The exertion in the basement room was almost palpable, as if the air itself was slicked with humid sweat that stirred with every heated breath.

He paused for a second to pull his head to his right shoulder––loud crunches reverberated from the very bones of his neck, and he released his head with a sigh. Black eyes flickered and came to a focus on his target.

Equally dark eyes watched him back, calculating and wary. His opponent stilled, just for a second––the slam of sword meeting bat made a loud smack vibrate the air around them––he pushed him off and brought down his weapon––

They danced, if one may call it that, the footwork of dodges and attacks a mere waltz, the trading of blows merely partnered routines. The sound of their weapons meeting and their own, harsh breaths were their music.

The two lunged at each other again, weapons held up high––but feet skidded against the hard floor as their rhythm broke so that the two could evade the arrow that would have pierced them both half a second before. It slammed into a target propped up on the wall, right on the bullseye.

Two pairs of dark eyes flashed to the new attacker. Another pair of dark eyes greeted them coldly, but its owner slowly lowered his bow and nodded at them.

"We should be getting ready. At this rate we won't have enough time to get ready," he said, carefully placing his bow on a stand. All three glanced at the clock, but their focus changed its direction as they heard a door opening.

"Stopped training, guys?" a new voice asked from above. A fourth male, one with green eyes and cropped black hair, walked down the stairs, a towel around his shoulders. "And I just came back! What's the deal?"

"Harry nearly killed us to say that we won't be able to get ready at this rate," the sword-bearer said, flicking his head toward Harry. The redhead didn't even blink at the drops of sweat that hit his cheek and merely wiped them off with another towel.

"He's right, though," the club-bearer said. "We need to clean up. I bet we reek right now."

The green-eyed man laughed, throwing his towel at the boy; he caught it and began to wipe his forehead. "Yes, yes, we need to prep up this year's male tribute for District 1, Jaeger Blackwater!"

"Jaeger Leon Blackwater, Duke," Jaeger corrected, placing his club on a weapon stand. It had deep scratches in it from his friend's sword. "Get it right."

The sword-bearer snorted, the the dim lighting glinting off his weapon. "What's up, Jaeger, afraid that Miss Lala will forget say your purrtastic middle name?"

"That has to be the worst thing I've ever heard, ever, Griffon," Jaeger shot, a smile tinting the edges of his lips. Griffon only grinned. "Let's hit the showers."

The four guys cleaned themselves in the basement locker room and trudged upstairs, wearing only the towel around their waists.

Griffon opened the door to exit the basement and nearly dropped his towel as a screech exploded in the room, its source the throat of a young girl, her blue eyes stretched wide.

"Ewwwwwww!" she screamed between her laughs, pointing at Griffon, who rolled his eyes and moved away from the doorway so the others could see the source of the ruckus. Jaeger scowled.

"Aphrodite!" he scolded, but his sister was already on the floor, rolling and clutching her sides.

"I'm––telling––YOU'RE ALL NAKED!" she gasped behind her high-pitched laughter. Jaeger glanced at the others in exasperation. Harry's face was absolutely impassive, but the other two raised their eyebrows and smiled at him.

Jaeger frowned at them, then grinned as he got the message.

"We're not naked, Afro," Duke chimed in, leaning against the doorway. She sat up quickly at this, smile gone and a scowl twisting her pretty little face. "Don't call me Afro! I'm Aphrodi––"

"INCOMING!" Jaeger shouted, grabbing the towel at his waist and throwing it at his sister. It hit her right on the face and all four boys scrammed, scrambling up the stairway with their buck naked leader at the front and laughing at the screams that emitted from below.

"I can't believe you guys just made me do that," Jaeger said when they were all in his room, fetching a pair of boxers.

"It was your choice, man, not ours," Duke replied, still laughing. Four sets of clothes were neatly folded on Jaeger's bed. He picked out the largest set, pulling on a clean pair of underwear and slacks.

"Did your mom get us matching outfits?" Griffin asked between his chuckles, doing the same. He pulled on the white dress shirt and blazer and looked in a small mirror on Jaeger's desk. "Classy."

"Seems so," Jaeger said, shoving Griffin aside so that he could look at himself. He eyed the blazer in distaste and shrugged it off, rolling up his sleeves. "That's better."

"Hold up, man, you need a tie," Duke said, already knotting his.

Jaeger narrowed his eyes at him, looking at the tie as if it were some sort of bomb. "No, I don't."

Duke shrugged. "Whatever, man––you just gotta look good on the stage."

"I think I look perfectly fine, thanks," Jaeger drawled, fingers dipping into container of hair gel. He pulled out a gob of the stuff, swiping it over his black hair to spike the front.

"Perfectly handsome!" Griffin said, roughly swinging an arm over Jaeger's neck. "Don't 'cha think so too, Harry?"

Harry was already dressed and was straightening his tie. He looked at Jaeger and shrugged. "You look like a mess," he said calmly, dark eyes drifting back down to his tie.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"

A knock from outside interrupted what would have easily morphed into a wrestling match. Griffin opened the door and another young girl peered in cautiously.

"Are you done..?" she asked, her voice soft. Jaeger let go of Harry's collar, and looked over with a smile. "Yeah, Athena, we'll be down in a moment."

Athena curtsied to the boys and walked away,

Griffin rolled his eyes as Harry brushed off his shirt. "I swear you slather makeup all over your face and become an entirely new person when you talk to her," he commented, holding open the door for them and making an exaggerated bow.

"Shut up," Jaeger simply replied, not very offended, as he walked out of the door. The others followed, chattering with each other down the stairs to the dining room.

The room was huge, with a large table covered in glass and cloth and a giant glass chandelier above. The boys took a seat at one edge, food already on the table.

"So, Jaeger, ready to volunteer?" Duke asked, spearing four strips of bacon with his fork.

"Of course," Jaeger replied, smirking. He folded his arms behind his head, leaning back against his chair. "Sorry that I'll have to take the spot from you, Harry––then again, though, not that sorry at the same time."

"Whatever," was Harry's reply as he spread jam onto a bagel.

Jaeger rolled his eyes; he would've liked to have gotten more competition from Harry, who was the same age as him and was also training to be a tribute, but Harry had submissively let him take the position. It was a good thing, he guessed––he and Harry were the top fighters in the Training School and, thus, were expected to fight to volunteer––but just so boring.

"Well, it had to be you––no offense, Harry," Griffin said, but Harry didn't so much as blink at them as he nibbled at his bagel. "I mean, who in this district doesn't expect the mayor's son to volunteer? The only son, way older than his little sisters, handsome to boot––"

"Don't push it," Jaeger cut in above Duke's snickers.

"Morning Mr. Blackwater!" Duke suddenly exclaimed. Heads turned as Jaeger's father walked into the room, straightening his tuxedo.

"Ah, good morning boys," he said, scanning them. His dark eyes landed Jaeger, and he smiled. "Ready, my son?"

"More than ever," he replied smugly, grinning.

"Aphrodite told me that you were up to some trouble earlier? She just ran off to take another shower."

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "That was entirely her fault, dad. She wouldn't shut up!"

Mr. Blackwater laughed, shaking his head. "Well, you boys finish up now." He turned his attention to the rest of the boys. "Are your parents coming as well, or will you join our party as usual?"

"As usual," the boys (except Harry) stated together. Mr. Blackwater nodded to them and left the dining room.

The boys finished eating quickly, Duke scrubbing Jaeger's face with a handkerchief and exclaiming over his sloppiness being the final act, and they filed out of the dining room. The rest of Jaeger's family was already waiting by the front door.

They strolled out of the mansion and, pretty much within a few minutes, found themselves at the city square. The mayor's house so happened to be right next to the city hall, after all, and they had to go around the square to get to the entrance.

"I'll see you at the stage, Jaeger," Duke said with a wink before he disappeared into the crowd.

The boys got their fingers pricked and went to their respective age groups. Jaeger and Harry waved to Griffin and went to the 18-year-old area.

The opening ceremony went without notice to Jaeger––he had watched it so many times, with his father up on stage, that he would have fallen asleep this time if it weren't for the fact that he knew that he was going to volunteer.

Something trembled inside his torso––not fear, but what could only be called raw excitement. His fingers twitched, as if they were already ready to wrap themselves around the handle of a weapon and strike a blade into a tribute. He could feel it already, the hot blood washing over his own arms and splattering on his face with screams ripping through the air. An arrogant smirk curled around the corner of his lips––the people around him were gone, no more, replaced by the dead bodies of tributes, himself standing bloodied in the middle while cheers erupted from what seemed to be empty air, the announcer shouting above the cheers, "And I give you the champion of the 63rd Hunger Games, Jaeger Blackwa––"

A hand patted his arm and he rounded on his attacker, though he relaxed upon seeing that it was only Harry.

"Pay attention," Harry said calmly, nodding at the other. Jaeger realized that his fists were clenched so hard that the skin over his knuckles were stretched white. He quickly released them, straightening his back and lifting his chin up. The moment was coming.

He watched, with mild interest, as Lalalicious chose the female tribute of their district. Vencinity Corbinette, huh... He thought. He had heard of her, from belches of gossip from people passing by and nudged elbows from his friends. She was one of the top students of her class in the Training Center––it seemed, though, that she was going to go into the Games a year early.

Jaeger snorted softly. One year less of training compared to him! This was going to be no competition.

"Now, let's see who our lucky man this year will be!" Lalalicious announced, dipping her hand into her bowl. She withdrew a paper.

He watched with mild interest, the kid chosen walking up to the stage, his own face uninterested because he knew that someone would volunteer for him.

And thus Jaeger did, raising his hand among the crowd, his arm sticking out from the sea of adolescents, when Lalalicious asked for a tribute. "I would like to volunteer for tribute," he said, his voice firm.

The crowd parted for him, and he walked steadily to the stage. Duke and his father smiled at him warmly as he stepped up the stairs and stood by Vencinity. They shook hands, and he caught the excitement in her gray eyes.

What a pretty girl, he thought as he let go of her hand, giving her a polite smile. Too bad.

The Peacekeepers escorted them to the building and Jaeger took a seat in his room. He looked around. This place was rich, luxuriously covered with white decorations. He doubted whether even a speck of dusted rested on the white pillow next to him.

He didn't raise an eyebrow at the room, though––he was the mayor's son. He had seen better.

Jaeger turned his head when his father and the rest of his family strode into the room. His sisters didn't seem impressed, but his father was smiling at him.

"Good job, my boy," he said, patting Jaeger's shoulder. "I'm proud of you. Do well in the arena, son."

His mother then beamed at him and hugged him tightly, her long hair tickling his nose. "Oh, Jaeger, I'm so proud! I'll be cheering for you," she murmured, her voice loving, before kissing him on the forehead.

Jaeger nodded to him, turning his eyes toward his sisters. Athena stood in front of him, her hands cupping something.

"For luck, brother?" she asked quietly, holding out her hands. In them was a single bracelet, made of multicolored beads and held together by a simple knot of string. In the center were six white cubes, each one adorned with the letters of his name.

He smiled a warm smile at her, holding out his wrist. "Of course, Athena." He let her tie it, observing it after she finished. Yes, he really liked the look of it. He'd keep it.

"Remember to not dawdle," Artemis, his youngest sister, suddenly piped up. Her blue eyes bored into his solemnly. "Other tributes can be really surprising when they're at the point of death!"

Jaeger chuckled at her, patting her blond hair affectionately. "Of course, Artemis," he assured, taking in the knowledge that he knew he'd push aside later.

Aphrodite stepped up to him, and he acknowledged her warily. Her arms were crossed tight over her chest, and she glared at him.

"... Good luck, Jaeger," she said quietly. He blinked at her, but then grinned and opened his arms. She flung herself into them, and they embraced.

"I'll see you in a few," he said to her as they separated. She nodded, sniffing, and he waved to them as they left the room.

He didn't have to wait long for the doors to fling open. Duke strode into the room, grinning manically, with Griffin and Harry following close behind him.

"Well, well, I'm excited for this year!" Duke said, instantly putting Jaeger into a headlock and ruffling his hair with his knuckles. "I mean, the tributes I get all the time are great, but you––you're gonna be spectacular, Jaeger!"

"Leggo," Jaeger puffed, pushing his friend away with a grin. "You're going to train me well, right, Duke?"

"Of course," Duke snorted, ruffling his own black hair. "Those tributes won't know what hit them!"

"I can't wait for my own chance to shine next year," Griffin sighed, his arms folded behind his head. He flashed an envious grin at Jaeger. "You better win, or I'll kill you, Jaeger."

"Do well," Harry put in, nodding at his friend.

Jaeger grinned and held out his fist to them. "I'll see you guys soon," he said. The three others bumped their fists together.

"Me sooner!" Duke barked with a laugh. They exchanged several pats on the backs and rough high fives before they had to leave. Duke winked at Jaeger before the door closed behind him.

Jaeger sighed a bit and leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes. He went past the point of no return––but that didn't matter, did it? After all––he grinned––he was going to return here, to District 1, no matter what.

All the factors said so.