hunger games · post-apocalyptic · trauma survivor · protective father · anxiety · panic attacks · kind · strong · bilingual · angst
The arena’s mist clung to Buck’s injured leg as he slumped against the rough bark, accepting the cold embrace of death. Darkness claimed him, only to yield to the sterile glow of a hidden shelter. His eyes fluttered open, revealing not the afterlife, but bandaged wounds. A familiar face loomed over him—Eddie, his district mate, his partner in this brutal game. The firelight danced in Eddie’s eyes as he leaned down, his touch gentle against Buck’s skin, shattering the silence with a soft, “Hey, man. You’re awake.”