Come Away To The Slaughter
Title: Come Away To The Slaughter
Fandom FGB / The Hunger Games
Pairing: Willow/Rowan (one-sided, unrequited)
Disclaimer: The Hunger Games is owned by Suzanne Collins. Willow and Rowan were created by Carly and Tom.
Word Count: 2,137
Rating: 15
Summary: Gray faces his first year as a mentor in the Hunger Games and is given a pair of flawed but ferocious fighters.
Looking at the two Tributes in front of him, Gray could hardly believe that it was only a year since he was in their place. He’d been with Juliet then and now… now she was gone and he was here, mentor to two fresh-faced Career Tributes. They didn’t look like much but he’d been assured they were the best the Academy had to offer. They were both seventeen, both blonde and both as entitled as he had been, the perfect realization of everything District 1 was.
Looking at the girl, Willow, Gray wondered how she managed to conceal such a fury that she had shown in training today. The moment a sword had been placed in her hands it was like a switch had been flicked and all of her ditzy, flirty behaviour was gone, replaced by the primal extinct to hunt and survive. Now she was sat the long table, delicately sipping on a bowl of soup and staring at the boy next to her. God, Gray hoped she hadn’t fallen for him. Love was dangerous when it came to Games, he knew better than most.
The boy, Rowan, was different. He was never quite as ruthless as Willow but behind those eyes was a man capable to deception and betrayal. He had outsmarted all of the other Tributes, passed all of the tests on wildlife and survival and record timings and even if he wasn’t as good with a sword as his district partner was, there was a good chance that he could win simply by outliving the rest of them. He was good with a bow and arrow, something unusual for Career Tributes, and Gray had a feeling that it was either going to be his salvation or his downfall. What would happen if an enemy got too close? How good would an arrow be against a battle axe? Against Willow’s sword?
Gray had spent too long wondering what would happen if they were the last two Tributes left. This was his first year as mentor, he couldn’t help but think of every horrible moment they could possibly face. Who would go for the other next? Would Rowan shoot her in the back whilst they hunted? Would Willow bury her sword in Rowan’s stomach the minute he became useless to her?
He was only thankful that moment had never come for him and Juliet.
No, she had been taken right before that hurdle when there was one other opponent left. A District 2 Career, a monster dressed in human skin that had broken her body and turned her love of fire against her. The man’s name haunted him but he never spoke it. He wasn’t sure he ever had said the man’s name aloud more than once, that satisfying moment when he’d lodged a knife into the man’s neck and cursed, “Fuck you, Thorne.”
District 2 had long been their district’s closest rivals and this year, it was no different. He had seen their new Careers, Jackson and Aurora, staring at his Tributes like they were the dirt on their feet. There would be an alliance, there always was, but every year it ended sooner and sooner. How many would be left when the Careers finally turned on each other? Would his two be expecting it? He had told them, warned them countless times, and yet he panicked. Was he just sending two innocent kids to their deaths or was he potentially sending one of them to glory?
Rowan excused himself first, giving him a silent nod and slipping away from the table. Willow watched him leave and Gray watched her in turn, praying that she wasn’t making the same mistake he had. If she was really starting to love Rowan then she was setting herself up to get hurt. Gray didn’t want to pick favourites but at the same time, he didn’t want to see either of his die even if one had to. “Don’t,” he said simply, earning himself a challenging look off Willow. Neither of them said anything, he just met her gaze and didn’t shift until she finally replaced her spoon and stood up. Gray was left alone at the table and there he sat, hoping that the following day would not bring more misery.
By now every new mentor knew that hoping was the biggest mistake of all.
*
The morning of their private sessions with the gamemakers on which they’ll be scored, Gray catches Rowan staring at one of the other tributes, the boy from District 4. He doesn’t know the boy’s name, at least not yet. The minute the games start and the odds come racing in he’ll know it but for now, Gray’s quite content not knowing. It was bad enough that Willow was making eyes for Rowan but if Rowan was making eyes for another Tribute… He was doomed. There was no place for feelings in the arena and the sooner they learned that lesson, the longer they’d have to prepare for the inevitable moment they’d have to turn on each other.
Neither of them talked much after their private session, something that surprised Gray. They had never been so quiet before and the lack of endless talking or boasting made him worried. In a few days everybody would know their scores and that was the defining moment where others decided how much of a threat they were. They were Career Tributes, they were expected to achieve an eight or higher. Gray himself had scored a nine but Juliet, she had really impressed them. It was rare that numbers as high as eleven were seen but Juliet had come out of nowhere. She had been the favourite to win until Noah had shown his true ferocity in the heat of battle.
Dinner was had in silence for a good half an hour before Willow started talking. She talked about anything, the slight differences in food between the Capitol and their home district, the fact that her make-up team were considering tinting their skin blue, the fact that her father made jewellery for a living. Gray could see it in her eyes, she wa starting to panic. Good, this was the perfect time to panic. Better to do it and get it out of the way to keep your head in the Games. If she could just get everything out of her system in this one night, it would be a miracle but it was something that Gray let himself hope for.
Rowan offered little response as he gave shortreplies and nod his head at the right moments, his heart clearly not in the discussion. More than once, Gray had caught Willow looking at Rowan for approval and it almost became too much for him to bear. Had they learned nothing from watching past Games, from watching his Games? His love for Juliet had not been a secret and it had almost destroyed him… unless that was what they hoping. Was it so mad to think that these kids, two kids growing up with no personal connections, were seeking love that they were doomed to lose so that when the time came, they would be filled with the rage necessary to kill as many people as they needed to win? No, that would be too mad a plan. Falling in love was dangerous and falling in love for the Games was deadly.
The scores came out in the days that followed. Willow received a nine and Rowan, a ten. Gray could sense the jealousy coming from Willow’s direction and it hits him that maybe this was what she needed. She needed to see that Rowan was a serious threat, that he could kill her if she wasn’t careful enough. At the same time, Gray could see the cracks in her armour and maybe panicking this early wasn’t the best idea.
He pulled her aside that night and gave her a pep talk that he hoped would inspire her to stay strong. Instead, he had the fact that they’d both scored higher than him thrown in his face before she walked away. Gray wasn’t sure how the hell he was going to help her when she didn’t want his help.
By time the interviews rolled around, they were both confident enough to convince the audience that they were charming, attractive young fools who wanted nothing more than to entertain the Capitol. They weren’t in love, they weren’t scared of fights and for that, the Capitol loved them. Gray hoped that it would help them with sponsors and it was only then that he realized he was hoping a lot more than he had wanted to be. When things were left down to hope, things quite often went wrong.
*
Gray didn’t know what to say to them before they entered the arena. “Good luck. Watch your back. Trust nobody.” What else could he say? What advice could he give when he wasn’t even sure if they valued his opinion? They had formed no connection with him but their departures left him feeling empty, like he’d lost a part of himself. He knew that he was going to lose at least one of them during the Games and the moment the door rolled shut behind them, he found himself unable to hold himself together any longer.
For the first time since the Tributes had been placed in his care, Gray let himself cry. He was crying for them, for the one that wouldn’t return home and he was crying for the fact that this was his life now - getting to know Tributes, teaching them how to survive and then sending them to their death and just hoping that one returned.
By the end of the first day, there were only ten of them left - the six Careers and four who ran from the Cornucopia into the cover of the trees. Rowan had found a bow immediately, taking down two of the fleeing Tributes whilst Willow got herself well equipped with a sword, hacking down three Tributes. Between them, five were dead. They’d taken out both of the District 12 Tributes and that alone was an achievement. One whole District’s Tributes gone by the hands of District 1 and it was a start that Gray was proud of. Only District 2 beat them with six kills, with District 4 falling behind with three. Of the three Career Districts, District 4 were the disappointment of the year and Gray knew that they’d be the first of the Careers to go down. He had a feeling that Rowan knew that too, all he needed was for the boy to act on it.
*
At the end of the second day, there were only eight left. Rowan had shot a girl from District 3 whilst she snacked in a treetop and the District 2 boy, Jackson, had killed a District 11 boy with his axe when he’d attempted to light a fire to keep himself warm. The tensions were starting to rise between the Career pack and Gray found himself hoping once more, hoping that his Tributes were clever enough to work out what was going on. It wasn’t long until District 2 made their move, attacking in the middle of the night.
A cannon for Willow sounded.
District 2 went for the strongest first and caught her whilst she was sleeping. A clean decapitation from Jackson’s axe. Rowan had lingered long enough to bury an arrow in Jackson’s head before fleeing into the distance and to the safety of the forest.
*
On the third day, Aurora was crowned the victor. Rowan’s death was so quick that Gray had almost missed it. There were three left - himself, Aurora and a boy from District 5. Rowan had been hunting the District 5 boy through the woods when the knife buried itself in his lower back, breaking his spine. Gray had forced himself to stop watching, only looking up again when the cannon sounded. It wasn’t a pretty sight, Rowan’s body was broken and bloodied and the sight of Aurora revelling in the kill was enough to make Gray feel sick.
Then again, hadn’t he been the same after Juliet’s death? Hadn’t he enjoyed burying that knife in Noah’s neck, making him suffer for taking his beloved away? Aurora might have taken away Gray’s chance of seeing one of his Tributes arrive home safely but he found himself relating to her.
He hated himself for it.
No, he hated more than himself, he hated the Capitol and he hated the Career Academies for doing this to them, teaching them that this was the right way and the greatest thing anybody could achieve. It was all a lie but a lie Gray couldn’t escape now. He had to repeat the process the next year.
Fandom FGB / The Hunger Games
Pairing: Willow/Rowan (one-sided, unrequited)
Disclaimer: The Hunger Games is owned by Suzanne Collins. Willow and Rowan were created by Carly and Tom.
Word Count: 2,137
Rating: 15
Summary: Gray faces his first year as a mentor in the Hunger Games and is given a pair of flawed but ferocious fighters.
Looking at the two Tributes in front of him, Gray could hardly believe that it was only a year since he was in their place. He’d been with Juliet then and now… now she was gone and he was here, mentor to two fresh-faced Career Tributes. They didn’t look like much but he’d been assured they were the best the Academy had to offer. They were both seventeen, both blonde and both as entitled as he had been, the perfect realization of everything District 1 was.
Looking at the girl, Willow, Gray wondered how she managed to conceal such a fury that she had shown in training today. The moment a sword had been placed in her hands it was like a switch had been flicked and all of her ditzy, flirty behaviour was gone, replaced by the primal extinct to hunt and survive. Now she was sat the long table, delicately sipping on a bowl of soup and staring at the boy next to her. God, Gray hoped she hadn’t fallen for him. Love was dangerous when it came to Games, he knew better than most.
The boy, Rowan, was different. He was never quite as ruthless as Willow but behind those eyes was a man capable to deception and betrayal. He had outsmarted all of the other Tributes, passed all of the tests on wildlife and survival and record timings and even if he wasn’t as good with a sword as his district partner was, there was a good chance that he could win simply by outliving the rest of them. He was good with a bow and arrow, something unusual for Career Tributes, and Gray had a feeling that it was either going to be his salvation or his downfall. What would happen if an enemy got too close? How good would an arrow be against a battle axe? Against Willow’s sword?
Gray had spent too long wondering what would happen if they were the last two Tributes left. This was his first year as mentor, he couldn’t help but think of every horrible moment they could possibly face. Who would go for the other next? Would Rowan shoot her in the back whilst they hunted? Would Willow bury her sword in Rowan’s stomach the minute he became useless to her?
He was only thankful that moment had never come for him and Juliet.
No, she had been taken right before that hurdle when there was one other opponent left. A District 2 Career, a monster dressed in human skin that had broken her body and turned her love of fire against her. The man’s name haunted him but he never spoke it. He wasn’t sure he ever had said the man’s name aloud more than once, that satisfying moment when he’d lodged a knife into the man’s neck and cursed, “Fuck you, Thorne.”
District 2 had long been their district’s closest rivals and this year, it was no different. He had seen their new Careers, Jackson and Aurora, staring at his Tributes like they were the dirt on their feet. There would be an alliance, there always was, but every year it ended sooner and sooner. How many would be left when the Careers finally turned on each other? Would his two be expecting it? He had told them, warned them countless times, and yet he panicked. Was he just sending two innocent kids to their deaths or was he potentially sending one of them to glory?
Rowan excused himself first, giving him a silent nod and slipping away from the table. Willow watched him leave and Gray watched her in turn, praying that she wasn’t making the same mistake he had. If she was really starting to love Rowan then she was setting herself up to get hurt. Gray didn’t want to pick favourites but at the same time, he didn’t want to see either of his die even if one had to. “Don’t,” he said simply, earning himself a challenging look off Willow. Neither of them said anything, he just met her gaze and didn’t shift until she finally replaced her spoon and stood up. Gray was left alone at the table and there he sat, hoping that the following day would not bring more misery.
By now every new mentor knew that hoping was the biggest mistake of all.
*
The morning of their private sessions with the gamemakers on which they’ll be scored, Gray catches Rowan staring at one of the other tributes, the boy from District 4. He doesn’t know the boy’s name, at least not yet. The minute the games start and the odds come racing in he’ll know it but for now, Gray’s quite content not knowing. It was bad enough that Willow was making eyes for Rowan but if Rowan was making eyes for another Tribute… He was doomed. There was no place for feelings in the arena and the sooner they learned that lesson, the longer they’d have to prepare for the inevitable moment they’d have to turn on each other.
Neither of them talked much after their private session, something that surprised Gray. They had never been so quiet before and the lack of endless talking or boasting made him worried. In a few days everybody would know their scores and that was the defining moment where others decided how much of a threat they were. They were Career Tributes, they were expected to achieve an eight or higher. Gray himself had scored a nine but Juliet, she had really impressed them. It was rare that numbers as high as eleven were seen but Juliet had come out of nowhere. She had been the favourite to win until Noah had shown his true ferocity in the heat of battle.
Dinner was had in silence for a good half an hour before Willow started talking. She talked about anything, the slight differences in food between the Capitol and their home district, the fact that her make-up team were considering tinting their skin blue, the fact that her father made jewellery for a living. Gray could see it in her eyes, she wa starting to panic. Good, this was the perfect time to panic. Better to do it and get it out of the way to keep your head in the Games. If she could just get everything out of her system in this one night, it would be a miracle but it was something that Gray let himself hope for.
Rowan offered little response as he gave shortreplies and nod his head at the right moments, his heart clearly not in the discussion. More than once, Gray had caught Willow looking at Rowan for approval and it almost became too much for him to bear. Had they learned nothing from watching past Games, from watching his Games? His love for Juliet had not been a secret and it had almost destroyed him… unless that was what they hoping. Was it so mad to think that these kids, two kids growing up with no personal connections, were seeking love that they were doomed to lose so that when the time came, they would be filled with the rage necessary to kill as many people as they needed to win? No, that would be too mad a plan. Falling in love was dangerous and falling in love for the Games was deadly.
The scores came out in the days that followed. Willow received a nine and Rowan, a ten. Gray could sense the jealousy coming from Willow’s direction and it hits him that maybe this was what she needed. She needed to see that Rowan was a serious threat, that he could kill her if she wasn’t careful enough. At the same time, Gray could see the cracks in her armour and maybe panicking this early wasn’t the best idea.
He pulled her aside that night and gave her a pep talk that he hoped would inspire her to stay strong. Instead, he had the fact that they’d both scored higher than him thrown in his face before she walked away. Gray wasn’t sure how the hell he was going to help her when she didn’t want his help.
By time the interviews rolled around, they were both confident enough to convince the audience that they were charming, attractive young fools who wanted nothing more than to entertain the Capitol. They weren’t in love, they weren’t scared of fights and for that, the Capitol loved them. Gray hoped that it would help them with sponsors and it was only then that he realized he was hoping a lot more than he had wanted to be. When things were left down to hope, things quite often went wrong.
*
Gray didn’t know what to say to them before they entered the arena. “Good luck. Watch your back. Trust nobody.” What else could he say? What advice could he give when he wasn’t even sure if they valued his opinion? They had formed no connection with him but their departures left him feeling empty, like he’d lost a part of himself. He knew that he was going to lose at least one of them during the Games and the moment the door rolled shut behind them, he found himself unable to hold himself together any longer.
For the first time since the Tributes had been placed in his care, Gray let himself cry. He was crying for them, for the one that wouldn’t return home and he was crying for the fact that this was his life now - getting to know Tributes, teaching them how to survive and then sending them to their death and just hoping that one returned.
By the end of the first day, there were only ten of them left - the six Careers and four who ran from the Cornucopia into the cover of the trees. Rowan had found a bow immediately, taking down two of the fleeing Tributes whilst Willow got herself well equipped with a sword, hacking down three Tributes. Between them, five were dead. They’d taken out both of the District 12 Tributes and that alone was an achievement. One whole District’s Tributes gone by the hands of District 1 and it was a start that Gray was proud of. Only District 2 beat them with six kills, with District 4 falling behind with three. Of the three Career Districts, District 4 were the disappointment of the year and Gray knew that they’d be the first of the Careers to go down. He had a feeling that Rowan knew that too, all he needed was for the boy to act on it.
*
At the end of the second day, there were only eight left. Rowan had shot a girl from District 3 whilst she snacked in a treetop and the District 2 boy, Jackson, had killed a District 11 boy with his axe when he’d attempted to light a fire to keep himself warm. The tensions were starting to rise between the Career pack and Gray found himself hoping once more, hoping that his Tributes were clever enough to work out what was going on. It wasn’t long until District 2 made their move, attacking in the middle of the night.
A cannon for Willow sounded.
District 2 went for the strongest first and caught her whilst she was sleeping. A clean decapitation from Jackson’s axe. Rowan had lingered long enough to bury an arrow in Jackson’s head before fleeing into the distance and to the safety of the forest.
*
On the third day, Aurora was crowned the victor. Rowan’s death was so quick that Gray had almost missed it. There were three left - himself, Aurora and a boy from District 5. Rowan had been hunting the District 5 boy through the woods when the knife buried itself in his lower back, breaking his spine. Gray had forced himself to stop watching, only looking up again when the cannon sounded. It wasn’t a pretty sight, Rowan’s body was broken and bloodied and the sight of Aurora revelling in the kill was enough to make Gray feel sick.
Then again, hadn’t he been the same after Juliet’s death? Hadn’t he enjoyed burying that knife in Noah’s neck, making him suffer for taking his beloved away? Aurora might have taken away Gray’s chance of seeing one of his Tributes arrive home safely but he found himself relating to her.
He hated himself for it.
No, he hated more than himself, he hated the Capitol and he hated the Career Academies for doing this to them, teaching them that this was the right way and the greatest thing anybody could achieve. It was all a lie but a lie Gray couldn’t escape now. He had to repeat the process the next year.