Trigger warning: mentions of gender dysphoria, misgendering, and self-harm in Argen's POV. Please proceed with caution.
Argen DeAquilla, 18
District 10 Female
2 months before the Reaping
"Argen, sweetie, it's time to get up."
"I don't want to," Argen sighed, pulling the tattered blanket over his body. His hand was pressed against his chest and he sighed, feeling two large and matured lumps on his chest that really weren't supposed to be there but he had no way of getting rid of. Not with the money he had. And he didn't have a lot.
After a few more minutes, he finally crawled out of bed. His stomach rumbled, finally pleased he was going to get something to eat.
Brendon was already making breakfast. Good. Argen wasn't really in the mood to anyways.
"Good morning sleepyhead."
Argen just yawned in response as he sat down. He muttered a soft "good morning" as he traced the marks in table with his fingers. He probably could be helping out, but it seemed Brendon had everything under control. Did that make Argen a bad boyfriend?
Brendon gave him a cracked bowl filled with oatmeal. Argen just nodded, picked up a spoon and dug in.
"Your sister came by yesterday."
Argen's spoon fell from his hands and onto the table. "When?"
"When you were sleeping. We didn't want to wake you."
"You could've said something."
"Well, you're a grouch when I interrupt your beauty sleep," Brendon snickered. "But she couldn't stay long anyways. You know how...he...gets."
Argen nodded. "Yeah...is she okay?"
"She's fine. She brought us some eggs."
Argen shrugged into his oatmeal. Maybe he was the luckier one, now that Aerron DeAquilla no longer wanted anything to do with him, having cast him out years ago. It was too much to accept his eldest child, that Argen no longer wanted to be killed a "she". Unfortunately, he couldn't rescue Sameera. But he and Brendon were hardly getting by already. He scratched at a faint scar under his wrist, put there many nights ago after tossing and turning and crying his eyes out over the body and life he didn't have.
Some nights were easier than most. Last night had not been one of them.
Some nights, he drifted easily to sleep. Last night, the same old thoughts of hating himself, hurting himself, and wanting to be someoen else kept him dead awake.
"It's nice outside," Brendon mused. "Let's go for a walk."
"I don't want to."
"Well, why not?"
Argen folded his arms. "I don't feel like it."
"I want to make the most of my days off. And you can't stay holed up inside the house forever. You need some fresh air."
Argen twisted a strand of bright blond, almost grey, hair. "What if everyone is staring at me?"
"Nobody's going to stare at you, babe."
"Yes they will."
Argen heaved a sigh, staring into his cold oatmeal. He felt his boyfriend wrap an arm around him. "Argen, please. You don't need to worry about it, alright? Nobody is going to judge you, and if anybody asks, you can tell them your identity and pronouns. I'm sure they'll understand."
"No they won't."
"How do you know that," Brendon asked.
"I just...do."
"Well, I'm going for a walk, and we need more groceries so we don't starve to death in the next few weeks. You're welcome to join me and I think you should. Or you can stay here, if you'd like."
Moments later, Argen was following Brendon out the door. He clung tightly to his boyfriend's arm as they visited various stores and stalls, collecting as much food as they could with Brendon meager paycheck. Argen waited impatiently as Brendon began to argue with the butcher or the price of a slab of meat, before they grudgingly shook hands and made the trade.
"Have a lovely day, young man," the butcher's wife called out. "And you too, miss."
Argen's face began to flush and he absentmindedly raised a hand to his chest. "Um...I'm...I'm not a..."
For a moment, the butcher and his wife looked confused, but quickly corrected themselves. "Sorry about that. Have a lovely day."
"It's okay, babe," Brendon whispered in his ear as they walked off. "And I'm proud of you for standing up to himself."
"Okay," Argen muttered softly, still clutching his chest, and overcome with a strange sense of dread, reminding him why he didn't want to leave the house in the first place.
The outside world was scary, full of people who didn't care who he truly was.
Red Belmont, 15
District 10 Male
One week before the Reaping
"Did they have to come?"
"Do you have a problem with that?" Red asked. His younger siblings stood behind him, Bale giggling hysterically and little Trina sticking her tongue out. "My parents made me bring them anyways."
Peter cackled. "Sucks to be you, man. Siblings are a pain in the...behind."
"Hey, you're the baby of your family, you don't get to talk. So, what are we going to do today?"
Peter shrugged. "The farmer on the end of the street has new baby cows. But are we gonna get in trouble if they come along?" He gestured to Bale and Trina.
Red scoffed. "Why, what did you have in mind?"
"Boys!" A shrill voice came from inside Peter's house as his older sister Brinely stormed out. "Are you out to give those sweet little calves a bad time? Red, you're supposed to be setting an example for these little sweeties here!"
"Who are you?" Bale asked.
Trina tugged on Red's sweater. "Baby cows! Can we go see the baby cows?"
Brinely threw her arms around the two boys and they both shrugged her off. "I'm coming with you."
Trina grabbed Red's leg; he picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. Bale pouted slightly, a little jealous he was too big for that sort of thing. At the field, the cows were all grazing about, ignoring their new visitors. Trina bounced excitedly on Red's shoulders. "Cows!"
"Yes, Trina. Cows."
"Can I pet one?"
Red shook his head. "They're not your cows."
"But I wanna!'
"Hey Red! Check this out!" Peter ripped up a handful of grass and held his hand out over the fence. The nearest cow lumbered over, then began to pick the grass out of his hand. Bale quickly did the same thing. "Hey, hey cow! Over here!"
"Be nice!" Brinely scolded. "Cows deserve respect too!"
"I was!"
"Red, can I feed the cows?" Trina asked. "Please, please, please, please?"
Red lowered his sister, who ripped out a bunch of grass and sent the dirt flying everywhere. The cow didn't mind having to bend a little lower to reach the food. Trina giggled. "It tickles, Red!"
"Hey! What are you kids doing?"
"Oh crap," Red muttered under his breath as the old farmer came running out, waving his cane around. "Peter, what do we do?"
"I dunno man, I've never met the guy before!"
Brinely snickered. "Oooooh, you two are in so much trouble!"
The farmer scowled at them, throwing his cane down. "Get off my property and away from cows!"
"Oh god!" Red scooped up Trina. "Come on guys, run!"
Peter grabbed Bale's hand and pulled him along. Brinely was right behind them. The farmer continued to chase them down. Luckily, Red could see his house in the distance, growing close and closer until they reached the fence. Peter and Brinely easily hopped over, before they turned back to help Red, Trina, and Bale over as well. The farmer just turned and left, muttering under his breath.
Brinely cackled, punching Red's arm. "I hope your parents kill you when they find out."
"Nah. I'll just tell them it was your idea."
"You wouldn't dare!"
"That was fun!" Trina laughed. "Can we do that tomorrow? I didn't get to see the baby cows!"
"I don't think your parents will you, kid," Brinely chuckled, patting the younger girl's head.
Peter leaned up against the fence, panting heavily. "That was pretty awesome though. Who knew the old man had so much stamina in him?"
"We weren't doing anything bad," Bale pouted. "I don't know why he was so worked up about it."
"Some people are just so touchy."
Red smoothed out his shirt and pushed his messy brown hair out of his face. "So Pete, still salty Bale and Trina came along?"
District 10! Anyone who knows me knows I love District 10!
And for the record, Argen is a transmale, which means he identifies as male and uses he/him pronouns. Please be respectful of this when reviewing. Any intentional transphobic or hateful comments will not be tolerated.
Now, we're down to the last two districts. District 9 is up next!
-Vr