Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.

A/n: Would just like to clear something up - the last oneshot is not supposed to be in a "southern" accent. I have only met one Southern US person in my life and they didn't talk like that so the resemblance is coincidental/accidental. It was just kiddish slang and is actually similar to how I talk (I do live in the south. However, i live in the south of the UK, not America). Hope that clears it up ;) And i hope you enjoy :)

40) Seeder – Luck

"So," Chaff says conversationally, "What do you regret most about all of this?"

It is the night before he and Seeder are to go into the arena for the second time in their lives. The time to worry has passed.

Seeder smiles at him. "Not seeing my grandchildren grow up. What else?" He scowls slightly. "What about you, Chaff?"

He shrugs, his smile gone. Chaff lost his wife and daughter to disease when he was twenty-three. The medicine had to be imported from the Capitol. They refused to send it. Sometimes, Seeder gets the impression that he resents all the fortune she's had in her life. But he's never been overtly sour about it and she's never wanted to hurt their friendship by asking. So there has always existed an awkward bubble of being unable to talk about family and home life with each other.

"What do I have to miss?" he asks as though it was a stupid question. Seeder looks apologetic and he softens before giving her his old, easy grin. "Guess it's a pity I didn't get the chance to see if my liver was gonna give out first." Seeder rolls her eyes and he laughs. Then he looks away. "You could still live, though," he says seriously.

"Not a chance," she says in a warm voice. She knew she would die when her name was pulled out. She had accepted it long ago.

Ruta walks in. "Now, Seeder, we don't send tributes into the arena thinking they're going to die. Positive energy, remember?" Her voice is gently teasing – Seeder was her mentor in the Games and this is what she said to her the night before she went into the arena. It has become an old joke between the two of them because Ruta could not think of anything which sounded more stupid to say to a nervous tribute. Of course, Seeder might not die in the arena but if they are going to free Katniss and Peeta, she probably will. Everyone knows that. But Ruta can't just say it.

"Sorry, Ruta," Seeder answers and smiles back.

"But you're lucky," Chaff says, apparently determined to press his original point home. His eyes meet hers and she can see that he's being serious. "Always said that about you. I mean, you got through your Games by pretty much randomly avoiding everyone else, and you've got all your family and happiness in one piece."

Seeder nods. She isn't at all offended by Chaff's description of her Games because everyone including herself realised that she had won by virtue of never being in the same place as anyone else and always being just out of range of the disasters. "I know I won by pure chance," she says quietly, "but luck doesn't hold out forever, Chaff. If it did, I wouldn't be in the Quell now."

Chaff grins. "Why've you got to be so down, Seeder?" He gestures wildly with his good arm, his eyes following the direction he points in. "One of us will get out, I know it."

She stares at him, as does Ruta. "Me being down?" she asks. "You started this!"

"Yeah, but you know me – I never talk sense." He looks back at her, winks and laughs. She smiles, somehow glad that they are back onto 'normal' conversations.

"So you think one of us will get out?" she asks. There's silence for a moment and she mentally curses herself for bringing the conversation back onto this topic. It looks as though Chaff is serious enough not to lie about something like this because he shows no sign of answering.

"I know one of you will," Ruta finally says in a teasing tone, breaking the tension. "I'm Seeder's mentor now, right?"

Chaff laughs. "OK, bad luck there, Seeder. Maybe I'll be the survivor after all." Ruta whacks the back of his head. He rubs it. "Ow! Sorry. But yes, Seeder," he continues, looking at his hand, "One of us will."

"How can you be so sure?" she asks, looking at him.

"Call it a hunch, lass," he says, his eyes still on his hand. "But I've just got a good feeling about this whole thing." He looks up. "One of us has got to get out alive."

His eyes won't meet hers as he says this. Seeder smiles nonetheless. "You're right," she says. "Of course one of us will. I guess I was just ... worrying about nothing." She's still looking in his direction but her gaze has slipped to his ear.

He shrugs. "I'd be more worried about the fact you're never going to see this bottle again."

"Really?"

"Not when I down it now, you won't."

"Chaff!"

He chuckles and starts to drink. Seeder reaches out and grabs the bottle. They laugh, their previous conversation apparently forgotten.

Except they still won't meet each other's eyes.