cut myself on angel hair | dominic/pisces

fireflyz
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cut myself on angel hair | dominic/pisces Jun 10, 2020 11:31:22 GMT -5

Post by fireflyz on Jun 10, 2020 11:31:22 GMT -5

He awoke underwater.

The familiar blue was rushing in, turning his body into an aquarium, and no amount of clawing at the space above him could shatter the glass. He wanted out. Why couldn't he get out?

His nails carved into the sea once more, and now he was floating near the surface watching himself drown. Dominic reached for his own mirror, only for it to morph into the shape of a young girl. Her dark hair and eyes had been burned into his memory for years.

"Paisley!" Her name was swallowed by the sea, and as Dominic reached for her hand, she dissipated into foam.

The scene faded away as Dominic came to consciousness, head buried beneath his comforter. He hadn't thought of Paisley in a while - her death had been so long ago. Then again, he supposed that time reopened old wounds rather than healing them.

He threw the covers back and lowered himself out of the bed, the cool vinyl sending shivers through his body as his feet touched the floor. There wasn't much time left before the Games - he had his private evaluation in the morning, and then interviews, and then that was it.

"You should be ecstatic," his father had told him in the Justice Building. "The 17th Quell. This is a momentous occasion, son." What Dominic didn't say was that he hadn't even known what quell it was, let alone feel that he was becoming a significant part of history. Why did he need to be part of the grand scheme of things, anyway? He'd rather be small and insigificant, swimming in the water where Paisley drowned and remembering her when it seemed no one else could be assed to.

At first, he meandered to the kitchen to find himself some comfort food, but an idea struck him on the way. Earlier in the week, Pisces had mentioned going to the roof to clear his head. Dominic had furrowed his brows, questioned if they were even allowed up there, but now he wasn't worried about permission. He needed some sort of relief, and a roof trip might just do it.

The elevator whistled as it slid down to the apartment, and his footsteps echoed as he stepped inside. Within minutes, he was stepping into the night, the raucous sounds of the Capitol all around him.

Dominic's eyes scanned the roof, and he felt a smile tug at his lips when he spotted a familiar head of tousled brown hair.

"Fancy meeting you here," he called, crossing the open space between them. What he did not say was, I was hoping you'd be here.

kap

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kap
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cut myself on angel hair | dominic/pisces Jun 10, 2020 11:44:02 GMT -5

Post by kap on Jun 10, 2020 11:44:02 GMT -5

Clearing my head was necessary. It was necessary more right now than it had ever been. I had to be level-headed as the Games inched closer and closer. This was my reality and I’d volunteered for it. I had to be ready for it. I couldn’t be full of anxiety and fear when I should be training to go into an arena to fight in a deathmatch with other teenagers.

The dreams I’d had that night shook me awake. In my dreams, I was in the arena. It was night time and I was sitting in the dark. Cold. Alone. Vulnerable and full of fear. Then I was jumped. Tributes had attacked me and tried to kill me. No, they were killing me, not just trying to. That’s when I woke up sweating and breathing heavily.

I slid out of bed and put on the slippers that were sitting at the end of my bed. Carefully and quietly, I opened the bedroom door, hoping Colgate and Kestrel wouldn’t hear me sneaking out. If I was going to clear my head, I needed to get away from here for a little while.

I went over to the elevator and pressed the “up” button. The elevator dinged when it reached my floor and I hoped that a sound like that wouldn’t awaken anyone. I stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the roof. If they didn’t want us on the roof, they certainly wouldn’t have made it an option to go up there, right? Did it matter if they wanted me there or not?

No. It didn’t matter.

When I reached the roof, I stood there, looking off into the distance at the Capitol city below me. I stood there for a while, the wind rustling my hair and my clothes, when I heard a familiar voice. Dominic.

I smiled what seemed like automatically when I heard his voice and turned to look at him.

”Couldn’t sleep?” I asked him. ”I’m glad to have the company.”

fireflyz
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cut myself on angel hair | dominic/pisces Jun 10, 2020 22:01:57 GMT -5

Post by fireflyz on Jun 10, 2020 22:01:57 GMT -5

Pisces' presence made Dominic feel content, the warm sensation spreading inside of him like freshly baked goods. He was someone that Dominic actually wanted to see during training or in the quarters at night. He didn't quite know what it was - the soft eyes, the way he seemed so receptive to others that would probably turn on him or die - or perhaps the fact that Dominic sorely needed someone to be there, to see him. He didn't quite know what it meant yet, to be understood beyond mutual trauma, but the fact that Pisces was happy to see him was good enough for now.

"Guess my nerves are finally getting to me," he said with a shrug, sliding his hands into the pockets of his pajamas. Dominic stood at the edge of the barrier, leaning over it to take in the vibrant windows and flashing street lights below. The skyline was dappled with gray clouds, and Dominic wondered how far he'd have to jump for one to take him away from this roof to freedom. "I know I'm prepared, to a certain extent, but there's some preparations you can't do."

He kicked at some loose cement chunks that had accumulated at the edge of the barrier, wincing as his foot accidentally collided with the wall. Shit. If his father were here right now, he'd imagine that he'd be getting scolded for not resting, for not forcing his eyes shut as he always did when he encountered something that frightened him. He'd need to be in optimal shape for what was to come, and his behavior right now was not conducive to success. Yet, as Dominic returned his gaze from the skyline to Pisces, he found himself thinking that success was not what he craved at the moment.

"How are you?" Dominic asked softly. "I guess you had some bad dreams for it to come up."

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kap
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cut myself on angel hair | dominic/pisces Jun 12, 2020 9:43:07 GMT -5

Post by kap on Jun 12, 2020 9:43:07 GMT -5

Dominic told me his woes, and I nodded respectfully in response. I understood how he felt. He told me that his nerves were getting to him, and that there were some things that just couldn't be prepared for. I completely understood what he meant. Although I'd studied everything that I possibly could in the training center, I still didn't feel ready for the Games that were creeping up on us, closer and closer.

Closer and closer. That's the way I was moving towards Dominic, too. I didn't realize at first that I was doing that, until I was right next to him. Being next to him was strangely comforting. It just felt so right. He was like some sort of positive force among all the negativity. It's like he was the reason I was here. I hadn't known truly why I volunteered, but now, I have a feeling that the stars guided me here to be with him, even if it couldn't last forever.

Was I thinking about all of this too much? Was I falling for him too fast? Perhaps, but it still felt right, so I didn't stop it.

"How are you?" Dominic's voice was soft and soothing to me. "I guess you had some bad dreams for it to come up."

I nodded.

"I did, but I'm better now that you're here," I said. Then, my face went bright red. Had I really said that out loud? Oh no, what would he think of me after I'd said that? What should I do?

I looked at him, his eyes so beautiful, his lips so... perfect.

I wanted to kiss him, but would that be the right thing to do?

What would he think of me if I did? I decided it was best for me to wait, at least another moment or two. Maybe he'd kiss me first. I could always hope, right?