imagine an au where jack is bitty’s mentor in the hunger games, and they start off not getting on at all. jack is all harsh and distant, and bitty interprets this to mean that jack thinks he is definitely going to die and jack doesn’t care. really, jack doesn't understand bitty. when he asked him what skills he had, he said baking pie. he's too good, too kind for the games. jack is afraid of letting himself care for this boy when he could be dead in a matter of weeks, just like every other tribute he's mentored before, and it takes jack time to realise that physical strength and violence aren't the only useful assets to have. jack realises that he’s being a dick and they start to get along better.
by the time the games start, bitty has fallen for jack. he tries not to cry when they say goodbye for the last time. bitty knows he won't win. jack is as oblivious as always, but only when bitty’s in the arena and narrowly avoids death does he realise that he has feelings for him!! and he’s literally powerless and unable to help him!! he sends a note to bitty with one of the sponsor's packages telling bitty that it's an honour to know him, and that he believes in him wholeheartedly. that they'll see each other again. lardo (who is their district's escort/mentor) realises that jack likes bitty and is the best supportive bro ever. bitty is good at surviving, and even though the other competitors don’t view him as a threat he isn’t stupid. he can do this. and he does.
the first thing jack does when he sees bitty again is hold him tight, full of relief that he is alive. the following days are full if hospital appointments and media events, and they barely get a moment alone, let alone time to confess their feelings. so jack doesn’t say anything until they’re back in their home district. they spend as much time together as they can, because even if both are scared to admit how they feel, bitty finds comfort in jack’s quiet understanding, and jack is just relieved that bitty is there with him, and that he hasn't lost another tribute.
jack kisses bitty on a quiet afternoon in the kitchen of bitty's family bakery. he'd been watching him cook, which naturally developed into a flour fight, which developed into laughter, which developed into both of them freaking out because people were dead and yet they were alive and laughing, and things weren't okay but they still knew how to smile. jack told bitty that guilt was natural but that it wasn't his fault. he had to play the game or he'd be dead. they talked for hours until jack admitted that he was in love with bitty, and having to watch him in that arena was excruciating. their kiss was soft and tender, because even if they were still broken and afraid, they were alive. in the months to come, they'd meet a man called shitty who would introduce them to his friends, all intent on bringing down the capitol. but right then, knowing that they weren't alone was enough. (can someone with talent pls write this properly omg i would love you forever)
jacobvanloon
baratheonpilled
ellievsbear
izzy806
