The Returning Blackwell

"Even if you tried to help her– even if this was your way of helping him, you can’t tell me you killed a Career to protect someone.  You wanted them dead before any of them even had an opportunity to think of doing something wrong.  So, please, spare me the self-righteous– I’m holy-er than thou, bullshit.  We’re…  We’re murders– both of us."  Amity admitted with reluctance.

Wren’s death was still weighing on him and now…  Well, he had made another mistake.  It wasn’t Pluto’s fault– couldn’t have been Pluto’s.

He had stayed behind to keep an eye on Amity, just as Axel had wanted. He had killed the boy for the same reason– to protect the youngest as he had asked.  Had their concern not been expressed solely on the smallest, perhaps things could have been different.  If Amity had tried harder, he could have done as much for Axel as he had for him; they could have had more than one night together.  Should the death be pinned on any one person, the younger knew who it should truly have been.

"Don’t say that."  Was all he could manage to whisper, sitting himself on the ground below and clutching his knees tightly to his chest as it all finally hit him– as his hard, bleak stare settled on the stained grass that had held his Axel only moments before.

"That he thanked you,"  Amity found that he had to almost force the words out, his chest tightening unbearably.  "I don’t…  I don’t want to hear it.  I don’t.”

The way Amity repeated Pluto’s words, laughing as if he’d never heard something so false, had the boy from 10 recoiling-- glaring miserably but resolutely back into the brown eyes across from him.

“I was stupid, alright?” He bit back, an all too familiar anger settling in his bones. “I thought I could come here, and I could take them out. I thought I could show their districts what happens when you take apart an innocent the way they took apart my sister. The way no one deserves to see someone they love go.” Pluto gave a mirthless laugh of his own, taking a step forward into Amity’s own space.

“I killed two-- two before-” He shook his head, unable to say the name of the last to die at his hands, “I killed two. One in the Cornucopia when she came for me, and I hated it. I realized that I didn’t want to be one of the Capitol’s monsters, but I had to do it again. I had to do it to protect my friends.”

Breath coming quicker now, Pluto pointed a finger to Amity-- almost brushing the boy’s chin. “I’m just as damned as the rest, I know that. I don’t need anyone-- least of all you, telling me what I am.”

Still, he couldn’t shake the familiarity of the situation. A pact to protect. The absence of an ally, and finally... an untimely death.

It only made sense Amity would look to him to place the blame, just as he did to Ecthelion. Just as he did a day before someone somewhere took his old ally’s life, too. Maybe, if the gamemakers were kind to him, his story would end the same.

If there was something you never heard Amity say back at home, it was the words, “I think."  No, he never thought; he always knew.  All the boy ever did was surround himself with coding and wiring, pages of books, facts and statistics.  But, now?

Now, none of that mattered.  Now, nothing was for certain– was concrete.  Amity didn’t know anything anymore.  Hell, he didn’t even know how much time had passed, holding onto Axel’s now cold and lifeless body as he continued to cry over the boy– refusing to let go of him, of anything they had had together.

It almost seemed as Amity was stuck in some sort of trance– going along with the motions, but not quite there anymore, not until he felt the strong hands of the District Ten tribute on his shoulders guiding him away from Axel in order to let the hovercraft aboard then take him.

The sight of it all was what had finally prompted a reaction from the younger, watching as the ship raised the body up and away from him– causing the smaller to thrash in the other’s arms, moving to try and get away, as if keeping Axel with him would fix any of the world crumbling around them.  Pluto, of course, was too strong and held Amity back almost as if he were nothing– simply angering the boy further.

Once the scene was out of sight, he simply remained where he was restrained– chest heaving from not only the exhaustive moves he had made to try and get away, but also from the crying and pure terror of everything that had just happened.

It took him a moment to even notice the dampness of the fabric against his back; the blood that had spilt onto the other’s clothing and was now staining his own.  Axel’s blood.

"You…"  Amity practically forced out, voice completely shot from the events of the night.  "How– How could you–"  He found he was now strong enough to turn himself around in the other’s arms, fists meeting his chest as he pounded against the taller’s torso in an almost childish manner.

"I told you not to hurt him!"  He practically shrieked, eyes perfectly expressing his multitude of emotions as he looked to the darker."You didn’t have to do that; you didn’t– we…  we could have figured something out."  Amity continued to insist, finally pushing against Pluto’s chest just hard enough to tear himself from the other’s grip.  "I told you, you were with us– I tried to help you!"  He all but screamed, no longer caring if the other tribute lurking about heard him– not anymore.

"You shouldn’t have came.  I shouldn’t have let you in– shouldn’t have believed any of it."  Amity added breathlessly, almost as if he were trying to confirm it all with himself.  "Everyone knew your game coming in here– how you wanted to kill the Careers.  Got what you wanted, didn’t you?  Killed a bit of them off, I suppose?  That was too much blood on you just to– just to be Ophelia’s!”

His words were laced with venom now, and Amity had to blink his tears away to keep anymore from spilling down the path the previous ones had stained into his dirt covered cheeks.  “The Careers, Ophelia– the Ecthelion guy, that bastard you were close to."  He continued, remembering what had been said during interview sessions before.

Let the boy grieve. Let him be allowed this moment to ignore the danger that surrounded them, and feel the loss of a life gone too soon.

And so the two sat without saying a word to each other. Pluto’s gaze locked on the dark red, staining the fabric of Axel’s shirt, and Amity’s locked on the pale, unbearably still feature’s of his face. There wasn’t a single cell in either boy that didn’t hurt.

Still, they were running out of time. Sooner or later, Eli would come, or the gamemakers would send something after them to separate Amity from the body before him. They had to move. They had to shoulder this death, just as Pluto did the rest of them, and move along.

What were the chances that Amity would ever agree to that?

Pushing himself onto his feet, Pluto shuffled over to the other boy-- his hands the only thing steady as he guided Amity to his feet. The ginger cried, of course, but he didn’t argue. He stayed just as still as Axel did, until his lover’s body was finally cradled in the hovercraft’s mechanical grip.

It was then Hell broke free, Amity lurching and thrashing against the stronger tribute’s hold-- his movements becoming more desperate the longer he was kept apart from their fallen ally. (Though, everyone knew Axel had always been more to Amity.) All Pluto could do was hold on for the ride and try not to lose it again as his heart seemed to lose another chink in its armor.

Perhaps Amity could sense when his guard finally crumbled. Because it was then the skinny boy turned his fury on Pluto, fists flying into his strong chest and yelling words of denial. Or what Pluto hoped was denial-- praying to a God he never believed in that he did what was right by all of them.

No strength left in him to argue, the boy stood and stared down at the ground while Amity yelled. He knew what it was like to feel a rage no one could understand, and he let Amity get it out. He was willing to let the other tribute scream himself hoarse, if it made him feel any better.

Meanwhile, Pluto only felt a growing guilt and blossoming shame, jaw clenched shut as he took it all with stride. All of it, until this- this boy clutched tightly onto a name he heard Axel utter just once before and throw it back in his face.

The youngest had started to reach the point where he was beyond words.  Yes, Pluto’s assurance did ease him if only a little, but a part of him still couldn’t help but to be bitter that it had taken the other showing up in order to even learn of the plan to begin with.

Now, the only part that really bothered Amity was how the tallest had put it– “to mess with the Capitol,” as if that made the idea okay in the slightest– as if messing with those who put them into their own terrible predicament would be worth it.  Well, actually, there had been one other thing– the part about having a victor who deserved it.  Just about everyone had known Pluto’s intentions with the careers going into the games, then there was the girl from District Two who actually was a career, and Amity who had already made his own string of regretful decisions.

Axel was the only one who was completely innocent in his eyes, and although the younger wasn’t certain he knew how he had let that happen, he felt positive it was the truth.  Besides, Amity didn’t have the time left to waste it being upset with the other boy, so he simply allowed himself to be pulled to his side– turning to hide his face in the crook of Axel’s neck.  He wanted to argue, to say that first it had "just been mentioned in passing,“ and that now it was that they "were just talking about it."  Honestly, Amity didn’t know what to believe, but he knew he didn’t want to worry about it– especially not if Axel wanted the subject to change.

There was a small moment of hesitation when the younger thought of scolding the one he was pressed so closely to– wanting to beg the other to not talk about how it all made him want to throw himself off of a cliff of all things.  "Fine."  Amity finally sighed, pulling himself away and then turning to the newer of the three.  There was a pause before he spoke again, frowning at the overall appearance of the other– he looked so disgruntled, as though he had been through the day of the Bloodbath on repeat.

"What all are you nursing right now?"  The boy asked, remembering that the other had said he had little medicine left.  "You’re here now, you’re with us– I’m going to hold you to your word, and we’re also going to help you.  Now, let’s get us cleaned up.”

Unsure of where his place in the group was and what would be overstepping boundaries, Pluto politely averted his eyes as the others came together-- Axel hoping to comfort Amity with his words. Even if they had now met, Pluto didn’t know this boy. He didn’t know if his words had given any comfort, or if he was still just as on edge. It was best to leave his piece where it was, and let Axel do the rest. He was the only one who’d help, now.

The next time Pluto made any move to join the conversation, the boy from 12 had looked to them both-- insisting they focus on a topic that wasn’t so... dire. It wasn’t exactly the best phrasing, what with the light reference to another height related death, but the point remained.

Another day, another time. ...Maybe.

He simply nodded in agreement, stilling when he noticed Amity had again turned his eyes on him. Now, perhaps it was paranoid, but Pluto listened expectantly, waiting to hear something about how the other didn’t want the volunteer staying long. After such a rocky start, he wouldn’t blame him.

Instead Amity started inquiring about his injuries, taking Pluto by surprise. For the moment, at least, the skinny boy was willing to trust him.and to help treat him. Already being with them was the most at peace he had felt with anyone other than Ophelia.

“What you see is about all you get.” He answered softly, letting out a low sigh as he glanced down to his side. “But that’s if you don’t count the healing arrow wound. It’s- it’s fine though, it’s not a huge pain, anymore. Keeps me focused....”

Or distracted.

Honestly it was sort of strange watching the two talk and work out what they had and what the needed. Axel had found someone he cared about in each of them and the fact that they got a long was actually really reassuring for him. Not that he thought they wouldn’t get a long. The one that was hard to get on with, out of the three of them, was himself. At least, Axel thought so.

He nodded a long with what Pluto had and didn’t even try to keep mental track of it all. Amity would do it and he wouldn’t miss a single thing. “We also have a couple of sharpened sticks and this.” Axel tapped his leather clad arm, The blade sticking out just a bit.

When Amity inquired about the tree, Axel reached up and scratched the back of his neck. When Pluto looked at him, he was looking at Pluto. Supposed it was sort of his place to tell Amity.

“We, uh, just talked about jumping out of a tree if-” Axel couldn’t actually look at Amity in the eye while he spoke. The shit that would have to happen for them to end up in the tree would be horrible. Amity would have to be gone and that alone was hard to think about. “-we are final to.” He breathed. His hand in Amity’s holding a bit tighter than he had before. Axel swallowed and looked up at the other before shaking it off. “It was just a thing said in passing. Its nothing Amity.” He managed before looking at Pluto like he wanted the other to also assure the love of his life that if he died first they wouldn’t throw themselves out of a tree.

Rather than respond, Amity turned over the news quietly in his mind– rationing out what exactly would be shared among them and what all would probably leave them with a surplus, storing the information away in his memory so the information could be retrieved at a not-so-later date.

Still the way Pluto had then referred to “hunting, or…” gave the younger some pause.  Who all had he “or…-ed” before then?  Surely, Amity couldn’t be one to judge.

Of course, that wasn’t even the most unsettling of the news he had gathered that day, as the way the other two exchanged a look before either decided to answer his next question confirmed all of his fears only for Axel to voice his own response a little a later.

And, while he might not have been able to meet Amity’s eyes, it was practically impossible for the lighter of the two to look away– as if he could somehow bring Axel to say something else by sheer will alone.  So, it had been what the tree was for.

If he made it to the final two with Amity, the darker would likely be willing to give his own life for him–  and, if he made it to the final two with Pluto, they would both be ending it instead.  The only possibility that gave Axel any chance– something Amity had been so desperate to do, going as far as killing that innocent girl, Wren, to increase his odd– was to make it with Eli.

Even that alone gave him slim chances, and it made the smaller’s stomach tighten unbearably.  Axel wouldn’t be leaving that arena almost any way about it, and Amity quite literally couldn’t stand the idea.

“It’s not ‘nothing,’ Axe; it’s your life– it’s…  Oh, I’m gonna be sick."  Was all he could manage, taking his hand from the other’s in favor of finding himself some register against the wall and using his palms to conceal his paling face.  It took him a moment to recollect himself before he was dropping his hands– looking between the two with obvious displeasure.

"Well, nice to know you 'have one picked out’ for the two of you if you need it.”

After traveling with the high quality weapons his passed alliance had grown accustomed to, Pluto couldn’t honestly say he was comforted by the mention of sharpened sticks. In fact, he was only reminded how fortunate he was to of gotten his hands on exactly what he needed to survive. Especially when others had managed thus far on so less. At least the accessory to Axel’s arm seemed to of been more lethal-- more valuable, should it come down to it.

Of course, tension within a group never helped anyone’s odds, and Pluto couldn’t help but feel as if he brought more than his fair share. The first thing he said, and already someone looked as if they were going to drop.

Pluto’s more caring nature immediately wanted to offer some comfort, but what was there to say to a stranger? Especially when you agreed so heartily with the decision that caused them such anxiety. Having been waiting for his way out for over a year now, Pluto couldn’t imagine trying to talk someone out of the same path.

Still, that didn’t mean he couldn’t empathize with Amity. Even in a world such as theirs, loss was never easy. Sacrifice was never painless.

“He’s telling the truth.” Pluto agreed, not at all willing to throw his friend under the bus. “It was just something we talked about before the games. Something to mess with the Capitol.”

He hesitated, glancing briefly back to Axel before looking to Amity with a look of concern. “I’m not sure how serious your boy is about it now, but my stance is the same. I’ll die if it means we have a victor who deserves it.”

The boy paused, hoping to throw the other some sort of life-line.

“I doubt it was ever in Axel’s plans to go down without a fight. He’ll fight for both of you, and if-- despite our best efforts-- you go down first,” The thought already had him frowning in distaste. “I’ll personally see to it that he makes it home.”

At least that’s what Amity wanted to hear.

Looking back over at Amity, his gaze softened slightly and he nodded. “Well, its more like I am his but yeah. This is Amity.” Axel took the others hand and pulled him forward a bit. It felt like he was introducing his boyfriend to his closest friend. Which was odd because Pluto and himself were not that close but he still meant something to Axel. “Amity, this is PLuto. He’s good. We can trust him.” Axel promised the other before looking back at Pluto.

It would be good to have someone else with them. YEah, they were down to final four at this point but he doubted very much that Pluto would turn on them. If anything the Eli would come after them and it would be good having someone else around to take her out.

After that the game makers would probably have there way with them. Both the other boys with him- well Axel was sure of them. He wouldn’t have them his close if he wasn’t completely sure.

Whatever doubt Amity had had in the newcomer was quickly resolved as he heard the other speak of just how much he had wanted to save another– and more importantly as Axel himself assured him that the tribute could be trusted.

“Is this your boy?"  The words came as another surprise to Amity, and he soon began wondering just what had been exchanged between the two pertaining to himself before.

Of course, he did find himself confused by the answer Axel had given.  Sure, the boy was his– Amity would be more than okay with everyone knowing that, but he belonged to the other in a sense, as well.

"It’s both."  The youngest chimed in, giving the hand in his own a light and reassuring squeeze as he practically stumbled into his side to get rid of almost any of the distance that had been there.  The situation was still unsettling and keeping close eased his mind if only a little.  What would happen if the District Two girl was the next to fall and the three of them remained, Amity didn’t know and didn’t want to find out.  Still, even something like that would likely be the best case scenario for their current situation.

A small pause passed before the youngest returned to his relatively composed self.  "What do you have on you?"  He had to ask, relaxing his stance but maintaining the close proximity between him and Axel.

"We’ve got some relatively decent portion of food left, and a small bit of other supplies– I mean, who knows exactly how much longer we’re all gonna need it, but I’d like to know where we stand just in case."  Amity couldn’t help but to run the numbers in his head; thinking back on how long the Games typically lasted and where exactly it would put them at for the remaining duration.

Of course, that just made him think about the end of it all even more, but that left him equally as frustrated when he realized how improbable it would be that District Two’s female somehow managed to take all of them out.  Eventually, they would have to figure out a game plan for those who would remain and considering the different bonds forming, Amity wouldn’t be surprised if– oh.  That was what they had meant.

"The tree…"  The smallest added after the realization struck him, looking between the other two with obvious concern.  "One of you need to explain that to me."  He prompted rather directly, although the boy was certain he already had a feeling of what they had meant.  "I need to know.”

Pluto didn’t hold the lack of words against Axel, knowing there was far from an ‘appropriate way’ to offer your condolences to a loss in the arena. Here, death was supposed to bring relief. It reminded you that you were alive, and gave you hope for making it to the end. When you pinned all your hope on someone else... things got a little complicated.

As much as the thought put Pluto on edge, the other two were destined to learn that all too soon. Any day in the arena was always too soon.

None the less, he couldn’t help but feel his heart lighten a little to see just the glimpse of affection between the boys. Love in a hopeless place-- that was the saying, wasn’t it? Well, as hopeless as it might be, love-- however it came-- was always welcome. It made things bearable.

Pluto nodded in greeting to Amity, sliding the backpack that sat alongside his quiver down onto the flooring of the cave. He didn’t bother opening it, but he did nudge it forward with his feet, like some sort of offering.

“Some food, a little medicine.” He gestured down to the bow in his hands. “And this, of course. Could use it for hunting, or....” Pluto trailed off, unwilling to finish that thought.

He wasn’t sure yet if he had been welcomed into their alliance, or if Axel’s b- Amity, was scrutinizing him and trying to decide whether or not he would prove of use, or if he was truly what Axel had said. Good.

Pluto sure hoped he was.

Hesitant when it came to answering Amity’s question, the volunteer looked to Axel. Did the two share everything, or was there some things he still wanted to keep from the other boy? Pluto could understand that. With-holding information was sometimes the best way to protect someone.

It was only a couple of hours later that Axel was pulled from sleep. He heard it in the back of his mind at first. The sound of someone walking closer to them. Shoe on rock echoed through the cave and it stured Axel awake. As soon as he realized that someone was getting close to them, he was really, really awake. He was on his feet quicker than he had ever been and his hands scrambled to do up the buckets on his gauntlet.

Then that he heard his name being called. Stepping forward, Axel narrowed his eyes a bit. “Pluto?” He called back before walking forward to see the other guys face. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t happy to see the other. Honestly, Pluto was one of the ones he hoped would be okay out there. It was strange. Axel felt like he could trust Pluto. Even if they meet and spoke only a few times. It was as it they knew each other in another life. Were friends for much longer than they had been.

At Pluto’s question, Axel rubbed his eyes. “Actually I have one picked out for us if we need it.” He assured the other before looking back at  Amity for a moment. HIs eyes flicking to the ground and then back to Pluto. “Ophelia. I saw her name.” He mumbled before shaking his head. Yeah he was sorry she died.

Once Amity had heard someone making their way toward the cave, he then turned to wake Axel only to find the other was already awake and scrambling to his feet– pulling his gauntlet into place.  The younger was still a bit stiff and slow thanks to the wounds he had endured days before, even if they were now beginning to heal up quite nicely.  Still, it took a moment before he was alongside the other– darkened stick in hand.

There were a lot of things about the situation that unnerved the boy.  The way Axel’s name had been called following with Pluto’s own was one thing, even as simple as it had been.  It seemed as if they were both genuinely glad to see one another, but Amity could have almost sworn he had been the sole tribute Axel could stand back at the training center.

The youngest of the three himself hadn’t even bothered to brave the stranger before, as he found him incredibly intimidating, but now there he was– in their cave of all places– and Amity found the other brought him more unease than before.  Admittedly, it took him longer than it should have to place his stick alongside their other supplies on the ground.

The manner in which Axel and Pluto spoke of a tree didn’t help to answer any of the questions– tree?  What the hell were they on about a tree for at a time like this?  What did it mean to have one picked out in case you needed it?

It sounded as if the two had formed some plan before, but Amity didn’t know when that would have happened or why it would call for a tree of all things.  Of course, the way Axel glanced back at the younger didn’t do much to calm his nerves.

He couldn’t really tell if it was to offer reassurance or because he wanted to have kept whatever it was hushed– but it wasn’t as if it was actually Axel he didn’t trust, as it was Pluto’s sudden appearance that put him on edge.  I mean, you could call him crazy, but the fact that the other was covered in blood wasn’t the most reassuring.  Still, Amity kept quiet– feeling out of place for the first time by Axel as he was simply so confused by it all: the stranger, the tree, the unfamiliar name of a fallen tribute, the two’s relationship to begin with.  It was all bizarre to him.

Pluto gave a small nod at Axel’s assurance, unsure of whether or not the other was being serious or no longer remembered how to voice a joke. Still, some twisted part of him hoped the boy was being sincere. If things kept heading farther down this slippery slope, they were going to need it.

He was going to need it.

Following Axel’s gaze, Pluto’s eyes darted back to the smallest boy. The name of who escaped him, but he instantly recognized as the tribute from District 3. He was the boy who claimed to have taken a special liking to Axel in the interviews, was he not? Pluto never got to see his friend’s reaction to that, having of been dragged back to his own floor, after his interview’s untimely end. Still, he was willing to bet it was true.

Axel didn’t exactly seem like the kind of guy to tolerate many people, let alone put on an act for the Capitol. Whoever this boy was, he had to be special.

Breaking his gaze as Axel again focused on him, Pluto couldn’t help but to stiffen at the mention of his fallen ally. He turned his attention to his gloves, scarred hands wringing together anxiously.

“I tried to save her,” The boy began, eyes burning with regret. “I tried, but I wasn’t fast enough. She... she died before I could think of anything to help.”

Silencing himself, Pluto gave the bottom of his shirt a light pull, as if his subconscious were trying to pull her blood from where it stained the fabric. An ever present reminder of his failure.

Of course it wouldn’t do well to dwell on it now, not when Axel and 3 were here. Pluto could save his self-pity for later. He highly doubted he was the only one who had suffered a loss, thus far.

Instead, he nodded his head back to the skinny tribute who stood behind Axel. “Is this your boy?” He asked, remembering how he referenced someone in the past. Someone he might have wanted to win, more than himself.

It was something Pluto was familiar with.