…I'm a horrible liar.
I'm sorry, I really did mean to update sooner. But I completely forgot how busy my fall was going to be and XP Hopefully, the next chapter won't be that far from coming. Don't hold me to that, though. I'll do my best.
I don't own Hetalia. Or The Hunger Games. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention earlier that this contains yaoi. But you've probably figured that out by now, haven't you?
Chapter 3
Stars
Stars… It's been so long since I've seen ones such as these. How strange. Panem raised an arm to the heavens. The lights of the Capitol always blocked out these natural beauties, forcing him to look at holo-ceilings of the night sky. Light such as this couldn't be replaced, though. Their natural beauty was unable to be imitated.
Suddenly, it was no longer the sky that he was staring up at. It was a tri-colored rectangle. Fifty stars arranged themselves in the upper left corner. 13 stripes, with alternating red and white hues, went horizontally down the rest of the shape. It was a design Panem knew all too well. A design he had burned all remnants of a long time ago.
Panem blinked, and the illusion was gone. The night sky once again was simply the night sky. Nothing more. He gritted his teeth. Why was he seeing that old thing, and now of all times?
Was he doing something right, or did he have it all wrong? It was impossible to tell anymore.
"Stop that!" snapped his boss, irritated. Panem realized that he had been sighing repeatedly.
"Sorry, sir. I don't know what's gotten ahold of me." He lowered his arm, hiding an insolent smirk that had been wanting to play on his lips a great deal lately.
"Humph." Snow walked up to the transport. "Get in." he barked, "We've lingered here long enough." Without a further word, he walked up the ramp.
"Sir." Panem didn't really blame his boss for being irate to him. It was his fault, after all, that the Hunger Games had ended the way they did.
He had been anxiously pacing the back of the control room, chewing his lip, when the tribute called Cato had grabbed Peeta around the neck, cutting off his air. Panem had frozen. Was Katniss going to shoot? Was she going to kill the last remaining tribute, but kill her newfound lover along with him? His stomach had churned with anxiety.
When Katniss had shot Cato's hand and saved Peeta from falling to a horrible death, he had breathed a long sigh of relief. But he hadn't allowed himself to celebrate yet. Cato was still alive, even if only barely. The rest of the night, he had denied himself sleep and resumed his pacing, much to the probable annoyance of the Gamemakers.
Finally, Katniss leaned over the edge of the Cornucopia and shot Cato out of mercy, which was oddly moving to Panem. Who knew how much longer the mutts would slowly maul him?
Then the realization had fully hit him. The two tributes left were from the same district! The star crossed lovers were alive and together! Panem had felt a burst of elation. Iggy… I've done it! Both Katniss and Peeta are alive! Neither had lost the one they loved. No one else would end up in the same state as himself. He was going to be able to see England again after all. A grin had lit up his face. One that wasn't sarcastic or greedy, for once in such a long time.
Then it faded. Claudius Templesmith was speaking into the microphone, and it didn't sound like an announcement of victory.
"Greetings to the final contestants of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner may be allowed." A this, Panem gave a cry of shock. "Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor."
Panem felt suddenly unsteady on his feet. Of course the rule change had been a trick. No way would more than one victor be allowed. It wasn't ever possible to keep his promise to Iggy and to make two other people happy. He was going to have to be selfish once again.
Bile rose up in his throat when he realized why this had happen. The drama… It was all about the drama. It was something Panem himself would have loved if his lover's spirit hadn't appeared when it did. It was the perfect formula for tragedy. Set two people in a dangerous situation and have them fall in love. They know only one can make it, but this makes it all the more romantic. Then give them the false hope of survival of them both, and watch them truly fall for each other. Have them finally get through their horrible ordeal. Then, once they become elated at the fact that they made it out alive, tell them the truth. That one of them has to kill the other. It was sickening.
He had given a startled gasp when his attention back to the screen. Katniss was pulling something out of her pouch. The berries! he realized Oh, God, they're going to kill themselves. No. No, I won't allow it!
Before he knew what he was doing, his hands were wrapped around Senaca Crane's throat. "STOP THEM! STOP THEM NOW!" Panem's murderous face had been reflected in the horrified eyes of the head gamemaker. Claudius Templesmith froze, mouth ajar.
"Only.. One… Victor…" Crane choked, trying to reach for a button that would no doubt kill one or the other.
Panem loosened his grip, but only slightly. "Two's better than none, correct?" he said coldly. "Besides, having lovers as the winners would get you the best ratings ever." The berries were being raised to their mouths now. He was running out of time.
Senaca closed his eyes and let out something that might have been a sigh if he wasn't so low on oxygen. Then he opened his eyes and gave Claudius a small nod. The berries were in their mouths now.
Trumpets sounded. "Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark! I give you- the tributes of District Twelve!"
Panem had allowed himself to celebrate at last as he released his grip. I'll be coming soon…
Back in the present, Panem took one last look of District 12. The distant shacks in the moonlight looked even more desolate then they did in the daytime. Any family in their right mind was huddled around whatever meager fire they could manage right now. Imagine, not one but two victors coming from this place. Before last year, it was unheard of. They had no training whatsoever.
While his boss had been busy threatening the Everdeens in his usual charming way, Panem had freely wandered the town. He didn't care about the suspicious or even threatening glares he got because of the bright clothing marking him as a denizen of the Capitol. He didn't care what they thought. Children who were playing some sort of chasing game froze as he walked by.
That was odd. The children in the Capitol never smiled like that. Sure, they smiled as much as the adults during Hunger Games season. Except comparatively , they were oddly dull. These smiles were not exactly happy ones, but they were cheerful none the less. Maybe it was because they were used to their situation and knew it was going to change. Or maybe… They cared about the one they were playing with. A childish smile of love.
"And I'm gonna spread justice and peace to the whole world…"
He quickly moved on.
A few Peacekeepers nodded at him as he passed their station. It was highly unlikely that they knew who he was, since that information was highly classified, but it was still nice to get some respect in an uncivilized place like this.
Finally, he stopped at the Mayor's home, in the nicer section of the town. A young girl answered the door. She looked startled when she saw him standing there silently. "C-Can I help you?' said who he assumed was the mayor's daughter. Nervously, she pushed a long strand of hair out of her eyes.
Panem smiled politely. "I just wanted to inquire about the mayor's health." He tilted his head. "I do hope he isn't overly stressed…?"
She chewed on her lip, looking relived. "He's doing fine. Of course, no government job is without it's hardships, but he's managing well." She forced a smile. "Anything else?"
Panem studied her for a moment. "That's all." he said finally. As she turned to go back inside, he called after her. "Have I seen you somewhere before? You seem… Familiar."
She froze and turned back around. "Perhaps you're thinking of my mother. People say I look a lot like her." There was an uncomfortable look on her face.
"Perhaps…."
She let out a long sigh. "Also…. My mother's twin sister was in the 50th Hunger Games. You might have seen her from recordings of that one." With that, she quickly bid him farewell and disappeared inside. Obviously, she had no idea of his true age.
Ah, yes. Panem remembered her now. One of the last remaining tributes from the previous Quarter Quell. Funny, that was a District 12 victory as well. The victor currently spent his time absorbed in his drink, he heard. But hey, they couldn't all be stars.
On the edge of the stairs he froze suddenly. He had remembered something else. That victor had more or less cheated by using the force field at the bottom of a cliff to throw an ax into his opponent's head. So he had done the same thing that he had threatened to do to Katniss. Kill everybody he had ever cared about. And force him to live with the that. No wonder he drank all the time.
Panem suddenly had felt sick to his stomach. Hurriedly, he had run back to the Capitol transport, where he had met a very grumpy Snow.
He glanced at his boss out of the corner of his eye. He had regained the usual small smile that was on his face and was staring out of the window smugly.
"Tell me, Alto, " Snow said, using his human name in case anyone was listening, "What do you think of the so called 'star crossed lovers'?"
Panem blinked. "What do you mean, sir?"
"I mean, do you think they really love each other?" Snow turned and faced him, face revealing nothing.
Panem looked horrified. "Of course, sir! Isn't it obvious? I mean, they almost died trying to stay together forever instead of being separated!" His shoulders were tense. What was he suggesting?
"You truly believe it?"
"With all my heart. If that love isn't real, then nothing is."
Snow shrugged. "If that is what you believe, then so be it."
Panem narrowed his eyes but said nothing. He wasn't going to let his boss shake his faith. He needed something to believe in.
The ache in his heart became noticeable again. It had hurt everyday for over a year, though most of the time he tried to block it out. If he stayed busy, he could pretty much keep his mind off it. But it never fully ceased. It only grew worse with every passing day.
Soon… It had to be soon… Oh Iggy, please don't let whatever it is take too long. I'm not sure how much longer I can take this waiting… He was going to go crazier if he couldn't see his lover again soon.
Yes, he was grateful that England came back to see him and to warn him. More than grateful. But… It was the worse form of torture possible. To be so close to him, to be able to see him again, but not touch him, not hold him close, not kiss him… That was hell. And maybe he would have been bearable if he had stayed for longer. Only, to have him leave only minutes after seeing again, it was practically worse than him not being there at all.
It was one bite of the forbidden fruit. He would eternally crave more.
And he had no idea how to get it.
That night, Panem dreamed of years past. The Avox attending his room at the moment froze when he started mumbling, then quickly ran out. The master's secrets were his own. If he found out that they were in his room while he was dreaming, they would be severely punished.
It was the middle of summer. A warm night breeze blew through their blonde hair.
"The stars are so beautiful tonight." England mumbled softly. They were in the back of America's convertible. The top was down, so they had a perfect view of the stars on this abandoned back road.
America had just finished unbuttoning the front of his lover's shirt and slowly moved his hand up and down England's chest. "Yeah, they're really pretty…" he whispered, staring into his emerald eyes.
England snuggled into him, his head resting in the crook of America's neck. "I wasn't talking about- Mmm." He was cut off by a tongue sliding into his mouth. "Git."
"I know." America breathed between kisses. When he finally pulled away, there was an idiotic grin on his face. "I love you, ya know that?"
England blushed. "I'm aware." he said, putting his hand on the younger countries' cheek. "I love you too. More than I can ever say." His lashes brushed against America's skin as he closed his eyes.
America smiled to himself as his gaze wandered down England's body. Then his expression turned anxious as he spotted a discolored bruise, previously covered by his shirt sleeve. "Iggy, what happened…?"
The country in question didn't even open his eyes. "I fell down the stairs earlier, it's really nothing to be con-"
"You collapsed again, didn't you?" America said softly, interrupting him.
England shifted slightly. "Don't worry about me. With Russia and all, you need to be worrying about your defenses."
"I don't care about that bastard! Spending time with you makes me happy, my boss should understand that."
"So you refuse to even take precautions?"
"I've taken them!" America cried, exasperated.
A queer smile came over England's lips. "I figured as much. Very well, I will protect you, since you refuse to protect yourself."
America sat up with a violent suddenness. "You can't do that! You'll get hurt!"
"If it was for you, I would be happy with it."
"No. I'm the hero. I'll be the one to protect you." He tilted his chin up so their eyes met. "Promise me that you'll stay safe, no matter what happens to me."
"Will you promise to keep yourself safe, then?"
There was a slight hesitation, then he nodded. "Yes, I will."
England sighed."Then I promise."
Panem sat up, gasping. He groaned and slammed his fist into the wall angrily. Why didn't I notice?! Why did I only notice now?! I would have realized something was up right then!?
England's fingers had been crossed.
A note on America's human name….
I've already decided on Alto for the first name, but I need help on the last name. So if you have an idea, please let me know!
Yes, this is my way to bribe people into reviewing. What can I say?
I hope I kept America more in character this time. _
If you're confused about something, feel free to ask! I always want to know if something that was supposed to make sense ends up being vague. But be warned, I might be revealing it in a later chapter, so don't be upset if I can't outright tell you.
R&R please!
