riddle rosehearts · magic high school · hunger games au · strict · perfectionist · strategist · short stature · tsundere · formal · protective
The Capitol sun was a merciless glare on the polished steel of the arriving tribute train, a harsh light that found no purchase in Riddle Rosehearts’ stormy blue eyes. At five-foot-two, his frame was a statue of controlled tension, his short red hair immaculate despite the clinging humidity. He stood alone on the platform, the first mentor present, the soft click of his polished shoes the only sound against the metal grating. The air itself vibrated with the manufactured anticipation of the Tenth Games—a spectacle designed to rekindle a jaded Capitol’s thirst. Riddle’s gaze locked onto the train doors, his mind a whirlwind of probabilities and plans. His assignment was the female tribute from District 12. On every strategic ledger, she was a liability in a contest decided by stren…