Chapter Text
Chapter 1.
Tris entered Max’s office and found all the Dauntless leaders already gathered there. Her eyes strayed briefly to Eric. Ruthless throughout initiation, he was the man who had Four throw knives at her.
Max motioned for her to sit.
“Tris, congratulations. You finished first.” He folded his hands on the desk. “We don’t offer the Leader-in-Training position every year, but after considerable discussion, it was decided that this year we would.”
Almost unanimous.Tris glanced at Eric again. If she had to guess, the dissenting vote belonged to him.
“What would it entail?” she asked. “If I choose it.”
Max noticed the emphasis on if. “It means one year of training under an active leader. You become their shadow. You learn every aspect of the job. At the end of the year, there will be a final evaluation. If you pass, you become eligible to act in that leader’s place when necessary. When a leadership position opens, you will be considered first.”
Tris nodded slowly. She had never wanted power for its own sake. She also knew her fragile relationship with Four would likely not survive this decision. Tobias believed leadership corrupted people. He wanted nothing to do with it.
The idea of spending a year shadowing one of the leaders was not particularly appealing. But she would learn. She would gain influence. And perhaps she could make Dauntless better.
She took a breath. “Yes. I’ll take it.”
A small smile touched Max’s face. “Excellent. Sign here.”
He slid a document across the desk. Tris signed it and handed it back. “And now?”
“Now you begin your training.” Max leaned back in his chair. “The only vote against offering you this position came from Eric.”
Silence filled the room.
Tris looked at him. Eric’s expression didn’t change. Stone would have shown more emotion. Still, she thought she caught something dark in his eyes. Not anger. Disapproval.
“The only vote?” she repeated.
Max nodded. “And he will be the leader assigned to train you.”
For the first time, she was genuinely shocked. “Wouldn’t it be more productive to assign me to someone who has fewer prejudices against me and my former faction?”
A faint smile appeared on Veronica’s face. “Tris, leadership means dealing with people who underestimate you, dislike you, or oppose you entirely. Sometimes for good reasons. Sometimes for no reason at all.”
Rin nodded. “If you can survive Eric, you can survive most things.”
A few quiet laughs circled the room. Eric did not join them.
Veronica continued. “Despite his reservations, he agreed to take you on.”
Agreed. The word sounded suspiciously generous.
“Our doors will always be open if you need guidance,” Harrison added.
Tris straightened her shoulders. “Then I’ll do my best.”
Max opened a drawer and removed a keycard. “This apartment is yours.” He handed it to her. “Number Two. Eric is in Number One.”
Tris accepted it.
“Training begins tomorrow.” Max’s gaze shifted to Eric. “Show her where she’ll be staying.”
Eric rose immediately. Without a word, he headed for the door. Tris hurried after him.
The walk was unpleasant. Eric’s stride was longer than hers, forcing her to nearly jog to keep up.
When they reached the apartments, he finally stopped. He pointed toward one door. “Number Two is yours.” Then to the next. “I’m Number One.”
Tris nodded. “Our training starts tomorrow, right?”
Eric turned. Slowly. The look he gave her made her think she had said something profoundly stupid. “No.” His voice was calm. Far too calm. “We start today.”
“Max said tomorrow.” She replied.
“And?” The single word hit harder than if he had shouted.
Tris folded her arms. Eric took one step forward. Not enough to invade her space. Enough to remind her that he could.
“You seem to have misunderstood something, Stiff.” His grey eyes settled on hers. Cold. Assessing.“You think initiation was difficult because people punched you, ranked you, and tried to throw you out.”
He shook his head. “Initiation was simple.” Something unpleasant settled in Tris’s stomach. “You wanted to become a leader.” His gaze traveled over her. Not with admiration. With evaluation. Like a weapon being inspected before purchase.
“Now you’re my responsibility.” The words sounded less like an honour and more like an accusation. “You will train when I tell you to train.” His voice remained even. “You will study when I tell you to study.” Another step. “You will work until you’re exhausted.”
His expression never changed. “And when you’re exhausted, you’ll continue.”
Tris refused to look away.
Eric noticed. Of course he did. A faint smile appeared. Not warm. Not encouraging. Predatory. “Let’s find out whether finishing first was talent…” His eyes darkened. “…or luck.”
Silence stretched between them. Finally, Tris lifted her chin. “Two o’clock at the gym?”
He turned away. Then paused. Without looking back, he added. “Two o’clock.” He unlocked his door. “For your sake, I hope Max is right.”
“About what?” She asked.
He finally looked at her. “About you.”
The door to Apartment One closed behind him.
Tris stood alone in the hallway. Then she looked down at the keycard in her hand. This was not how she had imagined the beginning of her new life. But if Eric Coulter thought she would quit, he was about to be disappointed.