The End

Leksa sighed and wiped at the tears that were falling. She slowly stood and went to the door. She peeked out into the hall and saw Klark down at the end talking with Abbie. Klark was being very animated with her hands and then she turned suddenly and left. Leksa blinked a few times and saw Amora’s team heading toward her door.

She stepped back a little to let the white coats in.THey did their usual braids with her hair, only this time adding in a token to the main braid. She saw it in passing and it looked like it had a number 2 on it. She rolled her eyes.

“Here.” A white coat said. They had her hold her hand out and they put the waterproof compact that Klark had sent her in the games, into her hand. “It wouldn’t be right if we put it on you.” Leksa nodded, glad they understood the tradition behind the warpaint. One of the whitecoats held up a mirror as she applied it. Hopefully this would be the last time she would ever have to wear the warpaint. Unless she got picked to be a mentor, anyway.

Leksa turned toward the door as Amora stepped in. “You ready? Take your time. We don’t want you hurting something even more.” Amora held the door open for Leksa.

“My back is injured. I’m not crippled.” Leksa said harshly. She exited the room and was met by a group of peacekeepers. They led her out of the hospital and into a peacekeeper car, which she took her time getting into.

She watched as the Capitol passed by in the car window. Most of the people she saw were wearing a red cape or were attempting to sport her warpaint. She scowled when she saw the warpaint. The Capitol inhabitants didn’t understand. They must not have been paying attention to the games.

The car stopped in front of the same building from her interview as a tribute. She looked at the giant crowd, those who were dressed as she was in the games, those who wore her green dress, and those who wore her warpaint design were screaming at the car. They were trying to get a glimpse of the victor from District 2.

She slowly exited the car, doing her best not to show how uncomfortable her torso was. A group of 6 peacekeepers surrounded her, making sure she wasn’t touched as she headed into the studio.

She met the eyes of those she walked past and held her head high. She acted as though she were too good for them and all that did was make their screaming louder.

“Leksa! Leksa! Leksa!” The crowd was chanting. When she reached the door she turned around and held her good hand up to silence them. The crowd almost instantly quieted and clung to the silence in the air as they waited for her to speak.

“Citizens of the Capitol.” Leksa addressed. “Today I stand before you as the champion of the mountain.” That is what the gamemakers had led them all to think it was anyway. “Thank you for your undying support and please, remember to give a moment of silence for all those killed in the games this year.” She lowered her hand and slightly bowed her head, heading inside of the studio.

She walked in and once the doors closed her hands went straight to her ribs. They were on fire and she absolutely wished she was weak enough to tell Amora that she shouldn’t wear the cage belt. She was trying to get control of her breathing as she headed to the stairs beside the stage. She might as well wait there to go on stage. She leaned against the wall by the stairs, slightly wheezing. Someone coughed from behind her. Leksa stood up quickly, masking the pain she felt.

Anya had her hands on the back of a chair. “You honestly think we would make you stand?” Anya looked a little offended. “You really caused a commotion outside. Those poor peacekeepers are having to actually arrest people for getting a little too out of hand. Why do you have to be you? You could’ve just walked inside. There was no need to stop and address them.”

Leksa slowly walked over to the chair that Anya had brought for her. “It was my victory and I will talk to whomever I wish.” She sat, her words drifting in the air between them.

“Fine. Just don’t say anything insulting to your District or to the Capitol on the air. You know what to do Leksa.” Anya crossed her arms and stared down at Leksa.

“Yes, Anya.” Was all she said. She know what she needed to say and how she needed to act.

A man wearing a headset came up to the chair. “You’re on in 10 minutes.” He flushed at the sight of her warpaint, the image of blood streaking her face on the illuminati screen flashed in his mind.

Leksa watched the momentary fear on his face and chose to kindly smile at him. “Of course. Thank you for informing me. It might take me that long to get up the stairs.” She laughed lightly, trying to ease the tension. The man smiled at her and told her he would send someone to help her get on the stage.

It took two people and Anya to get her on the stage and redo her makeup, the tears having ruined most of the blush and foundation. Once she was cleaned up she heard the music from the after games show special starting. She sighed as she got into her ready position on the side of the stage.

“And here ladies and gentlemen, is our victor of the year, Leksa kobus from District 2!” Caesar stood, he was dressed in all green. Even his hair and his eye makeup matched the shade of his suit. He must’ve sense her hesitation at moving because he was instantly at her side. He set her good hand over her arm and carefully guided her over to the chair that she had sat in for the pre-game interview.

Once she sat down, he did. He waved for the crowd to be quiet and when they wouldn’t obey his command, Leksa held her good arm up. The crowd quieted and she put her hand back down, setting it with her other in her lap.

“Well, Amora sure knows how to dress you doesn’t she?” Caesar teased.

“She does. I don’t know how I’m going to know what to wear when I go home.” Leksa chuckled in response. Caesar smiled broadly at her and looked back at the audience.

“So, I think I speak for everyone here when we say that you had to make some very tough decisions in the games. Your first few seconds in the games you killed a tribute. What were thinking about as you scaled that wall?” He leaned forward. Leksa closed her eyes momentarily. She needed to remind herself that she wasn’t in the arena anymore.

She opened her eyes. “I was thinking I needed to survive. I was thinking that this was no longer about me but about Klark and myself. I had to survive for us.” She looked at the audience when she heard the quiet gasp.

“And when you jumped down on Olaf?” His eyes were searching hers for something. Something she couldn’t quite place.

“He needed to die so that I could live.” Was her reply.

“Why not face Bellamie there? Why not end his reign against the other tributes?” He folded his legs and out his hands on his knees.

“Well, his allies sided with him, they sealed their fate during training. I wanted him to be the last kill of the games. I wanted Bellamie to know that as I killed him, I had chosen to kill him then. That I had held the power in the games.” She shrugged. Her words taking grasp of the audience, weighing on everyone who heard them.

Caesar looked at her with a shocked expression. He clearly hadn’t been expecting such an honest and brass response.

“Have you heard from Klark?” Was his next question.

“No. But I met her mother. She’s my doctor. A very small woman but very kind. She truly cares for all of her patients and I admire how passionate she is. Especially when she yells at me for moving too much at once.” Leksa giggled slightly as if she were remembering a few instances.

“Well, we have a surprise for you, don’t we?” He addressed the audience. They all shouted and hollered in reply. Leksa’s eyebrow went up as she looked as Caesar and then looked behind him. Klark was wearing nice black pants, black high heels, and a blue shirt that was similarly styled to hers. She had a gold necklace on and had the single braid in her hair.

Leksa opened her mouth and found she didn’t have a reply. Klark stepped on the stage, the sound of her heels filling the silence of the room.

“Klark.” Leksa whispered. She stood as fast she could, fighting the urge to put a hand against the belt to support her broken ribs. Klark quickly crossed the stage so that Leksa wouldn’t have to move. Leksa opened her arms and Klark fell into them. They hugged and then Klark leaned back enough to see Leksa’s face. Klark hesitantly touched Leksa cheek and brought her in for a small kiss. The second time she pulled back she could see tears streaking her face.

Klark brushed a few of them away and then pulled away completely, the only part that hadn’t separated between them were interlocked fingers.

“That was sweet.” Caesar genuinely smiled at the pair. “I bet you’re glad that Leksa came back to you, aren’t you Klark?”

“Yes.” Klark blushed slightly.

“So, what were thinking when Bellamie pushed the star into her back? I know that must’ve been hard to watch.” Caesar frowned at her.

“It was very hard to watch. Those few seconds when she closed her eyes, I thought..” She felt the tears sting her eyes and Leksa glanced at her, squeezing her hand. Klark cleared her throat. “But no cannon rang so, I knew she was still there. I knew she would fight.” Klark looked at Leksa and quickly kissed her cheek.
A smile painted Leksa’s face as she readjusted how she was sitting on the chair.

“The gifts you sent Leksa, were probably a big factor in keeping her alive but, why the war paint?” Caesar switched topics, understanding that if he didn’t Leksa and Klark would probably just stare at each other for their remaining time.

“Well, in District 2, they wear war paint for battle and for ceremonies. That was going to be the last battle, so, I found it highly appropriate she adorn her warpaint for the end of the games. Even know, she’s wearing her warpaint but instead of being for war, this time it’s for celebration.” Klark explained.

“It’s true.” Leksa backed Klark up.

“That’s just amazing. The diverse cultures we have here in Panem. We certainly thank you for your time. Klark and Leksa everyone!” He stood and the pair followed suit.

They exited the stage and Klark helped Leksa down the stairs.

“The only thing left now between us and the games is Snow.” Leksa reminded herself as she looked up into Klark's blue eyes.