“ The ‘Killer Clown’ trope is awful, not a fan of it. Youse might think it’s bias but honesty, it’s just nothing special nor interesting. It’s cliche and boring honestly. Give me a sentient killer toaster instead o’’ that usual clown monstery nonsense, aye. Least that’d be somethin new “
It was a long-standing fact about district two, that they were trained from the time they were young until they were of age to fight in the games, and then they volunteered to enter the Hunger Games. It was considered an honor, and all children worked hard for that honor.
The Madigan family of district two was no different. Their two sons, David and Jacob, were trained from the time they could understand what they were training for, finding their specialties and strengthening them until they were ready for the Games.
When it came time, David volunteered for the Games, as was rite and tradition. He didn’t actually expect to win, being a little kinder than his brother, but his ability to charm others into alliances worked in his favor, and he survived to win his games.
What he didn’t expect was to return to the Capitol, only to be pulled away by the President after being crowned. Meredith gave him a smile, congratulating him, before looking him over.
The offer, when it came, was practically whispered in his ear. At first, he thought he hadn’t heard her properly, but when she repeated the most important part I already have customers lined up for you, he realized just what she was asking of him. He begged for a couple of days to decide, and was given a single day to make his choice. Which wasn’t really a choice at all.
He returned to her with his head low, agreeing to see the customers she had lined up for him, so long as his family stayed safe and his brother never had to go into the games. Meredith agreed, a twinkle in her eyes when she nodded.
His visit with his first customer was that night, a woman with long blonde hair and soft eyes. She fed him first, and he struggled to keep the food down through the knowledge that he was about to give his body to her. She was gentle, whispering sweet things to him throughout the evening. She never rushed him, and at the end of the night she even thanked him for the pleasant evening.
But that didn’t stop the tears that fell once he left her, or the way he felt nauseous the whole day after. That didn’t stop the raw feeling of his body, or how invaded he felt. He shuddered once in a while, walking back to his rooms at the Capitol, feeling like everyone could see what he was coming back from. And now that the President, the Benefactor, had agreed to whore him out, maybe they could.
Unfortunately, no matter how long he was in this position, he never felt any better about the whole thing.
And when his brother wound up in the games a few years after him, he felt more than betrayed. He felt as if they’d decided to actively go against him while still using him and his body.
The news that Simon had revealed in their last drug-filled stupor was haunting him almost non-stop. He couldn’t stand the thought that Jacob was pressing in on Simon, luring the boy in and making a fool of both of them.
But what could he do? Jacob had always gotten what he wanted. And now, it seemed, he wanted Simon. David couldn’t go against him. He’d never been able to stop his younger brother like that.
It was just too much. After days spent agonizing over it, David confronted his brother. Finding Jacob lounging in his room that evening, David kicked the door shut behind him, stepping up to the side of the bed and staring down at him.
Jacob just looked up at him, a smug look on his face. It was clear he didn’t care about David looming over him. “What is it, David dearest?” he asked, tone casual.
“You’ve been screwing him. You’re fucking him, even though Simon— he’s mine.” David’s tone trembled, more than he wanted it to, and he shut his mouth.
“Yours?” Jacob scoffed, shaking his head at his brother. “If he were really yours, he wouldn’t have been in my bed whenever I called for him. If he were yours, then he wouldn’t scream my name when I fuck him.” He stood, walking closer to David. “If he were yours, he wouldn’t beg for me when he’d just gotten done with you.”
David was shaking his head by second sentence, doing his best to block out what Jacob was saying. “No, you’re lying. He wants to be with me. He likes me. And I like him. You only want him because I brought him back here!”
Jacob smirked, pushing David back until he was pinned against the wall. “Perhaps. But perhaps I like him too. Do you think we could convince him to share us both?”
David shook his head again, leaning on the wall and closing his eyes. “I don’t want to share. I just want to have Simon to myself. The way it was supposed to be.”
The darker haired boy scowled, looking impatient now. He grabbed his brother’s chin, gripping it tightly, forcing David to look at him. “David. You know that anything that enters this house catches my interest. If you didn’t want to show him off, you should have stayed at his place. Now, you have two options. Share him, or give him up. Because I am not going to stop.”
David bit his lip hard, pulling against Jacob’s hand. “Please… stop it,” he whispered. He hated when his brother got like this, all dominating. It meant he would get his way, no matter what David thought. It had always been that way, ever since they were little. Ever since the younger boy had been the spoiled child. “I don’t want to share…”
“But we share so well,” The grip shifted, changing to caress David’s cheek. “Come on. We’ve already been doing it. Just keep sharing with me. You can do that, can’t you?”
He hesitated, then nodded slowly. Giving in to his brother, as he always had. Jacob smiled, pressing against him and kissing him eagerly. “You’re such a good brother. I love you so much, you know.” David nodded, sinking against the wall with a sigh. “We’ll let Simon know the next time he comes over.”
It wasn’t what David wanted, but then when did he ever get what he wanted with Jacob? Never. And that wasn’t about to change now.
He had long since stopped struggling against the bonds on his wrists, his skin chafed raw and bloody from the ropes. There was a wound on his chest that was bleeding steadily still, the marks on his arms having clotted a while ago.
His skin felt both numb and on fire, muscles twitching and burning from multiple electric shocks. His mouth was dry, and he couldn’t even summon the energy to lift his head from his chest.
The others were still pacing around the room, he could hear the steps as they moved. And when one came to a stop in front of him, he was forced to lift his head, muscles aching. The prod was in Dee’s hand, and he looked eager to use it again. “Pity we didn’t knick the lung. Gonna have to bleed slowly at this rate.”
“Pity. Maybe he’ll speak before he dies,” The voice came from somewhere behind him, and he knew there would be a knife glinting in Dum’s hands.
“Come now, we’ll make it all go away if you just tell us. The Queen only wants to know if you’ve been telling lies.”
“Haven’t... told... nothing...” he whispered, his eyes falling shut. Blackness loomed over him and he longed for it, wanting the bliss of the darkness.
“Come come, don’t leave us yet! We haven’t even pulled out the fun toys.” He could hear the protests as he slumped, falling completely into unconsciousness.