#tris prior

Stubborn love

Eric Coulter x reader

Summary: Eric is madly in love with you, but is too stubborn to admit it until you get hurt, and he confesses when he goes to find you and makes sure you are okay

Warnings: depiction of a car crash.

"You're not going to believe what happened at work today," Eric Coulter said, tossing his bag onto the couch as he entered his apartment. His roommate, you, glanced up from your book, raising an eyebrow in mild curiosity.

"Oh, really?" you drawled, setting the book on her lap. "Do tell."

"I caught the new intern, what's his name, Tim? Yeah, Tim, red-handed trying to hack into the company database," Eric replied, pacing the living room. His eyes were alight with the excitement of the day's events, his normally stoic expression giving way to a smug smirk.

You sat up, setting the book aside. "Seriously? Did you report him?"

He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, of course. I had to. It's not like I could just let him get away with it. But the look on his face, Priceless."

The next day at the office, Eric found himself unusually distracted. He had always been the guy who could focus on his work, blocking out the world around him, but today was different. His thoughts kept drifting to you, the person who had occupied his mind more and more over the past few months. He had never been one to let his emotions show, especially not at work, but the way you had laughed at his terrible joke over lunch the day before had left a warmth in his chest that was hard to ignore.

He typed away at his computer, trying to push aside the memory of your eyes lighting up, but every keystroke seemed to echo the unspoken words that he had been too stubborn to say.

It was a typical Friday evening when Eric received the call. His heart skipped a beat as he saw your name flash across the screen. "Hello?" he answered, his voice gruffer than he intended.

Your voice was shaky on the other end. "Eric, I-I had an accident."

The color drained from Eric's face. "What? What happened?"

Through sniffles, you managed to explain that you had been in a fender bender on the way home from work. The car was totaled, but you were okay.

Without a second thought, Eric grabbed his keys and rushed out the door. The drive to the accident site felt like an eternity, his mind racing with scenarios of what he might find when he arrived. He had always felt protective of you, but hearing your vulnerability on the phone had unlocked something within him.

As he approached the crumpled mess of metal that had been your car, his heart pounded in his chest. He scanned the area, searching for any sign of you. When he finally saw you sitting on the curb, talking to a police officer, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. You looked shaken but otherwise unharmed.

As Eric approached, the police officer nodded in acknowledgment and stepped aside, allowing Eric to take over. He kneeled beside you, his hand resting gently on Your arm. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes searching your face for any hint of injury.

You nodded, trying to smile through the tears. "I'm fine, just shaken up."

The concern in Eric's eyes was palpable. "Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"

You shook your head. "No, I've already been checked out. I'm just waiting for my ride."

Eric's grip on Your arm tightened. "I'm not going anywhere until I know you're safe. I'll take you home."

The silence in the car was thick with unspoken words. Eric's eyes remained glued to the road, his mind racing with thoughts of what could have been. He had always been so focused on hiding his feelings, afraid of rejection or change, that he had never allowed himself to truly consider what it would mean to be there for you, to be the one you called when things went wrong.

When they arrived at your apartment, Eric helped you out of the car and into the building. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving you alone in this state. As he stepped into the dimly lit hallway, his heart felt heavier. The walls seemed to close in around him as he finally realized the depth of his emotions.

Once inside, Eric made you a cup of tea, his hands trembling slightly as he handed it to you. "Look, I know I'm not great with… feelings," he began, stumbling over the words. "But I care about you. More than I can say."

You looked up at him, eyes wide and searching. "What are you trying to tell me, Eric?"

He took a deep breath, his chest tight with the weight of his confession. "I'm in love with you," he said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I've been in love with you for a long time, and I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you."

The shock on your face was quickly replaced by a soft smile. "I love you, too, Eric," You whispered. "I just didn't know how to tell you."

The moment felt like a lifetime in the making as Eric finally allowed himself to lean in and kiss you. It was a gentle kiss, filled with all the unspoken words and emotions they had held back for so long. The world outside their little bubble ceased to exist, and all that mattered was the warmth of your body pressed against his, the feel of your lips on his.

When they pulled away, Eric felt a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in ages. "I'm sorry I was so stubborn," he murmured, his thumb brushing away a stray tear from your cheek. "But I'm not letting you out of my sight now."

You chuckled, the sound music to his ears. "That's a promise I can live with."