The Price of Champions and Crowns (Hunger Games)

27

The line went dead and with it my only connection to home.

They're watching me.

I heard Liam's footsteps fall silent as he hovered behind the locked door. I swallowed. They're watching us. 

I bit my lip before turning around and unlocking the door. Liam didn't hesitate before letting it swing open. He leant against the doorframe, his eyes assessing every inch of me. As if to make sure I hadn't injured myself in the two minutes we've been apart. He sighed. "Four...it's not as bad as you're making it out to be".

I can't do this. I need to climb a tree. Like that'll somehow solve everything. I just need to climb until the world becomes small and all there is is air. But...who knows what trees they have here. And I can't rely on climbing away from my problems anymore. Johanna's right, I'm nearly twenty now. I'm an adult. I need to get my shit together.

I nodded. "Okay so we live together in Four, we get married and it's technically what we wanted anyways right? All we talked about in the arena was just being together so...we just live and mentor an-".

Liam rubbed the back of neck with a tight smile. "There's no pressure Vic. Sure, we get married but we can live in seperate rooms if you're not ready and this place is huge. We don't have to be anything you don't want to be".

It felt like he just stabbed me with his trident. Of all the things here, he's the only one I'm sure about. "I want to sleep with you".

Shit. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. 

Liam instantly smirked and I quickly backtracked. "B-because I get nightmares sometimes". Lie. I indicated to my body as well. "And still weaning obviously off whatever I've been taking from Blight for months. And if Finnick's our neighbour we can never be too careful".

He chuckled then started out right laughing. "Firstly Finnick is complicated but he wouldn't go on a killing spree outside of an arena, I think. Secondly if you really wanted to sleep with me so badly all you had to do was say. Not like we didn't sleep together in the area. Unless, you don't have sleeping on your mind?".

I huffed in annoyance. "Don't make me kill you, Odair".

He just smirked even more before grabbing my hand. "Come on, I want to show you something".

He lead me down corridors I was all too familiar with and disappointment washed over me as we skipped all the bedrooms on the first floor. And then he lead me past the front door, past all the identical houses and lead me through half the district. His sea green eyes shone with excitement the further we raced. I hadn't realised we were running until we were standing out past the town, furthest from the beach. Its so isolated and there...there are trees. 

Beautiful tress, albeit not as tall and gorgeous like those of Seven but they'll do. 

He smiled at whatever look was on my face. "I used to come here everyday once I won because I figured, out of all the places in Four, this reminded me the most of you. Like I could pretend you were in one of these trees just out of sight but still here with me".

Yeah you best believe I kissed the fuck out of him after that. And that one doesn't need a bed to sleep with Liam Odair.

Time seemed to fly by. Nearly a week had gone by and Liam and I were the happiest I think we've ever been. Our days were spent in the field, the private Victors beach and the bedroom. We avoided the markets because Liam said it takes hours because people crowd. I guess unlike in Seven those in Four don't respect the privacy of their Victors that much. 

However every second day they'd be a food basket on our door step. Liam would would pick it up and then shrug with a "Mum". Only todays basket had a beautifully written note in cursive saying how excited both Finnick and Annie are to have us over for dinner. 

Liam clicked his tongue. "We've having dinner tonight with my parents".

I cringed. "How fun".

Liam shrugged. "They really want to meet you".

I scoffed. "They've met me plenty of times".

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Sorry. They want to meet you sober and when you don't think you're going into an arena with them not supporting you. Or when you're not full of survivors guilt. Heard about you breaking into their house on your victory tour". He laughed.

I shook my head. "That...that was a misunderstanding. And I didn't break in, they left their back door open".

He chuckled. "Fair enough. But tonight I'm afraid we'll have to enter through the front door otherwise we might scare Mum and she'll have a moment".

I nodded. "That's fine. It's just dinner right?".

He nodded. "Right, let's hope for your sake Mum isn't cooking fish". He cringed in amusement and I laughed before attempting to hit him.

Authors Note:

Tbh I'm not sure what direction I'm going to take this story. I thought i'd write another hunger games with Katniss, Peeta, Victoria and Liam vs the Capitol. So like old and new revolutions vs the Capitol and like whoever wins basically wins control of the country. That was my og plan? Like is that okay or are people expecting something bigger here?. Like legit let me know otherwise that'll be how I write it.