HEART OF GOLD | CORIOLANUS SNOW

𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 108

A significant weight lifted off Coriolanus's chest before he was physically burdened as Ma cried his name and flung herself into him. Tigris, who was on her heels, volunteered to ride with the paramedics, and Coriolanus took Ma in his car to the hospital. She was distraught to the point of being unintelligible, and it expended all of his patience to coax the situation out of her: Blood in his urine. High fever. Unresponsiveness.

Coriolanus suspected urinary tract infection, but the doctors confirmed worse: The bacteria had also attacked Strabo's kidneys, which were already weak and currently in failure. He would need a full week's course of antibiotics and dialysis—his poor health had ruled out his as a transplant recipient—but at least he was stable, and Coriolanus felt it wouldn't be coldhearted to excuse himself, especially not if he vowed to be back as soon as he could.

While Ma snivelled her gratitude and reassurances, Tigris cast him a reproachful look that only made him leave faster. If she wanted to lecture him, she could do it later.

The detour had made him late, albeit not for the dinner, per se. Coriolanus meant to oversee at least part of the setup himself—it was him who was allegedly throwing this party after all. Of course, it was just a pretext to spend a couple more hours with her, legitimately, without having to settle on any particular future.

When he made his entrance to the Capitol Arena's VIP dining lounge, cocktails were already being mixed up at the makeshift bar by in-house multi-talent, Titus Trinket. Lilith was nowhere in sight, but amongst the early birds gathered around him to send in their drinks order was—Coriolanus blinked—Gaia.

"Surprise," she said, beaming.

As a rule, Coriolanus wasn't a fan of surprises—it involved not knowing—but there was a comforting quality to that teacherly, motherly smile of hers that quelled any unpleasantness.

"What are you doing here?" asked Coriolanus, smiling back. "How's Pontius?"

Pontius had graduated to a walking boot two days ago and was positively ecstatic to be moving around on his own again. It might still be a while before their regular sitter, an elderly neighbour who had her own grandkids to mind, could manage him alone, but Mr. Penworth was plenty capable for a night.

"It was so last minute, anyway," said Gaia. "We didn't know the cast removal would happen until the day before, so I hadn't accepted Lilith's invitation. But she was so happy and generous when I called her yesterday, told me she didn't need help and just to come have fun. She wanted to surprise you."

That definitely sounded like Lilith.

"Where is she, by the way?" Coriolanus glanced around the well-readied room from which she was patently absent.

"She went to the back. Titus needed some rum." Gaia frowned. "But that was some time ago, now that you mention it. Do you want me to check on her?"

"I'll do it," he said, redirecting her attention to the bar, which now displayed a colourful array of concoctions. "You go have fun."

Through a set of doors concealed in the walls was what used to be the kitchens that served the grounds' most distinguished guests. Prior to it being commandeered as a Games viewing venue, everything inside had been left in a state of neglect. Surfaces had now been cleaned of the thick layers of dust accumulated over the years and equipment no longer operational owing to age cleared out from the premises. Most of the cooking for their meals didn't occur on site, anyway, so all that was really required was an abundance of space, something to keep the extra food warm, and something to keep it cold.

Their buffet tonight, however, wasn't a running one like during the Games. The only couple of white-clad workers on duty were outside, already manning their carving station and shaved ice machine (Lilith's idea). Behind a series of refrigerators straight ahead of him, however, poked out an unmistakably pink hem, and Coriolanus smiled as he strode over.