out of options.— [six/flynn]

[Deleted]

Six was beginning to really panic about the whole situation. He felt close to giving up, it felt like everyone else had given up on him standing a chance. He wondered if his own mentors had given up on him at this point. He felt emotionally and physically exhausted to the point it was hard to focus on training - perhaps the one thing that could save his life. His sleep was filled with nightmares, making him wake up hour after hour, never getting a good nights sleep. But today, he though of something. When he was training earlier he had helped out a boy at the trapping station - Robin Keeni. Helping him made him remember Flynn Garner.

Flynn Garner was similar to Six in a way. They were both small, scrawny even. They were both fairly young, with Flynn being thirteen when he won and Six being fifteen currently. And he felt like no one expected either of them to win at first. He knew it was a long shot that Flynn would help him much considering they were from different districts, but he'd take anything. Even the smallest piece of advice. Six was too scared to die, because he knew what awaited him after his life ended. Hell. No matter if he died in that arena or forty years from now, Six O'Malley was destined for Hell the moment his name was pulled out.

Before Six left his room, he tried to make himself look a little more presentable. He straightened up his clothes for starters. Then he splashed some water on his face, trying to look more lively. But, the dark bags under his eyes betrayed him. As did how bloodshot his eyes were - it was anyone's guess if the redness was due to sleep deprivation, crying, or both. Six was careful not to cry in front of the cameras or the other tributes, but the moment he was alone? The waterworks would start. He was feeling so homesick at this point he had physically thrown up from a mixture of that and the stress of it all. He needed some sort of help, he truly did.

Six decided he was really going to take that chance and reach out to the young victor. It was a risk, but the worst that Flynn could really do was say no. Maybe he'd also talk to Six's mentors, but what were they going to do? They watched as he nearly vomited on the train and had trouble getting a single word out. They knew that Six was struggling. None of this would be a surprise to them. Of course, he didn't want them to feel betrayed, but he just wasn't sure what else he could do at this point. He just wanted to live. He wanted to see his family again. No he didn't want to do those things. He needed to do them, he needed to live.

He went into the elevator and waited as he went down to the floor that the tributes and victors from district six would be calling home prior to the Hunger Games. He had no clue where to look for Flynn, but luckily he didn't need to look hard. Flynn was in the main hallway where the elevator had opened up too. Six went over to him from behind, lightly tapping on the young boys shoulder. He tried not to stare at his missing ear as he began to speak.

"Uh Flynn... s-sir... Mr. Garner?"

He wasn't sure what to call this kid. Back home normally he'd call a kid his age but their first name. But in this situation that felt wrong, it felt disrespectful. It wasn't just disrespectful because he was asking for help. It was disrespectful to Flynn's trauma. To his suffering and to his pain. Flynn may be younger than Six, but he was deserving of his respect none the less. After initially trying to get his attention, he decided to mention why he was here. But, he hadn't planned this out. So, he began to ramble. 

"I was helping um Robin Keeni during training... and I was hoping- or um thinking that maybe we could talk. Please?"

His voice was shaky, revealing his fear. For once, Six couldn't hide the fear he was feeling. His voice was trembling and quiet. His hand was squeezing his thigh as he tried to calm himself. And he was chewing on his bottom lip like a starving dog would chew on a bone - viciously. He hoped that Flynn would at least entertain the idea of helping him. If not, he wasn't sure where he could turn next.

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

FLYNN GARNER
88th Hunger Games

Robin Keeni needs a break and so do I. Devising strategies and practicing bandaging wounds can end for today, I can’t exhaust the guy before the big day. There were times of rest in the arena, even from the first day when I dared Nanette to climb the tower and Revan followed too. When the glowing blobs appeared and attached themselves onto us and when I watched Nanette drown the trauma out with alcohol that was sponsored. That is how life is. Not an endless trail of trauma and angst, no matter how much I deserve it. Light will always find a way in the darkness.

And so, I shut my mouth for the rest of the day and leave Robin be. But what now?

Most training is over now, and the dining hall is not serving food. Teddy is nowhere to be seen so I cannot talk with him. Not that we have talked much this entire time. He is busy, I am busy. That is how it is. That is how it is going to be for the rest of our lives. He is going to be middle aged, and I am going to be barely twenty-five. There really is a big gap between us both. That old man Teddy!

I just wander through the floor, seeking out anyone or anything to help me pass an hour in this damned place. I discard the fancy clothes from Skye, opting for something more comfortable. A zipped red jacket with a hood and loose black trousers. Just socks, no shoes. This is my home for now after all. Back home if I was this bored. All I would have to do is knock on Dale’s door, or Jodie’s or Luca’s and more than an hour of fun would pass. Now they are further than a walk away from me. Now it is an entire bike ride marathon to reach even Dale’s burger joint that is close to the centre of town. It is just a part of being a victor now I guess and soon it will be a part of growing up.

The elevator dings across the hallway and before I can turn to see who the sliding doors reveal, there is a tap on my shoulder. Shit. Maybe its an avox. Nope, it is that red curly haired guy from Eleven. He must have the wrong floor. ”I think you have the wrong flo-.” The guy’s words cut me off as he tries to say my name. Sir? Nobody has ever called me that before, that is something reserved for my Pa. This guy is called Six too, maybe he thought this floor was named after him… ”It’s just Flynn…”

I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for whatever reason it is for him being here. Six is the same age as Robin, they would probably be good allies but then again, they seem to be the same. Robin needs people who can balance his strengths and weaknesses. Not a whole a mirrored equivalent.

”Oh, what were you helping him with?” He better not have been showing Robin something entirely wrong. Ughh, why is he even here…”Errr, sure.” Poor District Six got the same kid as me this year. Six the tribute is nothing like Revan. But even meatheads cannot survive the Hunger Games. What hope do the likes of Robin and Six have? I don’t think the luck I had stretches that far…

[Deleted]

Fuck this wasn't working. Flynn really didn't seem to want to talk to him. He suddenly wanted to leave. No, he didn't want to just leave. He wanted to vanish. He wanted to fade away and be invisible. Or he wished he could simply will himself out of existence. It took so much courage to push that elevator button and now it felt like it was all going to be for nothing. But he told himself to keep the conversation going. He reminded himself that Lock and Prop wouldn't have given up just because the conversation started off poorly. But then again, those two weren't socially awkward.

Flynn seemed to be interested in the topic of Robin, maybe they could talk about Robin first and Six second. Six was panicking and only wanted to talk about himself, but he didn't think that Flynn would help him. Not yet at least. He had to play the long game here. Plus, he actually enjoyed helping out Robin earlier. Maybe talking about something fun would help calm his nerves. Robin reminded him a lot of his older brother Lock. That was because of the jokes that he made. Making jokes in hard times was something his brother also did, it was comforting.

"Well uh Flynn, to answer your question, trapping. I don't get how trapping actually works, but he didn't get how to tie the knots needed for the traps. And I could help with that part because we use a bunch of them back on the farm, uh Flynn sir."

He hoped that was a good thing, or that he helped Robin enough in Flynn's mind. If he could he would have helped him more, but he just didn't know enough to help him. That was valid, right? He did everything he could. And he hoped that he would see that. He had been trying his hardest since he got here. But that stress from trying your hardest with minimal results was building up. It was all becoming too much for Six. He was tired of trying his hardest, he really was.

He decided to just be honest with Flynn about why he wanted his help. Flynn was in his position not long ago. Flynn must have known the fear and panic he was feeling, right? He must have some sort of advice, without revealing anything that would hurt his own district. This was hard to open up about. He didn't like talking about himself, and especially not his insecurities. But in the moment, he had to. He had to if he wanted help. If he wanted to survive.

"How did you do it...? Everyone thinks I'm going to die. I think my own mentors have given up. But... I don't want to die. I- I don't wanna die. If  I die I'm going to Hell, and I don't wanna die, Flynn. I know you aren't my mentor, but please. Please. Tell me anything you can. How are you alive?"

[d6a georgie cham 🍓🐢 frankel]

FLYNN GARNER
88th Hunger Games

”You don’t have to keep calling me sir. I don’t think I can be a sir…I am just Flynn.”

I can understand the panic in his words. There are a lot of mentors from Eleven, four of them, including the last youngster who won before me. Why isn’t he going to Kassandra for help? Or maybe Robin has been praising me highly to the other tributes. I hope not, I do not want to see anymore queuing up from that elevator. I have nothing to say. Nothing I can share to all twenty-four to help keep them alive. Only the truth that four point one six percentage will actually come out of this.

I scratch the side of my head, grabbing a clump of the curly locks between my fingers, not knowing exactly what to say to the guy. I cannot compromise Robin and Willa, it is my job to keep one of them alive. But the guy needs help. Revan helped me. Revan pushed me like all the others here. His death has me standing in front of Six right now. I owe it to him to give his successor even just a tiny bit of advice.

”Uhh, well to be honest.” The Capitol has been playing me as the sharpshooter with a lucky aim, though not many of them believe that as there have definitely been strange people knocking on the door trying to find out something. Especially my grandpa and that big pharmaceutical warehouse he runs. Not that there is anything special in producing the simple anti-inflammatories for the Districts. There is no shadowy part of the Garner family. No backstreet gunfighting. It was just luck. Some say it is Ripred but my only bible is the Human Anatomy textbook and that really does not have any answers

”I was just lucky. I just kept my wounds clean and chose a weapon that meant I didn’t have to get close. And my allies, I owe it to my allies. I am sorry but there is not much I can say. It is just all on you to try and not fuck up. Just uhmm stay away from Robin..err, that is the best thing you can do. Stay well away from him!”

[Deleted]

Six couldn't blame Flynn for his response, there was a lot of pressure on him. The victors always had pressure on them to make sure one of their tributes made it home alive. But, this was Flynns first time being a victor. His first tributes. If he failed now, it set a precedent. Six knew that. He just wished there was something Flynn could tell him other than to stay away from Robin. He began to get a bit panicked. Who was he supposed to turn to now? What was he going to do? He never even got to finish saying goodbye to most of his siblings. His youngest siblings weren't even of reaping age, would they remember Six? Or would it just be wispy memories like his dreams of Winger O'Malley?

Then he realised something. Flynn's focus was on Robin specifically, not the other tribute from district six. Maybe if he showed he was no thread to Robin him and Flynn could come to some sort of agreement. In a way it felt wrong. It was using them. It was using Flynn wanting to keep Robin alive for his own benefit. It was using Robin and false promises to keep himself alive. But at this point he was out of options. He had to see his family again. He just had to. He told Lock and Fly he would do whatever he could to come back. This was something he could do, or at least try to do. He would have to live with the guilt from this, but it was better than an early trip to Hell.

"I don't want to hurt Robin... I don't want to hurt anyone. I actually kinda consider Robin a friend."

That was all the truth. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but especially not someone like Robin or Bubby. Those two were the type of guys he felt like he could've been good friends with in a different life. But, they were born into this life and thus destined to all die. They could never be true friends, there simply wasn't enough time for that. But now that he got the truth out, it was time for false promises, ones he knew he wouldn't be able to keep. He felt guilt in the pit of his stomach, already beginning to eat away at him. Even if God wouldn't forgive him, he hoped Flynn would.

"Please, I'll take any advice you can give me. Just give me any advice and I'll do anything I can to keep Robin alive! I already have my own alliance but I don't care! I can't die, Flynn! I can't, I can't, I can't, I can't!"

As the lies spilled from his lips, genuine panic began to build up more and more. He was on the brink of an anxiety attack as his breathing quickened and started become audible. He was almost hyperventilating as he shouted about how he can't die. He had seen it in his dreams - well nightmares. Him dying, but instead of seeing a light white he was sent into Hell for all that he was going to do in the coming weeks. He knew no matter what he did at this point Hell was inevitable, but he wanted to delay his arrival as much as he could.