A/N
This is the first focusing on Blaze, the chapter names are from songs. For Blaze it is Battle Cry and Eye of the Tiger, as I relate these songs to him. I'm posting it early in honour of a close friend who I found out died recently, in an accident.

Blaze woke up when the breath was knocked out of him, his eyes snapped open to see a small face smiling down at him, from her perch on his chest. Her blonde hair still messy from sleep, yet her blue eyes sparkled cheerfully.

"Wakie, wakie Blazie" she sang. Too cheerfully for that time in the morning, as far as Blaze was concerned.

Groaning he pushed Amber off his chest and onto the bed next to him.

"What's the time" he slurred, still half asleep.

"Seven" Amber replied "But Mama wants us up extwa eawly for the pawty." Blaze froze, right today was the Reaping. "And Dada, says his so pwoud" Amber continued, not noticing Blaze's stillness.

"But Jadie is sad. Why is Jadie sad Blazie?" Not answering Blaze rolled out of bed, standing up he held open his arms as Amber jumped at him.

He caught her and pressed his face to her hair "I don't know Amie, why don't you ask her?" he walked to the kitchen, and was greeted by the smell of cooking food. He dropped Amber into her seat and made his way to where his mother was cooking breakfast.

"Morning" he grunted as he served himself some food.

"Good morning, son" his mother replied cheerfully "I'm so happy, I know you will make us proud."

Blaze flashed her a smile, before walking to the table and began wearily eating. Amber bounced up and down in her seat, as their mother brought her a plate.

As he ate Blaze watched his father come in and grab a plate and kiss his mother as they started talking, Blaze tuned out. Only catching his name a couple of times. Looking up he noticed that his younger sister Jade had not come for breakfast.

"Where's Jade?" he asked uncertainly, his mother looked up at him with something akin to a sneer.

"In her room, no doubt crying. It's embarrassing, really. I do hope she does not act like that during the Reaping, it will put our whole family to shame." she turned back and continued to talk to his father.

Blaze threw a glare at her before he went to Jade's room. He paused knocking on the door, when silence greeted him. He gently pushed the door open, and was greeted by the sight of his twelve year old sister lying in bed, her face buried in her pillow.

"Jade" he called gently, without moving from her spot Jade replied with a growl

"Go away" ignoring her Blaze walked up to her bed, waiting for her to make room. Eventually Jade gave up and scooted over giving him enough room to sit down. He did, and started running his hand soothingly through her soft blonde hair, as he pulled her into sitting up, until her was cradling her in a hug.

"Shh, don't cry Jay. It's okay. It's going to be okay" he whispered soothingly. Holding her tight, still stroking her hair.

"But it'snot" She whimpered. "You're gunna leave, and you're not coming back."

Blaze smiled reassuringly at her "Of course I am. I couldn't just leave you to fend for yourself, could I?"

She just glared up at him, tears still pouring from her eyes. "You need to stop crying, Jay" he told her softly. "You need to be strong. Can you do that, for me?"

"Why", was her instant reply.

"Cause no one here understands why you're sad. They think it's a sign of weakness. And you can't show any weakness. 'Kay?"

Her glare hardened, "Why don't they understand" she grumbled, "Their sending kids off to die"

"It's a great honor, Jay. You need to understand that." He murmured to her, "And if someone wins, we get stuff we need. Like food, not everyone is a wealthy as us."

Blaze looked around at the people who had come to the party. It happens every year, two hours before the games. Two children, normally around the age of seventeen would be selected to go into next year's games. But that only happened at the end. The rest of the party was to celebrate the two people chosen to volunteer this year.

And this year it was him, Blaze. And his training partner, the girl whom he had known since he was only seven. Ruby. He looked around for her, he had seen her at the start of the celebration, after he had managed to shake off his parents. Who were being disgustingly proud and cheerful. Yes, he knows that it was a great honor and everything. But really, they were just taking it way too far.

Finally he spotted her, standing by the drinks. Away from the crowd of excited adults. Blaze quickly makes his way to her side smiling,

"Boy, am I glad to see you, Ruby." He told her, being greeted by silence, which is when he noticed how she looked. Her face, too pale and her hands shaking. Just small tremors, unnoticed by everyone else, but him. "Ruby?" he asked gently "Are you okay?"

Ruby looked up, briefly looking at him before her eyes shifted to the crowd of people mingling together excitedly.

"I'm Fine" she tells him, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just – I have to go"

She takes off slipping into the crowd and disappearing. He considers following her, but a glance at the clock on the wall tells him, that it was almost time to begin the Reaping. A small jolt of worry fills him. He knew how important it was for the two of them to make a good impression during the Reaping. That was when most of the sponsors picked who they would support. Those who looked strong, and confident, and right now Ruby looked anything but.

Which was not usually how she acts. From a young age they had been taught to hide their feelings, conceal everything. Feelings were weakness. Weaknesses would get you killed. So whatever Ruby was feeling, had to be bad if she was showing it. With that thought his mind was made up, he had to find Ruby. Make sure she actually was okay, and to help her pull it together.

Just as Blaze was about to move, there was a ringing sound through the building, and the rest of the District.

The Reaping was about to begin.

With a sigh, Blaze let the flow of people direct him to the main square. Signing in was quick and easy, and as he made his way to the eighteen year old section, random people clapped him on the back and wished him luck or congratulations. He just smiled, and nodded. Looking at other boys his age, he could see that many of them looked at him jealously, and some even muttered under their breath. He couldn't stop the grin that came to his face at the sight.

Once everyone was in place, the Mayor stepped forward and the Reaping began.

Standing amongst the other 18 year olds, Blaze smiled sharply at everyone around him, and watched with satisfaction as many of the people staring looked away.

Almost without his permission his eyes slid to the girls section, seeking out Ruby. Almost at once he noticed her steadily paling face and the expression of dread hidden on her face. A sliver of doubt coiled in his stomach, he had seen that expression before, not many times, but enough to know what it meant.

Blaze steeled himself before looking up to the stage, watching as Herisen – their district escort – walked, or rather struted on stage, a large smile on his face. Blaze felt a smile tug on to his own face, and when Herisen called a greeting, Blaze's was one of the voices that cheered back at him. The man just seemed to have that effect on everybody. Blaze watched cautiously as Herisen retrieved a girls name and made his way back to the podium, and with his Capitol accent, proceeded to almost butcher the name read.

"Scarletta Gem!"

The silence only lasted for seconds, but was deafening.
And Blaze watched as a brunette girl from the sixteen's section stepped forward. He saw her blue eyes focus on a girl in the eighteen's, and a slight smirk turn up the corner of her lips. As Scarletta walked up to be greeted by Herisen. Blaze found the person she had been looking at.

It was Ruby.

And her expression was like a punch in the gut.

The relief that she had felt, still flooded her face. As she faced the stage. Her stiff posture more relaxed.

Blaze wrenched his gaze back to the front, as he listened to Herisen call for volunteers. Ignoring his friends worried gazes, he watched as Scarletta glared at the entire girl section, telling them that it was hers, and that none of them were allowed to volunteer, He had found himself smiling internally, because suddenly, he didn't mind having her as a District partner.

He stared blankly ahead as he watched Herisen pull out a boy's name. And made his way back to the podium, as he opened his mouth to read the name, Blaze stepped forward and called.

"I Volunteer"

Before making his way up to the stage, his head held high.

Once he was on stage, Blaze was greeted by Herisen.

"Well young man. What is your name?"

"Blaze Silversin" he replied proudly.

Herisen nodded, smiling kindly at him, before signalling for the two of them to shake hands. Blaze turned towards Scarletta and looked the younger girl in the eye.

What he saw was fear. But that was buried deep beneath excitement, and the thirst to win.

And he was okay with that.

As they two of them were escorted to the Justice Building, Blaze decided that Scarletta would make a good District Partner.