Faction before blood?

Chapter 13

Warning: graphic displays of violence

Eric walked over to Four, they had been busy all morning with fights. The initiates were a lot more skilled, since when they arrived, but still had a long way to go.

After dismissing them for lunch, Four dragged matts through the training hall, while Eric set up the knives.

He took one and swirled it around his fingers, while leaning against the table and addressing Four, who was now standing a few feet away from him.

"I see you grew some balls and decided to apologize to your sister."

"I intend to." Four narrowed his at the young leader. "But as you are the one responsible for this whole mess, you should keep your mouth shut."

Not being intimidated in the slightest, Eric rolled his eyes at him.

"I was drunk. So was she. And no one of us could have known that Erudite fucked up, so you should cut the bullshit and acknowledge, that I, and believe me I don't want to say that, am going to be a part of that family bullshit you two have going on."

Four looked at Eric, as if he'd grown two heads.

"Family? As in family you and me? What kind of a disaster would that be.?!"

"Come on. You two are the poster childs for dysfunctional families. Just think about the possibilities." Eric sighed dreamily. "Throwing daggers at each other, while celebrating faction day, training our kids to fight each other, but come on. We all know my son would beat yours any time."

Four started to look concerned. "Are you feeling alright? I think you just lost the rest of your marbles." Eric laughed loudly. He didn't know what it was, but he felt content. He just hummed in confirmation, before letting silence take over.

"So the baby is a boy?" Four asked, squatting down, to pick up one of the weights.

"What? Oh, no. I mean we don't know yet. But I could picture us having a son running around here, scaring people."

At the mental image of a little boy with Eric's face, Four had to grin. "As long as he doesn't look like you"

"What is that supposed to mean, number boy?" Eric shouted offended from his side of the training room. "I'm a pretty attractive man, if I say so myself. Just ask your sister."

"Dude." Four deadpanned, making Eric laugh.

They stayed silent for a few minutes. But their reverie was interrupted by the first jumper, barging into the room, breathing heavily.

"What happened?", Four asked, switching to Instructor mode.

"Sir. Eric, Sir." He stumbled over his words.

Rolling his eyes Eric snarled at him." Spit it out, already."

"Your, uhm, girlfriend? Sir. Something happened?"

"What happened?" Four repeated, ready to snap someone's neck.

"Sir, the stairs in the pit... she fell down, where there's no railing. They're taking her to the infirmary, Sir. I didn't know she was pregnant." Eric and Four exchanged panicked looks.

"What do you mean, she was?" Eric took predatory steps towards him, but Four stepped into his way, holding out his hands.

"I don't know anything, Sir. But she fell pretty far. But there was a doctor right away, so... I have no idea!", he was getting distressed.

Without another glance at him, both men ran out of the training room, towards the infirmary.

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