A/N: Thank you to the lovely person who reviewed! I love hearing feedback, so I really appreciate it!

Is this chapter Lana Del Rey coded? Read to find out...

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CHAPTER THREE:

A CONTENTIOUS PROMISE

Upon entering the Hob, Coriolanus spotted Sejanus in a corner with some miners tossing a few drinks. Huddled in the circle, his blue jumpsuit stuck out against all of the dirtied gray uniforms. From what Coriolanus could tell, they didn't seem to be having a very relaxed conversation. When Sejanus caught him watching them, he straightened up and plastered on a good natured look.

"Coryo, you made it! Like me to get you a drink?" He offered, striding over to him.

"Thanks, I've got it. Who's your company?" He probed as they headed over to the bar. He ordered himself a cool beer, hoping to refresh how parched he felt in the severe heat. His time spent with Lucy Gray hardly cooled him down; and the Hob was always musty and warm from the sea of bodies packed in, and it proved worse in the summer.

"Just some friendly locals. They're decent conversationalists," Sejanus answered, leaning over the counter and hitting his bottle against the edge to pop the top off.

"Yeah, I can see that," Coriolanus uttered, still observing the group with a hint of disdain he couldn't place. Sejanus clapped him on the back, directing his attention towards the stage.

"Here comes your songbird."

Lucy Gray appeared with her guitar, exuding the radiance and confidence fit for a true performer. She had darned a velvet blouse for the occasion paired with a flowing lavender skirt and her favorite boots that somehow managed to survive after the arena. However, Coriolanus noticed that they were fading significantly and the sole on one of them was peeling off. He resolved then that he would get her a new pair, or at least he would find a way of repairing hers. His monthly allowance as a peacekeeper far exceeded what he needed, and he had been storing much of it away for the future. He loved to envision one day spoiling his girl in the Capitol. Lucy Gray would surely be one of the greatest stars in the entire city, with all of the luxuries she could ever desire.

Those eyes of hers glittered onstage as she sang, and it was as if he heard the movements of her heart, pouring itself out into every lyric. She was free up there, unfastened to her audience. He found that she was never one to hide, neither the good nor the bad parts of herself. She sang for everyone, and yet he also knew that she sang just for him. They found each other's gaze immediately, and her smile grew wide. And then, hoping that she would catch it, he mouthed to her:

You're so beautiful.

Lucy Gray understood, and she felt his love for her upon that stage. She wasn't one to falter while performing yet that charming face of his threatened it. The best she could do was to suppress her blushing and channel her overflowing happiness into her song. She found herself growing with excitement over the tune she was hoping to play for him during the next show. She wished she could share it with him tonight, but it wasn't quite perfected yet. She had been writing it for days now, adding to it little by little the more she fell for him.

The Covey soon switched from a swaying soft ballad to one of the Hob's boot stompin' favorites. Everyone began to crowd around the stage and drunken singing and dancing ensued. Maude Ivory's high yet mighty voice was now leading the number while Lucy Gray had taken a step back to play some accompanying chords. She caught the blond head of her boy weaving his way to the front of the crowd, and fueled by too many drinks, he took her by the waist and swooped her right off the stage.

"Coriolanus! What are you doing?" She shouted in astonishment as he set her firmly in front of him.

"Can't you sit out this one song for a dance? That is, may I dance with you?" He politely rephrased, offering his hand with a little bow. She gave a baffled laugh and glanced up at the Covey who had carried on with ease. She set down her guitar and accepted his hand.

"Alright, Capitol boy, just this once," she relented, and he spun her out onto the floor. An elated uproar arose from seeing Lucy Gray among the crowd, and it only invited more frenzy. Many of the men cheered her name, wanting to dance with her, but she was firmly taken by Coriolanus Snow, and everyone knew it. They found themselves at the center of a circle of people clapping while moving about clockwise, and he twirled Lucy Gray about, lifting her up high over his head. She laughed and threw up her arms, extending them outward as if in flight.

Pride and joy overwhelmed him with her in his arms. Coriolanus had never felt this alive before. One to many beers snuck to him by Sejanus heightened his spirits immensely. Everything around him merged into a dazzling swirl of melody and color. Forget whatever boyish dreams he once had. Forget even the Capitol. She was it. Lucy Gray was his dream. She was the anecdote to all of his troubles, his guiding star, his one happiness on this bleak earth.

To close the night, Coriolanus and Sejanus lifted Lucy Gray up upon their shoulders and paraded her about for her final rendition of "Nothing You Can Take From Me," earning an entire sing-along from the crowd that became painfully off-tune but nonetheless genuine.

"Alright boys, time to set me down so I can give my farewell," Lucy Gray called down to them after her final note. Coriolanus shifted her off of his one shoulder and slid her down into his arms before carrying her back up to the stage.

"Thank you, darlin'." She patted his arm sweetly after he set her down and rose to face her all too delighted drunken crowd whose happy time was well spent and on the verge of becoming ruckus.

"That's all for tonight, folks. The Covey thank you kindly, and we hope you'll do us a favor and donate whatever you can," Lucy Gray concluded, gesturing to the basket in Maude Ivory's arms. Collections proved to be generous that night and everyone seemed to have extra coins to spare. Coriolanus winked at the little girl before slipping her a large bill. He hoped they would all eat well the next few days.

In the end, Sejanus had to assist in prying away his plastered, lovesick friend from his songbird before he ended up late again for curfew. He found Coriolanus' uncharacteristic ways when drunk very amusing and was pleased to see him at ease around his girl. The two pushed through the exiting crowd, their arms around each other in a comradely fashion. When they left the Hob, the refreshing night air fell upon their sweaty faces, and they stumbled along merrily to the base with Lucy Gray's lyrics upon their lips.

"Bet you want to get a good night's sleep, huh?" Sejanus advocated when they reached the dormitories, giving Coriolanus a gentle push onto his cot. He slowly nodded, rubbing his temples. He slumped against the bunk frame while Sejanus unlocked his trunk at the foot of his cot, rummaging through it to find a piece of paper. Coriolanus noticed him scribble down A-28-21 on a scrap before slipping it into his uniform pocket. He sank down into his pillow while Sejanus climbed into bed across from him, and they both were out within minutes.

About a week passed before Coriolanus recalled what he saw Sejanus write down that night. It was a sunny, humid afternoon, and he was completing the mundane work of collecting the Jabberjays trapped in the forest and marking their tags to be shipped off to the Capitol. He counted number 28, placing the caged bird in a crate to be transported on the train.

"Twenty-eight," he muttered to himself. Why would Sejanus write down some random code after that night? A-28-21. Was it meant to unlock something? An address? Was he trying to sneak off to visit some girl? Well, Coriolanus might be entirely wrong about it, too, considering how wasted he was. Upon recounting his vague memories, the happiness from that night lingered, but he was a bit embarrassed by his conduct. He probably wouldn't have been so bold with Lucy Gray in front of everyone. He chuckled. They sure knew how to have fun in Twelve, but he paid dearly for it the next day.

Today, he couldn't afford to fixate on Sejanus and his oddities. At noon, he was expected to report to the main training facility for his officer's examination. He was to complete a brief physical exam and a written test. In two days time, he would receive his results which would determine whether or not he would be transferred to Two by the end of the month.

Coriolanus hadn't fully explained this to Lucy Gray yet. Training would take a little over a year. He knew time apart from her would be painful, unbearable at times for the both of them, but he was doing this for their future. In only a year, he would be an officer and would be able to apply for a position in the Capitol. Then, he would valiantly return and rescue Lucy Gray from Twelve. His sheer determination and piercing ache for his home became the driving force of enduring everyday in this dismal, less than civilized district. Lucy Gray was truly the only positive thing here for him.

During moments when he was with her, he often found himself actually rationalizing how to stay in this dreary coal mining place. It was easier to forget all of his inner turmoil with the districts when he was beyond the outskirts, swimming in the lake or having a picnic with the Covey in the meadow. Lucy Gray sugarcoated his future here with her sweetness, and the more he found himself drunk and with her could he forget it all, but even she couldn't wash out the bad taste in his mouth when he thought about making this place home. Everything he possessed would be completely wasted. His opinions, his background, his education, his genetics. He was a Snow. The Snows belonged to the Capitol and always would.

By nightfall, Coriolanus emerged from the training facility exhausted yet pleased with himself. The physical section proved to be tough competition amongst the contenders because of the intense training they received as privates; however, he was one of the few who could read and felt confident that he had excelled during the written test. Commander Hoff gave him an approving look at the end of the examination before graciously releasing him and the others from their evening duties. On his way back to the dormitories, he spotted a small violet figure near the entrance gate of the base.

It was Lucy Gray, waving to him through the bars. He approached her, taking her outstretched hand and bringing it to his lips.

"I didn't expect to see you around here," he said, turning to survey around them. Although there was nothing wrong with him meeting her here, he felt self-conscious of her presence near the base. He wondered what Commander Hoff might think if he saw him flirting with a girl at the gate. It might seem irresponsible.

"I missed you. And it's not like I ever see you durin' the week," she explained. He nodded. Her fingertips touched his forehead. "You're sweatin.'"

"I know, I was-well, I'll explain it to you. I have tonight off, so let me go change, and then I'll meet you outside the gate, okay?" he promised.

The two walked hand in hand down the lane beneath the looming oak trees that surrounded the base. A few stray mockingjays fluttered about, and Lucy Gray whistled to them. They imitated her melancholic sound, forming a canon that grew louder and made Coriolanus feel weary.

"Sorry," she nudged him. "I know they're not your favorite."

He never revealed this to her, but she had caught on. He felt guilty because he knew about her special love for them, and yet for him there was something ominous and troubling about them. A rogue species stemmed from the Capitol's mutation genius.

"It's alright."

"So, what were you going to explain?" She steered away from the topic of mockingjays. Coriolanus hadn't prepared himself to tell Lucy Gray about his possible transfer to Two. He had hoped to tell her the news delicately, maybe in the meadow after he had bought her new shoes. He squeezed her hand.

"I'm hoping to become an officer soon. I just finished my examination today," he revealed, slowing their pace slightly.

"Oh, so what does that mean for you?" Lucy Gray wondered. Coriolanus eventually stopped, turning to find her face obscured in shadow.

"It means that if I get a spot, I'll have to go to District Two for a while," he got out, taken aback by how pained he felt in saying it.

"For how long?"

"A year," he uttered. He noticed the rattled look in her eyes, and she shook her head.

"But that's... I don't understand. You're going to leave?" She murmured. She couldn't bring herself to tag on "me" at the end of her sentence.

Upon her words, he cupped her face in urgency. "I'm not abandoning you. Not like Billy Taupe. I'm going to come back for you. I'm doing this for us. When I get that officer's position, then I'll return here and take you to the Capitol with me," he swore to her.

"But, that's so long. So much might happen in that time, I-"

"Lucy Gray, you can trust me. I won't forget about you. Death would have to make me forget about you," he declared intensely. It sounded dramatic, but he felt the severity of its truth. She had latched on to his heart, and he foresaw that he would never be able to remove her.

"What if I don't want to go with you to the Capitol?" She suddenly countered.

"Well, I-I was hoping that you would."

"How can I accept going there with you if these games continue? How can I live there and stay by and watch while little children are slaughtered? Knowing that I was once one of them? The Capitol is no good if you can't make any change there, Coriolanus," she exclaimed, backing away from him. Lucy Gray pressed her hand to her chest, her heart pounding. She feared what that place was. She admired its beauty, its finery, but she couldn't enter a gilded cage. The facade of a utopia hiding a system of corruption. He would have to prove to her otherwise.

Coriolanus stood silent as she spoke, witnessing her again becoming overwhelmed with terror like she had in the shed. It reminded him of another image of her, the moment when he saw her on that screen, standing with a peacekeeper's gun against her back while she awaited entering the game of death. Now, he felt like that peacekeeper, trying to force her into his own game. The game of his success. He couldn't do that to her. She would have to willingly join him.

"I don't expect you to do that. And I agree with you, it needs to change. The games, the way we treat people here... Would you consider coming if I promised you that I'd try and change it for the better? It would be my mission the moment we went back." Coriolanus' offer was bold, and his words almost didn't sound like his own.

"If you convinced them to stop the games? If... if the Covey could come along, too?" She questioned tentatively.

"Yes. I'll promise you the moon, Lucy Gray, if that's what it takes. You'll have a new home, good food, even fine clothes. You and all of the Covey. Maude Ivory, Clerk Carmine, they could enroll in school and get a real education. And there will be endless opportunities to sing. I can't make everyone's lives better in the districts now, but I can make yours and theirs better. I'll never deny you anything your heart desires," he vowed.

Lucy Gray felt almost hypnotized by his words. Her dark eyes searched his sapphire ones, slightly startled by their beautiful intensity. Each one of his promises he so openly gave echoed the first one he had ever made to her. That he would do everything in his power to save her in that arena. And he did. He came through on that. This would be her one chance to get her family out of poverty. If she said yes, it would still feel contentious, but somehow, someday, she could envision a better life for the both of them. In a healed Panem. If anyone could change and lead this country for the better, it was her Capitol boy.

Her battered purple boots took a step closer to him, her head level with his chest where his tag hung from its chain. She embraced Coriolanus, and he found his chin nestled in her waves of hair.

"Okay. I trust you," she spoke against his chest.

"You're saying yes?"

"A lot can happen in a year... but my imagination is powerful enough to see what you dream about. And I want to be part of your dream," she replied, her mouth tugging upwards. His fingers traced her lips, traveling across the beauty mark and down under her chin. So, she had assented. She believed in him. With her by his side, he was sure that he would never fail.

"I love you, Lucy Gray," he murmured. His lips found hers, and he kissed her with everything fiber in him.