𓏲 . SURVIVAL GAME . .៹♡
                                                    CHAPTER TWENTY
                                             ─── THE DECISION

The morning dawned faster than Velren had expected as he stood under the warm shower the next morning. The water flowed in gentle cascades over his back, easing the tension in his neck and shoulders, enveloping him in soothing streams.

With his eyes closed, he listened to the calming rush that drowned out all other sounds. For a precious moment, he felt completely relaxed and shielded from the challenges that lay ahead.

Steam was floating in the air around him, the warmth filling his lungs with every breath he took. He let his eyes travel downward, hastily flickering over the defined ridges of his six-pack abs, momentarily pausing to take in the muscular contours. His attention then shifted to the water that dissapeared down the drain.

Velren took in another deep breath, steam filling up her lungs pleasantly before he released it in a shuddering breath. He placed on hand against the wall— a shiver running down his spine upon touching the cold tile with his hand.

After turning off the water, he hastily grabbed a towel and dried himself thoroughly before he  pulled the grey jumpsuit back on his pale frame. His hair was still slightly damp as he finally left his room and made his way to the control room.

When he entered the room, he immediately noticed Haymitch walking over to an annoyed Katniss. She was already dressed in her mockingjay outfit, perfectly made up, and holding up a stick that was meant to resemble an improvised flag.

"Hello, Katniss." Haymitch solemnly greeted the girl. Instead of responding, Katniss stared at him in disbelief, as if her eyes were deceiving her. "Is this how you greet an old friend?"

"Maybe I don't recognize you sober," Katniss countered as her eyes drifted to Velren's.   She left the platform she was standing on and walked over to Velren,while Haymitch let out a huff of air, "I guess it looks as bad as it feels."

They all returned to the command room where they replayed Katniss' propaganda video, this time with the special effects. Velren tried to give Katniss, who was looking down at the ground in annoyance, a sympthateic look, but even he had to admit that the speech of her was horrid.

After a few awkward moments of silence, Haymitch cleared his throat as he stood up from where he was sitting before he spoke up, "Uh, Madam President, indulge me for a moment, if you would." He walked up to the screen where the video had been playing. "Let's everybody think of one incident where Katniss Everdeen and Velren Black genuinely moved you. Not . . . not where you were jealous of their hairstyles or her dress and his suit went up in flames or  she made a halfway decent shot with an arrow and he showed off his trident skills, and not where Peeta  made you like her. No, I'd like you all to think of one moment where they made you feel something real."

Everyone was silent for a moment, which made Velren believe there hadn't been a moment when he and Katnis made anyone feel something real until his younger brother whispered softly,"When Katniss volunteered for her sister and Velren volunteered for his best friend at the Reapings ."

"Excellent example." Haymitch replied as he began erasing whatever writing was on the screen. "I hope that wasn't important. " He then started writing on it with a pen, "'Volunteer for sister and best friend'. Good, what else?"

"Oh," Effie began to say as she raised her hand eagerly. "When Katniss sang that song for little Rue." the woman stated with a sad undertone as she said Rue's name.

"Oh, yeah. Who didn't get choked up at that?" Haymitch asked back while writing on the board. He looked back at Effie and noticed her new appearance before shrugging. "You know, I like you better, Effie, without all that makeup."

"Well, I prefer you sober," Effie replied, which caused Haymitch to turn and look at her in disbelief, while Venlen and Katniss briefly smiled before their expressions turned serious again.

"When Velren saved Peeta in the arena." Tobias told him. Haymitch nodded in agreement and wrote it carefully on the board. When he had finished, he turned to Velren, "Has anyone told you that you are very skilled in combat - especially in the water?"

"When Katniss chose Rue as an ally, as well." Beetee added from the other side of the room, and that was the first time since the lightning tree that Velren had actually seen him. Only this time he was forced into a wheelchair.

Elias slowly raised his hand, to add one last thing for when Velren had impacted him emotionally, "Or when Velren avenged his ally from District Four."

"Now, what do all these have in common?" Haymitch asked them, after he had also noted down the two things on the board. "No one told them what to do." Gale spoke up for the first time.

"Unscripted, yes. So maybe we should just leave them alone." Adrian suggested while he glanced at Coin with distaste. "And wash that one's face." Boggs stated as he gestured to Katniss , which caused Effie to scoff softly. "She's still a girl, you made her look thirty five."

"The opportunities for spontaneity are obviously lacking below ground. So what you're suggesting is we toss them into combat?" Plutarch asked with a raised eyebrow and a skeptical glance at the others. He didn't seem entirely convinced by this idea.

President Coin shook her head quickly and waved the idea off. "I can't sanction putting untrained civilians in battle just for effect. This is not the Capitol." she stated, not really bothered by what everyone was saying. "That is exactly what I'm suggesting. Put them in the field." Haymitch countered quickly and stared Coin down.

"No," Coin denied stubbornly, refusing to give in. "We can't protect them." "It has to come from them. That's what people respond to. You want two symbols for the revolution, they cannot be coached into it. Trust me, I know." Haymitch stated seriously as he tried to convince the older woman. His eyes were narrowed as he looked at her.

Plutarch shifted in his seat. "Maybe there's someplace that's less dangerous." he pointed out obviously. "District 8. They reported heavy bombing last week. There are no military targets left." Beetee replied as he looked between Katniss,Velren and President Coin.

Coin frowned, glancing at Katniss and Velren. "We can't guarantee their safety." she told the others. "You'll never be able to guarantee our safety," Katniss finally cut in as she stepped forward, a look of determination flashing through her eyes.

"We want to go." Velren said in agreement after a moment of silence. "And if you're killed?" Coin asked them. Katniss smirked at the president of district fourteen, "Make sure you get it on camera."

  Velren gave her a  smile at the statement  as he  stood up to follow after Katniss, but before he left the room he stopped and looked at the older woman, "That will make good propaganda."

━━ AUTHORS NOTE

I know this is extremely short but the next chapter will be longer. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

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Thank you for reading this far.

Until next time, much love to you all!