This in an AU, setting in during Chapter 21 of Everybody's Darling. Yes, I'm doing an AU of an AU. I know, I know, I just couldn't help myself...
)o(
Peeta arrives at the clearing a split second to late. His scream of pain and fury echoes through the arena as the boy from Four turns around in surprise, barely having enough time to wrench his weapon out of Primrose's body and turn to face his new opponent before Peeta is upon him, ending the life of the killer of his love's sister quickly and bloody.
He scoops up his little District partner, who reaches out and clings to him, whimpering in pain. He wants to hold her and cry, lie down by her side an let her take her last breath in peace, but the others are coming. He disarms Glimmer and injures Marvel, fleeing the scene with the dying girl in his arms.
No one follows and he sets her down, pushing her hair out of her face."Hey, Prim. You'll be okay. It'll be fine, Prim. Okay? It'll be fine."
She knows he is lying, of course, she is a healer. But she doesn't argue his point."Tell me how you fell in love with Katniss."
And he does, tears streaming freely down his face, his hands red with her blood as he relentlessly, hopelessly tries to stem the gushing of her wound.
A faint smile adorns her face as she listens."I always loved when Katniss sang for me."
Her voice barely more than a whisper, she chokes out the first few words of an old lullaby that, fortunately, the baker's boy recognises. He forces his sobs to a halt and his gentle voice carries sweet Primrose to the world beyond.
Deep in the meadow, under the willow
a bed of grass, a soft green pillow
lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes
and when again they open, the sun will rise.
Here it's safe, here it's warm
here the daisies guard you from every harm
here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
here is the place where I love you.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
a cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
forget your woes and let your troubles lay
and when again it's morning, they'll wash away.
Here it's safe, hears it's warm
here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow bring them true
here is the place where I love you.
As he sings the last lines, Prim's small hand is clasped by an equally tiny one, and Rue weeps for her ally and friend. And in that moment, Peeta Mellark knows that his fight is not over. He may have failed Primrose, but he can still save Rue.
And he can do one more thing for Prim.
"Guard her,"he tells Rue. They aren't allowed to have her body. Not yet. He gathers arms upon arms full of flowers and lays his sweet, innocent District partner to rest in a bed of petals. He carefully closes her eyes, kissing her forehead and gathering Rue into his arms as she still cries, refusing to leave behind the other girl. He tries to make his voice soft and soothing but it breaks anyhow."No one can hurt her now."
He marches all day, looping around the Cornucopia and heading straight for the field beyond. Another cannon sounds. He doesn't know it, but his strike at Marvel is the reason. The other Careers decided to "put him out of his misery". Glimmer has fled the alliance. Peeta marches on. Rue has long since fallen asleep in his arms, having exhausted herself crying.
Peeta does not look up as Prim's face lights up the night sky.
Thresh appraises the other boy as he reaches him, not sure what to think of the blond who is holding Rue so tenderly and does not even try to hide his tears."Your little girl died."
"Yours shouldn't,"Peeta rasps.
They work together from there on, a single shared nod all that is needed. They will both give up their lives to send home little Rue.
She doesn't know it, of course. She still cries for Prim, latches on to both her protectors as if they were her brothers.
Between the Gamemakers, what is left of the Career alliance and Glimmer, who has gone rogue, the field is quickly diminished to eight tributes.
The girl from Five dies mysteriously, Glimmer has a fatal run-in with her former allies.
The remaining six are driven together by fire.
Rue is shoved behind her guardian angels as the Careers advance. Cato stays back, lazily twirling his sword as Clove takes on Thresh and Felicia flies at Peeta. He only laughs when the girl from Four falls victim to Peeta's blade and goes to replace her when suddenly, Clove cries out.
Cato screams in fury, his eyes deranged as he launches himself at Thresh, Clove dead at the boy's feet.
"Run!"
For all Peeta knows, it might have been Thresh's last word. He slings a shrieking Rue over his shoulder and darts from the scene.
They are only allowed half a day's rest before the mutts come. They only just make it up onto the Cornucopia. Peeta and Cato are struggling against eachother, both losing their weapons, and then, Cato has him pinned. He slams the younger boy's head against the gold metal over and over again, but Peeta doesn't give up and he's used to blows to the skull, so he isn't passing out as quickly as the boy from Two anticipated.
Suddenly, Cato releases him and Peeta sits up, rather dazed. Rue has launched herself at Cato, clinging to his back, her nails raking over the Career's face. Screaming and disorianted, Cato stumbles over the edge of the Cornucopia, dragging Rue with him to the ground where the mutts tear them apart before Peeta can even shout his small ally's name.
The boy who never wanted to win is crowned Victor of the 74th Annual Hunger Games.
He returns to his home District broken, only to find an equally broken girl welcoming him with open arms.
All of Panem is entranced by this boy, who would have so willingly given his life. With Katniss Everdeen by his side, he realises that the fight is still not over, the battle not yet lost.
Rue has younger siblings, Katniss's name is still in the reaping ball, countless children can still be saved.
He gives voice to the thoughts of rebellion. He stands tall and strong and no longer broken.
The Capitol cannot keep doing this to the Districts.
The whole country is in uproar, even parts of the Capitol. Two innocent young girls, the star-crossed pair from Two, strong, silent Thresh's sacrifice, the rumours about how Amber from Five chose to end things on her terms, her death not an accident, a Victor who'd rather have died. It was all to much for one year and they begin to see the Games for what they are.
An assassination attempt on President Snow is made at the Announcement of the Quarter Quell.
It fails, but it shows the people that they can try. Only who tries can also succeed.
And succeed they do.
Peacekeepers defect to join their brothers and sisters of the Districts in rebellion, an underground group in the Capitol disables most of the defensive pods, District Thirteen reveals its existence.
The rebellion is won, a council of leaders from all districts elected.
For now, Panem is at peace.
)o(
Yeah, that was kinda depressing. But all's well that ends well...?
(actually, I don't even have an excuse)