tagged by the lovely @daffi-990 🩷
here's another moodboard from my hunger games au and a lil snippet!
"Is he the one behind you? Can I get a few words from him?" Taylor raises an eyebrow, trying to peak over Eddie's shoulder. "Buck, is that how you called him?"
He crosses his arms defensively against his chest. "No."
He'll be damned if he lets Taylor fucking Kelly make a spectacle out of Buck (or any of the tributes, for that matter) just for a few giggles and views from the Capitol citizens that have nothing better to do than watch her atupud, cheesy, pathetic News Channels.
"You never make it easy, do you, Diaz?" Taylor still has that charming, toothy smile plastered on her face but Eddie notices the slight pinch in the corner of her eyes and how her gaze flashes with annoyance and dislike.
Eddie gets a weird sense of smugness and satisfaction bursting in his chest at the sight.
Then, one of the kids pushes forward and reaches a hand inside the cage, his tiny little fingers wiggling as if willing a tribute to come close.
To Eddie's horror, Buck does.
"Hey there." He says, soft and caredul. A small, weak smile tugging at his lips.
Everyone else falls silent, a mix of weariness and worry from a tribute being close to a kid, and a sense of curiosity and anticipation hanging in the air.
If anyone would be able to stop time like that, Eddie thinks, that would be Evan Buckley. Brave and reckless like no one he's met before.
"I saw you on television." The little kid says, his face glued to the cage. He's probably not older than six or seven, if Eddie had to guess. "I saw you defending your sister?"
"You did?" Buck lights up a bit at the mention of Maddie.
"Yeah. I have a sister too." The kid says. "Her name is Annie."
"That's a pretty name." Buck whispers. "My sister is Maddie. She is pretty cool. My favorite person in this world, by far."
Eddie swallows thickly at that.
The kid reaches until he's softly barely ghosting his fingers over Buck's cheek. "I hope you win." He says, more somber than any kid should be at that age. "So you can go back to your sister."
At that, Buck's breath catches and he blinks rapidly, his eyes looking awfully glassy. "Thanks, kiddo."
Everyone is so enthralled by the moment happening in front of them that they don't notice Buck never says "I hope so, too." or the way his voice sounds defeated, resigned. Sad.
Eddie does, though, and he aches with the weight of what it means.
He promises himself he'll do anything in his power to make sure Buck does go back home to his sister.
tagging (no pressure): @buddierights @hoodie-buck @monsterrae1 @gayedmundodiaz @hippolotamus @honestlydarkprincess @malewifediaz @spotsandsocks @spaceprincessem @the-likesofus @underwater-ninja-13 @watchyourbuck @jeeyuns @jamespearce9-1-1 @exhuastedpigeon @tails89 @rainbow-nerdss @giddyupbuck @wildlife4life @housewifebuck @maygrantgf @bigfootsmom @eddiebabygirldiaz @thewolvesof1998 @buckaroosheart and anyone else who wants to do it <33
