Disclaimer: The Hunger Games Trilogy is property of Suzanne Collins. This is a parody fanwork by fans for fans. No money was made off of the creation of this fanwork.

The Ten Unwritten Rules of Being a Hunger Games Victor

By Fanfic Allergy

Rule Two:

Haymitch stared at us for a few moments and I stared right back. I wasn't about to let him get to me. The first rule made sense, in a morbid sort of way, I didn't feel like a victor. I felt more like a survivor. I was happy I didn't have to go through it alone. I looked down to where Peeta had taken my hand at some point. Strange how I didn't notice it. I frowned. I didn't love Peeta. That was all an act for the Capitol. I didn't love anyone. I pulled my hand from Peeta's and fiddled with the end of my braid. I didn't miss the hurt expression on Peeta's face but I didn't say or do anything.

After a few moments, he turned back to Haymitch. "So what's next?" Peeta asked.

Haymitch took a pull from the wine bottle in his hand and grimaced at it. "Tastes like crap, I can't wait to get home and get the good stuff."

I rolled my eyes. "Just get on with it."

"Impatient, Princess? That's a bad habit you should try to break." He checked to make sure that no one was coming and then said, "Rule Two: You always congratulate the mentor who manages to get their tribute through the games."

What? I blinked, confused at what Haymitch had just stated.

"What?" Peeta echoed my silent confusion. "First you tell us not to congratulate the victors, but then you tell us to congratulate the mentors. Aren't they the same thing?"

"I wish it were that simple, kid," Haymitch responded. "We don't congratulate the victors or survivors of the Hunger Games because it makes them think about all of the people who didn't survive in their games. It's for the same reason that we congratulate the winning mentor. They don't have to go home and look at the two dead kids' families and see the accusations of blame in those eyes."

"But you aren't the one who killed their family," Peeta protested.

"Not everyone sees it that way."

I thought about it for a few moments and then nodded my head. "I get it, I think. Peeta think about the Victor's tour that we're going to have to do. Do you think it's going to be easy for me to look into the eyes of Rue's family and face the fact that I'm alive and Rue isn't?"

"No, it'll be hard for me too, especially for Districts One, Two and Four."

I remembered the careers he partnered with in the beginning of the games. I remembered that I'd killed most of them and I wondered if he was upset about that. I wanted to squeeze his hand in sympathy but decided against it. I'd just removed it and it would be weird to hold his hand again even though I wanted to I didn't want to keep giving him the wrong idea. Instead I settled on saying quietly, "I know it will. Now put yourself in Haymitch's shoes. He's had to mentor forty some odd kids who never came home. The families haven't forgotten that and what he's trying to tell us is that he hasn't forgotten them either."

Haymitch grunted in agreement and took another pull on the wine bottle, draining it.

"It's why you drink, isn't it?" Peeta asked.

"One of the reasons," he answered.

"What did the other mentors say after this year's Games?" I wanted to know.

Fixing me with narrowed eyes, he said. "None of your damned business."

"Haymitch!" Peeta protested.

The older man peered down into his now empty wine bottle. "I think that's enough for today. I'll go over the rest some other time. Like when I have better stuff to drink." he didn't wait for us to protest, but left the compartment with an unsteady walk.

Peeta looked at me as if he wanted to talk about something. I felt my stomach clench as I steeled myself for more questions about what was real and not real inside the games. But instead of asking me anything, he just got up from the sofa and left the compartment.

I stared at the now empty room wondering just what to do now.

AN: I deliberately changed a tiny bit at the end of Hunger Games. I know that technically Peeta and Katniss don't speak or see each other on the train ride back, but the location was too good to pass up. I hope you don't mind this slight change in canon.

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