The sounds of the feast raged on from the third floor of the ‘mall.’ The fourth day had come and, by now, the remaining tributes were starting to feel a little bit antsy. It was natural, of course, for human beings stuck in a life-or-death situation. They would do whatever it took to survive by any means necessary. The countless people across Panem experienced their own surges of emotions as they watched another batch of tributes bite the dust. For those in the Districts, watching the Games never got any easier. For those in the Capitol, it only got more pleasurable each time a head was lobbed off, a sternum was stabbed, or a bone broke.
For Ronni Ruiz, the Hunger Games had gotten easier and easier.
He sat atop the glass cornucopia with his legs crossed and his arms splayed out behind him. Leaning back, he allowed his chin to tilt up and stare at the false lighting that illuminated the whole of the mall. He had been sitting in silence for what felt like an eternity and, for better or for worse, he had begun to think. He thought long and hard about everything that had happened thus far. Flashes of Aggie, Nike, Seven, the girl from District Whatever, and then Leon sped through his mind’s eye. Ronni lingered for a bit on that fight – a strange feeling emerged in his gut, but he quickly suppressed it – although he eventually got over it.
It wouldn’t be wise to dwell on such incidents. He knew that – he really did – but, then again…
When had Ronni Ruiz ever been wise a day in his life?
The dull thud of shoes on tile flooring got his attention. His gaze lowered and a bloodied Leon came into view. It was clear to Ronni that he had been through a lot since the Capitol sensations had last spoke. It was also clear that the boy had racked up some more kills, but in order to prevent a new surge of anger from taking ahold of him, Ronni let that little tidbit of information go.
He stared at him for a second – his face void of emotion – before the corners of his lips curled upwards into his usual smile. “’Sup?”
// closed starter for @castanheirx
after talking to freya, leon had felt a strange surge of calm run through him. he didn’t know if it was her in particular or just the normal conversation they had had, but for the first time since he had killed phoenix, he felt a part of his old self come back to him - if only for a few hours. four cannons had fired so far today, and with the day gone and evening upon the arena there were only four left.
leon knew he would make it this far, victory was in his blood after all. he wasn’t sure what had happened to him between ronni leaving their lair and the announcement of the feast. a part of him still contemplated whether he should do what needed to be done to win the games. ever since goldie had made him kill her he was tempted to do the same, to seek out mutts and let them tear him to pieces and let the arena swallow him whole. it would have been easier, harley and jude would definitely still be alive - maybe one of them could have won. but it was too late for that now because the other part, the stronger part that had been hammered into him since his childhood, told him that he had no choice but to win.
he had spotted ronni sat on top of the cornucopia from the second floor. the blast from the explosion had long since quietened down by the time he made his way to the first floor. an arrow was notched in his bow as he made his way closer to the boy. “you comfy?”
ronni for one did look well rested, and unsurprisingly unbothered by leon’s arrival. it was only a matter of time after all, they had said it themselves. when it came down to either of their deaths it would be by the other’s hand.
they laughed about it in training, and on the roof but neither of them was laughing now.
“i see you’ve finally got your halberd, about time.” leon hadn’t seen one in real life before, and the pictures of it did it no justice. it was truly magnificent, and made his bow look simple in comparison to the tall weapon that ronni held onto with ease. “it does look very clean though. have you actually killed anybody? or have you just been dry humping it?” by now leon knew how to annoy ronni, and at this point in his life it was funny to antagonise him. so he just stood there with his head cocked to the side, and a small smile on his face.
