The Hunger Games: The Crankiplier Story

The Kiss

I didn't sleep well that night, mainly because of my bruised and irritated eye. I just say there in silence listening to Mark mumble in his sleep.
I heated on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. His arms were draped around me like a soft blanket.

As I laid in his arms, I felt safe and warm. Eventually I heard his heart race slightly as he began to breath faster. Suddenly he jumped up and gasped which made me sit up quickly. Mark's eyes shot open as he darted around the room. He then looked up at me.

His fear then became sadness as he sighed and looked down.
"Im sorry." He whispered. "I just had a nightmare."

I rested my hand on his leg.
"It's okay. I get them too."

I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him closer to me. He took a moment to hug me bag but he sighed happily when he did.

"I'm here for you Mark."

I pulled away and looked at him to see he had a slight expression of sadness.
"Not for long." He whispered.
"There's four of us left, only ones comes out."

I nodded a bit.
"Yeah I know..."

I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed.
"Even if it's us two left, I don't want to be the one to shoots first."

"Well what if none of us shoot first?
He asked.
"What if we shot at the same time?"

"You mean we-" I paused once he nodded before I could even finish.
"Together in death." Mark said with a grin.

"But there won't be winner if we both die." I told him.

"Exactly, they don't deserve a winner."
He said.

I sighed and shook my head at his request.
"What?"

"If we committed suicide in front of everyone they would see it as denial to the capital and their rules." I said. "You know what that'll mean for us and our family."

Mark dropped his head down and sighed.
"I just don't want to win, without you."

"And if you do?" I asked.

There was a long silence as he stared at the ground scratching his arm.
"I'd have nothing." He said. "For you it's different, you have a father and a sister who need you."

He began to softly caress his side wound wrapped in bandages.
"Nobody needs me anyway."

We were quiet for a second, I was originally hesitant of what I was going to say, but there was no fear anymore.

"I need you, Mark."

His eyes lit up towards me as his face slowly formed a grin. I moved closer to Mark and nuzzled up to him.

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I had to kill you." I whispered. "When Presley died in my arms, I felt like I was holding my sister's dead body. That killed me on the inside."

Mark wrapped his arm around me and started rubbing my neck. "I thought you were dead too, by that point I just wanted to off myself anyway, but I couldn't."

Both of us were quiet again until Mark eventually broke the silence.

"Well by the time one of us has to make that choice, we can at least savor the last few moments we have left."

I smiled has Mark pulled me to his chest and held me tight.
"I don't think I'd be able to live without you, Ethan."

I sighed happily in his arms. "Me neither."

~Time Skip~

We rested again and waited till morning to leave the cave. It was getting brighter outside outside but I didn't get up. I was still savoring the moments we had left. Mark shuffled a bit as I looked up to face him to find him already looking at me with a tired smile.
"Morning." He said quietly.
I smiled back and cuddled up beside him.

Suddenly a bang from outside caught us both off guard. It sounded like a large tree hitting the ground. We jumped up and gazed outside the cave.
Mark tried to get up all the way but fell back down clenching his side that was still wounded.
I ran to his side and held him up.

I sat him back against the wall but he persisted.
"You're not going out there."

"Well you're not stopping me." I told him. "I don't want you walking around if you still hurt, you need to let your scar heal. Look at you can barely move."

Mark sighed knowing I was in the right. Even if someone was waiting for us out there, he knew he was too weak to fight.

"Alright." He mumbled quietly.

I grabbed my bag to stood up to leave before he grabbed my leg.
"Wait!"

I stopped and sat back down.
"Just-" Mark sighed and look down. "Promise me you'll be careful."

I rolled my eyes but smiled.
"I'll be careful." I said quickly.

"Mean it!"

I went quiet and hesitated on what I was going to do next. I knew there were cameras watching us but I didn't care. I moved closer and rested my hand on his chest as I softly pressed my lips upon his.

My mind went blurry while this was happening. I was scared about Mark and his reaction but I didn't pull away. After a moment of little reaction or movement, Mark slowly draped his arm around my back and rubbed the back of my head pulling me closer. My hand on his chest slowly moved up and cupped his cheek.
The kiss was soft and gentle, Mark still seemed speechless from his move but he didn't take long to kiss me back.

I pulled away slowly to see him flutter his eyes open. He looked up at me with ocean eyes as I rubbed his cheek with my hand.
"I promise." I whispered.

Mark slowly nodded and rested his forehead against mine. I made sure to kiss his forehead before leaving. By the time I left I was stunned. Did I really just kiss him?
Yes.
Yes I did.

I was still overwhelmed with shock and love. Feeling his lips against mine made me feel so complete.
I felt myself form an actual smile.

There was no way I could kill him now.