philophobia

09

"When the laws of the Games were laid out, they dictated that every twenty-five years the anniversary would be marked by a Quarter Quell. It would call for a glorified version of the Games to make fresh the memory of those killed by the districts' rebellion. As a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, on this the Third Quarter Quell, it has been decided that the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Johanna was furious at the news. She had been invited over to Aspen's house to watch the news, looking at her and Emmett as parents. They, along with Harley, were her own dysfunctional family. Anger is the first emotion she felt. Screaming at the top of her lungs as she threw the closest thing to her, which just so happened to be a lamp, at the TV projection. Emmett held Aspen as she cried, knowing she was the only female victor and had no choice but to enter into the games.

"Harley" Johanna yelled, realization hitting her as she ran across the pavilion.

His house got worse and worse the farther you walked into it. Objects were thrown, glass shattered, holes in multiple different walls, and even a door that had been completely ripped off of its hinges. She began to panic, her breathing becoming erratic as she couldn't seem to find him anywhere, so she went to the phone hanging on his kitchen wall.

"Harley? Baby? Please tell me you're okay"

"Finnick, it's Johanna."

"What? Johanna, where is he?"

"I don't know. I was watching the broadcast with Emmett and Aspen, shit hit the fan after Snow made the announcement and now I can't find him" Johanna paused, wiping away a stray tear. "His house is a wreck Fin."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. I'm bringing Mags with me, she can't be alone right now" he let out a small sigh.

"She can stay with Aspen and Emmett, I need your help here" Johanna agreed before the line went dead. She tried cleaning some of the damaged belongings scattered on the floor in the kitchen, picking up a few items, and tossing them in the garbage before her entire body froze.

Blood.

Not enough to suggest he was seriously injured but enough to make her worry.

She followed the trail of bright red droplets through his kitchen, through the sliding glass door that led towards his yard, and out into the forest until she saw him. "Harley STOP!"

Her arms wrapped around his chest, begging and pleading with him to stop until he finally listened. He dropped to his knees, sobbing into her abdomen as his bloody knuckles wrapped tightly around her waist. Johanna was once again letting tears spill from her eyes as she listened to the man that had always been so strong around her, beg to die now rather than be thrown back into that arena. The base of the tree had a large hole in it from where he had been furiously punching the bark, pieces scattered on the ground around the base of it, his blood everywhere.

They spent about forty-five minutes outside before Johanna managed to convince him to come inside. As they neared the door, Finnick shot outside like a bullet and pulled Harley into his arms.

"What happened?"

"He took his anger on his house and then on a tree" Johanna paused, lifting the silent boys' hands so Finnick could examine his knuckles. "A pretty solid one too."

It all seemed like one big blur. The reaping where he volunteered for Emmett against everyone's wishes and his own better judgment, the ride to the Capitol, Finnick staying with him all night until he fell asleep, and Cashmere spending the entire morning trying to come on to him. Thankfully, he was dragged away rather quickly to get prepped and dressed for the annual chariot ride.

His usual cold demeanor was back on display for all the Capitol folk to witness.

When he first arrived at the loading dock where each horse and carriage was stationed, everyone flocked to him. The careers were friendly, greeting him with warm smiles and pleasantries before moving on. Mags gave his hand a tight squeeze as he vowed to protect her in that arena as if she were his own mother before Johanna and Blight came over, cursing him for volunteering for Emmett.

They all knew why he did it though.

"There you are" Finnick breathed out, embracing his partner. Things were official between them but, not to the public. Only their close friends knew about the 14-month-long relationship.

"Here I am" Harley nodded as they separated, watching with a small grin as Finnick eyed his outfit.

"You see the newlyweds yet?" Finnick asked, clearing his throat. He had to change the conversation otherwise it would become painfully obvious how turned on he was by the way Harley looked in his chariot costume.

"I have no intention to meet them" Harley sneered.

"Calm down" Aspen whispered, wrapping her arm around his. She looked beautiful as always, even with the bull horns on her head and fox tails around her waist. She had brown leather gloves on her hands that ended just below her elbows, matching the singular glove on his left hand.

"It's not fucking right. Do you think that if Daisy and I pulled that shit, we'd be walking out of there as star-crossed lovers? No! We'd be dead as a fucking door" he snapped, tearing his arm away from her. He spun on his heel, feeling eyes on the back of his head, and met the gaze of the girl on fire once he was fully turned.

Fear was evident on her face. Although she tried her best to hide it, it was obvious that she was scared of him. And that shocked them all. Katniss followed Harley's gaze as it moved to Peeta and his tongue swiped across his bottom lip, they all knew what he was thinking.

"I can't wait to rip Peeta's fucking head off" he mumbled, glancing at Emmett before hopping up on the chariot. Aspen accepted his hand, grateful for the help.

As the chariots took off, Emmett made his way over to Haymitch.

"We need to talk."