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earthpleasures · 2 months ago

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RUNNING UP THAT HILL !

Lucy Gray Baird x fem!reader

Summary: On the faithful day of Reaping Ceremony, you finally became aware of what you've been lacking in your life. Lucy Gray Baird's love. Your one and only childhood friend. You were ready to throw yourself in front of starved wolves for her sake, and you decided to prove it.

Warnings: ANGST / swearing

Word Count: 2.2k

A/n: me trying to write something happy, result:

"and if I only could

i'd make a deal with God

and I'd get Him to swap our places"

- running up that hill by kate bush.

Streets of District 12 was filthy as ever as Y/n and Lucy Gray dragged their feet to The Hub. Tomorrow was the day Reaping was going to happen. Neither of the girls felt any excitement over fourth of july, just like rest of whole twelve districts that were about sacrifice their children to Capitol's psychopathy.

“Lucy Gray, you're unusually quite today.” Y/n spoke as she fixed the fruit basket pressed against her side. They were planning to ask Hub if they would let Covey do one last show before reaping, and then make their way to flea market. Maybe they could exchange a piece of clothing for a few strawberries Y/n farmed.

Lucy Gray's face lit up with a smile, Y/n could never differentiate if these smiles were true or not.

“I was thinking of this night's show. I have a song I wish to sing.” That thought made other girl smile. She always loved the infamous Songbird’s voice and songs.

She ate one of the strawberries from the brown basket. “Oh well, I will wait for your song with all ears. However, how do you plan to sing it? You haven't teach us anything about its melody.” Lucy Gray chuckled at her friend's worried tone.

“No worries, love. I've wrote it over one of our songs’ melody. I think tonight's lyrics fit to it better anyway.”

“I… if you say so.”

She could never disobey or say something against her songbird’s statements. And finally Hub became visible from the distance. Old walls were ready to crumble on its residents but all two girls saw was a roof to gain a few coins.

Lucy Gray held the door open for her since she was clinging into the basket, making sure no strawberries fell out. She nodded her head to her to thank her. Inside was stinking as usual. Smell of mold, poverty and cheap gin. It wasn't like Y/n lived in a clean or new home. However she could never prevent the nausea from rising in her throat every time they entered this place.

Disease and death traveled through the whole Panem without knowing any borders, she didn't have a reason to act wary against The Hub.

Besides the disgusting smell, the place was almost empty. Most of the audience were peacekeepers and they seemed nowhere to be found at this time of day. They were on ‘duty’. More like haunting the poor folk of 12. Y/n thought of it.

Conversations were always made by Lucy Gray, no one could resist the sweet way of the words spilling from her lips. “Hi! How have you been, Ben?” She spring on her heels while talking, her alluring personality ready to charm its flies.

Bartender's tense shoulders relaxed when her image entered his vision. “Hi, Lucy Gray. I assume you are here to ask if Covey can perform tonight.” Lucy Gray nodded slowly, she jumped to sit on a chair, her legs swung around since they couldn't reach to sub board of the wooden chair.

“Always a smart one. Yes, I was going to ask if we can perform one last time before Reaping.” Ben sighed while rubbing the dirty cloth to an old striated glass. “I guess you can do it, tomorrow ain’ the brightest day for us after all.” She added a hint of sorrow to her smile.

“But we must make the most of the lifes we have, mustn't we?” He nodded to approve her statement. “As much as we can in this shitty district.”

After some chit-chat talk, they left Hub with the guarantee of a few coins to throw in their pockets that night. Y/n watched Lucy Gray's happy expression, the way she spinned around herself, her colorful dress’ long skirt flying around. She loved to admire anything Songbird did.

Flea market wasn't too crowded either. Mourn of unknown loses was already hunting people of District 12. Two or three stalls of clothing seemed to be present. A woman from last week was absent. Poor lady, perhaps she died because God knows what kind of disease or she fell in hands of a peacekeeper.

Y/n intertwined her fingers with Lucy Gray's, moving as close as possible was safer in a place like this. To be honest, staying together was the best choice in all places of 12.

A man with a women's clothing stall caught her eyes. His face was tired and sick, probably had the flu. “Look, maybe we can exchange these strawberries with a pair of shoes. Maude Ivory was sad about Peacekeepers tearing her sandals.” Lucy Gray nodded and followed her lead.

Y/n harshly put the basket in front of the man, leaving a tough first impression was important if they wanted to have a fair exchange.

“Ah, famous doves of Covey. What do you have for me?” She could smell of starvation from his breath even at this distance. All she needed to do was to push him a bit.

“A basket of fresh, clean strawberries.” She arched her eyebrow in a daring manner. “Do you really think a basket of fruit can buy clothes?” Man raised his chin. He was stubborn, but could never be as much as Y/n.

“Okay, listen the deal old man. You give us these shoes.” She pointed to an old, worn pair of shoes. “And I leave all of these tasty things at your stall. ‘kay? And if you don't, I can go to another stall.” He looked at the basket then at her face. His mouth was salivating for a taste of anything, and giving away the shoes seemed to be a good option.

“Take the shoes.”

Y/n took a deep breath as relief filled her veins. She emptied the whole basket to an old bag man owned and placed the shoes inside it. Exchange was fair, he wasn't going to die from starvation and Maude Ivory was going to get a pair of wearable shoes.

“Don’t you think you've been hard on him?” Lucy Gray mumbled while her index finger lovingly caressed the fabric of the shoe. They would fit the little girl just fine. “Being nice doesn't grant us any living in District 12.” Y/n shrugged and dismissed her question.

All members of Covey were exhausted from last night’ performance, which led them to hardly wake up for Reaping. Their house was already hot from weather outside, shattering walls were making it worse by letting the fresh sunlight in.

Y/n, as always, was first to wake up. Even on an effing day like this. A few more hours of sleep wasn't even a choice given the fact Peacekeepers would drag them out to watch Reaping or, to be reaped.

She groaned with ache coursing through her bones, makeshift bed cracked under her weight. Slipping her shoes to her feet, she looked around to check other Covey members. None seemed to have a peaceful slumber, Lucy Gray was sweating, Maude Ivory was panting heavily, Barb Azure's eyebrows were furrowed. The expected disaster made everyone uneasy inside.

She took off her pajamas, her hands extending to the shirt and skirt she wore yesterday. “Why don't you wear something colorful, love?” Her head practically snapped to the direction the voice came from. Lucy Gray's eyes were closed, yet a subtle smile sat on her sweaty features.

“Good morning.” Y/n murmured as she stood up from her bed. She considered her options. The most fancy thing she owned outside of a few stage clothes was a faded purple dress with flower-covered frills on its skirts. Her hand hesitated when it reached the folded fabric. She got this at the insistence of Lucy Gray and Barb Azure for three coins in the flea market last year. For special days.

What could be more special than the day she would be presumably sent to death in her life?

Accompanied by an ache in her heart for dirting the dress with memories of such a melancholic day, she pulled it over her head, messing up her already disheveled hair more. Stained mirror was reflecting a seventeen year old girl's ruined beauty, face worn by living difficulties.

Two lean arms sneaked around her waist, securing her against the girl behind her. Lucy Gray pressed her chin to her shoulder, observing their imagines from mirror. “You're beautiful.” She whispered, as if possibility of anyone else stealing her compliment to Y/n scared her.

“So are you.” She whispered back, unconsciously closing her eyes and leaning to her touch. Silence was comforting, almost like an inaudible lullaby singing to two awake girls’ ears. “I have a dreadful feeling about this day inside me, something is gnawing at me.” Lucy Gray chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind the ear of the girl in front of her.

“Now don't make such a long face, be positive. Death isn't an end, remember?” At her light words, Y/n turned around with her arms still wrapped around her waist. She cupped her face, looking at her beautiful brown eyes. Maybe they could swallow her, so she would never leave her.

“No, Lu. You don't get it. Something bad is about to happen. I feel it, you know I always feel it.” Lucy Gray's eyes widened at her hurried sentences. The worst case in a Reaping day would be reaped as their district's tribute. Everyday was a survival struggle in District 12, but being thrown to arena? Now that would be a different story.

With their fingers locked to each other, Y/n dragged her after herself to the little place where they grew strawberries to exchange or sell. “I know that you have no will to trust anyone after Billy Taupe, but just… just hear me out.” Brunette furrowed her eyebrows, she wasn't stupid, guessing where the conversation was about to go wasn't hard. But did it matter at this point?

“I am listening, Y/n.”

“What are you two doing there?” Maude Ivory's childish voice interrupted her before she can speak. And that killed her last piece of courage to confess her feelings for Lucy Gray.

“Nothing, honey. We were just chatting.” She quickly smiled and turned her attention to little girl, she was wearing the pair of shoes they got for her yesterday. “Are they comfortable?” Little girl stared down at her shoes. “Yeap. They're so easy to wear! Thank you.”

Her lips pulled themselves into a forced smile. The girl was as naive as a child in districts could be. Perhaps it was because rest of the Covey sought their best to raise their youngest as pure as possible.

People were gathering in front of the stage one by one. Between age 12-18, kids were separated to groups. Covey made their way to their groups. As always, Reaping day was hot and everyone was sweating under cruel sun and stress.

First to go was female tribute. For male tribute, she wasn't worried at all. Clerk Clementine was old enough to be excluded from Reaping.

But what about us?

“Lucy Gray Baird!”

She could swear her heart missed a beat, maybe a few beats, when she heard the name. Out of instinct her eyes found Lucy Gray. It looked like she was ready to put on a show one last time.

Lucy Gray began to walk towards the stage.

“I volunteer!”

A desperate voice erupted from between waiting kids. Y/n threw herself in front of Lucy Gray, eyes filled with terror and tears. “I volunteer as tribute!” Brunette extended to hold her hand with shock. “Love, what the hell are you doing?” Girl in front of her turned to look at her with guilt.

Before any word being shared, a peacekeeper caught Y/n's arm, dragging the girl to stage. Lucy Gray tried to run, only to be thrown to ground by another peacekeeper. Even while walking to death, they couldn't take their eyes from each other.

“No, no, no. I am chosen. You chose me! Give her back!” Maude Ivory wrapped her arms around her as Barb Azure pressed her head to her chest so she couldn't see Y/n.

She stepped on the stage in front of pitying eyes. After all, what kind of moron would throw herself into a lion's den for whatever reason?

Mayor looked at her with grand disgust, as if girl interrupted something she wasn’t supposed to. “District 12's female tribute, Y/n L/n.”

She didn't even bother to listen who was chosen as male tribute. Whoever it was, he was going to walk to death with twenty two other tributes.

Whole time she watched the rest of the Covey. They all looked disheveled with one of them being sent to Games.

She didn't even get to confess to her, kiss her, embrace her one last time. Like all District 12 kids before her, she was going to turn into a drop of blood to write Capitol's pages of history. She remembered the hide and seek game the played when they were children.

“You can't catch me, Lucy Gray!”

She kept her head high, this wasn't a display of pitiful love. That was a worthy sacrifice to keep her darling alive. Everything was worth it to Lucy Gray.

“You can't catch me anymore, Lucy Gray.”

She whispered, knowing Lucy Gray won't ever hear her again.

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