Request - Post movie Four getting some much needed rest and love (being railed to infinity)
A/N - Not exactly railed to infinity but this one's for you, Nicole. Requests are open!
Category - Four x Fem!Reader
Warnings - Fluff, Smut, be nice to me because I haven’t written smut in years
Word Count - 1.1k
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It had been two weeks since you, Four, and the other fugitives had made it to the sanctuary of the Amity farms. Their representative, Johanna Reyes, had been kind enough to extend her help to the six of you when you asked. Though, that came with a price as she gave each of you a role to perform to help out while you were there. Though, you didn’t mind. Helping the people of the Amity faction do their farm work was better than constantly being on the run, or having to look over your shoulder. It almost brought you peace, almost.
You were pulled from your thoughts as the cot you lay in dipped and a loud groan erupted from beside you. A smile graced your lips, turning over to see the sight of your boyfriend, “Hi there, handsome.”
Four huffed, turning his head to meet your soft eyes, “Hi.”
Shuffling closer to him, you laid your head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around your waist, “How were the kids?”
He groaned, pulling you closer to him, “I had no idea how tiring they could be,” he paused, “but it’s nice. Relaxing even.”
“Wow, the ever so fearing Four, dauntless trainer, tired out from kids,” you joked, making him chuckle. Your nose brushed against his, lips just barely touching each other, “You just need to relax.”
“Is that right?” he smirked, his large hands gripping your waist.
“Mhmm,” you hummed, pressing a chaste kiss against his lips. You shot up out of his arms onto your knees, “Take your shirt off and turn over.”
“What?”
“Take your shirt off and turn over,” you repeated, “I’m gonna help you relax.”
Four nodded, following your orders with no further questions asked. He turned over to his stomach and folded his arms underneath his head to rest on. You waited until he was situated to swing your leg over his lower body, straddling his waist. Soft groans and grunts left his mouth as you began to dig your hands into his back, kneading out any knots and tension that was straining his back. Your hands worked for a while, rubbing over his toned back, obliging when he told you to go further up or down, apply more pressure or stay in that same spot for a second.
“Your hands are like heaven,” he sighed.
“I think you’ve told me that once or twice before,” you muttered, leaning forward just enough to start placing small kisses across the length of his shoulders, muscles twitching at each kiss. He called your name low and husky as a warning. You giggled innocently as if this wasn’t your plan all along, continuing to scatter kisses on his back. Each breath he took deepened, loving the way your lips felt against his skin—but he loved the way his lips felt against yours more.
A squeal left your body as Four’s arm suddenly reached back and wrapped around you. He flipped you over so you were lying next to him again. Before you could even speak, his hand gripped your jaw, pulling you closer and wasted no time slotting his mouth on yours. You melted instantly, kissing him back with just as much passion. His tongue found its way inside your mouth and tangled with yours. A moan slipped from the back of your throat, sending those familiar tingly feelings through your body.
Four knew your body like the back of his hand, so he knew what that moan meant once he heard it. His hand let go of your jaw, delicately trailing down from your neck, brushing against your nipple through the thin fabric of your nightgown, continuing south of your body until his hand reached the hem of the gown, dipping underneath it. Your legs fell open to him like second nature, fingers finding your pussy through the cotton underwear. You moaned into his mouth as he softly rubbed your clit, hips following the circles his fingers were rubbing in.
“Please,” you whined softly.
“I am,” he answered right before pulling your panties to the side, finally dipping into your folds, feeling all the wetness that had already puddled in your panties, “All this for me?”
You nodded as you bit your lip, “I love it when you touch me.”
“I know you do, baby,” he muttered, continuing to work his fingers into circular motions against your clit, applying a bit of pressure, “Such a good girl,” he grunted along with you while you continued to moan.
Your head fell back against the pillow when he picked up speed. You tried to keep yourself quiet, knowing that the two of you were in an open hut and it wouldn’t be hard for anyone to hear if they were close enough, but Four hated it when you were quiet. He loved when you were vocal, it let him know that he was doing all the right things to your body, pleasing you in the most appropriate way.
Without even thinking, your hand shot down to grab his wrist when he sunk two fingers into your wet hole, “Fuck!” you cried, hips bucking against them. You loved that Four knew your body so well. He knew all the ways to make you cum fast or to drag it out just right.
“That’s it, baby, ride my fingers,” he instructed.
“Oh god,” you breathed through that moan, your body moving along as he pumped his thick fingers in and out of your pussy, “fuck, fuck, fuck, I’m so close.”
“Already?” Four whined, dipping his head to sloppily kiss along your exposed neck and chest
You nodded, furrowing your eyebrows as you choked down another loud moan. Your legs started to shake as that familiar knot started to tangle in the pit of your stomach. Your cunt tightening around his digits as he continued to fuck you with them, curling them up against that g-spot that only he could ever reach. You grunted out his name as that knot finally snapped and you released all over his hand. Chest heaving up and down as he slowly slipped his fingers out, dragging them over your clit again to help you ride out your orgasm.
He lifted his head with low, dark eyes, watching you catch your breath and coming down from your high, “Hey,” he called to you, tapping your chin to grab your attention. Without even asking, you turned your head towards him and opened your mouth. He sunk his cum-covered fingers into your mouth. Licking his lips, he watched as you sucked your own arousal off his fingers, moaning as you did, knowing you enjoyed your taste, “Hm, my dirty girl.”
Just before the two of you could get any further, a voice called from the distance, interrupting the two of you.
“Hey, Four? Are you there?” The voice got closer and was recognizable by none other than Tris Prior, “I need your help.”
Four sighed, dropping his head on your shoulder, “Guess we’ll finish this later.”
(It's a modified version of my previous imagine Sealed Their Fates. Credit to @fraylindurin for a comment that spurred me to write this one)
Summary: Everyone in Dauntless knows of (Y/n)'s relationship with Four, but some think that it gives her an unfair advantage. But when a group of boys try to attack (Y/n), she doesn't feel safe in her faction anymore.
Warning: Descriptions of attempted assault.
Enjoy.
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Falling. Falling. Falling.
Again and again, every time (Y/n) tried to wake herself up out of the nightmare that trapped her in a cage, she kept going back to the same place. She kept dreaming of the same thing; endless falling with no end in sight. But without seeing where she was going to land, there was a deep rooted feeling in (Y/n)'s gut; she knew the landing was coming, and she knew it was going to be worse than the fall.
Wherever she would end up when she landed, it would be a horrible place, a landing with broken bones and endless pain and no breath left in her lungs.
That sense of dread dwelled in (Y/n)'s stomach like an infection festering through her blood, multiplying within her until it was starting to grow out of control.
When she closed her eyes, she could almost feel her stomach lurching up into her throat as if waiting for the floor to disappear beneath her feet and drop her down again. Sickness crept up the back of her throat and her arms coiled near her chest like a consoling hug for herself.
But her eyes shot open when a strong pair of arms suddenly bound around her middle and a firm, hard chest moulded up against her back.
She didn't have to turn around to know who was clinging to her like this, who was giving her such a powerful embrace and attaching their lips so warmly to the side of her neck.
Tobias.
His arms around her felt like an anchor keeping (Y/n)'s feet firmly on the ground so she wasn't about to float away or drop hundreds of feet through the floor in an endless, falling nightmare. He was holding her to the ground, he was keeping her safe and warding off that impending churn to her stomach.
But he seemed to realise that she wasn't smiling or laughing, and when he tightened his arms around her waist and realised how dreadfully tense and taut she was, the frown in his brows could be felt against her throat.
"You okay?" His voice was gritty and low against her ear and (Y/n) fougth hard to stop her knees from giving way beneath her.
"Yeah." Her voice was as quiet as a whisper on the wind, both because she didn't quite trust her voice and because it was a newfound habit to speak in hushed tones with Tobias. So that no one else that might be listening in could hear their little words.
It wasn't necessarily a secret that the pair of them had found solace and comfort in one other.
Others had noticed the way that Four would smile towards (Y/n), whereas he would generally be cold and ruthless towards anyone else. They had seen him take her hand and interlock their fingers, and they noticed that Four wasn't the instructor who trained (Y/n). He wouldn't do that; he wouldn't train the girl he had fallen for, not when he knew people would turn against her and accuse him of giving her points and helping her stay in Dauntless.
That didn't mean to say that Tobias wouldn't help train her late into the night when no one else was around. And he would give her tips and pointers and tell her how to outsmart the others, but he wouldn't do any of that in public, and he certainly wouldn't go around giving her any points.
They didn't hide what they had, but they didn't display it either. Quiet moments together in the mornings and little interludes wherever they could was what they decided to do until (Y/n) made it as a fully fledged member of Dauntless.
"Is something up, you can tell me. " Tobias hovered his lips over (Y/n)'s ear while his hand smoothed up and down her sternum like he was drawing aimless patterns into her shirt.
"Just didn't sleep great, that's all."
There wouldn't be much point in telling Tobias that she wasn't sleeping because of a strange nightmare, it wasn't like he could help her very much in that respect. There wasn't a lot that could be done for dreams like that or lack of sleep, and if (Y/n) wanted to make it in Dauntless then she had to suck it up and push through moments like these.
Things would be different when she got through the initiation process anyway, once she was a proper part of the faction and didn't have to sleep with all the other initiates in the bunk room. When she could have a room of her own- or maybe a room with Tobias at some point- without hearing others snoring and bickering and breathing heavy and constantly getting up to go to the toilet during the night. Then things would be better.
Tobias hummed as if he understood, and he knew what it was like to have to sleep in a crowded room with people who were against you for better scores and the best position in the faction.
"It'll get easier, I promise."
She nodded to his words, nudging the tip of her nose against his neck before she leant up to kiss him. She liked the way his arms tightened around her, like he was making sure she stayed right where she was and wouldn't dare pull out of his embrace for a moment. And the feeling of his palms pressing down into her sternum and waist made butterflies swarm through her system.
Sometimes (Y/n) wished it could be like this all the time. She wished she could lean against Tobias or take his hand or walk around with him and no one would bat an eyelid or make a bad comment.
And maybe after the initiates were all chosen and blended into Dauntless, after the dust settled and there was no more competing to stay and for status, things would change. (Y/n) was sure they would. She was sure that things would settle down, that they would all find their own rooms after they were fully fledged members of the faction. They would partner off and find their best suited jobs and no one would care that (Y/n) and Tobias were together.
She just hoped that it wouldn't feel like a lifetime to get to that point.
It proved to be some effort to turn around in his tight embrace, but (Y/n) managed the small task and looped her arms around the back of his neck. Her fingers brushed against the short gazed hairs at the back of his head and she let herself slouch into his chest, effectively pinning Tobias between her and the wall. Not that he minded at all, he seemed happy to be sandwiched up against her in the corridor. Especially since they were alone without any onlookers.
"What're you thinking?" Tobias's words were hushed and (Y/n) barely heard them when he spoke with his lips so close to hers that they were almost touching.
Their noses brushed and she could feel his temple resting against hers, but it was the feeling of those cold lips hovering less than a centimetre away from hers that made (Y/n)'s knees want to give in. She pushed up on her toes, keeping her chest merged with his as her arms tightened slightly around his neck and her eyes creased with a smile.
"Just that I can't wait for training to be over."
(Y/n) knew being in Dauntless meant endless training, they would never stop, per say. They would always be training and running and fighting and sharpening their skills. But at least they wouldn't be fighting against one another, they wouldn't be opposites anymore. They would all be working together as a group, a family, a faction. That was the goal and (Y/n) wanted to skip this tournament of sorts and be at that point.
She wanted to feel calmer, not always on edge like this or suffering plagued dreams and constant bruises and aches and pains.
She felt Tobias sigh down at her with that half smile pulling at his lips and one arched brow. He knew how she felt, he had never been worried about his training, he had beaten all others in his group, including Eric with no problems. But he was desperate now for (Y/n) to make it through this phase with no problems.
"Me too." His words were nothing more than a whisper on the wind and (Y/n) managed to catch a glimmer of a smile pulling on his lips before she moved one hand to cradle the side of his face.
Her fingers danced a pattern on his cheek and (Y/n) pressed another kiss too his lips, savouring the cold touch and the feeling of Tobias tightening his hand around her hip. They didn't have long before they would have to go. They needed to go to the training room and begin their day, and that meant going the rest of the day without being too close to one another.
Another hint of a smile traced over Tobias's lips when he felt (Y/n) murmur "I'm not ready," against his mouth that was savouring her touch and stealing as many elicit kisses as he could manage.
His nose pressed against hers and his lips felt positively bruised in the best way when they finally parted. He allowed himself to lean his cheek into her palm that was cradling his face and shivers coursed up and down his skin from her touch.
"There aren't any fights scheduled for today, just remember what I taught you in training, and you'll be fine."
It wasn't wrong, not technically when anyone could ask for help with training and anyone could put the hours in and do more. (Y/n) wanted to do better, she wanted to have a better shot at staying in Dauntless and doing the best she possibly could, and Tobias was giving her hints. He watched her practice and told her what she could do to improve. He helped her straighten her frame and improve her throw and taught her how to duck and punch better.
It was the same hints and pointers that he gave to anyone he was instructing, it just happened to be late on in the evening when everyone else gave up to rest.
"Suppose we'd better go." Surprise flooded through (Y/n) when Tobias leaned down to snag another kiss from her lips and he pushed off the wall until he was practically pushing down onto her instead.
Neither of them wanted to part and head off into the training area, into the room that would be flooded with the rest of their faction. But they didn't have much of a choice. This was their faction and they had to make themselves useful, after all.
It was comforting to feel Tobias slip his hand into hers and feeling of his fingers tapping against the back of her hand like he was trying to give her a secret message was enlightening.
When he stood- or rather towered- beside her it felt like (Y/n) had a protective armour around her. The way his shoulder brushed against hers, how tense his arms felt, the sound of his leather boots hitting the stone floor, it was all dominating and overpowering in the best possible way.
It wasn't until they actually reached the training room that the aura seemed to change and (Y/n) felt like she was three inches tall. She barely felt Tobias give her hand a squeeze like he was trying to give her some of his courage.
Eyes were upon them immediately. Some just glances, some long stares and some with glares of jealousy that (Y/n) could feel burning through her skin.
She wanted to shrink in on herself and become invisible, but that wasn't what a Dauntless would do and she didn't have to feel this way.
She felt Tobias give her hand another squeeze so tight he almost cut off the circulation to her fingers. And he leaned down to murmur "Good luck," in her ear because he knew training was as hard and draining as it was rewarding. And with his head angled down, he managed to press a kiss to the back of her head without anyone noticing.
The moment his hand slipped from hers and (Y/n) heard his footsteps retreating, she suddenly felt cold. But she tried to brush it off, shaking the feeling away as she rolled her shoulders and clicked her neck into place.
With a deep breath and her teeth sinking into her lower lip, (Y/n) approached one of the punching bags hanging near the wall to the far left.
She just wanted to train, to get on with it without having a crowd of people glaring or watching her as if they thought she was clearly getting points from Tobias, like she couldn't prove herself any other way.
Peter was one of those who was currently staring at her, and he made a show of walking up beside her. (Y/n) wasn't sure why, but he had taken an instant disliking to her. He liked to make jibes and jokes and play the tormenter and when (Y/n) didn't rise to the bait, he seemed to enjoy it even more like the challenge was better and somehow made (Y/n) weaker for not retaliating straight away.
"Where's your loverboy, stiff?" Peter clasped his hands behind his back and took a look around, but he missed Tobias who mingled in with the other initiates near the climbing ropes in the far corner.
"Where's your girlfriend, Pete?"
(Y/n) didn't bother looking up at him as she spoke. He could be as crude and annoying as he wanted, she would simply respond and annoy him back until he stopped. He could try and make jokes about her relationship with Tobias as much as he liked, (Y/n) would just make jokes about his love life in response, or lack there of.
Her words made his smile slip into a frown and he looked down at his hands for a moment, clearly irritated that she had quipped back at him so fast.
"Suppose I should fine one soon, preferably an instructor. After all, you got in there quick and ranked up your points." His head ticked towards the scoreboard which showed (Y/n) was two places higher up than Peter. Both of them were in the clear, they weren't in the red on the verge of being factionless, but that could all change. They all knew the scoreboard was changing daily with people improving and slipping all the time.
(Y/n) didn't bother looking back at him while she curled her hands into fists, changed her stance so her feet were further apart and her back was straight, and began to thrust her closed fists at the punching bag.
"Then you'd better hurry Pete. From what I saw, I don't think many girls in here would be pleased with the little you have to offer." She didn't bother to look at him as she spoke. She was only trying to level the playing field and irritate him in the same way he was doing to her.
She threw another punch, but her stance wavered and she stumbled forward towards the punching bag when Peter thrust his shoulder into her side and sent her off balance.
A huff escaped her lips and she shook her head to herself, but when she glanced her eyes to the right, they locked on Tobias. His features were ever the same, blank and fierce, warding people to stay away from him and not to bother even trying to strike up a conversation.
But his hands- which were now wrapped in tape around the knuckles, ready for both fighting and climbing the ropes- were balled into fists at his sides. He wasn't impressed with Peter.
If any of the initiates started fights or casting others out when they weren't in the ring, the instructors put a stop to it and Tobias was ready to step in if Peter went any further. Competition was fine as long as it was healthy and in good faith. If Peter really belonged in Dauntless than he had nothing to fear, and no reason to be picking on (Y/n) or anyone else.
But (Y/n) knew no matter how much confidence Peter had in himself about becoming a fully fledged Dauntless member, he was still going to pick fights with her and try to torment her.
He didn't see her as an equal, he viewed her as a threat.
***
A slight sting burned in (Y/n)'s knuckles and she wrung her hands out at her sides, trying to shake away the dull sting and get the feeling back in her fingers. Most of the day had been spent fighting and (Y/n) could feel the bruises that were no doubt blossoming on her skin beneath her clothes.
Her knuckles had split open, grazes littered her hands and her fingers were practically on fire. She had fought against Peter today, curtesy of Eric who had noticed the pair arguing and getting annoyed with each other and thought a fight between them would air out the tension.
It hadn't.
Peter seemed to morph into a demon when he lost. (Y/n) had barely managed to win, but when she got Peter in a choke hold and made him blackout, he didn't have a choice but to tap out of the fight. He physically couldn't get up and it took him too long to regain his breath back, so Eric called (Y/n) the winner and that was that.
He had stormed off in a rage, kicking anything and everything within sight and cradling his sore neck that had been inflamed red and would be littered with bruises and marks in the morning.
(Y/n) had done her best to stay out of his way since this morning and she was ready to sleep.
She didn't want to bother with any extra training tonight, her hands were too sore and she was too tired. Getting some rest would be a better idea than working herself to the bone and being run down tomorrow. Eric might try and pit her against someone else in a fight tomorrow and (Y/n) would need her energy for that.
Her hand rubbed at the back of her neck which she clicked into place as she slowly aimed down the corridor.
It was a long treck back towards the dorms and it was irritating to have to share a room with over twenty others, but it was only until they had passed. Once their training was over and the select few were included into Dauntless, they would each be able to get their own little apartment like the rest of the faction.
Thank God.
(Y/n) was fed up sharing with others, fed up of hearing them snore and the beds creak and people getting up to use the toilet. She was fed up of getting up early to shower before everyone else and trying to change without people peering over to get a look.
Her own room would be a dream compared to what these last few weeks had been like.
All she wanted to do now was climb into her bed and disappear until the morning rolled around.
But as she turned from the corridor and headed towards the next hall, her hands clenched into fists and a surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins. She found herself stepping towards the wall as if it would provide some kind of safety when she saw who was walking down the hall towards her.
Peter. Followed swiftly by two of his cronies, and all three of them seemed to grin wider when they noticed her; and the fact that she was alone.
"Oh look, it's the stiff."
(Y/n) refrained from rolling her eyes, she didn't need to cause any arguments. It was late, she didn't want to stand around and berrate each other when there was no need. He could go his own way and (Y/n) would aim for the dorms and they didn't need to have any interaction at all.
With her head ducked down, (Y/n) stuck close to the wall and tried to walk past them. She jabbed her elbow out to push Peter when he tried to get close. She didn't know what he was trying to do and she didn't want to know either, she just wanted to get away from him.
One of them, she wasn't sure which, tried to grab her wrist, but (Y/n) lashed out and slammed her heel against his inner leg which caused him to stumble.
"Just fuck off." She wasn't in the mood for a fight or an argument, she just wanted to go to sleep.
(Y/n) quickened her steps and veered down the hall with speed, praying that the three of them would just swear and carry on their way. And for a few seconds, she thought they had.
But then they grabbed her.
She hadn't heard them coming up behind her, not until it was too late. An arm deadlocked around her neck causing her to stumble backwards and her head slammed into a boney shoulder. A strangled sound escaped (Y/n)'s lips and she scratched her nails into the arm around her neck, trying to thrust her weight back to give herself some leeway and the ability to breathe better.
It had been the wrong move to make. Leaning back weakened her stance and when one of the other two boys swept her legs up from beneath her, (Y/n) realised in horror that she was now at their mercy. She would have to fight a lot harder to get out of this.
"No!"
A scream burst past her lips as much as she could with the arm pinned to her throat, and her shoulders slid down the person's chest behind her until the third boy grappled to hold her waist up.
Tears burned in the corners of her eyes which snapped closed as she began to writhe. She didn't quite know what to do to get out of this situation, but (Y/n) did whatever she could think of. She wriggled, she thrust her torso down and tried to whip her legs up in the air so they'd let her go. She shimmied her shoulders, desperate not to land with a bang on her head or back in case she injured herself or knocked herself out.
"Let me go!"
Another scream left her lips and she dug her nails viciously into the arm over her chest, continuing to writhe as the three of them struggled to hurry with her down the corridor. Was this an act of chance, of opportunity or had they planned to find her and try to do some terrible act?
She wouldn't tell. If they put her down and let her go, she wouldn't tell on them and get them dropped down the scoreboard. But she needed them to put her down.
It felt like her lungs had popped when she managed to slam her foot into Alan's chest who was grappling with her legs. He dropped her. As soon as he did, the other two couldn't hold her up on their own and (Y/n) went down to the stone floor with such a bang she feared she had left a crack in the floor. Her lungs struggled to restart themselves and she laid gasping like a fish out of water.
Her eyes stung as she struggled to hold back her tears that were more from pain than fear. And her lungs startled once again when a rough hand fisted in her hair and yanked her head back.
Her grazed hands scoured against the floor and her elbows straightened out as she tried to hold herself up while Peter yanked her head back so she was looking up at him. He crouched down beside her, leaning so close he was sneering and almost spitting at her.
"You're putting out for him, that's why you're fifteen on the scoreboard."
Shivers coursed up and down (Y/n)'s spine causing her arms to tremble as she tried to hold herself up properly. Her lips curled up into a grimace and she closed her eyes when Peter leaned even closer to her.
"No." The word was definite, infinite, certain. Tobias had nothing to do with (Y/n)'s scoring, Eric would never allow that because he knew they were together. (Y/n) was trained by other Dauntless members and she was scored on her fighting skills and performance.
Her relationship had nothing to do with it, but (Y/n) knew the more she tried to convince them of this, the less they were likely to listen or come to reason.
"Why don't you put out for us, too?" Alan's words were crude and the look in his eyes was frightening.
But coupled when his hand that suddenly groped its way up her inner thigh, (Y/n) felt the distinct urge to be sick. Fright dwelled deep in her churning stomach and her eyes locked with his and managed to witness that disgusting grin on his face that showed he wasn't just trying to make a joke.
He was deadly serious.
(Y/n) couldn't be sure of the other two, considering her gaze was wholy locked on Alan, but she could see that he was thinking this through, that he was debating whether he could get away with it or not.
How on Earth could he debate what he'd suggested? How could any of them think that they could get away with trying to force themselves on her? Even if they managed to hurt her in some way, (Y/n) wouldn't just stay silent and they had to know that. They had to know there would be repercussions if she told someone what they had done.
Peter's hand in her hair tightened into a closed fist and (Y/n) swallowed down a yelp when he used her hair as leverage to yank her up to her feet. She tried to grapple for his arm, desperate for him to let go, but she couldn't do very much when his other hand gripped her chin and another pair of hands closed around her arms like a viper's fangs digging into her skin.
They steered her forwards, yanking her from side to side and causing her to stumble in almost every direction. She did her best to elbow them, to shake and writhe and become a nuisance in the hopes that they would stop and let her go or get tired of having to fight against her.
"No! G-get off!" She wouldn't let them do this, she would fight them for as long as she had to so they would let her go.
"The plan was to get rid of you… but I guess we could always play with you first."
Peter's words hit right at the pit of (Y/n)'s stomach, especially when she realised they were now close to the casm.
Hovering along the small corridor that acted as a ledge towards the edge of the casm. (Y/n) couldn't bring herself to look over the edge, not once despite the countless times she had walked down here. She couldn't lean over and look at the hundred foot drop that would kill anyone who fell down. The dropp that would make her nightmares come true and have her falling for an eternity before death stole her when she hit the ground.
They had planned to do this. To hurt her, to throw her over the casm and leave no evidence of her behind, maybe they would have spread rumours that she had run off in fear of not being good enough for Dauntless or the pressure had gotten too much for her.
They were planning to hurt her, and now they were threatening to toy with her and harm her too.
"Hm, you must be a good fuck for Four to give you all those points. It's only fair that we even out the scoreboard."
Garrett- the third boy who (Y/n) barely knew- finally broke his silence and sneered down at her with a row of teeth like pointed fangs and a voice as shrill as chalk on a blackboard. And when he leaned in close, (Y/n) could see the threat of his words swirling around like a black fog within those horrid eyes.
The will to fight burned bright inside (Y/n) and adrenaline shot through her blood like an impending high as she bent forward and thrust her elbows back, trying to whack them and wind any of them so she could break free.
She screamed like a lion roaring into the wilderness when Garrett grabbed her ankles and yanked, pulling until (Y/n) fell and her front hit the ground. He tried to lift her by the ankles and Peter nodded, laughing maliciously as he crouched down and reached out for (Y/n)'s wrists.
He gripped them so tight that his short but jagged nails actually bit through her skin and caused cuts and a few slithers of blood to pool along her skin. He yanked on her arms until they were stretched out in front of her and (Y/n) could of laced her fingers together with how Peter was clenching her hands close together.
He was trying to stop her from being able to fight back. He was pinning her down while Garrett seemed unsure what he wanted to do.
They were so close to the casm, the three of them could try and roll (Y/n) or lift her up and throw her over the side.
"You need to loosen up, stiff." Peter's words were joyous like he was telling her a joke and expected her to laugh along with him.
But instead, (Y/n) screamed so sharply she felt that she had turned herself deaf.
She could feel Garrett's calloused fingers grabbing at her hips but when she realised he was trying to wedge his fingers into the waistband of her jeans, her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach and she felt like she was falling down the casm. He tried to lift her hips in order to yank her jeans down, and he managed to get them an inch or two down her hips so the band of her underwear was visible.
(Y/n) lifted her hips from the ground as if she was helping before she slammed them down into the concrete floor. Vibrations flooded through her bones that felt like they had shattered, and a growl emmitted from Garrett's lips when his fingers were bashed between (Y/n)'s hips and the floor.
She tried to glue herself against the concrete so he couldn't get her jeans down, if he managed that (Y/n) would have to fight harder to stop any of them from trying to force themselves on her. At least her clothes were another layer of protection they would have to fight against until (Y/n) got away or someone else passed by and stopped them.
"Stop! Stop you bastards!"
Her arms fought to try and pull back towards her chest and break out of Peter's hold but he simply yanked them back towards him and leaned forward, leering down at her like this was what she deserved.
As if it was proven and written in stone that by being with Tobias, (Y/n) had broken the rules and earned unwarranted points.
They were just frightened little boys too afraid of being factionless to try and earn more points the proper way. They thought getting rid of (Y/n) would stop their worries, but it wouldn't. There were three of them and one of (Y/n), getting rid of her only earned up one extra place on the scoreboard and if their scores declined, they would have to kill a lot of people to earn their bloodied place in Dauntless. A place none of them deserved.
In a moment of bravery entwined with absolute terror, (Y/n) let Peter yank her hands back towards him and she used his momentum to thrust her open palm upwards. The movement caught him by surprise and he shrieked when the base of (Y/n)'s palm smashed up into his nose.
It was broken.
He dropped her bruised and bloodied wrists in favour of cradling his nose that was streaming blood like a waterfall and he sank back on his heels, groaning and spluttering as tears trickled past his closed eyes.
"Give it up you bitch-"
"No!" (Y/n) shrieked and lifted her arm, using all the force she had to scratch her nails down Alan's face when he tried to grapple for her instead. She tried not to squirm when she felt her finger prod him in the eye and she felt the skin raking beneath her nails as she scratched deep enough to draw blood and leave sizzling burn lines down his face.
He punched her. Alan's fist smashed straight into (Y/n)'s right cheekbone just beneath her eye and a horrible burning sensation flooded beneath her skin as her eyes closed and started to water the same as Peter's.
Blood spat to the floor and coated her lips, presumably from her teeth grating along the inside of her lips and scraping her tongue, but (Y/n) didn't have the will or the mindset to care.
She just wanted to get away from them.
Garrett had paused his administrations of trying to drag her jeans down her legs, partly because of how she had hurt the others and partly due to his crushed fingers beneath her hips and the concrete floor.
There was no space for (Y/n) to scramble forward, the further ahead she went the closer to the edge she would be and (Y/n) didn't want to be anywhere near that casm when they had admitted that they were here to throw her over the edge. As soon as they'd tried to rape her, clearly.
She couldn't get close to the casm and both Peter and Alan were in front of her. Trying to crawl to the sides were her only viable options.
Thinking had taken up a few precious seconds and (Y/n) screamed feebly when Alan wrenched her shoulders up in his grip. His hands were bloody and his eye was weeping and snapped closed, but he fought hard to open his left eye.
He tossed her onto her back like she weighed nothing and his knees scraped the floor as he got closer to her.
"You cunt," He hissed with so much venom (Y/n) felt like she had been poisoned. "You're gonna put out for all of us, then we'll toss you over the edge."
His knee slammed so forcefully into (Y/n)'s stomach that she saw stars twinkling in front of her eyes and her body convulsed like she was having a seizure. All the air was wrenched from her lungs which couldn't seem to take in a proper breath anymore, especially not with Alan's knee staying put against her abdomen, crushing her down into the floor.
The shock made her momentarily paralysed and (Y/n) couldn't scream, she couldn't even breathe when Alan ripped her shirt and Garrett tried again to pin down her shaking, flailing legs and yank on her jeans.
She was going to be sick. She was going to pass out. If she didn't stop them they would rape her and they were willing to kill her afterwards. They had passed the point of no return, whether they actually raped her or not.
It was so hard to try and force her trembling legs to move, to kick out when she still couldn't breathe. Her arms weren't under her control and (Y/n) barely managed to dig one hand into Alan's knee in a vain attempt to get him to move off her.
Her head flung from side to side, her shoulders continuously bashed into the floor as she writhed up and down and choked sounds past her lips as she tried to breathe.
They had beaten her. She wouldn't be able to fight all three of them. She was done for. It was over-
"What the fuck are you shits doing?"
It was Eric. His voice boomed through the air and echoed off the stone walls like he was a God among mortals.
But it was enough. His voice was enough to make them stop, to cause them to freeze in their criminal acts.
Instantly, Garrett's hands retreated from (Y/n)'s frame and he scuttled backwards, failing miserably in pretending that he didn't just drag (Y/n)'s jeans part-way down towards her thighs.
Peter shuffled back even though he hadn't been pinning (Y/n) down at that exact moment. He found it hard to open his watering eyes which were still pouring while his nose was bleeding so much he was feeling lightheaded. But even Peter knew that this was the least of his problems right now.
And Alan hurriedly lifted his knee from where it was embedded into (Y/n)'s stomach and stood to his trembling feet, one eye already swollen shut with blood trickling down his face.
(Y/n) turned onto her right side and heaved. Sick, drool and water spewed past her lips and she started to choke and cough, desperate to regain her breath but still feeling the need to throw up whatever was left in her stomach. Tears poured down her face as she brought her knees up to her stomach and tried to plant her split knuckles against the floor, gathering grit and dirt on her skin as she tried to sit herself up.
It took some effort for (Y/n) to lift her eyes from the floor and look up and take in the scene around her.
Eric was stood with his hands on his hips and a face like thunder, nostrils flaring and eyes as dark as the casm behind him. She had never seen such confusion in his eyes and such clear rage across his face.
And the others looked petrified. None of them answered. None of them had the words to explain what they had been doing when it was crystal clear what their intentions had been.
(Y/n) had been screaming. All three of them were bloodied and beaten up which showed they had been doing something they shouldn't. Three boys had one girl pinned to the ground, sitting on top of her and grabbing at her while she fought for her life.
Eric didn't need to be a genius to know what their vile intentions had been.
He was about to say something, about to let loose his rage and yell a speech at them before he decided how to punish them, when Eric's eye caught (Y/n). It was just a look, just a brief glance to make sure she wasn't in grave health and that he didn't need to rush her to the medics before giving out his speech.
But in that little look, Eric saw it. He saw the way (Y/n) was glancing towards the casm and dipping her chin down, and he understood. Attacking her hadn't been the only thing these idiots had tried to do; throwing her down the casm was also on their agenda.
"You little bastards think getting rid of someone better than you will put you higher up on the scoreboard? And to prove how vile you are you think you'll attack her as well before you attempt to kill her? Faction is family, we don't hurt our own."
Eric snapped his jaw like a crocodile towards them but the rage in his eyes was unlike anything any of them had seen before.
Dauntless didn't kill one another to prove themselves, they didn't kill someone who had bested them, someone who was clearly more experienced and more skilled. That wouldn't make them look better and it wouldn't higher them up on the scoreboard. Their scores would still be mediocre because it was a reflection of who they were. Murder wasn't something that improved the scores around here.
And trying to attack one of their own wasn't allowed. They had lost their places in Dauntless, they would be cleaned off the scoreboard and thrown out into the factionless streets. They would be left to rot because of this.
(Y/n) couldn't breathe.
Her lungs were burning, her eyes were stinging and her face was sopping wet as tears flushed her skin that she couldn't be bothered to hide.
When Eric pushed his way past the boys and tried to reach his hand down for her, he seemed a little more than surprised when (Y/n) slapped his wrist away and shuffled back. She didn't want his help. She didn't want him touching her. She didn't want any of them touching her again; she just wanted to get away.
Eric sighed and held his hands out at his sides like he had no idea what to do when (Y/n) scurried to her feet. He watched her with a sense of sadness as she used the wall as leverage and stumbled away from them. He had a feeling he knew exactly where she was going and he didn't blame her, she hadn't done anything wrong.
He would have to remember to go easy on her over the next few days, she had fought for her life tonight and that earned her some points on the scoreboard and some respect from him.
(Y/n) heard the distinct sound of a slap and it echoed off the walls almost like a gunshot would have resonated, but she didn't look back to see which of them Eric had lashed out at.
She didn't care.
She wanted all three of them to be thrown off that casm.
Gasps and stuttering breaths left (Y/n)'s lips as she tried to swipe her hand against her eyes to clear her vision, but it didn't work very well. She still couldn't see where she was going, everything was a blur of grey and black with speckles of white in the mix.
It was hard to hurry and try to pull her jeans back around her hips and fix her ripped shirt all at the same time. She ended up leaving her tattered appearance and focusing on getting herself away from the casm instead.
She had to use her initiative and memory to guide her towards the stairs which she ended up crawling up like a toddler or some kind of deformed dog. Her body succumbed to trembling by the time she half jogged, half stumbled down the corridor towards Tobias's room.
It seemed rather like him to not bother locking the door, and (Y/n) was grateful. She was grateful that when she grabbed the handle and shimmied the door, it swung open like it had been expecting her all along.
Suddenly it didn't matter about calling out and alerting Tobias that she had found her way to his room and entered without knocking. All (Y/n) cared about was getting inside and staying away from everyone else; every possible source of danger and threat.
As soon as she was in the room, (Y/n) slammed the door closed behind her and fumbled to twist the lock to keep herself safe and secure.
Her eyes closed tightly until it became painful and her body slumped down to the cold floor that was soothing against her burning skin. She didn't bother trying to crawl into the room, she had no more energy left for that. (Y/n) shuffled back until she was against the wall and coiled her knees up to her chest.
Her trembling arms bound around her knees, locking them in place and her head dropped forward like her neck had snapped, slamming her temple onto her knees. She couldn't breathe as she began to rock back and forth, gasping, crying and heaving to gain a little bit of air.
"What the fuck-" Anger bubbled up in Tobias's voice when he heard the sound of his door slamming shut.
No one had knocked, no one had called out his name or asked if they could come in, but clearly someone had waltzed straight in without an invitation. He didn't like the sound of that. He wasn't used to getting visitors to his room, barely anyone wanted to bump into him when walking around the buildings they claimed as Dauntless; why would someone come up to his room?
A deep frown set into his features as he wandered out the bathroom, jeans hung low on his waist and his shirt laid out on the bed which he didn't bother to grab in his haste to get to the door.
He didn't reach the door before all the anger dwindled out of his system and he was left with a wave of paranoia and petrifying horror washing over him like the sea coming in across the sand.
"(Y/n)?" Her name fell from his lips in a hollow whisper as his brows furrowed and his lips curled into a grimace.
What had happened since he last saw her?
Tobias let himself scuff down to his knees on the floor once he was close enough to where (Y/n) was curled up beside the door. He shuffled closer until his knees were almost touching her feet but he wasn't sure whether to reach out for her or not when he realised how badly she was trembling. She looked like she was in shock.
Her face was buried down into the top of her knees, her arms were bound so tightly around her knees that she was going to hurt herself and she could barely breathe with her legs pushed up against her chest like that.
He took the risk and reached his hands out, carefully sliding his hands up (Y/n)'s arms until he was holding onto her just below her shoulders. His thumbs glided up and down her skin and he tilted his head down, trying to wait for her to look up at him, but she wouldn't lift her head.
"Baby what's the matter, what's happened?"
He couldn't very well do anything until he knew why she was so upset and what had happened. She could be hurt, she could have seen something, she could have been in an altercation. Hundreds of thoughts sped through Tobias's mind like lightning and he didn't like the sound of any of them.
When he didn't gain a response, Tobias sighed and slid his hand down to reach for her chin. He was careful and as gentle as he could be when he lifted her head so they were finally looking at one another. The tears pouring down her face made his heart lurch up into his throat while he tilted his head down a bit more until their gazes locked and she finally looked at him.
There was a sense of fear in her eyes that Tobias had never seen before, and that he wished never to see again. His thumb traced along her chin and up towards her lower lip and he leaned in closer until their temples were touching. Something broke inside of him when he watched another tear cascade down her face and he saw how hard it was to stop her lips from wobbling and letting out the broken sound she was holding at bay.
But the longer the silence dragged on, the more aware Tobias suddenly became.
His brows knitted together and his chiselled features hardened like stone, jaw clenching, cheekbones prominent, eyes narrowed and shrouded with darkness.
(Y/n)'s cheek was swelling up. Tobias knew the effects of landing a punch on someone, he was an expert in hand to hand combat, so he knew just by looking at (Y/n) that she had taken a fist to the face.
Someone had punched her, and it hadn't happened during training earlier today.
His fingertips cradled either side of her jaw, keeping her head level with his own while he raked his darkened, hazy eyes across her body. If the swelling and bruises to her face weren't enough to set off a fire within Tobias, the rest of her certainly was.
One hand trailed down to her right shoulder and his nostrils flared like a dragon about to breathe fire. Her shirt was torn, the fabric ripped from the collar down towards her lower chest, straight down the middle. Her sleeve wouldn't sit on her left shoulder properly and it left her bra exposed.
When (Y/n) lowered her legs down, too tired to keep them pent up towards her but the movement made her stomach ache and she couldn't help the whimper that broke past her lips while one horribly shaking hand moved to cradle her abdomen. Right where Alan had thrust his knee to pin her to the floor.
Tobias noticed.
He noticed the wince that crossed her watering, screwed up features and when he tried to touch her abdomen, he saw the pain it caused her and how tender the flesh was.
But a horribly grunt left his lips when he glanced down. (Y/n) looked too, quickly raking her eyes down to see what had suddenly riled him up, and she let out another whimper.
Her jeans were skewed around the top of her thighs; her underwear was on display.
Someone had attacked her.
"Tell me what happened." There was something authoritative in Tobias's voice that made (Y/n)'s skin fuel with heat and had her core trembling.
The way he shifted his hands back to cupping her face was almost powerful, yet his touch was so soft. He was almost trembling the same as she was, afraid to hold onto her any tighter and hurt her or worse, frighten her. His thumbs shakily traced along her cheeks, trying not to touch the swollen area of her face where she had clearly been punched.
"Baby," His voice rasped when (Y/n) closed her eyes. "Tell me." He urged, resting their temples together once again while his knees nudged her leg as he shuffled closer. He knew getting any closer would mean he would either be leaning onto her or sitting on her lap, but he wanted to be as close as physically possible.
It took a few seconds for (Y/n) to gather enough air to speak without bursting into sobs, and it made her feel weak. She was Dauntless now, breaking down after an altercation like this wasn't what they were supposed to do. But no one else in the faction had almost been tossed over the side by their own group. No one else had nearly been raped by their own faction.
She had to divert her eyes down to Tobias's chin because looking into those dark brown eyes felt like a death sentence. And she knew she would never be able to tell him what happened if she was staring into his eyes.
"They, they said I was putting out for you, to- to raise my score. They were going to g-get rid of me but," Her eyes closed again and her temple pressed harshly into Tobias's. "I- I could… I could put out for them first."
She wanted desperately to tilt her head down and bury her face back in her knees, but that proved impossible with Tobias cradling her face so delicately in his hands. She was forced to see the lines appear on his forehead and watch how his muscles tensed and his jaw tightened until his teeth seemed like they were going to grind and break apart. But it was the way his eyes narrowed and a look of pure rage fuelled them that made (Y/n) want to cower down and hide.
It was so incredibly hard for Tobias to keep what little composure he had left when it was explicitly clear in his mind what these people- these cruel boys- had tried to do to his girl.
"Did they hurt you?" His voice had never sounded so deep and it came with a low rumbling in his chest that was starting to feel like an incessant fire surging throughout his body. Somehow, those didn't seem like the right words to ask, but Tobias couldn't force the words in his head to pass his lips.
(Y/n) felt fragile and almost childlike when she cupped her trembling hands together and held them out between her and Tobias. A frightened girl showing her lover the marks and bruises and pains she had received.
His hands finally left her face in favour of cupping the back of her hands instead and his touch was feather-like and soft compared to how rough and brutal the others had been earlier when they groped and grabbed and scoured their nails at her skin.
Usually when Tobias held her hands, he would stroke his thumbs across the back of her hands or kiss her palms. There was none of that gentle affection now. His touch made (Y/n) shake worse because he was trying hard to hold himself together but the rage was boiling through.
He inspected her bruised wrists that looked like they were going to start swelling. He saw the crescent moon indents in her skin, the scratch lines down her wrists where someone had dragged their nails through her skin deep enough to draw blood.
And he watched, silently, as (Y/n) pulled her fragile hands out of his grip and moved them to pull her tattered shirt to one side. But with how it was split in two, (Y/n) let out a sound mixed between a mewl and a scream. She tore the shirt over her head and tossed it to one side, irritated and overwhelmed, and moved her trembling fingertips to graze along her stomach instead.
Tobias's head angled to the left and his brows furrowed deeper as he tried to gage what had left the darkening marks on her abdomen where (Y/n) was sniffling and biting back whimpers just from his light touch when he dared to touch them.
"Pinned me with- with his knee, I co- I couldn't breathe."
(Y/n) had never seen Tobias cry, it wasn't something she thought she would witness so soon but as she stared up at him with watering eyes and wobbling lips, she could see his brown orbs glossed in tears like gloss on a clay creation.
She watched as his hands ghosted over her abdomen before his sights were stolen yet again by the state of her dishevelled jeans, her quaking thighs and jittering knees. He looked like he wanted to reach out, either to try and help her pull her jeans up or take them off, or just to check whether she had any other injuries. But he didn't dare; just in case she didn't want his touch.
The silent question was in his eyes that flitted between her gaze and her thighs and a meek sound left his lips when (Y/n) shook her head.
"Eric caught them, before…"
Her throat felt tender where one of them had practically gotten her into a headlock. Her abdomen was even worse from Alan pinning her down, her wrists ached, her body was succumbing to trembles and she felt like she was going to heave again.
But it was all insubstantial compared to what could have happened. Everything would heal, and those bastards hadn't taken something worse from (Y/n). They hadn't stolen her dignity or a piece of her soul. They didn't manage to force themselves on her like they said they would.
(Y/n) didn't want to think what would have happened if Eric hadn't of come along. Being thrown down that casm might have been a welcomed relief compared to being left broken and bloodied and bruised.
And she knew she was lucky Eric came along when he did. There were a few people in Dauntless that might just have believed whatever lies those boys would have spun about her if things turned out differently.
If (Y/n) fought them and knocked one of them over the casm, they would have blamed this all on her. Said she attacked them, branded her a fiend, a murderer and got her tossed from their faction.
All those thoughts overwhelmed her until a pitiful cry left her lips and she found herself falling forward, straight into Tobias's arms.
Her shaken frame huddled in between his thighs that parted instantly for her to fit between them. Her arms locked around his neck, face buried in his shirt that soaked up her tears. While she coiled her knees back to her aching stomach and sat much like a child in Tobias's arms.
She could feel his arms tentatively circling around her, at first unsure whether to hold her tightly or not in case he hurt her. But then his grip tightened. His hand cupped the back of her neck, his lips smothered her temple and his other arm locked around her waist. Binding her against him without the intention of ever letting her go again.
Each breath Tobias took was laboured. He was trying his best not to implode. He was holding himself together when he desperately wanted to go off on a tangent and murder those boys that had decided to mess with (Y/n). His girl.
It was comforting when Tobias began to rock back and forth, ever so slowly and very carefully like he wasn't sure whether the movement would be appreciated, but he knew he needed to do something.
"I… I don't wanna go back to the dorms, I don't w- I don't want anyone to see…" Everything she wanted to say wouldn't come out properly. She didn't want to go back to the dorms and have the other initiates crowd her and ask what happened.
She didn't want them to see her hurt, to see her bruises and the nightmares she would undoubtedly have after this. (Y/n) didn't want any of them to stare or whisper. And if those three bastards were allowed back in the dorms tonight, then (Y/n) couldn't be there. She couldn't be anywhere near them. They might try and attack her again or (Y/n) might be liable to murdering them if they dared sleep in her presence.
"You're not leaving my side."
Tobias's voice was firm and not to be trifled with. She wasn't leaving this room unless Tobias was with her, and she certainly wasn't spending the night with the other initiates. He didn't care what anyone else said or if it was breaking any of the rules. Enough rules had been broken tonight, another one wouldn't matter.
She would be safer here with him and that was the point. He wasn't going to have this happen again, (Y/n) might not be so lucky if this occurred again.
"Tell me who hurt you." His voice shocked (Y/n) out of the brief state of comfort she was finding herself in. That gritty, dangerous edge to his words had her spine turning to mush.
She tried to coil herself further into his chest, but Tobias tutted against her temple and tightened his arms. He wasn't having her hide away in his embrace, and he wasn't going the rest of the night without knowing which initiates he had to murder for this mess.
"Names."
(Y/n) didn't feel she could refuse, and she found herself murmuring the three names that made her cringe and cling to Tobias's shirt with each one she said. "Peter, Alan, and Garrett."
A quiet hum left Tobias's lips and his head nodded against hers as if he suspected as least one of them was responsible for this.
"Which one hurt you there?" His hand around her waist feathered across her lower stomach where one of them pinned her down with their knee. He could feel (Y/n)'s resistance starting to fade, she didn't want to admit it, but a small part of her wanted to tell Tobias because she knew he would make them pay for what they had done.
"Alan, I- I got his eye, so he punched me, pinned me down."
Tobias was already dragging his fingertips along (Y/n)'s arms and towards her wrists before he spoke. "Did Peter scratch you?"
The nod of (Y/n)'s head confirmed his suspicions, but his body went tense and his blood started to boil when the next question formed in his head and he could barely speak through gritted teeth.
"And which fucker did this?" It was almost like Tobias was spitting vile as he skimmed his fingers over the waistband of her jeans that were digging into the tops of her thighs.
"Garrett." She cringed as the name passed her lips. They had all hurt (Y/n) in some way, and each of them were going to pay for it. Tobias was going to make sure of that.
Tobias was already thinking of every way he was going to make the three of them pay for this.
He knew Eric would already know that Tobias would be the one to hurt them, to give them their warranted punishments for what they had done. And it was crystal clear that none of them could stay in the faction anymore. Newbies couldn't do something so brutal and horrific as this and expect to stay in the faction. None of their own families or factions would allow them back or be allowed to take them back after this.
They had made their choices to leave and join Dauntless, and they had made their choice to harm someone. To harm (Y/n), the very person that meant the most to Tobias.
Now they would have to deal with the consequences; they would have to deal with Tobias.
The rest of Dauntless might not feel safe, but at least here, sat on Tobias's lap, entangled in his arms, (Y/n) knew she was safe.
She pressed her lips against the side of his throat, breathing in his scent as she finally felt herself beginning to calm down. She was safe here. She wouldn't be running into Peter, Alan or Garrett anytime soon. But a shiver tore down her spine and she clung tighter to Tobias when she heard the next words that passed through his lips.
Hii I love your fanfics of eric. I can't stop reading them over and over again. I was wondering if you could make a request of the reader being four younger sisters. Who follows his footsteps and joins Dauntless. She became one of the top fives with Tris, and Peter hates it that is losing by a 5 "1" girl and her friend (I am 5'1') so he attacked them with his friends. Four and Eric come to their aid. After that the reader has nightmares and the reader seek out four but she found eric instead and he helps her feeling safe again.
Here in My Arms
Eric x Reader
Masterlist Request
warning: fighting, attempted murder, angst, mentions of nightmares, mostly based off the books, injury, dissociation, doubt, mentions of hypothermia, I got carried away with this story, fluff, hurt comfort.
Following in Tobias' footsteps came naturally to you, the abuse from Marcus, and your bond with Tobias, your brother, were part of the motivation to escape to Dauntless. From the start Peter and his friends had been an annoyance, then there was Tobias... In two years, Tobias had changed greatly, he looked more mature, and broody, obviously more buff too. But it wasn't the physical changes to Tobias that was hard, it was the fact that he went by a knew name, and refused to acknowledge you as his sister. Tobias had looked at you like you were a stranger.
Fortunately, that was only the start of initiation. Naturally, you find yourself with the other Abnegation transfer, Tris, and her friends. The girl was blunt, and tempted death with her questions and little acts of rebellion. Tris was the one who helped you get the confidence to corner Four. With the stress of getting kicked from Dauntless if ranked too low, Four was worried that if the other initiates knew the two of you were related it would put a target on your back. Not only could such information cause rumors and accusations that you're cheating and only above the red line because of Four, but also put your life at risk from initiates willing to kill to not become Factionless. Just as Four did, you had to earn your place in Dauntless. With Tris' help, the two of you began flying through the ranks. Before you knew it, Tris was sixth place, and you were close behind in seventh. As exciting as the news was, the recent attack to Will has left you extremely on edge. Tris believes it was Peter who stabbed Will in the eye. Either way, the door to attacking fellow initiates to eliminate competition has opened. That spell of safety has waned.
It was a couple days after the first phase of training had ended, and there's no telling what the current hour was. Everyone was asleep, then suddenly chaos erupted. "Everyone up!" someone roars out. Behind them a flashlight lights up, it blinds you for a few minutes, and it certainly didn't help that the two figures were right beside your bed. Finally, your eyes adjust to make out Eric and the other Dauntless members surrounding him. With all the chaos of the past few weeks, you rush out of bed so fast, and so close to Eric, that Eric's hand shoots out and grips your arm to steady you. There's an expression on Eric's face that you can't understand, and just as quickly as his hand to steady you, he lets go. "Did you go deaf stiff?" demands Eric, the sudden outburst made you flinch. Around you other initiates were getting out of bed, but Tris was just barely getting up. You then see your brother's gaze is locked on her.
"You have five minutes to get dressed and meet us by the tracks," says Eric. "We're going on another field trip." Eric quickly looks you up and down, then walks out of the room with the other Dauntless members close behind.
After a breath, you turn to your nightstand. "What the fuck just happened?" you mutter out loud. From your nightstand you pull out tactical clothes that would be warm enough of the likely frigid night. Everyone is changing as fast as they can, and soon you're all running through the halls of Dauntless to reach the tracks. Upon reaching the tracks, you make your way to Tris. "What the hell is going on," you whisper to Tris, who shrugs in confusion as a response. Looking over at the Dauntless born initiates, many look confused, however the rest look excited, even Uriah was practically bouncing with excitement. Before you all was a pile of what looked like guns, and beside that pile was boxes labeled "PAINTBALLS."
"Are we going to shoot something?" Christina hisses to Tris' ear. As Tris' gaze landed on the boxes, she laughed.
Taking Tris' laugh as a hint that she might know what, "PAINTBALL," means, you ask, "what is a paintball?"
"Everyone grab a gun," Eric orders
"A ball of paint I guess," Tris replies. You almost roll my eyes at how helpful her answer was. Tris then grabs one of the guns, testing how it felt in her grip, she then grabbed one of the small boxes inside the crate and shoved it into her pocket. "Balls of paint that we shoot," Tris states.
"Is this field trip supposed to be us aggressively painting something?" You ponder, out loud but mostly to yourself. You pick up a gun, and grabbed one of the boxes of paintballs.
You then overhear Eric mutter something to Four, and you try listening in to get answers.
Four looks down at the watch on his wrist. "Any minute now. How long is it going to take you to memorize the train schedule?"
"Why should I, when I have you to remind me of it?" Eric teases, shoving Four's shoulder. Both men had a grin on their faces, which was confusing because you could've sworn they hated each other.
Suddenly, lights begin to shine from behind you, and those lights highlight the features of Eric's face in a way that makes your heart flutter. Seconds later you can hear the train. Eric turns, his gaze locking onto you and catching your stare before you could look away. It's at that moment the train reaches the building, and Eric turns his focus to the moving train. Four is the first to jump on the train, with Eric hot on his heels. Just like the others, you spring into actions and chase the train. Before initiation you almost failed to make it onto the train, but tonight you catch the train almost immediately.
You've barely settled into the car when Four begins to explain capture the flag. And with it, you also realize the paintballs and paintball guns are just a fun way to stimulate guns without the danger of actual bullets.
"We'll be dividing into two teams to play capture the flag." Four states as he and Eric move toward the middle of the train car. "Each team will be an even mix of members. One team will get off first to hide their flag, the second team will do the same afterwards." A dauntless woman wearing a medic patch begins handing out mask to each initiate, the mask was a simple headband with a large visor to cover the face.
We're told to take the game seriously because it's Dauntless tradition, which feels a bit dramatic. A few questions are tossed around, before Eric takes over.
"Four and I will be your team captains," Eric says. For allows Eric to pick first. Beside me, Tris is already leaning against the wall like she expects to be chosen last.
"Peter," Eric says, gesturing for Peter to step behind him.
Four leans against the train door frame, Tris is staring, and he pretends to look us over as if he hasn't already chosen. "The stiff," Four points at Tris, who looks shocked, but is quick to move.
"Got something to prove?" Eric teases. "Well," Eric starts, "since yet get one stiff, I might as well get the other." Eric turns to you, and you stand frozen for a few seconds before finally moving behind Eric. There's a look in Four's eyes as he watches the exchange, surprise, and the glare on a concerned older brother. Eric catches Four's glare, then looks between us trying to asses our relationship. You quickly look out the window, hoping the worst thing that you and Four looked somewhat alike.
Fortunately, Four isn't dumb enough to let the silence last enough for people to become suspicious, and immediately picks another person for his team.
Eventually, the teams are set, Four's team is mostly lean and fast, Eric's is mostly strong and brute. Our team is also the first to jump off the train. The area we land in is just outside the theme park, and is scattered by trees.
Peter and several others are already rambling ideas as Eric leads us deeper into the trees. "I thin the stiff should just go hide in a tree and shoot anyone who gets to close to the flag," Peter turns to you with a grin, "you're so tiny no one would see you, and you'd be out of our way." Peter then begins to ponder, "actually, that gun is just so big compared to you, you're better off watching the perimeter or something. Less risk of losing when you miss your shots. I'm sure you understand-" You cut Peter off with a shot to his diaphragm. Peter drops to the ground and wheezes, Eric watches disinterested.
"You bitch!" Peter shouts, staggering as he stood up.
"Don't yell," Eric scolds, "It'll lead them to us."
Peter looks at Eric with angered surprise, "So you're just going to let her shoot me?" Peter points his finger at you, akin to a child pointing at something they hate.
"You brought that upon yourself Peter. This is dauntless you can't taunt someone then get offended when they bite back." Eric shoots you an approving look turns away, "Clean yourself up, and stop wining. You're wasting time."
It took some debate, but ultimately, it was decided the flag would get hidden up in one of the trees. While Eric did have the final say when it came to our plans, he gave no input or feedback forcing you and the other initiates to come up with the ideas. Because of your small stature and aim, and because of Eric's experience, the two of you were assigned to sneak behind the other team's line to get the flag. Peter and a few other initiates were assigned a similar task, except instead of sneaking behind the enemy, they had to attack the team from in front of them as a distraction.
Walking into the totally-not-creepy abandoned theme park, Peter's team had quickly veered away from your path to handle their task, leaving you and Eric alone. The two of you move almost completely silent, the lack of any light sources also forced you to walk slower. You allowed Eric to lead since he was clearly more familiar with the area. Actually, now that you're watching Eric, the way he moves like a perfect soldier, silent, attentive, fast, and checking corners like it was second nature, Eric was terrifying. You almost felt bad for anyone who'd be on the receiving side of this version of Eric. Your body shivered at the idea of being on the receiving end, being hunted by Eric, the shiver was definitely fear, maybe a hint of something else.
Still a good distance from Four's team, you and Eric hunker down behind some crates, the two of you sit side by side.
"We need to talk about your relationship with Four," Eric suddenly speaks up.
"Huh?" was all you could manage. Turing your face towards Eric, he was staring right at you, his jaw tense.
"Don't act dull," Eric drawls out accusingly. "It's inappropriate to engage with your instructor romantically or sexually."
You stare at Eric, your expression pure bewilderment. "What the fuck are you talking about?'
Eric frowns, "You think I don't see the way Four is always glancing at you and Tris. I vividly saw the way he glared at me on the train earlier. There’s no use in hiding it."
What the actual fuck? You can't even tell what's worse, going against Four's wishes and confessing he's your brother, or letting Eric believe you're a couple. Many excuses bounce around in your mind, unfortunately Eric's glare makes it impossible to think of anything good. "Four..." you pause, already knowing Four is going to beat your ass. "We're siblings," you finally blurt out.
Eric just stares, "oh..." His eyes then dart around as many realizations started falling into place. Eric's shoulders briefly shake like he's holding in a laugh. "And here I was assuming Four had a thing for Stiffs," Eric teases himself.
"Gross," you state.
Before any more discussion can occur, shouts and the sounds of paintball guns being fired rings out. You and Eric spring into action, the two of you charging towards the carousel. Supposedly, Four hid his flag there last year and one, Eric believes Four is the type to try it again. Just as you both reach the carousel, you're forced to duck as paintballs are fired at you.
"How many?" Eric shouts, he's crouched behind a dumpster a few feet away from you.
You risk a glance from behind your food stall, "Five!"
After a minute there’s a break of silence. Realizing your attackers are reloading, you and Eric jump out. The two of you fire at the other initiates while running forward. Soon, they were all put of the game. You rush towards the carousel, Eric close behind you. The flag was hidden on the ceiling, leading to climb onto one of the horses to reach it. However just as you got onto the horse, cheers started to ring out, and a flare is shot into the air. Four won.
The walk back to the train tracks was silent, until Eric and I ran into Peter and a few other initiates. From there, you were walking alone, while Eric joined Peter's group to silently scold Peter. Soon, everyone was congregating at the tracks, waiting for the train. Many initiates were celebrating and boasting, while others were quiet or muttering. Having failed to spot any of your friends, you let yourself drift towards the back of the crowd. Such a simple decision, and yet...
The train soon arrives, everyone begins jumping on. You're among the last to start running towards the train. Just as you jumped, someone rips you backwards by the collar of your shirt. You slam onto your back, and stars flood your vision.
"You and that fucking stiff," a voice spits out, and when you turn to it, the person was wearing a mask and staring down at you. Two other initiates surrounded the man, their faces were also covered. "Do you realize how embarrassing it is to see you, a tiny little girl ranked above me!" It then hits, you recognize that voice, Peter. Peter stomps his foot on your stomach, one of the initiates then shoots a paintball onto the visor of your mask. "Just give up. Leave Dauntless!" This was not just a tactic to scare you, Peter wants you dead, that or with the factionless.
Blindly you stand, someone shoots a paintball into the back of your knee, another punches the side of your ribs. With your visor covered with paint, you were fighting blind. The three initiates took turns shooting and hitting. All you could was tuck your arms against your sides, and try to hold your balance while getting knocked around. The adrenaline was so high that you couldn't even feel the pain.
Finally there's a break, and as you fall forward you realize there is no one blocking your path forward. Peter curses from somewhere behind you, all the while you're charging forwards blindly. Your sight returns as you rip the visor off your face. Looking back, Peter and his gang were already chasing you.
"Get back here you damn runt!" Peter screams out, several paintballs fly your way, some hitting you and the rest hitting the ground and stands around you.
Soon you're running into an old, broken, building, with a worn sign that said "haunted house." The inside was almost pitch-black, the floorboards creaked, or were broken, all sorts of things hung from the ceiling, some quite disturbing. With the sound of footsteps fast approaching, the only option was to keep running forward. With trembling hands pressed against the walls, you remain rushing forward, with barely enough time for caution, looking for and form of a door to escape the building or a room to hide in. Suddenly you foot falls through a floorboard, pain sears through your calf making you cry out.
"I heard her!" One of the men shout.
"Hallway to the left!" another shouts.
With death running towards you, there was no time to focus on wounds. Pushing forward you fall into a tub, the water inside was colder than ice. Frantically you blindly drag yourself out, and gasping for air you fall onto a stiff wooden floor. The footsteps were right behind you. They were right there. They had you.
"Where the fuck is that stiff?" Peter growls out.
What...
"She might be further down the hall. This place is a damn maze," a man rambles out.
How... You lift your gaze from the floor, and find that Peter and his gang hadn't surrounded you. You were in a room, it was dark, but just above the tub of water you just climbed out of was a window. In the low light, you could just barely make out Peter and his gang muttering in confusion in the hall. This room was safe, and the window must be one way, they don't know you're in there. As their footsteps receded, all you could do was lay there, exhausted and numb... you can't help but to close your eyes for a moment...
...
"Four, I found her!"
There's a loud crash, it sounds distant... A bright light hits your eyes, it forces consciousness forward. Something warm and strong envelopes you... a body?
"We have you, you're safe. Four is on his way, just stay with us." That voice was familiar, but soft and comforting, which sounded unlike the man it reminded you of.
"Medics will be here any second. How bad is it Eric?" Four, he was here. You were safe, Four was here... With that you relaxed back into your rest.
...
The rhythmic beeping was the first thing you noticed, it was annoying. Then someone called your name a few times. As you opened your eyes, the room was bright, sterile, and the only way you knew you were still in dauntless was the stone walls, and singular worn down window. Before you was a nurse dressed in Erudite issued scrubs.
"What happened?" you croak out.
The nurse tries to smile, but like any Erudite, it felt fake. "A few of your fellow initiates realized you never made it back to Dauntless after the game. Before anyone could issue a proper search party, Eric and Four had already stolen a car and were driving towards the theme park, where they later found you in an abandoned haunted house. You kept fading in-and-out of consciousness. According to the report you suffered from hypothermia, severe bruising, deep lacerations on the posterior of your left calf, exhaustion, and shock. They kept you as stable as they could until a medical team
arrived and could properly treat you. F-"
You interrupt the nurse, "It was Peter."
The nurse pauses, then goes to speak right as another voice interjects, "Peter or not, we don't have any evidence of what occurred beyond your eyewitness." To your right Eric was sitting in a chair, holding a clipboard. He looked exhausted. "There was very little cameras in that park," Eric continues, "and with the little footage collected, all we saw was three masked people attacking then chasing you."
"You also suffered a concussion, which can often warp memories," the nurse awkwardly adds, "emotions also warp memories, perhaps your dislike towards this Peter made you believe-"
Once more the nurse is interrupted, "I'm sure my initiate already understands, Ms. Stone." Eric turns his attention back to you, "I, Four, and the leaders are handling the situation, but ensuring punishment to your attackers will likely be impossible due to lack of evidence."
You turn you gaze from Eric and the nurse, to the window across from them. Top initiate your ass, you were too weak. All that training and you couldn't even fight back.
Eric calls out your name, making you turn back to him. "You are just an initiate, you have only been taught basic fighting and evading. Don't take this as a sign of weakness, even Dauntless' strongest members have fallen simply because they were outnumbered and ambushed. Your attackers are the weak ones for attacking in such a way." There's a deep scowl on Eric's face, but somehow you know that anger isn't directed to you. "Four will come by later, he's been more worried than a damn mother hen." Eric then leaves.
There's a beat of awkward silence. You then quietly ask the nurse, "catch me up, how long was I out, when can I leave?"
The nurse then grabs the clipboard Eric had been holding. She then begins, "you were unconscious for a day after being brought back to Dauntless. The lacerations on your calf have been stitched, the internal wounds were fortunately minor. You'll remain here for a week, and will receive healing serum daily intravenously. You should make a full recovery and be healed in time for the second stage of initiation. So don't stress about falling behind."
Please, as if that's what worried you most right now.
The nurse mentions someone would bring you food, and left the room for you to rest. Due to how extreme conflicts between dauntless members, and initiates, can get, guards are stationed around the medical wing, and visitors must earn permission to visit patients. Despite this fact, you didn't feel safe.
You had slept though Four's visit, however the plate of chocolate cake and the small note was enough to know he came. The first few days were somewhat easy, for the most part you were so exhausted from healing that you were in ad out of sleep every few hours. Soon though, the exhaustion waned enough for dreams to start forming in your rest, however those dreams quickly turned into nothing but nightmares. Anxiety became such a strongly stirring emotion that you even heard the nurses tell Eric and Four. Neither men said anything about it, but then again they were so busy, and giving too much attention to an initiate would just lead to dangerous rumors. You felt like a sitting duck inside your room, what if Peter climbed in through the window, what if he got past the guards, was there even a point to all this healing if he's just going to try killing you again? That fear also lead to doubt, were you even strong enough to be a part of Dauntless?
Finally one night, you had enough. You had woken up screaming from your last nightmare, you're getting such little sleep that the nurses had stated debating sleeping medications, even peace serum. Yet, despite your drowsy state, you successfully snuck out of the medical wing. For a long while you walked aimlessly, trying to think of places where our may be at such an hour. Eventually you found yourself near the exit of the Dauntless building. You should stay inside, both because of the rules against initiates leaving alone, and it was bound to be cold out. Four definitely won't be out there. And yet instead of venturing down further into the dauntless headquarters, you walked outside.
The weather outside was frigid, small flurries fell from the night sky, even in the sweats and sweater provided by the medical staff, you still shivered, and your thin socks did nothing to keep the cold out. But it was a change from that desolate, bland, room. The cold finally brought your thoughts away from Peter. For now you walked mindlessly, watching the little flurries fall, and taking in the silence of the night. There's no telling how long you walked out there, you mind had already lost it's connection to reality.
Suddenly a voice rings out, "What the hell are you doing out here?" You whirl around to find Eric, he was dressed in thick winter gear and marching towards you. You stand your ground, and Eric doesn't stop until he's less than a foot away. For the first time Eric looked scared. "Four saw you sneaking out of the medical wing, wondering the halls then coming out here. So what the hell are you doing. We've been looking for you for an hour," Eric scolds
"Couldn't sleep," you mumble.
"Initiate," Eric huffs to rein in his anger, and worry. Eric then speaks again, "It is freezing out here, and your wearing socks on freezing wet ground with a thin sweater. Do you want hypothermia!" Eric steps closer, you could now feel how warm he was. "Why are you out here, you need to be resting."
You frown, "I couldn't sleep, and that room felt suffocating, I needed fresh air."
"You're dancing around my question,” Eric scolds. Eric takes off his beanie, making his usually perfectly gelled hair stick out in awkward spots, Eric then shoves the beanie onto your head. "You will tell me what is going on, but first I need you out of this cold air." Eric then sheds his thick jacket and wraps it around you. Before you can protest, Eric then scoops you into his arms, one arm under your knees, and the other behind your back. For a second, Eric is still enough to send a message to Four through his phone.
"What the fuck-" you start to protest, squirming in Eric's grip.
"Would you rather I carry over my shoulder like a sack?" Eric scolds. "Your body is clearly exhausted and I don't trust that you won't run back out here once I turn my back," Eric states.
Eventually you settle, and soon you and Eric are back inside the Dauntless building. Eric doesn't carry you back to the medical wing. You're too mentally disconnected from reality to think on it. Soon, the empty halls turn into corridors you begin to realize these were apartments. Based on the glare on Eric's face, you decide now is not the time for questions. The more your brain settles back into reality, the more you realize how cold and exhausted you feel. When you lean against Eric for warmth, he hastens his pace, and mutters something to himself.
Finally, Eric reaches a door, presses his thumb to a scanner on the lock and shoves into the apartment. There's barely a change to take in the apartment before your being dumped onto a couch. Eric quickly drapes a thick blanket over you, then steps away to light the fireplace across from you.
"Fancy," you mutter, body still shivering. Eric looks your away, assessing you clinically, then quickly walks to his kitchen. As Eric starts to cook, you turn your gaze to what you guess is his home. The apartment is simple, massive windows do however take up one wall, there's three doors, presumably leading to a bedroom, bathroom, and perhaps closet. The warm smell of chocolate fills the room, as well a soup.
You turn to see Eric approaching the couch shirtless. And damn your eyes did not behave. Thank gods Eric did nothing but smirk at the way your eyes traced everything down to the v, the scars, abs, tattoos. Then those arms, you've seen them many times, but this time it was different.
Eric breaks your thoughts, "It's quite scandalous staring at your instructor like that." Immediately, you hide your flushed face in your arms. There's the faint sound of glassware and silverware being placed on the wooden coffee table by the couch. "Let me in," Eric's voice was soft now, deep. When you don't react fast enough, Eric is manhandling you again, until he lays beneath you with you against his chest. "Take your sweater off, or don't, but I can warm you up better through skin to skin contact." Ultimately you decided to keep the sweater on.
Eric wraps a strong arm around your waist, and leans forward to pull the coffee table up against the couch, leaving the two mugs of hot chocolate and bowls of soup in reach. Eric then places a bowl in your lap, dips a spoon in, and brings the spoon of soup to your lips. Eric then softly orders, "eat, your need the energy and warmth."
You lean away from the spoon into Eric's chest, "I'm fine, and I don't need you to spoon feed me."
"Be grateful I'm not already force feeding you," Eric warns lowly, "now eat."
Heading Eric's warning, you ate. The soup was... good, not a favorite though. After the second bite of soup, you have to rip the spoon from Eric's hand to feed yourself. Eric then immediately wraps his freed hand around your waist.
The silence stretches for a while, with only the crackle of fire and the clink of utensils filling the background. But then Eric breaks that silence with a soft, "talk to me." There was so much worry with Eric's tone that you doubted reality for a moment.
"Why do your care?" The words were meant to come out as a bite, but just came out weak.
Eric brings a hand to your cheek, it was rough, but warm, he then gently tilts your face to his. "Use that clever brain of yours," Eric's eyes drop to your lips, "or would you rather I spell it out."
Finally it clicks, "you like me..."
Eric smiles and strokes your cheek with his thumb, "I had hoped to tell you under better circumstances. And while I really want to bask in finally telling you, and to know if you even like me back, I need to know if you're okay. So please, talk to me." Hearing Eric plead, perhaps this wasn't real... still, perhaps it would be nice to relive some weight from your shoulders. Eric has already been this vulnerable.
Your gaze drifts to your hands, it was easier to speak while looking away from those stormy grey eyes. "I haven't slept..." you mumble. Eric's hand lightly trails down your cheek to your arm and rests there. "I keep having nightmares," you speak a little louder now. "I-" you stutter a bit, "I don't feel safe... what if he tries to hurt me again?"
"Peter," Eric quietly mumbles the question he already has an answer for. "That's why you started screaming in your sleep." Eric's voice was still so gentle as he read your fear, "you're scared he'll break in and hurt you when you're most vulnerable. You felt so cooped up in that hospital room, that you needed to break out," you ball up your fists to hold back tears.
"It felt safer going outside because I knew Peter wouldn't be there," a small sob breaks past your lips. "I'm sorry for being so weak."
Eric wraps his arms tightly around you, and tugs you harder against him. Eric's lips press to your forehead as he sternly speaks, "everyone has moments to weakness, those moments don't define your strength, it's your decision to give in or overcome it that defines you. Many things terrify me, and for a long time it controlled me. Many of those things still scare me, but I no longer let them consume me." Eric's hands rise to your cheeks, "Dauntless isn't a lack of fear, it is a willingness to push through it. I will be with you every step of the way if you'll let me."
Eric allows the silence to stay, his hands drift from your cheeks, one arm wrapping loosely around your waist and the other returning the bowl to the coffee table. Eventually, you lay your head on Eric's chest and closed your eyes, "I'm so tired."
Eric's arm tightens around your waist, his other hand rests atop the back of your head. "You have been through a lot, it's okay," Eric whispers. Eric then shifts both your bodies into a laying position, with him still under you. Eric then brings his hand from your head to your face to wipe your tears, "rest. Here in my arms you are safe. No one can hurt you here," his voice was like a lullaby.
"I like you too," you whisper, finally answering the question that had plagued Eric for so long.
As you succumbed to rest, the last thing you saw was Eric's smile, and the feeling of his hand rubbing your back. A blanket of warmth.
_-_-_-_
5k+ words yall. This was kinda fun. As always, comments, reposts, and feedback is appreciated. Hope ya'll liked it. xoxo 😘
less then 1k words (951 if you want to be specific)
WARNINGS: angst
No one is safe from progress. No one is safe from Erudite. No one is safe from the mindless Dauntless carrying out commands they can't even hear, but can only feel through the iron claws of the serum forcefully injected into their blood.
Four was looking out the windows of the Prior home when he saw you.
Tris was upstairs, calling out to her mom and her dad, nothing but silence answering her, but you were out in the street. Dressed in black, a gun in your hand, your eyes blank and face slack. Enthralled by the simulation just like the rest of them.
He’d never admit to anyone how his heart sank at the sight.
Not even you were safe from this. You, Eric’s favorite. His poorly kept secret that all of the Dauntless knew about, but would never speak of. The one he’d sneak off to on lonely nights, the one he’d hunt down in the dark corners of the parties and the gatherings. You, who’d gone through initiation just a year after him and Four. Who’d stolen the black heart of their most ruthless leader yet with your strength, your fearlessness, and your bravery.
You. Injected and shipped off as a mindless puppet of war. Like you were nothing.
Four took a shaky breath, his jaw shifting and clenching at the anger that swelled within him. His head turned as Tris came back down the stairs, telling him her parents weren’t here. No one was. He cast one more glance out towards you just as you turned a corner and vanished from sight. Silently, he pitied you, but he didn’t have the time to show it. Nor did he ever think he’d get the chance to express it face to face.
God knows how you’d feel once you woke up. Once the simulation wore off or was shut down, if he and Tris did what he hoped they could.
------------------------------------------------
Eric rounded the corner, steps light, shoulders loose, only pausing once his eyes landed on you. His prize, his plaything.
His favorite.
You marched on, face empty, hands clenched around your weapon, eyes focused, but not on anything real. His hand came out as you approached and you stopped obediently in place, gaze fixed on something only you could see in the far distance. Behind him, Max stepped forward, sighing and shaking his head.
“No one’s safe, are they?” he asked, almost teasing.
“Not from progress,” Eric admitted. He reached forward, cupping your cheeks in his hands, brushing his thumbs under the circles of your eyes. If you were awake, you’d have smiled. All sweet and sugary. In a way that no one ever had when looking at Eric. He sighed softly when your eyes remained vacant. “You’ll understand though, won’t you?” he asked, now talking to you.
Max scoffed behind him, but Eric’s eyes stayed on yours, the only proof he heard his fellow leader being the slight tick of his jaw.
“Don’t be so sure of that,” Max warned. Finally, Eric turned his sharp, gray eyes on the man behind him, frowning just far enough that Max knew his commentary wasn’t welcome. He scoffed again before shoulder passed both you and the man you called your lover in the past.
“I am sure,” Eric hissed, leaning in to press an uncharacteristically gentle kiss to your forehead. “You’ll understand, won’t you, sweetheart?” His fingers curled across the nap of your neck, his pinkies absentmindedly toying with the collar of your jacket. “This is all for the betterment of the city. Of the factions. A necessary evil, hm? How many times have we talked about those? You always told me you understood why they were important. Doing something bad in the name of the greater good , right? That’s what this is… and you’ll see that once you wake up, babe, I’m sure of it.” He leaned in again, lips barely brushing your crown, his eyes closing just long enough so he could enjoy the warmth of your flesh. The heat under your skin. One that he craved more then water, more then his own breath.
He’d tried to let you be awake for it all. Tried to fight for you to be one of the ones left unstuck, but they hadn’t trusted you enough, the others. Jeanine said you’d be a liability. Max said your loyalty didn’t run as deep as Eric thought it did.
You wouldn’t be happy once you came out of it, but he’d be there. Eric would be there, he’d make sure of it, so he could explain. So he could hold you – just like he was now – and speak the way he did only for you about how necessary it all was. Even if you didn’t understand he would make you… because if you didn’t…
... you had to.
He leaned away, sighing heavily, a noise half trapped in his throat as he let his hands slide down your face, the column of your throat, then back to his sides.
“Go on,” he muttered, taking a single step to the side to let you pass.
You did. Steady as all the rest. Eric sighed again as he turned to catch up with Max, his jaw clenched and brow furrowed.
He hated seeing you like that, though he’d never admit that to anyone.
He would have hated it more to see how your eyes fluttered once he was out of sight. How your breath hitched in your chest, your heart racing, beating against your ribs like a war drum. It would have broke his heart to see the tears that lined your lashes as you turned another corner, pausing just long enough to lean your shoulder against it and press your hand to your mouth to stifle the sob that tried to crawl its way free from between your teeth.
He would have hated to know that the serum didn’t work.
That you were the very thing they were trying to eradicate.
SUMMARY: [Following the Divergent movie] After learning your new result from the aptitude tests, Four wants you into his world to show you how to pass. He’s determined to make you pass.
—————
After learning your dear friend took the hard way of not accepting the fact he was going to become faction less, you felt fear take over your body. Your mind was running a thousand miles a minute after seeing your dead friend on the ground—how could I let him do this? You began rushing toward the doors that led outside, gasping for the fresh air of the odd morning to reach your drowning lungs. Before you could make it, you ran into a hard wall, looking up you see the hard wall being your instructor Four’s body.
“I’m sorry.” You sniffled as you tried to walk past him but you felt his hand grip onto your arm. He pulled you towards him but you ripped away from him. “Stop, please Four.”
“It’s not your fault he chose this way.” He says. You look up at him and see the way his eyes glistened in the lights of the hallways. His eyes.
“Even if it’s not, I don’t deserve my position I have now. I feel like an intruder.. like I’m-” you stopped yourself from saying the word. You see Four furrow his eyebrows at you. “Like what?”
You let out a shaky breath and looked into his eyes. A tear sliding down your cheek before letting him know what you felt. “They’re going to kill me.”
You felt more tears slide down your face. You knew your fate. You knew what was going to happen to you once you reached the second level of the training. You were warned what was going to happen if you were caught. You were determined to train yourself to not get caught but once you saw the cold, dead body of your once good friend lying on the floor, that hope and determination escaped your mind.
You knew what was going to happen to you no matter how long and how much you train yourself to surpass it.
“Why do you say that?” He asked but it didn’t feel like a question. It felt like a rhetorical question—he knew why but he wanted me to tell him the reason.
I looked up at him, tears staining my red cheeks and my bloodshot eyes piercing through his.
“You know why.”
He clenched his jaw from your response and let out a hum. “Follow me.” He says, turning around and walking around the corner.
You knitted your eyebrows in confusion and followed his order. You followed right behind him, his body becoming your shield from the dim lights of the hallways. His silhouette figure on the walls devoured yours—it was alluring to you.
Once you both reached the room you have been in before for the fear tests, you watch as he takes off his jacket and set it on the chair. He looks up at you and gives you a small nod, letting you know you can close the door. You do so and face him again. He begins to prep like he would do before testing one of his trainees for the fear exam.
“You’re going into my world.” He states. You widen your eyes, taken back by what he just said.
You watched as he gets the metal syringe ready for the serum. What felt like seconds ago he was telling you to be careful—to watch what you say towards him as you watched the way his jaw moved from the food he put in his mouth. Now he was allowing you into his world of fears. Into what kept him up at night and took over the controls of his body.
“You’re just going to let me into your mind?” You asked in disbelief.
“Mhm.”
“I don’t know a single thing about you and you’re just letting me into your world.” You scrambled. The way the vibration of the words slipped off his tongue made you tingle—his voice was deep and husky, it filled you with something you didn’t understand.
“What do you want to know?” He asked, stepping closer to you. Instinct kicked in and you stepped back. He stopped and scanned over your body, “are you afraid?”
During the whole duration of what felt like hours of him getting ready for the transition, he kept his gaze fixed on you. It felt intimidating the way he held his eyes so confidently over your face—your body. It was the first thing you noticed about him when he lifted you off the net when you first jumped down, the way he held his gaze so strongly over you. The feeling of his hands gripping your waist as he helped you onto your feet was engraved onto your skin ever since. The first moment you locked eyes with him and saw how dark and dusky they were, they seemed empty and bare the first time you stared into them. It made you want to know more about what he put a front on.
“You need to know how to handle your fears correctly. How a Dauntless would. If you want to pass without being suspected of what you are.” He stated. You watched as he injected the serum into the skin of his neck and release the liquid. You scan over his face to see his reaction but he was emotionless; like he’s done this a million times. He walks over to you with the syringe in his hand, ready to inject you next.
“Why can’t we just practice with my fears? So I know how to face them when the time comes.” You asked. He ignores what you say as he grabs your face with his left hand, his right with the metal syringe ready to pierce through your skin. Before he does so, you feel the pad of his thumb caress gently over your cheek, like he knew it was going to hurt you but he wanted to protect you from the pain.
“This will be a lot easier. I can’t see your fears clearly on the monitor. I need to show you what you need to do to pass.” The tone of his voice felt like he was pleading with you, begging you to open up to what he was going to show you, but he also sounded afraid of what you might think once you go and experience his fears with him.
You nodded at his words.
You felt a slight pinch into your skin, your nose scrunches in pain and you let out a small sigh from the contact. He slightly raises his eyebrows, like he was letting you know he was sorry for what he did. After he was finished, he placed the metal tab on the outer corner of your forehead along with himself. He then guided you onto his lap in the chair, your back facing his chest as your legs intertwined on the chair that was centered in the corner of the room. You felt him grab the sides of your waist as you lifted yourself to lean back into him, the warmth that overtook his body was now intact with yours. It felt nice feeling the rising of his chest every time he took an inhale and feeling the breath come out of his mouth onto the baby hairs of your neck.
“You ready?” He whispered, his lips so close to your ears. You nodded in response. You were ready to see what kept his mind uneasy on days he thought too much. You wanted to know what pained him in his dreams and screamed him out of them.
“I’ll see you in there.”
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A/N: hello my dudes, I am back! And with my first ever imagine of Four. I hope you all enjoyed this as I enjoyed writing this for you all.
Please let me know if you want me to write a part 2 to this of being in his hallucinations. This scene is my favorite part of the movie and I wanted to write a little something about it.
