Storm clouds rolled in over all of Panem on the day of the reaping. Peacekeepers patrolled the streets of the districts as the escorts prepared to take stages and names were to be called.
Shoto stared into the mirror as he thought hard about how this day would go. If he followed his fathers orders he would be the District One tribute. If he followed his gut, he would let some other poor sap offer their life for the Capitol's sick games.
He was supposed to do this, wasn't he?
This was what the boys of the Todoroki family were supposed to do.
He blinked back threatening tears as rain began to pour over their district. Each raindrop that landed upon the window made a soft plink against the glass pane.
"Shoto!"
Shoto's shoulders tensed, pounding footsteps upon the hardwood rivaled the claps of thunder outside as his father made his way towards his room. Shoto crept towards the door, his hand rested upon the knob before it was ripped out of his grasp. The door flung open, making a thud as it slammed against the wall.
"You'll be late if you don't get moving, come on, out."
"Father please... it isn't time yet."
"You can be the first one there." Enji snarled.
He didn't want to go at all, let alone seem desperate to participate, his brother's games still haunted him and he had been young when he had gone in. Shoto was five when his oldest brother, Touya, volunteered and won. Shoto was sixteen now, and that meant it was his turn to volunteer. To his father's disappointment, his older sister had never participated nor had his second oldest brother. Shoto didn't feel he had a choice.
"I'll be there," Shoto promised. Enji narrowed his eyes, Shoto shrunk under his gaze. "Please, just give me a minute."
Enji sighed, Shoto tried to brave a smile but it quickly cracked. Suddenly Shoto was slammed against the wall, the tips of his shoes barely touching the ground as his father held him up by the collar of his shirt.
"D-dad..."
Enji leaned forward, his breath hot and stinking of liquor. "You are going to volunteer with a smile on your face and keep the good name of the Todoroki family on the people's minds. I won, your brother won, and you will win. We are going to continue to be a beloved family in the Capitol's eyes. President Shigaraki is a sponsor of our name, he keeps us in his good graces, and you are not going to ruin that for me."
Shoto gulped. "Y-yes sir."
"You're going to make sure our name continues to stay a household name, since your sister and your other brother disobeyed me
"Yes sir." Shoto managed out.
Enji dropped Shoto, the teenager staggered before righting himself. Dual toned eyes looked up at the towering man wide and round. Tears brimmed causing them to shine in the light. "Now get your ass out that door." Shoto took off down the hall his siblings watched him as he rushed out, leaving the door wide open as he sped towards the reaping ceremony. Rain soaked the welcome mat.
Shoto was one of the first boys in line, he held out his hand as a needle pricked his finger. He pressed his bloody pointer onto the cream paper. "Go on boy." A peacekeeper snapped, he lowered his head and moved forward without a word.
His fist clenched.
Standing in the line his body shivered as the storm raged on. He looked upward toward the sky, dark clouds swirled overhead. The raindrops masked his tears. Shoto watched as previous victors began to line the stage, his father and brother standing side by side.
Touya locked eyes with his brother, he shook his head in warning silently begging him to think about the choice he would be making.
The lines began to grow congested, shoulder pressed against shoulder. Raindrops streaked cheeks and plastered hair to foreheads, nice suited and flowing dresses were drenched by the time Mina Ashido, District One's escort took the stage. She was heavily modified even by Capitol standards and relatively young, pink hair and pink skin contrasted by dark sclera and yellow irises.
"Hello District One!" She called with a smile on her face, she waved to them with gloved hands. She wore a gaudy vibrant purple dress and had a parasol over her shoulder. "Let's get this party started shall we? The Capitol and District One have always had a close relationship and we appreciate what you do for us. We also appreciate that your district always tends to volunteer, so before I call any names are we going to have our tributes offer themselves up?"
There was a moment of stalled silence, girls were supposed to offer themselves up first. Mins smirked and walked to the fishbowl to her right. "Alright, no ladies this year I take it. Well my dears, may the odds be ever in your favor."
Silk white gloved hands stretched forward, she snatched up a folded piece of paper like a snake striking a defenseless mouse.
Her heels clicked on the stage as a flash of lightning lit up the grey sky. Shoto jumped as a clap of thunder filled the tense silence. "For our first tribute of the 74th Hunger Games we have Camie Utsushimi!"
Shoto narrowed his eyes, he didn't recognize the girl's name. Watching the girl walk up to the stage he was fairly sure he didn't know her. That would make it easier to get through the time in the games beside her.
He knew he had to volunteer, if he didn't his father would make his life a living nightmare till the next games. "Alright, now for our boys. Shall I pick a name?"
She began to walk towards the bowl to her left, each step was dramatically slower then the last, another flash of lightning lit up the sky.
Enji's eyes bore into his as another rumble of thunder filled the silence. He nearly didn't do it, but his father brought a hand up to his neck and made a quick slicing movement across his throat.
He was dead either way, maybe being dead wouldn't be too horrible, at least that way he wouldn't be abused any further.
Shoto took a wavering breath before he raised his hand. "I volunteer!" He shouted.
Mina smiled, her bright white teeth shined as she returned to the microphone. "Come now. Come on up."
Shoto made his way towards her, he couldn't bring himself to meet his brother's eyes as he took the stage. "What's your name love? Aren't you a pretty thing."
Shoto felt his face grow hot at the comment, she was examining his split hair and two colored eyes closely, he had to take a step back from her. "Shoto Todoroki."
Her startling yellow eyes lit up. "I take it you're the son of Enji Todoroki, the winner of the 45th games?
"Yes ma'am..."
"Brother to Touya Todoroki? Winner of the 63rd games?"
"I think we just found our projected winner." Mina smiled as she squeezed his shoulder.
She squished his cheeks like an endearing aunt before grabbing the microphone she swept her hands to each of them with a smile on her face. "Your district one tributes Shoto Todoroki and Camie Utsushimi."
Just as she grabbed each of their hands and brought them upward in a swift motion, lightning turned the sky a deep blue for a moment before the thunder rolled again. Shoto was shaking, tears rolled down his cheeks. He only hoped if anyone could see it they would blame the rain.
