𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃, coriolanus snow

𝟬𝟬𝟳. all the time in the world

╭── ✿ ❀ ღღ ✿ ❀ ──╮
007. all the time in the world
╰── ❀ ✿ ღღ ❀ ✿ ──╯

gracie may was bound to notice as coriolanus stared at her while she ate. she was under the impression that the capitol was full of food, so much so the capitol citizens could practically throw it up just to eat more. that was too far even for the capitol gracie thought humorously before holding out some of the bread towards coriolanus. "here" she offered, getting a small shake of his head in reply.

"uh... no, thank you"

"i don't mean to put you on the spot but i did see you staring"

"i didn't mean to"

"i know, im sure you're a perfect gentleman but please..." she reached out to grasp his wrist and pulled it in between the bars, placing the rest of the bread on his palm "take it"

after eating in silence for a little while more, coriolanus came to notice gracie may watching as his classmate teased a tribute with some food. to distract her, he quickly thought of something to tell her "you know, one time, during the war, i ate a whole jar of paste just to stop the pain in my stomach.

"oh you poor boy!" gracie may exclaimed, cupping his cheek with her warm hand, tilting her head sideways slightly "well" she tried to bring some sort of humour to the situation "how was it?"

"pasty"

the pair laughed lightly, gracie may peering down at wovey who'd finished her bread and was now looking up at her inquisitively. "you're so sweet" she remarked "so young. something about you reminds me of my sister, bella grace" she tapped the younger girls nose when saying 'you' making her giggle quietly. "i can't stand to think of her without me like this"

she looked up at coriolanus with a sad smile "at least i've got you to keep me safe though, right?"

"i'm glad that you're my tribute, rose" was his reply "i can't stand to think of you stuck with someone who couldn't give a damn wether or not you're alive at the end of all this" he admitted, not giving away the extent of his concern for her. coriolanus has very quickly gotten used to the district twelve girl. he'd decided that he needed her from them on. he feared that if she died in the arena, he'd begin spouting nonsense about 'the barbaric nature of the hunger games' like sejaus. "i'll keep you safe"

"you know" gracie may spoke up "you're a good man, coriolanus snow. it would've been just lovely to meet you under different circumstances"

"one of your shows, maybe?" he replied, a blissful tone in his voice. how he would've loved seeing one of her shows.

"yeah, you should see 'em coryo!" the district girl perked up, thinking of coryo coming to her district "everyone's singin' and dancin', it's just wonderful. and then i could've introduced you to lucy gray, shown you my flowers, like we had all the time in the world"

"i'd give just about anything to have all the time in the world with you, rose"

‎𐦍 ❀༄𖥸𓍊𓋼𓍊𖤓𓇢𓆸𖤓𓍊𓋼𓍊𖥸༄ ❀ 𐦍

they were talking for what felt like minutes [which really was a good two hours] before gracie may finally had enough. she'd been stealing glances at coriolanus' classmate for the last hour, watching her tease her tribute with a bottle. "right, that's it!" she said, standing up and marching towards the pair.

"rose? gracie may? gracie may?" coryo walked along the outside of the cage, following her while trying to deter her from interfering. it wouldn't end well.

"are you going to give it to her or not?" she demanded, making them both jump. she refused to sit there while some capitol child teased someone with food and water.

"what?" arachne raised her eyebrows condescendingly.

"are you going to give it to her or not?"

"hmm, why should i?"

"i'm not playing games with you, okay? quit being an ass"

"what did you just call me?"

gracie may ignored her, grabbing brandy's hand and leading her away to the other side of the cage. "c'mon sugar, i'll get coriolanus to get you some food too, alright?" she comforted the girl "she needs you more than you need her, trust me" just as the words left her mouth, arachne began calling to them.

"wait, wait, i'll give it you!"

gracie may let go of brandy's hand as she moved back towards arachne. "seriously" arachne said softly "come on, just take it" broadly slowly reached out, not sure if she could trust the words. just before she could grasp the bottle, the capitol resident pulled it back with a cruel laugh.

and that's when it all went to shit.

───── authors note !
hi loves! i've been super busy with GCSE's so sorry for not posting for ages. but i hope you liked the chapter :)
gracie may and coriolanus are finally getting closerrrrr 🤭