Chapter 2:

Ceti Alala, District Ten, Age 17

Victor of the 77th Hunger Games

Everyone keeps asking him if he regrets what he did and Ceti is tired of telling them the same thing. He didn't regret it when he stepped forward and volunteered for Kumar. He knew his boyfriend's odds versus his own – Kumar's family was rebels, Ceti's are loyalists. Kumar is still in school while Ceti spends his days hauling meat around the butcher shop. Kumar is too sweet to ever want to hurt someone in the Games, not even out of self-defense, but Ceti didn't hesitate when it was him or them. No, he didn't regret volunteering for Kumar. He knew his boyfriend would never have been allowed to win the Games, even if he did actually defend himself. Didn't matter if it was his parents and not him that was the rebel – the year before proved that the country isn't quite ready yet to have a rebel win the Games.

But Ceti wasn't a rebel. He knew when he stepped forward that they would give him a fair chance to win. And even if he didn't win, at least he would die with the knowledge that he saved the love of his life from almost certain death. But he didn't die. It was alarmingly easy for him to separate the idea in his head that he was fighting other kids when someone was running at him with a knife. So easy to not blink an eye at the blood that he's seen day after day at the butchers. That was what people always ask him the most if he regrets – killing those four tributes. He always gave the same answer to them.

He hasn't regretted it one bit. He knew what had to be done and he did it. And from the moment he first volunteered to now, he would still step forward and do it all over again. Because he'll be going back home to the boy he loves, alive and safe, all because Ceti risked his own life to save him. Ceti is counting down the minutes until they get back to Ten and he steps off the train and finds Kumar waiting for him. He's going to pick him up and swing him around and never let go of him again now that his is safe, knowing they are going to have the rest of their lives together.

Why would Ceti ever regret that?

As he stands at the window of the train, watching the scenery shift to the pastures of Ten, a lazy grin forms. So close. He's so close to being back home to the one he loves.

Yet Cantus has been hovering near him for the past half hour and Ceti knows something is up. The man has done his best to keep Ceti from knowing something is wrong but he hasn't done a good enough job. "Cantus, what's up?" Ceti finally asks, looking back at his mentor and grinning a bit. "It's weird, the hovering."

"I…" Cantus hesitates as he sighs and gestures for the seat across from him. "There's something you should know before we get back to Ten… Something I really don't want to tell you, but it's better you know now and not when you get there."

"Oh-kay," Ceti says slowly as he sits opposite Cantus. He watches the escort adjust his tie covered in piano keys for a few seconds, before sighing and putting his hands in his lap. He starts tapping out a beat as he avoids looking at Ceti. "You're making me nervous."

"Well I am nervous," Cantus answers with a nervous chuckle, proving his point. He finally meets Ceti's gaze and starts frowning. "Look, I always like to be honest with my girls because I think it's important to talk about things. And…I guess part of me cares for you in a similar way, so I want to be honest with you. And the thing is…they interviewed Kumar while you were in the Games."

"They did?" Ceti asks, raising his eyebrows in surprise. That's the first he has heard of this. "I didn't know they did the final eight interviews."

"They gave it a try this year," Cantus says slowly, once again avoiding Ceti's gaze. "Slowly starting to get back to some of the…normal…Games events. Still not at the full fanfare, of course…"

"Right…no celebration after or recap…" Ceti responds, a bit happy to have skipped all of that. He's never been the best at crowds and people, Kumar was always so much better than him. "Well can I see the interview?" Ceti asks him, smiling a little at the thought of seeing Kumar sooner than he expected, even if it's just through a screen. A pang of longing goes through him, knowing he's so close to seeing him once more and realizing how much he's missed him, mixed in with the excitement of seeing him.

"I…don't know if that's the best idea."

"Then why even bring it up?" Ceti tries to ask politely – he does respect the hell out of Cantus – but even he's growing a little annoyed at him. "Come on, Cantus. I'll know eventually when I see him, so might as well show me now."

"That's the problem," Cantus sighs as he picks up his tablet and takes the time to pull up the video. He hesitates to hand it over to Ceti, holding on to it for a moment. "Just…know I'm here and going to support you through everything."

"I know," Ceti says softly with a smile as he takes the tablet. "You've done so much already."

Cantus gives a forced smile at this before Ceti starts the video, grinning at the sight of Kumar. But the smile quickly fades away as Kumar stays far away from Jovian, seemingly afraid of them. The whole interview, he gives short answers and refuses to make eye contact with the host. Until the final question. "So what do you think about everything Ceti has done in the arena?"

Kumar immediately shakes his head and tears form in his eyes. "I-I don't believe what he's done. He…he scares me. I don't…I don't know that person on the screen. That's not the person I loved."

Ceti lets the tablet fall out of his hands as Kumar keeps talking about being scared of him. He stares blankly at the screen as it starts to blur until droplets of water start to fall on it. Ceti doesn't realize he's crying until Cantus hands him a handkerchief – music themed, of course – too busy replaying in his head over and over again the love of his life being scared of the things he did. Things he did for Kumar… "I don't understand…"

Cantus puts his hand over Ceti's, trying to provide a bit of comfort. "I've seen it happen before…victors coming home to loved ones that don't realize the things they did were out of survival. That they wouldn't be back home alive if they hadn't done those things."

"Does he not love me?" Ceti whispers, staring hopelessly at his mentor.

Cantus stares at him for a second before pulling him into a close hug. "We don't know that… That was before you won. He could have realized that you did this for him. He's probably waiting for you on the station."

Ceti shakes his head, part of him not believing that, but a different part not believing that Kumar would ever not love him for this. For volunteering to save his life. "I don't know…"

"You'll find out soon," Cantus says as he gives him a pat on the shoulder. "And no matter what, I am here for you."

And he's right, he does find out soon. When the train arrives at Ten, Ceti finds himself searching the station, a sinking feeling slowly growing in his stomach as he stares around, Kumar nowhere in sight. "He didn't show…" Ceti says quietly to Cantus, trying his best to hold in his tears as his family approaches. He really didn't show up. He really doesn't love him after he put his life on the line to save him… "Hey Cantus…"

"Yes, Ceti?"

"I think I finally regret this…"

Only second victor and we are already getting to the angst lol XD Should have known it wouldn't take me long to get to the angst. So here we have the Victor of the 77th Hunger Games: Ceti Alala! He's a good boy who just tried to keep his love safe and I fully support him.

So yeah, got that writing urge to do this so here we are! And again, no idea when inspiration will next strike with this story so no promises on when it will next update. But when we do, we will look at the victor of the 78th Games!

Also if you don't already know, the SYOT Alliance Forum is hosting our third annual SYOT Awards! Nominations are just finishing up tonight but voting will be starting December 1st and we would like to have as many people participating as possible, so if you are interested, please check it out :) The link to the forum is on my profile!