This could be his last chance. Their last night together. He truly wanted to believe that everything would work out alright in the arena, would go perfectly as planned, but in a practical sense, that was unlikely. There were bound to be some injuries. And some losses.
Beetee didn't want anything to be left unsaid. He and Wiress had a great working relationship, they got along, they were still very close, but it was all so different from the grand romance they had once had. At one point, they were head over heels in love. They had spent every day together and made love every night. Then, abruptly, he had frightened her away. He had wanted more than she could give, more than the Capitol would let her give, perhaps. She pushed him away and her mind grew more vague. As much as he loved her, as much as he wanted to help her, he couldn't force her to accept him in her life.
He could force her to listen now. If he died in the Quarter Quell arena, it would be with a clear heart. He wouldn't die without telling her one last time how much he loved her. Well, he would tell her once he gathered his courage, that is. He stood in front of her door for a solid ten minutes without being able to raise his hand and knock. It was a bit pathetic, he admitted. Mooning about in front of his ex-lover's door. He lifted his hand, let it just hover above the door. It opened suddenly, making him take a step back in surprise. Wiress stood in the doorway, staring at him with large eyes. "Oh!" escaped her lips.
Oops. Awkward. He fumbled to explain himself, to make this seem less creepy. "I was about to knock," he managed.
"I see that…" she drifted off. She took in his pajama pants, rustled hair, confused expression. "You'd better come in." He entered her room, amazed at how much more at home he felt in hers than in his identical looking one. It just smelled like her. It smelled like home. She sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for him to do the same. He rejoiced at the closeness, but it felt so awkward. He felt much more like a teenager than a middle aged man.
"I couldn't sleep," he said. "You either?" She shook her head. "I'm scared," he admitted. She took his hand.
"Me too."
He looked down at their fingers intertwined. This was how they belonged. There was no point in backing down now, after the arena they would either be dead or safe; there was no middle ground. They wouldn't have to keep a relationship secret out of fear of the Capitol. They could be together, provided she still felt the same. "Wire, you're my best friend. I wouldn't have stayed sane all these years without you." She smiled gently.
"Same." This made him smile, too. They sat in silence for a few moments, just holding hands and memorizing the moment. A happy, sweet moment for just in case.
He lifted her hand and gently kissed her wrist, right over the pulse. "I've never stopped loving you, Wiress." He met her eyes so she could see the sincerity there. "I don't think I ever could stop."
Wiress looked at him. Her fingers trailed over his skin, making him feel hot and needy. "I believe you," she told him quietly. "Love recognizes love." She leaned into him and brushed her lips against his cheek. Beetee's heart soared. She still loved him. That was all he needed to hear.
"If we make it…" she began to say. Beetee shook his head.
"Don't talk like that."
She gave him a wry look. "When we escape." He smiled.
"Better."
"After the arena, when we are safe. I will still love you. I will marry you." Wiress smiled up at him. It's what he had always wanted for them. It's what drove them apart in the first place. Beetee cupped her face and kissed her sweetly.
"My love," he murmured as his lips touched hers over and over. "Livewire."
She moved her head forward, capturing his mouth for a deeper kiss. Their passions rose in unison, Wiress only voicing what they both wanted. "Make love to me." Beetee wrapped his arms around her and held her body close to his. They had one last night together. That was all they were guaranteed. They would make the most of it.
I leave it up to the reader if you want to decide this is AU and she lives after all :-) Thanks for reading, and I love your reviews, feel free to let me know what sort of things you'd like to see more of.