The Victors Life
Haymitch brought Katniss out to the balcony of Tribute Tower that evening. "They're not happy with you."
"Why? Because I didn't die?" Katniss' arms were resting on the stone rail as she spoke in her usual uncaring tone.
"Because you showed them up."
She scoffed. "Well, I'm sorry it didn't go the way they planned. I'm not very happy with them either."
"Katniss!" He turned to face her. "This is serious. Not just for you. They don't take these things lightly."
The next day was the Victors Interview, then later the Crowning in front of the Capitol. Afterwords they all left for home. Katniss and Peeta stood before their District, receiving praise, as Haymitch led a catatonic Jeanetty back to their home in Victors Village.
Months passed. Winter came, as did the Victors Tour. Katniss was asked to make sure Haymitch and Jeanetty were awake and ready for that morning. She knocked on their door, calling out their names before entering. She found Haymitch downstairs in his now usual place at the kitchen table. Jeanetty's nightmares had increased dramatically since the 74th Games, causing the woman to get restful sleep seldomly. Haymitch of course stayed at her side until she finally slept, before retiring downstairs to drink himself into a drunken stupor and pass out on the table.
"Haymitch, wake up. It's Tour Day," Katniss said before attempting to shake him awake. When that failed she picked up a tankard of water that was near him, stood back, and threw it on him.
He jumped up with a yell, picking up a knife that was close by and flailing it vigorously. Once his brain registered Katniss, he spoke angrily. "What are you doing?"
"Cameras are gonna be here in an hour." He slammed the knife down and drunkenly stalked towards her. She pushed him back down to his chair as she spoke. "If you wanted to be babied, you should've asked Peeta."
"Asked me what?" the man himself appeared with the lady of the house under his arm and two loaves of bread.
"Asked you to wake me without giving me pneumonia," Haymitch said as Peeta helped a tired Jeanetty sit next to him. "You are a strangely dislikable person," he said before Katniss placed two bottles of the Hob's best moonshine I front of him. "But you do have your virtues."
Peeta scliced off a peice of bread and put it in Jeanetty's hand. "Eat." He helped her raise the bread to her lips so she could nibble on the offered meal before turning turning to Katniss. "Would you like some bread, Katniss?"
"No, I ate at the Hob, but thank you."
"You're welcome." He scliced himself a peice before sitting next to Jeanetty.
"Brr..." Haymitch shivered. "You two have some warming up to do before show time."
"Which is in an hour, so take a bath, Haymitch." She walked to the back door and cleared empty bottles out of her way.
"I just did," he said as she left.
"Atleast she was civil," Jeanetty said as she leaned against Haymitch.
An hour later Jeanetty wrapped the scarf she made him during the Games around Peeta's neck. "Don't be too cross with Katniss, Peeta," she whispered as he straightened his hair.
"I'm not cross."
"You're not happy either. Just be yourself for the cameras."
"Always." He kissed her cheek lightly as she opened the door and sounds of cheering fans met their ears. "And there he is! Peeta Melark! The Bakers Boy."
Not long after the kick off, everyone was on the train headed for district 11. The next morning Effie was positively glowing. "Fabulous food, fabulous wine, the massages, spa treatments. I told them nothing but the best for my two Victors. It all needs to be..."
"Fabulous," Haymitch asked from his place at the head of he table.
"Exactly." Effie took her place and continued. "Now, the schedule is a bit of a bear. 12 days, 12 Districts. But it's mostly parties, celebrations, adoring fans to great you at every stop along the way, and then we wrap it all up in the Capitol. All you need to do is give a few speeches, wave to the crowds, and enjoy your time in the spotlight. You've earned it."
Katniss hadn't been listening to Effie but her head snapped to her at her last comment. "What did you say?"
"Katniss," Peeta pleaded.
"I said, 'enjoy it, Katniss, you've earned it.'"
"By killing people." She stood to leave.
"Young lady..." Effie started but Katniss was already out the door.
Peeta stood. "I'll go talk to her."
Once they reached District 11, they disembarked the train and entered an armored convoy, Effie remarking how not very festive it all was. She continued her instructions in the truck. "The Mayor will make some introductory remarks. And then you just have to say a few words. It's customary, of course, to give a brief eulogy to the Districts' Fallen Tributes. For 11, that's Thresh and Rue." She separated the speech cards and held them out. "Here are the speeches."
Katniss didn't move, so Peeta reached forward and grabbed them. "I can do the talking if you want," he offered, knowing how close she had become with Rue in the Games.
"Thank you."
When they arrived at the Hall of Justice for District 11 there were no cheering crowds. The Mayor spoke to those who had gathered. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Victors of the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Melark!"
Effie shooed them out. "Smile, smile, smile, smile. Stand up straight. You're on camera." There was very little clapping as they walked out.
Jeanetty sat in a chair as the others stood around her as they all watched Peeta begin his speech. When he put down the cards, Effie snapped. "Why do I bother."
Jeanetty hushed her friend as Peeta continued. When he donated a months winnings to the families of the Fallen, Jeanetty's jaw dropped and Haymitch uttered, "Shit."
"C-can he do that," Cinna asked from beside him.
"He can't," Jeanetty said shaking her head. "But he did."
"Why doesn't he just stick to the cards?" Effie was holding back crocodile tears.
When Peeta's speech finished, Katniss hesitated in returning to the Hall. She approached the microphone. "I just want to say that I didn't know Thresh. I only spoke to him once. He could have killed me, but instead he showed me mercy. That's a debt I'll never be able to repay." She looked to Rue's family. "I did know Rue. She wasn't just my ally, she was my friend. I see her in the flowers that grow in the meadow by my house. I hear her in a Mocking-jay song. I see her in my sister Prim. She was too young, too gentle. And I couldn't save her. I'm sorry."
A man from the crowd saluted Katniss and whistled the tune she and Rue had agreed to use in he Games. More people from the crowd saluted too as Peacekeepers unleashed their batons and began making their way to the man. Katniss and Peeta fought against the Peacekeepers who had grabbed their arms and pulled them back into the Hall.
Just before the doors closed they saw the man in a kneeling position where Katniss had just been standing, a Peacekeeper behind him with a gun to his head. The gun fired and Katniss struggled against Haymitch to get back out.
"Come here! Stop it!"
"What did I do?"
"Come on," Jeanetty pulled Peeta to the stairs and the four Victors from District 12 accended.
Once they reached the top, Haymitch turned on them. "You two have a very simple task."
"I never meant for anyone to get killed. He needs to know that," Katniss said tearfully.
"What are you talking about?" Jeanetty stood beside Peeta. "Who has to know what?"
"Snow. He came to see me. He's worried about rebellion in the Districts. He thinks that they don't believe our love story."
"So he wants you to make them believe it?" Haymitchs' voice was hard.
"To calm things down."
"You know, Katniss, you shoulda told me that before I went out there, and tried to give these people the money," Peeta snapped.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do. He threatened to kill my family."
"Well, I have family, too." Katniss looked at him in shock. "Okay? People that I need to protect."
"What about them?" Jeanetty and Haymitch cut in, gesturing to the window to District 11. He continued. "Who protects them?"
"Katniss, what were you thinking," Jeanetty asked looking at the younger woman softly.
"I was thinking about Rue. Jeanetty, please... Please, just help me get through this trip." She clung to Jeanetty's arms. "Please, just help us get through this."
Jeanetty shook her head as Haymitch spoke. "This trip? Girl, wake up!" He snapped his fingers in front of her.
"This trip doesn't end when you get home," Jeanetty said rubbing her arms gently.
"You never get off this train." Haymitch looked between Katniss and Peeta. "You two are Mentors now. That means every year, they're gonna drag you out, and broadcast the details of your romance."
"Every year, your private life becomes theirs."
"From now on, your job is to be a distraction. So people forget what the real problems are."
"So what do we do?" Peeta stepped closer.
"You're gonna smile." Jeanetty wiped away Katniss' tears.
"You're gonna read the cards that Effie gives you," Haymitch continued. "And you're gonna live happily ever after."
"Think you can do that?" Katniss nodded, still slightly weepy. "Come here," Jeanetty said as she pulled her close. "You're gonna be okay. I promise."
The next week was filled with nightmares and false speeches as they made their way through the Districts. After they had spoken in District 3 Haymitch called a meeting of the Mentors in the rear of the train. "Snow is watching us. If he wants you to pacify the Districts, I promise you, he's not happy."
Jeanetty cut in. "Instead of being in love, you two sound like you're reciting from a drilling manual."
"You try reading that stuff that Effie writes us," Peeta said.
"Tell that to President Snow when you see him two days from now," Haymitch snapped.
"I'm open to suggestions."
"We could get married," Katniss suggested.
"That's not helping," Jeanetty said as she sipped her water.
"I'm serious. If, like you two said, we're on this train forever, it's gonna happen eventually." She sat back in her seat. "Why not now?"
Haymitch scoffed. "It does make a statement, I'll give you that."
"Peeta?" Jeanetty turned to him. "It's your life, too."
He simply nodded, not looking at anyone. "Yeah, sure. Let's do it." he stood and walked out.
Two nights later Effie escorted Katniss and Peeta to the Presidential Palace. Haymitch and Jeanetty opted to stay on the train. He turned to her in their bed and met her tired but happy eyes. "It's not fair."
"What's not fair?"
"They get to get married and we can't even be seen together, just being us."
"Snow, would likely kill us himself."
"What if we just ran away?"
"Ran away where?" He looked down. "No, we can't go anywhere."
"Bet I can think of a place we can go."
A/n: I think this may be the longest chapter I've ever written.