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DAVINA TODD wanted to be the best. Born and raised in Erudite, the pressure to succeed pressed on her since the moment she started classes, thrust into the world believing a high number meant she was enough. She had spent her whole life in the blue-clad Faction, being taught that knowledge was power and that if she simply did another test, took on another skill, another class, she would be the best. The best was simply whatever would take her mother's attention from her twin sister, but no matter what she did, her fraternal reflection would always do something better. Davina had been in her shadow her entire life, regardless of her own success, regardless of her own scores, her creative streak, her one unique hobby of martial arts, if she wasn't better than her sister than it wasn't enough.

The only thing she did better than her sister was stand out. An Erudite who smoked to cope with her problems (stupid), an Erudite who preferred to draw and paint above any hobby (useless), her black belt she had earned alongside her best friend (not enough). Davina Todd was Erudite, but not enough for anyone, including herself. But then comes the one test no one could be the best at: the Choosing. Davina had always been Erudite, but Erudite was tests and scores, a hierarchy based on everything she felt she couldn't do, and a threat to live with her twin for the rest of her life.

Results split in two different directions, Davina counts it as a sign and for the first time in eighteen years, takes a different path to her dreaded reflection in a last ditch effort to escape the shadow and become the best in her own right. As it would turn out, Dauntless nurtured her competitive spirit, giving her the chance to fight for her own success, use skills that had once been frowned upon to her best advantage, but it seemed the further she got from home, the darker the shadow grew.

Surrounded by initiates willing to do anything to survive, a pretty asshole who can't seem to leave Davina alone and a growing conspiracy threatening all the factions, Davina soon finds herself questioning everyone around her, including her own identity, as her old faction works to use her new one as a weapon.

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DAVINA TODD
portrayed by
FLORENCE PUGH

PETER HAYES
portrayed by
HERMAN TØMMERAAS

JUDE "APOLLO" FOXGLOVE
portrayed by
BENJAMIN WADSWORTH

with . . .

VIVIANE TODD
portrayed by
MADDIE HASSON

WILL
portrayed by
WILL TUDOR

EDWARD DÍAZ portrayed by TYLER POSEY
NICOLAS TODD as described
rest of divergent cast as described

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disclaimer. I do not own or claim ownership of Divergent or any characters, dialogue and story lines you may recognise. I do, however, own Davina Todd and any other characters, dialogue or story lines associated with her/you do not recognise.

I do not write smut. Do not ask or expect anything past brief descriptions before/after the act.

BEFORE READING. lots to say please read!!

✿ this fic is standalone, covers only the first book, divergent, and also does not include the film. the ending is sort of ambiguous at the moment, but either way, this story will not extend into the trilogy so expect lots of dauntless compound and training chaos and drama

✿ because of this, the timeline of initiation has been extended to three months rather than one. the simulation erudite takeover happens after a small portion of everyday life in dauntless, and not the night of initiation as well

✿ the characters are aged up to be 18 as initiates, instead of the canonic 16, as such a life-altering decision makes more sense at that age :)

✿ i promise these changes make sense and aren't as jarring as they sound <33 while rewriting i found i lost motivation at the thought of having to continue into insurgent and allegiant but i adore the first book and the dynamics, and peter and davina are near and dear to me so i found a way to wrap it up and build the relationships and time i wanted.

✿ and finally, please do not comment on how you prefer miles teller as peter!! not everyone was supportive of the recast in the first edition. herman is my first pick, but i also can see jacob elordi (esp w eyebrow piercing) and maxence danet-fauvel

warnings. violence, blood, strong language, sexual references, mentions of substance abuse, use of tobacco, angst, mentions of mature and/or triggering themes such as anxiety, low self-esteem, physical abuse, obsession, depression and suicide

dedicated to lia, izzy and mads for always supporting the first edition of this book! even if some of you aren't as active anymore, thank you for being there for the first version <3

winter speaks! oh to go back to the golden age of YA dystopian books. idc if they were trashy or predictable, they're probably the only reason i got into reading and writing as i got older and we just don't have them like this anymore.

if you read my note above, you'll know i've manipulated the plot a bunch so i can write the best book of the series and then wrap it up before sailing into allegiant and insurgent territory. i really don't enjoy rereading those books, and i know many in the fandom feel the same (insurgent had its moments but you can't write it without writing the last one tbh).

this is a big passion project of mine that i don't expect to garner much attention or reads but meh. davina is very near and dear to me, and her relationship with peter is pure chaos and angst, but also a way of humanising a character i think veronica roth had it out for until like the last book. i like my fictional men pretty and mean. also i would date apollo myself, that is the loml your honour

also davina is a divergent, as indicated by the summary. however i have aimed to write her differently from tris' experience with it and also included it for plot reasons, not just because (:

i recast some of the characters from the film as i felt they weren't cast accordingly due to their book descriptions (which is what this fic follows) and they fit my visions of them better than the actors from the film. you can either get on board with that, imagine them as their og actors or see whoever else you feel suits the character!

please enjoy and don't be a ghost reader, comment at any point you're enjoying the story it makes my day to know people read my little fics <33