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"He made me look weak!" Katniss's voice rang out in frustration, sharp and defensive, and it snapped something in Aries. She wasn't seeing the full picture—her mind locked in on blame, deflecting her own fear and anger onto everyone else.
But more than that, it was the way her tone lashed out at Estella that caused Aries's blood to boil. Estella, always quiet and composed, had done nothing to warrant the bite in Katniss's words. Ignoring Estella's soft plea to hold himself back, Aries stormed forward, his footsteps loud and deliberate, the tension in his body nearly vibrating through the room.
Haymitch immediately stepped in, placing himself between the seething Aries and Katniss, his instincts recognizing the barely restrained violence in Aries's gait and eyes. He was no longer just a tribute—he looked like a predator moments before the kill.
"Aries, please. I'm tired. This heels are killing me, let's go back." Estella's voice, calm and tired, carried a gentleness that cut through the rage fogging Aries's mind. Her words reached him, stopping him from lunging forward and tearing into Katniss verbally—or worse. He inhaled deeply, jaw clenched, and exhaled with restraint.
His glare flicked to Haymitch, then settled on Katniss as he spoke with cold detachment. "He makes you look weak?" Aries echoed with a sneer, standing tall, his voice laced with disgust. "Good. Let them think that. Make it a show. Prove them wrong. Build an image. Win and go home. Isn't that what you want?"
The sarcasm in his voice was razor-sharp as he towered over the group, his posture imposing and fearless. He took a threatening step closer, making Katniss instinctively tense. "You're not going to win with that attitude," he said darkly. "He's putting in good words for you. If I were Peeta, I would've stabbed you in your sleep."
The silence that followed was heavy and sharp. Katniss was speechless, her face stiff with shock. Even Haymitch said nothing—his mouth open, but no words coming. Peeta looked just as surprised, eyes flickering between the two of them, unsure what stunned him more: Aries's venomous words, or the fact that Aries—of all people—was backing him up.
What Peeta didn't realize was that Aries didn't particularly like him. In fact, Aries barely tolerated anyone. But if Estella referred to Peeta as a friend, then Aries would cover for him out of principle alone. That was the unspoken loyalty he carried.
Estella, who had remained still through the tension, finally stepped forward. She let out a breath and placed a hand gently on Aries's arm. The contact, soft and grounding, helped to dial down the snarl in his voice. Her warmth seeped into him, tethering him before he spiraled further.
Aries's shoulders dropped slightly, and with more control, he said, "It's called a survival script. Use your fucking brain." He finally stepped back, the protective fury in his eyes slowly reined in, though the tension still clung to him like armor. Without so much as a word, as if he were lifting something weightless, Aries hoisted Estella over his shoulder.
