Chapter 1: First Meeting

Alma grimaced as she stood up from her desk, stretching her stiff muscles. It was late and most of the residents of District 13 where asleep. Saving her work, she gathered her things and headed out in the direction of the presidential suite. The tension of the day rested on her shoulders, making them tight; and her eye still twitched every time she remembered the multiple long and unnecessarily drawn out meetings she had endured today. Passing the opening to the training arena and seeing it empty Alma entered in the next door, heading over to the punching bags to let off some steam.

It was late by the time Johanna wandered into the training arena. Slinging her bag on a nearby bench, she bent over to tie up her laces before stretching and beginning laps on the running track. It wasn't till her third lap that she noticed she wasn't alone. Not wanting to break her stride in order to get a better view of the figure, who was currently attempting to pommel a punching bag into submission, she ignored them figuring they must have just had a bad day, or maybe like her they just wanted some alone time to blow some steam.

Finally deciding she had sufficiently pommelled the "Plutarch punching bag" into a coma, Alma took a step back, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat, and thanked God that this place was empty, because she was certain she looked like a drowned rat. It was really quite late now and Alma was exhausted. Gathering her things, she looked at the ever present paperwork with disdain, but noticing she had missed an important report, she sighed before opening it, reading as she walked across the arena in the direction of her rooms. Stepping out onto the running track, suddenly there was papers everywhere and she was flat on her back half covered by a groaning body, her head pounding where it had connected with the hard floor.

Johanna had looked down briefly to check the time as she rounded a bend and then the next thing she collided heavily with somebody. Trying to break her fall, she raised her arms, only to feel a sharp pain as she hit the hard floor. Groaning, she was dazed for a moment, before realising that she was half on top of someone. Jerking back, she rolled over, hissing in pain when she applied pressure to her apparently sprained wrist. Looking across to the now stirring figure, preparing to give them a piece of her mind, her eyes widened when she realised with whom she had collided with. Just her luck that she would bowl over the president of the district who rescued her.

It took a few moments for the stars dancing across her vision to clear, but feeling the body on top of her roll off and hiss in pain, she sat up, torn between blasting them for running into her and asking if they were ok. The girl in front of her was vaguely familiar and it took Alma a few seconds for her throbbing head to realise this was one of the Victors who they had rescued from the capitol – Johanna Mason.

"Well that's one hell of a way to make a first impression, but as a rule, usually a greeting is a sufficient … or in this case a warning, Ms Mason."

"Well usually people look where they are going before they step out onto a running track. But you obviously missed that memo, so don't worry, this lesson's free." Johanna snarked back, holding her injured hand against her body.

One of Alma's eyebrows arched as she surveyed the woman in front of her, before conceding, "I didn't realise I wasn't alone, usually no one is in here this late but me. I apologise for stepping out in front of you."

Huffing but softening, Johanna stood and offered her uninjured hand to the president as she spoke, "I suppose I should have been paying attention to in front of me too. Sorry for knocking you over."

Alma took the offered hand and was quickly pulled to her feet by the deceptively strong woman in front of her. Alma quickly regretted standing up so fast, her head thumped painfully and her vision blackened, stars exploding in front her eyes. Holding her head tightly, groaning in pain she stumbled forwards, feeling faint, before two strong arms grabbed her shoulders to steady her. "Please tell me I haven't managed to give you brain damage on my first week here … oh wait hang on come over here I think I have some pain medication in my bag. It should help your headache … yeah you bumped your head pretty hard. Doesn't look like concussion though. Here have one of these …"
Alma let herself be led over to a bench as Johanna babbled on, she winced as surprisingly soft hands brush over the lump forming on the back of her head and cupped her face to examine her eyes. In the back of her mind, Alma realised that she probably shouldn't allow this woman she's never met to do this. She should have reprimanded her and left. But for some reason she quietly obeyed as she was handed two pain tablets and a bottle of water and instructed not to move until she was told to. Alma watched as Johanna strapped her own wrist before walking over and collecting the papers strewn across the track and handing them back, receiving a soft "thankyou."

Johanna merely shrugged as she hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, "you should probably go get some rest, those meds are good, but sleep is the best medicine."

Standing, they walked out of the arena together, "well thankyou, hopefully next time we meet it wont involve further injury," Alma smirked.

Chuckling Johanna grinned at her, "well knowing me, the possibility can't be ruled out … but I suppose we will have to wait and see. Goodnight, Prez."

Smiling softly Alma dipped her head, "Goodnight, Ms Mason."

Johanna's face twisted into playful disgust, "ugh, no, never call me that – I sound way to old... or like I'm in trouble or something. Just call me Johanna."

"Well then, goodnight Johanna."

Walking off in the direction of the communal living areas, Johanna threw a grin over her shoulder and waved goodbye. Watching her walk away for a moment, Alma contemplated her with a soft smile and a small frown. There was something about this woman that intrigued Alma, but she wasn't entirely sure why.

***

Over the next couple of months, Johanna and Alma often ran into each other late at night in the gym, however not so literally from now on. Without consciously knowing exactly when it had happened, they began to train together. Some nights they ran together, neither wanting to admit just how competitive they were. Sometimes they chatted, sometimes they were content to remain silent. Johanna taught Alma how to wield her axe, and Alma taught her how to throw her knives. They developed a comfortable routine, which they both looked forward too. Sometimes, when one or both of them had had a particularly bad day they would come and spar together. Then other times when everything became too much, they would come and find each other, and just sit and talk about everything, anything, other than the war and the rebellion. Alma had suggested they do laps in the pool once and was confused at the strong visceral reaction Johanna had had to the mere mention of water, excusing herself for the night claiming to have suddenly felt sick. Alma has been alarmed and confused, but let her go. It was only when she read Johanna's file in her room that night that she had understood, apologising for her ignorant comment the next time they saw each other. After that, they had both shared stories of their past. It was then that Johanna realised just how much she fallen for the president, or Alma as she preferred to be called when they were alone.

Johanna took every opportunity to be alone with the president, every opportunity to even be close to her, which thankfully Alma didn't seem to mind very much. She hardly realised how close they had become over the last few months until Finnick had started making fun of her for how "whipped" she was. Now as she stared the silver headed woman walking over to her, hips swaying gently, did she realise just how true his comments were. Groaning she cursed, "Fucking hell Johanna, you just had to fall for the most unobtainable woman in the district didn't you."

"What was that?" Alma had reached her and looking at her questioningly. But she looked odd, like she was trying to put a mask on, or maybe like she was hiding something, but Johanna couldn't be sure. Frowning slightly, Johanna tucked a stray silver strand behind her ear, "Nothing, just talking to myself. Are you ok? You look like you're trying very hard not to be upset. If you don't feel up to training tonight we don't have to."

Alma's eye's widened slightly, snapping up to meet the concerned gaze of the woman before her. Alma opened her mouth to reassure her that "absolutely everything was fine, thank you very much". But it didn't come out. What did come out was a very shaky breath and a constricted voice, "We couldn't save them. They were innocent civilians in all this but there were too many. I just .,. the childr–" Almas voice cracked and her eyes slammed shut as she attempted to control her emotions.

Without thinking twice, Johanna wrapped her arms around her and drew her close, rubbing soothing circles into her back in an attempt to offer comfort. Alma stiffened and Johanna realised this probably wasn't an acceptable way to offer comfort to the president of district 13. But just as she was about to let go, Alma relaxed into her, wrapping her own arms around Johanna's waist and pressing her face into the crook of her neck, taking deep shuddering breaths. They stayed that way for a while and Alma allowed her turbulent emotions to be soothed by the whispered words of comfort and the strong arms that wrapped around her protectively. Eventually, Alma realised that she had been clinging onto the poor woman for perhaps a little too long and, embarrassed, she pulled away. Johanna followed her cue, but wanted nothing more than to continue comforting her, "I would offer you a cup of tea and a couch, as I doubt training is an option for tonight, but I think Katniss would throw a fit. Plus I'm ninety percent sure that bloody cat would have claimed the sofa by now."

Alma released short chuckle before, chewing her lip in thought and looking up at Johanna briefly before avoiding her gaze completely. "Thankyou, but I've probably imposed on you enough tonight."

Johanna frowned at that and placed her hands on the presidents slim shoulders, "Alma, you haven't imposed on me at all. I'm just sorry I don't have the option of offering you an alternative to staying in this stinky training hall when what you really need is a cup of tea, a snuggly blanket and a shoulder."

Alma considered her for a little while before looking her directly in the eye, "I really could use that right now … we could, if you want, you don't have to, it's only a suggestion, but my room is free. Well only I live there so it – um – yeah. If you want." A slight blush had crept up the usually porcelain skin as she babbled.

Johanna only grinned at how adorably awkward the usually forward woman was being, smirking she pretended to contemplate her answer, "Well I think, I'm not sure exactly, I think that maybe, that extremely articulate sentence was offer to go to the presidential suite for a cup of tea. How could I refuse?" Winking she gathered her bag, "Lead the way."