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Perched high on a thick tree branch, Aries and Estella weren't so much camping as they were catching their breath—resting yet alert, their gazes sharp in case another tribute made the mistake of getting too close. The tree canopy sheltered them like a quiet haven, leaves rustling above like whispered secrets.
Estella's poisonous wound had fully healed by now, allowing her to return to her usual independent self, brushing off Aries's offers to help her with even the simplest tasks, like changing clothes. He still watched her with a guarded softness though, quietly relieved each time he confirmed she could move without wincing.
Aries, in unusually high spirits, entertained himself by showing off a reckless trick—jamming the blade of his pocket knife between his fingers in quick, risky succession. Estella only raised an eyebrow, folding her arms and half-hoping, half-teasing that he'd lose a finger. The thought made her smirk.
He gave a boyish laugh, clearly amused by her unspoken skepticism, but his mischief quickly turned to clumsiness as the knife slipped from his grip and tumbled twenty-five feet below, disappearing into the forest floor.
Estella bit back a laugh, failing miserably to hide her grin. She reclined further along the branch, letting the breeze kiss the bare parts of her skin, her voice rich with sarcasm and playfulness. "You're great at it," she praised, the words drawn out with enough humor to cushion the blow of him losing his knife.
Aries plopped down beside her with an exaggerated huff, leaning his back against the trunk, eyes fluttering shut—not asleep, but simply basking in the comfort of her voice. She had a way of making even silence sound like music when she filled it. And he liked that. No need for masks, no need to prove anything. Around Estella, he wasn't just the Capitol's monster with a sword—he was something softer, something real.
"Aries, I don't know how you do it," she murmured after a while, patting the empty space next to her. The wind lifted her hair, fanning it around her sharp face as if nature itself wanted to crown her in motion. Aries cracked one eye open, gaze fixed on her. "Do what?" he asked, voice low and amused.
"You always look so... strong. Like you're never unsure. Like you always have a plan, even if it's chaos. I've never met a guy like you." Her voice was thoughtful, quieter now, as though she were confessing something she wasn't used to saying out loud.
Aries's brows lifted, his expression halfway between surprise and bashful amusement. "You... I'm not sure if that's a compliment, but I'll take it. So—thanks." He smiled, awkward but genuine, and Estella laughed softly, plucking a few leaves off the branch. She murmured a quick, almost whispered "sorry" to the tree before folding the leaves into little shapes to pass the time, her fingers delicate, graceful.
Time passed in a strange lull—fatigue settling in Aries's bones while the air around Estella softened into something peaceful. He kept his arm loosely behind her, his presence a quiet promise of safety. She no longer looked over her shoulder, no longer braced herself like she had to. Not with him. Aries could feel it—the shift, the silent trust. She was letting her guard down, and he took that as the highest compliment he could be given.
But peace was never built to last in the arena.
The stillness cracked when a voice echoed across the sky, loud and sharp. "Attention all Tributes!"
Estella sat upright in an instant, eyes alert. Aries scowled, hand drifting automatically to his sword. The announcement continued: "You've all been invited to a feast! Come to the Cornucopia at sundown; waiting there will be items each of you needs desperately, in backpacks with your District numbers on them. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor."
Silence followed, but both of them knew what that meant—chaos was coming. They locked eyes, unspoken understanding flickering between them like sparks. This was a trap. A tempting, cruel one. But one that might be necessary to walk into.
Estella was the first to move, gripping her side briefly as she began her descent. Aries followed closely behind, landing with practiced ease and reclaiming his fallen knife. Together, they moved in silence toward the Cornucopia, the sky bleeding orange as the sun began to sink.
Crouched behind thick brush, they didn't speak. They didn't need to. They both knew better than to rush. Estella's breath hitched when the clearing came into view, stocked with food and supplies—everything they could possibly need. It looked like mercy, but it smelled like death.
"Got a plan?" Aries finally asked, knowing full well that if anyone was going to think ahead, it'd be her. He thrived in the moment, sword swinging, instincts sharp.
Estella, though—she always played the long game. She didn't reply, instead taking a step back, wordlessly placing him in front of her as she scanned the Cornucopia with intense focus, eyes darting for traps, flaws, danger. After a long moment, she let out a breath. "All yours."
His signature smirk crept across his lips. She knew exactly what she'd just given him—a green light to let loose. Estella sighed, rolling her eyes. "You have your fun. I'm staying here," she muttered, waving him off as she backed away. Aries chuckled under his breath and started toward the clearing.
From a distance, Estella couldn't help but observe him. Sometimes she questioned how someone like Aries, who could flip into a vicious killer with bloodthirsty ease, could also be so patient and kind with her. Around others, he was fire and rage. Around her... he was warmth. And despite the fearsome scar that slashed across his eye and the wild glint he carried into battle, he was gentle in the way he looked at her. As if she were something worth protecting, not something broken.
She climbed the nearest tree, settling into a spot with a view. The sun hovered above the horizon now, casting a golden hue on the arena. "Good luck," she whispered, though she knew he couldn't hear it.
Aries walked straight into the Cornucopia without raising a guard, blades casually swinging at his sides as he whistled a jaunty tune. He looked so out of place—like a villain in his own lair, completely at ease in a war zone. Estella couldn't help but chuckle to herself. He was insane. And he was hers.
A sudden pistol shot cracked through the air.
Aries froze, eyes snapping to the entrance just as Foxface darted out from within. They locked eyes—she skidded to a halt, sizing him up instantly. It was clear she didn't want to fight. Aries, on the other hand, was itching for it, posture shifting as his bloodlust flickered to life, barely restrained.
But just before anything could happen, a familiar whistle cut through the tension.
His head jerked up, spotting Estella lounging on the tree like a bored cat. Foxface didn't hesitate—she bolted, knowing she had seconds. Aries glanced between the two, torn between the kill and the girl who had, quite clearly, distracted him on purpose.
"I'll get you back!" he yelled up at Estella, pointing a playful, dramatic finger at her as she giggled down at him. The words, though aimed at her, held a double meaning. Foxface would pay eventually. But Estella? She'd already gotten away with it. And for her, he was perfectly fine with that.
