Songbirds and Snakes

Snow Falls... In Love? (Part 1)

(Yandere Coriolanus Snow x Innocent female reader)

Coriolanus Snow. He was the epitome of perfection. At least that's what he wanted everyone to believe. His mismatched buttons and his wrinkled shirt gave little away to the unnoticed eyes of his peers, too caught up in their own fate of the prize.

That was before they announced there would be one more trial to determine the winner.

Being a mentor in the 10th annual hunger games.

As names went by and a student was assignment to them, groans were heard or the small smirks growing on the faces of the more burley tributes mentors.

Finally it was Corio's turn, him receiving a small girl from district 12.

"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" Echoed through the room, many staring in shock as volunteers were rare for obvious reasons.

They watched as the girl took the stage, her shoulders hunched and silent tears rushing down her face making her appear meek.

"A volunteer! Let me just say I am proud to be the one to get your name, which is..." the announcer spoke with egotistical glee.

"Y/N L/N"

"And I see you know the name of the would be tribute, who were you volunteering for?"

"My little cousin."

Corio's heart scrunched at the thought of it being Tigress, admiring the girl for her bravery while the others around him laughed, thinking she stood no chance with a heart like hers.

That was the moment his obsession started. First it was centered around winning the money to provide for his family, as well as the namesake that came with it.

But now he couldn't care less. Of course the money would be nice but it would mean nothing without her by his side for the rest of their lives.

He snuck into the train station to give her a simple rose. At least to him it was simple.

To Y/N it meant everything.

Seeing her up close only solidified the feelings in his mind and heart. Vowing to himself to do whatever it takes to keep her alive in the arena.

Even when the two of them sat at the edge of the capital zoo. Her on one side of the bars while he reigned free on the other. Something she couldn't help but wish for. Even then she would never regret saving her cousin.

Y/N shared the food with him, even when Corio, as she'd taken to calling him in her head as she was too afraid to call him it out loud, insisted she build up her strength. She never breathed a word about how she heard his stomach rumble and the glances he snuck.

Instead Y/N passed him some of the food he brought, insisting her stomach couldn't handle it, doing more harm than good.

Then came the day of exploring the arena, strategizing for the unpredictable day as much as possible. The two of them walked hand in hand.
When the cameras turned towards them, Y/N attempted to let go. She assumed Corio would as well, she was grateful for the comfort but surely it would cause him issues. After all Y/N was district.
Yet, his grip tightened, bordering painfully, and he insisted to stay connected.

She had no hope in surviving the arena, as she looked around there wasn't strategies forming in her head about how to survive but the least painful ways of dying.

The universe seemingly heard her as the arena exploded, bomb after bomb, debris fell.

Tributes and mentors alike scattered to safety, some making a run for it as peacekeepers chased them.

Y/N had lost Corio's hand in the ordeal. Frantically she looked through the dust and falling debris to hear his subtle cry for help as a pole pinned down his legs, proceeding to catch his jacket on fire. His blood mixing into the red jacket.

She collapsed in front of him as she pulled the pole off with all the strength she could muster. It was just enough to where he could get out from under it and so he did.

The back of his jacket stayed lit as she threw her mother's jacket onto his back, the only thing she had left of her mom and one she knew she would never see again.

Corio attempted to stand up as the fire was out, the burns and cuts felt like nothing as he watched as Y/N was ripped away from him by peacekeepers. She yelled for him but all he could do was watch before he lost consciousness.

~*~

When he awoke he was in the hospital, Tigress at his bedside along with his friend Sejanus. They asked questions about him but the only response that fell from his lips was...

"What happened to Y/N?"

The two didn't respond, glancing at each other before motioning to the tv where she was seen walking onto the stage.

He stood as quickly as possible. Limping his way to the tv in his hospital gown.

Her eyes shined of innocence and heartbreak. For the situation of her looming death and the fact she had no idea of he was alive.

She had no special skills or ways to win over the audience. So she did what her mother taught her, be herself.

The other tributes used charm, strength, or humor to win over the capital. Donations slowly falling in. Y/N had herselt, her shyness, her innocence, and her love.

She avoided the topic of the rebels and bombs but only spoke about wanting the best for Coriolanus Snow. After all if they wanted someone to root for, it wasn't to be her, but him. To Y/N it was to speak about the person who saved her, emotionally over physically. But the capital formed connections through it, after all they wouldn't see this aspiring young man as less than human like her meaning they would form an emotional connection, making his victory through her something too root for.

The genuineness shined in her eyes and the capital soaked it in. Sending in money faster than one could even count the previous number. Earning her the highest amount of donations, even tripling some of the other tributes.

He rushed to the zoo that night. Bandages still wrapped around his covered body. Making his way up to the bars he whispered Y/N's name enough to make her hear it but not the other tributes. Luckily she laid awake thinking of his and her fates, quickly she rushed over to him.

"Corio!" She cried out softly, not even noticing that she called him the nickname she spoke but he did, causing an unnoticed smirk.

After all that was what his family called him and soon you would be sharing his last name when his plans worked out.

They talked about how he was alive, as he held her face through the bars, catching the tears falling from her eyes.

They leaned closer and closer before their lips met.
He was slow and passionate, trying to push his love through the kiss knowing he wouldn't be able to say his true feelings out loud until he knew she was safe after the games.

Y/N pulled back for air, her cheeks blushing red from her first kiss.

With her reciprocation Coriolanus Snow knew he had to do everything he could to make her his, even if it meant bending a few rules.

After all Snow always falls on top.