#hyuk being a constant and also maybbbeeee being one of the few reasons patrick keeps going...tracks :'D

[clemencetaught]

@jeoseungsaja sent in: things you said when fear cut deep (THG verse? 👀) || when the unspoken is named ( things you said prompt. )

13. things you said when fear cut deep

What was the point of two years ago?

He rushes past the receding crowd, past the faces of shaken children dressed in their evening best clothing. Some will be going to the red bean pastry booth by the entrance of the reaping. Some will linger at the edge of the square. Some will return to the safety of their parents’ arms. All are safe from the Capitol for another year. It’s a luxury that, even after winning the games, he’ll never have again.

There’s a stone anchored in his stomach, which is ironic considering that his head feels light. Dizzying as if someone has filled his lungs with smoke.

I won the Games. I survived their game.

His bag is slung loosely over his shoulder. He learned that the lighter he packs, the better- the less of District Three, the less of him the Capitol will find out and if there is one thing Patrick knows about the Capitol, it’s that they will take, take, and take until there is nothing left to take from, like a towel wrung of all the water it can hold.  Ignoring the shouting from the head peacekeeper and the mayor of their district ( both of whom, he can’t help but wonder if they played any role in the selection this year- ), he slips past the peacekeeper guarding the room farthest down the hall.

It was the room he had been taken to when he volunteered for the games- Patrick never thought he’d see the inside of it again.

Fingers trembling, he grasps the doorknob. The rusted brass scrapes his right palm.

I did it so he wouldn’t have to.

Ambrosia’s voice keeps echoing in his head- the way that cloying voice called for Lee Hyuk and the way the silence in the following moments rang so clearly in tandem with his own silent screaming for someone to volunteer, it could have been even louder than Ambrosia’s voice.

And he never thought his dear friend would either.

He’s not going to make it.

He opens the door.

Inside, Patrick finds Hyuk pacing. Where are the other people, he wants to ask- where are Mister and Missus Nam? He would have thought they would be one of the few, if perhaps the only two who would want to say goodbye…it’s a stark contrast to the female tribute whom from what Patrick observed in passing, to have quite a few people coming in and out of her room. She’s lucky in that sense- knowing she has a family. Knowing that she is loved.

But Hyuk-

His hands are shoved inside his pockets. From afar, Hyuk looks no different than usual, a solitary figure with a permanent frown etched onto his face- they always said that if he smiled more he could actually be considered handsome. Hyuk would always snap back saying to mind their own business. It’s Hyuk’s default, showing a stony resolve in the face of adversity-

But Patrick knows, knows his friend better than anyone else. Knows from the pallor on his face, from the way he can’t sit still otherwise he never move again, to the way his jaw is set even tighter than usual-

For a moment, Patrick stares at him. He opens his mouth- what does he say here? How does he help his best friend who is about to be carted off to the Capitol as cattle?

Patrick closes his mouth. He can’t. But he swallows the lump into his throat and without warning, tackles Hyuk in a hug.

I failed.

He tucks his face into the crook of his dear friend’s neck as his hands grip the back of his button down for dear life. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to calm the shaky breaths that come out. This is all Patrick is going to take. One moment of despair, of selfishness and then it’s all about Hyuk.

Patrick looks up and rests his hands on his dear friend’s shoulders.

“You’re not going to die,” Patrick says finally. “Not if I’m here.”

His fingers dig into Hyuk’s shirt. He doesn’t know who he said that for- for Hyuk or  himself. That Hyuk is still here. That the Capitol hasn’t made a feast of him yet. No Hyuk is still here right now. They may have been given the worst cards, but the round hasn’t started yet. If played well, Hyuk might just make it through.

“I’m going to be your mentor; I know a few people in the Capitol- I-I’m sure if I convince them, they’ll sponsor you. They’ll give you the supplies you’ll need to survive in the arena. You’re strong and you know how to fight- they’ll back someone who they think has a chance of winning. We just need to make sure you leave a strong impression. I’ll teach you everything you need to know about the Games. I know it’ll look like the odds are against you, but, but-” A shaky breath. The 54th Victor of the Hunger Games blinks, rapidly.

I don’t want you to die.

“We’ll get through this together. I promise, Hyuk-ah. We…you-“ He pulls Hyuk into another tight desperate hug. “You’re going to be okay; I’ll make sure of it.”

#jeoseungsaja #jeoseungsaja ( lee hyuk. ) #if he wasn't there i wouldn't have a reason to be strong ( hyuk — verse three. ) #a question of justice ( answered. ) #the victor ( answered. ) #the victor ( verse three. ) #HAHAHAHAHA HELP ALEX I'M IN PAIN HERE 😭😭😭 #i just realized that if they're like 17-18....then that means they're not even college age....even younger than when they met in main verse #😭😭😭 #which means i have to use his younger fc for this 😭😭😭 #hahaha he's not even letting him think on the possibility of hyuk dying here #u said fear in patrick's heart for this verse and my first thought went to hyuk being reaped 😭😭😭😭 #but also i know you're still putting the pieces together for hyuk's story in this verse so i hope?? it's okay if i've already made a tag #for them....bc at least know what role hyuk would play in this verse...for someone who is like deeply de*pressed #hyuk being a constant and also maybbbeeee being one of the few reasons patrick keeps going...tracks :'D #there is nothing but pain here and you'll love it </3 #i do 😭😭😭 #pls do let me know tho if anything here doesn't line up with what you have for hyuk in this verse tho!! or if anything doesn't sit right #with you #THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENABLING ME HERE ALEX <3 <3 #i can't wait to suffer in hyurick feels here with you <3 #and pls!! have a wonderful day in the meanwhile- care you lots :DDD <3