Whoa i just realized how long this fic has become and the following it has gotten...it's not even finished yet: wow. Alrighty last time we saw our handsome tribute couple they had just won the hunger games as a duo and had said their final goodbyes to their loving family. This chapter take place on the hover craft just after they were picked up. I hope you all like how i play up Peeta's sudden confusion of how the Victor's life will affect him and the interactions between all the characters.
A.N-SHOUT OUTS!
Mimikopi-Hello my wonderful reviewer: i hope i didn't cause you too much distress with my last chapter: it sounded like in your review you were afraid for most of the damn chapter. Loved that you liked both Cato/Peeta interactions and what I did with the pack-that plot line will be further explained in Portia's side story with Seneca. Hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the others.
SakuraDrops141-Well you're gonna have to wait to see what happens to him back home for another chapter: sorry.
Kristen36-Hello reader...have you reviewed before: if not then welcome to my Shout Outs, if you have then i am deeply sorry i have forgotten who you are: hope you enjoy the chapter as much as the others.
Alec03-Glad you liked all the different parts i crammed into the last chapter and i hope you continue to like what i do with this universe that i have created.
Through Darkness and Light- Welcome to my Shout Outs! Lovely to hear from you, and I'm glad you're enjoying my work: i hope you continue to enjoy this fic and everything that is a part of it.
The Few And Proud Marines- You'd be surprised how many people have told me they're happy she's gone, it's awesome because i was a little afraid of how i killed her off and the reaction i would get.
Lady Luna Riddle- Yay you reviewed, i love reading your reviews because they're always so flattering. Glad you enjoyed my chapter i was really anxious writing the whole thing and when i posted it i was eager to see how people reacted to it. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others-and hopefully no more tears are shed.
LabRat3000-No way because if your a sociopath then what the hell does that me? (i mean i was the one who envisioned this whole thing) *gulps*
Angel-Demon-Hybrid- I'm glad you liked it: here is the chapter you orders X)
Collie4life-I'm so happy you enjoyed the ending, i just couldn't leave the pack's deaths out in the open that way: so i did something about it. Hope i updated fast enough.
XxHushHushxX- Hahaha
Peeta's P.O.V
Victor…I'm a victor that's all I can process right now, when I was being air lifted into the hovercraft out of the arena I hadn't really thought about it too much I had been too busy saying my final goodbyes to the three mutts that represented my dearest friends. Cato had been by my side the whole time we had been leaving the arena, and I had clung to him like a life line, he was the only good thing to come out of the games and I had been intent not to lose him. When medics had fluttered around me I had just tuned them all mentioning things like strangely healthy and just a little tired, it was annoying that they couldn't leave me alone: had I not put on a good enough show for them, was the blood that still caked my clothes and skin not good enough for them?
The trip to the training center had taken one short half an hour but after the games and being in the open for fourteen long tiresome days I had felt trapped and enclosed even after the short time I had been forced to sit there with Cato who had been holding onto me just as tightly as I him which I could only guess meant that he was just as nervous and scared as I was. Our attendant who was checking the bite mark that had scarred over a few days ago was happily chattering about how well we had done and how we could be proud of what we did and the honor we bought to our districts but I couldn't focus on what I had become in the arena because if I did I would probably break down.
I look over at Cato who was staring at me so intently if I didn't know he loved me I would think he was trying to burn holes through my head, I give him a shaky smile not really in the right mind to keep my charming bright smile up on my face-when had I lost that ability had it been with Glimmer or Marvel?-and bring our joined hands up so I could give them a sweet kiss ignoring the way that drew squeal of delight from the female attendants on our ship, I wasn't doing this for them I just wanted to make sure that Cato wasn't going to shut down before we got out of the capitol.
My fellow victor returned my smile and shifted me closer to him so I was pressed against his side where I stayed nuzzling his side tenderly for the rest of our ride, and when it came time to depart the ships I had almost been afraid to walk into the light as if it held something dangerous that could harm me and Cato. "Peeta" I knew that voice "Are you okay?" it was Portia!
A gasp flew from my lips and I see Cato's eyes widen before we are running out of the ship to see our teams waiting for us: Cato's stylist who happened to be a handsome but over the top red haired man with reptile eyes and pale white skin and his mentor were watching him with proud smiles but it was the escort who wrapped her arms around him whispering to him kindly reminding me of the kindness Effie had shown me. Turning my attention to my own waiting party I had to use every drop of will power I had when I saw the three people waiting for me and without any hesitation I flew into the comforting arms that Portia had open for me breathing in the scent that had comforted me so easily before the games.
"It's okay Peeta" I hear her whisper as she stroked my dirty hair, how could she stand to touch me I was horrible: bloody, covered in mud and god knew what else "I've got you: you're safe now" was she crying or was it raining?
I didn't really care I was with Portia and she was warm and caring like a mother, I never had one of them and at the moment I really needed one. I could remember every time I had with Portia: her laughing at me as she dressed me in my opening ceremony costume, laughing with me about my little show in the training room, eating with her, having her fuss over my interview clothes, telling me how worried she was about me and then of course the last time I had seen her before I had gone into the arena. To say I was happy to be in her arms again was one of the funniest things I had ever thought it was a relief to be with Portia again, just to be in her comforting arms, arms that had never struck me and only ever offered me the comfort that was so much like the comfort I had always dreamed my mother giving me that it brought tears to my eyes.
Taking a deep breath and willing away the tears I glance up I see Effie standing there watching me with tears I my eyes and suddenly I'm so thankful for everything she had done for me, I knew she had liked me because of how kind I had been but I hadn't been so kind in the arena and yet here she was staring at me in awe like I was an angel or something. Pulling away from Portia I step towards my capitol escort and smile shakily and then like a switch flicked I was pulled into her arms and she was hugging me tightly as I clutched her back.
Memories of sitting with her on the train as we watch the reapings, her never lying to me about my chances, her telling me how proud she was to have me as her tribute after I had come back from my outburst. Effie teaching me to act like a career tribute when Haymitch decided to go with that angle for my tribute attitude, her laughing with me as we joked together acting like a kind of maternal figure, her tearfully saying goodbye to me the night before I had gone to the games because she didn't want to cry in the morning because she had to look her best for my sponsors. Effie had always been thinking about my best interests and in turn she had become so important to me.
"I'm so glad you came back" I hear her whisper he voice no longer holding any hint of the capitol accent that I had come to know Effie with. I found I liked her voice without the accent it made her sound younger…less uptight more human.
Pulling back I give her a smile and this time it felt a little more solid and less like it was going to fall a part in just a few seconds "Thank you" I whisper before turning to gaze at my mentor.
I would never say it, not even to Cato but Haymitch was the one person I was worried that I had alienated away from me when I was in the arena. He had of course warned me that being in there changed even the strongest of people that killing someone took away the humanity that laid within each person with each drop of blood they spilled-and I had spilled a lot-but would he ever be able to see me as the same charming kid who had volunteered for the games for a twelve year old after I had taken such joy in the act of killing, could he see me as his tribute after I had become an animal?
Haymitch eyed me for a moment as if he was assessing me for any damage which actually made me look down in shame, I knew that my actions in the arena would have their repercussions it turns out one of them must be to lose the man I had come to respect more than my own father. But just as I planned my length apology I felt Haymitch lay his hands on my shoulders and suddenly I'm being pulled into a hug a faint smell of whiskey lingering on Haymitch's suit which while it should make my stomach roll with disgust actually made me feel comfort, this was the man who had helped me stay alive in the arena and he wasn't pushing me away.
"It's okay Peeta" he said softly his tone understanding and knowing as if he had known what my fears would be "I understand what happened" he pulled back and looked me in the eyes a serious gaze boring into my own shocked and slightly terrified one. That one gaze made me feel whole, it was hard to explain but I felt as if out of everyone here only Haymitch could truly understand what had happened to me: not even Cato could fully understand what change I had gone through simply because he had been expected to love the thirst for blood and take to killing because that was how he was raised: I had not, no one in twelve was and despite the act I had put on for the capitol before the games I really hadn't been a career tribute but I had become one by the end of the games.
Haymitch gave me a knowing smirk and tapped the two knives strapped to my vest making me smile: he had been the one to get me them, he and Effie always looking out for the charming little volunteer "Keep them safe: they'll never fail you" he told me giving me a wink which made my smile turn a little warmer, I could never be the boy I had once been that was never happening but I could damn well get as close as I could.
"Sir we have to get the tributes back to their prep teams" a nearby peacekeeper said in a respectful voice as he addressed the two victors both old and new: I had just won so he would need to respect me for the rest of my life that was just how the capitol worked: you survived the death arena and you were treated like royalty so long as you play along with Snow's little games.
Portia placed a comforting hand on my shoulder as I stroked Glimmer's bow that I had not let anyone remove since I put it on and looked over to Cato who was gazing in my direction as well his own group of supporters being spoken to by another peacekeeper. I smile at him warmly, how was it that covered in blood and mud he could still look like the most beautiful thing in the world was beyond me but who was I too judge I probably look just as bad as he did and yet he was still staring at me like I was heaven sent. "Because both of them are in such good health the President wants to have the victor's interview tonight so they have the rest of the day to rest and prepare"
I glance back to the peacekeeper in front of me and dismiss him with a single nod, I don't care if I have to spend the rest of the day with my prep team getting all glammed up so I could be presentable for the Capitol all I cared about was that I was alive and Cato was with me: sure the pack may not be as whole as I would have wanted it to be but I had pieces of them with me always: I had my knives that I would always remember Clove with, my blonde hair and fierce Glare would always remind me of a certain blonde haired angel who had become my sister so fast I could have sworn that we were blood related and of course every time I look at the sun I would always remember Marvel and the way he had shone so brightly whenever the sun glowed like his Glimmer.
"Let's go see what Venturis has to say about me huh?" I say softly as Cato came over to me and linked hands with me. We both knew we would be separated soon, as we both had different floors to live on and get ready on but at that moment we didn't care we needed one another just to make sure we weren't dreaming and we had indeed survived the horrors that Seneca had thrown at me.
When we reached the elevator of the training center Cato pressed one last kiss to my lips before he stepped into the metal box his eyes screaming at how much he didn't want to leave me, I could only guess my own gaze was screaming for him to come back to me as well because I could feel that my hand was itching to reach out and grab him until he was pressed back against me. But I contain myself long enough for my team push me into the elevator that arrived after Cato's had left and then I slump against the metal all my strength seeming to have been sucked from me now that my brutal and strong alpha was gone.
Haymitch had noticed and laughed clapping me on the shoulder which drew a slight smile from me "Geez kid I knew when I had watched you and sword boy that you had it bad but you've been separated for all of five minutes and look at you" he said before laughing again,
This comment drew a scowl from Effie who promptly slapped him upside the head making him groan at the sudden contact-probably making the hangover he had a lot worse-and then turn to my escort who had her arms crossed and was sending him a fierce death glare. "I think it's sweet, it's obvious the two boys are in love: don't you have a heart?" she asked arching an eyebrow in a way I'm sure meant something but what I couldn't be sure.
My mentor scuffed his expensive boot on the floor and avoided Effie's eye in every way making me grin, when I look at Portia she gives me a tiny nod and the laugh that bubbles up in me I haven't felt since the beginning of the games and my pack was whole. "Geez you two, I would have never guessed, that's sweet" I laugh and Haymitch turns bright red as Effie gives me a sweet glare that I just grin right back at.
"It just happened" Haymitch admitted looking at my capitol escort in a way that I've never seen him look at her before, as if she had begun to glow suddenly "We kinda think it was over our worry of you"
I smile kindly and nod before letting the subject drop, I would grill the two of them later but now the elevator had stopped and I'm more than ready to face the horror that was my prep team, I could already imagine how Amaria was going to react when she saw the state of my nails or even the way Overia was going to scream when she saw the layers upon layers of grime and dirt that had taken place on my skin, I could already foresee many a baths in my near future, and I didn't even want to know what Venturis was going to do when he saw what had happened to my hair over the last two weeks: The doors open and I take a deep breath here goes nothing.
As soon as I step into the floor which I was sure was about to turn into a beauty salon I could have sworn you could have heard a pin drop all the way back in district twelve it was that quiet. My prep team was staring at me in shock and what I was sure was horror I couldn't quite tell with their strange capitol enhanced looks. Venturis's reptilian eyes flickered over my form and then he strode forward and pulled me into a hug shocking me frozen: what the hell I thought he would be horrified to see me and here he was hugging me dirt and all. "I almost didn't believe you had made it" I hear him whisper and smile kindly at him.
Amaria is holding back tears when she flings herself at me and when I clutch her I only get about half of what she is saying to me because the rest is just blubbering but I stick through it and hold her tightly stroking her back kindly until she lets go and I'm standing in front of Overia who hasn't moved since I walked in. The woman in charge of my skin steps forward and I'm sure she's going to flinch because of how dirty I am but instead she lays her hand on my cheek and smiles fondly at me, "You may need hours of work to clean you up but you're still as handsome as ever" she said warmly pulling me into a tight hug.
"Alrighty well we're gonna leave him in your capable hands" Haymitch said from the elevator his drawl coming out thick and true making me grin there was the mentor I knew and loved. "Ring for us when he's ready"
Venturis nodded and then without any more touching moments he pointed me towards the bath and Overia gave me a knowing smile as I groaned: this was going to be a very long day as I could already tell. Surprisingly though when I slipped in the purple tinted water I couldn't stop the sigh of pleasure that burst from my lips, I had only ever clean in cold water since entering the arena and this hot steaming water was like heaven to my sore muscles which were now relaxing due to the beautiful soothing liquids that were added to the water. But one thing that did make me do a double take was how quickly the water got dirty, I had barely scrubbed my body clean-I wasn't even attempting to do my hair-and the water was so grimy I couldn't see through it; which was when Overia had me switch into a bath that was tinted a slight yellow color and smelled faintly of coconut.
I had to go through this twice more before I was finally clean and it was like I was a new person, suddenly I felt different nothing like the killer that had walked into the room. Oh I knew that I was the one who had killed all those tribute, I was the one who had happily ended their lives but once I was clean I suddenly felt as if I no longer had to feel guilty about it, the blood was still on my hands I could still practically smell it despite the fact I had been bathed in so much scent enhancer it wasn't funny. But I knew they had to die…there may have been two winners this year but there could have easily only been one, they need their victor: I was just playing the game.
Amaria chattered happily to me as she did my nails talking about how excited she was when I was announced a winner and yet how disgusted she was in my appearance how the capitol should give us soap and the like while we're in the arena which actually had been laughing in shock. This was why I loved my prep team: they somehow knew that I didn't want to talk about the horrors of the games, the kills I had relished or anything about that, but instead they were making me see the lighter side of the games and that was something I needed at the moment. Once I had recovered from my laughing fit long enough for my nail expert to scold me on the fact that it wasn't a laughing matter I let Venturis take to my hair again slathering it in blonde dye again, I trusted him not to make me look like a cannery and I was sure that my trust would be well placed: he hadn't made me look to ugly yet had he?
Once my hair was finished I was shocked to see that he had recreated my glowing halo of blonde hair that I had been given for my interview only this time my hair resembled Glimmer's glowing locks so much so that it brought tears to my eyes as I touched my reflection in the mirror. "Oh my god" I whisper in shock as Venturis gave me a warm smile.
"Portia and I decided to do it for you when we saw her pass in the arena" he said laying a hand on my shoulder "We knew how much you and her looked alike so we decided to make you just that little bit closer…do you like it?" I could tell that my hair stylist was nervous because he never asked if I liked what he did, he just assumed that I would love it, and this time he was right: it was amazing.
Nodding slowly I turn around and give him a warm hug just in time for Portia to walk in with another garment bag in her hand a kind smile on her face when she saw my hair. "Thank you" I choke out before stepping back and wiping my eyes. "For everything" I add looking back at the two other members of my prep team who beamed at me happily as if they were honored to be called my prep team.
After the final touches I had to say goodbye to my prep team until alter that evening at the ball I would be forced to attend and I was left with Portia who was giving me a knowing smile. I suddenly wondered how Cinna was doing, he had really liked Katniss in fact I was sure he and my district partner had been just as close as I was with Portia. I don't ask but it's playing on my mind the whole time Portia is sliding me into my clothing, I'm not sure what she's dressing me in but I do know it covers my alliance mark that Amaria and Overia had gotten star struck over: apparently because the career alliance was the one that won the games it was one of the most sought after markings around, just to get a glimpse of one was like an honor.
"There we go" I hear Portia say in her satisfied voice which meant I looked handsome not that I was worried, my stylist would never let me leave the room if I didn't look amazing.
I finally glance up in the mirror and feel my heart stop at my reflection staring back at me, I was in a midnight black suit with a blood red shirt on underneath, but it wasn't the colors that made me pause at my reflection it was more so the beautiful embroiled wolf that was howling on the right side of my jacket, the number twelve and the word Alliance stitched into my left shoulder. "Portia…it's amazing" I whisper in shock.
My stylist smile and turned around to grab something making me pause, was there more to the outfit…for a second I was almost afraid she was going to set me on fire again until she turned around with a leather band that had me freeze: it was my token. The band that Gale had given me before the capitol before I had become a piece in the President's games, when I was still the boy from the bakery who hunted for the seam, the leather had been stained with so much blood I was almost afraid to put it on again but when Portia strapped it on for me I felt a smile stretch across my face, I did promise to give it back didn't I.
"The bow is in your room" Portia said as she lifted my jacket to reveal my two sponsor bought knives strapped to my chest where they were at easy reach making me laugh "But I thought you might wanna keep these two close" she added with a wink making me laugh and then pull her into a hug.
"Thank you Portia…for everything" I say in a sigh, I couldn't imagine having anyone but Portia work on me just as I couldn't imagine having another prep team.
I pull back and take one final glance back at my flawless reflection and had to shake my head slightly, it still amazed me that my prep team and Portia had been able to turn my bloody and mud covered form into the handsome and strong looking man staring back at me from the mirror. "Alright" I say turning back to the woman who had helped created my flawless form "Shall we go face the capitol then?" I ask offering her my arm.
Portia laughed and then took my arm happily before leading me through the door where Haymitch and Effie were waiting, when my mentor saw me he let out a low whistle of approval while Effie actually held a hand to her chest as her eyes softened "Well kid if you hadn't captured the capitol's hearts before now you're defiantly going to now" he said before beckoning me to follow him.
On the way to the interview levels I listened as Haymitch instructed me on how to ask, I was still in a bit of a daze knowing that I was going to be on display again for everyone to see once more. "Alright you're going to have to play the charming Career card again" my mentor instructed, "Cato's got the strong one down, you have to play up the fact you are the one who kept him grounded throughout the games, that he was the one that kept you going that without one another you would have died" he said and I find myself nodding in consent it was true practically.
"Everyone in Panem saw how close you were with the other members of your alliance, you have to make them understand it wasn't just an alliance: that they were family, you have to make President Snow believe that the alliances were a good idea make him believe that inner district unity was created" he said seriously and I swallow nervously, I could already tell that this interview was going to be a lot harder than my pre-game had been. "But most of all give the capitol a show" he whispered finally before the elevator doors opened and I could hear the sound of the crowd.
"Peeta has just arrived" I hear a capitol worker yell out and suddenly two peacekeepers are by my sides.
"This way sir" the larger of the two said as they escorted me to an area that I was sure would lead me onto the stage when it was time.
As I waited for Ceaser to introduce me and Cato I waited anxiously, Haymitch's final words playing over and over in my head: the capitol wanted a show, hadn't I already done that with the games, hadn't becoming an animal been enough for them? But suddenly I understood what Haymitch meant and held my head up high as I heard Ceaser call out Cato's name which made the crowd scream in delight for the strongest tribute that had entered the games his year. "Alrighty here goes" I whisper as I hear Ceaser congratulate my lover before mentioning me in a roundabout way it was show time.
"Now Cato here of course was only one half of our victors this year!" Ceaser said dramatically as I fix a charming grin on my face, "You know him as the first and only Career of district twelve but over the last two weeks we've seen him become the hunter of the pack, strong and calm the spirit of the Career alliance: Peeta!" the two metal doors in front of me swung open and taking a deep breath I step through them and onto the stage.
The roar of applause that greeted me had my smile widening and I laughed waving at them happily as if I was shocked to see them, I turn and see Cato sitting just a few feet away from me and I almost froze, gone was the dirty killer that had protected me until the end and in his place was a handsome blonde warrior decked out in a dark blue suit which was tailored to perfection making his muscles stand out. "Cato!" I shout happily and rush over to him much to the audience's pleasure and approval.
I jump into my lover's welcoming arms and press my lips to his excitably, despite only being apart for the day I had missed him like I would miss part of myself and it showed in the way I kissed him. I gripped him tight and let Cato practically bend me backwards with the force he was kissing me with. When we broke a part I nuzzle our noses together and grin at him happily, I know that was a show but I couldn't care less I had my Cato and that was all that mattered. It was Caesar's laugh that reminded me that we had an interview to get through so I turn to him and hold out the hand that wasn't entwined with Cato's and shook his hand giving him my signature charming smile.
"Well that was intense" the blue haired man said as Cato and I sat down on the love seat as close as I could without totally disappearing into his side. "I mean we all knew that you were together it happened for all of us to see but that was just pure amazing" he said turning to the audience who cheered in approval and agreement.
Cato chuckled and kissed out joined hands like I had in the hovercraft earlier that morning as I stroked his face lovingly "We knew there was something before the games" he admitted making me blush and look down shyly which drew coo's from the female audience members "But it wasn't until we were in the arena that I knew I had to take my chance to show Peeta how much I loved him" I look up into Cato's eyes and see the honesty there making me kiss his cheek sweetly.
That of course made the audience cheer again until Ceaser calmed them down "Now boys…the alliance it was more than that for you and the others wasn't it" he said kindly and I could actually see that he cared for what we felt that the understood that this would be hard for us to talk about "I mean we all heard you both several times talk about it being a pack…you wanna explain that?"
I nod slowly and squeeze Cato's hand tightly needing his silent support "We weren't just five people thrown together to fight together we were…like family" I say making the audience sigh at how beautiful it sounded "We had a connection deeper than friendship like a wolf pack has, our marking was that of a wolf and it had started off as a joke that we were like the wolves of the games hunting down our prey…but soon it became more than that, it became reality" I say softly as I remember laughing with Glimmer over our little nickname.
Ceaser smiled kindly at me and rested his hand on my knee "I think we'll all remember the deaths of your pack mates" he said as images of Glimmer, Marvel and Clove laughing and joking around with Cato and I appeared on the screens in front of us. "You made each one special in their own way, I think everyone was in tears during the night Clove died" the interviewer said wiping away a tear.
"Thank you" I whisper and squeeze Cato's hands once again this time to give him support, "That means a lot"
The audience cheered again when the images faded and Ceaser cleared his throat before asking us what I was sure would be the final question before we had to watch a replay of the games. "Now I'm sure everyone could see that Cato is the Alpha in the pack" Ceaser said chuckling at the pack analogy he made which actually made both me and Cato grin in return "But what would you say Peeta was in the pack?"
"My Beta…my mate: the one who made sure I didn't break down after Clove died" Cato said before I could and I was now staring at him with such shock and love that President Snow wouldn't be able to think any differently about it. "Without Peeta I don't think I could have made it"
Ceaser sighed at the touching words and then turned his attention back to me "And Peeta…could you have gone on without Cato?"
I shake my head and once again bring my hand up to caress Cato's cheek almost as if I still couldn't believe he was mine "No…he held me up when I otherwise would have fallen"
The audience was going crazy by now but I didn't care I just wanted this to be over so I could be alone with Cato, luckily for me Ceaser then began to Games replay and I was able to snuggle up to Cato and watch as I got to see me and the pack before the games laughing and training together in the training area, then of course it cut to the interviews where I got to see how charming and kind I was. Next it cut to the arena and the bloodbath: of how I saved both Clove and Glimmer, then to the creation of my pack, to the time we had split up, how Clove and I struggled, it then cut to Cato, marvel and Glimmer and their own adventures, then to Clove's kill and Glimmer's following, the of course came the fire.
I winced when I saw me and Clove rushing through the forest dodging the attacks of the fire that was licking on my heels, it was hard to watch yourself run away from something even when you know that you survive it, I got to watch Glimmer, Marvel and Cato run away as well and I wasn't sure if that was harder to watch more so than my own. Then of course there was our reunion, the next few moments faded away from me as I felt Cato stroking my hand lovingly making me look up in his eyes and smile sweetly.
"I love you" he whispered in my ear "forever and always my boy from twelve"
Smiling happily I kiss him gently and pull back a short time after to give him a sweet smile "And I love you my brutal and bloody Alpha" I whisper back before tuning in just in time to watch Cato kill Katniss.
The next thing I saw almost made me cry: it was the career mutts. The beautiful wolves that had been created from my pack mates, but just like when I had said goodbye in the arena I didn't cry I watched with dry eyes as I said goodbye to them then it was me and Cato on the hovercraft as we headed back to the capitol signalling the end. I breathed deeply as the lights turned on and waited for the next round of questions to come my way more than ready to answer them.
By the time the coronation had arrived I was ready to crawl into my bed with Cato and fall asleep, but I don't, I sit on my beautiful throne which had wolves running over its surface with one howling at the top: proving the two thrones to be Career alliance victor chairs until the President walks out with two crowns on ruby red pillows. When he holds up his hands the crowd go silent and he turned to me with one of the crowns, I stare into his eyes unflinchingly as he placed the band around my head not challengingly but not backing down in the slightest "Congratulations Mr Mellark: you should be proud of what you did in the arena" he said to me a proud glint shinning in his eyes. "I Hope you and I stay in close contact together now that you're such a great victor"
I want to flinch at what he just old me but I don't I just smile charmingly and thank him before he moved onto Cato placing the crown on his head and congratulating him on the honor he gave district two on his victory not only as a hunger games victor but also as the leader of the Career Alliance. I try not to think on what he just said and what that could possibly mean for my future: I know it was a cowardly thing to do but I really didn't want to think of all the bad things that could come out of my victory I just wanted to rest and remember. President Snow turned to the crowd and smile warmly at them just like the brilliant actor he was making them all cheer again "People of Panem I give you for the first time ever the two victors of the seventy fourth hunger games: Peeta Mellark of District twelve and Cato D'Anto of District two the Career's!"
This time I sink into my throne feeling sick as my hand finds Cato's unknowingly trying to draw what strength I could from him: if this was the life of a victor I couldn't help but wonder if dying would have been better. But then I see Cato smiling at me lovingly from the corner of my eyes and I know that I could overcome anything President Snow makes has in store for me: I'm a survivor and so was Cato and you can never break a survivor: Haymitch is proof enough of that. So I turn to the people of the Capitol and raise mine and Cato's joint hands into the air like I had with Katniss during the parade and wave at them happily, they only wanted a show after all.