Breaking Point Sextet V

Love: The 75th Hunger Games

Chapter Five

District Six Reaping

A/N: Thanks to TheWatcherofTheVoid for the wonderful Tribute pair featured in this chapter! Also, I do not own the Hunger Games, my fictional lawyers have advised me to stop asking them if I do.

Seras Axis –15- -D6- POV

I tap my feet on the ground impatiently, trying not to look suspicious. I mean, why should I look suspicious? It's not like my brother and his girlfriend are currently brazenly robbing the house behind me as I stand watch for the owners or Peacekeepers, not at all. That'd just be silly. At least if the Peacekeepers asked me, it would be. But it's been a bit too long, they're normally out by now. They better have found something good, and not just be making out again, because if they are, so help me God, I will – well, nothing, really, but I'll get angry at them for risking the job for a risky kiss. Not that I should really get angry at Rem, it wouldn't be his fault, it's always Mercedes who starts it, he just goes along with it, like a typical guy. I mean, I can't blame him, who doesn't like a bit of extra risk? Risk is what makes life worth living. But, I can get angry at him when it puts my life in jeopardy.

Ooh, speaking of risk, that cute guy's got a nice watch. I think it'll sell for a good bit of money. Well, not like Rem's coming out anytime soon. I walk over to him, colliding into him.

"Oh, sorry!" I say. "Didn't mean to run into you like that."

"Oh, uh," the guy says, as he looks me over, I'm sure noting my messy dark brown hair. I keep my eyes down, as if embarrassed, so he can't see my face. I'm short, only 5'3" (160.02 cm) "No problem, that's fine."

"Thanks," I say, carefully undoing the watch strap, then lifting the watch lightly so he can't feel it, my body still pressed into his, "I'll, um, just be going now, I guess," I slip the watch into my pocket.

"Oh, wait, what's your -," he starts, but I slip away, further into the street and a couple of other people for a couple seconds, pulling my hood up as I glance back. He sighs and starts moving away, and I move back towards the house, re-taking my causal lean against the door, but now with my hood still up, as I quickly redo my hair into a ponytail before putting the hood down, and taking the jacket off to tie around my waist. It was too hot for a hoodie anyway, and now I look different enough that he won't recognize me if he comes back.

A few minutes pass, and Rem and Mercedes still haven't come out. The crowds are starting to thin, the Reaping will be starting soon, they better hurry -

"Hey, Seras," Rem taps me on the shoulder, as he and Mercedes slip out of the house. I look back at him. Lipstick. Hmph. Well, at least I got a free watch outta it. "We get spotted?"

"Not that I know of, took you two long enough," I retort. I think I'll keep the watch to myself.

"Sorry, that might've been my fault," Mercedes says.

"Yeah, I figured," I say. "Let's get outta here, get whatcha got to the fence."

Rem nods. "Let's go."

Remington Axis POV

"Ooh, this is nice," Mercedes says from the other side of the very nicely decorated bedroom. I look over to see her holding a fancy ring. A diamond, probably worth a few hundred, and a couple gemstones, a few hundred more, and the band probably makes it twelve to thirteen hundred. And it's pretty.

"It is," I say. "I say take it."

She grins. "Why else are we here apart from to take stuff?" She slips it into her shirt, a hidden pocket so it won't fall out. Interesting, not in the bag, but I guess it is small. "I'll keep this for later."

"Fair enough," I chuckle to her first comment, and go back to searching through the nightstand on my side of the bed.

After a few seconds, she interrupts my searching again. "You know, there is something else we could do while we're here."

I look at her. "No, not this time. We've barely got enough time to get in and out of here before the Reaping starts, and my sister's waiting outside."

"Exactly," she grins. "That makes it more fun."

"No, it doesn't," I retort.

She comes over to me, and puts her hands on my shoulders. "Are you… sure?"

I pull away from her a bit, and glance out the bedroom window, to see Seras moving to steal something from some random passerby. "Oh, fine… two minutes though, no longer."

She grins and give me a kiss on the neck. "Mmm, sounds good to me."

Two minutes of risky making out that we definitely shouldn't have done later, we collect a few more valuables and head out to meet Seras, who apparently doesn't feel like talking about her little prize. Eh, that's fine, it's all hers. Now we're going to have to basically run from the fence to the Reaping though, and maybe run to the fence.

After a brisk walk back to the thieves' guild, we have a very quick conversation with our fence, where we agree to pick up our money after the Reaping. Apparently, Seras had a watch, although I notice that Mercedes doesn't sell the ring she got. Interesting. Anyway, we then head off to the Reaping.

Seras Axis –15- -D6- POV

We barely get to the Reaping with time left, after Mercedes' little excitement idea, but whatever, we're here in time, and we'll have a few thousand waiting for us afterwards. I give a brief wave to my school friends as I join them in their sections as Chocolate starts the Reaping.

"District Six! Everybody get ready! The Reaping is about to start!"

I stand, waiting, and get a little nervous as I do. I mean, if I'm Reaped… well, then Rem will have to come with me, and he doesn't deserve that. I mean, with Mercedes' plan and everything he's got going on, besides that he's such a good brother… and what if Mercedes gets Reaped instead? It's kind of a scary thought, but I suppose the odds aren't high. Unless the Reapings are rigged. Any normal year I'd think that if I did, I'd win just to stick it to the Capitol, but this year… well, that win would come at the cost. But I shouldn't get Reaped, probably.

"Okay everyone! Same thing as usual, but only one Tribute will be Reaped, and then they'll declare who the person they love the most is! Sound good?" Silence from the District. "Well then, let's get started! The Tribute from District Six is… Seras Axis!"

Well, this is terrifying. The Hunger Games. And I'll have to bring my brother. Could things get worse? Well, if I don't look confident and get sponsors, they could. I try to force a smile on my face, although I'm not sure how well it works. I repeat my name for Chocolate, and when she asks me who the person I love most is, I consider just lying. But I see the screen has Rem's name on it. I can't like.

"The person I love most is… Remington Axis."

Remington Axis –18- -D6- POV

"Hey, Rem?" Mercedes asks me as Seras runs off to her section.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"After the Reaping, and the fence, can we spend the rest of the day together? Just us?" She sounds kind of… is that nervous?

"Yeah, sure," I say. "Why?"

"Oh, uh, just… you'll see." She smiles. "I should go to my section, love you, see you later, bye!"

"Love you too, Mercedes!" I shout, then head over to my section. I wonder what she was nervous about… I guess I'll see later. Probably shouldn't try to guess it.

I can't believe it when Seras is Reaped. Not my sister. The sister I've raised, the sister I've saved from our terrible parents, the sister I've taught to pickpockets better than I can… she can't go to the Hunger Games and die… no, maybe I should -

"Who do you love most?"

Oh, right.

"The person I love most is… Remington Axis."

I don't have a choice. Well, I've spent my life protecting my little sister, I can keep doing it. I try to smile confidently as I walk onstage and take my spot next to her, before giving her a hug.

"The Tributes from District Six are Seras Axis and Remington Axis!"

Persephone Levinson –18- -D6 Rebel Lieutenant- POV

In the night after the Reaping, I walk into an underground room through a secret door, escorted by two people with pistols and knives. Not rebels, but thieves. Not too dissimilar to the gang I used to work with, but not too similar either. These people only steal and sell, and try to kill only if they need too. But they're very good at what they do, and when they need to kill someone, they usually end up dead. Of course, their main talent is, well… getting in and out undetected.

"Persephone Levinson," the man I'm here to meet doesn't look up from his papers. "Why are you here?"

"I have a proposition for you, Guildmaster," I respond.

"What kind of proposition?" The Guildmaster asks.

"The kind that could change all of our lives for the better, permanently. That could prevent you from losing good people like you did today, or even needing to do this," I answer.

"I'm listening," The Guildmaster looks up at me, eyes and face hidden behind the mask, which looks to be hacked together from a Peacekeeper helmet or two, but changed to be inconspicuously worn under a hood. Well, somewhat inconspicuously at least. I notice that he's also wearing body armor similar to Peacekeeper armor. Perhaps these people could be more helpful than we think.

"I'm sure you've noticed the increased Peacekeepers recently," I say.

"Indeed," he says. "Especially in the past week. They make it extremely hard to get jobs done."

"Same for us," I say. "And we have evidence that they're planning a move against us soon. All of us."

"So you want us to join you," The Guildmaster responds. "You want our Guild to swear allegiance to your Rebellion."

"Yes," I say. "If we win, we're willing to forget that all of you had criminal records. After all, most of you were probably drawn to this life by necessity, like those two that got Reaped today were. You'll have an opportunity to start over in a country where you won't need to steal to survive. And if we lose… well, we all die anyway. You have nothing to lose from helping us, and our people could use people with your skills. Infiltration is our main way to make big progress, after all."

"For now, perhaps," Guildmaster responds. "But if what you say is true, then this conflict you have been stirring up underground will soon churn to the surface in a full-scale war. What use will thieves be to you then?"

"We'll still need infiltrators," I explain. "For the occupied Districts, Peacekeeper strongholds, the Capitol, your people would make perfect special operators."

The Guildmaster nods. "Good. You have thought this offer through. Tell me, why did your leadership send you? You are not a street soldier, but they did not send somebody of my stature to negotiate with me."

"They thought I would have a better understanding, considering my former employers," I respond truthfully.

Guildmaster nods again. "Mmm. I see. Our Guild is not like your Rebellion or the Peacekeepers, it is less a structured organization, and more of a cooperative. But, I will suggest to my people that they help you, if the opportunity arises. Come here." I tentatively step forward, noting that the guards, certainly more of the assassins than the thieves, are still here. And that I'm still unarmed, as they had taken my gun before they would let me in. The Guildmaster extends one of their hands, for a shake, I realize. I shake it, and I feel something in their gloved hand that they transfer to me. When our hands separate, I look at it. It seems to be a coin, a relic from… before the Dark Days, I think. I don't recognize the faded lettering on it, although that's obviously what it is. "Take this token to your leader, as a sign of our partnership. Then bring it back, I only have one of these."

I nod. "Of course, Guildmaster. Thank you."

Guildmaster nods. "Have a good night, Miss Levinson." He goes back to his papers, and I turn and leave the building, escorted by his guards. Well, that certainly was a strange encounter. But Ria should be happy.

A/N: Well, that was a fun chapter! What did you all think of these two wonderful Tributes? Also, I'm thinking of a way to shorten Rebel names so they're not so long. Lastly, I'm starting to wonder just how many secret underworld organizations District Six has, we're at… checks notes: one smuggling operation, one gang, one thieves' guild, and one Rebellion. Good thing Six has a good population, and to be fair, two out of four of those are fairly small. Anyway, please let me know your thoughts on this chapter! See you soon! - JStar14H

Tribute List:

D1R: Open

D1L: Open

D2R: Reserved for BeeBoo15

D2L: Reserved for BeeBoo15

D3R: Open

D3L: Open

D4R: Nerys Pacifica, 18, by Son of Arryn

D4L: Halian "Hal" Maui, 17, by Son of Arryn

D5R: Daisy Brownstone, 15, by chcolate

D5L: Matilda 'Mattie' Edlington, 17, by chcolate

D6R: Seras Axis, 15, by TheWatcherofTheVoid

D6L: Remington Axis, 18, by TheWatcherofTheVoid

D7R: Open

D7L: Open

D8R: Open

D8L: Open

D9R: Open

D9L: Open

D10R: Gadge Paddet, 17, by Professor R.J Lupin1

D10L: Simon Hazel, 17 by Professor R.J Lupin1

D11R: Open

D11L: Open

D12R: Open

D12L: Open