These Games We Play

by HHRandG

Haymitch story, Haymitch POV. What happened to him after he won the 50th Hunger Games, to his involvement with the rebellion? It starts with his struggle to avoid being the capitol puppet, what it costs him and his realization that he should do something.

1. Chapter 1

A/N A huge thanks to Mrs. Muddlewait for the beta read. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't

have the courage to publish any of these. I hope you'll like it.

Chapter 1

Haymitch Abernathy was named the victor of the 50th Hunger Games. His family couldn't be happier that he came back alive. He just recently transferred to Victor's Village, a place where his family was the sole occupants. The first District 12 victor had died a few years ago, leaving Haymitch without a mentor when he and his fellow tributes, including Maysilee Donner, entered the games.

It had only been a week since they moved out of the Seam and into the comfortable white townhouse adorned with Victorian architecture. He was watching his sister enjoy the Capitol-made amenities and elegant china in their kitchen, where her gray clothing from the Seam looked out of place. The smile in her eyes didn't, though, the eyes that lit up brighter than the soft lighting in the room every time she discovered something new in the modernized kitchen. She was the only one who fit into in their new lives. Everything Haymitch saw in this four-walled box shouted that they do not belong here. Especially him, the Quarter Quell Victor - he wasn't at all deserving of all this.

The day after the celebration of his victory, he got an unexpected visitor. A girl, a grieving girl, whose eyes he had difficulty meeting, came, demanding stories, last words, some remembrance of his district partner, Maysilee. She wanted him to console her with memories of the time he spent with her sister. He told her nothing. He wasn't supposed to feel guilty over Maysilee' s death, , and yet here he was. She died minutes after breaking their alliance, eaten by the Capitol-created birds. He couldn't get over it. He realized that his alliance with her wasn't just part of the Games. It was deeper than he ever thought and more painful, when it ended that way, than he ever expected.

The sister never visited again. Haymitch assumed she got the message. He would never be able to talk about it. God forbid he will ever need to.