A/N: 'Ello lovies. I must first and foremost apologize for my absence once more.. this is becoming quite a trend isn't it? I've never been one to beg for reviews, and I won't be one now. But I will say that the main reason I continue this (albeit slowly) is because of my reviews. I don't want to let you guys down! So if anyone is still reading this (five years later… pathetic on my part - I know!) please let me know so that I know I'm not doing it for nothing. I enjoy writing but my pace will undoubtedly increase if I know people are still waiting on it. I swear on the old gods and the new, I mean it this time.

Johanna couldn't quite believe her eyes.

She had barely taken her spot at their usual table in the viewing center when her eyes focused on the big screen where Katniss and Peeta were arguing over who gets to live and die. Clearly a lot had gone down when she hadn't been around.

Through Blight and Ina, she pieced it together. The Game Makers had promised the remaining victors that there could be two victors by the end of the game. A quick, narrow escape from some Capitol mutts and a sword fight later with Cato, and Katniss and Peeta were all that remained. It was only then that the Game Makers decided to take back that promise. Declaring that only one could come out of there alive. Only one could be victor.

Peeta, playing the perfect, doting boyfriend, offered the victory to her. But she refused, handing him some poisonous berries while keeping some for herself. Pleading with him to trust her. Johanna absolutely yearned to see the look on Snow's face right now.

After a moment's pause, the pair leaned into each other, foreheads touching, Peeta lightly raking his fingers through her dark braid as he said "together?"

"Together," she agreed.

"One," he started; counting down.

"Two," she continued.

"Three," they said in unison as they moved their heads towards their outstretched hands, towards the berries.

"Stop!" They pulled apart, tilting their heads upwards.

"STOP!" The overhead yelled again.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Johanna could hear the restraint in the voice, like Flickerman was fighting to get the words out as he finished "may I present the winners of the 74th Annual Hunger Games."

Katniss feigned surprised shock, while Peeta truly looked shocked as they threw the berries to the ground beneath them and embraced, holding tight to one another.

The crowds outside of the Capitol erupted in cheer. What a love story to behold! Two young lovers paired together, overcoming the odds and emerging victorious as one. Caesar Flickerman, Claudius Templesmith, they were all too enthralled with the love story of it all to truly comprehend what had just happened. The viewing center was dead silent – and it was silent, because each and every person in that room understood what had just happened in that arena. Katniss had showed her hand. And even more so, Katniss had showed her hand and won. She knew that the Hunger Games needed a victor, and when they made a play to ensure that there would be only one, she had called them on their bluff. And it had worked.

She had pulled off something that was seemingly impossible. She out-played Snow. And Johanna knew in that moment, that there would be hell to pay. The girl would survive the games, but would she survive Snow?

She looked across the center towards the bar to see Haymitch downing an entire bottle of whiskey. It was hard to read him; was he happy, or what he frustrated? He surely knew that from here on out everything was going to go to shit, someone had to pay after that little performance. He had to have known that this was far from over.

And while it was unclear how this would develop over the coming months for their weapon – Katniss – one thing was for sure: today was a good day for their rebellion. Katniss Everdeen had raged against the machine - she had played her hand, and she had won.

The Capitol had surely brought them out of the Arena already, and shortly after, their victory tour would begin. The state of the Districts would become clearer and clearer with each visit made, and Johanna was fully invested in seeing what direction they took. How would the Districts respond to her actions? Would they celebrate her, or despise her for killing their children?

A half an hour later, Plutarch had joined Haymitch at the bar. Johanna followed suit.

"She did it," Haymitch was saying as she approached the pair.

"This is true, but I have it on high authority that Snow is most displeased. He's locked her up somewhere in here, and Seneca Crane is dead." That was news to her. "Snow was not happy with the way he handled the games throughout, so he used him as an example for the girl." How he had presented that example, remained unknown. "For today though, I say we take this as a victory," he smiled as he said it. And despite herself, despite knowing just how ridiculous it was, Johanna returned that smile in full.

Katniss Everdeen had done the one thing that no one before her had ever dared to do. She had taken a public stand against the Capitol, against Snow. And she would live through it because of her stardom among the districts. Snow knew he couldn't kill her, not while she was so popular among his people. That single act of defiance could help ignite an entire movement. It was exactly what they had all been waiting for all along.

Johanna worried for the girl, she truly did. She knew first-hand what Snow would do to those who disregarded his orders, who dared to defy the trend. But for the first time in a long time, Johanna Mason felt a strange twinge of hope. Hope that this girl, young as she may be, may lead the rebellion against the Capitol. She may be the weapon they had been hoping for all along, and she had been right under their noses for sixteen years.

"Pretty awesome, isn't it?" Finnick announced from behind her. He didn't engulf her in his arms, but secured his place beside her on the bar, his forearm firm against her own. "It's almost like she fell into our lap."

"It would seem that way," Johanna agreed, but she was careful to avoid eye contact. She wasn't ready to give into him yet. He had said he would prove himself to her, but he had yet to do so. And gods be damned, Johanna wasn't going to settle for less than what she deserved. He had held her to such a high standard, it only seemed fair that she should do the same.

As you should the girl from District Eight whispered.

As I should, Johanna silently replied.

Finnick smirked at Haymitch and Plutarch, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, it begins."

They both smirked back "so it does."