JUVIA I
The peacekeepers had begun to arrive in District Four on mass that day.
There had been countless screenings of security bulletin short films to the people of the district telling them not to be alarmed by the presence of the military police force and it was simply a precaution for the ever nearing reaping of the one hundredth Hunger Games. According to them, they didn't want any harm to come to the people of the districts in the case of hysterics and unforeseen circumstances due to the special occasion – that being the Quarter Quell – however, that message fooled little. Most people of the district had translated that into 'The Capitol doesn't wish to have another Rebellion on its toes so we must scare you into submission'.
It was working well enough, however.
Juvia had decided that she didn't want to dwell on the arrival – she didn't have time for it. Instead, she'd taken to following her regular routine unlike many others who'd decided to keep inside and quiet for the day. Though it wasn't likely that she would have much trouble on the wharf. Despite the abundance of fishing sectors found in District Four – there was fifteen to be precise, all quite large in their own respect – she sat perched at the same dock every time. It was easy to think that it was because she lived in sector fifteen but as it was the furthest away from any housing district it was in fact very unlikely.
Strangers didn't think she spoke much either nor did most of the traders or fishermen that habited the wharf; the aura she radiated didn't help. Juvia emitted an air of hostility even doing something as simple as sitting.
That day, she'd managed to find peace.
Due to the faraway location of fishing sector fifteen, with all the peacekeepers habiting the streets, it was a waste to travel all the way there and back on business unless you wanted to be subjected to a lot of searches. With her feet dangling into the cold ocean water and nothing but the sound of waves in her ear; it was one of the most calming experiences in a long time.
"Hey, Corsair!" Juvia turned upon hearing a familiar voice call out her surname.
Juvia's head didn't move an inch in the direction of the voice, instead, she continued to stare out at the waves of water before her. She didn't need to turn around to know that Nereus was idiotically running down the wet dock to get closer to her.
"You not going to look at me?" She heard him chuckle as he plopped down next to her before he put his arm around her to pull her closer to him as a bold – well, bolder than she may have liked – sign of affection, "You fucker." There was no anger in his curses but instead affection.
"I don't need to," she shrugged her shoulders, only to have them weighed back down by his arm which was considerably heavy on her due to his years as a fisherman, "You're not going to change over the course of a day."
"Really? So this bruise on my face from one of the peacekeepers isn't a change?" he chuckled, causing Juvia to look around at her companion in surprise.
There was no change at all, no bruise to be seen. Nereus broke out into laughter.
"You really fell for it," he punched her arm lightly, "You're still a gullible little shit, aren't you?"
"And you still curse like a sailor, it's unnecessary, you know?" Juvia didn't spare him an eye roll.
"Well I am a sailor so your point is really fucking irrelevant," She swore he was just doing it now to bother her.
"Doesn't mean you have to act like that – why did you come here anyway? Thought you'd make with the rest of the masses and stay inside."
"Do you really think that a couple of tin soldiers dressed up in white can intimidate me? Don't be naïve – everyone else being gone means there's more fish more me to catch and who knows? If I get a big cut today maybe I can grill us up something special for after the reaping."
"After the reaping? You're sounding hopeful."
"You can't seriously be worried; you know how big District Four is right?"
"Twelve year olds that have had their names in there once have been picked before," Juvia pointed out. From what she'd learned in school growing up, that was how the Second Rebellion started – when the sister of Katniss Everdeen had been reaped twenty five years prior.
"You're not too worried right? Your bad luck ran out two years ago," Nereus tousled Juvia's dark locks as a playful gesture.
At his words, Juvia froze in her spot.
"You okay?" the words seemed to fall on deaf ears as she didn't meet his gaze.
"Juvia?"
"I don't want to talk about it," her voice sounded grittier and harsher than it had moments ago.
"It's been two years," he made a point to stress the last two words - if she wasn't aware how much stronger he was than her, she would have hit him.
"Two years too little," she shoved his arm from her shoulder as she rose up from the edge of the wharf, proceeding to storm away. He wasn't going to follow her and the brunette was very much aware of such.
The walk home took a lot less time that it would have on any regular day. Most of the streets were empty and many of the shops were closed; her ears only registered the sounds of factories in the distance and her shoes making contact with the ground. Peacekeepers were standing on just about every corner that the brunette passed with an air of arrogance and terror – she couldn't think of a name more ironic.
The reaping was days away and she was days closer to being a potential participant in the Hunger Games.
And if so, there would be no one to save her from her past terrors either.
A/N: I'm planning on just releasing some (small) introduction chapters for tributes I've already received until I have the whole roster and can get everything for the story finalised so things like the reapings can begin. Admittedly, this isn't my best but it works well enough for what it was meant to be. Expect more of these for some of the characters (I'll try and do them all but there are no promises here)!
Juvia Corsair was submitted by MidnightRaven323 - thank you to her for her wonderful character!
