don't stand too close// Zaya/Torka

When she had asked me to come to the gym, my first instinct was to say no, but she left before I had the chance. Now I'm curious. And the kiss has left me more curious. It's been a bit since I've finished eaten, and I wanted to just go rest before the big day, but it seems rest won't ever come. Maybe later. Maybe when everyone else is sleeping, but even then I'm doubting it. I've made it to my room, and I'm cleaning myself up. Brushing my teeth and all that. I have to at least make myself smell decent since I have nothing else to give. Especially in the arena. No toothbrush? No shower? It's what I'm looking forward to. To see these foolish tributes stripped of everything. To watch them break. I'm prepared. I'm always prepared.

A grin twists across my face as I make my way down to the training floor. It's all too familiar. But I shouldn't be here since training has officially ended. It won't hurt nothing though. She asked me to come, and I'll come. I'll see what she wants. Maybe she can give me more advice on how to overcome the arena. But wouldn't that be wrong? Nah. It'll give me the advantage I need. It'll help me become the victor. I'll wear the crown at the end. Nobody can take it from me.

Opening the door, I look in. It's darker than I ever imagined. I try to quiet my steps, but I'm sure I'm being loud. Looking around I see her pacing back and forth. A single light lit the room above the sword station. I can't wait to get my hands on one of those inside the arena. I can't wait to show what I'm capable of. I can do it all. When I'm close to her, I stop in my tracks. My eyes focus on her.

I almost chuckle when she jumps slightly. Sneaking up on someone is a good trait especially when in the arena. If she was a tribute in the arena, she'd be dead right now. It's almost a terrible thought, but the more people who make foolish mistakes in the games, the better. But why would a gamemaker fear me? I'm just a career from district two with the goal of winning. I volunteered to make a name for myself. To bring the honor back to district two.

"Sorry, I didn't see you there." It's honestly funny that she would reply like this, and it takes all my strength to not laugh in her face. I watch as she tries to calm herself down, and I want to why she asked me here. I'm looking at her outfit. It's one of the nicer outfits I've seen since I've arrived. It's not so dramatic. But she's still a gamemaker, and I'm a tribute. Isn't this wrong? Surely there's a code against this. But apparently it doesn't matter. "I'm glad you came."

So far I'm not sure if this is worth my time. I want to fight. I want to train. The idea of killing people is the only thing running through my head. Turning towards the swords, I remove one from the rack. Examining the blade in the dim light, I can't hide the smile from growing larger and more genuine. "But I would like to know why I'm here?"

The sword is perfect. The balance is amazing. It's everything I need for the games. I can see myself swinging this around chopping off limbs, and maybe a few heads. Maybe I can break people's neck. Maybe I can just fight them and set them on fire. Yeah, that'll work. And for a moment it's nothing but silence buzzing around, and I turn back towards her trying not to ignore her. I want to learn more, and maybe she can help me.

Yet she stumbles around her words ending a sentence in the middle. Everything stops for a moment, and I'm looking into her eyes waiting to hear why I'm here. It's strange being in her presence alone in the dark training center, and I'm sure it's not allowed, but she has a reason. She has to. "Because I think you're handsome."

Oh. That's the first time I've ever heard anything like that, and it's coming from a gamemaker. Someone who could kill me. Someone who could help me win the games. Someone that I never thought would say that. I lower the sword down. Everything she said when she found me in the dining hall starts slowly making sense. Her outfit. The kiss. Everything is coming together. But how could she find me handsome? I'm just me. Torka Hammerfell. How could I be so stupid? WhY do I do now? I place the sword back on the rack and turn towards her. My shoulders relax, and my head drops forward. "That's the first time I've ever heard those words you know. I didn't have my first kiss until I arrived in the Capitol."

Being honest feels like a slap in the face, but I like to tell it how it is. I'm sure I've missed out on a lot back in district two. Never socializing with anyone. Always hanging out in the training center because I wanted to better myself for the moment I'm in the games. Always tormenting people. That's probably something that turned people away. But I just never really cared, and now that I'm standing here alone with this gamemaker, everything feels strange. I'm realizing how much I've actually missed, but it'll all be better once I return home.

She looks at me, and part of me wonders what she's thinking. They can think almost anything, and I would never know it. Maybe it's a way for her to figure out the easiest way to kill me once inside the arena. Maybe she really means every word she's said. I don't know. "Well, can I be your second one?" The words completely catch me off guard, and for the first time, I feel like I'm at a loss of words. A gamemaker wants to kiss me, and I'm sure this same gamemaker will want to kill me.

I stiffen up for a moment unsure of what to do. What can I say to her? Why, out of everyone here, did she pick me? I mean I did do something spectacular. Look at my score. It's not the best, and I'll have to fix that by removing those who did better than me. But right now isn't the time for that. That's when I get a small idea. It may not be what she wants to hear, but it's my proposal. Something I have to offer. "Tell you what, when I get back to the Capitol after winning the games, you can give me my second kiss."