Chapter 7: From Rags to Riches

The choppers came to collect the dead and return Indigo to the Capitol. Doctors immediately set to work to remove the tracker and heal Indigo's arm and anything that remained to be done on his leg. When the thief-turned-tribute-turned-victor stumbled off the plane, he found Savera and Woof waiting for him.

"Indigo!" Savera squealed, pulling him in for a hug the way a mother would her son. "I'm so proud of you, sweetheart!" Woof clapped him on the back.

"Way to go, boy!" As Capitol folks and reporters then swooped down to offer their congratulations, Indigo didn't notice his mentors smile at each other and hold hands.

Preparations were made for Indigo's final interview with Caesar and the presentation of his crown. The festivity was great, until Indigo was forced to watch the entire replaying of his Games, from the bloodbath to his and Adara's final stand against Aelius. Indigo did not even try to hide the tears as Adara died, and the audience seemed touched by his humanity. President Dore placed the crown on his head, and suddenly, the victors of Dsitrict 8 were on their way home.

Mayor Quaillen threw a party for the district's new hero, though many of the townsfolk were not pleased to see Indigo back alive and well. Indigo tried to ignore this, and actually found it amusing when the Peacekeepers were made to serve him dinner.

Winter was there before anyone knew it, and with it came the Victory Tour. Parties were held throughout Panem and District 8 was given enough food to last everyone an entire year.


Indigo gradually began to settle into his new life as a Victor. With a sprawling house in the Victor's Village and as much money and possessions as he could ask for, his thieving days were definitely behind him. Of course, he now had to mentor future District 8 tributes (which he resented) but the only pleasure he took from it was that he and Woof now alternated training the male tribute. Indigo was glad to give the young man a break. After almost a decade of doing it alone, Woof had earned it.

One winter day, about two years after his victory, Indigo walked into Woof's house to find him and Savera kissing ferociously at the table. The boy dropped the groceries he had bought for their weekly dinner together in shock.

"What are you two doing?!" he cried. Savera and Woof broke apart tenderly, and though Savera blushed and looked flustered, she waved Indigo off.

"What does it look like?" she grinned. "We're necking!" Indigo gathered the food and a meal was quickly prepared. As the victors ate, Indigo said, "You know, you could've told me. When did…this…um…" he gestured between his mentors.

"Oh, ever since your Games," Woof shrugged. Indigo could only laugh.

That spring, the whole of District 8 gathered in the Village for a special ceremony. Indigo was dressed in a tux, serving as best man. After signing an official parchment, though Savera had decided to keep her maiden name, she and Woof stood at the altar. Woof brought his face close to hers and kissed his bride gently. Savera practically pounced on him and devoured his lips as the district devolved into cheers and wolf-whistles. After a party at Woof's place (the newlyweds would split time between the two houses that were right next door to each other), someone called out, "Y'all better get ready for the 33rd Games!"

"Why?" Savera asked, pausing in a dance with her new husband. "It's not for another five years!"

"That's when it's our turn again!" chortled Mayor Quaillen. "We've won every 8 years since the Games started - it's our lucky number!" Everyone laughed and Indigo smiled. That was indeed true.

That evening, Indigo was preparing for bed when Savera appeared in the doorway.

"Shouldn't you be with Woof?" Indigo smiled.

"We've fucked twice already; he can wait five minutes," she dismissed. She then set about helping the boy into bed. Indigo would have said something about being too old, until it dawned on him that this had never happened to him before. Savera wished him goodnight and ruffled his hair affectionately. As she made to leave, Indigo sat up.

"Savera?" and here he blushed. "…May I call you Mom?" Savera smiled and began to pepper his face with kisses, Indigo trying and failing not to giggle. That was a yes. The boy fell asleep that night imagining District 8's victory in the 33rd Hunger Games.