Green's a Fine Colour [Chaos]

[sadniss everdeen]

Lips touch with a vague sense of desperation and I gladly open my mouth to the questing flesh against me, grasping her hips and bringing her so close that there is no space between where I end and she starts. Below us the ancient couch moans in protest but I am temporarily rejuvinated by the trailing fire her touch creates, an endless cycle of life that brings me back from the dead. With abandon I thread my fingers through bright red hair and tug gently, surging up to meet her again once I've caught my breath in a quick pull of air. I'm all angles to her curves; we fit perfectly again. Like two puzzle pieces that were always met to snap together, but their edges had roughened and warped over time.

I don't want to slow down - please, let me just touchtastefeel - but eventually I pull back and watch her face through lidded eyes, tucking a curtain of bangs back behind her ear. For the first time in two weeks I allow the first genuine smile to twist the corners of my lips, showing sparkling teeth and lighting tired orbs. While my left hand remains curled in her vibrant locks my right spreads over her chest, feeling the reassuring beat of her heart pulsating against the sensitive flesh.

"I'm not going anywhere, babe." The words are mumbled into her neck as I recline back, holding her as one would a precious child. Though it hasn't even been half a month I could drown forever in the soft scent of summer that radiates from her porcelain skin and the warmth that has been lacking as of late. Thrust out into the firigd clold for days upon end, I had started to think that I'd forever lost all feeling in my digits; but having Kaya at the ends of my fingertips erases that doubt.

I'm not sure how long I just curl into her, the fire scalding my feet and my body so happy I could just give up and die. It takes a long time to realize that the wetness on my cheeks is tears, and longer still to dislodge a hand to wipe them away. With a trembling sigh I lie flat on the cushions and pull her on top of me, needing her grounding weight to keep me tethered to reality. It all seems so surreal - lounging by the fireplace with my lover while we should be talking and working things out. Yet, this moment is too precious to deny and after all we've been through, I think we deserve a break.

It's obvious Kaya's gotten over her jealous streak. While I don't know what snapped her out of it I'm just glad that it's gone, being replaced by the gentle girl that I've loved since we were young. Absently I run nails along her scalp, mussing her hair and creating whimsical patterns on the hardwood with the other, dangling appendage. Only one eye is allowed to see her but I can feel her presence with my whole body, and unbidden, a contented hum starts in the pit of my torso. My chest vibrates with the noise, but I can't make it stop.

The quiet is rather pleasing, and the vague thought strikes me that Trig should be home. His very face makes a wave of anger break through this peaceful serenade, halting the rumbling purr for a moment before starting it up again. I know we have to do something about him - there's no way we can live like this - but until he gets home he can be ignored. Still, the wind howls outside and gives the scene a surreal sense of safety, and I roll my working eye upwards to watch the trees batter the windowpane. After several moments, I shiver and return my gaze to the girl above. "We have to talk soon." I murmur, wrapping both arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her firm lips. Before we get carried away again I pull back, flopping my head against the worn couch and letting her leg fall between mine. "I won't be leaving for a long time, but there are things close to home that need to be dealt with."

But for now there is some much needed healing; again I'm reminded of the frosted ring upstairs. Why is it that I would do anything for her? Like I'd much rather risk showing her the depths of who I am than... losing her.

The thought takes me by surprise. Never has anybody seen the full extent of the twisted concotions the monster creates, but I'd even bare my soul in exchange for her love. How long will I be able to keep the ring hidden? It keeps prodding at my thoughts, the edges of my subconscious. Is it telling me to do something? Too much thinking. More bonding. This matter will be dealth with at a later time.

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[Meeka]

Kaya Lentach

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♥

The saying, absence makes the heart grow fonder may actually be true for once, or it is in this single moment. The worn couch certainly is not made for this and it creaks once in protest, but I've long since shut it out. I have eyes only for Tammy and everything else becomes almost surreal to me, as though she is the only real thing in this warped, unchanging world we live in. Soft footfalls announce the arrival of Trig from school, but I don't pay him any notice. Relieved, I sink into Flight's embrace, my fingers itching with barely contained longing as her heated breath ghosts against my neck. The not too subtle stomping and the sawdust that falls from the ceiling, the very walls shaking from the fury of it, all conveys Trig's anger not only to us, but to the rest of the neighbourhood also. But surprisingly, I can not be bothered.

Despite the fact that we're lying in a strictly uncomfortable position - my knees slightly bent in order to accommodate Flight's tall frame - it feels completely natural. Finally, I pull away, though my fingers still trace shapes onto her arm. I don't protest in slightest when she pulls me on top of her. It's not really much more comfortable than our previous position, but it allows me to look at her properly. I realise with a start that this is the first time I've actually looked at her ever since she disappeared a fortnight ago. Absently, I trace my digits softly across her features, wiping the tears that are a rare sight from her cheeks.

I want so desperately to ask her what happened; what did they do to her, what did they make her do, what caused these tears? But I know that asking that will break the spell, even for a moment. It's selfish, but I don't want to think about the horror she might have been forced to encounter, not really, or at least not now. Tentatively, I lean forwards to press my lips against her forehead, then her lips, before finally resting my head against her chest and listening to her shallow breathing.

I close my eyes, content to lie here and to listen only the crackling of the fireplace and feel her body against mine. I don't need anything else. But I know that it is only a matter of time until this painted illusion shifts and that it is then that I have to see the hideous truth beneath, that I will have to bear it all. I also know that I am deeply afraid of what she will tell me. I sigh despite myself when she remarks about just that. "I know." I move forwards until I'm inches from her face and for a second I feel as though I can see the child that was Tammy once upon a time, beneath all of the faced hardships. I press my lips firmly against hers before answering, "but not just now."

Is it sad that I long for our untroubled childhood again? For those mischievous days spent climbing trees, outsmarting Peacekeepers and messing up the neat piles of leaves, gathered on the sides of the District Square? Briefly a faint giggle escapes me before I can stop it, at an image projected in my mind. I lean down, kiss her once more before resting my cheek against her chest once more. "Do you remember, the autumn before you... you know... left," I start, my fingers hurriedly tracing patterns into her wrist even as I speak. "We were still such kids. I fashioned you a necklace. Remember? I strung chestnuts from a thread. You were so reluctant to wear it that I had to tackle you first." I grin, reminded of how Tammy was incredibly fast but that she was laughing so hard, it did not take very long for me to catch up with her. "I forced you to wear the necklace the entire day and you kept saying that it looked silly on you. In return, I kept assuring you that it looked fine." I sigh, my grin slowly fading as nostalgia takes over. "That was a good day."

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[sadniss everdeen]

Upon her words bring a strange rippling in time, and I flick my gaze sideways at the giggle I can hear from my left. No Trig; he stormed up to his room in a huff, obviously disgruntled that I returned intact, but instead a silvery appearance of human shapes. I blink slightly and stare, noting that they seem to be familiar. Though they stand in one place, Kaya's words make them move as if alive.

---

"Ew, I don't want to wear that!" The sun shines on my face and makes me wrinkle my nose in distaste, eyes squinting from the glare. There is a stomping of the foot from the girl in front of me, followed by an angry huff. "Taaaaammy! Come on, I made it myself!" I eye the offending homemade craft in distaste. Bulky chestnuts strung together from braided grass, they clink like dried deer teeth that the District's Healer wears; a scary man with a painted face and a warbling voice. Against my simple deerskin shirt and ragged shorts, it would seem out of place. Plus, the animals would hear me coming a mile away... not that they don't already.

Wind rustles the summer leaves lightly, and I run a short-nailed hand through my thick tresses. The glare Kaya gives me is quite amusing - all big eyes and pouting lips - but I refuse to let the twitching smile I feel take over my face, instead corrupting it into a large smirk. Again she shakes the object at me (it reminds me of those necklaces those monks from Before used to wear) and I unconsciously shuffle back a pace. "Please? It'll look cool!" I shake my head stubbornly and refuse, staring down at her small frame from my superior height. I love being taller. It makes me feel important.
"I refuse." I snipe, grinning with sparkling teeth. She growls in her throat and charges, waving the necklace as it rattles back and forth with the pumping of her arms.

When my body turns one hundred and eighty degrees to run off, dirt sprays everywhere and my heels sink into the mossy ground. Though I'm larger and faster than my counterpart, but the heaving laughs that bubble from my chest coupled with the frenzied dodging of trees make it difficult to keep my balance. Her footsteps thud behind me, and together with the nonsense threats coming from her mouth I have to take breaths in snorting gasps. She gains on me, and there's a moment of pause before a large weight tackles me to the ground.

The floor is hard and I get a faceful of leaves as we tumble down, impacting packed soil with a distinct thunk. I grab her shirt to try and yank her away from me, but her little legs have managed to lock with a deathgrip onto my waist. No matter how hard I try, she won't be shaken off and I feel the necklace being fastened around my neck. Still laughing, I roll my shoulders sideways; an unexpected product of this is that she's sent flying off into the distance. Instantly I stop, producing a sheepish smile when she touches part of her arm in disbelief and it reveals a nasty looking cut. "L-look what you did!" She cries, tears pooling in her little kid eyes that hold an inner maturity. The necklace lies scattered amongst the wreckage - maybe she'll forget about it? That produces a rare wave of guilt.

I sigh and saunter up to her, crouching down to inspect the cut. Relatively clean. There is a whisper of something by my ear that almost feels like the exhale of air; I flinch back instinctively before chastiting myself. There's nothing there, despite the repeating occurances.

Clean it for her. This time I jerk my head up and look around. Still, there isn't a soul in sight that could've delivered such words. Uneasy, I look back at Kaya who sports a confused and slightly hurt expression while I've tightened the hold on her arm. Sighing, my face floats down to the gash when I'm struck with a sudden urge. Finally giving in to that bizarre notion in the center of my chest, my tongue pokes out and draws a large swipe along her arm, pulling up the blood and touching the pale flesh. Then I tear off a stray strip from my shorts, binding her wound with care. She shivers from the uncommon feeling but doesn't resist, smiling slightly back when I give her a wide half-grin. "There. All better?" She shakes her head fervently and I raise an eyebrow. "What now?"

Kaya thrusts out the necklace from where she retrieved it, adorned with the most stubborn expression I've ever seen. "Wear it. You owe me." I stare at the offending piece, but sigh and snatch it away. "Fine." I grumble, tying it securely to my neck. As an added thought, solely to myself.

Only for you.

---

A hand reaches out and swipes at one of the ghosts, trailing fingers through my own, youthful reflection with longing and a hint of a smile. It's been so long since I've just let loose, so wrapped up in death and plots to overthrow and assassinations. That was my freshest memory of before I changed and became... who I am. The voices were manageable, the shift in thought able to be ignored or confronted. But after my first real experience with the monster, things just went downhill from there.

I helped you grow from what you were. Shaped you into what you could be, so that you could harden your mind to the world. From yourself. I close my eyes and sigh, hand falling limp onto the floor as the reflections of another time vanish like smoke.

But I didn't need to be helped. I was doing fine by myself. A scoff.

It didn't seem that way. Its breath rasps by my ear and I unconsciously swat at my head to make it go away, disturbing the body on top of me.

"Yes, well, it's not your decision to make." Realizing that I've just been talking aloud this whole time, I blow air through my nose in annoyance and kiss her red locks. "We can never go back." I murmur, absently tracing whimsical patterns along her spine.

"But we can make new memories, can't we?"

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[OOC: So, um. Where's this thread going?]

[Meeka]

The whole, "but we can make new memories" is actually a brilliant place to stop the thread, don't you think? I'll pm Chase about continuing the whole Alyss/Kaya/Flight thing because he told me about it last time and we should start with that.