InsaneJournal

Characters: Marvel, Prim
When: A few years after the rescue.
Location: Their apartment
Warnings/Rating: None
Summary: Marvel and Prim chat and reflect.
Status: Gdoc, complete.

Her eighteenth birthday had come and gone quietly. She was never much for celebrating it, because it always stirred up memories of home. Granted, at home, she wouldn’t have lived to see her eighteenth birthday but that didn’t mean she didn’t miss it. Still, she’d settled in contently enough to life in Point Placid. She’d been Marvel’s charge (something several people from the train joked about), but now that she was eighteen and legally adult, there was no need for his guardianship. Which also meant she was free to move out, if she was interested. Or if he wanted her to. She just … wasn’t interested in moving out, though she guessed if he’d rather not have his ‘charge’ around, she’d do it anyway. There were some friends of hers renting a place once they all graduated that she could go in on. Prim tried to objectively consider her situation, but she found she was having trouble being completely objective about it. She wanted to stay. She liked what they had here. It was a comfortable relationship, and they’d spent the past four years living in the same apartment. Sure, it had been tight at times, but they’d always had people to lean on to help them out. Lily and Nina offered babysitting jobs all the time, and Jaime, Ray, Lily, and Nick were generous with their Christmas gifts to her and Marvel. Don and Lily Luna were doing well, too, and honestly everyone who’d been stuck on the Orient was kind of bonded and very neighborly. So they’d always had someone to lean on when they’d had to. Staring at her open textbook, Prim realized she wasn’t going to get any studying done right now. Not while her brain was running a million miles a minute in seven other directions. Maybe she’d go see what was in the kitchen for a snack and maybe numb her brain with a little TV for an hour or so and try again. Pushing back from her desk, Prim slipped a piece of notebook paper to mark her place, closed her book, and padded on bare feet out toward the kitchen. When she passed Marvel on the couch, she ruffled his hair lightly, and grinned a little as she continued on her way. “You want anything out of the kitchen?” She called over her shoulder to him even as she stared inside the fridge. She’d try the cabinets next and see what was edible there. _____________ If anyone had ever told Marvel that he would be living with Katniss Everdeen’s little sister, he would have thought they were insane. Of course, if it hadn’t been for the train, he wouldn’t be living anywhere at all. Even so, sometimes he thought about the way he used to be, and how strange he would have found the idea of comfortably living in an apartment with Prim. When they’d first arrived, he’d been worried he wouldn’t fit in, even after so many months on the train. Most of the other people had skills that could transfer to this world or were at least from places similar. Prim was young enough to go to school so she would grow into the place, but he was an adult, just barely, and while maybe they could have made other arrangements, he’d liked the idea of getting a job and letting Prim live with him. He couldn’t say exactly what he’d liked about the idea, but it had been similar to why he’d first gone to talk to her about Panem or when he’d warned her about Clove. He’d just … wanted to, and he thought it had worked out pretty well. He’d fallen into a construction job and found he really enjoyed it. The hours were a little strange sometimes, but he’d also managed to take some night classes and get a GED, more for his own personal knowledge than for any career advancement. Sometimes he considered going to college part time, but it hadn’t happened yet and he figured it was just going to be something he considered every now and then that never happened unless he was suddenly struck by a desire to step into a job that needed more education. Overall, he found he was pretty happy and couldn’t really ask for much more. Except, the idea that Prim might want to move out now that she legally could live on her own hadn’t escaped him … he just didn’t like to think about it. Drawn out of his thoughts by her hand in his hair -- which was shaggier now than he’d worn it on the train -- he grinned, tilting his head back to glance at her as she passed by. “A coke. Or.. whatever’s cold,” he called back. _________ “Whatever’s cold,” she echoed as she shifted aside a few things. She still half expected to come across opened cans of catfood covered with tinfoil, but she hadn’t had it in her to get another cat after Buttercup had passed. Maybe over the summer, she’d think about it, but she was fine just volunteering at the shelter and taking care of those animals when she had the time to. “We should go grocery shopping,” she said distractedly as she pulled out a Coke and a Dr. Pepper for herself, stretching up to peer into the cabinets. She hadn’t gotten very tall, though she was average height for a girl. Still, she kept hoping for a growth spurt that she was pretty sure wouldn’t happen. “There’s a lot of empty space in the fridge and the cabinets,” she reported as she found a half-empty bag of pretzels and decided that would do. Retreating to the couch, she offered Marvel his soda before she flopped down beside him. “I was arguing with my textbook,” she explained as she popped open her soda. “I think it won. So I’m regrouping and I’ll come at it from the side.” A slight smile tugged her lips as she unfolded the top of the bag of pretzels, offering him some if he was inclined before she turned her dark blue eyes to the TV to see what was on. _________ “We should make a list,” Marvel replied, otherwise he just wound up wanting to buy a lot of crap. He had, more or less, gotten over the incredibly wide range of food that grocery stores here had, but they did occasionally remind him of the capitol. He thanked her when she handed over the soda and he popped the top on it, taking a sip as he glanced over at her. “What subject?” He asked curiously, a little amused. Despite being content overall with his life and job, he did wonder sometimes what he might have gone on to do if he’d arrived here a few years younger. He wasn’t dumb, after all. Although he didn’t think he was doctor material either, not like Prim was. Sticking his hand into the pretzel bag, he snagged a handful of them before nodding towards the remote which was on the coffee table. “If there’s something on tv that will help you regroup, feel free to turn it,” he offered generously. He was just watching some movie he’d seen a hundred times before because it was on and not much else was. _________ “You say that, every time. And every time we come home with junk food anyway,” she teased him. Not that she was much better about it; the novelty of having the ability to buy anything she wanted to eat still hadn’t worn off after four years. “History,” she said as she made a face. “I keep wanting to tell the book it’s wrong and that isn’t how it happened, but … then I remind myself that’s how it happened here -- just not back home.” That was only part of it, really. Mostly it was because she was consumed by thoughts of her legality and all the implications that came with it. Would he ask her to move out, now that she could? She’d been eighteen for three weeks already and he hadn’t yet, but … maybe he was just waiting for school to be done before he sprang it on her. Still, it wasn’t like he was seeing anyone seriously that he might be wanting to move in -- she didn’t think so, anyway -- and he’d seemed content enough to have her stay here. But maybe he’d just want to be alone -- though she couldn’t really see that, either. Nibbling at a pretzel, she shook her head to the offer. “This is fine,” she assured him. She was silent for a moment before she glanced over to him. “So … what’re your plans for the summer?” She figured it was a fairly subtle fishing attempt, and he could use it to launch into his living plans, if he was interested in changing them. __________ “I mean it every time, too,” he replied with a grin. “Maybe we should just make a list with junk food on it.” Although, to be fair, he had learned how to cook some things … mostly things that came from boxes and cans, but he liked to bar-b-que things every now and then. “You know, for as fucked up as everyone on the train thought our world was -- not that I’m saying it wasn’t -- this one had some horrible stuff in it too. I bet there isn’t a reality out there where people aren’t horrible to each other.” He’d sort of found history fascinating for that very reason, although when people were forcing you to read it and then making you take tests to see how much you’d been paying attention, it did take some of the fun out of it. “I can’t say I have any big exciting plans for the summer,” he admitted as he glanced curiously over at her. “What about you? You and your friends have any grand plans now that you’re all legal and educated?” Really, he figured it was only a matter of time before she moved on to bigger and better things. Maybe once she got to college which was soon, and that was sort of depressing to think about. __________ Prim laughed quietly. “We could try that. Then we couldn’t use the ‘it’s not on the list’ joke though,” she pointed out. “Because then it would be.” She shifted to lean back against the couch, taking a sip of her soda as she watched the movie for a few minutes. “I don’t think any world was without its flaws. Our world’s were just … more out there and aggressive. But … there wasn’t a person on the train that didn’t have some sort of strife in their world. Prejudice and wars and … everything else. I think it’s just … nature. That’s how things are. Conflict is part of people, and of course it’s going to crop up, for one excuse or another.” Prim shrugged. “I don’t know. Jessie and Becca were talking about getting an apartment together, but they were looking for a third. Someone to go in on rent, and … be a designated driver.” She rolled her eyes at that, because she had a feeling that was at least part of the reason they’d asked her. While they weren’t legal to drink, Becca had a boyfriend who was, and … Prim just didn’t see it ending well. “I just don’t think I want to spend my summer cleaning up after them when they go drinking.” Which, she knew, they would. Adult freedom, and all that. She sometimes found it hard to relate to people her own age, if only because of everything she’d been through on the train, and everything she’d seen and done. She was older than them in ways that weren’t physical, but were present all the same. __________ “Maybe that would make us try new things that we didn’t put on the list,” Marvel countered with a grin, nudging her leg with his. He was content to snack and watch the movie when she did, glancing over at her when she spoke again. She had a point. He guessed it was more that the brutality in their world was different. It wasn’t just fighting a war, it was forcing children to kill each other once a year for entertainment. It was sick and sometimes he wondered how he’d ever thought positively about any of it, but to be fair, he’d just been a kid. A little smirk touched his lips, and while he didn’t think it would be a bad thing if she got an apartment with her friends, he would miss her if she did. He had other friends as well -- from the train and not -- but he’d lived with Prim for years now and it was difficult to imagine her not being here. “Are you … I mean, if you wanted to move out and live with your friends, I’d understand, but …” He furrowed his brow slightly, unsure where exactly he’d intended to go there. “I don’t know. I know you’re going to move out eventually, but I don’t want you to feel rushed or anything.” ____________ She regarded him for a moment before she grinned and shook her head. “We don’t have any problem trying new things. Especially if they are salty or contain chocolate.” Not that she minded either way. Grocery shopping could be fun if done right -- and they managed to have fun most of the time. Fixing her dark blue eyes on the TV, Prim thought about what he’d said before she shrugged. “Why?” she asked. “I mean, unless you … were going to kick me out, why … would I have to move out?” She frowned. “Well, all right, I guess eventually if I got married or something and my husband didn’t want me living with some guy …” she trailed off and laughed softly. “But … I’m not … really in a rush. But you’re not kicking me out, right?” She glanced over to him, brows elevating slightly as she studied him to see if she thought he was. _________ Marvel tried not to grin, but couldn’t help it. Both because she didn’t seem too eager to actually move out and at the idea of her still living here when she got married. He shook his head lightly in response to her question, glancing over at her and meeting her gaze. “I wouldn’t ever kick you out,” he assured her, and he meant it. Not because she was his charge -- even though she wasn’t technically anymore -- but somewhere along the line, he’d grown to genuinely care for her. “But yeah, I just figured one day you’d find someone else you’d rather live with. You know, drunk girls or a husband or something,” he added, mostly teasing, but he could see why she might want to live with friends … and when she got serious about someone, he figured her desire to move out might grow some. _______ “I didn’t think you really would,” she said -- which she meant. Then she grinned. “Because I think everyone from the train would probably come and lynch you if you made me homeless.” Which, she thought, was also true. Some of them, anyway, would come after him. Lily Luna would definitely have words for him and she imagined Jaime would as well. It really was a pretty moot point though, since … well, she couldn’t really see it happening on a whim. If things changed, then maybe, but she also didn’t think he’d make any major changes like that without giving her some warning and time to make arrangements. “Eventually,” she agreed. “I don’t think it’ll be drunk girls though,” she confessed. They were her friends, and she liked them well enough, but she also didn’t understand the desire to party and drink like they did. “Maybe … some studious girls. Maybe when I start college, I’ll find some one but …” She shrugged. “I like it here.” It was familiar and comfortable, and Marvel was a steady presence in her life. She liked that. Lapsing into silence, she ate a couple of the pretzels before she spoke softly. “Do you still … worry? That some day the train’s going to come back for us?” _______ “Yeah, that’s my main motivation there,” he teased. He didn’t doubt for a second that he would hear from everyone about it though, if he for some reason did kick her out. Luckily, he never planned on doing that. Her starting college wasn’t that far off. He didn’t plan on stopping her, though, when she decided she wanted to move out. Even so, it was nice to hear she liked it here and wasn’t in a rush. When she lapsed into silence, he was content enough to as well,sipping occasionally at his soda and finishing off the pretzels he’d snatched from the bag. Glancing over at the question, he shrugged a little as he looked towards the television again. “I don’t really worry, anymore. I still dream about it sometimes, though.” And it was never pleasant. “Do you?” ______ “Not as much as I did at first,” she admitted. “I mean, most people who were taken and sent back and taken again were usually around the same age. Except for Harry. And Ron. But sometimes … I have to wonder if it was really done with us. If it’s not going to slip the bit again and … come back to get everyone again. Round us all up for another year-long run.” Not that she had been there the whole year, but some people had. “It’s not anything that’s … up front in my mind all the time or anything.” She shrugged against the back of the couch. “I dream about it too. Things like the tracker jackers, and …” She trailed off, but she didn’t need to say ‘the last week of it’ because she knew he’d know. He’d been the one to comfort her the first couple of weeks here when she woke screaming from a nightmare of her death. There’d been more than enough of those, and they came far less frequently now. “I just hope if we ever do get kidnapped, there are people there we know. That always made it easier.” ______ “Do you ever wonder if...” He hesitated as he tried to figure out how to phrase it so it made sense. “I mean, what if we are on the train? A version of us, anyway. When we were on the train there was a version of us at home just living our lives how we would have, but... what if that’s what we’re doing now?” He didn’t really think so, but it was weird to think about things like that, how split realities could be. How many versions of him were there? Was there some reality out there where he won the games? “We’d meet new people, if there weren’t.” Maybe it was strange, but if she got kidnapped, he’d want to also, mostly just to be there for her. He’d gotten pretty protective of her, over the years, and the idea of her getting pulled into a situation like the train again without him was unsettling. _______ “Well, I hadn’t,” she admitted, her brow furrowing slightly. “But that’s disturbing. That maybe we’re safe because we’re here, but … other versions of us aren’t.” Another her, another Marvel, Cato, Jaime, Lily, Ray … everyone who’d been on the train before, still on it or on it again. Or a whole different set of people entirely. Maybe it had gone rogue again, or maybe a different one from a different reality had done the same thing the Orient had. “We’d meet new people,” she agreed, her brow still slightly furrowed. She sincerely hoped there were no other versions of her self out on some mad train, dealing with hallucinations or Dementors or worse. “Well, those versions of us would, anyway.” Shaking her head, Prim lapsed into a thoughtful silence as she considered it. No, she didn’t worry as often anymore, but she was still worried it could happen some day. _______ Marvel grinned, a little apologetically. He hadn’t meant to give her another disturbing aspect of the train or realities to think about. He’d thought himself in circles about this subject many times before and there wasn’t really anyway to be sure about it, and in the end, he guessed it didn’t matter. He was living here, now, and that was all he could do. “What do you want for dinner tonight?” He asked, leaning over to gently nudge her with his elbow. There were less brain-breaking things they could talk about, and he didn’t like to spend too much time thinking about the train anyway. ________ Prim laughed softly. “I don’t know. Chinese?” She offered as she nudged him back. If nothing else, the whole thing had distracted her from her studies, at least for a little while. She was sure she could shove the thoughts of the possibilities of what might be happening to her other selves out of her mind. She was here, now, and so was Marvel. That was all that mattered. That was all that could matter, or else she’d go mad considering the possibilities. “I’ll have the usual,” she added as she pushed up to her feet. “And on that note, I think I’m going to go attempt to win against my history book for a little while longer.” Gathering up the empty pretzel bag and her empty soda can, she reached out for his if he was done with it to save him a trip to the kitchen. With her free hand, she ruffled his hair again as she passed him on her way back to her room.