Home is Where the Heart is? // {Denali

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

It wasn't long before Maverick gave up waiting. He didn't want to ask to be let into his own house - or, rather, his former house - after all. Where was she? But then, maybe his mother had decided that allowing an Avox to answer the door was too crass. He really didn't know. As a young boy he could remember two Avoxes in their household, but it had been years since they had dismissed the last. Nearly all of their neighbors had at least one. Maybe it had finally become clear to his parents that they were behind the times. Having an Avox was a mark of status, after all. And as long as no one else found out that they let Midnight play with it, things would be alright.

Except that he still hated her. When she rounded the corner and came into his view, Maverick steeled himself. He took pride in the fact that he could contort his expression every which way. It was important asset if he ever wanted to be on television. He used the skill against the Avox, making his face a mask of tolerance while the rage bubbled in his stomach. "Did you not hear me ringing?" He asked, and though his voice had all the tones of pleasantness, a nasty undercurrent threatened.

"I know my mother likes to attended promptly." Which was true, mostly. When she bothered to pay attention. These days she seemed more and more in her own world. That could further explain the Avox. What frustrated Mav most was that there could be dozens of explanations, but his family had provided none of them. Just that they had an Avox now, and that was that.

Maverick forced his hands to stay open and relaxed at his side as he beckoned her close. "Come here," he commanded, blue eyes a storm.

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

Hadn't his parents said she was a teenager? Maybe they had meant pre-teen, but he had a hard time believing even that. She was so fidgety, and still had all of her baby fat ringing her face. Not like Midnight. Midnight was beautiful, which was a damn good thing as she never talked, either. There was an intelligence buried deep within his sister. He'd done his best to stamp out when he'd been young and jealous, and regretted it now - not that he would ever admit that to anyone, let alone apologize to Midnight. But she wasn't an Avox, like this girl. Like this thing.

He mustered what little patience he had as she slowly shuffled her way forward. Maverick kept his gaze on her face, catching her eyes whenever they lifted to him. It was an old habit, one of the first tricks he learned in his crusade to becoming the games' host. It was always better to look into someone's eyes, because it earned you their attention, whether or not they realized it. And though it might be insubordinate for her to look so directly at him, Maverick much preferred it.

"Good," he said once she stopped. At least she had the good sense to listen, even if it took her a little while to obey. A slow slave was better than so slave, he supposed. And she was so damnably young, or young looking, that he couldn't hate her with the same vehemence he had felt only moments before.

But he did hate her. "I'm going to show you how I like things to work when I'm around the house, because I'm a member of the Miles family too. Understand?" He locked his gaze on her own, and wondered if there was anything behind her eyes, any intelligence at all. Whatever she had done to become an Avox, it wasn't because she was particularly cunning. He had to assume she deserved it, nevertheless.

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

Well at least she had the good sense to nod. He wondered how long it had been since her surgery. His father didn't share stories from his profession often, but he had mentioned a few times about how difficult the transition was. People still tried to answer questions, usually simple ones, with speech. And that just ended up freaking everyone else out. No one needed to see inside the mouth of an Avox. No one at all. So the nodding was a good sign. She wasn't some sort of newbie. He didn't trust his parents to make any good decisions, least of all when it came to taking on new members of the household. Definitely had to be out of pity.

Maverick gave a curt nod and then stepped around her, keeping an arm's length between them. Presumably she bathed but she wasn't clean the way most of the Capitolites were. Pristine. Practically glowing (and some of them, with surgery, actually did). Besides, she was clearly beneath him in rank, and so he had no reason to observe the usual niceties. He looked back to be sure she followed, and then walked a brisk clip down the entry hallway and stopped first in the library. "I hardly ever use this room any more. But when I am at the house and I enter this room, I am not to be disturbed. My mother will understand. I think that's it for here."

He took off just as quickly, this time not bothered to check on her progress. He lead them around the corner to the spacious kitchen which hardly ever was used. Maverick stopped by the island counter, turning around to rest his elbows on one of the higher pieces. He didn't look at ease though. Instead, arms at his chest, he looked like a cat waiting to pounce on unsuspecting prey. "Does my mother let you do to the market?"

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

It was a little like having a puppy follow him around. No, something less curious and more abashed. A rabbit? He'd only read about them in school, but it seemed appropriate. He didn't look back though; if he stopped and she wasn't there, he would deal with her then. No need to demean his authority by hustling her along. He stared straight ahead, walked with the easy confidence of someone always handed things in life. His arms swung out by his hips, his shoulders hung back, his chest out high. He looked every bit the Capitolite he was.

Once at the entry to the kitchen, he turned only slightly to her, standing at an angle. He decided it was better not to intimidate her too badly, or else he was worried she might completely wilt. She had to have some use after all. But clearly his simple question was perplexing. HONESTLY, he screamed the thought at his parents, fuming, as she considered. And then, it happened.

Maverick, being quite enamored of the Games, never shied away from blood and gore. But this. This was unacceptable. He shouldn't have to see the inside of her mouth, not ever. He waited just a second and then lunged, his weaker left arm clamping down on her right, and his other palm coming to her face. He covered her mouth with his soft, uncalloused hand, blue eyes bearing down on her.

"You will never do that again. Do you understand me?" He spoke low, so low it almost became a whisper. Those eyes, truly the most dynamic part of him, glowed with rage.

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

This side of himself, this dark and impulsive side, his family knew about it. But only because of Midnight. If it hadn't been for her... well, maybe he'd have found other outlets for his violent nature. It had never occurred to him to hit or manipulate before the birth of his sister, and then for awhile that's all he wanted. The same feeling bubbled up inside of himself. How dare this girl, this thing, come into his family uninvited. How dare she be so weak and stupid.

Clearly she was too dumb to understand proper English. Or maybe she was used to a heavier hand. Maverick backed her into the hallway wall, pressing his palm to her lips. "One. More. Time. You will not open your mouth in my presence, or insult my family by doing that. Do you - under - stand?" He tried to speak slowly, to make sure she understood, but also the threat carried more true when things came out in tiny bursts. And he meant very much what he said, and what he implied. He wasn't the strongest fellow in the Capitol by far, but he could be among the cruelest.

He heard her at the front door just before Midnight's key slipped into the lock. He'd cut it too close, coming this late in the afternoon. In one smooth motion, Maverick stepped away from Denali, and then two steps to the side. He passed one index finger over his lips, commanding her to silence, and then looked to the door as his fourteen year-old sister entered.

Midnight hung back in the doorway, key still in the lock. Her eyes flickered between Denali and Maverick.

"You're home early," he managed to sound casual, but Midnight would not be fooled. Could not fooled. Her gaze lingered just a moment longer on Denali, before she bobbed her head. With the key slipped free, she turned and took to the stairs. Maverick watched her go.

life is bigger, it's bigger than you, and you are not me
the lengths that I will go to

Maverick flashes Midnight an encouraging smile as the girl trudged up the steps of their home. Her home, really, now. He had no business being there at all. Certainly no business terrorizing their Avox. But, well, that simply didn't occur to Maverick. In some ways his little sister was very much like Denali. She might as well have her tongue cut out for all the talking she did around the house. But Midnight was well groomed and cared for, while Denali was clearly not. If his parents had brought her home out of pity, Maverick reasoned they could have at least cleaned her up.

As soon as Midnight's dark hair disappeared, he turned slowly back to the girl. He waited a moment, hands behind his back, and then approached her, each step light and measured. When he raised his hand, this time he showed her her palm and digits, more of a wave than anything, before brushing her hair from her face. It was red where he had gripped her, and though she was young, he did not think she was young enough to avoid bruising. Maverick frowned, the absolute picture of concern.

"Let's get you washed up." And when he spoke now, it was in the gentlest, cloying tones. He dropped his hand from her face, palm up, for her to take it if she wished. His eyes had softened too, and where there had been a storm before, they were light and clear. "Come, to the kitchen."