Mockingjay - Peeta Mellark (3)

}19{ - Real or Not Real

Livia had never really seen Boggs angry before.

Not when she had disobeyed his orders, not even when Gale broke his nose.

But he was angry when he returned from his phone call with the president.

The first thing he did was instruct Soldier Jackson- his second in command- to set up a two-person, round-the-clock guard on Peeta.

Then he took Livia on a walk, weaving through the sprawling tent encampment until their squad was far behind them.

"He'll try and kill me anyway", Livia said, "Especially here. Where there are so many bad memories to set him off."

"I'll keep him contained, Livia." Boggs assured.

"Why does Coin want me dead now?" Livia asked.

"She denies she does." He answered.

"But we know it's true", Livia muttered, "And you must at least have a theory."

Boggs gave her a long, hard look before he answered, "Here's as much as I know. The president doesn't like you. She never did. It was Peeta she wanted rescued from the arena, but no one else agreed. It made matters worse when you forced her to give the other victors immunity. But even that could be overlooked in view of how well you've performed."

"Then what is it?" Livia insisted.

"Sometime in the near future, this war will be resolved. A new leader will be chosen." Boggs started.

Livia rolled her eyes, "Boggs, no one thinks I'm going to be the leader."

"No. They don't", he agreed, "But you'll throw support to someone. Would it be President Coin? Or someone else?"

"I don't know. I've never thought about it." Livia said.

"If your immediate answer isn't Coin, then you're a threat. You're the face of the rebellion. You may have more influence than any other single person", Boggs explained, "Outwardly, the most you've ever done is tolerated her."

"So she'll kill me to shut me up." The minute Livia said the words, she knew they were true.

"She doesn't need you as a rallying point now. As she said, your primary objective, to unite the districts, has succeeded",
Boggs reminded her, "These current propos could be done without you. There's only one last thing you could do to add fire to the rebellion."

"Die." Livia said quietly.

"Yes. Give us a martyr to fight for", Boggs explained, "But that's not going to happen under my watch, Soldier Distefano. I'm planning for you to have a long life."

"Why?", This kind of thinking would only bring him trouble, "You don't owe me anything."

"Because you've earned it" he said, "Now get back to your squad."

Livia knew she should feel appreciative of Boggs sticking his neck out for her, but really she was just frustrated.

How could she steal his Holo and desert now?