A/N: Hello! It's been 6 or 7 years, but I am back with a combination of old and new! So, I present to you a series of AU scenes featuring my very first tribute, Ampere Henry. I submitted her in 2013(!)to the 24-24 Bound by Blood. You can read more about Ampere in Bound by Blood and in Blood Warriors, its conclusion. This fic is my attempt to rewrite it and remember the memories and conversations I have along the way.
Some writing will be from 2013-2014. Others are recent. I grouped the scenes by theme, to show different parts of Ampere's to, through, and past the Games. The scenes within each theme are in sequential order. I have tried to preserve as much of the original content as possible. Either way, I hope you enjoy this one-shot for my OG!
Disclaimer: The only part of this story I own is Ampere Henry. Any unfamiliar characters are the creation of other fanfiction authors. Anything familiar belongs to Suzanne Collins.
Appearances make impressions, but it is the personality that makes an impact.
Austin Hexson.
The name of Ampere's district partner doesn't ring a bell. Still, Ampere scans the crowd and finds a tall eighteen-year-old boy with wavy blond hair and green eyes. While he carries himself as strong, Ampere's attention is drawn to his body, which is twitching uncontrollably as he approaches.
...
When the escort Nero releases their hands, Ampere finds herself staring at Austin, who continues to twitch despite his attempts to control it. The cameras are always watching. Is it an angle? Or does he panic under pressure? Maybe he's shy. Though anyone would be with all Panem watching you….
...
Shilo sighs. "You two have a chance," she asserts, leaving no room for argument. "More often than not, it's brains that get you further."
"But it's brawn that kills you," Ampere blurts.
Shilo glares. No doubt she will have trouble with her. With nothing else to be said, she leaves—presumably to find Vanth.
"What's your problem?" Austin demands. But Ampere sees in his eyes that he knows she spoke the truth.
"Says the guy who's as jumpy as a cat," Ampere retorts so quickly, even Austin knows she didn't mean to say it. It doesn't change the fact that I said it.
"Great," Austin says to no one in particular. "Out of all the possible people I could have been reaped with, it's the loudmouth."
Before Amepre can reply, their escort Nero bustles into the dining room and begins fussing over the food choices, and how he'll be skin and bones by the time they get to the Capitol.
"But no time now," Nero interrupts himself, finally acknowledging his tributes' presence. "Let's size up your competition." He grabs a small remote and turns on the television.
Caesar Flickerman leads a running commentary on the tributes. Those from 1, 2, and 4 are deadly and sadistic, no surprise. They carry themselves with an air of superiority.
And then Nero calls "Ampear Henry." Ampere watches her past self snap a correction-"Am-peer." This draws amused banter from Caesar and the Games announcer, Lucio Tenorfield. Nero knocks over the reaping ball. He snatches the slip everyone knows now has Austin's name in neat block letters. Past Austin continues to twitch even as he and Ampere shake hands.
"Oh, my dear boy, you made all of us look bad!" Nero reminds Ampere all too much of the oblivious Capitol, which sees the Games as a literal game. They'll place bets on who will win, who will die first, and whose death will be the bloodiest.
All Ampere's fear and anger, steadily bubbling since the reaping, explodes. "That's coming from a man who only cares about how he looks on television! You have no morals or conscience! Austin's probably terrified of not getting an edge in the arena, and here you are worrying about your hair and makeup and how much food you see, while hapless children worry about being dead in two weeks and how to survive! Next time, think about what you're going to say, and SHUT UP!"
A glance at Austin reveals he's looking at her with a combination of awe and fright. He's twitching again, but Ampere no longer sees that. Instead, she sees a boy who probably feels the same as she does.
"She's right." Austin comes out of his state of shock. "Other kids will be stuffing their faces in a way that makes Ampere and me look civilized, as you call yourself."
...
"About what I said earlier—I'm sorry." Ampere knows she was out of line just now, trying to hit her birdman of an escort, even if he deserves it and more.
"It's the way you are. Don't worry."
An understanding has occurred between them. Ampere knows she has to control herself, try to think before she acts. Austin knows this, he's been on the receiving end of it already. Ampere is afraid that he can use this to his advantage when they're in the arena.
A windmill wheel is attached to the back of Ampere's head and spins when she moves. Her dress is a beautiful silver, with subtle touches of shiny fabric. It twists itself in little patterns of swirls, accented by grey beads the size of strawberry seeds. Ampere's eyes also have more grey powder swirling around them and ending on my eyelids. It is obvious what her stylist Plinius was going for this year.
At least it could attract sponsors. Unlike previous years. Unlike what they put Ash in three years ago….
"What's Austin? A giant mushroom cloud to represent nuclear power?" Despite herself, Ampere has to laugh at how well it would suit him, what with his syn—
Shut up. He's a nice kid. All Ampere knows about her partner is that his sister Sally is in the same age group as Ampere, even though the two have not interacted much. Ampere has learned now not to judge on appearances. Not everything is about her now.
"No, he's representing solar energy."
Ampere can't stop her giggles. Austin—the sun? That seems ironic considering his stoic personality.
"There's nothing funny about the sun," a woman with neon yellow skin pouts.
Only your resemblance to it "Well, it's better than being a giant light bulb."
Her prep team's expressions light up like one, at least.
Austin and Ampere squeeze into the elevator after their first day of training. Her stomach clenches. Stuck in an elevator with her partner, whom she wanted to dump her lunch on and, more importantly, whom she insulted.
"Austin—"
"Not now." The words are terse and cold, a warning that he is not in the mood.
At least he acknowledges me.
"I'msorryforwhathappenedatlunch." The words flood out before Austin can tell her to shut up again. "I should've shut up and eaten, and enjoyed your company." By the look he gives her, Ampere can almost hear his retort: Wait, no sarcasm? "Should I accept your silence as an 'Apology accepted, Ampere?'"
A small smile, probably involuntary. "Just watch what you say."
"You said that already." A smile spread on Ampere's face.
"And I'll keep saying it until it happens." His tone is warmer than at the start of the conversation. And the look on his face suggests that she is not as big a nuisance as she was this morning.
The only way to have a friend is to be one.
"Hey, get up Austin, the scores are about to start!"
Ampere raps on Austin's door harder than she intended. She shifts side to side as she hears Austin shuffling in his room. In the main room, Caesar Flickerman's voice banters with other Capitolites as he draws out the anticipation about the scores.
Though what is there to be excited about? High scores for the Careers, maybe two other kids. Low scores for the rest. It's a way for the Capitol to make us anticipate the Games even more, for better or worse.
On the plus side, at least Caesar does not announce their odds and predicted placements in the Games.
Austin's door slides open, and he emerges, sleep still in his eyes.
"Come on, slowpoke!" Ampere chides. A flash of annoyance crosses Austin's face, but it disappears when Ampere's joking tone registers. He smiles instead.
After a few steps, Austin breaks the silence. "So, how do you think you did?"
"I don't know. I only did some survival skills and hand–to–hand combat, so I'll be somewhere between a three and a six."
The Gamemakers didn't look particularly interested in me, in any of the younger tributes. But at least they were semi-interested because I came after the Careers...
"Well, you could get a one."
Ampere snaps her head up and shoots a glare at Austin, the better to hide the fact that that had crossed her mind.
Austin flinches at the intensity. His face turns pink. "No, I didn't mean…I was just…what I meant was that you could have been bad enough to get a one, but you weren't…so you won't." He turns away from Ampere, but she still catches how his body started to twitch again.
Nice going, Ampere. She reaches out and rubs his shoulder. When Austin looks back again, she smiles and nods. Nothing else needed to be said.
...
Ampere's leg bounces on the floor as District 5's symbol spins onto the screen, followed by Austin's face. Hopefully the scores of 9s and 10s will belong to just the Careers.
Caesar Flickerman says, "Austin Hexson." Out of the corner of her eye, Ampere watches Austin gulp, his gaze fixed on the screen. A beat of silence. "With a score of. . .eight."
Shilo claps, and Ampere screams with joy. This wakes Vanth up, and he glumly says, "Yahoo."
Seriously, Vanth, one of us has a chance of winning. Show some more enthusiasm.
Austin grins. "Thank you, Shilo, Ampere."
Ampere opens her mouth to respond, but her own picture is up (along with her anxiety). Everyone's attention returns to the screen. Her heart pounds.
"Ampere Henry." Not a one, not a one, anything's better than a one. "With a score of five."
Ampere presses her lips together. It's the lowest score thus far. Even though anything higher for someone my age is unrealistic.
"Hey," Austin says, "remember what we talked about?"
The rest of the scores kind of run together. A few kids score 3s or 4s. The boys from 9 and 10 are the only ones to score as high as Austin or the Careers. Everyone else scored no higher than a 7. Compared to the rest, a score of 5 is average. Not the best, not the worst. And considering what the Capitol has seen of me thus far, it may be in my best interest to blend in.
"You'll want to get to sleep, Ampear, Austin." Nero's words break through the transfixed silence as Ampere, Austin, and their mentors watch replays of the interviews. "You're in for a big day tomorrow."
As if we are going to party, not a slaughter. "Aww, you do care about us!" Ampere drawls, masking her rising anger and fear. Then she runs to her room before anyone can reply.
She jumps on her bed, puts a pillow over her face, and scream until she can't anymore.
I don't have a chance. Yeah, I'm a genius with edible plants and stuff like that, and good at hand–to–hand, but I haven't found a weapon I'm confident enough to use. I can use knives alright, and archery I'm not bad at. But the boy from 1 can throw a spear from about ninety meters away. And compared to the Careers, my fighting skills look like a toddler's. I could be dead tomorrow-
The thought sobers Ampere. Twelve hours from now she could be dead and forgotten by the Capitol.
I've done what I can for now, Ampere tries to reassure herself as she slides off her bed and heads for the bathroom. Didn't make myself stand out too much, didn't pose myself as too big a threat. (Well, other than talking back to a Career. That might've put you on their radar, Ampere….)
She presses a few buttons on the shower panel, imagining scenario after scenario of what could be. What she could do to survive.
Ampere lets the hot water flow over her, calming her enough to stop perseverating. Keep moving and grab anything near me. She is fairly confident in her hand-to-hand combat against another outlier. Against a Career would be akin to suicide. Of course, it would help to have someone watching her back…
Austin, Ampere decides. We've gotten along well enough that he won't want to kill me right away. If anything, he'll be feeling protective of me because I remind him of his sister. And it will be better than being alone against twenty-three other kids out to kill you.
The thought of using this against Austin turns Ampere's gut. It lingers as she dries herself off, dresses, and heads back to the main room. Only Vanth is there, jabbing the buttons on the remote. The TV responds by flipping through channels too fast for Ampere to process. She approaches the couch.
"What could you possibly want to watch?"
Vanth jerks his head back, obviously thinking she was Shilo. "Oh, s'just you."
"Surely all those shows are about self–absorbed, spoiled brats who decorate themselves to stop from deteriorating into nothing." In other words, nothing worthwhile compared to what will happen tomorrow.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Anm–pare–rhee." The smell of wine fills her nostrils and makes her eyes water. Mingled with tonight's dinner, Ampere has to choke back bile, only adding to her unease.
"Ampere would like to know where Austin is," she snaps. Somehow her voice comes out steady, with none of the inner anxiety and fright normally accompanying her thoughts.
"Right behind you." Austin walks in, polishing his glasses with the edge of his shirt. "So what's up?"
Ampere's bravado fades. Now she finds out where she and Austin stand with each other. If he does not want an alliance, then what?"
"Shilo surprisingly hasn't mentioned this at all," she starts, "But, uh, I…I wanted to know, uh—"
"Yes, Ampere?"
"I mean, do you want to…help each other tomorrow?"
Nice wording.
Austin must have the same thought, if his amused expression is anything to go by. Still, he humors Ampere. "How so?"
"Helping each other so both of us survive the Bloodbath." Ampere is sure an understanding has formed between them since the first day of training. He no longer thinks of her as an out-of-control loudmouth. She sees him as…almost as her older brother, Isaac. Austin's tics no longer make her nervous.
And OK, Ampere feels that Austin wants to face the Games with someone he knows, no matter how annoying she can be.
"An alliance, you mean?" he ventures.
"Yes," she confirms. She doesn't add what's on both their minds. Both of them might not make it out of the Bloodbath. They definitely won't both leave the arena.
But at least we won't be alone. At least we'll have a chance.
Austin nods. "Sure." (Ampere can't contain her relieved smile.) "So how are we going to go about this?"
"You grab whatever you can, and then book it away from the Cornucopia." Vanth paying attention? Ampere never thought she'd live to see the day.
"Very helpful, Vanth," Austin says, his words laced with sarcasm.
"A little late, but appreciated all the same," Ampere agrees just as sarcastically.
"It's what Shilo's been telling us the entire time," Austin finishes.
Vanth shoots them drunken glares before arduously pushing himself off the couch, and slouching out of the room. Austin and Ampere exchange triumphant smiles.
"Austin?!"
The word is lost in the cacophony of shouts, screams, and swirling snow. Ampere pushes her legs to go faster. She hopes Austin was able to get away. If not, he better be alright.
A black blur rolls away from her. When it stops, Ampere is relieved to see the blond hair and gold–rimmed glasses of her ally. "There you are."
Austin looks as though he is about to retort. His face grimaces in pain, his hands fly to his side. Hearing the clash of metal grow uncomfortably close, Ampere seizes his other arm and pulls Austin to his feet. He reaches for a small bundle of objects: wire, rubber, and some kind of battery? Before she can question him on it, her eyes land on the swords lining the horn's interior.
"The swords are right over there-" Ampere begins, pointing to the inside of the Cornucopia.
"Ampere, look out!"
Ampere whips around, sees what Austin sees. A huge mace is coming for her head.
Time slows as Ampere throws herself to her right. Right away she knows it won't be enough, she is too slow, I love you Isaac-
A sharp snap, an explosion of pain…and someone is screaming. Red-hot pain clouds Ampere's vision as effectively as the snowstorm around the bloodbath. It radiates from her left arm, where she can make out four or five punctures all oozing blood through her black jacket. Panem, bones don't bend that way, right?
The District 2 girl, smaller than even Ampere, raises her mace once again.
Pushing aside as much pain as she is able, Ampere pivots, kicks her leg out in a move she learned just two days ago. Ampere's leg connects with Two's, which buckles from under her. She drops her mace as she falls.
Ampere hooks Austin's free arm around the back of her neck, helps him limp away from the Cornucopia. His groans only add to Ampere's growing horror, but they are almost safe.
"Come on, we're almost there. Just a little further and we'll stop to rest."
"We…need…to get this rock…out of my side," Austin wheezes.
"A rock? How—When I almost ran into you…that's how it got stuck."
Austin nods, unable to say anything else. His eyelids flutter. Ampere will lose him if she doesn't do something quick.
...
One edge of the rock is close to the opening. Counting to three, Ampere jabs the wound sharply. Austin immediately screams into the glove, so agonized Ampere knows he's awake. The rock's edge is exposed. Heart thudding as loud as Austin's scream, bile rising in her throat, Ampere seizes the jagged edge of the rock and yanks it out.
Austin grimaces again, then relaxes. Ampere lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and places a hand on his cheek. "It's over." He frantically shakes his head, face contorted.
"What?" Ampere asks. "What do I need to do?"
Austin spits the glove out, mutters a word she almost misses: "Cauterize."
He lays back and closes his eyes. His even breathing is a sign he's fast asleep.
...
Ampere smiles as she fishes a combat knife out of her white pack. Its blade is long enough to cover Austin's wound and for her to maintain some distance if they're forced to fight. She tosses a few more twigs into the fire, casting furtive glances around as she does. Making a fire in the Games is akin to waving a giant flag for other tributes. Making a fire at dusk masks some of the smoke, but has the same amount of risk.
Ampere selects a spot in the hearth to place the blade as it heats. An eternity seems to pass before the knife is finally glowing red, emitting so much heat that it is slowly melting the snow near it. Ampere faces Austin, readjusts the glove in his mouth.
His eyes flutter open; they catch the red-hot knife blade.
"Oh, Austin, why'd you have to wake up now?" Ampere asks, not expecting a response. She presses the knife blade flat-side down against his wound. The acrid smell of burning flesh hits her nose immediately. It forces Ampere to breathe through her mouth. Austin's jaw clenches, his eyes squeeze shut as Ampere works, making sure to cover each part of the wound.
Satisfied that Austin won't be bleeding out any time soon, Ampere plunges the knife into the snow. She scoops more up to press into his side.
Austin, still on his back under Nine, struggles to breathe as much as Nine is. His eyes are unfocused, filled with pain. Both lenses of his glasses are now broken.
Their plan failed. The cannon signaling Nine's death confirms it. If the boy from 12 hadn't insisted on fighting her, maybe things would be different. Either way, District 5 will have its victor.
"Ampere...I'm sorry..." Every word Austin gasps out is a struggle.
(It wasn't supposed to end like this, with District 5 guaranteed a Victor in the Final 2. One of them was supposed to die before then. She was supposed to die. Either overpowered by a stronger tribute-which was everyone else in the Final 7-or by her own hand somehow. Austin was supposed to be Victor.)
"No, no, no! It's my fault! Mine! I couldn't help you! Someone attacked me-I couldn't-I couldn't-" Ampere finally manages to roll Nine off Austin-and screams.
Sticking out of Austin's stomach is a throwing knife. The same one Nine was twirling when he was taunting them earlier. Judging from the slowly-growing pool underneath, it must've happened right after she...killed...the boy from 12.
"NO!" Ampere screams, over and over, her voice breaking, making way for tears. "Austin, no, please-It was supposed to be you! ...you were supposed to win…."
"I was supposed to protect you." Every breath is a struggle for Austin. "And I did. I protect my family...all of them."
"I can't live like this, Austin! Knowing you died for me. I can't!"
"Think of...how happy your parents and brother will be to see you." Austin's voice grows softer with each word.
Ampere grips his hand tightly. It is all she can do. Pulling the blade out would kill him. Killing herself before he bled out will be construed as an act of defiance. The consequences of which will be aimed at their loved ones. (One of which is dying right now.)
"Sally and Rick…they'll…. I'll watch them. For you." They won't be in the Community Home. Won't be farmed for tesserae by the avarice and opportunistic of Five. Won't be left alone. It's the bare minimum she can do for Austin.
"Goodbye, my best friend, my sister. I... love..." The grip on my hand slackens, Austin lets out one final breath. Ampere stares at him, waiting, waiting...
The cannon sounds, and unleashes everything Ampere's been holding in.
"Austin? AUSTIN! NO! NO! NO! NO!" She shakes his shoulders desperately. "NO! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!" She sobs his name over and over again. Lucio Tenorfield's voice booms, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present Ampere Henry, Victor of the thirty-eighth Hunger Games!"
(It was supposed to be a victory. Ampere is going home. She will see District 5 again, unlike her sister three years ago. Ampere has triumphed where 23 others have not. Her parents will not lose another child to the Games. Isaac will still have a sister to tease. Sally and Rick will not want for anything.)
(So why does it all feel so hollow?)
Morality may consist solely in the courage of making a choice.
"If you stay still, Five, it'll be much less painful for you…and easier for me."
"What, am I making this too hard for you?" Ampere sneers with false bravado. "Looks like they'll give 10s to just about anyone…."
The girl from Four lunges savagely for Ampere's stomach. The strike misses any of Ampere's skin, but the spear catches part of her jacket, creating a good-sized slash.
OK, Ampere. Taunting a Career? Not good.
At least she had gotten the jump on them. Returning to her and Austin's camp after checking their snares, she came across the girls from 2 and 4 insulting Austin. This let Ampere close the distance and jump on the closest girl, Four. The shock let Austin strike Two with his electric whip, pushing her away from Ampere and Four.
Ampere pivots to the side and forward, away from the spearhead, and slams her knife into the spear with all her might. Four winces and drops the spear. Her eyes glower at Ampere. Four reaches for the spear, but Ampere slashes again. Four dodges to the side and elbows Ampere in the ribs. The blow and the landing knock the wind out of Ampere. She regains her senses in time to roll away from the spearhead that impales the ground where her throat was a second ago. Ampere scrambles back to her feet.
Duck, dodge, block, kick out, miss, punch, slash—
Ampere sees treetops and a haughty face looking down at her. Cold snow seeps into her scalp. Her left arm throbs with pain, but Ampere pushes it away. It returns again sharply. Ampere screams as Four's knee digs into her elbow.
Just know that...that we will understand if you...kill someone. We understand. Dad.
I...I might not know how to use any weapons, but I still have to kill people to get through. It was a throwaway comment, a statement to provide an answer. Ampere hadn't expected to escape the bloodbath. And yet...here was a situation. Kill or be killed.
A surge of energy rushes through Ampere. With her good arm, she slashes at Four, and is rewarded with a hiss. The pressure lessens, but the unease grows. Ampere squirms out of her spot on the ground and stands.
Four's hand readjusts her spear.
Kill or be killed.
Ampere dives forward with her knife, bracing herself for the pain—
A hot, heavy spray coats her shoulder, her neck, her face. A metallic smell hits her nose, and she nearly retches.
Someone screams. It intermingles with another, farther away, cut off as fast as it began. A cannon fires.
The sound prompts Ampere to jerk back. She whips her head up, takes in the girl from 2 crumpled on the ground several yards away. Relief washes over her as Austin looks at her, taking in any injuries as she does to him. Only a few more cuts and scrapes, but looking otherwise unharmed-
Another sound. A gurgle-?
Oh Panem...
Four's face looks like one of the fish from her district. Eyes wide and unblinking. Mouth parted slightly to release more blood, it spills down her lips, onto her chin, down to the large red smile bisecting her neck. Her knees give way even as she grasps at her throat, trying to staunch the flow of blood spraying from her neck.
Heaving, Ampere turns away from the still-twitching girl, unable to bear the last few moments. Murderer, one part of her chants.
Kill or be killed, she responds.
A cannon fires.
The boy from 12 anticipates Ampere's attack and dodges to the side. As she runs past him, she pivots and slashes, skidding slightly because of the snow. A hiss. She's connected. Blood trickles from a small gash on 12's neck.
The victory is short-lived. Right away, Ampere knows she left herself open, she slashed too wide, her arm reached too far. This is all the opening 12 needs. He shoves her to the ground. Ampere catches part of his jacket with her hand and drags him down with her.
Ampere lands on her left arm. A strangled scream escapes. Twelve again reaches for the knife still gripped in her right hand. They pull it back and forth, wrestling for control. Whenever he can, 12 jabs at her broken arm. Gritting her teeth, Ampere blocks out the pain as best as she can. But between 12's newfound advantage, his position above her, and her own bloodied grip on her knife handle, Ampere grimaces at the fight she is sure to lose.
Thinking fast, noticing how the boy is using all of his strength to pull, Ampere lets the knife slip from her hand. The boy falls backwards at the unexpected release. At the same time, Ampere surges into a crouch, kicks out at 12 once, twice, three times—there! She grabs her knife with her left hand, slashes, thrusts forward.
Panting , Ampere looks at the boy from 12. A long, horizontal gash on his chest gushes blood. A single stab wound, blade still embedded, is above it. His face...turning paler as the snow turns more red. His grey eyes are already empty even as he tries to keep any more blood from spilling out of the gash. He is around her age.
The sounds of a nearby fight break Ampere out of her trance. Austin needs her. He needs to go home.
Gripping the handle on her knife, she mumbles an apology before yanking her knife out of 12's chest. He emits one final gurgle before flopping back onto the ground, eyes completely glazed over.
Avoiding the bodies of the remaining tributes as she approaches, Ampere swings a leg and connects with Nine's back. He grunts, temporarily winded. Austin, gritting his teeth, glasses cracked and askew, hooks his arms under Nine's, leaving his torso wide open.
"NOW!" Austin shouts, even as Nine flails and scratches.
Ampere hesitates. It's just the three of them left. "But then-"
"Ampere! Do it!" Austin's green eyes are filled with pain, but they do not leave hers. Something in them tells Ampere that it will be OK.
At that moment, Nine manages to yank his arms free, one of which hits Austin, who lets out a strangled gasp. Ampere jumps on top of him, again knocking the wind out of him. Another groan from Austin.
"Sorr—" Ampere starts to say. Suddenly, a strong grip finds her braid and yanks. Fear as strong as a bolt of lightning flashes through Ampere, even as Austin reaches to recapture Nine's arm. Nine tries to yank her to the side, still holding her by the roots of her hair letgoletgoletgo!
The grip on her hair loosens. The unexpectedness of the action makes Ampere's knees buckle and Nine crumples to the ground, her knife stuck in one of three wounds in his chest. Dimly aware of her trembling hands, Ampere swallows watching Nine's breathing become more laborious.
The neon lady gives Ampere's face one last touch-up. "Please don't make me redo your makeup again."
Right. It's immoral to feel grief and cry. Three times.
"Cheer up, m'dear!" Aeolus stops fussing with my hair and spins her around to face him. "You won the Games! That's no reason to cry!"
Survived. I survived the Games. I didn't win. Austin chose to let Nine kill him, made me kill him so I could go home. She killed three children, two of them Careers. Their screams and deaths accompany her everywhere. This morning, Ampere awoke from one nightmare to find the girl from 4 standing over her, glowering.
"All I wanted," she had snarled, "was to make my family proud of me. My nana...I won't get to see her again." Her blue eyes pierced Ampere, who screamed, thrashing on her bed trying to get away from the girl. Four's bloody smile on her face matched the one on her neck. When Shilo, Vanth, and Nero burst into her room, Ampere was throwing anything she could get her hands on into the empty space in front of the bed, it was self-defense, I had to! You or me, I choose me! Me!
(And so did Austin….)
"It was nerve-wracking watching you and your partner fight those two girls!" the woman with bug-eyes adds, as if this could turn Ampere's whole day-no, life-around.
Two and Four. Like she and Austin chose to fight them. Ampere manages a weak smile even as her breath shortens. The invisible puncture marks on her left arm twinge. She has to bite down a gasp of pain.
"Glad to see the arm is feeling better, motormouth." The girl from 2 brandished her mace, adjusting it so Ampere can see the dried blood and skin plastered on it. Some of it is hers.
"Gorgeous!" Plinius grips her shoulders, ignoring Ampere's flinch. "Oh, you look perfect!"
Physically, yes. In her blue lace dress, gold heels, and a waterfall braid, Ampere looks like she belongs to the Capitol. And she does now, in a twisted way. Emotionally...nothing. Except for the lingering numbness and mute horror over surviving the Games, Ampere feels empty.
Empty, as the boy from 12 after Ampere yanked her knife out of his chest...
Enough. Ampere forces another smile. "Thank you, Plinius." She says the name to remind herself that the person touching up her hair is in fact her stylist, not the boy from 9.
In his final moments, he hadn't even been holding his knife.
Because it was in Austin, not-STOP!
"Oh not at all, m'dear, not at all!" Plinius steps back, gives Ampere a once-over. "Perfect, as always," he congratulates himself. "Come now, Ampere, Panem awaits!" Its newest murderer.
Ampere and Shilo walk down the hall of the Community Home to the room where the matron indicated Sally and Rick Hexson would be. Ampere mentally scrambles for something to say to them. "How are you holding up?" Too direct to start out. "I'm sorry about your loss?" Too generic. Austin means more to all of us than that...
And it would be too much to hope for something other than rude bitterness from both of them. I should've died, would've died, if it wasn't for Austin. And who can blame them? He chose me over them….
All too soon, Ampere and Shilo stand in front of the closed door. Her stomach inside out, Ampere knocks. "Sally? Rick?"
After a moment of silence, she eases the door open. Sally is sitting on the bed, holding Austin's glasses. She looks up as Shilo and Ampere enter and stand by the doorway.
"Hi," Ampere says. Always a good start.
Sally's eyes shine with fresh tears. "Hello, Ampere." She turns back to the glasses. "They were our father's, you know. Austin kept them after he died."
"I'm sorry." That is all she can say about Sally's father. "How are you and Rick holding up?" From the looks of things, but Ampere wasn't sure what else to say. Sally meets her eyes. They hold a hopelessness in them that comes from mourning. It is the same look Ampere and Isaac had when Ash died.
"The best we can." Sally takes a deep breath. "I want...to...thank you for what you did for Austin."
"You're welcome. He always had you on his mind; I could tell." Ampere pauses, remembering how the main focus of his interview was his siblings. How he called Ampere "Sally" a few times during the Games. How he protected...his entire...family...
Sally gives Ampere a weak smile. "I would ask you to sit down, but as you can see, we don't have any seats for ourselves, let alone company."
Ampere returns the smile, her first genuine one since the Games ended. "Austin's actually the reason I'm here." So far, so good. I'd expected her to punch my teeth out when I walked in.
Sally's smile widens, though the sadness remains. "You can come in; I'm not gonna kidnap you or anything." She beckons Ampere and Shilo into the room. "Rick, we have company. Say hello."
Ampere turns around as Rick enters the room, his downcast expression morphing into a scowl as he realizes who is in his room. Sally shoots a pointed look at Rick as he hurries into the room, purposely bumping Ampere as he goes. "I'm sorry, he's still grieving."
Rick glares back at Sally. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here! Why did she-" he stabs a finger in Ampere's direction. "-come home and not my older brother?"
It's the same question she's been asking herself for the past week. Ampere turns away from him, fighting back tears.
"Rick, stop it! It's not Ampere's fault." Sally grips his arm and tries to get him to sit down.
"It is!" Tears stream down his face, which grows more red as he speaks. "It is her fault! If she had just died instead of making Austin feel sorry for her, he would be alive! ...I hate you."
"Rick!" Sally chides, but he runs out before she can say anything else. Shilo gives Ampere an understanding nod and follows Rick. "I'm so sorry; he's just-" She pauses for a moment, inhaling sharply, then slaps her hand over her face and falls to the ground sobbing. "I'm sorry, it's not your fault, don't listen to him," she says between sobs. Is she reassuring me or herself? This isn't going well at all. Rick hates my guts, but at least Sally is attempting to be open about the Games, about Austin.
"I understand. But he's right. I should've...died, not…not...Austin." Ampere's composure breaks and she falls to her knees. Sally throws her arms around her. They sit there, sobbing.
"Don't say that. Austin did what he did for a reason; he was smarter than all of us. He knew what he was doing."
"He...he called me his sister," Ampere whispers.
Sally pulls away from her, takes a wavering breath. "Well...then he was doing what any big brother would do." She closes her eyes. "He was making his sister's life better." They pull each other into a hug again, and cry for a long time. While Ampere hadn't known Sally before the Games, she feels closer to her than ever. Like she'd always been my sister.
"Well, was there a point to this visit, or did you just come so we could have a good cry?" Sally eventually asks, trying to lighten the mood.
Ampere laughs. The sadness evaporates and she feels lighter. "A little of both, actually. Sally, what I wanted to ask you and Rick was…" She almost loses her courage, but continues, "...Was if you wanted to...to live with us. My family. In Victor's Village. For as long as you want."
Sally nearly drops Austin's glasses. She stares at Ampere in shock. "Are you serious?" Ampere nods. "Ampere, that's a kind offer, but we couldn't impose on you like that."
"It's not imposing if I invite you to live with me," Ampere responds. "Austin saved my life. He was there for me from the very beginning, he tolerated me despite his initial impression of me. He comforted me, always had my back. He was the one to propose we stick together until one of us dies, despite both of us being in the final 5.
"He saw me as a sister, as part of his family. As do I with him, you, and Rick."
Sally turns this over in her head for a minute or two.
"My parents are OK with it," Ampere adds, startling a laugh out of Sally.
"Are they now? This is a little longer than a sleepover, Ampere."
"Just a little?"
"Try four years." We giggle. Ampere can almost feel Austin in the room, shaking his head and smiling.
"I'll have to convince Rick though…" Sally says.
"Just ask him if he'd rather live in the community home, or with someone he hates."
"He'd pick the home. And I can't force him to leave. Nor can I leave him by himself."
Footsteps echo down the hall, and Shilo and Rick return, Rick sniffling slightly. "I'm...sorry… for what I said," he announces to the floor. Ampere approaches carefully, bends down so she is close to his ear.
"I agree with you," she whispers in his ear. "It should've been me." Should've been me killed by 12, or 4, or 9. He would see his siblings again, they would be set up for life. "Sometimes, I wish it had been me." It would be much easier for Sally to mourn a classmate than a brother.
They stare into each other's eyes for a second that contains an eternity. (He has Austin's eyes. He and Sally.) His face crumples and he buries his head into her shoulder. Sally comes over and the three of them huddle together, embracing the comfort they have.
Sally pulls away from the group hug. "Rick, Ampere wants to ask you something. Will you listen to her?"
"Y-yes."
The words come easier with forgiveness. "Rick, how would you like to come live with me and my family in Victor's Village?"
Rick looks at Sally in disbelief. "Did you love Austin?"
Sally snorts into her hands, Shilo cracks a smile. Ampere catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror: she is completely purple. Rick, however, looks at her completely seriously.
"I love him as a brother, as I do you and Sally." Rick glances at me, trying to see if they're empty words or not. "It's the least I can do for him," I assure him. "Now, let's get your stuff together."
Be cautious and bold.
A chair scrapes across the floor. Ampere glances up at the unexpected visitor. Austin is sitting across from her. Ampere gives him a small smile before looking back at her lunch, waiting for him to say something.
After a few minutes of encouraging stony silence between them, Ampere can't stand it.
"How'd you do while I was gone?" Ampere hopes her tone is innocent enough, as if she was asking what's for dinner tonight. She and Austin didn't begin the first day of training on the best of feet. Hopefully the time spent apart from each other will have cooled each other down.
"A lot better," Austin retorts. "I actually managed to get a decent fire going without the extra air."
"I learned so much about plants," Ampere says, ignoring the jab. "These two berries look identical, but you have to cut them open to find out if they'll kill you or not. And I'm no good at knots; every one of those darn things look the same, and it's so hard to figure out how to do everything right because the trainer just repeats what he's said already—"
"Headache. Starving. Soup's cold. Silence." Austin-—whose face previously suggested interest-—spits out. Ampere can almost imagine a vein throbbing on his forehead.
"Steam's still coming off your soup. And the way I saw you eat this morning, I'm surprised you're hungry," Ampere replies, trying to keep her tone friendly and innocuous.
"Just…I'd like to enjoy one meal in relative silence."
Ampere bristles at the implicit slights. "You did this morning, before Nero woke me up." Her voice rises slightly. "And you probably will if you decide to eat dinner in your room tonight."
"Can't you see no one else is talking?" His voice takes on a harder tone, replacing the rather tolerant one from moments ago.
"The Careers are. And we'd look loony if we all started talking to ourselves." Deep breath, Ampere. Patience.
"Not any more loony than you are."
Ampere lets out a humorless laugh. "That would mean I'm not very loony."
"Quite the contrary."
Enough. "What's wrong with you?" she demands loudly. Austin tries to subtly motion for her to keep it down, but Ampere's done listening. "I'm trying to have a nice conversation with you!"
"You should talk," Austin says just as loudly. "You're always shooting your mouth and saying things you shouldn't!"
"I can't help it!" By now, everyone is staring at them.
"You can, and you will! You stand out too much, and the Careers will be drooling over which one gets to kill you!"
Yes. The Careers are eyeing them with sadistic pleasure.
"Aw, I didn't know you cared," Ampere drawls.
"Not that much." He starts twitching, and she wants so badly to insult it, but it's a low blow even if Austin deserves it. It would be too wounding in front of twenty–two potential murderers.
"Just…just…"
For once, Ampere has nothing to say. I think I've met my match.
The Careers are laughing amongst themselves. Austin's right: they've deemed them the oddballs, the loudmouth and the nerd.
Ampere fumes as she imagines how Austin would look decorated in her soup's noodles.
"Get up, Ampear, darling! We have to g–g–get going soon!"
Ampere jerks as Nero bangs on her door, grumbling about supposed insubordination.
"SHUT UP, BIRDY! I'M UP!" Not that she would admit that the blows sound like cannons. Ampere pulls the covers over her head. It can't be morning already? Last night seemed so long ago. It must be a mistake. Another way for Nero to get under my skin, it would be just like him...
Well. Her ears ring from the unexpected but welcome silence, her stomach is turning inside-out repeatedly, and she can see a clock hanging on the wall opposite her. According to Brites, you're dreaming if you don't see a clock.
...Today is really happening.
Today she and Austin will be tossed into Panem-knows-what with twenty-two other tributes trying to kill them. In an hour and a half, she could be seeing Ash again….
Another knock. Another moment where her heart seizes unpleasantly. Ampere growls something unpleasant about the regeneration of bones of Capitol birdmen as she hurls the covers off, and storms to the door. "I told you I was up! Take that beak of yours and peck a hole through someone else's eardrums—! Oh. . ."
Ampere shuts her mouth. "Morning, Austin," she greets, as if she wasn't once again at war with her birdbrain of an escort.
He stands before her, looking annoyed. "Between you and me, I'll take Nero's 'beak' over your air horn," Austin says.
"I scream. He screams and bangs on doors. You still want him to wake you up?" Ampere teases.
Austin covers his face with his hand. "As hilarious as you can be, can you please save the humor? We might need it later."
Oh. Right.
"What if we hid in the Cornucopia before the Feast?"
"And here I thought you'd want to charge in and hope for the best," Austin teases.
Ampere returns the smile, which soon fades. "There's seven of us left. Since the girl from 9 is dead, that's three Careers and the boys from 8 and 12 still out there. We can't fight the Careers if they're together. So...what if we were gone before the others got there?"
Austin pauses from chewing his squirrel. His faraway gaze signals to Ampere that he's seriously considering the idea. Finally, he swallows. "Assuming the Gamemakers don't stop us from getting there early, we'd have access to the feast first..."
"Right!" Ampere exclaims, waving her squirrel-on-a-stick around and almost sending it flying. "And no one would stop us-"
"...and potentially be trapped." He takes a swig of water from their bottle.
"But getting in and getting out means avoiding the fighting."
"Not if the other five are in our way. We can't take that chance, especially with the Careers." His tone is matter-of-fact, yet gentle enough that Ampere won't be discouraged by the rejection.
"But that means we're fighting the Careers!" Fighting the girls from 2 and 4 was difficult enough. Somehow, she and Austin had gotten lucky.
"Not we. I."
Ampere pauses midchew. Then scowls. "I'm not letting you go alone!"
"That's not what I'm suggesting. The Gamemakers would make sure we're all there. What I mean is that you get what you can from the Feast and escape. I'll have your back. We can meet back somewhere after."
Now Ampere pauses. A part of her agrees with the plan. Austin's electric whip lets him fight long-range and his side is mostly healed. On the other hand, it was opening himself up to unnecessary risk. Which would be detrimental to him going home to Sally and Rick.
"OK, so no hiding in the Cornucopia," she concedes. "But you have to admit getting there early is a good idea. We can see where the others are, how they look. We won't be in the Cornucopia, but somewhere nearby, so we can see the others. We can go in when they're distracted, get what we can, and get out." Ampere does not let herself think of what could happen to them after the feast. If they go their separate ways, hope they do not see each other again unless one of them is in the sky….
"And if we can't get out?"
Ampere takes a deep breath. "Then we fight."
Austin and Ampere do not have to wait long for the Feast. Just inside the Cornucopia, a platform rises. Numerous crates overflowing with food sit on top of the platform. Ampere can just make out some fresh fruit and loaves of bread sitting around the bottom of the crate.
Still, she waits. Three weeks ago, she would have been halfway across the clearing and open to attack from other tributes. Her alliance with Austin showed her how to be cautious. It was, after all, how she was responsible for injuring Austin's side in the bloodbath. Now, she quells the impulse and the lingering guilt and waits. Watches.
Three figures dart into the clearing about 200 feet from Ampere's left. "They're here, Austin. The Careers," Ampere hisses. She senses Austin adjusting his copper-wire whip behind her. The crackle behind her brings back the screams of the girl from 2. Ampere grits her teeth against the memory, refocuses on the feast.
The boy from 2 stands in front of the table, brandishing his sword and eyes darting around for the rest of them. Behind him, the boys from 4 and 9 rummage through the crates, stuffing whatever food they can into backpacks. Every fiber in Ampere screams to move, to get something! But with the boy from 2 protecting his allies, Ampere fears there will be nothing-
"Now!" She leaps up from the ground, biting back a wince as the movement jars her broken arm. The boys from 2 and 9 had whipped around as their retching ally disappeared from view. Austin is ahead of her, careful to keep himself in front of her. From the Careers' perspective, it is just Austin. Allowing Ampere to sneak to the crates undetected. As they approach the table, a cannon fires. Six left.
Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean.
Facts about the twenty-three children who died so Ampere can live. Found in a small notebook in one of Ampere's desk drawers shortly after the assassination of Alma Coin.
Minte Hawbek was the only daughter of a District One Victor, Mylar. She poisoned the original volunteer, her cousin Precious, and replaced her as tribute.
Chrome Stevens could accurately throw a spear from 100 yards away. His cold, stoic reputation stemmed from his brother's rejection from Career training and suicide six years prior.
Aelia Tiberius faced enormous pressure from the two sides of her family. Her parents lived vicariously through her training. Her estranged older brothers wanted her to have a choice in the matter.
Caius Lorun's father could not stand his son's resemblance to his mother. When he was seven, Caius created four personalities to cope with his father's physical abuse.
Nathalia Campbell was one of 3's best saxophone players. She competed with her brother and another boy for first position for years. She was as arrogant as a Career, and ambitious enough to do whatever it takes to achieve her goals.
Bolt Huxley bartered with a Peacekeeper to supply his artistic talent. He first used paints for his drawings in the Capitol. When he died in an avalanche, the Peacekeeper received some of Bolt's newer drawings.
Maria Thorne volunteered to make her grandmother proud, and to get a cure for her terminal illness.
Ford Wittenberg likened himself to Sir Galahad, from the archaic tales of King Arthur, and believed that fate was up to the Lake's Ladies. To this end, he flipped a coin to make difficult decisions.
Austin Hexson worked a full-time job while still attending school. It was the only way to support his younger siblings and keep them out of the Community Home. And yet, he decided how the 38th Hunger Games would end, and it was not with his own survival.
Esmeralda "Esme" Northwood found out that one of her friends had a crush on her, and they believed she would die.
Hector Soto holds a strong dislike for Capitol citizens and for the Games. His uncle was a tribute in a previous Games. Hector thought the odds were in his favor, that he wouldn't be reaped.
Andra Chane was the youngest tribute in the 38th Hunger Games. Her name was in the bowl one time too many. Her parents tried to shield her from the reality of the Hunger Games. Her sister tried to prepare her for the reality of it.
Lukas Seon smiled the brightest because he held the deepest sorrow. His best friend drowned because of Lukas, something he was never able to let go of.
Clarily Montane was spared by sheer luck in the bloodbath when the boy from 4 flipped a coin. He kicked her ass and told her to run. Her luck ran out three days later.
Ramie Ortega took care of a plant that grew his namesake, a rarity in District 8, that his mother gifted him two years ago. He believed that it held a piece of her, and made him feel closer to her.
Spelt Keller came from a large family who sheltered her. Her defiance extended to touching a scythe without permission. Each reaping-eligible Keller took tesserae out for the rest. It wasn't enough to feed them all, but it was enough to reap Spelt.
Rift Quayl hated his district and aspired to be a Career. He acted like one, volunteered like one, and killed like one. The only snag in his dream-turned-reality was that he did not come home like one.
Jodi Quinnell had five siblings, all with names beginning with a J. Like Spelt, the Quinnells took tesserae out for each other. She formed a tentative alliance with the girl from 11, but both died in the bloodbath.
Spencer Shepherd's friends nicknamed him the General, due to his resemblance to a previous, militaristic District 2 tribute. During the 38th Games, he was indirectly responsible for the deaths of both Careers from 1.
Farro Bremer's "friends" tested each other by promising to volunteer for each other if one of them got reaped. Farro saw the day of the reaping who her real friends were.
Trevon Rindez left behind a brother whom he would have volunteered for, and a girlfriend who gave him a family heirloom as a token. He fought for both in the Games, but died three days in. His girlfriend retrieved Trevon's necklace when he came back in a coffin.
Rhiannon Woodsville gave food to others in the Community Home during the year she was there. She received the same training score as her brother did six years prior.
Miles Dreft lasted longer in the arena than previous tributes from 12 since his mentor.
And that's a wrap! Not just on the fic, but with Ampere as well. When I first began writing her back in 2013, I thought this would be a fun side-project, something to occupy myself with in high school. Little did I know that I would become much more involved in not just the Hunger Games but fanfiction as well. I've made friends back then and now, and without their support, I likely would not have come back at all.
So.
A HUGE thank you to MCPBN, for all the memories, support, and roleplays with Ampere, Austin, and so many more characters. It means so much to me that we've been writing partners and friends for as long as we have!
Thank you, authors of Bound by Blood, for your respective tributes. (Usernames may have changed between then and now. I apologize if they are inaccurate.) I am sorry the story never fully finished. I wrote this for closure for myself and to remember why I got into HG in the first place.
Minte Hawbek - XOXOFutureFame
Chrome Stevens - Howl of the Tiger
Aelia Tiberius - Bookwormboy134
Caius Lorun - Deadly Animals Are Cute
Nathalia Campbell - CelticGames4
Bolt Huxley - Shaphire15
Maria Thorne - CelineAnnemarie
Ford Wittenberg - John 'Doc' Holliday
Ampere Henry - daydreamer626
Austin Hexson - MCPBN
Esmeralda "Esme" Northwood - JuneTwentieth
Hector Soto - Kate-The-Great-And-Powerful
Andra Chane - fulvenia
Lukas Seon - Erudite-Dauntless Girl
Clarily Montane - Revolution Mockingjay
Ramie Ortega - YazminDominguez
Spelt Keller - TheElusiveFemaleAssassin &
Rift Quayl - basicgay
Jodi Quinnell - relatively cool person
Spencer Shepherd - Zssillybilly & Ashbrie13
Farro Bremer - lunarrose123
Trevon Rindez - potatohips
Rhiannon Woodsville - LydiaXuning-fic
Miles Dreft - CrazyTARDIS825
Feel free to leave a review or comment! Enjoy the rest of your morning, day, night, time; stay safe and healthy; and be(lieve in) yourself!
~dd