Haymitch stared at the doorway that Peeta had disappeared through. Everything he had done in the last six months was for nothing. Tigress had agreed to help but she couldn't get involved for a few years. Meaning that Peeta was fair game. Snow had just called him to his office. The Capital's Victory party was in a few hours. Haymitch had failed.
"He's alive, count that as a win," Finnick said, coming up behind him.
"He's younger than you were."
"Only by seven months, it'll make him tough."
"Or he'll turn into the next Morphling or worse…" They didn't' talk about the Victors who had taken their own lives after leaving the arena. A high number were from the career districts, but they did win the most.
"He won't, he's still got spirit in him. I think there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. Afterall, we don't have a choice. It's this or death and the death of everyone we love."
"Snow already killed everyone I love."
"That's not so true anymore. In fact, I just saw Effie with a little boy attached to her hip, one that looks suspiciously like a Victor I know. She was in a full gold dress it was quite a feat. What are you going to do with him during the games?"
"Too soon to think about that, I'll find someone to take care of him. Back to how to help Peeta."
"I've worked out something for the boy. He's going to be bought or gifted tonight whether we like it or not, it's just a fact. I heard through one of my clients who he's being gifted to for his first night at the Capital as a Victor."
Haymitch didn't like the pensive look on Finnick's face.
"It's going to be bad, isn't it?"
"It could be worse, but it's pretty bad. Hyram Dropforth."
Haymitch hadn't drank since the third day Ivo started living with him. He was dried out by a nosy, persistent child with nothing better to do then stick his nose in other people's business.
"I know what you're thinking, and it's probably true, so I was thinking. We give him some oblivi, then he won't know what's going on."
Haymitch couldn't believe what he was hearing. "No, he wouldn't knowingly take something like that. And I'm not drugging him. You're right, we can't protect him forever. Not only that, but Snow is also looking for any excuse to either kill the boy or show the districts his win was luck, not rebellion. There are whispers in 12, I heard from Johanna when I arrived that she's been hearing things too."
"Same with 4 but not so much in the positive."
That wasn't surprising since District 4 was a career district. Most of the Victors were good people though. Mags was always there for anyone, she practically raised Finnick.
Hours later Haymitch found out it was worse than either thought. Peeta walked into the party looking paler than Haymitch had ever seen him, and he had seen the boy right before he went into the arena. But it wasn't Dropforth that was dragging him around, no it was Julius Snow, only son of President Cornelius Snow himself. The son's wife died a few years ago under very questionable circumstances. Haymitch sought Finnick out because this was much worse than Dropforth. In all the years Haymitch had gone to the Victory party he had never seen Julius with anyone. But like everything else, there were rumors, and they were horrifying to hear.
Haymitch didn't have to find Finnick, Finnick found him.
"This is the worst it can be," Finnick said in a panicked voice. They were used to losing tributes, but it was understood that once one was a Victor they would be a constant part of the Capital's world. The ones they lost by taking their own lives or angering Snow in one way or another. That's when terrible accidents happen to the Victors family. Snow didn't like killing Victors, they were too much still a part of the games. The games never ended for the Victors. It was why he was still alive; they just didn't care that much about him after he just gave up and fell into the bottle.
"He won't kill him, and we should just be thankful for that. At least he won't this first time," Haymitch said.
"He'll wish he was."
"Have you ever?"
"No, but I've heard rumors. Women and men who just disappear never to be seen or heard from again. He's a monster, ten times worse than his father. Snow does things because he wants the control, Julius does it for the pleasure of it." Haymitch knew they wouldn't be able to come close to Peeta. Effie was supposed to stay with him during the party, but she wasn't there. If Haymitch were to guess she was spending time with Ivo.
Peeta shook hands and smiled, just like he was instructed by Effie before she left. He had hoped that Haymitch would come over and spare him from being near all these people he didn't know. Even when he hadn't known Haymitch really, on the train to the Capital after being selected, he didn't feel alone. Haymitch might have been a Victor since before Peeta was born but he was still from home. Now he was being glared at by a man over twice his age that terrified him.
When he was in Snow's office he was told that he would be gifted to Julius, Snow's son. He was also told that he better do everything that Julius told him to do, or he would wish for death when Julius was done with him. Peeta wasn't stupid, Haymitch and Finnick both told him what to expect. There had been hope in the bigging that Tigris, a woman he had yet to meet, would buy him for his first year. But she was unable to without something being very off about it. She never wanted any of the Victors before and Snow would know she was trying to protect him. Snow didn't want him protected, that he knew.
Now that it was all happening, he wished he never made it out of the arena. His life was now forfeit to the Capital and Snow; never again would it be his. But then again, it never had been in the first place. From twelve years old until eighteen there is not a day that goes by you can breathe. It's a waiting game, scarier for kids in the Seam but no kid was safe except for the Capital's kids. But that was dangerous thinking, so he had to smile and pretend he didn't know what was going on and that he was being sold to the highest bitter. For what, that he wasn't sure of, but Finnick said some things he didn't really follow. Peeta guessed he would see soon. He hadn't been sold though, he had been gifted, like an object.
"I think it's time for us to retire to my suite," the man, Julius said. Peeta didn't want to go but he knew better than to cause a scene. So, he made eye contact with Haymitch and Finnick before they both looked away, Peeta knew he was truly alone then.
Haymitch and Ivo were already on the train, waiting for Peeta to arrive. The Victory Tour was officially over, and they wouldn't be returning to the Capital until the next games. For the first time he would have a district partner.
"Where's Peeta?" Ivo asked.
"He should be here soon," he told his son.
"Mr. Melark is already in his room. He's requested not to be disturbed until we get to District 12," the server told them.
So, they were right, it was bad. Of course, it was, nothing from the Capital was ever good. During the games Haymitch was going to leave Ivo in 12, so he would at least be able to watch out for Peeta more, not completely because every victor was considered and adult as soon as they won. Peeta lived alone in that big house, his parents and brothers were still alive, but Peeta had cut them out of his life like Haymitch told him. For six months Haymitch watched while the boy still smiled, still took things in stride. He had a feeling whatever happened the night before had killed anything good in the boy. But victors are nothing if not resilient, unless they are the ones that couldn't take it.
A horrible feeling came over Haymitch. What if the reason Peeta wanted to be left alone was to end his pain? No, he was a strong one, Haymitch knew one when he saw them. He had a knack for knowing which ones could take being a victor and the ones that couldn't.
The rest of the trip was boring. Now that he didn't drink, they didn't carry alcohol in the train, temptations, and all that. No one saw Peeta for those days. The server would leave food outside his door and pick the same plates, full of food back up. He had a bathroom attached to his room, so he didn't need to leave.
There were people waiting for them but thankfully no where close to when it was the Victory Tour, but more than he wanted while he didn't know what shape Peeta was in.
"Good to be back," a cheery voice said from behind him.
Haymitch turned and looked at Peeta, he was smiling and looked carefree. It would almost be believable if Haymitch didn't notice the light fading slash on Peeta's neck. Capital medicine was amazing, without it, Haymitch would guess he would have a horrible scar there.
"How was last night?" Haymitch asked.
Peeta's smile never wavered. "Fine. Why wouldn't it be? I'm glad to be home."
Even the hardest of the victors wouldn't have come out of a situation like that half as together as Peeta was. If it wasn't for the healing wound he would have thought nothing happened, but there was something darker about Peeta. Barely fourteen and already damaged by the Capital more than most ever would be in their lives.