les sequelles - Eric Coulter 1

14. Stronger

Leaving Erudite was the best decision you had taken in quite a long time.

The only saddening thing was leaving your mother, her caring behaviour and patience had made your insufferable childhood at your father's hands a little bit more bearable.

Your father was not a good man: he thought you didn't do anything although you got the best marks at school, and the only thing he did well was saying sexist comments to everyone around you, included your mother and yourself.

When you chose Dauntless, you felt like you had betrayed her, but upon seeing her contagious smile, your face lit up in joy, as her face showed that you had made the right decision, even if it meant leaving your old faction.

Now, some months later, you were one of the top Initiates, with an unbreakable attitude and loyalty to the ones who deserved it. You couldn't help but wonder, every night while you were in bed, how she was doing...Was she okay? Had he hurt her in any kind of way?

One day, Christina had entered the room screaming at the top of her lungs "Tomorrow is visiting day!"

Visiting day... A opportunity to show him you were not a useless little girl.

"Aren't you excited (Y/N)?" Tris looked at you rather concerned "Huh?Yeah" Trying to put up a façade, you cheered along everyone else, while walking down to the Pit to get some tattoos, Christina leading the way.

"You look like you are really far from here, Initiate" Looking away from the tattoos, you found yourself face to face with Eric.

"Oh, just...You know...Visiting day"Sighing, you looked at his blue eyes "Ah, visiting day...Such a horrible pain in the ass" He replied dramatically "I know, I should be excited for seeing my family, not seeing them for a long time" "I feel a story is coming" He smiled wickedly "C'mon, I'm all ears"

By now, you were sitting in one of the booth's leather couch, pouring your backstory to the stone cold leader. After all this time, you had fallen on his good side every time you encountered him. Just your luck?

"Well, you see...As you know I'm from Erudite, where they cherish good results. In my year, I was the top student with best marks, pulling myself to the limits to be the best"

You could remember your younger self, running around memorising everything for the exams, staying up until 1 or 2 AM to have the whole lesson perfectly learned...But whenever you had a doubt...The story was always the same:

"Dad? Could you help me?" "No" "Why? You are doing nothing" "For your information, I am working, it is YOU who does not anything never. You are just an imbecile...All day listening to music and dancing like some brat"

"You are no longer Erudite (Y/N)" Rising from his seat, he helped you out, crossing his arms afterwards "You are Dauntless now, so you'll show him how tough you are"

Smiling, you both went separate ways, your heart fluttering just by thinking about his encouraging words "Thanks Eric" Whispering to yourself, you clutched your hands together and went to bed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The morning went rather smoothly, a little bit of training at dawn before having free day to see your family.

Walking down to the Pit, you sat with Christina, Tris and Will to wait for the relatives, each of them disappearing one right after the other, leaving you alone.

"No luck? I was really thrilled at the thought of a confrontation with your father" Eric appeared right beside you with an unfazed expression "I'm pretty sure everything related with fighting peaks your interest" Sharing a few laughs, you passed the time.

"(Y/N)!" Turning around, you left Eric and ran to the source of the voice. Your mother "Mum!Mum!" Jumping straight to her arms, you sobbed at the warm feeling that you missed for so long.

"(Y/N)!" the same old smile was shining in her features"How are you?" "I'm really good!Initiation is hard, but I'm doing my best" "I'm sure you'll pass. You are a strong girl, after all"

After moving to a side of the Pit, you started to explain everything to her, how you had made friends, anecdotes, but mostly how you missed her "It's so nice to see you again...I've missed you so much" Hugging her again, you kissed her on the cheek multiple times.

Eric was watching you all the while. A ghost of a smile appeared in his face, as he saw your beautiful smile.

Since the day you arrived at Dauntless, you had proven your bravery while not being a complete sadist like he had been. He respected you for that and, although he wouldn't admit it loudly, he had harbored a crush.

"(Y/N)" Turning your head, you came face to face with the cause of all your childhood sadness "Dad" You replied as dryly "I must admit this is really good" He smiled, surprising you "Yeah..." "And by what I heard you are starting to do something with your life"

Really?

Sighing, you looked at your dad dead in the eyes "Look, I have been working my ass off all my life to earn a little bit of respect. Then, now and always I'll be at the top of my game" "C'mon (Y/N), we both know you are useless" "Peace please" Your mother tried to ease the mood, but there was no turning back now.

"Maybe I'm not the useless one. At least I do something apart from speaking with a venomous tone" "YOU DO NOT TALK TO ME LIKE THAT, UNDERSTOOD?" "I'LL TALK TO YOU AS I LIKE. I AM FED UP WITH YOU!"

The shouting match continued in a bickering back and forth, Eric enjoying himself for a while until it became kind of boring, as he saw that you were the one who spoke the truth.

"What's going on here?" Eric's voice made you shut your mouth at mid sentence "Eric!" Turning around, you stepped beside him "And who are you?" Your father looked furious, while your mother looked exasperated "Don't loose your time with him,Eric...He's a lost cause"

Hugging your mother one last time, you focused all your love in it "Love you so much mum.Please, don't let yourself be stepped on" Kissing her on the head, you started to go with Eric.

"YEAH (Y/N)! GO WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND, AS YOU ARE NOT EVEN GOOD ENOUGH TO DEFEND YOURSELF!"

That was it. Walking up to him, you turned your hand backwards, putting all of your force and might in it. And then you did what you should've done before.

You punched him straight in the face.

"That's for me and mum. I don't want to see you ever again, monster" "(Y/N)..." Your mother said gasping "What have you done?" "I've taught him a lesson someone should have told him years ago: don't underestimate women"

After that, some people gathered around your father who had a broken nose, at least "Your mother is welcomed to come anytime she wants, and if she ever wants to move here, there's no problem with it" Max, who had been watching intently, greeted you as he shook your hands "Thanks Max, it really helps if it keeps her safe from him"

"So your boyfriend huh?" Smirking, Eric looked down at you, noticing your blush "Yeah...Crazy right?" Laughing nervously, you shook your hand "I don't think it's that crazy...You're an interesting specimen" Smiling,he looked at the bruises that were starting to form "How's your hand?"

"It kinda hurts...But I feel incredible!" "You should feel that way, I could hear some bones cracking" "Perhaps it was his pride" Smiling smugly, you went to grab something to eat.

As you arrived at the Mess Hall, you parted ways "Eric?" "Yes?" "Maybe you're right, it's not that crazy that one day you could be my boyfriend. But you'll have to wait until Initiation is over" Smirking, you ran to where your friends were, asking about your father's relationship with you, as well as the backstory.

"I'll be waiting, don't doubt that, (Y/N)" He whispered, before going to sit with the rest of the leaders, a particular girl named (Y/N) being the discussing topic.

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From hypermanga on Tumblr.