star child | {kellan oneshot}

My little sister is going to be a fucking victor-- that much I know for sure.

If someone would have told me Pillar, of all people, would have been kicking ass and taking names in the arena, I would have laughed in their faces. She was Pillar, for Ripred's sake. She was a little brat who was poor at taking direction and critiques. She was the kid sister I spent a decade trying to mold into the perfect weapon, because, despite my family's opinion, I did see potential in her-- stubborn or not.

And now, exactly ten hours after I have watched her claim her second kill by burning a boy to ashes in mere seconds, I am speechless. The Capitol make-up teams and stylists are swarming me now, just as they did last year days before Justice won, and I try to form a coherent thought about Pillar's chances of winning.

I can't.

They tell me they are ready for me, and I walk into Justice's den. Its walls are adorned with lavish golds and diamonds, plush fur rugs splayed on the floor. A fire burns beneath a mantle that holds a portrait of our family, painted by some Capitol artist to make us look like a big happy family.

I look hot as fuck, though, so I don't really mind that my father's hand was painted patting me on the shoulder.

This girl is different than the one from last year; I recognize this one. Crescent Caroul-- the girl who made Dustyn Chase look like a sun god in the tribute parade. Her signature red hair is now dyed midnight blue, and she smiles at me with painted black lips, awaiting an answer for a question I almost don't hear.

"How proud of your kid sister are you?" she asked. I smile back.

"Pillar is--" I blink, still at a loss for words. Come on, Kellan, I think, You've been pulling words out of thin air for years.

"Pillar is strong. She's stronger than anyone could have ever imagined-- myself included. I never thought the little girl I taught how to notch an arrow would be here." Crescent holds up a hand as if to stop me.

"You taught her?" she asks.

"Everything she knows." God knows Mom and Dad didn't. "I mean, please don't misunderstand: I knew she had it in her to win. Otherwise I wouldn't have bothered training her. I guess I just never had a chance to take a step back and see how much she has grown until now. I'm very proud of her."

Telling the people what they want to hear, or being honest: I am not sure which I am doing at this point. Pillar is an annoying little brat, and if she dies in that arena, I'll bring her back just to kill her again myself. But that is the thing. I don't want her to die. And she is my legacy. The others all had help. They all had Mom and Dad, people who knew the Games front to back. And Pillar has me. Only me.

"I would be too. Two kills so far, and who can forget the way she put an end to that mutt! Oh, it was one of my favorite moments of the Games so far!" I smile. Not because it is expected, but because, fuck, it is one of my favorites too. It isn't as cool as lighting a boy up in flames, but it's still pretty cool.

"Okay, so tell us: Are you getting more of a Scout vibe from Pillar, or a Justice vibe?"

I'm not certain, but I think she has just asked me if I think my sister is going to die or not.

"Neither. I think Pillar is the best thing to happen to the 74th Games, Ms. Caroul. And there isn't a doubt in my head that the next time I see her in person, she'll be wearing a crown on her head."

"Okay, now. Tell us about yourself. What's been new since last year? I don't know if you're aware, but you've been causing quite a stir within the Capitol." The ring on my finger feels heavy. Pyrite's stare makes it even heavier. So I ignore the last part of the statement, and I am honest with Crescent Caroul.

"I'm engaged now." I say. Crescent presses her lips together in a tight smile. She doesn't seem the type to lose her cool very often. Good, I think, Neither am I.

"Who is the lucky person?" she asks, despite already knowing the answer.

I point at her, black hair, blue eyes, absolutely gorgeous features.

"Pyrite Shore."

The cameras pan to Pyrite, still staring at me, now with a glimpse of a smile. Crescent doesn't miss a beat.

"Shore. As in Opal Shore? You're kidding. Two District One Victor families uniting? I can't wait to see what those babies do." She flips her hair over her shoulder. I blush. Not a cute, tiny, aw, shucks blush, but one where I can feel my blood pulse in my skull. Pyrite and I having children would be like asking one person to walk twenty dogs at the same time, only instead of dogs, it is a baby. I decide she is much better suited as a Stylist than an Interviewer. She is much like me: indifferent, arrogant, detached. But maybe that's why they sent her here to interview me.

She turns to face the camera, her eyebrows raised and her black lips now smiling with mischief. "Well, there you have it, folks. From the lips of none other than Kellan Fray: proof that life goes on, no matter what." It takes all of my effort not to spit a quick: Except, perhaps death.

She turns to me. "Good luck to you, to your family, and to your sister."

"Thank you." I call back. She turns back to the cameras. "Stick around! After the break we will be interviewing Pillar's best gal pal, Corran, and later, the Victor of the 73rd Hunger Games himself: Justice Fray!" The camera light goes dark, Crescent uncrosses her legs, shakes my hand, and I am out of the house with Pyrite by my side. And I hope I'm right. I hope my sister can pull this through.

If not, it'll be my fault.

I look up at the sky, hoping she is looking up at her own sky somewhere.

"Don't make me be wrong about this." I whisper.