#darkcoryo

His sharp, cold gaze never leaves his girlfriend. Not when she joins in on the nervous laughter, not even when she brushes her hair behind her ears, a tell that she's already overwhelmed with today's events.

Soarynn isn't nearly as social as he is.

She has friends, of course. Anyone in their right mind would want to befriend Soarynn Nightingale. A Capitol darling in every way one can be. Old money, family ties, proper education, not to mention beautiful. Coriolanus knew long before she did that they'd end up together. It made too much sense for them not to be together. Snow and Nightingale. Coriolanus and Soarynn. Academy sweethearts.

Students envied them, mothers adored them, fathers approved of them, and the Capitol elite whispered about them. About their future. Coriolanus can taste it already. He's tasted it for years if he's being honest. Galas, charity dinners, high-end events for Capitol elites.

Soarynn by his side at all of them.

"Coriolanus, could you go get my purse? I left it in the dining room," Soarynn says sweetly. As if he could say no. Clemensia smirks at the question, giving him the fakest grin he's ever seen, as if seeing him in a committed relationship is as low as he can possibly get.

Clemmie has a talent for being sweetly annoying in every way possible. But Livia Cardew is worse. She doesn't even try to be nice. But they're natrually attatched at Soarynn's hip. So he plays nice, he plays the role of the loyal, good, doting boyfriend who treats his girlfriend's friends just as well as he treats her.

Even if he wants to fill his ears with wax every time one of them speaks.

"Of course," he inclines his head. His eyes meet Soarynn's from across the room, "I'll be right back." Soarynn smiles softly, already turning back to her friends.

He takes a second to admire how perfect she looks standing in the sitting room of her townhouse. Her cream white dress falls perfectly above the knee, clinging to her figure, with the back of her dress showing her soft skin. Her blonde hair falls perfectly down her back, curled just right. She's wearing the bracelet he gave her for her birthday, diamonds, of course.

He could see the jewels glittering when she walked across the stage earlier today to receive her diploma. She made it look so effortless, so graceful. He's not surprised that she's managing to do the same with this graduation party.

People will do anything to throw a party in the Capitol, and graduating is the perfect excuse to come together and spend an ostentatious amount of money on a single day. The Nightingale townhouse was transformed overnight into a beautiful, tasteful display of wealth and influence. Balloons and streamers were perfectly placed. Food was catered from a well-known Capitol restaurant down the street. Even the invitations were flawless, the details embossed in gold.

His mother had fawned over the attention to detail for a good five minutes when Coriolanus gave her the invitation. As if their attendance was up for question. As if his girlfriend wouldn't invite him. Still, his mother kept the invitation pinned to the fridge for a good month leading up to the party.

Coriolanus makes his way through the foyer, smiling and nodding where it suits him. There are more parents than there are students at this party, all quietly discussing their children's futures like it's the weather.

Coriolanus finds his own father in the dining room, a glass of something expensive in his hand, and Coriolanus knows it's not posca. He only catches the tail end of the conversation. "...Coriolanus attends the University in the fall."

Mrs. Dovecoat, seated opposite to his father, smiles knowingly at Coriolanus. "And what about Soarynn?"

Coriolanus returns her smile with ease. He's gotten used to people discussing him and Soarynn as if they're a single unit. A pair. A match made in Heaven.

"She'll be pursuing her studies in music at the Conservatory," he answers. "She's brilliant at the piano." Praise in its purest form.

"Clemensia never showed interest in learning piano," Mrs. Dovecote sighs. "It's fitting for a girl to learn something aside from the curriculum. You know, before getting married." A hum of agreement fills the room, all of the parents nodding. After graduating from the Academy, two things happen at once: the boys go on to university, and the girls prepare to become wives and mothers.

A few of them, like Soarynn, puruse a further education, but nothing too taxing. Their job is to focus on their future. Their future husbands.

"Music isn't for everyone," Soarynn's father tells Mrs. Dovecote. "Cera was always playing piano, but I never took to it."

Coriolanus straightens instinctively at the mention of Soarynn's late mother. Cera Nightingale was a great beauty, at least, according to what he's heard from his own parents. His father says that Soarynn is a spitting image of her mother. His mother says that it's a tragic shame that she died during childbirth.

Soarynn rarely talks about her mother, but there are traces of her everywhere in this house. Coriolanus has spent many afternoons looking at family photographs on the fireplace mantle. Photos of Glen and Cera Nightingale when they were his age. Then photos of Cera when she was pregnant, and then, just Glen and Soarynn.

He sometimes wonders if Soarynn could ever meet the same fate as her mother. Childbirth is a battlefield that not every soldier returns from. But his Soarynn is a fighter, and he won't let that happen to her. Not if he has any say in it.

"Did you need something, darling?" His mother's voice pulls him from his battle plans, and he clears his throat. "Soarynn asked me to get her purse." That earns him several loving, over-the-top sighs from the mothers in the room.

"How precious."

"So sweet."

"He's such a gentlman."

"Just like his father."

That last comment gets a knowing smirk from his father. Crassus Snow is no fool, and he's certainly no gentleman. Not truly. He plays the part extremely well, and he knows that his son does too. The roses, the dates, the sweet words. Not lies, no, but strategic moves. Perfectly planned so that people see what they want to see.

A doting husband, a loving boyfriend, father, and son. Snows.

"Do be sure to introduce Soarynn to the Dolittles, darling," his mother reminds him over her drink. The Dolittles are their downstairs neighbors who just so happen to have been invited to today's party. Mother insists on maintaining a good relationship with them in hopes of one day buying their apartment from them when they sell. Scheming, cunning, and entirely Snow. She found her match with father.

Coriolanus takes Soarynn's purse from the chair she must've set it down on. "Of course, Mother." Coriolanus offers a curt nod to the room before leaving. He finds Soarynn right where he left her. "Your purse, madame." Soarynn turns and smiles, a blush settling across her cheeks. "I told you not to call me that, Coryo."

Coryo. A name only she has the privilege of using.

"It suits you," he says, handing her the bag. "It sounds... official. Grown up." Soarynn glances up at him, a knowing smile on her lips. "More offical then Mrs. Snow?"

Coriolanus hums, resting a hand on her waist. "Well, I do like the sound of that," he admits. Marrying Soarynn right after graduation would be too...cliche, too eager, too... predictable. Coriolanus Snow doesn't do predictable. He's got another four years of schooling ahead of him, and then, he'll propose to her.

"Stay right there, you two!"

Coriolanus doesn't need to look away from Soarynn to know that Clemensia has cornered them with her camera. A birthday gift from her parents that's turned into a weapon of torment for him. The first week was the worst. Clemmie took pictures of everything and everyone, and it's gotten worse, now Soarynn wants a camera.

"Let me put on my lipstick," Soarynn tells her, digging through her purse. The purse he got for her, of course. Cream leather, perfectly crafted, with her initials engraved on the strap. "Is this the red lipstick, or the slightly less red lipstick?" He teases, his lips brushing her ear. Soarynn scoffs, but he can see her blushing despite herself.

He was there for that too. The ceremonial lipstick buying afternoon, where she must have applied ten different shades that all looked the same, to him, before she decided on the first shade she tried on.

She's a beautiful yet confusing creature sometimes, his girl.

"It's the red one," she replies dryly, "thank you very much."

"You're very welcome considering I paid for it," he counters. He's got her there. Soarynn opens the shiny tube, and Coriolanus watches her carefully paint her lips a rosy shade of red. "Only because you refuse to let me pay for anything," Soarynn reminds him.

She's correct. Coriolanus never lets her pay for anything. Dinner, a night at the movies, not even for lipstick. No woman of his will be seen swiping her banking card as long as he's breathing.

"Stop flirting and smile."

Clemensia has such a way with words. Still, Coriolanus doesn't argue. He slides his hand to Soarynn's lower back, resting his palm firmly against her warm, smooth skin. He rarely ever smiles for photos, and today is no exception. "Look happy, Coriolanus. You just graduated."

The flash goes off. He didn't smile.

"He never smiles," Soarynn murmurs, brushing her hair behind her ears. "He looks less intimidating when he does."

Coriolanus scoffs, throwing a look at her. "I do not."

She tilts her head, "No? Because I could've sworn you said that it made you look like a mother's bo-"

"That's enough, darling," he cuts her off before she can spill his secrets. "I think I need a drink."

"Me too," Clemensia says, "that ceremony took far too long."

"That's because Highbototm had one too many drinks," Coriolanus replies, guiding Soarynn towards the kitchen. Dean Highbottom is known for hating children and drinking like a fish. Coriolanus is surprised the man still has a job.

"We have punch," Soarynn interjects, never one for gossip. "Or lemonade, or water."

"I'll be having posca," he says, already eyeing the glasses filled with it. If he's old enough to be considered a legal adult, then he's old enough to drink. He'd prefer something stronger, but with adults present, it's key to set an example. A few of their classmates are lingering by the refreshments.

Festus Creed, Persephone Price, and Felix Ravenstill. A lively bunch.

"Soarynn, the party is perfect," Persephone gushes. "You've really outdone yourself."

"You should say that to my father. He couldn't believe the price of balloons," Soarynn says. "But we were long overdue to host something for the city."

Of course, when she talks about the city, what she really means is the Capitol elites. Friends, family, business partners. When you stop opening your doors, people tend to notice. Coriolanus knows Glen Nightingale well enough to know that he doesn't quite care for the glitz and glamour that the Capitol offers. The shiny galas, expensive balls, loud charity auctions. If he had his way, he would never leave this house.

But luckily for him, he has a daughter whose favor and friendship are constantly sought out.

Persephone hums in agreement, lifting her glass of punch. "Well, here's to us. The future of the Capitol."

They all raise a glass and toast to their glorious future. Coriolanus can picture it now: President of Panem with his dazzling First Lady next to him. They'll host all the time once they move into the President's Mansion. There's more than enough space in there.

Coriolanus has only been once, when the Academy arranged a private tour, but they barely scratched the surface. A sitting room, the gardens, the foyer, and then back on the bus, children!

But he saw enough to know that what he wanted was within those walls, past those guarded iron gates.

"I'll bet these two will be married before the summer's over," Festus says, his eyes darting between Coriolanus and Soarynn. Festus has the gift of finding your last nerve and killing it blindly.

"We'll be far too busy this summer to worry about such things, Festus." Coriolanus replies, wrapping his arm around Soarynn, "We're traveling the Districts this summer."

Clemensia and Persephone gasp at that news. Everyone in the Capitol knows about the Districts, but very few have the chance to see them with their own eyes. But Coriolanus isn't just anybody. His father has business in several over the summer, so naturally, they made a trip out of it.

Mother has been talking about it nonstop since they got the train tickets in the mail. It took very little convincing to get Soarynn invited. Mother adores Soarynn. Father...well, he tolerates anything or anyone who will benefit the Snow family. And Soarynn benefits them greatly.

"Which ones are you going to?"

"We're going to the beach," Soarynn says brightly, smiling up at him. Coriolanus rubs his thumb against the fabric of her dress, already picturing her wearing something lighter, barefoot on the sand. She's always wanted to see the ocean. Leave it to him to make her dreams come true.

"Oh, so District Four. My aunt used to own a timeshare there," Clemensia tells them. "She said the seafood is phenomenal."

Festus rolls his eyes, "It better be. I'm surprised you agreed to this, Snow. We all know how you feel about the Districts."

Indeed, they do. Coriolanus has no issue vocalizing his disdain towards those who live in those backwards places. But the Capitol provides security to its citizens. Well, it's civilized citizens.

"Yes, in fact, I happened to notice that our dear Sejanus Plinth wasn't invited to today's party," Felix chimes in. "Surely this wasn't your doing, Soarynn. We all know you don't have the heart to cast out poor Sejanus."

Festus snickers, and Clemmie and Persephone share knowing glances.

Sejanus Plinth is a cry for help, to put it plainly. Hailing from District Two, his father, Strabo Plinth, bought his way into the Capitol. But everyone knows you can't buy class. Or taste. Or manners. Or respect. Since the day he arrived, Sejanus has been nothing but a rebel-loving disruption in their class.

Coriolanus wouldn't be surprised if he were on a train back home already now that he's graduated. He's never liked Sejanus, not one bit. And when Soarynn was putting together the guest list, he made sure that Plinth was nowhere near getting an invitation.

Coriolanus answers for her. "I thought it was wise to keep the party contained. We don't need any outbursts."

Soarynn clears her throat, uncomfortable talking badly about anyone. Even Sejanus. "Felix, how is your uncle's campaign coming along?"

Felix's uncle is the current President of Panem and getting older by the day. Coriolanus plans to take his place one day, but he has another four years before he can make his move. But it's surprising that Felix is related to such an important man, considering how...unimportant Felix is.

"The people funding it are nervous," Felix admits with a shrug. It's not his money going down the drain. "But he's projected to win again."

"That tends to happen when you don't have anyone running against you," Coriolanus observes. Soarynn shoots him a look. She hates it when he talks politics around others. Felix, however, doesn't mind at all. "Don't compete where you don't compare, my friend."

The boys all chuckle while the girls roll their eyes. Boys will be boys.

Clemensia changes the topic back to the Districts. "When do you two leave? I wanted to go shopping for a new dress for the horse races."

The fact that the races are three months away is lost on the girls who dive into an excited conversation about coordinating outfits again, like they did last year.

Soarynn drifts away from Coriolanus, leaving him at the mercy of his two moronic friends. "Seriously, though," Festus mutters. "When are you going to propose? You two have been together for what, three years?"

"Three and a half," Coriolanus corrects. His eyes never leave Soarynn from across the room. "And I'm in no rush to get married. All good things come to those who wait, and she's not going anywhere."

"Neither is her virginity," Felix snarks.

Coriolanus smirks at the baited comment.

"I already have that," he replies coolly, "so I'm not too worried about her running off on me."

Felix gives him a pat on the back, and Festus laughs, shaking his head knowingly. "He's got it all figured out."

Yes, he does. Coriolanus knows it's taboo, not waiting until marriage. But he wasn't about to wait that long. And besides, he knows Soarynn's not going anywhere. No one could treat her as well or elevate her as much as he already has. That and he knows how the Capitol would treat a girl who didn't wait until marriage. She's his pretty little songbird in a golden cage, and from what he can see, she's perfectly content where she is.

"Of course, I do," he says calmly, sipping his posca. "Snow lands on top, remember?"

Festus scoffs. "How could we forget, Mr. Valedictorian?"

All he gets from Coriolanus is a smug smile. "Someone has to have it all figured out."

"Then here's to you," Felix says, half mocking, half serious. "To Coriolanus Snow, who already has it all figured out."

"The girl, the game, and the glory," Festus adds.

Coriolanus raises his glass again. "Here's to me."

"To the graduate."

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

He turns at her voice. Over a year of being married to Soarynn, and her voice still surprises him every time. It guts him, if he's being honest. He is rarely honest with himself.

She's standing in the doorway of his study, barefoot, her blonde hair tumbles down her shoulders in soft waves. She's wearing a pale pink nightgown. She looks so incredibly small standing there.

Young, his mind corrects him, she looks incredibly young.

And that's because she is. In the Capitol, once a girl gets her period, she becomes a woman. Ready to be married. No matter how old she is. Or how young.

In Soarynn's case, she was sixteen when she bled for the first time. Her father said she was proud to be a woman. Her mother later whispered that Soarynn cried for hours when she realized what it meant. It meant she would be given away, married to a man likely twice her age.

Coriolanus married her when she was seventeen. He was thirty-two at the time. Ironically, he was considered to be one of the younger Commanders in the Capitol. But she was never considered to be too young to marry him.

That should've been the ironic part. Except it wasn't. Men clapped him on the back and congratulated him on securing such a pretty little wife. And she was very pretty. Narrow frame, built like a bird, long blonde hair, nearly white in the sun. What always took his breath away were her eyes, though. Big. Blue. And gray. He never knew that shade of blue existed until he met her.

Those big eyes stare at him now, filled with hope. Or as much hope as she's permitted to have living in a world like this. A world where women cannot read or write. A world where men make all of the decisions. Women are simply...ornamental. Pretty figures to stand next to their husbands while they preside over the Capitol and the Districts.

But here she is now. His little wife is standing barefoot in his study, asking him to read to her because he did it once and now it's become a habit. He still hasn't decided whether it's a good one or a bad one yet.

The first time he read to her was, in all honesty, a way to calm her down. She had gotten a terrible fever that left her bedridden for at least a week. She hated being sick. Hated the doctors who poked and prodded at her. She had been beside herself on one of the first nights. Burning up, sweating, crying a little.

Coriolanus honestly hadn't known what to do. Hugs and kisses were not his idea of comfort. He already told her she would be fine. That she would not die. That Capitol medicine would make her feel better. So in an attempt to get her to sleep, he started to read to her. Just his reports, work-related things, he started to read out loud while he worked from a desk in their room.

Apparently, his voice calmed her.

She slept for the entire night. And the night after that, and the night after that. As long as he read to her. When she got better, he assumed that was the end of his stories. He thought incorrectly. Because the next night, Soarynn padded into his study, something she never did unless summoned.

He should have turned her away. That's what he thinks to himself all the time. It would've saved him a lot of trouble. But he never does. The logical part of him understands that sometimes indulging can get you further in life than correcting can. The sentimental part, however, has not been allowed a say on the matter yet.

Because it might tell him something that he doesn't want to hear.

"Come here," he says quietly, pushing back from his desk. His study is immaculate. A large mahogany desk sits in the center, surrounded by bookshelves lined with history, awards, and medals, all proof of success. There are books everywhere in here. And she can't read a single one.

Soarynn closes the door behind her with a soft click, twisting her hands in her nightgown. She does that whenever she's nervous. She stands between his knees only for a moment before his hand comes to her waist, pulling her down until she's sitting in his lap, her back pressed against his chest.

She settles there comfortably now. At first, she was stiff as a board. Now, she reaches for the top drawer of his desk and opens it without asking. Her book is there. Well, it's not her book. It's his book. Everything in this house belongs to him. Including her.

"I think the princess is going to escape," she tells him, running her thumb over the pages. Coriolanus takes the book from her, opening it to where he last left off. "Hmm. Why's that?"

Soarynn shrugs, settling more comfortably against him. "It's nice to have happy endings." The alternative ending would be that she marries the prince. Coriolanus knows why she sees that as an unhappy ending. The same thing happened to her. Locked away in a castle.

"Well, let's see if you're right." Coriolanus begins reading, the cadence of his voice is calming, slower than his usual pace. He read faster in the beginning. Until he noticed her trying to keep up with him. She still can't read. But she tries. God, she tries. He catches her doing it all the time.

By the time he finishes reading it, her head is resting on his shoulder, inches away from his chin. Her feet dangle above the ground, and one hand sits on the armrest. Comfortable. Not asleep. Not yet.

"You're not asleep yet," he notes dryly.

She looks up at him with a frown on her pretty little face. "That wasn't a happy ending."

Coriolanus rests one hand on her waist, and the other sets the book down on the desk. "She married the prince."

"I thought she would escape."

"That is not how these stories typically end," he explains.

Soarynn frowns even deeper. "That's not fair."

A flicker of amusement crosses his face. "Most things aren't, darling."

"Can we read another one?"

He shakes his head. "You need to go to bed."

"Tomorrow then?" She asks hopefully, "Can we start a new book tomorrow?"

Coriolanus mulls this over longer than he should. Because he knows the answer he should give: no. No more books. She's a wife, not a child. Only children need bedtime stories. And yet, she is a child. Perhaps that's why he allows this. Guilt and indulgence can often feel like the same thing if you're good at lying to yourself.

He's made a whole career out of it.

"We'll see."

Soarynn sighs, slouching in his lap.

"That means no."

"You sound very sure of yourself."

She gives him a guilty look, "Sorry."

There she is. His little apologist.

She suddenly points at the cover of the book, "Is that my name?"

He looks at the cover now. The title is far from her name, but the author's name is where the confusion lingers.

Sodenhiem.

An old Capitol name. Older than Coriolanus himself.

Not her name. Not even close. But how would she know? She can't read.

"No," he says, "that is not your name."

"Oh. Sorry."

That apology again. It's almost instinct.

Coriolanus reaches for a different drawer, one she's never opened before, and pulls out a sheet of paper and a pen. Soarynn stills in his lap. "Your name is spelled differently," he explains, writing out her name in sharp, precise letters. "See the difference?"

Soarynn looks at the sheet of paper and then back at the book. Her brows furrow. "Not really," she admits.

Most men would have lost their patience by now. Most men don't read to their wives at night, though. He continues.

"Your name starts with an S-O," he points at the letters on the page, "see?" Soarynn leans forward, her eyes scanning her own name. "So does his," he points at the embossed writing on the book cover.

"...but the rest of the letters are different," she supplies, unsure of her own explanation.

"Yes," he answers.

"How do I spell my name?"

The question stuns him for a moment. Coriolanus remembers a time when every child in the Capitol knew how to spell their name. How to write. How to tell time. How to read. Soarynn was born after the Second Rebellion. Her generation was never given a chance to learn. Only to obey.

His finger moves across his writing on the page. "S-O-A-R-Y-N-N."

"Soarynn," she whispers to herself. "It looks more complicated when you spell it out like that." Coriolanus nods, reading her name in his head. "Most things are," he agrees quietly.

"How do you spell your name?"

So many questions tonight.

He writes his name out anyway.

"It's bigger than my name," Soarynn says, tracing over the letters with her finger. "Do you ever get tired of writing it out?" Something that sounds and feels like a laugh leaves his lips. "I don't," he tells her, "but I also have a signature. That makes writing a little easier."

"Signature," she whispers to herself, "my father has a signature."

"Most men do."

"But not women."

"That is correct."

"Could you make a signature for me?"

He stills at the question. Innocent in nature, but dangerous in theory. Signatures mean agency. Power. Soarynn seems to realize this, too. "I'm sorry," she says quickly, "I don't, I didn't mean to...I don't need a signature."

Coriolanus sets the pen down and places his other hand on her waist, carefully lifting her until she's seated sideways on his lap so he can see her face clearly. She looks scared.

"People usually create their own signatures," he explains, brushing her hair away from her face. "I can't do it for you."

Her shoulders sag in relief. Women can be punished for less than asking for things like that.

"Okay," she says. "Thank you for showing me my name."

He hums, not entirely mad at himself for showing her something as simple as his name. "You'd never seen it before?"

Soarynn shrugs as if it doesn't matter. "I'm sure I have seen it. I just didn't know what I was looking at."

Ah, a cruel irony. Looking at something and not recognizing it. She does the same thing with him. Looks at a monster but trusts it anyway.

"That's a flaw most humans have," he tells her. Soarynn tilts her head at that. "What's a flaw?"

He thinks for a moment. "It's an error. An inconsistency. Something that doesn't belong in the system."

Like this, he thinks to himself, you sitting in my lap while I read to you and write out your name.

"The Capitol doesn't like flaws."

Finally, something they can agree on.

"No, they don't. Now, off to bed."

Soarynn sighs, but she doesn't fight him. She slides off his lap carefully, smoothing down her nightgown like it's second nature to look presentable even at bedtime.

"Thank you for reading to me."

"You're welcome."

He watches her go, small thing she is. As she closes the door behind her, he hears her whisper something else. Not her name.

His.

Coriolanus.

꧁ ꧂

The next night, there are no stories.

The study sits untouched as laughter rings down the hall, coming from the parlor. Smoke curls around the room, and drinks are poured by servants. Coriolanus doesn't host Commanders often, but when he does, he knows just how they like to be entertained.

"District Two is reacting as expected to the enforcements," Commander Creed says over his whiskey. Several men grumble in agreement. The Districts try to rebel all the time. They never win. Not anymore.

"Most things behave better once they're trained," Commander Cardew replies with a lazy smirk. A cigar sits between his fingers with the type of lazy arrogance only a Commander could possess. Commanders are the highest ranking officals in the Capitol below the President.

Cardew's gaze travels along the fireplace mantel and comes to a stop at a framed photograph of Coriolanus and Soarynn at their wedding. Its Capitol procedure that all newlyweds be photographed for the paper. Coriolanus knows that these photos are also put into the Capitol records.

Soarynn looks impossibly young standing next to him. One of his gloved hands rests possessively on her waist. Her eyes are wide, looking at the camera. She was probably in shock. Capitol weddings aren't extravagant, but they get the message across: you belong to this man now. Permanently.

"Speaking of training, how's that little wife of yours, Snow?"

Coriolanus takes a drag of his own cigar before answering. "She's good."

That earns him a few low whistles and shared smiles. Knowing smiles.

"She's that bad, huh?"

"Figures. She looked so... obedient."

That last word draws a sharp reaction out of him.

"She is," he answers swiftly. "She knows her place."

Creed smirks, "Mhm. As all women do. How old is she again?"

"She'll be eighteen in June," Coriolanus answers. "Mature for her age."

"They have to be," someone jokes, and laughter fills the room. It's easy laughter, the kind shared between men who have power. Coriolanus finds himself laughing, too. Crane perks up from his seat by the fireplace.

"Looks like we have a visitor, gentlemen."

They all turn in their seats to find Soarynn standing near the doorway, clearly trying to listen. Coriolanus beckons her over with two fingers. "Come here, darling."

Her eyes widen with nervousness, but she listens anyway. Wives are taught to obey before they question. She's wearing a soft little yellow dress. The kind of thing that makes her look innocent. The neckline is modest, but on her, it's damnnear sinful.

Her hands clasp behind her back as she stops right next to his armchair. Coriolanus looks at ease here. Sitting and smoking with powerful men who decided that girls like her shouldn't be able to read or write. Its contradictary from how he was with her last night, writing her name out, reading to her.

He can see the confusion lingering behind her eyes.

"Soarynn," Creed says, resting his elbows on his knees. "How have you found being married to our dear Commander Snow?" He shares a knowing look with Crane. Soarynn clears her throat, uncomfortable but not enough to find a reason to leave or ignore the question.

"He's been very good to me," she says softly. Creed scoffs a laugh. "Of course he has, sweetheart. You're lucky to be married to a man like him, you know. Coriolanus doesn't like to break his toys."

Soarynn says nothing to that. Coriolanus leans back into his armchair, perfectly comfortable with this conversation. "I've been very well behaved," he says with a smirk. "Isn't that right, darling?"

Soarynn looks down at him as his hand comes to rest at the back of her knee. Calming and claiming at the same time. "Yes," she whispers. Her fingers twist in her dress, but Coriolanus doesn't release her.

"I suspect we'll be seeing little ones running around here soon," Creed muses. "My wife, Livia, is pregnant with our first."

Soarynn forces a polite smile, "What a blessing for your household."

A blessing indeed, Coriolanus thinks to himself. He can already picture it, Soarynn swollen with his child. They'll have more than one, of course. Lineage is important. A legacy. Little blonde Snows to follow in his footsteps. Strong sons and obedient daughters.

"Yes, we're looking forward to finding out the gender."

"Heaven help you if you have a girl first," Coriolanus remarks. Several of the men chuckle. Creed is desperate for a son. "I have no doubt that my wife will provide me with what I require," Creed replies coolly, his eyes lingering on Soarynn.

"They say the younger the womb, the more fertile they are."

Coriolanus feels Soarynn stiffen under his touch. His thumb brushes against her skin absentmindedly. Calming and claiming.

"I have yet to put those rumors to the test, my friend."

"How many children do you want, Soarynn?"

The question makes her freeze. No one ever asks her what she wants. Not really. Women do not get to want.

"I...I would like to have as many children as I can possibly bless my husband with," Soarynn answers carefully. Her voice only shakes the smallest amount. Coriolanus hums in approval. "Exactly. Now, darling, I believe there's laundry to be put away in our bedroom."

Soarynn nearly flies out of the parlor, glad to be dismissed. Cigar smoke curls around Creed. "She's a pretty little thing, isn't she?"

Coriolanus takes another slow drag of his cigar and hums thoughtfully.

"She's a good girl."

꧁ ꧂

Soarynn finds him in his study later that night.

The Commanders have gone back to their own homes, taking the lingering tension and cigar smoke with them.

"Coriolanus?"

He doesn't even look up from his reports. "Hmm?"

"Will you read to me?"

The pen in his hand stops, and he looks over at her.

Her hair is braided down her back tonight. One of the servants must have done it for her. Her nightgown is blue tonight. Brings out her eyes.

"Not tonight."

Soarynn's eyes shine with tears instantly. She's a sensitive girl. "Did I do something wrong?"

Coriolanus sighs. "No. You've done nothing wrong. I have reports that need to be finished before tomorrow morning. You're a big girl, now, Soarynn. You don't need to be read a bedtime story every night to fall asleep."

Her bottom lip threatens to tremble. He knows how she gets. First the eyes, then the lip, then her voice breaks.

"Oh."

There it is. That tragic little break in her voice.

"Don't cry," he tells her, "I shouldn't even be reading to you in the first place."

"Why not?"

He's taken aback by her boldness. But perhaps this is his own doing. Letting her sit in his lap while he fills her head with fairytales and the idea of happy endings. Coriolanus suddenly rises from his chair. Soarynn takes a small step back. Instincitve.

"Why should I?" He asks, folding his hands behind his back. "It's against every Capitol law there is. Reading is strictly prohibited amongst women. You know this, Soarynn. We all know this."

Soarynn looks up at him with mournful eyes. "But I thought..."

He tilts his head, slowly closing the distance between them.

"You thought what, sweetheart?"

Soarynn swallows and tries again. "I thought maybe you were different."

That stops him in his tracks.

I thought maybe you were different.

He'd almost rather her start crying instead of attempting to humanize him. To make sense of the man she's been married to. That's what good husbands do. They teach their wives to fear, to obey, to never question.

To keep them at arm's length so you can avoid disasters like this late at night.

"Different how?"

Soarynn shifts on her feet. She looks smaller like this. Younger. "Like...like the prince in the story."

Ah, her knight in shining armor. What a pity that she thought he might be good and noble. Kings are often the opposite.

"I've filled your head with fantasies," he realizes, coming to a stop right in front of her. His hand comes to rest at the side of her face. "That was an error on my part. It won't happen again."

It's like he can see her heart break right in front of him.

"What?" She whispers, tears now falling freely.

His thumb brushes a tear away. She's pretty when she cries.

"You thought this was a castle," he says gently. "Look around you, darling. All this is to you is a room. Walls. Women like you don't get happy endings. But you get a place beside me. And soon, you'll get to be the mother of my children. That is how your story ends."

Soarynn looks at him differently now. Like she's finally seeing him for who he is for the first time since she met him.

"I trusted you."

"Well," he says, pressing his fingers into her face, "girls in the Capitol aren't exceptionally smart."

Soarynn doesn't say anything else. Her silence speaks for itself. Coriolanus lets her have it, though. Women are afforded such small luxuries in the Capitol. Instead of correcting her, he kisses her forehead and sends her back to bed.

No stories. No fairytales. No make-believe.

No knight with a castle.

Just keeping her at arm's length from now on.

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

It also didn't help that she kissed him in front of his mother, a woman who has always believed in true love and has always fought for young love. She married father when she was young and Coriolanus knows that she expected the same thing of him, father did as well.

He needed to marry a nice Capitol girl, from a good, prominent family who knew her place in the world.

But could that be Soarynn?

He didn't doubt that she knew the manners that came with being a Capitol wife, the girl was born and bred to live a comfortable life by her husband's side. But he's seen how feisty she can get, how she can throw it right back at him and it worries him. If he's going to marry this girl, he needs to reel her in, tame her, train her.

But their latest interactions at school have proven to be very difficult for him to continue his facade of indifference towards her. For starters, they haven't had sex since the races. Perhaps losing to her left a sour taste in his mouth but he hadn't sought her out since that hot afternoon and she hadn't either.

To make matters worse, they have almost every class together. Most likely, this is due to the fact that they'll graduate in the spring and classes have become more and more specific as the years have gone by. It's torture to be forced to sit in a classroom less than ten feet away from her. He usually sits in the back row with his friends, making it easier to take a nap or have a quiet conversation.

But Soarynn being the teacher's pet she pretends to be, always sits in the front row. He watches from the back as she twirls her long blonde hair around her dainty little finger, how she laughs at Perspehone's jokes, and how brightly she smiles at Ms. Feathernest when she walks into the classroom.

Then he has to see her in the hallway, stopping by her locker to collect her books, and holding hands with her friends as they weave through the crowds. It gets even worse at lunch. The weather is so pleasant that most students take their lunch out to the courtyard, Coriolanus and his friends included. Soarynn and her friends also eat in the courtyard, only one table away from where he eats.

This is when she'll shrug off her Academy jacket, showing off the perfectly tailored button-up shirt that every girl has to wear along with the mandated red skirt. The shirt itself is nothing special but when it's on her, it's something else. She also loves to leave the top few buttons undone, showing off some skin which drives him mad.

Between being sexually frustrated and emotionally frustrated, he's fucked.

He'd done his best to avoid her, to take different routes to their classes, to leave the library if she came inside but he could only run for so long. Soarynn is growing suspicious, giving him hard stares, and whispering to her friends. She'll confront him about his odd behavior sooner than later which is why after a month of hell, Coriolanus has finally decided to be honest about his feelings towards her.

Coriolanus Snow has a crush on Soarynn Nightingale.

He can see the headlines now. Their school has a student-run newspaper and this will be sure to make the front page. Being the important, popular man he is, Coriolanus has his pick of the litter when it comes to dating girls at their school. But he's never been interested, never seen or felt the need to tie himself down to anybody.

Sure, he's had a few flings, strictly sexual but he's only human. But now he needs something else, something different, something more.

He needs Soarynn.

Coriolanus strides into their first class of the day with a determined look in his bright blue eyes. He'll approach her after class ends, confess his feelings, and then, then she'll tell him that she feels the exact same way. If she doesn't, he'll go home and kill himself.

Easy.

Coriolanus finds that Festus and Felix have already arrived, slouched in their chairs like always. Neither of them are morning people and they often sleep right through their first class.

He drops his satchel on his desk, startling them awake with the noise, "Good morning," he greets them, sinking down into his chair. Festus lets out a yawn, stretching his arms and almost hitting Coriolanus in the process, "Morning," he mumbles sleepily, "you seem to be in a good mood."

Coriolanus shrugs, he's already decided to keep his big plan a big secret. Festus has a big mouth and looser lips, he doesn't want Soarynn to find out about his plan before he puts it into action. And Festus is officially dating Persephone Price, which means he often tells her things that he shouldn't be telling her.

While Coriolanus spent the first month mulling over his feelings about Soarynn, Festus put his feelings right out in the open, confessing to Persephone about how he really felt. It was admirable really, to see someone be so honest with themselves and their partner.

They've gone on six dates since and Festus has already talked about officially courting her.

There's dating and then there's courting.

Dating is simple, anyone can do it. Dating means going on little dates here and there, talking at school, simple things. Nothing is set in stone and it allows for people to get to know one another without committing to anything too serious.

Courting is serious, it's official, and only the upper class participates in courting. It means you're exclusive, that you intend to go further than a few giggles, hugs, and dates. It means that two individuals see an actual future with one another and wish to pursue it further.

Every Capitol girl dreams of courting and every Capitol boy dreads it because courting can not be done without asking the girl's father for permission. It's old-fashioned, yes, but it's the proper way to do things. Coriolanus won't be the one to break tradition.

His parents courted for years before getting engaged.

If you don't start now, then you'll be painfully behind by the time everyone else is getting married.

Coriolanus cannot afford to be left behind.

"It's a new week," he casually replies, craning his neck to see if Soarynn has arrived yet but her seat is empty, so is Persephone's.

Felix grunts, rubbing his eyes, "Yeah, a new week of assignments and exams, don't forget we have that lab due in Dr. Gaul's class today." Coriolanus ignores anything Felix says the moment Persephone walks into the room because Soarynn is always right behind her.

Except she's not.

Persephone sets her things down before walking towards them, greeting Festus with a kiss on the cheek, "Good morning," she says sweetly, completely oblivious to Coriolanus and his current dilemma.

"Where's Soarynn?" He asks, not caring if he sounds rude. Both Festus and Persephone give him questioning looks. He's always voiced his distaste for Soarynn to Festus who has always nodded his head and pretended to listen. This is a shock as big as any.

Persephone's eyes dart between him and Festus before answering, "She's with Titus."

Coriolanus almost falls out of his chair.

The Capitol is known for its odd names, his name is certainly no exception but there is only one Titus at their school. Titus Fenton is probably the one boy he inherently hates. He's tall, boastful, arrogant, cocky.

Sounds like someone he knows...

But to hear that Soarynn is with Titus is more than enough to further his hatred for the man. Like clockwork, Soarynn appears in the doorway, hand in hand with his number one sworn enemy. Titus looks all too smug while holding her hand, nodding along to whatever she's saying. Not only is Titus annoying, but he's also an idiot which is why he isn't in any of their classes.

But he can still walk Soarynn to hers.

Coriolanus watches with a cold, deadly stare as Titus leans down and presses a kiss to her lips. The lips that Coriolanus has fantasized about for weeks now, the lips that are exclusively his lips to kiss.

He's going to have to kill Titus for this, or at least badly injure him once he's safely gotten Soarynn to his side because this is just unacceptable. Titus is upper middle class at best!

Soarynn finally parts ways from that forlorn creature and approaches their small group in the back of the class, a smirk plastered across her lips. "How was your weekend?" Persephone asks her, giddy with excitement. Soarynn looks down at Coriolanus, far too proud of the hole she just tore in his heart, "Oh, my weekend was wonderful," she tells Persephone, "Titus is just oh-so attentive to my every need."

Coriolanus clenches his jaw, far past caring if she sees how it affects him or not. When they started having sex, they agreed to remain exclusive, mostly for the sake of cleanliness and also because he's slightly obsessed with her.

Persephone giggles, resting her hand on the back of her boyfriend's chair, "You certainly look well rested." Coriolanus doesn't even want to know what she means by that, because he can think of a couple things they might be talking about. The thought, the sheer thought of someone else touching Soarynn, kissing Soarynn, feeling Soarynn is enough to put a permanent scowl on his face.

Festus notices immediately, nudging him with his elbow, "What's up with you Snow? Just a minute ago you were looking forward to a brand new week."

Coriolanus glares at his friend, it's bad enough that he's dating Soarynn's best friend, but calling him out just won't do. "I didn't sleep well," he grumbles.

Soarynn sighs, placing her hand on his desk, drumming her perfectly manicured nails against the hardwood surface, "Oh, that's a shame, I slept wonderfully this weekend. Best sleep I've ever had in my life."

Coriolanus gives her such a cold look, he's surprised she hasn't turned to stone yet, "Yeah, I bet you've just been sleeping all over the place." That knocks her down a peg. Her smirk disappears and a scoff is thrown in his general direction, "Come on," she says to her friend, "class is going to start soon."

Persephone leaves Festus after one more kiss on the cheek, it's enough to make Coriolanus feel as though he might violently throw up at this public display of affection. He burns holes into the back of Soarynn's head the entire time they're in class, wishing he could grab that sleek ponytail she chose to wear today and tilt her head back, crashing his lips onto hers the way he's done so many times before.

By the time class is over, he is over the entire day, wanting nothing more than to go home and feel sorry for himself.

Is he too late? Has he befallen the same fate as his father? Will he not get the girl?

Will Snow finally not land on top?

꧁ ꧂

After spending the next three hours sulking and feeling sorry for himself, Coriolanus came up with a plan, a logical route of action.

He was going to beat up Titus in the boy's locker room.

Childish, yes, but not anything new between the boys who have duked it out before. Usually, they fought over petty things like sports or grades, it was a good way to let their anger out. Coriolanus is aware that he's an angry person, some might even say an evil person but at least he's self-aware.

That's half the battle in his opinion.

They all have the same physical education class right before lunch, which means the girls and boys go their separate ways to change into their gym clothes, red athletic shorts, and white athletic shirts for the boys, and the girls wear skirts instead.

Coriolanus glances over his shoulder at the group of girls shuffling towards the locker room, Soarynn bringing up the rear with her friends. They're all laughing like nothing else matters in this world but he only focuses on her. Focuses on her shiny blonde hair, how she chose to tie it up with a ribbon instead of an elastic band.

She looks behind her and for a split second, their eyes meet.

He expects her to glare at him, or scowl, even when they were secretly fucking, they still hated each other in public, always doing a good job to keep up that preferred image. But instead, her eyes soften, almost as if she's trying to convey a message.

He's herded into the locker room before he can do anything else, the doors shut behind him. He shakes himself out of it, he has to focus right now. He scans the large room for Titus, ignoring the rest of his classmates who are shouting and hollering, messing around like they always do. A few boys have already taken off their shirts, admiring their physiques in the mirrors along the walls.

Coriolanus finally pins down Titus, in the back corner, perfect.

He has to play his cards right, make it look like he was attacked, and not the other way around. There aren't any cameras in the locker rooms for obvious reasons but they have more than enough eye witnesses. Everyone will be questioned after this goes down.

Coriolanus slowly approaches Titus, stopping at the bench, and begins unbuttoning his white shirt, he wouldn't want to get it messy. Titus pays him no mind, opening his assigned locker and that's when Coriolanus spots a photo of him with Soarynn and a few of their other classmates.

It's not necessarily a photo of just Titus and Soarynn, but the fact that he took the time to put it in his locker is more than enough to anger Coriolanus.

Coriolanus blows out all the air in his lungs through his nose, perhaps he's acted too rashly, he could always just talk to Soarynn like a civilized human being instead.

"Something bothering you, Snow?"

Fuck being civilized.

Coriolanus straightens up, he's only a bit taller than Titus, and they're around the same size when it comes to muscle and weight. Titus is, unfortunately, a worthy opponent. He shakes his head while folding his shirt neatly so there aren't any wrinkles, "Nope, nothing's bothering me, Fenton."

Titus cocks his head, and that shit-eating grin spreads quickly across his entire ugly face. Titus isn't ugly per se, but Soarynn could do much better.

She could be with him instead.

"You sure about that? You looked pretty heartbroken this morning when I dropped Soarynn off."

Oh, so he knows. Did Soarynn tell him? Do other people know?

Coriolanus thought they had agreed to keep this between them but maybe she's set on ruining his reputation to make hers better. He'll have to talk to her about it after he beats the shit out of Titus.

"I'm great," he lies, forcing a smile onto his lips, "it's you I'm worried about, following her around like some lost puppy. You know how girls like her can get." His words have the intended effect on Titus who immediately stiffens and slams his locker shut, drawing more attention to them.

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Titus spits out, taking a step toward Coriolanus. If he wasn't so confident in his own strength, Coriolanus would feel very intimidated to be starting something with Titus.

Coriolanus shrugs, acting as if he's suddenly bored, "Oh, nothing, just thought you should know." Coriolanus goes to turn around but Titus reaches out, grabbing his shoulder.

Ah, there it is, the first point of contact.

Coriolanus looks over at Festus, his number one supporter and eyewitness. He gives him a wink.

"Let go of me Titus," he says loudly, loud enough to garner everyone's attention in the locker room. Titus looks around at their newfound audience and scoffs, "Don't act so fucking innocent Snow, I know you're fucking her."

Coriolanus feigns innocence, widening his bright blue eyes, "Fucking who? I'm waiting until marriage Titus, as any good man should be doing."

Titus sneers, Coriolanus is no actor, but he knows that what he says is imperative for him to walk away from this unscathed. Well, for his reputation to walk away unscathed, he might get a few bumps or bruises but that's more than fine.

"Fucking Soarynn, everyone knows she's been sleeping with you."

Coriolanus looks around the room at their captive audience, "Everyone knows? Who have you been talking to Titus and why are you spreading these vicious rumors about a young lady at our school?"

Whenever Titus gets mad, he gets physical, Coriolanus knows this because he often gets the same way. The only vice he's recently discovered has been having sex...with Soarynn. Looks like they've both been left high and dry for far too long.

He can see it now, how his muscles tense, how his jaw ticks, how his eye twitches. Titus is about to swing.

"Don't play these fucking head games with me," Titus growls, "I know she's sleeping with you because she's sleeping with me!" A few of the boys laugh, Festus included. Soarynn is the queen bee of their school, out of all the boys she could choose to sleep with, Titus would be the last on her radar. Which leads Coriolanus to wonder what she was doing with him in the first place.

Oh, well, he can ask her about it later.

"Lying is a terrible thing to do Titus," Coriolanus tells him solemnly, "now please let go of me before I have to defend myself."

It takes all of ten seconds for Titus to unhand Coriolanus, turn around, ball his hand into a fist, and come back swinging. Thankfully, Coriolanus is more than used to fighting this imbecile and intercepts the punch with his forearm, it hurts like a bitch but it's much better than a concussion.

The boys immediately start shouting, and jeering as Coriolanus swings back, in self-defense of course. A few people even start banging on the lockers, stirring up quite the racket, professors and coaches will be here in minutes.

Which means he has about one minute to show Titus what happens when you fuck with Coriolanus Snow.

He balls his own fist and swings at Titus, aiming for his stomach. He lands the punch and hears Titus groan in pain, getting punched in the stomach fucking hurts, he knows what it feels like and how disarming it can be. He punches him again as Titus doubles over from the blinding pain, this time in the side of the head, against his temple. Coriolanus feels his knuckles split and hears the doors opening, professors spilling in and shouts coming from outside.

In a last-ditch attempt, Titus lunges at Coriolanus, screaming as he wraps his arms around his torso, tackling him like some lunatic. Coriolanus lets out a shout of surprise, not expecting to be slammed to the ground. The two boys tussle and roll on the floor, exchanging blows and very vulgar words.

Coriolanus is the first to be pulled off the floor, by Coach Sickle who looks baffled by this display of violence. There are always fights in the locker rooms but they do a good job at keeping quiet. Coriolanus doesn't put up a fight though, he surrenders easily, holding up his hands, ignoring the throbbing in his head and how much his hands hurt.

"Off the floor Fenton!" Another male professor shouts, running onto the scene and grabbing Titus by the collar of his shirt, "Straight to the Dean's Office for the both of you!"

Titus is led out first, the growing crowd parts for him to pass by, listening to him shout more profanities at Coriolanus who does his best to look shaken up by this whole ordeal. "I...I need to put my shirt back on," he whispers to the Coach, "I don't want any of the girls seeing me shirtless."

The biggest lie he's ever told, these abs don't come at a cheap price.

But he looks so believable right now, his nose might even be bleeding. "Sure," Coach says, nodding at the bench, "go ahead and get dressed, then I'll take you to the Dean's Office. The rest of you, outside on the track!"

Everyone slowly shuffles out into the gymnasium, grumbling about how that was barely even a fight but Coriolanus did what needed to be done. That's all that matters.

"What uh, what happened in here?" Coach Sickle asks, scratching the back of his neck while Coriolanus gets dressed, frowning when he gets blood on his white shirt. "Titus was saying some very vulgar, untruthful things about Soarynn Nightingale," he easily says, "then when I confronted him about it, he got violent."

Now he's not only the victim, but the hero.

"Ah, well, given his track record, that's not surprising. You'll still need to give an official statement, explain yourself to the Dean, parents will have to be called."

Coriolanus nods, clearing his throat, "Of course, sir, I apologize for the trouble this has caused you." Coach sighs, shaking his head, "Boys will be boys, unfortunately. We'll question a few of the boys as well, just to make sure you've got your story straight."

Coriolanus smiles, "Of course."

꧁ ꧂

Two hours later, Coriolanus is allowed to return to class.

He walks out of the bathroom wearing a brand new shirt since he asked his mother to bring one with her after he called them to come to the school to speak to Dean Highbottom. Father wasn't too pleased to be called out of work, mostly because he hates Dean Highbottom, although Coriolanus doesn't know why.

Mother, of course, fussed over Coriolanus for a good twenty minutes, complaining about his bruised temple, split knuckles, and bruised forearm. Apparently, it could affect their family portraits but it could always be edited out.

She always focuses on what's most important.

By the time they got here, everything had been sorted out, Coriolanus told his side of the story, the truth and nothing but the truth. They all believed him, especially because it sounded like something Titus would do.

Father pushed to have him expelled, but at the end of the day, it was up to the school.

"What on earth did you get into the fight about darling?" Mother asks, dusting off his Academy jacket as he slides it back on, wincing when she pats too hard. "He said some very nasty things about Soarynn," he tells her, "and I couldn't allow a man to talk about a lady like that."

Mother nearly swoons at his chivalrous act, "How sweet. Isn't that sweet Crassus?" Father doesn't look too over the moon about any of this but he nods, "Did you win?"

Coriolanus snorts, "Of course, I did."

"Then that's all that matters," father decides, checking his watch, "now, I have to go back to work and your mother has a tea party to attend. We will see you this evening."

Coriolanus nods, he never expected to be taken out of school early, nor did he want to. Now that he won a fight, he's a celebrity and everyone will want to ask him about it and why he did it.

"I'll see you tonight," he promises mother with a kiss on her cheek. She looks so hesitant to leave her baby boy behind but father is quick to usher her through the front doors, not wanting to waste another moment in the halls he once roamed as a teenager.

"Funny thing seeing your parents together."

Coriolanus jumps at the sound of Dean Highbottom's voice, scaring the shit out of him. "I recall your father chasing after a different girl during our Academy days," he says, staring off into the distance, "it seems you've fallen under her spell as well."

Coriolanus takes one step to the right, just to be safe, "Her spell?"

Dean Highbottom nods, giving Coriolanus a pitying look, "The Nightingale girl, I remember her mother, beautiful as they come and her daughter is a spitting image of her, although, I explicitly recall her choosing Glen Nightingale over Crassus Snow, what a scandal that was back in the day."

Coriolanus frowns, he's already heard this tale from his father, he doesn't need to hear it again, and not from an outsider's perspective.

"It seems that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Highbottom notes with a snide tone, "good luck with your senior year Mr. Snow, and please, try and stay out of my office for the rest of it."

Coriolanus wisely remains silent, he doesn't want to end up on this man's bad side too, but he can't help but wonder how amazing Cera Nightingale was before she settled down and got married. From what he'd heard, she was beautiful, kind, funny, sweet.

Is Soarynn worth the chase people put up for her mother?

꧁ ꧂

Coriolanus strides into the courtyard, soaking in all of the attention he's immediately given by his peers. Several of his friends rush towards him, asking to see his battle scars, patting him on the back for a job well done.

"I think he was crying," Festus says with a laugh, jostling his shoulder, "Coach grilled me about the fight, but I'd never give you up."

Coriolanus rolls his eyes, betraying a friend may not be that big of a deal in the Districts, he knows for a fact that they're filled with liars and thieves, people who would gladly cheat you out of the clothes on your back if it could get them a step further than you.

But in the Capitol, that type of betrayal is taken as a serious offense, severing friendships and relationships at the head of the problem. He sometimes wonders what led to the severance of Highbottom and his father's relationship.

Maybe it was a girl, maybe it was Cera Nightingale.

He scans the courtyard for the one person who's truly responsible for all of this mess, the person he so valiantly defended, the girl he would gladly cut off a friendship for. She's already looking at him, her hair shines under the sun as she sits on a bench, watching more students ask him questions.

"My father wants him expelled," Coriolanus says over the chatter, his eyes still on Soarynn, "but it's up to the Dean."

"Coriolanus, is it true you broke his nose?"

"Coriolanus, did you get an infraction on your student record?"

"Coriolanus, were you fighting without a shirt on?"

Soarynn stands up at the last question, dusting off her skirt, taking her time like the primadonna he knows her to be. She slowly makes her way through the crowd, and if she were anyone else, he'd go to help her, but people gladly make a path for Soarynn Nightingale who smiles so sweetly as they step aside.

By the time she reaches him, he still doesn't know what he's going to say to the girl he beat somebody up over.

She bats her lashes up at him, an action that normally drives him crazy but it does even more since they haven't had sex in weeks. "I heard you got into a fight over my honor," she purrs, "how noble of you, Coriolanus."

He swallows, maybe he shouldn't have buttoned his shirt all the way to the top because it feels like he's choking. "Yes, well, well I'm very noble," he tells her and she laughs, softly and sweetly, like music to his ears. She reaches out and takes his hand, his hand, in public! In front of everyone!

He can already hear gasps and jealous whispers from both girls and boys, "Why don't we go somewhere more private to talk?" She asks, already pulling him with her and he gladly follows. If hurting people means she'll talk to him again, he'll do it every day.

He lets her lead them out of the courtyard and into one of the emptier hallways. Coriolanus can already feel himself growing excited, growing more and more restless to have his hands on her again, his lips on her lips.

So when she pulls him into an empty classroom and not a supply closet, he's very disappointed.

"So why'd you do it?"

She lets go of his hand, leaving him dumbfounded. Coriolanus watches Soarynn hop onto the nearest desk, kicking her feet back and forth. She tilts her head like a puppy, sweet and innocent but he knows that she's neither of those things.

He knows better than to believe that.

"Do what?"

Soarynn's eyes drift down his body, coming to a stop on his split knuckles. He went to the nurse once his parents arrived, got the cuts touched up, and was given a pat on the back once he was done.

"Why did you beat up Titus Fenton?"

"He said bad things about you, sexual things about you."

A cruel smirk curls across her lips, "You say bad, sexual things to me all the time, what's the difference?"

She's got him there.

"I...I don't know, I just, I didn't like that it was him."

Her smirk turns into a frown, "You wanted it to be you saying those nasty things about me?'

Coriolanus groans, rubbing a hand over his face, he hates it when people put words into his mouth.

"No! No, I didn't want to be saying those things about you, I...I wanted it to be me walking you to class, and kissing you. I want it to be me and I don't want to see you with anybody else, I don't care if I'm selfish, I know what I want. And I know what you want, you want a boyfriend, someone to take care of you and be there for you, and please you. And who better than me? I'm a Snow, I'm smart, tall, handsome, I'm the best you'll ever have and you know it Soarynn."

For once, Soarynn is at a loss for words.

He takes a step towards her, then another, then another until he's right in front of her.

"If you don't want it to be me," he says quietly, "just tell me. Don't string me along like your mother did with my father, okay? Just tell me. I know I'm not easy, and maybe it is hard to like me but I know I'm the best one for you."

Soarynn looks up at him and he nearly loses his breath, he's looked into her eyes hundreds of times, but always clouded with lust. This time, they're clear as day, blue and gray.

Beautiful.

"It isn't that hard to like you," she tells him, grabbing his hand, intertwining their fingers, "or love you."

His heart skips a beat, he hasn't ever thought about the possibility of love, he's always known that he was destined for greatness, for fame, and fortune. Love has never been on the agenda.

But maybe it's on Soarynn's agenda.

Maybe that's why her mother didn't pick his father.

Maybe for once, he needs to drop the Snow mentality and put someone else on top.

Put her on top.

"I like you," he admits, squeezing her hand so tight he's scared it might break, "I've liked you for a long time and I thought that just having sex without strings attached would be easy but it's just made things harder. So when I heard you mention sleeping with Titus I just lost contr-"

"I never had sex with Titus," she cuts him off, shrugging her shoulders as if Titus didn't have to go to the hospital after getting drilled by the Dean. "I knew it would get a rise out of you to see me with him so I went on one date with him this weekend, and asked him to walk me to class. I just didn't think you'd get into a fight over me."

Now Coriolanus is at a loss for words.

She didn't sleep with Titus? She lied? She played him like a fiddle?

Coriolanus doesn't know if he should either feel upset or impressed that she managed to get him to play directly into her hand. Soarynn is more than used to getting what she wants but he didn't know that applied to him as well.

But that means she wants him.

She. Wants. Him.

"So, so you wanted me to get jealous?"

Soarynn nods, tilting her head up at him, "Mhm. I mean, we stopped having sex and I just...I don't know, I kinda missed you. I thought after kissing you on the cheek that you'd get my hints but I forgot that teenage boys are total idiots."

Ouch.

"I thought you kissed me to embarrass me in front of everyone," he mumbles, looking down at their intertwined hands, "then I got angry." Soarynn chuckles softly, leaning forward, "You're always angry," she points out, "but I like that about you. I like boys who know what they want. And you're right, I do want a boyfriend, I want a husband who can give me everything I want."

He looks down into her eyes, alluring, enchanting, addicting.

Soarynn is a drug he could take for the rest of his life and he'll be damned if anyone else gets their hands on her.

"I thought it was sweet," she continues, "that you felt the need to beat someone up for me just to get my attention."

Well, at least she isn't upset, and if she's not mad, then he doesn't need to be either. Coriolanus finally allows himself to smile for the first time today, he feels like the king of the world right now, he won the fight and got the girl.

What could be better than that?

"Sweet, huh?" He asks, leaning down, even sitting on a desk she's shorter than him, and he likes it, likes that he's bigger than her, stronger than her, likes that he can protect her from any harm.

"Yeah," she whispers, leaning into him, "really sweet."

He closes his eyes and their lips come together in a passionate kiss, a kiss that they've both been dreaming about for months now, maybe even years. He can't believe it's finally come together, that he got the girl everyone wanted him to get.

Once again, Snow lands on top.

꧁ ꧂

One week later and Coriolanus is no longer sore or bruised from his fight with Titus Fenton, a delinquent child who was recently expelled after his appalling behavior, at least that's what mother tells everyone.

Coriolanus could honestly care less about what she has to say when it comes to Titus, now that he's out of the picture, he has nothing to worry about.

Nothing but his pretty little girlfriend.

He's roaming the halls trying to find her, eager to feel her, to kiss her, to be near her. They've only been dating for one week and he thinks he might be in love. Soarynn has hinted at courting but he still needs to ask her father, and that's a daunting task, even for Coriolanus Snow.

But she deserves the best, his girl, including his best efforts to secure their relationship as a Capitol couple.

It didn't come as a surprise to anyone when they started dating last week, it's always been expected and it was only a matter of time. Now they're the King and Queen of the Academy, stronger together than apart. He can't even remember what it was like when they were at odds with one another.

And right now, the King needs his Queen.

He finds her walking down the front hall, her heels clicking on the marble floors while she carries what looks like files in her hands. Coriolanus comes up behind her, wrapping a hand around her ponytail to give it a tug. She gasps when he pulls on it, craning her neck back to look up at him, her stormy eyes wide until she sees that it's him.

Soarynn relaxes but rolls her eyes, breaking free from his hold, "Should've known it was you," she says, "aren't you supposed to be in class?" Coriolanus shrugs, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "Class is boring, and besides, I'm in the bathroom right now, not breaking any rules," he explains, wiggling his eyebrows which makes her laugh.

He loves that, loves hearing her laugh, seeing her smile.

He peers down at the files in her hands, curious as to what they contain. Soarynn spends this class period as an office aid since she's so sweet and helpful, Persephone is an aid as well, those girls do everything together.

"What're those about?"

Soarynn sighs, leading them around the corner towards the old gymnasium, it's no longer in use since they got a new one built last year, paid for by Strabo Plinth after his idiot son, Sejanus, almost got expelled. They're District born which automatically makes them scum in his eyes, no matter how much money they have.

"It's for the Hunger Games," she tells him, "next year's the first Quarter Quell and they want to use the gymnasium to house the Tributes for makeovers and training." Coriolanus furrows his brows, Tributes in the Academy? Has the world gone mad? Has President Ravenstill lost his mind completely?

"Sounds like a recipe for disaster," he concludes, "mixing District with Capitol, someone could get hurt, one of them could escape." He immediately tightens his grip on Soarynn, imagining a wild Tribute breaking out of the gymnasium and running into her classroom, attacking her and killing her.

His most precious rose.

Soarynn doesn't seem to be too bothered by this development, "Does it even really matter? We graduate before the next Games." She's got a point. Coriolanus chuckles, pressing a kiss to her temple, "It's just a bad idea is all, they should be kept far away from Capitol citizens until they're locked away in that arena."

Soarynn snorts at his idea, pushing open a frosted glass door that leads to the front office, Persephone smiles at them from behind the front desk, "You sound like a future Game Maker," Soarynn notes, pulling away from him which causes him to frown, "you should pitch those ideas to Dr. Gaul."

Coriolanus watches her file away the documents, chatting with Persephone about the Spring Saturnalia, a party the University throws every year. Senior students from the Academy are allowed to attend and even though it's months away, the girls have already started planning what to wear.

But he thinks more and more about what she said, he's always been gunning for an important place in society, and perhaps a Game Maker could be the route to go, Head Game Maker sounds much better though.

President sounds the best though.

President Snow and his First Lady.

"...a trip to Four next weekend," Soarynn finishes and he snaps back into action. A trip? To the Districts?

"What? You're going to Four?" He asks, gripping the edge of the desk, Persephone looks uncomfortable but she's not his girlfriend, that's between her and Festus. Soarynn nods as if it's not a big deal, "Mhm, my father has to travel there for business and he's letting me come with him."

Coriolanus can think of about a million reasons why taking Soarynn out of the Capitol is a bad idea. He used to think that Glen Nightingale was a sensible man but now he's starting to question this man's decision-making skills. If he couldn't save his wife from dying, then who's to say he can save his daughter from a terrible fate as well?

Father might have had to watch the girl he once wanted fade away into nothingness, but Coriolanus will do no such thing.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? It could be dangerous, I won't be there to protect you."

Soarynn smiles, walking up to him until they're toe to toe and she wraps her arms around his neck, tugging him down to her level, "You know, up until last week, we weren't even dating so I don't think he took my big, scary boyfriend into account when planning this trip for work."

He scoffs a laugh, "I'm not scary."

Soarynn raises a brow but doesn't contradict him, "I'll be fine, you won't even know that I'm gone," she promises with a kiss on his nose. Coriolanus blinks several times after she pulls away, disappearing to another room while he's left to think about every terrible thing that could possibly happen to her on this trip.

He has to do something, has to protect her, keep her safe.

Doesn't he?

꧁ ꧂

"I want to go with Soarynn and Mr. Nightingale to District Four," Coriolanus announces that same night during dinner with his parents. Their reactions are the same, stunned that their District-loathing son would ever want to willingly step foot in the Districts.

And he doesn't, but what he wants isn't important right now, this is about Soarynn and keeping her safe.

Putting other people's feelings before his own. Who has he become?

Father sets down his fork, his face placid like always, "Why do you wish to accompany the Nightingales to District Four, Coriolanus?"

He swallows, he was hoping mother would be the one with all the questions, but at the end of the day, father's word is law. "It's dangerous out there," he tells him, "and Mr. Nightingale will be preoccupied with meetings and work, I don't want something to happen to Soarynn."

The girl's not an idiot, if anything, she's quick as a whip, smarter than most girls her age but that doesn't mean that some District leech won't try and take advantage of her.

Mother sighs at his reasoning, tracing the rim of her wine glass with her finger, "They're always like this at the start Crassus, infatuated with each other, can't stand to be apart for more than five seconds."

Coriolanus scowls, that is not true.

Father grunts, picking his fork back up, "Yes, it seems our son has fallen under Ms. Nightingale's spell." He can say whatever he wants about Soarynn or how Coriolanus acts around her, but he remembers the pride that flashed across his father's eyes when he said they were dating.

At least one of them got the girl.

"So, can I go? If Mr. Nightingale allows it then can I go? It's only for the weekend."

Mother looks across the table at father, a silent conversation takes place right in front of Coriolanus and he doesn't speak the language. "I'm not paying for any son of mine to galavant through the Districts," father says definitively, "unless Glen offers to pay for the ticket and hotel, you'll stay here. Where you belong."

Coriolanus slouches, ignoring the look he gets from mother who is always adamant about good table manners. "Why can't I pay for my own ticket? I have the money," he counters. This earns him a sharp look from father, "Because no son of mine will be seen paying to enter the Districts. Especially not following some girl."

Mother nods much to his dismay, "He's right darling, you're a Snow, unless Glen offers to pay, you'll just have to sit this one out."

So now it's up to Glen Nightingale, great.

Coriolanus doesn't push the topic any further, it'll only lead to father taking back anything he just said. He'll just have to play his cards right.

After dinner, Coriolanus calls the Nightingale townhouse, he's done this every night since they started dating. The phone rings once before Soarynn picks up, she has a phone in her bedroom, very fancy.

"Coryo? What did they say?"

Coriolanus nearly slides down the wall in despair, he's out in the hallway since the only other phone in the penthouse is in his father's study, and he steers clear of that room at all costs. "They said I have to be invited, my father refuses to spend a cent on me visiting the Districts."

Soarynn makes an aggravated noise on the other end of the phone, "Ugh, your father can be such a windup sometimes. Whatever, I can talk to my father about it tomorrow morning, butter him up. He likes you a lot so it shouldn't be too hard."

That makes him feel a little better to know that Mr. Nightingale likes him.

If he ends up going on the trip, maybe he can talk to him about courting Soarynn. Coriolanus has heard of couples that wait months before courting but he doesn't want to waste a single second.

"Alright, did you already have dinner?"

"Yep, I'm just playing with Petunia."

Petunia, is Soarynn's cat. He's only seen a thousand photos of this cat since they started dating. She's white, fluffy, and mean-looking. She's got this snarl reserved for everyone who isn't Soarynn so of course, Soarynn loves her, says she's the sweetest angel on earth. Coriolanus has yet to meet Petunia but he doubts they'll become fast friends.

"Well, give her my regards," he says, looking both ways down the hall before saying the next part, a bit softer too, "I miss you."

Soarynn giggles, she's probably rolling on top of her bed with the phone cord wrapped around her finger, along with him. "You miss me huh? Me or my cunt?" Coriolanus smirks, as polite as she can be in public, she's an absolute slut in private and that includes phone calls that anyone could hear.

"Your cunt," he drawls, thinking about how tightly it was wrapped around him the other day. His other hand involuntarily slides down to his zipper, pulling it down swiftly, "What're you wearing right now?"

Her breath hitches, they've never done this before.

"Just a silk nightgown," she answers, her voice more sultry, "and some lingerie underneath."

"Yeah, what color?"

"Blue, same shade as your eyes."

His hand slips under the waistband of his boxers.

"Take it off," he instructs, tilting his head back against the wall, "take it all off for me Soarynn." He hears her fumble with the phone and the sound of something hitting the floor, "It's off," she says, out of breath.

Coriolanus doesn't really know how he feels about Soarynn touching herself, that's his job, no one else's.

"Good, good, now take your fingers and rub them around your nipples, just like I do it, baby." Soarynn whimpers at the petname. He calls her 'darling' but other petnames get different reactions depending on when and where he uses them. In public, it's endearing, in private, it's erotic.

Either one works for her, she's as dirty-minded as he is.

Coriolanus begins to stroke his cock up and down, imagining that instead of his hand, it's Soarynn's dainty one, and she's on her knees in front of him. With his head on a swivel, Coriolanus gives himself a handjob, glad his parents have retired to their bedroom for the evening and that he's in a dark hallway.

"Now what Coryo?" The nickname drives him towards the edge, it used to be something his friends called him when they were little and had a hard time pronouncing his full name. But Soarynn always held onto it, using it to taunt him up until last week, now, it's sweet and only reserved for her.

"Now rub your fingers up and down your clit baby," he grits out, stroking his cock faster and faster, listening to her soft moans through the phone, "keep going, don't stop until I tell you to." Soarynn mewls in pleasure and he can picture her now, spread out on her sheets, her hair strewn around her face, naked in all her glory.

"Please," she whines, he can just picture her contorted expression, her eyes fluttering, her soft lips parted, her rosy cheeks flushed.

Coriolanus quickens his pace, wanting them to finish together, even if for the first time, they aren't together.

Is this what it will come to? Phone sex while Soarynn is vacationing in the Districts?

"I'm close," she pants, bringing him back to the present moment. And it's at this moment that he's glad neither of them have siblings or nosy parents. Father rarely ever seeks him out and if mother comes to his room, she always makes sure to knock. Glen seems like the type of man to give his daughter distance, only helping when asked since he most likely has no clue what he's doing.

"Let's cum together," he grunts, rubbing the angry red tip of his cock with his thumb, "let's come together, baby."

They both let out a quiet moan, not wanting to draw any attention to themselves since they should be getting ready for bed, not fucking over the phone. Soarynn's mewls of pleasure spill into his ear while he rides out his high, mostly likely staining a perfectly good pair of trousers.

This might be payback from two days ago when he fingered her under their desks while Professor McDinnon played them an educational film since she didn't actually want to teach. It was something else to be buried knuckles deep in Soarynn's cunt, listening to her moan under her breath and watching her squirm in her chair.

She chewed him out for it afterwards but he'd just smirked and kissed her hard against the lockers. She liked it as much as he did, and he'd never purposely put her in an uncomfortable position.

They both collect their thoughts and their breaths, and not a moment too soon. Coriolanus hears a knock from Soarynn's end of the phone, "Be right there," she calls out to her father, "wow, have you ever done that before?"

Coriolanus laughs, shaking his head even though she can't see him. "Phone sex? Absolutely not, but I've never had a sexual partner before."

He's never had a girlfriend before.

Soarynn hums, rustling comes from the background, then a meow.

Did Petunia witness the whole thing?

"I've gotta go," she says quietly, "but I'll talk to my father about the trip, okay?"

Coriolanus tightens his grip on the phone cord while zipping back up. "Don't pressure him too much," he advises, "don't want him to think I'm controlling you."

Soarynn snorts at the suggestion that he could ever control her, "Sure," is all she says.

"Well then, goodnight darling, I'll come pick you up tomorrow."

Soarynn used to walk to school but now, Coriolanus picks her up. He walks her to all her classes even the ones they don't have together and he always carries her books and satchel.

Soarynn will never want as long as she's with him.

"Goodnight Coryo, sweet dreams. And don't worry about the trip, it'll all work out."

He nods again, she's right, against all odds they've made it this far and that has to count for something.

"Snow lands on top," he says.

She doesn't miss a beat.

"Snow lands on top."

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

| 'Born to Die' |

{ Companion : 'National Anthem' }

She met him at a bar one night. She was drunk and he wasn't. She was interested in him, and he wasn't because he knew the type of girl she was, good and sweet, too innocent for the world he lived in. But Soarynn was so very persistent, so determined to know more about the very handsome man with the golden curls.

They met at late hours of the night, under the cover of the stars and the moon. She always thought it was strange that he insisted on meeting in such odd locations, old warehouses, rooftops, shady bars she couldn't believe even existed in the Capitol.

Soarynn found out exactly what type of man Coriolanus Snow was when they turned a corner one night and came face to face with a man and his gun. Soarynn had barely blinked in the time it took Coriolanus to draw his own gun and shoot the man.

Soarynn was, of course, beside herself. The man she was seeing was a cold-blooded killer, and the worst part? She didn't even care. She didn't care that she was madly in love with a very dangerous man,

Coriolanus certainly cared. He cared about her safety, her whereabouts, and how this would affect her everyday life. Soarynn knew his secret, and there was no walking this back. They were stuck together, hopefully forever.

Right now, the only thing she cares about is his hand sliding under the skirt she wore to come visit him. She's seated in his lap while he's seated in his chair, the chair he sits in when he decides whether or not the man across from him will live or die. It's a nice chair.

Her fingers slip through the gel he slicked through his curls this morning, scratching his scalp gently while his other hand squeezes her waist, holding her against him. She gasps when she feels his fingers prodding at her thighs, pushing them apart. They've never done anything here in his warehouse, but there's a first time for everything.

Soarynn whimpers as his finger drags up and down her covered cunt, just a flimsy piece of fabric separating him from plunging into her and making her feel so, so good. Just as he's about to push her panties to the side, they're both startled by an urgent knock on his office door.

"Coriolanus, we've got a situation."

Coriolanus groans, pulling both his lips and fingers away from her, and Soarynn gives a disappointed sigh. "What is i,t Festus?" He asks, nuzzling her neck with his nose. Soarynn giggles, tilting her head so he can have better access to the skin he loves to mark with love bites.

"I'd rather not say with ladies present."

Soarynn rolls her eyes. Festus Creed has a big mouth on him and an even bigger personality. She remembers the first time Coriolanus brought her around the warehouse, how many cheeky comments Festus made, all while twirling around his gun as if it wasn't loaded with the safety off.

Coriolanus peppers her neck with kisses, and Soarynn rolls her hips against his, making him swear under his breath. "I'm no lady," she calls back, grabbing onto her lover's shoulders. The door creaks open, and Coriolanus pulls away in an instant, glaring at Festus, who only snickers when he sees them. "I didn't tell you to come in," Coriolanus snaps, tightening his grip on Soarynn.

Festus leans against the door frame and grins, "Well, you didn't tell me not to," he counters, "and we finally got the guy, you know, the guy," he wiggles his eyebrows.

Soarynn looks at Coriolanus, suddenly very interested in what they're talking about. Coriolanus keeps her far away from the business he does, but that doesn't stop her from asking about it. "What guy?"

Coriolanus shakes his head, stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. "Nothing to worry your pretty little head about, darling," he says, kissing her cheek before tapping her hip so she can stand up. Soarynn does as she's told but is still curious, "Who is it? What do you have to go do?"

Festus opens his mouth, but Coriolanus holds a hand up, silencing him. "No one," he repeats, more stern this time, "now stay here and I'll be right back."

Coriolanus rounds his desk, joining Festus at the door, and she can see his gun peeking out from his waistband. "I mean it, Soarynn," he tells her, giving her a knowing look, "stay here until I get back."

Soarynn sits down in his chair to show that she means to listen to him, "I will," she says sweetly, batting her eyelashes for added effect.

"See? She's fine, now let's go," Festus decides, walking into the hall.

Coriolanus shoots her one more look before following Festus and closing the door behind him, leaving Soarynn alone in his big office. She's never been in here unsupervised before, and Coriolanus is very particular about his things and where he keeps them. She pulls open the top drawer, disappointed to only see pens and pencils, a pair of scissors as well. She pulls open the side drawer next, and there are just files of papers inside.

She goes to open the drawer on the other side, but it doesn't budge. She tries again, harder this time, but it's locked.

Soarynn huffs, slouching in the chair, she came all this way to see Coriolanus, and now he's gone. That's how it always goes with him, though. They can't ever make it through dinner or a movie without something coming up, one of his men whispering in his ear, and then they immediately get up to leave.

She drums her fingers on the desk, spinning side to side while she waits. There isn't a single photograph on his desk, but from what he's told her, he is not a sentimental man.

The door opens, and she sits up straight, eager to have his hands on her again, but it's Sejanus.

Soarynn groans and slouches back in the chair, she's so bored. Sejanus chuckles and closes the door behind him, crossing the office towards the file cabinet Coriolanus keeps in the corner of the room.

"I take it he had to go and do something important," he guesses, pulling open the drawer. Soarynn scoffs, the men who work for Coriolanus are more than used to her being around now. They even follow her around the Capitol when she's alone, even if Coriolanus doesn't want her to know about it. It's hard to ignore tall, brooding men who "coincidentally" appear wherever she goes.

Sejanus is among the friendlier men, not afraid to make small talk with Soarynn and ask questions about her. "Apparently he did," she mumbles, "but he wouldn't tell me about it or who it was."

Sejanus pulls out a file and closes the drawer, offering her a soft smile, "It's to keep you safe," he reminds her. Soarynn almost feels her eyes roll to the back of her head, she hears that almost every day.

To keep her safe.

Please, she's perfectly safe.

"Can you open this drawer?" She asks, changing the subject, "I opened the others, but this one's locked." Sejanus approaches her and looks at the drawer she's pointing at. "I can't," he tells her, "don't have the key, and Coriolanus doesn't like people messing with his stuff."

Soarynn sighs, carding her hand through her hair, "Fabulous," she mumbles, "so glad I came all the way down here."

"We always enjoy having you around," Sejanus tells her, "it makes the boss happier, less grouchy." Soarynn has seen Coriolanus be the big bad boss he's used to being. He's downright terrifying in the way he yells at his men, orders them around, threatens to cut off their fingers or limbs.

Then he'll turn back around to look at her, speaking in the softest tone she's ever heard, cradling her face as if she's his most precious possession.

The duality of a man is very impressive to her.

Soarynn doesn't say anything back, and Sejanus sighs, leaving the room as quickly as he came, closing the door behind him. Alone once again, Soarynn is terribly bored. She wonders what's taking so long, what he's doing out there. Everything he does is classified as "urgent," but this seemed very urgent since he left her so quickly.

Soarynn decides to wait five more minutes before she stands up and goes to find Coriolanus. He won't mind, and she needs to stretch her legs. Her fingers are wrapping around the door handle when someone opens it from the other side.

This time, it's Coriolanus, and she's caught red-handed.

He raises a brow, "Couldn't wait any longer?"

Soarynn drops her hand and turns away from him, walking back to the desk. "You abandoned me," she claims, resting her hands on the edge of his desk, "left me to my own devices."

Coriolanus closes the door behind him, and she notices him turning the lock this time. "Your own devices, meaning snooping through my desk, apparently," he states, not sounding too impressed but not angry either. Soarynn scowls, looks like Sejanus can't keep a secret.

Soarynn tries a sweet smile, "I was just looking."

Coriolanus smirks and stops right in front of her, resting his hands next to hers on the desk, caging her in. "Just looking, hmm? Looking for what?" Soarynn gasps softly when she feels his lips on her neck, he makes it so hard to think straight. She grabs his shoulder with one hand, steadying herself, "Just looking," she says breathlessly, closing her eyes as his lips suck on the soft skin of her neck.

Coriolanus hums, shoving his leg between hers, right against her barely covered core, and Soarynn whines at the friction. He left her high and dry, but Coriolanus Snow always makes it up to her. Sometimes it's by giving her a new necklace, other times it's an orgasm.

Either way, she's not complaining.

He grabs her waist with his right hand, pulling her against him, and he brings his lips to her mouth, pressing a hot and heated kiss to her lips. Soarynn eagerly returns it, moving in sync with her deadly lover, who knows her body like the back of his hand.

She supposes that she should be terrified. Coriolanus is capable of killing people, he’s done it before, and he’ll do it again. Even now, he has his gun on his person, never goes anywhere without it. Soarynn hadn’t even seen a gun before she met him.

But now she’s curious.

While he’s focused on kissing her to make up for lost time, Soarynn is focused on sliding her hand down to his waist, fumbling with the weapon tucked into his waistband at all times. Normally, it’s hidden but his suit jacket, but at work, he’s dressed in trousers and a button-up.

Soarynn remembers seeing one of his button-up shirts in the waste bin at his penthouse, stained with blood. Neither of them said anything about that.

She finds the handle of the gun and pulls it out from its hiding spot before he can comprehend what she's done, breaking away from the kiss just in time to see his weapon in her dainty little hands.

His eyes darken and not in a sexual way. Coriolanus Snow does not like to be disobeyed, and Soarynn is about to find out if that mindset applies to her as well.

“Darling,” he says, his voice rigid, “give that to me right now.”

Soarynn contemplates her options. She could listen, give him the gun back, and get a quick lecture about how dangerous that was.

Or, she could push his buttons just a little further.

Soarynn’s seen what happens to Coriolanus when someone tests him. His veins bulge in his throat, his eyes twitch, his fists curl. Then he fucks her so hard she sees stars.

She’s going to go with the second option.

“Teach me how to use it,” she demands, ignoring his order, “it’ll be good for me to get used to having a gun in my hands.” Coriolanus goes to grab it, but Soarynn is quicker than he is, smaller too. She slips out from underneath him in seconds, putting more distance between them.

Coriolanus already looks agitated, his breaths are getting heavier, his eyes are narrower.

“You don’t ever need to use a gun because you won’t ever be put in a position where you need one,” he tells her calmly. She shakes her head because they both know that’s not true. Anything could happen, and with her luck, it could happen the one time his men aren’t around to save her.

Maybe he doesn’t see it that way, but Soarynn is more than willing to teach him how to think the way she does, even if it gets her in trouble.

“Oh, but I might,” she tells him innocently, batting her lashes, “suppose I’m out late one night, and you’re busy and can’t spare any men to you know, follow me around like they usually do.” Coriolanus looks…caught. She’s never mentioned his men following her, assuming that it was just something unspoken between the two of them.

“And I’m walking home when all of a sudden,” Soarynn raises the gun to her head, pressing it to her temple, and his breath hitches in his throat, his hands curl into fists, his veins bulge, and his eyes, Soarynn has never seen him look so angry before.

“Would you be able to live with yourself if someone shot me in the head? Knowing that I could’ve stopped it from happening if I knew how to use a gun?”

His jaw ticks, “Soarynn, give me the gun.”

“Why don’t you come over here and take it fro-“

Her taunt is cut off when the door nearly falls off the hinges from someone pounding on the other side of it, “Hey, boss! We’ve gotta real big problem out front! We kinda need you, like right now, so wrap it up in there!” It’s Festus, of course it’s Festus.

Soarynn is so preoccupied listening to Festus that Coriolanus is able to stride over to her, snatching the gun out of her hand with a furious look in his eyes. Perhaps she’s gone too far this time.

He points the gun at the ceiling and fires it. Soarynn jumps at the noise, at the sound it makes, and how quickly the bullet buries itself in the concrete above them.

“What you just did,” he says lowly, towering over her, “is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in my life, Soarynn. The fucking safety wasn’t on, you could have died. Do you understand me? If your finger slipped, you would’ve fucking shot yourself in front of me and then how would I be able to live with myself?”

More pounding, “Boss, we gotta go now!”

“I’m coming,” Coriolanus barks out, tucking the gun back into his waistband, “go home, Soarynn. We’ll talk about this more when I have time.”

Soarynn feels her bottom lip trembling, she didn’t mean to upset him like this, and she certainly didn’t expect him to get this harsh, this cold, and cut off.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, a single tear rolls down her cheek, and she sees his eyes slightly soften. Just a little bit, but it counts for something when it’s with him.

Coriolanus closes his eyes, blowing all the air out of his body through his lips before opening them again. “We'll talk about this later,” he repeats, but this time, softer, gentler.

Soarynn nods, he won’t let this go until they’ve had a proper conversation about it, that’s how he is. The message must be received.

“Can I have a kiss?”

“Are you two still fucking in there? Coriolanus, let’s go! The clock is ticking!”

Coriolanus smirks at her question and at Festus and his frantic commentary. He leans down and pecks her forehead, not exactly what she wanted, but then again, she just put a gun to her head. Perhaps he means to knock some common sense into her.

“Be careful,” she says.

Coriolanus nods, it’s always a risk with them, always a chance he might never come back. “Go out the back,” he tells her, going to unlock the door, “I’ll have Sejanus take you home.”

Ugh, great. It's one thing to have him be protective over her, but it's another thing for him to make his men act the same way, taking her from place to place like she needs a fucking babysitter. But she doesn't push him any further than she already has today.

She's done enough to last them a lifetime.

꧁ ꧂

"Coriolanus said to go to his apartment," Soarynn lies, staring out the tinted car window of one of the many cars his gang uses. Sometimes, they roll back with bullet holes in them, patched up the next day like nothing happened.

Sejanus raises an eyebrow at her through the rearview mirror, "Really?"

Soarynn slouches in the backseat, tired after a long day of kissing and her boyfriend killing people, "Yes, really. He needs to make up for lost time after today's little stunt." Leaving her to take care of something is nothing new to Coriolanus or Soarynn, but it doesn't mean that she has to like it.

Thankfully, Sejanus doesn't ask any further questions, simply driving them towards the Corso in silence. Despite his downright murderous reputation, Coriolanus resides on the most prominent street in the Capitol, right in the middle of the city, the safest place to live.

How ironic that he's in the thick of it.

Soarynn flashes Sejanus a pretty smile even though Festus once hushed out that Sejanus was playing for the other team. It doesn't really matter to her, not when all men think about is sex and use the same thing between their legs to decide on what to do next.

A man is a man, gay, straight, it makes no difference to her.

They pull up to the curb, and Soarynn waits for Sejanus to open the door for her. Ever since meeting Coriolanus, she hasn't touched a door handle.

"Do you know when he'll be home?" She asks once the door opens, gracefully sliding out of the backseat. Sejanus shakes his head, "No idea, there were some Peacekeepers at the front, asking questions, so he had to go take care of that."

Oh goodness. Soarynn didn't know that's what all the fuss was about. No wonder Festus was so nervous and persistent. From what Soarynn has seen and experienced, the Peacekeepers ignore Coriolanus and his men for the most part. It's not like they go on these random killing sprees. Their kills are selective, targeted, precise, and planned.

It's the other gangs that kill for no reason, and that is the reason why they're constantly getting raided and questioned.

She wonders what happened.

Either way, Sejanus will not be the one to tell her anything. Festus is the one with looser lips, and after a few drinks, he'll be glad to tell anyone about the birthmark he has on his buttcheek.

"Thank you then," she says, "I'll see myself up."

And she does just that, flashing the doorman a smile when he opens the door for her. Soarynn is a regular face in this apartment building, always coming and going with Mr. Snow. He gave her a key, "for emergencies," he had told her. Well, she's horny so this constitues as one in her books.

By the time she's reached the twelfth floor, she's ready to kick off her heels and take a nice, long nap. Soarynn walks into the empty penthouse, tossing the keys on the table in the entryway, admiring the artwork that hangs on the walls.

Coriolanus may not be a sentimental man, but he does appreciate good artwork.

Soarynn makes her way to his bedroom, but stops in her tracks when she sees the door to his study, the door that is normally locked, is open.

She wasn't supposed to be here today.

Which means he didn't plan on her coming over, which means he didn't lock the door.

Soarynn pushes the door open with such swiftness and determination, she almost feels like a new woman. A new woman who will not be kept in the dark about things, or coddled when it comes to protecting herself.

Soarynn settles in the large chair behind his desk, opening the first drawer she sees. There are more files, mostly banking information from what she can make out, he most likely keeps more personal items stored in his home study, the more she thinks about it. But still, she's curious to learn more about Coriolanus.

She digs around some more, finding his old Academy diploma along with letters from friends, professors, and even the Dean.

Soarynn goes to open the last drawer, but to her chagrin, finds it locked.

Why must he lock everything?

Soarynn huffs, it's no fun if she can't snoop. But she can improvise. She pulls open the top drawer, filled with a notepad, pens, pencils, paperclips, and a letter opener.

She wiggles the sharp tip of the opener into the bottom drawer's lock, twisting and turning it until she feels it open. Excitedly, she gasps, surprised it actually worked for once. Soarynn pulls open the drawer, anxious to see the contents within it, and is very surprised to find only three items.

One, a journal.

Two, something circular, wrapped in an orange scarf.

And three, an envelope.

She goes for the envelope first, carefully peering inside at the contents, and can't help but gasp when she sees what he's hidden. Pictures of her. Coriolanus Snow, a man who is the farthest from sentimentality, has pictures of her. Lots of pictures from the looks of it, glossy, high definition photos of her that she remembers being taken, but never saw them again.

Looks like he's been getting them developed. She thumbs through the stack, smiling when she comes across a photo that serves as a fond memory, when he got her a little kitten, Petunia. She was just a tiny little thing back then, so loud despite being so small.

Another photo is of them at the ballet, both dressed to perfection, with his hand placed possessively on her waist. His girl.

Soarynn smiles at the photos, carefully tucking them back into the envelope so she can pick up the orange scarf and whatever it's wrapped around. The fabric is soft and well-worn, and for a split second, she worries it might belong to someone.

A secret lover.

She slowly unwraps the scarf and is surprised to find what looks like a silver compact of some sort, with a rose engraved on the lid. She swallows, perhaps she's misread this entire situation.

Is she just another body to him? Is there someone else? Another woman?

Soarynn wraps the compact back up and puts everything back into the drawer the same way she found it, not wanting to raise any suspicion. She's just in time, too, because she hears the front doors being unlocked.

Soarynn quickly slips out of the study and into the hall as his voice rings in her ears.

"Darling? Are you in here?"

Soarynn smooths down her hair, she needs to look presentable, like she didn't just come from the one room she's not allowed to be in. A million thoughts race through her mind. On one note, he had pictures of her, of her, not some other woman. That should count for something. But why would he go through all of that trouble to wrap up the compact?

They both round the corner at the same time, and his hands fall to her waist, stopping her from walking into him. "I thought I told you to go home," he says, not sounding too angry about her coming here. He's always said to come here if she feels unsafe.

How funny that the most dangerous man in the Capitol lives here.

Soarynn gives a small smile, "I consider this place my second home." Coriolanus grins, he seems to be in a great mood, which is surprising since the Peacekeepers were at his front door not too long ago.

"What did the Peacekeepers want?"

His face barely wavers, but after being with him for this long, Soarynn has become an expert in reading his body language. "There was an...altercation," he says slowly, as if speaking to another Peacekeeper instead of her. Soarynn raises her eyebrows, she doubts it was an 'altercation' that led to an entire squadron showing up.

"What kind of altercation causes Festus to almost break down the door to your office?" She questions, but he's already pressing his lips to her cheek, doing his best to distract her. One of his hands slides down from her waist to her ass, palming it through her skirt. Coriolanus is very touchy, he always needs to be touching her in some way or form.

Whether he's buried inside of her or simply holding her hand, he doesn't care.

Soarynn moans when his lips travel down to her jaw, sucking on the delicate skin. He also loves to leave marks on her. Soarynn fought it in the beginning, claiming that she'd look like some Capitol harlot running around with love bites all over her neck. Like she was the victim of some vampire on the loose.

Coriolanus argued that it would only let other men know that she belonged to someone, that she was his girl. He was, unfortunately, right. She's seen men eye her up and down in the hopes of taking her home, only to have their hopes and dreams crushed the second they see a bruise from Coriolanus on her neck.

"You could always get me a ring," she had mumbled one night after sex, too out of it to really understand what she was saying. Soarynn hasn't ever spoken to Coriolanus about marriage, about a real future with each other. Not a single day is promised with him. But he had just chuckled and pulled her closer against his naked body. "Someday," he had mused, kissing the crown of her head.

Soarynn fell asleep knowing two things that night: she was falling for Coriolanus Snow, and he was falling for her too. It didn't take much longer before he asked her to officially be his girlfriend, to court him, and be no one else's.

It's been rather smooth sailing since then, but this new discovery has thrown her for a loop. Has he promised other women rings? Has she been played for a fool? Is he really a bad man?

Soarynn rests her hands on his shoulders, feeling how strong he is under his shirt. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about a thing," he tells her, "it's all been taken care of." This either means a deal was made or someone was shot. Either way, it's done for now. Rarely does something from the past come back to him.

Unless there's another woman.

"Now," he grunts, pulling her further against him, so close that she can feel his cock straining against her leg, "why don't we make up in the bedroom, hmm?" Soarynn would normally jump at an opportunity to be under Coriolanus Snow, but now she's not so sure if that's a wise idea. Perhaps she should go home and think some things through before making any rash decisions.

She knows Coriolanus well enough to know that if they were to get married, she'd never be out of his sight. If he's overprotective now, she can't imagine how he'd be with children.

Soarynn looks up at him, feeling as though her rose colored glasses have been shattered due to her own stupid curiosity. "Actually, I think I might go home," she gets out, trying to sound normal.

Coriolanus sees right through that, of course. He might be a murderer, but he's a very attentive one who knows when she's not being herself. His large hand squeezes her waist gently as if urging her to be honest.

"Is everything alright?"

Soarynn forces a smile. "Yes, everything is perfect. I just want to go home now."

Coriolanus frowns, looking down at her with furrowed brows. "Soarynn, is something wrong? I...I know I was harsh about the gun, but I would never forgive myself if you got hurt under my watch, darling. You are so very precious to me, and pointing a gun at your head was careless, surely you can understand that."

Soarynn hums, her mind is so far away from here right now.

"Come on," he mumbles, leaning down until his lips hover over hers, "say you forgive me so I can show you how sorry I am." Even though she wants to be cross with him, her lips can't help but twitch into a smile. He's so cute when he pouts and whines. Coriolanus is like a big, scary dog who really just wants to be cuddled at night.

He only acts this way when he's with her.

"Okay," she easily agrees despite the alarms in her head screaming for her to get out. His lips press onto hers, sealing the deal with a sweet kiss. Soarynn responds, though not as eagerly as she normally would. He groans into the kiss, most likely still pent up from their interrupted moments earlier today.

Coriolanus finishes what he started.

Soarynn wonders if that includes her.

Coriolanus has said that he's damned for hell before, that he has no chances of making it to heaven. Soarynn thinks he's being ridiculous. But he likes to joke that he's brought heaven to earth just for her, between how good he makes her feel emotionally and sexually.

Soarynn allows him to deepen the kiss and push a leg between her own, rubbing against her sensitive cunt once more. Soarynn moans, even if she's terrified, her body still wants what it wants.

"You want me?"

Soarynn whimpers, trying to fight against how intoxicating he is.

"Say you want me, baby, say it."

"I want you," she gasps, arching her back when he slides his hand under the waistband of her skirt. "I want you. Please, Coriolanus, I want you."

Coriolanus also loves dirty talk.

He doesn't waste any time in pinning her against the nearest surface, which is, to her horror, the desk in his study. Coriolanus doesn't seem to mind that they're doing this in here instead of his bedroom just down the hall. He's too caught up in the moment.

Coriolanus pins her against the desk with her ass pressed against his hips, grinding agaisnt one another in a heated moment of lust and passion. She can hear him fumbling to unbuckle his belt and hears it hit the floor.

Did he bring her in here for a reason? Did some other woman spend the night with him and leave her panties behind?

Soarynn isn't left to ask any more questions as he pulls her skirt down to her ankles, spreading her legs for her. "Such a perfect little ass," he says, slapping the soft skin. Soarynn moans, some girls don't like being spanked, but she's clearly not like most girls. His hands rest on her hips, teasing the waistband of her panties.

"And an even more perfect cunt," he decides, finally peeling her soaked lacy panties down her legs. The cold air only makes her more sensitive to anticipation. Soarynn has never felt pleasure the way she feels it with Coriolanus. He's a magician with his hands, tongue, and cock.

And sometimes, his nose.

Soarynn grips the desk for support when she feels the tip of his large cock rubbing on her entrance, teasing her. Coriolanus is largely endowed in all possible ways. He's large in length and girth, filling her up in the most delicious way possible.

He grips her ass with his hand, using his thumb to pull open her entrance. "So perfect for me," he says, pushing into her. Soarynn moans when he bottoms out, pressing on her sweet spot. Soarynn swears she sees stars every time he slides into her.

"Fuck."

"That's the plan," he grunts, pulling his hips back and snapping them forward. Coriolanus doesn't take it slow and steady this time. He sets a hard, almost painful pace that causes Soarynn's toes to curl in her heels. Soarynn can only make pitiful noises as he fucks her, crying out in pleasure. Her moans are breathy and high-pitched.

There was a time when she tried to be quiet, but he wasn't having any of it. "When I'm in this cunt," he had told her, "I want to hear about it. I want to hear how good I'm making you feel, babydoll."

Soarynn hasn't tried to be quiet since.

The sound of panting, skin slapping, and moaning can be heard echoing throughout the entire penthouse. Soarynn only has one thing on her mind, which is the orgasm she's been deprived of twice today. She's so focused on getting to that state of euphoria that she stares down at the floor where their feet are planted. Her feet stand between his, smaller and daintier.

Her gaze travels from her feet to his feet, to his desk with the bottom drawer still open.

Fuck! She didn't close it all the way!

"Oh shit," she whines, feeling both pleasure and panic.

Coriolanus moans, kissing her shoulder. "I know, baby, I know. Give it to me."

Soarynn can feel her orgasm coming to a screeching finish, so fast that she can't even form a proper sentence to tell him. Her toes curl, her back arches, and his hand instantly goes down to rub at her clit.

"Oh, oh, oh!"

Soarynn cums from the overwhelming force that is Coriolanus Snow. He cages her in with his body on top of hers, resting his hands next to hers on the desk. "Fuck, I'm close," he grits, keeping at his fast pace. Soarynn's brain is mush, only thinking about the drawer and the scarf now.

She'd usually encourage him to finish by saying something bratty that would lead to him putting her in her place. Coriolanus loves taming his little brat, and it always gets him off.

Soarynn says nothing when he finishes inside of her, painting her walls with his cum. She usually loves it when he finishes inside, but not today. She feels...gross. She feels used and like an idiot for thinking this could ever be anything real or important.

"Fuck, that was good," he sighs, kisisng right under her ear, "always so good for me." Soarynn is quiet while he catches his breath. Coriolanus prides himself on providing excellent sex and even better aftercare. She feels his cock growing softer inside of her. Sometimes he'll want to go for more rounds, but today has been a long day.

"Let me go get you a towel," he says, rubbing her back, "I'll be right back."

Soarynn feels him pull out, leaving her feeling empty and it's not because his cock is no longer inside of her. It's because she doesn't know if she can trust him anymore.

He walks out of the room, and Soarynn uses the last of her strength to close the drawer before she feels a few tears escape from her eyes. She can just sneak out and cry at home. Soarynn sniffles, wiping away her tears and pulling her panties back up. She should wait for him to at least wipe her down, but this can be a lesson if anything.

She's pulling on her skirt when he comes back.

"What're you doing, Soarynn?"

Soarynn sniffles, unable to face him. "I have to go."

"You have to go?"

"Yes," she snaps, sounding harsher than she intended. "I need to leave, Coriolanus."

She finally gathers the strength to turn around and face him. It's almost laughable how sweet he looks right now. He took off his shirt, probably hot from the sex. His trousers have been pulled back up, and if she weren't so upset, she'd find him very attractive right now.

"Is everything okay?"

Soarynn bites back a bitter laugh. She wonders if this was ever okay in the first place. The secrets, the killing, the violence he's subjected her to despite trying to shield her from it. This isn't normal, she knows that much.

Another woman might just be her breaking point.

"I just need to leave," she whispers, hanging her head, "I'm sorry."

She goes to walk past him, but he stops her by grabbing her arm. Her bottom lip trembles, she can feel his penetrating stare fixed on her, trying to figure out what happened with her in the amount of time it took him to get a towel.

"Soarynn, tell me what's wrong, darling. Did I hurt you? Was I too rough?"

Soarynn shakes her head, he could never be too rough in her opinion. Maybe to other girls, but not to her. "No, no, it's nothing. I just need to go, so please, let me go."

She looks up at him and finds Coriolanus trying to pick her apart and find the issue. His brows are furrowed and his eyes are narrow, his jaw is set, and he's not going to let this go. Coriolanus is the type of man who believes that it's bad to go to sleep angry.

"I'm not letting you leave until you tell me what's wrong," he says calmly, "whatever's upsetting you, I can make it right."

Soarynn scoffs a laugh, for someone so smart, he can be so clueless sometimes. "Yeah, I'm sure," she sarcastically replies, earning her a warning look from Coriolanus. He doesn't tolerate sass from anyone, not his men, and certainly not her.

"We can either talk like adults or you can leave like a child who didn't get their wa-"

"Alright then," she cuts him off, yanking her arm free from his grip. "Let's talk about it then. Whose scarf is that? And whose compact is that?"

Soarynn watches his face go from concerned to confused to guarded within a matter of seconds.

"How would you know anything about that, Soarynn? Last time I checked, those items were in a locked drawer."

Soarynn realizes that she's somewhat shot herself in the foot, but she almost shot herself in the head today, so maybe she deserves it. She swallows, no backing down now. Coriolanus isn't the type to easily forgive, and he certainly won't forget her going through his private belongings.

"I opened it," she admits, seeing no need to lie. Trust and truth are everything to him. "I opened it because you never would have if I asked you," she explains, "you never open up to me, and I was left to my own devices to figure you out."

Coriolanus regards her with the coldest look she's ever gotten from him. He glances over at his desk, focused on the drawer she broke into. "So you showed up at my apartment uninvited and broke into my desk? Do you know what that makes you, Soarynn?"

She tries to back away, but there's nowhere to go, she's stuck between him and the doorway.

"That makes you a thief," he whispers lowly, placing a hand above her head so he can tower over her. "Do you know what we do with thieves?" Now she's scared because she does know what he and his men do to people who steal from them.

She's seen it before, how Festus laughs while cutting off someone's fingers or their fingertips.

"You cut a finger off," she whispers, folding her hands behind her back. Coriolanus reaches behind him as well, but his hand reappears with a small blade in its grasp. He usually has a gun and some sort of knife on him at all times.

Soarynn zeroes in on the small knife, it looks so sharp, so painful.

"I'll let you pick which hand."

Soarynn looks up at him in disbelief. She was prepared to argue, not to lose a limb!

"Oh, don't look at me like that, darling," he says with false sympathy, grabbing her chin with his other hand. "You wanted to find out what kind of man I really am when you're not around? Then let me show you."

"Just tell me who she is," Soarynn whispers, a tear rolling down her cheek, "tell me who she is and why I had to find out this way. I thought you loved me."

"I do love you," he replies, "and I thought you loved me too."

"I do," she cries, "I do, but the scarf, and the compact, I..."

Her voice trails off when she sees him put the knife away. Maybe she'll come out of this unscathed. At least, physically. Her heart cannot say the same.

"The scarf was my mother's," he explains, "as was the compact."

Oh.

Coriolanus has told her little about his mother, but whenever he spoke about her, he did it fondly. Soarynn didn't realize he was still holding onto parts of her after all these years. It's almost unbecoming of a man like him to keep his mother's compact, but at the same time, it's sweet.

It's so sweet and Soarynn is in so much trouble.

She opens her mouth to say something, to say anything, but nothing comes out. Coriolanus chuckles, closing her mouth for her with his fingers. "If you thought for a second that I'd have enough time for any other woman than you in my life, then you'd be sadly mistaken, darling. Maybe I haven't told you this before, but you take up a lot of my time."

Is that supposed to be nice or mean?

"I didn't know," is all she finally says, gazing up at him with remorse, "I'm sorry, Coriolanus."

He doesn't appear to be angry anymore, if anything, he's amused at her little sporadic moment. "I know you are. I'm surprised you even asked me." Soarynn scrunches her nose, a telltale sign that she's offended. "I would have asked you eventually," she argues.

He shakes his head, a smirk grows across his lips. "You would have confronted me," he corrects, "most likely over the phone so you didn't have to look at me." Soarynn didn't realize she was this predictable.

"You have to realize how strange it was," she mumbles, "finding all of that hidden away. It felt like some big secret, and then I started to wonder if I was a big secret."

Coriolanus sighs, sliding his long fingers along her jawline, cradling her face in his large hand. "You've never been a secret. I try to keep you out of things, yes, but for your own safety. People won't hesitate to hurt you just to hurt me. But the scarf and compact weren't the only things in the drawer, if I recall, were they?"

Soarynn feels herself begin to blush. She did see another item in the drawer, but it felt so small in comparison to the others. "There were some photographs," she mumbles, looking anywhere but his eyes.

"Photographs of who?"

"Me."

"Hmm. Imagine that, photos, of my girlfriend. A telltale sign of infidelity if I've ever seen it." Soarynn glares up at him, she doesn't appreciate his sarcastic remarks right now. "Locking them away in a drawer certainly didn't paint a pretty picture. I felt like I was another big secret you were hiding away."

"I had to hide those photos in case my crazy girlfriend found them and overreacted."

Soarynn scowls, Coriolanus smirks, it's a standstill.

"I'm still leaving," she decides, "I need some time to recover from you almost cutting my finger off." Soarynn slips out into the hallway, Coriolanus hot on her heels. "You know I wouldn't have cut off your finger, angel."

Soarynn turns around so fast that he runs into her.

"Don't you angel me," she hisses, jabbing her index finger into his bare chest, "I found hidden items that belonged to a woman, I asked about them, and you made it seem as if I was going to lose a finger!"

"I needed to make sure you learned a valuable lesson."

Soarynn puts her hands on her hips although it's hard to be taken seriously after being fucked and then being fucked with. "And what was that lesson?"

"Stop snooping around my shit, Soarynn."

"Stop keeping me out of shit, Coriolanus."

The doorbell rings, but neither of them moves to answer the door. "Gonna get that?" She asks, tilting her head. His jaw ticks and Soarynn prepares to possibly get her ass handed to her in the near future. The doorbell rings again, and Coriolanus lets out what sounds like a growl before going to answer the doors.

Soarynn stays where she is, listening to the muffled conversation taking place in the entryway. She only catches bits and pieces. "...sorry to disturb you, sir...ask again...meant no offense." Whoever is on the other side of the doors sounds very nervous to be talking to Coriolanus right now.

She hears Coriolanus spit out a few words, and then the doors slam shut again. He comes back looking angrier than before, which automatically leads her to blurt out the question he must despise by now.

"What's going on?"

"Do you really want to know?"

Does she? Soarynn supposes that if she went to such lengths that she should be entitled to this information.

"Yes," she answers confidently.

"That was my downstairs neighbor. He came up here because he heard a woman screaming."

Soarynn doesn't even try to look guilty. They usually fuck at her place. "You like it when I'm vocal," she sweetly reminds him. He looks her up and down, perhaps rethinking all of the life choices that have led him to this point.

"I like it when you're a lot of things," he says, grabbing her wrist, "right now, I'd like you under me in my bedroom."

Soarynn doesn't put up a fight. He'll want to continue their conversation later, but right now, he's pent up and angry all over again. And Coriolanus loves to let his frustration out on her.

꧁ ꧂

Soarynn truly doesn't know how they can go from fighting to fucking within ten minutes but she is not complaining.

With her face pressed into the mattress, she isn't disturbing a single neighbor in this building while Coriolanus fucks her from behind. Soarynn grasps at the sheets, overstimulated from the first round of sex. Coriolanus swears behind her, landing a hard slap to her ass. "Now that I've had some time to think," he grunts, "I've come to the conclusion that you just needed some cock in this greedy little cunt of yours, angel. Whenever you get bratty, it's a simple solution."

Soarnyn manages to lift her head long enough to spit back at him. "Fuck you." Coriolanus just fucks her harder and faster until she's screaming into the mattress. "Nothing to say now, huh? All talk until I've got you under me. Maybe I should fuck your mouth more often and then I won't get half of the sass you like to give me."

Soarynn tries to lift her head up again, but this time he's ready and pushes it back down, holding her in place. "I don't think so, baby, you need to lie there and think about the consequences of your actions."

Soarynn has a long list of things she'd like to say to him right now, but it's hard to be taken seriously when you're stark naked with your ass in the air. So, she takes it like the good girl she is. Coriolanus fucks her through two orgasms before he starts to approach his.

Soarynn's brain is absolute mush at this point, all she can do is softly moan and let him do whatever he wants. It's a good thing he likes being on top because that's far too much work in Soarynn's opinion.

A tear pricks at the corner of her eye, and Soarynn turns her head so that her cheek rests against the mattress. She stares at the dresser across from the bed, jolting back and forth while Coriolanus fucks her.

He notices her tears instantly, brushing some hair away from her face. "Already crying, babydoll?"

Coriolanus has fucked Soarynn to tears many times before. Today is no exception. "Too much," she mumbles, eyes growing heavy. Coriolanus chuckles darkly. He's good at reading her body and knowing when to actually quit.

He would never hurt her, she knows that much.

"I think you have one more, darling. Just give me one more and we're done." Soarynn whines, she doesn't want to give him one more, she doesn't want to give him anything but a piece of her mind. But there's a small part of her that wants nothing more than to please him, it's like he has this magical effect on Soarynn, causing her to want to be wholly his and no one else's.

"Okay," she sighs.

Coriolanus stretches over her body, bending down so he can kiss her cheek. "Atta girl, just give me one more and we're done, baby."

One more, Soarynn tells herself, already preparing to be so sore in the morning.

One more, Soarynn tells herself, the feeling of an orgasm steadily approaches.

One more, Soarynn tells herself, deciding on the number of chances she'll give Coriolanus before she walks away forever.

One more and it all goes dark.

꧁ ꧂

Soarynn wakes up in the bathtub. Not a strange place for her to wake up in, not when she's used to being pampered after being pounded. Soarynn lets the warm water soothe her aching muscles and lets her hands float to the surface.

She lifts each finger out of the water, watching the water droplets fall back into the water.

"All ten are accounted for."

His voice is deep and husky, tired from too much sex. Soarynn looks to her left, where Coriolanus is sitting, watching her while sitting on the edge of the tub. He's already changed and most likely showered. His clean-up is a lot quicker than hers, mostly because he insists on doing everything for her.

Her throat is raw from all the screaming she was doing, so she says nothing, simply rolling her eyes at his little joke. "You came so hard that I thought you were convulsing." Soarynn splashes some water at him and he laughs, running a hand through his tussled curls. They become so unruly after a long day of work, or in this case, work and sex.

Soarynn likes them the best like this because she's the only one who gets to see them like this. See him like this.

"On a more serious note, I'm sorry for scaring you."

Soarynn shrugs, she kinda had it coming after snooping through his stuff, and she's never going to do it again. "I went too far," he says, resting a hand on her bare shoulder, causing her to look up at him. He looks so sorry for what he did. "I scared you. I saw how you looked at me in that split second, and I never want you to look at me that way again, Soarynn."

Soarynn didn't think she looked that scared in the moment, but he clearly saw something he didn't like. Soarynn knows Coriolanus to be a scary man, but he's never scared her.

"I forgive you," she whispers with a slightly hoarse voice. She'll need some tea, and some rest, and maybe some kisses. "I'm sorry too," she adds, brushing her hair behind her ears, "I didn't mean to intrude."

His face softens, so kind and adoring. This is the Coriolanus she knows and loves. "You could never intrude. In fact, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, despite how hard I tried to keep you away."

Soarynn smiles, he tried so hard to keep his distance. He did everything in his power to steer clear of Soarynn, and she did everything in her power to find him again.

They're written in the stars, the two of them.

Even if they're both damned for hell, they've got their own little slice of heaven right here on earth.

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

The Snows sit quietly as the car rolls to a stop near the South entrance, also known as the entrance for those who can afford to buy a box. The poor people come through the North entrance.

"Remember darling, smile," mother reminds him, drawing her fingers up her cheeks as an example. Coriolanus nods, keeping a neutral expression, he's taken after his father in that regard, rarely smiling whereas his mother never stops. She's rich and doesn't have to work, he would be smiling all the time too.

But Coriolanus has a reputation to uphold as he begins his last year at the Academy, top of his class, more popular than ever, and the one person you don't want to mess with.

Smiling does not convey the message he wishes to be received by the general public.

Besides, he's seen the way people respect his father, how they move out of the way for him to pass by, how they duck their heads and avoid eye contact. If that's what not smiling can get him, then he's on the right track.

"Just watch how much you drink," is all father says before the driver opens the car door for them. Coriolanus steps out after his mother, shielding his eyes with his hand as the sun beats down on him. It's a beautiful day for the races, with not a cloud in the sky.

"Come along darling," mother trills, already walking up the carpeted steps with father. Coriolanus follows after his parents, keeping his head held high as they enter the arena. Coriolanus has undoubtedly taken after his father in looks, wearing the same blond curls, blue eyes and tall stature. They take up room and demand to be respected.

They make their way to the staircase that leads to the upper levels and private boxes, he can already hear the chatter and excitement from down here.

"Oh, there's the Creeds," mother points with a gloved hand, "and the Cardews!" Coriolanus sighs, he was hoping that Livia Cardew might not show up today, but with the races being so close to the beginning of the school year, she'd be a fool to miss it.

People will be talking about it at lunch on the first day back, no doubt.

Which means he ought to make the most of today.

He separates from his parents once they reach the top of the stairs, each member of their small family going their own way. Mother goes to her friends, and father to his, leaving Coriolanus to approach his classmates who have already arrived, Festus, Livia, and Lysisistrata Vickers.

He nods politely at the girls and gives Festus a firm handshake, "Rolling in fashionably late Snow," Festus notes with a smirk, "we thought you might not make it."

Coriolanus shakes his head, eyeing the table in front of him which has all sorts of cheeses, crackers, grapes, and meats, a lovely spread to snack on while they wait for the races to begin. "Of course not," he answers, snatching a cracker or two, "you know how we are, and mother needed to find a bird to strangle for her new hat."

The girls laugh at his joke, feeding into his ego. Coriolanus is well liked amongst his peers, especially the girls, but he hasn't really taken a particular interest in any of them. Livia is plain rude, an insufferable creature at times, so he could never court her.

Lyssie is nice, too nice for him, he'd never make her happy.

There's Persephone, but she and Festus have this unspoken thing that's been going on for quite some time now. He knows better than to get in the middle of that mix.

Clemensia Dovecote is one of the prettier girls in their grade, but she can be quite scary when she wants to be with her sharp words and even sharper nails, always manicured to perfection though.

Then there's Io Jasper, Didi Ring, Domitia Whimsiwick, Arachne Crane, surely he's forgetting someone but then again, they must not be that important if he can't even be bothered to remember their name in the first place.

No, best to go this year alone.

"My mother won't stop yammering about how this will be the last race I attend as an Academy student," Festus gripes, sipping a glass of posca, "she acts as if I won't be attending next year."

Livia sighs, scanning the room filled with the elite Capitolites, "It's a bit exciting though, isn't it? Next year we'll officially be adults, able to place bets without our parents, drink without limits." Coriolanus refrains from rolling his eyes at Livia's childish way of viewing adulthood. If betting and drinking are all she's looking forward to, then her father better prepare to be bankrupt before the year is over.

They chat about meaningless things for a little while longer, like who their teachers will be, who might start dating who, what they plan on studying once they go to the University.

The thought of the University somewhat worries Coriolanus, who has grown used to his small pool of familiar classmates. The Academy's tuition is the priciest in the city, only the richest families send their children there. But anyone who can pay their way into the University is allowed to attend, and that worries him greatly.

What forlorn creatures will be crawling out of the dark corners of the Capitol next year to seek a higher education? And will he be forced to sit next to them? To learn next to them? To treat them as equals?

He doesn't think so.

He glances around the large room, there are lots of young people his age serving as waiters and waitresses, will they be in his class next year? Will they think they're of the same descent as he is from?

Coriolanus is a Snow, and he'll be treated as such.

A trumpet sounds, alerting the attendees that the races will begin in ten minutes.

"We're in the box to your right," Festus tells him as they all begin making their way to their private boxes, "who are you betting on this time?"

Coriolanus bites back a grin, locking eyes with his father, "No chance I'm telling you Creed."

Festus lets out a defeated sigh, the Creeds have never had good luck at these things, "May the best horse win then." Coriolanus nods, "Good luck."

He joins his family in their box, filled with sofas, tables, a buffet, Avoxes to tend to their every need, and most importantly, air conditioning.

Coriolanus walks up to the balcony, gazing down at the poor people in the seats below him, fanning themselves with informative pamphlets. How pathetic.

Mother comes to stand beside him, holding her small binoculars, "Oh, there's our horse! Lucky Number Seven!" She's exaggerating really, it's not their horse but the Snows have always bet on the same number each year, and they've also won every year.

Snow always lands on top.

Mother leans over the railing, looking over to their right where the Creeds are also looking down at the crowd and then to their left, where an empty box remains. Or so he thought.

Mother lets out such a sharp gasp that both Coriolanus and his father jump, "There's the Nightingales! Goodness, they rarely ever show at these things, I wonder what's brought them out today."

Father rises from the sofa after recovering from mother's dramatic gasp, looking over the small wall that stands at about four feet, dividing each box where Glen Nightingale has appeared, making a surprise appearance.

A few murmurs pass through the boxes, rarely does Glen Nightingale show up to these sorts of things, unless...ugh. Coriolanus feels his jaw tick when he sees her, wearing a dress she probably bought just for this with gloves to match.

Soarynn Nightingale, Glen's only daughter, and the only one who could get him to come to something like this.

If Coriolanus is the King of the Academy, then she'd be the Queen. The only problem is, they can't stand each other. He can't tolerate her sweet, sugary personality, acting like she's the Capitol's darling with her long blonde hair and perfect skin. She's got everyone wrapped around her finger, students and staff included.

He truly believes that he's the only one who hasn't fallen for her false personality.

As if proving his point, mother abandons her own family to run over to the edge of their box, waving Soarynn and Glen over with her gloved hand. It's fitting that mother would adore Soarynn, always fussing over her at these events, always talking about how lucky her future husband will be whilst simultaneously jabbing Coriolanus in the ribs.

He sees what she's putting down, but he's not picking it up.

Soarynn and Glen make their way over to mother, and Coriolanus and father do the same, it would be bad manners to ignore them.

It's funny to see the two richest families in Panem clashing like this, making small talk as if they don't have great influence on this country. Father has made his fortune in the Capitol, whereas Glen has made his in the Districts, pitting them against one another business-wise.

Coriolanus had always thought it meant there would be animosity between them, that his father would hate Glen, but instead, he found that his father respected the man a great deal.

"He's provided for my family the same way I have," he once told Coriolanus when he asked about it, "and I'd be a fool to create bad blood between our families. Never burn a bridge you might have to walk back over someday son."

Coriolanus had been younger when he heard that from his father, not understanding what bridge he was referring to. But now, as he comes face to face with Soarynn, it's clear that they are the bridge, and all he has to do is marry her.

"Soarynn," he greets her with a fake smile, "how lovely to see you."

Soarynn returns his smile with her own, flashing her pearly whites up at him as she gazes into his eyes, "I was going to say the same thing to you Coriolanus, my, my how you've grown over the summer. You might just be as tall as your father by now."

His eye twitches but mother is quick to shove her way into their conversation, resting her hand on Soarynn's cheek, "Oh, you look so beautiful today darling, absolutely beautiful. Doesn't she Crassus?"

Father grunts, always a man of few words, "Looks just like her mother."

From what Coriolanus has heard, Cera Nightingale was an absolute vision. She was so beautiful that she had her pick of the litter and according to Mrs. Creed, who was once very drunk, Cera turned down Crassus Snow's advances towards her and instead, chose to court Glen Nightingale.

Coriolanus sometimes wonders what his father feels when he looks at Soarynn. Does he see the daughter he never had? Does he see the woman he once loved? Does he feel pity or envy when it comes to Glen who lost a wife but gained a daughter in the process?

To Coriolanus, it's clear who won the battle. Father has a son and a wife, both alive, both happy. Meanwhile, Glen is all alone, never choosing to remarry. But perhaps he's happier than some who are married with children. He certainly seems to enjoy his daughter's company, enjoys it enough to make a public appearance with her.

Soarynn smiles sweetly at father, "Thank you both, we just had to come and see the races today, didn't we father?"

Glen nods, pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose, "Soarynn hasn't stopped pestering me about it for weeks, and I figured a little fresh air couldn't hurt." Mother nods in agreement, fanning herself from the exertion this conversation has caused her, "Well, it is the event of the season. Will you be placing any bets today, Glen?"

Coriolanus takes a moment to survey Soarynn's outfit for today. She chose to forgo the hat, pinning up her long wavy hair into a fashionable updo, showing off her pearl earrings she's always been so fond of.

Not that he ever notices these types of things.

For her dress, well, he hates to admit how fashionable it looks on her slender figure. It's white, perfectly tailored around her waist with sleeves that stop at her shoulders and the skirt stops right above her knees. The lapels of the dress are ironed to a crisp and the buttons stop right where she's able to show off a classy amount of cleavage.

Anymore and she'd look like a harlot.

She's paired her outfit with white heels and white mesh gloves that show off her golden rings and freshly painted nails.

As much as he can't stand her, he has to admit, the girl knows how to dress.

She catches him looking and a cruel smirk grows across her glossy lips. Soarynn has always been aware of how much he dislikes her. The feeling is mutual and it only feeds into his hatred more and more each day.

"I am betting on Number Six," Soarynn proclaims in a haughty tone, causing Coriolanus to scoff.

"You are going to place a bet?" He asks, unable to believe that this girl knows the first thing about handling money, "Do you even know how this works?" Mother immediately reaches over to pinch his arm but Coriolanus anticipates it and dodges her attack, "I'm serious," he says, looking around at everyone, "what do...what do women know about horse races?"

If Soarynn wasn't mad before, she's furious now, and if looks could kill, he'd be six feet under.

"If you can do it then it clearly can't be that hard," she fires back, causing both their fathers to chuckle. "Ah, young love," Glen muses, resting a hand on his daughter's shoulder, "we should sit down honey, get you something to drink."

Soarynn shoots Coriolanus one more nasty glare before following her father to one of the sofas, Coriolanus returns it with his own glare, he does not like that girl one bit.

"Really Coriolanus? You had to bring gender into it?" Mother asks with a huff, but he doesn't feel bad, not when it's with her, that prissy little primadona who always gets what she wants.

It's high time she learned that Snow always lands on top.

Even if it means Nightingale falls to the bottom.

꧁ ꧂

The beginning of the races is always the most boring, there's always some sort of delay, some lunatic running onto the track or a horse suddenly falling ill.

Good for the tabloids, bad for the people who showed up in person under this sweltering heat. Coriolanus feels even better than everyone else sitting high and mighty in his family’s box, cool as a cucumber whilst munching on sliced cucumbers.

He looks to his right where Festus is already getting properly drunk. He then looks to his left where Soarynn is rising from the sofa, empty champagne glass in hand. She hands it to an Avox before saying something to her father, vaguely gesturing to the door before leaving her box.

Coriolanus follows her as far as his obscured view will allow him to. She must have gone to the bathroom. He finishes off his own drink, whiskey, since his father slipped him one when mother wasn’t looking. She’s too preoccupied gossiping with Mrs. Creed, leaning over the wall that serves as a barricade for the boxes.

She might as well hop over to their side and make herself at home.

With no one actively paying attention to him, he decides to slip out as well, beelining for the bathrooms.

Some people enjoy the finger foods and air conditioning that these private boxes provide.

Others enjoy what really matters when it comes to these events: the private bathrooms.

They’re not enormous by any means, but they’re clean, cool, and are rooms instead of stalls. An entire hallway is lined with them, half for the men, half for the women. Coriolanus has found that there’s always a line for the women, he’ll never know why and he’ll never want to take their place either.

They probably spend too much time gossiping and obsessing over themselves in the mirror.

Nevertheless, he begins walking down the hallway, pulling on each door handle, disappointed when the doors swing right open. Perhaps he misjudged the situation, perhaps she went somewhere else, perhaps…oh, what’s this? The last door is locked.

He bites back a grin and knocks once, then twice, then once again.

The door swings open and he stares down at a very agitated looking Soarynn Nightingale, even in heels she’s shorter than him. “It’s about fucking time,” she huffs, grabbing him by the tie and dragging him into the bathroom with her.

Coriolanus laughs, she can act all high and mighty in front of their friends and family, but deep down, he knows she’s a simple minded girl with simple minded desires.

She wants to be fucked and he’s the only one who thinks he can properly do it.

Despite their roaring sexual chemistry, Coriolanus has managed to hold off any actual feelings for the girl since they started this entire sexual affair six months ago. It all started out so casually, a heated kiss in the empty hallway, grabbing her in the library, groping him in the courtyard.

One thing led to another, clothes came off, lips found one another, and…he’s trying his best to be good, to be cold and distant and act like this isn’t the best sex he’s ever had in his life.

But it’s hard. It’s so fucking hard because she’s so fucking tight, and flexible, so perfect for him. She’s so soft, she smells so good, and she takes such good care of herself. He didn’t even know it was possible to be this hairless but she’s managed to pull it off, doing it flawlessly every time.

And she gives a nasty blowjob.

His lips are on hers in seconds, leaning down while he fumbles with the lock, the last thing they need is someone stumbling in on them. Coriolanus and Soarynn have mastered the art of indifference and sneaking around. At school, it’s storage closets, at parties, it’s empty bedrooms, and at events, it's bathrooms like these.

He can’t begin to count the amount of times he’s disappeared for a good half hour all to bury himself in her tight little cunt. They come and leave separately, making sure that neither their family nor friends are none the wiser.

There have been a few close calls, or a few times where he's thought about properly bedding her in his apartment, but it's far too risky. Anyone who sees two teenagers leaving the same room together is left with little to assume. It would be an outright scandal for both of them and their families.

He can't have that.

So, it's a little rendezvous like this that keeps them going.

Her lips are impatient against his, using her teeth to tug at his bottom lip. Coriolanus nearly growls at her harsh treatment, they both need to leave this room the exact same way they arrived, unscathed and unblemished.

He's quick to place his hands on her waist, holding her against him so that he can regain some of the control. Unlike the other girls he's fucked, Soarynn does not necessarily lie down and take it. She enjoys taking the lead and frustrating him, challenging him every step of the way, which makes these quick interactions very stressful for him.

But he's embarassingly addicted to her cunt so there's no saving him now.

"Placing fucking bets, huh?" He taunts while kissing her, slipping one hand down to her ass, palming it through the thick fabric of her dress, "How much do you wanna bet that you're already soaking wet for me?"

Soarynn mewls at his touch, leaning into him as she wraps her arms around his neck. She can act all high and mighty in front of their family and friends, but he knows that she's just as addicted as he is to this little scheme they've been running.

He's counted too many longing stares, heavy sighs and pouting lips to put it past his own imagination.

But sometimes he wonders if she just wants him for the sex, or for something more.

It wouldn't surprise anyone if they were to start courting, it's almost expected so maybe that's why they're so opposed to getting along outside of these heated touches and secret kisses.

Either way, now is not the time to think about these things.

"Just hurry up and fuck me," she whispers, "my father will be wondering where I've run off to."

Coriolanus doesn't need to be told twice when it comes to sliding into her warm cunt. He breaks away from the kiss and spins her around, deciding that he can bend her over the sink for the easiest access.

"Where'd you run off to this time then?" He asks, using one hand to unbuckle his belt while the other unzips the back of her dress. Soarynn gasps when he tugs on the zipper too harshly, "I told him I was going down to the main level, and watch my zipper," she hisses, shooting him a glare through the mirror in front of the sink.

Coriolanus merely chuckles in reply, letting his belt and her dress fall to the floor. Next he unzips his own pants, groaning at how confined his hard cock feels in his boxers, so close to being set free. Apparently she anticipated one of their secret little meetings because she's wearing a matching set under her outfit today.

Lace panties and a lacy bralette, it does wonders for the human mind, in his opinion.

He allows himself to stare at her semi-naked body for about ten seconds before tearing her panties down her tanned legs, if he lingers too long, she might grow suspicious about how he feels about all of this.

A good player never reveals his cards.

He slides two fingers in between her legs, causing Soarynn to moan and throw her head back when his fingers rub against her clit, sopping wet already from her dripping folds.

"Little slut is already wet for me huh?" He teases, pulling down his boxers, "I bet I could've fucked you in the box and you'd like that too, hmm? Always desperate for a fight and a fuck."

Her back arches the more he rubs her clit and he quickly pushes the tip of his cock into her entrance, both of them moaning at how heavenly it feels when he's inside of her.

Coriolanus is quick to start up the pace, wrapping one arm around her waist while he rests his chin on her shoulder, watching their reflection in the mirror. "Look at you," he says huskily in her ear, "my little slut, always ready for it. If you place bets as well as you take cock then you just might win this race."

Soarynn has never shied from dirty talk but she also doesn't shy away from talking back either. A double-edged sword in his opinion.

She rolls her hips back to meet his thrusts, causing him to stutter at the sudden movement, "Well if your talk is as big as your game, then maybe you'll win the races today," she replies, digging her nails into his forearm. They're too evenly matched, both vicious in their own rightful ways.

He decides to focus on just fucking her, they don't need to talk all the time. If anything, their public arguments are just foreplay. Something to get both of them equally riled up so they can fuck it out later.

He watches her face in the mirror, how it contorts in pleasure, how her eyes flutter shut, how her lips fall open, how soft her skin is. He's heard that you're only as pretty as you are on the inside, but Soarynn must be some exception.

Her walls squeeze tightly around him, begging him to spill inside of her, which is something he takes great joy in doing. Thank goodness for the birth control implant or they would have a child or two already.

"I'm close," she pants, gripping the sink with her other hand, "make me cum Coriolanaus."

Coriolanus Snow, a boy who hates being told what to do, finds himself fucking her harder than before, desperate to get her to the finish line before the horses on the track do. It's like he suddenly has something to prove, something that lets her know that he is the only one who can satisfy her needs.

He can feel himself nearing his orgasm as well, they almost always finish together. Like a couple. A couple of delinquent teenagers fucking in the bathroom right now.

Their compromised position is what gets him to the edge, not wanting to spend too much time away to raise suspicion. He rubs at her clit even faster than before in tight circles, causing Soarynn to moan from the stimulation. He lands a few more thrusts right against her sweet spot as he paints her walls and that's all it takes to make her cum.

Soarynn does what she always does when finishing, she goes limp in his arms and for a short amount of time, trusts him to keep her upright and safe. He takes this short-lived responsibility very seriously and keeps his arm wrapped around her waist while they both pant, coming down from their individual highs.

He rests his forehead on her bare shoulder, smelling her soft skin, always vanilla with this girl. He debates kissing the soft skin near his lips but decides against it. He doesn't want to make things weird.

Soarynn lets him know when she's regained consciousness by tapping his arm, telling him to let her go which he does without protest, slowly pulling out of her cunt. They both groan at the feeling, at the emptiness inside both of them.

He wonders what causes that emptiness, the lack of sex, or the lack of a real human connection.

Now is not the time to ponder these things.

Soarynn and Coriolanus make quick work at cleaning up. Soarynn wipes herself down, fixing her hair and adjusting her makeup while Coriolanus wipes down as well. He pulls his pants back up and slides his belt through the loops. Soarynn slips her dress back on, going to pull the zipper up but she only makes it halfway.

"Here," he says, in a gentle tone compared to how he usually speaks to her, "let me." Her eyes slightly widen, he's usually much meaner after they finish, she is too. But then her eyes and shoulders soften, "Thank you."

He simply nods, zipping her all the way up, "I'll let you go first."

Soarynn hums, checking her reflection one last time before turning to leave, but for some unexplained reason, he stops her, grabbing her wrist.

"Give me a kiss," he says, almost like he's begging.

Her lips curl into a cruel smirk, much more like the girl he knows and hates, "A kiss? Don't tell me you've gone soft," she purrs up at him. Coriolanus scoffs, tugging her closer, suffocating on her intoxicating scent, "Just give me a kiss."

To his surprise, she does as he asks, pressing herself to her tiptoes to peck his lips. She slides her gloves back on and pats his cheek with her hand, "The big, bad Coriolanus Snow asking for kisses in the bathroom," she teases, "what would your father say if he saw you like this?"

His jaw ticks and she's successfully pissed him off all over again.

"You keep my father out of this," he tells her, growing angrier when she walks out of the bathroom with no response.

What would his father think of all this?

Would he think that Coriolanus was being foolish? Or would he see himself in his son? Running after the beautiful girl with blonde hair that he too chased after so many years ago?

His father has always said that Snow lands on top, but standing alone in the bathroom leads Coriolanus to question if it really does.

Or is that just a lie he tells himself?

꧁ ꧂

Coriolanus manages to return to his box without raising any suspicion and apparently, he didn’t miss a thing.

“There’s been a delay darling,” mother tells him, helping herself to some tarts on a silver platter, “something about the track? I don’t really know if I’m being quite honest, I was too busy chatting with Mrs. Creed when they made the official announcement.”

He’s not surprised.

Coriolanus helps himself to some fruits before sitting back down next to his father who hasn’t moved since he left, still as a statue.

“Where’d you run off to?” He asks and Coriolanus tugs at his collar, it’s suddenly very hot in here. “To see who they were predicting to win,” he easily lies, leaning back into the sofa, “odds are in our favor once again.”

Father grunts and glances over at the Nightingale’s box, Soarynn and Glen stand near the balcony, sharing conversation as well. “Good, apparently Soarynn did place a bet on Number Six. Glen let her choose.”

Coriolanus rolls his eyes, that sounds like the sort of thing he’d do. From what he’s gathered, Glen Nightingale is eager to please his daughter, even if it means letting her spend all his money on horses and shoes.

“Well, we’ll see how that plays out,” is all he replies with.

A few more minutes go by until it’s finally time for the races.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for your patience. The races are about to begin!”

A cheer goes up in the crowd but Coriolanus is far too preoccupied with his lingering thoughts from the bathroom moments ago. Maybe he needs to cut things off with her permanently, if he can’t have all of her, then there’s really no point in continuing this.

He also doesn’t want to see her end up with somebody else, doesn’t know the type of person he’d become if he saw Soarynn walking down the hallway holding hands with another boy.

Who else could be more perfect for her than him?

No one.

He’s so busy thinking about her that he missed the gun going off and the race beginning. But his father is already on his feet, pacing the length of the box as the race edges on, Number Six and Seven neck and neck with each passing lap.

Coriolanus stands to his own feet when they reach the final lap, yelling alongside his father as Seven nears the finish line, the jockey holding on for dear life while his horse thunders down the track.

He quickly glances over at Soarynn and finds her equally enthralled with the race, cheering for Number Six who’s up by a hair.

It’s a close race. It’s so close. It’s getting closer.

It’s done! It’s done and Number Six has won the race!

Coriolanus hears his father mutter some not nice words before returning to his seat, defeated and less rich than when he came to the arena.

Mother comes up to him, fanning herself with a gloved hand, “I certainly wasn’t expecting that,” she says to him, “we always win.”

Coriolanus looks over at Soarynn again but this time, she’s looking right at him, a big smirk on her face while waving a handkerchief at the jockey riding Number Six.

Gloating.

Coriolanus scowls, he’s definitely going to fuck her extra hard the next time he sees her.

He goes over to his parents, both look equally shocked and defeated as he is, “I think I’m ready to depart,” he announces, shoving his hands in his pockets. This feeling is so foreign, so...confusing.

Is this what losers feel like?

Mother nods eagerly, resting a hand on father’s knee, “Yes darling, we should go before traffic gets bad.”

Still upset over his loss, father stands without a word, leading their family out of the box and towards the stairs. The entire arena is slowly leaving the building, causing quite a traffic jam for those who bought general admission tickets. But for those who have a private box, they simply go out the private entrance.

While waiting for their car in the shade, Glen and Soarynn approach them, rubbing salt in the wound so to speak.

“Looks like I know more about betting than you think I do,” Soarynn brags in a haughty tone, ignoring the look her father gives her. Coriolanus scoffs, staring her down despite his epic, public loss, “Please, you got lucky. That’s all.”

Soarynn shrugs, “Luck is the name of the game, Coryo.” She tacks on that nickname to piss him off and it does just that, but before he can say anything, their car arrives.

“Lovely seeing you two again,” mother says, kissing both Glen and Soarynn on the cheeks, proper etiquette for those who reside in the upper class when saying farewell.

Soarynn smiles brightly at mother as if she wasn’t getting fucked by her son half an hour ago, “So wonderful to see you again Mrs. Snow, and you as well Mr. Snow.”

Father nods, shaking Glen’s hand, “Good luck in school this year young lady.”

Soarynn looks expectantly at Coriolanus to say goodbye as well, it would be proper to kiss the back of her hand or give a friendly hug, but he is not feeling friendly right now.

He either needs to punch someone or fuck someone and he’s already exhausted the second option.

Soarynn seems to be all too aware of that, and instead of leaving him be, she surprises all of them by stepping up to him and planting a big fat kiss on his cheek. Coriolanus is stunned beyond words, never has a girl shown this type of affection towards him in front of his parents.

These are the types of gestures that have meaning and intention behind them, not for the faint of heart, but mother looks like she might faint while placing a hand over her heart.

“I’ll see you in school,” Soarynn said sweetly, stepping back as if she didn’t just kiss him in front of their parents. Coriolanus coughs into his fist, he’s probably turning bright red, “Yeah, see you in school.”

He’s the first to leave and doesn’t wait up for his parents, speedwalking to the car so he doesn’t have to look at Soarynn for another second because he might explode.

Once everyone is in the car, mother pounces, eagerness in her tone, “Darling, she likes you! She kissed you on the cheek because she likes you! Is there something going on? Are you two thinking about courting?”

Coriolanus shakes his head, burning with embarrassment about the whole thing the more he thinks about it, “No, no, there’s nothing between us,” he swears, ignoring the look he gets from his father.

Mother doesn’t look convinced at his claims, “Well, I suspect that something might bloom between you two this year. How thrilling, Crassus, isn’t it thrilling?”

Father has a far away look in his eyes while gazing at his son, as if remembering his years during school. “Yes, I remember the thrill of the chase, I also remember how it ended.”

That’s all Coriolanus needs to hear.

All he needs to hear to decide that he will not end up like his father did. He’ll get the girl and keep her, proudly show her off while climbing to the top.

Today might have been an exception, but one thing has still been made perfectly clear to Coriolanus after all these years.

Snow lands on top.

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

| 'Born to Die' |

{ Companion: ‘Million Dollar Man’ }

Over the course of the year, Soarynn went on a few chaperoned dates with potential suitors, none of which she inherently liked or suited her preferences. Soarynn wanted someone kind, someone patient who wouldn't see her shy nature as a bad thing.

She's mentioned this to Eudora before, how she worries that her timidness might scare off men, but Eudora has assured her that a quiet wife is exactly what men are after these days.

Soarynn doesn't know what to believe these days, let alone who. She's been on countless dates, and none of them have stuck. Soarynn is beginning to worry that she might be the problem.

She knows how this will go if she doesn't get married sooner or later. Soarynn will be shunned from society, the town pariah, a story for mothers to tell their daughters when they put up a fuss about having to court someone. No one wants to be the girl who couldn't find a husband. And Soarynn knows how many people expect this of her, how Eudora has been searching high and low for the man who is willing to marry Soarynn.

She sits in her home library, reading her worries away as she so often does. She's always enjoyed reading, and after the tragic car accident that killed both her parents, it's been her one true escape in a world like this.

Soarynn remembers that stormy night well. She remembers her parents leaving to go on a date, promising to tuck her in if she was still awake when they got back. Obviously, she stayed awake all night waiting for them to return, but they never did. Early the next morning, the knock and the news came as a blow to her.

Both parents dead at the age of ten.

Soarynn was an orphan by all means, but a rich orphan who inherited all her family's wealth in a single day. Since she wasn't begging for scraps, she was kept in school until she graduated last year and turned eighteen. Now, she has access to all the assets her father left behind. Bank accounts, stocks, investments, properties.

She really doesn't have a clue as to what she should do with all of it. Soarynn never displayed any interest in what her father did for work, and as a woman, it's not really her place to learn. All she cared about was keeping her townhouse, her childhood home, her safe oasis.

Her sacred space becomes a lot noisier when the phone rings out in the hallway. Petunia, her cat, wakes up at the sound and meows in annoyance. "I know, I know," Soarynn sighs, standing up from the sofa and setting down her book.

She pads out into the hallway with Petunia right on her heels. Petunia follows Soarynn everywhere. She hopes that her future husband likes cats.

Soarynn picks up the phone, mentally bracing herself for whatever might be on the other end of the line. "Nightingale residence."

"Soarynn? It's Eudora, dear."

Her eyes nearly roll to the back of her head. Soarynn dreams of the day when she will no longer be Eudora's problem and vice versa. The woman has to be sick of caring for her. Eudora has her own daughter, Effie, who is a very sweet girl despite her mother's constant need to stick to a planned schedule.

"Hello, Eudora, how are you this evening?"

"I'm well, dear, I'm well. I'm calling you because I found another potential suitor!"

Soarynn does her best to sound excited even though she just wants to disappear. When she was very little, maybe five, she used to think that if she held perfectly still, she'd turn invisible. Turns out that wasn't true, but Soarynn still finds herself acting as if it is.

"Oh, how wonderful," she says softly, wrapping the phone cord around her thumb, "who is he?"

"He's a Snow."

That gets her attention. Soarynn might not pay much attention to the news, but everyone knows the Snows and how important they are. The Snows are as close to royalty as you can get. So, one showing interest in her is somewhat questionable. Soarynn didn't even realize they had a son who wasn't married already. Men like that tend to get swooped up as soon as possible.

"A Snow? Who, who is he? Have I met him before?"

Eudora chuckles on the other line. "No dear, you haven't met him yet. He's been doing some traveling in the Districts for work, but he's back in the Capitol now, and his parents want him to settle down as soon as possible, and they think you'd be the perfect match!"

Soarynn bites her lip, is she really the perfect match, or is she just the closest thing they can get to marrying someone of equal status?

The Nightingales weren't far off from the Snows before both her parents passed away, and Soarynn has done little for her family name since their deaths. She rarely goes to parties, galas, or events.

If she doesn't get married, her family name and legacy will die with her.

"I've made arrangements for you to meet him tomorrow night, we'll all have dinner at the..." Eudora keeps talking, but Soarynn stops listening, for some reason, this date feels real. Like this might lead to something.

She just doesn't know what.

꧁ ꧂

When walking up to the restaurant, Eudora reminds Soarynn of what to do and, more importantly, what not to do.

"Don't speak unless spoken to," Eudora continues, rattling off reminders, "eyes bright, chin up, smiles on." Soarynn has gotten good at tuning out Eudora while she rambles. Not that her efforts have gone unappreciated, but she can often be a little...overbearing.

They've never been to this restaurant, and Soarynn has been to plenty over the years. She fusses with her dress one last time. Eudora picked it out for tonight, it's a blush pink color, made of silk. It complements Soarynn's hair and her complexion without drawing too much attention to herself. Eudora had the maids pull some of Soarynn's hair back from her face and added the tiniest hint of blush to her nose and cheeks.

They walk into the restaurant and are immediately greeted by a chipper hostess. "Good evening, how may I help you ladies?"

Eudora answers for them. "We're meeting the Snow family for dinner."

"Of course, ma'am, right this way."

The hostess leads them in the opposite direction of what Soarynn assumes to be the main dining room. Her nerves start to bubble up more and more the longer they walk. Soarynn didn't ask any more questions about her potential match, but maybe she should have learned his name.

They're led to a large set of wooden doors. "Please let us know if you need anything else," the hostess says, opening the doors. Eudora and Soarynn walk into the room, and Soarynn realizes that this is a private dining room, booked just for their small party tonight. The room itself is large with a dining table, a sitting area, a billiard table, and a private bar with a parlor.

It's the type of treatment the Snows would expect for themselves.

Three people sit at the dining table. Two men and a woman, all whom stand up once Soarynn and Eudora walk in.

Soarynn keeps her eyes trained on the floor while Eudora greets the table. She shakes the men's hands and gives the woman a polite hug and kiss on the cheek. "So wonderful to see you again," Mrs. Snow gushes, at least, that's who Soarynn assumes she is. This woman has auburn hair and blue eyes. She is very pretty.

"Likewise, Mrs. Snow. So glad we could all meet and discuss the children's future," Eudora agrees, turning to look at Soarynn. "Allow me to introduce Soarynn Nightingale."

Soarynn puts on a polite smile and greets Mrs. Snow first since she's closest to her. To her surprise, Mrs. Snow pulls her in for a hug as well. "Oh, she's gorgeous! I mean, I've seen the pictures, but they truly don't do her justice, wouldn't you agree, Crassus?"

Soarynn pulls away from the hug just in time to see Crassus Snow, the husband and father, eyeing her in a nerve-wracking manner. It's as if he's examining her for damage. "She looks just like her mother," he replies. His eyes are cold and bright blue, like a frigid ocean Soarynn would easily drown in if she stared for too long.

She looks back at Mrs. Snow, who is already the safest person to be around right now. Mrs. Snow holds Soarynn's face in her warm hands. "You really do, darling. We were good friends with your mother back in the day. We all went to school together!" Soarynn's eyes widen, she hadn't expected her mother to be brought into this.

"It's good to see that Cera passed down her beauty to you. It would have been such a shame if she hadn't. And this hair! Have you ever seen such a color?" No one answers her, but Mrs. Snow must ask a lot of rhetorical questions because she's not even phased by the silence.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Snow," Soarynn finally says, trying to keep her voice steady. Most mothers give her scrutinizing looks as if she could never be good enough for their sons. Mrs. Snow seems to be different, though.

"Call me Mother," Mrs. Snow insists, "we're to be family soon. Are we not?" Eudora sighs in relief, already one foot in the door by her books. "I hope so," Soarynn says quietly. She hasn't even looked at the man she came to see.

"Soarynn, this is Mr. Snow," Eudora tells her, nodding at Crassus, who is also very tall. Soarynn has to tilt her head to look up at him. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Snow." He doesn't insist on her calling him anything else, and Soarynn is perfectly okay with that.

"Ms. Trinket has told us many things about you, young lady," he tells her, "I hope they're all true."

Soarynn just hopes that Eudora didn't bend the truth for the sake of securing a first date. She can be many things, but Soarynn is no liar.

She turns her gaze to the end of the table where he stands. Soarynn has seen him before in the paper, usually in the section that discusses business and politics, both things she stays far away from. His eyes are the same as his father's, cold and bright blue, but more interested in her.

"This is our son, Coriolanus."

Mrs. Snow hums, "Our pride and joy."

Coriolanus Snow, what a name.

Soarynn swallows, wishing no one was watching her right now, but everyone is watching her right now. Because she doesn't want to send Eudora to an early grave, she takes two steps towards Coriolanus, who also towers over her, clearly taking after his father when it comes to physical appearance.

Thankfully, Coriolanus takes charge. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Soarynn." He holds out his large hand for Soarynn to place hers, and she does just that, feeling how cold it is. He wraps his fingers around her hand and presses a polite kiss to the back of it.

A true gentleman.

"Let's all sit down," Eudora suggests, taking her seat. The others follow her lead, and Coriolanus pulls out the chair next to him for Soarynn to sit. She gives Eudora a panicked look, thinking she'd sit next to Eudora like she always does.

Eudora does not seem to share her panic and starts up a conversation with Mrs. Snow about wedding dresses, leaving Soarynn with no choice but to sit next to Coriolanus.

Soarynn doesn’t say a word while drinks are brought out, wine for the ladies and whiskey for the men. She doesn't even touch her glass. Soarynn remains silent while the adults talk about boring things such as politics and work. From time to time, she sneaks a look at Coriolanus, who chimes in occasionally with his own input.

She wonders how old he is, if he's allowed to travel by himself, and through the Districts of all places.

The first course is brought out, a lemon soup. Soarynn makes sure not to spill on her dress while Crassus opens up a conversation about family lineage.

"It's important to secure the bloodline," he says, giving Coriolanus a knowing look. Perhaps he's put pressure on Coriolanus to have children. Which will, of course, put pressure on Soarynn to give him children if this all works out in the end.

"Yes," Mrs. Snow agrees, already on her second glass of wine. "We've been very selective on potential wives for Coriolanus. We can't just have anyone carrying around the heir to the Snow fortune."

They all look at Soarynn, causing her to blush. She's on birth control until further notice and hasn't ever kissed a man per Eudora's instructions to remain as pure as possible for her future husband.

"Soarynn would make a wonderful mother," Eudora tells them, "and with that blonde hair and those blue eyes, she'll give him beautiful children. I'm sure of it."

Mrs. Snow nods, but her husband isn't easily persuaded or convinced. "Do you tan easily, Soarynn?"

Eudora turns pale, and Soarynn feels very confused right now. What does tanning have to do with children?

"I...I don't tan," she answers, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Crassus looks her up and down, "I see. Well, that is certainly something we will need to take into consideration."

Soarynn realizes what he means a moment later. Her skin is much darker than the man sitting next to her, and the Snows clearly want their image to remain intact. If she were to give Coriolanus children, there would be a risk of them looking more like her than him.

Soarynn feels so small right now.

Coriolanus clears his throat, taking a sip of his whiskey. "It's not a problem where I'm concerned." His father shoots him a look, "Well, you should be concerned. She clearly took after her mother when it came to looks, what's to say a child of yours won't do the same?"

Coriolanus shrugs, not at all intimidated by his father's words or demeanor. "Our children will have a different father, they'll look just like me, I'm sure of it." Eudora eagerly nods, jumping onto the bandwagon. "Yes! Yes, male genes are more dominant than female genes. Soarynn will give him beautiful children, I'm sure of it as well."

"It's not something we can control either way, darling," Mrs. Snow reminds her husband, "Coriolanus could have come out looking just like me, and then what would you have done?"

Soarynn didn't expect this many people to come to her defense, and while she's grateful, it only makes Crassus dislike her more than he did ten minutes ago. To their relief, the second course comes through to ease the growing tension in the room.

Soarynn eats her food while more topics are discussed, half-listening. "What do you like to spend your time on, Soarynn?"

Mrs. Snow's voice is kinder than her husband's, so Soarynn feels better about answering her. "I enjoy reading and drawing, and playing with my cat, Petunia."

"How sweet," Mrs. Snow croons, "I've never had much of an artistic hand, I'm more of a social butterfly myself."

Soarynn opens her mouth, but Coriolanus beats her to the punch. "How old is your cat?" His focus is on her, and Soarynn can smell roses all of a sudden, an overwhelming scent of roses.

"She's three years old."

"I always wanted a dog," Coriolanus says, looking at his father, "but I was never allowed to get one."

Crassus scoffs, waving him off. "Dogs bite and carry diseases. You'll understand when you have a family of your own someday." Soarynn is glad that Petunia is an indoor cat. She'd be so worried if she were always outside on her own.

"Coriolanus, your mother mentioned you got a promotion when we spoke over the phone," Eudora recalls, "is that why you were traveling?"

Coriolanus nods, he is very handsome, just like his father. Soarynn just hopes that he's not half as mean as his father, though. "Yes, part of my job is to visit other plants to check on production."

Mrs. Snow places a hand over her heart, a proud mother if Soarynn's ever seen one. "He's achieved so much in such a short time. We're immensely proud of him." Soarynn asks the next question before she can stop herself. "How old are you?" Coriolanus doesn't look offended by her question, rather surprised that she was bold enough to ask.

"I turn twenty-seven in November."

He's almost eight years older than her. Is this what Eudora thinks is suitable for Soarynn?

"How old are you again, darling?"

"I just turned nineteen last month," Soarynn answers Mrs. Snow, who nods. "The perfect age to start settling down," she decides.

Soarynn doesn't say anything else for the rest of the night.

꧁ ꧂

The night ends after several more courses and drinks. They all stand on the restraunt steps, waiting for their cars to pull around to pick them up. "So lovely to see you all," Eudora says, "we'll be in touch."

The women share another hug and a few whispered words. Soarynn hopes she did well tonight.

Crassus doesn't even regard her when the car pulls around to take her and Eudora home.

"I hope to see you again soon," Coriolanus says to her, confident and sure of himself. Soarynn is not so sure of herself, but nods anyway, going along with the plan that's been set out for her for a decade now. "I'd like that very much."

Eudora gets into the car before her so that Coriolanus can help Soarynn get into the backseat. His bright blue eyes bore into her stormy ones, filled with so many thoughts and emotions. "Sleep well," he says before closing the door.

Soarynn sighs, slouching in her seat. She might not sleep at all after tonight. "Don't slouch, dear," Eudora reminds her, "we're going to Cornelia Street first." The driver pulls away from the curb, causing the Snows to become small, little dots.

"That went surprisingly well, don't you think?"

Soarynn sits up straight so she doesn't get reprimanded again. "I guess. I don't think Crassus likes me very much."

Eudora waves her off as if her potential father-in-law is the least of her worries. "Don't worry about that right now, dear, the important thing is that Coriolanus likes you."

"How do you know that? He barely said a word to me."

"Trust me," Eudora says, "if he didn't like you, he wouldn't have said that he wants to see you again. He's in this for the same reasons you are."

Oh.

That doesn't make Soarynn feel any better to know that he's also being pressured into this. Shouldn't people find love the real way? Or has she been reading too many fairy tales?

꧁ ꧂

The next time Soarynn sees Coriolanus, it's over tea.

Eudora and Mrs. Snow come as well but sit at another table, chatting about who knows what while Soarynn and Coriolanus remain quiet. A lovely spread of tea and crumpets have been laid out in front of them, and the summer breeze flows through the courtyard of the resturaunt.

Soarynn wore a pretty dress with little flowers embroidered into the fabric, with her hair pulled into a ponytail. Coriolanus also dressed a little less formally, wearing trousers, a dress shirt, and shiny leather shoes.

"How's your tea?"

Soarynn pulls herself from her daydreaming long enough to answer his question. "Good."

Coriolanus had greeted her the same way he did last week, with a kiss on the back of her hand, while his mother embraced her as if they were already married.

"You've barely touched your food," he points out, his plate already cleared of the small pastries. Soarynn shrugs, not really in the mood to eat right now. "I'm more partial to fruits."

"I can have the server bring you some."

Coriolanus goes to flag down their waiter but Soarynn quickly puts a stop to the chivalrous act. "That won't be necessary, thank you."

Soarynn is honestly worried that she might throw up if she eats anything. She's still so nervous to be around him.

"Do you like being outside?"

She does when it's warm. When it's cold, Soarynn loves to curl up in bed with a book, Petunia, and some hot chocolate.

"Most of the time," she replies, taking a small sip of her tea.

They go quiet again, and Soarynn feels pressured to ask him a question. Coriolanus has been guiding them through this date, and it's going at a painfully slow pace.

"Why do you let your mother chaperone you on dates if you're so old?"

Probably the worst thing she could ask him, but she's curious. If Coriolanus is so grown up, then certainly he doesn't require the supervison that she does.

He tilts his head, looking over at his mother for a moment. She wore a very big hat today with a feather sticking out of the top.

"My mother is very traditional, as am I. This is simply how things are done."

"But why?" She presses, desperate for someone to explain to her why she must go through with all of this. "Why all this work for a miserable marriage?"

Coriolanus gives her a funny look. This is the most she's spoken since they met. "I'd like to think that we'd have a pleasant marriage," he muses out loud, "maybe not a happy one, but those are so rare."

Soarynn scrunches her nose, this isn't a very appropriate conversation to be having right now, but she's already on a roll. "Don't you want to be happy?"

"I want to be content," he explains, "my parents aren't always happy, but they're content with the lives they've built with one another. When you're content with the life you have, you're rarely left feeling unhappy." Soarynn begs to differ, she has everything she could ever need, and she's very unhappy.

"Maybe there's something wrong with me then," she mumbles, setting her teacup down, "I could never be happy in an arranged marriage."

Not that she hasn't given it some thought, but Soarynn just finds it impossible to be genuinely happy with something she never agreed to.

"What would make you happy then?"

That's a question no one has ever asked her before, but Soarynn has thought about it a million times over the years.

"To live in my house," she says, picturing it now, "to read my books, and play with my cat, and marry someone kind who loves me for who I am."

Coriolanus hums and looks across the courtyard again, staring at his mother. "I am not a kind man," he admits, "neither is my father, which you learned rather quickly last week. But I do believe myself to be a good man. I could take very good care of you, and you'd be able to have all those things. For the most part."

"What do you mean by that?"

He sighs, for someone so far in life, he seems very tired of it already. "When a man and woman get married, the woman moves in with him. You'd live with me in my penthouse on the Corso. As for marrying someone who's kind and who loves you, well, I'm sorry Soarynn, but I don't see that happening considering your position."

"My position?"

"Yes," he nods as if it's clear as day, "you're young, you're very beautiful and your parents are dead. The decisons have already been made for you. The best you can hope for is that a good man," he gestures to himself, "comes along and agrees to marry you."

There was a stupid part of her that hoped Coriolanus would turn out to be kind, that he'd understand her dilemma, but he's just like the rest of them. He's much more honest than the rest, but he's still the same.

"You'd be well looked after," he adds when he sees her crestfallen face, "I'd never lay a hand on you. My penthouse has a library and is fully staffed. You'd never lift a finger if you married me. I'd take good care of you."

Of course, Coriolanus has his own motives, his own agenda. He needs to get married soon, he needs to settle down, and secure his bloodline. Soarynn is the perfect candidate for him. No wonder his mother is so thrilled about all of this.

"I'd be kept in your world, though," she says, "with your family and your friends. I wouldn't have a life of my own anymore."

His lips almost twitch into a smile. "Forgive my bluntness, but from what I've heard, you don't have much of a life to begin with." Soarynn is stunned by his hurtful words. Whether they hurt because they're true or not doesn't matter right now.

"Your hobbies include reading, drawing, and playing with your cat, darling. That's not a life. And any man would be a fool to let something like you ever leave the house to work. It's not traditional. But you'd go to galas, to lunches, and you could shop to your heart's content."

Some traditions might need to be broken, the more she thinks about it.

"I may not be kind, but I am honest," he tells her, "I won't ever lie to you. I'll be a good husband and, when the time comes, a good father. I promise you, it won't get any better than me. I'm a Snow, who else could compare?"

He's right. Soarynn is horrified, and he's right. Out of all the men she's met, he is by far the most handsome, most truthful, and most important. If she were to walk away from this, the entire Capitol would think she's a fool.

"You're too beautiful to be kept away in that townhouse of yours. A woman like you should be seen, adored by all who meet her. Not wilting away like a dead rose. Let me court you, and I'll show you what your future will look like. A future of luxury and open doors that you didn't even know existed."

Coriolanus sounds so sure of himself, so confident. Some might see it as arrogance, but not Soarynn. She sees it as her ticket to the future, the future that she cannot get to on her own. She might be beautiful and kind, but that can only get her so far. Being a woman has it's challenges and getting married can make a lot of them disappear.

Coriolanus seems like a good man...for the most part. Someone who's respected by society. Isn't that good enough? Are her expectations too high? Most girls would kill a family member for an oppurtinity like this.

She should be grateful. Agree to this arrangement.

"Alright," she whispers, causing his eyebrows to raise. "Alright?" He repeats.

"I'll let you court me," she elaborates, "I'd be a fool not to."

Coriolanus grins, he looks younger when he smiles. "Good, good. I'm glad you've come around to this, darling. Now, eat something, I can't have you wasting away."

Soarynn does as she's told, nibbling away at a crumpet while he tells her about his travels. This won't be her fantasy, but it'll be what everyone wanted. She supposes it's for the best.

꧁ ꧂

The next several months pass by like a blur.

Soarynn goes on countless dates with Coriolanus Snow, her now-fiancé, who proposed three weeks ago, making headlines. Soarynn had been expecting it for a while, he wasn't one to waste time or an opportunity.

When she read the paper the next morning, their faces were plastered on the front cover. 'Snow Lands On Top! Coriolanus Snow engaged to Soarynn Nightingale.'

She's so glad she could provide them with a good cover story.

Now it's all about wedding planning. They're to be married in the winter per Snow family tradition. Soarynn didn't even try to argue with anyone about it, letting Coriolanus set the date and make the big decisions. He's left her to make all of the small ones, though, including her dress, the colors, the theme, and the cake.

Mother says it's going to be all anyone can talk about.

Soarynn sits next to her as they flip through catalogs of wedding dresses, trying to find the perfect dress for her perfect day. Soarynn has found a strange sort of comfort around Mrs. Snow, whom she now refers to as Mother per her many requests. Once she got engaged, she stopped fighting it.

While she isn't her mother, she's kind and has been so very welcoming to Soarynn. Crassus has remained cold, but Coriolanus says he's that way with everyone. Soarynn has learned not to take anything he says personally.

"What about this one?" Mother points at a specific dress in the catalog she's looking at. "We could take in the waist, of course, and it's in style." Soarynn looks at the dress she likes and doesn't share the same sentiment. It's pretty, but it's not her.

It actually looks a lot like Mother's wedding dress. Soarynn has only seen the pictures a thousand times. No wonder she's so drawn to this style.

"I don't know," Soarynn says with a tired sigh, "there's so many and so little time." She's been feeling a little stressed, if she's being honest. So many decisions to make and so many opinions about which ones she should choose.

Soarynn hoped that Eudora would take charge since she's done that for everything else in her life, but Eudora told her that her work was "done" and that she'd be sitting in the front row at the wedding.

Soarynn is on her own.

"We have plenty of time," Mother insists, flipping to the next page, "maybe you just need to try some on. That might help."

"What might help?"

They both look up at the sound of Coriolanus walking into the dining room, which has turned into their wedding planning room for the time being. Soarynn didn't think he'd be stopping by his parents' apartment today, but apparently he has.

He looks handsome as always, curls gelled back, top two buttons on his shirt undone. He makes her so nervous.

"Soarynn needs to try on some dresses for inspiration, darling," Mother explains to him, smiling when he leans down to kiss her cheek. Coriolanus is many things, but he's very affectionate with his Mother for someone so serious.

"I see. My suit is almost done at the tailors."

Soarynn refrains from telling him that he is not helping right now, but his kissing her on the cheek smooths things over rather quickly. He smells so good, like roses and his favorite cologne.

"You look pretty," he says, his lips brushing her ear.

Soarynn presses her thighs together. He really isn't helping right now.

"Thank you," she whispers shakily, looking him in the eyes, "how was your meeting?" He smirks at the effect he has on her. "Good. It went according to plan, that is. There's still work to be done, like always."

Mother shakes her head. "So dreadful that you had to take a meeting on a Saturday. Does no one respect time off anymore?"

Coriolanus chuckles, standing back up to his full height. "It's a necessary evil, Mother. Someone has to pay for this dress." Mother playfully swats at his arm, always so flippant when it comes to money. "We already said we'd pay for the dress, Coriolanus. Now stop bothering us and go get something to eat from the kitchen. The cook made lamb stew for lunch about an hour ago."

The second, Soarynn revealed that her favorite meal was lamb stew, they started having it almost every week at the Snow penthouse.

She finds it endearing that Mother wants her to feel welcome, especially since her husband doesn't seem to go to any trouble. Soarynn has dinner with Coriolanus and his parents at least three times a week, sometimes more, depending on the men's work schedules.

When they started courting, Coriolanus made it very clear that being together was a big priority to him. "There's strength in numbers," he had explained on a walk, "Snows stick together."

She's gotten over the initial discomfort of eating with her future in-laws, so Soarynn doesn't bat an eye at it anymore. If she and Coriolanus aren't at his apartment or her townhouse, they're here in the Snow ancestral penthouse.

He holds his hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you ladies to it then. Is father home?"

"In his study, darling."

Soarynn watches him go, even from behind, he looks good with his shirt tucked in and his curls perfectly styled. Coriolanus takes great pride in his appearance, so Soarynn does as well.

"What were you thinking of for the bouquet?"

Soarynn's been so focused on the dress that she forgot all about the bouquet. It seems so minor in comparison to other things, like the cake. "Roses," she chooses the easy answer.

The Snows are known for their beautiful roses they grow on the penthouse roof. Apparently, they're highly coveted and a family tradition. Soarynn won't be one to break it.

"Oh, wouldn't that be a darling name for a baby girl? Rose?"

Once again, Soarynn chooses the easy answer. "Yes, it would."

She can't even think about children's names right now because to have children, you have to have sex, and Soarynn is terrified of that. She and Coriolanus have only kissed, nothing more. He's taken it as far as she's let him, which has occasionally included a shirt coming unbuttoned or her sitting in his lap. Most kisses are short and sweet. The other ones leave her longing for more.

Soarynn knows what her body wants, she knows that she's attracted to him. But she's terrified of losing her virginity. What if it hurts? What if she doesn't bleed? What if she bleeds too much? What if she's not good at it?

These are the questions that keep her up at night. No wonder she's so tired and stressed out.

For the sake of her sleep schedule, Soarynn decides right now that she'll cross that bridge when she gets to it. For the sake of the wedding, of course.

꧁ ꧂

"My Mother wanted me to ask you if there was any more shopping you wanted to do tomorrow," Coriolanus calls from the living room. Soarynn furrows her brows in the kitchen. She came in here to make some tea, but even in her own home, she is plagued with wedding decisions. She drops a tea bag into the cup and walks back into the living room where Coriolanus is watching television.

It's a rather domestic sight to see him in her childhood home. Whenever they're at his apartment, it's so...formal. He operates so differently here. Petunia lies next to him on the couch, fast asleep after a long day of sleeping and doing nothing. Soarynn is glad the two of them get along. He already agreed that Petunia could live in his apartment as long as she doesn't tear up his furniture.

"Shopping for what?" Soarynn asks, setting her cup down on the coffee table. She changed out of her dress when they got here, slipping into some comfortable pajamas since they, for once, don't have any plans tonight.

It's rare for Coriolanus to not have something planned, but because of his meeting, he needed to keep the whole day wide open in case something else came up. Soarynn certainly isn't complaining, she loves staying in and being at home. Coriolanus is the social butterfly in their relationship.

"Shoes, veils, bags, lingerie," he throws out, smirking when her cheeks turn pink. He's been thinking about it too, their wedding night, the sex, taking her virginity.

Coriolanus isn't a virgin, but he relishes the fact that she is.

He's told her more than once how attractive it is that she hasn't had sex yet. How it turns him on more than she can ever imagine to know that soon, she'll fully belong to him. Soarynn hadn't expected him to be so vulgar, he's usually so polite and proper. But every man has his secrets.

"I don't think your Mother wants to take me lingerie shopping," is all she says, sitting down next to him, "it would be very strange." Coriolanus wraps an arm around her, settling his hand on her waist. "You'd be surprised as to what my Mother would be up for when it comes to this wedding. It might be the highlight of her life."

Soarynn laughs, at least someone will enjoy the big day. She hopes she will as well. So much time and money have gone into this wedding, into this relationship, this arranged marriage.

"I think I'll do that shopping on my own."

Soarynn would prefer to not go shopping at all for lingerie, but she doesn't really have anything of her own. Not that sexy and provocative, at least. Her brassiers and panties are dainty, with bows or frills.

His hand slips under her silk shirt, grazing her bare skin, causing goosebumps to form wherever his fingers go. "I like bows," he says, sliding his hand under the waistband of her silk pajama shorts. Soarynn whimpers, they won't do anything, but he can still tease her.

His fingers slide under the waistband of her lace panties, so close yet so far to the area that's been getting more and more apparent as the days grow nearer to their wedding. "I like lace," he continues, nosing her ear, "or silk, or pearls." Soarynn closes her eyes, unable to look at him or anything else without losing her mind.

His teeth close around the shell of her ear, and Soarynn trembles under his touch. Coriolanus has become utterly intoxicating since they started courting, keeping his word to give her the world.

He spoils her with gifts. Clothes, books, jewelry. He's surprisingly affectionate for someone who can be so cold. He can be cold, too. Soarynn remembers the first time she experienced that side of him, making her think she had done something wrong. Something to deserve such curt, cold answers.

The next day, he warmed up again, became kinder, more patient. Soarynn does her best to keep that side of him around.

"Whatever you want," she breathes, gripping the sofa for dear life. He likes it when she does what he tells her to do, and while he'd never admit it, Coriolanus is a control freak. Everything has to be done perfectly, and it has to be done his way.

He groans and presses his lips to the nape of her neck, gently kissing her soft skin. Soarynn tilts her head, giving him better access to the column of her throat. His other hand pushes the thin strap of her shirt off her shoulder, then the other in a methodical fashion.

Soarynn whimpers. "We can't," she tells him, knowing what would happen if she gave in to him right now. She feels him smile against the skin of her neck. "But you'd let me, right? You'd spread your legs and give me what's rightfully mine if I asked, wouldn't you, darling?"

He's so, so, so cocky.

He goes to push down her shirt when the telephone rings. Both of them pull away, his hand slides out of her shorts, and Soarynn slips the straps back over her shoulders, flustered and hot. "I'll get it," he says, rising from the sofa. Soarynn nods, pulling her knees to her chest to calm herself down.

She almost lost control, almost gave in to him. Even though they're going to get married soon, that's no excuse to have sex before marriage. Soarynn can hear muffled conversation from the hallway, his voice is so deep and stern.

Petunia finally wakes up, purring when Soarynn scratches behind her ears. "You sleep through everything, little lady," Soarynn says to her. Petunia is the sleepiest cat in the world, but she supposes that it's better than having a cat who never sleeps.

Coriolanus appears a minute later, looking less cocky than before. He looks tired and stressed. "That was my father. I need to head back to their apartment to go over some paperwork for the wedding."

Sorynn never knew so much paperwork went into getting married, but apparently, there is.

"Okay."

Soarynn turns off the television so she can walk him to the door. Once he leaves, she'll take a bath and imagine him touching her again. She should really get a diary or something because this cannot be normal.

Coriolanus tugs his coat on, preparing for the cold winter weather. "I'll come by and pick you up tomorrow with my Mother."

"Alright. Sleep well."

Coriolaus hums, pulling her in by her waist. "Thank you, darling, for always keeping me entertained." Soarynn knows what he means by that, but she doesn't want to be entertaining. She wants to be taken seriously in this relationship.

Still, she says nothing and smiles sweetly when he kisses her. He goes in a little deeper, gripping her waist tightly, and Soarynn rests a hand on his shoulder. They'll be living together soon, no more car rides back and forth, no more phone calls, no more townhouse.

Soarynn doesn't want to think about leaving her childhood home behind.

There's so much to leave behind when you marry a Snow.

꧁ ꧂

Soarynn's wedding day comes with a flurry of emotions. Some good, some not so good. There's no time to back out now. She's got the dress, her shoes, the veil, the bouquet, and yes, she's got the lingerie.

Walking down the aisle didn't seem like a big deal until she realized this morning that she'd be walking down with Crassus. That's the thing about having a dead father: he's not here to celebrate your big day.

Soarynn has already mourned the absence of her parents, though. Coriolanus requested it, actually. He had pulled her to the side three days ago when they were visiting his parents and spoke in a hushed voice. "I'd appreciate it if you could keep the wedding free of any grief or self-pity."

It had been such a bold and incorrect thing to say that Soarynn just nodded and kept her mouth shut. Of course, he didn't want their big day to be overshadowed by her grief.

"Almost ready," Mother trills, fluffing out the train of the dress. Soarynn found the dress of her dreams on the first day they went dress shopping. It was perfect for her. Made of silk, clinging to her figure in a tasteful way that she felt comfortable in. It showed off her collarbones and made her skin appear brighter.

For hair and makeup, she wanted to look as natural as possible. Photos would be taken, so she knew that she'd have to wear some makeup, but she still wanted to feel like herself. Soarynn's hair was twisted into an intricate bun that would be taken out after the ceremony for the reception dinner.

Her makeup was kept light and glowy. Her lips were rosy, and her cheeks had a warm pink hue to them. Most of her freckles were still visible, but she did give in to Mother's request for her eyes to be lined with black liner. It made her eyes pop.

Soarynn is amazed that she's able to feel pretty considering how stressed she's been about all of this. She nervously holds her bouquet, watching everyone else run around her to do the finishing touches.

Crassus stands by the doors that lead to the room where she'll get married. He looks bored. Soarynn wishes she could get him to like her, but apparently it's impossible, according to Coriolanus.

At least Mother likes her. That has to count for something.

"Soarynn, darling, remember to smile!" Soarynn gives Mother a big smile, too fake to be genuine, but she supposes that's the point of this whole thing. She doesn't love Coriolanus, and he doesn't love her. It's all so artificial. So arranged.

She's luckier than most, though, to be marrying someone like him. A good, honest man who will take care of her. It's good that he talked some sense into her all those months ago. Unless...unless that's what he wants her to think.

"Here we go!"

Too late now.

꧁ ꧂

"Such a beautiful bride," another woman says as Soarynn and Coriolanus walk through the crowded ballroom. Soarynn is so tired, so socially drained, and they're not even close to being done yet.

"Thank you," Coriolanus says, flashing her a bright smile, tightening his grip on Soarynn's waist. Now that they're married, he hasn't let go of her once. There's no reason to, not when they're married, not when she's his wife.

They're about to have their first dance, and they've taken so many lessons that Soarynn could probably do it in her sleep. Coriolanus looks dashing in his tailored suit, fitting him like a glove with a white rose pinned to his lapel.

He had looked so pleased when his father handed her off to him. Soarynn worried he might not like the dress, or her hair, or her makeup. But he's only sung her praises thus far.

Being the center of attention is nothing new to Coriolanus, but it is to Soarynn, so dancing in front of hundreds of people is a little nerve-wracking. Soarynn tried for a small guest list, but the Snows weren't having it. Anyone who ran in their circles was invited, no questions asked.

"People can't get enough of you," he tells her, guiding them to the center of the ballroom floor. Soarynn blushes, she likes to think that most people are here for him. It's not like she's done a whole lot of social networking in the twenty years she's been alive.

After the death of her parents, she became a recluse of sorts, hiding away until Eudora dragged her out for a date, only to hide back away in her home afterwards.

Her childhood home is empty, well, it's empty to her. Since it was left in her name, it was legally up to her as to what would happen to it. Coriolanus and Crassus both suggested selling it, which horrified Soarynn. She opted to keep the house in her name. Selling it meant getting rid of her parents' things. It meant that they were really gone.

All of her things have already been moved into the apartment she will live in for the rest of her life. Coriolanus made room in his massive closet for all of her clothes, and she unpacked the last of her boxes last night. Anything to keep her mind off the wedding.

But the wedding is here, and everyone is watching.

The music starts to play, and they fall in tandem with one another, doing the steps they've done a thousand times. Coriolanus holds her tightly against him, staring down at her with his bright blue eyes. Soarynn wonders if their future son will look like him.

Soarynn keeps her eyes on Coriolanus, too nervous to look around at the onlookers. She hears whispers, though, whispers about her dress, her family, how young she is compared to Coriolanus.

An eight-year age gap is nothing to sneeze at, but clearly not that much of a deal breaker in high society. If Soarynn hadn't had such rotten luck before courting Coriolanus, then she's sure that she would've been married off at eighteen. Eudora must be pleased about all of this. She got what she was after, and now Soarynn is no longer her responsibility.

Soarynn glances over at the crowd and finds Eudora and Mother watching with misty eyes. Eudora is most likely tearing up in relief, whereas Mother is tearing up because she cries at almost everything these days.

Soarynn looks back up at Coriolanus, doing her best to look irrecoverably in love with him. He is her husband, after all. Till death do them part.

They finish the dance with him dipping her down, sliding his hand up her back while he leans down, pressing a kiss to her lips. Soarynn sighs at the kiss, the first of many tonight. They still have dinner, then speeches, then more dancing, then cake. And then they go home and have sex.

Soarynn is so fucking nervous it's not even funny.

She hasn't had anyone to talk to about these fears. She has no friends, and it's not like the women around her remember their first time like it was yesterday. Soarynn has read enough romance novels to know that it will hurt at first, but then, hopefully, start to feel good.

Coriolanus looks like he knows what he's doing, and that brings her a small sense of comfort.

They're given a loud round of applause, and Coriolanus leads Soarynn over to a group of what she presumes to be his colleagues and their wives.

"Congratulations," one of them says to Soarynn, flashing her a big smile. This woman is very pretty with her dark brown hair twisted into an updo. She's on a curly-haired man's arm, both dressed in shades of green. Soarynn returns the smile, "Thank you."

Coriolanus slides his arm around Soarynn's waist, keeping her pressed to his side. "I think we might have outdone your first dance, Creed."

Soarynn tries to remember if she's ever heard that last name before, but she's heard so many in the past few months. Mother went over the guest list with her so many times, and then the invitations had to be sent out as well. She'll have to rely on Coriolanus to remember these people.

His friend scoffs, rolling his eyes. "Please, our first dance was one for the books, don't you agree, Persephone?"

Persephone nods, taking a sip of champagne. "Hard to believe that was almost five years ago." Five years ago, Soarynn was still a child. How strange to think about the past now that she's married.

"Will you be traveling for your honeymoon?" Persephone asks her while the men continue talking about weddings. Soarynn shyly nods, the news came as a bit of a surprise to her when Coriolanus announced they'd be going on a trip. "We're going to District Four," she tells her, "Coriolanus has traveled there before for work."

He's told her all about his travels and about the resorts and hotels he's stayed at. "The District Four resort is by far the best we have to offer," he had explained one night over dinner. Soarynn already has her bags packed, and Mother has promised to look after Petunia, who immediately took a liking to the older woman.

"Oh, Festus and I went there for our honeymoon as well! How exciting! You have to go to the spa, they offer the best seaweed massage and make sure to ask for..."

Persephone keeps talking, but Soarynn stops listening. She looks around the room and realizes that no one is here for her. Eudora came simply to ensure that her work was done. But not one person came here to support Soarynn.

They're all here for him.

"Darling?"

Soarynn looks up at her husband, and the noise floods back into her ears. "Yes?"

Coriolanus doesn't look too pleased that she was zoning out, but she can't help it. Soarynn gets anxious around large groups of people. "Persephone invited you to tea when we get back from our honeymoon." Soarynn does her best to look thrilled at the prospect of having tea with a Capitol wife. This will be her new life: tea, lunch, dinner, repeat.

"That sounds lovely," she looks back over at Persephone, "I'd love to join you."

"Perfect! Oh, and I'll invite Livia and Clemensia too. It's so wonderful to finally have a fourth in our little circle," she says to Soarynn as if this is something Soarynn should know about. "Isn't Livia pregnant?" Coriolanus asks, rubbing his hand up and down her side. Soarynn subconsciously leans into his touch, she may not love him, but she does find comfort in him.

"Allegedly," Festus replies, finishing off his drink, "but they haven't confirmed anything."

"Well, they ought to say something soon. No good in hiding it."

Everyone nods, there's no use in hiding a pregnancy, planned or unplanned.

"Soarynn will be carrying our first sooner than later," Coriolanus boasts proudly, "a boy." Soarynn hopes for the sake of their marriage that she can give him a boy right away. Coriolanus has made it very clear that he wants a boy, not a girl.

They'll just have to wait and see.

꧁ ꧂

Soarynn has been in this bedroom a total of five times since she met Coriolanus. Now it's her bedroom. It's much bigger than her childhood room, this one is so grown-up and mature. There's a fireplace, a sitting area, and he even has a small cart of alcohol in case he needs a drink before bed. Soarynn notes a small bookshelf tucked away in the corner, already filled with her favorite books.

She fidgets with her nightgown and smiles to herself. At least he kept his word about taking care of her. Coriolanus might be cold and stern, but he's not negligent.

He certainly won't be negligent tonight when he takes her virginity. They got home half an hour ago, well past midnight. Coriolanus disappeared to make some last-minute arrangements for their trip tomorrow, and Soarynn went to change into her lingerie.

She felt so silly putting it on. When she tried it on at the boutique, the saleswoman said that Coriolanus wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her. Soarynn isn't so sure that's a good thing where her husband is concerned.

The lingerie is all white. Her brassier pushes her breasts up, giving the illusion of a full chest. The fabric is covered in lace patterns with a small bow in the middle of her breasts. Her panties, well, they barely cover a thing. It's a good thing she got waxed three days ago. Soarynn thought she knew pain before she had every inch of hair stripped from her body in under ten minutes.

Soarynn also purchased a white sheer nightgown to wear over the lingerie, as if it makes her any more clothed than she already is. She glances at her high heels lying on the floor, kicked off the second she got into the room.

He'll be here any minute now, and then there is no going back.

Soarynn listens for his voice but doesn't hear anything. He was on the phone a minute ago, confirming the departure of their train. Soarynn slides off the bed, deciding to check her appearance one more time in the bathroom mirror before it's too late, but the doors to their bedroom open and she freezes.

Coriolanus has taken his tie off, and his gelled curls have broken free from their cast after a night of drinking and dancing. Tonight was the most relaxed she's ever seen him. He laughed, danced, and drank; he became a different version of himself. Perhaps she'll have sex with the nicer version tonight.

"Look at you," he says, closing the doors behind him, drinking her all in.

Soarynn has nowhere to hide now. Her body is his body, he can stare all he likes.

His eyes travel up and down her figure, analyzing every inch of her body. Soarynn has never paid much attention to her physical appearance, she's been told she's beautiful before, but now she's painfully aware of how she looks. Her figure is spare in some places where she'd like to be fuller. Looking at the mannequins in the boutique window sure didn't help. They had all the right curves in all the right places.

Even the women at her wedding looked better than she did when it came to figure. That's the difference between her and them. Soarynn is still a girl, whereas everyone else is a woman.

"Is everything settled with the train tickets?" She asks quietly, hoping to take some of the attention off of her. But it's pointless, he can't look away from her or think of anything else but her. "Hmm? Oh, yes, the tickets, it's all settled."

He steps towards her, closing the distance, flooding her senses with the smell of roses and expensive cologne. "That's good," she says shakily. Soarynn has done all she can to prepare for this moment. She even prayed.

"It's very good," he agrees, setting his hands on her hips, "very, very good. Is this new?" He pinches the fabric of her nightgown between his fingers. Coriolanus has seen a few of her nightgowns before, and now they're all hanging up in the closet. Soarynn nods, looking down at the floor, at his large hands on her hips.

"So pretty. So soft and delicate, just like you."

He gathers the nightgown in his hands, bunching it up and pulling it up. Soarynn lifts her arms, and her flimsy piece of clothing is taken off and thrown to the floor. Coriolanus doesn't immediately flinch at the sight of her scarcely clothed body, so she takes that as a good sign. Apparently, she's not horrid to look at.

"Are you, are you going to get undressed too?" She asks with a breathy tone, it only seems fair for him to be undressed as well. Coriolanus smirks, reaching down to touch the little bow that sits between her pushed-up breasts. "Eager to see me naked?"

Not really.

"It's just not fair that you're still wearing your clothes," she explains, already flustered. Coriolanus has a way of making the air around Soarynn turn into nothing. It's like she can't think, can't breathe, can't talk. She is completely at his mercy whenever they're alone together.

"Oh, so we're wanting to play fair tonight?"

Uh-oh.

Soarynn turns shy, not wanting to play mind games while losing her virginity. "So for every orgasm I give you, I'll get one in return?" He presses, grabbing her right breast. Soarynn gasps at his cold hands and the insinuation that she'll have to pleasure him tonight. She thought he'd just fuck her and that would be that.

"No," she gets out, taking a step back, "no, I didn't mean it like that. I just, I'm just nervous." It's painful to admit, but better than ending up in an undesired position. Coriolanus looks somewhat considerate about her nervousness, but he'll still go through with the act, she knows that much.

"You're so nervous that you're doubting your husband's abilities in the bedroom?"

"No."

"Good. Then get onto the bed, darling. Up you go."

Soarynn is glad to put some distance between them and climbs back into bed, watching as he slowly and methodically gets undressed. Soarynn hasn't ever seen what he looks like without a shirt, but he's very well sculpted with a chiseled abdomen. His shoulders are broad and look as if they could carry the weight of the world on them. His arms are huge, and his biceps, well, his biceps are something else.

Soarynn sits back on her knees, hands in her lap, while her husband gets evenly undressed. When he's left in just his boxers, she can see how well-formed he is down there. His cock is straining against his boxers.

This is good, she tells herself, it means he's attracted to you.

Many things can go wrong on your wedding night, but your husband not being able to get it up has to be one of the worst things a bride can experience.

He approaches the bed slowly with his bright eyes trained on her as if he's a predator stalking its prey. Soarynn watches, frozen in her spot on the bed. Coriolanus places one hand on the mattress, causing it to sink down and for him to lower down, almost at eye level with her.

"Welcome home, Mrs. Snow."

꧁ ꧂

The train ride to Four takes about a day.

Soarynn sleeps through most of it, too tired from last night to keep her eyes open for more than five minutes. She doesn't know how Coriolanus is awake, but he is, looking out the large window of their private car. She didn't realize he booked them an entire car, fit with a small bed, an eating area, and a sitting area.

They arrived at the station early this morning, carrying their bags, which were immediately taken away by the attendants. They had knocked about an hour ago, saying something about arriving soon. Soarynn finally rouses herself from her sleep, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

She dressed comfortably for the trip, it is winter after all.

Coriolanus looks over at her on the bed, most likely remembering how she looked when she was pinned under him, gasping as he slid into her for the first time. Soarynn didn't know that type of pain existed before last night. She thought it might be uncomfortable, but instead, it was an unbearable stretch that brought several tears to her eyes.

Coriolanus, to his credit, didn't move while she writhed in pain under him, trying to gain her bearings. Once he did start to move, more pain subsided until it eventually went away, and the pleasure took over. Soarynn hadn't known what to do, what to say during the act, but Coriolanus took the lead.

He said all the right things, plus a few crude things since he's a man at the end of the day. He kept one hand on her hip and the other between her legs, rubbing at her clit. Soarynn never touched herself, so the second his thumb brushed against that sensitive button, she knew she was done for.

Coriolanus brought her to two orgasms before finishing inside of her and staying there for a good ten minutes. "We wouldn't want to be wasteful," he had said, pecking her lips. Soarynn was too tired to argue, so she just lay there, completely at his mercy.

He washed them off in the tub, put on a new nightgown, and tucked her into bed. Her first night as a Snow was in the books.

"Look who's finally awake."

Soarynn has the decency to look guilty, he probably thought she'd keep him company on the train ride. "Did I wear you out that badly last night?" Soarynn clears her throat, while she is no longer a virgin, this type of talk still makes her blush. Which means he's going to do it all the time.

"Are we almost there?" She asks, changing the topic. Soarynn swings her feet over the side of the bed. It's close quarters in their little room. Coriolanus nods, gazing back out the window, he has what looks like the leftovers of lunch in front of him on the table. Soarynn pads over to him, and her stomach growls. Sex takes a lot of work and energy.

"Sit here," he instructs, pulling her by the wrist to sit in his lap. Soarynn doesn't protest, allowing him to wrap an arm around her waist while he rests his chin on her shoulder. "Eat something, I can't have you flying away if it gets too windy at the resort."

Soarynn reaches for a bread roll. Now that the wedding is over, her appetite has been restored. "Do you want me to order anything else? I can call for a menu to be brought."

"No, thank you," she shakes her head, "this is more than enough."

When they leave the train, all this food will be thrown out while people in District Four work their fingers to the bone to afford one single roll that she so casually bites into. Soarynn knows how Coriolanus feels about the people in the Districts. He often refers to them as "scum," and tells her how selfish and greedy they are.

Soarynn remembers her mother telling her that her entire predicament was based on sheer geographical luck. "We were lucky to be born here and not our there," her mother had explained to her, "it's all up to chance whether or not you'll be seen as rich or underserving of human decency." Soarynn had been so young at the time, not fully understanding what her mother meant.

She does now, though. But she also knows better than to voice her opinion against her husbands. It's a foolish thing to do when she's been so lucky. Soarynn has the family name, the ring, the husband, and soon, the child.

As miserable as she might be, it's hard to be upset with the arrangement.

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

Coriolanus isn't above winning over hearts himself, but he also isn't above getting a little help now and then. If this waitress wants to help him out, he won't be the one to stop her.

She goes to fetch the drinks and her friend, leading Festus and Felix to give Coriolanus teasing looks. "Really? Sending the waitress to do your dirty work?"

He waves them off. "She offered."

They all watch the waitress approach Soarynn and whisper something in her ear. Soarynn's eyebrows raise and she looks over at them before she nods, saying something in return.

Their drinks come out before Soarynn does. Apparently, she had to go speak with their boss first. For what, Coriolanus has no idea until they both show up at their table. Coriolanus eyes the boss who happens to be the owner of the club up and down. He's dressed rather nicely for running an establishment such as this one, filled with burlesque dancers and waitresses.

Soarynn stands next to him, hands behind her back, head down.

"I heard Coriolanus Snow was asking for one of my girls," the owner explains, "and I just had to greet him myself." Coriolanus fakes a smile, not really caring for this man or his greeting. "Consider me welcomed."

"My name is Casca Highbottom, if there's ever anything I can do for you, Mr. Snow, please let me know." Highbottom holds his hand out leaving Coriolanus with nothing to do but shake it to avoid causing a scene. Better to stay on this man's good side since he frequents the club quite often.

"Thank you, Mr. Highbottom. I'll keep that in mind."

Highbottom smiles but it's a strange smile, a smile that Coriolanus doesn't trust one bit. Now is not the time to investigate though so he just smiles back and shakes his hand. "She's all yours," he says, giving Soarynn a push towards the table of men.

Soarynn to her credit, lays on the charm immediately, doing an excellent job given the circumstances. "I've never met a Snow before," she purrs, leaning against the table, "but I've heard a lot about you."

Highbottom finally fucking leaves and Coriolanus leans back in his seat, all too comfortable with the power he holds. "What've you heard about me, doll?"

Soarynn tilts her head, almost like a lost puppy. "That you always land on top." Festus barks out a laugh, almost choking on his drink. "Yeah, he's been saying that shit since the University." Coriolanus elblows him to prevent any more embarrassing stories. "It's true though, I've managed to stay on top despite all the odds."

He wonders if Soarynn can relate, or if she's used to being stuck at the bottom.

"Sounds like you're an important man," she replies, dragging her fingers along the edge of the table.

Coriolanus can see her much better in this light although it's still dark in the room. Her outfit is even more provocative up close. Her breasts nearly spill out of her bralette, and the corset looks like it's one size too tight on her. There are frills on the edges, almost making it look like the shortest dress in the world. As his eyes travel down her body, he comes to the realization that she's not wearing a skirt, only panties. Lace, of course.

"I am," he answers, "and my lap is terribly empty."

꧁ ꧂

Drinking always makes time go by faster, but when you have a pretty girl in your lap, it goes by even quicker. Coriolanus is intoxicated with Soarynn and her sweetness. She smells so good, like vanilla and something else. Her laugh is infectious and her smile is contagious.

She's more than comfortable sitting in his lap while he plays a game of cards with his friends and some other patrons, all of who keep eyeing her up and down with jealousy.

Coriolanus keeps a possessive hand on her waist at all times while her ass is pressed against his growing boner, an issue that she isn't helping him resolve by constantly wiggling her hips back and forth.

"I think you're bluffing," Felix calls from across the table which means he has shitty cards and won't be winning anything this round. Coriolanus bites back a grin, not taking the bait. Soarynn leans back to look at his cards but doesn't say anything either since she said she doesn't understand any of these card games.

"Are you winning?" She whispers, brushing the shell of his ear with her lips. Coriolanus shudders involuntarily, used to being the one in control. He is in control, but she's been playing these fucking mind games with him since the moment she sat down in his lap.

"I am," he gets out, tightening his grip on her waist. "Looks like you're my lucky charm." More giggles fill his ear and the buttons on his shirt magically become unbuttoned by her deft fingers. "Maybe after this game, we could go somewhere more private," Soarynn whispers, grinding down on his lap.

Coriolanus swears under his breath, not wanting to lose control in front of all of these men. Definitely not when he's about to win either.

"That can be arranged."

It only takes two more rounds for Coriolanus to show his winning hand and collect his winnings. He tucks a few bills into Soarynn's bralette and her stockings. "For bringing me luck," he explains. He excuses himself from the table and the prying eyes. Soarynn takes his large hand and pulls him towards the back of the club where he knows they have private rooms. Coriolanus follows her blindly, admiring how she looks from behind.

He's much taller than her even though she's wearing high heels. "I've never seen someone win so easily," she says to him over the noise. Coriolanus does his best to look nonchalant, it's really just luck at the end of the day, but he also knows how to play his cards right.

All you have to do is play like you have nothing to lose, in life, and in the club.

"It's like you said, angel, Snow lands on top."

More giggles spill from her lips and they disappear behind a curtain into a long hallway of doors leading to a private room. "The biggest one is at the end of the hallway." Coriolanus is more than pleased with the accommodations he's met with when they walk into the room.

There's a bed, sofa, table with chairs and a beverage cart with all his favorite drinks. "Whiskey or bourbon?" He lets go of her hand and sits down on the sofa, legs spread, guard down. "You can pick." Soarynn smiles, grabbing the bottle of whiskey.

"How long have you been working here?"

"A few months," she shrugs, pouring him a glass. "It pays well, and I like the crowd it brings in." Coriolanus doesn't know what that's supposed to mean. Is it good to be a part of that crowd?

"What type of crowd?"

She brings over his drink and makes herself comfortable on his right leg, sitting on his thigh. "Rich men," she answers without hesitation, "powerful men, attractive men. Men who like to take care of girls like me."

Coriolanus takes the glass from her and uses his other hand to grab her throat, not choking her, just holding her still. "And what type of girl are you, Soarynn?" Most girls would be shaking in fear from his actions, but Soarynn just keeps on smiling. "I'm a good girl, Mr. Snow."

Coriolanus rolls his eyes, not believing her for a second. They both know exactly what kind of girl she is. "Then be a good girl and take care of the problem you've created, doll."

His cock is straining in his pants, desperate for a release. Soarynn obeys his orders, gracefully sliding off his leg and onto the hardwood floor. Coriolanus watches her dainty little hands go up and down his thighs, teasing him further.

It's a most glorious sight to see a woman like Soarynn on her knees for him. With bills between her breasts and her big blue eyes looking up at him like she's some fallen angel. Her light blonde hair is almost like a halo.

She finally grabs his belt and unbuckles it with ease, almost like she's done this before. He decides not to think about that, about the other men she's slept with before him because there won't ever be anyone else after him.

"You're bigger than most," she murmurs, peeling back his boxers along with his pants. Coriolanus chuckles at that little comment. He's heard that before. His cock is red at the tip, already leaking with precum after being teased for so fucking long. "I like my blowjobs to be thorough," he informs her, adopting a stricter tone, "and watch your teeth."

Soarynn bares her pearly whites in a teasing smile that he doesn't find to be too funny. "Relax," she says, "I know what I'm doing."

"I'll be the judge of that, darling."

Soarynn takes a firm hold of his cock, stroking him up and down while bringing her lips to the tip. Her tongue darts out Coriolanus almost drops his whiskey when she starts working on his tip.

She's a fucking natural.

Soarynn takes him into her mouth after a good minute of teasing and she easily bobs her head up and down his long length. Coriolanus has been told by many women how big he is, how hard it is to take all of him at once. Soarynn is clearly not like other women. With one hand still free, Coriolanus grabs a fistful of her hair so he can set the pace.

Soarynn lets out what sounds like a whine of protest, but her mouth is full at the moment, so he ignores it. "That's right, just like that," he breathes, tilting his head back. If he knew he could get drinks and a blowjob at the club, he would've started coming here years ago.

Soarynn gags when he pushes her head all the way down, keeping it there for a good ten seconds. Part of him waits for her to fight him against it, to try and pull away but she takes it like the good girl she claims to be.

Not much else is needed once she starts using her other hand to stroke the remaining length of his cock. Coriolanus comes undone with a loud moan while spilling down Soarynn's throat, tightening his grip on her hair. She doesn't waste a single drop, swallowing it all like a proper whore. Coriolanus sits back on the sofa, utterly exhausted after that.

"Well," he clears his throat, "I suppose you did know what you were doing."

Soarynn grins up at him, her appearance is still impeccable for someone whose throat just got fucked. "I told you." He pats his thigh, inviting her to come sit again and she happily obliges. He makes sure to clean himself off first and pull his pants back on just in case they experience a rude interruption.

The door locks but he doubts it'll hold if someone really wants to get inside. The lock is more of a courtesy if anything.

Soarynn cozies right up to him, settling down on his lap while he drinks his whiskey. "Do you want some?" She shakes her head, making a face. "I don't like that stuff." More for him, then.

Coriolanus lazily draws shapes on her bare skin, on her arms, her legs, her chest, leaving a small trail of goosebumps wherever he goes. "How much to fuck you?"

Soarynn sits up a little straight though she doesn't appear to be offended. More so excited at the prospect of making some money. "Mr. Highbottom is in charge of setting our rates."

Ah, so it all goes back to Highbottom. Coriolanus is willing to bet that he takes a cut of their earnings and pay as well.

"So, I pay you after I fuck you?"

She nods, "Mhm."

Perfect.

"Take this off," he pulls at the strap of her bralette, "and allow me to return the favor."

Soarynn is fast at getting naked. She easily unclips her bralette, bearing her chest to him. He admires her breasts for a moment, noting the rosy shade of her nipples and the perkiness of the breasts themselves. She's perfect. Coriolanus pinches one of her nipples between her fingers, watching as she gasps and arches her back.

"Sensitive, hmm? This'll be fun."

In under a minute, Coriolanus has Soarynn under him. She's already out of breath but they're just getting started. "How old are you?" He asks while peeling her panties down her legs. Soarynn lifts her hips to help him out. "Twenty-one."

He turns thirty in two months, but who's counting? Age is really just a number at the end of the day. "How many men have you slept with?"

"Eight."

Heaven help him.

"You won't ever sleep with ten," he tells her firmly, spreading her legs apart so he can feast on the sight of her cunt. Sure enough, it's perfect just like the rest of her. Wet, pink, and oh-so tight. Coriolanus almost starts to drool at the sight of it.

He gently pulls apart her folds, groaning when he truly sees how wet she's gotten from the teasing and the blowjob. "Your cunt is perfect."

"So I've been told."

He gently slaps her ass with his other hand, she can be a little bit of a brat and Coriolanus Snow doesn't like a smart ass.

Coriolanus doesn't waste another second diving into her wetness, tasting her for himself. She's as sweet as he imagined and sounds even sweeter with her high-pitched moans and whines. "Oh, oh, please," she whines, arching her back. Coriolanus keeps her pinned down to the sofa so he can enjoy her cunt. He pays special attention to her clit, sucking and pulling on it to drive her crazy.

He's had his fair share of women, but it's led him to be quite the confident lover in the bedroom.

"Fuck, oh fuck, right there, right there." He peers up to find Soarynn's face twisted in ecstasy. Her eyes are shut but her lips do all the talking, spouting absolute nonsense while overwhelmed with pleasure. Coriolanus slides a finger into her cunt and she's done for. Her cunt feels so tight, so perfect for him. Coriolanus starts pumping in and out of her cunt, keeping a steady pace while he continues to eat her out.

Her walls start to tighten and her entire body starts to shake. She's going to fall apart any minute now. "Come on," he says, pumping fasted, determined to see her come apart, "give it to me, darling."

Soarynn gives out a pitiful cry and the wire inside of her snaps. It's a sight to see, watching her orgasm wash over her and take control of her entire body. Her mouth falls open, her fingers twitch and her back arches off the sofa like a puppet on strings.

Coriolanus continues lapping at her cunt while she cums, wanting to give her an experience to remember. He only pulls away once she's fully finished and is panting. "That...that was good," she whispers, lying limply under him. Coriolanus smiles, admiring how she looks in her blissed-out state. They really could've done this on the bed now that he thinks about it.

With glossed-over eyes, Soarynn stares up at him, almost in an adoring way. "Most people don't care if I finish."

His eyes rove over her half-naked body, only covered by the corset that looks very painful and her stockings. "I'm not most people," he reminds her. Soarynn rolls her eyes and sits up on her elbows, bumping into his nose with her forehead. "I've gathered that. Are you going to fuck me, because that costs a lot more than eating me out?"

Coriolanus is painfully reminded of how this at the end of the day, is just a sexual transaction. She needs to get paid and he honestly needs to get the fuck out of here. As if he needs to be reminded, there's a loud knock at the door. "Coriolanus? We're leaving so hurry up in there."

Festus. Always there when you don't need him.

Soarynn sighs, carding a hand through her hair, "That answers my question. He only accepts cash by the way." Coriolanus narrows his eyes. Only accepting cash is like sounding the alarm for shady business. Which this is, but he's still not so sure about this Highbottom character.

"How is he? As a boss?"

The question catches Soarynn off guard but that's what he wants. "Fine." Not fine. Coriolanus easily slides two fingers into her cunt, curling them so deep inside of her and Soarynn's eyes damn near roll to the back of her head. "Let me ask again," he says huskily, leaning down to talk directly in her ear, "how does he treat you?"

His fingers begin to work their magic, going in and out of her cunt at a punishing pace. Soarynn cries out, maybe in pain, maybe in pleasure. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference. Her hand latches onto his wrist but he's not letting up.

"He, he...he's," she chokes out, her head lolling back from the overstimulation, "he's mean, and he, he, he takes cuts from our pay."

That fucking asshole.

Coriolanus might as well finish what he started. He quickens the pace of his fingers and presses his lips to hers to quiet her down. Soarynn responds eagerly to the kiss, rolling her hips to meet his thrusts. It doesn't take long since she's already got one orgasm under her belt for her to reach another one. Soarynn moans into the kiss allowing him to bite her bottom lip.

Coriolanus tastes blood when she cums.

꧁ ꧂

"How much do I owe you?"

Highbottom leans against the wall of his office, eyeing Coriolanus up and down as if he's not a paying customer. "For you, my friend, five hundred." Coriolanus thumbs through his wallet and lets out a low whistle. "Five hundred, huh? That's a steep price for some cunt, isn't it?" Soarynn blushes standing next to him, lovebites littered all over her neck from their last few minutes together.

"Well, we offer the best of the best here."

"I see. Here's the five hundred for you, and for you," he looks down at Soarynn, "a tip for your services." Coriolanus hands her two hundred dollars, easily the biggest tip she's gotten in her whole life and he's not talking about his cock. Soarynn's eyes widen along with Highbottoms but he looks much more greedier. "Oh," she says softly, brushing her hair out of her face, "oh, that's very nice of you."

"Yes, very nice. You know, we have some rules here," Highbottom interjects, "Soarynn knows the rules, don't you sweetheart?" Her excitement is gone in a second. "Half of our tips go to the house," she says, quieter than before and less excited. She's about to start counting the bills when Coriolanus stops her. "It's not a tip."

Now everyone's confused.

"Excuse me?"

Coriolanus flashes Highbottom a more genuine smile this time now that he's beaten him at his own game. "It's not a tip, it's just my way of thanking her. I always thank the women who service me."

"Is that a fact?"

"Mhm. Now, you go run along, I'm sure we'll see each other very soon, doll," Coriolanus tells Soarynn, giving her ass a pat. Soarynn does as she's told, walking down the hallway, only looking back at him once before she goes behind the curtain back into the main room.

"Did she say something when you two were alone? Because if she did, then I can deal with he-"

"She didn't say anything," he cuts Highbottom off this time. "In fact, I'd like to see her again this Friday."

There's a bit of a standoff between the men, both rich from different sources of income, both profiting off of young girls and their sexuality. "That can be arranged...for a price," Highbottom muses, flipping through his bills, "she's highly coveted as you can imagine."

Those words strike a nerve and Coriolanus clenches his jaw. Soarynn is a proper whore but he'd like to keep things a little more private between them, even if it's for a steep price. "I want her all to myself, even when I'm not here." Highbottom laughs, he fucking laughs at Coriolanus as if he didn't just try to swindle one of his workers in front of him.

"You mean she can't fuck anyone but you? Mr. Snow, please, I know that you know how ridiculous you sound right now. Soarynn has a job to do. Are you saying that you don't want her to get paid?"

"No, I just don't want her fucking anything that walks into this club. You'll both get paid, don't worry about that."

"I'm not worried."

"Then it shouldn't be a problem."

"Mr. Snow, I have some very powerful friends who have taken a liking to Soarynn. What am I to tell them when she's suddenly off limits to them?"

"Tell them she belongs to Coriolanus Snow."

꧁ ꧂

Coriolanus is beginning to realize that he's made a grave mistake, and it all started three weeks ago when he met a burlesque dancer named Soarynn who he couldn't get enough of.

At first, he was just looking out for himself. Sharing is not something he's familiar with, so he struck a deal with Casca Highbottom, the owner of the club she danced at. Soarynn could dance, she could wait on tables, she could flirt. But under no circumstances could she be fucked. That meant no kissing, fingering, or fucking.

Coriolanus thought Highbottom might have a stroke when he listed out all of his rules. But he wasn't about to risk Soarynn's tight little cunt or her pretty little head so he took the necessary precautions.

Plus, the last thing he needed was for her to get some nasty disease and then give it to him.

What started out as pure sex has evolved into something different, something...personal. Which is why he's climbing the rickety stairs of her apartment building right now to pick her up for dinner. He didn't dare call it a date in fear of her getting the wrong message. She's sweet, but she's nowhere near his league. Feelings be damned.

This apartment building of hers looks like a thousand health code violations sealed in cement but he's almost to the seventh floor. He's damn near gasping for air by the time he reaches the top of the stairs. The stairwell isn't air conditioned either and, of course, there's no elevator.

Coriolanus had hesitated to leave the safety of his car when it pulled up to the curb of the building. Soarynn lives in the outer circles of the Capitol whereas he lives in the City Centre, both the safest and richest place to live.

He opens the door that leads to the narrow, dimly lit hallway and begins looking for her apartment number. She had insisted on meeting him at the resturaunt and now he knows why.

Her door is the last one, naturally, but Coriolanus has already come this far. He knocks twice, listening to her run around in there before the door opens. Soarynn looks different when she's fully clothed.

Her hair is pulled back and her makeup isn't as intense. Like she lives two seperate lives. "You came," she says. Coriolanus takes a quick look down the hall he just trekked down, "It was quite the long journey, I must admit."

Soarynn smiles, a real, genuine smile. "Well, I'm almost ready. You can just wait out here in the hall." Coriolanus raises an eyebrow, it doesn't feel very safe out here in the hall. "Or I could come in, since you know, I've been paying your rent for the past month."

A blush crawls across her cheeks. Since she only sees him now at the club, Soarynn is fully dependent on Coriolanus to pay for her needs and that's just how he likes it. He tips her generously, more than enough to cover rent for this shabby little shack she calls a home.

"Alright," she mumbles, stepping aside. Coriolanus bravely enters her apartment, stunned at how...small it is. He figured with how much her rent costs, she'd live somehwere bigger. But everything is in one room, the bedroom, living room and kitchen all occupy the same space.

"It's a bit messy," she says, picking up some clothes off the floor, "I meant to clean it the other night but I got home so late..." Her voice gets tuned out as he looks around her space. Drawings are tacked to the walls, clothes and shoes are scattered across the floor, bills are stacked on her small table.

Soarynn is poor.

He eyes the dress she's wearing, small, short and tight. Not at all appropriate for where he's taking her tonight. "Is that what you're wearing?" Soarynn throws some of the clothes onto her small bed pushed into the corner, clearly flustered with the unexpected company. "Yes. Is that a problem?"

The dress ties in the back, but leaves little to the imagination. "I wasn't aware that you'd be wearing some like that," is all he says. Soarynn shrugs, obviously not too worried about her outfit for tonight. "It's one of my more modest pieces if I'm being honest."

That doesn't make him feel any better.

Coriolanus takes another look at the apartment, at the cracked walls, the leaking ceiling, the dirty window and the creaking floorboards. He figured with how much he paid her, she'd be living somehwere nicer. "You have a lot of unpaid bills," he notes. There are several overdue notices sitting on her table, stamped in bright red ink so she can't miss them.

"They're not due until the end of the month."

"Soarynn," he starts with a sigh but she's not having any of it. "It's fine, trust me, it's fine. I know what I'm doing and contrary to your own beliefs, I cna take care of myself."

"I beg to differ. Your apartment is falling apart, you have bills due, am I not paying you enough? Because if that's the case then I ca-"

"I'm fine," Soarynn insists, growing more and more frustrated. "You pay me more than enough, I promise."

Coriolanus just can't find it in him to believe her, not when this is where she lives. "Then why don't you move? Find a better place?"

"I happen to like where I live, thank you very much. And it's close to the club. I've never lived anywhere else but on the edge of the city." What a terrible way to live. "Surely, you could find something a bit bigger," he insists, already picturing his own penthouse as a perfect example.

Coriolanus resides on the Corso with the richest of Panem.

She's never been to his apartment but he's told her about it before, how grand it is, how it's been in his family for generations. Her apartment could fit into his apartment twenty times.

"You are paying your rent, right?" Some people will take and take and take just to spend your money on things they don't need. Like clothes or shoes but Soarynn clearly has plenty of both.

Soarynn huffs, putting her hands on her hips. He finds it very hard to take her seriously, not because of her job, but because of her short stature and bratty little attitude. "Yes, I am paying my rent. It's not really any of your business how I choose to spend my money, is it?"

Coriolanus takes two steps towards her, closing the distance between them quickly. He reaches out and grabs her jaw, not too harshly, but more than enough to get her attention. "Need I remind you that it's my money, darling? So it is my business, and I have no issue taking my money elsewhere, so tell me Soarynn, where is all of this money going?"

She struggles against his hold but it's pointless. Coriolanus is much stronger than her. He tries to imagine where she could be spending it. Perhaps she's been setting money aside to get away from all of this, but that would mean getting away from him and he can't have that.

"I...I help out some of the girls at the club, okay?"

Out of all the things she could've answered with, he wasn't exepcting for her to go with that. "The girls at the club?" He repeats, confused on what she means. All the girls make money at the club, whether they're dancers or waitresses.

"They don't get paid as much as I do, and they don't have someone like you paying them. Highbottom always takes a cut of their pay, so I've been helping some of them out here and there."

It seems that he's underestimated her. Coriolanus expected Soarynn to spend his money on bags and makeup but instead, she's been helping out her friends at work. Sweet, but stupid.

"Their problems are not your problems, Soarynn," he sternly reminds her. Soarynn bats his hand away, "I know. But you never said I couldn't help them, so I am. It's the least I could do, now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish getting ready."

"You're not ready yet?"

Soarynn brushes past him, completely ignoring his question. They have reservations at eight.

"Where are we eating?"

Coriolanus checks his watch, they have about half an hour before they need to be there. "The Grand Oak," he answers, walking over to the dirty window, "it's in the City Centre."

"Never been," she calls from what must be the bathroom.

"To The Grand Oak?"

"No, to the City Centre."

His eyes widen at her causal comment. Never been to the City Centre?

"In all your years, you've never been to the City Centre?" It's certainly a walk from here since she doesnt have a car, but this is practically unheard of where he comes from. "My father said that if I couldn't afford to eat there, then I probably couldn't afford to walk around there, either. Besides, I have all I need right here."

Soarynn lives on the outskirts of the Capitol, right by the reservoir which sounds nice but it's really not. It's dirty where she lives, shady and known for it's high crime rates. No wonder the club she works at is a five minute walk from here. Coriolanus only goes there because it's guranteed that no one he knows will recognize him there.

"You're in a surprise then," he says, looking at one of the drawings she has tacked to the wall. It's more of a sketch the closer he looks at it. Like a fashion sketch for a dress. He never knew Soarynn could draw, or that she even liked to draw.

"Okay, I'm ready."

He turns around to find that she's thrown on some lipstick and pulled her hair back frm her face. She looks pretty, poor, but pretty. The shoes she's wearing are the same shoes she wears to the club. "You don't have any other shoes?" Soarynn gives him a knowing look. "No."

They'll have to go shopping one of these days, then.

"Fine. Let's go or we're going to be late."

Coriolanus is more than happy to get the hell out of here, especially when a drop of water falls onto his head from the ceiling. With one hand on her lower back, he guides them out of the apartment and down the hallway. "How was work?"

Soarynn always asks him how work was even though they both know she doesn't care. It's the thought that counts. "Fine."

Going down the stairs is much easier than going up and they're outside in no time. "Wow, you have your own car," she gasps, stopping at the curb. He looks down and takes her hand, pulling her along. "I have my own driver too." His driver doesn't bat an eye when a hardly dressed girl gets into the car with Coriolanus.

"The Grand Oak," he says to the driver, slamming the door shut.

Soarynn presses herself against him despite the spacious backseat, baring her smooth legs. "I missed you today." She's always been good at changing the subject, causing him to go from angry and stressed to happy and laughing within seconds. Coriolanus bites back a grin, knowing that she's used that line on plenty of men.

"Did you now?"

"Mhm," she looks out the tinted windows, "I only went to work for a few hours. Highbottom let me take the entire night off. I bet you had something to do with that."

Coriolanus wraps an arm around her, resting his hand on her hip. "I might have stopped by his office on my way out last week." Coriolanus wasn't an idiot, he knew that Highbottom was keeping a close eye on Soarynn now that Coriolanus was exclusively paying for her. So for her to take the night off, Coriolanus slipped the man a few more bills.

"How sweet," she purrs, placing a kiss on his cheek.

Coriolanus returns the gesture with a kiss on the lips, causing both of them to get a little carried away. The car ride goes by fast while he's busy sliding a hand under her dress, teasing her. "Are we going anywhere else tonight?" She asks between kisses, pulling at his necktie. Coriolanus briefly stopped by his apartment to freshen up after work, putting on some fresh cologne and fixing a few of his curls.

Soarynn seems to be set on ruining his hard work.

"I don't know," he teases, "is there somewhere else you need to be?"

"Only in your arms."

There she goes, saying things like that when they both know this won't go any further than heated sex and kisses. It's fun to pretend though, acting like they have nothing to lose.

꧁ ꧂

"And for the lady?"

Soarynn scans over the menu for the tenth time, still unsure on what she wants to eat. "She'll have the salmon," Coriolanus answers for her. Soarynn doesn't protest and simply hands the menu back to the waiter. "Thanks."

Once the waiter leaves, she leans over the table. "I've never seen a menu that big before," she whispers. Coriolanus hums, he's more than used to fine dining, but Soarynn isn't. Her eyes were as big as saucers when they walked inside, immediately drawing attention to her exposed skin and interesting looking shoes.

Coriolanus should've rented out a private room for tonight. Lots of people have bee glancing over at them but Soarynn has remained oblivious to their judgemental stares, simply in awe of the opulence he lives in so casually.

"More wine?" She shakes her head, watching as he finishes off his second glass. "No thanks, I had something to drink at the club." All Highbottom lets the girls drink is posca, the cheapest alcohol there is but Soarynn is a lightweight.

"Isn't that Festus?"

Coriolanus can hear him before he sees him. "Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in. Coriolanus Snow and..."

"Soarynn," she finishes for him, flashing Festus a smile, "nice to see you somewhere else."

Coriolanus takes in Festus and more importantly, the woman standing next to him. Persephone Price, a woman he's been after for years now. They just started seeing each other but Persephone has no clue that Festus frequents nightclubs to play cards and get lap dances.

"Where else do you see each other?" Persephone asks, nervously looking between all three of them. Coriolanus clears his throat, "Soarynn is a...she's an old maid of mine. She works somewhere else now but Festus always treated her like a barmaid whenever he came over." Festus lets out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck while Soarynn shoots Coriolanus a murderous glare which he wisely ignores.

"Oh, well, it's nice to meet you," Persephone says. Soarynn offers a polite smile but she doesn't mean it. "You too." Festus is quick to steer Persephone away from them. "We should be going. I'll see you at work, Coriolanus."

"Sure, Festus."

The moment they're out of earshot, Soarynn gives him an earfull of calling her a maid. "Are you serious?" She seethes, shooting daggers at him, "A maid?"

"Would you rather me have told her the truth? That I pay you to fuck you because we can call them back over here," he offers, not appreciating her tone. "You're a dancer, darling, and Persephone doesn't need to know about Festus and his whereabouts."

"Why not?"

How can he put this nicely?

"The club you work at has a certain...reputation," he explains slowly and quietly so no one overhears them, "and men like us can't be seen visiting such places. Especially not by women we're courting."

Soarynn sits up straight in her chair. "Are you seeing other women?"

Coriolanus blinks once, twice. How did he get here?

"No, no, I'm not seeing other women because frankly, I don't have time to see other women," he grits out, "you are more than enough for my plate."

"Your plate? So what am I? A meal?"

"I always tip after I eat you out, don't I?"

If looks could kill, he'd be dead right now.

"I'm going home," she announces, standing up so fast that she almost knocks her chair over. Coriolanus pinches the bridge of his nose, a headache is already forming, he can feel it coming. "Soarynn, sit down right now, you're making a scene."

"You are making me feel like some cheap whore. Have a nice night," she snaps, walking away before he can say anything else. Coriolanus watches her go and counts to ten before flagging down the waiter. He makes up some bullshit lie about a family emergency and makes sure to tip a little extra, no one needs to hear about some young woman walking out on Coriolanus Snow at dinner.

Soarynn doesn't get far before his car pulls up on her walking down the street, absolutely fuming. "Soarynn," he calls out the window, "Soarynn, come back, stop walking away from me."

"Stop writing me off as some girl you just sleep with!"

Coriolanus winces at her loud tone. Must she be so loud?

They're about two blocks away from the Corso, so maybe he can fix this. "Darling," he tries, softer this time, kinder. "Darling, come here, please. Let me take you home and make it up to you." Soarynn comes to a stop, wrapping her arms around herself. She looks so out of place here in the City Centre. Still, she's his for now. His responsibility, at least.

"I'm tired," she says, taking a step towards the black sleek car, "I think it'd be best if I just went home." Coriolanus shakes his head, not ready to let this night go. "Come home with me tonight," he insists, reaching out a hand, "you still need to have dinner."

Soarynn contemplates his offer. It's a good offer, a great offer.

She has two choices: go home to her rundown apartment, or go home with him.

Her decison is made rather quickly, but it always is when you have nothing to lose.

꧁ ꧂

"You looked so cute!" Soarynn giggles, evading his strong hands when he tries to pull her back into bed. They just spent the past four hours fucking and now, Soarynn is going through his personal photos. Framed photographs can be found throughout his penthouse, left behind by his mother who passed away decades ago. He's never seen a reason to put them away, not when most of them are of his family.

The last he has of them.

"Come back to bed," he sighs, lazily reaching out for her. Soarynn is wearing the shirt he wore to dinner, it's quite big on her but she makes it work. Her hair is tangled and her makeup is smudged. She looks beautiful, even he can admit that.

"Why don't you have any pets? Even in your baby photos, there's no pets." Coriolanus chuckles, shaking his head at the very notion of brining an animal into his home.

Soarynn is already more than enough.

"Pets are a lot of work," he explains tiredly, rubbing a hand over his face. They still need to shower and he desperately needs to shave his face. Coriolanus prefers a clean shaven face at the moment so he needs to stay on top of it.

"I've always wanted a kitten," she says, climbing back in bed with him. Coriolanus closes his eyes, imagining having to take care of such a demanding animal. "Then why haven't you gotten one?" Soarynn could definitely afford one with the money he pays her whenever he visits the club.

"Oh, I don't know. It just wouldn't be fair to raise a kitten in such a small apartment and besides, money comes and goes," she says the last part quietly, causing him to open his eyes. That's his money she's talking about and his money isn't going anywhere.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She cards a hand through her hair. "I mean, how long are we gonna do this? One day you'll get bored or find some other woman, someone like the lady we saw with Festus and then I'll just be the girl you used to pay for sex."

Unfortunately, she's right. Coriolanus could never marry Soarynn, it's sweet idea, but incredibly unattainable. She comes from lower class, she's a proper whore. His reputation would never recover if they were to get married.

"Let's not think about the future," he wisely advises, "just enjoy the present." Soarynn frowns but doesn't argue, simpy cuddles up to him instead. Coriolanus isn't really one for being all soft after sex, but he supposes that he can make the rare exception for Soarynn.

She is right, after all. One day, he'll never see her again. He can't afford to reputation wise, and she could never keep up with him when it comes to finances.

As he drifts to sleep, he realizes that maybe that was a lie he told himself when this all started.

They both have something to lose.

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