early rise, early fall.— [peter/teddy | blitz]

Every moment starts with a simple act.

Today's moment was getting slammed into on a random street on his way to the markets to get Lili her favorite breakfast pastry that she swears is heaven sent. Usually, he would refuse knowing that too many people were out and about and every time he's recognized it's always some mix of sorrow, anger, or admiration. He could handle them all, but when every person out in public shows it, he starts to drown in his own head. And he preferred not to feel bad for the rest of the day.

Everyone in the house was most likely asleep anyways when he slipped out the door, dressed up in a pair of sweatpants, an old t-shirt he had won in some capitol contest that was three sizes too big, and a pair of old tennis shoes that he had before his name became a namesake. Sure, if the Capitol caught him wearing this, they'd freak out, but he doesn't care. Six was his home and he refused to not be comfortable in his home. The day was going well and filled with a nice chill of a good winter day. The sweater he tossed on last minute feeling cozy in the weather.

Getting lost in the expanse of Six was his favorite part of the day. Being able to live like a person sometimes and discover new things. All of it made him feel like a kid once more. The days running around with Parson and Jacob until the stories didn't make anymore sense. It's in that moment when he gets sprawled across the concrete. A rushed form of someone passing him by and then another slammed right into him, but he's fine. His eyes scour the other quickly, realizing it's just a kid.

"I’m sorry- wait- are you-?"

There's the recognition.

"Teddy Ursa. Yes. It's okay. Are you okay? Here, let me help you up."

His hand extends out in an offer.

"I'm really sorry about that Mr. Ursa but uh did you see where that guy I was chasing went?"

Teddy feels like the words rush pass him like a hurricane. A worried kid chasing after some guy. Something in his gut gives as Teddy looks to the kid who's looking around the area, looking to every corner. "Uh, no. I didn't even see the guy." Kids these days were weird. Chasing after strangers? Parson, Jacob, and him used to play near graveyards sometimes, so maybe he wasn't one to talk.

"He got away... damn it."

A silence fills Teddy as he starts wondering why he's still here. He could have easily gone to the bakery by now and make Lili's day, but instead, he's curious. The pit of his stomach is leaving a bad feeling as he watches carefully, waiting to figure out what's going on and why this kid just ran into him. Admiration lingers in the kid's face, filling Teddy with a strange uneasiness. A feeling he's still not quite used to. The hero of District Six to some. He could recognize that look anywhere, but he's never felt like a hero. The curse of Six had been broken with him, but there still were many corpses that have come since.

"That guy he... he uh stole a lady's purse. I was trying to catch him but I guess I started going a little too fast. Sorry... My names Peter by the way!"

The words are quick and he's processing them much slower than he usually would. It's the morning, forgive him. There's a mix of emotions as he worries for the lady who's purse is stolen. Then he catches on that a kid was chasing a dangerous stranger. The name comes across and there's a moment where it sounds just like the capitolites who tell him their names, but the name is much more clear. An excited kind of kid who is meeting someone who they look up to. It both warms his heart and terrifies him.

"Uh... Nice to meet you, Peter."

Then it finally hits him and he feels like his parents once more; scolding their kid. Why do strays always stick to him?

"Wait! You shouldn't be chasing dangerous strangers. He could have had a gun! Or a knife! You could have gotten injured. What do you think you were doing?"

"Mr. Ursa… you’re known for being a nice guy and a sweetheart and… don’t you believe in helping other people?"

There was helping people and then there was risking your own life. Teddy knew the difference between both of them. Teddy had been apart of the games; saw the way helping people got some of them killed. His own wound having left him weakened and needing to be carried down a volcanic mountain by Titus. Chester having to help guide him everywhere until he got used to walking once more. He's a nice guy. Teddy's always wanted to help people and believed in it, but no one should risk their life like he had done.

"The what-ifs don’t matter, what matters is nothing bad did happen to me and he got away with that lady’s purse."

His eyes follow Peter's own to see that same desire that he had years ago. The desire to help outweighing your own self. It's commendable in a way, but also he's just a kid. He's just a kid who believes Teddy is a hero; when in reality, he's just a survivor. "I’ve looked up to you for a long time. Not because you won, but because to me you stand for kindness." Kindness is all he's ever known. Kindness is what kept him going for a long time. Petter clearly looked up to him. There's a warmth there of knowing that someone did, but he was worried about stuff like this.

"Not because you won, but because to me you stand for kindness. You stand for positivity even in the darkest situations."

A sigh falls from his lips as he fixes his sweats and looks to peter calmly.

"Kindness is important, but safety also is too. I wouldn't forgive myself if someone like you was hurt trying to live up to my name. It's important to help people, but you shouldn't have to risk yourself. You could have been hurt and ditched in an alleyway for no one to find you."

There's a moment where he's frustrated about this, but also he understands it. Understands it better than he should.

"I believe in helping others. It's risky what you did, but there's better ways to help than to put yourself in danger, kid. Where are you heading?"

There's a worry in the back of his head.

"Let me walk you there and we can talk about ways to help others that is safe and not going to put you at risk."