betaread by gkmoberg1

All Eyes by Imagine Dragons

Everything you say

Is just a lie

And now I'm leaving

To the city where the people

Are awake to chase a dream

That isn't real

And we're supposed to be something

That we're not

Panem et Circuses

Chapter 1

Victors Interview

Peeta Mellark took a deep breath before walking onstage. The audience's reaction to his presence was instantaneous and overwhelming. The only thing he could hear over the roar of the crowd was his heart beating in his ears. He wondered if the crowd would be this happy – or happier, even – if it had been Winnow or Cato climbing onto this stage.

He answered Caesar Flickerman's questions distractedly – all he could think of right now was Katniss. He hadn't seen her since they had been taken from the arena. The Capitol had separated them in order to have their reunion caught on television. Peeta couldn't think until he saw Katniss. And finally here she came.

The smile on her lips was pretty enough, he supposed. But Peeta could see the strain, see that it was fake. It was clear Katniss had been coached – but Peeta was glad to see genuine relief in her eyes when they rested on him.

It was hard to believe they had just won the Hunger Games. That they were the two left standing out of twenty-four other children – and it was doubtful that they deserved it the most. Peeta couldn't help but think of poor Cato, poor Winnow – the two he really did believe were in love.

Katniss sat down beside Peeta, her hand slipping into his. The small, warm contact reassured Peeta of her presence and her safety. It brought him instant clarity. Everything was brighter – warmer, and sharper. He could actually focus on Caesar's face, now. The contact even calmed the dull roar in Peeta's ears.

"How did you feel when you found him by the river?" the shockingly blue-haired host asked Katniss.

This was the sort of question that they had both been prepared for. "I felt like the happiest person in the world," Katniss said airily. It was a struggle for Peeta to keep his expression straight – she didn't really speak like that. It wasn't her. It wasn't true. "I couldn't imagine life without him."

There. That was true. The brunette turned to look at Peeta with a certain sort of glimmer in her eye – those words she meant. She squeezed his hand, coaxing a smile onto Peeta's lips. "And what about you, Peeta?" Caesar prompted.

"She saved my life." Peeta said simply. He told them everything before the games had started. None of that had changed.

"We saved each other." Katniss added, turning an adoring gaze towards the blond.

"Ladies and gentleman, the star-crossed lovers from District 12 – this year's Victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games." Caesar narrated, prompting a roar of applause from the audience.

Katniss relaxed beside Peeta, thinking this was the end of their interview – but the host opened his mouth to speak again. "I have one last question for you two…" Caesar began. The screens behind him flashed with images of Cato and Winnow – innocent depictions of the two smiling, laughing. Peeta flinched as if he had been struck.

"Winnow Fontanne and Cato Elestren were your biggest competitors in the arena – and you had a lot in common," he added. The screens behind Caesar shifted to moments of the final Career pair in moments of intimacy. Cato and Winnow sleeping curled underneath a tree, the two kissing by a creek in the wheat field – the Victors looked away.

"How must it feel – Katniss, Peeta – to know that Winnow and Cato wanted what you have so very badly – something they could never have, and know you took it from them?" Caesar questioned them.

Peeta was blindsided by the question, glancing to Katniss. She had never really believed that Cato and Winnow had really cared about one another – she was convinced that they had been faking it for the sponsors. Peeta had seen it firsthand – he had seen the affection between them.

But as Katniss watched the images on the screen, she started to believe it. The emotion on Cato and Winnow's faces was so real – so raw, hope draining from their eyes as time wore on. Katniss took a deep breath, tongue darting out to wet her lips. "Of course we wish things could have been different... But Peeta and I were determined to survive. And somehow, we managed to. And I'll never stop being grateful for that." she remarked.

Peeta took a deep breath before speaking up. "Cato and Winnow were one of a kind… as competitors and as allies-"

"Ah, yes, you were allied briefly before your true allegiance was made clear," Caesar interrupted. The screen behind him showed a moment of confrontation – when Cato had stabbed Peeta in the leg. They didn't shut off the footage before Winnow's scream echoed throughout the arena and Cato had abandoned Peeta in order to go to her aid. "None of us knew you could be so treacherous, Peeta," Caesar said slyly.

Peeta shook his head, feeling guilt coil in the pit of his belly. Katniss' hand squeezing his was a great comfort in that moment. "I had nothing against Cato or Winnow. I had nothing against any of them, really. But I needed to protect Katniss. I knew I would do anything. Even if it meant tricking her and the Careers." he explained.

"The Careers were not convinced by you, Peeta. It was Winnow and Cato that kept you alive then," Caesar pointed out.

"No, it was Winnow. Cato would have liked nothing more than to kill me," Peeta corrected irritably.

The expression on the host's face told the Victors that that was something he had already known – and only needed Peeta to say it. "And you betrayed her," Caesar said softly. The audience quieted for a moment, ears straining to hear what Peeta's reply would be.

The blond's face darkened, his strong brow creasing. Katniss stared at him in disbelief – all of this was knowledge she hadn't known before. Winnow had helped him?

"Yeah, I did. She helped me and I betrayed her. Katniss may have been the one to hold the bow, but as far as I'm concerned, Winnow's blood is on my hands. I regret it, I truly do. But Katniss and I are alive, and I can't ask for more." Peeta said harshly. He refused to say another word – forcing Katniss to answer a few more questions before they were finally released from this torturous ambush they called an interview.

A/N: Welcome to Panem Et Circuses! Seven chapters that will lead straight into Saltwater Sting!

Winnow and Cato will not be in this installment, but they are mentioned a lot. They will be in Saltwater Sting.

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