for what it's worth | {bryony/ventus}

As I watched the boy ascend the stairs and take the hand of the female tribute, I struggled to hold back the tears. He had saved me. He had kept me from imminent death, and in turn, kept my family from it as well. The knot in my chest was growing so large it felt as if it were about to burst through the skin. People crowded around me, most of them as shocked as I was, a few placing their hands on my back. I imagined to them it was as if they had just witnessed a near death experience first hand. I was moments away from being captured by the Capitol, thrown into an arena and forced to fight for a life that, in the end was only going to be taken from me by some career from one of the upper districts.

But I was saved.

They began ushering the tributes into the Justice Building, and I knew I had to speak to the boy. I had to. I had to find out why. Why him? Why for me? I raced for the side of the building, where there was a small set of stairs guarded by three peacekeepers. "Come to say your goodbyes?" One asked, with a sick sense of humor in his tone. "Yes." He nodded to the other two, and they both walked so that they were standing on either side of me, then they walked along side me as we entered.

Even though the halls were empty, there was an ominous feeling, like invisible eyes were all trained on me, watching, waiting to see the tears that kept stinging my eyes finally fall down my cheeks. "The boy or the girl?" the peacekeeper on my right asked. "Boy." Hero, I almost said.

They stopped in front of a large wooden door, then both faced me. "This is it. You have three minutes starting... now." Then they pushed the door open and I raced inside. The boy stood leaned against the opposite wall, staring out of the window. He turned to see me, and almost seemed shocked I was actually standing in front of him. Seeing his face, seeing the boy that kept my family from so much suffering again was what finally pushed the tears out. "You... saved me. But why?" A small, sheepish smile, almost like a child's, spread across his lips. "I've just... seen you with your family before. It's obvious, those little kids need you. I couldn't let them take you away. You have a family, and that is something worth fighting for. Since I don't really have one of my own, well..."

I stormed forward, wrapping my arms around him in a tight embrace. "Thank you, and I am so, so sorry that now it's you in this situation." He only shrugged. "Just promise me you'll love your family, okay? Don't let it fall apart." I nodded, trying hard to see him through a wall of tears, and then the peacekeepers were back, dragging me out of the room. "You are brave!" I promised. "You can... you can do this!" And then the door slammed shut.

"Not to burst your bubble or anything, kid, but that's what they always say."

---

Once back outside, I saw that the crowd was already dispersing, already going on with their lives, probably gossiping about how stupid the boy was, or how brave, like it was fictional, like they hadn't even witnessed it. I caught sight of Bryony in about the center, his eyes clouded with tears, and I hustled over to him. I knew he wouldn't want to make a scene, I knew he wouldn't let anything out. His walls were too strong. So I didn't speak, I only gave him a quick hug, and then started walking away from the place, away from what could have been my last day as a free person, and the feeling of dread was over-whelming.

I was safe.

I was safe.

Gavin Barker wasn't.