Sorry for the incredibly long wait, everyone. To those still following the story, thank you! And to those voicing their concerns about the last chapter, I wrote that under request of another reader, but I do intend to follow the books, not the movies, for the remainder of the plot. This chapter is basically the calm before the storm. Next chapter will be when they leave for the wall. Enjoy!

Chapter #45: Restless

"Bullshit!" Domino's fist made solid, hard contact with the desk's polished surface, eyes alight with betrayal as he glowered fervently at Rain. "You are not benching me!"

"Renaissance needs leadership while I'm gone, Domino, and you're the only one I trust with the task." Calmly, she met his eyes. "I'm not benching you. I'm asking you to protect my people while I'm gone."

"You expect me to stay here while you're out there by yourself?"

"I won't be by myself. I'll have Eric and Four. Tris and a few of her allies will be accompanying us as well."

Eric's eyes lowered. He had been sitting quietly on a table in the background for the majority of the argument, which had been going on for roughly ten minutes already. Beside him stood Four, who also hadn't spoken a word. Eric had known before so much as stepping into the office that shit was going to hit the fan the moment Rain told Domino of her decision; though, this time he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut and allow them to sort it out.

"Rain, if something happens to you—" started Domino.

"It won't."

"Just humor me, will you? I won't know. If you don't come back..." He shook his head. "You can't ask this of me. Not this."

Her eyes softened. "Domino, I need you to trust me. I need you to trust Eric. I need someone here I can rely on fully. If something does happen... there needs to be someone here who can keep order. You're the only one aside from me who has an inside look now that Leroy is gone."

It was an odd sight witnessing the usually gruff leader in such a state of distress. His eyes swam with conflict, but the argument was not going to end in his favor, and he and everyone else in the room knew it. His pride simply wouldn't allow him to back down without a fight.

Suddenly, he turned his attention to Eric, and he pointed a rigid finger at him. "She's not to leave your sight. Protect her with your life."

Instead of offering the typical sarcastic reply, Eric just offered a single, straight-faced nod. With that, Domino took his leave, striding from the room and shutting the door behind him with a bit more force that could be considered necessary.

A sigh left Rain, her hand coming to pinch the bridge of her nose.

After they had all been dismissed, Eric had been on his way to the surveillance room when Claire came jogging up to him.

"Eric!"

He glanced over his shoulder.

"You got a moment?"

"Depends."

"Tyson wants to talk to you."

Surprise flashed across his features, momentarily breaking the impassive front. "Why?"

She held her hands up. "Because he knows you're leaving, and he's grown attached to you."

"I've only talked to the kid twice!"

She shrugged. "You managed to reach him when no one else could. In an indirect sense, you're really all he has, Eric, whether you understand it or not."

"I'm not his father. He's gonna have to learn how to fend for himself like I did, or he's not gonna make it in this world."

"He's a kid, Eric." Clair's eyes were meaningful. "A newly orphaned kid. Try not to be a complete dick."

Eric rolled his eyes. For a lengthy moment, he just stared at the wall, but with no kind of retort at his dispense, all he could do was shake his head with a small scoff. "Unbelievable..."

Tyson looked up when he heard the door open, perking up instantly at the sight of the ex-Dauntless walking towards him.

"What's up?" Eric asked, trying to keep from sounding as unenthusiastic as he felt.

"I want to go with you guys."

He stopped short. His expression said it all. "Excuse me?"

"I want to fight! I'm better now. Claire said I can finally leave and be transferred to actual living dorms with the other kids, but I don't want that. I want to be on the field—"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Eric held his hands up. "Stop. Look, I admire the bravery, kid, but hell no."

"But—"

"No."

"I can fight!" Tyson persisted. "I know how to shoot a gun and use a knife. My dad taught me." His eyes lowered briefly. "I'm not big and strong like you, but I'm not a helpless kid, either! I practically grew up in a warzone."

Eric sighed. "First of all, no offense, but we aren't even letting Domino come with us. Secondly, Rain would have my balls if I said yes to this. It's her you gotta convince, kid, not me."

"Then talk to her! She listens to you. I could—"

"Tyson." Eric's eyes were intent. "You're not coming. I'm sorry, but that's how it has to be." His shoulders fell the slightest bit at the look of dejection on the boy's face. He sighed. "Look. I don't doubt you're a fighter. We were both forced to become men way before our time."

Tyson looked back up at him.

"But you need to stay here. Unlike the other kids, you know how to take care of yourself. You need to stay here and protect them, just like Domino is staying to protect Renaissance. We all have our part to play."

The boy's head remained bowed, eyes darkened as he stared at the floor. Taking a step forward, Eric placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I'll tell you what." Christ, you've gone soft. "When all this is over, I'll train you myself. All right?"

Lifting his head, Tyson looked up at him. "You will?"

"But you need to stay here and protect the others. Work on gaining muscle and endurance while I'm gone. Train hard. You're going to need it."

Staring up at him, he nodded; though, it was hardly the nod of an excited child. He was looking down at a boy soldier. "Yes, sir."

Eric said nothing in reply and headed for the door, unable to shake the odd feeling in his gut. He needed a drink. After exiting the infirmary, he made a direct path for the bar.

What he didn't expect to find was Domino. He stopped, watching him with solemn eyes. The larger man's shoulders were heavy, a bottle of whiskey sitting beside the half-empty glass in his hand. Quietly, he approached him.

Domino didn't so much as glance up when he took the stool beside him, staring down at the glass in his hand. A long silence followed.

"You know, when you first got here I thought you'd be dead in a week. Hoped it, even."

Eric was quiet at first. "I probably would have been if not for Rain."

"I know." He took another swig. "I still don't know what it was that made her so interested in you. She'd been by herself for years before you came along. Didn't spare any of the others a single glance... and they actually had decent personalities." He poured himself another drink, taking the liberty to pour one for Eric as well and slid it over. "Don't get me wrong, kid. I like you. You've come a long way, and I don't doubt you'd do whatever it took to keep her safe." Another swig. "I'm damn proud to call you part of the family."

"I'll keep her safe, Domino." Tipping his glass, Eric took a swig. "I'll bring her back."

"Don't make a promise like that, kid. No one can make that promise." Domino looked at him finally. "What you can promise me is that if she doesn't make it, you make whoever is responsible pay."

Eric stared into his eyes, offering only a single nod. Passing his glass off to his other hand, Domino clapped his hand down on his shoulder, and Eric did the same.

After Domino had left to his quarters, Eric had ran into Jacob, and the two had retired to the roof for some fresh air. It was obvious the ex-Erudite was just as restless. They all were. Thankfully, he was capable of holding a comfortable silence without making it awkward. It was the only reason Eric had invited him to come up with him to the roof. It wasn't until roughly a half hour of sitting and staring at the horizon, where the wall awaited, did his companion finally part his lips to speak.

"So, it's been decided that I'm going with you guys."

Eric's head turned to him sharply. "By who?"

"Me, mostly. It took a lot of convincing, but Rain finally gave in." He sent a nonchalant glance his way before returning his gaze back forward. "I can see you're thrilled."

"You don't belong with us. You belong with Jessica."

"She would be coming with me if she was fit to travel, but her head is still healing. She told me to go."

"Why?"

"Because we're friends. We're brothers. Besides, I'm no use to the city if I'm just sitting here waiting for something to happen."

"You're here to protect it if something does happen."

"Better to prevent that all together, if you ask me."

Eric's face expressed his exasperation, not to mention his frustration.

"Look, I get it." Jacob looked at him, finally. "You don't want me to get killed. I love you, too." He managed a small laugh as he dodged a swing, hands flying up in surrender. "You're stuck with me. Be happy Clyde's not coming, too."

"And what happens if you die out there? What the hell am I supposed to tell Jessica? That I got another one of the squad killed?"

"Tyler's death isn't on you." Jacob's voice grew firm now, dropping all humor. "We've been over this a million times. Neither was Jessica's injury. If I do die out there, it'll be defending my city. We're fighting with you, Eric. Not for you. People die in war. It doesn't make it anyone's fault. All I ask is that if I die doing something stupid that you make up a story to make it seem epic."

A snort left Eric before he could stop it, shaking his head as he looked back forward. "I'm not sure anyone will believe me, but I'll try my best."

Jacob smirked.

Let's see how Eric gets along with the wall team. Save for Rain and Jacob, they all pretty much hate him xD (except maybe Four)