#viewship

(he gives them hope)

By all rights, the Capitol should chew him up and spit him out, but somehow, somehow, it doesn't seem to affect him at all. Leaves him just as bright and full of hope as he started out, until he infects everyone he touches with it and for the first time, the people of the Districts begin to believe in something beyond the Hunger Games. Begin to wonder if maybe there's something for them, out from under the thumb of the Capitol.

Yuuma is fifteen when he volunteers for the Quell. His voice rings out loud and clear before they've even finished reading the name of the eldest male victor from his District, and on his way up to the stage he grins at the old man like it's nothing at all.

(Chris, who'd hesitated until Thomas had been halfway to the stage, whose voice had cracked on his first attempt so that he'd had to try again and whose knees had shaken with every step forward, watches his bright confidence and can't quite hold back a hot flush of shame at his own fear)

Even before they reach the arena, the plan is set in motion. Even before they reach the arena, Chris is prepared again to die.

But again, he finds himself fighting. Not even just for his own life this time - not when Michael insists that Chris team up with Yuuma from the very beginning - and that's... different. Leaves him aware of what he's doing in a way he'd never been during his own games, leaves him unable to simply black out when he makes a kill.

He feels shame, again, when he turns away from the woman from District 7 who'd tried to bury an axe in Yuuma's shoulder, and sees Yuuma staring at him with wide, scared eyes - but then Yuuma smiles up at him and perhaps it's hesitant but Chris still finds his heart jumping. Still hates himself a little because he's getting attached and it's bad, it's the stupidest decision he's ever made but--