Author's Note: We arrive in my favourite district with one of my headcanon victors that I wanted to write more of as he gets his own victor in this new timeline.

….

The Eightieth Annual Hunger Games: Ossian (Ozzy) Aalto, District Four (18)

Since his return from the Victory Tour, Ossian had spent much of his time on the water. He had thought that things were going well, and Noah still maintained that they were. Ossian had been stable and calm, so much so that he was being reintroduced to the Centre and was thinking about his path forward.

He would take a leading role in the tribute programme as was expected of him, but he was also thinking about having a role in their vocational classes. Like Rowan, the programme that was once Shai's domain was how Ossian came to be introduced to the victors and the volunteer programme.

He had always been excellent both on and in the water. He intended on teaching swimming and water survival as their fishing crews took on increasingly long and arduous journeys, using the skills he had gained from being involved in both aspects of the Centre.

But as he prepared for another rowing session alongside Noah, Ossian no longer felt so sure. He was beginning to feel comfortable, but the Tour had quite literally brought the arena back to him.

Ossian's arena was a condensed version of the Capitol, taking in parts of the Presidential Mansion, the Training Centre, the Avenue of the Tributes and some of the residential and business districts. It was an urban cityscape on the grandest scale, offering no chances for Ossian to assert his prowess on the water.

Being in the Capitol in the immediate aftermath did not affect him. He knew now he was in a daze and was overwhelmed by the magnitude of everything. So, he did not expect it to cause problems once he returned. Until he found himself in the Presidential Mansion, shaking as the sound of the national anthem surrounded him.

He was in a constant state of panic during the party in the gardens, barely able to focus and hardly able to stand still during Snow's address. He could feel Noah's hands on his shoulders, pushing down lightly, trying to ground him. Finnick, invited for the occasion since it was a District Four victory was next to him trying to whisper reassurances along with jokes about the President. Mags had sneaked onto the train for the Tour with Chloe taking care of her and Ossian knew they were also nearby. He should feel safe. But he did not. He was back inside his arena, only everyone who was watching him on the television was now watching him in person.

He found he could no longer stand outside and so made his way out of the gardens but found himself inside the real version of one of the Mansion's rooms where he had defeated the other tributes. Noah and Finnick were able to catch up as Ossian sprinted inside but were not able to offer him their reassurances before he vomited over the floor and on their shoes.

Finnick sighed, although he and Noah were keen to assure Ossian that it did not matter. They had both seen and done worse at Presidential parties.

"She's spying on us, so she won't be far," Finnick said before shouting for their escort, who, in line with Finnick's suspicions, came running towards them.

"We're all going to need new shoes immediately and somewhere to help Ozzy freshen up. I suggest you go and make yourself busy instead of hiding around corners."

Diana Treasure, their escort since the Quarter Quell, tutted at Finnick's remarks before looking at the three of them, "Ossian! I told you to avoid those drinks. You need to be at the facilities before you drink them! Honestly, district people!"

"It wasn't-" Ossian started.

"Leave it," Noah whispered. "Let her think it. It's better than her reporting your little Capitol problem to Snow."

….

"There's been worse on the carpets in that Mansion, Ozzy. Really, stop worrying about it."

"Speaking from experience, Noah?"

"Might be," he laughed.

"But it was caught on camera. Treasure didn't even need to report it. Snow told me it was a shame that I was struggling being back after experiencing so much of their love and generosity."

"Ignore Snow. He's just playing games, it's all he's got left. Getting into the minds of young victors. But we've got it in hand. As for their love and generosity, they're vile, but we handle it."

"What am I going to do during the Games?"

"Stick with me and Finn. If you're sick again, just do it over Luxor or Augustus' shoes. Or Treasure's, that would be even funnier."

"I'm never going to live it down."

"You'll see the funny side soon enough. Come on, stop getting distracted, you wanted to race me anyway!"

With that, Ossian stepped up his efforts. Learning how to row properly, not just meandering in a small fishing boat, was how he had chosen to spend most of his free time. He wanted to learn something new that was still Four to stay connected to his roots.

It was where he felt most free, beyond the confines of the land. It was him and the water, and sometimes Noah too. He had enjoyed spending time with his mentor and getting to know him beyond seeing him as an instructor and Games mentor. They were becoming friends and underneath his joking, Ossian knew he could trust and rely on Noah.

Ossian beat Noah, as he usually did. He was finding that he had a natural talent for rowing and was considering entering the district's competitions. It was something for the rich as they were the ones who had the time to train for a competitive sport, but it would get his name out there and help build connections. He had been watching his peers as they went about their business and Ossian had realised that so much of their work was about building and maintaining connections within the district.

Four's richest was an area where they were lacking, Ossian could see that. Mags was Mags, everyone at least knew of her, and Shai dealt with all their general correspondence. Chloe and Coral had the peacekeepers and Rowan and Song managed an entire network of connections through the Centre. Noah had his ear to the ground with the fishing communities, whilst Finnick and Annie dealt with the merchant class and worked together with their Capitol guests.

He knew what was expected of him as a victor within Four. Once it had become more likely he was to be the volunteer, the victors increased the flow of information to him about their roles and responsibilities and allowed Ossian to join the dots. That seemed to cement his status as the volunteer too and Noah had confirmed as much. They picked as many of their volunteers as they could not just for their physical and mental strength, but their potential to contribute to Four's ongoing rebel efforts.

Ossian's family had been poor. His father, uncles and brothers were part of the workforce who dealt with the catch as it came in from the seas. As such, he was never able to shake off the stench of dead and dying fish and he hated it. He couldn't stomach eating it either, so he had become somewhat of an oddity.

His life changed once he started at the Centre. He learnt skills in the vocational programmes that would mean he did not have to deal with the daily catch. He was going to work elsewhere until his strength and athleticism were noticed by the victors.

He moved into the Centre full-time not long after that and was finally able to get rid of the stench of fish. He did not have to eat it either. The other students made fun of him mercilessly, but he just beat them all fighting and in races until they could do nothing other than respect him.

Ossian's skills gradually made him one of the more popular candidates. He grew into himself, found his purpose and loved getting to impress everyone every time he fought that bit better or threw a spear further. The girls wanted to spend time with him and worked harder at the Centre to impress him. He enjoyed their friendship and company but remained focused on being the chosen volunteer.

His family were not keen on his ambitions, but Ossian told them he was doing it for them. So they would never have to work their awful jobs again and the children could have a different future. And now it had worked. The family had money, his father and uncles had stopped working, his brothers found office jobs, the children had returned to school and his mother and sisters were able to start the business they wanted.

But it should never have had to have happened that way. Nobody should be prepared to sacrifice themselves on a Capitol television show to risk a better life for their family. Nobody should have to work in the awful conditions they had been forced to either. So, Ossian's background made him a natural rebel and Four's victors had been able to see that.

….

"Enter the competitions and win or carry on trying until you do. Make some new friends while you're there," Noah said.

"They'll like me anyway because I'm a victor," Ossian laughed.

"Careful, Ozzy, or you'll sound like Finn! But you're right. People respect us and if we're good to them, they'll talk. So let them. It's the same in the Capitol too."

"I should do the same with the Capitols?"

"Rowan and Song have some sporty connections they've been trying to keep up with. You could take that over. Get in with some new people too. There were no swimming pools or sports pitches in your arena so it shouldn't be as awful mixing with them. Get on the water in your rowing gear and they won't leave you alone!"

"I'm going to have to get used to them fawning over me, aren't I? Clawing at me with their hideous nails."

"Unfortunately. But they're fickle. The worst will be over by the time there's a new victor in town. You'll have your most loyal fans, those who want to keep buying you but they're having to quieten it all down. They won't let anyone have Finn levels of fame anymore."

"Because Finn knows too much?"

"He's too famous. They don't want a district person having that level of following. They don't realise just how much he knows."

"Which we can use to our advantage."

"At the right time, yes. But none of us ever want to let that slip. We have to protect Finn still. Keep his information quiet until the right moment."

"Well, I won't be telling tales. You have your sources too, right?"

"Of course. I don't play them how Finn does. But if you can find a way to play them, to wind up on top even when they think they're still in control, it helps deal with it."

"Even when they're in Snow's circle, Gamemakers?"

"That's even more fun. There's always something you can tell from the home or hotel you end up at. Just a little something about what they're really like that you can store away for later. Take Octavia Featherstone, you'd have gone to a little hotel somewhere quiet, not too expensive by Capitol standards. She thought she was sitting on a large family inheritance, turns out her husband has gambled away the lot. So, she gets us on the cheap at cheap hotels to get back at him. He can no longer afford her whilst she gets a victor on her arm. If you're really lucky, she'll take you home and flaunt you to the husband. Finn got a kick out of that one."

"It wasn't just me she's bought; out of us I mean?"

"Boy, from Rowan to you, you've joined an illustrious group. Octavia loves spending time with us all. Gloss and Cashmere too but she prefers us Fours."

"Gross."

"There are worse. We're doing our best to keep you away from those. The new woman in Victors' Affairs didn't like hearing some of Finn's stories so the list of buyers has been reduced. Don't think she wants to give us as much ammunition. The previous woman didn't care. She did what she did because she could, and she wanted to. But Snow has smarter people around him now, not that he's any smarter. He's still losing it, and long may that continue."

"But someone else will take over?"

"They will. I'm not sure if we'll all be ready again to stop Snow's successor, whoever that may be. They're still fighting over it and we're regrouping. People were scared into compliance; they won't want to come out fighting again so soon."

"We're ready here. But we wait for everyone else?"

"We've been ready for decades and that won't change. On Chloe's word, H can order the removal of the Mayor and get rid of the excess in the peacekeepers."

"And we could be free."

"We'd be vulnerable to the Capitol if we went alone. Mags promised years ago that Four would lead when we had enough on our side. Chloe will keep that promise and Song will throttle Finn if he does anything stupid."

"But it will be quick here when it happens."

"Yes. We can put the right people in the right places and fend off any retaliation. Chloe, Coral and H are working on the whole retaliation thing anyway. They haven't told me too much but they're planning on boosting our defences."

"You'd never think it was Chloe pulling the strings."

"Would you have suspected Mags?"

"Only when I got higher up in the programme, and I realised how many connections she had."

"Mags has always been remarkable, and my auntie Chlo has studied Mags for decades. With Coral, they've built their following."

"They're quietly running the district," Ossian laughed.

"Between Mags, Shai, Chloe and Coral, they've pulled everything and almost everyone together. We work for Four and pay lip service to the Capitol when we need to, but it's Four we serve. That's the most important thing to remember. If you're ever struggling, you come back to that."

"I'm all in, Noah."

"I know, Ozzy. We're going to get you into the right role in the right place and you'll do just fine."

"You've got my back?"

"I'm your mentor. That job only really starts once you come home. If you're struggling, end up out of your depth, or have a run-in with Snow or anyone else in the Capitol, you come to me first and we sort it."

"When do I properly start?"

"After the next Games. We'll keep you busy in the Capitol this time around. I'll get Rowan and Song to introduce you to people so you have your way in. But your main job will be learning the ropes and the other victors."

"But I've seen them on the Tour."

"It's a good start. But the Tour is always just the start. They were on their best behaviour then, well apart from the Sevens. Mags had joined us too. You got off lightly in that respect. She had all the attention. Plus, you only get to know people when you spend more time with them."

"I'm looking forward to that part of it."

"Good, because it's the best part. You need to make the most of it. See where and how you fit in too."

"I'll be with you, won't I? Watching how it all works."

"Sure, but we all have our little groups. Obviously, we stick together. Out of the volunteers, we're the closest group among ourselves. Some of the Ones don't even like each other. The Twos are a strong unit and Lyme and Brutus are trying to bring them closer together, but you know how we all are. They're not like that."

"Do we spend most of our time with them?"

"In the Mentors' Centre when the alliance is strong then sure. But outside of it, do what you want. Find your people. Finn causes trouble with Johanna and goes to Halley for advice. I go drinking with Linden and Blight. I'd say Theodore from One is in a similar position to you. He doesn't seem as pompous as his mentor so you might do well together. Unless they're in a particularly bad mood, it's often not a bad idea to start with those who came home closest to you."

"We spoke on the Tour. He seems decent. Like he's figuring things out too."

"He'll have more to figure out than you, so you might be able to help there. What with the state they're in, in One right now. You didn't see the meltdown of course."

"I saw poor Aria during dinner."

"An absolute shaking mess. I've got no idea what Gem and Cashmere are going to do about her. Mags and Chloe were trying to help but I don't know how far they got."

"It was awkward."

"It's exactly what we've worked to avoid here, what the Twos work to avoid in their way too. We'd never let it get that far of course."

"That's why you come out here with me so often."

"Partially. I like spending time with you. If you want me to leave I will. Unless I think you'll take the chance to drown yourself."

"No, Noah. It's good to spend time with you and to say I've beat you on the water. It's something I can say I do better than you!"

Noah laughed, "I'm getting older and I'm not the only one. We'll have to teach Finn too, only so you can beat him as well. He'd be far too concerned about looking pretty."

"He can be the prettiest cheerleader whilst I'm out here. Drumming up support for the competition, when I do go."

"I'll let him know. And you make sure you do get your name down. It's a new way in with a new crowd for us. Keeping you busy, whilst we keep building. Helps our image, doing non-threatening district things. A good-natured competition to win a metal cup, they'll think it's quaint!"

"It will look good on camera too, I suppose."

"Sure will. When we end up with crews over here, we can race with Finn, they'll be beside themselves. You can keep the actual competitions to yourself though, you don't want to show them everything. Just a picture of you when you win will be enough."

"I do my sport, Mags and Shai do their puzzles," Ossian laughed.

"Chloe and Coral have taken to knitting. You didn't want to be here when Coral started that. It didn't go well for weeks."

"I can imagine that. Coral doesn't strike me as the sort."

"That's why it was so funny and why they don't do it often."

"What's your thing?"

"I mess around on the beach with Finn, Rowan and Song. All for the image of playful, athletic District Four."

"It's all a game. Everything about us is to them. I realised that pretty quick."

"It is. I think most victors understand that to some degree. You've survived the physical one. Now you're playing the real games with us, and the stakes are even higher."