I know you, don't I? | Andres & Hawke

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Andres reached for an old towel he had strapped tightly around his  belt and used it to wipe the sweat from his forehead. A tree wouldn't be too bad around here now would it? He grumbled jokingly to himself, as he complained about something that he ought to be used to by now. He let out a deep sigh as he leaned a moved himself to lean against the back of the cab as he rested in the tray bed of the truck. At least that's a bit more comfy now. He closed his eyes for a moment and let the wind whistle past his head and across the grass. As it whipped around the field the long stray strands lashed harshly with the current above the sea of yellow and brown. 

Before he slipped into a cozy afternoon nap he was awoken to the sound of horse hooves brushing against the earth. He's here. His heart felt like it wanted to jump out of his chest for a split moment but sensibility dragged it back in and held it tightly. He turned his gaze towards the direction of the sound and his ears were right. There he was, Hawke, upon his dear horse Clementine. Seeing their partnership made him consider if his family should ditch the truck that was on its last legs for the beautiful creatures. A draft horse and cart would be mroe reliable than this old gal. No, be thankful Andres... That's all you can be. He shuffled out of the truck bed to meet his aquaintance face to face. 

Fancy meetin' you here stranger. "Stranger? Now that ain't no way to speak to the man who you've been meeting by this exact field for the past god knows when. The least you can do is call me friend." A small laugh escaped his lips as he folded his arms across his chest with a hint of a cheeky smile on his face. He waited for the young man to hop of his horse so that he may greet him properly, with a firm handshake. That's one thing people would know about Andres, he always greets people with a smile and a firm handshake, a sign of olden day respect, which suited the young man with the cadence of an old man. "I saw that old women again in the town, I hate to inform you but she still won't give me that darn jerky recipe. I'll get it out of her one day don't you worry none."

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Andres gripped Hawke's hand firmly with unwavering eye contact and a soft smile. It took him far too long to realise that he was holding Hawke's hand a little tighter and far longer than he should. He sheepishly retracted his hand and rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah, one day I'll get it out of her." He chuckled nervously. He waited eagerly to hear what Hawke was about to say before his darling horse nudged him playfully. He laughed as he gave Clementine a good sractch behind the ear and a sturdy, but friendly, slap on her side for good measure. 

"Oh darlin' Clementine, I might have something for ya, ya just never know. Don't tell your rider nothing about it." As Hawke led her away he gave her a little wave goodbye as he walked by over to the back of his truck where Hawke held out a basket. His eyes widened at the amount of goods he had brought him, he didn't think he even had enough for a fair trade. He looked around nervous that a Capitol overseer was lurking around the corner, ready to slap that basket out of his hands and order them straight to the cells. "Well now, this is mighty generous of your Ma. I hope she's been well but I dunno if I have quite the same amount of generous givings." 

He moved around and pulled out a crate that was under some old tarp and slid it over to Hawke. I sure hope he likes what I bought, I hope its good enough. I wouldn't want him thinkin' I was cheating him out of an honest trade... He may not want to see me again. He pushed the thought out of his mind and rocked nervously on his heels as he waited to see what Hawke thought of his trade. Inside the box was a neatly wrapped cloth around a good portion of beef jerky from the old women, some refined and unrefined clean wool, woolen socks and mittens for when the cold season comes in, and lastly a small bundle of twined paper. It wasn't ordinary paper, it was a traditionally made parchment paper from sheeps skin. A long process for only a small amount of paper but Andres hated putting any of the animal to waste if they had to butcher it so he learned the long process and thankfully the old lime tree had come in handy for it. He pondered whether he should sell the rare paper to the Capitol, but why let them have it. What would they care for it anyway, they got their technology they probably don't even write anymore. Beside the old paper was half of a, slightly bruised, carrot just for Clementine. "Your ol' gal must have known I had it with me." He said with a smile. 

He was taken aback by the question, but it was not an unwelcome one. "Sure, I wouldn't mind the company." He smacked the bed of his truck to let Hawke know that he was fine if he wanted them to sit on the back of it for a while. 

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Andres smiled politely as he raised a hand to placed it nervously on the back of his head. "Yeah, it was a hard process let me tell ya it still has quite a few imperfections, a lot of it still being a bit furry!" He chuckled restlessly as Hawke continued to look through the box. "I'm not sure if I would do it again though, it was a mighty bit of work and I wouldn't want anyone to start demanding I make it regularly." By anyone, it was clear by his wording he meant the Capitol. He worked hard for his family and he wouldn't let himself be worked even further to the bone for a passion project. "Anyway, it took a lotta limes to make it the way it is and I don't think I would regularly wanna use them like that ya know?"

He watched Clementine chomp at the carrot with a smile he turned back to Hawke with widened eyes at his offering. He shook his head profously, "no no please those pieces are for you-" But before he could refuse Hawke had given it the treat to him. He smiled kindly at the gift but for a moment fear struck him, my goodness was that rude? To refuse even think about refusing an offer like even if I had my own? My Pa would-a called me ungreatful but is it ungreaful to refuse something you already had? His thoughts swirled around his head as quickly as water runs down a drain. The thoughts subsided when Hawke jumped into the back of the truck and Andres hopped in beside him with a small smile. 

You know... comin' out here is one of my favourite parts of the day. 

"Really?!" Andres said a little too loudly for his liking, "Ah-a- because me too. I a- I like comin' out here and I very much enjoy watching the sunset, especially when it's with good company such as yourself." Andres looked away from Hawke as he mentally slapped himself for talking so foolishly. It's as if you ain't ever talked to the man before, pull yourself together Andres. Andres looked back when Hawke asked about the request for his Ma. "Oh, they would love anything your Ma bakes Hawke. Really, if she wants to try something they'll happily be the first in line to try that's for sure." His eyes began to wander Hawke's face curiously as he traced the features that seemed to glow in the setting sun. There was something about how his hair cascaded down the side of his face, the striking look of his eyes and the kindness in his smile that seemed to make Andres melt. That warm fuzzy feeling drifted from his heart as he remembered what was just around the corner, the reaping. They were still young enough to be chosen, and the chance of it happening felt as though it was higher every year. For a split second he pictured Hawke dead his lifeless body stranded in a field where no one was there to comfort him, where no one was there to bury him. He clenched his teeth to stop any emotion slip through. He was strong, he had to be, and hew asn't going to let his imagination dictate one of the few precious moments he had where the world felt safe, where it felt peaceful. 

"Have you been up to anything since the last time I saw ya? Surprised I ain't see you around town with a girl on your arm besides ol Clementine of course. You know what the Ma's around town will do if you don't find some nice gal. They'll bring their daughters straight to your door!"

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He listened to Hawke intently with his head resting on his hand as he sat with on leg propped up to support his arm. He nodded solemly at the mention of the reaping. They were almost out of the woods that was for sure, but it is always the prey that thinks its safe that gets caught in the end. "Doesn't mean you can't have someone I guess, someone to celebrate with when you don't get picked for ya last reapin'... or someone to hold when you do." 

His teeth clenched, it was so close they had already started bringing in the equipment and parts to build the stage where it was going to take place. He hugged his knee closer to him for comfort. Thinking about the reaping made him feel like he was a kid again, when he was first able to be reaped. He was often content that this was his life and that was that, but the reaping, the games, it scared him more than he ever wanted to admit. His eyes lit up at the mention of dinner. He smiled kindly at Hawke and nodded, "that would be lovely I'd love to come over and see your Ma, and you of course. Maybe you could cook for your Ma and I for once, surely she must've passed down some of that bakin' skill to her son." His soft gaze was interrupted by Clementine which caused Andres to laugh. 

She had such a personality, he knew it was part of why he loved her so much. "Aw girl is ol Hawke treatin' you bad, no wonder he ain't got a girl on his arm yet, there'd be no room between her and you Clementine." He held her head in his arms and patted along her neck with a few little scratches behind her ears. He continued to pat her while he looked up at Hawke with a fake scowl on his face. "How could ya treat her like that hm? She's just a little baby ain't she?"

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He smiled as he stroked the horse lovingly. "Yeeep, I may just be a sucker for her." He hummed as he squeezed the mare in a friendly hug. As he held her in his arms he found himself staring at Hawke wondering what it would be like to have this, forever. The two of them, and Clementine of course, being on a farm together living the rest of their days out on the fields. Maybe even in each others arms. He clenched his teeth as he heard the distant sound of scaffolding falling. They were still putting up the stage, the reaping would still go ahead, what if Hawke gets picked he would never be able to share these moments again.

What if he was chosen. Would he be able to survive to see the sunset with Hawke again. 

A terrible pain gripped at his heart and he barely heard what Hawke said. He couldn't leave his life like this behind should he be chosen, he couldn't sit on these feelings that have been tearing away at him for so long. His mouth mumbled out shakey nonsense words as his emotions got the better of him. His eyes wide with a terrified shock, "Hawke, I ah, I got somethin' to tell ya... Listen, I know we've only met a few times but, with the sound of the reapin' bell just 'round the corner I couldn't leave this up to chance no more." He paused, his mind screaming at him to be quiet to not let his emotions out, that he has to be strong. The truth is strength.

He breathed in deeply before continuing, "I ah I- I-. I think I know I fancy you a great deal so Hawke, I want this day to go on forever, I want to hold this moment in my hand so I don't let it can't fly away. I want- I want to hold onto you while you take me for a ride on ya girl Clem... if you don't feel ashamed by me saying all this." His bravery left him and suddenly a shy man who's arms clung to himself, his eyes not daring to look at Hawke, stood there. 

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Andres' arms clung to Clementine with all his might as his heart pounded in his chest so hard he thought it was going to burst out of him and make a run for it. He wished he could make a run for it as well. His eyes stared at Hawke nervous for his answer. Wait, you fancy me? Andres nodded sheepishly as if he was a young boy asking his mother for an extra piece of cake. His eyes widened when Hawke took his hand and he let out a small gasp when he was pulled closer towards him. His arms wouldn't stop shaking no matter how much he wished they would. He couldn't believe it, Hawke felt the same way about him. He had been so worried and for nothing! He felt tears try and work their way to his eyes but he blinked them back. Nothing could ruin this moment. Not even the reaping. He felt as though he could run 1000 miles if he wanted to, hell, he felt as if he could fly. 

Andres could barely breathed when Hawke returned his feeligns with words. All he could say was, "really?" His eyes wide with excitement as he gripped Hawke's hand tighter. He raised a brow when Hawke lifted his hand, unsure of what he was doing. When he kissed him his cheeks felt as if they were on fire and his heart pounded not out of anxiety but out of joy. He let Hawke hold his hand for a moment longer before he shook them out of his grip. With a skip in his step he pushed himself off the back of the truck and looked up at Clementine with a small nod. "I'll hold ya waist because knowing your steering I'm gonna have to so I don't fall off!" He earnestly laughed, a good honest laugh was something he didn't often partake in but right now? He dared anyone to stop him from letting his emotions fly.