"Travel from the Outskirts"


Some time had passed since they deposited Steve in a holding room. Several thoughts clogged his line of thinking. Why would I sacrifice myself for Bucky! Shutting his eyes in frustration, the man punched a hole into the nearest wall.

When he withdrew his fist, he could see into the other room. Oh great, it's the one person I didn't want to see. Steve thought as he watched Bucky and his mother walk towards the room. A few moments later and the pair entered the room.

"We only have three minutes, so you'll have to make this quick." The child's mother instructed. Keeping his eyes casted downwards, Bucky began with, "Dude, that was noble of you." Sniffing loudly, he faced his friend. "I didn't think you would actually help me." The super-soldier flashed a weak smile. "Aw, of course I would help. You're like the son I have yet to conceive." Little Bucky smiled. "So does that mean I can call you dad?" Steve shivered at the request. "Uh… I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean, I may die." The tween thought about what the man had said. "You're right. Well, I wish you good luck."

Bucky then hugged Steve with all of his strength. The super-soldier patted the child's head. "Margaret, this isn't playtime any more. I won't be here to protect Bucky, and you need to quit drinking. The boy needs parental guidance, and you must to give it." Turning to the child in his arms. "Thor will keep you fed and provide anything you need." Bucky nodded with full understanding.

Outside the room, the guard finished his beefy bean burrito. While tossing out the wrapper, the man checked the time, and realized that the family had over stayed their welcome. The guard wiped his hands on his pants and burst through the door. "Times up!" He grabbed for the hysterical child and dragged him out while the mother simply strolled out the room. Turning around, Margaret gave Steve a hateful look before shutting the door.

Anger erupted from the super-soldier, which caused him to strike the door in the exact spot where Margaret's head was. On the other side, the guard shouted in surprise. Backing away from the door, the man withdrew his weapon. He began to approach the door when a large blonde man appeared out of nowhere. "May I visit with my friend?" The guard shook his head and allowed the burly go to proceed.

Opening the door, Thor found Steve sitting by the window. "That was clever of you. I should have volunteered in young Bucky's place." Steve remained silent. "Ah, don't tell me that you're upset." Steve shook his head. "Aw, what happened? The bastard's mother said another rude comment?" The super-soldier ran his hands through his hair. "No, but I believe that she's going to treat Bucky like shit." The god hummed. "Well, I'll make sure that nothing ill-fated will befall your friend."

"Thank you." Steve thanked his friend. "You know, I could always take your place. I mean, I do have the experience in this competition." Steve considered the offer, but decided against it. "I think you should go on, the train will be arriving soon." The god agreed, although, leaving was something he didn't want to do. Bidding his friend farewell, Thor exited the room.

A few snaps and a spicy scene transition later, Steve was comfortably seated on a high speed train. To his left was some chick from his village and that snotty chick, Maria, sat across from him. "Ah, this is a wondrous bullet train." Pointing around the room, "We have the finest décor. Such as, diamond door knobs, gold nail clippers, and marble mattresses." The two participants shook their heads, but little interest was shown.

"I think you two should get comfortable because the ride is a very long one." With that, the woman strutted towards a door on the far side of the cabin. "Oh, I should tell your mentor that you're here." The two watched as she disappeared behind the automatic doors.

"Isn't this insane. You and I were chosen from a group of seventeen-hundred children." Pepper sounded skeptical, as she fidgeted in her seat. Steve flashed the woman a weak smile, before trying to make polite conversation: "Uh, I hope you mind don't me asking. How old are you?" The blonde man laughed nervously.

The redhead scrunched her nose up, as if debating whether she should answer or not. A moment later, she spoke. "Thirty-nine… I'll be forty this year; if I don't bite the dust during this competition." The super-soldier openly gawked at the female—he was completely dumbfounded. "Why would you want to participate!?"

Standing up, the woman moved to the dessert table. She had an air of nonchalance about her. It worried Steve—the statement she uttered next worried him even more. Looking over her shoulder in a sultry, charming way, Pepper smiled, "I am a suicidal adult, and I would like to go out with a bang." She took a large bite from a caramel apple. "Hmm, you'd think that the rich individuals would eat better sweets than Walmart goodies."

Pepper's joke gave Steve a slight chuckle. He too stood up and made his way to the dessert cart. Standing by the ginger-haired woman, the super-soldier observed her out of the corner of his eye. Mm, she was tall, scrawny, pretty in the right lights—she was going to die. He had absolutely no hope for her. Especially, if the tributes of the other districts were anything like him and Thor. She would be killed in an instant! Steve smiled a little brighter; knowing that he wouldn't have to kill Pepper on his own. Grabbing a glass of champagne, Steve toasted to her. "Happy Hunger Games—may the odds be ever in our favor."

As the two of them sipped on their drinks, the automated door slid open and in came a man that made Pepper spray her champagne in Steve's face like a high-pressured water hose. Dark, tanned and handsome, was their mentor; Anthony Stark. Pepper dropped her glass and straightened out her clothes the best she could, before she began panting at Tony. "You don't look anything like I expected… you're way too good-looking to be in this line of work."

Tony raised his eyebrow at Pepper, before sauntering over to the woman and grabbing her boob. "It's nice to meet you, too." He said suavely, groping her aged-bosom in his calloused palm, as he reached behind Pepper and snagged an ice-cold bottle of Jack Daniels from the table. Pulling back from her, Tony brought the bottle to his lips and pulled the cork out with his teeth. Spitting it out, the man drank greedily from the bottle—all the while Pepper and Steve watched him.

Pepper was less impressed by Tony, after witnessing his open-display of alcoholism, but she was still attracted to him nonetheless. Steve, on the other hand, wore a deadpan expression; 'This guy was going to teach us how to survive? We're as good as dead.' His thoughts proved to be just as morose as his countenance.

Tony noticed this. Burping, as he released the bottle from his lips, the man smiled. "Eh… lighten up, kid—this is your time to party it up, before you're put up on the chopping-block; like a sheep led to the slaughter!"

Steve scowled, "How am I supposed to lighten up, when you're saying stuff like that?" Tony shrugged, before pulling Pepper into a tight embrace; his arms locking around her thin waist as he brought her back to his chest. Resting his head on her shoulder, the genius-billionaire-playboy-philanthropist blew a few errant strands of auburn-hair out of his face, as he spoke. "I dunno… everyone handles this differently—I'm surprised you're actually talking to me," Hiccupping, Tony continued, "Drink, eat, sleep… get laid! Whatever, I don't care. Just be ready in the morning."

Steve looked flummoxed. "For what… wait—where are you going?" Tony and Pepper were stumbling towards the door. They stopped momentarily, so that the dark-haired man could answer the super-soldier's question. "To do exactly what I told you to do." Shaking his bottle of Jack, Tony started, "I've eaten already. After I finish this, I'll be hammered—or, at least, tipsy enough to throw this little lady's back out, and then afterwards, I'll sleep." He giggled giddily as he said that.

Pepper captured Tony's Jack Daniels, and prepared to chug it down, when the raven-haired man howled angrily and snatched it back. "Eh! That's mine, you silly-bitch!" Pepper was taken aback, as the bottle was seized violently from her grip. Steve looked ready to defend her. Tony rolled his eyes, "Relax everyone; it's not like you've got much self-worth between the two of you, to begin with. YOU volunteered as Tribute—" Tony pointed to Steve. "And YOU are way too old to be a part of the Hunger Games to begin with." He scowled at Pepper when she frowned at him. "Now how's about we put this behind us and go do the naked tango?" She shrugged.

Steve rubbernecked, as they both exited the room.