Forever Winter |young!coriolanus Snow X Capitol!reader|
Imagine how distraught snow would be if his wife had a really rough time giving birth to their child where she’s coming in and out of conscience and there’s blood and he’s terrified she won’t make it like his mother leading to him hating the baby for a little bc of how badly his wife was recovering sorry for the angst! Ignore this if uncomfortable <3
forever winter |young!coriolanus snow x capitol!reader|
prompt: as requested, troubles with child birth leaves coriolanus very cold towards your son.
contains: angst. mentions of parental death, blood, complications during birth. darkish coriolanus. kinda fluffy-ish end?
Coriolanus knew the horrors of childbirth. He knew the dangers, the risks. He’d seen the blank stares of a new mother rocking her baby, eyes blank and distant like she’d been through war. He’d heard the solemn whispers in a dim room, quiet and hushed, darting eyes that looked everywhere but the casket- sometimes two. His own mother had been torn from his grasp at a young age because of it, and for a while, he was sure he’d never let his own wife experience it.
Then he met you.
You who lit his world up from the inside out, who he rose only each day to see- to love. You who cradled a baby at your engagement announcement, a friend’s newborn, held him so naturally and delicately that it ignited something inside Coriolanus. He wanted a dozen babies with you, he decided at that moment that he’d do anything to make it happen.
You’d blossomed so naturally, swelled up overnight. Round belly and a glowing demeanor- it was addictive to Coriolanus. How he’d brag, boast proudly to anyone who’d hear it- his wife pregnant, he couldn’t be happier.
All those fears, worries, were replaced with new ones. Horror stories about infants, toddlers. His own consuming thoughts about being a father. The idea of childbirth was nothing but a fading thought to him. That had been in the war, technology was better, he was in a better place. Your father had ensured his darling daughter would have the best of the best- you always did. The best doctors, the best birthing suite, the best nursery- the best.
But money couldn’t buy your own body betraying itself at birth. It didn’t stop the bleeding, the paling of your skin as you fluttered in and out of consciousness.
You’d grunted like an animal, tearing yourself into two for hours, cursing Coriolanus’ name, begging him to make it stop, crushing his hands with your legs up in the stirrups, pushing your baby out.
Coriolanus was in awe of you, though he’d never get the chance to tell you. How you’d willed yourself to hurt yourself, inflict that selfless pain to bring life into the world. It was positively poetic.
He’d been so overjoyed hearing your babies gargled cry, the nurses announcing its gender- his gender. His son. A boy. A beautiful boy, wailing and delicate and covered in matter that Coriolanus didn’t even care about when he held him close to his own chest.
“What is it, Coryo?” You muttered, eyes drooping, chest heaving with aftershocks of pain from the birth.
“A boy, my love.” Coryo’s eyes shone with tears, lips pressing together to conceal it. “It’s a boy. Our boy, my darling.”
“A boy…” Your speech was slurred, head lolling back onto the pillow.
Coriolanus noticed for the first time how still the room had become, his son’s wailing the only sound. The nurses and doctors, once chipper and gleeful, now bearing a sickly paleness to their face, eerily quiet.
“What? What’s wrong?” Coriolanus snapped, eyes wide, frantic, bouncing around the room. “What’s happening?”
“We-We can’t find-” The doctor’s voice shook, ducked between your legs in a pile of crimson. Coriolanus’ stomach turned violently.
“She’s bleeding. We-We can’t find where the bleeding is.” The nurse whispered.
“What?” Coriolanus snapped. “Bleeding? H-How can she- Find it!” The baby wailed over the sound of Coriolanus’ demanding barks.
“President Snow, we-we’re trying our best-”
“-Try harder.” Coriolanus sneered, clutching the baby closer to his chest. “If anything happens to my wife, I will single handedly ensure your bloodline ends with you. Each of you will know what it feels like to lose your family too if you lose her.” He spat, sending the nurses and doctors into a fearful frenzy.
The newborn wailed, doctors shouted, and Coriolanus’ ears rang, his chest too tight, painfully tight. He couldn’t lose you, he wouldn’t. He wouldn’t survive that loss. His eyes fell to the screeching baby beneath him, scrunched face and wailing gums. How was he to raise this baby without you?
Anger boiled through his chest at the sight of his son- his fault. A cowering nurse, frozen in shaking fear in the corner, watched him carefully as he stormed towards her. “Take this.” Coriolanus sneered, shoving the baby in her arms.
He hated the feeling, the helplessness that consumed him as he stood, wide eyed and shaking hands he clenched into fists.
Somewhere, somehow, the doctor found the bleeding, stopping it with a triumphant cry. “Get the blood, get the blood!” He shouted, head hooked over his shoulder. “Infuse it now!”
Coriolanus wasn’t sure he could remember how to breathe. Memories of the two of your: the moment you met, the first date, his shaking hands asking for yours in marriage, the way you beamed under your veil at the altar, the same glow that you had when you told him you were pregnant. It could all be gone so easily. Had his father felt this way? So helpless?
Maybe that’s why he’d been so hardened and resentful, so he’d never feel attached- never allow himself to feel so helpless.
Coriolanus decided he couldn’t blame him, sitting in this chair, watching as you rested. The doctor said there’d be a lot of that in the coming hours. That you’d gone through trauma and you needed time. He wanted to rip you from the bed, shake you until you awoke and told him you were ok. He needed to hear it, maddenned himself with the need for it.
Instead, he sat.
Coryo sent the baby out to the nursery. He knew your parents, Tigris, everyone waiting would be thrilled to see the baby boy. Coryo just couldn’t muster the feigned excitement now. The site of his own son made his stomach turn, fear soaked repulsion settled deep in the pitt of his own core.
Somewhere in the night, you awoke. A rustling and a groan that had Coriolanus snapping out of his dazed sleep, head tucked to his shoulder, slumped in the chair beside your bed.
“Don’t move.” Coryo commanded, eyes a kind of bright, frantic wide that had you stilling.
Your throat burned, head dizzy with the medicine they’d pumped into your system. Coriolanus’ hands shook as he brought you the water, hand cupping your jaw gently to feed it to you. You blinked, bleary with confusion. “You’re alright, my love.” Coriolanus' heart swelled, suffocatingly in his own chest. You were alright.
“Coryo,” You croaked, throat tight, rasping from before, you were sure. You remembered the birth, most of it anyways, the blurry memory of your baby in Coryo’s arms before your memory failed. “The-The baby… Is he alright? W-Where’s my baby?”
“He’s with your parents, my love.” Coriolanus’ hand smoothes down your matted hair, sticky with dried sweat. “Nevermind him. How are you? Is anything wrong? Do you need anything? I-I’ll call for the nurse.”
You shook your head, looking around the room. The sheets were clean, your gown clean, but you felt an achy soreness splitting you in half. “What happened?”
Coriolanus felt the lump in his throat grow, strangling his words in his throat. “Y-You had some complications, darling.” He swallowed the burn of his own tears down in his throat. “You were bleeding but they stopped it.”
You blinked, unmoving, soaking in the details of your injury. Coriolanus watched you with a studying glare, eyes scanning for any tiny, minor infliction that something was wrong. “Is-Is the baby ok?” You whispered, eyes shining with fear when you met his gaze.
“The baby’s fine.” Coryo snapped, harsher than he meant to. It alarmed you, your eyes snapping to his carefully. He took a deep breath, holding your hand carefully into his own, thumb running over your knuckles.
“He’s fine.” Coryo said, softer this time. “I need to know how you are. What do you need from me, my love? What can I do to make it better?”
You squeezed his hand lightly, your strength weaker than normal. It made Coriolanus’ spine tingle with shooting chills of concern. “I want to see my baby.” You whispered, head leaning against Coryo’s shoulder.
“No,” Coriolanus shook his head furiously. “No, you-you need to rest, and-and not be bothered by the baby-”
“-Coryo,” Your eyes rounded, so pitifully pleading Coriolanus would have walked through fire for you if you asked him to. “Please? I just want to see our baby.”
And how could he say no? He couldn’t, so instead, Coriolanus called the nurse in. Your parents, proud grandparents, holding the baby, tutting over you. Everyone flitting about the birthing room, Tigris even gleaming with joy at the birth of her nephew. All except Coriolanus, who watched in the corner of the room, a stoic look on his face.
You looked positively radiant, glowing with joy as you held your son. As if that baby hadn’t nearly killed you, Coriolanus wanted to scream the reminder to you, but he didn’t. He wouldn’t dare upset you, risk upsetting you in front of your family.
“Coriolanus,” Tigris’ soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts, brought him away from his own sinking, heavy feelings of disappointment. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Tigris.” Coryo’s voice was tight, firm and forced, like the look of awkward contentment he tried to paint across his features.
“You… You haven’t held your son.” Tigris hesitated, voice dropping softly so the others wouldn’t overhear.
“I don’t wish to hold him right now.” Coriolanus sneered.
“He is your son, Coriolanus.” Tigris hissed, her voice dropping to a low hush in the room, terrified you or the others might hear.
“And he almost killed her.” Coryo’s eyes flashed to Tigris’ in horrified rage. “Nearly fated her as my sister did my mother, and if you think for one second I am to be happy at that, then you are-”
“-Coryo,” Your voice croaked, still weak and tired. It made his heart lurch, attention on you in a second, already walking towards your bedside.
“Yes, my love? What do you need?” Coriolanus muttered. Normally, he’d be embarrassed, showing such affection especially in front of your parents, but he hoped they’d pardon his vulnerability in the moment, given the circumstances.
“Look at him,” Your eyes shone with love, pure adoration, as if you weren’t cradling the very thing that almost killed you. It made Coryo sick. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?”
Coriolanus looked down at the small newborn, wrapped in swaddles, eyes closed and lips twitching with the faintest whimper of a cry. He looked so much like you, so much like himself- the perfect blend of the two of you taking your lips but Coriolanus’ nose.
His heart swelled with pride before he could help it, lips curling in a half smile. He’d grown weak, Coriolanus decided, softened by you and your love. He should be disgusted by the baby, despise him and reject him like an animal in the wild would. But he couldn’t bring himself to it.
“A fine young boy.” Your father boasted, nodding proudly. “The two of you should be very proud.”
“Yes,” Coryo swallowed around the lump in his throat. You leaned into his touch, shifting the baby so he could better see him.
“Any idea on the name?” Your mother hummed, moving beside you.
“I still think Cyrene would be fitting.” You’re beaming, beautiful and proud when you meet Coriolanus’ gaze. “What do you think, Coryo?”
“Yes,” Coryo nodded. “I think that would be a fine name.”
“Cyrene Snow,” You cooed, pressing your nose to the baby’s, pressing a gentle kiss there. Your eyes brimmed with tears when you met Coriolanus’ gaze. “Do you want to hold him, darling?”
“Are you getting tired?” Coryo watched you carefully. “Do you feel alright?”
“Yes,” You nodded. “I don’t want to hog the baby. Want you to have a chance too, darling.”
“That’s alright.” Coryo shook his head politely, suddenly very aware of your parents and Tigris’ gaze on him. “You hold him, my love.”
You frowned lightly. You knew something was off with Coryo, the tightness in his tone, lips falling in a flat line. You waited until later, when Cyrene lay in his bassinet, your family all gone for the night, just you and Coryo in the birthing suite.
“Why will you not hold him?” You asked through the still darkness. Coriolanus' eyes snapped to yours fiercely, startled by your tone.
“Excuse me?”
“Our baby.” You groaned when you sat up, Coryo rushing to your side.
“You need to be careful-”
“-You won’t hold him, Coriolanus.” You gripped his arm, eyes shining in something new- something Coryo wasn’t certain of, but it made his stomach twist. “Why?”
Coriolanus swallowed, the lump in his throat suffocating him. “The last time I held him,” Coryo’s voice was soft, rasping in the quiet room, barely above a whisper. “You nearly died.”
The room was still, far too still for either of you to find comfort. A harsh, shocking truth for the both of you, sickening and cruel. Your near damned fated reality, Coriolanus’ worst fears, the peaceful baby resting in the bassinet besides the two of you.
Pressed into the side of your hospital bed, Coriolanus held you carefully, a stilled reminder that you were still there, that you hadn’t left him. The icy wall he’d built high for his son melted with every soft coo and whisper you gave him, a reminder that you were still with him and would be.
When Coryo finally held Cyrene again, when he’d stirred awake and you were asleep, he turned to the window overlooking Panem’s Capitol, eyes shining with tears- of regret, joy, pain? Even Coryo wasn’t sure, but he rocked his son to sleep carefully, promising him that one day, he’d have what Coryo had. That he wouldn’t leave him the way his father had, that he’d keep him safe, teach him how to keep you safe.
More Posts from Edb954 and Others
Omg Yesss somebody please do this!!
Can someone please write a JJ x Reader fanfic based on the song Mine by Taylor Swift?
Taking Back What’s Mine…
Henry Creel/001 x reader
(Summary: Peter/Henry/001 has come to take back what's his...)
Masterlist
(Warning!: Possessiveness, Dark!Henry, Manipulation, Yandere Themes, Forced Relationship, implications of violence and murder.)
When you first met Peter/Henry you thought he was sweet kind caring.
When you both started to call it a 'relationship' he became very different.. he became very possessive, Manipulative, and dare you say Jealous no matter who you talked too. Whether if it was one of the other faculty members or one of the children.
The one orderly you used to talk to all the time was Lucas, he was the first one you met in the lab, he showed you around as well as helped you when ever you needed it. One day, after he helped you with some files. You were called to Brenner office be told the god awful news that he had an accident in one of the experiment rooms and passed away.
You knew that it was an 'accident' you knew that someone had done it and you had the very suspicion that it was your 'boyfriend' Henry. You started to become, nervous...scared even, you didn't know what to do, so you went to Brenner... or tried to. Before, you could get to his office somebody wrapped a hand around your mouth, with a cloth wrapped around it, and dragged you into a room.
When you woke up, all you could hear was screams, gun shots, and the blaring of alarms. You opened your eyes to see a little girl with her knees to her chest not just any girl but, eleven. She looked even more terrified than you.
"011?" You asked to make sure it's her. She looked at you with teary eyes. You quickly got up and went over to her. "What happened? What's going on?"
"It's all my fault.. I trusted him.. b-but.." "Hey, eleven you need to calm down for me for a second and tell me what happened... please." I said, looking at her with pleading eyes.
"T-the blonde orderly... he said that him me and you would escape. I-I took the thing out of his neck so that we could a-and he has powers as well and k-kil-killed the men and brought me in here and showed me that he's 001. A-and now I-I think he's killing everyone else e-ev-even the other siblings." She explained with a shaky voice, and tears rolling down her eyes.
My breath got lodged in my throat. I knew it was him... "Eleven, did he show you a way out?" I asked, she nodded going over to a pipe. "T-this is where he said I could escape.." she said.
"Okay, eleven I need you to go in there and meet me outside okay.." "N-no I don't want to leave you here." She said. You sighed.
"O-okay. I need you to wrap your arms around my neck and also hide your face into my neck okay. Please do this for me. I'm going to get us out of here.." She nodded as I lifted her up and did as you told.
You took a deep breath and opened the door, as soon as you did you could have instantly gotten sick or fainted when you were faced with the smell of blood, seeing it everywhere along with bodies of staff members, guards, and the other children. You heard elevens breath hitch you put your arm on her hand whispering,"it's okay don't look.."
You began walking towards the office to get your keys, seeing more and more bodies blood, you came across the testing room where 010 and Brenner that was next to where you needed to get your keys, seeing both of them gone. You tried to stay as calm as possible for eleven but she could tell you were just as terrified. You quickly and quietly opened the door, got your keys and closed it. When you came back out, you heard a horrible high pitched scream not that faraway from where you were. You hesitantly looked over to see the bodies ended near the rainbow room. Your breath hitched.
Without another thought, you took off speed walking to get to the stairs so Eleven and you can both get out safely. Trying your best to not make any noise while you had eleven in your arms. Not looking back for a second you made it to the door to the stairs. Used the key card pushed the door open and took off running not caring how loud the door slammed. You ran as fast as you could with Eleven in your arms until you got your car. Putting Eleven in the back seat and you in the front, driving as far as possible from the awful place.
(Two years later)
After, that night at the lab you took Eleven to your home. You both decided you wanted a fresh start so you did or at least tried until El came across a group of kids looking for their friend Will Byers. You both decided to help them as well as Joyce, Jonathan, Nancy, and Hopper. Unfortunately the lab had found both of you but thank the heavens the demogorgans got them.
After, that huge fiasco Hopper let you both stay at his cabin in the woods to protect El and you. You couldn’t be more grateful the three of you became close it felt like an actual family. It was peaceful for awhile. Until, their was more problems going on with Will and more demogorgans. El going missing or well to find her true parents, to reuniting with everyone, to closing the gate to the upside down, and to Now, Eleven was currently hanging out with the gang and her newest friend Max.
While, you were peacefully reading on the porch of the cabin. You got up to start some cleaning to help hopper out a bit when you suddenly heard a all to familiar voice behind you..
“Y/n..” You slowly turn around to see him.
“W-what h-how d-“
"Oh, Y/n I told you I'd come back for you.." He took a step closer, which made you back up into a wall. "Didn't I?"
You still couldn't believe he was right in front you after all this time, thinking you and Eleven had gotten away. Of course, you were wrong.
“I’ve missed you so much. I tried to find you ever since.” He said, caressing your cheek.
You slapped his hand away and tried to push him away but because of his damn mind powers he kept you in place.
“I went back to the room but you weren’t their… you left.. without me…” he wrapped a hand around your neck forcing you to look at him. “We’re you just going to leave me their? Hm? After all of our plans we had made?”
“T-those plans changed after, I found out who you really are and for what you have done!” I snapped.
“I did it for us baby. So that we could be free.” “What about the children? They didn’t have to die.. you didn’t need to kill them..” you said tears streaming down.
“Oh.. but I did.. the hurt you and Eleven. Why do you still cry for them Y/n after everything they to the both of you? You think you need them, but you don't. You don't. Oh, but I know you're just scared. I was scared once too. I know what it's like to be different. To be alone in this world.” He said, wiping away your tears.
“Come with me.. Come back to me…” He said.
“A-and if I don’t come with you..” you asked.
You saw his eyes go dark with a sinister look.
“Then, I will make sure everything for you hell. Either way you will be coming with me with or without your permission..” he showed you what would happen if you didn’t (which is pretty much everything that happens in seasons 3 and 4) he grabbed your jaw so that you are now fully looking at him. “Your Mine! You belong to me! And I’m not letting you go this time!”
“I-i will come with you.. but please leave them alone.. I will do anything, I won’t run, I won’t get help, I will give up everything… , just please just leave them out of it… please. No more..” you asked with tears. He looked at you for a moment debating then smirking.
“As you wish darling.”
And, with that you packed some of your things and left both Hopper and El letters. Before, taking Henry’s hand and leaving.
You’d be lying if you didn’t still have any feelings. Those just don’t just go away. You knew he’d find you and bring you back to him. Tho it hurts you for what he has done and leaves you feeling guilty and a bit disgusted. But, You had no other choice to save your friends family Hawkins. You had to do it. You had no choice.
You knew you could never escape him.. like Henry said you were his so he took back what’s his…
Word count: 1542
(A/n: Oop! I have chills anyone else?😂 I hope this story makes sense also, let me know if I should do a part 2 too this! I’d be up for it! Also let me know what y’all think! Talk to y’all soon bye!)
So High School (Wally Clark x Reader)
(Summary Maddie Asks why you You and Wally are so close and well you explain)
Masterlist : Request info
(A/n: I've recently finished watching School Spirits and I loved it and can’t wait for more seasons!! So I was inspired and might start writing for Wally Clark! Loosely Based on so high school)
(Warnings!: Mentions of school shooting, Mentions of death, typical School Spirit stuff, mentions of bullying & mental health, and fluff)
~~~~
"I'll see you later n/n. Be Careful." Wally said giving you a kiss on the cheek before going to help Charley with Maddies and Simon's? plan.
"Yep, I will. You be careful too. Now, Go help them." You said giving him a smile as he gave you a goofy smile back before taking off after the others.
You decided to go wonder off to your personal spot to read and try to get your mind off of everything that's going on and read. But she couldn't help her thoughts going back to when her and Wally were alive.
~~~
Flashback
~~~
“Hey!” Wally said running up to you putting his arms around your waist bending down to kiss you.
“Hey.” You hummed into the kiss. “How was practice?”
“It was fantastic the boys and I are definitely going to kick ass at the homecoming game! You’re coming right?” Wally said energetically.
“I have a lot of studying to do and I have work..” you said looking down at the ground.
“What? You mean you can’t come just this once?” Wally asked. “It’s a big game… I’m gonna need you there..”
You looked up at him seeing the deflation in his eyes. You knew he loved his mom but you also knew how much pressure she puts on him to win. You even knew that he did not want to be on the football team but did it so he wouldn’t let his mom down.. after his father left them he was all she had.
Y/n sighed. “I’ll try to make it.. but please either if I do come or don’t come you won’t push yourself to hard.” Wally’s eyes lit up as you mention you would at least try to make it.
He gave you another peck on the lips. “I promise.”
~~~~
“Hey, finished up early. I was wonder if I could g-“ “Go! You’ve done good work today go have fun.” Mrs. Jones said as she waved you off.
Just as you were about to leave the phone went off. “Y/n it’s for you. And who ever it is does not seem.. well.” Mrs. Jones said.
Y/n’s eyebrows furrowed before going over to the phone and taking it from her.
“Hello-“ “Y/n?” She heard what sounded like Jess.
“Jess? What’s wrong?” She asked worriedly.
“It’s Wally…” Jess said as another sob came out.
Y/n’s whole world stopped at the next words that left Jess. She dropped to the floor as her whole world collapsed around her. Letting out a broken yell as she crumpled into Mrs. Jones arms as she comforted her while she sobbed
As time went on all she could think about was him. Their first date:
“I-I know it’s not much but-“ “it’s perfect.. Wally.” You said blushing. As you sat on a picnic blanket on the football field.
“It’s actually pretty romantic besides the part of being in the football field.” You complemented. Wally smiled.
“I’ve never met someone like you or..” “liked someone like me?” You asked he blushed slightly embarrassed.
“Yeah..” Wally let out a slight laugh.
“Guess it was a good thing I was your tutor? Huh?” You joked, Wally laughed. “Very lucky.”
Their first kiss:
“What do you think you’re doing?” You asked as Wally stopped throwing little pebbles at the window of your house. He dropped them and ran up to you.
“Look I’m sorry. I know I should’ve stopped them from bullying your friend. I.. I just..” Wally sighed running his hand through his hair. “And I’m sorry for what they said about you. I just don’t want them to hurt you.”
“Well that’s your choice!” You yelled at him.
“I keep putting myself out there and you keeping showing versions of a person that I don’t want to be with..” You said as the rain started to get heavier.
“Who are you Wally Clark? The real you?” You asked looking at him. He took a deep sigh Turing around to you.
“You want to know who I really am?” He asked and you nodded.
“I’m Wally Clark! I’m the football player that never really wanted to be a football player in the first place but did it so my mom wouldn’t be disappointed in me. Who’s friends aren’t the best but they are my team mates which is like family to me. And I’m the guy that had fallen for you! You’re smart, nerdy, kind, pretty.. very pretty and hot especially standing out here in the rain..” Wally was right in front on you now. “Thats who I am.” He finished looking at you.
You looked back at him with a slightly pity/just felt bad for him look for his confession before smiling slightly and pulling in his shirt into a kiss he immediately kissed back as he put his arms around you.
Their first time…
“Are you sure?” He asked.
Your parents weren’t home had gone out with friends from their school days to catch up. Wally and you had gotten back from a date an hour ago and had been making out for about half of that in your bedroom.
You nodded. “I’m sure.”
Before bringing him back into a kiss.
~~~~~
"So You and Wally are close.. really close actually.." A voice said from behind you. Y/n jumped as she turned around to see Maddy behind her.
“Sorry.. i didn’t mean to scare you..” She said.
"Oh no don’t worry but to answer your question We were.. are?" You said as you patted the seat next to you. Maddy gladly excepted it.
"What do you mean by that?" She asked you confused.
"We dated or well... are dating." Maddy gave her a surprised look. "I know. A nerd like me dating a jock. Not very common." You said with light laugh.
"I just wasn't expecting that." Maddy said her eyebrows raised in amusement at the unlikely pair.
"What happened to you?" She asked cautiously. Y/n took a deep breath while putting her head against the wall.
"It was a few months after Wally's death... that was the only game I couldn't make.." You sighed remembering the call and funeral.
"It's not your fault.." Maddy said. Y/n sighed and nodded. "I know but it doesn't make the guilt feel lesser.. Anyway back to your question.."
"It was a few months after only a month? Or two til graduation. Somebody had brought a gun to the school. I was walking with my one friend Jess and then Bang! Next thing I know I wake up here.."
(Flashback)
"Y/n hurry up we're going to be late!!" Jess said as they walked into the hall. Y/n next to her with books in hand.
"How was I supposed to know their'd be traffic? Also we still have 15 minu-"
*BANG*
"Y/N!!" Jess shouted.
~~~
A few minutes later you woke up seeing a figure standing above you. Your breath hitched where you saw Wally.
"Hey! Hey it's okay.." Wally said holding the back of your head.
"H-how-" You asked. Wally looked at you with sad eyes "...you don't remember.."
Then it hit you. You walking into the hall with Jess and then a *BANG* and pain then... peace.
"I-I'm d-dead.." you said in shock. Wally hugged her.
"I-I'm so sorry..." he said tears falling as he pulled you into an embrace.
~~~~
"Wally was right there next to me.." you explained. "He kept apologising. I could tell he didn't want me to be trapped here or well.. shot.."
"Wait you were one of the people that were killed in the school shooting in 1983?" Maddie asked shocked. You nodded. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"H-how are you so calm about it? You still had your whole life ahead of you and were about to graduate?" Maddie asked. You sighed.
"I knew the kid that did it.." her eyes widened. "He was scared. And angry... very angry. Nobody except me, Wally, and one or two others treated him fairly. H-he got bullied a lot and in particular circumstances you either go one way or the other. One that makes you angry and aggressive or you get suicidal and depressed." You explained.
"And I believe when it's your time.. it's your time.. like an invisible clock above you that's counting down your minutes.." You looked at Maddie whose eyes were wide in slight fear and shock. "Sorry.."
"You know a lot. Hell you could've been a therapist or something." She said, you laughed.
"I guess."
"Were you angry at first?" Maddie asked you then.
"No. When I woke up I saw the person that I felt lost without.. cheesy I know." You said.
"Believe it or not it's kinda... sweet.." she said.
“Um.. I’m sorry I asked about you and Wally and um your death it was probably ignorant of me.” Maddie said.
“Oh nonsense your fine. I don’t mind talking about it really.” You said smiling. Maddie smiled back.
“Hey! There you are! We have news!” Charley said as him and Wally come running up to the pair. Maddie got up.
“Great, let’s go see what you found.” Maddie said to Charley as she dragged him off.
Wally smiled at you as he sat down next to you. “I’m surprised. You never let anyone but me invade this spot.” Wally joked.
“She seemed like she needed a friend.” You replied, with a smile before giving him a kiss. Wally happily kissed back.
“What was that for?” He asked.
“I’m just.. happy that I’m still here with you..” you replied giving him a soft smile. His smile widened before kissing you again.
“I’m glad. I’m stuck with you here too.” He said wrapping his arms around you with your head leaning on his shoulder.
“Nerd..” He whispered. You gasped and gave him a playful slap on the chest and he laughed. “Jock.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
St. Tropez
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Summary/Prologue:
Emme Reinswood, everyone thought she had the perfect life. Coming from a Rich family as well as good exterior but, behind close doors is where her darkest secrets lie. Covering up scars, bruises, putting on a fake smile in school and nobody knows.
You would think at the academy it would be different since she came from a wealthy family but no. They had a name for her the group of snobs at the academy started.. Loner Girl.. but was she actually lonely, depends on who you ask. Her friends the misfits of the academy.
Sejanus + Marcus Plinth, their from the districts so could only amuse that nobody liked them because, of the war. Not to mention, Marcus's rebellious reputation and care free self and Sejanus the kind gentle soul that cares to much.. She had met them in their third year Sejanus saw her all alone and it created a long lasting friendship with the boys. Not to forget that Marcus as a soft spot.
Ashe Warren, The academy's Charming Bad boy. Comes from one of the top highest families, very rich, very 'likeable'. His family helped out a lot during the war not to mention his father is one of the commanding generals of the peacekeepers. Ashe did not give a shit or tries to act like he doesn't. He has a habit of causing trouble with other people especially when it comes to the snobby Richies, and is not afraid to put anyone in their place. She had met Ashe in fifth year, he had found her in the corridor behind a piller while she was trying to cover up a bruise since she saw a group of girls walk into the bathroom. He helped her and had actual concern for her. (Also that Ashe has liked her since grade school..) from then on he's been by her side.
Coriolanus Snow, The heiress of the snow family , she had met Coriolanus and his cousin Tigris a few months after the war. Seeing Coriolanus looking for food the next day. She went up to him and smiled while holding a basket of different pastries, sandwiches, vegetables, and a few fruits as well as condiments that she had found lying around the house. The housekeeper Mrs.Figgs helped her making sure her parents did not catch her. His eyes went wide before grabbing her hand and taking her to his cousin Tigris she gave a confused hesitant look but with one small sentence
"I had this basket m-made for you. I-I saw you both yesterday and-" Tigris smiled and said" Thank you.. what's your name?"
"Emme. Emme Reinswood." She replied hesitantly.
"Well Emme I'm Tigris and this is my cousin Coriolanus." Tigris introduced them.
From then on since that day her and Coriolanus have been nearly inseparable. She was the only one who knew about is real living situation. Neither one judged each other. She end up falling for him. But his mind was always somewhere else. But she couldn't blame, he only wanted to get back on top. To be able to have proper meals and living situation.
Though sometimes her friendship seemed like a derailing train waiting to crash and burn. Hell, he's the one who has been in her life the longest and doesn't even notice the scars, bruises, pain. But again she couldn't blame him. For he was only trying to do what's best for his family.
But no matter what they would always be close...Right? Or will the plinth prize get in the way of their longing for each other? Will a certain someone or someone's get in the way of the star crossed lovers?
~Read Here~
HOLY SHHHHH THIS IS GOOD!!
Cat and Mouse
Dark!Dad!Barty Crouch Jr. x Mom!Reader
Wc: ~4k
Summary: The reader can never truly get away Barty, no matter how hard she tries. He'll always find his family.
CW: Dark!Possessive!Barty, AFAB!Reader, reader has a young daughter, themes of control and manipulation, being stalked, break in, a brief moment where the reader thinks her daughter is in danger
AN: Heavily inspired by this fic, 1000% recommend
Your daughter's giggles were always your favorite sound, especially so early in the morning. You could swear by it, it was better than any alarm clock.
Today was no exception. As you crawled out of your bed and got to your feet. You couldn't help but smile, wrapping yourself up in your silk robe and slipping on your slippers, following after the lovely sound to your daughters room. You put your hand on the doorknob and leaned down to bring your ear closer, smiling brighter as you heard her giggles persist.
“Is that funny?” You heard a deep voice coo. Your heart dropped into your stomach.
Suddenly, the bright sun of the morning chasing away all the dangers of the night felt like a fool’s tale. The shining walls and work you'd done to get here meant nothing. The summer heat that chased away the night chill did nothing to warm you as the feelings of dread overtook you.
You opened the door, trying to school your expression. Your eyes locked on your daughter who turned and smiled wide at you. “Momma! Momma, Daddy's home!”
She always looked so happy. Whenever he would come back, whenever he would find you, your daughter would look at you with those big delighted eyes. The same ones she shared with the man in front of her. You couldn't help but notice a bit of a breeze crawl up your back, not from the stare of the monster before you, but as you turned to discover, your hall window was open..
You don't know what was more terrifying, the fact he was able to get past your wards or the fact he was able to do it without waking you.
“Yeah, princess. Daddy's home.” Barty gushed to his little girl, finally getting you to turn and face him. His eyes were already locked on yours. His eyes said it all, he was challenging you, to say anything, to deny him, to push him over the edge. You had grown familiar with Barty’s looks.
In Hogwarts, he would use them to keep your quiet, remind you not to let people see you get too close to him, to keep you obedient and complacent in the web he meticulously crafted just for you. The web he still had you trapped in all these years later- you struggled, that's all you could do.
Because what could a muggleborn witch like you do to protect yourself from falling in love with a Crouch? To fall victim to his endless worship of you, just to turn around and scorn your blood in front of the people he craved to impress. It was for your protection, he guaranteed, that Voldemort would make an exception of you. That he knew your soul was destined for him and he would make it clear to everyone else that it was true.
“Darling, I'm just going to speak to mommy for a moment, alright?”
Your daughter pouted, holding up her tea cup and he laughed, waving his wand to show her the same thing you assumed he must have been showing her to make her giggle. His bloody magic. The magic you begged him not to expose her to. It wasn't safe, not for you. Certainly not for your daughter, a stain on his family tree.
When he finished he gave her a kiss to her temple, and ruffled her hair. Standing up and walking across the room to you. Quickly, you turned and grabbed your wand from your pocket. Muttering a quick spell on the window as you passed, on your way to the kitchen.
It was the same routine, everytime he found you. Fix whatever damages had been caused, close the blinds, he would dismiss your daughter so you two could talk. You knew Barty could never bring himself to hurt you, in no world would he let any harm come to you or his little girl, but that didn't mean you didn't fear his anger.
You learned what testing his limits could mean. When the war began and you found out you were pregnant, Barty was ecstatic. He bought a home in the Hogwarts highlands, he used you as his get away. He would fight in a war against who you were and come home to dote on you like you were some god. It worked, at first, you were so blinded by love you didn't stop to think about what he was doing.
It was the friends you had closed out that brought you back to reality. Sirius showed up when he knew Barty would be gone, begging you to see reason. He promised you he and Remus would be there when you came to your senses. It took a few days but eventually you packed a bag. When Barty came home you begged him to leave with you, to either join your friend's side of the war or leave it completely with you.
But Barty, he had a way about him. A way that made you foggy minded and willing to forget yourself for hours. When you woke up in his bed, alone again the next morning, you knew it was time.
You'd spent months on end trying to keep away from him. But no matter where you went, he always found you.
Your daughter's giggles echoed in your mind as you moved through the motions, trying to calm down. The warmth of the morning now felt suffocating, as if the very air had turned against you. Barty’s presence had that effect- stealing the light, replacing it with a cold dread that settled deep in your bones.
In the kitchen, you set your wand down on the counter, your hand shaking slightly. You didn’t bother with tea or the pretense of normalcy. There was no use in trying to act like this was just another visit. He always saw through that.
The sound of his footsteps was deliberate, slow and measured as he entered the kitchen behind you. You didn’t need to turn to know he was watching you, that smug sense of control radiating from him like a dark cloud.
“You’re getting better at hiding,” Barty said casually, leaning against the doorframe as if he belonged there, as if he hadn’t just broken into your home and stolen another morning of peace. “I almost didn’t find you this time.”
You tightened your grip on the counter but didn’t respond. Any words you said now would only fan the flames.
“Still,” He continued, his voice calm but with an edge that made your skin crawl, “you should know better by now. There’s no point in running. Not from me.”
“What do you want, Crouch?” You snapped, your voice sharp but low, desperate to keep your daughter blissfully unaware in her room. Your jaw tightened as your heart raced, every muscle in your body screaming at you to act, to escape, but you knew better.
“Ouch,” Barty murmured, the word drawn out like a mockery of your tone. He gave a low, familiar chuckle that made your skin crawl. “No ‘hello’? No ‘it’s good to see you’? Have I fallen so far in your affections, my love?”
Before you could respond, he closed the distance between you in a smooth stride. Your body stiffened as his hand slid over your arm, slow and deliberate, the other curling around your waist. Even as you resisted, he pulled you firmly back into his chest.
You felt his breath against your neck, warm and slow, the press of his nose grazing your skin as he inhaled deeply. “Still wearing that perfume I like,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate, as though you were lovers reunited instead of prey cornered by a predator.
“Let go of me,” You hissed, your voice trembling despite your best efforts to keep it steady.
He didn’t. Instead, he hummed softly, almost contentedly, as if he had all the time in the world. “You know,” He began, his voice silkier now, “I always miss this when you’re gone. The way you fit so perfectly here-” his hand pressed against your waist, possessive, “-like you were made for me.”
You turned your head slightly, just enough to catch his cold, calculating eyes. “Is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night?” You shot back, forcing as much venom into your words as you could muster. “That this is love? That what you’ve done to me- to us- is anything but a twisted game now?”
Barty’s grip tightened, his fingers digging into your waist just enough to remind you of his strength. The smile on his lips faded, replaced by something darker, something far more dangerous.
“Careful,” He warned, his voice dropping to a whisper, a quiet menace laced in his tone. “You’re upset. I’ll forgive it this time, but don’t mistake my patience for weakness. I’ve come too far, sacrificed too much, to lose you now.”
You bit the inside of your cheek, forcing yourself to stay still. Reacting would only make things worse. He thrived on control, on watching you squirm under the weight of his presence. You couldn’t give him that satisfaction- not now.
“What do you want?” You asked again, your voice calmer this time, though the ice in your tone was unmistakable.
He tilted his head, a flash of amusement returning to his features. “You. Her. Us. Isn’t that obvious by now?”
“There is no us, Barty,” You said through clenched teeth, daring to step out of his grasp. This time, he let you, though his gaze never left you, sharp and predatory.
“You keep saying that,” He mused, leaning casually against the counter as if he belonged there. Watching as you stayed a foot or so away. As if he was unsatisfied with the distance, he reached forward and pulled you back to him.. “And yet, here we are. You, me, and our perfect little girl.” His smile returned, sinister and self-assured. “I hate fighting with you. You know what?” He mumbled, pressing lazy kisses up from your neck to your cheek. With all your fight you couldn't bring yourself to attempt to push him away again.
Because despite everything, he was still the man you loved more then life sometimes. The only person you'd ever care more for now- was the very person tying you to him.
It was the same game every time. Barty would find you, tearing through the fragile walls of peace you’d built, leaving only fragments of the life you’d tried to carve out without him. He’d remind you of who he was- not just with his suffocating eyes or possessive touches, but with the way he’d command your space, your air, your very existence. He loved you the way a bonfire devours kindling, bright and all-consuming, but he swore you were the creatures he warmed by his flames.
In truth, Barty was a forest fire. Unrelenting, destructive, impossible to escape. He touched every tree but left none standing. He created a cage of danger, an inescapable labyrinth of fear and passion that kept you tethered to him. And you- trapped between wanting to run and wanting to stay- played right into his hands every time.
The moment you found a new place to call home, he would be there, clawing his way back into your life as if he had every right to. He’d paw at you like a man starved, eyes ravenous, hands desperate to feel every inch of you again. He’d spoil your daughter rotten, making her laugh and smile in ways that made you both grateful and bitter all at once. And then, when he’d gotten what he wanted, he’d leave.
Every time. He’d leave.
To fight a war against the very thing he swore to love.
And yet, it wasn’t the war that broke you. It was the time in between- the stolen mornings, the whispered promises, the moments where you allowed yourself to believe he could change.
Because between the fights, between the harsh hands and the soft touches, you would melt. You would dissolve into the girl you once were, blinded by the love you still harbored for the boy he used to be. The boy who worshipped you with a ferocity that made you feel invincible. The boy who told you he would destroy anyone who dared to harm you, even as he slowly became the very thing you feared.
And somehow, in the fleeting moments of quiet, you still loved him.
The realization burned like a curse, hotter and sharper than any spell. Because even now, as you stood in the kitchen with his shadow still lingering in on the counter you clung to- as he continued to trial his lazy kisses across your skin, your heart betrayed you. It clung to the memory of his laugh, his touch, the way he’d hold you like you were his whole world.
Your heart ached with a contradiction you couldn’t reconcile, the tangled knot of love and fear twisting tighter with every lazy kiss Barty trailed along your neck. His lips were soft, familiar, stirring a warmth you hated yourself for feeling. Even as your mind screamed at you to pull away, to fight, to remind him that he had no place here, your body betrayed you, frozen under the weight of his presence.
He whispered something, too low for you to hear, his breath brushing against your ear. It didn’t matter what he said; the words were always the same. Sweet nothings designed to make you forget the darkness he carried, the danger he brought into your life.
Your hands gripped the counter tighter, your knuckles white as you tried to ground yourself. But his voice, his touch, the intoxicating familiarity of him- it was suffocating.
“I miss this,” Barty murmured, his tone deceptively gentle as his hand slid from your waist to rest against your hip. “I miss you.”
You closed your eyes, willing the tears threatening to spill to stay where they were. He didn’t deserve them. Not anymore.
“You don’t get to say that,” You whispered, your voice trembling despite your efforts to keep it steady. “You don’t get to miss me, Barty. Not after everything you’ve done.”
He paused for a moment, his lips hovering just above your skin. “Everything I’ve done,” he repeated slowly, as if the words themselves amused him. “Everything I’ve done has been for you. For us. For that perfect little girl you gave me- thank you.” He breathed, low and condescending, even as you felt his lips curl into that familiar sweet smile. “Thank you for her.”
“Fuck you.” You hissed, tears finally slipping past your eyes. “You don't get to thank me. How dare you-”
"Momma? Daddy?"
The small voice cut through the tension like a spell, making both of you freeze. Your daughter stood in the doorway, clutching her stuffed owl, her eyes wide with curiosity and a touch of worry.
Barty turned first, his entire demeanor softening in an instant. The dangerous glint in his eyes disappeared, replaced by warmth and affection so convincing it made your stomach churn.
"Hey, princess," he cooed, crouching to her level. "What are you doing out here? Didn't I tell you to keep practicing your tea party skills?"
Ophelia tilted her head, looking between the two of you. "You were shouting," she said simply, her tiny voice laced with innocence. "Are you and Mommy mad?"
Your throat tightened, and you struggled to find the words, but Barty was faster.
"Of course not, darling," he said, his tone dripping with sweetness as he reached out to her. She took his hand without hesitation, allowing him to pull her closer. "Mommy and I were just talking about grown-up things. Boring, silly stuff, nothing to worry about."
You wanted to scream. To contradict him.
You hated it. How well he treated her, how much of a father he could be. You knew it had to be some form of healing for him, wanting to give his daughter the father he never had. But it didn’t make it any easier for you to watch. It didn’t make it easier to stomach how easily he could shift from the storm that haunted your nights to the warm, doting father who seemed so perfect in her eyes.
"Mommy?" Ophelia’s voice pulled you back to the present, her wide, curious eyes locked on yours. She had Barty’s eyes, that same piercing gaze that could see straight through you. It was both beautiful and heart breaking, knowing what those eyes had seen before they became hers.
You forced yourself to smile, though it felt as fragile as glass- quickly brushing away your tears in hopes she didn't see them. "No, sweetheart," You cooed, your voice soft but tight. "Mommy and Daddy aren’t mad. Daddy’s just being… silly, as usual."
She giggled, the sound like bells in the tense air. Barty gave her a conspiratorial wink, as if the two of them shared some secret that didn’t include you. It made your skin crawl but your heart throb all the same. This wasn't fair.
"See, angel? Everythings alright.” Barty scooped her up effortlessly, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. His expression softened further, the love in his eyes so genuine it made your heart ache. “Mommy just worries too much sometimes,” He teased with a gentle laugh, brushing a stray curl out of Ophelia’s face. “But you don’t need to worry, do you? Daddy’s here to take care of everything.”
Ophelia rested her head against his shoulder, her small fingers clutching his collar. “Promise?” She asked softly, her innocent trust making your chest tighten.
“I promise,” He replied, his voice warm and soothing. His eyes flicked back to you, the unspoken challenge still lingering beneath his tenderness. “Daddy always keeps his promises, doesn’t he?”
You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. Instead, you swallowed the lump in your throat and turned away, busying yourself with the kettle on the counter. Anything to avoid the sight of them together, to ignore the knot of guilt and helplessness that twisted tighter in your chest with every word.
“Daddy,” Ophelia murmured, her voice muffled as she nuzzled into his neck. “Will you stay this time?”
Your breath hitched, your fingers trembling as you gripped the edge of the counter. You dared to glance over your shoulder, catching the way Barty’s expression softened further. For a fleeting moment, there was no malice in his eyes- only love, raw and unfiltered.
“For as long as I can, my little star,” He said softly, pressing a kiss to her hair.
She beamed at him, her giggles filling the room again as he twirled her around, the tension momentarily forgotten. But as you watched, the weight of reality settled heavily on your shoulders. This was the game he always played- pulling you in, wrapping you in the warmth of a family you desperately wanted to protect, only to remind you of how fragile it all was.
“Ophelia,” You called, your voice gentle and thick. “Are you hungry, baby?”
Ophelia perked up at the sound of your voice, turning her head just enough to look at you over Barty’s shoulder. “Yes, Mommy!” She chirped, her stuffed owl clutched tightly in one hand. “Can we have pancakes? The ones with the happy faces?”
You forced a smile, nodding as you stepped toward the pantry. “Of course, sweetheart. Go wash your hands first, okay? And don’t forget to set up your tea party things for later.”
She wriggled out of Barty’s arms with the unbridled energy only a child could have, her little feet padding across the floor as she darted out of the kitchen. Her laughter echoed down the hall, leaving a momentary warmth in its wake that quickly dissipated as you felt Barty’s gaze settle on you again.
You didn’t look at him. Instead, you busied yourself with gathering the ingredients for pancakes, focusing on the mundane task like it was the only thing tethering you to reality.
“She’s growing up so fast,” Barty murmured, his tone soft but pointed. “Every time I see her, she’s more like you. Stubborn, sharp, and so full of life.”
You bristled at his words but didn’t respond, your hands steady as you set a mixing bowl on the counter.
“But she has my eyes,” He continued, stepping closer, his voice lowering to that dangerous, familiar drawl. “Doesn’t she?”
You slammed the whisk down a little harder than intended, finally turning to face him. “What do you want, Barty?” you demanded a final time, your voice low and sharp. “You’ve played the loving father card. You’ve made your presence known. What’s next? What do you think this is going to accomplish?”
He tilted his head, studying you with that infuriating smirk that never quite reached his eyes. “Accomplish?” he echoed, as though the very word amused him. “Oh, love, this isn’t about accomplishing anything. This is about being where I belong. With my family.”
“This isn’t your family,” You shot back, the venom in your voice unmistakable. “You don’t get to waltz in and pretend you belong here, not after everything you’ve done.”
His expression darkened, the playful edge to his smirk hardening into something colder. Then, slowly, he smiled. That same boyish charming smile you always thought to be true. He stepped behind you, running his palms down your arms with a low sigh. “I really do hate fighting you, star.”
His hands slid down your arms, his touch deceptively gentle, but his grip firm enough to remind you of the power he held. You froze as Barty leaned in closer, his breath warm against your ear.
"I hate it," he murmured, his voice soft, yet laced with something darker. "I hate how stubborn you are, how you make me work so hard to remind you of what we have."
You gritted your teeth, refusing to look at him, to meet those piercing eyes that could always see straight through you. “What we had,” you corrected coldly, though your voice trembled.
He chuckled, a low sound that sent a shiver down your spine. “You can say that as much as you want,” he said, his fingers trailing down your sides to your waist, holding you in place. “But we both know it’s not true. We still have it. You feel it every time I’m near, don’t you? Just like I do.”
“Let go of me,” you whispered, your voice breaking under the weight of his presence. You hated how weak you sounded, how easily he unraveled you.
But Barty didn’t let go. Instead, he turned you to face him, his hands settling on your hips as his stormy eyes bore into yours. "You’ve given me the best gift, love,” he said, his tone softening as his gaze flicked toward the hallway where Ophelia had disappeared. “Her. You. You’re my everything. Both of you. And you know that.”
Your throat tightened, tears threatening to spill as his words pierced through your defenses. “You don’t get to say that,” you choked out. “You don’t get to act like you’re some devoted father when you’re-” Your voice cracked, and you bit down hard on your lip, desperate to hold yourself together. “You’re the reason I had to run. The reason she’s in danger.”
“In danger?” Barty repeated, his voice sharp now, his hands tightening on your hips. “You think I’d ever let anything happen to either of you? Do you really believe I’d let anyone touch my family?”
“You’ve already put us in danger,” you shot back, your anger flaring despite the tears threatening to fall. “Your choices, your loyalty to him- you’ve made us targets, Barty. Don’t pretend you haven’t.”
His jaw clenched, his eyes darkening as he leaned in closer. “Everything I’ve done has been for you,” he said, his voice low and fierce. “For us. I took that mark to protect you. I fought for a place in his world so he wouldn’t touch you or her. Do you know what I’ve sacrificed to keep you safe?”
“You don’t get to use that as an excuse,” you hissed, tears streaming freely now. “You don’t get to justify everything you’ve done by pretending it was for me. You made your choices, Barty. You chose him over me. Over us.”
His hands moved to cradle your face, his thumbs brushing away your tears even as his grip felt possessive, inescapable. “I chose you,” he insisted, his voice trembling with a rare vulnerability. “Every single time, I chose you. And I’d do it again, star. I’d do anything for you.”
“Then let me go,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “Let me live my life. Let me protect her.”
“I can’t do that,” He said, shaking his head as his forehead pressed against yours. “You’re mine. Both of you. And I won’t let you take her- or yourself- away from me again.”
The weight of his words settled heavily in the space between you, suffocating and undeniable. You hated how your heart ached at the raw desperation in his voice, how a part of you wanted to believe him, to give in like you always did.
“You always do this,” you whispered, your voice cracking. “You make me forget how much I hate you.”
He smiled faintly, his lips brushing against your temple in a touch so tender it made your chest ache. “That’s because you don’t hate me, love. You never have. And you never will.”
You wanted to scream, to push him away, but your body betrayed you, leaning into his touch as your tears soaked into his shirt. “This isn’t fair,” you choked out, your voice muffled against him.
“No,” he agreed, his arms wrapping around you as if to shield you from the very chaos he’d brought into your life. “But I’ll make it right, star. I’ll prove to you that this is where you’re meant to be. Where we’re meant to be.”
And as much as you wanted to fight, as much as you wanted to push him away and reclaim the life you’d fought so hard to build, a part of you- the part that had always belonged to him- knew he was right.
Because no matter how far you ran, no matter how hard you fought, Barty Crouch Jr. would always find his way back to you.
And you would always let him in.
Worst Fear (Dark Coriolanus snow x reader)
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(Summary: After you leave Coriolanus after the last straw you had you take your son and the rebels attack and kidnap your son.)
Masterlist : Request Info
Word Count:1.3k
(Warnings: kidnapping, Dark! Coriolanus, a bit messed up at the end, angst!, Lucy Gray mentioned, cheating, manipulating, murder, NOT Fully proffread. Think that’s if?)
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It was a beautiful spring day in the capital so you decided to take Cassian and go look at the little out door market. It's been a little over a month since you left Coriolanus.. or was trying to leave. He hasn't left you alone and his peacekeepers always not that far from you. Tracking you with every step.
The one time you had lunch with your friend from the Academy Flint and not long after you got back from said lunch who was at your apartment threatening you. Then a few days later he was announced dead. You felt absolutely sick that the man you’d once loved and trusted did this.
You maybe wondering why Y/n had left him. Well the secrets, the lies. What he was doing to others... You didn't trust him. Especially after you had found Lucy Grays Earring. You always had your suspicions but it wasn't until you found the earring and a song that she had wrote just for him. That was the last straw. After that you had packed your and Cassians things when Coriolanus was working but before you left you made sure to put the items on his desk waiting for him like Lucy Grays ghost that has been haunting him. Maybe it was ignorant but you could've honestly cared less. You weren't going to live in something that had a ghost... something that was a lie...
"Mama look!" Cassian shouted tugging the hem of your dress snapping you out of your thoughts as he pointed over to a stall in the market that was selling to no surprise flowers. "Can we please go look at them."
"Of course my love. Just let me pay for this and we will." Y/n said smiling down at her son, Cassian huffed before wondering off around the other side of the stall they were currently at.
"Alright Cassia-" Y/n started but froze not seeing him. She then looked over at the flower stall to see him nowhere.
"Cassian!" She called out looking around the stalls.
"Excuse me have you seen my son Cassian? He was wearing a little brown coat?." Y/n asked a lady passing by. She hesitantly shook her head.
"Cassian!" Y/n yelled. Her throat tightening up as she was realising the horror of the situation. Her hand went over her mouth as she let out a sob.
"Mrs.Snow?" A peacekeeper asked. Emme looked up with tears in her eyes.
"I-it's Cassian.." She grabbed on to his arms as she shook he gave her a concerned look. "Madam-" "Cassians missing.. I-I think h-he's been kidnapped."
The peacekeeper straightened before going over to a group of other peacekeepers notifying them telling one to tell Snow and one to be there for her as the rest and more look for him.
A few moments later, Coriolanus showed up in a mad dash mode going straight to you and taking you home so you would be safe and nothing would happen to you. Where a peacekeeper awaited to get more information.
"Okay, where gonna need a description of what he was wearing." A peacekeeper asked. Y/n let out a shaky sigh.
"He was wearing a little brown coat with a white shirt and tailored jeans with stitching on them. And black shoes." Y/n said shaking as her voice broke.
The peacekeeper gave her a sad look before nodding and paging the others telling them the description and to fan out. As the peacekeeper and Coriolanus turned back she was gone.
Y/n found herself in Cassians room with her heart in hand. Thinking maybe if she'd stay.. he would be here.. he would be home.
Coriolanus came into his son's room. Where he found you sitting on Cassian's bed holding his favorite stuffed animal.
"They're still looking for him." Coriolanus
"You should've been there..to protect him.." Y/n whispered, Coriolanus looked at you.
"You should've been there... and I shouldn't have left.." She said tears streaming down her face. Coriolanus tried to reached out to her.
She moved away bringing the stuffed animal to her chest. Coriolanus reached out again bringing her into an embrace as she sobbed into his shoulder.
"I-I can't lose him.. he's all I have left.." Y/n said pulling back slightly only for him to pull her back into the embrace.
"You're not going to lose him. I promise. We- I will find him." Coriolanus vowed.
"Sir." Coriolanus looked up to see one of the peacekeepers. He nodded to him.
"I have to go talk with them.." Coriolanus murmured to you. You sniffed before pulling away but he grabbed your hand. "Come with me.." he whispered.
You nodded an okay not wanting to be alone. Taking his hand making your way to his office.
"Mama!" You heard a yell. Y/n looked over to see Cassian letting go of Coriolanus's hand. "Baby."
She let out a cry of relief as she ran over to her son and picking him up. Holding him close to her chest and placing a kiss on his forehead. Tears falling down her face as she thanked the heavens that he was safe and sound.
Coriolanus, told the peacekeepers to bring the one that took him to the ward and kill the others. They nodded and left to do their duty.
Y/n turned around feeling Coriolanus's presence and turned around to his embrace. His arms immediately wrapping around her and kissing the top of her head.
"I-I'm so sorry. What happened to you?" Y/n said/asked between sobs.
"It's okay.. everything's okay now.." Coriolanus said kissing your hair as he held you both close.
It wasn't long before Cassian fell asleep in your arms exhausted from the day but finally safe in his mother's arms.
"I'll have one of the staff send for your stuff to bring it back home." Coriolanus said, you nodded to exhausted and shook up to answer. "Hey look at me." You sighed tears slipping out as you looked at him.
"He's okay. He's safe. Your safe. I will make sure this NEVER happens to any of you again. Okay? I promise" Coriolanus assured, y/n nodded as silent tears fell. He gave you kiss on your head.
"Why don't you both go to bed. I'll be there in a minute." Coriolanus said. She gave a look. "I promise." She sighed to exhausted to argue or stay as she held Cassian in her arms and leaving to the bedroom.
~~~~
"I told you to scare her. NOT to take my child from her-from US." Coriolanus seethed at the ragged man who he had hired to scare you so you would come back to him.
"I did what you asked me to do." He said in pain from the whips from the peacekeepers.
"No." The man looked at him in horror as his tone turned even more darker and sinister like.
"No you didn't. You touched what's mine. You don't touch what's mine. Not my girl and certainly NOT my child." Coriolanus seethed. Turning to the peacekeepers.
"Make sure he pays for what he's done and make sure he's NEVER seen agin." He ordered, the peacekeepers bowed their heads understanding what he exactly meant as Coriolanus left the last thing heard before the door shut was a loud curdling scream.
~~~~
He made his way to the their bedroom to see
y/n laying on her side with Cassian asleep next to her and her arms wrapped around him holding him close. Coriolanus went up to her sleeping form his finger brushing against her cheek.
"I told you before I'd never let you go.. and I'm never having you leave again.." He whispered before bending down placing a kiss on her forehead and taking a whiff of her hair. Before discarding his day outfit leaving him in nothing but his boxers and lose white tank top. Slipping into the bed finally having his wife and child back. Never planing on let them escape his grasp again..
Based on this ask
WARNING ⚠️ Coriolanus Snow is his own warning, manipulation, Dark!Coriolanus Snow, Gave Coriolanus Snow a middle name for the sake of the last scene in the story
Growing up, it was always Coriolanus, Sejanus, and you. You three were always friends. And then one day, Sejanus started to see you as more than a friend and admitted his crush on you, which caused you to become a couple. But while you two were navigating your blossoming feeling for each other, you remained close friends with Coryo.
Maybe too close, considering you did some things with him that you probably should've done with Sejanus…
In fact, Coriolanus was both your best friend and Sejanus' best friend. Which was both weird and awkward when it came to couple fights, since both you and Sejanus would run to Coryo with your problems about each other. The blonde boy always took your side though.
ALWAYS
But maybe that was because of how he felt for you…
And when Coriolanus was caught cheating to save Lucy Gray, who both you and Sejanus thinks he fell for (if you only knew who Coriolanus truly loved, you'd shit a brick), and sentenced to serve 20 years as a Peacekeeper, well your boyfriend, Sejanus, decided to enlist and go with him. That was a hard pill to swallow, but at least you're able to say your goodbyes to Sej. With Coryo, well, he was carted off after Dean Highbottom gave him his sentence. It was a damn miracle that Strabo Plinth, Sejanus' Pa, was able to find out what happened to Coriolanus and where he was being sent to.
So, now, you're all alone. Well, not exactly since you do have your mother, Sejanus’ Ma, and the Snow's (Grandma'am and Tigris). But the fact was that you felt like you're alone. Your older brother's a peacekeeper that’s an officer in 12 and he promised you that he'd look out for your boys. For your best friend, Coryo, and your fiance (yes, Sejanus asked you to wait for him and gave you a ring).
You write to them all the time, call them whenever you can too. And every time the phone rings, you run to it like you're in a marathon (your mother just rolls her eyes at you and puffs on her cigarette from her spot on the tattered sofa) to talk to whichever boy was able to call. Sometimes it's your brother calling; he usually teased you for the deflated tone he gets whenever you always tell him, “Oh, Rein, it's just you.”
Coriolanus was packing up his things, Sejanus' things too, since he was leaving. Headed to District 2 for Officer training. He figured that he'd hold onto his friend’s things until he was able to return to the Capitol to give them back to the Plinths. There was also a trinket in Sejanus' lockbox that you have him; Coryo knew he'd have to give that back too.
“Snow, I haven't told my sister about Plinth yet.” A voice rang out in the barracks accompanied by the sound of boots heavily hitting the floor.
Standing up and turning to look at your older brother, Rein, Coriolanus knowingly told him, “You want me to do it.”
“You're her best friend; was also best friends with Plinth, so I think the news about what happened should come from you.”
The platinum blonde nodded. “I'll tell her once I'm settled in 2; have a chance to use the phone.”
“They were engaged, you know.” Rein told your best friend, to point out how serious things were with you and Sejanus; how serious everything is now surrounding the topic of his death.
Coriolanus did know that, and he hated that. He hates how Sejanus slipped a ring on your finger; convinced you to wait 20 whole fucking years for him.
“Yes, I know.”
“Just, let her down gently about this. You're her best friend; you know how much he meant to her.”
“I'll do everything in my power to help her during her grieving period, you have my word.” Coriolanus assured your brother. And he meant it to, he was going to do everything in his power to help you; make you move on.
It turns out that Coriolanus didn't get sent to District 2 for officers training after all, but sent back to the Capitol. Well, he was actually summoned back by Dr. Gaul herself. He had a private meeting with her and learned he was being honorably discharged and that Strabo Plinth was making him his heir all in the wake of Sejanus death. All because he sided with the Capitol, turned in his best friend as a traitor to the nation.
But, was Sejanus truly his best friend? No, not really. Now, you on the other hand…you're his real best friend. Oh, and you're also the girl he's going to marry now that your pesky fiance's out of the way.
So, after his meeting with Dr. Gaul, Coriolanus went straight to your apartment- on the 8th floor of his Corso building.
He hopes that your mother won't answer. Coriolanus doesn't particularly care for Helenium. Doesn't respect her despite the fact that she's your mother. Much to his relief, then the door opened you're the one standing in the threshold.
“Coryo! You're back?” You exclaim, jumping him and wrapping your arms tightly around his tall, sinewy body- as if he'll disappear if you don't hold him.
Coryo found himself relaxing in your arms as he wrapped his around you; pulling you tighter against him. He buried his nose in your hair, inhaling the smell of vanilla and…oh yes, how fitting, roses. Seems like in his absence you've missed him so much that you bought a new shampoo to remind him of you.
Don't even try telling him that Sejanus bought it for you before he left. He won't believe it. He's such a narcissist, obsessive, possessive bastard that Coryo will believe his own delusions before your truth.
Better get used to that, cause you're in it for the long haul now…
“Yea, I'm back, darling.” Coryo replied, relishing in your intoxicating scent. A scent that he'll have by his side for the rest of his life now.
Pulling back slightly and looking up at him hopefully, you ask, “Is Sej with you?”
Coriolanus' face fell (an act, feigning sadness- but you didn't know that) and he told you, “I'm so sorry, darling, but he's gone.”
“What do you mean ‘he’s gone’, Coryo?” You asked, desperately hoping that he didn't mean what you thought he meant. That your fiance wa-asnt dead…
“Y/N, little dove, maybe we should go inside; sit down.”
And that's when you knew what he meant by ‘hes gone’. Sejanus was dead and Coriolanus was at your door delivering the news because it'd be best if it came from him. Your best friend, Sejanus’ best friend, the man who understood how this would break you.
“No! No-no-no! No…” You cried. “He can't be dead, Coryo. I was gonna wait for him- he can't be dead! He promised me…”
“Shh…” Coryo wrapped his long arms around you, pulling you tightly to his chest; letting your tears stain his grey dress uniform. “I got you, baby. I got you.” He softly whispered.
You didn't even notice the new endearment that he just used for you. No, you’re too caught up in your grief that it went right over your head.
But now Coriolanus Snow, new heir to the Plinth fortune (unknown to you) is calling you baby. His baby. Oh, how you don't even stand a chance. He's already got you stuck in his web, the name baby is just the beginning.
Coryo's been wiggling his way into your life under the guise of being your shoulder to cry on. He claims that the two of you can grieve together, since the both of you loved Sejanus in your own ways. You as a lover and him as a brother.
Yea…
Coriolanus loved Sejanus like a brother alright…
Like Cain loved Abel!
The more time you spent with the platinum blonde the more you grew dependent on him- emotionally. But you weren't aware that Coryo's become your emotional support animal.
No…
But your mother, well she noticed. She noticed and she doesn't like it. Doesn't think it's appropriate.
No…
Not with how you spend more nights with Coriolanus in his Penthouse then in your own 8th floor Corso apartment, or how you hang on every word; every move the platinum blonde man makes. No, your mother thinks you shouldn't be so dependent on the angelic looking devil.
But your mother's never liked Coryo. She's always had a bad feeling about him. The fact that he both looked and acted like his late father, General Crassus Snow, unnerved her. Made your mother dislike him; perhaps even fear for your soul when you're around him.
So, one day when you walk thru the door of your mother's apartment, Coriolanus right behind you with a couple of shopping bags in his hand (he'd taken you on a shopping spree to get a few things for the upcoming fall semester of the University. Yes, he convinced Strabo to pay for your tuition as well as his.) she rounded on you, not holding back her shame, displeasure, and disappointment.
“How can you just galavant around with the devil himself when you should be mourning? Mourning the very man that Peacekeeper Pete over here prolly had a hand in stringing up!” Your mother shrieked, waving her cigarette holder in your face as Coriolanus kicked the door shut behind you both with the heel of his black floor shines.
“Mother…” You heavily trailed off, feeling guilt start to weigh on your chest. What would Sejanus think right now if he saw you, only a couple months after his death, seemingly moving on with his best friend?
For fuck’s sake, you took off your ring last night, stayed the night with Coryo in his bed, fucked him too.
Gosh…you're such a bad person, aren't you?
And Coryo…taking on the burden of loving you can't be easy. Trying to fulfill some duty to his best friend. But your mother's accusing words- claiming that he had a hand in Sej’s death, hurt worse than if she would've stabbed your eyeball out with a fork.
Coriolanus' icy eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched. He appeared at your side, shoving the bags into your hands, only to seethe, “Don't you dare shame us for healing and finding a shred of happiness during our horrible time, Helenium. We both loved Sejanus; both lost him.”
“Oh, yes, I can see that you're healing just fine. Is rolling around in the sheets apart of that healing process too? And don't deny it, my daughter wouldn't be so far up your ass and spending night after night at that penthouse of yours unless you're giving her a dicking.”
Your lips quivered and you started to cry. A down right ugly cry full of guilt. Your mother's words cut you right to the bone like a sharp blade.
Coriolanus, seeing you crying your beautiful eyes out, decided then and there to take you away from your mother's apartment.
Forever.
“You’ve gone too far, Helenium. Saying such vile things.” Coriolanus icily told your mother. Wrapping his arms around you, pulling you protectively into his chest, he tenderly told you, “You're coming with me, my darling. I'm not going to stand for you living in such hostile conditions with you mother.”
You felt so hurt by your mother's words that you just nodded into Coryo's chest, clutching the handles of the bags tightly, as he lead you out the door.
Your mother looked so furious, so betrayed. She also couldn't believe what just happened. That you let Coriolanus Snow manipulate you into blinding yourself from the blunt truth she was telling you. That you believed him when he painted her out to be the villain.
A few months later a beautiful June wedding was held. Right after the end of the University’s spring semester. It was infact your wedding to Coryo, the man that had helped you heal and fall in love again. The man that had broken your wings by sending your fiance to the hanging tree, only to bury himself deep into your skin- making you dependent on him to the point that he set your broken wings; made you love him.
And when you walked down the aisle of the rose gardens Coriolanus had constructed in the park you both played in as children, well, not one of your remaining blood relatives were there. Your mother wasn't invited and your brother's invitation was revoked when he requested to bring his girl with him- a petite thing he met at the Hobb im District 12.
Coriolanus wasn't going to let your mother ruin his wedding day by objecting; he wasn't going to let your brother bring his ratty district whore to his wedding either.
No, his wedding to you would be flawless. Would be everything that he's ever dreamed of.
Too bad that you couldn't see how he manipulated you during your grieving state to fall in love with him. But did it really matter? You're marrying the man that loves you so much that he's both possessive and obsessive- to the point where he’d kill for you.
Well, he has killed for you. He sent his best friend to the noose in order to claim you for himself.
Isn't that one helluva deep running love…
At least you're marrying a man who's devoted to you, who'll take his vows seriously. At least he'll never forsake you.
But you love him too; even convinced yourself that you love him more then you ever loved your late fiance, Sejanus. You even believe that Sejanus was just puppy love, but Coryo's your true love. That since he was there for you during your grieving period, doing everything in his power to make you happy despite feeling the loss of his best friend, you believe he's the one that's love is eternal- burns bright for you.
If you only knew how bright, how hot his love burns for you…
Well…
It doesn't matter. All that matters is that you and Coryo are in love and swearing yourselves to each other in marriage. That he'll love you, cherish you, protect you; give you children that he'll be a firm, but loving father too- because they'll be your children. All that matters is the vows you swear to each other in front of the officiant (none other than Dr. Gaul herself), the rings (that had once belonged to his parents) that you slip onto each other's fingers, and the kiss you share when Coryo's prompted to kiss his bride.
“And now I pronounce to you, Mr. and Mrs. Coriolanus Xerxes Snow.” Dr. Gaul announced to the guests gathered around to witness you and Coryo’s marriage underneath a white gazebo with red, white, and pink roses entwining around it.
There's an old song from a pre-Panem band that goes:
… So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again
Learn to live so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let us in
Ironically, it fits your situation with your Coryo perfectly.
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hii 💌 can I request some angst with president!coryo & victor!reader, same plot line as tbosas basically, he was once her mentor & now she’s his first lady
except the quarter quell with former victors happens earlier & he deliberately leaves her name out but she ends up volunteering instead
his first lady
coriolanus snow x victor!reader
synopsis: after years of hiding from the public, ashamed of your past and your husband, you discover the only way to end this, is with you.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
he had lost his mind.
in the five years since your games, you had married the man who had given dr. gaul the ideas and tools to continue with the annual hunger games. he had also been the man to mentor you, showing you to an audience to get them to love you, simultaneously he fell in love with you.
he was powerful, you knew you couldn’t reject his advances, not while you were stuck behind the bars of the capital zoo. so you held his hand, listened to everything he said, winning as he promised you would.
only then did you hope that his attention on you would end, and you would be free to return home to your district, to put this part of your life behind…
except it haunted you, every day, every waking moment.
you never returned home, you never saw your parents again after being reaped, he became president, and you became his wife; his first lady.
and now, president snow stood on that stage, smile blazing as he announced that the fifteenth annual hunger games would reap its tributes, from the existing pool of victors.
he had truly lost his mind.
you gripped tigris’ arm as you watched coryo on the screen. he had just announced the changes, and you were left shocked.
tigris gulped, “i doubt he would leave your name in there.” she comforted you, “he would never do that-“ she paused, and you knew it was hesitation.
you stared at the screen, watching as the symbol of panem graced the screen, and you knew he would be home soon.
you shook your head, still in disbelief. you didn’t know what to think, coriolanus’ morality scale had gotten worse as the years went by and more power came, you were unsure what he would do to anyone, let alone you.
he loved you, more than you loved him. you never forgave him for what he did to sejanus, and coriolanus knew that, but he had made it known that as long as you were alive, he would never divorce you. his little loose end.
this could be the means to an end. if coriolanus was as smart as he was told, he would leave your name in, hope for the possibility to send you to your death, tying his loose end completely.
tigris stared as you grabbed the tv clicker, clicking the buttons to turn off the awful song that blasted with the logo. it wasn’t working, tigris tried to help you with it but your frustration over the games led you to slam the clicker into the tv screen, promptly breaking the screen.
coriolanus came home to a dark house. all the lights had been shut off, and he could still smell tigris’ perfume, lingering in the living room.
he set his bag down, taking off his coat and laying it down on the couch. he could see light emanating from the bedroom, and he could hear your soft singing.
coryo smiled, slowly walking down the hall, pushing the half cracked door open, seeing you on the bed. your nightshirt hung off your shoulder slightly, and your hair was loose. you looked beautiful, in the dim candlelight.
“my lady.” he greeted softly, bed dipping as he sat on his side. you turned, closing the novel you had been reading. you smiled softly, “coriolanus.” he frowned slightly, going in to give you a kiss, but you turned around to put your book away, effectively dodging his kiss.
“you’re upset.” he knew it immediately, you never called him coriolanus, not unless you were mad at him. usually he was called coriolanus every hunger games, as long as each games lasted. he had known eventually it would start up again, but this was far too early.
you didn’t say anything, opting to shrug as you stood up, pulling the sheets up.
coriolanus watched you get into the bed, snuggling into the snow white sheets, trying to avoid the conversation all together.
coryo stood up, removing his shoes and tie, “you saw the announcement.” he deduced, having put it together from the faint scent of his cousin’s perfume. “i didn’t want you to see it, i wanted to tell you myself-“ he kept undressing, and you sat up abruptly, “you had all morning to tell me what you had planned, but you let me go on about my day, let me think of you fondly and for you to announce that?!” you couldn’t help the tone of voice that you took with him, sometimes he was just irrational that not even you could get through to him.
he laughed softly, “so you wouldn’t have thought of me fondly if i had told you before the rest of the country?” he pulled the sheets on his side of the bed up, pulling them up to his chest as he turned to face you.
your back was resting against the pillows, arms crossed as you continued, “why would you do that, coryo?” your voice cracked, and his expression softened. one of his only weaknesses’ was you crying, whether it was someone else’s fault or his, it was a wretched weakness. “the victors are victors for a reason, why do we have to fight for our lives, all over again? hmm, haven’t we done enough?” you felt tears on your cheek, and you sniffled slightly.
coriolanus shook his head, “y/n, i took your name out.” he grabbed your thigh, “you won’t even have the chance of being reaped. you’ll just stand pretty on stage and watch the others get reaped.”
the others.
“you mean the children that i mentored to fight to the death and win?” you couldn’t see him through the puddles of tears in your eyes. you could only keep crying.
coriolanus stared, watching you sniffle and dab your tears away. he didn’t know what to say. this was his country, but you were his wife.
“just stand there y/n, they’ll be room for tears later.” he spat, and you stared at him in disbelief. coriolanus had become cruel, shrewd in his ways. this was a perfect example of one of the many ways he had changed.
you hauled yourself out of the bed, staring at coriolanus as you stomped out of the room. you had plenty of extra rooms in the house, and decided to go into one, leaving coriolanus to sleep in the bed by himself. he called after you, but you ignored him as you locked the door behind you.
you hadn’t seen so many people gathered in a long time. they stood in rows, long rows that seem to never end from where you stood. you stood next to the other tributes from your district, younger than you, eyes full of pain and sorrow.
the bowls containing their names were placed in front, one for the girls, and another for the boys. you knew your name wasn’t in there, coryo had said, ‘nothings changed’.
you listened carefully as the female victor was announced. valora grove, the young girl who you had just mentored this last hunger games. you watched as she hesitated to step up, face stricken with fear, this was happening to her all over again.
“i volunteer!” you panted, stepping up as you held a hand out, blocking valora from walking any further, “i volunteer as tribute.” you repeated, chest falling heavily as you stared out into the crowd, their faces displaying plain shock.
president snow’s wife, the first lady, the tenth annual hunger games victor, had just volunteered.
coriolanus must’ve just heard the news, because as you stood forward, accepting of what was to come, you were promptly escorted from the stage by peacekeepers, thrown into a car and driven straight back to the capitol.
coriolanus was furious, you knew. you knew your husband better than anyone in the world, better than his own family. he knew you well too, but you knew this was something he hadn’t anticipated, a small crack in his plans.
“you better hope i die.” was the first thing you said to him as the car doors open, coriolanus angrily gripping onto the handle. he stood there, fuming, “why y/n? why would you do that, you know that i can’t-“
“what? stop the games? of course not, that would make you look bad, coriolanus. but that’s exactly why i did it. you have no choice.” one thing that coriolanus had forgotten about you, was that you were smart, and usually, always one step ahead of him.
“i’m still a loose end, president snow.” you reminded him, stuck staring at his piercing blue eyes as his expression warped.
I just reread this I want more to this series so badly!! It literally sits in the back of my mind all the time💀
Shadows of Affection
warnings: none
Coriolanus Snow x reader, slight Felix Ravinstill x reader
Chapter 7: The explosion
authors note/ Hey everyone, Sorry for disappearing for a bit. I've been stuck with writer's block, but I'm getting back on track. Chapter 8 is in the works and should be out soon. Also, sorry if the last chapter was short. Sometimes, ideas come in small packages.Thanks for being patient and supportive. I'd love to hear what you think of the story so far and what you'd like to see in future chapters. Do you prefer Reader with Felix or Corio? Let me know in the comments.
The explosion ripped through the arena, hurling you off your feet and sending you crashing to the ground. The thunderous boom echoed as chaos erupted around you. You grappled to keep your balance, clinging to the trembling earth, desperately trying to push back the rising panic.
Memories of past horrors flooded your mind—the blood, the cold, the fear. You longed for home, for the reassurance of your father's presence, the soothing words that nothing could harm you. Curling into a ball, you sought solace in a moment of vulnerability, praying for the chaos to cease.
Amidst the turmoil, hands reached out, wrapping around you protectively, pulling you close. A voice whispered softly, reassuringly, promising safety in the chaos. Though the thick haze clouded your vision, you recognized the voice instantly. It was Felix.
His presence was a lifeline in the turmoil, a comfort that shone through the darkness. With his arms encircling you, he murmured words of solace, assuring you that you would weather this storm together. And in that moment, his presence felt like a refuge in the midst of chaos.
The deafening silence deceived them, luring them into a false sense of security as you cautiously began to rise. However, the illusion shattered with a final explosion that ripped through the stands above, sending debris, flames, and chaos cascading down upon you.
you stumbled, disoriented, attempting to regain your footing when a force pushed you, sending you sprawling to the ground. The impact slammed your head against the unforgiving surface, sending you spiraling into unconsciousness. In the haze between consciousness and oblivion, you caught fleeting echoes of someone calling your name.
When you emerged from the void, you found yourself in a starkly bright room, disoriented and groggy. But before you could make sense of your surroundings, darkness enveloped you once more.
As you gradually came to, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the room. Despite the light, your body ached, and each movement was a struggle. An uninjured Sejanus sat nearby, concern etched across his face. When he asked how you were, you attempted to sit up, wincing at the pain.
"Where's my mother? Did she come?" you inquired, scanning the room with a glimmer of hope.
Sejanus shook his head, his expression turning solemn. "No, Y/n. I'm the only one who's been here."
your heart sank at his response, but you pressed on, asking about Coriolanus.
"He took a hard hit, but the doctors are optimistic. He'll pull through."
When you inquired about Felix, Sejanus' demeanor turned even graver. "He's not doing well. He's in surgery right now."
you felt a pang of guilt, realizing that Felix had saved you, or at least you suspected he did. "He pushed me out of the way," you whispered, a mix of gratitude and concern coloring your words.
Sejanus explained the aftermath of the explosions, the chaos that had unfolded. "They didn’t know what triggered the bombs. The losses shook the Capitol. The casualties... they're devastating."
Your heart weighed heavily with the toll of the event. "How bad is it?" you asked, bracing yourself for Sejanus' response.
"District 6 tributes are gone. The Ring twins too," he recounted with a grimace. "Androcles Anderson and Gaius Breen are in critical condition. Gaius lost both his legs. It's a mess, Y/n.”
If Dr. Gaul wanted a makeover for the Hunger Games, she’d gotten it. You thought, Shortly after Sejanus departed, the doctor arrived with news about your injuries. According to them, the blow to your head required monitoring but wasn't too severe.You also had a bruised rib, prompting them to recommend a few days' stay for observation.
The following afternoon, a parade of well-wishers started with Festus, who bore a sling on his arm and a few stitches on his cheek from a shard of metal. He shared the news that the Academy had canceled classes, but students were expected to attend the Rings' funeral the next morning.
After a while, Sejanus made another appearance, this time with a stack of his mother's delicious meatloaf sandwiches. He stayed for a brief visit, offering comfort in the form of familiar homemade food, before taking his leave.
after a while of sitting in your hospital room and thinking you decide its finally time to do what you've been avoiding
As you entered Felix's hospital room, you found him lying there, seemingly in a peaceful slumber. Despite the visible cuts and bruises on his tan face, the nurse had informed you that he had already undergone surgery but had yet to wake up. A mixture of relief and uncertainty washed over you—glad that he wasn't awake to witness your vulnerable state, unsure of what to say to him even if he were.
You approached the bed and settled beside him, your hand reaching out to gently brush his dark hair away from his face. The tenderness in Felix's nature had always struck you, a stark contrast to your own soul tainted by the deeds and pain you had encountered. Though you cared for Felix, you grappled with the complexity of your feelings. Did you truly love him, or did you just love the way he made you feel.
You sat there, your lips forming a soft frown, eyes brimming with unshed tears you were determined not to let fall. "Oh, Felix," you whispered.
As you sat in silence, the sterile hospital room offered little solace as your thoughts drifted back to a time when everything seemed simpler. You reminisced about the days when You and Felix were just children, blissfully unaware of the harsh realities that awaited them in the years to come. Felix, always the sweet boy, had been a constant presence in your childhood. You thought of the innocent days when he used to pick pretty flowers for you, a gesture that somehow always went unnoticed.
You remembered how Felix would blush, a rosy hue spreading across his cheeks whenever you talked to him or merely glanced in his direction. Back then, You hadn't paid much attention to those signs of affection. After all, your focus was firmly fixed on Coriolanus Snow, Your childhood companion.
Your families had been close, Your parents best friends, and the idea of marrying the two of you seemed almost inevitable. You once overheard conversations between your fathers discussing the possibility of a future marriage between the two of you. It now seemed like a silly notion, a relic from a time when life was uncomplicated.
As the war unfolded, your visits to the Snows' penthouse became less frequent. After Coriolanus's mother passed away, those visits ceased altogether. Your own father's death marked a turning point, a moment that shattered the illusions of a carefree childhood. The memories of those simpler times clashed with the harsh reality of the present, leaving you lost in contemplation within the sterile confines of the hospital room.
Shadows of Affection
warnings: death
slow burn Coriolanus Snow x reader, slight Felix Ravinstill x reader
Chapter 16: Aftermath
You wake up feeling dazed, disoriented. The ceiling above you is unfamiliar, high and intricate with golden detailing carved into its moldings. The bed beneath you is too soft, the sheets too smooth, like silk against your skin. You shift slightly, trying to sit up, when an arm tightens around your waist. Your body stiffens.
What the fuck?
Panic shoots through you for a second before last night’s memories come flooding back. The exhaustion. Felix insisting you come home with him. Falling into bed before you could even think twice about it.
Oh no. No, no, no.
You groan internally. You were tired, sure, but how could you have let this happen? Felix’s house. Felix’s bed. Felix’s arms wrapped so tightly around you that escape feels impossible. And when you get home—if you get home—Quincy is going to have a field day. He always does. Though lately, he’s been too busy. You don’t see him as often. You don’t sit down for dinner together. You try to come home after everyone’s asleep and leave before they wake. But he’ll know. He always knows. And you have no explanation to give him.
You shift again, trying to pry yourself from Felix’s grasp, but he groans in annoyance and only pulls you closer.
“Felix,” you mutter, voice still rough with sleep. “I have to go.”
He buries his face against your shoulder. “No, no we don’t have to go anywhere,” he mumbles sleepily. “Stay. Let’s get breakfast. Let’s take the day off.”
You shake your head. “I can’t. I really can’t.”
Felix sighs, rubbing at his face before propping himself up on one elbow. “Why?”
You sit up, already scanning the room for your clothes. “I have to talk to Dr. Gaul. She’s going to be expecting me.”
His expression shifts, his easygoing sleepiness fading into something more tense. “Why do you always have to leave?” His voice is sharper than before, tinged with frustration. “Why can’t you just stay with me?”
You glance at him, confused by the sudden shift in tone. “What are you talking about? You know I’m busy. So are you. I can’t just take a day off.”
Felix scoffs, running a hand through his messy hair. “Is it Coriolanus?”
You freeze for a second before rolling your eyes. “Oh, please. You’re being dramatic. This has nothing to do with Coriolanus.”
“It always has something to do with him,” Felix presses, his voice darkening. “I saw it. The way you looked at him.”
You push against his chest, trying to create space between you, but he doesn’t let you. “Felix, you’re blind.”
“Then prove it,” he says. “Stay.” His grip tightens on your wrist. “Stay with me. Stay in bed.” His voice softens. “Please.”
You inhale sharply, heart hammering. “No. I can’t.”
Felix exhales slowly, finally loosening his hold. But even as he releases you, his fingers remain tangled with yours. He always does this—always finds a way to touch you. Whether it’s a hand on your knee, fingers brushing against your wrist, his presence always lingering.
He sits up, watching you as you move around the room, aimlessly searching. “Where are my clothes?” you ask.
“I had them thrown away.”
You turn sharply. “What?”
“They were filthy,” Felix says simply. “They were torn. You weren’t going to wear them again, so I had the maids bring you something new.” He gestures lazily. “They’ll bring it to you in a minute.”
You let out a slow breath, trying not to get more frustrated than you already are. “Fine.”
Minutes later, the maids arrive, carrying a neatly folded dress. You take it, holding it up in front of you. The fabric is luxurious, softer than anything you’d normally wear. The cut is modest—but just barely. If it were any shorter, it would cross the line from refined to provocative.
And it’s white.
You frown. White. You never wear white. It makes you feel like a child bride. And you know, without a doubt, that Felix picked this. He didn’t choose something you’d like—he chose something he would like to see you in.
You slip into the dress, brushing out your hair, trying to ignore the way it fits too perfectly, like it was tailored for you overnight. You stare at yourself in the mirror, lost in thought, when Felix moves behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist. His lips brush against your neck. “Stay,” he murmurs against your skin. “We could be comfortable. Come back to bed.”
You stiffen. His kisses become sloppier, more insistent. You know exactly what he’s trying to do.
“No,” you say firmly, stepping out of his grip.
Felix’s hands drop to his sides, his face darkening. For a second, it looks like he might argue, but instead, he lets out a heavy sigh. “Fine.” His voice is flat. “Call me later.”
You nod, barely listening.
“Call me tonight,” he repeats, watching you carefully. “We’ll go to dinner.”
You exhale. “Okay.”
Felix calls your driver, and soon enough, you’re slipping out of the house, walking through the eerily silent halls of the President’s mansion. It’s strange—so many people live here, so many servants, so many visitors from powerful families, and yet it always feels... empty. Hollow. Like the walls themselves are absorbing all the life inside them.
Finally, you step outside, into the fresh air, and climb into the car waiting for you. As soon as the door shuts, you let your head fall back against the seat and sigh.
You moved quickly through the corridors of the Capitol, your footsteps echoing off the pristine marble floor. The peacekeepers at the entrance barely gave you a glance before granting you access to the underground levels, where Dr. Gaul’s true domain lay.
The air grew colder the deeper you went, the artificial lights casting long, eerie shadows. As you descended, the scent of raw fish curled into your nose, unmistakable and putrid. A sharp chorus of squeals rang out—feeding time. Then, silence.
You swallowed thickly, keeping your eyes forward, pretending you didn’t hear, pretending you didn’t know what happened in these halls. You had always done that, because fear made it easier. Fear kept you from wondering too hard about what went on behind the reinforced glass or what kind of creatures lurked in the shadows of Gaul’s twisted creations. Fear reminded you that if it ever came down to you or them, you would always choose yourself.
When you reached the lab, Dr. Gaul was standing over a steel enclosure, dropping chunks of flesh into it. A wet, slithering sound accompanied each drop, followed by quick, greedy gulps. Your stomach twisted, but you forced yourself to remain composed.
Dr. Gaul turned to you, her smile wide and unnatural. “Oh, my little dove,” she cooed. “How was your little excursion last night?”
Your spine stiffened. “Eventful.”
“Eventful, she says,” Gaul chuckled, tilting her head. “Come, let’s check you up.”
She stepped forward, her gloved hands reaching out to examine you. Cold fingertips brushed against your wrist, then your jaw, tilting your head side to side as Gaul’s grin stretched wider, inspecting you like you were just another one of her projects. You forced yourself not to recoil.
“I started out as a medical doctor, you know,” Gaul said conversationally, stepping back. “Sterile. How awful, you must imagine, to be the first thing a baby sees in this world.” She sighed dramatically. “Parents always expect reassurances, but what can I possibly tell them? How could I know what their children would face?”
You said nothing, but you knew where this was going.
“Like you, last night,” Gaul continued, voice filled with an eerie amusement. “Who would have imagined the darling daughter of Lason Royce, fighting for her life in the Capitol arena? Not him, for one.”
Your lips parted slightly, but you had no response. You barely remembered your father anymore. His face was always a blur, shifting in your memory like a phantom you could never quite catch.
“What was it like?” Gaul asked. “The arena?”
You met her gaze, unwavering. “Terrifying. Just like it was designed to be.”
Gaul let out a laugh. “Yes, indeed.”
You exhaled sharply.
“What about the tributes?” Gaul smirked. “What about them?”
You hesitated.
“What did you think of them, now that their chains were removed? Now that they tried to kill you, not because they had to, but because they wanted to?”
Gaul’s eyes gleamed. “Ah. You’ve seen it, haven’t you?”
You thought back to the escape, to the sheer bloodlust in the tributes’ eyes even after they were free. “I felt like an animal. Like prey being hunted.”
“But you weren’t.”
“No,” you admitted. “But I always am. No matter where I go, I’m always prey.”
Gaul let out a delighted hum, as if you had just said exactly what she wanted to hear. “Mission accomplished, then.”
She walked over to a counter, idly flipping through a file. “That little one from Eight—Snow beat him to a pulp. Now we’ll have to fabricate some lovely tale for Flickerman to spin. What a wonderful opportunity for you.” She glanced up, her grin sharp. “Transformative, wasn’t it?”
You felt the phantom sensation of blood on your skin, the memory of Coryo bashing into that boy’s face over and over again. The sickening crunch, the shiver down your spine. It brought back too many memories—war, home, the never-ending cycle of violence.
Blood. Blood. Blood.
It was all you ever saw.
Gaul tapped her fingers against the counter. “Wasn’t it more than you could’ve hoped for?”
You inhaled slowly. “You needed me to get Sejanus out of the arena, obviously. But you also wanted me to… what? Experience it?”
Gaul’s grin widened.
“Even if it killed me?” Your voice tightened.
“That was a risk.”
“Without the threat of death, what’s the point of a lesson?” Gaul mused. She gestured vaguely. “What happens in the arena, my dear, that is humanity undressed. The tributes. And you. How quickly civilization disappears. All your fine manners, your education, your family background—it all falls away in an instant, revealing what you really are.”
Your stomach twisted, but you weren’t surprised. “And? What was the point? I already knew all this.” Your voice sharpened. “I’ve always known. I’ve seen it before.”
Gaul let out a pleased hum. “I thought you might need a reminder, little dove.” She stepped closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t want you going soft.”
Your jaw clenched.
Gaul tilted her head, watching you carefully. “I need you to realize where you are in this world… and where you will stay if you don’t change it.”
Your breath hitched.
Gaul’s voice turned saccharine, condescending. “You can’t stay my little dove forever.”
Your fingers curled into fists at your sides. You had nothing to say to that. Because deep down, you weren’t sure if you wanted to argue.
Gaul simply smiled and turned away.
The conversation was over. But the lesson lingered.
The main student body had been told to report at 7:45, so the early arrivals consisted of active mentors and a few aides tidying up the hall. You couldn’t help but throw a guilty glance at Juno Phipps, who sat discussing her strategy, knowing she could’ve just slept in. Your thoughts wandered to how they would announce Bobbin’s death and how Coriolanus would react—but you doubted he would care.
Everything from yesterday had already been set up, and since the crowds hadn’t arrived yet, you decided to join Festus. The only thing being served in Heavensbee Hall was tea, which brought grumblings from Festus. “If we have to be here early, you’d think they could at least feed us,” he muttered.
“You’d think,” you replied.
Coriolanus sauntered up beside Festus, casually joining the small group. “What happened to your face?”
“Bike accident,” Coriolanus said loud enough for everyone to hear, his eyes briefly glancing at you. He tossed a bag containing a roll to Festus.
“Thanks, this looks great,” Festus said, digging in immediately.
Conversations continued around you, but you barely paid attention. Your mind drifted, replaying the events of the past few weeks. Your life had suddenly become a living nightmare with the start of the Hunger Games, and it didn’t help that Coriolanus kept making eye contact with you. As the rest of the school arrived and took their seats, you chose to separate from the group, heading toward the game makers’ station to observe behind the screens.
The monitors showed little change—except for the disappearance of Marcus’s body. No one seemed to question it. You assumed it was still by the barricade, where Coriolanus and Sejanus had abandoned it last night, just out of range of the cameras.
At the stroke of eight, the anthem played, and everyone stood. You weren’t much of a singer, so you remained quiet as Lucky Flickerman appeared on the screens, welcoming everyone to Day Two of the Hunger Games.
“While you were sleeping, something pretty important happened,” Lucky announced. “Let’s take a look, shall we?”
The feed cut to a wide shot of the arena before slowly panning in on the barricade. As you expected, Marcus’s body lay nearby, but your stomach twisted when Bobbin’s battered form came into view. He looked much worse than you had imagined—his limbs twisted unnaturally, his swollen face barely recognizable. Coriolanus had really done that to another boy—a young boy. You stole a glance at him, but all you saw was the back of his head. Even from there, you knew he was nervous. He might have seemed like a good liar to everyone else, but you always knew better.
After a long look at the bodies, the show cut back to Lucky, who pondered aloud who might have committed the act. His mood abruptly shifted. “One thing we do know is that we’ve got something to celebrate!”
Confetti rained from the ceiling as Lucky blew wildly on a plastic horn. “We’ve just hit the halfway mark! That’s right—twelve tributes down, only twelve to go!” A string of brightly colored handkerchiefs shot from his sleeve as he swung them around his head, laughing and cheering. When he finally calmed, he adopted a somber expression. “But that also means we have to say farewell to Miss Juno Phipps.”
A man approached Juno’s side to escort her out, but she suddenly spoke up. “Something seems off to me,” she said. “I mean, what’s he doing over there with Marcus’s body? Who moved it? And how did Bobbin end up dead? I can’t even imagine a likely scenario.”
The reporter, intrigued, pressed further. “What exactly would qualify as foul play?”
“I don’t know exactly,” Juno admitted. “But I, for one, would really like to see a replay of last night’s events.”
Good luck with that, you thought. But then the idea lingered. Maybe a recording did exist. Maybe there were two versions—one for the public and another kept private. You’d have to look into it later, though you doubted you could access it or that Dr. Gaul would even keep such a thing.
Juno was dismissed with a patronizing pat on the back, still sparkling with confetti. Lucky, oblivious to her frustration, leaned toward the camera with barely contained glee.
“And now, I suppose you’re all wondering about our extra big surprise! Especially if you’re one of the twelve remaining mentors.”
Your eyebrows furrowed. What the hell was he talking about?
Before you could dwell on it, Lucky bounded across the stage to reveal two men sitting side by side—his father, Strabo Plinth, whose stern expression was as immovable as the granite of his home district, and Sejanus, looking hollow-eyed and stiff.
Lucky took the host chair and patted Sejanus’s leg. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a moment with you yesterday to comment on your tribute’s… unfortunate demise.”
Sejanus merely stared, uncomprehending. Lucky seemed to notice his injuries for the first time. “You look like you’ve been mixing it up yourself.”
“I fell off my bike,” Sejanus rasped.
Two biking accidents in twelve hours? That seemed highly unlikely.
“Ouch! Well, I guess you’ve had some pretty big news to share with us,” Lucky continued, nodding encouragingly.
Sejanus hesitated, while neither he nor his father acknowledged each other. A silent battle raged between them. Finally, Sejanus exhaled. “The Plinth family would like to announce that we will be awarding a full-ride university scholarship to the mentor whose tribute wins the Hunger Games.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Several mentors gasped in delight. You rolled your eyes, knowing that most of them didn’t need the money nearly as much as others did.
As the interview dragged on, your thoughts churned. Sejanus had been right—his father was trying to cover up his son’s disgraceful behavior with a generous bribe. Not that it didn’t merit damage control. You hadn’t heard much gossip about the outburst with the chair yet, but you suspected stories were already spreading.
As the interview ended and the Games were broadcast once again, nothing particularly interesting happened throughout the morning. The tributes seemed hesitant to make any bold moves. Coral and Mizzen roamed together for a while, collecting food and water from their mentors, Festus and Persephone. The two mentors had been strategizing together, and it was clear that Festus had a crush on Persephone. It wasn’t exactly breaking news—he’d harbored feelings for her for a long time. Still, every time you looked at Persephone, you couldn’t help but think of Coriolanus and the story he had told you about her war time stew.
Would you tell one of your close friends that their crush was a cannibal? It seemed unorthodox, even cruel. For all you knew, Persephone herself might not even be aware. But the thought lingered, unsettling you as you moved through the uneventful lunch period. At least, this time, when people sent food or water, the drones didn’t crash. You had one of the other Gamemakers bring you whatever was being served—a small sandwich, nothing remarkable.
Later in the afternoon, You had the Gamemakers reduce the mentor seats to twelve, leaving only space for those whose tributes were still in the Games. “It makes it easier for the audience to keep track of who’s still a contender,” you told them, instructing them to keep removing seats as more tributes fell. A grim game of musical chairs, but with real consequences. The decision seemed to make livia even more bitter, if that was possible. You felt a twinge of sympathy—but only a small one. What caught your attention more was how this change forced Coriolanus closer to Clemencia, who remained scaley, snake-like, and entirely focused on him, her glare never wavering.
As the afternoon stretched on, your exhaustion caught up with you. Your head grew heavier, and at one point, a fellow Gamemaker had to nudge you awake—twice. Perhaps it was fortunate that so little was required of you today, given how last night had nearly killed you.
Tributes remained mostly hidden until late in the day when the Hunger Games finally delivered the kind of action audiences expected. The girl from District 5—a wiry, forgettable thing whose name escaped you—was caught wandering the arena. Lucky Flickerman managed to connect her to her equally forgettable mentor, Iphigenia Moss, the daughter of the man who oversaw agriculture and the distribution of food across Panem.
Contrary to expectations, Iphigenia always seemed on the verge of malnutrition. She had a reputation for giving her school lunches to classmates, sometimes blacking out from hunger. Festus had once mentioned that it was her only form of revenge against her father, though he refused to elaborate. True to form, Iphigenia funneled every bit of food she could to her tribute. But even as the drones made their long trek across the arena, the trio of Coral, Tanner, and Mizzen emerged from the tunnels, hunting.
After a brief chase along the bleachers, they surrounded the District 5 girl. Coral ended it with a trident to the throat, making you cringe.
“Well, that’s that,” Lucky said, unable to recall the girl’s name.
When prompted, Iphigenia had already left the dais. “Her name was Sol. Or maybe Sal,” the reporter said with a shrug.
“Not much more to tell.”
“Nice job getting her to the second day, alibina,” Lucky added.
“It’s Iphigenia,” she corrected over her shoulder as she exited, not bothering to glance back.
“Right,” Lucky continued smoothly. “And that means we’re down to just eleven tributes left!”
Thank God, you thought. I’m one step closer to finally going home.
The rest of the day passed without much excitement, and as you were finally being dismissed—something you were immensely grateful for—Lucy Gray made an entrance.
You groaned aloud as she sprinted out of a tunnel, her braid unraveling, her hair flying wild behind her. In your head, you were already hoping that one of the trio—maybe Coral—would kill her just to get this over with. Then you could finally go home.
But before you could even guess what was chasing her, Jessup staggered out of the same tunnel. At first, you thought he was wounded—maybe he’d been protecting Lucy Gray. They were from the same district, so it made sense that they would have formed a pact. But if they were allies, why had she run?
As the cameras zoomed in, it became clear that Jessup wasn’t injured—he was sick. Stiff, feverish, twitching with erratic movements. He swiped at the sun, crouched, then sprang to his feet again in an unsettling cycle. His behavior made your skin crawl.
Your first thought was poison. Had Coriolanus’s little songbird found a way to get rid of her own ally? But that seemed unlikely. Jessup was a valuable protector, especially with those other tributes prowling around. Any number of things in that arena could have sickened him—contaminated water, spoiled food.
But then, you saw the telltale foam bubbling over his lips.
Oh, God, you thought.
Jessup had rabies.
Rabies had made a comeback in the Capitol during the war, with doctors needed in the field and medical faculties and supply lines compromised by the bombings. Medical treatment had been sketchy for humans, and for a lot of people, it had become essentially nonexistent. Pampered pets were no longer a priority when people couldn’t even afford bread.
How it began remained a matter of debate—an infected coyote from the mountains, a nocturnal encounter with a bat—but the dogs spread it. Most of them were starving, abandoned casualties of the war themselves. From dog to dog, then to people, the violent strain developed with unprecedented speed, killing over a dozen Capitol citizens before a vaccination program brought it under control. You remembered the posters alerting people to the warning signs in both animals and humans, adding just one more potential threat to your world.
And poor Jessup had been bitten—by what, you weren’t sure. But it was on the neck. The quicker the virus reached the brain, the quicker you died. And of course, he was half-starved and weak. Poor Jessup, you thought. Even his death had to be horrible.
The recognition of Jessup’s illness put the audience on edge, setting off a wave of comments thick with fear and revulsion.
“Rabies? How did he get that? Must’ve come from the district.”
“I bet he’s gonna infect the whole city.”
“A little unprecedented, but not after seeing it spread through the city once.”
“The Capitol should just put him down. They knew he had it before he tried to spread it around like some apocalypse.”
The students seemed to draw back into their seats, not wanting to miss anything, but the murmurs of unease were unmistakable. The disease dredged up childhood memories of public warnings, and no one wanted to see its horrors play out again. You stayed silent, watching Jessup zigzag across the arena in Lucy Gray’s direction. There was no telling what was going on in his mind. Under normal circumstances, maybe he’d protect her, maybe not. But he had clearly lost his reason. If she had any sense, she’d run for her life.
The cameras tracked Lucy Gray as she sprinted across the arena, scrambling up the broken wall into the stands. The press box occupied a midway position, somehow spared in the bombings. She stopped a moment, panting, considering Jessup’s erratic pursuit. Then she made for the debris of the nearby concession stand. The skeleton of its frame remained, but the center had been blasted to bits and the roof flung thirty feet away, strewn with bricks and boards. It was an obstacle course as she traveled until she planted herself at the top of the mess. The Gamemakers took advantage of her stillness, zooming in for a close-up.
Much to your delight, she looked like hell. You didn’t know why you disliked her so much—you just did. And you weren’t sure you were ready to tackle the whole of that dislike just yet.
An order for a bottle of water came through from Coriolanus, which you approved with little interest, sending a drone out. Jessup, meanwhile, had made his way across the arena, climbing into the stands after Lucy Gray. His balance wavered as he entered the debris field. He fell twice, with such force that he opened gashes on his knee and temple. The second wound produced a fair amount of blood. He sat, somewhat stunned, reaching a trembling hand toward Lucy Gray, his mouth moving, but only foam dripped from his chin.
Lucy Gray remained motionless, watching Jessup with a pained expression. The scene created a strange tableau—rabid boy, trapped girl, bombed-out building—a tale that could only end in tragedy. Star-crossed lovers meeting their fate? A revenge story turned inward? A war saga that took no prisoners?
Just die already, you thought. Enough with the dramatics.
A drone carrying the water flew into the arena. Lucy Gray lifted her face, tracking its wobbly progress. Her tongue flicked across her lips in anticipation. However, as it passed over Jessup, something in him registered the sight. A shudder raked through his body. He swung at the drone with a broken board, and it crashed into the stands, the water pouring out of the cracked bottle. That was when he truly lost it.
Suddenly, five more water orders came through from Coriolanus. Then ten. You approved them absentmindedly, wondering what he was trying to do. And then it clicked. Hydrophobia. Rabies victims couldn’t swallow and went wild at the sight of water.
Clever, you thought, glancing down at the screen where Coriolanus seemed to be arguing with Sejanus. You couldn’t make out what they were saying.
Lucy Gray had worked herself into a tight spot. To her left was the high back wall of the arena; to her right, the thick glass side of the press box. As Jessup continued his pursuit, she made several attempts to escape him, but he kept cutting her off. When he came within twenty feet, she spoke to him, holding out her hand in a soothing manner. It stopped him, but only momentarily before he lunged again.
Across the arena, the first bottle of water began its flight toward her. The machine was steady and true in its course—a rare feat that disappointed you, given the drones’ tendency to crash. The small fleet that followed was more unpredictable. As soon as Lucy Gray spotted them, she stopped retreating, patting the ruffles of her skirt over a pocket, checking for something. Then she pointed at the drones, shouting, and succeeded in turning Jessup’s attention toward them.
Jessup froze, his eyes bulging with fear. The drones closed in. He batted at them but failed to connect. Then they started releasing the bottles of water. The impact of the first smacking into the seats sent him into a frenzy. When the contents of one splashed onto his hand, he recoiled as if burned by acid.
He turned to flee, bounding down toward the field, but another dozen drones arrived and bombarded him. Since they were programmed to deliver directly to the tribute, there was no escaping them. He flew toward the front row seats, his foot caught, and he tripped forward—hurtling over the arena wall and onto the field.
The sickening crack of snapping bones filled the speakers. The audience gasped. Even you felt queasy. Jessup had landed in a rare pocket of the arena with good audio. He lay on his back, motionless except for the heaving of his chest. The remaining bottles rained down on him, his lips curled back, his eyes locked unblinkingly on the bright sun glinting off the water.
Lucy Gray darted down the steps and hung over the railing. “Jessup!” she shouted.
You weren’t interested. You were tired. You wanted to go home. So you did. You told the Gamemakers to keep things running until the students left, then dismissed them as well. And with that, you made your way out of Heavensbee Hall.
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