Renly Baratheon (age 18), District 2

**lol the bathroom in this is the one that Ramsay was skulking about before, shoving poor Loras around (Ramsay's an emo butt who hates everyone so far), and the window he pushed him into is in this too. This part centers around Loras and Renly so if you don't like boyxboy kissing (no smut, just feels) then skip this part. No hate. Enjoy the many feels and much more to come ^^ and comment/vote too~ gracias~!**

"You do realize how much everything is going to go wrong."

"Oh shut up, Renly." Jeyne says shortly, pressing the button on the elevator. "You'll be fine. Just ask him for a duel, and see how he is."

"You've never seen me fight, have you?" she doesn't answer and I sigh. "Jeyne, I can't fight. At all. Don't tell anyone, okay?"

"Of course I won't." She says immediately. "You have a lot of issues, you know."

"What do you mean? It's not my fault I don't like violence."

"It's not a bad thing that you don't." Jeyne says. "Even though we're in the Hunger Games."

I roll my eyes. "I just... I really like him, Jeyne. I don't want to ruin it." Even though I don't know what 'it' is yet and I might not ever.

"Just think of it as getting an ally," she says gently. "Because we could be."

The doors ding open and we step inside. The pair from Five are talking in low voices, arguing maybe. I smile at Sansa.

"You can't, Theon." She says sharply to her partner. "He'll beat you up. And I'm not going to pick up your dead body."

"Everything all right?" I ask warmly to the two. The guy--a skinny gangly guy with curly hair--glares slightly at me.

"What's it to you?"

"This is the guy I told you about," Sansa says to him.

"Nice to meet you." I say brightly. He still looks at me suspiciously. "Renly Baratheon. District 2. And my partner, Jeyne Poole." She raises a hand in greeting.

He nods at her. "Theon Greyjoy, Five. And you know Sansa I guess."

I nod back at him. "Yeah, we were talking yesterday. It was nice."

He doesn't answer me. Jeyne nudges me and I look at her. "Remember, Renly," she says, lowering her voice so the other two don't hear. "You promised."

I sigh. "Okay, I get it. I'll ask him for a duel."

"Who knows? He can't be any worse than you, if you're as bad as you say you are." she smiles a little and pats my arm. "Good luck, Renly."

"Thanks." the elevator doors open and the others file out. "I'll need it," I mutter to myself before following them too.

The room is... well, it's just the same as yesterday. The pair from Five drift off. Jeyne looks at me patiently. I sigh and look around. Then I spot him.

He's at the weapons station. Good (?). I take a deep breath and approach him.

"Hey. You."

Loras Tyrell looks up from fiddling with his sword and when he smiles--Gods, it's beautiful. "Hey."

I can feel my face heat up. He's so hot, I almost forget what I came here for. I really need to get a grip. He pushes his blonde curls back from his eyes. "Um... you okay?"

"What? Oh. Oh! Yeah. I'm great." I mumble. Gods, I am such a fool.

"Looks like you've got him tongue-tied, Three," the guy from Five, Theon, says wryly. I make a face at him.

"I'm not. I..." I take another deep breath before looking back at Loras. "I want to fight you."

His warm green eyes widen, and he shakes his head. "I don't think that'd be a good idea..."

"Chicken." Theon says smoothly, fingering his bow. I glare at him.

"Can you leave?"

He raises his eyebrows but, setting the bow down and putting up his hands in surrender, he saunters off. I relax as soon as he's gone. Loras cocks an eyebrow.

"What...?"

"Listen." I say quickly. "I want you as an ally, but my partner says yes only if you have some sort of skill. So I wanna see if you can fight. Okay?"

"You...want me as an ally?" he says slowly. I hesitate, then nod. "Why not them from One?"

I snort. "I don't trust them."

He smiles adorably and my heart flutters. "Me either. Smart. But you're a career."

"So?" I shrug. "I'm still a tribute, just like you. So will you duel me?"

"I still don't think that's a good idea." Loras says, and he turns away again. My stomach plummets. Did I do something wrong? Doesn't he want me as an ally...?

"Oh." I say shortly. "I get it."

He looks surprised. "You do? I don't really think you do..."

"No. I do." I grab a wooden sword and I hope to the Gods this works. "You're afraid I'll make you look like a fool, huh? Well, maybe you're right, Three. I mean, I am a career, as you said."

He makes a face. "That's not it."

I smirk. "Prove it."

He grabs a wooden sword too. "You sure about this, Renly?"

I nod and get into position. Gods, I'm gonna look like a complete fool, but it'll be worth it. "Bring it on."

x-X-x

Loras Tyrell (age 16), District 3

I disarm him in maybe, seven minutes. Precise number (I like to be precise, and I try to be), but it's fairly accurate. He fights...decently. For one thing fair, and for another I'm better. Not like a career. Not like I expected.

My mentor told me not to let my skill with fighting show too much in training, to surprise my opponents as well as the Game Makers in the end. Well, I put all my 'hidden talent' into this one fight. It's intense. And he's surprised, I can see that.

He looks kind of completely hot, sprawled on the ground like that, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. I wipe my upper lip and set down the sword, turning away to hide my blush. What the fuck is wrong with me? I can't think like that, even if it is true!

"Wow." Renly cuts through my thoughts. He sounds tired, but really happy. "Jeyne, did you see that? Isn't he brilliant?"

I turn and my jaw drops. Everyone--from the guy from Twelve to the girl from One--had stopped to watch us. I feel myself blush again from the attention. Renly's partner, a skinny pale girl with a long nose and dark hair, smiles wanly.

"I did. We all did."

"He's only good cuz you're shit." the guy from One says coldly.

I bristle. "He's not shit. I've trained before."

"And apparently, he has too." The guy from Twelve says flatly. We stare at him, and he grins. "He's a career. Of course he has."

"I have," Renly says plainly. I turn and offer him a hand up. He takes it--and his hands are warm, sweaty, comforting. "I just really am shit."

"No you're not." I say. The others drift away around us. Renly's partner approaches.

"Can we keep 'im, Jeyne? Please?" he begs, clasping his hands. She rolls her eyes, and I smile a little, standing off to the side to let them talk.

"Have you asked him?"

He nods. "He knows why I wanted to duel him, if that's what you mean."

She looks at me. "What do you say, Three..."

"Loras."

"Loras. Pardon me. What do you say to my partner's...enthusiastic request?"

I glance at him. His eyes are bright. "Can I give you my answer outside, Ren? Away from the others?" The petname rolls off my tongue but he doesn't look like he minds.

Instead, Renly just smiles. "Of course. Anywhere you'd like."

I head outside the room into the hallway and when I hear his soft, steady footsteps, my heartbeat speeds up. Damn me.

x-X-x

Renly Baratheon (age 18), District 2

I follow him into the bathroom and he turns to face me. It's a large bathroom but we're just inches apart. He wets his lips.

"I-I'd really like to be allies with you." he breathes. I smile.

"Good. I'd really like to be allies with you too."

Warm green eyes. They're so beautiful... My eyes flicker to his lips. Delicate, a soft pink... I wonder what they'd feel like to-to kiss...

"Renly?"

"Mm?" I force myself to look back into his eyes. He looks anxious and--fuck. What if I'm so wrong? What if he doesn't like me? I mean, why would he in the first place? I'm a useless fighter, a loser, a-a fag--

"Renly."

"What?" I whisper-snap. It's a thing.

"Can I..." he pauses. "Punch me if I'm wrong, but...can I...can I kiss you? Please?"

I stare at him, slowly starting to smile. He bites at his lip adorably, looking away. I grab his arms and push him gently into the window--he gasps breathlessly. It's hot.

"Yes," I breathe, my breath hot against his. "You can."

He takes my face in his hands with practiced, gentle precision, and presses his lips against mine. I go limp and kiss him back, wrapping my arms around his neck. He presses closer against me. His tongue prods my lips and I open them greedily--oh Gods, I need him, I need more--

He pulls away and I stagger backwards until he catches my arms. "Ren--we-we're going into the Hunger Games--"

"So?" I take his face in my hands this time, stroking his cheeks lovingly. "I don't care. Tell me you don't care about that too." I look at him desperately. "Please."

Loras shakes his head, biting his lip. "That's not what I mean. We-we're going to die."

"No we're not. Not together. You can be the brawn, and I can be...the guy who's in the background, yeah?" he grins a little.

"It can't work out..." he reaches up and touches my cheek.

"I don't care," I repeat, shaking my head again. "I know this is random but... I-I think I'm in love with you."

"I love you too." He whispers, and leans his forehead against mine. My heart speeds up.

"Really?" I bet he can feel my heart. It's going so fast... "I'm sorry--I'm a sop and an idiot--"

"Shh. No you're not." He says firmly.

"But-but we can't be together... even if you wanted to..."

"Yes we can." Loras says. "And I want to, Renly. I really really want to."

I blush and he leans in to kiss me again. Pure bliss. I push out any other thoughts in my mind.

x-X-x

Jeyne Poole (age 15), District 2

I look up, back in the suite after training, as the front door opens. "Renly! You never came back after training. Did you get him to become allies with us?"

He's smiling gently, and he walks over to where I'm sitting. I raise an eyebrow. "Renly...?"

He just smiles, bends down and kisses both my cheeks, and floats away to the door. He turns back before he goes.

"He's agreed." He turns back around.

"Wait!" He pauses.

"Hm...?"

"Are those... love bites on your neck? What did you two do?"

He hums something dreamily and walks away without answering. I just roll my eyes.