Katniss leaned against the wall for a moment before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door. Her mother had wanted her to use a wheelchair to get up here, her sister had asked her to use a cane. Gale had offered to escort her. She had refused all of them. She wanted to meet Coin standing as straight as she could and not as just some weak girl from the Seam. She knew Coin already had her opinions about her. She had taken a long time before she had agreed to this meeting. She needed to get on the woman's good side so she could plan a rescue attempt for her husband.

"Enter," she heard from the other side and she tried to keep her hand from trembling as she turned the handle.

There was a long table in front of her but only a few people sat behind it. Gale sat at the end, while a dark man sat on the other side, his arms crossed over his chest. Haymitch was there too, chewing on his dirty fingernails. The paunchy game-maker she had met in the Capitol and a stern looking woman with grey hair and grey eyes that matched. This had to be her, she thought. She held herself with rigid authority. There was no kindness in her eyes, though she offered Katniss a smile.

"Mrs. Mellark. It's wonderful to meet you at last." Katniss nodded.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me, President Coin. I'm sorry my recovery took so long."

"I trust you are feeling better?"

"Yes."

"Good. We have a lot of work to do." Coin motioned for her to sit and Katniss sat across from them. Gale gave her an encouraging smile and a nod. Coin had papers spread all over the table and she pushed one towards Katniss.

"I didn't have the pleasure of meeting your father, Katniss, but I have heard many wonderful things about him. These are his plans that he developed as the Mockingjay. What we would like to do differently is broadcast you for all of Panem to see. He had to remain hidden from the Capitol, but we want to launch this rebellion with full force. We want Snow to know he has a war on his hands. And you will be at the front of it, leading your troops. We need all thirteen districts to stand up to the Capitol, right now."

"And what about Peeta," she asked firmly. "What is your plan to rescue him?" Gale sighed and Coin sat back in her chair.

"Mrs. Mellark-"

"You left him there," she continued. "You left him there to die."

"Mrs. Mellark," Coin pressed her palms to the table and rose to her feet. "This revolution is about all of us. And we need you to fight with us. We will do what we can to get your husband back. But it will take time. It will take resources that frankly, we don't have to spare. But you must show us you are committed to being our Mockingjay first. That is my proposition." Katniss stood, placing her hands on her father's plans. Her cheeks were burning, and voices echoed in her head, Gale's voice calling her weak, Rory telling Prim that he was worried that she wouldn't be able to do it.

"You will put a mission together, right now, to rescue my husband and General Duartyr. You will launch this mission before the end of the week and in return, I will make my first propaganda video while this rescue mission is being carried out. We will launch the rebellion as soon as they return. And I will swear before Panem to be the Mockingjay."

"Individuals don't make demands in 13," Coin raised her voice.

"Once Peeta and Duartyr are rescued, they will not be held responsible for their crimes as Peacekeepers," Katniss went on as if she hadn't heard Coin. "You will pardon them of all crimes against the districts, and treat them as soldiers for the rebellion. You will personally pledge this in front of the entire population of District Thirteen and the remainder of Twelve. Soon. Today. It will be recorded for future generations. You will hold yourself and your government responsible for their safety, or you'll find yourself another Mockingjay!"

"That's her!" Plutarch turned to Haymitch, excitement shining in his eyes. "Right there. With the costume, gunfire in the background, just a hint of smoke." Haymitch didn't say anything but Katniss could swear he was trying not to smile. Coin stared at Katniss, her eyes narrowed in hatred.

"Do you have any other conditions?" Katniss started to shake her head but Haymitch coughed and hid his face in his hand. He released a small sound that sounded like a cat's meow. Gale, Plutarch, and Boggs cast him a baffled look but Katniss's eyes widened in understanding and she nodded.

"My sister gets to keep her cat."

"Very well, Mrs. Mellark. Colonel Boggs, we will need to arrange a meeting to review the blueprints of Capitol airspace. We need to be ready to launch the hovercraft tomorrow. Please see to this immediately." Boggs nodded and swiftly left the room. Coin turned back to Katniss and attempted a smile.

"You'd better perform, Katniss."

"I'll perform, after you've made the announcement. I can't lead this rebellion alone, President Coin. I need my husband by my side." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gale cross his arms and lean back in his chair. Coin nodded.

"I'll leave her in your hands then, Plutarch." Coin swept past Katniss and left the room.

"Excellent. Excellent." Plutarch sank down, elbows on the table, rubbing his eyes. "You know what I miss? More than anything? Coffee. I ask you, would it be so unthinkable to have something to wash down the gruel and turnips?" Haymitch jumped to his feet and pushed Katniss down into a chair.

"Here sweetheart, have a seat. I know you've been struggling to stand up straight this whole time." She shot him a look but allowed herself to be steered into a seat.

"Alright Katniss, let's get down to business. You know in general what we're asking of you and I'm aware you have mixed feelings about participating. I hope this will help." Plutarch pushed a large sketchbook bound in black leather toward her. She glanced at him suspiciously but her curiosity won and she flipped it open. Her eyes widened as the first image was herself, standing straight and strong, in a black uniform. She looked back up at the men and Plutarch nodded.

"Marvelous, isn't it? Artistic and stylish, yet quite useful. It's designed to keep you completely safe."

"You'll be the best dressed rebel in history," Gale said softly, giving her a smile. She studied the drawing closer. The swoop of the helmet, the curve to the breastplate, the slight fullness of the sleeves that allowed the white folds under the arms to show. She would actually become a Mockingjay in this uniform.

"But who-?"

"Bring him in," Haymitch nodded to the door. Katniss turned and rose, shakily, to her feet. The newcomer rushed toward her and embraced her tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Katniss," he whispered in her ear.

"You'll help me do this?" He cupped her chin and smiled.

"We're all betting on you, Girl on Fire."

"Cinna has been a part of the Resistance for quite some time and has been designing a uniform for you. He made some changes when he finally met you in person in the Capitol." Cinna glanced at the sketchbook and helped Katniss sit down again.

"So what do you think?"

"It's amazing," she nodded. He pulled a chair beside her and nodded toward the book.

"Go on. Flip through." She turned the pages, her eyes widening at every detail of the uniform. The carefully tailored layers of body armor, the hidden weapons in the boots and belt, the special reinforcements over the heart.

"This is incredible, Cinna, really."

"We think that it might be best to build you, our rebel leader, from the outside...in," Plutarch said cheerfully. "That is to say, let's find the most stunning Mockingjay look possible, and then work your personality up to deserving it!"

"You already have her uniform," Gale pointed out. "Once Cinna finishes it, anyway."

"Which I almost am," he nodded. "I just need a few more measurements and Katniss's input, of course."

"Yes, but is she scarred and bloody? Is she glowing with the fire of rebellion? Just how grimy can we make her without disgusting people? At any rate, she has to be something. I mean, obviously this" - Plutarch waved toward her - "won't cut it."

"Chase and I have already said we can act as her prep team as well, Plutarch," Cinna said, somewhat defensively. "But we want to show the districts that she is one of them. We don't want her to look too Capitol. Is it true, by the way, what they're saying about Effie and Ellie?"

"We managed to rescue Effie," Haymitch said gruffly. "But Ellie is still missing." Cinna shook his head sadly.

"Neither of them were involved with the rebellion at all. They didn't know anything."

"Ellie might be in the same place they're keeping Duartyr and Peeta. We just have to keep hoping."

"They killed Portia because they couldn't find me. I'm fairly certain our boss got the same punishment."

"It's not your fault, Cinna," Haymitch said firmly. "Who knows how long Snow has been planning this? He must have been watching everyone for a long time."

"Yes. Well. Katniss, would you like to follow me to my compartment? I have your uniform in my closet." Cinna's professional manner was back and he hid his pain behind his kind smile.

"We will meet later today to discuss future propos," Plutarch waved them off. "As President Coin said, we need to launch this rebellion with full force."

"But how," Katniss's brow furrowed as she remembered something. "The Capitol has sole control of the broadcasts."

"But we have Beetee. About ten years ago, he essentially redesigned the underground network that transmits all the programming. He thinks there's a reasonable chance it can be done. Of course, we'll need something to air. So we'll need to film something soon," Plutarch clapped his hands excitedly. Katniss felt sick. It was still just entertainment to him. Did he really believe in the rebellion, or was he planning to sit back and watch when the bloodshed began?

"Go on and see what Cinna has made for you, sweetheart," Haymitch waved her off. "We will see you later."


Cinna wrapped his arm around her waist, to help her lean against him, as he lead her back to their bunkers.

"I'm certain you should at least be using a cane to get around," he said in her ear.

"I can walk on my own."

"You shouldn't push yourself so hard, Katniss. Beating yourself up won't get Peeta back." Her stiff form slumped in his arms and he paused.

"He's alive, Katniss. I'm certain of it."

"What if they tortured him again? Or made him forget me? He whipped his own brother because he didn't recognize him. What happens if he forgets me?"

"That could never happen, Katniss," said a voice behind them. She whirled around to find Peeta's brother leaning against the door.

"Rye," she said, reaching out to brace herself against the wall. "You moved compartments?"

"President Coin finally moved us to a bigger compartment, after Madge told her for the fifteenth time we got married before we left 12. Hello Cinna. Saw that we were neighbors," he nodded toward Cinna.

"Ryen," Cinna nodded. "I saw your wife leave early this morning. How is she adjusting?"

"Madge is a trooper. The deaths of her parents hit her hard but she said her father knew what he had signed up for. The same goes for Peeta, you know."

"I don't want to hear it, Rye," she said heatedly. For weeks, Rye had been visiting her and assuring her that Peeta knew what he was doing. He was still a soldier and knew how to survive. But Katniss didn't want to hear it. She just wanted him safe and in her arms. And the first thing she would do, she swore to herself, was tell him that she loved him.

"Katniss, you have to believe me. Nothing could make him forget you. Peeta has been in love with you since he was a little boy! Even when they tortured him and changed him in 2, he still knew who you were. He forgot who I was but you don`t forget the face of the person who was your last hope." Katniss's brow furrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"What's that supposed to mean, Ryen? How could I be Peeta's last hope?"

"You saved him, Katniss. I mean, thinking of you brought him back. He held onto the image of you while he was being tortured. It grounded him. And it will work again. He loves you fiercely, so there is no way he will forget." Her eyes became glassy and she shuffled her foot.

"And what if they just kill him? Decide he's too much trouble?"

"You have to have faith that he will come back to us," he took her hand and squeezed. "Believe that he will find a way out of there, alive and unharmed. My baby brother has surprised us all more than a few times. And I'm pretty sure he will be doing everything he can to get back to you."

"I've agreed to be their Mockingjay, if they go and get him." Rye's eyes widened.

"They agreed to that?"

"They didn't really have a choice. If they want me to perform, they need to find a way to get him out of there. Alive. Coin knows I won't do anything for them unless they at least try."

"I've seen 13's military and their weaponry. It's pretty impressive, compared to what we had in 2. You'd think Snow would arm his Peacekeepers with the best but this place has capabilities beyond what I've ever seen. I have a hard time believing that Snow knew all of this had survived. If he did, I think he would have tried to invade a long time ago."

"Maybe he didn't know," Cinna said softly. "The knowledge could have died with Snow's predecessor. The Snows haven't been in power for long and Corialanus Snow rose to power using… despicable methods."

"What do you mean? How do you know so much about Snow's rise to power?"

"Victors talk," Cinna shrugged. "Have a chat with Finnick Odair sometime. I'm sure he can tell you things that would make your head spin."

"Why would Finnick Odair be privy to that kind of information," Rye asked with a frown. Katniss caught Cinna's eye and she chewed her lip. Finnick, like many other Victors, were sold in the Capitol. She imagined he had picked up quite a few secrets during all that time.

"Never mind, Rye. Cinna and I need to work on my first propo video. I'd love to have you and Madge over for dinner tonight, if you'd like."

"Actually, we were going to ask if you would come to the cafeteria to eat with us. Bing and April have been asking about you, too. Dad keeps checking with your mother about you. I know everyone would love to see you."

"Not everyone," she muttered, remembering the first time she'd seen Mrs. Mellark here in 13.

It was a few weeks after Katniss had started to get up and walk around, taking short walks down the hall and just getting out of the room, because her mother and sister insisted. She hadn't been aware that the Mellarks had compartments close to the infirmary- in fact, she hadn't known that they had made it to 13. Katniss hadn't exactly asked about them, but to be fair, the only person she was asking about was Peeta. She hadn't even been aware that Hazelle has passed the night of everyone's escape from 12. She just couldn't find it in her to care about anyone else for the longest time. Not even about herself. She'd tried to stop eating but her forceful sister had angrily yelled at her that Peeta had not taken nearly forty lashings for Katniss to starve herself to death.

Katniss had been struggling down the hall when she'd heard Mrs. Mellark's shrill voice about the seam trash surviving when her son hadn't. April and Madge had rushed forward to embrace Katniss while Bing and Bran dragged Mrs. Mellark back to her room. Madge had brushed Katniss's hair back and whispered soothing words in her ear about how Peeta was alive and he would be with her again soon.

Katniss hadn't seen Mrs. Mellark since that incident.

"Mom won't change, Katniss," Rye shrugged. "She's always been that way. But she's still family. She's your mother-in-law, whether or not either of you want to acknowledge that. And she can deny it all she wants but she's worried sick about Peeta. But don't come for her. Come for the rest of the family. We are still here for you." Katniss wanted to refuse but her brother-in-law seemed earnest and concerned for her. He had come even without Madge to check on her. She knew he was probably only doing it because Peeta had asked but she appreciated it all the same.

"OK. I'll come. Is there enough room for Prim and Mom?"

"We'll make room," he nodded. "Get excited. Dinner tonight is turnip soup."

"Joy. Nice to change it up from the boiled turnips we have for lunch."

"Greasy Sae has been trying to get them to let her change up the menu a little. Maybe you should hunt and bring her some meat." Katniss actually perked up at this.

"That's not a bad idea. Thanks Rye." He smiled.

"Thought you would like that. I need to find Madge before dinner. See you tonight, Katniss." She turned to Cinna and cocked her head.

"Do you think they will let me hunt?"

"If you present it as helping 13, I don't see why not. Maybe you should add it to your conditions."

"I don't want to seem like I am demanding too much," she shook her head. "And I don't think asking for my husband's life is too much."

"No, it isn't. Come inside." He took her hand and lead her into his compartment. She glanced around, noticing immediately that only one person occupied the room.

"Cinna, where does Chase stay?"

"Down the hall," he sighed.

"Then why is your compartment so big? I mean, there's enough room for two people in here."

"They wanted to give me extra room to work on your uniform. The closet takes up a lot of space."

"But-"

"Take a look at your uniform and let me know what you think," he cut her off. She was beginning to realize that he didn't want to talk about his boyfriend, for whatever reason. He withdrew the black suit from the closet and her jaw dropped.

"Cinna," she breathed. "It's…"

"Do you like it?" He sounded anxious. Unsure, even.

"It's incredible. I mean, it's more than that. It's… it's like a real bird. You won't even recognize me."

"Coin keeps referring to you as their mockingjay, but mockingjays fly free and don't belong in a cage. They don't belong to anyone. Neither do you, Katniss. You will lead this rebellion because you choose to, not because someone wants you to or because you're fulfilling a legacy. Because YOU want things to change. And you believe that you can do it."

"I don't know if that's all true," she mumbled, shaking her head. "I still don't know how I'm supposed to lead a rebellion."

"People will follow you. You saw how people reacted to you at Snow's mansion. They know who you are and where you come from. You think you are a timid girl but when you stand up for what you believe in and what you love… you really are a girl on fire." He winked and sat on the edge of his bed.

"Now, Beetee and I have been working together on some special surprises for you. They are down in the armory, when you feel up to visiting. I need you to try the uniform on and tell me how it fits. The bathroom is right through there." She clutched the uniform to her chest and slipped into the bathroom. She nearly fell twice but managed to pull on the black armor and stood up straight. She gazed into the full length mirror with wide eyes. She was right; she didn't recognize herself. She looked fierce and angry, like a true warrior. Or maybe the talk of Peeta had reignited her flames. She wasn't sure but she wished she could attend dinner wearing this. She was sure she would be able to put Mrs. Mellark in her place.

Cinna stood when she came back out and he nodded approvingly.

"You look like a leader. Plutarch will be pleased. How does it feel?" She nodded, unsure of how to describe the suit.

"Feels good," she said, feeling stupid. He smiled, his eyes sparkling.

"I'm glad you like it. I tried to have it finished before I met you but I went back and made several adjustments to it. You'll be quite safe too. Most of it the armor is bulletproof and lightweight. You'll be able to run, if needed. It moves with you, so you'll be able to shoot your bow. Basically it's fully functional but will intimidate when needed. Of course, your inner strength will be what makes the nation quiver. Find it inside yourself. Think of your sister, think of your husband, think of your 11 year old self starving to death, but find whatever drives you on to find that strength. I know you can do this, Katniss. I didn't create your nickname because of your dress. You have a fire inside you, like Chase said. Unleash it." He went to his drawer and pulled something out, holding it in his palm.

"Chase designed this. Beetee made it, but Chase thought we should have another mockingjay pin made to match your uniform." Katniss took it from him and studied it. It looked identical to the one from her father except this one was black, like her outfit.

"Burned in the ashes of your flames," Cinna said firmly. "The ashes of your home. From the thousands of people lying where the bombs dropped on them. The Capitol tried to extinguish 12, Katniss, but they have no idea what kinds of flames they are about to face." He took the black bird and pinned it to her uniform.

"Alright, Girl on Fire. Time to get to work."


My apologies that it's another short one, guys, but my mom is having surgery this week and I will most likely be writing a fair bit while we are in the hospital! Have a great week!

XOXOX