TMNT Hunger Games (Featuring Your OCs)

Chapter 30: No One Wins

Casey Jones runs towards the Victor's Village, his breaths puffing rhythmically as he runs. His bag thumps against his back as he goes, knowing that he has to reach the house in time.

He reaches the village, previous victors resting in their houses. The smoke from their chimneys billows into the brisk cold of the winter air, Casey's breath mimicking their swirling actions whenever he breathes.

Yoshi stands outside his house, hands folded behind his back and his ears flattened. His russet eyes flicker upwards to a nearby window, the window belonging to Destiny's room. Casey notices the tall rat and, swallowing his fear of the rodents, moves towards him.

"Mr Hamato?" he greets tentatively.

Yoshi looks to him, a pained smile on his aging face. "Casey, I presume."

"Yeah." He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. "She asked for me."

"Go inside. She's in her room."

Casey goes into the house and heads up the stairs towards her room, each step tentative yet anxious. Destiny lays in bed, obviously in pain, but she smiles a little when she sees her friend.

"Hey wolfie," he greets.

She takes a deep breath. "Hey Casey..."

"Sorry I didn't say goodbye to you before the Games," he continues, rambling nervously. "I just...uh...didn't want to lose it or anything."

She nods. "I can understand that."

She flinches, one hand pressing against her left side. Casey moves to her side, eyebrows knitting together worriedly.

"What's wrong? You didn't tell me in the message," he asks.

She presses her head back against the pillow for a moment. "My heart...it's failing. In fact, I think it's already failed."

He swallows a little. "Failed? As in not working anymore? If that's the case...then why-"

"Pills...they're giving me pills," she whispers, pointing weakly to her bedside table, where a small bottle sits untouched. "They told me it was to calm my nerves, but I know what they're trying to do. They're trying to keep my heart beating when it shouldn't..."

"Aw wolfie, you can get past this," he insists, sitting next to her and grasping her hand.

She shakes her head as she flinches in pain again. "You don't understand...no one does. Leo knew it. I knew it." She sighs, her chest heaving with effort. "My wolf side is dangerous. If I mate with someone, I form such a strong bond that should it be broken...I die."

Casey falls silent, realizing what she means. Her heart literally broke. The only reason she's still here is because President Oroku is trying to keep her alive.

"You...you're supposed to go on the Victory Tour. You're supposed to speak to everyone about-" he starts.

"I never wanted to get out of that arena," she says, her tone painfully honest. "After Leo and I...that night...I knew that should he die, I wouldn't be far behind him. He promised me that he'd get me out, but now..." She almost laughs, as though it's a small victory that the Capitol could lose their precious Victor. "There's nothing they can do. They could've opened that stupid pit behind me instead of Jason. They could've made me fall in instead of trying to create more drama for the press. They would still have their Victor if they had just let me die and let him go home. It would've been better."

"Des, please don't talk like this," he begs, his voice unnaturally gentle.

She reaches to her side table, grasping a tied up stack of paper. She hands it to him, gently closing his hand around it. He glances down at them, seeing her neat printing scrawled across the cards. The top card is labelled "Victory Tour".

"You go, in my name. Each card has a district and a tribute. Read them. Tell people what I would've said," she pleads.

He looks down at the cards, feeling incredibly honoured but saddened all at once. Sure, their friendship had never been too crazy, but it was pleasant. Why would she trust him, of all people, with this responsibility? He's known as being the irresponsible one at school anyways.

"Des...it has to be you who does this," he insists, his voice thick as his dark eyes find her lighter ones. "I'm not...I'm not cut out for that. I can't-"

"Casey..." she whispers, silencing him. Her scarred face is pleading as she gazes at him. "You're the only friend I have left...please? Someone has to tell Mari that I'm sorry that I couldn't save her brother. Someone has to tell Timothy about how Hazel never stopped smiling. Someone has to talk about how Scarlet was too innocent to go...how strong Raphael was, how clever Donatello was, and how Michelangelo lit up our dreary lives for the little bit we had left."

"Des-"

"Please, Casey, as my friend...I need you to do this." A tear rolls down her cheek as she shudders with another chest pain. "Consider it my dying wish."

He pockets the cards, resting a hand on her leg. "Come on, wolfie, you've always been a fighter. Just...keep fighting."

Her face falls, her ears flattening against her brunette curls. "I'm sorry, Casey."

She rests her hand on his wrist weakly. He envelopes it in his own, squeezing comfortingly. She shuts her eyes, a few more tears escaping her as she whimpers in pain. The dark-haired boy leans forwards and gently kisses her forehead. For once in his life, it isn't flirty or suggestive in any way. It's just to show her that he still cares about her, that he respects her.

"I promise I'll send the messages," he whispers. "Godspeed, Destiny."

She manages to smile one last time before her hand goes limp in his own.