Chapter Text
Brutus shoots her an odd look as she sits there, teeth bared, one leg crossed over the other, eyes glued to the screen, watching every move her tribute makes with single minded ferocity that she saves for the most important of tasks, and to her, this is one of them. The District 2 viewing room is the largest and the best, with the most comfortable couches, and the best food. In years past, she would be lounging on the plush couch, drink in hand, a bowl of ice cream or a slice of pizza on her lap or on the couch beside her, but not this year. Nope. This year she is angry. Tense.
"You Haven't eaten today." Brutus says quietly, pressing a bowl of steaming hot soup into her hands. "You've got to keep your strength up. I don't see why youre so worried. Cato's the favorite this year. I have no Idea why you chose Clove to be this year's tribute. Yes, she's of age, but she's a runt, no possible way she could win, and you lied and told them she was 16?" He laughs, taking a swig of his drink, intentionally blocking her view of the screen. "Why couldn't you just send her in as an 18 year old and be done with it?"
"Move your ass you ignorant buffoon." Her tone is like ice, and she stands up tired of his antics far too keyed up to stay in their suite any longer. "I'm going to go down to the viewing rooms and get her some more sponsors"
'Go ahead. Im still writing her off as a lost cause. You know how very minute her chances were, and yet you still chose her, sentenced her to a painful death." Brutus laughs as Enobaria leaves the room, slamming the door in his face.
The night is ridiculously cold as Clove lays wrapped in her sleeping bag, her eyes closed to the starry night, muscles still tense, still on high alert, one hand wrapped tightly around her token, a necklace with a charm that looks suspiciously like a wolf's fang dyed golden. her thoughts turn to happy days at home, in Two, learning to swim. She had been scared of the water, frightened of the way the cold seemed to swallow her up as she was expected to trust in the unknown. Here, she lays, absentmindedly tracing the curve of the tooth, watching the stars above her. She remembered, being the first trainee to leap off the rocky ledge into the water below, simply because Enobaria had jumped first. The black water had swallowed her up and she had come up coughing and sputtering, but wrapped in warm arms. "Silly Clover. You know I will always catch you. You have no need to fear when I am near."
"But youre not here. And I AM afraid. I shouldnt be, but I am. I am. I need you Fang." Clove held the necklace to her lips, knowing that no one but her beloved mentor and lover would hear her words, though the arena was full of microphones. Enobaria had specifically designed this token, placing a communicator directly inside the fang so that they could communicate while Clove was in the games.
As soon as she hears the soft voice, Enobaria stands, rushing to the bedroom in her private suite, slamming the door shut behind her. She sighs softly, speaking in a loving tone. "I'm scared too." Enobaria whispers, letting her words sink in. " Im scared and I need you. I need you to be strong for me. I need you to win for me. I love you. When..when all of this is over, I want to marry you. When you come home to me, I want to be your wife." She feels tears in her eyes, a rarity for the brave victor. Clove was the only one who had seen her cry, besides her horses, and dogs. " I cant lose you love. I cant lose you."
"You wont lose me." Clove shivers beside the fire, trying her hardest to keep warm, though even the sleeping bag she had received that morning from a sponsor did little good against the elements at this late stage in the games. Ever since Katniss and the little girl had blown up their supplies, Clove had next to nothing to keep her warm, or to fill her stomach. She wasn't anything without those tools and supplies, this much she knew incredibly well, though she did not like to admit it. She had been chosen simply because once she was a victor, she would be able to have a Capitol wedding, and to marry the love of her life in front of Snow's Palace, maybe the ceremony would be officiated by the President himself! She hoped it may be so! But if she was being honest, she didnt care. Shed just rather be in her lover's arms right now, away from every care except the promise of an early run. She was hungry, and wounded, and tired, and the only place she wanted to be in this moment in time was in Enobaria's feather bed in District 2, or maybe even in the large hot tub, her lover massaging away her aches and kissing away her pains. "And yes. my answer is yes. I want nothing more than to be your wife. I...Im so cold En. I need you...I dont know if I can do this."
Enobaria's voice catches in her throat as she lays there, allowing the cold air of the vents to blow on her, turning the temperature down to further feel like she was laying beside her lover. "Hey...no. dont do this. Im not going to talk with you if youre going to spend this time doubting yourself. Im not going to leave you. And I promise...Im going to get you something to help you. A..decent meal. A decent blanket. A coat. Something...my love. Try to sleep. Please...try."
"For you my love? of course I will try. I will win. I will come home to you. I love you."