Hey y'all! How's everyone doing? Look! Super soon update! This is probably never really going to happen again, unless it does, so I hope you guys don't mind the change in updating schedule. This may or may not mean that the next update will be a bit slower but I'll do my best to make sure that the update schedule stays on time. Also, this chapter is a bit shorter because, like I said previously, I didn't really want to put the visitor goodbyes in the same chapter as the Reaping because I feel these are two different story beats with different feels to them. I hope you guys are enjoying this story in the meantime!
Like always, I enjoy any comments, except for those that are just full of negativity and not constructive at all. Just give me something to work with instead of just "It's bad." I also appreciate any positive constructive criticism since I'm always looking to improve my writing and storytelling capabilities.
Thanks for continuing to read this story! Virtual hugs and cuddles to y'all.
Disclaimer: I still do not own anything except any OC's that may come up, any worldbuilding that has not yet been officially stated by the books or the movies, and any plot points/structures that have not been used in the books or movies.
Warning: No beta, we die like Rue.
Warning: If you don't like same sex relationships, then please stop after Peeta's part and go on to the next chapter or just skip to the next chapter. Otherwise, I don't know what to say man. I've been building up and hinting at this relationship for the past few chapters so if you don't like same sex relationships…whelp, to each their own.
Chapter 7: No Good in Goodbye
Not even a minute after it closes, the door opens.
"You've got 5 minutes," the deep voice of a Peacekeeper says.
Val looks up from where he sits on the couch and quickly gets off with his arms open. Prim full on charges into his arms for a lung-crushing hug. Their mother walks in slowly behind her.
"Oof!" Val dramatically gasps out, "Have you been taking lessons from Katniss, little duck?"
Prim leans away from the hug and balls up her fists to beat at his chest. Val actually winces at the force behind her tiny hands. He grabs her hands and holds them tightly though Prim struggles to free herself to continue beating him up some more.
"Ouch. You really have been hanging around her too much if you can pack a punch like this," he teases, trying desperately to lighten the atmosphere or at least get Prim to stop crying.
"Why did you do that? This is exactly what you promised me you wouldn't do and you just went and did it anyway!" she cried out, struggling even harder.
"Heh, I promised that Katniss and I wouldn't do anything to protect you. I didn't say anything about Peeta," Val points out.
Prim glares through his flimsy loophole, "I'm not stupid you know."
"I didn't say you were," Val gently responded.
"You're the stupid one. Doing stupid things, even though I told you not to. I hate you," she declares with utmost sincerity, which is completely ruined by the tears in her eyes.
"No you don't," he says.
"No I don't," she agrees.
Prim hugs him again, not as back breaking as before but still just as tight like if she were to let go, he would disappear. And Val's heart clenches because he might as well be disappearing.
"I'm sorry Prim. I know I promised you this morning that I wasn't going to do anything stupid but I had already made a promise to myself ever since your dad, our dad, took me in. He chose to help me when I needed it the most and you all showed me a kindness that I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully repay. So I made a vow, all those years ago, that I was going to do everything in my power to protect you and Katniss. To always protect your happiness no matter what. Do you understand?"
Prim nods, "But I still think you're stupid."
Val smiles widely, "That's my girl."
The two release each other from the hug, though reluctantly, and Val moves towards their mother. He stands before her, taking in her appearance. Clara Everdeen, the strong mother with gentle, healing hands who was born a Townie only to run away with a Seamer for love. She seemed to have aged 30 years in the last few minutes, her eyes unfocused as if she were in a waking dream. Keeping in mind her frail mental state, Val gently places his hands on her shoulders.
"Mom," he says in a clear, even tone.
She looks at him, her gaze taking a moment to clearly focus on him. They start to tear up, "Oh my poor boy. You always seem to have the worst luck."
Val smiles softly, not noticing Prim perk up behind them and scramble for something tucked into her skirt.
"You know me, mom. Always gotta be testing the limits."
She smiles back at him though it drops when Val's expression turns serious.
"Mom. You need to listen carefully. You have to promise that you won't shut down, not like you did all those years ago. You have to swear that you won't leave no matter what you see on that screen because Prim can't afford to be taking care of herself and you. She needs you and she doesn't deserve having to fear if her mom will ever be her mom again."
Mother nods, her expression serious yet full of regret, "I'll always regret what happened back then. But you don't need to worry about us, dear. We've still got that trade system going with the Hawthorne's and I'm sure the Mellark's would be willing to chip in for some medicine. Prim can help me out with the Hub residents, keep those trades going with the meat and supplies from the last hunt. I used to go there quite often with your father before I had Primrose. For now, don't worry about us and just focus on getting the two of you back home."
Val bites his lip, "I can't promise that. Not with the way the Games work and I highly doubt they'll be changing it anytime soon."
"But can you promise that you'll at least try?"
Val nods. The two share a hug when the Peacekeeper knocks on and opens the door.
"Time's up."
Val lets go and Prim rushes in for another hug. The Peacekeeper marches over to grab Prim, pulling her away just as she shoves something small and familiar into his hands. Val looks at his mom's old pin and then to Prim in surprise.
Prim simply smiles and says, "To protect you and Katniss."
Val closes his hands over the pin, "I love you little duck."
"I love you too, Val!" Prim shouts as she and mother are dragged out of the room. The door slams shut again.
Val leans his head towards his closed fists. Eyes squeezing shut in an effort to reign in his turbulent emotions. Soon the door opens again.
"5 minutes," the Peacekeeper states in a flat tone.
Val's eyes widen in surprise when he sees a greatly upset Peeta and grateful, though saddened, Mr. Mellark walk in.
Peeta immediately demands, "Why did you have to go and volunteer, Val? Katniss and I could've-"
"Exactly, you and Katniss," Val cuts him off, "That was the problem."
"But-"
"No Peeta. You know the Games. I know, your father knows, everyone knows. Do you really believe that you and Katniss, no matter what angle you play, would've had even a snowball's chance in hell in getting the both of you out of there?"
"Well...no-"
"Exactly. At least this way, I'll be able to make sure that Katniss makes it home and back to you and her family."
"But what about you?" Peeta asks sadly.
Val frowns, "What about me?"
This time, Peeta's the one frowning, "What do you mean what about you? You're her big brother, her protector, the only one she can rely on and go to whenever she has a problem. She can always find someone new to love, someone who will treat her like the queen she is."
"But you do treat her like a queen, Peeta. She loves you so much and it would break her if you die," Val protested at Peeta's self-depreciation.
"And she would become a shell of herself if you died," Peeta shot back.
"I'm not even her real brother. I was adopted into the family so even though it's crude, she will get over it if I do die. She's strong like that, stronger than I'll ever be," Val waved off.
"Now who's the one being self-deprecating?"
Val tries to protest but Peeta cuts him off, "You really have no idea do you?"
Now Val is very confused, "No idea what?"
"How much you mean to her, to Prim and to Gale and to everyone in the Seam, even to some in the Town?" Peeta asks.
"What is that supposed to mean? What effect? I'm just an older brother who just wants to protect his sister's happiness and keep his family safe. If I happen to help other people out along the way, so be it," Val responds, still very confused.
Peeta shakes his head as if Val was the one being cryptic and stupid, not him.
"Never mind. Forget I said anything. Just..." Peeta says, hesitating before continuing on, "I know it'll be impossible for you both to win, this year's games are not a Quarter Quell, so nothing special will happen I know that. But...can you at least try to make sure you both are the last ones standing? Before the end?"
"That's the only way I can ensure that Katniss survives, so yes. I promise," Val vows, expression and voice completely serious.
Peeta nods and moves to step back to allow his father to step forward but Val stops him with a hand clamping down on his shoulder. It squeezes him tightly as Val's expression starts to grow scary. His protective older brother instincts are rising to the surface.
"But you have to promise me that you'll always love and cherish my sister for as long as the two of you are together. If she breaks it off with you, you accept it with grace. If you break up with her, you better hope it's an amicable and mutual break because I swear to all the higher powers up there, if you dare to break her heart or hurt her in any way, shape or form, I will come back from the grave to exact revenge on you," Val promises with a terrifying smile on his face.
Peeta frantically nods, "I-I promise! I'll never hurt her! I swear! She means too much to me and if I ever do hurt her, inadvertently or not, may lightning strike me down where I stand!"
Val nods, satisfied with the response. He releases his hold on Peeta, now pale and shaking from the overabundance of overprotective brother energy. Peeta actually jumps a foot in the air when the Peacekeeper knocks on the door and opens it.
"Time's up."
Peeta clears his throat and straightens himself much to Val's amusement. He holds his hand out for Val to shake. Val looks at the hold and grabs it, before pulling him into a hug.
"Make sure you take care of her once she comes back," Val says.
"I will. I promise," Peeta responds.
Val releases Peeta from the hug and he reluctantly walks to the door.
Mr. Mellark nods at him, expression thankful, "Thank you for what you did. My family will never forget what you did for our Peeta. We'll make sure they'll never starve."
"Thank you," Val responds, touched by Mr. Mellark's kind gesture.
Mr. Mellark smiles and holds out a small bag of cookies frosted with Primrose, Katniss, and Valerian flowers. It's beautiful and obviously Peeta's handiwork.
"For the two of you," he says.
Val gently takes the bag. He nods, not trusting his voice at the moment as tears well up in his eyes.
Mr. Mellark pats him encouragingly on the back, "Don't go down without a fight. Make sure the two of you give em hell. We'll all be rooting for you both to come home, no matter how impossible it may be."
"Get out," the Peacekeeper impatiently demands.
Val can only watch as the two quickly walk out the room at the Peacekeeper's insistence and the door closes behind them. He looks down at the cookies and smiles, gently tracing the designs.
He looks up with a frown when he hears the door slam open and the flustered voice of the Peacekeeper shout out, "H-hey! You've only got 5 minutes!"
"Val!"
Suddenly Val is met with the sight of a rather pissed off Gale who marches over to him like a man on a mission. He braces himself for the inevitable impact, whether it be words or fists depending on how truly angry he is.
Apparently Gale wasn't as angry as Val thought if the rant he has going on is any indication. He's even flailing his arms around to help get his point across.
"I can't believe that I became friends with such a self-sacrificing idiot! I expected this insane and idiotic behavior from Katniss cause everyone and their mothers know the lengths she's willing to go to if god forbid, Primrose, was the one who got reaped. But holy shit! I never expected you to volunteer for Peeta of all people. And I get it, you don't want your sister to go through the games with her boyfriend and have to fight for the both of them cause we all know Peeta has the survival instincts of a rock but that doesn't excuse you from fucking volunteering in the first place! We're a team! We could've found another solution or alternative or something that didn't involve you volunteering to a death sentence. You could've at least asked for my help before diving in head first like the idiot you usually aren't!"
"Okay, I get it, you're mad," Val says as he rolls his eyes.
"Mad? You think I'm mad? Oh, I am way past mad. I am pissed," Gale hisses, "Just what were you thinking? Or were you even thinking at all?"
Val sighs, "Of course, I wasn't thinking. There was no time to think things through or ask for your help. My body just reacted and by the time my brain caught up, I was already standing on that stage."
"But why? Why was that your first reaction?" Gale asked, arms falling down to his sides and shoulders losing their previous tension.
Val looks down and away from Gale. He knows what he'll say even if he explained his actions. Unfortunately, Gale wasn't having it.
"Val?" Gale sighs at Val's sudden inability to speak, "Come on, man. At the very least, you owe me an explanation for why my best friend voluntarily volunteered for the fucking Hunger Games of all things."
Val chews at his lip because he knows he does owe Gale that much.
After thinking it over for a moment, Val relents, "All I could think of in that moment...was the fact that Katniss, my little sister...my proud, jaded survivalist of a sister, was being chosen to compete in a last man standing death game with the one person besides her family who made her happy and can't even bring himself to kill a flower by picking it."
Gale nods in understanding as Val continues to explain.
"I promised a long time ago that I would do whatever it takes to protect her and Prim's happiness. And if she went into that arena with Peeta..." Val sighs, "I don't even want to think about what it could've done to her."
Gale stares at him with indescribable emotions crossing his face. Val starts to fidget, worried when Gale continues not to speak with each passing second.
"You good there Gale?" Val asks, stepping closer to wave a hand in front of Gale's face to try and snap him out of whatever daze he was in.
"You self-sacrificing idiot," Gale finally says, his tone somewhat breathless and full of emotion that Val doesn't know how to describe.
Val is both annoyed and confused by the response. He bites out, "Can you stop calling me th-"
Only to get cut off when Gale grabs him by shoulders. He barely has a second to register what's happening before he's pulled in and his lips make contact with Gale's.
It takes Val a second and then another before his mind finally registers the fact that he is currently kissing Gale Hawthorne, the boy he's had a crush on ever since he first met him and the reason his sisters were about to stage an intervention if he continued to pine instead of getting off his ass to do something about said crush.
Apparently, the fact that he wasn't reacting to the kiss had Gale pulling away and oh no, he isn't having any of that. He's waited over 5 years, pining over this stubborn idiot with a too good looking for his own good face and an awkward charm that was miles more genuine than the shallow one he used around the strangers he never bothered to get to know.
Val grabs Gale and pulls him back in. It takes a bit before Gale finally realizes Val wasn't going to pull away. His arms move down to Val's waist to pull him closer while Val holds Gale more tightly around his shoulders.
The two close their eyes and just enjoy the kiss. It's not mind blowing like the women in Town talk about. It's not like fireworks in the background and confetti falling all around them like the girls in school fantasize about. It's not even the spark and fire that mother spoke of when Val had asked her about all that adult kissing and stuff back when he started noticing the physical appeal of people for the first time. It was nothing like the first kisses he had read about in books or heard about in stories.
It was messy. It was unrefined. There was nothing sensual or romantic about it. Teeth clashing and lips smacking as their tongues chased each other in a desperate dance. There were tears shed on both sides and the feeling of a hundred butterflies taking off within his stomach. It was passionate and full of every positive feeling of a love that Val never knew he needed in his life. He didn't want to let go. He doesn't want this to end.
After what seems like hours, the two break apart.
"I know that you'll be able to find a way to bring the both of you back home because you've always been able to beat the odds," Gale says softly, shushing him when Val tries to protest, "Oh hush, you know you have. That's how you're able to stand here today, making the stupid decision to be a self-sacrificing idiot."
Val tears up again as Gale holds him close, placing his head on his shoulder.
"Once you're in, make sure to always have your water sources locked down before you go searching for food. Bows would be good to. Your dad taught you guys how to make them right? Katniss said he did," Gale continued, trying to get in actual helpful advice by flipping on his logical side.
Of course, Val's mind is also racing, switching between reigning in an emotional roller and planning his next 10 moves, "But what if the arena's not a good one? Or the cornucopia's a bust? Remember that desert arena where all the tributes suffered form hyperthermia or died from dehydration? Or that time where all the cornucopia had were maces?"
Gale is highly amused by Val's counterpoints, "Ha! Great minds really do think alike. Katniss brought up the same points."
Val rolls his eyes as he leans away from him, "Come on Gale. Be serious here."
"I am serious. You and Katniss are the smartest, most resourceful people I know. You've survived six months in the forest by yourself as a kid. And Katniss managed to bring down and gut a bear with just a stick of wood she decided to carve one day."
"Okay. Now you're laying it on a bit thick," Val says with fond exasperation.
"You know you love it," Gale smirks.
Val leans back in, placing his head back on his shoulder, "I guess I do."
They hold each other for a few moments before Gale breaks the silence again, "Hey, you know you two will be okay, right?"
Val doesn't respond. He doesn't have too. They both know how unpredictable the games could be and how damaged the Victors come out of it. Just look that the track record of still living Victors – some you'd have never expected to survive like the morphlings from District 6 and some either played into their Victor status or had their minds broken by the trauma they've suffered.
"You'll find a way. You always find a way," Gale reassures, though whether he's trying to reassure Val or himself is a bit unclear.
A knock sounds on the door before it opens, revealing the Peacekeeper as he steps through and gestures at Gale to leave.
"Time's up. You're the last visitor so get out now."
Instead of immediately leaving like the Peacekeeper wants him to, Gale continues to hold Val close.
"And even if you can't," Gale chokes out, tears falling again, "I know that you two will still fight like hell to make sure that the Capitol doesn't win. That they will never change who you are because you are Valerian Everdeen, the hunter from 12 who loves his family and cares for those in need, but you are also Cato Evans, the boy from 2 who lived to fight another day. Don't forget that."
"I said, time's up! Now get the hell out," the Peacekeeper growls as he stomps into the room.
Val and Gale share another kiss that feels more like the final one they'll ever share. The Peacekeeper grabs Gale by the arm and rips him away from each other's embrace.
"Promise me, Val," Gale shouts as he's dragged out of the room.
"I will, I promise that they'll never change me. That I'll always fight till the end," Val shouts back as tears stream down his face.
Gale nods, smiling through the tears as he's dragged through the door. He manages to lift three fingers to his lips and salute them out to Val before the door slams shut with a loud bang.
Now Val stands alone in the room once more but this time with a heart that's soaring from having experienced what could be and then crumbling from realizing that it was now what could have been.
And scene! Now we off to the Capitol and all of its glittering glory in the next chapter. I'm planning or at least thinking of planning to go more in depth on the Capitol and its mechanisms in this first story (cause I will be doing the other two books as well in the future) because I feel like it was glossed over and only focused on certain characters or only showed certain aspects like glimpses into how the residents of the Capitol lived.
There's never too much depth into why they are the way they are besides the fact that the President and the regime made it so. Like why in the world do Effie and other Capitol residents believe that they are doing a service to the Districts considering the reactions to them especially from the outer districts? What explanation was given so that they believed that the Districts are just ungrateful heathens who need to be taught a lesson? And it's not just propaganda because propaganda can only go so far before someone starts questioning it and thus begins a chain reaction. I'm definitely going to go more in depth with this when I'm writing my version of Catching Fire but I think I'll give some glimpses to my plans in the next few chapters.
Also, can you tell that I know jack shit about writing kiss scenes and stuff? Hope it wasn't too cringey or lacking cause honestly, while I've read a lot of them, I've never actually written any and I don't really like watching kiss scenes on screen either. Or hearing them, oh god hearing them is just the worst. Ugh. Anyways, hope you guys are still enjoying the story and that you'll continue to read on. Until then, see you next time!