Chapter 2

Gotta Keep Dancing

Danvers

Finnick and Annie are a cute couple – they're so in love I can see the glow from clear across the room. There's never much time for joy in the Districts, but we take it where we can. We can dance, that's for sure – we're showing up the Capitol traitors and Thirteeners here at this reception.

Well, I say we – but I stand in the back, watching. It's been months, and I still think Phillip's going to come through the door – I'm going to try to show him how to dance and he's going to be bad at it and I'll laugh at him but have a great time trying to show him. The way that Spruce Banner looks like he's having more fun teaching his little Capitol girlfriend to dance than he would dancing with anyone who knew how – only there wouldn't be so much kissing and such with Phillip and me. My understanding is the Capitol does have something they call dancing, but it's either this really stiff, formal dancing, or a more casual style that's really more of rubbing up on each other and shaking and getting as close to sex as you could get without risking pregnancy – I can't see this one going for that given how she blushes whenever we tease her about the reason Spruce had to save her from being made an Avox (she insists it was just kissing and a map and gets furious). I know she doesn't like the role she's been pushed into – now that Spruce is alive and they can't use him as a martyr anymore and he can't talk about what happened to him without risking an episode, it's left to her to testify about what she saw and, mostly, stand there and look sad on behalf of her boyfriend – I'm told the Capitol is really sympathetic towards her and I hope it doesn't reach the point where they think she's being held here against her will or something (which, really, that would have been a coup for the Capitol to claim that from the beginning).

Mags leads Thresh in the dance and I can't help but laugh – I hope I can dance and have that much confidence when I'm her age.

Haymitch and Chaff are having a bit too much fun … Haymitch's reunion with District 12's moonshine maker must have been very emotional for both of them, I think with a grin, before I wonder what she makes the liquor from around here, and if it's any good.

I decide I might as well get some punch, even though I really don't want to look at the person who's currently camped out by the refreshment table.

I deliberately choose not to look at Clint Barton as I dip out the punch. He's telling Katniss about how similar their weddings are in 10, and going into the couple of differences. She looks over his shoulder and sees me, and takes his hand to pull him back out on the dance floor. "Come on – you can tell me any time," she says as she does, and I'm incredibly grateful to her – even if she only did it because she thinks I'll make a scene. Making a scene isn't in my nature.

I remind myself it's not Clint's fault and try not to be bitter as I see him smile – he's put most of his normal weight back on and they fixed the gaps in his teeth now so he'll be recognizable as the sweet little boy Duke Barton volunteered to save, even though he's now a grown man. It's his first time out in "public" since …

I don't want to think about it.

I sweep the crowd instinctively, looking for Tony – there are tons of guards on duty just to make sure they don't spot each other – but of course he's already gone slinking off with one or two of the beautiful girls he was dancing with. It didn't take him long to be back to his old ways after we buried Shale – at least he's not drunk all the time though, so, that's a silver lining I suppose.

I take a breath and tell myself I'm not a hypocrite for ragging on Tony's drunkenness – I don't get drunk off the little bottles of alcohol rations I have squirreled away throughout my room. I just take the edge off.

The fiddler and the boy on the harmonica change to a slow song – a bunch of people nervously start looking around and head off to the edges of the room but, of course, the couples love it. Katniss and Clint are on the east edge of the dance floor, so I don't look over there. I spot Prim and Stephen dancing slow, almost lost in the middle of the crowd of older, taller couples. I wonder what Katniss makes of her sister dating one of her teammates. Peeta takes his spot on the wall – I have to laugh at the poor boy. He's fallen into Phillip's old role as Team Nanny – I do what I can to help him, and they're better behaved now. I guess they were all chastened by their loss …

Again, I don't want to think about it.

And of course the night can't be completely without drama – that would be too easy. And it breaks out less than fifteen feet from me. Wonderful. "Why are you dancing with my girl, Hawthorne?" I hear Duke's voice demand, and I whirl to see it – Duke absolutely is a brawler and I want to put it down as quick as I can. He's pushed himself between Gale and Johanna – Gale's hands make fists and I know he's ready to fight back. Peeta's already tensed up and ready to come and try, probably uselessly, to make peace.

"I'm not your girl, Barton, back off," Johanna snaps and pushes him away, and I step in before it can escalate any quicker.

"Come on, let's go cool off," I say quickly, putting a hand on Duke's arm.

"I don't need to cool off, I need …"
"If you insist on making a scene, I will have to take you down," I say sharply, and he knows I mean business – I've done it before – so he follows. Duke has taken a very … unexpected turn since he got here. He frightens all of us – I think he even makes Clint nervous. Actually, I dare to glance to the east end and see the look on Clint's face and I know he does. Katniss has a hand on Clint's shoulder but she doesn't look happy – I know she doesn't want to see her best friend and Duke in a fight. She'd probably break it up very roughly, wouldn't she?

We get out in the hall where we can breathe, and I slam the door shut. "You need to back off Johanna …" I start.

"Stay out of my business," he snaps at me. "It's … complicated between her and me. Why don't you yell at her for going and slinking around on other …"
"It's over, Duke – she's made up her mind, and she can dance with whoever she wants …"
"It's not over," he says adamantly, and I don't know how to argue with the crazy man.

"Look, don't embarrass your friend – it's his wedding, he doesn't need a scene at his wedding."
"But she …" At that moment, Spruce and Betty come outside – they're laughing and probably just looking for a little privacy, but Duke was never the one to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.

"You come out here to defend your mentor, Banner?" he asks, and Spruce looks confused – he probably didn't even see the argument. I silently will them to walk away – Duke calls Betty "Spruce's Capitol Whore" behind their backs and it's only a matter of time before he says it to her face and I'm pretty sure that will be the moment Spruce has an incident in the middle of District 13. Of course he doesn't get my mental message – that would be too easy.

"No … she can defend herself, but why would I need to?" Spruce asks suspiciously.

"Okay I can tell you two were just looking for a little alone time so why don't you two just move along …" I say quickly, and thankfully they both seem to take the bait – Betty puts a hand on Spruce's arm and they start to walk away.

"Johanna ever sleep with you, Banner?" Spruce looks completely stunned by the question, understandably.

"What?" he asks flatly.

"Marty wanted her to tell everyone that – I was just wondering if there was any basis to it," Duke says casually. Betty rolls her eyes – I'm glad she's not as insecure as Duke must think she is. "I was just thinking since dark-haired and easy is your type and all …"

Before I can react, Spruce has Duke pressed against the wall, his arm cutting off his airway. His watch that's also a heart rate monitor is beeping frantically, and I see a hint of green in his dark brown eyes and I act quickly – I jab him in the neck with the tranq darts I and all the other guards had been carrying, less because we were worried about Spruce and more because we worried about Tony and Clint running into each other. But it gets the job done – he collapses instantly and the green disappears from his eyes before they close. Betty breaks his fall, catching him in her arms. I know he's going to be fine but I call for medics anyway. She slowly sits down with him, obviously worried. "He'll be all right, Betty – that dose was meant for Clint, and Spruce weighs more. I was more worried it wouldn't work quickly enough …"
"Why did you have something to jab my little brother?" Duke demands.

"In case he saw Tony and flipped out – I don't think that's unreasonable," I say quickly.

"Why does Clint have to be the one treated like a criminal when …"
"Because he killed someone!" Betty says sharply, and I'm grateful to her. "No it wasn't his fault – but he did. You don't see Spruce throwing a fit about the security he has to have, and he hasn't killed anyone since …"
"Since he plowed through a few dozen of your people – or did you forget that?" Duke asks sharply. She narrows her eyes at him and then, after being silent for a long moment in which I imagine she considers her options, she punches Duke behind the knee. I know a hateful spiel will follow, so I break it up quickly. I take Duke away by putting an arm over his shoulder and steering him roughly, and I turn his anger to me.

"I didn't want him to be allowed to come. Phillip was my best friend." We walk on down the hall, towards the brig. I hate to do it but I don't know where else to put him to cool off. "A lot of us were against it – Spruce and Tony fought for him. Tony offered to stay away if we thought it was necessary, Spruce said he should be allowed a second chance after everything he went through. They both beat themselves up over what happened, even though all Tony did was be stupid and all Spruce did was not turn into the Hulk sooner." Duke looks sour but doesn't say anything – I remember what he went through as a tribute and victor and I try to be sympathetic.

As I go, the medics come to check on Spruce – they don't look concerned, I knew they wouldn't. I take Duke to the brig and put him in the cool-off room – once he's ready to go home to Clint, they'll let him out, but he'll be away from the others for a while. "Duke – I know it's been rough, man, but you've got to get a lid on it," I say as I turn the key the guard hands me in the lock. He nods – and for the first time I think he understands how much he's alienating everyone, but the sad part is I don't think he can stop it.

I step out and pass the cell where Duke and Phillip laid to wait out the bombing – I pause there for a long time.

I head back to the banquet hall – Peeta will notice if I'm gone for too long, and I don't want to alarm him by making him think the situation was more serious than it was.