Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Who's in the shadows?

Who's ready to play?

Are we the hunters?

Or are we the prey?

There's no surrender

And there's no escape

Are we the hunters?

Or are we the prey?

This is a wild game of survival” — RUELLE, 'Game of Survival'.

 

"Oh, believe me, if I can deal with the craziness of the city council daily, then I sure as hell can deal with Eric Coulter." Kate's highly confident that her new partner in crime wasn't gonna be as bad as everyone else thought. So far, he hasn't given her a reason to. And nothing could be worse than having to put out the fire between the Abnegation and the Erudite members once they really got an argument going.

"I'm not doubting you at all, Kate. It's him that I worry about. Eric is not known for being patient, diplomatic, or… Well, a pleasant person to most people." Harrison paused for a second, pondering about the young leader's reputation. "You know I'm close to him, he takes his job seriously and his loyalty to Dauntless is unquestionable but I can't say the same about his methods, you know? Now that Max is gone, I'm the only one left who can keep him in check."

As he stood up from his comfy new office chair, one of the perks of being the new leader of the faction, it became quite visible what the new role had done to her boss. In the span of two weeks since Max announced his retirement and Harrison climbed up the last step of the leadership ladder, it looked like he had aged a decade, and a deep frown was permanently glued to his features. She couldn't blame him, Max’s decision did take everyone by surprise and it would take some time for him to get used to it.

Harrison being a leader also meant that all the other three remaining leaders were given new responsibilities and one spot for leadership opened up. It was offered to Kate, who outrightly refused it. She wasn't cut out for it. For now, the new apprentice’s identity remained unknown, just another bullet point on the growing list of things that Harrison had to do.

"If he gives you too much trouble, let me know, okay? You don't have to prove to me that you can handle everything thrown in your way." Harrison guided her towards the door, he had a meeting to get to, and she was expected a few steps down the hall, in Eric's office. 

"You worry too much. I can handle my own and I can kick his ass if I need to." Harrison raised an eyebrow in question. "You know what I mean! All in a diplomatic way! I think you’re just worried that you’re gonna miss me too much.” Kate looked at him one last time, giving him a curt nod and a small smile. For a moment, he looked like himself again. The man from before that once trusted her with the ambassador position. Now, she could only hope to make him proud.

All leaders shared one floor. One long row of doors in a rarely well-lit corridor. Most offices looked the same, except for Max's or, from now on, Harrison's. So when the change in leadership happened, the only person who had to move was him. A faction leader needed some more grandeur. On the other hand, Eric remained at the end of the corridor, gratefully isolated from the rest with only his secretary to keep him company.

Lidia had been with him from the start. Unlike his assistants who ran away after an average of one or two weeks time, the older woman stayed. Rumor has it that she knows some dark secret about him and uses it as blackmail. Kate suspects that Eric will keep Lidia around as long as she is good at her job because, at her age, it wasn't easy to find a position at Dauntless. If she couldn't contribute anymore, a voluntary trip to the Chasm was most likely her swift end. It was the Dauntless way after all.

Setting her eyes on the secretary, Kate opened one of her signature smiles, the one she plasters on her face during endless meetings and the most chaotic days. All a part of her job description.

"Morning, Lidia. Enjoying the changes around here?"

"I can't say that I love the paperwork that comes with Eric being the second in command but I approve of the extra points in my card." The witty reply was actually a good sign, it meant Eric probably wasn't pissed off but there was still time. It was only 8 a.m.

"Can't complain about those, huh? Well, I'm gonna go ahead and say hi to my new partner. Have any tips for me?" She couldn’t deny that Lidia probably would be her best ally in the foreseeable future.

“Never barge in, don't order him around, and, no matter what, don't mention that he finished second during initiation. He hates it." Lidia winked but there was a real warning in there.

"Duly noted, thank you." With that, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door, waiting until Eric's booming voice told her to come in.

Even though she has been an ambassador for over three years, seeing the ruthless leader during weekly leadership meetings and always being invited to the same events as him, she couldn't remember ever setting foot in this room. It was exactly like she expected: black furniture only varying in texture, impossibly tall piles of documents on his table but spotlessly clean and void of anything that could give her a clue as to who he is while not on his working hours.

Stepping into the office, the diplomat couldn't help but feel like she was disturbing him even though she scheduled an appointment. First thing in the morning every Tuesday, just like she used to do with Harrison.

"Eric.”

"Ambassador." That was another thing. In all this time working around each other, during the very few and short conversations they carried out —or the one or two times Eric actually asked her a question during a meeting— he never once called her by her name.

“I see the new position is already giving you too much paperwork. Congratulations, by the way, I didn’t have the chance to tell you that before.” Something passed Eric’s eyes for a second, she dared to think it was a look of surprise, like his accomplishment wasn’t well acknowledged by others. Maybe they were so scared of him that it was better to avoid flattery.

Eric dropped the pen and took his gray eyes away from the document, sitting up even straighter. Everything about him was sharp. Tattoos with strong lines, an ironed uniform, and perfectly placed hair. A perfect exterior to hide the storm underneath.

“You’ve got 30 minutes before you lose your spot to these papers. What’s up?” He eyed her up and down, taking in her wardrobe choice for the day. Kate adapted her style to suit every faction she attended to. Today an Abnegation visit was in order, which meant non-fitting clothes that covered everything from her neck down but were black instead of beige. Always black.

“Oh, this time I don’t need 30 minutes. It’s usually how long it takes to discuss things with Harrison but since we’re just getting started, I thought I’d drop by and let you know that I’m on my way to Abnegation.” Now she was sure that a look of disgust crossed his face. “I think I’m close to convincing them to have an updated computer and maybe a few smartphones for their leaders. It would make things easier.”

“Stiffs wouldn’t know what’s better for them even if it hit them square in the face.” 

“Well, as long as they know what’s best for Chicago, it’s all good. I’ll let you know how it goes. Do you… Do you have any questions about how Harrison and I worked? We can adapt as we go.”

“I just wanna know why you even bother to wear black. I barely see you in our uniform. Might as well wear their goddamn colors.” From all the things she expected him to ask, that was far from one of them. 

“I’m Dauntless and that will never change. I wear our color with pride.” Kate had to keep herself from moving around, a nervous energy building inside of her. She didn’t sit down once she came in, because he never told her to. Probably no one stayed enough time in there to get comfy. “And I wear our uniform all the time, it’s just that you don’t often see me around outside of the leadership meeting.”

“Does it make any difference? Wearing their clothes?”

“I like to think it makes me appear more approachable and open-minded.” Kate pondered after a second. She definitely didn’t wear those itchy fabrics that Abnegation was used to out of fun. Although she didn’t mind Amity sundresses or Erudite smart-looking clothes, she had to say that Candor’s white was so bright that it gave her headaches.

Appearing satisfied with her answer, the leader intertwined his hands over the table. A gesture that signaled that he was done with his questions. Taking that as a cue, Kate prepared her exit.

“If there isn’t anything else, I’m heading out. Gotta catch a unit to escort me there. I’ll send you an email about the meeting but you’ll have to sign the order for the tech if Abnegation agrees to it.”

Eric nodded. “Just forward it to Lidia.” He looked down at his watch and then at the paperwork again. “I guess I’ll use these extra 25 minutes to finish this. You’re dismissed.”

Almost fleeing out the door before he caught her off guard with another one of his questions, she couldn’t help but wonder how she could probably survive 30 minutes every week when only 5 had already proved to be nerve-wracking.

Abnegation remained the same. Rows of houses, nothing entertaining in sight, and occasional flimsy factionless people that went there looking for food. This faction was all about abstaining from human desires and personal needs to help others, which included the ones who failed at fitting in. That’s why they were the elected-government. Still, considering how things around there always remained the same, not taking into account how other factions felt about it, Kate always wondered if they were really that selfless.

A few years ago, a scandal exposed by Erudite led to Marcus Eaton being made factionless. He was discovered to abuse his son and to use power for his own gain. There was no way he could lead Abnegation or the city council. So, five new members were elected but the faction’s ways remained the same.

The new faces of the faction became Natalie and Andrew Prior. They were easier to deal with, or so was Kate told. All her interactions with Marcus had been brief because she was still shadowing the previous ambassador when everything went down. She got lucky to not have to deal with that mess.

Climbing off the Dauntless truck and fixing her coat, Kate made her way to the faction’s office. A small and plain-looking building close to the Hub. From a distance, she could see the couple waiting for her. Honestly, she was never able to get a real read from them. If there was one thing that Natalie and Andrew knew how to do was to keep their emotions in check.

“Mr. and Mrs. Prior, it’s good to see you again. Thank you for taking the time.” Once again, her unwavering smile was present in her features.

“You never leave us much of a choice, Kate.”

That was blunt. Could have mistaken them for Candor.

“Once you agree to have a computer made in this century and a few phones for the council members, I promise to stay out of your hair, mostly.” The smile grew bigger. She wasn’t a quitter.

They made their way to Andrew’s office, as basic and simple as it could possibly get. “That's until you come back asking for cameras once again. Or more patrols. Maybe something else.” There . She finally got something, a read on Andrew’s emotions. They weren’t happy and the reason couldn’t possibly be just her visits or trying to force their hand into newer technology.

“Well, I sure don’t like to waste people's time. Especially when you have a city to run. So, let me be Candor for a minute and ask what’s going on around here.”

Natalie Prior always liked to take her time but the same couldn’t be said about her husband. He appreciated someone who could cut to the chase.

“We allow your soldiers to patrol the outskirts of Abnegation, still it doesn't give them the right to mess with our members. All week, one of your units has caused havoc and it’s scaring people away.” He took a deep breath. “If you can’t control your soldiers then don’t ask us for favors, or for things that only benefit Dauntless.”

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

Today was definitely not getting any easier. Patrol units knew better than to mess with the so-called Stiffs.

“I assure you, Andrew, that our soldiers are ordered to stay away. We’re here to ensure the safety of your faction and of Chicago, not to offend your ways or disrupt your daily lives. If you tell me more about the unit, I’ll make sure they never set foot here again. I'll personally see to it.”

That’s how Kate found herself cutting the visit short. Carrying with her the plate number of a truck full of idiots and trying to stop the frustration from creeping in. Weeks of work potentially went down the drain and, on her very first day working with Eric, she would’ve to report that failure.

Her first stop was at the front gate. Every unit or soldier that left the compound had to be scanned. Those guards would know whoever was making a huge mess out of her day. It wasn’t even noon yet.

“So they’re in Candor today? What time will they be back?” She looked expectantly at the guard, who had given her the great news that the unit in question was from her initiation class.

“Shift ends at 6. I can call your office and ask the unit to wait until you get here.”

“Sounds good. Don’t let them leave unless you want to deal with a city crisis, okay?” On that note, Kate left the guard looking rather pale. He didn’t get paid enough points to deal with other people’s bullshit. And he didn’t need any higher-ups pissed at him.

“Aren’t you even gonna say hi? Are you running from Eric already?” A male voice made her stop. One that she knew too well. Before she could even find him in the crowd of soldiers coming and going from patrols, arms encircled her waist and turned her around. A bear hug followed.

Jace.

Throughout the chaos of initiation, Jace, a transfer from Candor, was the only one she could trust. They shared a connection from the beginning, one making sure the other didn’t fall behind the rankings, sharing knowing looks at night with their bunk beds next to each other and staying friends all those years later.

Jace ranked 6th, the fear landscape wasn’t his finest moment and his final ranking took a hit. So, he got a job at the Armory, making sure every soldier in and out of the faction had what they needed, and returned it at the right time.

“Always the dramatic one! I didn’t see you and I’m not running from him. At least not yet.” She smiled at him, her first real smile of the day. “Are you loading a truck?”

“Yeah, some extra guns for tonight. Things are getting dangerous in the factionless sector. Someone was shot this morning. Pretty sure you can expect at least one leader reaching out to question you about it.”

“Are they okay?”

“From what I’ve heard it was a bullet to the shoulder. I’m sure they’ll live.” He let go of her to check his watch. “Didn’t want to eat the mushy food at Abnegation? Or did they kick you out?” His wicked smile made an appearance.

“Almost got kicked out.” His smile was gone and a look of concern fell on his angelic face. “Guess which unit decided to mess with their members? Trying to undo all the progress I’ve made with the Priors?”

“I don’t wanna say Peter but I feel like that’s where this is going.” 

“Peter, Richard, all of their friends… Now, I gotta wait until they come back from Candor to give them a piece of my mind and make sure they adore me even more.”

“Wouldn’t expect anything else from you. Just… Just be careful with Peter, okay? He gives me a vibe.”

“Yeah? What vibe? The one you get from people that stab the competition with a butter knife?” She tried to not sound too worried about it but he gave her the creeps. And Peter always made sure to let her know that the ambassador position would’ve been his, he just forgot that losing that opportunity was his own doing.

“Sounds like it. You got this, okay? I gotta run but text me later. I wanna know everything.” She nodded. Jace didn’t have the perks of her flexible hours, staying at Armory away from the sunlight was his only choice. Nonetheless, she constantly missed having her best friend around.

With six hours to go, her only option was to figure out how to report that to Eric and rehearse her speech to make it sound less like her problem with Peter was personal.

It turns out that there wasn’t enough sugar coating that could keep her report from sounding like “Hey, you know all that tech meant for Abnegation? Don’t even bother, an unit fucked it up.” Still, Kate emphasized in her email that she was handling it today. There was no way Peter and his friends would cause her to go back to square one. There had to be a solution.

So when her office’s phone rang announcing the end of their shift, Kate strode with purpose towards the loading docks. Speech rehearsed and maybe a little bit too much anger. She also changed into a uniform, because Eric’s comment had left an impression and she wanted to look the part. Kate needed to be a soldier now, not a diplomat.

Looking up for a second, she found that the sky agreed with her. Dark and angry rain clouds were coming. It wouldn’t be long before the storm hit, but first, she had to cause one herself.

In one of the final rows of trucks, far away from the entrance, Peter and his group of four friends from initiation stood up from the vehicle looking rather displeased. She didn’t know exactly what the entrance guard had told them but they knew it wasn’t good.

Locking eyes with one of them, she fixed her posture and tried to look the part, thinking about some of the leaders. She thought about Lauren, the only female in leadership, who always looked so tough. Harrison had an incredible ability to pick someone apart with a calm tone. Eric was ruthless and cruel, not allowing any disrespect. Never allowing shame to be brought down on Dauntless. Kate even thought about Four from the control room, Eric’s rival, and the one responsible for training her initiation class.

Stopping in front of them, she held her hands behind her back and tried to look taller than she really was.

“Listen up! I’ve received a complaint from the Abnegation leaders. Your behavior has caused problems in our negotiations and that will not be tolerated.” She paused. The mocking eyes and smirks in front of her made her blood boil but she couldn’t lose it. “Dauntless are the protectors of the city, your role is to patrol these grounds, ensure our safety, not to mock or even interact with residents. Understood?” 

She was met with silence. Until one of them let out a yawn.

“Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve hit a pause on an important negotiation. Right now, they’re one call away from asking us to reduce patrol numbers or to stay even further away from their homes.” The wind picked up and the first droplets of rain began to fall. Peter fixed his posture and the others soon did the same. “If they fear us, if they don’t trust us, it will make the job more difficult. For all of us."

Maybe she was getting through to them. But it didn’t matter. Kate had to make sure it wouldn’t happen again and she didn’t trust this unit. Personal feelings or not.

“You’re all banned from Abnegation patrols. Each of you will hand-write a letter apologizing to their leadership. And I’ll write you up for this behavior. If you can’t find another patrol to go to, you’ll stay here and it will be deducted from your payment. This decision will be revised in a month. Is there anything you wish to say?” 

It was a full storm now. 

“No? You’re dismissed.” They didn’t move. Only then did she realize that none of the soldiers were looking at her. Turning around, she was met with Eric standing a few steps back, leaning against a wall. Clothes wet from the storm, arms crossed, and his permanent look of disdain on his face. The same look that used to scare her during the beginning of initiation.

Peter and the others were waiting for his permission. They only changed their postures when he appeared behind her, probably in the middle of the speech. Like a guard dog making sure none of them would get out of line. That unit would never respect her.

“The ambassador told you to leave. Get out.” She didn’t have to look back, sounds of feet scrambling to get away in the wet pavement could still be heard over the pouring rain. 

“Eric, I was handling it”  It wasn’t the first time she said that today. “What are you doing here?”

 He stepped away from the wall. 

“You handled it. I was just observing it, maybe giving a bit of moral support, making use of those extra 25 minutes you gave me.” He smirked. She could almost call it a smile.

“Oh really? The support is appreciated but is unnecessary.” 

“I remember your initiation. I didn’t agree with Max’s decision to allow Peter to stay.” He was standing right next to her, the rain getting stronger but none of them seemed to care. “A guy like him will never respect you, especially because of the final rankings. So here’s a piece of advice, if you can’t get them to respect you, do the next best thing. Make them fear you.”

She nodded. His ‘moral support’ was nothing but a message to those soldiers. They fucked up and if they didn’t comply, there would’ve been hell to pay.

“We need those CCTV in Abnegation, got it? Sooner better than later.”

“I’ll convince them but this incident will stretch the timeline a bit. If they can accept computers and phones, and learn to trust the technology, it will be easier to talk them into having cameras.”

Eric looked around them. Not a soldier in sight. They were either out on night patrol or inside away from the rain. A lightning bolt illuminated the sky.

“Let’s go.”

“Afraid of a little storm?” She asked.

“I don’t mind it. But I would mind the cold I could get for the rest of the week.” He started walking towards the entrance at a rapid pace.

“Race me then.” 

At that, Eric stopped, turning around to see Kate with a challenging look. An incredulous expression took over his face. Did she ask him to race? Are they kids?

She didn't know what came over her. Maybe she was trying to show that she wasn't an Erudite in Dauntless clothes. “The loser pays for the coffee for our next meeting.” With that, she took off.

Eric soon followed trying to process what the hell was that about. But it was undeniable how liberating it felt to run in the rain. Dauntless soldiers were supposed to be free, but still most were stuck inside with 9 to 5 jobs. He couldn't even remember the last patrol he supervised, there was too much paperwork, and too many people needing things from leadership.

As the trucks around them became a blur, Eric caught up. While he still spent a lot of time in the office, the leader still worked out daily to maintain his shape. No headstart could keep him from victory.

"I see it now, I gotta spend more time in the training room." She wasn't winded, the distance had been short, and her pride was the one that got the real hit. Even if the race start wasn't exactly fair on her part, the ambassador was just trying to level the playing field a little.

Eric kept walking, water falling to the already slippery floor, a faction built mostly on a cave system meant that dying was a possibility by just walking around to eat in the mess hall. "I like my coffee with cream and no sugar. Make it a double."

The sweet, sweet price of victory. While he disappeared down the hall, Kate stayed behind to try and dry her clothes a little. She didn't want anyone breaking their necks. Before Eric could completely disappear from the view, he surprised her one last time. “By the way, today you were a soldier, Kate. See you at the next meeting.”

If her name sounded too good rolling out of his tongue, Kate would never admit it. In the end, Eric wasn't the only one victorious.

The next morning, the young ambassador decided that being a diplomat didn't mean she was any less of a soldier. Kate wasn't exactly in the same shape as during initiation and was thrown into an office right after the welcoming ceremony that officially made her a Dauntless member. 

Unlike active soldiers, she didn't worry about good aim, combat skills, or night patrols. Her job was to worry about council members wanting to behead their lovely colleagues. Don't get her wrong, she could shoot well, even if she preferred knives. That's the only weapon she carried around.

When she felt like it or the stress got too high, a stop at the training room right after her shift was the easiest option. Punching a bag, throwing some knives and the occasional spar with Jace felt like it was enough. 

It clearly wasn't.

That's how she found herself passing the abandoned buildings around the faction's compound in what could hopefully be called a sprint speed. This time, there was no rain and the early rays of sunshine illuminated her path. It wasn't even 6 a.m. yet, and only sheer force of will had made her get up from her comfy bed. Undoubtedly, she would regret that decision around lunchtime or in the middle of the afternoon.

"Still hurt about losing?"

Kate whipped her head around, seeing Eric getting closer. The leader was dressed in workout clothes and didn't appear to be breaking a sweat. After all, he ran that circuit every day before dawn, not that she knew about it.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I do this all the time" 

"C'mon, Kate, I come here and the only people around are a few guards training or initiates from last year who are still trying to prove something." He fell into her rhythm, jogging side by side. "You're just trying not to have to pay for the coffee next time."

It wasn't a lie but she blamed his ego instead. Besides that, Eric was known for being competitive, which sprung an idea into her mind.

"I could race you right now. Yesterday was slippery. The winner buys donuts for our meeting."

He barked a laugh. The audacity! "Sure thing, Kate. Should I tell you my order now or when you're defeated?"

"I'll have you know that I only like chocolate donuts, okay? Don't forget it." Kate looked around and set her eyes on a building where she used to go to watch the sunrise with Jace as initiates. "See that six-story building next to the train tracks? The one with red bricks? Whoever gets to the roof first wins!" Not waiting for a reply and taking all the advantage she could get, Kate took off.

The girl wasn't naive, it was a matter of fact that she couldn't defeat him at the time. The only thing left to do was gamble. Play smart. If Eric didn't know that building well and was ahead of her, he would try to go for the fire escape on the side, which was too rusty and unstable. Until he realized that, it would buy her a few precious seconds to go straight to the main entrance and climb the wooden stairs all the way to the top. 

And that's exactly what happened.

With her legs and lungs burning, basically tripping over her own feet, Kate made it just in time. Throwing herself to the ground and feeling like her heart might give up, she couldn't help but smile at the sound of his boots reaching the end of the stairs a few seconds later. She won! She actually won!

 "Smart ass." He commented before sitting next to her but not too close. 

The sun had finally made its full appearance on the horizon, bathing Chicago in a sea of orange and red. They didn't talk for a couple of minutes, busy getting their breathing under control— in her case, just trying to— and looking at the breaking dawn.

"I had an Erudite moment. Sorry, not sorry." She knew Eric wasn't much of a talker but it felt like the right time to make small talk. "You know I'm Erudite-born, right? Gotta have read my file before I showed up at your office yesterday."

"I skimmed through it. I already knew a lot about you but if I didn't, Harrison made sure of changing that during the past couple of weeks. He just wouldn't shut up."

"Really? I'm very grateful to him. Harrison is the reason I'm here." 

At that, Eric couldn't help but frown. "Don't do that. He might have recommended you to shadow the previous ambassador, but you succeeded on your own. That's what we all do. You don't owe anything to anyone."

She pondered it for a minute. She would always be grateful, still, it's not like Kate was just handed the position and a free pass from long hours working in the Armory making inventory and cleaning guns.

"That's very wise. Your Erudite is showing, too." The leader rolled his eyes. The saying faction before blood is something that he took at heart. It's been a long time since being Erudite-born meant anything to him.

"Why did you come here? To Dauntless? Seems like you would have done just fine in Erudite." That's not the real question he wanted to ask. It was a means to an end, hopefully, she would spill what was actually important. He was analyzing her, making sure that they could work together.

"That's the point. I wasn't stupid nor did I fail to fit in at Erudite. Both my parents work at one of the labs developing serums, I could've easily fallen in their footsteps and been just fine ." She took a deep breath to steady herself. Jace was the only one who had asked her this. "When my aptitude test said Dauntless, I literally took a leap of faith at a chance of being something more than a fine member of society. When I ranked third, Peter couldn't accept the apprenticeship, and Christina refused it, so I got my chance of being more than just fine at working in the Armory. I wanted more."

She sat back up, staring at his gray eyes. "So, did I pass your test?"

"For now." He got up and offered a hand that she gladly took. Whatever they just shared was over and it was time to go back underground. 

A screeching sound coming from the side of the building interrupted their plan. Someone muttering a " shit " confirmed that people were trying to climb the rusty fire escape. Eric carefully approached the edge of the roof and looked down just in time to see the top of a head disappearing to the south side, where the main entrance was. 

Following her gut feeling that it wasn't just one man, Kate checked the other side, seeing four factionless men striding with purpose and at least two glistening guns in their hands, ready to go up there and finish them. Eric and Kate had 30 seconds at best.

Hearing the cock of a gun, she faced Eric, who always carried his issued firearm with him. "Are you armed?" She denied it and could see the tick of his jaw. The last time she even touched her weapon was for cleaning it, around a year ago. There were no guns in diplomacy.

The icy feeling set in her stomach. They were outnumbered and outgunned.

"Eric, there's no way we're gonna survive that if we fight."

"Just hide behind that vent, and I'll take care of it."

She looked to the next abandoned building, it was a big jump but the building was not as tall and another one followed much, much closer. It was their best shot. "I need you to trust my judgment, okay? Please, come with me." Her mind begged her to flight but she would wait until the last second if it meant that Eric would stop being so stubborn.

With one last look at the rooftop door and the sound of steps getting closer, Eric made his decision.

So they jumped.

Chapter Text

"That's the price you pay

Leave behind your heart and cast away

Just another product of today

Rather be the hunter than the prey

And you're standing on the edge face up

'Cause you're a natural

A beating heart of stone

You gotta be so cold

To make it in this world

Yeah, you're a natural

Living your life cutthroat

You gotta be so cold

Yeah, you're a natural

Will somebody

Let me see the light within the dark trees shadowing?

What's happening?

Looking through the glass find the wrong within the past knowing

Oh, we are the youth

Cut until it bleeds inside a world without the peace, face it

A bit of the truth, the truth" — Imagine Dragons, 'Natural'.

The funny thing about adrenaline is that once it kicks in, your body doesn’t really register what’s happening to you. It only wants to survive. So, you can lift an amount of weight you've never thought was possible, keep going while bleeding out, or not even feel the bullet wound that made a mess inside your body. Survival mode is at full force until you shut down.

In Kate's case, adrenaline meant she didn't feel the bullet that scraped her arm or the one lodged in her tight. While fleeing, they had made the first jump unscathed—or at least Eric did, while she rolled on the ground ungracefully just like an initiate but quickly jumped back on her feet—the rain of bullets only started after the duo made their way to the last rooftop, that was much closer than the last. At some point, she got injured but her brain didn't even register it.

After getting back to the streets, taking cover behind huge pieces of debris from the war, and finding their way out of a maze of abandoned streets and alleys, Eric and Kate made it back to the front gate alive. At that moment, they stumbled upon a patrol truck sent out of the compound to terminate the threat. All of the loading dock heard the gunshots, and the commander on watch had quickly acted on it.

It was only halfway back to the entrance that a soldier warned about the trail of blood that Kate was leaving behind. Eric, who had been shouting orders non-stop,  suddenly went quiet, turning around to assess the damage. She wasn't even feeling it, and her black workout clothes hid the blood, but the bullet was there lodged deep in the right tight.

It was one hell of a week, and it was only Tuesday.  

One second she was standing, and the next thing she knew was that Eric had scooped her up in his arms like she weighed nothing. The leader had a furious look on his face—not directed at her, of course— and kept asking if she was okay all the way back to the infirmary. 

She was okay, probably. Hopefully.

About an hour later, the ambassador had had her wounds cleaned and stitched, and a huge dose of healing serum was running through her system. Luckily, it didn't hit the bone or an artery, still, she lost a considerable amount of blood. Legs injuries were always messy. Kate couldn't tell if she was dizzy from the serum, the blood loss, or the chaos she had witnessed over the last hour. And she wasn't referring to the attack.

Turns out the infirmary is out of limits even for leadership. They had no authority there, doctors and nurses knew best, but that didn't stop Eric from criticizing their work, constantly complaining about how the stitches were being done, and threatening to make everyone factionless if the ambassador died on the operation table. 

There was no need for an operation table nor they had one.

All that while she assured him that yes, it hurts like a bitch, but she felt worse after the first fight during initiation. The only reason he wasn't kicked out of there was that no one dared to do so. After all, Eric was the second one in command at Dauntless. 

When things calmed down and only the leader remained, he began his second stage of driving her crazy. He just wouldn't stop pacing back and forth. Phone calls, emails, shouting over soldiers at the radio… Why couldn't he just sit down? It was a good thing that there were no other patients. The only one from yesterday—a patrol soldier shot when a situation escalated in the factionless sector, just like Jace had mentioned—was transferred to Erudite's General Hospital for surgery. His condition remained critical. And that meant more guns were reigning free out of Dauntless hands. But how?

"Eric, are you okay?" The leader finally stopped walking, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Stepping closer to the bed, he took her appearance with a frown. "Do you want me to call the nurse back in?"

"No, I'm good. It's you that I'm worried about. You should've let them check you out, too. Maybe sit down for a minute? It's okay to be shaken up after what happened, you can sit and process everything, you know?" 

He looked slightly offended. "The only thing I need to process is the fact that the factionless are running around with our guns."

"Then can you sit down 'cause you're making me nervous?" Her head was hurting more by the minute. But she wouldn't tell him to leave. She didn't want to listen to her own advice and start to process the whole facing death situation.

With a disgruntled huff, he plopped on the metal chair close to her bed, shooting her a look that said "Happy now?" 

"Why don't you carry your gun on the outskirts of the compound?" Eric asked. "I had already noticed that you don't have it on you while inside but outside… You know the danger."

"I never thought they would get close to us. Why cause a hassle in Dauntless and risk getting arrested or killed? I've never seen them around. It felt safe. Honestly, I haven't touched my gun for over a year, which was the last time I cleaned it"

Right then, Kate noticed her mistake. Even before the ambassador faced the leader and saw the horrified look on his face, which quickly morphed into an angry one, she realized too much was said. If she didn't touch her gun, she didn't carry it to her weekly meetings in other factions.

"Kate…" Eric stood up from the chair, closing the distance to the infirmary bed and lowering his body until his eyes leveled with hers. "Tell me you bring your gun with you every time you leave Dauntless."

She opened and closed her mouth. What could she say really? That diplomacy wasn't achieved with guns?

Yes, that seemed like the right call.

"I have a unit with me all the time. Four soldiers heavily armed in an armored truck. Doesn't get any safer than that!" She took a deep breath. "I can't get into a meeting with the council or a leader with a holster on my hip. Approachable and open-minded, remember? I can't achieve diplomacy with a gun."

"I'm sure you'll be open-minded once a bullet blows your brains out."

Ouch.

He sat back on the chair and heavy silence filled the room. Kate left her phone back at her apartment before going out, so she couldn't even check her emails or tell Jace about the insanity of the past couple of hours. All that was left to do was look out the window, they were on the ground level right next to the loading dock. It was easier this way to help a soldier who came back hurt from patrol.

 Soldiers were coming and going, loading heavy guns and ammo onto trucks at a rapid pace. She suspected that it was a result of what happened earlier. A counter-attack of sorts.

"Are they going out to look for stolen guns?" Eric nodded, looking away from his phone to focus on her. "Harrison ordered a full inventory once we came in. So far, at least a dozen are unaccounted for. The Control Room is also rewinding the CCTV to find where that group came from."

A dozen? How did they not notice this?

"Turns out that last night a bag with four pistols was stolen from the back of a truck patrolling Candor. The same one that got attacked. The unit reported it but it wasn't on the system until this morning. They match the guns from our attackers."

"Doesn't explain the rest of the missing ones. Do you think they got into the Armory? Or…" She was even reluctant to say it. "Or someone gave it to them?"

He ticked his jaw. Clearly a habit since he was always nervous. "If that's the case, I'll kill the traitors myself."

On that note, Eric rose to his feet and walked towards the infirmary exit, claiming Harrison asked to see him and that she should rest. He would be back to check on her later.

Now there wasn't much to do but stare at a wall and try to process the trauma of escaping death by a thread.

Attention all Dauntless members, active and non-active soldiers, this is your leader Harrison. As you may have heard, a group of factionless entered our territory with stolen weapons and attacked two of our own. The threat has been neutralized but we cannot disregard the possibility of it happening again. So, I'm declaring a state of emergency for now. Non-active soldiers must remain inside the compound at all times. All members must carry one of their issued weapons at all times. You're only allowed to transit between factions with a leader's written authorization. Active soldiers will be on call and patrols have been increased. Failing to comply with these rules will lead to a swift and stern punishment from leadership. Stay alert, stay safe, and be brave.  

Harrison's calm tone had been replaced with a tension she hadn't heard in years. His voice filled every hallway and room in the faction through the sound system and, if Kate had her phone right now, certainly she would find a memo sent to her email issued to all members with the same instructions.

No doubt Eric liked the idea of forcing her to carry a gun around. She could picture his wicked smile. Although, she understood. Beginning to process what had happened at dawn, the ambassador failed to understand how she survived it. The odds were not in their favor but they still made it. It would've given them a better chance if she was carrying something more than her trusted knife.

Kate thought back to the young leader's expression when admitting that, outside of Dauntless, she had to put all her trust in the team that escorted her around Chicago. He looked like she personally wronged him. How could she have been so naive? It's not like all her visits had been plain sailing. Once on their way to Amity, a group of factionless carrying pipes and knives blocked the dirt road while another group rounded the truck. When one window shattered, the driver decided to run them over to make way. Pipes and knives weren't their weapon of choice anymore.

The sound of the infirmary's door being opened interrupted her line of thought. Surprisingly, Lidia walked in carrying what looked like lunch. At the thought of food, Kate's stomach grumbled. She hadn't eaten since last night. 

"How are you feeling, Kate? Eric's stuck in a leadership emergency meeting but wanted to make sure you didn't have to suffer through the infirmary's bland meal." Kate took the paper bag gratefully. A burger and a chocolate donut. Did he remember what she said to him before everything went to shit? About the donut?

"Like I've been shot but the healing serum helps. Thanks, Lidia. I'm sorry you had to go through the trouble. So, I'm stuck here with no news, is it as bad as I think?"

"Chaos for sure. I wouldn't wanna work in the Control Room or the Armory today. Not that Eric is giving me a break, or maybe this is it?" She smiled. The older woman was used to his behavior. She didn't even bat an eye on it. Secretly, the chaos made her feel alive and younger.

Kate nodded and took another bite of the burger. It felt like something shattered like a mirror today. Even if Dauntless could put the pieces back together the cracks would always distort the reflection. The sense of security that they felt had been broken. Or maybe it was their ego.

"Maybe I should get a week of medical leave and come back when the storm is over. Just kidding, I can't wait to get out of this bed."

"You said you had no news. Did you lose your phone out there?"

"No, I left it in my apartment."

"I can go get it for you if you've got your keycard here." Lidia offered.

Kate thought about the bunch of messages, emails, and missed phone calls she probably had from the other factions. She knew all of them had eyes and ears at every faction just like Dauntless did. A nerve twitched in the corner of her mouth. The medical leave sounded tempting after all.

"Thanks, but the serum is making me hazy. Not the best moment to deal with the council. But… I could really use a change of clothes for when I'm finally free to go home." Her leggings had been cut off to get the bullet out and her shirt was covered in blood, so the nurse gave her a hospital gown. It wasn't her finest look. "Anything you could get for me that won't stick to the stitches, please."

Lidia got up, making a beeline to a small table set in the corner, where a plastic bag with Kate's belongings was forgotten. The secretary retrieved the card for the ambassador's apartment and said she would be back soon. 

On her way out, she almost collided with someone. A distressed-looking Jace, who had finally been able to escape the Armory to see his friend.

"Kate! You scared the shit out of me! Why don't you have your phone with you? I texted like crazy when nobody was looking" Lidia watched the interaction from the hallway, happy to see that Kate wouldn't be left alone for a while but a question mark was forming in her head. Who was that young soldier to her?

He embraced her, not noticing her injured arm. "Jace! Ouch! Careful there or you might be what sends me to the hospital." She joked, trying to light up the room.

"Sorry! I thought it was just your leg. You know how gossip is, fast but unreliable. Remember Meghan who works with me? Her girlfriend is a nurse here and texted all the details. Until then I only knew that two higher-ups were attacked by factionless and someone was shot. I swear my heart stopped when she told me it was you."

"I'm okay, really. It didn't hit anything important but there was a lot of blood. I didn't even notice until a guard told me." His eyebrows shot up at that information, adrenaline really was a powerful thing.

They were so engrossed in their chat that didn't even realize Lidia carefully stepping away, feeling like she had gotten a good read from their interaction.

"Look, I hate to do this, but I gotta run back. Leadership didn't even allow everyone to have lunch at once, we're going in small groups and only have 20 minutes. I asked one of the guys to grab something for me so I could see you." He rose from the end of the bed. "It's crazy up there, feels like no one is going home until we know where all the guns are."

Well, she couldn't blame him or the leaders.

"How many missing so far? Eric said about 12."

"I wish. Don't say I mentioned anything but we're talking about at least 50. Some are heavy machinery, automatic and stuff."

Oh, damn.

"That's… I don't even know." The headache only grew stronger. "Good luck, Jace. I guess I'll see you soon." She pinched the bridge of the nose trying to make the throbbing go away.

"Just take it easy, okay? The chaos is still gonna be here for you to deal with tomorrow. Don't even think about the council." On that note, Jace left and Kate decided that the chocolate donut and some sleep were in order.

Kate woke up to the sound of her doctor talking to one of the nurses. Clearing her throat, she caught their attention. The sun had set outside, her IV bag was empty, and from the corner of her eye, she could see a set of her clothes and the keycard on top. She had fallen asleep before Lidia returned, and she made a mental note to thank her later.

"Ambassador, are you feeling better? Dizzy? Nauseous?" The doctor asked. In all her time at Dauntless, Kate had only been to the infirmary during initiation, and she recognized that woman as being the same one who treated her previous injuries. Dauntless didn't train doctors only nurses. So, the doctors working there were Erudite members escorted daily by a patrol. Any major injury required a transfer to the hospital with better equipment and staff.

"My leg hurts but I guess that's what you get from being hit by a bullet. Is it okay if I go home? No offense but I can't look at these walls anymore."

"Well, we need to examine you again and, if you're in the clear, one of our nurses can accompany you back." That was music to her ears!

It turned out that everything was as they expected. The healing serum was doing its job, so her wounds should be gone in a week or so, only leaving scars behind. Scars were a part of her job, so she didn't mind. It showed they survived. She still had to go back tomorrow to check for infections and loose stitches, but a quick instruction from a nurse told her everything she needed to know about changing the dressing after showering. Another dose of the serum and a pair of crutches for the following days, and she was being wheeled out of the infirmary by Kit, the night nurse.

 Reaching her apartment, she thanked the nurse and could've raced inside if it wasn't for, well, everything. All she wanted was a shower, a dressing change, and her bed. Not even caring about dinner.

Her phone was long forgotten over her bed and that's where it would stay. There wasn't any mental energy left to deal with whatever was in there. That was a fight for tomorrow.

After a shower that proved to be rather tricky, and finding pajamas that wouldn't get in the way of the bandages, Kate was about to make her way to the couch to change the dressing when a knock sounded at the door. It was probably Jace.

It wasn't.

"I'm starting to think you have a death wish. Why didn't they keep you overnight?" Eric didn't even wait for a reply or an invitation, he strode in like he owned the place. Typical.

"I got shot in the leg, not in my chest. They said it's okay as long as I go back tomorrow for a check-up. They even brought me here in a wheelchair!" Kate was basically hopping around, the crutches long forgotten in her room. Eric didn't look impressed, actually, for a second, the leader looked like he wanted to help. Still, he settled on the other side of the couch and dropped a paper bag on her center table. 

"Eat."

A man of few words, indeed.

"Oh, thank you. That's the second time today… I would've been stuck with the infirmary's food if it wasn't for you."

"That shit could make you sicker." Eric fished his phone out of one of his pockets. It wasn't just a delivery then. He would stick around to make sure she didn't die or something.

They fell into an uneasy silence. There were too many questions she wanted to ask, while he had so many worries that he wished to forget for a few minutes. Patrols were out there looking for a clue. The Control Room was a dead end with broken cameras and missing footage. It was a mess.

When Kate was done eating, the weariness of the day set in her bones once again, feeling like all the sleep she got during the afternoon hadn't been enough. Cleaning her wounds and going to be was all she wanted. Reaching for the kit provided by the infirmary, it was snatched out from the table by Eric, who had no plans of letting her do anything.

“Did they teach you how to clean wounds during council meetings?” He mocked.

“No, but I survived my wounds during initiation and the nurse explained everything today. Don’t worry about it.” She tried to reach for the medical kit again, and he was having none of it. Why was he giving her so much attention?

“I’ll do it. Just stay still.” 

Deciding that she didn’t wanna argue about it, she might as well let him do it. Eric was quick, having cleaned enough of his own wounds during the years, like a soldier instead of a diplomat. He started with the one in her arm and only spoke again when he was almost done with cleaning her leg wound.

“I should’ve heard them coming.” He murmured, while still cleaning.

“What do you mean? They were quiet, there was no way.”

“The streets were dead quiet. In any other circumstances, I should’ve been able to hear them downstairs but I was distracted. That almost got us killed.” Eric started 

“Wait. Do you blame yourself? Eric, we were talking. No one thought they would come here or that the factionless would be armed.” She looked him in the eye with unwavering determination to make him understand. “Stop fussing over me because of it. I don’t blame you, okay? I really don’t. If anything, we almost died because I didn't carry my gun.” 

The leader got up, saying that he was all done, and started walking towards the door. Kate didn’t want them to end the day like this, with tension in the air.

"Eric? By the way, today's donut doesn't count. You're still paying for the bunch at our next meeting." She hoped to ease his guilt with her witty remark.

He didn’t stop walking but his tensed shoulders dropped the tension off.

"As long as you don't forget my coffee order." 

The next morning, Kate found herself discovering that walking around on crutches wasn’t that easy. Another thing that bothered her was the holster in her hip, following the whole mandatory gun situation. Making her way down to the Mess Hall took some time but she couldn’t stay looking at the ceiling of her bedroom any longer. So, she decided that whatever greasy breakfast option was being served today was better than the stuff on her fridge.

Along the way, a few soldiers crossed her path. Some looked at her with concern, used to seeing her walk around so put together for the meetings, even getting out of the middle of the hallway to let her pass. Others whispered among themselves and looked at her with disdain like she wasn’t Dauntless like the rest of them. 

Recent events have left her wondering about that, too.

It was a busy morning in the Mess Hall with every soldier on call and patrols being increased. Most of them didn’t have time to sit down to eat, so that left a few table options for her. Jace wasn’t in sight nor were the leaders, and she had to admit to not being the most popular person in the compound. In the end, after picking up some food and a kitchen worker helping her with the tray, she opted for a table in the corner so she could lay her crutches against the wall without getting in other people’s way.

“If it isn’t our favorite ambassador who escaped death.” Peter and his four friends from their initiation class approached her table. Great, another good morning start. “We would have missed you too much, right, guys? It would be a shame if you weren’t that lucky next time.”

“I always knew you liked me, Peter.” She rolled her eyes. “But aren’t you supposed to be patrolling a faction that is not Abnegation?”

He huffed, wanting nothing more than to make her shut up. Before he could say anything else, a voice cut through. 

“Hey, Kate, do we have a problem here?” She looked around to see River, one of the Dauntless leaders, approaching her table. He was a redhead with the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. An Amity-born who kept his bubbly attitude unless provoked. She doesn’t think she has ever seen him lose his temper but he was known for causing trouble during initiation, in the same class as Four and Eric.

“It’s all good, River. They were just telling me that the apology letters for the Abnegation leaders will be in my office at the end of the day, right?”

Peter nodded, his eyes were fuming. His friends knew better than to say anything and started to walk away. 

“I see. Aren’t you guys supposed to be heading out to Candor? Patrol leaves in 5. Get lost.” River plopped down on the seat beside her, biting into an apple.

“How are you? Eric made it seem like you were on the brink of death but I think he was just being his dramatic self.”

“I’m okay! Thanks for the save, by the way!”

“Peter is still butthurt about the ambassador thing? I can send his team to a long-term patrol in Amity if you want, two weeks without leaving the field. Lots of sunshine.” At that, she smiled at his good intentions. 

River was the leader she barely worked with, only seeing him during meetings that he clearly wished he could skip. His job was focused on handling the patrols: strategy, lots of spreadsheets, and deciding which unit was heading where. With everything that was going on, he suspected he would barely get a wink of sleep. That was okay, he had too much energy anyway. 

“They will blame me forever. Just let them be. I’ll let you know if they cause too much trouble.” She wouldn’t, they both knew that.

“If you’re sure. I gotta run but I’ll see you around!” With that, he hopped to his feet and quickly exited the hall. A ball of energy as always.

She was left with a cold breakfast and too many emails and texts to answer. The first one was a lengthy email from Jeanine Matthews. It was gonna be a long day. 

Indeed, it was a long day and so was the next. On day 3, Friday, Kate finally got a clean bill of health to go back to work as long as she kept it light. Dauntless soldiers had confronted two groups of armed factionless and a dozen of guns were retrieved. One soldier died and there were too many guns left unaccounted for. Every faction but Abnegation had reached out upon hearing what was happening. So, when the Priors didn’t reply to any emails and canceled a meeting with Erudite, Kate decided it was time for a visit. Not that she had gotten a confirmation from them, she did send an email as a warning but it was definitely going to be a surprise visit.

Of course, the idea of leaving the compound wasn't well received by leadership, especially Eric who thought the ambassador was insane to go to the faction crawling with factionless. Still, she had learned a trick or two during her time in the council and was able to persuade them. River had to check with the patrol stationed at Abnegation anyway, so the redhead offered to accompany her there but when shots were fired in the streets of Candor, he had to stay back. Which led to the situation she was currently in.

After lunchtime, three units made their way to Abnegation to escort them. Kate was in the middle truck, sitting in the back seat with a soldier who had taken her there multiple times, while another one was the driver, and Eric had called shotgun, sitting in the front passenger seat. Yes, since River had to stay behind and Kate didn't want to wait until Monday, the blond leader decided to tag along. 

In a way, she didn't think it was the worst idea ever. The relationship between the factions was damaged, a leader showing up together with the ambassador to visit would build a strong front, if not be a bit intimidating. Hopefully, it would force the Priors to listen. Well, as long as Eric behaved, that was the challenging part.

When the first row of houses appeared, Kate had just finished reading the last apology letter. Just like she had ordered Peter's patrol unit, they did handwrite letters to Abnegation apologizing for the havoc they caused. None of them were sincere but there was nothing wrong with them. It was good enough. 

Kate placed the letters back in a black shiny box to be given to the Priors. In the truck, there was a box with smartphones for each leader and an updated computer. It was a long shot but she needed to try again, after all, that was an important step to get surveillance cameras in Abnegation.

The other two units stayed at the entrance, as always, only being allowed to patrol the outskirts. When the driver killed the engine right in front of the office building, Kate plastered her best smile and opened the door. The tricky part was getting up and down from the tall truck with her leg injury. Earlier she could barely contain a yelp of pain when climbing it even if a soldier had given her a hand. 

This time there was no pain. Without saying anything, Eric grabbed her waist and pulled her down, letting go immediately when her feet were planted on the ground.

"Thank you" 

"You need to check these stitches later, you probably opened a couple earlier." He walked beside her, following her slow pace. Kate decided to not bring the crutches, it would've been too much of a fuss with them.

"Eric, before we go in, just remember what Harrison said, okay? It's important to show that Dauntless and Abnegation can work well together." 

"Don't ask me to be open-minded and approachable." Eric almost barked.

"What about nice? And don't call them…" Before she could remind him not to use the term 'Stiffs' , Natalie Prior was standing right in front of them, eyeing Eric with a puzzled expression. He never set foot in Abnegation unless a full council meeting happened there.

"We didn't confirm this visit, ambassador." Natalie's stern voice pointed out the obvious. 

"Hello, Mrs. Prior. We haven't heard anything from your leadership all week, so we thought it would be a good idea to visit. I did send you an email about it." Kate's unwavering smile never left her face.

"We've been occupied. Since you're here, might as well come in. Andrew will join us shortly."

They walked inside the building. Natalie's office was the second door to the right. All other doors were opened, except for Andrew's, who must be talking to someone in there. For a second, she was curious about it.

Once all were seated, Natalie, who had been eyeing Kate's injured leg the whole way there, apologized for not reaching out to ask about the ambassador's health.

"I'm alright, thank you." She placed the black box on the table. " Eric and I also wanted the give this to your leadership. They're apology letters from the whole unit that caused trouble here. They won't be a problem anymore."

Natalie took in the letters, her eyes skimming through the words that meant nothing but were necessary.

"Abnegation thanks you for this gesture. We've heard about an increase of patrols all over Chicago." The older woman stared at Eric. "I'm assuming you want to ask for more soldiers here, too."

It wasn't the original plan, though Kate was sure Eric wouldn't miss a beat.

"Abnegation helps whoever needs it but Dauntless assumes that you wouldn't be harboring armed factionless, would you? If not, then I don't see why more patrol units to keep your members safe would cause an issue." He relaxed back against the metal chair, a stern look covering his features.

"It scares our members. There haven't been any attacks on our faction. We don't need extra patrols."

"We're not asking…" The sound of the office's door opening stopped him midsentence.

"Did you see a truck from those Erudite dogs outside?" A young voice questioned before stopping dead in his tracks, taking in the scene of a Dauntless leader and its ambassador talking to Natalie.

"Oh."

Oh, indeed.  

While they were known as ' Stiffs' , it was no secret that Abnegation and Amity members liked to call Dauntless soldiers 'Erudite's lap dogs' for their strong ties. 

"Caleb. Apologise. Right now ." Natalie rose from her seat, while Eric's face morphed into a menacing look. That situation could work out in their favor. Dauntless high-ranking officers were offended by no one other than Andrew and Natalie's son, Caleb, who was a dependent at 15 years old. Yet to choose where he belonged to. That was bad.

Right on cue, Andrew almost stormed into his wife's office. He heard everything from the hall and was worried about the repercussions. Caleb walked to his mother's side, standing in front of Kate and Eric. 

"I apologize for what I said. It's not how Abnegation feels about Dauntless. I should've known better."

"We didn't come here expecting to be offended, especially not by a kid whose parents represent almost half of the leadership." You could hear Eric's smile in his voice. He was enjoying it too much.

Andrew stepped in, sharing a look with his wife. "Abnegation respects Dauntless. I'm sorry about my son's behavior. How can we fix this?"

That was the opening Eric needed.

"You see… The ambassador and I accept your apology, don't we?" Kate nodded. "Dauntless appreciates the work Abnegation does for Chicago and we would feel… Reassured if more soldiers were patrolling these grounds."

 They couldn't deny the request.

"Alright, as long as they remain far away from our houses, like always." Andrew accepted in defeat.

"Excellent." Eric looked at Kate expectantly. "Ambassador, is there anything else?"

Harrison's words from earlier crossed her mind again. They had to show a good relationship between factions.

"Actually, there is. While we're not offended by what Caleb said, it worries us that such a feeling is shared by your members, especially dependents. So, with your permission, we'd like to invite him to join us this afternoon for a tour around the compound to see what our soldiers really do. We promise to bring him back before sundown."

Eric wasn't the only one who knew how to play the right cards.

"You want to take him to Dauntless?"

"Yes, for a tour." 

Andrew and Natalie stepped outside, asking for a minute to discuss it, while their son remained in the corner of the room looking rather distressed.

Upon returning, they agreed to it as long as Caleb was returned before dark. Abnegation might not be under attack because they fed factionless people but there were dangers lying in the road.

Once outside of the building, Kate signaled to Riley, one of the soldiers, and he got the boxes from the truck, placing them on the ground right next to the Priors. Kate turned around, eyeing the leaders once again. "By the way, we're leaving the discussed tech. Phones and a computer. We expect you to make good use of it!" She smiled brightly. Another win.

Most of the trip back to Dauntless had been silent. Caleb was squeezed in the back with Eric and Riley, while Kate was in the front passenger seat. It wasn't a good idea to get her leg squeezed with her injury, so Eric offered to switch. They were just passing Erudite's sector when she announced her idea. The one who prompted her to invite the teenager all along.

"Aren't you guys hungry? There's a great bakery here. What do you say? It's my treat."

Riley had a huge sweet tooth. The good thing about being escorted by so many different soldiers was that she knew almost all of them and, sometimes, picked up on some things. Like how he loved sweets and the driver, who she couldn't recall his name, always got two slices of the double-chocolate Dauntless cake.

"You wanna stop at Erudite? Now?" Eric was confused. 

"Trust me, it's the best bakery in Chicago." 

Would he understand the message to run along with it?

"Alright."

The driver radioed in for the other two trucks to reroute to Erudite. No doubt it would draw some attention. Even though the patrols were increased, they were advised to stay out of people's way. 

Kate knew exactly what she was doing. Around 3 o'clock every Friday, Jack Kang's office came all the way from Candor to gather at that bakery for a treat paid for by him. It was his way of showing that he cared. Sometimes, when having a meeting with him, if her schedule allowed, she would accept the invitation to join them.

Candor loved to gossip. So, if they showed up with an Abnegation member, it would be noticed and talked about. They got out of the truck, the drivers staying inside for safety reasons, so Kate quickly wrote down what they wanted to eat, and walked in with the others.

A sea of black uniforms and one beige Abnegation dot walked right in front of the Candor entourage. What a sight to be seen. Pretending that it wasn't a calculated move, Kate didn't even look into Jack Kang's way, going straight to the register to place the order. Caleb followed her while darting his eyes around, taking everything in. He had never been to a place like this.

"Caleb, what do you wanna eat? I know you haven't seen food like this before, so I'd either recommend the chocolate cupcake or maybe a donut?"

"Uh, I don't know. We're not supposed to eat these things."

"It's okay, I'm offering it and you're being polite by accepting it. So, just look around and let me know, okay?"

When everyone decided on something, even Eric who also had a secret sweet tooth, Kate took a seat to wait for the order, and from the corner of her eye, could see Jack Kang finally approaching.

"Kate, this is a surprise. How are you feeling?" Jack was what she could call her strongest relationship within the council. They mostly agreed on everything and shared a secret or two of their own. But that was another story.

"Jack, it's good to see you. I'm much better, thank you. We're on our way to the compound but got hungry." She replied.

"I see. And why is Caleb Prior with you? Is he in trouble?" Jack asked suspiciously but still had his signature serene smile glued to his face.

"Not at all! Caleb is getting a tour, and his parents agreed to it. A chance to know what Dauntless soldiers do. Isn't that right, Caleb?" The 15-year-old was standing not far away from her, distracted by all the colors, textures, and life that Erudite had. He nodded in reply.

"We've always talked about more integration between factions to allow dependents to understand better their options before the Choosing Ceremony. This is an interesting development." The leader looked behind her head and his smile wavered. "Eric, I didn't take you for someone who visited Abnegation often."

Eric placed his hands on the back of her chair, his fingers trailing the wood, his maze tattoos escaping the sleeves of his leader's jacket.

"I aim to surprise. Good to know that our judiciary system is low on trials to allow so many members to eat at another faction." 

Oh, yes, Eric and Jack were always at each other's throats. From what she knew, Eric was the only one who could get a reaction out of the Candor's leader during a council meeting

"I could say the same about your soldiers."

Silence.

"Order for Kate." A female voice announced with perfect timing.

"Looks like we gotta go! Jack, I'll see you at our next meeting. Enjoy your food." She extended her hand to him, who gracefully took it without adding another smart remark to fuel that fire.

"Can't wait, Kate."

Thankfully, they made it back to Dauntless without any incidents and with their stomachs full of sugar and coffee. Soldiers and trucks became a common sight as they approached the front gate, but Kate's mind didn't even register it. She was too busy thinking about where she could take Caleb without traumatizing him for life. Hopefully, no one was picking a fight at the Pit.

Eric helped her to climb down once again. She wouldn't admit it but her leg was starting to throb. Yet, there was no way she would leave the tour to be led by somebody else. It was her idea after all and who knew what someone might end up saying to the Abnegation kid? 

"Well, Caleb, this is the loading dock, one of the busiest parts of the compound. Soldiers that are on the schedule come and go from the other factions in units of four or five members. Some patrols last 12 hours, others can be stationed for days, especially in Amity."

"Because of their fields outside the fence?" Caleb asked.

"Exactly. It's been quiet for so long but we can't take any chances."

As they entered, she expected Eric to leave them. Still, he remained walking one step behind them with his hands behind his back.

They passed the infirmary's door, where she mentioned that it wasn't a good idea to come inside to not disturb patients. The truth was that she was trying to avoid him seeing anything too gruesome. 

"Since we don't have long before dark, I'll show one of the training rooms, the Mess Hall, and the Pit. Those are the busiest parts inside."

So, that's exactly what they did with Eric trailing behind while looking at his phone. She left the Pit for last, where life at Dauntless really happened at night. There were tattoo shops, two bars, a coffee shop, and, right at the center, the biggest form of entertainment: the fighting pit. Leaders and other high-ranking officers were not allowed to bet on anyone but occasional fights happened there with lots of points at stake. The members organized it themselves, it wasn't anything faction-official. Still, winning a fight there during initiation, just like she did once, earned initiates a lot of respect.

The floor was covered in dried blood but it wasn't too visible due to the darkness of it all. Blue and white lights covered the walls but it wasn't enough underground and, at that hour, most shops weren't opened yet, so their lights were off.

"People fight here for points? You don't get them by working?" Caleb wondered but didn't look horrified.

"We get monthly points for working, the amount depends on the job. This is just for fun or ego. To show who's the better fighter." Kate explained. Eric had stopped looking at his phone and was now paying attention.

"Do you bet here, too?"

"No, higher-ups are not allowed to bet or fight here. It could be seen as a way to influence other bets. But I did fight here once during initiation. I won." 

"If you could bet on anyone, who would it be?" He was indulging in his own curiosity now.

"Anyone? That's easy, I'd bet on our best soldier." She looked to the young leader now standing a few steps in front of her." "I'd bet on Eric."

Their way back to Abnegation had been boring but faster. With the sun setting on the horizon, the driver knew better than to waste time on the empty roads and Eric kept reminding him of it. Once the teenager had safely been returned to the care of his parents, they got on the road again now with little sunlight to guide them. The change of patrol squads for the night shift was a couple of hours away, so it was mostly empty. That made it more dangerous.

Now that the car wasn't as full, Eric was riding in the front again, claiming that if the factionless wanted to cause trouble, it was safer for her in the back, even if she was carrying her gun on her waist but concealing it with a jacket not to scare the Abnegation leaders.

Though she didn't really care about it at the moment. Kate was busy trying to not contort her face due to the pain. The healing serum was out of her system and with no doubt the girl had ruined her stitches with all the walking around. She had no clue how to walk to the infirmary without people noticing. Actually, she had no idea if she could even make it there on foot. Feeling something hot in her thigh, there was no surprise when her hand came back bloody from touching the fabric of her leggings above the bandages. 

That was just great.

Once the truck was parked in the docking bay, she had wiped her hand in her dark leggings without Riley, who was sitting in the back with her, realizing what was wrong. As expected, Eric opened her passenger door as she got closer for him to grab her waist. The moment she put the weight on her bad leg, Kate couldn't help but whimper. It could've been worse because what she really wanted was to scream. Seeing that something was very wrong, he lifted her body again, sitting her back on the seat.

"You're overdoing it, aren't you?" Her cheeks burned in shame. There was no denying it, especially when one of his hands touched her leg and blood stained it just like it had happened to her. "That's another trip to the infirmary. I swear I'm gonna put you on medical leave until it's a 100% healed."

"Eric, no. It's fine. Yes, I shouldn't have walked that much with no crutches. But you can't keep me from my job. It's terrible timing."

"Watch me." He scooped her up in his arms, just like on the day of the attack, and the next thing she knew, Kate was staring at those same walls again with nurses working on restitching while Eric supervised .

Thankfully, everyone agreed that there was no reason for her to stay the night. So, she ended up being wheeled back to her apartment but this time, it was the leader helping her instead of a night nurse.

"I never took you as one for flattery." He commented while leaning against the doorframe. Kate was already inside sitting on the couch with the crutches by her side, while Eric had stopped on his way out. Another visit back to the infirmary still in order to deliver the wheelchair.

"I'm not."

"Then what about earlier? Saying that you'd bet on me."

"Oh, that was just the truth. I think you're our finest soldier." She said in a haze, the healing serum was making her feel funny again. "In all these years working together, have you ever seen me using flattery for my own gain? I don't need it, I'm good at my job."

"That you're. Great job today with bringing Caleb along and parading him around Erudite. Everyone must be talking about it."

Did he just complimented her? For real?

"Glad to help with the gossip chain." She smiled genuinely. "Harrison wanted us to show close ties with them, he got that."

"Then you better not move all weekend to be ready for the leadership meeting on Monday. I'm sure there will be a lot of questions. Or I will put you on medical leave." There was a beat. "'Night, Kate."

"Good night, Eric."

Friday night didn't mean that work was done. After stopping by the infirmary, Eric made his way up to the leaders' floor, where Harrison was waiting. One day, Eric would be on the top of the food chain and no one would tell him what to do. He would rule Dauntless as he pleased and they would thrive. For now, he had to put up with the older guy. Don't get him wrong, Harrison was one of his favorite people at the faction.

All lights were off except for Harrison's office and no one was around but them.

"Is Kate okay? I heard about her trip to the infirmary." Harrison was sitting on his desk, and a bottle of fancy pre-war bourbon was opened.

"She just overdone it. Pulled her stitches." Eric took in the scene in front of him. Harrison seemed to be crumbling under the pressure. That wasn't good.

"I've never once regretted choosing her for the position until Max retired. Now things are starting to move fast but it's not my decision to make." The faction leader took a long sip from his glass. The drink burned his throat and fogged his mind.

"It's not, it's mine now. Today she took a chance and it paid off but I'm still not sure about her." Eric admitted.

"Kate gets to choose." Harrison seemed to sober up at that thought. He had made himself pretty clear weeks ago but would emphasize as many times as necessary. "That's what you and I agreed to. If she wants no part in this, she gets to walk away. New job, no consequences."

"I'll keep my word."

Chapter Text

"Ain't even scratched the surface

Thinking I deserve the dream

But I don't deserve the hurting

I want the flame without the burning

But I can't find my purpose

When I don't know what my worth is

I was going for the title

Got hit by your tidal wave

Can't stay in the shallows

Please, tell me I won't wash away

When it pulls me under

Will you make me stronger?

Will you be my breath through the deep, deep water?" — American Authors, 'Deep Water'.

Dauntless woke up to the news of a leader getting shot. River had been checking on a patrol unit around Amity when they stumbled upon a group of armed factionless hiding in the woods. The group was eliminated except for one. A man whom they thought was some sort of commander, maybe even the brain behind it all, had been captured.

That caused the leadership meeting to be pushed until late in the afternoon and turned into something even more tense than what had been anticipated. They were waiting on news from the General Hospital regarding River’s operation. Two bullets. One on his shoulder and another deep in his abdomen.

All unnecessary personnel were dismissed from the meeting—secretaries, assistants, supervisors, and patrol commanders—while the leaders, Kate as the Ambassador, Four as the Head of the Control Room, and Sam as the Armory Chief remained there. In the hierarchy, they were the highest-ranking officers of Dauntless.

“What’s about to be discussed cannot leave this room.” Harrison began. “Over the past week, we conducted a series of interrogations, especially with Armory workers, as Sam knows. We used truth serum to make sure none of them were working with the factionless. That has left us without any serum, and Erudite is late in delivering us a new batch. They said it will take until the end of the week but we don’t have that time.”

That was right. As the police, military, and protectors of the city, Dauntless could only keep a suspect for questioning for 72 hours. After that, they had to deliver them to Candor to be prosecuted. However, anything said during the investigation would be kept confidential until said public trial. If that man knew something important such as the location of the next attack or who was helping them, Dauntless was running out of time. Someone could get hurt and it was preventable. 

“We’ve spent all morning trying to get him to talk. The man hasn’t said a word and he had nothing on him that gave us any clue of what’s going on. Now, there are only two options.” The faction leader paused for a second, bracing himself for the repercussions. “We can keep trying to get Erudite to deliver more serum or, as Eric suggested to me during lunch, we can use any means necessary to get some answers. He has volunteered to do the job.”

The job meant torturing that factionless man. Anything to get an answer, no consequences, but there was a procedure to follow. After a lot of discussion, there wasn’t a consensus, so they would vote. According to their code of conduct, the one who proposed it couldn’t vote, so Eric was out. They were also missing River who was incapacitated at the hospital.

The leaders voted first, Harrison was in favor and, as Lauren had made abundantly clear during the meeting, she didn’t agree. So, Four and Sam had the right to vote as the next ones in the hierarchy. Kate's feeling of dread only grew stronger by the minute with Four being against and Sam in favor. That meant a tie-breaker, so it was down to the ambassador's vote.

Shit .

Not once did the ambassador ever consider that a day would come in which  she would have to participate in something like this. What was she supposed to do? On one hand, River got lucky, and the next person—Dauntless or not—might not be. They had already lost a couple of soldiers over the week during altercations with the factionless. Voting yes could save others' lives. On the other hand, blood would be spilled because of her choice. It was a lot of weight to carry on one’s mind.

“Kate, do you want a few minutes to think about it?” Harrison asked. He had prominent dark circles around his eyes. Her own eyes ventured to the side, catching Eric’s, who had been awfully quiet during the meeting and justifiably tense.

Kate thought about River’s bubbly energy and imagined him bedridden at the hospital, hooked up to machines. She felt the weight of the lives of all the soldiers risking themselves non-stop to keep Chicago safe. Besides all that, her brain couldn't help but keep repeating what happened on the rooftop a week ago, over and over again. A memory forever burned on the back of her mind. That day, he trusted her judgment in a life-or-death decision. So, she could do the same for him.

While still staring at Eric, she gave her answer. “I vote yes.”

More than once during the afternoon, her lunch threatened to come back up. Her stomach was in knots from overhearing the sounds coming from one of the interrogation rooms. Eric had been inside for over two hours torturing the factionless man. Kate, feeling the weight of her decision, stood outside and, when her right leg started to burn, she decided to slide to the floor and wait however long it took. The hall was empty except for a guard tasked with escorting the prisoner.

There was a gut feeling of needing to be there, unable to turn herself away from the consequences of her own decisions. The very real blood is metaphorically in her hands. Screaming, punches, and the sound of bone colliding against bone made her skin crawl. At some point, Eric even tried waterboarding the unknown man. The leader didn't hold back. After taking care of her so many times out of guilt, she started to forget his reputation. A cruel person who is capable of anything to protect Chicago.

It kept going and going until silence filled the walls.

"He's out like a light." Eric walked out of the interrogation room not noticing Kate sitting on the floor. He directed his attention to the guard who was supposed to drag the factionless back to his holding cell. "Let Harrison know I'm…" 

Eric stopped dead in his tracks, watching Kate slowly getting up. "... Done." 

"He didn't say anything, did he?" She asked.

"How long have you been here?"

"The whole time. I couldn't leave." Taking in his appearance made her stomach clench even more. His hands were covered in blood, bruised knuckles, drops of blood on his uniform, and even on his cheek. "What happens now?"

If Eric had known she was there, he would've personally kicked her out. She didn't need to see this nor he wanted her to. It felt dirty. Tainted.

He eyed the guard who quickly disappeared down the hall with the factionless man thrown over his shoulder. "Now I'm going to my apartment."

That's clearly not what she meant.

"Are you coming or not?" The leader didn't stop walking nor she replied but the slow steps following him were the answer.

Leadership apartments were located on the top floor, one of the few that weren't underground. Other high-ranking officers stayed one level down, including Kate, and a password-protected elevator was the only way to access them. Obviously, it was her first time inside his home and it looked just like his office, as she had imagined.

Black, black, and even more black furniture, spotless, and the same feeling of emptiness even with several office boxes lying around filled with paperwork. The sole surprise had been a bookshelf standing in the corner of his living room. She didn't dare to touch anything but recognized several titles that once filled the shelves in her childhood bedroom. As an Erudite-born, Kate loved to read fiction but didn't find the time anymore. Emails, meeting minutes, and memos occupied her instead.

While the shower kept running, Kate opted to sit on the corner of the couch, her leg needing the rest. Eric had gone straight to the bathroom when they arrived and told her to "look around but not touch anything". 

Like she needed to be told that. 

The apartment itself wasn't too different from her own. Although, it was more spacious and, if she guessed correctly, the first door down the hall led to an extra bedroom. Hers only had one. Dauntless soldiers weren't known for settling down and starting families. So, most apartments only had that one bedroom or, if you ranked low enough, two small ones to share with a roommate. That was usually the case for new members. Right after initiation, she got lucky shadowing the previous ambassador and avoiding a roomies' situation.

A closer look revealed yet another surprise. Next to his TV, another perk of being a higher-up, there were dozens of DVD cases. Pre-war movies still existed, rare and expensive but you could find a way to buy them in the city. Stories of a world filled with billions of people. Romance, terror, comedy… Life as they would never know but on a silver screen. 

Not long after that, Eric emerged from the hallway with slick wet hair and bruised knuckles that she couldn't help but stare at. No amount of water and soap could erase the violence he had inflicted, the violence she had allowed. 

"You should bandage that." Kate commented upon noticing that some of his knuckles were still bleeding. "It can get infected."

Eric agreed, it did look bad. So, he brought a first aid kit kept under the kitchen sink to the living room and started to clean them once again. 

"I'll help." He eyed her, it was the second time that day that she surprised him.  "I gotta lot of practice these past few days." That was a sorry excuse for an attempt to lighten up the mood.

For a second, he wanted to decline it. Someone like him didn't need help over something so simple, yet he still sat closer on the couch to make things easier. There was something about the ambassador that made her persuasive, he dared to think even trustworthy, these were great assets to have in such a line of work. 

When the bandages were carefully wrapped around both hands, the silence was finally broken.

"I expected you to vote no." He admitted. Once it got to the point where they needed her to break the tie, he braced himself for defeat.

"You trusted my judgment, so now I'm trusting yours." There was something burning in his eyes that she couldn't decipher. She paused, wondering if this time he would explain what she had asked earlier. "Now what happens to him?"

"If Erudite doesn't deliver the serum tomorrow morning, we'll vote again." He reached for his phone and showed her a picture sent earlier by a soldier, a building collapsed in the corner of a street that looked like the Candor sector. "I've got this right after we came up here. A bomb went off in an empty building, no one got hurt this time. We won't get lucky next time."

She was horrified. Bombs? Did the factionless steal their bombs?

"I thought we were only missing guns from the Armory. But explosives too?

"We're not missing any explosives. I'm thinking they stole chemicals from Erudite's labs."

Well, that was gonna be a fun email to write. 

"If that's the case, Jeanine is gonna pin that on our patrols. Saying that we're not doing our job right."

"I'll deal with her tomorrow. Don't worry about it." Eric started texting someone. "What you wanna eat? I'm texting the Chef."

"Wait, you can do that? Oh, the perks of leadership!" Kate laughed for the first time in a long while. Stopping to think about it, she was quite hungry even after everything. "Whatever you're having is fine." 

Burgers and fries, then.

She finished putting everything back on the first aid kit, wondering what they were going to do until someone from the kitchen brought the food upstairs. Maybe talk about torture methods? Didn't seem like it would make a good small talk. "So, didn't take you for a movie nerd. What's your favorite?" 

"I don't really have time to watch them. The Marvel ones are well-made but got boring after Endgame ." Eric made his way to the TV cabinet, picking up one DVD case titled Iron Man . "This is the first one. I'm guessing your parents didn't let you watch them."

"Yeah, we had a DVD player but only some comedy movies or the occasional biography from the people that are long dead. Nothing violent." 

"Wanna watch?" She couldn't keep the surprise from showing up in her face. One thing was being polite asking if she wanted to have dinner cause he was already ordering for himself, another was wanting her to stay longer to watch a superhero movie. Their new dynamic kept them being caught off guard constantly.

And that's how they ended up devouring burgers while watching Tony Stark become Iron Man. Unlike Eric who wasn't one for too many words, Kate loved to comment while watching, so she couldn't help but break the comfortable silence between every couple of scenes or so.

"He totally made the weapons that destroyed Earth hundreds of years ago."

"How is that thing gonna be his heart?"

"He's an asshole but I like him."

"Do you think he's gonna fall in love with Pepper?"

She kept going and going, not that Eric complained. He didn't say anything at all but the occasional "mhmm". As the ending got closer, the emotional tiredness of the day started to settle in her bones. So, the comments became sparse, which led to Eric staring at her during scenes where he thought she would have something to say. Once the credits rolled, the woman next to him was almost asleep. Still, she had one comment left. "I see why they made three movies focused on him. I love Iron Man."

"Alright, I guess that's enough Iron Man for one day. I suspect you're gonna walk straight into a wall, so I'll walk you back." He chuckled. That's a rarity for sure.

It was late in the compound. Most soldiers had finished their shifts and the night patrols would be back only in the morning. Of course, you could find a drunk or two at this hour in the Pit. But on the leader's floor, and in Kate's, there wasn't a single person but them. 

"Thanks for walking me back, Eric." She opened the apartment's door, finding some shoes thrown in the middle of the way. She hadn't had the time or the energy to tie things up since getting shot. Her office was always organized but her place could be more, especially the bedroom. "Sorry about the mess."

"It's fine, it's not really messy." He looked around the living room, not really having paid attention the other times he had been there, while she disappeared into her bedroom. 

Suddenly, his phone vibrated indicating a new message. It was an update on River.

"River is awake, the surgery went fine. Apparently nurses already wanna kick him out of there." Eric felt a huge sense of relief, River was his closest friend. His only friend, really.

"Sorry, what was that? I'm putting my gun back in the safe."

Eric entered her bedroom, seeing the mess she was talking about. The bed was covered in a pile of black clothes from all factions. "I said River is awake and giving the nurses a headache." She could hear the relief in his voice.

Kate was next to her nightstand, the top drawer hid a safe, like in every other apartment. The gun was safely placed in there, while the holster remained on the top of it. Next, she took off her necklace, always kept hidden under her shirt. It was a habit, she didn't mean for him to see it.

"What's that?" He eyed the pre-war gold necklace with a small blue stone. Jewelry was almost extinct after the war. There was no use for it.

"Uh, it's an heirloom. My mom gave it to me when I decided to pick Dauntless." She showed it to him, there was no use hiding it. "Don't say faction before blood , I know it."

"I wasn't going to. Erudite blue, huh? Like it was meant to be for your family."

"Until I decided that I wanted more." Kate put the necklace in the safe and locked it.

"Not a bad choice." He started backing away. "Night, Kate." 

"Not at all. See you tomorrow."

Kate woke up to a cloudy Tuesday. As she got ready for her scheduled weekly meeting with Eric, she thought the weather was appropriate considering the heaviness in the air. Dauntless had nothing under control and it was only a matter of time before something really bad happened and the other factions pressed for results. The monthly council meeting with all leaders had even been rescheduled for an earlier date. This Friday. By then, she hoped Dauntless would get a grip on the factionless issue.

When Kate was about to leave, a text from Eric telling her to not forget his coffee made her smile. 

As long as you don't forget the donuts, she replied. 

Opening her safe to retrieve the gun and necklace, she was met with a bone-chilling sight: her gun was no longer there. The same one Eric witnessed her lock in there the night before.

Someone had broken into her apartment in the middle of the night.

Chapter Text

"Wake me up, 

I wanna feel the sun.

I'm caught in a bad dream,

Caught in a bad dream.

Feels like I'm frozen,

Nowhere to run.

Nowhere to run, from here.

These walls are closing,

Closing me in.

Wearing me thin, with fear.

Wake me up, 

Won't you wake me up?

I'm caught in a bad dream,

Caught in a bad dream." — RUELLE, 'Bad Dream'

Kate’s first instinct was to call Eric. Hot panic shot through her at the thought that someone had been in there in the middle of the night, in her home, where not even once she felt unsafe, not until now. Dauntless was her family even if it was impossible to get to know all of them and definitely not all got along, after all this wasn't Amity. No matter what, faction before blood was deeply ingrained in their core. An unwavering resolve.

Calling Eric had been the obvious choice because they were supposed to be meeting in a few minutes and he had been the one who had witnessed her gun being put inside the safe last night. No one could consider she had misplaced it because there was a witness, especially if that person happened to be one of the leaders. His words held too much weight.

Last night, after he had left her apartment, Kate had simply peeled away the dirty clothes, dressed in the closest pajamas she could reach, and dropped dead on top of the covers. Did she feel dirty after everything that happened with the factionless man? Sure, but her body couldn’t move.

Now, a few levels down from there, Eric was standing in line at the coffee shop in the Pit when his phone rang. The leader left an annoying grunt until he looked at the caller ID. She had never once called him in all these years. Before starting to work together the week before, not even a single message was exchanged, only brief emails. Kate had texted him a minute before to tease him about the donuts, so it was a little weird that she'd call him. With a frown, he took the call.

“Eric, someone broke into my apartment last night…”

Her wavering voice didn’t even get to finish the sentence before he asked where she was and not to move, he would be there soon. Shoving people out of the way in typical Eric’s fashion, the leader made it back to her apartment in probably record time. 

Why the fuck would someone break into her place?

The door was open. Once entering, Eric took the scene in front of him. Kate was checking every single drawer, space, cabinet, and even under the couch. She had already covered her bedroom. Nothing else was missing. She knew that the gun had been in the safe but begging the Universe that this was all a misunderstanding, she still decided to look to see if it was anywhere to be found.

Hearing him come in, Kate did startle a bit. She wasn’t scared of him, just of the situation. He crossed the living room and stared at her, looking for injuries.

“What the fuck is happening?”

“My gun is missing!” He had never seen her like this. Not even that day on the roof. There, the adrenaline kicked in and she rolled with it. Now, only panic was driving her, the one person in this compound who looked composed during any situation. “Everything was fine when I woke up, nothing out of place. I got ready and texted you. I was about to leave when I opened the safe and only my necklace was in there!” 

Crossing the room, she decided that under the kitchen sink was probably the only place left to check. “I’ve looked everywhere just to be sure but you saw me put the gun inside the safe last night, right? Before I showed you the necklace? I can’t believe this is happening.”

After checking there, Kate rose to her feet once again, feeling the pull on her stitches but not too strong to open them again, not yet, and found Eric standing right in front of her, his eyes were calculating something. So, she continued rambling.

"Someone was in here when I was sleeping! They stood there holding my gun right next to me while I slept! What… What am I supposed to do with that? I don't…" Eric interrupted her, placing a hand on her shoulder and giving a reassuring squeeze. He didn't really know how to comfort people and had no interest in it, but something in the back of his mind felt bad for seeing her like this. She shouldn't be scared inside of the faction.

"Let's check the cameras in the Control Room and we go from there, okay? Just breathe for a second." Eric stepped away, making his way to her bedroom, where the safe in the nightstand remained open. Quickly he swooped the heirloom from inside with the intention of giving it to the ambassador. If someone came to investigate, not only they could confiscate it as evidence but also because it was against the rules for a member to carry something from their original faction.

Wordlessly, the leader handed it to her, who was trying to hold a glass of water without shaking like a leaf. She didn't say anything, although the surprise registered in her features once she processed what he did. It's like there was a delay in her brain, that was shortcircuiting from what happened.

Taking a deep breath and securing the heirloom around her neck, all she could do right now was get to the bottom of it. "Okay, let's go."

The Control Room was one of the busiest and, ironically, most boring places in the compound, except for the past few days. It was crucial for Chicago that they kept an eye on everything through the CCTV system, which didn't cover Abnegation and parts of the factionless sector, but usually, it meant staring at dozens of screens all day long, reporting if something was out of place. If a camera broke, they would send a unit to fix it. 

Nowadays, the factionless were getting bold and at least one camera didn't survive per day, leaving blind spots until the soldiers could meet the demand in parts of the city that were most dangerous. The safest place was supposed to be the inside of Dauntless, covered in a security system as well, unlike other factions that kept inside cameras to a minimum, especially Erudite with their secret serums.

Kate and Eric expected to find some answers today. It also meant that the leader would have to deal with his least favorite person: Four, the Head of the Control Room. At least he knew it would be uncomfortable for the other man as well and wouldn't miss a chance to provoke him.

After using his all-access leaders' keycard to enter, Eric graced Four with his presence. "Number Boy, just the person I was looking for! We need to see the cameras from level 5, the apartments' hallway, the ones that can see the 503. Now." 

"Eric, what's going on?" Four noticed Kate walking into the room to stand beside the leader. It was a strange sight to see the new duo working together, Four was still trying to get used to it. "Morning, Kate, is everything alright?"

Kate looked around noticing that other people in the room were starting to pay attention. It wasn't common for her to be here, something that Eric also avoided at all costs for obvious reasons. Noticing the ambassador's hesitation to share the issue, Four stood taller. "Whatever the issue is you can say it in front of everyone, I trust my team."

"Someone broke into my apartment last night and stole something important. I need to know who it was."  No one needed to be aware that it was her gun.

Four gestured for them to follow him, who approached one of the soldiers in the corner. A tall guy with a tattoo that covered half of his face.

"This is Darren, he's been here the longest and does a lot of nightshifts." Four explained, and the man by his side gave a court nod. "Darren, pull the cameras from level 5, all angles of the 503 entrance. Kate, do you have an estimated time?"

"I fell asleep around one and woke up at seven. So, anytime in between is possible." She replied after thinking for a moment.

"People start waking up around 5:30, especially now in the summer with the early sunlight. The invader wouldn't risk running into someone." Eric pitched in. It made sense.

"That's over four hours of footage but there's only one angle. Still, we can make this process faster. Did it have any signs of forced entry or they used a keycard?" Kate explained that everything looked normal. "That's helpful, wait a second." 

Four walked away, bringing his laptop from his office. 

"I can access all keycard' logs from any door in the compound. See who used which key in which door and the exact time."

That was the best news she got so far.

Four typed in his credentials and searched for the information on the 503 smartlock. The door was opened at 12:43 a.m. and again at 3:06 a.m.

"It has to be 3:06 a.m., let me check who owns the key." Four mumbled more to himself than to the expectant eyes in front of him. "This is strange. The last name says 'NULL'. The administration wouldn't issue a key without ownership." He looked at the visitors with many questions in his head. Why would someone break into her apartment? What was stolen? Why? And didn't Eric have to be somewhere else?

At that moment, Kate and Eric mirrored each other with crossed arms and deep frowns. Their minds running a million miles per minute. Then, Darren decided to pitch in.

"Excuse me, sir, there's nothing on the cameras at that time. Not ten minutes before nor after. It could be a bug in the smart-lock system."

"It's not a bug. Unless you're saying that the intruder climbed the damn window to get in!" Kate heard someone snarl. The three men around her were a little shocked. 

Oh, that was her. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose. There was stress, anger, fear, and even hunger starting to make her head pound. Her comment was uncalled for but she wouldn't admit it.

"What if someone messed with the camera? It can be done from this room or with a signal jammer straight into the device. Pull the other cameras from the hallway." Eric ordered, he was getting impatient just like Kate and wanted to rip the security whatever-was-his-name from his seat to finish the job himself.

"From this room? Are you doubting my team? You've no right!"

"Can we focus on the screens?" Kate cut in before this turned into another Eric and Four situation. It usually happens a couple of times per month.

The monitor was split into four parts allowing all the angles to be seen of that particular hallway. As they watched at an increased speed, nothing happened at all. Absolutely nothing. It was dark and empty. There were no windows, lights, or people circulating to allow them to see if the signal was compromised. It was the same image. That was the hard part about surveilling apartments' hallways anywhere during the night, it all looked the same.

"Wait, can you rewind camera 1 a bit? What's that in the corner?" Kate exclaimed. She had noticed something that no one else did. "Is that Brave? Oh, it totally is!"

They were all stunned.

Brave aka the Dauntless mascot was in a loop. Over and over his head covered in pitch-black fur appeared in the corner of the hallway, right next to the elevator. His eyes looked like a beacon in the camera. It was like a flame of hope for Kate. The image was repeating itself because someone jammed the signal. If the perpetrator had paid more attention and chosen a different moment, no one would have been able to tell.

"That damn cat. He's finally being useful." An acid remark came from Eric but there was humor hidden in there. 

Dauntless didn't allow pets, even if the dog and cat populations were considerable through the streets of Chicago. Amity and Candor were the only factions that allowed their members to have them. He had tried to kick that stray out so many times but it kept coming back. So, the soldiers gathered in the Mess Hall and argued until they decided on a name.

The irony of it all.

"He's the cutest thing. I'm totally gonna give him a little treat for helping." Kate's mood had even improved.

"Helping? He was just walking around like he owned the place. I'll still kick him out one day."

"Don't you dare! Brave is our mascot and he was an asset for this investigation." She eyed him like he had personally wronged her.

"Alright, the signal was jammed for 10 minutes." Four decided it was time to cut the bullshit, he was being doubted because of a cat. "We can assume that all cameras were like that. It'll take some time for the team to check how far the problem goes and look for other signs, maybe we can figure out where the person came from."

"I'll need a full report by the end of the day, Number Boy. Probably there was inside help if it goes all the way from the starting point of the intruder, it's just too many cameras to physically attach a signal jammer. This is a huge mistake from your team. Your responsibility." All he wanted was a reason to kick his nemesis all of Dauntless.

"You'll have that report but you need to consider that maybe someone from maintenance helped. They're responsible for installing the cameras inside and fixing them. Installing a signal jammer would be easy. I trust my team."

Four paused, finally looking at Kate, who felt like she was in a council meeting again with Abnegation and Erudite trying to behead each other. In a way. that's exactly what that was.

"Kate, there's one thing you can do while you wait. Check the administration office to see who issued that card. I'll write the ID number for you but you'll need a leader to accompany you, it's a higher level of clearance than you've got."

"That's a good idea. Thanks, Four." She checked her phone, seeing that it was past the timeslot reserved for her meeting with the young leader. "Eric, thanks for the help, I'm sure you've got a busy schedule today, so I'll ask someone else."

Honestly, she didn't want to cause trouble for her partner in crime again. He was too busy as the second one in command. Since River was in the hospital, not that she even knew him that well to ask, and Harrison was drowning in the new responsibilities, she'd have to ask Lauren about it.

The blond wanted to go with her but there was a meeting with Jeanine Matthews in a few minutes to discuss the explosives made from chemicals that only Erudite had plenty of access to. And there was the whole tortured factionless problem to deal with later. 

"You know what? I can take you there now. I've got clearance and it's gonna be a while before the team can look at everything." Said Four, much for Eric's displeasure.

It made Eric angry. He hated losing to Four, it brought him back to his initiation days. But what was he losing? Time with the ambassador?

"Don't go on thinking that this will keep you from taking responsibility for what happened to the cameras." Eric practically snarled.

"I wasn't thinking that." The tension was growing by the minute. "Kate, let's get going. Darren you're taking the lead, I'll be back soon." 

Kate agreed, glad to get out of that tension-filled room, it felt like a pressure cook ready to blow. Before she could follow out the door, Eric's voice found her once again.

"Text me if anything happens. I'll see you later."

The administration office wasn't far from the Control Room. It was on the same floor but on the south side of the building. Working there was considered only a couple of steps above being on watch at the fence. Your ranking was considered bad enough for most things but you appeared to not be brainless, so you could live your days issuing some keycards, filing some paperwork, and being responsible for the files of every soldier. It was a boring job that they had to be grateful for.

"Four, I don't know what you're planning on saying but you can't tell that my apartment was broken into. The info could spread and cause even more of a headache." Kate was worried that soldiers would think they weren't safe inside if someone was able to break into a higher-up apartment that was only accessible by a password-protected elevator and a keycard with high clearance.

"Don't worry about it. If someone questions it, I'll put them in their place."

They walked into the office. It was nothing special, filled with piles of paperwork, computers, and doors leading to several records rooms. It was an underground level, making it feel stuffy with the amount of people that worked there. The good news was that only the workers were there, no other members. The only time of the year that had a lot of people walking around was at the beginning and end of initiation when new members had to get their files updated and keycards made.

Four approached a table in the corner, recognizing someone from his initiation year. 

"Hey, Logan. It's been a minute."

"Oh, hi, Four. Yeah, I don't think we've seen each other much after initiation." The man had noticed Kate the moment she walked in but didn't know if should introduce himself. After all, she was the ambassador, ranking miles above him, but when would he have another chance like this? "Ambassador, I'm Logan. It's a pleasure to meet you."

To his surprise, Kate offered her hand. Always being the approachable diplomat that the other factions knew. "Hi, you can call me Kate."

"How can I help?"

"I discovered a leaders' keycard with no name in it. I need to know when it was made and who owns it." Four said to keep the ambassador out of it. Then, he handed over the note with the key number.

Logan checked his systems. The administration's computers allowed them to see who made the keycards and the exact time.

"There's no name on it. This is impossible." That kind of mistake could make someone factionless. A bone-chilling cold set in his bones when he read the information in the corner of the page. The name of the office worker who issued it. Him .

"Four, I don't know what to tell you. It says that I issued this keycard but I haven't made a leaders' key since Harrison got promoted. That was a couple of weeks ago." He started to trip over his own words. "This one was made yesterday at 5:10 p.m! I wasn't even here, I… it was during our smoke break!" 

Logan darted his eyes between the two higher-ups who were staring at him. Kate didn't want to interfere to avoid drawing more attention to herself but they needed to know if Logan was telling the truth. Then, something caught her attention. A sign on a wall saying that administration was closed during lunch and between 5 and 5:25 p.m.

"Logan, do you remember anyone staying behind yesterday? Or maybe you forgot to leave your computer on the lock screen?" She suggested.

"No one stays here, believe me, it gets suffocating. I always leave it in the lock screen but even if I forgot it, the person would still need to use my keycard to issue another one. The information log is not about from which computer the order came but which key was used." Logan explained looking more pale by the minute.

"Do you keep it with you at all times? The keycard?" Four asked.

Logan's eyes grew twice their size. He was done.

"I… I'm not sure. Maybe? Sometimes I leave it at my desk. No, I don't mean all the time. It's just… I…"

"Okay, Logan, take a deep breath. You don't wanna end up hyperventilating, right? The infirmary is not nice, trust me." Kate tried to calm him down, others were staring, while she shared a knowing look with Four. 

The office guy didn't seem to be lying, he appeared to be genuinely panicked and Four had an idea. He texted Darren to check the cameras in and outside of the administration during that specific time period. While they waited for any news, Logan kept asking not to be made factionless. 

"If you're telling the truth, you'll get a written reprimand for your mistake. maybe some shifts at the fence." Four stopped talking when a new text came in, giving him more bad news. "You'll be hearing from me. Cancel the keycard, I'll be checking that later. Kate, we need to go back now."

She got a feeling things were only gonna get worse.

"You're saying all cameras were not working during their smoke break? How's that even possible?" Kate was fuming on the inside. There was no way it wasn't on purpose and the likelihood that it was someone from maintenance didn't seem very high. It had to be someone in the Control Room, even if they had no concrete proof. And there were a lot of people that worked there.

"It's just pitch-black for 30 minutes straight. There are a lot of cameras and it takes an hour for the crew to go through all of them. We take a closer look at the outside cameras but inside of Dauntless… Once per hour. I remember getting a report about those, someone went there to fix it right after. It could be a coincidence." Four explained. This place was his responsibility and the fault would be his, so he was trying to salvage it.

"Four, this is absurd. I'll have to speak to the leaders about it. It was a stolen keycard but might as well have been a murder in the administration." Kate was not kidding. They were slacking off and leaving her with no clue about who got her gun. 

"I've got something." A female voice said from the other side of the room. A girl with pink hair from last year's initiation class. Kate, Four, and Darren made their way to her. 

"Administration is the last thing in the hallway, so there's only one way in or out. There's a glass door right next to the elevator and you can see the reflection of a leader's jacket and another person right next to them. The leader is facing the hallway but the other person isn't. That was right before the cameras went dark. There's a blind spot there so I can't identify who were them. If you talk to the leaders you could know find out who else was there..."

"And if they saw someone that seemed out of place." Kate finished her sentence. She took a closer look at the blurry image and noticed the long dark hair. It had to be Lauren talking to someone. She could help. Finally, something that wasn't a dead end.

"That's actually helpful, thank you! I'll see if I can catch Lauren during lunch!" Kate thanked the rest of the team and registered the worried expression on Four's face before she left. He knew trouble was ahead. 

"I'm sorry, Kate, but I don't remember anything strange about it. It was right after we voted about the factionless prisoner. I went to the Administration to check the files from previous initiations and see if we could identify the guy as someone who got cut. You know his fingerprints gave us nothing when he was captured. He can't be older than 20." The female leader explained.

Kate had met her right outside of the Mess Hall, getting in for an early lunch. When Lauren wasn't working with Dauntless-born initiates, she helped in several different areas. Ranking third but being older than Eric meant that it was unlikely that she would be the faction leader one day but, secretly, Lauren liked to think she was the busiest and most important person in leadership since she kept tabs on everything. Eric would disagree.

"I have no other lead on this. What about the person you were talking to? I could ask them."

"It was my assistant, she was helping me carry the files. I'll talk to her and let you know, okay?" 

Well, that was better than nothing.

"Thanks, Lauren."

Frustrated and, now that she stopped to think about it, really hungry, Kate decided it was best to grab a bite before dealing with the work that had been piling up since morning. The meeting with Eric wasn't the only thing she had to cancel. And she had no idea if Erudite delivered the serum for interrogating the factionless.

The cafeteria was mostly empty, as it was barely 11 a.m., no one was back from patrol shifts and the people that worked inside usually had lunch about noon or later. Considering the nature of their work, the kitchen staff had meals ready all day.

"Kate? I didn't think that I'd catch you here so early." The ambassador turned around to find Jace with some Armory workers next to him. "Wanna have lunch if you're not busy?"

She missed him so much for the past few days. The only time they had seen each other was after she got shot. Since then, they were constantly texting when no one was looking but it wasn't the same.

"Yes, I got so much to tell you!" She grabbed Jace by his hand, almost dragging him to the line, only giving him time to warn his coworkers that he would catch them later. 

Today's special was sausage pizza. Greasy food with lots of carbs was the preference of the patrol soldiers. It wasn't Kate's favorite by far but she just wanted to drown all the stress and anger in pizza.

"Spill. Why are you on edge?" Jace asked after they chose a table in the corner. He knew his friend and couldn't help but notice even before talking to her.

"Look at your phone, I can't say everything out loud and risk people eavesdropping." 

Someone broke into my apartment while I was sleeping. My gun is missing!!!

"Are you kidding me? Did someone hurt you?" Jace kept going and going about how concerned he felt while trying not to raise his voice. During initiation, they had been so protective of each other and that was a feeling that never died.

"I'm not great but no one hurt me. I've spent all morning trying to figure it out but there's missing footage, cameras offline, a leaders' keycard made without authorization… I'm grasping at straws right now." She explained.

"So your you-know-what could be anywhere and they could use it at any moment? Even on you. Kate, what is going on? Did you make an enemy?" 

"I don't know. I'm not the most popular person around here and it seems to be a personal attack or, maybe, it's some sort of message. I just…I don't know." She finished lamely. Kate didn't have enough time to think about the details. 

"Well, you need another firearm. You gotta go down to the Armory as soon as you can. I'll get it done for you." 

"I'm slammed with work and there's the factionless situation. I'll try tomorrow morning, okay?" She wouldn't make any promises, though she wanted something to defend herself if it came down to it. Something that wasn't her knife.

"Don't just try. I'll be waiting for you or I'll drag you there myself." Then, a thought crossed his mind. "Wait, where are you staying tonight? You can't be there alone, they got in once."

There was a beat.

"Honestly, I didn't even think about that yet."

"You can stay with me! Let's make it a sleepover and you can walk with me to the Armory in the morning. Two birds with one stone!" Jace smiled at that.

It wouldn't be the first time she spent the night. There were a couple of drunk nights at the pit or sleepless nights just gossiping and having fun. Still, the friends had not done that in a while.

"And you can have the bed, I know the couch is lumpy." It was a really bad couch, her back hurt just thinking about it. Even the thin mattress of her initiation bunk bed wasn't that bad.

"I'm not kicking you out of your own bed." Kate protested after finishing the last slice of pizza. "You know it's probably not gonna be just one night, right? I've got no clues and there's so much going on right now that I doubt anyone will be able to help a lot. Are you okay with that?"

"Anything for you and I can't let our ambassador sleep on the couch."

"Shut up, Jace." She half-smiled. Sometimes, Kate couldn't help but wonder what her life would've been if they ended up working together in the Armory, which was the original plan before being offered the chance to shadow the former ambassador.

Jace checked his watch with a frown, and she already knew what came next.

"You gotta run back, right? They should ease your schedule again or you'll all burn out." Kate said before he could even tell it was time to go.

"You should say that to your leadership friends. Sam is feeling the pressure." Jace got up, going to the other side of the table to hug her goodbye. "I'll see you later then."

From the corner of her eye, she met the familiar gray ones that belonged to Eric, standing in the hall's exit, who signaled for her to follow him. Kate waited until Jace was no longer in sight before doing so. Jace didn't really like Eric, not that a lot of people did.

The leader was leaning against a wall waiting for her. One look at him revealed all she needed to know. It wasn't his best mood. "Walk with me."

Together, the duo made its way to the leaders' office floor in silence. All doors were closed except for his. It was a busy day. After greeting Lidia, Eric's long-time secretary, they got inside his office and he closed the door. It was a serious talk then.

The young leader gestured to the chair in front of his desk, where she thankfully took a seat. "You're not overdoing it again, are you? I don't wanna carry your ass back to the infirmary for a third time." 

She smiled at that. It was his way of showing that at least he cared if she lived or died. Or, at least, that she could complete her duties to the faction. Maybe one day they could be great friends. Thinking back for a moment, sitting there while Eric was right next to her leaning against his desk, it looked a lot different from the first, and only, time she had been in his office. A lot had happened in over a week and she felt like progress had been made between them.

"I'm taking it easy. So, what you wanna talk about?"

"You didn't text me." Eric deadpanned, crossing his arms over his broad chest. For a second, she was confused by that statement.

"Oh, you told me to text you if I got any news but all I've got are dead ends." Kate proceeded to explain everything that happened since the moment they went their separate ways. Eric rolled his eyes or grunted at every mention of Four's name. It was a deep feeling of hate and rivalry that connected those two.

"...So Lauren will check with her assistant but I'm not getting my hopes up. Clearly, someone in the Control Room is compromised, it's just hard to find out who. And Four wants to protect his position, which I don't really blame him." Eric nodded, she could see a prominent vein popping in his forehead, one day his anger could actually mean the death of him.

Her shoulders tensed once again remembering the feeling of not being safe in her own apartment. "Even with the key canceled, I'm not gonna risk spending the night there alone, you know? Jace's couch is better than getting killed." 

At that, Eric's interest picked up.

"Who's Jace? The guy from the Mess Hall?"

"Yeah, we're from the same initiation class. He works in the Armory."

"That means a shitty apartment. You really wanna stay there?" Eric had a look she couldn't decipher.

"He's my best friend and I don't have a lot of options. So, the couch it is." Actually, it was her only option. 

"That's bullshit. I gotta an extra bedroom. You can stay there instead of your boyfriend's stupid couch." 

"He's not my… You know what? It doesn't matter. It's very kind of you but I don't wanna bother. I'll be fine with Jace." Kind is definitely not a word associated with him but she was very surprised by the offer. Being Eric's roommate for a few days, could you imagine that? 

"I hope your boyfriend is a good shot, 'cause when someone shows up to kill you with your own gun, I won't be there to save you." Eric knew he had won right there. Turning away from her and reaching for a file in a cabinet, he had a victorious smile that she couldn't see. 

Roommates then. What could possibly go wrong?

Kate's apartment was thankfully empty when they arrived after their shift. She had accepted his offer for two reasons: Jace's couch was really bad and, two, she didn't want her friend to be hurt if someone showed up. The ambassador had a better chance with Eric by her side. Also, he wasn't the worst company ever. Not even close.

After the talk in his office, the duo went their separate ways, agreeing to meet in front of the leaders' elevator to go upstairs together once their work was done. Erudite has sent a batch of truth serum, allowing Harrison and Eric to interrogate the factionless before shipping him off to Candor. It wasn't done today due to the prisoner's health condition. He was still healing from the previous interrogation , the healing serum wasn't making him coherent.

It was a relief for Kate. She didn't want to be part of a vote like that ever again. Diplomacy was much preferred. With that easing her tension a bit, she was able to spend the rest of the day in her office catching up on work, also, having to read and sign a report related to what had happened in the leadership meeting and the torture that came after. 

Now, upon checking that her apartment was really empty, Kate quickly took her duffel bag and got some clothes in there. One look for each faction, if she needed it, some essentials, and couple of uniforms. The only confirmed meeting was the one on Friday, which would happen in Candor with all council members. Dauntless had until then to get some answers.

Before leaving, she also grabbed important files that shouldn't fall in other people's hands and put them in a box to bring along. Wordlessly Eric took her bag. Kate couldn't and shouldn't carry everything on her own.

"What the fuck is in here? Are you moving in permanently?" He joked.

"I wouldn't dream of it." She smiled fully for the first time in the day. "That's not 10% of my wardrobe. I only grabbed the essentials." 

The made their way to the elevator, no one in sight but them.

"Looks like you prepared for a two-week-long patrol in Amity."

Arriving fast at the leaders' floor, Eric opened his door and led the way to the extra bedroom, right next to his, dropping the bag on the top of the unmade bed. "I'll grab towels and sheets for you. Just a sec."

Kate looked around, admiring the perks of leadership. The bedroom was around the same size as hers, with an en-suite bathroom that looked spotless as expected. There was a queen-size bed with a black bedframe, a black wardrobe, and a full-length mirror in the corner. If that was the extra room, she couldn't help but wonder what the master bedroom looked like.

"Here you go. Did you eat already? I'm ordering stuff from the kitchen." Eric said after dropping the black sheets and towels on her bed. "They've got cake tonight."

At that, her stomach grumbled. They both laughed.

He should laugh more, it sounds nice.

"I guess my stomach answered that. Whatever you're having is fine by me."

And that's how they ended up on his couch, sitting closer than the night before, watching Iron Man 2 and stuffing their stomachs with fried chicken and lots of double-chocolate Dauntless cake.

In the back of her mind, Kate couldn't help but think that she could get used to this.

Chapter Text

"Look me in my eyes

Tell me everything's not fine

Oh, the people ain't happy

And the river has run dry

You thought you could go free

But the system is done for

If you listen real closely

There's a knock at your front door

We'll never get free

Lamb to the slaughter

What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?

The price of your greed is your son and your daughter

What you gon' do when there's blood in the water?" — Grandson, 'Blood // Water'.

 

"Good, but you'll never knock a factionless down like that." In the last hour, that was probably the millionth time Eric had commented on her form. Or the lack of it by his standards. He had woken Kate up at 5:30 p.m., later than usual for him but too early for her, offering to be her trainer. It was like initiation all over again but now it was Eric's turn to teach instead of Four.

That's how the duo found themselves in one of the empty training rooms. They couldn't go outside for a run, it was prohibited by Harrison and they had learned their lesson after that rain of bullets from last time, so they went straight to the punch bags once they warmed up.

For the last hour, Eric wouldn't let her do anything else but punch that damn bag, while he had done a full workout, only stopping to make his acid remarks about her. Now, he was next to her showing how her stand was wrong again.

Feeling the sweat sticking to her skin and even her eyes stinging from the salty water, she was getting impatient. Actually, she was mad at him and, mostly, at herself for not being in the same shape as during initiation. Where was the soldier inside of her? It kept disappearing.

"Is that what Four taught you? I should train the transfers myself. He can't even deal with the Control Room, what made us think he could turn transfers into soldiers?"

"I'm a soldier just like you!" A punch, and then another one. The bag was swinging much more now, she kept going non-stop. "I'm not defenseless! I can knock out half of the people in this damn compound! So, shut up!" Deciding she was done with it, Kate suddenly took a step back and used all of her strength in her good leg to kick that bag, snapping the rope and sending it flying a few feet away. "There, are you happy now!?"

They were facing each other. Her cheeks were burning from exertion and she was trying to catch her breath, not really sure how she just did that. It wasn’t the first time Eric witnessed how much the ambassador struggled between being a diplomat and a soldier. He wanted her to have the confidence that she could be both .

"Very." He smirked at her, brushing off the fact she had the courage to tell him to shut it. Eric decided that he liked her angry, too. "Good job, soldier." And threw a towel at her face.

"Thanks, trainer." She huffed, stepping away to drink some water and calm down

The sound of his phone getting a new message interrupted their silence.

"That was River, he was officially kicked out… He said discharged from the hospital, but we know that's not true. He's getting a ride back with one of our units." Eric secretly couldn't wait to see River face-to-face, it had been a close call. Too close for comfort.

"So, he'll piss off our nurses now? I'm sure they'll be really happy about it." At that, she smiled at him, her breath finally under control and the rage as well. "I'm glad he's okay. I don't know him well but he seems really fun. A ball of energy. And he helped me out the other day, it was nice of him."

"He's got the energy to power all of Chicago at night. And then some." Eric agreed. The young leader was sure that River would annoy him more than normal for the next few days, so he would be mentally bracing himself for it. "He told me about your run with that unit that caused trouble in Abnegation."

"Peter was just being Peter, and his friends don't have a mind of their own. It's fine."

"You gotta learn to throw a better punch then, to knock them out." He smirked at her.

"Who knows? Maybe one day they'll finally get that reaction out of me." It wasn't very diplomatic but she liked the idea a bit. Or a lot.

Sounds of people chatting and steps started to fill the compound, Dauntless was finally awake. That meant it was time to go back and get ready for the day, and get some food in them before another crisis kicked in. Eric saw Kate’s eyes observing the training room with a strange expression, maybe she was reminiscing about her initiation, wondering how she ended up here.

Before they walked out, Eric decided that she needed to hear something.

“Kate, stop worrying about it.” She turned her attention to him. “You can kick ass with your diplomacy and with your fists. I’ll just help you brush off on some of your skills.”

At that comment, she nodded and had a full smile plastered on her face. Kate considered him to be the best soldier, so when it came down to fighting skills his words held a lot of weight for her. Also, the ambassador didn't miss the rare compliment. Indeed, a very good one.

The duo walked side by side through the endless dark hallways of Dauntless, attracting a look or two from fellow soldiers who saw them leave the room. The ruthless leader standing broad and tall by the side of the smaller woman. She wasn’t tiny, rather an average height by Dauntless standards, but there was a considerable difference between them, mostly in muscle. Although, what was really getting people’s attention was the leader’s willingness to share the training room with her. Everybody knew to leave him alone while he worked out. Occupying one room all to himself.

“Just checking, but you’re gonna kick me out of bed tomorrow morning too? At 5:30? How do you not fall asleep in the middle of the day?” Kate was already dreading it.

“You’ll get used to it.”

“I’m gonna need to get more workout clothes. I wasn’t expecting training camp.” She laughed a bit, throwing quick punches into the air.

“Wanna go back there now? It’s a bad idea to be there on your own.” They walked into the leaders’ elevator, punching the passcode and pressing the button for her floor.

“It’ll only take a minute. Maybe I should grab my first aid kit too, I’ve gotta feeling that I’ll need it with all of this training.” Her nose twisted with that thought, it felt like initiation again.

“I’ll try not to send you to the infirmary.” He paused. “Not too many times, at least.” And he couldn’t help but smirk at her worried expression.

They crossed the hallway until they reached apartment 503. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” At that, she unlocked her door, the coast looking clear much to their relief. They stepped inside. “See, no intruder this…"

“Hey, Kate! What’s up?” Jace’s voice cut through her, the friend appearing in her bedroom doorway and causing a shot of adrenaline to run into her veins.

Kate jumped back in surprise and, before she could really register what was fully happening, Eric used one hand to swiftly grab her by the waist, pulling her protectively behind him, and pointing his gun with the other hand.

“Hands where I can see!” Eric was more of a shoot-first and ask-later, but he didn’t recognize Jace as the guy from the Mess Hall, so the leader wanted the intruder alive for questioning. 

“Wow, Eric, maybe put that gun down, huh? We’re friends, I’ve got her extra keycard… Uh, sir.” Jace slowly raised his hands, afraid of making a sudden move.

“Eric, it’s fine! I told you about him yesterday, remember? It’s my friend Jace from the Armory!” She tried to move past him but there wasn’t enough space and didn’t seem like he wanted to move. “Jace, what are you doing here this early? I almost had a heart attack!”

“What I wanna know is why he has your keycard and elevator passcode. You just let him go on and about here?” Eric lowered his gun, while still finding the whole thing suspicious. 

“Since day one after initiation. I’ve got his keycard, too.” Kate explained. It made things easier for them, she trusted Jace with it.

“Believe me, I'm the one with the heart attack. I realized that I forgot my favorite shirt here the other day. Kate, I texted you about coming by a few minutes ago.” Jace slowly put his hands down, hoping Eric wouldn’t change his mind and shoot him.

“We were training, I haven’t checked my phone this morning.” She took the device from her pocket and there it was, a simple ' can’t find my lucky shirt, I’m gonna check your place now'. She showed the screen to Eric who still looked at her friend wearily, hoping that would calm him down.

“I think it’s in my dryer, you should check there.” Jace moved to her kitchen. “At least it wasn’t the intruder, right? Too early for that without even having breakfast.” She tried to lighten up the mood. 

It wasn’t really working.

“You should be more careful about your keycard.” Eric was still fuming, taking a look around to see if anything was suspiciously out of place. He had no reason to trust her boyfriend. 

“Don’t worry, Jace is harmless.” Trusting they wouldn’t kill each other in her living room for a minute, she quickly went to her bedroom and grabbed some workout clothes.

“Found it! I was losing hope already.” Jace held two shirts up like a trophy. “There was another one, too. I’m gonna go before I end up being shot, okay?” 

Was he talking to her or Eric?

“Okay, I’ll catch you later.”

“Don’t think that I forgot about your gun. I wanna see you in the Armory today or I’ll come by your office and drag you all the way there.” Jace winked at her feeling bold for a second even if Eric's presence scared him to death.

“I’m sure you will.” She smiled at him. “We’re leaving in a minute, too.”

With that, Jace disappeared in the hallway. There was nothing else to bring with her but, honestly, it was better if they didn’t share the elevator ride.

“Your boyfriend’s got a death wish just like you.” Eric commented, standing by the kitchen counter with his arms crossed. That made her pause.

“Wait, you know he’s not my boyfriend, right?” Kate was now standing right in front of him with a funny expression.

“He’s not?” Eric asked in disbelief.

“I told you he’s my best friend and I’m sure his boyfriend would be jealous!” She laughed at the silly thought of Jace and her being a couple. 

“His what?” Then it dawned on Eric that Jace was taken by somebody else. “I see. The way you act around each other gives a different impression. So, you’re single?”

“Jace and I were never like that. We just got each other’s back since initiation and, even though we’re pretty busy, our friendship never went away.” Kate and Eric walked out of her apartment. “I’m single. Why? You know someone interested?” 

“No.” Eric replied. For a second, the leader couldn’t help but feel relieved. He just wasn’t sure why.

"I don't even need the yearly check-up at the infirmary, if I didn't have a heart attack after what happened this morning, I'm sure my health is in perfect condition." Jace was exaggerating a bit, still, Kate couldn't deny that she felt the same. Her pulse went miles per minute during the whole situation.

"I'm always checking my texts, I can't believe that I left my phone for an hour and chaos happened." She smirked. "Try not to lose any other shirts in my apartment."

"Can't promise that. I lose everything everywhere, except for the guns in the Armory. Don't tell Eric or Sam that I said that!" He looked worried for a second, looking around to see if his boss was anywhere close. Thankfully, he was probably at lunch.

It was lunchtime for Kate, too. The ambassador decided it was a good time as any to get her emergency firearm issued in the Armory. Today's intruder was a friend but what about the next? She needed to be prepared, it's not like she'd be glued to Eric's side all day as if the ruthless leader was her bodyguard.

"Gotta say I was doubting the whole Eric-is-my-roommate thing when you texted me last night." Jace said as he started to prepare the paperwork to mark her gun as missing, only then they could issue a new one.

"I got that from all the question marks in your reply."

"That you didn't reply, don't forget that part." He finished printing the papers. 

"And then you sent a bunch of exclamation marks. I ended up falling asleep after watching a movie."

"You watched a movie with him? What was it about? Horror?" Jace gestured for her to follow him to a side room, where she could give a statement without being heard by his colleagues.

"It was Iron Man 2 . Have you watched it? I really liked the first one but this one was even better."

"Yeah, but I prefer Thor . Don't tell me you watched the first movie with him, too." 

"We did, it was the night before." She took a seat right in front of him.

"But yesterday was your first night there… Actually, I don't even wanna know." He put a pen and paper in front of her and, as if there was a switch in his brain, became the soldier instead of her friend. "I need you to fill this out for me, then you'll recall everything from the moment you last saw your gun until you realized it was missing, any helpful information about possible whereabouts and suspects. I'll write it down and you'll sign it. Since you're high in the command chain and it's an ongoing investigation, the document will be sealed. After that, I'll issue another gun of the same caliber. If your original gun is found and returned to you, the provisional one comes back to us. If that doesn't happen in 30 days, it'll become your official one. Any questions?"

"I understand." The questionnaire was basic: her name, ranking, birth date, address, ID number, and so on. It didn't take more than 5 minutes. Once she put the pen down, Jace signaled for her to start retelling the story he already knew everything about. It was impressive how fast he could write everything.

"Anything else you would like to add? If something is not as you recall, we'll start over." 

"It's exactly like I told you. No need to change anything." Then, she signed on the dotted line.

Jace let out a deep breath. "It was so weird to be formal with you. Reminds me of the few times I'm with other people you don't know and I have to call you the ambassador." They laughed as he picked the paperwork to be sealed and filed.

"C'mon, let's get your new gun, some ammo, and a holster."

Exiting the room, she heard the familiar tune of her phone getting a message from Eric.

Serum didn't work, we'll meet in 20 to vote again. Meet us in front of the interrogation room.

It was shocking for Kate how she couldn't seem to catch a break. The prisoner problem was the one thing expected to be over. Using the truth serum, Harrison and Kate were supposed to find out everything before delivering the man to be put on trial in Candor. There was no guarantee that a second turn at torture would finally break him. Could she vote in favor again?

Feeling a headache building in, the confused and slightly panicked ambassador decided to head down to the coffee shop in the Pit, some caffeine would be good to them all.

"We can't just deliver him on a silver plate to her."

"I know, Candor is watching." Harrison's voice echoed all the way to the inside of the elevator. Upon arriving in the corridor, Kate was clearly interrupting some enigmatic conversation that the faction leader was having with the second in command.

Without giving anything else away, Eric left the older man to approach his roommate who currently had her hands full. With a curt nod, the man picked one of the takeaway cup trays holding several coffees for the leaders and some tea especially for Harrison, leading the way to the interrogation room. She gratefully accepted the help as she was starting to think she'd drop them. 

Inside, she was met with the sight of a still-recovering River and an angry Lauren. Or maybe she was annoyed? It was hard to tell with her. A one-way mirror separated all the leaders, Four, and Sam from the prisoner who sat in there alone, handcuffed in a metal chair, and with his legs chained.

The duo put the coffee cups on a small table in the corner, attracting attention to themselves. Four gave a court nod. If she got a chance, Kate would talk to him later about any news regarding the break-in. The only thing Eric told her was that the Head of the Control Room failed to deliver the full report last night.

"Kate! I missed my favorite Dauntless ambassador!" River hugged her with his arm that wasn't stuck in a sling. "I've heard you've got a new address. How is that working out for you?"

"It's all good. But you know I'm the only ambassador here, right?" She would've laughed if the seriousness of the situation wasn't heavy on her shoulders.

"I know, though you'd still be my favorite if there was more." He winked.

"Thanks, River. Are you okay? You should be resting." Kate asked with concern.

"He's on medical leave. River, go before I kick you out." Eric grunted.

"I know you missed me, Eric, so it's my duty to stick around until you get at least a week-worth dose of me annoying you."

"You weren't gone for a week but now I'm starting to wish for that. No wonder the hospital kicked you out"

"Lies. So many lies." River tried to hug him.

"That's enough, you two." Harrison walked in with a sombered face. "Kate, I'm glad to know you're also on the mend, I've been too busy but Eric has kept me updated about your health."

He continued. "As you all know, the truth serum didn't work, which means that our prisoner is Divergent. You also know the threat that someone like him presents to Chicago. So, I had to inform the city council about this and asked for an extension of our 72-hour hold period that had expired two hours ago. We have until sundown to get him to talk. Since Candor won't be able to do anything without a working serum, everyone is counting on our… Alternative method to get answers."

"He hasn't said anything at all? River wondered. 

Honestly, Kate wasn't looking at any of them, too busy observing the factionless through the one-way mirror.

"We've got nothing. No matching fingerprints. Lauren tried the physical records from the past initiations and we even sent a photo of him to other factions but no one recognized him. That means he was born factionless and is not on any city records."

"He's from Abnegation."

All eyes turned to Kate, who had thought out loud.

"How do you know that?" Eric's face was covered in a confused look.

"He keeps avoiding to look at his reflection in the mirror." Kate turned around to face the others. "Every time he looks around and catches it, he turns away quickly. That's typical Abnegation behavior."

"That's well observed." Harrison had a proud look in his eyes. "But why he's not on Abnegation records?"

"Like Lauren said to me yesterday, our friend here looks to be around 20 years old. That's my age. During my initiation, I remember that there was an issue with the records of the Abnegation transfers. They weren't digitized, so all the other factions had to ask for printed copies. If he stayed at his original faction, the information was never in the system. That file still exists in the faction's records room and could be the key."

"I'll ask for a unit stationed there to bring the file in. Kate, you need to call their leaders' office right now." Harrison ordered but she was already searching for the landline number in her contacts.

Thankfully, the office picked up her call. Natalie Prior was weary about it for a minute but the word Divergent held a lot of weight, especially since all the factions were interested in the situation now. Not even 30 minutes later, the group was going through every dependant's file from that year who decided to stay in Abnegation.

"Found him!" River, who was supposed to be on medical leave, celebrated a bit too loud. The redhead placed the file in the middle of the table where they were working, a photo of a 16-year-old boy staring back at them. It was undeniably the mysterious factionless man. But his file was pretty much empty. Nothing interesting happens to an Abnegation dependant. 

Kate felt really frustrated. She was sure that the file would be the key.

"Hey, Kate, you did good work. Just an hour ago we had nothing." Lauren commented. 

"If we discover nothing else, it's still something to give to Candor and the rest of the council. The only thing left to do is vote again. River, you're not allowed to and neither is Eric. We all know how it works."

In the same hierarchy order, they voted one by one. Lauren was vehemently against it just like Sam. Harrison and Four were in favor, leaving Kate with the gruesome decision. 

"Again, we've got a tie. Kate, it's your turn." Harrison announced.

Soldier or diplomat? What was she supposed to be? 

"Can I talk to him first?" For the second time in the span of an hour, she surprised everyone in the room. "Just hear me out first. You tried interrogating him, tortured him until he blacked out, and then the truth serum failed. But no one tried to just talk to him. Let me try that." Kate pleaded.

"You're not an investigator." Harrison deadpanned. 

"No, I represent this faction, so let me do that in there. When I was still shadowing the previous ambassador I witnessed him do it once in this very room. So, you can't tell me it's not allowed." She took a deep breath, looking Harrison straight in the eyes. "Just give me 20 minutes. If I fail, you've got my vote to torture him all over again."

The faction leader took a step closer to her. 

"We're running out of time and fast. You've got 15 minutes. Good luck." With that, Harrison left the room and she quickly went to the coffee table, grabbing a few of options to give to the prisoner, a plan already forming in her head.

"Lauren, you've got the keys to the handcuff?" She faced the female leader. "I wanna try a more… Diplomatic approach."

"As long as his feet remain in chains I don't see a problem, he wouldn't get very far." 

"The guy could still attack her." Sam wasn't known for talking too much, so she was surprised to hear his opinion.

"I can defend myself. Besides, you'll be watching." She crossed the room fast, Lauren trailing behind. Eric was standing next to the door that separated both sides of the interrogation room.

"Go kick his ass." He leaned in to whisper in her ear, and she saw the corner of his lips twitch, almost forming a smile. Then, he opened the door but didn't step in. It was better if the factionless didn't see the face of the man who tortured him for hours, at least not yet.

Kate sat in the metal chair on the other side of the table, facing the factionless for the first time, and placed the cups in front of him. The man said nothing but his eyes had a curious look once the handcuffs came out.

"Don't be stupid, we're watching." Lauren said before nodding to Kate and leaving the room. It was just the two of them now.

"It wouldn't be very practical to drink with your hands bound, would it?" She smiled at him, the same serene smile reserved for the council.

She took his appearance in. Shaved head and green eyes with one swollen shut from all the beating. He had multiple bruises on his face and a split lip that was healing. If he looked bad now, she couldn't imagine what he looked like without the healing serum. All a result of the violence that she allowed a couple of days ago.

"There's an espresso, a latte, and a cappuccino. It all depends on how much you like coffee. If you're not a fan or never tried, I'd suggest the cappuccino." Nothing. "Let's cut to the chase, you've not eaten and barely drink. I know you want it. So, just tell me which one."

Failure was approaching her at the same speed as the city train hit the tracks

"Well, I guess that's your loss." She took a sip of the espresso in front of her, bitter just like she was starting to feel. "Let's try again. My name is Kate, I'm the Dauntless ambassador and I'm the only thing standing between you and another session of getting beaten to a pulp. So, you can play a game with me right now, which will tell me all I need to know or I can walk out and one of my colleagues will trade places with me. I think you've met him, it wasn't nice, was it?"

The factionless man was still silent but she could tell his mind was working fast, calculating his best move.

"You seem interested, So here's the game: I'll ask you a question, if you tell me the truth, you get to ask me something. I'm not Candor but I won't lie to you. But if you lie… Game is over and you lose, badly."

The man nodded.

"Good. Let's begin. First question, what's your name and which faction you were born into?"

"Tom." A raspy voice replied, no doubt from the lack of use and the round of beating. "I'm Candor-born."

"That's funny. Did you fail Candor initiation for being a liar?" The man's face turned even more pale. "Here's the thing, you said a lot even with all your silence. Last time I checked, your name was Chris and you're Abnegation-born. You scored an Abnegation result manually put into the system by whoever administered your test. They didn't want you to be delivered to the authorities. So, you were forced to stay at your home faction and, still, you managed to fail at initiation and became factionless." 

"If you already know everything about me, why ask?"

"It was a simple test, you failed. Should my friend come in here and finish the job?"

Silence.

"I can give you one last chance. You don't know how much information we've got, so it's best not to lie. Don't you agree?" 

He nodded after a moment.

"Did you steal the guns from Dauntless or did someone hand them over to you?" She asked.

"Most were handed over, I don't know by who. We stole a few from your guards. Do I get to ask a question now?"

"Go ahead."

"Now that you know that I'm Divergent, what's gonna happen?" There was a hint of fear in his voice.

"Once we're done with you, Candor will be waiting. You'll be put on trial like everyone else for crimes against Chicago."

"So, I won't end up in an Erudite lab?"

"That's two questions. No, there's a procedure to follow. It's my turn now. The attacks are clearly organized, who's your leader?"

"A woman. I'm not high up enough in the command chain to talk to her. They don't say her name around me. All I know is that she hides in Amity most of the time and always stays clear of Abnegation for some reason." He picked one of the coffee cups and took a sip. "What happened to the others that were with me when I got captured?"

"They're dead." There was no use lying to him and, as far as she knew, this question could be a test. Maybe he saw his team getting killed and wanted to know if Kate was lying, too.

"What about the explosives? How did you get the chemicals out from the Erudite's labs?" 

"We're not stealing from Erudite. There's an old war bunker in the city that only a few people know about, we're making use of what is still good. The guns are shit though." He showed her a yellow smile. "I'm not even afraid of telling you about it because, in hundreds of years, no one in the council investigated it. You won't find it now."

It sounded like a lie. There was no way something like that was hidden in Chicago but all she could do now was roll with it.

"Did the leader survive? The one we shot?"

"Yes, he's watching you right now." Next, she could ask if it was a targeted attack but she considered that it didn't really matter. All of them had targets on their backs.

"What does your group want? A war? Do you really think you could win against all of us?" All this time it wasn't clear exactly what the factionless wanted. There were fewer of them, all untrained, desperate, and hungry. 

What could they really achieve against Dauntless? Against Chicago? She knew the moment something snapped inside of him. 

"Your system is broken! Your so-called diplomacy is flawed! It's been for generations! You all stand tall in your color-coordinated clothes, living in buildings guarded by your soldiers not knowing what hunger means, or what frostbite is like, or the scorching heat. We want what's ours! We want to be part of the city council. The food, the water, the roofs over our heads, everything just like you. It shouldn't fucking matter if we fit in or not."

He slammed his fists at the table but she didn't even flinch. She saw it coming.

"You haven't seen what we're capable of. Once we're done, we'll have a seat at council or we'll burn Chicago to the ground. Rebuild to make it better. To make it right and you won't be here to see. Know why? Cause I'll make sure you're dead." She still didn't move and was hoping that no one would choose now to interrupt his rant. "I know people like you with the fake smile and the fake morals… A snake-like you will never comply. So, you have to die!"

He rose from his seat, trying to reach for her. Kate jumped from her chair, putting as much space as she could between them. Eric and Four came rushing in, holding the man down while Lauren handcuffed him to the table again.

"Try something like that again and you'll never make it to Candor alive." Eric stated in a very dangerous voice. "You haven't fucking seen what I can do to you."

Her back was glued to the cold stone wall. She knew he would've never gotten the chance to really hurt her but the anger pouring out made him look like a wild animal. A very lethal one.

"Kate, are you okay?" Eric asked in a much calmer voice, approaching her once Chris was secured. "Let's get you out of here."

"I'm okay." She said taking a deep breath to steady herself.

Eric put a warm hand in the middle of her shoulder blades, guiding her to exit the room but, before she could do that, Chris called for her attention once more.

"Hey, you! I didn't get to ask my last question!" The duo turned around to face him. He had a sickening look on his face. The look of a madman. "Tell me, Kate, did you find your gun already?"

Chapter Text

“I was wondering is there anything, have you ever done anything and never told anyone else but yourself?

Better slow down and hold it together

I was wondering have you ever done anything you never got it off of your chest? 

Confess, or keep it inside and hide it forever

I know I won't make it on my own

Better slow down and hold it together

I don't want to let your body go

Be my queen, I'll be your king

We'll be rulers, I'll give you everything

I'll be your king, you'll be my queen

Unbelievers get down on your knees

We can rule the world

So be my girl” — Seafret, ‘Be My Queen’.

Tell me, Kate, did you find your gun already? Eric crossed the room in a flash. Taking Chris’ skull and bashing it at the metal table before anyone could even blink. They were all too stunned to speak. What did that factionless man have to do with Kate’s gun being stolen? He was too beaten up and heavily guarded after the torture session to find a way inside her apartment in the middle of the night. Did he know who did it? Only the high command knew about the break-in, it wasn’t the kind of gossip he could’ve overheard from one of the soldiers guarding him.

“The fuck you know about that?” The leader kept pressing the man’s head at the table, who had a sickening smile. Chris was enjoying the havoc he had caused. He wanted nothing more than to die at Eric’s hand to avoid ending up in an Erudite lab. He believed that was his final destination, not a Candor courtroom.

Kate remained in the same spot, head spinning, trying to wrap her mind around it. All this time thinking she’d made an enemy or that it was some sort of message to the high command coming from a Dauntless rebellious soldier… But what if it had something to do with the war planned in the streets of Chicago, in the factionless sector?

Eric’s burning gaze met with hers. “Kate, you gotta vote now.”

Unlike the previous time she had been in this position, there was no hesitation left. She needed to get to the bottom of it. Not only was blood the answer but she secretly wanted retribution. “I vote yes.”

“River, come here!” Eric barked and the redhead appeared in the doorway that divided the two sides of the interrogation room, looking rather confused. “Stay with Kate until I’m done. Everybody get out!”

The blond knew that Kate shouldn't be left alone in that state nor should she stay around to witness what he'd do. Four and Lauren stepped away from the prisoner. For a moment, the female leader seemed like she wanted to say something, but instead left the room without looking back.

Kate felt a gentle hand guiding her to the exit. River was by her side trying to calculate how he could make her snap out of the trance she was in. He knew the look on her face. She wasn’t used to what was happening, it was all unpredictable and out of her control. This wasn’t like initiation, it was worse. Too much too fast for the diplomat who was used to verbal arguments at the city council and diplomatic solutions.

Before the door shut, she could still hear Eric’s bone-chilling voice declare that he was about to have some fun.

In River's defense, he tried his best to distract Kate. Taking a walk through Dauntless's slippery hallways, he explained everything that happened during the attack in Candor and then later, at the Erudite hospital, focusing on how much he annoyed the staff until they decided he could go home, which got a good laugh out of her. Still, it was inevitable that they found their back to the other side of the interrogation room, watching through the one-way mirror as Eric tried to get more answers.

There was no one but them, everyone was incredibly busy. For one, Harrison's pile of paperwork only increased after the discoveries made with Chris' help and with the means used to get the information. Much to her surprise, Kate didn't flinch at the sight in front of her and her stomach didn't do as many flips out of disgust as she once expected. It was hard to tell if she was numb from everything because her brain was having a hard time processing it or if she quickly got used to that type of violence. Maybe she wanted him to suffer.

Through it all, Chris kept an unwavering wicked smile, as if he got his wish. There was no new information, he kept repeating the same things as a mantra. Still, Eric didn't give up and kept asking questions, her name coming up several times. At some point, Kate finally connected the dots.

"He wants Eric to kill him." She thought out loud. "His attitude changed 'cause we found out he's divergent."

"Eric won't kill him, though." River simply said.

"I know." Kate looked at her hands, in which she held a white towel they had gotten from the infirmary during their walk. It was for all the blood covering Eric's own hands, something she learned from the other session a couple of days ago. Even with all the violence and rage, she knew that the leader would follow the protocol. The factionless would be delivered to Candor in one piece.

When the clock struck 4:30 p.m., Eric officially ran out of time. River used the intercom of the interrogation room to let the other leader know. To Chris's credit, he didn't pass out this time, which meant he'd be awake for the trip to Candor, watching the sunset through a small barred window probably for the last time.

Eric stepped out of the room looking wild and frustrated. He frowned upon the sight of Kate being there witnessing it all. River didn't do his job well. Wordlessly, Kate handed him the small towel, an act that surprised him. It didn't take long for the white to turn to red.

"I thought it was obvious that I didn't want an audience." Eric dryly announced.

"Oh, the message was clear." River pointed to Kate. "But I ran into a problem. I found your match, Kate is just as stubborn as you."

"I see that." For a second, she could swear that he gave her a smirk.

"Don't blame him. River still managed to make me go for a walk, and told me everything about the poor nurses of Erudite." She playfully elbowed River on the side that wasn't injured.

"Wait, ouch , are you trying to send me back to them? I thought you felt bad for the nurses." River laughed, easing the tension in the air.

"I feel bad for us. You're on medical leave, I don't wanna see you walking around the compound until next week. Get out." Eric left the room, talking to the guards standing on the outside. Orders were to do a quick visit to the infirmary to make Chris look less… Tortured, and to prepare the truck for transfer. They had to leave in half an hour.

Kate and River watched as the factionless was dragged out of the room, a few drops of blood leaving a track. No one would clean that. It would be a reminder for a long time. 

"I need a shower before heading out. Kate, come with me?" Eric asked. 

"Sure, I can't go to Candor like this either." She said a quick goodbye to River, thanking him for the company. They wanted to grab a coffee soon and get to know each other better.

"Eric, you're not invited. I wanna get to know our ambassador and talk shit about you." River barely saw her because of his responsibilities to the patrol units in the loading docks or outside of the compound. Now that he got a chance to spend some time with her, he already liked her and had a feeling Kate and him would become good friends.

"Who said I wanna have coffee with you? I feel sorry for her, she's too polite to say no to you."

"Ignore him. I'd love to finally get to know you. Text me about it, okay?" Kate checked the time. "We gotta move fast, see you soon, River."

Kate and Eric went one way, while River wanted to go look for one of his friends who worked in the Armory. As they quickly walked in the direction of the leader's apartment, she couldn't help but notice one thing, Eric always matched her pace, never leaving her behind to follow him. It wasn't the first time, that was nice of him.

Once inside of his apartment, Eric ran to the shower and Kate decided that the occasion asked for all the formalities. She wasn't just going as the ambassador but as the one who allowed things to go as far as they went. Wanting to look the part, she opted for the full uniform, which was similar to the one leaders worn.

Almost bumping into each other as they walked out of their bedrooms, they realized both shared the same idea. Eric was wearing his full uniform too.

"I thought you were going for the Candor look."

"Not this time. I'll leave that to the council's meeting on Friday." She smiled at him. "Ready to go?"

"Let's get this over with." 

Upon reaching the front door, Eric turned around, making her stop, too. The leader considered something for a moment.

"We tried everything but you were the one person who got any information out of him." He stepped closer, standing a few inches away from her and fixing the collar of her jacket without a warning. "I know you're struggling with what other people think, asking yourself if you're less of a soldier than the rest, but I see you, Kate, and you're Dauntless through and through. Never forget that."

Half of her job was considering what other people thought, especially about her faction, so it was hard not to look for validation. She understood what Eric was saying, she didn't need anyone's approval but it was good to know there were people who believed in her capabilities. It was time she stopped doubting herself and embraced everything that came with the job. Soldier and diplomat.

"It's tough sometimes but I can kick ass with my diplomacy and my fists ." She repeated what he told her that morning at the training room. "Thanks, Eric." 

"Anytime."

Transporting the factionless was a joint effort. It required three armored trucks, one leading the way with guards, a prisoner transport vehicle in the middle, and another unit behind. Eric was the driver for the middle one, Kate was in the passenger seat and, in the back, four guards were keeping Chris company. Candor wasn't too far away but they knew that the trip back would be in the dark.

When they approached Candor's headquarters, known as the Merciless Mart, they were met with the sight of another team of Dauntless soldiers standing next to Jack Kang. A few prying eyes observing in the distance. It was quite a fuss. 

Wait until they see Chris' current state.

Kate got out first, considering it the best call. Candor's leader and Eric didn't get along well and the whole situation was already delicate. Holding the prisoner's file with one hand, which included all the discoveries made so far, she reached to shake Jack's hand. This time, she withheld her serene smile from making an appearance.

"Kate, it's always good to see you. Although, I wish the situation was different." Jack eyed the Dauntless leader approaching. "Eric, it hasn't been long enough."

A bit too honest.

"We can agree on something."

Feeling that the situation could escalate quickly, she decided to pitch in. 

"Here's the file with all the information gathered. The first few pages are from his years as a dependant in Abnegation, there's a couple of transcripts too from today." Jack took the file carrying the smile she knew too well.

"Candor appreciates all the effort done by Dauntless to deal with the situation. Hopefully, this puts us one step closer to solving the factionless issue." He paused, signaling for a young Candor woman to approach. 

"All that's left is getting your statements under the truth serum, it won't take long. Eric, you can follow her inside." Jack stepped closer to the ambassador. "Kate, I have the time to personally take your statement, shall we?"

That was the part Kate was dreading. Protocol required a statement from the main people of interest under the truth serum. She had only been under it once when she got sworn in as the ambassador. It gave her a killing headache.

"Lead the way."

Jack Kang's office was the polar opposite of the one designated to Abnegation's leaders. From the ceiling to the ground, everything was black and white marble, expensive and grand. 

Approaching his desk, the leader opened a small suitcase containing doses of the truth serum. It was one hell of a big needle. She wasn't scared of them but couldn't deny that they hurt.

"If you had come earlier today, I'd have found a way to keep Eric occupied for a while so you and I could catch up. We haven't done that in a while." Jack suggested, thankfully she wasn't under the serum yet.

"I always enjoy our talks." Kate smiled at him, sitting in the comfy leather chair in front of his desk and mentally preparing for the headache ahead. 

"Enjoyment is the keyword here." Jack approached her, creating some space between piles of paper so that he could sit at the top of his desk, a few inches away from her. "It's a shame that you decided to end our arrangement… We used to have so much fun."

"It was too risky." Jack's fingers ghosted over the side of her face, high on her cheekbone and then dipped lower all the way to her plump lips. "You know it."

"I do, and if you had chosen Candor, you would've fit in just fine. A leadership track on the horizon, surely." His fingers now traced her collarbone.

Fine wasn't enough , Eric knew that about her but it seemed like Jack didn't.

"I'm Dauntless through and through. I could say you would've been a good soldier but there's no need to be Candor to spot that lie." His hand dropped.

"Yes, I much prefer justice over brute force. No offense."

"None taken." At that, he looked disappointed but accepted defeat, for now. So, he let the truth serum run through her veins.

There was nothing to hide. Dauntless had followed the procedure to a dot. Everything was just a formality, boring questions starting from the moment of the attack at Candor that left River injured until the first vote to torture him. Unavoidably, her gun became one of the subjects as well.

"So, you thought it was better to use this form of interrogation instead of waiting for the serum?"

"Yes, new attacks were imminent. He could've had valuable information that could've saved lives. Still, he said nothing." She replied, her head pounding like it was being beaten by someone.

"Then, you found out he was Divergent. Instead of voting yes , you decided to just talk to him. Why not try that the day before?" 

That was the only part that didn't make sense to the leader. Why did she only attempt that on the last day?

"As you know, he was interrogated first. It wasn't too different from what I did. Mine was more of a diplomatic approach? Sure, but it only worked cause we discovered his identity, which piqued his interest. Also, he clearly didn't want another round of beating. That made him more collaborative."

"So, you're saying that talking to him before wouldn't have produced results?"

"I will never know for certain but I believe not."

That was the tricky thing about the serum: you need to ask the right questions. The truth was that she didn't even think about talking to the factionless man before. That confidence only appeared on the last day.

"Do you believe you did everything in your power to get answers?"

"Yes. Everyone involved followed the procedure. We exhausted all of our options considering the amount of time we had." Jack nodded.

"Let's go back to your missing gun. After he questioned you about it, did you have time to figure out anything else before coming here?

"No, I wanted to talk to Four. As the Head of the Control Room, he's been investigating it, rewinding the cameras, but it's been one dead end after the other. There's Lauren, too, I haven't had the chance to ask if her assistant saw anything. I'll continue to investigate once we're done here."

"Do you think this is a targeted attack against you or is it about the council?"

"Both are possible. I don't know." That was the terryfying truth.

"Last question, do you believe Dauntless has the means to solve the factionless issue? Can your faction protect Chicago?"

"Absolutely." There was no doubt about it, she just wasn't sure how many would've to die before achieving that.

"We're done here. The serum should be wearing off soon. I'll get you some water." Jack stopped the recording device. It was the easiest way for the truth serum to be diluted in the bloodstream. Still, she'd be talking too many truths for a while longer.

Kate took a moment to observe Jack. He wasn't too tall but carried himself in  a way that made him seem that way. Silky black hair, formal attire, and a serious expression that usually goes away when he talks to her. Jack Kang was powerful, trusted, and decent in bed most of the time. Secretly, even if she had chosen Candor, the woman didn't believe there would've been a relationship there. He didn't fall in love with her but there was a one-sided attraction. For a year, Kate had him wrapped around her fingers.

Finishing the glass of water, the ambassador stood up, the headache wouldn't give in for a while and the room was swimming a bit. Nonetheless, she just wanted to climb into the armored truck and go home.

"Thank you for taking the time, Jack. I hope Candor manages to make a breakthrough in this case." She extended her hand. "I'll see you here on Friday. It's gonna be a long meeting."

He shook her hand, holding on for a little longer than needed.

"You'll be in the spotlight. I'll do my best to make it easy on you." Jack offered.

"That's too kind but I'm sure I can take it. You should worry about Erudite and Abnegation. The relationship seems to have taken a turn for the worse."

"I'm aware. It's nothing new but it needs attention. Although, I'm not sure I'll be able to tackle that issue tomorrow. It's just a lot for one day."

Kate nodded, making her way to the heavy door, Jack staying behind to wrap things up, it was the end of his shift but he still had to ensure everything was okay with the new addition to Candor's cells.

She cracked open the door to leave when he interrupted her.

"Kate, one last thing. If you ever change your mind about our agreement… We could still have a lot of fun. No one will know."

"Have a good night, Jack."

Stepping out and closing the door, Kate immediately felt a presence behind her. Turning around, angry gray eyes were staring at her. Eric had heard the conversation. She was so screwed.

"You were fucking him ? Of all people, you chose the smart mouths' leader?" He was seething.

"Eric, someone could hear us! Please, don't bring this up now." She half shouted and half whispered. Her head was pounding, the truth serum was still cursing through her veins. It was the worst moment to be interrogated.

The corridors of Candor were empty. It was past 8 o'clock and everyone's shift was over. Only Dauntless guards remained guarding the main doors and the cells. A few faces that she recognized. Eric stopped at a dark and empty hallway, gesturing to a space between two walls. When she didn't follow, his irritation grew.

"Fine by me. We can discuss this in the middle of the fucking hallway." He snarled.

"You just wanna talk now 'cause I'm still feeling the effects of the truth serum. Don't play coy."

"True. I need answers and there's no way you're gonna tell me anything back at Dauntless." The leader started pacing around, growing impatient. 

"What makes you think that? I've never lied to you. Of course, you were not supposed to know. Nobody knows. But, please, ask away! I prefer to tell you everything than have you making assumptions." She decided it was best to follow him, leaning against the wall and trying to make the world stop spinning. 

Eric stood right in front of her, their chests almost touching from the close proximity. 

"Are you in love with him or was it just about getting a good fuck?" Eric had no qualms.

"Love? Sex? It's not about any of that." She let out a weak laugh, so tired and so pissed off for getting caught, especially by him. "I've no feelings for him. Never had. And, believe me, there are enough men at Dauntless that could give me a good time."

At that, Eric didn't know if he felt relieved or not.

"Then, I don't see why. Tell me, Kate, why would you risk your career for him?"

"It's not about Jack ." She almost spits his name. "It's about me . It's power , Eric. Everything in this city is about power . Every faction has power over something, and every member of the council appears to have the same level of significance but that's not true. Everyone trusts him. Have his respect and you'll rise in the council. So, that's what I did."

It was admirable how Kate never failed to surprise him.

"Much is talked about you being the youngest leader at Dauntless. But you've got no idea how hard it is to be the youngest ambassador. Especially from Dauntless. Everyone else thinks we're just Erudite's lap dogs ." She leaned forward, getting even closer to him. "I'll never settle for that."

Caleb Prior had reminded them of it just a few days ago.

"It happened last year, right? You had a lot of meetings at Candor. Really long ones." Eric suddenly realized.

"Yeah, but it ended before the new year. I ended it."

"Did the sex get boring?" He had a wicked smile to mask what was truly hidden inside.

The audacity! Eric was walking a very dangerous line.

"It was boring, decent at best. It helped scratch an itch but that's it." She leaned even closer. "Bad sex or not, it got dangerous. We almost got caught and it didn't matter anymore if I had him wrapped around my little fingers."

"And now? Did you decide to have some fun while giving your statement?"

"No, stop saying things like that." There was a pause and her mind suddenly wondered something for the first time. "Why? Are you asking as a leader or do you have second intentions?"

"Second intentions? With you?"

"Yes, with me." They were face to face, one movement and their noses would touch. "Why do you treat me so differently? I can tell, everyone can. What do you want from me? Are we just partners? Friends? Are you looking for fun ?"

What if it was just for fun? There was something about that possibility that made her feel disappointment.

He put his hands on her shoulders and slowly pushed her against the wall, trapping her between his arms. There was only their rapid breaths, darkness, and an empty corridor. Eric leveled his eyes with hers. After all, the eyes are the windows to the soul.

"Because I see you, Kate." He wanted her to see him, too. One of his hands brushed off a strand of hair from her face and, unlike earlier with Jack, this time the gesture made something stir in her core. "And someone like you deserves so much more than just fun. Trust me, I could give you fun, but this is not about it."

Her throat felt dry, her head was spinning and it wasn't the serum's fault. What did he want? She couldn't deny that Eric intrigued her in many ways. She wanted to know him, too. She appreciated the way he truly saw her. Would he be willing to put his walls down for her?

"Then, what is it about, Eric? Tell me, please."

For a moment, he leaned forward, touching their foreheads together. His body was still burning from jealousy, yes, he was jealous. Also, mad at how reckless she had been and relieved to know there wasn't any real competition. It wasn't about passion or lust. It was power. He could give her that and so much more. Yet, he was scared . Afraid of his own secrets and how she would react to them. Scared to be vulnerable, too. Kate had already seen him caught off guard so many times. 

"Not yet. Not tonight. There are things you don't know. I'm still figuring things out, is that enough?"

Kate caught a flash of something passing through his eyes. Vulnerability, maybe. Earlier today, she had realized that no one had ever treated her the way that Eric does. Not Jack and not even Jace. Eric made her feel seen, less alone. He always fell into her pace, trusted her judgment, and encouraged her to kick everyone's ass, in a diplomatic way or not. There was something there. That made her curious. Hopeful, even.

"Yes, that's enough."

After they had gotten back, Eric went for a meeting with Harrison, leaving her alone in his apartment. For a moment, the thought of watching a movie to distract from everything seemed like the right call but the pounding in her head had other plans. So, she washed the day away and crawled to bed. No Eric in sight. Maybe it was better this way, no energy was left for another round of questions or feeling thrown into the air.

The next morning, the air was still strange between them when they bumped into each other in the living room, both sleeping in instead of working out in the training room. Kate felt like she had been run over by a truck. Was it a side effect from the serum or the moment with Eric? They were both still under the serum when it happened, so they were true to each other. Both had openly declared that their relationship held a lot of weight, but still, Eric made it clear that there were things standing in the way. The ambassador could wait.

None of them said anything at first, deciding to stick to their own routine but, before Eric could leave, he decided that uncomfortable silence wasn't the way.

"Is your head still hurting? I can walk you to the infirmary."

"Honestly, feels like I've been ran over by a truck." She attempted a laugh. "But I don't wanna go there. Too many trips in such a short time. I'll be okay. And you?"

"It's worn off. Truth serum isn't fun."

Fun .

That word had a whole different meaning last night.

"I wasn't saying" In a rare moment, Eric was lost for words. She knew that it wasn't on purpose.

"Relax, I got it." She opened her mouth but hesitated for a moment. "About last night… I meant everything that I said but not because of the truth serum. So, if you wanna know anything else, just ask, deal?"

He approached her, feeling guilt settling in his throat.

"Deal. I meant everything I said, too, but I know I was harsh." Was he trying to apologize? "I wish it didn't happen that way. I did take advantage of the truth serum in your system."

"I accept your apology." His eyebrows shot up, Eric was incapable of saying the proper words. "I don't ever wanna lie to you, Eric. Partners in crime, friends, colleagues… Whatever happens, I wanna be able to talk to you."

"You know I'm keeping something from you. I said as much last night." The tension was back in his shoulders. The truth serum made him share too much.

"I know, that doesn't mean you've to lie. Just say you can't talk about it. I'll respect that. And, soon, I hope you can share whatever is going on." Kate smiled. She knew trust was earned but, in this case, she didn't know that Eric's hesitation came from a different place now.

"Okay, I'll see you later." He started to back away.

"Tell Harrison I said hi." She winked at him, the dots were slowly starting to connect in her head. After all, she was pretty clever herself.

Friday came with a scorching heat, which wasn't the most favorable weather for a heated discussion. Everyone would get more tense and irritated no matter how strong the air-conditioner system was at Candor. Every council member, from leaders to ambassadors, shadows in training included, was headed to the faction for an emergency meeting.

The city council gathered in person once a month, always rotating the hosting faction. Unless it was something of extreme importance, only one leader had to attend and, in some cases, they could just send their ambassador. That meant Eric constantly missed these meetings, not having the patience or the time for it, while Kate was in every single one of them. One day, as the faction leader, he wouldn't have a choice. Better to enjoy while it lasts. 

There were other events, such as special dinners, that he was dragged into. At least there was enough to drink to get through without wanting to murder someone. Kate found most events to be fun, except the ones in Abnegation.

Considering the nature of the emergency, every leader was asked to attend. Even River was able to go back to work for the day, as he was the one who witnessed one of the main attacks so far, and almost didn't make it.

Kate and the leaders were sharing two armored trucks, each with a heavily armed driver. There was a silent agreement to make the meeting as short as possible since all of them gathering in Candor represented a high risk not only at the meeting but for the factions left with no leaders, only other higher-ups to keep things running. At Dauntless that meant Four. It wasn't very reassuring.

Right now, Kate was sitting in the back with River who was telling a story of being chased by ducks in Amity, which made him fall in a hole. Eric called shotgun again and was dangerously close to kicking his friend out of the car.

"Kate, can you stop asking him to tell stories? It's annoying." Eric huffed.

"C'mon, they're fun! Amity is a lovely place, peaceful as expected, it's good to go there to get some fresh air. Unwind a bit. Of course, it's better when there're no factionless running around with our guns in the woods." She turned around to face River. "Have you ever tried the peace serum? I've always stayed clear of it."

"River, if you tell the story about the cornfield, I'll leave you here to the factionless." Eric was kidding, wasn't he?

"A cornfield? What happened there?" That sounded strange.

"Um… Let's just say it involves a cornfield, lots of peace serum, and a lack of clothes." River wasn't gonna risk it.

"Oh, I see. Actually, I don't wanna picture it in my head."

"And it was raining." The redhead couldn't help himself, his mouth has a life of its own.

"River, shut up." The blond leader cut in.

"It's too late, I can see it now." She laughed, River was a bit crazy and they were gonna be great friends because of it. "Wait, was that before or after you transferred?"

"It was last year." 

His first year as a leader, that was something. On that note, they arrived at Candor, where several vehicles from other factions were already filling the streets. Kate climbed out of the truck fixing her most Candor look. A button-up, office pants, and not-so-practical high heels, all in black. She usually paired it up with a blazer but it was too hot for that.

They quickly made their way inside to escape the shining sun, as everyone else. Along the way, she greeted a few known faces, including the Priors, who were talking to Harrison. The faction leader arrived a few minutes earlier with Lauren, who was nowhere to be seen. 

"Excuse me for a moment." Harrison caught up with them. "Kate, you'll be sitting with us next to Eric instead of with the other ambassadors, alright? They'll be asking you both lots of questions, so it'll be easier this way."

"Understood, thank you. I'll go say hi to some people and be right there." He nodded, quickly returning to the Abnegation leaders.

"I'll see you inside." Eric being Eric left quickly in the direction of the meeting room, just hoping to get it over with and return to Dauntless at once.

"Kate, I saw some old friends from Amity, be right back." River was bouncing with energy, which made her chuckle. There was no stopping him.

"You're looking very Candor, Kate." Jack Kang's voice appeared from behind. She whipped her head around to see the important man. "I can't help but wonder what could've been." He whispered closely. 

"Good morning, Jack." She shook his hand. "That won't do you any good."

"I know, don't worry about it. I have to make some rounds but we'll be starting soon, help yourself to some refreshments, courtesy of Amity, it's boiling hot outside."

"Will do, thank you." Kate left quickly, searching for the coffee table, any excuse to avoid extending that awkward conversation.

Just like Amity provided food for the whole city, they were responsible for the coffee break. Lots of colorful options were displayed on a big table in the corner of the main room, and a few people were already enjoying them. The focus seemed to be on cakes and juices, good options for the current weather. No bread with peace serum was allowed, they didn't need loopy council members making difficult decisions.

Kate realized she was a bit hungry, having only had time in the morning to grab some coffee, an espresso, which wasn't her favorite by a long shot. In a rare sight, she saw that Jeanine Matthews was also trying to cool down from the sunny day.

"Good morning, Mrs. Matthews. It's good to see you." Kate politely greeted.

"Kate, you and your faction have been quite the talk these days. I sure hope you've good news to share. Erudite can't have armed factionless trying to steal our serums."

"I assure you that we're doing everything in our power. We can schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss further security measures but it would help if Erudite allowed more cameras inside." Kate knew that would send her running away.

"You know how we feel about that. My office will be in touch if there's a need for a meeting but I feel like you and I will have things to talk about soon enough. Now, excuse me, I see Kang over there." Jeanine quickly made her escape with an assistant following suit.

That wasn't mysterious at all. 

Brushing it off as another weird conversation with the Erudite leader, Kate focused on the food in front of her. Picking a slice of cake for herself, she decided to bring something for Eric, too, maybe that would calm his nerves. Before she left the table, she couldn't help but notice a young man in Candor's clothes staring at her.

She made her way to the Dauntless seatings. The meeting room was spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows that covered the east wall. There was a huge rectangular table with microphones where the leaders sat. Every seat was marked with a nameplate. In the back, closer to the south wall, there was a long table for the ambassadors and, sometimes, their shadows. 

"Here, maybe the sugar will improve your mood." Eric looked offended for a second before taking an angry bite of the chocolate cake she had put right in front of him.

"It's the only decent food Amity knows how to make." An acid remark as always.

"I'm not sure they would appreciate your review." She sat a glass of orange juice in front of him. "It's not bitter like you." She opened a big smile to annoy him even more. 

"River is starting to influence you."

"River is really nice, I'll take it as a compliment." Before she could sit down next to him, where the plate said Kate - Dauntless Ambassador , the young Candor from before approached her.

"Excuse me. Hi, I'm Andrew. This is my first meeting, and I don't think I've seen you around before." He couldn't be older than 17 with slick brown hair and black glasses. He was understandably nervous. Imagine having your first day during an emergency meeting?

"Oh, hello, you're shadowing Candice?" That was the Candor ambassador. "I haven't had the chance to talk to her today. Did she tell you to introduce yourself to everyone?"

"Yes, I was the first here today, I met almost everyone but the Dauntless leaders and their ambassador."

"It's important to make these connections from the start. I don't see most of the leaders now but Eric, one of the Dauntless leaders, is right here. So, you can go ahead." She gave him an encouraging smile while trying to discreetly signal for Eric to look less intimidating.

Andrew made the mistake of extending his hand for Eric to shake, which ended up awkwardly hanging in the air. 

"Um, hello, Eric. Welcome to Candor, I'm Andrew, ambassador Candice's shadow." He decided to put his hand down.

"Are you done?"

"Uh, yes?"

"I'm sure you'll make a great ambassador." He scoffed.

Andrew looked a little green.

"It's okay, you're doing great. Not all of them act this way." She gave Eric a pointed look, he shouldn't scare the kid on their first day.

"Don't sugarcoat it for him."

"Do you see the Dauntless ambassador anywhere? Oh, I forgot her name. Candice told me to be careful around her." Andrew asked.

"I'm sorry?" Kate was confused, while Eric quickly realized what was going on and, to add fuel to the fire, swiftly hid her nameplate from the seat next to his. 

"I'm not seeing her around. Her name is Kate." It was the most entertaining thing that was gonna happen in this meeting. So, Eric was enjoying every second of it. 

"Why did Candice tell you that?" Kate might as well try to get an answer.  

"She just kept saying how the ambassador has strong ties with Jack Kang. And you know, if Kang approves of you, life is much easier around here. I only met him once, he didn't seem very interested."

"I can't imagine why, you've such a great personality." Eric snickered.

"Eric, maybe you should finish that cake before the meeting starts." She said between her teeth. It was a way of telling him to shut it. "I'm sure you'll get to meet her very soon."

"I guess so. Candice is calling for me but I'll see you around, right? By the way, I forgot to ask your name." Andrew looked a little better. He didn't knew what as coming.

"I'm Kate, it's nice to meet you." 

Taking that as a cue, Eric soundly put the name place back on the table, right next to her. Andrew couldn't help but read it.

"Kate? As in…"

"The ambassador. Yes." She leaned in closer. "Here's a tip for your first day. Just because you're Candor it doesn't mean you've to say everything that comes to mind, be discreet, especially around other factions."

"I'm so sorry." Beads of sweat started to appear in his forehead.

"Tell Candice I said hi and that I'll remember her opinion about me." She had a wicked smile that mirrored Eric's.

With that, Andrew ran away to the ambassadors' table and Kate sat down.

"He won't last a week." Kate shared her opinion.

"I think he's gonna quit right now."

The meeting lasted longer than expected. And the expectations had already been high. By the end of it, the sun was peeking and everyone wanted some lunch but at their own factions.

Dauntless had been the center of attention. They shared the number of firearms missing, the number retrieved, and how many soldiers were dead or injured. Thankfully, at least there were no civilian casualties. River recalled the attack in Candor and they discussed Chris but kept some details at bay. 

Turns out that Harrison erased from the transcript the information that the factionless man gave about a war bunker in Chicago. It was most likely a lie but they would discreetly look for it. There was no need for panic. For now, they were rolling with the idea that somehow the factionless were stealing fertilizer from Amity to use as explosives. It was easier to say that Amity was wrong in their numbers than to affirm that Erudite was missing chemicals from their labs. They were too organized and guarded for that.

Another thing that didn't need to come to light for everyone was Kate's missing gun. Jack Kang knew about it and chose to say nothing. It made the faction look bad, so Dauntless appreciated it. Kate and Eric spoke about the procedure that caused Chris to be tortured twice, not missing how a council member or two looked worried at that, or even afraid. 

If they can't respect you, make them fear you. Eric told her that. He wasn't wrong.

As the Dauntless group finally made it to the streets of Candor, wanting nothing more than to climb into their trucks, Jack Kang made one last appearance. 

"Kate?" The leader approached, making the ambassador stop and Eric chose a strategic point to listen in. "I was hoping you could help me with something. I'd like to know what's going on regarding the factionless on a more… Weekly basis. I understand if you can't come to our faction but a report would be appreciated."

The invitation had a double meaning. 

"I see. Well, I can send a report by email with the information we're able to share with other factions. Maybe at the end of each week." She offered. Kate had no interest in continuing their former arrangement.

"Are you sure it can't be in person?" He pressed once more and Eric, who was watching on the sidelines, was getting more irritated. Could Jack feel it? The tension radiating from him?

"I'm sure. Have a good day, Jack." She gave him a court nod, walking faster to join Eric and the others, and not giving the man another chance to speak.

"He doesn't know when to quit." Eric pointed out, whispering in her ear. The others didn't need to hear that.

"No, but I do. Leave him to his losing fight. At some point, he'll get over it." She climbed onto the back of the truck.

"River, you've got the front seat." Eric decided to sit next to her, closer than necessary considering all the space. And if, for the entire time, their shoulders were bumping and nobody moved, well, no one said anything about it.

 Sometimes, Eric could almost touch the power he craved so badly. It was on nights like this, when Harrison would drown his feelings in a bottle of bourbon in the darkness of his office, that the younger leader saw his turn getting closer. But Eric wouldn't be like the older man. 

Eric thrived under pressure and, so far, his ambition knew no limits. Harrison was caving in and, secretly, Eric wished that the man would reach rock bottom soon to finally get it over with. It's what happened to Max, anyway. The former faction leader got scared of what they were planning to do. So, he opted for an earlier retirement, offing himself at the Chasm and taking some secrets with him. That was the Dauntless way.

But other secrets were alive and well, prospering and getting closer to bring a new dawn to Chicago. If Harrison couldn't take it, Eric could. All he had to do was say the word. Eric would gladly take such responsibility, there was no looking back anymore.

"She's thinking that we should cut some corners. Speed the timeline." Harrison took another sip. "It's the factionless fault. They keep hiding in Abnegation, it's two birds with one stone."

"Cutting corners iisn't the right answer. We waited for so long, being reckless now will do us no good." Eric wanted nothing more than to put the plan in motion but he wasn't stupid.

Harrison nodded. "For now, let's focus on retrieving our guns, finding out the traitor, and see if there's a war bunker somewhere in Chicago. It would be ridiculous… But you never know."

"Jeanine is very paranoid about Erudite's supplies. If she says nothing is missing, there could be some truth to this story."

"And Kate? Did you talk to her?"

Eric could feel a nerve twitch. After their last talk, Eric started to think that Kate didn't deserve the possibility of failure. If Dauntless tried and failed, it would be on Eric and Harrison but if she knew about it, she could go down with them. The leader hated that idea. If he kept her out of it and succeeded… That seemed safer. At the same time, he wanted her by his side.

"Tomorrow."

"What do you think it's gonna be her answer? You've been spending a lot of time together."

"I think our ambassador would do anything for the faction but only if she believes in it. I've seen what she can do." If anything, discovering Kate's secret was the proof he needed. Even if that made him burn with anger inside.

"I guess by this time tomorrow we'll have our answer. Just remember, Eric…"

"I know, she has a choice. I'd never take that away from her." He cut in.

Eric could make her his queen. They would be a force to be reckoned with. All that was left to do was make her see that.

Would she?

Chapter Text

"This is how villains are made

So easily we're persuaded

When the lines are blurred and faded

No one ever starts that way

But this is how villains are made" — Madalen Duke, 'How Villains Are Made'.

The next day, Eric was committed to not leaving Kate alone. Dangers were lying inside just as much as the outside. Four had finally given a full report on the camera footage, or the lack of it, from the day the keycard was made and the night that followed when the unknown person broke into her apartment. The Control Room had nothing to work with except for the fact it was an inside job. So, they were slowly going to put everyone under the truth serum. But what if they didn't ask the right questions?

The young leader woke his roommate up before the break of dawn, Kate could use all the help she could get. So, they spent an hour working out together, punching the sandbag until her knuckles bled, pulling weights until her muscles burned, and jogging around the training room despite the protest of her injury. They agreed that sparring was a bad call, it was better to wait until the stitches were fully healed. Still, he did show a movement or two to escape an attacker. 

By the end of it, Kate wanted nothing more than to crawl back to bed, which wasn't possible. So, after a freezing shower, both made their way to the coffee shop in the Pit, early enough that there weren't many people around, especially on a Saturday. Most didn't work on the weekend, that’s when the Pit came to life with all of its stores, but the higher-ups continued dealing with the factionless threat rapidly growing.

"Is today the day you're finally gonna buy those donuts? Gotta keep your end of the bet." Kate playfully bumped their shoulders together. "I'll pay for the coffees, 'cause I'm a woman of my word."

"And I'm a man of my word. Chocolate donuts coming right up." He winked at her. 

They placed their order, getting a curious look in return from the barista. While they were waiting, a long neon blue hair caught Kate's attention. Lauren's assistant had just walked in. Sophie was a soldier who went through the last initiation and finished in the Top 5. 

"Oh, that's Lauren's assistant. I've been meaning to ask one of them about that day in the Administration. Can you take our orders? Be right back!" Eric nodded to her. 

Sophie was waiting in line, probably to order for herself and the female leader.

"Morning, Sophie, how are you doing?" Kate was used to seeing the young woman during leaders' meetings, yet they weren't close. "I just wanted to ask you something. Did Lauren talk to you about the day you went to the Administration? For some files?"

"Hi, Kate. I'm good, just getting Lauren's daily dose of caffeine." She smiled, showing her upper frenulum piercing in her gums. The girl secretly hoped for that opening spot at leadership training, but no one offered it yet. "Yeah, she mentioned that. I remember the day clearly. There were so many files from previous initiations to go through!"

They were getting closer to the front of the line.

"I can imagine the mess. So, do you remember anything or anyone out of place? Anything strange at all."

"Everything was normal. There's a lot of tension right now but no one seemed suspicious. I went ahead with a few boxes and Lauren stayed behind for more." Sophie looked deep in thought. "Sorry, I can't be much help."

"It's okay. I guess the mystery continues." Kate watched Eric take their order and gestured to a table in the corner. "Thanks, Sophie."

Deep inside, the lack of information was slowly making her panic. The ambassador felt like a sitting duck waiting for someone to show up and kill her. There were no leads, she didn't know for how long her luck was going to last. Right now, the only thing she could do was have breakfast with her partner in crime and try to understand their changing dynamic.

"Are these my victory donuts?" She bit into one before sitting down in front of him. "I love the taste of victory." 

"I could say the same about my coffee. Tastes so much better after winning, you couldn't do it even cheating."

He recalled how she started to race him in the rain with no warning. 

"I didn't cheat, I just leveled the playing field. And my victory was much more difficult. You ran from one side of the loading dock to the other." She took a sip of her sugary drink, very different from his. 'I raced you for a few blocks all the way to the top of a 6-story building."

"And you played smart, sending me to that rusty ladder." He took a bite of his own donut. Probably, Eric loved chocolate as much as she did.

"Not my fault if you don't know the outskirts of Dauntless well."

Eric's answer was a roll of his eyes. It did hurt his ego but if he was gonna lose to anyone, it's better to be her. At least it wasn't Four again.

"Next time, I'll leave you eating dust." Eric wanted to have the final say.

"Good luck with that. Once my leg is fine, I'm gonna kick your ass, starting in the training room." She winked at him.

"If you can do that, I'll pay for our breakfast at every meeting until the end of the year." He challenged her. Eric wanted her to succeed, even if it hurt his ego and Kate loved a challenge. Defeating him also meant she had a better chance in an altercation with whoever was after her. That would make him sleep better at night.

"Deal, don't regret it later."

For a while, they fell into an easy silence. Kate was getting her morning dose of sugar, going for another donut, while Eric looked at her coffee order with a mix of disgust and curiosity.

"How can you even drink that?"

She looked at her plastic cup. It was a caramel frappuccino, her favorite drink, with an extra shot of coffee and lots of whipped cream.

"Wanna give it a try? It's delicious, I promise." Kate put the cup in front of him, giving an encouraging smile.

"Looks like poison." He took a sip while Kate carefully analyzed his features, looking for any sign that he secretly loved it. It was blank. 

"So? Did you hate it?"

Ah, there it was. Before returning it to her, he took a second sip.

"It's gonna slowly kill you."

"Shut up, you liked it!" She laughed. "Next time, I'm gonna order one for you, too."

"Wait, did Eric like the frappuccino?" Someone yelled not too far away, making Kate yelp in surprise and attract more attention to themselves from other customers. Before she could even turn around, River sat down next to her, and Eric gave him a deadly look. He didn't want company right now.

"I knew it! Eric has a huge sweet tooth. He likes to play tough with his boring coffee order but now he can't deny it." River gave her a side hug. "Kate, thank you for this. It's gonna give me ammo to annoy him for the rest of the weekend."

"River, you can't do that!" Kate looked exasperated.

"Do what? Annoy him?"

"No, just suddenly yell at people like that. It almost gave me a heart attack! But feel free to annoy him all you want." She smiled playfully, hearing Eric let out a huff and taking an angry bite out of his donut.

"You two shouldn't be friends. That's a constant headache waiting for me." Eric had to hide a smile. Truthfully, River and Kate were the only people he cared about at all. And it was a good thing that they were getting along.

"It's too late!" River stole the last donut from the plate. "You'll never get rid of us!"

In the back, a barista yelled the redhead's name.

"That's my order. I gotta run to do a quick patrol check in Amity but I'll see you two later." River hopped on his feet, too much energy for the early hour.

"Try not to end up in the cornfield again." Eric snickered.

"That was only once, okay? I learned my lesson about the serum."

"River, later you gotta tell me how you guys became friends. I just can't imagine it." Kate pointed out, stiffing a laugh.

"Oh, it's a funny story. Eric will deny everything but don't believe him, okay? Next time I'll tell you!" 

On that note, River disappeared to the other side of the shop.

"It's all a lie anyway." Eric deadpanned.

"Sure, you're denying it when River hasn't even told me yet. Your case isn't looking strong at all."

"C'mon, I got lots of paperwork and I know you do, too." Eric got up the moment she finished her breakfast. Kate started to follow him and he placed a hand on her shoulder blades, guiding her slowly to the exit while a few curious eyes watched. The whole interaction would be the talk of the weekend. It caused some anxiety in the back of her mind, but she pushed it down to just enjoy the moment, whatever it was.

Indeed, there were piles of paperwork for both of them, especially due to the Friday morning spent in Candor, which put them behind schedule. By 2 p.m., Kate was ready to throw her laptop at a wall. Some emails were incredibly frustrating, ambassadors and leaders asking questions about things that Dauntless had clarified multiple times at the meeting, literally just 24 hours ago.

At her floor, she was the only one working as the rest decided to somewhat enjoy the weekend. The clicking of keys in her laptop were the only sound filling the room and echoing down the hallway. She stopped for a second, cracking the joints of her fingers and looking around her office. It wasn't as big as Eric's but it wasn't small at all. Since she didn't stay at her home faction, Erudite, the ambassador never had many belongings, such as family pictures or books, it all stayed behind. So, her apartment and office lacked decor. Kate could fit her life inside a few duffel bags, maybe less if she didn't have so many clothes. It made her uncomfortable, she could feel the hole in her heart, it was a lonely life.

As heavy steps sounded in the hallway she wondered for a second if it was the mysterious person who's stolen her gun. Rising from her seat, Kate decided better to be safe than sorry, taking her new gun from the holster and putting the safety off, pointing at the opened door. As the steps grew closer, her heartbeat increased as well.

"I thought you were more of an ask-questions-first kind of girl." Eric said, appearing in the doorway. The gun pointed at him was a surprise but it didn't make him feel nervous, only reassured that Kate could act quickly and defend herself if the need arose.

Kate put the gun down, turned the safety back on, and slid it back in the holster.

 "Eric! You and River are trying to give me a heart attack today!" One of her hands found her rapid beating pulse in her chest. "No one is supposed to be here... Maybe I'm becoming paranoid."

"That's not paranoia. Honestly, I didn't even want you here by yourself but we gotta work and…" He hesitated. "I asked Four to keep the cameras on this floor in the main feed at all times, so someone is always watching. You won’t be alone.”

" Oh , thank you, that's… I mean, I don't like the idea of being watched but it's reassuring for now." 

"We'll get them, Kate. It'll be over soon." Eric stepped closer to her desk, looking her straight in the eyes, trying to appear confident even if they had no leads to go on.

"It's not that I don't believe you but I don't know where to look anymore. All I can do is wait for them to make a move." Kate left a frustrated sigh, starting to collect her things, she didn't have the energy for it anymore.

"They'll try something or slip up. When that happens, they're gonna wish they were dead. I promise you that." Kate slowly nodded.

"Did you eat anything? If you’re done, let’s have lunch." Eric offered, his intention was to come by earlier but everyone seemed to always want something from leadership and he was the only one available. Harrison had a hangover, River was probably dosed on peace serum in Amity, and Lauren had left around noon to do something that he didn't even care to listen to.

"I'm starving, let's go." Kate finished collecting her things while Eric explored her office, it was his first time there. 

"I'm shocked, it's not as messy as your bedroom."

"Don't worry, I'm keeping the extra room organized. I'm a decent roommate."

"As long as I don't find your Amity dresses in my living room, you can do whatever, I don't care. I want you to be comfortable there." Eric meant it. His apartment was spotless, still, it couldn't be easy for her. He could deal with a little mess while her life was upside down.

"Thanks, Eric. I mean it."

They walked out in silence and soon found themselves in Dauntless’ only diner. The duo decided to skip the Mess Hall, everyone in the faction knew that the weekend meant leftovers, unless you were a leader and could order straight from the kitchen, but Eric didn't want to be stuck in his apartment all day.

A booth in the corner was their choice. It was past lunchtime for most so things were quiet, only a few tables occupied by the soldiers that decided to sleep in, deservingly so after being on call for days straight. This time, Kate and Eric sat side by side, almost glued to one another.

She could definitely get used to it.

"I haven't been here in forever. I just don't have the time or the energy." Kate commented while looking at the menu brought by a girl she knew from her initiation class. 

There were too many options to choose from, definitely better than the Mess Hall.

"River usually drags me here on the weekend. I've tried almost everything on the menu, so stay away from the ribs, they taste like cardboard." 

"Really? For that many points? I think I'm going for a steak, I'm tired of carbs."

"You gotta build muscle." 

"Thanks, trainer, but I think one lunch without eating carbs won't be life or death for me." She snickered. 

"You'll remember this moment when you lose our next race." Eric called the waiter back.

"No, when I win you'll remember this and realize that I was right."

They placed their orders, Eric going for a burger with fries, while she chose the steak with a Caesar salad. Both opted for beers, as deserved after two hellish weeks.

As they waited for their food, Eric completely relaxed, forgetting about everything going on in Chicago just for a few minutes and enjoying the moment. Kate was right there and she was safe. Testing the limits, the leader put one of his arms on the back of their seat, bringing her closer and resting his hand on her opposite shoulder.

At that, she couldn't help but have a content smile on her face and lean her head back on his stretched arm. Who knew? Less than two weeks ago, Kate was nervous about working with him, now, they couldn't deny the connection carefully being built between them.

When lunch was served, the waiter blatantly stared at them, who didn't move from their spots. They would worry about it tomorrow if Kate didn't run away to the hills first. Eric didn't forget what he told Harrison the night before. The ambassador would know the truth before the end of the day and he had no idea what that would mean for them, he could only hope for some understanding.

His arm didn't move for the entire time, he could use the fork with his other hand, while Kate had moved a bit to be able to eat. Still, their legs remained pressed together. About mid-lunch, Eric caught something from the corner of his eye, a black fur running fast to where they were seated.

Oh, no. No way.

All of a sudden, Brave The Cat elegantly jumped on their table, sitting right in front of his plate. 

"Brave! I've been looking for you everywhere!" She moved closer to pet the cat. "You don't know, fur ball, but you were an important asset in an investigation."

Eric huffed, his lunch was being interrupted by that goddamn cat.

"Like I said, he was just walking like he owns the place." 

"It was a very important walk. If he could talk, Brave would tell us who stole my gun. Right, Brave? I know you would." She took a piece of her steak and offered it to the cat. "Here's your reward."

"Good, now you're talking to the cat and feeding it. It'll never leave."

Looking like Brave could understand the moody leader, the cat sat straighter, his yellow eyes looking deeply into Eric's gray ones. A staring contest of sorts.

"I think Brave knows you don't like him. And stop saying 'it' , a cat is not an object." 

"Well, I'd appreciate it if he could go bother someone else." 

Brave hissed and jumped off the table, making a beeline for the diner's kitchen.

"Now, that's unsanitary." Eric pointed out but was relieved that the feline would leave them alone.

"Pretty sure it's your fault though." She elbowed him playfully and stole a fry from his plate. "Did you see him staring at you? I think you're kindred spirits. Very similar."

Eric looked personally offended. 

"Me and that stupid cat? Outrageous." Eric smacked her hand lightly when she reached for another fry. "Stop stealing my fries, what happened to no carbs?"

"What happened to 'you need to build muscle, Kate' ? I'm following what you said. Besides, you stopped eating them." 

Touché.

"So, you're saying that I was right?" Eric asked.

"Don't let that get over your head. I'm saying that I don't wanna waste food." She stole another one, and he pushed the plate in her direction.

"Thanks, you can have my salad if you want it."

So, he stole the rest of her steak.

The walk back to his apartment was silent. There was no escape now. He had to tell her about Abnegation and Jeanine, and give her a choice that could destroy what they were slowly building. With that in mind, when Kate suggested watching Iron Man 3 , Eric agreed. It could wait a couple of hours. He would deal with it then.

When the credits rolled, Eric took a deep breath, bracing himself for what was ahead. Kate needed the truth, she deserved it, and they also needed an ambassador on their side. Or they would need to find someone else soon.

"Kate, I gotta talk to you." 

They were sitting on the middle of the couch, he had spent the last two hours with an arm around her while Tony Stark was being Tony Stark, and she commented about the movie at every chance she got. It took a fictional superhero movie from hundreds of years ago to make him realize that he didn't ever want to have another lonely movie session. Eric was tired of being lonely, too.

She turned his attention to him. "What's up? Did I talk too much?" 

"No, I always enjoy your movie review." He paused, sitting straight on the couch and dropping his arm from her shoulders. "Remember that thing I’ve been keeping from you? We need to talk about it now."

"Oh, really?" She sat straighter. "Okay, I'm listening."

"I need you to promise me something. You're gonna listen to everything before deciding on anything, okay? Don't just jump to conclusions. Let me explain."

Kate could feel the tension radiating from him and, for a moment, she considered telling him to forget about it and just enjoy the weekend. Except that it was clearly important, so she couldn't say it.

"I can do that. I promise." Kate gave him a reassuring smile.

So, Eric began.

The leader recalled being approached by Max during his first year of leadership. Jeanine Matthews wanted to change things. The Erudite leader was concerned about the divergents slipping through her fingers during initiation, mostly of them hiding in their own faction or going to Abnegation. It was safer that way. Still, a few failed initiation and ended up factionless and supported by Abnegation anyway. The public servants, the leaders of Chicago. 

In the city council, everyone could have an opinion but the decision always came down to Abnegation. When every other faction disagreed on something, they would carry a vote that needed to be unanimous to revert a decision. It was almost impossible to make that happen. So, Erudite, which was the polar opposite of Abnegation, was left very unhappy about most things.

Abnegation appeared to be selfless, although, it was undeniable that they had their own interests. That gave them free rein over Chicago while harboring the divergents that threatened the delicate balance of the system. The ones who didn't fit in could destroy hundreds of years of hard work.

That made her start working on a serum that would put Dauntless soldiers in a sleepwalking state, they would follow any orders, including attacking Abnegation, killing the council, their families and anyone standing in their way, especially the factionless. After overthrowing the government, Erudite and Dauntless would lead Chicago to a new dawn, using a new device to test every citizen and identify divergence. They would be executed but some would be spared for testing, Erudite wanted to erradicate divergence in the DNA once and for all. 

Chicago would thrive and anyone staying in their way would perish.

Kate stared at him with a blank expression, trying to understand all of it. Jeanine Matthews was always an arrogant woman, too smart, and Kate always had a feeling that she meant trouble. But not this. 

Eric was growing nervous by the minute. The silence made it feel like they were suspended in time. None of them moved or spoke. Until the ambassador finally broke the silence.

"You want to change things by bathing Chicago in blood? You…"

"Kate…"

"No, you talked and I listened even though that, by half of your speech, I wanted to punch you in the face. Now, shut the fuck up!" She got up from the couch, pacing around. "Overthrowing the government? Executing the people of Abnegation? You're talking about genocide!"

"Don't yell, someone could hear us." He tried to approach her but she kept creating a distance. 

"So, you don't want everyone at Dauntless to know that you plan to make them robots and assassinate 20% of Chicago's population. Who knows about it, then? And Max, why did he step down?"

"He couldn't do it anymore, I was just as surprised as everyone else."

"Eric, who knows about this?"

"Harrison and I, River knows we want Abnegation out of the council but chose to stay away from it. You have that choice, too. We need the ambassador on our side, making our relationship with Abnegation appear to be strong until we're ready to do what needs to be done. We need someone willing to work with Jeanine and convince Candor to take our side." He took a step back, realizing she needed space. "If you don't want to, you can have any job you want here. Harrison was very clear about it since day one, and I agree. You can go on with your life, you'll never receive the serum just like River."

River knew?

"Go on with my life? Eric, you're talking about genocide! You think I'll just be able to sleep at night? I know people there and I know our faction. Abnegation doesn't deserve to burn to the ground because of Jeanine's greed, and the people of Dauntless are here to protect the city, not to attack its citizens."

"They'll be protecting the city! Every day there are more factionless, more divergents and Abnegation protects them, protects their own interests. That will destroy our system. Destroy Chicago." He said exasperated. A part of him always knew that Kate wouldn't believe in their plan.

"No, Eric, what you're doing is wrong! And I won't stand by it. I'll not have their blood on my hands. I thought you and I were similar behind all of your walls, behind the mask of the cruel leader, but I was wrong." She darted to her room, it was getting harder to breathe. She needed to get away from him. 

"What are you doing?" Eric came running after her. 

"I'm getting the hell away from you!" She took her duffel bag and started to gather her things as she couldn't stay there any longer.

Something in Eric snapped.

"Kate, you think you and I are so different but you voted for that man to be tortured twice . The first time it happened you stood outside listening to his agonizing screams. And when it was over, remember what happened? You took care of my wounds, not his . You came back to my apartment, you stayed . Yesterday, you watched me torture him. So, don’t you dare play the role of an Old World saint. Cause you’ve got blood on your hands just like I do !" Eric had never used that tone with her. Did he want a screaming match? She could give him one.

She dropped the bag, turning around to face him. "You said it yourself, I’m Dauntless through and through. I knew what I signed up for when I jumped off that roof! But there’s a mile difference between torturing for information, which wasn’t my finest moment, I’ll give you that, and the genocide of an entire faction!"

The world was spinning and crashing down on her. She got closer to him, noses almost touching, their chests heaving.

"There are children there! Innocent, young children that we vowed to protect. I thought I had to protect our city from the unknown dangers outside of the fence. But it looks like the danger lies within, and I’ve been sleeping right next to him !" She yelled, her eyes burning, wanting to cry. That wasn't the Eric that she was getting to know.

"Who are you? Who the hell are you?" She pointed a finger to his chest. "And who do you think I am? Did you really think that I'd accept this? That I would follow you? Eric, I think you don't know me at all."

He said nothing.

"Are their lives worth nothing to you? How dare you call yourself a protector of Chicago! Abnegation is a faction just like Dauntless! I might not agree with all of their political side but I'd never hurt them for it." Kate started to collect her things again, feeling like she was gonna pass out at any moment.

"Kate, sometimes blood is the only answer."

Her head whipped around to face him again. "When you said that you could give me so much more, is that what you meant? Me by your side watching Abnegation burn? I don't want it. You might as well put a damn bullet in my head right now!" 

That made Eric take a step back, feeling like he had been slapped. What was she talking about?

"Kate, listen to me. I told you there’s a choice here. I'd never hurt you! Look at me, dammit!” It wasn’t just her world that was crashing down.

"If you're not gonna put a bullet in my head, get out of my way!" She grabbed her bag and phone, texting Jace in a flash. She needed to know where her friend was. It was the only place she could go to. Thankfully, Jace was always attached to his phone.

"I got called to patrol Amity, lots of soldiers gotta break, so non-actives are on call. Everything ok?"

That was just great. That only left her own apartment to go back to.

After grabbing the box with documents usually kept in her office, Kate strode out of the apartment with purpose, heading to the elevator with Eric following behind.

"Kate, where are you going? The sun is down, the halls are empty. Fuck, don't just go alone." Eric tried to get in front of her but she slipped inside the elevator, and the leader followed suit.

Even through it all, If she was going to be stubborn and reckless, he would at least check to make sure she got back safe. 

"Eric, leave me alone! I'm staying in my apartment 'cause Jace is in Amity. If you keep following me, I'm gonna scream and wake the entire floor. I wanna see you explain what's happening then."

The elevator reached its destination, it was just one level down. Kate walked out on her floor, no one was in sight. "Go back to Jeanine and Harrison, I'm sure they would love to keep working on your master plan." She spits the words. The association of the Dauntless leaders with Jeanine was disgusting.

"Kate, calm the fuck down."

She started to look for her keycard in her pockets, dropping her damn bag and heavy box on the doorstep, her stomach was in knots. Would he leave her alone? What could she even do if he didn't leave? Finally finding it, she swiped the keycard.

"Don't you dare to come in. Don't you dare to use your leaders' key to barge inside. If you ever cared about me at all, you’ll stay away, Eric Coulter.” She grabbed the duffel bag from the floor. 

"Kate, stop. I'll leave you alone. I'll even order Jace to go back from patrol tonight. You shouldn't be alone here." That surprised her but she couldn't put her guard down around a man willing to wipe out an entire faction. She needed to think.

"Great, now leave." Eric looked disoriented for a moment. Still, he started to walk towards the elevator with his head down. Defeated.

Kate stepped inside of her apartment, leaving the door open to go back and grab that damned heavy box. Turning on the light switch, she dropped the bag and let out a piercing scream. Eric was with her in a second, protectively putting himself between her and the horrid scene that stood in front of them.

There, on top of her kitchen counter, laid Peter's body with a bullet between his eyes.

Chapter Text

"How can I decide what's right when you're clouding up my mind?

I can't win your losing fight all the time

Nor can I ever own what's mine when you're always taking sides

But you won't take away my pride

No, not this time

Not this time

How did we get here?

Well, I used to know you so well

Well, how did we get here?

Well, I think I know

The truth is hiding in your eyes

And it's hanging on your tongue, just boiling in my blood

But you think that I can't see what kind of man that you are

If you're a man at all

Oh, I will figure this one out on my own" — Paramore, 'Decode'.

 

The screaming woke up everyone on that floor. Steps sounded in the hallway just as Eric cocked his gun and Kate's back hit the wall, putting as much distance as she could from Peter's body in the kitchen. Four, Sam, and two patrol commanders were at her doorstep looking distressed, gone were any traces of sleep, and asking what the hell was happening. She didn't know but her neighbors had a silent agreement to watch over her as the youngest and the one with the least field training among them, who also happens to not be a very popular Dauntless member.

As the Chief of the Armory, Sam was always armed to his teeth. The sight of him with two pistols in the middle of the night didn't even surprise anyone, since all suspected that the man slept with a rifle right beside him. Without turning around, Eric motioned for Sam to cover his six, they needed to do a full sweep of the apartment. Guarantee that the murderer was gone.

Kate looked at her gun not trusting her own nerves to be able to help. So, she started to step back, almost colliding with Four. Her former trainer tore his eyes away from Peter's body laid on the kitchen countertop and guided her out. In a few words, Four asked the commanders, named Sarah and Mikka, to go find Harrison and one of Dauntless' investigators. After all, it was a murder scene. 

"Hey, Kate, take a deep breath and tell me what happened. Can you do that?" Four's eyebrows were furrowed with concern.

In the background, they heard Sam and Eric yell clear , there was no one else inside. 

The ambassador's mind was racing but she still knew that telling the whole truth wasn’t possible. She needed time to think about Eric's plan to overthrow Abnegation's leadership and what to do with it. It wasn't the place or the time to throw that information wide in the open.

"Eric was being Eric, we had a disagreement, so I wanted to go back to my apartment. He followed to convince me to go back upstairs. I walked in, turned on the light and Peter was… Peter was there. Dead. Four, he's dead ." Kate hated Peter to the core and wanted him to be made factionless after he blinded a transfer, Edward, during their initiation. He was cruel, had a huge ego and no respect, always provoking her, but she didn't wish for his death.

What did it all mean? Was that bullet meant for her instead of him?

"Alright. I'm gonna radio the Control Room, we'll check all the cameras and the smart-lock keycard log. They won't get away." Four walked to the side as Eric approached, giving him a nod. It wasn't the moment for rivalry.

"It's empty and we don't see any signs of struggle. Did anyone get a hold of Harrison?" Eric put his gun back in the holster and stood in front of her. She was visibly shaking.

"Sarah and Mikka went to find him and to call for an investigator." Kate could barely look at him. "Do you think Peter was waiting for me and somebody else showed up? The person who took my gun?"

"I don't know. Maybe he was finally gonna go through with his threats against you and death found him first. Or maybe he had something to do with the break-in." Eric could hear his own pulse. The leader was so cold during dire situations but when it came down to Kate's safety… It was a different story.

Eric typed a few quick messages trying to speed things up but it was a Saturday night. They wouldn't have real answers until morning.

"I spoke with the patrol commander in Amity, Jace will be here first thing in the morning. It would be reckless to send a unit back alone in the middle of the night, the roads aren't safe. And River's coming to stay with you, okay? I know you don't want me around right now."

She nodded. It was the least he could do after everything that happened tonight. The elevator opened up to reveal a half-dozen soldiers led by their senior investigator and Harrison, who looked worse for wear.

"Are you okay, Kate? It should've never come down to this." Harrison put a hand on her arm, trying to comfort her but she recoiled from the touch. The person she once admired would lead a genocide. There was no forgetting that. "I see that Eric told you and it didn't go well."

"Did you really expect it to? The ambassador asked, anger threatening to boil once again.

"I've been meaning to do it for months now but I wasn't sure." He stepped back. "This isn't the time for this conversation. I can answer all of your questions once you calm down and we figure out what happened tonight. I'll go check out the scene."

Once again, the elevator opened. River had never looked so serious, striding with purpose until he stood right in front of them and took one glance at Peter's body in the distance.

"I'm taking her upstairs and you can stay at my apartment tonight. Leave her alone." Eric nodded at the redhead leader who had left no room for argument. The text to his friend had been brief but he told River that Kate knew about the plan and had a strong reaction to it. 

"Is that your bag?" She nodded without looking back to her apartment, not wanting to see the body again. "I'll grab it and we're out of here."

The quick return to Eric's had been a blur. More soldiers appeared and someone finally located Lauren. It was going to be a long night for them.

Stepping into the living room, Kate never felt so out of place. Not even the first time Eric invited her over, after torturing Chris for information. The only reason she agreed to go back upstairs was because River made sure that the other leader wouldn't bother them. Honestly, she didn't know what to do if the blond showed up right now.

"You wanna talk about it? Want some tea? I've got a stash here, don't judge my Amity trait." He tried to lighten up the mood a bit, it was the first time tonight that River sounded more like himself. She had never met the leader in him and it was a strange sight.

"I wanna talk to you, River, but I need a shower first, okay? I…" She took a deep breath. "I'm glad you're here, I just need some time to just breathe. Can't think straight right now."

"Don't worry, I get it. I'll stay here until you're ready and make some tea for us, in case you wanna give it a try." He gave her a small smile and carried her bag to her room. It was better if she stayed in a familiar place, not his messy apartment. The extra room is where he used to sleep when he came over to spend time with Eric, before the break-in situation. Sometimes it got too late and he was too lazy to go back to his apartment down the hall. Secretly, Eric didn't mind it. Those nights made his apartment look less empty.

When the door's lock slid into place, Kate peeled out her clothes and got into the shower, not daring to look at herself in the mirror. It would be a scary sight. She could tell.

The water burned her skin and helped muffle the disturbing voices in her head. The entire day repeating in a loop. How something that started so well could end like this? This morning, Kate decided she didn't mind training until her knuckles bled if it meant that Eric was there encouraging her every step of the way. Coffees and donuts not only represented victory but an opportunity to get to know him. Lunch felt like everything fell into place and, for a moment, she smiled thinking back to the staring contest between Eric and Brave. That was until the genocide popped into her mind again, making the smile disappear instantly.

For a woman who spent her days worrying about other people's opinions regarding the faction and the council's decisions, she could brush off the looks of her fellow soldiers just to spend time with him. Eric helped her regain confidence about her own abilities and she felt like a soldier again. The ambassador didn't need to choose between being a diplomat and a warrior.

And Eric… He was intriguing in so many ways. During initiation, he taught her to throw knives and it became her favorite weapon. After becoming a member, never once he yelled at her or made a cruel comment, always respected her, and waited until she finished talking in meetings. They barely spoke but the respect was always there. 

Why did he treat her so differently from the start? Who the hell was he? How could a man be one of the masterminds behind a plan to overthrow the government, wanting to kill thousands of people in the process, and, at the same time, be so nice to her? Respectful? Trust his life into her hands and follow her plan at the rooftop? How could his hands cause so much damage to that factionless man and still be so gentle when touching her back? 

Was Eric the ruthless, cruel leader consumed by greed or a lonely man who wanted to protect Kate and see her succeed? Could Eric be both? Could he kill those innocent people and feel nothing? Or when the time came, he wouldn't be able to pull the trigger? Would she be able to stop him? If she got in the way, would he eliminate her too?

As the bathroom became too foggy, Kate stepped out of the shower, wrapping herself around a fluffy towel that brought no comfort and stood in front of the mirror. Wiping the surface with one hand, droplets of water fell like the tears she was trying to swallow. The young woman looking back at her wasn't the same from a couple of weeks ago. Actually, it wasn't the same person from this morning. 

Kate's skin was flushed but it did nothing to hide the dark circles underneath her eyes. The wavy dark brown hair was tangled and it would remain like that, there was no strength left. But the biggest difference was in her eyes. Usually, they were bright blue, but now they were bloodshot and gray. At some unknown moment, she bit her lip down so hard to keep tears at bay that it split open, looking like someone had struck her. In a way, reality had slapped her in the face.

Staring down at her hands, semi-circles adorned both palms. Kate had closed her fists to keep herself in check, afraid of losing control and doing something in front of everyone downstairs, like giving Eric a much-deserved slap, that now the skin was marked deep by her nails, yet it didn't bleed.

"I'm sorry." Kate said to herself, her voice hoarse from all the yelling. The ambassador never yelled. It wasn't very diplomatic. What was the apology for?

Back in her bedroom, Kate put on her pajamas and resisted the desire to lie down. She felt exhausted. Drained. But River was outside, trying to take care of her even though they barely knew one another. Also, he could've had some answers. Kate needed to know why. She was a logical person most of the time.

Slowly walking out, she found River sitting on the couch with two burning hot teas on the center table. Amity tea was the best, maybe it would bring some comfort or, at least, make her throat feel better.

"Oh, this won't do." River's gaze fell on her, quick getting up and jogging towards her room. What could he possibly want in there?

A moment later, the young man was back with a hand towel and a brush. Her hair was messy and dripping water everywhere.

"Just sit down and drink your tea. You'll feel better." All she could do was nod.

River started to dry her hair and slowly detangle that mess. Starting from the bottom and working his way up, he had shoulder-length hair, it made sense that the guy knew what to do about it. But, to her surprise, it wasn't how he learned it.

"I've got two little sisters back in Amity. They love to get their hair styled but my mom got sick and couldn't do it anymore. The general hospital couldn't help, just doses of healing serum to slow it down. So, my dad and I did everything around the house to make things easier for her, and I created the most intricate hairstyles to make them smile even for a few minutes."

"I'm sure that made their day. Those memories will last forever with your sisters. Is… Is your mom still here?"

"No, she died a week before my Choosing Ceremony. I almost didn't leave but everyone knew I was Dauntless and she told me it was okay. That I needed to find my own way." River worked through the last of the tangles. 

"I'm so sorry for your loss." She looked up, staring straight into his eyes but he gently pushed her head down to continue working. "Do you visit them when you check on the units stationed in Amity?"

"Yeah, from afar. It's easier for them this way. I think one of my sisters is Dauntless, too. But she still has 4 years before making that decision." He dried her hair one last time, while she drank the last few sips of the tea.

"Every time I go to Erudite, I look for my family in the crowd. Sometimes I see them but I never approach, 'cause I'm scared to face what could've been if I stayed." She confessed.

"If you stayed and conformed to the life you were born into? That's no way to live. You deserve more than that." River sat down next to her, picking his cup back up. "Leaving your past behind comes with the decision to transfer to another faction. Starting from scratch." 

"Faction before blood." Kate said.

"Always." When River looked back up, Kate was silently crying. So, he let her cry for as long as she needed it.

The sun was almost coming up when words were spoken again. Kate hadn't been able to sleep a wink, she just stared at the living room wall while processing the last two weeks of her life. The insanity of it all. The last time she cried was on the first night as a transfer, sharing bunk beds with strangers with no privacy and all she could think about was home. So, she held the family's necklace and cried, promising to never cry again. No matter what.

"River, what do you know about the Erudite and Dauntless plan?" She turned around to look at him, who didn't sleep either. He took the responsibility of watching over her very seriously. 

"Alright, I was wondering when you were gonna ask about that." He sat straighter, tension forming in his shoulders once more. "Eric approached me about six months ago, saying that Erudite and Dauntless had been working together for years, creating a plan to take the power out of Abnegation's hands."

It was a night on a random weekend, the conversation happened on that very same couch.

"He mentioned something about waiting for a serum that would help our soldiers get the job done. When Erudite finished it, they would take the power by force. But he never got into too much detail and, honestly, I wanted no part in it, I still don't. So, I asked him to not say anything else. The less I know the better."

That made Kate pause. Eric had been more specific than that, which meant the ambassador couldn't risk it. If she said too much, River could be in danger. There was no guarantee Eric or even Jeanine couldn't find out about their conversation. Every faction had eyes and ears everywhere, especially Dauntless and Erudite.

Kate couldn't tell River or Jace. She was alone in this.

"I just know something like this would cost a lot of innocent lives." That was the best thing to say without revealing details. "Do you think Eric would go through with it?"

“I used to think so. Though I was hoping the plan would never go forward, it hasn't happened in all these years.” 

“Used to?” After all, what could possibly persuade Eric's mind?

“Things changed. You’ve worked together for years but now your lives have intertwined. Let’s be honest here, you like him and I see the way he looks at you. Eric doesn't do anything halfway." He got closer to her, a burning gaze. "If he lets you see beyond his walls, it means there's no going back. It's the kind of privilege that comes with a warning, so I'll give it to you now. Kate, if you choose him, Eric could burn Chicago to the ground just to please you. You would be his moral compass. If you choose fire, he'll burn for you and with you."

"I'm not sure I could wield that much power over him. What if I want to save this city? Avoid the bloodbath? Would he give up the power he craves so badly?" Kate's body was shaking with adrenaline and fear.

"Then you better pray to the Old World saints that Eric's love for you can overcome his greed. But, Kate, if he chose to tell you about the plan now, I'm afraid a bloodbath is unstoppable."

"Eric doesn't love me. I don't love him." Kate's mind was spinning again.

"He will, if you let him."

Jace showed up not long after that. Her friend was rightfully confused, all he knew was that leadership requested his immediate return to the compound in the middle of the night. The only reason he didn't leave right away was the danger hidden in the empty roads. So, for the remaining hours, the patrol commander eyed him suspiciously like Jace had committed a crime.

River said he would check out the investigation's progress and be back in a few minutes, leaving the two of them alone in the apartment. Jace sat on the couch next to her, feeling as tense as he did during the patrol, not only because his best friend looked like a wreck but because he had never been inside Eric's place or, even, to any other leader's apartment. The memory of almost getting accidentally killed by the ruthless leader was still fresh in his mind.

"Kate, you're scaring the shit out of me. Did you ask Eric to bring me back? I texted your phone for the whole night and got no reply. The thought that you were dead even crossed my mind." The blond said exasperated.

"Peter's body was found in my apartment." Jace's face fell. "Eric and I found him last night after you told me about the Amity patrol."

"In your apartment?"

"In my kitchen counter. A headshot." Just by mentioning it, Kate's mind gave her an unpleasant flashback.

"Oh, I can't say that I'm gonna miss him. But what the fuck do you mean by Peter being dead in your apartment? How did he get there? Did they move his body or did he break in?"

"I know as much as you do."

"Is that why you texted me?"

"No, I had… I had a fight with Eric and wanted to crash in your apartment for the night."

"So, you came back to yours." She nodded in agreement.

 "Well, that's not a problem anymore. You can stay as long as you want, no way I'm letting my best friend get killed by a psycho on the loose."

"Thanks, Jace. I'll just wait until River is back. I can't just disappear and I wanna know what he found out." That made sense.

"Sure, we can wait." Jace got up from the couch, taking a look around. "Wow, I never imagined that Eric would be a movie nerd. Or a book nerd."

"Yeah, it surprised me, too." 

A lot of things about him surprised her, but the genocide plan was the cherry on top.

"You guys got close over the past weeks. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it." Jace was facing her again. "Why did you have an argument?"

"I wish I could tell you. In the end, what matters is that he's not the person I thought he was."

"Okay… But aren't we all made of expectations and assumptions?"

"Jace… You don't get it. I wish I could tell you but it's not like I found out that Eric likes to terrify transfers or that he enjoys hunting fluffy bunnies. It's something bad, really, really bad."

"Are you disappointed because you wanted him to be who you pictured in your mind?"

"I'm not just disappointed. I'm angry and I can't talk about it, which makes this so much harder."

"Angry at him or yourself? For caring about him? I'm not blind, Kate."

"Both. Angry for his decisions and at myself for failing to listen to everybody's warnings. I got close to him knowing that Eric is known for being a ruthless leader. Downright cruel."

"Then why did you put your guard down? You could've kept it professional." Jace pointed out. It was the truth.

"Because I got to know another side of him. Actually, I've never really met his cruel side until today. Now that I'm thinking about it, not even during initiation he directed his anger at me. He yelled at the group, and made a mean comment or two about my performance, but… But I don't think he had ever been cruel."

"Kate, I know that. Remember? The day we were learning to throw knives? He spent an awful lot of time teaching you, never yelled. It was weird, everyone thought he was gonna pick you to be his shadow or something." Jace sat back on the couch, suddenly his eyebrows shot up, remembering something. " Oh , and the final fight on stage one? You and the last jumper? I was standing next to him the whole time, he celebrated your victory quietly, for sure I saw a smile there."

"I didn't even remember that. So, what you're saying?"

"I'm saying that I don't know what is going on but I think your relationship hasn't been normal from the start. Can you move past whatever it is that you found out about? Can he fix it? Or do you have no interest in seeing this through?"

No, she couldn't do that. Kate was done.

Almost like Eric had heard them talking about him, the leader opened up the front door with a fuming River trailing behind.

"Eric, I'm not gonna say it again. Leave Kate alone." River had never looked so angry. Kate thought he was incapable of feeling that way.

"Did you miss the part that we just found a body in her apartment? Or the talk that I had with her earlier? I gave her time to think, now we're gonna sit down and talk. The leader pointed to River and Jace. "You two, get out."

"Kate's right here, don't talk like I'm not." Kate got up, making a beeline to the bedroom, wanting to get her duffel back and be ready to leave. In the background, River and Jace decided to wait in the hallway, closing the door behind them.

Eric's steps echo down the hall.

"Honestly, I shouldn't even hear what you've got to say, but I know it's useless to try and stop you. So, go ahead, 'cause after that I'm done with you."

"You and I are not even close to being done." Eric raised his voice.

She huffed annoyed. "You don't get to decide that."

Eric was outrageous.

"Yes, I do. Did you forget I'm your leader? What if you got back to your apartment earlier? I'm sure you would be in Peter's place right now. You can hate me all you want but until we arrest the murderer you’re staying here and that’s final.”

"Why? I can stay with Jace! I want nothing to do with you! I can barely look at you right now" If he was going to yell, she could do that, too.

"He can’t protect you the way that I can!" 

"As a leader, you’ve got a responsibility to protect this faction but I don’t need special treatment just for being the ambassador. If this is an obligation for you then I’m relieving you from that responsibility."

"You don’t get it! I have to protect you 'cause I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you!" That startled both of them. The honesty in a moment of despair. Vulnerability. The leader was standing inches from her, his hair was a mess. Eric was losing it. He didn't even sit down the whole night, just pacing around River's apartment making calls, thinking about their fight, and trying to breathe through the pressure in his chest.

You could hear a pin drop.

"I’d never forgive myself." He muttered under his breath, breaking the silence after a minute. "You can hate me all you want but don't put your life on the line because of it. Please, stay."

Well, that was a word Eric had never said before.

Eric was begging her. Not in a million years Kate would've expected that. Behind her anger, the feeling of disgust regarding the plan, and the overall disappointment, she couldn't ignore that plea. In the end, Eric was still her best shot at survival. He would protect her no matter what. It made something burn in her chest and guilt followed. It was twisted, wrong, and dangerous.

"Only because you said please."

Who are you, Eric Coulter?

Chapter Text

“And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't

So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road

And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope

It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat

'Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me 

Looking for heaven, found the devil in me 

But what the hell, I'm gonna let it happen to me” — Florence + the Machine, 'Shake It Out'. 

It took some convincing to make Jace leave, he was suspicious about Eric with good reason. However, Kate wanted to protect her friend from whoever was coming after her. The young leader was her best shot. He wouldn't fail her. On the other hand, River said nothing. After that previous discussion on Eric's couch, where the redhead gave an explicit warning about his best friend, the Amity-born could only hope Kate was right about this. If anything happened, at least he would be down the hall to help. 

When the two of them were the only ones left in the apartment, silence prevailed. It didn't matter how tired both felt after screaming matches and a sleepless night; there was just too much anger and anxiety cursing through their veins. So, after a silent breakfast brought up by someone from the kitchen and a couple of hours of them staring back at each other, Kate suggested the training room. At least she could punch the sandbag and imagine it was Eric's face in its place. 

As expected, it was empty. The leader selected one of the training rooms used for initiation. Since that wasn't happening at the moment, it was hardly used, and everyone knew better than to disturb him during a workout.

Unlike previous times, Eric gave her no instructions. Each of them opted for a distinct side of the room. For now, Kate was busy punching the shit out of a sandbag; it definitely made her feel better. The pounding in her head became tolerable. 

"That's a lot of anger. Are you sure you don't wanna fight me in the ring? Try to hit the real thing?" Eric snickered after a while.

"Eric, don't test me right now. Stay over there doing whatever it's that you're up to." She saw the twinkle of knives, her favorite weapon, and decided to go for it.

Kate hit the target dead center over and over again. 

"I taught you that, too." Eric pointed it out. Well, it wasn't a lie but she had the knack for it.

"If you feel like it, go ahead and stay in front of the damn target. I'll give you a haircut." She maliciously smiled at him. Two could play this game.

"I like my hair just fine." He started to punch the sandbag, leaving her alone.

"Are you sure? I promise not to hit you in the eye."

Before Eric could reply, his phone rang. It was Four, that made the leader frown. His nemesis never called.

"Number Boy, this better be important." Eric answered the phone, already sensing a nerve twitch.

We just checked the smart-lock keycard log from Kate's apartment. You'll never guess whose card was used.

"Took you long enough. Who do I have to kill?" Eric was serious. Upon hearing the topic of the conversation, Kate stepped closer, trying to listen in.

He's already dead. Max's key was used.

"What? Didn't you deactivate that after he jumped off the Chasm?"

Yeah, but he was the faction's leader. He probably had several of them over the years. It hasn’t been used anywhere else since his death, I just checked, and now I’m deactivating it.

 "A little too late for that." It was impressive how they couldn't get a single piece of good news. "Did you deactivate Peter's card, or are you waiting for him to come back from the dead, too?" Kate raised an eyebrow at that.

I'll do that right now. Wait… It was used a couple of minutes ago. 

"Where? Maybe we can still catch the guy." Eric started walking towards his holster, lying on a table in the corner. 

That makes no sense… Dammit, Eric, you need to get here right now. It was used here. I'm in my office, no one is listening. We can catch them.

"Be there in five, I'll bring some reinforcements, don't do anything stupid." Eric ended the call.

"Eric, what's happening?" 

"The murderer is in the Control Room. It's over, Kate. I'm gonna go put a bullet in their head."

"I'll go with you." Kate started to walk towards her stuff, which was thrown on the ground.

"You'll stay here. Text Jace to come and get you, no one comes here anyway, the Armory isn't far." Eric cocked his gun, a lethal look in his eyes. "Don't make that face, you're getting rid of me today."

Kate wanted to smack him.

"Can't wait."

And with that, the leader dashed out the door.

Feeling frustrated but with a glimmer of hope in her chest that the nightmare was finally ending, Kate texted Jace.

Be there in 10. As always, a quick reply from her friend.

There was nothing to do but wait, so she could at least spend it throwing some more knives. She crossed the room and let muscle memory guide her. Hitting target after target once again.

Light steps sounded behind her, and she turned around to find her friend.

"Jace, that was…" She froze in place. An unexpected person stood a few steps away from her with a gun in hand, ready to fire. "... Fast. Lauren, what's going on?"

"Turns out that when you want a job done, it's better to do it yourself. Drop the knife, Kate."

The clinking sound of the metal echoed through the room.

"Lauren, please, put the gun down." Kate noticed a silencer attached to it. No one would even hear the shot that would kill her. "Let's talk it out."

"Put your hands up and shut it, Kate. For once in your life, you're not in control." Lauren stepped closer, a deranged look on her features.

“When Harrison was promoted and you started working with Eric, I knew it was bad news. The cruel successor and the Dauntless ambassador attached to the hip? A leader like him? I knew about Max's plan with Erudite and I know you both too well. That’s a ticking time bomb with the power to crumble this faction to the ground."

Why didn't Eric know that Lauren was aware of the plan to destroy Abnegation? Who else knew about it?

“You hide behind your so-called diplomacy, your calm voice, and sweet smile, but you are as vicious as Eric. I knew that for sure when you voted to torture Chris, twice . A power-hungry manipulative bitch that puppeteers the entire council to your liking. He brings out the darkness in you. Make no mistake, you are part of the problem, and Chicago will burn because of it. Unless I stop it. Stop you." 

"I voted yes because it was necessary, there was no other way." Kate decided that reasoning was her best option. Then, she realized something else. "Lauren, is that my gun? Did you steal my gun to kill me with it?"

"Peter hated you but, when the time came, he couldn’t do it. He left me no choice."

"Peter was the one in my apartment. You were working together? Did you kill him?" For a second, her mind thought about yesterday's talk with Sophie, the female leader's assistant. I went ahead with a few boxes and Lauren stayed behind for more. She used that opportunity to make a keycard in the Administration.

"He wasn't supposed to only steal it but kill you. Until someone walked down the hallway, spooking him. It was Sam checking things out after hearing a noise, so neighborly of him. We all know how Sam is."

The silent agreement her neighbors shared. Always looking out for her.

"Last night, Peter came back from patrol to wait you out and end this once and for all. You really made an enemy during initiation but… Well, I thought he had what it took, blinded that kid during initiation and everything, but he chickened out. So, I killed him and left his body as a gift in your kitchen."

"Lauren, there are cameras here. Someone is probably already on their way." She thought about Jace, wishing that he would show up sooner rather than later. "Put the gun down."

"Trust me, no one is looking."

Of course, whoever messed with the cameras was still in the Control Room.

"Four already knows that Peter's key was used in the Control Room, I guess your accomplice slipped up."

At that, Lauren laughed. The laugh reminded her of Chris. Why did Lauren tell the factionless man about her stolen gun? Was Lauren working with the factionless group?

"He didn't slip up, he switched the keycard with somebody else's. It's called a distraction. The moment Eric walked out, the camera went offline."

"He'll figure it out. You won't get away with this." She would be dead, but Kate was sure the female leader would be discovered.

"The only fingerprints they’ll find in your gun are from my guy in the Control Room. He wanted to climb the ranks, willing to do anything for it, you know? So here is how the story goes: he was obsessed with you and wanted to protect you from Peter, who loathed you so much. Peter died, and when you refused him… No one else could have you. The grand finale is him offing himself from the Chasm to avoid rotting in Candor. I’ll personally see to that. Such a tragic ending for a tragic story."

Her voice dripped with venom, and Kate's heart was beating so damn fast.

"This isn’t you! I know you! We aren't friends, but the leader I know wouldn’t go through with this. Lauren, no one else has to get hurt. Not me, not the guy you have in the control room. I’m stepping down from the Ambassador position. I mean it. I want nothing to do with Erudite's plan." Kate tried to reason with her again. The female leader she once admired had always been a reasonable woman.

Lauren was strict, strong, and trustworthy. A role model for female soldiers. Controlled. But control slips up when you let bloodthirst command your actions. When the older woman stepped closer, about to make another remark about how the ambassador was a danger to Chicago, Kate decided not to wait for someone to save her. It's better to die trying to save herself. For the first time in weeks, she wasn't afraid. So, she took a chance.

Kate reached forward, slapping the gun out of Lauren's hand and trying to kick her. The gun fell, and a silenced shot came, but she didn't feel any pain. Lauren grabbed her ankle and threw her to the ground, falling on top of her to get control. Kate's head smacked against the cement, seeing stars for a moment. The ambassador tried to roll and even get up, however, Lauren was a skilled hand-on-hand fighter, going straight for Kate's throat.

Both of Kate's legs were immobilized by her opponent. Her hands couldn't reach Lauren's throat, trying to scratch, punch, and smack soft tissues with no result. The grip on her windpipe became stronger, she couldn't breathe and black spots swam in her vision. 

Then, the glimmer of a knife caught her attention. The one she had dropped on the floor per Lauren's demand. It was her only chance. Quickly, one of her hands grabbed it, and before the leader could do anything, stabbing her deep in the stomach. A piercing scream came from Lauren and, abruptly, the pressure on her neck was gone. 

“You, bitch! You’re dead, stop fighting it!” Lauren sounded maniacal.

Kate's hands shot for her own neck in a reflex response, fighting for a breath through a coughing fit, while Lauren scrambled to her feet, aiming for the gun that had fallen not too far away. It was time to end this. The ambassador forced her body to get up, trying to get to the gun first, an impossible feat. Lauren was already picking it up. The woman pointed it to Kate's head, an ending just like Peter's was ironic. A shot rang too loud. Kate's blood wasn’t the one spilled.

Kate’s legs gave up right then, watching Lauren's own body hit the ground with blood coming out of her temple. The ambassador's ears were ringing from the shot, missing the sound of Eric's boots rushing towards her. He had killed Lauren. She didn’t tense up when his chest crushed her whole or his hands found her hair. For the first time since his fear landscape, Eric was truly afraid. The kind of fear that brings someone like him to their knees.

"You’re okay. You’re okay…" Eric repeated it like a mantra. If her brain could process anything at that point, it would realize that he was reassuring himself, not her.

In the infirmary, as Eric watched the doctor examine Kate's injuries, the young man couldn't help but think back to his mistake. Today, Eric's ego got the best of him. That was something he realized about halfway to the Control Room. It had been too easy. So far, they basically had no clue about who was terrifying Kate's life, and now someone just used a dead man's keycard to get into a room filled with their intelligence personnel? That was stupid. It could only be a distraction.

The leader had stopped dead in his tracks, reaching for his phone and calling Four. He started to run back before the other man even picked it up. 

Eric, what's going on? I'm waiting for you. Four said on the other side of the line.

"It's a distraction. Check the cameras in the training room on the west side. Level 2." He yelled, gaining attention from a few people in his path.

For a moment, there was silence. Eric picked up the pace, a feeling of dread settling in his stomach.

They're offline, dammit.

"They're gonna try to kill her now. I left her alone. Send a team to the training room." And the line was cut.

Eric had left Kate alone to defend herself in a deserted part of the compound. How stupid of him. When Eric finally reached the training room, it was just in time to witness Kate slapping the gun away from Lauren in a bold move. He couldn't shoot the female leader without risking Kate's life, so he tried to get a better angle, watching terrified as the two women fought on the ground, Lauren strangling the ambassador.

Then, Kate stabbed Lauren as he crossed the room silently, ready to shoot when the older woman stood up. She didn't even see him— the man who would be responsible for her death. Lauren would never touch Kate again. A shot in her temple made sure of that. 

"Eric? Are you listening?" The Erudite doctor was trying to get his attention, pulling his mind back into the room in the present. Eric was standing a few feet away from the medical team, which wanted to kick him out as soon as he showed up, tired of his constant supervision when it came down to the ambassador. Except that everyone knew the leader wouldn't leave without good news.

"The patient is going to be fine. There's no concussion, just a bit of swelling on her neck from being choked. I gave her healing serum, and we'll keep an eye on her for the afternoon. You can go if you're needed elsewhere." The doctor was the same one who previously took care of Kate's injuries. 

"I'm not going anywhere." Not wasting any more time, Eric crossed the infirmary to be with Kate. Sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes trailed down her body to examine the damage. Her neck had two purple hand prints from Lauren, and there was blood under her nails from trying to fight her attacker off. 

Eric was really proud of her, making a warm feeling settle into his chest. Still, he couldn't help you consider what would've happened if he had arrived one minute later. Or if he didn't even realize what was going on until he set foot into the Control Room. She would be dead. It was a wake-up call for him, which almost came with a deadly cost. 

"How are you feeling?" Eric asked in a quiet voice, worried she would tell him to leave her alone. He would respect that.

"Like somebody tried to kill me again." She tried to smile, but she wasn't feeling like it. "Thank you for saving me."

"You were doing a really good job at defending yourself. For what's worth, I'm proud of you."

"I wanted to die fighting. I couldn't give up, but we both know that if you weren't there today, Lauren would've succeeded."

"Don't say that. You're okay." Eric picked up her hand, feeling the steady pulse in her wrist. "I left you alone. I should've realized sooner, but I fell for that shit."

Kate didn't recoil from his touch. She didn't have the energy to think about the overthrow of Abnegation right now.

"I'm not your responsibility, Eric. I didn't think for a second that being alone there was a bad idea." Her fingers traced the palm of his calloused hand. "Don't blame yourself. Lauren was… Lauren was someone I didn't recognize. She lost herself along the way." Eric nodded at that. Kate hadn't said anything about what happened in the training room before he arrived. It could wait anyway.

"We're supposed to be partners in crime, remember? Partners don't leave each other behind." Eric intertwined their fingers. Even after their fight, he didn't want to give up on what they had.

"If you're feeling guilty, you can make it up to me with chocolate donuts. All year." 

"And french fries? So you don't have to steal mine." Eric suggested. She laughed at that, which started another coughing fit, her throat protesting.

"A lot of french fries." She replied after drinking some water. "Do you have to go?"

"Only if you want me to." Eric's expression became gloomy again. He was walking on eggshells around her. The leader knew she wasn't going to forgive him for siding with Jeanine. Dauntless had descended into chaos after the murder attempt, but Harrison and River would've to deal with that for now, unless the ambassador kicked him out.

"Then stay. You look like shit, just like me." Kate moved a bit to the side, giving him space to lie down. "I'm not in the mood to worry about you-know-what. Let's leave that to tomorrow."

"A truce, then. Sounds good to me."

With Kate's back against his chest and their fingers intertwined, they fell asleep.

The day Kate and Eric started working together, was the last time she had been inside Harrison's office. Two weeks later, the ambassador, who had once hoped to make the faction's leader proud, was very much dead. Too many things had happened to her, she knew too much. There was no button to rewind and make different choices. 

After spending the afternoon in the infirmary, Kate was free to go. Yet she still had one more mandatory stop. A leader was killed, the ambassador had almost been murdered, and an accomplice was on the loose. Darren, the longest-working security officer in the Control Room. He had been missing all day.

"I'm sorry we've to do this today, Kate, but it's protocol. All the factions got word of what happened. They need answers, and you're the only one who can provide them." Harrison said, sitting down on his office's chair. He gestured for the duo to do the same.

"I know. Did you have any luck with the cameras?" 

"Four is working on it, apparently there's an encrypted file keeping the footage. Darren probably needed a guarantee against Lauren if things went sideways. I'll get a copy as soon as they decode it."

"She said her guy in the Control Room wanted a promotion. He was the one who checked the cameras right after my gun was stolen… Darren was right in front of us the whole time."

"And we've got every Dauntless soldier looking for him in and out of this faction. He knows all the working cameras and blind spots, but he'll make a mistake soon." Eric spoke for the first time.

"Yes, we won't fail you again, Kate. Now, shall we begin?" Harrison gestured to the serum case in front of him and turned on the recording device for the interrogation. She nodded, anticipating how her already pounding headache would feel even worse after. 

Eric injected the truth serum, and they began. She recalled everything from the moment the leader left the room until Lauren's body laid in a pool of blood. Then, it was Eric's turn to recount the events. After all, a Dauntless leader had just killed another leader. There was no precedent.

It was a lot of information to process, but Lauren's confession before her death helped to solve most of the puzzle. An investigator had spent the entire afternoon going through Lauren's belongings in her office and apartment. Her keycard log revealed several visits to the holding cells, where Chris stayed for three days. 

Lauren was working with the factionless, she knew about the plan and decided to do something about it. A second phone revealed conversations with an unknown number, the factionless group was planning to assassinate all of Dauntless' leadership, leaving Lauren to lead them. That's how they almost killed River in the Candor attack. That's why, in the interrogation room, Chris had asked Kate about River's fate.

They still had to find Darren, discover if he was the person Lauren was exchanging messages with, and find out how Lauren knew about the plan and how she joined the factionless cause. Who else knew? Kate had a feeling Darren wasn't the only traitor in the compound. Both men agreed they wouldn't take any chances.

They were wrapping up when Four showed up with the camera footage, he looked disheveled and distressed. After all, Darren worked under him for years.

So, all of them watched the footage of the fight between Kate and Lauren. The ambassador found it impossible to look away, feeling weirdly unattached to it. Like it was an action movie. It felt surreal. On the other hand, Eric was so tense that she thought he might explode. 

For a while, there was only silence.

"You fought well, Kate. Your apartment is still a crime scene. Do you want me to get Jace or are you staying with Eric?" Harrison asked.

“I’ll stay with Eric.” The young leader felt the tension leaving his body. The idea of leaving her under the protection of someone else could drive him insane.

Truth serum be damned. She was supposed to say Jace. 

Well, that was a fight for tomorrow anyway. 

For the second time in 24 hours, Kate stood in front of her mirror, looking like she had been run over by a truck. Truth be told, she looked worse than before. The shower didn't really do anything to help besides wash Lauren's blood away. Before trying to go to sleep, she replied to one of the dozens of texts that Jace had sent to her. When the compound heard the news that Lauren had tried to kill the ambassador, he came running to the infirmary, but there were guards outside. Eric said one sentence to her friend, confirming that she would be okay.

After tossing in her bed for half the night, Kate got up, deciding to drink some water, even if her mind already dreaded the feeling of the liquid going down her sore throat.

"I guess our sleep schedule has gone to shit." Eric appeared in the living room, making her yelp in surprise.

"Eric! What the fuck is wrong with you? Don't sneak up on me like that."

Kate was rightfully jumpy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't wanna scare you. There are guards outside. No one will hurt you here." Eric slowly raised his hands, like a person trying not to scare a wild animal.

Sorry? That word didn't belong in his vocabulary either.

She nodded, it hadn't been his intention to scare her, of course. "It's okay. It's been a very long day. Actually, really intense 48 hours. We still gotta talk about that tomorrow."

"Go to sleep, Kate. You’re safe." He was standing closer to her now.

"Believe me, I really can't. What about you? Did I really mess up your sleep schedule?" She took a few sips of the water that burned down her throat. " Ouch ."

Eric frowned at that. If he hadn't failed her earlier, she wouldn't be in pain right now. So, he opted for a bold move, extending his hand to her as an invitation. They fell asleep together in the infirmary, they could do it again. "Stay with me tonight."

She took his hand, a weird feeling bubbling in her stomach.

The first night in his extra room, she wondered what the master bedroom looked like. The door was always closed, and she wasn't one to pry. As they entered, she took in the king-size bed with black sheets, the black walls, and everything neatly in place. It was very him. 

To Eric's credit, he laid down at a respectful distance on that huge bed. Anxiety was creeping up her mind, not for the obvious reason.

"Maybe I shouldn’t be here. Darren is still out there, and I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me." Kate was staring at the ceiling, watching shadows and light dance because of the opened window.

"I’ll shoot him dead. He won’t even get a chance to breathe the same air as you again. But I wouldn’t worry about that tonight, he already knows that Lauren’s plan failed. He’ll have to think this through, lay low in some deep, hidden creek in the compound." Eric said. He was staring at the ceiling, too. 

His words brought a weird comfort to her. The idea of being protected, no matter the cost. Kate knew he wouldn't fail her again. 

"I believe you. 'Night, Eric."

The end of the truce came with the morning light. Kate woke up confused, sleeping right next to him, much closer than how they had fallen asleep hours before. Once she realized what was going on, she silently got out of bed, leaving the door open and heading to her bedroom. She didn't want Eric to wake up and worry about the empty space next to him.

Kate decided it was time to get some resemblance of control over her life again. The first step was to tidy up her current bedroom. She flipped her duffle bag, spreading the content on top of the bed, and organized everything, leaving an Amity thin-strap sundress to wear. Always black. Kate was running out of options. Next, she fixed her hair, which had tangled all over again. River would be proud of that. She needed to make herself look alive. She wouldn't look in the mirror just to feel sorry staring at her own reflection.

Then, she sat on the couch, waiting for him to wake up and reflecting on everything that had happened. There were many things left unsaid and confusing feelings to unpack. The time had come to decide if they would continue this dangerous dance or not. 

When the sun was peeking into the sky, Eric finally emerged from his bedroom with slick, wet hair. One look in her direction already made him tense. There was no escape now, still, he would stall.

"Want some boring coffee? Eric asked, stalling a bit.

"With two spoons of awkward silence, please." He smirked at the comment. At least she didn't lose her sense of humor.

Once both of them held steaming cups of coffee, they reached the crossroads that would define not only their future but the entire city.

"You were right, okay?" Kate began speaking. "I’m not as squeaky clean as I appear to be. I like the power that this position brings, I savor the taste of victory every time I win against those useless council members, and voting for Chris to be tortured didn’t weigh on me as much as I thought it would, at least not after a while. I would do it again in a heartbeat. But you’re forgetting one thing. Eric, I see you, too."

Eric sat straighter, dreading her next words.

"I saw you both times after you tortured that man, it was written all over your face, crystal clear in your eyes. You felt dirty, tainted. You could barely look at me. Doesn’t matter the mask of a cruel leader that you choose to wear, I can see right through it now." Her body gravitated closer to him.

"An entire psychological analysis by just looking at me?"

“Yeah, there's an Old-World saying about how the eyes are the windows to the soul. After everything, seeing how you take care of me and how fiercely you want to protect this faction, I know that you’re better than you think you are, and… And I’m worse than I appear. What a duo, huh?” She managed a half-smile.

"There are no heroes here, Kate, just soldiers." Eric got closer, too. "Now that the cards are on the table, what are you gonna do?"

"You have killed for me and said that you would do it again… But what I really wanna know is would you be willing to find another way? For me? Turn your back on them and trust me? Or are you in too deep?" 

“I have to see this through. It's years in the making." It sounded like a protest at first, except that it wasn't. It was resignation.

"That’s not what I asked. I wanna know if you wanna do this, Eric. Is killing those people the only way? Hunting divergents down like animals? Or is that just what they want you to do?" 

This is it. Take it or leave it. She was right there.

"There's no stopping it now." 

Relief coursed through her veins. Being out of his control meant it wasn't his call. If she found another way to get the power he wanted, Eric would take it.

"Then I have my answer. There's always another way, we'll find it. I promise, okay?" 

There was a beat. Another. Eric was making a life-changing decision. A drop in the ocean that could cause a tsunami.

"Okay." 

Kate and Eric stared at each other, blue against gray. Everything that mattered had been said, so there was only one thing left to be done. They met halfway, crashing their lips together.

Chapter Text

“But do you feel like a young god?

You know the two of us are just young gods

And we'll be flying through the streets with the people underneath

And they're running, running, running again

He says: "Oh, baby girl, don't get cut on my edges

I'm the king of everything and oh, my tongue is a weapon

There's a light in the crack that's separating your thighs

And if you wanna go to heaven, you should fuck me tonight" — Halsey, 'Young God'. 

 

Kissing Eric burned like hot coal. Kissing Kate set off an avalanche of emotions that were kept locked away for an entire life. It was fire on ice, a raging storm that annihilated everything in its path, and pure bliss. There was no coming back from it. They jumped into the unknown depths of the ocean, ready to drown, searching for death and rebirth for both of them.

In one swift motion, Kate was sitting on his lap, straddling him. They didn’t know who made the move first, there was just a need to be closer to each other. The thing about them is that neither wanted to give up control. So, they kept fighting for it like their lives depended on it. Lips and teeth crashed, biting and pulling, drawing blood. Hands explored each other, feeling the muscles tightening at every motion and discovering the scars that proudly covered their bodies. Today, they were meeting for the first time.

Eric’s shirt hit the floor, and Kate stopped to marvel at him. His body was a temple, the result of years of dedication, full of ripping muscles, intricate tattoos, and small freckles that painted his surprisingly soft skin. Kate had no words to describe his beauty, so she would have to show it, placing small kisses from his jaw all the way down to his chest. It was such a delicate gesture meant for a man so accustomed to brutal force. That notion made his head spin.

"You're wearing too many clothes." Eric hissed when her nails scratched his scalp, and she pulled him in for another searing kiss. He tried to raise her skirt, but a playful slap to his hand stopped him.

"I'm pretty sure you said something about not wanting my Amity dresses forgotten in your living room." Kate wickedly smiled, reminding him of what he had said two days before. It was just an excuse to move to the bedroom, where a king-size bed was much more spacious and inviting for their activities.

Eric couldn't help but let out a bubbly laugh, resonating in his chest, where one of her hands remained, feeling the vibrations. He didn't expect that one, but the leader knew what she was doing.

His laugh had become one of her favorite sounds.

"You're right. I guess I'm gonna have to do something about that." He rose from the couch, gripping her ass as she wrapped her legs around him for support. Kate nibbled his neck and dragged her nails on his back as they quickly moved to the master bedroom.

Kate's body was thrown on top of the black sheets, the same smile still covering her face. For a moment, Eric just admired the view. He had fantasized about this too many times. Now, he had the real thing right in front of him. It felt surreal.

That dress needed to go.

Eric moved quickly, helping her get the garment over her head, leaving only one piece of fabric on the way. He would get to that soon enough. The dress was discarded somewhere, and his body covered hers, being careful not to crush her with his weight. Goosebumps covered her skin when his teeth scraped a sensitive spot in her neck, and a bite followed, then another. Soon, he found the sensitive skin of a nipple.

Oh, he was a biter.

"Now, who's wearing too many clothes?" She needed to see him and have skin against skin. Her hands shot for the waist of his pants, pulling them down together with his black boxers. The leader finished getting rid of his clothes and went back to work.

Later, her body would be covered in marks just like his. She would love every single one of them. Eric's mouth left her breast so he could level his head with hers, his gray staring at her blue, their pupils dilated. Her sweet smell was addicting. She could say the same thing about his lips.

“I’m gonna fuck you senseless.” Eric stated as he stared at her. Kate's breath caught in her throat, desire burning in her core and dripping down her thighs. Yet she couldn't let him control everything.

Kate flipped them to be on top.

"Sounds like an interesting proposal." She rolled her hips, the panties creating friction that was driving him mad. A predatory look set over his features. "Should I accept it?"

"Kate…" His eyes gave her a warning, there was the tick of a nerve in his sharp jaw. Control threatening to snap.

"What, Eric?" She rolled her hips again. "Do you wanna say something?"

Her hands found his torso again, scratching skin and massaging tensed muscles. She was pushing every single one of his buttons.

"You wanted to play with fire. Now, burn with me." Eric declared, grabbing her waist to throw her back on the mattress and tearing the last piece of fabric between them. He drank the sight in front of him, thinking he didn't deserve it. Honestly, he had no clue what a woman like her saw in a tainted man like him, but he couldn't go down that line of thinking. She was so smart, funny, and stunning, and, for now, she was here.

He positioned himself between her legs.

"Kate, are you sure?" Eric looked for any signs of hesitation or doubt.

"Eric" Her voice was just above a whisper. "Burn with me." 

Nothing else existed but them. The last ounce of control was gone, and they became one. The moments that followed were a blur of pleasure, bites, moans, and scratches. Skin against skin. Sweat glistened on their mark-covered bodies, which told the story of how they really met for the first time. No walls, no conspiracy, or murder attempts. Just Kate and Eric tangled on the black sheets, reaching their highs together.

Once time washed away the marks of what they had done, Kate would remember Eric's forehead touching hers with his closed eyes and whispers of praise. He worshiped her name as if she were an Old World saint. And Eric would remember the blissful gaze on her face from desire, her parted lips swollen from their kisses, and the softness in her eyes directed at him—a look no one had ever given him. Most importantly, Eric would remember how she intertwined their fingers and never let go. Kate would never let him go.

Good, 'cause he could never give her up, too.

Chapter Text

"Started playing your games

You got me in a checkmate

Now you are the queen, and I'm the pawn

Thinking about all the things

The way you pull my strings

I love the way you turn me on

You're the queen, so let me be your king

I'd do anything so that we could rule the world" — Stellar , 'Ashes'.

 

Kate's frame fitted perfectly between Eric's arms. Responsibilities would soon force them to leave the safety of the bed and face the chaos that filled Dauntless' halls, but, for now, they still had time. Gently, Eric’s fingers traced the outlines of Kate’s tattoo. The leader had no idea about its existence, always hidden under her clothes. Now, only covered by the black sheets of his bed, both had a chance to explore each other beyond the sexual touches.

The horizontal design between her shoulder blades showed the moon phases. The ambassador was fascinated by the astronomical object, Earth’s natural satellite, always staring at it when she had a chance to be outside of the compound in the middle of the night.

"When did you get this?' Eric murmured. The man had several tattoos and piercings over the years, a very common thing for the faction's members.

"The last night of initiation." Kate reveled in the feeling of having her back pressed against his warm chest. Her fingers traced the maze tattoo on the arm thrown over her naked hips. "I escaped the party to see the moonlight on the roof... It's something that has always fascinated me. The moon. Something is enchanting about it—powerful. I sneaked out during initiation a few times to watch it. So, I decided to mark it on my skin."

"Have you ever thought about getting another one? Plenty of space left." He wondered.

"Yeah, I wanted another one or two, but the ambassador position came up. I had to look less... Dauntless to fit in with the council."

"Screw that. I'll take you whenever, I'll even get something, too, for moral support." He chuckled.

"Moral support? You just want an excuse to get another one." Kate rolled her body to face him, laughing at his lame excuse. "What do you wanna get?"

Eric stopped to think for a second, nothing clear came to mind. "Don't know, I just want another one. You can help me decide, then." 

"Oh, so you're gonna trust me with that? That's a lot of blind trust." She traced the lines of his neck tattoo. There wasn't enough courage in the world to allow her to get something like that.

"The keyword here is help , not decide ." He smiled.

Eric looked so much younger like that.

"You're no fun." Kate's fingers moved to his jaw, tracing the strong lines. 

"I'm a lot of fun. I gave you a lot of that just a few minutes ago. Is the lady not satisfied? Does she need another run?" 

He moved fast, climbing on top of her, pushing her body down on the sheets as a hand held her arms above her head.

"I'm not stroking your ego. Or anything else, for that matter. We'll be late to the leaders' meeting." She tried to release her hands to no avail, trying to even kick him.

 The meeting had been pushed to late at night as Harrison, Four, and River were busy trying to deal with the consequences of Lauren's murder attempt and her subsequent death.Eric dropped his head on the crook of her neck, letting out a frustrated huff that tickled her skin. 

"I know." He admitted it, letting go of her hands and laying his body next to hers.

"There's always later, though." She winked at him, hoping for a smile, but not even a grin made an appearance. Eric seemed to be thinking about something, a frown covered his face. 

"Eric? You okay?"

There’s silence for a minute. Doubt started to creep into his mind. Even after everything, Eric was still waiting for her to realize that he was bad news.

"I was just thinking about something. Forget it." Eric stared at the ceiling, and she could sense the change in him.

Kate delicately held his chin, motioning for him to look at her. What was going on with him?

"Just tell me what's wrong."

"I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop." Eric finally admitted it.  "Can't believe we're doing this. That you would…" The leader didn't even want to finish that sentence. 

"Stay? Want you? Eric, when I kissed you on that couch, I was all in." Her forehead leaned forward to touch his. "You better get used to having me around, especially with this king-size bed, you're stuck with me." 

Tension eased from his shoulders, and a hand tangled in her hair, pulling her in for a chaste kiss.

"I've been waiting a long time for this." Eric said it out loud, realizin a second too late his confession. 

That intrigued her. She raised an eyebrow, silently asking him to finish that line of thought. 

"I've had my eyes on you since initiation." He carefully admitted it, afraid of sounding like a creep. Not once had the leader tried any advances at her. Always kept a respectful distance.

"You’ve got your eyes on me since my initiation? That’s almost four years ago!" For a moment, all she could think about was the minimal conversation between them. He was always straight to the point with her, but he never yelled. Never cruel. "Is that why you always treated me differently? You were never mean to me, especially during initiation."

He pulls her body closer, burying his face in her tangled, soft hair. “Just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

That made her heart swell. As an initiate, Kate thought he was attractive, she wasn't blind, but she never imagined Eric would look at her twice. Also, there was supposed to be a total focus on not getting cut during the first stages.

"Yesterday, Jace was talking about how you spent an awful lot of time teaching me how to throw knives. Did it have something to do with you… Having your eyes on me?"

"You were the first person in your group to hit the target. On the very first attempt, I still remember your face, it lit up, and there was confidence in you. It was different with guns." He paused. "I just wanted you to keep smiling like that."

One of his fingers brushed over her plump lips, the corners of her mouth moving upward.

"They became my favorite weapon." She hesitated. "What about after initiation? Did you lose interest? Things could’ve been different."

He vehemently shook his head. Eric never stopped being secretly attracted to her. 

"No, but you didn’t need the attention that would come with you being around me. You had to prove yourself to leadership, to the council... Gain their respect, not have your image tainted because of me. I’m not the most popular guy around here."

"Me neither. Still, people respect you or fear you."

"You’ve got the trust of the people who matter for your job. The leadership and the council Focus on that." He placed a peck on the tip of her nose, making her giggle.

There was a pause.

"I don’t think this is a mistake or a lapse of judgment, Eric. I… I like you more than you know." Kate admitted.

Better to let that cat out of the bag.

He tensed, not exactly the expected reaction. "I like you more than what is for your own good, Kate. I thought that if I could convince you about Abnegation…. We could've ruled this city one day. We would've been unstoppable."

"Not at the cost of innocent people's lives, Eric." She stared into his eyes, witnessing the raging storm inside of him. He still craved power, she wasn't naive. "I promised you that we'd find another way. I was never meant for leadership, but you are. One day, you’ll lead Dauntless to a new dawn, the youngest ever to do so. I just hope you do it for the right reasons."

Before Eric could reply, a text came through to remind them of the meeting in a few minutes. So, the duo made their way to his bathroom, trying to keep their hands from each other.

They failed. Miserably. Now, they were rushing around the apartment, trying not to look like they spent all afternoon in bed. Kate, who was running out of clothes, had opted to put on the same Amity dress again, which showed her skin colored in bruises from Eric's hands and bites. Lots of bites. 

She knew he didn't look much better, especially on his back and shoulders, covered in traces of blood, until a few minutes ago, but he had the means to hide it. Kate almost felt bad for him as the shower made the small cuts from her nails sting. Almost.

"Eric, can I borrow a jacket?" She raced to the living room, trying to put on her boots without falling. "I can't go like this."

He threw a jacket that had been lying on his kitchen counter, but not before stopping to admire his work on her skin. It sent a shiver down his spine, and he had to take a deep breath to keep himself in check.

"Thanks." She finally noticed the jacket he gave her. His leader's jacket. "Are you sure?"

"It'll look good on you. But you should consider something called doing your laundry." He smirked. "Not that I mind the dress."

"I'll try to put a load in before someone else tries to murder me." 

The jacket looks big on her, and she can't help but take a deep breath to smell his perfume. It's spicy. But a quick look at her reflection revealed that the jacket’s collar wouldn’t hide Lauren’s purple handprints.

"Don't stress about it, I can do it for you when we get back." 

He opened the door, the guards outside straightening up in the presence of the second in command. Four men and women had been placed on the floor until Darren was captured. Leadership wouldn't risk the accomplice trying to carry out the plan as revenge. And there was the theory about another person being involved. 

The soldiers discreetly stared at her. Actually, they stared at the jacket. A thought finally dawned on her. Eric was claiming her. Interesting. She could do the same, too, even if a small voice kept reminding her that members already disliked her. Imagine now that the duo became something more than colleagues.

Still, she forced herself to reach for his rough hand, intertwining their fingers, and walk towards the elevator, head held high. Kate could claim him as well.When the doors slid closed, the ambassador let out a breath. Eric picked up on her tense demeanor. She was anxious about it and about them. One thing was to be free around each other in the apartment, another was to walk around the compound together. Dauntless were known for being relentless with their teasing and downright mean comments.

"Kate, look at me.” He gently grabbed her shoulder, making her turn around. “We can keep it quiet for now if you want. No rush, but like I just told you, you’ve already proved yourself to everyone that matters.” He squeezed her hand, reassuring her. 

The elevator dinged, indicating they had arrived at the ground floor. They needed to cross a hallway to catch another elevator to the meeting room.

"I don't wanna hide.” Kate whispered and didn't let go of his hand. "It’s just nerves from all the attention."

The duo walked down the hall, not missing how other members were staring shamelessly at them. Eric’s hand pulled her closer.

“Fuck them. It’s you and me. Doesn’t matter what they think or say, okay? Don’t let them get into your head.” The words whispered in her ear made something stir in her.

You and me.

"You know that considering what other people think is like half my job, right?" She replied once they safely reached the empty elevator.

"Don't, but if they piss you off, just kick their ass or let me do that for you." Eric smirked, he wanted nothing more than a reason to punch out the malicious grins from some of their faces.

With that in mind, they reached the meeting room. Most of the higher-up members were already there, except Harrison. The space consisted of cavernous walls, a coffee table in the corner, a long black table with 12 seats, and a row of seats close against the north wall meant for the assistants. On the south wall, there was a projector connected to a computer for online conferences with other factions, except Abnegation. Eric and Kate delivered laptops and phones for their leadership, but there hasn’t been enough time to test them. 

For a moment, River stared at the duo’s joined hands, but, soon, the blank face gave way to a bright smile. The redhead was genuinely happy to see both choosing one another. They could balance each other out. It was great news for Dauntless and the city of Chicago. It gave him hope that things would go down differently. 

When they crossed the room passing in front of him, the Amity-born hand shot up to high-five Kate’s and said that he was glad she was still alive.

"You two are gonna give me headaches." He commented, pinching the bridge of his nose. River’s smile grew even bigger. "You worried about Kate becoming my bestie? You’ll still have a place in my heart, Eric."

The blond rolled his eyes. "She already has a best friend. I’m worried about the trouble that will find you two for sure." Eric let go of Kate’s hand and made his way to his place. The meeting was about to start.

Kate whispered something into River’s ear, making him giggle. Eric didn’t catch what it was, though he was sure it meant trouble.

The hierarchy determined everyone’s place. Harrison would occupy the seat at the head of the table, while Eric, as the second in command, would sit on his right side. River occupied Lauren’s seat. Her death meant that the redhead was now the third in the hierarchy. Then, it came Four, who was supposed to originally sit next to Eric, as ironically the fourth in command, but that was a dangerous combo, so he traded places with Sam. 

After that, it was Kate’s seat next to the Head of the Control Room. The remaining chairs were occupied by other important roles, including Sarah and Mikka, the commanders who had helped her when Peter’s body was discovered. Kate, Sarah, and Eric’s assistant, Lidia, were now the only women in the room. It wasn’t a secret that Dauntless was primarily a male faction. Two-thirds of its residents, which could make life difficult for them.

"Alright, let’s get it going." Harrison strode in, carrying a stack of paperwork and the darkest circles anyone had ever seen under his eyes. "I know we’ve all had a very long 72 hours. I won’t keep you."

Harrison chose to stand. Slowing down would drop the adrenaline that kept him awake. He was basically running on fumes at this point. That, and coffee.

"No sign of Darren yet. We’ve got every eye in the Control Room looking for him and every soldier. We don’t believe he has escaped our grounds." 

The faction’s leader directed his attention to her. 

"Kate, the soldiers will remain guarding you until this issue is dealt with."

She nodded, disliking the attention, but she was grateful. It would ease her mind a little. And Eric’s.

"Everyone in the Control Room has been interrogated under the serum. There’s no reason to believe that we’ve got another traitor in there." Harrison started to pass down some papers. "That doesn’t mean Darren and Lauren didn’t have other people's help. We’re working on several lines of investigation. Now, these papers are copies of emails from the council. Everyone is looking at us. We've got to keep our heads down and get the job done. Fast ." 

Kate knew her inbox was probably flooded with these and other messages. Still, she was allowed the day off, somebody had tried to kill her. Harrison had texted her after the training room situation, saying that the ambassador shouldn't worry about anything.

"There’re a lot of accusations here. What are we replying to them?" Four questioned. His appearance was unnerving. It looked like the man hadn’t slept in days. There was just too much pressure; the missing traitor was the person who worked with him the longest. He had emphasized so many times how his team was trustworthy.

 "I’ve only replied to two of them. The one by Jack Kang and the one from Abnegation. Anything else has to wait until I’ve got time or Kate’s back to work." Harrison explained.

"Of course, I forgot our ambassador is busy fucking Eric." Four spat the words and took a sip of his bitter coffee.

Eric’s body went rigid, silence filling the room, and Kate couldn’t hide the surprise from her face. Harrison opened his mouth to speak, but Kate was faster.

"What did you just say?" Kate was sitting right next to him, so when he turned around, she gave him a deadly stare. The man had been her instructor, and they’d worked together for years. Never a word of disrespect had come from his mouth. Rivalry between him and Eric wasn’t an excuse to treat her this way, especially in front of the leadership.

"The truth. You two have been locked inside his apartment for the past 24 hours while we’re working non-stop." Four leaned closer to her. "Dauntless is in chaos while you two are fucking . Don’t deny it, I can see his handprints on your neck."

"These are Lauren’s handprints from when your friend tried to strangle me to death." Four’s eyes went wide, and shame crossed his features. “Because you didn’t do your job right. All along, there's been missing footage, offline cameras, and a traitor in your own team. You put Darren in charge of the surveillance. Your ego made you blind with the I trust all of my team talk."

Kate didn’t yell, actually, her voice was deadly calm.

"I’m sorry about Darren, and I’m sorry about Lauren. I know you two were friends, but never, and I mean never , disrespect me like that again. I don’t care if you outrank me, do it again and we’ll have a problem. Understood?"

Four said nothing.

"I asked you a question. Did you understand me?" Four slowly nodded, eyeing Eric on the other side of the table, who looked ready to launch forward and grab his nemesis to kill. It was taking every ounce of control in his body to let Kate deal with it. The young leader knew that she could, there was no need for a man to swoop in and defend her honor. Still, the desire of beating the crap out of Four was almost overpowering.

"I’ll speak to you later, Four. This is unacceptable. Kate will be back to work full-time when she wants. I don’t want to hear about it again." Harrison said, ready to go back to the meeting.

"I’ll start in the morning, Harrison. Thank you."

"As you wish." Harrison nodded, and the meeting continued.

Harrison stated that he didn't want to keep them for long. However, there were so many issues piling up at Dauntless, including the ones unrelated to Lauren and Darren, or even the factionless group, that it was past 11 p.m. when they were dismissed. Well, most of them.

"Thank you all for your time. Go home, rest, we can regroup tomorrow." Harrison finally sat down. "Kate and Eric, I'll need you two for a moment."

Four slowly rose from his seat, he hadn't said a word since earlier. A few people had already left the room, and he still had a long night ahead in the Control Room, practically living in his own office. Turning around to head to the exit, he was met with Eric standing right in front of him, a wicked smile on his face. 

"What's the hurry, Number Boy?" Eric placed a strong hand on his shoulder. Four already sensed this would go down sideways. But what would Eric have the courage to do in front of other higher-ups? 

"You see… I didn't hear an apology."

"Eric, don't start now." Four replied, trying to move past the blond.

"Wrong answer." Eric's punch collided with Four's eye, the force making Four take a couple of steps back, hitting his back on the leaders' table. He grabbed him by the shirt's collar, pulling him closely again. "Apologize to her, or you'll get an early grave."

Harrison was too tired to deal with this, choosing to let Eric do as he pleased. The faction's leader was surprised the young man's control lasted so long. Usually, he would've gone physical at the first opening that Four or anyone else gave to piss him off.

At some point, Kate stood up from her place at the table, not being able to blink from the confrontation in front of her. Although she wasn't angry or disappointed in Eric's behavior, she secretly loved every second of it. What was happening to the diplomat who preferred words to fists?

"I'm sorry… Kate, for what I said." Four didn't seem sorry at all, but the ambassador just wanted it to be over. People were staring.

"Thank you, Four. I hope we don't have this issue again." Kate kept a blank expression, controlling the grin that threatened to escape her lips.

" Get out , Number Boy." Eric aggressively let go of him, almost making his nemesis stumble on the floor. Four quickly escaped to the hallway, not looking back.

Kate crossed to the other side of the room, going straight for her partner in crime. She kept in mind that Harrison was still there, so she had to be careful with her words.

"You couldn't help yourself, huh?" Kate asked, smiling at him.

"In my defense, I wanted to kill him, but I settled for a black eye." He put his hands on her hips, applying some pressure. "Are you mad?" 

"I'm surprised you didn't snap earlier. You let me deal with it." She got closer, whispering into his ear. "It's a shame that I couldn't give him a matching black eye on the other side." 

Eric smiled, shaking his head. He knew she had it in her all along. The soldier side, she was starting to show more.

"Okay, let's talk business." Harrison interrupted. The duo turned around and sat back at the table, now side by side. "Kate, I was surprised to know that you've changed your mind about Erudite. Eric texted me about it earlier. Are you sure about it?"

Kate and Eric had decided to lie for now. They had to form a new plan to get the desired power without committing genocide in the Abnegation faction. For that, they needed to be on top of everything and not be left out. Harrison was too far gone to change his mind. 

"Yes, Lauren's attempt to kill me made me rethink some things. The council needs change. Abnegation is not as selfless as it appears to be. I've seen it but chose to ignore it for too long." 

Would he believe her? 

"Very well, I'm happy to hear that." Harrison's tone said otherwise. 

Kate couldn't put her finger on it, unable to decide if he downright didn't believe her or if he was choosing to be careful. For the longest time, the leader hesitated to have her join them. Now that it was happening, uneasiness settled in the air.

"The serum is ready. Erudite has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow afternoon. All of us are going to be there." Harrison turned his attention completely to her. "And Kate, Jeanine's excited to get a chance to get to know you better. She'll be analyzing you, be careful around her." 

Kate couldn't help but feel like that warning had a double meaning. Maybe the older man wanted her to reconsider whatever he believed she was planning.

"Good, we'll see you tomorrow, then." Kate gave him her best serene smile, trying to keep her emotions at bay.

"You two have a good night. Dismissed." Harrison didn't even wait for them to get up, going straight for the door.

"That wasn't strange at all." Kate whispered.

"Let's wait for the meeting, Harrison can be hard to read." Eric got up, firmly squeezing her hand in an attempt to calm her nerves.

Suddenly, a group of soldiers rushed past the door, heading down the hallway. They looked too alert for the midnight hour. Something was going on, so the logical thing was to follow. Dauntless always ran towards the danger.

Eric's phone vibrated in his pocket. A new message.

"Someone jumped." Eric stated. No name, no picture. It could be anyone.

And they took off.

Less than an hour later, Darren's body was recovered from the bottom of the Chasm. According to witnesses, he made a run for it. The longest-working security officer had traded his loyalty, job security, and, ultimately, his life for a chance at a promotion. A deadly one. 

He sided with Lauren and Peter, knowing it would get the ambassador killed. In the end, Kate lived, his accomplices were murdered one way or another, and he chose between execution and dying on his own terms. So, he jumped. Dauntless always celebrated bravery, but this wasn't the case. Darren was a traitor. He would be forgotten. No family or close friends, and any good deed he had ever done was tainted by his greed.

If anyone felt for his death, it was Kate in a very twisted way. She couldn't help but feel somehow responsible for it. Three people wanted her dead, half of the faction disliked her, and her only friend was Jace, maybe River. Then there was Eric. The list ended right there. Was something wrong with her? What if she was the power-hungry, manipulative bitch that Lauren claimed she was?

Once the crowd dispersed, the duo made their way back to the apartment. The guards stood in the hallway to finish their last shift, wanting to show their commitment to the second-in-command.

Kate was too quiet.

The woman carefully placed his leader's jacket on the kitchen stool, where Eric was used to leaving it. A headache was starting to creep in, she just wanted to sleep. Was Kate supposed to go to her room? Or to Eric's bed? She had teased him earlier about the king-size bed, but what if Eric wanted his own space?

"Are you okay?" Eric was following her down the hallway, she had to go to her bedroom anyway to change into some pajamas.

"It's just a lot." Kate didn't want to bother him with specifics. Eric wasn't one for too many touchy feelings. The dress hit the floor, and she had her back at him even if the leader had already seen everything.

"Wanna talk about it?" Eric stepped closer, placing his hands on her bare shoulders, a finger tracing one of the bite marks.

"Don't worry, okay?" She put on the shorts, and Eric didn't move, finally understanding what was wrong.

"Kate, it's not your fault." His hands guided her to turn around and face him. Her cheeks had traces of tears that she tried so hard to keep at bay. 

"I think something is wrong with me." Her voice broke. At that, Eric had a shocked expression covering his features. Why would she think something like that? 

He pulled her into a hug. Kate buried her face into the crook of his neck and let the tears silently fall.

"That's not true. Nothing is wrong with you. They made their choices, it's not on you." Slowly, he guided her to sit on the bed, patiently waiting for her to calm down. After a few minutes, her chest stopped shaking, and she let go of the embrace. Not a word had been said.

"Kate, your position comes with a lot of attention, good and bad. Some will respect and admire how far you've come, others will hate you for it. Jealousy for your success. Those are the ones that have to fear you, 'cause you'll never gain their respect." Eric held the sides of her face, gently wiping away her tears while also keeping Kate from looking away. She needed to understand.

"You don't have to be a hero to this faction or their villain. Stop trying to be so black-and-white. Soldier or diplomat, violence or peace… You don't have to choose. Allow yourself to accept every single thing about you that makes you gray. " 

"Who knew you were so damn good with words?" She let out a laugh, a tear or two still escaping the corner of her eyes. Eric let go of her, grabbing her forgotten pajama top and throwing it at her chest. 

"Put that on and let's go to bed."

"I thought you liked me naked." She joked, putting the piece of clothing on.

"I do, a lot." He smirked. "I'm not good with feelings, but I know that you need comfort, not sex."

"Maybe I need both." She said, following him to his bedroom.

"Don't tempt me, it's a very weak resolve of mine." Eric quickly took off his own clothes, settling for sleeping with his boxers. 

Well, that wasn't tempting at all. 

Silently, Eric worried that the days ahead of them could break something in her. He would do his best to protect her, but, in the end, only time would tell.

The simple houses of Abnegation came into view. The sun had barely graced the city with its presence when Kate and Eric had been called to Harrison's office. Something strange had happened in the other faction. Last night, around 3 a.m., a team witnessed Andrew Prior talking to a factionless woman, one who didn't seem to be looking for food or a place to rest for the night, actually, the confidence in her seemed oddly familiar. The demeanor of a leader. 

Patrols weren't allowed to get closer to the houses, so soldiers watched from afar as Andrew led the woman to the leaders' office building and stayed there for two hours. When they emerged from there, the stranger carried two heavy boxes. Other two factionless men approached, going in to bring back other boxes and a duffel bag. 

The pre-war building was huge but simple. There used to be 50 Abnegation members on the council, so the offices had to accommodate that amount. After Marcus Eaton went down and took many with them, five new leaders, the same as any other faction, were elected, and the building almost became empty.

Now, Kate and Eric were going to surprise their leadership with some lame excuse to investigate closer. Abnegation protected the factionless, what was stopping them from helping the armed ones with something? And who was that woman?

"I'm thinking that you keep them occupied with your diplomacy talk, and I sneak out to investigate. Abnegation is not the kind of people who question a leader walking around." Eric said while mindlessly drawing circles with his fingers on the palm of her hand.

They were sitting together in the back of an armored truck. Two others were following, but there were still a large number of weapons missing from Dauntless, not to mention the bombs apparently hidden inside a pre-war bunker.

"Okay, let's say you find something. Are you gonna confront them about it?" Kate wondered.

"Depends on what I find. Just make sure to keep them talking for as long as you can. If they're hiding something, it won't be in plain sight, so I'll skip the leader's offices and go straight to other floors. I checked some old blueprints, and there's a basement, but it's not clear where the entrance is."

It was a decent plan, right?

"Don't forget, we still have the meeting in Erudite today. We gotta be out of here before lunchtime." Eric scrunched his nose.

"Believe me, I'm not staying here for long."The two vehicles following them stopped, they couldn't go any further for no reason. The remaining one would be waiting outside of the building with instructions on keeping an eye out for anything strange. 

Natalie Prior came into view, a frown covering her features. She had no idea what Dauntless could possibly want now. 

The duo got out of the truck, Kate fixing her jacket and trying to hide the bruises on her neck—at least the ones caused by Eric.

"Ambassador, Eric, we weren't expecting your visit." Natalie's piercing gaze was analyzing them.

"Apologies for the lack of warning." Kate started with her serene smile in place. "Patrols have identified groups of armed factionless people on the outskirts of Abnegation, Eric is here to check on that. I thought it would be a good idea to tag along and discuss some things with you."

"Is this the part where you insist on CCTV cameras again?" Natalie said, gesturing to the building.

"And other things." Her smile never faltered.

"Will you be joining us for a moment, Eric?" Natalie asked.

"It would be rude of me to not greet Andrew and the other leaders." Eric tried to sound like he wasn't blatantly lying to her face. He wasn't one for pleasantries. "I'll meet my soldiers after that."

"I'm afraid Andrew is the only one here at the moment. You can find him in his office, second door on the right." Natalie reached her own office. Kate gave Eric a final look, hoping the leader wasn't discovered. It would be bad, especially if he didn't find anything first.

"Ambassador, I'll come and get you here when I'm done." Eric's voice echoed from the empty hall before the Abnegation woman closed the door.

Kate took a deep breath and sat on the chair, her brain working hundreds of miles a minute, trying to think of as many discussion topics as she could. She needed to buy time. Natalie sat right in front of her, clearly wanting to get this over as fast as she could.

"Shall we begin?"

Two hours later, Kate had run out of subjects. The women had a long talk about security cameras, which led nowhere—not that the ambassador really cared about that now—the increase in violent attacks in other factions led by the factionless, the need to schedule an online conference to test the equipment gifted during their previous visit, Lauren's attack, and even Caleb's thoughts about his tour at Dauntless.

At some point, Kate even convinced Natalie to bring her husband in, after all, she didn't want Andrew to stumble upon Eric, who was somewhere investigating. Now, Kate was grasping at straws, trying to convince the couple to let the patrols come closer to their houses. Again, she didn't really care about that, though such a topic always led to lengthy discussions.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It couldn't be Eric, as he didn't possess the ability to knock before entering.

"Kate, I'm all done. We've gotta go back now for the meeting." Eric's voice boomed behind her. She whipped her head around in surprise.

Oh, that was a plot twist. He knew how to knock.

"Of course, I almost forgot about that." Kate faced the Abnegation couple again. "I apologize, but we really are on a schedule today."

Natalie and Andrew couldn't hide their relief.

"We can continue at another time. It's been… A lengthy discussion, there are a lot of things to consider." Natalie spoke. The woman was so done with the Dauntless members.

Heading out of the office, Kate tried to appear unfazed. She was relieved that Eric had come back in one piece and wondered if it had all been for nothing. Did he manage to find out anything? Were they overreacting?

"Thank you for your time." Kate shook hands with them. Eric didn't care enough to be polite again.

Climbing back on the truck, Eric unnecessarily helped her, just like last time, when she was injured. Her leg didn't hurt anymore, the man just wanted an excuse to grab her hips. 

As the vehicle began moving, Kate couldn't contain her curiosity anymore. 

"So? Tell me what happened. It literally had nothing else to say to them anymore, and they were almost kicking me out!" 

Eric grabbed his phone inside his pocket, showing her pictures of a spacious room with cement walls, bunk beds, no light or windows. A thick layer of dust covered everything, looking like ashes. An underground bunker kept hidden in such a boring place that no one ever looked for hundreds of years. A secret kept by Abnegation leaders through generations but every secret eventually comes to light.

 "I found it, but it was empty. Chris didn't lie about the bombs." Eric reminded her of Chris' interrogation all those days ago. Jeanine didn't lie either, no chemicals were missing from Erudite's labs. 

Abnegation was helping the factionless, and it wasn't just with food and water. The war on the horizon was approaching fast. Would they be able to stop it?

For the third time that day, Kate found herself inside an armored truck, and, again, she was dreading every second of it. The visit to Abnegation had been tense due to Eric's idea of sneaking around. However, it produced a good result: they found the bunker. 

Then, the journey back to Dauntless was filled with the weight of their discovery. Abnegation was looking worse by the minute. They couldn't hide the information from their faction, Harrison and the others needed it to prepare for a possible attack. Who knew how far they were willing to go?

Now, for the third time, Kate was terrified of the possibility of being discovered by Jeanine. What would a woman like her, willing to wipe out an entire faction, do to someone standing in her way? Kate didn't want to find out. Currently, she was sharing a ride with Harrison, Eric, a driver, and one heavily armed soldier. 

Obviously, the faction's leader called shotgun, leaving Kate to be squeezed between the other two men in the back. That was the bad side of not being slender, she was always in the middle seat. Erudite's stone buildings came into view. The streets were filled with green, and the roads were spotless, the area was once known as Chicago's Millennium Park.

The center of it all was a library, representing the faction of knowledge. That was the thing Kate missed the most: the smell of books. In her new life, there was only time to read emails or documents. She craved the time to visit that library again. As an ambassador, there was no doubt she could get away with it. 

The trucks came to a stop in front of Erudite's headquarters. No one was waiting for them in front, there was no need. The group climbed out of the vehicle, with the other soldiers staying behind waiting for their return. Kate took a moment to fix her outfit, a very Erudite one in black. Hopefully, there wouldn't be a need to run in those heels. 

The feeling of returning to her original faction always made something hurt in the depths of her heart. It didn't matter how many times Kate came by for a meeting. Something told her that it would last a lifetime. A part of her would always miss it, after all, Erudite was her foundation. 

Upon entering the building, a wave of blue clothes filled their vision. Scientists coming and going about their day. That faction hated the idea of losing time, as it was counterproductive. 

"We'll start in 15. I have to talk to Jeanine about something else first." Harrison explained before heading into the conference room, located just down the hall in front of them.

Kate wasn't Candor by any means, but Harrison had clearly lied to them. The young leader shared a knowing look with her, but there was nothing they could do about it now.

"Kate, is that you?" A woman's voice exclaimed somewhere along the crowd. The ambassador's eyes darted around, trying to identify who had recognized her. Suddenly, she saw the older version of herself. Her mother walked straight towards them.

"Eric, if you wanna run, now is the time. That's my mom." She quickly told him, bracing herself for that encounter. 

Every time she came by Erudite and saw her parents around, Kate wouldn't approach them, nor would they visit each other during the annual Visiting Day. The last time they talked in person was during the Visiting Day of her initiation. Still, her mother would write birthday wishes for her and send them via email. It was sweet and distant enough.

"And losing the chance of meeting your mom? No way." Eric smirked, though he kept a respectful distance. If Kate decided not to mention their relationship, whatever it was, the leader would respect that.

No doubt, Kate was her mother's daughter. If a little bit taller and with some wrinkles in the corner of her eyes, the older woman was like looking in a mirror.

"I knew it was you. It's been a long time." She opened her arms, hoping her daughter would go in for a hug. When would they have another chance like that? Kate realized she could really use a hug, so she went for it.

It felt familiar, but there wasn't the expected feeling of coming home. Dauntless was her home. Still, Kate felt a weight being lifted off her shoulders, the hug from a mother was like no other.

"Hi, mom. I've missed you."

"Then you should stop missing Visiting Day." Her mother's words hid a little bit of hurt. 

The family understood her choice; many opted for distance; it made things easier, but the departure would always hurt. Her parents wouldn't go to the compound to force her into an awkward situation. The choice was hers.

"I'll try later this year, okay?" Kate let go of her mother. She wasn't lying. Remembering that Eric was watching the interaction, Kate decided to shift the focus. "Mom, let me introduce you. This's Eric, one of the Dauntless leaders. Eric, this's Dr. Kempton, my mother."

Eric extended his hand to the older woman. "A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Kempton." Eric had a charming smile on his face.

"Hello, it's good to get to know the man that my daughter is dating." Dr. Kempton's own smile didn't falter.

"Mom? What do you mean?" Kate was internally panicking. How did her mother know about them so fast? Could he be called her boyfriend? Was it too soon? There had been no discussion about it.

"Dauntless keeps an eye on Erudite, we do the same. I always ask about you. I know the past few weeks have been… Hard, and he's been there for you." Her mother focused her attention on the man standing in front of her. "Eric, I know your mother as well, we've worked together. Dr. Coulter is brilliant. I'm sure she's somewhere around if you wanna talk to her."

"I'm not sure we'll have the time. We're here for a meeting with Jeanine." The truth was that Eric had no desire to see his mother, who never got over the fact that their only son decided to leave.

"I see. Well, it's better not to keep her waiting. She's been… Stressed with her personal project."

Something finally dawned on Kate. What if her parents were working with Jeanine, too?

"Mom… Are you part of her team? What about dad?" 

"No, we had no interest in it. I hope the same for you." For the first time, Dr. Kempton had a serious expression and a rigid posture. She knew what Jeanine was capable of, they had been in the same initiation class all those years ago.

"You don't have to worry." That was the only answer the ambassador could give.

"Good, these are delicate times. Make sure you're on the right side of things." A motherly warning. "And Eric… I hope you're careful, too. Dr. Coulter chose not to work on the project as well. Remember, mothers always know best."

That wasn't exactly true, but, in this case, her mother was right. If only she knew that Eric had been by Jeanine's side until a few days ago…

"Mom, we gotta go now. It was really nice to see you. Tell Dad I said hi, okay?" Kate's hand found Eric's arm, trying to make him follow her quickly. The longer they talked, the worse it would get.

"It was nice to meet you, Dr. Kempton." Eric nodded, letting Kate guide him away.

"One last thing." The duo stopped dead on their tracks. "Eric, I thank you for what you've done for my daughter, but, make no mistake, if you hurt her, I'll turn you into one of my lab rats. Dauntless leader or not."

Kate's cheeks burned with shame. This couldn't be happening.

"Yes, ma'am." Eric replied and, with one final nod, followed Kate, who had left him behind feeling embarrassed. The blond had a feeling Dr. Kempton was capable of such a feat.

"Are you running away from your mom? She was exactly as I expected. You've got the same fire." Eric chuckled, an arm dropping across Kate's shoulders. "She's you in 20 years."

"I tried to warn you, but you chose to stay. I didn't expect the death threat, though." Kate let out a nervous laugh.

"Oh, I'm sure she would be able to pull that off. I gotta be careful with you now, Erudite's labs are not fun."

Kate and Eric reached the conference room, most of Jeanine's team was already inside. Twenty people give or take. A close circle of her most trusted and talented scientists. Eric dropped his arm down. If Kate's mother knew about them that meant Jeanine was aware, too. That didn't mean he needed to bring more attention to the subject.

"Just stay quiet. Speak when you're spoken to, and don't ask questions. The sooner we're done, the safer it'll be." Eric warned, assuming a serious tone.

Jeanine Matthews was standing a few feet away and noticed their presence, leaving Harrison behind to greet them.

"Eric, it's always a pleasure." Jeanine shook his hands, holding for a second too long. The man always believed the older woman had a sickening attraction to him, something that seemed to go beyond lust. It wasn't reciprocated. Not in the slightest. 

"Mrs. Matthews, hello." Kate said once the woman's gaze fell on her. Something was chilling about her, and that was a feeling the ambassador got way before even knowing about the evil plan for Abnegation.

"Kate, I'm glad to know that you managed to stay in one piece. I've always had an unsettling feeling about Lauren, I'm afraid she wasn't cut out for her role at Dauntless or for what we're achieving here. You're a different story."

The two women shook hands.

"Thank you, Mrs. Matthews." Kate nodded, choosing to say the least possible. It was safer that way.

"Well, looks like everyone's here. Take your seats." Jeanine walked towards the head of the table, taking her place.

Harrison, Eric, and Kate sat side by side, they were the only ones from another faction, a sign that Jeanine's attempts to convince Candor were failing. And Amity, the faction of peace, would never go for it.

After that, Kate's mind fell into a state of complete awareness. She focused her attention on everyone in the room and on Jeanine's words, actions, and facial expressions. There were some things she didn't understand because of her lack of previous knowledge of the plan. Some people seemed nervous, while others looked proud. Kate had a feeling that not everyone on her team wanted a genocide, but they were still helping the greedy and evil woman. 

"We're mass-producing the sleep serum. Our deadline has changed, and we won't be waiting until the next initiation. Chicago's new dawn is coming soon, and when we're done, no one will be able to challenge us." 

Jeanine's eyes looked glazed, there was something maniacal about her behavior. As if she could picture herself on a throne, all of Chicago down on her feet, her mind leaving the conference room as she continued to speak.

"You'll know when Erudite is ready to begin." Jeanine got up from her seat. "If there aren't any more questions, we're done for the day."

Silence filled the room, and people started to get up. Kate would wait until the Dauntless leaders decided to move.Harrison approached the Erudite leader, exchanging final words with her. Kate couldn't catch what it was. Eric remained seated, paying attention to them.

One quick glance at the blond was all she needed to know. He was afraid of the near future. It was two people against two factions—their own faction. Did they even stand a chance?

When the Dauntless leader was done, Eric and Kate said goodbye to Jeanine and left the room, the Erudite stayed behind. Unlike earlier, the halls were almost empty. It was late in the afternoon, hopefully, they would return before dark.

A woman with platinum-blond hair and gray eyes walked down the hall, going straight towards them. Clearly, she knew either Harrison or Eric.

Upon realizing the woman's presence, Eric grabbed Kate's hand with the intention of leaving fast. 

"Don't you dare, Eric Coulter." The woman called up to him, the clicking sound of her heels filling the space around them. "You will not ignore your mother again."

"That's your mom?" Kate asked, as the woman was almost in front of them.

"Ignore what she says." Eric whispered to her.

"I'll wait for you in the truck, don't take long." Harrison knew about the relationship between Eric and his mother. It wasn't pleasant.

"You've been avoiding me like an Old World plague, Eric." Dr. Coulter's tone was harsh, she was used to her son's behavior, although that didn't mean she approved of it. "We need to talk."

Dr. Coulter was one of the most respected members of Erudite. As Head of Genetic Studies, she commanded an entire lab with over 100 scientists. Previously, she worked with Dr. Kempton and had even met Kate once, when she was a little kid. A single mom who refused to reveal the identity of Eric's biological father and a cold woman who kept her son on a tight leash, and his only way out was Dauntless. And, during the last election, the members were surprised that Dr. Coulter wasn't a candidate. She would have won, surely.

Eric's mother stared at their intertwined fingers with a blank expression. Just like Dr. Kempton, she was aware of the relationship. Also, it was the other woman who warned her colleague about Eric's presence in the building.

"You two, follow me." 

Dr. Coulter started to walk to the closest flight of stairs, which would lead to her lab.

"We can run, if you want to." Kate said. She wasn't scared of his mother but was fascinated by the chance of getting to know a bit about his past. Still, the ambassador would respect his choice.

"No, let's get this over with." Eric huffed. He wanted nothing more than to go home and have Kate in his bed, preferably naked.

They made their way downstairs, where the genetics lab was located. Everything was covered in pristine glass, with lots of lights and a mix of blue and white walls and furniture. The complete opposite of Dauntless. The lab was empty as it was past their working hours. 

"No one will hear us here." Dr. Coulter invited them to sit on the metal stools. "It's interesting to meet the woman who got my son's attention. Dr. Kempton and I have known each other for a long time. I even met you once, Kate, but you were probably too young to remember it."

"It's a pleasure to meet you. My mother spoke highly of you, Dr. Coulter." Kate tried her best to smile.

"At least you're Erudite-born and come from a good family, it would be a disgrace if my son chose some wild soldier."

Oh, so that's why Eric disliked his mother. That was one strong personality right there.

"When he killed that leader, you climbed up the ranks, correct?"

"…. yes?" Kate didn't see that one coming.

"Being the ambassador makes you the highest-ranking woman in the faction. He shouldn't settle for anything less. It would be unbecoming for the Coulter family. So, I approve of you."

"That's enough . Is that all you wanted? To meet Kate and give us your approval? I don't give a damn about that." Eric was losing his cool. To calm himself, he squeezed their intertwined fingers and took a deep breath. Kate squeezed back.

"I'm not done, Eric!" Only one thing made Dr. Coulter ever lose her temper, and that was her inability to control him. The scientist recomposed herself. "I'm well aware of what you're doing here with Jeanine and her team and of what you've been planning for years."

That caught their attention.

"I'll be perfectly clear. Jeanine Matthew's a fool. Worse than that, she's a fool with power. When Jeanine falls, and, trust me, she will, a lot of people will go down with her. So, I'm here to warn you. Do not disgrace our name, walk away."

"You're the one who needs to stay out of it." Eric barked back.

"When Jeanine eventually fails, our entire leadership will go down with her, and I'll be here ready to lead Erudite." 

Dr. Coulter got the same look that Kate was used to seeing on the young leader's face. Ambition. The mother got up from her place, circling the island to stand in front of them, her fingers tracing the island.

"Is that why you didn't participate in the last election?" Kate asked before she could stop herself. The ambassador already knew the answer, it was the plan all along.

"Of course, thinking ahead was crucial. This opportunity has been years in the making. One day, I hope the Coulters will lead two factions, and none of them will be Abnegation." 

Dr. Coulter put her hands on both sides of her son's face, gently brushing her fingers against his skin. The most motherly gesture she could possibly conjure, but there was still something cold about it.

Once again, the scientist turned her attention to the young woman. "And if you play smart, Kate Kempton, you'll be there right next to him ."

Chapter Text

"Now the door is open

The world I knew is broken

There's no return

Now my heart is not scared

Just knowing that you're out there

Watching me

So believe I'll be here waiting

Hoping, praying that

This light will guide you home

When you're feeling lost I'll leave my love

Hidden in the sun

For when the darkness comes." — Colbie Caillat, 'When The Darkness Comes'.

The difference between being fucked and making love was something Kate learned from Eric. Three weeks had passed since their eventful visit to Erudite and everything had been calm. Minimal confrontation with the factionless, no casualties from their side, and no one had attempted to kill her again. So, the duo fell into a routine. Training room, shower, breakfast—which involved boring coffee and chocolate donuts—walking together to meetings or the office, lunch with Jace, Eric, or River—the four of them tried dinner one night, it was chaos—more work, and going back to the apartment—the latter meant ending up naked between the sheets or maybe with her back against the wall. The kitchen counter was a good option, too.

The two of them discovered the most intimate things about each other. For instance, the sensitive spot on the left side of Kate's neck that made her see stars when bitten, or how ticklish Eric was when she accidentally brushed the tip of her fingers against his throat or behind his ears. It made Eric cry from laughter, totally destroying the sexy mood, but it was worth it, his laugh was one of the most beautiful sounds.

Also, the leader learned just how far he could push without tipping her over the edge, sometimes driving her mad from wanting her release. Those were the nights Kate even forgot her own name. She looked like a painting due to all the marks covering her skin, while Eric was sure that her nails would leave scars on his back and shoulders. None of them cared.

Kate's Eric wasn't a cruel leader, mean, murderous, or power-hungry. He was the guy who fell asleep seconds after she started to run her fingers through his hair, did her laundry and neatly folded her clothes, was always intertwining their fingers when stressed out in a meeting, and was the one who constantly feared for her safety. There was always someone watching, discreetly, if he couldn't do it himself. Eric was the guy who made her remember that she could be a soldier and a diplomat, and could really kick ass all by herself. Still, he decided it was better to be safe than sorry. 

Eric's Kate wasn't just the Dauntless ambassador. Sure, she was a strong woman who voiced her opinions, held her head high, and could mediate even the most intense arguments between council members, but Kate was so much more than that. There was a new confidence in her, a glow, and a permanent sincere smile. Kate looked stunning while naked in bed but, from Eric's point of view, looked even hotter when she finally defeated him in a sparring match.

They were living in their own little world. Inside the apartment, there were no walls between them, just companionship and pleasure, whispering secrets and telling stories about their lives in the middle of the night. It was so different from before . Before he walked down the halls intertwining their fingers for the whole faction to see. Before they had date nights at the Pit. Before the Dauntless ambassador and the cruel leader became Kate and Eric.

Right now, Kate decided she had never looked so sexy. Eric was sitting on the edge of the bed, she was on top, her back pressed against his chest—not the most comfortable position as she had to do most of the work—but watching their reflection in the vertical mirror was… Something else entirely. Their faces flushed, sweat dripping skin, and the way her body moved up and down with his cock buried deep inside of her, his skilled fingers circling her clit… Kate was spellbound, it was impossible to look away from the mirror. That morning they were fucking.

Once their bodies were exhausted and they were both trying to catch their breaths, Eric blurted out a proposal that caught her off guard.

"Move in with me."

"What?" Kate's eyes shot up to look at his face.

"You've been here for the past month. I know you don't wanna go back there after everything, and I'm really tired of hearing you say that this's my apartment or my bedroom. I just want it to be ours. I… I'm happy to come back here every day with you. So, grab the rest of your stuff and stay." Eric's hand was caressing her face, it wasn't a big deal for him. His mind already understood this place as their own.

"Are you sure? I know you like having your own space." Kate was hesitant. What if he changed his mind? What if it didn't work out?

"I like the idea of our space better. I'm tired of seeing you hesitate around the apartment, asking permission for simple things. I want you to be comfortable here, okay? We can make some room in the closet or you can just keep your clothes in the other room as is. Has someone ever told you that you've too many of them?" He poked her belly for fun.

"Pretty sure you said that but I disagree." She laughed. On the inside, the feeling was relief. Kate didn't have to be alone anymore . "Okay, I'll move in with you. Don't regret it when I change all the decor."

"I really don't care about that shit. Do whatever you want." He placed a kiss on the top of her nose.

A thought crossed her mind, and Kate decided to go for it.

"I gotta a question though, since you want me to move in." Eric simply nodded.

"What are we? Are you my boyfriend? We've never really talked about it… I just usually say you're my partner in crime." The ambassador could feel her cheeks burning and regretted the whole thing immediately. 

Eric didn't see that one coming. For him, their relationship status had been obvious from the beginning.

  "You know I'm not good with touchy feelings. But, yeah, I've been yours since the first time I fucked you on this bed." Eric's hand started to go down her back, firmly gripping her ass. 

"You're mine, then." Kate's heart felt like it could give up at any moment. Eric didn't say the exact words that described what they felt for each other, still, there was an understanding there. "Good, 'cause I'm yours, too. I'll never let you go."

His hand pulled her waist closer to him, their lips crashing, biting, and pulling until they gasped for air.

"Burn with me forever." One of them proclaimed.

This time, Eric made love to her.

The couple decided not to wait any longer. Both disliked going back to her apartment time and time again for clothes or some missing documentation, so they grabbed a few boxes and, after dinner, decided to get on with the move. Truthfully, most of Kate's belongings weren't there anymore but in their apartment. 

The ambassador opted for cleaning out her bedroom, the idea of looking at the dried blood pool in her kitchen counter gave her the chills. Every time she accidentally gazed in that direction, Peter's body was there, again. Eric understood, therefore, he was on living room and kitchen duty.

Past midnight, only two boxes remained on the doorstep, everything else was on the leaders' floor. Kate was taking one final look around to confirm everything was empty. One day, someone else would occupy it. Would they know what happened? Would they even care? 

When she was sure nothing was left behind, a door opened down the hallway. Kate and Eric watched as Four walked out of his apartment with dark circles under his eyes. Not once the Head of the Control Room had exchanged words with her since the meeting incident. On the other hand, Eric never missed a chance to mess with him.

"Number Boy, it's past your bedtime." The leader snickered. 

Four's steps came to a halt, turning around to look at the blond, clearly angry and stressed out. For a moment, he seemed to revel in the idea of bickering with Eric but had a different resolve.

"No, Eric, the day is just beginning." With that enigmatic answer, Four walked away, leaving the duo with matching confused expressions. 

"Let's just go home." Kate said, trying to keep Eric from punching his nemesis again.

Home . They liked the sound of that.

Kate waited until the next elevator ride, the idea of being in an enclosed space with her boyfriend and Four sounded really bad. Murderous even. For the entire walk back, the ambassador couldn't help but wonder something.

"It wasn't just his answer that was weird, right? There was something about Four that felt… Off. And did you see that he had his full combat clothes on? Did he not do his laundry? Is there a combat exercise that we don't know about? Maybe capture the flag?"

Eric didn't reply.

"And like what did he mean by 'the day just beginning'? Those dark circles meant he didn't sleep at all today. Where was he even going?" Kate kept talking and talking. The last box carried by her was forgotten next to the couch.

"Eric? Did I lose you there?" But the leader was looking at his phone with a frown.

"I don't know about Four. River just texted, something is going on."

On cue, there was a knock on the door. River. The redhead looked rather serious, it gave her an unsettling feeling.

"Eric, I need you to come with me to Amity right now. A unit spotted a huge group of factionless armed to their teeth and now we lost contact. Harrison is nowhere to be found and Johanna isn't answering my calls." River paced around the living room with a nervous energy.

"I can try calling her, Johanna isn't a fan of you, 'cause you left Amity to be a Dauntless soldier." Kate cut in, searching for her phone in that mess. "When you say huge, it's like 20 people or, I don't know, 100? Oh , I found it." 

"I don't know, it's bad either way." River deadpanned. There was a knot in his stomach, the feeling of something being very, very wrong in his birth faction.

"Okay, it's ringing…" Kate's eyes shot between Eric, who had become tense, and River several times. Until the line cut. No answer from Johanna. "I'm gonna try her office this time."

"At this hour?" Eric asked himself rather than her. The leader had been texting Harrison non-stop. "River, did you check Harrison's apartment?"

The redhead simply nodded in return.

"I texted her but I gotta a feeling she won't be replying." Kate pointed out. 

"We gotta go scout the area. For some reason, the radio signal isn't going through Amity, so I can't contact any of the patrols. Let's take whoever is on call." River decided.

"It's better than waiting until morning, if they're on the move, the entire city could be in danger. I just need two minutes." Eric headed to their bedroom and Kate followed suit.

"I'll go with you."

"Not a chance." Eric put his full uniform on, not even glancing in her direction.

"Yes, I'm going. Johanna hates you and isn't a fan of River. If she's helping them or turning a blind eye, she won't talk to you, but I might get through her. The woods outside of the fence run for miles, if she tells us anything it will be helpful to locate the group." Kate quickly changed clothes too, grabbing her holster and securing it on her hips while ignoring Eric's deadly stare.

"Kate, you could get hurt. I can't focus if I have to worry about you." Eric opened his safe, picking out a second gun. 

"Then, don't worry about me. Amity is full of our patrols and I'm sure the factionless wouldn't attack it, especially if that faction is helping them. And you know I can defend myself." 

"Kate… It's a bad idea."

"I can go with you or find a team to take me there by myself, Eric. This's part of my job, don't you dare to stand in the way." It was Kate's turn to give him a deadly stare. The ambassador position was more than council meetings. It was mediating, and de-escalating situations.

"Okay, but you'll listen to me and won't take a single step without my permission. I'll treat you like an ambassador and you'll follow the orders from your leader." Eric's hands held her face, his voice was stern but his eyes showed the apprehension of something happening to her. Kate was his only weakness.

"Fair enough, sir ." Kate said and, before she could even blink, Eric's lips crashed against hers.

"Let's go."

Since the past three weeks had been strangely quiet, a lot of soldiers weren't on call, getting a well-deserved rest. So, Eric and River only managed to find three units to go with them, hoping that the number combined with the teams already placed in Amity was enough to neutralize the threat if they found it.

"Wait, I need to ask something to the guard upfront." Kate took off from the front of their truck, in which she would be accompanying the leaders and two other soldiers, leaving everyone confused.

She raced to the small office next to the gate, where all the information regarding soldiers coming and going from the faction was kept. Less than a minute later, the ambassador was back with a haunting look on her face. Unfortunately, her suspicion was right.

"Kate, what the fuck is this about?" Eric didn't have time for this.

"Four left for Amity. I knew something was wrong with him tonight. A guard just told me that he's been leaving the faction every other night for months, sometimes only coming back in the morning. You know who signed his authorization to leave Dauntless?" Kate asked, not really wanting an answer. "Lauren." 

The deceased female leader who betrayed the faction and almost got Kate killed. All of the soldiers listening in couldn't hide their surprise. 

"We all know that she had some connection to that factionless man, Chris. Four's who we've been looking for." Kate finished.

"Four is working with them." Eric barked out a laugh. "Oh, I'm so gonna enjoy killing Number Boy. C'mon, it's time to move." He placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her to the back of the truck.

They all climbed up the armored vehicles and, without looking back, faced the dark and dangerous road ahead of them.

It was a starry night. Kate couldn't help but take a minute to look at the moon through the window, it had a calming effect. They were almost reaching Amity, the radio still not working, and the atmosphere growing tense by the minute. At least, so far, there was no trouble hidden in the shadows of the side of the road.

"When we get there, this team's gonna check the offices and Johanna's house to try to locate her. The rest will spread out to check the surroundings, find the units stationed there, and regroup. Only then do we go together to the last known location of the missing team. We're safer in numbers. Any questions?" River explained. The Amity-born ranked third but the patrols were his responsibility, not Eric's. Of course, if the blond disagreed with something, he could overrule his friend's decisions.

"What if there are too many of them?" Kate couldn't help but wonder if they were enough to stop whatever was happening. Everyone knew that considering the rate of people that became factionless growing by the year, it wouldn't be long before the numbers became bigger than some of the factions' total headcount.

"We'll try to avoid making our presence known. If our odds are low, we'll fall back and find a way to contact Dauntless for reinforcements. It's dark and the factionless know these woods well. Not better than me, but still better than most soldiers." River replied, he seemed a little less on edge than 30 minutes before, as if he had turned a switch and became a different person, a soldier.

At the outskirts of Amity, the group ran into another two patrol teams, which joined them. These soldiers had realized the lack of radio communication but didn’t think too much of it, just faulty technology, as everything appeared to be quiet. In fact, all of the faction’s members were expected to be in their homes, since they were all early risers. Whatever was happening had to be deep in the woods that surrounded their crops. That meant outside of the fence, where monsters were believed to be waiting in the shadows.

Their first stop was Johanna’s house. The colorful homes and dirt streets appeared gloomy with the darkness surrounding them and the danger floating in the air. The two-story house was empty, in fact, the forgotten dinner dishes in the dining room gave a sense that the faction leader left in a hurry. Much to their growing tension, Eric’s team returned to the truck, while the other ones were patrolling the surrounding terrain, gathering any soldiers they could find and, at the same time, trying to remain undetected, going at a slow speed with their trucks’ headlights turned off.

Amity’s office could be mistaken for a yoga studio that rich people went to in the Old World. Kate couldn’t imagine herself doing such an exercise, the calmness of it all would probably drive her insane. The ambassador took a look around the secretary’s desk, all in order, and quietly followed Eric and River to Johanna’s office. It was the last door in the hallway. 

Empty, again. All lights were turned off but the bright white light of the leader’s laptop remained on, illuminating her desk, where documents filled every space, creating a white tablecloth of sorts.

"Where the fuck is she?" Eric’s harsh voice cut the silence. "We don’t have enough time to check every house where she might be drinking stupid tea with her stupid friends. Let’s forget it and search the damn woods."

Kate circled the desk, set in checking the leader’s laptop. Something on the back of her mind kept saying there had to be a clue somewhere, Johanna was somehow involved in this.

The laptop wasn’t password protected, Amity was too trusting, and there was an email draft.

"Give me a…" She was about to read the first line when something on the edge of the desk caught her attention. "Minute. What’s this?" 

Red droplets painted the first page of a document. Not thinking it through, the woman touched it, smudging it and staining her finger. Blood. Fresh blood.

Eric gripped his assault rifle tighter, all of them were carrying one besides their issued firearms, eyes scanning the dark room again. They couldn’t turn on the office’s lights as it could draw attention to their location. 

Then, the leader saw it. A pool of blood slowly made its way from under a door in the opposite wall, probably the leader’s restroom. He signaled to River to open the door as he aimed for it, ready to shoot if an intruder was hiding on the other side.

The door was thrown open. The beige tiles were tainted in crimson. Johanna’s body was abandoned in the middle of the restroom’s floor, throat slit open by a deep U-shaped cut, the ghost of a scream in her open mouth, and empty eyes staring at the ceiling. No one else in sight.

The ambassador had come closer to see, her stomach turning at the gore sight. A closer look revealed blood under Johanna’s fingernails, which must have been an attempt to fight off her attacker, but that was quickly forgotten as River’s back hit against the nearest wall, sliding until he was sitting down on the floor, defeated. The Amity-born spent 16 years in this faction, and Johanna was once a figure he looked up to. The dark-skinned woman used to come every day to his house to visit his sick mother. When she passed away, Johanna gave a beautiful eulogy. He still remembered every word. 

Eric crouched down near his best friend, placing a hand on his shoulder, a strong grip to ground River. 

Kate felt like she was intruding in a very personal moment, so she backed away, going back to the leader’s desk. Skimming through the unfinished email directed to the city council, words filled with confessions and guilt. Johanna planned on stepping down from her position as she no longer could abide by what the faction believed in. Peace. 

Her final words left for the people of Chicago were a warning. She tried to tell them all about the armed factionless group ready for battle.

"Did you find something?" River’s question broke the silence. He still sat on the floor with his friend next to him. For a second, she was startled by his voice.

"She was writing an email about what’s going on. Johanna confessed to knowing about the plan, and helping them." Kate hesitated. "Would you like to read it?"

"Could…Could you do it for me? I can’t." 

She read it, a quiet voice that filled the room but, hopefully, didn’t lead anyone their way. Much as Kate would try to forget it, she was sure the weight of the last few words would live with her forever.

"…As I step down from my position as Amity’s representative, I can’t help but wonder if humanity’s fate is to fight to extinction, finishing what was once started over 200 years ago. Peace can never be achieved by a race that chooses violence in one way or another since the beginning of times, justifying it as a means to achieve their desired peace."

As she finished, River nodded and got up, slowly making his way inside the restroom, crouching down for a moment to close Johanna’s eyes and using a towel to cover the wound and her face. It was all he could do at the moment. Johanna deserved that respect even if she once helped the factionless hoping for a different future.

"Let’s go find those bastards." River walked out without looking back. 

The truck’s clock read 2:13 a.m. as they made their way to the edge of the forest. It was too dense for vehicles to pass after a certain point, the team would have to walk until reaching the last known location a soldier had given before going radio-silent. Kate’s veins were filled with adrenaline and anxiety, in a result, she mindlessly spun her trusted knife, always kept in her boot or pocket. The other hand was intertwined with Eric’s, who could sense how nervous his girlfriend was. The same could be said about him, he just did a better job at hiding it. 

Next to her, River and Eric were rapidly discussing the plan, just stopping so the redhead could give directions to the driver. A fourth soldier was in the front passenger seat. Eric had traded places with Kate, being squished in the middle seat to talk to River, who was in the far right corner.

Five trucks followed them closely, while another waited by the fields trying to contact Dauntless or any other team out there, and a final group had been sent back to warn the warrior faction. From all they knew, a wave of factionless was probably already on their way.

The truck came to a stop at the edge of a clearing, not too far from the fields, there were no roads to go any further. All soldiers climbed out checking their assault rifles and automatic guns, not knowing what they would find out there. Eric had considered ordering Kate to go back to the faction with the other team but, if Chicago was under attack, the leader considered himself the only one who could protect her. He couldn’t take any chances. 

Thirty soldiers in total, the group would split into three teams, each led by an Amity-born who knew their surroundings well. Obviously, Eric, Kate, and River would stick together, the redhead would be their guide. 

"Listen up. For all we know, they could be hiding as close as the next tree line. Be aware of your surroundings, every team will reach the last known location through a different side. Don’t shoot unless absolutely necessary, it’ll give away our position." Eric called their attention and River stepped up to address the Dauntless soldiers as well.

"Stay together. We can only count on the stars and moonlight, any flashlights will act as a beacon, then we’re screwed. If you get lost, follow the moon to find your way back to the fence." River had been able to calm his features after leaving Joahanna’s office but he was burning with rage on the inside. Yet, the young man had to be a leader now, leaving any feelings aside. "We can’t stay here all night, so let’s be quick. Look for any signs from the missing team but I don’t think we’ll find them alive."

Her gaze was directed to the sky. Undeniably, it was a beautiful night. The starry sky was completely clear, the small lights shining bright, and the full moon witnessed the chaos that was threatening to destroy their system. She had been outside in the fields before, except only during the day. Now, the trees’ shadows were too big and the forest ran too deep. What if they made a wrong turn and ended up lost? There was an entire world beyond Chicago that, as far as they knew, never recovered from the war. Monsters were hiding in the woods, some familiar and others unknown.

"Kate, stay behind me at all times, got it?" Eric had to protect her. It didn’t matter how much she could defend herself or how good she was with a gun or a knife. Nothing could happen to her. He wouldn’t allow it. It was uncharted territory for her and, honestly, even Eric was lacking some confidence.

She nodded. Kate wished she could tell him all would be okay. Although, both knew that would have been a lie, and she had never lied to him.

As silence fell upon the three teams, they descended onto the night.

Their team had been walking for thirty minutes, stealthily making their way to the location. Every snapped branch, dried leaf, or kicked rock made them grow a little more tense. Yet nothing happened. The three teams reunited deep into the woods, with no sign of the missing team or the factionless. Kate didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing. At least, there weren’t any bodies to confirm their death. Maybe they were still out there, right?

The group decided to continue just a few more miles to be sure, spreading out in different directions. Kate had stayed behind Eric the whole time, he would occasionally turn around to check on her, and she even bumped into him a couple of times from his abrupt stops, his eyes always silently asking if she was okay. She tried to reassure him but there was nothing okay about that night.

Suddenly, there was a noise, growing louder as they followed it. Murmuring, steps colliding with dirt, and metallic sounds of weapons. A clearing was up ahead. Hiding in the shadows, River spotted a group of over 100 people, some armed to their teeth, others using makeshift weapons. All marching in their direction. A branch snapped under him, the sound echoing in the air. Pairs of glowing eyes in the dark looking directly at him, ready to fight.

Kate’s body went cold. They were discovered. One second, River was hiding behind a tree and, the next, he was running back, mouthing something. 

Run.

Trees became a blur as the first shots rang in the air. A portion of the factionless army had gone after them, they were counting on the element of surprise, and the factions couldn’t know what was coming. So, the Dauntless soldiers had to die.

Kate knew they needed to create a distance, find a better position to shoot back, or find one of the other teams. She couldn’t turn around to see how many were coming after them but, by the sound, the ambassador imagined at least ten of them.

The Dauntless team spread out. Kate just continued to follow Eric, who was a couple of steps ahead. As a shot rang close to her ear, Kate instinctively turned around, seeing a black blur too close. As she turned back again, Kate barely had the time to avoid running into a large tree, losing her balance and almost hitting the ground. Eyes desperately searching for the right way to go. Eric and the rest of them were nowhere in sight. How did she manage to lose them so fast?

More shots rang in the distance, another team being attacked. Adrenaline pumping through her veins, Kate knew she couldn’t yell for their names, so she just kept going faster and faster than before. The flight instinct at full force. She couldn’t die like this. 

Then, her feet tripped over something, sending her rolling down an uneven part of the terrain. Her back collided with a thud and the world spun over and over again. A blur of green, brown, and white. Something finally stopped her body and she came face to face with empty eyes. 

It was the body of a Dauntless soldier that she didn’t recognize, lying forgotten in the ravine. Suppressing a horrified scream, Kate’s limbs moved fast, crawling away from it, just to collide with something else behind her. A look over her shoulder revealed yet another soldier with a bullet between his eyes. The ravine was an open-air cemetery where an entire team had met their ultimate fate.

It was too dark to see them clearly, but Kate didn’t recognize anyone. Five bodies, three men and two women. Some still carried their weapons. 

Where was her gun? 

A hand flew to her holster, finding her issued firearm still luckily secured but the assault rifle must still be somewhere up the hill. That was just great. 

Kate expected a factionless man to pop up at any second, yet nothing happened. She had to find her way back before the rest of that armed group made their way out of the trees. She reached for a rifle just like hers still being held by one of the deceased soldiers. His hands were still warm and his muscles not rigid, which meant they were the missing group that contacted River, who died trying to warn Dauntless of what was coming.

Checking the gun’s magazine, she found out it was full. Twenty bullets in total. Feeling bad for it, Kate searched the soldier’s body for an extra magazine. Better safe than sorry. And, at the last moment, decided to close the man’s eyes out of respect.

Kate got up, checking her body for injuries even though nothing seemed to be broken. At last, some sort of luck. Using branches and roots for support, she climbed her way out as silently as possible. No one seemed to be around, so she ran as fast as her feet could carry her. The moon was her guide back to Chicago, back to Eric.

She had to admit that training with Eric had clearly shown results, not even during initiation she could run such a distance without wanting to throw her body to the ground and never get up again. Maybe it was just the adrenaline talking. Her heartbeat was the only companion until something hit her. Literally, hit her. 

For the second time that night, Kate’s body collided with dirt. A grunt escaped her lips, followed by the same sound coming from somebody else. Losing no time, the ambassador hopped on her feet and faced the shadow that was getting up as well.

Four. That fucking traitor. 

Kate launched forward, anger boiling in her veins. All she could think about was Johanna. Her hands found his shoulders and both of their bodies hit the ground once again. Kate remained on top, fighting to immobilize him. The look of recognition finally dawned on her former trainer’s face, and he fought back. Hard.

"Did you kill her?" Kate almost snarled. "Did you kill Johanna?"

A punch in his eye.

"What? Johanna’s dead?" Four hit her on the side, bruising her ribs, then threw another punch and another.

"If you didn’t kill her, one of your friends did, you fucking traitor!" Kate was able to hit him in the nose, the sound of a broken bone filled the air. "How could you betray Dauntless like that? You, Lauren…" Four got the upper hand again. "Darren… You tried to kill me! How dare you pretend to help? To care about me when Peter’s body was found!"

"I didn’t try to kill you! I didn’t know about Lauren’s plan or that Darren was helping!" He rolled their bodies, now straddling her hips. "I gave her one simple task and instead she focused on you. Obsessed with the danger that you and Eric would bring. She wasn’t wrong in the end, you became his whore ! I don’t know how you did it but you got him wrapped around your little fingers."

Kate spit on his face, disgusted by his words, she was trying everything to get away. Afraid of being choked to death just like Lauren had attempted.

"Shut up! You know nothing about us!" Kate managed to free one hand, going for his ribs, too. "You recruited Lauren? I don’t know if it surprises me! You couldn’t even lead the Control Room."

"Believe me, when the factions crumble, it’ll be thanks to me . I trained all of them. One big initiation class." Four had a wicked smile plastered on his face.

Oh, that’s why he left Dauntless almost every night, to train the factionless, make them soldiers.

Kate finally managed to kick him, she was like a wild animal trapped in a cage desperately trying to get out.

"So you’re the mastermind, huh? Should’ve chosen Erudite!" Kate punched him and got hit square in the jaw in return. That one really hurt.

"Oh, darling, I’m not just Dauntless." Four confessed his divergency before colliding his head with hers. Sending a piercing pain in her skull, stars appearing in her vision. "But no, Evelyn is the one who will lead us to a new Chicago. You just won’t be here to see it." 

Four’s hands found her neck and, if she wasn’t fighting for her life, Kate could dwell on the dèja vú of people trying to crush her windpipe twice in just a month.

Evelyn? Where did she remember that name from? Evelyn… Evelyn!

Her mind ran back to articles from Erudite all those years ago exposing Marcus Eaton, Four’s father, the abusive Abnegation leader who was violent against his apparently not-so-deceased wife, Evelyn, and his young son. Tobias left everything behind to become Four.

With her now free hands, Kate tried everything, hitting all she could see. Just a few days ago, she had defeated Eric, the best warrior, why couldn’t she defeat Four? Was it because he trained her? The different levels of skill? Or the fear short-circuiting her brain? The fact she spent more time than the others just training with knives?

Knife? Oh, her knife!

As black spots swam in her vision, Kate searched for her trusted knife in her pants pocket, the one she had been playing with earlier in the truck, trying to appease the anxiety in her chest.

"Don’t worry, Kate, I’ll make sure Eric’s death is fitting for a son of a bitch like…"

Blood splattered across her cheek, and the shiny blade found its way deep into Four’s throat. Making a deep, long cut much like the one who killed Johanna. The young man's eyes widened in surprise. His hands abandoned her neck to remove the blade, but there was no use. Kate had already reached for her holster and, before Four could even yank the knife away, put a bullet between the middle of his eyes.

"Now, who’s the son of a bitch?"

Kate wasn't as fast as Eric. That was no news. When the team was discovered by the factionless army, the leader didn't run at full speed, always keeping Kate by his side or a couple of steps behind him. There was too much going on and darkness engulfed them, so he didn't know exactly when the ambassador disappeared from his peripheral vision. All the blond knew was that his girlfriend wasn't there.

Eric looked around, eyes darting in all directions, a soldier from his team was hit and there was no way to help. Stopping was a dead sentence. He couldn't see River either and, for a moment, chose to believe that Kate was with his friend. But what if she was hit? What if she got lost? They were terrifying thoughts. 

Creating as much distance as the group could, they arrived at a clearing on the edge of the woods and started to shoot back, factionless people dropping like flies. They couldn't compete against Dauntless soldiers' skills and years of training, but the army had an advantage in numbers, some got a little too close to comfort. Finally, River appeared on the tree line, a gash on his arm, and the enemy trailing behind him. Still no sign of Kate. 

When his friend finally arrived at his side, Eric asked between shots. "Where is Kate? I thought she was with you!"

"Kate? Fuck, no, I thought she was with you the whole time!" A woman tackled me to the ground and when I fought her off there was no sign of everyone." River shot another factionless down.

"I don't know when but I lost sight of her and you! I'm going back there." Eric's arm was grabbed by River. "River, let go of me or I swear I'm gonna…"

"Eric, listen to me, that's a death sentence! You'll never make it to the other side! If she gets lost, Kate will follow the moon." River threw a dagger previously hidden on his boot, hitting a factionless man in the chest. "If someone attacks her, she can defend herself. Focus on staying alive and killing these bastards so you can meet her again!"

He knew that the redhead was right, all the leader could do was focus on the factionless group ahead of him. Kate could kick ass, she had just defeated him in a sparring match, fought Lauren, and even finished third in her initiation class. Trusting her abilities was his only choice.

When the factionless stopped coming, silence fell upon him and Eric grew anxious again. After a minute or so, a single shot rang out not too far from their location. There had been five casualties in their team, Kate was the only one that remained unaccounted for. The blond leader doubted that the enemy was fighting between themselves. It could only be her. What if he had just heard the shot that killed her? What if it was too late?

Eric muttered a 'fuck' and grabbed his gun from the ground, ready to move, when River once again roughly grabbed him and stood right in front of his way.

"I don't need another soldier missing, Eric. Trust Kate, let's wait." River didn't know why but a gut feeling told him that the young woman was okay. She had to be. "You can't save her every single time."

Almost on cue, a shadow crossed the trees in front of them, River yelling for the soldiers to hold the fire until there was a clear vision. And there she was. Bloodied, clothes covered in dirt, and a relieved look on her face. This time, River didn't stop his friend.

Eric dropped his rifle and ran, meeting Kate halfway, almost making her fall when his arms engulfed her frame in a crushing hug. The man decided he had never been happier or more relieved. Nothing else mattered, just her.

"Where are you hurt? Is someone following you?" Eric let go of her to examine her all over, taking in the blood in her clothes, the drops splattered on her face, and the dead leaves that crowned her hair falling from a messy ponytail.

"I don't think so." Kate took him in too, there was a cut on his upper arm, which looked like the graze of a bullet. Around them, there were dozens of bodies covering the grass now tainted in red.

"You don't think you're hurt or no one was following you?" Eric's hands roughly grabbed her chin, noticing a bruise starting to appear on her jaw. Four had a really good right hook. 

"Eric, the blood isn't mine, and I really don't wanna stay to find out if there's someone else trying to kill me. Is everyone here? Can we go, please ?" Kate searched for the other soldiers, noticing that the group was smaller now.

"We lost some soldiers but you were the only one missing." Eric waited for her to grab her forgotten rifle from the ground, and then circled her shoulders with one of his arms. He wouldn't risk getting separated from her anymore.

River passed him his gun and gave Kate a side hug, quickly commenting that he knew that she would make it back just fine and that Eric had almost cried being his dramatic self. She managed a half smile, trying to keep her emotions in check. Trying not to think about the fact she had killed someone. Her former instructor, neighbor, colleague, and, finally, a traitor.

The group fell back, running the last mile inside the forest until their trucks came into view. Now, there was another one, the team who had previously stayed in the field to try to contact their faction. One of the soldiers stepped out of the truck, a man with green neon hair and a gloomy expression upon noticing that a few of their fellow members didn't make it.

"The signal came through. They're attacking Dauntless, hundreds of them, maybe even thousands. Harrison ordered us to go back immediately, but we wanted to wait for you." 

The factionless group that came across in the woods was probably just reinforcements, maybe even some sort of plan B. There were no guarantees that they had managed to kill all of them. Staying out in the open was reckless.

"We're exposed here. Let's go up that hill halfway back to Candor, we can regroup there." Eric ordered without stopping his feet until Kate was basically shoved by him onto the inside of an armored truck—before she could disappear again or get shot in the head. The leader couldn't take it, it would either kill him or drive him mad.

Kate didn't protest, actually, adrenaline was coming down and she wanted nothing more than to sit down and just breathe. She could tell her boyfriend was terrified. And, at that moment, she had to choose between letting the emotions of that night creep in or shoving everything down in a corner of her mind to deal with the trauma later. The second option was best.

She noticed that their driver was no longer there. He had been one of the casualties. River took over the driver's seat, another soldier next to him, while Kate and Eric were in the back. Not wasting any time, all vehicles took off. Every second counted. On their way out, a few confused Amity members were standing outside of their houses, they had been woken up by the gunshots. No one was brave or stupid enough to get close to the fields.

The leader was practically glued to her side, carefully taking off the dried leaves stuck in her hair, she could only imagine how messy her appearance was, and discarding them on the floor. Kate took a deep breath, letting some of the tension out of her body, and laying her head on his shoulder.

"Kate, what the fuck happened back there?" Eric finally asked. It had been eating him alive. He could tell there were some cuts from trees' branches hitting her skin, the palms of her hands were scraped and full of dirt, probably from a fall. But there was a lot of blood drying in her jacket. It wasn't hers.

"One second you were there, then I almost hit a tree… When I looked around, there were only factionless men running after me. I couldn't find you." Kate bit her lip hard, tasting blood. Was that even hers?

"I kept going, following the moon like River said and, then, I fell on a ravine. I found them, Eric, the missing team. They're all dead. I couldn't see clearly but… It looked like an execution. This rifle is from one of them… I… His body was still warm, it was…"

"I got it. Don't think about it anymore, I'm just glad it's not your blood." One of Eric's hands was running through her hair, trying to soothe her.

"You don't understand, it's not their blood either." 

That made him stop. A chill ran down his spine.

"Kate? Who else was out there?" Eric asked.

"I ran into him. Literally. When I got out of the ravine, he came out of nowhere. Four." 

"Four? Is he… Is he the one who hurt you?" Eric would kill him.

"You don't have to worry about him anymore. He's dead. I killed him."

Oh.

Even River took his eyes off the road to watch her reflection in the rear-view mirror. Silence fell upon the truck. Four was one of the most skilled fighters. How did she manage it?

Kate searched her pocket for the bloody knife, showing it to Eric. She took it out of Four's body before running back. She didn't know why.

"He tried to strangle me like Lauren did… By the way, she went rogue, Four didn't know about her plan. And I… I just fought back with everything I had." Her hands were shaking, and she placed the knife back in her pocket. Eric grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers.

"You did what you had to do. I'm proud of you." Eric said, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

River made a strong turn on the dirt road, Eric's weight crushing her. They should really be wearing seatbelts, River was a terrible driver.

"Oh, he's not the one who killed Johanna, I asked him that. He doesn't know who did it, but you all should know something… Their leader is Evelyn Eaton. Four's mother. Apparently, she's not dead like everyone thought."

"Evelyn Eaton? That does explain why soldiers saw Andrew Prior with her, they knew each other from before her apparent death." Eric noted more to himself than her.

River reached the outskirts of Candor, where a hill was illuminated by street lights. From up there, they could see if someone approached, everything appeared to be quiet for now. The soldiers climbed out of the truck, once again there were thirty of them. Twenty-five survived the fight in the woods plus five soldiers that remained close by hiding in the crops, trying to reach Dauntless on the radio.

Kate's pocket vibrated, and her forgotten phone was receiving messages non-stop. She let go of her boyfriend's hand and fished for the electronic from the inside of her bloody jacket. Jace's name illuminated the screen. Dozens of messages started about an hour ago. Whatever was blocking the radio signal inside of Amity had affected their phones as well, suddenly, all of their phones were blowing up with notifications. There were missing calls, too.

Jace: The factionless are almost at the gates. Where are you? If you're coming back, don't.

Jace: Harrison is placing some sort of tracker on the soldiers, it looks fishy as fuck. Should I get it? Do you know something about it?

Jace: Are you safe? Be safe, please.

Jace: I've got a bad feeling about this. Almost everyone has it already.

(8 missed calls)

Jace: They're forcing me into the line.

Of course, the factionless attack triggered them. Erudite's plan was in motion without them knowing. Harrison and Jeanine didn't trust the couple, so they were kept out of it.

"Oh, shit! Please, no… No…" Kate walked away from the group afraid of being overheard and called her best friend, muttering under her breath as despair took over, and hoping that he would just pick up that damn phone. Right next to her, Eric cursed many times, probably getting the same news from somebody else.

Finally, the line connected.

"Jace? Jace?" She could hear a steady breathing sound on the other side. "Don't say anything. You gotta get out of there. It's a serum, it'll put you in some sort of sleepwalking state. They'll force you to kill everyone in Abnegation. It's Jeanine… And Harrison. Just run, hide, it doesn't matter. Just make a run for it… If you… If you can get to my apartment no one will look for you there, Harrison knows that I left for Amity. Type a number if you understand."

The clicking sound came, and the line disconnected.

"Eric, what are we gonna do?" Kate could barely breathe. "There are so many of them… What can we even do about it?"

Her phone vibrated again, she showed the new text to Eric.

Jace: About a third of the soldiers are getting geared up to leave for Abnegation through the second gate, factionless are at the main entrance. The others are staying to fight.

"Jeanine will control them from her lab. Our only chance is to get inside and destroy the equipment before they kill everyone in Abnegation." Eric started to do the math in his head, Candor was closer to Erudite than Dauntless was to Abnegation. They had a few minutes in their favor. "If we leave now, we have about 25 or 30 minutes on our side."

"Okay, you know the way to the lab, right? You guide the soldiers there. It's safe to assume that the ones guarding Erudite probably already have been injected, so you'll have to get through them… And I'll go to Abnegation. Someone has to warn them."

Eric's face contorted in anger and, then, horror. What was she talking about?

"Kate, are you insane? Did you hit your fucking head against a damn tree? You're not going there alone!"

"Yes, I am! Abnegation deserves a chance to save themselves. They trust me, you can't send a random soldier there. If I can take people inside that bunker… You need every soldier you can get, I have to go alone. You know that I'm right!"

"Kate, I don't care about the stiffs. I care about you."

"Well, I care about them. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do something about it. I can make it there on time if I stop wasting my time arguing with you!"

"I'll go with her." River cut in. "It's a solid plan, Eric. We've got enough trucks so that Kate and I can take one. Abnegation deserves a chance. If you're fast enough, none of them has to die."

Eric looked back at her, there was so much determination there. It was a losing fight for him. The blond nodded, and a defeated huff escaped his mouth.

Kate ran to their former truck, picking her assault rifle from the floor and forcing it into Eric's hands.

"I don't need it. I know you're low on bullets." She fished the extra magazine out from one of her pockets, and shoved it onto his hand, too. Eric recoiled back, absolutely horrified.

"No. No way. You've lost your mind" He tried to give it back. Truthfully, he had checked his own rifle, he had one bullet left on the magazine but had his two pistols to make due.

"Stop fighting me! If you don't make it to Erudite in time, it won't matter how many bullets I have! I'll be dead either way! And I've got my gun, please, Eric, just trust me. You've done it before."

Around them, the soldiers distributed all the guns and ammo they had. It wasn't a lot, but there wasn't another way. Those men and women didn't know exactly what was happening, just that Dauntless was about to attack Abnegation. The very citizens they vowed to protect.

"River, let's go." Kate took a final look at him and turned around to head to the vehicle. Eric grabbed her by the elbow, pulling her against his chest and colliding their lips in a quick yet powerful kiss.

"I love you, Kate." Eric blurted out. At that, Kate smiled, her sweet lips curling against his. Only a life-or-death situation could make that stubborn man say something like that with actual words.

"I love you, too, Eric. I'll see you on the other side." She couldn't promise it, but the ambassador would fight for it. His love for her was the only thing she needed to keep going.

Eric reached for the driver's side of her truck, River had already turned on the engine and rolled down the window. 

"River, listen…"

"I know, man, I love you, too." River answered playfully, trying to ease the tension of the deadly situation. Eric raised an eyebrow in question.

Kate sat on the passenger seat, quickly typing a reply to Jace, telling him to be safe.

"I was gonna say that I'll kill you if she dies but, yeah, I love you, too." Eric smacked his friend in the head and, with one final glance, made his way to another waiting truck. It was time to go their separate ways. He had to trust Kate's judgment and his best friend's abilities to make it out alive. In a very twisted way, Eric was ready for whatever stood in his way.

On the horizon, the sky was becoming brighter. At sunrise, Chicago would never be the same. The war had come and everything was a matter of time.

Chapter Text

"A warning to the people

The good and the evil

This is war

To the soldier, the civilian

The martyr, the victim

This is war

It's the moment of truth, and the moment to lie

The moment to live and the moment to die

The moment to fight, the moment to fight

To fight, to fight, to fight

To the right, to the left

We will fight to the death

To the edge of the earth

It's a brave new world." — Thirty Seconds To Mars, 'This Is War'.

River had never driven so well. At least, when considering the amount of pressure he was in. Every second counted for Kate and him. Not even ten minutes had passed since they had parted ways with Eric and the rest of the team, but Abnegation’s bleak houses were already in view.

“Once you drop me off at the Hub, go straight for their leaders' office, okay?” Kate had a plan. There was no backup, no plan B, and she knew it was impossible to save all of them. Yet, they had to try.

“I got it. Down to the basement, hidden behind a brown loose panel on the wall, a small space that hides the flights of stairs. There’s no power, that means no password, but the hatch will lock from the inside.” River repeated like a parrot. Kate had told him everything she remembered about the time, almost a month ago, when Eric explained how he found the bunker while she distracted the Priors.

There was no food, no water, no power, and, definitely, no weapons left in there. They were trapping themselves and hoping it would buy them enough time for Eric and the rest of the soldiers to destroy the software controlling people’s minds. Less than 30 soldiers were the only hope of the city. Even worse, for Abnegation members to even stand a chance, their only hope was Kate and River.

Almost at full speed, River took a swift turn to the right to pass the first row of houses. Everyone was asleep, so he decided to honk non-stop, the annoying sound would get at least some of them out of bed.

At the center of the faction stood the Hub, a communal space for that faction members. Kate knew it had a sound system for daily announcements. It was the only way to warn them. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the time to go to the Prior’s first. 

Undoubtedly, if Andrew were the one to explain it, more residents would follow. It didn’t matter how many times people had seen her walk the streets with the Abnegation leaders, she was still asking them to have blind faith in a stranger. A stranger who was stating that her own faction was coming to slaughter them all.

When the leader hit the brakes, Kate’s head almost bashed against the front panel. All hail the seatbelt. 

“River, no matter what happens, you close that damn door in 20 minutes. Got it?” With one last look, Kate hopped off the truck and raced straight to the glass doors, the screeching sound of wheels spinning against the pavement gave her confirmation that her friend was leaving. 

The young woman took her gun out of the holster and shot the glass door two times, the glass shattering into a million pieces and making way for her to pass. The gunshots echoed into the distance, no doubt waking more residents up.

Three sets of stairs later, Kate broke down the door to the sound room. A small and dark place that probably held the most updated technology of the whole faction. The sound system. It really was the complete opposite of Dauntless. Well, except for the darkness.

A glance at the clock told her that if she didn’t start at that very moment, the members wouldn’t even have 20 minutes on their side. Fumbling with the cords, shaking hands finally were able to turn the system on. The ambassador took a deep breath to control her nerves and said the first thing that came to mind.

“Attention to all Abnegation members. This is not a drill! I’m Kate, the Dauntless ambassador. I’m here to warn you that Erudite is sending our soldiers here to wipe out the entire faction. I can’t stop it, neither can the soldiers disobey their orders. They’re under the influence of a mind-control serum.” She took another deep breath trying to steady her nerves and failed again. “I know you’ve got no reason to trust my words but you have to. There’s a bunker in the basement of the leaders' office. That’s your best bet at surviving this. We’ll close the doors in 20 minutes. I repeat, you only have 20 minutes to get there. If you stay at your home, you’ll die . If you can’t get into the bunker in time, run , run as fast as you can through the woods. Go to Amity. You’ll gain some time.”

Was that enough? Would people do something? Would they believe her?

“This is not a drill! I’m begging you, please, every single one of you, you gotta listen to me. Wake your neighbors, run, hide, and fight back if you need to. It’s in your nature, no matter what our system wants you to believe in. Don’t stay around and do nothing, ‘cause you won’t make it until morning.”

With that, Kate took off. The stairs were a blur, the sound of glass crunching under the soles of her boot didn’t even register in her mind. In the streets, there was chaos and confusion. Someone screamed upon seeing her Dauntless uniform, thinking the soldiers had arrived. An older man fell and she helped him up, ushering him to keep going. 

She knocked on doors from homes that were still with their lights off, yelling for them to get out and run. Many people stopped her to ask questions, but she mostly told them to just keep going.

“No, there’s no help coming.” She deadpanned to someone.

“Stop, don’t carry anything, just go.” Kate yelled angrily to a woman with a big bag slowing her down.

“If you stay in your home. You’ll die. C’mon!” She tried to reason with a senior resident, which didn’t work out at all until a neighbor came along and convinced the man.

As fast as she could, she made her way to the leaders' office. There were five minutes left, maybe less. The only way of knowing was to stay outside, looking out to the horizon until armored trucks made themselves known. She silently prayed to Old World saints to give them as much time as possible.

“Kate!? What’s happening?” Andrew Prior came running towards her. His family had just entered the office building. 

Kate was mad. Really, really mad.

“Don’t play coy, Andrew! Erudite was triggered because of the factionless attack! You helped them! You helped her !” She pointed a finger to his chest, wanting to slap the hypocrisy out of his damn face. Not that she wasn’t a hypocrite herself, loving with all of her heart the young man who helped Jeanine for years.

The Abnegation leader had never seen her like this. Once a composed and polite woman, she was now covered in blood, cuts, and dirt, with anger morphing her features.

“I had to do something! When I learned about the plan… A plan that involved the highest-ranking officers of Dauntless and Erudite… I’ve known Jeanine my whole life. I know what she’s capable of. And what people like Eric Coulter are capable of."

Of course, Andrew was Erudite-born and the same age as the representative of the scientists. Jeanine had been a cruel person much sooner than other people realized.

“Eric’s fighting to save this city! And I don’t have the time to explain to you how stupid was to side with Evelyn. The factionless never stood a chance. I wanted to stop this!” She took a step closer to him, spitting the words on his face. “I just needed time! And now we’re minutes away from a bloodbath.” 

Kate wanted nothing more than to believe that Eric could defeat Jeanine. But the odds were awful. Thousands against a couple of dozens. It made her chest hurt. Her mouth felt dry, every bone ached and every nerve was on fire. She was so tired.

On the horizon, the first line of armored trucks came into view at full speed. Early rays of sunshine guided the controlled soldiers to the battlefield. No, it wasn’t a battle. It was an execution. Genocide.

“Kate, revolutions are not made by the majority. The factionless… Those people were ready to die to change the system. To be seen and heard even if the chances were slim.” Andrew’s posture went rigid upon seeing the sea of black on the horizon. “They’re almost here.”

“And look where that got you! Abnegation shouldn’t have to die so you could fight a losing fight.” Kate reached for her gun, just to be sure. She might have to shoot the people from her own faction if it came down to it.

Another group of Abnegation members came running down the street and Kate knew they would be the last ones to make it inside. Waiting any longer was a death sentence to the people of the bunker.

“It’s time to go.” She looked into the distance and shouted. “Hey! Run faster! C’mon!”

A sea of black hit the first street of the faction. Eric hadn’t been fast enough. The Abnegation group finally entered the building, and Kate soon followed.

Then, she realized that Andrew wasn’t next to her. Whipping her head around, she saw the leader running in the opposite direction, yelling that he was coming to help.

“Andrew! Come back! Damn it, you won’t make it!”

The screeching sound of a vehicle turning into Main Street sent a chill down her spine. There were still people running towards the building. In fact, she knew there were thousands of citizens still out there. She couldn’t save them. So, she ran back inside. Kate wasn’t a hero, just a soldier trying to keep alive as many people as possible.

The stairs came to an end and she helped a mother get her children inside the hole behind the loose panel. Upstairs, shots rang out in the street. Kate put the panel back in place, knowing that soldiers would find it soon enough, and yelled for the family in front of her to run. 

The bunker came into view, a single emergency light illuminating the path. Inside, darkness would fill every corner. There wasn’t cell service or even a radio signal to know what was happening in Erudite. Waiting would be their only option.

“Finally! Are we out of time?” River was standing by the door. He had done what she asked and got everything ready. Now, he just had to make sure his best friend’s girlfriend made it inside alive.

“No one else is coming.” She reached for the ladder, motioning for River to climb down first.

“No fucking way, Eric would kill me. Go down first.” The redhead grabbed his gun as steps were heard above. Soldiers were in the buildings, bullets were flying, and they could hear screaming. People who didn’t make it in time.

Kate climbed down two steps at a time, River followed suit and closed one of the two rusty doors that would be standing in the way of their enemy. No, that felt wrong. Those soldiers weren’t the enemy but puppets being controlled by Jeanine with the help of Harrison.

There was a flashlight placed in the ground by the redhead signaling the end of the ladder. Kate took it and used it to guide them to the second door that looked a bit more sturdy than the first, still, it was rusty. 

“C’mon, I’ll need your help closing this one.” River showed her the heavy locks inside. It was pitch black ahead of them, a single flashlight did barely anything. 

“On three. One, two…”

They slid the door close and the heavy locks clicked in place. For a moment, Kate let out a breath of relief. Yet, it did nothing to calm her nerves, she could sense the despair that filled the room. Rushed voices, cries from scared children, and grief. The people inside knew the life they knew was over. Neighbors, friends, and family would perish. Nothing could undo that.

“Where’s my husband?” A female voice sounded behind them. Natalie Prior could barely keep the tears at bay.

The Dauntless duo stared at the poor woman. Natalie had sacrificed so much, in utter Abnegation fashion, to help the people of Chicago. Now, she would be a widow. 

“Natalie, I'm sorry, he didn’t make it in time. They were right in front of the building, I had no choice.” Kate felt bad for the female leader. She was terrified of ending up in that woman’s shoes at the end of the day. What if Eric didn’t survive it?

Caleb was standing right next to his mother, gripping Natalie’s shoulders to keep her from falling. The older woman let out a pained sound. The sound of her heart shattering in two. And her son, as young as 15 years old, had to keep grief at bay to help the mother. It shouldn’t be like that but, slowly, the Priors retrieved back to the shadows. 

River cocked his assault rifle and aimed at the door, hiding part of his body behind a pillar. At some point, they might need to fight.

“If they come, you run to the back, okay? Just lie on the floor and play dead. They might not see you.” River wasn’t looking at her. He couldn’t. The Amity-born would keep his promise, even if he knew that a one-man army would mean almost nothing.

“No, River. If they come, we’re done. I’ll fight alongside you until I meet my end.” Kate knew what Eric asked for his friend. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t any different from other soldiers, she couldn’t hide.

“Kate… You can’t do that.” River still didn’t look at her.

The ambassador aimed her gun at the door, too, hiding on the opposite pillar. She had given her rifle to Eric. Only nine bullets remained in the magazine of her issued firearm.

“River? Look at me.” She waited until his blue eyes met hers. “You did everything you could. It's selfish but I’m glad you came here with me… I don’t wanna die alone.” Her voice wavered. 

River shook his head.

“I’m honored to be your friend and to fight alongside you.” Kate finished. 

On the other side of the door, silence remained. So, River put the gun down and stepped closer, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Thanks, Kate. I didn’t wanna be part of Jeanine’s plan but I wasn’t gonna fight against it. Then, you came along and Chicago has a chance because of it. You saved my best friend, too. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.” He let go of the hug and positioned himself again behind a pillar.

Above them, shots sounded against metal. They were trying to break in the first door.

Kate looked behind her. Scared eyes surrounded by the darkness looking straight at them. Kate had no words to comfort these people. She took the flashlight and aimed in their direction to call for attention.

“We hope this door holds. Far away from here, there’s a group of brave soldiers fighting to stop Erudite’s plan. I have faith in them and I hope you can have it, too. But faith won’t shield you from danger if they manage to break in. Put the children and elderly next to the furthest wall in the back and get ready to fight. Fight with everything you’ve got.”

She turned around aiming for the door again, gripping her gun tighter. An explosion sounded upstairs, dust falling from the ceiling and the ground shaking beneath their feet. They were on borrowed time.

The hardest thing Eric had ever done was leave Kate on that hill in Candor. It didn’t matter that Kate was a skilled soldier or that he trusted River completely, the second-in-command was the only one who could keep her safe. Even from far away, he would be her shield. The young leader would break into that lab and stop Jeanine even if it killed him.

Quietly, the group had managed to enter Erudite’s perimeter, splitting into two groups. Jeanine Matthew’s lab wasn’t located in the headquarters but in the underground level of a building one block away from there. He had been inside a few times and half a dozen guards usually guarded the password-protected door that he didn’t know the combination of. 

The alpha team would go through the back door and clear the path, while Eric’s team followed behind. They only had so many bullets, hopefully, this plan meant that he would only use them inside the lab, where more Dauntless guards would be protecting Jeanine and her scientists.

The thing about the mind control serum was that soldiers were programmed to believe that only factionless and Abnegation members were to be annihilated. So, when the ones guarding the floor saw the first team approaching, they didn’t move until one of Eric’s yelled for them to drop their weapons. 

Of course, they didn’t do that and a rain of bullets fell upon them. Dauntless versus Dauntless, friends shooting friends. It wasn’t supposed to be like that. Eric instructed them to not shoot to kill unless absolutely necessary. Once Jeanine was stopped, the controlled army wouldn’t remember what happened but his team would. Yet, the puppets would fight until incapacitation. So, the alpha team had no choice but to do the same.

When the pristine floor was covered in crimson and shiny empty bullet cases, a security camera right in front of them moved, focusing its lens on him. Eric was ready to shoot at it when his phone got a notification. In fear of being bad news from Kate or River, he fished it out of his pocket.

Unknown number: code 3742. Two factions, don’t forget it.

Eric couldn’t contain a smirk. He knew exactly who had sent it. Dr. Coulter had every intention of seeing two factions commanded by her family. Indeed his mother’s greed knew no limits. She was watching her son fight for the power she wanted. Even if he wouldn’t do that for her but for Kate and himself.

Three soldiers stood in front of the door ready to shoot, the rest in position right behind them. So, Eric punched the code on the pad and gripped Kate’s rifle tighter. He had to save her no matter the cost.

When the door slid open, his mind was made up. There was no other way to have a chance of a future with her. The outcome could only be one. Jeanine’s inner circle had to be eliminated. All of them.

They were met with bullets. A dozen of soldiers were inside together with the scientists and Erudite’s representative herself. Jeanine Matthews carried a gun, ready to stain her hands with more blood. She didn’t come so far just to lose everything. 

A bullet grazed his shoulder and Eric hissed, the pain heightened his senses even more. The world around him moved in slow motion. Two of his soldiers were down, and a scientist’s white coat was stained in red. A deadly wound to their chest and broken glass covered the ground as the team advanced. 

If Kate could see him, she would’ve been proud. Eric’s form was impeccable, hitting target after target without wasting any bullets. When a mind-controlled soldier tried to go for hand-in-hand combat, a hidden blade in his pocket met the woman’s chest. For a second, he recognized her before moving on.

“Eric, it’s a bit too late to join the party.” Jeanine sounded maniac, a couple of shots going in his direction. “How did you get in here? Another fucking traitor like you?”

Eric hid behind a metal island, glass showering over his head. The assault rifle was out of bullets. The two trusted pistols were his only form of protection now.

“Well, I guess someone just really wants your job.” Eric yelled back and, before the woman could say anything else, he got up from behind his hidden spot and shot her dead between the eyes. 

Jeanine was done, her body hitting the floor right next to the computer responsible for controlling Dauntless soldiers. It was a fitting end for the wicked woman. Now, he just had to make sure her technology met the same end.

Kate, hold on just a little bit longer.

The first bullet flew through the door. Rusty material was being shot by what sounded like a machine gun. Kate knew that was it. The end of it. She was sure Eric was trying his best but she wouldn’t be able to see Jeanine’s plan fail. The ambassador just wished that Eric didn’t have to lose his best friend, too. River could make his friend keep going. They would need each other.

Inside, the people were scared but some kept encouraging the idea of fighting. You could condition a faction to avoid conflict, yet human nature remained the same. Flight or fight to survive. They had done the running, and now fighting for their lives was the only thing left.

Kate’s heart was pounding in her ears. A movie began playing in front of her eyes. The story of her life. It lasted a few seconds but it had a calming effect, thinking about Eric and the past few weeks. The insanity, the blood, and the death. It was worth it because it meant being with him. They belonged to each other.

On the other side of the door, a soldier ordered the others to fall back, they were going to blow up the entrance. 

“River, get back!” When the shots stopped, Kate took the opportunity to move from behind the pillar to seek protection from the blast. River was right behind her.

“Everyone get down!” River shouted to the people in the back. A baby was crying, and a kid called for their mother.

But the blast never came.

The two friends stood there as the last line of defense. Guns still aimed at the door and shared a look of confusion.

“Where the fuck are we? Logan, why do you have a machine gun?” A female voice yelled from the other side.

“Why are you covered in blood?” Another freaked-out voice joined and others followed.

“River… Do you think…” 

“I think he did it.” Yet the man didn’t lower his gun. It was better not to take any chances. “Let’s wait just to be safe.”

“Hey, is someone there?” The female voice sounded again, pounding on the door. “What's happening? Where are we?"

Kate took a couple of careful steps closer.

“You’re in Abnegation, this is the bunker underneath the leaders' offices!” She yelled back.

“Who’s that? How did we get here?” Another voice questioned.

“This is Kate, the ambassador. Put your guns down and go back upstairs. Help the wounded, they need to go to Erudite."

Her mind was working miles per second. How would they avoid conflict between the scared people of Abnegation and the soldiers? They were both innocent. There was no way. She looked back, the scared eyes still hidden in the dark. Dauntless would need to build those bridges again, although that was a problem for another time. 

"You'll let them walk away? They murdered children, the elderly, our neighbors… And they get to walk away? We want justice!" A female voice shouted from the back. 

That was bad.

Kate lowered her gun, trying to appear more approachable. The blood covering her wasn't helping at all.

"I know it's hard to understand but they're victims just like the people of Abnegation are. This is the work of Erudite! Jeanine Matthews was controlling them! I know you never truly trusted our faction but we would die for every single one of you. We vowed to protect this city and we're not the enemy here." 

A shadow stepped from the crowd. The frame of a woman dressed in simple clothing. The ambassador used the flashlight to illuminate the stranger but a hoodie still concealed her face. 

"Lies! You bathed this city in blood! Not just today, but every time you made someone factionless. Every time one of your patrols murdered the people in the streets. Do you know what hunger is? What does freezing cold even mean? A mother watching her sick child die because there was no medicine?"

That woman wanted to start another uprising in a place that already was a pressure cooker. Her tone was firm, commanding. The only thing humbling about her were the clothes. It was just smoke and mirrors.

"Show yourself." Kate pointed the gun at the woman. People stepped back. 

"Do you not know who I am? My name has echoed through every abandoned building in Chicago. Every unfortunate soul has heard of me. And, after today, every fortunate one will too."

The woman let the hoodie fall back, revealing a part of her face. Shoulder-length brown hair, the signs of time already marking her skin. The stranger was probably in her mid-40s. Except that she wasn't a stranger at all. It was like looking at a feminine version of Four except for not as tall. 

"Evelyn Eaton. You sent those…. What did you call them? Unfortunate souls, right? To fight to their death in Dauntless. Do you dare to try to start something here too?" Kate moved closer, River following right next to her.

Upon hearing the name of the factionless leader, voices became louder around them. The adults knew her. She had once been Marcus' wife. 

"I didn't send them to die in vain! I tried to save Chicago from itself. Revolutions aren't made by majorities." 

"That's funny, I've heard the same thing from Andrew Prior today. The man who helped you and your people. He died trying to save innocent lives while you hid here like a coward! Your people marched to Dauntless and you stayed here hidden beneath Abnegation clothing. How dare you?" Kate gripped her gun tighter. 

Evelyn laughed maniacally. Had she lost her damn mind? Her hair fell back, revealing the rest of her concealed face. A deep gash was close to her hairline. Scratching marks from nails. Defense marks from somebody.

"Leaders don't fight. If we die, who will sit at the table when the dust settles? It's how the game is played, child." Evelyn's hand moved fast, trying to grab a gun from her concealed holster.

"Don't move another inch or you're dead, got it? Was killing Johanna just a move on your chessboard?" Kate stepped closer, she wanted to pull the trigger. She didn't want justice, only revenge.

Evelyn froze in place.

"Your face… You killed her?" River's voice was shaking with anger.

"She wanted to warn the rest of the council. I had no choice. I'm not a monster, just a soldier like you. You just see me this way because we're on different sides. Now, you're not gonna murder me in front of children, are you?" Evelyn had a wicked smile on her face, fully expecting to walk away unscathed. It was just two soldiers against hundreds of witnesses. 

Kate saw red and a shot rang in the air, but it didn't come from her gun. River did it. Blood stained Evelyn's pants as the woman fell to her knees, it was a shot aimed at her thigh. The older woman reached for her gun but Kate kicked it away. Evelyn had been too slow.

People were screaming and moving even further to the back of the bunker. It was too dark for most of them to tell if the factionless leader was still alive.

"You see… There are many monsters in this city. I don't mind becoming one to make sure you pay for what you've done. Now, don't move." Kate aimed for Evelyn's head. "River, you got any zip ties on you? Maybe cuffs?"

The redhead reached for them in his pocket. Dauntless soldiers always had a few. Quickly, he bounded Evelyn's hands behind her back. A small pool of blood already covered the cement floor.

"I'll keep her company, get these people out of here. She will go last, right, Evelyn?" Kate said.

River hesitated for a second, his mind still screamed for him to put another bullet into that woman. Now to the chest.

"...Alright, everyone, we're going back upstairs. Make sure all of the kids and the sick are accompanied. There's no need to rush, let's be organized about this!" River asked a man to help him with the locks on the door and, a screeching sound later, the bunker was opened.

Slowly, the space emptied out. Kate's hand never wavered from her aim. When no one else was left, it was time to move the factionless woman.

"Try anything and you won't make it to Candor, do you understand me? Kate moved to grab Evelyn by her arm, helping her up. Four's mother could barely walk on that leg.

"Tell me, is your boyfriend fighting on your side? Or did you lose him to Jeanine?" Evelyn asked, trying to pull away from her grip. Her voice was pained but still held the same venom from earlier.

Kate's blood ran cold. Another person knew about Eric's part in this.

"Eric's team is the one who stopped this. How do you know about that? Did your son keep you updated on Dauntless gossip?"

They reached the ladder between the first door and the hatchet. There was still smoke in the air from the explosives. 

"You know about Four. That's a surprise." She looked up. "How am I gonna climb that? You'll have to untie me." Evelyn asked, turning around to face the ambassador.

"You won't." Kate reached for the blade in her pocket, still covered in Four's blood. "Say hi to Tobias for me." And she stabbed Evelyn deep in the stomach.

A gut-wrenching sound escaped Evelyn's mouth, she coughed blood all over the floor, falling on her knees once again. 

"Like I said… I don't mind becoming a monster, too."

Evelyn's body remained there. Kate had walked out of the building to meet the chaos of that early morning. There was smoke in the air, bullet cases, and pools of blood. Bodies everywhere. She could smell death. On her left, she saw an Abnegation-born soldier crying while holding a body, he mumbled words and, from what she understood, the victim in his arms was a friend from before. It would've broken her heart if she didn't feel so numb

The ambassador didn't kill Evelyn just to avenge Johanna's death. No, she decided the factionless leader's fate when she understood that Evelyn's trial would be the end of Eric, too. 

There was only one thing in Kate's mind. She had to avoid a public trial for Eric in Candor. It was his only chance of surviving the consequences of knowing and helping Erudite's plan for years. A lot of things had to fall into place for that to happen but, if the public got to watch the culprits' testimonies under the truth serum, Eric's name would pop up in a minute. She had to protect him.

So, she quickly found and told River that he had to take care of things in Abnegation, somebody needed to check on Dauntless. Eric was probably still in Erudite, Harrison was a traitor, Four was dead, and the redhead leader was there with her. That could only mean that Sam, as the Armory Chief, was the one in charge. But what if he had been sent to Abnegation too? It would be even worse.

Kate took the first empty truck she found and, before taking off, texted Jace to find someone. The one person who mattered at that moment. With the early morning sun as her guide and filled with a purpose, the young woman hit the gas. 

Dauntless was much worse than Abnegation, at least from what she could tell. Around the fence, there were hundreds of dead factionless soldiers from Evelyn's army. They managed to blow up the front gate and get inside the loading dock. From inside the truck, she could see a few black uniforms from her fellow soldiers on the ground but couldn't tell if the army managed to go inside the main building. Smoke and the smell of burned flesh came from the air-conditioning system. 

Taking a wide turn to the left, Kate opted for the back entrance, remembering what Jace told her in the middle of the night. Dauntless' controlled army had left through there to wipe Abnegation out. It should be safer for her now. There was no way of knowing if there weren't any factionless hidden somewhere up front. 

Her phone rang, it was Eric. That meant he really was still alive. For the whole time, she wasn't able to imagine her boyfriend not surviving it, even if the odds were terrible, but hearing his voice was still an indescribable feeling. 

Kate, are you okay? 

Eric's voice sounded relieved over the speaker, the man let out a shaky breath.

"Hey… Don't worry about me, okay? They never managed to get inside the bunker. Are you okay?" Kate tried to sound fine but she was far from it.

"Nothing life-threatening. You've got no idea how good it is to hear your voice… Jeanine and her team are dead. It's almost over. Where are you? Is River there?" The leader asked.

"River is okay. He's still in Abnegation trying to calm everyone down, the soldiers are taking the wounded to the main hospital. There are… There are a lot of people dead but I'm sure it would've been worse if we didn't warn them. I'm at Dauntless now, reaching the back entrance."

"What!? Fuck, that's not safe. Kate, you gotta team with you?" Eric's voice sounded much higher now.

"I'm being careful. There's something to be done. Jace is waiting for me, don't worry. Okay? I'll see you soon." 

"Kate. Turn around right now. Do you hear me? I've got no status about Dauntless."

"Eric, it's another massacre. Evelyn sent them to die here. Anyone who's left is probably hiding, or going back to Amity. I need to do something, you just have to trust me about it. Love you, okay?” And with pain filling her chest, Kate disconnected the call.

Jace crushed her in a hug, shooting countless questions about whose blood was tainting her skin and what had happened to the Abnegation people. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes but she held them back, deciding not to answer anything for now. There would be plenty of time to cry and explain things later.

Dauntless wasn't deserted. From all the information Jace had been able to grab since he left the safety of Kate's old apartment, only a few factionless managed to get in. And all of them were met with brutal force. There had been casualties on their side, too, but the number was rather small when compared to the enemy. Yet, Dauntless was a family and every life lost felt like one too many. 

They reached the front of the elevator which led to the leaders' offices. She had asked him to try to find Harrison, so her best friend had gone to the Control Room, where a team remained to use the city cameras as a guide to help defend Dauntless. Upon understanding that Harrison had been the one from their faction to side with Jeanine, everyone scrambled to find him. In the end, it wasn't so hard. He went back to his office and remained there ever since. The security team was supposed to warn Jace if the faction leader made any moves.

"Kate, you should wait for soldiers to go upstairs with you. Maybe Eric? I can go, I've got my gun." Jace was worried. His friend didn't want him to go with her.

"I gotta talk to him alone but it's gonna be okay. I've survived worse in the past… I don't even know how many hours anymore. I can deal with him." Kate didn't try to give him one of her reassuring smiles but her voice didn't fail her now.

"But…” Jace saw the determination in her face. There was no use in fighting it. “Okay. Just don't die or Eric will murder me."

"Yeah, River is in the same situation right now." Kate stepped into the elevator. Alone.

"I'll see you in a bit, okay?" And the doors slid shut. 

Inside the elevator, for the first time since leaving her apartment with Eric, Kate had a chance to look in the mirror. The image was horrifying. The woman staring back at her had to be somebody else . There was no way.

Once a vibrant blue, her eyes looked dark and unalive, bloodshot from trying to keep tears from falling and overall tiredness. Four's blood stained her cheek, there were cuts from the trees and black and purple bruises from fighting her former trainer. Dirt from the open-air cemetery in Amity, sweat from all of the running, and from that rat trap that they called a bunker. She had chewed on her lips due to anxiety and her hair was a mess. There was a permanent frown on her forehead. A rigid posture and shaking hands trying to wipe dried blood away from her face. A mix of adrenaline and fear coursed through her veins. Fear of knowing what she had done and what she was about to do. 

The door opened, the lights were off and nobody was in sight. Down the hallway, a light came from the open door of Harrison's office. There were no cameras inside but he had to be in there.

With her gun in hand, Kate quietly made her way to his doorframe, hiding in the shadows and taking a glance inside. Harrison was sitting on his chair, a bottle of bourbon almost empty in his hand, and there was no glass around. Drinking straight from the bottle. A rifle was forgotten on the floor but she couldn't see if he was carrying his other issued firearm.

"You can come out now." Harrison's voice cut through the silence. "You're quiet but that elevator is not."

Kate quickly stepped inside, gun aiming for his head.

"Keep your hands where I can see them."

He placed a hand on his desk while the other remained glued to the bottle.

"Kate." The leader's voice had a hint of surprise. "I'm just a tired man in need of a drink. It's been a night… But I can see it's been longer for you. I just wasn't too sure about which one of you would come up here first. Unlike you, Eric likes to get his hands dirty."

He took another long sip of the bottle. The whole scene was unsettling.

"Pray tell, Kate, do you have what it takes to kill me?"

Chapter Text

"They say before you start a war

You better know what you're fighting for

Well baby, you are all that I adore

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be

I'm an angel with a shotgun

Fighting til' the wars won

I don't care if heaven won't take me back

I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe

Don't you know you're everything I have?" — The Cab, 'Angel With A Shotgun'.

A chill ran down Kate’s spine. The young woman’s mind was set on protecting Eric. However, the scene in front of her broke her heart. Once, she admired the man Harrison had been, not the drunk, murderous mess he had become. The leader who gave her a chance and guided her to the high-ranking position of Dauntless ambassador. Kate got her wish. She wasn’t just another fine member of society anymore. She mattered.

In hindsight, the power she craved led to her standing in this office, gun in hand, ready to take the life of one of the few people she cared about. He was the last person standing who could get a public trial in Candor. The man who could expose Eric’s part in all of this for the whole city. Harrison could take her love away from her forever. For a moment, Kate wondered if all that power was worth it.

It led her to Eric. So, yes, it was worth it.

"Is Eric still in Erudite? I'm imagining Jeanine didn't survive to see our plan fail." Harrison asked, his eyes focused on the ambar liquid swirling inside his glass.

"How could you do this?" One side of her was beginning to grieve for the man she once knew.

"There was no going back from it. The moment we knew the factionless were coming to attack us, we had a reason to do it. If you had just died in Amity last night… Or if Eric wasn't so lovesick for you, Chicago would've been very different today." The faction leader gulped his drink and bottomed up once again.

"Chicago is different. It's covered in innocent blood. You made these soldiers go against everything they believed in!" She stepped closer, her tone becoming higher and the anger spilling from inside her heart.

"Don't worry. No one will remember the actual blood they spilled. Ignorance is a blessing sometimes." He smiled at her. “It was supposed to be quick and painless, like a headshot. Then, Chicago would’ve been free.”

"I'm not sure about that. They will always have those questions hunting their minds. Not knowing it’s a lot of weight to carry.”

Harrison looked at his empty glass, pondering something for a minute. The crease in his eyebrows was deeper than ever. The man had aged so much in such a short span of time. Suddenly, shattered glass rained down on the floor. He had thrown the glass on the wall next to her, making Kate jump in surprise.

“No need for a glass if I’m going to drink it all, right? Did you know this whiskey is pre-war? A true relic. Tastes like gasoline, but it’s indeed addicting.” He extended the bottle to her. “Want a sip? Take the edge off after all the blood you  spilled."

She shook her head, not certain if he was serious or not. If she dwelled on the guilt that threatened to consume her, she would never pull that damn trigger.

“What’s your plan, Kate? I assume everyone else who mattered is dead. The only people who will have public trials are worthless soldiers from the factionless army. They don’t know anything… But you’ll be questioned, too, just like Eric. The truth will come out either way.”

“I have something to bargain with.” 

“You mean your affair? You’ll tell Jack Kang that you’ll expose him to the council if he doesn’t cover up for you." Harrison smiled wickedly, catching her by surprise. She thought nobody knew about that.

There was a pause.

“How do you know about that?” Kate asked.

“I’ve always known. It was beneficial for Dauntless, so I let it happen.” The man slowly reached for a bottom drawer on his desk. “May I?”

“Slowly. Don’t try anything.” She got closer to him, her legs hitting the wood of his desk.

He used a key to open the drawer, taking out a black hard drive and throwing it at his desk.

“In Chicago, there are cameras no one knows about. Including in Jack's office. You two had a lot of fun, huh? You could call this your sex tape.”

“Shut up.” Kate’s blood boiled again. It was so embarrassing and violating. The idea that someone watched some of her most intimate moments.

“No need to get all worked up. The only people who have seen this are dead, or, in my case, will be dead soon enough.” Harrison finished his bottle of whisky and sighed contently. He had made peace with his fate. “You’ll find what you need here. Secrets ready to be shared and bargained for. They’re beyond your affair and Candor’s silly plots… I suggest checking the date January 2nd, two years ago.”

That made no sense. Why would Harrison want Kate and Erict to avoid an execution or exile? Why was he helping them?

“I don’t get it. Why are you doing this?”

“Once, I saw you as a daughter. We were so much alike… I could predict your every move. I even knew about your plan to seduce Jack before you even thought about it. I just didn’t know two things. One, what would you do when I tried to recruit you for our plan, and two, that you and Eric would fall in love, and that he would be stupid enough to give up everything for you.”

She felt like throwing up. Harrison’s eyes were locked in hers, and it seemed like he could see her soul. Maybe he could.

“Kate, you’re the reason we failed. I didn’t think you could wield that much power over someone like him. I underestimated you.” 

At that, a lonely tear ran down her cheek.

“I… I just wanted to keep my vow to the city. We’re supposed to be the protectors of Chicago.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, her throat hurting from keeping her tears at bay. She just wanted it to be over.

“If you succeed with Jack, then Eric will be the next leader, and you’ll be his queen. If he’s not the man you think he is… Chicago will be at his mercy. Trust me, that can be much worse than what Jeanine and I were planning.”

“You don’t know him at all.” 

Kate had seen the young man behind those walls, behind the mask of the cruel leader. The monster protected a good man. A greedy man, yet a good one.

“Monsters and men… All are so alike either way. I won’t be here to see it, but you’ll find out if the bargain was worth it. Now, shall we?”

She looked at him with confusion. 

“The reason you’re here alone before Eric gets back from Erudite. Before other soldiers understand what happened and want retribution, I won’t be trialed and executed by Candor, and I couldn’t off myself in the Chasm… Believe me, I tried before you came in here. So, I guess it’s up to you. Do it.”

“You meant so much to me… I don’t know if I can do it.” She confessed more to herself than to him.

“Do it. Show me how far you’re willing to go!” He pressed on. 

Harrison was a twisted man. The leader gave her a chance to survive the consequences of the war, but there was a price to pay in blood. Something that would haunt her mind until her last day. She gripped the gun tighter, with white knuckles and trembling hands. 

“Kate, I hope you learn to live with it.” In a split second, Harrison grabbed his own pistol from the holster and shot in her direction, the bullet grazing her shoulder and hitting the opposite wall. Instinct took over, and she did it.

Another shot rang in the air. Harrison met his end with her bullet deep into his chest.

Eric found her sitting on the tile floor, sobbing while their shower ran burning hot. The blood and grime were long gone after scrubbing her skin raw, and there was no strength left to move. The image shattered Eric’s heart. It was his doing. All of it. He stained her with his darkness—his sins—and her mind was punishing her for it. It was yet to be revealed about Evelyn but Eric already knew that Harrison was dead and—while everyone else at Dauntless thought it was self-defense—that Kate executed him. All to save him.

The leader quickly discarded his bloodied shirt on the floor and sat down next to his girlfriend, picking her up in his arms to sit across his lap, water raining down on him too, turning pink from all the blood that covered his skin and the rest of his uniform. She was clinging to his body, skin to skin, and still shaking even with the high water temperature.

“Shhh… I’m here now.” Eric kissed the top of her head. “You’re gonna be okay.”

Eric didn’t care what happened to him. He just had to guarantee that Kate didn’t have to pay for his sins. The crushing weight on his chest was overwhelming.

Her blue eyes found his grays.

“No, Eric, we’re gonna be okay. I’m taking care of it, so don’t worry about it. Just… Just don’t tell me what you did or why. Let's not incriminate each other. Okay?” She was so damn tired but she couldn’t stop now. Not after everything.

The hard drive was on top of their bed, her clothes were in the trash, and her gun had been taken by Sam, who isolated the crime scene. He had arrived with Jace and a few other soldiers upon hearing the gunshots, thinking that Harrison had killed the ambassador. There were no cameras inside his office, no way of knowing what truly happened. Kate was the only one left to tell the story.

“I’m sorry, love. It’s my fault. You shouldn’t have to protect me, I’m supposed to protect you.” His hands ran down her hair, caressing her shoulders and her back. How could he fix this?

“No, we’re partners, remember? We protect each other. And you didn’t make me do anything. I made my own choices.” Her hands reached for his jaw, making him look back at her, fingers caressing his skin. A light stubble was beginning to show. “We’ll make it to the other side. I know it.”

But who would they be by then?

At the moment, the body count is 3.412. The Erudite main hospital was chaotic, or so they were told. By noon, the remaining high-ranking officers of Dauntless had been summoned to Candor, there was no time to stop and check on the rest of the city. All they knew was that Amity was giving shelter to the scared members of Abnegation who didn’t want to return home and to the factionless that refused to follow Evelyn’s cruzade and were now scared of retaliation from the council.

For the time being, Eric became the interim faction leader. If he didn’t survive the investigation, the responsibility would probably fall upon River. Or, if the council decided that his knowledge of the plan was too great, Sam would be in charge. In fact, the only faction that wasn’t dealing with a leadership crisis was Candor. Erudite had lost Jeanine Matthews, Abnegation was grieving Andrew Prior, and Amity had woken up to find Johanna Reyes dead. People were scared and lost of direction. Jack Kang would guide most of them for now.

The Merciless Mart came into view, and it never felt so grand—maybe that was the guilt in Kate’s chest doing the talking. That place supposely represented justice. Her grip tightened around the flash drive in her hand, where it laid a copy of the main CCTV images saved on the hard drive gifted by Harrison. She didn’t have time to watch it all, just a few meetingsbetween the ambassador and Jack, and the feed from January 2nd of a couple of years ago, as Harrison suggested. They were shocking to say the least.

Against their better judgment, River was once again the truck driver. This time, he was doing a decent job of staying on the road. On the back, Kate and Eric were glued side by side, silently wondering if these were their final moments together. The faction leader had intertwined their fingers upon leaving Dauntless and hadn’t let go since. It was his lifeline.

Behind them, a few other patrol commanders were following on armored trucks. They would be testifying too. Another key witness was Jace, who wasn’t put under the control of the serum. Her friend was in a different vehicle after Eric declared that he didn’t want any more company.

As they came to a stop, Jack Kang was standing outside, looking powerful and tall, surrounded by Dauntless soldiers stationed at the other faction. The Candor representative was wearing his full uniform and had never looked so serious. Everyone knew that day would be written in history books as the closest the city of Chicago had been to collapsing since the Great War. No mistakes could be made by him.

“We’re ready for your statements.” Those were Jack’s words of greeting. Candor and Dauntless always had a good relationship, but that didn’t matter anymore.

“I need to speak to you first.” Kate cut in. “It’s in your best interest.” 

Jack raised a single eyebrow, curious about what could possibly be more important right now.

“Very well. I’ll be the one to get your statement either way. The rest can wait inside.” Jack gestured for her to follow him, so she let go of Eric’s hand, immediately feeling the separation. Yet, one more time, she had to be brave for them.

The people and the halls were all a blur. The ambassador only focused on her breathing and the cold feeling of the flash drive on the palm of her hand. When they reached his office’s door, Jack opened and waited for her to walk in first. Always the facade of a gentleman.

“We’re alone. I’m listening.” Jack sat on his chair, arms crossed, and eyes burning deep on her own.

“I have something for you to watch. Then, we’ll talk.” She placed the flash drive on his desk and sat down in front of him.

The next few minutes were filled with tense silence as Jack watched the video feed from the hidden cameras in his office. Shoulders and jaws tensed as he saw what they did over and over again. There was an entire folder about it. That room hadn’t been the only place they fucked, but it was enough to cause trouble for the remaining faction representative. Kate and Jack had fucked on the couch, on top of his desk, chair, and even on the marble floor. Days and nights of pleasure—at least for him—disguised as meetings that suddenly became bitter for him. Had she been playing with him all along?

Once his eyes finally left the screen, she decided to make things clear.

“I didn’t know about the cameras. I guess Max had them installed, and Harrison knew about them. He gave them to me before he died.” Jack opened his mouth to speak, but she continued. “You should check the other folder.”

So, he did.

Videos and more videos of his affair with somebody else. Jeanine Matthews. The deceased Erudite leader, the great villain now, once tried to seduce and recruit Jack to her cause. She failed multiple times. In the end, Jack wasn’t innocent either. The man knew and decided to keep quiet about it.

“What do you want?” Jack wasn’t stupid. It was blackmail.

“For you to ask the right questions and to make some things go away, Chicago has suffered enough, and the enemies are already dead or confined to Candor’s prison cells. Let’s end this.” Kate replied with a strong tone and a rigid posture. In a way, this was her most important day as an ambassador. She wasn’t just advocating for herself. 

“And if I don’t, will you expose my knowledge about the plan during the trial? Is this just to protect yourself?”

“I’ll tell everything to the council and the citizens of Chicago. Starting with how you like us young—well, except for Jeanine, right? Gotta say that really surprised me.”

Kate smirked, a trait she learned from her boyfriend.

“Is this about him? Eric? I knew something was going on between you two.” Jack rose from his seat, circling around to sit on top of his desk right in front of her.

“Eric is the one who saved this city. That’s what matters and what the rest of Chicago should know.” 

“Is that why you killed Evelyn? Harrison? And what about Four?” Jack already knew it all. He had spent all morning listening to several other witnesses, including someone who was in the bunker. The factionless leader had stayed behind with Kate and was found suspiciously dead hours later.

“Four tried to strangle me. It was self-defense!" Kate hadn’t planned it. Not that one.

“What about the rest?” Jack leaned in, staring at her. He didn’t need truth serum to spot lies. So far, the young woman hasn’t lied to him.

“They weren’t innocent.” That’s all she had to say.

“I don’t recognize you. It’s his fault, really. Eric damaged you.” Jack’s hand found her hair which was still damp from the shower. Another hand held her jaw, tracing the small cuts from the trees from the night before. “Many times I considered finding a loophole in the law to bring you here. To be with me. It’s a shame.”

He was so close that their lips were almost touching. She wanted nothing more than to slap or yell at him. Yet, that would have repercussions. A price she wasn’t willing to pay. “Does he know about it?” Jack asked, his hands moving to the collarbone under her shirt.

“About our affair? Or you and Jeanine?” She felt like throwing up again.

“Jeanine.” 

“No. Are you going to kill me for it? I left the original copy with someone. It won’t go away.” 

Jack looked angry for a second, but the frown on his face quickly went away.

“I don’t use brute force like you. I’m asking for another reason… You and I will always hold on to something about one another. Secrets that have the power to destroy us. Eric might have you, but us… We’ll share something much stronger.” 

Jack Kang was a sick man.

“Yes, we will, if you hold your end of the bargain.”

“Don’t worry.” Jack placed a small kiss on the corner of her lip. It was goodbye. He got up, reaching for the first of many doses of truth serum that Kate would need to endure on that day.

“Now, shall we begin?” He smiled once again.

Kate felt like Jack had snapped her psyche like a twig. The representative grilled her for hours, injecting a new dose of serum once the effect began to wear off. She had never felt a headache as strong as that, and a few times, the ambassador considered throwing up, but there was nothing in her stomach to come back up. 

She had confessed everything in detail when he asked the wrong questions, but it wouldn’t go on record. Jack would make sure of it. He had no intention of losing his position, so he would keep his word. Chicago would never know the gruesome details of Kate’s last 12 hours or how Eric was involved from the start. They would be heroes to most of its citizens, even if they didn’t want to be seen that way. The couple just wanted to be left alone.

Lauren went rogue…

… Four trained the army in secret. They wanted to destroy our system and rebuild to have a seat on the table.

We found Johanna in her office, she tried to warn the council. Evelyn killed her and hid like a coward in that bunker.

I killed her so she didn’t get to tell the truth about Eric… 

Harrison wanted to die on his own terms… I just pulled the trigger. Nothing hurt as much as that. He was a father figure to me.

Pieces of the interrogation kept playing back in her mind while Kate waited around for Eric to be interrogated. River would be seen by Jack as well. Everyone else was being grilled by other trusted Candor members. It was a very long day. Another one.

The end wouldn’t come soon enough. There were so many people to be seen that it would take several days. At some point, the remaining representatives from Erudite showed up. Those people knew they would be lucky if getting demoted was their only punishment. Surely, by now, Dr. Coulter was preparing for her acceptance speech. She would be the next faction leader, even if Erudite still didn’t know about it. The ambassador had seen the determination of the older woman. The greed, too, just like Eric had.

I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Also, Kate knew how the prison cells underneath the Merciless Mart were crawling with the factionless army. That is, the surviving soldiers. Some were bleeding out and wouldn’t be seen by the local hospital. There was no space or medical equipment, and the doctors didn't want to treat them. A slow, painful death for people who were destined to be executed either way.

It was half past eight when River left Jack’s office, looking defeated. The moon was shining in the sky. They could see it from a nearby window. Kate was lying down on Eric’s lap, his fingers gently running down her hair, while her head couldn’t stop spinning from the serum. The blond didn’t feel great either but definitely not as bad.

“He said we can go home now.” River didn’t even stop, completely focused on going back to sleep in his own bed.

“Are you sure you can drive?” Eric questioned him just above a whisper, not wanting the sound to bother her.

River just nodded in response.

Carefully, Eric lifted her up, carrying Kate bride-style. At first, he received protests, his girlfriend affirmed that she could walk just fine. That was the first time she lied to him. A white lie.

“You can walk the distance between our bedroom door and the bed, okay? I promise.” Eric replied.

“Okay.” Kate looked over his shoulder, seeing Jack leaning against his door frame. A curt nod confirmed all she needed to know. In a way, the worst part was over. The other side was near. So, she closed her eyes and welcomed the darkness one more time. Light would come to greet them soon.

For the first few weeks, sleeping was hard. Actually, everything became difficult. Kate would catch her reflection and stare at it, sometimes recognizing the person looking back. Other times, she avoided the mirror like an Abnegation member, afraid of the darkness hidden in the depths of her eyes.

When days like that happened, Kate and Eric would lie awake for hours on end. He would whisper words of comfort or not say anything at all, just holding her body against his chest in a protective manner, wishing he could make the pain go away. The blond had his own pain, but it wasn’t the same. And unfortunately, it was up to Kate to figure things out. 

Over time, the pressure in her chest didn’t hurt as much. Breathing became easier. Smiles became genuine. And her reflection showed not the person she once was nor the soldier from the war, but someone new. She could accept that. As Harrison’s parting words wished for her, Kate learned to live with it.

Slowly, Eric figured out how to deal with his new responsibilities as the highest authority at Dauntless. River took over most of his friend’s old duties, yet remained the one responsible for overseeing the patrols. The faction couldn’t function with three open leadership spots and only two people voting for most decisions, so they had to pick someone else. Kate was the obvious choice.

She had given up her position as the ambassador right after Candor finished what was now known as The Chicago’s Trials, which exiled or executed over 400 factionless people. The responsibility of finding and training someone to fill the job opening was still hers, and it wasn’t as difficult as anticipated. Christina, who once finished second and denied the offer when they had just completed initiation, decided she had made a mistake and appreciated another chance. The two of them spent a lot of time together, but Christina would soon be okay on her own.

Months ago, after Max’s death, Kate had declined the offer of the opening leadership position. The young woman didn’t think she had what it took, although, everyone around her disagreed, especially after how she dealt with the situation in Abnegation, guiding and saving so many people inside that bunker. Apparently, she was a natural. So, Kate accepted the position to shadow River and they became inseparable. Training would last several months but, soon, Dauntless would have a new female leader. A queen running things alongside their king.

Change happened outside of the compound as well. Erudite voted for five new representatives, with the main one unsurprisingly becoming Dr. Coulter. The older woman got her wish. Her family now led two factions, and the scientist would make sure no one ever attempted something like Jeanine once tried.

Amity had elected a woman named Daisy to take Johanna’s place, while Natalie Prior decided that the choices her late husband made shouldn’t tarnish her family forever. Therefore, she wanted to spend her days in Abnegation, making up for his mistake of siding with Evelyn.

For the remaining factionless, there was change, too. Evelyn was wrong about her methods, but the centuries-old system didn’t work anymore. After months and countless meetings, the new council had come to an agreement just in time for that year’s Choosing Ceremony. For that edition, factionless people between the ages of 16 and 20 would have the chance to choose a faction. Anyone who failed initiation would be reallocated to Amity, where they would spend their days helping with the livestock and attending to the fields. They had new mouths to feed and a demand to meet.

No factionless person would starve anymore or be left without medical attention if they chose to remain in the streets. If they were older than 20, low-paying jobs and a roof over their heads were available at every faction. It would take some time to accommodate them all, but everyone was trying their best. 

Also, being divergent was no longer something to be afraid of. They deserved a place in society just as much as anyone else. Finally, Visiting Day wasn’t the only chance to see one’s family. Faction before blood remained as their motto, yet visiting other factions didn’t require special authorization anymore. People could come and go as they pleased. Chicago worked better when people were together. After all, dividing them is what caused issues in the first place.

Sometimes, Kate still loses herself thinking about their new reality. How far they had come after everything. It was a good thing.

“Kate, are you sleeping with your eyes open?” Eric threw a French fry in her lap. It was late at night, and they had just finished watching season 2 of Loki, part of their new Marvel marathon after finishing Avengers Endgame. He refused to watch the other movies, saying they were trash, but a few limited series still held quality. Loki was her favorite character after Tony Stark’s death.

“Sorry, uh, what did you say?” Kate blinked a couple of times, focusing on their living room and the credits running on the TV screen.

“I said I have something to ask you.” Eric put the plate on the center table and got closer to her, positioning his body to face Kate.

“Okay… What’s going on?”

“You keep leaving your Amity dresses in the living room and a random stack of papers in my favorite chair. Yesterday, I couldn’t find my leader’s jacket 'cause you like to sleep in it and then it just disappears into the depth of your wardrobe. That made me think about something.” 

He made a dramatic pause.

“… That you ignored my warning about moving in together? You knew I was messy.” She threw the lone French fry back at him.

“No, I knew what I was signing up for.” He laughed. The sound she adored the most. “I was thinking about how my life was lonely before you. I don’t care about clothes everywhere or documents, or the fact that at least one of my shirts disappears every week.” 

Eric intertwined one of their hands.

“Or that you let that damn cat come inside our apartment from time to time.” He rolled his eyes.

“Wait, you know about that?” Kate thought she was discreet enough.

“I keep finding his fur on the couch. You’re not so sleek, Kate.”

She laughed at that.

“I’ll keep him off the couch, I promise!” She leaned in and placed a quick kiss on his lips. “Is that what you wanted to ask me? If Brave was running around the apartment?”

“No… It’s something else.” 

Eric took a deep breath, steadying himself. He was actually nervous about it.

“Kate, I love you. I love every single thing about you, even your love for that stupid cat and the fact you can’t keep your wardrobe organized, and I can’t imagine spending a single day without you in it. So, I’ve gotta a question for you.” 

Eric let go of her hand and fished something out of his pocket. A small black box. 

“Do you wanna burn with me forever?” Eric opened the box to reveal a black diamond ring. Jewelry wasn’t common in Chicago, and it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

“How did you…?” 

“Your family is not the only one with heirlooms. This is courtesy of Dr. Coulter. I texted her about it a few weeks ago, I was just waiting for the perfect time to give it to you. And, fuck, you almost found the box like three times… I couldn’t wait anymore.” 

Kate practically jumped on top of him, making them lie down on the couch in an uncomfortable position.

“Yes! Yes!” She laughed again, happy tears filling her eyes. “I’ll burn with you forever, Eric Coulter.” 

The leader sat them back up. He wanted nothing more but to fuck her right there.

“Good, ‘cause I’ll never let you go.” Eric said, placing the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit. A black stone like it was meant to be.

“I wouldn’t expect anything different.” Kate and Eric met halfway, crashing their lips together on the very same spot they kissed for the first time. So many things changed or were lost since that day, but their love only grew stronger because of it.

Kate and Eric were just getting started.

The sun was high up in the sky. Today was Choosing Day. The date marked six months since the fateful night when Jeanine Matthews and Harrison set their plan in motion and changed the city forever. It has been six months since Kate bathed her hands with blood to protect Eric. Now, she was dedicated to making sure Chicago became a better place, and nothing like that ever happened again.

They were standing on a ledge on the roof, waiting for the new initiation class to jump off the moving train. Some things will never change. All of them had their full uniforms on. 

“Listen up! My name is Eric. I’m your faction leader here at Dauntless. If you want to enter Dauntless, you’re gonna have to jump down the initiate’s entrance. It’s the only way in. But before we see who’s brave enough to be our first jumper, there are some things you need to know.” 

Eric gestured to River, the redhead standing on his right side with his signature bubbly energy.

“This is River, the second-in-command. You’ll probably work under him after initiation if you’re placed on one of the patrol teams.” 

Next, he pointed to Kate, who was standing tall on his left side.

“This is Kate. She shadows River as a leader in training. For the next few months, she will be the trainer for all transfers.” His voice dropped to his usual dark and dangerous tone. “Kate also happens to be my future wife, so keep your hands to yourselves. Dauntless won’t tolerate any disrespect towards our female soldiers, and I’ll personally see you to the bottom of the Chasm, understood?”

The young men standing in front of him nodded in agreement. They looked like scared deer under headlights. Kate’s cheeks burned red from his warning as she stared at the initiation class. There were more kids than expected, especially factionless ones. All factions will be dealing with a larger number this year due to the new system.

Eric cleared his throat, quickly eyeing the other blond standing next to Kate.

“And this is Jace. He’ll be training the Dauntless-born class.” Eric pointed towards the initiates entrance behind him. “We all hope you find your place here, unless you want to deal with cow shit back in Amity for the rest of your lives. So, who wants to jump first?”

Eric was met with silence. Nobody moved.

“C’mon, I don’t have all day. Planning the wedding of the century takes a lot of time.” Eric huffed in annoyance.

“You’re the one who wanted a big wedding.” Kate commented under her breath, a smile reaching her lips.

“Only the best for my future queen.” He bumped his shoulder on hers while curious eyes paid close attention to their interaction.

“Well, this queen gotta lot of invitations to send.” She stared at the initiation class in front of her. “Hey, all of you! The transfers who are not in the training room in ten minutes will end up having a career at the fence, got it?” 

Kate winked at Eric before letting her body fall back. She had seconds of free fall before hitting the secured net. The leader in training laughed to herself, the sound echoing back to the roof, where Eric tried to hide an amused smirk from the rest of the class. The couple was happy and free.

The light found them after all.

Chapter Text

"When you can't go round and you can't outrun

What lies behind, what stands in front

Through the broken gates of kingdom come

I will see you again when the night is dawn

There's a darkness up ahead

I will see you

Where the shadow ends

Cross the badlands to rise again

I will see you

Where the shadow ends." — BANNERS, 'Where The Shadow Ends'.

"Gotta say, it’s looking much better on you than him." Tori was doing the final touches of Kate’s new tattoo, a maze in her upper left arm similar to the ones Eric has in his forearms.

"Are you saying you did me dirty, Tori?" The blond was sitting on a leather couch, waiting for the tattoo artist to finish Kate’s design. An hour ago, he was the one on that chair getting some new ink.

The couple had finally found some time in their crazy schedules to do what they had talked about before the war. Upon hearing that Kate didn't get the tattoos she wanted due to her job as an ambassador, the faction leader had promised to take her there sometime and, as a way of showing moral support, he would also get something done. Something Kate could help him choose.

It turned out that planning the wedding of the century was harder than anticipated, and with only two weeks to go, they finally got the hang of it. Finishing touches and some late RSVPs were their only concerns. Oh, those and their vows. Finding the right words to say about that roller coaster, also known as their lives together, wasn’t an easy fit. However, it was a beautiful thing. They were reminiscing about the dark things they went through and the light on the other side of them. Their love for a lifetime.

"Tori just likes me more." Kate winked at him. She decided to get the maze tattoo to always have something about him marked on her skin.

"I’ll remember that next time." Eric rolled his eyes at her.

"Don’t be dramatic. I’ve done all of your tattoos, Eric." Tori smirked as she wiped the tattoo one last time. It looked very dauntless on Kate—not that she needed it. The design’s puzzle actually had one solution, and, secretly, Kate couldn’t wait for Eric to trace his fingers over her skin in the middle of the night to figure it out. Tangled in the sheets, sweaty bodies, and all that.

Oh, she was getting carried away.

"Tori, it looks amazing. I can't wait to show that off with my wedding dress!" Kate couldn’t stop looking in the mirror. A smile covered her face.

"Now I gotta clue about the dress." Eric wickedly smiled at her. He had been trying to get a glimpse of it for weeks; his fiancée had to stash it with Christina to keep it a secret.

"Eric, I’m serious. It’s bad luck; stay away from my dress." Tori hummed in agreement.

"Fine." He didn’t look pleased. "I can't believe you’re actually serious about an Old World superstition."

"Better safe than sorry." Kate got up to look at his new design again.

Eric was still shirtless, so there was a clear view of the moon tattooed just below his neck. It was a way of honoring Kate, who had the moon phases between her shoulder blades. Earth’s natural satellite had also guided her back to him during the fight against the Factionless army in Amity a little over a year ago.

Another smile couldn’t be helped but spread over her plump lips.

"You know that River is going to give you so much shit for the tattoo tonight, right?" She asked as Eric got up and put his shirt back on.

They intertwined their fingers together, and the man placed a kiss on her temple.

"He keeps bringing up the idea for a group tattoo." Eric thanked Tori again, emphasizing that they would see her at the wedding. "So, he can’t say shit about this."

"C’mon, the idea is cute. You’re going to warm up to it."

Eric shook his head. There was no way.

The duo walked side by side on their way to the pit, where River and Jace were already waiting to have dinner. As they passed, soldiers gave them court nods. A former-factionless young girl named Clarissa stopped Kate from asking something; she was from the first initiation class since the changes in Chicago and from the first group of transfers that Kate instructed.

They had pledged their loyalty to Dauntless a little over a week ago. The date also marked Kate’s training completion as River’s shadow. She was sworn in under the truth serum—always a pleasant experience—and officially became one of the faction leaders. There were still two spots to fill, but that was another item on their growing list of problems. Chicago and Dauntless still had a lot of things to figure out. The important thing was moving in the right direction. Always.

The couple spotted their friends at a table around the corner, a bit more private than the rest. River and Jace were sitting side by side, laughing about something; they looked really cozy. The young woman blinked a couple of times as she was taking in the scene in front of her.

"Wait, am I missing something? I think they’re standing a bit too close. Are they…?"

"You didn’t notice? I think it’s been going on for a month." Eric answered.

"I’ve been busy with leadership, the dress, the guest list... Don’t get me started on the flowers. A huge mess with Amity." Kate whispered as they got closer to the table. "I mean… It’s definitely an upgrade after Jace’s last boyfriend fiasco."

"Did Tori keep you guys hostage?" River asked, always with his contagious, bubbly energy. "Let me see... Kate, it looks awesome!"

"Perfection takes time." She gave him a side hug before sitting in front of Jace, shooting her best friend a knowing look. The armory worker now knew that she knew. A blush burned on his cheeks.

The waitress came by in a second, not wanting to keep all of Dauntless’ leaders waiting. Kate secretly loved that privilege. After ordering some food and lots of booze, the conversation flowed easily between the friends and River brought up the subject of the group tattoo again. Eric refused it and threatened to punch his friend when the redhead saw the moon tattoo and had a few words about how the ruthless leader had become a 'soft and cute golden puppy for Kate'.

As alcohol flooded the redhead’s system—who was known to be a lightweight—River also decided to spill the beans about something that Eric’s fiancée had been wondering all year: how the blond became friends with his polar opposite.

"…I’m serious! I walked in after being grilled all day during leadership training just to find Eric half-naked and drunk in my bed. It was so confusing! I thought it was some sort of prank or maybe a test! So, I tried to wake him up, but he kept talking nonsense in his sleep." River stood up and kept waving his arms to tell the story. He looked like a baby bird flapping his wings, trying to fly. Thankfully, the diner was almost empty, and no one seemed to pay attention to his shenanigans.

Kate was trying to hold a laugh.

"And then what happened?" She asked.

"I did the reasonable thing. Fell asleep right next to him."

Kate and Jace couldn't hold it anymore, cackling about it.

"Shut up, River! He's the drunk one. I deny everything." Eric was moody, which meant it was absolutely true.

"He kicked my ass in the morning! He thought that I had broken into his apartment, but it was the other way around; he used his leader's key. Then, he bribed me with free food for the rest of my leadership training. I kept following him around, and eventually his moody ass accepted my invitation for a beer at the Pit." River took a breath and sat down again. "Logically, I charmed him, and we became best friends forever. The end."

"Of course, you charmed him! But I don't get it. Why did he break in? The apartment for leaders in training is two floors down from his place." Kate turned around to face Eric. "How did you mess that up?"

Eric hesitated, having no intention of continuing to talk about one of the biggest embarrassments of his life.

"It was the first apartment assigned to me after initiation." He whispered the information to her, afraid someone was eavesdropping, and crossed his arms to signal that he was done with the subject.

"Oh, that makes more sense! Don't worry, this story dies here, but maybe you should ease on the beer before you end up in the wrong apartment again." She patted his forearm playfully.

River choked on his drink.

"Kate, I love you!" River couldn't stop laughing. "I can't wait to be your brother-in-law."

"I'm going home. You two deserve each other." The faction leader got annoyed. Those two were a dangerous duo, but he secretly loved that his best friend got along with the woman that he loved.

"C'mon, it was just a joke." She laughed. "I'm going, too. Good night, boys."

After getting up, a thought crossed her mind, and she turned around to look at Jace.

"Hey, breakfast tomorrow. I want the details. Got it?"

Jace hid his face behind his hands. He wasn't good with feelings, but there was no denying it.

"Okay, I'll see you then."

Kate smiled at her friend. They were finally finding the happiness that they craved and deserved.

Dauntless wasn't known for weddings, especially one between two leaders. People just applied for an apartment together and joined accounts. That was it. So, when the big day finally arrived, the faction was buzzing with excitement. Amity was responsible for the flowers, the dress, and the food. There was an entire faction to feed, not to mention the other guests. Leaders, ambassadors, higher-ups from all over Chicago, and the couple's families. Thankfully, Jack Kang had the decency of not attending, pretending to be ill, and sending other members in to represent Candor.

The ceremony would take place on the rooftop of the main building at sundown. Daisy, the Amity representative who took over after Johanna's death, would be the officiant, while Jace and River were the witnesses. The main guests would watch as Kate and Eric vowed to love and keep each other safe no matter the cost, and after that, the party would happen at the Pit for all soldiers.

The sky was turning orange and pink as the sun began to hide on the horizon. A soft breeze and the smell of flowers around them made the atmosphere feel peaceful. Eric was standing at the end of the colorful flower path wearing a black suit and shirt, while River was standing by his side with his usual bubbly energy. He seemed more nervous than the groom. 

On the left side stood Jace, who had just walked in after helping Kate with the final touches. Kate and Christina had kicked everyone out a few minutes ago. They all got ready in the couple's apartment, except for Eric, who was exiled to his best friend's home. He couldn't see the bride before the ceremony.

The first row of chairs was for Kate and Eric's families and old acquaintances from Erudite, then came the Dauntless higher-ups, followed by representatives of the remaining factions. The officiant was beaming with joy as today's ceremony marked her first time celebrating a wedding after becoming Amity's main representative. The groom was talking to distract his mind from the nervousness when Christina walked in, saying that the bride was coming. Every guest stood up, looking to the east side of the roof as Kate came into view.

What a sight to be seen. The dauntless bride.

As she took the first steps in the sea of petals covering the ground, no one could look away. The bride had a black wedding gown that seemed to float around her feet due to the soft and light fabric. A sleeveless, heart-shaped bustier showed her new maze tattoo on her upper arm, and as Kate walked down the aisle with her hair pulled up, people could see the open back revealing the moon phases drawn between her shoulder blades.

The soft makeup made her skin glow, and her family's necklace was visible for the first time for everyone to see. Kate was Dauntless through and through, but she would always be Erudite-born, so she chose a bouquet of blue flowers that contrasted with the shades of black all around her. As she stepped closer to the groom, Eric became more anxious. All he wanted was to swoop her into his arms and have her all for himself. He couldn't. Not yet.

Kate's parents smiled at her, and, on the other side, Dr. Coulter had a triumphant wicked smile. Her soon-to-be mother-in-law achieved everything that she wanted, and her only son would, too. The bride smiled back. Honestly, the motives behind Eric's mother's approval of Kate were irrelevant. All the leader wanted was standing just a couple of steps away from her. The groom. Her partner. Her lover.

An aura seemed to glow around the blond leader, it was the approaching dawn. Eric smiled as she finally reached him.

"Hi," she whispered to him, the biggest smile adorning her face. It all felt like a dream.

“I can’t wait to be your husband.” Eric whispered back, offering his arm to her.

Kate gave her bouquet to Christina and linked their arms together, looking at the officiant for the first time.

"Welcome, everyone!" The guests started to sit down. "We are here to celebrate the union and the love between Dauntless leaders Kate Kempton and Eric Coulter."

The ceremony seemed to fly by. The bride felt like she was floating, and suddenly, it was time to say their vows.

Eric stared at her, and, for the first time, she saw tears glossing over his eyes. He wouldn't cry, but it deeply touched her heart. The faction leader held her two hands and took a deep breath to begin.

"Since day one of your initiation, when I saw you right after you jumped, there was unwavering determination in your eyes. I knew you belonged here, and, over time, I got to know you and hoped that one day you would be by my side, too." Eric began. "I'm a man of a few words and not great with feelings, you know it, but I just wanted you and everyone around us to know that there's no one who's more caring, loving, smart, or beautiful than you."

A tear fell from her eyes.

"Kate, fuck, I don't know what you're doing with a man like me. But I love you, and I'll protect and stay by your side until my last breath. I can promise you that."

She nodded, releasing one of her hands to wipe tears from her eyes.

"Eric, when we started working together just a little over a year ago, I had lost something about myself. From the very beginning, you helped me find myself again. You and I have gone through a lot and we’re not the same people anymore. We’ve grown, changed, learned together, and fought our way out of unspeakable darkness." She took a deep breath. "I didn’t need to get to where the shadow ends to know one thing, to know that I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m glad that you’re the one standing by my side through it all. And I know we’re just getting started. I love you, Eric Coulter, until the end of the world."

Kate leaned in and whispered in his ear. "I'll burn with you forever."

Eric smirked at that. The officiant, Daisy, overheard it, and her cheeks burned.

"It's time to make it official. Eric, repeat after me." Daisy began, and the groom soon followed.

"I take you, Kate Kempton, to be my wife, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to protect and to support, from this day forward, 'til death do us part." Eric took a golden wedding band from River, the best man, and placed it on Kate's finger, together with her engagement ring, his own family's heirloom.

Kate's hands were shaking as it was her turn.

"I take you, Eric Coulter, to be my husband, to have and to hold, to love and to cherish, to protect and to support, from this day forward, 'til death do us part." Jace stepped up as her version of a maid of honor and gave Kate the other wedding band to be placed on Eric's finger.

"May love and peace always guide you in this journey." Daisy's smile grew even bigger. "With the power vested in me by the city of Chicago and with the blessings of everyone gathered here today, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss."

As cheers and applause erupted in the background and the final rays of sunshine bathed them, Eric and Kate sealed their promises to each other with a kiss.

The Dauntless hallways never looked so alive. People forgot their guns, obligations, and the fragile balance keeping Chicago from burning again. That night was about a new beginning. There was Old-World music, delicious food, good ol' double-chocolate cake for everyone, and dancing. Eric couldn't say no to Kate, who wasn't much of a dancer yet decided to give it a try. They weren't drunk on booze, but on their own happiness. Even Brave the Cat made an appearance—the faction's mascot had a black bowtie. Of course, that was River's idea. Speaking of the redhead, he gave an emotional and very, very drunk speech about the couple. 

When Kate had long abandoned her heels and Eric had said goodbye to his social battery, they decided to sneak out back to their apartment. Their home. Kate giggled as the elevator's doors closed, and no one seemed to have noticed that the stars of the night were gone.

Hands grabbed her waist, pulling her closer, and their lips collided in a searing kiss. Kate's arm encircled the back of his neck.

"You look stunning, but will be even better without the dress." Eric commented once they separated.

The elevator opened, and thankfully, the hallway was deserted. She grabbed him by the hand as they quickly made their way to the apartment. In all honesty, it was a big mess after Kate and her entourage got ready for the ceremony.

Eric's fingers found the zipper of her gown, and quickly all the fabric was pooling at her feet. His jacket soon followed, and Kate almost ripped the tie out of his neck. She wanted him naked. Now.

"What did you guys do in here? It looks like the place was hit by a hurricane." Eric laughed as he picked her up, her legs crossing to support her weight as the man guided them to the bedroom.

"Do you think it's easy to look this good?" One of her hands found his scalp, deliciously pulling at his short hair, while the other started scratching his muscled back and descended until finding his pants.

"Fuck." He took a deep breath, feeling the sting of her nails. "Yeah, love, you always look incredible. No need for the make-up and all the other shit, but you looked like an Old World goddess on that rooftop."

Kate's back collided with a wall. They kissed over and over again as she tried to pull down his pants. She could feel the volume against her core, her hips grinding against it and slowly driving her husband insane.

Yes, her husband. Kate could finally call him that.

"You looked not so bad yourself." She pulled down his pants until they hit his knees, and the boxers soon followed. A hand finds his hard member. "But do you know how you'll look even better?"

She pumped him once or twice. Three times.

"How?" Eric nipped her at her neck before starting to kiss down her cleavage. A hand twisting one of her nipples. Hard.

Kate grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up.

"With your mouth between my legs, right now."

Eric's pupils dilated, and he sucked a breath in. "Yeah? If that's what my wife desires."

Kate was thrown on the black sheets, her legs spread by his strong hands, arching her back as her panties were ripped off her and his mouth found the wetness between her legs. After more than a year together, he knew how her body responded to every touch. Every moan. How far could he push and how he could make her beg for it.

Oh, yeah, that's it. Just how she liked it.

She pleaded his name over and over again, like a prayer.

"I can't… I'm gonna…" She began. It was too much.

Eric stopped. His dark eyes found hers.

"No, not until I'm inside of you. Got it?" His voice was commanding.

That made something twitch inside of her. She sucked a breath in, steadying herself.

"Dammit, Eric! I need you! Stop messing around, please." One of her hands was grabbing the sheets, while the other was intertwined with his.

"Only because you said please." Eric smirked as he positioned himself at her entrance.

And he filled her up. All night long.

The sun was high in the sky when the newlyweds decided to wake up. That didn't mean they wanted to leave their bed. There wasn't a honeymoon for faction leaders. At some point, reality would catch up. Someone would need something or mess something up. They needed to enjoy it while it lasted.

Kate kept dancing with her hand against the sunlight coming from the window, which made the black diamond on her engagement ring twinkle and the gold on her wedding band shine bright. It felt like a dream again. Eric woke up and silently watched the serene expression on her face, making his pulse pick up the pace. Silently, he reached for her hand, which still hung in the air, and intertwined their fingers.

"Good morning." He said that and used his other hand to bring her body closer.

"Hi." She turned her body to face him. "I think it's too late to say good morning."

"Yeah? Dauntless still standing?"

"I think so." She traced her fingers on the tattoos on his neck, going lower.

"I hope it stays that way, 'cause I don't give a fuck if they need us." Eric's forehead touched hers, and he breathed in the smell of her perfume. Everything smelled like her since she moved in. "You're mine."

She giggled. She had a contagious laugh, making him laugh too. Kate thought that it was the best sound in the world.

"I think it's the other way around. You're mine now, Eric." She kissed him.

A hand tangled in her hair, and another held her jaw.

"I've been yours for a very long time." He whispered against her neck before biting that very place.

Kate let out a soft moan and detangled herself from Eric, rolling her body to sit on top of him, already feeling him hard beneath her.

"Good, 'cause I'll never let you go." She placed her hands on his torso, massaging his muscles, and rolled her hips. Always a tease.

A thought crossed her mind, and she stopped for a second.

"What is it?" Eric asked.

"We did it, Eric. We really did it." Kate shared her thoughts. A smile was placed on her plump lips, and so many emotions crossed her eyes.

This wasn't just about the wedding itself. Eric knew that. They went through so much and got to the other side of it together. The blonde sat up and used a hand to bring her face closer. Gray eyes against blue.

"Yeah, we did." And he pulled her in for a kiss.

THE END.

Chapter Text

"Shut your mouth, baby, stand and deliver

Holy hands, will they make me a sinner?

Like a river, like a river

Shut your mouth and run me like a river

Choke this love 'til the veins start to shiver

One last breath 'til the tears start to wither

Like a river, like a river

Shut your mouth and run me like a river." — Bishop Briggs, ‘River’.

At first, being the comic relief character in a dystopian setting seemed easy enough. Surrounded by the intensity and dramaticity of his friends, River had no option but to balance it out. For instance, his best friend Eric was cruel, cynical, power-hungry, and, frankly, quite scary sometimes. Of course, there was more behind the leader's mask, River had seen that multiple times. However, it didn't change the fact that in the pressure cooker known as Chicago, the redhead's personality was a rarity and, especially at Dauntless, Eric's was the norm.

As an Amity-born, River was considered harmless enough. Peaceful. Sweet. The ability to plant and harvest, handle cattle, cook, or even make beautiful flower arrangements had no place at Dauntless. So, when he left his two younger sisters and father behind, a week after his mother's passing, to join the warrior faction, the initiate had been immediately written off by the rest of his class—and the leadership.

Well, it turned out that assumptions only lasted a couple of weeks. They lasted until River won a fight and sent the first jumper to a three-day stay at the infirmary. Who knew? The Amity kid had learned more than just which vegetables grow in each season or how much peace serum one could drink before blacking out. River knew how to hunt—in fact, he had impeccable aim—and survive in the forest, and how to track and defend himself against animals much bigger than him. Suddenly, his status had been upgraded from potential factionless to number one in the rankings.

If there was one thing that the peaceful faction knew, it was that the most beautiful flowers hid thorns and that colorful fruits could be the most poisonous. And if there was one thing that River knew, it was that he couldn't fail. He belonged there, even if others didn't see it. His perseverance against his classmates' prejudice was a statement that he would fight until the very end for his place in Dauntless.

One way or another, fighting has been his whole existence. There was always something underneath the surface that he tried to hide. How was that even possible? River was so unpolagetically himself, and, at the same time, there was something hidden cursing through his veins. As fiery as his hair. As loud as his laugh. 

At the graduation ceremony, when he was offered the opportunity to shadow Eric as a leader in training, some people were still surprised. Of course, finishing first held a lot of weight, but he was still the kid who smiled too much, joked around with everyone, and had a bubbly personality like no other. A bubble that a few classmates would love nothing more than to burst. They wanted to break him and send him running to where he came from. From whatever dirty hole he crawled out of, Amity.

How could he possibly gain their respect? Could he lead? Was that role more than he could take? Well, love or hate him, the new shadow quickly showed that indeed there was a leader inside of him. A military strategist who knew exactly what to do every time there was tension in the factionless sector. He held knowledge of everyone's potential, who got along with who, and what was the best course of action in each scenario. Every patrol group was thought out. After all, it wasn't just the lives of his colleagues that were at stake. Chicago was the result of a delicate balance held by a thread that could give out at any moment. Allowing that to happen was out of the question.

Although discipline and a vow to protect the lives of the citizens were the mottos from which Dauntless' soldiers lived by, that young man knew that not everyone truly cared. Oh, yes, if there was one thing that River needed to learn, it was to care less . But he wouldn't. He couldn't. River cared too much and would continue, no matter if it took a toll on him. There was no giving up or letting his responsibilities fall into another person's hands. 

So, he carried on.

River smiled through every venomous joke. River smiled at the ones who scoffed at him. River smiled when somebody asked what a "banjo strummin' softy" like him was doing at Dauntless. River smiled at every nickname, every false smile directed at him, and every pat on the back that felt like being stabbed with a knife. River smiled, smiled, and smiled again. River SMILED, because that was his armor.

Then, the funniest thing happened. It was the universe's turn to smile at him, in its own way. A few months into his leadership training, River walked in to find Eric drunk and blacked out on his bed. Severely confused and unable to make the young leader leave his apartment, River decided to just sleep beside him. Don't ask why he thought that would be a good idea, but he was so tired, and the couch was so damn lumpy. The ramifications of that night were endless. Eric tried to bribe him with food to keep that embarrassing situation just between them—it didn't even cross his mind to do something like that, but the youngest was enjoying the bribe. After that, his shadow started to invite him for drinks, which, eventually, under sheer pressure, the blond leader accepted. 

From there, friendship was unavoidable because being around River was so fucking easy. It was a breath of fresh air in the dark and damp Dauntless compound. He was fun, caring, and loved to meddle in other people's affairs when given the chance. A role that he took very seriously. Eric began to secretly enjoy it. Once River was established on Eric's radar for more than just work-related stuff, the leader started to see what was right in front of him: the way other soldiers treated his shadow. 

River's life had one grumpy addition, and other things also changed around him. He continued to smile, and, unbeknownst to him, behind his back Eric began to coldly stare down at anyone who chose to—and let's use the right word here—bully his shadow. Naturally, people started to treat him differently. Gained respect by proxy, if there was such a thing. Soldiers started to make small talk, invite him for beers at the Pit, and, by the time he was sworn in as a leader, nobody dared to send a wrong look at him. The faction was more open to him. So River smiled.

Although he tried to keep a positive attitude, the new leader wasn't a court jester. There were moments when he didn't smile. At all. He didn't smile when Eric tried to recruit him for Erudite's plan to overthrow the government or when said blond man wouldn't leave Kate alone for similar reasons. 

On the night of the factionless uprising, he could barely breathe when Johanna's body was found in her office. The faction's representative had meant so much to him. She was a constant presence while his late mother was sick, bringing food, checking in every day, and driving his mother to the hospital when the woman was no longer able to catch the train. Seeing Johanna lying motionless on the cold tile floor, as still as his mother was on a hospital bed, made something break deep inside of him. He wanted retribution. 

During the longest nights of their lives, after hiding in that bunker and being ready to fight to the death alongside Kate, the discovery of Johanna's killer identity was an unexpected twist. In all honesty, the desire to execute her was almost overwhelming, but he still settled for a shot aimed at her leg. A place that appears to be non-fatal but could be if no one stopped the bleeding. Silently, upon hearing that Kate had in fact executed Evelyn Eaton in cold blood, there was a feeling that he could breathe again. But not she same way as before, nothing was the same as it was. Sometimes, in their world, blood was the only answer.

For a long time, none of them were okay. There were no smiles, no jokes, just a general sense of dread in the air. There was no true sense of being victorious. At war, no one truly wins. Everyone loses something: a friend, their innocence, their morals, or their own lives. In a way, even though he had killed factionless people before during conflicts in the city, River felt like he had lost a piece of himself. A bit of happiness behind his smiles. The rose-colored glasses were gone, and Chicago never looked so sharp in front of him. River had finally seen that city for what it truly was.

There was little to like about that place.

What could he possibly do about that? Well, the leader, now the second-in-command, vowed to spend the rest of his life trying to make it right. The despair that River felt during that night, he didn't wish upon anybody. Together with his friends and the members of the new city council, they worked to build a new system. Chicago needed to give people a chance, not condemn them from birth for being factionless or exile them from society due to their inability to fit into one of the five factions. Thousands of citizens couldn't be placed inside five boxes. Now, they wouldn't have to.

Little by little, River smiled again. He laughed at Brave the Cat when he jumped on Eric's shoulder and refused to let it go. Tried to hide an amused smirk when a Candor-born initiate badmouthed Eric without realizing that the faction leader was standing right behind him—don't worry, the kid survived. And he rolled on the ground, howling almost out of breath after one of the antics done by his friends. By the way, it involved lots of booze and someone being challenged to do an Old World dance called macarena. Of course, he was the challenger.

But nothing made him smile quite like Jace. The blond entered his life as the cute armory guy that, from time to time, would be seen loading guns and ammo onto some of the trucks at the loading dock. Then he became known as Kate's best friend. That connection meant that they would spend some time together as a group due to Eric and Kate's relationship. Eventually, the redhead could call him a friend as well. A friend who was already taken.

Until he wasn't.

About a month before the wedding of the century, also known as the marriage between his best friend and his true match, things changed. River had spent countless hours listening to his shadow, Kate, rambling about things in her life, which constantly included what Jace was up to. Upon mentioning the word single, the redhead's interest picked up. 

Jace wasn't the cute guy from the Armory anymore, nor the trainer to the Dauntless' born class that he would observe from time to time, nor his not-so-close friend, nor the guy who was in a relationship with somebody else. Suddenly, he was the handsome, funny, filled with intricate tattoos that he wanted nothing more than to kiss, owner of cheekbones that made him resemble a marble statue, and a very, very single guy.

Oh, that means trouble. River had a tendency to attract that.

In this case, trouble also meant happiness. It all started with coffee on the Pit in the middle of the night, when both couldn't sleep a wink. Or maybe it began the week before, when he caught Jace staring at him in the cafeteria for a bit too long. And River stared back, of course. 

Did Jace always have that speck of gold in his eyes when the light hit just right?

Coffee evolved into beers, which led to them breaking into the cafeteria's kitchen in the middle of another night just to steal some Dauntless double-chocolate cake. Although the sweetest thing about that memory wasn't dessert, it was the taste of Jace's lips when one of them finally snapped. The couple still doesn't remember who moved first, but control went out of the window of River's apartment before the breaking dawn. And if they both called in sick that day, well, nobody suspected anything.

Now, that was the sweetest memory, not the happiest.

What was the happiest thing about that day? For River, it was waking up hours later on his bed. The world was standing still, natural light long gone from the window, and the only sound filling the room was the snoring coming from the marble statue sleeping next to him.

Cute.

A hand found the messy golden curls adorning his head like a crown, and the man next to him stirred awake. This time, he was met with dark eyes full of desire and the same sharp cheekbones that could cut someone. Jace's eyes locked with his, and the young leader couldn't help but smile. His chest trully felt light for the first time. In a very, very long time.

"There you are." Jace stated with a soft chuckle.

"Where else was I supposed to be?" River replied, confused. His hand left Jace's hair and traveled down to his jaw. 

"I didn't mean it like that." Jace's hand covered his. "It's the first time that I've seen you really smile since the war. No armor, no pretending. So, there you are."

Oh.

River contemplated that answer for a second. His heart was beating fast, and a feeling was cursing through his veins as fast as a river's current. The young leader decided that he wanted to drown in it. That was the happiness he had been wanting. Needing. The missing puzzle piece.

"Here I am." Their bodies were closer now. Naked chests were almost touching. "And I'm not going anywhere."

"Good, 'cause I could get used to this. To us."

He definitely could get used to this, too.

So, River smiled again. So unapologetically him.

Chapter Text

A/N: Hey! This isn’t a chapter—I just wanted to let you all know that I haven’t been able to let go of this version of Eric and Kate, even if I had created other works with them on this series. Leave a Light On is simply my favorite fanfic, so I decided to create an Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting with them and see how that affected the rest of the plot. It’s full of new dialogue and scenes, and it feels fresh. Still, its a standalone story for the ones who are not familiar with his one!

Synopsis:

Loving someone means letting go of self-preservation—that’s why the brain and the heart will forever be at war.

A few weeks ago, Kate Kempton was promoted to the position of Erudite’s ambassador. If her promising career continues on track, the young woman is looking at a leadership role soon enough. However, when an unknown enemy attempts to steal a dangerous serum from one of their labs, her life crosses paths with Eric Coulter, the cruel Dauntless leader who got intertwined with the deranged schemes of Jeanine Matthews—Kate’s mentor.

OR
If Kate never chose Dauntless, would she have still met and fallen in love with Eric or were their lives only meant to breeze past each other without ever colliding?

I invite all of you to read Matters of the Brain and the Heart

Let me know what you think of this new adventure ❤️ bc

See ya!