Splintered

Chapter Sixty-Eight: True Keeper of Peace

The question was so direct, so unabashed, it took her breath away. The worst part was that she couldn't answer it. Not really. She'd let Rowan in on her secret, but he was protected, and Indira knew due to the nature of her position. Leo was so very vulnerable, and she wasn't sure that she fully understood the truth herself.

"I—um--" Hazel's words came out jumbled. She settled on deflection. "I like to think I'm a caring person."

"Marlowe," Leo exhaled, exasperated. "You know what I mean."

She didn't meet his gaze.

"It doesn't matter, does it?"

It was his turn to deflect, answering her question with one of his own, "Is that why you saved his life again?"

"That's probably just muscle memory. Or brain damage."

Leo sighed, though his lip twitched.

"Come on."

"Coriolanus and I have a...unique relationship," Hazel whispered, still unable to meet Leo's intense stare.

"Can you really not tell me?" His skin was warm as his fingers brushed over hers, and his voice and touch did unhealthy things to her pulse.

Sighing, she relented to the most honest answer she could manage.

"I..." Untangling their connected hands, she breathed, "I don't know."

"I see." Leo's shoulders sank.

Hazel studied his reaction. That distant look was returning. She detested it, but it was for the best, for both of them.

"Should leave you to rest." Leo gently circled her and opened the door.

Waiting on the other side was Senator Snow, fist floating awkwardly, like he was mere seconds away from knocking.

"Senator," Leo's eyes dropped in respect.

Snow's arm relaxed to his side, though his posture remained taut and his stare sharp.

"Miss Marlowe," he drawled, slowly, examining them. "Private Drayton...Something wrong?"

"No, sir. She was just getting settled." Leo answered, stepping out into the hallway and sinking into the chair, spine rigid, feet planted, ready to begin his watch.

"Did you need something?" Hazel asked.

With a deep inhale, Snow abandoned his wordless perusal of Leo, fixing her with his attention.

"There's been a change to the itinerary."

"What do you mean?" Hazel toyed with the edges of her bandage.

Another schedule change was quite peculiar; then again, the Victory Tour had been far from normal.

Snow licked his lips, eyes drifting to his door, then back to her, clearly annoyed.

"We will continue to District One as planned, but the final celebration in the Capitol is postponed. The assassination attempt has many riled, and there are concerns about security. Or lack thereof." Snow scanned Leo for a second. "Especially, considering the assailant's occupation. The President wants the tensions to die down, make sure the rebels don't try to build on the momentum, and attempt something on Capitol soil."

"So, when will the final celebration be?"

Snow shrugged.

"A couple of weeks, maybe a couple of months. It's out of my hands."

She'd caught how his features darkened. One thing she was learning about Coriolanus Snow was that he abhorred anything that was removed from his control.