Inevitable
After the Games
District 4
The end of the Games and interviews were a blessing. As the train whirred into the quiet station in District 4, the memories of the arena felt more distant than ever. A blip, really, in the context of her life, but it had an outsized impact on where it went from here. Tate was far more comfortable, having been allowed to change into a black t-shirt and plain dark jeans.
Life had slowed down, but getting off the train made it feel real. Her prep team, Volos, and Ella were still with her, but the rest of her group had gradually filtered away. Soon, the Capitolites would return home, Ella would go back to her own life, and Tate would go about hers. They would return once for the Victory Tour later in the year, but that was a long way off still.
She hesitated on the last step of the train, looking ahead to where the sandy ground covered some of the train platform. A soft smile crossed her face as she put her feet on the ground. While a lot of her friends and family wanted to greet her at the platform, Ella had been adamant that it was best to arrive by herself. She hadn't understood then, but she did now.
Just looking around, being back at home, felt so foreign. While it was hot, it wasn't hot like it was in the arena. The familiar smells and scents filled the air. Her arm still ached, but after the treatment in the Capitol, it was much improved.
"Let's get to your new house," Ella gave her a warm smile. "The Victor's Village is really something."
The Village lay to the east of District Four, a row of a dozen houses. Not all were occupied, but there were often 8 or 9 in them. By now, the house that would be hers would have had at least one occupant in it already. While she had never been in one, Tate found it odd that she was being led there at all.
"It's fine, really," Tate tried to convince Ella as she began to unlock the door to her new home. "Ella, really." She frowned as her peer pushed open the door. "Ella! I don't want to be rude, but really, I was hoping to have my friends and my twin here before you. Sorry."
If Ella was offended by it, she showed no sign. "Oh, come on. Don't be silly. I helped get this place ready, it won't take very long. Come on in."
The girl's blonde head bobbed up and down as she skipped into the house. The entryway had paintings hung on it, and the white tiled floor led way into a clean kitchen. There were more pots and pans, appliances and cooking materials than Tate had seen in her entire life at home. I hardly know how to cook, Tate thought in despair as she saw all of it. Her teeth were gritted, her mentor already grating on her. In the haze of the arena and pre-games, had she forgotten that Ella was only a year older than her?
"Isn't it nice?" Ella said, flashing a wide smile as she led the way past the kitchen into an ornate dining room. A long table was the centerpiece, and glassware was stacked into dark wooden cupboards. "All furnished through the Capitol and District 1."
Tate wasn't in the mood and was hardly listening. Callum, Brooklyn and Kai were supposed to come over imminently and she was hoping Ella wasn't going to be there.
"Come here," Ella gestured with her hand, standing in one of the corners and looking at the glassware. "I want to show you something."
She couldn't keep a frustrated groan from echoing out of her lungs. Again, Ella didn't seem to mind. Did she have any sense of self-awareness? Tate was beginning to doubt that. As she went to look at the glasses, Tate was approaching her final nerve.
Ella whispered to her, gripping her arm suddenly in a tight grip. "You're being watched."
Tate recoiled, her heart plummeting into her stomach. "What do you mean?" She demanded.
Ella pulled away and gave a wide smile. "Oh, I was just saying how these glasses are so nicely done. They're so intricate. I bet there may be some more in the bathroom, let's see."
Tate stumbled after her, ignoring the living room. Being watched? By who? Ella was floating away from her, going to open a door to a huge bathroom. She didn't have time to look around inside to see what it looked like, focused more on what Ella had said.
After stepping inside, Ella shoved the door shut behind her. Her eyes took on a serious look, pushed her blonde hair back and leaned against the door.
"The bathroom and bedrooms are the easiest places to find without the cameras," Ella said. "They're watching. They always are. Before your friends come over and you start spilling everything, I wanted to give you a warning."
"Who is?" Tate asked.
"The Capitol!" Ella said in a hushed tone. "Who else? They don't trust that many of the Victors, but especially you."
"What did I do?" Tate blanched.
"What didn't you do? To an ordinary viewer, or to a Victor, what Fianna said to you could be easily interpreted as well wishes on a life of luxury. To the Capitol, to a viewer that wasn't as predisposed to their viewpoint…it could have been seen as an act of rebellion."
Rebellion? Tate desperately tried to remember what her last words had been, but all she could remember was the "you owe me". Everything had been so rushed since then, nothing had felt the same. Memories that would have been seared into her brain were already slipping. The hard ones were easily remembered.
"I - I don't understand," Tate rubbed her face. "How?"
"She encouraged you to do what you wanted. Not to listen to anyone. How do you think that sounded to the people out there? Who do Victors have to answer to? No one but the Capitol. I've learned a lifetime's worth of knowledge in this last year, and it hasn't always been easy." Tears glinted in her eyes, but were swiped away at the back of her hand. "I'm only a few doors down. We can't hide in here all day, can we?" Ella forced another smile onto her face.
"Wh-what can I do to help?" Tate saw the tears and knew something bad had already happened.
Ella took a shuddering breath and shook her head. "There is…one thing. But you'll need to come to my place to talk about it. It's - it's quite secretive. It's about the fifth Quarter Quell. I - I can't say more than that."
They could hear the door squeak open and the sound of laughter and talking. A few shouted her name. Tate's heart almost lifted, if not for the urgency of Ella's words. The fifth Quarter Quell? What was important about that? It wasn't for another twelve years - that far down the line.
"I'll let you enjoy your time with your friends," Ella pulled the door open and stepped out. "My door is always open." She smiled. "My first tribute, my first Victor. Not bad, eh?" Turning on her heel, Ella passed by where the trio had entered. She exchanged a few introductions and slipped out the door.
Brooklyn was grinning and Callum was holding out his arms. Tate hurried to them, wrapping an arm around each of them as she shook. A shuddering breath went through her lungs as she put her head on their shoulders. One challenge completed. Leaning into her friends and her brother, she couldn't help but wonder if the Games wouldn't be the most dangerous challenge she would face. It was inevitable, something laid down the line, waiting to trap her. But standing there, with her twin, future girlfriend, and other friends, it was hard to be anything but relieved. Just one challenge, sure. But she had made it.
After the Victory Tour
District 4
Snow didn't fall often in District 4, but it was that day. Tate had kissed Brooklyn goodbye and watched as she went to meet with her family that morning. Callum had been gone too, off to see their father, whom she hadn't allowed to live in the Victor's Village with them. One challenge taken, one ongoing challenge to complete. While she dearly loved the both of them, today wasn't for them.
Kai was bringing her gift, hauling them inside to a sunroom that overlooked the churning ocean beyond. The sky was gray and the sand was greedily accepting the falling snow. It wouldn't amount to much, but at least there would be some semblance of a winter.
"Thank you, Kai," Tate gave him a brief hug. "I just want to look for a while, if that's okay?"
"I understand," He replied. "Let me know what you think later, okay?"
Tate nodded and waited until the door closed for her to go and uncover the paintings. They were big enough to fit on the wall, but she had asked him to just leave them on the ground while she decided where to hang them. There were six in total, all having silver and gold frames to hold them in.
She quietly sat down on the ground and unfurled the first one, pulling the blanket off. It was a young man, with curly dirty blonde hair and a lopsided smile. A portrait, dressed in a fine suit that had been worn at the interviews. In the top left corner, a 4 was intricately drawn. Tengiz. Tate smiled briefly as she looked at the face, her fingers gently touching the painting. I'm sorry I wasn't there, she thought. The face just smiled back at her. How had you been caught so off-guard?
Tate breathed out and pulled back the cover from the second one. A younger face, with a closed-mouth smile and frizzy black hair that was tied back into a bun. In the top left, a 3. All of them were interview outfits, Tate was realizing as she saw the green dress that she had worn. Tyene. She hadn't watched the Games again since she had won, any part of it. Had it been you that killed Tengiz?
The third one was another man - broad shouldered with that sort of dusty blonde hair that made you wonder if it was graying. She had never seen him up close, besides when he was trying to murder her. He was handsome, in an odd sort of way. His hair was fairly straight and could look like straw. Rigby. The young man who lasted long enough to be a contender. What were you doing protecting your district partner like that?
The fourth was the one she had been undecided on. A girl, with plain brown hair and an innocent, but conniving, little smile. A beautiful blue dress was what she had worn, Tate wondered if her sponsors had gotten her much. The Careers hadn't really needed it beyond helping Gemma, but she was beyond saving. Adelaide. As Tate glanced over her, she massaged her temples. Which you was the real you?
Tate moved on quickly and pulled back the cover on the fifth. A boy, with nearly white-blonde hair, bleached more than likely, and narrow shoulders. He wore a suit, a really fine one, likely furnished by his own district. Drago. Tate took a long look at him, wondering what to do. Did you really want to be friends or did you intend to betray us the whole time?
The sixth one was the one that Tate knew before she even pulled it back. The red hair was a dead giveaway, but Tate nearly chuckled when she saw the silver gown she had been wearing. The muscle brimmed on her, and she knew that she had probably hated the whole ordeal. Fianna. The unlikely friend, the one she had so many questions for. Why was it me and not you?
The door squeaked open about an hour later. Tate had pulled up a chair and was just looking at the series of paintings. She had told Kai that she wanted those six first, but she would maybe add to them in time. For the longest time, she had gone back and forth on Gemma, but looking at the six in front of her now, she knew she wanted one. Only, she wanted Kai to imagine her in the interviews as she was when she died. That would be easier. And for the eighth…she hadn't decided. Valerius, maybe. Shelby, to go with Rigby. It was a remembrance.
"I'm back," Brooklyn whispered as she walked towards her, rubbing her shoulders lightly as she stood behind her. "They look amazing."
"Now it's just deciding where to put them all," Tate replied.
"It's up to you," The girl kissed her temple quietly. "We'll get them all hung up. Maybe you could ask Kai if he could do some of your prep team and stylist too? Your whole team."
Tate nodded, knowing just one location of where she wanted. "Fianna is going in the kitchen. At least for now. If I'm going to learn how to cook, I want her at my side to help me out." Tate chuckled and wondered if she seemed silly to her girlfriend. Regardless, each of those six people had shaped who she was. None more than Fianna. It was time to pay back her debt.
"I'll be back later," Tate got to her feet and kissed Brooklyn's cheek in reply. "I'm going to go see Ella. We - we have a talk that I've put off for quite a while."
Author's Note: This is for the 2022 Victor's Exchange Fic through the Verses group. I would like to thank all of you for reading, but especially Team Shadow (Moose) for creating Tate. When I sat down to begin planning her, it all just fell onto the page. Tate wrote her story. As my first completed fic, she's going to stay with me for quite a while. Finishing is really bittersweet. I hope you all enjoyed and look forward to seeing Tate's inception into the Marked story as well, where she will feature alongside Ella and the other Victors.