cutie pie

i love you lots like polka dots

[hidden-poet]

Outlaw: part 4

Summary: After nearly a year of mystery presents, your gift giver finally reveals himself to be none other then the outlaw Billy-the-kid.

Warnings: Mentions of violence, nonco/dunco, SA, religious doctrine, unhealthy behaviours, out of character, Dead dove do not eat.

Word count: 4437

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

part 5

The light streaming from the open window was torture for your head.You had never felt this sick in your life. Your fathers moods now no wonder. 

Shame floods you. What man would take you now? Would it matter that it was not your choice? That bill is your husband?

Billy. How could he do this to you? He wasn’t that sort of man, or at least you thought. 

“How dare you” with a single hit billy sprung awake, twisting his body towards his attacker. He reaches for his gun in reflex, pointing it, ready and loaded.

You could only stare at the gun pointed straight between your eyes.

”What are you doing?” He scolds you, drawing his gun back. With the safety back on, he throws the gun on the nightstand and reaches for his pants on the floor. 

“You shouldn’t wake men up like that. Is something wrong?”.

The ball in your throat tightened as your tears fell. 

“How could you- how could you do that to me?” You choke. 

He spins back around with his pants now done up, and crawls back on the bed over to you. 

Billy reaches for your face, looking over you

”Are you hurt?”, he asks softly. 

You shove his hands off you, clutching tightly at the sheet pulled to your chest. 

“I am ruined. 

“You are far from ruined” he retorts. 

Billy continues with his clothes, ignoring your anguish. 

“Billy” you call to him, “do you know what you have done?” 

He sighs, pulling on his last boot before answering. 

“I’ve slept with my wife. You’ve slept with your husband”, he stands walking over to the window and opening the shutters. 

“The sun still rose” he mocked. 

He shuts the windows again, blocking the majority of light. You are grateful for it in your naked state. You were too high up for the people below to see but one personal wrongly placed may get more then they bargained for. 

“How could you do that to me” you accuse. 

“You didn’t seem to mind” he scoffs.

You gasp as it he said it. His face retorted in guilt, wishing he could take it back. 

Billy take a steps towards you but you hunker back into the bed. Determined not to let him touch you again. 

He halts. Withdrawing his outstretched hands. 

“I am sorry. I should be a little bit more considerate of my wife's trouble. It’s school girl guilt, that’s all. You didn’t do anything wrong”. 

“No, I didn’t” you state in a hard tone. 

He eyes the bathtub in the room, moving swiftly to it as he spoke. 

“You’re a wife now. You have to learn to expect this sort of thing”. 

The water rushing from the tap drowns him out to where you strain to hear his words. 

“I know you didn’t have a Ma to teach you these things and I’ll try to help where I can but you have to stop fighting me every step of the way”.

Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth. Even if you knew what to say to him, you doubt you could get your tongue to yield. 

Instead you cry, big, loud, fresh sobs. 

How would you explain this to your father? What of your future? 

Billy jumps up from the tub, rushing over to sit in front of you in the bed. You kept the sheet pressed tight against you as he brushes your hair back trying to catch your eyes. 

“Please, please don’t cry. You had sex, you’re not dead” 

“I wish I was” you sob. 

“No, you don’t mean that” he consoles. His fingers comb in a soothing fashion against the side of your head. 

“It was a big night. You just need a bath and something to eat” he determined, “hop in. I”ll go get you something to eat”

“Billy, I hate you”, you declare. 

He reaches for his shirt on the floor, avoiding eye contact with you as he dresses.

”Well I love you”, he says softly.

“I’ll be back” he promises in quiet voice. He leaves the room quickly and you hear the sound of a lock behind him. 

You continue to cry on the bed. All you could picture was your fathers anger. His disappointment at his whore daughter. You would die of shame before you could be saved. 

After a while your tears run dry and you sat there helplessly until you could muster the energy to enter into the tub. The hot water almost ran over the top before you reached it. 

You soak in it while you wait for Billy to return. The gold on your finger mocks you. You slip the ring off your finger, hurling it across the room where it lands with a dull thud. 

Slipping down into the water, you allow yourself to sink to the bottom. If you were braver you would have drowned yourself but when your lungs began to burn you rose to the surface despite your wishes. 

Billy was still not back despite it being a near half hour since he left. For a second you wondered if his guilt got the better of him and he left town. But you knew he wouldn’t, not your billy.

So you wait for his return that marks forty minutes since his departure. 

When he does return he has food and flowers, as if he could gift his way out of trouble. 

With his hat off his head, he extends the flowers out to you. A pretty bunch of different coloured wildflowers. 

“Y/n, I am really sorry. You just seemed so nervous, I thought it might help but it wasn’t right for me to do. I lied to you and I deceived you and- and I am truly sorry”. 

You throw the flowers to the ground when they are handed to you, reaching for the bakery packet instead. 

“You don’t have to forgive me now” he states picking the flowers up, “I understand if you need the day”.

“I want to go home” you tell him again.

Billy sighs, “Not this again. I told you once we get the bounty, we can go wherever you want”. 

“Home” you yell at him, “I want to go home”. 

He shushes you with a finger to his lips, eyeing the door he came in from.

“You’re just angry. It will pass. All married couples fight”. 

“Billy, you arent listening to me”. 

“If you think you are leaving this marriage, you are wrong. We are bound for life now. You may not like it but we are.” 

You sit on the bed and hang your head in your hands. No more tears come but the rage remained. 

Billy kneels on the floor in front of you, rising himself so he was at the same height as you. 

“I am sorry”, he says once more.

His hands wrap around your wrists, pulling them gently from your face where he greets them with a kiss. 

His eyes try to find the gold on your finger but find it bare instead. 

“Where’s your ring?”, he demands. 

You tug your wrist from his hold, pointing to the far wall. 

Billy releases your wrists moving over to find your ring. 

“Now that ain’t funny”, he scolds. He finds it next to the tables leg and brings it back you like a dog playing fetch. 

“Be angry but don’t be stupid”, he places the ring back on your finger, sliding it to the very base, “We are married now, Y/n. I own you”, he says softly and without intent to scare you, “You own me. We’re one”. 

You look at the gold on your finger. A symbol of a married woman. A owed woman. 

You bury your face again out of shame

”Hey” Billy calls gently, “hey now, come on”, 

He tugs your hands down again, placing the bakery packet into the open space. 

“Have something to eat. You’ll feel better”.

He stands tall, placing a gentle hand to the side of your head as he departs to the table and pours a cup of water. 

You take it from him when he offers, downing it with great thirst. 

“If you’re not in too much pain, we can go to town. Get you some gloves and supplies for the road”.

”I am not in any pain”, you admit to him between a bite of your bread.

He smiles smugly at this. As if it somehow absolved him of his crime and proved him right. 

“That’s good” he drawls, “real good”.

You throw the half finished bread on the table, standing up so he wasn’t looming over you as you spoke. 

“I should write to my father. To let him know I am okay”.

”No”, Billy’s answer was cold, harsh and final. 

“He will have the sheriff looking everywhere for us. We should tell him we are married so they will call off the search. He will be worried”. 

”I will write to him” Billy offers.

You scoff at him, “You think he will believe you?”

”I don’t care what he believes. I’ll write for you. Because it would please my wife’’.

”It would please me if I wrote to him” you state.

Billy sighs, placing his hands on his hips in defeat. He gives a small nod

”If you find it too much, I will finish it for you”, he offers. 

You move past him to gather your shoes from the floor to place them on your feet. 

“I am not as weak as you think I am” you tell him. 

“I don’t think that”, he refutes, surprised at your accusation. 

He reaches out to touch you but you jump away from before his hand could land on your skin. 

“Don’t” you warn him.

He holds his hand up and out in surrender. 

“Okay” he says softly. 

You walk past him to the door, not stopping as he locks up. He quickly catches up to you on the stairs, placing his hand on the small of your back as you descend. 

“I have some gloves on hold for you at the store. Wasn’t sure they’d fit”, he tells you as you cross the foyer into the sunlight. 

“I also need some bullets. The journey to Aratula is only a day but Buddy will need some more feed, and we should stock up”. 

He leads you to a pale yellow store that reads ‘Hugo convenience’ in red letters.

”Can you think of anything else?” He asks you. The door jingles as he holds it open for you.

”Back again young man” the shopkeeper greets. He was a greying man, dressed in tailored black with circular glasses. 

“Yes, sir” Billy returns as he follows you in, “back for those gloves. This is my wife y/n”. 

Bile rose in your throat but you shook the mans hand when he extended it. 

“Pleasure Mrs”, the older man greets, “‘your husband here has been pacing my shop all morning trying to find you the perfect gloves”. 

You grace him with a thin smile before turning to a sheepish Billy next to you. 

“They need only keep my hands warm”, you state. 

“That they will do” exclaims the shopkeeper, rounding the counter and reaching for the stored item.

They were black leather with fur lining. Too extravagant  for a woman of your standing.

”My husband seems to think we are rich”, you pester, “simple wool will do me fine”.

The reference to husband invigorated Billy who stood taller, closer and spoke with more authority. 

“We’ll take them, sir” he addressed the shopkeeper, “ three rounds of 22’s as well  and horse feed if you’ve got it”.

The Shopkeeper smiles at Billy, sliding the gloves across the counter to you. 

“Young love. You should enjoy it little miss”, he told you, “one day you’ll have to fight him for a new dress”.

The man busies himself finding the correct ammunition. His back was turned to his locked shelves as he waded through his stock. 

“Horse feed is around back. My shop boy will help you” the older man spoke, placing the ammunition on the counter.

He goes to ring up the items on his till. As his finger strikes the final button, you speak up.

”And we’ll take that gold pin” you point to it underneath the glass. Shaped as a horse shoe and marketed as luck with three small indents on either side where the tiny Diamonds sat. 

”Since my husband is feeling so generous”, you remark. 

The man looks to Billy for permission, who nods back in agreement. 

“That too” he agrees, “It’s our honeymoon”, he adds bashfully.

”oh well” the man coo’s reaching for the pin, “may every day that you wear it remind you of his love”.

You scowl as the pin is handed to you. You can’t place it on yourself. Your fingers wouldn’t move from the thin pin.

The man said a number and Billy paid without too much thought before thanking the man and leading you back out the shop.

”Do I at least get a kiss for it?” He teases, taking off his hat so he could bend down for a kiss. 

His lips meet yours gently before you can confirm your answer. Billy takes the pin from your hands, fastens it to the breast of your dress for you.

You don’t know why you asked for it? To spend his money? For the delusion of luck? You supposed it reminded you of him. The cowboy and the horseshoe. You wonder if you will keep it after everything is said and done. 

“I love you” he promises, “I’ll take care of you. Make you happy”.

”Great job so far”, you scold. 

You push past him, leading the way to the back for the horse feed. You greet the young boy working and state your purpose. 

Billy takes the feed and you lead him on to the stables.

He is gentle with his horse. Affectionate even. He spoke to it kindly like it was an old friend. Took great care in its comfort. 

Billy wouldn't be a bad husband to a different girl. One who could live the life of an outlaw. That was not you. You wanted a man gentle, meek. Someone you never had to worry about raising a hand to you. 

Billy smiles at you as you stare at him. You quickly call on him to come. The day was wasting and supplies still needed to be brought. 

The larger supply shop was busier than the convenience store. People bustled around. You looked for men who appeared to be moving on. Men who brought things like beef jerky and canned goods. Men who were leaving quickly. 

You follow Billy around while he picks up all he needs. Matches, bandages, lamp oil. Your eyes never stop scanning the room. You seemed out of luck until you heard an older gentleman talking with one of the shopkeepers.

He was leaving for Scottsville. That was close to Westfield. Close to home. You tried to keep your excitement down. The man moved on to look at rope. You had to talk to him. Beg him for help. 

“I am just going to have a look at the fruit. Some fresh food would be nice”, you tell Billy. 

“Okay, darling. Stay where I can see you”, Billy commands. 

You nod at him with a sly smile before quickly moving across to your target. 

“Don’t look. Keep facing forward” you command the older man as you pretend to inspect an apple.

“Excuse me?” the man asks, turning towards you.

“No, no! Stay forward. He cant see us talkin” you scold.

The man does as he is told, turning back to the wall.

“Who can’t Miss?”.

“Sir, I need your help. I’ve been kidnapped. You need to take me back home to Westfeild. It’s close to Scottsvile”. 

The man turns to you once more before snapping back forward. 

“How did you know I was planning on Scottsvile?”. 

‘God sent you to me, sir. Please, once we reach Westvile there will be a reward for my return”.

You place three apples in a sack, before inspecting a forth. 

“Please, sir, please” you beg. 

“Where is he? We should tell the sheriff. See him hang”. 

“it’ s Billy-the-kid’, you admit. 

The name turns the man towards you once more. He looked pale, and panicked. You regret mentioning the name but there wasn’t a shoot out Billy wouldnt win. 

“God sent you to me, sir. Please I need your help”. 

The man looks around the room, his eyes scanning for Billy. Once found they go back to the ropes in a dazed stare. 

“My god, it is him”, he mutters. 

“He cant know. We just need to disappear. Please, Sir. All I am asking is for you to be waiting outside of the hotel at 6am tomorrow. Nothing else. All I need is lift home”. 

The man contemplates your request. You hold your breath until he finally responds. 

“6am tomorrow’ he agrees, “I’ll be there”. 

“Thank you, sir. Thank you”, you whisper. 

You turn quickly, walking back to Billy with a fake smile.

“Got the apples?” he questions softly, taking them from you to hold, “Were you talking to that man?”.

“Yeah,” you say, he had already seen, “I reminded him of his daughter. He asked if I was with anyone, I said you”. 

Billy smiles, bending down to kiss you. 

The older man drops his supplies, rushing out the door. You hoped he wouldn’t get cold feet. 

______________________________

Tomorrow, Billy confirmed you would make your way to Aratula. 

You sat on the bed, twisting the gold ring around on your finger. How would Westfield react to you once you returned? Would you be held liable for Billy's sins?

”Honey?” He called, throwing the damp cloth on the table, “you haven’t said a word since dinner. You feeling alright?” 

“What do you want me to say?” You ask him. 

Billy shrugs in return, “Anything. I want you to tell me anything. Whatever is bothering you”.

”You know what’s wrong Billy. Being ignorant  to the fact won’t change anything”.

He sighs, walking over to where you sat, and kneeling down next to you. 

“You haven’t tried. Marriage takes two to work”. 

He gathers your hand in his, bringing them up for a kiss. 

“You shouldn’t have forced me. That wasn’t right”, you tell him. 

“I know, I am sorry. But we are meant to be together. I know we are. From the first second I saw you, I knew. I can be the man you want me to be, just give me a chance. Once we get the bounty, we can start fresh. We can have a proper wedding if you want it”. 

You rip your hands free from him, lying on your back away from him. 

“I am tired”, you tell him, “turn off the lamp”.

He does as you request. The room darkens as he continues to ready himself for bed. He had already bathed and was dressed down but his gun need cleaning. 

He takes it over by candle light to the table before breaking it apart. You watch him as he cleans his gun. It was almost like a second part of him. His hands moved so confidentiality  around the parts. He almost didnt need the light, he knew what he was doing and he did it well. All his focus went into it. He quickly finishes his favoriate gun, clicking all parts back togeather before moving on to his second gun for the same process. 

He disasembles, cleans and clears in a matter of minutes. He reloads it, with a flick of his wrist the chamber locks back into place and he points the gun out in aim. You see him; Billy-the-kid. Lit by candle light. A shiver runs down your spine. 

He places the gun on the table, and blows out the candle before joining you in bed. He nestles up to the back of you, spooning himself against you and begins to kiss your neck. 

“Don’t” you tell him. 

“We’re married now”, he reminds you, forcing you to your back by pushing on your shoulder, 

“This is what married couples do”, he declares, placing a kiss against your neck, “They practice”.

He scoops your shoulder up by sliding his hands under and raising you up to him. His face remains buried in your neck as he places deep, longing kisses against the skin. 

“Billy, please” you beg him. You feel his fingers claw at the fabric of your nightgown as he simmers it down your body. You make no move to stop him with his gun freshly loaded at the table side. 

“I love you” he states breathlessly between kisses. 

Your core heats up from the contact. When he dips his finger into you, you knew he was going to find you shamefully wet. You feel his smile against your skin before he distances himself to prepare. The sheath is slipped over his cock which gave you comfort that at least you would not get pregnant. 

“Ready?” He asks softly. 

You don’t answer but your hips shift in preparation. 

He inserts himself slow into you. Never forcing past your walls but allows you to open up to him in your own accord. 

A groan escapes you as he fills your hole. The pressure of his weight on top of you engulfs whatever was left of your bodily anatomy. 

“Let me know if you need me to slow down” he offers before he begins to thrust at a comfortable pace. 

The rhythm annoyed you. It was enough to tease. A nice, comfortable slow pace but not enough to satisfy. You huff out dissatisfied beneath him. You couldn’t stop him, the least he could do was give you back the feeling last night. 

Billy kisses your cheek before bringing his head back up to gaze at you under the moonlight searching for any discomfort or sign he was hurting you. 

“You alright? Feel good?” He asks. In a misinterpreted effort to please you, he slows his pace further. Painfully slowly does his rock his hips into you. The strokes of pleasure too far in between.  

Your hands latch on to his biceps, fingernails digging into the skin.

”Faster” you demand, wiggling your hips in annoyance. 

“Faster?” He scoffs. He obliges, picking up to a quick pace. You hook your leg over his waist to stop yourself from being jostled away.

”What happened to ‘please billy?” He teases, slowing down away to a point where he was always inside you but his thrust halted and he was just dragging himself inch by inch down and up.

”Please billy” you whine under a different guise. You could feel the shame in your heart as you begged him to continue with your own rape. But your lust heated your skin, and lit your nerves on fire. You wanted to come in order to get rid of this uncomfortable wanting feeling between your legs. 

“Say I want you Billy” he commands, “I love you Billy”.

You swallow the lump in your throat but still the words would not form. You shake your head no against the mattress. It was one thing for your body to betray you. You would retain your voice. 

When he pulls out, it leaves you with a cold, damp feeling between your legs. The experience was unpleasant. A man’s warmth was nothing like you had ever experienced before. 

“Damn you woman”, he scolds. 

Billy flips you onto your stomach, grabbing your hips into position and spreads your thighs open. He inserts himself back in. His warmth fills your leaking pussy in the new position. His pace is more brutal than before. He takes more control, not allowing you to adjust to take any pressure off. 

“More stubborn than a mule’, he criticizes, “you’re lucky I want you so god damn much otherwise I would put you away wet”.

You can’t move under his weight. The position pins you into the mattress. You claw at the blankets beneath you, groaning into them as he pounds into you. 

“Say it. Please say it’ he grunts,

You babble something into the mattress, you weren’t sure what it was but it satisfied Billy enough. 

“My little wife, my darling girl”, he grunts, “mine, all mine for eternity. Knew it was you. Knew it had to be you. You knew it too. Just too damn stubborn”

You feel yourself tighten around him. He feels it too you surmised from his next word. 

“Y/n, don’t come. Not until I tell you”, he commands,”I ain’t stopping until I get my fill that’s my right as a husband”.

Inexperienced, you had no idea how to stop your body. Your mind had no control over it. 

“Ugh” he sighs as he feels you pulsing. You tried to crawl up, away from him as his work became over stimulating. 

His hands clasp over your wrists, forcing them back against your lower back to keep you still. 

The heat and salty smell settle between the comfortable numbness you felt. 

He continues without sound above you. Focusing on his only task while you lay spent against him. 

A loud, deep groan precedents his release. Your eyes squeeze shut as he rolls onto the mattress next to you, taking off his stealth in the process. 

His hands move you, repositioning you on his chest where he could enclose you tight against his bare skin. 

Here you felt the shame cascading around you. You had given into your lust. No one would have any sympathy for you when you returned home. Would your father return you back to Billy? Would Billy remain the same or turn into something meaner once he had you back? 

You think about the man that will be waiting for you tomorrow, would he be able to smell the sex on you? 

You cover your face with your hands in shame, the metal of your ring pressing into the side of your head. 

Billy’s finger drags up and down your spine in a smoothing manner while you spiral quietly. His hand landed possessively against the back of your neck as you wiggle but it was only to pull yourself closer, needing some form of comfort in your despair.  Seeing no threat, he moves to rest his hand against the side of your head, lolling his own head to rest on top of yours. 

He drifts peacefully off to sleep while you lay next to him, waiting for the sun to rise. 

[piscesbae7]

mrs snow au 😛😛

[piscesbae7]

procrastinated so hard i sketched cs 😭😭😭😭

[homano223]

[wildwoodfiowers]

lucy gray baird, 10th hunger games victory tour concept.

“the point was, he got to keep her. and he wanted to keep her, safe and close at hand. admired and admiring, devoted. and entirely and unequivocally, his.”

[hidden-poet]

THE OFFICER; part 4

THE OFFICER

Summary: Coriolanus goes to District 2 for officer training, as a gap year before returning to the Capitol to study under Dr Gaul. There he finds you. Your devotion to your little cousin, reminds him of the only love he has ever known.

warnings: Dead Dove do not eat, stalking, emotional abuse, obsession, Coryo being de lu lu, power imbalance, UNEDITED- typed and forgotten about

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Word count: 14, 756

AN: Please comment.

It was the morning of the exams. Mungo had thrown up twice. Once as soon as he woke up and the second straight after breakfast. 

Coriolanus too felt a dab of anxiety. Failure to pass meant the end of the road. Another year to wait until your next chance and even that had conditions. 

Coriolanus felt a dreadful need to pass. To earn the title of Captain even if he would never use it. Dr Gaul had to know that despite it all he would have topped her. There was nothing that she could do that Coriolanus wouldn’t conquer. Earning Captain would at the very least put him on the same level as her. 

He was no longer the boy that she tormented.  He would be captain Coriolanus Snow. Just like his father. Unlike his father, however, Coriolanus would earn the title rather than obtain it with money and connections. 

Out of the 150 candidates only 20 earned enough points to continue on to the assessment. Those who failed passed rumours that Coriolanus either brought his place or Commander Vongurt rigged the points system. It irritated Coriolanus to no end. They had seen him work, toil and sweat. Balancing training and you was no easy task. 

Mungo reassured him it was just jealousy. That made no improvement to his mood. 

The exam was held in a white room. A man who Coriolanus had never seen before conducted the assessment. He wasn’t a peacekeeper. He wore business clothes and he was too short to make the cut offs. 

Still he must have been important. He spoke as if this was beneath him, and didn’t make eye contact with any of the group.

Mungo sat one row behind Coriolanus as planned. The nerves almost flattened him. The colour from his face was gone, his knee jerked under the table and his pen shook in his hand. 

Once the paper was done, Coriolanus could see why. The exam was five hours but to fully answer all of the questions would take at least six or seven. 

Coriolanus hoped Mungo had learnt enough for the essays. They were mostly like the practice papers. Coriolanus had helped mungo with spelling and grammar. Correcting misinformation and offering a new approach to questions.  He would at least have a foundation to build upon, Coriolanus just hoped it would be enough. 

The multiple choice Coriolanus could help with. Even under the watchful eye of the assessor. 

Coriolanus pushes his paper closer to the side of the desk, angling it so Mungo could get a look at his answer sheet. 

When the bell went off singling the end of the text, mungo let out a sigh of relief. Coriolanus too, felt as if a great weight had been lifted. No more studying. He could finally take his nose out of his book and focus on you and Lorretta. 

The men remain at their desks until the man collected the papers before they were dismissed. One officer who had surely failed, ran out of the room as soon as the dismissal left the assessor mouth. 

“I think I’ll pass this time” Mungo told Coriolanus with unbridled hope. 

“Of course you will”, Coriolanus promises. 

Coriolanus is jolted forward in his chair as Henry kicks the back leg forward. He doesn’t look back at Coriolanus glare. Just continues out the door which agitates Coriolanus further. 

“Ignore him”, Mungo advises, raising himself, “He’s just annoyed you scored more points”. 

Coriolanus follows Mungo from the room back outside and down the path to the bunk. 

”Ah” Mungo gasps in the fresh air, “freedom”. 

“We still have the physical”, Coriolanus reminds him. 

“It takes five business days to get results’, Mungo says, “for those five days I am a free man. It would be an honor to pass this time and complete the physical. I hope you do too, my friend”. 

Mungo pats Coriolanus back. It may be the first time Coriolanus had ever had a true friend. Coriolanus knew everyone and just about everyone knew Coriolanus snow. His name meant people were always friendly with him. Also spoke familiar and kind to his face. But the friendships he harboured in school were surface level at best. Just friendly enough to ask for a favour when it came time. Something could be said for Serjanus but Coriolanus preferred not to think of him. 

District 2 proved fruitful in many areas of his life. He learnt to shoot, fight, strategise. He learnt how to fix and build things. Most importantly he had provided some of the strongest relationships he never dared hope for. Mungo would be a life long friend and Coriolanus  would aid him to rise through the ranks once he was president. The Vongurts too. They would be treated like his parents even if they were only stand-ins.  And you. Oh, you and little Loretta. He would center his life around his girls. Make sure you are lacking nothing. You would grow to love him. Maybe never as much as he loves you but he could settle for less. 

It was 5 business days until he knew if he would pass. If not, it is fine. He had lost nothing but his pride. But still that nabbing feeling to be the best ate at him until Mungo's feeling began to transfer. 

He too was a free man. For 7 days, he could do nothing but sit and wait. For 7 days he could spend all of his free time with you. 

In gratitude Mungo offered to do Coriolanus chores so he could go straight to your house of a morning and not return until late. 

The vongurts gave you the week off to support Coriolanus during this stressful time which meant that you were stuck with him from nearly the moment you opened your eyes until curfew. 

He was quieter than normal. He would never admit it but he felt more anxiety then he let on. The fear of disappointment drowned him. The shame of failure. The humiliation of admitting he wasn’t good enough. 

Idle conversation was made. A polite comment about the weather, discussion about a quirk the vongurts have. Loretta proved to be a fruitful topic but you were hesitant to showcase your child to him. 

The presents still flooded in. With more time on his hands he could go to the post office more often. He had brought Loretta another doll and a game where she had to hook moving fish which she was taken with. It kept her entertained most of the afternoon.

He loved the peaceful afternoons with you and Loretta. Loved going by the school to pick the little one up and eating dinner together. Playing with her before shower and bed. He wished you would let him in the room during your bedtime routine but you always kicked him out, forcing him to listen by the door. 

He sits at the table once the chatter stops, waiting for you to come out. 

You didn’t say anything as you do. A little head nod as you pass him on your way to the kitchen. You liked to keep busy, he believed. 

As you begin to dry the dishes he washed, Coriolanus approached with an envelope retrieved from his bag. 

“Here” he said, pressing an envelope into your hand before you could reach for the next dish. 

You take it from him to investigate the insides. Thick notes were wedged between the paper.

“I figure I’ve been here more often than not. Eating your food. Using your electricity,” he explains, “hopefully that helps the burden”. 

You hold the envelope back out to him forcefully trying to get him to take it back. 

“I can’t accept this” you tell him. 

“Why not?”he questioned, gently pushing your hand away.

“I don’t want your money” you state. 

“Don’t consider it my money. It’s our money”. 

You throw the envelope to the counter and turn away from him. Bussing yourself with the dishes. 

“I am confused. You’ll accept my gifts but money offends you?” 

“Take them back then” you snap, throwing down a spoon in frustration. You turn to look at him again, fighting the urge to push him. 

“I never asked you for anything. In fact I told you to stop bringing them”. 

“I am not trying to fight with you” he defended, “I am trying to understand”. 

Coriolanus takes a step closer, enclosing your upper arms in a gentle hold. You think about shoving him off but feared the outcome. 

“I am just worried I am stressing you out”. 

“You are”.

You feel his hold tighten but his voice remains calm. 

“I am trying to help. Let me take care of the bills until we get back to the capital”. 

“No, thank you”. 

“What?” He gapes 

“Mrs vongurt always says free costs too much” .

”Mrs Vongurt wasn’t referring to us”, he notes calmly, “Do you see her turn away diamonds?”

“Please let go of me”, you ask him calmly. 

He ignores your request, bringing you closer against him instead. His arms wrap tightly around you, enclosing you against his chest. 

“Stubborn thing, aren't you?” he teases. 

“Please let go of me”, you requested again in a stronger voice.

He listens this time, releasing you and taking a step back.

“You will love me one day” he states as a matter of fact, “it’s only a matter of time. I dont know why you are so hesitant to accept the inevitable.” 

With anger you did not know was inside you, you pushed him further back with a harsh shove to his chest. 

“You have them all fooled, don’t you? They were my protectors,” you accuse him. “Lorretta was my child”. 

Coriolanus makes no attempt to invade your space again. He puts himself between you and Loretta’s door, wanting to make a barrier in case the child decides to come out from the noise. 

“The Vongurts love you, and Loretta is still your child”, he defends. 

You move towards the door brashly, going to where your handbag hung and rifling through your possessions. You find what you are looking for before storming your way back to him and slamming the jewellery box on the table for him to see. You open the lid as you place it so there wasn’t a second to guess what it was.

Coriolanus looks at the sparkling diamond ring. Square in cut, set in a thin band. Two small rectangular diamonds were set on each side, and smaller circular diamonds  lined the top left of the metal, joining the ring to the band with the bottom right mirroring the design. 

“She said to give it to you” you state, “she said she’s always thought of Loretta as a grandchild but can’t  wait for a baby. She said” you spat out, “that the sentiment was shared by your grandmother in the Capitol. Apparently, they have been talking a lot recently, seeing as they will be family shortly”. 

“Is the ring the issue?” Coriolanus questions, “I was going to get you one in the Capitol”, he reasons. 

A grunt of frustration leaves your throat. You would have screamed if not for Loretta in the next room. 

“I feel as if I am going insane. You have poisoned everyone around me. I have no one to turn to”.

“You have me” he refutes, taking a step closer, “I would never let anything happen to you”.

“Because you love me right?” you mock. 

“That’s right”, he confirms softly. 

“Then leave” you beg, “If you loved me, you would leave. You wouldn’t do this”.

Coriolanus scoffs at you, rolling his eyes as if it was a bad joke. 

“Do what exactly? He demanded, “Sometimes I think you dream things to complain about”.

“You’re unwell”, you whisper in fright. 

“I am perfectly fine. If you remember our previous conversation, it’s you who is the outsider. I’ve not turned anyone against you. I have given you everything you have asked for, everything you could ever want. Promised you and your cousin a better life. People aren’t turned against you, they are confused by you”. He takes a breath from his rant, rubbing his face in frustration. 

Coriolanus sighs deeply, before taking a step closer to you, close enough to take hold of your wrist.

“I understand that you need time. You’ve been self-reliant for most of your life. I can imagine what that does to a woman's self-esteem and ability to submit. You’ve been in charge, and now it's hard to let go. Tigress gave me similar difficulties. I understand, I do. But my patience has its limits, and you are coming to the end of it. Be careful what you say from now on”.

You can feel the fright in your bones. A familiar shaking feeling coursing through your frame. You nod unsure on what else you could do. 

Coriolanus accepts it, bending down and placing a small kiss to your lips.

“You’ll see” he promises. 

Your wrist is released and Coriolanus goes back to the kitchen table. 

Loretta left her game there, he winds it up, watching as the fish chatter around in the plastic sea. 

“Let’s not fight”, he says, “keep the money for a rainy day.”

He picks up the plastic, miniature fishing rod gesturing it out to you. 

“Loser finishes the dishes?”. 

You had just finished putting Loretta to sleep.The bed time routine became harder due to Coriolanus presence. She wanted to play longer, sleep with her toys. She wanted Coriolanus to read her the bedtime story which you refused in anger. 

Coriolanus sat at the kitchen table after completing the dishes and perused his book while he waited for you. 

You had slowly begun creeping out as he reviewed it for the second time. 

“Would you like a cup of tea?”, you offered him. 

“No, thank you” Coriolanus responds. He scraps back his chair after you pass the back of it and holds out his right arm towards you.

”Come here, I want to show you something”, he states. 

You knew he wanted you to sit on his lap but you deliberately sat in the chair next to him. 

If it bothered him, he didn’t show it.  He just pushed his chair back into the table and slid the book between you. 

The bound book had a long name of a firm written across its cover. Coriolanus flipped the page too quickly for you to decipher the cursive. 

A couple of the pages were already tabbed and he quickly flipped to the first one. 

“What is this?” You ask him, looking at the pictures of the large houses and their marketing descriptions. 

“Properties for us back in the Capitol. This one is right in the heart of the city. Mrs Vongurt will love that. It’s an apartment though. 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, roof top pool for Loretta”.

You look at the pictures. You did not belong there. The only reason you should be in a house that grand is for cleaning. 

“It’s close to the school I want to send Loretta to but I kind of have my heart set on this one”, he flips the page to one marked with two tags. The pictures showed more open space than the last. The cleaning would be much more onerous. 

“My family would only be two streets away. We would have a big backyard, and be away from the noise of the city. We could build a pool for Lorretta. A better one, just for her”, he touched your arm gently. His finger lightly grazing your arm. “I could see us there for the long term. Enough space to grow a family”. 

You picture scrubbing the wooden floors with a baby strapped to your back in a sling. Loretta grown and Coriolanus hands against her skin. 

You jump from the table at the picture, racing outside to cool your panic. You felt so hot, your ears and face burned. It felt as if a heavy weight was placed on to of your body, squeezing the air out of you. 

You fling yourself around the pillar of your house. It was frozen from the cold, the coolness melting into your skin. You suck the cold air in. Your instinct was to flee but you wouldn’t leave Loretta by herself. 

“Are you alright?”, you hear him ask behind you.

He gathers your hair into one hand, bunching it in his fist and holding it in a bun against the back of your head.

”I am sorry, I didn’t think choosing a house would bring you so much anxiety. I’lll take care of it. Don’t worry”, he offers. 

You knock his hand away from your head, your hair dropping back around your neck. 

“Please just leave” you beg. 

“No”, he says sharply, “No, I am not leaving you in this state. Come inside. You’ll catch a cold”.

He wraps his arms around you, forcing you to release your hold of the pillar and enter the house. You remember how excited you were when you first moved it. You had thought this would be your forever home. That Loretta would grow up between the walls and find refuge here in later years.

Now all of that was changing. You were entering into a new world you weren’t sure you could protect her in. 

He sits you on the couch, throwing the decorative blanket across your shoulders. 

“There now, no reason to panic”, he tells you. 

“I don’t want to think about the Capitol”, you admit to him. 

”Okay” he agrees softly, nodding his head.

He moves from in front of you to the cushion next to you, placing a hand on your knee. 

“Maybe tomorrow, I could come with you to pick Lorretta up from school. We could go get an ice-cream in town?”.

You nod once, knowing there was no real choice. 

“I’m going to bed”, you state, already beginning to rise. 

Coriolanus arm stretched out in front of you to the other side of the couch, 

“Right now?” He questions, “I only just got you. An hour, just an hour more”. 

“I would like to sleep”, you sigh. 

His arm moves to the cushion he half sat on, throwing it to the arm of the couch behind you. He then bends down, scooping your ankles into his hold and positioning them across his lap. 

“I wish you had more than that one bed”, he states. His fingers begin digging into the pad of your feet, kneading the mussels. You attempt to sit up right but he refuses to allow your feet off his lap. 

“Sleep. I’ll put you to bed before I leave”, he sighs as he massages your feet, something was bothering him.

“Is something wrong?” you ask him. 

 “I am worried about Mungo”, he states, “He’ll be crushed if he doesn’t pass this round. I wont be around to help him pass next year”.

You had no idea what to say. You hoped he didn’t pass. 

“Even worse, what if he does pass the exams but can’t pass the physical”. 

Coriolanus looks at you in your perplexed state. You had no idea who he was talking about or why he cared if Mungo passed or not. 

“Sorry”, he says, “I shouldn’t dump this on you”

”Mungo’s your friend?” You ask him.

”Hm, yes”, Coriolanus answers. 

“He will be fine. Practice makes perfect”.

”Perfect practice makes perfect”, he corrects, “and Mungo’s practice is far from perfect. Continuing the same mistakes a hundred times wont help him”.

”Officer training is hard. Everyone knows that. Very few pass the first time”.

”Far from his first time. He’s from district 10. His literacy skills are abominable. I worry about Lorretta too. We will have to get her tutors so she can catch up to the Capitol children”, his eyes flick to you, remembering what you said moments ago, “sorry”.  

Your heart began to rise again. The Capitol will surely eat Loretta alive. 

“How are you going to explain a child in your life? Your Capitol friends will know she isn’t yours. That she is district”. 

“She is mine”, Coriolanus snaps, “And the Capitol is large. People live on the outskirts of the city.  We will simply tell people that your father is in trade so you live close to the rail. That he asked us to take Loretta back to the city with us so not to deprive her from society as he did you”.

”she is too young to understand”, you argue, “leave us here. We will join you when she is older and less likely to out your lie”.

You could tell you annoyed him by the way his body locked and his eyes darkened. 

“I thought you were tired. Go to sleep”, he commands. 

His fingers became stronger as they squeezed the bottom of your foot. 

“Coriolanus”, you reason, sitting up to face him. 

“Shut up” he tells you, “you and Loretta are coming back to the Capitol with me. That isn’t a question”. 

You lie back down, feeling the panic grow from your chest up to your throat. 

“I am sorry” he says softly after a moment, “I don’t mean to get cross. I just couldn’t bear going back without you”.  

His fingers continued to massage as he talks. You could feel his eyes upon you but you refused to look at him. 

“You should go” you tell him quietly. 

He scoffs at you. “Because of a small argument? I said I was sorry”. 

His frustration pricked the anxiety in you. You were never any good at conflict. 

You sit up again and offer him a small smile which at least gets his fingers going against your feet again. 

“No” you say, “because you are tired and it is late.  You should rest”. 

You slip your feet from him, planting them firmly on the ground. 

“You are my rest” he states. 

He picks up the blanket that had fallen on your lap and he uses it to herd you closer to him so you are resting against his side. 

With an arm resting over you, you are trapped in the spot.

“You feel cold” he frets, pulling the blanket tighter over your shoulders.  

You feel his fingers playing with your hair. Twirling the stand around his finger absentmindedly. 

“I love you very much,” he says. 

“I am tired”, you croak, a single tear rolls down your cheek. 

“Go to sleep. I’ve got you”, he promises. 

You squeeze your eyes shut and begin to count backward from one hundred. On your third round you begin to lose the numbers as you drift slowly off to sleep listening to his soft breaths. 

He makes good on his promise to put you to bed. The next morning you wake tucked in with Loretta. 

Coriolanus was cautious about what was shown to Loretta. If he had an issue with you, he would stew until Loretta went to bed before addressing it. 

You soon grew to hate bedtime. Loretta was allowed to stay up later which put her in a terrible mood in the morning. But at some point the child had to go to bed, meaning you were left with Coriolanus. 

“I have a gift for you”, he states, getting up from the table where you were having your nightly tea. 

He pulls the box from his bag, sitting back down before giving it to you. 

“Is it the gold necklace I wanted?’ You asked him. 

You thought it was odd when he only presented Loretta with a gift today. He now provides the catalogs letting you and Loretta sit at the table and circle what you wanted. You chose heavy metals and other items of easy trade. 

”Better” he states, taking another sip of his tea.

When you opened the lid you saw a pair of large sparkling pink diamonds sitting in a velvet cushion.  

“From one of your latest cutouts. I believe you paired it with a ball gown but that will have to wait for another special occasion”.

He lifts the box up to you, holding it in one hand and brushing his other hand against your neck. His fingers hook around the back of your neck and his thumb brushes against your ear. 

”Oh, thank you” you say softly, “Diamonds aren’t really district wear either. Gold and silver are the fashion here. The cutouts are only imaginary”. 

Coriolanus sighs, throwing the box on the table and leaning against his hands as he looks at you. 

“Diamonds are too hard to move, right?” He questioned in a tone that told you he already knew. 

“What?” You shifted uncomfortably in your chair, wanting nothing more than to leave. “I am sorry. They are beautiful”.

You reach for the box on the table, opening the fallen lid to gaze at the earrings. 

“Thank you”, you say with a smile. 

“Gold you can melt down- reuse” he continues, “Silver, copper. All valuable on the black market. Diamonds through, well they’re harder to disguise, aren’t they?”.

You shake your head, placing the box back on the table and taking careful measure to not meet his eye. 

“Are they? I wouldn’t know”. You attempt to rise but his hand latches out to your wrist, commanding you to stay. 

“You think I don’t know what you are doing? Why Lorretta keeps asking for toys outside out of age group. Gold statues of people she doesn’t even know. You failed to get a visa so you’ve turned to the black market to get a fake one or do you plan to be smuggled out?”, his voice was tight with anger but he spoke in an almost hushed tone. 

His hold turned tighter as he spoke, almost crushing the bone of your wrist. 

“I don’t know what you are talking about”, you try. 

“It’s dumb. And sure to get you and Loretta killed”.

You tug your wrist but he refuses to release you. Unable to stop yourself, you rise from your chair. Your flight sense overpowering you. 

“I am sorry. I love the earrings”, you slightly panic.  

His eyes roll over your form before he releases your wrist and slumps against the table. 

“I won’t bring anything anymore. You can explain to Loretta why that is”. 

You nod. You didn’t want him bringing anything anyway. It was better that Loretta have no reason to favour him. 

He rubs his hands over his face before straightening in his chair. 

”I am tired”, he admits to you. 

“Maybe you should go back” you tell him, “to rest”.

”What are you going to do when we live together? How will you command me off then?”

You could tell his day was stressful. He arrived later than usual.

“I wouldn’t dare command you. It was a suggestion is all”. 

He calls as you turn to walk away, “come here”.

He kicks his chair out on an angle so he was free from the table. You obey his command, walking back over to him where you were led to his lap. Placed awkwardly on his thigh with his arm lassoed around your waist to keep you there. 

“You are not a rebel”, he tells you, calmer than before. “I am just trying to protect you. Black market providers will take and take from you. I have been speaking to the Vongurts, we think  after this, that it may be best for you and Loretta to stay at the Manor".

”What? No” you attempt to rise but his arm prohibits you.

”What other option am I left with?” He asks you, “It was a very stupid mistake. One I am having a hard time forgiving”. 

“I didn’t do anything”, you defend, ‘You cannot make decisions and expect me to follow through on them”.

His hand on your face stills you in your fight to be free. 

“Tomorrow Loretta is going to the Vongurts. You can go with her or you can see her on the train back to the Capitol”. 

“Fuck you” you spit unexpectedly. 

You gasp as soon as the words leave your mouth. You had never stepped out of like before. 

“I-I” you stutter, unsure where to go next. 

“It’s alright” he assured. 

Your heart hammered in your chest. Your nerves felt electrical under your skin. Would he tell the vongurts? Would you be in trouble? 

His thumb moves over your cheek bone, brushing back to the top of your ear in a hold. 

“Everything is alright” he tells you. 

Breathing becomes too hard. You settle for shallow breaths which doesn’t help the pain in your chest. 

In true fashion, tears fall from your eyes before you can name the sob rising from your chest. 

He pulls you into him, so your head was in the crook of his neck and his shirt collected your tears. 

“Oh my darling. I am not mad at you. I understand” he soothed, “I know this is a big change for you and Loretta. I know you were only doing what you thought was best but you leave that to me now. I’ll never let anything happen to my girls”. 

“I never asked for this. I never wanted it” you sobbed, clutching at his shirt. 

“Ohh” he laughs, “big burden, is it? Being loved?”. 

His mockery made your ears burn but you would never call him on it. 

“My sweet girl” he sighs, petting the side of your head, “I’ve looked into medication to calm your anxiety. I don’t want you on it in the Capitol but if you wanted I can have it delivered to the district to help you with the transition period”. 

You shook your head hard against him. The last thing you needed was to be disoriented. How would you protect Loretta in such a state. 

“No” you tell him, “I’m fine. I’ll stop”, you promise but the tears won’t stop coming. 

“I am sorry” you cry when you can’t stop a loud sob from escaping. 

He shhs you gently, continuing to pet you. 

“Don’t cry. The Capitol isn’t as scary as you seem to think it is. We’ll be happy there. Loretta will be safe there”.

“Coriolanus, I am sorry. Please don’t do anything,” you beg of him. 

“I would never hurt you, you know that”, he contends, “ I wasn’t forcing the medication on you, it was only an offer. And you should go to the Vongurts. I think it would help. Vongurt is also going to need the name of the market dealer”. 

You tense at the thought of throwing the man under the bus. He was trying to help you. That’s all. He wasnt trying to rob you as Coriolanus claimed. 

“There was no market dealer”, you lie.

“I am not a fool Y/n, and neither is Vongert. Unexplained absences, suddenly accepting my gifts with pleasure but only if they are silver and gold metal. I haven't seen half of the presents I brought for Loretta. I imagine they have been stripped for parts. My, I wonder what you could be doing”. 

Your cheeks burn with embarrassment. You could throw up if your body ever unlocked itself. 

“If you dont want to give it to Vongurt, you can tell me and I will pass it along. No one will ever speak of it again”. 

“I don’t have a name. He never gave it”, this was at least true but you wondered if it would be good enough. 

“A description, a location, the name of the person who introduced you. Anything that might help Vongurt forgive you. They are quite upset”.

“Then why would I stay with them?”, you badger. 

“Because they personally want to make sure you don’t do anything further that is stupid that could put you or Lortetta in danger. They also love you”, he states, “it’s getting to the final days here. I am sure they want to spend as much time as they can before we leave”.

“When?” you whisper with tears forming in your eyes.

“The physical is next Monday. The induction ceremony the week after that. We would be on the train the next day”. 

You think about making him promise to send you back the second he is bored with you, or swear to never touch Loretta, but what good would his promise be? He could do anything he liked at any time. 

Your body shook with another sob, Coriolanus hold got tighter.

The next morning he was at your door early with a borrowed car. 

You had not packed. You were unable to force your body to throw what you could into a bag. Seeing him there gives you the energy to grab what you could. He helps Loretta pack.  The small girl chatters around him while he holds out items in question. 

The ride there is silent. Coirolanus reaches out to take hold of your hand but his eyes remain on the road.

The manner is quickly reached although Coriolanus drove at a slow speed. 

The Vongurts were by the open door, their servants waiting on the gravel to receive the incoming guests. 

In shame you withdrew your hand from Coriolanus and leaped for the door before one of your fellow coworkers could do it for you. 

None of them made eye contact with you as you circled the car and retrieved Loretta from her seat.

The shame was too much. You were a victim not a traitor you wanted to tell them. Instead you silently marched onwards away from their avoidance.  

Mr Vongurt stood under the archway, watching as you made your way to the steps. 

Mrs Vongurt was trapped in the hallway behind him. She bounced with excitement, not sharing her husband's stern exterior. 

Coriolanus got the bags out of the car, allowing you to hold on to Loretta. 

You try to smile but your lips can only form a thin line. 

“Good morning”, you greet softly as you approach. 

Mr Vongurt grips your upper arm in a painful hold, bringing you solely under his intense gaze. You release Loretta in case she needed to escape but the child clings to your dress, burring her head in the fabric. 

“A name” he demands. 

“Octavous,” his wife scolds, “let the child get through the door first”. 

Mrs Vongurt reaches under her husband to take Loretta through the entryway and away from the scene but Loretta refuses to go.

The child screeches as she is touched by Mrs vongurt. 

“Please” you beg. 

Loretta releases your dress, running back down the steps to Coriolanus as he approaches the scene. 

Coriolanus picks her up, carrying her back over in the safety of his arms. 

“A name!,” Mr Vongurt boomed.

“No,” you refuse. 

“No?” he questions, “after everything we have done for you, you go consorting with rebels. I could have you hanged like your parents”.

“Octavous!” Mrs. Vongurt gasps. 

Coirolanus finally reaches the scene, placing his hand on top of Mr Vongurts arm.

“Sir, please let her go” Coriolanus requests. 

The older man does but his body remains blocking the door. 

“Where should they put the bags?” he redirects. 

Mr Vongurt has lost his anger after his comment about your parents. You could see the regret in his eyes. 

Coirolanus wraps an arm around your waist, resting his hand on your hip. 

“The east wing. The rooms with the conjoining wall”, he spoke loud enough for the servants to hear. 

Your colleagues begin to make haste. Trying to move out of the area as soon as possible. 

“I want to know who” vongurt spoke softly to Coriolanus. 

“I know. But nows not the time”, Coriolanus returned. 

“Is there any food?” Coriolanus asked trying to ease the tension.

“Yes, my darling, yes” Mrs Vongurt exclaimed, “Come in”.

Mr Vongurt stepped out of the way, allowing the group to pass him. 

He remains under the arch way, moving in the opposite direction as your cross the threshold. 

“Bring my car out!” He screams to one of the passing servants. 

“Oh ignore him” Mrs Vongurt advised, gently pressing on your shoulder to keep you moving forward, “Miseriable old thing”. 

You hear Loretta whimper into Coriolanus’ shoulder. Life had been peaceful for the two of you before him. 

You were led to the hosting room where food and tea was presented between lavish floral displays. In the corner rows of dresses were hung on racks covering the long back wall. 

“oh I am just so excited to have you here.  I cried for months when you moved out with Loretta. Although I of course understood. Sit, sit” Mrs Vongurt rambles. 

Loretta doesn’t pop her head off Coriolanus shoulder, nor does he make any attempt to seat her in her own seat. He sits her on his lap at the table, her feet dangling behind him. 

You didn’t like the position at all.

”Loretta, Loretta” Mrs Vongurt called, rubbing the small girls back. 

“Look at all the stuff I brought you” she said, “I thought we could play dress up”.

Loretta lifts her head, now looking around the room until her eyes hit the racks. Her body wiggles trying to get off, Coriolanus lift her off, placing her on the floor next to Mrs Vongurt who takes the child’s hand. 

“Do I get to keep one, Mrs Vongurt?” Loretta almost begs. 

“One? You get to keep them all my dear. And it’s Vivi, Granny Vivi.Your other grandmother is called Grandma’am. Vivi and Grandma’am”.

Loretta looks back at you unsure what Mrs Vongurt was hinting at. 

“Oh well, you’ll meet her. Very soon. Back in the Capitol” Vongurt explains to the child. 

“Both of your grandma’s are dead, Loretta” you state, “there is no one else”.

Coriolanus reaches for your hand, giving it a tight squeeze. 

“What your cousin means to say” Coriolanus interjects, “is that the Vongurts and my grandmother are going to step in to be your grandparents from now on. You also have an aunty back in the Capitol just dying to meet you”.

”WOW so cool” Loretta exclaims. She throws her arms around Mrs Vongurt’s leg in a hug which brought tears to the older women, 

“Come on, my darling” Mrs Vongurt cooed, “lets see what you have”. 

She leads your child to the clothes allowing you a moment to think. 

You attempt to yank your hand free but Coriolanus refuses to let go. It became painful to fight so you rested your caught hand on your lap. 

“You’re making this hard for Loretta” he critiqued you, “and you’re being unfair to Mrs Vongurt”.

You sigh, He was right. Mrs Vongurt has treated you like a daughter until the arrival of her son. 

“I know. I am sorry”, you state. You were sorry. The last person you wanted to hurt was Mrs Vongurt. You knew she never made any real decision. 

His thumb brushes over the back of your hand in a feather touch that made you shiver. 

“I will talk to Mr Vongurt for you”, he offers, “see if I can get his mind off a name”.

”Thank you”, you breathe. You could never betray someone like that. Your own parents saw the noose because another saved their own skin. 

Coriolanus dips to kiss you. Your lips remain unmoved as he pecks his lips against yours. 

“I love you. Everything will be alright”, he promises. 

You knew he was earnest but disbelieved him nonetheless. 

The guest room had a conjoining wall meaning that you could open it between you and Loretta. You still slept with her in the king sized bed, surrounded by pillows and heavy lush blankets. 

You had made the bed a hundred times and never once thought about sleeping it in. Now you were treated as a guest in a house that you used to spend hours shining and doing your best to stay invisible when actual guests arrived. 

Loretta fell right to sleep after her big day but your anxiety rushed within you. Your breathing wouldn’t level, let alone slow enough for sleep.

You hear the wall roll back earning your attention. Mr Vongurt push his head into the dark, illumined by the light behind him. 

You quickly rise. Thankfully your pajamas were nice enough to be seen in.

He retreats back into the room once you rise allowing you to come to him. 

“Mr Vongurt, is everything alright?’, you ask, closing the wall back to block the light from waking Loretta. 

For a moment you held hope that he would offer to take you away. To hide you and Loretta until Coriolanus left. But the hope was foolish and you knew better. 

“As well as being betrayed can be”, he sniped, “Child what you did was foolish and irresponsible but I shouldn’t have grabbed you, nor made the comment about your parents. I am sorry for that”.

”I never betrayed you, At least I never wanted to. I just wanted to be free. To make sure Loretta was safe”.

”safe?” Mr Vongurt interrupted, “You think what you did was safe?”

”You betrayed me” you asserted, “by giving me to that man without a thought”

Vongurts mouth dropped, a genuine look of surprise dawned across his face. Did he really not know what he did?

“Coriolanus is a fine man.  I couldn’t have picked a finer man myself. A good man who will look after you and Loretta. Keep Loretta from the games. He’s taking you back to the Capitol to live as a free woman. Without him none of this would be possible. He has answered every prayer we had. We have a son, a daughter and a grandchild. And you want to ruin it because you are a foolish, selfish, little girl who thinks she knows better”. 

“I do not love him” you declare.

”Pretend” Mr Vongurt demands.

”He is not well. He will hurt us”.

”He is a man in love. I have never known a sane man in love”.

”He assaulted me” you say in a soft voice. Tears weep from your eyes as you recall the memory. Mr Vongurts shoulders droop as he listens on. A solemn look crosses his face but his eyes remain convicted of his cause. 

“He is a man”, Mr Vongurt reasons softly back, “he needs you”.

Your heart shatters as he defends your tormentor. You were trapped with no apparent way out. 

“I’ve already told him I expect marriage within a year, and Loretta to be legally adopted by him. Both to which he readily agreed. This is yours and Lorretta only chance of a better life. I can’t give it to you. He can. Be kinder to him. Look after him and he will look after you and Loretta”. 

You hiccup through your tears. The large room seemed to close in around you. 

Mr Vongurt pulls you into a hug. His tight squeeze pushing the air from your lungs. 

”I wish you all the happiness in the world” he declares, “just don’t let it slip through your fingers”. 

With a kiss to your check he lets you go, telling you to go back to bed, and forget the fight between you today. 

Coriolanus shows up at breakfast time the next day. He walks causally in offering you a sweet smile as his eyes feel upon you. 

“So?So?” Mrs Vongurt squeals in her seat.

You hadn’t realised the results would be released today. Mrs Vongurt had been quiet at the table but you had thought it was because Loretta would not stop talking. 

“I’ve been told to prepare for the worst hour of my life”, he grins. 

Mrs Vongurt screams, jumping up from the table in glee. 

Coriolanus crosses the floor, taking a seat next to you and stealing a kiss as he sat. 

“We must celebrate!” She declares, “have a party. I think I still have some champagne from Mr Vongurts birthday”. 

“I can’t stay long” he tells you in a soft tone while Mrs Vongurt babbles on, “but I will be back tonight. I don’t have to worry about points anymore”.

Coriolanus takes your hand in his, interlocking your fingers on your lap.

”Mungo passed too”, he sounded relieved, “we’re going to map out the course. See what we are up against”.

”back tonight?” You repeat. 

“Hm yes”, he confirms, stealing your toast, “around dinner time. Try to keep her within reason”, he speaks loud enough for Mrs Vongurt to hear, “fireworks and dancers to the minimum", he jested, rising from his seat. 

“Oh hush”, Mrs Vongurt dismisses. 

“They’ll be fireworks?” Loretta asked excitedly. 

“See what you’ve done?” Mrs Vongurt scolded. She bends down to explain scarasum to Loretta who sat more interested in her danish. 

Coriolanus laughs, taking another bite of your toast. 

“I’ll make it up to her”. He brings your intertwined hand up to his mouth for a kiss before releasing it in favour of two steps back. 

He reaches down to pat Loretta heads, and give Mrs Vongurts shoulder a firm squeeze as to not interrupt her. 

“I’ll see you” he says to you, “let Loretta have the day off school day. It’s a big moment”. 

Lorretta squeals once more at the news, the fireworks long forgotten. 

“Horray” the group cheers as the cork of the champagne is popped. 

Mr Vongurt pours the gold liquid into the flutes, while Mrs Vongurt passes Loretta a flute filled with apple juice. 

The glasses are passed to the adults. Coriolanus stood next to you, an arm around your waist in a casual manner while he accepts it with thanks. 

“To my boy”, Mr Vongurt toasts, “never doubted you for a second but hoped there would be a second round”. 

“Octavous’, his wife complains. 

“So he would stay longer, not because I am jealous”, he defends. 

“Thank you, sir” Coriolanus graciously accepts, “I hope to be half the leader you are one day”.

”How to kiss ass in one of your practice papers?” Vongurt ribs. 

Coriolanus finishes his sip to answer, “chapter 11”.

Vongurt laughs, slapping Coriolanus on the back. 

“Yeah, well, brains will only get you half way.  Next Monday we will see if you have the discipline to finish". 

“We’re proud of you regardless” Mrs Vongurt confirms, “very few rise as fast as you have”.

”Y/n?” Mr Vongurt calls, “Care to say something?”.

”Not really”, you state softly. 

Coriolanus laughs. He is the only one. 

“Take a sip”, he commands, “Have you had champagne before?”

’No”, you confirm, taking a sip. It was fizzy at first but smoothed down into a sweet taste. 

Coriolanus clinks his glass against yours, “first of many”.

Coriolanus quickly changes topics. Redirecting conversation to Mr Vongurts physical and then discussions on what him and Mungo could piece together for this year's physical. You were grateful to be able to fade into the background. 

Loretta was occupied with her dollhouse. She wore a brand new, pink dress with lace and ruffles on the skirt. Something you could never afford.  She had more than enough food to eat, toys to play with. She was safe, warm, happy. Everything you ever wanted for her. It stung that you never gave her any of this. This was all him. 

It felt like her happiness was built on sand. He could rip everything away as fast as he gave it. How long would you be enough for? How long before he got bored and throws you away?

You feel his thumb rub circles on your hip bone, absentminded. Would you play his doll forever?

The night dragged on. You said little and was called on it only a few times. 

Bed time rolled around and you were insistent against everyone that Lorettas bedtime could not be extended. It was the first tantrum she had thrown since she was a baby. 

Coriolanus aided in getting her up stairs where you quickly kicked him from the room. Bed time was a nightmare but Loretta eventually went to sleep, liking you less than she did before. 

You could see the soft, warm, yellow light peaking out from under the conjoining wall. You knew Coriolanus was in your room, waiting. He wouldn’t leave. Not without what he came for. 

Your feet felt like cement as they led you to the room. The door was ajar waiting for you. 

Red rose petals covered the bed, spalled over the covers and pillows.  The bedside lamp was the only real source of light, helped by a few scent candles placed with care around the room. More champagne sat in an ice bucket on the nightstand. 

You entered as Coriolanus placed a dark blue box in the centre of the bed. You had come to know the brand as high end Capitol jewelry. He sought to buy himself out of another situation. 

“What are you doing?” You quake. 

He spins quickly with a gentle smile on his face, approaching you slowly.

”Loretta down?” He asks gently.

You think about running but where? No one here would help you, and you could never get Loretta out in time before you were caught. 

There was no way out of this for you. Your only option was to endure and hope it was quick. 

He softly takes your dead hand in his.

”I want you to know how special you are to me. You’ve made these last few months bearable. I’ve grown to think of you as a part of me. The best part”.

He doesn’t look at you as he speaks, his eyes are downcast to your feet but they flick up for the next part of his speech. 

“I would do anything for you. For your happiness. If you believe nothing, believe that. I know you don’t always see it that way but everything I do, I do with you in mind”.

Was he trying to convince you that this was for your benefit? you think to yourself. 

“I love you”, he declares, “more than I have ever loved anyone before. Everything has led me here, to this moment with you”.

Coriolanus starts to walk backwards towards the bed. Your stiff legs move slowly to follow. 

“If I had to do it all again, I would”, he stops by the end of the bed, releasing your hand to reach for the straps of your dress, pushing down the thin fabric to your shoulders, “for this, for you”.

He bends down, placing his lips to your neck, using force on the back of your shoulder to push you into him. At least he was finally done talking.  

You remain rigid, allowing this to happen. All that matters is Lorretta is safe in bed. Nothing else that happens tonight is relevant. 

With his hold he drops his weight on the bed, sitting down on the end. 

His kisses land against your mouth as he reaches for the back of your dress, zipping it down and pushing it to your waist. 

“I love you”, he declares again, placing a kiss against your chin. 

You sigh, laying down on the bed in defeat. 

He works on his uniform, throwing the material to the ground without care. Before reaching to pull the dress clean off your body. 

“I am going to get you out of here”, he promises, laying his body over yours, “You and Loretta. Take you back to the Capitol where it’s safe. Surround you with all the world has to offer”. 

His finger hooks around the waistline of your panties, tugging them down your legs and onto the floor. You gasp as he does. The sound making it way up from your throat under Coriolanus’ lips. 

“It’s okay”, he assures unclipping your brah next.  

Your body should have shook. You should be crying uncontrollably but instead you felt numb to it all. Nothing mattered. You had already lost. 

Painfully you bit into your lower lip just to feel something. 

”Don’t do that”, he commands, pulling your lip from your teeth with his thumb. 

“The first time is always scary. Just relax. I’ve got you”.

You feel his body separate as he reaches for the pillows, throwing all but two from the bed. 

“Here, get comfortable” he demands. 

In compliance you drag your naked form over the rose petals, laying down on the pillow with your eyes shut. 

He lets out a breath as you lay down, running his finger in circles on the top of your left breast. 

“You are so beautiful”, he states. 

“Just get on with it”, you beg. 

His finger slides between your folds. You were too dry to enter. 

He kneels between your legs, taking your thighs in a tight hold as he places his mouth against you. 

His tongue pushes inside of you, lapping up your taste. 

Your arms cross your chest, hiding your breasts from the cold air. You let out a whine that sounded like displeasure but he continued without breath. 

Your teeth found your lip again, this time biting hard enough to draw blood. 

His mouth moves warm and wet against you until you become warm and wet for him. 

He stops as soon as your moisture hits his tongue. He wanted you to last.

With a soft pant, he crawls back up your body to be level with you. 

He sighs seeing the split on your lower lip, the blood seeps into the torn gap, slowly swiping into your mouth. 

“Why did you do that?” He sighs, gently rubbing his thumb over the wound, “See? You don’t know what’s good for you”.

His curls tickle your face as he leans down next to your head, positioning himself in front of your entrance. 

“I’ve got you now. I’ll take care of you”. 

While he made efforts to ensure you were wet enough for him, the stretch of taking his length brought tears to your eyes. 

“I know, baby, I know. Just a little more”, he consoles sliding further in. 

Your finger dig into the skin of his shoulders while you adjust to him inside of you. You had thought little about your first time but never would have imagined this. 

When you felt his skin flush against yours, you knew he was fully inserted but all too soon, he was moving back, bringing himself nearly all the way out before thrusting back in again, hitting something inside of you that made you jolt. 

His body became hot over yours. It felt as if he had suffocated all the air around you. 

The squeak of the bed was low but still you worried it would wake Loretta. 

His fingertips felt bruising against the back of your leg, pulling you into each thrust. 

The space between your bodies was minimal. Sticky skin against sticky skin. 

He moans as he gains momentum which had your eyes shooting open so you could allocate his mouth and clamp a hand over it to silence him. 

‘Sh, Loretta’s asleep’ you beg. 

He makes no attempt to move it. Rocking into your hold as he maintains thrusts. 

As he draws closer to his end, his head lowers from your hand to your collarbone, going harder into you than before. 

You choke back a cry at the sensation but half of it strangles out of your mouth. 

”shh” he teases. 

Only heavy breaths were heard between you as you both reached climax. 

He hit it first with a low, deep groan. You followed quickly after him, silently,  with all your feelings squeezed from your fingers into his back. 

It was hot. Too hot. You longed for the cool air. Wanting nothing more than your breath back. 

Your legs break free from his hold, trying to launch him off you with a push on his hips with your feet, and a push on his shoulders with your hands. 

“Easy, you’re alright”, he says, “you’re safe”.

He rolls off you, onto the blue, rectangle box long forgotten. 

Pulling it from under his shoulder, he opens the lid, taking the Diamond tennis bracelet from it’s place and discarding the empty box to the floor.  

He lifts your limp wrist, clipping the bracelet around your wrist. As he places a kiss on the back of your hand, you yank it from his hold, forcing yourself to rise on shakly legs. 

“Get dressed” you demanded him as you claw for your clothes on the floor, “Loretta could wake”, you panic. 

You find his uniform jacket, pegging it at his head. He catches it with ease, listening to you by putting on his clothes. 

“I don’t think she will” he offers. 

“Quickly” you demanded of him, rushing to redress yourself. 

“Y/n” he calls, slowly approaching, “You’re alright”.

His hand reaches out to touch you, casting  a large shadow that covers the wall.

You jump away before it even had a chance to land. His hand hung in the air for an uncomfortable amount of time before slowly lowering. 

It felt better to have both of you dressed. Easier to ignore what just happened. 

Your fear choked you. Your eyes stung with tears but none came. 

“I need” you begin, your head swelling with thoughts. 

Your legs buckled beneath you forcing you to take a seat on the end of the bed. 

“What?” Coriolanus quizzed, kneeling down in front of you, “What do you need?”.

His hands on placed on either side of the bed but he is careful not to touch any part of you. 

“The pill’ you blubbered. He didn’t need a hint to know which pill you were referring to. 

“You need to get it”, you told him, “They wont let me outside of this house. It’s too hard. I can pay you, please, I can pay you”.

Coriolanus rises, moving quickly to his bag hung on the back of the vanity chair. He pulls out a plastic circular container, numbered for the days of the month. He took this job seriously researching all the different types of contraceptives and their side effects before finally settling on one. The most expensive one, of course, the best.   

‘’Here’’ he gestures out. You take it from him with shaky hands, trying to open the lid of the first compartment but the lid refuses to unhinge. 

Coriolanus takes it gently from you, opening it with ease and flipping the pill from the container into his hand to present to you. 

“The pill works over a 24 hour period so you can miss a day if you forget”, he explains as he pops and pours the champagne, “Few side effects. Maybe low energy as you adjust, I am told.” He comes back over with the flute, kneeling back down in front of you.

You take the glass, downing the pill with a swig of the champagne. 

“When we want to try for children, all you have to do is stop taking it for a month to allow your body to flush out the toxins. You need to continue to take one a day or else you’ll be sick” he mentions. 

“I was going to give it to you in the morning. I thought you might need rest”.

The morning, you think to yourself. Was he planning on staying the night? Sleep in your bed? Continue with what he started?

”Go’, you demanded, ‘please just go”. 

He looks taken aback by your request but remains calm and collected.

”No, I don’t think I should”, he states, “I think I should stay”.

”No”, you refute, “Please leave. I just want to be with Loretta”. 

The tears that stung your eyes finally fell in large, hot, drops against your cheek. 

He rises himself on his knees to your height, taking your face into his hands and brushing your tears away with his thumb. 

“Please don’t cry”, he begs, “tell me what’s wrong. Is it pain?”.

Before he get up to retrieve the medicine stashed in his bag, you confirm his fear that the issue wasn’t something so simple.

”I want to go home” you cry. 

“Look, it will all be over soon, okay? The physical is in two days. If I pass we’ll be on the train back to the Capitol in a week, if I fail we'll be on the train the next day. This is nearly over. We can begin our life shortly. Our life. One where you and Loretta are taken care of. Safe”.

“Please leave” you repeat your request once more, “Please”.

”Y/n, I don’t want to”, Coriolanus states.

”Please. I wont sleep” you assert, “I won’t rest. Not with you here”, a sniffle itches your nose. You knock his arm away to rub the back of your hand under it. 

“I need you to leave”, you beg. 

Coriolanus stands to his feet without a word and gathers his bag and shoes. 

“I hope one day you will realise I am not against you”, he states before leaving the room. 

You were too scared to open the door in case he was still outside, stewing in his anger. Instead you opened the conjoining wall and slid through to the darkness of Loretta room. 

You quieten your sobs the best you can. Laying down on the hard, wooden floor next to the tall bed in which Loretta slept, warm and unaware. 

You couldn’t bring yourself to join her, although you wanted nothing more than to hold her close. You were dirty, disgusting, unworthy to lie on anything but the cold hard ground. 

Soundlessly you ache on the floor, rolling yourself into a ball as if you were in physical pain. You made no attempt to stop him. You wont the next time he tries either. You will just lie there and take it like a coward. Your parents would be so disappointed. Your aunt would be close to rage. You had failed to protect her little girl like you had promised so long ago. But you were scared. So scared. 

You weren’t smart enough to save Lorretta. You weren’t brave enough. You weren’t enough. Coriolanus would grow tired of you soon. It was the Vongurts affection that had him caught. Once you were removed from it, he would soon start seeing you as a district in the Capitol. What then? What fate would he have you and Lorretta facing? 

Your grief suffocates you until exhaustion takes its place.

Coriolanus didn’t visit the next day. When it hit 5PM you knew he wasn’t going to visit at all and you could breathe. 

The day before the physical the compound was shut down to set up. Coriolanus needed to be back before 5 and locked in or he would forfeit his place.

He tossed in his bunk below Mungo. He should be thinking of tomorrow but his mind was on you. Your strange reactions to your first night. He had done everything right

Maybe he was too quick with his intent. Maybe he should have allowed you a glass of champagne first. Ease into the night with some gentle conversation. But you laid down quickly. Made no attempt to stop him. How was he supposed to know he was going too fast. You told him to get on with it. 

Coriolanus sighs, tossing to his side. You had treated him like a monster. It was one thing to react negatively to a new situation, it was another to banish someone who was only trying to help. You never let him help. No matter how competent he showed himself to be, you always saw him as opposition, not a partner. 

He loved you. So gentle, so kind. You wouldn’t survive ten seconds in the hunger games, and that’s what he loved the most. You were not built for this world. He only wanted to ensure that you were safe. He had given up on happiness, that was something only you could obtain for yourself. He would settle for safe, fed and warm. 

You could hate him. He didn’t care. He knew what needed to be done. Emotions couldn’t get in the way of logic. You could feel any sort of way about his decisions so long as you obeyed them. 

He tosses again to his other side. It wouldn’t always be like this. Once you are settled in the Capitol, surely your anxiety will be released. Everyone would soon settle into a happy little family. The past life long forgotten. He himself was looking forward to forgetting all that he could. 

Of the 20 that took the written, only 5 made it to the physical. 

Henry was unfortunately among them. Looking mean and determined as he gazed out across the obstacle course that began the test. 

Large banners hung everywhere, barricades were set up to separate the contestants from the audience of peacekeepers,and to guide the men as they made their way to the finish line. 

Mr Vongurt stood with some other officials in front of the barricades in the shade offered by the decorative archway.

The men were forced to stand on a white line while they waited to be addressed. Mungo’s hands shook slightly but he otherwise stood tall and ready. 

“Gentlemen” a man called as he made his way along the line. He was dressed in the highest ranking colour of a deep black with numerous colourful metals displayed across his chest. He wore no hat despite the sun but wore large sunglasses that reached his grey sideburns to his grey stubble. 

“Welcome to the worst hour of your life”, he repeats the catchphrase,

“you make it through this, and you can tell your mama it was worth it. You don’t,  better luck next year”.

He stops pacing in the middle, staring directly down. 

“You have one hour to get through. One hour exactly, I don’t care if you are a millisecond over, you are out. You will start with the course”, he gestures behind him, “then take a nice 5 kilometre run before cooling off by crossing the yander river. From there, you can start making your way to the finish line, hopefully in time. There will be no stopwatch, gentlemen, no warning, you will make it in time or you will not. Now you should have received your clicker. If you did not, now is the time to tell me. No? Good. Should any of you decide to whimper out that button will send a helipad to your location, and take you back to medicamp where you will have time to decide how you will do better next year”.

Coriolanus feels the anxiety but assures himself its fine. He was in good health. His stamina was excellent having walked long distances most of his life. The yander river had a strong current but was filled with rocks and overhanging branches. After that all he had to do was worry about the time. 

This assurance was soon squashed when he noticed higher offices approaching with weighted vests.

”You didn’t think it was that easy did you boys?” The commander mocked watching as the group panicked as the vest was secured tightly against them.

 It was 5kg at least. Heavy enough to knock the breath as it was latched on. As the final latch was secured. Coriolanus heard something shutter. 

“These vests are not to come off. I don’t care if you snag a tree or a tree snake finds it’s way under. You take it off it, we will know and you will be disqualified”. 

Mungo breaths heavy next to Coriolanus, huffing out harsh breaths, ready to take off. 

“All right, that’s enough talk” the man declares, reaching for his gun from his holster and taking a step out of the way. 

“See you at the finish line” he states, before the gun in fired in the air. 

The group took off, sprinting despite the weight that would soon kill. 

They first leap over cylinder obstacle  bouncing from one to the next, a quick sprint to the next where they leaped over a large hole in the ground. Up a ramp to a rope where one fell unable to support the additional weight. 

Coriolanus and Mungo didn’t stop, running on to the large wall which they climbed and sprung themselves over. 

“Lets go, my friend” Mungo shouts. 

Coriolanus wanted to tell him to conserve his breath but he was unable to spare his. 

They are met with more leaps from one cylinder to the next. 

Coriolanus guesses they are intended to shorten the contestants breaths which was working quite well. 

Next he dropped to the floor, wiggling himself under barbed wire in  competitive time. The roar of the crowd is deafening. He can’t hear Mungos gasping breaths but he could see how his chest puffed almost to the wire. 

More cylinders, another higher wall climb where they had to leap across to points lower themselves before they could land safety from the height. 

Finally, they were through. Henry had made it first, sprinting off into the forest. Coriolanus was glad to see the back of him. He had knocked Mungo every opportunity he could get, throwing his friend off balance. If it wasn’t for shear determination Mungo may have fallen and got hurt. 

“Come on”, Coriolanus gasps, urging Mungo on.

The run was silent. Only gasping breaths and birds. The crowd long behind as they made their way down the rocky path. 

Coriolanus wasn’t sure what happened to the other contestants. None of them caught up. 3 miles in, he heard a helipad fly past, he only wondered if it was one or both of them who had given up. 

The river was a glad site. Sweat poured off both of them, and their lungs burned begging to stop. Mungo fell to his knees. But began crawling towards the river. 

“It’s alright” Coriolanus gasped, “catch your breath, we have time”.

The obstacle course was maybe 10 minutes. The run he guessed about 35. 

The river would take two minutes to cross. It raged but it wasn’t wide. 

Coriolanus assessed the situation. If they just tried to swim they would be swept away. They would need to work with the current, use the boulders stuck in the river bank as much as possible. 

He finds two strong branches on the ground, passing one to Mungo.

”We have to start up stream” he directs. 

“No” Mungo huffs, ‘it will take too much time”.

”It will take longer if we fight against the current. We don’t have the strength of Henry, we can’t force our way across” 

“We have to. We don’t have time”.

”Trust me” Coriolanus demands, pushing Mungo forward, “I will get us across”.

Mungo does follow watching as the bank drifts away. 

Coriolanus sticks his branch into the mud bank, using it to anchor him across until he could reach the rock. Mungo copies closely behind. 

With the weight of the vest and the rush of the water, Coriolanus thinks he may be pulled under. Imagine doing all that he has done to die doing something so stupid and irrelevant. He thinks about reaching for his clicker but his pride doesn’t allow him to.

He pushed on until there were no more rocks to seek shelter from. The water was freezing and strong. They had to get out of it soon. 

“We are going to let the water carry us down to the bank”, Coriolanus advised, “keep pushing until you are as close as you can get”. 

Coriolanus went first, forging his way across the current. The time it took for the Current to carry him to his destination was short, he only just managed to grab a vine and pull himself to the mud bank.

Mungo stayed frozen against the rock. Unable to let go. 

Seeing Coriolanus make it, gave him courage enough to attempt. Like a dog he trailed across kicking in big ugly attempts to get close enough. 

It was clear he didn’t know how to swim. The thought didn’t cross Coriolanus mind until he saw his friend start to go under. 

Coriolanus forces his way back into the current, placing faith in the vine in his hand. Mungo was bopping in and out of the water, fighting hard to move across. His hand and shoulder is pushed back by the water but he forces himself to remain rigid until he felt the material of Mungos vest. With a hold on thick shoulder of the vest, Coriolanus pulled himself and Mungo from the water. His shoulder felt as if it was tearing from the pressure. But he was able to pull Mungo close enough so the man could gain footing and crawl himself to the shore.

They huff side by side not saying anything as they recover. Coriolanus' shoulder ached. His frantic mind kept playing him images of you and Loretta in the water which gave him a choking feeling. 

“Thank you, my friend”, Mungo finally spoke.

”Get up” Coriolanus pants, crawling to his knees himself, “.we have to go”

That took too long. Coriolanus was unable to even guess how much time they have. 

The men take off, running with new adrenaline in their system. Their pace meant they caught Henry who was walking with a broken body to the finish line. 

Hearing them behind him, invigorated him to push his body into a running pace.

Coriolanus was correct to assume that Henry used all his strength to push past the current. His pace was slow and looked painful, the pair were easily able to catch up and pass him. 

Coriolanus hears him growl as he does. It was unexpected when Coriolanus vest was grabbed and yanked back. It floored him although the pressure wasn't that great. 

Henry was on top of him in a second, reaching for the release latch of his vest.

”Some Capitol boy going to upstage me”, Henry roared. 

Coriolanus fought to keep Henry from gaining access to rip the latch up. He was almost there, it couldn’t end like this. From him, no less. 

”Pretty little, soft blooded, mamma’s boy”, Henry snapped, throwing repeated punches to Coriolanus face to distract from his defence of the latch. 

Coriolanus was nothing if not disciplined. Mungo was nothing if not loyal. 

Despite the time, Mungo ventured back seeing his friend in trouble. He tackles Henry from Coriolanus scrapping with him on the ground, allowing Coriolanus to catch his breath and wits. 

Henry was much large and stronger than Mungo, it was only a matter of time before positions were switched, leaving Mungo on the ground getting his face pounded in. 

Coriolanus picks up a rock about the size of his hand, bringing it down across Henry’s head, cutting off whatever insult he was spraying at Mungo. 

The knock was hard enough to stall him, throw him off balance but not enough to defeat. Worried for Mungo, Coriolanus kicks Henry off into the dirt, before kneeling over him and with a cry, smashing the rock one, two times against Henrys head. 

He was still breathing but his eyes shutters and his body was limp against the ground. Coriolanus reaches for his vest, throwing the rock aside and unlatches the main release. It sounds as he does. He could hear the faint chopper of the helipad as it made its course over. 

“Come on” Coriolanus demands. 

Mungo lay in similar fashion on the ground, unable to get up. 

Coriolanus reaches for him, throwing an arm around his shoulder and lifting him up and forward. 

Mungo would be finished if  he didn’t turn to help Coriolanus. Coirolanus would be disqualified if he didn’t. Mungo would finish. Coriolanus wouldn’t owe him a debt. 

“Go” Mungo groans, “Go on my friend. Leave me”.

His arms slips from Coriolanus in an attempt to aid him on. Coriolanus refused to take it, holding on tighter to his friend. 

“You go” Coriolanus chastised, “Put your foot down, come on”.

Mungo makes greater efforts to keep pace. Coriolanus hoped it would be enough to just finish in time. 

A peak of the crowd at the end began to show through the trees, a faint chatter made its way down the path. 

Coriolanus unhooks Mungo’s arm from his shoulder, pushing him forward. 

“You have to go by yourself now. They can’t see us together".

Spurred with new energy, Mungo shuffles on into the harsh light. 

The crowd cheers upon seeing him, screaming at him to keep going. There must be time on the clock. 

Mungo begins to scream too, hooting and yelling out in joy as he approaches the white line. He falls to his knees kissing the line painted on the ground as he reaches it. 

The barricades shake as the crowd rejoices in its first pass. 

Coriolanus falls over the line just as the sound buzzes through the air signaling the end of the course. 

The last contestant just makes it out of the forest when it sounds, his scream fell into the crowds. 

His whole body ached. The first thing he did was roll onto his back and yank the latch to release the weight from his body. His joints felt as if they were on fire. His shoulder especially sore form the river. 

“we did it”, Mungo screamed in Coriolanus face, giving him a little shake, “We did it”.

”Get off him”, he heard Vongurts voice demanded, “get away”.

The crowd that was forming quickly made its way on, focusing on Mungo as the Commander lent down behind Coriolanus. 

Mungo was lifted up by the crowd who threw him up in the air and caught him. 

‘My boy, my boy” Vongurt cried, lifting Coriolanus up to lean against him, “well done, son, well bloody done.” A few hard pats were given which made Coriolanus wheeze in pain. 

A gentle hand was instead placed against his head, brushing his curls from the sweat of his head. 

“Medics are coming, boy, they are coming”. Vongurt promised, “We’re so proud of you”.

It was over, Coirolanus thought, his new life could finally begin. He pictured you at the breakfast table, dressed in a soft, white lacy robe, drinking coffee with a soft smile on your lips as he entered the room. Loretta next to you with a plate of pancakes as tall as her. 

He could taste the blood as he smiled. 

He refused to stay the hospital. He was patched up and out of there. Word was received that Mungo was okay. No worse off than him. 

it was welcomed news. Commander Vongurt avoided his duties, telling the officials that they would have to entertain themselves as he needed to celebrate with his son. 

Vongurt had a half hearted response to try to convince Coriolanus to stay a night in hospital after what his body just went through. But it was mainly for the presence of the doctor. His hand was around his keys in his pocket as he gave his speech and his back turned as soon as he finished with “But you’re a free man. An officer now, who can do as he pleases”. 

Coriolanus follows him out of the building and into the car, Vongurt was more pleased then he was. 

He holds the horn as he approaches the house, Mrs Vongurt and Loretta rush out, some servants peer through the windows to see what the commotion was about. 

Mrs Vongurt cheers, jumping and screaming in the doorway. Loretta joins because it looked fun. 

‘My darling!” Mrs Vongurt shouts, “I knew you could do it, We all did”.

She wraps her arms around him, bringing him close. 

“First attempt to!” She boasts, “I can’t wait to tell my Capitol friends”. 

“Good work”, Loretta praises. You said it to her constantly, It was sweet she offered it back to him now.

”Thanks Lo”, he ruffles her hair gently despite the pain in his shoulder that it took to raise it. 

“Come in, rest”Mrs Vongurt demands, “my god your face. Your beautiful face”.

“Y/n!!” She screams down the hall. 

“Where is she?” Coriolanus asks. 

“Tv room” Loretta answers, “I’ll show you”.

 She sprints down, her bare feet slapping against the polished wood as she doges expensive statutes and flower vases. 

The group follow the child to the room. Coriolanus was slow and struggled to force his body forward. 

“Do you want a shower, dear? Something to eat or drink?” Mrs Vongurt asks. 

The only thing he wanted was to reach you so he denies and continues on. 

You sat on the green sofa, hand clasped and feet together.

”Y/n” Mr Vongurt spoke in a disappointed tone, “Come see to Coriolanus”.

”No” Coriolanus commands, “stay right there”.

He pushes away from the Vongurts, falling down on the couch on top of you where he forced his head onto your lap. He sighs deeply, shutting his eyes and letting his body relax for the first time in months. 

“Loretta, I’ll turn on the cartoons for you. Pass me the remote”, Coriolanus says reaching his hand out. 

Little feet rush to get it and pass it over to Coriolanus hand. 

He manages to get one eye open to work the tv to the kids channel.

”That one” Loreeta points to the screen. 

He puts it on, letting the remote drop to the floor as his body shuts down. 

“Yn, I’ll get some soothing cream for you” Mrs Vongurt announces, “you can rub it on Coriolanus back”. 

“Yeah”, he agrees, his head half pressed against your lap.

You make no sound as Loretta settles in front of the TV and Mrs Vongurt runs to retrieve the cream. 

Mr Vongurt is called off by a servant for a phone call, and the cream is brought by one of your friends who avoids eye contact with you, leaving you with a quiet room. 

He doesn’t take his head off you, nor does he open his eyes as he unbuttons his uniform, dropping it to the floor. 

You don’t speak as you apply the cream to his skin. There were blades of grass and mud hidden under his uniform and pressed against his back. You can see the Redding of his back where it has been irritated by nature or force. 

Purple bruises littered his torso and arms in odd spots. They matched his face. The left side of his head had been split open when Henry tackled him to the ground. Medical tape held the angry, harsh lines together. His cheekbone was bruised from repeated force, and eye was near swollen shut. 

You were careful with applying the cream, never adding too much pressure to his battered body. He moans when you first touch him but his pleasure turns to a hiss of pain as you reach his ribs.

You withdraw instantly.

”Sorry”

”My shoulders” he informs half heartily pointing in the direction without lifting his head.  

You rework his shoulders, adding a decent amount of pressure to work his tightened mussels. 

“Thank you, sweetheart”, he sighs. 

You feel his body weight drop into you as he relaxes. His breathing slows and the grip his hand had on your knee slowly loosened. 

Lorreta sat engrossed in the TV. You hoped she would turn to see you as you continue to massage him. 

Fifteen minutes pass, your hands begin to cramp. You couldn’t take this feeling much longer. The urge to get Loretta out of the room became too great. 

You were sure he was asleep. He was too heavy, his breath too light. So you shift slowly and carefully, trying to free yourself. 

He jolts awake from your effort. His arms reach out wrapping around your waist to keep you there. His head lifts to look at you with dazed and sleepy eyes. 

“Hm sorry”, he mutters, Lifting himself off you. 

Coriolanus throws his arm across his body, stretching it out. “That feels better”, he comments, “thank you”.

He reaches for his uniform on the floor, throwing it back on. 

“Was it as bad as they say?”, you ask him. 

Coriolanus nods, “I wouldn’t say it was the worst hour of my life, but definitely top ten”.

”What was then?”, you push. You find it hard to imagine that he faced much adversely in the Capitol. 

He smiles at tight smile in response, choosing to focus on his buttons. 

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that”, you noted, shocked it even came from your mouth. 

“No”, Coriolanus defends, “it’s fine. I just prefer to focus on the future. That’s all”.

His hand reaches for yours, stopping them from twisting in your lap and leans forward to place a kiss on your lips. 

“You never have to be sorry for anything”.

”shhhhhhhh” Loretta demands, turning back with an angry face. The talk was interfering with her movie. 

“Sorry Lo”, Coriolanus laughs.

You cringe at the nickname. He was getting too familiar. Too close. 

“Why don’t you take a bath. Mr Vongurt has some healing bath salts” you try to direct him, “I could ask if you could borrow some”.

”Can you run it for me?” He asks quickly. 

You nod. If he was in the bath, he was far away from Lorretta so you didn’t mind. 

You rise from the couch and he mirrors you, again taking your waist in a hold as if you would bolt. 

”I’ll have to see if it is acceptable”, you state, “I am not sure what Mrs Vongurt did with the clothes she brought you. You will have to ask a servant”.

You couldn’t bear asking one of your colleagues. You slightly begged he wouldn’t ask you too. 

“Okay”, he whispers. Such a large man to be directed by a child. 

“I’ll meet you in our bedroom”, his words shot through your already shaky exterior. “Ten minutes. Dont make me come find you”, he begs. 

You nod to let him know you understood, pulling his arms from around you which he seemed hesitant to release you from. He eventually does, following you out of the room and going his separate way to find someone to help.

You check Mr Vongurts office first to find it empty. Your next stop to the sitting room proved more fruitful.

”Y/n, where Coriolanus, dear?”, Mrs Vongurt asked.

”He is taking a bath. I was wondering if he would be able to use some of Mr Vongurts healing salts?”, you state.

The Vongurts smile wide, looking at each other in pure hope. 

“Of course”, Mr Vongurt assures, “whatever he needs. Whatever both of you need”.

This was no different to your normal role, you assured yourself, he was a guest in this household. You had drawn baths for guests before. 

”So glad to see you two finally getting along”, Mrs Vongurt agrees, “if there’s anything we can do, anything at all just let us know”.

You let out a whispered thank you before you take your leave. 

The room is empty. You are grateful, hoping to have his bath drawn before he even enters the room. 

The tub is large however, it only gets half way before he enters, holding a pile of clothes. 

“Hey”, he breaths, placing the clothes on the bed, “Good thing shopping is one of her specialties”. 

You grimace at him. Trying your best to not upset him.

”Is there anything else I can do for you”, a standard response. One you offered used to excuse yourself. 

“Dont talk like that. You didn’t do that because you are a servant”, he demands.

”Of course not” you offer, “I’ll leave you to soak”.

”Hey, wait a second. Y/n, this is the biggest moment of my life, I don’t want to spend it arguing with you”.

”I wasn’t arguing,sir”, you defend. 

His hand latched out to your jaw as you said it in a painful hold. Your hands wrap around his wrist to try and elevate the pressure. 

“I am sorry, I am sorry”, you gasp, “Coriolanus, please”.

He releases you as fast as he strikes. 

“Are you alright?” He sighs, “I am sorry. Just don’t call me sir, or officer, or Mr Snow, or anything that separates us. 

“I won’t” you quiver. 

He reaches back out, his touch gentle this time, and rubs the side of your jaw. 

“I am sorry”, he says. 

You could have laughed at him but you contained it. This was the true self. He could mask it in front of the Vongurts, he could trick a child, but you saw him for what he was; a capitol elitist who would condemn you to a life of servitude and then expect to be thanked for it. 

At least your parents had the guts to fight back. You would go to the grave a coward. 

TAGLIST:

@thaleleah

@grandfartvoid

@dragonsandtitties

@piscesbae7

@milesdrift

@miaasmf

@sassybearfire

@mrs-simonriley

@edb954

@bluerskiees

@hiatuswhore

@captainlunaxmen

@lookclosernow

@katnipwintergreen

@qardasngan

@qardasngan

[honeynutcheerioes]

rachel zegler met gala dress was so lucy gray as snows trophy wife being wed in the capitol taps mic is this thing on

[welcometounicornworlds]

TOM BLYTH & RACHEL ZEGLER behind the scenes of last day of reshoots on set of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)

[darkshrimpemotions]

Do you think Fitz and Jake bonded over having shitty abusive dads? Different kinds of abuse but still. Do you think one sad, angry young man whose dad made him feel worthless looked across a barracks into the eyes of another sad, angry young man whose dad made him feel worthless and recognized someone who'd understand?

[bluesbonney]

pls a little imagine about billy taking care of reader when she accidentally hurts herself doing chores? ty!

.☘︎ ݁˖ you accidentally hurt yourself doing chores .☘︎ ݁˖

Sunday afternoons are usually for dozing by the lake, but not this one. Today, you're working in the garden to enjoy the warm sunshine and the green of the fresh leaves on the trees.

The shovel under your boot sinks a few more precious inches into the ground as you lean on it. Now that the soil has loosened up from the rain and sun over the past week or so, the garden is finally workable.

There was a hole in your best pair of garden gloves so you decided to go without them for today, figuring your hands were accustomed enough to this work. A poor decision on your part, you think, as you study the blisters forming at the tops of your palms. One threatens to start bleeding. You've taken off your wedding ring—safely stowing it on a dish by the sink inside—and you hope that it doesn't get bloodied up later when you put it back on.

Gritting your teeth against the sting, you vow to at least get these weeds dug out. You have a precious window of time during the next two weeks to get your vegetables and flowers planted, and you don't want to waste time fussing over a few blisters.

You sink the shovel as far as it will go into the soil, then jump on either side of it to finally force it into the roots of the weeds. You're glad Billy is on the other side of the house fixing part of the fence, because he'd surely worry about you jumping on the shovel like it's a pogo stick.

Getting down on your knees, you start to work in the soil with just your hands and a spade to get the rest of the roots. This garden has been your pride and joy since Billy helped you set it up last year. Tending it brings you a sense of peace and accomplishment. Every new plant and vegetable that grows feels like a miracle.

Footsteps rustle in the grass and you look over, smiling at the sight of Billy walking up to you. He rests one hand on your back as he kneels next to you, pressing a kiss to your temple. Half the buttons on his shirt are undone and you can see a smattering of freckles across his collarbone. There's more over the bridge of his nose that you love to trace and kiss. You love the sun for giving him the little marks.

"Fence is all fixed." He says and tucks some of your hair behind your ears that had come loose from your braid.

"Thank you, my darling boy."

He smiles at the praise. "How're you doin'? Weeds givin' you trouble?"

Shaking your head, you jab at the pile with your spade. "They're no match against me."

Billy chuckles. "I'm sure they were shakin' in their boots when you approached with your shovel and that look in your eye. It's the same one you give me when I don't put my clothes away."

You lean against his shoulder, hiding your laugh into his shirt. "I love you."

"Love you too." He winds an arm around your waist, pulling you closer to press a kiss to your temple. When you go to wipe your hands on your skirt, he makes a soft concerned sound. "Sweetie, where are your gardening gloves?"

"They need mending." You say, biting your lip as you look at the blisters, knowing that he's going to fuss over them.

Billy gently lifts your blistered hand up, cradling it in his big, rough palm. "You're gettin' all tore up." His lips turn down in a pout.

"It's no big deal."

Ducking his head, he presses a kiss to your palm. "Nah, don't brush it off like that. I'll dig out the rest of these weeds."

He stands up and grabs your shovel before you can beat him to it.

"But what will I do?" You protest.

"Sit there and rest a bit." He says, rolling his sleeves up.

"Okay. I'll just," You lounge back in the grass, watching the muscles shift in his back as he digs in the shovel, "enjoy the view." He's so effortlessly handsome, it bothers you.

He glances over his shoulder, one side of his mouth quirking up. "You do that, darlin'."

The second injury happens when you're finishing dessert.

Billy is telling you a story about his latest cattle drive with Charlie and Tom. You're so focused on following along and enjoying the sound of his voice, that you forget your common sense and reach into the oven, without a glove, for the pie.

At the last second, you jerk your hand back, but not before the space below your thumb gets a nasty shock. "Ow!"

Tears immediately spring to your eyes. Your hand shakes as you step back from the oven, bumping into Billy behind you. He sets his hands on your elbows to steady you.

"Let me help, honey." He grabs a towel and pulls the pie out before it can burn. Setting it on the top of the oven, he whirls around towards you.

"I'm sorry, that was so stupid of me—" Embarrassment is an unpleasant emotion because it often makes you cry the hardest.

"It's alright, c'mere." Billy sets a hand between your shoulderblades and propels you closer to the sink. "Let's get some cool water on that." He holds a clean rag under the pump, pushing the lever until enough water comes out. He wrings it out and leans close to you. "Alright, let me see."

You sniffle, but let him take hold of your hand and turn it to expose the burn on your palm and fingers. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking."

Billy leans in to dab the cloth on the burns, face furrowed in concentration.

"I distracted you. I'm sorry." He uses his other hand to brush away your tears. "It doesn't look too bad."

"I swear I've used an oven before." You try to joke, but it comes out small.

Billy pulls his chair out and sits, tugging on your waist until you prop yourself on his thigh. "It's alright. Everythin's okay, sweetie."

He situates you on his lap, murmuring about your poor hands. You examine your hands, burned and blistered, and wonder what else could possibly go wrong.

Billy runs a hand up and down your back. "You ain't liftin' a finger from now on." He jokes. "I'll do everythin' around here."

Swatting at his chest, you heave an embarrassed sigh. "No, I just need to stop being scatterbrained. I'm sorry."

"Accidents happen." Billy says, running his hand over your tummy. "Ain't nothin' to apologize for."

"I'm lucky I have you to take care of me." You sigh, leaning back against him. He rests his cheek against your head.

"Takin' care of you is my pleasure, sweetheart." The gentle tone to his words calms you. He gathers a bite of pie on the fork and lifts it towards you. "Here, open up."

You let him feed you, basking in the warmth of his affection.

Nothing is as perfect as his love for you, and as he will repeat over and over again for the rest of the night: you are not a burden. You never will be.

[kazperthegh0st]

"Lucy Gray haunts the narrative"

No. No she doesn't. A character who explicitly appears in the narrative cannot haunt the narrative.

The character who *actually* haunts The Hunger Games's narrative is Crassus Xanthos Snow.

He stole the idea for the games from Highbottom and presented it to Gaul. He is the creator of The Hunger Games: an event that occurs over 75 consecutive years and takes thousands of lives. (A likely reason why Gaul is so drawn to Snow and thus grooms him to be her little pet).

He is a contributing factor in Snow's character development, from the Grandma'am's pressure to Tigris's final remarks. ("Snow Lands On Top" is not a saying that Coriolanus came up with on his own).

Finally, it is his fucking handkerchief that 1) saves Lucy Gray from the snakes and 2) condemns Snow to District 12 which kills both Sejanus and Lucy Gray.

Crassus. When I catch you, Crassus--

[billys-baby]

Billy the Kid x fem!Reader smut warnings: smut, praise, mild size kink, piv sex, lazy sex/riding, fem!reader, soft dom Billy

“F-fuck, Billy—” 

“That’s it, atta girl.” 

A slow bead of sweat traced the edge of your collarbone, slipping to saturate the crumpled shift clinging to your frame uncomfortably. Each languid roll of your hips drove him deeper still, shaping him to the curves of your body, whittling away at the edges of your sanity – stretched thin already by the summer heat. 

“I can’t—” 

“You can.” The hard line of his voice softened, liquifying with the softest exhale, pulled from his ribs with another reflexive shift of your hips. “Done s’well already, ain’t you?”  

Your nod was unsteady at best, the movement stuttering with each flutter of your cunt, the strained muscle yielding to his stretch. It was too suffocating to move more than this, propped as you were against the plain of his chest, fingers bunching at the clammy fabric of his shirt, barely unbuttoned in the sluggish rush that had you saddled in his lap, thighs caged by his palms to keep you slipping from the rickety kitchen chair. 

He had only sat for the comfort of a glass of water. 

Calloused fingers ventured further, catching the damp skin, pressing the worn lace hem higher so that he might find purchase at the juncture of your hip, thumb pressing into the fold, vice-like, enveloping the bone, dragging you more decidedly onto his length and back again, urging the fervent undulation of your body against his. 

You had passed the point of restraint, limited only by the oppressive humidity, heat clinging to your skin like a crude corset, driving breath from your lungs in whines too unbecoming for the open windows, accompanied in some strange harmony by the creaking wood below you both. 

The backs of your thighs were glossed with perspiration, slick against his own with every shift, tacky but unavoidable. You were too beyond the point of bliss to care. 

“B-Billy…” 

“I’ve got you, that’s it.” His thumb dove forward, dipping beneath the now-sheer fabric of your slip, seeking where he sensed you needed him most, tracing the soft ridges of your clit with an absentmindedness that bordered on torturous. “Make it pretty for me, darlin’.” 

Your fingers curled, clutching with soft desperation to his damp collar, tender mewls splintering with the tremor that arced through your spine, sending your skin a degree hotter, burning from the inside out, a syrupy slick saturating his cock. 

“There’s my sweet girl.” 

𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎, 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝, 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

[sofietrophied]

i feel like stabbing julius caesar for some odd reason...

[hidden-poet]

OMFG I NEED MORE OF OUTLAW EVEN JUST A SNIPPET OF HER REACTION THE NEXT MORNING

The light streaming from the open window was torture for your head.You had never felt this sick in your life. Your fathers moods now no wonder. 

Shame floods you. What man would take you now? Would it matter that it was not your choice? That bill is your husband?

Billy. How could he do this to you? He wasn’t that sort of man, or at least you thought. 

“How dare you” with a single hit billy sprung awake, twisting his body towards his attacker. He reaches for his gun in reflex, pointing it, ready and loaded.

You could only stare at the gun pointed straight between your eyes.

”What are you doing?” He scolds you, drawing his gun back. With the safety back on, he throws the gun on the nightstand and reaches for his pants on the floor. 

“You shouldn’t wake men up like that. Is something wrong?”.

The ball in your throat tightened as your tears fell. 

“How could you- how could you do that to me?” You choke. 

He spins back around with his pants now done up, and crawls back on the bed over to you. 

Billy reaches for your face, looking over you

”Are you hurt?”, he asks softly. 

You shove his hands off you, clutching tightly at the sheet pulled to your chest. 

“I am ruined. 

“You are far from ruined” he retorts. 

Billy continues with his clothes, ignoring your anguish. 

“Billy” you call to him, “do you know what you have done?” 

He sighs, pulling on his last boot before answering. 

“I’ve slept with my wife. You’ve slept with your husband”, he stands walking over to the window and opening the shutters. 

“The sun still rose” he mocked. 

He shuts the windows again, blocking the majority of light. You are grateful for it in your naked state. You were too high up for the people below to see but one personal wrongly placed may get more then they bargained for. 

“How could you do that to me” you accuse. 

“You didn’t seem to mind”.

You gasp as it he said it. His face retorted in guilt, wishing he could take it back. 

Billy take a steps towards you but you hunker back into the bed. Determined not to let him touch you again. 

He halts. Withdrawing his outstretched hands. 

“I am sorry. I should be a little bit more considerate of my wife's trouble. It’s school girl guilt, that’s all. You didn’t do anything wrong”. 

“No, I didn’t” you state in a hard tone. 

He eyes the bathtub in the room, moving swiftly to it as he spoke. 

“You’re a wife now. You have to learn to expect this sort of thing”. 

The water rushing from the tap drowns him out to where you strain to hear his words. 

“I know you didn’t have a Ma to teach you these things and I’ll try to help where I can but you have to stop fighting me every step of the way”.

Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth. Even if you knew what to say to him, you doubt you could get your tongue to yield. 

Instead you cry, big, loud, fresh sobs. 

How would you explain this to your father? What of your future? 

Billy jumps up from the tub, rushing over to sit in front of you in the bed. You kept the sheet pressed tight against you as he brushes your hair back trying to catch your eyes. 

“Please, please don’t cry. You had sex, you’re not dead” 

“I wish I was” you sob. 

“No, you don’t mean that” he consoles. His fingers comb in a soothing fashion against the side of your head. 

“It was a big night. You just need a bath and something to eat” he determined, “hop in. I”ll go get you something to eat”

“Billy, I hate you”, you declare. 

He reaches for his shirt on the floor, avoiding eye contact with you as he dresses.

”Well I love you”, he says softly.

“I’ll be back” he promises in quiet voice. He leaves the room quickly and you hear the sound of a lock behind him. 

You continue to cry on the bed. All you could picture was your fathers anger. His disappointment at his whore daughter. You would die of shame before you could be saved. 

After a while your tears run dry and you sat there helplessly until you could muster the energy to enter into the tub. The hot water almost ran over the top before you reached it. 

You soak in it while you wait for Billy to return. The gold on your finger mocks you. You slip the ring off your finger, hurling it across the room where it lands with a dull thud. 

Slipping down into the water, you allow yourself to sink to the bottom. If you were braver you would have drowned yourself but when your lungs began to burn you rose to the surface despite your wishes. 

Billy was still not back despite it being a near half hour since he left. For a second you wondered if his guilt got the better of him and he left town. But you knew he wouldn’t, not your billy.

So you wait for his return that marks forty minutes since his departure.

[mockingjay-sings]

“Bet I know a thing or two about your dove.” “Like what?” “Like she’s delightful to look at, swishes around in bright colors, and sings like a mockingjay. You love her. And oh, how she seems to love you. Except sometimes you wonder, because her plans don’t include you at all.” Something something, Coriolanus calling Lucy Gray "my girl" versus Haymitch calling Lenore Dove "my girl."

[altrimatti]

cowboy like me - ch. i

billy the kid x reader buccaneers!au

warnings: nothing but some good ol' victorian yearning and billy trying to figure his shit out

a/n: this was up on my other blog (@carajilloplz) but i wanted to continue this fic because it's quite literally my passion project so here goes

The lace fan in your hand and the spring breeze did little to soothe the flush caused by the early afternoon sunshine, making a light blush crawl up to your cheeks and small beads of sweat pool at the nape of your neck. It was pleasant to be out on the terrace of your friend’s townhouse, basking in the pleasure of not having to fuss over much before the season starts, but the imminent peril of your debut kept your mind elsewhere from the untouched tea and pastries laid out before you.

“Ada, do you suppose your brother’s guest will be handsome?” mused Josie, slumped over her chair turning to look at Ada

“Josie! Hush, don’t say things like that, I’d never be interested in someone who’s my brother’s age.”

“I’m just saying that if he’s going to be staying in your house, eating your food, and disturbing your peace he might as well be nice-looking”

“Perhaps Josie has a point, Ada.” you reasoned. “Do you really know who this man is?”

“I barely just learned this morning that my brother’s coming back to New York, give me a break girls.”

“What I do know is that his friend’s a cowboy at his father’s ranch in colorado and that he’s looking for a change of scenery for a while, so my brother’s bringing him up here.”

A cowboy? You’d seen what they’re like on your trips to Texas— rough, rugged, almost uncouth, but there was something that intrigued you about a man that could ride in the ranges all day and never get tired of the landscape’s expanse. You saw a bit of yourself in that. A cowboy’s the furthest you’d expect to have in New York, especially attending the events of the social season.

“Just cross your fingers it doesn’t turn into a shitshow, Ada”

--

The rattle of the carriage’s wheels on the cobblestone streets did nothing to help the unease in Billy’s stomach as they headed to Ash’s house in a side of New York, drastically unlike the one he used to be familiar with. Is this really a good idea?

"Billy, while the people here can be great gossips, they probably won’t think too deeply. As long as you keep a low profile and not cause any trouble, you should be fine. In due time you can return South." reassured Ash.

“I couldn’t be more grateful Ash, really. It’s just going to be real hard to lie about everything.”

The carriage came to a sudden stop in front of a tall brownstone that matched all the ones next to it, creating a cookie-cutter row of houses that ran down the street until the eye could see. Finely dressed people walked down the sidewalks, conversing or walking their dogs, seeing and being seen under the spring sun. Billy stepped out of the carriage with Ash, giving a grateful nod to the driver and going up the steps behind his host. The door was opened by a maid inside, who greeted Ash with a smile, and as he and Billy walked in there was a rumble heard on the stairs as three young girls stormed down and an older woman walked behind them.

“Ash!” exclaimed one of the girls, her face lighting up as she rushed to greet him, followed by the older woman Billy assumed was his mother. The other two girls stayed on the staircase, offering Ash a polite greeting and peering curiously at Billy. You particularly, wearing a soft cornflower blue dress with your hair pinned up caught his eye, but he knew it was rude to stare so he quickly brought his gaze back to his host.

“Everyone, this is my friend William Henry from Colorado. Billy this is my mother Helena, my sister Ada and her friends”

“Pleasure to meet you ladies, and thank you Mrs. Upson for allowin’ me to stay in your house for some time. I hope it’s not too much of a bother.” As he said this, Billy finally had the chance to take a look at you, his stomach flipping but now for a good reason. His gaze lingered momentarily, trying to piece together the intrigue you caused -- you were beautiful, undoubtedly so, but there was lightness and grace about you that captivated him. You smiled softly and nodded as a greeting, and he couldn’t help but notice the lightly flustered blush of your cheeks or the small hairs fallen from your updo that framed your face and neck.

Mrs. Upson snapped him back to reality. “It is absolutely no trouble, Mr. Henry. Hattie will see to your belongings, but for now you can join the girls and I for tea if you’d like.”

Everybody moved to the terrace once more, Ash being whisked away by Ada to catch up, leaving Billy to sit with Mrs Upson, Josephine, and you.

When Billy had stepped through the front door of the Upson’s house, your breath left you for a moment. He was very much a cowboy, slightly rugged and stoic but a gentle demeanor about the way he carried himself that brought your breath back to your lungs. He towered over you just the right amount and his shoulders, which he carried with a humble confidence, were (weirdly) attractively wide. Josie was also right about something— Ash’s guest was absolutely handsome.

“So your father is a rancher, Billy?” Asks Josephine, sitting next to you and nudging you slightly, making you pay attention to the cowboy sitting before you. Josie’s bluntness made you blush, elbowing her and shooting her a warning glance. “I apologize, if you don’t mind us calling you Billy.”

“I don’t mind that at all, I quite prefer it actually.” He swallowed before continuing, a strain in his face that piqued your curiosity. “And yes, my father owns a few ranches along the Arkansas river.”

“How wonderful, must be a beautiful sight.” you mention absentmindedly, picturing the mountains and the rolling hills that you imagine as his home. A small smile breaking his face snaps you back into the moment and it makes your stomach warm and cracks a smile out of you too.

“It is, really. Y’all should visit sometime, it’s beautiful around this time of year.”

“That’s quite a nice idea, William we would love to see your father’s ranches.” remarked Mrs. Upson, “I know you must be tired from your travels, but will you be joining us at the soiree tonight?”

“I’d love to, Mrs. Upson, what’s the occasion?”

“The girl’s debut this season! It’s just something small with some family friends before the ball tomorrow.”

Billy was visibly confused, “Debut?”

“It’s a ball where the girls get paraded around in white dresses like cattle so they can get married off” interjects Ash, joining them. “Frankly it’s degrading, but it’s tradition.”

Your stomach churned. Degrading is the perfect word to describe it. You were not looking forward to the next few months of insipid suitors and the prospect of a proposal. It’s not like you were completely opposed to a proposal, but this culling process was not the way you wanted to approach it. Yet, as Ash said, it’s tradition.

“Sounds…grueling” Billy admits.

“Absolutely. The balls are quite fun though.” says Josie.

Later that night, the Upson household was bustling with people laughing, drinks pouring, and conversation buzzing with excitement about the upcoming season. Poor Billy looked like a fish out of water, dressed in one of Ash’s suits that he was visibly unaccustomed to using. You looked at the interactions from afar, Billy charming but clearly feeling uncomfortable, as you could see with the tension in his sharp jaw. Josie, a little bit tipsy, comes up to you and leans in with a giggle.

“Have you noticed he’s been staring at you all night?” she whispers.

A blush creeps onto your cheeks and you try to hold back a smile “And what would make you say such a wild thing, Josie? Is it the champagne?”

Josie placed her hand on her chest in fake offense “Gah! You offend me darling”

“What’d she do now, Jo?” Ada, also a few drinks in, accuses cheekily.

“She doesn’t believe that she is the most stunning girl in the room and that Mr. Cowboy here has been stealing a few glances.”

“Oh Josie is right, you’ve been the only one he’s looked at.”

You noticed that he had excused himself from the conversation across the room and headed to the drinks table where the three of you were located, a soft smile greeting you and making your heart flutter. You realized then and there that you would find it impossible to get tired of his deep, kind blue eyes.

“How’s the night treating you, Billy?” asks Josie. Billy lets out a small laugh and glances at you and Ada.

“She needs to start findin’ her way home don’t she?”

Josie scowls, and you and Ada are laughing at your friend’s cheeky behavior “Gosh, you’re no fun! I’m just getting started, Billy boy.”

“Oh she is, Billy. She always has a few too many glasses of champagne but she’s great fun” you say with a smile. You both meet eyes for a moment but you drop your gaze after a second, a bashful blush painting your cheeks.

“All three of y’all seem like great fun, champagne or not. I’m lookin’ forward to my stay here.” he admits. Billy gives you a smile too, picking the eye contact back up and going to say something before Ada interrupts.

“We should cheers to that then!” she says, serving each one a glass of champagne and handing it to them. “To Billy’s fruitful stay in New York!”

You all clink your glasses together and you down yours mostly in a few sips.

“Josie, you should go play some music!” squeals Ada, grabbing Josie, who is also downing her glass and pulls her towards the piano at the other side of the room.

You and Billy share a laugh at the antics of your friends, and you go to serve some more champagne for the two of you. The sudden closeness between the two of you caused your heart to skip a beat, making it hard to keep your hand steady as you tried to steal a look. The bubbly buzz of the champagne was getting to your head a little and you faltered a few drops onto your dress.

As you served some into Billy’s glass, you couldn’t stop yourself from commenting—“Your accent slips out a little more when you’re drinkin’ Billy.” you noticed. It was cute though, your time in Texas had made you fond of a southern drawl.

“Does it really? You’ve kinda got one too.” he points out with a laugh, looking down at you through half-lidded eyes.

“Do I? It’s probably the champagne, I apologize.” you laugh, a light smile covered by a laced hand spreads on your face and you look up at him. “I haven’t been down south in forever, I thought it’d gone away”

“You’ve been?” he asks furrowing his brow in question and developing a curious smile. He quickly dismissed the thought of how much he loved the way your eyes looked from below him. “Didn’t take you for a southern girl.”

You let out a shy laugh and looked down, “I grew up in Texas and moved here with my mother and sister when I was eleven. My father’s still down there. He’s got an oil field in the Panhandle and takes care of a few ranches in the prairie near Dallas.”

Billy nodded, slightly surprised but still, extremely curious and amused by your personal history. He’d wondered whether he’d seen the same prairies as you had grown up in, fallen in love with the same nature.

“Well darlin’ I’m quite surprised,” his stomach churned at his lie— “I’m used to Colorado but I’ve been to Texas quite a few times and I can’t wait to go back.”

“Me neither,” you confess, staring wistfully at your cup. “My father comes up every once in a while but I haven’t been since I was fifteen.”

“I’d happily take you if it’ll get that downhearted look off your face.” he said softly, placing a gentle hand on your arm and giving you the most comforting smile. All of this made your heart flip and your chest tighten the lightest bit in fear. You’d had one or two callers before that had caught your heart, but whatever Billy did to you was different. Speaking to him felt familiar and the slightly calloused feel of his hand on you was a commiserative connection back to the wild girl you had once been. Being in New York tamed you, but he had a look that took you right back home.

You couldn’t. With a polite smile, you leaned out of his touch after a few moments and tried to will the blush off your cheeks.

“I’d much like that Mr. Henry, I appreciate the invitation.” He nodded curtly in response, a little confused at your sudden distance. “I should catch up with my friends. Enjoy your evening.”

You walked away, your heart almost beating out of your ribcage as you made a beeline to your friends. Looking around discreetly to see if anyone had noticed your interaction with Billy, you caught the curious eye of your sister and her fiance, giving them a dismissive stare and catching up to Josie and Ada, who were sitting at the piano.

The rest of the night you stuck to your friends, the drinks pouring and the conversation flowing through the bustle of people in the salon. As you stepped through the balcony doors to take a breath, remembering the feeling of Billy's touch and the way he made you feel, your sister followed you through. It was pathetic how he had affected you so much with a single touch.

Your sister, accompanied by her fiance Theo, stared at you teasingly.

“And what was that with Ash's friend?” She asks, “I know you have a thing for cowboys.”

With a rush of blood to your face once more, you dismissed her with a gesture of your hand.

“Stop it Clemmie, you know that stupid crush was forever ago, and there is nothing going on with Mr. Henry.”

“He looks awfully familiar, somehow.” Theo comments. “Feels like I’ve seen him before”

“Theo, my love, you know I adore you but just because we went back home last summer doesn’t mean you know everyone in the South.” Your sister says, giving her fiance a teasing tap on his cheek. “Well, from what I've heard through the grapevine he is truly an uncut gem so I say go for it”

You blush, impossibly even more, at her comment. “Shut it Clemmie, my debut is tomorrow and I cannot have you putting stupid things in my head.”

“But he’s quite darling isn’t he?”

Hesitating, you sighed, staring wistfully at the man inside, speaking with Ash and somehow stirring your heart from afar, “I won’t deny that.”

[wireddless]

Omg you’re Henry series is toooo good-

Regretting just now seeing your post, will definitely be checking out your other works 🥸🥸 but if you’re not yet tired of the Henry fics may I throw my hat into the suggestion ring :D

This suggestion is more nsfw in nature, but I would loveee to see how a nsfw interaction would be after returning from a failed escape attempt. There’s always that layer of aggression that pokes through in the interactions. I would love to see how that translates when he’s making it clear he’s upset and is intending to punish. When the already very thin veil of sweetness is completely dropped and the interaction is intended to act almost as a deterrent from thoughts of escaping.

It would be interesting to see how he uses manipulation and the readers depenency to see how far he can push them. How much they are willing to take as punishment when successful manipulated into thinking they genuinely did something wrong.

While still being pleasurable ofc

Holy yap sorry about that.. regardless if you end up taking the suggestion trust I will be patiently sat for your next piece (no rush of course).

Thanks for your consideration and keep up the amazing work 😁

yap away you guys i get u

nsfw, 1208 words henry creel x reader

Henry’s fingers were tight around your arm as he dragged you through the front door, the stained glass rattling a little as he slammed it shut behind him. He held you in front of him, forcing you up the stairs, caring so little for your stumbling that he would step over your feet if he had to. Your foot caught on the rug at the top of the steps, bringing the edge up to catch your other foot.

                 Henry did not care, pulling you up and pushing you forward, towards the door of his room. You had been in his room before, with and without him knowing. In the times you had snooped, you were careful, replacing everything to exactly the way it had been. Henry was not careful with you now, shoving you to the bed before pushing you into it.

He looked like a predator now, the skin around his eyes reddened and his brow furrowed. It made you feel like prey. Though he was handsome, and though you desired him, moments like this made you long to escape back into the woods he had just dragged you from. His sick gaze traveled over your body, still panting from the running. The hair on your head was messy and out of place, not like how you usually presented yourself in front of him.

                Henry slowly kneeled over you, his knee making a dent in the plush bed next to your hips. His hand came to your shoulder, pressing it into the bed as his other leg settled at your side.

“Do you really think you would find anyone who would worship you enough to do what I do for you?” He questioned silently, his tone gentle, but warning. He brought his head down to yours, his lips brushing up against the lobe of your ear, “anyone capable of keeping you safe in the way that I do?”

You shook your head ‘no’ slowly, still too anxious to speak. Henry hummed a little at your response, before speaking gently again.

“You’re a big girl; you can use your words.” Henry’s tone may have been sweet, inviting, but it was threatening, impatient.

“No, Henry.” He smiled at this, placing small, teasing kisses down your neck. After your last escape attempt, Henry hadn’t spoken to you for a week. The time before that, he had conveniently missed two days of the meals he had got you used to him providing. As you wondered what he would do this time, his fingers slid up your thighs, under the dress you were wearing.

“That’s my girl.” His fingers remained teasing, never going where they should. Your head fell back with an exhale as they feathered over your hips, praying to whatever god there was that he wouldn’t do this forever.

“I know that you’re scared.” As though he heard your prayers, Henry took a little pity on you and slipped his fingers under the waistband of your panties, slowly working them down as he continued to speak. “I would be too, if I was you. You’re in an unfamiliar place, you’ve been told the only place you’ve ever called home isn’t safe, and you don’t even have the choice to go back. That’s terrifying, isn’t it?”

You nodded along to his words, afraid to admit it out loud. It was terrifying, Henry was terrifying. Henry grinned in some sick sort of delight as you nodded, letting his teeth graze over your collarbone.

“You’re a very brave girl, you know,” His voice was syrupy sweet. “But after I’ve warned you countless times not to defy my one rule, you’re still stupid enough to try.”

When he managed to bring the elastic waistband of your panties below your butt, he slowly brought his fingers between your thighs, inching them towards the heat of your core. One of his hands came back up and gripped at your chin rather tightly, forcing you to look directly at him, his gaze dark and calculating, as his other hand cupped your mound. Henry was angry, pissed off even, and you knew it, but he was still surprisingly gentle.

“You’re so very brave…” He murmured, repeating the thought, as his fingers explored your wet folds, massaging over your clit, making you writhe beneath him. As your hips bucked up into his hand, he let out a bitter chuckle, squeezing your jaw tighter. “You would think you’d be smart enough to see what’s good for you.”

Henry kept massaging his fingers into the bundle of nerves, enjoying the sight of you writhing around and moaning beneath him. When he slipped a finger down and pushed it inside you, he brought his mouth back up to your ear, whispering softly; “You aren’t invincible, you can’t handle those monsters alone. You’ll be ripped apart, eaten for an afternoon snack.”

His voice hissing in your ear both terrified you and aroused you. He was right and you knew it; you were no match for whatever those things were. Did you only ever run just because you couldn’t trust him? Why couldn’t you trust him in the first place? He saved you! Was it because you thought there was something off about him, something inherently wrong? You weren’t sure.

If he could read your thoughts, he wasn’t showing it, only slipping another finger inside and picking up the pace, still holding you down by the jaw. “Perhaps I’ll let you sleep outside tonight, since you’re so eager to be out there.”

His threat frightened you, but you tried not to show it, whatever it was he threw at you, you could take it.

“I could leave you as bait for those monsters, let your scent lead them here so I can defeat more of them.” The pace of his fingers picked up with the intensity of his threats, and you could feel a pressure building deep in your core. “They wouldn’t be as kind to you as I am, they see you as food.”

As the pressure built in your core, Henry’s voice became more and more threatening, unhinged. “Would you like that, being left out to die?”

You shook your head ‘no’ as best as you could in his grasp, but he kept speaking.

“You think that you’re so brave, so smart, but you’re just as scared as everyone else, you’re no hero.” His fingers kept pumping in and out, bringing you closer and closer, until they retreated just as you were about to reach your peak. Henry wasn’t going to let you cum. His hands retreated from your jaw and the apex of your thighs to unbuckle his belt. Looking him over, he was not the same man who had supposedly rescued you, his hair was disheveled, his gaze was anything but kind. His brow furrowed with thought as he shoved his pants down. His hand quickly came to the crown of your head, gripping the hair there tightly as he shoved you back down into the bed.

This was a man who wanted to hurt you for disobeying him, knowing you would chose the safety of the pain he inflicted over the mystery of what may happen to you by yourself, and for now, you would have to accept that.