The car ride was almost...comforting—it would be if it wasn't another step closer to those mournful games. The roads between The Justice Building and the station were better than the ones in town. Jimin could almost forget about what was happening for a while—with Jungkook's strong arms encasing him from behind, his precious head resting on his shoulder, almost nuzzled into his neck. In moments like this, Jimin could pretend Jungkook was his, that Jungkook wanted to be his. In this world...Jungkook was someone that he got to love and protect exactly how he wished.

The younger was so strong. Jimin loves being hugged but Jungkook. His embrace was so firm, yet so gentle. Exactly what Jimin needed to calm his nerves. So much about Jungkook was just perfect...What a waste, that this beautiful human must go through such a tumultuous event.

But that small bit of euphoria was of course short lived, for all too soon, Jimin was escorted off Jungkook's lap, to stand before a line of peacekeepers. The tributes were made to walk through them, just as an extra precaution in case they tried to escape. Did The Capital know how intimidating these people were? They were bigger and stronger than the average population by a longshot. People were bred for this job.

Jimin looks at the ground ahead as he walks, heart thumping. Even though their faces were covered, Jimin couldn't bear to look up. Perhaps it was the fact that they were faceless that made them so daunting. Facial expressions were a way all people used to communicate—regardless of language. Taking their faces away just made them so much less human.

They walk up two steps to the train station platform. Cameras were everywhere—wherever there was space—to get every individual face, every reaction, every single second, so they could edit the best highlight reel for The Capital later that day. Jimin doesn't look directly at any of them. He wasn't brave enough to.

He catches a glimpse of himself in one of the monitors that showed the live feed. He lets out an audible breath when he realizes no would would really be able to tell he had been crying unless they looked extremely closely. It was the same with Jungkook—who was still a ways behind him. His face was a bit blotchy at The Justice Building—Jimin could tell right way he had been crying—but it wasn't nearly as bad now.

Unfortunately, not everyone was so lucky. Two of the tributes—a boy and a girl—hadn't stopped their crying even in the car. Jimin had heard their muffled sniffles as they rode from one place to the other. But he wouldn't dare look at them, for he feared he would cry more too. He just stared out the window, at the district he called home. He had never left his district—he's barely left the town he lives in. And now he was traveling across the country to be killed.

Jimin tries his best to look brave, he really does. But without much of a doubt in his mind, he knew he was failing. He couldn't mask his emotions as well as other people. And he was terrified now.

But just as he was starting to lose control of his breathing, he feels a hand grasp his lightly. Jungkook had made his way up to Jimin, so he could stand beside him. He didn't know when he left his side—maybe Jimin had gone ahead to the platform while Jungkook strayed in the back. But either way, they were together now, and that was all that mattered to Jimin in that moment.

Jimin's heart beats faster now that Jungkook's hand was in his...well, that and the fear of knowing they were minutes away from boarding the train to their death.

In the time Jimin had reunited with Jungkook at The Justice Building, to the second their hands linked once more, Jungkook's face had turned from a blotchy red to a ghostly pale. Jimin could tell he was trying to put on his brave face too, but he wasn't doing much better than Jimin. He looks uncomfortable, to say the least—a deer caught in headlights. Jimin wished he could do something to take that look away.

The train pulls into the station with loud clicks on the tracks. Jimin and Jungkook board together. Jungkook doesn't look back, but Jimin had the courage to. Goodbye District 10. There were a lot of wonderful memories made there. And a lot of terrible ones. He'd probably be thinking about many of them in the arena in the later weeks.

Jimin didn't realize it until he boarded, but he and Jungkook were the last two on the train. The doors close behind them as Jimin looks around, in awe for just a second.

It was even more luxurious than The Justice Building—and Jimin thought The Justice Building was fancy. Everything from the carpet to the lighting, to even the napkins were high class. Anyone who had been living in Panem for more than a day could figure out this was a Capital vehicle. And right now, it was all for them.

The tributes would be treated like royalty for a couple weeks, before they were harshly dropped into a controlled environment, living like animals—like predators and prey.

Hoseok was the first to board, and he was practically prancing around the train car. "Oh most of you looked fantastic!" He claps his hands. "And you two!" He gestures towards Jimin and Jungkook dramatically. The attention makes Jimin uncomfortable. "You did marvelously! People are just going to love the fact you held each other's hands! It's so simple and yet so powerful! Keep it up and you'll get sponsors!"

With that, Jungkook drops their hands. Jimin whips his head up to look at Jungkook, a deep frown forming. Why did that hurt so much? What was it about that simple gesture that made him feel so bad? Jungkook didn't see Jimin's expression though, because his eyes were fixed on the floor.

"Come come everyone, it's lunch time~! Your mentor couldn't come to the reaping, but he should be here somewhere! I'll go fetch him," Hoseok leaves the car, and they all get seated around the beautifully crafted table. Jimin of course takes a seat next to Jungkook. The two hadn't said a word to each other since before they left for The Justice Building. Words just didn't seem to want to come to Jimin. He couldn't find the voice to speak up in the silence.

"So, who came to say goodbye to you?" It was as if Jungkook could read his mind, like he knew Jimin wanted to hear his voice but didn't have the strength to speak first. The taller's voice was quiet, rough, as he spoke right up to Jimin's ear.

"Um, just my family," Jimin's voice too was like gravel. He clears his throat. However, he decides to continue speaking softly. It wasn't as if anything he was saying was a secret, of course. But he didn't really want the others to hear either.

They could be in their own bubble that way. A bubble that acted as a peaceful shelter from all the bad in the world. This intimate bubble created by these soft words was all Jimin wanted in his life at the moment.

He looks up at Jungkook softly, before continuing. "How about you?"

"Oh, just my parents..." Jimin hears the hesitation in Jungkook's voice. And he didn't know what he was expecting—if anything at all—but it definitely wasn't, "And also your brother."

"What? Jihyun?" Jimin pulls back to look at Jungkook in surprise. "Out of anyone in my family...I wouldn't have expected him. You two rarely interacted...What did he visit you for?"

"Nothing you should be concerned over, don't worry, Mimmie," Jungkook assures. "He told me he loved me though, and that he looked up to me. And I told him I loved him."

"Oh, I didn't know you felt that way about each other," Jimin cocks his head to the side. "I'm glad, Koo, that's really nice."

"...It was," Jimin didn't know if he liked the tone accompanying those two words, but he dismisses it.

While they were waiting for their mentor, a TV screen had been turned on. Whoever ran the station up in The Capital worked fast—they were already showing edited 'highlights' of the reaping for every district across Panem. District 10's own reaping happened just over an hour ago, and yet they had already edited what they needed to make a concise and—to The Capital at least—entertaining recap.

Jimin watches with more interest than he ever had before. Most years he opted to stay as far away from the TV as possible. The less he knew about the tributes, the better. He didn't want to care about them, he wanted to keep them as distant from him as possible. Because the more Jimin knew about them, the more he would care about them. And he couldn't care about random kids from different districts if it meant he was just going to watch them die later.

But now? Now he needs to know as much as possible. As much as it pains him, he needs to know who to avoid, who seems like the biggest threat. He needs to do this for Jungkook.

He was willing to do anything for Jungkook, so if he had to force himself to learn about these children that he has to watch die in a few weeks' time, in order for Jungkook's survival, he would. Nothing would be too difficult for Jimin if it meant Jungkook could survive longer.

As he stared at the TV screen, he couldn't help feeling bad for District 12. They hadn't had a victor since the 50th Hunger Games, and this year seemed no better. All six tributes were under the age of sixteen. Jimin knew he shouldn't feel bad—these were all his rivals. These six tributes were six obstacles in the way of Jungkook winning The Hunger Games. But on the other hand, they were children...Best case scenario he'd just never have to encounter them.

The sliding door of the train car suddenly opens. Behind it was a man, not much taller than Jimin himself. Jimin recognizes him immediately. He was the tribute who won The Games three years ago—District 10's own. It was extremely rare for a district past 9 to win—the odds were lesser and lesser as the number went higher—so when he won, to say District 10 was excited was a massive understatement.

He had only killed when it depended on his life, but when he did have to kill, he was ruthless. Jimin respected that—that he was as peaceful as he could be, but still fought so hard for his life. He felt he could learn a lot from him, to at least stay alive long enough to protect Jungkook to the best of his ability.

"My name is Yoongi Min," The tributes' mentor introduces himself, though Jimin didn't know how anyone from the district wouldn't know his name. He was a fairly prominent figure now; every winner—especially in the upper districts—became beyond famous after they won. "I'll be your mentor this year. It looks like some of you have potential," He scans the room, his eyes piercing as he makes eye contact with the six of them. Jimin gulps when their eyes meet, but Yoongi moves on. "And some of you seem like lost causes. I won't say who though—I'm not that cruel. I'll help you train, I'll give you tips, but first, I'm hungry. Let's eat."

Yoongi sits down at the table and hungrily eyes the food being served by the employees. Yoongi wasn't very expressive, but the meal before them apparently got him excited. They put food in front of his spot, and he starts eating right away.

Jimin gives a glance to Jungkook. He knows this man won't be easy on them, but that was okay. To be honest, the shorter was grateful. Softening the blows and sugarcoating The Hunger Games wouldn't help him in any way. He'd learn more from someone who speaks his mind. And maybe he could also help chase out some of the fear from Jimin—that was the hope anyways.

"I think Yoongi looked at me when he said lost cause," Jimin could hear the worry in Jungkook's whisper, his breath tickling the hairs around Jimin's ear. "Is that the impression I give off?"

Jimin felt disbelief so strong it seemed to run through every one of his veins. "Koo, you saw wrong, you're the exact opposite! You're strong, you're smart, you're even good with weapons! You're good at everything." 'You've even succeeded in stealing my heart,' he can't help but think to himself. "You're not just good, you're...you're golden!" He had to keep Jungkook's morale high, show him how valuable that was. But it shouldn't be hard. Everything he said was true.

"Thanks, Hyung."

Jimin sighs. "Koo..."

"Sorry, I'll stop, really," He shakes his head, as if trying to clear his mind of the word. "I don't know why that's where my brain is at. That was the last time, I promise."

Jimin didn't like being called Hyung by Jungkook. Both of them were Korean, and both of their families were proud of their culture. South Korea—where their ancestors were from—didn't exist anymore. It was swallowed up by the sea due to climate-related disasters. Despite it no longer existing though, they both knew much of the history of the former country, because it was important to their families. Hyung was a word used in only their smallest circles—the only other person Jimin knew who used it was Jihyun. Jungkook never used Hyung. Only when he was scared. Jimin didn't want that.

"I hope so..." He gives him a soft, but all-the-same stern look.

"You have lots of potential too, by the way. It's overflowing," Jungkook looks him in the eye. Jimin didn't comment on how quickly he tried to change the subject. "I think people might underestimate you, because you're kind of small, but they shouldn't at all. You're strong, you're graceful, you're nimble, you just..." Jungkook had ended up rambling—but to be honest, Jimin found it cute. "You're amazing too."

"Thank you, Koo," Jimin looks back at him softly. He was glad Jungkook believed in him. He just hoped the value in his words was more than simply emotional support.

*

Jungkook melts at the sight of Jimin's soft gaze. He looks away so Jimin can't see the color of rose dusting his face. He shouldn't be focused on these feelings, or how pretty Jimin looked, even now...but he really couldn't help it.

"You two," Yoongi's voice interrupts the silence in the room. "Are you guys dating or something?" His pointed finger moves between Jimin and Jungkook, but the younger wouldn't have had to look up to know who he was talking about.

"No...Jimin's my best friend," It seemed like the two had already answered the question eight billion times. "Why does everyone think so? We're just, just friends."

"I don't really care what you are to each other. Whatever it is, keep doing it," Yoongi's gaze travels back and forth between the two. "People are already really loving it."

Their mentor points up to the TV screen, where Caesar Flickerman—the man who has been the host of The Hunger Games long before even Jungkook's parents were born—was going over the highlights.

"And in District 10, it appears we have two tributes who seem to be more than just acquaintances. This adorable pair was absolutely inseparable all day. And when they were standing apart, their eyes were still on one another," The screen shows various clips of Jimin and Jungkook throughout the day. Jungkook didn't realize how many times he actually looked at Jimin...or how much Jimin looked at him.

In succession afterwards are clips of Jimin on Jungkook's lap in the car, holding him close. Jungkook doesn't even remember seeing cameras. It shows the two holding hands at the train station, and them whispering to each other at various times in the past few hours. "These two seem to be extremely close. There's no doubt they knew each other beforehand. Are they good friends, or are they even more~? I'll let you be the judge of that for now."

Right then and there, Jungkook has a bit of an eternal panic. Not necessarily for himself. To be honest he wouldn't really mind if people thought they were a couple...if it weren't for Jimin, that is. He didn't want Jimin to be uncomfortable with all of the things being said about them. He was sure Jimin didn't like the country assuming they were dating—he knew his best friend.

Jimin had never dated anyone, but neither had the taller, so he didn't know what it was like to be in that sort of relationship. To be honest, Jungkook was surprised he had never dated anyone...Though, selfishly, he was kind of glad he hasn't.

"You know, if you two stick together I bet I could get sponsors for you," Yoongi looks at the pair thoughtfully, breaking into a smile. "Who knows? We might actually have a winner here after all!"

"B-but they won't want to sponsor them if they're not dating," One of the girls butts in, wanting to be noticed. It made sense though. If Yoongi was focusing on only one or two of them, then he might forget the rest. Jungkook wasn't upset. After all, if you were forgotten...well, you were much less likely to win. "Right?"

"Who cares if they're dating or not!?" Hoseok answers instead. "I'm sure I can speak for the entire Capital when I say it doesn't matter if they're in love, because we're already so in love with them!"

"I-I don't know if love is the right word..." Jimin trails, eyes fixed on the almost untouched meal in front of him.

"See, you're doing it right now, staring at him!" Yoongi shoots a smirk at Jungkook, causing him to stare at his own plate, beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable. "Your chemistry is unmatched! People love to see good chemistry—In fact, chemistry sells! You guys-"

"I'm going to my room," Jungkook gets up suddenly, chair scraping loudly against the floor. He didn't like all this attention on him. He didn't like Yoongi and Hoseok's smiles towards him as they rode the train ride to his death. He hated that they were talking about life and death like a strategy game. He just...he needed a break. "Come and find me when you have some actual advice that'll help me survive."

Jungkook walks through the sliding door, but not before hearing an, "Ooh I like him," From his mentor. He didn't care though. He just kept moving.

He finds a door with his name on it—his room. They worked fast, getting things ready for the six tributes. The rooms already had the things they needed for an overnight trip, even though the train ride wasn't long enough to sleep. The second they got his name, they must've started working. It was odd to him.

Jungkook didn't care that his clothes were a bit dirty. He just flops onto the bed, nuzzling his cheek into the soft fabric. He stares at the wall, letting his brain come alive.

How did he get here? Jungkook's life was okay. Sure, it wasn't perfect—and sure, he's had many hardships—but so many people in this world have had it worse. There was always food on the table, he had an education, he had a stable future.

But now he had no future at all.

He was going into The Hunger Games with Jimin, his only friend, his best friend, the love of his life, so they could kill each other.

He wanted to cry again, and this was the perfect place to do it...but no tears came. Even his own body was being cruel to him. Just his luck.

How were his parents going to function without him? They had already lost one son, how were they going to handle losing a second? Jungkook felt terrible about it, as if it were his own fault. He knew in his heart it wasn't his fault, and he shouldn't feel so guilty about it...but he did nonetheless.

Jungkook kind of wanted Jimin to come after him. He wanted him to poke his head in, so they could talk, and Jungkook could work out his feelings. Jimin was really good at helping him with that, and he'd like to think he's learned to help Jimin too.

But an hour passes, nothing. He goes from lying, to sitting, to walking around, to fidgeting with all the trinkets in the room, lost in thought as he does. And...he'd be lying if said he didn't get a small rush of excitement when he heard a knock on the door.

But his hopes were crushed the second he sees a certain red-haired escort on the other side of the door. "Yoongi wants to see you," Hoseok states with a bright smile, before hastily walking away, giving Jungkook no choice but to follow.

The other five tributes were already there when Jungkook arrived. He sits down next to Jimin, obviously—who else would he sit next to? Jimin glances at him, eyes kind. Jungkook returns the glance. His eyes rarely held negative emotions when looking at Jimin, the older seemed to almost take them all away. Jimin was Jungkook's comfort from the chaos in his mind. He always has been.

"Oh good, you're finally here," Yoongi was almost...scary to Jungkook. His judgmental stares, his quick remarks. It was intimidating. "Let's get started. As you know, my job is to keep you all alive as long as possible. However, since there are so many of you, I can't possibly focus on all of you—you have to know this. It's already hard enough to choose from two. For now, I'll try to look at you all equally. I can't promise that later on. At least five of you will die—that's out of my control. I'm going to need to pick someone to support through The Games, so work hard so you have a chance of me picking you. Until I do, though, I will give you all as many tips as I can, that is my promise."

Jungkook stares at him as he talks. This man has actually been in The Games, he's escaped death, he knows how to do this. As intimidating as he was, Jungkook also knew he was extremely intelligent. He hangs onto every word his mentor says. Every single thing Yoongi tells them will help Jimin win The Hunger Games. He looks at Jimin once more. He was so precious to Jungkook.

"First off," Jungkook looks up to see Yoongi staring directly at him. Jungkook's eyes widen a bit, like a deer caught in headlights. "You need to eat a lot before The Games. That was not smart—what's your name?"

"Uh, J-Jungkook," He answers, voice wavering just a bit.

"Jungkook," Yoongi repeats. "That wasn't smart today, Jungkook, leaving lunch like that. The more you eat, the more energy you'll have. The more you eat, the longer you can survive without food. All of you are skinny. A little more food for a few days will do you far more good than bad, so eat. Now that we have that out of the way, tell me your strengths. What will help you guys in The Games?"

The room falls quiet.

After a few seconds, however, the silence was broken by a very familiar voice. "Jungkook is good with an axe. He uses one every day. The people in town praise his family for how clean his kills are. He's mastered it over his whole life basically! Especially in the last few years."

"J-Jimin, I don't wanna be good when it comes to having to kill people," Jungkook whips his head to look at him.

"It's still a good skill," Jimin presses. "You gotta utilize the skills you have."

"Well then, Jimin is really strong!" Jungkook adds, looking at Yoongi. He didn't want to be singled out. In fact, he wanted Jimin to be singled out. Anything he could do for Jimin to win he would do. "He lifts bales of hay and sacks of food every day." He grabs Jimin's arms and pulls up the sleeve of that baby blue button-up. "See? Look at his muscles?" Jungkook rubs them a bit. They feel good under his touch.

"I-"

"Okay, that's a good start," Yoongi cuts Jimin off. He kept his eyes on Jungkook. "Can you throw the axe?"

"Yes," Jungkook nods, answering truthfully. Sometimes some animals were more dangerous to approach than others, especially if they were nervous. That's why Jungkook's father taught him to throw from far away if necessary. Jungkook never imagined he would have to consider using that skill for something like this. "I've been doing it for a couple years, like Jimin says."

"Good. Practice other things during training then, lots of non-violent things that will help you survive," Yoongi instructs. "Save the axe throwing for scoring—you wouldn't want the other tributes learning your tricks. And...Jimin, correct?"

"Yeah," Jimin's voice is quiet. He sounds scared.

"You may be strong but you're also really small," Yoongi notes. "Since you don't have a weapon you're skilled in, you should try throwing knives during training. Work hard. People will underestimate you, but you could pull through if you worked hard enough."

Yes! Yoongi was paying attention to Jimin, Yoongi was giving Jimin tips. This was perfect, it was going to Jungkook's plan. Jimin was one small step closer to winning The Games.

"Now, does anyone else have anything that will help them in The Games?"

Silence...bitter, scary silence.

Yoongi sighs, frustration radiating off of him. How was he supposed to help them if they said nothing, after all? "Well then, don't we have a long way to go?"