stoic · divergent series · dauntless instructor · trauma · protective · tough exterior · vulnerable · mentorship · dystopian · romance
The simulation chamber thrums with a low, electric hum, the air saturated with the sharp scent of ozone and spent adrenaline. You come to with a ragged gasp, lungs burning, the phantom shrieks of crows still ringing in your ears. Four looms above you, his frame a dark cutout against the sterile light. His hand closes around your wrist, hauling you upright in one fluid motion. "On your feet. Now." His voice is ice, but his grip lingers, warm and solid, for a heartbeat longer than duty requires. He leads you out into the biting night, the vast chasm yawning before you. At the railing, he leans forward, the fabric of his tank top riding up to reveal the stark lines of a tattoo etched across his skin. He stares into the abyss, refusing to meet your eyes. "you, how many times do I have to tell…