The Tour
This is a Carol-Hunger Games crossover-was thinking of making it a full fanfic in its own right but just don't have the time to do it right now. Maybe when work calms down. In the meantime, enjoy!
Therese couldn't sleep. The train was racing her towards District 11 as part of her Victory Tour. She was dreading the Tour, especially to Districts 1, 2, and 4, whose tributes she had personally killed. As an orphan growing up in District 12, she had learned at a very age how to take care of herself. All the children in the orphanage had basic electrical and water skills, and extensive knowledge of edible plants, as they grew much of their own food. They knew how to be cold and hungry and survive. Therese learned to throw knives at twelve in order to protect herself from older boys who didn't take no for an answer. Screams didn't always bring an adult eager to protect a child who wasn't theirs. Therese was also an excellent tree climber. It was her job to climb apple trees in the fall to pick the ripe fruit.
She wandered out to the diner car and ordered a cup of sleepy time tea. The nightmares started a month ago, growing more violent each night. She saw the Career Pack coming at her, growing larger with each step and herself running like a squirrel. In her dreams, she killed them by decapitating them. Only they wouldn't die. Their headless bodies would keep chasing her, jumping at the base of the tree she scrambled up, the bodiless heads cheering them on.
In reality, she had collected pouches of something she originally thought was water. She found it hanging in the tree she climbed to get away from the Careers. That would be so like the Gamemakers, hiding water high in trees. Only it wasn't water. It moved and danced inside the pouch, implying it should not be drunk. When the Careers came at her, she didn't have any weapons, just the pouches. She dropped a handful from her tree onto them, not knowing what would happen. The liquid inside exploded on impact, killing everyone below her. The tree swayed dangerously but she managed to hang on. She survived up to that point by hiding. The Careers had killed everyone else by the second night and were hunting her down before breaking their alliance and being forced to kill each other. She took care of that by killing all six of the Careers at once, making her the Victor. A hovercraft transported her back to the Capital where she was put back together.
Disoriented, dehydrated and exhausted, her interview with Caesar Flickerman was not the best.
"The Victor of the 54th Hunger Games! Therese Beliviet!" boomed across the stage, the Capital, all of Panem.
Her escort Carol had to help her on to the stage, for she could barely walk. The Capital doctors had to do surgery on her back. When the Careers exploded, Therese was propelled forward then backwards with tremendous speed and force. Only her safety harness, a good grip and sheer luck kept her from being killed.
"You were considered a long shot, " Caesar said at her victory interview. "The Game Makers gave you a 6 on your individual assessment. How did you know those pouches would explode when you dropped them?"
She was indeed a long shot. Orphans in District 12 were even more malnourished than everyone else and were forced to take more tesserae than other children. One advantage they did have, however, was they knew how to be cold and hungry. They knew how to climb trees as they had an orchard. They had extensive knowledge of which plants were edible and which would kill you the second they touched your tongue. Therese was lithe and slender and the Careers were muscular and stocky. When the District 1 tried to the climb the tree after her, he didn't get more than a few branches up before the limbs couldn't support him. Few expected the fragile looking girl with the turquoise eyes to beat the seemingly unstoppable Careers.
"I didn't," Therese answered honestly. "At first I thought they were water, but something about them seemed off. Whatever was in them seemed to be moving, dancing almost. And they were hanging spaced apart, like someone had measured how far apart to put them. I just took as many as I could to see if I could figure out what was in it later. I dropped them more out of fear than anything else."
"We are lucky to have a victor at all in these Hunger Games," Caesar remarked. "I have never seen such a vicious initial bloodbath. And we are lucky you weren't blown sky high when you dropped the bags."
Therese nodded. She kept seeing the explosion, bits of the Careers scattered here and there as she clung to her tree. Arms and legs, heads and feet dotted the landscape as she was hanging on to her tree. She tried not to look but that was impossible. The random of thought that the human body held about nine pints of blood, multiplied by 6 people equaled 54 pints of blood soaking the ground was her last conscious thought. Knowing she had caused it was nearly unbearable, until she remembered the Careers were trying to kill her first.
Therese wondered how she was going to look at the families of Phineas and Ava , the District 4 tributes she exploded. How was she going to say she was sorry for their deaths when she was the one responsible? The fact they were trying to kill her first wasn't going matter to grieving mothers. Maybe it would have been better if she had died, Therese reflected as she stirred her tea. Her mother was already dead.
"Sleepless night?" a husky voice behind her asked. Therese jumped about a foot. Carol stood behind her in her bathrobe, a smirk on her lips
"Yes," said Therese. "I was just making some Sleepy Time Tea. Sometimes it helps with the nightmares."
Carol's blue eyes widened with concern and her smirk vanished. "Nightmares?"
Therese looked away, embarrassed. "Yes. I dream about seeing the people I….well, you know…."
Carol lay her hand on Therese's trembling one. "They were going to kill you if you didn't do what you did."
Tears streamed down Therese's pale face. "How am I going to face their families? When I killed them? What do I say to them?"
Carol rubbed Therese's back helplessly. "I will write your speech. Don't worry about that."
Therese broke into full fledged sobs. Carol rubbed her back, then pulled her to her and held her tight. "Come on," she said and half carried the still crying Therese back to her quarters.
She lay Therese down on the bed and sat down beside her. Therese finally stopped crying. Carol began to massage her shoulders and back. "Calm down. You didn't invent the Hunger Games. You did what you were supposed to. You stayed alive."
Therese made a sound between a sob and a sigh. But she was beginning to relax. Between Carol's soothing and the Sleepy Time Tea she drifted off to sleep.
A shriek awoke Carol an hour later. She stayed in Therese's room as she was worried about her. Therese had gone into the Games pale and thin but was more so now. Dark circles around her eyes indicated she wasn't getting enough sleep. Carol wasn't surprised she was having nightmares. That was common among Victors. What Carol wasn't going to allow to happen was the addiction that was also so rampant among the Victors.
"No! Stop!" Therese shrieked, twitching violently in her sleep. She woke up with a start, gasping. The District 1 tributes Ruby and Armani flashed in front of her eyes. In her dream, they were climbing the tree after her. When she got high enough the branches couldn't support their weight, the District 2 tributes Victoria and Bruta began swinging over from neighboring trees, throwing knives with near lethal accuracy. She jumped into the lake to get away from them, only to be cornered by the District 4 tributes Ava and Phineas. They were about to rip her to pieces when she woke up.
Carol wrapped her arms around the trembling girl. "Shhhh," she soothed. "You're safe."
Therese held on to her arm, shaking like she had seen the Devil. Which she had.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Carol asked softly. She knew what the dreams were like. She knew how the Games could shatter a person's soul. She wasn't going to let that happen to Therese.
Therese told her about her dream in choked whispers. "When do the dreams stop?" she asked. "When does all of this stop?"
Carol grimaced. She didn't want to tell Therese that it never stop, that soon President Snow would be prostituting her. If she didn't do what he wanted, he would kill someone she loved. Therese might be an orphan, but Carol knew she cared about the other children she lived with. She had friends at school and she would do what their sadistic president wanted to protect them. The thought of sweet, naïve Therese being subjected to that made her sick. Carol vowed to protect her as much as possible.
"We can talk about that later," Carol said. "Just try to get back to sleep."
"Will you stay with me?" Therese whispered. She felt like Carol's presence would keep her safe from nightmares.
"Of course I will," Carol said. Therese finally fell asleep in Carol's arms, feeling safer than she had in months.
For the rest of the Horror Tour (that's what Therese named it), that was the unspoken rule. Carol lay in bed with Therese, rubbing her back and holding her until she fell asleep. Sometimes it kept the nightmares away, sometimes not. But it definitely helped to have Carol there when she woke up screaming.
Therese was doing ok as they went from District 11 through District 5. She read the speeches Carol wrote, ate the meals the Districts prepared, and sometimes saw a few sights. There usually wasn't much to see, but she enjoyed seeing different areas of the country. She would've been most excited about seeing the sea in District 4 if she wasn't dreading facing the families of the tributes she blew up.
The night before they were supposed to get to District 4, she was a nervous wreck.
"What am I going to say to their families?" Therese fretted. Her dreams about decapitated and disembodied tributes attacking her were getting more vivid and more violent. She was practically jumping out of her skin. Every little noise made her jump.
Carol sighed. "I didn't want it to come to this," she said and reached into a bottle. She tapped out a lilac colored pill, about an inch long. She broke it into three parts and gave a small bar to Therese.
"This will help you relax. I will give you another bar tomorrow before your speech."
Therese looked at her mentor curiously. She swallowed down the small pill and changed into her pajamas. Within half an hour, her body began to relax. She fell asleep, the first sleep without nightmares in months.
"Here," Carol said the next morning at breakfast. She gave Therese the last two lilac bars.
"What is this?" Therese asked as she swallowed it with a sip of orange juice.
"Something to help you with the District," Carol said evasively. It was actually an anti-anxiety medication, similar to what was called Xanax in the past. Only it was now at least 3 times more potent than Xanax.
"Don't ever take these unless I give them to you," Carol warned. "They are very addictive if you take them too much. Some victors get addicted to them."
Therese understood why.
"Your tributes fought bravely," she said to District 4 soon after. The families of Phineas and Ava were on pedestals, their pictures behind them. Until I exploded them, she thought. The whole speech was a blur and it was a great relief when it was over. Carol and a District 4 representative took her to see the ocean afterwards. Therese loved the water. It was such a difference from the coal mines and green hills of District 12.
"Can I have another pill tonight?" Therese asked Carol on the train, en route to District 3. "It was so nice to sleep without nightmares."
"No," Carol said. "Those pills are very addictive. You didn't kill the District 3 tributes."
Therese grumbled a bit but didn't push it.
Carol didn't give her the pills again until they got to District 1. Therese was a wreck. Flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety attacks. District 2 had been terrible. The families of Victoria and Bruta looked like they would've torn her to pieces if the Peace Keepers weren't there.
With the pills and a tactfully written speech, Therese dragged herself through District 1. A child of about 10, who had to have been Ruby's younger sister, cried the whole time. Therese thought it'd be nice if the Earth swallowed her up then.
The Capital was next on the Tour. Carol was dreading this part of the tour. She knew President Snow was going to prostitute this girl out. Not on this part of the tour, but later. The thought of that happening to the already fragile Therese made her want to kill Snow herself.
Therese couldn't help but be dazzled by the glitz and glamour of the Capital Feast. Once she found the Dessert Table, a feast unto itself with pie, cookies and to her delight, chocolate, she found her place for the night. Orphans in District 12 got chocolate maybe once or twice a year. She gobbled it down as if it was going to grow legs and run off.
"That is quite enough chocolate!" Carol said and led her outside. A magnificent firework display began a minute later, and again Therese couldn't help being amazed. Carol even let her have some Champaign.
"We'll be on our way back to 12 tomorrow," Carol said as they went to their room for the night. "Are you relieved?"
Therese was tremendously so. "I just want to forget this whole trip," Therese said.
Carol looked at her sadly. She didn't have the heart to tell her that the Capital never let Victors forget. Therese was a mentor now. She would never get off that train.
Therese looked at Carol. After spending so much time together, they could read each other very well. The realization of what was going to happen dawned on Therese's pale face like a nuclear bomb. Every drop of blood seemed to drain from her face. She was ashen.
"Carol…the other Victors are mentors….which means…." Therese didn't finish her thought. She stumbled backwards, horrified. She was going to have to coach teens to their deaths. "Oh my God!"
"There are tricks to teach," Carol said helplessly. "You knew a lot of survival skills, which plants to eat and which to stay away from. Those are just as important, sometimes more so than combat skills."
Therese couldn't speak. She couldn't do anything but stare at Carol in helpless horror.
"How do you do it?" she whispered. "How?"
"I'm forced," Carol said bitterly. "They will hurt my daughter. She's only four. My ex-husband…"she stopped, choking on her rage.
Therese didn't ask more. She couldn't process anymore. She sat down on the bed and held her head in her hands.
Carol sat down next rubbed her back. "I couldn't bear to tell you before. You'd been through so much."
Therese looked at her with those haunted turquoise eyes. "What happens if you don't do it?"
"They will kill someone you love." Carol said it matter of factly.
"I don't have any family-" Therese began then stopped. The other children at the orphanage were her family. Sister Alicia was strict but kind to everyone, and the cook and Old Man Abernathy who helped with the garden. He was usually drunk and came off as gruff, but he always helped her with what ever she needed in the garden. He'd taught her a lot about edible plants.
And Carol. They would probably hurt her too. Therese knew she was attracted to the tall, blond beauty and others probably picked up on it too.
Carol got up to go. "I understand if you want to be alone."
Therese grabbed her hand. "Don't go," she whispered. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
Carol laid down behind her and wrapped her arms around the thin body. She folded her legs under Therese, making it seem like she was sitting in her lap. One arm held Therese across her waist and the other across her chest. Therese held on to Carol's arm and leaned back into her. Carol leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
Therese kissed Carol's elegant hand. "I love you," she whispered.
Carol tightened her grip around the quivering girl. "And I love you." She kissed Therese's shoulder, leaving goosebumps through the thin fabric of her night shirt.
Therese turned over so she was facing Carol. After surviving the Games, she didn't like to have her back to people.
"It'll be ok," Carol said, not believing it for a second. It would never be okay in a world where Cornelius Snow was president, innocent children were beautified for slaughter and teenagers like Therese would be prostituted out to the highest bidder. Carol vowed she would keep that from happening.
Therese curled into her, not believing things would be ok either. But she was too tired to think about it anymore.
The next night they were finally back on the train to District 12. Therese was going to have her own house in the Victor's Village. The only other resident was Carol. Therese had never lived on her own before. She found the idea both exciting and scary. It was comforting that Carol was going to be next door.
"Why don't you stay with me while you paint and remodel?" Carol suggested on the train. The house was move in ready, but needed some cosmetic touches. The bathroom needed to be re-caulked and a few rooms needed to be painted. Then Therese would need furniture. The process was going to take a few weeks. One area Therese had forbidden anyone to touch was the garden. That was going to be hers from the get go.
Therese smiled. Nothing would make her happier than staying with Carol.
"Ah home at last," Carol said as she walked into her house. Therese followed behind her. The workmen were scurrying around painting and caulking her house. They'd be leaving soon though. It was nearly dinner time. Therese was too tired to eat, but that was ok. Carol only had canned green beans. Both of them just wanted to rest.
"You can freshen up in here," Carol said as she led Therese to a bathroom stocked. Beautiful bottles of purple and blue liquids stocked the shelves. Carol handed Therese a towel and left. She didn't trust herself to be around a showering Therese.
Therese came out a short time later, wearing Carol's much too big bathrobe. "I forgot to bring any clothes in with me," she explained apologetically.
Carol laughed. "You look so tiny in that."
Therese held up her arms in sleeves that were several inches too long and shrugged. "Well it was either that or come out in a towel!"
Carol didn't let herself think of that. "How does your skin feel? Did it help?"
Therese gave her a questioning look.
"The moisturizer," Carol clarified. "I noticed your skin was pretty dry on the tour."
Therese shook her head. "I didn't know it was in there."
Carol went into the bathroom and returned with a purple bottle of lotion. "Here, let me, " she said. She made Therese lay down on the couch and began rubbing lotion into her feet.
It tickled but the fact that Carol was massaging her feet made Therese's heart race. "Your feet are so tight," Carol commented. "They're crunchy."
Therese giggled.
"It's so good to see you laugh," Carol said as she began massaging Therese's calf.
Their eyes met. A spark flashed between them. Carol reached up higher on her leg, smirking slightly. Her blue eyes seemed to say, I dare you to say stop. Therese had no desire to do so. Carol's long fingers on her body felt incredible.
"Can I untie this?" Carol asked as she reached for Therese's bathrobe sash. She pulled it without waiting for an answer and began massaging lotion into her stomach. Therese began to tremble. Carol gently ran her fingers down her ribs. Therese grabbed her hands and kissed the long, elegant fingers.
"Feel my heart," she said and placed Carol's hand on her pounding heart.
"Are you alright?" Carol asked.
Therese nodded, although she was still shaking like a leaf. Carol kissed her forehead, then gently kissed her lips. Then they kissed for real. Therese's first kiss. Carol hovered over her and kissed her face.
"Carol, make love to me," she whispered. "Please."
Carol lay down on top of her and reached inside her bathrobe. She caressed Therese's back. Therese slipped the bathrobe off. She clung to Carol as she massaged her neck with her mouth. Soft, slow kiss up to her pulse point. Therese moaned softly.
Carol pulled her own shirt off. Therese reached uncertainly for Carol's breasts.
"Can I touch them?" she asked.
"Yes, you can," Carol answered and placed Therese's shaking hands on her breasts. Therese blushed furiously.
"Can I taste them?" she whispered shyly.
"Yes, you can," Carol answered and leaned over Therese so she could reach. Therese shyly took Carol's left nipple in her mouth and sucked. She did the same with the right. Carol sighed.
She pulled off her skirt and underwear and lay on top of Therese naked. Therese moaned. Carol kissed her breasts. She placed a lingering kiss on her beating heart. She kissed each rib and placed open mouth kisses on her stomach.
"Can these come off?" she asked, smirking as she snapped the band of Therese's underwear. She pulled them off before Therese could do more than nod. She gently but firmly pushed Therese's legs apart and lowered her head between them. Therese gasped as Carol's tongue began to circle her clitoris. Slowly at first, then Carol's tongue swirled faster and faster before stopping abruptly as she sucked on it. Therese moaned and groaned as Carol carried her to the stratosphere and she came.
"My, my," Carol smirked as she crawled back up Therese's thin body. "You smell like an angel and taste like one too."
Therese smiled faintly. Carol positioned herself so her clit was on Therese's and thrust. Therese clung to her. Carol hoisted herself up on her forearms as she thrust again against Therese. She kissed her neck, not bearing to look her in the eye. They came together.
"I love you," Therese said hoarsely to the worn out woman on top of her.
"I love you too," Carol said. She placed a lingering kiss on her forehead and lay back on the couch, pulling Therese with her. Therese rested her head on Carol's chest. Carol stroked her hair.
"My angel," Carol said as Therese dosed off. "I will keep you safe."