They had been on the train that was taking them from district to district for over an hour, and Damon had lost Avery. he knew  of course, that he was still on the train, but where could be anyone's guess. It wasn't like Avery could really get far, but he still managed to evade his boyfriend. He had checked everywhere except from the others' rooms, he supposed Avery would be with either Cammie, Marka or Mila. 

As he neared Marka's room, he heard voices. "Sweetie, you're reading into it too much, you won! Be grateful, mourn when every eye in the capital isn't on you're adorable face." Damon heard Marka's vice at once, he glared at the door, he was beginning to really not like the stylist.

"No one else understands! I miss her so much!" Avery replied, he sounded so upset, and it irked Damon that he couldn't help him, that Avery had turned to someone who wasn't him.

"Why aren't you telling this to that boyfriend of yours?" Marka sounded slightly smug, as though he had won something.

"Why don't you like him?" Avery sounded offended on Damon's behalf, which made Damon feel smug.

"I'll explain one day hun, you wouldn't understand right now. so go on." Marka encouraged.

"He just... like everyone else he tells me 'I should be happy I'm the last one' . I'm the one to blame for all this death and I should be happy?" Avery sighed, he sounded like he was about to cry.

"Oh Avery, I get you, but look at it this way." Damon heard Marka cross the room and sit down, presumably next to Avery. "They all wanted you dead, and you beat the bitches!"

Avery laughed lightly. "Thanks Marka."

"You can't expect me not to want to help you boo, I worry."Marka replied. "Come on, let's get you back." 

"Do you think I should call Caesar for advice?" Avery questioned, it sounded like he was picking up his crutches, Damon all but ran into the room he was sharing with Avery, his head spinning. 

when they eventually entered, he jumped up from where he had been sat on the bed. "Where've you been?" he questioned as Marka helped Avery to sit down on his side of the bed.

"That was my fault, I commandeered him." Marka apologised, a fake smile on his face. "I missed him."

"You're crazy." Avery murmured, he was pale, which worried Damon.

"Crazy about you hun." Marka winked at him. "Do you hurt sweetie?"

Avery just nodded and Damon was at his side at once, "Where?" he asked sharply, Avery nodded at his ankle, which had swelled tremendously. "Oh god." 

"I'll get Cammie." Marka told them, before running from the room, quickly returning with the confused woman in tow.

"How the hell did you get that infected?" Canmmie murmured anxiously.

"Can you treat it?" Damon asked.

Cammie sighed. "I don't know, with all the treatment he's had, this shouldn't be possible."

"I'll get Mila." Marka sighed.

"Av? "Damon whispered. he lay down beside him, taking his hand. "Are you alright?" Avery just nodded and rested his head on his shoulder.

^^^

Avery was asleep and although Damen knew he should also be getting some sleep, he could keep from worrying about the boy that lay beside him. Mila had examined a very and concluded that his wounds were infected and would take a great deal longer to heal then they had thought.

"Av I wish you'd tell me how you feel?" He sighed, running a hand through Avery's soft brown hair. His fingertips brushed the boys smooth cheek, it was warm, which didn't surprise Damen, he did have a temperature after all. "I'm worried about you."

"Damen?" Avery mumbled in his sleep. "Don't go."

"I'm here Av, I'm here." Damen answered at once. "I'm here."

"Please?" Avery sounded like he was about to cry.

"Avi I'm here. Wake up." Damen shook his shoulder gently. Avery opened his eyes and groaned. "I think you were having a bad dream."

Avery nodded, rubbing his eyes. "You're still here."

"Of course I am." Damen told him. " I'll never leave you."

"I thought you had gone." Avery muttered.

"Gone where? We're in this together now, no matter what happens." Damen told him, he propped himself up on one elbow, Avery turned over to face him. "You've always been the only one who believed in me, who was there for me, and now I'm here for you. I..." He trailed off and gently held Avery's chin, tilting his face up and pressing his lips to the boys rough ones.

"Damen." Avery whispered as the kiss ended. "Thank you."

Damen wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. Remembering the day the had first met.

It was a rainy market day, and Damon wasn't expecting much, the move from the capital was a shock to the system and he didn't think much of the place at all. That was until he first saw him. The small dark-haired boy who sat behind a stall of fresh produce, swinging his legs as he waited for customers.

"Mom why is he there? Shouldn't he be at school?" He remembered asking that question, and he remembered the look of disgust his mother had given the boy.

"It's market day, the working children don't go to school on such days." She said, but ventured towards the stall anyway, looking at the tempting fruits on display.

"Are you not bored?" Damen had asked him. He had just shrugged.

"No, I don't think so."

"You don't think so?" Damen laughed. "What's your name?"

"Avery, what's yours?"

"Damen."

He remembered that moment like it was yesterday, not years ago. He had struck up conversations until Avery had agreed to meet him in the woods, ever since then they had been best friends. Having never had a best friend or indeed a friend before, Damon had never had such kindness from someone else before, and it was Avery's kindness that had led Damon to lose his heart so entirely.