Mallory Catelli, 19, Victor of the 94th Hunger Games

January 10th, 97 ADD

2:39 PM

From where she was working at her dining room table, Mallory heard the front door open and shut.

"Dimitri?" she called. "That you?"

"Yeah," her old Mentor replied. "Busy?"

"A little bit."

As his footsteps grew nearer, Mallory looked over her shoulder to see Dimitri lingering in the dining room doorway, squinting at her project. "How's that going?"

"Good, I think," Mallory sighed. She rubbed her forehead, sitting back in her chair as Dimitri came in to get a better look. "I think my trip out east last week helped fill in a lot of blanks."

Dimitri nodded. "Looking more like a real map now."

"I'd like to think it always looked like a real map," Mallory defended.

"I mean, yeah, but… it looks official now," Dimitri said.

He wasn't entirely wrong. She was beyond sketches on graph paper now; the giant ream of paper covering the table, which she had slowly filled with a precise, to-scale depiction of District Ten, did look more official than her previous attempts. For one, she'd learned how to actually take measurements, which she was sort of winging at first. She'd also realized she needed to use Capitol maps for reference, and those were very technical, so she had to learn how to actually read those, too. And it wasn't as though she was the best artist, either. It had all taken a lot more studying than she had expected- but maybe she should've expected that, given how little time she spent in school when she was younger.

(Mallory Catelli, born to die too soon.)

The exploring part of the map project, however, was right up her alley. Unsupervised misadventures were much more representative of her education than time spent studying. She knew how to wander. She knew how to get away with things she wasn't supposed to be doing. She knew how to be alone.

(It was a lot more difficult now. Mallory had found friendship and affection, and she had lost it. And now she was just supposed to go on, knowing exactly what she didn't have, and it hurt. She missed her friends, but she also missed the friendships that could have been. The love that could have been.

For one, precious week, she'd had it.

But Astrid died. Rory forced her hand.

And once again, Mallory Catelli was alone.)

So she'd thrown herself into what she knew how to do- exploring District Ten- and tried to ignore the fact that both Astrid and Rory were better suited to this project than she was.

("I believe in science. But I also believe in you.")

(She just had to hold onto that. Onto Astrid's boldness and her reason and her warmth. Onto her smile, and her freckles, and the curly dark flyaways that popped out from under her green bandanna, and her hand on Mallory's cheek- onto her belief in Mallory that was proven right, eleven months too late for Astrid to see.)

(Onto the fact that she had known Astrid at all.)

(Mallory would remember that, and not the sight of Astrid's lifeless green eyes. Or how small she'd looked, curled around the wound in her stomach. Or how cool her forehead had been on Mallory's lips. Or how Astrid had died betrayed and alone. Or that Mallory had never said goodbye, or that she would never get a chance to.)

(She would try not to hold onto how it had all ended. Rory with the dagger covered in Astrid's blood. Rory with that awful look in his eye as he told her that Ten had always been right, that she was doomed to die before she turned eighteen just like they'd predicted, that her small-town prophecy mattered. Rory's face as she pulled the dagger through his windpipe. The knowledge that her first friend had betrayed her and died by her hand for it.)

(Was it wrong of her to miss him, too?)

"Earth to Mallory."

She snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah?"

"When are you planning on heading south?" Dimitri asked, gesturing at the lack of ink towards the bottom of her map.

"Oh. Soon, I guess. Why?"

Dimitri rubbed his jaw. "I think I should go with you."

"Wait, what?" she asked, perking up.

"I used to do supply runs south," Dimitri mused. "Some smuggling too. There's loads of stuff I could show you that's not on the Capitol maps."

Mallory stared at him. "Why haven't you mentioned this before?"

"Because it's old Skinner shit, and I'm not involved in that anymore," he grunted. In the nearly three years since she'd met Dimitri on the train to the Capitol, he had told her here and there about his time in one of Ten's gangs, but he'd never gone into detail about it. She'd asked about his tattoo once, and he'd answered, and that was the end of that for the most part. It was sort of like how she didn't go into detail about Astrid. They both just… understood.

"Oh."

"It's been a while since I talked to any of those guys, but as far as I know, they're more focused on their turf war than anything else," he said. "Doubt they use those smuggling routes much at all anymore. Too busy with the Jackals or whatever."

Mallory nodded despite only half understanding what he was saying. One detail, however, caught her attention. "...Smuggling routes?"

He gave her a significant look. "Yeah."

"I would have started there if you'd told me!"

"Well, you know now. 'Sides, I didn't really think you'd want to go… south."

(Rory's hometown- and the Hutchinson Orphanage he'd spent his childhood in, that he'd claimed gave him the right to live over Mallory- was south of the Victor's Village. It was isolated and abandoned now, but Dimitri wasn't wrong in guessing Mallory had no interest in visiting.)

"I mean, I'll have to eventually, especially if we want this thing done before June," Mallory said.

"We do."

It was Mallory's turn to give Dimitri a significant look. "...We do?"

"Yeah. You talked to Sienna lately?"

"A few days ago."

Dimitri nodded. "I talked to her earlier. She's been talking to Gigi a lot."

"And she wants to do it this year?"

"Yeah. She was talking about old footage again."

Mallory's eyes widened. District Three's most recent Victor was something of a tech whiz. "Does she think Gigi could get it?"

Dimitri gave a slight nod.

"Holy shit."

"I know."

"Did she say anything else?"

"A bit about Myrellis-Verilla, yeah. And-" Dimitri took a moment to roll his eyes- "Charm."

"Aurelia's not that bad," Mallory said.

"I've known her for fifteen years," Dimitri replied. "I know what I'm talking about."

"That doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. That just makes you old."

"Excuse me?"

"You've known her since I was four," Mallory pointed out.

"Holy fuck."

"See!"

"That just makes you young. I'm not old. I'm in my thirties."

"Yeah, and?"

(She was joking. Mostly. But for a girl who was never supposed to be eighteen, let alone nineteen… who was getting close to twenty… getting older was a lot to wrap her mind around sometimes. The future was never something she could have. That was what Ten had always told her.

But they'd been wrong. Just like Astrid had said they would be.)

"Oh, shut up," Dimitri grumbled. "Aurelia is that bad."

"I'll take Aurelia over Braun," Mallory said, referring to both of One's Mentors, "or over Diana Van Zandt, or even Branch, any day."

"Branch isn't bad," Dimitri said of the Four Mentor. "They just don't talk much. Or give a fuck."

"Exactly."

"I wonder how Vestron will be…"

"I'm hopeful," Mallory said. "He seemed nice enough from what I saw of him."

Dimitri gave her a look.

"Not that I'm judging him on his Games," Mallory rushed. "He seemed nice in his interviews. That's all."

"My bet," Dimitri said, "is that the stick up his ass is even bigger than the one up Myrellis-Verilla's."

"Dimitri!"

Dimitri threw his hand up in the air. "What! It's an accomplishment!"

"I'm changing the subject. Did Sienna say anything else?"

Dimitri thought for a moment. "Uhh… the usual. She says hello. Hopes you're doing well. Looking forward to seeing how your project is coming along. Something about sending it to Gigi eventually so she can digitize it? I dunno. Usual Sienna stuff."

Mallory nodded. "Cool. I'll update her later." She pointed at him accusingly. "And then we're making plans for our trip!"

Dimitri raised his hands in surrender. "Fine! Why are you yelling?"

"Because I'm excited! It'll be nice not to go alone."

"Fair." He grinned. "The Dimitri and Mallory Road Trip."

Mallory frowned. "The Mallory and Dimitri Road Trip."

"Same thing."

"Then why'd you put your name first on my map project?"

Dimitri shrugged. "Felt right."

Mallory squinted at him. Dimitri grinned bigger.

(That was another thing Mallory needed to hold on to. She had to stop forgetting that Dimitri was right next door. Sienna was only an email away, and so were multiple other Victors- Gigi, Acadia- that she'd put Mallory in touch with. Her parents weren't far off, either.

Mallory Catelli never had a future- until she did.

And now that she had one, she was determined to do something with it.)

Qibli Vestron, 19, Victor of the 96th Hunger Games

January 19th, 97 ADD

4:45 AM

He woke up to Adan poking his nose.

"Stop it," Qibli mumbled, swatting at Adan's hand without opening his eyes.

"Come on," came Adan's response. "Or I'll pull the covers off."

Qibli cracked an eye open, squinting. "No…"

Adan grinned back at him, his face barely visible in the dark. "Then let's go."

"Where are we going?" Qibli asked, stretching. "Can I brush my teeth first?"

"Please do. Your breath is awful."

Qibli swatted at Adan again, landing a smack on his shoulder. Before Adan could smack Qibli back, he rolled over and scooted out of bed, making for the bathroom. Qibli smeared some toothpaste on his brush before popping his head out to look at Adan.

"Where are we going?" Qibli stuck the toothbrush in his mouth.

"It's a surprise."

"But it's still dark outside."

"Not for long, if you don't hurry up."

"Do I need to change out of my pajamas?" He ducked back inside and spat out the toothpaste.

"I pulled some clothes out for you, but you'll want a jacket."

Qibli splashed some water on his face and ran a comb through his hair. He'd let it grow a bit longer over the last year, which somehow made him more prone to bedhead. But he liked it, and Adan did too.

As he emerged from the bathroom, Adan tossed him a shirt and pants. Qibli shook his head, setting them on a chair neatly as he went to change. "Oh, this shirt's my favorite. Did you pick out-"

"-the black pants to go with it, yes," Adan answered.

Qibli grinned. "Thanks."

"Of course."

"Are you sure this is safe?" Qibli asked. "It's so dark."

"We'll be fine," Adan reassured him, squeezing his hand. "Besides, we've been up here a million times."

The pair trudged along the path up to their spot in the mountains, right by the lake, that they'd claimed years ago. It was beautiful- the water was crystal clear, and the racket of Two was muffled by the trees. Even in the winter, it was easier to smile up there.

(Up at the lake, the memories of the Games- Enyo's calculating cruelty and her katana in his shoulder, the sound of three bodies hitting the bottom of a twenty-foot pit, the explosion of the greenhouse with the Eleven boy still inside- were nothing more than a distant dream.)

(And given that he'd returned from his Victory Tour less than two weeks ago... a getaway, however short, was needed. Especially now that the civil war had been put down for good and it was safe to go up to the lake again.)

"Exactly. We've been there a million times."

"So?"

"So why are you dragging me up here at-" Qibli checked his watch- "five-fifteen in the morning?"

"You'll see," Adan said, squeezing Qibli's hand again.

"Okay," Qibli relented, squeezing back.

Adan led Qibli up the trail, and before long, they reached the lake. Adan pulled off his backpack and set it near the lake's edge, unzipping it and pulling out a blanket. Qibli helped him spread it over the ground before settling on top of it.

"Now, see, here's proof it was all worth it-" Adan said. He pulled a thermos out of the backpack, displaying it enthusiastically. "Hot chocolate!"

"Oooh," Qibli replied, rubbing his hands together, "I do like hot chocolate."

Adan passed him the thermos, and Qibli took a sip, nodding with satisfaction. "It's good. When did you make this?"

"This morning."

Qibli squinted at him. "While I was sleeping?"

"No, while you were playing croquet. Yes, when you were sleeping."

"Hm," Qibli said, taking another sip. He passed it back, and Adan drank from it once before setting it down. Then he scooted over to Qibli, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling them back against the blanket. Suddenly, they were staring at the sky.

Qibli tucked his head into Adan's shoulder, tempted to close his eyes and fall asleep there. "This is nice," he murmured.

"Yeah?" Adan asked. "Just give it a few more minutes and it'll be even better."

Qibli hummed contently, swinging one of his legs over Adan's and letting them get tangled. Adan reached for his hand and meshed his fingers with Qibli's, and Qibli enjoyed just how warm Adan's hand was. It was especially nice in the cool mountain air, early in the morning. Qibli was glad he'd brought his jacket.

And then, before his eyes…

"Ohhhh."

Behind the trees, the sun began to rise, painting over the black of night with indigo, purple, orange, yellow. The edges of the clouds turned fiery, the leaves of the trees became translucent like stained glass, and the lake reflected it all, an identical mirror image. Their blessed little spot was the perfect viewing place.

Adan shifted against Qibli, pressing a gentle kiss into his hair. Qibli stared up at the sky, marveling at the sight. "This… this is…"

"I know," Adan mumbled. "Worth it?"

"Yes."

"Mmm." Adan kissed him again, and Qibli turned, letting Adan's lips meet his. They lingered there for a long, sweet moment, the sky brightening above them, before Adan pulled away. "Could you do me a favor?"

"Yes."

"Pass me the hot chocolate?"

Qibli nodded, untangling himself and reaching for the backpack on his other side to pull out the hot chocolate. "Here you go-"

He turned, thermos in hand, jacket sleeves bunched around his hands, hair falling into his eyes, to find Adan on one knee.

"Oh," he said, his breath catching in his chest as he spotted the little box in Adan's hands.

"Qibli," he began.

"Adan."

Adan smiled shakily. "Qibli," he repeated. "Every day I wake up next to you is my new favorite day. When you were in the Games, I didn't know what to do with myself-"

"Adan. The answer is yes."

"Wait, I had a whole thing planned-"

"Oh. Okay."

Adan grinned, more sure of himself now, and continued. "When you were in the Games, I didn't know what to do with myself. I'd never been without you for so long before. And it proved to me that I couldn't go without you. You're everything I've ever wanted. You're my best friend, but you're more than that. You're my partner. And I want you to be my partner forever."

Adan opened the box, revealing a small silver ring. Qibli's body finally started processing what was happening, and his heart began to race.

"Qibli Vestron, will you marry me?"

Qibli nodded vigorously. "Yes, I will."

Adan leaned down from his one knee to meet Qibli on the ground. Qibli reached for him, wrapping his arms around his neck. This time it wasn't a drowsy morning kiss, but a furiously awake one, just as passionate as their first at this very spot had been. They paused for a brief moment to let Adan slip the ring onto Qibli's finger.

Qibli couldn't stop smiling. "I like it."

"Good," Adan smiled, resting his forehead on Qibli's. "Then it's perfect."

"Did you- um, did you still want the hot chocolate?"

Adan laughed, his eyes squishing together in the corners that way Qibli liked, and answered by pressing his lips to Qibli's. "I'll pass," he murmured.

Qibli brushed his thumb against Adan's jaw. "Okay."

Adan stared at Qibli for a moment, then laughed again.

"What is it?" Qibli asked.

"I love you. That's all."

Qibli smiled. "I love you too."

And then they kissed again, Adan's arms around Qibli's waist, Qibli's hands brushing against Adan's face, his neck. They fell back against the blanket once again, enjoying each other's warmth as a barrier against the cool mountain air.

Eventually, Adan shifted slightly, leaving a kiss on Qibli's cheek. Qibli tucked his head back into Adan's shoulder, happily showing Adan how the colors of the sunrise reflected in his ring. Adan pulled Qibli close.

Together, they watched the sky come alive, looking forward to a future of mornings waking up next to one another.

sorry it's been a little while! hope you enjoyed meeting my two ve besties anyway. both their fics are on my profile, although i'm very willing to summarize their stories for anyone who wants the tldr. it was very fun to return to them again!

anyway. see you next time with shazia, mercury, and aveline!

rb