It's only been seconds since Thor breathed his last -- seconds of Carlos staring helplessly at the body that was already starting to cool under his hands. Thor's passing leaves him struck dumb: it has been nearly a year, he realizes, since someone he's known more than simply in passing has died painfully and traumatically in front of him.
His vision blurs. Carlos knows it's stupid, knows Thor will be in the Capitol within days the same as ever, but that doesn't stop his throat from going tight. As he reaches a hand up to touch Thor's face, Carlos realizes with a sinking feeling that Thor has become someone he truly cares about. What a time to realize it.
--but Clara's scream catches his attention. He whirls around, leaving Thor's body to drop to the floor, and the sight freezes him in place.
That's right. Thor's killer is still here. And he's about to kill Clara.
Carlos jumps to his feet, unsure of what it is he's going to do but trying desperately to come up with a plan on the fly. He doesn't want Tom to win, not after what had been done to Thor, but he also doesn't want Clara to win, because then getting her to District 13 would be harder. Winning himself is not an option. He is angry, grieving, but not frightened, and though reason tells him to stay where he is and instinct tells him to go to Clara's defense --
-- and a roomba makes the decision Carlos can't. Darwin, robotic Darwin who had been with him since week two, who has guarded him while he slept and who he has fought off other roombas for, is skittering across the floor toward Clara when it hits the patch of cooking oil. With a skreeeee, it slides out of control across the floor, wheels greased, right at Tom.
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His vision blurs. Carlos knows it's stupid, knows Thor will be in the Capitol within days the same as ever, but that doesn't stop his throat from going tight. As he reaches a hand up to touch Thor's face, Carlos realizes with a sinking feeling that Thor has become someone he truly cares about. What a time to realize it.
--but Clara's scream catches his attention. He whirls around, leaving Thor's body to drop to the floor, and the sight freezes him in place.
That's right. Thor's killer is still here. And he's about to kill Clara.
Carlos jumps to his feet, unsure of what it is he's going to do but trying desperately to come up with a plan on the fly. He doesn't want Tom to win, not after what had been done to Thor, but he also doesn't want Clara to win, because then getting her to District 13 would be harder. Winning himself is not an option. He is angry, grieving, but not frightened, and though reason tells him to stay where he is and instinct tells him to go to Clara's defense --
-- and a roomba makes the decision Carlos can't. Darwin, robotic Darwin who had been with him since week two, who has guarded him while he slept and who he has fought off other roombas for, is skittering across the floor toward Clara when it hits the patch of cooking oil. With a skreeeee, it slides out of control across the floor, wheels greased, right at Tom.
"Darwin, no!"