AN: I do not own the Hunger Games.
Thanks for the feedback on Chapter 1! Answering questions at the end of the chapter. Hope you enjoy Chapter 2!
17 District 2 Male
Tyrone "Tiger" Saxe
Interested In: Women
"Tyrone Saxe. Tyrone "The Tiger" Saxe. Tiger Saxe. My name's Tyrone Saxe, but you can call me Tiger."
I repeat my name in the mirror several times, testing how each version feels on my tongue. Today is finally here: Reaping Day. In just a few short hours, I'll be volunteering for the Hunger Games and not just any Hunger Games – the Quarter Quell. Sure, this Quarter Quell twist isn't particularly frightening, if anything it's less scary than a non-quell, but the gamemakers always throw in some surprises for Quells and this one won't likely be an exception. I'm not afraid though.
I can win this. I will win this. I'm sure of it, my whole district is sure of it. The other kids at the academy were confident enough in me to designate me the male volunteer this year. Of course, that was just as much my girlfriend's doing as mine. Both of us were already training to volunteer, one of us this year and the other the next, before the Quell was announced. When it was said that two tributes could win – two tributes that would be united by marriage, everyone knew Sky and I were perfect for the role.
Sky. She's perfect for everything. I glance to her sleeping form behind me, all sprawled out on the bed with her red-brown hair draped over the pillow and her face. Carefully, I crawl in beside her – hoping not to disturb her peace. The bed creaks softly under my weight, but Sky doesn't move. Slowly, I lay down beside her and reach my arms out to pull her into my embrace.
It's too bad I didn't think to remember she's a trained career.
"Ouch!" I yelp. Sky isn't too strong, but she sure is fast. In less than a second, her eyes snap open and she's jumped upwards. She grips my wrists tight and pins them above my head before a smile breaks the tension on her face. I don't move as she lifts herself up to straddle my legs.
"It's Reaping Day," she says.
"It's Reaping Day," I repeat, letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Sky laughs. "Plan on killing me before we enter the arena?"
"No, but I was planning on doing something else…" Sky teases. She leans down and her lips are just an inch away from mine when the door slams open. "Rose!"
Sky is quick to hop off of me as her little sister covers her eyes with her hands and mumbles apologies.
"Sorry!" Rose says earnestly. "I didn't see anything. I just came to see if you were awake yet. Mom said you should be getting ready soon."
"Yes, I am." Sky is up and out of the bed. "We've still got quite a bit of time left, Rose."
"Have you decided what dress you're wearing?" Rose questions eagerly. The poor girl is already in her own dress, a burgundy colored garment that must have been inspired by Sky.
"I'm not wearing a dress," Sky says as she digs through her closet. Hangers glide and scratch loudly against the pole holding up her clothes before she finally pulls out a flowy white blouse, something unusually plain for Sky's usual style. Especially for the Reaping Day.
"You're wearing that?" Rose's question isn't rude, just surprised. "But you have so many nicer things to wear and you always dress the best for the Reaping. What about the red dress with the ribbons you made?"
"Not this time." Sky pulls a pair of light blue jeans from her dress. "Some people don't take girls as seriously when they dress up. I have to show them I'm more than just pretty if I want to win."
"You'll have to wear something plainer than that if you want them not to think you're pretty," I joke, and Sky rolls her eyes as she steps inside the closet to change.
"They can think I'm pretty all they want," her voice carries through the shut door. "I just don't want them to think of me as only pretty. I need the sponsors to know I'm serious and capable of winning."
The closet door opens and Sky steps out to model her outfit for us. As I said, it isn't plain enough to disguise her looks. If anything, it accentuates her beauty and gives her a softer, angelic presence that something fancier would have hidden.
"Is this alright?" She asks, doing a spin and eyeing herself in the mirror. "Not as good as Katniss Everdeen, am I?"
"Better than her," I say, and Rose agrees with an aggressive nod.
"Alright then, makeup time. Aren't you going to get dressed, Tiger?"
17 District 2 Female
Sky Redwood
Interested In: Men and Women
After Tiger leaves to go home and see his dad, I finish up my makeup. Nothing too outrageous, just some light foundation and gloss over my lips for a natural look. I paint my nails a soft pink and add gold earrings and bangles (both my designs) to my look. My hair is pulled up into a simple half-ponytail. As I practice a number of expressions in the mirror – stoic, angry, determined, I know it's exactly what I was going for: gorgeous and dangerous.
Rose is delighted with my new style, so much so that she disappears from my room and returns a few minutes later in her own version of it. I smile at the miniature version of myself and offer to paint her nails to match mine.
"We look good, don't we?" I ask my sister as she blows her nails dry.
Rose nods. "Will you wear your necklace? The one I gave you."
"My token!" I almost forgot. It takes me a second of rummaging through my jewelry box to find my most prized possession: a golden necklace with a porcelain rose charm, a symbol for my sister. I clasp the necklace around my neck and align the rose so it's centered. "Now I'll always have a piece of you with me, even when I'm in the arena."
Rose looks like she's about to burst into tears any second. "I can't wait for you to come home. How long will it be?"
"Just a few weeks," I tell her.
I can't know for sure, but there's about a week of preparation in the Capitol after the Reaping before the games begin. The games can technically go on indefinitely, but the gamemakers will never let that happen lest they want their precious viewers to grow bored. Two, sometimes three weeks generally pass in the arena. Sometimes even less depending on the tributes and the arena. After the games end, the victors are typically treated for any injuries and remain in the Capitol a bit longer for various events – this year might be different because of the wedding. I'm not sure if it will take place in the Districts or in the Capitol, but I assume the Capitol. And then we'll be home. Hopefully.
The plan is for Tiger and me to win, but part of me fears that he'll die and I'll be left with someone else. What happens if I marry someone from another district? They haven't said anything about where this year's victors will live if they don't come from the same place. Will we get to choose? Or have the privilege to visit both? Maybe they'll let us live in the Capitol, which may be nice – I'll get to bring my jewelry to a higher level, maybe even become a well-known designer. But I'll miss my family terribly, especially Rose. Ideally, they'll be allowed to join us. Or at least visit.
17 District 2 Male
Tyrone "Tiger" Saxe
Interested In: Women
The Reaping goes relatively as I expected it would. Nobody challenges Sky or me when we volunteer, unlike most years where several people clash running to the stage. The escort is ecstatic to learn Sky and I are already in a relationship and plan to win the games together. I suppose she's already thinking of how she can profit off us – the more interesting we are, the better off she'll be.
Goodbyes happen after the Reaping. My family isn't large; my mom disappeared six years ago and to this day no one knows anything about where she went or if she's even alive now. After this long, everyone's assumed we won't see her again – I usually push the thoughts out of my mind. I still have my dad and until a year ago, my dog Buddy too. Dad's the only family visiting me, but I keep a necklace with a tooth that belonged to Buddy around my neck at all times.
Friends visit me too, all cheering me on and joking that I better share some of the money I receive after I win. The best of them is Roger, who unlike the rest doesn't joke. Instead, he bursts into the room quite forcefully and begins a lecture as always. It's as endearing as it is somber.
"You can win," Roger starts with, hands gripping my shoulder. His brown eyes are serious and glaring into my face. "But you have to be smart about it."
"I will be."
"You could make a lot of allies," Roger says. "You're so likable, it's annoying and everyone's going to want to ally with you. But you can't just ally with anyone, that will get you killed. I know you're naturally friendly and you're going to want to talk to everyone there, but you have to focus."
"I am. I am." I've trained my whole life for this. I couldn't be more prepared.
Roger's last minute advice continues. "Stick to what you're good at. Don't hesitate to kill when you need to. I know you'll want to work things out or you might find it hard to hurt someone you've allied with, but this is a fight to the death. You have to kill if you want to survive. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand," I assure Roger as he lifts his hands away and brushes one through his blonde hair. I give him a grin, which probably just comes across as cocky to him but a small smile breaks his expression momentarily. I can tell he's scared this is the last time we'll ever see each other.
The door opens, a peacekeeper says our time is up and steps into the doorway.
"Don't die," Roger says urgently. "No matter what you have to do."
"I'm coming home," I promise as the peacekeeper guides Roger out.
Author's Commentary Section
AN: Thank you for submitting Tiger and Sky, FandomsAreLoveFandomsAreLife! I love writing these characters and I'm excited to show everyone the plans I have for them!
What did you all think about this chapter? Let me know in a review. I know I glossed over the Reaping and goodbyes, but I hope that didn't make this chapter too choppy. I'm trying to mix up the way the Reaping chapters are constructed so it doesn't feel like you're reading the same thing over and over again.
Now, to the fun stuff!
I've posted the list of possible pairings up on my profile! I've also created a section there where I'm giving updates on the story. Basically, if you can't find the answer to something here or want to know when I'm going to update – check my profile! My PMs are always open as well and I answer all messages as soon as I see them there. You can also post questions in the reviews and I'll get back to you by either posting something on my profile or answering it in the next chapter. I'm hoping all of this makes it easier for you all (if you want) to get involved in the process of this story!
Answering your questions:
Will there be a sponsor system? – I love the idea of a sponsor system and it seems like it'd be fun to implement, but I don't think I will do one for this story. However, I would like to get you readers more involved and I'm open to everyone's suggestions! I plan on doing polls after all of the Reaping chapters are done with to determine the pairs and if a lot of you want, I'll also do polls on other things! If anyone has any ideas, PM me or drop them in the reviews!
I could do a poll to determine allies? Or a poll to determine who dies in the bloodbath? One to determine whose perspective I write certain chapters in? Those are random things I thought of just now, I'm not sure those would work out well. Let me know what you think + your ideas!
Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind and implement a sponsor system! We'll see how it goes!
Chapter Questions
Opinion of Tiger? Sky?
Do you like these two as a pair? Or think they would fit better with a different character we've seen thus far? (You can check possible combinations on my profile if you like).
What question(s) would you like to see Caesar Flickerman ask these two?
As always – don't feel obligated to answer all (or any) of these!
Finally, thank you all for submitting, reading, reviewing, etc.! I am having so much fun with this! To conclude, may the odds be ever in your favor and check my profile for information (if you want).