The Newest Face That I've Seen (Axel)

It was a typical day so far for Barthandelus. He had been tossed out of the house because his father said he needed to work out more. Why he felt that way he would never know, Barthandelus was already really well built. He was the best fighter in his group, and he could outrun all of them. The problem lay in the fact that he was a pacifist, he hated to fight even verbally. Before hitting the training center though he had wandered the streets taking in the sights of District 2. It was slightly overcast which made some of the more shady areas of District 2 seem more dangerous. He had become very familiar with the dangerous areas of the District thanks to his curiousity. His massive size protected him from harm most of the time, but occasionally some fool would come along that he would beat up.

Kicking up some rocks and following their trajectory he saw the traing facility. Letting out a sigh he walked forward the through the door. It was already crowded, full of the other District 2 Careers desperate for their chance to be a contestant in the Hunger Games. Unlike them though he was hoping he wouldn't get into the games, he hated hurting people unless necessary. He was strongly in oposition of the games, but as a well built Career he family wanted him to join the games or even volunteer for the position. Walking to a weapon rack he found the weapon he had requested made, and picking it up swung it experimentally. His weapon was a dual bladed sword, it was similar in size and shape to a katana, but the blade was split down the middle with two jagged points in between the blades. For a few minutes he swung the sword in his traing execises, but quickly grew bored and restless. Just when he was considering leaving for the day and making excuses to the family about his absence he saw a newcomer to the party. A girl he had seen only a few times was entering the training facility. She had been a mystery to him so far, cold and far away was the feeling he got from her. he knew their must be more behind he exterior behaviour though, every Career tried to act that way, even he did. sliding into the shadows of the facility he watched her examining her movements. He didn't care about her fighting prowess, he was more or less looking for an opening to try and talk to her. As she began to pound the punchingbag, he felt that now was as good a time as ever.

Walking to the other side of the puching bag he waited for it to swing in his direction. As soon as her next kick landed he palmed the bag stopping it's momentum and looked around it. He took in the girl before him her long chestnut hair and her blue green eyes. To be honest she wasn't at all unattractive, pretty actually. Clearing his throat he spoke to her.

"Why do you train alone, does no one want to train with you because your to good, or do they let their eyes fool them? If no one else would like to I am willing to." His deep voice rumbled through the facility and he let a small smile creep across his face.

The girl seemed very sure of herself and who she was, comfortable in her own skin. It seemed she also shared his immense dislike for training. Except in her case it was her mother keeping her on the strict training schedule. Perhaps they could be of help to eachother, she wanted to get out of the facility as much as he did, they could act as eachothers alibi. He felt sure that he could keep her out of trouble should her mother find out she ditched the training. He took in the her smile, sometimes joyful, but with a hint of sadness. It was a look he knew well, one he could sympathize with, one of longing.

"When I look at you I do not see a scar. I see a beautiful girl, both on the inside and out. If the others are to foolish enough to see it than they are unworthy of your time. Besides, your not alone in having a scar, we both share the pain of it in memory and in our day to day life. Mine is on my neck though going down to my back so it remains partially covered.

Perahaps onto a less...painful subject. If it's a walk you seek I'm more than willing to oblige. There are better ways out there to deal with anger management than beating a sandbag senseless. I know a few, I could show you some while we walk through District 2. If you wouldn't mind the company of a lumbering idiot."

Laughing he moved completely around the punchingbag to stand at her side. She might just be someone who could be a very close friend to him. Because of his pacifist nature none of the other Careers would ever look at him let alone talk to him. This girl, although for different reasons seemed to also share his lack of friends. He felt that a note of longing was in her voice as she spoke of walking, leaving behind the training facility. Perhaps she to wanted to escape the normal life of a Career. For now it was to much to assume, he should start off slow before jumping to conclusions. An exchange of names seemed a good way to get things started.

"My name is Barthandelus Thorn, not your prototypical Career, but definitely not a pushover. I have brothers and sisters I would rather not have, and my family insists I volunteer for the next Hunger Games. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to know your name?"

Brooklyn Oliver Philips, a name that seemed to suit her. However, at her request he was to refer to her as Ollie. Perhaps not as fitting as her first name, but he would do as she asked. He allowed a small smile to play along his face again, as she accepted his proposal to join him on a walk. It would seem that a day that had started like any other would become a very welcome change of pace. Briefly he found himself stairing at her hair as she finished pulling into a loose braid. Her hair seemed very sleek and velvety, and it was captivating to watch it move. Perhaps a very silly notion, but it wasw one of the thoughts that passed through his mind as he watched her. He kind of lost himself in her motions as she swept up her jacket and prepared to leave, her words echoing through his mind as she spoke to him again. Shaking himself back to cognesance he walked forward and responded.

"We shouldn't have to worry about your mom, I'm pretty good with people that aren't my family. Besides, most people in District 2 know me because my family boasts I'll be the next winner of the Hunger Games. If anything she'll think I was helping you with your training, and if not well...I'll think of something to tell her. As for a coat, no, it's not in my nature to wear stuff like coats. I usually just wear a sleeveless shirt and a pair of jeans. I've never been one to let a little rain bother me. As for your knife throwing, well, I think there are alot better things in life than being able to throw a knife."

He walked back over to her and took her arm in his own and walked out of the facility. "If there is alot of District 2 you haven't seen yet than allow me to be the one to show you more."
Outside the weather seemed to be waivering between rain and a slight mist, thanks to the wealthiness of the people of District 2 several of the areas were under cover of some kind. However, he only planned on staying in the center areas of the District for a short amount of time, there was a small area on the outside perimeter he really wished to show her. It was a special place to him, and he wanted to share it with her.

"I think it's time that both of us had some time to do what we want to do. After all, aren't we humans, we aren't robots to be sent to the slaughter in the Hunger Games. There is alot more to like than constant training, and I want to show you that."

Barthandelus was pleased by how happy Ollie seemed to be. He couldn't make very many people happy, but the people that he did made him feel like he had a purpose. As he led Ollie through the streets of District 2 the weather seemed to turn into a steady drizzle. For now the tarps were cover for them, but he would eventually lead her to a section of the District that was not as covered as the main section. It was, to him the most beautiful section that the District had to offer. It was a section that was often neglected because it didn't have to do with the fighting nature that District 2 seemed to be all about.

"It's not what I want to do Ollie, it's what you want to do. I can show you some of my favorite spots, but really I'm doing this for you. After I show you what I think you should see, it will be all up to you what we do. This day is for you, and I want to make sure that it's something special."

He led her away from the busy center of the District and lead her through a series of twisting paths and alleys. Finally breaking free of the cramped alleyways he walked into an open expance. Around both of them were rows of flowers ranging in color, hanging from the buildings around them, growing over the houses. It was a place that meant alot to him because it was so peaceful here, the normal sounds of District 2 seemed to no longer exist in this place.

"This is my secret place, it's not a section of District 2 that many people know about because it's not part of the fighting spirit that we are known for. There are still people that tend to this place though, helping the flowers to flourish, and grow in their majesty and beauty. I know this isn't the typical place for a guy to go, but ever since I found it it's been a place were I can go to be alone. I wanted to share it with you so you would have some place to go to if you ever felt sad or angry."

He turned to look at her wondering what her reaction would be to this area of the District that he had shared with her. She was the first person he had ever shared this place with, and now it was a special place to him for two reason. It was peaceful and it marked the place where he opened up to someone, allowed them to share in what was special to him.

(I'm sorry I only posted once yesterday. I told a couple of people that it was my cousins birhtday yesterday so I was with them. Again, I'm sorry about that.)

A feeling of peace like no other settled over Barthandelus. As peaceful as this place could make him feel, having someone to share it with made him feel more at peace. As Ollie leaned into him he protectively pulled her closer, so this was what having a true friend was like. Or maybe he thought of her as more than a friend, he had only known her for a small amount of time, but she was special to him. Not judgemental of how he was, and she didn't shun him for how peaceful he was. Perhaps with more time this friendship could evolve into something, if of course Ollie wanted it to.

He followed her over to the lone lily that rested peacefully at the back of the large garden. It was one of the newer plants in this garden, just like Ollie was a newer part of this garden. He reached over to it and pulled it gently away. "You like lillies, than take this one." He reached for a pot that sat not far away and placed the lily in it. "If you bring it home it will grow and you will have as many lillies as you want. I want you to remember this day, and I think this is a way to do it."

"This is my special place, and I wanted to share it with a special person. I waited for that special person to come along for a while now, and than I found you. You were different than everyone else, in every way that I like. I have never had a friend before, always been a loner, but not anymore, now I have you. Hopefully this marks the beginning of a great friendship."

He led her over to an old fountain that was now covered in flowers, accept for one spot. Sitting down he pulled her closer to him. "This is our place now, our secret place. I don't think we'll be able to come to this place every day, but I'll make sure that we can come here often. It'll be just the two of us together, no one around to bother us, no one to force us to train constantly."

(I'm going to sound like the guy with all the excuses. A thunderstorm passed through and it messed up our internet connection. I had no way other than a friends house to get on and I didn't have enough time to post. It's all fixed now though.)

This was definitely a moment to remember, it was like something you would read out of a book. It was just him and her, together, with no one around to bother them. The words that she spoke in responce to his own warmed his heart. She felt exactly the same way he did about her. Felt the same connection that he felt, that there was something special between them. Granted it had only been a couple of hours, but he felt sure that everyone that would see them together could feel the connection. The more time they spent together the closer they would get to eachother. This was something special, and he would never let it go.

The way that she spoke of the place as theirs it made him feel at peace. He knew for sure that she would tell no one of the place, and it really would be theirs. It was their escape from everything that they hated and feared, the Capitol, the Games, even sometimes their own families. This place provided an escape, and a place to be together. As she leaned into him he made sure to pull her closer. He never wanted to let go of her, he wanted to be there for her always. He vowed to himself that he would protect her through any means necessary, no matter what.

The rain began to pour heavily down on them and he felt a shiver run through Ollie's body. Even he began to feel the cold drops hit his body, and he had a high tolerance for temperature changes. Standing up he moved to shield Ollie from the rain and led her to a small overhang. Once there he briefly left her and dragged a small stone bench over. Sitting down he pulled Ollie onto the seat next to him. He turned and smiled at her, and stifled a laugh.

"That was unexpected, at least we won't get wet under here though. I bet both of us look like a sight to see. We are soaking wet because no one with any sense would be caught dead in this weather. Than again, I don't think anyone would have a friend like you that would want to be out in the rain with someone like me. It's almost like something out of a book, you and I together in a garden, with the rain falling all around us."

His voice trailed off as he looked into her eyes. She was different, she seemed more peaceful than the other girls of the District. He used to think that he was the only one who hated the warrior nature that he would be known for. There was someone like him, and he was pleased to learn that. He wrapped her in an embrace and whispered into her ear.

"I will protect you till the end of my days. I will do anything and everything to make sure that we can be together."

It was an unexpected turn of events when Ollie pulled away from the hug. Than it was more unexpected when she kissed him, not to say he didn't love the kiss, he just didn't think things would progress this far this quickly. When she told him that she wanted to stay in his embrace forever it echoed his own words, he wanted her to stay in his embrace forever. As she gripped his hand he enveloped her hand in his own and gently squeezed it. Was this what love felt like, was this what it felt like to have someone you cared about? If this was what it felt like to care about someone than he never wanted the feeling to go away.

"Ollie, this has been one of...no, the best days of my life. Meeting you...kissing you, just holding you, it's great to have someone to like as much as you. No, I the feelings I have for you are more than just like, I love you. You are perfect in every way, and I don't ever want to have to see you go away. I wish we could stay here forever, just the two of us."

He kissed her again gently as the puctuation to all that he had said. He felt that no words could possibly describe how he felt on the inside, and the kiss seemed to share all the words he couldn't seem to say. The rain seemed to steady around them as it shifted to a mist that settled onto the plants around them. It was something out of a book, he just hoped that unlike most stories this one had a happy ending. He would make sure that it did, if not for his sake than for Ollie.

"What do you think we should do about our families? Should we keep it a secret, or should we tell them about it? Something tells me that there will be more strife should we keep it a secret, but telling them may cause equal problems. Whatever it is that you want to do than I shall do it, I shall support whichever decision you shall make."