The Trials of Neo City [WINWIN • YUTA]

🖤 5. Una Mattina 🖤

The hills rolled by into flat ground with mountains in the distance. The train was fast and Sicheng's stomach screamed at him like it had been doing all day. He couldn't tell if it was because of hunger or the nervous knot forming everytime reality settled in, but it seemed like a bit of both.

Renjun locked himself in a restroom, at least that's what Sicheng assumed. He had a habit of that back at home and Renjun had been thrown back into the train and put on surveillance by a Peacekeeper before departure, so as soon as the train began moving hours ago, he holed himself up in a luxurious looking closet, pretty lights adorning an expensive looking sink and toilet. At least, that's what he assumed it was.

But Sicheng sat in the train car with Lay, holding his hands clasped on his abdomen as he stared from the window at the plains and fields he'd never seen and won't ever see again. His lips were sealed in a tight line.

Lay seemed to notice, though. He waved over an attendant and whispered something to her, the woman saying nothing back.

Moments later, the woman returned with a tray of foods and fruits of all different colors, things Sicheng hadn't ever seen before. His mouth watered longingly and he hadn't even noticed until Lay started chuckling and waved her away, the woman only nodding silently and bowing.

"It's treats. Food. You must be hungry, hm?" Lay asked, Sicheng nodding excitedly. The older man smiled warmly and held out a fork, pristine silver contrast to his pale hand. Sicheng nervously met his hand and Lay handed the utensil over. The boy only stared at his mentor with wild confusion, eyes darting from him to the woman, who'd turned to walk away.

"She's an Avox. Tongue cut out for rebelling, usually." Lay clarified as the woman departed the train car. Sicheng shuddered and the train car door opened again, the woman leaving as a small boy with disheveled dark hair to his shoulderblades peeked in with a scowl. His arm was red and Sicheng could make out faint nail marks, as if Renjun had been scratching his arm almost compulsively.

"Ah. The other is here..." Lay drawled, Renjun all but hissing at him.

"Don't speak our tongue." He shot, narrowing his eyes and sitting in his he seat farthest from them and the table of food (although Sicheng noticed the lingering of Renjun's stare on the platter as he walked to the corner).

Lay only chuckled again and turned to Sicheng. "He's fiery, that's good." The man nodded towards the youngest and Sicheng frowned a little bit, not responding and only digging his fork into a weird pile of red mush that reminded him of the strawberries he could only try once, on his eighth birthday. He raised the cutlery to his mouth and closed his eyes, scared until he felt the sugar on his tongue. His muscles relaxed as he let the taste of sugar and faint fruit dance in his brain.

"Gelatin. Good, hm?" Lay spoke, looking at Renjun, then back to Sicheng. "Would you like some? It's quite the experience!"

Renjun looked out of the window, saying nothing still. Lay sighed and looked out of the window as well before speaking again.

"You two are both very quiet, aren't you?"

Sicheng nodded sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I don't talk too much around new people and Renjun is just... angry." He excused the both of them but Renjun snarled at him for it, narrowing his eyes.

Lay made a face of understanding and picked a chocolate strawberry from the platter in front of him on the compartment's table. "I see. Well, as much as I hate it, we're almost to the Capitol. I haven't even briefed you, my apologies. When we arrive, you unpack in your hotel and return to meet a stylist during the evening, who will be showing you off at the Chariot Rides tomorrow. Now, you're going to want to smile real big and show off your charming points to get sponsors."

Sponsors. Sicheng knew that sometimes in the games, random aid was sent to tributes. Packages of medicine, food, water, weapons; extremely rare donations sent to the most beloved tributes.

"Oh." Is all Sicheng could say.

"Any ideas of what those charming points are?" Lay tried. The cabin was silent again and Sicheng shook his head. The eldest man sighed and looked between the two, Sicheng's quiet demeanor and Renjun looking as if he'd snap if you breathed wrong.

"Seems like we have quite a lot of work to do..."