Scream [A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Fanfic]

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟺

- LOCATION: CAPITOL TRAIN STATION -

Coriolanus Snow knew that he wasn't supposed to be waiting by the train to welcome the tributes. But as he stared at the snow-white rose in his hand, he was reminded of why he was here. Because before he was Y/N's mentor, he was her first friend. He rolled the rose between his fingers as he watched the cold light of the sun bouncing off the dewy petals. Tigris had been the one to get it for him. It had been a rather odd request, but she had obliged rather willingly. And now, Coriolanus stood in front of the approaching train waiting to see the white-haired girl again.

The train pulled to a stop in front of him and the Peacekeepers jumped down, calling for the transfer team that would escort the tributes into the truck that would take them to wherever Dr Gaul had decided to hold them until the start of the games. As the Peacekeepers dismounted and started opening the doors to the trains, Coriolanus made his way down the train, keeping his eyes open for any sign of the white-haired girl. He hoped she would appreciate the rose. It had been so long since he had seen her, he wondered if she would even recognise him. He had only been able to see her twice during the ten years that she had been in the Capital.

As he passed by a train car, he noticed a familiar boy. Lucian Gray Baird, the boy from 12. The tribute who had been chosen along with Y/N. Coriolanus turned back towards the boy and the corner of his lips twitched as he watched Y/N climb out of the train cart. Lucian Gray helped her down, and as she stumbled on her feet, he wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her close to his side as she slowly got her bearings. Coriolanus wondered how long it had been since Dr Gaul had let Y/N walk anywhere beside her cell. He knew that Y/N never walked when she was in her cell. She had told him so herself. Her strength had left her, and now all he could do was hope that she would survive in the arena.

Y/N noticed him almost immediately, even as Lucian Gray started pulling her in the direction of the other tributes. Y/N gave him a weak smile and pushed herself away from Lucian Gray, stumbling towards Coriolanus on weak feet. The Capitol boy noticed that Dr Gaul had given her heels to wear and frowned at the sight of them. Y/N hardly had the strength to stand let alone walk in heels.

"Welcome to the Capitol," he said gently. He held out the rose to her. She took it and gave him a small smile, cupping the blossom in her palm as she turned it this way and that. She gently ran her thumb over the petals, and Coriolanus smiled a fraction when he saw the joy in her eyes. It had been at least ten years since she had seen a flower, possibly longer, depending on the living situation of 13 when she had lived there.

"When I was little, my mama used to bathe me in buttermilk and rose petals." Lucian Gray reached over Y/N's shoulder and pulled one of the inner petals from the rose. He gazed at it for a moment before lifting the petal to his lips and placing it inside his mouth. "Tastes like bedtime," he said with a grin.

He set his arm on Y/N's shoulders, eyeing Coriolanus. "You look like you shouldn't be here."

"Well, I shouldn't," Coriolanus answered. "But I'm Y/N's mentor."

"A rebel," Lucian Gray teased. "And what does a mentor do besides bringing his tribute roses?"

"Do our best to take care of you," Coriolanus answered, his eyes focused on Y/N. She seemed tired. He wasn't surprised by this.

Y/N signed to him and Coriolanus smiled. He was glad he had taken all those sign-language classes with Tigris now. He hadn't been sure at the time if he would ever see Y/N again, but he had hoped. And now, he could understand her signing perfectly.

"Thank you for the rose," she signed. "But you shouldn't be here. You'll get in trouble."

Coriolanus smirked. Just as he was about to respond, his eyes flickered to Lucian Gray, who was still watching him like a hawk. He responded in sign instead. "I wanted to see you. I haven't been able to in three years."