Felicity's POV
The next morning we were woken by Effie raping on our door. "Wake up, busy day!" She said.
"How much time do we have?" I asked as we both got up.
"Not too long." Effie said.
"Do we have time to eat something?" I asked as we got dressed since we never did with Robyn.
"If you get up soon."
"We are." I said opening the door once we were both dressed.
"That was quick."
"We're us." I answered simply.
"Right, sorry."
"It's okay. Luckily there are not many people like us."
"Yes, well breakfast?" She asked.
"Yes please." I said.
"Down and to the right."
"Alright," I said and looked at Adam who caught on and picked me up.
"Better." I said smiling.
"I should have known sooner." He said with a chuckle.
"Well you just woke up." I said.
"Yeah but you always like to be held."
"I do, only by you though."
"Yeah, otherwise they have a low chance of survival."
"Yeah, they really do." I said.
"But I was obviously just talking about me." He corrected giving a quick kiss this time with correct aim.
"Let's go." I said. He nodded and carried me to the dining room before sitting down with my on his lap. We dished up plates and were eating when Effie and Haymitch entered. "So, what's the plan?" I asked either of them.
"You get to know the others."
"Why? We'll have to kill them anyways."
"Because it is really all there is to do in this training."
"Then not going at all seems like a mighty fine option."
"Well, you could, I suppose." He said.
I sighed, "We'll go. I was mostly just kidding."
"Alright then be careful though.' He said.
"We will." We both said.
Haymitch nodded yawning. "Guess you're going to bed once we leave?"
"Yeah, I need to sleep."
"Fair enough, good luck with your nightmares."
"Thanks." He said.
"How long do we have?" I asked taking a bite still seated on Adam's lap.
"Twenty minutes."
"Oh, plenty of time." I said snuggling into Adam.
"For you two." He said.
"We're special."
"In a crazy way." He said.
"Thank you, we take pride in our insanity."
"You should."
"Good cause that's not going to change." I said with a smirk.
"I love you." Adam said.
"I love you too, Adam." I smiled giving him a kiss.
"Stop being so cute both of you." Haymitch said.
"Feliss can't do that." Adam said once we separated.
I smiled kissing his cheek. "You just take any opportunity you get don't you?"
"Well I try to."
I shrugged and said, "Well, not complaining."
"Good." He said.
"A little bit hypocritical though."
"How am I?" He asked.
"You never accept any compliments."
"I do not need them." He said.
"Still hypocritical."
"I will try to fix that."
"Not too much." I said with a chuckle.
"Got it, no arrogance."
"Unless you're on camera... or around the other tributes."
"Easy then." He said smiling.
"Good, fair enough then."
"Alright, well good luck you two." Haymitch said.
"Thank you but we really don't need it. At least not here."
"I suppose not, but still."
"Trust me; it's after the games that we'll need luck."
"I know we all will." He said.
"For us it's different though."
"Why then?"
"Because we'll have to help the Capitol win."
"What!?"
"We'll have to. It's why he made us into what we are. To guarantee the Capitol's victory if the districts rebel."
"That's terrible."
"Yes but that is the unfortunate reality of this situation."
"Well...shit." He sighed.
"I know it's absolutely terrible for everyone."
"Yes it is." He said.
"So then you see our problem." I said looking down.
"Yes and I am not so sure there is a way around it."
"There isn't. At least not that we can see."
"I'm so sorry."
"Well, that's life. It was never meant to be nice to us but now it's ruining things for everyone else."
"No, just if we rebel."
"It's already happening in some districts."
"In some places, yes."
"Well, it's bound to only get worse."
"I suppose."
"It's been inevitable for a while though." Haymitch sighed looking older than he was this was a problem a big one. "Then there's nothing that can be done."
"I know that now, but it's a scary thought."
"Extremely,"
"You two should get going." He said.
"Right, we'll see you this afternoon." Adam said getting up taking me with.
"Bye Haymitch!" I called.
"Bye guys." He said right before we were gone.
"Good kids." I heard him mutter.
"I don't think he realizes we can still hear him."
"So?" Adam asked smiling.
"It was nice though."
"It was; he really cares."
"Yeah, I really had misjudged him."
"We both did, but we do have to get ready." Adam said.
"Right," I nodded as he sat me down.
"How are you?" He asked looking at me carefully clearly worried for the baby and me.
"As good as I can be." I answered with a shrug.
"Nothing feels wrong?" He double-checked.
"Nothing,"
"Okay good." He sighed.
"Yeah, don't want anything to happen to the baby."
"Or you." He said.
"Right or me but the baby's more important."
"Well, true."
"Exactly," He sighed and I knew how he must feel he did not want to be apart when this baby came. "Why would we be apart in the first place?" I asked.
"I don't know? I'm afraid it'll happen when I am not near."
"Well, I can only hope not. I would like at least one child you were there for."
"I'm sorry." He said guiltily.
"You were mad."
"That is no excuse. I should have been there." He fished.
"Adam, it's okay." I said. "We promised to leave that behind us."
"I know but, what kind of man leaves like that?"
"Most would."
"No, most would stay with their loving wife."
"They like to think they would be when it comes down to it."
"And I was not." Adam said.
"Just please drop it."
"I can't I was a terrible husband and father."
"No you weren't, Adam. Don't say that."
"I was." He said.
"Well, I don't think so and neither do Roslyn or Lydia so that proves you weren't."
"Now I'm not; then I was."
"We still didn't think so."
"You should."
"Well, we didn't and that's all that matters."
Adam hugged me tightly. "What would I do without you?" He asked.
"Do I have to answer? Because I know the answer and don't want to say it."
"No, you don't." He said kissing my cheek.
"Good, I don't like to think about that."
"Neither do I." He said.
"Then let's just get ready." I said letting go of the hug.
"Right sorry." He said.
"How do you think they'll go anyways?"
"I think they will be great."
"You're not just saying that?"
"No, I really mean it." He said.
"Which are we talking about?"
"The training and the pregnancy."
"Okay, I was just talking about the training but at least we're on the same page." I said with a small smile.
"Yeah, that makes things easier."
"Yeah, I love you, Adam."
"I love you, too." He said.
Johanna's POV
I'm not exactly sure what drove me to the training floor. Despite what some of you may have thought, I was the youngest there at only eighteen years old. In the 71st Games that played perfectly to my advantage. A trembling fourteen-year-old girl from the district with the second smallest pool of victors. No one questioned it. A technique that wouldn't have worked even if Adam and Felicity weren't here not to mention that you need something to fight to come home to. It's just like I told them though. I'm glad to die. Still why was I coming to this? Maybe it was just to be with friends.
There are a few after all, like Finnick or sometimes Blight… I wonder if Adam and Felicity consider me one. They must right? I mean, they entrusted me with their big secret. They were good kids I hope I get to know them a little.
They've both just been so much. I never thought I could hate Snow any more than I did but it proved that wrong and now there's really nothing that can be done about it. Still what kind of sick mind does that to so many children. Not just that but his own daughter I don't think there's even a word for such cruelty. "Sick." I muttered.
After what felt like forever the elevator door slid open on the ground floor. I was third behind Finnick and Mags. Well, at least it's them. Of course, I went right over. "Are you two ever sleeping in?" I asked.
"Are we ever sleeping at all would be a better question." Finnick said.
"Good point."
"I at least did get some last night though."
"Good." I said smiling.
"Did you get any?" He asked.
"A little though not much."
"Well, it's always good to have some at least."
"Yeah, I guess so." I shrugged. "Do they ever go away?" I asked Mags. She shook her head meaning the arena would always be with you. "Damn it," I sighed but reminded myself that I won't have to worry about it for much longer. In fact I could count the days I had left on my hands and that's good... or at least I think it is. It meant no more troubles right? Yes it does. It will all be over forever. Maybe there was an afterlife. Unlikely and even if there was though then I could be with my loved ones again at least. It was a win win for me anyway I looked at it.
Before I could say anything Adam and Felicity had quite literally appeared out of nowhere. I jumped which is rare for me and Mags laughed. I threw her a glare at that. She just smiled in response.
I heard a chuckle from behind me though. "That's something you'll just have to get used to."
"Show offs." I said smirking.
"We might as well have a little bit of fun."
"Fair point." I said.
"We're all that's here though." Felicity said looking around from Adam's arms.
"Yeah, I am sure the others will be here later."
"Maybe," She shrugged.
"This is so odd." Adam said.
"Very but it was bound to be." I said.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"With an arena of all victors it was bound to be odd on every step."
"True we all know each other's tricks." Finnick said.
"Not just that but most are friends." I added.
"So it's rough." Adam said.
"Exactly,"
"Well there is nothing to be done."
"That's just mostly why it's so odd. So, we just hang out until then?" Adam asked.
"Nothing else to do really." I said with a shrug.
"That must be hard." Feliss said.
"You two are lucky in that case."
"If you say so." Feliss said.
"I do."
"Fine."
"There are still a few hard ones though."
"What do you mean?"
"We have a few friends still."
"Yeah, I suppose."
"Still, a lot less than the others."
"Loss is still loss."
"Definitely," Adam agreed.
I stared around he training room wondering if there was anything new in here for me to try out and relieve the boredom and noticed some odd looking rooms that certainly weren't there before. Not even in Adam and Felicity's games which I knew having mentored it. "What are those?" I asked.
"I don't know. I guess we'll find out when Atala goes over her spill."
"If she does." Adam said.
"Why wouldn't she?"
"We have all been here already."
"But there's new stuff now and for some tributes like Mags it's been many decades since then." Mags stuck her tongue out at me. "What? It's only true." She smiled at my reaction. "I seriously am curious now though." I said looking back at one of the rooms.
"Then go explore." Mags said surprising Adam and Felicity when she spoke.
"So she does talk." Felicity laughed.
"Yes, I do. Young lady and might I say your daughters are adorable." She said smirking when she surprised us all by knowing about Felicity's on screen little sister.
"Finnick told you didn't he?"
"No, she did not act like a sister. She hugged them both just like a daughter would her parents when scared."
"Wow, very impressive." Felicity said seeming genuine.
"Well I am old I have seen a lot." She said.
"Well, thank you."
"My pleasure." She said as Volts exited the elevator followed by Nuts.
They both looked over when he did, "He was your mentor, right?" I asked.
"Yeah, he was." Adam said.
"He'll be hard to kill."
"I can't imagine." I said.
"There are probably a lot of those here though."
"Yeah there is."
"Still no one but you two stand a chance."
"Maybe yeah." Adam said.
"How would they?"
"Maybe we lose our nerve?" Adam said.
"Seems unlikely,"
"I know, but still."
"What do you mean by lose your nerve?" I asked.
"Maybe we can't kill one of you."
"Oh, well, you seemed to have no trouble last year."
"We never bonded with anyone." Adam said.
"Then try not to from now on."
"We already failed then." Feliss said looking to Volts.
"That is unfortunate." I said with a sigh.
"Yeah, but what can we do?"
"Nothing," I sighed.
"Sorry."
"It's okay. I know it's hard." I said.
"Yeah it is."
"Nuts is here, too."
"Nuts?" Adam asked. I just pointed over to her. "Is that her name?"
"No but everyone calls her it or at least in the victor circle we do. Nuts and Volts."
"Volts?"
"Beetee,"
"Oh okay."
"You don't know Nuts though?" I asked since they were at least from the same district.
"No, not really."
"Hmm… well, the two of them are always really close which is good sense he's the only one who can understand her."
"Does she talk?"
"Well, kind of, she'd barely start a sentence then just drop it as if she just completely forgot but Volts somehow always knows what she was going to say and finishes for her."
"Are they married?" Felicity asked.
"No they are not."
"They should be." Felicity said.
"You just like playing matchmaker don't you? I saw your interview after the tour."
"Maybe I do. Is that a problem?" She asked.
"I guess not. Just interesting."
"Why is it interesting?" She asked.
I shrugged and said, "Not in a bad way."
"Still have not really answered me." She said.
"Just unusual but not as much as the rest of you of course."
"Thank you." She and Adam said.
Felicity shrugged with a chuckle and said, "Normal's vastly overrated."
I chuckled I liked these two. "You're welcome but you guys are just awesome."
"Thanks again." They said as the trainer arrived.
She looked at how the seven of us were the only one's here and sighed, "Of course." She muttered calling us together. She still went through the same speech but added that those new rooms were apparently fight simulators for different weapon trainings.
"Sounds fun!" Adam said.
"Very, I'll definitely have to check that out."
"Can I?" Adam asked Felicity.
She surprisingly seemed to hesitate for a reason I couldn't figure out but agreed, "Sure."
"Thanks Feliss." He said setting her down gently.
"Can I watch at least?" She asked.
"Of course." Adam said.
"Alright then, just be quick."
"I will." He said.
"Okay, I love you, Adam."
"I love you too." Adam said and I saw Felicity instantly look worried as he walked away.
"What's wrong, Felicity?" I asked her.
"I don't like being away from him."
"That understandable though kind of a little extreme. I mean, he's just right over there."
"I know, but he makes me feel safe." She said. "As hard as it may be to believe that's really hard otherwise."
"So you never feel safe?"
"Not really." She said with a sigh.
"Except when you are with him?" I asked.
"For the most part, yeah."
"Well, I can understand that a little." I said sitting down beside her.
"Yeah, we were very serious last year. If they hadn't stopped us we wouldn't have even hesitated."
"Hesitated to what?" I asked.
"Eat the berries,"
"That would have been a loss for all." I said.
She shrugged and said, "We would have though."
"I believe you but still."
"Maybe that would have been better anyways."
"I don't think so." I said.
"I do. Then the districts would still rebel and we wouldn't be there to stop them. They'd have a real chance at winning."
"No guarantee they would." I said.
"No it would pretty much be a given. Even some in the Capitol might rise up."
"Not with no one to stand behind." I said.
"They'd find someone."
"No, I do not think they would." I said.
"They don't have any more with us here anyways."
"Exactly," I said.
"That's not stopping them though."
"And they are losing." I said.
"Not yet."
"They might as well be."
"They will be but that's only because of us."
"You don't know that." I said.
"On which?"
"That they would win without you two."
"I honestly think they would. At least they'd stand a much better chance."
"I disagree." I said looking around the large room.
"Well, I still think so and it couldn't make it any worse."
"I suppose." I sighed.
"Besides, Snow thought so at least or else he wouldn't have gone through all the trouble of making us."
"Yeah, I guess not." I said sickened thinking of that man.
"So, if it's enough to have him worried then why not?"
"Because we would need leaders and weapons.
"I know where you can get those and they won't even hesitate to get involved."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, District 13."
"That place is gone." I said.
"That's just what they want you to think."
"They were blown up."
"Only the surface but they moved underground."
"A whole district underground?" I asked skeptical.
"Exactly," She said as if it were just that simple. "You can barely call them a district anymore though. During the Dark Days they had made a deal with the Capitol. They play dead and the Capitol leaves them alone. Practically their own country even with their own president and military force. Don't get me wrong though. They WILL help."
"Why would they if they are happy?" I asked.
"They only made the deal because they were losing."
"So if they think we can win..." I trailed.
"Then they'll jump at the chance."
"Interesting." I said.
"Very," She nodded. "Plus their export was nuclear development which is a lot of the reason they got away with such a thing,"
"That does make sense."
"I think it would have been enough."
"Maybe." I said.
"Still doesn't matter anyways." She added.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Too late to change that. There's of course this baby and Roslyn to think about now and given the state of the country Snow will quite literally do anything to keep us alive."
"Yeah, I suppose he would." I said.
"Which is a very weird thought." She added.
"Yeah, I can see how it would be."
"Yeah, we're still at our stalemate."
"You need what from him?" I asked.
"Information."
"About what?"
"About me. While on the table I lost any memory of anything before I was put there."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"Not your fault. He's the only one who has that information though."
"Of course." I said.
"Yeah, otherwise we would have killed him a long time ago."
"No luck finding the information yourself?" I asked.
"We only had one idea and it not only failed but got his daughter put on the table."
"Oh! No more risking others then." I said.
"Exactly, she says she doesn't blame us for it but she should."
"Did you force her to do it?"
"Well, no but we asked her to."
"And she said yes knowing the risk."
"We knew exactly the risk though and shouldn't have asked in the first place."
"You are taking too much blame for this."
"I am to blame though."
"Stop it Snow is to blame." I said.
"Well, yes but that doesn't mean I'm not."
"You are not." I said.
"You don't know that."
"You need to look at the whole picture not just your side."
"I am looking at the whole picture."
No you are obsessing over your small part in it."
"None of the rest would have happened if it wasn't for my part."
There was a pause and much to my initial confusion she said, "You keep saying the same thing."
"What?" I asked.
She turned to me and said, "Oh, sorry, I was talking to Adam."
"You were?"
"Yeah, with our powers all our senses are extremely amplified so we can hear each other from here no problem."
"Wow! Neat."
"Yeah, it is pretty cool though it does have its drawbacks."
"Like what?"
"Like District 10 with the smell."
"Oh I hate that place."
"At least it doesn't bother you in 11 and 9."
"That's true."
"It's really that strong though." I asked.
"Yeah it is."
"Is it that much for all of the senses?"
"Yeah pretty much." she said.
"Incredible,"
"Yeah that part we enjoy."
"I can imagine. It must be interesting."
"It really is."
"Of course nowhere near close to how you get it through." I added awkwardly.
"Yeah, not worth that."
"Of course not." I sighed looking down.
Adam's POV
I grunted slightly at the comparison shooting one of the holograms in the heart causing it to dissolve into tiny yellow boxes just as all the other ones.
"This is fun." I said raising the bow.
I easily dodged a spear that went flying towards me and fired an arrow at the assailant.
It went through his head.
It dissolved as well and no more came. I guess I had won.
"I win!" I said.
"I knew you would." I heard Feliss said.
"Thanks I am on my way."
I set the bow down and was back to her instantly sweeping her up.
She smiled snuggling into me.
"Sorry it took a little longer than expected."
"It's okay. Glad your back." She said.
"Yeah, it was fun though."
"It looked like it would be."
"You want to give one a shot?"
"Sort of."
"You can if you want." I said carefully then added knowing why she's hesitant. "I'll be right outside it."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay." She said.
"You want to then?"
"Sure I will try it."
"Knives I assume?" I asked setting her down.
She nodded heading over.
I followed staying right at the glass window as she went in.
She grabbed several knives and waited.
Just as with me several armed holograms came up.
And she began to strike them down.
A smirk found my lips as more and more dissolved.
She was great even while pregnant.
Not that I expected any less. Pretty much anyone else would be completely doomed in her situation even if it were a normal games. Not her though.
Soon she was done and smiling.
"Great job, Feliss." I smiled as she came back out.
"Thank you dear." She said.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Adam." She said.
"Good, just making sure."
"Good."
"I assume you want back up?" I asked.
"If that's okay?" She asked.
"Of course,"
I picked her up and kissed her. She instantly wrapped her arms around my neck returning it. "I...love...you..." She said.
"I… love… you… too."
"Tone it down you two." Finnick said.
"No." Feliss said between kisses.
"Yes."
"Why… should we?"
"Because you are in public."
"So?"
"The rest of us do not get to have anyone."
We actually did think about realizing who he's thinking about. "Sorry Finnick." I said.
"It's okay. Thank you for stopping at least." He said looking down.
We both nodded awkwardly. "Can he at least still hold me?" She asked snuggling against me.
"Of course we can."
"Good," She smiled.
"Sorry." He said.
"We understand." She sighed.
"Still." He said sadly pushing his hair back.
"I guess that was inconsiderate anyways."
"It's fine." He said.
"Figured."
"Let's just enjoy ourselves huh?"
"Yeah,"
He smiled. "Any idea how?" He asked.
"Just hang out?" I asked.
"That works." He shrugged.
"So we did and it was nice fun even."