A/N: Teen - Violence, Mature/Dark Themes
Rating may climb, it's hard to write an all audiences Hunger Games story.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games and am not affiliated in any way with the people who do.
Summary: AU, OC story about "The Angel of the Arena" as she struggles to help Katniss and a secret capitol resistance movement.
Cinna suddenly appeared on the landing above where Haymitch, Katniss, and Peeta were sitting on plush coaches going over a few types of strategies to use in the Hunger Games.
Katniss turned in interest to look at her new friend. Cinna had a way of making her feel safe even in the middle of a nightmare.
"Haymitch, Lumina is here to see Katniss."
"Really?" said Haymitch, obviously pleased. He sprang out of his seat and gestured impatiently to Katniss when she didn't move fast enough.
"Lumina who? Why is she here?"
"Lumina Morn. "The Angel of the Arena" You've heard of her, everyone has."
"Why is she here?"
"Because I asked her to come. Because she's a victor. Don't ask so many questions and make a good impression."
Katniss moved somewhat impassively and ascended the stairs with Haymitch. Peeta seemed a bit confused and stayed where he was. Cinna moved to keep him company.
Katniss had seen Lumina Morn's face many times before on various ads, and seen her sing on glimpses of broadcasts from The Captiol. Katniss knew she was a victor from an outlying district and a current celebrity. She struggled to remember anything she had heard about the woman's victory in the Hunger Games when Katniss was a child.
Presently they reached the next floor and the glamorous woman appeared about 15 feet in front of her.
"Lumina!" said Haymitch happily, moving quickly towards the figure with Katniss going at a slower pace. Haymitch got very close to the star.
"Haymitch. You're sober today, how nice."
Haymitch stopped his approach but seemed to brush off the insult.
He grabbed Katniss' arm and presented her in a hurried and eager way, "Lumina, this is Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire."
The two shook hands.
"So will you help her win?" said Haymitch abruptly and intently.
"Aren't you going to at least let me talk to her?" said the star smoothly and slightly mockingly.
"Sure, talk, talk…" said Haymitch, standing awkwardly next to them, staring.
"How about by ourselves?" asked Lumina, Katniss had the impression she was giving an order, but it was a very subtle one.
"I guess I'd better see about Peeta," said Haymitch, obviously unhappy to be leaving.
Halfway to the doorway, he turned around and stared at Lumina, "Please" he said so quickly that Katniss wasn't sure that it had happened. Then he was gone.
Lumina turned to her and smiled charismatically. The star was actually beautiful in person, but not nearly as delicate as her public persona.
"I'm pleased to meet another volunteer," said the star as a compliment.
"I didn't want to volunteer. I didn't have a choice. Prim is 12, I couldn't just watch her die."
Lumina nodded. Katniss remembered the woman must know what it felt like to be in her shoes. Although she never had understood why she had volunteered.
"How did you survive?" said Katniss suddenly, "How do I make it back to District 12?"
Lumina looked away from her, "Have you asked Haymitch how he survived?"
"He doesn't like to talk about it."
"No one does. At least, those of us who aren't utterly ruthless."
Another pause, and then the star said smoothly, "Let me see you on the simulators. Maybe I can give you some tips."
24 Hours Earlier
Lumina knew better than to mention this year's District 12 tributes to Haymitch Abernathy. She wanted to though. A volunteer. How fascinating. She sighed. Of course I'm glad my 10 years isn't up yet. It's easy for me to be detached. Lumina had won the Hunger Games 8 years ago. It would be another 2 before she'd be required to be a teacher like Haymitch. District 8 didn't have very many winners either, so there was no way she'd get out of it. She couldn't blame Haymitch for hating it. He's drinking again. Not that he ever stops. She sighed again and then finished putting on her latest ridiculous gown.It doesn't do to keep the crowd waiting.
Lumina's dress for today's interview was a dark green peplum ballgown with a boat neckline. Every single part of it sparkled. Her long red hair was in an elaborate pompadour updo and her false eyelashes were sparkly green to match the dress. Despite her loyalty to the resistance Lumina enjoyed the glitz and glamour of being a celebrity. Her Captiol career had started shortly after (some would say during) her Hunger Games experience. She had turned being "the Angel of the Arena" into being a major singer, producer, and fashion maven. Many of her fans had half forgotten she was from District 8. They accepted her as one of their own. More than that, they accepted her as a leader.
Lumina smiled and moved onto the stage of her least favorite talk show. It wasn't that Caesar was so bad for a talk show host (they were a horrible lot in general), it was that being here always reminded her of her fellow tributes from the 66th Hunger Games, including Garnet.
Especially Garnet.
"And here is my next guest, Miss Lumina Morn!" The crowd cheered.
"Lumina, lovely to see you as always."
"It's wonderful to see you Caesar."
"You look gorgeous, doesn't she look gorgeous crowd! That's it give her a hand!" The crowd cheered.
"Turn around and let them see the dress! Wow, that sparkles! I bet that's an original fabric. That's exactly what someone as beautiful as you should be wearing."
"Thank you Caesar."
"You're welcome Lumina. So have a seat and let me ask you what you're here to talk about. We could talk about so many things. Your 10th number 1 single. Your artist of the year award. Your rumored romance with the actor Gallant. Your new clothing line, which is what I'd like to talk about. But no, what we're here to talk about is The Hunger Games!" The crowd cheered loudly.
"So tell me Lumina, how do you like this year's tributes?"
"Well, there's a 12 year old this year, which I always think is sad." Lumina had been emphasizing this point for years now, very subtly trying to make the crowds feel pity.
"Yes, that's true, little Rue, always sad to see a cute one like her. But then maybe we'll have a young winner this year, she's very bright."
"And the first two districts seem to have strong tributes again this year. It's amazing what 18 years of training can do for their chances. By the time they graduate from that academy they show so little aversion to violence." Lumina hated the training schools. Subtly, subtly, she tried to make people understand that they turned perfectly normal children into killers.
"Absolutely, and you faced such a tough crop of 1 & 2 tributes when you were competing. Especially the girl tribute from District 1."
"Yes, I don't think this year's girl tributes from 1 & 2 are as strong. Their strength seems to be on the male side this year."
"They certainly do seem to be strong. Now what about the tributes from the outlying districts? Is there anyone you're routing for?"
"Well, I hate to take sides exactly on the games. You know since I've competed I know how they feel."
"Very sensitive, very sensitive our Lumina. That's our angel. But tell me, you must have an opinion."
"I do have to say that I always watch the volunteers."
"Naturally, being a volunteer yourself."
"The others are making due with what they've been given, but the volunteers chose to go in the arena. And they earn my respect for that."
"And of course you're talking about the girl tribute from District 12."
"Yes, the girl on fire."
"So is she going to win this year's Hunger Games?"
"Let's just say I'm keeping my eye on her." And it was out, she hadn't met Katniss Everdeen yet but she'd already done her a good turn. Both her vast fan base and a certain percentage of the other sponsors (the ones that thought Hunger Games victors could predict games) would be watching for her opinion.
"And that's it ladies and gentleman, Lumina Morn says watch the Girl on Fire!"
"So glad to have you Lumina. I can't wait to have you back!"
"I can't wait to be back Caesar. I'm coming out with a new single! How about I sing it live for you!"
"That Miss Morn would be absolutely en-chant-ting!"
The crowd cheered wildly.
After the interview Lumina spent 6 hours in the studio prepping her latest single and then finally got to return to her apartment. It was dark and she say no sign of Zeus. Good, he won't be here tonight. At least I don't think so. She could never really tell as he could drop in on her at the most unusual times. But it was likely that he was too busy with The Hunger Games to do any checking on her. She sat down on the couch by the window, put her feet up, and closed her eyes. For a second, her memory unwilling flashed back to when Zeus had slammed her head into the wall when she was sitting in this same position. She sighed and ignored the memory. She had gotten very good at ignoring memories like that over the years.
Zeus Apollo was a very influential Capitol businessman. He was a tech wizard and producer and had contracts with 50 government agencies, including The Hunger Games. But like Lumina, he wanted to overthrow the government. She had married him secretly a year after winning The Hunger Games. She hadn't known quite what to do or who to trust after her "victory" and Zeus had been there for her, protected her when she'd had nothing.
He was very powerful and very possessive, there was no getting away from him whatever he did to her. And besides, she loved him, or at least she had.
It was Lumina's policy to not think about Zeus when he wasn't around and she quickly turned her attention to her messages. There were the usual things about business, some corporate presents, and on the bottom a white enveloped tied with a red ribbon:
If you're interested in my tribute, why don't you lose the sparkly dress and come help me.
-H.A.
Lumina had known Haymitch Abernathy since before she competed in the Hunger Games. He had stayed in her district for a while. He had not wanted her to volunteer.
Lumina stared at the invitation and debated in her mind. She stayed out of the Hunger Games as much as possible, only dealing with the pageantry side. She, like Haymitch, hated to deal with the tributes in person because it filled her with guilt, memories, and a sense of impotence.
But Haymitch was asking for her help. And she was curious about Katniss Everdeen. Lumina could remember her face as she had volunteered for her sister, like a deer in headlights, but there was a subtle toughness and determination to her figure, something that said "don't underestimate me," even as the 16 year old looked ready to collapse. Everything Lumina had heard about the tribute since had backed up her initial impression.
Lumina wasn't sure if there was any point in meeting Katniss though. Lumina did not want to train the tribute to be ruthless. And what else could the tribute be taught at this point? She had the skills to survive, but perhaps not the cunning and nasty disposition for it. Lumina had not gone into the arena expecting to survive. Her dislike of extraneous violence had earned her the nickname "The Angel of the Arena". Lumina had survived the Hunger Games for many reasons, almost in some ways, by accident. She was sent into the arena to die, and to strike a blow at The Capitol. Needless to say, someday Lumina would accomplish one or both of these things.
Early the next morning Lumina found herself in District 12's apartments. She inwardly cringed as she remembered her own Hunger Games apartment. She smiled and greeted one of her favorite Capitol fashion designers.
"Hello Cinna."
"Lumina! How lovely to see you!" Cinna reached out and hugged her. "I love that dress. Did Matsumoto design that for you? I've always been jealous of how many times he gets to design for you."
Lumina was wearing a short strapless black dress with black on black embroidered fireflies. A see through train started at her waist and had the same embroidery but where the firefly bulb would be there was a jewel that flashed like fireflies. Her long hair was down. "Ah, you know you don't design for me more because you're so busy Cinna."
"That's true, that's true, I am very busy. But I'll design again for you very soon, Lumina. Listen," he said, lowering his voice, "Haymitch told me that he asked you to come. Please do help this girl." His voice was very sincere.
Lumina had hardly seen Cinna so serious. She was surprised, "I mostly came to meet her Cinna. You know I don't like to interfere with the games. Helping one child just means others die. And there's little I can do anyway."
"I think you respect her." said Cinna with his usual perception, "You went out of your way to promote her yesterday. To get sponsors interested. And you're capable of doing quite a lot for her."
"You didn't respond..."
"Lumina, if it's not her, it'll be one of the killers from Districts 1 or 2. You know that. They always win."
"Not always."
"Almost always, and they're very strong this year. I'm not asking you to help her become a killer, no one would go to the Angel for that. And I don't want her turned into one, even if it means her living. I want her just like she is."
"No one is the same after the arena Cinna."
"No, but who she really is will survive it. It won't break her Lumina. And it won't make her a killer. She'll bring humanity to the arena Lumina. You're the only person I know who's done that. So help her."
"I can't promise anything Cinna. Let me meet her and I'll decide for myself."
"Wonderful."
"But I won't teach her to be ruthless, like my father always said, 'Stand like a man, or you'll die like a dog."
"He was a very wise man," said Cinna, agreeing with the saying. And more ruthless than anyone I've ever met, thought Cinna disapprovingly.