Author's Note: Things start to become a bit more turbulent for the victors.

….

Consequences

As soon as he knew it was safe, Plutarch Heavensbee arranged to meet with Chloe. The Tribute Parade of the Eighty-Third Hunger Games, what he hoped to be his final Games as Head Gamemaker, had ended in carnage and the victors were unlucky enough to be sitting in the direction the bullets were fired from. Chloe had arranged for Finnick to accompany her. He would be their next leader after all, and the response of the new President could have serious long-term consequences Finnick may need to address.

"How much do they know about my position?" Chloe asked. "I was questioned for longer than anyone else, except perhaps Chaff or Haymitch, which doesn't fill me with the greatest confidence."

Plutarch laughed, "Fine company you're keeping, Chloe. But in all seriousness, they are treating you as Mags' successor in uniting the victors, nothing further. Besides, they know it wasn't any of you. None of you have a reputation for that level of stupidity."

"They searched our seats, surely they knew it wasn't any of us when we were hauled in? But that won't stop Elda or anyone else from trying to pin it on one of us to take the fall," Finnick said.

"President Elda thinks you victors are an irrelevance. He would not give you all so much publicity. Making one of you take the fall would not serve him. It serves him to keep people guessing right now. He can present himself as the figure of strength, protecting the Capitol from hidden threats among us as they find out who is responsible. They will find a culprit, but it won't be any of you."

"Who was it?"

"Let's just say those bullets hit their intended target. The fact they grazed our new President will have helped him even."

"The target was the Defence Minister?" Finnick asked.

"Yes. Think about how Elda got to where he is, and who he had to outplay at the end. Who benefits the most from the Defence Minister being out of the way?"

"Elda himself," Chloe concluded. "A move right from the Snow playbook."

"Whoever fired those bullets is irrelevant," Finnick said. "A troublesome associate of someone they're already watching or someone they've captured will take the fall."

"And we're all clear for now."

"I'll keep watch on the situation," Plutarch said. "I would expect Commander Thread to be coming into the defence role and he is no friend to any of us. It seems brutality in the outlying districts and a longstanding friendship with Lucian Elda gets you big government jobs."

"Good to know that some things still stay the same, no matter who is in charge."

"It's still the same old Capitol. We're old hands, Chloe, but we're still in the game."

….

"You'll be fine," Haymitch said to Peeta and Katniss as they were leaving for their first casino trip of their time in the Capitol that year. "Do your sponsorship stuff, get to the poker table and take their money."

"Will all this have changed anything for them?"

"This assassination nonsense? They might have bodyguards, so no obvious cheating. But otherwise, they'll be distracted. But you're not, boy. Neither are you, sweetheart. When they're distracted that's when you're at your smartest."

"Just act like we're on their side," Katniss said.

"It should be easy. We were sat near to where the bullets were fired. It was ever so frightening, who knows what could have happened. You know the deal, lay it on thick. Chaff and Seeder will be around too. They can help spin a good story."

"Chaff will only cause trouble."

"Seeder will have him under control. He won't pick on you, not when he's surrounded by Capitols if that's what you're worried about, sweetheart."

"I'm more worried about him getting us into trouble."

"He won't," Haymitch laughed. "He's been cheating at poker for years."

"Makes me feel so much better."

"Means he doesn't get caught. Like I said, because things are more tense, Seeder will have him on a short leash. It will be fine. They'll look out for you both."

"Dare I ask where you'll be going since you're not coming with us?"

"I'm meeting Trinket. Says she has a friend willing to sponsor Twelve."

"Haymitch, for someone who claims to be annoyed by Effie, you do spend a lot of time with her."

"She can't let go of the job. Still in find a sponsor mode. Which is more help than the latest ones have been."

"You haven't helped with that since Effie left."

"Never said I'd be helpful. I'm not going to do their jobs for them. Can't help that we've been given terrible new ones every year."

"Only because you frightened them away!"

"I said I would!"

"Do you want us to ask for Vespa or Candy?" Peeta asked in jest.

"Don't you dare, boy."

"He knows they'd stay for longer than a year, just to spite him," Katniss said to Peeta.

"I think she's right, Haymitch".

"Stop fooling around the pair of you. Go steal their money and leave me in peace before I have to put up with Trinket's chatter for hours."

"Haymitch, Effie will be pleased you've chosen to spend time with her," Peeta laughed.

"Chosen is a strong word. But you two have places to be, so off you go!"

….

"I can't believe they would think any of us would be so stupid! We got out of our arenas, and we didn't do that with brains that would think shooting at a new President was a smart idea!" Brutus said as he paced District Two's floor in the Training Centre.

"They were just trying to look like they were acting quickly in the shock of it all. I don't think we should read too much into it," Lyme replied. "None of us are realistic suspects and there wouldn't be any point in trying to pin it on one of us. Nobody seriously thinks any of us were responsible."

"They can't be short of people with a bone to pick," Enobaria said.

"Not helpful, Baria."

"I was messing around, Lyme. But we've seen how it is around here at the minute. Lots of gossip and that's before it all went to pieces the other night. They've lost their minds, what they had anyway."

"Where's this attitude come from?"

"I'm just tired, Brutus. Sponsor meetings get me in a funny mood, you know that. Paulus and Diana do a good job, why don't you take them with you instead?"

"Because you're suited to who we're meeting. They'll want a challenge and Paulus and Diana will give in too quickly. I don't want to hear your snark when we're at lunch tomorrow either. We've worked hard to secure these people."

"I know, I know. Best behaviour. You can trust me," she said, looking at both Brutus and Lyme.

With that, Enobaria left Two's floor to go to the bar in the Mentors' Centre where she knew Poppy, Halley and Cecelia would be. They were not having too much luck with the sponsors and would have left the evening's event early.

"I don't know how you put up with this," Enobaria said as soon as she saw the three women.

"The sponsors' ball?" Halley asked.

"Everything. I've got Lyme watching over me like she never did before and Brutus getting on at me for being annoyed at having to spend more time with the Capitols."

"Lyme will be watching you. You've changed inwardly but nobody else can find out where you stand now," Halley said quietly.

"I'm not about to blow the whole thing open!"

"We know you're not. But think how risky Lyme's position is and how yours is too if someone gets wind of anything."

"I'm all in. You have to trust me."

"We know," Poppy said. "We do trust you. You just have to keep your head, all the time."

"If you're struggling, go back to why you said yes in the first place," Cecelia added.

"I'm not one to be lost in thought."

"That's fine. But you said yes to Lyme for a reason, Baria."

"I did. It's just all wrong, isn't it? Took my time to figure it out, but I'm here now. I want a different life. I hate being in the Capitol, hate the whole mentoring thing at home and here. Feels like we're pimping out the kids, and after the Capitol pimped us out. I have fangs for goodness' sake!"

"We all have our reasons, Baria and if yours is having fangs then so be it," Halley laughed.

"I'm serious! Do you have any idea how many times I've bitten into my tongue? There's a lot I can't properly enjoy. Food is difficult and could you imagine being in a relationship with someone with these teeth? They've made me into a gimmick, and I have to play into it. I even have to scare the kids at home."

"You don't need the teeth for that. You can all be scary if you want in Two."

"That's what Lyme said. But for the littlest ones who I deal with at the Institute, it's the teeth that get them. I come along every so often and they all want to impress me, and I flash my teeth and send them running scared."

"You sound like you enjoy that a bit," Poppy laughed.

"It's funny at first but it gets old after a while. But the point is that if they get through my programme then they can go into training proper. Lyme's got me making it more about Two now, rather than the Capitol."

"Good. You'll have your army when we're ready."

"That must be Lyme's plan."

….

Gloss and Cashmere were throwing a party at the end of the Games. District Five had won but given the year's events, Soleil's victory had been cast into the shadows. Now Cashmere had announced her engagement and wedding date to the public and Gloss was quietly celebrating the end of his short-lived marriage. Ermine had agreed to sign the district's register to end their relationship, in One at least. Gloss would work on the Capitol later, once they were satisfied that Cashmere was doing the job asked of her.

It was a select party, focusing on those who would be attending the Capitol-based celebration in a few months. Cashmere had insisted on her actual wedding taking place in District One, not least because it had an array of suitable venues to rival the Capitol. It was her wedding to someone she genuinely loved rather than him being the first person to agree to marriage. She was going to learn from her brother's mistakes.

Finnick was also in attendance, diverting questions about his relationship status and attempts at settling down with a woman from Four. He did not know how much longer he was going to be able to hide Annie and he was certainly not about to marry another woman to please the Capitol. But he would figure that out later. Cashmere was going to be the centre of attention for a while.

He was speaking to Gloss, congratulating him on seeing the back of Ermine when Gloss changed the subject and Finnick heard the words he finally needed to hear from One's man. It had been years of gentle hints and subtle persuasion. Finnick respected Gloss and Cashmere and he was not going to insult their intelligence.

"We are with you, you know. Cashmere and me. We're in."

Finnick tried not to smile too hard or sigh in obvious relief. His hints, Gem's quiet workings and the turmoil that One's victors had been through had finally pushed the siblings in the right direction. But he was quietly delighted. They were still recruiting, even among the more established victors. They would only get stronger.

"About time too. I need to hear it from your sister as well. I have to know for sure."

Gloss shrugged, slapped Finnick on the back and moved to join his sister at the centre of the party once more. He was not about to make a big deal out of it when he was at a party surrounded by listening ears.

Finnick made more of an effort to approach Cashmere at a quiet moment after hearing from Gloss. He was happy to let her have the attention and to mingle and be seen with her publicly, but now he knew he needed to speak to her before they all departed.

It seemed Cashmere had similar ideas as she soon approached Finnick, offered him a drink and whispered in his ear, "It's true, what Gloss said. We are in. Let us know what we need to do."

"Take your instructions from Gem first," Finnick replied. "She's the one who helped get you to this point. She'll know where you're best needed in One. I can think about the rest."

Cashmere nodded and then changed the subject suddenly, "Are you happy for me, Finn?"

Finnick laughed in surprise, "Of course I am, Cash. You seem happy with Goldsmith. It's not the best circumstances but you're making of it what you can. You're having fun tonight!"

"Any excuse for a party, you know District One. If I can't celebrate getting married, when can I have fun!"

Finnick did not want to argue and let Cashmere continue mingling with her guests before heading off to find Noah. Parties in the Capitol were giving him more to think about every year.

….

The celebratory atmosphere of Cashmere's party faded as soon as the victors arrived home. A muted Hunger Games had turned into reprisals in the districts. District Ten's victors returned to find a peacekeeper with a firm grip on Rosa's shoulders and another hauling their assistant out of Charo and Adan's home. She had been looking after Rosa in the victors' absence, knew they would be back soon and did not want to let a peacekeeper take hold of their little girl.

As soon as she saw her parents and grandmother, Rosa tried to pull free from the peacekeeper's grip and started to cry when she could not let go.

"Get off my daughter," Adan barked as soon as he saw what was happening.

"She is a part of this district and is required to be present at the square," the peacekeeper replied firmly.

"If our daughter is required to be at the square, then surely, we are too. Let go of her and she can go with us."

During their brief stand-off, Charo had managed to prise her daughter free from the man and comfort Rosa whilst Maria tried to smooth things over with the peacekeeper who had hold of their assistant.

"What is all of this anyway?" Maria snapped. "What is so important that a child needs to see it?"

"You'll see," one of the peacekeepers laughed as he demanded the group follow him.

The main event turned out to be the execution of supposed rebels. Except Maria, Charo and Adan knew they were not rebels. They were petty criminals turned scapegoats in retaliation for the staged assassination attempt on their new President. The threat of general, unspecified rebels was back in full force as President Elda consolidated power. Ten's victors were furious that this had been deemed essential viewing for Rosa who had come home confused and upset. Charo and Adan quickly worked to find a distraction whilst Maria stewed over the afternoon's events.

They had only just returned home, and chaos had managed to ensue. Every right-thinking person knew those who had been executed were not guilty of the crimes they had been convicted of. It was a transparent attempt at consolidating power in a remote part of Panem which would not work. It would only result in anger and instability in Ten and Maria knew they would have to keep their heads down if trigger-happy peacekeeping was to make its return. Any wrongdoing could lead to an accusation of rebel activity, and those engaged in the conspiracy had to be one step ahead.

Ten had been quietly stable for years but Maria saw in the people amassed at the stage, a new growing anger. It was the emotions in the heat of the moment, but Maria knew that if more heavy-handed enforcement continued and the Capitol made the mistakes of the Snow era again, they could drive rebellion back to Ten. Charo and Adan would have to offer a guiding hand to remind people. Maria knew she was growing old, but her victors were ready to take over the mantle and now might be the time to hand over the reins.

….

Eleven's victors returned home to Marshall's mother frantically gesturing for their attention. Her son had taken over Orchard's business some years ago and she was now Marshall's most trusted employee and adviser. She had tried to turn up for her shift the previous afternoon to find the three victors' factory under heavy peacekeeper guard. Their employees were forbidden to leave.

She turned back immediately, careful to avoid being spotted by any of the peacekeepers and went to put in place their contingency plans for an event such as this. It was a long wait for the victors to return, knowing that her colleagues had effectively been held hostage by the peacekeepers for reasons she did not understand. The situation became more alarming when she realised that Chaff and Seeder's most loyal employees and co-rebel leaders were under house arrest.

But as soon as she caught sight of her son, Marshall's mother sent him straight to the factory to begin negotiations whilst Seeder went to secure the release of her longtime friends. Chaff was to look over the arrangements in place before joining Marshall to try to ensure the safety of their employees and friends.

Marshall found peacekeepers guarding the doors and at almost every workstation in the victors' factory. Apparently, they were overseeing work and ensuring safety during the period of turbulence following the attack on the President. But it was clear that the victors' offices had been thoroughly searched, most of the employees questioned intensively and work was brought to a halt as even the machinery was searched in an attempt to find evidence of rebel plots.

It was at times like this that Marshall fully understood why Chaff was as he was. Eleven's peacekeepers had never understood. They were overzealous and heavy-handed at best and Marshall knew it was a stroke of luck that nobody had been seriously hurt. They were also entirely stupid in their approach. Seeder and Chaff would never be so reckless to leave rebel materials on site and their caution had been passed onto Marshall.

By the time a very angry Chaff had arrived, Marshall had managed to secure the release of the workers who had already been questioned and those with young families who had been left overnight whilst their relatives had been detained. Seeing that Marshall had control of the situation, Chaff clapped him on the back and walked straight past the peacekeepers to try to determine whether any damage had been caused to their operations, legitimate or otherwise.

After a great deal of shouting, Chaff managed to get the peacekeepers to call off their search of the production lines, using made-up Capitol targets and the threats of fines for missing deadlines if they did not allow his workers unimpeded access to their jobs. He threatened to send the imaginary fine he would face straight to the Head Peacekeeper and over-played his connections to influential people in the Capitol and eventually, the peacekeepers caved.

Once the immediate job was over and the release of all their employees and friends had been secured, an even larger task would commence. The victors would have to determine if any intelligence had been revealed. Everyone detained would need to be debriefed. They were not about to risk a security breach bypassing them when tensions were rising once more.

….

Cecelia and Calico were led straight off the train that brought them home to the central square under a heavy peacekeeper guard. Both women were taken aback and when Cecelia tried to ask what was happening, she was brusquely told that she would find out soon enough and that they imagined it would be a surprise for Calico.

Upon hearing that, Cecelia's heart sank. There was only one thing she thought that could mean and it was likely that they were both in immense danger too.

They were herded into the main square and joined Cecelia's family and Cotton who had been brought to the very front of the audience. This alarmed Cecelia even further as this was obviously something the Capitol wanted them to see.

Cecelia was surprised when a smaller group of supposed rebels were brought onto the stage and summarily shot. It had not been quite what she was expecting. But then two of her more remote associates were brought onto the stage and killed in front of her, and her stomach churned. The Capitol had reached the edges of her circle, and she was going to have to take greater care with every move she made.

The Head Peacekeeper took to the microphone in the centre of the stage and delivered a speech surrounded by the dead bodies of those he had just executed. His speech took on a new life as he spoke about the biggest win for law and order in District Eight in almost a decade. The rebels had lost, and the Capitol had won. The game was over and Kersey Paylor was hauled onto the stage.

Calico grabbed hold of Cecelia's arm but let go just as quickly. They both knew all eyes would be on them. Kersey quickly looked at them before focusing straight ahead of her at the crowds of District Eight. The victors could feel the shock around them, and Cecelia was willing everyone to hold it together. She did not want half her network to reveal themselves due to their reactions to what was about to unfold.

Kersey Paylor stood and looked out at the crowds, as dignified as she could as the list of charges was read out. Then she was forced to her knees, a bag placed over her head, and she was shot, falling to the floor.

The Head Peacekeeper continued to gloat and then swiftly ordered everyone to disperse. Cecelia and Calico were guided away from their family with peacekeepers holding their arms. The moment was caught on camera for the victors across Panem to see and a quiet panic amongst them all ensued.