a/n: tell me why I was listening to Mitski's 'I Bet On Losing Dogs' and realized the lyrics 'tell your baby that I'm your baby' is literally Sejanus begging Liville to end things with Coriolanus akskakjdjdi (but pls drop the sad edit sounds that remind you of this story bc sad edits inspire me)
also no Lucy Gray this chapter 🤧 but next chapter promise
tw: violence, lotta arguing
Coriolanus was grateful that Liville did not notice the missing letter right away. He was worried she would. He shut his door and pretended to be asleep when she and Sejanus finally got back, just in case.
The two returned from the tavern late, so late that Coriolanus felt another flush of anger that Sejanus had Liville walking the district streets so late at night. A girl that looked as pretty as Liville shouldn't even be out that late in the Capitol. Sejanus was risking Liville being harassed by drunken idiots every time he took her outside.
Luckily, when they came back both of them went right to sleep. Sejanus was particularly loud as he got into bed, which he always was. But Coriolanus was still grateful to be here, and not in the barracks, where everyone was loud getting into bed at different times of the night.
The room Coriolanus shared with Sejanus was spacious, and they both had their own side of it. Even with the two of them in here, it was much larger than his room at home.
That night, he had a long peaceful sleep, the first one since arriving in the district. He was warm, and he felt safe, and he was able to let his guard down, and not constantly have to know where his gun was each second.
In the morning, he was able to take a hot shower. A private shower, one with an expensive soap Sejanus bought that left him feeling clean rather than just not dirty. He used the steam from the shower to make sure his uniform was wrinkle free.
Sejanus was gone by the time he awoke. Sejanus's shift was the earliest one, a few hours before Coriolanus, a punishment from the commander for the boy being too lenient with the prisoners.Coriolanus was grateful his friend had left quietly and not woken him up earlier than needed. Sleeping in was a luxury he thought he'd lost for the next ten years.
Liville was still asleep when Coriolanus left.
It felt strange knowing that. Knowing that she was just a room away.
He'd stared at her door for a moment before he left the house.
And it was just so...odd thinking about how they were alone, but neither of them wanted to even see each other. Months ago, they would've given anything to just pass each other alone in a hallway. He would have given anything for her to just smile at him.
And part of him would still give anything just to go back to the time where she had treated him like he was a prize sought after, rather than a complication she had to get rid of.
The letter flashed in his mind.
'Coriolanus Snow,
I am engaged to Sejanus Plinth. He is whom I love. Do not write to me again.'
He forced his eyes off her door, and reminded himself that she didn't want him in this house, Sejanus did. He left that morning spiteful because of it.
But despite his anger, he was still quiet as he left, making sure to lock all the doors so no one could disturb her.
He arrived for his shift soon after. The walk there was a bit more awkward now that he didn't live in the barracks. He had to pass more district laborers than before, who all had the same sneer on their faces directed towards him. Not that he was scared of them. They weren't the ones with the gun.
