I Don't Wanna See You Smile (Snowjanus)

chapter one

Coriolanus willed himself to ignore the dejected boy that sulked out of the cafeteria a mere hundred feet away from where he was sitting. Running away from adversity was a cowardly move on Sejanus' part, no doubt, but even Coryo felt that the teasing was a bit much this time.

Though, teasing probably wasn't the right word for the nasty remarks his classmates were making to Sejanus' face today. Coriolanus would almost go as far to call it embarrassing on his peers part. They weren't kids anymore; They'd be graduating soon and moving up to university. One would think that they would finally have acquired the decency or class to talk about someone behind their back instead of to their face. Or to maybe just not gossip at all.

Coryo wouldn't pretend like he had never made a remark or two, (or a hundred), about the district boy since they became classmates almost ten years ago, but he was always sure to be cordial to him in person. Unfortunately, to Sejanus, cordiality must mean the same thing as friendship, because he tended to gravitate to Coryo almost all of the time.

So Coriolanus had started to feel responsible for the other boy, as much as he hated to admit that to himself. He tried hard not to let his peers know, but everyone, even the teachers, had caught on to the supposed 'friendship' between the two. Coryo always denied that. He didn't like Sejanus. He hated him, really. He just felt a sense of responsibility to not let him completely drown in the capital when he so belonged in the districts, that was all.

And there was the fact that his father was rich and his Ma's cooking was nothing short of amazing. He always made sure to never finish the entire treat when Sejanus would offer them at school, claiming that he was so full from all of the other meals his personal chef had prepared for him. But there were those rare occasions where Coriolanus would be there for Sejanus on a particularly bad day, and an entire basket of treats would show up at their penthouse within the next morning or two that he, Tigris, and the Grandma'am would live off of for as long as possible.

Maybe if he went to the other boy's aide now, it would mean a basket might be sent to his home. He couldn't deny that he was hungry. He'd been counting down the days until The Hunger Games because he knew that the top 24 students would be fed like kings.

So that was the reason he gave in his mind to nonchalantly excuse himself from his peers and walk out to the hall where Sejanus had disappeared to. He just wanted some food for him and his family. He didn't actually care one way or the other if Sejanus was alright.

He did his best to ignore that gross, full feeling he got in his stomach that spread up to his chest whenever he thought about seeing Sejanus alone. He wasn't sure what it was. Disgust, probably.

It didn't take long to find the boy sitting on the sill of the massive bay window at the end of the hall that overlooked The Academy garden. "Sejanus?" he called out, quiet enough so that nobody else would hear but the two of them, on the off chance there was someone watching.

Sejanus didn't look at him. He just kept his gaze transfixed on a random point out the window. "How'd I know that you would come rushing to save me?"

Coryo felt hot anger seep through his veins. That wasn't what this was. The fact that Sejanus thought that the two of them were close enough that something like that would cross Coriolanus' mind was maddening. He just wanted some food. He pitied the boy, really. And Tigris always told him that other people admire those that show grace to the ostracized, so...

Sejanus finally turned to look at him, and Coryo was shocked to find tears staining his cheeks. That feeling in his stomach grew hot. "Sejanus," he started, moving to sit on the sill across from him. He desperately tried to ignore the burning sensation that came from where their feet were slightly touching. "You shouldn't let the others get to you like this." He found himself a bit at a loss for advice. Sejanus hadn't cried over his mistreatment since they were young boys. Sure, their classmates were being a little over the top today, but it was nothing that he shouldn't have been able to handle.