The moment he saw her, he could see it. That drive, so close to his, to be stronger, better, to be something in a world that she didn't quite fit into. He saw it the first time he looked into her eyes. Eyes still tainted by Abnegation submission, yet dominated by a fierce determination to succeed.
She was the first jumper. The smallest of the initiates. The bravest. She leapt from the roof edge, driven by nothing more then gut instinct that something would catch her. That blind faith that there was something to support her if she fell.
She relied on pride, fastest when angered. He admired the cold mask that slipped onto her face when she was deep in thought. Before she fought those who taunted her, he could see a burning hatred in her eyes, one that could not be quenched by words, she needed the raw physicallity of a fight. The primal instinct to cause pain would rise in her. He could see it, and understood. A life of ignoring their taunts, bottling up her anger. All her rage exploding at them. He knew because he felt it himself when he first joined dauntless. Felt the joy of being free to react. To fight.
She was different, just like him. Her mind was different. She couldn't be controlled. She was set apart. But the danger was past for him. He could only hope, with baited breath, that she would survive, and try as hard as he could to help her be strong and reman brave, for it was bravery, bordering on foolishness, that lead her to become the woman he loved.