AN -I own nothing, please support the official release.
Before arriving in Four the trio of District One victors sat at a cafe in District Two. The large man who had been a shew in for victory during his games was in normal attire which was different from his mentor appearance but not as jarring as the sundress Enobaria was wearing. The deadly woman with sharpened teeth actually looked quite beautiful as she sipped at her tea. Brutus rose to greet Cashmere and shake Gloss' hand before taking in the newest victor.
"A bit early for your tour Monet," he said holding out his hand but with a softer tone as the news of his parents' deaths had already spread throughout the districts. Azura shook it, thanking him before Enobaria rose and the small group walked towards the park where a statue of President Snow sitting in a chair was erected with Blaze Fyrestone standing proud behind him. The plaque below read, 'President Snow with the winner of the First Quell.' Since Blaze was the victor of the first ever Hunger Games this was made to honor him. The president was required to be added as well which was a constant reminder to the Victors that they would always be under surveillance. "It's the only reason we will convince the others to follow your insane plan," Brutus said once they were in the clear. "No matter how faithful we are Snow wont let us alone, he's always there. It's not a partnership like he'd like us to believe. We're loyal to a fault yet we still have our children go into the games." Peeta smiled at the big man.
"You took the words out of my mouth. I went into the games, I fought, I won only to discover that my victory, my life isn't my own," he said looking at a dandelion peeking out of the grass.
"So the whispers," Enobaria asked. Peeta raised his head to scan the park before giving the slightest nod of his head. Enobaria's eyes remained fixated on him as Brutus continued.
"There are other whispers about District Thirteen still being around, that they are gaining support in Twelve, Eleven, Eight, Seven and Four."
"I don't trust them, I want to lead one with us Victors. We know the horrors of the Capitol, the cruelty and abuse that Snow has brought down on everyone. It's not even about the Capitol people, they don't understand what we go through and think of everything as a show. That we, from all districts, want to go to the games. Volunteering doesn't help," Peeta said with a small, mischievous smile knowing who he was talking to. Brutus sighed as Enobaria and Cashmere actually giggled. Gloss clapped Peeta on the back, of course twelve had a volunteer last year as well.
"What about Katniss?" Gloss finally asked earning silence.
"The districts on the side of Thirteen just want change, to get out of slavery by Snow and hearing that there's some secret district willing to help them rebel, they're being brainwashed in a different way. In the end if Thirteen didn't step up to help before now how can we put blind faith into them helping us now?" They drew silent as a trio of Peacekeepers went pass them, one staring at the group of victors in awe. "After here I'm going to Four to speak with the Victors there. Then there's the Victory Tour, I'll speak with Katniss and Haymitch then."
"Will you reveal yourself?" Cashmere wanted to know.
"Maybe, I'll need to feel the situation."
"But your games, your first games," Cashmere said pressing on.
"Yeah I remember it all now, everything about Katniss and growing up in Twelve. If the mood in One proved anything it was that no one really believed that Katniss loved me back. Maybe I had doubts as well and maybe not before the games but in the cave when we were both dying." Part of Peeta knew he was grasping at straws and before the games Katniss had a year to get over him, maybe even move on with Gale. Not letting himself get too wrapped up in that he knew he had time during that week of the Victory Tour to learn the truth. "No I'll remain Azura until the Victory Tour, by then I'll know what I want to do." The two Victors led the trio to a large restaurant where the other Victors were meeting up. One, Two and Four had the largest quantity of still living Victors. Throughout the night, disguised as a rambunctious party, the word went through the Victors. Nothing solid just a what if a rebellion was formed, who would they side with.
The next morning Peeta was sitting on the plush bed in his hotel room in Two. Cashmere was in the room next door and Gloss was off doing something. Spreading his fingers out his thoughts were going out to his home. It had been so easy for President Snow to completely destroy his life even though he didn't do anything wrong. In the heat of the moment he wouldn't be able to see what was going on but now he could. He wouldn't have been able to kill Katniss, he never expected to survive and he hoped she couldn't kill him. There would be a stalemate until he bled to death but that would have been boring. The next idea was the gamemakers killing one of them off but that might have been harder, in the entire Seventy Five years there was always a victor and they wouldn't risk killing both off. When he stole the berries there was a moment when he considered having them disobey the Capitol and having them both die but he couldn't do that to Katniss. Nightlock was supposed to kill you within a minute so how did Snow revive him? That was a dumb question, if Caesar Flickerman could remain looking twenty eight for the last forty years there had to be a way to revive someone. Before his thoughts could reach out to what has been happening in Twelve since Katniss' victory last year there was a knock at his door. Opening it he smiled as Brutus carried in then deposited a still half drunk Gloss onto Peeta's bed.
"Found him doing some singing in the back room of a bar. Figured you could sober him up before the train leaves to take you on to Four in a few hours." Peeta nodded then stepped closer to the bigger man.
"Do you hate me? For killing Brutus?" Victor Brutus' face remained impassive.
"That's the games, makes it that much harder. As mentors we train our tributes and get to know who they are. Yes we want our district to win but you also want our friend to win as well. It's hard, doesn't get easier, you'll see next year when you're a mentor." The last bit was followed with a gently elbowing to suggest that even this expensive hotel room was probably bugged by the President's listening devices. Peeta thanked him and walked him out. Once Brutus was gone Peeta sat on the bed next to Gloss. Rooting through his pockets Peeta found a portable phone that a much more sober Gloss showed off to him earlier in the evening. Looking through the contacts he hit 'Sister' and soon heard Cashmere saying that she was surprised that Gloss could even work the phone. Chuckling at her surprise at Peeta's voice he went on to let her know where Gloss was she agreed to come get them both. Once they hung up the older victor rolled over to face Peeta. Barely able to take the device from Peeta's hand he flipped through the screens before pushing a button with a bug symbol on it. The image had a red x over it now as it fell from his hand onto the sheets.
"There's a victor from three who made that phone for me, added that application to send out a thingy that disables bugs," Gloss said with startling clarity.
"You're not as drunk as I thought you were," Peeta mused earning a laugh from Gloss.
"Just wanted to see if that big lug would actually carry me to my room. Guess I was half right. Being a victor for so long gave me time to build up a tolerance for alcohol. I got buzzed but not enough to kill me in the morning. How long have you been thinking about a rebellion? I think all of the victors have one time or another on those really bad nights."
"At first not at all, I was a victor who was going in to prove something to myself. At least this last time I was, then my parents died and I started to remember myself again. The conditions in Twelve are horrendous, people die of starvation weekly. Watching the recaps of the games last year I looked into Eleven after what Rue said, they've got it even worse. I was going to recon the other districts on the tour see if a rebellion was possible. If I could somehow convince the districts to work together, quietly remove or turn Peacekeepers and their bosses maybe we could become completely dependent from the Capitol. It's a lot to think about though." Gloss held up the phone and Peeta could see the x flash twice before vanishing.
"The train is clean, at least the ones from One and Two. When going to the other districts there's always concerns of insects getting on so exterminators sweep it daily to make sure there's nothing bad there. Bug bites itch like crazy until we get the cream." It was his way to tell Peeta that it was enough for tonight. Cashmere arrived a short while later laughing when she discovered Gloss' con on Brutus. When he was alone Peeta lay on his bed, arms crossed behind his head. The boy with the silver tongue was a master strategist, from his announcement of love at the interview to joining the careers. Then there was the second games, he was able to survive over all others, saw advantages and was smart enough to take them. One and Two were on board but that left so many other people, including Twelve where Katniss was. Thoughts drifting to Katniss he was ashamed on how he had treated her during the games. Even if he didn't remember being Peeta he was a nice guy, could Snow have really taken his decency from him? So it seemed, then if that was possibly maybe he could show Snow mercy, by taking everything away from him. Closing his eyes he fell into a fitful sleep dreaming of the cave, the mutts, Topaz and lots of sand.