Together Unto the Breach

Tom Hiddleston Hunger Games AU

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Elizabeth opened her eyes slowly and stretched, her long arms reaching over the sides of her bed. Then she froze, her blood running suddenly, violently, cold. It was Reaping day. She put hands over her face. God, every year it hit her like a ton of bricks. No one was happy on Reaping day. Alas, there was no work until the Tributes left. The only reason anyone celebrated after was out of relief. But Elizabeth didn't usually celebrate. She and Tom, her best friend since before they could walk, would usually go around to the families of those who had been Reaped and try their best to be of help. She sat up and let her legs dangle over the side of the bed. Time to get ready for today. She stood, hissing at the cold floor, and opened her closet. The only dress she owned hung alone. It was a pale yellow and went just past her knees. A simple dress, but nice for District 9. She changed into it and put on the only pair of flats she owned. They were a slightly marred white. Elizabeth sat down before the small vanity in her room and began on her hair. It was one of the few things she could do. She brushed it out and braided it down one side, curling it into a bun and pinning it in place. She left a few pieces out on the sides. There. She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment. She was out of the Reaping. She and been for many years now. So had Tom. She had just turned 29 and Tom 30. They were only about six months apart. Still, the Reaping held fear for her and Tom both. Tom had a large family. His parents, two younger sisters, and his sisters' children. His sisters' children. They were the greatest concern. His parents and sisters were old enough to be clear but Emma had twin boys and Sarah had a little girl. They all qualified for the Reaping this year. Elizabeth stood and wandered out to the kitchen, grabbing a small loaf of bread from the cupboard. The twins' names were in three times this year and little Julie's was in twice. She grabbed a coat, opened the door, and stepped out, closing it behind her. When she turned around, she saw Tom leaning against the small picket fence. He looked at her and smiled. She smiled back and walked toward him. He had on black slacks, a blue button up shirt, and an old suit coat.

"Morning, Elli."

"Hey, Tom." She held up the loaf of bread, "Breakfast?"

Tom nodded,

"Thanks."

Elizabeth broke the bread down the middle and handed him half. They lived on the edge of town and had a ways to walk to the town center. They ate their bread in silence for some time as they walked. Elizabeth finally spoke up,

"Uh...a-are they getting any tesserae?"

Tom looked at the ground and nodded slowly,

"Julie took one..."

She could hear his voice threatening to crack. Tom's family had always meant more to him than all the world.

"I'm sorry..."

He nodded again. They continued in silence a while longer, now nearing the edge of town. They'd finished their bread.

"What about Sarah and Emma? How are they?"

Tom shrugged,

"As is to be expected on Reaping Day..."

"...Do Julie, James, and Timothy understand what's going on?"

"I think so...to an extent."

"I was the same way..." Elizabeth was reminded of her childhood. Before she was eligible for the Reaping, both her parents had been killed by Peacekeepers. An old woman had stumbled into a Peacekeeper and was being beaten for it. Her parents had intervened and...been punished. Per Panem law. She was five at the time. She had practically been raised by Tom's family and she loved them as if they were her own. They reached the edge of the town square. Tom took her hand,

"Together or not at all?"

Elizabeth looked up at him, her red hair stirring in the breeze,

"Together..." She sighed.

When they reached the roped off sections, they saw Tom's sisters waiting anxiously off to the side,

"Hey, Em, Sarah?"

The two women looked over and smiled when they saw Tom and Elizabeth. They were both just a few years younger than Elizabeth. Tom let Elizabeth's hand slip from his grasp. His sisters could be unrelenting about teasing, but today they were silent. Elizabeth smiled softly and hugged them both,

"Where are they?"

"Up near the front." Replied Emma.

Tom went to stand directly behind his sisters, taking one of each of their hands in his. They smiled weakly at him and fixed their eyes back up on the stage. The mayor stood up on the stage, reciting the story of District 13, then listing the names if the previous victors. District 9 didn't have very many and they were all seated calmly in their chairs on the stage. They all looked unhappy beneath their fake smiles. This couldn't be pleasant for them.

Now Ginger Katz, the Capitol's representative for District Nine, walked onto the stage. Elizabeth tensed. She saw the rest of the Hiddleston family tense as well. Ginger Katz, as every other year since Elizabeth could remember, was dressed in fur. This year, she'd made some serious improvements. If you could call them that. She had ginger-colored leg warmers, and a matching shrug on. That much was normal. What was new this year was the ears and the tail. They were real. A genuine, crazy, Capitol set of ears and a tail. The tail waved jauntily as she walked up to the microphone, her clawed ginger mittens grasping the cards. In her sickly-sweet voice she welcomed them as she did every year,

"Welcome to the Reaping! May the odds be /ever/ in your favor!"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She doubted it. Ginger continued with her usual long-winded speech about how much of an honor this was and how happy she was to be their representative. Elizabeth and Tom shared a look. They had heard this speech enough times. At last, it was time for the name drawing. The two glass bowls on either side of the stage were full of little slips of paper. People's lives depended on little slips of paper. In the girl's bowl Emma's daughter's name three times. And in the boys bowl, so were Sarah's twins' names. Today Sarah stood with double the Chance of loosing a child to the Games.

"Without further ado..." trilled Ginger, toddling over to the girl's bowl in her 8-inch heels and dipped a hand in. She swirled her 'paw' around a couple times before plucking a name and toddling back to the mic, tail swishing, "This year's female Tribute for the 72nd Hunger Games is..."

Elizabeth's heart beat half as fast as it usually did, echoing in her ears.

'Please not Julie, please not Julie, please...' She pleaded mentally.

Ginger took her time unfolding the slip of paper,

"The Female Tribute is Julie Adamson!"

Elizabeth's heart stopped cold. That was Julie...the man Emma had married was James Adamson, the miller's boy. Before Emma could even cry out in anguish, Elizabeth, not even registering what she was doing, spoke,

"I volunteer as Tribute!"

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Well, part one...I'm sorry about the cliffhanger...maybe.

<3 Harley