Panem discussion

Gardens of every flower available.

Axel led Marlee into the gardens "is this alright?" he asked gently

Marlee nodded and pulled her hand away lightly. She dropped her hand to her side, not wanting to impose her hand upon him any longer. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked softly.

Axel ran a hand through his hair cursing himself the whole time "I wanted to apologize for my crude behavior and thank you for saving my life. The doctor said that in a few more moments I would have gone into cardiac arrest" he sighed

Marlee blinked, and looked up at him, surprised. "But it was my fault in the first place. If I hadnt tripped you wouldnt have gotten so upset." she said quickly.

Axel shook his head "No-- it--" he shook his head "it wasn't you. The other girl; she looks like my mom" he mumbled trying to make up for his behavior by telling her the truth .

Marlee frowned and bit her lip, "Your mom?" she asked softly and bit her lip in order to stifil her curiousity.

Axel winced "Not much to say about her" he muttered while gazing at the blooming roses with awe "My mother left me before I turned two."

Marlee frowned and reached out, taking his hand she squeezed it softly, in a way that said, 'I'm here for you.' After a few moments she asked softly, "Why me?"

Axel sighed and sat down on the bench where she was sitting "You don't seem like other girls...." he muttered

Marlee nodded, "Because I dont talk." she said and frowned at herself slightly, scolding herself mentally.

Axel crossed his arms, his heart rate elevated a bit as his blood pressure started to rise for no apparent reason. "You just..." he shook his head and rubbed his chest "You just aren't cruel like very other damn girl in the world"

Seeing his change in attitude, Marlee frowned and checked his pulse, finding that she had the desire, no the need to make sure he was alright.

Axel glanced over "What are you doing?" he mumbled; his heart has taken off in a quicker beat. Faster and faster every other two seconds.

"You need to relax. Your going into the danger zone again." Marlee said softly, and while in her medical mode she looked up. Her eyes determined as she met his. "You need to find something that calms you down."

Axel swallowed, his hand absently rubbed his chest as his face paled "What are you talking about?" he whispered

"Your pulse is high and your life is in damger. Please. Calm down." her eyes took on a softer tone, almost pleading as she let go of his wrist.

Axel swallowed and took deep breaths, quick deep breaths as he closed his eyes and continued breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth. "I don't know how" he murmered in a low rumble

Marlee nodded and took both his hands, straightening his fingers so his hands werent in fists. "Deep breaths. Slow ones." She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as demonstration. "Think of something neutral. Something you dont dislike but you dont like either." She commented softly. Her tone soft and comforting.

Axel swallowed thickly, his hands shook. In his mind popped a picture of Marlee without him realizing it. His pulse gave several funky beats before it started to slow down.

Marlee, slid her left hand to his right wrist and smiled softly at his lowering pulse. Now that the need for Medic Marlee was gone she dropped his hands and and blushed, "Sorry." she muttered.

Axel shook his head and swallowed one of the pills that he was...supposed...to take. His bright green eyes opened "Don't be" he muttered--avoiding eye contact.

Marlee nodded silently and lapsed into a silence between them. Standing she decided it best if she leave and muttered a "bye." before starting to walk away.

Axel thought back to how he responded with her before when his blood pressure rose. Hesitating for only a moment he faked a choking sound before 'collapsing' to the ground 'still' and 'not breathing' as he held his breath back.

Marlee turned and seeing him her eyes widened and she raced over. Bending down next to him she bit her lip, her eyes filled with concern as she checked his pulse. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

Axel remained perfectly still-- his pulse started speeding up quickly from lack of oxygen. he of course was doing all this himself.

Unaware that Axel was doing this himself, Marlee bit her lipand remembering the pill he took searched his pockets for another pill.

a small bottle of blood pressure pills were in his pockets, Axel 'gasped' out for air

Marlee pulled away quickly, startled and the bottle of pills in hand. She stared at Axel wide-eyed and shocked.

Axel smirked softly "So you are a little medic prodigy huh?"

Marlee sat shocked as everything snapped into place. "You tricked me." she said and frowned slightly. "Thats not nice. Look what you did." she took his hand and pressed it to her pulse. Her heart racing from her fear for him.,

Axel frowned and pulled her onto his lap, he wrapped his arms around her "Deep breaths" he whispered, "if anything listen to my heartbeat...it will calm you down" Axel mumbled

Marlee's eyes widened and rather than slow down her heartrate sped up even more and she flushed deeply, her shyness returning. She looked down at the ground and shook her head. "I'm fine."

Axel shook his head "If anyone knows the causes of a raised pulse-- then it's me" he whispered before pushing her ear to his chest

Marlee flushed darker and bit her lip she pulled away slightly and mumbled something incoherant. Onky the words 'know' 'cause' and 'heart-rate' were able to be understood.

Axel rose an eyebrow "What'd you say?" he whispered

"I know what causes my raised heart-rate." Marlee restated flushing darkly.,

Axel rose an eyebrow "What do you mean?"

Marlee shrugged, "Your heart rate increases when you get irritated or upset. Mine increases when I'm nervous or excited. No big deal." She said softly.

Axel watched her "When I was sixteen I had my first heart attack" he muttered. "I had just found out that my mother had been living two doors down with a different man but she knew I was there the whole time" Axel's heart started going faster at the memory "She had the fucking guts to bump into me one day and say 'Axel baby, remember me? I need you to go get some money from your daddy...'" he shook his head.

Marlee frowned, "Thats awful." she paused and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before speaking, "Until the day of the reaping I'd never met someone my own age before. My parents kept me at home to do stuff for them and verbally insulted me everyday." she said softly and bit her lip. "I wish you had had a better mom."

Axel's heart took off very very fast in his sudden anger "They did What?!?!?" He demanded in anger

Marlee blinked, startled by his rage she jumped slightly and spoke softly, "Please. Calm down. You're going to hurt yourself." she said pleadingly and gently.

"Why the hell would they do that!?" Axel demanded, his fists clenched tightly to where his knuckles were white and his heart raced past fact as his blood pressure rose "Do they even understand the effect they had on you!?" he yelled agrily

Marlee bit her lip, and tried to think of a way to calm him down. Only able to come up with one way she kissed him. It was a quick desperate kiss at first and her eyes widened, shocked with herself before she closed them and the kiss became soft and tentative.

Axel was shocked for a moment before his hand cupped her cheek and he kissed her back slowly. His heart started to slow down in a calmed way.

Marlee pulled away slightly and whispered, "No effect. They had no effect." she said softly and looked into his eyes, a blush on her cheeks from her brash and outgoing move.

Axel's green eyes searched hers, his heart still raced beneath her fingers from where her hands rested on his chest

Marlee bit her lip and looked away, blushing she felt his heart and smiled softly, it was lower now and she gave a small sigh of relief. Looking back towards him, and down at where her hand was on his chest, she spoke. "You make me nervous and make my heart race." she said softly stumbling over the words slightly.

Axel chuckled "and why is that exactly?" he whispered knowing in truth that Marlee would be the only female he would ever like