The Demigod Games Book One: Knives of Blood

Chapter Five: Rooftop Chats

Disclaimer: I don't own The Hunger Games or HOO

Chapter Five: Rooftop Chats

Piper was confused. First Jason had held her hand when they were on the chariot, then he had painted her arm in training, even remembering her favorite color, and now she couldn't find him anywhere. It was almost like he was avoiding her. 

Piper had asked Cinna, Portia, Effie, even Haymitch, but no one knew where Jason was. She checked all the rooms on Floor Twelve, even his bedroom, but he wasn't anywhere.

Finally, out of options, she decided to check the roof.

As she climbed the stairs to the roof, she couldn't help but stop to admire the view. The Capitol twinkled like a vast field of fireflies, so unlike the flicking candles that lit up District Twelve. She couldn't imagine living here, in the lap of luxury, never having to run out of food and watching children kill each other for entertainment. With great wealth comes great ignorance, she thought to herself. She wasn't willing to risk her freedom, or her values, for a wealthy life.

Piper spotted Jason leaning against the railing at the edge of the roof. He was staring at the street below, buzzing with cars and people walking through the well-lit streets. Piper walked over to him.

"Hey," she said. 

Jason turned to face her. "Hey."

They stayed silent for a moment, looking at the Capitol that was alive with life below them.

"Why do they let us up here?" Piper finally asked. "Aren't they worried that a tribute would jump off?"

In answer, Jason picked up a rock by his feet and threw it over the edge. There was a sharp zap, and the rock disintegrated in front of their eyes. 

"Oh," was all Piper could say. Finally, she said, "So why were you up here when you could have been downstairs?"

Jason shrugged. "I like the quiet."

"So..." Piper but her lip nervously. "It had nothing to do with me?"

Jason smiled. "Of course not. Why would you ever think that?"

"Well..." She shrugged. "I thought you were avoiding me."

Jason laughed. Piper glared at him. "Why are you laughing?" She asked angrily.

Jason smiled. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to upset you. It's just... that wasn't my intention at all. I'd never want to avoid you."

Piper's gaze softened. "Oh."

"Yeah." Jason turned back towards the street, but after a moment snuck another glance at Piper.

Definitely brown, he thought, staring at her eyes. No, blue. Now they're green. 

Piper saw him staring and looked at him, making Jason quickly look away, blushing.

They stood silently for a moment longer. After a moment, Piper started to shiver. The chilly Capitol air was much colder than expected.

Wordlessly, Jason took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "So," he said after a moment, "was Lacy upset about you volunteering?"

Piper sighed. "Of course. I think she was more scared than anything else. But... I think she was a bit relieved."

Jason nodded. He swallowed before speaking, "My sister was crying when she said goodbye. She- Thalia never cries." He tried to say more, but the words got choked up in his throat.

Piper placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I've talked to Thalia. She's a great person, and a great big sister. Although you two look nothing alike."

Jason smiled, but the grin faded. "She raised me, you know. My mother was never around, and when she was... well, I'm sure you know about her addiction to morphling." Jason shuddered. "It changed her, made her... angrier. And my dad was never around to stop her. My brothers, Hercules and Minos... well, you know how they are."

Piper sighed. "Jason, if there's one thing I know... it's that our parents don't define us. When my mother died, well, my dad was a mess. It was like... his body was still there, but his mind was just... gone. He didn't respond. He barely ate. He didn't sleep. He just sat there, staring at the door, like he was waiting for my mom to walk in. Like she was just going to come home, like the accident had never happened."

Jason wrapped his arm around her. Piper stifled a sob before continuing. "Jason," she said, "my point is that we aren't our parents. Sometimes they make mistakes, but we can't let that define us."

Jason was silent for a moment. "Is that when you started hunting?" he asked.

Piper took a deep breath. "Yeah," she said finally. "If I didn't bring food home, we didn't eat. And we didn't have the money to pay for anything after my dad stopped working. I had to take care of Lacey."

"That was really brave of you," Jason said.

Piper glanced at him. "I had help," she said carefully.

They both knew what she was talking about- Piper had been starving and alone, barely able to stand in the heavy downpour. This was before she had started hunting, before she met Dylan. She had been living off of what they made from the old clothes she was able to sell and the scraps she found in trash cans. But that night she hadn't been able to find anything- she was hungry and cold, and let herself fall to the ground underneath the rain. She would have died if not for the two huge loafs of bread thrown in front of her. When she looked up, all she saw was a flash of a face, of blonde hair and blue eyes, but she knew that it was Jason. If he hadn't given her that bread... well, things would have gone a lot differently.

Jason didn't say anything, just grabbed her hand and didn't let go. Piper wrapped her arms around Jason and hugged him. The two of them stayed like that, wrapped around each other, ignoring the voices of their past whispering in the winter wind.