𝐖𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 [𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫] 🔞

ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ

You and Coriolanus snuck into the bathrooms that were just outside of the studio. His strangled sobs bounced off the walls. You were kneeling down beside him on the floor, your arms around him as he mumbled incoherent sentences.

"Coriolanus that wasn't your fault, he was going to kill your friend," You consoled him to the best of your ability, hoping your words and touch would comfort him. "I can't even imagine. I'm so sorry."

You wanted to tell him you wished you had been there to prevent it, but you were aware that this could have happened regardless of your presence. You stayed silent, pressing a soft kiss on his head. There was not much you could say. Your only job now was to be there for him and comfort him over something that had him extremely distraught.

He removed his hands from his face, looking at you. His pale face was flushed from the overwhelming emotions of guilt and frustration. "Sorry, for... having you hear about this."

"Don't say sorry. I want you to confide with me about things that bother you. That's what I'm here for. It was an accident. We won't speak of this again, okay?" You tell him honestly, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him into a warm embrace.

Coriolanus' arms snaked around your waist, his nose against your hair, inhaling the products you had used on it. His heart ached as he felt the warmth of your body against his own. He couldn't help but also feel guilt towards what he had done to you behind your back. He was now a liar and a killer. He desperately wanted to confess his wrongdoing towards you, but he couldn't bring himself to. He was in too deep. He had no idea how you would react and he did not want to risk losing you. 

He found himself trapped in a cycle of shame and indecision, his want to be truthful with you warring with his fear of you leaving him. He could never move on if he lost the love of his life.

Coriolanus picked his head up, his blue eyes widening, and it suddenly hit him like a ton of bricks. He realized right then and there. Love. He's in love with you. Completely and utterly in love. Oh, how the younger version of him would be appalled by this. He stiffens in your hold, his mouth turning down slightly at the corners. His guilty conscience would not allow him to jubilant eat this realization. Not when he did not feel like he deserved your comforting affection.

His brows were drawn together, a grim expression on his face that spoke of guilt and remorse. He picks his head up to gaze at you. His eyes were red and slightly swollen from his tears. He slides his hand to rest on the small of your back as he pulls you in for a kiss.

You accepted his slow, tender kiss. You brushed your hand against the back of his head to bring him in closer.

• • •

The next morning, it was announced that last night while everyone was sleeping, one of the tributes had been killed off camera. Bobbin's mentor left with an annoyed sigh.

Lamina was the first tribute to emerge from one of the tunnels with a small axe. She timidly walked over to the poles where Marcus remained hanging from and climbed it. After reaching the top, the camera zoomed in on her speaking to him. The audio of their conversation was muffled with Marcus barely able to move his lips.

You flinched, tearing your eyes away when she drove her axe into his neck. You could hear the loud clashes as she got rid of the restraints on Marcus, allowing for his body to fall to the ground. You held your breath as you heard the sound of his bones breaking and disfiguring.

Coriolanus, who had moved into Sejanus' vacant seat today, reached for your hand. His eyes remained on the screen as he held your hand.

As a reward, Pup, sent Lamina a water. However, the models of the drones were clearly unfinished as it had crashed into a wall, breaking the glass bottle and releasing the water within it.