"My love." A lovingly whispered phrase broke the content silence as morning sunlight streamed through the curtains. "My love." Wiress smiled as she traced the side of Beetee's face with her fingers.
"Wiress," Beetee breathed before taking Wiress' hand in his and kissing her fingertips. "You're perfect. You always have been."
"So have you." Wiress replied snuggling against Beetee while enjoying the warmth he provided. "Beetee - the springs -" Wiress began before being lost in her lover's dark eyes.
"In the bed?" Beetee asked. The mattress was made of memory foam that contoured to their bodies.
"At home -" Wiress giggled and blushed a bit. "Oil."
"I suppose we should oil them. Or get a new bedframe." Beetee remarked. "Why did you think about that?" Beetee asked thinking about their metal bed that had quite creaky springs.
"I don't want the night crew -" Beetee blushed at her hint. Yes, he would prefer keeping the night crews of District Three's factories from hearing the goings on at the Invention Incorporated shed.
Knock! Knock! "Good morning!" Olivia called as the two inventors pulled the covers over themselves.
"Come in!" Beetee called.
"Oh!" Olivia gasped seeing Wiress's head on Beetee's chest and the blankets up to her neck. "I thought you would be doing your drawings!"
"We got a bit -" Wiress began before giggling. "Distracted."
"Well, as soon as you're-" Olivia cleared her throat looking at the clothing hastily strewn about around the bed. "As soon as you're clothed, come to my room. I will have room service bring breakfast right away! We have a busy busy day!" She chirped before closing the door.
Wiress and Beetee were nearly oblivious to Olivia's monologue about her visit to the salon. As they ate holding hands, they stared into each other's eyes as they savored soft sweet pastries and fresh fruit. "Oh, we must hurry with breakfast! President Snow is expecting you two for lunch!" Olivia squealed.
"Come again?" Beetee asked.
"You'll eat lunch in the Presidential Mansion!" Olivia gasped. "Oh, aren't you thrilled?"
"I - oh -" Olivia took Wiress' speechlessness for excitement.
"I know! You two are so lucky! Dining with the President!"
"Thank you, Olivia." Beetee said indicating the conversation was over. As soon as the breakfast dishes were cleared from the table, the prep teams descended on Wiress and Beetee to prepare them for lunch.
Three hours later, taking slow deep breaths, Wiress looked around the ornate dining room with blue painted walls and floor-to-ceiling windows with white trim and gold curtains. The center of the room held a mahogany table that sat twelve guests. This was a smaller dining room within the Presidential Palace known as The Blue Room. She grasped Beetee's hand as they waited for the President to enter the room.
Beetee held Wiress' hand and stole a glance at her, standing tall in a navy blue long sleeved dress. So elegant and strong. He thought. Using The Force, he pleaded for his love to not be taken away. The double doors at the end of the room were opened by two Avoxes as President Snow entered the room. The Victors stood strong as he gazed into their eyes that shone with determination.
"I remember dining with you both, Mr. Tesla and Miss Carpenter." President Snow remarked not breaking his gaze with both of them. "Do you remember?"
"Yes, sir." Wiress was the first to speak. The President sat down and beckoned his guests to sit at the table as well. The Avox gestured for Wiress to sit on a chair to the left of the President and Beetee on his right. The President, of course, was at the head of the table with the other nine seats empty.
"You both have been deprived. Of the luxury offered to you by the Capitol, deprived of mentoring future inventors survive the Games." Beetee's stomach lurched but he kept a straight face. He noticed Wiress' large eyes never left the president's face. "Yet you have survived." This was not a compliment. "Your district seems to think you get along quite well without the Capitol's help. The deaths of those tributes are the only indication otherwise." President Snow paused gauging the two Victors' reactions. "You will be allowed to mentor again, and you will be our spokespeople within your district."
"Yes, sir." Beetee replied. He began eating as did Wiress. "Thank you for the meal, sir."
"I understand you two are very much in love." Wiress gave a shy smile to Beetee across the table. "The Capitol will be pleased to host your wedding as well as welcome you back into Victor's Village."
"Yes, sir. Thank you." Wiress replied.
"Remember this," President Snow said in an even voice with cruel undertones. "The Capitol brought you together as mentor and tribute, the Capitol will host your union of marriage. Begin rebelling again, and we will eliminate one half of this great inventing team. After all, District Three has had years with only one mentor."