From The Treaty of the Treason. In the penance for their uprising each district shall offer up a male and female tribute between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public reaping.

These tributes will be delivered to the custody of the Capitol then transferred to a public arena where they will fight to death until a lone victor remains.

Henceforth and forevermore, this pageant shall be known as the Hunger Games.

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Chapter 10

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(Natasha P.O.V)

After my session for Haymitch, I quickly met up with Steve and we spent the rest of the day together. Tomorrow night is our chance to go on stage and say our last thoughts and words before going into the arena to fight for our death.

The day seem to go by extremely quickly, too quickly for my taste, but overall Steve and I had a wonderful day together. We spent what little time we had left on the rooftop, talking about nothing in particular, but everything. We didn't speak about the painful topics such as our families, and home, but we did about our likes and dislikes. I learned a lot about Steve that day. More than I already knew. He obviously knows how to cook, loves to draw, loves to watch the sunset and sunrise, always was an early riser and his favorite subjects in school were English and History. English because he loved to write and History because he was always interested in what happened before the games were issued as a mandatory rule in our world. Steve hates thunderstorms and doesn't like bullies.

It isn't until that day that I realized it was so easy to talk to Steve. I told him all my fears, my goals and even my deepest darkest secrets that no one has ever known. Not even Gale whom I told, almost, everything to. I trust Steve and it won't make a difference anymore. I'll be dead so it won't impact me. I told Steve about my hunting trips, how I would leave district 12 to go and hunt game for my family. What I say outside the fence of district 12 and what Gale has expressed when we're alone in the woods. He doesn't seem unfazed by our conversations and looks to be smirking and agreeing completely to what I'm telling him. Talking to Steve is so much easier then talking to Gale.

Effie and Haymitch left the two of us completely alone. We ate on top of the roof, we laid in the sun and just talked.

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In the morning, I'm roused by my prep team who are hanging over me. My lessons with Effie and Haymitch are over, this day belongs to Phil.

Turning my head, I reach out to grab onto Steve, but realize he's not there. I find his side of the bed completely empty and frown, despite the people in front of me.

The team works on me until late afternoon, turning my skin to glowing satin, stenciling patterns on my arm, painting black spiders on my fingertips on my twenty perfect nails- which thoroughly impresses me how nice they come out. Then Venia goes to work on my hair, weaving strands of red into a pattern that begins at my left ear, wraps around my head and then falls in one braid down my right shoulder. They erase my face with a layer of ale make-up, and draw my features back out. Huge dark eyes, full red hips, lashes that throw off bits of light when I blink. Finally, they cover my entire body in a powder that makes me shimmer in gold dust.

Soon Phil enters with what I assume is my dress, but I can't really see it because it's covered. "Close your eyes,"

I can feel the silken inside as they slip it down over my naked body then the weight. It must be forty pounds and I can't help, but give a shrug of compliant. "Is this supposed to be heavy?"

Phil chuckles from behind me and I use Octavia's hand as I blindly step into my shoes, glad to find they are at least two inches lower than the pair Effie had me practice in. There's some adjusting and fidgeting. Then silence.

"Can I open my eyes?" I ask

"Yes," is Phil's reply.

The creature standing before me in the full-length mirror has come from another world. Where skin shimmers and eyes flash and apparently they make their clothes from jewels. Because my dress is entirely covered in reflective precious gems, red and yellow and white with bits of blue that accent the tips of the flame design. The slightest movement gives the impression I am engulfed in tongues of fire. I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun. For a while we all just stare at me.

"Oh Phil," I finally whisper. "Thank you." I look so beautiful and I hope it's enough to distract the audience from whatever comes out of my mouth. Phil now has given me hope with my outfit. I can't wait to show Steve.

Phil comes up beside me and adjusts the bow on my back. He leans in and whispers, "Your ravishing. Now Natasha, because this bodice is so fitted, I don't want you raising your arms above your head. Well not until you twirl, anyway."

I raise an eyebrow at him, "I'll be twirling?"

He chuckles and nods his head. "You'll see you. Save it for the big finale though."

"You give me a signal so I know when," I instruct.

"All right." Phil looks at me and stares at me for awhile and I can't help, but shift uncomfortably on my feet. I clasp my hands together in front of me and take a seat.

"Something up?" I ask

"What? No.. I was just… never mind. So Haymitch said your supposed to be mysterious." I nod my head and watch him as he walks next to me and takes a seat. "Why mysterious? Why did Haymitch choose that?" I frown and look down avoiding Phil's stare as I remember Haymitch's words from our session.

I mutter quietly, "Haymitch thinks I'm sullen and hostile."

"Well you are…" I frown, but it quietly turns into a smile. "around Haymitch. I don't find you so. The prep team adores you. You even won over the Gamemakers. And as for the citizens of the Capitol, well they can't stop talking about you. No one can help, but admire your spirit."

My sprint? This is a new thought. I'm not sure exactly what it means, but it suggests I'm a fighter. In a sort of brave way. It's not as if I'm never friendly. Okay, may I don't go around loving everybody I meet, maybe my smiles are hard to come by, but I do care for some people.

Phil takes my hands in his own, "Well I don't want you going for that angle. Your too young to be seen as mysterious and frankly, I like you the way you are." I look up at him with big hopeful eyes.

"Really?" He nods his heads and starts thinking of something. Once an idea comes to mind he faces me and speaks in clear cut voice,

"Suppose when you answer the questions, you think you're addressing a friend back home. Who would your best friend be?" I don't hesitate.

"Gale. Only it doesn't make sense, Phil. I would never be telling Gale those things about me. He already knows them. "

"What about me?" Phil asks, "Could you consider me a friend?" Of all the people I've since I left home, Phil is by far my favorite. I liked him right off and he hasn't disappointed me yet. "I think so, but-"

"I'll be sitting on the main platform with the other stylists. You'll be able to look right at me. When your asked a question, find me and answer it as honestly as possible."

"Even if what I think is horrible?"

Phil chuckles under his breath and nods, "especially if what you think is horrible." "You'll try it?" I nod, it's plan at least. Or at least a straw to grasp at.

Too soon it's time to go. The interviews take place on a stage constructed in front of the Training Center. Once I leave my room, it will be only minutes until I'm in front of the crowd, the cameras, off all Panem… Uh-oh. As Phil turns the doorknob, I stop his hand. "Phil…" I'm completely overcome with stage fright.

"Remember they already love you," he says gently with an encouraging smile. "Just be yourself and be honest."

We meet up with the rest of the District 12 crowd at the elevator. Maria and her gang have been hard at work. Steve looks striking in his black suit with flame accents. He looks so attractive in his suit. Although Steve already has, giving me a smirk and a wink in my direction. While we look well together, it's sort of a relief not to be dressed identically. Haymitch and Effie are all fancied up for the occasion. I accept Effie's compliments on my outfit and makeup.

When the elevator opens, the other tributes are being lined up to take the stage. All twenty-four of us sit in a big arc throughout the interviews. I'll be last, or second to last since the girl tribute precedes the boy from each district. How I wish I could be first and get the whole thing out of the way! Now I'll have to listen to how witty, funny, humble, fierce, and charming everybody else is before I go up. Plus, the audience will start to get bored, just as the Gamemakers did. And I can't exactly shoot an arrow into the crowd to get their attention.

Right before we parade onto the stage, Haymitch comes up behind Steve and I and growls, "Remember your still a happy pair. So act like it."

That's when we hear the horns blaring and from where we stand, Caesar Flickerman- the man who has hosted the interviews for more than forty years- bounces on stage. It's a little scary because his appearance has been virtually unchanged during all that time. Same face under a coating of pure white makeup. Some hairstyle that he dyes a different color for each Hunger Games- this year Casear's hair is powered blue and his eyelids and lips are coated in the same hue. He looks freakish, but less frightening then he did last year when his color was crimson and he seemed to be bleeding. Same ceremonial suit, midnight blue dotted with a thousand tiny electric bulbs that twinkle like stars. They do surgery in the Capitol, to make people appear younger and thinner. In district 12, looking old is something of an achievement since so many people die early. You see an elderly person, you want to congratulate them on their longevity, ask the secret of survival. A plump person is envied because they aren't scraping by like the majority of us. But here it is different. Wrinkles aren't desirable. A round belly isn't a sign of success.

Steve nods towards our empty chairs and I nod pulling him along. When we come in view of the other tributes, I hold his hand tighter because my anxiety has risen even more. I can feel my pulse pounding in my temples. It's a relief to get to my chair, because between the heels and my legs shaking, I'm afraid I'll trip. Although evening is falling, the City Circle is brighter than a summer's day. An elevated seating unit has been set up for the prestigious guest, with the stylists commanding the front row. The cameras will turn to them when the crowd is reacting to their handiwork. A large balcony off a building to the right has been reserved for the Gamemakers. Television crews have claimed most of the other balconies. But the City Circle and the avenues that feed into it are completely packed with people. Standing room only. At home and community halls around the country, every television set is turned on. Every citizen of Panem is tuned in. There will be no blackouts tonight.

My attention is brought back to Caesar who starts out by telling a few jokes to warm up the audience, but then gets down to business. Pepper is first.

She looks provocative in a see-through, elegant, simple deep blue dress that compliments her strawberry red hair nicely. Her hair is pinned up with a few small blue flowers holding it in place leaving only a few curly strands out of the pin to frame her face. You can her mentor didn't have any trouble coming up with angle for her. With that flowing strawberry hair, sparkling brown eyes, her body tall and lush… she's sexy all the way.

Each interview only lasts three minutes. Then a buzzer goes off and the next tribute is up. I'll say this for Caesar, he really does his best to make the tributes shine. He's friendly, tries to set the nervous ones at east, laughs at lame jokes and can turn a weak response into a memorable one by the way he reacts.

I sit like a lady, the way Effie showed me, as the district slip by 2, 3, 4. Everyone seems to be playing up some angle. Clint, the boy from district 4, is a ruthless killing machine. The girl from district 8, named Jane, is sly and elusive and very intelligent.

Peggy from 11 is very bird-like when she flutters her way to Caesar in her simple, red dress that fits her top nicely and flows down past her hips along with the makeup her stylist put her on. She's very young and, in my opinion, doesn't need the dark red lipstick they put on her and the little blush and foundation to give her pale skin a glowing look. A hush falls over the crowd at the sight of this magical wisp of a tribute. Caesar's very sweet with her, complimenting her eight in training, an excellent score for one so small. When he asks what her greatest strength in the arena will be, she doesn't hesitate. "I'm very hard to catch and if they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out." She says with a pointed look to the camera, a look reminding so much of a mother scolding her young one.

Caesar laughs and shakes his head, "I wouldn't in a million years."

The boy tribute from district 11, James Barnes, isn't as forthcoming like Peggy and is probably about 5 years older then her. He's very strong build and can handle every weapon the Training Center had to offer. I sometimes watched him train in admiration, especially after he rejected the invitations from the Career Tributes to join their crowd. Instead he's been very solitary, speaking to no one, showing little interest in training. Even so, he scored a ten and it's not hard to imagine he impressed the Gamemakers. He ignores Caesar's attempts at banter and answers with a yes or just remains silent. If only I were his size, I could get away with sullen and hostile and it would be just fine! I bet half the sponsors are at least considering him. If I had any money, I'd bet on him myself.

That's when they're calling Natasha Romanoff. I look back at Steve with a worried expression. He gives me a reassuring. He mouths the words 'You'll be fine' and helps me stand out of my chair. I feel myself, as if in a dream, standing and making my way center stage. The roar of the crowd sounds muffled and I can only process what I can see in front of me which is Caesar's hand outstretched to shake mine. After our shake, Caesar has the good grace not to immediately wipe his hand off on his suit. We take our seat and I see his mouth move, but don't hear anything. Then he's looking at me expectantly. Shit! What did he say? It's as if the words made no sense.

I bit my bottom lip and refrain from blushing when I say, "I'm sorry, what?" The crowd laughs and Caesar turns to the audience pretending to hide his mouth.

"I think someone's a little nervous," he turns back to me and sits back in his seat, crossing his legs. "I said, that was quite an entrance you made at the tribute parade the other day. Do you want to tell us about?"

My mouth feels dry and I cant speak. What do I say? What do I say? Phil's voice enters my hand, Remember they already love you, just be yourself and be honest. Be honest, be honest, be honest. "Well I was just.. hoping that I wouldn't burn to death." The audience erupts into another fit of laughter and Caesar even joins in shaking his head.

When the laughter dies down, Caesar turns to me. "I have to say, when you came out of that chariot, my heart stopped." He turns to the others after placing his hand over his heart for emphasis. "Did any of you experience this as well?" They shout lots of agreement towards Caesar's statement and start clapping. This is what I mean about Caesar. He tries to help you out.

I allow myself a smile when replying "So did mine."

He laughs, "Now Natasha, how about that training score. E-le-ven. Give us a hint of what happened in there." A smile appears on my face at the thought of my private session. Especially about the facial expressions of all the Gamemakers.

I glance at them on the balcony and bite my lip. "Um… all I can say, is I think it was a first." The cameras are right on the Gamemakers, who are chuckling and nodding.

"Your killing us," Caesar exclaims as if in actual pain. "Details. Details."

I address the balcony. "I'm not supposed to talk about it, right?"

The Gamemaker who fell into the punch bowl shouts out, "She's not!"

"Thank you," I nod at them and turn back to Caesar. "Sorry, my lips are sealed."

"Let's go back then, to the moment they called out your brother's name at the reaping," I feel my blood go cold and my entire body stiffen. Caesar seems to notice, but doesn't acknowledge it or call me out on it. My hands instantly tighten around the arm rest and I bit the inside of my cheek. Aiden. Why are we talking about him? I tried to keep him out of my mind as much as possible ever since I arrived at the Capitol. It was no use missing him if I'm going to be dead. So Steve and I stayed away from the topic of Aiden and my mother, although he talked wholeheartedly about his family. Caesar's voice quiet down now. "And Steve Rogers volunteered. Can you tell us about him?"

I gulp and find myself unable to speak again, but I try to force my voice to come. It comes out in a whisper and I don't try to push it louder. "Steve or-"

"Your brother," he says.

No, no, not all of you. But maybe Phil. I don't think I'm imagining the sadness on his face. "His name is Aiden. He's just twelve years old and…" You could hear a pin drop in the City Circle now. "He's adventurous, loves nature and is the sweetest, most innocent child you'll ever know. I love him more than anything in the world."

Everything around me remains silent and suddenly I wish very hard that Steve's arms where around me right now. I don't think I can talk about Aiden anymore in front of everyone without getting teary eyed.

"He sounds like a remarkable little boy." Caesar comments quietly. When the silence becomes deafening Caesar asks another question, one I didn't expect him to ask. "Be mindful I'm going to be asking Steve this question when it's his turn, but… when they called out his name at the reaping and Steve Rogers stepped up to volunteer, we just want to know… what you were thinking when you saw this courage young man step up to save your brother?" I look up at Caesar and a tear rolls down my cheek when I think of Steve. Finally something I can talk about.

Wiping my fallen tear I sniff and think back to the reaping day. "I remember feeling… hope, and, as much as I hate to admit it, happiness. I-I... I just was just so happy that my brother could survive. Could get out of this. I was full of hope and happiness that my brother wouldn't have had to go through this. Wouldn't have to suffer and definitely wouldn't have had to die. If I had a choice, a chance to save him, I'd volunteer for him if I could've, but I couldn't."

"You love your brother so much that you'd rather die than have him die instead." I nod my head and my hands subconsciously start playing with the fabric of my dress. Anything to distract me from the pain and suffering my heart is dealing with right now. Oh Aiden are you watching this? Can you see how much I miss you? Know how much I love you. A hand comes and covers the top of mine giving me a soft reassuring squeeze. I look up and find Caesar giving me a pity look, but he then turns it into a huge grin. Are we done now? I didn't hear a buzzer yet, I want to go back to my room and have Steve waiting there for me. He turns to the audience and starts fanning his face,

"Woo," he says and pretends to wipe a tear out of his eyes. "That was emotional now wasn't it folks, but now I'm sure Natasha here would like to discuss something more serious than her family." More serious? What? "Like this fabulous dress she's wearing." The audience erupts into a loud applause and Caesar sends me a wink. He's trying to distract me. Well I'll give him points; he actually made me smile with his comment. "Isn't it lovely folks? That is such a gorgeous dress." I smile and look to the audience and easily find Phil in the crowd. As the audience oohs and ahs over it, I see Phil make the tiniest circular motion with his finger, but I know what he's saying. Twirl for me.

Standing up, I raise my arms to my sides and spin once in a circle. The reactions are immediate. "Oh, do that again!" Caesar exclaims excitedly and so I lift up my arms and spin around and around letting the skirt fly out letting the dress engulf me in flames. When I hear the screams of the crowd, I think it's because I must look stunning, then I notice something is rising up around me. Smoke. From fire. Not the flicker stuff, but something much more real that devours my dress. I begin to panic as the smoke thickens. Charred bits of black silk swirls into the air and pearls clatter to the stage. Somehow I'm afraid to stop because my flesh doesn't seem to be burning and I know Phil must be behind whatever is happening. So I keep spinning and spinning. For a split second I'm gasping, completely engulfed in the strange flames. Then all at once, the fire is gone. I slowly come to a stop, wondering if I'm naked and why Phil has arranged to burn away my dress.

But I'm not naked. I'm not in a dress anymore. Not anywhere near being in a dress when I feel the tight leather pants around my legs. Looking down at myself I find myself in an all black, skin tight suit. The zipper in front is zipped halfway down, showing a bit of my cleavage, but not to revealing and the suit fits my curves perfectly, as if this suit was made specifically for me. There's a holster on my hip and thigh and a slight weight where both holsters are. Reaching down I grab what's inside each holster, bringing out two guns into my hands. A smile spreads across my face at the familiar feel of the gun's handle in my hands again. During my outfit transformation, my hair was let out of its braid by who knows what and now lays over both my shoulders, its curly strands ending in the middle of my back.

This outfit is better than any beautiful dress Phil could've put me in. This is an outfit where I can actually show people the real me. Natasha Romanoff doesn't wear dresses and make up and dance on stage like a prissy little girl. She's a badass girl who can fire a gun and isn't scared of anything. At the sight of the outfit Phil's voice comes into my mind, Actually she would fit the name Black Widow better. That's when I realize what Coulson has turned me into.

Coulson has turned me into the 'Black Widow'. His interpretation of how I'd look if I really were.

Now the audience knows the real me. There's a moment where the audience holds their breath and backs away from the stage a slight bit, but they make no choice of moving, only watching.

Upon realizing that I'm not going to shoot the guns in my hands they start to relax and there's a slight silence before the entire crowd erupts into a loud burst of applause. "Guns? Black cat suit? Youre like a spy of some sort. Well hats off to your stylists. I don't think anyone can argue that that's not the most spectacular thing we've ever seen in an interview. Phil, I think you better take a bow!" Caesar gestures for Phil to rise. He does and makes a small gracious bow. The audience breaks into a wild applause. I can barely hear the buzzer that indicates that my three minutes are up. Caesar thanks me and I go back to my seat, my outfit now feeling lighter than air.

As I pass Steve, who's headed for his interview, he doesn't meet my eyes. I take my seat carefully, but aside from the puffs of smoke here and there, I seem unharmed so I turn my attention to him. He has the audience from the get-go though; I can hear them laughing, shouting out. He gives the audience all his beautiful smile that always makes me weak in the knees. I can even see a few people of the crowd faint at the sight of his smile. Everybody loves Steve Rogers and no one can get enough of him. Caesar and Steve start out with Caesar asking him what has impressed him more since he got here. Steve answers without hesitation, "The many different colors of paint you have here. It's extraordinary, I didn't know there were that many colors." Then they have a quick discussion of Steve's favorite hobby, painting and drawing. I'm still in a daze for the first part of Steve's interview, but I'm coming back into focus when Caesar asks him if he has a girlfriend back home. Steve hesitates, and then gives an unconvincing shake of his head.

"Handsome lad like you. There must be some special girl. Come on, what's her name?" I stiffen for the slightest moment until I see Peggy's eyes glance back at me before going to Steve. I relax and try to remind myself that Steve wouldn't tell. He couldn't tell…

Steve sighs and runs a hand over his face, "Well, there is this one girl. I've had a crush on forever. Since we were children and I finally had the courage to go up to her and ask her out. She said yes." I see Steve smile slightly, his eyes down casted and somber. "A lot of boys like her and I'm just glad I got to her first before anyone else." Steve replies meeting someone's eyes in the audience and nodding, but swiftly turning his attention back to Caesar. The interaction with the one person in the audience was so quick that if you weren't watching Steve closely enough, you wouldn't have even noticed. Oh no...

"Well I think I speak for everyone when I say we're glad you got the girl. So here's what you do. You win, you go home so you can be together forever. Right folks?" Caesar asks the audience laughing out loud with them.

Steve allows himself a smile, but shakes his head. "I don't think winnings going to help me much?"

"Why ever not?"

Steve's lips press in a hard line before coming to a resolution in his internal conflict, "Because… she came here with me."