When Luck Runs Out

Rooftop Romance

    "What in the world were you thinking?" Molly growled, dragging me farther back stage since people were undoubtedly craning their necks to see my punishment.
"I'm making a point!" I insisted, pushing the two angry women off of me and straightening my jacket.
"And that point is what, that you're a complete idiot!" Mrs. Hudson insisted.
"I'll be dead soon anyway!" I defended.
"Sherlock you are one of a kind." Molly decided.
"Thank you, I try." I agreed.
"Obviously not hard enough." Mrs. Hudson muttered. I scowled at her, but knew it wouldn't be worth it to say something mean right back. Caesar let John leave with thunderous applause and he walked off the stage, smiling and waving until the moment he was out of sight, in the private area of backstage. The rest of the tributes and mentors, having already done their interviews, were gone, and that was probably for the best because as soon as John got to us he threw me against the wall and pinned my neck with his elbow. He was livid, I could see that, but as I struggled to breathe it wasn't hard to know he was over reacting. Molly screamed, but neither she nor Mrs. Hudson came in to help. Obviously they thought I deserved this just as much as John did.
"What the heck Sherlock?" John growled, his face so close to mine I could count all of the flakes of silver in his eyeshadow. I pried at his elbow, hoping that the shade of white my face was undoubtedly turning was enough to make him realize I couldn't breathe.
"John, maybe you should let him go." Molly muttered nervously, worried that maybe she would be the next one attacked. John groaned, but he stepped back, letting me breathe and message my throat.
"Well, since we're on the subject of overreacting..." I muttered.
"Sherlock, why on Earth would you interrupt my interview! I didn't go butt into yours when you kept saying how worthless you were!" John insisted.
"And you expect me to stand idly by as you tell them to let you die of starvation!" I insisted.
"You know they won't do that! We'll be together Sherlock, whatever food I get you get, it's just putting emphasis on the roles we're supposed to be playing!" John insisted. Suddenly I felt like the biggest idiot in the world, twice in one night.
"You're saying I just embarrassed myself on live TV because you're a good actor." I muttered.
"At the moment dear, we're all saying it." Mrs. Hudson decided. I groaned, rubbing my throat one more time but not saying anything, leading the mournful march back to the train. The ride back was silent, thankfully no one had turned on the TV, which was hanging in the train, because I was sure there would be a reoccurring theme, how stupid I was tonight. John was in a bit of a grumpy mood; obviously he had had more to say than just that. Maybe he practiced more speeches in the mirror and I had ruined everything. When the train stopped we all unloaded into the lobby, where the TV was playing all of the interviews over again. Thankfully it was still somewhere around District eight, so at least the people here wouldn't know until later. Honestly I would be surprised if anyone would be able to hear it anyway, because the lobby had been turned into a new party zone or something. The whole of the building had showed up, the tributes, the escorts, I even saw the doctor that had treated me and John in the mix. There was music pumping from somewhere and drinks and snacks on tables everywhere. There was seriously something wrong with these people if they thought the games were something to celebrate, but to them I'd think the games themselves were a party. They had won once, they were ready to go down together, they were ready to duke it out in the ring one more time, because they accepted their death when their names were called the first time. And I guess I could understand them. Thankfully no one from District Twelve was in the partying mood, and the four of us pushed through the crowd, where I saw Greg doing some sort of flailing dance with Jeanette, and into the elevator.
"They're insane." I decided, but John, who still had a frown cemented onto his face, ignored me.
"Some people react to stress in different ways." Molly guessed.
"We all sulk and hide our feelings." Mrs. Hudson said with a smile that I could only assume was fake.
"Too right you are." I agreed. When the elevator opened the four of us retreated to our rooms, saying hasty goodnights to each other as we departed. I stalled a little bit in pretending I wanted to get a drink of water, but as I sipped it, I watched John go to his room, closing the door and seeming as if he didn't have any interest in leaving. Was this it, were we going to spend our last night on Earth apart? I sighed, but dumped the rest of my water into the sink and made my way to the hallway.
"He'll come around." Molly assured, who was standing near the couch. I just sighed, not answering, and disappeared into my own dark room. I took a quick shower, mainly to wash all of this horrible makeup off, and changed into my pajamas, my hair still wet. I didn't have the motivation to dry it anyway, there seemed to be no point. This time tomorrow I would be in the arena, trying to find a safe place to sleep, some place where the careers wouldn't find me, where Jim wouldn't trap me, tie me up, and torture me. The only question in my mind now was if I'd be alone, or would John care enough to join me? I know I had made a fool of myself, made him look like he was a complete idiot who's insane love wasn't returned, but it was, and maybe now I wouldn't have a chance to prove that. I sat in the dark on the corner of my bed, not feeling the slightest urge to even close my eyes, staring at the curtains that hid my room from the rest of the world. Slight sliver of neon lights were able to pass through the small crack, and I knew that the citizens were partying almost as much as the tributes downstairs. And I was alone, in fact I felt more alone than I ever had been, and John was just across the flat. As time ticked on the digits on the clock got higher and higher, and once one o'clock came I decided that there was no point in trying to sleep. I was as awake as I had been during the interview, and there was no point sitting here. I decided to go up to the roof, where I had spent my last night when I was a tribute, sitting up there and shivering, watching the world celebrate my death that would undoubtedly follow the next day. I would never have believed I would be sitting there once more, feeling the same feelings. The flat was dark as I emerged from my room, crossing the living room to the elevator. The only higher button on it was marked roof, and I wasn't sure if any other tributes ever took advantage of it. It didn't take long until the little ding announced that I had reached my destination, and the cold wind reminded me once more that I was outside. I was in nothing but my pajama pants and robe, but I pulled it around me and walked past all of the moonlight gardens, slumping down on the soft pebbles against the warm metal of the heating system. It was actually quite pleasant. I could see off the side of the roof, but I knew from past experience that there was a force field protecting from any suicide jumpers. I would never think about that, not now at least, not until I knew John was safe, whether he wanted me to or not. I felt so stupid, this time last year it was the first time we had shared a bed, he was snuggled so close to me that I could feel his breath, and back then I hadn't admitted my feelings. I had tried, but by the time I had gotten onto it he was asleep. Back then I think I was more scared then I was today, because I couldn't save him then, I would only be able to watch him fight on a screen and try my best to get sponsors. Now I would be going in with him, and I'd be able to ensure his safety. I was actually almost about to fall into the lightest of sleeps when I heard the ding. At first I thought it came from the distant music on the ground, but when I looked up I saw John, looking just as cold as I am, walking over from the doors. I got to my feet immediately, expecting that he'd want me to leave, but didn't really have the courage to go yet.
"I see we had the same idea." I decided.
"Don't be an idiot Sherlock, I knew you were up here." he insisted.
"How?" I asked.
"I heard the elevator, and unless Mrs. Hudson was going to the lobby to party, I knew you were coming up here." John pointed out.
"I'll just leave then." I muttered.
"Oh shut up." John groaned, walking closer and looking thoroughly annoyed.
"I'm sorry." I muttered.
"I don't blame you, I know that you were only doing what you thought was best, and if I were in your position I feel like I would've done something even more stupid, like cut the power." He shrugged.
"I meant I was sorry for talking, but yes, of course, I'm sorry for that too." I muttered.
"I'm sorry for attacking you." John sighed.
"Your speech in the beginning was actually really good though, about being forgotten and all of that." I pointed out.
"I was lying; I didn't practice it in the mirror." John pointed out.
"It sounded like you must've." I decided.
"You'd be surprised what comes out of your mouth when you're put in front of a live audience." John shrugged.
"I guess I should've known you were being a bit over dramatic. Looking back, it was kind of obvious." I admitted.
"I wasn't being over dramatic; I just said that because it was what you needed to hear. I didn't want to say it in front of Molly or Mrs. Hudson, but we're both in those games for the same reason, to protect each other. And sitting alone in my room made me realize just how much I need you to live through those games, and how much I need you now." John insisted. I smiled reluctantly, but let him come over and take my hand. We obviously both needed that, and suddenly it wasn't nearly as cold as I thought it was previously.
"I meant what..." I started, but John just smiled.
"Sherlock, just shut up." he insisted, and with that he shut me up with a kiss. Of course, that was enough to shut me up for all eternity, but of course I had to kiss him back, in the horrible way that only I could. But still, tonight, when everything seemed to be falling apart, John was able to somehow pull a couple of pieces back together, one little kiss at a time. When he had finally pulled away it seemed like my lungs had just taken a sky dive off of the building, because no matter how many little breaths I took I just couldn't get enough air. Of course I didn't want to make it obvious that I was a fish out of the water, so I just stood there, numb, pretending like everything was cool and I wasn't deprived of oxygen.
"That was long overdue." John decided, and I just stood there, blinking a little bit and wondering how he could be so calm. John led me back over the warm heating unit, the two of us sitting down, and I was finally able to catch my breath enough.
"You're such a child Sherlock." John laughed.
"What makes you say that?" I insisted.
"Because even the slightest move of affection makes you all flabbergasted." John insisted.
"Is that even a word?" I asked.
"I don't actually know." John admitted. There was a large blast, and an array of colorful fireworks exploded in the air next to us. I flinched, and suddenly the reason why we were both here in the first place came back to me.
"I almost forgot about tomorrow." I admitted.
"Don't be scared, you know I won't let anything bad happen to you." John assured.
"That's precisely why I'm terrified." I admitted.
"Why, because you think I'm not a good protector?" John asked, sounding falsely offended.
"No, because I'm supposed to be protecting you." I muttered.
"How about, for once, I protect you?" John asked.
"I won't let you do that." I demanded.
"I meant now." John pointed out.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean it's always you who comforts me, every night you're the one who holds me, I'll return the favor on the night where it most matters." John insisted. I smiled thankfully at him, and, for once, I snuggled into his shoulders. He wrapped his arms around me, like I was a child, and I could hear his heart beat, feel his breathing as his chest went up and down, and never had a I felt more at home. Maybe that was creepy, I didn't really care, but at that moment I knew that no matter what happened, John and I had been destiny, Mrs. Hudson had picked his name out of that bowl because the two of us were supposed to end up together, we were supposed to lie here together, comfort each other, love each other like only soul mates could. And I promised myself one thing, that no matter how much John tried to protect me, or how much the others tried to kill him, I would stand between him and them, stand my ground, and protect the only thing in this world that was worth protecting. My home, my heart, my love, my John.