A/N: Here's where elements of "Breathe" by NutsandVolts begin to come in. As I said earlier, this story is where I got the idea for Beetee and Wiress to have a bit of an intense relationship before her Games. It seems logical to build up to it in the previous chapters. Wiress also keeps her geeky-nerdy way she thinks, so she doesn't become completely emotional during training. :) Enjoy!
Wiress?" Beetee asked. He knocked on the door to her room. He, Eustacia, and the two tributes had watched the chariot ride and had began taking notes on the other tributes. After letting Terrance and Wiress change, Beetee wanted to meet with them briefly one more time before they turned in for the evening.
"Beetee?" She asked before he opened the door.
"Oh – do you want me to come back?" He asked sheepishly as Wiress stood standing in front of her mirror combing her hair. She was naked apart from a satin camisole and underwear. Wiress quickly threw on a robe and cinched it at the middle. She wrapped her arms around herself.
"No." Wiress whispered. She sat on her bed and looked at him. They were both blushing. Beetee closed the door and sat by her. She leaned against him and began crying.
"What's wrong, honey?" He asked rubbing her back before wrapping his arms around her slender form.
"They – I've been stripped down. By the prep-team" Wiress said between her tears. "I'm not – I'm not me. They don't want – me." She looked up as he wiped her tears away with his fingers. "They want the fully polished made-up me – not who I am. Beetee, I'm going to die a shell of who I am – for – them –"
"Wiress – no." Beetee whispered as he felt an invisble hand wrap around his heart. "Listen to me –" He traced her jaw with his hands and held her closely. "You are not going to die."
"Statistically, I am." Wiress whispered.
"Statistically you're in the 98th percentile in everything. Why should here be any different?" Beetee asked.
"Because – " Wiress pulled away. "I just told you. I'm not me."
"Not to them." Beetee said. "Not when you're trying to get sponsors. No one's really themselves." He paused. "But I know a smart analytical quick-thinking girl is going to enter the arena and completely blow the statistics out of the water."
"Have you seen that before?" Wiress whispered, her eyes wide.
"No." Beetee said honestly. He locked eyes with her. "But I've seen you and I know you." He said. "Wiress, I love you. I want you for who you are." Wiress gasped when they kissed as she felt the passion in Beetee's kiss. She shivered as his kisses became more urgent knowing that she wanted him too.
"Beetee?" Wiress asked sleepily from among her pillows and blankets strewn around on her bed. One particular pillow smiled as he dozed on his back on the bed. Wiress wrapped her arms and legs around Beetee as he rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. She smiled as he ran his finger along one of the straps of her camisole.
"Hm?"
"You were going to check on Terrance ten minutes ago." She said tracing patterns on his face and down his neck. He smiled at her. "Beetee, I'm not your only tribute."
"I know." Beetee whispered. "Do you want me to come back here?" Wiress thought about it. She leaned against his shoulder and kissed him lightly.
"I'm – I'm not – I don't know." Wiress said blushing.
"That's ok. You just get me if you need me tonight." Beetee said. He got out of bed and pulled his shirt and slacks back on.
"Nice robot boxers." Wiress quipped. Beetee laughed.
"I'm glad those made your evening." Beetee chuckled before they kissed again. "Sleep well, love."
"You too." Wiress whispered. "I love you." Beetee folded her robe and placed it on a chair next to her bed before turning off the light. He opened the door and took one last look at Wiress as the lights from the hallway illuminated her resting form.
He walked by Terrance's room and heard loud snoring. He felt a bit guilty for spending so long with Wiress and not saying good night to her district partner. He wrote a note saying that if Terrance needed anything to come to the room marked Mentor. He also wrote as an afterthought that all food items including dessert were available from room service 24 hours a day if Terrance felt hungry. He had eaten through three plates of food, but if memory served Beetee correctly, Terrance's sixteen year-old stomach may still demand more in the wee hours of the morning. Knowing his tributes were both sleeping peacefully, he retired to his room more relaxed than he usually was at the start of the Games. They were strong inside and out. He knew they had a real chance of going far.