Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lucy Gray suppressed a sigh as her last song of the night came to a close. There was a soft rippling of applause from the remaining patrons in the nightclub. She could count on one hand how many there were, which was unfortunate given the size of the room. Even the bartender across the room looked bored standing behind the bar.

“Thank you,” she said to the dismal crowd, and looked behind her to her beloved Covey with their instruments, trying to look brave.

“Last call,” the bartender called out lazily, and one patron got up from their seat, the scraping of the chair on the floor echoing throughout the room as they headed to the bar to get one last drink before leaving.

Lucy Gray took the few steps off the stage and set her guitar down on the stand near the bottom of the steps. She looked in the tip jar sitting not far away and saw nothing but a few spare dollars and some coins. It’d be enough to feed her family for one meal but not more than that.

A pit grew in her stomach, threatening to eat her alive. They’d already received one rent past due notice for her family’s tiny apartment across the street. If they didn’t start picking up more income soon, they’d be in danger of eviction, and then where would they go? Would they be forced to move to the districts? It’d been years since they lived there, and as difficult as it was to live in the Capitol with such meager coins to scrape by, the districts were worse. The lawlessness and enforcement by the peacekeepers made them afraid in a way Capitol living just didn’t.

They’d gotten lucky that all their migrating before the war had gotten them to where they were now before district citizens weren’t allowed to move at all.

“How much?” Barb Azure asked, approaching her from behind.

Lucy Gray was afraid to show it to her, but she held it out anyway.

“It’ll get us dinner tonight,” Barb Azure said with a cheerfulness to her voice that she probably didn’t feel.

“Pluribus will pay us too at the end of the week,” Tam Amber chipped in.

Lucy Gray forced a weak smile. Pluribus, bless his heart, had a soft spot for her and her Covey. He let them play every night, just in case the crowds grew and they could increase their tips. He paid them, but not well. And since they used his instruments and the patrons had dwindled in the after-war years, he’d had to cut their pay in half.

He was barely making enough to make ends meet for himself, and he’d confided reluctantly in Lucy Gray once that the nightclub was in danger of closing. He didn’t tell her to worry her. She knew that. But he wanted her to be realistic about the status of her employment and to look elsewhere if the scraps she received here weren’t enough anymore.

Yes, but where? She couldn’t help but think.

Music wasn’t overly appreciated in the Capitol, especially now. She didn’t know of a single other place where she could put her talents to good use. And jobs were hard to come by without an impressive education, which none in the Covey had. Only Barb Azure had gone to school, and she’d taught the rest of them how to write and read from home. She’d raised them practically, even Tam Amber and Billy Taupe who were a bit older than her. She was so brave and strong and determined not to falter. Lucy Gray wished she had her resolve – and her bravery.

“I need some air,” Lucy Gray said, and she made a bee line for the back door, feeling a tightness in her chest, like she was suffocating the longer she stayed inside.

No one noticed the young fellow in his dapper outfit follow her and close the door softly behind him once outside.

Lucy Gray pressed her back against the side of the building, taking slow deep breaths as her poor financial situation threatened to engulf her. She didn’t hear her name being called or the approaching footsteps until the young man was right beside her and practically shouting in her ear.

“Lucy Gray.”

She jumped and turned to look at who it was. Her need to put a name to the face quieted some of the panic attack that had risen like a wave out of nowhere.

“Festus Creed.”

He extended his hand, and reluctantly she shook it.

Creed. One of the wealthier families in town. His parents ran the timber trade in District 7 and came from Old Capitol money. Festus was an Academy student in his second to last year. She knew this because she’d seen he and some of his classmates come in the week before in their red Academy garb.

“I know who you are,” she said.

“Great. I’ll make this quick.” He pulled something from his jacket pocket. “Here’s my card. It has my number and address on it for you to reach out.”

Her brow furrowed.

“What for?”

“One of my friends, Coriolanus Snow, is having his 18^th birthday next week. I’d like to make it memorable for him.”

A crease formed in the middle of her forehead as her brows furrowed.

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Well, I couldn’t help but notice the slim pickings you had tonight in your tip jar.”

She bristled, not pleased to have someone else take notice of the minimal tips they’d received.

“It was a slow night.”

“I’ve come in every day for the past week and a half. Every night is a slow night, by your standards.”

Her lips thinned. She was about to tell him to get lost when he laid his proposition on the table, flooring her completely.

“Here’s what I propose. Meet us behind the train station next Friday night after dark. Come alone. And give my buddy, Coryo, a worthwhile performance.”

She frowned.

“What, like, with my guitar?”

He hesitated.

“Not exactly. I want you to turn my boy into a man.”

It took her a minute, but the dots started to connect.

“I do not do sexual favors for strangers, Festus,” she snarled.

“I’m willing to make it worth your while,” he said, leaning in.

Lucy Gray reared back.

“That’s prostitution!”

“It would be a one-time thing,” he said easily, as if that made it better. “And I’d give you enough to pay off your rent and supply your little family with food for a month. Wouldn’t that be nice? Give you some extra time to get back on your feet and hope Pluribus’ nightclub fills up again?”

Her eyes narrowed.

“No.”

He didn’t so much as budge.

“You’re sure? I’m offering quite the deal here. And it would only be a blow-job. No need to get your panties in a twist.”

“I think you’d better leave before I tell Pluribus what you’re asking of me. He’ll have you banned from the club permanently.”

He sighed. It was clear he doubted the validity of her threat.

“Suit yourself. But call me if you change your mind. Next Friday.”

She ripped his little pristine card in half in front of him. Then she crumpled it up and let it fall to the ground.

He watched as she did, and looked mildly annoyed. Lucy Gray mentally patted herself on the back for that.

“Good luck paying your rent, Lucy Gray,” he said bitterly, and flung the backdoor open, returning inside.

Then she was alone again and relief flooded her but also worry. She knew she’d narrowly escaped what could easily be a death sentence for her. Or at least it would feel that way if she ever went through with it. She hadn’t been tempted. Not in the slightest. She’d felt beyond insulted that he thought she would. But at the same time, she knew he had a point about her finances, and wouldn’t it be nice to have a whole month to figure out what to do next?

She shook her head. No.

She’d just have to figure out…something else.

Chapter Text

The following afternoon, Pluribus called up Lucy Gray sounding somewhat agitated. Apparently, there’d been an influx in patrons out of the blue, and he hadn’t been able to get a hold of the few other entertainers he hired on occasion to amuse the masses. Usually, Lucy Gray and the Covey used the afternoons to practice for the evening dwindling groups. She’d been on her way out the door with them to head over and practice in the back room when the phone rang.

“Do you think you can go on without practice today?”

Lucy Gray did her best not to stammer, but her mind was scrambling.

“I-I suppose we could just do the set we did last night,” she finally managed when he repeated her name in the silence stretching between them.

“Great! I knew I could count on you.”

She gulped.

“Will we be staying on through the evening as well?”

It would be a long day for her Covey, but if there truly had been an increase in patrons, as Pluribus was mildly panicking over, more time would mean more tips, and also getting closer to paying off that overdue rent bill that had been dropped into their mailbox for the third time when they got home last night.

Her conversation with Festus had laid heavy on her all through the night. She’d hardly slept a wink, and only gotten in a short nap a little after their meager breakfast. Barb Azure sent her straight back to bed when she couldn’t carry on a conversation at the table.

“Possibly,” Pluribus said, pulling her from her thoughts. “I’ll try to get a hold of some other entertainment, but if I can’t, and if the crowds stay strong, I’ll need somebody up on stage until closing. Who knows? Maybe we can even move some of the tables to the side tomorrow if it happens again and get some real dancing going!”

He sounded far too enthusiastic for what could easily be a one-time thing, but she wasn’t going to douse his hopes. She could use a little hope herself. She’d been on the verge of wondering how she could track down Festus and suggesting a private performance of music instead for his dear Coriolanus’ birthday.

It would be better than nothing, wouldn’t it?

But maybe now she wouldn’t have to track down the sleezy bastard. If hope prevailed, maybe everything would be okay without it.

“Maybe…” Lucy Gray contemplated aloud. “Alright, we’ll be in shortly, Pluribus. Thanks for the heads’ up.”

She hung up the phone to the curious gazes of her Covey.

“There’s been a sudden increase in patrons!” she said, sounding excited despite herself. “Pluribus wants us to go on now and likely stay on for the rest of the day!”

Gasps and excited squeals followed.

“All day?” Billy Taupe complained, and Barb Azure promptly hit him over the head.

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” she hissed.

“Sorry. Sorry.” He held up his hands in defeat. “Just…that’s a long set. Do we even have enough songs for that?”

He met Lucy Gray’s eyes, and she shared some sympathy for her boyfriend.

“I’m sure the same people won’t stay for the whole night. We can replay songs we start with at the beginning.”

“But without practicing…?”

“Do you not have a positive bone in your body?” Barb Azure lectured.

“No, no, it’s okay to be unsure, Barb Azure. I am too a little. We’ll just have to do our best, put on a good show, and start with the songs we played last night. It’ll be alright.”

And with that, she looped her arm through Billy Taupe’s and walked out the door with the rest of them straight across the street to Pluribus’ club, which shockingly enough had people waiting in line to get in.

“Wow,” CC said exclaimed.

“Let’s take the back door,” Lucy Gray suggested, and they all headed around.

Much to her horror and surprise, there was Festus Creed again just beyond the door. He was smoking a joint and wearing his Academy uniform. The rest of the Covey didn’t notice him, far too eager to get inside to a full crowd, but Lucy Gray saw him and stopped suddenly.

“What is it?” Young Maude Ivory stopped, the last of the Covey already inside, but being right in front of Lucy Gray, she’d sensed her stopping and stopped as well. “Lucy Gray?”

Lucy Gray shook her head.

“It’s nothing, nothing. I think I just need a couple minutes before going in. Would you mind heading up the first song?”

“Of course.” She smiled brightly, always eager to show off her remarkable set of pipes. “See you inside then!”

Lucy Gray forced a smile, waited till the door closed, and then trudged right over to Festus nonchalantly leaning against the side of the building.

She pulled the joint from his lips, dropped it and stomped on it promptly.

“Hey!” he complained. “Was that necessary?”

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“Nice crowd this afternoon, isn’t it?” he said with a luring suspiciousness she didn’t like.

“Yes…wait.” And then it all connected for her once again. “Are you responsible for this?”

He shrugged innocently.

“Maybe.”

“Why?”

“I’m used to getting my way, Lucy Gray.”

She scoffed and folded her arms.

“I’m not going to do it.”

“Still? Coriolanus is here tonight. You might change your mind once you get a good look at him.”

Her jaw dropped.

“I don’t care how attractive he is. I have a boyfriend.”

He turned to face her.

“Trust me, your Covey boyfriend has nothing on my Coriolanus.” He smiled slowly. “I’ll bring him by to say hi after, if you don’t mind. He’s been dying to meet you.”

Her head jerked back.

“Is that why you’re so determined to use me for your fucked-up birthday gift? Because your friend has a little crush?”

“Ooo, the lady doth have a wicked tongue on her.” He grinned. “But yes. I brought him in a month ago, and he couldn’t take his eyes off you. He also, in a strange turn of events got unspeakably nervous and wouldn’t approach you after. Gave him some liquid courage today though, so I think he can manage to at least thank you for your musical gifts.”

She shook her head in disbelief.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“It’s a gift.”

“It wasn’t a compliment.”

His lips thinned.

“What about if I kept the club this full every night for the next two weeks? Would you consider it a compliment then?”

“And what happens after that? How could you do that to Pluribus? Get his hopes up just for it to empty out again as soon as your little favor has been done?”

A slow steady grin morphed on his face.

“Ah, so you have been thinking about it.”

She closed her eyes briefly, her anguished thoughts engulfing her.

“Think about this then. Two months’ rent.”

“No.”

“Six? A year?”

Her jaw dropped.

“A year?!”

“I have a lot of money, Lucy Gray. And a lot of bullshit reasons I can deliver to my father to pry it from his lucrative fingers.”

She shook her head.

“Why does it matter so much? Why not just hire me to play some music on his birthday? I’m sure your friend would enjoy that too, especially if his crush is as big as you imply.”

He shrugged.

“Too easy. And also, pathetic. Coryo’s a virgin, and in my mind being a virgin after 18 is practically criminal.”

“I thought you said it was just going to be a blow job,” she bristled.

“Oh, it is. But hopefully it’ll be enough to intrigue him with other girls who’d be more willing to fuck his brains out.”

“I’ve been in this conversation too long. Good day, Festus. Enjoy the show.”

“We can come by after then? To say hello?”

She paused after opening the door and licked her lips but figured answering now would be just adding fuel to the flames. So, after a moment’s reprieve, she headed inside and left Festus Creed in the alley.

…

“The one, the only, Lucy Gray Baird!” Maude Ivory announced her as she sidled up to the stage.

Lucy Gray hopped up to the platform to a crowd full of enthusiastic people, and she felt a high she hadn’t felt in months. This was what it felt like to be alive. To have so many people enjoying your talents, cheering, hanging on your every word…she’d nearly forgotten.

“How are y’all doin’ tonight?” she called out to whoops and hollering almost akin to what she could recall hearing back in the districts.

She glanced back at her Covey behind her, and they were grinning from ear to ear. She knew they felt it too. The rush. The exhilaration.

And that was when she saw him.

Festus had snuck in behind her and was now in the niche group just a few rows of people in. They all wore their Academy jackets, identifying who they were immediately. But the one Festus nudged after he’d weaved his way through the crowd was…well, gorgeous.

Billy Taupe had nothing on the tall, blond, attractive Coriolanus Snow who couldn’t take his eyes off her, absolutely mesmerized.

Had any man ever looked at her the way he was looking at her now?

She felt heat engulf her face and blamed it on the spotlights from the ceiling, but she knew deep down that was denial.

Coriolanus wasn’t cheering like the others, though she could see his hands moving in applause. But his eyes were on hers, and she couldn’t look away either, only smiled, her eyes sparkling.

For the crowd, for the crowd, for the crowd, she told herself, but she knew that was a lie too.

It wasn’t until the instrumentals broke her trance behind her moments later that she snapped back to what she was doing there, what she needed to be doing, not fantasizing about pulling Coriolanus Snow into the backroom and having her wicked way with him.

What was the matter with her?

It was like a spell had been placed on her. Somehow Festus had done this by telling her ahead of time how attractive his friend was. It had gotten into her subconscious now. She’d had no choice to find him the most attractive man she’d ever seen.

What. Did she just think that just now? Most attractive man she’d ever seen?

That was over now though.

It had to be.

She picked up her guitar and swung the strap over her head, starting to play a familiar melody. And then she broke out into song. She sang song after song, avoiding looking at Coriolanus like the plague. But as afternoon turned into evening, and a stream of people went home, probably for dinner and rest, Coriolanus and his classmates remained.

She looked at Pluribus across the room, and he gestured with his head to a crew of musicians spilling in from the back door.

A sigh of relief hit her, and she smiled at your audience.

“It’s been real fun tonight, entertaining all y’all, but a new crew is here to liven up your evening. Let’s give them a warm welcome!”

The audience was filled with some mournful awws that they were leaving, as well as cheers for the new musicians.

Lucy Gray could feel Coriolanus’ eyes still on her though, as she exited stage left, their instruments kept near the back of the stage should the new crew need them.

Ahead of her, the Covey was headed for the back door when Pluribus signaled to her from the back of the room. She was halfway to him when a voice called out to her.

She stilled, her heart hammering through her chest.

Was that him?

She turned around, prepared for it not to be, to explain herself with ease like the entertainer she was. But of course, she was stunned to find that it was him after all. She expected Festus to be with him, but he wasn’t. Probably was smirking eyeing the whole interaction from afar though.

For reasons unbeknownst to her though, that didn’t matter. Not in this moment with a crowd of people surrounding them, cheering on the new music and chatting with each other between songs. Some tables had even been pushed to the side, and people were dancing. It was a whole new club, and it felt alive to be a part of it.

And yet, here, standing here in front of Coriolanus who she had to pretend to not know, she felt lost and found in a way she couldn’t describe. She had to fight to break through from the trance.

“I-I’m sorry, can I help you?” she asked, having to tilt her head back to look up into his crystal blue eyes. He was so tall.

He licked his lips and extended a crumpled napkin that had no doubt been attempted in vain to be smoothed over.

“Would you mind signing this for me before you go?”

“I don’t have a pen,” she heard herself say, then felt incredibly stupid.

I don’t have a pen? Really?

Coriolanus’ shoulders slumped, and she could see the heartache on his face, like she’d just kicked his puppy.

Her lips parted, eager to amend the situation.

“But I could go get one,” she said quickly. “Wait here?”

He nodded enthusiastically. “Okay!”

Her heart did a flip, as she put on a stage smile and turned away towards where Pluribus was waiting. The music pounded in her ears, but her heart pounded still louder. Her legs were shaky. Her hands trembled. And she felt herself eager to return to him. Which was insanity.

She had a boyfriend!

But not a boyfriend that pretty, she reminded herself with a twist of her lips.

“Lucy Gray.”

She looked up to see Pluribus trying to get her attention, and eased into a pleasant smile.

“Pluribus, will you be needing us the rest of the night?”

“Maybe just you could come back for the closing number?” he suggested. “You’ve stirred up quite the crowd.”

“Oh, sure!” she said automatically. “I just…need a pen.”

He frowned, then looked amused.

“A pen, darlin’?”

“Someone wants an autograph…on a crumpled napkin.”

He chuckled.

“I think I’ve got just the thing.”

And he disappeared into his hideaway office, only to re-emerge a minute later with a glossy 8x10 photo of her playing her guitar in one hand and a gold marker in the other.

“Oh, my! When did you take this?”

“A while back. Thought it might come in handy one day if we ever needed promotional material. And it looks like we just might.”

Her heart sank. Only if I agree to that favor Festus wants.

Did everything hang on that now?

And worse – did Coriolanus’ effect on her make her feel more inclined to do it even without pay?

But she couldn’t do it without pay. A year of security was simply too good an offer to pass up.

Right?

She nibbled on her bottom lip and took the photo and the marker from her boss.

“Thank you, Pluribus.”

“Of course.”

She spun around and found Coriolanus in the crowd again, but now Festus was with him, looking satisfied on her return. And a worrisome Coriolanus lit up when he saw her approaching.

“What – What do you have there?” Coriolanus asked, intrigued.

“You’ll never believe it. Pluribus had a photograph of me playing he thought you wouldn’t mind if I signed?”

She extended it to him, and he somehow lit up even more, his smile spreading into a full-fledged grin.

“It’s perfect!”

“Coryo, I don’t think I’ve seen you smile like that in our entire association,” Festus commented, and Coriolanus blushed.

“Is that the name you’d like me to address it to?” Lucy Gray asked with a modicum of shyness. “Coryo?”

“Well, my-my name’s actually Coriolanus, but I don’t want such a long name to cover up how beautiful this picture is…”

Her heart leapt in her throat.

“Charmer,” she commented, and he blushed again.

“So, Coryo’s fine,” he said, momentarily avoiding her gaze. “Spelled C-O-R-Y-O.”

“Got it.” She winked.

He handed back the photo for her to sign, shoving the napkin into his pocket.

“Maybe, um, turn around?” she suggested. “I could use your back as a hard surface.”

He looked confused, then looked at Festus, and she worried she’d mis-stepped.

“U-Unless you don’t want me touching you. I’d certainly understand that.”

“No!” he said quickly. “It’s not that at all,” he assured her, and her face got very, very hot. “You should definitely…here, go ahead.”

And he turned around and waited.

Lucy Gray took a step closer, hesitantly reaching out to daintily press her hands and the photograph against his rouge uniform. She licked her lips and forced herself to focus, quickly writing his name and then her own, resisting the urge to touch him further. She could smell him though. The soap he used mixed with his own natural scent was intoxicating.

“All done.”

And he turned around before she’d stepped back, and suddenly they were face to face with hardly an inch between them, and when she looked up, the urge to kiss him was almost overwhelming.

“Well, we should let the lady go, Coryo.”

“Hmm?” he asked, not looking away.

Her eyes were frozen on his lips, and it wasn’t till she felt something being dropped into her pocket that she stepped back and felt for it.

“Goodnight, Lucy Gray,” Coriolanus said, kissing the back of the picture she’d given him.

She felt her heart do a flip, and waved flirtatiously before turning away and heading out the front door.

“Lucy Gray.”

She looked up, breathing heavily.

It was Billy Taupe.

“Are you alright?” he asked, concerned.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Pluribus just wants me to come back for the closing number.”

“That could be late,” he said, extending his hand for her to take, which she did, intertwining their fingers and forcing that beautiful man’s face out of her head.

“It’ll be alright,” she assured him. “And I can bring the tips back when I come home. I think we made a lot.”

“Oh, Pluribus left a full jar of tips for us in the back room actually. Barb Azure in the rest went out to get some food while I waited for you.”

“Mmm.”

“You sure you’re alright?” he asked, coming to a stop after they’d crossed the street.

She looked up into his blue eyes that didn’t shine quite as bright as Coriolanus’ and forced a smile. Then she grabbed a hold of his lapels and pulled him down to her and planted a kiss on his lips, a certain other someone in her head as she did it.

“I’m fine,” she said at last, that entertainer’s smile on her lips, even as disappointment stretched across her insides when she opened her eyes and saw who she was actually kissing.

“I’ll say.” He grinned. “Been a while since you kissed me like that.”

He turned away to open the door, and she felt around in her pocket.

Festus had slipped another of his business cards into her pocket, but this time there was a handwritten message on the other side.

‘Maybe he’s not the only one with a crush.’

Tempted to crumple the message and stomp on it, the strangest thing of all happened. She slid the card back into her pocket, and a flood of images of Coriolanus flashed before her. Her heart started beating faster as the sensations spread like wildfire.

Maybe.

Chapter Text

The rest of the evening Lucy Gray was easily distracted by the company of her Covey. With the tips they made all afternoon from the bustling crowd of patrons, they had enough food to feed them for the next week. And Billy Taupe was particularly affectionate.

But as the hours faded into night and sleepiness took its toll, nearly everyone in the small apartment headed off to bed. It was nearly midnight when Lucy Gray finally prettied herself up again and made her way back across the street for the closing number.

Most of the patrons from earlier in the day had left, but there were still maybe 20 people or so lingering, more than what had been there just one day prior at this time. And, when she got up on the stage and took a look out at the crowd, she saw there was one familiar individual.

Coriolanus.

Had he stayed this whole time? Just waiting to see if she’d return? And what was that between his fingers? Was that…a rose?

She blinked and actually stammered a bit when introducing the closing song, causing a slight smile to cover Coriolanus’ features as he watched her in the front row.

Thankfully, she recovered and began to sing, trying her best to avoid his gaze in the small crowd, but it was impossible. Her eyes kept gravitating back to his. The admiration and infatuation was clear in those blue orbs of his, even under the dim lighting.

When the song finished, Lucy Gray exited the stage, and, instead of leaving out the back door or even the front door, made a beeline for Coriolanus as the bartender called the rest of the patrons for one last drink or to leave. It wasn’t long at all until no one else was around them in their nook by the stage.

“Is…Is that for me?” she asked shyly, a far cry from her usual bold stage presence.

“It is,” he beamed, extending the rose to her. “Picked from my own rose garden. Well, my Grandma’am’s, but I doubt she’ll notice. We have so many.”

Lucy Gray eased her fingers into the interior of the rose and pulled one petal free before dropping it onto her tongue and chewing softly.

Coriolanus stared, transfixed, both confused and undeniably aroused.

“My mama used to bathe me in bath water and rose petals,” she confided, then took the stem of the rose and inhaled the scent. “Tastes and smells like bedtime.” She smirked, proud of herself for summoning her stage presence again.

“I think I love you, Lucy Gray,” he said, awestruck and shaking his head.

She chuckled, swallowing the chomped-on petal.

“Have you been here all night, Coriolanus? Or, would you prefer I called you Coryo?”

“You can call me whatever you want,” he rasped, his eyes riveting and fastened to hers.

“Oh, yeah?” she teased. “What gives me the honor?”

“You’re…you’re beautiful,” he said breathlessly.

“Is that all?”

“No!” His eyes widened, horrified that she might think he’d narrowed her down to just her beauty. “No, of course not. You’re talented. The way you draw a crowd with your voice, the way you draw me.”

“Coriolanus.”

“I’d like to get to know you better.”

She gulped, fearing what was coming next, and worse, that she might say yes to it.

I have a boyfriend. I have a boyfriend. Say it!

But she only licked her lips as she watched him search for his own words.

“If you don’t want that…I suppose I can just keep watching you sing, keep bringing you roses, keep hoping beyond all hope that what I’m feeling right now, that what I felt this afternoon between us isn’t all in my head.”

“Coriolanus,” she got out in a strangled breath this time. Her fingers were tingling. Her heart was racing. Her mind was swimming. And worse…the way he looked at her, like his whole body was aching for her, she felt that too.

“Is it in my head?”

She looked down, took a deep breath and then looked up with what felt like tears in her eyes. Then she extended the rose back to him.

“I think I better not accept this.”

His shoulders slumped.

“My boyfriend won’t like it.”

“Boyfriend,” he repeated, jerking back as if he’d been slapped.

“I’m sorry,” she said, and then she nearly jerked back herself when his fingers brushed hers as he took the rose back, absolutely crushed.

Maybe he hadn’t felt it, but she had. A spark. A magnet drawing them together. Because of course it wasn’t just in his head. She had to fight to breathe, fight to think straight. And if she didn’t get out of here soon, she’d go back on her word and give in to him.

“Goodnight, Coriolanus.” She paused, then bit her lip, turning back after having walked away. “Thank you for coming.”

She couldn’t bear to keep looking at his fallen figure, so she headed down the hall towards the back door, not even looking up to bid Pluribus goodnight.

Then, when she was almost there, she felt a hand wrap around her arm and spin her towards him.

“Lucy Gray.”

She sucked in a breath and braced her hands on his chest – Coriolanus’ solid chest. Here in the dark, with no lights and just the moonlight streaming in on the floor, she could feel herself weakening.

“Corio-”

“Shh.”

He put a finger over her lips, then removed it when she quieted.

He tucked some of her flying locks behind her ear, then drew his smooth fingers across her cheek.

“I can’t shut it off,” he said. “The way I feel about you.”

“You don’t even know me,” she countered.

“I know you eat rose petals.”

A whine of a laugh tumbled out of her.

“Festus is throwing a birthday party for me next Friday.” He licked his lips, completely missing the look of horror flitting across her face. “Please come.”

“But my boyfrie-”

“Leave him at home.”

“Coriolanus,” she whined.

“I’m not inviting you on a date. I’m inviting you to a party. You could even bring your guitar and play a song of two if you feel like it.”

She sighed, mindboggled by the fact that he was suggesting exactly what she’d suggested just that afternoon. Also, his persistence was admirable. And the longer they spent in each other’s company, the less and less she felt a loyalty to her boyfriend she kept bringing up.

“Only if you feel like it though!” he assured her. “I just want to see you again, want to talk to you, get to know you…kiss you.”

Her eyes flicked up to his, and for the first time she didn’t spit out that she couldn’t – wouldn’t – do that. Not when she had a boyfriend. And not when Festus’ offer was still humming in her brain.

Coriolanus took that silence as permission though, and that was probably her fault. As was letting him lean down, letting him sift his fingers through her hair, brush his nose against hers, and at last, capture her lips.

She didn’t pull away, but she could’ve decided not to respond. Then, after all of this was over, if it ever came out, she could say she didn’t cheat, because she was kissed. She didn’t kiss back.

But he was intoxicating.

The softest of moans slipped out of her, and Coriolanus crowded closer, angling his lips until she did respond, until she kissed him back.

Her hands flew up, tightening on his lapels and pulling him still closer as she kissed him again and again, enduring the sloppiness of what had to be his first kiss. She loved it. Loved the power she felt, the eagerness, how he craved her. And when she stuck her tongue in his mouth, and he moaned aloud, she felt the dampness between her legs, and whimpered when he shifted to wedge his knee between her legs, his knee exactly where she needed it to be.

“Fuck!” she cried softly, wrenching her lips free.

Coriolanus rested his head on hers, muttering a soft apology.

“Too much?” he whispered, laying soft kisses across her jaw and cheek and down her neck.

She raised her hands to pull him free of her, saw the sparkle in his eyes and knew she was doomed.

“I need to go home.”

He blinked.

“Okay…”

“Please don’t follow me.”

And that was when his hands fell from her body, and she turned and ran out the door, pinning herself to the side of the building to catch her breath before she crossed the street.

She couldn’t breathe.

What had she just done? And could it ever be undone? Could she ever make up for it? Poor Billy Taupe…

She shut her eyes tightly and two tears slipped down her cheeks, guilt and shame engulfing her. But beyond that, she suddenly wanted that rose, wanted to inhale its scent and remember.

When she thought she’d regained her breath, she flung the backdoor open once more, and there, before she could even step inside was Coriolanus with the rose between two fingers.

She gasped.

“I thought I said not to…” she started to accuse, but it fell on deaf ears as his lips came down on hers again. Only for a moment, but long enough for her to kiss back and take the rose from him.

“I thought you might change your mind,” he whispered after he’d gotten his fill of her. Or as much of a fill as she would allow him tonight, if she even had any say in the matter anymore.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he confided. “Wait for me after the show?”

She nodded without speaking and he kissed the back of her hand.

“Goodnight, Lucy Gray.”

…

It was deathly quiet when she got back into the tiny Covey apartment. Everyone was asleep, and it would be wise for Lucy Gray to go to bed too. What if they had to play without practice again tomorrow? It would probably be smart to head over in the morning to practice – just to be safe.

She tried to think in logical terms, but she knew now everything hung in the balance. How busy the club got, if they could afford their apartment, if she could even live in the same space as Billy Taupe knowing how she’d betrayed him, even if he didn’t. And Coriolanus was the winning ticket. If he kept waiting for her after her shows, would she just keep kissing him? Could she really reject him when she’d already tried and failed miserably? And if she did want to pursue an affair, what would he think of her if he knew that Festus had paid for her to give him a blow job on his birthday? Would he despise her and think it was all a lie? Would he expose her for the whore she was? Or would be?

There had to be a way around it all.

“Lucy Gray?” came a groggy voice out of one of the few bedrooms in the apartment.

She looked up. It was Barb Azure. The voice of reason, and the one who could always see right through her.

“Are you just getting back now?” she asked.

Lucy Gray nodded.

“Yeah, I got held up.”

“Did you find out when we’re playing tomorrow.”

“Oh. No. I forgot to ask. Sorry.” Her shoulders slumped.

Barb Azure looked down to see the rose between her cousin’s fingertips.

“Who’s the flower from?”

“A fan,” she said, proud of herself for not lying.

“An admirer perhaps?” Barb Azure teased.

“Perhaps.”

Another truth. Look at her go!

“Here, let’s put it in a vase.” Barb Azure extended her hand, and Lucy Gray reluctantly gave her the rose. “We’ll say Pluribus gave it to you too, so Billy Taupe doesn’t get jealous.” She winked.

Lucy Gray swallowed hard, the guilt settling in again.

“Are you okay?”

“Just tired,” she lied.

Barb Azure didn’t have a reason to doubt her at this point, so she kept from further questioning her.

“Get to bed then, Sweetie. We’ll ring up Pluribus in the morning and see if we need to head over to practice early.”

Lucy Gray forced a smile.

“Thanks. Goodnight, Barb Azure.”

“Goodnight, Hun.”

Chapter Text

The next morning, shortly after breakfast, Lucy Gray rang Pluribus to ask about their schedule for the day. He wasn’t entirely sure what the club’s body count would be come afternoon, so he advised coming in for a couple hours to practice before anybody showed up. He also confided that he thought it worked out well for her to come back for the closing number, so if she wouldn’t mind doing it again that way, he’d be quite pleased.

Lucy Gray, ever one to please her employer, agreed immediately. But that wasn’t the only reason. Of course it wasn’t. The other blinding reason was tall, blond, and devastatingly handsome. He also wasn’t half-bad at kissing, even for his first time.

Yes, Coriolanus.

Because how could she possibly get away with making out with him by the back door with her whole Covey crowding the hall, especially Billy Taupe, her boyfriend?

A stab of guilt hit her in the middle of her chest, but it evaporated the moment she remembered the chills she’d felt when Coriolanus dragged his fingers through her hair and how she’d tugged him incredibly close by his lapels. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive, and it certainly hadn’t been with Billy Taupe, whose lips were not as full and touches not as desperate, even when they made love, which hadn’t been in months at best.

She knew she should put the whole thing with Coriolanus to a stop and try and rejuvenate her current relationship, but with everything piling on top of her and with no one that she could really tell, she needed an escape. And Coriolanus was that escape.

“Where’d this rose come from?” Billy Taupe asked as they were heading out the door.

“Pluribus,” Lucy Gray answered simultaneously with Barb Azure before their gazes met and then collided with Billy Taupe.

“How nice!” Maude Ivory said, sniffing the delicate flower.

“He liked my performance last night,” Lucy Gray explained away easily.

“And, what, he just had a stash of roses in his office?” Billy Taupe brooded.

Lucy Gray rolled her eyes then fluttered her lashes.

“Don’t be jealous, Baby. I’ll see if he can get you a flower too.”

Tam Amber hid a smirk.

“Okay, everybody, let’s go,” Barb Azure ordered. “We’ve got to get some practice in before the crowds show up this afternoon.”

And with that, everyone emptied out of the small apartment and crossed the street, entering through the front door, since there was no one about and nodding to Pluribus on their way in.

After a good hour and a half of practice, Pluribus brought in lunch for them, and they took a break to eat. Shortly after they’d finished, people started streaming in, and the Covey had to ready themselves on stage.

Lucy Gray knew that Coriolanus wouldn’t show up for a few more hours at best, due to being in school, but she still felt emptier than expected when he wasn’t out in the crowd.

It was a full house by the time they finished around dinner time. None of the Academy students had shown up, but there were still plenty of others. Lucy Gray hated how disappointed she was in Coriolanus. The only flicker of hope she felt was that he was trying to be discreet in only coming for her closing number when they could be alone after.

“You okay?” Barb Azure asked her when they were alone in the apartment between performances.

“Hmm? Me?”

“That’s who I’m talking to.”

Lucy Gray rolled her eyes and tried to smile.

“I-I’m fine. Why?”

“You seem agitated.”

“Agitated?”

She nodded.

“And all afternoon, your performance was a little off.”

Her eyes widened.

“Noticeably?” she panicked, and Barb Azure reached over to pat her hand.

“Only to someone who knows you as well as I do.”

“Did the rest of the Covey notice too?”

Barb Azure shrugged then nodded slightly.

“Billy Taupe?” She gnawed on her bottom lip.

“Not as much as the others, but yeah.”

“Why didn’t y’all say something?” she burst, getting up out of her chair and ignoring the screech of the wood on the wood floor.

Barb Azure leaned back in her chair.

“I’m saying something now,” she said calmly.

Lucy Gray stayed facing away until she could think of a lie that her cousin would believe.

“I guess I’m just worried about the crowd.”

Barb Azure frowned.

“You’ve never been one to shy away from the spotlight.”

“No, not like that…” She licked her lips and turned to face her. “There weren’t as many people as yesterday. What if it continues to dwindle?” She sat back down. “What if we can’t pay our rent?”

“It was pretty full by the time we left,” Barb Azure reminded her. “In fact, I think the only people missing from the crowd today were the Academy students. And you know, they have things like homework and extra curriculars that keep them busy too. They can’t come every day.”

Lucy Gray gnawed on her lip again.

“You think word is spreading? And the club will continue to fill up?”

“I don’t see why not.”

Lucy Gray leaned back.

“Maybe.”

“Try not to worry so much, Hun. I know we’ve had a hard time of it and a lot of close calls, but I really think our luck has started to turn. We’ll be okay.”

Yeah, only if I… But she didn’t finish that thought. She was tired of thinking it.

“I think I’ll take a nap,” she said, getting up once more and heading for her room. “Before I have to head back over.”

“One more thing, Lucy Gray…” she called out, and Lucy Gray stopped.

“Your admirer from last night.”

“What about him?” she tried to ask without squeaking her voice.

“He wouldn’t happen to have been an Academy student, would he?”

Lucy Gray tried, but she couldn’t cover her shocked reaction fast enough. She didn’t even need to respond before Barb Azure was reprimanding her.

“Tread carefully, cousin. A little flattery is fun to get from time to time, but make sure it doesn’t go beyond that. Billy Taupe has been nothing but good to you.”

Flashes of her kisses with Coriolanus crisscrossed across her vision.

“I know that,” she said softly, then turned away before the conversation could escalate further.

…

“Fuck, I’ve missed you.”

Shivers rippled across her skin, as his lips pressed hot, wet kisses down her neck, sucking hard on her sweet spot in the crook of her neck. She rose up on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around him, leaning into him, pulling him closer.

“I’ve missed you,” she murmured, leaning her head back to give him better access.

“Yeah?” he teased, sliding his hand down the side of her body and squeezing her hip.

She whimpered in response.

“Why didn’t you come to the afternoon show?”

“Um, class?”

She pouted.

“You came yesterday.”

He sighed.

“I’m here now. Doesn’t that count?” He switched to the other side of her neck. “And I want you even more than yesterday.”

“Distance does make the heart grow fonder, I suppose.”

“And not just the heart, I don’t think.” He smirked against her skin, making her pussy throb in anticipation.

“Coriolanus.” She swallowed hard.

“Can we go somewhere?” he asked, huskily.

She pulled back to look into his crystal blue eyes, so clear even in the dark.

“Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

He had the audacity to blush.

“I just don’t want us to get caught, don’t want you to get in trouble.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip.

“Come with me.”

And he backed away enough for her to take his hand and turn the handle of the door to the back room.

It was quiet and dark inside, even more so when the door closed behind them.

“Probably better if we keep the lights off, so no one knows we’re here,” Lucy Gray advised.

Coriolanus came up behind her and set his hands on her waist before whispering into her ear.

“Fine by me.”

Suddenly at a loss for words, she managed to utter, “There’s a couch on the far side of the room.”

“Let’s take advantage of it then, shall we?” he purred, kissing his way down her neck again.

She shivered and shifted slowly across the room, him directly behind her, holding her to him every inch of the way.

When her legs hit the couch, she turned around slowly and lifted herself up on her tiptoes to kiss him again.

His kisses were just as exhilarating and intoxicating as last time. This time he plunged his tongue into her mouth all on his own. Lucy Gray moaned and fell back onto the couch, parting her legs for him as he shoved her skirt up to her waist and ran his hands down her bare skin.

He kissed from her ankles to her knees to her thighs, and then hovering just above her pussy, he pulled her panties to the side and slipped two fingers into her channel.

Lucy Gray bucked and nearly levitated off the couch.

“H-H-How… How did you know how to do tha-”

But she couldn’t respond, because his thumb found her clit and was kneading it incessantly.

“Ah-ah-ah!” she cried out, clutching at his shoulders. “Cor-Coriolanus!”

It’d been so long since she’d last had any part of a man inside her that she came almost immediately, jolting up and then sinking down in a peaceful almost-slumber.

“W-Wow… That was…”

“Lucy Gray!”

She mumbled incoherently with a smile on her face.

“LUCY GRAY!”

Her eyelashes fluttered open and there standing over her was none other than her boyfriend, Billy Taupe. She blinked.

“What?” she asked groggily. “What is it?”

“It’s 11:30,” he said gruffly. “You have to be across the street in 20 minutes.”

“Oh.” Her mind still fuzzy, she tried to focus on his words and his sullen attitude. “OH! Oh, my god.” She whipped her blankets off her body, only to find that her panties were down to mid-thigh, and she was wet between her legs. When she felt her fingertips, they were moist and a little wrinkly.

Oh, no.

Hastily, she covered herself back up.

Then she looked over to the corner of the room and saw her boyfriend had yet to leave.

“Billy Taupe?”

“I just have one question, Lucy Gray.”

She gulped as her dream came back to here with a fury.

“Who the hell is Coriolanus?”

Her eyes widened.

“Billy Taupe, I can explain.”

“Is he the guy who gave you that rose?”

Her lips parted and nothing came out.

“How long have you been seeing him?” he demanded.

“What!” She whipped the blankets off again and pulled up her damp panties, quickly hurrying over to her boyfriend. “Billy Taupe, never. Never!”

She tried to put her hands on his face to make him see reason, but he kept backing away, kept pushing her away.

“He’s just some guy with a crush. He gave me a rose and I accepted it to be nice. That’s it!”

“Do you have feelings for him?” he barked.

“Wha… No! Of course not! I love you!”

“Is that why you’re having wet dreams about him instead of fucking me?”

Her eyes widened.

“I…”

He waved her off.

“Forget it. Get ready. Maybe your Loverboy will be there, and how convenient that I won’t.”

“Billy Taupe!”

But he stormed off and out the door into the street, leaving her standing in the doorway of her room, shivering and alone.

Tears began to fall as she slumped down on the floor. And moments later, Barb Azure appeared, illuminated by the light from the kitchen.

“Lucy Gray?”

But Lucy Gray could only shake her head and sob, overwhelmed by what had happened.

“Oh, my god, Lucy Gray, what happened? Are you okay?”

She whimpered, fighting to form words.

“B-Billy Taupe thinks I cheated on him.”

“What?! What makes him think you…” But Lucy Gray’s head in her hands, shaking violently made her second guess whether to defend her honor or not. “Lucy Gray,” she said softer, coming down to her level and holding her in her arms. “Lucy Gray, did you?”

She swallowed hard and delayed answering.

“I…” she hesitated.

“Oh, Lucy Gray.” She propped her chin on top of her head and held her closer.

“It was one kiss, that’s it! It didn’t mean anything. I just…” She sighed and shook some more, guilt overwhelming her. And shame. What would her Covey think of her now?

But Barb Azure just rocked her slowly and after a few more minutes quietly spoke.

“We all make mistakes.”

Lucy Gray squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

“I don’t think I can sing tonight.”

Barb Azure stroked her hair.

“I’ll call Pluribus. Maybe the other group can stay for one more song.”

Lucy Gray shuddered.

“O-Okay. Thank you, Barb Azure.”

She squeezed her small frame, then detached from her.

“I’ll be right back, okay? It’s going to be alright.” She stood up and went to the door, then looked back. “Do you still love him? Billy Taupe?”

And Lucy Gray was silent.

“Of…of course,” she said at last, not knowing who she was really lying to.

She couldn’t make out Barb Azure’s expression in the dark, and she took some comfort in that.

“Alright, well, let me call Pluribus. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

She sniffled, then leaned against the wall and listened to her cousin’s receding footsteps until her shadow disappeared in the light and she was gone.

Chapter Text

Across the street, the doors of Pluribus’ nightclub opened with a bang. It didn’t draw much attention, but it did make Pluribus look up from what he was doing.

“Billy Taupe,” he said, surprised but delighted. “Is Lucy Gray ill?” A frown materialized, as did a crinkle in the middle of his forehead.

Billy Taupe made a grumbling sound.

“Is there a…Coriolanus here?”

The surprise returned to Pluribus’ face, then he turned to point out the tall blond in his red uniform. He stuck out easily amongst the black and brown-colored clothing in the crowd. Even the occasional dash of color didn’t stand out quite as much as Coriolanus in his rouge garb.

The phone rang from inside Pluribus’ office down a dark hallway. So, Pluribus excused himself and vanished.

Good enough for Billy Taupe, who had other plans in mind.

He made a bee line for the towering boy with a concerned look on his face where he stood near the stage.

He was no doubt waiting for Lucy Gray, which made Billy Taupe even more furious.

What plans did they have? Plans to fuck after the show perhaps?

He boiled with fury on his unconfirmed theories.

“Hey! Coriolanus!”

He turned and frowned, but he didn’t have a chance to even ask his aggressor’s identity before his fist collided with his face.

“Wha- Ow!”

He doubled over and winced in pain.

“What the hell?! Who are you?!” he cried out, as the stunned crowd started to part for them.

Billy Taupe heaved as Pluribus’ came back into view.

“I’m Lucy Gray’s boyfriend, you ass!”

Recognition materialized on Coriolanus’ face, but he wouldn’t lose his pride over this.

“Lucy who?”

Billy Taupe punched him again, and he fell onto the floor.

“Billy Taupe!” Pluribus’ boomed from across the room, and he turned around, his eyes ablaze. “What are you doing assaulting my patrons?”

Billy Taupe stormed towards his employer.

“He fucked her!” He cried out. “He fucked Lucy Gray!”

“That’s a lie!” Coriolanus responded from behind him, rubbing his face.

“Get out, Billy Taupe,” Pluribus said coldly. “And don’t come back till you’ve got your head screwed on straight.”

Billy Taupe fumed, and he looked back at Coriolanus who now had a few concerned patrons around him, and some others looking at himself in bewilderment. He huffed an aggravated sigh, then headed for the exit, pushing through the doors with a ferocity that forced them to bang against the building once more after he left.

“Alright, everyone,” Pluribus boomed. “We’re closing early tonight.”

Groans erupted throughout the crowd, but Pluribus got the sense that they understood, given the recent violent interruption.

“Coriolanus, come here, I think I’ve got some ice for you in the back.”

Holding his throbbing face against his palm, he headed towards Pluribus as the other patrons emptied out of the establishment.

Once they were in the backroom, Pluribus pulled out some ice from a little freezer box and wrapped it in a cloth before applying it to Coriolanus’ face.

“Here, come sit down, son, and hold this to your cheek.”

He sat down beside him in a wooden chair and smoothed his hand across the young man’s back. He knew his family well, and had helped to give him many necessities during the war, trading simple things from Coriolanus’ home for things like food and drink, even soap and other materials. He knew his family was not doing as well now as they pretended to the public, but he never judged them for it, and he taken Coriolanus in particular into his home on many occasions and viewed him almost as the son he’d never had.

“I’m so sorry about this. I don’t know what got into Billy Taupe. He wasn’t drunk. I couldn’t smell a drop of liquor on him.”

“Maybe Lucy Gray told him,” Coriolanus muttered under his breath.

Pluribus’ eyes widened. “So, it’s true? The two of you are…?”

Looking guilty, Coriolanus grew more subdued.

“It’s not as bad as you think, Pluribus. We didn’t…you know…we didn’t do what he said.” He sighed. “It was just a kiss. One kiss. And it’s my fault. I…seduced her.”

“Not consensual then?”

Coriolanus got defensive then.

“Of course it was. She kissed me back.”

“Well then she’s as much to blame as you are.”

“Think he’ll hurt her?” Coriolanus worried aloud. “Maybe I should go over ther-” He started to stand up, but Pluribus pushed him back down.

“Sit down, Coriolanus, before you get caught in Barb Azure’s crosshairs and she whips you with her broom.”

Coriolanus frowned.

“She’s very protective of her younger cousin and likely will not want you anywhere near her for the foreseeable future.”

His frown deepened.

“But I love her.”

Pluribus raised his brows, amused.

“What exactly do you know about her?”

He grumbled.

“You sound like Lucy Gray.”

Pluribus gave a soft chuckle, then shook his head, despite the severity of the situation.

“I think you should’ve tried to win her over without crossing that line, Coriolanus. Now your chances are considerably lower.”

“But not gone.”

“If they break up tonight, maybe.”

Coriolanus grinned through the pain.

“I’ve got to talk to Lucy Gray too though.” He looked puzzled and concerned. “I can’t have my performers getting into situations that have violence erupting in my nightclub. She should’ve known better.”

“I was very charming,” Coriolanus confided. “Please don’t blame her.”

Pluribus’ lips thinned.

“Please,” he begged again. “I want to see her again, and if you’re right about my getting attacked by another member of her family if I try to go to her house, my only chance will be if she performs.”

Pluribus shook his head in disbelief.

“Love at first sight then, was it?”

Coriolanus nodded.

“Alright. But pace yourself, son. No more kissing until you know for a fact she’s single.”

“I’ll…try.”

Pluribus rolled his eyes and reached in the freezer to prepare another ice pack.

“Here. You should get going. I’ll check in on Lucy Gray in the morning, but I imagine she’s embarrassed as well, so she may not perform for a few days for that reason alone. Come back next week.”

“But-”

“Next week, Coriolanus. Promise me.”

His shoulders slumped.

“Fine.”

…

Two days passed, and the Covey played without Lucy Gray and without Billy Taupe. Lucy Gray was humiliated, and after talking with Pluribus agreed it was for the best that she kept her distance until the following week. Besides that, Billy Taupe had yet to come home, and no one had seen them, so the Covey as a whole was worried about his whereabouts. Pluribus tried to reassure them that the only way Billy Taupe would stay without shelter and food would be if he had found both with someone else.

That wasn’t particularly encouraging since the Covey mainly stuck to each other and Pluribus for company. Which could only mean one thing. Billy Taupe was shacking up with a pretty girl to get back at Lucy Gray.

That possibility hurt Lucy Gray, but she found herself feeling more to blame over Coriolanus’ injuries and wanting to reach out to him than Billy Taupe’s possible infidelity. Barb Azure wouldn’t let her out of their little apartment though. The only time she was left alone was when the Covey performed on their own, and the only way she knew to get to Coriolanus was through Festus. His little business card still clung to the insides of her skirt pocket from several days prior before it all went to hell.

It wasn’t until Monday of the following week that Lucy Gray gathered the courage to call him up while her Covey was performing without her. She was due to join up with them again the following day.

“Lucy Gray,” Festus answered with ease. “I’ve been waiting for your call.”

“How did you know it was me?” she asked after a moment’s delay.

“Lucky guess.” He paused himself on the other end. “You know, you’ve caused quite the havoc with my dear Coriolanus since last week.”

She gulped.

“Kissed him…”

“He kissed me first!” she accused.

“Sent your boyfriend to beat him to a pulp…”

“That was out of my control! I didn’t tell him anything. H-he just assumed and acted out!”

“I’m almost of a mind to say you’re not worth it.”

For some reason, fear gripped her. Was Festus retracting his offer? Before she even had a chance to deny it one last time? Wasn’t this what she had been waiting for? Him to get off her back?

“The only thing keeping me from retracting your offer is the fact that Coriolanus is still absolutely obsessed with you.”

She gasped.

“He still wants to be with me?”

He groaned on the other end.

“Fuck, you’re like a pair of star-crossed lovers, and somehow, it’s all my doing for introducing you properly. This is disgusting. Coryo deserves better than you.”

She slumped over in her seat.

“One last chance, Lucy Gray, and I’m giving you no time to think it over. You have to decide right now.”

She held her breath.

“We are four days away from Coriolanus’ birthday celebration. You will excuse yourself from your family by coming to perform at my home, where I will then pay you to take Coryo on a walk by the train station and give him a blow job. Then, you will vanish and not pursue him again, no matter how much he tries to seduce you at the club. I will also reach out to my people and find your boyfriend and deliver him back to you.”

“You can do that?” she interrupted, shocked.

“Money does a lot, Lucy Gray, in case you hadn’t yet figured that out.”

She swallowed hard.

“About the money, you’ll give me all of it upfront?”

He smirked, though she couldn’t see it.

“Oh, you know I’m smarter than that, Lucy Gray.”

A fear washed over her.

“I’ll give you monthly installments. The first at Coryo’s party, the rest I’ll drop off at your club once a month. You can say you’re giving lessons or whatever excuse you want to your family, should they find out. I don’t care. Just stay away from Coriolanus after this next Friday or the installments will stop, and you’ll have to fend for yourselves.”

A shaky breath escaped her.

“I understand.”

“So, do you agree?”

Shutting her eyes slowly and thinking over all that was at stake, she knew she should say no. An act of prostitution was something she wouldn’t be able to come back from. But Billy Taupe’s safety, the security of her family, and her faithfulness to her boyfriend all depended on her saying yes. She could no longer deny it was the better route to go, even as her heart and her body still ached for Coriolanus’ touch.

“I agree,” she said at last.

“Excellent!” he cheered. “I’ll be by the club tomorrow to drop off my address with Coryo. I’m sure he’ll be there to see you, and I suppose you can do whatever you like with him until you go home on Friday.”

“I understand.”

“Goodbye, Lucy Gray. Pleasure doing business with you.”

Click.

She sank back in her chair, trying not to think about what she’d just agreed to. She could never tell Barb Azure, couldn’t tell any of her Covey, and she definitely couldn’t tell Coriolanus or the deal would probably fall through entirely.

But she needed some time alone with him that wasn’t just in the back hall at the club or some fake pleasantries in the main room. And if Billy Taupe really was off screwing some whores in her absence, assuming the worst, she could afford to give her lover a few more kisses.

She dialed Pluribus across the street and held no pretenses for what she wanted.

“I need Coriolanus’ address, Pluribus.”

“Lucy Gray?”

“Please, Pluribus.”

“Is it wise?” he asked, and she heard the lecture in his voice.

“I need to know if he’s alright. I need to see him with my own eyes without a crowd around us.”

He sighed heavily.

“Alright, Lucy Gray. One moment.”

Chapter Text

Coriolanus lived in the Corso, one of the wealthiest residential areas in the Capitol. His last name was Snow, and he lived in the penthouse at the top of one of these buildings with a gorgeous view of the city.

Having come from so low, just an itty-bitty apartment across from Pluribus’ nightclub, Lucy Gray felt incredibly out of place in this part of the city. The dress she wore was the nicest she owned, but that only meant it was full of color and didn’t have any tears in it. It was hardly nice material like what the people in these buildings wore.

Then again, she’d never seen Coriolanus out of his Academy uniform.

Was that only because he always came directly from the Academy to see her shows or was there another reason?

She tried not to think about what other possible reasons he might have for not dressing finer in her presence, but before she knew it she was in front of the building Pluribus had instructed her to go to.

Her first resort was to take the elevator that looked so grand at first sight. But when she stepped inside, the buttons were dusty, and when she tried to press the top button, it didn’t light up. It was broken.

Frowning, Lucy Gray stepped back. How could Coriolanus Snow live in such a wealthy neighborhood and yet the very means to reach his home was broken?

Much had changed during and after the war. She knew that, same as everyone else. But Festus had proven he was wealthy. Was Coriolanus…not?

She shook her head, not wanting to believe anything for certain until it was proven. Not that him being poor would make her like him less. If anything, it would draw her even closer to him. They’d have something in common besides the love of her music and their attraction to each other.

Backing out of the elevator, Lucy Gray looked around until she found a kicked in door leading to the stairwell. Who knew how many flights of stairs she’d have to walk up to reach the penthouse? It was well worth it though to see how he was doing, how much damage Billy Taupe had actually inflicted, and if Coriolanus wanted anything to do with her now.

She stopped counting after five flights and was huffing and puffing by the time she reached the top floor. To be polite, she knocked on the door closing off the stairwell from the penthouse apartment and waited, hoping beyond hope for the source of her rapidly beating heart – beyond the stairs experience – to show himself when the door opened.

But that wasn’t what happened.

A woman revealed herself. She was tall like Coriolanus, and shared his blonde hair and blue eyes. A relative, perhaps? And yet, she didn’t know for sure. Could be a lover for all she knew. Jealousy spiked within her, no matter how hard she tried to squash the feeling. She couldn’t recall ever feeling jealous with any woman during her relationship with Billy Taupe, not even with the possibility of him fucking whores at this very moment. If anything, she felt relief because it gave her permission to do what she wanted.

What kind of a person did that make her? To have to force the feeling of hurt and betrayal because that’s what was expected?

“Can I…help you?” the woman asked, bringing Lucy Gray back to the present.

Lucy Gray blinked and licked her lips.

“I’m sorry to bother you. I…um…does Coriolanus Snow live here?”

The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, and Lucy Gray knew then she had the right address.

“He does,” she said. “And who are you?”

“My name’s Lucy Gray,” she explained herself. “I’m a friend…sort of.”

The woman’s brows fused together in confusion.

“Lucy Gray…why does that name sound so familiar?” She gnawed on her bottom lip, until the light dawned in her eyes, and Lucy Gray was certain she’d be kicked out of the building. “Lucy Gray,” she said coldly. “The taken woman whose boyfriend gave my cousin a black eye.”

“I…”

“Just what do you have to say for yourself? Kissing poor Coryo when you have a man waiting for you at home? What kind of a woman- excuse me, girl, do you think does that?”

“I’m…” Her bottom lip trembled. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I only came to apologize, and to see how he was, if he was okay…I…you won’t see me again.”

Then she turned and burst into tears, flying down the stairs faster than her feet should’ve been able to move.

She heard the woman call out to her, sounding maybe a little regretful of her immediate temper, but she was too afraid to turn and see her with her vision blurring and tears streaming down her cheeks.

She was two flights down when her foot caught on the edge of a step, and she sucked in a breath of air as she went tumbling down a few steps. She waited for the pain to hit when she landed on the landing halfway down that staircase. Maybe she’d end up hobbling home on a sprained ankle. And how would she explain that to Barb Azure?

But instead, arms wrapped around her and held her tight. And when she could see the flickering light overhanging in the stairwell again, she was looking up into Coriolanus’ beautiful blue eyes, his blonde curls hanging into his face. He was breathing heavily.

“Lucy Gray?” He swallowed hard. “What are…What are you doing here?”

She sniffled and tried to lift her hand to wipe her tears away, but he beat her to it. And when she looked down, she saw he wasn’t in his Academy uniform. He was in ill-fitting clothes. Not fancy at all. Not good material. In fact, with a little dash of color, they’d match quite nicely.

“Your cousin doesn’t like me,” she said.

An angry look crossed his face.

“You met Tigris?”

“I…I’m sorry. I was looking for you. I just wanted to see how you were after…after what happened. I was so worried and felt so guilty. I just had to know you were okay.”

Rendered speechless, Coriolanus didn’t say a word for enough time for Lucy Gray to worry again.

“But if you never want to see me again, I understand. I’ve certainly caused you more than enough trouble to last a lifetime.”

She tried to move out of his grasp, but he wouldn’t let go of her, and when she tried to put weight on her foot that had fallen beneath her when she tripped, she felt pain rip through her.

Oh, no.

“You’re not going anywhere until we get that ankle looked at,” he said firmly. “Tigris will just have to get over herself and take a look.”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Coriolanus. I don’t want to make matters worse.”

“You’re not at fault, Lucy Gray.”

Then he leaned in, cupping her face and pressed a soft, sweet kiss to her lips, feeling her melt into him and nuzzle his neck when they parted.

“This is such a bad idea,” she murmured when he gently lifted her off her feet and into his arms again, clinging tightly.

“I can’t think of a better one.”

…

A panicked Tigris was waiting for them when they reached the top of the stairs. Lucy Gray was too embarrassed and scared to look at her a second time, so she kept her face buried in Coriolanus’ neck.

“Coryo! Oh, my god, what happened?!”

Coriolanus glared at his cousin.

“Oh, I don’t know. What could possibly happen from you yelling at a troubled young woman who went down the stairs a little too fast because she was scared of you?”

Lucy Gray gulped and tried very hard to stay still.

“Is she hurt?” Guilt seeped into Tigris’ voice.

Good, Coriolanus thought.

“She can’t put weight on one ankle. Right?” he asked into Lucy Gray’s ear. Lucy Gray nodded promptly.

Tigris sighed.

“Well, come on, bring her in. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Where’s Grandma’am?” he asked.

“Grand-who?” Lucy Gray muttered, but the question went ignored for the moment.

“In bed. Which is probably a good thing with you bringing…”

Coriolanus shot his cousin another look, and she was silenced once more, only muttering something about it being good their Grandma’am wasn’t around to ask questions.

Tigris led the way to a low couch in the living room, and then went to get some supplies to fix up Lucy Gray’s ankle.

“You should probably ice it when you get home.”

“I think you should stay here tonight,” Coriolanus interrupted his cousin.

“Do you really think that’s a good idea, Coryo? Given the circumstances?”

“And, what? She should hobble home in the dark, Tigris? She lives all the way by Pluribus’ club. What if something happens? You’d blame yourself, and you know it. I’d blame you.”

Tigris bristled.

“Well, the least she can do is call her family and tell them where she is before they start to panic.”

Coriolanus looked at Lucy Gray.

“Do you think you can do that?”

She nodded.

“Where’s the phone?”

“Across the room. Tigris will bring it over.” He looked up. “Won’t you, Tigris?”

She rolled her eyes a bit but was perfectly polite to Lucy Gray when she said, “Of course.”

Over the next several minutes, Lucy Gray dialed her apartment number and waited for someone to pick up. They’d all be playing at Pluribus’ club this late, but hopefully they would be home soon. On the third ring, Barb Azure picked up.

“Lucy Gray, is that you?” she asked, panicked.

“Hi, Barb Azure. Yes, it’s me.”

“Where are you? We’ve been looking everywhere! I hope you’re not where I think you are. Pluribus told me you asked for that boy’s address.”

Lucy Gray tightened her grip on the phone.

“For your information, I simply went out for a walk and fell. Think I sprained my ankle.”

Barb Azure’s breathing changed slightly, as if she was trying to determine if her cousin was lying.

“Are you alright?” she asked cautiously.

“I will be. Some people found me and bandaged me up, but I think I’ll be staying with them tonight. It’d be a hard walk for me to come back from this late at night.”

“Lucy Gray, do you mean to tell me, you’d rather stay with strangers than your family?”

“They’re not strangers!” she hissed into the phone, then met Coriolanus’ alarmed gaze. “At least one of them isn’t.”

Barb Azure had the audacity to laugh.

“And is that one someone who happened to have his lips pressed to yours in the last week?”

“Barb Azure!”

“Let me talk to the other one,” she snapped. “Maybe they can see how ridiculous this situation is.”

Lucy Gray sighed and handed the phone to Tigris.

“She wants to talk to you.”

“Oh.”

Reluctantly, Tigris took the phone and answered.

“My name is Tigris Snow. Yes, I live with Coriolanus. We’re cousins. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yes, I understand completely. I’ll bring her over myself in the morning. Alright. Yeah. Here she is.”

She handed the phone back to Lucy Gray.

“Well?”

“You’re not allowed to sleep in the same bed with him.”

Lucy Gray scoffed.

“Billy Taupe is still out there, and you two have not technically broken up.”

“We might as well have. You know as well as I do that he probably went home with some whore and has been fucking her night and day until he decides he’s done with her and comes home.”

“You don’t know that,” she tried to say gently, but it still came out a little hissy. “I just don’t want you to do something you’ll end up regretting.”

“I don’t regret a thing I’ve done so far, and I won’t regret anything else. Goodbye, Barb Azure.”

“Lucy Gra-”

But Lucy Gray hung up on her and handed the phone back to Tigris. Then she turned to Coriolanus who was still holding her closely.

“Which room is yours?”

Chapter Text

Tigris shot Coriolanus a look after Lucy Gray’s comment, clearly disapproving over this course of action.

“I do have the bigger bed,” he said weakly, though clearly not backing down. If Lucy Gray wanted to sleep in his bed with him, he clearly wasn’t going to deny her that.

“Ugh, fine,” Tigris huffed. “Let me get an extra pillow to prop her ankle up on. And some more ice.”

After she disappeared, Coriolanus lifted Lucy Gray up again and carried her down the hall into his bedroom. It wasn’t the most lavish place, but neither was his entire apartment. He hadn’t been prepared to reveal his wealth status, or lack thereof, to Lucy Gray tonight, but then he hadn’t expected her to seek him out some days after the incident at Pluribus’ club to see how he was.

To be honest, when she didn’t show at her evening time slot the week before, his first conclusion has been that she was avoiding him or that she regretted their whole interaction, given that she did after all have a boyfriend. It would be understandable, even if she had seemed really enthusiastic during their multiple kisses.

He supposed he deserved getting punched in the face by her boyfriend the following night, even if he hadn’t done what he’d been accused of. He should be so lucky! He was just lucky the place hadn’t turned into a full-out brawl if Pluribus hadn’t intervened. And gotten him ice and advice.

Pluribus had always been a great family friend to the Snows, and it looked like he was that same person even as an employer to Lucy Gray and her Covey. Which gave them another connection, Coriolanus encouraged himself.

But now Lucy Gray would be in his bed all night, and he with her. Getting her back down the stairs in the morning with him having to leave for the Academy super early would be difficult, but maybe he could call up Sejanus for help. Then she could get a car ride home and wouldn’t have to hobble down several streets with Tigris who herself had to go to work too. He didn’t even want to think about if Grandma’am discovered her. She wasn’t overly fond of performers and musicians. The only song she thought deserved credit was Gem of Panem.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked, holding his breath after he peeled the blanket back and laid her down. He propped up the pillows behind her back, so she could sit up for a while before going to bed for the night. Maybe they could…chat.

Lucy Gray nodded.

“Yes, thank you.” She winced slightly, adjusting her foot on the bed.

As if on cue, Tigris burst through with ice and another pillow.

“Here, let’s just put this here…” She snuck a pillow beneath her foot. “And this we’ll put…here.” She struggled a bit to sneak the ice pack she’d made into the bandaging she’d put around her ankle. But at last, she got it. “There.” She wiped down her palms on her dress, pleased with herself. “Good?” She met Lucy Gray’s eyes.

“Yes. Thank you, Tigris.” She forced a tremulous smile.

Tigris looked about to leave, but then hesitantly sat down on the bed and placed her hand on Lucy Gray’s knee.

“I just want to apologize about how I reacted when you first came to the door.”

“Oh, no,” Lucy Gray said quickly. “I understand. If I were in your position, I might have reacted just the same.”

“Still. If I hadn’t scared you off, maybe your ankle would be in better shape now. You’re…” She licked her lips. “You’re lucky Coryo caught you.”

Tigris met her cousin’s gaze, who nodded promptly, appreciative of the gesture.

“Well, I’ll let you two settle down for the evening, and we’ll figure out food and getting you home in the morning.”

Lucy Gray shared a smile with Tigris, albeit a polite one, as the older Snow looked to both of them and then left the room, closing the door behind her.

Then they were alone.

She turned to look at him where he stood on the opposite side of the bed.

“Are you not going to join me?” she asked with a soft chuckle, patting the spot next to her on the bed.

“Oh! Right. Well…” He blushed a little. “Could you close your eyes while I change then?”

She fought the smile that threatened to take over her entire face.

“Of course.”

She covered her face with her hands, and he turned his back as he started to undress and quickly find his pajamas for the evening. Truth be told, he usually went to bed in just his underwear, but that obviously would be too inappropriate for tonight’s guest, so he opted for a t-shirt and some long pants that now stopped just above his ankles.

Lucy Gray gasped softly when she heard the brush of his shirt coming up and over his head, and briefly parted her fingers to see his broad back and slim waist. She bit her bottom lip and shifted slightly on the bed, becoming overwhelmed by sensations. By the time, Coriolanus turned back around, her fingers were closed tightly over her eyes again.

“Okay, you can look,” he said sheepishly.

She removed her hands and let them rest in her lap.

“I wish we had something for you to wear to sleep in. Maybe I should go ask Tigris if she’s got something in her closet you could wear.”

“Oh, no, that’s not necessary. I don’t want to bother her.”

“It’s no bother. It’s the least she could do after scaring you the way she did.”

“Coriolanus. She apologized! And she fixed up my ankle so nicely. Just…I want to be alone with you.”

He gulped.

“Besides, this dress is comfy. I don’t mind sleeping in it. Or doing…other things?”

Coriolanus sat down on the other side of the bed and spread his palm near her.

“Other things?”

“For someone who was so persuasive before, you’re awfully shy all of a sudden,” she teased.

“That was before I got punched in the face.”

Her face fell, and she played with her fingers in her lap.

“You are mad I came,” she said quietly.

“What? No! No, Lucy Gray, I just…I think we should tread cautiously.”

She reached for him, and he came to her.

“No one’s here but us.”

Swallowing hard, he nodded and gently caressed the side of her face, her cheek, the softness of her hair.

“I’ve waited so long to touch you again.”

She reached up and daintily brushed her fingers against the healing skin beneath his left eye. It was yellowish now, having gotten a few days to start to heal.

“What about kissing me? Have you waited long enough to do that?”

He groaned and didn’t waste another minute. Despite having kissed her briefly in the stairwell, it felt as if he was kissing her for the first time all over again. Except now he knew what he was doing.

Lucy Gray moaned in response as his lips came down on hers. She sifted her fingers through his blond curls and gripped them tightly as he leaned over her and deepened the kiss. One kiss turned into two turned into five until they had to fight for air to continue kissing.

Lucy Gray broke away, breathing heavily and leaning her forehead against his.

“I need you to touch me,” she begged. “It’s been so long since I’ve been touched. Really touched.”

“I thought I was touching you,” he murmured, squeezing her waist affectionately.

She pulled away slightly to look into his eyes, then sat up some more to unbutton the top of the back of her dress. Coriolanus’ eyes widened as he watched her peel back the front and back of her dress down to her waist. Then she grabbed his hand and placed it over her right breast. Her bra was still between his hand and the skin beneath, but the weight of his hand melted her completely, and she bit her bottom lip as she curled his fingertips over the curve of her breast, skin touching skin if only for an inch or so.

“Lucy Gray,” he got out through a strangled breath.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?” she whimpered, indulging in the feel of his hand fitted so possessively over her.

“N-No, I mean, yes, kinda, but just in that I’m unfamiliar. It’s not unwanted.”

She gripped his chin and pulled him in for another steamy kiss before breaking apart.

“Will you take my bra off?” she begged, inching a little bit closer.

“Lucy Gray…”

“Please? I want you so bad I can almost taste it.”

She arched up to meet him halfway, but in doing so, angled her ankle the wrong way and hissed painfully as the pain from her ankle raced up the side of her leg.

“Ow.”

“Are you okay?!” he asked, alarmed.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m…” She licked her lips. “I’m fine.” Her eyes flashed up to his.

“Maybe we should do this another time,” he suggested, though she could tell by how he shifted that he was already well on his way to getting an erection.

Of course she had to be cautious. If she gave him a blow job or much else before Friday and he told Festus about it, she could kiss goodbye all that money he had promised her.

Still, she’d seen his hands, felt his fingers on her face and in her hair. Could imagine his fingers on her between her legs where she had to fight to reach. And on her breast, on her torso, all over. God, she wanted him everywhere.

“I want to do it now,” she said huskily.

“It?” he squeaked, uncertain.

“Not that,” she quieted his anxiety. “I know you’re a virgin, honey. But…I want you.”

He shuddered, hearing her words, and leaned his forehead against hers.

“I want you, too.”

“Then we can try a few other things.”

“What about your ankle?”

“We just have to be careful. For instance, maybe I don’t do all the work.”

He blushed fiercely.

“So.” She turned her back to him slightly and pulled her hair over the front of her shoulder. “Unlatch my bra?”

He gulped, but with trembling fingers, he did as she asked. With a little pulling and tugging, the latch came undone and the fabric parted in his hands. Her back was bare to him now, and he smoothed his hands over her warm skin as he dragged the straps down over her shoulders and down her arms.

Then she turned back to him as she dropped her bra off the side of the bed and watched as his eyes widened.

“Never seen a pair of boobs before, have you?”

He gulped.

“Well, I…I mean…”

She raised her eyebrow and for the briefest of seconds he met her knowing gaze.

“No,” he confessed.

She laughed and took his hand in hers again.

“Here. Touch.”

And he quivered when he touched her again, his whole palm covering her breast and squeezing gently. Then, daring as he’d decided to become, he leaned forward and tugged on her other nipple with his teeth.

Lucy Gray inhaled sharply as a shot of pleasure coursed throughout her entire being.

“Oh, fuck, yes.”

He shivered, but emboldened by her cries, sucked her breast and swirled his tongue around the mound, soaking up as much skin as he could as he squeezed and dug his short nails into her other breast.

“Now the other,” she urged, clawing at his scalps and guiding him to her other breast.

“Fuck.”

The sensations were indescribable and only enhanced the wetness between her legs. She started to writhe beneath his inexperienced touches.

“Okay, okay, let’s try something else now.”

He lifted his head and frowned.

“Am I not doing a good job?”

“Oh, yes, baby, you are, don’t worry. It’s just…” She licked her lips. “Leading up to sex…”

His face turned a bright red.

“Leading up to sex,” she repeated, gripping his chin in her hand. “I get…ready…between my legs. So, I need you to touch me there.”

He looked down, saw her legs spreading, and his eyes widened.

“Are you sure?”

“Definitely. You were born with long fingers for a reason.”

He looked up at her, wide-eyed again.

“O-Okay.”

She lifted her skirt up to her waist, then grabbed his hand and slid it over the top of her panties, guiding his finger over her clit. Then she inhaled sharply, her breasts heaving.

“That feel good?” he asked.

“Feels amazing,” she purred, turning into him. “Put your hand under my panties now,” she requested, biting her bottom lip.

“It’ll feel even more amazing then?”

“Uh-huh.” She nodded, practically incoherent as she felt his fingers slip beneath the waistband of her panties and sink between her folds.

“You’re so wet.”

She whimpered.

“Is that…a good thing?” he asked, unsure, but responding to her by moving closer.

“A very good thing, Babe.”

He shuddered and kissed the side of her face.

“What now?”

“Feel around for that little nub you were just touching before. Y-Yes, oh, fuck, you found it.” Her chest rose and fell as she clutched at his wrist. “Now, just…circular motions around the base of it…uh-huh…a little more pressure…a little more…faster…oh, fuck, oh, fuck, oh, fuck!”

And then she was jerking up and wriggling and clutching at him, and he could feel the waves of pleasure coursing through her as she rode what had to be an orgasm to completion.

Then slowly, she released his wrist and fell back against the pillow, her breaths coming in slower and longer stretches.

Coriolanus leaned down to kiss each of her breasts and then her lips, and she smiled sleepily.

“Thank you, Coriolanus.”

He smiled sheepishly.

“Thank you for teaching me.”

She laughed.

“Now you can pleasure all the Capitol girls, and they’ll all know where you got it from.”

He frowned.

“I only want to be pleasuring you.”

And Lucy Gray was quiet then, because she knew come Saturday morning she wouldn’t be allowed to see him again unless he came to one of her shows. But they couldn’t be alone together. Hell, she couldn’t even fuck him properly without it being part of the prostitution she’d agreed to, and she didn’t want that.

It was such a shame, given how bad they both wanted each other.

But she wouldn’t think about that now.

“Do you need to be touched?” she asked, even as her eyes fluttered shut.

And he smiled as he watched her, then reached for the switch to his lamp and shut it off.

“Maybe in the morning,” he said, and he carefully pulled the blanket up and over both of their bodies. Then he carefully adjusted her so she was laying flat with her ankle propped up on the pillow underneath her foot.

She turned into him a little and slid her hand down his arm and interlaced their fingers.

“In the morning then.”

Chapter Text

Tigris paced back and forth in her bedroom the next morning, trying to decide what to do. Grandma’am was already up and about in her formal wear singing Gem of Panem in the living room, completely oblivious to the shenanigans that had taken place in Coryo’s bedroom the night before.

Tigris, however, was not.

The walls were not impossibly thin, but they weren’t soundproof either. Tigris had heard the shared moans and kissing noises, Lucy Gray’s cries as her cousin did who knows what to her. They probably thought they were being quiet, but Tigris knew she’d have to tread cautiously when she went to wake them up, if they didn’t emerge in the next five minutes. Or if Coryo didn’t emerge. Hopefully he’d break through the cloud of lust encircling his brain long enough to realize how foolish it was to just walk out of his room with Lucy Gray when their Grandma’am was right down the hall none the wiser.

She’d be giving him a talking to later. Obviously, she had to give him room to make his own mistakes and learn lessons based on the consequences of said mistakes, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t reprimand him in the process. He was better than this. First romantic experience or not, he should know not to deliberately break apart a couple just because he wanted one of the parties to himself.

“Tigris,” Grandma’am screeched from the living room, stopping in the middle of her morning ritual. “Where is Coriolanus? Doesn’t he have school today? I want to see his handsome face.”

“You’re not the only one,” Tigris muttered to herself before opening her bedroom door and plastering a pleasant smile across her lips.

“I’ll go check on him. It is weird he isn’t up yet, isn’t it?” she chirped.

“Oh! And what’s for breakfast?” Grandma’am asked, unbothered. “Did I see you smuggle in some bread with you earlier this morning?”

Ah, yes, she’d gone to Pluribus for that. He’d always been so reliable when it came to changing goods for food in the Snow family. She didn’t want that to change either when he learned what was going on between this Lucy Gray girl and her cousin. Pluribus had been relieved when she confided that Lucy Gray had wound up on their doorstep though. Apparently, he cared dearly for the girl.

So dearly that he handed their address right over and so instigated the affair Coryo and Lucy Gray were having, more or less.

But she wasn’t about to make him feel guilty for that. When it came down to it, she didn’t think Lucy Gray had come over to seduce her cousin. She’d seemed genuine when she pleaded to see him for his well-being. And if she hadn’t dashed away so quickly maybe her ankle wouldn’t have gotten injured, and she would’ve stayed for five minutes to inspect Coryo’s face and apologize for her involvement in the black eye, instead of all night in his bed where who knows what could happen.

“Yes, we’ll have some warm bread with our boiled cabbage. Isn’t that nice?” she said absentmindedly as she headed down the hall to Coryo’s room, hardly hearing Grandma’am’s response as she walked further away.

It wasn’t much. Just – “Yes, warm bread is definitely better than just that ghastly boiled cabbage” followed be a gagging noise.

Tigris knocked on the door.

“Coryo?” A pause, then, “Are you decent? You’ve overslept.”

The door opened suddenly, and Coriolanus slipped through, wearing his red uniform, freshly pressed. He’d even showered, which took Tigris by surprise. Had he slipped out when she went to see Pluribus?

“I haven’t.”

“Coriolanus! Is that you, I hear?” Grandma’am leaned into the hallway to spy on her grandchildren.

“Yes, Grandma’am, it’s me! How are y-”

But Tigris pulled on his sleeve to prevent him from leaving her side, for the moment at least.

“We’ll be right there, Grandma’am,” Tigris interrupted him. “I just need to talk to him real quick.”

“Do be quick about it, Tigris,” Grandma’am said gruffly. “I want to see his handsome face.”

“Of course.”

Tigris reached then for the doorknob to her cousin’s room, only to be stopped by his hand on her wrist. Her eyes flashed to his, and he looked genuinely…was he sweating?

“She’s still getting ready.”

Tigris blinked.

“Ready,” she repeated. “What’s there to get ready? She’s wearing the same dress she wore last night, isn’t she?”

He hesitated.

“O-Of course, but-”

“Unless she didn’t wear it to bed,” she huffed.

He winced.

“She wore most of it.”

“Most!” she yell-whispered. “What were you two doing in there all night long?” He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand to silence him. “No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. I heard most of it anyway.”

His eyes widened in horror.

“You’re better than this, Coryo.”

He gulped.

“But we don’t have time to get into that now. How’s…” she took a breath, “her ankle?”

“Still swollen,” he said, which told her he’d at least had the decency to inspect the reason she was even in his room. “It needs more ice.”

Tigris nodded.

“I’ll get some. But we need some sort of plan to get you both out of here, somehow without Grandma’am seeing.”

“I know. I’ve thought of it.”

“You have?” she asked, stunned.

“I rang Sejanus a little while ago and explained the situation.”

“The whole situation?” she asked suspiciously.

“Enough of it,” he bristled.

“Hmm.”

“He doesn’t know what she and I did in my bed, or at the club, or at all, satisfied?”

“Not nearly. What’s the plan?”

“He’s going to come over, and we’re going to help Lucy Gray down the stairs and drop her off at home on our way to the Academy.”

“And Grandma’am?”

“That’s on you. Convince her to take a nap or eat breakfast in her bedroom. As soon as we leave, she can come back out, and then you can go to work.”

“Coryo!”

“Come on, Tigris. Work with me here. I came up with half the plan, can’t you be okay with the rest?”

“You know how she detests morning naps,” she huffed, but she knew she was being a little difficult. All things considered, Coryo had actually been smart on how to get Lucy Gray out of their top-floor penthouse apartment. She had to give him credit where credit was due.

“But fine,” she agreed. “Maybe she’ll eat breakfast in there. Is Sejanus close?”

“We’ll know soon enough. They don’t live far, and he was hurrying out the door as soon as I told him the situation.”

“Alright, well, I’ll get the ice and try to make Lucy Gray comfortable while you entertain Grandma’am for a few minutes. Think you can manage that?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

He saluted her, and she rolled her eyes but smiled as she pushed him in the direction of their living room.

…

In the end, Grandma’am was coerced with little difficulty into her bedroom for breakfast. Tigris stayed in there with her to make sure she stayed put, but before that she went and got Lucy Gray some more ice for his ankle. When she returned to Coryo’s bedroom, she went in without knocking to not make it look like she was knocking to an empty room.

Lucy Gray was sitting up in bed, fully dressed. Her hair was a bit in disarray, but Tigris knew that could be attributed to sleeping and not…other activities. She could almost convince herself that nothing had gone on in there the night before. Besides sleeping, that is.

“Good morning.”

She forced a smile.

“Morning,” Lucy Gray returned.

“How’s the ankle?” Tigris asked, plopping herself down on the bed deliberately, so that Lucy Gray’s foot popped up.

Lucy Gray hissed and reached down to soothe her ankle.

“Sorry,” Tigris said unapologetically. She would tend to the girl who’d seduced her cousin while in a relationship, but she didn’t have to act like she approved. “Still sore, I see?”

Lucy Gray ground her teeth.

“Yes.”

“Well, I’ll rebandage it with some more ice, but I imagine it’ll be good as new in a couple days if you keep it elevated and rest when you’re at home.”

Lucy Gray frowned.

“But…my performances.”

“Should’ve thought about that before you fell down the stairs.”

She scoffed.

Tigris was gentler as she unbandaged Lucy Gray’s foot and put a new bandage on with the ice pack.

“I don’t mean to be cruel,” she said. “But I know what you two did last night.”

Lucy Gray’s eyes widened.

“Coriolanus told you?” she blurted without thinking.

Blue eyes met brown.

“No, he has some decency. At least when it comes to protecting your privacy. I heard you through the walls, and I want you to know I don’t approve.”

Lucy Gray tensed up.

“You have a boyfriend, and it doesn’t look good for either of you to be fooling around until you’ve broken up with him.”

“I don’t even know where my boyfriend is,” Lucy Gray said. “He’s been gone for days, and rumor has it he’s shacked up with some whores in the city. I don’t feel any loyalty towards him.”

“Still. Until he returns, and you officially cut him loose, I’d appreciate if you and my cousin don’t do anything like you did last night.”

“I’ll take your concerns into consideration,” Lucy Gray said after a beat, not planning one bit to not indulge in Coriolanus’ lips at least a few more time before Billy Taupe materialized again.

Tigris tightened the bandage harder than necessary, and Lucy Gray inhaled sharply.

“Great!” She got up off the bed. “I’m sure Coryo will be in soon, and then the three of you can get out of here. Hopefully the next time I see you will be under better circumstances, Lucy Gray.”

And with that, she turned and exited the room, leaving Lucy Gray alone with her thoughts.

Coriolanus had told her about his friend – Sejanus, a friend they could trust. Still, they wouldn’t say more than necessary. No need to spread the fact that they’d gotten frisky during the night while her boyfriend was still missing. Apparently, Sejanus knew about the Snow’s financial predicament though and kept his mouth shut, which was something in a society where everyone who was anyone gloated about their wealth. Festus came to mind.

Lucy Gray’s heart had raced when Coriolanus started talking about a friend who could help them, hoping beyond all hope that Festus’ name wouldn’t cross his lips. And thankfully, it hadn’t. She could only imagine what Festus would think of all this, and if he’d amend his agreement with her further if he knew just what she had taught his dear friend the night before.

Would that make him man enough?

She was just glad to have evaded that whole possible complication.

Now with Tigris gone, her mind continued to spin.

As well-intentioned as the Snow cousin might be, for Lucy Gray it was just recycled words from her cousin, Barb Azure. And it did nothing to dissuade her from wanting to kiss Coriolanus as soon as she laid eyes on him again.

Besides, neither woman knew the full situation. No one but herself knew everything about it. Even Festus didn’t know it all, because he was unaware of what happened last night.

Which reminded her…

The door flung open. It was Coriolanus. Her heart flipped in her chest.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“Hi.” He managed a returning smile as he closed the door behind him. “Sejanus should be here soon, but before he is, maybe we should go over things not to talk about or do in front of him.”

She straightened in the bed and then carefully swung her legs over the side of the bed.

“What does he know?”

“Well, what I told him is that Tigris was out on a walk last night, saw you fall, and brought you upstairs to tend to you. You slept in my bed, and I took the couch until early this morning when I hid in my room and got ready for school.”

“I bet Tigris would’ve preferred that version of events,” she muttered.

He frowned.

“Did she say something to you?”

She shrugged.

“Only that she’s aware of what we must’ve been up to last night and doesn’t approve.” Her lips thinned. “Nothing I haven’t heard from my cousin though.” She looked up. “I’m fine sneaking around until Billy Taupe re-emerges, and I can break up with him.”

Coriolanus came and sat next to her on the bed. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips for a soft kiss.

“Think it’ll be long?”

She hesitated, Festus’ guarantee for a safe return on the tip of her tongue.

“I don’t know,” she finally said. “The last time he ran off when a girl broke up with him, he was gone weeks.”

“You mean…you’re not his first?”

Lucy Gray shook her head.

“I mean, we were kid sweethearts for sure, but as he got older, he lost interest until I blossomed, as he puts it, a year and a half ago.”

“And you?” he nudged her.

“Honestly, it’s hard to remember now. The last week has been a blur. And you just kinda snuck up on me.”

He smiled sheepishly.

“You’re all I think about now,” she whispered.

He kissed her hand again and her cheek.

“You’re all I think about too.”

She cupped his face in her hands and pulled him closer until their lips melted together over and over again. It wasn’t until they heard Sejanus announcing himself at the entrance to the apartment that they broke away.

“Oh, I better go get him before he wakes up Grandma’am. I’ll be right back.”

He kissed her quick and headed for the door.

“Coriolanus,” she called out to him just as his hand landed on the doorknob.

He turned around.

“Yeah?”

“Do you promise not to tell anyone about last night?”

He frowned, probably wondering who she didn’t want to know.

“Yeah, of course.”

“Coryo!” Sejanus called out again.

“Agh. I’ve got to go get him. But yes, I promise.”

Lucy Gray nodded and let him go. Moments later Sejanus was pulled into the room.

“Oh, wow,” he breathed, taking her in. “Lucy Gray.”

Chapter Text

Coriolanus didn’t like the breathless quality to Sejanus’ voice. He knew, logically speaking, it was coming from a place of a starstruck audience member seeing a singer in a sort of meet-up after a show and wasn’t romantic in the slightest. But still. He didn’t have to like it.

“Lucy Gray, Sejanus. Sejanus, Lucy Gray,” he said, gesturing between the two and unable to hide the grumbles in his own voice.

Sejanus extended his hand, and Lucy Gray politely shook it.

“Hello,” she said, smiling coquettishly, which Coriolanus didn’t like either, though he knew for her it was her typical showmanship smile she gave to her fans.

“Pleasure to meet you,” Sejanus said enthusiastically. “Wow, if I’d known the beautiful Lucy Gray singer extraordinaire was the invalid Coryo was referring to, I’d have come over a lot quicker, and with flowers in tow.”

Lucy Gray chuckled while Coriolanus glared.

“You’re too kind,” she said. “And flowers, huh? Much better than Coriolanus’ single rose,” she teased, sending her lover a wink, to which he bristled and did not appreciate.

“Alright, alright, lovebirds,” Coriolanus grumbled, “Save some of it for when you’re alone, alright?”

And that was when Lucy Gray seemed to regret being so forward with a new fan, especially when she couldn’t make out with her lover in front of his friend because that would be informing Sejanus of too much.

“And just when would we be alone?” Sejanus asked gleefully. He patted Coriolanus’ back. “Don’t worry, friend. I won’t steal her from you.”

Those words made the lovers freeze, until he met Lucy Gray’s eyes, and they understood.

“Has he told you about his little crush?”

Coriolanus’ face immediately colored a vivid pink, selling the part even if he didn’t intend to.

“He’s had it for well over a month now, ever since he first saw you up on stage. I can only imagine how thrilled he must’ve been when he came home last night and saw you in his living room getting bandaged up.” He chuckled, then sobered up. “So sorry about your fall by the way. It’s a good thing Tigris was out and about and took you in.”

“Yes…good thing.”

“So!” Sejanus clapped his hands together. “What’s the plan here?” He turned to Coriolanus who looked at Lucy Gray partially in question.

“Can you put any weight on it?”

Lucy Gray inched closer to the edge of the bed and made an effort to stand up but nearly fell in the process if both boys hadn’t immediately lunged across the small space and caught her.

“Not really, looks like,” Sejanus said sympathetically.

“I’ve thought it out,” Coriolanus began, “And I don’t think I can carry her down all 10 flights of stairs, so maybe even we hold her up on either side of her, we can make it down and in record time.”

“That sounds like a plan. Then she won’t have to walk on it.”

“Should we call your cousin first, Lucy Gray? So someone can come out when we get there and there won’t be any tension by us bringing you inside?”

“Why would there be tension?” Sejanus asked, confused. “You rescued her, bandaged her up and let her sleep over night in your room while you took the couch. Her cousin should be thanking you.”

Coriolanus and Lucy Gray ignored Sejanus.

“I think that’s a good idea,” she agreed with Coriolanus.

“Here, let me carry you into the living room, and you can make a quick call.”

“Why quick?” Sejanus asked, frowning.

“Grandma’am,” Coriolanus said by way of explanation. “She’s not overly fond of performers.”

“Ah.”

With one easy movement, Coriolanus slipped his arms beneath Lucy Gray’s legs and back and carried her into the living room. Luckily the phone was still by the couch from the night before, so she could reach for it when he set her down and let her make her call.

He stood a little bit away by Sejanus to give her some privacy.

“Hi, Barb Azure…”

Sejanus tugged on his sleeve.

“Why do I get the feeling there’s a lot you’re not telling me, Coryo?”

Coriolanus shrugged him off.

“Like what?”

“Liiiike how close the two of you are.”

Coriolanus gave him an annoyed look.

“You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah.”

“You should be as starstruck as I am, but instead you’re acting like an overprotective boyfriend. And she seems real comfortable with you too.”

“Again, imagining things,” he assured him.

Sejanus sank his hands into his pockets just as Lucy Gray hung up.

“If you say so.”

“How’d it go?” Coriolanus asked, focusing entirely now on Lucy Gray.

“Well, she picked up on where I slept last night and wasn’t overly pleased, but she agreed to be at the window and have herself and one of the other Covey come out to help me inside. I told her Tigris said my ankle needs to be elevated for a couple days, and she agreed that makes sense. She’ll tell Pluribus I can’t perform until Thursday.”

“Until Thursday?” Coriolanus rasped, and Lucy Gray knew exactly what he was thinking.

That would be the next time he could see or even speak to her. Even if she left him her number, chances were Barb Azure wouldn’t let him speak to her.

But Sejanus, who was out of the loop, scoffed.

“I think that’s reasonable, Coryo. She can’t even put weight on it. How is she supposed to get up to the stage?”

Coriolanus and Lucy Gray ignored him for the second time.

“We should get going,” she said instead, and Coriolanus nodded then turned to a flummoxed Sejanus.

“You ready?”

Sejanus muttered something under his breath but nodded, and they both wrapped their arms around her back and made their way towards the staircase, the shoe fitting to her injured foot in Coriolanus’ free hand.

While not as smooth as Coriolanus had envisioned, they did make it down every flight of stairs without falling and without Lucy Gray having to put pressure on her injured ankle.

Once outside, Sejanus waited until Coriolanus had swung Lucy Gray up into his arms again and went to open up the car door. Then the three of them scooted into the back seat of the vehicle and shut the door behind them.

Lucy Gray sat snuggled up beside Coriolanus, her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her, and Sejanus looked on at them in their own little world, confused.

He was definitely missing something.

…

On arrival, a taller brunette practically flung herself out of the apartment front door to greet them at the car. She was followed by a taller, more subdued man with some messy hair, like he’d just been pulled out of bed. He seemed less concerned.

The car door opened before Coriolanus could even reach for the handle, and Barb Azure – he presumed – gasped when she saw the three of them tucked inside.

“Hand her over, Academy boys,” she hissed.

Lucy Gray scoffed, annoyed.

“I’m not an object, Barb Azure, and they haven’t kidnapped me.”

“No, you went and kidnapped yourself!”

“And Coriolanus took care of me!” She hissed back.

“Oh, yes, I’m sure that’s all he did,” she baited sarcastically.

Lucy Gray was about to pounce until Coriolanus subtly reminded her not to by way of, “Your ankle,” muttered softly, and she relaxed, though still annoyed.

“He has to get out first, Barb Azure,” she said smoothly instead.

And Barb Azure, upon realizing no one could get out of the vehicle unless she moved, started to back away.

“Tam Amber, get ready,” she said as she felt the other presence approach from behind.

“I’m here,” he said quietly.

Then, Coriolanus climbed out of the car and helped Lucy Gray out by lifting her up into his arms.

“I really don’t have any problem bringing her inside,” he said.

“Well, I do,” Barb Azure said, snatching the shoe in his hand. “Tam Amber, take her.”

With a sigh from both men, he shifted her into the other man’s arms.

“I’ll see you Thursday, Coriolanus,” she said quietly.

“See you then,” he said, even though he wanted to say a million other things too. Wanted to do a million other things, starting with giving her a kiss she wouldn’t soon forget. But obviously that was impossible, so he settled for a wave and a promise to see her in two days, getting back into the car once she was safely inside.

It wasn’t a long ride to the Academy but long enough for Sejanus to say something that he couldn’t quite hold back.

“So, when did you two get together and why is it a secret?” he deadpanned.

“What?” Coriolanus squeaked. “You’re…you’re crazy, Sejanus.”

“I’m not. I know puppy love when I see it, and the two of you are in the trenches of it.”

He frowned, wanting to defend that what he felt for Lucy Gray was more than just puppy love, but he knew by all accounts he couldn’t prove otherwise. They hadn’t known each other that long, as he knew Lucy Gray would point out too. Still, it felt much deeper than butterflies and uncontrollable lust.

“You can trust me, Coryo. That’s why you called, remember?”

His lips thinned.

“I can’t…answer your question, Sejanus,” he finally said. “But if I can really trust you-”

“You can.”

“Then you’ll keep your suspicions to yourself. Understood?”

He sighed and nodded and sunk back into the seat.

“Understood.”

…

Back at the Covey home, Lucy Gray was almost startled out of Tam Amber’s grip when they got into the apartment and were faced with none other than Billy Taupe standing before them, looking rather ragged despite the dampness to his hair and skin, indicating a fresh shower.

“B-Billy Taupe?”

“Hi, Lucy Gray.”

Tam Amber set her down but kept one arm wrapped around her as she stood on her one uninjured foot.

“How…?” the question went unanswered, so Barb Azure made it her mission to set things right and answer any and all questions.

“Pluribus notified us of an anonymous caller early this morning that had seen Billy Taupe under a bridge on the south side of the city. Who knows how long he had been there shivering and alone, afraid to come home?”

Lucy Gray tried her best not to scoff. She doubted that he’d been shivering and alone for as long as Barb Azure implied.

“And Lucy Gray was just as desperate and worried,” Barb Azure continued. “Going out looking for him every night. Only last night she tripped and fell on the north side. Luckily an elderly couple saw her and took her in and sent her in a car just now to deliver her back to us.”

Tam Amber remained straight-faced.

Barb Azure sighed, as if she were bewildered and overwhelmed and believing every single thing that had just come out of her damn mouth.

Billy Taupe seemed to want to believe it and actually looked guilty, but Lucy Gray just wanted to cuss him out and break things off before this went any further.

“Tam Amber, why don’t you go lay Lucy Gray down on her bed. It’s still pretty early. When she wakes up again, they can talk.”

Billy Taupe took a step to follow after, but Barb Azure stopped him, murmuring something to keep him put that Lucy Gray couldn’t hear as Tam Amber picked her back up and carried her into her made up room, the covers of the bed already pulled back.

“Thank you, Tam Amber,” she said, when she was all settled with her foot back propped up on a pillow.

Barb Azure came in moments later after he left and sat on a bare spot near her injured foot on the bed.

“I brought some ice to stick in your bandage,” she said, unraveling the bandage and placing the ice near her ankle before wrapping the bandage back up.

“Thank you,” Lucy Gray said quietly.

“After you wake up, call for me, and I’ll send in Billy Taupe.”

“Barb Azu-”

“And before you decide to have a truth tell-all and break his heart further, let me remind you he wasn’t out cheating on you this whole time, but you were cheating on him.”

Lucy Gray opened her mouth to protest but was shut down immediately.

“Don’t bother denying it. You slept in his bed with him and I saw how the two of you were in the car. I know something happened.”

Her lips thinned.

“Just…consider burying it and trying to fix what’s gone wrong with your relationship with Billy Taupe. He loves you and would never hurt you. Don’t throw that away for a reckless affair that will go nowhere.”

Lucy Gray tried to speak again, but she was silenced by the mere fact of Barb Azure turning away and shutting the door behind her.

She wanted to deny Barb Azure’s words, and if circumstances were different maybe she could, but did she have a point? Even if she didn’t know it? She wouldn’t see Coriolanus for two more days. They’d have Thursday and Friday night, and then she’d have to pretend like he didn’t mean anything to her. She’d have to scare him off in order to honor the arrangement she made with Festus, and what better way to do that than immediately getting back together with Billy Taupe?

Still, she had to at least keep up the illusion that she planned on being with Coriolanus from here on out or her giving him a blow job on his birthday simply wouldn’t make sense. It wouldn’t line up. And it’d be more cheating upon cheating. She’d never considered herself an immoral person, but she was starting to feel like one if Billy Taupe really hadn’t gone out and cheated on her with prostitutes.

She still doubted that though. Billy Taupe liked comfort. She couldn’t imagine him under a bridge for several days instead of coming home and just facing her so he’d have a bed to sleep on.

She guessed time would tell.

For now, she was stuck in a dark room with heavy eyes, so she closed them and went to sleep.