Take My Hand (And My Whole Heart Too) // [AU Mahlah/Elon]

[Gamemaker Lauren Kinkade]

ELON EMBERSTATT

He'd gone to bed that morning in Mace's victor mansion early. He wanted to be refreshed to greet the Victor of the Sixty First Hunger Games in the morning. Despite his good intentions every one of them, he didn't sleep at all. He was too excited, too tickled by the prospect of seeing his brother again and of meeting her, Panem's newest victor. He'd tried to explain to Regalia, who slept in the bed besides his own, why he was so excited. She waved him off; she'd much rather Julian Bryze come to visit, with his deep blue eyes and his boyish smile.

Elon wished for that too, and probably for the same reason as his sister. That thought kept him awake longer than it should have. When he slept, he chased victors in his dreams.

The next morning he dressed carefully, which he always did, but today with just a touch more extra care. When Regalia wasn't looking he borrowed her lip gloss and mascara, heightening his features. He wanted to leave an impression. He knew he ought to wear black, because District Ten had lost two more tributes these Games, including the stranger boy who had volunteered in his place. He felt the heavy weight of shame that he could not muster the proper feelings of mourning. He was too excited, too delighted by the prospect of his dreams becoming reality.

Because for the last year, he'd dreamt of Mahlah Shea.

Even before she'd been reaped, he'd spent time with a curly brown haired girl in his dreamscape. Sometimes they went fishing, and sometimes they went shopping and sometimes they did nothing at all. He hadn't told anyone about the dreams until the Reaping and then he'd made the mistake of telling Regalia. She'd teased him mercilessly for having a crush and he'd never found the proper words to explain that Miss Shea was so much more than a crush. A wise man had once said, whatever souls were made of, ours are cut from the same cloth.

Reggie looked at him now, sidelong, as they stood on the train station platform.

"You don't have to counsel me about good graces," he whispered, just before taking the hands of the families of the deceased. They greeted one another awkwardly before all turning to the arriving steam engine. Mace stepped down first, his grey eyes flat but his mouth holding back a smile. Elon's heart swelled but instead of running to his beloved brother, he waited.

He waited for her.

[sbeeg]

Mahlah Shea

Thin fingers fidgeted with the lace at the hem of her dress. She had murdered so many people yet they still insisted on dressing her up in fluffy dresses. Her skirt puffed out at her waist and reached her knees, edge in blue lace. Pure white stockings and shiny black shoes. Like every district before, her hair had been curled and set in place with glittery barrettes.
"Like a little doll," they say, dotting her cheeks with blush. No one called her a doll after they plucked her from the Arena with her throat half slit open. Her stylists' subtly pick blouses and dresses with high collars to cover the scar that even Capitol medicine couldn't completely heal.

Brown eyes gaze at the pacing landscape. District Ten, a place for fields and cows and freckles. Why freckles? Did the District Ten tributes have freckles? What an odd thought to have.

The whistle blares and Mahlah patiently waits as Mace Emberstatt, the adored young Victor from only two games ago, steps onto the platform. Her's much older than her. Everyone is older than her. No other Victor comes close to Mahlah's age. They all drink too. They smell like liquor and their eyelids are all heavy and purple. She wonders if she'll look like that too.

Taking a deep breath, she steps onto the platform, her shined shoes looking out of place against cold grey concrete. All eyes fell on her and she had to look up to meet their gazes. So short for her age, so young for her status; Mahlah felt she may never catch up.

She glances at the people of District Ten, taking in the plain faces she most likely won't remember when she sees him.

Freckles.

Her lips part as if she were about to speak but she makes no sound. The cameras on her no longer exist- just the young red haired boy standing off to the side. He's covered in freckles and he has a kind look to his face.

The girl couldn't know this person. She had never been to District Ten before, she had never seen this boy before but something in her chest lurched at the sight of him. It was a pain, like a long held sadness that she's seen in the eyes of the older Victors. But there was also a joy in that pain.

She was confused and disoriented but she continued to examine him, her brown eyes focusing on his own.

How do I know you?

[Gamemaker Lauren Kinkade]

ELON EMBERSTATT

He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until her dark gaze settled on him. Unlike the newest Victor, he felt the weight of each camera lens on his shoulders, even as he seized the opportunity. He smiled shyly at the press corps, ducked his chin when the Peacekeeper waved him forward. Despite the attention, he felt buoyed; she knew him, just as he knew her.

He stepped within arm's reach and then sketched a bow. "Miss Shea, welcome to District Ten. I'm Elon, Mace's youngest brother. May I?" He offered his lean arm to her and then carefully escorted her away from the train, pointing out the steps and then the rocks in the unpaved road. He swept his gaze about for obstacles, from gnarled roots to encroaching Peacekeepers. He didn't want to be disturbed but nor did he want to whisk Mahlah Shea off, as Regalia believed. The complication and depth of his feelings threatened to derail him. Before the anxiety could claim his tongue, he barreled onward. "I gather you're to dine with Mayor Marlborough? I can take you there, if you'd like. Or perhaps you'd like a turn around the district center? We don't have much here - a few shops, a supply store, and plenty of horse hitches. Have you ridden before?"

He paused just long enough to remember himself and chuckled. "My apologies. We've only just met and here I am scheduling your day. I just... do you ever feel like you've known someone their entire life, even though that's not possible?"

[sbeeg]

Mahlah Shea

Mahlah watched him, her eyes never bothering to glance at the others there to greet her. Then he stepped forward, his freckles coming into full view. He was covered in them. His nose, his cheeks, even his lips were dotted with little brown spots. He stepped forward, giving her a short bow. Mahlah bent down, grabbing the edge of her skirt and gave a little curtsy. He offered his arm to her.

"Miss Shea, welcome to District Ten. I'm Elon, Mace's youngest brother. May I?"

Elon she thought, taking the arm he offered. His jacket was dark ad the material stiff under her hand. Her arms were bare, and she enjoyed the warmth he provided.

Elon she thought. What a nice name.

She followed his lead through the dirt paths. District Ten was worlds away from District Three. Everything in Three was concrete and metal. Tall buildings and large factories covered the land and people lived in towering apartments. There were electric lights and power lines everywhere. Here there was so much open air Mahlah could barely believe this was an actual place in Panem. She couldn't see any paved roads and there were buildings made of wood- like wood paneling. It was a strange world, one she had never found herself in. Somehow it was stranger than the Arena she had lived in for a week.

"I gather you're to dine with Mayor Marlborough? I can take you there, if you'd like. Or perhaps you'd like a turn around the district center? We don't have much here - a few shops, a supply store, and plenty of horse hitches. Have you ridden before?"


All the questions bombarded the Victor, her eyes focused on the strange buildings and her ears trying to make sense of what he was asking of her. She must have looked overwhelmed cause he halted his assault of questions and laughed to himself.

"My apologies. We've only just met and here I am scheduling your day. I just... do you ever feel like you've known someone their entire life, even though that's not possible?"

Suddenly her mind was cleared of all her previous worries. She no longer focused on the dirt paths or horses that mingled in the streets. She wasn't thinking about her what could only be an uncomfortable dinner with the Mayor tonight or how in only a a day and half she'd be on to the next district.

"I do," her voice was hoarse and quiet but certain. She stared up at him, his freckles connecting like constellations. Maybe her whole life was written out in those stars. "I know you, Elon."

It was the first time she had ever spoken the name but it fit perfectly in her mouth like she had said it a million times before. Like it had been whispered between chapped lips and screamed across fields of blood.

She glanced at the people behind her. The cameras were focused on Mace and what he had to say about the new Victor. This was her chance, how many more times would she end up in District Ten?

"Is there a place we can talk?"