The Lone Wolf

Margot counted Fell Vasile among the victors who were  pretty okay. That was the highest it went on her list, and it was miles better than the next closest category, which was indifference. Still, that didn’t mean Margot was social with him. 

 “Maybe so.” Margot responded noncommittally to his first answer as he stopped, looking him up and down. She had a passing thought that it was strange how many of her fellow career victors seemed to keep up their old training routines. Margot hadn’t exactly let herself go, but she wasn’t as strong as she used to be. The power that used to confidently pulse through her muscles had disappeared. If you threw Fell into the games today, he might not do too bad at all. “Not really, but I’ve got a warm house behind me to go into whenever I feel like it. So.” 

Much like himself, Margot wasn’t one of the most social people in The Village. She talked to others when she had to and that was about it, which honestly was fine with Fell. There were a few exceptions, a few people he let in a little more than the rest, but for the most part, Fell kept to himself. With the exception of the District Two team. Still, despite the distance between himself and Margot, he did still like to check on her once in a while.

Doubt flitted through her mind. “Is it really?” Internally, she kicked herself. Of course the first place people would look for her was her home. It was where she always went when she was afraid. 

“Well, I can lock the door to my house,” she said defensively, unsure whether she was trying to convince Fell or herself. “That should keep most people out.” Except peacekeepers, from which she had nothing to hide. And maybe Pixel Delaroux, but she wasn’t afraid of her either.

Carina held the box of syrups closer to her chest. “Do you ever feel like this too?” she asked in a soft voice. Fell always seemed so put-together in her mind, so aggressive. She found it difficult to imagine him hiding in his house.

“Most of the time, yeah.” Then again, the only place Fell really stayed most of his time was at or near his home when he wasn’t at the gym or on a walk. Ome way or another, Peacekeepers tended to find whoever it was they were looking for, and those searches never took long. Especially if the person they were looking for was as well known and recognized, like a Victor.

He nodded, “Yeah, it should. Unless they’re Peacekeepers or that Delaroux kid. Not sure who you’re trying to hide from, but if it’s Peacekeepers, someone’s bound to get curious. And since you’re out here after sunset, I don’t think attention’s what you’re looking for.”

But his criticism of her decisions had died down once she had hugged the box closer to herself and asked her question so quietly. Fell’s shoulders slumped and he glanced toward the end of the street briefly for any sign of a Peacekeeper or passerby before he tipped his head toward her home in a silent offer to walk with her. 

                                                 — “LITTLE COLD FOR A WALK, ISN’T IT?”

 Never mind the fact it was probably also too cold to be sitting outside on her porch, which was exactly what Margot Novak was doing. Settled into an overly-plush outdoor sofa with a rapidly-cooling cup of tea letting steam into the air and the low hum of the radio beside her as her only companion, Margot Novak was really in no position to be questioning the figure passing by her house about the cold.

It was cold, though. Victor’s Village wasn’t far from the mountains of Two, where winter came and stayed like an uninvited house guest, killing just-blooming plants throughout March, sometimes even sneaking into April. This was just the beginning of the cold. A warmer person would have invited the person out of the cold and into their home. Margot did not. 

Fell liked to go on his walks if he wasn’t going on a run. It helped him clear his head and get outside of his mansion more often, which meant Ares wasn’t on his back about getting outside more often. He had just started on his walk, bundled up in a hoodie with his jacket covering him, hands shoved in the pockets of the jacket. He looked over when he heard Margot’s voice, knowing he had to pass her house to continue his walk. 

It had been a while since Fell had a nightmare.

He slept only a few hours at a time, usually stayed awake and would either just go on a walk around the Village or stay in his home. Maybe read that book Sierra had given him until drowsiness set in and he could try sleeping again. But that night, he dreamed about his Games. About the Arena collapsing around him and watching as Larka leaped across the gap between him and the crumbling bridge under her feet. 

But as soon as he would reach out to her, her eyes would fill with fear and she screamed, immediately dropping into the dark waters below. Her scream still echoed in his mind even when he woke with a start. Body tense and breathing rapid, Fell closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down. His mind was on fire, playing that moment of his Games over and over, along with the faces and screams of all the other kids he had killed. Behind closed eyelids, though, all he could see was his sister. 

Eventually, Fell got up and threw on his jacket, slipping the hood up over his head. It was almost routine for him to go out after a nightmare, make his way out the door and down the street. With winter creeping into the Village the nights were much colder. But Fell grew up in the mountains of District Two, he was used to the cold.

His usual path had him walking up toward the Garcia household and he had spared a glance toward the front porch. He wasn’t surprised to see Serenity sitting outside, bundled up as well from the cold. Naturally, Fell had turned toward the sidewalk leading up to her house, only sparing her a glance in greeting before taking a seat next to her on the top step.

Sterling seemed satisfied knowing he’d get his candy when he moved on to the next house, so he leaned against the banister and waited for his mother to finish talking with Fell.

“Yeah, I mean…even if you hadn’t been looking after him before the arena that instinct to check on your victors can be pretty intense.”  She definitely felt some sort of big sister urge to look in on Andie and Carina.  She felt….somewhat responsible for them despite knowing she shouldn’t.  “You’re right though.  Emmy isn’t much trouble.  I really lucked out with that one.”

Fell nodded in agreement. It hadn’t just been Ares that he was looking out for. Serenity had been a close second and when Alex had become Victor, he still looked out for him for the last few years, too. “You help them make it out of The Games, but that mentor mindset never really goes away.” He always had a protective nature since he was a kid, and it just stuck with different people throughout his life.

Sierra laughed. “It’s the easiest way to be high on her list. But, as her mother, I ask that you keep the candy supply low until at least after the winter holidays. She’s going to be permanently hyped until after then.” It was a blessing that June liked Fell this much. She wanted to spend more time with him and she suspected soon he would coming by as they exchanged books. 

He seemed surprised which was what Sierra was hoping for. One thing she did love doing for the few people she was close with, was give them perfect gifts. And Fell was becoming one of those people. It was why she loved the winter holidays dearly even if she didn’t quite like the temperature of it. 

“I think I will be okay. If not I’ll have to get you to fill in the details of the parts I skip over. Expect phone calls if that happens,” she replied, smiling. Then she realized she didn’t really have his phone number. “Actually, I will need your phone number for that to happen,” she added sheepishly, holding out her phone to him. 

She quirked her brow at the tease. “Already lined up? I have to get into gear then. Did you want to come over to talk about our books when we’re both done? Then we can swap new books?”

“You got it.” He wasn’t one to go out of his way to please people unless he cares about them, and maybe, he was growing to care for Sierra and June. What started out as a small book exchange turned into an unlikely friendship and Fell appreciated that friendship. June was part of the picture, too, and while he felt he didn’t do well with kids, June seemed to like him all right, too. But he had promised her candy, so that could have very well played a part in that.

“If it’s anything too in depth with castles, I’ll skim over those details in my summaries.” Fell tucked the book beneath his arm, reaching for her phone when she offered it to him. He did have a phone, it was almost a requirement for his team to stay in touch. Or for Ares, to urge him to go outside once in a while and bug him with random texts. So he punched in his number for her and he offered it back. “Shoot me a text and let me know it’s you. If it’s a number I don’t know, I won’t answer.” Usually it was someone from The Capitol annoying the ever living hell out of him, anyway.

Mercury was far from surprised to find that someone didn’t take pleasure in his music. While geographically they were close to the Capitol, the atmosphere that hung in the Victor’s Village couldn’t oppose the wild, luxurious crowds of the heartland of their country more. If he wasn’t so optimistic, with the help of his daily dosage of alcohol and prescription pills, he might have taken offense.

A lopsided grin made its way onto his features, amused by Fell’s disdain. He had a point, however, most people there did indeed bathe in the solitude that they built for themselves. 

“You aren’t wrong,” said Merc, his hands dropping from the strings, not particularly in the mood to antagonize the other man. “But music doesn’t have to always be something one wants or likes. It can also be something one needs.”

The amused grin from the District Five Victor only graded against Fell’s nerves all the more. Honestly the guy wasn’t hurting anyone, but Fell wasn’t one to indulge in random bouts of... well, random and seemingly aimless activities. Most people would have adored listening to the cheerful and decent music, but Fell could have done without it all. Plus it didn’t seem like Mercury was all there, which Fell had little to no patience for.

She was just as surprised  as Fell to see June bound into Fell’s arms. An astonished smile made its way onto her face and Sierra watched with interest what was about to unfold. Fell seemed to be just as caught off guard, but to his credit it took only a moment for him to shake it off. And instead of being surly or aloof, Fell ruffled her hair. 

It was hard for Sierra not to just burst into happiness, but she kept it to herself. It always made Sierra’s heart bigger when other people saw was as special as she did. And that little gesture, the little nickname solidified that she thought Fell thought the same way. 

She smiled when he glanced in her direction, nodding slightly to affirm his course of action. “There are still plenty of houses to hit up, Junebug. Go on.” June gave her mom a quick hug and bolted forward, joining a group of other kids at the next house. “She seems to really like you. You are definitely high on her list of people she likes.” 

Sierra reached into her little basket, pulling out the wrapped book and placed it into his hands. It was as good a time as any to give him Leviathan Wakes which she loved just as a science fiction novel and if he was caught the next novel in the series would have more of the romance she wanted to inject in his life. She smiled at him. “I think you’re going to like that one. Not too much romance but there is a lot of action. I’m finally able to start the one you gave me and so far I am actually liking it. Haven’t run into many castles yet.” 

The small nod from Sierra helped assure him he did the right thing. Not that he hadn’t been around kids before; he dealt with Sterling not too long ago that night, but this was one of the first times he had spent time with June other than in passing. Even when he visited Sierra in the hospital, she had been asleep. And honestly, he wasn’t used to kids taking a liking to him so quickly. Even Ares when he had first stayed with Fell had been a bit wary of him. 

“Yeah?” he asked, looking to Sierra again before they continued down the sidewalk after June. “Probably because I delivered on the candy promise. Now I have a reputation to uphold as a candy supplier.” 

He almost slipped his hands back into his pockets, but noticed Sierra offer something to him. He blinked and reached for the wrapped item before opening it to find a book. “Leviathan Wakes,” he read, flipping the book over to skim the summary. Fell lifted his head to meet Sierra’s gaze again and he offered a small smile. “Thanks. I’m glad you like that one so far. Hopefully it’s not going to be a tough read.” There was still a twinge of guilt he held for getting her a book that toed the line when it came to bringing up memories of her own Games. 

@uvstarters

Carina was so, so grateful that she could have groceries delivered to her in the Victor’s Village. The bombs going off in the marketplace had felt like a wake-up call, and she had no idea what to do next. The rebels had already targetted her house with their graffiti, and she knew she was under additional scrutiny from Snow as a result.

Truth be told, Carina was scared. So she did what she always did when she was scared; retreated in on herself, and refused to see or talk to anyone.

The delivery driver knew to leave her food on the front lawn, and that she’d go outside after night fell to take the boxes through to the kitchen. Unfortunately, last night something had fallen from one of the boxes without her noticing, and she needed it now.

Dressed and made-up for the quick dash down her garden path, just in case, Carina stood behind her front door building up her courage before throwing it open and running for the box of flavoured coffee syrups.

Clutching the box to her chest, she looked up and felt her heart sink as she locked eyes with a fellow human being. “I’m not here,” she said hurriedly.

Fell’s brow quirked at Carina once her gaze had met his. He had been passing her house on the way home and spotted the girl darting out from her home to hastily pick up the boxes that had been sitting in her yard for a good portion of the day. Fell wasn’t one to be nosy, but it was hard not to notice the boxes that had been sitting outside for so long, only for her to sneak out at nightfall and pick them up. Then again, how often did Fell emerge from his house and no one batted an eye?

“First place people usually check for someone is their own home,” he pointed out. After all, it was the first place Peackeepers usually checked to track him down whenever he got in trouble. But that had been a long while now. 

The Village’s winter arrived in increments; a light dusting of snowflakes overnight heeded you, then came the sudden, stark breezes that raised sharp goose flesh on your neck, and finally the mellow autumn ambiance fizzing out in the grey film of a slow-brewing blizzard, the whole world collapsing in on itself. It didn’t have to be entirely suffocating however, not in Mercury’s opinion, at least. It was his life long experience in District 5 that dictated this within him — a childhood in the upper Midwest of Panem was not intended for the faint of heart. He learned to make do, what with all the time he was concealed indoors in between shifts at the power plant.

Merc also built up a resistance to the cold. His skin had no other choice, all those nights in the raw snow, it was either adapt or lose all his limbs and appendages in a stubborn fit. So, in spite of the biting wind, he gladly took his company around the Village, strumming his guitar, singing old holiday songs from Five. He ambled by houses, probably appearing drunk although he’d been sober for nearly fifteen hours. He couldn’t say it was a terribly frequent occurrence that someone paid attention to him whenever he made these musical strolls, but what else did he expect eventually?

Blinking, unfazed, he continued to lazily strum, cocking his head sideways. “Sorry, didn’t mean to be a bother. It’s just so quiet around here. It’s deafening, even. Absolutely insufferable.” 

( @uvstarters· )

Growing up in the mountains of District Two, Fell was used to the colder months as well. And the colder weather meant less activity outside, so he had been on a walk outside through the Village when he heard the racket down one of the streets. The strumming of a guitar and someone singing. Fell was one that didn’t mind the peace and quiet, and while they did live by The Capitol, which occasionally had some of the city noises carry toward the Village, the music was a bit too much for him.

When Fell had recognized the Victor from Five, he frowned. His steps had slowed to a stop while the other man had ambled around, strumming away at his guitar. He was anything but amused by Mercury’s antics, even if he wasn’t directly in Fell’s walking path. 

Sierra had no idea if it was normal for  someone to bring over a ‘i’m-sorry-you-were-also-caught-in-the-explosion’ pan of brownies, but at the positive words from Fell, it might not be a bad idea. Everyone deserved something nice to happen to them, well except for Eladora if some of the things about her were to be believed. “Well he’s probably going to also get a June tagging along if she finds out I’ve made brownies for someone that isn’t her.”

She let out a relieved breath, hoping that Fell’s knowledge would prevent June from asking about the Capitol. “It is truly a sight to behold when June is excited and also pumped with sugar. I would highly suggest avoiding our house over the next couple of days–maybe even weeks–unless you want an excited June pulling you into whatever thing she’s doing. She’d even pull you into her lessons if her tutor is over.” 

Sierra watched from the edge of the path to the García’s house. An older woman opened the door and happily gave June some candy, maybe a little more than number. She saw her daughters mouth moving quickly which definitely her explaining the situation. Sierra smiled at the woman before the door closed. “Fell!” June called, running up the pathway and wrapping her arms around him. “She gave me more candy. Thank YOU!” 

“Noted.” He spared a glance toward Sierra with a hint of a smirk to show he was teasing. Fell didn’t usually show a lot of interest in dealing with kids, yet he had taken Ares in when he was eleven, even talked with Emmy and Sterling Rosseau, and managed not to scare away June. Not that he had hoped to, but he didn’t see himself getting along very well with kids. From what he knew, Ares had been the exception. But that theory was being debunked the longer he stuck around with Sierra and June.

Fell stood next to Sierra, hands still in the pockets of his jacket even as June had darted up toward them. At first he assumed she was going to show off the candy to her mom, but instead, June called for him, darted straight for him and flung her arms around him. 

She knew that Fell had basically raised Ares from the time he was eleven or so. That wasn’t an easy feat, but her perception of him before actually getting to know him had shoved that particular tidbit under the rug. It hadn’t quite fit with the persona she had developed of him. “He sounds like a good kid, but no offence, I’ve always been worried about you Careers. Ares’ mom especially. She’s never seemed like she had any kind bone in her body.” Sierra rubbed at her arm instinctively, but only for a moment, forgetting she still had a light bandage on her hand. It hurt a little, her wrist still healing under the cast. “But, I’ll have to make an effort. Maybe bring him something to help him feel better after the attack.”

Sierra smiled at his offer. It brought a little bit of relief into her system. She didn’t want to go into the Capitol, at least not yet. There was a necessity at some point to face the anxiety of going into the Capitol, but she could push it a little longer. “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” she replied, watching June get side-tracked by one of the other kids all dressed up. “It’s probably better that June has less candy than more,” she added, laughing a little. 

“I think the fact that you’re trying means more to her. June’s a perceptive  girl. Plus, tonight of all nights she’s incredibly easy to distract.” She smiled at Fell, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. “There’s no need to go to the Capitol tonight…”

“No offense taken, especially on Eladora’s behalf.” At this point, he could have cared less what happened with that woman in life. While he wasn’t the kindest person in the world either, Eladora Carnahan was a cruel woman. And it wasn’t just for kicking an eleven year old Ares Carnahan out of her house, either. The Victors from Two had a particular reputation for themselves, as did most of their Tributes. He was used to the outer Districts keeping them at arm’s length. But he did appreciate Sierra’s offer for Ares. “He might like that.”

“But Fellllllll,” Sterling protested before glancing down the street.  Maybe he could get more candy somewhere else.  “You think they do?” He looked up at Fell with his big eyes, trying to decide if he was telling the truth.

Glitter chuckled.  “Fell’s right, kiddo.  You’ll have to get candy from someone else.”  She glanced to her friend then and shrugged.  “Emmy’s around here somewhere, but you know how teenagers can be.”  She was pretty sure Em had stopped to talk to Hudson at one point.

Sterling’s begging had brought Fell back to when he had Ares living under his roof. At the time the kid had been eleven, but once he had been more comfortable around Fell, those mannerisms had kicked in. And Fell knew it was more to tease and annoy him than being genuine. Though once he had mentioned the other houses, Sterling seemed satisfied enough. “Yup,” he replied, letting Glitter take it from there.

“I’m sure Aurora is there, she probably knows I’m coming!” June called as she ran down the steps towards the García house just down the street. Sierra smiled at the excitement that Fell had just bestowed on her daughter. It wasn’t hard, but it was unexpected from him. 

Sierra stayed on the front step, waiting for Fell to get his coat on. Her cape was good enough at keeping the cold air off of her arms for now and she had pulled on warm stockings she stocked up on after June made it known that Little Red Riding Hood was her costume that year. She smiled at his joke, not complaining about Fell coming along. 

“I guess I will be on his list to confirm your story,” she teased, but doubted that the man would come and see her. Sierra hadn’t really spoken to the young man and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. The Careers still gave her uncertainty, but she found that she didn’t have that anymore with Fell. 

She followed Fell down the steps, her small black boots clicking along the ground. Sierra fell into step beside him, nodding. “We worked our way from the back of the Village to the front. Most of the houses were open and had their lights on,” she teased lightly. “She’s been trying to convince me to bring her into the Capitol for the big candies.” 

It was a little easier for him to respond given what he could recall when he had tried to look after Ares when he was a kid. Granted he wasn’t six years old when he had been at his back door on that rainy day, but Fell still looked after him. Maybe it had been that he took pity on the kid, abandoned by his family and left to his own devices like he had been. Or maybe he felt having Ares around would help fill the void of his lack of family. Whatever he had learned from looking out for Ares seemed to stick now as he had talked with June and even helped Sierra keep an eye on her as they walked down the street.

“He’s a good kid,” he replied, “a pain in the ass sometimes, but good none the less. If anything, he’s just make a smart remark or a joke.”

Trick of treating with a five year old was always a challenge, so when Sterling ran ahead towards Fell’s house, Glitter sighed.  She’d all but given up trying to control the boy on the holiday.  He was too excited, so she just followed after him.

She could see him pounding on Fell’s door and was momentarily reminded she had to give her son another lesson in manners soon.  Then the door opened and she walked quicker.

“But it’s Halloweeeeeeen,” sterling protested, looking up at Fell with big eyes from inside his silly looking dinosaur costume.  “You gotsta have candy!”

Glitter came up behind her son, offering Fell an apologetic half shrug.  “Sorry,” she started.  “Sterling I told you only the houses with the porch light on.”

Fell looked down at Sterling, unable to be too upset with the kid in his dinosaur costume. But Fell didn’t have any treats, not really expecting himself to have answered the door for anybody. Probably should have planned to back out on his own plans. “I don’t have any. But I know most of the other houses do. Pretty sure something’s going on at the Delaroux place.” They had been setting something up over there, though he didn’t really go to investigate. 

It always made Sierra’s heart grow when people were taken by June. She was a little charmer. Sierra was sure she had gotten it from her dad. Sierra was often too reserved to be quite the charmer like June was. It spoke volumes not only of June’s extroversion, but also that Fell was  willing to indulge her daughter. She wondered if Fell did this with the other kids. 

June’s face fell for a brief second but lit up when the words ‘extra candy’ flew out of Fell’s mouth. “You mean it?” June asked excitedly, happiness gleaming in her eyes. “We should go there next! I can say hi to Aurora too! Please mommy?” 

Sierra looked amused by the interaction between the two of them and nodded to her daughter when she asked. “Go on ahead, we will be behind you,” she allowed, waving the wicker basket she held in her right hand that was being used as overflow for the candy. 

Turning to Fell, she rose an eyebrow. “You sure you want to leave the safety of your home for this?” 

Despite wanting to keep to himself the next few days, Fell felt at ease around Sierra. And in part, that might have passed onto June. The youngest kid he dealt with had been Ares at eleven years old when Eladora had kicked him out of her home. And June seemed like a sweet girl, still innocent to the world and Panem’s injustices, as far as Fell had been aware. Most of the other kids he tended to avoid or didn’t talk much to, other than Glitter’s kids when he would stop by her place to spar, or if they went with her to the Tower for The Games. 

“Depends on if they’re still home,” Fell replied, reaching to grab his jacket to slip on. The fall nights tended to get cooler in The Capitol the later it got in the year. He wasn’t sure what plans Ares and Serenity had, but he hoped at least one of them would be home to pull through on his word to the kid. Otherwise, he would have to figure something out.