barely breathing {Hal/Marik}

barely breathing {Hal/Marik} Feb 10, 2024 2:37:39 GMT -5

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Post by knuckles on Feb 10, 2024 2:37:39 GMT -5

Hal
I want to go home.

A single tear leaks from his eyes, falls down his cheek before vanishing forever, yet it feels like it's more than enough. Knowing his family is back home struggling to make ends meet weighs heavily on his shoulders. I'm a provider. I'm supposed to help them. Yet he can't because he's far away, and nothing makes it go away. Here he has all the food in the world. Not to mention the beds are comfortable. But it isn't my bed. Nobody cares though. Nobody will ever care despite so many of them being trapped within these walls of the training center.

Nobody will ever care.

So why should I?

A heavy sigh leaves his chest as he forces himself out of bed. All of this is difficult, and maybe someone will understand. Everyone has loved ones so why is this any different? Being home with them would change everything, but nothing will ever change it. Nothing will undo what has happened. Yet his mind is racing, and even as he pulls his robe closed, Hal can't bring himself to care about anything else.

I just need someone to understand.

He's been told that everything happens for a reason, and maybe that's true, but why is this happening? Why does he have to go through this? Living this life is far more difficult than he ever imagined. Being born to die - everyone dies, and yet it terrifies him knowing his death could be painful. I just hope it's quick.

Grabbing a cup of water, he heads off the district seven floor and heads to the elevator unsure of where it's taking him. It doesn't matter. It never matters. And as the door opens again, he realizes he went upstairs. This floor looks strange and different, but his eyes lock with one of the district twelve mentors.

Marik.

He tries smiling as he steps off the elevator, but the pain is too much to bear, and instead of doing anything else, Hal watches his gaze shift towards the ground.

"Hi, Marik, sir, I just want to say that I admire you for fighting to go home to your mother and sister. Was it hard to keep going? I have three siblings back home, and my parents have to work all the time just to provide for us, and I help take care of my siblings just so my mom and dad can make ends meet, and I feel horrible knowing they're home suffering right now. But how can I focus? How can I make it through this? I know you're not my mentor, but I need advice and don't know where to turn. I just want to fight for them, and I'm not sure how hard it'll be."

His eyes lock on the ground as he realizes how much he just said. Hopefully Marik doesn't leave and will offer advice, but Hal understands if he doesn't.

barely breathing {Hal/Marik} Feb 14, 2024 16:21:30 GMT -5

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Post by Cato on Feb 14, 2024 16:21:30 GMT -5

I don't like being back in the Capitol. It brings back all those painful memories, and I can't get away from them. No matter where I go or what I do, I see the arena I was trapped in, and it makes me feel incredibly on edge and anxious. I didn't even consider this before making my way back to the Capitol. I didn't know it would feel like this - at least the other victors aren't stuck inside the arena they survived. It's unfair, yet it serves as a memory, and it's something that will probably haunt me until the end of times. At least it's comfortable on the district twelve floor, and I'm not sure where Juno or Xov are. Hopefully they're training. Hopefully they're fighting to learn how to survive in the arena. I'll be there if they need me, but for now, I'm enjoying some much-needed alone time until the elevator door opens.

It's one of the district seven tributes, and instead of telling him to go away, I find myself just staring at him wondering what he wants. Before I can say anything, though, he's dumping so much onto me, and I can't even really make out all of what he's saying. It's humbling knowing that he admires my strength to fight for my family, and he asks some stupid questions. Of course, it's hard. It's difficult, but knowing they needed me is what kept me going, and then he starts talking about how his own family. I want to tell him to slow down, to breathe, to do something other than bombard me with information that I don't want or need, but I can't right now. Clearly, he needs assistance, and I just hope that maybe he'll go away if I ignore him, but something hits me with what he says.

"First, please don't call me sir." I try to keep my voice as calm as I can. "Second, why aren't you talking toy our mentors about this?" I don't want anyone bothering me other than Xov and Juno, but I'm not going to turn him away. "Third, fighting for your family can get you so far. You have to keep them in mind when you do horrible things such as killing another human being. You have to remember that at the end of the day, everyone here is your enemy." It isn't much information, and I don't feel like giving him anymore, yet I don't have the heart to tell him to leave. "Fourth, I can't give you much information, Seven. I want to make sure that I save information for Xov and Juno, and I'm sure you can understand this. It's nothing against you. But this is what I have to do. Just always remember your family, and that will help you a lot."

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