Intricate Strokes, Delicate Precision
Option C
By: KaKaVegeGurl
Author's Note:
Ah, Option C. In case you've forgotten, in this one, Peeta is saved by 13, and Katniss is caught by Snow. Enjoy.
Read on and have a nice steaming cup of yaoi.
~KaKaVegeGurl (A)
Question of the Week:
-Current Week: In my original story, you want me to address difficult topics such as teen pregnancy and loss of limb. Name one, or a few, that yer interested in seeing in my story.
-My Answer to the Last One: "Like a paper doll." - Prolly a trademark term I picked up from reading Pendragon, where he used it in an odd and incorrect way (soldiers dropping from the roof like little paper dolls)? I use it in the correct way.
Side Notes:
To save face, how low can you go?
Talk a lot of game, but yet you don't know
Static on the way, make us all say 'whoa'
The people up top push the people down low
Get down and obey every word
Steady getting mine if you haven't yet heard
Wanna take what I got? Don't be absurd
Don't fight the power: Nobody gets hurt
Steel unload, final blow
We, the animals, take control
Hear us now, clear and true,
"Wretches and kings we come for you."
Chapter 1 - Enemy Number One
Gamemaker, we had a deal.
And looking back from here, I think I've misunderstood my role from the beginning.
Because, I don't understand how you can keep us so confused and expect us to persevere. How can we, when everything happens in the dark? I was sure of myself before, but I don't understand what my life is for now. What's my purpose? What is your intent?
After all I've done to keep her alive and to keep us together, you put me here in this situation, and you expect me to know what to do next?
I can't stop or slow down at all because the ground is disappearing too fast underneath my feet. And it won't stop fading away.
Why don't you see how wrong this all is? She's innocent, after all.
And I don't want to think of how he's ruining her.
I'm not that cold.
I feel, sometimes, like she's completely out of reach. And other times I feel like it's only just that close. Barely a breath apart.
Times like this, I have to go outside and look from there. Access the damage and ability from a third person. One mistake could be her death. And I have to make sure that isn't a possibility, not even considered by Snow.
The first thing I do when I settle down into District Thirteen is request a trip to Twelve. And when Coin objects, I immediately threaten her.
"I already don't like you," I say into her face without a moments thought of hesitation, "If you want me on your side, you should probably let me go and see what damage has been done to the people of Twelve, and assist in any search."
Her eyebrows narrow and she flicks her fingers down on her folded arm like a drum. Impatient, angry, and cornered.
This woman is use to being in power, she doesn't like my position against her at all.
I wouldn't be bothered with it if it didn't mean the entire future of my world and the safety of the woman I loved. Because Katniss is also threatened by Coin.
"Just another Snow waiting to happen," I say.
Coin bares her teeth, "Fine, go and visit Twelve. But you're going without our guard."
"I don't need it," I say, turning my back to leave, "I've lived through Hunger Games, this is just another Arena."
I'm not even needing to say these things, she's feeding her own fire, I'm just adding some gasoline to it; and enjoying the heat from the flames licking high into the sky in front of me.
So I leave her to her silent hating and Haymitch grabs my arm once we're out in the hallway.
"Peeta," he hisses and I look at him with a raised brow, "I... I hope you know what you're doing, kid."
I flash him a sly grin, "Of course. I know exactly what I'm doing. But, in all honesty, I'd like to know if my family, and Katniss's family, are dead or alive. And what about Gale? I don't particularly like the guy, but he means a lot to Katniss."
Haymitch nods at last and walks with me, "I'm going as well."
"No, Haymitch," I start to argue but he takes my arm to stop me again and then gives me a stern look, "Alright. I guess company won't hurt."
Company doesn't hurt.
Because, when we reach District Twelve, it's obvious that even Haymitch is not enough.
Twelve is ruined, smoke still attempting to settle, but who could miss the crowd of people standing out in the forest before we reached the town.
Haymitch takes us down in the Victor's Village, which is untouched apparently, and we set off together into the forest to meet up with the survivors.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Gale says, holding his body up lazily against a tree, staring at us, "Where did you two come from?"
"Thirteen," I start to explain before Haymitch can say anything, "Apparently there's a big rebellion going on. Care to join us?"
Gale grins wide, "Thought you'd never ask."
"So how many are left?" I question him.
"I've got about nine hundred," He says softly, looking back behind him, "Including Katniss's mother... And Prim. But your family–"
"Wasn't as important," I finish and nod, "I understand." I do, honestly do, but it doesn't stop it from hurting.
Gale's look falters for a moment and then he stands up straight, "What are we doing?"
I turn back to Haymitch, "You go and tell Coin that there are nearly or at least nine hundred survivors. I'll talk to them here."
He doesn't argue, he just turns back and walks towards the Victor's Village again.
Gale makes a sort of snicker sound and I raise a brow at him, "So, where's Katniss?"
I shake my head, "Do you honestly think that the Capitol wasn't going to go after her first after what she did?" I ask sarcastically, "She's caught by Snow."
Gale's eyes widen and he starts walking with me further into the forest, "That must bother you."
"It does," I agree, "It bothers me a whole hell of a lot. But I'm not going to rest until she's back in my arms again. Coin be damned."
"Coin?" Gale asks.
"The Snow of District Thirteen," I explain, "Only, I think she's more of a threat then Snow is, honestly. She feels... Wrong."
Gale grabs my arm, "Wait a second," he says, sounding panicked, "You can't possibly mean that you want me to take my people into Thirteen with a possible threat for a leader."
"They're my people too," I say, taking my arm from his, "And you should probably be careful with the way you word things. I might start to think that you're being territorial as well, and we don't need a third Snow."
Gale gasps and puts his hands in his pockets as we continue again, "Sorry," he says at last.
"For what?"
"For acting like an Alpha male," he explains, "It's mostly because I don't like you, but that's not in your control... I'm glad you came for us."
"You should be. It was my idea."
"Care to give me a brief sum up?" Gale offers.
I shrug, it's not worth it to argue with him, the best thing I can do is try to make friends, or at least acquaintances, "They took me to Thirteen, where everyone dresses the same, and you have to go on a schedule, and a certain diet, and everything's controlled. It's really the only choice, but it sucks for a choice. The best we can do is accept, and that way we live. But we'll be sitting on the top of an enemy similar to the one we're wanting to defeat. She power struggled with me when I set my feet down, and then she power struggled with me when I wanted to come here."
"The enemy of your enemy is typically an ally of yours."
I roll my eyes, "That's what she said. A simple, coy remark meant to make you overlook who you're joining sides with."
Gale shrugs, "So what's the problem?"
"The problem is," I say, "I'm not falling for it. And I want Katniss safe."
"So what are we going to do?"
"We?"
Gale stops and stares at me, "Are you kidding? I love Katniss just as much as you do, if not more. I'd kill for her, Peeta–"
"Yeah?" I ask, "Well there's a difference between saying it and doing it. And seeing as I've actually done it, I can say 'I've killed for her'. Can you?"
He falters, eyebrows narrowing and looking away, "Of course I can't. But that's hardly my fault. I haven't gotten the opportunity before, have I?"
"Maybe you should've applied for more tesserae."
Gale moves forward and grabs me up by the collar of my shirt, "Look, I'm offering you company and alliance here. Do you want it or not?"
He stares so deep into my eyes, so close, that I can smell his sweat.
I wait, feel his hands squeeze the collar in anticipation and then I lean in, "I want it," I breathe into his face and he lets me go.
"Alright then," he says at last, brushing his hands on the pants he's wearing.
I straighten up my ruffled collar and join him on the rest of the walk through the forest. He's quiet, hardly even there, like a ghost. Just like Katniss.
We reach this large mass of people in the forest and the first thing that happens is Prim. She comes running through the people and jumps into my arms. Just as tall as Katniss, I wrap my arms around her small waist and lift her up into a bear hug.
"Peeta!" She's gasping happily and I think she's crying.
"Hey Little Duck," I can't help smiling and feeling a sense of complete satisfaction, knowing that she's alive and safe.
When I look up again, I feel a hand on my arm and then I take up Katniss's mother in a hug as well.
Gale, from our side, watches in annoyance before looking away.
I pull out of the hug and look down at the two women, "How are you guys?"
Prim smiles wide, "Glad to see you, we were so worried."
"You were worried?" I joke, brushing a tear from her cheek, "You have no right. I had to hear about Twelve getting bombed."
"Where are we going?" Katniss's mother asks.
I back up and look at them, "We're taking you to Thirteen. It's safe there, from the Capitol, and I can't imagine them not wanting the company."
The mass of people crowding around us seem satisfied with this answer. But it has me nothing but worried.
I can feel my stomach twisting nervously.
If Coin wasn't upset about my demands before, how will she feel when I bring in nine hundred of my own people? She'll see them as my weapons, my power struggle against her. In order to counter this, I have to do the only thing there is left.
I have to extend an olive branch.
With the leftovers of District Twelve settling in, I send in a request to talk with Coin nearly at once. In less then minutes, it's denied.
I eat at the table in the lunch room on my own, barely tucking into the bread, before Gale takes a seat across from me. I look up and raise a brow, "Do you want something?"
Gale glares, staring at me while he picks up his own bread, "This place is like a prison."
"Or a graveyard," I comment.
Gale holds out his wrist and shows me this cuff thing on it, "It's some kind of status here. I think Coin is hoping that... I hate you more then I do."
His comment raises my brow just as it relaxes, "She's already trying to latch into my enemies."
He nods.
So much for an olive branch.
"That's..." I stand up and move to leave the lunch room but Gale stops me.
"Where are you going?" He asks, "What are you going to do, Peeta?" He's concerned, but he doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does.
"I'm getting out of here," I explain, "I need some air."
When I try to leave the lunchroom, I'm stopped though, because of the food on my tray.
The Peacekeeper, holding his hands out to me, watches close at my actions as he says, "All food must be eaten here in the Lunch room only, you can't take it with you."
I look down at the tray in my hands as Gale walks up to join me.
"We have to eat here?" He asks.
But I can't hear anything else. Alarms are going off in my head and I get the immediate feeling of fear. Memories of doors locking in the night and being lead around like a doll on a string.
The next thing I know, I'm slamming the food, the grits and greasy sausage, into the Peacekeeper's face, tray and all.
I leave the lunch area at a sprint, someone behind me and when I turn back, I see Gale. Not pursuing, but following. It settles me for only a moment and we reach the exit.
The Peacekeepers at the door attempt to stop me as well, but I tackle one down, grabbing the gun from his hands and slamming it against his helmet, he stops struggling and I stand up as Gale knocks out the second one.
Peacekeepers start filling the room, but I'm still fighting against them, struggling and kicking against the bodies until Coin's voice stops everyone.
Gale, heaving with breath, face red and angered beyond imagination, glares a death look at Coin as she walks forward.
"Peeta Mellark," Coin says, smiling wide, "What are you doing?"
"I want out," I explain.
Coin frowns, "What ever do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, Coin," I explain, "I want outside. I want to be outside. We're not your prisoners and you can't treat us like we are."
"You're our guests," She tries to explain.
"Guests are allowed to eat their food wherever they want. Guests are allowed to go outside."
"Peeta," she argues, "Don't you think you're acting... like a child?"
"No," I argue back, struggling against the Peacekeepers that are holding me against my will, "I think I'm acting human. I think I'm acting reasonable, considering that we had more freedom back in District Twelve when it was under control by the Capitol."
Almost immediately, I feel a stutter from one of the Peacekeepers, the one on my right arm, he lessens his hold.
Coin leers, glaring daggers at me, "We do what we have to do."
"'Have to do', or 'want to do'?" I ask, "What are you trying to do here, Coin? You can't even try to convince me that you should be the one leading Panem. What kind of joke is that, honestly? One you think I'd fall for?"
"Leaders must have control and order," Coin says softly, coldly, "Most leaders are outrageous thinkers."
"I'll agree with that," I say, "But that doesn't mean that they're acts are unreasonable. And you're control here, it's unreasonable. You're a spider, threading a web."
A second Peacekeeper lessens, the one across my torso, and I see that the ones holding Gale do it as well.
"We're people, Coin," I explain, "Not animals to be herded around. We need a sense of freedom, or we don't work right. And I'm not going to work with you until I feel like you're not going to take me down the second that Snow is out of the picture. You'll kill me, and you'll kill Katniss. You'd kill her, after everything she stands for?"
Coin's eyes flash and before she says anything, I drop the bomb.
"Ah," I say, my eyes widening in a fake, yet convincing shock, "That's what you want. You're going to make a martyr out of her. And use her death as your fuel to lead the rebuilding of Panem, so that you can take over. So we'll be dead before we even get to Snow, then."
Gale stares at me in shock and surprise, quiet, but I can feel his growing impatience. Good thing he knows not to say something stupid.
"You're a child," Coin argues, "You don't understand anything and you're making foolish assumptions."
"No," I say softly, staring at her, "I think the only assumption I have is what's really going on. I'm a pretty good judge of character. I may be a bit paranoid, but I'm not mind-washed enough yet, like your current people have been for years now, I'm sure. I'm not in your fan base. And I don't believe a word you say."
Her face flares so much that the Peacekeepers tighten their hold again.
I have to get them on my side more if this is going to get anywhere. Men don't just make snap decisions because a pretty boy that was on televisions all over Panem says so.
"Let me remind you," I say, "Or rebuff your memory. This rebellion, this war, is for freedom. It's for not being a slave to them anymore, stopping the Hunger Games, and being able to live our lives as we wish. And here in Thirteen, you've merely created the current Panem replica. Pawns, these people are your pawns. And you think you're the queen of them."
As I talk, I slowly relax all of my muscles, and the Peacekeeper's holding me relax as well.
"Stop talking, you idiot," she starts to say more, but if there's a moment I could hesitate, I don't during this one.
I drop my left arm and slip the dagger from the Peacekeeper's belt behind me, and then I slash up as fast as I can. The blade slides over her throat and blood sprays out, dotting my face and clothes.
She's struggling until she's on the floor and the Peacekeepers around don't know what to do.
Some of them start to raise their guns, but others do back at them. Half guarding, half protecting.
Blood pours out from the body as Coin dies, and no one's made a single move to save her.
Gale's gasped in shock and staring.
If there's one thing I've proven, it's that I kill for Katniss.
Hopefully this move hasn't killed me at last.
Even if it has, I won't regret it.
I promised that I'd get rid of things that threaten Katniss, with my life. And this was the biggest. Cato, Coin. You're next, Snow, if I live to see it.
Ending Notes:
Yes, that just happened.
It's pretty much my werd that whatever I write is what happens, I don't change things.
And this is all Lady Gaga's fault. I was kinda listening to remixes of Bad Romance, and then Peeta killed Coin. ^^;
*Vanishes to Option D*
~KaKaVegeGurl
