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Chapter Text

The smell of wet soil and rain is pungent. It fills his nostrils with the scent of nature. Nature he has grown to love and appreciate with every second that passes by. Not once was he ever ungrateful for what he has knowing that his situation could be way worse. He knows kids who definitely have it way worse than he does. So, from a young age, he vowed to always be thankful for what he is given for there are much worse ways of living.

The sky is grey, just dark enough clouds to cast a shadow over District 12. Spider carefully walks through the forest, his feet knowing exactly where to step, and his eyes know exactly where to move to. He's been through this for as long as he can remember. There's not a day that goes by that Spider can't not think about the next reaping that is happening later on today.

His name has only been put in there four times, which is a damn miracle compared to other kids that have their names in the pile more than fifteen damn times. He's not really worried, though. He never gets picked. If Eywa wanted him to get reaped, she would have done it by now. He's already sixteen. He doesn't have much longer until he's too old to be reaped into the games.

Despite that, he doesn't really care if he gets reaped either. He'd rather it be him and not some innocent kid who has more to live for than he does. No one would really miss him much anyway. He's okay with that. He's never really had a family or a person he could call home or just talk with. The only time being when a young boy saw him scaling a tree effortlessly and said that he reminded him of a spider. Hence why he now goes by that name. Spider chooses to ignore the fact that he remembered the face of the boy who gave him the nickname. Not like it would mean something anyway. He doesn't even like his supposed real name. Miles. Something just didn't sit right with having that name. With his name only being in the pile four times, the chances are very slim that he gets chosen. 

Hunger Games aside, Spider should really concentrate on his kill that will hopefully feed him for the day, maybe two if he still has leftovers. His footsteps are light and hollow, barely even heard. Drops cascade down leaves above him, then drips down onto his exposed cheeks. 

Spider has his bow loaded and a decently made quiver on his back with a few handmade arrows ready to be used. He kept his eyes peeled for his target. A deer. A lone one at that. He quietly hides behind large enough bush after he sees his target right in front of him a few feet away. He readies his bow aiming it at the deers heart to make it a clean, quick and painless death.

His eyes lock in on the animal bending down eating grass. He positions his arrow correctly now that his target's in place, and now that he can finally shoot something. He takes a deep breath as he stands up aiming at the oblivious deer who looks up at the sound of a bird chirping. He holds his breath as he steadies his aim. It needed to be perfect. He didn't want to put the animal in unnecessary pain.

Spider pulled the bow string back and let his gaze sharpen on the animal to make sure his shot was going to be perfect. He let out a gentle breath and let the arrow go. The arrow flying through the air cleanly, piercing the animal in the heart. Said animal drops to the floor motionless after being killed quickly and painlessly. 

Spider breathed out a sigh in relief and quickly made his way to the deer. He kneeled down towards the deer holding a hand over his body. He closes his eyes as he remembers to say the prayer he was taught to always say when you kill something so that it could find its way back to Eywa. Everyone eventually finds their way back to the Great Mother. Some sooner than others.

"Oel ngati kameie, ma tsmukan, ulte ngaru seiyi irayo. Ngari hu Eywa salew tirea, tokx 'ì'awn slu Na'viyä hapxì." Spider says aloud to the deceased animal with his eyes still closed as he prays.

To some who have seen Spider in action in his habitat, they may think he's weird or not right in the head, but they do know he is a kind boy. He's probably too kind for this world. Some say the methods he follows are just myths and are not to be taken seriously. Spider has learned to simply not argue or try to explain as they will never understand the connection he has with the Great Mother. She practically speaks to him daily through his dreams and in the environment around him. Hell, he can even speak the language fluently without proper instruction due to his connection. He knows most of the higher districts know the language and ways of the Great Mother as well as he does. However, the further down you go in the districts, the less knowledgeable people are of Eywa and her ways. If they knew about her, they simply chose to not believe in her. That was their loss, though. He's lucky that he somehow ended up like this. He just knows that if he were to be reaped and he spoke the language that only a handful of people in the higher districts knows, they would be surprised and curious (read: suspicious) as to how someone from the poorest district somehow knows their language and their ways. It's all a mess, really. Someday he hopes he'll find someone who too is connected with Eywa as he is.

Spider then opens his eyes and sighs heavily. He just knows that this day will be hectic. He stands up and bends down to pick up the deer so he can bring it back to his small camp and cook it. He'll have to come out eventually for the reaping later on today. But for now, he will enjoy his hard-earned meal.

___

Hours go by and Spider can finally hear the sound of the Capitol's trucks entering their district armed to the T. The ground shakes and rumbles as they drive through the streets of District 12. He breathes in and then out once, calming his slightly stirring nerves and stands up dusting the dirt off of his "good" clothes before he begins his trek to where the reaping is occurring. The town square. As he walks through the district, people walking in the same direction as him, Spider can't help but feel something in his gut churning like something is going to happen. He shakes his head softly, his decently tamed curly hair swaying with the motion, as he rids the thought out of his head. Everything is going to be fine.

Spider blends in with the rest of the people of District 12 as they all gather in lines separated by gender to register. He waits in line patiently as the line of boys goes somewhat fast. It could be faster. He keeps his head down looking at his worn-down shoes barely hanging on. The boy in front of him finally leaves the line which means he's up next to register. He lifts his head and looks the person in the eyes boredly as they ask him the same question they do everyone.

"Name?" They ask clicking their pen prepared to check off his name on the list.

"Spider Socorro." He answer sighing.

"I know that's not your name, Miles." The person breathes out annoyedly.

"Yet you know that I've said to change my name on the list for six years, hm?" Spider says sarcastically rolling his eyes.

The person rolls their eyes and crosses his legal name, writing 'Spider' above it to make note of it to the higher ups.

"Hand." The person says holding their hand out with a needle waiting to prick his index finger.

Spider lifts his arm up, holding out his hand so the person can prick his index finger and get this over with. He doesn't flinch when the needle comes in contact with his skin drawing blood. The person wipes the blood on the edge of a device and motions for him to go with the other boys gathered. He steps out of the line and makes his way to the group of boys standing in multiple lines as everyone waits for the reaping to begin. 

A solid ten minutes goes by, yes, he counted. Everyone watches as the spokesperson walks on stage with a hideous outfit and horrendous makeup to pair it with. He honestly doesn't know how the capitol's people can dress this horribly. He thought they had a fashion sense considering how loaded they are. Guess he thought wrong. It's embarrassing considering they're currently being broadcasted to the other districts.

"Welcome! Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor. Now, before we begin, we have a very special film. Brought to you all the way from the Capitol!" The spokesperson exclaims way too overjoyed for such a tragic event through the microphone.

A video begins playing, President Quaritch's voice filtering through the speakers, and Spider can't help but roll his eyes at the sight. They watch this stupid video every year. It doesn't get any better. It's honestly bullshit propaganda. It's sick!

"War. Terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen districts rebeled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. As people rose up from the ashes, a new era was born. But freedom has a cost. And the traitors were defeated. We swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so, it was decreed that each year, the various districts of Pandora would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage, and sacrifice. The lone victor, bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future." The video concludes, the spokesperson seen mouthing the words by heart with a smile on their face.

"I just love that! Now, the time has come for us to select one courageous young man and woman for the honor of representing District 12 in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. As usual, ladies first." The spokesperson says as they move to the bowl that contained the pool of young girls' names inside.

They stick their hand in and swirl it around before pulling out a folded card. They make their way back to the microphone and unfold the paper revealing the name of the first contestant for the Hunger Games.

"Ravyn Celeste!" They yell as the name is revealed. 

A young girl, maybe twelve years old, slowly walks out of the crowd and down the pathway. Peacekeepers walking behind the girl just in case. She walks up the steps and moves towards the spokesperson on the stage holding a hand out to the little girl. The girl keeps her head bowed at the realization that she will for sure die in these games. Spider can't help but feel horrible for the girl. She's innocent, not to mention how young she is.

"And now, for the boys." The person says moving to the pool of names on the opposite side of the stage. They pull out a card and walk back to the microphone. They carefully unfold the card and say the name.

"Ian Viel!" They yell.

Spider looks around at the group of boys not recognizing the name. His eyes then find the same boy who accidentally gave him the nickname all those years ago standing in his spot frozen in fear. 

"Come on up, little one." The person on stage says into the microphone seeing that the boy has not come out.

The boy sluggishly picks up his feet and slowly begins to walk towards the walkway where the Peacekeepers are waiting to intercept the boy. Spider only has one though in his mind, and that is to not let that boy be reaped. So, his feet and mouth move before he even has a chance to carefully think about what exactly he wanted to say.

"I volunteer as Tribute!" Spider yells, stunning everyone in the process.

"I believe we have a volunteer, Mr. Mayor." The spokesperson says looking off to the side of the stage at the mayor baffled at the turn of events.

"A dramatic turn of events here in District 12. Yes,  very well. District 12's very first volunteer! Bring him up." The spokesperson says with a grin as they motion to come on stage.

Spider walks out of the lines of boys with his head held high glad that he protected the boy from a fatal fate. He passed by the boy who was staring up at him with wide eyes filled with unshed tears. He stopped for a moment and faced the boy with a small smile as he lifted a hand up to the boy's head ruffling his hair. He removed his hand from the boy's head and continued making his way to the stage where his fate has been officially sealed. He climbed the steps and moved to stand next to the spokesperson.

"What is your name, dear?" They ask with a wide smile.

"Spider Socorro." He replies with a face void of any emotion.

 "Let's have a big hand for our very first volunteer, Spider Socorro." They say as they clap enthusiastically.

The rest of the crowd doesn't clap, instead they all lift their hands into the air doing the three finger salute. 

"Here we are. Our Tributes from District 12. Well, come on you two. Shake hands. Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor." The spokesperson says with a large grin on their face as they lead the two Tributes to a private room for them to bid their goodbyes to their families. Spider didn't have to worry about that. He didn't have a family. 

Spider waited inside the room quietly with his hands in his lap as he silently prayed to the Great Mother in Na'vi under his breath. He would just wait the five minutes patiently as he had no one to say goodbye to. To his surprise, the door opens revealing the boy he volunteered for. Spider stood up and smiled grimly at the boy. 

"Why did you volunteer for me?" Ian asks with watery eyes waiting to shed tears.

"Something just told me to." Spider responded calmly as the boy stepped closer to him grasping his arms in a desperate way. 

"Why would you throw your life away for me, though? I'm just some random kid." Ian begged to know why Spider had committed such a brave act. 

"You're not just a kid, Ian. You were the one who gave me my name, Spider. You have a family to get back to, I on the other hand, don't. And that's perfectly fine. You would have people who'd miss you, kid. I don't have that. I don't have anyone. You do, though." Spider explained. 

"I... I don't understand, I-" Ian looked up at Spider with his eyes reddening from trying to hold back tears. 

"Don't worry about me, kid. Don't miss me too much, I'm sure I won't be back." Spider smiles grabbing the kids hands bending down to be at eye level with the boy. 

The boy, now at eye level with his savior, finally let a tear escape his eye. A single tear from his left eye. Spider brought a hand to the kids face a wiped the tear away before almost being knocked over at the boy throwing himself at Spider in a tight hug. Spider instantly wrapped his arms around the boy shushing him. 

Their moment was interrupted by two Peacekeepers throwing the door open to take Spider away. Spider quickly planted a light kiss on the boys forehead before letting himself be dragged to the train that will take him and his fellow competitor to the Capitol. 

The station stands distinguished from the crumbling warehouses that swamp the street, the only building in the entirety of District 12 that appears free from the greasy stain that pollutes the city. Isn't that just peachy, now?

As he's dragged outside onto the walkway to enter the train, he sees that the sky has turned darker than what it was before. This was certainly bizarre as it was sunny as day not too long ago. He let's himself be pushed forward to the train by the Peacekeepers, his competitor also going through the same kind of treatment. Absolutely lovely. 

Soon enough, they make it to the train. The girl gets on first before he follows in after her. The two of them take a seat on some chairs that they see as soon as they step inside the train. Spider gets himself a window seat. He looks out of the window at his home for the last time. As shitty as District 12 was, he was really gonna miss that dump. Especially his one on one time connecting with Eywa. Simply that thought popping up in his mind makes tears form in his brown eyes. 

He will never see his home again. He will never connect with Eywa again. He will never learn to know what love was like. He will never know what it's like to have a family, someone who loves you unconditionally. Those thoughts finally make Spider realize the situation he's in. But even that can't make him scared or fearful for his life. He can't miss what he never had. As the train begins to start moving, a lone tear cascades down his cheek. He discreetly wipes it away so that the young girl doesn't notice. 

He swallow the thickness lodged in his throat as he quickly blinks the rest of the tears away. While he's doing this, he fails to notice how the sky turns darker and rain begins to fall as if it's mirroring his emotions. The rain begins to fall hard on the train as it travels back to the Capitol. 

Spider knows that once he sets foot in the Capitol, his freedom is as good as gone. His will to live is very much gone at this moment. He already has a plan for the games. He's not going to try. He won't train. He won't make alliances. He won't try to get sponsors. He simply won't do anything. He's not trying to win. What was even the point? He has no one to go back to. He was alone back home, then maybe he can die alone in the Hunger Games. 

It'd honestly be a miracle if he makes it past an hour in the games. He has no plans going into this, simply has the will to die. That's it. He'll just pretend to make the effort before throwing it all. 

As he makes this plan observing the rain pouring hard outside, a door opens revealing a tall man. The man looks around before seeing the two tributes. He sighs before walking up to them and motioning for them to follow him to another part of the train, another cabin if you will. Spider trailed behind the man and the girl quietly, almost as if he wasn't even there. 

They make it to a new cabin that has a table in the middle with food and drinks on top to feast on before they make it to the Capitol. A maroon colored cloth is draped over said table. Possibly silk. Maybe velvet. 

'Great, they give you all nice things before killing you. Lovely.' Spider thought to himself sarcastically. 

"Hello, I'm Norm Spellman, and I'm going to be your mentor. I'll explain everything to you after you bathe. I'll lead you to your rooms." The man, now known as Norm, says as he begins leading them to separate rooms.

As soon as Spider arrives at his room door, Norm tells him to meet back where they were previously standing in, and that some new clothes are ready on the bed. Spider nods before entering his room. He walks over to the bed grabbing the clothes as he makes a beeline to the bathroom.

He closes the door behind him, making sure to lock it just in case. Spider drifts in. Everything in here is new to him. There's no tub nor a lake. Instead, a shower. Huh? He hits a knob - shocked when water comes out. He quite literally recoils. And there's his reflection, caught in the bathroom mirror. He hasn't seen his reflection in years. Feels like a stranger looking back at him. 

___

After being freshly washed, cleaner than he has ever been in life, he finds his way to the cabin where the table contained all the food on top of it. When he arrives, he sees Ravyn and their mentor, Norm, already seated in the chairs. He nods his head in a greeting and chooses to sit in the chair next to the young girl. 

"Okay, I don't know the easiest way to say this but, embrace the probability of your imminent death. And know, in your heart, that there's nothing I can do to save you." Norm says very bluntly with a regretful expression. 

"That's very helpful, no?" Spider mumbles shifting in his seat already dreading this conversation, he already had his plan set up.

"Look kids, I don't want to give your hopes up telling you you'll survive. It's not a guarantee. All I can tell you that may possibly work is to get Sponsors. You'll most likely need to kiss ass to the higher ups if you really want a chance at surviving." Norm says as he pours himself a glass of water.

"That's it?" Ravyn asks confused and a little bit hopeless.

"When you're in the middle of the games and you're starving or freezing, some water, a knife or even some matches can mean the difference between life and death. And those things only comes from Sponsors. And to get Sponsors, you have to make people like you." Norm sighed as he grabbed a piece of bread before shoving it in his mouth.

"So i just need to act fake for the camera and get on people's good side?" Ravyn asks raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. You'll also need to have a story that'll make people feel bad for you and sympathize with you." Norm explained while spreading butter on another piece of bread.

"Your story is simple. You got reaped at a very young age and you have a loving family to get back to. That's pretty accurate, no?" Norm looked up as if he was thinking about the strategy they could use.

"I guess so." Ravyn replied looking down at her lap.

"And you, Miles, right?" Norm pointed at him with his butter knife.

"It's Spider. Not Miles." Spider answered with a firm emphasis on the 'not.'

"That's not what I read on your file." Norm tilted his head in question remembering he did in fact see the name 'Miles' on the paper. 

"Well I changed it. I've told them to change my name for six years, and they still haven't. No one calls me Miles anyway." Spider says rolling his eyes at the unsurprising information.

"Well then, Spider, sorry about the inconvenience. I'll be sure to let all the higher ups know." Norm says smiling at Spider earning a nod and nothing else from said tribute.

"Aside from that, you have a great story going already. You volunteered for a little boy who was going to be taken from his family. It seems that you two knew one another, the cameras certainly caught your interaction. You've already got a lot of support as we speak." Norm leaned forward a bit in his seat as he explained the sob stories the two tributes have to go through with.

"Support?" Spider asks with a quirked brow in question. 

"Mhm, everyone knows of you now because of your stunt. You're quite popular if I do say so myself." Norm complimented Spider.

"Sure." Spider dismisses the claim not believing it one bit. No one would like him.

"And if I said I didn't want to try to win the games. What if I said I wanted to throw the game?" Spider questioned earning shocked looks from the other people in the room with him.

"Well, Spider, you can't throw the game. It's against the rules." Norm says with a confused expression on his face. 

"Of course, sir. I could just pretend to go along with the rules and then sabotage myself in the arena into getting someone to kill me." Spider says with a straight face not looking for argument. 

His response left the other two surprised and somewhat amused at his calm state at the situation. Ravyn looked away from Spider and to the opposite window behind Norm. She stands up and walks to the window and her eyes light up at the sight. She sees the citizens of the Capitol gathered at the window trying to see the last two tributes.

Ravyn remembers what Norm just told her not too long ago and puts a smile on her face as she begins waving at the crowd outside the window. The people been at her and wave back as the train slows slightly.

Spider and Norm observe her already trying to win the hearts of the citizens of the Capitol. Norm turns back to face Spider with a knowing look on his face.

"She knows what she's doing." Norm says sipping his glass of water.

Spider just looks at Norm with a bored look on his face as he stays seated looking out the other side of the window that Ravyn isn't occupying in deep thought. He knows it seems like a waste of a life to just throw the Hunger Games, but right now, he can't seem to find a reason to care. He had nothing to live for and nothing to come home too. The only bad thing was not being able to speak with Eywa anymore. That's about it. 

His decision was final. He was going to purposely sabotage himself in the games and not survive. He'll just simply pretend to play the game and then have someone else kill him. If he can't get anyone to kill him, he might as well do it himself. 

Chapter Text

The train continues to move slowly to their final destination; having already passed the horde of the Capitol civilians crowding outside to see the last two tributes. Ravyn has already moved away from the window, her act slipping off her face as soon as she wasn't in the view range of the civilians. She took a seat next to Spider once again.

"Since we're about to arrive at our stop in a few minutes, I'm going to give you guys one last piece of advice before I show you the tributes you'll be facing later. After I tell you this key piece of information, you can go back to your room or just lounge around here until the train fully stops." Norm says sitting up straight as his face takes on a serious expression. 

“The words I’m about to say are very important, so I want you both to listen to very carefully.” Norm says.

Norm pushes his hands down on the table and leans forward slightly. Spider resists the very high urge to lean back. What's up with this dude? Doesn't he know anything about personal space? Ravyn appears to be unbothered by the sudden movement, lucky her.

“Do not, and I repeat, do not under any circumstances interact with the Sully's and their allies.” Norm stresses with wide eyes trying to get his point across.

“Don’t even look at them, understood?” Norm continues to stress about that one rule.

Spider actually feels like smiling for the first time today considering the amount of shit he went through today. Wasn't that just lovely?

“Not that I was really planning on it or anything, but isn’t that a bit rich coming from you, Norm?” Spider said sarcastically, even rolling his eyes in the mix.

Norm pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs heavily before he squints at the younger. Norm already knew Spider was a special case to be dealt with.

“I’m serious, Spider. Me getting claimed was just dumb luck, nothing more. They’re not the type to do that twice anyways.” Norm explains his reasoning behind the Sully's claiming him as an ally, or friend of the sorts.

“Any attention from them is bad, don’t make yourself a target, kid. Especially in front of Tonowari's family. You definitely need to stay away and not draw any attention from them. Any of them, really. Including the nicest one of the family.” Norm warned the two tributes who took in the information. 

Spider feels a familiar scorching burn of irritation in his gut. The heat makes him feel stronger than he is, so he welcomes it with open arms, fanning the flames.

“Well then where’s the line between making myself a target and marketing myself for auction. I hate to be the bearer of bad news here, Norm, but you keep telling me to avoid people that would most likely hurt me.” Spider scoffs loudly.

“But in case you really haven't noticed, Norm, everyone in there is going to try and fucking hurt me!” It's much easier to shout that than to think it if he's angry enough about it, there won't be any room for fear.

“They definitely won't, getting in serious trouble with them, sure, but hurting you is a bit dramatic. Making enemies with them or Tonowari's family would probably kill you, though. Plus, you have to be smart about it. It's either try this or die without complaining. I decided to go out fighting. Or at least try fighting.” It's spoken as if Norm had tragically died in that arena. It was a load of bullshit.

“I can't do it for you, I can only help you if you let me. This is life or death, kid. You gotta work with me if you want a chance at survival.” Norm says. Though, Spider wonders if this is killing the man more than the monsters that chase them ever could.

And for a second, Spider has a new fear for today. Today, and today only. He looks at the man before him and wonders if this is truly better than a death sentence. He would never be leaving that arena once he was in it. Count all the lives that have been lost in these games. Norm was living proof that some people just barely manage to make it out alive. Are they ever fine after that? No, no they are not. But they fought for a chance to see another day.

“I'm not very good at making people like me.” He spoke quietly in something akin to vulnerability, something he's never felt before. This was all very new to him.

“I'd argue about that, but you made me like you, kid. Just a smidge, though.” Norm offers a shy smile. It's an awkward attempt at slight comfort. It's hollow and generic, but it feels incredibly special.

Spider briefly questioned in his mind what Norm meant by that first part of his sentence, but he'll have time to ask him about it another time. His words, however, are just enough to make Spider promise to try for a little bit longer. He's been pushing the boulder up the downward hill for this long. A few more miles won't be the thing that kills him.

Spider excuses himself from the table and makes his way to his room. He can feel the train slowly moving as they come closer to their final destination. He's internally dreading it, but he's made a small promise to try and stick around for a bit longer than he planned. He'll do exactly that and then make a plan to kill himself some way.

He reaches his room and enters with a quiet sigh escaping his lips. He sits on the comfy bed that bounces slightly at his weight. It makes a barely there smile sneak on his face. He looks at the table stand next to the bed and sees that there's a tablet on there. He carefully reaches over to grab it as if he's going to break it with just the slightest touch.

His eyes widen in surprise when he turns on the tablet and it connects to the large TV at the foot of the bed automatically. He was surprised the TV turned on without the remote. His barely there smile is  instantly wiped off his face when he's staring back at his face. It was the fucking broadcast of his reaping. He just blankly stared at the screen as it played through the events that he went through not too long ago. He didn't even know what to make of it.

Spider looked away from the glaring video in front of him and quickly shut off the tablet in his lap. He placed the tablet back where he found it and found himself lying down on the bed. 

___

The train eventually comes to a full stop, the brakes screeching loudly. Spider lie on the bed resting quietly. His breaths coming out smoothly despite the grave situation he's currently in. He appears peaceful while asleep. He's serene. 

A loud knock on the door startles Spider awake from his short nap. He hears the voice of Norm calling out to him saying that they've finally arrived and to meet in the cabin they were previously in. Spider sighs and sits up wiping the sleep from his eyes. 

He was already dreading all this. He made his way to the door to his room, opening the door only to be met with Norm standing there with an awkward smile. Spider could just make out something else in his expression, he just didn't know what exactly. 

Norm led him to Ravyn's room to wait beside him as he makes sure both his tributes are up and ready to head inside the Capitol. Once Ravyn closes the door to her room, the two tributes follow their mentor to the door to step off the train.

When Spider stepped off the train, for some reason he had fully expected to find it somewhat hard to breathe. He was expecting really thin air and heavy pressure, the type that's forceful enough to make his ears pop uncomfortably. He was so sure his breath would become labored and he would be hastily led inside as to die on the Capitol's time and not his very own.

But the only difference he could really notice in his deep inhale... was the harsh chill to the morning air. Cold enough that it allowed his breaths to drift through his lips in white misty clouds. The Capitol's dirt felt like Pandoran dirt under his boots, the same sounds of friction when he dragged his feet. Only it felt unnatural instead of like home. The differences between home and the Capitol was like the light side of a flipped coin.

Spider wasn’t able to round up a high mental tally of similarities before he was herded inside with his fellow tribute to what he could only assume to be the tributes quarters. One look was all it took for him. Everything, and he really did mean everything, was bloody shining. Everything was shining so bright that he might go blind looking at it. It was so unlike anything he's ever seen. 

The chandelier, twinkling yellow and looming over his head as he followed into the building, the golden emblem of the Capitol's crest, hung proudly on the foyer wall. Even the doorman’s jacket buttons dazzled when they hit the light. It was a pathetic display. Spider suddenly felt very lost in the daunting environment, and maybe just a little dirty. He was honestly out of place, one might say.

He wrung his hands together, grimacing at the sight of his soot stained fingers, his nail containing dirt from his beloved forest. He was most likely going to get a makeover here. The shower he took only did so much, but at least his hair was clean. He already misses being able to communicate with Eywa personally every day. Spider snapped out of his thoughts at the feeling of a nudge from his side. Glancing up, he's met with a knowing look from Norm.

Although he still wasn’t very fond of the man, Spider couldn’t help but feel slightly grateful for Norm's silent presence beside him.
Albeit not the most reassuring gesture, at least the other knew where he was walking. He wonders how his fellow tribute is taking this all in.

Spider tries to keep his head down, he’s been given one piece of crucial advice so far. ‘Don't draw attention to yourself.’ That was all he needed to do. He just needs to walk to the end of this hallway with Ravyn and let Norm do all the talking for them. Spider’s come to terms with the fact that he's not getting claimed. He knew that the very second he stepped forward at the reaping. He’ll most definitely die some time next week.

He knows that, Norm knows that, Ravyn knows that, hell even the doorman with the shiny buttons knows that.

The only difference is how he dies. Whilst Spider may not be able to get himself claimed, he sure can do his best to avoid being targeted. A quick death over a cruel one, that's a tribute's dream, right? And the best way to accomplish that is by keeping his mouth shut.

Spider got about halfway down the hall before breaking this new rule. He groans as a guy with black, possibly dark brown, hair comes tumbling out of a hotel room and directly into his personal bubble.

“Watch where you're going, sir.” Spider says as nicely as possible, but it comes out bitchy and sarcastic. He had one simple task. Only one.

“Spider!” Norm hisses into his ear, snaking his arm around his shoulders and pulling him away from the opposing man.

“What did I say about manners, huh?” Norm whispers harshly. Ravyn chuckles from behind said mentor at Spider's already failed attempt.

He will definitely need to work on his attitude. His outbursts of random annoyance and irritation was a problem. 

“It's alright, Norm. Sorry I stepped on your foot, kiddo, but I didn't want to miss you.” The man spoke with a rushed smile, struggling to balance the numerous papers and scrolls under his arms as he reached forward to shake Spider's hand.

“I'm Max, I asked to be your stylist.” He says with a wide grin. 

There were many things Spider noticed about Max when he first met him. How despite the man's small structure compared to Norm, he had more of a confident and controlled posture. Another thing was that the man didn't seem at all reluctant to dirty his hands by holding Spider's sullied ones in his own. Pulling him close enough with a hearty handshake. But most importantly, Spider noticed the use of the word ‘asked’. But he didn't dare comment on it, he only shook Max's hand in return and offered a tight smile. After all, he does have that whole silent persona that he's working on.

“Oh, Max.” Norm laughed with an air of relief.

“It's nice to see you, man. Sorry about the kid, he has a slight attitude problem.” Norm excuses Spider's behavior.

Spider began to blindy reach his hand out behind him and make a pinching motion with his fingers. If a certain rat bastard happened to be in that direction, who could really blame him?

“Spider, stop trying to pinch me. You see what I mean?” Norm slapped his hand down without turning away from Max, efficiently fooling the younger's plans of revenge, for now. Ravyn just snorts at the scene unfolding in front of her. 

“I'd have an attitude too if I had to deal with you all day.” Max laughs goodheartedly, nudging Spider with an elbow as if trying to win a laugh.

Spider just gives him another small smile,  and then begins studying the wallpaper in an attempt to zone out of the awkward conversation.

“Introductory speeches start in a few hours. Do you want to head to the changing rooms now?” Norm asks, checking his watch.

“Actually, I was hoping I could get to know Spider privately, if that's okay with you obviously.” Max asks Spider with a hopeful expression.

Although Spider felt a trill of nerves with the idea of being alone with a Capitol citizen, he appreciated the fact that Max asked for his permission and not Norm's. After all, Max didn't really have to ask for permission if he wanted something from Spider, the boy had no autonomy here whatsoever. But despite the question only being an illusion of free choice, Spider already felt like saying no to Max would feel like kicking a puppy. He didn't want that one bit.

“Sure, any chance to get away from this guy.” Spider shrugs with nonchalance. 

Norm only offers a tired sigh, and Spider takes immense pride in the others' exhaustion. It makes him feel great satisfaction. Norm excuses himself and takes Ravyn off to meet her stylist. He begins to regret his decision however, when every frilly shirt Max holds up, silk or satin, are all a sparkling gold.

“Can’t I just wear something simple?” Spider groans, eyeing the vanity in front of him for a clear spot where he can rest his feet for a minute.

“Oh, really?” Max gives the clothes a questioning look, before turning to Spider with a sheepish smile.

“Sorry, I thought you might've liked these, the colour would really suit you. And I thought it would be a nice sentiment of your home.” Max supply's.

Spider's not sure why Max ever thought that shiny dress shirts would be his thing, but he feels like an ultimate prick now that the other looks so embarrassed with his choices. He doesn't like making people feel like that. It just feels wrong in a way.

“Well, I guess if it manages to make me even more handsome, I can put up with the yellow.” He sighs, avoiding looking in the olders direction.

“Gold.” Max coughs in correction.

“Tomato, tomahto. Hand me my sparkly costume, please.” Spider rolls his eyes playfully. 

Max helps him lace up the sides and fasten the buttons at the wrist of the billowy sleeves. Dress pants and some tight leather shoes later, and Spider starts to feel less and less familiar with the moving object of his reflection.

“You clean up nice kid.” Max compliments. 

“I look like a delicate doll.” Spider deadpans, picking at his sleeves in the mirror.

Max chuckles at his antics, walking to the vanity and turning back with something grayish-green in hand.

“This is to bring out your eyes.” Max murmurs, fasting a gold chain pierced through a green crystal around his neck.

“I’m not too sure on bringing my eyes out anywhere, Max. I like having them in their sockets, their rightful place.” Spider huffs, rolling the glass ball in between his fingers.
It’s a bad joke, but hey he’s nervous as all can be. Max laugh regardless, just like he did at all of Spider's others, before pausing to give him a sad look in the mirror.

“That’s how I knew I wanted to be your stylist, you know. You’ve got very kind eyes.” Max says with a knowing look in his eyes.

“Really?” Spider questions. Stomach immediately plummeting to his gut as he searches his reflection to catch a glimpse of what Max sees.

“People with kind eyes don’t know they have kind eyes, Spider.” Max huffs like that was common knowledge.

“You just have to know how to look for them to find them.” He continues. 

Spider feels like saying he does know where to find them. And that they are most certainly not on him or on anyone is this forsaken country. That the kind eyes Max are looking for, are ones that he has had the privilege of knowing for as far back as he could remember.

But the sentiment is sweet and Spider doesn’t want to talk about someone as precious as Ian with a stranger. So instead, he says nothing and Max smooths out another non-existent wrinkle from Spider's shirt.

“When you volunteered for that kid, it was the look you gave him after, from the stage.” Max explains.

Spider stills, feeling naked despite the flashy clothes adorning his body.

“It was very selfless of you.” Max speaks to him through the mirror, holding his gaze.

“You must have to love someone very much, to give them a look like that.” Max says knowingly. 

Spider has never been one for compliments. Back in District 12, if someone’s being too nice to you, there’s probably a reason.
It’s an oiled system of give a little and take a lot. But Spider has nothing to offer Max here.

“I do. In my own way.” He swallows the various emotions jumping up his throat.

He offers Max a very timid smile. Max follows Spider's face with a pained expression and nods to the mirror.

“What did I tell you? Kind eyes.” Max says barely over a whisper. 

Max and Spider sit in comfortable silence as Max adds his finishing touches and quietly scrapes the dirt from under his nails one by one. It was nice like this. Quiet and homey in a way.

___

Spider feels like holding Max's hand when he’s led into the introductory hall. He won’t, though. Don’t get Spider wrong, he's not scared or anything, and he definitely isn’t some kind of lost kid who’s willing to seek shameless comfort from a man he just met an hour ago. It’s just that, the hall has this air of dread to it that makes Spider want to turn heel and run.

It’s all tall ceilings and ridiculously long tables. And for what, seriously. Tables that are lined with rows of seats that no one seems to occupy. Everyone in the hall Is standing and talking, having already formed their respective social circles.

At first glance it’s hard to tell tribute from victor. (Max hadn’t been lying when he said Spider's outfit would be considered tame compared to others.)

But if Spider allows himself to settle on someone’s face for too long, he can begin to pinpoint the usual tells of distress. The creased brows and fidgeting fingers. The sunken cheeks and gaunt frames. It takes more than a fancy shower to wash off the shadow of primary poverty. That kind of shit stains, Spider would know.

In place of holding Max's hand, he settles on simply grabbing the back of the olders sleeve. A much more mature approach in his opinion.

“Promise you won’t leave me alone.” Spider's voice comes out more desperate and less light hearted than he intended.

“I’m not going anywhere, kiddo. Don’t worry.” Max gives him a fond smile.

“Shouldn’t you be asking me that?” Norm glares at the both of them.

“You can go if you want.” Spider deadpans, trying to scrape enough courage together to let go of the other’s sleeve.

Norm gives out a deep exhale, like he’s practising breathing techniques, before meeting Spider with a serious look.

“Okay, here’s what’s gonna happen. We,” Norm points his finger at himself and then Max. “Are going to do all the talking, and you,” The ringed finger then turns to point at Spider, and when it gets close enough that the younger can see the glare of clear nail polish, he contemplates biting it. “Are going to be silent and smile.” Norm finishes. 

“Are we all on the same page?” Norm clarifies. 

Spider offers no response besides a heated glare.

“Fantastic.” Norm replies sarcastically. 

It took migrating between three social groups before Spider realised he wasn’t really in any imminent danger. Capitol people weren’t really like what Spider had been expecting. They all seemed more interested in complimenting his outfit or hair than any prying digs for weak points that Spider had braced for. He honestly doesn't know how Ravyn is handling herself on her own right now. She's definitely better than he is at the moment. 

The most anyone had gotten to harming him was when one old woman pinched his cheek with a condescending smile. (He was hastily led away from that group before he had any chance to retaliate.)

It was however a bit forlorn to be standing next to some of the other tributes. It was clear that not everyone was taking the turn of events as ‘well’ as he was.

While it would be easy for Spider to slip into an air of indifference, to pretend that his peculiar company were harmlessly eccentric and not betting on his demise whilst his back was turned. It was harder to forget his place in the room when the trembling children he catches glimpses of so clearly defines it.

Spider didn’t have the energy to mourn any longer. He grieved on the train, having already granted himself a greedy amount of time to wallow in self pity. Spider couldn't afford to fall back into that hole. He wouldn’t be able to pull himself out of it twice.

“You’re just as adorable in person as you are on camera.” A woman with purple hair and a matching feather boa coos at Spider, bringing him out of his deep thoughts.

“I really just had to see you for myself after your reaping.” She grins and the circle of elites around her nod their agreements at her statement.

“How you volunteered for that poor boy, you looked like a little hero. It was just too precious.” She says with a smile.

Spider can feel the eyes that fly to him, anticipating his response.

“Oh. Uh, thank you?” Spider glances to Norm nervously trying to navigate the conversation.

“And how your friend, what was his name? Ian.” The woman hums to herself. “How he looked so distraught when you were up on the stage.” She places a pale hand against her heart.

“Why, I almost teared up myself when I saw that. I think we can all agree it was a very moving display. This year's Hunger Games has already had such a dramatic start.” She continued with a wide smile laughing lightly. 

Spider can feel the sheer anger heating his face before he even fully registered what the woman has said. It was that type of frustrated anger that you get when someone says something so utterly stupid it sets mankind back a few hundred years. Norm is speaking for both of their sakes before Spider can reply on his own.

“That is very sweet of you Cedia, he is such a sweet boy, isn’t he? Spider, would you mind getting me another drink, please? I appear to be all out.” Norm comes up with an excuse on the spot to get Spider away from the group. 

Spider grips the wine glass that he’s given so hard he has a brief fear of it cracking as he smiles sweetly at the group before stalking off towards the refreshment table.

Everyone here is pissing him off now.

The lights are too damn bright.

The room is too fucking loud.

And the people are too cruel.

Spider just wants to be alone right now but he can’t, because as if killing him isn’t enough. The Capitol wants to make him play dress up first.

Spider seriously considers bailing with the wine bottle once he sees the distinctive lack of guards at the entrance doors, but pauses when he hears the sound of a strangely familiar laugh. Freshly filled glass abandoned at the table, Spider wanders round pillared hallway after hallway.

Only once he’s a good enough distance from the main hall, that Spider's sure Norm will be ringing his neck in later, is he able to make out a few distinct words from the loud cheering.

“Nate stop, he's gonna pass out.” A voice heaves through breathless laughter.

“He’s fine, I’m not even doing anything yet.” The voice says mockingly. 

“Please... Please let go of me.” A low-pitched  voice calls through heavy gasps. It honestly sounded like they were being choked.

Spider picks up the pace after that, practically running when he turns a corner to find four unwillingly familiar faces.

Three tributes circle around one taller man who Spider has the misfortune of recognising as Nate. Their eyes twinkle with tears and their knees tremble, bent over in hysterical laughter because Nate is strangling another tribute he doesn't know. Their eyes were visibly hazy and lost as their airflow is slowly cut off.

“Get off of him!” Spider shouts, shoving himself round the bend of the entrance.

Spider wouldn’t have known it at the time. Couldn’t have known that shouting that one sentence would so drastically alter his future. Would cement his fate in a game he never asked to play.

But before Spider can consider the consequences of his actions, how this one moment, in a side room behind a fancy hall, might prove to violently mark his life, he had already stalked over to the tributes and wrenched the boy from his hands.

Cradling the tributes limp body breathing erraticly to protect him from the looming threat in front of them. This seems to break the straw of sanity that the other tributes seemed to be clutching too, because all of them except Nate topple over laughing at Spider's interruption.

While cackling loudly, Spider turns the boy in his arms away from them in an attempt to shield them from their prying eyes. The laughter only dies off when Nate finally responds.

“Excuse me?” The Nate takes a step closer to the pair.

“What did you just say to me?” Nate presses further with gritted teeth.

Spider begins to slightly shift nervously on his feet. It was barely noticeable unless you looked really closely. He really needs to get out of here now, but he can’t will his eyes to leave Nate's. It feels like the other is causing him physical pain just by looking at him.

“Oh.” Nate chuckles to himself, his face splitting into a hungry grin as he steps even closer.

“I know who you are, you dumb thing. You’re that tribute from the outer districts. The volunteer.” Nate laughs darkly. Nate looks over his shoulder, making sure his friends are watching.

Spider realises that whatever’s about to happen to him, Nate intends to make a big show out of it.

“Aren’t you just the bravest little thing? Marching in here and putting on a good show.” Nate taunts sinisterly.

Nate lashes forward quickly catching Spider's face in a bruising grip.

“Let me remind you of your role here, because you’ve clearly forgotten.” Nate says firmly.

Nate's audience shuffles forward trying to get a better view of the action.

“You can’t hurt us yet. Those are the rules, you can’t hurt us till the games start.” Spider says after he forces the grip on his face off with a slightly wavering voice, eyes trained on Nate's figure, waiting for the other to make another move.

“Rules?” Nate laughs in disbelief.

“You’re trying to dictate to me my own rules? The rules my people made.” Nate stalks towards Spider again, for every step the smaller tribute takes back, the taller tribute takes two steps forward to close the distance.

"I make my own rules." Nate responds through gritted teeth.

Nate pulls his hand up to strike Spider's face and with the younger’s own so busy protecting another he can do nothing but brace himself for the incoming pain.
However it does not arrive.

“You make the rules, huh?” A new voice sounds from over Spider's shoulder.

Through his squinted eyes, Spider can make out the form of a muscular arm, adorned with bracelets and bangles, holding Nate’s wrist tightly.

“Neteyam.” Nate's quiet greeting does nothing to dampen the sound of his fury, snatching back his arm with a clean flick of his wrist.

However, Spider is no longer concerned with whatever tantrum the other tribute had been throwing, the real threat lies with the person looming behind him. A heavy, but gentle hand settles on his shoulder. Spider can only see tendrils of flowing, braided black hair in his peripheral, but he already feels as though he had been speared.

Neteyam, the eldest son of the Jake Sully, better know as Toruk Makto, and his wife, Neytiri. A person who could have him mutilated at the twitch of his finger, stands so close to Spider that the boy can feel the flutter of his hair from the boy's breath.

His chest aches and a static shock runs through his nervous system in a vehemently innate way. The entirety of his back ignites in blue flame energy from Neteyam's vicinity, and it takes years of disciplined breathless swims to keep his lungs from collapsing.

“You’ve always been the impatient type, Nate.” The deep voice of the boy rumbles.

“It’s one of the many things I dislike about you.” He continues firmly.

The hand on Spider's shoulder slivers forward and begins to trace the outline of his exposed collar bone. His breath hitches. He can hear the sound of movement from behind him. The slightly younger guy he protected was beginning to move to stand up.

“Could you really not wait two weeks to start playing with your food?” Neteyam asks sarcastically. 

The hand traces the base of his neck before moving up to settle a firm grip around his throat. Not squeezing, just feeling.

Spider imagines the hand contracting, strong arms making easy work of cutting the blood flow to his brain. How quickly his eyes would begin to bulge out of his head, his face contorting into a bloated purple mass as he suffocates in the person's hand. He wouldn't be able to stop him. Fuck, Spider would be too frightened to even try.

Fingers trace the side of Spider's neck, pressing slightly under his ear, feeling the rapid pulse beat beneath its fingertips.

“I think you should head back to the main hall, Nate. It would be a shame if you skipped out on all the hard work your father puts into these events. Don’t you agree?” Neteyam taunts menacingly. 

Nate offers no reply, he simply stares at Spider with a look that reads a promise of later and then stalks off around the corner. But before he can turn the corner fully, Neteyam calls out to the group loudly.

"One more thing, Nate. Touch my brother again and we're going to have problems." Neteyam spits before the group tensely walks around the corner.

Once the space had cleared, Spider had never been more aware of a silent room. The hand around his neck gives one gentler squeeze before lifting off to settle on Spider's shoulder again.

“Your name is a very interesting one. Intriguing, I must say." Neteyam finally says.

Spider nods stiffly, not trusting his voice. The grip on his shoulder finally loosens, allowing Spider to take a step away from the other.

Neteyam looks at the person standing behind Spider with a look in his eye that he can't understand. It was as if the two were communicating via eye contact. It was freaky, to be honest. 

"I want to thank you for protecting my younger brother, Lo'ak when I wasn't present. I am to owe you something given your actions." Neteyam says finally looking back at Spider. So 'Lo'ak' was his brother's name. It looks like Lo'ak and Spider are going to be going head to head in this years games.

"No. It's fine. You don't have to repay me in any way." Spider politely declines the offer hoping this won't put him on their family's bad side.

"Are you sure? You don't even want something to help you out in the games?" Neteyam asks surprised, but amused.

"Yes, I'm sure. I just didn't want your brother to suffer at the hands of that jerk." Spider reassures the victor.

“Very well, then. Run along then, it seems you have someone to account for.” Neteyam says with a quirk of his lip as he motions to his younger brother standing quietly behind Spider with an unreadable expression on his face.

Spider relies solely on muscle memory to stagger out of the room and down the hall.
His hands shake slightly around Lo'ak's shoulder and he prays he’ll make it back to the hall before he has a breakdown. 

The feeling of eyes trailing his form doesn’t break as he races down the incessant corridors. But Spider knows that the oldest Sully sibling is still watching him. And that there is nothing he can do now to make him look away. He just prays to the Great Mother that he has not done anything to make it onto their shit-list.

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Spider continues to avoid eye contact with the group of victors blatantly staring at him through the glass. They're not even the only ones staring at him either. No, the other Careers (not counting Lo'ak) are staring him down like he's a meal they're preying on. He feels incredibly uncomfortable and dare he say... scared for once in his life. He's not necessarily scared to die in the Hunger Games, he's just scared how brutal it's gonna be.

Eventually, the instructor shouts from the other side of the room that training has concluded for the day. Spider couldn't be any happier hearing this news. He wanted to leave this place the quickest he can. It doesn't help that he can still feel the lingering stares on his back as he stands up.

"Tributes. Tomorrow you all will be going through your Evaluation Period after breakfast. Get a good night's rest and prepare thoroughly to be scored on your skills." The instructor says before dismissing everyone from the room.

Lo'ak and Spider give one another a look of acknowledgement as they give a curt nod and a smile before going their separate ways. Ravyn grabs Spider's hand as the two of them pass by some of the Careers on the way out. He can physically feel Ravyn shudder at the looks they're giving them as they meet up with Norm outisde the Training  Center to go back to their rooms.

She calms down once the Careers are nowhere in sight. Her grip on Spider's hand doesn't cease, however. She still holds on tight like he's her lifeline. He squeezes her hand back in comfort as they near their room. When they get inside their room, they split up and go wash themselves up after hours of training. Eywa, was his body tired.

As Spider washes his body, he can't help but think of the group of victors watching him behind the glass. Of course, Neteyam was there front and center, but he also saw four other people surrounding him. He distinctly remembers seeing them staring at him as he helped Lo'ak and Ravyn during their training period. He didn't know what to think of it. 

What makes it worse is that he knows all of those victors very well. He did happen to watch their games a few years ago. He clearly remembers watching Neteyam's games. It was a game that no one would forget; so much blood and so much carnage. It doesn't help that he was the youngest person to ever win the Hunger Games at twelve-years-old. The other one he recognized was Kiri. She's the adopted sister of the Sully's. Her game ended quite fast. She had outsmarted the whole Arena with her wit. She had electrocuted a handful of the other Tributes at the halfway mark in a body of water. She won due to the others killing each other off whilst she hid in the shadows watching. No matter how much the gamemakers tried to push her towards the action and danger, she always steered clear and avoided getting involved. These two victors come from District 3, the district of technology and general electronics. It's safe to assume that they are very intelligent people.

The other three were a force to be reckoned with. Two of them were Tonowari's children and the other was a good family friend. All of them being from District 4 give them advantages with water and fishing. Ao'nung, the elder brother of Tsireya, single handedly hunted each person down one by one. He had played innocent in the beginning before killing seven Tributes in the first five minutes. Tsireya had not killed anyone via combat or weapon, but she did persuade a lot of people and let them all do the killing for her. She simply did not shed any blood. Rotxo, while slightly smaller in stature, was quick and agile. He moves fast and is great at making traps for others.

Overall, Spider knew each and every single one of those victors. He was so screwed. Norm was gonna have his head if he finds out that he has the attention of both the families he had warned him not to draw attention from. Spider sighed deeply and continued to clean himself thoroughly. 

After showering, Spider situated himself on the ledge near his window as he looks at the dark sky. Stars glistening and glimmering brightly. The sky has always looked more beautiful at night to Spider. He didn't know why. As he leans on the wall behind him on the ledge getting comfortable, he hears a faint knock on the door. He quietly gets down from the ledge and makes his way to the door. Ravyn's waiting for him on the other side of the door, unsurprisingly. 

She’s standing there awkwardly, her face scrunched up. He can tell something is on her mind. He invites her in with a gentle voice and asks her if she wants to sit with him on the ledge of the window. She nods, a faint smile on her face as she follows him. He waits for her to get on the ledge and get comfortable before hopping on the ledge after her.

The room falls into a comfortable silence for a while. An hour passes and eventually, the static in Spider's mind tampers off into a manageable hum. All this worrying and thinking was making him fidgety. The silence is dormant if not for the sound of two quiet breaths. The moon's light coming through the window casts a grayish blue hue over Ravyn's face and she eventually twists meeting Spider's eyes.

“Are you okay?” Ravyn whispers.

Spider is taken aback for a second. He didn't expect that question.

"I'm okay, Ravyn. Why? Did I do something to make you think otherwise?" Spider replies softly, his brows furrowed in concern.

"You were kind of like zoned out and you looked like you weren't all there back at the Training Center. You looked like you were out of it." Ravyn responds with concern present in her tone.

Spider pauses for a moment to think back to his time in the Training Center. He won't lie and say he wasn't distracted and not usually himself. He makes eye contact with the younger girl before sighing.

“I think I really fucked up.” Spider confesses.

“Why do you think that?” Ravyn asks confused.

“I’ve only been here for two days, and I already feel like everyone's gunning for me.” Spider admits. “Like earlier, when I walked into the Training Center, I could have sworn all the Careers stopped for a second to look at me.” Spider explains. Ravyn offers no further words, only an open heart willing to listen. 

“I've made peace with dying. I'm not afraid of dying.” Spider says smoothly. 

“But I'm honestly really fucking scared, Ravyn.” His voice hitches slightly. 

“I know that all the Careers, except Lo'ak, are going to target me, but what's even worse is that I think the two families Norm warned us about are too.” Spider continues. 

“I have a gut feeling that they’re going to drag it out and make it hurt so much. And I don't know how badly my actions are going to affect the people around me.” Spider admits. 

Spider thinks of Ian back home. He thinks of the kid he volunteered shrinking under the cameras and eyes panned on his face as he watches Spider be mutilated and beaten beyond recognition.

Spider thinks of Lo'ak, with his carefree and slightly rebellious nature, but is the most loyal person. He thinks of Norm and Max. Their duty to arrange his funeral, slinking further into a state of helplessness before next year when they will have to do it all again. Spider thinks of Ravyn, the young girl in the dark who tentatively listens to his fears without judgment.

And he fears for himself, he really does. But his entire body aches knowing that his dumb decisions might ruin whatever he touches.

“They’re targeting you because they're afraid of you,  Spider.” Ravyn says at last after staying quiet this whole time.

Spider laughs humorously. “They’re not the slightest bit scared of me, Ravyn. Don't try to humor me.”

“Yes, they are.” Ravyn says with such certainty, like she knows something. “They don't think of you, us, as people.”

“They think of us like vessels of human instincts. A hundred and twenty pounds of adrenaline and a brain with a capacity not large enough for anything other than fight or flight.” Ravyn says, not an ounce of hesitation in her words. 

Ravyn points at Spider with a twitch of her lips. “You’re making them second guess that because you're kind and loyal and stupidly self-sacrificing, and that goes against all the mental criteria they had that makes us less than them. You’re messing with their justifications for all the shit they’ve been pulling and trust me when I say, they're scared shitless.” Ravyn says firmly.

Spider tries to take in the words. Ravyn says it like it's true. Like it's so true there's no room for any other explanation. But they don't look scared, nor do they act like it.

“I just don't want anyone to get hurt because of me.” Spider whispers.

“Don't think like that, Spider. You won't hurt anyone." Ravyn says so confidently.

Ravyn swings her legs off the ledge of the window and drops back down to the floor. She walks to the door and grabs the handle, opening the door halfway. She steps out halfway before looking back at Spider with a gentle look.

"Goodnight, Spider. Sleep well." Ravyn says before leaving and closing the door behind her.

“Goodnight, Ravyn.” Spider whispers after the door closes.

He puts his head on his knees as he closes his eyes in thought. He didn't really feel like sleeping right now. His thoughts are just too crowded. He just decides to relax on the ledge on silence as the stars shine brightly in the night sky.

___

A sharp knock on the door erupts in the early hours. The sky is still dark and moonlit. Spider sluggishly drags his body from the surprisingly comfortable ledge (given that he fell asleep shortly after). He rubs his eyes to rid the sleep from them. He makes his way to the bathroom to splash water on his face to look slightly presentable. 

By the time he opens his door to make his way through the livingroom  and dining room, there's more rapid knocks on the door. Spider drags his feet to the door, sleep still making him hazy. When he opens the door, he was surely not expecting two victors from the Sully family to be standing on the other side of the door. Polite smiles and all.

Both of them clearly had on their sleepwear. Though, they somehow still manage to look intimidating despite being dressed such way. Neteyam is smiling softly at Spider and Kiri is smiling widely.

"Hi! Spider, right? I've heard so much about you." Kiri says happily taking in the appearance of the boy.

Spider stares at her for a moment before blinking longly. "I beg your pardon?" Spider questions her confused at the situation he's in.

“You just woke up, didn’t you?” Neteyam says quietly, a knowing smile on his face making him look so coy. Raven hair braided intricately, framing his face beautifully. 

"Wasn't that obvious?" Spider replies back in a split second cocking a brow.

"Feisty... I like that." Kiri mumbles with a grin on her delicate face. Ginger hair resting flawlessly on her shoulders and framing her face like curtains. She had two stray braids at the front of her face adorned with one bead each; a simple but pretty hairstyle he has to admit. 

"I'm sorry, with all due respect, why are you here so late?" Spider asks, his voice just a touch raspy.

"Right! Where are my manners?" Kiri says apologetically.

"Neteyam, Lo'ak, and I want to invite you to a dinner with our family." Kiri reveals with a gentle smile.

Spider's brain short circuits as he processes the information. "You want me... to have dinner with your family...?" Spider asks slowly as if he's not understanding what she said.

"Yeah! Neteyam put in a good word about you, so did Lo'ak, and our father wanted to invite you over." Kiri explains like this is a normal occasion.

"I- I will have to talk with my mentor about this." Spider stutters in shock at the words being said to him.

"No need, we asked Norm already." Neteyam admitted quietly, his gaze not straying from Spider's delicate face.

"I- Are- Are you even supposed to be here right now?" Spider stumbles on his words in disbelief.

"No, we're not to supposed to be here, but look where we are." Kiri informs Spider with an awkward smile making him sigh loudly.

"Great... Uh- What time should I be there?" Spider asks blinking slowly, hating every person on this planet at this very moment.

"I would say be ready by 4:45, as dinner starts at 5 o'clock exactly. We'll come and get you, so don't worry about how to get there." Kiri kindly says, her eyes twinkle a bit with an unknown glint in her eyes.

"Cool... I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow- later on today." Spider replies awkwardly, not knowing how to act given the circumstances.

"Right. Have a good night, sayrìp." Neteyam says with a kind smile before turning away. Kiri follows suit and waves kindly to him before following her brother.

Eywa, is he lucky that Neteyam and Kiri didn't turn around and see his reaction to the pet name. They don't know he knows Na'vi, only Lo'ak does. He lets out a long breath before heading back inside. He makes a beeline for his room, closing the door quietly. He does not know what the hell just happened. Spider is just beyond confused right now. Sleep would honestly be a good thing for him at the moment. Evaluation Day had arrived and that made Spider nervous.

He closes his eyes and forces himself to fall asleep to be somewhat rested for later on the morning. All he knew was that he was going to use a bow and arrow for his skill, and he didn't plan on revealing that until the games. Of course, he didn't plan on sticking around for too long.

___

A few hours later, some very well rested hours, Spider and Ravyn are told to quickly shower and get dressed in the same training outfit as yesterday before heading to the dining room to have breakfast. Spider didn't really know what to do with his hair, so he just let it hang freely. Maybe he might ask Ravyn to braid his hair while they wait for their turn.

He turns up to the dining room as soon as he's ready and begins eating as Norm explains what is to be expected of the evaluation. 

"Now, today is a special day because you get to showcase your skills to the gamemakers and some of the top Sponsors in the Capitol. This is only a small portion of what you have to do to get Sponsors, so just leave the rest to me when you are in the games." Norm says sternly as he explains what they need to know for the future. 

"Remember how I told you the other day that you can't use a bow and arrow," Norm points at Spider "and you can't use an axe?" Norm then points to Ravyn. The two Tributes nod in confirmation as they eat their food.

"Right, so I suggest you guys use those skills for your evaluation. And if you get good scores, it'll look good for you when it comes to Sponsors." Norm explains further. 

"I was already planning on doing that." Spider adds while chewing his breakfast.

"Even better. You're already way ahead of the game." Norm says with a wide grin.

"Also, remember not to cause any trouble." Norm says to the two kids, but his gaze is mostly pointed at Spider.

"Got it." Spider mumbles.

After the two Tributes have finished eating their breakfast, Norm leads them to the room to wait for their names to be called for their evaluation. Norm wishes them luck before leaving them on their own. As they enter the room, the other Tributes are already there waiting and are eyeing them. Some discreetly, others more obvious. Spider just leads Ravyn to the only other empty seats in the back of the room. They sit in silence for a while before the first Tribute from District 1 is called. The girls are to go first before the boys in their respective district. Nate is the first one to be called for his evaluation. Spider honestly hopes he gets a low score, but that probably won't happen.

As the Tributes are being called one by one for their evaluation, Spider turns to Ravyn quietly and asks her if she could braid his hair. Her frown is immediately turned into a smile as she nods quickly and urges him to turn around so she can begin. He just lets the younger girl do what she pleases to his hair. This would probably be the first time he's voluntarily let someone touch his hair and style it. He smiles faintly to himself and indulges in the delicate touch in his blonde hair.

It seems like Ravyn is pretty fast at doing braids because she finishes within fifteen minutes. He reaches a hand up to touch his hair to feel what type of braid it was. He recognizes it as a fishtail braid. He grins looks back at Ravyn and thanks her. She just shakes her head and tells him she'd do his hair any time he wanted her to. He chuckles and nods in acknowledgement of the offer.

"I'll certainly take you up on that offer." Spider whispers to her making her giggle quietly.

Time passes slowly. The Tributes gradually leave the room to the evaluation room. Eventually, it is just Ravyn and Spider left in the room.

"Ravyn Celeste." The intercom echoes in the room loudly. Ravyn shudders at the call of her name and stands up shakily as she makes her way to the large door. 

"Ravyn." Spider calls out to the young girl. She turns to look back at him expectantly.

"Remember to throw straight." Spider reminds her about throwing the axe she will choose for her weapon.

Ravyn nods and walks to the metal door that rises when she steps close to it. She disappears after it closes. Spider is now left alone with his thoughts as he waits patiently for his turn. His left leg bobs up and down rapidly as he pushes the weight off his foot. He finds himself doing this to pass time. 

Eventually, the intercom roars to life as it announces the last Tribute to be evaluated.

"Spider Socorro, please make your way to the Evaluation room for your assessment." The voice speaks robotically. 

Spider stands up and makes his way to the door he saw Ravyn go through. The door rises for him to enter, and it closes back down when he steps inside the room. Right away, he can see the head Gamemaker (not that he knows the name of the man) in the center of the small room above him. He also observes the amount of rich men talking loudly and indulging in their beverages.

He walks to the middle of the room where a metal bow and four arrows are waiting to be used. He feels the texture of the bow for a moment before picking it up. He takes a single arrow from off the rack and faces the men in the small room above him.

"Uhm, Spider Socorro." He calls out loud enough for him to be heard, his voice unconfident and wavering just a bit.

The sound of his voice immediately gets the attention of the men in the small room who turn in their seats to observe his skill. He gives a dip of his head in acknowledgement before turning to face the target. He readies his arrow and nocks it. He stands with his feet shoulder width apart and steadies his breathing. He makes sure his form is correct before aligning the bow to be in the center of the target. He takes a shallow, but deep breath and draws the arrow.

The sound of the arrow hitting the target loudly echoed in the room. Spider lowers the bow and looks to see if his arrow hit his target. It did. He always hit his target without fail. He grins at his work and turns to the group of men watching him; except they were no longer watching him. His grin falters as he steps closer to them to observe them. 

They were fucking eating and talking amongst themselves like they had better things to be doing. They were surrounding a damn pigs body with appetizers on the side. His face took on a scowl as he went back to the rack of arrows and picked another one up. He raises his bow high, pointing it at the men. His eye catches something that he could shoot to draw their attention. An apple. He nocks the arrow and pulls back the string of the bow. He steadies his breath before releasing the arrow.

He hits his target again. The apple had been hit and stuck to the wall thanks to the arrow. The juice of the apples runs down the white wall in an agonizingly slow pace. He smirks at the look of shock and horror painted on the faces of the men in the small room. The Gamemaker directly makes eye contact with him in surprise. Spider scoffs as he bows dramatically to the men. His eyes conveying hatred and annoyance. 

"Thank you very much for your time." Spider says sarcastically, his face twisted in a glare.

He stands up from his dramatic bow and places the bow back on the rack, albeit roughly. He storms out of the room out another door to be reunited with his mentor and fellow Tribute. This whole thing was a fucking shitshow. Everyone from the Capitol could go politely fuck themselves and go shove it.

___

When Ravyn and Spider were led back to the the livingroom of their shared space by Max, he had been scolded and yelled at by Norm for causing a ruckus amongst the people. Spider just took in the words and listened to his mentor chew his actions up.

"What were you even thinking?!" Norm exclaims as he pinches the bridge of his nose. 

"I just got angry. I'm sorry." Spider mumbles as he picks at his cuticles.

"You can't let your emotions speak for you in these games, Spider. Your actions reflect badly on the rest of us." Norm reprimanded Spider sternly.

"What more could they do anyway?" Max speaks up from his spot on the couch near the Tributes.

"What?" Norm questions perplexed at Max's words.

"You said that his actions reflect badly on us." Max says with a raised brow.

"Yes! Because they could take it out on-" Norm begins to ramble but Max cuts him off abruptly. 

"Take it out on who? Him? Her? They already are, Norm." Max says with a matter of fact tone.

Norm huffs loudly before taking a sip of water he was holding. "The results for your evaluation come out in three days. We will have to wait and see what scores you guys get." Norm informs them.

"Oh, and Spider?" Norm addresses Spider before he was about to take his leave.

"Yeah?" Spider asks confused.

"You have dinner with the Sully's later on. Don't fuck it up, kid. I'm begging you." Norm pleads before exiting the room along with Max who shoots him a thumbs up.

The door shuts with a click and thick silence envelops the room. Spider sinks into the couch wishing it could swallow him whole. He was surely going to get punished by the Capitol for what he did.

"You have dinner with the Sully's?" Ravyn's voice echoed in the room.

"Not by choice." Spider huffed.

"Why would they just randomly want to invite you to have dinner with them?" Ravyn asks with confusion etched on her face.

"Apparently two of their kids put in a good word about me. I don't even know what I did." Spider mumbles before reaching over to grab a pillow and place it over his face. The sound of a loud, but muffled groan is heard throughout the room.

Spider slowly removes the pillow from his face and blows a stray piece of hair from his face.

"I'm regretting this so much." Spider whines.

"I'm sure it won't be so bad." Ravyn reassures the boy with a hopeful attitude. 

"Yeah, like a sudden dinner with the Sully's means something good comes out of it." Spider mutters sarcastically with furrowed brows.

"Sorry, misdirected anger." Spider shoots the young girl an apology for directing his annoyance of the situation at her.

"No need to apologize. Just make sure you don't dig yourself an even bigger hole than you already do." Ravyn awkwardly grins shrugging her shoulders. 

"Thanks for the splendid advice." Spider says sarcastically with narrowed eyes. 

"You'll be fine, Spider. Besides, who doesn't like you?" Ravyn nudges his shoulder before standing up and making her way to her room.

"A lot of people." Spider replies. 

"Agree to disagree, dude." Ravyn shouts as she closes her door leaving Spider alone with his thoughts.

"Eywa, help me get through this dinner unscathed." Spider pleads before standing up begrudgingly and dragging his feet to his room to find something to wear for the dinner.

He was going to need all the luck he can possibly get. But he should be okay, right? Nothing bad can happen at a simple dinner. He certainly hopes so.

Chapter Text

Spider stalks to his wardrobe and assesses the options he has for this dinner he is very much regretting agreeing to the more time ticks by. He just hates himself for accepting the stupid dinner invitation. He already has a big target on his back, and he has the attention of both the families Norm warned him to stay away from. What more could he do to fuck up his oh, so plain life? Exist, most likely.

"Why must there be so many options for a freaking shirt in this forsaken penthouse?" Spider hisses under his breath as he goes through the many articles of clothing that occupy the closet, albeit rather aggressively. 

A strong gust of wind enters his room and hits his skin gently. The hair on his arms rises at the sudden draft of cold air touching his skin. Spiders shivers slightly at the chilling gust of wind, though he should be used to by now.

"I'm glad you agree with me, Great Mother. I'm grateful I am not the only one who thinks such a thing whilst going through a crisis at the moment." Spider turns to the open window seemingly speaking to no one but himself. 

But Spider knew very well that it was Eywa speaking with him. It was a form of conversation that they had back in District 12. It was not even windy outside, yet Eywa still managed to speak with him. The two would talk like this as it was the only way they would when he was awake. Eywa would manipulate the environment around him to communicate with her favorite child. The other way they would converse with one another was in his dreams. Those were the conversations he loved most.

"Can I just jump out the window instead of having dinner with the Sully's?" Spider asks Eywa in a whiney voice; his body turned toward the window left ajar.

Another gust of wind hit his skin, but this time it was much stronger. It was almost as if he was smacked upside the head for even thinking of such a thing. Spider pouted and sulked as he continued to go through the clothing. He honestly thinks jumping out the window would do more great than harm for him. It's a shame Eywa thinks otherwise. He would've jumped immediately if she hinted that it was fine.

Within time, Spider found a decent outfit that he can wear to the dinner with the Sully's. It wasn't too over the top, but it wasn't too boring and plain. In his eyes, to be specific. He even called Ravyn over to his room to double check if his outfit was okay. She had said it was the perfect thing he could've picked, but he can't tell if that was sarcasm or her just genuinely liking the outfit. Maybe she could have been blowing a compliment up his butt... He'll stick with the first assumption. She shooed him off to go take a shower to be fresh and clean before he is picked up by Neteyam and Kiri, not that Ravyn knows it was them.

He thanked her and went on to shower and pamper himself to look presentable by his standards. He wasn't going to fall victim to the over-the-top fashion the people in the Capitol have. He has said it once, and he will say it again; the Capitol's fashion sense is a tragic accident that belongs in a circus. It is literally a travesty! Who said dressing in such a way was okay? He would say it to their faces too, but Norm would chew his head off if he did so.

Over the course of an hour and a half, Spider spent the time getting ready for dinner. Ravyn had barged into his room when he was in a dilemma with what he was going to do with his hair. She shushed him hastily, and said she will take care of his hair and small dose of makeup. He sat down on a vanity stool patiently waiting for Ravyn to finish with his hair. He doesn't know what she's going to do, but he hopes it's decent for a dinner.

"Okay, pretty boy. I'm done with your hair; now I just need to put just a bit of makeup on you." Ravyn says dusting her hands off in a dramatic manner as she reaches for the makeup in the drawers of the built in vanity inside the bathroom. 

"Did you just call me, pretty boy?" Spider chuckled in surprise, completely taken aback by the sudden compliment. He thinks it's a compliment, at least. He's not good with social cues and people's emotions, give him a break.

"Mhm. It's true, isn't it?" Ravyn hummed like what she said wasn't weird.

"No one's ever said that to me before." Spider admits rather shyly.

"People are just blind, I tell ya. You're probably the prettiest boy I've seen in my life so far! Not even any of the Careers or the Capitol's children look as pretty as you do." Ravyn rambles incredulously with wide eyes as she settles on a few makeup products.

"Are you just flattering me or are you being serious?" Spider scrunches his nose in question.

"I'm saying that you're attractive, own it." Ravyn rolls her eyes as if it's not obvious.

"This feels weird having a child tell me this." Spider mumbles.

"Get used to it, champ. There's a lot more where that came from." Ravyn cackles as she picks up a brown eyeliner stick.

"What are you gonna do with that?" Spider raises a brow in question as he eyes the thing in front of him.

"I'm gonna give you freckles, of course! I think they'd look good on ya." Ravyn says in a matter of fact tone.

"Really? You think so?" Spider asks as Ravyn presses tiny dots to his upper face.

"I know so." Ravyn replies with a grin.

Ravyn begins to place scattered dots over his cheeks and nose before she patted her index finger over the dots to make them lose the opaqueness. As she does this, the dots begin to look more and more realistic, like real freckles. After a few more taps on his face, Ravyn stood back a bit and examined her work. She simply nodded at her work and grabbed a lip oil to apply on Spider's lips.

"Why do I need lip oil? I'm just gonna end up eating." Spider questions the younger girl with a raised brow.

"It's just for the beginning of dinner. I just want you to make a lasting impression." Ravyn says cheekily as she applies a bit of lip oil to Spider's lips.

"What impression do I have to make?" Spider asks incredulously.

"A good one." Ravyn quips with a blank face disregarding his previous question.

"Done!" Ravyn says excitedly as she steps back and admires her work.

Spider rolls his eyes playfully and turns to look at himself in the mirror. He has to admit that he looks pretty. Exceptionally pretty. He never even thought he could look so put together and fancy like this. He didn't even think he was able to pull of freckles. They look so natural against his skin. It's mind boggling. His hair is also looks very pretty. It was styled intricately. He loves it.

"I look different." Was all Spider could mutter as he stares at his reflection with wide eyes.

"I hope you mean in a good way or I'll pluck your eyes out." Ravyn pipes up from behind him with a snarky grin.

"Yes! Of course I mean it in a good way. It's just different than what I'm used to." Spider hurriedly explains himself to the younger girl who laughs at his frantic words. 

"I'm just messing with you. Just jokes is all." Ravyn giggles.

"What time is it?" Spider asks suddenly remembering he's on a time limit.

"Let's find out." Ravyn says before grabbing Spider's hand and dragging him out of the bathroom to the livingroom of the penthouse. 

"There's your answer." Ravyn says pointing up at the large clock on the wall just ticking as time passes by.

"Okay, just a few more minutes." Spider mumbles shaking his hands to rid his nerves.

"Hey, don't worry. You'll be fine, they'll like you." Ravyn reassures Spider noticing his little habit.

"Sure..." Spider says sarcastically before moving to the couch in the livingroom to sit down and calm his rising nerves.

"What could go wrong?" Ravyn asks as she sits down beside him.

"Everything." Spider replies quickly.

"Stop bein' a worry wart! You'll be fine." Ravyn slaps his arm gently with narrowed eyes. 

"I can't help it!" Spider rambles as he begins to fidget with the hem of his shirt.

"Stop it!" Ravyn snaps as she swats his hand away from his shirt.

"Look, you know what my momma used to say back home when she was nervous?" Ravyn asks the older boy who's on the verge of a panic attack.

"What did she say?" Spider asks confused as to where this conversation is going.

"She would say 'water off a duck's back' any time she got nervous or somethin'." Ravyn explains fondly.

"Why are you telling me this?" Spider asks.

"I'm telling you this as a way to calm your nerves. Anytime you get nervous, just whisper to yourself 'water off a duck's back.'" Ravyn supplies further with a smile.

"Water off a duck's back... Water off a duck's back... Water off a duck's back..." Spider begins to mutter under his breath. After a few short minutes of repeating the sentence, he found himself slowly calming down. 

"It has a nice ring to it." Spider says quietly once he has completely calmed down.

"My momma knows best." Ravyn says with a smile that seemed somewhat bittersweet. 

It hit Spider that Ravyn might not see her mother ever again. She might die in the games a very brutal death at the hands of other Tributes for the Capitol's pleasure. It made his stomach churn at the mere thought of it. He was going to do anything he could to make sure she got back home. Same thing with Lo'ak. But he knew only one of them could make it, not both.

A sudden sharp, loud knock interrupted Spider's deep thinking. His head whips to the door and he stares at it for a moment. This was either going to go really horribly or really well. He wasn't really prepared for any of the outcomes.

"Go get 'em, tiger." Ravyn nudges his shoulder as she motions her head to the door.

Spider takes a deep breath and lets out a shallow one. He quietly thanks Ravyn before making his way to the door where his life is either going to go to literal shit or literal heaven. He was leaning more towards the first option. 

He places a hand on the doorknob and takes another quiet deep breath and exhaling silently before opening the door. He was met with Neteyam and Kiri dressed in something similar to what he was wearing. Although, Kiri wore a comfy but fancy dress compared to the two boys wearing trousers and a shirt. A decently fancy shirt, or blouse, whatever one may call it.

"You're dressed nicely." Neteyam says as he eyes Spider subtly, his words slightly accented. Spider's not sure how he hasn't even noticed that Neteyam has a slight accent that sounds so heavenly. 

"My fellow tribute insisted I go like this." Spider responds.

"She certainly knows best." Kiri says with a grin before grabbing his hand gently and pulling him out from the corridor.

"Woah!" Spider exclaims at the sudden pull.

"Don't fall over, now." Neteyam says placing a hand on his waist to steady him.

"Thanks..." Spider mumbles without making eye contact.

Ravyn appears by the door with a smug look on her face as she sees the situation Spider's in. 

"Looks like you're off." Ravyn says grinning widely at Spider.

"Yeah, yeah, Ravyn. Be quiet." Spider rolls his eyes at the younger girl teasing him.

"Make sure he makes it back in one piece." Ravyn says turning to the two victors with a sharp glint in her eyes.

"We'll make sure of it." Neteyam says with a smile.

"I hope you keep your word." Ravyn says lowly before turning back to Spider with a smile.

"Have fun, pretty boy." Ravyn squeaks before slamming the door shut. Her cackling echoing through the door.

"She's certainly a tough cookie." Kiri says after a moment of silence.

"You don't know the half of what I deal with when I'm alone with her." Spider sighs shaking his head softly but with a fond expression occupying his face.

"Shall we go then?" Neteyam questions Spider with an outstretched arm.

"We shall." Spider replies quietly before hooking his arm around Neteyam's. Now both his hands occupied; Kiri holding one hand and Neteyam hooking their arms together.

___

The three teenagers eventually make it to the home of the Sully's. Neteyam and Kiri silently led Spider to the front door of their home before they turned to the boy.

"Are you ready, Spider?" Neteyam asks the older boy.

"Not really, but I don't have much of a choice." Spider replies with a tight smile, his eye twitching slightly at the given situation. 

"You're funny." Kiri grins at Spider before ringing the doorbell. 

It didn't take too long for someone to answer the door. The person in question was Lo'ak. He seemed put together as he has been any time Spider sees him.

<"Finally! How long does it take to-"> Lo'ak groans at his two older siblings having not taken notice of Spider until he looks in between them.

"Oh! Spider, you look different. Different in a good way, of course! You look great, uh- no, you look pretty. Wait, no-" Lo'ak begins to ramble about Spider's looks having been taken aback by his visuals.

"Lo'ak, I get it." Spider interrupts his fellow tribute with a grin at how flustered he is.

"Uhm, come on in." Lo'ak says with a light blush on his cheeks as he steps aside. 

Kiri laughs at Lo'ak's demise as she enters the house, Neteyam giving Lo'ak a quick glance as she dragged Spider inside their home. 

"Dinner is about to be ready, so we have a few minutes to talk before... the conversation with our parents." Lo'ak comments once he slides next to Spider. 

"Let's hope everything goes alright." Spider sighs as he fiddles with his fingers.

"You'll be perfectly fine, don't worry too much." Kiri waves off his worry.

"You know who's been dying to meet you?" Lo'ak nudges Spider's softly as he stares at him.

"Who?" Spider asks confused.

"Our younger sister. She's been talking our heads off about wanting to meet you, other than Lo'ak." Kiri groans rolling her eyes at the reminder.

"Where is she then?" Spider asks looking around.

"In the kitchen with our parents. We'll take you to meet her." Neteyam answers smoothly with a small smile, motioning with his head for Spider to follow. 

As the siblings take him around the house to the kitchen, Spider can't help but gawk at the lifestyle they're living in. Their house was just pure decadence. It was like nothing he's ever seen. But even with having a luxury as such, he would still prefer to live in the forest of his district to talk with Eywa.

As they entered the grand kitchen, the dining table set with utensil and plates, Spider is interrupted by his gawking by a squeal. He looks ahead of the Sully siblings and barely sees small figure running toward him eagerly. He barely even has time to prepare to not get toppled over by a child.

"Oh, hello there." Spider speaks softly to the young girl hugged his midsection tightly.

"Hi! I'm Tuktirey, but everyone calls me Tuk." The young girl, now known as Tuk, speaks happily looking up at him with stars in her eyes.

"I'm Spider, but I'm sure you knew that." Spider says lightly looking down at the young girl.

"You're pretty." Tuk says bluntly staring up at him with a smile.

"Oh- Uhm, thank you...?" Spider stutters at the sudden compliment. He looks up at the older siblings for help, but they just laugh silently at his demise.

"Come meet our dad, he's been wanting to meet you. " Tuk removes herself from Spider before taking his hand and dragging him to their father. The other siblings following behind silently.

When Spider is brought to the infamous Toruk Makto, he expected him to be much meaner and colder. But instead of that, he's just a guy in a wheelchair smiling at him as they approach him.

"You must be the infamous Spider Socorro I've heard so much about ." Jake says rolling his wheelchair a little closer to the kids.

"That would be me." Spider says shyly. 

"I gotta say kid, whatever you did to Nate and his goons to make him act up was top tier comedy. It's time someone put that kid in his place." Jake praised Spider for his actions a few days ago.

"Uh- It was nothing, sir. I just don't like seeing people picking on others, especially for petty reasons." Spider shook his head in denial at the praise. He didn't think he did much.

"You saved my son from being assaulted further, I wouldn't call that nothing, kid." Jake countered with a raised brow urging Spider to continue arguing.

"Speaking of which, I must thank you for protecting my son." Jake says as he turns his wheelchair to roll towards the dining table. There, the woman Spider has been dreading meeting is carefully placing the food she made on the plates. 

"Really, sir, it was nothing." Spider continues to deny the thanks Jake was giving him. 

"Just take the praise. He hardly does this." Lo'ak whispers in Spider's ear lowly.

"Fine." Spider replies quietly. 

"Shall we eat?" Jake asks motioning to the table filled with freshly cooked food. 

"Come sit with me!" Tuk exclaims excitedly as she drags Spider to a chair next to her. He made no attempt to complain as Tuk was quite the adorable child. 

The others make their way to their chairs and sat down, though Jake just rolled closer to the table where an empty spot was. Lo'ak somehow managed to get on the other side of Spider when he wasn't paying attention, curtesy of Tuktirey. He didn't mind, though. Lo'ak was good company. 

"Let's dig in." Jake says with a grin.

Spider waits a moment before he digs in. He waits patiently for Jake and his wife, Neytiri, to eat first before he does. It was something he learned from Eywa. She had always told him to wait for anyone older than him to eat first before he begins eating. Once the two adults take their first bite, Spider then begins eating. His habit didn't go unnoticed by majority of the family who thought it was peculiar.

"So... Spider, was it?" Neytiri begins speaking after a few moments of silence.

"Yes, ma'am." Spider replies lifting his head slightly to make eye contact with the woman. He can also hear the same accent Neteyam has in Neytiri's words. Maybe that was who he got it from. 

"You're from District 12, correct?" Neytiri asks.

"That is correct." Spider confirms.

"What is it like living there?" Neytiri asks as she cuts some of the meat on her plate.

That question makes some of the family eye her with a certain look Spider cannot understand. Though the question does make everyone curious about how life is in the poorest district.

"Uhm, it's nice for me. I wouldn't know about others, though. I lived alone in the forest." Spider replies awkwardly.

"You lived alone in the forest?" Jake asks a bit concerned about the news.

"Yes. It's not as bad as you might think. Most of the things you need are at your disposal." Spider reassures the man with a small smile.

"Why don't you live with the other citizens?" Neytiri asks wanting to pry for more information on the mysterious boy.

"I was outcast." Spider answers nonchalantly.

"That must be horrible." Kiri says quietly.

<"It's not as bad as you think."> Spider says under his breath quietly not thinking the others will hear it, but he is proven wrong by every other head, except Lo'ak, snapping to look at him in shock.

<"You speak Na'vi?"> Kiri asks shocked.

<"I'd say so."> Spider replies fluently.

<"How do you speak that language?"> Neytiri asks tensely, her brows furrowed.

"He says that Eywa taught him back home in the forest." Lo'ak reponds for Spider seeing that Spider was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with some of the questions.

"Impossible..." Neytiri murmurs to herself in surprise.

Neytiri heard her son talking about the tribute that saved him spoke Na'vi, but she didn't believe it one bit. No one, especially from the poorer districts, except a handful of certain individuals speak that sacred language. And the fact that Lo'ak says that Spider told him Eywa personally taught him her language is confirming a theory her mother had many years ago. She would have to take this great discovery to her mother another day to discuss this.

Despite the fact that the rest of the family is very much taken aback by the sudden news from Spider, they choose to subtly deviate the conversation elsewhere. Disregarding that small hiccup in the conversation, dinner surprisingly went well. Spider got to know more about the Sully's. It's made the situation he and Lo'ak in more apparent. They were going to have to kill one another in a few days. He wouldn't have that. He would make sure either Lo'ak or Ravyn make it back home.

When dinner finally concluded, Spider insisted he wash the dishes as a thank you for inviting him into their home. He didn't listen to any complaining of him doing that as he took the empty plates from everyone else; actively ignoring the protests. He was honestly happy that he could have just a bit of time to himself before he is taken back to the penthouse.

He takes his time scraping the excess food in the trash and placing them in the sink before he washes them individually. As he turns on the water to partially wash the dirty plates, he feels a presence emerging behind him. He chooses to ignore it and continue washing the dishes.

<"You are an interesting child, Spider. It is a shame that you and my son had to meet in these dire circumstances."> The sound of Neytiri's voices booms from behind him.

<"I wish I could've met him in other circumstances. He's a good person. And I know he's going to be targeted in the games these coming days."> Spider says as he puts a clean plate off to the side.

<"That was what I wanted to talk to you about."> Neytiri sighs as she comes up beside him and begins to assist him in washing the dishes.

<"You want me to let him win, right?"> Spider asks.

<"Not exactly-"> Neytiri begins talking but is interrupted by Spider fairly quickly.

<"Know that I will do anything necessary to make sure your son returns home where he belongs."> Spider says firmly and surely like he was certain and confidence he would make this happen. 

<"How can you guarantee that bold claim?"> Neytiri questions with her shock concealed as she finishes washing another set of plates.

<"Because I'll do anything, even if it means I die in the process. It will have all been worth it if I succeed in making sure Lo'ak returns home safely. He has a family to get back to, I don't."> Spider says turning to her for a split second as be finishes the final plate. He shakes his hands slightly to rid some of the water from his hands before he is handed a hand towel by Neytiri to dry his hands.

<"I can't promise that he won't get injured during the games, but I can promise you he'll live. I will make sure of it."> Spider says confidently as he stares at Neytiri in the eyes. Her eyes the same amber that her children have, so alluring and enchanting.

<"You have my word."> Spider says with a small smile. 

"You are like nobody I've ever encountered." Neytiri says lowly after a brief beat of silence, switching to English all of the sudden.

"So, I've been told." Spider chuckles looking away from thr woman in front of him.

"I assume this will be our first and last time meeting each other then." Spider says with a tight smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. 

"That is very unlikely." Neytiri says with a tone he doesn't recognize. Her eyes hold a glint he can't pick up on.

"Come again?" Spider asks confusedly at the sure statement.

"Nothing, child. Norm should be here to escort you back to your room." Neytiri diverts the question. She escorts him to the front door where Norm is seen talking with Jake and his children. He didn't even hear the doorbell ring.

"It was nice meeting you Mrs. Sully, have a nice night." Spider says quietly as he stops near the group of people talking to one another.

"Thank you, Spider. You as well." Neytiri says with a barely there smile but still visible to Spider enough to see it.

"You ready to go, kiddo?" Norm asks Spider once he's done talking with everyone else. 

"Yup." Spider replies.

"Well then, let's roll." Norm says motioning to the door.

"It was nice to meet you, Spider." Jake says as Spider is led towards the door.

"Likewise, Mr. Sully. I'm sorry we met in these circumstances." Spider says with a grim smile. His comment makes multiple people grimace at the sudden reminder of why he was here in the first place.

"Come on, kid." Norm places a hand on Spider's shoulder and leads him out the door.

Before Spider is completely out the door, he catches the eyes of the Sully children. They all stare at his leaving figure with varying expressions. Some of the expressions they express he cannot make out. These people were truly hard to read emotionally. Spider could never really completely understand what they are thinking. 

It was truly a shame that Spider met the rest of the Sully family in these dire circumstances. He was most likely never going to see either of them again. He sends them a tiny smile as a goodbye. They each send him one as well, but they seem more strained. Once that door closes, he would never see the rest of the family - with the exception of Lo'ak - ever again as he will most likely die in the stupid Hunger Games. This was all just going splendidly for Spider.

---

Three days have officially passed since his dinner with the Sully's. He and Ravyn have continued training in the Training Center with Lo'ak as the days inch nearer. But the thing everyone was anticipating was finally here. The results for their Evaluation Period were finally ready to be revealed to the entirety of Pandora. Spider couldn't be any more nervous. His hands just wouldn't stop shaking no matter how hard he tried to make them stop.

"Water off a duck's back." Spider finds himself whispering the phrase Ravyn told him about a few days ago. It really does help him, surprisingly. 

He's sat on one of the sofas in the living room with Ravyn next to him. She's chewing her bottom lip nervously as she waits for the broadcast of everyone's scores. Max sits on a separate sofa calm and collected, but under all of that, he's internally panicking. He could only hope that the two Tributes get good enough scores for them to get Sponsors while they're in the game. 

After a few minutes of tense silence, Norm waltzes in with a stressed look on his face. He picked up some device and clicked a button on it before a screen flicked on. The screen showed the host for this year's Hunger holding a stack of papers in their hands.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Today is the day all of you have been anticipating. We will finally reveal all of our tributes scores during their Evaluation Period." The host says coyly. It was a man with colorful hair. Obnoxiously colored hair. Spider seriously doesn't understand the fashion these people have.

"Very well, let us begin." The man says with a smirk before he begins reading off the scores one by one. Dauntingly slow.

When he gets to District 4, Spider is wondering what score Lo'ak could've gotten. He hopes Lo'ak gets a decent score that it doesn't screw up his chances even more in the games.

"From District 4, Lo'ak Sully, with a score of... 9." The man reveals.

Spider's eyes widen at the high score. He doesn't know what Lo'ak did for his evaluation, but whatever he did certainly worked in him earning a pretty high score. He can't really say the same for himself, though. He quite literally shot an arrow at the gamemakers watching him during his evaluation. 

The room is tense as the host goes down the list of tributes. Spider can only feel his stomach churning as their district nears. Eventually, District 12 is up. Spider could not be any more scared shitless.

"And now, District 12. For the female tribute, Ravyn Celeste, with a score of 7." The man reveals.

Sighs of relief are heard throughout the room at the reveal. 7 was a good score for Ravyn. It was a decent score. Spider felt proud of her, he really did.

"Good job!" Spider shook her shoulders a little as she smiled shyly. Norm and Max congratulated her while Spider sits waiting for his score to be revealed.

"And for our final tribute, Spider Socorro. The infamous volunteer for this year's Hunger Games earned a score of... 11!" The host announces with surprise evident in his voice. It was almost like even he was shocked at the high score. It was one of the highest scores out of everyone. 

"Holy shit!" Norm exclaims in shock.

"You got the second highest score!" Ravyn shakes him as she squeals in excitement. She doesn't seem to even care about her score. She could only smile in pure happiness for Spider.

"I thought they hated me..." Spider says quietly in shock as he stares at the screen in disbelief. He couldn't believe he earned that score based on what he did.

"Obviously not." Max quipped with a grin.

"I shot an arrow at them." Spider says sinking in his seat unbelieving of the situation.

"And apparently they liked that!" Norm compliments as he fishes out a phone from his pocket to phone someone. He could care less.

Amidst the cheers and happy congratulations from everyone in the room, Spider cannot feel any joy at all. He only feels trepidation in his gut. He knows that with his high score, his chances of being killed are at a hundred at the moment. Trust and believe that he has no problem dying in the games, he's made peace with that. But he does not want to go out in excruciating pain. He wishes to die quickly and painlessly, the way Eywa intends. 

He just knows that the second he's out in that arena, he's done for. Things really could not get any worse for Spider. It seems like the world is just out to get him. Eywa, help him. Not only do they have a few days left of training, but their final interview before the games will occur in a few days. And after the interview in broadcasted to the citizens of Pandora, the day after is the official games commencing. He can only ask Eywa for help through all of this.

Chapter Text

The final days leading up to the final day was pure torture for Spider. The training was amped up and much harder than it started. He wasn't necessarily complaining, but it just made his body extremely sore and tired. While he trained with Ravyn and Lo'ak, he would continuously catch Neteyam watching him from behind the glass where the previous victors are free to watch the new tributes train. He wasn't the only one either, he even caught Kiri watching him at times. He even caught those other three kids that Neteyam called over to watch him the first time he caught him. He's not really looking forward to ever meeting them. He probably won't ever meet them; he'll most likely die in the games.

He wishes he could know what it was that Neteyam was thinking as he stared at him. He doesn't know if it's good or bad. But Neteyam has been quite friendly with him, so he doesn't think it's anything bad. He hopes so. 

Spider and Lo'ak have also grown significantly closer over the last remaining days. He knows it's only going to hurt more for Lo'ak when he has to die in the games. Their friendship and alliance that is growing stronger as the days pass will only make this situation more difficult. But Spider made a promise, and he was going to fulfill that promise in the very end. He hopes Lo'ak won't miss him too much.

Today was the day where each Tribute is to be interviewed by this year's Hunger Games host. Spider can't remember the guy's name, not that he really cares, though. He'll know it once he's watching the interviews before his own himself. Spider was very much dreading this interview that will be broadcasted to the entirety of Pandora. Capitol civilians will be in the audience watching them in live action. That just makes things all the better, sarcasm very evident in this thought. 

The Tributes have to interact with the crowd and put on an interesting show even if it is in a short amount of time. Spider is internally panicking about the interacting with the crowd part. He doesn't know how to please people or how to make others like him. He's never cared enough to do such a thing. But things were obviously different here in the Capitol. He is just simply going to be his own self. He won't put on a show as he does not know how. He's not made for that kind of stuff.

In this moment, he sits in a styling chair with multiple stylists around him. Ravyn sits a few feet away in the same situation. He had different people doing different things to him. One was applying subtle makeup to match his suit, which was very beautiful if Spider says so himself. It had licks of fake flames on the bottom of the coat and a long train that loomed on the floor as he walked. It looked tremendously different than what he was used to, but it didn't look bad at all. It looked nice.

Disregarding that piece of information, he also has multiple people styling his hair in some way he doesn't understand. This is why he only trusts Ravyn to touch his hair. These Capitol people don't even know how to style hair. He would much rather settle for a few braids as opposed to whatever they were doing. He just hopes they don't make him look like an absolute skxawng. This would be very embarrassing if they did.

The multitude of stylists eventually finished their work on him. He then leaned forward and took a look in the mirror in front of him to see the finished product. He actually looked... pretty. They made him look sort of androgynous, if that's the word he's going for. He doesn't know how to explain it. Whatever they did, he liked it. Surprisingly.

Spider then stood up and made his way over to Max who was fixing something on Ravyn's outfit that matched his. Instead, she wore a long dress that flowed outward towards the end. Ravyn suited the dress very well.

"Okay! You're ready." Max says stepping back to admire his work and allowing the young girl to stand up from the uncomfortable chair.

"Finally, my back was killin' me." Ravyn complains as he rubs her back.

"Sorry about that, but we need to go. The interviews are about to start in a few minutes." Max apologizes before grabbing both of their hands to drag them backstage of the stage where the interview will take place.

"Where's Norm?" Spider asks noticing that their mentor was absent.

"He will be waiting backstage for you guys to give you some advice before going on stage." Max answers as he speedwalks.

In takes a few moments for Max to finally lead them to where the other tributes are lining up to head backstage. Max tells them to line up and wait their turn to be let in backstage, and from there Norm will instruct them on what to do. Spider tells Ravyn to get in front of him as he noticed that it was in order of girls first and boys second based on each district. She nodded and got in line. From there, they begin the waiting game.

As Spider watched the interviews, he can't help but think that the Careers are absolute fucking clowns. There was no way the audience is believing anything they're saying. If they did, they are all fools. The only Career that Spider liked watching was Lo'ak. He had to admit that Lo'ak knew how to get the crowd involved with his conversation. He knew how to interact with them. Spider knows that Lo'ak is definitely a fan favorite of the citizens of Pandora. He even caught himself getting lost in Lo'ak's interview because of his alluring voice and his amber eyes. They were just so stunning. He could honestly stare into his eyes for an eternity.

Little by little, the line continues moving. The number of Tributes gets smaller and smaller as more of them get interviewed. Eventually, Spider and Ravyn are allowed to enter the backstage portion of the stage to prepare to be interviewed. Norm intercepts them when they are somewhat near the walkway of where you enter and exit the stage. His face was twisted into an expression of sadness but hopefulness hidden under it all. Spider doesn't know why Norm would be hopeful during these times. There's nothing to be hopeful for. 

"Well, I guess this is it. This is my last day with you other than tomorrow when I send you off to the games." Norm says sadly as he looks over his Tributes. 

"You two are going to do great out there. Just... Just be yourself, but try to interact with the audience a bit. Try to get them to like you to attract Sponsors for tomorrow." Norm advises them quietly while the interview beside them acts as whitenoise for Spider. 

"Way ahead of you." Spider says quietly, a slight grin forming on his face despite the numerous negative emotions he felt at the moment.

Norm chuckles with a faraway look in his eye. He sighs, "Just have fun, and represent District 12."

Spider and Ravyn nod with a sure look on their face before the last Tribute of District 11 finally walked off the stage. The Tribute passes by them with their head held down, their shoes hitting the ground softly.

"Alright kids, you guys are up. It's showtime." Norm pats them on their backs before moving to the side where Spider is after telling Ravyn to stand on the walkway to be ready to walk on stage when her name is called.

Spider watches Ravyn's interview with one thing in mind. He's utterly fucked. He can't do this at all. He knows he's going to fumble something and embarrass himself in front of the entirety of Pandora on live television. Eywa should've let him jump out of his room window when he had the chance to. He could have prevented this!

He suddenly thinks of the Gamemaker that he saw on a screen inside the styling room Max had him and Ravyn in. It was also the man he made direct eye contact with when he shot the arrow at him and those other rich people. Spider never did get the man's name.

"Hey, Norm?" Spider whispers.

"Yeah?" Norm replies in a whisper as they watch Ravyn's interview.

"What's the name of the Gamemaker for this year?" Spider asks.

"Parker Selfridge," Norm answers, bitterness tinging his tone. He seemed to hold some sort of bias or grudge against the man.

"Any reason why you want to know?" Norm turns his head away from the screen to look at Spider.

"Just curious is all..." Spider replies shrugging. Norm eyes him funnily for a second before turning his attention back to the screen. Spider feels like his heart is about to jump out of his chest with how nervous he is.

Ravyn eventually walks off stage with a tight smile and sighs heavily once she's out of view from the audience. Spider is immediately at her side comforting her as she mutters something under her breath, clinging to his torso with a tight grip.

"You're up next, Spider." Norm whispers from behind him and Ravyn. 

He nods and whispers to Ravyn to wait for him to finish his interview so they can talk afterwards. She nods and hesitantly let's his torso go, finding herself a place next to Norm. Spider makes his way to the walkway and stands there. He listens to the host talking with the audience enthusiastically, he feels sick to his stomach. He might actually throw up from how queasy he feels.

Spider only snaps out of it when he hears a loud, "Lastly, we have Spider Socorro from District 12. Give him a round of applause!"

Spider doesn't know how, but he somehow made himself walk on that stage and wave to the audience cheering loudly for him. He shook the hosts hand before sitting down on the very vibrant chairs. He willed himself to pay close attention to the hosts words to not embarrass himself. 

"Spider Socorro! It's lovely to meet you once and for all!" The host exclaims excitedly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. How are you doing on this fine night?" Spider interacts with the host a bit to make a good-ish impression.

"Why, how sweet of you! I'm doing very well tonight. Thank you for asking." The host smiles widely turning to the audience in mock surprise. 

"The pleasure is all mine." Spider replies smoothly, a small smile making its way onto his lips. 

"What a heartthrob you are. Spider, I must say, when I saw you walk onto this stage with that outfit, my heart actually stopped. Don't you agree with me ladies and gentlemen?" The host asks animatedly, facing the large audience who are fawning over Spider. 

Spider looks over at the audience with a fake but realistic looking laugh and sees Max sitting in the front row giving him a thumbs up. The sight of Max instantly makes him feel ten times better. But when his eyes roam around the hollering crowd, he finds multiple pairs of amber eyes staring right back at him.

While it doesn't show outwardly, he flinches internally especially when he sees Neteyam staring at him intensely. It wasn't in a bad way or with contempt. It... seemed like he was... admiring him, somehow entranced. He also came across a few bright blue eyes staring at him once again, one pair seemingly not pulling away from his. They were such a piercing blue that had hints of a green tint to it. They were so... beautiful. They were hard to look away from, just like how it was hard to look away from Lo'ak and Neteyam's eyes. These blue eyes from this person he knows of just pull him in, but he forces himself to look back at the male host; choosing to ignore everything that just occurred.

"Well, I would give you, and that outfit, an eleven - which reminds me of your Training Score. Tell us about that." The host chuckles before settling more into his seat as he waits for Spider's answer. 

"All I can say is, I think it was a first." Spider replies with a faint shrug.

"Are you at all afraid it might put a target on your back?" The host asks with mock concern leaning in, anticipating his answer. 

"I doubt my fellow Tributes paid much attention to it. But if they did, I'm not too concerned about them targeting me. It's fine if they do, honestly." Spider responds honestly. 

"Brave boy you are. Let's go back to the moment they called that poor boy's name at The Reaping. And you volunteered. Can you tell us about him?" The man asks with anticipation. The audience seems to have leaned in a bit, wanting to know the answer to his question as well.

"His name's Ian. He's twelve, just like my fellow Tribute. And he was the one who gave me the name I go by today when I was very young." Spider replies after a beat of silence. 

"What did he say to you after The Reaping?" The host questions.

"He asked me to try really hard to win. And I swore I would." Spider lies to make the citizens think of other theories they want to debunk. He knows that Ian is most likely confused as to why he lied, but he couldn't just say that he told the kid to not miss him too much and to not expect him to come home. While he wasn't trying to win the audience over, simply being himself; mostly, he didn't want people to think he was a piece of shit. 

"I bet you did. I bet you did. It has also come to my attention that you might have gained the attention from a few powerful families. I've been hearing a rumor that you might have been claimed! That would be of great use during the games. What do you have to say about this rumor?" The host suddenly asks something Spider had not expected.

"Have I got claimed? I wouldn't know a thing 'cause no one tells me anything." Spider laughs as he faces the audience in mock surprise. He's very much deviating from the plan, but desperate times call for desperate measures. But thankfully his impromptu stunt managed to make the entire audience laugh with him. 

"If you did get claimed, which is a very serious thing, what is your opinion on that?" The host pushes further. 

"I personally have no need or interest in getting claimed, but if I did, which no one informed me about, I wouldn't acknowledge it much as I'd be stuck with it regardless. I want to win the games fair and square. I wouldn't want to cheat my way through it, it wouldn't be fair to the other Tributes who've worked hard preparing for it." Spider responds honestly. He doesn't even know how he pulled this out of his ass.

When he says these words, he feels heated stares on the side of his head. They were stares that definitely stuck out the most compared to the other normal stares. And he knew exactly where they were coming from. 

"You are one wise and selfless young man. Aren't I right ladies and gentlemen?" The man turns to the audience to address them. They clap and whoop loudly for his speech.

"Say, Spider, a little birdie told me you and a certain Tribute have gotten close during your time here. I believe said Tribute is Lo'ak Sully from District 3?" The host suddenly brings up the boy who he'd been staring at during his interview on the TV screen.

"Uhm, yes. We have gotten close over our training period." Spider stumbles on his words for a second but quickly composers himself. 

"Perhaps I sense an alliance in the making? Oh, wouldn't that be just wonderful?" The host gushes.

"There might be an alliance, maybe there won't. We'll find out tomorrow after all." Spider shrugs theatrically, his answer makes the audience whoop loudly for him and clap.

The host then looks over at the large clock after Spider's answer and sees that he is out of time to continue this interesting interview. "Sorry folks, we're out of time. Best of luck, Spider Socorro, Tribute from District Twelve!" He speaks in mock sadness as Spider stands up to make his way off the stage.

Spider takes a moment and wave at the audience as he walks off the stage, accidentally making intense eye contact with Neteyam. The raven-haired boy stared back at him in a way he didn't understand. Chocolate and amber mixed into one at that moment. Spider felt himself drawn to the boy just like he was with Lo'ak. He didn't know who he was drawn to most, though. 

Spider averted his stare and fully walked off the stage. He was met with a smiley Ravyn and proud Norm. Ravyn seems to have calmed down from her previous actions. She looked happy instead of dejected like before. She rushed to hug him and congratulate him. 

"You did great, kid! See, I told you a lot of people like you." Norm claps him on his shoulder a bit too hard.

Spider simply nods with an unreadable expression adorning his face. He didn't know what to feel as of now. He may have helped himself earn Sponsors and such, but he was marked for death tomorrow. The Hunger Games was tomorrow. He only needed to protect Ravyn and Lo'ak, try to at least get one of them home. There could only be one winner. He was just going to pray to Eywa tonight to ensure he stays alive long enough to make sure Lo'ak and Ravyn can make it.

___

The next day he and Ravyn are instructed to wear specific outfits that pertain to the games. Spider had been taken to a hairstylist to have them braid his hair in a way that wouldn't hinder him in the games. He wished it was Ravyn who did it for him, but she was whisked away by Norm to her own room to enter the games.

Now, he and Max are standing in a pearlescent room that was very technology based. Before being led here, he and the rest of the Tributes were brought here via aircraft. There was also a tracker painfully inserted into their forearms. There was a tube at the end of the room waiting for him to enter so he can be lifted into the games. 

Spider turns to Max to just get one last look at someone he grew to like. It's a shame that he won't be able to see Max and Norm again. Despite the amount of times he and Norm argue and pick on each other, Spider grew a connection with his mentor.

"Here," Max holds out a pin in front of Spider.

"What's that?" Spider asks confused as to what it was.

"It's a pin with an ikran in the center. It is a mighty creature that is in the old history books." Max answers, pulling a piece of his jacket away to hide the pin on his person.

"Thank you." Spider whispers.

"Don't thank me, kiddo. I know I'm not supposed to bet, but if I could, my bets on you." Max admits, a bitter smile on his face. He then steps forward and grabs Spider's face to press a loving kiss to his forehead. 

Spider could only gaze at the man with a sense of longing. He truly would never see Max again. His jumbled thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the Gamemaker's voice telling the Tributes that they had a minute to enter the games. Spider lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, making his way to the tube at the end of the room and entering the machine.

He turned once more to face Max as a goodbye. The door to the tube slid closed, the tube suddenly activating and moving upwards. The sudden movement made Spider flinch and place his hands on the glass walls of the tube to ground himself. He couldn't see Max anymore the more the tube brought him up.

Eventually, he could only see nothing but nature. The greenery looked just like home. The trees leaves swayed withe a gentle breeze, the heat of the sun beating down on Spider as soon as he's brought into the arena. It was a forest. This was his habitat; this was something he has leverage in. He had an advantage against everyone else in the arena. He could see all the other Tributes standing on the same platform he is, looking at one another and at the arena around them.

Spider is able to spot Ravyn on the opposite side of him. Her face is pulled into one of fear and nervousness. He wishes he could go over there and comfort her. He also spots Lo'ak not too far away from him. The two of them make eye contact with one another, their eyes holding a conversation of their own.

Out of the blue, he feels a pair of strong hands grabbing his arms and pushing him to sit down on the platform he's on. He begrudgingly lets the person, who he now knows is a peacekeeper, manhandle him into a sitting position. The other Tributes are seen going through the same exact treatment.

Once he's seated, the peacekeeper comes around in front of him and places a lock around his ankle. Spider feels the coolness of the metal through his thin trousers. The peacekeeper then steps away and leaves Spider to go back to wherever the hell he came from.

Now that Spider is more aware of his surroundings, he sees the large obstacle course in the center of the arena. It looks... busy. That's the only way Spider can describe it. He assumes that they need to get out their locks and go through the obstacle course to avoid being killed off so early in the games. Wonderful. 

The voice of the Gamemaker, Parker Selfridge, echoes through the arena as he counts down. Nothing is in Spider's mind except 'escape lock, get across obstacle course, and find a weapon.'

When the timer gets to zero and the canon goes off, every Tribute is locked in on figuring out their ankle lock. It would either be a combination cipher, a riddle, or a math equation. Spider hopes it's a riddle, he's better at those.

'Poor people have it. Rich people need it. If you eat it, you die. What am I?' 

There is a combination lock underneath with seven letters, each currently sitting on ‘A’.

Spider frowns at the question, at first glance immediately coming up short for an answer. Frustration presents itself, quickly shadowed by fear and it takes him clawing his fingers through shallow grass and a patch of daisies to ground himself.

At least it wasn’t a combination cipher.

No symbols in sight, Spider starts to filter through possible answers. The questions and solutions are more or less supposed to be a reference to each runner individually. Which is why his first guess is a complete shot in the dark.

Fingers push at the wheel of letters and Spider slots the word ‘DIGNITY’ into place. Hoping maybe whoever designed his imprisonments was making a half assed jab at his volunteer for Ian.

The light flashes red.

Spider hears the sound of someone getting their locks off and running to the obstacle course. He looks back down at his riddle and takes a minute to think carefully. 

'What do poor people have?' They have nothing, Spider thinks. 

'What do rich people need?' Nothing because they have everything they need and could ever want, Spider thinks.

'If you eat it you die.' You would die if you ate nothing; you need to eat or you'll die, Spider thinks to himself. 

'What am I?' 

Spider goes through his answers to those questions and thinks. More and more Tributes are breaking out of their locks and attempting the obstacle course. The number of Tributes at the start gets smaller and smaller as time passes.

He almost gasps when it hits him. This had to be the answer. Unsteady hands pull letters into place until he spells out the fear.

The lock reads out, ‘NOTHING’.

And the light flashes green.

Spider tears at the metal, clicking it open and throwing his limb out of its offending grasp. He’s wasted enough time already, he hasn’t the privilege to dwell on half-baked concerns. Riddles are just that. Riddles.

He runs to the center of the arena where other Tributes who have escaped their locks are attempting to get across the obstacle course. He thinks there might have been like ten or so people left still working on their locks, but he can't focus on that right now. He just needs to focus on getting through this obstacle course. 

The first thing he needs to do is climb a multitude of steps before jumping down to the floor and weaving through tight spaces. At the end he sees a dome with weapons and bags on the ground waiting to be picked. This was something he could do easily. He was light on his feet and could bob and weave through tight spaces.

He's in his zone when he's breezing through the obstacle course with ease. He fails to see the stunned looks of other Tributes still working on getting through the obstacle course. 

Spider quickly finishes the easy obstacle course, not even breaking out a sweat or panting. He runs over to the dome of supplies and grabs a bag. He unfortunately does not see a bow and arrow, so he'll just worry about a weapon later. For now, he just needed to get somewhere safe.

He slings the bag over his shoulders and runs around the dome in a random direction, he certainly does not expect a knife being thrown at him the second he turns the corner. He ducks out of the way by a split second and sees that it's a Career from District 2. 

He groans internally and quickly gets up, running in the opposite direction. Multiple throwing knives flying past him in an attempt to kill him. He somehow, by the grace of Eywa, manages to dodge them all and lose the Career once he runs into the deep forest. 

He's so focused on getting as far away as possible that he doesn't even see another person coming from around a tree in front of him. The both of them go down hard, groaning at the force and impact. They look at each other in surprise, not one of them looking to kill the other. The other Tribute looks at Spider with fear but tries to force out a weak smile. They look at Spider with fear, but Eywa are they trying their best to hide it. He's upset that he cannot remember which district this Tribute comes from.

Spider gives a weak smile back before taking off, the other Tribute following his lead but going in a different direction. They had just spared each other in a game that they're supposed to kill each other. It proves that they are still kids at the end of the day forced to kill one another and die in the process. 

Spider could only think about one thing while he is running through the forest: Are Lo'ak and Ravyn safe? He only cared about those two's safety and wellbeing. He needed to make sure they live. One of them at least. He would make sure of it.

Chapter Text

Spider runs for as long as his feet can take him without getting tired. He can still hear the sounds of the cannons faintly, echoing in his head like a mantra. He had kept count of how many cannons sounded, but as he kept running, he just forgot to keep counting. He didn't need to worry about that now, he needed to worry about finding a safe place and checking out what was inside his bag he grabbed.

The sound of Spider's light footsteps echo in the forest. He keeps running - his legs burning - until he finds a large rock with a small opening in the front of it. He comes to a halt, his chest barely heaving as he has experience with running this long. He has a lot of stamina to put it lightly.

He slings the bag off his shoulders before plopping down on the forest soil to inspect what is inside it. He places the bag on his lap, observing the outside of it. He notices a black lump of material rolled up under his bag, and he removes if from its place to further inspect it. As he rolls it out, it appears to be a sleeping bag of the sorts. It will be helpful when it gets colder, so that's pretty useful. After he puts the sleeping bag back where it was previously, he unzips it open to pull out the items inside. Inside the bag Spider sees a long rope tied neatly at the very top. He takes it out and studies the type of material it is, only making a small noise of approval as he sets it aside to dig further into the bag. Next he pulls out a flask, an empty one to be exact. He rolls his eyes when he realizes he's going to have to find a source of water to fill up his flask. Great, just great.

The next thing he pulls out is a bottle of iodine. He squints at the unknown substance and rotates it to read the label on the back. It read to drop a specific number of drops into the water to purify it. Sure, he'll remember to do that. He places it where his other two items are before he reaches in the bag to pull out something else. The following items he pulls out is food, crackers and dried beef strips. Spider grins at the sight of food and makes a reminder to ration it out for as long as he can. He's gone without food for a long time, he knows how to ration his food out. The last thing he pulls out of the bag is a bulky knife. He runs a finger over the blade gently, checking how sharp it is for future use. He knows it will surely come in handy in the near future.

When he reaches inside the bag to pull out more items, he's met with none. He pulls his arm out of the bag and analyzes his items. He had a long enough rope, a flask, dried beef, crackers, and a knife. Those were surprisingly good items compared to what he anticipated. He thought the Capitol would just intentionally screw them over.

Quickly placing everything back inside the bag, excluding the knife he chose to keep on his belt that had a sheath. Eywa, is he glad for Max. But the most important thing he needed to do before all else was find a source of water. Spider would need to use his skills from back home to find a small source of water. This shouldn't be too hard. 

Spider begins walking through the forest, using his skills he taught himself in the forest at home. His ears listening for any odd sounds in the distance. With his luck, not even ten minutes later, he found a small pond. He rushes over to it, sitting on the ground floor to take his flask and bottle of iodine out. He unscrews the top of the metal flask, dipping it into the pond gently. He watches as water fills up the flask at a rapid pace. Once the water is almost to the top, Spider pulls it back out of the water and takes the provided bottle of iodine in hand. He reads over the directions on the back, making sure be gets the exact number right. He places the filled flask in his lap and begins counting as he pours little drops of the unknown substance.

With the utmost patience, Spider eventually has a drinkable flask of water. He takes a small sip of it and relishes in the cold liquid running down his throat. He wipes the corner of his lip where a drop was left behind before packing up his flask and bottle of iodine. Now that he has completed his number one objective, now he needs to complete the second one. The second objective is him finding a large enough tree to hold his weight so he can sleep there for tonight.

The day was beginning to pass at a rapid rate. The running from the cornucopia, inspecting his bag, and finding water already took up a lot of daylight. Spider desperately needs to find shelter in a large tree to stay clear of anyone in the area, and quick.

Spider begins carefully searching the forest for a large tree that has thick branches that can hold a lot of weight. He may not weigh much due to how little he eats, but he would rather be safe than sorry. It would be quite embarrassing falling out of a tree in the middle of the night because it couldn't hold his weight. Using his time wisely, he manages to find a large tree. He observes the branches from where he stands on the ground, assessing whether or not it's good enough. He deems it okay and begins his ascent to the top.

Climbing trees like this honestly feels like home to Spider. He felt right in his element despite the dire circumstances he's in. His hands just somehow know where they need to go in order to climb properly without him even thinking about it. His feet also seem to know where to be placed as he climbs. At least before he dies, he'll be somewhere that looks rather than feels like home. 

Once he makes it to an empty space that he can lie on, he swings a leg over one edge to steady himself. As soon as he's steadied, he leans back on the base of the tree, reaching for his bag to grab the lone rope provided for him. He fishes it out of the bag, putting his bag back on before he starts undoing the neatly tied up rope.

When Spider unravels the knot the rope was in, he wraps it around his body and the tree branch below him. He makes sure to loop it around enough time before finally tying it off in a strong knot. He let's out a soft breath, relaxing into the tree like he does at home. 

Time passes painstakingly slow. Spider feels like he's been up here for ages. He's just been trying to keep himself busy to not get bored. He moves his body to readjust his position but stops when he hears a whirring sound. He looks up, thinking it might be something from above, but ultimately finds nothing.

He hears it again a few moments later, but this time it sounds closer. Too close. He turns around slightly to look at the base of the tree he's leaning on and looks a little bit closer. It was a fucking camera. The Capitol put a camera in a freaking tree to watch the Tributes. To watch them starve to death, see them at their lowest, kill each other, beg for mercy. It was pathetic.

Spider glared at the camera, simply turning around and ignoring the device watching him closely. He does not care what those that are watching think of him in this moment. He really has nothing to lose if he's being honest - he really didn't.

___

Hours pass by eventually. Day has now turned to night in the Arena. Spider has been up in this tree for quite some time, but he has no intention of coming down until morning to relocate elsewhere. All he was concerned about was watching his surroundings. Because he is so high up in the tree, he has the advantage to see anyone coming from far away. 

But as he sits there, he hears a faint crackling sound. He frowns at the sound, looking around to find the source of said noise. His eyes eventually catch a small speck of light covered by bushes. He sees a trail of smoke rising from the light source. Someone had made a fire. 

Spider knows that in a situation like this, you should not be making a fire, especially not out in the open. Anyone who did that was just leading others to come and kill them. He grimaces at the thought of it and looks away. 

Not even a few minutes later, he hears a high-pitched scream coming from the same area. A cannon sounds right after the screaming ceases. The Tribute had been killed, just like he said would happen. It was a dumb decision on their part to start a fire, but they were just a kid. They didn't deserve to be killed... None of them did. 

In the sky a hologram that showcased the face of the Tribute that just passed was shown. It was a young girl. Another person to add to the many that were viciously killed at the cornucopia. Spider honestly doesn't even remember how many are now officially dead. But he also doesn't want to know either. It just makes him feel queasy knowing how many kids died.

The sound of branches cracking snapped Spider out of his stupor. He snaps his gaze to the forest floor and sees a group of Tributes walking with one another, laughing. As he zeroes in on the Tributes, he notices that it's the fucking Careers. The ones from District 1, 2, the girl from 3, and 4. 

They were collectively laughing and giggling at the death of the Tribute that just died. It doesn't take much common sense to understand that they were the ones who took out the young girl. Of course it was them. 

"Did you see her face? She was so funny screaming for help like that!" Spider hears the girl from District 2, Amalie, laugh. 

"Right? She was all like, "Please, no! Help me!" It was so pathetic, really." The girl from District 4, cackles.

Spider glares at the group of heartless Careers in the night sky. They can't see him, but he can see them. He can see how careless they are. He can see how they feel no remorse for the lives they take each time. Spider felt nothing but disgust and hatred for the Careers. They were really no better than the Capitol putting them in here.

"Nate, where do you think that Sully kid is?" The boy from District 2, Preston, asks.

"He's hiding somewhere, but we'll find him soon enough. He can't hide forever." Nate replies.

"And what about that volunteer from 12?" The girl from District one, Vidia, questions.

"We'll find him as well... I want to make his death nice and slow." Nate responds lowly. Spider feels his blood run cold at those words. He fucking knew they were planning something!

"Let's just keep on moving and find shelter." Nate motions his head to keep moving in the same direction. 

The group of Careers slowly and surely leave the area Spider is currently residing for the time being. He didn't even know he was holding his breath as soon as he knows they're far enough. Spider was well aware that the Careers were going to come after him like Lo'ak, but he had hoped that his greatest fear wouldn't come true. They were going to make it slow and excruciatingly painful. That he knows. Eywa, he is so scared for that moment when it comes.

A while later, the loud sound of the Capitol's national anthem plays loudly. As it plays, images of the fallen Tributes are projected in the night sky. Spider counts them in his head silently. 12 Tributes. 12 Tributes died on the first night of the 74th Hunger Games. But all Spider is happy about is that neither Ravyn nor Lo'ak's face appears in the sky. He really Hope's they're doing okay.

As the night progresses, Spider eventually finds his eyes shutting. His body is slightly tired from his consistent running and walking nonstop earlier in the day. After so many hours, it seems like his body finally succumbed to a deep sleep. But as deep into his sleep Spider may be, he wakes up to the slightest noise that sounds wrong. His body is somehow trained to do so. He doesn't know how, but he is forever grateful for it.

___

Inside the Gamemaker's room, Parker Selfridge watches 13 screens at once - monitoring each Tribute. He stares satisfied with today's deaths. It was all going to plan as it usually does. The same rules that follow each year, the same circumstances each year. Same old same old.

On TV are the hosts concluding tonight's events by recapping everything that has happened. 

"Night One ends with eleven Tributes dead, thirteen still in play. It's always thrilling to guess how it'll unfold from here, now that the jitters of Day One have gone and the Tributes have a moment to strategize. Their Mentors begin to play a role now too, scrambling to line up the Sponsors whose gifts might mean the difference between life and death. Certainly is a good time to have rich benefactors!" One of two hosts says to the camera with a grin.

"By the way, for all you gamblers out there, the first three deaths today were the boy from 8, and the girls from 6 and 10. A 200-to-1 shot if you bet it as an Exacta!" The other host chuckles at the camera.

The broadcast of the Hunger Games continues into the late night. It never stops for anyone, and it will never stop for anyone. The live feed will continue to roll 24/7 as long as there are still all but one Tribute left.

___

Birds chirp loudly in the large forest. The sun rays beat down on tan skin through the multitude of leaves blocking its view. Said victim of sun rays sleeps soundly right where he previously was the night before. He is still very much secured to the tree tightly.

A sudden light gust of wind brushes the exposed skin of the sixteen-year-old boy. It softly caresses his cheeks to wake him up from his slumber. And it actually seems to do the trick. The boy stirs from the sudden but familiar gust of wind hitting his exposed skin. It felt like home, like what Eywa did to wake him up. It doesn't help that he also feels a ticklish sensation on his face. 

Spider's eyes flutter open after another sudden gust of wind hits his skin, but also the ticklish sensation moves around on his face. He blinks a few times to rid the sleep from his eyes so he can register his surroundings once more. 

Once his vision is clear, Spider can see a bug sitting on the bridge of his nose. He wills himself to not laugh at the sight, gently raising his hand for the bug to crawl around instead of his face. The bug slowly crawls onto his index finger, fluttering its wings a few times before settling there. Now that the insect is resting on his finger, he can clearly see it is butterfly. It looks like the ones that he read about in a book he found years ago. 

He raises a finger from his opposite hand to gently caress the wings of the calm creature. Its wings flutter at the touch. Spider grins at the small creature in front of him. He wishes he can admire the sweet butterfly all day, but he has to keep moving. With a heavy heart, he raises his hand to let the serene creature fly away. It flies away after a few moments, as if it was hesitating to leave him.

Another sudden gust of wind hits his exposed skin once more. He now knows that it is Eywa trying to communicate with him. He knows it's Eywa because there is no breeze whatsoever around him. The trees stand still, no leaves swaying with wind, no cold air; nothing. He would normally reply to her, asking what she's trying to say, but he's on national television and he doesn't really want to seem like he's crazy in the head.

Spider swiftly undoes the knot he made on the rope, quickly placing it back inside his bag. Now that he's opened his bag, he can take a swig of water and maybe a bite the dried beef strips. He's not really hungry, but a small piece can't hurt. He fishes out the flask, taking a small sip of water, then opening the pack of dried beef strips to grab a single one. He very much savors the tiny treat as he downs it. He then takes another sip of his water to wash the food down before placing everything back inside the bag.

After securing the bag, he begins his descent down the large tree. It feels very easy as he does so. His brain is already programmed when it comes to moving around in the forest. All of this was very easy, surviving in the forest if he's talking specifics. The only hard part was avoiding the other Tributes. That was all he really had to worry about. He also really had to find Ravyn and Lo'ak... That's another problem he'll deal with later. All he's going to do now is just walk wherever his legs take him. 

So, he begins walking through the forest without a care in the world. Tracking and staying clear of certain areas he hears unusual noises. At some point he ends up near the edge of a mountain. He's not sure how far he's walked, but he is very much satisfied with how much progress he has made on Day Two. Now he just thinks he should find another tree to take refuge in for the rest of the day. 

___

Parker Selfridge walks around the Gamemaker room calmly. He's been observing the 13 screens for hours now. He hasn't taken his eyes off them since he got here. He's especially intrigued with the lineup of Tributes they have this year. Some are very entertaining and quite interesting to observe.

"Sir, you need to come look at this." An assistant Gamemaker calls out to him on the opposite side of the room.

He stalks over to the persons personal area and looks at what they're showing him. They were showing him the live feed of the volunteer from District 12. A young boy who he's quite interested in watching through the screens. He's surely seen how people have been responding to him outside in the Capitol. 

"He is at the edge, 2 kilometers from the nearest Tribute." The person says, looking back at Selfridge for guidance. 

"Well then let's turn him around." Selfridge replies back, keeping a close eye on the screen that the Tribute from District 12 is being displayed.

This was certainly going to be a fun game. He wonders how long this kid was going to last with what they're about to do to him. 

___

Spider has his eyes closed as he sits in the tree he recently found. As he did the first night, he tied the rope around his body and the tree to keep him stable. He didn't want to fall while he was sleeping. The sound of birds chirping, and distant animals was all that calmed him down. It made him feel right at home, in his element. 

But his serene moment is abruptly interrupted by a sudden change in the patterns the birds are singing. It sounded like they were distressed. Spider opens his eyes in confusion, looking around for the possible threat. Nothing could have prepared him to see the right half of the forest caught on fire. The flames so large and hot.

Spider hurriedly undoes the knot from the rope as fast as he can. His hands unintentionally shake at the adrenaline running through his body to get out of there. Without any hesitation, with the rope in his hand, he jumps off the branch he was sitting on. With his expertise in living in a forest, he lands on the ground quite fine. He opens the bag and shoves the rope inside to not lose it.

He then takes off running in a random direction that doesn't have fire in it. Passing by the burning trees, piping hot heat practically cooking him alive. As he turns to go further in the opposite direction, he sees a sudden bright light coming right for him. His eyes widen in sheer fear, immediately dropping to his stomach to dodge the flame ball thrown at him.

He breathes heavily as he races through more trees, getting cut off by more sudden fireballs thrown at him at random times. He knows full well that this is Capitol doing this. He knows it's the damn Gamemaker, Parker Selfridge.

When he makes it to yet another clearing, a tree caught on fire suddenly falls right in front of him, stopping him from continuing any further. He looks around for another place to run, his chest heaving with fear. 

Spider quickly sees another clear area he hasn't ran through. He quickly dashes for the area, running past burning trees. As he passes a large rock, a sudden blast of fire explodes above him. The flame is large enough to burn some of his skin. He yelps in pain, leaning on an opening of the large rock. He looks down to his thigh where he feels the pain. A chunk of it had been burned.

He hisses in pain, his eyes tearing up at said pain shooting through his body. But he doesn't even have time to worry about his injury, because when he looks up, another fucking flame ball is coming straight for him. His face falls, quickly moving out of the way to avoid a catastrophe.

But as Spider moves out of the way, he falls down a steep hill. He rolls a few times down the hill before coming to a stop. The young boy quickly stands up, running on pure adrenaline to run in a random direction. He coughs at the smoke of the fire blocking his vision and airways. Spider just doesn't stop running. The only thing he can think of is find a body of water to soothe his wound.

So, he does just that. He runs until he hears water streaming. Eventually, he ends up at a body of water. Spider doesn't even think twice before running into it and letting his body soak in it for a moment. He's aware that his thigh is currently throbbing and stinging. For now, he'll just use the water to soothe the pain somehow.

Spider floats in the water for a few moments with his eyes closed, his mind solely focusing on his injury. But his train of thought is quickly interrupted by the sound of laughter and talking. His eyes shoot open, darting around his perimeter to find the perpetrators. Behind a few bushes he sees the familiar group of Careers. He hurriedly swims to the edge of a large rock for him to climb out. But in doing so, he makes a lot of noise.

The second he turns around to see where the Careers went after he successfully pulls himself out of the water, he sees them rounding the corner with smiles on their faces. One of them quickly spots him, pointing it out to Nate who zeroes his eyes on Spider. His gaze looks hungry and sinister once they lock eyes. Spider feels chills run down his spine.

Spider runs away, the group quickly following. He wants to run far away like he was previously doing, but with his injury he is limited. So he opts for his second better plan. He needed to find another tree to climb. He doubts any of the Careers can climb as efficiently as he can. Therefore, Spider runs with the leftover adrenaline in his body and uses that to find a tree as fast as he can.

It seems like Eywa has taken mercy on him as he very quickly found a tree he can climb. He wastes not even a second, climbing the tree in record time. The Careers appear once he's halfway up the tree. They taunt him as he continues to climb.

"We got you little volunteer! Climbing up there's not gonna help you!" Amelie yells up at him.

"Come on Nate, go get him." The others urge Nate to climb after him. 

Nate begins to climb after Spider, albeit very badly in his opinion when he takes a few peeks at them below. Spider continues to climb until he reaches a thick branch that he can rest on. When he throws a leg over the edge to watch the Careers below him, he hides behind the thick bark. He observes Nate trying to climb the tree with his sword in his hand. He sees how he slips every now and then, quite embarrassing really. To top it off, Nate even reaches for a weak branch. The branch snaps off, making Nate fall a few feet down with a hard thud. The sight of that makes Spider chuckle quietly under his breath.

"I'll do it myself." Amelie groans and she reaches into her quiver for a bow to shoot at Spider. Spider's eyes are immediately focused on her weapon the second he registers it. He needed to get her weapon somehow. He'll figure that out another time.

Amelie knocks the arrow on her bow and aims it at Spider, quickly shooting it at him with surprisingly good precision. But she missed him by 2 inches. She huffs at her missed shot, but she doesn't get to think too much on it when Nate grabs her bow and tries to shoot at Spider himself. To say the least, Nate rightfully sucked ass at bow and arrow.

Spider laughs lowly at the very off arrow that flew by him. "Maybe you should throw the sword!" Spider jokes, smiling to himself. He fails to see how the Careers look away in embarrassment. 

"Let's just wait him out. He's gotta come down at some point. It's either that or starve to death." Preston suggests to the others.

The others look at each other in question, if they should really wait him out. "We'll just kill him then." Preston adds on.

Silence takes on the group, Spider watches silently. Listening in on everything that they're saying. He hates the fact that Preston is right.

"Okay. Somebody make a fire." Nate agrees before walking off to gather supplies, Vidia following after him quietly.

Spider sighs, moving in the tree to get into a more comfortable position than what he is in right now. This was certainly going to be a long night.

___

It's nighttime. The Careers are still below Spider, but now they have a fire to keep them warm from the cold air. They talk quietly amongst themselves like Spider isn't even there. Spider is strapped to the tree tightly like he did the previous night.

He carefully looks over his wound, hand shaking when he brings his flask to pour a bit of water on it. He bites his forearm to muffle his groan of pain. Spider winces at the stinging pain that follows his small act. He's not sure what he's going to do to fix his injury if he doesn't have any medicine. He would just have to put up with the pain until he does figure something out.

More time passes into the night. Spider's eyes are closed to try to take his mind off of the pain. But his eyes open when he hears a beeping sound. He looks to his right where he heard it and sees something floating in the air towards him. Well, more like a little bit above him.

He watches as he lands in a few branches bunched together, the beeping sound continuing. Spider undoes the knot of the rope, carefully standing up to go retrieve whatever was inside the random floating device.

Thanks to how far he climbed (and his height for his age) he was able to reach it without too much movement. He presses the button he sees on the front of it, flinching when it pops open to reveal a tin bowl of the sorts. Spider's not sure what it is. But he sees something white peeking out from the side. He grabs the white thing and realizes it's a piece of paper with a message on it. It reads: 'Apply generously and stay alive - Norm'.

A barely there smile works its way onto his face. He grabs the tin and moves to sit back down where he previously was so he can secure himself to the tree again. Once seated and secured, he twists open the tin. He's met with a thick substance the color of his skin, king of. He dips a finger in it and scoops a bit out to test it out.

Spider applies it to the burned flesh on his thigh. He is immediately met with cool relief. He lets out a breath of relief and dips his finger in the tin to apply more medicine to his wound. He sighs quietly once it's lathered in the medicine, leaning his head on the tree behind him.

"Thank you, Norm." Spider whispers gratefully to any camera that may be watching him at his lowest.

He could not be any more grateful to Norm than at this very moment. He takes back any bad thing he's ever thought about his mentor. All Spider needed to do was stay alive. He was definitely going to wait for the Careers to fall asleep before he does though. He hopes Ravyn and Lo'ak are okay and doing well. As well as they can be given the circumstances, of course.

Eywa give him strength to live to see another day. He was definitely going to need it...

Chapter Text

The night sky has now changed to brilliant day, any animals that were hunting for food now gone into hiding. Birds continue to chirp loudly, sparing any person the eerie silence the forest holds when alone. The Careers sleep soundly on the earthly ground, not worried a bit about being targeted by anyone. Why should they be worried, scared? They were the threats posed in this twisted game.

Up in the trees, 30 or more feet off the ground, sits Spider Socorro. His face is calm and serene despite his injury that kept him up at night. He had been paranoid to fall asleep, but he eventually succumbed to his restless slumber. He suddenly awakens at the sound of a large branch snapping. His eyes darting around to find nothing he can see. Spider lets out a soft breath, mentally scolding himself for being so jumpy. Especially on camera!

Now that he's awake, he doesn't think he can really fall back asleep. The sun is already out and now his eyes have already adjusted to the sunlight. There's really no point in going back to sleep. What he really needs to worry about is trying to escape the Careers without making any sound whatsoever. But there's a teeny tiny problem... his injury.

Speaking of injuries, Spider hasn't even checked his thigh to see how it looks. Spider mentally prepares himself for what he's about to be faced with. He lets out a soft breath and looks down at his thigh where the burn is. He is pleasantly flabbergasted to see that his burn is healed. Well, more like dried up and scaring over. But besides that point, Norm's medicine worked! He marvels at the sight, gently pressing a finger onto the scared over skin. It doesn't even hurt to press down on. He does not know what was inside that medicine, but he thanks Eywa for not letting him get an infection. 

"Psst!" Spider hears all of the sudden.

His head shoots up to look at the source of the sound. Spider looks ahead at the thinner trees ahead of him. Between some of them he sees the shape of a person.

"Psst!" The sound echoes in the forest once again.

Spider adjusts his position to get a better view of the person. He squints his eyes a bit and his heart practically jumps out of his chest at the sight of someone he least expected. Ravyn! She was standing among the thinner trees with a small smile on her face as she finally got his attention. He sends her a soft smile of his own.

Ravyn then points upward with a finger. Spider is initially confused internally, but he looks up nonetheless because he trusts Ravyn. When he looks up a bit further from where he sits, he sees a large hive of some insects buzzing around. He tilts his head at it, turning back to the young girl in question. In return she then points down to the ground. Spider looks down at the ground and he can feel something click in his brain when he spots the Careers that are still sleeping soundly.

Spider looks back up at his district partner wondering if he's thinking what she's suggesting. Ravyn makes a sawing gesture before pointing back at the hive, then back down at the Careers. Spider has to admit this little girl is clever. He had a feeling she was going to suggest that. He nods at her and begins undoing his knotted rope to keep him stable on the tree.

___

"Augustus... Those are Hellfire Wasps, am I wrong?" One of the two hosts addresses the other as they watch the live feed of the Hunger Games.

Augustus analyzes the hive and makes a face, "Oh, those things are very lethal, Pruitt."

"Indeed, they are." Pruitt agrees with an intrigued expression.

"For those of you at home watching that don't know what these creatures are, Hellfire Wasps are genetically engineered wasps whose venom causes searing pain, powerful hallucinations, and in extreme cases... death." Pruitt explains to those watching around Pandora.

___

Spider climbs up farther to get to the hive of insects. He's not sure what they are based on what they look like, but he thinks they might be wasps of some sort. He didn't go to the only school in District 12, can you really blame him? His only source of information was from thrown out textbooks that an old lady taught him from in her free time. Though that didn't last long as she died a few years later.

He makes sure he's as silent as possible as he's climbing up the tree with ease. He doesn't want to risk waking up the Careers and having his end Ravyn's plan ruined. Spider quickly makes it to where the hive is. He positions himself to be seated over a groove in the tree that's large enough for him to straddle it.

He eyes the hive that is buzzing with wasps, the piercing sound making the inside of his brain itch to make it stop. He moves closer until he's only a few feet away from it. With this, he unsheathes his knife from his belt. He had put it there to keep it in his range for any worse case scenarios where he might need to use it. 

Spider closes his eyes, mentally preparing himself for what he is about to do, praying in Na'vi in his head before opening his eyes again. A soft breath follows a short second after. The young boy moves the knife up towards the branch where the nest of the wasps is and begins sawing at it as carefully as humanly possible.

The buzzing coming from the wasps makes his blood run cold as he continues to saw as carefully as he can through the thick bark of the tree. The Hellfire Wasps buzz and fly around the nest protectively, increasingly getting more agitated the more Spider continues to saw at the branch. It is to the point that some begin to swarm him in his objective of cutting the branch down. Spider gently swats the insects away from his face, trying to concentrate on cutting the branch. He didn't want to downright upset the innocent creatures by hitting them with his hand. 

But as he makes the effort to continue sawing through the thick bark of the tree, a sudden buzz and sharp pain is enough to have his stop for a split second and clench his jaw in pain. One of the wasps just stung him on his neck. Spider carefully raises his unoccupied hand and pulls the stinger out, so the venom doesn't fatally affect him. The blond boy heaves a breath through his nose and tries to work through the pain beginning to spread throughout his body. By now, he's about halfway through cutting the branch off. 

Another stinging sensation is felt on his neck as he saws at the tree again. This time he yelps quietly at the pain, quickly looking down at the group of Careers below him sleeping soundly. Pulling out another stinger, he needs to seriously hurry this up, so he doesn't get stung again. He can feel the effects already beginning to take place the longer he takes. With his free hand he covers the exposed skin of his neck and hurriedly saws at the little bit of bark he has left. He forces himself to listen to the sound of the knife rubbing back and forth inside the tree and not the sound of angry wasps. Said insects continue to swarm around him angrily at the intrusion.

Spider saws and saws at the tree until it's practically hanging on by a thread. He reaches the hand that was covering his neck out towards the branch and uses whatever strength he has left to pull at the dangling branch. It is all satisfyingly worth it when he manages to make the branch with the hive of wasps fall to the ground where the Careers sleep peacefully. Not for long though. Spider lets out of loud breath, leaning against a thick branch as he watches nature take its course.

The hive of already agitated wasps finally hits the ground where the Careers are resting. The wasps inside spill out of the cracked open nest and fly towards the nearest thing to take their anger out on. And the closest thing to them are the Careers. The angry buzzing of the wasps and them beginning to sting the Careers has the other kids startling awake in a fright. All of them begin screaming in terror at the swarming horde of insects. They scramble on the ground, grabbing their things or whatever they can before making a run for it in a random direction. Anything to get the stinging wasps away from them. 

The Careers claw at their face, slapping away the insects attempting to sting them. All but Amelie seem to be able to scramble away from the buzzing wasps. The girl wielding the bow and arrow Spider so badly wants flails on the ground uselessly, screaming bloody murder as the Hellfire Wasps cover her entire body, leaving no skin showing from where Spider stands.

She claws at the ground, slapping her skin in a feeble attempt to escape the angry insects, but it proves useless. Amelie, the girl from District 2, eventually flops on the ground lifelessly, her pained screams finally ceasing. All the leftover wasps that were on her body making sure they got revenge finally flew away from the corpse of a young girl.

Spider begins his descent down the large tree. But as easy as this is for him, the effects of the multiple stings he took have already taken affect. With how loopy and drowsy he is from the stings; he misses a foothold on the tree and falls the rest of the way landing on the soil with a soft grunt. Luckily, he wasn't too far up from the ground, mentally thanking himself for being able to climb that quickly under these conditions.

The boy from District 12 staggers up from the floor and begins moving, or moving in the best way he can. The second he takes a step; he feels dizzy and is moving in the opposite direction. He runs into a tree at some point, grunting softly at the familiar pressure under his fingers. Near the tree lies the girl from District 2. Spider sluggishly approaches her, staggering as he does do. He drops to his knees, hovering over the body of the young girl. All he can do is just stare at her in horror at what he did.

Now that he is here up close, he can see how disfigured and horrible Amelie looks from the wasps' attack. Her face is covered in large bumps that look like they will pop if he touches them, and her already normally pale skin is even more pale, sickly in a way. Her eyes are dull and unsightly to look at, so empty when they were just previously filled with sheer fear. 

Spider's eyes trail down her body to see the bow and quiver filled with arrows he had been dying to get his hands on. In his delirious state, begging for forgiveness to the Great Mother, he reaches for her hand holding onto the bow tightly and forces her tight grip open. The sound of her hand being forced open sounded like a crunch of bone. It was disgusting to hear. 

But now he has his beloved weapon in his familiar hands. He grabs the quiver filled with arrows as well, placing at by his lap. His altered mind makes him stay there by her side as a sorry for killing her. His calloused hands gently caress the metal of the arrows like it was his very own. They feel light and cool against his warm skin in the chilly forest.

As he touches the cold metal - observing them closer than he was able to do on his evaluation day - he hears a shout coming from the right side of the forest. He looks over at said direction in his hazy state, the venom still coursing through his veins, and sees someone running towards him frantically. He stares at the figure quickly approaching him with no emotion really showing through his eyes. The figure soon gets close enough that Spider recognizes them. It was Ravyn. She's closer now, yelling for him to get up and run. She even gets close to the point of kneeling down in front of him and yelling for him to run.

As drugged as his mind feels right now, he can follow a simple rule. So, he grabs the bow and quiver filled with arrows, his backpack still attached to his back, and runs in the direction opposite to the Careers. Well, he tries to at least.

It is almost impossible for him to even make sense of anything as he bumps into a few stray trees in his way. His mind feels so wired and fuzzy that he cannot make a clear thought whatsoever. Spider unfortunately does not make it that far in running in the direction he planned as the full effects of the Hellfire Wasps' venom takes over his body. The last thing he really remembers seeing before he blacks out is the forest around him and a smaller body coming up to him in panic. Black then takes over his loopy vision soon after. This was just great for him, isn't it?

___

When Spider awakens again, he is still in the forest. The birds still chirp beautifully like they have been doing since day one. Only he is in a completely different area and his exposed skin is covered in leaves that he knows grows in his District. He recognizes them as they are used to heal citizens of some cuts and bites that they get throughout the year. At least whoever put these on him knew that they weren't poisonous. Wait... who did put these leaves on him? The last person he remembers seeing before he passed out was... Ravyn. 

Spider immediately sits up quickly at the sudden realization and carefully removes the leaves that are wrapped around his hands and neck. He suddenly notices a glint of metal in his peripheral view. The blonde boy turns to the area where he saw it and sees the bow and quiver with arrows delicately propped up on a log near him. He wasn't hallucinating getting them then.

The boy from District 12 reaches out for them and feels the how strong and different the material is compared to his homemade one at home stored safely in his makeshift home in the forest. He looks up to survey the new area he's in, taking in the beauty of mother nature when he suddenly sees something disappearing behind a tree. It looked like a familiar figure he has grown to feel at ease with.

Spider stands up from the ground, slinging the quiver on his back and keeping the bow in hand as he approaches the tree where he saw the familiar person duck behind. He approaches the tree soundlessly, his steps not even making a sound. He thanks his intense training to be able to do what he knows now. 

He stops in front of the tree, placing a hand on the front of the bark and leans over to the left to peek around it.

"Ravyn?" Spider calls out gently, though his voice is deeper and a little raspy from disuse. He's not sure how long he's been asleep.

A bit of movement is heard from behind the tree Spider is peeking behind. He sees a familiar head of brown hair moving to peek out at him. Her eyes are still bright and innocent when Spider catches them. He once again feels horrible that they had to meet like this. She really is a sweet kid who doesn't deserve to go through these heinous games.

"Hey." Spider says through a genuine smile as he looks at the young girl.

She steps out from behind the tree slowly, an axe is strapped to her belt now that he's fully seeing her when not hallucinating.

"Hey. You scared me back there the other day." Ravyn mutters.

"I'm sorry, I wish you didn't have to see any of that." Spider winces at the memory of what happened with Amelie.

"It was really my fault you ended up in this situation." Ravyn sighs dejectedly, her head held down in shame and guilt. 

"No, it wasn't," Spider responds firmly, reaching for the girl's chin to tilt her head back up a bit.

"What I did was fully my choice, okay? I made my own decisions and payed the price for it." Spider speaks softly to the young girl who looks up at him in admiration and awe.

"...At least you looked cool doin' it." Ravyn mumbles with a small grin.

"I'd hope so. It would be embarrassing if I didn't." Spider chuckles.

Ravyn stares at the older boy with an unreadable expression for a few moments, comfortable silence shared between the two kids. She doesn't stay like that for long as she soon shoves herself into his embrace. Her hands wrap around his torso tightly, he can feel the slight shake in her grip. He immediately wraps his own arms around the young girl, using one hand to caress her head gently. Almost motherly, in a way. 

He can hear the very faint sniffles as Ravyn hugs him tightly. He doesn't say a thing, only tightens his grip a bit and keeps comforting her to the best of his abilities. The two stand there in the middle of the forest in comforting silence that he Spider knows the whole nation of Pandora is watching. But he could care less right now, none of the people watching the games matter to him one bit.

Eventually, Ravyn lifts her head up from Spider's stomach and wipes her eyes quickly, sniffing for the last time before taking a deep breath to calm herself down.

"Come," The brunette says quietly, grasping Spider's wrist and beginning to drag him away from where he woke up.

"I made us some food." Ravyn continues proudly, grinning like she had accomplished the best thing ever. And Spider felt that she had every right to be proud.

Ravyn leads Spider over to a large log that sits in front of the put-out fire. Spider notes that Ravyn was smart to put the fire out the second she finished making the food. From the size of the animal Spider can easily tell that it is a rabbit. He hopes that Ravyn was able to cleanly and painlessly kill the animal, but he knows that no one other than himself knows of Eywa's ways fully. He'll pray for the poor animal before he eats it. 

Ravyn drags Spider to sit down on the log eagerly. The blond boy places his bow beside him and also moves to place the quiver next to him as well. She hands him a piece of the rabbit's leg before reaching for one to eat as well. She digs in immediately, seeming to be starving as well. Spider understands that feeling all too well. 

Spider mutters a prayer for the sacrifice of the animal that provides him a meal before taking a bite. And Eywa... He really misses going out and hunting in the forest back home. This all just makes him think about his home. But he knows he won't be making it back alive. Maybe Ravyn or Lo'ak can make it back to their homes in one piece to their loving families. He would much rather prefer that than it be himself that goes home.

The two eat in silence. The only sounds accompanying them are the birds singing, stray Tributes far from them, and other animals in the area. Spider watches as Ravyn quite literally wolf's down her portion of the small meal, cleaning the bone until it was void of any leftover meat. She looks to be starving. Spider had only taken two bites out of the rabbit's leg, not really feeling that hungry. He also still has his crackers and beef strips, so he'll be fine.

"Here, have mine." Spider offers, holding out his half-eaten piece of meat.

"No, I'm fine." Ravyn denies the offer, but he can see how she eyes it with yearning eyes.

He chuckles lowly, "Here, take it." Spider shove it into her hands as gently as he can considering she's trying to avoid his offering.

She holds it hesitant, muttering a timid "Thanks.", as gratitude for the extra food.

As the young girl eats the piece of meat, Spider thinks of everything he has missed since he blacked out from the Hellfire Wasps' venom. He's lucky he didn't die.

"How long was I out for?" Spider asks.

"A couple of days," Ravyn responds slowly.

"I changed your leaves two times." She continues her thought.

"Thank you for that." Spider says gratefully.

"It was nothin'." Ravyn shrugs as she chews on a piece of the rabbit meat.

"What happened while I was out?" Spider questions.

Ravyn stops chewing for a second, as if she was taking a moment to remember what happened these past couple of days he was asleep. 

"The girl from 3 and the boy from 8." She answers a little less enthused.

Spider then thinks about a certain someone he has been dying to make sure he's alright. "And the boy from 3? Lo'ak, the boy you met in the Training Center." Spider questions eagerly.

Ravyn grins like a Cheshire cat where Spider can't see the bottom half of her face. She's seen how Lo'ak acts around Spider and how completely oblivious the blond is to it. It's laughable, really.

"Yeah, he's doing okay. I think he's down by the river or something. I'm not completely sure if he's still there." Ravyn answers with a smirk.

At Ravyn's answer, Spider can physically breathe better now. At least it is confirmed by an ally of his that Lo'ak is okay and safe. He's fulfilling that promise he made to the boy's mother whether he likes it or not. He didn't even realize he let out a breath of relief until Ravyn looks at him with a knowing look.

"Worried about lover boy now, are we?" Ravyn teases.

"Where did that come from?" Spider laughs incredulously at the little nickname she gave Lo'ak. He is not sure why in the world she would come up with that nickname for Lo'ak. It feels as if he's missing something that he doesn't understand. 

"God, you really are dense when it comes to people's feelings." Ravyn states bluntly, shaking her head in disappointment.

Spider scoffs and rolls his eyes at her antics, "Where are Nate and the others?" Spider asks a little seriously.

"They got all their supplies down by the Cornucopia. It's in a camp by the lake." Ravyn provides honestly.

"Maybe we can go and take some of their stuff tomorrow. What do you think about that?" Spider asks cheekily.

Ravyn looks up at him with a grin, "I'd like that. Maybe we can blow some of it up too." Ravyn says.

"Maybe, but we'll worry about it tomorrow morning." Spider answers, rubbing a hand on Ravyn's knee.

Ravyn nods and continues eating the rabbit leg like a starved woman. Not that Spider's judging, he's been through it too many times to count. As the young girl is cleaning the bone of her meal, her eyes catch the patch of burned skin on Spider's thigh.

"What happened?" Ravyn asks concerned, pointing to the healed over skin with her free hand.

Spider looks down at his thigh that was burnt but now healed thanks to Norm, "The Gamemakers threw fireballs and burning trees at me." Spider answers nonchalantly.

"Can you run on it?" Ravyn asks with a raised brow.

"Yeah, it already healed thanks to the medicine I got. It doesn't even hurt anymore." Spider hums.

"It looks badass." Ravyn admits with a small smirk.

"You think so?" Spider asks surprised.

"Yeah!" Ravyn quietly exclains with a smile. The smile looks good on her, it's better than the look of fear he saw a few days ago before the games began.

Spider chortles and nudges her with his shoulder, looking up to observe the nature around them. Quietness envelops them comfortably, the forest talking for them. The raven-haired girl leans her upper body on Spider's as a way to seek comfort, and Spider allows it to happen. She was just a young girl after all. A young girl who most likely misses home and her family.

In the comforting silence, Spider begins to hum. He hums a song that he had grown up hearing, although in the language of the Na'vi. The humming soon turns into actual lyrics that are sung lowly, too low for those watching at home to hear clearly. Spider sings the song in almost a raspy but smoothly beautiful manner. Ravyn stays quiet, listening curiously to the song in another language she does not recognize. When the song eventually concludes, Ravyn finds herself wondering what the song is about.

"What language were you singing in?" Ravyn asks in almost a whisper.

"Na'vi. It's the language you hear about in your history books that was supposedly forgotten. A lot of people still speak it but choose to do so in private." Spider answers truthfully, but he says it very lowly so the cameras around them don't pick up what he is saying. One thing he knows is that the Capitol hates anything to do with Na'vi history. People are hanged for even mentioning or speaking the language in front of Peacekeepers and Capitol civilians. Eywa, he is grateful he chose to sing it solely for his and Ravyn's ears only.

"How do you know it then?" Ravyn asks confused.

"That's a secret." Spider whispers dramatically earning an eye roll from the young girl.

"Can you at least tell me what it's about?" Ravyn questions, tilting her head up to look Spider in the eyes.

"That I can do." Spider replies softly.

"It is about a child wanting to be back in the embrace of their mother. It tells the story of that child missing their mother when times are hard, but their mother will always be there to embrace them in the end." Spider explains fondly. He has always had a soft spot for this specific song he learned. 

"...That's beautiful." Ravyn says shocked at how deep the meaning of the song is.

"It really is..." Spider agrees in a soft tone.

"Is the language hard?" Ravyn asks with a lot curiosity.

"I didn't find it hard leaning it, but it is said to be a hard language to learn fluently." Spider answers truthfully.

"I wish I could speak it. It sounds so beautiful." Ravyn admits rather shyly.

"I could teach you some words, if you'd like." Spider offers kindly.

Ravyn's eyes practically light up with joy at the offer, "Really?"

"Sure, why not?" Spider shrugs like it's not a big deal.

Over the course of the next few hours, more like the rest of the day, Spider teaches Ravyn some words in the Na'vi language. He's patient and kind when correcting her pronunciation when she says it wrong. It felt nice to teach someone about some of not just a bit of the culture he grew up with. It felt fulfilling, in a weird way.

The brilliant sky soon turns to dark night. Ravyn and Spider had found a little nook that consisted of two logs pressed together, but not to the point that they were touching. The two logs were spaced out enough for two people to lie down in.

Both Tributes from the same district lay side by side listening to the nature around them. Spider has a protective arm wrapped around the young girl to keep her warm but also from possible danger.

The comforting silence genuinely speaks for them with no words said. Ravyn and Spider just understood each other in their own weird way. But Spider has a little part of his brain replaying the part of their conversation when Ravyn referred to Lo'ak as lover boy. He is still highly confused as to why she came to the conclusion to call his new possible friend that.

"Ravyn," Spider calls out gently in the quiet night. She replies with a hum, indicating that she was listening to what he had to say.

"Why did you refer to Lo'ak as lover boy earlier?" Spider questions.

Ravyn turns to him with a raised brow, as if he was stupid for not understanding something. It was as if he was missing something huge but is completely unaware of it. 

"Have you seriously not seen the way that idiot acts around you?" Ravyn huffs a laugh.

"No...? Does he act weird? I've never noticed anything." Spider frowns, thinking about every interaction he's had with Lo'ak. He hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary.

Ravyn sighs dramatically, "You're really bad at reading people, you know?" Ravyn says bluntly.

"Have you even seen or heard others talking about you two in the Capitol?" Ravyn whispers stunned. 

"Am I missing something big going on or...?" Spider questions genuinely perplexed about the situation.

"You'll find out soon enough." Ravyn dismisses him.

"Why did you even bring him up in the first place earlier today?" Ravyn asks.

"Because I'm worried about him, why else?" Spider raises a brow.

"No reason." Ravyn mumbles.

"You can't just avoid my question like that." Spider frowns, though it looks more like a small pout.

"Can, and just did." Ravyn replies.

"Unbelievable." Spider says in mock disbelief.

"Believe it, pretty boy." Ravyn huffs.

Soft, but also quiet, laughs erupt from the two Tributes. They lie together to keep one another warm in the cold due to the fact that they cannot start a fire to keep warm without getting caught. The conversation dies down into nothingness. The two get more tired as they continue to stare at the night sky with a clear mind.

They already have a set plan for the next morning the minute they wake up. But they needed some sleep to be able to actually accomplish the task. Ravyn found herself falling asleep first in Spider's arms safely. Her calm breaths are more than enough to put his mind at ease and to lull him to sleep as well. 

The day had been quite eventful with finding out everything that has happened these past couple of days he was asleep, teaching Ravyn his first language, and just straight up talking about life with the younger girl. All of that is enough to have Spider finally closing his eyes and entering a calm state.

Though the last thing on his mind was the only person missing from their group, Lo'ak. Spider had to find him soon so they can all work together, and also just because he genuinely misses the younger boy. After he and Ravyn do what they have to do, he's going to find Lo'ak. That was the plan for tomorrow. 

Chapter Text

The forest is lively and bustling with the wildlife put in there by the Gamemakers. When they had gone to hide during the nighttime, they are now out and about in the daytime. The sun is shining brightly down on the forest floor, letting its hot rays provide Vitamin D to Tributes that were desperately in need of it. 

Spider and Ravyn rise early, feeling completely refreshed from a good night's sleep. Spider generously offers the young girl some of his remaining food, and she accepts without hesitation. She quietly expresses her gratitude to him but surprises him by thanking him in Na'vi. He momentarily freezes, attempting to comprehend her words. Only when he realizes that she spoke to him in his native language does he break into a secret grin, impressed by her efforts to use the words he had taught her the previous day while waiting for time to pass.

"So," Spider begins, taking a bite of one of his beef strips.

"What's your plan to blow up the Cornucopia?" Spider continues with a slight quirk of his lips.

Ravyn pauses her chewing, turning her head to look at him with a sly look. She finishes chewing her food before swallowing, taking a swig of her water before answering the older boy honestly.

"Well, Nate and the others are down by the lake keeping watch. They have a ton of supplies that are piled up like a big pyramid." Ravyn informs Spider honestly, taking the time to remember what she saw a while back before she helped Spider when he got stung.

Spider hums in thought and nods at the younger girl's words. "Sounds pretty tempting, don't you think?" Spider nudges her gently, earning a small smile from her.

After Ravyn finishes eating her fill of food, Spider and she set off with their packs to act on their plan. Spider had suggested to Ravyn for them to gather some branches to create a fire that will cause a distraction while he focuses on blowing up the pyramid of supplies. It didn't take long for them to find some suitable branches to use to make a fire to cause a brief distraction. They make it to a certain point in the forest that Spider marks as the area to return to after they enact the plan.

"Now, this green stuff is gonna smoke like crazy, so as soon as you light it, move on to the next fire. Light this one last, and I'll meet you back over here." Spider instructs Ravyn sternly, explaining everything she needs to do.

She nods eagerly, muttering a soft "Right.", at his words. 

"And then, I'll destroy their stuff while they're heading towards the fire on the other side of the forest." Spider finalizes their plan. 

"But won't we need a signal in case one of us gets held up?" Ravyn suggests innocently.

"Sure. Like what?" Spider asks.

"I'm not sure... Do you have any ideas?" Ravyn shrugs.

"Hmm..." Spider hums quietly, thinking of a signal that both of them could use.

His eyes suddenly light up with an idea, "I got one. Watch this." He informs Ravyn.

Spider begins to sing a four-note melody in a whistle. The birds in the trees immediately copy his whistle tune after he finishes.

"Tetrapterons! I learned about them in school." Ravyn recognizes the birds.

"In Na'vi we call them fkio." Spider whispers to the young girl, low enough that the cameras don't catch what he said.

"So cool!" Ravyn grins brightly at the new expanse of knowledge.

"Wanna try?" Spider offers.

Ravyn nods vigorously and rushes to copy the same whistle tune that Spider produced. The birds sing the same tune back to her as they did with Spider.

"Okay, so if we hear that, it means we're okay and we'll be back soon." Spider confirms.

"We're gonna be okay." Spider says confidently, going in to hug Ravyn. She easily returns the hug with no hesitation, tucking her head into his stomach.

They separate from the hug after a long moment, "I'll see you for supper, alright?" Spider reassures the young girl. 

"Okay." Ravyn answers, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

"Okay." Spider repeats back to her with a reassuring smile.

"Go on now." Spider motions with his head to the direction Ravyn needs to go in. 

Ravyn picks up the branches they collected and begins heading in the direction Spider said to go in. With Ravyn heading in the opposite direction, Spider heads north to where Ravyn said the Careers were currently residing. As he makes the trek to where the Careers are he can't help but think about Lo'ak and his whereabouts. Was he doing okay? Was he still... alive? He shakes his head softly, ridding those thoughts from his mind and focuses on the journey to find the Careers.

He makes it quite fast. He can thank his expertise in living in the forest for that, thank you very much. Spider crouches and walks through the thick bushes obscuring the Career's view of him at the moment. The young boy maintains silence and stealth as he navigates through the foliage, pausing only when he reaches a vantage point that shields him from their view. Meaning he can see them, but they cannot see him. He looks at the Career's stack of supplies. The girl from District 4 is guarding it with the other Careers standing near keeping guard. They sure do have a lot of supplies, that he knew for sure. Ravyn also was not lying when she said it was piled up like a pyramid.

A shout from one of the Careers catches Spider's attention as he watches them silently, almost as if he wasn't there. "Guys. Guys, look! Over here. Come on, come on. Look!" Now Spider can clarify that the voice belongs to the girl from District 1, Vidia. She points to the rising smoke coming from the forest, deeper into it than Spider expected. Looks like Ravyn's part of the plan is completed, and she should be heading back to their little spot.

"Let's go. You stay guard and don't move until we come back." Nate instructs the girl from District 4 before him, Vidia, and Preston run off into the forest.

___

"I want to see if he's gonna figure out this booby trap." Pruitt comments, talking to the citizens of Pandora watching at home.

"Yes. It seems they've reburied their mines around that big pile of goodies." Augustus agrees.

"He's certainly figured it out, hasn't he?" Pruitt questions, pointing out a new Tribute getting past the booby traps with ease.

___

As Spider waits for the right moment to just out to act on the plan, he's shocked to see the boy he accidentally ran into a few days ago at the beginning of the games when he just ran for as long as his legs could take him. He observes the boy closely, watching as he jumps on specific parts of the ground before he snatches a sack of supplies. He runs silently past the girl that's supposed to keep watch and back into the forest, the girl completely oblivious to Spider watching her and the other Tribute having stolen some supplies.

It was now that the girl is distracted, walking toward a different area of the are she's guarding that he can strike. With his bow already in hand, he reaches into his quiver for an arrow. Spider silently nocks the arrow onto the bow with acute precision, standing up a bit to shoot at a bag of apples to make them fall and cause an explosion. He lets go of the arrow, watching as it cuts through the air and makes a slight cut on the bag of apples. That obviously wasn't enough to make them fall. 

So, Spider reaches for another arrow from his quiver and nocks the arrow onto the bow once again. This time he aims for a different part that will guarantee the explosion. He breathes in softly, pulling back the metal string and releasing the arrow a second time. This time 'round, the cut the arrow makes in the bag of apples is enough to make some topple out of the bag and fall onto the floor. The few apples falling on the ground is enough to activate the mines and make the pile of supplies explode.

The explosion is loud and grating. It even knocks him back a bit by the force. Spider sits up from the ground and can only hear a sharp ringing noise in his left ear that will not cease. As he is still facing the explosion, he is able to see the other Careers returning with shocked looks on their faces at the mess. He can see Nate approach the girl supposedly keeping watch with a glare.

"What the hell happened?" He hears Nate yell at her.

"I don't know!" She shouts back in confusion, but he can hear her voice waver even if half his hearing is a bit fucked up at the moment.

Nate scoffs and snatches the weapon that was in her hands, reaching forward and snaping her neck ruthlessly. Spider backs away from the scene and silently crawls back into the forest to find Ravyn once more. He runs without stopping, eager to find the young girl. He quickly makes it back and sees that Ravyn isn't there. The blond frowns and whistles the tune he created. The birds innocently repeat the tune back to him. He begins to get worried that Ravyn isn't back yet. Spider's eyes frantically roam the area they were supposed to meet in.

"Spider! Spider! Spider, help me! Spider! Help!" Spider suddenly hears the voice of Ravyn yelling for him.

His heart practically stops when he hears those screams of fear and terror. His mind just goes blank, only using his remaining hearing to listen for Ravyn to predict what direction she's in. It doesn't take long, really. Spider quickly finds the raven-haired girl stuck in a net, desperately trying to free herself from the trap. Spider runs up to her and drops down to his knees, unsheathing to knife from his belt to begin cutting her free from the net.

"It's okay. It's okay. I got you, now." Spider reassures the panicked young girl. 

He frees her from her restraints, and she immediately jumps into his arms. He hugs her back just as tightly as she holds onto him. 

"You're okay. You're okay, you're fine. See?" Spider whispers to her softly, caressing her hair gently.

With his remaining hearing he's able to pick up on the sound of faint footsteps and a branch cracking under someone else's feet. He discreetly reaches for his bow and quickly pushes Ravyn out of the way so he can grab an arrow and shoot the perpetrator. She lands on the ground with a groan from the sudden force, looking back up at Spider to just barely see him shoot an arrow at the Career girl from District 1. The arrow landed in her chest, accurately aimed at her heart.

Vidia, the girl from District 1, falls to her knees with her weapon still in hand. Her eyes are wide, and fear stricken when she falls to the ground unmoving. Ravyn breathes heavily, still spooked from getting caught in the net. She could have died had Spider not heard that girl coming. Spider could have died himself saving her.

"Are you okay, Ravyn?" Spider questions the young girl, bending down and looking over her for any injuries or scratches of the sort.

"No... No, I'm fine. I just-" Her voice cracks from the amount of emotion she's feeling all at once.

"You almost died because of me." She whispers out.

"But I didn't. But I would much rather I get hurt than you get hurt." Spider reassures Ravyn.

"Don't do that again." She manages to get out with a sniffle.

"No promises, kid." Spider responds.

Spider lets out a soft breath, turning to look at the body of the Tribute he killed. That was the very first human life he's taken. It doesn't exactly feel good. Vidia lies on the soil motionless, her eyes stuck open wide in fear and shock from Spider's quickness in shooting her.

The blond frowns at the sight of her body just lying there in front of him and Ravyn. It didn't feel right for him just leave her there like that. It felt wrong. She most likely has a family watching back home, probably having witnessed their daughter dying on a screen. It puts a bad taste in his mouth just at the thought of it.

"Stay here with her, I'll be right back." Spider speaks lowly, heading to a different part of the forest without waiting for Ravyn's response.

He remembers seeing pretty flowers around this specific area he's walking towards. He wishes to give her a peaceful "burial" since she most likely will not have one. He wants to scatter a multitude of flowers around her perfectly as a symbol and sign of grief. It felt right to do this.

So, once he arrives to the specific area of the forest where the prettier flowers reside, he grabs multiple handfuls of them to take back to the scene. He might have grabbed a bit too much; Spider realizes as he walks back to where Ravyn is waiting for him. Eh, he'll figure something out.

The second he arrives back with a handful of flowers; Ravyn's look of confusion immediately turns to one of understanding. She may be young, but she is well old enough to understand the concept of death and honoring it. She reaches forward to help hold the extra flowers he grabbed, watching as he bends down with such grace and begins placing the flowers around the girl from District 1.

Spider carefully places the flowers around Vidia one by one, making sure it looks as beautiful as possible. If this was going to be the last time she's gonna be seen, he wishes for her to be seen in a beautiful light. Little by little do the flowers grow around the girl lied out on the ground motionless. 

When the flowers Spider collected are all used, each of them placed around Vidia's body delicately, he looks up at Ravyn and motions for her to hand the extra flowers to him. She hands them over without a word, watching in awe as he places the flowers inside the girl from District 1's hands. Ravyn watches with admiration as he gently closes the girl's eyes that were stuck open in fear. 

Her fascination of what Spider is doing grows tenfold when he utters something in that language he taught her some words in yesterday. She finds the language so interesting and beautiful. It sounds so sophisticated and natural to listen to when Spider speaks it around her. She doesn't understand what he is saying, but she assumes it is something along the lines of a prayer.

Ravyn would assume correctly, as Spider is in fact uttering a prayer in Na'vi as quietly as he can for Vidia. While they may not have liked one another, nor met under the best circumstances, he wishes she moves on into the afterlife peacefully as death was a beautiful thing to him. Eywa has told him many stories about the beauty of death growing up. There was just something so fascinating and interesting about the way the Great Mother explained death to him once he was old enough to fully understand.

"She will be okay." Spider says after he finishes uttering the prayer.

"Really? How do you know?" Ravyn questions with wide, curious eyes.

"Death is a beautiful thing, holding a world of peace afterwards. I am sure she will be okay." Spider responds wisely.

Spider notices how Ravyn's eyes linger on Vidia a bit more than needed, "Do want to say something to her?" Spider offers.

"No. I didn't know her well, but I hope she finds peace in the afterlife." Ravyn answers.

Spider smiles softly at her answer, ruffling her hair a bit. She laughs at his antics, smacking his hand away with a playful glare.

"Should we go find Lo'ak now?" Spider questions.

"What, your lover boy? Yeah, sure. Let's go find him." Ravyn chuckles, rolling her eyes and walking north.

Spider follows after her with the thought of her insistently calling Lo'ak lover boy since the games started. Why did she refer to him Lo'ak as his lover boy? It just didn't make sense. The blond boy shakes his head softly to get rid of those thoughts.

"You're going the wrong way, kid." Spider calls out to her when she makes a sudden turn.

"How do you know, genius?" Ravyn retorts sarcastically.

"It's called tracking, sweetheart. Leave the tracking Lo'ak down to me." Spider responds with a sarcastic smile, batting his eyes to add more emphasis to his words.

"Yeah, yeah." Ravyn mumbles as she hurries back to follow after him.

With Ravyn now following closely after Spider in silence, Spider can put his tracking skills to use. As he and Ravyn traverse through the forest in comfortable silence, Spider has a feeling that he should look near the river. So, from there, his tracking down a river begins. Ravyn just simply watches as the blond moves swiftly and lightly on his feet as he makes his way through the forest. 

It doesn't take very long for Spider to find the river. He followed the sound of rushing water, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs that Lo'ak might be near. As he climbs on top of one of the rocks near the river, his eyes catch blood pooled on another rock. He rushes towards it with Ravyn in tow, bending down to touch the blood there. It was still fresh, like someone was previously here and left a while ago. 

Spider frowns at the blood staining his fingertips and stands back up, eyes following the small trail of blood going back into the forest from where he's standing. He wordlessly heads in the direction of where the blood is, making sure to keep his eyes on the trail of blood. When he enters the forest once more, he's greeted with some blood on a lightly colored branch. From there, he sees the trail leading back out to the river. 

He follows the trail of blood with scrunched eyebrows. Ravyn doesn't say a word as she trails after him, feeling a sense of dread filling her stomach. Spider walks to this large rock surrounded by bushes near the river and stops when the blood ends there. He lets out a soft breath, looking around in the distance for where Lo'ak could have possibly went.

But Spider's thoughts are quickly interrupted by the sensation of someone grabbing his leg. He lets out a gasp and looks down at the hand grabbing onto him ready to act if needed. Ravyn even jumps and reaches for her axe inside her bag out of fear. 

A low chuckle follows, "Finally come to finish me off, huh?" A person with a very familiar voice said. 

Emerging from the bush was the person Spider has been worrying about this entire time. "Lo'ak!" Spider exclaims and lunges for a hug. 

Lo'ak grunts at the sudden movement and huffs a laugh, "Good to see you missed me too." He jokes. 

Spider separates from the comforting hug, and slaps Lo'ak's arm. "Where the hell have you been?" He questions. 

"Hiding. Running away from the Careers, mostly." Lo'ak answers with a shrug. 

Spider's eyes scan Lo'ak over from head to toe and catch a gash in his thigh oozing a bit of blood. Spider hisses in sympathy for Lo'ak, bending down so he can get a better look at the injury. Lo'ak hisses when Spider touches it, said boy apologizing softly afterwards. 

"What happened?" Spider asks. 

"Nate fucking managed to cut me when he found me getting water." Lo'ak explains with a roll of his eyes.

"Not surprising at all." Ravyn comments nonchalantly. 

Lo'ak looks over at her in surprise having not noticed her, only focusing his attention on Spider and Spider alone. "Good to see you too, kid." Lo'ak says. 

"Likewise." Ravyn responds back sarcastically. 

"You need medicine for that," Spider comments, standing back up and looking Lo'ak in the eyes sternly. 

The blond moves to the edge of the rock and kneels down so he can scoop some of the water into his hands. With the water pooled in his hands, he slowly moves over to Lo'ak and pours the water above his open wound. That earns a hiss of pain from the other, making Spider apologize quietly in sympathy.

"We can't stay here, so we'll have to find somewhere safe to heal you." Spider informs the two. 

"There should be a cave nearby! I saw one when I passed by here a few days ago." Ravyn informs Spider end Lo'ak. 

"Wonderful! Let's get going now before we lose daylight." Spider grins. 

"Lead the way." Spider motions ahead with his hand toward Ravyn who gladly takes the lead and begins guiding them to a cave.

"Onwards, lover boys!" Ravyn shouts back at them with a grin. 

Spider shakes his head at her antics, moving towards Lo'ak and slinging one of the amber-eyed boy's arms over his shoulder so he can help him walk. Lo'ak can only stare at Spider with an unreadable emotion before looking forward, swallowing the sudden lump in his throat. 

"Off we go now." Spider says before the two begin following after Ravyn who makes sure to walk slowly since Lo'ak is injured.

Spider and Lo'ak walk side by side - mostly Spider doing the walking for them due to Lo'ak leaning most of his weight on the blond - through the forest, both relishing in the fact that they finally found one another. Though, they won't admit that part out loud. Lo'ak limps as they trudge through the forest in comfortable silence.

The silence between the two is suddenly broken by Lo'ak. "Is there any reason why she called us lover boys back there?" 

"Eh, I'm not really sure," Spider replies. 

"She really only refers to you as lover boy, but I guess that's changed now." Spider continues.

Lo'ak hums at the answer, taking it into thought. The nickname has the amber-eyed boy questioning if Ravyn has noticed his lingering stare on Spider. What if she noticed how he would gawk at Spider when the other wasn't looking? Eywa, he probably looks like a fool just staring at Spider like he's the most beautiful person he's seen. But it is kinda hard to not stare and gawk at Spider when he was so perfect in Lo'ak's eyes. From the 2 weeks they spent together training he can say that the older boy is clearly skilled in a lot of things, and he's kind to everyone (mostly everyone). 

The darker-skinned boy blinks a few times rapidly to rid those thoughts from his head. He can't have fallen for another Tribute, let alone someone he may never see again. His heart chose the wrong time to fall for someone. Maybe he can act on his desires slightly...

The trio continue making their way through the forest with no encounters or run into any problems. Eventually, Ravyn looks back at them and points at something ahead of her. 

"There it is!" She exclaims. 

The two boys follow after her after exchanging a brief glance at one another. Spider helps Lo'ak climb down a rock to get to the ground from where they're standing. He only jumps down effortlessly after making sure Lo'ak made it down fine. Spider slings the younger boy's arm around his shoulder once more, aiding him in nearing the cave.

Ravyn enters the large cave, not waiting for them for a second. The blond assists Lo'ak in entering the cave by bending down a bit to simply get in. Lo'ak hisses in pain when Spider helps him lie down on the ground to rest.

"We'll be safe here," Spider says. 

"We'll rest here for a while and get you some medicine." Spider continues.

"I don't get many parachutes, Spider." Lo'ak comments with a strained expression. Spider deduces that it's probably the pain from his injury.

"Then we'll figure something out." Spider concludes softly. 

"Like what?" Lo'ak questions. 

"Something, Lo'ak. I'm not just gonna watch you suffer in pain if I can do something about it." Spider responds, his brown eyes staring directly into Lo'ak's deeply. It was as if they were looking deep into each other's souls as they stated at one another.

Ravyn watches the exchange completely silent, grinning like a mad woman at the way they're interacting with each other. She's seen the way Lo'ak sends fleeting looks over to Spider, but the blond is too oblivious to even notice. But it seems like she doesn't have to do much work after all. They're relationship is only forming even more right in front of her.

The blond sighs, "Just rest for a bit... I'll keep watch." Spider says, moving towards Lo'ak to sit next to him.

"I can't ask you do that," Lo'ak argues, keeping his unwavering gaze on Spider. 

An irresistable smile works it's way onto Spider's lips, "I wasn't asking you, I'm telling you to get some rest."

Spider disconnects their intense staring and takes off his bag and places it behind Lo'ak without a word. He then gently but firmly pushes Lo'ak down to rest his head on the bag as support for his head. The younger boy moves to argue with him, but a single look from Spider had Lo'ak relenting and staying down.

The blond rechecks the gash in Lo'ak's leg and faintly frowns. He would need to find medicine soon or it could get infected. When he looks up from Lo'ak's injury, he's met with said boy gazing at him with a look he doesn't recognize.

<"Rest, Lo'ak. I'll be right here."> Spider says in Na'vi softly yet quiet enough for any cameras around to not hear, taking one of his hands and moving a stray braid from Lo'ak's face.

Spider is unaware of what his actions are currently doing to Lo'ak internally. Said boy's stomach is doing flips and his body feels warm and tingly all of the sudden. Even the way Spider speaks in Na'vi has Lo'ak feeling all droopy and weak in the knees. Eywa, his feelings that have been growing since training with Spider have gotten worse.

But, choosing to listen to Spider, Lo'ak proceeds to close his eyes and tries to sleep for a bit. Seeing Lo'ak finally give in to sleep has Spider smiling placid. He lets out a barely audible breath and turns in the direction he saw Ravyn in. He's met with the young girl grinning like a mad woman at the two. The blond only deadpans at her and rolls his eyes fondly at her antics.

"You should get some rest too, Rav." Spider suggests.

"Are you sure? I can scout with you." Ravyn offers. 

"I'm sure. Try to get some rest while you have the chance." Spider urges her.

"Okay... But wake me up if something happens." Ravyn demands, or at least tries to look demanding. 

Spider smiles, "Will do."

Ravyn huffs before getting comfortable in her own little corner not too far away from him and Lo'ak. The blond unconsciously smiles at the sight of the two lying down peacefully. Them as a trio, a group, together makes him feels better, warm. It feels right, in a way.

So, Spider takes watch and keeps an eye on Lo'ak and Ravyn while also keeping his ears open for any possibile sounds outside. About fifteen minutes pass of the blond sitting in the cave silently watching over the other two before a beeping sound is heard outside. Spider sits up straight and grabs his bow and a single arrow just in case.

He quietly moves out of the cave with his bow ready to shoot if necessary. His ears catch the beeping sound again and he looks up to see where it is coming from. Above him is a parachute floating down slowly. He keeps his eyes on it as it moves towards one of the trees a few feet in front of the cave. It eventually lands in one of the trees, the beeping ceasing.

Spider heads towards the parachute, slinging the bow around him and placing the arrow back inside the quiver so he can properly open the can. He opens the bottom portion of the parachute and is met with yet another note. This time it reads:

'Give him some of this to warm his body. Thanks for caring for him.' 

- Jake

Spider unscrews the lid of the can and sees that it contains some soup. He wordlessly looks up hoping that a camera sees and gives a curt nod of thanks before quickly heading back inside the cave.

Spider approaches Lo'ak silently with the soup in hand, bending down to kneel next to him. Lo'ak appears to be sleeping peacefully, but the blond has to feed him this to make him feel somewhat better.

<"Lo'ak, wake up."> Spider whispers, shaking him awake delicately. 

Lo'ak stirs, turning his head with slightly droopy eyes to look at Spider. He sits up a bit and croaks out, "Medicine?" 

"No. Soup, actually." Spider confirms. 

Lo'ak nods and reaches out to grab the food, but Spider pulls it away from him the second he tried. That earns a look of confusion from the darker-skinned boy. 

"I'll do it." Spider clarifies.

Lo'ak's eyes roam Spider's face wordlessly, his eyes conveying an emotion the blond cannot understand. The raven-haired boy nods and sits back to lean against the wall so Spider can feed him better. 

Spider takes the spoon provided and scoops a bit of the soup and guides the spoon to Lo'ak's lips. He watches on, satisfied when Lo'ak swallows the warm liquid and hums. 

"That's nice." Lo'ak comments lowly. 

Spider continues giving Lo'ak the soup until the other says he doesn't want any more of it. He puts it aside and places the back of his hand against Lo'ak's forehead. His lips turn downward slightly, not liking the temperature of Lo'ak. 

"You feel hot." Spider mutters.

"Spider-" Lo'ak tries to talk but is immediately quieted by Spider.

"Shh..."

<"Can you at least lay with me?"> Lo'ak mutters quietly. 

Spider stills for a moment, taking in the other's words before relenting and moving to lie down with Lo'ak. Said boy moves Spider to rest his head on his chest and the blond can admit that it feels nice to lay like this. It was soothing, listening to the heartbeat of Lo'ak beneath him. 

<"Spider... If I don't make it-"> Lo'ak begins quietly, but he is once again interrupted by Spider. This time, Spider shushes him by placing a hand on his chest.

<"Don't say that."> He mumbles, listening as Lo'ak's heartbeat stutters.

The two fall into comfortable silence after that. Lo'ak even falls back asleep at some point, but Spider stays awake listening for anything out of place. Ravyn is still sleeping comfortably in her little corner, perfectly in Spider's range of view.

The bright day soon turns to a rainy afternoon. The sky is now dark, gray, and dull as rain pours. Spider is currently resting his eyes as he lays against Lo'ak. It felt nice to be in his arms, Spider has to admit it. It feels weirdly nice... Too nice. But he feels too comfortable in Lo'ak's embrace to even think about moving. His troubled mind is abruptly interrupted by a loud voice echoing around the Arena. 

"Attention, Tributes, attention. Commencing at sunrise, there will be a feast tomorrow at the Cornucopia."

The announcement has Spider shooting up from where he is positioned against Lo'ak, said boy waking up abruptly from the loud voice with a confused expression. Ravyn startles awake at the loud voice, looking over at Spider in confusion. 

"This will be no ordinary occasion. Each of you needs something desperately. And we plan to be generous hosts."

The announcement concludes and Spider immediately realizes what the person was indicating. "Your medicine." He says, looking at Lo'ak. 

"You're not going alone." Lo'ak argues instantly, seeing the look in Spider's eyes. 

"Oh, yeah? You need it, and you can't walk." Spider scoffs. 

"Spider, you're not gonna risk your life for me. I'm not gonna let you." Lo'ak pushes further, stopping Spider from grabbing his bow.

Spider snaps his gaze towards Lo'ak, "You would do it for me. Wouldn't you?" Spider questions, staring into the other boy's eyes deeply. 

Lo'ak can only stare back just as deeply, if not more so than Spider.  He knew the other was right. Lo'ak would do it for Spider if given the chance. Ravyn can only watch in silence, debating whether she should turn away and give them privacy or keep watching. 

"Why are you doing this?" Lo'ak eventually gets out. 

"Because I made a promise to your mother that I would get you out of here alive," Spider admits. 

"And I don't plan on breaking that promise even if it means I end up dead." Spider concludes, still maintaining eye contact with Lo'ak. 

"Now there's no way I'm letting you go; you know that right?" Lo'ak croaks. 

"Lo'ak-" Spider says, but before he can even think to get any other possible words out, he feels a soft pressure against his lips. 

Spider freezes right then and there when he registers what's happening. His eyes are wide in shock, not being able to comprehend what is happening at this very moment. He only unfreezes when the light pressure detaches from his lips after a few seconds with a soft sound. Lo'ak stares at him with slight unease, but Spider can feel something magnetic pulling him in as he gazes at Lo'ak with no emotion.

<"Say something, at least..."> Lo'ak whispers. 

The blond does not answer a moment, <"We'll talk about this another time."> Spider decides on. 

"Please. Just stay tomorrow, don't go to the Feast." Lo'ak pleads, his eyes falling to Spider's lips for a split second before going back to his eyes. 

The blond blinks a few times rapidly to clear his mind for a moment, registering Lo'ak's words. 

"Okay. I'll stay." He mutters. 

Spider then wordlessly lays his head on Lo'ak's chest once more. He can feel how the amber-eyed boy's heart races under him. The blond disregards that and tries not to think about what just happened, only thinking about what he was planning to do tomorrow morning for the Feast. But even while he thinks of his plan for tomorrow, he can't help but think of the sensation of Lo'ak's lips on his. It felt... Right. Even if he tries to deny it, he fell asleep to the thought of a ghostly sensation of light pressure against his lips. Maybe this was what Ravyn was talking about when she said he'll find out soon enough about Lo'ak. 

___

The next morning comes very quickly. Spider is up sitting against the wall of the cave with his quiver and bow ready watching over Lo'ak shivering in his sleep. It makes him feel restless and wrong to see Lo'ak like that. It doesn't help that he's still thinking about what happened yesterday. He shakes his head softly to rid those thoughts from his head.

He sighs and stands up with his bow, feeling like he can't stand watching Lo'ak look so weak and vulnerable. Spider exits the cave and makes his way to the Cornucopia with a game plan set in mind. When he's about halfway there he hears the sound of branches snapping and leaves being brushed against something, or someone behind him. 

Spider quickly nocks an arrow against his bow and turns around to be ready to shoot the second he sees whatever or whoever it is. To his surprise, he's met with the sight of Ravyn holding her axe and looking at him a sheepish expression. 

Spider lowers his bow with a huff, "Seriously, Ravyn? What are you doing out here?" He questions sternly.

"Followin' you. And makin' sure you don't die on me." Ravyn answers quietly.

"You-- I--" Spider stammers, "Why am I even surprised?" He sighs, rubbing one of his eyes with a hand. 

"You know what I'm about to do is dangerous, right?" Spider questions, turning around and continuing on his way to the Cornucopia. Ravyn immediately follows his lead and runs to be side by side with him.

"Mhm! I had a feelin' you were goin' to go to the Feast even though Lo'ak asked you not to." Ravyn responds. 

"You're awfully observant." Spider mumbles. 

"So... About what happened last night between you two," Ravyn suddenly comments. 

"Don't. I don't feel like talking about it right now." Spider snaps. 

"Noted." Ravyn mutters.

"Do you wanna help me get our bag while I grab Lo'ak's?" Spider asks suddenly. 

The young girl looks up at him, a wide smile appearing on her face. "Of course, what should I do?" She questions. 

Spider and Ravyn then go over their plan when they arrive at the Cornucopia. They decided that Ravyn will go and grab the District 12 bag while he grabs the District 4 bag. He instructed for Ravyn to immediately run the second she grabs the bag and to not look back to which she agreed to. 

Soon enough, the two arrived at the Cornucopia. They hide behind a large bush that hides them from any person's view. Spider scouts the area with narrowed eyes, making sure that the coast is clear before they act. The second he's about to jump into action with Ravyn, he pauses when he sees the same boy he ran into at the beginning of the games run to the Cornucopia and grab their bag with the number 5 on it. So, it turns out the boy he accidentally bumped into is from District 5.

The blond waits until the boy from District 5 runs back into the forest before jumping into action. He and Ravyn run to the steel table containing the bags, each grabbing their respective bags. Ravyn runs ahead of him like they planned. As he rounds the corner in a sprint, a knife being thrown at him makes him immediately duck down till he's flat on his back. 

He doesn't even register that the boy who threw the knife actually cut him on his forehead. The adrenaline has him sitting up and fetching an arrow from his quiver as the boy runs at him, knocking the arrow onto his how before shooting. By some luck, the boy dodges by a few inches. Spider attempts to fetch another arrow, but he's tackled down by the other. 

Spider immediately throws the boy off of him, attempting to get up and run away from him, but the boy tackles him to the ground once again. That earns a grunt from Spider from the sudden force. The boy scrambles to straddle him while he's knocked down, using one of his knives and bringing it down quickly towards Spider. 

Spider dodges the knife aimed for his head by a few inches. The boy, which Spider now recognizes as Preston, the kid from District 2, tries again. He brings the knife down again, but Spider blocks it by grabbing his arms to stop the knife from being plunged into his face. Spider uses one of his hands to push his face away, which only angers Preston further. Preston swiftly escapes his grip and brings the knife down again. He plunges it into the grass instead of Spider.

The blond takes advantage of the moment and pushes Preston to the side, making them roll. He manages to take advantage of the situation before he's rolled over and put on his back again. Preston groans and headbutts Spider, thus earning a groan from the blond. With Spider's head on the ground, Preston then uses his legs to pin his arms on the ground and places his knife against Spider's throat. 

"Where's lover boy?" Preston asks tauntingly, watching as Spider struggles against him with a glare on his face. 

"Oh, I see. You were gonna help him, right? Well, that's sweet. You know, it's too bad that your little friend didn't die when she was supposed to. That little girl? What was her name again? Ravyn?" Preston continues, grinning menacingly at the way Spider struggles against him even more at the mention of Ravyn. 

"Yeah, well, we'll try to kill her again." Preston chuckles.

"And now, we're finally gonna kill you." Preston concludes, pulling out another knife from his pocket. 

As he raises it and gets ready to stab Spider to death, Preston freezes with a choked gasp. Spider watches on in confusion as Preston's arm falls limp and he falls to the side unmoving. The blond immediately notices an axe embedded in the back of Preston's head deeply. 

He looks in the direction of where it came from and sees Ravyn standing there with an outstretched hand like she threw the axe. Which... She actually did. Ravyn breathes heavily as she stares ahead at the body of Preston with her axe embedded in his head. 

Spider swallow the saliva in his mouth and quickly stands up from the ground. He grabs the bag and makes his way toward Ravyn who stares wide-eyed at body of Preston.

"Hey, Ravyn, you're okay. You did what you had to." Spider reassures the young girl. 

"Come on, we need to go before the other Tributes come." Spider ushers the girl to move. 

She moves on autopilot, letting Spider guide her back to the cave where Lo'ak is unaware of their adventure. She doesn't speak the entire way, only breathing shakily. Spider decides that he will comfort her once he gets to the cave and applies the medicine to Lo'ak's wound.

When they make it to the cave Ravyn instantly goes to her corner and curls into a ball. Spider's face falls at the sight, wanting to comfort her immediately, but he has to handle Lo'ak first before getting to her. 

"Lo'ak, I got it. I got the medicine." Spider says, shaking Lo'ak awake gently. 

"What happened to you?" Lo'ak questions when he awakens, reaching up to look at his cut on his head. 

"I'm fine." Spider reassures him. 

"No, you're not. What happened?" Lo'ak demands. 

"The boy from 2, he threw a knife. I'm okay." Spider answers. 

Lo'ak looks over at Ravyn and sees the unfamiliar bag that Spider is holding leaning against the wall near her. He's concerned to see her curled in a ball and breathing shakily.

<"What happened with her?"> Lo'ak whispers. 

<"She killed the boy from 2. She did it to protect me, but I think she's in shock."> Spider answers quietly. 

"You shouldn't have gone. You said you weren't gonna go." Lo'ak says, glaring at Spider. 

Spider ignores his words, "You got worse." 

The blond opens the bag and retrieves the medicine. He opens the tin and scoops up some of the substance inside, gently applying it to his wound. Lo'ak winces, groaning in pain. 

"I'm sorry." Spider mutters as he applies a bit more. 

"You need some of that, too." Lo'ak says. 

"I'm okay." Spider denies gently. 

"That feels a bit better already. Okay, now you." Lo'ak says, dipping his finger in the medicine.

"I'm fine, really." Spider reassures. 

"No, come on, you need it too. Come on." Lo'ak argues.

"All right." Spider relents, bending down so Lo'ak has better access. 

Lo'ak then applies some of the medicine to Spider's cut on his forehead. He does so gently, as if Spider is delicate. The two make eye contact as Lo'ak does so. Spider's eyes soften as Lo'ak gazes at him with a longing look in his eyes. Lo'ak's eyes flit all over Spider's face, as if he was observing and memorizing every part of his face. It was an intimate moment that neither wanted to break.

Lo'ak lowers his hand, his eyes never straying from Spider's. It has the blond smiling affectionately. As much as the moment feels right, Spider still has to go check on Ravyn.

<"Go back to sleep."> Spider whispers, bending down and placing a light kiss to Lo'ak's forehead before moving away towards Ravyn.

The action has Lo'ak smiling to himself in giddiness. This was progress. He closes his eyes and thinks about the feeling of Spider's lips yesterday as he falls asleep once more. There was no denying he had a fat crush on Spider, and the games have made it even worse. 

Chapter Text

Lo'ak finds himself waking up the next morning sooner than he would have preferred. He longs to remain in this peaceful state, holding Spider in his embrace as they both sleep soundly. Lo'ak assumes that Spider had spent the night comforting Ravyn before returning to sleep beside him. The young boy with amber eyes doesn't mind this arrangement at all. However, despite his desire to stay in this moment with Spider, they, along with Ravyn, must continue their journey. This realization also leads Lo'ak to believe that there are only a few Tributes remaining in the games. Although he is uncertain of the exact number, he is confident that it is a small group.

Lo'ak gazes down at Spider's face nestled against his chest. He carefully studies the older boy, observing the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. From this vantage point, Lo'ak admires the length of Spider's eyelashes and the fullness of his lips. These small details stir a flutter of affection in his heart, despite the fact that they have only known each other for a brief period of 2 or perhaps 3 weeks.

As adorable as it is watching Spider sleep in peace, the three of them have to get up. Even though it pains him to do this he gently shakes Spider awake. Lo'ak even whispers, "Spider, wake up." as softly as possible. 

The blond awakens, emitting a soft groan after a restful night's sleep. Spider slowly opens his eyes, glancing around the cave. He locks eyes with Lo'ak and warmly smiles at him.

"Hi." Spider croaks, voice raspy from disuse. 

"Hey," Lo'ak replies with a slightly raised lip.

"You sure slept well last night." Lo'ak comments, smirking at the mention of it.

"Sorry," Spider apologizes sheepishly.

"It's fine, I don't mind at all." Lo'ak shrugs.

Spider turns his gaze away from Lo'ak's face and finds his eyes trailing down his body, stopping at leg where his wound is. "How do you feel?" Spider questions. 

"A lot better, actually." Lo'ak answers, sitting up to look at his leg.

<"By Eywa, Lo'ak."> Spider gasps, astonished at the sight of the wound healed up.

<"I hardly feel anything."> Lo'ak supplies, feeling a genuine smile working its way onto his face.

"You and Ravyn could go home. You could." Spider realizes, purposely excluding himself.

<"We could go home."> Lo'ak corrects him immediately, making sure to emphasize 'we'.

Spider releases a disbelieving laugh, reaching out for a hug that he desperately craves, yet refuses to acknowledge. Lo'ak reciprocates the embrace almost instantly, burying his face in Spider's neck. The two hold each other tightly for a brief moment, savoring the warmth and companionship they find in one another. Lo'ak secretly wishes to remain in the arms of the fair-haired individual indefinitely, as it feels undeniably right. It is nothing short of perfection.

Eventually, they separate, and Spider informs Lo'ak that he intends to wake Ravyn so they can depart in search of food. Lo'ak nods, observing as Spider bends down and softly whispers something to Ravyn, gently rousing her from her slumber. Unconsciously, a smile graces Lo'ak's face at the sight. Spider seems to possess a natural affinity for interacting with those younger than him, particularly children.

It doesn't take long for everyone to fully awaken, gathering their belongings before venturing back into the forest. Lo'ak and Ravyn flank Spider on either side, finding solace in his presence for their own individual reasons. They traverse the shallow section of the river, making their way to another part of the forest. As they walk, the trio engages in hushed conversation about various topics, filling the silence that envelops them. However, the tone of their discussion shifts when the subject of the remaining Tributes arises.

"Aside from us three still alive, there's still Nate, Turbin left and some girl I can't remember the name of." Lo'ak comments.

"Who's Turbin?" Spider questions, highly confused at the unknown name.

"The boy from District 5. You didn't know?" Lo'ak confirms.

"No... I've seen him around, but I never knew his name." Spider answers.

"Well, now you know," Lo'ak says.

"Anyways, Nate's gonna be by the Cornucopia. He's not gonna go someplace he doesn't know. Turbin, however... he could be anywhere." Lo'ak continues.

"We should probably hunt around here, then. We don't have any food left." Spider suggests.

"Good idea," Ravyn compliments.

"Okay, I'll take the bow." Lo'ak says, turning to Spider and reaching for the bow in the blond's left hand.

Spider makes a face at Lo'ak reaching for his weapon, holding said weapon out a reach for the other to grab. The action makes Lo'ak smile at him humorously, "I'm just kidding. I'll go pick some stuff." Lo'ak chuckles, sending Spider a wink before heading off in a different direction close to the duo that stayed behind to find some other stuff.

Spider is amused by Lo'ak's attempt to joke around in the midst of their situation, causing him to feel a mix of nervousness and warmth. His thoughts are interrupted by Ravyn clearing her throat loudly, prompting him to shift his focus to her as she teases him with a smirk.

"You two are really obvious, you know that right?" Ravyn says.

"Pfft, what are you even talking about?" Spider scoffs, turning away to not face her teasing expression head on. He then pulls out an arrow from his quiver and nocks the arrow onto the bow, looking up in the trees for a possible animal he can kill for food.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, pretty boy," Ravyn continues.

"I see you two flirtin' and tiptoein' around one another like two people fallin' in love for the very first time." Ravyn chortles.

"I'm not in love with him, Ravyn. That's ridiculous!" Spider denies, keeping his gaze on the trees to find an animal.

"Are you sure about that?" Ravyn teases.

Spider's eyes catch a bird sitting on tree above him, and he positions his bow to shoot the animal. "Even if I was in love with him, which I'm not, it's pointless because I'm not making it out of here alive." Spider responds sharply, getting ready to shoot the bird in the tree.

Just as he prepares to fire at the bird, a cannon blast unexpectedly reverberates through the air. The blond's head swiftly turns towards the direction Lo'ak disappeared in; his expression filled with alarm. Ravyn gazes at Spider with apprehension, her eyes darting between the forest ahead and the blond.

"Lo'ak?" Spider calls out but receives no answer.

Spider promptly dismisses the thought of killing the bird, pursuing Lo'ak's path with Ravyn trailing closely behind. Upon reaching a random location in the forest, he notices Lo'ak's jacket on the ground, with a specific fruit placed on top of it. Spider rushes towards the jacket to inspect the fruit intently. The sight of the fruit triggers a wave of panic as he comprehends its identity.

"Lo'ak! Lo'ak!" Spider yells this time, his heart racing at the thought that Lo'ak might be dead.

The spider scurries in a haphazard path, filled with urgency, oblivious to whether Ravyn is still pursuing him. Although she is indeed following, his anxiety prevents him from acknowledging the sound of her footsteps trailing him. As the fair-haired individual turns a corner, he collides with an object, or perhaps an individual...

"You okay?" Spider registers the voice of Lo'ak speaking to him with concern.

"Lo'ak... I heard the cannon, I thought..." Spider can't even get the words out, the thought of Lo'ak dying being too much to handle. His eyes look over Lo'ak to make sure he isn't hurt. He's instantly brought more panic when he spies the same fruit he saw in his hands.

"No, I'm-" Lo'ak tries to respond, but he cannot get the words out because Spider beats him to it.

<"That's Yovo, Lo'ak! It's poisonous to humans; you'd be dead in a minute!> Spider scolds, slapping the fruit out of the amber-eyed boy's hands.

<"I didn't know."> Lo'ak says quietly, feeling guilt for the distress he's causing Spider.

<"You scared me to death. Damn you, Lo'ak."> Spider says shakily, throwing himself into Lo'ak's arms to just feel him. He wanted to know that he was there and alive in his arms.

<"I'm sorry."> Lo'ak whispers, hugging back tightly because he can feel how shaken Spider is. He can feel how the blond trembles in his embrace slightly, breathing shakily.

Lo'ak makes eye contact with Ravyn who is watching with concern evident in her eyes. She mouths, "You okay?" to which he nods softly and focuses his attention on Spider. When Spider separates from Lo'ak he sniffles quietly, wiping his eyes before muttering a raspy, "Let's go." 

The remaining pair silently trail behind the blond, their worry evident for the elder boy. Spider continues to walk absentmindedly until he nearly stumbles over an obstacle. Swiftly, he regains his balance, preventing himself from falling. As he glances downwards, he lets out a sigh upon spotting Turbin's lifeless form, with the Yovo fruit that Lo'ak had recently attempted to collect still clutched in his hand. The other two individuals approach from behind and observe the scene, causing the blond to hear a sharp inhalation of breath.

"I never even knew he was following me." Lo'ak mutters as he stares at the body of the boy from District 5. His eyes are stuck open and the juice from the Yovo fruit stain his hands and his mouth.

"He's clever." Spider mutters.

"Too clever." Ravyn finds herself muttering. 

Spider bends down and takes the berries from the corpse, pocketing them for later. "What are you doing?" Lo'ak questions.

Spider looks up at Lo'ak with a mischievous smile, "Maybe Nate likes berries, too."

"What time is it, guys?" Ravyn suddenly asks, looking up at the sky.

"Most likely a little after noon. Why?" Spider answers, wiping his pants from the dirt stuck to them when he stands up.

"Then why is it getting so dark?" Ravyn questions, pointing up at the sky currently turning darker than it should be.

"Gamemakers must be in a hurry to end it once and for all." Lo'ak answers with a shrug.

___

Parker Selfridge walks over to the center of the Gamemaker's room, a menacing grin stretched on his face. "You ready, Azora?" Selfridge asks the woman sitting in the main chair in front of the hologram projected.

"Right here, sir." Azora replies with a quirk of her lip.

"Well, that's great. Now, can you put that in the middle?" Selfridge asks, pointing to an animal offscreen.

"Of course." Azora nods, tapping the hologram screen and moving it across to her, using both hands to zoom in on the animal Selfridge wants to put inside the Arena.

With a smirk adorning Selfridge's, he nods at the hologram. "That's it. That's excellent."

___

Spider, Ravyn, and Lo'ak stroll through the serene forest, enjoying the tranquility in their silence as they navigate towards the Cornucopia. Suddenly, their peaceful journey is abruptly disrupted by an unfamiliar sound that catches their attention. Pausing in unison, they eagerly anticipate the repetition of the noise. To their surprise, a faint growl resonates from afar, reaching the ears of each of them.

"Did you guys hear that?" Lo'ak asks in a whisper, looking at Spider to gauge his reaction.

The trio exchange glances in utter silence, anticipating something after hearing the growling followed by a piercing scream. Suddenly, a cannon fires, projecting a girl's portrait in the sky. This sight is all it takes for Spider to feel the urge to find higher ground.

"Let's go." Spider says, wanting to get a move on.

Prior to the trio's consideration of proceeding towards the Cornucopia, an unexpected assailant targets Ravyn. Fortunately, Spider is prepared with his bow and swiftly eliminates the unidentified creature before it poses a threat to the young girl.

"Come on, let's go!" Spider shouts at the others before taking off, the other two following right behind him.

The trio sprints through the forest without pausing, their ears filled with the growls of an unidentified creature, now joined by multiple others, relentlessly pursuing them. With the benevolence of Eywa, they manage to reach the Cornucopia in record time. However, just as Spider and Lo'ak are about to rush towards the Cornucopia to seek refuge from the unknown animals, their attention is abruptly captured by the piercing screams of Ravyn.

Without a moment's hesitation, Spider swiftly turns around and witnesses Ravyn desperately fending off a pack of animals, viciously gnawing at her body. Despite her valiant efforts, her resistance proves futile as the animals persistently sink their teeth deeper and tug at her flesh. Instantly, the blond-haired individual feels an overwhelming urge to aid her by unleashing a barrage of arrows from his bow, while fervently calling out to her. Yet, as he prepares to assist, Lo'ak forcefully restrains him, pulling him back.

"We have to go, Spider!" Lo'ak insists.

"What? No! Ravyn-" Spider argues with a shout of disbelief, the guttural screams of the young girl he swore to protect breaking his heart piece by piece.

"I'm sorry, Spider, but she's not gonna make it." Lo'ak interrupts him, continuing to pull Spider away from the scene.

"We have to go." Lo'ak says, this time firmer. His eyes hold no room for an argument, his hold on Spider tight and sure.

Despite the strong desire in his heart to assist Ravyn, he understands that if both Lo'ak and Ravyn perish, their efforts would be in vain. Moreover, he would be breaking his promise to Mrs. Sully. The mere thought of how devastated she and the rest of Lo'ak's family would be if he failed to return fills him with a sense of unease. Spider quietly mutters an affirmative "Okay" as Lo'ak pulls him towards the Cornucopia.

The two boys swiftly make their way up to the top, with Spider assisting Lo'ak in climbing first. Fortunately, Spider manages to ascend the Cornucopia quickly enough to narrowly evade the clutches of one of the creatures. As the fair-haired boy catches his breath, he keeps a vigilant eye on the animals below, bow poised and ready to shoot if necessary. Reflecting on the situation, he realizes that his stock of arrows has been depleting, leaving only a few remaining in his quiver.

Lo'ak and Spider watch the animals growl at them, all jumping to try and reach them and scratching at the metal. Their chests heave at the run they had, narrowly escaping. "What are those things?" Spider finds himself muttering shakily.

"Mutts." Lo'ak answers.

Spider is limited to merely observing the mutts, carefully noting the unique features of each one. Their fur comes in various colors, ranging from blonde to jet black. Just like Ravyn's hair... The mutts exhibit oddly human-like characteristics, such as standing on their hind legs and their eyes. The resemblance of their eyes to those of humans is disturbing. However, a shocking discovery is made when Spider notices something around the neck of one of the dogs. It is a collar adorned with the number 2 made of jewels, and suddenly everything falls into place. The blonde hair, the green eyes, the number... it's Amelie. A gasp of horror escapes Spider's lips as realization dawns upon him, and he struggles to keep the arrow steady.

"Spider... What's wrong?" Lo'ak questions, holding his arm gently with concern evident in his pretty eyes.

“It’s her...” The blond gets out shakily.

“Who?” asks Lo'ak.

The brown-eyed boy's head snaps from side to side as he examines the pack of mutts, taking in the various sizes and colors of them all. The small one with the reddish coat and such clear eyes... Turbin! Yet the worst of all, the smallest mutt, with dark glossy fur, huge brown eyes and a collar that reads 12 in woven straw. Teeth bared in hatred. Ravyn...

“What is it, Spider?” Lo'ak shakes the other's shoulder.

“It’s them. It’s all of them. The others. Ravyn and Turbin and... all of the other Tributes,” Spider chokes out.

Spider hears Lo'ak’s sharp intake of breath of recognition. <“By Eywa... What did they do to them?”> Lo'ak mutters.

Spider's focus on the mutts attempting to scale the Cornucopia causes him to miss the soft footsteps creeping up behind him and Lo'ak. It isn't until he hears a sudden yelp from Lo'ak that he finally becomes aware of the danger. Swiftly turning around, bow at the ready, he spots Nate seizing Lo'ak in a headlock. A sense of déjà vu washes over him as he recognizes the situation.

"Go on. Shoot. Then we both go down and you'd win." said Nate, his face all bloody and bruised. Possibly from fighting the mutts.

Spider doesn't deter, keeping his eyes trained on Nate and Lo'ak. He knows that Nate has a fair point. If he shoots Nate, then Lo'ak goes down with him and his promise to Mrs. Sully is broken. His failure to act as Nate had suggested makes the Career laugh bitterly.

"Go on. I'm dead anyway. I always was, right? I didn't know that till now." Nate goes on, keeping his eyes trained on Spider and his grip on Lo'ak.

As Nate talks, though, Spider notices how Lo'ak uses one of his fingers to point to Nate's hand closest to him out of the corner of his eye. Spider makes a note of it and focuses his attention back onto Nate, hoping the other didn't notice his and Lo'ak's exchange.

"How is that? Is that what they want? Huh?" Nate blabbers, addressing the Capitol and everyone watching.

"I could still do this. One more kill. It's the only thing I know how to do. Bring pride to my District. Not that it matters." Nate concludes, his smile taunting.

Spider swiftly follows Lo'ak's instructions and shoots Nate's hand without hesitation, observing Nate's reaction. The Career releases Lo'ak due to the pain, yelling out in agony as the arrow strikes his hand. Seizing the opportunity, Lo'ak delivers a forceful elbow to Nate's stomach before shoving him off the top of the Cornucopia. They witness Nate plummet to the ground with a brutal impact. Tragically, Nate lands amidst a pack of mutts eagerly waiting for their prey. The mutts immediately swarm him, tearing and gnawing at his flesh while disregarding his cries and struggles.

Despite their strained relationship, Spider cannot bear to witness Nate's horrific demise. Upon hearing Nate's desperate gasps and locking eyes with him, Spider makes the difficult decision to end his suffering as an act of mercy. As soon as the arrow pierces Nate's head, silencing his screams forever, the mutts retreat into the forest upon realizing their target is lifeless.

A cannon blast echoes, signaling the end of Nate's life for the final two contenders. Spider and Lo'ak exchange a wordless glance before embracing tightly. Lo'ak whispers, <"We did it,"> with a glimmer of hope in his voice, but Spider knows that only one of them can emerge victorious. Committed to fulfilling his promise to Mrs. Sully, Spider plans to sacrifice himself the next day, ensuring Lo'ak's triumph as the ultimate winner.

Another thought that runs through his mind as he hugs Lo'ak is Ravyn. He just watched her die and couldn't do anything to stop it, or even let her know that he was there by her side when she takes her final breath. Spider wants to jump down this Cornucopia and run to her body and mourn her properly, but he cannot be too sure about the mutts possibly wandering around. By the time he deems it safe to climb down, the hovercraft that collects the dead Tributes will have already taken her away. He wasn't even able to scatter pretty flowers around her body as a sign of respect, a thank you to her for being herself even in a time like this. Such a sweet girl she was, only for such a kind soul to die a brutal death. He felt like a coward, a disappointment for letting Ravyn die at the hands of the Capitol. He also knows that he will never be able to forgive himself for letting this tragedy happen. 

Only then does Spider let the tears that were pooling in his eyes fall quietly. His grip on Lo'ak only tightens, wanting to have something to keep him grounded during a time where he feels weak. If Lo'ak hears the faint sniffles or feels how Spider trembles in his grasp, he doesn't mention it. Lo'ak only hugs back just as tight to let the older boy know he was there for him in this very moment.

Only when he steps away a while later to take breather, he spots a camera and stares at it for a moment. He instantly knows what he's going to do at this very moment. Spider walks up to the camera, leaving a decent amount of space between him and the camera, and bends down to be face to face with it.

"To those in District 12 watching right now, especially Ravyn's family, I want to sincerely apologize for not being able to protect her in the end." Spider says lowly. He's not sure if Lo'ak can hear him speaking, but he doesn't even care if he does.

"To her family specifically, no matter how much forgiveness I ask you of will bring her back, and I don't expect you to forgive me. But hear my words when I say I am deeply sorry for not protecting her in the end. I know, deep down, that I will never forgive myself if I live to see daylight." Spider continues, keeping his eyes on the camera blinking in front of him. He had already shed all the tears he could when Lo'ak was comforting him, so all that was left was sniffles and red-rimmed eyes.

"Forgive me for letting her down, and know that I would swap places with her if it were possible to turn back time." Spider finishes speaking to the camera. 

Before he goes to stand up and make his way over to Lo'ak, he raises three fingers at the camera in the form of the salute his district did for him and Ravyn when they were reaped.

<"May Eywa guide her soul back to her."> Spider mutters, mostly to himself before standing up and walking away from the camera.

But Spider was truly unaware of the chaos he would, no, is causing among the districts with his words alone. 

___

The following day arrives too quickly for Spider, far too quickly. He and Lo'ak had slept atop the Cornucopia as a precaution in case the mutts returned to complete their task. Unbeknownst to them, they had held each other while sleeping until morning arrived. They disentangled themselves from each other's embrace, descending carefully. Once they were back on the ground, Spider gazed at Lo'ak with anticipation.

"What?" Lo'ak questions confused.

"You know what, Lo'ak. We can't both go home," Spider answers grimly.

Lo'ak then realizes what's going on and he immediately shakes his head at what Spider is asking of him. Spider simply throws his bow and quiver to the ground, also his knife, leaving him weaponless.

"Go ahead. One of us should go home. One of us has to die. They have to have their victor." said Spider.

"No, I'm not killing you." Lo'ak denies the suggestion.

"Lo'ak... Only one of us can go home. Just do it so you can see your family." Spider pleads with the other.

"No!" Lo'ak shouts.

"I don't want to win if you can't either." Lo'ak says.

"They need one victor, Lo'ak." Spider argues. 

"No," Lo'ak says again, but he throws his knife to the ground and approaches Spider.

"They don't. Why should they?" Lo'ak says lowly, reaching into Spider's pocket to retrieve the Yovo fruit.

The amber-eyed boy holds the fruit in his hand between them. "No!" Spider argues, trying to slap the fruit away from his hands.

"Trust me," Lo'ak stops the blond, taking ahold of one of his hands gently. He places a piece of the fruit in Spider's hand, looking back up to make eye contact.

"Trust me." Lo'ak whispers, looking deeply into Spider's eyes. He never once breaks eye contact with the older boy.

___

Throughout Pandora, the spectacle unfolds. Each person is witnessing this momentous occasion through a live broadcast. Some are in disbelief as they watch from their homes or on the streets, gazing at the massive projection screen. Selfridge, too, observes the unfolding events with a mix of surprise and horror, his expression betraying his realization that the Capitol may not see a victor this year.

___

"We take them on 3." Lo'ak instructs.

"Together." Lo'ak says lightly.

"Together." Spider says back just as lightly.

"One," Lo'ak starts counting, keeping his eyes on Spider.

"Two," Spider continues.

Lo'ak takes a moment to reach out and touch Spider's lightly colored hair like it is the most delicate thing in the world. Spider looks down to where he's touching, surprised. They meet eyes once again, eyes conveying one too many emotions than humanly possible.

"Three." Lo'ak finishes the countdown.

The two boys take the fruit and bring it up to their mouths to eat the poisonous fruit. But before the fruit can even touch their lips, the sound of someone speaking on the speaker system echoes throughout the Arena loudly.

"Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the winners of the of the 74th Annual Hunger Games." The person announces.

Lo'ak and Spider stand there, their faces filled with astonishment. The two of them have emerged victorious in the 74th Annual Hunger Games, outwitting the powerful Capitol. Lo'ak lets out a relieved laugh and immediately pulls Spider into a tight embrace, who reciprocates while still being overwhelmed by the unexpected outcome. Spider never anticipated surviving the brutal games, yet here he stands, alive. However, deep within him, he senses that winning alongside Lo'ak was something meaningful, something righteous. It feels natural to be standing here, shoulder to shoulder with Lo'ak. Nevertheless, Spider remains conflicted about his emotions towards Lo'ak, especially after their kiss in the cave.

As they hug, they feel a large swish of air above them. The two of them look up to see what it was and are thankful to see that it is a hovercraft there to retrieve them and bring them back to the Capitol. Then and there did the two teens feel like they had accomplished something grand. 

When they are taken back to the Capitol to wash up after not being able to do so for quite some time, Spider is intercepted by Norm and Max in the living room he and Ravyn used to share for that 2-week period. Eywa, everything just reminds him of her that it instantly makes him want to tear up. The place feels so empty and bare without her presence, or even her childlike voice, her words holding a slight accent. He misses her very much; maybe too much.

"They're not happy with you, kid." Norm says.

"Why? Because I didn't die?" Spider replies, his face showing no emotion whatsoever.

"Because you and Lo'ak showed them up. Mostly you, but you get the gist of it." Norm explains. 

"Well, I'm sorry it didn't go the way they planned. I'm not very happy with them either." Spider retorts with a roll of his eyes.

"Spider! This is serious. Not just for you. They don't take these things lightly." Norm hisses.

___

Parker Selfridge is being escorted to a room with two Peacekeepers at his flank. He had been told that something was waiting for him by President Quaritch.

When he's brought to the room, he's pushed in by one of the Peacekeepers roughly. The door is then locked behind him. He sports a confused expression at the sudden treatment. That confusion only grows when he sees a table in the center of the room with a glass bowl in the middle.

Selfridge walks up to it and peers inside the glass bowl. His face pales at the sight of the same fruit that those damn Tributes used to outsmart the Capitol inside said bowl. They were staring right back at him menacingly. Beside the bowl was a note. He picks up the paper and reads it:

'There must be someone that has to pay the price for their mistakes. Eat up.' 

- Quaritch

Selfridge glares at the paper and crumbles it in his hand out of anger. He was truly fucked over by an ally of his. Now, he has to pay the price once and for all. 

___

"I've already discussed what Lo'ak needs to say with his father for your interview in a few minutes. Just go with the flow and try to act like you're infatuated or in love with him for your sake." Norm informs him before leaving the living room and exiting the penthouse.

Max is still there with Spider, observing him silently. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm proud of you. I knew you would make it out alive." said Max.

Spider manages to smile weakly at the older man. "Thanks, Max." Spider says lowly.

"Come on, we have to go to your interview." Max motions to the door.

Needless to say, Spider felt like a nervous wreck as he's being interviewed by the same host from his first interview in front of an even larger crowd than before. He still doesn't know the guy's name! Lo'ak is mostly answering the questions for him with a charming smile, obviously fake to him but real enough for people watching. Spider simply nods and smiles every now and then, inputting his opinions when necessary. He only pays more attention when the host turns to address him, eager expression and all. 

"How did you feel when you found him by that river?" The host questions.

"I felt like the happiest person in the world. I couldn't imagine life without him after everything." Spider answers without missing a beat. And for some reason... His words are genuine in a way. He never thought he could feel like this for someone, let alone someone like Lo'ak. 

"Oh. And what about you, Lo'ak?" The host turns to address Lo'ak sitting beside him.

"He saved my life. I owe him everything for that." Lo'ak responds truthfully. Spider knows deep down, he can feel, that Lo'ak is not lying or bluffing. His words are true and sure, and that scares Spider. He's never had someone talk about him like he hung the stars, or someone look at him with such love that it makes him weak in the knees.

"We saved each other." Spider corrects with a small but genuine smile, reaching over to grasp Lo'ak's hand gently. His answer and sudden action has Lo'ak turning his head to look at him, his eyes unreadable. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, the possible star-crossed lovers from District 3 and 12, this year's victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games!" The host addresses the crowd and those watching at home.

A little while later, Lo'ak and Spider were instructed to sit down on the two chairs facing the enormous crowd of the Capitol. He and Lo'ak could hear the cheering and chanting their names. It all felt surreal. Yet, all of that leaves his mind when President Quaritch himself walks up to the two of them holding a crown in his hands.

Spider and Lo'ak stand respectfully at his presence. The older man approaches Spider with the crown, gently placing it on his head. As he does so, Spider keeps eye contact with President Quaritch, hoping that his gaze conveys every emotion he's feeling at this very moment.

President Quaritch grins at him when he sees that Spider is already looking at him. "Congratulations." 

"Thank you." Spider answers, keeping his voice low and grounded.

Quaritch observes him for a moment, eyes looking over him before falling on something near his right shoulder. "What a lovely pin you have there." He comments.

"Thank you, it's from a friend." Spider responds unwaveringly, keeping his eyes on Quaritch.

"Your district must be very proud of you." Quaritch comments, eyeing the pin with an unreadable emotion.

Quaritch looks back up at Spider before turning and walking away to the edge of the large platform to address the citizens. It is only when President Quaritch walks away that Spider swallows thickly, hoping his face doesn't betray him by displaying his emotions. Lo'ak turns to look at the older boy and gazes on in concern, noticing how Spider's demeanor has changed. He wishes he can reach over and grab his hand to soothe him, but people are watching them as they stand here. Maybe another time.

___

Spider and Lo'ak are currently on the train back to their districts. Norm boarded the train as well, but he's currently sleeping inside his cabin. The two boys stand side by side near a large window, watching the trees pass by at a rapid rate. Spider hasn't spoken since meeting President Quaritch, but neither has Lo'ak. Lo'ak only stayed by his side, letting the blond know he was there for him every step of the way.

However, the silence is soon broken by the darker-skinned boy. <"So, what happens when we get back?">

It was an innocent question. But it was a question Spider did not have an answer to at this very moment. It doesn't help that he can feel Lo'ak looking at him, waiting patiently for him to respond. 

<"I'm not really sure. I guess we try to forget."> Spider settles on, turning his head to make eye contact with the other.

Lo'ak's eyes flicker down for a second before looking back up into Spider's brown eyes. <"What if I don't want to forget?"> asks Lo'ak, his eyes staring deeply into his unwaveringly.

Spider doesn't answer, too caught up on staring at those beautiful eyes that Lo'ak has. Eywa... they're ethereal. He could honestly look at them all day without hesitation if given the chance. But they also remind him of Neteyam's striking eyes as well. They were the same color as Lo'ak's, but Lo'ak's pretty eyes were slightly different. Spider knows this because he's taken the short amount of time to just observe the younger boy.

Lo'ak's eyes hold small specks of a light green in them, barely even visible unless you actively look for it. While Neteyam's also hold some specks of green in them, Lo'ak's eyes contain more. They were hypnotizing, if he's being completely honest. 

Spider only snaps out of his blatant staring when he feels the train slowing down. He blinks a few times rapidly to get himself together, clearing his throat and looking away from Lo'ak. Said boy looks back at the window with a barely held back grin. He clearly saw how distracted the slightly older boy was just now.

It is only when the train comes to a full stop that Lo'ak realizes that he's officially home. He's home! A smile works it's way onto his face as he begins walking to the exit of the train to get ready to depart. His giddy steps slow to a halt when he notices that Spider hasn't moved from his spot near the window.

"Spider," Lo'ak calls out to him softly. 

Spider looks over at him in question, waiting for him to continue his sentence. <"Come on."> Lo'ak continues, holding out a hand for the blond to take.

<"What?"> asks Spider, confusion evident on his face.

Lo'ak rolls his eyes fondly and walks up to the older boy, grabbing his hand and pulling him along to the exit of the train, blatantly ignoring the protests coming from Spider.

<"What are you doing? My stop isn't for a long while."> Spider informs the other as he's dragged along.

<"I'm aware of that. I simply want you to see my family before you go."> Lo'ak answers.

<"You're unbelievable."> Spider mutters. 

They make it to the exit door. Lo'ak takes a light breath before pressing the button for the door to slide open. The door slides open and outside waiting for Lo'ak is a large crowd of people. From what Spider can hear, he can hear people yelling praises, compliments, and some giving thanks to Eywa for letting him return safely.

Spider stays at the door even though Lo'ak wants him to go out with him. He simply shakes his head and motions for him to go see his family that was waiting to intercept him. It makes Spider feel ten times better when he watches Lo'ak get engulfed into a group hug by his family (with the exception of Jake who waits for a personal hug due to his situation). It makes him genuinely smile at the sight. All he feels is a sense of warmth and a homey feeling radiating from the citizens. It was a stark difference from his district by a large margin.

When his eyes roam over the citizens of District 3, his eyes catch those of Mrs. Sully. She stares at him with such a grateful and relieved expression that it makes some part of this heaviness on his shoulders lift. Though, there is still very much a heavy burden on his shoulders that may take a long time to repair.

A single tear escapes her left eye, a grateful smile on her face as she gazes at him deeply. She mouths "Thank you" to him; another tear following the previous one.

He simply smiles at her and shakes his head, hoping that it translates that it was nothing. With her gazing at him gratefully, it doesn't take long for the other family members to turn to look at him as well. He can see such relief on all of their faces and the tension in their bodies finally lifted. 

Kiri waves at him with a wide smile to which he returns, Tuktirey shouts his name with such happiness that it makes his heart beam, Jake sends a look of gratitude, and Neteyam... Neteyam looks at Spider like he's something to be worshipped. He looks at the blond with such admiration and awe that it doesn't seem real. The way that Neteyam looks at Spider is truly unexplainable except for the fact that he stares like Spider is everything. Like he's the air he breathes, the sun that provides light, the moon that illuminates the night sky, and the stars that shine brightly. Just everything.

Spider, very oblivious to how Neteyam is staring at him, sends one last wave to the family before turning around to head back inside the train. But when he goes to push the button to close the door, he's stopped by a gentle hand grabbing his wrist. He turns his attention to the perpetrator and sees that it is Lo'ak. 

<"Why don't you stay here? With me."> Lo'ak suggests, eyes shining with something akin to hope.

Spider smiles grimly at him. <"You know that that's not allowed, Lo'ak.">

<"Then when can we see each other again?"> asks Lo'ak. 

Spider thinks for a moment. He knows he himself cannot come and visit Lo'ak whenever he chooses, but Lo'ak can do exactly that because of his status. <"Come visit me a little bit before our Victor's Tour."> Spider answers.

Lo'ak nods at his words, not feeling ready to let Spider go just yet. He simply gazes at Spider with somewhat hooded eyes, looking down at the other's lips every so often. Spider stops himself from smiling and chooses to leave Lo'ak with a parting gift. Maybe this little gift will keep Lo'ak thinking about him for a while until he visits.

Spider leans in and places a chaste kiss to the amber-eyed boy's lips. Lo'ak reciprocates, kissing back gently. The feeling of both their lips pressed together in union feels heavenly. It feels heartstopping even if it is just a chaste kiss. It meant everything to Lo'ak because Spider had initiated it, not him. Spider then detaches his lips from Lo'ak's, using one of his hands to caress his cheek softly. The way Lo'ak looks off a simple, innocent kiss that was nothing but a press of lips is amusing to Spider. The amber-eyed boy looks dumbstruck and like he wants to lean in again but doesn't.

Spider feels a smile stretch it's way onto his lips. He uses his thumb to caress the soft cheek under his hand. <"See you soon."> Spider whispers, winking before entering the train.

The door slides closed in front of Lo'ak and all he can do is stand there feeling a multitude of emotions as the door keeps him and Spider apart. His lips tingle from the feeling of Spider's lips on his, which the blond had initiated as opposed to himself. It felt like a phantom touch being pressed on his lips gently. Eywa, he feels so far gone mentally even after just a simple chaste kiss. The two of them hadn't even talked about them. Maybe there just might be a them if Spider did what he just did, quite literally in front of his family. But he did kiss Spider unwarranted on live television, so he had no room to have an opinion.

The train then begins moving, slowly moving out of his view. And slowly taking Spider away. He suddenly feels someone come up beside him and place their hand on his right shoulder.

<"You'll see him again soon, baby bro."> the voice of Neteyam says to him smoothly.

<"I'll be waiting for the day to come."> Lo'ak mutters, mostly to himself.

Neteyam then taps his shoulder and pulls him away from where he is standing to go be with the family. For now Lo'ak can bask in the presence of his family, but in the late night... He can dream about the boy who quite literally stole his heart in such a short amount of time. The boy who he feels smitten over, feeling so in love that it's a slight problem. Lo'ak will simply have to see Spider in his dreams until the special day comes when he can see him.

Far away from District 3 stands Spider inside the train, gazing out the window he and Lo'ak were previously looking out of with a small smile on his lips. As he nears his home slowly but surely he now begins to understand what it is that his heart has been telling him. But he cannot confront those feelings as he and Lo'ak just separated to flee back to their respective districts. When Lo'ak comes to visit, only then will Spider confront of his feelings head on. Yeah, that seems like a good idea for now.

Now, all he can think about besides Lo'ak is finally going home. Oh, how he missed it dearly. He can tell that the train is nearing his home when the trees between District 11 and 12 change drastically. The sun is out beaming brightly, providing a warm glow on the windom, hitting the tan boy's skin gently. It felt like the Great Mother is welcoming him home.

Eventually, the train comes to a complete stop. As happy as Spider is to be home, he's genuinely petrified of the citizens reactions to his win and the new home he'd been provided by the Capitol; a victor's mansion to be exact. His heart was just pounding against his ribcage harshly from the nerves.

The blond eventually gets his nerves together and makes his way to the sliding door and pushes the button. He steps out and is immediately shocked with the sight before him.

If the screams of praise and congratulations was anything to go by, Spider was currently being welcomed by his district. It feels weird as his eyes roam across the numerous faces of people he's seen once or twice in his life living here congratulating him when he is quite literally outcast by them all. But now they look at him and hold him to some high regard that he doesn't particularly like very much. He just isn't used to this type of attention when he's never had any before.

But as his eyes continue to roam across familiar faces, he sees one face he knows far too well. His gaze lands on the family stood in the middle of the crowd, the young boy he volunteered for sitting on his father's shoulders. Ian bears a wide smile and waves at him excitedly. All Spider can do is smile back in a somewhat placid manner, multiple emotions he's currently feeling all at once.

He manages to make himself wave to them - and the other citizens - a feeling of relief washing over him as he looks over his home. The slight chill of sudden win lapping his legs makes his smile turn more genuine. He knew then and there that the Great Mother was here with him once again, keeping her arms wrapped around him protectively after everything he went through that she was unable to prevent. Eywa's beloved child was home and Spider couldn't be happier.

When he goes to sleep this evening in his new home that he doesn't like all that much, all he will be thinking about is the amber-eyed boy with darker skin and the softest lips. But most importantly... thinking about them. He has enough time to think about everything and come to a decision about what he will do about these feelings of his he sports for the other.

Chapter Text

The thumping of feet on the ground echoes through the air. The inhabitants of District 12 are either toiling away or navigating the square to purchase essentials. Money is scarce, but they manage to make do.

Spider navigates the crowded square, his arms cradling a container swathed in a thin cloth. His breath forms clouds in the chilly winter air, but the cold doesn't bother him. Having lived in the forest since childhood with barely enough clothing to stave off frostbite, he has developed a strong resistance to the cold.

As he weaves through the market stalls, he senses the gazes of people pausing and turning to stare. The constant attention is something he has yet to grow accustomed to. He longs for the days when he was an anonymous figure, unremarkable and unnoticed. Yet, his victory in the Hunger Games has robbed him of that anonymity. He didn't achieve this feat on his own, though. He won alongside Lo'ak, the youngest son of the Sully family. Despite himself, he can't help but miss Lo'ak's company.

He hasn't seen the younger boy since the kiss at the train stop in his district. Patiently, he awaits Lo'ak's visit. Although uncertain of the exact day, Spider is confident it will be soon, as Norm has informed him of the upcoming Victor's Tour. Aside from that, he has fared quite well since his games.

Spider has been assisting Ian and his family, sharing his winnings with them occasionally. He would offer his help daily if possible, but they decline every time he attempts. Thus, they reached an agreement. Speaking of Ian, he is whom Spider is about to visit—or rather, Ian's family—to deliver a dessert he purchased for them. He anticipates Ian's parents will reject the gift, but he is determined to insist until they accept it. He will not accept a refusal.

Upon arriving at Ian's residence, he knocks softly on the wooden door. He hears faint footsteps on the floorboards approaching the door. When it opens, Spider is greeted by Ian's mother, whose face brightens at the sight of him, and she opens her arms for a hug. The blond boy reciprocates the embrace as well as he can, balancing the dessert in his arms.

"Spider, dear! What are you doing here so early all of the sudden?" Mrs. Viel questions when she detaches from the hug.

"Oh, well I just wanted to drop off this dessert I bought for your family." said Spider, holding the dessert in his hands out for the older woman.

Her eyes soften at the sight before she sighs, "Sweetheart, what did I say about spending your money on my family?"

Spider pouts, "Not to do it." he responded.

"But I thought you might like this dessert I got at the bakery, so I just bought it." said Spider.

Mrs. Viel glares at him, tapping her foot like an angry mother as he explains himself. As she goes to reprimand him for buying more stuff for her family after repeatedly telling him not to, the sight of two more figures coming towards the door stops her from doing so.

"Spider? What are you doing here?" Ian questions when he realizes it's him.

"Dropping off some dessert for you all." he replies.

Ian's eyes practically shine at the mention of dessert, "Dessert? What kind of dessert?" asks Ian.

"You'll have to open it to find out." said Spider, tone taking on a teasing one.

Ian goes to grab the dessert but stops when he notices his mother narrowing her eyes at him. The young boy looks back at his father standing behind him and sees the slight nod he gives him, urging him to take the dessert.

"Thank you, Spider. You're the absolute best!" Ian exclaims, reaching for the dessert.

He embraces Spider before he takes the dessert and runs inside the house to take a peek. Spider is then left with Ian's parents.

"You spoil him far too much." said Mrs. Viel.

"Let him be, darlin'." Mr. Viel chuckles.

Mr. Viel turns to address Spider with kind eyes, "Would you like to stay for dinner today, kiddo?"

Spider smiles warmly. "Thank you for the offer, but I'm going hunting right now, sir. Maybe next time, though." said Spider.

Mr. Viel nods at his words in understanding. "Next time then."

"I'll be off now," said Spider.

"Remember our agreement, sweetheart. I don't want to keep reminding you." Mrs. Viel reminds.

"Yes, ma'am." Spider salutes, before turning around and making his way to the forest to go hunting for his next meal.

The blond crosses the square again, heading back to the forest adjacent to the Victor's Village. The large home provided by the Capitol for his victory still feels unfamiliar. Spider prefers the forest; he spends more time there than in his new house.

As the hustle of the citizens fades, Spider reaches the forest's edge. It's fenced, yet an ample gap allows him passage each time. Slipping through the fence's opening, he's greeted by the forest's embrace. Approaching his concealed haven among the towering trees, a brisk gust of wind meets his face, coaxing a smile as it gently strokes his cheeks and tousles his hair.

"I know, I'm sorry I'm late Great Mother." Spider apologizes.

A gentler gust of wind caresses his flushed cheeks. Eywa seems to forgive her son for his tardiness, despite his earlier promise. Spider smiles at Eywa's silent understanding, approaching a particular tree to retrieve his bow and arrow. He ascends the tree swiftly, effortlessly swinging his leg over a branch. Before him stands his former dwelling, a modest shelter that was once all he had. And he's content with that memory.

Reaching for his bow and quiver, Spider's attention is caught by the faint crunch of leaves underfoot. He immediately recognized that it's not an animal; it's a human. Tensing, he quickly grabs his gear and perches on a thick branch, eyes scanning the forest floor. This place was his alone; why would someone else be here? The footsteps approach, growing louder with each second, until the stranger is directly below.

Hidden from view, Spider watches the figure beneath him. Their attire is too fine for District 12, hinting at origins from the wealthier districts. As Spider prepares to shift to another tree, the figure unveils their face. Spider squints, trying to get a better look.

To his astonishment, the person below is the very boy Spider has missed for months. The intricately braided hair, the amber eyes so foreign in this district, the rich brown skin, and those full lips he remembers from the train station—Lo'ak has come to visit at last!

A broad smile breaks across Spider's face, a smile so wide it reveals all his teeth. Another breeze brushes his face, as if Eywa is attempting to communicate. But for now, Spider doesn't seek to interpret her message.

<"Where could he have gone?"> Spider hears Lo'ak groan.

Spider chuckles quietly before clearing his throat to speak. <"You definitely look like you don't belong here.">

Startled, Lo'ak whips his head towards the source of the low voice. His light eyes lock with the deep, chocolate hues the moment he glances up at the towering tree above him. A surprised gasp escapes him at the sight of Spider, who sits with a comfortable ease on a tree branch, a grin on his face. By Eywa, Spider looks even more striking than the last time Lo'ak saw him at the train station.

"Uh- Hey, Spider," Lo'ak manages to say, breathless.

"Hey," Spider replies. "Gonna explain why you were following me?" he inquires.

Lo'ak's response is a flurry of stammers and awkward apologies, eliciting a genuine laugh from the blond boy. Watching Lo'ak become so flustered around him was undeniably amusing.

"I'm just joking. But I am curious as to why you took so long." said Spider.

"I had to get my mother to agree to let me go alone in exchange for free service for two weeks." Lo'ak explained.

Spider snorts, "That's hilarious."

<"So, how have you been all this time?"> Lo'ak questions, switching back to Na'vi.

<"I've been doing okay,"> shrugs Spider. <"You? How's your family been doing?"> asks the blond boy.

<"Great. The same as usual, though they tease me a lot more."> Lo'ak admits.

<"I wonder why?"> Spider teases, tilting his head with a look in his eye Lo'ak couldn't pinpoint.

<"You look like your freezing standing there. I'll take you to my home so you can get warmer."> said Spider.

<"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude."> said Lo'ak unsure.

<"Wouldn't be offering if I did mind you intruding."> said Spider.

"Touchè." Lo'ak mumbles.

Spider adjusts his bow and quiver, arrows nestled at his back, before descending the tree. Unaware, he's the focus of Lo'ak's intense gaze, admiring his effortless descent. Lo'ak feels a warmth spread across his cheeks, a heat unrelated to the chilly air. He marvels at Spider's ease in tree-climbing, finding an unexpected allure in the act. Shaking off the thought, Lo'ak watches as Spider leaps from the tree, landing solidly on the ground below.

Brushing off his attire, Spider approaches the younger boy. Standing toe-to-toe, a mere whisper apart, Spider notices the subtle height Lo'ak has gained during their time apart.

<"I see you also got taller."> Spider points out with a raised brow.

<"Oh- Yeah. I guess I wasn't the only one who did."> said the amber-eyed boy.

Spider hums, <"I suppose I did grow a smidge taller.">

The two stand there in comfortable silence, basking in one another's presence. "So-" begins Lo'ak, but he is cut off by Spider hugging him.

Spider hooks his chin over one of Lo'ak's shoulders as he hugs the younger boy tightly, <"No need to be so tense and nervous around me, loosen up."> Spider mutters in the other's ear lowly.

Lo'ak only feels a chill run through his body at the whisper, only hugging the blond boy back and letting his tense shoulders relax. It felt good to hug Spider after so long. It felt nice to be in Spider's presence, really. The two boys hug each other for a long moment, relishing in the warmth created between them to ward off the cold.

Spider detaches from the hug, <"Come. I'll show you around tomorrow, but you can just relax in my home until then."> he said.

<"Sure, lead the way then."> said Lo'ak, a grin working its way onto his lips.

Spider wordlessly loops his left arm around Lo'ak's right and tugs the other to begin walking back through the forest to the Victor's Village. Lo'ak falls into step with the blond, basking in the heat radiating beside him due to them being joined together. He just got here and now he's more than sure he'll have a great time in District 12.

___

As Lo'ak steps into Spider's home, he's immediately struck by a scent that's distinctly the blond's. While most people are unaware of their own natural scent, Lo'ak has always been attuned to such details, recognizing the unique fragrances of his own family members. However, this particular aroma is new to him—comforting and soothing. He can't quite articulate the feeling, but he's certain of its presence.

"Welcome to my cozy haven; feel free to make yourself at home," Spider declares with a flourish, gesturing grandly to the space around him.

Lo'ak's bag, packed with a few changes of clothes for his stay, lands on the wooden floor with a muted thump, a welcome relief from its weight. He observes quietly as Spider sets down his bow and quiver near the door and sheds the jacket he's worn all day. Reflecting on it, Lo'ak realizes the warmth inside Spider's abode. He unhooks the buttons of his coat, shedding the garment with a relieved sigh, feeling liberated from its snug embrace, though it had shielded him from the chill.

"You don't do well in the cold, I presume." Spider comments, taking notice of his reaction.

Lo'ak shakes his head softly, "Not really. It gets cold back in District 3, but certainly not like this."

"Yeah, it gets really cold here during the winter season. Luckily there's heating built in the houses in the Victor's Village." said Spider.

Lo'ak chuckles, "Thankfully." 

Spider then motions to the sofa in the living room, "Wanna sit? It's better than standing." he offers.

"Sure, why not." Lo'ak responds, moving to sit on one of the two sofas. Spider follows suit, only sitting on the opposite end to not push any boundaries that have not yet been established. 

"So," Spider begins, "How do you like it here so far?"

Lo'ak grins at the question, "I actually like it. I also really like the bakery you guys have." the younger boy admits.

A genuine laugh falls out of Spider's lips. "I see Mrs. Casta has made you fall under her baking spell too."

"Probably," chuckles Lo'ak. "Why? Have you fallen for her baking too?" he questions, quirking a brown.

"Maybe I have." Spider admits, smiling shyly as he tilts his head down to hide the growing redness on his cheeks.

Lo'ak takes a moment to appreciate Spider, now that they're alone and at ease with each other. He's caught glimpses of the older boy before, but never had the chance to fully take in his features. The warm brown eyes, the tousled blond curls, and the full lips are simply captivating. Even Spider's shy smile and the way he turns to conceal it sends a flutter through Lo'ak's stomach.

Though Lo'ak could spend all day admiring Spider, he doesn't want the silence to become uncomfortable.

<"About tomorrow,"> the darker-skinned boy begins, switching to Na'vi. His words have the blond boy looking up to make eye contact, awaiting his words.

<"What do you have planned for me?"> asks Lo'ak, curiosity bubbling in his blood.

<"Wouldn't you like to know. Why should I spoil the surprise?"> questions Spider.

<"Come on! Please... Just spoil one thing."> Lo'ak pleads.

<"Mmm... How about no?"> Spider teased. 

Lo'ak gasps dramatically, <"How rude you are. Fine, I'll wait until tomorrow to find out.">

<"Well..."> Spider draws out in a teasing tone. <"Maybe I can show you only one thing today if you're that curious."> the blond offers.

Lo'ak leans forward on the sofa's armrest, his eyes wide with anticipation. Spider thinks Lo'ak resembles an eager dog awaiting a treat. However, Lo'ak's actions and mannerisms are oddly reminiscent of a cat. For instance, the sharpness of Lo'ak's eyes, and the slight tilt of his head when something piques his curiosity, are distinctly feline. Indeed, there are several mannerisms that the darker-skinned boy exhibits which remind Spider of a cat.

<"What is it?"> asks Lo'ak.

<"I will not give it away, but you'll find out in a few hours."> said Spider.

Lo'ak sulks at the answer, <"Why hours? Why can't it be now?"> 

<"It's still too early in the morning, later in the afternoon would be the best time to go for reasons I will not disclose."> answered Spider.

<"Then what do we do until then?"> Lo'ak questions.

<"Hang out? Get to know each other better?"> Spider lists.

<"Sure, I can do that."> said Lo'ak.

The two boys began conversing as if they had known each other for years, deepening their newfound friendship. Lo'ak and Spider quickly exchanged fun facts about themselves, each memorizing the details for future reference. It wasn't until a few hours had passed that Spider realized he hadn't eaten, nor had he offered any food or water to Lo'ak. He was so engrossed in conversation with the amber-eyed boy that he completely lost track of time and his manners.

<"Oh! I just remembered I never offered you anything to eat or drink,"> gasped the blond boy, his expression filled with guilt.

<"Don't worry about it, Spider. I honestly forgot about it too,"> shrugged Lo'ak, attempting to alleviate Spider's worry and guilt.

<"Still, I should've offered you something to drink when we got here! Ugh, I'm such a skxawng,"> groaned the brown-eyed boy, burying his face in his hands in embarrassment.

Lo'ak stood up from the sofa, walked the short distance to Spider, and gently removed his hands from his face. <"Don't beat yourself up about it. No one's perfect,"> said Lo'ak.

Guilt and embarrassment still flowed through Spider as he looked up at Lo'ak, who stood before him, holding his hands in his own. The blond felt a stir in his stomach as he gazed up at Lo'ak, who returned the gaze. A palpable tension built the longer they looked into each other's eyes in silence. Yet, despite his instincts telling him not to, Spider felt compelled to break the intense moment.

<"Would you still like me to get you something? Water? Food?"> asks Spider, voice surprisingly even after the tense silence.

<"Water will do for now. I'm honestly not that hungry to begin with."> answered Lo'ak, finally letting go of Spider's hands.

<"I will be making you food in a few hours for dinner, I hope you know that."> said Spider.

<"I'm looking forward to it."> grinned Lo'ak.

Spider stood up from the sofa he's sat on, moving to head towards the kitchen to retrieve some water for Lo'ak. However, he pauses abruptly and turns around when he remembers something he forgot to ask.

"Do you prefer your water with or without ice?"

Lo'ak chuckles, "Normally, I would like ice in my water, but with how cold it is here... I think I'd prefer if it didn't have any ice."

Spider laughs at his response, "Coming right up."

Lo'ak watches Spider head to the kitchen, quietly observing the older boy. There's something about Spider's character and personality that makes him appear so genuine and authentic. It was this very authenticity that initially attracted Lo'ak. Spider presents himself in the truest form, never concealing his identity or origins. Lo'ak admires this trait in the blond. It seems there is much more for Lo'ak to learn about Spider if he intends to pursue him.

___

It was finally time for Spider to show Lo'ak the one surprise he was willing to let slip. Lo'ak felt jittery and restless as they walk through the forest once more. He had inquired about what it is that Spider is showing him, but the blond wouldn't budge. He would simply shrug, a smug smile following afterwards.

<"We're almost there."> Spider muses, nudging Lo'ak gently.

<"I'd hope so, I don't think I'll ever get used to walking this much."> said Lo'ak.

<"Sure, you will,"> Spider smiles.

<"Come on, this trail will take us where we're headed!"> said Spider, enthusiastically pointing to a new trail that appeared out of nowhere.

Lo'ak follows the boy from District 12, placing his trust in him completely. Some may consider Lo'ak foolish for trusting someone so readily, especially one from the lower districts, yet Lo'ak would counter that Spider has saved his life more than once. For this, he feels indebted to Spider.

Before long, the trail opens up to a clearing, with a wooden fence as high as their waists marking the boundary between the path and the lush field beyond. They pause there, Lo'ak taking in the view before him, finding the sky even more striking from this vantage point.

<"This place is beautiful..."> Lo'ak mutters, eyes still gazing at the scenic view. 

Spider turns to Lo'ak with a raised brow, <"You think I took you here to show you the view?>

<"If this isn't what you planned to show me, then what is it?"> Lo'ak questions, confusion crossing his features.

Spider grins, climbing the wooden fence and draping one leg over the opposite side of the fence. <"You might wanna cover your ears for this.>"

Lo'ak tilted his head in confusion but followed the blond's instructions, awaiting whatever it is Spider planned. He quickly understood why Spider warned him to cover his ears when he let out a piercing whistle. Lo'ak then removes his hands from his ears and waits. Spider turns to look at him, pointing to his ears and mouthing the words,  "Listen closely."

The boy with amber eyes pays close attention to Spider's words, listening intently. After a brief silence, Lo'ak starts to discern a faint thumping in the distance. He glances at the blond to see if he hears it too, and Spider simply laughs and gestures for Lo'ak to join him atop the fence.

Without a word, Lo'ak scales the wooden barrier and perches himself on it, the thumping growing louder. Spider reaches out, gently guiding Lo'ak's chin to face a certain direction, and whispers, "Look ahead."

A rush of warmth floods the darker-skinned boy's stomach as the blond redirects his gaze. And there, the source of the thumping becomes clear—a herd of horses galloping towards them, some neighing upon spotting them.

"Woah..." Lo'ak mumbles, eyed wide in awe.

"Cool, right? Wait until they come closer." said Spider.

The group of horses eventually come closer to the two boys, abruptly coming to a stop in front of them. A specific horse physically comes up to Spider, shoving their face into his chest. Spider giggles at the act, moving his hands to pet the horse's soft coat of fur. 

"Nice to see you too, beautiful girl." groused Spider, voice pitched a bit higher than usual.

The horse neighs, pushing further into Spider's chest to receive more pets. The blond looks over at Lo'ak to see the other already looking at him with a look he cannot decipher.

"Is this why you had us bring so many carrots in your bag?" asks Lo'ak.

"Mhm!" Spider hums.

"Would you like to pet her? She's really nice, though she can be a bit goofy when she wants." Spider offers.

"Yeah, of course." said the amber-eyed boy.

Lo'ak leaned forward slightly, extending his hand to stroke the horse that was attentively focused on Spider. As his hand brushed against the horse's coat, the word 'soft' immediately sprang to mind. The horse's fur was not only soft but also visually striking. Its coat resembled a muted white dappled with gray spots scattered across her body, complemented by a mane and tail of glossy jet black. To merely call the horse beautiful would be a gross understatement.

<"She's beautiful."> Lo'ak whispers, his eyes trained on the fur beneath his hand.

<"That she is,"> Spider grins, scratching below the horse's jaw.

<"Did you name her?"> asks Lo'ak, turning his head to look at the blond.

Spider shakes his head softly, <"No, I didn't want to get too attached to her. Plus, all she really responds to is when I call her 'beautiful girl.'"> he explains.

<"I think it's fitting."> Lo'ak shrugs.

<"I think you're right about that fact."> laughs Spider, eyes crinkling at the corners when he does so.

Spider swiftly reaches for the bag filled with carrots while petting the mare. Lo'ak observes as the blond boy pulls out a handful of carrots, happily accepting a few when offered. Together, the boys start feeding the herd of horses individually. The carrots quickly disappear into the mouths of the eager horses. After the feeding, the horses casually roam within the boys' view. Lo'ak and Spider simply watch the landscape before them.

The brown-eyed boy is so engrossed in his reverie that he fails to hear Lo'ak speaking to him. He becomes aware of the other's words only when he feels a warm hand on his own.

"Huh? Sorry, what were you saying?" asks Spider, blowing a stray strand of hair from his face. 

"I was just asking you if there's anything beyond the hill." Lo'ak repeats.

Spider hums, "There is, another world actually. Beyond that hill is your freedom to a a new life." 

"Really? Has anyone tried to go?" Lo'ak questions.

"Some have tried," Spider responds lowly, "But not all of them lived to see it."

"Besides, even if someone wished to leave, they couldn't." said Spider.

"Why not? This place seems pretty desolate." said Lo'ak.

Spider huffs a laugh, but it there wasn't any humor in it.

The blond points over to a specific tree a few feet away from them, "Look over there and tell me if you see anything." 

Lo'ak squints his eyes and assesses the tree Spider pointed at. It doesn't take long for him to spot a faint blinking light. 

"A camera," the amber-eyed boy muttered.

"Yup." said Spider, popping the 'p' for more emphasis.

"If those cameras planted in the forest catch you trying to leave, a fleet of peacekeepers will be here before you'd even make it to the bottom of the hill." Spider explained. 

"Oh." Lo'ak mumbles. 

"Don't feel too bummed out about it. No one's tried it in decades. I'm sure no one would be stupid enough to try again." Spider waves a hand in reassurance.

"I don't think that makes me feel any better." said Lo'ak.

"Maybe not, but do you know what could make you feel better?" Spider questioned.

"What?" asks Lo'ak, brow raised in question.

"Food! Come on, I'm sure you're starving right now. I'll cook us something to eat and you can just relax until I'm finished." Spider reveals happily.

"Sure, food does sound great." Lo'ak agrees, a small smile making its way onto his lips at how excited Spider looks at the prospect of him making food for the both of them.

"Wonderful! Now, let's get a move on back home. We also have to shower afterwards." said Spider.

The blond swings his legs over the fence, jumping down to grab his stuff. Lo'ak jumps down after him, taking the initiative to carry the empty bag of carrots. The horses are long gone by now, bored of the two boys no longer giving them attention.

"About that, how is the shower situation gonna work?" Lo'ak questions.

Spider waves a hand of dismissal, "I'll tell you when it's time. For now, just worry about eating."

The two boys started their walk back to Spider's house, engaging in quiet conversation to fill the silence. Lo'ak discovered that he and the blond could discuss almost anything, never feeling uneasy about sharing too much. He appreciated this detail. At home with his family, the darker-skinned boy struggled to open up, but with Spider, it felt effortless.

Their arrival at Spider's home was sooner than expected, yet neither boy minded. Spider promptly invited Lo'ak to relax on a sofa while he prepared their meal. Although Lo'ak offered to assist with cooking, Spider declined the offer instantly. Meanwhile, Lo'ak enjoyed stealing glances at Spider as he cooked.

Lo'ak admired everything about the blond, who moved through the kitchen with a practiced grace. He adored how Spider's blond hair would sway as he reached for items or moved around the kitchen. The gentle humming from Spider was enchanting, soothing even though Lo'ak couldn't identify the tune. In Lo'ak's eyes, everything about Spider was flawless, unable to find a single imperfection. His crush on the older boy intensified immensely, and it was only the first day they had seen each other after several months.

Fifty minutes later, Spider's voice, cheerful with anticipation, announced that dinner was ready. Lo'ak composed himself and walked to the kitchen where Spider was serving the food with a beaming smile. The aroma was the first thing Lo'ak noticed—a tantalizing scent of freshly cooked meat and another component he couldn't quite place. Spider set the plate before Lo'ak, looking on eagerly for his reaction.

The presentation struck Lo'ak next. He was never one to fuss over his food's appearance, but this was arguably the best he had ever been served. Perhaps his judgment was clouded by affection, but to him, it seemed exceptional.

<"Wow... This looks delicious."> Lo'ak compliments, looking up from the plate to gaze at Spider.

<"I hope it tastes as good as it looks."> said Spider.

<"Knowing you, I'm sure it will."> Lo'ak mumbles.

<"Go on, take a bite."> Spider motions with his lips to the plate of food.

Lo'ak compels himself not to track the other's lips, concentrating on the plate in front of him. He seizes the provided fork and pierces a piece of meat alongside a side dish he's yet to identify. As soon as he brings the fork to his mouth and the food touches his tongue, his eyes involuntarily close, overwhelmed by the burst of flavors. The boy with amber eyes discerns every spice and every bit of seasoning, finding the taste divine.

<"Does it taste good?"> asks Spider, voice low and shy in anticipation.

Lo'ak remained silent for a few moments as he chews the food in his mouth. He only opens his eyes when he swallows everything, placing his fork down.

"Lo'ak?" Spider whispers.

<"That... Is by far the best thing I've ever had in my fifteen years of life in Pandora."> Lo'ak states, voice pitched low and grounded. He can hear the faint sigh of relief from Spider when he finally talks.

<"Really? You think so?> questioned the blond, feeling like Lo'ak could be exaggerating.

<"I don't think so, I know so."> Lo'ak responds.

<"Are you sure you're not exaggerating?"> asks Spider, watching as Lo'ak picks up his fork and digs in once more.

<"Not in the slightest."> Lo'ak says through a mouthful of food.

<"Good to know,"> Spider cheers, a wide smile taking place on his face.

The two boys savored their dinner, which Lo'ak considered delicious. They conversed during the meal, creating an intimate atmosphere. Spider hadn't noticed the closeness until they began eating, yet he embraced the domesticity wholeheartedly. They finished their meal as swiftly as they had started. Spider intended to wash the dishes, but Lo'ak was quicker, expressing his gratitude for the meal. The blond merely scoffed, dismissing it as the least he could do.

Now, well-fed and content, the boys needed to shower, washing away any sweat accumulated from the day's activities—even in winter, one could perspire from the simplest tasks.

"So, here's how the shower situation is gonna work," Spider lets out a breath, calmly bringing his hands together to remember what he planned.

"I will use the shower I've been using as per usual, and you can use the spare shower. I'll provide you with extra supplies and stuff, so don't worry about that." Spider explains.

"Sounds like a plan." said Lo'ak.

"Oh," Spider gasps in remembrance, "You can also sleep in the extra room upstairs." 

"I can just sleep on the sofa. You don't have to—" Lo'ak starts, but he cuts himself off when he sees Spider giving him a look that immediately makes the younger one snap his mouth shut.

"You have some of your own clothes, right?" Spider asks. 

Lo'ak nods, "A few pairs."

"Did you bring sleepwear?" Spider questions.

"Like, maybe two or three. I'm not too sure." Lo'ak answers.

Spider hums in response, gently taking Lo'ak's arm and leading him to an unknown door. As the blond turns the knob and pushes the door open, a bedroom comes into view. Spider releases Lo'ak's arm and starts rummaging through a large dresser. Lo'ak gazes around, taking in every detail of what he presumes to be Spider's room, including a small statue or carving.

"Here," Spider's voice snaps Lo'ak back to reality. Confused, Lo'ak watches as Spider hands him several pairs of clothes.

"What's all this?" Lo'ak inquires, his brow furrowed.

"Some pajamas for you to use when you run out of yours. I'll wash everything in a few days," Spider explains.

Lo'ak stands there, stunned. His crush has just given him several pieces of his own clothing out of hospitality. Lo'ak feels like he might combust with emotion; his heart is overwhelmed.

"T-Thank you," Lo'ak stammers softly.

"No problem, come on, I'll show you to your room and bathroom for your stay," Spider offers.

Spider then leads Lo'ak upstairs, taking his bag of clothes to save him the effort. The journey to Lo'ak's temporary room is brief and quiet, though he notices another closed door along the way, sparking his curiosity. However, he wouldn't dare invade Spider's privacy without permission.

The room they enter mirrors Spider's bedroom below, with only the bed covers and rug color as notable differences. Spider places Lo'ak's bag on the bed and turns to face him.

"This will be your room for the time being," the blond begins, diverting his gaze to his shoes.

"Everything you could need to shower is inside the bathroom; soap, fresh towels, shampoo and conditioner, toothbrush, etcetera." Spider explains.

"I also need to take a shower, so I'll be downstairs if you need me." said Spider, sending a small smile to Lo'ak before making his way to exit the room and give the other some privacy. 

However, before Spider can leave, Lo'ak grabs his wrist softly. The brown-eyed boy stops in place, turning to gaze at Lo'ak in question.

"I just wanted to thank you for today. I had fun," Lo'ak said lowly.

The blond grins, "Well, you're in for a treat tomorrow."

"Get some rest, Lo'ak. We have many more days ahead of us to have fun." said Spider, taking his leave once the raven-haired boy released his wrist.

The sound of the door shutting reverberates in Lo'ak's ears. He can still detect the fading footsteps of Spider as he descends the stairs. It's only when the click of his door signals Spider's departure that Lo'ak exhales a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. Indeed, he's quite certain that maintaining his sanity by the end of this journey will be a challenge.

___

Lo'ak's body awakens naturally, or more accurately, due to the divine smell of cooking food seeping in through the door's crack. His eyes flutter open, absorbing his surroundings. A reminder is needed: he's not at home; he's visiting Spider, a fact he'll have to grow accustomed to over the next few days.

The boy with amber eyes stretches promptly in bed, groaning softly as his back pops during the stretch. He hauls himself out of bed and into the bathroom to splash cold water on his face, brush his teeth, and relieve himself. Afterward, Lo'ak tidies the bed before descending the stairs. Upon opening the door, the aroma intensifies, becoming more enticing. He's uncertain of Spider's dish, but it's undeniably appetizing.

He descends the stairs quietly, his feet meeting the wooden steps. Reaching the bottom, he heads straight for the kitchen, eager to discover the source of the delightful scent. His footsteps lightly thud against the floorboards, signaling to Spider that the younger one is now awake. Without the blond's acute hearing and sharpened senses from forest living, Spider might not have detected Lo'ak's quiet approach.

"Morning," Spider greets softly.

"Morning." Lo'ak reciprocates the greeting, voice raspy from not using it.

Spider takes his eyes off of the food he's cooking to look at Lo'ak hovering beside him curiously, <"You woke up a bit later than I expected.">

<"I'm not really a morning person."> Lo'ak admits.

<"I can tell,"> Spider laughs, giving the food before him his undivided attention once more.

<"What are you making that smells so good?"> asks Lo'ak, voice low.

<"Small breakfast to wake you up and give you some energy for today's activities."> Spider replies nonchalantly.

"Basically, some eggs, little bit of meat, fruit, and some bread. Pretty much a basic breakfast to keep you full for a few hours." Spider elaborates, pointing to the everything.

<"Sounds delicious."> Lo'ak mutters.

<"Do you need help with anything?"> questioned Lo'ak.

<"I don't mind doing the rest by myself, but if you really want to help, then you can help me cut up all the fruits I layed out over there."> the blond answers, using a hand to pull the handle of a nearby drawer and grabbing a clean knife.

The fair-skinned boy hands over the knife carefully, <"Make sure you wash your hands beforehand.">

"Noted." Lo'ak mumbles quietly, calmy taking the knife from Spider's hand.

The atmosphere was filled with a comfortable silence as the two boys quietly cooked breakfast, starting their day on a peaceful note. Lo'ak couldn't deny he was listening to Spider softly sing an unfamiliar tune; there was an indescribable quality to his voice that Lo'ak found enjoyable, even if Spider was unaware of his audience.

Once breakfast was ready, they plated the food equally and sat down to eat. The fruit Lo'ak had cut was arranged in a small bowl between them. Conversation flowed naturally, mainly with Spider inquiring about Lo'ak's district, to which the younger boy happily responded.

The breakfast was tranquil and pleasant. Spider found he enjoyed sharing a meal with someone in the early hours; it was a relaxing way to begin the day.

Afterward, Spider and Lo'ak prepared for the day ahead, parting ways to get ready; Lo'ak had a particularly long day in front of him. By eight-thirty, they were out the door, Spider with his bow and quiver, essential for the day's adventure. They settled into a comfortable pace, making their way into Spider's district.

The hours that followed were filled with Lo'ak and Spider enjoying their time together. Over a few hours, Spider showed Lo'ak around his district, taught him how to scale a tree and descend safely, and demonstrated his hunting skills. The blond admits to a minor setback while demonstrating his hunting technique.

While nocking his arrow and aiming, his mind began to blur. It was only after releasing the arrow and striking his target that the animal morphed into the girl he had accidentally killed in the arena. Typically, such flashbacks would trigger a panic attack, but not wanting Lo'ak to witness his distress, he simply froze.

His breathing hitched, and his chest tightened as he struggled to breathe. Thankfully, Lo'ak was preoccupied with Spider's precise shot and didn't notice his momentary paralysis. After a few moments, Spider regained his composure, flexed his hands, and took deep breaths to calm down.

Lo'ak turned back to him only when he stood to recite the prayer for the fallen animal. This routine, a quiet prayer for the animal's soul to return to the Great Mother while their body nourishes others, was familiar to Spider. Lo'ak watched in awe as Spider recited the prayer with closed eyes and a hand on the animal's head.

In summary, Spider suppressed a budding panic attack, and Lo'ak learned many things to share with his family.

As Lo'ak and Spider make their way back to Spider's home to properly prepare the animal for their meal, Lo'ak initiates a conversation about the fair-skinned boy's archery skills.

<"You know, you're really skilled with a bow,"> Lo'ak remarks, prompting a shy smile from Spider.

<"Thank you, it's mostly due to practicing relentlessly for years,"> Spider responds.

<"I wish I were as good as you, or my mother or brother with a bow,"> admits Lo'ak.

<"You know how to shoot?"> Spider asks, surprised.

<"Somewhat. My mother taught us when we were younger. I'm fairly good, but my mother and brother excel at it. However, I think you outshine them both,"> Lo'ak elaborates.

<"Would you like me to teach you to improve your skills?"> Spider offers.

<"Yeah! I'd love to one-up Neteyam if I become better than him with a bow,"> Lo'ak replies.

Spider chuckles at Lo'ak's comment, setting the animal down on a large rock for the time being. <"Come on, show me what you got.">

Spider presents Lo'ak with his bow and a single arrow, his expression one of eager anticipation. Lo'ak accepts the bow from the older boy, handling it carefully as he positions himself in the stance taught by his mother. He places the arrow on the bow and draws back the string, surprised by the effort required, yet he conceals his struggle, pulling with more force than he had expected.

Spider watches Lo'ak's stance in silence, noting each imperfection and considering the necessary adjustments. He steps in before Lo'ak can release the arrow.

The blond guides Lo'ak's hand, raising his head slightly, <"Tilt your head up a bit more.">

He taps the arm drawing the bowstring twice, <"Ensure this arm is aligned with your extended arm.">

Spider then rests a hand on Lo'ak's abdomen, <"Breathe from here and stand tall, even if it strains your back.">

Lo'ak takes in all the advice, adjusting his form accordingly. He can't deny the brief surge of nerves when Spider's hand touches his stomach. Observing closely, Spider squints at Lo'ak's posture, moving in to correct one final detail. Now the two boys were practically nose to nose, their shoe tips touching. Spider adjusts the extended arm, reminding that it must remain straight at all times, then turns back to the younger boy. He's taken aback to find Lo'ak's face just two inches from his own, to say the least. Their eyes meet, chocolatey brown delving into crystal amber.

They stand still, locked in an intense gaze. Lo'ak even dares to let his eyes drift to Spider's lips, slightly parted in astonishment. That's when Spider comes to his senses and steps back, creating some space between them. The blond clears his throat and suggests, <"Try shooting that tree over there.">

Lo'ak's gaze on Spider lingers a moment longer before he redirects his attention to his target. It's safe to say he hit the tree. He may not have hit the center, but he hit it all the same. And perhaps, he's made an advance on the blond! Lo'ak thinks his affection for Spider is progressing nicely.

___

Night had fallen. The sun had set, giving way to the moon and a scattering of stars across the sky. In the warmth of Spider's home, Lo'ak sat on his bed, methodically undoing each braid. After their adventure, he noticed his braids were growing out, making them look odd. Deciding to remove them, he now realized he had underestimated the time it would take, along with the effort needed to detangle his hair.

He let out a sigh as he finished unbraiding another, letting the freed strands rest for a moment. As he started on the next, a gentle knock sounded at the bedroom door.

<"Come in,"> he answered smoothly.

The door swings open, revealing Spider in his pajamas, the freshness of a shower still lingering from the day's escapades. He steps into the room, closes the door behind him, and stands there, an awkward presence.

<"You can come over and sit, you know? It's your house."> Lo'ak comments, a grin making its way onto his face.

<"Yeah, I know, but I didn't want to interrupt or intrude on your alone time."> said Spider.

<"Speaking of alone time, what exactly are you doing?"> Spider questions, eyes trailing across Lo'ak's figure.

<"Taking out my braids because they've grown out already. But I gravely underestimated the amount of braids I have to take out and then untangle."> Lo'ak sighs, rolling his eyes at his decision.

<"Can I help?"> Spider questions hesitantly.

<"Please, an extra set of hands would be wonderful."> Lo'ak pleads.

The blond grins at the other's playful behavior, settling on the bed to comfortably join Lo'ak in loosening his braids. Spider carefully selects a braid nearest to him and starts to gently unravel Lo'ak's hair.

Spider would be dishonest if he claimed that he didn't enjoy the task of unbraiding Lo'ak's hair, finding it both amusing and calming. It also gives him a legitimate reason to be close to Lo'ak. He's been preoccupied all day with thoughts of their two "kisses" and the unmistakable tension between them. He can't resist it; there's just something about Lo'ak that captivates him.

<"Thank you, by the way."> Lo'ak quietly mutters.

<"For what?"> Spider asked, keeping his eyes on the braid he's currently undoing.

<"Letting me stay here, showing me around, just being you, I guess,"> Lo'ak answers honestly.

Spider feels his stomach twist at Lo'ak's words, <"You don't have to thank me for just doing the basics. Actually, I should be thanking you for coming to see me.">

<"Why wouldn't I visit? I missed you like crazy back home because I couldn't talk to you,"> Lo'ak confesses, turning his head away slightly to avoid seeing the blond's reaction.

The blond in question finds himself smiling involuntarily, his cheeks warming with a blush. <"You missed me that much, huh?">

<"Of course I did, you saved my life after all. I owe you my life at this point."> Lo'ak huffs a laugh.

<"We saved each other."> Spider corrected, running his fingers through the hair currently set aside that is unbraided.

<"Agree to disagree, dude."> said Lo'ak.

The older boy scoffs, <"Whatever, skxawng.">

The conversation dwindled into silence as they continued unbraiding. Once every braid was undone, Spider double-checked to ensure none were missed. He then offered to help detangle Lo'ak's hair, saving him time. Lo'ak gave him a thankful look and let Spider comb through his now braid-free hair.

Spider gently worked through each knot, careful to avoid causing Lo'ak any discomfort. The darker-skinned boy noticed the older boy's tenderness, a giddy smile spreading across his face. Seeing Lo'ak's smile, the fair-skinned boy playfully poked his cheek to catch his attention.

<"What are you smiling for?"> he questioned.

Lo'ak simply chuckles, shaking his head. <"It's just how gentle you're being. Trust me when I say you won't hurt me. Eywa knows how many times my mom has accidentally pulled too harshly doing my hair.">

<"And what if I want to be gentle with you? Are you opposed to me being gentle with you?"> Spider asked, cocking his head to the side and leaning forward for Lo'ak too see him.

<"No, I actually like you being gentle. I like it a lot."> Lo'ak answers, catching Spider's eye.

Spider hums, the corner of his lips quirking before be leans back and continues combing Lo'ak's hair. He even goes back to running his own fingers through the silky strands of jet-black hair.

<"You're awfully flirty today."> Spider notes.

<"I was wondering how long you'd take to make a move."> the blond admits.

Lo'ak immediately ceases movement, then relaxes after a brief pause. Without a word, he reaches back and gently takes hold of Spider's hand, which is holding the comb in his hair, carefully removing the comb and turning to face Spider.

<"You've been waiting... for me to make a move on you?"> Lo'ak articulates the words carefully.

The blond simply nods.

"Ha," Lo'ak huffs a laugh, "This is the exact reason I kissed you in the arena."

"You're just so... uniquely you. I don't think you realize how much your personality captivates others," Lo'ak confessed.

"The first thing that piqued my interest was how you protected me from Nate, and kept doing so," Lo'ak began, compelled to express himself, uncertain of how much longer he could hold his silence.

"Then, when you spoke my native language, I was utterly fascinated by you. Your anonymous presence drew me in, and I yearned to get closer, to learn more about you," Lo'ak admitted, his gaze dropping to his fidgeting hands.

"And when you found me in the arena and cared for me without obligation... that's when I realized you were extraordinary. To me, at least, you were the one," Lo'ak murmured, his voice tinged with hesitation and shyness.

"So, I kissed you in the arena to convey my feelings. I was terrified when you didn't respond, merely suggesting we'd discuss it later. But when you kissed me back at the train stop... Eywa, the joy I felt was immeasurable. I was so glad you reciprocated after such a long wait, and I believed I truly had a chance," Lo'ak concluded, exhaling a tremulous breath.

<"A chance for what?"> Spider whispers, grabbing Lo'ak's hands in his lap. The second his warm hand engulfs Lo'ak's shaky one's, the younger boy instantly feels safe and content.

<"A chance to maybe win you over."> Lo'ak responds.

<"You're interested in me."> Spider states, as if he's making an observation.

<"Wasn't that obvious?"> Lo'ak questions, eyes flickering up to look at Spider again.

The blond remains silent, simply gazing deeply at Lo'ak, his eyes conveying an unspoken message. Spider then withdraws his hand from Lo'ak's, swiftly bringing it to the other's hair. He runs his fingers through Lo'ak's silky locks, now free from the braids that Spider had helped undo. The blond adores the way Lo'ak's hair cascades freely; while he has a fondness for the traditional braids, he has a preference for seeing it loose. It gives Lo'ak a lighter, softer appearance.

<"I like your hair like this,"> Spider murmurs, softly expressing his thoughts while his gaze follows the flow of Lo'ak's hair beneath his touch.

<"You do?"> Lo'ak asks, his expression marked by surprise. Such a compliment is new to him and hearing it from Spider feels good.

With a low hum, Spider continues to weave his fingers through the wavy strands, and Lo'ak, without realizing, leans into the tender gesture that stirs a warmth within him.

<"You look even more mesmerizing like this,"> Spider breathes out, his warm brown eyes traveling up to meet Lo'ak's amber gaze. His whisper is soft but clear enough for Lo'ak to hear, causing an involuntary reaction in his eyes, though he remains unaware.

The tension between them, already tangible, escalates into an electric charge. A static sensation fills the space as brown eyes lock onto amber with flecks of light green. Their eyes communicate everything, rendering words unnecessary. Spider knows his desire, and Lo'ak is acutely aware of his own longing, a feeling that has been building for quite some time.

Lo'ak could no longer contain himself and leaned in, surrendering to his profound desires. As their eyes gently closed, their lips finally met after such palpable tension. However, when their lips connected for the third time altogether since their first kiss, it felt as though time itself had come to a standstill for both Spider and Lo'ak. A sensation akin to a light breeze lifted them, making them feel as if they were suspended in mid-air. The tender contact of their lips felt undeniably right.

In this moment, Lo'ak was finally able to savor the experience of Spider's lips without any distractions. There were no cameras capturing the moment, no onlookers, and no uncomfortable emotions—just the two of them. To Lo'ak, Spider's lips were soft, reminiscent of a warm fire providing comfort in the coldest of climates. The sensation was akin to searing embers, igniting a pleasurable warmth within him. It felt as though someone was enveloping him, shielding him from harm. The experience was euphoric, making Lo'ak feel truly alive and, above all, desired.

For Spider, the warmth of Lo'ak's full lips was akin to the sun's rays shining down on District 12, in the most delightful manner. Lo'ak's hands, which rested on his cheeks, were slightly calloused yet provided a grounding and soothing sensation. They cradled his face as if he were fragile, like porcelain that could shatter at any moment. This tender touch sent a thrill through Spider's body, causing his cheeks to flush with a light pink hue. For the first time, he felt genuinely wanted, recognized for who he truly was. Someone finally saw him.

The mere touch of their lips was insufficient to satisfy the yearning they both felt. They reluctantly separated, their warm breaths intertwining. Their foreheads touched in a symbolic union, as if they were one entity. A gentle hum resonated within them, a testament to the innocent love they shared. Their eyes, half-closed, conveyed an intense affection that spoke volumes with just a single glance.

This time, Spider leans in closer, tilting his head to deepen the kiss even more. Lo'ak's hands remain on Spider's cheeks, tenderly stroking them with his thumbs. Meanwhile, Spider's hands, which were once tangled in Lo'ak's hair, now slide down to wrap around the younger boy's shoulders. Taking the lead, Spider gently brushes his tongue against Lo'ak's bottom lip, hesitating just a moment before silently asking if they can explore their kiss further. Lo'ak's breath catches in his throat, a soft gasp escaping him as he parts his lips in invitation. Spider feels a rush of joy at the effect he has on Lo'ak, sliding his tongue into the warmth of the other boy's mouth.

Their tongues dance together softly, the kiss evolving into something slow and passionate. The sensations wash over Lo'ak, making him feel lightheaded, as if he were intoxicated by Spider's sweetness. That delightful taste consumed his thoughts; all he could focus on was how sweet Spider truly was.

What began as a tender and innocent kiss quickly escalates in intensity, with Lo'ak playfully nibbling on Spider's bottom lip. Spider realizes he needs to pull back before things go too far—not that he thinks they would go all the way, as they are still quite young. However, he yearns for a lifetime of moments like this with Lo'ak, so despite his racing heart, he gently withdraws. Their lips are red and swollen from the fervent kiss, and Lo'ak instinctively leans forward, chasing after those soft lips as if he were already addicted to the sensation. He craves more, but Spider places a gentle hand on Lo'ak's chest to halt him.

Before Lo'ak can voice his disappointment, he feels soft, delicate kisses landing on his lips, making him smile dreamily, his eyes growing heavy. Spider continues to plant a few more gentle pecks on Lo'ak's lips, reassuring him that his feelings are reciprocated. The kiss is nothing short of breathtaking, leaving both of their hearts racing wildly.

<"I see you."> Lo'ak whispers quietly, blinking slowly at Spider. 

<"I see you."> Spider replies back earnestly, leaning in once again to place one last kiss on the Sully's lips, a kiss that Lo'ak returns in an instant. That action earns him a giddy smile from the other.

Lo'ak suddenly pulls Spider down on the bed, forcing both of them to lie down next to each other. The blond yelps at the sudden movement, confusion evident in his expression as he looks up at Lo'ak.

<"What are you doing?"> Spider mutters.

<"Getting comfortable,"> Lo'ak mutters, <"I'm tired.">

The younger boy then wraps his arms around Spider's waist, pulling him close to rest his chin on the blond's head. Said boy just lets out a breath of exasperation. Spider moves to escape Lo'ak's grasp, but the grip around him grows tighter and desperate.

<"Please, stay with me tonight."> Lo'ak pleads, voice in a low whisper.

Spider debates whether or not he should sleep next to Lo'ak, but the whiney voice the younger boy's using is both pitiful and adorable. How could he say no to that?

<"Fine,"> Spider agrees, <"But can we at least get under the covers? I'm cold.">

Lo'ak expresses his discontent at the prospect of relocating and parting ways with Spider, yet he concedes, feeling a chill himself. With little elegance, he slides off the bed, allowing Spider to draw back the covers. The boy with amber eyes spots a comb at the foot of the bed and, too fatigued to return it to the bathroom, simply sets it on a nearby nightstand.

The darker-skinned boy, filled with enthusiasm, nearly leaps into bed, gesturing for Spider to join him. This prompts an eye roll from Spider before he slips beneath the covers and positions himself next to Lo'ak. As soon as he is settled, Lo'ak wraps his arms around Spider's waist, drawing him closer. The blond boy permits this, chuckling at Lo'ak's clinginess when he is tired.

The two boys find comfort in the spacious bed, sharing warmth to combat the cold air permeating the house. Spider enhances his comfort by resting his cheek against Lo'ak's chest, attuned to the rhythm of his heartbeat and the gentle rise and fall of his chest, which brings him immense tranquility.

It is not long before both boys drift off to sleep in each other's embrace, feeling utterly at ease. By the early morning, it may very well be the most restful slumber they have ever experienced. Spider feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the Great Mother for guiding him to Lo'ak on that pivotal day. He is eternally thankful to Eywa for introducing him to the first—and perhaps the last—person he has ever loved. He would not trade his bond with Lo'ak for anything; he would rather perish than consider such a loss.

Chapter Text

Spider's enjoyment of Lo'ak's constant presence throughout the day could hardly be overstated, especially after they finally shared everything that had been weighing on their hearts. He cherished every moment they spent together leading up to the Victor's Tour, and as he reclined comfortably against Lo'ak, a smile crept onto his face while he reminisced about their time together.

Oh, how he adores their kisses! Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine being in a relationship, let alone sharing such intimate moments with someone. Yet here he is, reveling in the joy of having a boyfriend and the thrill of expressing the love he has built up inside.

Each kiss they share is a delightful mix of sweetness, passion, and an irresistible allure that leaves Spider craving more. Once they start, it becomes nearly impossible to pull away. Beyond the countless kisses they exchanged during Lo'ak's visit leading up to the Victor's Tour, Lo'ak has also begun to express his love in more tangible ways. While one might assume his love language would be quality time or words of affirmation, it turns out to be physical touch.

In hindsight, Spider realizes he should have picked up on this sooner, especially as he and Lo'ak grew closer in the Arena. The lingering touches, the constant need to be near each other, and the tender way Lo'ak caressed his cheeks during their kiss a few nights ago were all clear signs.

Initially, the touches were subtle—gentle brushes against his hips, their hands often intertwined, Lo'ak's larger hands resting on his cheeks, or even the way he played with Spider's hair. But then, one day, everything changed. It began with a surprise back hug from Lo'ak while Spider was cooking, the younger boy resting his chin on his shoulder as he quietly watched him. He pulled him in closer by the hips, letting his hand linger on his stomach, and sometimes even slipping beneath his shirt to place his warm hand on his lower abdomen. The most embarrassing part? The way Lo'ak would stare or even playfully slap his backside whenever he walked past or stood up to grab something. Spider certainly isn’t against any of this—far from it! He absolutely adores it all. It just caught him off guard, leaving him a bit unsure about how to process these new feelings.

<"What are you thinking about?"> questioned Lo'ak out of the blue.

Spider blinks rapidly at the sudden voice of his beloved partner asking him a question. He removes his head from Lo'ak's chest and makes eye contact with his parther innocently, <"Huh? What'd you say?">

Lo'ak laughs lightly before repeating himself once more, <"What are you thinking about that's got you smiling like that?">

"Oh," Spider registered the question, letting out a faint huff of laughter before lowering himself against Lo'ak's chest again gently, <"Just about our time with you here with me.">

<"It's been nice, hasn't it?"> Lo'ak questioned.

<"It has. I never want it to end if I'm being honest."> Spider admits, his voice slightly muffled by Lo'ak's chest.

<"I never want it to end either."> Lo'ak muttered, looking down at the blond.

The raven lifts a hand, delicately resting it in Spider's thick, soft hair. Unlike the way he would run his fingers through the blond's curls because of the texture, he simply lets his hand settle on the older boy's head. They enjoy the warmth of each other, letting time drift by leisurely.

However, less than an hour later, a knock at the front door shatters their peaceful moment. Spider raises his head from Lo'ak's chest, glancing at the door with a puzzled expression. He has no clue who might be visiting. With only Norm and himself permitted in Victor's Village, it could very well be Norm.

Without a word, the older boy rises from the sofa to answer the door, disregarding Lo'ak's soft protest. As he swings the door open, he finds none other than Norm standing there.

"Hey kid, you got a minute to talk?" questioned Norm.

"Uh- Yeah, sure. Come on in," said Spider, stepping aside to let his mentor inside his home.

Norm steps inside Spider's home for the first time and is pleasantly surprised to see Lo'ak sitting on one of the sofas in the living room. 

"Oh, you're here too! Great, this conversation will go better now that you're both here." Norm sighed, moving to sit down on the opposite sofa.

"What conversation?" asked Lo'ak. 

"Why tomorrow is the official start of your guys' Victor's Tour." Norm reveals.

Spider, now sitting back down next to Lo'ak, tenses momentarily. He had totally let it slip his mind these past couple of days. The blond had been having such a great time with Lo'ak that it left his mind. Eywa, he was really going to have to do this.

"Right," he sighs, "I forgot that's tomorrow."

"Oh." Lo'ak comments, his face devoid of any emotion.

"You both knew it would happen soon. I'm sorry you guys gotta do this, but it's what you have to do." Norm sympathizes, feeling sorry for the young couple as he too went through what they're about to experience.

"What's the plan gonna be like tomorrow then?" Spider questioned, his voice monotone and bland.

Lo'ak hates how Spider looks so distant right now, his mind not entirely there.

"You'll wake up around six, Max and his team will be here to fix you two up, and I'll explain the rest tomorrow morning before you go out there." Norm explains calmly.

Spider gives a curt nod, "I'm gonna go lay down for a bit, but it was nice to see you, Norm."

The blond detaches himself from his significant other and leaves the living room without another word, retreating to his room down the hall. The sound of a door shutting echos in the room.

"He doing okay?" asks Norm.

"He's been fine until you brought up the shit with the Capitol." Lo'ak answers. He feels the itching need to go after Spider and comfort him.

"Look," Norm says, "I know it's hard. I've been through this too. I won't lie and say it'll get better because it won't. Believe me when I say that. But tomorrow, just try to put on a good act for the cameras, okay?" said Norm.

Lo'ak stays silent for a moment before nodding.

"I'm gonna go check on Spider, but we'll see you tomorrow morning." said Lo'ak before he rises from the sofa and makes his way to the blond's room.

No words are said for a few minutes, but Lo'ak feels Spider reach out for his hand and gently caress it. The gentle touch makes him smile knowingly.

"I know you're dreading the trip tomorrow," said Lo'ak, "I am too."

"But do you want to know what's making me feel just a bit better about this?" he whispered.

The blond hums softly in question.

"That you'll be there with me the entire journey." answered Lo'ak.

Spider says nothing for a few moments, yet he simply turns over so he can face his significant other properly. Their eyes meet, amber cutting deeply into chestnut. Lo'ak brings a hand to Spider's face, gently placing it onto the blond's cheek. His thumb caresses the soft skin beneath it, loving how the other lets out a content sigh at the display of affection.

<"I don't want to see everyone."> Spider whispers.

<"I can't face the families of those kids we-"> Spider choked out, his throat feeling as though it would close up at the words he would speak. He didn't dare finish his sentence, feeling like he would throw up if me mentioned it again.

Lo'ak understood what the other meant, nonetheless.

"I get it, love, I do. I don't want to face them either. Eywa knows I don't..." said Lo'ak.

"But this is one of the last things we have to do for them and we're free until the next games." Lo'ak takes a moment to breathe in and bask in the warmth radiating from both their bodies before continuing. 

"We won't have to go back in, only be a mentor." said Lo'ak. 

"That doesn't make it any better..." Spider mutters, eyes counting the faint dots on the other's face.

<"No, it doesn't. But know that we're here for each other. I won't let you go through this alone."> said Lo'ak.

Spider could feel the corners of his lips twitch, wanting to smile at the words of his partner. "Neither will I. I'll be by your side as well."

"Good. I'd want nothing else except for that." whispered Lo'ak.

Lo'ak leans in, gently pressing his lips against the blond's. A wave of warmth washes over him as he feels Spider respond, one of his hands intertwining with his. The kiss is pure and sweet, a tender brush of lips that speaks volumes of innocence.

After a moment, Spider pulls back, gasping for air, and rests his forehead against Lo'ak's. In that instant, he wishes he could stay like this forever, enveloped in the bliss of the moment. All he desires is the boy in front of him; nothing else holds any significance. With Lo'ak, he feels a sense of safety, a feeling of being home, accepted, and truly seen.

This is everything he has ever wanted.

He vows to keep his world close, ensuring that Lo'ak remains by his side, shielded from any danger.

___

"Hello!" one woman exclaims excitedly. 

"There he is. Our greatest triumph! Our little superstar." the woman muses, reaching out and pulling the boy into a tight hug.

Spider can only hug back, feeling as awkward as ever.

"Sweetie, we've missed you." commented another woman.

"What a cute little house. So quaint, isn't it?" stated the woman.

"You've heard about Max, correct?" the first woman questioned. 

"What happened to Max?" Spider immediately questions. 

The woman laughs, "Oh, dear, he's a fashion star. You're his muse. Everyone in The Capitol's wearing him." 

'Everyone,' Spider voices in his mind.

"Everyone?" He asks out loud.

"Well, not everyone." commented a very familiar voice.

"Max!" Spider smiled genuinely. The man returned the smile and pulled him into a comforting hug.

"Spider...?" murmured a low voice.

The blond turned towards the sound of the voice once Max released him from the hug. He's met with Lo'ak standing tensely, eyes raking over every unknown person besides Norm.

"Oh, Spider, is this your lover from the games?" one woman questioned with an excited gasp.

"Oh, yes! It is him!" another woman gushed.

"Hi," Lo'ak greets tersely, a curt nod following his words.

Spider subtly extends his hand toward Lo'ak, allowing him the choice to accept or decline. The boy with amber eyes notices the gesture immediately, taking a brief moment to consider before quietly approaching his partner and gently taking the offered hand. Although Lo'ak's grip is a bit firm, Spider remains unfazed, returning the squeeze to reassure him that he can stay close if he feels uneasy.

"Aw, how adorable!" each of the women gushes loudly. 

Both boys pointedly ignore the group of women talking amongst themselves as Norm walks up to them.

"You guys ready to work?" he asked.

"Not really, but I don't really have much a choice.

"All right. That's perfectly fine. You two will do just fine." said Norm.

"You'll have to give your guys' speech in about an hour and a half, so these ladies here will help make you look presentable for the camera." Norm explains.

"Let's get this on the road." Norm sighed, sending the two a strained smile and making his way toward Max.

Spider turns to Lo'ak when he feels a stray hand touching his waist softly. The younger boy simply gazes back into his eyes as they face each other. 

<"Are you ready for this?"> Lo'ak murmured. 

<"No. But you being here with me might just make this ride a bit better."> Spider responded, a quirk of his lips following.

Lo'ak leans down and places a chaste kiss to plump lips. The light pressure lingers for a few seconds before he pulls away, hand still caressing the blond's waist.

<"We'll get through this together and it will all be over soon."> said Lo'ak.

___

"You guys know what you have to do right?" Norm repeats for the tenth time in five minutes.

"Norm, I'm sure they understand what they have to say for their speech. You've already told them seven whole times back-to-back." Max chastises the taller man.

"I'm making sure they're prepared! I don't want this to go haywire." Norm stressed.

"They'll do fine, won't you?" the stylist questioned, turning to look at Lo'ak and Spider, who were standing side by side as they wait for the okay to go out on stage.

Spider simply nods, not providing a verbal answer to the two adults. 

"See? They're perfectly fine." Max grins.

"Just..." Norm sighs, "Read from the cards I gave you. We're trying to make this as quick as possible so you can hop on the train to the next district."

"We got it, Norm." said Lo'ak.

Norm finally stops worrying over them and walks away to pace the other side of the room they're standing in. Lo'ak looks over at the blond, noticing how tense and uncomfortable he looks.

"I can do the talking if that helps." he offers.

Spider's eyes flit up at the younger boy, feeling himself growing warm at how considerate his partner is. "Thank you. That'd really help."

Lo'ak gives a reassuring nod, leaning in to plant a gentle kiss on Spider's temple.

Before long, Norm signals that it's time to address the crowd in District 12, Spider's home turf. The blond feels a wave of dread wash over him. He knows he must confront Ravyn's family, the very people connected to that sweet girl he couldn't save.

This situation fills him with loathing. He despises it all.

As they step through the door onto the stage, both make their way to the microphone positioned at the front. Lo'ak takes the lead, positioning himself in front of the mic to shield his beloved partner from any further heartache.

"Good morning District 12," he begins.

"I'm Lo'ak Sully, the second Victor from District 3. Thank you. We are honored to be with you all today, and with the family of your fallen tribute." said Lo'ak. He had begun reading from the cards, but as he went on, he just decided to ditch the cards and say what was in his mind.

"And though she fought and lived honorably and with dignity to this very end, Ravyn was so young." 

Lo'ak's words have Spider perking up in the slightest, ears paying attention to every word he couldn't, wouldn't say himself.

"But our lives aren't measured in years, but in the way we touch the lives of those around us. For myself, and for Spider, we both know that without Ravyn, we wouldn't be standing here today." continued Lo'ak.

The amber-eyed boy's words have an effect on the crowd. Every single person feeling moved by the sincerity of his words.

"In recognition of that, and in knowing that it can in no way make up for your loss, we would like to donate one month of our winnings to the family of the fallen tribute every year, for the rest of our lives. Thank you." Lo'ak concluded, giving a curt nod of his head before stepping away from the microphone.

Behind the doors, where Norm and Max are watching, they're stunned at Lo'ak's words.

"Can he do that?" Max asked.

"No. But he did." Norm answered.

Lo'ak glances at Spider and motions toward the microphone, silently inquiring if he wants to speak. The blond shakes his head in response. Meanwhile, the mayor, who has been standing nearby, approaches to guide them off the stage. However, as he does, Spider's gaze locks onto Ravyn's younger brother.

Eywa... his eyes mirror hers perfectly. Their hair is identical as well. The only distinctions are their noses and the texture of their hair. When their eyes meet, Spider sees a glimmer of hope reflected back at him. Something within Spider shifts, and before he can think it through, he strides toward the microphone.

"I didn't know Ravyn as much as I wished to get to know her. She didn't need to save me when I passed out, yet she did." Spider began.

"There were things she taught me that I'll never forget, and moments with her that I will cherish." he continues.

"But I do know that she was too young, too gentle. She wasn't just an ally of mine... she was great friend." Spider choked out.

He sees how Ravyn's family begins to break down at his words. Her father especially, holding onto his weeping wife with a steadying grip.

"I see her in the forest every day when I hunt. I hear her voice in the songs of the morning birds. I see her in another friend of mine. She didn't deserve what happened to her. I couldn't save her... I'm so sorry I wasn't able to save her." Spider concluded, eyes misty and red from trying to hold back his tears.

The expressions on Ravyn's family members reflect a mix of relief, understanding, sorrow, and yearning. He struggles to hold back his emotions, fighting the urge to crumble in front of them all.

After that moment, everything becomes a chaotic haze. His thoughts are clouded until the sharp crack of a gunshot jolts him into focus. As he’s pulled away, the blond catches a glimpse of a man sprawled on the stage, a dark pool of blood forming beneath his head.

A gasp of horror escapes him as the reality of the situation sinks in. By that time, he’s already been taken backstage, where he confronts Norm’s pitiful and frustrated gaze.

"What did I say? Did I just get that man killed?" Spider spoke in a whisper, barely audible.

The look in Norm's eye is enough answer for him.

"What have I done?" Spider croaks, the tears previously welled up in his eyes finally cascading down his cheeks.

___

"Come along, kiddos, we're on a schedule." said Norm, ushering both Tributes into the train.

"Now, the schedule is a bit of a bear.12 days, 12 districts. But it's mostly parties, celebrations, adoring fans to greet you at every stop along the way, and then we wrap it up in The Capitol." Norm explains once they're seated at a random table.

"All you need to do is give a few more speeches, wave to the crowds, and I guess enjoy your time in the spotlight." Norm concluded. 

"What did you say?" Spider questioned, turning his head to stare pointedly at his mentor.

"Spider..." Lo'ak spoke, tone taking on one of pleading.

Feeling disinclined to engage in conflict, the blond silently rises from the table and makes his way to another section of the train to gather his thoughts. He finds himself in the same spot where he and Lo'ak stood upon returning home from their games. With a sigh, Spider settles onto the red cushioned ledge, gazing out the window as the landscape whizzes by.

A few minutes later, the sliding door breaks the silence, pulling him from his reverie.

"I'm really not in the mood for a lecture, Norm." said Spider, not taking his eyes off the scenery before him.

"Good thing I'm not Norm then." Lo'ak's voice rings out behind him.

The blond turns around and is met with his significant other smirking at him. <"Sorry, I thought you were Norm.">

<"You don't have to apologize to anybody. Including me."> Lo'ak comments, moving to sit beside Spider.

<"It feels like I have to..."> Spider whispered. 

<"Well, you don't. Get those thoughts out of your head and forget about everything negative for one moment."> said Lo'ak.

<"And think about what?"> questioned Spider.

<"I don't know... Like, what's your favorite color? I still don't know this kind of stuff and we've been dating for about a week already."> stated the amber-eyed boy.

<"Only thing I know about you is that you're stubborn and good with a bow."> Lo'ak comments.

A snort leaves Spider at his words, "That about sums me up." 

"No, there's more than that, you just don't want to tell me." Lo'ak scoffs playfully.

<"It's like I said, I'm..."> Spider began speaking, thinking of how he should arrange his words properly.

<"See, Spider, the way the whole relationship thing works is you have to tell each other the deep stuff."> said Lo'ak. 

Spider laughs incredulously, <"The deep stuff?">

"Yeah." Lo'ak answers confidently.

"Oh, like what?" Spider questioned, feeling intrigued as to where this conversation is going.

"As I said before, what's your favorite color?" questioned Lo'ak.

"Oh, well now you stepped over the line." Spider scoffs playfully, rolling his eyes.

Lo'ak nudges Spider gently, "Really, though... What's your favorite color?" Lo'ak repeated.

Spider pauses for a moment to think. The only color he's ever really liked was the one he'd been surrounded by his entire life thus far.

"Green." The blond answered.

"Yours?" asked Spider.

"Blue." Lo'ak answered.

"Like the sky?" Spider wondered.

"No, like the deep blue you see in the deeper parts of the ocean." Lo'ak specified. 

"I remember seeing a picture of the ocean in an old textbook." Spider reminisced, thinking back to the time he was reading through an old textbook that he found.

"One day, maybe soon, we can go see the ocean in District 4." offered Lo'ak, innocently cocking his head to the side with an irresistible smile.

The blond boy feels a tumultuous sensation in his stomach as he catches Lo'ak's gaze. He lets out a soft chuckle, lowering his head to hide the rosy tint creeping onto his cheeks. Eywa, there's something about the younger boy that makes Spider feel bashful, as if he wants to retreat to avoid the awkwardness. Lo'ak, fully aware of the effect he has on the older boy, beams even brighter as he cups Spider's cheeks with his slightly larger hands. Gently, he tilts the blond's head up, taking a moment to appreciate every detail of his face. Spider finds himself captivated by those mesmerizing eyes, always losing himself in their distinctiveness.

"Can I tell you what's been on my mind?" whispered Lo'ak, eyes counting the light specks of brown freckles that are barely visible unless one is actively looking for them up closely.

"Always." Spider responded, his voice soft and genuine.

"I can't wait to see the new outfit Max has planned for you once we get to The Capitol." he reveals.

This time, Spider can't hide the redness making its way across his cheeks, ears, and neck. 

"You can't just say things like that, Lo'ak." Spider whined.

"Sure, I can," he mused, "You are mine after all. Why can't I eagerly expect to see you in a new outfit?"

That earns a weak glare from the blond boy, "You're insufferable."

"Maybe," Lo'ak sighed as delicately caressing the soft skin beneath his fingers, "But you love me."

"Yeah, I do." Spider reiterated with a small smile.

As the two lovers remained lost in each other's gaze, their connection radiating with an intensity that felt almost tangible, a flicker of movement caught Spider's eye as they entered a tunnel. He briefly diverted his attention from Lo'ak to the intriguing sight, prompting the younger boy to follow suit. A sudden flash of light illuminated a spray-painted image of the pin Spider had received from Max.

In an instant, both boys sprang to their feet, kneeling on the crimson seats beneath them, captivated by the unexpected discovery. As they emerged from the tunnel, the stark reality of District 11 unfolded before them, with peacekeeper vehicles and soldiers stationed outside, as if poised for an imminent event. The boys exchanged bewildered glances, the sight of Spider's pin in such an incongruous setting feeling like a cryptic omen. It seemed to convey a message, one that resonated deeply within them.

Yet, the challenge remained: neither of them could decipher what that message truly meant.

Chapter Text

Spider and Lo'ak continue to each district with the same objective given to them; read from a script like they're emotionless puppets and ignore the people. It was hard to ignore them at times when they yelled about what they actually wanted to hear. They wished to hear what Spider and Lo'ak truly thought about their district and those they've lost.

Yet all the couple could do was follow the cards and get back in the train to the next district. Both of them waking up in a rush, sweat covering their faces from nightmares of the games. Each nightmare comes with comforting and cuddling to help the other sleep for the rest of the night. Over and over again. That is, until they're taken to the Capitol on as plus ones for President Quaritch himself. The blond immediately knew that was a load of bullshit the second those words left Norm's mouth.

"What exactly are we supposed to do when we get there?" Spider questioned, his brow quirked up.

"Stand tall, together, look pretty, smile, and civil." Max answers this time.

"The best thing is to just go along with everything to prevent unnecessary problems." Max explains calmly.

"Sure. Play nice under their rules to blatantly fuck us over." Lo'ak muttered, picking at his nails aimlessly. 

"Sure," the blond sighed heavily as he stood up. "Let's just play nice with people who have never been known to play nice." 

The blond boy bends down and places a chaste kiss on Lo'ak's lips without a second thought before he leaves the train car to go to his cabin room. Lo'ak wills himself not to chase after the softness of his partner's lips, the feeling lingering on his own. He sighs and excuses himself quietly to go refresh himself to prepare for their arrival to the Capitol.

___

Hours later, they arrive and are met with grand statues and bright lights. Everyone is dressed extravagantly and colorfully, something Spider still can't get over. 

He and Lo'ak are given their respective clothes prior to attending the party being hosted. Norm leads them through the busy crowd muttering words to some people here and there. It's only until they get to the dining station that they're approached by their stylists.

"Try one of these. They are divine." one of them women encouraged, handing a glass to the blond and his lover.

"No, I can't eat another thing." Spider chuckles, declining the drink.

"Here," said one of the men, pushing the drink into their hands.

"What's this?" asked Spider.

"It's for when you're full. It makes you sick. So you can go on eating." explained one of the other women, an innocent smile on her face. 

Lo'ak's polite smile dropped and he handed the drinks back to them. "We're actually gonna go dance right now, but thank you."

Spider gratefully took Lo'ak's hand to head to the dance floor. He felt sick listening to them talk about that. How could one say something like that so carelessly? There are kids starving in his district and here they are flaunting all the food they could have.

<"Hey, just ignore them."> Lo'ak whispered, his hands on Spider's hips as they danced along to the song playing.

<"These people sure make it hard to do so."> Spider replied.

<"I know, trust me. Neteyam told me about them when he won his games. He said they were obnoxious and snobby the entire time. It's just how these people grew up."> Lo'ak explained, his voice soft and calm.

<"That seems about right."> Spider muttered. 

<"It just feels so... degrading and wrong to see us feasting on all this food and yet... so many people are starving in the lower districts."> Spider admitted, his voice getting lower to prevent others from hearing.

<"Yeah... It's unsettling and demeaning."> Lo'ak said.

As the two lovers danced, their bodies flowing to the sound of the music, the sound of a woman clearing her voice is heard. They both pause, turning to look at the unknown woman.

"Can we help you?" Spider questioned bluntly.

"Yes, actually you can. I'd like to steal you for a dance for just a moment." answered the woman.

Lo'ak and the woman stared at one another, his eyes searching for anything that's telling him not to follow through with her request. He unfortunately cannot find anything in her gaze.

"Go. I'll be with Norm." Lo'ak whispers to Spider, turning to disappear into the crowd of people.

Spider doesn't even have enough time to reach out for Lo'ak before the woman grabs his hands and drags him into a dance. There is obvious tension between the two as they spin every often, following the rhythm of the music.

"How's your night been so far, young man?" she asked.

"Mediocre at best." the blond answered.

The woman chuckled, "I knew you'd be a good choice."

"For what?" Spider questioned, his eyebrow quirking up in question.

"For something much larger than you even realize, Spider." said the woman ominously.

"Nevermind that. My name is Myrtle Rosetide, the gamemaker for this year's Hunger Games." Myrtle revealed.

"New gamemaker, huh? What happened to the last one? Parker, I believe." Spider spoke lowly, his voice tinged with suspicion.

"Let's just say he simply couldn't cut it anymore. He sure had a mouthful of ideas that a certain someone didn't align with." Myrtle answer cryptically.

Spider didn't say anything in response to that, but he knew President Quaritch had something to do with it. This new gamemaker seemed... weird. Something about her just didn't seem right. The blond didn't know, but he'll figure it out.

Eventually, the song ends and Myrtle excuses herself to go somewhere. Spider quickly rushes over to where he previously saw Norm to stick by his and Lo'ak's sides for the remainder of this stupid event. Eywa, he wanted to be done with this so bad.

___

Lo'ak had forgotten this was gonna happen eventually. It was only when he and Spider boarded the train that he realized he'd have to return home this time. He wasn't able to go back with Spider. It seemed that the blond realized this, too. He too didn't look so pleased, his expression matching Lo'ak's.

<"I was dreading this part of our trip."> said Spider.

<"Me too. It had completely slipped my mind until now. I wish I could bring you with me to my home."> said Lo'ak. 

"I know, Lo'ak. I wish the same..." murmured the blond, a soft sigh escaping his plush lips as he gazes outside the reinforced glass of the window.

Lo'ak simply gazes at his lover as the other stands before the window with a faraway look in his eyes. The darker-skinned boy silently walks up behind Spider and wraps his arms around the other's waist, burying his nose into Spider's neck to nuzzle it.

Spider huffs a breath, chuckling out a soft: "That tickles, Lo'ak." 

<"I know. That's why I'm doing it."> the darker-skinned boy replied.

<"You're so weird."> Spider laughs, a small smile creeps it's way onto his lips.

<"I'm your weirdo, though.>" Lo'ak replied cheekily, placing a chaste kiss to the skin beneath his plush lips.

The train ride to Lo'ak's district felt too short. Way too short for the two boys' liking. Both backed away from the window and started making their way to the door so Spider can see Lo'ak off. Their hands were intertwined the entire way to the door, only letting go so Lo'ak can cup Spider's cheeks in his hands.

"You know I'll see you again soon, right?" Lo'ak questioned.

"Of course, you've mentioned it quite a bit during the trip." Spider quipped. 

"I need you to take care of yourself, Spider. I mean it." Lo'ak spoke softly but firm.

"I will... you know I always try to." Spider whispered, his eyes gazing deeply into Lo'ak's.

<"Good."> whispered Lo'ak.

As they stood in front of the train door, Lo'ak leaned in to kiss his significant other deeply. He wanted to make sure Spider still felt him on his lips by the time he made it back. He too wanted to feel the phantom pressure of Spider's lips against his when he lays in bed trying to sleep.

The blond let out a content sigh and pressed his lips a little harder, wanting to deepen the kiss. His tongue swipes across Lo'ak's bottom lip, urging the younger boy to open his mouth. The response is immediate. Lo'ak wordlessly opens his mouth slightly to allow Spider to lick into his mouth hotly. Said blond holds onto Lo'ak tightly, never wanting to let go. Alas... things must always come to an end.

Lo'ak finally detaches from the heated kiss, his eyes dazed and his tongue licking at his lips. He and the blond breathe heavily, their foreheads pressed against one another as they bask in each other's warmth. Spider admires the state he left his lover in, a shy smile visible on his face as he bites his bottom lip to keep him from chuckling at Lo'ak's debauched state.

Spider leans in once more and places a chaste kiss to Lo'ak's lips before muttering lowly, <"You should go now. Wouldn't want to keep your family waiting.">

<"You make it hard to leave, you know?"> Lo'ak muttered, his eyes staring unashamedly at Spider's plump lips.

The blond chuckles lowly, smiling widely at his lover's words. 

<"I'm well aware, Lo, but you really should go see your family. I do not wish to be on your mother's bad side.">

The darker-skinned boy groaned, quickly pressing one last kiss to his lover's lips before pressing the button to open the train door. They both bid each other goodbye, Spider watching from the window as his partner gets further and further away from the train station to make his way to his house. 

Only when the blond boy feels the train start back up again does he head back to where he was previously sitting with Lo'ak. Upon sitting down on the soft kitchen, Spider releases a soft sigh and rests his head on his arms.

As he watches the scenery change every now and then outside the window, he can't help but feel like something big is going to happen soon. He desperately hopes his gut feeling is wrong.

___

Months later in District 12, Spider was currently in the Viel's home. His time back home had been boring and uneventful for the most part. He still conversed with Eywa and went about his life as usual. He'd been catching word of the next Hunger Games being announced soon and he was dreading it very much.

As he sits in the Viel's living room, talking with the matriarch and patriarch of the family, the television channel changes out of the blue. The conversation stops abruptly, everyone looking at the screen to see what'd happened. 

President Quaritch was currently on the screen, waving at the citizens of Pandora in front of a microphone.

"What could he possibly need to say now?" Mr. Viel grumbled.

"Let's just wait and see, darlin'" Mrs. Viel responds, her voice soft but tone tense.

Spider wordlessly leans forward onto his knees to listen to what this scumbag could possibly have to say.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is 75th year of the Hunger Games," he begins, 

"and it was written in the charter that every 25 years that there would be a Quarter Quell to keep fresh for each new generation." Quaritch continues, his words becoming more ominous the longer he goes on. 

Spider isn't sure what the older man is planning, but he's sure it isn't anything good. As he keeps on talking, Spider gradually tenses until he's practically leaning off the sofa, impatiently waiting for Quaritch to get to the point.

"As a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of victors." President Quaritch announces, a proud grin showing on his face.

The color instantly drains from Spider's face as the words hit him. His mouth is left slight ajar, his eyes wide and unblinking. The two adults gasp at the announcement, both of them turning to look at the blond.

"What does that mean? What does he mean?" Ian questioned, his expression showing confusion.

"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry..." Mrs. Viel choked out.

Spider ignored every question and ounce of pity directed at him from the family as he quickly heads out of their home and runs toward the Victor's Village. Upon hearing those words, Spider had one plan in mind if everything goes to shit.

The blond found himself outside Norm's home, silently letting himself in since he knows the other man doesn't lock his doors much. He's met with Norm sitting on a recliner facing the television with a blank look in his eyes.

"What have you come here for? To beg me to save your life? You wouldn't be the first, kind." Norm inquires.

"No. I've come here for you to make me a promise." Spider responded tensely.

Norm turned his head to look at the younger boy before him. Spider silently walks to the sofa beside Norm and stares at him.

"Well? Tell me, kid. I'm all ears," said Norm.

"I need you to promise me you'll save Lo'ak." Spider demands.

"Kid, you know I can't--" Norm sighs, beginning to talk down the kid before he's interrupted.

"Please, Norm... I just need you to do this one thing for me." Spider pleads, his eyes teary and red.

"Lo'ak lives, not me." Spider spoke, his voice thick with emotion.

Norm stays silent for a few moments, his mind working through different plans and possibilities. Alas, he sighs and nods.

"You really love that boy, don't you?" Norm chuckled bitterly. Spider noticed how the older man's gaze seemed far away and distant. It was as if he was remembering something... or maybe someone.

"Yeah," Spider rasped, "I really do. I honestly don't know what I'd do without him now that we're together." Spider admitted.

"You two really were made for each other." Norm huffed playfully. 

Norm thought about what he wanted to say to the blond boy in front of him. God, his eyes look so pitiful, so desperate. He hated that look in the kid's eyes. He never wanted to see that look in Spider's eyes ever again.

A sigh escapes his lips before relents, "If he gets chosen during the Reaping Day, I'll do what I can to save him."

"But if I get chosen as a Tribute, then I can't do much myself while I'm in the games." Norm warns, his tone firm.

"Then I'll volunteer if you get called and you're automatically disqualified from the selection. I need all the help I can get from you from outside the game." said Spider.

Norm chuckles, "You're a smart kid, Spider."

"Thank you, Norm. I don't know how I'll ever repay you." Spider stated.

"Don't worry about it kiddo, I'll handle everything. Go get some rest." said Norm, ushering the boy out of his home.

Only when Spider closed the door to his house across the street did his house phone ring loudly. Norm already had a feeling as to who it was on the other line, and he wasn't looking forward to the talk he's about to have with him.

___

It was officially the reaping day for the Quarter Quell. Spider was dreading it so much. He didn't want to get out of bed, so Norm had to come and get him out of his house personally.

The presence of the peacekeepers walking around him and Norm as they lead them to the stage makes him tense. His Spider's head is angled down, simply watching the dirt beneath his foot become wood. Now only he and Norm stood beside one another, the rest of District 12 standing in front of them.

The blond didn't listen to much of the information spewing from the woman's mouth, but he focused once he heard her next words, "Well then, let us begin with the men everyone."

Spider silently stood in place, his eyes locked onto the ground as he hears the woman walk to the bowl and pull out a slip of paper. The moment she clears her throat he just knows the outcome won't be good.

"The first Tribute from District 12 is..." the woman begins, drawing out the suspense.

"...Norm Spellman!" 

Spider's mouth and feet are already moving for him before he can even register what he's doing. It is only when he hears himself say, "I volunteer as Tribute," did he realize what he did.

Norm grabs his shoulder to pull him back and hisses under his breath, "What are you doing, kid?" 

"Let go, Norm. Please..." Spider whispered. 

"Oh- Well, it seems Spider Socorro is volunteering to take Norm's place." said the woman.

"With that, Norm is now unable to participate in the Quarter Quell due to this young man volunteering." stated the woman enthusiastically.

Right. Spider just remembered that when you volunteer for someone you essentially disqualify them from participating in the games, therefore sparing them. His mind was reeling from thought of the Quarter Quell that he briefly forgot the rules of volunteering for someone. He just did that for Norm. He'd volunteered twice now. Once for Ian, and now for Norm.

"Alrighty everyone! Seeing as there are no female victors from District 12, Spider Socorro will be the only representative of his district in this year's Quarter Quell." said the woman.

At this announcement, the blond wordlessly raises his head and stares ahead at nothing. He can feel a single tear from his left eye escaping his eye and cascading down his cheeks. Spider doesn't even care that the cameras most likely caught him in such a vulnerable state. 

In his vulnerability, Spider suddenly feels a soft gust of air hitting the skin on his cheeks. It lingers for a few moments before ceasing. A small twitch of his mouth is all he shows that he knew it was Eywa attempting to comfort him. He couldn't be more thankful and grateful for the goddess.

"Here we have our sole Tribute representing District 12, Spider Socorro! Give him a round of applause everyone." the woman encouraged, her smile seemingly stretched thin and pointedly.

The citizens of District 12 did not clap for Spider. Not at all. Instead, they saluted him just as they did in his first games. And this time... he saluted right back to them, his face blank.

The feeling of peacekeepers quickly rushing up to him and grabbing him and Norm to drag them away to the train didn't even phase him. He honestly just felt numb. He was really going back in the games. He doesn't want to do it all again... Spider only wants to be with Lo'ak. He needs Lo'ak...

The blond needed to keep Lo'ak alive. He was willing to do whatever it takes to keep his lover alive in the games, even if it means sacrificing himself. 

Now that Norm isn't going into the games with him, he can efficiently plan how to keep Lo'ak alive and inform Spider once it's mapped out. All he needed to do now was wait patiently and pray to Eywa everything turns out well. Everything has to go well...