Ordinary Acts of Bravery [A Divergent Fanfic]

Chapter 37 - Greeting the new initiates

"Being both soft and strong is a combination very few have mastered."

Now I knew what it felt like attending the choosing ceremony without having to choose. Even though it had only been a year, the memory was still very vivid. The new generation that stepped forth to choose, looked very young. I couldn't quite grasp that I had been that young.

I blew out a breath when Valentine noted my starring at Janine and shifted closer to me in his seat. "It's strange being back here, right." He whispered, leaning an elbow to the armrest and a hand under his chin.

I nodded without looking at him. I had been starring at Janine and my mother as they were seated in the front of the erudite row. It was expected of them to be here because they were part of erudite leadership. I scoffed at my own behavior. I was starring holes in the back of my mother's head. She had seen me arriving with the dauntless but had not granted me an ounce of her attention.

I couldn't fathom I sought her attention and the familiar anger that boiled up in me forced me to dig my nails into my arms. The pain that emerged overshadowed everything else and allowed me to regain myself in some sense. Val and I had found seats at the very top of the dauntless row. It would allow for a better view of the ceremony.

Then Val sank deeper into his chair, crossing his arms against his chest and throwing one leg over the other. It brought him to my level. I took a moment to take him in as he starred openly at the amity that had chosen to return to her faction. The older leader was actually quite handsome. Abby had been lucky. Val was tall, two heads taller than Eric. Though he was muscular, he was slimmer than most dauntless men. More agile. Hair below his ears, ruffled and disheveled, without any curls.

His exposed forearms revealed no tattoos, though I knew he had one on his right shoulder that traveled further up than I had been able to see whenever he whore a t-shirt. Val smiled when he noticed I was staring at him now. He was also a bit quiet compared to the loud nature of dauntless.

I returned his smile before turning back to look at Marcus, the abnegation leader. He was ending the choosing ceremony. Everyone had chosen. I mumbled the words faction before blood with everyone else before standing up, leaving my seat. "This was the last one, let's get going. Dauntless leaves first." Val jumped up from his seat as well, acting as if he momentarily had forgotten himself.

Valentine slid through the crowd with much ease. I felt impressed as he yelled at the dauntless. "Initiates, follow us!" Val gestured with a wide wave of his arm. I smiled at the sight finally getting to stand next to him as well. "You lead, same way as last year." Valentine turned to me next. I jumped, a small gasp leaving me as my head jerked to him. Was he really telling me to lead?

I eased into a more relaxing stance before turning to the door behind us. "Keep up." I winked at Val before pushing the door open. I ran down the stairs, taking two steps at the time sometimes. I was quite impressed that I managed to stay on my feet when we burst out onto the street. I sucked in a deep breath, closing my eyes momentarily to enjoy the change of air before upping my pace and sprinted down the open road.