Disclaimer: I do not own THG

Rating: for implied sexual themes, including darker in later chapters

A/n: There will be five chapters in total with 5 separate relationships between 5 pairs of people. I will try to update once a day. Hope you enjoy.

We Could Have Been

1) Best Friends

Five, four, three, two-

"If you don't stop looking at me like that, I will skin you alive."

"Seven," I say out loud.

Gloss shoots me an odd look. "Seven what?"

"Don't flatter yourself," I hear Marvel sneer. "Wouldn't be caught dead looking at you."

"Seven arguments. Between those two."

"You think there's going to be a problem?" Gloss asks.

I hold up my hand, just in time to hear Glimmer say, "No, I've caught you alive several times. But I can arrange for you to die, if you want."

"You wouldn't get anywhere near me."

"No, no," I answer. "I'm just enjoying it. Trying to work out who's the most likely to win."

Gloss smiles and sits next to me as we listen to the tributes argue in the next room. Glimmer and Marvel are almost completely different. Glimmer is modest, unsure and enough of an actress not to let this show. Marvel is arrogant and confident with enough of a smirk to hide his true feelings from anyone.

I don't know how much of this Gloss has picked up. He only won seven years ago. When you've been at this for as long as I have, you start to work out what the tributes are acting like and what they're really like.

"I think Glimmer," he says.

I hold up my hand again.

"Listen, Glimmy, I don't know who you've been training against but I'm fast-"

"Doesn't say much about what you wanted to practice with me then."

"Definitely Glimmer," Gloss murmurs. "I'd give her a hundred points for that."

"Different art. As you probably know," Marvel responds.

"And as you, probably, don't."

"Want to test it?"

I smile. "I think you're right," I tell Gloss. "He let her get the upper-hand."

Gloss sighs and shakes his head. "What are we going to do, Spark? They're not going to form any kind of alliance like this. They hate each other."

I look at him. "Do you really think that?"

"Just listen to them."

"I am. Listen more carefully."

We fall silent again.

"You're just annoyed 'cause you never got to meet me personally before all this," Marvel is saying.

"I'm annoyed because I got to meet you now."

"So are you skinning me alive or what?"

"I haven't ruled it out."

"I'll take that as a no then. Which means you want me."

"In what world does it mean that?"

Gloss frowns. "They almost sound like they're enjoying the argument."

I laugh. "Yep. It's a pity really."

"What is?"

"That they met here."

"Why?"

I shrug. "Imagine they met in the district. What do you think would have happened?"

"Glimmer would have kicked him somewhere he doesn't want to be kicked?"

It strikes me again just how little Gloss perceives of other people. Maybe it comes with age. I don't know. But he's intelligent enough.

"Come on, imagine you're Marvel and you meet someone who doesn't treat you like you expected. What do you do?"

To my surprise, I see a momentary flash of pain wash over his face, as though my words have triggered some bad memory. But then he smiles his charming smile and says, "I suppose I'd keep talking to them. I'd be curious."

His tone of voice is odd – it sounds right but almost too polished. I wonder if maybe there's more to Gloss than I've noticed before. Maybe he's not the only one who doesn't notice these things.

"Exactly," I say. "Glimmer's too nice to just lash out unless she's angry. And his tone of voice is too happy for her to get really angry at."

"So you're saying they'd fall in love?" Gloss asks sceptically. "I don't see that one happening. She'd kill him within thirty minutes."

"I'm not saying that. Though Marvel wouldn't mind. Probably"

"Then why..."

"What are you like with people you get on really well with? People you know better than anyone?"

Gloss' face lights up. "You're right! The pair of them do click. In a perverse, 'what the hell' way. But they can't be friends here."

I shake my head. "I wouldn't advise it. Friends here..."

"When they die, it's like nothing else," Gloss fills in softly. "Especially if you survive over them."

We sit in silence and let their argument wash over us.

"How about-"

"Do you just have a one-track mind, Marvel?"

"Maybe I'm just hiding my many talents from you, Glimmy."

"Stop calling me Glimmy."

"Or?"

"I will skin you alive."

"That's getting old, Glimster. Get a new threat."

"Come here and say that."

"Why? You can hear me from over there, can't you? 'Sides, what was it about Glimster that especially annoys you?"

Gloss shakes his head. "So, do we just let them continue?"

"Why not? They're going to anyway."

Gloss nods. "True. But I can't help thinking it would have been better ... well, I guess meeting each other will do 'em good. In one way or another."

I nod. "Might head off to bed," I say. "I think we can give Glimmer the victory overall."

"I don't know, Marvel's getting better," Gloss answers with a grin. I laugh and stand up. As I head towards the door, he adds, "It is a pity though."

"What?"

"Nothing. Just remembering something. At least we know they're not going to murder each other tonight."

"Wouldn't count on that," I say as I open the door. "After all, the more you love someone, the easier it is to hurt them."

He shakes his head. "Whatever, Spark. Stop trying to make me think so philosophically about them."

I just laugh and leave the room.