Fight or Flight [D6 Train]

A small spark causes the fire of a new age.

For Teddy Ursa, the spark comes in the form of letting go of the ghosts that cling to his mind, engulfing him in the doubt of his own abilities as if he were drowning underneath the lava pouring out of the volcano where his new life began. The ghosts are still there. Pieces of a puzzle that bleeds with the reminder of his own strength. Strength to survive through trauma and breathe in the air on the other side. The ability to stand taller than before and still smile at the right moments and feel alive, even if his head screamed at him with guilt. Teddy Ursa's found his own stride since seeing the graves of his ghosts, leaving behind the hatred for himself and breathing clearly again afterwards.

The reaping felt different. A warmth bubbling over his cheeks with the sun in his eyes, never quite reaching the same fear of watching Parson climb those stairs. Remembering the way his own feet had felt climbing upwards to the one place he didn't deserve to be, but still resides eleven years later. Double volunteers meant a lot to Six, whether people were proud or laughed at them didn't matter. Teddy had seen enough tributes to know there's always a story to be told, a feeling to captured, and a promise to be made. Some days, he still feels too weak to continue them. Leaving flowers by the graves of tributes he's failed in the past. Walter Blake being a sting upon his tongue still. Youth gone to soon like Flynn will end up being.

Unless, Flynn could be better than Walter.

Syren seems different. The memory of tears on the other girl's face and the quick moment Teddy could catch in a glimpse from on stage to someone unknown. A memory of staring back to the place he had once called home before taking his sentence for the 76th comes tumbling forward. Something aching in his chest, but now he's sitting there in a train car full of food and alcohol and all sorts of pleasantries with no cravings for any of it. A fleeting feeling in his chest before he taps once, twice, thrice onto the empty wine glass.

After the last year, where Shy had come back, letting Quest breathe once more and dealing with the memories of an anniversary he doesn't want to think about anymore, he's glad there's some unknown in both of his tributes. No attached feelings to loved ones in his life, no memories of childhood that flutters between them, and nothing other than reminders of his past tributes. A silence fills the air, swirling with a bitterness of his own mindset, but he swallows it down in order to watch the two volunteers to enter the car.

Past Victor of the Year staring at the empty wine glass, knowing he'll do what he can for them. The capitol had heard about the incident with Terra. Rumors of him picking up a spear again and physically training with his tributes once more having sparked discussions. Discussions that he didn't want to be apart of at all, but there's only so many times he can claim no comment to reporters and interviewers with the publicized smile he holds heavily. For a second, he could remember the fear of picking up another weapon and striking someone, even for the benefit of them. The fear bubbling behind his eyes, but he could remember the feeling of control and safety once more. A feeling of no longer drowning over his heart staying there for hours after.

"Okay, I think you both know what I am going to ask you."

Standing up, he smiles with the same friendly smile he had given Parson and Georgie days ago. The feeling of movement where the train starts it's journey to the capitol's shining city. Eyes staring at Flynn, who looked small enough for Teddy to think of his own friends back when they would pretend to be pirates or knights in the streets of Six. A chill runs down his spine before he feels his mood shift into the same looks his parents used to give him when they were disappointed with a small thing he had done.

"Why did you volunteer?"