Common things Marcus Hunt heard after his victory.

"Panem today. Panem tomorrow. Panem forever."

The thirteenth and final time Marcus had been forced to read that pathetic excuse for a national motto. He'd been toted around like a mascot, shown off in eleven other districts and the capitol itself before finally being allowed to come home to family and friends.

But Marcus Hunt was so much more than that. He knew it, and so did everyone in Two.

"Three cheers for Marcus!"

At parties, events, or even just out in the street. The loyal citizens of Two were ecstatic to have their first victor, and they weren't shy about showing it. The Capitol was much the same. He was this year's hot commodity. Woman begged him for autographs in places he didn't even know you could write on. Men three times his age and hundreds of times as wealthy sent him presents he would never have even dreamed of affording.

And he loved every bit of attention he got.

"A moment of silence, please, to honor Afra Berrios."

This one was something Marcus found himself saying more often than not. The district two female of the second annual Hunger Games, and his district partner.

A braver fighter there never was, and a stronger woman there will never be.

"My boy should have won."

Despite being younger than Marcus by a year, Magellan Blough still commanded respect whenever he entered a room. The first victor. The loyalist.

The pain in the ass who wouldn't leave Marcus alone.

First on his stop in Four, and then at the capitol banquet. Magellan never let an opportunity to diminish his fellow victor's win slide by. Until Marcus cracked one of his ribs too and showed him just how much he'd really deserved that win.

Of course, his own nose had been shattered as well and his escort had a fuss when he'd shown up bloodied and bruised after his own party.

But nobody ever told him he didn't deserve his win again, so it was worth it.

"A monster. A butcher. A killer."

Those damned outer districts couldn't respect his win either, it seemed. So what? They were jealous. If one of their sniveling little runts had crawled home over 12 other bodies they'd be lauded in praise and carted around like heroes. But since it was him, the muscular and loyal quarrier from Two, he had to be hated.

After his bout with Magellan, the two had grown to respect each other and it seemed any animosity had faded. They could often be spotted in uptown taverns, drinking the night away surrounded by beauties and comparing how they were treated by those not fortunate enough to have a chance in hell of bringing home a victor.

The intelligent yet frail people of 3. The strong yet untrained of 7, 9, and 10. Those blasted rebels in 8, holding out until the last and then complaining when they're brought down by a couple of true patriots.

"But who cares what those outer district dogs think?"

Most often from the mouth of Magellan, right before the two laughed and drank the night away.

Marcus agreed wholeheartedly.

"I won't disappoint you."

From those in Two who had little else in life. Marcus picked them out of the quarry slums and brought them to his home in Victor's Village. Those with talents useful in combat situations were kept. Those without were sent back to whatever alley they slunk out of.

Not one slum child ever refused his offer.

"I swear to the State I'll fucking kill you."

As the years went on, Marcus's well trained tributes from Two dispatched many a maverick or underdog. Each year, the respective mentor would shoot a look in his direction. And each year, he responds with a beaming smile and wishes them better luck next time.

Twenty six times in total.

And while he himself was never harmed, it turned out to be another man who had the last laugh.


Author's note: I'm a bit unsure of how much I like the formatting and development of this chapter personally, but I don't want to have an in arena POV for every chapter as I feel this would get old. I hope this was acceptable, and feedback is appreciated. For any of those who do want to see more of Marcus, he'll likely be making appearances later!