Seneca pulls his hands through his hair worriedly as he waits for Katniss to arrive on the roof. Why is he doing this, why does he feel this way about her? She's sixteen years old, and he's twenty-three. There is seven years in the difference which isn't too bad, but when it's Victor Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire, it just... It's wrong! He is deep in his thoughts when he feels someone nudge his arm and he turns his head. Katniss stands there, a slightly nervous look on her beautiful face (wait, what?).
He smiles at her before turning back to the view of the city. She stands next to him and they are silent for a minute, before he says softly "It's beautiful isn't it.", which earns him a murmur of assent from the girl by his side. She looks peaceful, looking at the sparkling lights layed out below them, like a map made of stars. "I have your answer, by the way", Seneca mutters, turning to Katniss. She looks at him with something strange in her eyes, something Seneca has seen in other womens eyes but never in Katniss'. Not when she looked at the male Tribute from her District, Peeta Mellark. Lust, he realised, but it fades as she seems to notice his watchful gaze.
Her grey eyes, typical of her District, turn stony and emotionless and her face straightens completely, the relaxed look disappearing completely. Seneca aches to reach out and touch her soft skin, trace her lips with his fingers, but he restrains himself. He feels tortured by these feelings, he has never felt this strongly about anyone before. This feeling of needing her, not just for her body, but for her. He wants to heal her, to apologise for the pain and loss he put her through in the arena. He wishes he could punish himself even more than he already has, just to drown the ache for her. He needs to see her, not this fake and emotionless image she faces him with. He wants to heal her scars, not just physical but mental, emotional, the ones every Victor is left with after the Games. Before he even realises he has spoken, he has said,
"I don't know why I do it. I wish that I could stop, but once you enter this job, there is only one way to back out. I hate the way I have to kill just to keep my family name feared. I hate the way I can't trust anyone. I despise the way I am blamed for these deaths though, when I have no choicebut to carry out Snow's orders. I don't want to, but it's the only option."
"If there was a way to get away from here, to forget about everything I have done since I took this job, I would gladly do it. But there isn't. If Snow finds out that I feel this way about being a Gamemaker, he would have me executed on the spot. The only reason I'm telling you this is because... I think I can trust you with it. You're a Victor- from 12 no less. I'm pretty sure you won't tell him, because from what I know, you hate him as much as I do.".
He pauses for breath, watching Katniss for a reaction. She has a stunned look on her face, and she sighs in frustration.
"So... You haven't got a choice, in what you're doing. That's what you're saying? Because that isn't true. You always, always have a choice. You want to know what I think? I think you are a coward. While everyone else in the same position as us is fighting, you just keep going with whatever Snow wants. I don't even care anymore. I don't care if there's someone listening, hell I don't care if you're going to go and tell Snow yourself! There is a Rising, right now. I know that you know about it, everone does. Everyone acts like they know nothing about it, but they do! It's going on right now, and you are going to get Rebels killed if you don't just stop what you're doing and get your goddamn act together!"
She yelled the last sentence, slamming her hands into his chest and shoving him backwards into the wall of the building. "Woah, calm down!" Seneca exclaims, shocked at her reaction. He takes a step towards her, and she doesn't move back. He sees the flames burning in her eyes, and can't stop himself anymore.
He reaches forward and touches her shoulder, a small smile on his face. Katniss flinches slightly but not enough to shake his hand off. Seneca lets his fingers trail down her arm and she looks at the ground in embarrassment with a small blush decorating her cheeks. He moves even closer to her and puts his hand under her chin, gently nudging her to look at him. She doesn't resist, watching him with the same lust in her eyes as earlier. She leans into his touch, and he cups her cheek tenderly. His lips are suddenly aching to touch hers and he leans forward.
She gasps as their lips touch, and he takes the opportunity to deepen the kiss. She tastes amazing, forbidden but amazing all the same. She starts to respond to him and he lets his arms wrap around her waist, pulling her as close as possible. Her arms are around his neck, her fingers playing with his hair, and she makes a soft noise of pleasure as he strokes his thumb along her hip. He pulls away and she blinks at him, getting her breath, and immediately turns her gaze to the ground. "I better go, Effie will be getting worried", she murmured and he nodded, disappointment in his eyes. "Can I meet you here tomorrow?" She asks in a moment of silence and he smiles, agreeing straight away. As she leaves he grasps her arm and turns her to face him, kissing her quickly but passionately. "Goodbye." He says with a smirk and he watches her leave, pleased with the night's events.