THE BOY FROM ONE | Marvel (THG)

Chapter Seven: Training

I step into the elevator and jam the button for the roof. I turn my back to the doors and glance out of the window as it begins to rise. The sun is just beginning to set and, even though I'm not someone who is typically wowed by art, even I have to admit the way it hits the skyscrapers is kind of beautiful. 

The elevator stops abruptly and twisting round, I see that it's stopped on level four. There's a ding as the doors slide open and Marina enters. Unlike me, she's changed out of the outfit she wore earlier and is instead wearing casual jeans and shirt. 

"Hey," she smiles, "Going up to the roof?"

I nod as the elevator doors slide shut again and we begin to rise. She heads over to where I'm standing. 

"Where's your shadow?" I ask, after some silence. 

"Murdoch?" She asks, "Chatting with Finnick." She shakes her head and smiles and the elevator doors slide open again, "Man, that's weird to say. Never thought I'd be on first name basis with the Finnick Odair."

I smile as we step out of the elevator onto the roof, "My mother's a victor so I'm guess I'm used to talking with Gloss and Cashmere."

"Oh yeah," she says, grinning, "I completely forgot about that. Must be tough having a victor for a parent though. Did she tell you to volunteer?" I nod. "Figured," she smiles. 

We glance out of the city in silence, before she asks, "So what brings you up here?"

I shrug, "Was having a hard time with Glimmer."

She raises an eyebrow, "And you struck me as an easy-going guy."

"Even easy-going guys have limits," I smile. I'm already feeling better. "What brings you up here?"

She shrugs, "I've always liked going on late-night walks in District Four. Since I can't really walk here, I just decided to go up to the roof."

"Makes sense," I smile. We go quiet again and, for a moment, everything is peaceful. Then there's the ding of the elevator, followed by conversation as more people step out. 

"Like it or not, we have to play her game," says an angry voice. It's vaguely familiar, "And she's right about the sponsors."

Marina's eyes widen. She grabs me by the hand and pulls me round the corner as the pair step onto the roof. Peering round, I see that it's Cato and Clove. I wince. If they see us listening in on their argument, Cato will kill me for sure. 

Clove runs a hand through her dark hair, "I hate this," She growls, "She's got us cornered. Like we're animals." She sighs, "But we need to know what she's got on me. On my dad."

Cato lays a hand on Clove's shoulder, his expression so tender that I'm wondering if I'm hallucinating. "We will. Let's just give her a few days."

"Why?" Clove slaps his hand away, "Why can't we just torture and kill her on the first day and get it over and done with? And don't say 'sponsors.' I don't care about any of that! Because all I know is that only one of us can win and we won't be able to stay together forever. I don't want us to waste time on Glimmer."

"We won't." Cato murmurs, "But we've also got to think rationally here. Let's use her. Keep her alive long enough to win over the sponsors with the Capitol angle."

Clove rolls her eyes, "Oh because you enjoyed her flirting with you? Please."

"Come on Clove," Cato smirks, "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy her flirting with you too."

They eye each other and then Clove huffs, smiling, "Jealous, huh? Didn't think you had it in-"

But whatever Clove's about to say, it's cut off by Cato grabbing her by the arms and pulling her in for a kiss.