a beating heart | d11 train

It was hard to believe that it had been six years since Rex Antilles had volunteered for one of Harbinger’s many brothers. Harder still to believe that Revan all grown up had decided to follow in Rex’s footsteps to a tee. That was the problem with volunteers. They were brave.

They were always brave.

But Belle was too, despite having no say in the matter.

“Oh, I like this one,” she remarked offhand to the other victors in the car. “Almost as sassy as you Kass.”

She grabbed her platter off the capitol buffet spread and put it in the center of the table.

”You don’t want to be a victor? That’s good. You shouldn’t.” There was a lot to unpack behind that statement and it was more than could be said during a single train ride. At least there would be time in the training center to get to the heart of things and hopefully bring one of them home.

She could have been catty, snapped about how Kirito ran a clinic and she gave free meals to those in need, but the children in front of her did not deserve her ire, it was Harlow and that witch in the Capitol that did. Katelyn stared at the small pineapple upside-down cake, as well as a plate containing red velvet cookies.

She’d asked around as she did every year, wanting to give the tributes a taste of home.

For most, it was the last taste of home they’d ever have.

“If you want to live,” she said, looking at Revan, “And you want to see this Adam again,” she turned to look at Belle, “Then you would do well to listen to us. We sat where you are once, and then we bled and killed and cried. We came back.” She took one of the cookies and bit into it, wondering if she should have whipped the frosting just a little bit more.

Kids.

Being a mentor had been a lot easier ten years ago when most people saw the three older victors as a beacon of hope instead of relics of a bygone golden era. It was easier when she was in her twenties and still full of fire instead of mellowing out at thirty-five.

Hell, the current generation of tributes hadn’t even been born when the three of them had been reaped. On the other hand, Kass had only won five years ago, but Capitol media had been quick to move onto Ridley, Beck and Shy.

Proper career victors.

Katelyn supposed it left Kass with more in common with her and the boys instead of her peers. “You can hate us if you like,” she continued. “But we’d prefer to spend this time together getting to know you and answering any questions you might have about the games.”