Post by Seek on May 5, 2013 6:54:55 GMT 10
Title: A Clear Shot
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 504 words
Summary: Buri and Raoul meet at a party. Hunger Games AU.
Pairing: Buri/Raoul
Round/Fight: 1D
Notes: Part of the Flashfire Games series.
Warnings: Hinted selling of a person.
-
Buri looks uncomfortable in a maroon silk dress that hugs her chest. It sets off her golden brown skin very nicely; there’s gold lining her eyes as well, and so her stylist seems to have decided to keep putting her in red. But there are some things he can’t disguise: there are still hollows under her eyes and in her cheeks from the Arena. Raoul salutes her with the glass in his hand. “Come out to get some fresh air? I don’t blame you.”
Warily, she watches him, and then nods. “You’re Raoul Goldenlake. I remember you.”
“Just call me Raoul,” he says, lightly. “We’re all Victors, after all.” Her expression grows dark, and he knows why, he’s been there, and so he quickly adds, “And you’re Buri, of course.”
“Yes. You were watching?”
“I was the Mentor for District Two this year,” he says. She stiffens, faces him proudly.
“I did what I had to.”
“I know,” Raoul says. No condemnation in his voice. She remembers the sound of lead bullets striking skulls far too well. She still has nightmares of the Arena. He gestures, with the hand holding the wineglass, back in the direction of the party going on in the mansion. “We all do. We’re Victors for a reason. That means we do what we need to.” He looks at the full wineglass again, and makes a face and upends it over a potted plant.
Buri’s mouth twitches, as if she’s trying to hide a smile. “Are you even allowed to do that?”
“I don’t drink,” Raoul explains. “But I don’t like parties, and taking the glass is easier than having to tell a group of people to shove off.” He glances at her, and his crooked smile is knowing. “It’s hard not to think of the ones you love.”
Is he saying what she thinks he’s saying?
She looks at him, really looks past the easy, boyish grin that’s part of Raoul Goldenlake, looks at how he carries himself in his green-velvet suit lined with gold threads, and the white shirt sleeve unbuttoned at the cuff, exactly how uncomfortable he looks and then she says, “You know?” And hopes that he gets what she means.
Raoul laughs; this time, there’s nothing quite so cheerful about it. “We’re all Victors after all, aren’t we?” She thinks about President Ozorne, and wanting to cut his throat with her curved knife. She doesn’t, of course. Because Thayet, he knows, and Thayet is the only person preventing her from doing so. She hopes that she’s reading Raoul correctly when she sees the hatred in his eyes.
“Just give me a clear shot,” she mutters.
“Just the one?” he replies.
Buri looks up at him, eyes flashing a challenge. “It’s the only one I need.”
He’s watched her Games. He knows.
“You,” Raoul murmurs, “Need to learn how to share.”
“You had all the time to think about getting a shot,” Buri informs him, “So don’t come complaining to me when you don’t get it.”
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 504 words
Summary: Buri and Raoul meet at a party. Hunger Games AU.
Pairing: Buri/Raoul
Round/Fight: 1D
Notes: Part of the Flashfire Games series.
Warnings: Hinted selling of a person.
-
Buri looks uncomfortable in a maroon silk dress that hugs her chest. It sets off her golden brown skin very nicely; there’s gold lining her eyes as well, and so her stylist seems to have decided to keep putting her in red. But there are some things he can’t disguise: there are still hollows under her eyes and in her cheeks from the Arena. Raoul salutes her with the glass in his hand. “Come out to get some fresh air? I don’t blame you.”
Warily, she watches him, and then nods. “You’re Raoul Goldenlake. I remember you.”
“Just call me Raoul,” he says, lightly. “We’re all Victors, after all.” Her expression grows dark, and he knows why, he’s been there, and so he quickly adds, “And you’re Buri, of course.”
“Yes. You were watching?”
“I was the Mentor for District Two this year,” he says. She stiffens, faces him proudly.
“I did what I had to.”
“I know,” Raoul says. No condemnation in his voice. She remembers the sound of lead bullets striking skulls far too well. She still has nightmares of the Arena. He gestures, with the hand holding the wineglass, back in the direction of the party going on in the mansion. “We all do. We’re Victors for a reason. That means we do what we need to.” He looks at the full wineglass again, and makes a face and upends it over a potted plant.
Buri’s mouth twitches, as if she’s trying to hide a smile. “Are you even allowed to do that?”
“I don’t drink,” Raoul explains. “But I don’t like parties, and taking the glass is easier than having to tell a group of people to shove off.” He glances at her, and his crooked smile is knowing. “It’s hard not to think of the ones you love.”
Is he saying what she thinks he’s saying?
She looks at him, really looks past the easy, boyish grin that’s part of Raoul Goldenlake, looks at how he carries himself in his green-velvet suit lined with gold threads, and the white shirt sleeve unbuttoned at the cuff, exactly how uncomfortable he looks and then she says, “You know?” And hopes that he gets what she means.
Raoul laughs; this time, there’s nothing quite so cheerful about it. “We’re all Victors after all, aren’t we?” She thinks about President Ozorne, and wanting to cut his throat with her curved knife. She doesn’t, of course. Because Thayet, he knows, and Thayet is the only person preventing her from doing so. She hopes that she’s reading Raoul correctly when she sees the hatred in his eyes.
“Just give me a clear shot,” she mutters.
“Just the one?” he replies.
Buri looks up at him, eyes flashing a challenge. “It’s the only one I need.”
He’s watched her Games. He knows.
“You,” Raoul murmurs, “Need to learn how to share.”
“You had all the time to think about getting a shot,” Buri informs him, “So don’t come complaining to me when you don’t get it.”
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!