The first sensation was that of clean air.

Even smoke-tinged, it was incredible. It made breathing so easy that it was a wonder it had ever been a struggle. Sweet, whole, alive…

…alive?

Their eyes cracked open. Soft yellow light filtered through warped window panes, giving everything a gentle glow. Another breath; no, this was real.

Then the pain came, fast as a whip. They gasped, their body going rigid as the sensation of burning swept over them.

They forced another breath. Another. They craned their neck, trying to discern what was going on here. There were no weapons, and the room wasn't one they recognized. They were in a bed, somehow, and across the room was another bed. That bed had another body in it.

Another live, breathing body, covered in cuts and burns.

They forgot the pain and smoke. They pushed themself up, the room briefly spinning as they righted themself, and swung their feet to the floor. They lunged forward, fingers curling toward the body's throat-

"Stop!"

Hands pressed their shoulders away. They cried out as they were forced back toward the bed. They could see the body starting to stir, they had to act now.

"You can't hurt him anymore," the same voice said. "You're out of the arena. You have to stop."

They blinked, squinting at the person holding them back. "I… I don't…"

"Sit."

They sat. "Who…"

The new person pulled a chair to their bedside. She had deep brown curls and freckles, and she looked tired. "We haven't met yet," she said. "My name's Mallory. You're Invincible, right?"

"Vince," they corrected.

She smiled a little. "Vince," she repeated. "Got it."

"Where are we?" They stared at her. "What happened? Why is he-"

"What's the last thing you remember?" she interrupted.

They paused.

(Smoke in their lungs, elbow in their jaw, Jem's skull smashing theirs- everything heavy and burning, blood, dark, falling dark dark dark…)

"Fighting," they said. "Can I ask you something?"

Her brows lifted. "Sure. We'll take turns. What is it?"

They glanced at the boy in the other bed. "I didn't win, did I?"

Mallory pressed her lips together. "No. You didn't."

"Then why- how-"

"It's a long story," Mallory said.

"I don't understand."

"I know," Mallory said. "I'm sorry. But you're safe for now. You survived."

It didn't make any sense. Mallory must have known they were confused, because she put her hand on their shoulder. Vince failed to find it comforting.

"Wait," they realized. "If I didn't win, then who-"

From the other bed, Jem sat up. He snarled, throwing himself across the room toward Vince, hands outstretched.

"Stop!" Mallory shrieked.

Jem was slower than Vince; Vince guessed he'd only just woken up. Vince threw an elbow into his gut, and the boy doubled over with a groan.

Suddenly Mallory was between them. "No more," she demanded.

"I don't care if we're in the arena or not," Vince said, lunging again.

She grabbed them by the shoulders again. "Vince-"

Jem slipped around her, ramming himself into Vince. Vince choked, slamming to the floor under Jem's weight.

"I'll kill you anyway," Vince wheezed. They jerked their knee into his ribs. "I don't care-"

"What's going on up here?" a male voice thundered.

In a flash, Jem was yanked off of them. Vince grimaced, ready to pursue.

"No," Mallory repeated, pinning their wrists. "No. More."

The man now holding Jem wrestled him back into bed with a grunt. "We," he said, "did not go through all that shit just for you two to fuckin' kill each other!"

Vince stared up at Mallory. "You're Mallory Catelli," they said slowly.

"Yeah."

"And that's… Dimitri Volkov?"

"Yes," Mallory answered.

Vince frowned. They could feel the questions and answers brimming, but their head was still too thick to put it all together properly. "You're both from Ten."

"Yes," Mallory said.

"Are we in Ten… now…?"

"We're in Ten?" Jem whispered.

Mallory and Dimitri exchanged a look.

"Yes," Dimitri admitted.

Jem sagged, collapsing in on himself. He was saying something else, and Dimitri was answering him, but it was too quiet for Vince to make out.

They focused on Mallory instead. "I need to know who won."

"What?"

They grabbed the collar of her shirt, pulling themself closer. "Who? Who won?"

Who was still alive?

"The Four girl," Mallory answered. "Tisiphone."

A small, disbelieving smile spread across their lips. "Really?"

(Could they really get so lucky?)

"Yes," Mallory said. "It was Tisiphone."

They let go over her, falling back against the rug she'd pinned them to. Vince stared at the sunlight painting the room a gentle yellow.

"Wow," they murmured.

Already, they were exhausted again. They let their eyes slip closed while breath after breath of clean air filled their lungs.

She did it.

Esper Myrellis-Verilla, 27

Victor of the 88th Hunger Games

"Are you serious?" Esper demanded. "You made me call Tisiphone? Why?"

On the other end of the phone, he heard Sienna sigh. "Esper…"

"Don't 'Esper' me," he replied. He paced in his kitchen, his feet carrying him back and forth and back and forth. Morning light spilled through the windows, and the room smelled like the coffee he'd just finished making. "You know that I- I can't do this right now-"

"Is it because she was a Career?" Sienna interjected. "Or is it the District Four thing?"

"Things are still calming down here," he argued. "I missed my father-in-law's funeral, Sienna. We still have two dogs in the house for some reason. Townes says he's fine, but I don't know. And… fuck, I thought this year… we could've had a shot at a kid making it back. There was even a plan for Fleur-"

"I'm sorry," Sienna said, sincere as ever. "I know. It's been… a lot lately. I'm not trying to add to your plate."

He exhaled. "I know."

"How long did the call with her last?"

"Not long," he said. "A minute, maybe?"

"A minute?"

"I don't want to hear it," he said. He took a long drink of his coffee, hoping it would give him the strength to get through the rest of this conversation.

"You talked to her for an entire minute?"

"There wasn't much to say!"

"Esper," Sienna said, "she hangs up on everyone. The longest we've been able to get ahold of her so far has been fifteen seconds."

"...What?"

"You got through to her," Sienna said, and he could hear her getting excited.

"I wouldn't say that."

"You have to call her again!"

He set down his mug. "I'm not-"

"Please-"

"Someone else can do it!" he said.

"No one else can keep her on the phone, Esper."

"Not even you?"

"No," she said. "I've tried. I don't know what it is, but I can never get a word out. She does the same to Mallory, and Gigi, and Aurelia, and Dimitri. I even got a few more to do it- Grover, and Kellin, and Albert-"

"Have the Careers do it," he said. He was pacing again. "Where the hell are the other Fours?"

"It's a long story," she said. "I'm not completely sure, actually."

"The Two kid, then."

"Look," Sienna said. "You got through to her. You have to try."

"I don't have to do anything."

"Esper," she said. "Please. I'm asking you to."

"Why is this so important?" he asked, slamming his mug down on the counter. "You didn't make me call the Two kid. Or Mallory, even."

She was quiet for a moment. "It's that…" she trailed. "People like Qibli and Mallory have support systems, you know? They don't need as many of us. They have families, and other Victors that care about them in their own districts."

"I thought this one has a family."

"She does," Sienna confirmed. "...Did you watch her exit interview?"

"No."

"It was the worst one I've ever seen," she continued. "Ever."

"What was wrong with it?"

"I think you need to watch it for yourself," she said.

He groaned. "Sienna-"

"She's not doing well," Sienna interrupted. "At all. I talk to her uncle when I can. She's still recovering from a leg amputation, her mother just died, she and her sister are fighting. She spends all her time sleeping. She can't leave her house. It's a lot, and I just think- we need to do what we can. And, apparently, for some reason, you're the only one she'll even talk to. Please."

"I really don't think I'll be helpful," he said. "Honestly."

"It could be good for you, too," Sienna said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're still holding onto things," she answered. "If I had asked you to reach out to Mallory, you wouldn't have reacted like this. Don't deny it."

"Well, yeah, because it's Mallory," he said.

"And this is Tisiphone," Sienna replied. "You were friends with Careers once. You can do it again."

"I…"

"Just try one more time," Sienna said. "One more. That's all I ask."

"For now," Esper muttered. He took another sip of his coffee.

"You know," Sienna said. "She could've killed Tomo."

"Excuse me?"

"There was a moment in the arena," Sienna continued, "where it was her and Tomo, and she could've killed him. But she didn't."

His throat tightened. "I don't want to talk about Tomo."

"We don't have to," Sienna said. "I just wanted to remind you."

"Consider me reminded," he replied.

Finally, to Esper's relief, she changed the subject. "So you have two dogs now?"

"Yes," he answered. "They were Tomo's."

"Oh no, I'm so-"

"It's fine," he said. "Ryden won't let us give them away, so they're pretty much his now."

"That's sweet of him."

"Yeah," Esper said. "Townes likes them too."

"That's really good to hear," Sienna replied. "How is he?"

"He's…" Esper hesitated. "Busy."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He rubbed his temples. "My siblings were around a lot while I was gone, which was good. Ryden said he seems a lot better. I… I'm just glad I'm back."

"I am, too," Sienna said. "There was a long time where I hated coming back to Twelve. But it's gotten better with time. Time helps a lot of things, I think."

"Right…"

"It does," she reiterated. "I have to run, but look- we made it home. We did everything we could. We have a lot to be proud of."

Esper exhaled. "I…"

"We did what we could with what opportunities we had," Sienna said, an edge slipping into her voice.

"I know." He wasn't in the mood to argue about that again.

(Of all the tributes they could've pulled…)

"Talk soon, okay?"

"Okay."

"And call Tisiphone for me."

"Sienna-"

"Bye!"

The call disconnected. Esper replaced the phone on the hook with a groan just as Townes walked into the kitchen.

"Was that Sienna?" Townes asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Yeah, you just missed her."

"Oh, shoot."

"You didn't miss anything interesting," Esper told him.

Townes raised his eyebrows as he took a seat at the kitchen counter. "Are you sure…?"

"She's just trying to make me help with the new Victor," he said, wrinkling his nose.

"Oh, that," Townes said. "Why not?"

Esper gave him an outraged look. "You really don't get it?"

Townes crossed his arms. "Enlighten me."

"There's too much going on." Esper went back to pacing. "You just took office, and- and I need to be here for you, and there are dogs here now-"

Townes cocked his head. "The dogs are Ryden's," he pointed out. "You are here for me now. And taking office… I mean yes, it's a lot, but it's always been something I wanted to do. I didn't think it would happen like this. But it did. I'm trying to make the best of it all."

"You are," Esper said.

"And it's not like we have the train schedule to worry about anymore," Townes continued. "That's out of your hands. Why can't you help with this? What do you even have to do, write some emails?"

"Phone calls."

"That's not so bad."

Esper stared at him. "It's the Four girl, Townes."

"I know," he replied.

"I'm just- I'm not the right person for that."

Townes pressed his lips together. "I'm going to say something you're not going to like."

Esper frowned. "What?"

"I watched what I could of the Games. Including the non-arena stuff," Townes said.

"Why?"

"Well, the Victor eventually does the tour stop here, so I thought it might be a good idea. I'll meet her eventually."

"Not for six months."

Townes waved a hand. "I digress. The point is, um… she kept making me think of you, Esper."

Esper felt his own jaw go slack. "Excuse me?"

"I said you wouldn't like it."

"I sure fucking don't."

"I- It doesn't seem that different!" Townes said. "She seems like a nice enough kid. And there were some things in common-"

"We have nothing in common-"

Townes cut him off. "That's not true," he said. "God, Esper, she's a kid."

"So was I!"

"Exactly," Townes said. "You didn't like me either, once upon a time."

"That's different."

"I don't think so," Townes said.

Esper frowned. "I can't believe-"

Townes raised his hands in mock surrender. "I'll drop it," he said. "I just- if Sienna thinks it's a good idea, it probably is. And I love you, but this side of you is… a lot for me right now. You know how I do with, um… anger."

Esper forced himself to take a breath. "Okay. I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

Esper pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're heading to work, then?"

"Yeah," Townes answered. "Actually, I really should get going."

"I'll get your mug," Esper said. "I'll see you tonight."

Townes rose, leaning over to give Esper a peck on the cheek. Esper accepted it, and in a blink, Townes had left, the front door shutting behind him.

Esper slowly reached for the half-drunk coffee. He would've finished it, but Townes had filled it with milk and sugar, so he dumped it instead. He watched it swirl down the drain.

This side of you is…

(Familiar. Like an old coat he kept thinking he'd outgrown, but still fit perfectly around the shoulders. It still felt right. It still felt… safe.)

(That was ridiculous. Esper was safe now. He'd been safe in this house for nine years. He'd been safe from the arena for nine years.)

You're still holding onto things.

(Things that kept him alive. Had they all forgotten that? It was anger that made sure he survived. Without rage, he would've crumbled when Portia did.

So yes, he'd let some of it remain. How could he be anything else, anything but a scared kid with too much on his shoulders?)

She kept making me think of you, Esper.

(That part still didn't make sense to him. It sparked a flicker of curiosity that he wanted to snuff out. There was no way in hell he was anything like a kid from Four. Not then, not now, not ever.)

Whatever, he decided. He'd call her one more time so Sienna and Townes would back off, and that would be the end of it. They'd see it was a terrible idea and understand that he was right about this.

Jem Piper, 17

With Dimitri's help, he went downstairs. Dimitri had to half-carry him, because his foot still hurt like hell and most of him was covered in bandages, but he couldn't stand being in that room with Vince. Anywhere else was better. Dimitri took him to a living room, settling him on a faded green couch.

"Thank you," Jem managed. He let his head fall back against a pillow.

"'Course," Dimitri answered. "Let me go help Mal, and I'll be right back."

The burly Victor left, the house's creaky floorboards announcing his return up the stairs. Jem was alone again.

Alone, and alive.

Alive in District Ten.

(As soon as my leg is all better and I've got a new cane, I'll run. I was thinking, too, that maybe it's time to try for Ten. We could make it if we tried, I think.)

A sob clawed its way up his throat as it all came crashing down on him at once.

He'd made it to Ten. He'd made it to Ten. He'd left Sparrow behind at the Refuge, and Sparrow probably thought he was dead. Because he should be dead. So many were dead, all his friends- he could still hear Chevre crying out for him, see Jest's steady gaze, feel Jude's weight in the crooks of his arms- True abandoned in the dirt, Wisdom never seen again, Tomo giving in- no, no, it was too much, he couldn't live with this-

A hand cupped his shoulder. "Jem?"

Jem tilted his head, still sobbing, to see the curly-haired girl kneeling beside the couch. He tried to speak. He wanted to tell her that they shouldn't have saved him, he wasn't deserving, he couldn't do this, but the words wouldn't come out.

She didn't seem to mind. Instead she reached for him, careful of his wounds, but still wrapping her arms around him. She held him, smoothing back his hair and murmuring calm reassurances in his ear. He buried his head against her shoulder and she let him.

They stayed like that for a long time.

Mallory Catelli, 20

Victor of the 94th Hunger Games

Mallory joined Dimitri for dinner. The survivors were, as usual, asleep, so it was just the two of them. Dimitri had made a stew with enough leftovers that the others could eat when they were ready.

Dimitri was the one who said it. "That was interesting."

"Yeah," Mallory agreed. She swirled her spoon around her bowl absentmindedly.

"Probably should've known they'd go at it again," Dimitri said. "Given how I found them."

"They were confused," Mallory said.

"I would be," Dimitri replied. "How's Jem?"

"Asleep now," she answered. "I think there'll be a lot to talk about, eventually."

"Yeah. Makes sense," Dimitri said. He frowned. "Think I gotta call Aurelia. I don't know what the hell we're supposed to do with the other one."

"Help them recover," she reminded him.

"Well, yeah, but…"

"Weren't they friends with Rumi?"

"Neither of us knew what the hell to do with Rumi either," he replied. "If they're anything like that, I'm fucked."

She half-smiled. "I think it'll be okay."

(Mallory had seen the look on Vince's face when they realized who won. There was humanity in that. She had plenty of hope that she and Vince would get along just fine.)

She took a bite of her stew, chewing it thoughtfully. "No news on any… sightings, lately…?"

"Not that I can find," Dimitri answered. "The Gamemaker woman's gone. If she followed the map you made, she should almost be out of Ten by now. Not our problem anymore."

"She was helpful, though," Mallory mused.

"She was a hassle," Dimitri said. "And now that she got Gigi in the system, Gigi can find a way to stay in it. I'm fine not seeing her again."

(Mallory thought back to the first time she'd met Bellona Hargrove. It was onstage at the Capitol, and the Gamemaker was setting a crown on her head.

A far cry from the woman who'd fled their safehouse on foot, fear embedded in every movement. No gold, no silver, just a hood over her head and a compass.)

(It was her arena Astrid had died in.)

"Same," Mallory agreed. "I don't know how Aurelia was friends with her for so long."

Dimitri gave her a look. "It's Aurelia."

"She's not that bad," Mallory insisted. "And without Aurelia, we wouldn't have been able to trade an escape for getting two survivors-"

"I know," Dimitri said. "I still don't like her."

"I know you don't," Mallory replied, a smile creeping up on her again. "I just… we did it. Isn't that crazy?"

"Yeah," Dimitri said. "You people are the craziest I've met. And I've met a lot of crazies."

Mallory laughed. Dimitri tried to hide a smile, but she caught it.

(Because they had done it. Esper's husband organized the transportation. Aurelia made useful connections. Gigi tampered with the tracker readings to register them as dead. Dimitri dragged them through the tunnels. He and Mallory took them to the safe house deep in rural Ten they'd set up. Sienna put the pieces together and identified their chance correctly. It worked. They'd rescued two tributes from the arena. They'd actually pulled it off.

There was still a long road ahead, but it was one they could still travel.)

"Well," Mallory said, "for a bunch of crazies… not too shabby, huh?"

Dimitri smirked. "Yeah, Mal. Not too shabby."

(For the majority of her life, Mallory Catelli had been told she didn't have what it took to survive in this world. When she did survive, she kept wondering why. What was she supposed to do with the future she suddenly had?

I believe in science, but I also believe in you.

Astrid was right to believe. Mallory could see that now.)

thank you thank you thank you.

thank you to linds, erik, laney, phobie, plat, ty, nell, dyl, jay, brooke, sakura, qom, void, moose, james, miri, goldie, lance, arctos, em, and ace for my beautiful and spectacular and incredible cast. it's been an honor to write each and every one of them. love them and you.

thank you to goldie, moose, and brooke for various betas, encouragements, thinking sessions, and rambling dms. kept me going fr. you already know how much it's meant.

um haha congrats erik & miri! turns out vince was truly invincible after all... i HAD to say it okay. yeah i love these two and i'm not finished with them. lol.

ik some are interested in next plans. there'll be another interlude fic feat tiss, vince, and jem... doing stuff. HAHA. beloveds. there'll eventually be an rb4 but for now i have a minier smaller project that i'll drop tomorrow...! keep an eye out. it'll be fun and happen concurrently w interlude fic. then eventually, rb4.

also, i double posted! feel free to check out the summary chap after this. as if it contains anything you don't already know LMAO. but it's tradition at this point so

okay yeah. that's everything. LOVE U... crazy that this is over. gonna go mark this fic complete... goddamn. okay. see you in the next fics everyone!

rb