Sinners and Saints - Faith and Damon

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

Faith stared up at the beams of light falling through the crack in the roof that was barely attached to her and Damon's little shed of a home. She barely had any clothing on and just laid down on the cool earth trying to absorb it's wonderful temperature. She hated the heat- hated it, with blatant fury. She felt like some cat curled up in the coolest side of the house, laying flat against the floor in the hopes the heat will leave her be. No such luck. She growled in fury before pulling some pants on and stalking outside. She knew Damon had gone off to the black market somewhere on his own so she wouldn't have to brave the heat, so that's where she went first, the sweat on her skin practically boiling, though she couldn't decide if it was because of her sheer anger or the actual heat.

She had her usual hunting knife hidden in the waist band of her pants, with her tank-top covering the hilt. As she walked, which she was doing barefoot, she looked around at all the citizens of District nine she was passing. Her hair flew around her face, beautiful with it's natural loose curls and sensual waves. Her beautiful eyes shining from the sun. She lifted a hand to her sweaty brow, wishing there would be some miraculous cold front coming in soon.

Faith wasn't paying attention to where she was walking and accidentally tripped, falling face first to the ground. She sighed in exasperation and kept moving, walking through the black market, paying attention to no one she saw. Finally she happened upon Damon. Though instead of just going over to him she sauntered around, looking at the different things, spread around the area. From low-grade jewelry to handwoven blankets, meat and cookery. Over to her left was the usual hang out for younger kids who had just gotten off school. Some of them that were in the richer families even got to buy a thing or too, the poorer ones, like Faith, had to watch, wondering if they would get to eat dinner to nigh. She shook her head in disgust at their treatment by those who had riches.

She turned away from the children and finally moved over to Damon, rubbing up and down his back from behind as she moved to stand beside him. They had a good catch today and would hopefully get to catch some of it if they got enough money from their buyers. Everyone needed, not just meat, but food, and sadly, most didn't get it. When he was done talking to the owner of the small stall that was set up as a butchers area, Faith finally turned and spoke. "How did everything go, hon?" It came out as more of a sigh. She looked over at the kids and back at their leftover meat. Was she really so cruel as to say that they wouldn't get any of hers, starving or not. she groaned inwardly and picked up a rabbit and two squirrels handing it to the kids without a word and then walking back off with Damon.

She felt a drop first, and then looked up to see more starting to fall. It was raining! RAINING!! Faith smiled and practically danced around in it as she hugged Damon. The rain, she loved. Her bare feet squished in what was now becoming mud and she wrinkled her nose in mild disgust. The temperature was starting to drop and she felt a light breeze building. When they got home She hugged Damon. "I'm going to go up to the room, wanna come?" She asked. They hand a tendency to have their cutest moments on the roof.

[AphroditeBeauttii]

Damon had had his usual hard day's graft. It wasn't all hard work of course, he had pretty much always had the very useful gift of a sharp tongue and wise words. He was good at this whole trading and selling thing, it came naturally. As though it were some sort of instinct to him to have to do this so that he could provide for his love. As soon as he heard what she said, he couldn't help but nod. He moved and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently as they made their way up to the roof, he moved and sat down in their usual little spot. Pulling her down next to him, he kept his arms saftely around her and sighed ever so slightly- "I wonder if it will be like this for us... forever" he said softly as he moved slightly so that he could look into his eyes. "I want to better our lives... your life. It's just... so hard" he said a little exasperatedly as he watched her closely.

He hadn't had the best upbringing, none of them really had. His Dad worked long hours in the factories, his Mother did too but was home more often. He had never gotten along with them at all. His siblings had always annoyed him, he had been the only... different one. The only one that resented the way that they had to live. His parents working hours for pittance.

He moved and took hold of Faith's hands again and held them in his as he kept her close protectively. "You have to know that I will always do my absolute best to provide for and care for you, sweetheart. Always" he said honestly and truly. He was very much a man of his word and he kept to everything he said.

"Because I love you so much" he whispered adoringly as he kissed her cheek and moved back a little, just settling with her in his arms as usual. They could stay like this for hours and hours and be perfectly content and happy. He loved it, it was perfect. Their relationship was perfect, not so much their surroundings though, if he could give her a better home, of course he would, but right then it simply wasn't possible.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

"Me too." She said honestly. "Damon, there's nothing for us here, or honestly much of anywhere. I'd rather be out on the streets, with nothing to eat than in the Capitol watching children die for entertainment. I isn't fair. Life isn't fair. I'm not happy here, who would be. But where else is there to go?" She asked honestly. Not sure how life anywhere but lower than the low would work for them. She sighed contentedly and rested back in his arms, smiling ever so slightly as she let the rain wash her skin. "I know you'd do anything for me, but that works both ways. I try to take care of you too. She whispered and let him kiss her cheek.

Faith moved and let her lips meet his adoringly. "I love you too. So much, Damon. I always will." She whispered, kissing him again. "I hope you know that?" Her mind pulled her into a tangled web of 'what if's. What if I could do something to help us? What if my parents hadn't left me? What if my brothers were still alive? What if I hadn't killed people? What if I died?[/b] Would Damon have more for himself? Of course he would. It was only logical that if you have a certain amount of food for two people, and neither of them are getting fed enough, then you take one of them out of the equation. They split everything. What if I did die, or I just disappeared? Would he be richer, have more food, more space to live, more fun, more of an ability to exist without fear of never having enough? Yes.[/b] "You'd be happier if I weren't here." She just let the words slip from her mouth.

The look on his face, she fought through the torrents of water to try and see. Would he know she was right? Would she think he was joking? Or would he do that thing where he said merely words and made her feel like she had more of an entitlement to glory than any other being. She reached for his hand, gently kissing it and holding it against her cheek.[/color]

[AphroditeBeauttii]

"Of course I know how much you love me" Damon said softly before he practically saw the wheels turning in her mind, he could practically tell what she was thinking. Exactly what she was thinking before she even said what she did. "Faith, love. I would never be happier without you. Never. I... I would have kept on being unhappy if I hadn't met you. I've changed for good and it's all because of you" he said softly as he moved and looked directly into her eyes.

"I love you so much, sweetheart" he whispered. "You make me complete. Completely complete" he smirked a little and moved to kiss her softly.

"If anything... happened to you... I just wouldn't want to... even imagine what would happen to me. I wouldn't be able to cope without you" he whispered honestly. He didn't know how he would ever be able to cope without her. He didn't even want to think about that ever being the case because it thoroughly scared him.

He settled back and kept her close- their life would never be perfect. But he would always make it happy and comfortable for them, as much as he could.

"We did well today" he said softly, his mind wandering back to his day at the market. "We'll be good for food and things for the next few days" he nodded, proud of their achievements.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

Faith heard what he said and nodded, though she still couldn't help but think.... Stop it![/b] She ordered herself and smiled at Damon. As long as they didn't bring in any stray orphans they would be fine. Even though Faith was quite....harsh, for lack of a better word, she would never let a child starve. She had quite a soft spot for kids. Maybe because she knows from first hand experience how bad their lives can get. How irreparably damaged hearts of innocent children can get from living a life of...what could it be called? Poverty? No, that isn't a strong enough word. Hell? Possibly a bit too harsh. Concentration Camp seems more appropriate. How irreparably damaged the hearts of innocent children can get when living in a Concentration Camp.

Her stomach churned in disgust. How proud our ancestors must be? Look at what we've done with the ground they spilled their blood upon to buy us freedom. I, to the Capitol, am no more than an animal. I guess it's high time I start acting like one. Don't tell me they'll be surprised if I'm not being 'civil' under these conditions.[/b] She thought to herself, a smile curving her lips as she did so. Turning to Damon, she took his hand. "Have you ever though of rebelling?" She said. "What if we could make a better life for ourselves? It may not be in the form of a luxurious home, or fresh smelling clothes. My happiness can easily be found in the fearful eyes of the Capitolites. I can die happy...if they fear me. I guess what I'm trying to say is, even if it's just a handful of Capitolites, I want to give them a reason to remember my name."[/i] She looked into his eyes, hoping he understood that she refused to be held captive simply by the whims of the rich and powerful. She wanted to be someone the capitol should have looked out for. She wanted to be someone her parents wish they would have loved.[/color]

[AphroditeBeauttii]

Damon watched her closely as he heard what she said, he met her eyes and narrowed his own slightly, not in a bad way, just in a thinking way. As he thought over what she said, he moved to say something- "How... how would we do this?" he asked her softly.

He knew it would be a good thing to rebel. He knew it with all his heart that they needed to stand up for themselves against the Capitol, but he also knew the lower districts had it much worse than they did in a way. He didn't want to lose what they had if this failed. But then again, he always stood up for what was the right thing to do, and this seemed like the right thing to do. But then again, he did not want to end up serving time for this.

He leaned back and kept her close in his arms- "How do we do this?... discretely" he asked her softly. "I just... I don't want to lose you, I don't want to lose this" he said softly, although he was up for it. He just...wouldn't be able to bear it if something happened to her because of this.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

Faith started shaking her head as she quietly thought over his question. How could they do this without ending up dead. The chance of success was next to none. She stopped herself before they got too far. "We can't." She whispered. It was the truth. "Well, we can't do anything big. Not yet anyway. The next pair from District Nine who get reaped. We should get a bunch of people to form some kind of protective circle around them or something. Try to protect them from running off to their death. I might even....volunteer." She whispered looking in his eyes.

Could she win? Faith audibly sighed. I'm strong and fast. But would I really hold out against twenty-three other tributes and whatever hell they decide to throw at us. I know I'll have at least one person who believes in me. At least one who will love me even if I fail? But what if I didn't fail? What if I could win? Our lives would be so much better. I could do it. I can do it. No, I will do it. It may not be this year but I will fight, and I will win.[/b] The thoughts ran through her head at a thousand miles per hour, making sure every crevice of her brain was being used to think this through. "Damon, I want to go into the Hunger Games." She said, her voice strong.

She let her eyes wander up to the sky, feeling the rain gently massage her skin before she closed them, giving Damon a chance to properly think this through. A small bird flew through the sky and called out to whatever may be below it's beautiful wings. She looked just in time to see it fly safely into a tree, into it's nest, into it's home. Someday, she wanted to reach home too. She wanted to have kids' mouths to feed and kiss her husband sweetly in those moments of utter frustration. To love and be loved forever. To be...happy. She wanted to be happy.[/color]

[AphroditeBeauttii]

Damon heard what she said, not quite knowing what to think right then. He closed his eyes slightly- "If you go... I go" he said honestly as he watched her closely. "But... one of us will die for sure" he whispered, not liking this. Not... why should they have to do this? Why should the society that they live in make them do this?! It was awful. He was so close to grabbing a knife and ending it all already.

"As much as I hate this... I can't leave you" he said softly. "And if it means going in there with you then... yeah, so be it" he said finally as he sat back and gulped a little. So many thoughts running through his brain that it was practically on fire.

"If it's the only way" he sighed sadly as he moved and hugged her close. He didn't know if she truly loved him, or if he was simply what she saw as her protecter. He would never know. But he did love her, greatly. And he would never let that go. Ever. He moved and took hold of her hands again, holding them in his gently.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

Faith looked into his eyes almost desperately and shook her head. "No you can't go!" She almost screamed it, straddling him as though he wouldn't be able to leave if she was on top of him. Just him saying he would go with her scared her so bad she could barely breathe. "I can't put you in danger! I can't! You have to stay here where you're safe. If both of us walk in there, we're either both walking out or neither of us are. Damon, if you go in there and die protecting me I will let someone kill me. I can't live without you, don't you understand that. You're so strong and you can make it without me, but I am so broken and you're all that holds me together and...I can't lose that...I- I can't." She finished it in a whisper, the desperation in her voice surprised even her. Her entire body trembling from fear of losing the only thing she ever really loved that hadn't already been taken away.

That's when the tears started falling. Her parents, gone, up and left her. Her brother's killed, on in his sleep and the other one died protecting her. The screams of her own voice filled her head as she remembered all the bright lights from the blazing sun around her, the two men she'd just killed on the floor, one still choking on his own blood. She shook Jackson who was still breathing but just barely. "Jack, you can't go!! Don't leave me!! The small voice of a child came from her, she was so small then. So...helpless. Her brother's eyes closed, a single tear running down her cheek as she buried her face in his chest, clutching to the thin fabric covering his broken body. "You promised." The younger Faith sobbed. "You promised you'd always be here to protect me, and hold me when I'm scared. Come back. Come back.... COME BACK!!" She shrieked shaking him. "You have to wake up, I'm all alone.

Faith cried as she remembered those last moments with her brother, the feeling of being ripped apart, slowly even, as she watched her brother. The look in his eyes as he fought with desperation to keep his promise, to continue to be there to protect her. "I can't always promise how, I can't promise you'll always be full. But I promise, you will get to tomorrow." Her brother's voice rang out in her head. He used to say that to her every morning when he would wake her up. He always promised her tomorrow, always said she'd have it to look forward to. And then she understood why he never told her I will get you to tomorrow'. He knew that as much as he wanted to, he might not always be there to carry her through....but someone else would be.

Her eyes moved over Damon through her tears. Taking in every curve, every scar, everything that made him Damon Hayes. He was her everything, her lover, her heart, her soul....her tomorrow. She leaned down and captured his lips in hers, inhaling his beautiful scent, not giving him time to react properly. "It'll be okay." She whispered against his soft lips. "We always have tomorrow." Her body rested on top of his gingerly, they always fit together perfectly, like he was made for her. She moved so her head was resting gently on his shoulder, "Never let go of me." She whispered tiredly, letting her eyes close so she could rest.

[AphroditeBeauttii]

He was going to protest as she had done. Loudly. But he couldn't, he couldn't shout at or upset this fragile being in his arms. She was his lifeforce and he knew that without her, he wouldn't be able to face the world. He knew that nothing would be the same, there would be no other girl. He would live alone and the thought of that scared him so deeply. As he held her close, thoughts swirled around his head.

"I... I can't just sit here, Faith" he whispered, his voice a little strained with tears. "If you got reaped and... if you were fighting and... I just couldn't... I couldn't sit here and watch that" he said, the mere thought that she wanted to even leave him to go and do that hurt. For what? A better house, a little more money? What did that compare to love?

He closed his eyes as he kept her close, not voicing his opinions as it would only hurt her, he knew that. There were times when he wished that they were far away, so far away. Another universe far away.

"Would you want kids one day, love? Is that what you want?" he asked her softly as he moved and kissed the top of her head gently.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

Faith watched him, a gentle smile on her face. I know you can't just sit here." She said, her eyes closing trying to think. "If I get reaped and you want to volunteer for the other boy, you can, but...I stick by what I said, both of us walk out of there or neither of us do." She whispered and snuggled closer to him. Her fingers trailed over his shirt gently, going up underneath it and staying on his bare chest to feel his heart beat, putting her ear up against it. "I love you." She said full of emotion.

She heard the last thing he said and looked up at him, "I- Yes, I do want to have children." She whispered. "Kids would be nice. You- do you want kids? Like, right now?" She asked somewhat sheepishly.

[AphroditeBeauttii]

He watched her closely and smiled as best as he could- "I love you too, with all of my heart" he said just as emotionally as he felt her hand on his heart, it made him feel... completely whole.

He felt so complete with her, pretty much since the moment he had met her he had known she was the one, and he knew he would never get that feeling with anyone else. Ever, it just wouldn't be possible to love another girl apart from Faith, he knew she was his soulmate, his one and only forever and always.

"Yeah... I guess... I mean it wouldn't really be such a bad thing. As long as we're not... like... in danger... I don't know if I could bring a baby into any danger" he said softly as he moved and stroked back her hair, kissing her forehead softly and moving to her lips.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

She thought for a moment, her eyes closing slightly as she put her ear over his heartbeat again. "We've kept ourselves safe so far, I'm sure we can manage a kid or two." She said, but really only if they needed to. It probably wouldn't be best to start squirting out kids just for the hell of it. Her stomach clenched in sorrow. What if it would never be right to have kids? She couldn't help but wonder. They don't even know how many tomorrows they'll have left. That's when the idea struck her. For all she knew her and Damon could be next in the reaping. "Let's get married." The words spilled from her mouth almost without consent as she clutched to him.

The rain slowed down right then, almost like it was waiting for his answer. She held her breath as she waited. Would he even want to marry someone like me?[/b] She pushed the thought back. [/i][/b]Of course he would, he loves me. Right?[/i][/b] Her mind wandered back into her past and she caught herself wondering what Jackson would think of Damon. Her protective boyfriend and her protective brother- somehow the thought seemed comical. So much so that she actually started laughing out loud. More like a giggle actually. "I wonder what Jackson would have thought of the pair of us." She thought again for a moment. "Did you ever get to meet either of my brothers? Hugh would've liked you because you liked me, and Jackson would have hated you because you wanted me." She laughed again a little just before the pain hit her, knocking her breathless for a moment that seemed too long to be a mere second. "I miss them" A tear fell down her face, landing on his shirt, and then blending in with the other wet spots left by the rain.[/color]

[AphroditeBeauttii]

"Of course we can get married, love! Yes!" Damon said as he moved her in his arms, it was what she said next that he knew would upset her, and it did. He moved and pulled her close to him, running his hand through her hair soothingly as he kissed her cheek over and over. "I think I saw them around... but I know that it would have been an honour to meet them properly" he said honestly as he breathed out deeply and thought about their now impending wedding. He couldn't help but be excited about it but he knew that he needed to do this properly. He moved to stand up and held her hand, picking her up in his strong arms as he slowly took her back down into the house towards their bed.

He sat her down on the edge of the bed and breathed out deeply as he opened up their drawers, he moved and got out the little box which his Mother had entrusted to him when he had said he was leaving home.

Opening it up slowly, he moved and knelt in front of her, holding the lid closed until he said- "Faith, you are my everything. You're all I can ever see being my complete future, love. You're half of my soul, you're my lifeforce and I never want to lose that. Ever. I want to be with you forever and ever" he whispered as he opened up the box to reveal the small silver band, engraved with a tiny green gemstone, it wasn't much but it was an heirloom in his family and now it would be Faith's. "Will you marry me?" he asked her softly, smiling up at her as he looked into her eyes lovingly.

[The Hypocrisy of Truth]

Her eyes filled with tears at his words. Her entire body motionless as she took in every syllable. How could he love her this much? So unconditionally. She wished her brother could see the wedding, could see how happy she was with Damon. She wanted her brother to kiss her forehead and tell her to live the best life she could and defend it with all her heart. And she would. She would defend Damon, and District 9, her life, and whatever kids she was destined to have.

She looked into his eyes before meeting his lips, unable to form words right then. Finally she chocked out a strangled "Yes!" and hugged him roughly. "It needs to happen soon, before the next Games." She said suddenly shifting into a weird 'wedding planner' mood. "We need to...what are we going to do for the wedding?" She wanted something big. She honestly did, but really, how many people would actually show for them? She knew her parents wouldn't come, even if she did invite them.

She sat back on the bed, her mind racing through so many different things. She wasn't delusional enough to expect it to be luxurious, but she did want people to watch them prove their undying love for one another. Was that too much to ask? "We need to hunt tomorrow so we can sell the meat and get enough money for the wedding." She said, desperately hoping the weather stayed like this. But that would be bad for game.