➳❦

ARYA SIGHS AS SHE RUNS HER HANDS THROUGH HER HAIR. She was staring up at the stone ceiling. Arya was mainly just trying to prepare herself for what was ultimately going to happen. One of them was going to get tortured, probably right here in front of the others. And she would most likely just have to suffer and watch it. Snow would probably be watching on a camera too, enjoying their pain like the psychopath that he was.

She tried to think if any way that they could escape but her mind came up empty. Unless they could somehow get out of these cages, there really would be no chance. And that was only the first step. Arya wanted to believe they could do it, but by the time they figured out a way, they would most likely have no energy to pull it off.

"Do you think someone is gonna come rescue us?" Wesley's voice pipes up, making her glance over toward him. She furrows her eyebrows. She didn't know if the so called rebellion started, but she doubted they would hear about it.

"Who?" Johanna asks, a small scoff leaving her lips. She didnt mean to rain on his parade, but she didnt think they were getting rescued, at least anytime soon. "There's no one with enough manpower for it." She mumbles, shaking her head.

Wesley bites the inside of his cheek. He knew that was most likely true but he didn't believe he would spend the rest of his life trapped in this cage. "I don't know. Just someone." Wesley says, dropping his eyes to the floor. Peeta didnt know what to believe right now. But he didn't think that the others would just abandon them.

"Haymitch won't let us suffer in here." Peeta denies. Johanna brings her hands up to her face, closing her eyes for a minute as she just lets a long sigh leave her lips.

"But Haymitch can't do it alone." Johanna points out, flickering her eyes between them. There was no I in team. Haymitch couldn't single handedly get them out of the Capitol. He'd have to have a literal miracle in order for him to do that.

"Johanna." Arya says, breaking into the conversation.  All eyes moved to her momentarily. "He's trying to have hope." She states. Arya tried to have it as well, but she wasn't going to discourage somebody else's.

"Right. Hope." Johanna responds,  biting her tongue. "What's that again?" She asks them, raising an eyebrow at the group. Peeta sighs, just wanting to bring to topic to something else.

"How long do you guys think we've been here?" He asks them curiously. They didn't really have a sense of how long its been. They couldn't see the sunset or even have a clock as a reference.

"Not long. Maybe two days or so." Arya answers. She didn't think it had been that long. Mainly because there hasn't been much that had happened to them yet.

"It seems like an eternity." Wesley mumbles, letting out a small groan.

"Probably cause we're locked in these cells bored out of our minds."  Johanna points out, fiddling with her fingers. They had nothing to do but talk to each other and they couldn't do that forever.

"Would you rather the alternative?" Arya asks, glancing over at her. Johanna is silent for a moment, her tongue pressing to the inside of her cheek.

"No..." She responds slowly. The door opens, catching their attention. Wesley was the first to notice the guards walking in.

"Guys." He whispers, nodding his head toward the door. The guard makes his way to Johanna's cell. Arya felt like she was going to be sick as her eyes moved quickly to the woman.

They unlock the cage, stepping inside as Johanna stayed sat on the floor. "Stand up." He demands, gesturing for her to get up off of the floor. Johanna narrows her eyes, still not budging in the slightest. She wasn't going to make it easy for these assholes.

"Why don't you make me?"

"Hey, let her go!"

"Do you wanna be next?" The guard threatens her, glaring down at Arya. Arya remains silent, an angered expression on her face. She could feel Peeta's hand on her arm, squeezing it which quietly meant to not provoke it further. "Then shut your goddamn mouth." He snaps toward her, turning back to where Johanna was.

The others could only watch, helpless, as they witnessed them lay hit after hit on the poor woman. Johanna was strong, they all were. But the guards were not exactly gentle. Snow probably told them that they could do anything that they had wanted, as long a sit didn't kill them.

"Johanna." Arya whispers, closing her eyes as she hears the woman try and strangle her scream. She knew they said to not show any fear, no pain. But it was hard when it was actually happening. It was one thing to promise yourself something, it was another to get through it.

Covering her ears, Arya shakes her head. She never wanted to hear Johanna in pain. Especially since she was one of the toughest people she had ever met. To think that she could break, it just meant it was that much easier for Arya to as well. And she didn't want to. She didn't want to give into Snow.

And she would try her hardest not to. But it was only a few days in, and her shell was already cracking.

➳❦

THEY ALL SAT IN THEIR CELLS IN SILENCE. No one having said a word since the guards finally left Johanna alone. No one really knew what to say. Especially to make pain such as that go away. Johanna was sat against the wall, staring at the door. Arya glances over toward her, a frown evident on her face. She could still recall hearing the screams and it haunted her.

Arya saw that Johanna was trying to keep a strong face on. Not really wanting anyone to worry about her, but also wanting to just keep a brave face for everyone. "Johanna, are you okay?" Arya decides to ask softly, having made her way to the bars where their cells connected.

Johanna tilts her head, meeting the woman's gaze. She put on a weak smile as she nodded her head. "Im fine, Arya." She replies, although it was hard to buy it when her body was covered in bruises. "Promise." Johanna knew it was only a matter of time before the others got it as well. Arya had already been alone with the guards once.

"Snow is a fucking coward. Getting his lackeys to torture us." Wesley points out with a scoff, shaking his head.

"He's always been a coward." Arya mumbles, tilting her head against the wall. Wesley bites the inside of his cheek as he glances over toward them.

"Do you think they'll make us do anything?" He asks curiously. Peeta looked a bit confused.

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Something for them, to show to the districts." Wesley says.  Arya just furrows her eyebrows. She had never even thought of that. What would Snow want to show the districts? That even the lucky can not surpass the power of the Capitol?

"Like propaganda?" Arya asks him and Wesley just nods his head a little bit.

"Yeah."

"Probably." Johanna responds. Arya just hears the door open again, the guards walking in and just looking into Arya and Peeta's cell. Arya narrows her eyebrows as she tilts her head.

"What are you staring at?" Arya asks with a scoff, glaring at the guard. He just opens the cell, not really paying much attention to her, his eyes solely on Peeta.

"You. Up." The guard says, pointing at Peeta. Peeta, not wanting to get anyone else hurt, starts to stand up. But Arya blocked him, shaking her head.

"Peeta, no." She denies, stopping him from going anywhere with them. Peeta looks at her warily.

"Get your ass up now." The guard demands, is voice more stern this time. Peeta grabs aryas arm, bringing it down from where it was blocking him.

"Arya, it's okay." Peeta assures her. But Arya shakes her head once again, not wanting him to be taken.

"No. You're not going anywhere." She states, standing her ground. The guard only chuckles, a smirk forming on his lips as he takes a step into the cell.

"Oh, sweetheart, we can torture him right here in front of you if you'd like." The man suggests, an evil imprint in his eyes. Arya clenches her jaw, her glare darkening as she stares up at the guard.

"Fuck you." She sneers toward him. The guards smirk drops slightly.

"What did you say?" He asks her, taking another step toward her. Arya becomes more confident, sitting up straight and looking right into the man's eyes.

"I said, fuck you." Arya snaps coldly. The guard only grabs her jaw, pulling her toward him while taking his gun out. Peeta immediately goes to move as the guard presses it against Aryas temple. The woman only laughs as she raises her eyebrows at the man.

"Don't you even dare." The other guard says, pointing toward Peeta who stops moving.

"Move and I blow her head clean off." He warns Peeta who immediately tenses, his eyes moving to Arya. But he could see her telling him not to do anything. But he wanted to. He didn't want her to get hurt because of him.

"Snow wouldn't allow you to do that." Wesley denies, scoffing as he glares at them. Why would Snow even hold her hostage if the guards were allowed to just kill her whenever they felt like it.

"Really?" The guard taunts, raising an eyebrow at the man. "He told us if she gets too difficult, to just deal with her." He admits with a smirk growing on his lips, pressing the gun further into her temple.

It was literally just to toy with them. Because he could. Because he found enjoyment in it. The guard laughs as he presses his rod against her, shocking her before pushing her to the ground harshly. Arya groans as she squeezes her eyes shut. "Bring her to the room." He demands to the other guard who nods his head.

He puts chains around Arya before dragging her off. Peeta was watching as she disappeared right in front of his eyes. He brings his eyes to the other guard who was looking in his direction as well. The man only laughs, a sinister sound leaving his lips as he heads toward Peeta.

➳❦

ARYA WAS SURE THERE WAS BLOOD BEING DRAWN FROM HOW HARD SHE WAS BITING HER TONGUE. She was trying not to scream as the guard behind her pressed a hot poker into her back. Her body had sweat dripping down it as she forced her tears back. She was not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her break in front of them. If she was going to break she'd do it when she was alone.

And she'd rather be in this position than switch with any of the others. Just seeing Johanna in pain was enough for her. She'd take the punishment if it meant that they got to get through another day without being hurt. Arya knew that wasn't how it worked but she wished it did just a few times. Because at least her being in pain would be worth something. Even if the others didn't agree with what she was doing.

When the hot poker stopped burning at her skin for longer than a few seconds, she figured that they were either taking a break or they were done. Arya knew she couldve just knelt there, been quiet and waited for them to take her back to her cell. But when had she ever made things easy for herself. And she wasn't about to let these men grow their egos by allowing them to think she was afraid of them.

So, without even so much as a second thought, Arya lifted her head so that she was meeting their gazes. "That's all you got? It's pathetic." Arya taunts them, glaring at the guards as a heartless laugh leaves her lips. The guard just stares down at her, narrowing his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was angered or feeling challenged in a way.

"Keep talking. I've got plenty more." The guard responds before shoving the hot poker back against her skin. Arya squeezes her eyes shut for a moment. Her brain racking her mind for anything to bring her off of the pain

Arya didn't know why her mind went to Finnick of all people. He would only increase her pain. But no matter what she said or may think about him, he was the first person who came to her mind. And it did help ease the pain a little bit as she thought about the man. Arya did hope that Finnick was alive, she was just more aiming toward him being dead so that if he was actually killed, it wouldn't hurt as much since she was already thinking that.

Finnick surely knew how to get on her nerves but honestly right now, she missed it. Even in the tiniest little bit. Because at least she knew no matter what, he wouldn't ever do anything to actually harm her or even hurt her feelings. As much as she hated to admit it, he was a decent guy. She just wished that she saw more than just the cocky attitude that he put on for the Capitol.

Even Peeta. She never had any actual issues with him, it was really only due to the way he won his games. That's the only real issue that was between them and even then, it was one sided. Peeta had shown her kindness in the arena and had treated her just like everyone else. He didn't seem to listen to what others may say about her, instead he came up with his own thought of her.

It was one of the reasons why she stood up for him, to repay him in a way. She knew she didn't need to, and what he did in the arena wasn't even that much. But Arya hated seeing anyone in pain. And she would never want anyone to suffer like she has. So, if there was a way to prevent that, she would. Because Snow didn't get to just strip people of their personalities, their feelings, their life, and walk away victorious.

Either way, she just had to think of the good memories, even if there were more bad ones nowadays. But even thinking of her brothers helped her get through it. Because she knows they would be proud of her. Proud of how far she's come and how tough she turned out to be. Thinking of her parents and how she may not have known her mother, but she knew she was strong as well.

That's where Arya believed she got it from. Her mom. Her dad always used to tell her stories of how brave her mother really was. And how he wished she got to see it in person. No matter how hard they tried, no matter what ideas they put into her head, Arya was not going to let them take away who she was. And even if they did end up taking some, even if it was just a slither,

She would fight light hell to get it back.

➳❦

ARYA WAS SAT BACK AGAINST THE WALL IN THE CELL. Her body was still shaking a bit but it wasnt like you could notice. There was barely any light within the room except for a sliver here and there. No one had really said anything, not since she came back. And now only her and Peeta were actually fully away. She knew he wanted to say something with the way he kept glancing over at her.

It didnt take him long to finally speak up, especially when he could see the bruises litering her skin. "Why did you do that?" Peeta asks, his voice cracking in the slightest. Arya closes her eyes for a second, fiddling with her fingers.

"To protect you." She responds, not really having much else to say. There wasn't even much to say, except that she would do it all again. Arya wasn't going to just stand back and do nothing.

"Arya, don't." Peeta scolds, shaking his head. He knew she wanted to argue with the guards, to protect them. But she needed to keep herself safe too. "Don't fight them." He tells her. Arya furrows her eyebrows.

"Why not? I'm not just gonna let them strip me off what I have left."

"You're just making things worse." Peeta points out. She was just making the guards more angry and that was never a good thing.

"Peeta, I don't want to see you hurt." She denies as she turns her gaze to him. Peeta rolls his eyes. If that was her excuse, then they all had the same one for doing something stupid.

"Well, I don't want to see you hurt either." Peeta retorts, crossing his arms against his chest. "I'm sure finnick would kill me for letting this happen to you." He states with a small laugh. But he didn't know what hearing Finnicks name would do, shut her down completely or actually clear the tension in the room.

"You want to know what I thought of when that guard called me sweetheart?" Arya asks him. Peeta just glances at her.  "That's Finnicks name for me." She admits with the softest smile on her face, it was barely visible but Peeta saw it.

A smirk forms on his lips as he nudges her arm a little bit. "I knew it." Peeta responds, chuckling underneath his breath. He knew there was something more than what Arya was letting on. He didn't believe her when she had said she hated Finnick. "You do like him." He says, tilting his head.

But Arya can only let out a sigh as she shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe." She replies, pressing her tongue to the inside of her cheek. "I don't know." Arya says, resting her chin against her knees. "Guess we'll never know now." Arya states with a weak smile on her face. She would never see the personality that apparently wasn't the one he showed off to people.

She wouldn't see the real person he supposedly had underneath his persona. Peeta grabs her hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "We're gonna get out of here." He assures her, not wanting her to just give up entirely of escaping from the Capitol.

"Doesn't mean he's out there." She retorts, mumbling slightly as she plays with the hem of her shirt. Peeta bites the inside of his cheek, considering whether or not to tell her what he knew, or to keep it to himself. Although, he couldn't think of any reason why not to tell her.

"Katniss is." Peeta says.

Arya could only stare at him for a moment. How could he possibly know that Katniss was alive and that the capitol didnt just kill her? "What?" Arya asks him, her eyes flickering over his face. Peeta glances toward the others who were still asleep.

"You know how Wesley asked if they'd make us do propos?" Peeta questions. Arya furrows her eyebrows, not really understanding but she nods her head anyways.

"Yeah?"

"I had to do one." He admits. While she was gone, they had taken him to a room with Caesar. They told him to say exactly what they wanted or they would hurt the others. Obviously Peeta wasnt going to risk it. "Apparently Katniss shot out the dome and was rescued by rebels." Peeta explains go her.

Arya didn't really know how to react. Whether to be happy and relieved or somewhat deflated. Because with both instances, they were still here in the Capitol. They were still held hostage.
"Rebels." She mumbles, bringing her eyes back to her hands.

Peeta could see that she was still not exactly hopeful. But it was hard to be when you stared at the same four walls all the time. "If Katniss is alive, maybe there's hope for Finnick too." He just wanted to give her something to go on for. Yes, she had Matthew but she was blaming herself quite a bit for Finnick's supposed death.

Arya goes quiet for a moment. Her body tensing up as her eyes move back to Peeta. She wanted to believe what she was hearing but it was hard. She didn't know what was true and what the Capitol could've made up. "Really?" She asks, although her mind drifts again.

Peeta wanted to talk more about it, but Arya barely was able to keep her eyes open. None of them were, that's why Johanna and Wesley were already dead asleep in their cells. "Arya?"  Peeta asks, catching her attention once more. "You should get some rest." He tells her, a soft gaze on his face.

Arya sighs, shaking her head as she brings her arms up to wrap them around her body. "I'm not tired." She denies. More not allowing her body to sleep because she was terrified of being brought out of her slumber and back into that dark room.

"You haven't slept since we've been here." Peeta points out in an accusatory manner. She needed to sleep, she needed her strength. Or else it was going to be easy to break her since she wouldn't have any energy to resist.

"I'm fine." Arya tries to say again but Peeta wasn't allowing no to be an answer.

"Sleep." He states sternly, narrowing his eyes at her. Arya crosses her arms against her chest as she rolls her eyes.

"On what pillow? We're not exactly at a resort." She points out, glancing around the small cell that they were in. Peeta thinks to himself for a moment before moving toward her.

"Rest against me." Peeta suggests.  He could sense her reluctance as she just stared at him. Peeta knew of her discontent for physical touch, but it was either that or lay on the hard concrete floor.

She decides to take him up on his offer. It was better than the alternative. Arya moves closer, her body hesitating as she rests against the man. Her head laid on his shoulder. His hand goes to wrap around her, resting on her back. Arya immediately winces, scrunching up her face causing Peeta to lift his hand like he'd just touched fire.

"Sorry." He apologizes, feeling awful that he had seemingly touched a part of her that had been hurt. Of course she hadn't told them what had happened to her, she had just been silent mostly since th guards brought her back.

"It's okay." She mumbles against his chest, her hand gripping his shirt tightly. Peeta sighs as he rests his head against hers. "Goodnight Peeta." Arya whispers, her voice not really audible. But given how quiet it was, he could hear it.

Peeta hated knowing that he was the reason why she got hurt. It wasn't supposed to be that way. But of course she had to stand up for him even though he told her not to. He didn't know her well, he knew that. But that didn't mean that he thought she deserved to be in pain, especially at the hands of Snow.

No matter what anyone told him, he wouldn't believe that Arya was the bad person that people tried to perceive her as. Peeta believed that it was the world she grew up in and the things that she had to go through at the hands of an evil man in power that caused this misperception. And maybe that was the point. Maybe Snow wanted Arya to not have anyone, to turn her own district against her because she was seen as a 'monster'.

Peeta let's out a sigh, his hand resting on her side. "Goodnight Arya."

➳❦

Nah not me loving the idea I had of putting peeta and Arya in the same cell. Brotp on top.

Also Tessa by Steve Jablonsky literally is the perfect vibe for part two.