-Trap Principato, 126th Games Survivor-

He knew that he wasn't going to get any sleep at all when he saw the state of everyone. Some, like Domino, were out like a light the moment he was indoors – showered, air condition, all that shit. It was hard to get anywhere in the small-ass bunker without accidentally stepping on a body, there was barely room to house everyone, between the six survivors with Mari and Camellia, plus his group of Domino and Trap's mother, Vasilisa, Freddy, and Bonnie, and of course, Luke. It was a happy reunion but now the bunker was for once quiet.

Trap looked up when the door opened again and Camellia carefully tip-toed around Mino on the floor and past Bella's cot. "You need to lay down Boss," he said, sighing when he noticed her with a mug in her hand.

"I can't stop checking on everyone," Camellia confessed quietly. "I haven't stopped since we got the news about Lester and Ryder's family," she said, slowly sinking down next to him. "Especially now that Vasilisa is back, thank you so much for helping her. I was terrified."

Trap held out his hands for the mug and took a long sip of coffee when she handed it over. "It was only by luck that we found her," he said. "You know you should be thanking Bonnie, he put his neck out for her and Freddy."

Camellia winced a little bit at that and just let out a slow sigh. "I'm still struggling to make sense of that," she confessed. "What happened?"

Trap frowned a little bit. "Buzz is that his younger brother was one of the orphans that was killed," he said, immediately putting her coffee down and putting his arms around her. He knew her well enough to know how that would affect her. "Sh…"

Camellia couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes as she immediately tensed up hearing that. He was sure those memories were coming back to her – it was never easy on his birthday, or the anniversary of the death… Even three years later, the death of her younger brother in the Games still triggered her. "Their cruelty sees no limit," she said through her teeth, stubbornly trying not to cry, but she couldn't help it…

"I know," he said quietly, his heart breaking for her. And… Unable to help but think about Numi. There was so much chaos that the family hadn't gotten to mourn him together, even though he was like a little brother to all of them. "It's tragic."

"And he's out there with the others on his case?" Camellia asked quietly, shutting her eyes as tears fell out of them. "What the fuck," she said softly with a sniffle, pressing her face into Trap's chest.

"There's still a level of mistrust," Trap said with a shrug, but Camellia shushed him with an angry glare.

"I don't care," she said. Her whole perception changed after learning that, there was no way he was okay after that happened. She understood his pain more than any of the others possibly could. Her little brother was her best friend, they both looked like their Dad, they could just stay up together and be goofy singing karaoke to Upward Voyager, chasing butterflies, pulling a prank on Malloy that made him get all offended… All those happy memories now just came with so much pain and emptiness. "No wonder Lester stayed back for him," she said quietly.

"Idiot," Trap said, shaking his head. "Can't wait for our folks to get to Two and go bust him out."

"I worry," Camellia said. "These six have become like my little siblings too… It's been so hard to see them all hurting so bad…" She shook her head a little bit and reached for the mug, which Trap handed to her. "Damn traumatic more like it. How did you manage Numi's self-destruction anyway?" she asked softly. This was the first time she really talked about him since the big explosions.

"I don't know now," Trap said with a sigh. "In the moment I just found the strength. No other choice, one of those deals."

Camellia sighed. "Yeah," she said, sipping on the coffee for a moment before she spoke again. "Kodi's out there with him now," she said quietly, putting up her finger to stop him from protesting but Trap just shrugged in response. He knew better than to put any of them in a moral box. Camellia continued when he didn't say anything. "Kodi's taken Lester's disappearance pretty badly. I was going to have him come back to Thirteen with us but he insists on going to Two. Did you catch that both of our intel folks got banged that night?" she tried to smile and Trap's jaw fell open.

"Oh hell no!" he said, and when Mino threw a pillow at him, he threw it right back down at his face.

Camellia gave a real and true laugh at that. "Oh yes," she said. "Yeah I figured you didn't get that tea."

"Why do people not tell me things?!" he despaired, grabbing his cheeks.

"Because you act like this and get too protective," Camellia said with a laugh. "Chill, you've only been here a few hours, you don't need to go ham on Ryder."

Trap shook his head at her, but he was still thinking about it. "Peanut aside, this sounds like a mess in the making." He didn't know what Bonnie's deal was but it was obvious that Lester was part of it. And now Kodi too.

"Still haven't decided if it's a mess," Camellia confessed honestly. "This is one of the first times I've looked into the room and actually seen Kodi asleep and not sitting awake whispering to himself. Seems like a good thing in the making, honestly."

Trap narrowed his eyes at her for a moment and just shrugged. "You're weird," he said.

"Just you wait," Camellia said thoughtfully. "Alright I gave you tea, tell me about Lis and Freddy. I know that they were flirty at the party but…"

"They were both housed together. Guess they thought that they would both encourage each other to do as they said out of loyalty. Freddy to Bonnie and his friends, Lis to her father and Freddy," Trap said. "Bonnie wised up and helped them both escape and they've been inseparable since."

"I saw that," Camellia laughed, but she closed her eyes. "Makes me miss my partners. I'm glad they have each other, I'm just trying to be strong."

"You are strong," Trap said reassuringly. "I can't help but think of Chief when things get real quiet like this," he said quietly after a moment of silence. "I'm glad he's with Kat in District Three."

"Malloy and Jo are on their way back to Thirteen with tributes in tow, so I know I'll see them tomorrow," Camellia said, her heart beating faster in excitement at that thought. "We just have to get Amiah, Ridley, Kodi, and Luke to District Two and Ryder, Mari, Mary, Ember, Lis and Freddy, and Bonnie back to safety in Thirteen." Now she was nervous for what Stellan was going to do with Bonnie too. If Syca were still alive, they would be the same age… I hope Ryder will understand that it's too dangerous for him back in District Two…" she said with a sigh. "And Mari will go where he goes."

"I can double check that everyone gets where they need to be," Trap reassured her. "And I've been thinking about where I want to be as well."

Camellia sighed to herself. "I wish you would come with me."

"I would," Trap said, and he still did consider it. "But hearing that Wendy's out there somewhere makes me nervous. I almost wonder if she was trying to find me and if she was then I need to be out there looking too…"

Camellia shook her head slightly at him being… Well, so overprotective of someone he barely knew. "I can't stop you." She knew he would never stop, and she hated it because she just wanted her family to be together again.

"Take my Mom though," he said. "I worry a little bit about her and she can help with next steps."

"Then what do we do with…" Camellia made a crazy sign by the side of her head and whistled softly.

"Ain't that the question," Trap said under his breath. "I don't know man, he's a loose fuckin' nut. And District One is just down the pot right now, it's such a Capitol stronghold. We had to flee after all."

"Yeah," Camellia said, glad that he was out of there for the same reason she was forbidding Ryder from going back to Two. It was just too dangerous there. "If anything we'll just take him back with us, have another strategic mind in with Stellan."

"I'm not going to go back and hide."

Camellia and Trap looked at each other when Mino sat up and stretched his arms a little bit.

"By the way, did you do the crazy sign to refer to me?"

"Of course not," Camellia said, quickly clearing her throat and sipping her coffee loudly.

"You'd be right," he said with a mild shrug. "Well, District Nine is out. But other strategic place to go for would be District Five. Power. Can't do much without that."

"Genius," Trap said, but he just shrugged. "We're trying to get a stronghold there, don't' know what Stellan's trying or planning though."

"You're gonna need a trained militia there. Isn't that what you're trying to do here too?"

"I just need them to be able to fight and defend themselves," Camellia said, but she nodded a little in the dark. "What are you saying?"

"District five shares the south-western border with Five. I'll go down there from here and help the militia, if you have any leads. Even if you don't. I need to get away from it all."

Trap's brows went up. "Oh," he said thoughtfully. He pulled out the holo from under Camellia's pillow and pulled up the files. "We do have a contact in Five. I don't know much about it, but there's an underground health center. They operate for the poor and the workers and are a safe space. Make apprentices out of young jobless people, and… Have a big black market for medicines by stealing from Capitol-run hospitals in the District and serve as a safehouse." He scrolled through the little information they had, humming a little bit. "I can give you coordinates on a holo."

Mino's face got determined and he nodded. "Sure," he said. "I can go over there and help those healers fight back. And doctors are both cute and smart."

"You had to deal with this for how many days?" Camellia asked him with a small chuckle.

"Too many," Trap said. "I don't know how I feel having you go alone with that arm though." He closed his eyes and sighed a little bit. "I'm sure my Mom would go with you."

"You have a nice Mama," Mino agreed, and Camellia squinted her eyes at that. Was that a child-like admiration or a mommy complex? "Either way I'll be there to protect her if anything goes wrong. But I'd like something from you in exchange."

Trap immediately got suspicious at that. "And that is…?"

Mino shrugged a little bit. "I left behind a little family in District One," he said. "I don't really care about the ones that sit around all day and do crack, but…" He got up, cracking his back a little bit and sitting on the foot of the bed with the two of them. "Heard you talkin' about little brothers, I have one there. And little sister too. If Alverez shows her face in District One, you'll probably find Whisper with her, she's a lesbian with a sixth sense. Tower is going to be stubborn about fighting back and probably reckless. Fourteen-year-olds."

"Mine was fifteen," Camellia said, feeling some comfort talking about him amongst all the sadness. "And Numi was sixteen."

"Don't do stupid shit to try and find him or anything, but if you do encounter Whisper or Tower… Any degree of safety you can offer them…"

Camellia nodded, even though she wasn't the one that was going. She was such a softie sometimes, but Trap loved that about her.

"Alright," Trap said. "I'll keep my eyes peeled as I'm scoping things out."

"I still wish you wouldn't," Camellia said, but there was no stopping him.

"Ah, don't go worrying about me, Boss." He smiled and held out a pinky to her. "I said I'd give you one of these when we met up again," he added.

"You'd better not be stupid, Champ," Camellia said. "Pinky promise."

Trap just chuckled, not sure he knew how to not be stupid but he still reached over and squeezed her pinky with his. "Alright, Boss. Pinky promise."

~.~.

-Cadmus Brekken, District 9-

It was always pointless.

He didn't realize until then just how pointless it was. The thought that there was any way to possibly prevent a war. Thinking that if he just stayed in the barn and hid, they wouldn't be able to hurt him or his family. Fucking foolish. He should have broke away and gone running home to his little siblings and kept them safe. War wouldn't wait for him to be ready. It wasn't going to wait for him to reunite with his family.

Now they were gone. Now everything was gone. Just like that, nothing but smoke.

There was no question anymore about his family. They were goners. They lived in slums in the heart of the District. He was only alive because he was in the middle of nowhere. His ears hadn't stopped ringing since the blasts and he'd been blown back from the shock waves.

Even though there was stillness around them, the world was still spinning a little bit. Dust was starting to settle, the smoke thinned out in the breeze, the sky was starting to open up again. But that didn't help anything feel any better.

All he wanted to do was protect his family. He got tied up in stirring a pot that he didn't want to disturb, the peace was broken and now instead of just having to worry about reaping once a year, he had to live knowing that they were just gone. No chance to fight for themselves, no chance for them to not be picked and come home shaken, but safe.

All these people were just trying to see a big picture that didn't exist. Why go for broke for something that might not even happen? Power created corruption, who was to say that the next leader wouldn't eventually go back to how things were? There were no guarantees that this would have a positive outcome, but it sure did guarantee destruction of his home, death of his family. But it didn't matter to them when they could keep all their people safe in the bunkers of District Thirteen.

There was a part of him that almost hoped that the others didn't get out safely. Thack and Calliope didn't understand the hurt that their playing with weapons had caused him and his people. If they wanted to die for their cause so bad, they could go ahead and do it, instead of causing other innocent people to die. Kill the bad guys, or die trying, but don't drag innocents into it. None of them asked for this. They were hurting over their friend and now they caused the deaths of hundreds of people in retaliation, regardless of who dropped the bombs.

Now he was here, with George's three farmhands and some of the animals and a few stragglers that survived the blasts. Food and water was limited, but it didn't stop them from sharing. Clothes that could be salvaged were being donated to younger women and children and a fire was on and off to survive by. Two of the hands were out on their horses, searching for more survivors deeper and deeper into the woods and along the ashen paths, though they were more frequently coming back empty-handed to water the animals and rest.

"Ration's up." Cadmus looked up when he heard the soft voice and saw a small piece of bread with cheese on it. He almost didn't want to take it. What was even the point anymore of trying to keep living? But the kindness in the green eyes of the boy made him take it anyway. "Thanks."

"Sure thing," George said. It was clear that he was one of the farmhands of Jem's. He was kind in the same way. And yet Cadmus still hated him for ever wishing for something like this. Maybe he was ousted as mayor of this District for a reason. His idealistic thoughts were part of the problem, the reason why their home was now ashes. But that wasn't George's fault, he was just following orders.

But Cadmus now knew better than to try to form bonds with anyone. Jem was gone, maybe dead or maybe was able to escape with the others to safety. Meanwhile all of them were left here. As he nibbled on the food, he could vaguely hear the steps and sure enough, a horse was coming back. George got up quickly to greet its rider – his brother Jesse – and the person that was with him. Another survivor. He was an older man and it was obvious that George knew him as he was quick to go help him off of the horse and give him a hug. "Bill! Oh I'm so happy to see you right now."

"I'm glad that you're alright. Why would I be surprised, you're Jem's kid!" Cadmus just watched him ruffle George's hair. "…Where is that old timer anyway?"

"We don't know," George confessed, and as much as he hated it, Cadmus was happy for the hurt that was written on Jesse's face. "He was driving some supplies into town when it happened."

Feel how I feel, Cadmus thought at the color that drained from Bill's face and the tears that were in Jesse's eyes. He hoped they could even get half of that feeling after what happened.

"I thought he usually went on the weekends. Wonder what was so important."

"Rebels," Cadmus said, and George whipped around to look at him but he didn't care, he loved the shock on Jesse's face. "He had rebels in the back of his truck including my District partner. That was what was so important to him." And it was bullshit. He said he would do what he could to protect innocents and now this happened. "So much for protecting anyone."

"Wh-What?" Jesse asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I didn't even know he had three kids," Cadmus said. "He didn't seem to think about it much when it came to the war. Greater good, guess the greater good was greater than all those people to him. Including my family." He felt his eyes sting a little bit and balled his fists, swallowing the tears back down. "Some father he was."

"Let's get Ginger tied up for the night," George said, gesturing toward where his own horse was tied up to a tree. Jesse dismounted from his horse and put his head down as he took the horse over and started tying her up.

"He had the right idea, boy," Bill said as he watched the two of them for a moment. "Reapings, poverty, injustice. He'd seen it all from both sides before he ended up with us. And you'd better be careful 'bout runnin' your mouth about Mr. Jem 'round here."

Cadmus was intimidated and just crossed his arms but he just couldn't believe they could witness something like this and still fail to understand that some things were just not worth it.

George was talking to Jesse as they came back around. Jesse sat down by a pile of embers, still glowing weakly, and started to blow on them, trying to put life back into them while George went to get a ration of food for the older man. When he did, he looked Cadmus in the eye for a second.

"I know you're trying to point a finger at someone for what happened. And I don't blame you. But this wasn't in any way caused by Mr. Jem. He was a good man and he cared. Unlike so many in this shithole. So whatever moral victory you're tryin' to win, keep it to yourself. We're all hurtin'. Don't make it hurt worse for us 'cause you're upset." He shook his head a little bit, walking away slowly and back to Jesse by the fire.

Cadmus watched for a second, staring straight ahead, mostly watching the fire which was slowly coming back to life. He didn't know how to feel but the sadness was so overpowering, it made everything feel hopeless. And he didn't know how any of those guys had any hope left but he wished he could be that way too.

After a little while, another horse rejoined them with the last sibling, Josie, and a few kids up on it close to their age and younger, an older woman walking beside them.

"Oh goddammit, Tiff, I thought I would get one night without seein' your ugly mug," Bill said to the older woman, causing a laugh through the group as Jesse went to hug her and George was already getting more food prepared.

"Sorry Sir," Josie said, but she was mostly just happy to see him and helped the kids dismount her horse. "Alright, you did well Midnight Sun." She went to go tie him up as George handed food to the kids and Cadmus just watched them. He had no idea how they could find it in them to share at all, let alone be kind. Some of them it seemed didn't even know the family. More of the tired people crowded by the fire as Cadmus stayed on the outside. Jem was the same way with them. It was rare to see such kindness… And it made Cadmus feel worse for lashing out at them when they didn't do anything wrong…

He went closer to the fire, finding an open spot by the three farmhands who were standing back a little bit, obviously trying to get warm but letting others stand closer. George didn't even bat an eye at him doing that. No suspicion or mistrust…

"Here, can we make the circle a little bigger?" George asked, trying to find a space for Cadmus. The people shuffled around and Cadmus frowned a little bit at him.

"You go, I'm sure you're chilly," he said, frowning and letting the spot stay open.

"Josie," George said, gesturing to the spot. Josie seemed reluctant, but she was shivering a little bit and eventually stepped in the spot by the fire.

"I don't understand how you can still be kind even when you probably lost Jem."

"We've lost before," George said, looking at Jesse who nodded and at Josie. "It hurts, but we have jobs to do and doing them lets us put the grief to the side. Some of it is relieved just by helping others, for me anyway. Makes me feel like something good's coming from something… So terrible."

"I like being a force of good too," Jesse said. "It's what Mr. Jem always wanted to do anyway. He wanted an end to the Capitol for doing so much to keep us poor and starving, and if that's the case then I'll take up the torch too," he added resolutely.

"No nothin's gonna do this to our home and get away with it," George said. "That's for sure. I don't know how but… We're gonna make 'em pay in time. But for now, we can't do any of that. All we can do is help the ones who feel like we do. Help them feel better."

Cadmus frowned at that and nodded a bit. "I see." And… Well, he could feel the determination.

"They were the ones that dropped the bombs, and they woulda done it to us even if nothin' ever happened," George said. "No hesitation. I do believe that."

"I do too," Jesse said. "They could have taken Dante alive, couldn't they? They don't care about any of us."

Cadmus frowned. "I didn't see but… Yeah, I'm sure."

"Watching human beings be slaughtered like animals… You think that it would be easier to watch if you've done it before, but it never gets easier."

"Especially when it's someone our age." Josie finally turned around to face them, obviously having listened. "Pale, starved, bleeding, begging. And yet the smile on the man's face who is killing told it all. Anyone excited to kill like that needs to be stopped."

"It was horrifying to witness in person," Cadmus said quietly, just knowing she was talking about Robin, the screams that made him want to run over there and help them replaying in his mind. He was still a human, and he had a little sister, once… "I just don't know if the end is worth… This."

"I don't know either," George said softly, sniffing quietly and squeezing his eyes closed for a second, able to hold it back. But Cadmus knew that he was hurting, and felt so bad for making it worse. "But it happened. Now we gotta see it through. Make sure it didn't happen for nothin'. Because nothing would be worse than that."

"Here here," Bill said beside him loudly. "They ain't gonna get away with this!" A couple in the crowd yelled out in agreement.

"They destroyed our home, we're gonna destroy them!" Tiff cried to loud ascension and Cadmus could feel eyes going to him for a long moment.

"I…" he stammered, and George looked like he was going to interject but Cadmus held up a hand to stop him. "They took our families from us long before the bombs fell in so many ways. We are suffering so that our future doesn't have to." And that suffering was so true. And so deep. But he couldn't change that it happened… Now he had to make sure that it wasn't in vain.

"We ain't layin' down and dyin," Josie added. "That's what they want."

"They want to knock us down, turn us against each other, strike where it hurts, but… We get back up as one people," George said. Cadmus looked at him balling his fist and putting it up beside his face, where a tear was escaping out of the corner of his eye. He had never known kindness. But… Being around Jem and his family made him realize that sometimes kindness could be a great strength.

Whether he wanted this or not, it was happening, and Cadmus had to make a choice. Was he going to put his head in the sand, or was he going to do something that could possibly stop the suffering of his people?

He swallowed down his tears and released a slow breath. "We're going to find a way to make them regret what they did to us." He smiled when the water canteen was passed around to him and he got to take a sip. Water never tasted so good.

"Josie and I are gonna go get a goat. Tonight, we'll feast!" George said determinedly. Cadmus's stomach growled at the prospect of meat and he watched the other two go off.

"Excuse me, room for one more," Cadmus said, waiting until the circle opened up before he took Jesse by the arm and pulled him in. The poor kid was only fourteen, younger than his sister was, and doing all of this… He wasn't going to get to be their big brother anymore, but that didn't mean he had to stop being one forever.

It didn't take long at all for cuts of meat to be brought out on sticks, much to the delight of the crowd, and a few of them even helped take and distribute the meat. Jesse went to make another fire and soon there was plenty of room for everyone to cook their meat and have a spot in the warmth. Even Cadmus felt warm, for the first time since everything happened.

Halfway into their meal, the festivities were interrupted by headlights shining on them, coming closer. When George was the one to bravely go after the lights, Cadmus hurried after to join him, leaving the two younger farmhands back at camp.

"Is that… A Peacekeeper van?!" George asked, his eyes widening.

"What?!" Cadmus asked, squinting. "Might have been, but it's been defaced by the looks of it," he said, squinting into the night. The car stopped a little ways back with the lights still on. Sure enough…

"George?!" Cadmus's eyes widened when he recognized the voice and George gaped for a moment.

"Jem!" he said, running over and Cadmus couldn't help but follow, just relieved to hear his voice and see him in person.

"Yes, hold your applause, your savior is here!" said the driver, and Cadmus slowed down a little bit, narrowing his eyes at the man – a district Two beauty. Tan skin, dirty blonde wavy hair, steely eyes, built up strong.

"Who the fuck are you?" he asked, glaring at him while George and Jem were talking in hushed voices.

"I'm the one that's going to get all your asses out of here," the man said, sounding offended at Cadmus being snippy.

"Oh, be nice to Mr. Joe, he's on our side!" Jem said quickly, and when the other man shined the flashlight on him… He was blushing!? Oh Cadmus didn't like this guy already.

"I am so happy to see you," George said, going right for the hug and making the other guy drop his flashlight in surprise. "Welcome!"

"You guys really are too nice," Cadmus commented at this sight.

"There's no such thing as too nice," Jem commented, putting a hand on Cadmus's shoulder.

"There sure is when you're stinky and sweaty and dirty!" Joe said, pushing George a little bit who wasn't at all offended. "You all need a shower!"

"You're probably right," George said with a chuckle.

"Well duh, Captain Obvious, we've been living in the woods for days because our home just exploded!" Cadmus said right away. "Ugh, you are such a Career. I literally just got rid of Nadia's District Two snark."

"Oh boo hoo! I will turn this van around!"

"What?!" Jem asked, and that immediately made the man change his tune.

"Oh I was just kidding, I would never do that to you, Pretty man." He nicked Jem's chin and Cadmus made a puke sound at how he blushed.

"Oo la la!" George whispered, thinking he was quiet but not at all quiet. Whether it was hearing damage from the explosions or just how he Is, Cadmus did not know. He already hated this. "We have a camp set up a distance away. We can load up the refugees and ride our horses beside you."

"Horses?" Jem asked. "Wow! I want to hear everything, let us drive you to the camp."

"We rode them to safety, and scoured the area looking for other survivors!" George said, eager to tell him all about it as they got in the car. Cadmus still wasn't sure but he was loyal to the Taylors now so he got in the stupid car. "We had just slaughtered a goat for dinner."

"Goat? Oh dear. No wonder you people are rebelling."

"Oh-kay, the hell is your deal?" Cadmus asked right away, knowing that George and Jem were too nice to question it. "Puh-leaze give me a better reason that you're here right now than just to get into Mr. Jem's pants."

"Woah!" Jem said loudly but he was totally blushing about it.

"Cadmus!" George said, but he was grinning.

"First of all, that's a great reason, he's a sexy man! Second of all, my sister and nephew are both in prison probably being tortured by those dumbasses after my niece died thanks to Games propaganda and brainwashing in my District. That good enough for you?"

Cadmus's eyes got wide and he sunk back into the seat, glad that they were getting close to the fires. "Yep," he said quietly. Oof.

"Well, hopefully we can bust them out soon," Jem said, but he sounded nervous. "Being Ryder's folks they are VIPs. A team's coming into the District tomorrow morning with artillery and bodies to help carry out the mission. And we're going to the District Two safehouse, so… We'll be there to meet them."

"You know, my house is also considered a safehouse now," Joe said. "Nice big king bed, just saying!"

"That's enough!" Cadmus said, defensive of Jem now even though George was watching with wide eyes. "Help me out here, eh?"

"Sorry, it's so rare to see other gay people that aren't Jesse and Jem," he said honestly. "Oops, I don't think I'm supposed to tell people about Jesse!"

"Oh, baby gays! Just like my nephew. Very becoming young man by the way, he could use a little some'in some'in."

"Can I ride on a horse just to not have to witness this anymore?" Cadmus said when they got back toward camp.

"Hey I could have made a riding joke like five times by now and I didn't!" Joe protested.

"We need someone here to man shotgun and use the holo," Jem said, giving him an apologetic smile. "But Joe is really nice and I'm sure you'll come to like him!"

Cadmus sighed. Suddenly he was having rebellion regret, yet again.

"Alright, fine." He wasn't going to like it though.

"Look at it this way," Jem said before giving him a grin and a wink.

"At least you're not living in a barn anymore!"

~.~.

-Luke Parker, District 10-

He couldn't say honestly he was expecting a hero's welcome when their little group got to the Victor's Village safehouse, but he could get used to it. Well, except for that the great serenade wasn't actually for them and was more because of food, and guns. Mostly guns. Pit had too much fun waving the guns around for his comfort.

He looked over at Kodi and Ridley, leaning over and whispering to each other about all the attention they were getting from the group and sighed to himself. He and Kodi were brothers once, under the tutelage of a Victor. Luke was dying to do what Kodi did and get out of there, but now that he was he just felt lost. To be fair, he never expected being free to be because he ran away from home in the Capitol right before a war broke out. And now Kodi hated him for leading him on – probably justifiably so but Luke honestly didn't know that was why his parent kept tying to pair them together, he just loved having a brother… Now he was on the outside watching them celebrating like this.

Pit, only after her husband took the guns, ruffling Kodi's hair and telling him far too casually that she thought that either he would kill Ryder or vice versa, and he was her second choice if Ryder did happen to kick the bucket. Ridley putting an arm around the gruff ex-Peacekeeper Rafael and cooing at him to make him uncomfortable, which was working, while Amiah was dancing in greeting to Pit's grandson Harper.

And here was Luke, not even fully sure why he was part of this operation other than the rebels not knowing what else to do with him. Sounded like his whole life.

"You good kid?" Luke jumped a little bit at the goth girl that was offering him a candy bar. "Here, chocolate makes you feel better. We the bougie safehouse!"

"Yeah, thanks," Luke said, taking a candy bar. And she wasn't wrong, the chocolate did make things feel better.

"I'm also related to a Victor. How the Games changes people is crazy. But you seem like a strong kid."

Luke frowned a little bit, not so sure about that. "Oh. Thanks." But he just sighed a little bit. He was the first to notice the face peeking out from the hallway into the foyer, but not by much. A few seconds later, Amiah was going over to hold Rory's face and smile at him in greeting.

"Oh!" Kodi said, lighting up when he saw Chiwi following Rory in. "AH!"

"AH!" Chiwi said in response as they hugged and were both jumping up and down a little bit.

"How long they been fuckin?" Luke asked Morri beside him. He could see marks under Rory's shirt collar and all the other times he'd seen Chiwi in the Academy or around the District, she always had a calm, modest way about her. That sex hair!

"HA!" Morri laughed. "Not very long but it's so obvious."

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Huh. Hopefully her oven don't have another bun," he said under his breath.

"Rude!" Morri said, punching his arm. "Bruh."

"Sorry, just had to say it," Luke said with a shrug. Kodi still didn't notice as they were both talking to each other at a mile a minute about what they'd been up to.

"What's this about fuckin'?" Ridley asked, smiling at Amiah and Harper both with Rory as he kept pulling that collar up.

"Rory and Chiwi," Luke said, pointing between them both.

"Oh," Ridley said, looking between them. "Can't say I'm surprised. Coulda cut that tension between them with a knife at the party. They thought they were being real chill about it too. Ha!"

"Just like you think you're being so chill with Amiah," Luke said, grinning and punching his arm. "HA!"

"Dude, what?!" Ridley asked, his face actually looking a little angry at that.

"Oh don't give me that," Luke said. "I've not been with y'all that long and even I could see it. You're both all over each other!"

"Pfft," Ridley said. "I… We're just friends." But his cheeks were flushed red. Hm, seemed like a sore spot.

"Awk-ward," Morri said with a whistle.

"WHAT?! YOU AND RORY?!" Kodi yelled loudly, his voice so loud it could cover the other noise in the room.

"SH!" Chiwi said loudly with a giggle as Rory turned to look at her and then turned back to Amiah in his face with a huge grin across her cheeks, anticipating the details.

"Yeah, I gotta hear about this, ally of mine!" Ridley said loudly, clearing his throat and hurrying away from Luke, throwing an arm around Kodi's shoulders. Luke chuckled a little bit, finishing the chocolate and listening from afar as Chiwi told the story of her and Rory getting together – minus the juicy stuff of course, to the protest of the friends.

"So why are you here if not to be with them?" Morri said. "We all have our reasons."

"Kodi's right," Luke said as he watched them all. "The Games fucked up our District. I did my share of hiding, I don't like it. I'm floating aimlessly without much direction right now but I want to be floating in a good direction so I'm here. I know a little about this District from visiting with my parent. No idea if I'll be anything but a meat shield, but…" He shrugged. "Sometimes I wonder if dying would be easier than trying to learn self-worth."

"That's fucked, bro," Morri said with a small laugh, but she still had a look of concern in her eyes. "Well, we're all here trying to do the same thing. Unfortunately the rebel branch in Two is so small – propaganda, and fear. But this is gonna be where all the important peeps are imprisoned. Well, til we bust out the first batch. Then not anymore." She laughed at that.

"I wish I had your confidence," Luke said. "I'm just here to put myself to use."

"And you are very valuable to us."

Luke jumped hearing the older woman's voice, and looked up, swallowing a lump in his throat when he saw Pit there. "How do you always sneak up on people?"

"Mostly because I live for the she's standing right behind me isn't she moments," Pit said with a chuckle. "Well, we couldn't have asked for a better person to join us today."

Luke looked around at Ridley and Kodi – ripped, trained Careers, and then pointed at himself. "Me?"

"Your parent is here, you know," she said. "Probably filming some propaganda as we speak with the other traitors. Evil Capitolites and brainwashed, spineless Victors that somehow want other people to suffer how they suffered, whether out of spite, tradition, or fear."

"Oh," Luke said, his heart dropping to his stomach. "I see."

"But you know a great way to bait Head Peacekeeper Van Buren?" she asked. "By giving him a chance to give them what they want the most. After losing so many men to Victors and uprisings in the District, he's new to the spot and needs some cred. And he would definitely get it if he could return you to your loving parent."

Luke's eyes widened right away and his heart started beating faster. "Wh-what!?"

"This plan always needed someone on the inside," Pit said. "And Rafa can be somewhat there as a Peacekeeper, but he's not going to hear all the details. Van Buren has it out for him for some reason, it's a family thing that's been going on since he was a kid. Probably didn't like that Cyrus was a shoe-in for Victor before his precious Auriel. Like that happened, now Cyrus is gone and Auri is dead." She shook her head. "This shit is ridiculous."

"What am I gonna do, my parent thinks I'm an idiot."

"Yeah, your parent thinks you're an idiot, so you're gonna let 'em think that. Rafa's gonna go with you and we're gonna see if we can snuff them out from the inside. Ridley's just as good bait as you so we'll send you together. Rafa will keep you safe." She looked over at where he was sitting by himself. "I swear sometimes he wants to be offed. But his little brother is keeping him from doing it himself."

"Damn, you people are so sad," Luke said with an uncomfortable laugh. He always ate from a silver spoon. Even though sure, his parent berated him, and insulted him, but it made him stronger. They beat him but they usually helped him heal up. The bad times sucked, but the good times were good. Not like these people. He had to put on a brave face and show them that he could handle the same stuff they could bravely. "I'll do it."

"Don't think you had much of a choice," Pit said with a chuckle. "We need you, Luke."

Luke swallowed a lump in his throat. "Oh," he said, giving a nervous chuckle as she gathered everyone around to talk through what they already knew and start formulating the plan.

Nobody had ever told him that before.

…

He wasn't sure this was a good idea. He really did feel like he was just a bumbling idiot… Now he had a holo tucked in his pants and was responsible for Ridley as well. Sure, this Rafa guy was involved, but they wouldn't even trust the holo to him. ("He'll probably get mad and break it," Pit said. Real reassuring.)

Any info is good info, Luke told himself. But he just hoped that they wouldn't leave him with his parent after this plan happened. Hopefully he could finally be of use to them, and do something good for once. Maybe even try to start and make it up to Kodi, everyone was buzzing about how much he cared for that Lester character. Luke just found him annoying. But anyways.

"Alright, you two, act normal," Rafa said as he shut off the car. It was a long car ride of basically silence. Not even Ridley's attitude could get a comment out of the guy.

"Feel like we're not the ones that need that advice, brotha," Ridley said with a small laugh. And Ridley was definitely right. He was real relaxed – and Luke was trying to be chill about life here – but Rafael looked like a hot mess already.

"Ugh, shut up," Rafa growled at him right away. "I hate this guy. I hate his whole family too," he said quieter.

"Well, suck it up, we're literally being used as bait right now on the complete opposite side of the District from the Victor's Village safehouse, at the Peacekeeper barracks!" Luke snapped a little bit. Petty family feuds aside!

"Touche."

Ridley swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, staring at the entrance to the barracks. "Welp. Here we go."

"No turnin' back now," Luke sighed. "Let's go before I lose the balls." But he was absolutely terrified.

Rafa took a slow, deep breath through his nose before he walked in the building. There were people everywhere in uniforms – men, and women that looked like they could crush Luke's head between their legs like a watermelon. Which he was kind of into now that he thought about it.

"I need to see General Van Buren," he said, trying to put some emphasis into his voice. "Immediately."

The crowds opened, but Luke could feel the eyes on him, and on Ridley. Rafa pulled them both to him, to protect them and keep them close as he went to the office door. Even the secretary didn't protest, not when she saw who they were with.

Luke could hear yelling through they got closer. Damn, someone must have fucked something up badly… He wondered what someone would have to do in order to get yelled at alone in the office by the Captain General.

Rafa knocked once before he quickly kicked open the door, Luke considered quite a bit unceremoniously, almost intentionally. His eyes widened a little bit when he saw the scene in front of him. A man, looking feral, with a Peacekeeper Luke's age on the ground, weakly gasping out what should have been tears, but failed to exist, surrounded by a small pile of red hair on the ground and very sloppily shaved off their head. A bruise was forming on the young person's cheek and Luke resisted a gasp at the sight.

"Moralis! What the fuck do you –" he started asking, but the tune changed quickly when he saw Luke and Ridley standing there, both of them looking a little horrified. "Oh my."

"Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt, I encountered Mr. Parker and Mr. Ostreuck while on patrol on the streets." He didn't even flinch to lowkey misgender Ridley. Suddenly Luke wondered if that was actually a protective measure. "They are tired, hungry, and seeking shelter. I wanted to know your orders sir."

"Aha…" he said slowly, looking at Luke and at Ridley. "Please excuse the state you arrived to," he told them. "This is what happens to those who disobey." Rafa flinched the slightest bit and Van Buren grabbed his arm. "Don't. Help. Him." His gaze stayed on Rafa for a long time, until he stood down. "You of all people know better, Moralis."

Rafa grit his teeth but he stood back. "Yes sir."

"Please help me," gasped the person on the ground, but Rafa didn't. Ridley was frozen in horror. Luke moved before he could stop himself. He hurried to their side, holding a hand to them to help them up, and as fast as he did he was getting thrown to the side and hit the wall with a loud groan. Not the first time, but this was much scarier.

"Know your place!" yelled the man as Luke blinked a couple times and exchanged a glance with the person on the floor. "You gonna do that again?" The person shook their head and Luke just copied.

"No sir," Luke said. "Just not used to how y'all do things here in Two," he said with a nervous chuckle, really trying to play up how dumb he was even though he was terrified even more now. "Sorry Sir. I don't want to upset. It wouldn't look good on my parent."

"No it wouldn't," he said, placated by that. "You are dismissed, Moralis."

Rafa opened his mouth to protest this. "Bu-"

"DISMISSED!" he said, and as soon as he raised his voice, Rafa flinched away from him.

"Yes sir!" he said loudly, ducking out of the door. Luke tried to not let the color leave his face any more. He wanted to go back and say no way in hell I'm doing this! But now he had no choice, he made this bad decision and he was going to have to deal with it. He could feel Van Buren's gaze on him and stood up taller. He tried to tap into that attitude he got to placate his own parent, not thinking about it too much.

"Well, you will certainly have some explaining to do to your parent, youngt man," Van Buren said, changing his tune quickly and going to slap Luke on the shoulder, who jumped a little bit but let out a small laugh. "They've been worried sick about you."

"I'm sorry, Sir. I was a little drunk at the party and let myself get… Have too much fun. Ended up without any money and no phone." He let out a small chuckle, trying to sell it.

"Oh, I don't need to hear it," he said, but he raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh you're just being a man." He laughed at that heartily. "Sometimes a good whore puts some hair on the chest. If only my good-for-nothing son would be like you." He looked over at the 'son' in question on the ground. "I'm sure the Victors will welcome both of you gladly. Unfortunately, they're on the other side of the District, so you'll have to spend a night here with us. Maybe you can show Isgar how to live in the District Two way."

"Oh yes," Luke said quickly. "I wouldn't want to act in a way that makes the Victors upset." He made a quick switch back to gendered language, unsure of how to act.

"And Mr. Ostreuck?" he asked quite pointedly.

"I'll be very becoming," he said quickly. "I just want food. Shelter. Please."

"In my house, we live by my rules," he said decidedly. "And Isgar knows better now than to act up, yes? This will be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate you are worthy of a promotion, and understand what being a Van Buren man is all about."

"Yes sir," stammered Isgar quickly, saluting and obviously scared straight.

"I'll give this important job… To you, son," he said, tapping his lip a couple times in thought as if debating it. "If we're responsible for returning these two young men back to the Victors, it will look wonderful on our family. Perhaps higher power might be in order, you know that group is teeming with Capitolite escorts. I trust that you will make the good choice. And if you make me regret it, I'll make you regret being born." He leaned closer to all of them, and all of them leaned back.

"Yes sir, I won't let you down father. I'm a man of my word." The last sentence was much quieter.

"I know you are. Take them home, Isgar. Clean up that buzz cut. Take the night to monitor our guests. Don't say I never granted you anything."

"Yes sir, thank you sir." Isgar saluted to him and then turned around. "Follow me, both of you. I'll bring you to a nice comfortable place to spend the night, and we'll reunite you with your parent in the morning."

"Thank you sir," Luke said, elbowed Ridley a little bit who quickly said, "Thank you!"

It was a quiet walk back to the house. Luke and Ridley exchanged a long, silent look on the way. This plan was going to shit.

Isgar showed them the rooms, and Ridley was quick to shower, just needing a break from misgendering and Luke understood it.

"I'll let you get settled," Isgar said quietly, but then took a deep breath and swiveled back around on a foot, speaking quickly. "Thank you for trying to help me back there. I'm sorry you got hurt."

"What? Oh no," Luke said, shrugging that off right away. "Don't worry about that. I'm used to that shit. I wish I could have actually helped. Kinda emasculating to get my ass handed to me in front of a Grade A cutie though," he said lightly.

"Wh-Huh?!" Isgar looked up at that with huge wide eyes, immediately covering their patchy hair. "I-I uh…"

Luke grinned a little bit at them being flustered. They had this cute little freckled baby face and Luke loved gingers. "I'm really sorry about your pretty hair. What happened?" He sat up on a table and swung his legs a little bit as he looked over.

"Nothing," Isgar said right away. "I'm… I was stupid."

"I don't believe that," Luke said. "C'mon, my parent's given me a whack before. Feel like it's your fault, but it's not. What happened, cutie?"

Is gar blushed deeply and frowned a little bit. "I just put my hair up. It was finally getting long enough to think about doing it. He didn't say anything for a while, I thought I might be clear. But he was just waiting."

"What? Not fit with the Peacekeeper look? Or…" Luke asked slowly. He was met with a long moment of silence. "I noticed all the heavily gendered language," he said finally. "Ridley too."

"Right," they said with a wince before adding softly with a voice crack. "It's awful."

Luke frowned and went over to gently touch their shoulder. "I'm sorry that's happening to you. I just wanted to get away from my parent too. But now I'm back here, and I'm scared. I wish I had never agreed to go with Rafa."

"Yeah," they said softly. "I'm so sorry. I'm just… Trapped. My childhood best friend in prison, under my father's baton. Keeping you here… I just don't know what to do."

Luke thought about that for a second. "I was trapped like you once," he said after a moment of thinking about it. "A parent that never liked me, a District that looked the other way." He looked down and sighed. "But then I got out. And… Well, I don't intend to go back, I'll tell you that much. Because I trust you."

Isgar just blinked at him a few slow times. "You really are crazy."

"Eh, I'm just weak to cute gingers." He winked at them and laughed at how red their whole face got at his flirtation. "Serious though. I know what you're going through. I couldn't help you in the office, but I want to help you now."

"Why?" they asked softly. "You don't even know who I am. You don't know my name or anything about me."

"Isgar, right?" Luke asked thoughtfully. "I know I saw someone getting abused in that office that doesn't deserve it. And that shit makes me mad-"

"Valerica." Luke looked over for a second before she repeated. "I'm a woman and my name is Valerica. That's who I am. Please don't hurt me." She leaned away from him and protected her face with a small whimper.

Luke frowned at her. "Valerica," he repeated slowly. "Oh. Well… Nice to meet you," he said softly, smiling at her and reaching over to gently rub her cheek a few times before she blushed and ducked away from him. "I think we can help you and help ourselves, pretty lady. But you'll have to betray the people that hurt you, even if you share the same blood. I will too, and I'm ready to do it. For safety and happiness, finally. To do something good. Can you help us?"

Valerica frowned a little bit. "I've been trying to get away for a long time but not been able to. I will take any opportunity to do it." She steeled herself with determination, and Luke leaned toward her, waiting for her to say something epic to wrap this up.

"Especially with a cutie like you. DON'T LOOK AT ME!" she cried, running out of the room and leaving Luke gaping before chasing after her with a laugh.

"W-Wait!" he cried with a laugh.

"You can't flirt back and then just leave me hanging!"

~.~.

A/N: Always get out of control when I get bit by the bug (AKA Lauren is gone at a conference).

Next Chap: Jun on his new mission, Kat and crew meet District Six's finest degenerates, and Camellia gives Public Enemy Number One a Big Sister Talk.