I'm better off because of you {Kirito & Anastasia}

[Arrows]

Kirito Miristioma

District Eleven

Amber ambrosia runs in rivers of shimmering scarlet and burlesque brown. Speckles shift on winged winds scattering softly across a sun scorned street. Cracks creep crawling beneath each step of a shoe's sole beneath the burgeoning burgundy of the oaks above. Up ahead a single small shadow shifts scuttling sweetly spinning through the gifts drifting to the ground from their roots. Trailing behind several spots of sunlight seeping through the forest's barrier above sit upon scar stained skin. Gentle is the smile which sits calmly curved across the man's face, it beams even through the broken glass which rests within his eyes. His hands hover holding broken branches in brief embraces as his steps follow the spirited shadow. Her calls quell his mind away from the beaches of his past and to the scene of his present. 

Small and soft she sets her hands inside his own reassuring the smile stuck to his face, she's too young to see the suffering hidden in his darkest depths. While they walk welcoming one another's existence entirely worries whisper wicked songs through his maddened mind. Is she truly happy in a place of such poverty? Will she actually be better off here when he stole her from certain safety away from the Games? His grip gains strength only slightly enough to remind him that it doesn't matter, she's his now. 

Giggles grow gleefully gracing the air of Autumn with their wonder as he hoists her to his shoulders. Wheat rumbles welcoming a beautiful breeze and her hands reach for their swaying shapes. Endless rows of glittering gold promises a plentiful harvest and holds hope for those reliant on its yields, it brings some relief to the weathered mayor. "I wanna go! I wanna go!" Her words wail in electric excitement and are met by gentle laughter lifting from her steed's well parched lips. "Now Ana, as fun as it might seem, if we went running through those fields we would hurt a lot of people. And whats our big rule?" Her response brings the stunning shapes of Rowan, Orion, and Wyatt to his mind as it always does. "We never hurt people for ourselves." His smile hides away the horrible hypocrisy she must one day know. "Exactly."

Several steps beyond the pair of walkers a group of workers worn and sweat stained spill out from the nearby field. In seconds they spot the pair and attempt to present themselves in some manor of anything "better" than what they were naturally, the man's smile fades slightly. "How are we all today?" They attempt to sputter some non-sense and the man brings his voice down as softly as he sets his daughter down on the ground beside him. "There's no need to lie, if somethings wrong tell me and I'll see what I can do." Embarrassment at clear exposure brings the truth to their water deprived lips, a sigh slips from the man's lips. "As promised I'll do everything I can to ensure the new hour quotas are not exceeded unwilling." Again in response he is left alone with his daughter who looks at him in confusion, his smile returns. "You'll understand one day Ana, one day."

Minutes meander before the two come to halt just in a field of grass by edge of the District. Quietly he sits watching the world of heavenly hues and the dancing of his special small shadow. His hands reach out for her's as he draws her to the blanket sitting by his side, she willingly rushes over at his request. As she sits staring and waiting for the words of man made by the murders of twenty three others his worst worry reaps it toll again inside his mind. Does a man like him even deserve to raise a child? Is a child the right price to pay for the loss of twenty three others? He snaps back to her eyes still staring towards him and his heart hurries within his chest. Honest falls from his lips an arm holding her softly in a hug upon the hill. 

"I'm really happy you were okay with coming out here Ana. I know I'm busy a lot but you make me happy. I hope we, and I, make you happy too."

[Cameo {RIP Charlie}]

Anastasia Miristioma
Age: Six

The beautiful scents of nature swirls amongst the nostrils’ senses, leaving a tickling tingle upon the nose with certain breaths. Petite feet patters against the luscious picture; innocent excitement running from her toes throughout her entire body, just as it often does. A gentle breeze weaves through her dance with a soft push onward, leaving her a few paces ahead of the larger steps of her Guardian – rather than behind like with the forsaken capitol Parents she was forced into reality with a year ago. But such cruel adults no longer guide her as it was before. Sweetness now protects her, in manners not even her dreams could have pleaded for.

“Kirido!” She repeatedly giggles for him to join her in her speed with a joyful tune. As the months have strived forward, comfort has cradled her further into her new reality – adapting her more into a little girl, rather than the scarred, fearful soul she was before. In every aspect, the love and patients of her adopted Parents have begun to heal the trauma her previous years left her with, both internally and externally. Even her communication skills have improved, though she stubbornly clings to the first way she spoke her new Father’s name when they first met. “Kirido!” She continues to urge him to her stroll of skipping.

With little patients of her own within her youthful Being, she flutters back to Kirito’s side to clasp his hand & physically convince him with a tug and a stream of more laughter. The encouragement doesn’t succeed entirely as she had planned; though the placement of her on his shoulders has her just as content in happiness. From the heightened seat, the breathtaking scenery unfolds further. Rolling hills of green, and flourishing fields of wonder, enhance the already permanent grin across her face.

No such beauty sketched across the atmosphere of the Capitol’s canvas. Surely parks scattered across it’s concrete forest, but even those were unnatural and frightening to the eyes who craved organic truth. And it doesn’t take long for those very eyes, and anxious feet, to desire exploring through the uncultivated landscape ahead. “I wanna go! I wanna go!” She begs with such purity, without understanding the meaning of those fields.

Delicately denial pierces through Kirito’s lips, along with an explanation. Never before had he rejected her desires without a reasoning, not yet at least. He requests their biggest rule, to ensure of her understanding. “We never hurt people for ourselves.” She states words she’s heard many times before, excitement sprinkling across her lips when Kirito announces she’s correct. Once she only sought escape from her Capitol Parents, where now she seeks approval from her district Eleven Parents. Loving arms embrace the top of her Guardian’s head, actually accepting of her inability to do as she pleases.

Business unravels further down the path, with workers who are drained from a long day. Often Anastasia dislikes the constant work her Rescuer must endure – though at least in this instance she’s present in the matter. She observes quietly and willingly, with eyes glistening of a goal to be just like him in her future years to come. A baffled expression contorts her features as she attempts to comprehend the words being spoken.

“You’ll understand one day, Ana, one day.” He promises, as they carry on their trail hand in hand through the alluring lands he mayors.

A pristine location claims them for relaxation, and a blanket declares their temporary rest spot. Cheerfully she accepts her Guardian’s requesting hands to sit beside him, dismissing the radiating flowers calling to be yanked from their roots of life to be given to him. With a sigh expressing her tiring mind, she gazes back and forth at the dazzling view before them and the man she sees as her superhero.

Her eyes grin of tearful joy as she listens to Kirito share his thoughts, that he’s happy she joined him to this faraway land, that she makes him happy, and how he hopes her new family and he make her happy as well. At first solely a nod replies to him, as she cocoons herself underneath one of his arms. “I love it here. And I love you. And I love Oasis. And I love little Sissy.” She lists off all in which she loves, in the simple manner that she’s able to vocalize. “It okay that you’re busy. You trying to make everyone else happy to.” A smile ensures the truth of her words, even if she sometimes begs that he was around more. But already her life is more than a tenfold better than her past, and she wouldn’t trade it for the entire Panem.