Multifandom X Reader Stories

Shattered Masks (Eric Coulter)

The days after Eric's cryptic warning were filled with tension, a constant undercurrent of anxiety thrumming in your veins. You did what he said—you pretended, played your part among the Dauntless, kept your expression as blank as the others. But every time you felt his gaze on you, a cold knot twisted in your stomach.

He was watching. Just as he promised.

You didn't know what game Eric was playing. He hadn't turned you in, but he hadn't said anything else, either. You were trapped in a limbo, unsure of when—or if—he'd decide to expose you.

And then it happened.

It was during a routine exercise, another display of strength from the Dauntless soldiers under the influence of the serum. You had lined up with the rest, the vacant expression you practiced carefully in place, when you saw it: a fellow initiate, struggling. She wasn't as lucky as you—her Divergence wasn't well hidden. She twitched, her eyes darting around, terror clear on her face.

Your heart raced. You knew the risk of stepping in, of revealing that you, too, weren't under the serum's control. But you couldn't stand by and watch her be executed for something she couldn't help.

Before you could move, a command rang out, sharp and cold.

"Kill her."

It was Eric's voice, and he was staring directly at the struggling girl, his face as impassive as ever. Your blood froze. You knew what he was doing—this was a test. Not for her. For you. He was waiting to see what you would do.

The girl's body trembled as another soldier raised a gun to her head, and you couldn't hold back any longer.

"Stop!"

Your voice rang out, louder than you intended, but the impact was immediate. Every head turned toward you, including Eric's. His expression hardened, his jaw clenching, but he didn't speak. He was watching, waiting for your next move.

You swallowed hard, your pulse thrumming wildly in your ears. "She's not a threat. Killing her won't—"

"Enough." Eric's voice was quiet, but it cut through the air like a blade. He stepped forward, the cold weight of his gaze locking onto yours. "You're out of line."

"I'm not," you said, voice shaking but firm. "She doesn't deserve to die."

Eric's eyes narrowed, and for a second, you thought he would turn his anger on you. Instead, he glanced toward the girl, then at the others, all standing in eerie silence.

"Take her away," he ordered, and two soldiers dragged the trembling girl from the room. When she was gone, Eric turned back to you, his expression unreadable. "You—come with me."

Your heart pounded as he led you away from the others, down a series of narrow corridors until you reached a secluded area of the compound. He didn't say anything, just walked in cold, calculated silence. The tension between you thickened with every step, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on you.

When you reached a dead-end, he finally stopped. His back was to you for a moment, and then he turned sharply, his eyes blazing with anger—and something else, something rawer, more vulnerable.

"What the hell were you thinking?" he snapped, voice low but furious. "You could've gotten yourself killed."

You stood your ground, though your heart was still racing. "I couldn't let her die. Not like that."

Eric stepped closer, his jaw clenched, eyes burning with frustration. "You're Divergent. You're supposed to be hiding. That was a stupid, reckless move."

"I couldn't just stand by and watch." Your voice cracked, but you met his gaze, refusing to back down. "I'm not like them, Eric. I'm not a mindless follower."

His eyes flickered with something you couldn't place, but his expression stayed hard. "You think I don't know that? You think I don't see exactly what you are?"

Silence hung between you, thick with unspoken tension. His words were cutting, but there was a heat in his gaze that made your stomach twist in ways you hadn't expected. You had always seen Eric as ruthless, cruel, but now there was something more. Something that tugged at you in a way you didn't understand.

"Why did you protect me?" you asked quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you turn me in?"

Eric's expression darkened, but he didn't look away. For a moment, he was silent, and you could see the struggle in his eyes, as if he was fighting an internal battle he hadn't expected to have.

"Because I didn't want you dead," he said, his voice rough, like the admission cost him something. "You think I don't know how dangerous this is for me? Protecting you? Hiding what you are?"

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, at the raw honesty in his voice. "Then why do it?"

His jaw clenched again, and he closed the distance between you with one swift step. His hand came up, grabbing your arm—gentler than before but still firm, like he was afraid you'd slip away.

"Because you're different." His voice was low, almost a growl. "You don't bend. You don't break. And I can't—" He stopped, his grip tightening slightly as he searched your eyes. "I can't let them take that from you."

The breath caught in your throat as you stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. Eric Coulter, the ruthless leader of Dauntless, was protecting you because he cared. It didn't make sense, and yet, it felt undeniable in that moment.

"Eric," you whispered, your voice shaking with the intensity of it all. "Why?"

His eyes flickered with something deeper, something raw and unguarded. "Because I—" He cut himself off, his jaw tensing, but then he sighed, letting the words escape, soft and almost pained. "Because I care about you. More than I should."

You blinked, the admission stunning you into silence. Eric, of all people, caring about you? It seemed impossible, but the vulnerability in his eyes told you it was real.

"I've been trying to ignore it, to bury it, but I can't." He stepped closer, his body so close to yours that you could feel the warmth radiating off him. "Every time I see you, I want to protect you. And it's driving me insane."

Your heart pounded in your chest as you looked up at him, your mind spinning. You hadn't expected this, hadn't thought Eric could feel anything beyond his cold, hard exterior. But now, seeing him like this—raw, exposed—it shook something deep inside you.

"I care about you too," you whispered, the words slipping out before you could stop them.

His eyes flashed with something almost desperate, and before you could say anything else, his lips crashed against yours. The kiss was fierce, filled with all the tension and unspoken emotions that had been building between you. His hands gripped your waist, pulling you closer as if he couldn't stand the distance anymore.

You melted into him, your hands tangling in his hair, the heat of the moment consuming you both. It was intense, overwhelming, but it felt right, like something that had been inevitable from the start.

When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged, his forehead resting against yours. His eyes searched yours, filled with something raw and unguarded.

"I won't let anyone hurt you," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I promise."

You nodded, your heart still racing. In that moment, you knew you could trust him. Eric might be ruthless, but he would fight for you.

And that was all you needed.