You can't sleep.

It doesn't come as a surprise- you've anticipated something of this sort would happen, and you are somewhat glad you've skipped the nightmare bit and went straight over to the insomnia. You spend an hour twisting and turning in your sheets before you decide you've had enough, pull on a dressing robe over your usual sleepwear, and leave your room.

The sight of Dave, one leg flung over the edge of the window sill, head thrown back, does not come as a surprise either- you shuffle over to his side and join him, bringing your knees to your chest, and blinking the sleepiness away. His hair is sleep tousled, he is shirtless, wearing a pair of PJ pants, and yet the glasses are perched on top of his nose, and you can't help but snort a laugh. He rises an eyebrow at you, and you shrug, breathing in the cool window air.

"Do we stick around for the bloodbath?" He asks. You bit into your lower lip- you know this conversation is necessary, but you still wish you could avoid it.

"I don't know."

"Vriska and Equius will." He goes on, obviously nervous. "Feferi probably won't- she'll have so much sponsors, she doesn't need anything from the Cornucopia- Terezi's first priority is to get as far away as possible, I think-" He pauses. "I wish I knew what the Foursome is planning."

Foursome, as you've taken to calling them, is the group of tributes from district Ten and Eleven. They all seem as capable fighters- you see right through Terezi's act- and you both know that, if the circumstances were different, you'd already be allies. But Dave is a volunteer, and a danger to everyone close to him, and it is understandable that everyone would try and stay out of his path until the Arena. He had told you multiple times to go and join them, but you knew it'd come with the price of Dave's friendship, and seeing as you only have a while before one or both of you is dead, you couldn't bring yourself to ditch him.

"I don't think she'll be running away." You say. "Terezi, I mean."

Dave frowns, wordlessly urging you to continue.

"I think it's an act." You go on. "She's always clinging onto one of her allies, but she scored four points- it's far more than a person who can't find their own way around without help would be capable of- and she seemed confident enough on the interviews- plus, she found her way to your table that one day herself, and I swear I saw her showing Aradia Megido how to tie a noose."

Dave studies your face for a moment. "It makes sense."
"Naturally."

"So, you think she'll fight?"

"Bloodbath would be a good day to show her long hidden skills." You shrug. "Sponsorship is the cheapest on the first day. And she has enough teammates to watch her back."

"You think they'll stay to fight?"

"I'm seventy percent certain they will."

He chews onto his lip, deep in thought.

"Six tributes fighting, then." He says. "That's a half. Enough."

You almost ask him, enough for what, when it hits you.

"We don't want the Capitol to be displeased with the bloodbath." You say.

He is pondering over something again. "Do you think I'll get sponsors?"

You give him a small smile. "I know you will."

"What if the Capitol withholds them?"

"You've been a perfect little tribute so far. I think they're past the grudge."

"You think?"

You scowl. "I think."

He nods with a resigned huff. "Not certain, then."

"No."

The silence that follows is not as awkward as some would expect. Dave is the one to break it, again.

"I should try and get myself a sword." He says, with an air of finality that makes you realise any arguing will be pointless. You sigh.

"I could probably use knives." You murmur. He gives you a look.

"Maybe they'll…" He pauses, awkwardly. "No, they won't have needles."

"Dirk and Roxy won't rest until they get someone to send some in." He leans forward and grabs a hold of your arm, giving you a reassuring squeeze. You smile up at him.
"What if the Capitol withholds it?"

"Uh." He thinks it through. "You could probably use knives."

***ooo***

Kankri is trying so hard to wake you up gently you almost feel guilty about already being awake. So you fake being asleep, and roll along with his gentle nudge, and tell him to fuck off when he starts whispering your name, and for a moment you both feel as the last eleven years never happened and you are both kids and he is not a Victor and you are not a Tribute.

But then you're out of the bed and getting dressed, and the reality can't be fought of by play acting any more. He stands there as you pull on a pair of trousers and a black turtleneck, and when he pushes a small necklace into your hands, you don't even need to look down to know what it is. You are both surprised when you slump against his chest, but he hugs you quick enough, and you furiously blink away the treacherous tears, face nuzzled against his stupidly comforting red sweater.

"Do whatever you have to." He whispers into your hair. "Do whatever you have to, and come back home."

You bite your lip. "I can't promise that."

"Please."

His voice is cracking, and you look up, still pressed tight against him, and he is looking down, eyes watery. Something clenches in your chest.
"I'll do everything I can to get back." You whisper. He smiles.

"Good." He pulls back and ruffles you're already messy hair. "So will I."

***ooo***

You are both nervous. Terezi's palm is sweaty, and you pull her into a quick, firm hug before you are each led your own way, and you have to keep pinching yourself to make sure this is not another nightmare.

You've had a lot of nightmares, in the couple of hours you've actually managed to sleep off. You hope they were nightmares. There was a lot of blood, and there was fire, and there was searing pain in your abdomen.
You like to think they are nightmares.

They probably aren't.

You are allowed to wear your glasses- one harmless thing for each tribute, and the shades are yours. Terezi chose the same route, and you're pretty sure the Strider Junior did too- the kid really likes your shades. You can understand him. You both have a case of weird eyes going on.

The room you're led in is white, horribly so, with a plate filled with finger foods and a pitcher of cold water. You pour yourself a glass and sip it, and pace around nervously until you are told to go stand on the small circle in the middle.

The glass tube lowers immediately, and you struggle to keep your breathing steady as the whole world shifts.

You notice green first. A lot of green. There are some rocks too, and a lot of trees- trees are good, you suppose.

Then you notice the tributes all around you. Then you notice the weapons falling out of the cornucopia. Then you notice the big countdown going on in the sky.

Then it fully hits you, and you almost stagger off your podium.

The Games are officially on.

***ooo***

The countdown is over way too fast.

You are off the podium the moment it's safe, and go for the nearest katana, the one you've kept your eye on from the moment you could take in your surroundings. There is a convenient pair of throwing knifes just a couple of feet away, and you decide to grab it for Rose- after a long conversation, you've agreed to grab the weapons while she was to make a run to the east. You were to go after her and follow her trail, and then you could figure the rest of the games out. Surviving the bloodbath was definitely the priority.

Your breathing positively steadies once you are holding the sword in your hands- you give it a wide grin before eyeing your surroundings. Terezi got herself a sweet walking cane, and has used it to trip the district Two girl before the latter has had a chance to go for the kill-

You are taken aback for a second. You're pretty certain Vriska was aiming at you.

You give the blind girl a confused stare, but she is too taken up with her potentially fatal quarrel to notice, so you just go for the knives and are getting as far away as possible.

***ooo***

Aradia and you collapse to the ground, breathing heavy. Your hand is still gripping her wrist, and you release it like it's on fire, blushing slightly.

Karkat is already there, dabbing away at Terezi's shoulder. He barks at you to go out and keep watch, and you comply without a question- it's the first day of the Games, and you've all survived, and Terezi is wounded, and it's Karkat for fuck's sake, he is holding himself up miraculously well.

Aradia is out a couple of minutes later.

"Terezi attacked Vriska, apparently to save the Strider guy." She tells you, fiddling with her long black sleeve. "And the latter did not appreciate it, so Terezi got slashed at."

You take it in. "She'll be okay?"

"Yeah, she'll just need to stay put for a day or so." Aradia settles down next to you. She should probably be staying 'put' for a couple of weeks, but you can't afford that right now.

The bloodbath went well- well, it wasn't really a bloodbath at all- there' hasn't been a bloodbath for the Bloodbath in centuries. Having only twelve tributes does that- it'd be no fun to get them all killed in the first fifteen minutes.

You had made a grab for all the shurikens you could see- luckily, there was plenty of those- and Karkat went for the sickles, getting himself one ridiculously large, and one much more practical.

Aradia went for the whip- you were a bit surprised at her preference- and a large backpack. You noticed a tent nearby and stole it from the weak grasp of the district four tribute (you still feel bad about that). That was when you realised Karkat was helping a wounded Terezi up, so you shoved the tent into his free hand and told him to run for it. You went after them just a couple of minutes later, but Karkat had already managed to set the tent up, and was now all mother hen with your district partner.

"What was in the backpack?" You ask her, staring into the woods. Karkat chose a little clearing for your camp, and you can see he wasn't thinking straight- it's really not the most practical of places. You'll tell him to move in the morning.

"A first aid kit, thank god." She leans back, sighing. "An empty water bottle. And a blanket."

"No food, then."

"No."

As if on cue, there is a silver parachute, and you actually laugh, because, fuck it, you're alive and you could have not been, and the Capitol is sending you dinner, for fuck's sake, that's so fucked up. Aradia opens it- it's a small loaf of bread, some cheese, and crackers. She smiles at the nearest camera.

"Thank you."

You interpret the lack of water as a hint that there is some to be found nearby, and you leave Aradia to keep guard as you search for it. There is a small river a fifteen minute walk away, and you fill the bottle, hoping to all gods that might or might not exist it's not poisoned.
"You're my new best friend." You mutter to the river before leaving it. There might be someone in the woods, but they don't attack, so you choose to not bother them.

Terezi is much better by the time you're back- she's nibbling on a cracker, grinning, shoulder bandaged.

"It's just a flesh wound." She sniffs the air. "Do I smell water?"

You toss her the bottle, and she catches it mid-air. "How can you even smell water?"

"I can smell everything." She grins wider, and takes an experimental sip. "Tastes clean enough."

Karkat gives her a worried look. "You really shouldn't be doing that."

"Oh, shush." She takes another sip. "Yeah, it's good."

You eat the small dinner; Karkat goes to get more water, and then volunteers to take the first watch, and the three of you bundle up under the blanket. The tent is small and cosy, Terezi is snoring, Aradia is out cold, and there is a shuriken ready for use in your hand, and even though you are in the arena and there are cameras everywhere and the Capitol is probably thinking of a way to give you a very unpleasant wake up call, you mange to fall asleep.

***ooo***

Rose is alive- you are so relieved to see her you pull her into a hug and don't let go for an entire minute, while she taps your back and laughs. You then hand over the throwing knifes, and she tries them out, and she's not at all that bad.

"I got us a sleeping bag." She says, pointing to the bundle. "And a water bottle."

"Real water?"

She grins. "Real water."

There are some edible berries nearby too- Rose knows how to pick a good spot, you must give it to her- and you both nibble on some, wash them down with a few sips of the precious water, and then eye the sleeping bag.

"Ready for some brotherly cuddles, then?" You ask her, and she grins, before suggesting you rather keep watch.
"As tempting as the cuddles are." She adds. "We can always reschedule."

"Oh, no, that's not how it works." You sit down with your sword, ready to take the first watch. "You had your chance, and you blew it."

You wait for the Dead Tributes Broadcast. It happens around the sunset- district Four tribute is the only one today- and then the Panem hymn plays. Rose gives you an awkward hair ruffle before crawling into the sleeping bag, and is obviously exhausted, because she falls asleep almost instantly.

You stay still, listening to all the little sounds, but all you can hear is wind and Rose's breathing. Your thoughts go back to Bro, Roxy, Jade, John. You know they're all glued to the screens, and might be watching you, and you give the nearest camera a little smirk.

Soon it's too dark to see with your shades, so you're forced to take them off. Another three hours, and Rose wakes up, panting, and she makes you go to sleep as she takes over the next watch.

You dream of your childhood home, of John's laughter, and dark pools of thick, bright red blood.

*A/N* What am I doing

Ugh

Sorry, nameless OC. Rest in peace.