Chapter Text
Relief sinks into Coryo’s mind. He could go to District 2. He could go back to civilization. He just had to destroy the gun. Destroy it and no one would ever know who killed Billy Taupe and Mayfair. Only he would know. Hold on. Lucy Gray still knew. She wouldn’t tell a soul. Destroy the gun then he could tell Lucy Gray he’s free to go District 2.
Okay, that’s not a good way of telling her. Telling someone you love that you’re leaving them to pursue your career. Not very trustworthy behavior. Ah, shit! Lucy Gray trusts before she loves. But she trusts him and loves him. How is he going to do this? How can he do this without breaking her heart? She is taking a long time to find some potatoes.
Lucy Gray, I love you but destroying that gun and leaving you means a free ticket to officer training. No, no, no that won’t do. Dam, seriously how does he tell her. Where is she? He opens the door. “Lucy Gray?” he says with concern.
No response.
“Lucy Gray!” Still no response. What is she doing? Hiding from him? Why would she…Fuck! Even from the grave Sejanus is still getting him in trouble! He would strangle him right now if he could. That idiot just had to get caught up with the rebels. Because of Sejanus, Lucy Gray can’t trust him. If she can’t trust him, then she won’t love him. She’ll leave him.
His hands inch towards the gun. She couldn’t have gone far. She said she wouldn’t survive long alone in the woods. She can’t really go back to District 12. She would be crazy to do that. She must be nearby. She’s a victor. She knows when she’s in a difficult situation. She used poison to kill Wovey, Treech, and Reaper. She probably has some poison hidden somewhere. Or a snake. Ugh, what’s worse, a snake or a mockingjay?
He picks up the gun to check if it is loaded. Wait a minute. This is the girl of his dreams. He loves her. Murdering her is not the answer to his problem. If only he could get her to trust him right now. She trusted him during the Hunger Games, and he was a stranger who made a promise. A district girl trusting a random yet charming Capitol boy to get her out alive from a death match. Now the girl and boy are in love with each other but can’t trust each other. How did this happen: love but no trust. What is he going to do?
He slowly puts down the gun. No gun less problems. “Lucy Gray! Please come talk to me!” “Let’s just talk!” Coryo begins to search for her tracks now that the rain has calmed to a drizzle.
“Lucy Gray! Please hear me out!” He hears movement but sees nothing but forest.
“What exactly do you want to talk about?” she says harshly. Coryo looks around, but still can’t find her. She must be close.
“Where are you?! You can trust me! You can trust me! I’m not going to hurt you!” Coryo cries out.
“Trust you like Sejanus trusted you like a brother,” Lucy Gray says condemning Coryo’s heart.
“I…I…” Coryo stutters.
“You betrayed him. You’re the reason he got hung. They say three times the charm, but I think not. I understand why you killed Bobbin and Mayfair. I’m not mad at you for that, especially Mayfair. You did it to protect me.” Lucy Gray says sadly. Coryo can hear footsteps coming closer but still can’t see her.
“You ranted out poor Sejanus. He simply wanted to leave the clutches of Panem. Now he’s dead. Is that what you wanted to tell me now? Coriolanus Snow betrays his friends, those he supposedly cares about,” an angry Lucy Gray hisses.
She is very close now. What game is she playing? “I knew you were special when I saw you in the Hob. What Capitol boy would come all this way for a girl? You had my heart. You had my trust. For the first time since leaving the Games I truly felt happy. Happy that you found me despite what happened in the aftermath of it all. Happy that we could be together. That my nightmares would go away while in your arms! That what we had wasn’t just a dream! It was written in the stars! How could I be such a fool?” Lucy Gray fiercely says every word dripping with venom.
“Lucy Gray, please just let me explain. I…I fucked up. I greatly fucked. Sejanus got involved in the rebels and dragged me into it. I acted on impulse. I regretted it so much after I did it,” Coryo says with tears streaming down his face while dropping to his knees. “He kept falling deeper dragging me with him. It would only be a matter of time before we both got caught. Even now I can still hear his screams. I love you Lucy Gray. I’m not going to hurt you. Please trust me. Trust me enough to let me see you. The gun is still in the house. I swear. I promise you. I love you with all my heart. You trusted me during the Games. Please, you can trust me now,” Coryo pleaded.
He heard the footsteps stop in front of him. Wiping the tears from his face he looked up and saw her looking down sadly at him. “Stay right here,” she says emotionlessly.
Coryo turns around to see Lucy Gray walking back to the lake house. What is she doing now? No, she’s going back for the gun! She is going to kill him. So be it. If this is the only way she can forgive him, then he accepts his fate.
She comes out of the house with the rifle in her hands and walks back to him. This is it; he thinks. What a tragic way to die. At the hands of his lover. She stops in front of him. He closes his eyes and bows his head.
Nothing happens for a few moments. He opens eyes. He lifts his head up to see her sadly staring at him again. Then, with her right hand, she slaps him hard on the left side of his face while her left hand still clutches the rifle. “OW!” Snow yells as he falls onto his side.
“I TOLD YOU I DIDN’T TRUST THE GUNS, YOU IDIOT!” Lucy Gray yells at Coryo. She storms back to the lake house to collect the remaining guns. Rubbing his face, Coryo gets up watching Lucy Gray astonishingly as she marches to the lake shore. She wades into the water and dumps the burlap bag of guns into the lake.
“Lucy Gray what are-” Coryo attempts to say.
“Shut it,” Lucy Gray demands. Walking past him she goes into the woods. She drops down to pick something up. Something orange. The scarf. Slowly, she approaches Coryo with the scarf in her hands. Something pops its head out of the scarf. A snake! Coryo flinches backwards. He would have rather taken a bullet.
“Do you trust me, Coryo?” Lucy Gray asks with an emotionless face.
Of course, he does. He loves her. He trusts her. “Yes, I do,” Coryo says fearfully eyeing the snake.
Lucy Gray reaches Coryo and grabs one of his arms. Coryo freezes in fear but doesn’t run. The snake leaves the scarf and slithers up Coryo’s arm. It feels surprisingly silky. It makes its way up to his neck and slithers around it before moving back towards Lucy Gray. Lucy Gray wraps her own arms around Coryo’s neck along with the scarf as the snake makes its way around her own neck.
A completely shell shocked Coryo raises his eyebrows as Lucy Gray closes the distance and kisses him passionately. Giving in, he places his hands on her waist and indulges in her warmth.
Breaking the kiss and putting a finger on Coryo’s lips Lucy Gray says, “I don’t forgive you. At least not yet. However, I still trust you. I love you with all my heart. It is written in the stars.”
“Lucy Gray, I’m so-” he attempts to say. The snake now releases their necks and slithers down Lucy Gray going back into the forest.
“I know. I know.”
“Why?”
“Why what Coryo?” Her hands are still around his neck while his hands are still on her waist.
“Why do you still trust me? Why do you still love me?”
She just stares at him. At his heart, his soul. She seems mysterious. Breaking the silence Coryo says, “I can’t stay. The commander informed me that I’m to start officers’ training soon. I leave tomorrow. It will be suspicious if I don’t show up. I know it’s dangerous for you to return to District 12 right now. I’ll tell the Covey you are at the lake house. I know they will support you while you’re in the woods. I will come back for you. I promise you. I love you,” Coryo explains.
“How exactly are you going to rescue me? How long will it take?” Lucy Gray says as her eyes penetrates Coryo’s soul.
“I don’t know, but you said you still trust me. Trust me, Lucy Gray,” Coryo implores.
“Okay,” she says sadly. She kisses him once again but breaks it more quickly than the last kiss.
“I trust you. I’ll wait for you. Please don’t take long,” Lucy Gray says pleadingly. She puts her head on his shoulder as tears flow from her eyes. They embrace for several minutes with only the sound of nature to fill in the silence.
With one final kiss Coryo says, “I’ll be back. I promise. I love you.”
“I love you too,” a teary-eyed Lucy Gray says.
Lucy Gray sadly watches as Coryo makes his way back to District 12 wondering when he will come back to her.