Daryl's stomach was in knots, how was he supposed to stand before all of Panem in this horrific outfit? How was he supposed to allow hundreds upon thousands of people to see him in crotchless chaps.

Not only would all of Panem witness him in this, but his brother and father.

He was sure his father would call him a whore, and even more positive his father would suggest he asked for it to look as it did.

As Daryl was fitted into the chaps his eyes rounded in horror.

Paul was going to see him dressed this way, the son of their leader would see him this way. His cheeks grew rosy as his hair was braided back. The horns poked out making him feel even more ridiculous than he already felt. Andrea was complaining about the tightness of the corset in the room beside him. He was silent but not easy to deal with by any means. "Are you ready young Dixon?" His stylist asked as he ensured his feathers were attached to the horns. He sighed as he looked himself up and down in the mirror.

"I doubt I will ever be ready for this," he fussed with his top a bit trying to button the top button only to have his hand smacked away, "what the he-"

"Sex appeal. The more you appeal to the people, the more sponsors you will receive. You need sponsors to survive." The woman replied, looking him over. Daryl grimaced. "You do understand that these games are not just to watch you die, not just to watch children die. It's entertainment for the elite, a way to keep the districts in line. While you and your friends fear every single ceremony the people here in the capitol anticipate the next year's games. Make bets on who they believe will win the moment your names are called. While you and the children of the other eleven districts fight for your lives they are sitting at home together cheering for the blood, cheering for the glory. You then join the elite if you survive, to them it is nothing more than entertainment. Everyone always has a favorite, no matter if they want to admit it or not."

Daryl's blue eyes were wide as the woman spoke. "You seem smarter than most capital people."

"I was not always capital, I too feared my name being pulled." She replied, patting his back. Daryl looked him up and down.

"Who are you?" Daryl asked not having asked before.

"My name is Yumiko, my talent for a multitude of things was witnessed by the right person. Now I sit and watch the people I care for die, but if I argued against it I would be nothing more than an Avox. So I stay silent. I can be your friend, and I do believe you may just win. You're not like the others, you don't see this as a way to be glorified. You're not doing this for your district, you are trying to survive for yourself."

"I am trying to survive to come home to the one I love." Daryl corrected her.

Yumiko smirked. "Well then, you have more to live for than I believed. I see the way you are, the way you act with my assistants. You'll go far, top three if not the victor. I believe in you, and sometimes a little bit of belief is all you need. Now, I know you are uncomfortable in the clothes you are wearing. Exposed to all of Panem to see. Think about it this way, you are a little warrior that much I can tell, these clothes are your armor. They'll protect you, keep you from dying if you wear them and show them off. The more the people like you, the better your chances are. I'm sure you've been watching the reruns of past winners."

"I have." Daryl admitted.

"How many of those winners won without a single sponsor?"

"None." Daryl replied after a few minutes of contemplation as she tightened his braid ensuring his ribbon was wrapped in it properly. She made sure the turkey feathers were wrapped around the horn so it wouldn't come off during the chariot ride. "Not a single one, each had at least one sponsor."

"Exactly, even one sponsor can take you from near death to sitting on gold. What you need is sponsorships, you need the people to like you. So regardless of how you really feel, you need to wear these clothes like you would wear your everyday."

"Thank you Yumiko." Daryl murmured as she helped him from the platform that had a half moon of mirrors around it. "If this is how I get back to Paul."

"It's not only how you return to the one you love, but how you keep your life." She remarked.

Daryl took a deep breath and followed her out towards their chariot. Daryl recognized their horses, the tails were braided in a very specific way. His breath caught, tears pricked up in his eyes. Paul had to have been brought to the capitol to braid the tails of the horses for the Tribute Parade. Andrea stepped out beside him to see his face. "Daryl what is it?"

"Paul.. he was.. He had to be here." Daryl was frantic. He looked around but saw no one attending to the horses. They were district ten, they were always the tenth to be catered to but the horses from eleven and twelve were already braided and fed. Daryl bit his lip as he continued to scan the arena. "He had to be here. This is his signature braid for the horses. He had to be he-." His eyes grew big and his heart began to beat quickly as Paul was directed towards the stands by two guards. "Paul!" Daryl yelled loudly.

The man Daryl called turned, their eyes met and both of their faces lit up. Andrea couldn't help but smile as the two looked at one another. "That's him?" She asked as Daryl waved happily.

"Yeah." Daryl managed out trying not to cry. Paul knew he couldn't go to Daryl, but his heart was full seeing him again. Paul nodded to him, placing his hand over his heart. Daryl did the same. Andrea smirked, watching them closely.

"Come on time to go," one of the guards remarked. Paul nodded sadly, turning from Daryl and heading away towards the arena. Daryl was breathing heavily, but he was happy to see Paul here in the capital where it was safe. Not where his father could do something to him.

His talents were being recognized and Daryl only hoped they were being witnessed by the right people like Yumiko.

The two were directed into their chariot. He couldn't help but eyeroll as he looked over the cow print chariot. He smiled at Andrea. "We wear these clothes like armor, they'll get us through the games."

Andrea smirked, bumping his hip. "We are doing this to survive, and I know it. You'll make it through the games, just tell my family I love them when you get home."

"Andrea..."

"I'm not like you Dixon," she smiled softly, "If anyone is going to win it's you. So you better kick ass from here till you step forward as the winner of this game."

"You don't believe you'll win?"

"I never did, but I am going to take each step standing. No matter how many times I get knocked down I will keep getting back up till my heart stops beating. So you better win for me, for our district, and for that man that makes you smile like I have never seen you smile before."

Daryl took her hand in his own. "Stick with me when the games begin."

"I thought you didn't want to be partners?"

"I was wrong, I need someone to stand by me. Someone strong like you, blondie." He smirked, he continued to hold her hand until their chariot began to move forward. They came into the sun, the crowd was cheering for them. They could hear their names and district being called. Daryl couldn't help but smile and wave. Paul was in the crowd somewhere and he needed to make sure he saw he was trying. Doing whatever it took to get back to him.

Caesar Flickerman was eating up their costumes and hyping them to all of Panem. "As you can see we have the classic cowboy look from before our gracious leaders began to care for all of Panem. Daryl is branding his turkey feathers and ribbon from when he was reaped. Andrea looks ravishing in that corset as well. Look at those horses folks, all from district ten and very strong. Their tails and manes are also well taken care of. Whoever did that has some potential."

Daryl waved until their chariot stopped before their leader and his family. Daryl locked eyes with Negan and flashed a smile at him. Negan grinned, he stood upright and pulled a Cherokee rose from a vase. He tossed it to Daryl who did in fact catch it.

The crowd went wild.

"Did you folks see that! Our young Negan showing his love to our boy from District Ten." Caesar called clapping his hands. "From what we have been told by inside sources Daryl is potentially in a relationship, however we have confirmation from a secret inside reporter that Negan and this mystery lover have already spoken and worked out an agreement if Daryl is the victor of the games."

Daryl lifted the rose up to Negan as a thank you before grabbing Andrea's hand and placing the rose between their interlocked fingers. "Will you become my team mate in the games? I'll protect you until I can't any longer."

Andrea smiled, tightening her grip. "I'll stand by you, and protect you to the best of my ability Daryl Dixon, we are district ten together."

"Together." He grinned and looked back towards Negan before catching a glimpse of Paul. He smiled and locked eyes with him. Paul smiled and gave him a thumbs up, he knew what he was doing was approved. He needed as many people on his side as he could. He would do whatever it took to gain sponsors to get back home to him. Get back home to Ten.

He was going to become the victor of this year's games no matter what it took.

No matter who he had to ally with, and no matter who he had to kill. He needed to become the victor.

He needed to go home.