Trigger Warning: Hyacinth's POV includes some strong themes of internalized homophobia.

Stefan Roberts, 18

District 2 Male, Pair Two

Partnered with Violet Hardgrove

Violet looked absolutely stunning. Sure, she was an outie but when it came to love and...other things, I was a lover of all Districts. Sadly, she did not seem to think the same about me.

My smile was returned with a snarl as she boarded the chariot next to me. Her Armour, made of grain, swaying. She stood with her back straight and adjusted her headdress. Also made of grain. Her eyelashes were made with wheat, unlike mine and the black liner made her blue eyes pop. I was a healthy dose of lover and fighter. She was clearly neither.

"Sooo," I said smoothly, turning my body to face her. "I thought we could gain some sponsors by holding hands, maybe? Like last year-"

"And why should I trust you?" she hissed. Catching me off guard. You see, girls got angry at me but I had yet to cheat on her, she had no reason to be cold. "You are a career, you will kill me if I stand in your way, right?"

I pierced my lips and shifted my body weight. She wasn't wrong. She wasn't right about not trusting me though. At this moment, I was the most trustworthy I had ever been! "Well, yeah. But at this moment, I am just trying to further the both of us. I have no reason to knock you out of the running just yet. Just let loose and enjoy yourself, this night at least, the Games are still a week away." Truth was, it was unlikely I would kill Violet. I wouldn't protect her either and if Invidia became single, I may stray. However, she was the best I was going to get from an outie. Paisley showed no interest in anyone but Ezra and Noelani was not into men. Violet was pretty, spunky and looked fairly fit for someone so poor. She could be interesting and one of the better girls to win with. Sure, I might have been thinking with my down below but in less than a week, everyone would be. You can't love someone in that amount of time.

Violet gave a small nod, glancing over to me. I even saw a small smile tug at the corner of her lips. "Okay," she sighed. "I will try.

Qanom Harkklee, 18

District Five Male, Pair 6

Partnered with Hyacinth Rogers

I cocked my head to the side, watching Stefan and Violet. The amount of flirting that was going on was sickening. However, Stefan holding the girl's hand and hoisting it into the air was interesting.

"Hey, Hy," I smirked, leaning forward against the chariot. Hyacinth tugged at his miner's outfit in disgust. I shared his anger. Then again, Laura was dressed as a tree and Althea was dressed as a bull, so maybe we got the upper hand in all of this.

"What?"

"Think Two and Nine-"

"Which one?"

"Two male, that one-"

"Ah, okay, what about them?"

"They are planning on holding hands, at least it looks like it." Hyacinth glanced up and frowned.

"It's not a stupid idea, worked last year-"

"Then let us do it-"

"Why?" Hyacinth yelped like a frightened child.

I rolled my eyes, turning to face the boy. "Because one, you are from Twelve, two, we are a gay couple, all eyes will be on us-"

"I am not gay," Hyacinth laughed defensively.

"You said you were-"

"I lied-"

"Pretty stupid lie-"

"I panicked!"

"So you lied about your sexuality? Either way, we can still hold hands, we just need them to think we are in love-"

"I don't want to!" Hyacinth yelled, gaining the attention of Ellie and Noelani or maybe they were watching all along. I watched how he shrunk back into himself, going back to tracing his circular belt buckle. I didn't push him further. I wasn't stupid. There was no way someone would accidentally say the wrong sexuality, not a more oppressed one anyway.

Sure, maybe I was just butt ugly but the look in his eyes said something different. He was doing something I had never done. He was denying who he was.

Ellie Nimrod, 18

District Three Female, Pair Five

Partnered with Noelani Palmer

"Should we do that too?" I asked, cocking my head to the side. "He is right, same-sex couples might get more attention," Noelani gave a silent nod, I could see the cogs in her mind turning.

"No," she said suddenly after a few minutes of silence. "No, everyone will be doing something, holding hands won't convince them of anything. We should kiss."

My body froze up and my chest tightened. I cast my eyes away and let out a small laugh. "I have never kissed a girl...or a boy for that matter-"

"Don't think too much into it, people hold it as something you can only do with your true love, view it more as a way to win sponsors." I glanced over to Noelani and gave a nod. There were worse people my first kiss could be with, Noelani was definitely hot. Yet, one thing kept playing on my mind.

"Are you not concerned with me being from Three and no a Career?" I asked in a soft voice, worried about what her reaction she would have. The calm girl just gave a shrug.

"At this point, I don't think it matters where you come from. As long as you are willing to do whatever it takes to win, like me, we can get through this. Plus this idea beats relying on our clockwork fish costumes to get us support." She paused for a moment. "What's your sexuality?"

I shrugged, turning to face the front of the chariot. "Lesbian, at least I think so."

Noelanigave, a toothy, amused grin. "Maybe I can help you figure it out, maybe."

Violet Hardgrove, 17

District Nine Female, Pair Two

Partnered with Stefan Roberts

"Five, four, three, two one," The doors to the chariot store quickly flung open and with a smack on their neck, the District One horses pulled forward and the rest followed suit. The black horses that pulled me forward seemed more individual than the rest. The girl from Ten had informed me that for at least five, her family had bred them, including out two which she called Midnight and Ink. Not the most original names but she was right, they were well behaved. The cheering crowd from outside didn't seem to phase them. However, it did leave me wondering how they trained them so well.

I gave a sharp intake of breath as our carriage jerked forward, earning a chuckle from Stefan. He ran his hand through his amber coloured hair with a grin.

"Remember, enjoy yourself. This only happens once." I gave a nod and faced forward, the audience turning from the District one pair and almost screaming for us. It couldn't have settled well with Ezra of Paisley. "Now or never, babe," Stefan said, holding out his hand. Trying not to show fear, I placed my smaller hand on his palm, the boy instantly gripping onto me and thrusting my arm into the air.

The crowd loved it, screaming in glee and chanting out names. Some even kept their eyes on us, throwing roses and petals towards out carriage. One landed on the front of the chariot and Stefan picked it up, turning it around his fingers before kissing it and throwing it back at the crowd.

I felt my stomach turn slightly as I watched the young girls fight over it, wishing a rose would land near me but even then, I didn't trust anyone would want it.

My smile must have dropped or I seemed uncomfortable because with a swift movement only a career could have, Stefan, pulled me close. The crowd grew louder once again as he pulled my hand up and kissed it, causing me to blush.

I quickly lifted my other hand to wave but only then did I notice that we were not the ones they were cheering on. It was someone a few chariots back.

"What is happening," I asked Stefen.

Stefen tried to keep his smile but I could tell he was frustrated. "It's those fuckers from Four."

Noelani Palmer, 18

District Four Female, Pair Five

Partnered with Ellie Nimrod

I was correct. As always. Every chariot in front of me, the pair was holding hands. Paisley and Ezra just simply held each other's hand. Stefan and Violet raised their hands in the air. Qanom and Hyacinth awkwardly linked arms and Nicholas held Akhal close, with his arm as they waved to the crowd; like an old married couple watching their grandchildren play. I crowd was loving it but the fake signs of infection would get bored soon enough. They would want something juicier and I would be damned if I was to let anyone else steal those free sponsors.

"You still up for the plan?" I asked Ellie as the chariot pulled out of the store and towards the screaming crowd.

The dark haired girl gave a shaky nod. "But what if I do it wrong-"

"It's just a pair of lips touching, you don't need to do anything else. The shortest kiss is all it will take." Ellie gave a nod as she watched the approaching crowd. I gave a small smirk. "I'll give the signal-"

"What will that be?"

"You'll see," I said with a wink, turning to wave at the adoring crowd. However, we were getting the same amount of attention as Qanom and Hyacinth. Maybe a little less. Their sparking coal miners costumes were better than our clockwork mermaids. Our only saving grace was that Hyacinth seemed uneasy by the situation.

"Now," I said through a frustrated smile.

"What-" I turned grabbed the back of Ellie's head and pulled her closes, making sure not to use too much force so she could still pull away. Although, for sponsor's sake, I hoped she wouldn't.

With a whimper, she closed her eyes tightly and leaned forward planting her lips on mine and it turned out a lot more passionate than I had expected. She didn't hold anything back and I was the one who seemed panicked.

Her lips were soft, I'd give her that. Whatever balm they had put on them was certainly doing the job. Her movements were also good, enough to make me wonder if this was really her first kiss. And although I didn't like to admit it, I enjoyed it. So much so that my mind was taken away from the sea of cheers, focusing on kissing Ellie. I only pulled away when she placed her hand on the back of my head. There wasn't a chance I was going to let an outie control me.

"That's enough," I grumbled as I pushed her away, turning to wave to the crowd. They were lapping us up, earning so worried looks from Qanom and Hyacinth.

"Was I okay?" Ellie whispered, her body shaking slightly.

"You were alright," I shrugged.

"Oh," Ellie replied. Lowering her arms. I gave out a small laugh, hooking my arm around the girl and pulling towards me.

"If Katniss and Peeta had a kiss like that, they'd still be alive today," I laughed, bringing a smile back onto the girls face.

Hyacinth Rodgers, 17

District 12 Male, Pair 3

Partnered with Qanom Harkklee

"And that is why we should have at least held hands," Qanom grumbled, turning away from the smug Noelani and Ellie.

I gave a sigh, finding little point in waving, no one was bothered about us. I was almost certain no one had ever kissed during the chariots before. Until now.

"I'm sorry," I grumbled. "I just didn't feel comfortable-"

"Well, I don't feel comfortable killing, Hy." Qanom snapped, not even trying to hide his anger. "Yet, I am doing it, same as you will. But it is survival." I couldn't relate to his words. All my life I had been trained to hurt people. My attachments were few and far between, my morals were debatable. Sure, Qanom might not have woken up most mornings with the intention to harm. Yet, back in Twelve, I woke up knowing I might have to at least break someone's nose

I always thought it made me brave. A man. But I guess deep down I was a coward, I couldn't even form an attraction to a girl. When my right-hand men would buy me women, I would pay them money to leave and keep their mouth shut.

The only time I expressed what I guess was my true self, dating a boy in my first year of school, my father sent his guys to set me straight. He called me a pansy, said I wasn't a man. He called me that every day of my life until I was twelve, saying he would rather leave his gang in the hands of my sister. That was until I lost my virginity to a fourteen-year-old girl on my twelve birthday. After that, it was easy to convince them that my boyfriend was a dumb phase. I also sat in the bath for hours after the act, sobbing and scrubbing my skin until it bled. He didn't see that part.

When I was Reaped, it seemed like a good idea to come out about everything. Who I was attracted to. It wasn't until after I had become paired up with Qanom that it sank in. Everyone at home knew. Any respect I had earned from my gang members had vanished, I wondered if my mother would accept it, my District and enemies would be laughing, my father, turning in his grave. If I won, I would have to go home to all of that pain and hate. All because I got too confident. I guess I was digging myself out of a hole, A whole I didn't need to even dig in the first place.

As Snow made his speech, my eyes moved over to Qanom, I felt my body boil with frustration. Qanom was relaxed, open about who he was. No doubt coming from a group of friends and family who accepted him liking men. He was the only gay guy within the Tributes, but even then I didn't feel comfortable confiding in him. I had only known him a few hours, there was no saying if I could trust him or not.

"So," Qanom sighed as our chariot pulled into the base of the Tribute Centre. "Are you Asexual?"

"Why does it matter-"

"If we both win, which I am sure we want to, I don't mind you not loving me but if that is our future, I'd like to know your sexuality." I had doubts this was his reason. More than likely he wanted to know if I was worth killing in the Arena. If I was straight, there was the risk he would be killed. He was grilling me.

"No," I said bluntly, not even grinning at our mentors as they approached. On the chariot next to ours were Akhal and Nicholas. I watched them both exit the chariot, my eyes subconsciously paying more attention to Nicholas' chest than Akhal's breasts. Qanom followed my gaze and raised a brow.

"Are you sure you're not gay-"

"I'm not a queer!" I snapped, thankfully the words vanishing into the crowd. "I'm a man," I said a bit more softly.

Qanom let out a bout of laughter, clenching his fist. "Right, I forgot. So you're a homophobic straight?"

I fell silent, feeling my body stiffen up, tears welling in my eyes, going over the words I had said, the very words my father used to throw at me. "No-"

"Honestly," Qanom said with a growl. "I don't give a shit whose mouth you like around that pathetic thing of yours. But, I do give a shit about respect." He jumped down from the chariot, pushing past a confused Wiress. "So leave me the fuck alone until you have an apology and the will to do anything for us both to get home." And with that, he stormed away from the chariot, closely followed by Wiress.

"Well, kid," Haymitch said through stifled laughter. "Not even the first night together and you are already throwing away your ally!" I didn't reply. Instead, I felt my body slump to the floor of the chariot, trying to hide my face from everyone.

Authors Note:

I have taken on some of the advice given. I have downloaded Grammarly, I copy and paste this into Natural Readers (Like google translate) and I have had someone proofread this for me. I have also added more information under the POV headers, so I hope that helps. I also plan to answer your Reviews if you have questions and things.

As for the chapter, there are two more pair introductions. One for when the Tributes get back to their rooms and one of the morning of the first day of Training. There isn't a lot of Tribute interaction outside of the pairs. These chapters are introducing the how the pairs react with each other. When training starts, that is when we will see alliances form.

QUESTION: All chariot costumes and the top five are on the blog (venuslove75thhgDOTweeblyDOTcom), what are your thoughts?