Having finally escaped her personal nightmare at Amity, Lia has chosen Dauntless as her faction not knowing what awaits her. She soon catches the interest of a leader, an instructor and an initiate.
**Contains mature themes such as sexual content...
Lia's eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was a bright fluorescent light above her. A dull, throbbing pain pulsed at her temples, and she could feel the tight pull of stitches across her forehead. As her vision cleared, the sterile white walls of the infirmary came into focus. She groaned, attempting to sit up, but a gentle hand pressed her back down.
"Easy, Lia," a familiar voice said. Four stood beside her, his usually stern expression softened with concern.
"Guess I lost the beauty contest," she quipped, wincing as the movement tugged at her stitches.
"Yeah, but at least you put up a good fight," Four replied, his lips curling into a small smile.
From the corner of the room, Peter emerged, his face a mixture of guilt and worry. "Just wanted to check if you were alive," he muttered, unable to meet her eyes.
"Nice to know you care," Lia shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe next time, you can send a card."
Four shot Peter a warning glance, and the latter shifted uncomfortably before apologizing and slinking out of the room. Lia watched him go, a smirk playing on her bruised lips.
"You didn't have to scare him off. He's lucky I like him. Otherwise, I'd have to actually won the fight," she said, her tone light despite the pain coursing through her body.
Four chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You never give up, do you?"
"And ruin all this charm?" Lia gestured to her battered face. "Not a chance."
"You should rest," Four advised, his hand still resting gently on her shoulder. "The fights are over, we don't start training again until tomorrow."
"Rest is for the weak," Lia replied, though the exhaustion was evident in her eyes.
"Even the strong need to heal," Four countered, his gaze steady and reassuring.
Lia sighed, finally relenting. "Fine, but only because you asked so nicely."
Four's smile widened, and he pulled a chair closer to her bed, settling in. "I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."
"Don't go getting all sentimental on me now," she teased, closing her eyes. "Next thing you know, I'll start thinking you actually care."
"Maybe I do," Four murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
But Lia was already drifting off, the pain and exhaustion pulling her into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Lia woke to the sound of a nurse rustling nearby, preparing a discharge slip. She blinked groggily, her head still throbbing but her thoughts clearer.
"You're ready to go, dear," the nurse said kindly, "Just take it easy for a few days."
Lia nodded, glancing around. Four was gone. She didn't remember him leaving. With a sigh, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood, a wave of dizziness washing over her. Shaking it off, she made her way to the dining hall.
