Summary: "'When I die,'She says,'I want it to be fast. I want to be by you, by someone from home, when it happens. I want to know that I'm not alone when I die.'" During the 62nd Games, one of District Twelve's tributes makes a tough decision. One-shot.
Prompt: A: (hugs B) "I'm sorry." B: (fatally wounds A) "I am too."
Spared From The Worst
"What are we going to do when they find us, Morrel?" The girl asks him. "The Careers, I mean."
"I don't know. We don't stand a chance against the Careers. I wish that I was strong enough to protect you from them, Maple." He tells her, prodding the burning twigs in the fire with a small branch of his own. "I wish our mentor had helped us a bit more."
"I wish a lot of things." Maple sighs.
Morrel nods, glancing up at her flame-illuminated face. "Me too."
"When I die,"She says,"I want it to be fast. I want to be by you, by someone from home, when it happens. I want to know that I'm not alone when I die."
"You won't be. I won't leave your side until one of us dies." He promises. "We might not have known each other back in Twelve, but here, we're all we have. And it's going to stay that way until the end."
Her eyes are shining with unshed tears as she looks up to him with a small smile. "Thank you, Morrel, for being here for me."
"Always." He returns the smile with a small nod, turning to look at the fire. "We're still in this, Maple. We still have time."
"You know we won't make it. No one from Twelve ever wins."
"I know. But it's nice to hope we can. It makes it easier."
They fall silent, listening to the peaceful sounds of the arena. The crickets chirp lively, the leaves rustle in the light night breeze, the fire crackles as Morrel feeds some dry leaves to it.
"Who do you think is going to win?" Maple asks him.
"I don't know. That Enobaria from Two, maybe." He replies.
"I don't want her to kill me." The girl shudders. "I saw her tear someone's throat out with her teeth at the Bloodbath."
Morrel's stomach churns at the thought. "That image is never leaving my head."
"Sorry. I guess we just hope it doesn't come down to fighting her."
"It always comes down to getting killed by the Careers. It's only a matter of time."
He closes his eyes, unable to shake away the image of this little girl having her throat torn out by the female from Two. He wants to throw up at the idea. Maple doesn't deserve such a brutal death. She's so gentle, so pure. And too young to die. But he knows that she's going to.
The idea comes to him before he can even clear his thoughts. Perhaps he could kill the girl himself? It would spare her from the worst of scenarios, when it came down to fighting the Careers. He wouldn't have to watch Enobaria violently bite into her neck and tear at the flesh.
He swallows and stands up, grabbing his sword as he takes a couple of steps away from their camp. Guilt wracks at him, even though he's not yet done anything.
"Where are you going?"
"Just for a walk. I'll be back soon."
"Can't I come with you?"
He shakes his head, blinking back unshed tears. "I just need time to think. I'll be back soon, I promise."
"Was it something I said?" She asks, looking unhappy with herself.
"I- no! Don't ever think that." Morrel manages to retort. "...I'm scared, Maple. I don't want to lose you."
"I don't want to lose you either." The girl smiles sadly and rises to her feet, wrapping her arms around his middle. "I'm sorry, Morrel."
His tears flow freely, and he can't help but sob. He lifts his sword and manages to plunge it into her stomach. "I am too, Maple."
Morrel hears her gasp as the blade enters her body. He sobs harder as he steps away and removes the blade, the crimson liquid shining in the light of their campfire. She crumbles to her knees, her own tears slipping from her gentle eyes. It hurts not to see betrayal there, but understanding and acceptance in its place.
"I-I'm sorry." He chokes, sliding down to his own knees and cradling her to him. "I just want to protect you, Maple. I can't bear to see your eyes gouged out or your neck bitten into. I want the last face you see to be mine, for you to have as painless a death as possible. I'm so sorry."
He doesn't understand how her weak voice is so steady when she speaks. "Thank you, Morrel."
Maple doesn't blink again. She stares endlessly through the canopy of leaves above them, at the shining stars in the night sky.
Morrel buries his face in her hair and loses all control over his sobs.
I only wanted to spare you from the worst.