Content Warning: abuse
Caden Asher
District 1 Male
78 HG
Caden swung his fist towards Baron's waiting palm. Baron grabbed it in an iron grip and flung him to the ground. "Stupid," he snarled. "I had that telegraphed, yet you couldn't see it."
Caden growled and threw himself to his feet. He hurled himself at his older brother and Baron simply sidestepped and stuck out his foot, and Caden was once again flat on his face. "Sloppy. You're fighting like an outlier."
"I'm not an outlier!" Caden yelled.
"You sure fought like one the other day!"
Caden threw himself to his feet again and started to move again, but stopped when he saw Baron's amused face and raised eyebrow. "Nice catch," Baron said. "You learn quickly for a knucklehead, but that hesitation will cost you in the arena."
"How would you know?" Caden challenged. "You've never been there."
"Watch it, Caden. I might have never been a tribute, but I can still kick your ass to Twelve and back."
"You're an asshole."
"And you're weak." Caden was weighing the pros and cons of going in for another swing when he swore he saw Baron's face soften just a little bit. He slowly approached. Caden braced himself for a hit, but was surprised by Baron's firm hand on his shoulder. "But you don't have to be. I'm hard on you for a reason. Slade failed. So did I, as much as I hate to admit it. I want you to do bet..." He shook his head. "You're the Asher family's last chance at glory. I'd be a shitty brother if I let you do anything else. Do you understand?"
Caden nodded slowly. "Yeah. I do." Then, he drove his foot into Baron's knee and Baron gasped in pain before dropping like a sack of potatoes. He tried to take Caden with him, but Caden stepped away in the nick of time, and Baron hit the ground hard, eyes wide with shock and outrage.
Caden clenched his fists and braced himself for hell. Then, Baron chuckled. He slowly sat up and rubbed his knee. "There's room for improvement, but it's a start."
Caden allowed himself to grin.
"Hell yeah, I have brother issues. It's helped me get stronger."
xxiv. strength is
Poor Caden. Brother issues also got you kicked by a fourteen-year-old. In all seriousness, Caden is very much a product of his environment. He's got a lot to prove and an ego to match. Unfortunately, his brothers' toxicity gave him the wrong idea of what strength truly is.