Setsuna is from LordShiro and Gladius is from Nemris.
I just finished this chapter and since it's been a while since I updated, I didn't grammar check it (I know, it's very unlike me). Sorry if there are any grammar mistakes, I really have to get better about editing my chapters.
District 2
Setsuna Kobayashi
My alarm rings at 3:30, but I've already been up for an hour. I've been too anxious to get a good night of sleep, although I doubt I need very much of it. I can perform fairly well with little sleep, so it shouldn't make too much of an impact on me today. I get out of bed silently, not wishing to wake any of my family. They know that I leave early in the mornings to train with Gladius, but they don't like when I wake them up. Fortunately, my training in ballet allows me to be very stealthy in the early hours.
I get dressed quickly, not caring too much about my appearance. I'll want to look good for the Reaping, but I'll be returning home before then, so I won't have to worry about my outfit now. I quickly pull on a black hoodie and dark denim pants before exiting the house. The material of the clothes isn't important, District 2 has a fairly mild climate around this time of year, but it's very important that the clothes are black, or at least dark. Darkness hides a lot of things.
Gladius and I have agreed to meet at the play park, as usual. It's become our automatic location when we meet up at night, although in the day we tend to stay away. Nobody goes there at night, though.
I arrive at the play park before Gladius, but I'm sure he'll arrive soon. I prefer to be early, but Gladius is at least punctual. He enjoys his sleep, so I know he can sometimes be grumpy at this hour, but he'll get over it soon. He always ends up enjoying himself.
Waiting for Gladius, I take a seat on one of the play structures. The park is actually quite creepy; District 2 doesn't use a lot of color in design, so all of the equipment is made out of gray metal. It makes the whole place look like a junkyard for torture devices. Perhaps that's why it appeals to Gladius and I so much.
When Gladius arrives, he is as grumpy as I predicted. His hoodie is drawn up tight around his face, hiding his eyes, but I can see the scowl etched across his face. He approaches me with his hands jammed in his pocket, not looking at all as excited as I know he is.
"Ready?" I ask him.
"Yeah," he says gruffly. He has his usual duffel bag slung over his shoulder, and he hands it to me. It's supposed to be my job to carry it, since he's complained a few times that he does all the hard work, but I still think he should be the one carrying it. I'm strong, but nowhere near as strong as Gladius and the bag is heavy. I grunt as I struggle to pull one of the straps over my shoulder. Gladius pretends not to notice my exertion; or maybe he doesn't, with Gladius you never know.
"I think we should go over here," he announces, gesturing toward a street. "I have a good feeling about that way."
I don't complain, seeing no other possible routes. I don't think Gladius's instincts are anything special, but I'll go along with them anyway. I follow Gladius as he walks down the street at a fast pace, struggling to keep up under the weight of the bag. I have sharper eyes than Gladius, so I make sure to scan the street and alleys for anyone. It's not long before my eyes rest on a homeless man sleeping at the end of an alley.
I grab Gladius's shoulder, pulling him to a stop. When he sees the man, his eyes finally light up with excitement. He pauses before beginning to walk down the alley at what I suppose is supposed to be a quiet walk. Gladius is too large to be considered stealthy in any sense of the word, but luckily, the man is fast asleep and doesn't notice the giant teenager lumbering toward him.
I follow Gladius, one hand holding the bag tightly to prevent any of its contents from making noise. When Gladius is finally standing over the man, he glances to me for approval. I nod, and immediately Gladius jumps into action.
He swings his giant arm around the man's neck, pulling him into a tight headlock that jerks him awake. Immediately, the man begins to thrash, trying to escape from Gladius's grip, but Gladius is far too strong. Gladius pulls him closer to the point where his face begins to redden a bit. It won't be long before his face turns blue.
"Slacken your grip a bit," I order, and Gladius immediately complies. The man gasps for air deeply as I remind Gladius, "we don't want to kill him. Not yet."
At that, the man's eyes dart to me in fear.
"What are you doing? What do you want from me?" he cries. "I don't have any money."
"Obviously," Gladius mutters, but I shush him.
"What do we want?" I repeat, walking closer to him. I zip open the bag slowly before pulling out a sharp dagger. I twirl it between my fingers before tossing it to Gladius, who easily catches it by the handle. "We just want to have a bit of fun with you."
Gladius begins dragging the knife along the man's chest. He begins to scream as Gladius laughs in amusement. He seems wide awake now, just as I predicted.
District 2
Gladius Talamine
The Town Square is now full of people, but I arrived when hardly anybody else was here. After my morning excursion with Setsuna, I didn't feel any reason to head back home so I simply went to the training gym and got in some last minute exercise. The fun I had with Setsuna had gotten my blood pumping so I was able to get in a good workout before taking a quick shower and heading down to the Town Square.
We don't kill people who don't deserve it - that's not how we operate. District 2 is easily the best District in Panem, full of wealth and physical prowess and honor, so having weaklings and criminals roaming the street makes me ashamed. Setsuna and I have a duty to fulfill, which is to scourge the District of all of sorts of scum - criminals, homeless, etc.
We started a few years ago when we caught a man sexually assaulting a woman. I beat up the dude and then Setsuna and I turned him into the Peacekeepers. Not too long after, Setsuna had the idea that we do the same to every criminal on the streets of District 2. When we were chosen to Volunteer for the academy, Setsuna decided we would escalate to killing the criminals, in order to prepare for the Hunger Games.
At first, I was hesitant. Generally, killing is frowned upon. But Setsuna makes a lot of good points, and when she finally convinced me to kill a thief, the rush I got was enough to make me kill more and more with no regrets. Of course, criminals aren't the only scum that line our streets. It wasn't long before Setsuna had the idea to not only kill anyone who disgraces our District; at night, our streets become packed with all sorts of people who give District 2 a bad name. Druggies, homeless, whores, you know the type. Setsuna will choose the victim - always someone deserving, of course, and I'll generally carry out the kill. Sometimes Setsuna joins in.
I've heard that killing is bad and dishonorable. But that doesn't make sense, because when people kill in the Hunger Games, they're rewarded with riches and fame and honor. Why should it be any different in the District? Setsuna and I know that it's a very honorable thing to do. I see it as our duty and I think we should be recognized and admired for it. But Setsuna always reminds me that not everyone understands. A lot of people are stuck in their dumb fantasies where they believe everyone deserves life.
Sometimes I want to tell them about what Setsuna and I do, so I can convince them that what we're doing isn't wrong. It's honorable. But Setsuna is very scared of someone finding out what we do, so I keep my mouth shut. Setsuna is very well-respected in the District because of her family and music. She's a brilliant pianist and writes pieces that are admired all around the District and some are even spreading into other Districts and the Capitol. She's told me that her inspiration comes from the people we get rid of. That makes me proud, because whenever she writes a very good song, I know that I helped in a way.
If we were discovered, things would be bad for Setsuna. If everyone was too stupid to understand that we're helping the District, then we'd go to jail. What matters most to me is my honor; even if I was thrown in a jail because a bunch of stupid people couldn't understand that I was helping them, I'd know that I was right. I would still have my honor. But Setsuna's music is very important to her and if she wasn't able to write or play music, she'd be very upset. So I keep my mouth shut.
We're not in any danger at the moment. Nobody suspects the help we bring them and nobody cares about the people we kill. I've never heard anyone worried about the low-lifes disappearing. The ones we get rid of are the ones nobody cares about. They're just vermin we need to exterminate.
As the last people scurry into their spots in the Town Square, our escort finally takes the stage. I'm not good with names and since she was only transferred to our District last year, I have no clue who she is. I recognize her orange wig, though. She taps on the microphone to make sure it's working, then excitedly introduces herself. I forget her name immediately after she tells us.
"I'm very excited to find out who this year's tributes will be! I bet this District will have some very strong Volunteers," she says, not even pretending that whoever's name she draws will end up going into the Hunger Games. "Let's find out who will be representing this lovely District for the 249th Hunger Games."
Our escort makes her way over to the females' bowl and plucks out a slip of paper. When she reaches the microphone again, she reads out the name then immediately asks for Volunteers.
"I Volunteer!" a girl says from the eighteen-year-old's section. It's no surprise to me when I see it's Setsuna. We've been planning to Volunteer for several years now, and as the chosen Volunteers, we no longer have a choice.
"What's your name?" the escort asks when Setsuna reaches her.
"Setsuna Kobayashi," Setsuna says into the microphone. She smiles, but I can tell it's her fake smile. I know what her real smile looks like - it only appears when we're killing people. Her other smile is plasticy and fake. She uses it to get people to trust her. It looks real, but I know better.
"Now, for the boys!" the escort says, quickly plucking a name from the males' bowl. "Martialis Bower. Are there any Volunteers?"
"I Volunteer!" I immediately shout, stepping my way to the front of the crowd.
"Excellent!" she says, beckoning for me to join her up on stage. I jog up the steps as she asks for my name.
"My name is Gladius Talamine," I say, the moment I reach the microphone.
"You look very strong," she remarks. "District 2, give a round of applause for this year's tributes; Gladius Talamine and Setsuna Kobayashi!"
This chapter took far longer than I intended XD. I guess I can't make any promises about updating speeds at this point, but I definitely won't cancel this story. I'm really excited for it and all of the wonderful tributes I have. Reapings are just slow.
Anyway, let me know what you thought about these tributes!
- Lilah
