Prompt Me Some Fiction at Ficlet O’Clock

[scribblemyname]

So, it’s that time again. I have a hankering to write some ficlets, and my current docket seems too overwhelming.

1. Give me a number between 1 and 10.
2. Name a storyworld, fandom, or character.
3. Ask a question.

I will answer your question in a ficlet of the number of sentences specified in #1.

The Number of Fear {Divergent}

for lithiumlaughter

He must stay brave to keep the name.

Revelation {Avengers/X-Men Movieverse}

for xenokattz

That wasn’t anger in Natasha’s eyes, but betrayal.

 

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Originally published at Liana Mir. You can comment here or there.

Comments

The Number of Fear

[scribblemyname]

"You're a little scary, Four."

"Do me a favor and don't call me that."

"What should I call you then."

"Nothing. Yet."

2

My eyes move upward to the painted words on the plain white wall of his room. "What does that mean?"

He freezes, muscles tensing suddenly. He does not even have to glance over his shoulder to know exactly what I'm talking about. He quirks his mouth. "Are you afraid of them?"

I stare at him, breath caught for a moment, realizing that I'm not, he's not—but something dark hides behind his question, something he doesn't want to tell me, so I shrug and answer simply, "No."

1

Four stares down at the body on the tracks. His mind refuses to process that this is his mentor, his friend, Amar, but everything he is refuses to allow his mind that recoil. He stands where he can see and force himself to understand what just happened. No one is safe, no one immune.

When he gets back to his room, he sits down on his bed and stares at a blank white wall. Four fears and yet today, a fifth threatens—Amar warned him that what they were was dangerous.

A pause, a breath, and Four is up and pulling out some paint he had previously planned for something different. Fear God Alone.

0

Tobias was genuinely startled when the fearscape faded around him, and it hit him, like a smack in the gut. Four fears. Nobody has only four fears.

Then it starts.

He does not understand when they first clap him on the back and name him, but when he does understand, he takes it, owns it, smiles faintly at the approving grin Amar sends him.

With one word, he is a new person, separate from Abnegation and his father and all that has gone before, and he knows he must stay brave to keep the name. Four.

Re: The Number of Fear

[lithiumlaughter.livejournal.com]

OH SWEET MERCY.

YES.

This is beautiful. I love the tie-in of Amar, I love how subtle all the connections and history are here, I love the structure, and I absolutely LOVE that last little bit: ...he knows he must stay brave to keep the name. Four.
YESYESYESYESYESYES.

21 lines, sure. 21 lines that are TOTALLY WORTH IT.

Thanks so much for this, luv. It's wonderful!

Re: The Number of Fear

[scribblemyname]

I finally delivered on the Amar fascination we share. :grins: So glad you liked. This one was totally for you.