Be A Polis Bitch
„~ark? … Do you hear me? Clarke?"
Vision blurry and head heavy Clarke opens her eyes slowly. "Mom?", she asks confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Clarke!" Her mother pulls her up into her arms and a very confused Clarke tries to push her off.
"Mom, let go." She finally manages to get herself out of the arms of the older woman. "Why are you so clingy?"
"Clarke, you passed out. Do you remember?" Concern is written all over Abby's face.
"Passed out... Today's the ceremony. The Hunger Games. Katniss!" Abruptly sitting up seems to be a bad idea, Clarke's head spins and her vision turns black for a moment. "I need to see her."
Two hands on her shoulder steady her and her mother softly speaks. "Clarke, you need to drink something."
"I need to see Katniss!", she argues. It could possibly be the last time she had the chance to talk to her girlfriend. If the train didn't board yet. Oh god. What if Katniss is already gone and I didn't say goodbye?
"Please, Clarke, drink-"
"Mom!", Clarke interrupts Abby angrily. Does she not understand the importance of the situation? Does she not understand how this is her life basically being ended right now? The blonde slides off the bed – did her mom carry her home? - and quickly makes her way to the door, only swaying a little.
"Clarke!", her mother rushes to grab her, but Clarke is already out of the house and Abby figures there's no way her stubborn daughter would waste any more second on her own health, so she let her go with much worry and even more sadness about her daughter's loss.
Her heart pounds in her chest and it's the only thing she can hear. She doesn't hear the birds singing like nothing happened. She doesn't hear her loud steps on the ground while she hurries over the market place. She can't hear the unsteady breathing of herself. But what does it matter anyway? When Katniss dies, she dies. When Katniss goes, she will follow. When Katniss loses, she loses with her.
Clarke only gets her thoughts together as she is stopped by a rough hand in the middle of her walk. "Let me go!", she yells at the Grounder.
"No trespassing."
"I need to see her! I wanna say goodbye! I have the right to say goodbye!", she demands. The Grounder looks to his right and Clarke follows her eyes just to see the one person she would love to kill right now – slowly and very very painfully.
The Commander nods and the man let's her pass. Clarke pushes the door open and runs inside, she pushes all the doors in the small house open not caring who or what is behind them, just trying to find her lover.
"Katniss!", her own voice sounds unfamiliar to her and when she sees the woman who's every freckle is like home to her she breaks down and cries.
Katniss manages to just wrap her up in her arms before Clarke breaks down. Hearing her girlfriend cry makes her wanna cry too. She can't stand having Clarke hurt. But she can't afford to cry. She needs to be strong. For Clarke. And for Prim. And for her mother, too.
"Katniss, don't go. They can't make you. Just don't go", Clarke pleads and she knows very well that they can indeed make Katniss go. And if she refuses, Kat will not be the only one suffering from that decision.
"Look at me." The brunette pulls away, hands on the blonde's shoulders to steady her, she looks serious and Clarke hates what's about to happen.
"I know." She nods with tears in her eyes, all over her cheeks, sobs in her throat. "I will take care pf Prim, I promise."
But to her surprise the newly chosen tribute for the Hunger Games shakes her head. "No."
Confused she shakes her head. No?
"I need you to do something for me, Clarke."
She looks at the very serious eyes that has lost hope so long ago, but there's a spark now. It's the very last moment to gain back hope, Katniss, she thinks. But it's not hope for herself or for her family. Still Clarke does not know what else it could be. Until Katniss clarifies.
"You go to the capitol -"
"No!"
"Wait, listen. You need to accept the job offer and go to Polis to be part of the Game Maker's team." Clarke is shaking her head constantly. She will not do that. She will not be around that bitch of a woman who is killing her girlfriend for fun. "Clarke, listen", Katniss continues. "You can help me win this. You can make an influence and if it's just one single thing. Maybe it doubles my chances." Footsteps are in the corridor and the brunette hurries to finish. "Gale is taking care of Prim. She'll be fine. But I need to win this. I promised her. I need to win this for her, Clarke. She needs me. Please, Clarke -"
The door swings open and the same man of the Grounders from stopping her to enter before is now standing in the door frame. "I'm not finished yet!", Clarke yells angrily.
"It's time to go", he states matter of facts.
"No." She throws herself into her girlfriend's arms and whispers. "I promise I'll get you home safe. I promise, Kat. Please just survive. Please come home." A hand grabs her by the forearm and tries to pull her away. She refuses to let go. Instead she takes the pin-on Mockingjay from inside her sleeve and hands it to Katniss. "It will protect you." Strong arms pull her away from the other woman. "No!" She struggles but it's like trying to push a rock with a feather. "KATNISS!"
Just before the Grounder carries her out and the door closes, Katniss yells after her girlfriend: "I love you!"
They sat in the tree, away from all the misery, away from all the dying in the world, away from their own lives and away from everything bad that ever happened. It was just a tree. They were not very high up, only three feet, but for them it felt like they were sitting in the sky. The only thing of matter were the green leafs, the sun shining through the crown of the tree, the soft summer breeze and the presence of one another.
"Clarke", a young Katniss whispers. "Be quiet. Look." She nods over to one of the other trees in the woods.
Clarke looks over to see a black bird stealing a few berries from a nest before quickly flying away. "What's that?", she asks curiously.
"It's a Mockingjay", Katniss explains. "My father has told me a lot about them. How they tricked the humans and now it's a whole new species."
"What do you mean?", 12-year-old Clarke asks.
Katniss pulls out a pin-on, it's shining in the sunlight coming through the trees and to Clarke it looks like pure gold. She grabs it in awe. "That's a Mockingjay, too", Katniss explains.
Clarke studies the bird on the pin-on carefully. She loves it. "This must have cost you at least five squirrels."
Katniss smiles big. "I got a good deal." As Clarke reaches out to hand it back, Katniss shakes her head. "It's yours. It will protect you. Now you don't need to be afraid anymore. You don't need to be haunted at night anymore and wake up from demons destroying your night dreams."
Clarke smiles big at a 10-year-old Katniss. She wears her hair in a side-braid-style and her clothes are too big for her – bigger clothes last longer as children grow and the poor need every cent.
"Thank you", she says. "But it's a treasure. And pirates like to go after treasures and I'm sure my mom would like to sell it." Clarke is still convinced it's made of pure gold. "Maybe we should hide it?"
"Here." Katniss takes the pin-on Mockingjay and pins it to the inside of Clarke's sleeve. "No one will see. And it's always gonna be right there."
They grin at each other. "Thank you so much, Kat. Now I will never go to the Hunger Games."
"Commander?", Anya's voice comes to Lexa's ears.
She turns and continues to wipe off the war paint on her face. "Yes?"
"Someone's seeking your attention. This girl, Griffin?, she's wanting to talk to you."
Lexa waves her hand in a gesture to let the girl onto the train. "I will see her in a minute. She can get comfortable in one of the train compartments." She turns away and looks into the mirror. Her eyes are completely free from the sticky black paint Octavia put on her hours earlier.
She looks herself up and down in the mirror. The Heda gear is still on her, her hair is still braided, her appearance is still intimidating. But at least the scary war paint is finally off her skin. She takes to some skin products Octavia makes her use so her skin won't grow dry and red from all the paint she's always wearing on her face. After washing her face thoroughly and using the skin cream, she makes her way out of her compartment. Guessing that Anya, who's managing the appearances in all the Districts, had led the woman into the compartment with the awful purple couches and the very bright food, she makes her way through the train.
The train is not moving yet, but is to take off in a couple of minutes, so she decides it's gonna be a rather quick talk. She can't afford that girl still being on the train once they leave.
As she slides open the door, she already sees the blonde standing in the room facing the amount of food on the tables. The blonde turns just as the door closes and Lexa knows she's seen her before. It's the girl from the crowd in the white dress, who dared to not clap and not smile and not do anything but silently take in the whole occasion.
"You have something to discuss, I assume?", Lexa says, her voice like always in her Commander tone, strong and with the hint to dare anyone to try and fight her. She knows she's intimidating the younger girl but the blonde sure knows how to hide it.
"Yes", she responds. "I am Clarke Griffin. A while ago I have received an offer, which I'd like to take if that's still on the table." Talking about tables Clarke Griffin's eyes slowly find their way to the food again. Lexa assumes she must be starving, like most people in District 12.
"I do not discuss job offers myself."
"Of course not", she whispers and though she tries to hide it, Lexa can hear the anger in her voice. "Who can I talk to?"
"Clarke Griffin, you say." Deciding to tease the girl a little, she walks over to grab a wonderful red bright fruit and bite into it. Clarke takes the trap, just as she hoped, and her eyes lie on the fruit hungrily. "Who recommeded you?"
"Some bird", Clarke responds, not able to think clear as she sees the fruit juice drop down the Commander's lips and all she wants is to lick every last drop off the skin. She's so hungry. So thirsty.
"A bird?", the Commander raises her eyebrows. This girl must have gone crazy. Probably duo to too much coat smell or the lack of food and health care. Or the bird was... "Raven Reyes?"
The blonde nods. "Yes. That's her. Do you only work with girls?"
Lexa gives the girl one of her many Heda looks, this one being the one saying don't go too far, I am fucking Heda but Clarke was still so focused on the fruit that she didn't notice. So Lexa decided to forgive the poor girl this one time. "No."
"So is the spot open?" Clarke-girl is direct. Good thing, or bad thing? Lexa has yet to decide about that.
"It is indeed. I do usually go through some background of the people I work with, especially those who are directly involved in the games, but since Raven recommended you for whatever reason, let's say you're on board. For now."
"For now? What's that supposed to mean?" Just as she said the words, Clarke realizes that snapping at the Heda might not be the best way to save her girlfriend.
"You're in a test phase. Don't screw it up. Welcome on board. Is there anything you need to get before we roll in" - she glances to the clock on the wall - "two minutes?"
Clarke's head spins and she has trouble keeping her feet on the ground. After all she still needs to drink and rest after the pass out from earlier. Figuring that she does not wanna see her mother, who would only stop her from leaving, she shakes her head. "I am good."
"Okay. I will inform the crew and the team and the security. Octavia will dress you up and... get you clean."
Fucking bitch!, Clarke thought angrily. Clean? Like who's fault is it we don't have running water or shampoo or enough soap to actually use it every day? Fucking rich bitch from the capitol! I'd love to take the whole population in Polis and have them fuck your shitty attitude out of your stupid brainwashed, wrong-minded, self-centered mind! I can't even stand seeing your ugly face right now. You killed my girlfriend! I am gonna fuck you so hard, little princess. You won't know what's coming your way, you won't be able to stand up again and you will die from starving just like many of my people did.
"Are we clear?", Lexa asks, knowing full well the blonde is trying to not spit at her.
"So clear", Clarke responds.
The Commander nods shortly and leaves Clarke to be alone. She knows she's taking a high risk. She knows that girl is not a fan of the games and she doesn't understand why Raven would even recommend someone like that. Someone from District 12, where they had absolutely no potential for any part of the game, be it in the arena or outside. And why the girl, who so clearly dislikes the game, accepted such an offer was beyond her. But Lexa would find out.
After a very chatty woman called Octavia insisted on helping her clean up and Clarke on the other hand insisted on washing herself alone, she was dressed up in some Polis clothes. It felt weird and she insisted on going with pants and a top and a blue leather jacket instead of whatever thing Octavia wanted her to wear. The girl was totally driving her nuts. She didn't know how to stop talking and not only that, she was also only talking about the upcoming games. When the girl went for Clarke's hair, she snapped at her to leave it alone. After a heated argument they both agreed on wavy hair for Clarke with one simple braid. Fair enough.
Now they are sitting on the couch and Octavia already told Clarke everything about the newest fashion in Polis, which she couldn't care less about. Raven, who had joined them a little while ago, is keeping Clarke at least a little bit entertained. She is pointing out any given mistake Octavia makes and they keep getting into heated fights that lead nowhere near any solution.
They are yet in another argument when the Heda enters the compartment. She had left her warrior clothes behind, but is still wearing the dark pants and the dark top and the fashionable unusable belt around her stomach. Her boots going all the way up her thighs and making her legs look longer than Clarke wants them to look.
"Heda!" Octavia jumps up and clears a seat for the Commander.
"Octavia, Raven", she nods to them. "Clarke."
"Commander", she replies in her best way possible nice voice. Which was sadly not a lot. Clarke wasn't one to hide her anger, but now the life of her love lied upon it.
The Commander takes a seat, surprisingly not on the now empty couch that Octavia had cleared, but next to Clarke. Octavia takes her previous seat enjoying having one of the two couches all to herself.
"Octavia, did you not offer our newest member some food?"
"But of course, Heda!", Octavia quickly insisted. "She did not touch any of it."
Lexa takes her eyes to wander over the different food on the table in front of them, that Octavia has served for Clarke. In the corner of her eye she sees the blonde trying hard to not look hungry, with no success whatsoever.
"Clarke, you should eat. It's all going to waste." The Commander knows full well that food going to waste, being thrown away, is a good tease to get the starving, poor people to eat. They fight for every little berry and she just assured Clarke that all the tons of great, delicious food would get thrown away.
Clarke on the other hand isn't so keen about eating anything. I do not need your pity or your false kindness, Heda. Go suck a dick and choke on it! But her stomach is not quietly agreeing with her. It growls and hurts and all three women have their eyes on her. How come I'm the only blonde here? Racism. HAIRcism! With another growl her stomach wins the fight and Clarke starts to eat. After the first bite she is hit off guard by her very deep hunger and she doesn't care how it looks or sounds, she just eats and she doesn't stop until she's fuller than the Commander is full of bullshit. I sure am Katniss a better help when I can think clear. I'm going to get you out of there, Kat.
"Girl can eat", Raven says excited.
"So you're not the only one with bad eating habits and no table behavior. Congrats", the chatty fashion and make up artist spits out.
"At least I am not starving myself to death to look thinner than a very well know sexy Commander you're super damn hitting on."
Octavia gasps loudly and opens her mouth to throw back any assault she can think of, but said Commander interrupts her. "Em pleni. You two are going to get the best of me."
You gonna put them in an arena to fight til death, dear Commander?, Clarke thinks angrily. Calm down, Clarke. It's your girlfriend's life, not just some scholarship. This is important. Be a Polis bitch. Be a Game Maker.
"I'm sorry, Heda", Octavia apologizes while Raven just rolls her eyes and forms the words 'whipped' with her mouth.
"We have a very long way ahead of us and I do want to get through it in peace. Do you understand?"
Octavia nods. This Heda definitely has her under her thumb.
"Raven?", the Commander addresses the beautiful girl.
"Yes, Commander. No more fighting... in front of you."
The Game Maker nods and seems to be pleased by letting them fight when she's not around. Of course, Clarke thinks, that's so her.
"We have a lot to discuss since we have a new member on our team this year. I expect you to behave and welcome her just as we always do. I will have a talk with the tributes now and then with Anya to check up our time schedule. If you need anything, my caterers Fox and Echo will be at your call." The tall woman rises from her seat and Clarke feels suddenly intimidated by her whole being. That perfect, yet messy hair with the complicated braids that she wears so simply. Her clothes fitting her skinny body perfectly and making her breasts look so delicious, yet it shows off her strength perfectly, it seems to be a leader gear also made for a fight. That boots though going all up her thighs and leaving Clarke to wonder how it would make her feel if the Commander just took them off slowly and revealed her long legs.
Inappropriate, Clarke! The woman she was just drooling over leaves the three girls alone and instantly Raven and Octavia start to argue again. Not so heavy this time tho.
"You are so whipped, O." The ponytail girl speaks.
Octavia, - aka O; note to self – responds with a cheeky smile. "She's Heda and I do respect her leadership."
"Whipped", Raven says dragging the word out and facing Clarke while doing so. "Agree, Clarke?"
She's caught off guard. She didn't think they would involve her in any of their conversations very much more than they did before, which was simply her nodding all the time. "Erhh..."
Octavia now leaves her eyes on Clarke, too. Obviously stating some disrespect towards her beloved leader.
Quickly Clarke jumps over her shadow and acts like a Polis bitch. "I don't know about Octavia being whipped, Raven. I will give you my opinion another time. After all, she is in fact the Commander and her word is law." I think I'mma throw up. Right into the laws face – Commander!
"Let's talk about how you just really wanna take that tight jeans off of the Heda and make her moan your name." Smirk all across her face, Raven watches Octavia closely.
The other girl's face turns red. "That's disrespectful, Raven Reyes."
Clarke feels a little uncomfortable with the situation. She wants to say how much she wants to fuck the Commander – just not in the way Raven accuses Octavia of. Not like physically making her feel good. More like, fuck her whole being up and leave her to die in a freaking corner. Yeah, more like that.
"You have to admit though", Octavia continues. "she is one hot lady. Those eyes. So fierce and strong and urgh if she would demand me to jump off a bridge I'd go for it."
"Whipped!"
"Now I agree." She is just as surprised as the other two girls that she puts herself into the conversation. "I... I mean you are whipped. Like, are you close with her?" Maybe she knows some dirt I can throw.
"Very!"
"Urgh she's just fangirling over the Commander like every girl on the planet. But secretly I feel like they are fucking at some of their private sessions together. You sometimes hear moans sounding much like Octavia when she sees the newest spring collection." Clarke can't stop herself, she giggles. Raven has something that she likes. But it's not enough to make up for the fact what she and her other Polis bitches do every year to 24 of her people.
"The Commander mentioned that the tributes are in the train. Do you know where?"
"No. Not allowed to go there." The girl she will probably never recognize without her ponytail shakes her head. Note to self: Raven might be a good fake friend at the games center.
Octavia on the other hand snorts and raises her hand like a queen. "You maybe not, low key worker. I though am allowed." Proudly she smiles at Clarke. "I do their dresses for all the appearances and their make up. I will get to meet them soon."
Hope rushes through her body. Katniss. "So you know where they are right now?"
"Oh darling, yes I do." The girls seems frustrated that she has to state the obvious.
"I am curious", Clarke implies softly. But not very subtle.
"They're just a few compartments behind us. I think like the third from here."
Katniss... Katniss is here. Katniss is right here. In the same train. We're here together. I need to see her. Right now. "I need to pee!" She stands up and almost falls over her own feet trying to not look suspicious.