les sequelles - Eric Coulter 1

19. Beauty To The Beast

3rd person POV

The Pit was emptier than what was usual, only a few initiates that went here and there, if it wasn't for a tattoo, it was to buy some clothes.

But there was a particular girl, (Y/N), who wasn't interested in any of this, in fact, she could be seen in a corner, snuggled in her big black jacket and her hair in a neat ponytail, holding a book.

2nd person POV

"You should do other things apart from reading" huffing while crouching down your best friend back in Abnegation, Andrea, tried to take you out from your trance"But it's the best part!" You answered back, the same answer as always.

"That forsaken book...How many times will you have to read it before you grow tired of it?"

"Dunno"

"You're such an unusual person (Y/N), that's why I love you" She snatched the book from your hands, a gasp escaping from your lips "Ah,ah,ah...Not before you come with me to get a tattoo"

Sighing, you made your way with her to the tattoo parlor, Tori waving us as the neon lights danced creating curious patterns "So...What're you getting?" Looking at her arleady tattoed wrists, you crossed your arms "I'm getting a..."She tapped her chin, spinning around to finally stop in what seemed like a tribal design.

After she disappeared behind the curtain, you retrieved your book, slumping down in a sofa.

"If it isn't the Dauntless bookworm...The same as always I suppose" Your eyes widened at that voice. Eric, the one and only Dauntless leader.

"Yes and, as per usual, I was in the best part" You didn't lift your eyes from the book, feeling Eric's mocking gaze and matching smirk burning holes in your skull.

Eric was the only one who always started a conversation about you and your book. It made your day, even if he mocked your attitude sometimes.

"You know (Y/N), i've always been interested, which book is it?" "I'm sure you don't know it" In fact, I don't know if you have any knowledge in literature, you thought, but bit your tongue in fear those words would come out "I'll be deciding that, initiate" You closed your book, putting it in your bag "It's Romeo and Juliet. There, happy?"

Then, the unexpected happened. Eric laughed. A ghost of a smile appeared in your features, but was replaced by a frown as he spoke up.

"Of course it had to be that one" "What? Any problem?" "The stereotypical one for a girl" "Oh! And Mr. I-know-about-literature-so-don't-contradict-me wouldn't happen to know which books are not the stereotypical ones?"

Crap, you had sassied beyond your limits the man that could kick you out of Dauntless even if you were ranking the first ones in the Initiation, which wasn't even the case.

Well, at least I lived...

"Come" You opened your eyes, looking directly at his blue orbs "God, do I even have to carry you there?" "Carry me where?" "Shut up and follow me"

You did as you were told, waving goodbye to Tori who had gone out a moment to drink some water.

As you made your way to an unknown place, you started to make possible scenarios 'He could make me clean the dishes in the dining hall...Nevermind we passed it' 'He might make me run a hundred million laps in the gym...Nope'

A hundred hypothesis later, you realised where you were "The leaders dorms?" "A quick one, aren't you?"

He took a key from his pocket, and opened the door of his bedroom, you assumed , and entered to a dark room.

"Watch out where you step" You stopped dead in tracks and waited for him to open the light. Wise decision really, you would have stumbled with...Wait, books?

You picked the first one you saw, which had a nice red cover. Turning it over, you read the title "So...King Arthur's tales huh? It has love Eric, aren't you a softie?" He just rolled his eyes and took the book.

You were surprised by how many books he had, and of all genres, from horror to comedy, going to philosophical and romance "I thought Dauntless people didn't read?" "I'm not originally from here, I was an Erudite" "That's why you're such a smartass sometimes" You whispered to yourself " I heard you initiate" You cursed under your breath, making Eric smirk "Don't tell anyone you've been here, or you'll be Factionless in a matter of seconds. Got it?"

Nodding nerviously, you went to exit the room when Eric's voice called you "We should repeat this kind of stuff...I'm a little bit oxidated with the reading culture because of the Leader thing"

You smiled to yourself and bid him goodbye, before going to the Pit to finish your good old book.

Every afternoon after dinner, you met at his room and spent time reading and commenting chapters. Sometimes, you read eachother's parts of a book which you really liked, enjoying the times. It became like a tradition for both.

Eric didn't know how to feel about it, he tried to erase from his memory your smiley face, the voices you put when you read a part from one of your books or how you blowed the hair out of your face which prevented you from reading.

It was too much for him, for he didn't know how to cope with this emotions.

As he sat in a reunion, Max sat beside him, smirking at how distressed the Leader was "You look somewhat distressed" "..." "You seem troubled for something" "..." "Is the beast in love with the beauty?" "Oh, just shut up Max" How did he know about it? "I saw you the other day how you talked at the doorway of your room about a book"

Eric got red instantly, for his friend had hit the bullseye "Normally, I'd ban this kind of things, but she makes you less grumpier than usual, so I'll help you" "I don't need anyone's help" He muttered, clenching his fists.

After the meeting, he got to his room, thinking how he could confess to you in a creative way, for you weren't a normal kind of girl.

He spent the evening thinking about it, until he stumbled your book, Romeo and Juliet "I'm gonna look like a brat...But, if she likes me back, then so be it".

You skipped contently to Eric's room, ready for a new reading session. As you knocked on the door, you found it was already open , and Eric was sitting at the end of his bed, tapping his fingers over a book cover.

"Oh, of course I forgot it here!" You laughed and went to get it back, only to be stopped by Eric "This is the most dumbass thing I'll ever do..." You arched your brow at that statement "But if I don't say it now, I might never have the guts again"

"What are you say..."

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss"

There was an awkward silence, your faces heating and turning bright red "God, now you think I'm such a weirdo". You rose up from your seat and started the next dialogue

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss"

You smiled, looking down at your boots .

"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" Eric stood in front of you, as if he wanted to hold your hands.

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer" Intertwining your fingers, you stared at his blue orbs.

"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair" As he finished the part, he leaned down and connected your lips with his in a tender kiss. Closing your eyes, you rested your palms on his chest and enjoyed the kiss.

As you parted, you smiled "Shakespeare?" "C'mon, you have to say it was genious" Eric smirked, crossing his arms in a cocky manner "And you said it was girl's book huh?" You mimicked his pose and smirk.

"For you, I can make an exception"

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From hypermanga on Tumblr.