A/N: This is a once off author note, sorry for the length! This fic will be something of an emotional rollercoaster and if you're not prepared for that, best to turn around now. AU from the Victory tour onwards. Prepare to feel happy and surrounded by fluff before being drowned in angst and then hopefully made to laugh and vice versa.
Disclaimer: This story is based on Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games Trilogy. I am not making any profit from this and no copyright infringement is intended.
Warnings:
- A little bad language: I'm Australian, bad language just… happens.
- Sexual Content: Some parts of this fic will be sexually explicit and if you are not at the proper age to view this content in your relevant jurisdiction, please leave (hey, I have to say it!)
- Violence: Probably not a lot. I don't do big war battle scenes well. But some, no doubt.
- Character Death: Hopefully not as much as in the actual series, but will remain to be seen.
- Drug and Alcohol references/use: Nothing too drastic and not even a minor plot point.
- Character Manipulation: They are deliberately OOC, please refrain from informing me of this.
- Potential inconsistencies in grammar and tense: I proof read everything multiple times but first person and present tense are so not my usual but I am trying to be authentic. If you notice anything, please feel free to tell me and I will fix it.
- Dark content: I can't list things here, because a) spoilers and b) not set in stone yet as my later chapter planning is flexible and fluid, but there could be some potential sad angsty things which could trigger some people. Please be aware this story will have some darker more mature elements and if this could be a problem for you maybe best not to read. I don't want to seriously upset anyone.
Updates: Will be on Mondays (Possibly your Sunday as I am basically head of the timezones). However, I am easily persuaded to write and post early if I get lots of good or bad reviews! I love to know what people think, constructive criticism is always appreciated!
Summary:
"This is your life now. You are a victor, a mentor and forever in love with Peeta Mellark." In a world where Katniss need not return to the arena before the revolution, she finds that learning to love Peeta is quite easy, especially when compared with the other games she has to play.
Worse Games to Play
Prologue
I really should be surprised at myself.
I'm not of course, I suppose deep down I knew this would happen. The price to pay for winning the games is that ironically, despite the houses and the riches, the life you have isn't the one you would have wanted.
I chance a glance at Peeta and I feel a stab of annoyance, the way he looks angered and pained by this when he should be happy, he's getting what he wants.
"Very funny, sweetheart. You don't want to take me seriously? Be my guest. It's your ass on the line here." Haymitch drawls, leaning back in his seat and swigging back his ever present glass of drink.
"I'm not joking. You said yourself that this is our future, why not make it official? We're going to have to eventually and since the world's a stage now it seems stupid to not utilise an opportunity for such a big display."
I'm met with silence, Haymitch looking thoughtful and Peeta with that same anger, his hands clenched in fists so tight I'm sure it must hurt. I only have a chance to narrow my eyes before Haymitch draws back my attention.
"I suppose you've got a point. Now that there's no opportunity for self-sacrifice and risking lives and yadda yadda I suppose the whole marriage deal is your best bet. What do you think, Peeta?"
Peeta raises his glance to meet Haymitch, eyes focused deliberately away from me and I feel guilty for the first time for a reason I can't place.
"Whatever, sounds good." He answers, before standing and storming from the room, closing the door behind him with uncharacteristic force.
"What even? What is he doing? I thought he wanted this." I spit out, glaring at the door he exited through, as the sting of rejection hits me.
"Not like this, he wanted it to be real, he wanted you to want it."
I close my eyes to try and block out the realisation and the guilt knowing that Haymitch is right, that Peeta deserves so much better than this and I'm not the only one that this Capitol game is hurting. We're playing together and we're going to spend the rest of our lives playing together.
I suppose I should start learning how.