hidden-poet - Tumblr blog

hidden-poet · 9 days ago

Text

Officer Snow: Part 2

THE OFFICER

Summary: Coriolanus goes to District 2 for officer training, as a gap year before returning to the Capitol to study under Dr Gaul. There he finds you.

Your devotion to your little cousin, reminds him of the only love he has ever known.

warnings: Dead Dove do not eat, stalking, emotional abuse, obsession, Coryo being de lu lu, power imbalance.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

AN: Yall wanted insufferable Snow, and I feel as if I delivered. Also curl supremacy. Yall got buzz cut Commander Snow, I want curls officer snow.

Word count: 13,453

Coriolanus Snow felt peace for the first time in his life.

He didn’t have to worry about where his next meal was coming from. Grandma’am and Tigres were back safe in the Capitol, living the life of a Snow. He didn’t need to worry about their next meal either.

His path was clear before him. Now all he had to do was enjoy district 2. The Vongurts treated him like a son, he excelled at his officer duties, and his heart felt light thinking about you.

Not heavy like it did when he thought of Lucy-Gray. He thought he loved her. But her love was like a weight upon him. You offered him comfort. A quiet sense of understanding.

Lucy-Gray looked out for herself. You looked out for others. You needed him. Once Lucy-Gray was set free in the woods, she no longer needed Coriolanus and their relationship fell apart.

It felt good to be needed. The dependence offered a security that Coriolanus needed to allow his defences down.

He had only been interested in people who could offer him protection and power, but now he could look for someone who offered more than that. You offered a home. Not in the sense of four walls and a roof, but in the warmth you offered.

He wanted to nurture it. To ensure that it was always readily available to him.

The sooner you accepted him as your man, the sooner he could rest in you.

Coriolanus rushes from the training yard to the showers. He gets the first stall and quickly washes the dirt and sweat from his body. He wished he had some body wash so he could smell nice for you. He would have to get Tigres to send him some.

For now he quickly washes and dresses into his off duty uniform which consists of dark blue pants and a matching long-sleeve shirt. He grabs his satchel on the way out, pushing past his fellow officers and the questioning of his rush.

He is first in the dinner line, moving quickly through it. He packs the crumbed chicken and vegetables between fresh bread and returns the tray to its place.

By the time most men stagger through to line up, coriolanus is walking out the door.

He eats his dinner as he walks to your house, not wanting to lose a second. He would only have a few hours before he had to be back at the compound and in bed for the next day.

His next round of officer assessment determined his right to have a car.

It will be a welcomed change from the long walk. Still his feet felt light as they walked to you.

The time passed painlessly with the knowledge he would soon be knocking on your door, and you would greet him with your shy, soft smile.

He looked forward to seeing Loretta too. He never paid much attention to children before, but Loretta was different. Too cute, too cheeky. He could see why you lavished affection on her. He couldn’t wait until he could get her back to the Capitol. The finest dresses would be ordered, more toys than she could play with, sweets at command.

Crassus was the same. At least from what he could remember. He would be the provider. It would be up to him to ensure that his loved ones had everything they needed, or wanted.

Coriolanus was a very spoiled child before the war, and his mother was always covered in diamonds. But Crassus' love came with a firm grip. Coriolanus supposed his did too.

Love was too crippling to be allowed free reign. He had learnt that in district 12. It was love that caused all the trouble. It was love that sent Lucy-Gray into the arena. It was his love that she survived the area. Sejanus’s love that led him after Coirolanus to district 12. Spruces love for his sister that led the rebellion plot, and the destruction that followed.

If Coriolanus was going to love you, he had to control you. To ensure you never swayed him in the wrong direction.

Your house came into view. The soft yellow light that illuminated it amongst the dark called to him, and he quickens his footsteps to reach your door.

He takes a deep breath before knocking.

Nervous and excitement fill him waiting for you to answer. Maybe you didn’t hear, so he tried again.

He hears no movement behind the door to indicate that you were coming to him, so he knocked more forcibly. Still, seconds pass and the door does not open.

He knows you are in there. Where else would you be?

He tries knocking again, this time calling out your name to let you know it was him.

He grew frustrated, reaching into his bag to pull out the key he had made. It was wildly expensive to do so but he was now glad he took the time and effort.

The door is swung wide to see you sitting at the table with your cousin in your arms. What look like homework sat on top of the wood.

You unclutch Lorreta from your chest and place her back in her seat so you could stand and face him.

He closes the door behind him as he enters the room.

“You couldn’t hear me knocking”, he asks, irritated.

“What are you doing here?”, you demand.

“I’ve come to check on my girls”, he smiles at Loretta, reaching into his bag and pulls out the giant lollipop from the candy store.

The little girl perks up at the sight of it, but you remain as a blockage in his way.

“How did you get in?” you question in disbelief.

He offers you a soft smile as he comes near, trying to show you he meant no harm.

“Lorretta was very brave yesterday so I thought we could give her the lollipop early.”

“Get out of my house” you quake.

He wanted to show you that you didn’t have to be so brave. That you could rely on him and retreat into your soft and feminine energy. All you have known is self reliance, it must be different now to rest in him. He understood, Tigres still worked for the awful Fabricia whatnot who used her as a slave. Change could be difficult.

Coriolanus approached with small, soft steps coming just before you and holding out the lollipop to Loretta.

“I have something for you as well”, he says. His hand goes to your hip as he leans across the table to hand Loretta her prize.

The little girl takes it in her small hands but you snap out and yank it away from her. Your quick reaction triggered Coriolanus' reflexes and he took your wrist in a tight hold, cementing it to the wooden table.

The little girl shrinks back into her seat, her lip quivers in fright but she makes no sound until she can gather from you what the situation is.

He looks at you puzzled as you freeze in place. The lollipop is still tight in your clutches, and your eyes are trained on him in a way he did not like.

“What’s the matter?”, he asks, “it’s just a lollipop”.

You look at it still in its plastic wrapper from the shop. He couldn’t have done anything to it and got it back in the original wrapper like that. You then look at Lorretta whose anxiety levels were tied to yours.

You smile gently at her, trying to defuse the situation. She had already been through so much. You would try and shield her when you could.

“Do you want me to open it for you?”, you question her in the softest voice you could manage.

“I dont want it”. Lorreta says, sensing the danger but not fully understanding.

You wiggle your wrist in Coirolanus’s tight hold causing him to gently release you.

Now free, you bring the wrapper to your lips and undo the plastic twist.

“I’ll have it then”, you tease. Coriolanus smiles. You were so sweet. So playful. He wanted to kiss you.

“Wait”, Lorretta protests, holding out her hand. Her lip no longer quivered and her eyes sparkled at the colourful swirls.

“It’s mine”, she whinged.

You pass her the lollie and it goes straight between her little teeth.

“Go to your playroom”, you command, “Don’t run around with it. Sit at your table and don’t come out until I come get you”.

“But you said I cant have food in there”, Loretta questions.

You grew frustrated with her, taking a deep breath to keep calm.

“Tonight is fine. I have to speak to the officer here. Go now”.

Loretta jumps from the chair, going on her way.

“Thank you”, Loretta says to Coriolanus.

Coriolanus winks at her as she makes her way to her playroom.

“You’re welcome”, he smiles.

You step away from coriolanus to shut the door of the playroom before stepping the few feet back to the table.

“What do you want”, you demand in a tense voice.

“I told you, I came to check on you. On both of you”, he reaches into his bag, pulling out a little white bag filled with hard lollies, “Sweet gums, your favorite”.

He holds them out to you but you don’t take them.

“Is everything alright? You look pale”, he puts the lollies back in his bag using his hands to reach out to you and direct you into a kitchen chair. You fold into it robotically, your hands clutch the arms of the chair and Coriolanus remains bended over you.

“Whatever you have planned”, you quake, “My cousin is right there”.

“I don’t have anything planned”, Coriolanus contends. He takes his bag off around his shoulder and slings it over the chair behind you, before standing tall.

“I’ll make you a cup of tea. Just sit there”, he tells you.

You watch him as he goes to the kitchen, filling your pot with water from the tap and lighting the stove. He goes next to the top cupboard where you keep your dinnerware and pulls down an old, green mug.

“Do you have milk or sugar?”, he asks, taking a tea bag from its tin on the counter. He would have to get you proper loose leaf tea and a proper tea pot.

“How do you know where everything is?”

“It’s a kitchen”, he deflects, “Not many places things can be”.

For good measure, he deliberately opens the wrong draw looking for a spoon, before the right one.

“Milk? Sugar?”, he asks once more.

“How did you know sweet gums were my favorite?” you pester, “have you been following me?”.

“I asked the shop keep”, Coriolanus sighs.

“And how did you get through a locked door?”.

“It was open”, he lies, “I’ve answered your questions. Why don’t you answer mine”.

“I don’t want tea”, you spit.

“That’s still not an answer to my question”, Coirolanus exasperated.

“Milk, no sugar”, you answer.

He goes to the fridge, pulling out the milk for your tea, and mixing it gently with a spoon into the cup.

The items are left on the counter as he brings it over to you.

Your hands had gone from the chair to knot in front of your stomach. He hated to see you so anxious. He wasn’t sure how to ease you. Only time could do that.

“There you are”, he says, placing the cup down in front of you and taking a seat.

“How is your eye feeling?” he asks you.

The swelling of your eye had gone down, but the bruise had turned into a painful looking purple colour.

Coriolanus leans forward resting on his knees towards you when you don’t answer. You wouldn’t look at him but he was determined to meet your eye.

“I’ve told Mrs Vongurt”, you told him, “She is going to speak to the Commander”.

There was an underlying threat there but it was missed between your shrunken frame and small voice.

“The Commander and I have already spoken”, he announced, “He has given us his blessing”.

Your eyes shoot up at him in disbelief.

“You’re lying. He wouldn’t do that”, you insisted.

“Why is that surprising?”. Coriolanus was almost insulted that you felt the Commander wouldn’t entrust you to him.

Your chest began to get heavy with breaths, and your eyes darted from Coriolanus around the room.

“He didn’t” you say again.

“He did”, Coriolanus promises, “I spoke to him this morning”.

This upsets you greatly. Like Loretta, your lips quivered and your eyes filled with tears that threatened to spill.

“I am so stupid”, you blubbered.

Coriolanus reaches out to take your arms into his hold.

‘’Why?” he asks. To him you have done nothing wrong. He couldn’t understand why you were now crying.

“For thinking I meant anything to him”, you say bringing your hands up to your face to cover your embarrassment.

“I’ve been with him for seven years. You’ve been here less than a year, and he gives me to you like I am a dog”, you let out a loud sob which has Coriolanus pulling his chair closer, trying to work you into a position against his shoulder.

“Shh”, he whispered. He eyes the playroom door, worried Lorreta would hear you crying and come out.

You are stiff as he holds you. One hand at the back of your head and one arm across your shoulders holding you close.

“Of course you matter”, he tells you, “he only wants what's best for you.”

Your hands turn from your face to press against his shoulder, in an attempt to get away.

Coriolanus loses his hold, and you move from him to slump over the table.

He rubs your back as you cry. He couldn’t work it out. This arrangement benefited you.

“Shh”, he tells you once more, “Everything is alright”.

“Please, sir” you whimper against the table, “Please just don’t hurt me or Lorretta”.

“Stop”, he ordered in a harsh voice, “You’re being silly. Sit up”.

You follow his command sitting straight up in your chair with a red face.

Your breaths are still heavy but there wasn’t much he could do to stop that.

“I told you, didn’t I?”, he questions, “I am going to look after you and Loretta from now on. So where would you get the idea that I plan to hurt you from?”.

“You’re a peacekeeper. It’s what you do”, you accuse.

“I don’t plan to be a peacekeeper for long. I have bigger plans than running a district one day”.

He reaches up to the back of your neck, rubbing his thumb along the skin.

“Please, stop crying. Take a breath, you’re fine”, he promises.

With his spare hand he reaches out to wipe the falling tears, being careful not to press down on your bruise.

“Please leave, please”, you beg.

“I am not going anywhere. Drink your tea”, he pushes the cup closer, but you make no attempt to pick it up.

Instead you grasp his coat in desperation, your hold is weak and your hands shake slightly.

“Please, officer” you cry, “Please I have money, jewelry. Whatever you want, just please leave us be”.

The door to the playroom creaks open as Coriolanus goes to reproach you. Lorretta peaks her head out, her lollipop still in hand but now white on the parts she had sucked on.

Coriolanus unhooks your hands from his coat, bringing them down to rest on his thigh out of sight. You don’t turn in your state, but shut your eyes and try to remain quiet.

“Everything is fine, Loretta”, Coriolanus calls in the nicest voice he could muster, “Go back and shut the door”.

Her head retreats under Coriolanus' stare and the door is gently closed shut. His attention turns back to you who remains in the same state.

“You’re talking nonsense”, he scolds you, “and scaring Loretta for no reason”.

‘‘So you plan to ‘take care of us’ with nothing in return?”, you scoff, opening your eyes to look at him.

His hand goes to the side of your face, stilling you in his sight.

A smile tugs at his lips but he urges it to stay hidden given the current tension.

“I love you”, he tells you, “and one day I hope that you love me back”.

You let out a breathy sound. Your expression told him of your shock before your brows furrow and your parted lips closed into a tight line.

“If you touch Loretta, I’ll kill you”, you threaten.

His smile reaches across his face. How he loved your fierce protectiveness. You would never let anything happen to her, even if it cost you everything. Your love was so pure. So untainted. You love without expectation. He had only ever seen it once before in Tigres.

“Nothing is going to happen to her. To either of you”, he promises.

He leans his head forward closer to your lips and gently but firmly kisses you.

You don’t move. Staying still as he moves his hands to your waist and rests his head against where your neck and collarbone meet.

He rests quietly for a few moments before checking his watch and sighing.

His head is lifted from you, and he raises from his chair.

“I have to go”, he tells you.

He reaches to the back of your chair for his bag, digging out the packet of lollies and throwing them on the table.

“I’ll be back tomorrow night. Please answer the door when I knock”, he asks.

He holds out his hand to you, expecting you to follow. “Show me out?”, he states.

You do take his hand and follow him to the door.

It thrills you when he opens it and steps out onto the porch. His hold loosening as he goes.

“Tell Lorretta I said goodbye”, he tells you. You nod your head yes but would pass no such comment back.

He holds your hand between both of his, leaning in to place a kiss on your cheek.

“Sweet dreams”, he cooed.

With a soft smile, and a final touch of his thumb to your lips, Coriolanus slips away into the night.

You slam the door after him. Locking it back up, although you knew it wouldn’t keep him out.

For the past four months, Coriolanus had been on autopilot. Offer training gave him a routine he didn’t have to think about.

But now he was out of his slump, much to the joy of Dr Gaul. During their calls, she spoke of his future, the importance of keeping the Games alive, and Coirolanus' part in doing so.

When he told her he would be president, she laughed. He would not be left an Officer, and he would not remain a game maker. When he returned, he would move towards presidency.

Dr Gaul congratulated him. Mockingly calling him President Snow. She would help, she contended, so long as the games reached a height like never before under him.

He made no promises, but Dr Gaul’s mind already raced with next steps. Time was up before she finished muttering and Coriolanus hung up the phone without a goodbye.

As soon as he leaves the room, he is told Commander Vongurt wants to see him in his office by a lower ranking Peacekeeper.

It irritated Coriolanus, where once it would have delighted him. The walk to your house took an hour in the large district. He had already wasted time talking to Dr Gaul. He would be able to stay only a short time before he had to leave again.

Still, he goes to his commander's office, who’s door was unusually opened.

Coriolanus shuts it behind him as he enters, and Commander Vongurt looks up from his work.

“Y/n didn’t show up to work today”, he states as soon as his eyes land on Coriolanus.

“Does she have to now?”, Coriolanus asks, taking an uninvited seat in front of the desk.

This was good news to him. It must mean you were leaning into relying on him.

“She would have said something. She wouldn’t have just not turned up like this. Did you tell her not to come?’, the man quizzes.

Coriolanus shook his head. He didn’t think of it.

“No sir. I talked to her last night. Told her I would take care of things from now on”, he admitted.

“I would still like her to work at the manor. For as long as possible before you leave. Mrs Vongurt’s nerves are shot. She doesn’t like change”, Vongurt explains.

“I’ll let her know,” Coriolanus confirmed, standing up once more, “I was just on my way to see her before you called me to your office”.

The Commander nods, picking up his pen again, “You can take my car. I will be here for a while still”, he offers.

“Really?” Coriolanus buzzes.

“Of course, son”, Vongurt reaches into the draw, "what did you score on your driving test?”, he questions holding the key tight in his hand.

“96”, Coriolanus answers. He grinded the gears twice, and swiped a curb trying to park, but other than that perfect.

“You scratch it and you’ll be cleaning the whole compound’s boots for a month”, the keys are thrown to coriolanus who catches them.

The threat was empty and brought a sense of familiarity that warmed him.

“Thank you, Sir” Coriolanus praised.

The commander smirks thinking about how nice the father-son relationship felt. A sadness nubbed at him knowing that he will never be able to do this with his real son, and that Coriolanus would soon disappear to the Capitol.

“Don’t be out all night”, he directs, focusing on his work, “be back before lights out or i’ll send the guards to get my car back”.

“Yes, sir”, coriolanus assured.

The Commanders car was nice. He had it cleaned every day. When Coriolanus was president, he would buy the Commander a new car for each month of the year.

The hour walk was turned into a twelve minute drive. Coriolanus was determined to pass the next round of officer training and get one of his own.

This time when he knocks on the door, you answer within a few seconds.

“Hello”, he greets.

You don’t answer but do step out of his way so he could enter.

Dinner was on the table, but Loretta was nowhere in sight.

“Where’s Loretta?” Coriolanus asks.

“She is staying at a friends for a couple of days”, you tell him.

“Which friends?”. This fact annoyed him. He wanted Loretta to like him. How was he going to do that if she wasn’t around?

“You’re early”, you deflect.

“Y/n, who are the friends?” he hated when you ignored his questions.

“You dont know them”.

“That’s not what I asked you”, he fumed.

“Why do you want to know?”, you defend. Did you not trust him to be kind to her? Have you hid her from him deliberately?

“Because we are going to bring her home”, he knew she wouldn’t be too far. You both still sleep in the same bed together. You would want her close.

“I don’t want you around her”, you admit.

“You think I would hurt her?”, he scoffs, “I am trying to give her a better life. Both of you”.

“You’re crazy”, you denounced, stepping back away from him.

“Who are the friends?”, he asks again.

He racked his brain, thinking who it could be. He had never seen you with friends. You have stopped to talk to people but never been over affectionate. Not enough to entrust your cousin. He knew she still had to be in the community.

He didn’t like that you didn’t trust him. You weren’t relying on him, you were fleeing. He wanted to show you that he could be trusted, and did love the both of you. You loved your cousin, Coriolanus wanted to be the only one you entrusted her too.

It would be different if you sent her off so you and coriolanus could be alone. But this was pure contempt.

When you don’t answer his question, he turns back to the door going back outside and storming towards the neighbours house.

You watched him go from your doorstep until he climbed the steps of your neighbour, and began banging on their door.

You rush over, reaching him on the step as your neighbour answered.

“What are you doing?”, you scold him.

He ignores you, talking solely to the man in front of him.

“Is Loretta here?”, he inquired.

“No, sir, no”, the man quivered enough to make Coriolanus believe him so he moved on down the steps.

He hears the quiet turning of the lock as the door shuts behind him.

You latch on to his arm, trying to pull him back. He knew he was heading in the right direction.

“Stop it. Leave her alone”, you demand.

“What is the matter with you?” Coriolanus spits, shaking you off.

“If you think you can hide even a piece of yourself from me, you are sorely mistaken”.

He reaches the next house, pounding on the door with more force than necessary.

He pounds again when it goes unanswered. A woman this time with a baby on her hip. She looks at you before going back to him.

“Officer?” she questions.

He presents calmer to a mother. He would find Loretta before the night was over, there was no need to hassle a mother with an infant.

“Evening, Ma’am. I am looking for Lorretta Harrison”, Coriolanus addresses.

The mother looks at you again before answering. “I am sorry Officer. I haven’t seen her”.

He nods, despite knowing she knew more than that.

“Very well. Have a nice night”, he bids.

You follow him down the steps. The door this time lingering before it was shut.

“Please, please”, you beg, “Just leave her. Just for tonight”.

Your hands grip his sleeve again but he continues walking.

The neighbors door opens before Coriolanus could knock and a man steps out, closing it behind him.

“Officer, how can I help?”, he asks,

“Lorretta Harrison” Coriolanus states.

“Saw Bernadette picking her up from school. But I couldn’t tell ya where she was now for certain”, the man answers.

“Matthew”, you gasp. You were surprised how quickly you were sold out.

“Y/n, i got kids upstairs”, Matthew pointed out, “I aint lying to an officer for you”.

“I’ve got a kid too”, you bite.

“Where does she live? Bernadette?”, Coriolanus pushed.

“End of the road. Green house”.

With new direction, Coriolanus takes off with you hot on his tail.

You unknowingly lead the way trying to get there before him.

“Officer, it wont happen again”, you tell him, “I am sorry. Please, leave her”.

“No, it won’t happen again”, Coriolanus seethes.

The green house comes into view. You reach for him again, but this time he takes your arm into his hand, tugging you along to his fast pace.

“How dare you?”, he fumed.

He pounds on the correct door this time and you beg them not to answer.

Bernadette does, eyes wide in bewilderment at you two before her.

“Where is she?”, he demands,

“Where’s who, officer?”, Bernadette tries.

Coriolanus lets go of you to push past the door.

The space was bigger than yours. Toys littered the floor, and they even had a TV in the living room.

“The children are sleeping, sir. Please”, Bernadette speaks up.

Coriolanus walks down the narrow hall, going to the only closed door and opening it gently.

He hears you crying to Bernadette, explaining what was going on.

Five children sleep squished in the same bed. Lorretta was the smallest amongst them. Second from the outside.

He is quiet as he approaches. Lifting the blanket and picking up the small child who stirs but doesnt wake.

She was light in his arms. Nestling into him. He briefly imagines his own children in the future. He always wanted to have children. Even from a young agee. Once he showed you what a good father he could be, surely, you would grow to trust him.

He re-enters into the light, back to the living room where you stood with Bernadette. Shifting the weight of Loretta into one arm, he reaches for the throw resting decoratively on the back of the couch, and throws it over the sleeping child to protect her from the cold.

“Come on”, he tells you.

Bernadette tries to talk to him in a hushed tone but Coriolanus makes no effort to listen, going to the door. He knew you would follow.

You did. Racing out after him.

“Please, sir” you say softly, ‘Can I have her?”.

He stops in his tracks, turning back to look at you in the darkness.

“You and Loretta are mine now. Don’t do this again”, he scolds.

“I won’t. I am sorry. Please, can I have her?”.

You hold your arms out expecting but he continues on with her. He could feel the people in their houses peeking from their windows at him.

Your door was left open from when you dashed out after him so he was able to walk freely through. You never allow too much space when he holds your cousin in his arms. When he meets the bedroom door, you open it for him, allowing him into your space.

You pull back the covers of the bedspread so that he could place Loretta down. He does so, gently, kneeling on the bed to place her in the center so she doesn’t roll off.

He feels your hand on his shoulder tugging him away once she was down.

Following your direction, he flips the blanket over her and retreats from the bed back outside. You shut the door quietly, your hand stilling on the door knob, and your eyes trained on the wood once it was closed.

“The Commander told me you didn’t turn up for work today”, Coriolanus addressed the next issue.

You are still and quiet, not moving as you muttered.

“He killed my parents, you would think there would be some sort of loyalty owed”.

Coriolanus grabbed your arm, yanking you to look at him.

“What?’ Coriolanus questions, “You need to be there tomorrow. You threw Mrs Vongurt into a fit when you didn’t arrive today”.

“Why should I?”, you provoke with more tears in your eyes.

“Because I’ve told you to”, Coriolanus answers, “The Vongurts care about you, no matter what you currently think”.

“They care about you. Their lost son”.

“We can both be important to them”, he says in a soft voice. His temper now cooled with his task accomplished and your fresh tears.

“You need to go to work tomorrow, okay”, he tells you softly.

You nod as his hand comes up to brush your tears.

Pulling back, you attempt to pass him, but Coriolanus stops you with a tight hold.

“Where are you going?”, he asks you.

“I need to sit” you say weakly.

He sways you to the nearest chair, sitting down before you and pulling you onto his lap.

You felt as if you could throw up. Your hands clutch the table top to keep you steady.

“You can trust me”, he gently says, “trust me”, he implores.

“You’re crazy”, you state.

You fight to rise from him while trying not to make a sound that would wake Loretta.

“Settle, sweetheart, settle”, he ushers, “You’ll wake Loretta”.

“Let go of me”, you demand of him but his strong arms keep you against him.

“Be quiet. You’ll wake her”, Coriolanus hushes.

You fail to break free, sitting back down on his lap.

Coriolanus laughs quietly as you settle back down, resting his head against the back of your shoulder.

His laughing turned into a soft groan as he rolled his head across your shoulder blade as if he was shaking his head.

“I have never met such a stubborn woman before”, he thinks back to Tigres and remembers maybe he has.

“All I want is to take care of you”, he vows.

“I don’t need you too”, you begin to wiggle again but his hold around you gets too tight.

Coriolanus raises his head so he could speak more clearly to you.

“You think you don’t” he says, “Only because you’ve never had anyone”.

His hands move from being wrapped around you to rubbing up and down your bare arms.

They stop upon your shoulders, tugging you back against him. His hair tickles you as it meets your skin.

His right hand reaches out to your knee and begins to slide up under your dress. You gasp as he does it, quickly closing your legs from his assault. His left hand came and yanked them back open again.

“Don’t please”, you beg.

“Have you had anyone take care of you ever?” he teases, “I bet you haven’t”.

His fingers rest on your inner thigh, rubbing the skin there softly.

“Don’t” you say again, your hands claw at his under your dress.

He grabs a fistfull of your hair yanking back into his shoulder.

“Sit still”, he ordered.

You wanted to scream but it wouldn’t make its way from your throat.

“Put your hands around my neck”, he orders but you continue to scratch and pull blindly at him.

He pinches the skin of your inner thigh. Your knee goes to close on reflex but his strong hand latches out and keeps it wide open.

“Bernadatte could find herself in a lot of trouble with the law. She had a few kids, it would be such a shame”.

“You wouldn’t”, you quiver, but your hands stop scratching.

You feel him nod into you, giving you the answer.

As your hands go to his neck, Coriolanus slides his hand further up to the edge of your underwear and inserts his hand underneath.

“Wait, don’t” you say a bit too loudly.

“Keep quiet. You don’t want Loretta to see you like this, do you?”, he scolds.

You’re dry as he first enters you. He quickly works to stimulate you. His long, slim fingers massage your tender flesh. Your head wasn’t it in, he could tell. You were in some far off place and needed to bring you back so you could enjoy his work.

“How's it feel?”, he quizzes you.

“Stop”, you tell him. At least he knew you were back in the room.

Your fingertips curl into the skin of his neck. In an attempt to hurt him or just because you were anxious, he didn’t know.

“Am I going to be the first man to ever fuck you?”, he asks. He hopes the answer is yes.

He feels you jerk your knee in his left hand. He slides his hand up and pinches the skin of your left thigh. He did it again, enjoying the way your body jolts each time.

‘I think so”, he says to his own question.

He feels your core begin to heat up, the wetness soon to follow.

Your hands slip from his neck, earning you another two pinches. They go back up, this time griping just below his neck on his shoulders.

“Slide them up. Up into my hair”, he breathed, beginning to get hot and bothered himself.

Your fingers twist into his curls at the back of his head. The tension almost made him come alone. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt this good.

You make a pathic sound when his finger tapped into your well. He slides your thickness around your folds. His touch now teases as he runs his finger through you by never with enough friction.

He starts to pump in and out of you as he speaks, softly and slowly.

“You want to know how I am going to fuck you?”, he asks.

You did not, rolling your head so you were away from him.

“Hard and long. Over every surface, in every position” he promises.

Your fingers tense in his hair. If his locks weren’t so thick, you would have torn them from his head.

“How’s that feel?” he asks once more, as your hips push away from his touch, “better then when you do it yourself?”.

“Don’t”, you mutter.

He switches to two fingers, circling your clint.

“Stay still, sweetheart”, he commands when you push back against him, trying to invade his touch.

You choke out a sob as he continues. He shushes you, picking up pace that makes you convulse.

“Stay still”, he reminds you.

You huff out as if you were wounded. Sucking in large breaths and panting them out. He relished the sound.

He knew the motions well. A couple of late night Capitol parties back in the Academy had taught him well over the years. He had never been truly present like this before. He had bigger issues, like hunger and financial strain. But for appearance sake, he flattered girls he had no interest in, and took them to the nearest free bedroom, or alleyway.

But you mattered. He wanted to feel every muscle as it moved to his touch. He wanted to hear every sound he could elicit. The other woman clung to him for their own pleasure. Greedy hands, and desperate bucking. You were pure, moving away from his touch. You had little time to think about pleasure with the weight of the world on your shoulders. But he wanted to show you how much pleasure was out there. How much he could give you.

While other women your age were at parties, listening to a broke, blonde haired man whisper cheap lies, you were working to put food on the table for your cousin.

You were the last pure thing since the dark days. Coriolanus had stumbled upon a rose amongst the weeds. He wanted to see it bloom. To prune it and care for it like Grandma’am did for her roses. You were perfection, the perfect blend of everything he had lost.

He feels you finish around his fingers. You let out a ragged moan which you let go of coriolanus hair to catch before it woke Loretta. You clamp your mouth shut with your own hand, your breathes ragged with your anxiety and shame. Tears roll down your cheeks but you make no sound.

Coriolanus brings his fingers, still wet with your cum, and redirects your face back to him. He kisses you harshly. His teeth nib at your lip. His kiss was bruising but you made no effort to stop him. Frozen from moments before.

His spare hand reaches for your breast, massaging it in his hand. He was painfully hard, but tonight was about your pleasure. A commitment to your happiness.

You push his hand away from your breast with both of yours. You had begun crying heavily, and wildly again. Sobs rack your body as you sit up on his knee, making no attempts to stand fully.

He rubs your back, unsure on what to do. None of the other women cried after.

You do your best to keep quiet, hands clamped tightly over your nose and mouth, deep breaths to try and control your emotions. A hiccup breaks your efforts, letting out a loud cry, you drop your face into your hands and sob pitfully into them.

“Come here, come here”, Coriolanus demands. He takes hold of the back of your neck and brings you down to his shoulder. He positioned you sideways so your legs were dangling over his thigh, and you were more secure in his hold.

“Sh, don’t wake Loretta”, he consoles, “it’s alright”.

Your hands remain covering your face, but your sobs quieten into just shakes of your body.

He allows you to go on. He assumed he would have to get used to you crying often. He didn’t mind, he just wished he understood why. You were sensitive, lots of your tears had little reason.

He keeps reminding you that everything was fine. There was no reason to be upset. He would take care of you.

Soon your crying stopped and you sat up with a red, and puffy face. Coriolanus reached out to try and wipe your face down, but you rose too quickly for him to catch you.

You leave him at the table, going to the bedroom and shutting the door behind you.

Coriolanus gets up to follow you, thinking that perhaps you were just checking in on your little cousin. But as he goes to open the door, he feels your body weight resting against it.

It bangs closed a little too loudy. He cringes as it does. The last thing he wanted to do was wake Loretta with adult fighting. He could knock you from the door with little effort but what would be the point? It would result in two crying girls, and a fight against the clock to sooth you both before he had to leave.

He tries tapping gently on the door. Asking you to come out so he can at least say goodbye. You don’t, so with a sigh, his knuckle wraps twice against the wood and he leaves making sure to lock the door behind him.

He returns back to camp earlier than he had to be. It was for the best, he was tingling for his own release. His fingers still smelt like you. He was sure if he was quick, he could secure his own release.

Throwing the keys to a lowly peacekeeper, he asks that the keys are returned to Commander Vongurt and he is alerted of Coriolanus' return.

The other officers were still up in the common room. Playing games and music. He brushes the invites to stay off as he quickly walks to the bunks.

Grabbing his towel, pajamas, and toiletries bag, he races back through the common room where the invitations to play turned into jibes about him being a soft capitol boy.

He would have cared if not for your scent on his fingers, and the knowledge that they would all die trapped in the districts, thinking they mattered.

The shower is hot as it pelts down on his back. The fingers of his right hand are pushed under his nose, while his left hand works along his member. Only when he comes, does he take the fingers into his mouth, tasting you.

5:30am comes too quickly and Coriolanus is dragged out of bed.

He eats breakfast without much gusto, before he begins his day.

This morning's exercise was running laps around the field. Coriolanus wondered how you were feeling this morning. How Lorretta was when she woke in her own bed. He wondered if you would tell her about Coriolanus’s part.

His thinking slowed him down to a shuffling pace. Others overtook his lead, but he found it hard to care. When Henry knocked into him, shoulder barging Coriolans off track, his worry still beat his anger, and he was able to shake it off.

Would you be okay to go to work today? He never took much notice of the other servants of the manor. Were they nice to you? What work did you even do there? You had poured him tea a couple of times. He had seen you with vacuum cleaners and dusters. Could he assume light housekeeping? He didn’t even know what time you started. Did you have to brave the cold this morning like him? No, Loretta would need to be taken to school. Unless someone else did that for you. There was still so much to learn. He would ask you tonight.

“Coriolanus! Coriolanus!”, he hears his name called by an out of breath Mungo.

He slows his pace so Mungo could catch up.

“Christ, I hate this”, Mungo complains, “I cant wait to pass the next round and get a car. Car, sleep in, later curfew. I am telling you Coriolanus, this is the year”.

“Eighth time’s the charm”, Coriolanus jokes.

“Yeah”, Mungo wheezes, “Laugh it up. This is only your first time”.

Coriolanus always excelled at everything he did. This was no different.

“Hey, can you help me with the written stuff?” Mungo asks. Coming from district 10, Mungo never learnt to read or write very well. But he was determined to obey Capitol rule to rise to the top. Whatever needed to be done. Whoever needed to be killed.

Still Coriolanus wasn’t about to trade time with you for him.

“Wish I could”, Coriolanus says, “Vongurts got me doing rounds in any spare time I have”.

“Is that why you keep going off base?”.

Coriolanus didn’t realise he had an audience. He would have to keep an eye on Mungo from now on. Which annoyed Coriolanus, who only wanted to ignore him.

“Yeah”, Coriolanus lies.

‘Well I’ll do your rounds if you help”, Mungo tried to persuade.

Mungo puffs, having to halt his running to catch his breath.

“I’ll give you my examples”, Coriolanus offered, “You can memorise and regurgitate. All the exams are the same”.

“What?”, Mungo huffed not understanding the words..

“Remember the words I write and write them down”, Coriolanus simplifies, “Seat next to me in the exam and I’ll try to position my paper for the multiple choice. “

Mungo beams up at him, slapping his shoulder in appreciation.

“Thanks, Buddy!”, Mungo smiled.

Coriolanus begins running again, leaving Mungo behind.

‘You owe me one”, he calls behind him.

He goes to the post office in his lunch break, placing an express order from a capitol magazine. He also sends Tigres and Grandma’am his official officer headshot, with a letter on how much he missed them.

For lunch, he is called into Commander Vongurts office. Initially he is worried you didn’t turn up for work again, but the commander just wanted Coriolanus company and a game of chess.

Vongurt doesn’t mention you, and neither does Coirolanus.

The hour is spent comfortably. Coriolanus knocks over Vongurts king just in time for the afternoon training.

The older man slumps back in his chair, annoyed.

“We should start playing for money”, Coriolanus teased.

“Funny”, the commander replied.

Corioanus rises from his chair, having to be in the yard in the next ten minutes or face a training session of moving heavy rocks from one pile to another and then back again.

“Son”, the commander stops him, “Your moth-Mrs Vongurt”, he quickly corrects, “ has been feeling worried that she will become neglected since you and Y/n become an item. It’s not just you. She called me crying this morning saying Y/n has been cold to her all morning”.

Coriolanus mentally groans. He was going to have to have a talk with you. You were not a cold person, he could imagine the sting Mrs Vongurt felt.

“I am sorry”, Coriolanus offers, “y/n has been upset about something as of late, and between her and training, I have thought of little else”.

“A little effort is all we ask. Especially since you will both be gone soon”.

“In the Capitol, Sir”, Coriolanus reminds him, “Not gone. A short train ride away”.

“Yes, yes” the commander muttered.

The commander suddenly gets up from his chair and walks around to Coriolanus.

‘Why don’t you take the afternoon off? Come back to the manor”.

“My training, sir”, Coriolanus questioned. He was going to become an official officer, superficial as it was. He didn’t want to lose any points.

The Commanders arms slips around Coriolanus’s shoulder, pulling him tightly in and walking with him to the door.

‘I’ll write you a slip. Real life experience beats theory and practice. And you, my boy, are about to go to the front lines. A scorned woman is the most dangerous thing on earth”.

On the off chance he was mistaken, Coriolanus checks his watch. It was too late. You would be gone to pick up Loretta by the time he got there. At least the walk from the Manor was shorter to yours.

The commander drove them back to the Manor with idle chatter. Talking to him was easy. Coriolanus didn’t need to impress him, or calculate his next move. He could talk about nothing and everything at the same time.

He would miss the Vongurts when they were no longer readily within reach. He imagines you would too. Despite the power imbalances, and initial circumstances, he knew you cared deeply for them. At least you would have each other to mourn the loss.

Mrs Vongurt heard the car approaching and raced out to the front steps to greet them.

“Coriolanus!”, she waves from the step with a bright smile.

He exits the car, snooping his body down so she could plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Hello, my darling”, she cooned.

He gives her a quick squeeze in response. If he called her Mrs Vongurt he would hurt her, but no other name came to mind. A simple ‘hello’ would give away this dilemma that he didn't know what to call her.

He feels her fingers brush back his curls as he stands tall again.

“You need a haircut”, she tells him, “Your curls are getting too long”.

Mr Vongurt who had stood as a silent observer, now spoke up, slapping Coriolanus on the shoulder to move him on.

“Leave the boy”, he insisted to his wife, “he’s been training all day. Come on into the parlor, let's have cake and tea”.

The group walked past the working servants without notice. They all shrunk out of the way as the Vongurts and their son made their way through.

The Manor was impressive. Large and lavishly built. Everything shined thanks to the household full of servants. It would match, if not beat, anything from the Capitol.

Coriolanus engaged in more idle chatter while waiting for the tea. Mrs Vongurt told him of her latest trip to the Capitol. She had brought him some new ties and dress shirts for when he returned. She had also tried, and failed, to find the perfect dress for you to enter the Capitol with.

She would continue, she promised Coriolanus, until she found the right one. More trips to the Capitol had already been purchased. She would custom make something if she had too.

Coriolanus thought it was sweet that Mrs Vongurt thought the perfect dress would smooth your transition over. She was probably right. The Capitol was easily distracted.

Mrs Vongurt began to spiral about the dress. Coriolanus redirected her attention elsewhere by bringing up the promise that she could spend weeks at the Capitol rather than a day. That you and her could spend days shopping for the perfect dress.

The underlying promise that this wasn’t goodbye, but the start of a closer relationship, soothed Mrs Vongurt into a more relaxed mood. Only for it to be spoilt by the tea arriving.

“What do you want?”, Mrs Vongurt spat at the young girl who arrived with the tea cart.

“The afternoon tea you ordered, ma’am”, the girl replied.

“I can see that. I am not stupid”, Mrs Vongurt chastised.

“Of course not, ma’am. Sorry”, the girl squeeked.

She busied herself with setting the table, and avoided eye contact.

It was a strange outburst from Mrs Vongurt. He was right next to her as she ordered the service. She had never berated a servant for doing their job. For doing it badly, quite a few times, but this girl wasn’t deserving of her abuse.

“Mrs Vongurt asked you a question”, the commander scolded the girl, “Where’s Y/n?”.

Coriolanus perked up at your name. You were here? Coriolanus now shared the Vongurts' annoyance with the girl. Why weren’t you here?

“I don’t know, sir. I was told to come here”, the girl answered, not stopping her work.

“Well now you’re being told to leave”, Mrs Vongurt ordered, “Tell Y/n to come here at once”.

The girl finished setting up the table, and bowed to the room.

“Yes, ma’am”, she agreed.

Coriolanus buzzed in his seat as the girl left. The hours between visits was torture. An unexpected encounter was a breath of fresh air.

You took too long to arrive. The tea was poured in wait, and a few nibbles of the food were taken.

Coriolanus grew impatient, alongside the Vongurts, although none of them wanted to admit it and distript the polite atmosphere.

Just when Coriolanus thinks he has hit his breaking point, and goes to suggest that he finds you. You pop through the door with a lowered head and a trained gaze at your mistress.

“Y/n”, Mrs vongurt said cheerily, “Coriolanus is here”.

You nod back as if you didn’t know him. Your eyes trained on your mistress, not once sparing a glance to Coriolanus.

“Can I get you anything ma’am”, you ask her.

“Well no”, Mrs Vongurt says deflated.

“Very well”, you replied, “excuse me”. You curtised in an effort to excuse yourself.

Coriolanus noticed a slight tremble of your legs as you stood.

Mrs Vongurt inhaled a large breath, her eyes began to get teary at your dismissal. He had come to care for his stand-in mother. He was upset that you had made her cry.

Just as Coriolanus went to reprimand you, the Commander slammed his hand on the table, freezing you still.

“You are being a very rude little girl. Did anyone at this table excuse you? Do we think ourselves important enough to move without order”.

Your shoulders shrink, your own eyes fill with tears as Mrs Vongurts disappear.

“No, sir”, you quiver.

“Thats right”, the commander continues, “Now Coriolanus is here. Say hello”.

Your eyes flick to him in a frightened stare.

‘Hello”, you state coldly.

“Hello”, he returns in a neutral voice.

“Christ, child, sit”, the commander orders, “you think you’ve been invited in to act as a statue”

Your attention goes back to the Commander, your words were caught in your throat and your knocking knees were unable to move.

Coriolanus rises to collect you, taking your furthest arm and closest hand to lead you to the seat next to him.

He pours you a cup of tea, now knowing how you like it and slides it in front of you.

Your hands remained balled at your chest as you stare at the nice tea cup.

‘Where is Lorretta?”, he asks you, taking a sip of his own tea.

“Yn”, the commander called when you don’t answer, ‘Coriolanus asked you a question”.

“What?”, you ask him.

“Lorretta? You didn’t pick her up from school today?”, he asks.

You shake your head ‘no’, going back to the teacup.

“Bernadette picks her up on thursdays so I can work back and make up my hours”, you answer softly.

He didn’t like that, he would have to talk to the Vongurts about your working hours.

“Yes, we’ve been quite good to you over the years, haven’t we?”

“Yes, ma’am”, you say.

“God, we’re going to miss you kids when you go back to the capitol”, Mrs Vongurt pesters.

It was not the emotional atmosphere to be talking of such a thing.

Your eyes flicker to Coriolanus beside you, before back to Mrs Vongurt.

A look for betrayal crossed your face before you leaned forward on the table over to her.

“You promised”, you cried, “You promised you would talk to the Commander”.

"And I did”, Mrs Vongurt defended, “And we both decided to give our blessing to this union”.

“Did you even think of me?”, you cried, “after all these years did you even spare me a thought? I was here long before him”.

Mr Vongurt did not like his wife being spoken to in such a manner.

“How dare you speak to us like that”, the Commander yelled. You buried your face into your hands, and sobbed like you were prone to do.

“Didn’t we take you in? Give you a job? Don’t think yourself so important that you may speak freely”, he scolded.

“Commander, please”, Coriolanus protested, “She is already upset. What good would it do to upset her any further”.

The Commander relents, sitting back in his chair and falling silent.

Coriolans reaches out to console you, placing a large palm on the back of your shoulders. You tense under him.

“Perhaps it would be best if we allowed a moment”, Coriolanus reasonsed, “May we use your study?”.

“Of course”, the Commander allowed in a tight voice.

When he takes your arm, you rise with him without a fight. Leading him to the study that you knew so well.

Your tears don’t stop, and you make awful sounds as they rack through your body.

The study offers privacy. Coriolanus thinks without the eyes and ears of the staff members you might calm down, but you walk deeper into the office without goal. You were mindlessly following orders, too worked up to question anything.

“Hey”, Coriolanus calls gently, he reaches out to you to stop you going any further. His finger only grazes your skin before you react.

“Don’t touch me!”, you yell at him, yanking away from his touch. You distance yourself from him, walking backwards as if he could hurt you.

“No,no, don’t touch me”, you cry.

He raises his hands in surrender, stopping in the middle of the large carpet.

“I won’t. I won’t. Just sit down, please”, Coirolanus asks. You take the longest possible route to maintain distance, but do take a seat on the lounge. You had been in this room a million times, but never once sat down.

He pats his pockets for his handkerchief. He used to always carry one of his fathers, but since the snake tank and district 12, he no longer did. It was a habit he would have to pick up again if you insisted on crying.

Coriolanus spots an ornate gold tissue box sitting on the study’s desk and he bee lines for it, bringing it back over to you.

You freak out when he sits next to you, repeating the word ‘no’, until he moves away. Your legs clamp shut, and your arms push out in front of you to keep him at arm's length. He grabs a red, velvet cushioned chair which lined the opposite wall and dragged it over to be in front of you.

“Better?”, he asks as he sits.

“Please sir, Loretta, she needs me”, you cry to him, “There’s no one else”.

“Is that what this is about?”, he inquired, “You think I’ll make you leave your cousin behind?”.

He offers you a tissue which you accept before continuing.

“She’ll come with us. I won’t separate you”, he promised.

“The capitol?” you mutter, “no,no”. Your hand went to your face as if you had a headache.

“What is it?” he queried. He makes the mistake of reaching out once more which you react poorly to.

You pull your hand from under his touch, and begin to curl yourself away from him.

“Don’t touch me”, you remind him harshly.

“I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s wrong”, he jeered.

“I am not going to the Capitol” you gasp, “stay away from me”.

“You want Lorretta to die in the Hunger Games?”, he snaps, “Come work here under the new commander? Vongurt will be gone by the time she is old enough, who knows who will take his place. Maybe Henry, the Peacekeeper who did that to your face” he points at your eye as if you had forgotten, “ You told me all you want for Lorretta is for her to be safe and happy, remember? I am giving you that chance. You would be a fool not to take it”.

“You can keep her from the games?” you question.

Coriolanus nods, throwing the tissue box on the table and leaning back into his chair.

“I can do more than that. Education, medical care, streets that aren't filled with over zealous peacekeepers. I could give you both a better life. A safer life”.

You are quiet for a moment as you think. It stills your tears that hang on but don’t fall.

“Why should I believe anything you tell me?”, you ask him.

“Why would I lie to you?”

“Because-” you start, but begin to cry again, “because”, you try again but get choked up, “last night”, you finally get out.

“Last night?”, Coriolanus questions, “Because I touched you? That was for you”.

“You said-”.

“I meant it”, he cut you off, knowing where you were going, “over every surface. I also meant it when I said I love you”.

“I don’t want to go to the Capitol. I don’t want Lorretta to go to the Capitol”, you admit.

“Sometimes we have to do things that are hard and necessary”.

“Don’t talk to me about sacrifice”, you bite, but it was so soft it came as a plea.

“I know, I know”, Coriolanus agrees softly.

You had known sacrifice. Your parents. Your life when your cousin was left orphaned. You had sacrificed your time, money, effort, and never asked for anything in return. Why would coriolanus not what to reward that?

“I’ve known sacrifice too”, Coriolanus noted.

He carried the snow name on his shoulders these past twenty years. That came with expectations. He was responsible for Tigres and Grandma’am. Responsible for raising the name back to its glory.

“I’ve known pain, and hunger, and inequality. So believe me when I tell you; never again. Not me or mine. And you”, he reaches out once more but this time you don’t flinch when his hands meet your arms, “You are mine”.

“You’re crazy” you utter.

“Change can be scary” Coriolanus acknowledges.

You bring your closed hand to your mouth to chew on the nail of your thumb. Coriolanus stops you, pulling down your hand into your lap.

Your eyes begin to swell with tears again.

“Please” Coriolanus sighs, “please stop crying”

You take a few deep, shaky breaths. Your eyes go to the corner of the room, and your hand returns to your mouth where you begin to chew at the skin once more.

Again, your hand is taken away from your mouth by coriolanus who this time keeps it trapped between his palms.

“I want to go home”, you mutter to him.

“One cup of tea”, Coriolanus promises, “And then we’ll go pick Lorretta up”.

“You say ‘we’ a lot”, you comment.

“Yes. Me and you”.

You suck in a breath as he said it. He guessed it had always just been you. Hearing it must feel strange.

“Please”, you beg, “Just leave me alone”.

“You’re not alone anymore”, he asserted, “Look, I know this is crazy. People are going to talk, but it doesn’t matter. Nothing matters, so long as we’re together. You just have to trust me”.

“Trust you?”, you utter.

Coriolanus leans closer to you, talking slow and in a hard tone.

“I will protect you and Lorretta. Whatever you want, I’ll make sure you have it”.

You rip your hand from his, wiping away a few angry tears. They had mostly stopped, only a few sniffles remained.

“Come on”, he says as he rises, “lets not keep them waiting too long”.

He offers you his hand but you don’t take it, walking past him back to the parlor.

He follows closely behind. It was still early days. You would come around.

The parlor room quiets as you enter. The Vongurts halted their conversation as the topic stood mutely in front of them.

Coriolanus pulls out your chair, wordlessly telling you to sit. You follow the command, taking your place back at the table.

“She thought we were leaving Lorretta behind”, Coriolanus announces.

The Vongurts let out a resounding acknowledgement as if it all now suddenly clicked into place.

“Oh goodness, never” Mrs Vongurt voiced, “We would never let that happen”.

Your head slightly nods, your face shows your true contempt for her words.

“Goodness, Lorretta”, Mrs Vongurt announced, “I’ll have to get a dress for her too”.

“There’s still plenty of time”, the commander reasoned, reaching out his hand for his wife, “Officer assessment is months away, and Coriolanus still has lots of work to do. It took me three goes until I passed”.

“I was telling Mrs Vongurt that she must come visit us during fashion week”, Coriolanus tells you, “wouldn’t that be fun? You could see all those dresses from your magazine”.

Coriolanus again tries to have some sort of contact with you, reaching out to place a hand on top of yours. You slide your hands away, reaching out to your tea cup.

“Should I call for some more tea”, Mrs Vongurt askes awkwardly after witnessing the scene.

“We should get going soon”, Coriolanus rejects.

You take a sip at his promise, and the rest of the table join in solidarity.

You remain silent while the others chat, finishing your tea first in an effort to leave. You don’t say anything but Coriolanus notices. He could feel you growing impatient as you waited in silence.

No one else had finished their tea so you knew you were yet to be excused. You rejected the offer of another cup or cake, so coriolanus let you stew there in hostility while he enjoyed his afternoon.

From the corner of his eye, he could see your thumb get raised to your mouth and you begin chewing on your nail bed in a trance.

You dont see him coming when he yanks your hand from your mouth and intertwines your fingers, bringing them down to rest in his down on his thigh.

He sips his tea leisurely. Not looking or speaking to you as you sulk in your chair. You felt invisible in the room.

Everyone had planned your life out for you but your head swirled. He planned to take you to the capitol. He planned to take Lorretta. How could you stop him?

Tears spike your eyes but you refuse to let them fall. What good would your tears do.

Coriolanus finally finished his cup and announced his intended departure. You’re raised with his hold on your hand.

“Here”, the Commander spoke, digging into his pocket and pulling out the keys to his car.

Coriolanus catches them when they are thrown but tosses them back without hesitation.

“It’s a short walk”, Coriolanus notes.

“Well we’ll see you out then”, the commander chides. The Vongurt rise from the table, and Coriolanus leads the way to the front door with a tight hold on your hand.

The day is almost gone. Only enough sunlight to reach home was left.

Your shift was far from over but you wanted nothing more than to pick Lorretta up and retreat to the safety of home.

Coriolanus shakes the Commanders hand and Mrs Vongurt hugs you unexpectedly. You freeze under her, making no attempt to hug her back.

She is quick before she moves on to Coriolanus and Mr Vongurt takes her place in front of you. With a kind hand on your shoulder he leans down and places a gentle, quick kiss on your cheek.

They have always been kind but never affectionate with you before. Everything was strange and new.

Coriolanus bids them goodbye, tugging on your hand to begin the journey back home.

It chilled you that he knew the way, never second guessing or stumbling on the path back.

His hold never loosened on your hand which was fortunate because you think you would have stopped walking all together. Robotically you followed like a dog on a lead.

“You’re quiet”, he comments.

You were just past half way back to your community. You hoped once you reached your door perhaps he might leave. You were sure he wanted dinner and a shower before bed. The compound had a rigid routine, if you missed a step there was no going back.

“When were you going to mention the capitol?”, you ask him.

“I am sorry about that. I wanted to be the one to tell you. I only told the Vongurts first to show I was serious about you”, he explained.

“Coriolanus”, his name from your lips shot a shiver down his spine, “You don’t know me. Trust me, you don’t want me”.

He stops in his tracks to turn back and look at you.

“Don’t want you? Why wouldn’t I want you? You’re perfect. Kind, beautiful, smart. You’re everything I have ever wanted”.

His declaration gave him cause to take hold of you and press you against him. You shove him back with little result.

“Get off”, you demand.

“Kiss me” he barters.

You turn your head away from him, trying to wiggle free from his hold. You feel him bring his weight down causing your knees to buckle as you're forced to the ground.

His hand on the back of your head softens your landing on the dirt before it's removed to still your face for the kiss.

Sure it was going to lead to more, you begin to struggle and kick under him. Your tears return but your sobs cant make it past his lips.

When he does eventually pull his head back, your begging begins.

“Don’t, don’t, please. Lorrett needs me”.

“What?”, he questions.

Your body shook under him so he rises himself, and rolls into a sitting position next to you.

“I just wanted a kiss. I wasn’t going to hurt you”.

You lay there in the dirt, quietly sobbing into your hands.

“Y/n, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you”.

He thought he could show you how much he loved you, how much he wanted you, but took everything as a threat. He would have to be more gentle, he scolded himself.

“I am sorry”, he repeats watching you get up from the dirt and continue on back home.

He chases after you, brushing the dirt off your back and picking out the twigs trapped in your hair. You don’t stop walking, making his task hard.

He doest talk, or try to grab hold of you, the rest of the way to Bernadette's house.

While you straighten yourself up and put on a brave face, he knocks on the door.

He could hear the children playing inside, making him feel almost bad to be breaking it up so soon. But playtime was over, it was time for Lorretta to come home.

Bernadette was stunned to open the door to you.

“What are you doing here so early?” she asks you but remains looking at him.

“We’re here to pick Lorretta up”, he answers for you.

Her eyes flicker back to you, gaging what to do.

“The kids were just talking about a sleepover. How about I keep her for tonight?”, Bernadette offers.

You shake your head no, trying to tell her not to test him.

She nods once to you before calling out the child's name.

Lorretta comes bouncing over, out of breath and smiling from playing.

Her face turns inquisitive upon seeing coriolanus standing in the door way.

“What are you doing here?” she blurts out.

Coriolanus chuckles in response, reaching out and affectionately running his forefinger and thumb down her chin.

“Picking you up”, he says.

You knock his hold off, taking the small child's shoulders into your hands and tugging her towards you.

“Thank you”, you mutter, racing down the steps with Lorretta.

Coriolanus follows and the door is shut.

“Did you bring me anything?”Lorretta calls as she is dragged forward by your quick place.

He looks down at her bare feet against the sharp rocks that line the ground.

“Y/n stop, stop’, he commands.

You do halt and he picks Lorretta up by the back of her thighs and brushes off the sole of her feet from the rocks that stuck.

“Oh your shoes”, you sigh. He could tell the day had deflated you. You looked once more like you were going to cry over a simple mistake.

“They’re at Bernadette's” Lorretta answers.

“Yes”, You acknowledge turning back to get them.

“It’s alright. We’ll get them another time. I’ll carry her”, he offers. He knew you needed to get home and rest.

“She needs them for school”, you exasperated.

You turn to make sure he was following with Loretta as you backtrack to the house.

“You only have one pair?”, he asks the girl in his arms, “that just won’t do. We’ll have to get you another”.

“Can I still have treats?”, she questions him seriously.

“Lorretta!”, you scold her.

The child shrinks back into coriolanus, not used to being spoken to in such a tone by you.

“Give her here”, you demand.

Coriolanus held her tighter, now that the child was moping into him.

“Get the shoes”, he tells you.

You were tired, possibly hungry, he just needed to get back home and he could set everything right.

He nods in the direction of the Bernadettes house and you follow command, storming up the steps and knocking loudly.

Coriolanus stays at the bottom, watching as you explain the missing shoes. Bernadette goes to get them with a passing look to coriolanus and the child in his arms.

When she returns you speak softer, seemingly calming down. You thank her once more, and return to coriolanus.

You reach for your cousins feet to put the shoes on but Coriolanus disallows it, walking on.

You accept it. Him holding her is uncomfortable, but he couldnt harm her.

The child still sulked, resting her head on his shoulder. He could tell you felt bad about yelling at her.

“Hey”, he called to the child, bucking his shoulder slightly so she would raise her head, “I ordered you a present today. All the way from the Capitol”.

Glee overtook her sullen face. At least he could easily please one of you.

“What is it?”, she hounds.

“You’ll have to wait and see”.

“Can I have a hint?”, she pestered.

“Nope”.

The little girl groans, kicking in his hold in protest.

“Okay, okay”, he submits, “It’s something you play with”.

“A ball” the little girl guessed.

Coriolanus shakes his head.

“A colouring book?”.

Another headshake had the girl pondering.

Coriolanus gives her another hint to help.

“It’s something you can sleep with too. When your cousin is sleeping in a different bed”.

‘A doll!, ' the girl squealed.

“Thats right”, he laughs.

His feet reach your front steps and he climbs them with the girl in your arms. You try to unlock the door too fast, failing to put the key in the hole with shaky hands.

“We sleep in the same bed”, Lorretta explains.

“I know, but you’re such a big girl now. Soon you’ll have your own room”.

You push the door open in a big swing, turing back to him.

“Put her down and leave”, you quake.

He does put her down but continues through the door.

“I told you, I am not going anywhere”, you couldn’t scare him off.

He flicks the lights on, guiding the child further in with a soft hand.

“I can watch Lorretta if you want to take a shower”, he offers.

“No” you reject, taking her out of his hands once more.

“Okay, why don’t you give Lorretta a shower and I’ll make dinner”, he offers once more.

“I am hungry”, Lorretta confirms.

“I’ll make dinner, Lorretta can shower by herself”, you take the child to the bathroom, running the water for her and stripping her off.

“The officer is not our friend”, you tell her quietly.

You tell her to hop in the shower before she can say anything in return too loudly.

Coriolanus goes to the kitchen while he waits for you, taking out the ingredients to make a toasted sandwich.

He heats the pan up with butter and begins to slice the cheese into thin strips.

You stutter upon seeing him work in your kitchen, trying to get out that you would have done it.

“Take a seat”, he tells you.

You sit at the kitchen table, not ten feets away from him.

“You can cook?” you ask him.

“No’’, he protests, “I can make a toasted cheese”.

“You’re buying her Capitol toys now?”, you question in a hard voice, “You think if you can get Lorretta to like you I’ll let you do whatever you want?”

Coriolanus places the first constructed sandwich in the pan as he talks, “My kindness to Lorretta has nothing to do with you. I like her, she’s a good kid”.

“She’s my kid”, you snap, “and I dont want you buying her gifts or picking her up”.

“Why are you so distrustful of me? Did I say I was going to take you back to the compound and pass you around to my buddies, or did I say I love you, and want to take care of you and your cousin?”.

“We don’t want your care”, you sniffle.

He flips the sandwich in the pan, not taking you seriously.

“You’re being silly. It’s been a long day. Why don’t you get Lorretta out of the shower, her dinner is ready”.

As if she heard Lorretta calls out from the shower, telling you she was done.

You rise from your chair to go collect her. By the time you dry, dress and brush her, three toasted cheese sandwiches awaited you on the table.

No one talks during dinner. You wanted him to leave, but had no power to command him to do so.

Lorretta and him smile at each other from across the table which adds to your fury. She was not a pawn in his game.

“When will my present get here?” she asks him after dinner.

“I don’t know. I suspect soon”, he answers.

You had begun to gather the plates, reaching for his as they spoke. He stills you with a hold on your wrist, gently rubbing the skin as he looks up at you.

“I got you something too”.

“What is it?” Lorretta asks for you.

You tug your wrist away, not interested.

“It’s a surprise”, he whispers, leaning too close for your liking.

“Lorretta, go brush your teeth”, you command.

The girl whines but goes to do as you ask.

“Thank you for dinner, officer, but you should be getting back now, no? It’s getting late”.

It was getting late. He wouldn’t make it back in time for curfew, but he had cut a hole in the fence so he could sneak back in later.

All the extra time would cost him is a few hours of sleep, but he could live with that.

“I’ll do the dishes”, he tries to take the dish from you but you keep it firm in your grasp.

“I’ve got it. I have to put Lorretta to sleep. Goodnight, officer”.

He did not want to leave while you were still clearly mad. When you went to sleep, he wanted you to be at peace. With not a single worry running through your head.

“I’ll wait”.

“I’m done”, Lorretta reported, giving you a fright.

“It’ll be hours”, you comment.

“I’ll wait”, Coriolanus repeats.

You don’t fight anymore taking Lorretta into the bedroom without a word.

He washes up as promised, as gently as he could so he could hear you reading to Lorretta.

Your voice was shaky and high pitched. Not your normal performance. Lorretta asked where the voices were, but you told her there would be no voices tonight.

Coriolanus felt terrible he had upset you so much. He should have told you about the Capitol, not let Mrs Vongurt just pull the rug from under you. He needed to be more gentle, go slower, it was hard to keep himself from you. It all just felt so right. He just had to remind himself you were not there yet.

The light switched off and your voices stopped. He imagined you in there, lulling Lorretta to sleep. What a sweet sight it would be. He was so lucky.

He waits for you, watching as the clock ticked past an hour before he grew impatient for you to come out and went to check in.

You were asleep after your long day. Lorretta wrapped safely in your arms. He would have preferred it if you had changed from your dirty uniform, but wasn’t going to wake you to do so.

He steps a bit closer, reaching for the blanket to secure it around your shoulders, and Lorrettas neck.

Once his girls were tucked in, Coriolanus took his leave, turning off all the lights and locking the door behind him.

The walk back to the compound was dark and quiet. It allowed him to think and plot his rise to presidency.

Taglist:

@thaleleah

@grandfartvoid

@dragonsandtitties

@piscesbae7

@milesdrift

@miaasmf

@sassybearfire

@mrs-simonriley

@edb954

@bluerskiees

@hiatuswhore

@captainlunaxmen

@lookclosernow

@katnipwintergreen

128 notes · View notes

hidden-poet · 11 days ago