Jimin searches the crowd for just about the only person that could bring him even the slightest bit of comfort during this awful, perilous event. His eyes scan over everyone multiple times before finally landing on him. The one he was looking for.

"Koo!" Jimin tries to get his attention, standing near the front of his section—the section for eighteen-year-old boys of his district.

The boy he called for turns his head, eyes brightening the slightest bit when he sees him. Not too much—not enough...never enough—but a bit, nonetheless. He navigates through the crowd, all the way up to Jimin, the only thing separating them being a fraying piece of rope. Jimin wished it wasn't there. He hated having a divide between them, even one as insignificant as this.

"Hi, Mimmie," Jimin knew this day was difficult for him. Most people could dismiss his sad demeanor being due to the overall solemn day of the reaping, just like everyone else. But Jimin knew the real reason behind his frown. He had known Junghyun, he watched him die with tears in his eyes. They were friends of sorts—Jimin was only a year younger than the boy. Their families were business partners; Jimin's family raised the cows, and Jungkook's ran a slaughterhouse, preparing the cuts and sending them to butchers around the district.

"You look really handsome, Koo," Jimin uses the boy's nickname again, the one exclusively for the older to use. Kook, Kookie, Jungkookie, those were all fine for everyone else close to him. But Koo was for Jimin.

The nickname Mimmie was created when Jungkook was crying one day and misspoke, butchering Jimin's name. It was a bit odd, but Jimin loved it. He gave him the name Koo in exchange. The pair got that much closer because of the endearing mistake.

His statement was true for the record—Jungkook really knew how to make a great outfit out of nothing. His sense of style was one to be envied of.

"You do too, but don't tuck your shirt in," Jungkook leans forward and pulls the patched denim shirt out of his jeans. "You looked handsome before, but you look cuter like this. It's the best of both worlds."

The combinations of those words and how close together they were brings a light blush to Jimin's cheeks. The truth was, with Jungkook, it was basically love at first sight.

He met him for the first time a month after The Hunger Games five years ago...Junghyun's Hunger Games. It was previously the elder brother's job to come with his father to pick up the cattle shipments each month, taking them to be slaughtered. But once he passed, the responsibility fell on Jungkook.

Jimin was thirteen at the time—almost fourteen. He hadn't previously known Junghyun even had another brother. It made sense why—from ages five to twelve, they went to separate schools.

It was only once children turned thirteen that they went to a larger, more populated school. The Parks and the Jeons just simply lived in slightly different parts of town, so they started at different schools. As much as Jimin would like to think he was friends with Junghyun, they really never knew much about one another, not while the boy was alive. Junghyun wasn't really one to talk.

When Jimin first saw his now closest friend—slightly cowering behind his father, a solemn look etched onto his face—his heartbeat sped up. It was nothing more than childish attraction back then, but looking back on it, Jimin liked to think of that day as when his love for him began.

Later that summer, in August, Jimin ran into him at school, happily surprised that he was there, since he was only twelve, after all, and he'd be turning thirteen after the school year began. In Panem, you were put into school based on how old you were when the school year began. Jimin learned that Jungkook was a special case, that he was put into school a year early. Jimin was extremely happy to learn they were in the same grade.

Jimin learned that the younger was born less than a year after him—a bit over ten months actually. It was a nice age gap, a comfortable one. And he decided he wanted to pursue a friendship with Jungkook. It was quite difficult at first—Jungkook was not a very open person after what had happened, and rightfully so. But over time, he slowly opened up to the smaller male. And Jimin got to know an amazing human behind those built-up walls.

And now here they were today, five years later. Jungkook was Jimin's very best friend, he was proud to call him that—more than proud, actually. Because Jungkook was an absolutely amazing person—one of the best. He loved being his best friend.

But oh how he wished they were more.

"How do you feel?" Jungkook breaks the older out of his thoughts.

"More nervous than usual, of course," Jimin shakes his shoulders, as if a chill were running through his body. "It is The Quarter Quell, after all. I wish they would have just told us what the twist was beforehand. But they never make it easy for us..." He pauses for a moment. "What about you?"

Jungkook sighs. "You know how I feel, Mimmie. I hate The Hunger Games. I hate that they took my brother from me, I hate that we're too scared to do anything about it. I'm so scared, Hyung."

"Hey, I told you not to call me that," Jimin scolds lightly. "You never do anyways, so why start now? It's just not natural, Koo."

"Sorry Mimmie," Now that was natural. They rarely ever used each other's names. They were simply just Mimmie and Koo. Those two names were as special to them as their deep friendship with each other.

Jimin didn't say anything, instead hugging him to let him know the apology was accepted. They hold each other so close they feel the rope crushed between them. When they pull away Jimin's heart dips just a bit. Every single hug seemed to end too soon.

By the time they had pulled away, almost everyone was in their rightful place. The children of Panem knew to be punctual on this day, for if they weren't, then the peacekeepers would find them and kill them. They'd be hiding to save their lives, but by doing so, writing themselves a death sentence anyways.

Children ages twelve to eighteen were grouped together, divided between boys and girls, with the youngest in the front, and the oldest in the back. Sometimes the order was switched—The Capital always does useless things like that to find ways to make things more interesting and exciting for them.

Adults and young children lined the outside of the square—chattering, scanning the crowd, talking with friends about who'd get picked. It was really those without children that talked about such a sensitive topic so casually. Their demeanor was still saddened, of course, but they didn't carry the weight on their chest that all the poor parents did.

Jimin could just make out his brother's head in front of him, among the other sixteen-year-old boys. He watches him shiver. It wasn't a cold day—in fact it was one of the hotter days of the year, being July and all. And yet Jihyun was not the only one shivering amongst those in the crowd.

Jimin's mother and father weren't too far behind where he was standing. His father had an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, as if to protect her from what was to come. She didn't need any physical protection, but he was there to bring her comfort anyways. Their relationship was healthy in that way, full of love, and desire to comfort and protect one another the best they possibly could.

Jimin turns to look back at the stage to see that the once empty platform was empty no more. Coming up the steps was someone who was so foreign to Jimin, but so familiar at the same time.

His looks were anything but dull—bright red hair, flamboyant clothing, a huge smile on his face bigger than the combined smiles of any district citizen on this day, probably. Despite the magnitude of the day, he looks jubilant. He doesn't mind the reaping at all—in fact he celebrates it. The thought makes Jimin sick to his stomach.

"Hoseok Jung just gets brighter and brighter every year, doesn't he?" Jungkook whispers to him, trying to lighten the mood.

It did. But only a little bit.

Jungkook's statement, however, was an incredibly obvious fact. District 10's games escort, Hoseok Jung, was a full rainbow at this point. Jimin was surprised he hadn't dyed his skin yet like so many other crazy Capitalites. Maybe it was because he was so young—he was a fairly new escort after all. Maybe he just hadn't had the time. Jimin couldn't help but stare, with almost child-like curiosity. It was the only thing distracting him from this dreadful day.

"Hello everyone~!" Hoseok sings into the microphone. It was extremely loud, like he was unaware of his own voice and how far it carried. The man hurts Jimin's ears. "I hope you are all excited for the fourth Quarter Quell just as I am!" He claps, most likely trying to prompt the rest of the people to do the same.

It was silent.

Hoseok clears his throat. "Well, before we reveal to you the concept of this year's Quarter Quell, I'm sure you all know what we must do first. Let us take a moment to remind ourselves why The Hunger Games came to exist in the first place."

Jimin gives Jungkook an annoyed glance. They all already knew the reason The Hunger Games took place—they were painfully aware of it. But the districts' revolt happened 100 years ago, before 99% of the population of this country was even born! Why must they still be punished for something they had nothing to do with?

The video plays regardless, from an obviously biased, obviously propogandic perspective. It was produced by The Capital after all—Jimin doesn't know why he'd ever expect any more from them. The information was passed onto Panem as factual, but made The Capital seem like victims and only victims, while the districts were out of control and sporadic.

As the video finishes, Hoseok swoons into the mic. "Wasn't that a lovely video?" He says as if he hasn't watched it countless times. "So full of history!"

Yes. The exact same biased history every single year.

"Alright," Hoseok changes the subject in a smooth manner—he had been doing this for years after all. "It's the moment you have all been waiting for. We all want to know the special twist for The Quarter Quell, don't we? President Snow is on screen with the announcement!"

Another video begins to play, this time a middle-aged, white-haired woman filling up the screen. "Greetings Panem," Her voice is calm, soothing almost, if you knew nothing about her beforehand. "As you know, this is our 100th Hunger Games. This tradition—a reminder to us all of our dark history, and our rise above it—has lasted us a century. Thus, the concept of this Quarter Quell cannot be anything short of extraordinary.

"With that in mind, I've decided that this year, as we have already reaped two boys and two girls from each district for our 50th Hunger Games, I am willing to increase the risk even further for those reaped, and raise the number of tributes to three boys and three girls from each district, increasing the length of The Games, and the excitement that will surely be witnessed within the arena."

Jimin's face visibly pales, and Jungkook turns around to look at him in horror. How was this happening? As if twenty-three children dying like animals annually wasn't enough! It obviously wasn't enough, because here they were. About to send six of their own off to fight to the death.

"Well, isn't that an exciting surprise?" Hoseok's cheery voice could be heard through the loudspeakers directly after. He looked as if he expected a response, but he was met with silence once again. "Um, let's choose lucky the tributes, shall we? Ladies first~!"

Who told the people of The Capital that the tributes were lucky to be part of The Games!? The thought enrages Jimin. Why were the districts still suffering while the Capitalites laughed and cheered without a care, far too ignorant to see past their brightly colored bangs?

When Hoseok spoke there was silence, but not when the girls' names were read, not even a little bit. Hushed whispers, tears, sounds of despair were heard all throughout the town square as the terrified children were escorted onto the stage.

Jimin didn't know any of them very well. He may have passed them on the streets once or twice, but even the most familiar one to him he only had a vague recollection of.

As selfish as he feels it is, he was grateful for such. The less people he knows reaped, the better. He had watched people he knows die; he watched a friend—Jungkook's brother—die. If he could go the rest of his life without being close to one of the tributes, he'd be a happy man.

With yet another failed try at rousing applause, Hoseok moves onto the boys' names with a huff.

Jimin grabs Jungkook's hand.

He couldn't help it, he had to. Jungkook was his only source of comfort at this moment, and no matter how little it was, Jimin basks in it as much as he could. But there was no need to rationalize it anyways, because Jungkook holds on just as tight. It was almost as if he needed it as much as Jimin did.

"Hmm, which one should I pick?" Hoseok's voice dances. The noise from his mouth was really only there for the sake of making noise this time it seems. His hand floats above the bowl of boys' names, before he digs his hand deep inside the pool of little paper slips, shuffling around. Finally, after an agonizingly long wait—one that was in reality only a few seconds—he pulls out a small, neatly folded piece of paper. Taking a second to clear his throat, he opens it, reading in a loud, clear voice...an all too familiar name.

"Jimin Park."

*

Jungkook's eyes widen in disbelief and horror. Without thinking, he holds onto Jimin's hand even tighter. And yet it was for nothing. Within seconds he was ripped away from him by the peacekeepers. Their hands were no longer locked, but their eyes were. Until the second Jimin started walking up to the stage they made eye contact.

No.

Jimin, his best friend, his favorite person, reaped for The Games. A billion thoughts go through his mind, the loudest of which screaming at him to volunteer for Jimin.

But...he couldn't, he just couldn't. Not when his parents needed him so much, not when he was their only remaining son. If Jungkook's parents weren't in the equation...he'd volunteer in a heartbeat. He'd do anything for Jimin.

Jungkook wanted to protect Jimin, he always has. Even when he was smaller and weaker than Jimin, he wanted to protect him like the older had always protected Jungkook. He loved Jimin—as if that weren't a given. Ever since he was fifteen—Jimin sixteen—he's loved Jimin.

From the second the two became friends he has been fond of him. Within months, he reluctantly realized he loved him, just like he would his family. But he didn't realize just how much he loved Jimin until two years later.

It was around the time of The Hunger Games when Jungkook made the realization. Jimin had caught him crying in a secluded place behind the school. Though he tried so hard to hide away, to make his tears invisible to the entire world, Jimin searched for him. When Jungkook saw Jimin looming over his crouched figure, he felt more ashamed than he ever had before, convinced the older would make fun of him, mock him. After all, that's what kids do, right?

And yet Jimin surprised him. He did something Jungkook would've never expected anyone to do.

He embraced the younger, and cried alongside him. It was then Jungkook realized...Jimin knew exactly what he was crying about, Jimin knew everything about him. His pain was the older's pain as well. And, Jungkook realized, he never wanted to see Jimin cry again, because it was heartbreaking for him to see the the older hurt like this.

And most of all...Jungkook realized how much he loved being in the smaller's arms, how he was his biggest comfort even in his hardest time. Whatever confusing feelings he had before for this boy multiplied by a million at that very moment. He realized he wanted to protect him, to make him smile, to simply love him, even.

At first everything was all so confusing. It was his first time experiencing these deep feelings for someone—and for a boy, no less. He'd never had a friend like this before, even as a little kid. He was always closest with his brother, so he never felt he needed any other friends. But with Jimin...they got along so quickly.

Jungkook loved all the great things he had to say about Junghyun. He'd listen to stories about their interactions for hours—that's how they first started becoming friends. Despite the two not being incredibly close friends, Jimin consciously worked hard to find stories of Junghyun for Jungkook. And, even after those stories ran dry, and there was nothing left to tell, he still found himself wanting to be around Jimin. He was very grateful for the friendship that grew over that time, even if it did have traumatic origins.

Despite all the confusing scary feelings at first, he now knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was in love with Jimin. That was one of the only constants in his life as a citizen of Panem—how much he loved Jimin.

And now he was being shipped off to be one of The Capital's playthings, used and abused by them, treated as nothing but a means of entertainment, until he gets mercilessly slaughtered—either by another tribute, or by The Games themselves.

He didn't even register the second male's name; his brain just wasn't functioning. He couldn't think, he couldn't move, hell, he could barely breathe. This was Junghyun all over again, he couldn't do this twice! He begins to hyperventilate, becoming trapped in his own mind.

What did bring him back into reality however, were two words—or rather, two names—raining from the loudspeakers, and falling onto the crowd.

"Jungkook Jeon."

His own name, read by that devil hidden by a sunshine exterior. Well...that was a poor assessment of character; perhaps Hoseok wouldn't be all that bad if not for the terrible place he was from. But devil is the word that comes to mind when Jungkook looks at him at this moment.

He couldn't cry. He. Could. Not. Cry. Not with all these people watching, not when it was so important to not appear weak. He'd get preyed upon if he were seen as weak.

His mind still wasn't completely with him as the peacekeepers drag him up on stage. He could already imagine his parents sitting in front of the TV, tear-stained cheeks as they watch their second son fall victim to The Games. It made his chest tighten.

He knew he couldn't win, he knew he wasn't coming back home. There were going to be seventy-two of them in there. And even if the circumstances were better...he was going to be going with Jimin. His favorite person, the one he loves. He couldn't bear to live knowing that Jimin would die.

And so, a burst of new determination fills him, all thoughts of crying gone. He has go into The Games with Jimin. So, he has to protect him. He has to make sure Jimin wins The Hunger Games.

He has to.