HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 56

The New Year's Eve segment was a hit. Snow was a hit. Lilith had witnessed with her own eyes the number of viewers quadruple just at the mention of his name. Throughout the subsequent fifteen minutes he was on air, this wasn't the only statistic that grew. Ticket sales for the Victor's Festival, which had been steady since its release several days earlier, saw a meteoric leap with the broadcast of the program. Certain events had even sold out. Her cordless buzzed with texts from friends, family, and acquaintances alike, some celebrating their purchases while others bemoaned the tragedy of missing out and asked if there wasn't a way she could get them in?

As Snow sauntered back into the wings, a crew member intercepted him and began unclipping his microphone. Brimming with excitement and unable to keep still, Lilith swept toward them. Snow caught her eye over the young man fiddling with the wires.

"How did I do?"

She laughed. Did he really have to ask?

"I believe it's safe to say they love you, sir."

It was a full house out there in the Royce Concert Hall. Even now, as commercials ran and the stage was reconfigured for the grand finale, the whoops and cheers and thunderous applause in the auditorium that hosted the annual countdown show had only died down to a loud chatter. Lilith had no doubt what everyone was talking about. Still, she found the need to retrieve their sales record on her mobile device.

"Look—"

Relieved of electronics, Snow leaned in to peruse the screen, enveloping Lilith in his signature scent. It wasn't as heady tonight, but perhaps this was just her getting accustomed to the fragrance now that she was around it practically every day. She decided it came from both a cologne and the rose, which was a pink as delicate as her dress.

On the short notice, Lilith had little choice but to recycle the gown she would have worn to the Highbottom Remembrance Gala if not for her cast. This wasn't any ordinary studio visit. Not even one that was guided by her almost fiancé, not boyfriend third cousin who was also the owner of the production company. This was NUTS—NYE Under the Stars. This was a full-on party both on and off camera. Of course, Lilith could have avoided the stress. It wasn't compulsory that she came at all, but when their slot had been confirmed, Snow suggested she tagged along to learn something, his actual words being:

"If you don't have any immovable plans, it'd be good to come and see how it works."

She did not have any immovable plans. By this time on a regular year, Lilith would be out in the streets with her friends, packed together amongst throngs of fellow Capitol citizens in the City Circle, all waiting to usher in the new year with the symbolic shower of confetti and spectacular fireworks that followed. Lilith enjoyed the company. Lilith enjoyed the atmosphere. Lilith, however, most definitely did not enjoy the cold. Whatever gear she wore, whatever protection she employed, she always left with benumbed fingers, an unfeeling face, and a shiver that did not want to stop until the sun rose—and that was before the snow.

Lilith did not miss this.

With her radius and ulna declared as still healing furthermore, she wasn't keen on squeezing and jostling through crowds. Here, she was warm, comfortable, not at risk of re-breaking any bones, and the only snow present did not seem cold at all. In fact, Lilith was quite aware of the heat radiating from his body—Snow was that close. When he straightened up, the rush of air that filled the space between them was a contrasting wave of coolness that tickled Lilith's skin. She gave an involuntary shudder.

"I'm glad to be doing something for the Games."

Snow chuckled, but Lilith caught a tinge of wistfulness in his tone that wasn't only strange but totally unexpected. She would have thought him thrilled by the results, but if he felt any joy, it was being eclipsed by something else.