Eric Coulter Imagines

What If: A Terrifying Side of Her (Part 1/2)

The Festival of Fire, a cornerstone of Dauntless tradition, was in full swing. The hall buzzed with Dauntless energy, filled with laughter, clanging glasses, and the flickering lights of torches. Eric moved through the crowd, his presence commanding and stern, issuing critiques with a biting edge that kept his trainees on their toes.

"You call that a fighting stance? I've seen better posture in a corpse," Eric barked at a trainee, his voice carrying over the din. "Do it again, and this time, pretend you're not trying to get killed."

The trainees scrambled to adjust, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. Beside him, Y/N watched the interactions with a mixture of admiration and concern. "You don't give them a break, do you?" she commented, her voice light but probing.

"They don't need breaks; they need to be unbreakable," Eric replied coldly, his gaze never softening as he surveyed the room.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted as Cass approached, her demeanor oozing disdain and challenge. "Y/N, decided to step off the sidelines tonight?" she taunted, her eyes narrowing with a predatory glint.

"Just taking in the festivities," Y/N responded calmly, though her eyes sharpened, sensing the threat behind Cass's tone.

Without warning, Cass's demeanor shifted from mocking to aggressive as she lunged forward, throwing a wild punch aimed at Y/N's face. Y/N's response was instantaneous. She dodged, her body moving fluidly as she sidestepped the attack. Her counterstrike was lightning-fast, her fist connecting with Cass's jaw with a sickening crack. Y/N smiled, a flicker of enjoyment crossing her features as Cass staggered back, blood beginning to trickle from her split lip.

Y/N didn't stop. With cold precision, she pressed the advantage, landing two rapid strikes to Cass's ribs. The sound of knuckles connecting with bone echoed through the hall. The crowd around them roared with excitement, forming a circle as the fight intensified. Y/N's expression was deadly calm, yet that smile remained. She loved this. Her movements were sharp and efficient, every strike landing with the intent to incapacitate.

Cass, struggling to keep up, swung again, her punch sloppy and filled with rage. Y/N blocked the blow effortlessly and retaliated with a brutal elbow to Cass's temple. Cass's head snapped to the side, her vision swimming as she stumbled backward, barely staying on her feet.

Y/N wasn't finished.

With predatory grace, she closed the distance and drove her knee into Cass's gut. Cass doubled over, gasping for air, but Y/N grabbed her by the hair, yanking her upright before delivering a devastating punch to her nose. Blood spattered the floor as Cass collapsed to her knees, dazed and disoriented.

The crowd's cheers grew louder, urging Y/N on, their bloodlust feeding the energy of the fight. But Y/N was already gone, her mind locked in the violent thrill of battle. She moved like a predator stalking its prey, her eyes cold and detached. Cass was no longer an opponent—she was a target, and Y/N was ready to finish her.

Y/N grabbed Cass by the collar, preparing to land the final blow when a strong grip yanked her back. Eric's hand clamped down on her arm with undeniable force, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"That's enough," Eric growled, pulling Y/N away from Cass. But Y/N, lost in the heat of combat, lashed out reflexively, her elbow shooting back toward Eric's chest.

"Stop, Y/N!" Eric's voice snapped through the air as he caught her arm mid-strike, his grip unyielding. "This is not your enemy."

It took a second for Y/N to register his words, her body still thrumming with adrenaline. Her breathing was ragged, and her muscles tensed as she stared at Eric, her mind catching up to reality. Slowly, her body relaxed, and she stopped fighting against his hold.

Cass lay on the floor, panting, her face a mess of blood and bruises. Her eyes were wide with shock, fear flickering beneath her anger. She spat blood onto the floor, managing a weak, defiant glare. "This isn't over, Y/N," she hissed, her voice shaky.

Eric's response was cold and final. "It's over when I say it's over." His voice carried a deadly calm that silenced the crowd instantly. He didn't even spare Cass another glance as he led Y/N away, his hand still gripping her arm firmly.

Y/N, her mind still swimming in the aftermath of the fight, allowed herself to be pulled away, though the fire in her veins hadn't completely subsided. Eric's grip wasn't just a restraint—it was a reminder of who was in control. "You need to control that instinct," he muttered, his voice low and sharp. "Or it'll control you."

As they left the circle, the crowd parted in silence, the air thick with the lingering tension of what they'd just witnessed. Y/N had shown just how dangerous she could be, and Eric had shown his dominance over even her.

The Festival of Fire continued, but the energy in the hall had shifted—darkened. Whispers of Y/N's ferocity and Eric's commanding presence spread quickly, leaving an indelible mark on everyone who had seen the fight. Y/N wasn't just another Dauntless—she was something else entirely. And under Eric's control, she was even more terrifying.