leader, kiddo."

"But you can't force me to be a leader!" Eric exclaimed outraged as he stood up not easily with the help of his crutches that were lying at his sides against the chair.

"That's right I can't. I –no, we will let you one more day to decide."

"Dude you saved the whole faction twice, you ought to be a leader," Katlina smiled.

"Damn right," Victr nodded.

"No," Eric ground his teeth, "the first time I failed because Jeanine stroke again later and the second time it was Four who saved everyone."

"Bullshit-"

"Shut up!" Raze sighed, "He's right, we can't force him into leadership if he's so sure about it. But we're leaving you till tomorrow to decide, Eric. Think about it again. I just hope you stay with us four Eric." He stood up and motioned for the others to follow him out of the meeting room, leaving Eric alone, leaning on his crutches in front of the table.

"Man, the faction needs you," Shaw clapped him on the shoulder before following suit and leaving the room.

Raze wasn't surprised at all to find Tris standing right beside the door and when they closed the door, he leaned close.

"Heard everything?"

Tris nodded.

"Then I'm counting on you," he smirked evilly and she couldn't hold back a small chuckle. Raze was very intimidating with his many piercings and bulging muscles but she was glad he was there for Eric. The young leader needed support.

"Don't try to drag me into this; I won't try to manipulate him," she smiled. "To me the most important thing is that he forgives himself."

"Shut up, blondie, it's too fucking sentimental for me," Raze said exasperatedly.

Tris snorted and slipped pass him and the other leaders into the meeting room –or rather she limped there on her crutches.

"See you later limpy couple," she heard Victr's voice behind the door she had already closed behind her. Eric looked up immediately and sucked on his lip ring. Surely she had heard the conversation and he hadn't talked to her yet about his intentions to quit his leader responsibilities.

"You're feeling guilty, aren't you?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered but there was no doubt in his tone that he actually knew exactly what she was insinuating. He was just trying his hardest to avoid more deep talks.

He let himself fall back down on his chair and Tris settled on the one next to his, grunting as she propped up the crutches against the table.

She waited a few seconds, trying to find the best thing to say without infuriating him further.

"Victr came to speak to me earlier." He raised an eyebrow in response and she nodded. "Said he envies me because I have an 'awesome boyfriend'," she tried not to blush, the conversation was serious and important for him.

"He's not even gay," Eric grumbled.

"That's not the point. He thinks you've saved the faction. Even if it's Tobias who brought the factionless to Erudite, he says they would have failed to do anything without you."

Eric clenched his jaw and looked away. She wondered if he was trying to deny everything that she was saying or if he was embarrassed by the praising.

"When the second attack happened, you organized everyone. We would have panicked without you. You didn't panic. Oh no. You gathered everyone who was aware, you got us out of Dauntless, and thanks to your orders we've avoided a lot of deaths. And then-"

"Alright!" he cut her angrily, "I get it! Just stop."

"Why is it such a problem for you to accept that you've done something good?"

With the glare it earned her from him, she almost wondered if it was a great idea to have said that. But she continued anyway, "You can't reproach yourself everything you've done wrong forever."

"Shut up!" he roared, startling her.

"No!" she yelled back, "You can't! Promise me you'll at least try not to feel guilty!"

"You-"

"Promise me!" she yelled even louder.

His eyes flashed and he was about to shout back but he did a double take when he noticed the tears in her eyes. This shitty conversation was about him, not about her, so why was she crying? She couldn't cry. It just felt wrong.

"No," his voice cracked, "why are you crying?"

"Because it pains me!" she snapped, "It pains me that you can't just fucking forgive yourself while everyone else already has. I love you," she finished in a whisper, "I want to see you smile every day. I hate seeing you like this."

He never used his strength on her. But this time he didn't care.

He reached for her and lifted her from her chair, his hands on her waist and then he practically threw her against him.

He kissed her. Angrily. Not hesitating to use his teeth. Then tenderly, brushing away the tears from her cheeks with his lips.

"I love you," she breathed.

He held her gaze and he knew he couldn't say it back. Instead he pressed her closer to his chest.

Tris wasn't disappointed or hurt, she'd expected as much from him. She offered him a smile because at least he had accepted her words and hadn't run away.

After some time, they didn't know if it was a few minutes later or an hour later, he spoke up.

"I promise."

"Ok," she whispered; the smile was back on her face.

He watched her eyes in amazement before kissing her again. Soon his lips became more demanding and she parted hers further, allowing his tongue to stroke inside her mouth. She tried to push his tongue away to enter his mouth in her turn; she had never done that before and he growled, his hands on her hips squeezing and she unconsciously ground against his lap when she was finally dominating the kiss.

He was breathing too fast, his lower half could barely stay still on the chair. Eric decided it was best to stop now so he pushed her enough to break the kiss and pressed his nose against her temple to avoid seeing the lust in her eyes. But she took this opportunity to kiss him repeatedly right below his jaw and he groaned at the shiver it caused. She sucked hard between her teeth and tried to find back his mouth, tugging at his hair.

Who would have thought Tris was that demanding?

"No, no, no," his voice rasped, "you've got to stop. I can't."

"Alright," she whispered after a while and snuggled into a more comfortable position for her wounded thigh. He heard her sigh and he hoped she wasn't disappointed. Did she even know the effect she had on him? They really needed to have that conversation about the boundaries of their relationship, he thought.

He clasped his hands together, fully trapping her.

"So Victr says I'm your boyfriend?" he chuckled.

:::::

Later that night they were lying together in bed. It had already become a habit and Eric was parted between thrill and reluctance. Each morning he had to sneak to the bathroom without waking her up for uncomfortable reasons. He just wished she would notice soon that it was a torture for him.

"Eric?"

"Hm?"

Tris seemed to ponder her question for a few seconds, "Do you think there's a way for me to know if my parents are alive?" When he didn't answer right away, she thought it was annoying him and ducked her face. "Forget it. I shouldn't have asked."

"Don't apologize," Eric murmured and brought her body even closer to him. If he wasn't answering her, it was because his mind was racing. An idea was forming in his head and he pretended to fall asleep so that he could avoid her question.

::::

Eric walked to the man he recognized as Andrew Prior; Tris's father.

"Excuse me, Sir? Can we have a word in private?"

"Sir? You seem really polite for a Dauntless boy," he answered and followed the young man to a corner of the huge government meeting hall.

"Politeness with politicians is insurance for future situations."

"And so honest," Andrew raised his eyebrows.

Eric pressed his lips together to suppress a smile, "I can, with you."

"I'm sorry?"

"Sir," he regained his seriousness, "I wanted to tell you and your wife that Tris is safe. I mean, Beatrice. She's safe."

Andrew's eyes widened for a moment and his lips parted in a stunned silence. Then he reached out for Eric's shoulder and squeezed it. "Thank you," his voice was full of emotions, "my wife will be so relieved. Please send our love to Beatrice," he whispered.

"I could."

Andrew seemed taken aback by Eric's answer but he regained his composure quickly. "I-I understand if you cannot talk to her about her family. Faction before blood." He nodded as if to convince himself of the motto.

"I wanted to bring her with me but she was wounded during the war and it's tricky to take the train with crutches. I myself struggled on the way here."

"She's wounded?" Andrew's eyes widened in horror at the thought of his daughter forced to move around with crutches.

"She's fine," Eric quickly added, "She was shot in the thigh. But she has been very strong."

The older man paused for a second and he hesitated before asking, "What are you to my daughter?"

When Eric couldn't find his words at the question, Andrew's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the boy's appearance; his gaze particularly lingered on the many piercings, the tattoo on the neck and the long and messy hair.

"Careful, young man," he pointed his index finger in front of him, "we will see each other again in these meetings and if I ever hear you've done anything to harm my Beatrice-"

"I'd never hurt Tris!" Eric blushed at his protest and cursed inwardly; he rarely blushed and he hated not being in control. "Anyway," he cleared his throat, "I have a proposition for you."

:::::

"What the hell is that huge backpack?" Eric asked incredulously as he sat up on his bed. "You can't strain yourself," he added reproachfully.

"I know but I had to." Tris struggled to close the door of the apartment behind her. She still had to move around with crutches unlike Eric. Katie had warned him to be extremely careful and ordered him not to work out for a few weeks but at least he was allowed to walk.

"What's in it?" He eyed the backpack.

Tris limped to his couch and removed the indeed huge backpack from her shoulders, tossing it there. She murmured something under her breath but it was so low he couldn't understand.

"What?"

She repeated in the same tone, pointedly avoiding his gaze.

"Tris, I won't hear you if you keep talking like that," he said as he scooted to the ledge of his bed.

"Just all my stuff," she snapped angrily, a hot flush creeping up her face. Adorable wasn't a word in his vocabulary; he had promised himself he would never say it before. But it was exactly the word that bubbled up in his mind. "Already tired of wearing my clothes?" he asked smugly.

"Oh shut up."

"I called Raze and the guys in a meeting earlier," he said suddenly serious.

Her face brightened up for a second but she quickly tried not to look too hopeful. "And what did you tell them?"

"I'm keeping my title."

An ear-splitting grin made its way on Tris's face. She limped to the bed and tried to hug him but she ended up giving him a blow in the shin with one of her crutches. He grunted in pain and threw her crutches away.

"Eric!" she complained.

"You almost broke my bone. Can't let you have weapons."

"Weapons? I'm sorry I have to move around with these fucking sticks! Get them back."

"And have you hit me again? No thanks."

"I can't walk!"

"You won't need to walk," he said suggestively and slipped his arms around her torso to bring her into a hug.

:::::

"Come with me?"

"Where?" she frowned.

"Just my office."

"What for?" her frown deepened.

"Come on, you'll see," he smiled.

They progressed slowly to Eric's office; he stopped in front of his door and leaned down slightly to cradle her hand in one of his. "There's something for you," he said in his deep voice and she swore she could see a faint blush tainting his cheeks. "You have to go in without me, though."

She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her. "No questioning allowed, initiate." She pursed her lips but still found it funny that he called her initiate and in the right tone; the frightening one that he used during initiation.

"Yes, Sir."

He grinned in response and gently bumped his forehead against hers before leaning back and motioning for her to enter the office. That she did, after they exchanged amused glances.

"Oh my God," she breathed.

There, in front of the desk stood two persons; a couple dressed in grey Abnegation clothes.

The relief was so strong that she thought her heart would burst. She pressed her palms to her mouth and let out a strangled laugh; she didn't even register when her crutches cluttered on the floor. "Mom. Dad." She looked up at them; her mother had her arms wide open and her father was smiling proudly at her.

Her mother strode to her and Tris let herself fell into her arms, closing her own around her in return. Tris laughed again and unwrapped only one arm to tug at her father and they ended up in a family hug.

"There are no words to tell you how proud of you we are," Andrew whispered, "you have been very selfless."

"And very brave," Natalie added softly.

"That's not true," Tris pulled herself from her parents arms, trying to put most of her weight on her good leg.

"Nonsense. It has been announced during the last government meeting that the young Dauntless leader and Tobias Eaton were the saviors of the war," Andrew explained.

"And that young man Eric told us he couldn't have done it without you," Natalie stroked her cheek.

Tris huffed, "Eric's exaggerating!"

"By the way," her father narrowed his eyes, "what on earth is going on between you and that tattooed hooligan?"

Tris blushed furiously, not knowing what to answer; she certainly wasn't expecting any question about their relationship from her parents. Natalie started to giggle and it only worsened Tris's embarrassment. She thanked her mother when she bent to give her back her crutches. "I-" she stuttered but couldn't find what words to choose next.

"Leave her alone, Andrew. And I have a tattoo myself."

"You do?" her daughter's eyes widened.

"It's not the same!" Andrew protested as he scowled at his wife. "You do not have your face pierced," he continued, "and have you seen his hair?" he exclaimed.

"I think he's a great boy," she cut him and it was the first time that Tris witnessed an argument between her parents. She could now imagine her mother at Dauntless with less trouble; she could picture a younger version of Natalie with long untied hair, black clothes without sleeves or turtleneck, her tattoo revealed.

"And you know it," Natalie continued. "He saved the faction and your daughter."

"He keeps saving me," Tris confirmed with a blush, "he means a lot to me."

Andrew glared at the wall, "I just want the best for you, Beatrice."

"Thank you, Dad," she squeezed his hand, "you too, Mom."

"I love you," she smiled warmly at Tris.

"I'll keep an eye on him during the government meetings."

"Dad!" She sighed. "What is your tattoo, Mom?"

"Wings," she smiled proudly, "it's inked on my back and arms."

"It's beautiful," Andrew whispered but then blushed and coughed uncomfortably. It made his wife and Tris laugh at him. Just then, the door opened Eric entered his office quietly; they all turned to him with a smile on their faces.

"They should head back soon, Tris," he said gruffly.

"Wait," she turned to her parents, "do you know if Caleb-" she trailed.

"We saw him."

"He came to us when the attack happened."

"So he didn't participate in it?" she whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

"No, darling."

She sighed heavily and passed a hand through her hair. "That's- that's great."

"But he decided to stay in Erudite."

Tris nodded. Of course; even if Jeanine used to lead the faction, it didn't mean that all Erudite members were of wicked mind. Some of them must still believe in their original value; intelligence.

"Tris," Eric called again.

"He's right darling," Natalie sighed, "I have no excuse to be here in the first place; I'm not from the government."

"Thank you so much," Tris turned to Eric, her voice full of emotion. They stared at each other for too long and startled when Natalie cleared her throat, a wicked glint in her eyes. Her husband though didn't find the situation funny; he glared at the young man.

Tris found that her parents departed too soon; after more hugs and words of love, they left the compound, escorted by Eric.

Tris settled herself behind his desk and waited for his return. She didn't find it in her to limp back to the apartment with the crutches so soon.

:::::

In the end Tris had fallen asleep tucked safely in Eric's desk chair. That's how the young leader had found her when he came back to dauntless. The trip to Abnegation had taken longer than he'd wished; as soon as he'd escorted the Priors back to their home, he had been held back with Andrew by a few members of the Government from Abnegation and they'd engaged into yet another heated debate about the future of the factionless.

When he came back to Dauntless the sky was already dark and he was alarmed when he found his apartment empty. It was very late, though it didn't keep most of the faction from drinking and celebrating in the Pit; but Eric knew Tris. He knew she wasn't one to mingle in drinking games or whatever. That's why he didn't bother to search for her there but he headed straight for the control room.

"What do you want?" Tobias inquired as soon as the long-haired boy pushed open the doors of the control room. He rolled his eyes and ran a hand through his long hair messy from the wind.

"You're not celebrating with the others, Four?"

"Isn't it obvious enough?"

"Such a Stiff," Eric muttered even if he knew he had no right to mock him because Tris was avoiding drinking games as much as Four was. But anyway. It was Four.

"If you're just here to spite me then please leave."

"Not everyone is interested in your person, Four. I need to look up at the camera footages."

Tobias knew that he had no choice but to help; Eric was a leader and he had more respect for him since the war.

"What are you looking for?" He turned in his chair to look at the screens.

"Tris. I can do it myself."

"Come on, it's my job," Tobias sighed. Eric didn't protest; he was tired after an afternoon of debating with Government members and wanted to sleep and wished Tris hadn't disappeared because the stress was tiring him even more. He just needed to find Tris.

"There," Tobias pointed not a minute later, "your office."

Eric exhaled in relief; he wondered for a second why Tris was still in his office but at least she was fine.

"She's asleep I think," Tobias leaned closer to the screen. "Her neck must hurt; it's not really a comfortable position to sleep in."

Eric hit him lightly on the shoulder, "Stop watching her!"

It was a surprise to the both of them when Tobias let out a genuine laugh. It was without a doubt the first time that they were civil with each other. Eric couldn't help but smile in return. "I'm serious," he added for good measure.

"Yeah, yeah. Go find her."

When he was at the door, Eric looked back and gave him a tight smile. "Thanks." Tobias nodded.

The young leader walked to his office as he wasn't allowed to jog –Katie's orders- and took the time to close the door quietly behind him when he found the indeed sleeping Tris in his chair. He walked silently to her and crouched down in front of her.

He would have carried her to his apartment but he was too tired, not to mention that his foot was just healed. He stroked her cheek until her eyes fluttered open. She smiled and stretched lazily. "What time is it?" her voice rasped.

"Don't know. But I want to go to sleep."

She grinned and reached for him, "Hug first."

Eric avoided her hands and stoop up. He walked to the door, a smile on his lips. "Come and get it."

Tris gaped at him. "But I'm injured!"

"I guess you'll have to work harder to catch me, then."

"Eric!"

"Come on I want to go home."

Tris was upset but she followed him anyway; they walked a slow pace because of her crutches.

Eventually they arrived home and the first thing Eric did was shedding off his clothes and quickly putting sweats on to spare Tris from embarrassment. Then he sprawled on top of the sheets and sighed in relief.

"Sleeeeep," he murmured.

"You're such a kid when you want."

"Sleep."

Tris emerged from the bathroom changed into one of Eric's largest shirt so that it could cover most of her thighs. "What took you so long to come back?" She asked and lay beside him.

He turned on his side to face her and rolled his eyes. "Guys from the Government. Some of them want to integrate every factionless into each faction. They won't understand that you can't just be part of dauntless without training. But I don't want to talk about it anymore for today."

"You tired?"

"Dead."

The silence that followed was heavy and Eric could feel it. He opened his eyes and frowned at Tris's expression of deep thinking.

"Thank you for bringing my parents here."

Eric smiled softly and nodded. He closed his eyes again but he could feel that something wasn't right.

"What?" his voice rumbled.

"Um?"

"Something's bothering you," he spoke louder and his eyes were alert, the want to sleep completely forgotten.

"It's the war."

Eric nodded to encourage her.

"I feel so bad because I live normally and I even laugh. I can't help but think about that man I shot; I killed him. And then there's like a hundred of wounded, still suffering and here I am living my life like nothing happened and everything was OK. I'm sorry; I know you don't like to talk about it."

"No, don't," he gently pressed his hand on the side of her face to stop her from talking, "I understand." He watched her eyes glistening in the dark room and wondered how it was even possible for him to feel such affection for someone. "Tris. Just because people are dead and others injured doesn't mean that you're not allowed to smile from time to time. In case you've forgotten, you're injured too." He leaned in to kiss her temple.

"I've already told you; we've been in a war. People die in wars. After the war, humanity continues on living. We can't mourn the dead forever."

"I know that-" she trailed, obviously not finding anything to retort.

"You're allowed to be selfish."

"It's my Abnegation side, isn't it?"

"No I don't think it is, actually." He paused for a second to ponder his thoughts. "I think it's normal to feel guilty. I mean, of course you'll feel bad, of course it'll haunt you from time to time. I know what I'm talking about." He paused again and Tris waited, knowing that he wasn't finished and even if the reality of his words hurt her, she had to hear what else he had to say.

"But I know you're not the only one. Half of the faction wasn't under the serum that night. Half of the faction potentially killed someone that night. Imagine. All these individuals, feeling guilty for what they did. We're all in this together, we simply have to move on at one point because we're not murderers and we know none of us had a choice."

Tris was left speechless. Her head was empty; she didn't even know what to think. Everything that he said sounded just right. After a moment the only thought that came to her mind was that the amount of respect and affection she felt for that long-haired boy was tremendous.

"Thank you," she said genuinely. They stared at each other in a light silence until Eric moved his arm so that Tris could lay her head on it.

"I'm really glad you where there that night," she whispered.

"What night?"

"The Chasm. Initiation." They laughed quietly.

Why they always ended up talking about feelings and such things in his bed, was a mystery to Eric. Each time he cringed at the thought of the next 'feelings session' but then he just couldn't. Because he had never been that close to someone before; both physically and emotionally. And it scared him and yet he couldn't feel more content that he currently was.

"Me too."

He tangled their legs together and closed his eyes.

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.

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This is it.

I hope you guys enjoyed reading my fanfiction as much as I did writing it. Well let's be honest, I hated writing some parts. But now that it's over… I can say that I loved writing and knowing that people actually read. It was a very fun experience and I'll definitely write something else.

Thank you so much if you've reached the end of the story