Caspian Flake, 21, The Capital:

'You're late,' Silvy's voice came through the door, half teasing, half annoyed.

Caspian exhaled sharply, watching his breath swirl up toward the porch light, twisting like smoke. 'I was only following instructions,' he said with a grin, leaning closer to the door. 'You're the one always reminding me about not getting caught.'

A dramatic sigh echoed from the other side, followed by the sound of a bolt sliding open. The door creaked, revealing Silvy standing in the doorway, her arms crossed but a mischievous glint in her eye. 'Well, don't just stand there,' she said, stepping aside to let him in. 'Hurry up.'

He slipped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around him like a blanket. Silvy closed the door softly behind them, leaning back against it, her silver hair falling around her shoulders. Caspian couldn't help but grin at her, taking a step closer, already feeling the familiar rush that came with sneaking around like this.

'You missed me,' he teased, his voice dropping as he brushed past her.

She smirked, her eyes gleaming in the dim light. 'In your dreams, Flake.' She pushed lightly against his shoulder, but there was no heat behind it. 'Now follow me, unless you actually want to get caught.'

Caspian raised an eyebrow, matching her playful tone. 'Wouldn't mind the thrill, if it's with you.'

Silvy shook her head, rolling her eyes but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. Without another word, she turned and led him through the quiet house, her movements quick but light, like they were part of some game they both enjoyed too much to give up.

As they walked, Caspian let his eyes wander. The grand hallways were the same as ever—opulent, cold, filled with reminders of the power her father wielded. Yet here, with Silvy beside him, it all seemed to fade into the background. The thrill wasn't in the sneaking—it was in her, in how she looked back at him with that glimmer of something wild in her eyes.

She led him up the stairs, their footsteps soft against the thick carpet, and when they reached her room, she pushed the door open and gave him a look over her shoulder that made his pulse quicken.

'You really need to work on your timing,' she said, stepping inside.

'And you really need to admit that you like me too much to care,' he shot back, closing the door behind them with a soft click.

'If my father finds out—' she began, glancing over her shoulder at him, her dark eyes catching the dim light.

'He won't,' Caspian interrupted, his tone confident but not careless. 'We've done this enough times.'

She shot him a look, her lips pressed into a thin line. 'That's what you always say.'

Caspian trailed after her, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline mingling with something warmer, something unspoken between them. Silvy had always had that effect on him—keeping him on edge while pulling him closer. He watched as she led him deeper into the heart of the house, the lavish interior contrasting with the danger that surrounded them both.

They slipped past rooms filled with Capitol opulence—gilded chandeliers, marble floors, and towering portraits of Axeis Crimson himself, staring down at them with cold, unfeeling eyes. Caspian tried not to look at the portraits too long. The President had a way of making you feel watched, even when he wasn't there.

'How long do we have?' Caspian whispered, his voice low as they reached a set of stairs.

'Not long,' she murmured, leading him up. 'He's out at some late meeting with the Peacekeepers, but it won't last forever.'

He followed her, knowing they were cutting it close. It always felt like that when he saw her. But the risk—being so close to the heart of power, of everything he should fear—made it all the more irresistible.

At the top of the stairs, she stopped, turning to face him. For a moment, there was silence. No footsteps. No distant voices. Just the heavy thrum of blood in his ears. Silvy was standing too close now, her eyes scanning his face, her mouth softening into something almost vulnerable.

'Caspian,' she whispered, her voice wavering for the first time. 'I don't know how much longer I can keep this up.'

His heart stilled at her words. He wanted to reach out, to touch her hand, to pull her back from whatever dark edge she was teetering on, but the danger was everywhere, too real. 'What do you mean?'

'He's getting suspicious.' She glanced down the hallway, her gaze shadowed with worry. 'It's only a matter of time before he knows it's you.'

He swallowed hard, the weight of her words crashing down on him. Caspian had always known the risks, but hearing it from her—it felt different. More immediate. 'Then let's leave. Tonight. You and me.'

Silvy's lips curled into a sad smile, as if she'd heard this before, as if she'd already made up her mind about something he hadn't yet considered. 'You don't understand,' she said softly. 'There's no leaving. Not for me.'

Caspian's chest tightened, frustration rising. 'You're his daughter, Silvy, not his prisoner.'

But as she shook her head, her eyes full of something between fear and resignation, he realised—maybe in this house, maybe in this life, she was both.

Silvy pushed open the door to her room, the warmth and scent of jasmine washing over Caspian as he stepped inside. Her room was always smaller than he expected, intimate, the Capitol's expenses traded for personal touches—a soft grey bedspread, sketches pinned to the walls, half-finished designs scattered across her desk. A room that felt far more like her than the rigid halls downstairs.

Silvy leaned against the doorframe, her eyes flicking up and down Caspian with a smirk tugging at her lips. 'You look nervous,' she teased, folding her arms. 'You don't usually get like this until I ask you to sneak back out.'

Caspian grinned, stepping closer, their bodies just shy of brushing. 'Maybe you make me nervous,' he murmured, lowering his voice.

Her lips curved more, amused, as she tilted her head up to meet his gaze. 'Oh, I doubt that,' she said softly. Her silver hair caught the soft glow of the lamps, and Caspian couldn't resist reaching out to run a hand through it.

'You know,' he said, his fingers brushing the silky strands, 'I think you secretly like this—sneaking around, making your father's life just a little harder.'

Her laugh was light, a sound he loved too much, and she leaned into his touch, her eyes glinting. 'Only because you make it fun.'

Caspian let his hand drop to her waist, pulling her a little closer. She didn't resist, sliding her hands up to rest on his shoulders. She was right—there was something exhilarating about all of this, the risks they took. It made him feel alive.

'Remember when we first met?' Caspian said, his voice taking on a playful edge. 'You had no idea I was watching you from across the room, while your father droned on about the stylists' work.'

'Oh, I noticed,' she replied, her nails lightly grazing the back of his neck. 'You weren't exactly subtle, staring at me like that.'

He chuckled, leaning his forehead against hers. 'Can you blame me? The President's daughter, standing there looking so—' He paused, pretending to think it over. '—bored.'

Silvy giggled, the sound muffled as she buried her face against his chest for a moment, hiding the blush that coloured her cheeks. 'Well, you didn't exactly fit in either,' she said, looking up at him. 'Asking all those questions. You were too curious for your own good.'

Caspian shrugged, his fingers tracing lazy circles at the small of her back. 'It got me noticed, didn't it?'

'Mm,' she hummed, tugging him closer so their lips were almost touching. 'It certainly did.'

For a moment, they stood there, the tension between them shifting from playful to something heavier, electric. Caspian was keenly aware of how close they were, of how easy it would be to close that last bit of space between them. He could feel her breath on his lips, her body pressed up against his. Everything about this felt dangerous and right.

'I don't mind the risk,' he whispered, his voice low. 'Not if it means being here with you.'

She smiled, but there was something in her eyes—something darker, a flicker of the weight she carried. 'You say that now, but what happens when my father finds out about us?'

Caspian smirked, brushing his thumb across her cheek, his gaze locked on hers. 'Let him find out. I'm not scared of him.'

Silvy laughed, the sound light but laced with disbelief. 'You should be. You know he won't let this slide.'

He kissed the corner of her mouth, playful and teasing. 'Good thing we're so good at hiding, then.'

She rolled her eyes, though her fingers tightened in the fabric of his jacket. 'You make it sound so simple.'

'Because it is,' Caspian murmured against her skin, dropping his lips to her neck in a slow, lingering kiss. 'You and me—who cares about what they think? What your father thinks?'

Silvy bit her lip, her breath catching at his touch, but there was still a spark of mischief in her eyes. 'You really think this could work?' she asked, but it didn't sound like doubt. It sounded like a challenge.

He straightened up, his eyes gleaming. 'Why not? Two years of sneaking around, and we haven't been caught yet.' He pulled her even closer, his hands gripping her hips. 'If we can manage that, we can manage anything.'

Silvy leaned into him, her breath hot against his ear as she whispered, 'You do know that you're only here because I let you win.'

Caspian laughed, sliding a hand up her back, sending shivers down her spine. 'I'll take it,' he whispered back. 'But you can't deny there's a thrill in all this.'

'Maybe that's why I keep letting you in.'

'That, and the fact that you're in love with me,' Caspian teased, his lips brushing hers again.

Silvy playfully swatted his chest but didn't pull away. 'In your dreams, Flake,' she teased back, her lips ghosting over his in a tantalising way that left him wanting more. 'But I'll admit,' she said softly, her smile fading into something more serious, 'I don't want this to stop. I like what we have.'

'Good,' he said, his voice rougher than he intended. 'Because I don't plan on stopping any time soon.'

Authors Note: Still have plenty of spots left in this SYOT so please feel free to get your tributes in. I promise I can write more than the 300 word opener.