ＷＩＴＳ | ＭＡＲＶＥＬ ＨＵＮＧＥＲ ＧＡＭＥＳ ✅

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 The water burns her back slightly while her head hurts from how many times she banged it against the tile. Her whole body seems to be in pain but all Rybbon feel is a sense of numbness. She feels like she just made a deal with death. She remembers a tale in her district that death would come at you like a wave of smoke. That it would consume and that's the last thing you would see before you die. Now she's pretty sure death comes from a tall boy with a murderous look.

 The thought makes her shudder despite the whole bathroom being filled with mist from the hot shower. When the water finally begins to make her feel something she turns it off. She dries herself off before putting on a comfy top and bottom, throwing a plush robe on top of it before going out to the terrace. She sits on the edge, admiring the city lights for one last night.

"Hey." She doesn't bother looking over, giving an audible hum as she looks down over the balcony. She hears his footsteps draw closer before he sits across from her, looking over the edge just like she's doing. "What are they even celebrating?" he asks, moving till he is comfortable, placing the bowl of strawberries he has on his lap.

"Our demise." She hears an airy laugh pass his lips, making a ghost of a smile form over her own. Turning to look at him, she can feel the words forming on the tip of her tongue, wanting to tell him how she's made a deal with death himself. But no, she doesn't want to bring that up. Not on their last night of freedom. So instead she leans back against the concrete pillar behind her, giving the young boy her full attention. "How do you think we'll do?" she asks, gesturing for a strawberry. He gives her one silently, wondering how long he'll live.

 "I'll give it a day or two."

 "You don't think you'll win? You could just outlast everyone."

 "Fat chance," he says, biting down on a strawberry. The juices run down his chin, Chase trying to quickly wipe it away. "You have a better chance than I do." Rye rolls her eyes, changing the topic fast.

"Why are you here anyhow? Can't sleep?"

"How can I?" he shrugs, looking over at her. Their eyes meet for a split second before he looks back down, watching the Capitol people celebrate beneath them. "There were so many things I had wanted to do before I died."

 "Like what?" She watches as color comes to his cheeks, a smile forming on her face. "Don't hold back now. I'm curious." She kicks him gently, watching the boy fidget with the strawberries before answering.

"I...I had a crush on you when we were classmates." He glances up at her, watching her smile disappear as he continues. "And I always heard stories from my friends about kissing. About how nice it was and stuff...I've never done it that's all." He bites into another strawberry, distracting himself from Rye. And as the seconds slowly drag on, he can only think of the worst. "Look just forget that I-"

"You want to kiss me?" Maybe it was because she knew she was going to die, but something surged through her as she watched his face become an even brighter shade of red. Watching his reactions made her feel some type of way, but she didn't know what.

"It doesn't have to mean anything," he clarifies. "I just want to know how it feels..." he trails off, watching her sigh. "What?"

"You can. I don't care." She watches as his body tenses instantly from her words, the heat from his cheeks slowly spreading down his jaw and to his neck. Rolling her eyes, she sits up and leans towards him, waiting for him to meet in the center. "I've never done it either," she admits. "I gave my mom and my brother kisses but I know it's not what you mean. There's no point in us dying without knowing how it feels." She watches as her words ease the weight off his shoulders. Chase leans over, putting the bowl of fruit on the ground before scooting forward to meet Rybbon in the middle. "You scared?" she asks, to which he nods his head. "Why?"

 "I don't know," he replies, finally looking her in the eyes.

 "Just take it slow. I'm not going to throw up or nothing," she says, a smile forming on both of their faces. Silence falls for a few seconds, Chase taking a moment to take in Rybbon's appearance. He just wanted to remember something beautiful before going to the area.

 "Okay," he sighs, scooting forward once more, putting him almost body to body with her. They both look at each other.

 Rye has to admit she hasn't truly looked at him since school. He's grown. His features match his personality; soft and subtle. Not one to cause create a ripple. Just a cog that helps the whole machine run, that's all. He's not overly handsome like Marvel nor as brooding as Cato. He's like every worker at District Three just trying to make it by.

 Her brain freezes when he leans forward, his eyes beginning to close. Rye's eyes shut in surprise as his lips make contact with her own. Her old friends at school used to talk about how it felt like butterflies in her stomach. Truly, however, she didn't feel that. His lips against hers were nice, she'll admit. Other than that simple thought, there was nothing else. Like it's missing something. 

A few seconds pass before he pulls back, eyes opening to look at her with awe. She smiles softly at him, hoping her face doesn't say what she's thinking.

 "See? No big deal." She watches as he runs his fingers over his soft rosy lips as if trying to make sure he truly felt her lips touch his. "You okay?"

 "I get why people like kissing," he laughs softly, his finger continuing to run over his lips. But she didn't understand why people liked it. Maybe she's the broken cog in the machine.