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No matter how many complaints went through Coriolanus Snow’s mind, he didn’t voice a single one of them. He didn’t know what he expected after having lived in the Capitol all of his life. He had to pretend the Snows were rich in front of everyone despite not having much, but still his living conditions were better there than in the middle of the woods.
Though despite hardships, Lucy Gray Baird made all of that worth it. Even the briefest hesitation about whether he should go back or not left entirely every single time Coriolanus was met with one of her fond gazes. At that point, he had already assumed he was willing to keep living in that little cabin in the woods forever if that meant being with Lucy Gray.
It would be an understatement to say the girl had turned his world upside down. If Coriolanus told himself he would end up running away with a girl from the districts, that he had cheated in the Hunger Games more than once to save said girl’s life because he had fallen for her, he would’ve laughed at himself. And yet, there he was.
Coriolanus had heard more than once that love made people say and do things they wouldn’t even think of doing – he properly understood what they meant then. Just one look at Lucy Gray already made Coriolanus weak in the knees. He was still amazed and surprised by the extremes he had reached just so Lucy Gray would stay alive.
Most importantly, alive, and by his side. Lucy Gray was many things: a performer, a victor, a survivor, brave, smart, talented, beautiful – but the most important of them all, she was his. His love, his girl, his Lucy Gray. Coriolanus was convinced he would do anything to keep her by his side at that point, cheating in the Games was just the start.
It was ironic enough that precisely the cheating was what brought him back to Lucy Gray. Going to District 12 and seeing her alive and well had ignited something inside his heart – he had been unable to look away as she was singing, mesmerized by her. Lucy Gray had already escaped from his grasp once, and he wasn’t going to let it happen twice.
Lucy Gray was a songbird who was meant to have the freedom to fly, and if someday Coriolanus had to cage her to prevent her from flying away from him, then so be it. He loved her, and he needed to have her. The line between love and possession was a thin one, and Coriolanus didn’t run away from those feelings. He knew they existed, and wasn’t scared of it.
Though the, instead of caging Lucy Gray, he was following that songbird into the woods, enjoying the freedom being away from everyone and everything else gave them. It wasn’t so bad, thought Coriolanus. He got to be with Lucy Gray every day, to hug her, to kiss her, to sleep by her side, what was he going to complain about? Exactly, nothing.
That day, the sky was already becoming dark when both Lucy Gray and Coriolanus were on their way back to the cabin, having spent most of the day looking for enough food to survive for a few days. She took a little detour to pick some berries, and the last thing he heard after her quick steps was the sound of something hitting the ground followed by a painful scream.
He recognized her voice immediately. “Lucy Gray!” Coriolanus turned around and ran to her, panic setting in his mind when he noticed the girl’s bleeding wound in her leg. “What happened?”
“That huge rock was covered by bushes and I didn’t see it.” She pointed at said rock with a finger. “I’m fine though, no big deal.”
“No big deal? You’re bleeding.” Coriolanus knelt next to her, carefully examining the wound. “Can you walk?”
Lucy Gray gave him a weak nod, but when she tried to stand up, the pain in her expression betrayed her words. “I said I’m f–”
“You’re clearly not.” Coriolanus spoke, helping her move an arm around his shoulders before carrying her princess style. “No more pretending it doesn’t hurt, got it?”
Lucy Gray looked at him like a child who had just been scolded. “Okay.”
Once back inside the cabin, Coriolanus threw a couple of blankets on the floor, leaving Lucy Gray on them, making sure her leg didn’t have to use any strength. She sat there as he looked through his things, taking a proper look at the wound which was, indeed, open and bleeding. Lucy Gray clicked her tongue, telling herself she should’ve been more careful.
Coriolanus was grateful he happened to bring bandages with him, because their other option was tearing apart a piece of clothing. Silently, he treated her wound with utmost care, slowly wiping off the blood before placing a bandage around Lucy Gray’s leg. She hissed out of pain, but didn’t complain, keeping her body as still as she was able to.
“Drink.” Coriolanus spoke as he handled her a bottle of water.
Doing as she was told, Lucy Gray took a long sip, suddenly finding herself to be thirsty. “Thank you.”
“Rest now, at least until the wound closes.” Coriolanus told her, his fingers ghosting over the wounded flesh.
“You don’t have to treat me like I’m sick or something.” She said, her voice low. “I’ll be alright.”
“Of course you will.” A small smile grew on his face. “You’re strong, and the wound isn’t that big. But you can afford to rest now, so do it.”
“I suppose you’re right there.” Lucy Gray acknowledged with a nod, lying down on the blanket. “You can keep hunting if you want.”
Coriolanus shook his head as he looked for some clean clothes. “I’ll stay with you.”
Since insisting would get her nowhere, Lucy Gray closed her eyes. “Okay.”
She wasn’t aware of how tired she was, so sleep easily found her. When Lucy Gray opened her eyes again, the sky was already dark, the sounds of nature being the only thing that could be heard outside of the cabin. When she noticed her body was warm, she realized had another blanket was covering her body, which was evidently Coriolanus’s doing.
Speaking of, her eyes unconsciously searched for Coriolanus first thing, finding him seated next to the window, his mind seemingly absent. Perhaps he was asking himself if he had made the right choice by running away with her, Lucy Gray thought. If that was what awaited him for possibly the rest of his life, wounds and blood and cold nights.
Being there with her had been his choice, but what if he regretted it? Were his feelings strong enough to keep living with her out there in the woods for the rest of their lives if they had to? Despite believing in the inherent goodness of people, Lucy Gray wasn’t dumb, she knew Coriolanus’s mind was beginning to get corrupted by the Capitol.
While it was true he had proved himself enough by being there with her, who said he couldn’t change his mind any moment then? Pushing aside her own fears about that, Lucy Gray chose to believe that wasn’t happening. That his loving words and sweet kisses were honest, that their bond, despite not being the healthiest, was strong and real.
Lucy Gray gazed at him, the moonlight slightly illuminating his features. She had never denied Coriolanus was more than attractive, the man was so handsome it was almost unfair, and she was sure he was aware of it. She missed his blond curls, but that new haircut also looked good on him – pretty much anything looked good on him, at least in her eyes.
“Coriolanus.” She called him, her voice still a bit sleepy.
His head turned when hearing his name. “You’re awake.” He moved from where he was, going to sit next to her. “How are you feeling, does it still hurt?”
She slightly moved her leg, letting another painful hiss. “A little, if I try to move. Though less than before.”
“Good.” One of his hands moved to stroke her brown locks, his fond gaze meeting her concerned one. “Is everything alright?”
While Lucy Gray could be honest, she chose to speak a white lie. “I was thinking that I would be warmer if you lie here with me.” Well, that wasn’t entirely a lie.
It was true that Lucy Gray valued honesty above everything, but she was hiding nothing but her own fears and doubts about the whole situation – about Coriolanus himself, despite how much she loved him. She chose to push all of that to the back of her mind, focusing all of her energy on resting so she wouldn’t feel the pain of her wounded leg.
Without hesitation, Coriolanus slipped under the blanket, lying next to her and chuckling when Lucy Gray was quick to rest on his chest, her head under his chin. He gently stroked her hair, his free hand moving up and down her back. Coriolanus would die a happy man as long as he had Lucy Gray in his arms – he wanted nothing more. Insanity would come for him if he lost her.
“Are you happy, Coriolanus?” Lucy Gray asked after a brief silence.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice was low yet tender. “Perhaps living out here isn’t what you expected and you would have rather stayed in the districts and find a way to avoid the blame.”
“Lucy Gray.” Coriolanus spoke. “Look at me.”
As she was asked, Lucy Gray raised her head and looked at him in the eyes, brown meeting blue. The hand Coriolanus had threading through her hair moved to the back of her head, slightly pushing it forward so he could place a short kiss on her lips. Cheekily, she took the initiative, giving him another one back. Then he did, then she did, then he did.
“As long as you’re with me, I’ll never regret leaving everything else.” His voice carried fondness, his tone assuring. “We’re safe, you’re safe, and we’re doing just fine so far.”
“Ignoring my leg.” Lucy Gray huffed.
“Ignoring your leg.” Coriolanus repeated, a grin on his face. “The thing is, you have nothing to worry about. I’m here, and I’m yours.” He kissed her again. “As you are mine.”
“That is true enough.” Lucy Gray smiled sincerely for the first time since she woke up. “Then that’s all there is to it.”
“Are you happy?” Coriolanus said then, asking Lucy Gray her own question.
“I am.” She gave him a brief nod. “I do miss singing with the Covey, though. They were the only family I knew.”
“I don’t blame you.” He didn’t add anything else.
“What’s your family like?” Lucy Gray voiced her question, curious to know more about Coriolanus.
“I lived with my grandma and cousin.” Images of grandma’am and Tigris appeared in Coriolanus’s mind. “I suppose I miss my cousin more than anyone else. She would’ve liked you.”
“Perhaps in other circumstances I would’ve gotten to meet her.”
“Maybe.” Coriolanus was sure than if Tigris ever got the chance to meet Lucy Gray, they would’ve certainly liked each other. Tigris had been the one who helped him when he wanted to win Lucy Gray’s trust at first. “I know it’s not the same as when you were with the Covey, but if you want, you can always sing to me.”
“Do you enjoy my singing?” Lucy Gray asked something she already knew the answer to.
“Very much.” Gently, his fingers moved to her chin, lifting it up so he could kiss her throat. “I couldn’t stop looking at you in that performance back in 12.” Truth to be told, Coriolanus wasn’t especially fond of music itself, but when Lucy Gray was the one singing, enjoying it felt effortless for him.
The more his lips touched her throat, the longer Lucy Gray’s body shuddered. “I noticed.”
“Of course you did.” Coriolanus kisses moved from her throat to her chin, then her lips again. “So if you ever want to sing again, I’ll gladly listen.”
“Okay.” Lucy Gray smiled. “Maybe next time I’ll sing about the boy who treated my wounds when I was injured. Do you think he’ll like it?”
“I’m pretty sure he will.”
They fell asleep that night between small talks and tender laughs, comfortably cuddling each other inside their little cabin. Perhaps their joy would last, perhaps it would be shattered if he chose to tell her about certain someone whose life ended because of him. Though until then, Lucy Gray and Coriolanus chose to ignore the rest of the world existed. It was just them.