Roxy's breathing has finally returned to normal, and you carefully slide an arm under her tights, holding up her head with the other, and gently, extremely so, you carry her to her own bed, and tuck her in, and place a bottle of pain killers and some water on her bedside table, and briefly consider putting all the alcohol away, but then realise that, if it was Dave that was killed, you wouldn't want to be sober either, so you give up on the idea.
Once the doors to Roxy's room are shut, you head for your respective bedroom, but soon realise you won't be able to fall asleep, and go back to the living room instead, where the TV is on, mute, and flip through the channels until you find the one that is broadcasting the current state of the arena.
It's raining, heavily, and it makes the whole scenery incredibly dull. Both Jake's tributes are safe, Jane Crocker bundled up in her elaborate tent with the Princess, the clown that has killed Rose perched on a top of a branch, soaked to the bone but showing no obvious discomfort. Vriska Serket had returned to her original camp and was off sight, and he supposed she was tending to her lesser wounds. Dave's team mates had all squeezed into the tiny tent they owned, and you quickly decide to get Callie to send them a new one first thing in the morning.
Calliope was a Capitol citizen, born and raised, and Roxy and she had been good friends for ten years now. She offered her support the moment she learned their younger siblings had been reaped, and has proven herself to be a great help, making sure Dave gets accepted into the district 10-11 team and remained well-nourished (apple juice was an additional sweet gesture). She had even phoned them the moment Rose's death was broadcast to talk to Roxy, but the latter had been to upset to talk, and it was you that had to assure her Roxy will be alright- she would be, eventually, not any time soon, but eventually, yes- and agreed that it is now in your best interest to keep Dave safe and eventually victorious.
The night of Rose's death, you and Roxy shared a bed, and she kept sobbing into your shoulder until early morning. She skipped breakfast the following day and went straight for juice-vodka, and was constantly intoxicated ever since- she still cried every now and then, but remained calm most of the time, and you almost appreciated it- he really needed to focus on Dave's well-being.
The younger Strider was doing fairly well on his own, and after the initial breakdown, his façade seemed to be stronger than ever. You smirked at your younger brother's japes, and even though you knew it was all an act, almost felt reassured. Dave radiated confidence. It was bound to get him favoured by the Capitol.
Both Pyrope and Megido seemed to like him, and the Vantas boy even looked a tiny bit infatuated- you didn't know what your brother was going for, but whatever it was, it seemed to be working, because you kept getting valuable donations from various different Capitol sponsors, and they helped immensely. Sollux Captor still didn't trust Dave entirely, but he could be dealt with.
A sudden movement on screen makes you snap out of your thoughts- it was Sollux Captor and Aradia Megido, and they stood outside the tent for a while, before Captor leaned in for a kiss, and they continued to make out for a good few minutes before the rain made them retreat.
You groan.
A knock on the doors interrupts whatever thought was about to sprout in your head, and you rush to answer it, because there was only one fucking person in this fucking town that knocked before entering, and it was-
"Jake." You breathe the moment the doors open, and the slightly shorter man gives you shy, toothy smile, and you feel yourself smile back.
"Hello, Dirk." The fellow victor whispers, looking down at his shoes, small blush crossing his cheeks. "May I come in?"
"Sure." You move to the side to let him in, and then close the doors. Jake goes for the couch, sits down, and looks up at you, hesitating.
"Roxy's out cold." You state, voice casual, shades still on. Jake nods.
"Megido and Captor got it on." You continue, leaning back against the kitchen table. "Capitol will love it."
"The Capitol does fancy itself a bit of a romance every now and then." Jake agrees. "Although it will definitely focus on killing one of them as soon as possible, now that their feelings have been made clear."
You nod. "I hope it's Captor."
"Captor is a greater threat to Dave." Jake nods again. "I think he mistrusts Dave."
You groan in confirmation, before slumping against the table and pushing your face into your palms.
"Dirk?" A warm hand is placed on your shoulder, but you don't look up.
"I just said I hope a kid dies." You groan. "A kid that did nothing wrong. A kid whose only flaw is that he is a threat to my brother."
"Dirk." Jake's hold tightens. You shut up. If the Capitol was to overhear, you were sure to be punished.
"Sorry." You mutter, looking up. His face is barely an inch away from yours, and you feel a shiver run up your spine, and fuck-
He leans in for the kiss, and when you don't respond, his hips roll against yours. This does cause a reaction, and you melt into the contact, allowing his tongue to slip past your lips and into your mouth, his hand wrapped in your hair, your own trailing down to his waist, where you ghost a finger past the hem of his pants, and smirk when his pelvis jerks against yours once again.
Sex is good, bit rougher than necessary, but good nevertheless, and for a while you forget about your brother and the Games and the Capitol and just relish in the way Jake feels and tastes and moans under you, and once you're done, you cuddle up in your bed, and he places small kisses on the back of your neck, and rubs circles on your shoulders, and almost involuntarily, you fall into a deep, dreamless slumber.
***ooo***
Being blind for most of her life, Terezi could hardly recall what it was like being able to see.
She remembered the colours- she could now smell them, and taste them, and she managed to convince herself that it was better- for the first eight years, she was surrounded by the sea of grey, buildings or faces it didn't matter- but then her eyes went out and she could smell so many things-
The doctors explained that her radiation-improved (improved was such a funny word. Capitol's personal favourite. They weren't altered. They were improved) senses rushed to make up for the damage in the best way they could, and that she should consider herself lucky- and even if she was upset at first, she learned to live in the dark. It wasn't that bad, after a couple of years passed- if offered, she would probably turn down the offer to get her eyes back.
Except now. Right now, she really wished she had eyes.
She didn't know where she was. She couldn't locate anyone. Everything smelled like fire and smoke and she couldn't breathe and the heat was unbearable and oh God-
Suddenly, a hand grabbed hers, and she was being dragged away, and she clung to her saviour- she quickly identified him as Karkat- and followed the best she could, choking on the smoke, until the air was clear again and she was kneeling in wet grass, wrist-deep in mud, with tears welling up in her unseeing, smoke-irritated eyes.
"Karkat?" She rasped out, and there he was, pushing her chin up slightly. His finger ghosted over her cheek, and she hissed.
"It's not that bad." He quickly breathed, but the tone of his voice said otherwise. She shivered. "Maybe the sponsors get us something- they will, they must- does it hurt- it'll pass- Terezi answer me-"
"Stop talking." Terezi hissed, and he complied. She rose her own hand to her cheek, but changed her mind after a second- it wouldn't do good to irritate the burn. "Is everyone okay?"
There was shuffling as Karkat moved around. The pungent smell of his sweat broke through the veil of smoke enveloping her, and she found it immensely comforting.
"I can see Dave-" He stammered out. "And Sollux-" He paused. Terezi tried her best to push the irritation back, but it was hard.
"Karkat." She growled. He was by her side immediately. "Tell me what is happening."
"Dave is dragging Sollux here." He whispered. "Aradia isn't with them."
A moment of silence. "Oh."
It was like all the air was pushed out of her lungs. She doubled over, sinking deeper in the mud. It was then that the two boys came close enough to be heard, and Sollux's desperate sobs told her everything she needed to know.
"She was on fire." Dave announced. He sounded completely blank. "Oh god, she was on fire."
"Wh-" Karkat's voice cracked. "Where's she now?!"
A canon answered his question. Terezi's dropped her head to the ground.
***ooo***
-Be The Strider-
At least the sponsors like you.
Sollux was almost catatonic, and the smoke made Terezi freak out majorly, but fortunately Karkat managed to keep his head and together you dragged your remaining team mates to a new camping spot. The entire forest was burned to a crisp, only a few charred tree stumps shielding you from the rest of the arena. You can now see that you are surrounded by mountains, and the knowledge that, at one point, you might have to climb them scares you more than you'd ever admit.
The silver parachutes begin falling the moment you settle down, and unpacking them manages to lift your mood a tiny bit- a new tent, bigger (apparently, no one foresaw Aradia being burned to dea- no) and dark green, some burn lotion, which you're immensely grateful for, because you all have some minor injuries to tend to- and finally, food, and- god bless them- AJ.
Karkat starts tending to Terezi's cheek- the entire side of her face is now crusted in teal, and it would almost look beautiful, if it wasn't so apparent she was in agony. The lotion seems to help, though, and she's asleep in no time, cheek covered in the thick, sticky substance.
Sollux is next- he was holding Aradia's hand when the tree next to them erupted in flames, and his entire arm is now crusted in yellow. He hisses as Karkat applies the lotion, and you keep watch, knowing fully well how vulnerable you are right now and hoping to all deities that the others aren't doing any better. Once the small burn on Karkat's forehead and the one on your forearm are taken care off, you bring out the food.
Nobody wants to eat, but you still make them- because as far as you know, you might be on fire again in fifteen minutes time and you should always be well nourished. Terezi groans when you wake her up, but doesn't struggle any further. Karkat announces he'll take the first watch, and no one is in a mood to argue.
The three of you curl up in the tent, keeping respective distance, because everyone is in pain and physical contact is far from welcome. You have almost drifted asleep when Sollux abruptly snaps his fingers a mere inch from your face.
"What?" You snap back. He scowls.
"I don't know what sort of relationship you and Karkat have, and I don't want to know-" You feel blood rush up to your face and you open your mouth to speak, but he cuts you off. "But try to show any sort of romantic affection in front of the cameras and I will kill you before Capitol even gets to edit the footage."
He then rolls away, turning his back to you, and with a sigh, you roll to your respective side.
"I'm sorry about Aradia." You mutter a second later.
"Shut up."
Conversation pretty much dies after that.
***ooo***
Sollux takes the second watch. He wakes on his own, and you know he had a nightmare, and you know he doesn't want to talk about it, so you let the matter drop, instead giving him a full report on the happenings so far.
"District eight tribute- Jane Crocker- dead." You say. "Her and Aradia are the only ones."
Sollux nods. "Any weird noises?"
"Nothing."
He gives your shoulder a squeeze before taking your spot, and you give him a small smile before crawling into the tent.
Terezi is out of it- you'd be worried, but can't afford it right now- and Dave is awake, his crimson irises following your every move. He had lost his shades in the fire, and was now forced to walk around with his eyes bared- the amount of discomfort it caused him was obvious in his every move, but here, in the tent, he almost looked peaceful.
"Sollux had a nightmare." He informs you. "You should go talk to him?"
"He doesn't want me to." You sigh, nuzzling closer to Dave's warmth. He nods.
"I don't want to kill him." He finally whispers. You look up, wide eyed.
"What?"
"I don't want to kill him." He repeats, and you frown.
"Neither do I."
"I know." He groans. "And neither does Terezi."
"…Okay."
"That's why I have to be the one to kill him."
The conversation makes your entire body rigid. "Dave, you're not making sense."
"Your brother is a victor, and you're a good fighter, so if we get Serket and Juggalo down, only the princess remains, and then it's just us, and-" He pauses, takes in a sharp breath, and then stops talking completely. You carefully sit up, and push his chin upwards.
"Dave, look at me." He complies, and his eyes are very, very sad.
"What are you going on about?"
He licks his lips tentatively. "You have to win."
You've expected him to say something of that sort, but it still makes all the air leave your lungs.
"Dave." You tighten your grip on his jaw. "No."
"You will win." He forces a small smile on his unhealthily pale face, and then pulls you closer. The kiss is chaste, sweet, and then you curl up around him, and neither sleeps peacefully.
***ooo***
You are now Feferi Peixes, and you are in pain.
The pain is not only physical- sure, your leg was quite burnt and it hurts, but the amount of healing lotion you've got is unrealistic, and within two hours the pain is barely notable- the tight knot forming in your stomach every time you stop to think about Jane is more of a problem.
Sweet, sweet Jane. Jane who stopped you from committing suicide, and who comforted you when you felt down, and who made the games bearable- Jane that screamed in agony as the fire ate her flesh, and you could do nothing-
A sob rocks your frame, and you curl up tighter, because you are a princess, and princesses don't cry, not ever, not even after witnessing their best friend burnt to death.
Only seven remains now- and with the powerful alliance the four of your fellow tributes have formed, the odds aren't really in your favour. So you pull the water-proof jacket tighter around you, tighten the hold of your trident, and stare into the darkness.
You have long accepted that you weren't going to win- but Jane has told you such horrible stories about her district partner, and you feel it's your duty to make sure he doesn't emerge victorious.
You are a cod-damn princess, after all.
And royal blood was always more powerful when spilled.
***ooo***
Your name is Vriska Serket. And you are, surprisingly, okay.
Some of your hair got burnt, but it's hardly a problem- you still have your weapons, and some food- and an urge to spill some district ten blood, pronto.
You crawl under a charred log and wrap yourself up in an extra shirt, closing your eyes to get some rest- Once you start killing off the Fantastic Foursome, you won't exactly have much time to sleep.
The only person you have to worry about is the Makara guy- but he seems to have his eyes set on a certain red-blooded tribute himself, so it's highly unlikely he'd come after you. You finally find a comfortable enough spot, and fall asleep.
You have a great day ahead of you.
*A/N* I was away for so long SORRY it's just. Gishwhes. And things.
This chapter sucks. What is continuity. What is grammar. What is skill. Have some character death and creepy obsessing. Enjoy.
R.I.P. Equius, Jane and Aradia. I'm so, so sorry.