AU/CROSSOVER: Divergent

SUMMARY: It's not easy being a Divergent, when you're being hunted by someone who's faction values intelligence. But it's even harder when you're in love with her.

NOTES: Scroll down.

IN SPITE OF FEAR

'I am brave. I am courageous. I am fearless. I am Dauntless.'

It's a mantra he repeats daily. In the morning, when he wakes. During the day, when he feels weak. At night, before he sleeps. Over and over and over again. He has too, otherwise, he'll forget. Years have passed since his Choosing, but he remembers it vividly. He was one of the lucky ones. One of the few who had someone watching his back. And he's grateful, he is. But he has hidden for far longer than he can remember now, and he's starting to slip.

Because he's not Dauntless.

He's Divergent.

But he'll pretend not to be.

He tells himself it's for the best. That it's to keep himself safe, and alive. But that's a lie too. It's not for him.

It's for her.

He was born an Erudite, but he'd been an Abnegation from the start. His father wasn't pleased. He'd done everything he could to change him, to make him 'see the light'. But he'd known form the start that he was different. He was selfless, and he was honest, and he was brave and kind and smart. All five factions were represented in his heart - the heart he gave to her.

Regina.

He knew what he was before the Choosing, but even then, it was a secret. And he had suspected her of it too, for she was nothing like her mother, or his father. But if she wasn't Divergent, than she was Dauntless - of that, he was sure. And he knew her well, he'd been in love with her since they were young. Choosing Dauntless had been a no-brainer for him. He'd be with her, and he'd be protecting the people. He'd be helping them, something he felt his father never did. So whilst he sat amongst his peers, the initiates he'd soon jump out of a moving train with, he grinned as her name was called and she appeared in blue, with her hair long and braided. That grin fell as her palm hovered over a bowl, and 'Erudite' rung through the room. She looked at him briefly, a flicker of something in her eye, before she in turn looked toward her mother, and returned to her seat.

It was that flicker that kept him quiet.

It was that flicker that kept him sane.

Somehow, he'd managed to remain hidden amongst the faction most thought mad. And he saw her often. Or, as often as he could. As often as they were allowed. They'd even shared a kiss.

Late at night, with her still in her office, having moved up the ranks quickly, he startled her. Training had come in handy, and it was easier then to sneak in to the building than it had been when he was eight. Slipping through the door that was already closed, she had clearly been to invested in her work to hear him approach. And he'd grinned when she jumped with his hand on her shoulder, her own pressed hard against her chest.

"Robin?"

Robin. It's not his name. Not his real name, at least. But she'd always called him that, and when given the opportunity to step even further away from his father, whilst somehow managing to keep her close - well, clearly he jumped at it. They were older now, and her hair was shorter, but she was still stunning, and he told her so.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you."

"Why?"

"I missed you."

He shrugged casually but his heart was singing a symphony against his chest. He had been sure that she could hear it beating, but all she did was smile, and laugh, and he did the same. He sat on her desk, or rather, leaned against the edge, and though her lips pursed a little, she said nothing, and rolled her eyes.

"You're going to get in trouble."

"I'll be fine."

And she stared at him, raising her eyebrow slowly.

"Okay... You're going to get me in trouble."

And he laughed, leaning closer, bending down a little as he did.

"Scared?"

"Aren't you?"

"No."

She muttered 'Of course...' under her breath as she leaned back in her chair, and Robin chuckled. He watched her then, quietly, as she seemed to stare at nothing - until he realised she was staring at him. Or rather, his arm. Looking down, his lips began to curve as he dropped his arm and turned it over, showing the tattoo he'd added since he last saw her. "Like it?" he asked, and she hummed softly, reaching out with one hand to trace the ink with two fingers.

"It suits you."

As she admired it, his hand grasped her elbow and she looked up quickly, startled as he urged her to stand and step closer. She did, mostly because she'd always been too curious for her own good but also because he was stronger than she remembered - and she found she quite liked that. "What are yo-"

He silenced her with a kiss. It was gentle, and soft, and all he did was press his lips against her own, but she stiffened regardless and his stomach dropped. But then she was kissing him back, her lips parting under his and allowing his tongue to search for her own. His other arm, the one she wasn't currently gripping tightly, wound around her waist as he stepped away from her desk and pulled her closer.

This felt good.

This felt right.

And Regina sighed softly as she pulled away, eyes closed and brow furrowed as she muttered gently. "Robin..." It was a warning, he knew, but also a plead, and he smiled sadly. "Regina, I -"

"I know."

She interrupted him, eyes open and staring deep in to his own, and he felt that yes, she did know. And maybe she felt the same. He sighed nonetheless, resigning himself to the knowledge that it would be some time before he could see her again. With the way things were currently, with the scrutiny Abnegation were beginning to fall under, he couldn't afford frequent visits.

"I'm sorry."

She nodded.

"You should go."

It was a dismissal, but a half-hearted one, and he nodded in return, his gaze averting slightly. Maybe it was by chance, or maybe it was intention, but he found himself glancing at her work he'd distracted her from, and his blood ran cold at the one word that managed to stand out.

"Divergents?"

He didn't see her reaction, but he heard her hum in question before following his line of eyesight - and she tensed. "Oh, that..."

"You're hunting them?"

His throat felt thick and tight, and his heart began to sink. What did this mean for him? What did this mean for them? Did she know? How long has she known? Was his name on the list?

Regina nodded beside him, bending slightly to rest her hand on the mouse pad as she scrolled down. "The council have made some changes. They're new and experimental, at the moment, but by the time they're done, we should have them all rounded up."

"Why?"

Her brow furrowed in confusion as she turned her head to look at him. "Because they're... dangerous?" She spoke as if it were obvious. As if he should have known that already and he did, he knew that's what everyone else thought but he didn't know she thought that too. "You really believe that?"

"Yes."

He stared at her then, searching her eyes for something, anything - and he found the flicker. Robin smiled tightly, though she didn't notice for she'd closed her eyes as he leaned closer. He kissed her forehead, and muttered. "I should go." And she nodded, smiling at him even as he turned to leave - but she stopped him, calling out...

"Robin?" She waited for him to turn, before continuing with a tilt of her head. "Can you keep an eye on your initiates? If you notice anything, if you suspect one of them could be a Divergent... let me know?"

He was both angry and relieved.

Angry that she'd asked him turn Divergents in.

And relieved that she didn't know he was one.

"Of course."

NOTE: So... I watched 'Divergent' for the first time tonight. Can you tell? Anyway, this is not a new story. Not really. I'm about half-way through the last instalment of 'Four Minutes' and this little scenario popped in to my head after watching the movie with my mother, so I decided to just go ahead and write it. I quite love AU's and Crossovers. They're my favourite thing to write because I feel it gives you a little more leeway in terms of characterisation. Of course, I try to keep the characters as close to canon as I possibly can, but that doesn't mean I can't have a bit of fun twisting them around.

Basically, no. It's not a new story. It is, in fact, one of those collections of one-shots that every author seems to have at some point or another. I will be placing all my random one-shots that fall in to the category of either an Alternate Universe or a Crossover. They will all, pretty much, be whatever strikes my fancy.

I had a bit of trouble deciding on where I wanted to place Regina, to be honest. It was easy for me to faction the rest of the cast of 'Once Upon A Time', but Regina is just too complex for me to be completely confident in my choice. I feel I've justified it by relating her choice to Cora, but ultimately, I feel like Regina would otherwise be a Dauntless. Let me know what you thought. I'd love to hear your opinions.

This note was rather lengthy, but I do not think the following few will be.

FEEL FREE TO REQUEST AND/OR PROMPT AN AU SCENARIO OR A CROSSOVER. YOU CAN DO SO BY REVIEWING, OR SENDING ME AN ASK ON MY TUMBLR: PARRILLAD. XO