Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/uPArLVFOqrQ

(Linking songs I listened too while writing in case you wanna listen to them too)

(I repeat myself. This book I'd say a wholeass trigger warning because it is slow downwards spiral of all the abuse types I could think off subjecting Athena too so.... This is your first and only warning.)

(NO, I am serious, this book is really depressing and I could say 'Trigger warning? Which sort? Yes, just yes.' so pleaaaase be careful because I didn't pull punches in hurting my oc with quite vile things at moments.)

Thick snow fell, a blizzard raged, truly, it was not a place where people would be out in or would survive in the long run.... Or was it?

"AAAAAAH!!!!" Came a scream through the arctic mountains as two young and grappled people tumbled down the icy stone slope of a mountain.

One took a punch too the face, their head whipping back, revealing them to be a girl under the thick hood of the similar coats both wore, so young, not over 15, face and ears bitten red by the cold, blood already freezing to her skin from the cold.

She swung down with a hand flexed in a claw, the metal sinking into the throat of the other young kid that was struggling to push her off, failling.

And she yanked.

The metal claws ripping a large hole in the throat of the boy laying under her, staining the snow red.

She panted, still pressing the boy into the cold snow, trembling from the cold and what she did but she needed to go home, she needed too, her brother is waiting for her to come back too him.

And so, striking down once again, she put the boy out of his misery, more of his blood splattering on her face as the telltale sound echoed out around them while the steam rose from the red splatters, cooling rapidly.

Boom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the 66th hunger games! Athena Hadley from district 2!"

She stood with a deep breath, the sight of that boy burning into her memories just like every single other of her kills had to her name, burning their last moments forever in her mind.

A tear threatened to spill over but she tilted her head back, blinking it away, a district 2 tribute doesn't cry, she can't cry, that's weakness and weakness is not permitted.

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The Reaper, that's what they called her, setting the record for the highest amount of tributes killed singlehandedly, the blood of eleven stained her hands despite her wearing those clawed gloves to take most of those lives, the blood never able to be washed off despite it not being visible too others, she still felt it seep into the skin on her hands.

Athena Hadley was pretty girl, desirable, angular face not marred by anything that happened in the arena anymore, thick black hair tied in the small pony tail with much of it still hanging free (like the pic), a sadly slight above average body for her age of 15, already taller then many her age too, stronger, smarter... It was only a matter of days before the offer she couldn't deny came and she quickly regretted her outburst in Snow's office, bending the knee and accepting her fate, all for her brother, to protect him.

Even as she was instantly ushered too her victory tour right out of that meeting, she did it with a smile, all to protect her brother, her only reason to live.

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She just wanted to curl into a ball and disappear, no one had readied her for this life.

She always thought, as a victor, all would be better... And now she was here, fueling the propaganda machine with her overwhelming victory this year.

As she stepped off the train, the cheering was deafening, it made her sick too the stomach but she smiled and waved, she'll need to get used to this so she better start now.

But she was looking for one little face in the crowd.

"There you are!" She called out with a smile, seeing her brother.

"Athy!" He said, running over and hugging her legs, she chuckled and pat his back.

"Were you nice Cato? I hope you didn't bother a lot." Because of one mistake, one word, a 'no', Cato and her found themselves alone in this world.

"I was nice!"

"Then lets go home."

"But there is a party for your win."

"I know bud but I am tired, I need a bit of sleep."

"Oh, alright." She held his hand as she walked through the crowd that was more interested in drinking themselves dead then where their new victor was going.

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The victor house was empty, so empty, way too big for just her and an 8 year old boy, but such was their life now.

She had put him to sleep and couldn't understand how he didn't blame her for killing their family with her stepping out of line.

Why didn't he hate her? Because she sure hated herself.

She sat by his side while wondering before walking out.

Out in the back garden, while pulling on padded gloves.

She watched them, flexing her hands with a jerk and the metal claws popping out, everyone in district 2 chose a weapon and were made proficient with it through the academy with another becoming a secondary weapon, these were hers, even outside the game they haunted her.

With another jerk and flex of her hands, the metal slide back in, letting her close her fists without stabbing her palms.

She looked up at the side of the house and punched it, the pain in her fist reflected the pain she felt on the inside.

This was nothing like what they told her.

There was no honor.

There was no grandeur.

Being a victor was nothing but another way of becoming a slave too the Capitol, becoming their puppet.

Athena wanted to scream as she punched the wall again, but couldn't, sinking too her knees.

She was from 2 dammit, this was not supposed to go down like this, it was supposed to be a great moment, not.... This shit.

She leaned her head against the wall, tears trying to escape from her eyes but she didn't let them despite really wanting too, she can't cry, that would be weakness and humiliating.

And so she stayed seated there for a long while into the night, trying to feel something else but the painful numbness that grabbed onto her soul, despite the hated cold biting her skin, she didn't have the strength to move to escape it.

"I wish I died in that arena." She whispered, words carried away by the merciless wind that reminded her off the arctic mountains, the white snow she stained red with her own hands.

Athena Hadley knew this hell was just beginning and she was already tired of it.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/zUWaw668OX8

Athena tapped her fingers on a glass of champagne, feigning a smile, listening too the clicking caused by the movement.

She absently looked down at her hands as she thought.

(Based on both of these as one piece and matte black metal.)

Her hair style forever the same tho gelled down, her piercing eyes tired but barely letting it show.

With her other hand she touched her throat with a sigh.

If Snow couldn't get more literal in showing that the victor from 2 was owned by the Capitol.... The small consolation was that she looked good in her outfit even if that wasn't much of comfort.... The shiny shoes, the black slim fit dress pants and the dark green dress shirt with its sleeves rolled up too her elbows to show her off, with the top two buttons opened to reveal her cleavage, the dark eye shadow with glitter green in it made her eyes pop.

She was the Reaper, Snow wanted no one to forget, all were to remember those eleven lives she took with her claws.

"You seem distracted." A voice spoke up, sounding so young yet dandy.

She looked too her left, having been standing at the buffet table and leaning back against it, seeing a dirty blond which chiseled jaws, deep eyes, cocky that's for sure, his outfit was a simple ocean blue suit but without a dress shirt under the jacket, revealing his softly sculpted body.

"Odair." She recognized the winner of the year before her, he won at 14 and now they were the same age tho Athena doubted it that he'd have his birthday before her. He received the most costly gift of any game ever in the history of the hunger games: A trident.

Athena looked at her hands again, seeing the clawed gloves on them, if anything, she had received the weirdest gift, having chosen a weapon and it never being stocked in an arena before was quite surprising to all that watched.

"Ah don't sound so snappy Kitty-cat, I just came to welcome you too the ranks of victors." She could tell he was trying to annoy her but it wouldn't work.

"Careful Odair, I have claws." She lifted her free hand, flexing her fingers.

"As much as I would love to test if they are really all that sharp I would much prefer not messing up my outi--" "Hadley." He wanted to say much much more but a man seemingly appeared out of nowhere, a hand on the girl's shoulder. "You are being asked for."

Athena sighed, putting her untouched glass down.

"As much as I would love to keep talking Odair, I have places to be and company to join."

He watched her walk away, not blind to what was being asked of the victor as he himself suffered the same fate, he long learnt to regret winning in the one year he spent as a victor. (just so you know, in the fic I am making other victors not know what Capitol Sweethearts are, they know of the title but not what it implies.)

"Hey Kitten!" He called, she looked over her shoulder, looking tired. "Make sure they pay you correctly!"

She rolled her eyes, wondering what he meant.

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She buttoned up her shirt, smoothing out the crinkles.

"No." She simply said, this was not the first time a client of the president got guilty for using her for her body, offering her 'prices' to free their mind of guilt.

Athena would always deny them that, they were the ones to buy a 15 year old victor to use for her body, all that money going right into Snow's pockets, she didn't want any of these people to forget what they did.

The older Capitol citizen man basically on his knees, holding up fist fulls of jewels she refused to even glance at as she shimmied her hands back in her claws and clipped them in place.

"There must be something I can give you."

"What? What would be worth my services?" All for Cato, she did all for Cato, protecting her baby brother was all that was her goal.

"I offered you bloody gems, money and titles, something must be worth it." Athena felt disgusted, this man looked like he'd be consumed by guilt, sweat dripping from his forehead, literally trembling from shame and yet he still did this, he still used her and many more would come and would do this thing.

"How odd." She flexed her fingers, cupping his chin with the tip of her claws, leaning down with her other hand on her knee. "Are you really that scared your little dirty secret will get out? That you bought a prostituted victor that's a minor? Trust me, if that could destroy any of you I would be screaming it from the rooftops." She shoved on her hand, making him jerk back to not be stabbed as she straightened out, standing.

Hmm.... Oh.... Athena gets it, that's what Odair meant, these people hide their true faces even from each other, the Capitol is built on lies and secrets, that she knew, but...

"My dear sir." She crouched down, hugging her knees she she looked down at him, he remained on the ground, staring up at her. "There is one thing I can think off that I would take as payment."

"And what is it?!" He quickly asked.

"Secrets."

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"I didn't expect to find you up here Kitten, this was meant to be my place of peace and quiet." She heard as she stood, bent at the waist and elbows on the railing and hand on them.

"Odair." She stood, hair sticking out like it shouldn't, not perfect anymore, shirt only half tucked in, the collar around her neck but not tied closed and in addition too that, a black jacket that matched her outfit.

She couldn't bare the cold but currently this was her escape away from the Capitol party.

"The games are over, I have no reason to want to rip your throat out."

"How nice to hear." He walked over, unlike her, he had lost his jacket and felt dirty putting it back on. "They have messed up both of us pretty bad haven't they?"

"They have." She agreed, not one more word being exchanged between them, somehow at peace with the knowledge each knew of the other's pain.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/iwZUJ0i5-bM

"Why do you always wear those Athy?" Little Cato poked the metal claws of the padded gloves.

"To be sure you are safe Munchkin." She ruffled his hair, but it was not entirely true, she had the inability to feel like she was safe herself, waking up in the middle of the night from nightmares, bathed in the blood and cold of the arctic arena, she found that having a weapons on her in the form of these gloves helped, either these or her much more decorative claws, both helped, but he didn't need to know that.

"I don't need you to protect me!" He complained like a child like him would. "I am a big boy!"

"You are the biggest boy but I am your big sister." It almost felt like a dream, like it was not real, like pushing him on a swing after a day in school, it felt surreal. "It is my job to protect you from harm and anyone, I'll pluck their eyes out." She mimicked poking with two of her fingers.

"I'll be the best in the academy and I'll be the one to protect you."

"Only if you grow taller then me." She laughed at how determined he was, a constant fear of hers was he'd actually be the best.

In 2 they would volunteer but after Brutus's, her mentor's, literal bloodbath to declare he'd volunteer, it was decided that the top student in male and female categories would automatically be chosen, that's how Athena was chosen at 15 only, because with her skill she surpassed that year's 18 year olds too... Which she bitterly regrets now.

"Are you okay Athy?"

"Why do you ask Munchkin?"

"You seem sad."

"It's nothing." She smiled, pushing the swing harder and making him laugh, getting distracted.

Her mentor had favored her district partner and basically abandoned her, he wouldn't acknowledge that now that she was the winner.

She really didn't want her brother to be good but he was following in her footsteps, already knowing the basics of sword fighting at 8.

She didn't want her brother in the hands of the Capitol and she'll do anything to keep him from them.

Anything.

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She watched the smoke rise from the cigarette against the sunset backdrop over the Capitol. 

She doesn't even remember when she picked up the habit, was it before the games? After? Everything mushed together now, like a life before winning never existed and only this hell was real.

"What was it this time?" Finnick's annoying yet charming voice said, breaking her from the silence she was surrounded by.

She swung at him limply and he effortlessly avoided her dainty little claws as the chains clinked softly.

The Capitol would constantly drag the victors too parties, never ending parties.

"It was nothing Fish-brains, just something about someone poisoning someone." She said without much information given through her words, here even walls had ears.

"Oooh, that's quite interesting." He said before grabbing her wrist. "Come on, I got someone you need to meet."

She put out the smoke on the railing and let him drag her away, back into the loud buzz of the crowd.

She hated how'd they touch them as they passed and all she could do was smile at them.

But torment soon arrived at its end as he pulled her too a quieter corner.

It was a little circular couch with several people.

"I present to you my mentor, Mags, Cecelia from district 8 and Wiress from 3."

"Hello." She awkwardly said. "Athena Hadley, district 2." She offered a hand to shake but dropped it, none would dare with her claws and she guessed right, none of them had moved, they even looked nervous because she was a 2... She didn't blame them, eleven lives she took with her own hands.

"Come on girls, be nice." Finnick sat with them, speaking as if he was not actually much younger then they were, pulling Athena next too him. "Kitten isn't bad for a 2."

"I'll claw your eyeballs out Fish-brains." She threatened with her claws held to his face as he just grinned, not scared at all.

"Welcome." The older woman softly spoke. (in the books it is hinted she could talk but had a stroke before the 75th came.) "And I am sorry dear." She grabbed her hand in her wrinkly one, careful with the sharp ends but not scared to hold it.

"For what?"

"My boy Finnick, neither of you deserve this, you are both so young."

Athena swallowed, not liking more people knowing about what she did in her spear time, little to no one actually knew what a sweetheart was but this Mags lady seemed to do... It was inevitable, every victor would know what life as one of them meant, that's why they were here, paraded around as trophies, those thinking a bit more would realize sweethearts are not just the best trophies but their bodies too.

Slowly but surely the other women warmed up to Athena too and for once, she had a great time at the Capitol.

For once it felt like before the games, relaxed and without a stress but it wouldn't last.

"Hadley, you are asked for."

With a half convincing smile, she waved goodbye too the group and went away, all of them watching her with bitterness all victors felt when seeing this, knowing the Capitol was up too something again but only Finnick and Mags knew the whole truth of it.

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But the nights were horrible, even at home.

Left, right, left, right.

Throwing punched into the tough leather punching bag that hung in the victor's home, trying to work her anger out through violence.

She didn't stop even as her knuckles screamed for mercy, even as her blood stained the leather of the bag.

She wanted to cry but wouldn't, not wanting to be weak, she needed to be strong, for Cato, he needed her to be strong for him, she'll be strong for him.

Left.

She kept her fist against the bag, blood pooling in drops from the bruised and busted knuckles, staining her fist and the bag.

Seems blood followed Athena no matter where she went and it made her sick.

She regretted winning the games as she now knew, there were no victors.

Just survivors.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_Bs2dUtjDSI

Athena laughed, laughed as much as a newly turned 18 year old victor can while watching her tributes in the arena from the corner of her eyes.

Her never changing fashion sense a staple in the Capitol, the smug and bold woman their sweetheart, their first love, the Capitol just ate her up.

"Fish-brains that is just wrong." She said, holding a whisky glass from above with the tips of her claws, tapping her pointer finger against it.

"Whaaat?" Finnick responded with a laugh too, nudging her shoulder with his. "Come on Kitten, if they get to sleep with me I get to criticize their execution." He imitated grabbing something and thrusting his hips against, making Athena laugh again and smack him on the head with the back of her free hand.

"What would Mags say if she saw you doing this?" She asked the other victor, both of them standing in the lounge and leaning against the bar in there, this area created long ago for the victors, so they could watch the games, drink and exchange when they weren't out and about getting sponsors for their tributes.

"Don't you dare tell her."

"What would you do to stop me Fish-brains?"

"Don't make me."

She lifted her claws.

"Try me." She said, dropping her drink on the bar top. "MAGS!!" She ran off.

"Come back here!" Finnick yelled, chasing after her and tackling her down.

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She was tackled in the back, making her swing back, the metal claws slicing into the tributes face.

"Fuck!!" He screamed as she pulled herself out, kicking him in the chest, sending him tumbling back.

She scrambled too her feet, looking around for the discarded blade but she couldn't find it.

"Ah!" She gasped as her leg was grabbed and she was pulled down.

"You are dying here! I'll bring pride too 1!" He yelled, grabbing her face and slamming it in the rocky ground covered by the snow.

She elbowed him, sending him off her and she jumped after him, causing them to slide down the side, something neither expected.

"AAAAAAH!!!!" Came a scream through the arctic mountains as the two young grappled people tumbled down the icy slope.

One took a punch too the face, her head whipping back as the hood was thrown off her face, she could barely feel it, all of her limbs were numb from the cold or was in pain already, blood already starting to freeze to her skin.

She swung down with a hand flexed in a claw, the metal sinking into the throat of the other young kid from 1, struggling to push her off.

And she yanked, the metal claws ripping a large hole in the throat of the boy laying under her.

She panted, still pressing the boy into the cold snow, trembling from the cold and what she did but she needed to go home, she needed too, her brother is waiting for her to come back too him.

And so, striking down once again, put the boy out of his misery, more of his blood splattering on her face as the telltale sound echoed out around them.

Boom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the 66th hunger games! Athena Hadley from district 2!"

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"Kitten! Hey! It's Finnick, stop!" He pinned her arms, no other choices as the first swing that almost blinded him seemed to be too well aimed to be a friendly rebuke. "The games are over!"

She looked around, struggling to breath, it was still the victor lounge, it was not cold anymore, it was not the boy from 1, she was a victor and that was over.

She gently pushed him off as she sat up, holding her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry.... I..."

"Sshh, it's okay, I get it." He pat her shoulder.

She rubbed down her face, she couldn't cry, not here, not wanting to be weak in front of others or herself.

She needed to be perfect, to protect Cato, she needed to protect him.

"Come on, lets find Mags yeah?" Finnick said, helping the girl stand.

Back in 2 the games continued, no one could understand the young victor's regrets so she stopped telling, growing cold, angry, brash and bold, just like how they expected 2's victors to be, she just became one of them to survive.

But Mags, despite only rarely seeing her, most of the time as a mentor, Athena found comfort in the older woman.

The other victors still looked at her like they always looked at 2 despite talking too her but not Mags, the older woman understood.

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"It will be alright." The older mentor said, rubbing the young girl's arm, Finnick sitting on her other side and watching Athena.

"It has been two years ago and I still can't forget it... Does it ever get easier?" She asked the older woman who sadly smiled.

"You live with it."

A 'no' without saying it.

She sighed.

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"Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the 68th hunger games! Ares Taleri from district 2!"

She sighed, almost disappointed, sad for the other tributes but grinned, patting the boy's shoulders.

"Good job." She hugged him as cameras clicked.

"Thanks too you." He winked, they let him keep his expensive looking dagger that Athena got him through sponsors, she felt sick watching the games but still, she is a district 2 mentor, she tries to look out for her tributes just like everyone else, those from 2 feeling like home.

"Lets get you ready for your interview, you need to look good, your life as a victor starts now."

"I can't wait."

She smiled back, like many of 1 and 2, Ares was just like them and nothing like Athena, while she saw the truth behind these games, he remained oblivious too them.

Tho she wished she had remained that too.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/0B06bSNhq3o

"I am so sorry Finnick." She said, holding the sobbing boy in her arms as they sat in district 2's tribute quarters.

Annie Cresta, a girl Finnick talked too her about, he had fallen in love with her and tried to hide it from Snow because of his occupation in the Capitol.

But it got found out and low and behold, Annie's name was pulled at the reaping.

"I will lose her Thena. I lost her already." He cried in her arms, she never saw him brake down such a way, he truly loved that girl and it scared Athena, hoping she'll never love someone as much as he did.

Her brother was protected from the Capitol wrath but anyone else was at their mercy, just like with Annie, she never wanted to love anyone or they would suffer the same fate.

"Hey, trust in her a bit, you were a great mentor too her, she'll make it through."

"She is too gentle Thena, she'll never hurt a fly, how can she kill to survive? After what she saw?"

The games were already lasting for one week and today, Annie's district partner had been gruesomely beheaded in front of her by the female career tribute from 2, something Athena felt guilty for, the only thing lessening that guilt was that Annie had ran and escaped her hunters.

"She will make it, I promise." Athena whispered, watching the screen as the games went on, seeing the male tribute from 1 spear the female of 2, not feeling the slight bit sorry for her death.

But she was jealous.

She wished she had someone that could have held her like this when she needed it.

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A flood.

A horrible and unprecedented flood shook all of Panem in the middle of the night.

And all the victors could do was watch as Finnick hollered in agony as he watched as the arena was flooding, Annie swimming for her life.

Mags held him as she crouched at his side, every other victor present standing on their feet, this was one of the worst games any of them had ever witnessed.

Athena held her breath each time the young girl was fully pulled under, breathing out in relief when she saw her surface, trying to grab something, anything, but the arena was merciless, not giving her a moment to catch her breath.

Boom.

"ANNIE!!!!" The girl was yanked under moments before the cannon sounded.

"Come on Annie." Athena whispered, watching the screen, seeing nothing but raging waters, how could the gamemakers let this happen? Tributes dying one after the other, thrown into the  side of the arena, crushed between floating debris or stuck under water.

But she surfaced again, struggling in the rapids, Annie lived on.

"Thank god." Athena whispered, tensed, raking her claws up her own arms, just not breaking skin but there would be red marks left.

The odds were in no one's favor in this watery grave the arena was turning into.

Athena couldn't believe her eyes, as night turned into day, Annie, the frail looking terrified girl, was still alive.

She was tired despite the stress of the situation but she stayed with Finnick throughout it all.

"She is the best swimmer I know... Come on sweetheart, you can do it." He whispered to reassure himself, tears having long stopped falling as he watched the screen in almost complete catatonia, barely breathing even.

"She'll be fine." Athena tried to reassure him, squeezing his shoulder despite just hearing the nickname he used for her causing her pain.

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As morning turned into midday and as midday turned into evening, Athena couldn't help but be amazed, the few remaining tributes have been stuck in this catastrophe for almost a whole day, forced to swim and fight the current to stay afloat.

Athena remembered her own games but there the 'events' were orchestrated on purpose, this was pure mother nature rage.

Boom.

It stole her breath each time to hear a tribute's cannon, taking a lot out of her.

And finally.

Boom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the winner of the 69th hunger games! Annie Cresta from district 4!"

She crumbled too her knees as she hugged Finnick who found the strength to cry again, hiding in her arms.

"I told you Fish-brains, she did it, they are going to get her out and she'll be back with you."

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The poor girl was so traumatized that she cracked in her post win interview and fled crying.

"Hey, just calling for happy birthday for 19."

"Never say those words ever again unless you learn how to speak English correctly Fish-brain."

"You love me like this."

"Learn to speak English and we'll talk again."

Athena sighed, looking out the window, one more game over, back at home, back alone with her brother, back too the thoughtless people, one more year since her games... She hated her birthday as it fell right on dates that could be considered end of the games, she stopped celebrating the moment her own games finished, a birthday to mark the end of killings.... How morbid.

"How is she?" Athena asked, on the phone with Finnick as she was bored, filling out a crossword puzzle as Cato was also bored but filling out the homework Athena was making him do.

"She doesn't dare come swim in the water." His tired voice answered.

The victors knew each others pain, they talked in the games, but few would go out of their way to call one another outside of their district a friends or to call them while outside of game season.

"You said her favorite food is fish?"

"Of course, we are a fishing district."

"Duh." She face palmed, making Cato chuckled at how done with life his sister looked, crushing her cigarette in the ashtray. "Anyhow, go fish for her, it won't be water but from the water, something she loves from something she fears, it will help her get over it in small steps."

"You are a genius Kitten."

"I know, I know, keep complimenting me like that, you'll make me swoon."

"Beurk."

"Ouch Finnick, you are hurting my ego."

"It needs to be knocked down a few pegs there."

"Yours should be too... Now I must go before Cato puts his homework in the oven!" She yelled the word 'oven' as she jumped up, the young boy quickly closing it and turning it on max.

"Ahahah! Okay okay, see you later."

Athena quickly hung up and vaulted over the table in a side roll as she landed and clicked the off button.

"I'll claw your eyes out." She threatened Cato, flicking her gloved hand near his face, he just flinched away giggling. "You little numskull." She pulled the papers out, the oven luckily didn't even start to warm up.

He laughed and started running away, making Athena grin and run after him.

"I'm going to get you Munchkin! I'm the big bad mutt!" She folded her claws in with a flick of her wrists, running after him, chasing him through the house.

As a victor, she only found solace in her brother and training still, both were distracting her from the truth.

The truth that was strangling her.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/KQZ0qbkKbZ4

This year was surprisingly interesting.

Athena was sure, more then anything, that this year, the pulls were fully rigged.

After last years fiasco, the Capitol wanted to make them forget it so for all districts, tributes only from the 17 to 18 ranges were pulled for the whole of 24, that can't be a coincidence and much less when some of the lower districts looked like they also might stand a chance too.

They were going all out in every way they could without it being a quarter quell, they'll need to wait five more years for that.

She watched the recap of the reapings with her two tributes, usually there would be two mentors but Enobaria had shitfaced herself in the bathroom and she was known to not give two shits about the games, Athena was technically the sole victor that these tributes could count on for anything.

She raked her Capitol claws on the leather seat, the chains clinging adding to the eerie sound it created.

"I'd be careful with people this year, even if they look weak." She told them, grabbing a smoke and lit it.

Alone in her room she replayed the video until it got to 7 again, finding something was off and not finding what it was for a while.

And then it clicked while she had been staring intently as the female tribute from 7.

Johanna Mason, it was announced, there was something too her, crying in her hands on that stage, looking so meek.

But Athena was observant, having been watching from the start, having even wound back the video a good few times, the girl looked really calm, arms crossed, bored even, when she stood in the crowd before suddenly full tears and meek when her name was called, as if an switch was flipped.

Athena smirked, she hadn't actually see someone be able to cry on command in 2, it was almost fascinating to see, having never thought a human was capable of it but she needed to admit it, she never thought many could be done and then saw them be done right in front of her eyes so it shouldn't have been a surprise.

No one had ever wanted to go in the games looking weak, so it made her interested, much more then she should be for someone that's not her tribute.

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"Morning Blight, I see that this year it might be a losing year for me." Johanna looked at the woman that walked up too her mentor as they got out of the train, a moment of calm before the stylists would come get them as he told her.

She was young when she saw those games but everyone knew of the Capitol sweetheart: The Reaper, and she lived up too her names.

Johanna looked in wonder at those metal chains one her wrists connecting too the finger covering metal claws.

Unlike much of the Capitol this woman never seemed to change her attire, Johanna wondered if she ripped out her stylist throat to make that possible.

"2." Blight coldly said as the young woman crossed her arms with a grin, her two tributes behind her, Johanna shrank back behind her district partner, still silently watching. "You shouldn't be as confident." He said, knowing she meant the exact opposite of what she had said.

"When was it even when 7 last had a victor? Like the 54th was it?" She said, that damned district 2 smirk on her face as she played with the chained on the collar around her neck.

"This year 2, you might be on the run."

"Keep on dreaming Blight." Johanna made sure to look like she wanted to hide even more when 2's mentor looked at her. "Lets see what surprise this year holds for us shall we?" She said before spinning to walk away, her tributes following.

Johanna saw her mentor's shoulders drop, having been tense in the other victor's presence and she could tell why.

She was playing the comedy, she saw that year after year, the careers and others always went for true weaklings last, as a game, watching them scream and run for their life, so if she could be a weakling, she'd be off the radar even if that meant no sponsors or an alliance to help, it would buy her a bit of time plus she is from 7, just imagine a limb is a log and swing an axe at it.... If she can even get an axe, this is all speculation from her and she hoped it would pay off, she really needs to get home and will let no one get in her way.

Johanna watched her disappear in the crowd and she had the distinct feeling that, unlike everyone, even her district partner, even Blight, that this young woman had seen through her ruse.

And that, was not reassuring.

-----------------------------------------

7's comedy act was convincing.... Outside of that defiant spark that she cannot get out of her eyes, clearly visible to Athena now that she saw her face too face.

"I'd look out for 7." She casually told her tributes tho not precising which tribute she talked about, that would be their job, she can't do all the work for them can she?

She almost stopped smiling but kept it on her face, it almost reminded her of Cato, a spunky child with energy and determination to get through this unfair life.

Sadly tho that might not be enough.

Athena thought it was a waste that this Mason was not born in 2, she might have had a chance at combat, looking weak to be ignored will not save her from death eternally.... Plus her name would be an amusing fit in the masonry district, a Mason as a mason, hilarious. It was that thought that made the smile remain on her face as she brought her tributes too their districts stylists and left them there.

"Fish-brains." She waved as she spotted Finnick.

"Looking at lethal as always Kitten." He said, prancing over too her with a hand in the pockets of the shirtless suit he wore.

"A gust of wind and all woman will swoon."

"Please." He laughed. "Now that you are here, the Capitol will have eyes just for you."

"Oh how I hate that you are correct." She said, pulling a smoke out, the only thing Snow couldn't technically punish her for, it went with the aesthetic he wanted for her after all, just like Enobaria and her filed down shark teeth, Athena seen as the bad girl with her smoke were something nobody took a second glance at.

And Athena was grateful because she needed it to survive her day to day life.

"Annie?"

"She's getting better, I can convinced her to take a shower without me needing to be there."

"That's something." She said, smiling with him. "So, want to skip?" She asked, it had been a few years since she actually watched the parade, reminding her of her and her district partner, her greatest mistake.

"Lets celebrate another early birthday? The 20th was it?" Finnick asked, throwing his arms out as she lit the smoke and took a drag, keeping the stick in her mouth as she pocketed her hands. "Heymitch said they renovated the lounge with a way bigger selection of 'things' in there."

"Oooh, well lets go look at those 'things' shall we?" She asked, knowing it was most likely booze.

"After you."

"How gracious of you."

He laughed, making her smile as they walked together.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/RujWQGH_XlM

Johanna was being great.

Her plan perfectly working for now.

The fainting trick at the parade, splendid.

The 'I can't even swing an axe' trip and fall at the first day of train, spectacular.

No one looked her way.

No one paid attention to her.

Not even to know where she was going.

She breathed out, feeling suffocated in the tribute quarters and so she escaped, fleeing too the roof.

It was a huge flat area sparsely decorated with plants and even actual trees, a few folding tables and a few stools but even those were intricately made, luxury in the smallest of things.

She touched the surface of the table, it was waxed smooth but an image was chiseled into the surface of it, the logo of the Capitol with red resin filled with glitter poured in the shape.

She found it disgusting, she found the Capitol disgusting.

She looked over the railing.

She stepped too it and, as confident as ever, climbed over it and stood on the little stone ledge.

If she was to die, she'd die how she wanted, fuck the Capitol.

"It would be useless to try."

Johanna jerked to the left, grabbing the railing hard to not fall, eyes wide, the mentor from 2 coming out of nowhere and still looking like she belonged here.

She was leaning on the railing with elbows on it, one hand holding her head up as she watched Johanna with that damned cocky smile of 2, the other holding a cigarette loosely between her fingers.

"What are you doing here?"

2 just smiled, bringing the smoke between her lips, Johanna tearing her eyes away from it, as she looked into green eyes that reminded her of district 7's luscious green leaves that grew on the trees in summer, but these greens promised blood and murder... Didn't stop them from being addictive.

"I'd ask you the same but I seem to have arrived at the wrong time." The mentor said, smoke clouds coming out as she spoke, holding her head up to free her hand, the metal claw scrapping on the concrete making a sound that made Johanna want to smack the woman for. "The 'meek' little girl taking her destiny in her hands." And she knew with that, that the mentor didn't believe a single one of the tears she shed on the day of her reaping, with that damned smile on her face as she watched Johanna.

"I'll die how I want, not how the Capitol wants." Johanna said, gulping, snapped out of her thought.

The scrapping stopped.

"Trust me." 2 flicked the butt of the cigarette into the void, Johanna watched it fall for a while before looking at the mentor that was suddenly much closer then before and crouching on the railing in perfect balance, looking as stable a this building was, as if nothing could make her move. "The Capitol would not let you take control of your own death outside the arena."

"They can't stop me from jumping."

"Sure they can't." She stood full height. "But."

"But wha--FUCK!!" Johanna yelled as she was kicked of the ledge, looking at the smirking woman in horror.

But she didn't even fall more then a few feet before something caught her, feeling something sparkly against her skin, as if electricity was licking up her body without shocking her.

She turned too her side, seeing a transparent net that looked like it was made of electricity under her.

She watched in awe before the net was shook and she looked up, the mentor having jumped too and standing next too her, casually watching the net hold her up above the void.

"They thought of everything." 2 held out her arm, a net coming in view there too, appearing as it was solicited. "The whole roof it surrounded by this." She pushed on the net and let go, the net snapping in place and vanishing view when it was no longer being touched.

"You bitch." Johanna said. "You could have told me instead of pushing me!" She yelled, standing, struggling a bit as the net was elastic and deformed like a soft bed as she stood on it.

"Where would the fun be in that?" 2 chuckled, looking at the tribute. "Plus didn't you want to jump before?"

"Asshole." She walked too the stone and tried to jump to grab the ledge but she was just a bit short for that.

"No, just a realist." She looked over her shoulder, the mentor's face so close she jerked herself away, only serving to make 2 laugh more. "Now now, don't run." She held her hand out. "Come on, we need to get you up."

"As if I'd trust you." since she knew her secret and might tell others.

"You can trust me." 2 said, easily jumping and grabbing the ledge, legs propped up on the wall, still holding her hand out. "I am quite interested in this wolf in sheep's clothing trick of yours, it would be a waste to let it die in a net."

Johanna knew she didn't have a choice, so with a sigh, she grabbed the mentor's hand and the other woman easily lifted her weight up, making it easy for her to grab the ledge and finish climbing herself, the mentor was faster still.

"Asshole." Johanna repeated again as the woman sat down on one of those ornate stools, leaning an elbow on the table and lighting another smoke.

"Run along little sheep." She waved her off with a smile. "Don't let the wolf bite." She snapped her teeth with a chuckle.

Johanna glared, marching away from the woman that waved after her.

She smashed her level's number, the 7, only being able to breath when she was sure she was out of 2's sight.

"That was something." She said in a whisper, grabbing her clothing over her heart, gulping.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/t3SvjiHaTXc

"You know, we shouldn't be meeting like this." The voice that annoyed Johanna said.

"You shouldn't even be here 2!" Johanna pointed at 2's mentor accusingly since the woman wouldn't buy her weakling act, she just smiled at her.

"I have a name little sheep, use it." She said, amused, smoking in side the building, something she saw the much older mentor of 10 be told off for while this woman was let do all she wanted it seemed, helps to be loved by the Capitol.

Johanna found her annoying even after one meeting on the roof, what person pushes another off a ledge and acts cocky about it? She hated all those that the Capitol loved, bathed in riches, all she wanted to do is to win and be forgotten, be back with her family and live calmly.

"How'd I know your name?"

"Touché." She pointed at the tribute. "And I have the right to be here, it is you that are lost, this is the mentor floor."

Johanna blushed in anger and embarrassment making the mentor laugh and crush out her half finished smoke on the wall before pocketing it.

"Don't laugh at me."

"Come on little sheep, lets get you back too your adult." 2 said, this woman, she was making Johanna's blood boil.

"I am not a sheep!"

"Ah ah ah." 2 shook her finger in front of Johanna's face, making her back up as she made a motion to claw at her with a laugh. "Don't play with bigger beasts then you are, that skin might hide a wolf but I am a tiger and I am not above showing you why, the Capitol can fix up your face if disfigured." That last was a warning even as the woman kept grinning.

Johanna had no trouble thinking about those pretty looking metal claws covered in blood, heck, she had no trouble imagining them being covered in her own blood.

2 was always dangerous after, the most dangerous of all careers as even peacekeepers came from 2, the district was a military force of its own compared too the other two carrier district of 1 and 4.

"Come on little sheep, the gamemakers will not be happy to find you here." Johanna shook her head and quickly caught up with the woman who had been walking away without waiting for her.

She quietly followed, staring holes in the back of her head.

"Why you staring at me like that little sheep?"

"You told your tributes."

"I told you, I was interested in seeing the tricks  you'd pull, plus they are not idiots, I'll let them figure it out on their own. We are from 2 little sheep, we trained all our lives for this."

"Yeah." Johanna said bitterly. "We see that in the winning percentages."

"We sure do." 2 stopped and Johanna stopped walking right next too her, standing in front of an elevator.

Johanna watched her swipe the ID card she saw Blight also have, it called the elevator too them, both getting in.

It felt suffocating to be so close too the victor of 2, making Johanna feel fidgety, can't this damned elevator start moving already?

"And the question about the name." She looked up to see the victor already looking at her with a grin taking out the smashed smoke and lighting it again. "Athena Hadley, 66th's victor." She said while taking a puff of the cancer stick.

"Why would I care?"

"I don't know, I know yours and you don't know mine, I thought we were having a nice chat."

"As if, stop trying to throw me off my game, you will not succeed."

"I am not, just entertaining myself."

2 was infuriating 7.

The victor was more then sure Johanna would jump at her throat if it wasn't for the elevator door opening.

"There." 2 said. "This is your floor."

Johanna grumbled as she stepped out.

"And don't let the door hit you."

7 lifted a brow as she turned only to be smacked by the closing elevator door because she turned.

"You fucker!" She hit her fist against the glass as 2 laughed while the elevator moved on.

"Lovely to see you." 2 said through a chuckle.

Johanna fumed silently before turning away with a sigh.... Somehow, looking forwards too their next run in but she wouldn't admit it too herself, not even aware of it, she just thought she was pissed at her.

Athena found it strangely entertaining to mess with with 7's tribute since she was making it so easy.

She let the elevator head too the 2's quarters, losing the smile as she stepped out, seeing a familiar Capitol worker waiting for her there.

"You are being asked for."

"Lead the way." She simply said, following him back out.

Despite it all, her life as the Capitol's sweetheart never stopped and never will stop.

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And despite it all.

Athena found herself on the edge of tears as she stared off at the streets bellow from her escape on the roof.

The nightmares of her life are never over, awake or sleeping, hands of hundreds on her body, blood of eleven on her hands.
In the land of the living, bruises hidden on her aching body, another added secret too her arsenal of them, smoke and memories, in the land of the dreaming, memories, nightmares and pain.... There was no escaping it.

"All for Cato." She said after a deep breath. "All for Cato...."

She stared down, finding morbidly amusing.

"Ah." She breathed out. "Just like me." But it was not before but after the games she tried to throw herself off a rooftop.

The only moment she didn't care for Cato, just wanting to end it all.

She found it so oddly familiar, that girl from 7 wanting to be in control of her own death.

It just pissed Athena off for some reason.

She shook her head, looking off too the side and stared at the setting sun instead.

She wished for nothing more then for this all to end.

The smoke felt like cinders in her hands, burning her while she hadn't even lit it, it still felt like it was burning through her skin and flesh while it was metal that was touching it.... This or alcoholism, her only ways to speed up her death, to drown out her pain, to forget.

But she had an image to uphold, so alcohol was out of the question, all for Cato, all for her little brother, he deserved to be safe after her mistake took their parents.

Athena wanted to cry, so badly, but she didn't let them, she needs to keep it together, she needs too, for him, for herself.

"I really wish you'd die." She said, referring to every single tributes in this building, the 24 of them. "Being a victor is..." She dropped her head. "Not worth it."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/MvG3t2iJYE8

"Why are you here?"

"And why are you always on the roof?" Johanna wanted to find a way to throw 2 through the protective netting of the Capitol, it would make a good splatter on the ground, she'd find it really pleasing to look at. "Look, Enobaria is an ass, I prefer mentoring alone, that way I can smoke inside but she won't let me.... Tributes are not even supposed to be here at times like these, you are meant to train."

"I ran out crying." Johanna said.

"Ah, the little sheep hiding away its strengths, it makes me wonder what you are good at, if you'll be a challenge for my tributes." 2 stood from her sitting position. "I do hope you put on a good show."

Johanna was not dumb, despite being oh so mad at the mentor, she had her own ideas swirling behind her eyes and away from view, that's how she did this fake act, she had long decided that if she was reaped she'd play it like this, kept the secret from everyone, hell, she even took longer shifts in the lumber workshop to build up strength in her arms, unlike many, she prepared herself to survive and to go back too her family alive and not in a wooden casket.

"I'll put an axe through their pretty little faces." She promised.

"Not unless they rip your throat out first." In the blink of an eyes, Johanna felt metal wrapped around her neck, the points of the claws gently pressed in her skin. "Just like this."

2 shook her hand out and stepped back as the young tribute grabbed her throat, surprised at how fast this woman was.

"Don't worry, you've seen them train, it's just I that am not that orthodox in my chosen weapon." 2 flexed her hands with the metal and chains as a show, she had killed six of the eleven tributes of her games in full contact close range fighting after all.

"They could still rip my throat out, no need for fancy finger claws."

"True." 2 shrugged. "But it takes training." She flexed her fingers, pulling them back but bending them, yet again showing them like claws. "Fingers must be stiff or you risk a sprain at best or a break at worst." She walked towards a white rose bush near them. "And fast." She threw her hand out and yanked back, snapping a branch that was still three fingers thick with extreme ease. "Twisting the wrist down after piercing the skin and grabbing on.... You pull out the trachea in the best cases and cause lethal tearing in worst." She held the branch towards the girl.

Johanna wanted to ask why the hell would the mentor of another district tell her about how to kill the other tributes but she kept her mouth closed, that damned smug face of the 2.

"Tho not sure someone like you could even do it." She said.

"I'll fucking make you eat your words."

"Do try little sheep, it will be sure fun games to watch."

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Athena hung the branch filled hand, having chased the tribute off with her attitude once again.

Sighing, not that any of her help mattered, her chances of survival are so little.

For once Athena would miss a tribute that was not from her district, she was a fun change of pace.

She dropped the branch in disgust, glaring at the white roses and stomping on them.

Her fists were tightly closed and blood from the thorns that pierced her skin dripping down between her fingers.

She lifted her hand, looking at the sore puncture wounds before sighing again... How poetic.

--------------------------------------------------

She watched the evaluation with tributes, the girl got a 9 and the boy an 8, something to be proud of sure but that was the job of the escort, Julian, that man being dressed in the most frilly pink suit she had seen to date with a long wig, as pink as the rest, hell he wore more makeup then she ever did.

3.

Johanna Mason got a 3.

Athena needed to admit, that girl in a great comedian but like this she'd never get sponsors, she'll be alone in the games, completely and utterly alone, not even an ally.

As a career, Athena had played with the pack of 1, the other 2 and 4, hunting the other tributes, that was when, unlike the others, there was a little light that turned on in her head about how wrong this all was, children hunting others only to brutally slaughter them.

It was not the best strategic choice but she parted from them silently in the night, almost dying too the frigid temperatures of her arena but it payed off sadly, she was still alive today while they weren't.

"Going out, I need a drink." She offhandedly told Enobaria and walked out without even waiting for another word.

Digging her fingers in the healing wound on her palm.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/PLYEdzr7_O0

The tribute interviews were going on but there was a common thing interesting 2 and 7 but for different reasons.

2 because the mentor that took care of them was nowhere to be found, having to rely on a bored Enobaria for help and the eccentric Julian.

7 because she was sure that that damned mentor from 2 would have bothered her again and she hadn't seen or heard of her in a good chunk of time and had heard the 2s ask about the mentor too.

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"I've heard you've been getting quite friendly with the tributes."

"They are an interesting bunch this year." Athena softly said, toning back her snappiness. 

Standing like an almost soldier, a peacekeeper, a job she'd have had if she wasn't chosen as the best to compete in the 66th: Back straight, hands cupped behind her back, feet shoulder length apart.

"Who do you think will win this year miss Hadley?"

"Hard to tell between 1 or 2 mister president." She squeezed on her fingers in front of the intimidating man.

"Hmmm." He cut a rose, the sound of the stem cracking making a shiver run up her spine and back down. "What would you say about 7?"

"They don't have that mu--" "Don't lie too me Hadley, you and I both know I see everything."

"Then you know of the game she plays."

"I indeed do, I find it--" Another stem cut. "Annoying"

"Can I help in anyway?"

"Tell your tributes to kill her when they have the chance, I don't want a liar to tarnish the sanctity of the hunger games, am I--" Another cut. "Clear?"

Athena was sure her head would be the next stem cut.

"I'll tell them to hunt her and I'll take any sponsors 7 could get."

"Good, I am happy to hear and Cato would also be."

"Yes.... He'd be...."

"You are dismissed, please bring miss Hadley back too the interviews, we can't have her miss any more then she already did can we?"

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Athena took a deep breath, popping open another button on her outfit, revealing the lack of a bra under her shirt. (I know, I wear constant dress shirts for work, I know they'd show shapes but ssssh no they don't)

"Nice scores Blight." She said, holding a glass of whiskey as she came up behind him, the men he was talking too now turning too her.

"I could say the same 2." She stepped next too him, too close, making him step aside.

"No really." She stepped closer, making him back off more. "I insist."

"Thank you, now if you woul--" "What? Not happy to see me? How mean, I'll just go."

"No, no, please stay." One of the men spoke up and she grinned.

Slowly but surely, driving Blight out of the conversation while the others didn't even notice, Blight was not the best mentor either, easily letting her do so, a nervous wreck and such, not a chance this would work out for him anyway.

She'd laugh at their stupid jokes, would touch their arms as they talk, overplay her womanly charms, mysterious and a pearl to have some time with.

She forced the smile to stay on her face when one of their hands wandered down her back, she needed to do this, for her brother.

She is not a Capitol sweetheart for nothing, she is sought out and she is very good at that game.

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She walked through the empty halls, only her shoes, clicking against the polished marble, made any sound this late in the night

Hugging her self, her claws sinking in her upper arms with trails of blood dripping down them but she honestly didn't care.

She hated this, she hated how the human body reacted, her mind hated it all while instincts couldn't.

She wanted to throw herself in fire and burn every part ever touched by anyone, burn herself too a crisp, too nothing but dust... And she knew even then, the Capitol would find a way to utilize her still, not even as dead would she be left alone.

And then there is Cato, that boy needed her, she couldn't abandon him.

She stopped walking, crouching down, hugging her knees as the moon showed itself from between the clouds, lighting up the hall through the window bay covering the whole left side of it.

The stars shined as brightly in the dark sky as her tears in her eyes but unlike the stars, no one could see those tears, locking them deep in her heart, bottling them like each time she wanted to cry, leaving the dark depths of her eyes empty of a shine.

She stood, still feeling every little touch on her skin, past and present, still feeling all they did too her, she wanted nothing more then to break.

She wanted to break herself, have a true reason to shatter into small pieces nothing could fix, not even man, she wanted to be useless, the Capitol forced to try to make her forgotten by all, she wanted it all to be over.

She stood and with a cry, punched the wall before looking out the window.

She glared at the image she saw, nothing but eye candy, something to take when they wanted it, someone who can't even own their own body, able to imagine every bruise, every scratch, every mark that her clothes hide.

She struck out, fingers flexed, she was strong but never this strong.... Tho anger and pain does this too someone.

She yanked her fingers back, looking at the five holes punched into the glass's surface with cracks radiating from the impact points but none able to disfigure her reflection like she wanted.

The glass panel, tho holed and cracked still perfectly stuck together, like her, despite the imperfection, perfectly able to do its job and standing strong.

She glared... 

She heard one of the door creak and quickly looked around but saw nothing.... She should move, before people see her here, this is a floor both mentors and tributes could frequent to talk strategy between training, she didn't want anyone knowing.

She looked at the cracked, sending a smaller punch, breaking out the glass piece between the five holes with ease but the rest held up.

She watched it, the sound of outside seeping in, before walking away.

--------------------------------------------------------

To avoid anyone knowing of her lie, Johanna had been training in secret.

Tho it ended up with some odd sights.

She stood in front of the shattered panel of window, watching the hole.

All she had seen was the mentor of 2 punch that hole, tho she wondered what caused this, it was still impressive.

She lifted a hand, tapping it on the glass and the panel fell away into a pill of glass shards, making her jump back.

It looked so strong, taking a powerful punch and it seemed to still be perfect, only that it had cracks.... And yet it had crumbled at the slightest of gentle touches.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/1RfLnzq7jJs

This.... Was not a great start.

Athena crossed her arms, next too Finnick in the mentor lounge and watching the start of the games, since the reaping were rigged for older tributes, there was far more violence but not on the front she wanted it.

2 and 4 got in an altercation that ended up with 4's male tribute strangling 2's female and 2's male putting a knife through his head.

This arena was a huge pin forest, she felt it was almost to mock district 7 who seemed to be the only one with a 'useless and scared' tribute, the others, even 12, seemed to have a slight chance this year.

"Sorry for your guy Fish-brains." She told Finnick as the feed cut too the little sheep of 7, still somehow able to play on the fact that she was terrified and unable to swing an axe correctly as she ran before switching too a guy from 8 shanking 6 too death.

"And sorry for your girl Kitten." He said back, his hand on her thigh but with no meaning behind it, it was the best place them since Athena was laying across the couch and had her legs in his lap.

"I honestly didn't expect much but still not this." She told him, looking at him. "Usually they can keep their weapons sheathed until the end when they fight."

"Hot headed." He offered as a response.

"Yeah, they are all."

"Are you alright?"

"I am perfect."

"You can tell me if you aren't you know that right?"

"Yes."

"Okay..."

Athena knew she couldn't, she needs to do this alone, for her brother.

----------------------------------------------------------

Gasps and indignant screamed filled the room.

Athena was holding Enobaria back from scratching out Heymitch's eyes as he laughed at Blight's 'genius' while that man didn't when know what was going on.

At the same time Athena was trying to not smile.

When only 8 tributes remained with 4 careers, the girl she knew hid much had dropped the veil.

Johanna Fucking Mason.

She stumbled upon the careers accidentally but the next moment the last 2's head head gone flying from a precise and powerful axe swing.

The little girl everyone underestimated had easily killed the strongest of the careers and was mocking them with profanities and a 'fuck it all' personality as she tackled 4 down and swung the axe through the side of the kid's head.

Athena restricted Enobaria's arms behind her as the woman screamed bloody murder, all while looking at the screen.

Johanna ducking a strike from the boy from 1 and body checking him off the side of the cliff, the camera showing him fall too his death.

1 swung, catching her in the back but it was a superficial cut in the long list of injuries the games could cause, causing 7 to throw her axe and miss, 1 tackling her down.

She watched as 1 tried to stab her in the face as Johanna held her wrist before letting go, the dagger stabbing in the ground next to her head and swinging her hand up.

Athena scoffed in amused surprised, her hold faltering, when Johanna yanked her hand back, 1 throwing herself off 7, holding her bleeding throat, blood pooling out of the injury and mouth as she started choking on in, Johanna throwing the piece away in disgust.

"You!" She felt herself be tackled down.

Looking up at the eternal mentor of 1, Gloss, tower up over her... More like seeing his fist before his fist beat down on her face, the back of her head bouncing off the ground.

"Hey!" Finnick grabbed him and dragged him back.

"What is wrong with you?!" Athena yelled, sitting up, touching her face, nose numb with pain and blood pooling down her face from it.

"You did this!" He yelled "How else would that little freak know that?!"

"You think I would?! You fucker!! She killed my tributes you think I would fucking help her?!"

"Who else would fight like that?!"

"I'll show you!!" She tried jumping at him but the older victors of the lower districts grabbed her, pulling her back. "Let me go!!" She yanked against them but there were more then one so it was hard. "Let me!!"

-------------------------------------------------

"Are you sure you will be fine?" 

"I am fine Fish-brains, drop it." She looked away. "I could have fixed this myself, I don't need your help."

"I know but I wanted to help." He stood. "Are you sure you really don't want the Capitol to fix that? The one time they would be useful."

"I'm fine, just adds too my charm."

"He broke your nose."

"It is fixed now."

"Because you snapped it in place, there is still a curve there." He hovered his finger over the area. "It will be permanent."

"I said it is fixed, it's fine, will you go now?" She took her head in her hands. "I want to be alone." 

"I--" "FINNICK!!!" She yelled.

"Alright..." He whispered, standing. "I'll... See you later." She silently watched him go.

She stayed in silent for a while.

"Sir." She said as she stood.

"You took some time in making him leave, I was almost getting bored."

"I'm sorry president Snow." She pulled the curtains away, the man casually sitting on the couch that was hidden, no guards but she knew they were there. "You are aware I think, that I am really disappointed." 

"I never expected her to remember it."

"Have you not?" She didn't answer. "You know what we do too liars don't you?"

She swallowed, keenly aware of how her tongue was sitting in her mouth, not unaware of how Avoxes are made.

"You..." She took a deep breath. "You make them into Avoxes."

"Yes Miss Hadley." He stood up. "But voiceless victors are a waste, aren't they?"

"Yes..."

"What would pour little Cato say? I bet he'd be really disappointed in his sister."

"Please, don't hurt him." She frowned, eyebrows furred in worry. "I'll accept anything, just please, don't hurt him."

"You are quite a shame too 2"

"Please." She dropped too her knees. "I beg of you, I'll do everything asked, no questions asked, anything, just don't hurt him."

"How could you re-buy your favor?"

"I'll cut my own tongue out, I'll sell my body more, I-I'll--" "Sssh, don't be so shameful." He stood. "Come with me Miss Hadley, the car awaits and we'll talk about this while we head too the manor."

She silently stood, hands closing tightly, her claws slicing into her own palm, as she followed that man.

All Athena knew is: She's fucked.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_30GP-02Frw

Athena, despite it all, was given by far enough time to contemplate how the Capitol stood above all else and yet relied on such archaic methods.

"You must be proud of yourself." Snow shook his head as she stood stiff as a board, as if this was something to be proud off. "Head too the victor's party, it is badly seen if a mentor is missing, trust me, it is noticed."

She gave a curt nod, turning away and walking off.

---------------------------------------------

Despite the sound of the bustling metropolis the Capitol was, Athena could hear nothing over the ringing in her ears, her eyes void of life and she wished her body had been too.

The whispers and laughs weren't heard as she marched quickly, staring almost at her feet, not caring for the stares of others.

It was just all consuming pain but it was worth it, it was all worth it, her brother would be safe, Cato would be safe.

She gritted her teeth.

Well.... Safe was a relative term now.

Not only had she suffered through.... Not only had... Not.... She took a deep breath.

Snow.... That bastard, basically made her understand in his own twisted way that no matter what she tried to sabotage it, no matter what she tried and did, what she begged for, what she pleaded for.... No matter what, at 18, Cato will be reaped.

That hurt her more then anything she was currently feeling, that one thought was worst then the back of her shirt glued too her skin with her own blood, worst then the red dripping down her arms, worst then the bloody boots prints she left of the walkway, worst then the agony of the new injuries left on her body.... Cato would be reaped and she could do nothing anymore to stop it.

She bit on her tongue.

Ignoring the glances she got even as she entered the tribute center, walking wordlessly for a while until it got too much.

"Do you want to fight me too?!" She yelled at the victors in a cold snap, it is much better that they think this is someone else's blood and with Athena, it was not hard for them to believe it as they looked away.

She made her was to 2's floor, slamming the door behind her and sighing.

Looking around.

"I need to get ready." She muttered to herself.

--------------------------------------------------

"Seems like the sheep was actually a wolf." Johanna's annoying evening became even worst.

Not only did she look like a tree: A tan pencil dress with bark patterns and similar markup with a branch looking hair clip put in her hair to hold it, but now that person too.

She turned to 2's smirking victor that came up behind her.

"Do you never change clothes or is your stylist just lazy?" Johanna shot back, never having seen the woman in different clothes then what she always saw her in.

"Be polite." She smacked the newest victor on the back of the head lightly. "They like me dressed like this, I'll change when I get boring, I have several versions might I say."

"So you do what the Capitol wants?" Johanna scoffed.

"Yes and you will too." She warned. "Don't underestimate them." Before switching topic. "Anyhow, that was some impressive technique for having seen it only once." She flexed her claws as if she grabbed something and yanked.

Johanna lifted a brow tho not at what she did, knowing she was talking about that, she was the one to tear another girl's throat open after all, the memory made her shiver. There was something different to this woman.

"You are staring little wolf." Athena flicked Johanna on the forehead, it hurt more then it should because of her metal finger covers. 

"Hey!" Johanna snapped, rubbing her head. "And really? Little wolf?"

"You are no sheep anymore." Athena grinned. "You showed your fangs.... Welcome too the life of a victor, I hope it will fill all of yours wants." There was something in her words but she had gone back to staring, lifting her hand and tapped her own nose.

Athena lost her smile for a moment tilting head too the side, a small grin coming back.

"Gloss." She pointed at the victor from 1, waiting until Johanna saw him in the crowd. "Was not really happy about how you killed his tribute and I am the one that has claws, he thought it was me that told you."

"But it was you."

"He doesn't need to know that." Athena chuckled. "He'd break my nose the other way too."

"Jeez, an actual break?" The swelling was minor since Athena snapped it in place but there would still always be a small permanent bent near the base of it, makeup doing wonders in covering up the bruising underneath it.

"Mhm, but I had worst, are you worried?" She asked, leaning closer. "Worried about lil ol' me?"

"As if." The younger victor shoved Athena in the chest, making her laugh again.

"Well see you around 7, we'll see each other quite a lot now that you are a victor." Athena waved over her shoulder, walking away. "See you little wolf."

There was something in the gait of the victor that made Johanna look a bit longer, trying to figure out just what was different about her now then before the games.

Oddly fascinated.

------------------------------------------------

Athena sat on the sink of quarters 2, twisting so she could look at her back in the mirror, a frown etched on her face.

So archaic, she thought again just like when she left Snow.

The long slashes in the skin held close by sticky strips piled on, not really a fan of bleeding out after all.

"You could play checkers on my back." She muttered, touching the bottom of a cut and hissing, much smaller ones on her upper arms and rest of the body, the bigger and deeper ones being on her back, all in places her usual clothes would hid to not tarnish her look as a victor and once in bed and few blemishes on her back would bother no one as only the front was important.... Not her words but those of their gracious president.

Going higher filled her eyes with tears but she didn't cry, she hadn't cried when they did this too her, when they said her brother would be reaped, not when all she wanted to do was cry, she couldn't let herself.

Because if she breaks once, all goes, and she can't let that happen, she needs to protect him.

But that mark burnt deep in her skin, the mark that pulled on her skin, it almost broke her resolve.

Branded as property of the Capitol, the hot metal having been pressed on the upper left of her back, held down, the boarders of it clean and regular.

All she wanted to do was to cry but she couldn't... She just couldn't.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/VghvmL0G144

There was something different about 7 and she could tell what.

Athena, since one her of tributes had no family, was filling in on their podium, their image showed on a screen behind her.

It looked like the young victor had not slept in days and she probably hadn't, seeming sluggish and slow.

Just like how Athena was when her outburst against prostitution came with the loss of her parents.

She wasn't even listening too the useless speech the victor was made to repeat, she could tell.... Johanna Mason fucked up and Snow did something.

She didn't know what, news can't travel between districts like that and when they do it is not that fast but she recognized that face anywhere.

Noticing the speech was over, she hopped off the podium, Cato waiting for her at the foot of it.

"Can we go train now Athy?" He was really excited, for some reason his sister started training him and he was hyped, wanting to learn all he could from her.

"Not now Munchkin, I got something to do."

"Oh come on." He complained as she grabbed his hand, despite all the training, all the tussle, she could feel just how soft they were even through her gloves, her own having callouses from years of training and working in the stone mines before being chosen for the games.

"We'll train later." She promised. "Just come on."

-----------------------------------------------

"Yes and you will too." She warned. "Don't underestimate them." Before switching topic. "Anyhow, that was some impressive technique for having seen it only once." She flexed her claws as if she grabbed something an yanked.

Johanna felt lost, realizing just how correct the victor from 2 was.

She had been so shocked and angry when Snow explained too her that people in the Capitol loved her despite the lies she fed them, how they wanted to share their bed with her.

It mad her feel sick, she had slammed the door in his face..... That same day, her family was branded rebels and executed in front of her eyes, leaving only her little sister.

But it seemed like she didn't learn, having lashed out in anger at the injustice, taking a second warning and causing the end of her last family member before she realized what was going on.

And now she was alone, forced to play this Capitol game, the games were not over and never will be she understood, now that she was a victor they would go on and on.

"You look distracted."

She picked her head up, for a moment not recognizing the woman speaking too her.

"Athena?" She asked, surprised with herself that she remembered the woman's name.

She looked so.... Plain....

Without the makeup to make her look older, without the provocative outfit, without the metal chains and claws.

She looked so much more like her age, having a few freckles that had been covered with foundation before, hair still same style but messier, a black hoodie haphazardly thrown over her shoulder, half sliding off and revealing the shoulder and coll of the dark, almost brown, orange T-shirt, some blue pants with holes torn into them, fraying at the knees and the bottom, half stuffed into some work boots that was badly laced, one of them even was undone, those gloved looked leather but Johanna could tell they were weapons, more claws once again.

She was holding the hand of a smaller boy, his head reaching her mid-stomach height, he was blond compared too her black hair and blue eyes instead of the deep greens.

"Flattering you remember me little wolf." Athena said with a normal looking smile, nothing of her usual smugness.

Johanna felt jealous, angry and filled with hate, seeing the victor with what was probably her sibling while she just lost hers and couldn't even go see them in a cemetery, the peacekeepers having taken the bodies of the 'traitors' to be burnt away and forgotten.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Well this is my district." She shrugged. "Plus I am a victor, I know how this goes, being on a victory tour, showing up, reading cards, tying links you don't want to tie with other victors, the whole shebang that goes on, how Blight and you will be lodged between four cold walls in the town hall because the night is falling on Panem."

"Where are you getting at?"

"All I am saying, I have rooms, I promise it would be much better then to sleep in the dusty room that smells like death's asscrack." That made Cato laugh, both girls looking at him.

"Come on! Lets go!" He pulled on his sister's arm.

"A moment Munchkin." She said, grabbing a note off the mayor's desk, scribbling down an address and pressing it in Johanna's hands. "If you wonder where to find me and the victor village."

"I don't need this." The younger victor said.

"You do you, but just keep it in mind little wolf." Athena winked, letting Cato drag her away.

"What was that for?" Cato asked when they were far enough.

"Just talking too a friend." She didn't wish to explain, her back still aching, her heart still hurting and yet he'd never know about this all.

------------------------------------------------------------

"NO!!!" Cato yelled tho it was followed by a laughed, tackled too the ground by his sister.

"Tickles!" Athena laughed as her brother did, trying to push her hands away. "I am still stronger then you Munchkin, you can't win against me." She stopped and hugged him, squishing him in her arms as she laid on the ground.

"Stop it! Ew!" He complained through giggles as she, on purpose, licked his face instead of a kiss, he quickly wiped it in his sleeve.

She stopped laughing, hugging him, still both on the ground in the front garden of their victor home.

"Cato." She said softly. "You know I love you right?"

"Yeah yeah you always say that."

"And I truly mean it Munchkin.... If you ever get reaped, promise to come back too me, you'll be a strong boy, don't let others trick you, never trust them fully or they will turn on you."

"Of course I will win! You are training me, how could I ever lose too someone when you are helping me? Now let go, its cold." She couldn't feel it because of her layers of clothes.

"I'll train you damned well, no one will be able to stop you." She smiled.

"Hehe now let me go!" He shoved out off her arms and ran off laughing.

"Oh no you come back here!" She got too her feet with a smile before it dropped, seeing them.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/n_Ug3x1EO10

It was awkward in the home lets say the least.

Blight was strongly against whatever Athena had told Johanna until the moment both of them saw the rooms that they would have been staying at, only then did the older mentor relent, much preferring a normal home even if it was with another victor, even one that scared him.

He was basically being stared down by a very angry looking 13 year old boy he was sitting in front of at a square dinning table, Johanna sitting on the other side, between Cato and Blight.

The tense silence was just broken as the oven beeping and the screeching off rubber soles on the tiles that hurried to open it.

"There we go." Athena basically dropped a dish of a whole chicken with potatoes and vegetables in the middle of the table. "Not much but it's food for the guests."

"I take the legs!" Cato instantly jumped to stand on his chair and reach over, Athena's hand on his face stopped his advanced.

"Ass on the chair Munchkin." She said, pushing on his face, her claws long retracted. He did so while crossing his arms, she sat down too, in the last chair, that being the one in front of Johanna. "Guests first."

Blight awkwardly reached out to cut a piece off and put it on his plate with the rest. Not at all used to seeing Athena out of her Capitol sanctioned look, looking far younger then she was portrayed, having forgotten she just turned 20 even and it made him awkwarder.

Johanna wanted the legs too, those are the best, but seeing the pout of the boy, having had her own little sister, she left them untouched.

"Okay..." Athena sighed. "This is awkward." She rubbed her face. "I didn't poison the food for fucks sake." She said.

"Language." Cato pipped up.

"Oh hush." She flicked his forehead as she served him a plat and he dug in.

Johanna felt jealous, so jealous that it hurt, heart tied in a knot.

"It is good." Blight said, clearing his throat. "Did you mother teach you?"

"She did." Athena simply said, taking a portion of food when Cato dug in. "Still, I'll never be as good, she could cook phenomenal things, you needed to be there to taste it or dream about it."

"And why wasn't she the one to cook?" Johanna asked, a bit bitter. "How do you know they'll let us stay?"

"Oh mom and dad are gone." Cato casually said, he was 8 when he lost them, he remembered them but had been too young to truly grasp it and Athena never explained the true reason. "They left me with Athy when I was still little, they didn't want to be with us after she won which I don't understand, winning is great."

"Cato, eat with your mouth closed." Athena said with a soft smile, poking his side, making him giggle.

Johanna watched, staring at her, recognizing that look, solemn acceptance of those that have departed of this world, not the anger she felt for losing her own family but almost defeated.

She looked around, Blight seemed awkward from the underlying truth of the boy's words but not really seeing what Johanna was, he still had family, he couldn't know what this felt like.

And Cato didn't seem to know what he was talking about, unable to make the tie between his parents being gone and that death could be the answer.

That just intrigued the young victor... Just how similar was she too the other one?

----------------------------------------------------

Athena sat on her porch, the back exit, staring at the moon above the stony mountains of district 2.

The gentle breeze of the night kept out by the hoodie as it played with loose strands of hair while Athena played with her hair tie, stretching and letting it go.

"Why are you up?"

Another night she was haunted by the past, unable to sleep and she didn't seem to be the only one.

She looked over her shoulder.

"I could ask you the same little wolf but I have a feeling neither of us wants to answer that question." She grinned, patting the wooden stairs next too her.

She heard nothing for a moment before the creaking of wood revealed Johanna sitting next too her.

"Hmmm.... This view is missing trees." She said, making Athena chuckle.

"District 2, the masonry district, what did you expect, it is all stone."

"District 7 is all wooden, all lumber, at least trees are alive, not stone."

"Without stone there is no lumber, we need the build those building you use to work out of them."

"And without lumber you have no tools to work with."

"Lets just agree that stone and lumber are both necessary." She leaned back on her hand, staring at the skies. "Hey little wolf?"

"What?"

"Are the stars the same where you are? It wasn't night when I was in district 7 on my tour."

"Of course they are the same."

"Then just look at them, they are part of your home."

"7 is not more home then the Capitol is."

"Hmm..." Athena looked at her, the younger victor hugging her knees. "You lost someone important didn't you?"

"What th--" "I recognized that look on your face you know? You wear your current emotions on your sleeve more then you would want to probably.... I know how that feels."

"You do huh?"

Athena chuckled at the tone.

"I did suspect you'd figure it out from Cato's words, it was not hard." She sighed, fully laying down on the wood. "He was too young, I couldn't tell him the truth, about how I messed up and I am the reason why he doesn't have a loving mother to kiss him goodnight and a brave father to show him how to hold a blade.... I took it all from him."

"How do you live with yourself?" Athena looked at Johanna, genuinely wanting to know.

"Step by step, it doesn't get easier, the pain will always be a part of my life, of his life, but I built around it, I live to protect him, I live how I should to keep him safe."

"The Capitol... They are.... Argh!" Johanna regretted right away kicking the potted plant when the pot shattered.

Athena sat before and stood up now, leaning over to check the damages.

"Eh." She waved it off. "I didn't really like that pot anyway." She said, dismissing any worry the younger girl could have. "And the Capitol takes and get what it wants, if you don't adhere too it, they make you, taking your loved ones."

"They took everyone.... Everyone..."

"I am happy for you."

"WHAT?!!" Johanna looked in shock at the victor who was looking at the skies.

"You have no one they can hurt to get too you, Snow has nothing to hold against you, they are dead and he can't hurt them no more, out of all of us fools, I think you are the one that has the most freedom of all." She put her hands in her pockets and looked down at her. "So yeah, I am happy everyone you know is dead. You are not stuck and can't be hurt like we can."

Athena span on herself and walked inside, leaving the door open for when Johanna would too.

7 watched in complete shock as 2 vanished from view.

She wanted to scream, to hit her, teach her a damned lesson.... And yet.... She was correct.

Johanna was free... Not totally but she was free of bending too Snow's needs, who could he hurt? There is no one he can take from her and damn will he wish that she never realized this.

"Thank you." She whispered into the lonely night, looking back at the lonely stars.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/sMy210dE1tU

"Soooo, how you feeling? First year as a mentor."

"Ah you spooky bitch!" Johanna smacked Athena in the face with a stray hand that went flying, the victor of 2 having an uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere.

"Damn." Athena chuckled, rubbing her nose, because of her previous injury there, each new hit too it caused the nerves to go uncomfortably numb for a while. "Oh come on, that was not needed."

"You came out of nowhere!"

"Yeah, she tends to do that." Finnick said. "Name's Finnick sweetheart." He tried to grab her hand and kiss it but he got slapped on purpose, Athena laughing at his face despite the sting of him using the petname even if he knew what it meant for him and her.

"You deserve that Fish-brains." She told him.

"She's a mini you." Finnick rubbed his jaw. 

"I am nothing like her!" Johanna thrust her finger towards Athena who slapped her hands downwards. "Hey!"

"Try to be descent in the Capitol."

"I don't need too, what will they do? Kill someone I love? Oh wait."

Athena sighed a bit, she didn't mean to cause this when she told Johanna should be happy everyone was dead, technically being the cause of unhinged Johanna, but there was nothing to fix anymore, the sheep costume was fully gone and only the wolf remained.

"Feisty, I get why you like her." This time it was Athena, flicking his forehead hard." Hey, is it hurt Finnick day today?"

"If you keep it up, yes."

"You are mean Kitten."

"And you are a child."

Johanna never expected the victors to be this close, any of them, so it was a bit surprising to see 2 and 4 so close, bickering, his hand around her waist casually.

That, that gesture, for some reason she really didn't like it, he was too close too the victor, why is she not pushing him away?

"Heyo?" Johanna blinked, Athena somehow still snapping her fingers despite the metal covering them. "You okay there little wolf?"

"Oh come on you call her little wolf and I get Fish-brains?"

"Keep it up and I won't even call you."

Finnick put his hand over his heart as it hurt him but she knew he was playing.

"No, don't leave me." He hugged her.

"Okay now, stop, disgusting." Johanna pushed them apart.

"Awe jealous?" Finnick told her. "Don't worry, Kitten is free to hug." Finnick pushed Athena hard.

"Shit!"

Crash.

"You dumb bitch." Athena said, pushing up. "You okay?" Worried she hurt the other girl who was totally red faces, frozen. "Oh shit." She lifted herself, hand over her cleavage, stupid Capitol look. "Sorry there."

Finnick was dying of laughter as Athena stood and pulled Johanna too her feet with great ease.

And then she turned around and scored a hole in one kick into his family jewels. 

Athena was glaring at Finnick who was rolled in a ball, slightly red too the face, because of the two undone buttons, if she leaned forwards for any reason they all had a clear view down her shirt.

"I am quite sorry for that." She looked over her should, just seeing Johanna from the corner of her eyes, just enough to know she was still standing there. "I didn't quite mean to give you a show."

Johanna shook her head, it wasn't really that that had distracted her.... Well partially yes, but it was just being accidentally trapped under the victor, Athena looking down at her with those damned eyes of hers.

"It's... Fine." She cleared out her throat.

"You can kick him if you want."

"Gladly."

"WAIT NO!!!"

-----------------------------------------------------

"Bleh!" Johanna coughed as Athena laughed.

Both sitting in the victor lounge and Athena just blew a cloud of smoke in her face because she seemed to be distracted again.

"What, was that peek really that much for you?"

Johanna fought back a snap before sighing, looking at the alcohol in the glass Athena ordered two off and pushed one in front of her.

"Mentoring is shit." She ended up saying, tentatively sticking her tongue in the liquid and making a disgusted face, Athena laughing.

"It's not that bad." She said, referring to both the drink and the job.

"For you... Because you are a 2, you grew up in the game culture, you idolize the games, it is an honor to be in it, you play to win and almost always do."

"I suppose you are correct." Athena said. "Many... Most of 2 sees it like that."

"You do too, not exactly like them but you like mentoring, that is something you shouldn't like, it is horrible, trying to prepare these other kids that I know will most likely die, never see their families again, with or without mine and sponsor help, brutally murdered with 2 probably winning this time too."

Athena said nothing as Johanna was quite correct.

"I suppose..." She started. "That in the games, everyone deals with this differently... I don't have a choice in liking it. I see it as helping them with their chances, the chance of maybe bringing them back to their parents and loved ones... And to get sponsors you need to be liked and for the mentor to help."

"I had nothing, not that I expected anything anyway."

"My fault." Athena sighed. "Snow was already angry with you, knowing you lied, a wolf in sheep skin... I needed to make sure you couldn't get sponsors and have my tributes try to kill you."

"You bitch." Johanna said, sounding more betrayed then mad but she was both.

"I needed to, when you finish yours, they don't end, each year you are dragged out as a mentor, not only one year, you are 7's only living female victor so all years you'll be back to play the game that we all need to play, I need to protect Cato so between your life and his I chose him." She threw back her drink and slammed it down on the counter.

Silence falling between them.

"Hadley." She looked at the man, standing up.

"Hey! Where are you going? We are not done here!"

"I have things to do, and we are done, I told you the truth, it is for you to figure out if you still want to talk to me after this." She put out her smoke on the counter and left following the man dressed in black.

Johanna watched her go before looking at her own drink.

Not knowing why knowing this hurt more then that cut she got in her arena.

She knew this was all a game and such but still, it hurt.

"Stupid." She grabbed the drink and did like Athena, downing it like a shot, coughing her lungs out right away it as it was so strong and burnt her throat.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/Ov2lUjUzL4A

"What is she doing here?" Athena asked Brutus who was district 2's second mentor this year, pointing at the couch in the living room.

"She was very insistent."

"And you, of all people, bent the knee and let her in?"

"She was veeeery insistent."

"Brutus."

"VERY." He held up a bottle of gin and Athena wanted to throw him out the window.

"Alcoholic bastard." She rolled her eyes. "And you. Why did you buy your way into district 2's quarters Johanna?" Athena asked, she really wanted to be alone now, feeling touches crawl over her skin and new secrets fill her mind.

Still feeling the hand tug on the collar around her throa-- She quickly undid it and threw it down on the ground with force.

She looked at her claws; she always felt protected in them but could never use them when she really needed protecting herself, she couldn't make the Capitol bastards bleed for hurting and using her.

She pulled off her belt and pulled her shirt free from being tucked in, walking straight to the other couch and flopping over the armrest, falling on her face before propping her head up on her arms and looking at Johanna.

"Well?"

It felt so wrong to hear her say her name, Johanna couldn't remember a moment Athena had actually used it, she might have but she just couldn't, it sounded wrong for her to call her that.

Watching Athena gesture to the other mentor to leave with quite a violent wave of the hand.

"I just wanted to talk."

"About?"

"Look, I didn't want to piss you off." She knows she quite annoyed 2 but was not the best at saying sorry. "But it is not everyday you tell someone you were trying to sabotage their games."

"I give you that but I played the game, this is also part of it Johanna."

"I know." She sighed, rubbing her neck. "Just antsy about this all, plus I can't sleep anymore, it gets worst in the Capitol."

"Mmmm... Memories of your own game, sleep is a loss for everyone when the games start and even before." Athena sat back up. "And don't assume things about me, there is a lot you don't know."

"Like?"

"Things for me to know and you to never find out."

"Oh come on."

"Johanna no, not fighting about this." She lit a smoke.

"Fine... I just don't want... This to be lost."

"Awe, you wanna be my friend?"

"I am leaving."

"No, no, I'll be your friend little wolf, I understand, emotions are a chore."

Johanna didn't answer... Tho wondering about what the other hid.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The roof, how odd that it seemed to be Athena's place of escape when it was the place with the least escape possible, only one, the elevator, otherwise she'd be stuck here.

The games had started, and she had sent her tributes in, but it never stopped the Capitol and their grubby hands from reaching for her.

She pushed up her sleeve, watching the red welts and bruising on her inner forearms, just the brush of the clothing was enough to send lightning down her arms but she still grabbed her forearm and squeezed hard, sending the nerves in an agonizing frenzy but she only squeezed more.

Money, all for money, Snow selling her for whatever they wanted it, from sexual pleasure to this, her body wasn't defiled sexually this time but it still hurt... She couldn't hurt herself but if someone paid enough they could just like they had now.

She hung her arms over the drop and dropped her forehead on the railing, making the metal clang in echo, eyes closed.

She didn't know how long she stayed there precisely because her mind swirled with thoughts, those same eternal thoughts she always had.

Only moving when the numbness of her position had gotten the best of her, instead of the high sun, seeing a setting sun.

She finally let go of her arm, but the pain had not changed, now there was just the mark of her hand pressed into it.

"And here I thought you fell asleep."

She looked aside.

"You are learning my technique." She said, referring to popping up out of nowhere with no sounds. "And since when have you been watching me little wolf?"

"Not long, I just came here... Both died."

"I'm sorry." She put a hand on the younger victors shoulder. "The first deaths hurt the most."

"Do they ever hurt less?"

"No, you are stuck on this train with all of us, but we have each other, every other victor... Tho 1 and 2 usual are coo-coo." She did the 'they are crazy' hand gesture by her head.

"You are calling yourself crazy there."

"I might be." She held up her arm to pull down the sleeve but did not expecting the young victor to wonder enough to grab it and pull it to her.

Johanna's breath was lost at the sight, the skin was literally pealing up in places, blood seeming out under it in the worst bruises she'd seen in her life, the inflammation just... It looked like a rip apple that would burst if someone flicked it, the whole arm a blood mess under the damaged skin.

She grabbed the other, the victor not fighting it, pushing up her sleeve for a similar sight.

She held both her hands and looked at them before looking back at the victor's eyes.

Athena just offered her a halfhearted 'I'm sorry' look, as if she was sorry she needed too see this instead of actually being bothered because of the state of her arms.

Johanna didn't know if she wanted to kill this woman, Snow or the whole population of Panem, remaining rooted in place at the sight of the ever perfect looking victor with such blemishes, having trouble wrapping her mind around it.

She almost saw Athena as an untouchable force, somehow, the always perfect, always good, person and yet this little thing shattered that image of her.

"I still have things to lose." She said, not adding context for the newest victor to understand, Johanna looking back at her face with shock mixing with something unreadable. "Everything for Cato."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/yy1DzoNiM2g

"You really don't need to do this." Athena said, watching with a smile.

Johanna, once she unfroze, had dragged the victor from her spot on the roof down to the tribute quarter of 7, now haphazardly trying having grabbed ice from the fridge and given it to her while she was looking for something.

Athena had wrapped the ice in a discarded tanktop she decided no one would miss before putting it on her arm, knowing ice directly to the wound is a bad idea.

It still hurt but felt better too despite the chilling memories of her literally starting to freeze to death in her arena and hating the cold, this did help.

"Shut up." Johanna said, sitting down. "This won't be as good as the things sponsors can send but it--" She held out the spray she found. "Should fix these up."

"As you wish little wolf." She took the ice off and held out her arm.

She found herself to be quite an idiot for having forgotten to lower her sleeve, it was only when she tried that Johanna noticed something was up, she can just hope there won't be questions.

Johanna did want to ask, so many questions bumping each other in her mind but she kept her mouth shut, shaking the spray and praying it would work as she grabbed Athena's wrist gently with her other hand.

She felt bad, feeling the victor from 2 tense up when if it was just medicine sprayed on her skin and yet it didn't seem to change the expression on her face, either with that cocky smile or still calm small smile she currently wore, Athena hid her game really well even if her body betrayed her in moments.

Johanna wondered just how much pain she must be in as she grabbed the second arm, giving it the same treatment, this time, this arm slightly trembled.

"The bottle says it should be fixed in an hour for small scraps and cuts so.... I'd give it a good night's sleep and you'll wake up fine." Johanna said.

"Thanks, appreciate it." She pulled the sleeves down and buttoned them so they wouldn't slide up.

And then came the momentary awkward silence.

"So.... You are not asking questions."

"I know you won't answer them."

Athena smiled gently making Johanna short circuit, looking away.

"Awe, I make you blush." Athena said, slightly in her usual cocky way, snapping the younger victor out of it.

"Shut up."

Athena laughed to herself a bit.

"But you are correct little wolf, all you get is what I said on the roof, all for Cato."

"I wish you'd tell me."

"No need to worry your little head." She said, patting Johanna's head, making 7 look mad. "But I suppose I can tell you this, I tend to make the wrong people mad."

"Stupid Capitol, can't they just leave us alone? We played their stupid games, we won, don't we deserve this? To rest?"

"I wish little wolf, I wish."

"You are really weird 2."

"Yeah I know that... And don't start, I still have a name."

"You get to have a stupid nickname for me, me calling you Athena is not fair."

"Well Cato calls me Athy, Finnick it's either Thena or Kitten because of my claws, you have your pick of the litter."

"No, I want my personal one."

"It touches me that I am that important to you." She leaned over more, on purpose scooting closer.

"Well technically I owe you." She lifted her hand to her throat and mimicked grabbing and yanking it.

"I am sure you could have gotten out of that fight without my help."

Johanna just shrugged, clearly doubting it, it was a last ditched effort that she grabbed for her opponents throat, she was lucky it worked in the end.

"Well, I'll let you think about, call back when you found it." Athena mimicked a phone with her hand.

"Oh trust me." Johanna poked her in the chest. "You'll be the first to know." She grinned. (I am struggling to come up with a nickname for Athena so if you have any ideas that would fit her and something Johanna would call her, feel free to share with me :) always looking forwards to help.)

"I look forwards to it little wolf." She stood. "I should leave now, before Blight comes back, I don't think he likes me."

"He likes no one."

"Touché, now." She stepped closer.

"What are you doi--" Athena leaned down, planting a kiss on the top of her head.

"That's thanks for helping me." She said, body working a bit faster then her mind did, usually doing this to Cato whenever she felt like but she didn't regret it. She smiled with a chuckled, finding herself silly but also enjoying the effect she was having on 7's newest victor.

Johanna completely red faced shocked, Athena cupped her own cheeks as she straightened out, wondering if she accidentally killed the victor before the girl shook herself out and grabbed her head.

Athena chuckled softly, walking herself towards the exit.

"See you later little wolf, a pleasure to see you." She said, letting herself out as Johanna's mind was melting, unable to get a grip on what she was feeling, she was sure Athena could hear her heartbeat out of her chest.

Athena closed the door, reaching for her face with a sigh through her nose, rubbing her hand up her face and through her bangs before lowering it over her mouth, drumming her other fingers on the doorknob.

She was liking this way more then she was allowed, she can't let Snow had someone else he can hurt to hurt her... She can't let it happen.

But she looked towards the closed door.

And yet it was so damned hard to stay away.

She hated herself for it and yet looked forwards to it.

Was this terrifying yet enticing feeling that brought Finnick to care for Annie?

Athena couldn't say but it already felt too late for her.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/Ks3YoKqJnfI

"Losing a tribute is never easy." Athena promised, this year it is surprisingly a girl from 6 that won and not a career.

"I failed those kids!" Johanna yelled.

"And you will each year." Athena waved it off. "Every year 23 are lost, failed and forgotten, the victor living on and we are given new tributes the year after, you will lose many, better get used to it soon."

Johanna hated how 2's words were true, even if 2 won the majority of the games they still had someone die, even the careers had losses.

"I help them, advise them and help as I can but I know they will die." Athena went on. "I give them their chances but I know I will at minimum lose one of them.... As much as I wish I could say it another way but you are district 7, not a career, having victors is going to be rare, maybe one, maybe two, in your life time." Johanna still knew she was correct, she needed to stop bothering so much about this all, who could Snow hurt if she did anyway? There is no one left that she lov-- "Shit."

She stood, despite Athena laughing, having cut her palm with her own claws, closing them so tight.

"You should be careful, you'll mess up a nerve or something." She handed her a napkin that was in the bar's dispenser.

"Trust me, they are already messed up." Athena wiggled her fingers, wiping the few drops off before closing and opening her hands. "My chosen weapon is not the most orthodox, claws. I needed to be sure my fingers could take the brunt of my fights as they are what I mostly strike with."

"What was training like?" Johanna asked, that being a tightly kept secret purely because 2 or 1 never talked about it to other districts.

"Well it already starts when you are a baby." Athena said." You are put in a circle with weapons lined up around you and the one you crawl too, that will be the main and the second you crawl too will be the secondary. I originally grabbed brass knuckles but somewhere along the line ended up with claws strapped to my fingers. I needed to be sure none of my strikes would hurt me more then the enemy so nerve conditioning, striking something hard, usually wood, with them." Johanna watched her as she kept staring at her hand. "Basically beat out most of the feeling in my fingers by now, barely have any feeling under my finger pads and the finger tips are dead, nada, no feeling."

"I saw the aftermath of a broken window when I was tribute."

"Yeeeaah... That was me." Athena rubbed her neck. "The claws are a small surface so all the striking force gathers at the point of them and since I don't feel as much as a normal person would, I could basically punch a hole in the window, five even."

"Can't you break them like this?"

"Oh of course I can and did when I was younger, having scars here and there from being cut open to be fixed, I think some fingers still have metal rods or plaques in them from back then. Now I have these." She showed the claws, putting her hand on the bar counter. "Them completely covered with metal or the padded compressing gloves of home to protect them, there is like this little gap between the tip of my fingers and the end of the claw, barely anything but still."

"So it's custom made?"

"What's up with you today?" Athena chuckled. "Sizing us up 7?"

"I am just interested." She said defensively even if it was the truth, just wanting to get to know her more and this was the current topic they were speaking about, it would be weird if she changed it up. 

"Can't blame you." Athena shrugged, grabbing the attention of the barman and ordering another drink, being the third by now, and lit a smoke too. "And yes, custom Capitol jazz hands." She said. 

"You cou--" "At least as long as I don't rip out their eyes." Athena cut off Johanna with a smile, knowing she'd bring up murder of the upper class.

She herself thought many times about just one good swipe, just one, but the same thing always held her back, all for Cato, that would sign his death warrant.

Tho it was already written, 71st is now over.... She only has three years until the 74th where he'll be reaped no matter what as Snow plays dirty, he tricks and scams, he kills, but he never lies.

She stared into the liquid given to her, her baby brother, it would soon be time for him and she'll be damned if she doesn't turn him into the best fighter that has walked this world, he'll be coming home to her, he must... He must.

"Athen--" She drank that liquid and slammed it down, standing.

"Time to go home, we can't be late and I still need to pack up." Athena said, walking away.

Johanna watched in confusion what that was and why Athena suddenly marched off.

She sighed, she was correct again but still... Confusing.

-------------------------------------------------

"Well it was nice to meet you, lets see each other next year again." Johanna rolled her eyes as Finnick shook her hand in his.

"Yeah yeah now let go." He laughed at her, it felt good for all victors to finally see one of them speak their mind and outright spit at the Capitol's feet, sad that her loved ones were gone and they didn't dare to endanger their own but it was a refreshing sight for them all.

"Here." He held a paper out.

"I don't need your phone number." She tried to throw it but Finnick closed her hand around it.

"No you do, keep this, trust me." He winked. "You'll love this."

She grumbled as he walked away to get in his own wagon as her fellow district 7 mentor called for her, Blight, that man for once was of use, Johanna thought.

She marched herself into her wagon, a bit mad that Athena had not come to say goodbye but she needed to let it slide, it is not like they would see each other before the next game anyway, she'll be avoiding going to Capitol parties like a plague until she'd be dragged there by force.

Well.... She'll need to rethink that, there is more chance then not that Athena will be there...

But then again, why would she even really want to see her outside of the games? Completely useless.

Tho she is good company and will be missed.

"Johanna, you've been standing in the middle of the room, spacing out like drugged for the last ten minutes."

"Fuck off Blight." She said, embarrassed to be caught like that, marching too her room next to those of the tributes that would not be coming home with them, flown in caskets back to each of their districts.

She locked the door, finally glancing at Finnick's paper and rolling her eyes.

It was a phone number with 'thank me next time' written on it with a wink-y face.

She thought it was just a bad joke but he seemed quite insistent that she'd keep it.

She'll give him the benefice of the doubt and if it is a prank... Lets just say that the next hunger games better televise the victors lounge.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/ALIVPepv-Sc

Johanna was lonely, so lonely.

No one remained, no one.

She needed to repeat too herself that her family's death was a good thing, that they couldn't be hurt anymore and she couldn't be controlled.

But moments like these, the creaking of an empty home in a rain storm, it made her feel even more alone.

She was staring at the ceiling, laying on the actual ground.

Listening to the rattling of the faulty window in the kitchen, listening to the branch beat against another window.

She sighed, squeezing her hand and crinkling the paper.

She still hadn't called, she told herself that there was nothing else to do today.

----------------------------------------------

A blocked downwards swing, twist of the wrist leading to knocking the short sword aside and swinging up, blade against flesh.

A swing up but caught in a gloved hand, yanking to the left and tripping the opposite way, body going sprawling, blade back to stop the movement.

"Still too slow." Athena said, tapping the flat of the short sword in her hold against Cato's chin from bellow. "I could have slit your throat twice in less then five seconds if I wanted it." Athena said, brushing the wet hair out of her face with a grin, dropping the blade he was using away from her hand so he could pick it up.

"Again." Cato scrambled up from the muddy ground, neither caring for the storm.

The glint on metal dangerous as lightning fell.

She stood with an arm behind her back and pointing her blade at him as she stood side ways.

He held his up and rushed her.

"Too impatient Cato." She said, swiping his weight bearing foot with her own as he stepped close too her while swinging her blade down the length of her leg to cut the short sword from hitting it, him flailing his arm as his fell too the side. "Don't rush, let them come too you if you can." She swung the blade upwards as if there was someone there, a diagonal cut from lower left too top right, easily done as she was a lefty and muscle memory. "We should go back inside." She said, inviting him more then ordering despite the cold biting her skin and making it uncomfortable to bare it when she knew she could just go inside and escape it.

He pushed up, caked with mud while at most it was her boots too her knees and thighs that were covered from stomping around and him.

She put a hand on the back edge of her blade to firmly block it in place when a swing came from down in the mud, pushing back and swinging her foot up and down on the flat of the sword, stomping it in the mud and sending it splattering around.

"Come on Munchkin. It is getting cold and I don't want you to catch anything, we'll continue tomorrow." She said, not taking her foot off the blade despite his hand being trapped under the handle.

"Fine." She stepped off, offering a hand but he stood up alone.

"Don't be mad Munchkin, this is for the best." She smiled softly.

"I know that but how will I ever be good enough if I keep failing?" He asked, throwing his arms out, defeated.

"It is through defeat that you get stronger, I am older then you Munchkin, I trained way more, plus I am a victor, I have a lot of experience."

"But--" "Munchkin." She sighed, ruffling his hair and getting the mud from it all on her glove, careful to not make the claws pop out. "You have a lot to learn, you still have time, you can never be me, not only is this blade a secondary not my main but I am quite odd in the way I fight, you can never fight like me. Remember, we needed to make a really special request to have my teacher come from 1 to help me since I fight open handed and unarmed most of the time... All of that to tell you that you can't compare yourself too me as that can't be done, you are great in your own way.... And now move your ass inside." She slapped it when mentioned. (I might be odd but I love slapping my brother's butt because it annoys him.... Then it is a dead sprint to not be caught by him.)

She walked away with a smile, hearing him follow and opened the door for him.

She closed it after her and sighed when he walked up the stairs to his room, resting the blade on the desk by the door like anyone would with a pair of keys or unwanted mail.

She walked too the kitchen and sat on one of the chairs, crossing her arms on the table and leaning her head on them.

It was so exhausting to know that in three years her brother's fate will be sealed.

She didn't show it, heck told him off about it just now, but she too was getting frustrated with his skills.

She wanted him to be able to beat her, to kill her, so that she was sure he could win against anyone.

"Brutus maybe." She grumbled, holding her head with one hand. "Maybe he could train him to kill me? He was my mentor even if he is a sack of shit. That must have it's merit still."

She wanted Cato safe but she had no idea what to do, she was so scared for him and it was still three years away.

She snapped from her thoughts when she heard something, waiting for a moment if she'd hear it again and she did.

She looked over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow.

The phone.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/fmZzJDKB00k

Athena let it ring twice before she got up and walked too the phone.

Finnick wouldn't call until one month or two after the games, usually spending the time reminding Annie that all was fine and he was safe, the poor girl couldn't get it out of her mind that he was not being reaped year after year after year.

And if it was the Capitol calling it usually had that sickening chime to it that changed from normal to show how they were important.

She grabbed the landline and lifted it.

"Hello?"

She then heard something hit the ground throw the speaker and a muffled cuss, she lifted a brow.

"Oh hi it's you."

"Johanna?" Athena sounded way more surprise then she felt.... Or maybe not, she was stumped.

"Finnick, he gave me a number, telling me I'd be happy or some shit, I wanted to test if it was not a prank of his."

Athena grinned, the younger victor sounding as surprised as she was, she turned her back too the counter and pulled herself on it, sitting criss-cross despite getting mud around, she's the one to clean up anyway.

"Awe how thoughtful of him to say I make you happy."

"That's not what I said."

"That's what you meant tho, the you'll be happy or some shit, I am honored."

"I'll hang up."

"I dare you, I now know your number, I'll just call back until you pick up."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Try me little wolf."

There was silence for a moment followed by the muffled snort of a laugh, it made Athena smile more.

"I'd quite literally go mad if that became my life."

"I am not that bad." She leaned back against the wall. "So why call now? Bored?"

"Well yeah, storming."

"There too?"

"Our districts are not that far from each other, they literally have a touching boarder."

"That's fair. Hope you are inside and not rolling in the mud."

"Ha ha, funny." Athena could imagine the eye rolls. "I hope you aren't either."

"Well my brother was, training him and all, I don't know how I will clean out his clothes and my pants, it seems mud became a part of them."

"You idiot, don't catch a cold or anything, you can't leave me with the other idiots."

"Trust me, if I get sick from a little cold it will not last until the next reapings, if it did it would be a miracle as it would be a year long cold."

"Shut up."

"You started this."

"I said shut up.... How's the arms?"

"Well you read the spray's instructions, you should know."

"Goddamn, can't I just ask?"

Athena smiled softer.

"Right right, just messing with you." She looked at her arms. "Perfectly fine, nothing is left."

"That's good."

"Mhm.... Hey? Odd question I know but you know how Panem looks, where do you live in district 7?"

"Will you send a hit squad on me?"

"Suuuure."

"Stupid."

"Will that be my nickname little wolf?"

"If you don't stop then yes."

Athena laughed.

"I was just being curious."

"Near the boarder with you Miss curious."

(Still using this map)

"That is one where the train passes so I suppose it should have been obvious, wanting to make it easier to pick up the victors and the tributes."

"Mhm."

Athena grinned.

"Athy!" She heard Cato and she sighed, he probably broke something.

"I gotta go little wolf, Cato is calling for help and that never means anything good."

Hearing the other girl laugh made her smile, Johanna was more often then not angry or annoyed since she met her, she was happy to make her smile.

"Alright, talk too you another time?"

"Sure, feel free to call, I'll try to answer tho I can't promise I'll always be here."

"Mhm Miss Captiol's sweetheart."

Athena gulped, many people don't know what that entails, since Johanna had pissed off Snow and he killed her family she never learned that it was basically a fancy name for the children prostituted by them.

"What can I say?" She said with more cheer then she felt, it actually felt like a noose pulling tight around her throat, just waiting for her to step the wrong way to snap her neck, that collar she was forced to wear became her noose in the worst moments. "I am liked by them."

"Suck up."

"I at least get sponsors."

"I don't care."

"ATHY!! THE WATER IS RISING!!"

"Okay I really must go before Cato floods us out, bye."

"Bye."

She hung up and ran up the stairs two by two.

"How the hell?!" She yelled, the washing machine giving up its soul as water and soap came out of places it shouldn't as Cato stood in his underwear. 

"I just put my clothes in!" He yelled back in panic, trying to turn it off before Athena got an aneurysm and at the moment she wished she'd get one. 

"I'll sell you too the zoo!" She promised.

------------------------------------------------

Johanna stared at the phone after she hung up.

She felt quite lucky Athena couldn't see the red of her face currently or she would have buried herself six feet under.

But at the same time she was quite happy that it had turned out this way, seems Finnick wasn't playing with her.

"I guess one good thing came out of this hell." She told herself, the house feeling slightly less empty at the moment, smiling. "But I do wonder.... What the hell did Cato do?"

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/DlEaHHxzDiI

"What.... The.... Fuck?!"

"I'll explain I'll explain."

-----------------------------------------------

"Now be nice and don't burn down the house." Athena said, dusting down Cato's clothes.

"I hate how you always need to leave." He groaned.

"Better learn to love it Munchkin, as a victor, you'll be attending a lot of events and parties like I do but if Snow ever offers you the role of a Capitol sweetheart always say no, got it?" She didn't want to tell him what it was. "Always being bothered and called around." But he'll have the technically option to refuse if ever asked too since as a victor, she is safe from a lot that could be done to her if Cato disagreed with Snow.

"Yeah, you constantly leave me because of that, the hell if I'd ever agree to that." He said, so naive about what that meant but it still made her happy.

"I'll be back in a while, foods already packed and in the fridge, just heat it up."

"Bye Athy."

"Bye." She chuckled and left the home, slightly wavy smile, he didn't even question her normal district 2 outfit, did he think when she left home it was always for that? She isn't even dressed for the Capitol... She'll worry about that later.

She jogged away as she pulled her hood on to hide her face.

"Mission infiltration on the go." She told herself with a smirk.

The boarder was quite heavily guarded, not a surprise after all. Looking at the huge wall next with razor wire across the top. It was a double wall, the train track going on between them.

Athena suspected that before the revolution they see in the video  at each reaping, that this part of 2 was 7's, the rest of two is mountainous and stony, grey, but this boarder corner had pin trees that blanket 7 grow in it.

She peeked out behind a tree, watching the patrol walk passed, usually no one even got as near too the wall anyway, the fear of it all, Athena suspected that was the only reason they didn't get rid of the trees.

She flexed her hands to bring the claws out and grabbed the bark, stabbing them deep in before reaching higher and doing it again, climbing by bracing her feet in the little notches she created by breaking the bark off.

Slightly out of breath when she go to the branches, she is shouldn't neglect training, she might be a victor but she can't let her body go.

"Stupid smoking." She muttered, that too, make her lose her breath easier but she couldn't help it, she long ago told herself the lie all smokers tell themselves, that she'll be able to stop when she wanted it.

She climbed on a higher branch, one on which she considered herself hidden from view.

Slowly standing up, arms out as she balanced while walking across it.

She stepped near too the end, not daring to go to the very edge, the branch already bending under her weight as it is.

Sweat dripping down her back as she eyed the nearest opposing branch, can it hold her weight? Will they see her? What will happen?

Athena shook her head, concentrate dammit.

She looked down, seeing the wide gap of the train track, if she falls she'll be trapped there until a train runs her over, dies of the probable injury such a fall would cause or could get shot if a peacekeeper sees her but she might make it across without problem.... A lose-lose-lose-win situation and she was still taking those 1/4th chances fully.

She knew the train schedule, all knew, outside of the reapings these lines were used to transport resources, so hearing the train near wasn't a surprise.

She wobbled a bit as it past under her and the wind gust unbalanced her  but she took a breath.

She looked ahead, this was a leap of faith, putting all her trust in the strength of her fingers and the branch.

She crouched slightly before throwing herself across in the longest leap possible.

Claws sinking in the branch as she whipped out under it, fingers much stronger then any normal person, able to hold her weight easily, pulling herself up and scooting across the branch on her ass.

She grinned, wiping the sweat, the train's sound covered that of her temporary struggle.

She sat against the trunk before climbing to her feet and reaching around the trunk with a leg and stepping on a branch, transferring her weight to it.

-----------------------------------------------------

"And I made my way away from it until I knew I could safely climb down."

"You illegally crossed the boarder!!"

"Jeez and I thought you'd be happy to see me little wolf." Athena chuckled.

"I should put my axe in your face." Johanna finally yanked her in the house and slammed the door, realizing people could have still spotted her. "Is that why you asked me where I lived?!" She asked after locking the door.

"Partially, I really was just being curious, this was a fleeting idea I grabbed on." She looked around. "Cozy." She said with a smile, the walls a warm wood orange with brown strips going vertically, she couldn't see much of her house from here but yeah, it already looked cozy.

"Oh my god we are going to die." Johanna smacked her own head. "You idiot."

"Oops?" Athena laughed with a shrug. "I took my chance since 2's victor village it not that far from the boarder, like a half hour speed walk, I was a bit slower then that of course but yeah." another shrug. "At minimum I am here until tonight's train delivery, I need it to cover the sound the tree and my jump makes... Unless you want to rat me out of course and get me in trouble but I don't think you would, you like me too much for that little wolf.... I hope."

"Oh my god." Johanna covered her face, truly wanting to murder this woman but ending up laughing loudly at the absurdity of this all, it was contagious, making Athena chuckle a little as she smiled.

Chapter Text

Yes.... I fell in the trap of chat GPT and I felt the need to share it with you.... Why? Simple, because I gave it this prompt.

Write me a hunger games fan fiction about a district 2 girl called Athena that fights with metal claws and a sword, flirts with everyone and is the Capitol sweetheart but hates it, mostly only truly flirting with Johanna Mason. She gets reaped again for the 75th hunger games and gets caught by the Capitol instead of Johanna when the rebels blow up the arena with Katniss's help, saving Johanna not Athena

Because I want to see what it was capable of coming up with and if it could write something that is actually a useful think, like inspiration. And I wanted to see if it could romance instead of me, just wanting to know if it was any good.

And it gave me this back.....

I just wanted you too to see this.

Athena was the Capitol's sweetheart, but she hated every minute of it. Her training in District 2 had prepared her to fight in the Hunger Games with metal claws and a sword, but it had also taught her that the Capitol was not to be trusted.

Despite her reluctance to play the Capitol's game, Athena knew that she had to play along if she wanted to survive. She flirted with the other tributes, knowing that it would make her more popular with the Capitol viewers, and she made alliances with the strongest ones, including Johanna Mason.

Johanna was the only one who truly understood Athena. They shared a bond that went beyond flirting and fighting, and Athena knew that she could always count on her to have her back when she needed it most.

But when the 75th Hunger Games were announced, Athena's heart sank. She knew that her chances of survival were slim, especially since she had already been in the Games before. She prayed that Johanna would be reaped with her, but fate had other plans.

On the day of the Games, Athena watched as the other tributes entered the arena, her heart pounding with fear. She knew that she had to stay focused if she wanted to survive, but her mind kept drifting to Johanna, and the thought of never seeing her again was too much to bear.

As the Games progressed, Athena fought with all her might, using her metal claws and sword to take down tributes left and right. But she knew that it was only a matter of time before the Capitol would turn on her, and she prayed that Johanna would be there to save her.

But things didn't go according to plan. When the rebels blew up the arena with Katniss's help, Athena was caught in the explosion, unable to escape. She watched in horror as Johanna was saved by Katniss and taken to safety, knowing that she would never be able to see her again.

As the dust settled and the Capitol officials retrieved her body from the wreckage, Athena knew that she had failed. She had failed to survive, failed to protect Johanna, and failed to avenge her District's suffering under the Capitol's rule.

But as her eyes slowly closed, Athena knew that her fight was not over. She knew that she would be remembered as a tribute who had fought not only for her own survival, but for the freedom of all those oppressed by the Capitol. And as she slipped away into darkness, she knew that Johanna would carry on her legacy, fighting alongside the rebels until the Capitol was no more.

CHAT GPT KILLED OF ATHENA!!!

I mean that was plot twist, not really what I want but still a plot twist so yeah, readers, if chatGPT had wrote my book this would have been the ending.... Weirdly enough it fits her personality a bit too.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/kK0AHd9N7dk

"And I thought 2 was boring."

"I will denounce you."

"No you will not."

And that was the worst.

Johanna knew she'd never do so even if she knew she might get some 'prices' for helping the Capitol catch a runaway... She'd never help the Capitol even if that was the only choice.

And so she glared at the other victor who knew she was right, she wouldn't be denounced too the authorities.

And that damned smile she got made her look away, she so wanted to gauge out those mesmerizing eyes, now that she could compare them to her home's trees, these greens were way more vibrant then any of the leaves around them, just so captivating with their hue.

"And I thought 2 was boring."

"Don't repeat yourself, damn you are restless, wait for five goddamn minutes." Johanna snapped slightly, whisper yelling, making the other victor chuckle.

Johanna seemed to the only one of the two stressing herself out as they were surrounded by 7's crowds, the one actually risking anything confident with only a hood hiding her head.

Johanna still wondered how the hell she was convinced to show her around 7.

She only felt free to breathe when out of the crowd.

This woman will be the death of her.

---------------------------------------------

"I've always heard 7's forest were beautiful and rich, I suppose they were right, I could never see much from the little part of the trees on 2's property."

Johanna looked back, having gone too the only place that she knew might offer some alone time that was not her house at this time of the day: The forest.

She looked back at the older victor, Athena looking up at the trees with a smile she never saw on her face, somehow this looking different from those from the Capitol and those she saw outside of it, unable to tell what it was precisely but she liked it.

"I suppose."

"You are lucky to get to work here, I will say, the idea of cutting down trees most days seem tiring but I would prefer it too the darkness of the mines." Athena patted the trunk of a tree.

"I'll agree, now that you say it."

"Yeah, we all work in the mines or are in the academy, it is dark down there, filled with dust in narrow halls, choking on it, piling on each other with the risk of cave ins."

Johanna looked around, she could imagine... Or almost, the closing in walls of stone, the lack of sun, the dust filling the air, crushing depths.

"I think I would never want to try that ever." She admitted.

"Yeah, it is hard work, mostly for stone but sometimes there are veins of minerals or gas, those are not fun, we can look like 12 when we end up finding coal, just all dark."

"Lets just agree both our jobs are shit when it comes down to it."

"Lets."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_0grJ6cSTOM

"Come on Munchkin, we'll see each other in half a month." Athena chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Didn't you tell me you were a big boy?"

Compared too normal, this years reaping was just.... No, just no, she could barely bare to look at her tributes and keep up her facade, she wanted to cover her face and sulk away, because it was just one year closer to Cato's rigged draw.

"I'll still miss you." He said with his arms crossed, a bit peeved about her messing up his hair.

"I'll miss you too but look at you." She said, trying to distract him. "You've put on some muscles, like this, I am sure you'll be reaped." She said with a forced smile, she didn't want to taint his vision of the games because, despite them being trained, it was also the mentality that saved them from death, despair can weaken the strongest... And so she'll let him idolize the games until he wins and comes back too her as a victor.

"You noticed?" He flexed his arm, not much of a bulge in the biceps but it was something.

"I also noticed you hanging out with a girl." She nudged him, making the boy slap at her, Athena only laughing. "What's her name?"

"She's just a friend."

"Yeah yeah, the name? Or should I find out for myself."

"Hadley, the train is leaving."

She bit back a snap, Snow can still mess with her currently, when Cato will become a victor he'll be more protected and she can slack on her uptight follow of the rules set on her shoulders.

"I need to go Munchkin, you better tell me her name later or I'll ask around, there aren't that many knife throwers in the academy currently."

"How do you know that?!"

"I have eyes everywh--" "Hadley." "I am fucking coming." She snapped out tho with no real strength, wanting to gouge that man's eyes out with her claws but she really couldn't do that.

"Bye Athy." The boy wasn't too happy either but he waved as his sister waved back, escorted away as the seemingly eternal 1/2 of mentors 2 chose.

"Bye Munchkin."

------------------------------------------------------

She didn't really talk to her fellow mentor nor tributes, the three seeming to get on great so she let them, it didn't bother her.

What did bother her was who exactly the mentor was, Ares, the first tribute she helped out in the 68th.

She was not sure of who the first tribute actually was since she won the 66th and he was the 68th, she can only suspect the amount of suppressed days of memories as the year of the 67th almost completely eluded her.

That didn't bother her at all, what did was seeing Ares, she remembered him clearly, too clearly, and too this day she wished she had died in that frozen arena.

---------------------------------------------------

"I knew I'd find you here."

"What can I say little wolf? A second home for me."

Athena raised the shot glass hanging between her pointer and middle fingers, wondering if she should relax her hold and watch it shatter on the ground, no one could do anything too her if she did but she decided to not be a bitch too the staff of this place since usually it would be avoxes.

She rolled her tongue in her mouth, having it threatened once but still intact, not envying them that's for sure.

The woman from 7 sat next to her on a stool, elbow up on the counter holding her head up.

"Tho it is a bit early for you, you haven't even run into Finnick from the overly sappy sad boy act he put up seeing me."

"You know me all too well." Athena breathed in and out came a cloud of smoke when she exhaled, amused as each time she did this, Johanna would cough as if her life depended on it.

"Dammit!" The younger woman shoved on her arm, making Athena chuckle and drink the shot before putting the glass down and just holding her smoke now.

"A little smoke killed nobody." The victor from 2 smiled, waving her hands hand, clinging of the light metal chains following the movement. "After all, I am still around."

"How humble you are.... But seriously, something happened for you to start so strong so early?" Johanna looked at the selected alcohol's bottle standing on the bar instead of the shelf, telling her the barman stopped putting it away because the other victor asked for so much of it.

"Nah, just life." Athena knew most walls had ears, telling anyone what Snow did too her, what future she created for herself, was one step too far to share. "My brother is 16, two more years and he is out of the system." She said in casual conversation.

"Yeah, I suppose that that is worrying even with you as a sister."

"Well yeah, I help him all I can but if he gets reaped I can do nothing but get him sponsors, he'll be alone in there."

"Sponsors that you can get." Johanna said, raking her eyes up and down that almost eternally the outfit Athena wore in the Capitol.

Each year it always stole her breath when she saw her the first time, it was like their first meeting all over again. Annoyingly enough, she couldn't get it out of her mind and was able to pinpoint every little shift to the outfit, for example, how she currently lacked that collar that she usually wore with the outfit or how her hair was not tied up and it hung freely.

She still preferred the casual look, the clothes she wore when they first met in 2 and when the dare devil skipped over into 7, she seemed relaxed while there was always something too these clothes, this rigidity too her, not that she blamed her.

She only momentarily though about how it would feel to touch them before she heard a finger snap next too her ear followed by a laugh when she flinched.

"I know I am pretty but please." Athena laughed, flipping the hair that was too short to really hang down in front of her. That laugh, sounding like birds' happy chirping tho it was those of a trapped bird, had she ever heard a real, 100% true, laugh from the victor from 2?

And those damned green eyes, so perfect, like always, reminding her of the forests of 7, it was like someone took the colors of the canopy and dropped them in her eyes.

"Hey! Kitten!" Johanna almost scowled as Finnick entered tho it did divert Athena's focus too him.

She was quite jealous he showed up, she was talking too Athena, can't he fucking wait?

She really didn't like others getting in her way.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/lHSfrmLrRUA

"Well this doesn't start off good for me." Athena said with her Capitol sanctioned smug smile, not sparing the sponsors she was talking to a glance as she watched the screen hung up in the ball room sized area.

"I suppose it does not." They laughed along with her but they truly found it amusing while she was playing comedy, watching the desert arena displayed on the screen with district 1 having betrayed 2 and was literally smothering her female tribute in the sandy dunes only because of a dispute on who'd get a certain weapon.

"I sadly couldn't expect more from her, a princess." They laughed at her words while she felt awful on the inside as she mocked a dying child. "But I'd bring your attention on Walas, if I do say so, he is a prim district 2 future victor."

"He does look strong."

"And have you seen how he killed that girl? Marvelous!"

"Yes I think so too."

Athena looked on at the screen, drinking from her champagne as her company would convince themselves without her help to sponsor a gift for the remaining tribute of 2, the girl's dead hollow eyes now staring up at the screen.

---------------------------------------------------

"Heymitch, what are you doing here?" Athena asked, it was rare to see the sole mentor from district 12 be presentable.

"They have the best drinks here." He shrugged.

"I think they found a way to make you show up." Athena smiled, holding a cocktail simply called 'Liberté', she didn't know what that meant, didn't sound like a real word but she knew it had a punch from seeing it be prepared, so she took it slow, she needed to be presentable.

"Where are the others?"

"How'd I know?"

"Because you know everything."

".... Finnick is away over there, talking too the one in a red suit, Annie I am sure she was forced to stay away from public view, Ares is off making friends, those are all I know off."

"Not true, you are forgetting one."

"And who might that be?"

"Don't play with me, your little wolf."

"She's her own woman Heymitch." Athena didn't really like the tone he was using with that smile he had.

"Say what you want, she's your wolf, welp, time to get a drink, I am parched here."

She glared at the back of his head but since she was brought up, the victors eyes swiveled to find her.

It was not hard, each victor stood out between even the fanciness of the Capitol, dressed to stand out and be a sore thumb, to be jewels to look at, to marvel at like shiny new toys.

And so the woman with an oak brown skirt with thrills that mimicked roots, a sleeveless top that was completely covered in bronze glitter with matching eye shadow, bronze lipstick, a bun and several small fake green leaf on branch bracelets, was quite easily spotted in the see of other extravagant outfits.

Athena knew just how much Johanna despised being seen as a tree, that stylist has been doing tree based outfits for her whole carrier which had lasted for twice the amount of time that Athena has been alive, never had that woman made a dress that was not inspired by a tree.

She couldn't complain with her eternal bad girl look since it was eternal, not forced to always reinvent herself with a stylist, her's would change the stitching method, the material or the way it rested on her body but it remained mostly the same so she was recognizable as the Reaper, the Capitol's sweetheart, as Athena Hadley.

She smiled with an eye roll, putting her drink down, abandoning it as she made her way too the woman that only wished to vanish from the surface of the earth.

It was hard for Johanna to enjoy anything, even the idea of telling some Capitol bastards to buzz of didn't bring peps too this moment, in this loud room, screens showing the games all around them, people happily betting and working out alliances.

She just felt sick, not helped by looking like a tree, the top of the dress so tight, not enough that she couldn't breath but it felt like it.

And she knew this was her life now, like many victors, she was regretting surviving the hell her games had been.

"Hello there little wolf, you look fancy."

Well.... Almost regretting it.

The victor from 2 looked like she always did and this time with the correct look too her outfit unlike in the lounge, all looking like how the Capitol wanted it.

All but those captivating eyes, mischievous and malice somehow melding in the greens that looked like home.

Her previous jealousy felt alien too her and yet currently it almost felt understood, not knowing why and knowing at the same time, how she hated seeing that man ghost his hand down Athena's back and ass before whispering and nudging his friend and all laughed, the victor having nothing more then a cheeky taught smile thrown their way.

"Little wolf?"

Johanna shook her mind out, blinking back to reality, it was so easy to get lost in those eyes.

"What are you doing here?" She ended up asking, she had been off to the side, as far as she could without it being obvious.

"What an odd question, the Capitol just loves me so I am always mentoring instead of being switched out."

"You know what I meant, why are you here? Like right here." She pointed at the ground between them, they were quite close, half an arm length between them.

"Do you know you are a bit taller then when we first met?"

"Now it is you that don't me sense."

"Would you prefer me pointing your outfit out?"

"No, I look like a shining tree."

"Yeah the glitter helps with that."

"I will have glitter on me for years."

"Oh how true, Cato once used glitter for a birthday card he made for me, I still sometimes see a piece twinkling here and there in places he never brought glitter too." It was an odd conversation but Athena couldn't say she didn't enjoy this, there was always something new with Johanna. "Come on, follow me."

Johanna didn't need to be told, she had already moved to follow her when Athena stepped away from her.

"Where?"

"You'll see, I don't think seeing kids die interests you that much, the games will reach their ends in the following hours anyway, 1 and 2 have been starting the go after each other."

Johanna was more then happy to follow and get away from it all and Athena knew that without needing an answer, no victor was happy to be present.

Each year, reliving their own games through their tributes and always being dragged around and shown off.

So Athena knew Johanna would have followed her without being asked too.

Tho she didn't truly know how far she'd have followed.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/n4tK7LYFxI0

"Do you know what the Capitol calls you?" Athena's words pulled Johanna out of her own mind.

She had let it wander while following Athena through the deadly silent halls towards the not yet known end destination.

"What?"

"Well the victors usually get a name after their win, Finnick is simple: The younger victor ever, while mine is more complex and focuses more on my actions in my games: The Reaper, since I kill 11 of the other 23." She sighed. "So do you have an idea what yours is?"

"I never heard of any names for me."

"Well all have one, but like Annie, Snow wants the people to forget you and her, you don't fit his perfect victor image, the victor that hides the disgusting truth of the games."

"A victor like you..."

"Yeah... A victor like me." Athena quietly sighed, Johanna just seeing her shoulders sag and fall. "They call you the mad wolf."

"Mad wolf?!"

Athena laughed at the outburst of indignation.

"You can't think I am the only one to think of wolf in sheep skin but since you stepped out of line, don't follow the norm of a victor and only listen to your head you are the mad wolf."

"I should just put an axe through their skulls!"

"I'd love to see you do so."

Finally, arriving at a door, Athena pushed it open and waving Johanna passed her. "Ladies first."

"You are a lady too."

"I am older, now shoo." She said.

"Usually the older one has th--" "Move it Johanna."

The younger victor held her hands up in surrender as she stepped out the door.

She didn't expect to see a garden that's for sure.

It was surrounded by the buildings so it felt like a closed room with vegetation in it.

It had a little circular fountain in the middle with with crawling pants creating archways around the benched set up near it.

And all the plants, so many colors and fragrances, she even spotted a butterfly, it seemed so out of place here in the Capitol.

Since the sun had set, little garden lamps bathed the area in a soft light.

"Thought that it would be empty at this time. No one would miss the closing night of the hunger games for anything." Athena spoke up, tarnishing the serene atmosphere with the smoke of the cigarette she lit.

"How do you know this existed and why bring me here?" Johanna asked, gently but still flicking away a purple flower that hung in her way as she turned back too the older victor who shrugged.

"I wanted to plant you in the dirt like a tree should be." She said with sarcasm, taking a breath of the smoke with a shrug. "For how I knew you can actually thank Finnick, he told me and why I brought you here? I wouldn't know, I guess I just thought you'd like a place away from the crowd since I was already going to come here anyway."

"Well thanks for thinking about me."

"Don't you worry little wolf, you are quite hard to forget." Athena's grin was just so damned captivating, yet again, nothing could beat her eyes for Johanna but anything about 2 was captivating nowadays.

"I don't know if that's a good thing." She said, watching the green and black colored other victor walk passed her, having a feeling she could pull of any outfit and color if she wanted.

Watching her step up too the fountain before once again following her, stepping near too her.

"Depends, with Snow? Not really." Athena grinned at her. "With me? I'd be honored."

Johanna shoved her making the other chuckle.

"For fuck's sake Thea."

"Eh? Thea? I like it." Is all she said before switching the theme up once again. "It is the 72th victor that will be born tonight but I've already been wondering, what do you think, what will come of the 75th?"

"The quarter quell?"

"Yeah."

"Why do you already think of that?" Athena shrugged at the question.

"Just curious." While in reality it was more about trying to distract herself since it would soon be her brother's turn to be reaped because of her fuck up with helping Johanna win by once showing her something.

She did think once of spilling the beans but she can't, not for Cato's sake, his safety counts more then anything.

"Well it might be something big, from what I know the first was tributes that were voted on, the second that drunken Heymitch won was double the tribute, these last years the Capitol doesn't seem happy with their victors so..... Three times the amount of tributes?"

"Not bad, I'd vote for the idea of messing with the rules, like maybe using the Capitol's streets as an arena."

"Knowing them, it will be a shit show."

"Yeah.... At least you have nothing to fear."

"Cato still has those two years you mentioned."

"Mhm." Athena nodded, watching the rippling water, at least other kids had the chance of not being chosen, Cato would participate, she needed to behave still because if she doesn't, Snow might not wait graciously until he turns 18 and will send him right next year. "Huh... How odd."

"What?"

"I competed when I was 15 and Cato was 8, this year he is 16 and I still feel like I exited the cold of my arena yesterday, seems I was correct, you never forget."

"You are being extremely weird today Thea."

She chuckled and turned to Johanna with another shrug, not having much of an explanation as to why she was but she knew she was.

And this calm moment needed to be broken, seeing that man open the door.

"Ha--" "I know, I am needed somewhere, coming." She told him, lifting her hand to shut him up, still smiling at Johanna. "Enjoy the garden a bit more, I'll see you before the train leaves for the districts tomorrow."

"Ah... Alright."

"Awe don't miss me." And this time it was a conscious choice unlike how last time it was more of a reflex to reassure, pressing a kiss on her forehead. "See you later." She smiled, patting her cheek before she left.

Johanna watched her go with red too her face, hating how she needed to go, it almost felt colder without the victor here with her.

And yet she was not able to answer in any way possible.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/0qkjghSM4As

Don't cry.

She knew that but it seemed harder each end every day.

Nothing could make the feeling over being groped at, touched and caressed go away, even as she rubbed her skin raw enough to bleed.

She stared at the roof of the train bedroom she was in, the dark and veiled in the night outside view whooshing passed the window too her left.

Athena felt too weak to move and yet she sat up, nothing more then some shorts and a way too big T-shirt hanging off her as she stared at her palms, moments before turning them over and looking at the back of them until she turned them back too her palms, this flip-flopping cycle going on none stop.

Her hands scarred up from years of training and surgeries to fix it and despite what the Capitol tried to do, they still looked roughed up with callouses and the missing feelings in them.

They were so frostbitten after her exit of the arena, her feet, nose and ears were too, it was just about them wanting to cut them off and replace them with prosthetic if it wasn't for how ugly that would look that lead the surgeons to work to save them.

Her hands were her weapon, her strength, her protection.

And like always.

The moment she really needed them, they were useless.

She couldn't swipe at the jugular of the man leaning over her body.

She couldn't slash at the woman touching down her back.

She couldn't swing at the man that bent her over a desk.

She couldn't hide when the woman smacked her.

She just couldn't.

She couldn't do anything and she was supposed to be the best, a victor, strength and glory incarnate.

She reached up on both sides of her neck, lacing her fingers together behind it and hung her arms weight on it, dropping her head, feeling her rough skin on the soft one on her neck.

And she still, still, didn't cry, because that would be admitting she was weak and she couldn't be weak, Cato needed her to protect him, he needed her to be strong for him.

She dropped her hands back in her lap, looking at her useless weapons, if only she had learned to use another weapon, at least then she wouldn't have the ability to always have it with her as a cruel reminder that it was useless.

She dragged herself out of bed, standing on the cold ground, needing away from that spot, needing to do something and so she walking a U in the room around the bed, almost as if she was trying to walking holes in the ground before falling backwards back on the bed when that didn't help, arms out and feet still on the ground.

She almost glared at the ceiling but she didn't have the strength for that, everything felt too much for her.

Now all that could save her from insanity was Cato being the best, winning the games and both of them living in peace, protected by both being victors and only then will she be able to finally put her foot down and tell these disgusting people no, nothing will be used against her anymore.

She yet again sat up, unable to stay still for long, holding her head in her hands as her elbows rested on her knees.

She might go insane before she can get there tho, it was not unheard that a victor 'died under mysterious circumstances', part of those being the drugs, the drinking, the smoking but the rest was suicide, the Capitol didn't say it was but anyone that was a victor knew it was suicide.

After a while, for how long she didn't know, she dropped her arms and lifted her head, all was so wrong in her life.

She lifted her head and sighed, looking where her head moved tho her gaze froze on the phone.

Mind blank, she watched it for a while before scooting over and taking the receiver off and dialing in a number.

And sat there, listening to it ring, it sounded so loud in the heavy silence.

"What?!"

She smiled a little at the groggy voice that answered from lower in the train.

"Sorry, accidentally hit the call button and thought it would be rude to hung it up as I knew the ringing would wake you." She lied, laying back in the bed, sighing softly. "Would you.... Talk to me a bit? I am bored and can't sleep."

"For fuck' sake Thea.... Sure, I can sleep back in 7, I have nothing to do there anyway."

"Alright.... Thanks." She smiled a bit, the weight feeling more bearable already.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/BF4Hm3SYPqc

"Hi! So you are Cato's new friend!"

"Athy!"

"What? She looks way too nice to be friends with you."

Athena had been trying to cook something for lunch as it was a shorter day in the academy and she knew Cato would be hungry even if her appetite was down in the dumps since she came back, last time she was used was.... She'd gag each time she thought about it and would have to rinse her mouth out even if there was nothing in it.

But unlike normal, Cato popped up with his fabled new knife throwing friend after Athena once again jokingly threatened to find out who she was by her own means, maybe she went a bit hard to have the boy himself bring her but that's a thought for later, she has a guest to take care of.

"Welcome to our humble home, I'm Athena Hadley, victor of the 66th, and you are?" She smiled as she asked the girl, putting the spoon down on the ledge of the pot.

"Clove Kentwell ma'am." The girl looked younger then Cato, making Athena wonder how they became friends enough for her to hear rumors about it.

"Ma'am?" Athena chuckled in surprise. "Oh my, call me by my name please, I am only 23, I am too young to be called ma'am." She laughed it off, the girl looked so stressed to be in her presence that it was adorable. "Well? Close the door behind you and come in, lunch is almost done, I am sure we have enough for you too."

The next following minutes, until it was ready and she served it up, passed in a tensed silence.

She watched them eat while leaning back against the kitchen counter, it almost reminded her of the night Blight and Johanna had spent over on her victory tour.

She looked at the phone, she had called Finnick of course but more or less spent more time on it with Johanna, she was just so easily to talk to and had quite easily made a place for herself in her mind.

She refused to think of that one four letter word that this could be because it would just be something else Snow had against her, she only Loved Cato, no one else, she wouldn't be another Annie and Finnick.

"Athy?" She looked at Cato.

"Yeah? What's up Munchkin?" He laughed slightly embarrassed about the nickname as Clove chuckled but said nothing, if he did, she'd stop calling him that and despite him being older now, it was still how she always called him.

"Can Clove crash on our couch?"

"Like a sleep over? Sure"

"Not only today, like stay, indefinitely."

"I mean.... I would want an explanation if I were to let that happen, if it is worth it, sure."

The young kids looked at each other, looking uncomfortable as they sat in silence.

Athena watched and sighed after a while, pushing off the counter.

"Fine, she can stay, we have enough rooms for that." She could only suspect what was happening, it could be so many things but there was something rampant in the violent district 2 was.

Any disagreement could warrant a fight and since all of the inhabitants here had at least a weapon it could escalate. She had seen her fair share of corpses in the streets and they had never bothered her until her games, now each time she saw one it felt like a noose tightening around her throat.

And those disagreements didn't stay only between strangers, when he was alive, she had seen her own father kill her uncle because that man thought he had to discipline her himself, he only got one slap in.... That too, was seen in another light since she won her games.

So her mind defaulted to Clove getting in such a trouble Cato thought it would be safer to bring her here and not too her parents.... This time she won't ask questions but she knows she'll end up with answers soon enough.

And that soon enough was that night, after seeing the young people for once play like kids, a two player extreme tag with jumping over furniture and stairs and stumbling around with knives.

"There, this room is of no use, I wouldn't have you sleep on a couch." She told the girl, waving her into the room that laid unused since the couple that lived in it before was now dead. They barely even had the time to make it homey before Snow had them executed.

"Do the windows close well?"

"I think they do." Athena tried to pop the window up without opening the lock but it didn't budge. "I don't know what's going on but you are safe here from whatever trouble you got in." She said, popping her claws out and trying to jam them under the frame to see if that would open it but it still didn't move so she folded them in with another flex of her hands.

"Thanks."

"But keep in mind, if trouble follows you here, I can't protect you once you leave and I would think your family would miss you."

"I highly doubt it, I am the fifth child, the ghost child in the best of cases and well yeah, in the worse." She said, completely skipping over the explanation for the worse case but Athena didn't question, not all families are like how her's had been and even in hers there had been murder, plus in 2 it could pass of without problems with the peacekeepers most of the time.

"Alright, just keep in mind, out of sight out of mind, I will not go look for trouble, I do not know you but you are Cato's friend so you got that going for you." She pat the younger girl's head and walked out. "Sleep well." She closed the door.

She said that but she didn't think she'd have shut eye tonight.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/SvRDKE8JbsE

That night turned into two, then three, then a week and they were bordering on a month now.

"-and like, he threw her! She flew across the room! I wish I was as strong!" 

Athena smiled, almost meaning it, as Clove had found her voice instead of the troubled shy one, an outright vicious girl sat at her dinning table as her and Cato retold her their day at the academy with excitement.

At least, Athena thought, if Clove ever gets reaped, she'll be a perfect 2's victor unlike her and, as bad as it would sound out loud, she was not pretty enough to be a Capitol sweetheart which in itself was actually a compliment but she never told the younger people that.

"She was pestering me for a spar and I said no, so yeet!" Cato said, some new young people lingo in there Athena never heard but from the gesture made by Cato it needed to be something to do with throwing something.

"Sometime you need to be rough." Athena chuckled, dropping the pancakes she made for dinner on the table, she really needed to fill the fridge but they'll be fine for tonight. "I left quite a nasty mark on the face of the boy that couldn't take no." She said, swiping with her claws for a show. "Now eat up."

In this month, Athena hadn't gotten the whole story of why she was now the guardian of two children instead of one but comments like those of the ghost child when Clove arrived kept popping up and such, letting Athena paint an image of an unhealthy home life and an unwanted child.

And so she didn't ask questions and just gave Clove clothes, food, a roof to stay under and what she could as despite being a victor, life was not that easy in the long run.

But at least Cato and she were happy and free as they could be, not burdened with her knowledge.

She reached up, touching her shoulder, pressing her fingers in the indented scar of the Capitol logo, yeah, they were free for now.

Cato would win his future games and Clove was struggling too much even with her main weapon to ever be chosen, their lives would be normal in the end, she believed in that.

-------------------------------------------------------

It was much later in the night that she was woken up too a loud noise.

There was a series off knocks on the door.

Well.... Knocks is putting it lightly, it sounded like someone wanted to dismantle her front door with their fist alone since she heard it from her room on the first floor, her door was open but still.

She put on her shoes, in shorts and a T-shirt, fixing her gloves snug on her hands as she moved from her spot with a raised brow, walking to it while lighting the dim hall lights, hearing yelling through it as she neared.

She unlocked it.

"Yes?" She asked despite a blade resting against her throat, it was held badly, the hand twisted to press the whole length of it against her neck so the pressure was off. "It is quite late to be knocking on doors at this time."

"Don't take me for an idiot!" A man that smelt of booze but from experience, not smelling enough like it to be drunk yet. "Where is she?!"

"Who? You need to be more clear." She popped out her claws on the hand holding the door as the other would be seen.

"That goddamn child! I know she is here!"

"Clove? She's been here for almost a whole month, three weeks and three days, it is a bit too late to worry about where she is, now leave me my good man before you do something you'll regret, you need to calm down before I let you talk too her."

"Get out of my way!" He pulled the dagger away and shoved her with that hand, leaving a slash not on her throat but her chest, barely nicking the skin with the tip of the blade but still, she felt a wet patch soak the T-shirt.

She regained her balance and shoved him back out with both hands, watching him tumble back down the front steps, flipping out her second hands claws.

"No, you get out of my way, leave! I am not above adding to my kill list!" She trembled at her own words but if it was to protect, she would add too the pile of corpses with a twelfth.

"I will kill you!" He yelled as she stepped outside and closed the door, stepping down and hearing a crunch.

She looked down, accidentally stepping on a centipede and so she crushed the head under her shoes to spare it the misery, keeping her gaze on it. when Cato was a kid, oddly enough, he loved to collect them and make them race.

"Did you know certain centipedes kill prey 15 times their size?" She asked the man she knew she'd need to kill if he didn't back down.

"What are you saying?!"

"I'm advising my prey not to test me." She glared at him, one last warning.

But a flash of silver followed, making her yank herself back and lifted her arm, swipe after the silver wisp.

"Shit!" He yelled, the sharp claws cutting into the back of his hand, deeply.

She didn't wait for him to gather himself, swinging her other arm up in the armpit and yanked upwards as he tried to lift his arm, slicing down his under arm.

The artery there sprayed blood, mostly her claws got it on them and her lower legs.

She watched him try to grasp at the gashes before throwing her other arm up, stabbing into his throat and yanking back, with the slicing abilities of her claws, leaving quite a hole there as she held a good chunk in her hand.

If the blood from the arm was spraying then the throat had a geyser coming from it, getting some on her face from the jerky movement and some on her shirt and arm.

"Told you." She said at the corpse collapsed, from blood lose or suffocation, she wouldn't know, she wouldn't care.

But she didn't want people to find him, the blood sure, just not the body.

And so she grabbed his leg with her free hand and dragged him away, he looked big but was actually quite light so it must be layers of clothes making him look beefy.

She dragged him too an old dried up well, chucking the piece of throat down in it before struggling toss the body in it but succeeding.

She panted a little since it is hard to handle a ragdolled human body.

She took a deep breath before, almost rudely in the grand scheme of things, vomited over the rim off the well, sick at the idea that she had blood of others once again coating her skin.

"Sorry." She told the corpse, spitting on the ground to get the taste out of her mouth with a frown, backing away with haste, as if the well would have burnt her if she stayed near it.

Quickly heading home.

"Athy?" She hissed softly after she closed the door, looking over her shoulder, of course the yelling woke both up.

"Back too bed, now." She said, hoping that if she didn't turn around, less of the blood was visible and that this dim hall light was not enough to even make them see it.

She only walked up the stairs after the kids went back too their rooms and she heard the doors lock.

She sighed, freeing a hand from her glove so she had a clean one, finding new clothes and going to the bathroom for a late night wash cycle for her clothes and to shower.

---------------------------------------------------

She was not able to sleep after that, watching the TV and whatever Capitol show was being broadcasted.

She didn't bat and eye as Cato looked down at the dried blood puddle and blood trail away from in front of their house along with Clove when they left towards the academy, she just smiled and waved them off.

She really wished she had just died in her games...

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/juuR69XWsH0

No one looked for the missing man.

No one seemed to really care.

There was one lazy peacekeeper patrol with their lazy questions, not caring much to question her after she said she didn't see him despite the blood and all.

Athena almost didn't mind it but she did, she did because there would be no one but her to remember that man.

She looked at her claws and sighed, at least it is in the past, she can deal with another death on her consciousness.

Nightmares, sure they were still there but with the habit of having them, it was almost weird when she didn't, not waking up screaming anymore, not tossing and turning, not in cold sweat.

She just woke up too a land that didn't spare her the suffering, glorifying her fears.

And she hated what her life was becoming, it was just meant to be Cato and her and now, not only was she the self imposed guardian of another child but also there was this other victor.

"Dammit, how I hate you."

"What did I do Kitten?" Said Finnick into the phone for their basic monthly call.

"Nothing Fish-brains, just thinking, just the 73rd and 74th and Cato will be safe."

"I wouldn't want to stress like you do."

"You stressed for Annie."

"That was different, Cato can fight at least if he gets reaped, if you being his sister has anything to do with it.... You should call your little wolf."

"She is her own woman, not mine, and why would I even?"

"Oh please."

"I won't like what you are about to say Finnick." She warned, recognizing that tone of voice.

"Come on you can't say you don't like her around." He said, voice all suave and soft. "The way you loo--" She hung up.

She sighed, not in the mood to be relentlessly teased by him.

Can't he just stop?

How bothersome.

It was not her fault Johanna was fun to be around but under no circumstances will she admit the truth too herself.

She can't let that happen, not under her watch, not under his watch.

Athena is not an idiot, Snow is not singling her out, but it sure feels like it.

So much felt almost personal but all victors were happily smiling with nooses tied around their necks, some of them just tugged it tighter themselves like her or Heymitch.

They were what the higher ups called problem victors, not being like how the Capitol wanted them to be, the perfect representation of the glory of the names or not acting how they wanted them too.

And it infuriated Athena because she did her damned best to fit the narrative that seemed to avoid her.

She took a deep breath, no, don't cry, you can't cry, you need to be strong for him, for Cato, you can't cry.

Not only Cato, you do so much for so many people, you tear apart.

...

If only you could stop....

But there is no way off this train...

....

Only death is the answer.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/9eVLath2YzM

Is it bad to almost wish for the next reaping?

Johanna found herself thinking and absolutely hated this, despised this thought... But it was almost the only time she could see the woman she couldn't get enough of.

The only time she wasn't in her empty, dead, home.

The only time people that felt her pain were around, Blight? Oh he was nothing like the other victors and the others of 7 were walking corpses plus no other woman had won and was still alive.

The only time she wasn't looked at with contempt for the unwanted more luxurious living she was forced to endure.

Oddly enough it became the only almost normal time of the year despite how much she hated 90% of it, that 10% was worth it.

And heck, she did even miss Finnick, that idiot, somehow worming his way in, a friend.

"Tho he is like 1%." She said, having been laying back on the couch and staring at the dark wooded ceiling of her cold and empty home, a book open but forgotten resting on her chest.

And so this infuriating woman, that cocky victor of 2 with her damned sarcasm, Athena Fucking Hadley, made her miss the games.

Sure she could climb over the walls, she did it once, twice.... A few times since the first time but the time was going by too fast to ever enjoy, she could snap and she was gone.

Johanna had never hated missing someone so much.

"What am I? A child? That innocence had been stolen the moment I was born into this accursed world."

This stupid woman made Johanna miss the bane of her existence. 

Her loyalty to help her tributes.

Her devotion to her brother.

How she carried herself.

What mess she created.

Her snide remarks.

Her cunning self.

Her attitude.

Her secrecy.

Her danger.

Her smirks.

Her laugh.

Her eyes.

Her....

Those damned eyes, nothing could ever live up to them, 7's forest dulled in comparison too them.

And she so fucking hated how they'd touch those beauties' owner, too the point she could say she didn't want to share.

And nothing could be done.

Capitol fucking sweetheart.

Johanna knew of the evil that hid tho not the depths of it, only that it was something to do with the higher ups tho that was enough to boil her blood.

She knew whatever relationship she'd want was against anything the Capitol stood for, pitting the tributes against each other, enticing hate and mistrust.

"Would she even feel the same?"

That was another thing, was this all platonic? Or was it not? And even if it wasn't, would the other woman ever be interested?

"Love." That was so foreign too her. "Love is weird." She had always told her sister this when she'd come home with yet another crush on the new logger boy on rotation or son of the baker, 'Love is weird' was almost a catch phrase and damn was she correct.

It is so confusingly correct to say that.

But one thing wasn't confusing about it.

One thing was very clear to her.

Johanna wanted 2's victor for herself.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/aLmPjMKdbt8

Athena drummed a pencil on the clipboard she was holding with a printed page on it.

Usually the tributes didn't see the arena sure, but the mentors did get this sort of list from time to time where they needed to tick off what event they would vote for to happen in the arena.

She hated this, it always caused death and she couldn't just not vote, she could just hope no one would pick what she did.

She crossed in the trackerjacker swarm and handed the clipboard too a staff with her usual smile plastered on. This 'event' was the most boring if she thought like a Capitol citizen, the least bloody and showy, so that's why she did that.

This year, like every year, she was always dragged out as a mentor because of her status as a sweetheart, her mentor partner this time being a brutish man she instantly didn't get along with, sparks flying between them.

She looked at her knuckles, they were covered by the Capitol designed dainty claws but they felt sore, she didn't go in for the swipe purely because she was dragged off him by staff terrified to do so but still ordered too.

"Staff." She scoffed as she left the little room she was called too. She didn't like calling them what they were, staff was better, avox is dehumanizing and she is not willing to play that game and no one could fault her here, not even Snow.

She bit on her tongue, she was almost not scared of his threats to cut a liar's tongue out, soon he won't be able to use Cato against her, soon.

And the boy was really good, packing on muscles so easily, heck, if Athena didn't falsify the academy scores he would have been reaped this year and she wouldn't let that, with her Capitol given strength, paying off the officials of 2 to sentence another child to death.

"I suppose Brion hates me because of that." She never did tell her mentor partner about this of course but it was his son that was reaped with Athena switching the first and second place in the academy, and she suspected that the boy knew he shouldn't be the first and snitched.

Doesn't matter, he wasn't speaking to her so she'd just work with their female tribute who had just as much chance as he had, being 18 and proficient with a sword as primary and daggers as secondary weapons.

"So what did you chose?" She was partially surprised her tribute had waited for her where she left her.

"You know I am not supposed to tell you."

"And won't you anything?"

"I suppossssse not." She said, making the S sound like a Z.

The tribute didn't get that it was the hint, Athena wouldn't give more.

"Anyhow, back to training, get one 1's good side, these last few years you tributes have been real good at fucking the career pack up."

"Right right geez, I am doing that."

"Good, now come, Julian will have my ass if I make you late for your interview." She couldn't take their district escort seriously with all the pink that man wore but he had a bite, he annoyed her in the best of cases.

"You will really not tell me anything."

"Please, be happy I help you."

"Rude."

"The world is rude, now get in." She opened the elevator door with her key card, one of these days someone will hack it and it will be hell to get up and down the floors, she's been using the same card ever since she won.

Getting in and sending it to the ground floor.

"I want you to win alright? I think you much more deserve it." She told the tribute, maybe it is selfish, but Brion made her like this with his behavior. She got a proud and menacing smile, she grin smiled at her. "Hmm?" The elevator stopped much earlier then she thought.

"Oh 2, how nice to see you." She couldn't help but grin.

"Hello 7." The tribute with the younger victor looked oh so terrified to be within the presence of not only a tribute from 2 but the mentor, yelping when his mentor shoved him in there and got in.

Athena waited a moment before nudging Johanna who gave a shove back, almost making her laugh but the ride down to the ground floor was silent.

The doors opened, the tribute running out.

"Hey 7!" Athena called, her tribute and her were going one level lower to meet with their stylist after all.

"What?" Johanna asked as she turned back, only to be smacked by the closing elevator door and sent stumbling forwards.

She wanted to fume but seeing the other victor laugh at it, she just shook her head, rubbing the sore spot and ignoring the rest that had maybe seen what happened.

She couldn't help smile too herself tho, she can play games too.

Chapter Text

Welp...

She...

She messed up?

She messed up so badly that all Snow could do was facepalm.... Which is saying something.

The best thing is, what did she do? Nothing much actually.... Just gave her life's best feeling uppercut in Brion's smug mug at the tribute interviews on live TV.

It was just so out of her rang of emotions shown too the Capitol that even the dear president was at a loss when faced with the consequences and subsequent 'How to repair this?' actions.

And he had come up with something Athena found particularly bad.

It wouldn't hurt her if she is lucky, but if she is lucky, Brion wouldn't be.

Snow had succeeded in spinning this incident in such a way that both victors would 'happily' display their skills to boost the morals of the Capitol with pre-games match since they were 'training' for it.

"Show him who's boss!" Her tribute chuckled, everyone so hyped to see two victors 'offer up' for entertainment and to have a 'friendly' match up... Honestly she thought it was one of the worst things Snow did.

Sure he tortured her, branded her, sold her.... But this was asking her to get back too her arena, too her memories, once again fighting to survive as she knows Brion will not play around. That night, that man, she didn't worry about her life.... Here? Snow be damned.

"I must." She said, finishing pulling the straps tight.

She was wearing some exquisite weaponry she must say.

These were not some simple gloves with foldable claws on them or her pretty little Capitol gloves, it was a matte black colored thing, she had no trouble articulating her hands despite them being completely covered in metal that tapered into claws, this hand potion connected too an inbuilt forearm bracer of the same material with it becoming pointy at the elbow, so her whole forearms and hands were protected and could be used as weapons.

For once the deadly weapons they were meant to be.

"Now, get back to the seats and let me show you how an interview should be done." She said, standing, having previously been sitting and watching her arms, flexing them in the softly padded inside of these deadly gauntlets.

She took a breath, not really listening in, only stepping up with her smile when she heard her name called.

That usual smile plastered on her face as she waved with both hands at the crowd that cheered and bringing a hand too her mouth, sending off a kiss in the air, all while making her way to sit in the chair she oh so hated.

"Long time not seen Caesar." She said, leaning into the chair, legs crossed, head held up with her hand. "I'd shake your hand but well, I wouldn't think you'd enjoy this as much as I would." Flexing her, armored and armed at the same time, hand, the matte finish on it still almost twinkling under the spotlights.

"Oh yes do keep your hands for yourself." Caesar Flickerman laughed, hand on his chest. "But Athena, could you explain to us what we saw?" She didn't needed to look to know a video clip of her magnificent punch was played.

"You really wanna know dear? Wouldn't a mystery be better?"

"Oh come on, we are dying to know!"

"If you insist so, I might say."

"Yes?"

"I suppose we have a little rivalry, I find my tribute much better then his, he is biased that his son should win, but have you seen Fiola? Her mastery on her weapons? She'll be the winner that's for sure."

"Ooooh, people are you hearing this? There is favoritism between the tributes of 2." There were a few 'Ah' and 'Oh's heard from the crowd. "So you were fighting?"

"Oh no, you didn't see well dear, you see you've video doesn't show the important part, he also hit me." She made a fist and gave herself a little knock to the chin as she lied. "It seems I was just a bit stronger."

"Oh, comparing strengths?"

"Exactly, how else would we do that? We are from 2 after all!" She laughed as if it was a joke and everyone followed suit but their laughs were from genuine amusement.

"Ah, you careers never fail to amuse us." Caesar said. "And I can't help but notice the new touch."

"Wanna feel it?" She held her arm out to him and he touched.

"Wow that's some great craftsmanship."

"Right? President Snow graciously organised this interview, it would be quite sad to have you all think we were fighting. Wouldn't it be?" The crowd pipped up in agreement. "Plus, with his help, we'll settle this little quarrel for you, starting this hunger games correctly!" She threw her hand up, claws flexed. "Putting this behind us with a show of strength!"

The crowd cheered, they'd get to see blood before the time came.

And despite it all.

Athena didn't regret that uppercut.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/Fd_bfdHlFYs

As much as she made a show it this, she hated this.

Her hands were trembling behind the curtains she was standing hidden by, hearing the mutter of the crowd.

(I finished the drawing, could be better but this will be enough.)

She knew this was to come but it was sinking in down into her heart, yet again, she was forced to fight, for her life or not that didn't matter, she was forced too.

And she didn't even know Brion's preferred weapon, what was it already? A spear? A sword? Her head felt so full and yet so empty all at the same time, she wanted to crack it open against a wall.

She grabbed the little necklace she wore, taking a deep breath, Cato having the other part of it.... And he would see this, he always watched the games, she wanted him to idolize the games, so he didn't end up like her in the end, so he'd feel pride in seeing his sister fight again instead of the terror sitting in the depths of her soul that she was feeling.

But with one simple deep breath, shaking out her arms, she shook herself back in 2's mindset, no victor ever wins, the games continue outside of the arena, she just needs to get back into the arena, she needs to feel the snow crunch under her feet, she needs to feel the wind slice into her skin, she needs to feel the cold bite of the ice on her hands.... She needs to be at the 66th.

She shivered, that cold, it was never something she could forget, the hair on her body standing up but couldn't rub them down under the armor.

It was like she blinked forwards in time, doing the walk out when called, kisses too the audience and showing off on autopilot hidden behind a painful smile, mind only on her opponent doing the same.

Opponent, it had been long since she thought of someone like that.

Brion was showing off two daggers, at least he is a close rang combatant, a spear would have been troublesome to deal with.

She could almost see the snowy cliffs and feel the wind whisper her death, seeing that last boy she killed in front of her once again, those hollow eyes of his.

She wasn't listening, zoned into her opponent, she'll treat this as if her life was in danger since she had no idea if the Capitol would be happy to see a victor die for what was sold too them as a show of rivalry but still, she'll treat this as life or death. 

She saw him lift the daggers, easily catching it was the deadliest of moments currently: The moment before the fight.

It was like the world vanished, was it the Capitol citizens that shut up finally or was it her mind in overdrive, she'd never know, but she didn't care.

A smirk made its way on her face, letting the old predator come out to protect her as she slid a leg back, standing sideways. Lifting a flexed hand by her face and holding the other out in front of her, a weird stance in the grand scheme of things but well.... She was weird.

Was Cato watching already? Could he see the monster of the 66th she was once more? Could Mags see it? Could Finnick? Would they forgive her? Would they understand?... Could Johanna see it?

She flipped her palm up, leaning back a bit, waving at Brion to come closer and on the offensive.

He could never bare her smugness so, with an assertive swing, he came at her.

Steeling her resolve.

Let him come for her, she is winning this game and going home.

(Yes this is a cliffhanger again, yes I am being a bitch.)

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/GAKD9g9VRt0

(But not a bitch for too long.)

The glint.

The hue.

The flash.

It all came back in a single flash.

Athena swinging the hand up by her face back bringing it down before striking upwards, the metal clashing in an eerie creak promising of bloodshed and death.

The dagger swung from above impacting down between her pinkie and ring fingers, pressing hard and stressing metal against metal enough to make it spark when either Athena or Brion shifted their hold a little.

He was strong but she'll make this fast.

She slid her back leg forth, between his and passed his center of gravity, kicking off with the other leg for a forced fall into him, driving the pointed end of a gauntlet into his side along with a shoulder tackle.

She braced herself, freezing her position like that while Brion stumbled back, not expecting such strength coming from such a woman.

Her question about the silence was answered tho, the deafening uproar at the sight of the blood specks dripping off the pointed end of the gauntlet telling a story of anger and death the Capitol drank up, screaming louder then any of her own haunting thoughts.

She didn't hear his taunt of anger, trying to see past the blood which caused her a red hot flash to cleave into her face.

She stumbled back, hunching over, a hand pressed over it and the other held under, seeing the blood pool around the slick black metal of her gauntlet and dripping into the palm of the other.

It took her a moment of feeling around to center the actual area of the wound, the cut ended or started depending on how people looked at it, just under the right nostril and drew out an almost flat line, slightly dipping down, across her right cheek and ending near her ear.

As much as it hurt, her claws felt around as she straightened out, she couldn't feel with them, her fingers also being messed up, but she felt the catch.

"That's bone." She muttered, feeling the catch a few times, sure that's more then enough to share all round pain in the area she was touching, tho knowing it will be over and worse pinpoint pain will come when the adrenaline will be gone.

"I'll do way worst too that brat of yours when my son wins this game." Brion promised, getting 'ooh's and 'aah's at the taunt but she knew he meant it.

She looked over her shoulder, he could insult her as much as he wanted, he could spill her blood, but talking off her brother in that way...

Being nimble for her weird fighting weapon came with great opportunity, twisting out of the way of a stab and falling back on her hands, taking support on her left hand and throwing out a leg in a spin, aiming high, pushing on her leg into a round kick from the ground and right into his ribs.

(Idk how to describe it so I looked up videos and I guess it is a mix of these two things and much more on the Silat style)

He coughed as she used the momentum to fall on her front and shove on her arms, getting herself up and with a half spin, swinging back, claws sinking into his shoulder and yanking as she stopped.

He might have two weapons and was from 2 but rarely was there a victor that kept up training like she had, she never lost of her proficiency.

She kicked into his back to keep him on the ground, driving her heel down hard.

And suddenly decided stomp in another.

He'll learn to not mess with her brother.

She kicked the nearest dagger down, trapping his hand under the handle, using her protected forearm to take the strike of the other as he scrambled upwards.

No one insults him.

With a little spin and not taking her foot of the blade, driving her other knee in his face, aiming nicely at the nose, the head whipping back and falling too the side with the body as the arm was held down and he couldn't be kicked away.

He is the best goddamn thing left in her life!

She leaned over him in a flash, hands grabbing on his free wrist and twisting on opposite sides, laminating his flesh, tendons and muscle beyond use.

And he won't be degraded!

With a strong shove, pushing his trapped arm off the floor, making her roll and catch herself, low too the ground but her only anchor points being her toes and the hand she was holding herself by.

By some brute like this man!

She bent her knees and lunged off, putting her second hand down and picking the first up, swinging diagonally up. leaving deep lacerations on the front of his thighs as she fell and slide on the ground slick with wax and blood, knocking into him with her body because of the strength of the launch.

Claws are a brutal weapons, slicing and dicing, leaving the pitiful souls to bleed out unless she took their lives, a way of dying that was personal and close.

The accidental tackle made him stumble as she rolled on her back and threw a leg out straight in a hard kick too the knee but the leg span outwards so no breaks, his nose too had miraculously survived unlike hers that took one punch and had snapped.

Quick too her feet, she tackled him down, grabbing and sinking her claws in the love handles on the man.

Straddling him after the impact but one leg thrown up, propping up on his elbow, trapping the swinging arm too far to do more damage then a few shallow cuts too her calf because of the angle too it, not caring for the other useless hand beating into her sides as she grabbed on deep into the flesh and around the collarbone as if it was a handle for her to hold on.

"I will not let you insult him!" She yelled, swinging her free hand over her head before freezing.

The situation dawning on her, knowing what movement her hand had undertook and knowing what the target was.

She was already so sore and tired, taking a breath as if this was the first she took in years, neither opponents moving outside of him struggling under her and not moving because she couldn't, knowing how to use her body, his and the ground against him.

"Blood!"

"Kill him!"

"End him!"

"Rip his throat out!"

The citizens screamed, no, bellowed at her, loud like the cold wind.

She wanted to stop, this was too much, this was overboard but the cacophony echoed out.

It seems Snow wins again, once again triumphing over her and bending her too the will of the Capitol.

With a scream of pain drowned out by cheered, she swung down, wrenching out the throat and all of Brion.

The arterial veins spraying blood out too the rhythm of the heartbeats as he gasped, each drop of his blood on her face burnt, it calcined her flesh, but she couldn't move away as she watched the man reach for his useless throat with his useless arm.

His eyes turning glassy as he stared into hers, life leaving them.

Boom, she could almost hear it, the canon branding her as a victor, it all felt so real.

Once again marked as a killer.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/Pa3jyGj9NxI

A minute?

An hour?

Two?

Athena couldn't really tell.

What she could tell was she didn't go see her tributes off, she didn't reply too Heymitch's calls to drink, she didn't bother to open the door for Finnick.

What she could tell was that she overdone it, that she had let herself be the overachiever of 2 to be selected for the 66th with a huge smile on her face, she let herself be the old her so easily.

Was she really still that person? The girl blinded by the glamour 2 painted over the games? Was she lying too everyone and herself? Was she just another victor lost too the Capitol?

What she could tell was that the blood seeped through the metal segments, that it dried too her skin, that it dried too the metal, that she was staring silently as she flaked it off with the tips of these claws, watching it rain in a dusty red on the carpet.

Her brother had seen this, Clove too, what would they think of her? Had she gone too far? Of course she had, but would they even look at her.

What she could tell was that suited man was calling for her, that she was needed and for once in her pitiful life... Athena followed on with an almost singing heart, preferring being used for her body instead of being faced by reality.

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It was like Johanna had never seen the true Athena.... Or was it the fake that she had never seen?

She couldn't recognize the woman as anything else but her name: The Reaper.

Claws are a brutal weapon that minced lives and not just some lighthearted gloves Athena would wave in her face with mock promises to cut her.

Sure she was young when she saw Athena's games but even those looked tame, this was short but quite brutal.

Athena's body as a whole is a weapon, not just an axe she'd hold like Johanna or a trident like Finnick, take her claws away and she can still kill.

Every little moment where those, despite being mostly decorative, claws were waved at her and those promises passed by her mind.

That had not been Thea.... That was Athena Hadley, the victor of the 66th, that she saw on that screen, a woman with no mercy when it came to people getting in her way.

.....

No.

...

That was Athena, she'd bring all to a stand still if it meant her brother was fine.

And despite this new 'page' too her, it almost felt too Johanna that she it was not that new.

This jumbled mess of contradicting thoughts pushed her forwards on her path, having a goal or so she thought, it was more of a hunch.

She had heard of passing whispers, floating rumors and muttered words... Wondering if she'd find her there or there.

As much as Athena liked the rooftops freedom, it was also the biggest trap there was.

And so that path didn't lead her there but too a floor that should have been locked off since only those of one's district should be able to enter their floor.

Johanna almost smiled, when was it the last time that was true? Had Snow really not seen them visiting others or was he turning a blind eye too them? She was almost scared to know.

As much as a victor is untouchable is as much as they are weak, so many things can be done too none victor but so many new things could be done too the victors themselves, something normal district citizens would never be faced with.

And so, seeing the glowing 2 on the number-plate as the elevator opened was of no surprise, all that was a surprise was what she was actually doing here, no plan, no idea, no goal.

....

Maybe was it the look? That look Athena had too her after that, how the Capitol sanctioned Athena was slipping.... Johanna decided that that was her reason and not just coming here randomly.

The short little hallway seemed so long and the light knock on the door deafened her, should her even be here? How could someone be so scared for their life and wish something more then anything all at the same time? She is no scholar, she'll never know.

One, two, three, she drummed her knuckles once again down the door, she is not dumb, having heard the water running, she's there.

"Thea, open up now or I will kick in the door." She said, not knowing how much of her sarcasm slipped through nor if she really meant it, still trying to decide.

One, two, three, still no answers.... Oh well, she'll be true to her words, it is the Capitol paying anyway.

A step, two, back, and kicking the flimsy door near the door handle, the handle fell off with a clank at the frame ripped open, swinging open and smashing into the wall.

"I warned you."

The sight was somewhat strange... Sure Athena was there but... A sink was overflowing, creating a huge growing puddle, Athena washing something like her life depended on it with her front splashed and drenched completely, hair and outfit in disarray.

"What are you washing so feverishly?" Johanna casually asked, unable to see her in the same light but not dumb enough to spout off about it.

No answer, no 'silly little wolf', nothing, somewhat strange again.

She wanted to see, stepping up next too her, peering in tho she gasped a little.

"Thea!" She had had no wounds on her hands, always protected, maybe a little rough when she touched her but this? The sink was filled with water yes but no soap of anything. "Stop!" The wire brush racked on her hands and forearms with so much force she split the skin. "FUCK!!" 

Johanna yanked her hands out of the water, it was so hot that she thought she got burnt for a moment but Athena had a blank face.... Nothing, not a sighting of any smile, any sparkle, any life, too her, like a robot was standing there.

She took a deep breath, dipping them back in and grabbing Athena's to stop their massacre, skin scratch up with light gashes, deep red from the irritation and the heat, yanking them out.

Only then seemed the other victor notice Johanna, trying to bend her arms up but Johanna gripped harder, probably causing pain but she didn't care.

"Why?" She simply asked, not understanding why the other would hurt herself in such a way.

It was almost shameful and yet.

"They are bloody."

"Of course you idiot! You cut yourself with the brush you used!"

"I killed Brion, they are covered in blood."

"You have long washed his blood off if that bothers you."

And yet, this haunted all victors: Blood, blood on the ceiling, blood in the water, blood everywhere. Johanna axe would seem like it was dripping with it on dark nights.

Athena could just hide her weapons out of view, it was her hands. And it was not hard to guess, she seemed to be unable to ever scrub the blood off.

"They are still bloody."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/vjmrPgUQaeU

Athena rubbed her thumb the back of her finger, from the knuckle, down too the bend and back up it.

This was.... Not how she wanted to spend her evening and yet...

"You idiot." She flicked droplets of alcohol in her face, smiling a bit as she got a smack on the shoulder.

"Don't do that." Johanna said, it was barely a drop but she still didn't enjoy her antics.

Athena didn't like questions, she actually hated them, preferring to keep all for herself, to protect herself as much as she could.... But the silence from them was unbearable.

How could Johanna just enjoy banter as they drank their worries away on Whisky after what preceded this?

The itching of the leather gloves on her hand wounds, the annoying burning of the cloth of her shirt covering her arms, the irritating tapping of her foot on the ground, the bothersome knowledge of what her life was like.... Why in all of hell was there not being questions asked?

It bothered Athena so...

"Why are you not asking away?"

That she ended up questioning the lack of it.

When people love gossip and always want to know all, silence is worst then constant eavesdropping on news.

"Asking away what?" The younger woman asked.

"Well." Athena put up her free arm on the back of the couch she was sitting on, sure she felt the buzz of the alcohol but just enough to completely numb out all feelings she had left in her fingers, making them more clumsy if she was distracted and she wasn't, lowering the propped up arm across the back of the couch and flicking Johanna's neck as her hand landed just there, sitting quite near.

"Hey!"

"Asking about this stuff I mean." Athena didn't acknowledge the complaint about her actions, she always loved getting the girl worked up.

"Why would I?" Johanna rose an intrigued brow, having not drank that much, knowing she had a lower tolerance then the victor from 2. "What victor wants to spill blood again?"

Athena could have accepted that answer, it was true after all, but she couldn't, it felt shallow in her heart, the textbook type answer.

"Yeah well you are not the type to conform too normalcy, you always threaten to put an axe through people and I think you'd do it."

"What does that have to do with things?"

Athena shrugged, what is this? Was she being her own lawyers? One trying to protect her and the other wanting to reveal all? It was almost amusing to see when this would go.

"I am just saying that you of all wouldn't mind killing again, tho maybe not outright out of want but yeah, inconvenienced? Better hide, the mad wolf will come for you."

"Easier to be angry then apathetic."

"Ouch." She laughed, not caring that it wasn't aimed at her, Johanna quite hit the nail with that hammer her words were. "I prefer apathy myself, not even victors of 2 would usually be fawned of killing anymore after their games so yeah, I prefer not caring about anything."

"Caring is living."

"How correct you are, and caring is questioning the whats and whys of the world."

"Does it really bother you that much that I am not screaming at you to answer some arbitrary question about this?" Johanna waved loosely as the arm who's hand was now playing with the hair hanging out of her pony tail and down her neck, trying to ignore it.

"People are not that selfless, they all want to know what happened."

"Oh trust me, I want to know why the hell you were so intent on washing the flesh off your bones but I know when to shut up and know it is not my place to ask." It infuriated the victor from 7, how could Athena skip from a topic too the next while at the same time always keeping what she wanted to talk about out of the conversation but always lurking on the ledge.

The hand stopped, Athena looking at the locks between her fingers, were they always this almost dark auburn? It doesn't matter, it quite fits Johanna.

The other woman from 7 was getting nervous under the quiet gaze of the victor, sure she wanted things, to not share her with anyone but it was quite different from thinking that compared to admitting it too the others face.

With a little surprise, the hand once in her hair had grabbed her chin from bellow and forced her to full on look at her, until now she had watched the gory display of the games going on on the screen to not look at Athena and those damned eyes were the reason.

They made it so hard to do anything at all.

"You." Athena's voice enough to make her ears work again tho having a hard time. "Considerate? The little wolf I know doesn't care about what others think and runs in head strong, does what she wants and wins, so tell me why you'd be the one that causes you irritation." Athena shifted her hand, no longer holding her but having a single claw poke in the soft flesh under her chin. "Annoyance and that you should never associate with as 2's are idols of the games, blood thirsty killers."

Well that was hard to answer tho not because of some mental dilemma about good or bad, or because of the inherent monsters the games created.... No, that was not what made it hard to answer.... What made it hard was.... Well....

"Oh damn you're so hot."

Athena burst out laughing, out of all she expected to hear, this was sure not it. Damn, it has been long since she laughed this real.

"Stop it!" Johanna hit her with a pillow which just made her keep laughing, tears peaking but blinked away as her stomach hurt from laughing so hard and protecting herself from the pillow attack. "I told you to shut up! Stop! No!"

"Oh damn." Athena was gasping for breath, giggling in short bursts, Johanna an angry red she thought suited her. "Well thanks little wolf." She chuckled, taking a deep breath, trying the settle down. "Would you want me to compliment you back?" She jokingly asked only to have a whole bunch of the pillows thrown in her face, reviving the fire of laughter, dropping too her side and holding her stomach while she did so.

"I will murder you!" Johanna leaned over, bracing a hand on the back of the couch and leaning over to reach Athena's face with the pillow she still held, a foot on the ground but kneeling with the other on the couch. "Stop resisting!"

Athena just dying of laughter before Johanna could get to smother her in the soft pillow tho she wanted to live, shifting her right leg and kicking out Johanna's leg on the floor, making the other, who's balance was already compromised, topple over.

"Come on, you love me." Athena joked, on purpose wrapping her arms around Johanna to trap her in her embarrassment.

"I hate you!"

"Nah, you find me hot."

"Athena!" She pushed herself up and free tho still too close so her face didn't lose its shade.

"D-awe." She looked up at her, booping her nose. "Don't worry, you don't look bad yourself."

"I will kill you."

"Then try, I'm here, soooo defenseless." She wanted to laugh as the tone she used was clearly an innuendo. Sure, she wanted to crawl out of her skin if even her friend, Finnick, brushed against her, but she couldn't seem to get enough of 7's victor.

And oh how did she enjoy that hue of red on her.

She didn't want to admit it too herself so she wouldn't, but she wouldn't mind having the mad wolf in all ways a human could.

"You are so dead." Tho that reply didn't contain much anger, those damned eyes, hypnotic and impossible to explain.

"Just try." Athena invited with a larger then nature grin.

For once, skin not crawling with disgusting ghostly hands of the Capitol, something new washing those away.

(Look.... I am not in the mood to write it out so I will let this video explain)

(If anyone is actually interested, just comment here and I'll write something I'll put in as its own separate chapter. Otherwise, just use your imagination.)

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/UFSvTyiwxtk

This had been odd in some equally odd ways.

Sure, they had done it, that's a given, she can still feel the lingering touches but some things had been denied.

Athena never let her touch even her clothes.

Athena had never let her excessively touch her.

Athena hadn't let her switch the light back on ones she flipped it off before getting rid of her top.

Athena never let her kiss her.

Athena hadn't let her do much back.

And that was so odd too Johanna as she stared at nothing in the complete darkness of the bedroom of 2's quarters.

She couldn't tell why she could barely do anything, she like... Got what she wanted and not at the same time.... Sure, she got Athena for a night but she was not hers, all she got was a night, nothing given back.

Athena did not sound bothered by all of this, almost a hint of strange delight too her whispered words to have all these weird rules she could enforce, all these things she had control over.

Odd.

Odd was what this was.

And yet she couldn't help but like it.

Tho the silent night was boring, not cold nor awkward just boring, or she would have gotten dressed and left instead of laying with the blanket only wrapped up too her waist as Athena slept with the rest of it on the other side of the bed... Another odd rule, no cuddling after all this.

She reached one of her arms out that has been folded behind her head too the little bedside table, all tribute quarters were built the same anyway so she knew that opening the drawer would lead her too find the TV remote too the TV hanging on the ceiling right above the bed.

She knew that during the game only those were broadcasted but she needed a break from Athena-centric thoughts and questions.

Turning the brightness really low and the sound off, switching right too seeing the girl from 2 grab as another tribute and hurt her fingers from a messy grab.

She looked at her own hand, sure most of the times when she hallucinated blood it was on an axe swing but there were moments she could clearly remember her fingers tearing into a fleshy throat, something the girl on the TV failed to do and she was from 2 unlike Johanna who had succeeded while being a 7.

How lucky had she been that day, Athena saving her from death before she even knew her and having her show her that purely as banter between a teasing mentor and a lying tribute.... How luck she was that it worked... She owes her a lot.

She dropped her hand, she wondered if the reasons Athena always wore gloves were for that reason, since she killed so many with her own hands, to hide the sight of them always having their blood on them.

As the tribute from 2 bashed the skull of the boy into the rock came the boom they were all so familiar with.

Tho the sleeping woman next to her rolled over with a groan at the noise, taking the blanket with her completely.

"Hey." Johanna gently said too herself, turning to grab the ledge and pull it back but freezing.

If she thought dreaming of the dead bodies of her family and fellow tributes shambling out of their graves to rip her apart was blood chilling then this sight was death itself breathing down her back.

Not one, not two, not even three but hundreds of interlaced scars displayed under the soft light of the TV who's sudden low buzzing was all she could hear.

If only it was those scars but no, it was not just the mesh of jagged scars that was displayed too her.

She had seen burn scars, knew how they looked, she did live in a flammable district, and this... This particularly disgusting one was just that, able to tell even through the dim light.

She didn't think before reaching out and ghosting her fingers over the distressing capitol logo stamped into the other bac-- A hand lashed back.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, her body was yanked down, a vice grip around her throat.

Athena stalled her second hand lifted above her head before she even moved to strike the face a whoever touched her, really not liking the sight under her grip for multiple reason.

For one, Johanna's arms clamped around hers as she was actively squeezing down was not a pleasing sight.

For two, she could still feel the touch and only Johanna was here so that meant she had seen the marks to lead too this reaction.

And for three.... This would be a long talk.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/0AxvEh-Wy7Q

3:27AM

That was the moment Johanna was shaken out of her peaceful ignorance.

That was the moment Athena was shaken out of her diligent secrecy.

And neither knew how to face this new development with the events that lead too it.

Athena had her arms crossed, standing and looking off at the void, a smoke hanging from between her lips, a dark green bathrobe hanging tightly around her.

Nearly unable to lay her gaze on Johanna, seemingly all the control she could finally bring back into her life was dashed away in an instant and what came off it was a freak reaction to protect herself and harm others.

Her hold had not been long but had been of brutal strength, her greatest mistake staring at her in the blue and red shape of a hand on the pale throat of the other victor... It was barely five seconds, shit... It was just five seconds too much!

She was so ashamed of that, of that moment of weakness, what if Johanna hadn't been bored and turned on the TV? She would have not seen anything and wouldn't have stopped herself.

But Johanna closed up like a shell, Athena's only comfort was that she could see the gears turning in her head and not fear, meaning she'd open up, at least enough for a talk if she didn't mess up too badly, if she dragged her out of her thoughts.

She sighed.

It seems that yet again, she'll need to bring up the subject she'd wish to avoid to get them to move on with it.

"Have I not told you to not touch me?" She simply asked, toying with the half necklace she was holding that she rarely bothered with, sure Cato had made matching pairs in wood working class and each wore it but it was such a part of her, just like her eyes or hands, that she forgot it was there (Or because the Author did) but there were moments she'd touch it, hoping her brother would be with her.

Like planned, Johanna's thoughts were snapped in two at the question that sounded off louder then it was said, looking at the older victor eyeing her down as she sat on the couch with nothing but the blanket around her, no smile gracing her features as she held the smoke between two fingers and with crossed arms.

It was all but inviting, scary, to not see her smile, no matter the situation there was always something there, only at Brion's death had she stopped, when he insulted her brother and she didn't want to see it so close too that event.

"Have I not?" She asked again, leaning forwards and grab the couch hard by Johanna's head, the smoke flowing out the side of her mouth, reminding Johanna off a fairy tale dragon.

"You expect me to ignore that?" Was all she could say, it was like her mind was not working and not because of the beautiful victor in front of her, trapping her, the lamp blocked out and creating a halo.... That would have normally been the case, but this time it just couldn't.

"Yes, ignore it." Athena pushed off, standing up and turning her back too her as she walked a few steps away.

"How could I ever?"

"Careful." Athena looked over her shoulder and pointing at Johanna with her two fingers holding the smoke. "I am still from 2, do not incur my wrath."

"You wouldn't hurt me."

"I already did." Was the short thought with a glance too the neck. "You are quite infuriating."

"Thea, this is serious, that's a massacre."

"And who's fault it that?" The was a smack in her words as she face her, it almost felt pinpointed. "You know Johanna, you are good at being nice and seeming innocent but you are also quite easily the most annoying woman I ever met." Before the other could complain, Athena went on. "A shame that I enjoy that about you. Others all bending under the pressure, conforming or pulling away, you smack back like the thunder cloud you are, like the mad wolf you need to be and I'll be damned to say that that's what's attractive in you."

She felt as offended as she felt proud of it, Athena always got under her skin, it felt crazy bad to have gotten under hers while also enjoying it a big bit.

"How'd I know?"

"It is yours." She poked her fingers in Johanna's chest. "It is your fault."

"Wha--" Athena silenced her.

"Sure, I showed you that." Doing the quick gesture of sinking her claws in someone's throat, looking at her clawless hands for once, she had even made sure to take them off with her to not hurt her. "But you survived using it."

"I caused those?"

"Those vile, nasty, painful scars? Yes. You know, Snow was quite aware of your act like I had been. Me idiot, I tried to cover the tracks, that's why I stole all sponsors but when he saw that one TV moment, he wanted me to learn a lesson."

"I'm sor--" Before Johanna could start feeling bad, she got one of the long missed smiles that shut her up.

"Tho I don't regret it." There was a half smile half sneer on 2's face, crushing and rolling the butt of the smoke between her fingers. "I did find you much more captivating then those other tributes, I was quite proud you pulled that off."

Johanna could wrap her mind around this at 3AM, was Athena mad or not, was she blaming her or not?

"So the Capitol gave you those..." She said instead.

"Yeah, because my little throat claw trick worked for you." She cut back, having spoken more truth then she wanted, stopping before she'd tell her she doomed Cato because, to be honest, only she herself was to blame. "So I guess we are tied too one another."

"Huh?"

"Yes well, I left my mark on you." Poking the bruised neck gently. "And you did mine.... Tho keep asking questions, the cat's out of the bag even if the rest of the animals will never escape it, all I ask you is to be discreet, can you do that little wolf?"

"Yes, yes of course."

"Then ask away, it is too late for secrets anymore." Tho she'd never say more about those she didn't need to know.

As much as the burden might lighten, she is an older sister, a mentor, she'd protect all those she cared for too her own detriment.

The bottle was cracking but she'd keep filling it with things and tapping it shut.

And she will not cry no matter how much she wanted too.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/rxaTAFXgykU

"You two are quite close Kitten." Finnick said, sipping the drinking in his hand.

"We are friends." Athena shrugged even if that word tasted bitter, as if she'd admit there it more too it too herself.

"Like really close."

"We are really good friends."

"Keep telling yourself that."

"That I will."

He just smiled, Athena could be stubborn when she wanted to be he knew that but on the topic of love, he could never win.

This woman would always and forever only claim that she loved her brother and no one else and he knew he didn't help that view of hers with his and Annie's story but at least he didn't lie too himself about reality.

Then again, he knew Athena as a smart girl, she'd know the truth, just choosing to not thinking about it no matter how hard those thoughts try to fight themselves inside her head, she became quite good at locking out emotions.... Well at least that was what Finnick behaved.

The games were nearing the ends once again and the calmness Finnick saw was  parasitized by the gnawing fear of one single number that made her blood rush too her head and beat into her ears, making it hard to breathe and making her want to shatter too pieces.

74.

The moment three of the four remaining tributes died the 73rd would be over and the 74th would be to come, oh how she hated time moving forwards with no way to forget about it.

She'll just need to be sure Cato is ready because he can't lose, he can never lose, he is too strong, he is strong, stronger then her, he must be, to not be scared and scarred by this life of a victor that awaits him.... Maybe a little bit disfigured in the games or before from a training accident? A payed off beat up? Athena herself lashing out? Anything to not make him attractive too the Capitol.

She didn't care if he'd hate her if her plans were discovered, it would save him from being a sweetheart, and anyway, Snow couldn't hurt her enough for Cato to become aware refusing becoming one would come with consequences, she will never let him see how it hurt her, never.

"Are you alright?" She snapped from her thoughts.

"I'm fine Fish-brains, just thinking of Brion." She said since the two tributes of 2 remained, one of 4 and against all odds, one of 11.... Tho not for long that one as a boom followed.

"Ah yes, his son, I do hope for you he will not win." Athena agreed, she knew she would not be at piece in the victors village and she might need to bring blood forth again to keep the vengeful boy from her family.

She just wished she could turn her brain off for a little while, the screaming going around in it tiring.

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And yet there was always a moment she needed to improvise, as no amount of thoughts could prepare her for it.

"You are quite touchy now."

Athena chuckled at Johanna tho she wasn't really wrong as currently she was amusingly testing her patience and her ability to not let instincts of fear take over in a stupid game that only amused her: tracing her pretty little claws sharply up her palm and hand, almost daring Johanna for a reaction.... She quite liked her squirming under her fingertips.

She gave quite a harsher jab since the young girl still hadn't reacted, that causing her to yelp and pull her hand back finally.

"What's that about?"

"I don't know, I quite enjoy getting a reaction out of you."

"I will bury my axe in your skull."

"Keep talking dirty to me." She was holding her head up with her hand tho not for long, Johanna shoving the hand out, making her smack her head on the bar top, Johanna laughing this time. "Careful there, the Capitol fixed up my face but they wouldn't be happy if you marked it up." She poked her claws in her side strong enough that the other woman shoved herself off the stood and stood away.

"Infuriating! That's what you always are."

"But you can't help but want me."

"Sadly for me."

"D-awe, come on, I am just a little innocent kitten, you are the big bad wolf." She stood too, the titles should be exchanged when comparing them both.

Sure Johanna was a predator deep down but Athena was the apex one and proved it to many and herself quite a few times, as much as she hated it, killing came easily to her claws, turning off her brain to its fight or flight came easy, she was meant for this bloodbath... If only her mind would remain off.

There was not much of a threat to Athena currently outside of those ever present claws and the strength behind them, not on a hunt, but Johanna backed up a few steps.

"You know little wolf." She jammed her pointer finger under her chin, tilting her head up to the ceiling. "Despite all that... You shouldn't play with stronger then you."

"And why? You seem to be having fun."

"Maybe too much." Athena grinned, it was quite hard to predict what would happen around this girl but currently she just hoped Heymitch would not get thirsty and come in for alcohol, she might survive it but Johanna would kill him, her and then herself.

(Fun fact: I am listening to tiktok song clips of a compilation and when I wrote that last sentence this song came up and I burst out laughing and that's why that's the chapter title too, video not relevant, it is just for the song.)

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/f0sL2DcCMGo

"That was so brutal!"

"I told you my sister was the best."

Athena just smiled as the words burnt her ears, conjuring up the memories.

She was nearly grateful that 4 won the games and that she didn't need to bring either of her tributes home, this year it didn't feel right, even if that meant they were to die.

She hated how excitedly Clove and Cato were discussing Brion's murder while the girl was trying to teach him how to throw knives.

2 was always a bloody and brutal place, as it is known and said before, her uncle had been killed by her father when he was alive, but she had once again showed of that despite having her games over, that she was still capable of killing.

Those troublesome people staying even further from her then before, her neighbors not bothering her about the noise and getting discounts for a glare... Reminding them all why she is called the Reaper through a single tally mark on her kill count.

Many victors went rusty and she had showed that she hadn't even tarnished.

She sat on the back porch, watching the kids and their training.

How long has been since the 73rd? Time was racing away from her and breathing down her neck, whispering for her attention.

She started to not answer calls, not caring if it was Finnick, Wiresse or whatever victor she was acquainted with, even Johanna, feeling a weight in her stomach at the sight of her brother's laughter.

Once in the arena she will not be able to protect him anymore, it will be him against 23 others.

She heard of victors passing on, she was killing herself by smoking, while they hung themselves, jumped of a cliff or set an 'accidental' fire...

So many ways there was to kill a victor outside of living down their pitiful lives... Why couldn't Athena stay the same little girl that, like everyone else, idolized the idea of being selected to participate? Why did she wake up from that dream? She wishes she never would have.

"Athy!" She looked at Cato. "Can you do any better?" He boasted, not hitting bullseye but near it.

She grinned, hiding her troubles from the kids.

"Oh of course I can." Standing to join them. "Gimmie a knife Clove."

----------------------------------------------

The night was worst for her mental, looming in the shadows, glaring down at the sleeping boy before she closed the door behind her, leaning her back against it as she stood in the hall, hand tightly on the door knob.

Athena wondered if she should kill Cato.

It would be quick, painless.

He'd be safe from all of this.

He would never be reaped, he'd never be hurt, he'd never be objectified, he'd never risk dying in the arena.

It would be by her own hands, in their home.

And he'd be free.

Free from this hell.

She balled up her other fist, cutting divots into the wood of the door. 

She would never be able to live with herself but she wouldn't need too since he'd be dead.

And then there is Clove, that girl looked up to both of them, she could kill her too, too not make her the next to suffer.

She could kill all three of them tonight .

But that would be selfish.

She'd steal his chance of winning.

But winning doesn't matter.

She could kill them

She should kill them.

She should have killed them.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/NLi2v-Gq-5A

Julian pranced onto the platform under a wave of applause.

"Thank you thank you district 2, I am so happy to be back once again!" He said, still as flashy pink as he has been half the amount of the time her worked with 2, the other half it it was random colors.

He basked in the cheering a while longer with the sassy hand wave to shut them all up.

"Alright, we'll pull the mentors now!" Everyone cheered again, since in 2 the tributes were decided on the best scores in the academy, it was the mentors that got randomly pulled, tho Athena's worry for it had long worn off.

She was worried about something else.

"People! Greatness smiles upon us! Once again for like... The 8th year in a row! Athena Hadley!" She sighed, knowing no matter what, she'd been pulled for as long as she is loved by the capitol.

Stepping up with a wave too the rowdy crowd but barely seeing them or the other mentor that was pulled with her, none of them mattered, none of them.

"Alright people! I call forth the gracious director of the academy to read out the names of these years best students!"

She lazily clapped, knowing already one of them.

The director was a little man, hunched over, meek, shaking, but no one ever attacked him, there was a reason why he was still head of the establishment that changed ownership when the previous head was beaten.

"Lets start with boy this year, since they have gotten better grades then girls, please train more, this is disappointing." While normal people like Athena would think this is a cruel thing to tell kids, no one else in 2 thought that, just muttered in agreement, she even saw a mother scold her daughter after she heard the words that the girls were worst this year.

"With a score of 7.4 over 10 for the boys.... Cato Hadley!"

Even knowing what was to come, her stomach felt like a bottomless pit with all her blood draining out through it as her little baby brother walked through the cheering crowd, high fiving them and shaking his fist with pride as he joined her up on the stage, beating his chest with a huge smile, she couldn't even look at him as he got near, staring ahead.

"And for the girls, with a 6.1 over 10 for the girls.... Clove Kentwell."

Athena grabbed Cato's shoulder, actually swaying on her feet, needing to hold something.

She never considered this as a possibility, this girl was so small, so weak, she should have never been chosen, she was not old enough nor strong enough physically.

She wanted to faint, the pulls, the pulls were sabotaged once again, either by Snow again or someone else because she was sure there were more 6.1's around and Clove couldn't be the only one.

Clove was chosen on purpose like Cato had been... On purpose.

A look of hurt pained her since it came from Cato, they both cared for the girl.

The two tributes exchanged a look as she climbed up the stage.

"Now shake your hands and off we'll go too the train!" Julian happily said.

-------------------------------------------------

"This is a nightmare." Athena held her head in her hands as she sat in front of the TV screen of the train, Clove and Cato both silent, never having seen Athena as much as admit something inconvenienced her. "This is nothing but a nightmare."

"Athy..."

"Munchkin, not now." She pinched her nose as she thought.

She should have kill them both when she had the chance but no, she was an idiot not too.

"What will we do?" Clove asked as Athena leaned back and sank into her seat.

"Like always, form a career pack, survive, kill and don't let escape and don't underestimate the weak looking."

"Only one of us can survive." Cato said, hurt slipping through his voice, each tribute sitting on either the left or right of Athena, having just watched the recap of the reapings.

Athena couldn't stomach it, feeling sick, it was like whatever she did, Snow worked to bring her down once again, of course he did, but this was the gut punch of all gut punches.

"Survive until there is only two of your and then play it out like the careers do it, in a one on one fight, kill district 12 first."

"Why?" Clove asked. "She doesn't seem that dangerous."

"Kill even the weak, don't let anyone get away because you think you can kill them later... That girl, that girl is from the weakest district, the poorest district with only Heymitch Abernathy as their victor because he outplayed the career that was left alive by making her throw her axe into the force field that bounced it back, he is a raging drunk so he is of no help.... But despite all of that, that girl, knowing she was probably going too her death, volunteered for her sister.... And Clove, Cato, as the older sister, I know just what she'll do to go home too her sister because it was the same strength that drove me to come back.... So kill 12 when you can."

"Right."

The silence was unbearable.

Athena putting a hand on the back of the head of each tribute, pulling them too her chest, Clove looped her arms around her in a shaky hug while Cato just grabbed her hand on the back of his head and the elbow of that hand and squeezed so hard it almost hurt more then what her heart felt currently.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/9IPLXNEzsLc

Beautiful.

That's what they were.

Beautiful like myths, like lies, like fairy tales.

People of the Capitol cheering loudly as they dazzled brightly with their fierce smiles and confident posture.

The golden gladiator outfit on them both looked like solid gold and yet folded and flapped like the finest of silks, gleaming under the sun as Clove and Cato were feeling themselves up in praise and love of the Capitol like any of 1 and 2 should and would do, like the real stars of the show they were.

The mentors' look out was silent in this sea of applause and cheers like each year, tho this year the silence was heavier and harder to breath in, none daring to utter a word as they all stared at the back of a black haired victor's head that stood by the railing instead of sitting.

Athena did not heed her instincts, she did not turn to look at the ogling crowed behind her, she didn't call out to them to cut it off, she just stared ahead while ignoring them all, her gaze glued too the chariots doing their rounds bellow and too the hatefully spectacular fire display of 12, she was right about them like she had been right about the wolf in sheep's clothing, they might need to be the first tributes that should be killed by the career pack to not repeat the same thing that happened with 7's victory.

The only one of the victors daring something else then to stare was one in the ever eternal fake bark for an outfit.

Athena felt a hand overs hers on the railing she had been gripping, looking to her left but Johanna's attention was on the tributes and on Snow that started speaking, not acknowledging the gesture.

Athena shifted her hand, letting Johanna holding the railing and covering her hand with hers and squeezing down in silence as she watched on the repetitive show once again this year in the deadly silence of a graveyard.

---------------------------------------------------

"I am sorry."

"For what little wolf."

Athena had easily found her way to the strongest of alcohols to numb her mind but even those didn't work on the mess it was, this was the first night but she already had the jitters, the images and the consequences of what this game entailed for her and everyone else.

Johanna felt bad, having seen some extent of what this woman would go too for her brother and now here he was, competing in a fight too the death where she couldn't protect him anymore.

"Your brother."

"There was no escaping it." She sighed heavily, looking at her as she swiveled the bar stool she sat in to face her, already looking tired beyond words, throwing back a shot before slamming the glass down. "I knew it was to come, he was always the best, this couldn't be avoided."

"Still tho, it must be hard to have someone you care about in here."

"You have no idea." She crushed out her smoke between her fingers, uncaring for the stinging burn left on the exposed part of her skin. "Cato's my little brother, I am meant to protect him and well Clove, I killed for that girl."

Johanna felt bad for her, not one but the two of Athena's tributes meant something too her.

Athena lit another smoke, Johanna wondered how much she still had as the smell of these little burning sticks hit her nose the moment she opened the door and this room was not that small.

"Cato can win, I am sure, with you as his sister, no doubt."

"Thanks." She said but it didn't really help her, only thing that could would have been to pull him out of the games.

Selfishly, she'd sacrifice Clove for Cato if that could be done, she knew she'd be guilty for that all of the rest of her life but she'd anything for Cato.

Anything for Cato.

She sat up straighter, having a slight slouch before.

She'd kill, she'd steal, she'd do heinous things, all for her brother.

She'll do all she can for him from outside her, no matter the price, no matter the consequence.

She should have killed him when she could but that can be done no more, she'll just do anything else if it keeps him safe and alive.

Anything for Cato.

Anything.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/MOoHHjBd0yo

Katniss Everdeen.... 11

That number.

11

She couldn't get out of her mind.

She was right, she was so right.

She was correct, 12 was a threat this year, having beaten out Clove's and Cato's own good score.

"Be strong Munchkin." She kissed his forehead, holding his cheeks in her hands so tight before backing away. "I'll wait for you."

"See you later Athy." He said, smiling at her, still his ever confident self. "I can't lose, you trained me all too well."

"If you miss me I'll always watch over you." She lifted the matching pair of necklaces they had.

"Of course."

"Tribute, into your tube." A peacekeeper said, she glared at him but she knew there was no way to delay it any more.

"Careful." She squeezed his hands as he stepped back into the tubes.

"Always."

She took a deep breath as he went up with a last wave she barely had the time to echo before he was gone from view.

With another deep breath, she looked at the little screen that lowered to watch the initial bloodbath from this room.

Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as the arena was displayed as a forest environment, not the best of starts, Cato didn't really know how to climb trees.

The count down was so loud, it was as if the gamemakers were trying to deafen her with it.

A hand clasped around the little pendant she had as the characteristic canon shot signalling the start was blasted high and loud.

The first splatter of blood froze hers in her veins, the bloodbath was without mercy and with no pity.

"Shit." She breathed out, Clove almost having had the 12's girl she was so worried about but a lucky impact with a boy lead him to be stabbed and the next throw was blocked with the bag before she ran into the forest.

"Bloodbath is over Hadley, leave the perimeter."

She glanced one last time at the screen as the careers joined up to look around the cornucopia, to judge what supplies were left for them as the body of many littered the surroundings.

----------------------------------------------

Athena usually watched the games in the victors' lounge with the others, with snide remarks too them.

But right now, she couldn't bare having anyone around, watching the screen with hawk eyes in the quarters and in her room to be away from Julian and his annoying personality.

She laid in bed but intensely was staring at the screen hanging up on the ceiling.

A stupid girl had made a fire, Marvel, the boy of 1, finding her and the careers making a chase game out of killing her.

She wasn't happy, it was horrible, a horribly painful way to die, but as long as Clove and Cato are happy doing so, she will be happy, she just hopes that none of them will ever come too the realization she had and they'll always idolize the games to save them from the mental anguish they cause too those aware of them.

Cato was as brutal as she was in her own games, three deaths, two from the bloodbath and one from the hunt that followed, were under his belt and two of those he had killed with his bare hands, one had been grabbing a girl's head and slamming it on the side of a supply crate and the other was twisting the head of a boy.... Athena hoped he wouldn't go personal like she needed too but well, she hoped for nothing.

And the Everdeen girl almost had died too fire, fuck.... She wished she had, she even made a little trap and had caught a squirrel, this girl knew how to hunt while she should have never, coming from 12.

Days and nights went on as she watched from her spot, rarely leaving too the bathroom or to eat something, even rarer when she got shut eye.

When she wasn't watching, she was talking up powerful men and women, sharing her bed, her body with them, acquiring sponsors left and right, making herself feel sick of being touched but having sent down a fire starter kit too the careers was worth it, none really having skills in wilderness survival and they were literally freezing too death in the night, her package buying them days of heat.

They had even recruited 12's boy and 4's boy, 4 had reactivated the landmines from around the podiums and creates mounts of them to protect the piled up supplies. While 12 promised he wanted to kill the girl for betraying him.

Fools believed him.

And so when they found the girl in the river, they ran after her with laughter and glee, skipping down the rocks as if it was to go picnicking with friends.

Even with the open burn wound that girl had, she still was quick to climb trees.

Cato, big boy he is, tried to climb after with the cheering of his friends before a branch broke and he fell, Athena's heart stopped before he got up with a groan as Glimmer, 1's girl, tried to shoot Everdeen off but missed twice before Cato grabbed the bow and missed a third time.

Lover boy told them all to wait, she would come down, he was right.... Until.

Athena watched with gripping fear as the little girl from 11 popped up early the morning that followed that interaction, conveying too 12 how there was a nest there and that idiot girl started to cut the branch holding the trackerjackers up.

Athena held her face, screaming at the screen, as if they'd hear her, watching helplessly as the nest plummeted down and exploded.

The screams of agony almost made her cry but she swallowed those tears too like any others, knowing of the pain they might cause, having seen a 'magnificent' variant of them nickname Snowjackers, that could survive her arena's frigid temperatures, seeing one of them sting the girl from 1 when they were still allies and how much she suffered.... So seeing everyone stung while 12's boy helped the girl run after she got the bow back away and Glimmer be stung to death hurt a lot.

She wanted Cato to kill the lover boy but with the hallucination caused by the venom he missed, tho deeply sliced into the leg of the boy, a wound that would probably be fatal after a few days.

The days went on, anxiety stealing her appetite as the 12 and 11 girls worked out a plan that worked: Blowing up the supplies after drawing the careers away, it caused the death of many... The boy from 4 got his neck snapped by Cato for being to blame, the girl from 11 got spear stabbed by Marvel after that while Everdeen shot an arrow through his chest... Three gone in quick succession.

Now only Clove and Cato remained together.

Athena this time almost cried since after the two of 12 found each other and hide in a cave, playing up a fake act of love, it was announced that there could be two winners if they came from the same district.

Athena knew that it was bullshit for all of those that have survived, they would not do it for 12 at all, but wow the publicity if 2s made it out.

Athena instantly sent a note hidden in between two cans of food for them and that night, the two played along, sleeping in each others arms as Athena sold the story of how adorable they were, dating even when they were in 2 and how close they were, trying to outdo Heymitch who was her number one enemy currently, pushing the star-crossed lovers for the 12.

She almost punched him once when her sponsors said they already spent on the fire girl and lover boy.

Soon enough he was worst, wound infected and the cornucopia stocked with things each tribute would need.

Athena had sent more knives for Clove and body armor for Cato since Clove was a longer rang fighter, she could get out of the way and Cato was the one that needs to be close, plus with their narrative he'd try to block the shots towards her, making both of them be protected.

But something happened, Cato tripped up, Clove, overconfident, didn't wait up and when she emerged from the forest, she saw the fire girl, rushing too her.

It would have ended there but she taunted the girl with a knife too her throat about her friend's death.

Athena punched the TV in the living room, shattering it too Julian's complaints, when Tresh, boy of 8, snuck up on her and grabbed her.

Watching on the broken screen how she screamed for her friend's help and how Cato screamed back, running as he could through the forest but nowhere near quick enough.

She kicked the screen, definitively breaking it as Cato dropped too her dead body's side, crying and begging for her to wake up and how they could have both come home.

After that she didn't leave her room, just stared at that screen, as Cato went on to hunt Tresh down and killed him brutally, leaving only him and the two of 12.

Cato would soon be home.

Soon be back.

She was standing with her arms crossed, staring up as the arena's sky was darkened way before night.

And then they came out.

Mutts, what looked like horrid experiments of mixing human and dogs into one creature, one having a familiar fur color, they all wore collars with numbers on them, 2, and their eyes, damn their eyes, so human, light blue.

This mutt looked like Clove.

Her organs stopped functioning and she thought she was dying as Cato ran for his life, swinging his sword back and blindly running, one of the beasts clawed hands slicing into his face as the horrible realization that this was not a game shined into his eyes, losing hold of his sword in a final defensive parry, left only with a short dagger in its sheath on his belt.

Finally he made it too the cornucopia, climbing up the side, his body armor saving his from a nasty claw slash.

Athena couldn't breathe a sigh of relief as 12 also soon made it too the safe spot and clambered up the side.

Cato grabbed the boy in a headlock as the girl aimed up an arrow.

"Go on, shoot, I'm dead anyway." The broken voice of her brother shook her up, tears in his eyes as he held the boy who was trying to pull his arms away easily.

The girl aimed up, making Cato do a movement as if he'd snap the boys head, hiding his own behind it.

"Now Munchkin. Come on, do it." She whispered. "Do it Cato." He could win this easily, snap the head and drop him, she can already see your armor, she can't shoot you in the chest and the head is too small of a target if you rush in.

The boy of 12 raised his finger, dripping with blood from his leg, up too Cato's arm.

Instead of trying to wrestle his way free, his forefinger veers off and makes a deliberate X on the back of Cato's hand.

Cato realizes what it means a second after Athena and the fire girl does.

A single second too late.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/52VPvCctpHc

Cato.

He always loved his sister.

He was always amazed by her strength and prowess.

He was so proud to call the Reaper his family.

But was she ever feeling like this? Like nothing mattered? Like you killed for nothing? That you'd be dead even if you won? That you'd be an empty husk of yourself?

Well.... He would never get the chance to ask her, not even that, he'd never have the chance to see her again.

As the arrow pierced the only unprotected part of his body, his hand, he almost found irony in it that his sister's hands would have been the only things protected if she was in his place.

Screaming out in pain, yanking his hand away... He just wanted his sister to save him... But she'd never come.

Peeta heaved him up, lifting him over his head moments after he was shot and threw with all his strength.

Cato felt the impact with the metal of the cornucopia on his neck and upper back before he bounced off it and landed in the grass with a loud thud.

He scrambled to his feet as the mutts growled at him.

He pulled the dagger out, holding it up as he backed slowly to a discarded sword.

"Come at me!" He yelled, tempting the unchanging fate of his. "I will not go down without a fight!"

That spurred the mutts into action.

The first into a lung but Cato stabbed the dagger, in a reverse grip, through the skull of it, the body falling over in a twitching, gurgling, heap of flesh.

He dove for the discarded sword, breaking the arrow out of his hand as he swung back, dissecting the maw of another off of the body, making it impossible for it to bite.

He wanted to cry, like a little child, hoping his sister would come and dry it off but nothing was left to do but to fight.

He needed to fight.

If he somehow wins this now 20 against 1 fight, he can kill those 12s and survive with the supplies still left around since not everything blown up was unusable.

Kill... Has this word ever tasted so bitter too his sister as it tasted too him now? Has she ever felt this? He couldn't tell, he only remembers her as smiling, loving.

And he won't take that from her!

A painful slash cut through his already bleeding arm, making the flesh split and spray blood as he sliced back, cutting off the mutt's arm.

He's going home!!

-------------------------------------------------

Athena watched in frozen terror.

She watched those disgusting pigs from 12 watch Cato fight for his life in an unfair battle, swinging his sword with might against the mutts, cutting down a few but never enough.

First it was a minute, then two, then five and ten, soon followed twenty and then thirty.

Cato fought for his life with his fleeting energy for a whole hour before the mutts breached his defenses as the bastards of 12 just sat in safety and didn't even have the dignity to spare him the agony of an unwinnable battle.

She felt like someone grabbed her throat and squeezed as the jaws clamped down in a death grip on his arm.

His screamed echoing all around her as he swung a deadly strike on the skull of the beast but another had replaced it, fangs dug deep into his thigh and yanking, tearing a huge chunk in flaps of flesh still hanging, not completely torn off.

She covered her mouth as his swings were slowing, a jaw clamping on his armed forearm and soon, he was dragged down.

She heard the agony of his screams, no other sound could persist.

The beast, dragged and tore pieces from her brother, mangling his face, leaving a pool of blood, tearing a finger off, then two working as one to rip the foot off the flesh and ligaments.

She was just stuck, unable to move, to look away, to stop watching as her little brother, dragged by the monsters, was being torn limb for limb.

And the bastards were having fun.

Cato's screams never stopped, crying for help, for hours and hours, pleading for death, screaming like a rabid dog and the mutts would not kill him, sometimes leaving him for a moment before diving back in.

"Athy!!" He'd plead for her to save him and she wished, she wished so hard that she could, she wished for all that is in the world to exchange places with him but she was stuck here.

Only a bloody piece of human was left, arms and legs torn to nubs, the body armor fatefully protecting his vital organs and prolonging the misery.

And as his agony continued, her silent anger surpassed her agonized paralysis.

She dropped her head and arms, looking away from the scream but the screams for help never stopped.

She slowly took a heavy step towards the door, leaving her room soon enough and making her way out.

Out and down the hallways too the elevator, were there always this many screens everywhere? The agony never got quiet, never left her, no matter where she went she heard it, her brother pleading for a mercy killing that those bastards wouldn't gift him.

In the reflective surface of the elevated, she could see the mess she was, having not slept from stress, having not bathed nor eaten, she looked disheveled and still so annoyingly something the Capitol could enjoy, no matter if this was the worst day of her life, the Capitol would still love her for it.

She stepped out, the bright screens still following her as she walked the new hall to that one room.

She opened the door by stepping up too it, it sliding open too the mentor lounge where the biggest screen was.

And many were staring in abject horror, few deaths had been this long and drawn out in any games.

"Kitten." She gently pushed Finnick aside as he stepped up too her, walking around him as if he didn't existed.

It was never a surprise that Athena had a brother, loved her brother and would kill for her brother.

No one dared to address cold fury on the calm and emotion void face of 66th victor.

All had seem to stale in time until she have close enough too Heymitch.

Hell broke loose.

She threw her hand out, grabbing the back of his jacket and yanked, tripping him backwards over the circle of couches to get him too her side of it, the body of the older man bouncing on the ground, the impact loudly heard throughout the room despite the screams.

"What th--" He got to his knees, trying to stand with his liqueur poured all over him but Athena just all her strength into a knee too the face, laying him out on his side.

"YOU BASTARD!!!" She yanked him up off the ground and she towered over him, holding his by the front of his shirt, fuming with untold fury and pain bubbling inside her.

She reeled a hand back and flexed her claws.

Boom.

The sound echoed before Athena could do more damage.

She froze once again, dropping Heymitch who fell back on his back as she straightened out and stepped off him as she looked at the screen, an arrow through what was just the rest that was left of Cato's head.... Her brother's head.... Of Munchkin's head.

She choked up, biting her lip and it felt like reality, he was finally dead, finally gone.

And the first tears fell.

Athena's legs gave out under her, falling too her knees and hands, looking at the blurring screen.

The first tear was soon followed by another and another.

The first sob was soon followed by another and another, sinking into a ball with her arms crossed over her head and forehead pressed into the ground.

And Athena screamed, wailing in agony, uncaring who and what saw her, she didn't care, she couldn't care.

Just howling in pain in the middle of the room as her world had just imploded on itself.

Cato was not coming home.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/BowK8gxYz94

Tik.

Tik.

Tik.

The quarter, silent.

The clock, ticking.

The smoke, blinding.

The phone, ringing.

The tears, flowing.

And the alcohol, pouring.

"Athena, this is your little brother Cato, take care of him alright?"

Those words.

Those fucking words.

"Of course mom! He is so cute, I must protect him."

That promise.

That fucking promise.

"I know you will Athena, you'll be the best big sister."

So why was she alone now?

Who was she to protect?

Who was she to teach?

Who was she to cook for?

Who was she to console?

Who was she to live for?

No amount of the Capitol's finest seemed enough, no smoking would kill her fast enough, no alcohol would drown her fast enough.

And yet she stood here, staring out the window she smashed open with a chair.

She looked calmly through the reflection of the still intact window panel next too it, the breeze brushing into her face.

The TV ripped off the wall.

The couch disemboweled.

The carpet shredded.

The books torn.

It was like a hurricane came through and it was the truth, only that it was one in human form.

And too hell, the tears have never stopped once they started, so consistent and eternal she doubted being able to ever stop them.

She looked at her feet, her boot toes standing off the void, would they have expected anyone to break their window? And just that way?

If a breeze swayed her, she'd just close her eyes and await the fated impact.

But tonight the wind seemed to be blowing into her face, pushing her back.

What use was there even left for her?

She was no one's daughter, no one's niece and no one's sister now... She was all alone.

Alone.

She was alone.

Why would she remain?

All she fought for was her brother.

And she killed him.

Oh fuck she killed him.

She grabbed her face, more quiet sobs shaking her shoulders.

In that one act.

That one act.

She saved Johanna but doomed Cato in the process.

If only she had not talked too her.

If only she hadn't gotten interested in her.

If only she hadn't shown her.

If only she hadn't won.

If only she herself hadn't won.

Cato would have still been alive.

She is sure of it.

All of this is her fault.

She looked up at the ceiling, so tired of it all.

She was so tired.

She wanted to sleep.

Sleep and never wake up.

But only the dead can sleep.

And Athena is alive.

"You are awaited Hadley." The careless voice of the man said.

She flicked the smoke out the broken window wordlessly and followed.

Hadley.

What use remained for that name?

Only she wore it.

No one else.

------------------------------------------------

As cold and dead Athena felt, as much she thought.

"This night was perfect." The woman traced down her side as she sat on the bed, not reacting, how could she? She felt like a shell and empty, alone.

And yet the anger was never gone.

She straightened out and looked over her shoulder.

Heymitch had sent that healing balm too the fire girl.

"What? Want another round~?"

Heymitch had stolen her sponsors with promises of an underdog story.

Athena reached up, hand open.

Heymitch was the mentor too those two monsters.

And cupped her throat, pushing her back down.

Heymitch saved the girl on fire.

"Hey, that's a bit tight." The Capitol woman said with a chuckle as Athena didn't react.

Heymitch sent that healing balm for lover boy's leg.

The Capitol woman slapped her but Athena just squeezed.

Heymitch caused all her problems.

The woman's face slowly turned from red too blue as fear came over it, trying to claw Athena's hand off her.

Heymitch killed her brother.

The struggled ceased.

The arms dropped.

The room fell still.

Athena's hold didn't falter, squeezing the life out of this disgusting woman.

The Capitol could do nothing to hurt her more.

Her brother was dead.

Heymitch taught the girl on fire to kill her brother.

Her brother died and so did she.

He was dead so what could they do now?

What could Snow do?

Nothing to threaten her with.

Nothing to hold against her.

Nothing.

Athena had nothing left to lose.

She stood, looking carelessly at the body, gathering her clothes and dressing up.

Snow had made a huge mistake.

Everdeen had made a huge mistake.

Heymitch had made a huge mistake.

They angered whom they should never have.

As there was but one thing holding her back.

And that had been her brother.

And her brother is gone.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/1oxk0CpKpzo

Athena Hadley lost her smile.

The smile that invited all in.

The smile that promised of cheeky comebacks and witty pleasantries.

The smile that put all at ease.

The smile of the woman that had something left to lose.

Nothing but a hollow human remained, one only filled with agony and hatred, one that couldn't be hurt no more, on that couldn't be used no more.

And Snow was not blind too it.

The young woman standing in front of him no longer cowered to appease his anger, no longer worried about her fate, no longer stuck too the rules.

"I truly thought he'd win." He simply said, tending too the bouquet of white roses.

"We all did president Snow." A cold, toneless, replay came from the unleashed woman. 

"Hmm, tho that is no reason to kill my citizen miss Hadley."

"If they touch me, they die." Unleashed, like the monster she was on the inside, claws now extended too all that would stand in her way, a head tilt lacking in innocence accompanying those words.

Snow just nodded along, he had nothing he could hold against her and it was his own rare miscalculation... Yes, this young woman was broken beyond measure, nothing was left of her, but she was not broken enough as she stood here, head held high, facing him and calm... This one time Snow underestimated the love of a sister, he'll give her that.

And the only thing left that could hurt this young woman, miss Mason, was also someone with nothing to lose but taking her away would not only just stoke the fire of the victor but also make polemic about a victor vanishing... Snow will admit defeat for this once, tho not forever as Snow always lands on top, everything always works out in his favor, just a question of time and he had patience.

And as fast as their talk had begun, as fast had it ended.

------------------------------------------------

The worst of her brother being gone was the silence her life would hold when she went home.

Racking her claws down her throat, no one else will be able to get too her as the singular reason that was their bargaining was gone.

"I don't wish to talk." She said, the reflection of her little metal claws revealing a new darker shadow in them.

She glared at them, grabbing the metal chains and ripping the cuff off her wrist and throwing them on the ground, ripping the other claws off too, leaving her hands bare.

"Tough luck because I want too." She pulled on her snug leather claws, those the Capitol thought of as ugly and too vulgar as they really looked like weapons, well let them be damned.

"I don't care for what you want Johanna, leave." She looked at the other woman leaning against the door frame.

"Yeah no, you can run off the others by having a bite but not I." She shook her head at her.

Athena was not in the mood.

Lashing out above her shoulder and shoving Johanna into the wall with a hand around her throat, causing her head to bounce off the concrete.

"Well this bite has turned lethal so I'd leave anyway."

"You shouldn't treat your friends like this." Johanna said, since Athena was not actually squeezing, just keeping her trapped, like someone would hold another's shoulders against the wall, Athena just opted for the neck.

"Oh you are not my friend." The blame in the voice hurt yes but.

"Oh right, I am much more, what you call me? Fuck buddy?" There was a momentary squeeze as Athena looked angry, Johanna teetering on the ledge of a dangerous drop but despite Athena not admitting it, there would be a railing catching the victor of 7 if she were to fall.

"Just fuck off." Athena shoved her away by her throat, making the younger woman catch herself on the wall, moving on to pack the little things she brought too the games before they'd head home.

"When you talked too me, I'll leave."

"You wanna talk?" Athena hissed. "Fine." She faced her again, dropping what she picked up. "I'll talk. I want to gut Heymitch, I want to kill myself, I want to lay waste too the Capitol, I want to end it all by my own hands! And you, you are at the center of it all, Snow promised me my brother would be reaped for these games! The 74th! Because I helped you win.... I sentenced my Munchkin to death because I talked to you! I killed him and Clove, I killed both of them because I was stupid enough to let myself be distracted by a useless tribute!" She kicked over a chair. "I became a sweetheart for him, I pleased the Capitol for him, I smiled for him, I played for him and lost him! What else is there to talk about?! You've all seen it!! All of Panem saw it!! How those pigs! Those bastards of 12! Let my brother suffer for hours before finally having gotten sick of his screams!"

She kicked her leg on top of the coffee table in the middle of the already existing mess, crossing her arms on her knees.

"I bared things you would not even imagine, all for him, I did things no one should have for him, I did it all for him and now he is gone!!" She kicked the table away with a cry of anger.

She watched the table knock loudly into the remains of the TV.

"I did every single thing for him and nothing was worth it, nothing could save him!" 

She fully looked at Johanna.

"I want to blame you for killing that girl with my showed off move, I want to blame Heymitch for helping that girl, I want to blame that girl for leaving him to suffer, I want to blame that boy for throwing him off the safe spot, I want to blame Snow for everything!" She marched back into Johanna's face, anger breaking as a tear slipped out with a quivering lip. "But I can't, this is all my fault... All my fucking fault..."

"I'm sorry." She simply said tho it was something no one had even told Athena, no one. They all tried to cheer her up if they even dared to speak to her, no one had told her that they were sorry...

She didn't expect Athena to hug her first and much less the tears that nowadays seemed so common even when they were none existent before, hugging back tightly.

"I killed my Munchkin." She cried, holding on so tight, fearing she'd never get back up from this if she ever let go and it didn't bother Johanna.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/4dWgr8TlZpo

"Come on Katniss, it is almost over." Peeta reassured her, squeezing her hand in his and offering her a smile.

They were both stuck in a party they didn't want to be at, in clothes they didn't want to wear and playing the lovers act still.

Snow just needed to give them the crown of the victor and they could go home, home... All she wanted was to go home and see her sister, Prim, the person she volunteered for and fought for.

"Come on children, big smiles." Effie still tried to say but all Katniss could offer to play along was a small smile tho it could be played off as bashful... Tho who'd believe it? Not herself that is for sure.

"Sweetheart! You've made it." Heymitch mocked her. "You look lovely in that dress."

"And you don't look drunk." She shot back. "How long will this be?"

"Well you just met Plutarch, there is far more people you should meet, you need to save face love birds, this is your life now, you need to placate the waves you started with your double suicide pact."

"Anyone who I shouldn't meet?" She asked, knowing the question was useless anyway but having a little fondness for Heymitch that was born in the arena with what he did for her and how he helped her come back out.... She'll never admit it.

"Actually, yes." He surprised her with those words. "If you ever spot a woman in dark clothes, a suit, never approach, that's for your own good, both of you but mostly you Katniss."

"Why?" Peeta asked, Effie having Waltzed off to mingle into the crowd of colors.

"Just... Don't." Heymitch drank his glass of wine as if it was a shot of liquor. "Well sweetheart, I'll be going, try to not kill anyone."

Damn that word... Kill... It made her feel sick too the stomach, still seeing the glassy looks, the blood splatter, the screams.... Fuck, the screams...

Katniss didn't want to be here but she could do this for Heymitch this once, he saved her, so she'll behave and be nice this once.

"Try this." Peeta handed her a glass but she denied it.

"I need to go to the bathroom, I'll find you soon." She hesitated but kissed his cheek, keeping up the lie they created.

"Alright, I'll wait here." He smiled, cheeks a dusty pink, he can't be thinking this is real can he? She'll need to tell him later that this is all a lie.

And she didn't go too the bathroom, she just needed away from a moment.

But as Katniss' luck goes, she had none of it.

Stepping out on a little balcony for fresh air, part of the party was outside sure, but all smelt too sweet, too fake, too plastic there, at least here it was the 'realer' air... She can't wait to get home where the air is filled with coal dust and dirt, this game behind her.

"A greeting would be appreciated." A judgmental voice said too her left.

Katniss had not seen she had barged into an area already occupying someone.

The woman looked like she was completely out of her element, she didn't fit into the lavish and extravagant decor of this party, leaning on the railing with her arms crossed.

Her black hair was a combed back mess with long strands hanging down back her face, her green eyes sporting heavy eyebags and the cigarette in her mouth not helping the aesthetic of her being out of place.

Even her outfit couldn't be seen as a fit in, black leather boots that looked tough enough to squish anything too dust, slim black pants with ashes from the cigarette rubbed into them carelessly and a few holes on the thighs probably caused by still burning ashes falling on them, a loosely tucked in also black dress short with the sleeves ugly bunched up at her elbows instead of neatly folded up and also leather gloves, the only touch of color being the pendant on the necklace.

"I'm sorry if I bothered, I didn't see you." Katniss said, not sounding like she meant it as the woman stood. "I jus--" With a harsher wave of the gloved hand, Katniss was shut up.

"Yeah yeah, I know what you are doing here." The pointed look made her nervous, cold sweat on her skin as the out of place woman scanned her up and down with a gaze as she stepped over, grabbing a piece of her outfit without asking Katniss if she could, rolling the fabric between her finger and then looking back at her face.

And then rudely blowing a cloud of smoke in her face.

Katniss backed away coughing, abandoning the forced niceness.

"What's that for?"

"Oh trust me, I could do much worst." And the way that was said she almost believed it, but well, Katniss and listening to warnings? A dream.

"I wi--" Katniss didn't know what she would have done to retaliate because she never got the chance.

Her head bounced off the stone pillar holding the arch up too this balcony but that was the least of her worries.

"You will what?" The other woman asked as Katniss felt the firm grip on her throat press her into the stone, that was not a simple glove she felt because a simple glove doesn't have sharp ends poking her skin and promising to slice her too cubes if she as much as breathed.

She gulped, feeling the palm squeeze hard on the sides, still letting her breathe but she doubted it would be for long.

"Hasn't Heymitch told you to stay clear from me Everdeen?" She asked, sounding disappointed in the mentioned mentor. "Or maybe he did but you are just stupid enough to not listen?"

Katniss had listened but she never expected the person she should avoid to look this much of an outlier, she was looking for an elegant and sophisticated Capitol citizen, not this.

"You know what I wish I could just do?" She tilted her head too the side, taking the butt of the smoke out of her mouth and crushing it out in her head. "Just squeeze." She felt the grip tighten that little bit. "I could bleed you dry before anyone, peacekeepers or mentors, could stop me and even then, they'd watch and let me." It hurt so much.

"Hey!" She couldn't believe Peeta kept coming too her rescue.

The woman holding her glared a little before pulling her hand away in a jerk.

"Your prince charming has arrived." She pocketed her hands. "Relax lover boy, we were just talking." She said too Peeta, ignoring his raised hands, still ready to fight for Katniss if needed. "Right Everdeen?"

Katniss was sitting down, feeling her neck in shock before nodding, not wanting to get in trouble, this woman felt confident enough to do all this and there were actually no one that came forth to stop her even with all the guards Katniss saw no matter where she looked, it terrified her, it was as if she was fighting for her life again which was the case.

The woman shoulder checked Peeta who stumbled as she walked away, he glared at her back as she slipped back into the crowd before hurrying over.

"We should find Heymitch, we need to patch those up." He carefully helped her up.

Katniss looked into the reflection on the windows, those sharp ends having cut into the skin, leaving red cuts but not deep enough for the blood to flow out, just to pearl at the surface.

"Stay here, I'll get him."

And when Heymitch and Effie got there, Effie fussed over her, saying things she never heard her say and what didn't fit her Capitol upbringing, the marks ended up hidden under a lace neckerchief Effie had on her.

Heymitch didn't seem surprised, Katniss always got in trouble, even if she didn't want it.

"I take it that you ran into her."

"Who was that woman?" Peeta asked annoyed. "And why can she left free? She almost seriously hurt Katniss!"

"Trust my boy, she could have done way worst, that's why I told you to avoid her. She has a grudge and I don't know if even Snow will be able to make her drop it."

"But who is she? We did nothing too her."

"Are you sure? Out of everyone, you two caused her the greatest pain imaginable."

"How?" Katniss said, voice slightly croaked before she cleared her throat. 

"How? Katniss, why did you volunteer?"

"To save her little sister Prim, everyone knows that." Peeta answered for her, still not getting where this was going.

"Well here I present you Athena Hadley." Heymitch waved to where he thought she might be in the crowd.

Nothing more was said but the understanding was there.

And Katniss did know then and there, she did get away with nothing, even if the cuts burnt under the lace, she got away with so little.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/eXGhibhwezg

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

And five.

Five fingers around her throat.

Five seconds too long.

And Athena had let it pass.

Five wishes of murder.

And Athena had only left her with five reminders.

Sitting alone.

In an empty home.

Only fueled the rage she felt towards the newest winners of the 74th.

And she had took five seconds to long instead of killing her how she wanted.

That bitch didn't deserve to live, didn't deserve to thrive, to breathe, to breed, to fuck, to read, to dream, to fear, to.... To anything!

Athena nudged the broken pot at her feet, having thrown it across the kitchen in anger that she had not just gutted that girl when she had the chance.

She would not need the pot anyway, who'd she be cooking for? Ghosts and thoughts? 

Athena had voluntarily signed up this time to be a mentor, not for it to be a rigged pull to have her, Everdeen was the only female victor of 12, ooooh how she'll make her life a living hell each time they meet in the games.

She already has blood on her hands, a bit more means nothing anymore.

-----------------------------------------------------

Sure Athena could cross the boarder.... How hard would it be?

Johanna thought that too herself.... While dangling for her life from a tree because she tripped and almost fell.

She knew that she didn't have the same strength as Athena had in her hands but she had her own idea how to do this trick of crossing over the wall and tracks.

She was not near getting it done tho, this trouble she was in was even before that, a branch snapping and making her trip and catch herself.

She looped a leg up and pulled herself on her stomach, if she doesn't die doing this on the go, she has no idea how she will come back but this is a bit more important then that.

Sure Finnick was not Johanna's greatest friend but he was a friend of sorts because Athena was his friend and so she talked too him, that's how she knew she was not the only one ignored on phone calls but him, Annie, even other victors, Athena shut all out and well... Johanna decided that she wouldn't let her.

And so she carefully, with slightly trembling limbs, climbed the tree, easily done actually as she was from 7 as she payed off the peacekeepers with 1/15 of a years of her victors pay, far more money then they could ever expect, they happily smiled and were actually watching if she'd succeed in this endeavor.

She ignored the mocking laughter and remarks thrown at her from them, lets see them laugh when she succeeds.

She stood on a branch, she actually found it more important that she did this then when Athena did, not wanting to leave her alone to backslide away from them all, really bad things can happen when left alone in this case and she partially considered them both to have some sort of relationship so this was her job.

She pulled the rope off from around her and tied it tight around the tree and branch in a tight knot, tying the other end around an axe.

She could have multiple chances at this but it all depended it the knots would hold of the straight length of the axe.

She needed to throw it so it looped around a branch several times and stabbed into the wood or she'd fall at the first test of it holding her weight.

"You go!" A peacekeeper mock cheered her on as the first throw totally missed and just cut leaves as she pulled on the rope, she was not that stable, too hard of a throw and she throws herself off.

"Come on." Johanna muttered, holding the branch over her head and throwing again, getting two loops but no axe stabbing into the wood.

Tho when she tried pulling it back, she couldn't, yanking more but the axe head would get stuck without being able to move it from her spot so she let go and watched it hang.

"Am I going to try this?" She asked herself, knowing she would.

She took a deep breath and, despite the distance and the axe hanging above the train tracks, she lived up too her mad wolf title, she fucking jumped.

She barely caught the axes handle, swinging forwards when the knot slid off it.

With a scream, she landed with a leg on the wall, tripping over it with the other and a big tumble off into the other side smack on the ground.

She laid there a moment, the peacekeepers' laugh so loud she heard it over here while she tried to work out if she was still alive.

Her body hurt, her head smacked off the ground but, flexing her arms, okay they are fine, pushing herself up, okay no guts hanging out, leg--ouch.

The leg that she caught in the tumble had the worker boots and the leg itself sliced into.

She still stood, jumping on one leg before limping away as it hurt and her body was sore, not wanting another patrol of peacekeepers to deal with.

"Damn why am I even doing this? You are so lucky Athena." She grumbled, pulling off the scarf despite the cold winter air coming it and wrapping her leg to not bleed everywhere. 

And to say she never thought she'd be the one to do this for someone.... Just how easily that changed when she met her.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/4T4EB3dl9j8

"I know I can cross the boarder but this was stupid."

"Well yeah!" Johanna snapped since Athena had dumped a complete bottle of disinfectant on her leg before having given her a roll of gauze to wrap it up since despite the amount of blood in the scarf and on her clothes, it wasn't actually stitch requiring and she couldn't stitch even if it would have been needed.

"Why'd you even do this? You should have stayed in 7." Athena really didn't want to see anyone but she couldn't just throw Johanna back out after the mess of a way she got here, she'd have no way back to 7 without her help.

"Yes but." She hissed as she tied the gauze tight before putting on the slightly too big pants that were given to her since her pants stuffed in her boots were also sliced, Athena currently looking through old shoes she might have in her size. "But I didn't feel like it."

"Then you are stupid little wolf." She picked up the only pair of shoes she found in her size. "Here." She threw them in front of her.

"It is your fault, you didn't answer my calls." She looked at the shoes, not boots, shoes, Athena always seemingly wore boots, even in this hood and pants outfit outside of the Capitol. She looked the shoes over, they were boyish she thought but didn't say it, she was probably been given a pair of Cato's old shoes... That boy had gotten big from the last time she saw him.

Damn.... She met him when he was so small, so young, and now he was gone, how quick it seemed too her, she can't imagine how it felt for Athena.

Sure she lost her sister and family too but not to the game, with him suffering for oh so long before that mercy arrow.

"I don't want to talk with people right now."

"Well sucks for you because I am not accepting your silence." She shrugged and put the shoes on, tying the laces. "Will you show me around 2?"

"Why?" Athena's answered were so cold and distant even if she talked too her. "What would you gain from it? And your leg is hurt."

"I walked all the way here, I can walk on it, I just limp, and I showed you 7 when you snuck over so you gotta show me 2." Plus she wanted to get Athena out of the home, seeing the ashes from the cigarettes built up on the light bulbs and ceiling worried her, since when had she not gone out or at least opened the window? It smelt like a district 12 mine in here and looked just as potent.

"Fine." Athena hissed out a breath, offering her hand when Johanna tried to stand.

She grabbed it, Athena was not mean, just angry, she was angry at everything: Snow, herself, 2, the world.... But she couldn't harbor it in her heart to turn it on Johanna.

"Such annoying sunshine."

"What?"

"Nothing." She offered her her elbow so she could hold on and make it easier to walk. "And put on a hood, here too, you should hide your identity like I did."

----------------------------------------------

The sun hurt Athena's eyes, how long was it since she last stepped outside? Not that she cared but this was annoying.

Winter was slippery in 2, more ice then snow or anything since it was the first months anyway.

She showed Johanna around: To the mines, the academy, the schools, the orphanage, the market, walking by them with a few anecdotes or stopping to let her take them in.

"I can see why more victors come from 2." Johanna said, still looking over her shoulder to peek at what she could still see from the academy.

"Well yeah, we are careers, if we don't get chosen for the games, most of us become peacekeepers." She said which a shrug. "The mines are still a deadly place and our day to day life too."

"I thought 2 would have been richer." It still looked like a pour district despite it all, much visible as they were walking through the market which's state reminded her of the one in her home.

"The Capitol wants us all to suffer under them despite our ancestors helping against the rebellion." Athena sounded annoyed by that.

"Yeah I suppose."

"Hey!" Athena barked when someone bumped into Johanna and because of her leg, Athena needed to catch her or she'd have fallen, she was never so quick to be combative but losing her brother does that.

"What you want bitch?!" The other woman yelled at her, matching her energy, getting into her face, already reaching towards her belt for something.

But she never reached it.

Athena popped her claws out and swiped upwards, catching the woman across her throat diagonally and across her mouth as the claws skipped off the jaw bone.

Her head jerked left as she fell over, not having much off a moment without pain as she grabbed at her throat, choking on her blood as Athena just sneered at her, dragging Johanna away, leaving the dying there.

"Are yo--" "I'm fine." Athena snapped, shutting down Johanna's question as she watched the woman over her shoulder and how only two people moved to help but the rest went on with their lives.

After a while she planted her legs firmly in the freezing dirt, pain shooting through the injured one but stopping the power march.

"Johanna." Athena warned, just wanting to go home, pulling on her arm but the other didn't move, if they weren't in a street between houses she'd have carried her off but well, she didn't.

"This is just hurting yourself Athena, you can't keep holding on."

"I wish I had killed Everdeen that day." She told her, for the first time saying that out loud. "She deserves to fucking die, she killed Cato, she killed my Munchkin."

"I know but I'll say this... I am happy for you."

Athena swung her arm away from Johanna, as if holding her burnt and singed her palm, watching with wide eyes.

"What?!" She yelled in her face but the other just gave her a little headbutt to make her back down.

"You told me to same thing when I lost everything, my little sister too...." Johanna rubbed her forehead. "That you were happy for me.... You also said that I had no one they could hurt to make me suffer, that Snow couldn't use them to by my cooperation and that they could no longer be hurt because of me... Yes, I know it is painful, Ivy is dead, Cato is dead, both are dead and their older sisters live on knowing they are dead."

"This is not the same!"

"How is it not? We both lost our younger sibling. Everdeen killed yours to get back too hers, these games create just more pain but now you are in the same boat as I was in and am in, everyone you ever knew as family, dead, all of them and I am so happy for you as they will never feel hunger, thirst, tiredness, pain, sadness, loss, ever again... So yes, I am happy, I am joyous, that they have finally found peace."

Johanna had not yelled but it felt like she had, like thunder had aimed right at her heart and knocked it out of her body.

"So yeah, it hurts, but holding the hurt in the way you are doing keeps on hurting that much and you are hurting others too."

Athena was angry, angry with everything, but damn could she not be with Johanna, dragging her into a hug.

"Shut up." Was all she said, shedding a single tear, to tired for others.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/gFHtdYfSENk

How odd is this...

How many has she killed already? In 2? In the Capitol? For simply laying a hand on her.

How many?

And how it that so different from this?

Sure, there was layers of clothing between them but the body sleeping next to her was not unknown too her.

And why was she laying on her side, with her head held up, and playing with the other's hair?

She just offered to let her sleep her tonight, tomorrow she'll pay of the peacekeepers or kill them if they don't accept it and get her home... So why did she want her to stay more?

When would she admit it?

Better question would be why she'd ever admit it?

All she loved was taken from her... She wasn't about to let it happen again, she'll stay alone, she'll be lonely, all to save the few she can still call friends.

No.... This girl is not a simple friend but she'd never be more either, she won't let it, she can't let it, she won't admit it.

It was not the first time, she could count several separate times she backed up under the advances and pushed away even if she started it and it was all because the other almost kissed her.

Who'd she be if she ever let that happen?

She can't, she can't have someone else to use against her.

And yet, when she was asked to lay down she did, and she stayed long after she was asleep.

Athena was a fool, the biggest fool tho still not number one, she was the second, 2, the fool-est of the two was the woman that loved her for herself when she couldn't even utter that word in dreams.

When did this happen? Why did this happen? Athena never wanted this. She knew the kiss on the forehead way back then was a mistake, something she never should have done... And it led too this.

How could someone as unlovable as Athena be looked at with anything else but disgust, all those scars, visible or not, all that blood, new or old, just why? 

And there were more things, things so few knew about, would Johanna actually be disgusted if she knew about it? Would she laugh at her? Would she be mad? Just why was she that hard to understan--

Johanna rolled over in her sleep, pressing closer too her, making it a bit impossible to move, too the left she fell off the bed, too the right she rolled over her.

Athena just slowly dropped her arm, as awkwardly as anyone could, resting somewhere across the side of the other, not really able to see in such dim light in the middle of the night.

This is awkward, this is all so awkward, she found herself wishing she still had all the feeling in her fingers, not just this residual mess, to be able to feel any part of her she was to touch normally instead of this dulled nightmare.

This also confused her, her own denial and acceptance playing a tug of war in her brain and heart.

She didn't want this but she should.

She did want this but she shouldn't.

Why is everything so complicated?

She dropped her head, it lying on her upper arm.

"You are such trouble little wolf." She muttered into the deathly silence of the dusty room she hasn't used in days or weeks before she showed up.

She carefully ghosted the back of a hand on Johanna's face.

"I wish that this was easier."

Despite the calm of the night, nothing seemed to be inside her heart and mind.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/z2B5dSVglgc

"Ladies and gentlemen." Snow's smiling face came on the big screens in the district, in the shops, in school, in Athena's home, on her TV that turned on by itself.

She squished out the smoke, sitting down on her couch with her arms crossed, this year was a quarter quell and those games are always the worst.

Worst as in how the gamemakers always came up with more sadistic arenas, more spectacular once then before, she was sure into her bones that her icy arena was a discarded quarter quell idea as it was much harder and harsher on the tributes then any other arena before or after hers that wasn't a quarter quell, Annie's accidental water grave arena and the desert arena Gloss had fought in could have been one too.

"This is the 75th year of the hunger games." His disgusting voice came that just lit the fire in her, oh how much she wished to gut him with her own claws. "And it was written in the charter of the games that every 25 years, there would be a Quarter Quell to keep fresh for each new generation the memory of those who died in the uprising against The Capitol." 

"Bastard." She breathed, leaning back, each year, this memory was relieved but they didn't think of it as important enough.

"Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by games of a special significance. And now on this, the 75th anniversary of our defeat of the rebellion, we celebrate the 3rd Quarter Quell."

Loud cheering came through the speakers, as if they had on purpose filmed the citizens noise, Athena was sick as Snow happily waved for a moment before going on.

"As a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the Capitol. On this, the 3rd Quarter Quell Games, the male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors in each district."

Silence but he kept on.

"Victors shall present themselves on reaping day regardless of age, state of health or situation."

Athena stood up, in two strides was in front of the TV and punched in the screen with a scream.

Her fist was shaking, protected by the glove as she pulled it out of the body which then she shoved off the table it was resting on.

She span and fell to be seated where the TV had been and grabbed her head.

The victors are to be reaped.... She can be reaped again... Oh my... She can be reaped again.

But....

Why does it not bother her?

She doesn't feel fear or sadness, just anger, anger at the games that stole her brother from her, anger at Snow, anger at all.

She couldn't hear the ringing of the phone, trapped in her mind.

Johanna would be reaped again, she is the only female victor from 7, her little wolf was going back into the arena... They are once again trying to take people she cares about from her.

Mags or Annie, there are the two only living female victors from 4, one of them will be lost and if either is pulled, Finnick will volunteer to accompany them if he is not pulled.

Wiress if the one from the five female victors of 3, the one woman that still tried to be her friend even when she was a new victor that scared everyone.

Cecilia is from 8, with three children and one of the eight female victors.

Athena herself if part of a huge panel of female victors, even tho she could be pulled and she knows this time there will not be volunteering.

....

Katniss is the only female victor of 12.

Athena picked up her head.

Katniss will be forced to be reaped with either Heymitch or Peeta.

Katniss will once again be a tribute.

If before Athena wouldn't join despite Johanna being there, if that was even a question, then now it was sure that she would.

She gets the chance to not only save her little wolf.

But also kill Katniss Everdeen.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/fcllKsaXwDY

"This is nothing like you've ever seen before." Heymitch said. "You are facing experienced killers and as such, you will need allies, some of these people have known each other for years."

"Great so how will we do this?" Peeta asked, sitting in the couch with Katniss, having volunteered instead of Heymitch. "Everyone will want to kill us."

"True but you won't last long without allies anyway, I wouldn't advise that." He pointed at the TV. "First half of the career pack, Gloss and Cashmere, brother and sister, won their games back to back, they will be lethal."

"Joy." Katniss breathed out.

"Now for the second half it is harder." The video played. "Brutus, strong and lethal with a spear or a short blade." But when the female tribute was pulled, another volunteered.

Katniss felt her blood freeze, not only did she almost died at the party, still having the light pink scars of the cuts, but it had been a victor of district 2 that almost tried to kill her.

"That's Athena Hadley, Capitol's sweetheart, the Reaper, she fights with a sword and claw weapons affixed too her hand and with a personal vendetta against you two, mostly Katniss, for how you let her brother be mauled for hours before you put him out of his misery, I am more then sure she volunteered because she knew she could get to you but if you have allies, she'd be great."

"How would she even think of not killing us?"

"Easy, ally with those she is with. She knows Beetee (Beedee?) and Wiress, they are geniuses but they aren't that close... Now there is 4, Mags is a really nice lady and I hope when she goes she goes fast, she volunteered for Annie, and then there is the really humble Finnick."

"You are kidding."

"Of course I am, he is a total peacock, a diva but he won his games at 14, one younger then his best friend, Athena, and he is deadly in the water tho he'd die protecting Mags, once again, Athena would also help him in that, bag either of 4 and Athena probably will not kill you right away."

"Great."

"Alright then." He didn't like how they were not taking this seriously. "Then her." He skipped to 7's reaping tho didn't mention a name right away. "Mad wolf of 7, Johanna Mason, ally with her and Athena folds, these two are really close and if you can somehow get through her abrasive personality Johanna is great with an axe and Athena will follow her."

"So you are saying, the only way we are not being targeted by her is if we ally with those she knows?" Peeta asked.

"Cecelia, Wiress, Seeder, anyone she might know could maybe buy you a minute to escape but Finnick and Johanna are her weakness."

"No others?" They asked in surprise, their greatest threat had no other weaknesses.

"None, unless you count that she will probably break away from the careers as a weakness then that, but otherwise she is an extremely well rounded fighter, I wouldn't advise a head on conflict with her.... Or hit her nose, it broke once, now it goes numb but would it really stop her?"

"Great, just great."

---------------------------------------------------

"What do you want Heymitch, can't I even have one day before all of this when I don't see your face." Athena said, one her favorite spot, the roof.

"I just came to talk." The man said. "I even brought drinks." Holding up two simple beers.

"Nothing stronger?" She asked as she grabbed it.

"I looked but no, seems like they didn't build a new bar lounge in these new quarters, these are from the train."

"Joy." She popped the cap off with her claw, watching it fall off. "Why are you here?"

"You know of the riots lit?"

"Do I? Even district 2 was screaming bloody murder when she read those flashcards instead of sharing what she thought about our tributes on her victory tour, I have more then once seen someone shot for the three finger salute and I also seen that dreaded Mockingjay pin sprayed on walls."

"And what did you do?"

"I killed the little idiot that did that of course." She said after drinking half the bottle in one breath.

"Athena, the world is changing, gears are moving and Katniss is at the middle of it."

"I don't care Heymitch, you know as well at me that the moment that canon signals the start of the bloodbath that I'll gut her with the first smile I'll be able to feel since she killed my Munchkin."

"Athena this is beyond your vengeance and you know it, we need Katniss."

She smashed the bottle at his feet.

"Nothing is worth my vengeance."

She walked around him, going towards the elevator, anger pumping through her ever since she volunteered instead of Enobaria so that she could get into the arena.

"This is worth it." He said as the doors closed behind her.

She let out a heavy sigh.

She was not blind, she knew what was going on, but she wanted to kill Katniss, she would kill Katniss.

But before killing her, she'll make it long, long like she did it with her brother.

And she smiled.

Athena smiled at the idea of what she'd do.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/qzDz7a-dGJY

Brutus was saying something she didn't care about, his boisterous laughter a plague in her ears.

She had threatened their stylists if they put her in anything but black since, after all, that's the color for the grieving.

She looked at her outfit, a bit more revealing them she wanted but then again, always similar too how district 2 looked: Gladiators.

For once they didn't give her claws but she didn't currently care.

After a while, putting a hand on Brutus's shoulder and walking around him.

"Everdeen, such a surprise." She greeted with a malicious smile, looping an arm around her shoulder.

The younger girl tensed, looking up at the gleaming victor of 2 that was her nightmare.

"D-awe, what is it? Did Finnick say something mean too you?" She squeezed on her arm, the arm pressing a bit on the side of her neck from how it hung, making her anxiety spike.

"I just offered her a cube of sugar." He innocently said, holding it out.

"Oh? Give it here." She grabbed it as he threw it to her but she crushed it in her hand before opening it and holding it up for Katniss to see. "Damn sorry, I wanted to give it too you but I squeezed a bit hard."

"I already told no too Finnick." She said, unable to imagine that not happening to her throat too, crushed just like that.

"Shame." Athena threw the pieces in her mouth and shook her hand off, waving Finnick off who did a mock salute. "You know, you should indulge in sweets things and do what you love because, Everdeen, I'll serve you up on a platter." She leaned in and whispered in her ear, before blowing into it.

Katniss tried to move away but Athena shifted her hold to hold on her shoulder, Katniss needed a double take to be sure there were no claws on that hand.

"Don't be worried." Athena traced up a finger on the front of Katniss' throat. "It is this that I need to slice to kill." She gently grabbed around her throat and shook it a bit. "When I held you like this at that party you'd have bleed but you wouldn't have died."

Her hand was pulled away and she was shoved, she did a half turn with a smirk as she let herself stumble, hands clasped behind her back.

"Careful Everdeen." She told the girl and not the boy that stood between them both. "Keep lover boy on a leash or I will need to kill him first."

"That's a threat?" Peeta asked, ready to protect Katniss but the other victor just smirked.

"It's a promise." And with that, she backed off and walked away, feeling she's done enough for now, walking back too her chariot as it was soon time to head out.

When she first passed through here, she had drank in the acclamation and the cheers, waving back with pride and grace.

The second time there was nothing but a glare in her eyes, a cold stricken glare, holding herself higher then them and as if all the Capitol was beneath her which she felt should be, she had nothing but hate for them, a bloody hate.

None of the victors wanted to be here outside of Athena, no one excited, waving or smiling, all solemn, Athena's hidden eagerness was tied her soon to be ability to kill Katniss Everdeen and she will not let anyone else have the pleasure of taking that kill from her.

When it came too Everdeen, Athena was a true bloodthirsty district 2 tribute, she'll show her greater fear then Cato ever did and show her why she should have just died in that arena.

She shifted her glare too the ever confident Snow as the chariots stopped for his everlasting and always the same speech he always did.

after that, the tributes were ushered away to get to their quarters.

"Hey, you look nice."

"You do too." Athena said back.

"Don't lie, this is the worst tree costume they've ever put me in." Johanna complained.

"Yeah but you always look greet in anything."

"And without anything?"

"Greater."

"That's good because I wanted to play with the newbies."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I heard Chaff already kissed her, Finnick talked too her about who knows what and you scared her greatly." Johanna poked Athena in her chest, she really did look great in her outfit too, like the true fighter that this woman was. 

"We need to shake them up a bit." She walked with Johanna, not saying she was more or less threatening her.

"Correct and I have my own little trick to play but tell me this Thea, why did you volunteer? You have no reason for it."

"No reason? I had no reason to volunteer when they sent my little wolf back in? That would be an idiot thought from an idiot brain."

"But there is only one victor."

"I know little wolf, all I want from this life is to kill Everdeen and for you to get out, nothing else is left for me."

"Don't say tha--" "Little wolf." She covered her mouth with her palm, shaking her head. Johanna looked hurt, her shoulders falling but saying nothing.

"Then at least... Spend some time with me."

"Of course little wolf." A soft grin tho it didn't feel as real as those filled with malice and hate she offered Katniss. "Anything for you."

She covered her mouth again and pushed her a bit back.

"Maybe not that." Still not accepting a kiss tho not giving a true explanation.

Johanna sighed before waving her after, hurrying to stop the elevator from closing, Athena marching after her.

"Heymitch." She greeted with a nod, marvelously ending up in the same elevator as those of 12.

"Athena, Johanna, you both look great."

"You guys look amazing." Johanna said with a slight bit of sarcasm but also truth in her voice, she did kinda like the outfit they got and wished her stylist had taking a page from their book or Athena's book.

"Thank you." Katniss said, not looking at Athena who stood with her back too them but still stared over her shoulder, feeling her gaze burn her throat.

"My stylist is such an idiot, District 7, lumber, tress.... Ugh!" Johanna turned her back too them like Athena, trying to detach her spike arm cuffs with some violence, she hated this outfit so much. "I'd love to put my axe in her face." She threw them down, making a loud thump. "But anyway where were we! Ah yes, what do you think? Now that the whole world wants to sleep with you?"

"I don't think the whole world--" "I wasn't talking to you." Johanna cut Katniss as she looked at them. "I was talking too my Thea."

"Oookay." The girl on fire said, pulling a face as Athena just nudged Johanna, Heymitch smiling and Peeta unable to not chuckle a bit despite the living weapon in the elevator with them, noticing they passed district 2's floor passingly.

"And even you fiance looks better."

"Okay." Katniss said again, looking the other way with an eye roll, Johanna knew she was not doing enough so she looked at Athena and turned her back too her.

"Will you unzip?" She pointed at the zipper, sure she could reach it but what fun in that?

She lifted a brow, wondering at what she was playing, this can't be what she planned on doing... Or can she? This is Johanna after all.

Katniss was looking at the wall when Johanna turned around while pulling her arms free of the skinsuit before rolling it down her body and pulling it off.

"Eyes away boys." Athena warned, making Peeta awkwardly look away, she rose a brow at Johanna like 'seriously?', only getting a huge smile and a wink back.

The doors too 7 opened.

"Thanks." She told district 12 who stood like dead trees. "Let's do it again sometime." She left with a wave.

"Thank you." Heymitch added with a smile, ignoring the look Athena gave, still amused at him despite it all.

"Sleep well 12 because in the arena, I won't let you." Athena promised, keeping the doors from closing with a hand, getting out here too.

"Athena Hadley and Johanna Mason, what did I tell you two about them?" Heymitch told his tributes with a large smile as the doors closed.

Athena rolled her eyes, having heard him, of course everyone got together and worked out strategies but she didn't have the time for that.

She needs to teach someone to not show off too strangers before doing any of that.   

And that, that made her smile truly with an emotion that was for once not hate.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/52VPvCctpHc

No one was truly ready for this.

Sure the careers had their years of training but no one truly wanted to be here training for another life or death after so many years of their skills honing going down the drain. 

Athena got a slap on the arm.

"What? I am doing it like you showed me." She complained too Mags, the poor woman, rendered mute by a stroke on the train.

Mags shook her head and tied the fishing lure again.

Athena's attention was diverted a bit.

"Hey Mags, I'll bounce." She said, squeezing her shoulders a bit and walking away, grabbing the gauntlet claws off the rack as she watched 12 approach, pulling the belt on it tight.

She took a deep breath, putting on a mocking smile and walked up too them.

"Welcome too the training facility, I see that you are late?" She shrugged her shoulders, arms lifted into view, seeing the nerves of 12 with glee as the sight of the deadly weapons strapped on her hands.

"Heymitch held us back." Peeta said.

"Oh yeah that drunkard really likes to talk. Anyhow, wanna train with me? I don't bite." She bared her teeth in a sneer-like smile.

"But do you stab?" Katniss said.

"... I don't bite." She chuckled. "Come on, take my hand."

"No thanks, we'll be going." Peeta pulled her away from Athena who just smiled, the gamemakers would punish violent acts against other tributes unless under supervised sparing but no one would do anything against mental warfare, she'll have Katniss shaking by the time they enter the arena, so scared she won't even move from her podium.

She also picked up a sword from the rack, she can't only rely on her claws only, she is surrounded by victors, many other victors and her fellow careers.

She approached a dummy, casting Johanna a look, swing her swing her axe around and smile at Katniss when she slammed it down into the training mat, everyone liked scaring the newbies but Athena would love to kill them.

Johanna looked at her before she grinned, winking before tearing the axe and swinging in her back, Athena grinned and looked away.

She held the sword tightly in her left hand, not feeling it through the gauntlet, better get used to holding it like this before she enters the arena.

"Aah!" She swung hard from the upper right down to the middle left, the compact foam middle exploding out of the slash across the dummy's chest, the pressure of how much was stuffed in there making it gush out before she slashed at the same height as before but horizontally, slicing into the neck, the head lulling back and then hanging back there. 

She looked over and found Katniss' gaze before she smiled at her and patting her chest and pointed at her as if to say 'I'll be the one to kill you', Katniss shivered and looked away again... Athena really was the Reaper, feeling her loom without an exit, Katniss knew she'd fall too her hands before anyone else's.

------------------------------------------------

No tribute wanted to be here.

And so, despite the staffs complaints, they had all pushed their tables into a huge one and all ate as one group.

Each doing little things to try to stop the games, Brutus broke the elevator, Cashmere slammed the training rooms door on the staff and locked them out, Cecelia had cut the electricity, Peeta had painted the observation deck window black with the Morphling's help, Beetee tampered with the food, Athena had scratched up the ID scanners, Chaff broke at drink dispenser and much, much, more.

Everyone rebelled in their own little way and this eating together like friends instead of apart like enemies was another of those.

Katniss was not happy tho.

It felt like every victor was against them, trapping her next too the one she was terrified off.

"What? I didn't poison it." Athena taunted as she had 'nicely' elected to get her and Katniss' tray of food before setting them on the table and sitting next too her.

Katniss stared at the mashed potatoes with some brown sauce on them and at the chicken legs with suspicion.

"Come on Everdeen, poison is not my play, I prefer this." Athena poked at her throat with her still clawed hands, drawing a line up and down on it. "There a nice vein there, I cut it and you bleed out but I prefer ripping it out!" She closed her fist and yanked, Katniss grabbed at her throat in fear but Athena had just grabbed air.

"Leave the pour girl alone Kitten." Finnick laughed, nudging her foot under the table. "You should be nicer."

"Oh I am nice." She smiled, aiming her gaze at Katniss' wide eyes. "I promised I'd wait for the games to kill her."

Athena was doing nothing too extreme but Katniss' nerves were working, imagining scenarios or how and when the victor from 2 would come and take her life.

And that scared her beyond hope.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/96VDHIlZBPs

"Today's a special day, the interviews with the victors!" The crowd cheered at Caesar's exclamation. "Oh how excited I am and, dear watchers, we have come up with a great idea for this great opportunity! As you all know, you were asked to vote one your top five favorite victors upon entry into our halls. I will now reveal to you why!" He walked from a side of the stage to the other. "We will conduct the interviews in order of course but! For that top five, we'll keep them for the end for longer interviews to get to know them better and in order of who is the least too most popular, that's the order they will pass through!"

Cheering, the deafening cheering.

"How I hate this already." Johanna groaned, leaning against the bright lights of the wall, this time looking like they striped a birch tree and put the bark on her skin with her hair in an annoyingly pretty Capitol type of hairdo.

"The fifth is Wiress!"

"You tell me?" Athena said, back in her black pants and shirt with her leather gloves and boots, the collar long 'lost' along with her colors.

"Fourth is Finnick, our sweetheart!"

"Yeah true, you are most certainly in that top five."

"Third is Katniss, the girl on fire."

"She is less popular then I thought."

"Second is Athena, our second sweetheart."

"See?" Johanna grinned. "You are better liked."

"Oh." Athena smiled, she would pass right after Katniss which was great in her opinion, currently standing near Johanna who was pulling on her dress, not liking how it sat on her body.

"And first, all of our favorite with his tender and loving heart, Peeta!"

"This will be fun." Athena said.

"Now for the first victor, in order as they are not in the top five, Cashmere!"

"You are going to make that poor girl cry." Johanna said, almost having pity for Katniss.... Almost, but well, she sided with Athena one this, she deserved a bit of fear, she just hopes Heymitch will talk too her about the plan he mentioned too her.

"She better, those might be the only tears she'll get to cry as I am sending her home in a cardboard box."

"A small one?"

"The smallest one.... At least that way her sister will have something left to bury." Since Cato's body was so mangled that the Capitol thought it too 'real' for the games to ever give back, only having given her his necklace with a handshake before they left.... That necklace. "Hey little wolf?"

"Hmm?" Johanna looked back at her, having been listening too the interview going on, looking at Athena before looking at her out held hand and at the little pendant on it.

"I want you to have this."

"It's that...."

"Yeah... But having it lay around, collecting dust at the bottom of a pocket, just hurts... I want you to have it, will you?"

"I... Oh course."

"Alright, turn around." She said and Johanna did, Athena clipped it around her neck. "I'm sure he'd be happy you have it."

"Thanks." Johanna touched it, still unsure but it was not the time to fight Athena about this.

"It fits you perfectly."

------------------------------------------------------

The interviews flew by, once again, everyone saying thing against the games, everyone displayed in participating again.

"And now we call forth the third of the list, the girl on fire, Katniss Everdeen."

Athena watched Katniss play up the confident act and even do her twirling trick with flames transforming her wedding dress into a black bird-like dress.... That stylist sentenced himself too death as all mockingjay symbolism leads to that, that fool.

"You know." She told Peeta. "You really should have gotten that wedding down because the only way you are getting married now is in hell."

"I will not let you hurt her."

"Trust me lover boy, you might have bested my brother but I am in a whole other league, don't forget that." She poked his jugular with her index's claw. "So careful if you don't want to be bleeding out as you watch her life be snuffed out. I can be nice, once, then I won't be."

"You don't scare me."

"The next up is the Reaper! Our sweetheart! Athena Hadley!"

"You should be." She warned before walking out, casting a condescending look into the crowd as she sat down.

"What a great day to see you here again!" Caesar greeted her as he sat too, a bit awkward as he had held out his hand for her to shake but got ignored.

"Is it? We are all marching to our deaths." She said, bored as she looked at him.

"Ah eh." He cleared his throat. "Well we have heard you volunteered, can you tell us why?"

"It is simple." She looked over her shoulder at all the victors lines up by district behind them on the elevated platforms, looking at Katniss. "I came here to extinguish the girl on fire by my own hands for what she did too my brother." Katniss stared back but quickly broke eye contact under Athena's intense one.

"Woah, so you'll fight to keep your Reaper title then?" But she didn't answer as she looked away.

She glared once at Caesar before standing up and walking away.

"Wha...."

She made her way up the stares and made her way to stand in her designated place between Gloss and Brutus, luckily for Katniss, 2 and 12 are as far as they can be.

Tho it didn't stop the pointed glare, she glared hard, up until.

"If it wasn't for the baby."

Peeta succeeded in shocking everyone: the victors, the crowd, himself, Katniss.

But the uproar of anger from the Capitol almost made Athena laugh, Cecelia had three kids but no, it was Katniss' 'baby' that was important.

Suddenly Gloss grabbed her hand and she tried to yank it out but he pointed his chin next too her, seeing all victors hold hand and lift them, she took a breath, grabbing his back and Brutus' too.

But the moment all the lights turned off, she let go and they were ushered out under the screams of the desperate crowd asking to stop the games from happening.

Athena was a bit impressed, Peeta would have been a perfect sweetheart, playing with everyone's heart for his own gain, sadly he has a normal life.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/VjpoyEtHx9I

Athena looked at the outfit she was made to wear.

It was a full body suit that covered her, leaving only her neck and up uncovered but it felt breathable.

She grinned a little, expecting a hot water environment for this type of suits which was better, she'd have hated another icy one, she could work with that.

She flexed her hand, shaking her body out and taking a breath, despite it all, this was still stepping back into an arena and one she didn't plan on surviving.

"I'm coming Munchkin, it will just be a bit longer." She said, grabbing the pendant she took as her token.

She stepped into the tube, no one there to see her off, why would there be? She is from 2 and she is planning on going off alone to fulfill her plan and then laying down her life for Johanna, that can't be done in the career pack.

The tube closed with a loud 'shiiiiiii' as she turned around before the ground started rising.

When the hatch opened above her, she was instantly blinded, squinting her eyes.

She had it right, behind her was a white sand beach and a luscious green forest, the air was heavy with salty water vapor and the heat around them and around her was water with black rock walkways every two tributes. 

This was a tropical hell hole.

Did the Capitol want Finnick to win? In this environment he would be the most at home.... He does already listen, he is also a sweetheart but he didn't rebel, he listens and will always listen.... So maybe.

She heard the count down, bending over, hands on the ledge of her platform, looking at the stone path, she can't instantly go against careers, not until the bloodbath is over, that would be too complicated... Just that little time, she'll play pack.

Boom.

She dove into the water, swimming towards the nearest rock path too her.

She looked up, Cashmere already climbing up and holding a hand out to her, thinking they'd team up, she played on, grabbing hers and letting her help up before both sprinted too the middle.

She ran inside, looking for her weapons before quickly grabbing the gauntlets she came to be used too, tightening them fast and tying a sheath for a familiar blade around her hips.

When she stepped out, whipping her head around, a grin came on her face as Katniss stared her down, terrified suddenly.

"Everdeen!" She sprinted, Finnick was in the way, picking up a trident so she shoved him down.

In a stumble, she tried to avoid the hurriedly shot arrow but it stuck into her stomach, lower left and a little diagonally, feeling the impact in had on the hip bone before the tip exited.

But before another could be loaded, Athena bodychecked Katniss, stealing her breath as the victors elbow dug into the girl's stomach.

It was a painful impact on the ground as she quickly swung the held arrow up, hoping to catch something as Athena had straddled her to hold her down.

Athena grabbed her hand, the arrow tip hovering above her face as she lifted her claws with so much joy as she twisted the arrow out of her hand and used that hand to grab her throat as Katniss tried to claw at the gauntlet but it did no damage.

"I dreamt of this moment for so long!"

But before she could, arms wrapped around her and threw her off.

Athena hissed, landing on her hurting side as the fall ended with her legs hanging in the water as she caught herself on the rock, the fletching and part hanging out front twisting and forcing on the wound as it was a metal arrows.

"What the fuck Finnick!?" She yelled, looking up at him.

"I will not let you hurt my ally so knock it off!" He said, aiming a trident as her and a hand out to sooth Katniss and keep her from shooting the taunt bow. "Both of you knock it off! Please! Athena is my friend! And Katniss is my ally! I know you want to kill her but please!"

Athena glared at him before pulling herself out of the water.

"She almost pulled out my throat!" Katniss yelled, pulling more on the arrow as Finnick got more between them both as Athena stood.

"Pulled out your throat?!" Athena yelled at the claim.

She quickly ducked around Finnick and kicked up, sending the bow aside as she snapped her hand out passed Katniss' head.

Katniss froze for a moment before looking at the gurgle coming from behind her, seeing the face of a man, frozen as he dropped the knife he held over his head, blood pulling from his mouth as Athena's claws were deep into his throat before she yanked and the gaping hole opened up, spraying Katniss with blood.

"This." She said, watching the body fall over and tumble into the water. "This is how you pull a throat out, I just squeezed yours, learn the difference." She spat in her face, annoyed and yet amused as she was instructing her on how to inflict harm. "That's how you pull out a throat and that's what I'll do unless you succeed with the arrows but well, I won't let you. You could also kill but cutting into the ribs, collapsing a lung."

"Athena! It is not the time to teach Katniss how to kill!" Finnick yelled. "We need to find Peeta."

"You just brought yourself a few hours." Athena spat, stepping around Katniss. "Lover boy! Where are you?!" She yelled, going the opposite way of Finnick, despite him being who threw Cato off the safe place, it was Katniss that shot, antagonized and hurt him several time, she could bare Peeta living a bit longer then she could with her.

She walked around, seeing Mags almost crying in worry.

"Mags!" She ran up and the old woman grabbed her arm, pointing into the water.

Peeta seemed to be struggling to swim while also wrestling with another tribute, hanging on his podium for dear life.

"The things I do for my friends." Athena took a one step running start as she discarded the belt and sheath, making Mags hold it and dive into the water.

She grabbed the shoulder of the tribute and gave a hard punch, her strength and the metal of the gauntlet shocking, making him let go of Peeta, Athena grabbing him in a chock hold, the arrow twisting more, she should have just yanked that out before, the salt water a torture on the open wound but also disinfectant as she knew.

The tribute hit back but she ducked her head against her hands making him only be able to hit the back of it.

"Do not antagonize her, you are flying by the skin of your teeth." Finnick warned Katniss about her miraculously surviving Athena's wrath. "Now come."

He soon joined Mags who, despite being quite weak, tried to help Peeta out of the water.

"Athena?" He asked Peeta.

"Somewhere there." He pointed over his shoulder as Finnick pulled him out before hearing a boom.

A body floated up before Athena surfaced.

"What are you staring at! Go, go, go!" She yelled at them, swimming towards the shore.

When the had joined her, she took the sheath back and tied it around her and Mags was picked up by Finnick, ushering the others deep in the forest.

She looked over her shoulder as she grabbed the arrow shaft and took a deep breath, before yanking it out with a small flinch, staring at the middle of the arena.

"I'll find you soon..." She promised before following them as Finnick screamed for her.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/9IPLXNEzsLc

The air stayed hot a humid tho so deep into the forest it lost its salty scent even if it should have lasted despite everything.

The chirping of birds interrupted with loud booms of death.

Athena stood, a leg propped up on a fallen tree truck and staring towards the middle of the arena tho not seeing anything from the vegetation in the way, The rest of the group a bit more preoccupied in being hidden from view, crouching down as they listened.

"No more hand holding ay?" Finnick nudged Athena's leg that was not on the trunk.

She was worried tho she kept her face neutral, bored even, was one of these one of her friends? Johanna? She wouldn't know until the sun sets upon the arena, oddly enough, now of all times, Heymitche's words bore their way into her mind... Was anything really worth it?

"That was quite stupid anyway." She shrugged, looking at Katniss and Peeta. "Like seriously? You thought we'd come in here and not go for blood? We all fight to survive." She said tho her ultimate goal was not that and Katniss made it quite the reality.

If it had been a wooden arrow she could have snapped the ends off and somehow secure the piece into her body, with metal arrows, she needed to pull it out and such an environment was less then ideal for a wound, so wet that their clothes were not drying but the warm of the trickling blood was reminder enough of the time being set, lucky that it wasn't visible on the black of her suit.

Katniss looked quite disturbed at how happy Finnick seemed about this all.

"How can you be happy about bloodshed?"

"Look here Everdeen, this is all music to my ears." He told her.

"Want to join them?" Athena lifted her arm up, skipping her thumb's claw against the index's one over and over, creating a little 'tink' noise. "Just a nice long slice and no more pain for you."

"Guys, lets not." Peeta tried to calming the blossoming tension, sure it always existed with Athena but a new one with Finnick was really not needed when he saved Katniss from Athena.... And she had saved him, the least he can do is to at least placate everyone.

"Then what lover boy? We are in a forest of killers with no food, I saw none in the cornucopia, only weapons and the pack must have set up near." Since she split from it, tho a slight bit faster then she wanted, she was sure that the victor chosen as their mentor would not get her sponsored.... Tho she didn't feel like she needed it.

"Well we should move, we are still too close to the middle, we could still be found, being a big group."

"The love sick boy has brains." She stretched, pulling on her painful side. 

"I'll go first." Katniss said.

"Nah, we wouldn't want to hurt the baby." Athena mocked, patting her stomach but Katniss felt the sharp ends poke her, tensing up, a slight flick too the left and she would be cut open.

"I'll go forth, I have a sword." Peeta said, holding it up.

"That's a machete." Athena said. "And I have a blade too."

"Sorry but no." Finnick laughed at her. "Even I don't trust you pulling that out right now."

Athena sighed with an eye roll.

"Lets just move shall we?" She asked, exasperated, waving out her arms.

Finnick picked up Mags as they sat off, following Peeta, Katniss right behind everyone, not getting the two experienced victors out of her sight, so scared that they'd flip on her and take them both out.

The trek was tiring, going constantly uphill battle as Peeta Hacked and diced the vegetation away from their path.

It almost seemed calm.

Too calm.

"PEETA NO!!"

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/LO2Wvq-LUbM

Athena was taken off guard for the first time in the arena, thrown off it by Katniss' scream before Peeta's arm swung down and sparks exploded from the vegetation that turned out to be the arena's wall, flung back through the air and, with her phenomenal luck....

"Fuck." She hissed, falling back as Peeta's body knocked her over with the harsh impact, him crumbling down.

"Peeta?!" Katniss crouched near, grabbing his face, shaking him. "Peeta!! He's not breathing!! He's not breathing!!"

Finnick had been staring at the hexagons that flickered back into creating an almost perfect looking fake forest before that cut his thought short, quickly putting Mags down and shoving Katniss away.

The girl armed an arrow but Athena threw her arm up from the ground, pushing herself into another backwards fall, flinging her hand out to grab the arrow out of her hold as she fell into the leaves, all seemed to be wet and green around them and yet they still crunched like dry leaves.

"I'll kill you right now if you'd dare!" She yelled, stabbing the arrow down into the ground, Katniss jumping back to not have her foot injured by the jab.

Despite the danger the now sitting victor promised, Katniss' gaze was on the weird thing Finnick was doing to Peeta, pressing on his chest, completely ignoring the threat and nearing Peeta again, crying in a whisper as Finnick loudly begged him to breathe.

Athena sat there, that impact left her sore so that must have been a harsh shock.

"I'm fine Mags." She pat the hand the old woman put on her shoulder, looking worried.

She offered a smile which the lady gave back, sighing once before she stood back up.

She walked around the little group as Peeta coughed, able to partially find it in her heart to be happy for him, as she walked too the fake wall.

This close up, there was a shimmer too it, a constant and regular shimmer, leaning her ear too it, a soft high pitch buzz was heard, there must be a lot of power in there.

She lifted her right hand, stupid idea forming... But then again....

Lifting it with flexed fingers, hovering barely an inch from it, Peeta's strike was huge and powerful and she saw damaged parts behind the fake image displayed.

She closed in the little distance, smacking her claws into it and her arm was flung back so hard that she was thrown in a spin and fell harshly on her front with an 'humph' escaping from her.

It had felt like a blast from an impact bomb used in the mines all concentrated into her hand, it felt numb from the shock sent through it.

"What the fuck Athena?" Finnick asked, incredulous as she sat up on her knees and shook her arm out before grabbing her forearm, it felt like bugs crawling under her skin while she looked at the little hexagon form back to the image of the forest.

"Calm Fish-brains." She said with an annoyed sigh. "I wanted to see if it was possible too even cause any damage too it without risking more then a sizzle too... You know." She looked up, knowing cameras were always on them. "Get out of here."

Sure she volunteered, sure she was at peace knowing she'd die in this arena but if there might be a way out, who wouldn't try it?

"Peeta's strike damaged it."

"Yeah but we can't create more damage without holding something to swing it at the wall, something big like a blade, Everdeen's arrows might only break the display not the wall."

"So you uselessly shocked yourself basically?"

"Shut up."

-----------------------------------------------------

Katniss had gone to look for water.

They had moved along the side of the arena, throwing rocks against it, no breach in it.

Peeta had tired, not that far from his brush with death and they all needed water, even the grumpy victor of 2 would need it.... Maybe she can buy her survival for a bit longer if she is of use to her survival too... At least she hopes she'll think like that.

She even climbed a tree, hoping to see further but this arena only had water in its center with rising hills towards the ledge, that would have been good if only the water was not salty there.

She looked up a moment from her spot, nocking an arrow and shooting at the sky, hoping to see it soar for miles, tho she knew no bow could shoot for miles, but she saw the impact wave through lighten up hexagons that created the shape of a dome around the arena, truly trapping them.

She sighed, climbing down and making her way back too the group.

"No luck, no water sources." She told the hopeful Finnick.

"Dammit." She flinched at 2's displeasure of the news, watching her tap her claws on the tree stump she was sitting on, leaving little divots in the softer wood.

"It's fine, you tried." Peeta reassured.

"She was not good enough, unless you want to die of thirst then yeah, she succeeded." Athena complained out loud.

Even as the night set, the unbearable heat was there and the humidity made it really hard for anyone to find a comfortable position.

She had pipped up when they spoke about who'd take first watch but every single person spoke out against it so she was laying on the ground and using a rock to prop up her head and listened too Finnick and Katniss argue who would stay up.

"What I did for Peeta, that's saving his life Katniss, if I would have wanted you dead I wouldn't have pulled Athena off you."

"I'm still mad you threw me." She interjected before squinting her eyes. "Hey! Ssh!" She loudly said, sitting up as she silenced them, pointing at her ear to get them to listen.

She thought the glint she saw was a fake star but in the silence, there was the familiar sound of a sponsor's gift.

"It is somewhere in the trees." She sat, looping her arms loosely around her knees as she left the climbing too the others.

"Lets let Peeta open it." Finnick said as the little pod came crashing down into the grass bellow as Katniss found and cut it down, letting it fall. "He did almost die." Plus there was the number 12 on it.

Peeta stumbled over, literally looking like he'd drop from tiredness, not much different from Mags who was really living this badly with her old age.

He opened it up and pulled a little metal tool out that Athena never saw.

"A spile." Katniss said as Peeta handed it to her and she looked it over.

"A what?" Finnick was just as confused but Katniss ignored him and grabbed it full hand and jabbed it into a tree.

"Fuck." Athena saw Katniss trying to push it more into the tree, not getting why but she was struggling, looking for a rock of something to hit it in.

She stood with a groan, her joints cracking in her legs because of the previous positions she was in, walking over and slamming her protected palm over it, probably stabbing this spile in much deeper then Katniss wanted.

"You're welcome." She said mockingly but the smile that came with it was washed off as the sound of a thin trickle of water hitting leaves filled the air. "My words." She muttered, since when did trees have water in them in such a way?

A bit selfishly, but Katniss was the first to drink, nodding too the others that it was indeed water.

"Fine." Athena muttered, standing near enough that the girl heard. "I'll save your death for later, you can still be of use too me."

Katniss gulped, throat feeling dry once again but she nodded, at least she'll have a bit of time to work out this situation with the other victor.

At least this night, they would all sleep alive and not drying up.

Athena laid on her side, now leaves bunched up under her head, a hand pressed too her side.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_J18Yh4NCuQ

Athena had become a master at sleeping through her nightmares.

No matter how much of a bloody Cato begged for her to save him, no matter how many times she slit his throat, no matter how many times she strangled Clove, no matter how many times she was back into the freezing cold... Waking seemed to be worst then the nightmare.

But the loud agony of a scream woke her up, jerking her body up, seeing Katniss tumble down and grab her hand, white boils and warts covering it, shaking in pain.

"The fog!!" She screamed, the white ghostly fog rolling in overs them filled Athena's view. "The fog is poison!! Run!!"

Athena hopped up, not to gently wrapping her arm around Peeta's and yanking him up as Finnick grabbed Mags in panic, Katniss scrambling to run after them.

But the fog seemed to have a mind of its own, rolling in deadly wave that gave of cold whiffs, the air now burning the lungs, and it moved fast, whipping out around them, trying to surround them all.

"Fuck!" A wisp of it lashed out, grabbing at the living flesh, it seeped through the armored gauntlet as if it didn't exist as Athena swung her arm into it to keep it from touching her face, it felt like her skin was boiling off because of frostbites... No, she was missing her frostbites as those hurt less then this did, being skinned alive.

There was a stumbled and scream.

She could just get rid of her like this, the fog engulfing Katniss' legs.... But Athena had a sense of honor.

She stalled, running back and grabbing her arm and the clothes on her back in a vice grip and throwing her forwards almost, kicking up the fog with such a movement.

"Run run run!" She pushed her to run, having lost sight of the boys currently.

Katniss looked behind her and around, the fog closing in.

"I said run!" Athena shoved her into a stumble down the hill-ed arena with a hand on her back.

Finally she did when another wisp burnt into her face.

Athena could have let Katniss perish but such was not who she was, sure she wanted her dead, but to let the gamemakers do it? Through agonizing pain? No, Athena prided herself almost on the quickness of her ways, and not giving Katniss a fighting chance? That's cowardly... And as much as she hated it, but the terrified look on the girl's face was too much to leave her behind.

Katniss ran up on a trunk over a small cliff and jumped, landing just out of the reach of the fog, finally not being seconds away from surrounded tho she knew it wouldn't last, Athena being less lucky, landing with her feet in it, just grinding her jaws together.

"Peeta?!" Katniss yelled, seeing the boy down, Finnick yelling at Mags who tried to use all her strength to make him let go of her while he was trying to drag the boy away at the same time.

She crouched down, trying to help but with Finnick's attention elsewhere, she couldn't pull him herself.

"Finnick! I can't pulled him alone!" Katniss yelled.

"Stop fucking fighting!" Athena came up, skipping to a stop and pushing Mags back into Finnick's arms and pushing him too. "Run!"

"Athena?!"

"I said run!!" She screamed at him, serious. "And take her with you!"

And despite his whole mind screaming at him for what he was doing, holding Mags tightly as he grabbed Katniss' arm, he ran, feeling like the coward he was being.

"Peeta!!!" The girl screamed, fighting back but unable to free her arm.

Athena dropped in a crouch and flipped Peeta too his back and sat him up, Katniss had no chance of being able to lift him but she had, with years of training and just her age on them, they were still both so young.

She pulled one of his arms over her shoulder and grabbed the leg on the same side, hefting him on her back tho it took time, sadly causing him and her brushing up with the fog.

She thought the others got away quickly but she barely made it ten meters that there was a drop off that she tumbled down, dropping the boy.

She looked up, seeing everyone at the bottom of the drop, near a little salty pond of water.

"Move!" She yelled, looking at the fog but it was like it stopped moving, going straight up into the sky, like if a wall had stopped it from happening.

She watched it in momentary awe before falling on her back with a groan, eyes closed.

"What the hell was this?" She muttered, opening her eyes back up, all her body was in pain from the blisters of agony.

She heard another scream and she flipped to her stomach, baring her teeth as she reached towards the sheathed sword but it was just Katniss with her hand in the water.

"Come! The water! It helps!" She showed her hand too Athena since she noticed her watching, the wounds caused by the fog melting off into a white milky liquid and leaving only slightly reddened skin underneath it.

She pulled herself too her knees and elbows, going too the water on all fours and taking a deep breath, stepping onto her feet and jumping into the shallow pond into a belly flop.

She screamed, bubbled rising around her head, if the fog felt like blistering burns, this felt like ripping the burnt skin off and rubbing salt into the wound.

She flipped onto her back, gasping as she brought her head out of the water, just staring at the canopy of the trees, claws digging into the softly muddy bottom of the pond, slowly but surely the pain mixed away into the water and only a dull ache remained which was much better.

She slowly sat up before standing, seeing Katniss dunk Peeta into the water with Finnick as he screamed bloody murder.

"You alright?" Athena breathlessly asked Mags, the lady shaken up but Finnick did a good job keeping her out of the corrosive fog.

She nodded meekly before smiling at her, Athena offered a tired one back, doubting their time in the arena will be any better then it was currently.

And how correct she was.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/EKmvBJWg9uI

"Peeta?"

Katniss' voice pierced the silence.

She was standing near Finnick who carried Mags on his back, the group getting ready to move on in case the fog wall would break soon and spill it on them.

Peeta was gathering his blade when he looked back, seeing Katniss and Finnick stare passed him.

"What?" He asked, as worried as them now since even three three older victors looked on edge.

"Come too us, slowly." She told him but he whipped his head around at the sound of a cracking branch, seeing a huge monkey in front of him, it puffed out its chest and roared out in anger as the whole group of them lashed out in hate.

Athena leaned down to pick up and rock and in a spin threw it at the monkey as Peeta stumbled and fell back.

"She said slowly!" She yelled at him as he pulled himself out of the water in fear.

She threw out her arm in a large swipe, these are not humans, but her claws too the face made the one sliced hobbled backwards with screams of pain as it touched its face.

Throwing her arms out, she was tackled down, splashing back into the salty water.

It burned her eyes as a hand was thrown out and the monkey's jaw was propped open by it as it bit down while she dug her fingers through the cheeks. It tried to shake its head free and she swung up in a hard punch before throwing the hand to grab one of its hands, monkeys are much stronger then human, mostly these ones with huge sizes, many times bigger then they should be, monkey mutts.

The claws of these mutts sharp and tearing into what they reached, how ironic was that Athena's own weapon tore a bloody gash into her upper arm until the beast finally dropped dead and she could drop the body off her.

Coughing as she pulled her head out of the water, looking at the mutt, an arrow sticking out of if.

But she didn't have much time to think as screaming kept up.

She scrambled too her feet, jumping down the little ledge too Peeta, landing unsecured on the mutts back, smashing it into the ground before it could dive on Peeta, thrown off by the strength of it as it ran at her, the fanged maw snapping by her side, barely lucky enough to pull herself out of the way before reaching for her sword and pulling it out, in an upwards circular motion, slicing the extending clawed arm of the mutt off before the downwards swing took its head off its neck.

Finnick tried to block with his body, swinging the trident, sheltering his older mentor against three of these beasts.

Katniss was running out of arrows.

And Peeta was tackled into roots of a tree but before the killing strike was landed, a woman that had been hiding jumped out, tackling the mutt away, she had not won her games through fighting so she could do nothing but scream in pain as she was mauled before Peeta finally put the blade through the mutt's head.

"A morphling! Help me pull her!" He yelled too Katniss who did so without asking, running forwards towards the sandy shore that they could see.

"Go Mags!" Athena side kicked a mutt as it had bitten around the tridents shaft and tried to pull it away, it hissed at her but a blade through the skull stopped it.

Despite her saying that, the old woman didn't have the chance for more then three steps before Athena hooked one arm around her waist and picked her up, running with her, Finnick right behind.

She stumbled out, falling but she twisted herself so she fell on her back and not on Mags, holding the lady too her chest, Finnick doing a dive jump before spinning back and swinging, baring his teeth, at the monkey mutts that made more threatening noises but didn't set out onto the sand.

This stand off lasted a minute or less but it felt tense, until the monkeys finally backed off into the forest and disappeared.

Athena stayed sitting in the sand as she watched them retreating into the hell they came from, not understanding why the gamemakers were doing this, didn't they find it more fun to see each kill others? What was it with this fog and mutts?

She looked over to the whispering Peeta.

She almost felt pity for him, even despite everything that went down, he was still trying to comfort the dying woman he held in his arm, offering her a comforting smile and holding her in his arms as he softly spoke with her until the inevitable--

Boom.

-As death took her, tho at peace now.

Athena sighed, he was too pure for this all, Katniss should have killed him in the 74th to spare him all the pain. She was more then sure that once again the 75th was rigged, that it was because of Katniss that it was victors fighting once again for their lives.

"I'll.... Fish." Finnick marched into the water, the water they had tried to get away from and yet what provided their safety currently as the forest held more secrets then they ever thought.

Athena laid back down into the sand with a sigh.

"What a day." She muttered into the breeze.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/3vjkh-acmTE

"And to say I thought raw fish was disgusting, like who likes raw stuff?" Athena said despite the hunger having made her dig in without a though.

Finnick was from 4, fishing district, so it was not a surprised that he could spear fish out a few fish and easily spotting another few oysters and such. Athena had opted for the fish.

"Oh huss, you like nothing that is not your damned cigarettes." He said, slicing his fish up to make it easier for his mentor and district partner to eat as they all sat together in a circle.

"This is one intense detox method." She said since she couldn't bring them in here and already feeling the need but with the inability to light one.

"Well when you will win it will nice that you stopped."

"Oy Fish-brains, I am not winning this shit." She shook her head. "I am just here to kill a certain someone that has been annoyingly more useful alive." Katniss gulped, having grown numb too the past threat because Athena had helped her and Peeta against the fog and the mutts, forgetting she never not said she wouldn't kill her.

"What about this, we eliminate the true enemies and then do this like you careers do it usually, in one on one fights at the end until there is a winner?"

"If we even get too that." Peeta said before smiling softly and handing the pearl he found too Katniss.

"You really don't deserve lover boy." Athena told the young girl before looking back at Finnick. "We both know it how it will end if we do it how they want it."

"Then your vengeance is not worth it?" He asked, reminding her of Heymitch's talk with her, glancing at the golden bracelet he wore then at the thin golden necklace of Mags and then at each other 12's tokens, golden... Sure she knew they were allies but Finnick had the tendency to speak in ways that she forgot the first subject, she never connected the two, Heymitch and him, both rebels.

"I suppose not tho the wish for it is still there." Fine, fine! But Katniss better play up her role.

The Mockingjay had immersed itself in gasoline, it now better spark the fire up or this will have been for nothing to force her own mind to lower the weapons.

There was a scream so loud that Athena thought it came from near them but was proven otherwise, seeing a huge water wave through the trees on the opposite shore and smash up into the corner of an invisible wall at the cornucopia before washing over it as a boom followed, the wave being nothing but a little disturbance when it arrived too them but it stole her hunger, another dead.

"What's going on here?" Katniss asked the obvious question.

"Seems the gamemakers are after everyone." Finnick breathed out.

"I can say this, I am happily take it on with the fog any day instead of that wave." Athena said, carefully scratching her chin to not slice herself, not needing another injury. "That victor didn't stand any chance." She watched the hovercraft swoop in the get the dead body out.

The bodies would be brought back too their families, Athena didn't get Cato's and no one would come get hers... But she was almost happy with that, no one would cry her, no one but one person... And sadly enough... She could live with that knowledge since she won't live longer then for a week if she needed to guess.

Soon enough even if it was actually hours later, since time wouldn't stop, there was screamed complaints that came from much closer too them then the terrified one of the dead victor.

Athena picked herself up as Finnick hurried out of the cover of the trees to see what was going on.

"Kitten!" He called, before running forwards, waving her after him. "Hey Johanna!" If Athena had ears or a the tail of actual cat, they would have perked up at the name.

"Move it 12." She told them, running after Finnick.

Johanna was quite out of it, still trying to comprehend the mess she just got out of as she laughed too herself, turning to look at the forest as the falling blood leaked out between the them and onto the white sand of the beach as Beetee was on his knees, coughing it out, gagging on the hot liquid, Wiress just walking in circles and saying tick tock with wide eyes.

She sighed, Blight was not her favorite person in the world but well, he had been her mentor and a friend despite it all.

Her smile became a true one when she saw Finnick, god did she actually miss his face when she was forced to stay with Nuts and Volts and Blight who kept praying to go home.

But what made the day even better, sure she actually was happy to see Peeta, Mags and even Katniss, but those were not the people that caused this bettering of her mood, it was another victor.

"Finnick! Hey Thea!" She held her arms out by her sides. "I'd hug you but, as you can see, I took a little shower."

Athena couldn't help but shake her head with a smile, Johanna always had this fierce but idiotic behavior too her she couldn't help but love.

"Well.... I got 'em out." Johanna said, pointing the axe she got at the duo from 3. "We were all the way deep into the jungle where I thought it was gonna be safe." She went on and Athena could tell she had the same idea as they had. "That's when the rain started. I thought it was water. It turned out to be blood." Johanna's ears still hurt from the scream Wiress and Blight exchanged when realizing it was blood that was falling and blinding them.

"Tick tock." Wiress whispered, walking over, saying it as if it was the answer too all their questions.

"Hot, thick blood." Johanna complained, not letting others talk over her, ranting. "It was coming down."

"Tick tock."

"It was choking us." She scoffed. "We were stumbling around, gagging on it, blind and then Blight ran into the force-field on the ledge, he was not much but he was from home, I'll still miss him I guess."

"Tick tock."

"What's wrong with her?" Katniss asked as she was the first to speak up, cutting Johanna off from ranting any longer.

"She's in shock." Beetee filled in as he dragged himself into the water to wash the blood off his body, seemingly having a hard time to move. "Dehydration isn't helping. Do you have fresh water?"

"We can get some." Katniss reassured him

Johanna shoved Wiress to force her to sit because the woman grabbed onto her and Johanna was never the one to do things gently.

"Listen. Stop it and sit down!" She said annoyed, shaking the woman's hands off her.

"Hey! Lay off her!" Katniss said as she ran over and pushed Johanna harshly.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Athena swung at Katniss, that making her mad, the young girl yelping as the claws barely caught her but sliced three lines into her cheek.

"I got them out for you!" Johanna yelled at Katniss, trying to pull away and run at the woman but Finnick had grabbed her, not helping with the conflict, Peeta side checked Athena with all his strength and throwing her away with the impact.

"Fuck!" She grabbed her side as she fell into the water, coughing as she pushed herself up, just to get her head out of the water.

"You fuckers!! Thea!" Johanna shoved away, running too the victor that still hadn't stood up, just backing too the shore enough that she was sitting with her legs still in the water.

She reached too the well hidden hip height zipper on the suit and pulled it down.

"Gee thanks." She groaned at Peeta, she didn't know if the wound had stopped bleeding earlier but now it was bleeding again as she pressed her hand on it.

"That looks like a bullet wound." Johanna said worried, crouched near her, shocked at the through and through wound.

"I wish, at least a bullet impact burns the skin." At least, the power rifles she saw used in 2 did that, no idea if other guns did that.

Johanna looked over her shoulder, eyes zeroing in on the arrows in a quiver that was worn by a girl.

"Johanna." Finnick warned. "Johanna!" He said louder as she stood. "Johanna no!!" When the woman tried to tackle Katniss, him barely catching her, both falling over in the ensuing skirmish in which Johanna promised a bloody death upon Katniss and her whole family.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/VqhyKM47Dz8

It was worst and worst.

Despite it being slow bleeding, she could feel this arrow inflicted wound sapping away at her strength, she had just chose to pull the zipper closed and ignore it despite it all.

It was almost creating a headache, sure she knew of the dangers of an untreated wound but what could even be done about it? Nothing here could help here.

"I so see why you want to kill her."

Athena chuckled a bit, she was standing waist deep in the salty water even if the salt felt like having some hot metal pressed into her side, salt water is used as disinfectant, that's all she can do but she wasn't in here for that.

"She is annoying yeah?" She asked Johanna who was rinsing the blood out of her suit, skin and hair, leaving a lot of pinkish water around her, Athena was surprised with the amount of blood soaked into her own outfit, how much can a human bleed without collapsing jeez? Because she is still standing.

"How dare she shoot you?" She asked back, throwing her hands into the water and looking at her, the others near the shore and Katniss helping Wiress clean herself as she was slowly calming down, saying a bit more then tick tock now but still not much or enough to be understood.

"I did go for the kill." She held up her gauntlets. "It would have been a shame if she didn't try to defend herself, cowardly."

"But how dare she hurt my loved one?!" Athena had a slight shocked tilt to her head before smiling, crossing her arms.

"Dare hurt who?" She asked, teasing filling her tone.

"Oh shut up you idiot." Johanna splashed water up in Athena's face who laughed.

"If I meant so much you should have told me." She grinned, bending down a little, being slightly taller after all.

Johanna just hopped out of the water with both her hands grabbing Athena's head and shoving it down into it with her weight, both splashing down into it.

"You never liked my teasing." Athena said, spluttering as she stood back up and brushing her bangs out of her face, unbothered by the water stinging her eyes.

"Who likes being teased?" Johanna wiped her face as she glared at her.

"You wouldn't say the same thing in bed." And the next thing Athena knew was one of her legs being yanked up from the sandy bottom of the water and got shoved by it, falling flat on her back and underwater.

Flailing to surface but she laughed as she pushed away from Johanna before the younger victor could think of how to drown her.

"Athena Hadley!" Johanna yelled at the laughing woman who slapped the surface of the water, holding her aching side made worst because of the laughing fit.

"Oh damn." She wiped her tears. "This felt great." She took a deep breath, still smiling. "Don't get mad at me now little wolf, that isn't a good look on you." 

"Then stop making me mad! Why do I even love you?!"

Athena shrugged with her hands behind her back.

"I wouldn't know because I don't even love myself."

"Now that's just sad." She said and only got another shrug back.

"All that I love about myself is the damned mistake that killed my brother but saved you." Athena chuckled. "A worthy mistake despite the consequences and agony of it."

She could almost be happy for that mistake even tho she still would prefer her brother being alive.

"Well your eyes are nice." Johanna pointed at her.

"My eyes?"

"Yeah, those damned eyes of yours... I hated how they reminded me of home, the green leaves of my district so far from it and in the eyes of someone that would work to kill me, somehow always drawing me in."

"Adorable."

"Don't start... I guess that's where it started and why I love you."

Athena knew she awaited a similar answer but she couldn't say it, knowing cameras were on them, seeing this softer side was already enough for her, she didn't have the strength... Plus anyone she told those words, those 'I love you' s too had ended up dead and so she had a bit of reluctance.

Above all it would mean accepting what she has been refusing to acknowledge about their relationship, and even in this place, she refused too.

"Yeah, thanks." She said with a smile, it hurt her to say so but she was a coward, she couldn't say it.

She felt so guilty at the slight confusion on Johanna's face but all was washed away when Finnick yelled too them to join the rest of the group, having figured something out.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/CEjVA48TBkU

"A clock, this entire arena is built like a clock."

That was what Katniss said after they all regrouped when she finally figured out what Wiress tried telling her through words like 'wheel' and 'pm' along with the tick tock.

Katniss was walking in front of the group while she spat out whatever she was thinking about and it made sense.

"There is threats in each wedge of the arena, a new one every hour but they only stay in their own wedges like we saw with the wave and the fog. It starts with lightning striking a tree then the blood rain, fog, monkeys. Those four are the first four hours of this death clock, at 10 that big wave hits from over there."

"Nicely found Wiress." Athena nudged the woman with her elbow, they were not that close but she was one of the victors that saw passed Athena being from 2 and talked too her.

They all walked along one of the stone pathways up too the cornucopia, figuring they'd be able to easily avoid the active wedge or other tributes like that.

"And the clock resets each twelve hours, always hitting the tree twelve times." Katniss said, much more observant then Athena gave her credit for.

"Where's point?" Wiress asked, still having trouble in talking normally again despite most of the shock getting away, Beetee was really not in a good position, having gotten himself stabbed because of the spool of wire he wanted to take from the cornucopia.

"That big tree." Katniss said. "It never lights on fire like a normal tree struck down should so it much be on purpose.

Peeta picked up a curved blade and crouched down, scratching a circle with lines into the black rock as Beetee sat with Wiress at his side, whispering quickly too each other.

"So twelve too one, lightning." He scratch an 'L' down on the rock. "Then one to two is the blood rain, then fog and then monkeys with ten being the wave." He scratched them on the ground as everyone watched him they all knew they were missing knowledge on any other wedges, only knowing five, and hoping they'll never need to know about the rest of them as all seemed and were to be deadly.

"Anything else? Johanna? Anyone?"

"Nothing but blood." Johanna shook her head, having not moved from that wedge until almost drowning on the life giving liquid that should stay in a human but which all victors knew how to make flow for their own survival.

"As long as we steer clear of whichever sector is active, we'll be safe." Peeta adds on.

"Yeah. Relatively speaking." Finnick grumbled, knowing that many were still alive.

And then there was a gasp with a scream following.

Boom.

Beetee had shoved the woman he had mentored back, Gloss now towering over him, pressing his head into the hard rock as his knife was stabbed deep into his throat, the career seeming mad that he missed his original target. (Okay so, I feel the need to tell you, Wiress living instead of Beetee will not really affect the story in such big ways as Mags still being here does.)

He dove back into the water, the arrow shot whistling by his ear, even slicing into it.

Johanna shoved Katniss with her own body when Cashmere came up behind her, tackling her down and out of the way as Athena threw a kick where Katniss had been, kicking the other career in the chest, making the woman's legs leave the ground at the impact, land on her back but rolling aside as Athena struck down, claws sparking on impact with the rock.

Finnick blocked a strike from Brutus who seemed stronger then he ever was, driven by anger, like the three others, for the betrayal of the career pack by the female victor of 2.

But the fight didn't last long, Peeta having tried to swing at Brutus who ducked behind the cornucopia because of an arrow, drawing Finnick after him moment before the platform shifted.

And slowly spin faster and faster.

Finnick held himself on by stabbing his trident into the rock, holding on his forearm with a hand, the shaft of the weapon held in his elbow.

Peeta held on with the strength of his hands alone, gripping the stone so hard he was splitting his skin on it.

Johanna stabbed the axe into the stone, holding the old mentor in her arms.

Wiress had fell into the water and was pushed away by the wave at the very start of it, watching in fear for more lives to be lost as the spinning was getting worst and worst, just speeding up.

Athena had the most ease out of them all, having greater grip strength then them all, her claws holding the ground and her toes dug in, even holding herself pushed up from the rock.

Katniss tho, her grip was weak, not as strong as Peeta nor having a weapon to help like Finnick, her hands slipped and she tumbled back.

Johanna had had that talk with Heymitch, like every tribute that decided to keep Katniss and Peeta safe, watching helplessly as the girl hit against the rocks, she was in arms reach but she just couldn't let Mags go but this risked on killing Katniss.

Katniss felt her arm grabbed, the yank on it caused immense pain too it as her body was thrown back against the rocky platform.

Looking up, it was once again the victor that promised to kill her that had grabbed her.

Athena, dropping from her spot, sliding down the rock, had just about grabbed the young girl's forearm, squeezing like she never hard before, holding herself with one arms.

She knew she could hold despite how heavy Katniss felt because of the maddening spin.

Of course that was until the rock growth she was holding literally folded into itself to make her lose her grip.

She swung at another, seeing the little metallic cover that the rock disappeared behind be covered by a fake flat rock hologram moments before water was all she saw.

It felt like a gun was shot next too her ears, the impact with the water was just so loud.

She pulled the young girl closer with the one hand holding her still, the whirl of the water throwing them around, feeling her back go smack against the rock pathway before dragging them on.

She threw her right hand out and sent her claws into the pathway, the water pressure trying to pull them further tho it was rapidly slowing down as the platform stopped its spin the moment Katniss and Athena were thrown off even if Athena knew it was only because she grabbed the girl that she was dragged along.

She let out a little scream, looking over her shoulder with bubbles leaving her mouth..

Because of her gauntlet, her hand and arm were not crushed as the platform and the pathway slotted together, which would have amazed her about the strength of her gauntlet.... If it wasn't for the fact that it meant that she was stuck.

She let go of Katniss who panicked, kicking her upwards even.

She span towards the rock, she didn't want to think about how her arm was not crushed despite half of her forearm being stuck between two rocks.

She undid the two straps that she could see but there were two that she could have never, she was not a super human, she couldn't fit her other hand through such a gap but move the other to let her undo those straps.

She wanted to groan, because of her surprise, she had lost some precious air and she was feeling it, feeling her heartbeat in her head.

She braced her feet again walls and decided to yank her hand out of this death trap.

She grabbed her forearm and pushed on her legs, yanking on the stuck arm but even tho she could feel her arm shift in the gauntlet, she couldn't pull hard enough to yank it passed the squeeze and the straps there.

She punched the wall, her lungs complaining as she yanked again.

She could either get that damned hand out or drown and she'll be damned if she let the gamemakers kill her in this accidental way, when she dies it will be when she is sure her little wolf can win and get home!

Hearing a splash of water she looked up, never having been so happy to see Finnick.

He swam over, much surprised to her predicament but he came near, grabbing her arm too and propping his leg on the wall also.

She held up three fingers, folding it down too two and then one before once again pulling with all her strength as he did too.

It hurt but with the strength of another, her hand was pulled free even if red marks and a cut was left on it.

He grabbed her and helped her up to the surface before himself.

"Fuck." She coughed a little, taking a deep breath as she grabbed the hand Peeta held out too her while Finnick pushed her out of the water.

"We need to get off this island now." Katniss said, sitting on the path, shaken up too.

"I need to get other claws, I'll come to shore soon." Athena sighed, standing.

"I'll go with her, you, hide in the tree line." Finnick said as she started for the cornucopia, never having loved the fresh air more then she did now.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/A4WNKv55fig

Athena sighed too herself.

Many of the supplies had been flung into the water and she couldn't find another same grade gauntlet, she only found a glove version of it, only covering her hand and fingers, not her forearm so she only had that protection for her left arm, she'll deal with it but it was annoying.

"So many are still alive." Peeta complained since that meant more killing for everyone.

"None of the other careers are gone either." Johanna added, a kindred spirit in the hate for these games lasting even as long as they did.

"Even so." Athena said, looking at the water instead of looking dumbly at the sand in the little circle they all created, at least this way she had a view. "We careers are not stupid, they know they are outnumbered and that I am here, I trained like they did, I doubt they'll attack us because of those factors tho Brutus might."

"Why?" Katniss pipped up.

"Oh because he is my district partner from 2 of course, he must hate my gut currently but they should have known from my own games that I don't do well with sticking with the other careers."

"Plus we are safe from most events here on the beach and if they ever attack we'd see them coming."

"So we sit?" Wiress meekly asked, sitting as she hugged her knees, Mags gently holding her shoulders.

"So what now? We sit like Nuts says or do we hunt 'em down?" Johanna said, holding her axe up.

No reply came since something cut them all off.

"KATNISS!!!" The sound of a young girl in agony came from the forest. "HELP ME!!!"

"PRIM!!!" The young girl scream, scrambling to her feet in pressing panic, running into the forest.

"Stay with them!" Athena called too Johanna as Finnick had already took off after the girl, only she'd remain that could actually fight if the others careers did come, knowing she was fast and could catch up too the girl and her friend.

"Thea no!" Johanna called but the other victor was already off after the other two, following the terrified screams of the child.

"Katniss wait!" Finnick chased after her.

"Fish-brains wait up!" Athena called, vaulting over a rock formation instead of rounding it, this guy for so focused in keeping her safe for whatever rebellion that he forgot himself.

The girl kept screaming, pulling all them deeper into the forest as they all tried to keep tempo with the terror urged speed of an elder sister.

Suddenly the screaming cut off as they caught up too Katniss.

"What the hell were you doing Everdeen!" Athena grabbed her arm, screaming at her. "Do you have a death wish?!"

"B-but I heard..." Katniss said, looking shakily at the bird she killed with an arrow.

"Katniss!" Finnick caught up as Katniss shoved away from Athena, leaving the victor from 2 annoyed "You okay?"

"She didn't think at all." Athena shook her head, dragging Katniss back towards the shore.

"Finnick!" Another woman's voice shrieked. "Finnick!"

"No! It's not her." Katniss yelled at him, having understood what it was.

"Finnick!" Athena yelled, in a few strides catching up too him and stopping him.

"Annie!" He screamed, looking around frantically and even Athena couldn't understand how they got Annie into the arena.

"Finnick! It's not her." Katniss yelled. "It's just a jabberjay, it's not her." Athena didn't know what jabberjays were but they were horrible little beast if they make these sounds.

"Athena!!"

"Cato!!" All sense of logic thrown out of the metaphorical window as her brother sounded terrified and in pain, letting go of Finnick and running Katniss over. "Where are you?!" She looked around frantically before the scream from behind her.

"Cato?" Even Finnick looked around, he hadn't met the boy like Johanna but heard of him and saw the 74th.

"Athena! Finnick stop!" Katniss yelled. "These are jabberjays!" She insisted again.

"How do you think they got that sound Katniss?" He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little. "Jabberjays don't make up words and voices, jabberjays copy." He said.

"Help!" The little girl shrieked again in an ear bleeding scream.

"Athy!" It was a dagger to the heart, Athena dropped down too a knee as her legs weakened, staring into the canopy with wide eyes.

"Go! Go! Go!" Finnick yelled as he pulled his friend up too her feet, pulling her after him as he ran after Katniss.

A dark cloud of birds swooped down, screaming into their ears, Athena having a hard time wrapping her head around it all the screams.

But running didn't save them from their fate, it didn't save her from Cato begging for her to save him.

She saw Katniss run face first into the invisible wall that came up around the wedges for each event hour, the girl having impact it so hard that it sent the arrows scattering around as she fell over.

Finnick let go of her, sinking too his knees and staring at the sky through the leaves.

Through the wall Peeta tried to talk to Katniss who started to scream, Mags looking pained with her hands on the walls, Wiress mouth agape before she covered it and Johanna, despite it failing, trying to get Athena attention.

"Fucking look at me!" But nothing worked.

Athena had even turned her back them, staring at the birds before swinging up, bloody chunks splattering on the ground and in her face.

Then came the second swing at the mass of screaming birds.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/LHvYrn3FAgI

When had she fallen over?

When had her ears stopped ringing?

When had everything just.... Stopped?

Athena, at one moment or another, had swung her arm into the invisible wall, stumbled and tripped, falling flat on her back and staring at the sky like Finnick had been.

She knew he was dead, her brother was dead, but each scream for help, each beg, each word, it sent her spiraling in her mind, fighting itself to go save him, to go help him, to hold and hug him, but he was gone and she knew it.

She felt so numb it almost felt like back in her ever cold arena, was she brought back there somehow?

Athena was so spaced out by all that happened that she had not even realized that her head had been picked up off the ground or that Johanna was there.

She passed her hand through her hair, feeling the weight of Athena's head in her lap, actually making her leg go numb because of the length of time this had been going on, not bothered by the bird blood covering her by consequence.

Mags was hugging Finnick's head against her chest, brushing her fingers through his hair.

Peeta held his arms around Katniss, whispering about how the hour was over and how she was safe now.

Katniss was the first to really snap out of it, yerking up with a loud scream.

"Prim! Where's Prim?!" She looked around as Peeta grabbed her face.

Johanna frowned, looking down at the other victor, able to imagine what she heard and who she heard.

"No, no. Prim's okay." Peeta said. "But are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said quite unconvincingly since she was shaking and still frazzled up.

"Okay, okay. You can take a deep breath, I promise, they won't hurt Prim." Peeta said.

"Your fiance's right you know." Johanna added. "The whole country loves your sister. If they tortured her or did anything too her, forget the districts, there would be riots in the damn Capitol." And that infuriated her since they all loved Prim but they cheered when Cato was mauled to death.

She passed a hand through Athena's hair, feeling just so angry for all those that died because of the games and the Capitol.

"Hey, how does that sound, Snow? What if we... What if we set your backyard on fire? You know, you can't put everybody in here." She threw her axe that laid next to her randomly, hitting a tree with it.

Katniss silently stared at her and then at the other two victors that had suffered with her and how it affected them, Peeta too, staring at her as if the Capitol would drop a boulder on her for saying that on live television.

But nothing happened and she glared at them.

"What? They can't hurt me. There's no one left out there that I love." She said since the only one that she had left was in here with her and she couldn't help her.

"I'll got get water." Peeta ended up saying. "Come, walking will change your thoughts." He helped Katniss up. "Will you come with us? Safer together." He said and Wiress nodded, soon retreating.

Johanna watched them go before looking back down, wishing she could help.

-----------------------------------------------------

Katniss jerked in fear as arrows clatters as Johanna shoves it in her quiver, the victor of 7 had gone back into the forest once they got out of it, making sure no one had followed and had actually brought back the arrow but had wanted to scare Katniss a bit by doing that, feeling slightly better.

Johanna sat next to her since out of them all, Katniss would ask the least amount of questions even if she knew they were to come.

"Thanks." Katniss whispered with a sigh, feeling extremely on edge.

Finnick had walked out onto the shore and too the water, dropping on his ass and laying back into the waves, head and face barely out of the water as Mags sat with him. 

Wiress sat with the wire Beetee had fought for to retrieve, biting her knuckle as she thought in a mutter, not close enough to be understood.

Peeta was sharpening a spear for the before mentioned victor, since she didn't have a weapon, he wanted to make it for her so that she'd at least stand a chance if separated from them.

And Athena sat near too the shore but outside the reach of the water, holding her pendants and staring vaguely into the horizon of the setting sun, whispering too herself.

Johanna felt bad for her as the first thing she said was 'is Cato dead?' needing that confirmation as if she seriously didn't know and had no idea if those screams were true or not.

 "Who's Annie?" Katniss broke the tense silence, she had asked the same from Peeta but he just shrugged, unable to recall anything about her.

"Annie Cresta. The girl mags volunteered for." She said, trying to jog Katniss' memories but saw it did nothing. "She won the 69th through a freak flooding of the whole arena after her district partner was beheaded in front of her, being the best swimmer of them all she survived, being for 4 after all." 

"Is she the one that went a little...." It didn't need to be said, Johanna knew Katniss thought of the word crazy. Annie was more paranoid but she didn't feel like correcting her.

"Mhm." She looked at Finnick, that man was ready to die for that girl and Johanna didn't want to see the day that it would become reality... And yet she herself was in a similar predicament. "Love is weird." She whispered without thinking.

"Athena huh?" The younger victor asked, sure she didn't hear their conversation in the water while she helped Wiress clean herself up but she saw how the two were together, she was not blind.

"Yeah, as much as these games are a hell, I met her because of them."

"How long?" She tried having some casual banter to lock out her thoughts.

"Hmm? What?"

"How long have you been together."

"Not even a day." Johanna said, shaking her head. "For you Thea is your worst nightmare waiting to pounce, for me she is much more and for herself she is too much... I can see it in her eyes, she wishes she could be anyone else but even so, she's mine."

"But you are not together?"

"Sometimes the heart knows but the brain is too stubborn at the moment to admit it." She said, referring to the accidental confession she still went along with, pushing it to see if Athena would say it back, only the blind would not see she wanted to but never did, it hurt a bit but Johanna was patient to a certain point before just grabbing what she wanted... She just hopes the rebellion finally thought up a way to get them out of here before they all die and lose the opportunity.

"I have an idea." Wiress said, coming up too them as she carried the wire in her arms.

"I'll get the others." Johanna stood, dusting herself and walking away.

Katniss couldn't understand.

How could she love someone that was so blind too her own love for the other?

She looked at Peeta.

And yet she almost understood it.

Love IS weird.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_c2NS5Om998

"I have a plan." Wiress said as everyone gathered to form a tight knit circle around her. "Where do the other careers feel safest?"

"The jungle, that's for sure." Athena filled in, leaning onto a tree. "But it should be the beach if we look at this logically.

"Then why are they not here?" Peeta asked. "I never saw them since they attacked us."

"Because we are here you idiot." Johanna said. "We claimed it this place as our camp but trust me, I am sure if we left then would be back here."

"Or stay hidden in the tree line until we come back." 

"Which in just over four hours will be soaked with water from the ten hours wave." 

"And what happens at midnight?" Wiress said to break them up and steer the talk back too her plan.

"Lightning strikes that tree." Katniss pointed towards the tree, behind right behind them

"Here's what I came up with." Wiress said, drawing what she said into the sand "We take a page from how Beetee had won his game. To do that we need to, leave the beach at dusk and head to the lightning tree." She pointed at the tree drawn into the sand. " That should draw them back too the beach. Prior too midnight we then run this wire from the tree to the water. Anyone in the water or on the damp sand will be electrocuted."

Finnick touched the sand, smearing the wet grains between his fingers.

"How do we know the wire's not gonna burn up?" Johanna was the voice of pessimism in this part of the plan. "It is a long length of wire and it could snap because of the lightning shock.

"Because I know it won't, Beetee invented it and it won't burn up, he never makes mistakes when it comes to this."

-------------------------------------------------

The time drew near, Johanna calling out to Peeta and Katniss that had huddled away from the group

"Minimal charring." Wiress explained too anyone that would be near to listen, as sad as she was, she was also happy to talk too them about what Beetee created. "It's an impressive conductor. Let's get started.... Typically a lightning strike contains five billion joules of energy. We don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when this hits."

She looked up at Katniss and Peeta joined.

"You two, go together now." She told Athena and Katniss "Take this, unspool it carefully. Make sure the entire coil is in the water. You understand? Then head to the tree at the two hour sector, we'll meet you there."

"I'm going with them." Peeta said, suddenly more on edge since he talked alone with Katniss, both also because Katniss would be sent off with the woman that tried to kill her at the start.

"No, no, no. You're gonna stay here to protect me and the tree." Wiress said. "With dear Mags here I need more people to protect me and Athena is the best fighter here, she will keep Kartniss safe on her own."

"No, I need to go with her." He insisted.

"There are three careers out there. I need two guards myself and then there is Mags, Peeta. We need you, Johanna and Finnick here if we want this to be successful."

"Finnick and Johanna can protect you just fine on their own."

"Why can't Athena stay with you and Peeta and I'll take the coil?" Katniss said, really not wanting the career with her, planning to abandon the group with Peeta after midnight.

"You all agreed to this, I need you to keep us safe so we can set up?"

"It's her plan. We all agreed too it Peeta." Finnick grabbed his shoulder to comfort him.

"Is there a problem here?" Johanna asked, getting worked up with all the back and forth.

"Excellent question." Athena said, sensing there was something that was not being said.

"No. There's no problem." Katniss said before kissing Peeta. "I'll see you at midnight."

"Alright, lets go." Athena added before looking at Johanna. "Be careful, see you later."

"Yeah, see you." Despite the situation, Athena still had a step back, not even letting Johanna have this kiss, just smiling at her.

"When we see each other." She promised, she'd build up the courage until then.

"Alright." Johanna couldn't help the smile. "I love you."

"When we see each other." Athena promised once again, if this works, she'll stop being a coward for the little time she'll still have to live... She'll stop being a coward.

------------------------------------------------

Finally the wire was dropped into the salty water by Katniss as Athena stood guard.

She was fighting with herself, knowing this would be a great chance for her vengeance to finally be fruitful.

"Move it." She said, herding Katniss back into the forest. "I want to put as much distance between me and this beach as possible. Frying is not how I want to go." She told the girl

"Neither do I." Katniss admitted before tripping a bit on the wire, normally nothing would have happened but it came rolling down.

Athena crouched down, squinting to see in the setting night.

"It was cut." She said looking at the frayed ends while standing, making her hands into fists.

"There's something coming!" Katniss said quickly arming an arrow but before anything else could be done, not even having the time to pull the arrow back, the hard gauntlet-ed fist hit her on the back of the head.

Athena tackled her down and covered her mouth.

She grabbed her wrist with her others while Katniss was still dazed, feeling around before grabbing it with her gloved hand and slashing down with her gauntlet, digging her claws in, Katniss screaming.

"Sssh shut up!" She hissed, reaching up, blood covering her face while Athena covered it with her hands, the blood dripping down her chin and neck. "And stay down."

She stood, seeing those she didn't miss, whipping up a rock from the ground and throwing it at them, hearing Cashmere yell out as the rock hit her while Athena ran down the hill and way, pulling them away from Katniss, hoping she'd listen for once.

She ran herself out to the sand before looking at the three of them.

"So you have finally come after me." She stated, lifting her arms and bending her knees.

"You will die tonight traitor!" Gloss said, him stepping out too the left while Brutus stayed put, Cashmere moving too the right.

"I think there's been some confusion..." She held up her index fingers as a warning before shrugging with her arms held up. "I'm not the one in trouble here."

"What?" Gloss asked confused.

"There are only three of you." She rolled her shoulders and neck. "You'll need more then that."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/0JeVlQZaoac

Three against one.

She was familiar with those odds and she survived it once, she can do it again.

No, it is not a can, it is a must, she made a promise and she sticks to it.

It was unusually quiet, she just needed one of them to grow bored of waiting, of prowling, and to realize that they are not the hunters but she is.

She took a breath, lifting her gauntlet-ed hand up too her face with the back of it against her, the one only with the glove held up in front of her, turning her back too Cashmere and doing a little 'come here' wave too Gloss with a grin.

It was more of an insult to be ignored too Cashmere than being taunted too Gloss (Then? Than? I never know for those), hearing her run forwards.

She swung her arm back, her blade skipping off the metal of the gauntlet before she kept up the movement, catching Cashmere right behind the ears and slashing across her face on that side.

Keeping up the spin and letting her arm rise again, caught Gloss' underarm, shoving his arm up in the air as she sliced him.

"You are all careers but which of you kept training up after you won?" She asked, pulling her blade out and clashing with Brutus, a hand on the back of the blade to hold out against his strength. "Which of you fought to stay floating in an ocean of agony because you realized too soon this was not victory?!" She shoved him back and kicked up her leg, driving her heel into his stomach but with less force then she planned as her side hurt too much for such.

Her foot was grabbed and she was yanked down, quickly propping her hands down and kicking up her second leg into his hand, kicking his hold off and doing a tumble passed him.

When on her knees she swung back, Brutus' leg buckled, muscle bunching up behind the knee as it was cut.

"Which of you kept their senses sharp in fear of being snuck up on and killed?!"

She kicked Brutus in the back before standing again, covering herself with her hand.

Groaning at the unprotected forearm being slashed across the back of it but at least it was the back of it not the inside, making her still able to close her fist. (I love knowing martial arts soo much even if they didn't ready me for extended long fights against multiple, Athena mostly fights like Kung-fu, or at least the type I know, when it comes too claws, quick and precises strikes tho I learnt to pluck out eyes and not throats.)

"Which of you trained to try in vain to keep their body safe?!"

Swinging the hurt arm back at Gloss, this was so nice, having a fighting style basically no one else had, all trained in the usual blade or spear while she, oh she was a whole ass weapon, slashing in the retreating arm again.

Like always, Athena would bleed her enemies dry as she fought.

She grabbed Cashmere's fist, twisting the blade out of it and grabbing her throat, pulling her in front of her as Brutus swung back, the blade catching into the blonde victor's side deeply, stopped by the vertebra.

Athena squeezed, blood pearling between her fingers as she shifted her other arm too Cashmere's forehead and shoved while she yanked on the other.

The woman was dead before her body had hit the ground.

Boom.

She worried if one of her allies had died but currently, this was her life, she'll worry more later.

"Which of you kept on killing after the games?!"

Gloss screamed in anger and pain as Athena discarded the piece of the body she tore out and ran to pick up her discarded blade and block his strike before knocking his blade aside and long enough to drive it up into him from bellow his rib cage with the end sticking out the front of his throat.

She let it go, watching him crumple, humans are weird, sometimes the barest trauma too their body can kill them, sometimes they can fight on with a missing arm and a half burnt body. Athena always stood back up, Gloss crumbled.

"I wanted to hurt you since you broke my nose." She muttered, yelping as she bent out of the way of the spear throw. "And I never really liked you either." She told her district partner.

She didn't care for the punch he put into her gut as she neared, she swiped her claws into his face.

His screams of pain about being blinded soon enough, Athena digging her claws it and yanking.

The arena going dark at that moment.

She saw the dome fall away, a hovercraft dropped through.

She looked in awe, they really did it, they one upper Snow again, she is almost proud.

"Hands in the air!" She looked, seeing the ground shift open, revealing a metallic staircase with several peacekeeper existing. "Come willingly and we won't use force."

"Eleven." She simply said, lifting her arms again. "That's better odds."

"Don't make this harder on yourself!"

"I like it hard."

Athena lunged forwards, swinging the claws into the black visor of the nearest peacekeeper, punching holes in it and grabbing on, stepping behind him and yanking him back, grabbing the front of his outfit and pulling him down on her thrown up knee, snapping the back of the neck against it, letting the body crumble down before kicking up the baton in the air and catching it, swinging it like a hammer into the hip of another, the bone giving before she grabbed the back of his helmet and throwing it off his head and driving the baton through his gaping mouth, smashing the soft pallet.

Athena kicked the nearest one.

"Come at me!" Swinging her arms around with a grin. "Try and fail for I will spill your blood before you do mine!"

She swung out at the first getting near, even they weren't equipped to fight her.

That's until they brought out a taser.

She was grabbed and restrained once the little tool was used but not before she put three more into the ground.

She yelled at them, kicking and screaming, as she was pulled along to who knows where into the Capitol.

Not knowing what awaited her but she knew.

It wouldn't be pretty.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/hfaeWExrACg

Athena hoped she'd be the only one caught.

She wished oh so much that everyone would get away.

She could take it if she knew there were all safe.

So that explained why she was kicking with so much fervor and trying to rip herself out of their hold, five man struggling with her.

"Peeta!" She reached for the boy who only needed two to be held back, out of all, he deserved this fate the least.

"Athena!" He called out as he saw her but they were both dragged to different rooms, close enough but that would not matter when outside of view and lost in there with their own demons to come. "Athena!!"

"Let me go your bastards! Hold in there Peeta! I'll get you out!"

She was shoved in and she stumbled, jumping back against the closed wall and punching it several times.

She backed up angrily.

They had stripped her from her weapons, hell, those bastards even forced her into these white shorts and T-shirt, letting her freeze her ass off without a jacket or even socks while they were transported to what looked like the tribute center and then into the underground of it that no one knew existed.

They were awful, almost on purpose leaving her pendant with her to remind her of it since it was the only thing of color in the room, white walls, white buzzing lights, white floors.

And it was so damned cold.

she walked in place to not hard her feet freeze too the ground, not wanting to have to rip her skin of the soles of them but she expected that the Capitol knew that that would only limit whatever they wanna do too her since cold numbs. She hugged herself, breathing out fog it as she had goosebumps up and down her arms... They even fixed her injuries to probably inflict new ones later...

She glared at the empty room she would slowly freeze inside of maybe.

Her mind was spinning.

How many were caught? Who was caught? Where they all brought here? What about the other victors outside? Were they alright? Were they not?

She knew she wouldn't know the answer to those questions, all she could hope for was Johanna being safe.

Johanna.

She almost wanted to cry, something which she did quite a lot since her brother died and quite easily too, but she didn't, the dry cold already stinging her eyes and she just couldn't, so focused on her thoughts.

It hurt her but she is in the Capitol and Johanna is hopefully saved by whatever the rebels planned out for a rescue...

"I'll never get to tell you now." She whispered.

No matter if she was a coward or not anymore, she knew she probably would not escape the Capitol now, she would never see her again... She would never tell her how much she meant too her.

Athena felt tortured by such a thought, having been quite selfish until the moment the choice is made for her once again with the inability of her coming back from it.

She sighed, knowing this was just the start of hell.

-----------------------------------------------------

Johanna was shocked but not too numbness, she was shocked too anger, hot blazing anger, lashing out at who caused it.

She had waken up on a hovercraft, that bothered her less then the events that happened before and after that moment.

From before she woke up there was how some tribute attacked Wiress and Mags, injuring the old lady's arm and stabbing Wiress and she ran after them only for them to run into the force-field that killed Blight and die, for her to find Finnick who ran off after Peeta that took off, thinking that boom was Katniss dying, and drag Finnick back too the tree to help the ladies. After they were stable, suit arms cut to create improvised bandages, Katniss almost shot them before shooting up and blasting them all with the lightning.

And after she woke up, realizing almost all of the group was here tho not seeing Peeta, Katniss nor Athena, seeing Katniss being tranquilized and pass out before carried away and getting told by a man awfully unable to stop smiling despite the situation that Athena and Peeta were in the Capitol with other mentors and victors either killed and took along, basically telling Johanna how all those she saw in this hovercraft were the only remain free and sure to be alive victors.

Oh how she had picked up an unused chair and hurled it at the man, wanting to jump at his throat and she would have if Finnick hadn't grabbed her.

His arms strongly around her waist as she shoved and screamed, wanting to be let go, to gut that man, just how dare he say that?!

She yelled and yelled, ordering them to go back for her, to not leave her behind.

And nothing could be done.

Nothing.

They abandoned the two of them in favor of them.

And now those two and many others.

They were all in the grips of the Capitol.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/UFSvTyiwxtk

"I don't need claws to cause damage!" She had her numb fists raised, trembling from the cold that ate its way into her bones.

But the peacekeepers said nothing, just walking in.

"Back off!" She swung at the first. "I will not do what you want!"

-----------------------------------------------

Johanna didn't like it in 13.

Cold with no life, people also the same, filled with hate and suspicion.

She freaking killed for their cause and they dare doubt her loyalties.

She never knew 12's escort, Effie, but she suspected she was on their side since she was brought along... And yet she was treated with so much hate.

Everything was so dull too, mud browns, ash blacks and smoke grays, no life in between these bunker walls.

She even saw someone take a bit more food then allowed and get beaten for disregarding the rules.

As explosive as it would be, she knew Athena would swing once and people would back off, she is still a career, she could stand up too people.

They were all treated like broken goods, left to roam and to do nothing and some of them were, Katniss either a mute or screaming too herself, Finnick rocking back and forth, repeating that they should all have died and herself a firecracker the moment something annoyed her.

"This is shit." She said, stirring the ugly porridge looking thing in front of her, it was lumpy and grayish. "How do they want us to fight for them in the future if they feed us baby food?"

"Better then nothing." Finnick said, too exhausted from the events to bother with it, spooning the food into his mouth.

"Even 12 had better food." Katniss whispered, all over the victors sitting around the same table in the chow hall, once again put aside from the rest of the population and segregated, showing off that 'look, we are the victors' all over again.

"What did you expect?" Wiress asked, as disgusted with the food as Johanna but still slowly eating it, the taste bearable but it was bland. "13 is underground, they don't really have access too sunlight to grow crops."

"It taste like sawdust." Johanna said, dropping the spoon, grabbing her head. "So Everdeen, how does it feel? Too lose what you care about the most?"

"Johanna." Finnick warned as the young girl bitterly dropped the spoon, hunger fading as pain clutched her stomach in a vice grip.

"Just asking, because for me it quite hurts. She should have just killed you, you know? Instead of getting caught."

"Johanna!"

"Don't protect her Finnick! She is the cause of all of this and you know it! They fucking have Annie! Do you not blame her?!"

But before any of this could go on, the big screens in the hall turned on, the Capitol logo flashing bright and yellow on a red background before revealing Caesar, host of the hunger games but his usual smile was gone, he looked solemn and calm.

"What's this shit?" Johanna said, turning on the bench to look at it, being seat with her back to it.

"Hello. Good evening." He greeted the silent watcher, not a fly was heard in the hall. "And a big welcome too all in Panem. I'm Caesar Flickerman and whoever you are, whatever it is you're doing, if you're working, put down your work. If you're having dinner, stop having dinner because you are going to want to witness this tonight."

He held his hand out and the camera shifted, Johanna chocking on air as she heard a slam on the table, looking over enough to see Katniss stood and slammed her hands on the table in shock, she was shocked too.

Peeta was in an elegant white suit, sitting with a slight forced smile on an equally white couch and on the opposite side of the couch sat Athena, not as proper as the boy, seeming like she put up a fight to be put in this identical white suit, there were more creases too it, the tie was pulled loose, sleeve bunched up at the elbows, hair a shaken mess and the red patch on the bunched up suit part of her left sleeve stood out against the white around them: she didn't go willingly.

And even on their face it was visible, Peeta was calm and stoic, sitting with his back straight and hands in his lap while Athena had her elbow on the arm rest and leaning her head on the back of her hand, legs crossed at the knees and leaned back into the couch, the red stained arm resting in her lap as she drummed her fingers on her knees.

"There had been rampant speculation about what really happened in the quarter quell and here to shed a little light on the subject for us are very special guests. Please welcome Mr. Peeta Mellark and Mrs. Athena Hadley"

The two victors on screen glanced at each other for a moment before Athena gave him a nod, Johanna having no idea what that meant but Caesar went on.

"Talk us through what really happened on that final and controversial night."

"Well, first off, you have to understand that when you're in the games you only get one wish, it is very costly." Peeta said. "It costs your life. I think it costs more then your life." 

"How do you mean?" Caesar said. "What's more than your life?"

"I mean to murder innocent people, that costs everything that you are. You become a monster, you lose who you were, a murderer." 

"So you hold on to that one wish?"

"That night my wish was to save Katniss." Peeta said clearly. "I should've just run off with her earlier in the day like she'd wanted."

"But you didn't. Why? Were you caught up in Wiress' plan?"

"No, I was caught up trying to play allies." He glared at Athena who gave back a similar look. "And then they separated us and... That's when I lost her and then the lightning hit... And the whole force field around the arena just blew out."

"Yes, but, Peeta, Katniss is the one who blew it out."

"No." He refused to believe it.

"You saw the footage."

"No, she didn't know what she was doing. Neither of us knew there was a bigger plan going on, we had no idea."

"You had no idea?"

"No."

"And you? You were allies with Wiress."

"Well of course." Athena chuckled, leaning forwards. "Why do you think I did what I did? Brutus, Gloss, Cashmere, they were meant to die too the water but I took care of them myself."

"All right. Well, Peeta, Athena, there are many who find this suspicious to say the least. It seems as though she was part of a rebel plan. Do you think it was part of her to be almost killed by Athena? Or part of the plan to be paralyzed by lightning?"

"No, we were not part of any rebel plan. We had no idea what was going on." Peeta said again.

"All right I believe you Peeta but Athena, you were with Wiress, Johanna was in on the plan, you must have known something was up. How she planned to be a traitor."

"Oh please, that girl? She didn't know anything, Wiress? Sure but Johanna? She is too stupid for that." Johanna frowned. "She doesn't play allies and is brash."

"And you? You promised to kill Katniss, you almost did, when in the end you saved her from your fellow careers... Why?"

"Don't get me wrong Caesar, I despise her, too the core of my being but I realized something."

"And what is that?"

"That she is much more useful alive then dead."

"So is this admitting you were planning to rebel?"

She laughed, sounding so mad, standing from the couch and in turn, slamming her hands on the little table in between them, leaning in Caesar's face.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

The footage cut as she swung her fist, the Capitol logo coming up on screen.

There were uproars, something about how Peeta was a coward and how Athena was mad but correct... But Johanna couldn't hear them.

It felt like she could breathe for the first time in a long long time, they were alive, she was alive.

"She is still trying to protect you." Finnick told her. "It is almost amazing, swinging at a Capitol citizen on live TV."

"That's Thea for you." She muttered, watching the now black screen.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/gMHWUGjncHY

Athena was striped of her suit and thrown back in her freezer of a room in the basic short and T-shirt she previously had.

"I hope they all got to see that punch!" She yelled through the white walls, hitting her fist against it before hugging herself, already shivering.

She started walking circles even if she knew that keeping herself warm would be a futile task, she was still not going to lay down like a docile dog.

It was not long after that, or was it long? She had no sense of time. The door shifted open and she dropped her arms.

The several armed peacekeepers kept her from lashing out but despite looking relaxed, tension filled her body, ready to bounce if given the option.

"Back up." One said, without a helmet, looking like an old drug addict, the skin a sickly yellow, sunken in eyes and fallen flaps of old skin, the white mustache stained with whatever he took, almost bald with an ugly healed rash still visible.

She lifted her arms in surrender and took two steps back from the middle of the room, they were still more scared of her then she was off them.

What made her drop her smile was who was dragged in.

"Annie." She said, already knowing Peeta was here but realizing she too, it meant most of the mentors for the 75th were caught and that didn't please her at all, she dropped her arms with a glare.

Both gagged with what looked like tape tied around their mouth so tight that it made the skin bulge out in the gaps left, hands cuffed behind their backs and shoved too their knees with guns pressed to their head.

"You acted out against president Snow's mercy." The old guard said.

A parcel of the ground rose up too waist height and he pull out a syringe and set it on it before backing away from it.

"So you will be punished."

"Throw what you want at me, I won't break." Even if they'd use two other victors to try to make her resist less.

"These are the rules, this syringe can't be broken or we'll kill them." The guard said, playing on Athena's almost visceral need to protect, having conditioned herself too it. "It needs to be used but it can't be on you or we'll kill them."

She looked at him with fury.

"You love control so much? We'll give you control... Athena Hadley, who will you sacrifice?" He asked, waving too Peeta and Annie struggling against their restraints behind him, the girl sobbing while the boy looked mortified.

"You..." Athena whispered, staring at the syringe. "What even is this shit?!"

"You defied the Capitol long enough, refusing to follow orders so you don't need to anymore... That is... Unless you want to save them. Time is ticking, you better chose who you will inject or both will die.

"You monsters." She hissed, picking up the syringe and testing the tip on her finger as she looked at the greenish liquid, watching the little improvised platform sink back into the ground.

The little prick actually felt like someone had hit a nail through it.

"Trackerjacker." She breathed out, only that could hurt so much for so little, glaring at the guards. "You are insane if you think I'll give this too either one of them!"

"So be it." He snapped, Annie's guard hitting her in the head with the butt of his gun before aiming down at her while Peeta's pulled him back and put the gun too his chin.

"Stop!" She called out, unable to watch this go through.

"See? We can cooperate... So who will you choose."

She grumbled but her hands holding the syringe were trembling, she'd be hurting one of them anyway.

She squeezed on her hands.

"I... Chose." She told the captive victors, taking a step over, guns aimed at her own head.

"You wanted control so badly, now relish in it."

She crouched down in front of Peeta, a hand on his cheek, feeling the tension in the tape under her hand and the tremble too his body.

"I'm so sorry." She said, she could never do that too Annie, she is too fragile, she'd never survive this ordeal.

She watched Annie be dragged out as she cried into the gag.

Peeta was strong, he had a good heart, he deserved so much more and she was throwing him under the bus for Annie.

She perceived a terrified nod as he looked into her eyes, she couldn't, breaking away.

"Good, now in the neck, I assume you know where too since, after all, that's your specialty."

"You'll be the first to die once I get out of here." She hissed, not pressing the air bubble out of the syringe before taking a breath and stabbing it in the vein that was into his neck, always seeing nurses make sure there was no air in the syringe, hoping that it would be lethal that she didn't get rid of it, so he wouldn't have to suffer for long. (I am not that nice)

The reaction almost came immediately, a scream of agony so loud that the gag barely held it, his body jerking up, trying to contort away from his own neck.

"I'm sor--" She was kicked in the chest, sent sliding away as the peacekeepers effortlessly dragged away the writhing boy, his screams filling the room and halls.

"From now on, you are in control of all their lives." The peacekeeper said, pointing at her as she sat on the ground. "each of your mistakes will reflect on them but don't worry, while you bend down and grovel like the dog you are, nothing will happen too them."

"Aaah!" She jumped out, trying a swing at him but the door-wall slammed closed and she just ran into it. "You bastards! Come back here!!" She beat her fist against the wall, in hopes someone would be stupid enough to open it, Peeta's screams now a loud echo through this hellhole.

She sank to her knees, hearing them louder then they probably were, an echo of her choices.

The illusion of control.

And how much she wished it would have really been an illusion.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/_XhLIXjUtFg

When under water.

Surrounded by the dark depths.

What makes someone hold their breath just for one more second?

Despite the agonizing pain, what makes humans hold out, suffer, push themselves?

It is knowing that the surface it not far.

But now...

Where's that surface?

Athena looked down at her feet in mounting horror she hadn't felt in a while.

Killing made her sick, it disgusted her, until her brother died.

Kill became a way to satisfy her anger after it, being the good little 2's victor, spilling blood, making sure no one else could hurt her then.

So to fall back to the first feeling was... Something.

"Go on Hadley, you are in control." Came the voice over the loud speaker built into the walls of the room she was in. "The choice is yours and only yours."

As white as the rest.

There was two people other then her in this room.

A child in Capitol clothes, holding what looked like a toy sword but still made of sharp metal, no older then ten but not scared, his rosy cheeks filled with pride and his eyes sparkling with joy of being here.

And then there was her.

Enobaria, another victor from 2, chained down too a chair, unable to move and gagged, hair cut off, looking beaten bloody, the child even finding amusement in whacking her with the sword, leaving a cut on her, her eyes tired and pained.

What choice was she given once again?

Oh yeah.

Either kill a woman she knew and has known for a long time from her district while she is chained down and can't protect herself, suffering her fate or kill a Capitol child tho one that didn't know better about the world and thought of this as nothing but a really gory TV show.

It should have been obvious, kill the child she didn't have any relations too.

But those blue eyes and that blond hair...

The Capitol should die, they all should die, but a child didn't know better.

"Can we hurry?" The child complained, not understanding the blood he split was real blood and not just some movie effect. "I wanna go home too my sister."

Athena swallowed the lump in her throat.

Such obvious choice being so hard.

"I'm sorry." Her voice broke, looping her arms around Enobaria in a hug, holding her head in her arms.

She closed her eyes... And snapped her head aside.

"Hell yeah!!"

Athena ignored the child while she carefully let go of the dead victor.

"Remember, this was all in your control." The voice reminded her again.

Why? Why even did she have to do this? Why was resisting to being manhandled that lead too this?

She looked at the haunting, still open, eyes of the dead victor, blame, blame seeping out of them like the deadly venom of a snake.

Because she fought back.... Because she did something... Because doing something lead too this.

She didn't feel the child made cut in her arm as the little shit laughed at this all.

She watched the body until she was turned away, letting herself be led away by two peacekeepers, too tired to put up a fit as the haunting eyes followed her all the way back too her room.

Only when the door closed did hers shed their first tears.

She crouched down, grabbing her face and crying into her hands.

The cold made the tears sting more but she didn't care, feeling the judgment of a dead woman weight on her shoulders.

No matter how strong or tall a mountain is, time always breaks it down, faster if that mountain is already fragile on the inside.

-----------------------------------------------

"See? Listening leads too good things."

That annoying voice said but she didn't look up despite being woken up with the water and the bucket it had been in being thrown down at her.

Yeah it lead her too a single day of leniency. 

Forced up too her knees and hands bent into her back before forced in inch thick cuffs to hold them there, the arms hooking around each of hers pulled her up.

"Now... Where were we?" He asked himself. "Oh yeah, where are the rebels hiding?"

Athena said nothing, she didn't know, but she didn't spit it in his face, so many things could go badly, she didn't want to end up choosing between Peeta and Annie's lives if she pushed it too far.

The silence didn't please the man, grabbing the back of her head and yanking it down while driving his knee up into her face.

She coughed tho only in surprised at the hit before her head was yanked up.

"You answer me when I ask questions!"

She licked her lips, feeling the blood run, taking her tongue into her mouth before spitting the bloody spit on his shoe with a grin.

"Oh yeah you find this funny? I'll show you funny."

He stepped back, grabbing something from a pocket and fiddling with it before the swing came.

It hit right in the middle, right under her rib cage, making her gag, hit just where she was taught to hit to make someone give up their stomach and its contents, but it hurt more then a simple hit would.

She clamped her mouth shut, despite not having eaten for days, the stomach acid lurched up, she wanted to spit it out but, stubborn as she was, she didn't give him the satisfaction despite the body wide disgust of swallowing it. 

"Yeah, you recognize these huh?" He showed off pretty little brass knuckles. "I'll have a happy little time with these and you since after all, all that is happening is because of your choices."

"Fuck you." She breathed out before she felt the impact too the side of her head.

"Make sure there is a doctor on standby." He said, her head spinning. "We wouldn't want to kill her for her own mistakes."

This will be a long day.

And Athena could tell and she did wish she had just died in that arena.

But at least, because of Caesar, she knew Johanna was alive, so she'll keep her mouth shut.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/cH_l4JRS8hY

Crimson... Oh how she'd come to hate that color soon enough.

Athena looked at the white walls, weakly flicking the puddle of red, flicking droplets on the vertical surface, wanting to paint it all red but the cold made the warm blood steam against the ground, solidify and dry rapidly.

All felt sore and numb in the best places, she couldn't tell if she had broken bones or not since all the feelings were blending into one, all she knew is that she was on the ground, black and blue, unable to move a muscle.

For once the cold of this room was a welcome despite the constant nightmares that kept her awake because of it if it wasn't for the shivering that chased the tears away.

Oh how she hated the sound of a door opening.

"Get up Hadley." The voice came. "You have the choice to come easily or the hard way."

Choice.

She hated having a choice.

Once wishing for freedom, three? Four? Or even more days of it made her regret ever wishing for it, all she wanted is someone else to make the choices finally... That way she wouldn't be to blame for what happened too others...

She pushed on her arms, feeling her elbows shake as she sat up, pulling up the T-shirt from the bloody ground, tearing it off the ground it froze too.

"Hurry up, or your little friends will need to be hurt again."

This control is bullshit, she doesn't want it! She wanted to be master of her own life! Not that of others! She was going mad with Peeta's screams, she was going mad with her own screams, why couldn't they all just be dead?!

She dragged her feet underneath her and stood with the strength of the wall holding her up. She must listen, she needs to listen, she need to be the little Capitol sweetheart again, that will save them, that will protect them, she must protect them, she can't fail them.

"Good girl." The hair on the back of her head stood up in a shiver of disgust but she gritted her teeth, this will protect them, she will not fail another, she will protect them.

She pushed off the wall with a deep breath.

------------------------------------------------

"Katniss Everdeen has consented  to be the face of our cause  to help unite the districts  against the Capitol.  In exchange, I have promised  several concessions.  First, we'll assess all opportunities  for the extraction of the victors  held hostage in the Capitol.  Once freed, they will be granted  full pardon for any and all crimes  committed against the rebel cause."

That was the only good news in 13.

Sure Johanna got to laugh at Katniss doing a shitty job at acting for a propaganda shoot and they tried to have her come along for a filming session in what was left of 12 but she turned it down, they ended up taking Mags for the 'sad old lady looking at death' shot they wanted to make which was a bit ghastly. 

"How do you think they are doing?" Johanna asked Finnick who was sitting with her in the mostly empty chow hall, only a few little groups around.

He was tying and untying a length of rope in all the different ways he knew, mind swimming but hands working.

"Dead." He said. "I wish they'd all be dead."

"But we both know they would never be that lucky."

"I wish I could be in any of their places."

"Yeah, I do to, I wonder what they'd do too me." (Oh sweet summer child.)

"I wonder what they are doing too them."

And almost as if summoned by Finnick's words, the screens turned on with the Capitol logo.

Sure this time Peeta was lacking from the screen but that's not what most took Johanna's attention.

Compared to her first appearance, there was much difference too Athena.

She held herself a little straighter, her outfit was neat and orderly tho creasing created as she had her arms crossed and legs at the knees, her hair in its eternal style but looking almost plastic in its perfect, not a hair out of place, symmetry too it and how tired her face and eyes looked. The drumming of her fingers on her upper arm also being a bit more agitated them at first.

"Dear watchers, with the constant rising threat of the rebels, we are here tonight with a spectacular fighter to tell us about what to expect from them."

"Well Caesar I don't know much about how the rebels fight per se but you know me, we 2 victors have a few tricks up our sleeves." She said with a little shrug as she uncrossed her arms, neither acknowledging their last meeting.

"She is playing it like Peeta." Finnick said as he watched. "Siding with the Capitol for some reason."

"Yeah but what would make her switch up this soon?" Johanna knew Athena as stubborn, a week shouldn't have been enough to break her, were they constantly torturing them? That thought made her shiver.

"Oh? Had the rebels never told you when you sided with them?"

"Well I promised you I'd kill Katniss yes?"

"Yes, yes you did."

"Well they wanted to kidnap and use her so they didn't really trust me that much sadly so I can only tell you a little. I knew they wanted to save us from the arena but they they only took three victors and abandoned me."

"She is lying, not one of us knew the extent of this all." Johanna sighed.

"Well, can you tell us about what you know?"

"Of course, what I know for sure is much of their forces have fled, having amassed in 12, meeting in the mines out of view and so when you heroically intervened there, they scattered, sadly I do not know where they went from there, Heymitch didn't trust me which honestly hurts."

"She is good." Finnick said, Athena looked calm and collected as she talked, with a few gestures of ease here and there.

"She played with a facade for most of her life, she just needs to put it on we'd be none the wiser."

"Wow, you hear that people, it hurts my heart to know 12 used its own victor for this ghastly act. But lets move on to protecting ourselves, what can you say on that?"

"Well from what I know they stole peacekeeper weaponry, even if they don't know how to properly use it, they can be dangerous. What I propose too our dear fighters against these rebels would be a long rang fight, we have better training, better aim, we'd take out several before they get close to touching us. If you need to go up in close quarters, a strong jab to the throat, that would put them out of commission."

"Ah of course the throat, oh you."

"You know me Caesar, the Reaper is cut throat, literally, that's my signature move." She shrugged, the smile never grazing her eyes, Athena looked like she just wanted this to be over.

"Well our time is reaching its end, one last advise before we say goodbye?"

"Maybe one." She looked into the camera. "Stay strong."

Johanna felt awful, knowing that those last few words were not meant for the Capitol, for the rebels or anyone else.

"Alright." She said too herself. "I'll be."

--------------------------------------------------

Athena was exhausted and in pain, and instead of being brought back too her room, she was pushed into a circular one with a man she didn't know.

She was out of the Capitol outfit, the man dressed the same as she was.

"Hadley, kill him." Came the voice.

"WHAT?!" The man yelled, instantly lifting his arms, she didn't know him so he must be from 1 or 4, this being a very basic fighting form that anyone could throw up with no prior experience but it was done too flawlessly to be someone that was not a career.

Athena looked at him, sighing, flexing her fingers as she lifted her arms.

She'd kill.

She'd kill him before he can even scream.

Because who knows what will happen if she doesn't make that choice...

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/rpP2JjFKthU

Athena could barely get any sleep before flashes of painful memories.

She rubbed her arm, scratching at the scabs.

What is worst then causing others pain? Willingly inflicting it on ones self.

"You know its time, you don't want to other choice."

She looked up at the man with hollow eyes. How long will this pain last?

She stood and held out her arm.

"Same choice as always." He said, almost disappointed. 

"Always." Her accepting this would save Peeta from it so each time she had the chance she'd do it, always.

It was like molten lead through her veins, sinking to her knees, holding her forearm.

She breathed through gritted teeth as the poison quickly traveled through it all.

"If you had just killed the right person you wouldn't be here."

She was literally breathing drool bubble in the corners of her mouth because of the little gaps it could drip out of, digging her nails into her arm and palm.

"You should listen, you are just a weapon."

What she hated the most was the hallucinations, seeing thing, death, how her own hands gutted and sliced.

"You are a monster."

And these words, they all influenced her mind.

"You killed him."

She fell on her side, biting wounds into her tongue or cheeks, she didn't know which, all that she tasted was blood.

"If only you just obeyed."

----------------------------------------------------

This felt like a routine.

Stepping in and unbothered by the fact she was faced with two people.

Julian she was familiar with, her pain in the butt escort, the man that hyped up 2 for the games.

The second, a bit less, Cinna? Maybe that was his name? She didn't care, all she knew was that he made that flaming mockingjay wedding dress and was fiercely loyal to his victor, having taken a nasty beating but still alive when she thought he was already dead.

Her mind was still woozy from the venom, swimming with blood and gore and her body ached, as if she was being crushed in a quarry cave in, feeling like all her organs wanted to squeeze out of her, she was tired of breathing.

She knew it by now, the whistle that replaced orders, telling her it was the time to make a damned choice.

She stretched her fingers, walking over.... And grabbed Julian, grabbing him in a headlock and pulling him against her chest.

She smiled as the man gripped at her arms and pulled, scratching at it while she squeezed on them hard.

Oh she smiled big, this man dared to bringing her too the 66th, too the 75th, he deserved to die, she would kill him nice and slowly.

It felt so good when his squirming stopped and he fell limp, it felt nice to finally kill him, he deserved it, he took her and her brother.

They all did, she would kill them all, they deserved it all!

To protect, to kill, to live... She'll do anything.

-----------------------------------------------

Her suit was a dark gray this time, she just wanted to sleep, to crawl into a hole and die.

Peeta didn't look better.

She kept zoning in an out, randomly answering when speaking too her but she just couldn't stay focused.

Peeta didn't look that good either, a similar shade suit and hollow cheeks.

She was so mad, still hearing his screams and unable to help him.

Her arms rested on the back of the couch, able to touch Peeta's furthest shoulder, he was sitting much more near too her now, by instinct drawn into the older sibling figure that would try to protect him and she accepted that.

She only truly focused in as the camera cut off and peacekeepers grabbed the boy and yanked him away.

"Athe--!" He was cut off by a shove, the cut off in her name shooting a lightning strike through her heart, Athy? He just said Athy?

Before she could think, she threw herself over the back of the couch and grabbed the man, throwing him away from Peeta.

"Don't touch him!!" She yelled, putting herself in between the Peeta that got thrown onto the ground and the several hostiles.

"Athe--" "Ssh!" She harshly hushed him, that cut off again. "It's fine." She promised the impossible. "I'll protect you Munchkin." She realized her own mistake but that pissed her off. 

She swallowed thickly.

"I'll get you out of here, just you wait." She whispered. "I'll protect you and all. I'll fucking kill them all!!" She yelled that at the white costumed men.

She swung a harsh left hook at the first peacekeeper that came at her and Peeta.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/aqdN3JRvR6c

What does a person do when they are offered a solution after so much hardship that living becomes a curse?

Do they let it go?

Do they ignore it?

Do they stop?

No.

And as much as that solution was torturous, they will hold on.

Holding onto the knowledge that this is better then before.

And so when the beaten and battered Peeta, terrified for his life, realized he could get a beast to protect him, he doubled down.

Athena screamed her lungs out in anger, pulling and yanking but unable to do anything, a thick cuff around her left wrist, the one that had struck out in the film station, was tied down on a length of chain.

"Athy!!!" Peeta had sadly learnt that that name made her willing to do all to protect him, more then she had previously done for him, and he was unable to let go of it, the scared child in agony that he was.

But his torture was her own, the door too her room was left open, letting her hear him clearly begging for her to help him, pleading, and once again she was unable too do anything, literally shackled too the opposing wall.

"I'll gut you all!!" She yelled, pulling so hard, yanking and twisting, blood was dripping around her wrist as she sliced the cuff into it as she pulled. "Leave him alone!!!"

She pulled and pulled, trying to pull herself across the ground, hell, laying on it as she slammed her fist down, still she was unable to do anything other then worsen her body's condition.

She yanked so hard she pulled herself back on the smooth ground.

"Dammit!" Getting on her knees as she grabbed the chain attached to the cuff, this one hand keeping her trapped here.

She bared her teeth, looking at it.

She needed to get out.

She has been wronged.

She's angry, so angry.

It was just about a stench, this hate, seeping into the air.

It burns within like a roaring fire at each scream of the familiar nickname.

A fire that will burn, burn others around her, she will bring them all down.

She just needed to be free.

She glared at her arm, bringing it up, fist tight.

But fate decided otherwise.

Before she could even attempt to try to rip into her hand with her teeth, she heard some familiar steps through the screams.

That man again.

"You are nothing but a mutt." He said, laughing as he saw what she'd be ready to do. "What desperate animal would gnaw their own paw off? Surely not one without a chance of escape."

She glared at him as he whistled too himself before pulling out something from behind him in his belt, throwing it to her.

"Choose well mutt."

And he left.

Tho she didn't care for it, looking at the tool.

She reached her hand out and grabbed the handle, lifting the hammer up.

She tilted her head too the side before another scream ripped through the air, grabbing at her heart.

She scrambled too her feet and too the wall, holding it tight in her shackled hand as she is a leftie, she pulled the chain taunt with the other and struck several times where the chain met the wall.

The hammer bounced off it, she was almost able to hear her tormentors laugh as it did no damage.

She sat back down, shifting her gaze too the cuff.

It was a two part one with an interlocking mechanism.

Passing the hammer into her right hand, a bit more nervous.

She palmed the ground, flat, giving a soft hit on the closing mechanism.

She did it a few times before taking a breath and giving a stronger hit, flinching but she hit the metal and felt nothing, still holding the breath, she hit again and harder.

Why was nothing changing? How was this stuff so hard?

"Break dammit!!" The metal against metal actually sparked from this last hit but nothing changed, only that it bounced aside and left a little sore spot on her hand as it fell back on it as she watched, defeated, as the cuff was just scuffed and nothing more.

Tho that soreness.

The hammer had skipped off gently from the back of her hand.

The ghastly idea came too her.

She couldn't break the wall.

She couldn't break the chain.

She couldn't break the cuff.

Her hold on the hammer tightened as cold sweat sat on her brows.

She could, on the other hand, break just that.... A hand.

She pressed her palm hard into the ground again.

She just needs to get her hand out of the cuff, that's a thumb broken to fold down and the hand bones for her pinkie, that way her hand would not be larger then her wrist and she could pull it out.

But thinking it was different from doing it.

"ATHY!!!"

But dammit, there was someone counting on her to save them!

She bite her tongue as she held her breath, rising the hammer high above her head.

Closing her eyes.

Hands trembling.

And swung down.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/ycaNXlmeMPU

Monsters.

All of them.

Monsters from the depths of the earth.

Athena stood in abject horror in the hallway outside of her room.

She couldn't even comprehend when she saw in front of her.

She had done that, too herself, for this?

"You really are stupid." She heard the laugh but couldn't react, staring at the recording box of Peeta's screams, sounding so fake now that she saw it.

The blood dripping from the wounds on her hand didn't bother her, hell, not even the fact of the agony of such breaks and how her making a fist with that hand too made the bones shift oddly.

There was no choice to make.

This was all for nothing.

She did this for nothing.

Sinking down too her knees in front of the machine.

The now silent laughing seemed to wrap around her, seep into her bones, weave through it all, all her being.

She leaned over the machine, bracing her fine hand on the ground.

And she smiled.

She reeled back her hurt hand with a chuckle.

Before smashing it down and into the machine, breaking the glass covering into a sparkling shower of the stuff.

"What are you doing?!" A pissed voice yelled, trying to yank her back as she laughed, driving her fist back into the machine, denting towards the middle once again, keys going flying.

She swung her elbow back, catching the young guards nose, voice breaking around the laughter as she threw him down with her weight and drove her fist into his face.

He swung up but she grabbed it with both hands even if any and all movements worsened the situation too one of them, the pain didn't matter any more, all she needed to do is kill.

Her choice needed to have a reason to be made.

She needed a reason!

She'll make a reason!!

She put her hand on the back of his elbow and while pushing in one direction, she jerked it in the other, popping the elbow backwards.

"If a choice is not to save!" She grabbed her broken fist in her other and lifted them over her head with a sick smile. "Then it is to kill!!"

Slamming down both fists into his face.

Letting go of her hand, uncaring that what she was doing was currently already making it hard to move with the misplaced pieces, she once again punched him with that one.

The tears didn't matter, her laughter rang louder then her tears could scream as they cascaded down her face in heavy streams.

One last hit before she was yanked off.

But she barely fought it, laughing her head off, breath hitching on a sniffle that would cut through as she was dragged away.

"I'll kill you!!" She leaned forwards, trying to push towards him. "I'll kill you all!! And even the Capitol will be happy!!"

-------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------

She looked with numb feelings at her hand.

Bloody stitches and black bruises ran across her skin because how dare someone representing the Capitol not look the par?

She watched the uncontrolled shake in it, having caused more nerve damage then her training with claws had already done, losing all feelings in her pinkie and ring fingers, actually having punched either the guard or the machine hard enough to keep on breaking her hand.

She chuckled too herself, this was a worthy choice.

It felt nice to beat in their face.

And she decided to do that, it was in her control, it was her doing, her actions, her choice.

She heard the door shift open, looking away from her hand that looked like a chew toy that went through the shredder.

"Back off mutt." The old guard told her. "You have gone too far this time." He looked piss. "STOP SMILING!!" She was sitting on the ground but the slap that came sent her falling over, hissing only as the pain in her hand was not quite on the forefront as she fell on it.

She looked up at him, grinning, a trickle of blood running down from her mouth too her chin.

"Hahaha~." She laughed a little. "Look who's angry now~."

"I don't understand how president Snow can be so indulgent with you."

"What are you on about?" She rolled her eyes, hugging her knees, the eternal cold of her room, oh how she missed it when it bothered her, she almost welcomed it as it meant being out of spot light for promos.

He just held up a transparent hologram creator and clicked it before throwing it down, a pre recorded video of Snow behind nicely seated behind of a desk came up.

It read 'Live recording redifusion' in the upper left of the screen.

"Dear Panem, tonight I am joyful to announce the capture of two of the victors that have betrayed us."

Athena got on her knees, face getting all up in recorded Snow's as two portraits came up next too him.

"Tonight we have caught up with Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason on a mission too 6, their mission was unclear tho but that's not what I call you here for."

Two figures with bags over their heads were brought in as the camera unzoomed, the figures pushed to kneel down by peacekeepers.

"No...." She tried to grab at the recording. "No.... No, no no no nononononono!! NO!!" she swiped at it.

"Tonight we assist with joy too the execution of those we loved but who betrayed and hurt us."

"AAAH!!!" Athena screamed as the guns were put against the covered heads and the trigger pull created two loud bangs as the bodies fell over.

"You see? The president loves you so much he wanted to show this too you."

Athena felt like she was suffocating, trapped in a room without air, eyes wide as she stared at the ground.

"How nice of him right?" He tilted her head up, marveling in the loss of reason and hope in her eyes with a smile before pushing his hand on her face and shoving her.

She fell too her side but felt too numb to move.

There was a scoff before feet shuffled out and the door closed.

Minutes? Hours? She didn't know but time passed despite the never dimming light of the room, the buzzing of it like chalk on a board.

And she screamed.

Screamed until her voice broke.

Until she broke.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/GLgzgFAc2Hw

Athena.

Mutt.

What did it matter anymore?

No one was waiting for her, they killed them.

They took those she had left outside and how many had they killed and not shown her? She didn't care.

And yet still.

"I don't know." She said, looking up at the ceiling, a void instead of her heart, uncaring that the old guard was mistreating her fractured hand, probably breaking it again? She couldn't exactly feel it. She just felt the shock on the stomp go through it.

"Where are they?!!! Where are the rebels!!!" Alarms were actually sounding since he was never meant to take it too such extremes, was it his boot cracking under that stomp or a bone? She didn't know.

"I don't know."

The idiot, he had tried the other hand, he had kicked her head, stomped on an ankle, getting more and more mad that she was not reacting.

Getting even more mad as other guards were brought in to actually drag him away and pull, more like drag, her too her feet, a victor meant to show up on TV with disfigurement? How nasty would it be.

Plus the Capitol were not supposed to be brutes, seeing such a state for a victor? Unthinkable.

------------------------------------------------

"Cut them off, they'd look better that way." She carelessly had told them all but none cared for a word from her, her hands fitting more a cadaver then a living person but it didn't matter did it? Nothing did.

"She can't appear like that." The still heavily crippled Cinna (I need him alive, rejoice.) that walked with crutches that was tasked with creating an outfit for her.

"You will figure something out or you will be killed, you are so lucky that Tirgress has left or we wouldn't need a stylist like you traitor."

He sighed, looking at the puppet of a girl, getting back on with his job.

"Come on, cooperate."

"What for?" Tired, eyes so tired, hollow and sunken, soon not even the pampered on makeup would be able to hide how little they fed each victor or if they fed them at all. "I have no choice."

"There always is a choice in life." Cinna carefully measured the circumference of her wrist, he was actually surprised her hands hadn't just fallen off or anything, that guard's anger and what he heard of the whispered, what she did too herself, just leaving them a mess of blotched surgeries and bleeds it seemed. "You either accept the hand you are dealt with or fight."

"There is no god reason in fighting."

"Is there not? You want to die a martyr? Someone to pity? Or fight the odds and triumph?"

"Triumph? There is no use for that."

"Is there not? Some people are still waiting for you to go home."

"Everyone home is dead."

"And will you let their memories rot? If you give up, no one will stay to remember them, forgotten in the rot and dust left on a battlefield... Grief never leaves, you just live with it, you survive, but if you give up, not even that can persist and their story ends with you."

"Five minutes!" The guards called, either too far or uncaring about what they heard.

She closed her fists, gently holding them together, without a plaster cast it was extremely easy to misplace a bone with the slightest movement but the Capitol didn't care, they'll just slice in or yank it back in place for her.... She even started doing it, that left hand thumb not liking to stay corrected.

Fighting was useless.... So why did she actually keep saying that she didn't know?

Because Johanna would have.

A smile twitched onto her makeup covered battered face.

Athena is an older sister.

Older sisters protect.

She still has two to protect.

She still has memories to protect.

She'll give up when there is nothing left to protect and, she knew, she'd always find something as sad as this is.

"I get why Katniss liked you." She literally only saw the man once before she killed 2's escort to save him and Katniss did sound really proud of him being her stylist when she talked about the mockingjay dress, as if they were friends which was probably true.... Athena could have used a friend...

He just smiled at her.

-------------------------------------------------

13 bustled as the Capitol logo came on screen.

Johanna had actually been venting anger, not by talking oh no.... By hacking a training dummy up in pieces of colorful little foam pieces.

She wiped the sweat off her forehead and leaned against the remaining dummy, being alone in the training room as she watched.

Peeta looked so sickly, a tremble visible through the screen, and this time he was sitting so close to Athena that just one more inch and he was in her lap, with the girl having an arm around his shoulder, legs crossed with her leg crossing over his, her unused hand on her lap, almost putting herself between the boy and Caesar, their outfits an even darker grey then before and she wore simple gloves this time but the tremors in them couldn't be hidden, them being worst in the left hand.

"Tonight." His voice was shaky, barely hiding terror in it, Athena shifting her arm and making him lean more into her. "We've received reports of derailed trains, of granaries on fire and of a savage attack on the hydroelectric dam in district 5."

"What did they do to you..." Johanna whispered, wanting to reach through the screen and grab Athena in her arms.

"I'm begging for restraint and decency. We interrupt your regularly scheduled horse manure to bring you--." The signal glitched with Katniss and her singing coming on screen.

She had heard Wiress and Coin talking about bypassing the systems to try project what they filmed in 12 into the Capitol but it worked a bit too well, Peeta looking really worked up as Athena grabbed his shoulder hard.

Johanna shivered, there was a weird bend there because of the grip strength, did those monsters hurt her hands? Is that why they are hidden?

"Katniss?" Peeta whispered, almost in a dream like stupor."K-Katniss, are you there? Katni--" "Peeta, please continue. You were telling us about these savage attacks." Caesar cut him off, making the boy focus on him but it seemed so hard to do. Johanna noticing that in Athena's last two appearance she was much more mellow, never speaking out or reacting unless asked too, either forced too silence by others or by herself.

"Yeah. The attack on the dam was a callous and inhuman act of destruction...Think about it. How will this end? What will be left? No one can survive this. No one is safe now. Not here in the Capitol, not in any of the districts." 

He looked at Athena who looked uncertain suddenly and took her arm off, uncrossing her legs and sitting up normally.

Johanna tensed, this smelt fishy.

"They're coming Katniss!" Peeta quickly said, Athena's fist swinging into view, punching a peacekeeper that tried to grab the boy that ran too the camera and grabbed it, focusing it on him as Athena in the background grabbed the second peacekeeper that tried to grab the boy to pull him away. "They're gonna kill everyone and in District 13 you'll be DEAD BY MORNING!" He was grabbed, the camera falling over, showing the guard slam the boy down. "Athy!"

Johanna's hair stood on ends at the nickname, biting her nails as the mentioned woman's phenomenal kick despite the situation kicked the peacekeeper off, the footage terminating at the moment, on a freeze frame of the kick and then the logo showed up.

She stared at it, wishing there was something she could do.

After a long silence the door was slammed open, making her look at it.

Seeing an out of breath Finnick there before he came and hugged her.

"Let me go you Fish-brains!" She said, shoving on his chest but he held tight.

"Ssh, it's okay to cry."

"I am not crying idiot." She denied the salty streams on her face.

----------------------------------------------

"I'll kill you bastard if it is the last thing I do!" She was dragged back into her room and thrown in.

"I should kill you!!"

"Do it!! Do it you coward!! It is a shame that you are from 2!! I wish all your pathetic family would be rotting ten feet underground!!" She yelled back with quite a bite.

"Keep that insolent mouth shut!!" He kicked her over and, purely to cause pain, stomped his foot down on her right hand, those were her weapons yeah? What better then to take away some mutt's means of fighting then to break their weapons?

"Fuck you!! You bring shame to all of 2!!" She yelled through gritted teeth, eyes sparking with hateful hope for his death if nothing more.

"You are the most most awful little bitch I've ever met!!"

"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!!"

"You mutt!! I'll teach you to speak back to me!!"

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/1rwCSBf7yLI

She hummed too herself.

The lyrics long forgotten but the melody of Katniss' song catchy.

A necklace of hope? Tho that sounded weird, was the one only words she remembered from it.... If she would have written that song she would have put necklace of rope.

"Get up mutt."

She did it without fighting, her outburst having consequences that would never leave her side.

She exited the room, four armed peacekeepers leading her along, outside of that freezer of a room it almost felt too warm for her.

She was shoved into another room after the long walk.

She looked down, the ground was not slick and shiny, but it felt like white scratchy concrete under her feet.

She lifted her arms when a door slid open, she was used too..... T-this...

She stumbled back as if she had been punched and it felt like that.

She recognized that type of mutt.

She had seen it play a gruesome part in destroying her life.

The beast a mix of human features and dogs-like, dirty blond fur covered most of its body that was slightly more human like then in the 74th games, more correctly proportioned, those blue eyes and that collar: 2.

She took a shaky breath.

"A-ah." Was all she could say, barely being a word, just a sound of shocked agony.

She held out her hand.... Cato?

She took a step closer as the mutt sniffed around before looking at her, eyes piercing her chest, how was he alive, she saw him die.... Her baby brother... Her Munchkin...

She reached a trembling right hand out, the mutt smelling it as it looked at her.

It leaned closer.

"Aaaaathy." A guttural growl came, if they can make jabberjays this should not have been a surprise but it was, a lethal surprise too her comprehension.

Tears in her eyes, the ghost of a smile coming alive as it leaned towards her hand.

And sank it's fangs in.

It yanked with contained rage, sending her down as it tried yanking her hand off her wrist, shaking its head hard as it bite down with all its strength.

She flipped herself under her arm and looped her legs around the neck of the mutt, closing her eyes as she squeezed her legs together.

The beast snarled out out her nickname 'Athyyyy', making the tears fall as she refused to look at it, able to convince herself it wasn't Cato up until she jerked her legs too the side and grabbed it under one knee while with the other she put it on the shoulder and shoved, hearing a crack and it slumped over.

She sat up, pushing back from it, a choked sob coming through as she got too her knees and touched the dead body of her brother.

She killed him, fuck, she killed him.

She looked up at the camera and heard a quiet 'shlik', looking back forwards quickly but not seeing a body anymore.

She jerked in anger as she heard the door open, ready to beat a peacekeeper to death but.... In walked Cato?

The mutt looked exactly the same, was she going insane? Didn't she just kill him? How is he alive?!

She stood again as it sniffed the air as it dragged a chain wrapped around its throat.

"Athyy..." It growled just like the first did, in that distorted voice of her little brother.

Despite it all, what just happened and her mind spiraling.... She held her hand towards it.

But before anything else could be done, it made a dog bark and lunged, smelling blood.

She jumped aside, avoiding fang and claw but the chain snapped in her hand, by instinct she grabbed on it.

She braced her feet down on the ground as the mutt pulled the other way, her holding the chain with two hands doing some more damage too both of them but she didn't care, she had Cato, even if for a moment, she had her brother back.

But that moment would lapse and be gone.

The mutt launched and she looped the chain once more around the throat and kicking it down in the back, pulling on the chain, pulling a tight loop.

She bit her cheeks as tears spilt over, pulling harder, why was it taking so long?!!!

The mutt swung back only once and only left a cut on her leg, slowly suffocating it.

She dropped the chain once she was sure it wouldn't move and backed up, crumbling too her ass, staring at the body, having killed her brother a second time.

She covered her face with her hands, looking through the gaps left by her fingers.

She dropped her head, closing her eyes and hearing the same noise again, quickly looking up.

B-but the body was there! She is sure! She just saw it! She just did it! She just... Why? Why is he alive again? Why is her brother here again?

She shakily stood up, barely having the strength too as the mutt looked at her, tilting its head in wonder. She was truly going mad.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!!!!" And she screamed too the point no one would be surprised if she would have torn her vocal cords as that one charged at her because of the noise.

-------------------------------------------------

How many? How many times has she killed her brother? Or had she never done it? Had she finally lost it.

The mutt just looked at her as she swung at it, whimpering as she struck, white outfit, her skin, her fists, drenched in the bloody of the many mutts.

She was silently crying as she grabbed the head of this one and twisted it, silencing the distressing whimpers, it had only wanted her to protect him, never lifting a paw to attack.

She sat back, trembling, watching the body with hawk eyes, having realized that as long as she watched it, it was there.

If she kept watching it, she was sure it would be real.

Her eyes stung, Cato didn't attack her, he whimpered in fear, he wanted to be saved and what did she do? What did the big sister that should protect her little brother do? She killed him, he was looking for her love and she killed him.

She grabbed her face again, covering her eyes, willing the nightmare to start again.

Athena was going mad, she felt it.

There is nothing left that she can do but she still struggles in vain like an idiot!

She hates herself.... So so much.

She looked up, once again the mutt, her brother, her mad mind, once again alive.

She sat there, broken, offering her surrender, not reacting as it got closer.

Come on! Just one bite! And this is all finally over!

But it never came.

The mutt licking her face like a dog would as more tears dripped down her face.

She reached up, circling his neck with her massacred hands, too weak to squeeze or even lift them for long, falling back too her side.

"Athy..." The thing whispered.

And she just cried, cried like a little child, crying like she hadn't cried in a long long time.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/5Y7OiryM9c4

When Heymitch announced that there was a rescue underway, Johanna almost fell out of her chair, stunned by the news that came out of the blue.

Sadly the rescue team had already left, Heymitch probably suspected that if he told anyone that the girls and Finnick would have volunteered to go in a heartbeat.

"This is Finnick Odair. Winner of the 65th Hunger Games and I'm coming to you from District 13, alive and well. We've survived an assault from the Capitol but I'm not here to give you recent news."

"Why is Finnick doing a propo?" Katniss asked, everyone looking up at the screen.

"It's a lot more than that. Beetee's system is complex but Wiress cracked the code and she commandeeres the system currently." Heymitch said.

"Now that they're down to generator power there's a more limited range of frequencies available too them and I'm filling them all up with Finnick. Not many will see it, but whoever does will think it's another propo. What they don't know is this broadcast is jamming their entire system with noise. Early defense warning, internal communications, everything as long as the broadcast goes through, our team should be able to get in and out undetected." Wiress explained in a voice that told of her just telling a rehearsed speech, as if she quoted her old mentor's words.

"The moment you leave, you're a slave... President Snow used to sell me or my body, at least. I wasn't the only one. If a Victor is considered desirable, the President gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them. If you refuse, he kills someone you love."

Johanna knew very well, she had lost her family to refusing such an offer.

"Those that are sold aren't called that, it would be too much for the Capitol, no, they put us on a podium, sweethearts."

Johanna needed to grab the railing to stay standing, legs almost buckling under her.... Wasn't Athena referred too as a Capitol sweetheart?

"You all know me well but know my fellow victor better, Athena Hadley of the 66th Hunger Games, she has long been the highest regarded sweetheart and Snow knew, selling her for any amount. She'd even protect me from it when she could, a finely crafted persona, taking the people interested in me away with her, giving herself in my place."

Johanna wasn't sure if it would be her knuckles or the metal railing that would break first and she almost bet on the railing... Oh my.... All for Cato.... It all makes sense... Those wounds, those scars, those words... Oh fuck...

"See, she and I know all the depravity, the deceit and the cruelty of the Capitol's pampered elite but the biggest secrets are about good President, Coriolanus Snow."

She could barely hear Finnick, rewatching all her memories like a film almost, how could she have never known? How Athena refused to give up control when she could have it because she didn't otherwise. How she protected the others while sacrificing herself. How she was drowning under the waves while she held them all above the water and still refused a breath, fearing it is wasted on her... All of that with a heart broken smile and a fake her on the surface... She tried to protect them from the truth, protect all from it, suffering alone with the knowledge of what she lived through.

"Such a young man when he rose too power. Such a clever one to keep it. How, you may ask, did he do it? One word. Poison."

And now she was in the hands of the Capitol, just what did they do too her? Johanna wanted nothing more then to do anything instead of blindly listening on.

"He stopped every mutiny before it even started. There are so many mysterious deaths too adversaries. Even too allies who were threats. Snow would drink from the same cup, to deflect suspicion but antidotes don't always work, which is why he wears roses that reek of perfume. Help cover the scent of blood from sores in his mouth that will never heal b ut he can't hide the scent of who he really is. He kills without mercy.  He rules with deception and fear. His weapon of choice is the only thing suited to such a man. Poison. The perfect weapon for a snake."

"The signal is jamming."

But Johanna was too lost in her mind to truly acknowledge that she saw Snow, heard Katniss cry about them all dying and also losing connection into the Capitol, she was just unable.

Oddly enough.

This reminded her of the broken window in her tribute days.

How Athena had swung through it and it still seemed to be so strong but barely had she touched it and it crumbled.

She feared that that window was Athena.

And broken glass can never be fixed without marks left behind on it.

Many little pieces lost.

Many others not fitting.

An impossible puzzle.

She just hoped that Athena would be alright.... Whatever 'alright' could be right now.

"I am so sorry." She whispered too herself.

If only this nightmare could end instead of it seemingly just begin.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/cPFkg3JlHwU

"You know, he was an old fool for wasting you."

Athena didn't know why she had a new main tormentor but she didn't care.

"Now up." The much younger one said, already undoing his belt. "You can refuse but it wouldn't be a wise choic--" The lights turned off almost on beat when he dropped his pants. "What the?!"

A choice.

Oh how she hated choices.

But.... She chose death!

Feeling her hand catch the side of his face in complete darkness and slam down.

---------------------------------------------------

The wait was so long.

So agonizingly long.

Johanna counted the neon lights in the hall, there are 25, 26th was burnt out.

She counted the tiles from door to door, 126, 53rd and 76th were cracked.

She counted the amount of times a doctor or a nurse ran passed them because they forgot to prepare something for the arrivals, 34, 12 time for the nurses, the rest the doctors.

The amount of time Heymitch checked on them all, 12.

How many times Finnick threw his rope in frustration before picking it up, 6.

How many times Katniss sat down before standing back up, 18.

How many times she started to bounce her leg in mounting worry, that being a constantly rising number.

It was so long of a time to wait.

That was until a seeming hoard of nurses ran and pushed by.

Katniss was up right away, followed by the rest of them.

The first they saw was Annie, through the opening door, the girl looking thinner then before but what they would soon see, the least hurt.

"Finnick!" She screamed, pulling out the IV's they just about placed into her arm and ran too him, jumping into his arms as he grabbed her, tightly squeezing on her.

Johanna looked around as a closing door, since there was no other people around, that must be who she is looking for but the brash dude that wasn't her favorite stopped her: Gale.

"I wouldn't advise you to go in there."

"Let me go bastard." Tho words did prove too her tho that her instincts were right, who she was looking for was there and now the way was blocked.

"I am serious, let them do their job if you don't want her to split your skull in two." He said, shoving her back to be sure she wouldn't get too the door.

"What the hell Gale?" Katniss asked.

"Katnip trust me and keep your axe friend out of her lady's room."

"Or what?" Johanna asked angrily.

"Or what? Or what?! She killed one of the volunteer rescuers for a mutt that's what!"

Johanna blinked, despite the chaos it sounded so silent around them.

"So let the narcotics take their effects before you get in there if you don't want to be gutted."

"What?" Johanna asked.

"What the hell lead to that?" Finnick said, holding Annie still.

"How would we know? She was not chained down like he was but there was a mutt, Fritz tried and shot at it, sending her into a fury I have never witnessed and she was on him before we could do anything and when we finally got her off it was after she crushed his windpipe with her bare hands. We were forced to manhandle her and the mutt into the stealthcraft because she'd fight back each time the mutt was removed or threatened."

"A Capitol mutt can be tracked."

"We thought so too, terminating the programming and making it nothing but a living breathing puppet, we thought that would stop things, only made her almost throw Boggs out of the stealthcraft which, I remind you, is supposed to be bulletproof and she smashed her hand up to break a window out for that task. She'd lash out too every little thing going astray." 

"You were.... Harsh." Annie whispered. "You grabbed and pulled, don't fault her."

"You needed to get out!" She flinched at Gale's yell.

"Back off dude." Finnick's held up finger bumped into his chest and he pushed back. "Don't talk too her like that."

"All she was trying to do was protect us." And she started crying at her words so hard that Finnick needed to hold her so that she didn't collapse.

"Where's Peeta?" Katniss asked, fearing they hurt him too, Gale just pointing too the left and she ran off.

"I'll follow her." Heymitch told them.

"I am going in there and I don't care for the dangers so back off or I will go get that axe Wiress promised to make me." Johanna said.

Gale rolled his eyes before stepping aside before walking away, marching too the elevator.

"Hey!!" She yelled at him, making him turn too her.

"What?!" He felt frustrated but she didn't care.

"I hope it hurts!"

"Wha--" The elevator's closing door smacked him in the shoulder with no remorse, showing his glare through the glass sides.

She looked back too the door, taking a deed breath and opening it only the get more pissed at Gale, this is a fucking hallway not a room, she could have come in here.

She left the door ajar, not bothered by it but what she was bothered by was the mentioned mutt.

Sure without the Capitol's control it was nothing more then a sack of flesh and bones mutated to fit the gamemakers needs but she recognized this one.

"Oh Cato...." She breathed out, feeling sick just at the sight of such crude copy of the boy and just wondering how far they would have pushed it, like... The Capitol was not that nice, they wouldn't only torture Athena with showing this mutt too her.

She rounded the corner, only one door at the back of it, how nice of 13 for isolating her, must be something that they didn't do in the Capitol... Johanna wanted to tear walls down that's for certain.

She grabbed the hastily printed medical chart that was hanging taped to the door of the only door here, it was filled with spelling mistakes and still warm from the print, a hasty signature from doctors.

(*Cracks my fingers*)

Heling orbittal fracture.
Healing carpus and metacarpus fratures.
Curent carpus and mtacarpus fractures.
Nerve damage in hands and phalanges.
Anemia.
Blunt fore trauma.
Heematmas.
Healing rib fractures.
Bite wunds.
Puncture wounds.
Lacertions.
Cuts.
Muscle leesions.
Musle tears.
Skin lesions.
Infectin.
Frostbitte.
Hypthermia.

(Okay so I listed all I could think off from the top of my head but if I forget a thing do tell me so I can complete the list higher up.)

And that... That was just the surface level marks left with spelling mistake shitshow. Despite her mind working at a slower pass, there was the constant nagging that this was not all that was wrong, that mutt proves it.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to look away as she grabbed the door knob.

"When we see each other."

That was the last thing they said to each other. 

Wondering.

What this meeting would be like.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/JOSu8GRnuZM

The room smelt horrible, not because it stank but because the smell of medicine and disinfectant was overpowering.

The lights were too bright, the walls too white, all too perfect.

Johanna had little to no doubt that despite this being 13, the Capitol had taken note of how these rooms looked.

She needed to shield her eyes as she stepped away from the door and turned the lights off, the loud machines in the room, drumming and beeping away giving off enough light already to see comfortably.

The tubes and cables were pulled out with some blood on the needles ends so it was truly not hard to hard to guess the drugs did not do their job.

Since Athena was not in the room and there was a knocked out nurse on the ground tho the room was closed before, the bathroom connected to it was the last spot to check.

Since the nurse didn't seem to suffer much, Johanna left her there and walked to the door and did the worst choice she has for a while, she didn't knock.

Oh no she didn't knock, in her haste she just threw the door open as it opened outwards towards her.

She had not seen much but what she did feel was caught on her cheek bone on the right of her face and sliced until it skipped off her nose, keeping the movement up and stabbing into the door.

She barely registered that that Athena had pulled the glass shard, or the not broken part, out of the wood and swung down with a wild look, teeth bared and a swing to kill.

She threw up her hands in hope of catching her hand, the strength which Athena worked with was immense, Johanna catching the arm but knees buckled and causing her to fall over and down, the blood from breaking the mirror and then squeezing the glass in her hand sending blood droplets flying around.

In her fall, Johanna jerked her hands too the side, leading Athena to stab the glass down into the tiled ground, breaking and shattering it in smaller pieces.

She swung out, a solid fist in the side of her face and pushing herself away, kicking her in the chest.

Athena grabbed her leg and went for a twist but she turned with it, keeping her ankle safe but jamming her other foot in Athena's throat to push her back.

"It's me dammit!" She shoved on her trapped leg to free herself and pushed away with her leg on her throat.

The crazed woman, looking lost in another world glared with fury, bringing her feet under her and jumping from her sitting stop.

Johanna jerked backwards but was slammed face first into the ceramic tiles by her shirt before a hand clasped down on the back of her neck and lifted it enough to slide another around the front.

She slammed onto her back as she grabbed as a hand with one arm and pushed on Athena's face with the other.

She shifted her leg around and threw it back, succeeding in pulling it back enough to hook it around Athena's neck at the knee because of how close she was and pull it back, locking her foot under her other knee.

But Athena is a career, she is stronger despite how frail and weak she looked.

She is pushing back against the pull, smiling as Johanna just about could keep her far enough away to leave a gap to breath under the insane squeezing force, pulling her head backwards to add too the little gap.

"Please... Stop... Thea."

Johanna let out a little cry as she slammed her head into the ground and kicked her leg so hard into the ground she felt it go sore right away, all resistance gone and by consequence, she almost hit Athena's head back into the tiles.

"Are you alright?!" Johanna said, scrambling up, not understanding the sudden switch up but she wouldn't have the time to understand as through the two doors she left open and the hallways, a voice was heard, tho faint because of the distance it was there: Athy.

The woman completely ignored Johanna, shoving passed her and running out of the room as if her life depended on it.

"Wait stop!!" She scrambled after her, sprinting as the other victor seemed to have strength once again.

She got out just in time to see the commotion, Athena grabbing the top and bottom of the back of a bullet proof armor wearing man and had thrown him out of the room as Peeta was screaming his head off, guards dragging him off an unconscious Katniss.

Athena bodychecked the first man holding him away before punching the other in the face tho two snaps were heard.

Peeta instantly tried to jump back on Katniss but she grabbed him in a chock hold, holding an arm around his throat and one on top of his head as she held on her own arm as an anchor and dragged him backwards without squeezing.

"Let me go!! She needs to die!! She'll kill us all!!" Peeta's screams filled the hall as he swung wildly, trying to beat Athena away from him but she just ducked her head down, his fists hitting the back of her head instead of her face as she backed into a wall and slid down with him.

His screams turned to terrified sobs as she held him in the hold, despite the confusion herself she knew something he didn't.

She can't let him kill Katniss or what happened was for nothing and he almost had, so she stopped him.

But her gaze was eye cold.

But if anyone dared to hurt him... They'll have a bloody end.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/vtNJMAyeP0s

The hall was only filled with silence and stopping of steps for a long while before the first person spoke up.

"It didn't work well with Peeta so why her? She is much more dangerous too her." Heymitch was actually the one saying that too Plutarch.

"Plus we don't know what has been done too them, Peeta we worked out Highjacking but Athena is a whole other beast." Wiress said, looking into the room through the one way mirror, the only reason Athena wasn't tied down like Peeta.... Well one of the two reasons was that she was just too much of a wild card to even risk lives on it, the second was just because she didn't bother trying to fight her way out as long as that mutt was not bothered and attack people like Peeta had and is.

She just sat on the bed, hugging her left knee and her chin on it, staring into nothingness.

This traitorous gamemaker wanted to once again risk Katniss' little sister with a tortured victor.

"But I believe that I can say for 100% that miss Hadley would never hurt the girl and she is the most tactful." Plutarch said. "Katniss can barely talk, Johanna has her face slashed so Athena might flip out that she did that, Heymitch she had not forgiven you for mentoring Everdeen, Wiress you know her but are not that close, Annie is locked up in her room with Finnick and Mags currently so a no go."

"And why would Prim be the best choice here?" Johanna asked not understanding either. "We can always wait for Finnick or Mags to be done, I am sure she'd even listen too that Cinna guy that was brought back."

"Yes maybe but what do we know about Athena? And Prim? Athena has gone through such a white room treatment, locked in, we should hurry to get her situated in 13 and Prim is a younger sister, Athena had a brother, she protects Peeta like if he was him, she protects the young."

"You are betting this on that? Her being young? You are insane Plutarch."

"Plus she just got screamed at by Peeta and that ended up badly, she could despise Prim for being Everdeen's sister."

"Guys I am right here." The girl said. "And I know the dangers, I watched the 74th and 75th too like all of us were forced too, I know why she could despise me but she saved Katniss more times then she should by claiming she'd kill her herself... This is the least I can do."

"So we all agree?"

-----------------------------------------------

Everything.

Everything was gone.

Everything that mattered.

Sure her hands were wrapped up but they were were numb.... No, not just numb, none existent. When something is numb the owner of it feels that it is numb and she has absolutely no feeling beyond her wrists, absolutely nothing.

She couldn't feel the punch, the break again, the grab, the throw, the cut, the touch, the cold, the heat, the wet blood... Nothing.

"The damage was so great and the help so little."

Was all that was said too her about her hands, before this she already had numbness in them but this was by far the worst of it.

And then there was....

She sighed, the Capitol took everything from her, once again reminding her with these that she is nothing else but her body, with now the inability to use anything else to interact with the worl--

The door, visible and not part of the wall here, swung open and in stepped a young but nervous girl, playing with a loose braid.

"Hi." She said, swallowing. "You don't know who I am but I'm Primrose and welcome to district 13." She said with a sweet little smile.

Athena offered the child a halfhearted smile, waving at the uncomfortable yellow hospital room chair for her to sit or pat the bed, inviting her too either spot, the girl choosing the chair for now.

"I know it is a big change but you are safe here, away from the Capitol, everyone got out. Peeta, you, Annie, Cinna and a few others but I don't know if you'd know them." Prim spoke to fill the silence in the room, trying to ignore the mutt that was scary despite not moving.

Athena nodded with the same half smile before lifting her hand too her own face, putting it too her face and yanking, leaving just a red line as she tapped it, looking at Prim.

"Johanna is fine, she told us that, I quote, 'Yah think a little scratch can kill me?'... She always had her ways with words huh?"

Athena chuckled a bit, laying her cheek on her knee.

It was hard to wrap her head around it, she thought it was another sick trick of the Capitol while she had actually almost killed the real woman... Just thinking about it made her stress.

"Can you answer a few of our questions? It would really help us understand what happened so that we can help everyone."

Athena gave her a sorry look with a smile that was more of a frown then anything else, shaking her head.

"Why not? Keeping it in will help no one, not Annie nor Peeta, not you."

She gave a scoff chuckle, leaning back and over, leaning into her face so fast Prim jerked back in fear but Athena did not do more, grinning wide.

She lifted a hand, grabbing her throat and shaking her head as she kept smiling that creepy smile.

"What? I don't understand." The girl said.

Athena shifted her hand, able to tell where her fingers were because of the touch she felt on her face, almost wrenching her own jaw open for the spectacle off it, pulling it down with her thumb.

The girl blinked before noticing something and sucking in a breath.

It was not that Athena wanted to be silent.

It was not that she stopped talking out of rebelliousness before the mutt incident.

It was not that she was tired of talking.

Athena couldn't talk.

Athena wanted too but she could not and would never be able too.

She'd never talk anymore since, after all....

An Avox can't talk.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/5NvUjGrwl_g

"So... Anything can be done here?" Prim asked since she still was in training, Athena was much more gentle with her then Peeta's outburst, just like how Plutarch predicted and for now she was the only human contact allowed.... Well until this morning she was.

"The damage is so great and the help was so little." The female doctor said, Athena turning to hostility when the male doctor had entered so they quickly switched him out.

Both the victor and the young girl hoped that there was something to be done with her hands, she didn't feel them at all, her right hand having a finger or two move as if they were on ratchets, unable to splay them wide, her left one had constant tremors, easily getting into cramps that locked up her hand and only then did she feel anything and it was pain, some movements she couldn't do and there was an outright reduction of maneuverability. "They will never be what they were before."

Athena dropped her hands when the doc did too, resting them in her lap, ignoring the shoulder squeeze from the younger girl.

She stared at them, looking at just how much she lost, she was just what the Capitol wanted, she was just her body.

"Is everything alright?" Was asked of her.

Athena smiled.

And she smiled, she smiled to not bother the doctor, to not make Prim feel bad, she smiled to protect them from her.

She gave a nod, moving to bite her tongue to keep silent but there was nothing to bite on.

(If Athena was a pane of glass, only dust would be left but trust that that dust is sharp as fuck.)

There was a hick but she stayed smiling, nodding their worries away.

The bottle of emotions had once cracked and exploded but she'll be damned if she doesn't collect the pieces and glue them together.

The rest of the daily check up went as smoothly as they could, Athena not complaining through the pain.

It felt like the first time she took a breath was when they finally left, leaving her alone in the little room.

The walls instantly felt like they were closing in as her gaze burned through the thin hospital blanket, her legs and the hospital bed all the way through the floor and the earth.

She put her hands of her face, even that, unable to fully grab it how she wanted.

They had won, they had took everything from her, making her nothing but a body to use, nothing but a tool.

She was nothing more then a useless tool.

-----------------------------------------------

The two victors and Prim waited for the doctor to leave before anyone spoke up about something Johanna had mentioned before the doc arrived for the daily checkup.

"I still don't get why I can't go in there." Johanna felt angry, watching Athena cry into her hands now that she was left alone in the room too her knowledge.

It broke her heart and if nothing was to change she would, she just can't bear it.

"Peeta almost killed Katniss and Athena almost killed you, we need to be careful and be sure she is stable enough for another meeting between you two, it is too dangerous, Prim is making an excellent stand in." She hated how Heymitch was siding with Plutarch.

"Or seeing me could help her."

"Johanna, how many times has she lashed out for less? Are you out of your mind?"

"They call me the mad wolf, there needs to be some truth to it."

"Johanna!"

"No Heymitch, maybe you, all of you, are cowards but I am not."

"How many has she hurt you already? Don't think we hadn't seen those hand marks, she almost put an end to your run."

"It wouldn't have mattered, take a page from my book, if you want something do it because you will lose your damned chance for it."

Because she didn't insist, because she let it go so easily, she'd never hear Athena ever say that she was her friend, her little wolf, that she liked her, loved her, teasing her, reassuring her, she'd never hear anything of those because in the arena she didn't insist and accepted a 'When we see each other' thinking she'd have so many more years and yet Athena was here but the chance was gone... She is not making the same mistake again.

"Don't tell me what you'd do you drunkard, I am myself and if I want to be minced meat then let me be, I am not the mockingjay, I am not Finnick sweetheart Odair, I am not the oldest living victor Mags, I am not the motherfucking Reaper, I am the mad wolf, Johanna fucking Mason, when was the last time I did not do what I want?! And what I want is to be let in that damned room to be ripped too shreds if such is my future!!"

"I'd say let her." Prim said making all look at her. "What? We all can see into the room, we can all see if it would go haywire and as long as Johanna doesn't nudge the mutt I don't think she'd be hurt."

"Even she vouches for me."

Heymitch sighed, hating being sober.

"If Plutarch or Coin learn you died because I let you inside against orders this will all be over."

"Then close your eyes and lie because I am going in there, you want it or not, I have had enough of this and will no longer stand and watch through a window when I should be in there, with her."

"You kids are always so hotheaded." From the old mentors only he, Mags and Wiress were left, knowing the fate of most other victors, either they somehow escaped the search for them, but maybe one or two did, or the were rescued... Or their untimely death but escape from the pain. "Wait here, let me get Finnick, he is strong and also from a career district, he'll hold her back off if something goes array... Plus he wouldn't rat us out."

"Well go get him."

Heymitch marched off groaning about the lack of alcohol.

(Another fun fact: despite it all, Athena got a violent and torture filled smoking rehab, can't really keep it up in the games, then the Capitol and now in 13, she won't die to lung cancer or something wow..... Now she just need the rest of her life to follow and take example on how to improve itself.)

Johanna watched him go before turning back to the window, Athena still fully crying behind it making her frown heavily.

"You are not waiting for them are you?" Prim asked.

"Hell no I am not." Johanna walked passed her, the trainee medic didn't stop her.

"Good luck." Prim said, walking away since through mics in the wall they could hear what was going in the room and wanting to leave them a bit of privacy.

Johanna gave a little nod, turning too the door and taking a breather before turning the knob of it.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/7yeksMKVOno

https://youtu.be/4KDaRcplcJ0

It was hard to figure out what Athena was feeling but Johanna felt her gaze burn through her. 

"Hey." She softly offered, locking the door behind her, from the inside so it wasn't much to keep Athena in but more to keep others out.

The woman looked like a mess, in addition too all the medical gauze and wraps, too the bruises and healing injuries visible, looking sleep deprived, messy, starved and just.... Yeah... A big mess with now tears added too it.

"I've locked the door so they can't barge in." Johanna pointed too the lock, taping on it (taping? tapping?). "But it can be opened from inside, that is not a reflective wall, that's a one way mirror, they can look in and hear in with mics." She slowly explained.

It was all odd, after that first meeting, seeing her leaned back, arms now crossed and a judgmental look on her face while her head tilted aside almost made Johanna forget nothing was alright here.

"There are no weapons in here, you are not tracked, chipped or locked in, we are in district 13, underground."

She grabbed the plastic chair and spun it too herself and sat on it, crossing her arms on the backrest of it, staring back at her, not willing to break eye contract.

"Katniss blew the arena up, that's when me an Finnick, being too close, were zapped too, I had a burn for weeks on my arm, the chip they put in there channeling the charge into it. Wiress and Mags are fine too, they are here with us. You've been in the Capitol for at least a month if I haven't lost count, maybe more but not less, you've been here for a week."

Being kept in the dark was more scary then the worst of news in these cases, minds playing tricks and twists on the person, sure they'd be mad if she told too much but she didn't care.

"Annie is good, Finnick and Mags are looking after her, Cinna was Katniss' stylist you knew that? He designed the mockingjay suit in Katniss' propaganda clothes, he is fine too, legs healing well. Peeta still has outbursts, he is still begging for you to save him but he is safe, Plutarch's mindless plans are working, he is getting better." 

Her throat felt like someone was squeezing on it but Athena hadn't moved to grab at her. It hurt her to know only she'd be able to talk, only she'd be able to share, to advise, to anything, Athena forever forced too silence... She was already missing her teases, she loved her voice.

"District 5 blew up their dam, for the moment no survivors have been found, it was because of them that the team could get in to save you guys, district 12 has been blown up, it doesn't exist, out of 10'000 only 900 remain if I heard right, district 7 bombed their peacekeepers and is holding the front, district 2 has turned into a battle field, we don't know how many but one part joined our fight and a bigger portion is a guerrilla type of defense for the Captiol." She listed off all she remember, she was sure many more of the districts fought back with or against 13 but she didn't know all, having been isolating herself in her room or training most of the time.

She jerked a bit, feeling fingers smack her face.

Athena frowned, having not wanted to hurt her, just touch her, and yet she felt nothing, nothing in her hands.

Johanna grabbing it before she could pull it back.

"I am sorry, I wish we could have come faster, you don't deserve this.... You never asked to be a fighter but life threw you in the pit and said 'survive' and so you did.... You shouldn't have."

It was true.

Athena had to fight her way out of every situation and struggle in life, nobody ever handed her anything for free.

So she had to make a choice early on, either sitting back and letting life beat her up, or make a decision to get up everyday and fight.

It was not easy, it is not going to be easy, it is tiring and exhausting.

It felt like she kept losing battle after battle but in the end, she did not give up, a lost battle doesn't mean the war is lost.

She sacrificed her hands and her ability to speak for this cause so it doesn't matter if she doesn't deserve it, she needs to go through it to avoid that fate for the others.

But damn did she wish she could still feel, feel her soft skin under her touch, able to tell her stupid little flirts, able to do anything.

Athena grabbed her hand and pulled, more like yanked, making her stumble over the chair and knock it down as she was pulled into her arms.

Johanna sat there, on one of Athena's legs, so close, reaching her now freed hand and cupping her face with both of hers.

"I am sorry I didn't insist in the arena, when we next meet..." She asked in a whisper. "Thinking we had the time, thinking all would go smooth, I am sorry, how stupid were we?"

Johanna didn't complain about the hands on her face holding a bit too tight, this was nothing, not worth a reaction.

"Just why didn't I insist then? Why was I so stupid? Now if you even felt anything similar you can never say it, you can't tease me, you can drive me insane... I wish it would have been me."

There she flinched, the hold being too harsh, Athena looking pissed, shaking her head.

"And even after this you'd wish to protect me."

Athena struggled to move fingers, it was more muscle memory then anything if it was even the right muscle, knowing that despite it all the muscles are in her forearms and not fingers. (I was so confused when I learned that the finger muscles are the forearm muscles and finger like only have ligaments or tendons or something) Showing a one, two, three and four, struggling with the pinkie.

"You'd do it again?" She asked, assuming that it was that, confirmed with a nod, Athena would choose this fate once, twice, three and four times if it meant Johanna was safe.

And sure, she couldn't talk, she couldn't feel her hands... But there is a last thing left still.

Something that despite it all, could still be done, something she refused her so many times.

Grabbing her again, pulling her in and giving her a kiss.

Short but sweet, Johanna pulled back first.

Starting into Athena's eyes with her own wide ones before tears that were held in for days started to fall.

Athena leaned her forehead against hers.

"I am so sorry." Johanna whispered tho smiling a little, Athena giving a weaker one back.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/EwqefLX9Law

Well.... This is really awkward.... For everyone involved.

Almost no one wanted to let Athena out of that room still even if they would never admit it to her face.

Because she was unpredictable, because she was still trouble, still a danger, still having problems.

But when throwing the literal bed she was sleeping on at the door and trying to beat out the one way mirror with her damaged fists turned out to be a thing when Heymitch angrily dragged Johanna out.... It was decided to maybe not do that.

And so all of 13 lived on the slight edge as where Johanna Mason went, close behind, followed Athena Hadley, never letting her out of her sight anymore.

Johanna didn't mind, she was maybe even a bit ecstatic to have Athena back, sure she was iffy with sleeping with what was basically a corpse in the room but if the mutt wasn't there Athena wouldn't come so she sucked it up and dealt with it.

"Come on, keep up." Johanna said, looking over her shoulder.

She almost frowned but kept it at bay.

Athena wasn't fond of the cold before and yet now: Boots, a 3/5 short and a loose T-shirt and all in different types of gray, it was like she wanted to feel cold as 13 was not a warm district plus winter was just about near the end.

Athena didn't understand where her little wolf was bringing her but she followed.

She soon was in a room with several people that gathered there to chat, people she recognized and, a bit hastily, kinda shoved Johanna to hug Annie.

"I'm fine I'm fine." The woman said with a teary smile. "It is so good to see you." Athena smiled, quickly stepping back to help Johanna up with an apologetic look, quickly being forgiven.

"Now that was a shove if I can say so Kitten." Finnick  said with a grin and pat her shoulder, glad to finally have her out of that damned room they kept her trapped in, pulling her in a bit. "I told them, everyone knows."

Athena knew right away, glancing at Johanna and then Finnick before pulling her lips tight and nodding, she'd have preferred to die with Johanna never knowing what was done to sweethearts but what's done is done.

"Sorry dude." He said as he stepped back, letting Mags come forth next, Athena leaning down and the woman hugging the younger victor with such strength that Athena was shocked.

It was a silent but hopeful smile the old woman gave her, she forced one to give one back, at least she wasn't alone, stuck without her voice.

Wiress had just given her a nod with a smile and she gave a nod back, not really having much to tell each other but happy the other survived.

"You don't know me that well but thank you, you saved me." The man, Cinna, remained seated in the circular couches unlike the rest that stood up. She gave a shaky thumbs up.

She next looked too.... Them.

"Thank you for protecting Peeta." Katniss said in the voice of a broken kettle, she didn't blame her, Peeta did almost kill her if it wasn't for Athena herself, Heymitch also only giving her a nod in greeting, them two being the only two no one warned that Athena would join them in here for the evening.

It was tense, Athena gripping her forearm hard, not above wanting to gut the woman but the highjacking was a last ditched effort on her, making her inject herself, but it was started too late to have anything too Peeta's level of delusion by the time they were saved.

That didn't stop the want to sink her claw into her throat and make her blood rain around the room tho, while Peeta wanted to kill her out of fear, for Athena it was out of hate and hate is easier to control then fear since she always hated Katniss.

She gave her a curt nod, she'd protect, that's what she is good that, that's why she kills, that's why she breaks herself, to protect, she'll protect.

The tense moment was cut off by the part of the group she never met, a woman stepping forth.

"Hello I am Cressida, this is Castor and Pollux, we've heard so much about you." She offered a hand to shake but was awkwardly reminded by Athena lifting her fucked up, tremor filled, hand that that was not the best idea, dropping it.

Pollux did a little motion with his hand as he smiled.

"We made the footage that you saw on the screen, with Katniss." Castor said with a smile. "My brother here wants to help you, we think it would be of use to you."

Athena rose a brow, waving at them to go on, Pollux doing a few more weird hand gestures.

"Pollux can't talk." Castor went on. "And as a victor you deserve to have your voice heard. He is an Avox, just like you and these are hand signs, it will be harder with your condition but if you learn this with those you are close too, you'll be able to talk again."

Athena's jaw fell open as the man nodded.

"I just brought you along since I wanted you to see your friends again." Johanna said. "But these guys heard about it so they tagged along, I thought it was a great idea even if it means you can once again bother me."

Athena smiled at her, a true smile, which was quite rare now, hugging her, getting a laugh back.

But well, there is a war to lead, so soon, this little happy group will need to face reality... But not tonight.... Not tonight...

Finnick and Heymitch conversing.

Johanna getting the basics from Castor and Pollux.

Katniss almost pissing herself with Athena sitting next too her as the victor didn't even pay her attention as she listened to Annie talk about Finnick.

Not tonight, tonight it was almost normal.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/cMkJDPvJxdk

"You don't have a choice."

As much as Johanna wanted to throttle Coin into tomorrow, she was just as much confused at how much of a deranged smile Athena sported at such a news, happy to lack any control too her life.

"As lomg as II get tooo killl themm." Athena had a hard time writing with the tremor and the lack of sensation but before the full on loss of her hands, she still had numbness in them so she could write, it would just be harder now. "Ass long as II get to fiight againsst the Capitol." Doubling letters or full on misspelling with wrong letters and jerks, looking like the writing of a child.

Athena didn't care she was being asked, forced, to join Katniss' propo team or whatever they call it, she wanted blood and would not care if she could spill it.

"Great." Coin looked at Plutarch. "See? I told you we should have taken her, she is willing to fight, not your mockingjay."

Athena was almost proud that another president wanted to use her, she must have this charm too her but lets just listen too this one, she'll kill her if she messes up.

"Are we done here?" Johanna asked, restless. "We have somewhere to be."

"Are you still not willing to join the team?" Coin asked her.

"Of course tho I need too, you twice divorced looking bird head, I won't let her out of my sight." Athena smiled, nudging Johanna with an amused eye roll. "When either of us goes, so does the other."

"Great." Coin cleared her throat, that comment.... Something she had never been faced with. "Head down too the armory, Wiress should be there with weapons made for both of you."

";)" Athena drew on the paper she had been using to talk with Coin before standing and grabbing Johanna, pulling her after.

She let go right outside of the room tho, not wanting to squeeze her too hard.

"God I hate that woman!" Johanna walked forth, knowing the way unlike Athena. 

Athena just smiled, her little wolf was quite a nice person, she never brought up what she heard or saw, never pushed her... It was almost too good.

Athena had more then once felt willing to swing, that video, not knowing which was fake, that or her, was she really alive or what is a trick?

She shook her head, she must be real, there was a reason why they covered the faces of those killed in the video and this is just too complex to fake.

"Are you okay Thea?"

Athena inwardly shook herself out and nodded at the question.

----------------------------------------------------

"Welcome you two, we waited for you for quite some time." Wiress waved.

"And you already made us weapons, despite us not willing to fight with you." Wiress just shrugged.

"Well Johanna, this is yours." She threw her a fold-able axe. "Nothing special for you like you kept insisting, just a normal axe."

"And it still looks way too sophisticated." She said, looking at the sleek design.

"Don't complain." Wiress waved her off. "For you Athena we went a bit more out and specialized with all that has gone down."

The gauntlets looked just like those in the 75th games but she smiled as she touched their dull metal surface, they were a Capitol weapon but they did save her from loosing an arm and her life.

She grabbed the first, actually having trouble fitting her fingers in as she could not see or feel them in the gauntlet but flexed them when they got in place.

"Heavily padded on the inside with some inbuilt controls." Wiress did air quotes when she said controls but Athena saw right away what that was meant to be, she had put on the left gauntlet and there was no more tremors in her hand, something was built in to stall the shakes in her hand. "The gauntlets have some mechanical inhibitors built in, keeping the cramps or tremors from messing things up tho it came with compromises." Yeah, when she moved her fingers it was still ratcheting but for all of them. "You'll need to adapt to no jerky movements with your hands or the ratchets will block in the previous position to keep you from hurting yourself, and since you can't feel your hands the restraints to make all this possible won't bother you."

Athena nodded, she could do that, in a fight she'd just flex her fingers and keep them there anyway, if that can be done mechanically instead of her putting strength in it, it should be fine. Putting the other side on too.

"Retractable claws, made from an alloy, changeable if they break but I'd doubt it."

Athena flexed her fingers, the already sharpened tips of the fingers sprouted long white metal claws.

She looked at the grooves on the underside of them.

"The plate on the back of your hands." She turned it over and saw it. "Shift it."

Athena pressed on it before pulling when nothing happened and it popped open on little hinges that flapped open, revealing three small cylindrical holes.

"Catch." Athena did, it was a little cylinder that looked perfectly sized to fit in a hole and slotted it in before Wiress closed the little hatch. "Now, strike any metal surface after you clicked the little button aligned on with the cylinder near the knuckles."

She did so, watching the transparent red liquid of the cylinder drip in the grooves but not drip out of them.

She looked around before slashing her claws across the wall without a care for her hands, the gauntlet did indeed lock her fingers and wrist in and kept them but being bent back by the strength, the alloy of the claws creating sparks and as the swing finished with her hand on fire.

She jerked back, trying to back up from her hand as she watched the blue flames on her palm before they instantly started to die out, only burning on her claws until she shook them out.

"flammable, corrosive and trackerjacker, those are the three vials we worked out, you load them in their slots, select one with the buttons and they then run along the grooves in your gauntlets, so you can decide what you want."

Athena grinned, clicking the selected button again and shaking her claws out, seeing no more red liquid, taking a few tries to flex her hand correctly to make the claws pull in.

"That's some cool shit." Johanna told her, smiling too, tho Athena's held quite some malice.

The Capitol won't see what will hit it and she can't wait.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/RLujZEJGUV8

BANG!!

No one really dared to look at the victor from 2 when the platter of food had had her fist slammed on it and sent flying across the room, not before that either when they entered the room nor would they in the future.

Athena had trouble, trouble bottling it all now, it seemed like the slightest bit of frustration boiled over and made her lash out.

Sure in the gauntlets she categorically refused to take off now were a great help in their own ways but not feeling them was being trouble.

"Hey!" Some poor person chose the wrong time to find something to tell her. "You can't go around wasting food, I don't care how much of a victor you are!"

She looked at the pathetic woman, wanting to stick out her tongue at her but those plans were foiled by the lack of that part of her anatomy, irking her even more, this current bout of anger was a combination of never being able to taste again if it wasn't spicy or minty because that would affect the whole mouth and the fact that she was just unable to easily learn the hand sign list for the alphabet Pollux drew up for her with how her hands should be positioned.

But she had quickly learnt something.

She bent all fingers other down but the pinkie and pointer, passing her other arm under it and making a closing and opening gesture. (Look up how to say bullshit in sign language if you want to see how that looks.) Then she showed her the middle finger.

"Oh how dare you!?"

Athena's head jerked forwards and she kept it down.

Looking up slowly through her bangs, putting her hands on the surface and pushing up to stand.

"What? You think this will scare me?!"

She offered a little grin that didn't reach her eyes, tilting her head.

She lifted her hand--

"How disrespec--"

-And flicked out her claws, the tips poking the woman under her chin.

She did a little shove on her hand, making the woman stumbled back and away from her.

She stepped after her, grabbing someone else's food tray off a table and throwing it at the woman, hearing a loud smack of impact followed by cursing.

"You are one vile woman!!"

Athena ignored it, kicking her boot into her chest and pushed her on her back with her weight, leaning over her.

She crossed her arms on her knee as she looked down at her, her weight making it hard to breath for the other woman.

"Okay, this is over." Athena's arm was grabbed by another, looking over with a glare at the unaffected stylist. "You showed her, do not let them win."

She barely knew the guy but she stood up with a huff, stepping off the now coughing woman.

"Come, let the idiots wallow in their own pitiful self worth." He had quite a hard grip on her, it is not like she could say anything to tell him off.

That woman was just lucky her wrath could simmer a bit longer.

"You bitch!!" She whipped around but Cinna stood between her and the woman instead of next to her like before, seeing the thrown cup bounce off his back and shatter on the ground.

She took a threatening step back towards her but Cinna shoved her back.

"It is not worth it, it didn't hurt." He said that lie with enough conviction she almost believed it, shrugging his hand off her arm, the coffee that was in that ceramic cup still steaming it was so hot even on his clothes and that's what was thrown.

She sat back down next too her paper of signs and letters, looking casually as he went to get himself a platter and sit in front of her, having still a sever limp in his leg.

She flicked her claws in as she laid an arm on the table and the other held up her head and she watched.

He didn't acknowledge her for a while, eating the slob that was being served.

"You should try it, it is better then what they gave us in the Capitol." He offered an unused spoon too her but she didn't reach for it so he put it down.

She spun the paper towards him and pointed at letters, one after the other.

"Why?" He asked, as if he saw correctly, getting a nod back. "Why what?"

Athena spelt out 'help'.

"Why help?" She nodded again. "Well you are always helping others, someone needs to help you."

Athena tilted her head aside, Cinna putting the fork down.

"I'll say it in another way... When has anyone protected you?"

It was a simple question.

Yet one Athena could have never hoped to answer even if she could still talk.

"Someone needs to, you are all children, that's the job of adults to protect you and we have failed... Let us make it right."

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/94VH70vY4Js

Nice.

It was nice actually.

To sit with someone just as much missing a part of themselves as she did.

Athena always liked Mags, the victor having been the first to talk too her outside of Finnick and now both of them we stuck here, voiceless, sure Mags could try relearn to speak since it was from a stroke but it didn't seem like she would.

What she didn't like was the haughtiness of 13, despite it all, looking down on the victors.

Whispers of how they should have done something more, of how they are just as bad as the Capitol for playing along, of how they should fight instead of them.

Athena's temper had a hard time smoothing it over and much less when she saw a careless guard burst past the frail old woman and knocked her down.

It was almost like hate gripped her, wishing to finally lash out, it has been a while since she killed anyone.

In a few strides she was on him, kicking his right leg out from underneath him but for now, just letting him crash down, giving him one chance.

13 is really getting on her nerves.

"What the fuck was that?!" He got up as Athena helped Mags off the ground, looking her over while the old lady just pat her shoulders and sat down on the nearest bench.

She gave him a glare and looked at Mags, 'look at what you've done.'

"You asshole, you should be grateful that we saved you!!" He got in her face, spittle flying as his nostrils flared. 

She stepped forwards, butting her chest in his, making him take a step back to not fall, head tilted, lifting an armed hand, index finger held up in a wave of it, a warning.

"Or what?! What will you do?!"

She closed her fist, dropping it with a titled head, lifting a brow, he might be of 13 but Athena is a career, no one is stronger then a career.

She gave him another warning wave to back off as she stepped back too Mags, the lady holding her arm, probably bruising it as Athena watched only to get shoved but shifting her leg so she just fell on one knee but didn't move, glaring up with furry.

"What? What will you do?" The haughty security guard taunted her again.

Mags grabbed her shoulder, shaking her head, Athena took a deep breath and looked away, the tremors of anger making their ways through her arms as she helped the old lady and stands to walk her away.

She didn't make it far before the voice taunted again.

"That's right! Good choice! Run away like you all do!"

A choice?

Athena stopped walking, ignoring Mags pulling on her sleeve to have her look at her, she just helped her sit down.

A choice of backing down?

She looked over her shoulder, her heart shrouded in a devilish fury that roared out.

"What now? You wanna fight? Then come on fight!" He most likely never saw the games or he'd had steered clear of her wrath. She really hates 13.

Athena never backs down.

She can't back down, so many people depend on her to hold the front that if she even took a step back, those people would be in grave danger.

"Make your choice dammit and stop just standing there!"

Oh she didn't need to be told twice.

Oh she'll choose like she always needed and like always, she chooses the only choice she can have.

Kill or be killed.

And Athena is not dying.

---------------------------------------------------

"Y'all!!" A random 13 worker burst into the lounge room given too the victors and their friends, getting looks of anger and confusion from different people for the interruption. The man that slammed the door open was at a lost for breath and struggled to make a correct sentence before opening for. "Bloody claws." He coughed out, grabbing without asking the water bottle on a table near him and breathing.

"Oh fuck." That could mean nothing good and despite all moving to react, it was actually Finnick that was faster this time, running out like a headless chicken.

Athena and Mags had been left together.

If Athena lashed out in her current state, nothing good would come of it.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/UczVvGOaTxM

What is faster then a human's reaction time?

The fury of another.

The impact so loud it bounced off the walls in wails of agony, the metal of the walls flinching in pain and the lights shuddering from imagined suffering.

It always looked like he was flying, hovering off the ground before the greedy hands of gravity dragged him back down into free fall, smacking into the tiled floor, head bouncing off.

It was a simple punch but it came from the incarnation of fury and pain, the knuckles of the gauntlet lacerating through the guard's cheek, the cheek bone dipping in as blood flying from his mouth, landing in a twitching heap.

One single punch, rendering a human useless.

She looked at him with pinpoint pupils, already heaving breaths in furry and that smile, that smile akin too something Capitol created, a monster that was never meant to be set loose.

It was like the earth cracked open and a beast from its depths crawled out, scaling up the walls of the sheer drop with claws cutting their way up.

And such a beast didn't let malice rest until the offending soul breathed.

Athena, hunched forwards, lunged at the man that barely gathered his few remaining thoughts, lifting his crushed face to look at the monster he created, just about long enough to see the clawed paw slam into his face, crushing his nose into his face as his head was yanked up before it was slammed into the tile so hard that either his skull or the tile made that breaking sound, the echo of his own brain bouncing in his head deafening him too his torment.

After the third slam, arms wrapped around her but she threw her leg back as they yanked her up, body checking them backwards, the hand grabbing at her clothes as the assailant fell, the fabric ripping.

"AAAH!!" Letting out a pure scream of hate, one of the only sounds not stolen from her, stepping back with a terrifying tremor running through her arms as she tried to cover herself, the tatters hanging off her front, relieving her front and bra.

CAN THEY JUST STOP UNDRESSING HER?!!

Sling.

The claws were the last things that poor man saw, screaming an ear piercing scream as the swipe blinded him as his head was grabbed and something hard, probably a knee, was driven in his face, breaking teeth.

She threw the body down face first and stomped on the back of his neck, making the head snap back and stick too that position.

She lifted her arms, threatening all that would approach, all the screaming deafening as she tried to make sense of it.

There was no fucking escape, where is the door? Where is the fucking door?!

She needs to survive, she needs to get out of here, where is the fucking exit?!

The room was spinning, strangling.

She lashed out, grabbing the gun aimed at her and hit upwards on the elbow, snapping it around before using the same hand to strike at their neck, seeing the muscle seize up around the hole she put there.

She yanked the body in front of her, holding the front, using it as a shield as the bullet impacts were felt through it.

She picked it up and threw out, stepping backwards.

Someone grabbed her arm, immediately aiming up a side kick, catching the person in the throat, sending them both tumbling.

"STOP!!"

That voice cut through the panic.

Athena swung out at the leg, too close, it was too close.

But despite the claws cutting flesh like butter, they bounced off metal.

----------------------------------------------

"STEP DOWN BEFORE YOU GET SHOT!!"

"I will not let you."

It was not Finnick, it was not Johanna, nor was it Heymitch or even Plutarch.

It was the man that Athena knew the least of all and that had yet again stepped up for her.

"Sir Cinna, move it before we shoot you too!!" The reinforcement forces called in to neutralize the threat was not being really convincing.

Despite the claw stuck in his leg in a deathly grip, despite the blood soaked corpses that made him nauseous, despite the live rounds in the guns aimed at him, this man didn't move.

"I said no, drop the guns, now."

A life for a life.

This woman, this child, had given so much for him, this is the least he can give back.

Others might see a thoughtless monster but he saw her descent into madness at the hand of the Capitol, he should have interfered sooner but that is now too late to think about.

This was a child that coped with what she lived through with violence, the lack of complete and utter autonomy lashing out when others tried to tell her what to do. The violence being the only thing to protect her, to keep her alive and they need to understand it.

And he'll be damned if he lets that be her end.

Despite the crazed look on her face, the ragged breathing and the blood covering the girl, beneath all the hurt and loss, beneath all the pain and anger, there was a girl that was just terrified that all situations would cause her more pain if she didn't eliminate the source of it... And after all, he promised someone would protect her.

The still quite sore older woman he knew as Mags grabbed his arm to help herself stand but she joined his side, ignoring the yelling.

"All of you out!! OUT!!" Heymitch called when he got to the scene, waving violently at the crowd and guard force. "Out you useless fucks!"

Finnick crouched near, ratcheting Athena's fingers off Cinna to free the man.

Athena swung up in blind anger... Or better called, fear, but being a victor that knew how to fight her, simply ducked under it and hugged it against her.

"Someone get her a damned jacket or something!" He yelled as Heymitch was still kicking up a storm to chase the people out, the man able to be quite persuasive when needed.

"She is a victor yeah? Well let us victors deal with it!" He'd tell the guards.

Johanna, not far behind, shrugged hers off, giving too Finnick as he wrapped it around Athena who made another useless swing, just scratching up the ground.

"Hey ssh... We are here and they are gone." Johanna sat next too Athena on the other side of where Finnick was crouching, grabbing her face. "The mean man are gone."

It felt like waking up from a nightmare, like the darkness in her mind was swept away, like the shapeless monster were gone, like the hands choking her let up before another feeling replaced those hands.

Athena sniffling before just full on sobbing without a care as too who was around her.

"What happened?" Katniss asked in a morbid awe at the blood scene and mess in front of her.

"Why don't you ask her sweetheart?" Heymitch said mockingly for once, using Katniss' nickname but hearing that word only made Athena cry even more.

She is not free and she'll never be free.

Why did she survive the 66th?!

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/9a3f0URgXqs

Isn't cuddling supposed to be painless?

Well, she didn't care anyway.

Despite all the protests, who'd truly stand up too the victors when all of them stood as a united front? They each owned Athena, from the smallest of things too their life, keeping 13's hands too themselves and away from her was the least they could do.

Tho Johanna now had guards standing in front of their shared room but she tried to ignore knowing them there.

Athena had gone silent, even more then the forced silence she was thrown into by the Capitol.

Johanna laid on her back and couldn't move from it as Athena was curled up against her, her legs tucked under her own, her head on her chest and hugging her in a grip made painful by the metal of the gauntlet and pointed fingertip digging into her for a grip.

She was quite literally trapped in the grip of a predator and would be sent for a mental evaluation if she were to say this but in the whole of Panem this was the safety place to be.

Passing her hand through Athena's hair, she had long stopped crying but the painful pressing her the hands didn't let up, the older victor terrified to let go.

"You know, I always loved how you look covered in blood." She tried to say something, sadly enough most victors despite hating to kill again, were somewhat desensitized to it. And sure it was scary but Johanna was not lying, the hue of the human life force brought out the deadly glint in those eyes and that smile, as shameful as it was, she found her really nice to look at.

Athena shifted her head to look at her, and yet those green eyes had long lost their shine, so dull and dead, it was like looking in the eyes of a doll, just like the eyes of the outside of control mutt that served as a creepy statue in the corner of the room, having gotten used to it and she didn't want to get used to Athena looking like that too.

"Why did you never tell me what happened?"

Athena dropped her head again, looking at the wall, knowing what she was talking about and not really wanting to acknowledge it.

Johanna sighed.

"Why do you let no one help you? Why do you insist on doing everything yourself? Why do you always--" She didn't know what to say, there was so many questions that would never be answered, not because she couldn't speak but because Athena would never tell her.

She just hugged her back, those not really important for the moment.

-------------------------------------------------

Athena drummed her knuckle on a door frame she was leaning onto.

"Ah hello, happy to see you are up." Cinna said.

She just pointed at his leg.

"Oh it is fine, metal bones as I assume you felt under the claws, it is fine."

She threw up her arms into a 'why tho' pose and facial expression.

"I told you, you are all kids, it should be our job to protect you, not the other way around."

She flexed her hands, crossing her arms, she is the one with claws, she is the one that can fight, she is one of the last remaining victors alive and the last career, she needs to fight.

She protects those behind her, she doesn't need someone to step out and take the blow for her.

"Is that all you came here for?" He waved around the room since it was a waiting room for the doctors visit, she gave a shrug, having no true answers, she only stopped because she saw him.

Despite what happened and the fearful glares and whispers of 13, Coin actually completely overlooked her little murder spree, finding it hauntingly useful in this war so no attempt was made to muzzle and bind her, that woman even asked her if it could be unleashed just like that or did it require someone she cared about being hurt.

She felt quite sick, and even felt sicker as her habit of trying to bite her tongue in stress stabbed into her with the realization that she still didn't have one.

She much prefers being used for her ability in killing then having her body be used for others pleasure so she couldn't even complain.

She stood for a while before leaving with a wave, walking away.

The fearful whispers of 13 didn't bother her as much as the comments on her body had in the past, she almost liked this status quo... Oh the snarky comments she'd have for others but unless she can get these finger signs down she is a mute.

She wasn't bothered by the terrified woman serving her the sloppy mess of a porridge that was put on her platter, it almost strangled her with the control she had.

She almost felt too good in this atmosphere, the more people fear her the less likely are they to hurt her in any way.

She sat at the victors table, only a few faces there, surprised to see one in peculiar, waving.

"Hey Athy." Peeta said, the unfamiliar hateful look to his face melting away and beaming like a young child would at a sibling.

Once again she was really irked by the lack of tongue she could chew into oblivion at his words but smiled a bit.

She reached over and flicked him on the head, tho recognizing the unease seeping out around Finnick, Katniss and Annie, sure she could understand Katniss' but Finnick and Annie?

"Hello Kitten." Finnick said and she waved.

She pointed at him and Peeta when the boy went back to looking absolutely disgusted by Katniss and turn away from her as he ate his food.

"I just told him that I planned on having a ceremony to marry Annie soon."

She smiled at him and pat his back, giving two thumbs up.

"Well yeah it would be good if he hadn't just said that I should hurry of he'll take her for himself."

Peeta always loved Katniss.

Athena had seen how Katniss faked her way through it but also how much Peeta truly loved her and now that Peeta had changed, Katniss truly looked lost.

This boy was not Peeta or not the one she got to know.

Athena didn't want to interpose but she'll need to interfere with this.

Those two are meant for each other.

Despite it all.... This all left Athena confused.

So confused.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/P5yUiK2qNdg

How did she end up here?

She didn't clean up, she didn't look special, she was the same old terrifying mutt in 13 and yet...

"Fuck, I am so nervous!" Annie was on the edge of happy tears as she fanned her face while Athena leaned against a door.

This marriage was something everyone needed and not exclusively the couple from which the bride was walking holes into the tilts with her constant back and forths.

It would bring the spirits up and bury her fuck up.

...

Well it would have been buried if the soon to be wed didn't insist that she'd be the one walk Annie down the aisle.

Athena was completely against it, ask Heymitch or an older person like Mags... But Mags was already Finnick's person. They also told her since it is usually the father giving the daughter away too her future husband in 4, a person that protected her giving the role too another, that it should literally be the one that sacrificed body and mind for both of them instead of grabbing a drunkard, a friend but a drunkard anyway, or a random 13 male.

Athena couldn't understand why such came to be but she couldn't say no in the end, literally and figuratively.

Athena snapped her fingers tho it barely make noise but it was enough to stop Annie's rant.

She pointed at her face and smiled.

"How can you be so nonchalant?" Athena lifted a brow, it is not her that is getting married, Johanna would axe her if she even dared to do anything like proposing after pushing her away so much and they were not even too that point.

She offered her her arm, they were basically waiting for her.

Annie grabbed it so hard she almost felt the numbness too her fingertips, nudging the door open with her leg.

Oh how she wanted to leave Annie in the dust, hating how she looked like a slob next too the young woman who they found a wedding dress for while here she is, shorts, a T-shirt and fucking war gauntlets that could shred all.

Athena almost had to pull Annie after her as the woman actually froze up, shifting her hand too her back to push her instead but look presentable.

Finnick looked great in his white suit.

She pushed Annie up in front of him, getting a few muffled chuckles at the bride was like a statue set up in place as Athena stepped down.

The people were standing in half a circle and now that the future husband and wife were standing there, the road to them closed.

Athena backed out, all the way to the side and no one looked her way.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in matrimony." The man officiating it started.

She felt quite awkward but stayed off too the side to listen, clapping along with a metal clang when the groom and bride kissed.

She lifted a brow when the Gale guy looked around and left.

She looked around too, no one else saw so she followed, feeling off.

The halls were silent so she needed to be careful following him.

She had this nagging feeling too this all, she would have let him go otherwise.

And that feeling worsened when he entered the war room with Wiress who she thought was at the wedding. 

She leaned her back too the wall, listening in.

"And you are sure this will work?" Wiress asked, unsure-ness slipping in her voice.

"It will, it worked on 12, it will work on the Capitol."

"Then you need to convince Coin, I will not be part of this senseless murder plan."

"All I ask of you is too show me how to make bombs, the rest is my work."

"How do you even think it will work? They will know it is us."

"Well we need steal a Capitol hovercraft and load it up, using those little game parachutes, they will not see it coming and then a second volley."

"A second volley? A second? You will kill the first responders Gale!"

"Yes, more Capitol scum to perish."

Athena's eyes went wide, sure, out of all the people here she actually had been the most hurt by the Capitol.

Sure, they got bombed into hiding in 13 once but she was tortured for useless information she didn't have.

Sure, they forced them into the games but she participated twice.

Sure, other were used by them but she was the most sought after.

Sure, they hated the Capitol but she despised all of Panem.

And she still thought of this as an extremely low blow.

She squeezed her hands into fists, grinding her teeth down as Wiress really didn't seem to like the idea but was letting herself be convinced and Gale was becoming an outright monster.

Athena jumped up from her spot and clambered up the wall, wedging her hands against the wall with her feet pressing up on the other side, back pressing against the ceiling, moments before Gale's heavy boots existed the room.

She held her breath, this was senseless pain he was planning on inflict, she needs to tell people.

She waited until Wiress left with the plans rolled up and headed in another way, muttering about what she is doing.

Only when she was alone did she drop into a crouch, shaking her arms out as she watched in both ways the two had gone.

Athena could tell everyone, she needed too.

But...

If she said anything, the plans would change and no one would know about the new ones.

Right now she knows, she will be able to step in the way.

If she ratted Gale out, the plan would change and she too would be in the dark.

Athena made a hissing noise through her teeth.

She could not say anything, to keep the plan unchanged and constant, she needed to be the only outsider to know and to stop him herself.

Once against, this will depend solely on her abilities to keep it to herself and to stop it with her own two hands.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/AQwgFyES2xQ

She stomped her foot, trying to scare the beast away.

"He likes you." Prim laughed as the usually hissy orange cat of hers was driving the victor of 2 up a wall.

First and foremost, Athena woke up with cat hair in her nose, the never before seen cat just being all comfy-ly shoved up between Johanna and her.

Next the asshole cat had jumped up on the chew halls table and propped itself up on her head without asking her for her opinion about it.

Athena was more then sure that she hadn't ran into a catnip bush down here in 13 so she was at a lost when the next thing to come up was this stupid cat stealing her left sock and running away with it.

He likes her? Well she didn't like Buttercup at all.

"Usually he only likes me, he hisses at Katniss." Athena nodded, at least they agree on that, hissing at Katniss is good tho she believed the cat wished that Katniss was as scared of him as she was scared of Athena.

She added a shrug and stretched, being on a little check up with the doc and Prim came along since she wouldn't be a medical professional that risked getting mauled by a feral woman.

"Well you are quite cat like." The young girl said, making Athena lift a brow. "I mean like elegant, sly, scratchy, mysterious."

She laughed a bit, scratchy... That's a way of saying it.

"Maybe that's why he likes you?" The spoken about cat sitting on the bed next to her so that Athena could see that he was ignoring her.

Another shrug, maybe, she might say she hates him but in the end she didn't, he was just annoying.

But she had her own theory, animals are much more intelligent then humans, they understand things they their masters don't.

She would bet that this cat understood that she'd protect all with her life, that she'd protect Prim if needed, and so the fake two legged feline somehow made a dark pact with the tiny four pawed feline.

She reached out, petting him with a smile as he kept ignoring her.

-----------------------------------------------

Athena sat alone in the room with Cato.... Well... The mutt of Cato.

She refused to abandon her brother again, she could keep him safe this time.

But this was not her brother.

The mutt sat in the corner, empty, withering away, starving and yet not alive, drooling a puddle underneath it as it remained slumped and already dead.

Nothing but a puppet.

But it was all that remained off him.

Athena stood.

And yet she can never be selfish.

This is a life of suffering even if it doesn't realize it, suffering by being nothing but a copy that she forces to live on.

She crouched down in front of it, looking in the lifeless eyes that were so relaxed they looked in slightly different directions, this was like being stuck in one's body and being unable to do anything but wish for death as the world spins on around oneself... Athena would know, having felt it before.

She hugged the mutt around the neck with her arms, eyes closed, he deserves to rest and to stop suffering because she can't let go, she'll never be able to move on but... She is no monster.

She pushed up her shoulder pulled down on her arms, letting go after the snap and watching the furry body lay out at her feet, the drooling stopping, the eyes rolling back, a last twitch as the life left the body.

She looked at it with tear gathering and pooling out of her eyes, once again, she was the killer of her brother and this time... For good.

--------------------------------------------------

"W-H-A-T     I-S     T-H-I-S" Athena wasn't the best at signing but she was working it out, tho for now she was spelling out everything letter by letter even if there were simple signs for whole sentences sometimes, it would take a while.

She wanted to be alone after what she had done, she went too the training room, trying to work out how her fingers would work in a fight and getting on well, having sliced up two mannequins, on the third currently.

"Don't tell me you have gone blind." Finnick said, slightly offending her as he smiled, not looking at her ticking eyebrow but at what looked like a ball of soot in his palm.

She looked too, noticing the two triangles on the little black ball before the void stared back at her.

"K-I-T-T-E-N"

"Yes, a little cat." Finnick was too learning the language of signs, to Johanna's growing dismay, he was picking it up the fastest.

"W-H-Y"

"Because you seem lonely and even if you won't admit it, that orange devil makes you happy."

Finnick grabbed and lifted her hand before putting the kitten on her palm, the minuscule thing just about not trembling in fear as it looked at her when she lifted her hand to her face.

"W-H-Y     T-H-O"

"As much as this is your flaw, you nurture, protect and take under your wing, when I went out to fish to have some fresh food for once I found it alone and shaking in cold, I thought that you could look after it."

She watched the little ball of void stretch out, a big stretch but usually cats show their claws while doing thi--.

Her eyes barely but they widened, a declawed kitten.... That was a human choice... Mutilating an animal just because it scratched them...

She scoffed out a smile as she looked at it, flicking her claws out on her other free hand.

She compared her clawed hand to the now known clawless mini paw.

And she started to laugh, laugh despite the tear sliding down her face, laughing at the irony of this cruel world.

Finnick thought right.

She'd protect this little life too.

She'll be its claws just like she has been the claws of everyone else too.

Athena will shred anyone touching to those she is protecting.

And she'd laugh about it.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/3kaUvGSLMew

She nudged the little fluffball, getting an annoyed squeak back as she smiled at it.

Athena laid on her side as she watched the little ball of void pad around on the bed, holding her head up on her hand, other then cute little squeaks the room was silent.

The room was so silent.... So silent now that she was alone, having stayed back instead of being a shadow to her little wolf.

Despite everyone around, she still felt so horribly alone.

No one could ever understand her fully, nothing could be done, she was nothing but what they made of her... She'd never be that 15 year old girl that went into the 66th ever again and much less now.

She was a body to use however anyone wished, a tribute, a sweetheart, a victor, a rebel, a weapon, she was nothing but a title... A monster.... A mutt.

She dropped her head, leaning it on her upper arm as she corralled the energetic kitten with her other arm to keep it from walking down the edge of the bed, with no claws it couldn't save itself from a harsh fall for such a small being... And yet even with claws she could never save herself. Despite her claws she never could save herself with them, only hurt others.

Cashmere, Gloss, Brutus, Enobaria, Julian, Brion and many more were killed when they didn't deserve it, they were just stuck playing the same fucked up game as she did.

She watched the little being waddle across the bed.

Everyone always depended on her, she was always there, and they were there for her right? Right?

Why did no one spring to mind right away?

Why did she need to think about it?

She felt the little furry face rub on her own, earning it another little smile as the little paw pressed up on her cheek.

Sure she feels like a waste of space, sure she wished for it all to end but this is all worth it.

Scooping the little being in her palms.

She can protect those she cares for, she can kill Snow and stop all from hurting, she can interfere with Gale's planned genocide, she can liberate Panem.... But after?

Athena had never thought of an 'after the hunger games' ever before.

And it almost terrified her.

Almost.

She couldn't feel herself be scared of something she barely was able to imagine.

Just how will the world change? The districts? The people? Her friends? Her?

Athena had never thought of a future for herself after all of this.

She had no idea what she'd do with herself, no need to survive, to fight if all went correctly and yet that was all this mutt was good for.

She held the kitten on one arm as she stood, the dinner alarm sounding off, she was not hungry but she'd go.

It felt like her head was held underwater by her own hands, always just under the surface, swimming with thoughts.

There was no life out there for her after the war is over.

A war machine is useless outside of war.

A tank can't be used to dig in the mine.

Claws can't be used to rebuild.

Athena would be useless.

Just what awaited her after all of this?

What options did she have?

None.

She could think of none as she sat at the table.

"What's with the long face?"

She was watching the little kitten pad around the table and actually eat away at what she had in her bowl, she let it since she didn't feel like eating and it was hungry.

She looked up, long face? More like being exhausted with life.

She was almost indignant, feeling it almost an insult that Cinna sat with her and that she saw no other victors yet.

There is a lot of almosts in Athena's life, but the absolute was more scary then an almost, and she was almost tempted to question his action as only victors were basically forced to sit here.

She didn't carry paper around but she had a pen on her now, carelessly writing on the metal surface of the table, it was a dry erase pen after all, it could be whipped off.

Once again another almost, almost happy that she was slowly getting her old handwriting back... Only an almost since all feelings felt like a cage, just about forcing herself to minimize them and not feel them to not hurt herself with them.

"Why do you insist on sitting here?" It was still shaky but she could move her hands well enough to spell correctly with not a lot of trouble, practice makes perfect and she worked hard to be able to somehow express herself.

"Will you always ask me this?" Cinna rose his brow. "Annie and Finnick have Mags, Wiress has a friend in Heymitch and Mags, Katniss and Peeta have Heymitch.... Sure, you know them all but they protect the young, the old victors look after the younger ones but you, you look out for everyone that is not you, someone needs to be there."

"You? Why do you insist on it being you? You can't fight, you can't do anything." She tried to erase her words but with her gauntlets it was hard with the metal against metal.

"I can't? Trust me, I have my ways."

Athena didn't like remembering the incident, she was basically a Capitol mutt, given the choice she will choose violence and murder before she can rationalize anything, her mind spiraling into conditioned madness... But fuck, were those memories cruel in sticking around.

"Who's your leg?" She wrote after a while, with her other hand grabbing the kitten by the scruff gently, keeping it from climbing into the bowl itself despite its protests as she set it on the table to wander.

"Athena you need to be careful what you write, it is How's not Who's." Cinna teased like a parent would a child, she just rolled her eyes. "But it fine, I have metal bones in there so only the skin must heal."

"Good."

"Anyhow, I am sorry for your brother, I don't remember if I or anyone said it." He put his hand on her cold metal hand, having heard of that mutt finally being killed, some senseless people saying that finally it was gone but they were all blind, the girl they were side eyeing for having protected it coped with seeing her brother in it even if she knew it was a fake. "Coin might not let you out just yet but I can promise he was put to rest in a nice little meadow." (I don't know why but that sentence brought tears too my eyes.) 

Athena lifted her head to her face, grabbing her forehead and by extension hiding her eyes as leaned into it, lips pulled in a thin line as he pet her hand.

The little meows made her pull her fingers apart and peak through them at the little adrenaline junkie trying to climb her gauntlet but quite failing, scooping it up in the hand she dropped away, bringing it to her chest and having the little fluff rub up against her and settle in her clawed hand for the moment.

"It is adorable how much the little guy loves you already." Cinna said, Athena swallowing the ball in her throat and nodding. "Does it have a name?"

She.... Hadn't through that far.

She looked up at him as he waited for an answer.

It was not that hard to come up with something, freeing her second hand and slowly finger spelling it out.

"C-I-N-N-A-M-O-N"

She felt like it really fit, smiling a little at the complaining kitten.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/Ib27THucSnM

(I am not sorry)

"Snow has to pay for what he's done. I wanna help the rebels in any way I can." Katniss instantly said, sitting in a chair in front of Coin, they had been talking for a while about getting her into the Capitol "Send me to the capitol. I'll do anything."

Athena gave her a side eye but Katniss was correct.

"We need to get in or we'll never stop these wars." She wrote, tapping her fingers on the page before turning it to Coin so that she could read it.

"I can't." Coin shook her head, grabbing it with a sigh. "I can't send either of you there. We can't get into the Capitol until we control district 2." She looked with a slight grudge at Athena.

"Then send me to 2." Katniss said. "I can get them calmed down." She truly believed so and Athena saw it. "You want me to fire up our troops? Call out to the loyalists? You've seen what I can do." 

"Yes, I have." Coin looked pointedly at her and then Athena who sighed.

"I'll go along, I am their victor, I might have lost my voice but I am still alive and still from 2."

"And how would that help?"

"District 5 sacrificed itself for Katniss, blowing the electrical dam for a victor not from their district, trust me, it would help."

"Alright, I authorize this mission."

-----------------------------------------------

Athena looked out of the hovercraft, scratching her upper arms but needing to be careful to not cut herself, they had quite literally forced her into an armored outfit.

Morbidly enough, it reminded her on the 75th arena outfit tho black, some slick black suits tho she didn't look military, having a hoodie over top.

She pulled the hood up over her head for now, sure she convinced Coin it was a double edged blade, the loyalists could instantly snipe her out of the game if they saw her face.

She looked to the side at Katniss, Finnick wanted to come, surprisingly Peeta too in his moment of clarity but well Peeta is not stable and Finnick was pushed away by Heymitch to enjoy his honey moon while it lasted so he came along and Johanna.... No one says no to her.

"Nervous?" The little wolf asked from her, seeing the movement of the hood.

"P-R-E-C-A-U-T-I-O-N-S     T-H-E-Y     C-O-U-L-D     S-H-O-O-T     M-E     T-H-E     L-O-Y-A-L-I-S-T-S" Athena answered, still finger spelling everything, Johanna having a cheat sheet to understand her for now not only needing a few glances at it before shoving the sheet in her pocket with a nod.

"You 2s like blood, I don't put it passed them that they would." She said, trying to joke as the hovercraft finally landed.

"I-L-L     K-E-E-P      Y-O-U     G-U-Y-S     S-A-F-E"

"Welcome to district 2." A man said as the door opened. "I'm corporal Homes... You follow me, please."

They were being lead up to the mayor's building under the heavy rain pooling down, where all victors would come to speak out about their honor of winning.

It hurt to be back here once again and seeing the mess 2 had become.

------------------------------------------------

"President coin." The woman Athena learnt was called Paylor said. One of the only survivors of the bombing of district 8, one out of the ten or so that survived. 

"We're indebted to you for the reinforcements and the mockingjay but I'm not sure that anyone outside of 2 knows what we've been up against." A larger, blond woman spoke, Athena couldn't help but size her up, in 2 it is always important to judge a book by its cover before a fight.

Coin was projected out on a hologram as they all looked over a map of 2, a very familiar sight to Athena.

"A counter attack... It's manned by both military and civilian personnel from district 2." The blond woman said and it was obvious, each citizen of 2 was born in blood and gore, fighting for their lives so even now they would all fight. "As you can see, the fortress lies so far beneath the bedrock, it's untouchable. Yesterday, we attempted to take the northeastern gate. The enemy countered from higher up and we were forced to pull back. We took heavy losses."

It took compact bombs to even blow passed it, of course a bullet lead assault would not breach it.

"Could we create a decoy?" Katniss proposed her idea. "Like drawing them out? One group to one entrance but then the rest to another?"

"Well who'd be that?" Someone asked with mockery, not liking the idea at all.

"We have the mockingjay." Only Coin's voice stood out over the mutter, she stood up for Katniss? That's new. "Don't underestimate her. She may be able to sway some of the loyalists."

"You've been underground a long time, madam Coin. This isn't like the rest of Panem.... Support for the Capitol runs deep here." Paylor said.

Athena unsheathed her claws and slammed them on the table, commending silence without words, with a head shake, knocking the hood off.

"You..." The woman spoke out. "2's most beloved victor, the Reaper, I didn't know you were fighting with us."

"I am of 2 yes but I've been in 13 for a while now, if Katniss fails I'll be here to protect her, I side with the mockingjay, the rest of 2 also will." She pulled out the marker and wrote on the map itself, harshly dotting the i-s.

"Katniss and Athena together, 2 will bend the knee." Johanna added.

"Then there is no sacrifice too great." Coin took it as her moment to intervene as Athena stepped back, taking the claws out of the holes she put in the map and pulled her hood back up as she looked out into the rain. "We need to control the arsenal inside that fortress, even with every district in this alliance, we are outgunned."

"I won't commit my people to a ground assault just to pillage weapons." Paylor said.

"Commander Paylor, your people have suffered more than just about anyone else at the hands of the capitol."

"Which is why I won't condone a mass suicide."

"If we don't take district 2, we won't get into the Capitol."

"Would it be enough to disable the fortress instead of taking it?" Gale said.

Athena really didn't like him, fearing with what he would come up with and how it would affect her district.

"What do you have in mind?"

"You think of it like a wolf den. You're not gonna fight your way in, so you've got two choices. You trap the wolves inside or you flush 'em out. If we can't attack straight on then couldn't we use our hovercraft to strike around it? We'll use the--" Athena refused to listened, whipping away and marching off.

-----------------------------------------------

She watched in anger as the bombs were dropped on her district, bombing the fortress and the exits, trapping and killing men, women and children, only leaving one exit rout open for them.

"You understand that this must be don--" She swung backward, a handchop in Gale's throat, how dare he try to explain this to her?!

"I'd keep your boy toy away from Athena if you care about him Everdeen." Johanna said, a grip on Athena's upper arm, rubbing her arm a bit.

Gale's coughing was the only noise for a while, a chop to the throat with a metal gauntlet does that.

"Now now don't fight, Athena calm down." Heymitch interposed before it got worst.

Athena just huffed, letting Johanna push her away, not in the mood to fight but annoyed now, looking back towards the bombing.

She saw Johanna grab her hand and tried to gently squeeze back despite not feeling it, smiling a little at her.

...

"It's war, Katniss. Sometimes killing isn't personal...Figured if anyone knew that, it was you." But Gale needed to say that out loud after Katniss whispered at him that this bombing had been a bad idea.

"Athena no!" Johanna grabbed her, getting dragged backwards and hanging on to not fall as Athena just tried to grab at Gale.

Katniss got between the two, both hands pressed into Athena's chest and also push back as anger boiled in the heart of the victor.

"I, of all people, know that it's always personal." Katniss said, feeling disappointed that her friend said that.

"Don't worry, there'll be survivors." Heymitch said, leading the group ahead, pulling on Athena's arm, leading them away into a walk towards the last exit so they could intercept the escapees. 

Athena finally helped Johanna stand and grabbed her hand again but not caring how hard it was, Heymitch slowly let go, grabbing Katniss as he spoke too her.

"Let's focus on what it is you gotta say, you need to convince 2 to lay down their weapons.... Now, Plutarch wrote a speech for you..." He held the paper up, slowly holding it to her.

"I'm not saying that." She said after barely looking at it, feeling nervous because of the brewing tension because of Gale's words and actions.

"You?" He tried with Johanna.

"Not a chance Heymitch."

"Athena?" This time it was more joke like and didn't await her obvious answer. "Okay. Didn't think so....Let's, uh...But just remember, you're talking to everybody not just the rebels but the Capitol, the survivors in 2. We want them to lay down their arms so you might wanna experiment with a little sensitivity, warmth."

Athena just wanted to go back to 13, not because it felt like home, 2 was home, but because Cinnamon was more worth then all the hell going on currently.

"Make it quick, you're exposed, you." Boggs said as he stopped everyone that was not Katniss, letting her walk forwards alone so she was in the spotlight. "Stay back and let her."

She looked at Katniss as she walked ahead, Athena sliding her claws out, she didn't trust 2 in not hurting Katniss and she could protect her from them, pulling up the sleeves of her hoodie to her elbows to reveal the whole gauntlet and making it easier on her.

"This is Katniss Everdeen, speaking to all of the loyalists from district 2." Katniss started before a loud screeching was heard coming from the tunnel, Athena recognizing it as mining wagon that carried the miners down.

"Survivors! Inbound!" Someone called, all her group lifting their weapons as Katniss quickly ran forwards, ready to help if needed.

"Guns up! On the ready." Boggs ordered.

"On the ground! Put your weapons down!" Another soldier yelled as the man coming out stumbled and nursed a hurt side.... Wait.

"Get on the ground! Put your weapons down now!"

"Weapons down! You! Put it down! Put your weapons down!"

"Stop!" Katniss screamed when a guard shot at the man and he stumbled in fear.

Wait Katniss!-- Athena tried to yelled but nothing coherent came.

"He needs help!" Katniss said as a man stumbled over, she grabbed him, Athena taking a step but freezing, seeing the gun pressed point blank against the girl's throat, she could never get to her in time and it was infuriating her

"Go on mockingjay, one reason, one reason why I shouldn't shoot your brains out and put an end to this all." He demanded with a smile, holding on her braid with his other hand.

"I... I can't." Katniss said, her voice so weak and vulnerable it was driving Athena up the wall even with the hidden strength in it. One step at a time, she inched out of his view, putting Katniss in between them. "I guess that's the worst right? We blew up your mines but at the same time you burns my district to ashes, killing us all. Everyone here, from 2 and 12, has a reason to want to kill each other, trust me I know, so please, kill me, kill me if you so want it, go on, do it."

Athena crouched slightly, she can't avoid Katniss an injury but in two to three leaps she can be on the man if needed.

"Go on man, make Snow happy, I have grown tired of killing his slaves for him." Athena itched to slice the man into ribbons as Katniss sounded ready to cry.

"I'm not his slave." The man scoffed.

"I am.... That's why I killed your Cato,  that's why Tresh killed your Clove and why Cato killed Tresh, each and everyone a slave to this world, fighting until a victor is born but who am I to lie, even victors don't win, you know who does? Snow, always Snow... Well I am done! So done... I don't want to be his pawn anymore, from district 1 to 12 we are all pawns... We have no reason to fight but the Capitol made up and the Capitol, it gave up on you, why are you still fighting for them? Why are you fighting the rebels?"

The silence was palpable.

"You're neighbors. You're family. These people are not your enemy, that's Snow. He corrupts everyone and everything he even just looks at. He turns the best of us against each other, isn't at what a dictator does? Fight with me, with the mockingjay, against Snow." The man let go, Katniss stepped backwards several steps but kept talking. "Stop killing for him. Tonight, turn your weapons to the capitol. Turn your weapons to Sno--" Bang.

Hidden people emerged and chaos broke out, guns lifted.

Athena was just as fast as she predicted, grabbing Katniss before she hit the ground and putting herself between the new hail of bullets.

She turned back, throwing her hands out by her side, the drag of a bullet slicing into her cheek knocking the hood aside, feeling another through her side but not deep, really on the side.

And so the fire fight died away from the loyalists before the rebels could even shoot back.

Athena stood, stepping off Katniss, hands still up, 2's own victor protecting the mockingjay.

"And here I thought I was the last."

Athena never thought she would hear the voice again but she didn't grace the man with the acknowledgement, her face hard.

Ares, the first ever tribute and victor she remembers mentoring, he was alive... Alive and a loyalist.

"I'd advise you to drop the weapons, you can't think we didn't expect this." He talked too the rebels, stepping up, cocky and confident. "You'll all be dead before you can do anything."

But Athena knew he had questions, no other reasons why he'd have stopped their execution.

Athena watched through the heavy rain as he neared, he hadn't changed, maybe growing the hint of a beard but he was still that Ares that she knew.

"You knew that, because of them, we are the last two victors of 2 left alive?" Ares asked, pointing his gun at the group, unable to shoot Katniss or it would have to go through her. "And you still helped them, I don't understand."

She couldn't answer but despite it all he was not asking questions.

"Tho I must admit, your little mockingjay's speech was so touching." He laughed. "Don't get me wrong, it is dog shit technically but I have an idea."

Ares was not an idiot and Athena knew, he saw how the events shook up the loyalists' convictions, they should have never let Katniss talk.

"I have a deal for you." He said, holding his arms by his sides. "Lets decide the fate of all like it is done in 2."

Athena dropped her arms too.

"I see that you are confused." He said, addressing the group behind her. "I (am challenging her to an agnikai) am talking about a fight to the death of course."

"What the hell?!" Johanna summed it all up.

"You are in the maw of an angry wolf, you will never get out alive unless I want it so this is what I propose this to decide this once and for all." He pointed between Athena and himself. "You and I, Mano a Mano, a fair fight, no weapons, no guns."

Athena just glared at him passively.

"If I win, we get to kill the mockingjay, I get to kill you, the student surpassing the mentor, and you all will be prisoners of war voluntarily... If you somehow win, we'll let you walk away unscathed with the mockingjay, we'll stand down and you can kill me."

"This is madness." Someone behind her spoke up.

"This is your future." Ares corrected. "So what do you say Athena? Ready to lay it down tonight?"

"Athena don't." Johanna warned. "We'll find a way out of this, just don't."

But she knew it was nay impossible to escape alive from this.

And all their lives rested in her claws.

"Athena, make your choice!" He called out with a laugh.

A choice.

Oh he doesn't need to ask her to make a choice.

She made it the moment Katniss had been shot.

She bent her knees slightly and lifted her claws, a hand pulled up by her face and the other held up towards him.

"This will be the fight of our lives!" Ares called out, greatly amused by this, happy as he discarded his gun and pulled out a short sword and threw it down.

And Athena couldn't help but smile at the idea of killing another in her way.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/pGw2ztHACxA

"Athena this is madness!" Johanna whispered as she held a gauntlet while Athena pulled the other one off, looking at herown scarred up hands.

"I-T     W-I-L-L    B-E     F-I-N-E" She said before turning away, not shrugging off the hoodie or anything while Ares had gone all out bare chest in the rain. "I-L-L     P-R-O-T-E-C-T      Y-O-U      A-L-L"

And Johanna was scared, if Athena's crazed smiled was something to go off of, then this would be a mess.

"Please reconsider."

She fixed her hairdo despite the rain the soaked through everything and it taking a moment since she didn't feel her fingers and without the gauntlets the tremors and consequences peaked through.

Despite the sloshing rain, neither had moved out of it, staring each other down.

"Don't interfere 7." Ares called out. "This is between the Capitol and the rebels, between me and her."

"You are facing death Athena, stop smiling dammit!" Johanna said in worry.

"Oh please." Ares smiled at Athena, almost sporting the same smile. "We all know this is 2! Death smiles at us all, but all a man can do, is smile back."

(Sorry but like, I saw this picture and I can't imagine Athena's smile as anything else but this.)

Athena long thought of running and even if she knew they couldn't run thought of an exit.... But what is she didn't run anymore?

What if she is not a coward like how her heart begs to be?

What if she want them to kill her? 

What if she want them to try?

All of that creates a monster, the foolish abandon of a mindless mutt, let Ares come and let him taste defeat.

"Are you already scared? Shaking in your boots?" He asked, making her tremors but he only got a deeper smile, lets spill his blood.

It was so oddly silent despite the deafening rain.

And Athena struck out first, swinging her hand into his face.

Ares, being another career victor had an easier time the a normal person with blocking the strike, putting his forearm up, the fingers gripping into his flesh and despite her short nails, ripping his skin up.

But she didn't let go, tho he was faster in this monet, lashing out with an open palm strike in her side, getting a gasp with Athena slightly hunching forwards before the same hand used for a body shot hit up in another open palm hit, an uppercut.

Her teeth snapped together with a clank, stumbling back before a quick kick to the chest sent her down on her back, splashing up water with the fall.

Athena was not a superior force, she was human, nothing mythological, and yet, today this was the scariest sight: Athena taking three consecutive hits when she usually barely got two to land on her.

She turned to her side, Ares waiting until she got up, shaking her arms out.

"Heh, you sure your tongue is alright after that hit?" He asked, her eyebrow twitching, she had bitten her cheek, that's where the trickle of blood down her face came from, her side hurt, that bullet didn't do that much damage going through but she felt the burn of it.

She reached up to the blood on her cheek  and traced out A and V on one cheek and O and X on the other, looking at him.

"Ah, suspected as much after what you pulled on those interviews and since you always were a talkative woman and have been silent since the start.... You know Athena, 2 liked to picture you as the victor by excellence, so many came before you and after you but you were our prized victor, we all were looking down and saying, that girl just won't quit, watch her, she'll get back up no matter what happened, she will get back up swinging and she'll try again, she just don't quit." He sounded angry, lunging a punch she blocked with two arms before grabbing her belt and lifting her over his head with two hands before slamming her down. "Everyone said don't quit, get off your butt, get in the arena, get dirty, get sweaty, get bloody, get knocked down but get back up no matter what happens so fight like you mean it! Live up to your damned name!!"

She turned herself on her stomach and got up on all fours, taking a breath, shaking her head as she stood.

"You fight to survive, to save all your friends, your mockingjay, so why do your eyes speak of already having given up?!" He grabbed the front of her shirt, lifting her onto her tiptoes. "Fight with you sou--" It felt like a snake coiled around him.

Athena had grabbed on his arms with both of hers with so much strength that clawless finger punched holes into his flesh as she threw her legs up, looping them around his throat and squeezing while pulling on his arm and grabbing on his hand, wrenching it back.

(I can't describe a flying triangle hold quite well.... So here's a video!)

Because of the weight he dropped to a knee, her back slamming into the ground, his face going red and veins bulging.

But just like Athena can overpower Johanna because she is stronger, Ares can overpower Athena.

He actually lifted her again, grabbing his arm with his other before slamming her back down and reaching up, grabbing one of her legs and almost twisting it away from him, breathing in before she drove her other foot into his face, kicking them apart.

She got in a crouched position as he momentarily nursed his bleeding nose, wiping the blood letters off her face in this little interval.

She ran at him.

Athena was a danger to herself now too because of those damned hands, them already having been when they were only numbs in the finger tips but not feeling anything let her hit out as hard as she wanted without feeling the consequences.

Which lead to the finger strike to his face, the short nails still digging under the skin and yanking, freezing the momentum and driving the same elbow in his face before throwing that same exact hand out on the back of his head and yanking him down by his hair as she punched upwards into his face multiple times quickly.

He shoved her with a shoulder check into her stomach before backing up and straightening out, blood pooling on the side of his face from the flap of skin she ripped into his face.

And he smiled, licking the blood, 2 truly being the district of blood and gore.

"Yes, that's it! Fight!"

This time the mutt is awake and it wants blood.

Ares is a tank but Athena is the anit-tank.

(Athena has me making weird google searching at 10pm like, can you puncture flesh with your fingers, or, how hard can you punch)

Ducking a visible punch, latching her fingers into his side and squeezing her fingers in with all her strength and tearing.

As disgusting as it is, even Athena dropped it, but it looked like she ripped out one of the abs, the muscle was still there but the fleshy flap on the ground and the pooling of blood spoke volume.

She slammed her palm into his chin, keeping her hand there and jerking his head more backwards as she pushed, landing him in a fall.

"AAH!!" She reeled a hand back and punched down at his face, kneeling on his chest, but he moved it, she didn't even flinch at the powerful punch into the ground, feeling the shock back into the shoulder and definitely hearing the snap of a bone, her hands have only been healing for a few weeks after all. Yet she still took the same hand for jab into his cheek, grabbing his head with the other, powering through his powerful punch to the ribs that made her slide to kneel on the ground, digging a thumb into his eye.

She kicked him away and she got to her feet, looking at her hand, the amount of blood was impressive, just grabbing her hand, hand on the odd bump, pressing and yanking it back in place. (I know there are a lot of () in this chapter but I don't care, never do that to a break irl, Idk who would but yeah)

She drove her heel into the exposed muscle in his side when he stood, hooking her foot behind his knee because he was so close and he stumbled but she stepped on his foot as he fell, keeping it flat on the ground while his leg was not, hearing something snap under his pant leg.

Leaning over enough to throw down a punch on his nose, hearing the satisfying break of it, his head bouncing hard of the coarse ground.

She was breathing heavily as she backed off when another of his kicks dug deep in her side, hugging herself momentarily.

She took a deep breath, watching him struggle up, hopping on one leg, the other not totally limb but he could only flex it towards the ground not upwards.

Being faster and him opening with the same punch again, she could avoid it, punching into his elbow strong enough to add enough momentum to him that he was forced to step on the hurt leg, sit open as she drove her elbow in his lower ribs, hearing something more to the impact before she slammed her other hands fingers in the open wound and yanked upwards, creating a larger, bloodier, wound when she was grabbed.

His arm looped around her throat and trapped her, looking behind him as she felt him squeeze tho the goal was to keep her motionless since she could still breathe, tho she felt the elbow hit hard into her spine.

She tried, she really did, but she plays dirty, lives depend on her finishing this soon, lashing out a hand, gripping and twisting bellow belt while pushing on his body with hers.

He hit the ground and slammed her head into the ground but she scrambled out of his hold because of his jewels being in pain, feeling dizzy.

She gave a stern strike to the side of the neck and carotid artery, the one that would always piss blood when she ripped throats out, was hit, striking hard as she knew for some off reason that that could lead to dizziness and it did, throwing a kick flat in the middle of his chest sent him down like a heavy tree.

He tried to get up but he swayed and fell over on his front.

Athena panted, a brow lifted for a moment, Ares looked ready to go, still having a fighting spirit and she could still rough around, but the pool of blood around the victors was mostly his and blood loss leads to debilitating dizziness when mixed with the neck strike.

She rubbed off the rain she had on her face but it didn't help since it didn't let up as Ares pushed up to his elbows only, looking up at her.

"Fuck." He hung his head before lifting it, still open eye blazing with the strength of 2 despite the blood loss exhausting him like that. "Come on, complete the deal."

She walked over, grabbing his head and wrenching his head back as she crouched down but stopped with her hand lifted high, eyes zoned in on his throat.

She looked at his face, eyes closed and awaiting his death.

She looked down before sighing, letting go which resulted with his head hitting the ground before he lifted it, looking at her as she stood up.

"What?! Kill me! Kill me Athena!" He yelled as she backed up, turning her back to him. "Kill me!!"

The relief of the rebels was not long felt.

A searing hot pain shot through her, stealing her breath, an uproar coming from all.

"If you won't kill me.... I'll kill you..."

She turned around and grabbed him by the the hair tightly as she yanked it even more down and drove her knee into it with all her strength, watching him fall back on his back in a heap, having only gathered enough strength to grab his sword and drive it through Athena, the blade coming out skewed, it went in flat and just next to the spine, coming out right under the sternum and pointing to the right.

She staggered back,  grabbing on the blade that stuck out front in surprise, squeezing in pain and not caring that her hands were also bleeding as she just doubled in two, gasping for a breath she didn't feel enough.

She still looked at Ares through the haze of pain as he panted heavily too, looking at her through the blood.

"Now... Now kill me...." It was the death of a coward to let someone die from bloodloss.

Athena shook her head, mouthing 'live on' before a hacking cough made her splatter her blood around, not really feeling who grabbed her as she stumbled back and into their hold.

"THEA!!!"

Johanna was just in shock, it being Boggs and Heymitch that snapped out of their shock enough to grab to victor before she collapsed.

"Sweethea--Arhm." Heymitch almost used the nickname he gave every annoying female victor but bit it away with a cough, knowing her history. "Athena, hang in there." He said as her head dropped backwards, eyes wandering a bit.

"H-E     L-I-V-E-S" It was barely understandable to anyone before she grabbed the blade again.

"She wants him to live." Johanna robotically translated for everyone.

"Go!" One of the loyalists yelled, in anger? In confusion? The rebels couldn't tell. "A deal is a deal! You can leave alive and we won't stand in your way so now go!"

"Quickly everyone! We have two critical injuries!" Boggs quickly called, basically caring Athena with Heymitch while Gale carried Katniss.

They stayed true to their words, none of the previously threatening loyalists even moved closer to them.

"Go go go! Start the engines!"

Everyone hurried around in panic but most came because the mockingjay was hurt even if her wound, when looked over, was just sever bruising, the bullet proofing of her outfit protecting her but she still looked critical too so nothing was ruled out.

"It will be fine Thea, just keep you eyes open." Johanna whispered, genuine terror in her heart as she passed her hand through Athena's drenched hair as she held her head in her lap, not caring to stop her from squeezing the blade in her hands as she was curled into a ball.

She wished the hovercraft could just fly that much faster.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/BVr3jgQMlVU

(I am not making it easy for you readers huh?)

Beep.... Beep..... Beep....

Love is torture.

Johanna felt like she was the one dying when it was not her that had emergency surgery with the doctors not knowing if she will wake up.

It felt so wrong to see tubes sticking out of Athena even if they kept her alive, her neck hurt at the sight of the one down the other other's throat to breath for her.

"Please wake up soon Thea." She whispered, sitting next to the bed.

She'd lie if she said she couldn't have gotten slapped by her younger self if she told her what her life became, when once she wanted nothing but to be alone, today it had become her greatest nightmare because of a victor that she should have never gotten along with.

She needed a breather, she didn't want to leave Athena but she felt like she cried enough today for that.

If her heart could be considered shards of shattered glass.... Now it was dust, watching the little kitten in her hands almost knowingly look on at the 'sleeping' woman on the bed, if not for herself, if she couldn't be selfish, she wished Athena would wake up for the kitten.

She heard the little bell that signaled that visiting time was over.

"Come on, lets go." She groaned as she stood, her knees protesting with loud cracks, walking to the door and out.

---------------------------------------------------

Katniss woke up in lost of pain but alive.

But she wasn't all that reassured since when she woke up it was the stone cold anger of Johanna that greeted her as she lounged in a chair by her bedside.

"Don't get it wrong, I am here because I have wanted to see if her sacrifice was worth anything." Johanna said, her usually snappy personality peaking through despite petting the little black kitten she had in her hands. "I mean like wow, that speech, got me right in the feels you know? Goose bumps everywhere girl." The sarcasm was thickly layered on.

"Well it didn't go right anyway." Katniss said, feeling a lot of pain in her side from just breathing.

"What are you saying? It was great, making us all feel oh so safe." She scoffed. "What about you, mockingjay? You feeling totally safe?"

"I kind of did until I got shot."

"Oh, please. The bullet didn't even touch you. Cinna saw to that.... Of course your costume would be bulletproof." Johanna rolled her eyes. "So what are your injuries?"

"Bruised ribs, bruised lung." She said, feeling that this was already a lot but Johanna didn't seem impressed.

"I'm surprised they haven't found you a new lung. I mean, I've got two, Athena has two, even Heymitch. Do you want one of mine?"

"What happened?" She asked meekly, Johanna only got this amount of angry sass when Athena was concerned and she learnt to detect it for her own safety. "Where is Athena?"

"She protected you, all of us.... To ensure we all left that mess alive she fought with another victor, I think he is called Ares if I remember well not that I care, he drove a sword through her chest after beating each other up mutually and all of that because you were stupid enough to walk in there to help.... Did it to keep you alive....I mean, it's everybody's job to keep you alive."

"Is she..."

"She's alive for now, we'll know if her chances are better if she passes the night without complications."

"Is that why you hate me?" Katniss knew Athena hated her, she was terrified because of that hate but Johanna's dislike becoming hate was quite new. "Because of her? Because she almost died because of me?"

"Partly.... You're also a little hard to swallow." Johanna admitted, putting the kitten in her lap before it fell out of her hands. "The whole tacky romance drama and the 'defender of the hopeless' act is just too much even though it's not an act which makes it even more unbearable and yes, feel free to take any of this personally."

"You should have been the mockingjay.... Nobody else would tell you what to say." She was sure Johanna would have already gotten this rebellion to its goal.

"But nobody likes me like they do you." The victor of 7 said.

"They're afraid of you."

"Sure, maybe here but not the Capitol, sure they call me the mad wolf but it is not because of fear Katniss, in the Capitol you're the only thing that they're scared of. No one else but you, you stood up to them first so you are terrifying to them. Even Athena is not scary to that point, they loved her."

"Either of you would have been better, they follow what you wanted and don't order you around.

"They messed us up pretty good, didn't they?" Johanna sighed.

"You tell me." There was a silence. "So what's up in 2?"

"Athena." Johanna nodded towards the girl. "The deal was if Ares wins, he kills you and Athena, takes us prisoner but if she wins she kills him and the loyalists will not stand in our way, I guess they won't help either but whatever, well we are here and alive so she won, 2 is calm now."

"Tell her I am sorry that 2 got bombed."

"I'll tell her but I don't know how much she'll like it."

"I know, I just feel bad."

"Don't, she chose to do this, she protects, we just need to protect her too somehow."

"I'll try."

"You better."

"You have quite an infuriating master you know?" Johanna spoke to the kitten she carried to her quarters as if meowed up a storm, telling her its life story she thought passingly.

She pet the little head with a bitter smile as it rubbed back against her finger.

"I miss her too, lets just hope she'll be fine yeah?" She opened the door to her room and closed it behind her with a sigh. "Please be fine.... I can't lose another person I care about..." She sucked in a breath when the kitten meowed. "Fine fine let's go to bed, damn you a demanding." She distracted herself with the kitten.

Even if the reality lingered in her mind like a dark storm that wanted to strangle her.

She sighed once more.

Only love can hurt like this.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/zNGvfPRZYZw

It was not that good to wake up.

Gagging on the fucking tube shoved down her throat and ripping it out leading to coughing blood was not something she wanted to do.

She was also quite confused as too why Johanna was not with her or how the doctors had no problems in letting her go and walk off.... But then again, looking at herself the injury was just a scar that was mostly healed so how long was she out?

"Ah Athena, how are you?"

"H-E-L-L-O"m

"Good to see you too." Cinna smiled at her, watching her almost hurry to tie the gauntlets on her hands and arms, feeling naked without them. "But answer, feelings?"

"I    A-M     F-I-N-E"

"That's good, don't tell the others that I heard but I think madam Coin wants to see you, I was also on my way." He pat her shoulder. "See you soon and don't worry, Mags is looking after your Cinnamon." He said while he jogged away, barely waiting that he himself finished what he was saying.

She rose her brow but went to the room she shared with Johanna and it was empty too, suspecting it had something to do with not seeing Finnick or Katniss either even if suspecting that at least one of them would say something to her.

She grabbed her maker off a dresser, putting on some casual grey and black outfit with which she could have blended in with 13 if it wasn't for looks.

She had this bad feeling, rubbing the tender skin on her chest, that sword was literally a back stab but she didn't expect anything else.

Technically neither had won the deal but Ares did request no weapons and he broke his own rules which was why she was declared the winner.

She sighed, she hopes he survived, she can't go on like this, killing because Snow wants her too, she hopes that he is recovering like she had.

---------------------------------------------

"Ah, miss Hadley, thank you for joining us." Coin sounded really annoyed, Cinna was right, Plutarch had found her wandering in search of her friends before gently leading her to the meeting room. "Please, take a seat."

She uncapped the marker and grabbed the pages of blank paper given to her to write on, looking at the woman.

"We have had a little problem." Coin started, her blond hair seeing whiter from stress then it was first. "Katniss Everdeen has gone rogue."

"What madam president means is she is in the Capitol despite our express warning against it." Plutarch added.

"The Capitol is open?"

"Yes, the loyalists have not stepped down in 2 but they are not bothering us anymore. Somehow Everdeen slipped passed all of our security measures and went on the scene to fight when she is not meant too."

"You cannot hold such a girl down ma'am. Where there is need, she'll be there."

"I understand that, that's why I have sent Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason after her, to protect the mockingjay."

The felt tip of Athena's marker was heard snapping on the paper with ink pooling out of it before expressionlessly reaching out to grab another pen, glaring with wide eyes at Coin.

"You sent them out there because of a girl." She wanted to say so much but that was all her hands wrote.

"We want to send another squad for their protection, our goal is to bring the victors back alive." Athena always thought her shady and she was not helping her case.

"And?" The dot on the ? jabbed into the paper.

"You'll be on it. Now, I know you were hurt not long ago but only the mockingjay matters." She said, right away contradicting her words of bringing all victors back, said as casually as it could have been said. "You are the best fighter of them, your place is at her side."

"How nice." But she was not about to fight it, she too would have snuck out if she was aware of what went on. "Drop me off there, I wished for long to make them all pay."

"Good, because we were not asking for your yes or no."

"Careful president, no one is far enough to escape the claws of an angry mutt." Dotting the end of that sentence harshly, the pen stabbed through into the wooden table and staying up right as she stood, doing a 180° and walking out.

----------------------------------------------

"Ladies and gentlemen." Finnick said, turning to look at them all. "Welcome to the 76th hunger games."

Johanna sighed, feeling so bad for being here instead of with Athena but it was not like she had the choice.

She was forced to come out here and then learnt that instead of a random team she was teaming with Katniss because she somehow got out here, just great.

She wanted to go back, to go home, to be anywhere else but here.

And yet she was.

"I'm sorry." She muttered to herself with a deep breath as they stepped out into the streets of the Capitol and between the pods.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/L7kF4MXXCoA

Athena sat silently in the truck with few military personal around.

Sure she could understand her or them joining but why did they put Peeta in?

The boy was talking in a loop to himself and hugging the remaining feeling out of her arm as he was almost sitting in her lap, scared out of his damned mind.

He was still too unstable for this and yet he was sent on this mission.

Was Coin trying to kill Katniss?

Why is everything so complicated?

First Gale and now this... She'll keep an eye out for Peeta, lifting her hand and rubbed his head.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"We've got a truck coming in from the south." Jackson, the right hand woman of Boogs called in on a walkie talkie before adding on not five seconds later. "Stand down, everyone. It's friendly."

Katniss looked on in confusion with everyone as the truck stopped and two guards got out.

"That bitch." Johanna hissed, Athena hopping out of the truck next but Peeta clinging to her arm was the next surprise. "You gotta be shitting me." She hissed.

As they approached the group, Peeta mumbling became clear and he even let go of the other victor tho it took a bit on insistence.

"My name is Peeta Mellark. My home is district 12. My name is Peeta Mellark. My home is district 12." He kept saying but Athena stepped up too Johanna, hugging her tight, pressing a short kiss on her face with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" Johanna asked.

"What is he doing here?" Boggs asked at the same time, Athena could be understood but Peeta, it seemed so weird to bring him into an active war zone.

"They want him in the propo, show that he's on our side now." One of the twin soldiers said.

Athena nodded at Johanna's look, agreeing since she was here for that reason too, not really feeling like explaining that Coin basically told her to fuck herself and die for Katniss tho in nicer words.

"Coin can't be that stupid can she? Does't she see that he is not alright?" Johanna asked, finally pulling from the hug to see what was going on around them instead of just hearing it. 

Athena shrugged.

"S-H-E     D-O-E-S     W-H-A-T     S-H-E      W-A-N-T-S"

"That's for sure... Now come, Finnick has been talking my ears off so now you deal with him."

---------------------------------------------

"We'll move forward a few blocks tomorrow and shoot the new footage." Boggs explained while the group hauled up inside a broken down building, sitting around and forming a loose circle.

"He's not in control of himself." Gale added, pointed at Peeta who was muttering to himself, cuffed for precautions. "He can't be left alone."

"I say we schedule an around-the-clock watch on him. The Leegs till 1700, Homes and Mitchell till 1900." Jackson said. "And Hadley is here, I assume we all heard of how he is dependent on her, if it gets out of control she can restrain him." Athena nodded when the woman looked at her questioningly, it would yield the least amount of injuries if she was the one to do it.

"Give me a watch." Katniss insisted.

"Yeah hell us too." Johanna pointed between Finnick and her. "We are all victors, we know what he went through"

"And if it really came down to it, you think you could shoot him? Or axe him down? Maybe you've grown too close to each other."

"Oh please, I'll kill anyone needed too if that would stop future killings." Finnick said tho sounding with sarcasm thick in his voice. 

"And I could too. I wouldn't be shooting Peeta I would be killing a Capitol mutt." Katniss said.

Athena bit on her cheek, not liking the girl calling peeta that, seeing the look of hurt on the boys face as he rocked himself back and forth.

"I'm not sure that kind of a comment recommends you for the job either, soldier." Jackson said as she pointed at her accusingly.

"Put her in the rotation but anyone with her, make sure she doesn't shot him uselessly." Boggs ordered.

"Of course I won't." She nodded.

Right after it Boggs pulled Katniss out to talk to her.

"This will be fun." Johanna told Athena with a fake smile.

"S-O    M-U-C-H    I     C-A-N-T    W-A-I-T"

"This is the last line, the last sprint, are you ready for this to all be over?"

"Y-E-S" But it was a lie.

Athena was terrified for the end of the war, not knowing what will become of her and will her life be worth it.

She wanted this to end and not so she lied and smiled.

---------------------------------------

Athena sat alone on her rotation, actually she was with Johanna but neither really talked in their respective ways.

The victor of 7 leaning her head on Athena's shoulder and Athena leaned her head against hers, watching Peeta's muddled form in the darkness of the room.

She had not slept until now and didn't feel tired even.

Thought about an uncertain future keeping her up.

Sure the Capitol falls but what comes after it?

She looked at the ceiling.

She wished she knew but she couldn't tell and sighed.

Pulling out a little piece of paper and a small pen, she was sitting next too the window which made it easier for her to see it.

It was a little list of things she wrote down while thinking of what to do with her life.

If she had a list to complete, she'd have goals to work forwards, a reason to be.

For now this little bucket list was really small and included: going to see the ocean having wanted to do that with Cato for so long, going home too 2, fix up 2 and take care of Cinnamon.

It was a really small list of things that she would need to do after this war anyway, only thing she really had a choice about doing was going to see the ocean but she was sure she would find new things.

She looked to Johanna, she was awake... Or supposed to be but she didn't bother waking up the woman.

She wrote another little line on her paper with a soft smile.

She could never do it, not with her being an Avox but this was always a plan, she never did it, sure there were kisses but it was not this, it was not the same.

She looked at the added goal with a bitter smile of happiness.

'Tell Johanna you love her.'

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/VjNgwXtYGVg

"Everyone listens here." Boggs held up a rifle magazine. "This mags empty, not even blanks, it is only for the propos alright?" He said slowly as he loaded it in the gun he gave Peeta.

The boy nodded as if it was him only that got told this, a shaky hold on the weapon for a moment.

"I am not a fan of seeing him with a weapon." Johanna told Athena.

"N-E-I-T-H-E-R      A-M     I" She answered while looking at the handgun she was given, Johanna and Finnick only had their axe and trident but she was given this, probably because of Peeta and how he'd cling close to her, she'd be the closest to take him out if something happened, tho it was a struggle, each new object taking her a second to master with her touchless hands.

"You'll keep an eye on him right?" Johanna told Finnick as even if it was day, it was he turn to fully concentrate on Peeta.

"Of course I will, he will not hurt you two." He winked at them.

"Stop talking everyone and lets move out, we'll try to make it ten blocks north, five a minimum so move it."

Athena rolled her eyes, holstering the gun before she followed Jackson out of the building, covering her eyes for a moment because of the light.

She hated being here in the Captiol, the only comfort was that she knew it would soon be over.

Soon Snow will be brought down, they are so close too it.

--------------------------------------------

They made their ways through the labyrinth of buildings and pods until they passed under arches that lead into what looked like a stone octagonal courtyard.

It was so silent, the Capitol was so silent, it unnerved Athena beyond limits.

"Breathe Thea." Johanna grabbed her hand, giving a squeeze despite the metal not giving or Athena feeling it.

She sighed deeply and nodded looking up as Cresida was talking to Boggs about how great of a shot she could have if they went down to the middle of the courtyard, the soldier listened and made the group follow her down to it.

"Boggs, this is a good spot." The camera woman said as she pointed ahead under a half blown up statue. "To show how the Capitol crumbles under our mighty rebellion."

"Okay, let us clear it."

He walked forwards with the holo, a machine that detects these pods the gamemakers filled the Capitol with to slow the rebels.

As they neared an arch, the beeping of the holo that had been soft and constant, picked up and was almost shrieking right as they neared an inner arch that would lead closer to the blown up statue.

"Yep, got a pod." He pointed to the sides of the arch. "Split, take cover."

Athena stood off to the right side, Peeta of course coming to duck behind her, crouching while everyone else quietly chose a side to hide behind too.

Boggs picked up a little rubble piece and threw it in the arch before ducking away, machine guns snapping out and blasting up the area.

Athena tensed, that would shred anyone coming through, she looked over her shoulder at the sound of constant smacks coming.

Instantly crouching down, shoving her hand between the rifle Peeta was beating into his head as he kept muttering his mantra that he was Peeta Melark and the rest, she held his head between the hands, not letting him hurt himself, knowing that he would get bruised anyway from the previous hits too himself.

"Sssh." She breathed out, rubbing her thumb on his face as tears escaped his eyes long after the machine guns exhausted all their ammo.

She looked at the mess they had made from the relatively good looking pavement, nothing but shards of smashed stone and bullet shells.

"All clear, come on, move it." Boggs said earning a glare from Athena as she grabbed Peeta, helping him stand, dusting off his shoulders.

"I want to go home Athy." He whispered making her furr her brows, she gave his shoulders a squeeze, holding a soft smile on her face. "Why do I need to be here? They all look at me like a mutt."

Athena hugged him, pressing his face into her chest as she hushed him until...

Boom!!

"Boggs!!" Katniss' scream ripped through the air as dust and pieces of stone rained down.

She let go of the boy to look over her shoulder, patting his before running after Katniss, she needs to stay alive.

"Say your name." Boggs forced out through the pain, Athena seeing his legs were gone completely.

"Katniss Everdeen?" The holo made a sound and blinked as he shoved it away from him, Athena picking it up. "Don't trust them, not Jackson, kill Peeta if you have too." He coughed, grabbing Katniss' arm hard. "Do what you came to do."

He coughed more before going limp, eyes staring up at the sky.

"Boggs? Boggs?" But the man didn't answer Katniss.

Athena grabbed her shoulders, not questioning Boggs' words, already knowing that since Katniss snuck out to be here that she had her own agenda, holding her the holo when she looked at her.

Katniss was still and might always be terrified of Athena but currently all she could do was throw her arms out and hug her, not expecting another death of someone getting close too her.

She looked on in shock but looped her free hand around the younger girl and stood her up, ears zoning in on the screaming of one of the twin soldier, only having her lower left leg blown off by the explosion.

She gently pushed Katniss off and gave her the holo before hurrying over as her sister tried to lift her up but couldn't, being sure the Capitol knew where they were now.

Sssssht.

She looked down, the pavement block she stepped on sinking into the ground just like how her stomach sank into her boots, another pod.

And she was the one to activate it.

She looked up frantically at the groaning of stone as their entrance between the buildings closed with large door, culminating with loud ear piercing clanks.

Athena's stress kept climbing, they are all trapped, she trapped them, she did this.

First there was nothing.

And then a pipe burst, spraying out black oily liquid.

"AAH!! Run it burns!" Another soldier yelled as a drop of it hit his face before way more pipes came forth to dump their fill out and the wave was rapidly moving.

Finnick moved first, grabbing the sister with her twin and pulling her.

"Go go go people!!" Gale screamed, grabbing Katniss and running with her.

Athena put her hand on Johanna and shoved her to run, the younger victor not needing to be asked twice.

She looked over her shoulder tho, seeing Peeta run out, eyes lost in mania, tackling Katniss to the ground and punching her,

She pushed Gale before he could shoot Peeta, the spray of bullets hitting the ground as a soldier, maybe he was the one called Mitchell tho she wasn't sure, dragged Peeta away.

"Up you fire girl!" Johanna grabbed Katniss buy the back of her neck and yanked her up while Gale swung back, smacking Athena in the face with the rifle moments before a horrible scream came.

Peeta having thrown Mitchell off him and shoulder checked him in the pond of burning oil, the man screamed as another pod was activated, barbed wire coming up and just winding deep into his flesh and tearing into him while he was strung up.

"Someone restrain him!!" Came a yell as Athena punched Gale down, snapping out of her murderous thought and abandoning her fight.

She grabbed Peeta by the hair and threw him on the ground, catching his neck in the crook of her elbow when he launched to his feet and pulled his back against her front.

"LET ME GO!! THEY WILL KILL US ATHY!! WE NEED TO KILL THEM FIRST!!" He screamed as she dragged him backwards while he was trying to pull her arm away from the choke hold she had on him.

Finnick quickly ran up, grabbing Peeta kicking legs and lifting him, both carrying the screaming boy too the window that was blasted open before.

Athena threw him through it and climbed after, Finnick behind her.

"Move!" "Keep climbing." "Up! Up! Up!" Screams came as everyone was trying to climb the staircase as fast as they could, Athena manhandling Peeta with a tight grip on the back of his neck and making him hunch over as she pushed him up the stairs, even kicking up the black oil she was being so slow because of him, feeling the searing hot liquid filter into her pant legs and even tho it was just drops, it hurt a lot.

"NO!!" She looked as Gale screamed in anger, at the top of the stairs and no more stairs left to climb.

Athena pushed Peeta, he fell on the landing, as she shoved Finnick in front of her, being the last to step up, all of the group stopped and trapped.

"Look...It's slowing down." Katniss said as it was true, the oil climbing the stairs until it just about rolled onto the landing for a few inches before it completely stopped.

Athena really wished she could have just said fuck it and leave as she watched the liquid stagnate, the air felt so hot because of the warmth it gave off.

She leaned against a wall with a sigh as Peeta sat on the ground, rocking back and forth while the hurt sister sat in a corner, all of them stuck in this little area.

"We better move." Jackson said as she turned to the door next to them, trying to open it. "If peacekeepers didn't know where we were, they sure do now. Those cameras, they are sure to have caught us." She pointed out the window tho Athena saw nothing so they must be under oil level.

"I agree. This is a bad spot, we need to move now." Gale said, Athena rubbing the red mark forming on her face from his hit.

Jackson stop tried to call into base but nothing happened, only white noise was heard.

"Well this is great." Johanna complained.

"F-U-C-K-I-N-G      G-R-E-A-T" Athena added for her.

"I told you this was the 76th hunger games, they are not holding anything back it seems." Finnick added, trying to joke but it came out dry and slightly anxious.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/vS_a8Edde8k

"Everdeen, the holo." Jackson demanded, holding her hand out but Katniss backed down. "Everdeen!" She took a step closer.

A hand shoved her back, making her aim the gun up, Athena stepping in between the two.

Gale then lifted his gun to aim at Jackson and soldiers aimed up, Finnick lifting his trident and Johanna unfolding her axe.

"Everdeen the holo now."

"Boggs gave it too me."

"And why would he?"

"She is telling the truth." A soldier Athena didn't know the name off said but she didn't care, she itched to slice Jackson up. "I heard him, he transferred clearance to her."

"Well transfer it to me."

"I won't, he entrusted me with it, he said you'd listen to me." A lie, a clear lie, Boggs had told Katniss and Athena heard clearly, not to trust Jackson.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yes, I was sent here on a mission and I need to holo for it."

"She is correct." Cresida said, stepping out in front of Athena and forcible lowered Jackson's gun. "Coin wants to film Snow's execution by the mockingjay, she thinks it will make the Capitol stop fighting instantly."

After a tense moment Jackson put the gun down.

"So be it, now we need to move." She said, in their dispute the oil had had the time to drain away. "Before we are all killed."

"Ah, I can't move, leave me behind." The sister said when Gale and her twin tried to help her up to stand. "I'll serve as distraction."

"Then I am staying too." The sister said and no one fought with them, really not having the time for that with a ticking clock of death over their heads.

"Everdeen you are an idiot really." Johanna told her as they all left the staircase and quickly moved to the opposing building to hide away.

Athena looked at the oily strung up corpse of Mitchell before catching up again.

"You would have done better?"

"No but still, idiotic."

Gale bashed in the window with the butt off his gun and cleared the frame of shards before climbing in first while Athena made sure everyone had crossed the threshold before she had.

"Come on, through here, where the cameras can't follow." He called, leaning them up another staircase and kicking in a door, everyone filling into the room.

It looked like a lounge room, a U-shaped couch around a TV that dropped from the ceiling.

Jackson quickly closed the curtains as Athena slammed the door behind her and pulled a cabinet in front of it with Finnick's help.

Athena backed away from it and dropped on the couch with a sigh.

She looked to her side as Johanna sat down.

"Are you alright?"

"Y-E-A-H     Y-O-U"

"I am." She touched her face with a frown. "I'll cut his head off for that." Gently touching, just ghosting over, the red mark left by the weapon.

"I    W-A-N-T     T-O     K-I-L-L     H-I-M"

"Of course you do, that's all he deserves, I don't care how good he is at war."

Athena wanted to sign something else but the TV lit up with blue holographic lights and the Capitol logo so she watched with a raised brow.

"Good afternoon." Caesar came on the screen. "I'm Caesar Flickerman. Here with our continuing coverage of the defense of the capitol. Today, as our peacekeepers valiantly hold off the rebels, our story takes a surprising twist."

The video of them activating the oil trap was play, Athena frowning as she saw her mistake again, Johanna laying a hand on her thigh. 

"Katniss Everdeen, our once favorite daughter, has infiltrated the city with some of the victors, whose names are all too familiar... Athena Hadley, Johanna Mason, Finnick Odair and Peeta Mellark.... Clearly, some alliances don't last forever."

It showed Peeta shoving Katniss down and hitting her while Athena got in an altercation with Gale.

"Take a look at what happened just a moment ago, when our peacekeepers cornered Katniss Everdeen and her band of foolish rebels. Whatever arrogance brought this treacherous girl back to us, you are about to witness a great victory, not only for the capitol but for Panem."

It now showed peacekeepers shooting up the building with the two twins shooting back before a guided missile was blasted into it and they were gone, dead.

"So there you have it. Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, a girl who inspired so much violence, seems to have met a violent end herself. Stay tuned for more information. Caesar Flickerman. Thank you."

"Welp, we are dead huh?" Finnick said, pointing at the turned off screen.

"What's our next move?" Cresida added.

"Isn't it obvious? The next move is to kill me. I murdered one of our squad members." Peeta whispered suddenly. "Katniss is right, I'm a mutt and it's only a matter of time before I snap again....I'm not in control....I need a nightlock pill so I can die when I need too."

Athena stood up, walking to the boy and ruffling his hair, he looked up at her so scared of what he did and could do but she understood it, she struggled with the same.

"If it gets to that point, I'll kill you myself." Gale said.

And if he keeps that up Athena will stop struggling and just give into her murderous needs.

Glaring at him with a glint of madness as he walked out of the room.

-----------------------------------------------

It was an hour or so after the previous broadcast that the TV turned on again, everyone had used this moment of calm to rest up while they worked out a plan.

Athena's bone chilled and her blood turned to ice spikes as she heard the music of the downed tributes while the screen showed black and white versions of all their faces, just like how it would in the arena in the sky.

It made her swallow hard to see her own face with 'dead' written under it with her district number and name, it almost felt too real if it wasn't for Johanna there with her.

"So Katniss Everdeen." Snow's face replaced the pictures on the screen, showing that he was in a sparse office. "A poor unstable girl with nothing but a small talent with a bow and arrow is dead. Not a thinker, not a leader. Simply a face plucked from the masses. Was she valuable? She was extremely valuable to your rebellion because you have no vision, no true leader among you. You call yourselves an alliance but we saw what that means. Your soldiers are at each other's throats."

The screen glitched and Coin came on the screen, Athena scoffing while Katniss let out a little laugh of surprise.

"Good evening."

"And here I thought they forgot us." Johanna said as Coin looked sad but it didn't reach her eyes.

"For those of you who don't know me, please, allow me to introduce myself. I am president Alma Coin, leader of the rebellion. I have interrupted a broadcast from your president in which he attempted to defame a brave young woman. 'A face picked from the masses' he called her as if a leader, a true leader, could be anything else. I had the privilege of knowing a small-town girl from the seam in district 12 who survived the hunger games and the quarter quell and rose up and turned a nation of slaves into an army! Dead or alive, Katniss Everdeen will remain the face of this revolution. She will not have died for nothing."

"I had no idea I meant so much to her." Katniss said with a cheeky smile nudging Athena next to her before flinching when said victor looked at her, looking away with a nervous chuckle.

"Her vision and ours will be realized. A free Panem with self-determination for all and in her memory, we will all find the strength to rid Panem of its oppressors. Thank you and be safe."

"T-H-A-T      I-S     S-N-O-W-S    M-A-N-S-I-O-N" Athena told Johanna, recognizing the room.

"Snow's in his mansion." Johanna pointed it out too everyone since sure maybe Finnick learnt to understand Athena but that was two out of them group of around ten of them.

 Katniss instantly stood up in shock and grabbed the holo, dropping it on the table under the TV.

"Where is that?" She asked Johanna who shrugged since it was Athena that said that to her.

Athena stood and pointed at a spot on the map.

"And that's us." Cresida said as she pointed at a dot on the holo's projected map as everyone looked at it. "Where Athena is pointing as is the city circle. It's at least 70, 75 blocks north."

"75 blocks?" Finnick said, not believing it, it was still so incredibly far from them.

"Mhm." She nodded, the mood souring in the room as everyone came to same conclusion as Finnick.

"Well we are dead men walking, we could be able to make it." Johanna said.

"This is our chance." Karniss agreed which was rare both would agree on something. "These buildings, do these look over Snow's gardens?" She pointed at another.

Athena looked closer before nodding at Katniss, the few times she was dragged out to make propaganda films for the Capitol she did spend her time looking out and keeping all in her mind.

"If he goes outside at all, I could get a clear shot." Katniss pointed out, tracing an imaginary line from the building she talked about and the garden.

"We're getting ahead of ourselves here." Jackson said, quelling the victors. "Whether they're looking for us or not, we are pinned down. Hit that button, it scans for pods." Katniss did and a huge number of them showed up, it was so much that the blue light of the holo was overpowered by the red lights of the dots.

"Just about every 10 steps." Gale said.

"And it doesn't even show the newer ones like that bomb that killed Boggs or the trigger for the oil trap." A soldier said.

"So we can't go anywhere in the streets." Finnick sounded so tired and everyone felt it too.

"And the rooftops are just as bad." Jackson quickly said. "Even more protected with possible hovercraft fire."

"So we are stuck." Johanna threw her hands up. "How great!"

"There might be another way." A man, Castor, said as he and Pollux exchanged a look with subtly nods.

--------------------------------------------

"My brother knows these tunnels really well. He worked sanitation down here. Right after they made him an avox." Castor said as he lead them down a ladder into the undergrounds of the Capitol "Hey hey. You gonna be okay?" He rubbed his brother's shoulder.

Athena looked at the huge towering pillars in the tunnel.

Now of all times she missed her tongue more then any other times since the word avox reminded her of her own dilemma that could never be solved.

She scratched her neck gently.

The games have moved underground it seems.

And Athena was ready.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/I-usXWnx6DA

They climbed even lower into the sewers, only seeing because of the flashlights that they held in their hands.

Water was dripping in small puddle, the air thick with fumes and was clammy, the pipes groaned around them and the weird noises all around didn't put anyone at ease.

Athena was with her flashlight in one hand and her claws pulled out in both of them, ready to fight no matter what came their way.

Echoes bounced off the walls, their steps sounding like many more, no one dared to talk.

The huge tunnels narrowed down and split, everyone following Katniss and the holo, soon walking in a file within water that reached up to their chest, Athena holding her gun over her head to keep it out of the water, she could barely aim it up correctly but her gut was telling her to not let it go to waste.

She felt lightheaded because of the smells in here but she forced to not think about what could be around them, this was all worth it.

And finally the water level started dropping, first the waist height and then to knee before finally reaching only their ankles 

But it seems that it was getting too much for some, hearing someone behind her heave up their breakfast which made her gag as she holstered the gun again.

"Alright everybody." Jackson said, they had been walking for a long time. "Lets stop here for a bit and get some rest, yeah?" She said, wadding through the water to a metallic platform that was built out above it, climbing on to it. "I'll take first watch."

Athena helped Peeta up and offered a hand too Johanna.

"Oh why thank you." Johanna chuckled a bit as she grabbed her hand and let herself be helped up while Athena just smiled and rolled her eyes, she even helped Finnick and the other soldiers and camera crew but climbed up when it was Gale's turn, snubbing him.

"Hey, Peeta. Just tuck in there." Finnick pulled the boy to the side where he could sit down, siting with him and instantly whispering about something with the boy that seemed to interest and distract him.

"All right, settle in everybody." Jackson added.

Athena leaned her back against the wall and a pol in the guard rail on the platform, Johanna sitting with her and leaning against her.

She just looped and arm around her.

"I can't wait for this too be over." She said, Athena nodding back.

"I     J-U-S-T     W-A-N-T     T-O     G-O     H-O-M-E"

"Yeah same, I miss the forest."

"A-N-D      I       T-H-E     S-T-O-N-Y      M-O-U-N-T-A-I-N-S"

"I have no idea what we'll do after this tho, I lived like five... Six years as a victor, you way more, how do we not live as them? After all, why would victors exist after the war?"

"I     T-H-O-U-G-H-T     T-H-E     S-A-M-E     A     B-U-C-K-E-T     L-I-S-T     H-E-L-P-S"

"A bucket list?"

"A     L-I-S-T     O-N     W-H-I-C-H     Y-O-U     W-R-I-T-E       W-H-A-T     Y-O-U-L-L      D-O      I-N     T-H-E     F-U-T-U-R-E"

"You have one?"

"Y-E-A-H"

"Show it too me later."

"S-U-R-E" Even if she didn't intend too, she smiled along.

------------------------------------------------

"What is that?" Athena's eyes snapped open when the soldier said that loudly and hearing Peeta freaking out in fear.

"We gotta go. We gotta get outta here now." Peeta said loudly, waking the few others still asleep with his voice.

"Keep your voice down." Gale scolded, smacking his shoulder lightly.

"I recognize the sounds! Mutts! They released mutts!" Peeta quickly said.

Athena's stress skyrocketed, just want monstrous things could be in here with them?

"Pollux, what's the fastest way out?" Katniss asked the man who stood up and hoped off the platform back into the water, already hurrying ahead without needing the holo.

"Come on!" Jackson said, pulling her men from the ground and pushing them ahead.

Athena fell in line last, claws ready and clicking the buttons on their backs for the flammable liquid, striking the wall to light her palms on fire and see since in their haste she only saw half of the flashlights.

They moved quickly, Gale over and over would shoot a fire arrow to show the way and each time Athena hoped to not see a mutt, relief flooding her each time she saw nothing.

The silence was all consuming until an even more chilling shriek came from the darkness, it sounded like a tee kettle forced down a horses throat, accompanied by skittering in the darkness.

Gale lit another tunnel on fire before looking around spotting a little barely human sized hole in the wall. 

Pressure, Athena felt so much pressure because of the situation.

He climbed through first.

"It's clear." He whispered back.

Athena pushed Johanna forth, glaring when she wanted to complain so she climbed through too followed by Katniss, Finnick and the rest of the team.

"Go soldier." Jackson whispered too her, waving her rifle with the flashlight tied too it around when only they remained.

Athena shook her head and pushed the older woman towards the hole before she grabbed her arm and shoved Athena gently.

"That's an order soldier, you have still much to live for, let us protect you kids." Jackson hissed at her, the sounds really loud now.

Athena shook her head again, not wanting to leave her behind.

"Come on!" Gale angry whispered to them.

"Move soldier, let the adults take care of this."

Athena knew it was a death sentence to leave Jackson behind so it was with a guilty heart that she propped her hands in the tunnel after smothering the flames out and pulled herself in, begrudgingly.

She kicked herself in before a loud spray of bullets was heard followed by screams from Jackson. 

Gale grabbed her upper arm before Athena could shove herself back out to save the soldier that was extremely quickly overrun by the mutts and yanked her out on their side with all his strength.

A mutt tried to shove through the hole after them as Athena pushed herself up from the ground with Castor's help, it was white slick skinned humanoid mutt, a looking half like a lizard, with no eyes and a huge gaping maw with razor-like teeth.

Katniss knocked a fire arrow and let it fly, Athena feeling the heat in her back, the mutts shrieking in agony.

"Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!" Gale screamed at them all as he pushed Athena ahead of him and grabbed Katniss, pushing the younger girl to run also.

"It's mutts!! I told you!!" Peeta screamed, running for his live in the middle of the group.

"Pollux lead us out of here!" Johanna bellowed as the mutts seemed still as close despite them running as fast as they could.

Despite her hating them, Athena put herself behind Gale and Katniss by stalling her sprint, striking her claws off the walls and swinging back, slashing out a face for the faceless monster, watching it fall and writhe in pain.

Their headless sprint led them through twists and turns that seemed unending but the upwards tilt showed her that they were going somewhere.

Soon light filtered in from maintenance tunnels, climbing up into them, having sickly yellow lights illuminating the way was much better then just dying flashlights swung around.

"NO!!" A mutt launched from a side tunnel and tackled Castor down, ripping into his throat and face with its fangs and ripping open his stomach with its claws.

Johanna, being the closest too him, slammed the axe into the creature before Cresida shot another that would have gotten Johanna, pushing forwards, with heavy hearts leaving the almost dead man for certain death.

They kept advancing as much as they could while those with guns shot at the creatures, Athena discarding her own as she already emptied the clip for it, slashing at those coming up behind them..

"Fall back!" Katniss shot another fire arrow but in front of them, blowing through the blockade the mutts created, the group running through the crossing while another man got dragged down screaming and shooting.

It took all that Athena could offer to not turn back for anyone.

At another crossing, one jumped out from an overhead tube and took the fire girl down with it in the water, Finnick spinning back and kicking the mutt before it could bite the girl as Gale shot into it.

"Get up!" Gale yanked her up.

Not soon enough they entered a large room opening up into a circular dome with large pipes going to the middle where a ladder rose out of the ground and into a higher tube.

By the time Athena got there three had already climbed to safety: Gale was boxing with a mutt, Finnick skewering one on his trident and Katniss being shoved up the ladder by Johanna.

She felt an impact in her back, falling face first into the deeper water.

She swung back, covering her neck with her other hand as the mutt slammed her forehead down into ground, claws sinking into her shoulders.

She grabbed at what she could and sank her claws it and yanked it to the side, taking her head out of the foul water with a gasp, watching Gale scream Johanna up the ladder as he climbed after her.

She pushed out of the water for another swing, stabbing her fingers into the mutt's throat and ripping it out as Finnick hurried to her side and pulled her too her feet, using the trident like a bat and hitting another mutt down.

"Get up Kitten!"

She tried to strike her claws aflame on a rusty pipe but it didn't work so she switched to the corrosive liquid, the next claw strike in the chest of a mutt leaving four holes that bubble with green ooze and ate the flesh away into bigger holes.

"Move!" Finnick pushed her and helped her on the pipe before she pulled him after her.

She pushed Finnick first too the ladder and he didn't fight Athena, knowing she would just not climb if he didn't.

But a mutt grabbed and body slammed her into the ladder, being old and rusty, the shock through it and Finnick's weight snapped it right in the middle, the victor of 4 falling down with a painful smack on the metal before falling into the water.

She swung up a punch in the face of the mutt, grabbing it both hands and sinking her claws in, it shrieked as it melted.

She kicked it away and another that dove at her while scrambling too her feet to grab the mutt of Finnick and throw it off before sticking her claws in two others as he screamed, she pull Finnick up, he flinched while putting his left leg down, a large bloody bite on it and on one of his hand too and claw marks on his face.

She looked up at the loud whistle, seeing Pollux.

"R-U-N     L-E-F-T" He spelled it out for her before pushing the other, waving at them to follow him, holding Johanna tho since she didn't seem ready to leave the hole.

She whipped her head too the left tunnel and yanked Finnick with her as she sprinted, the room basically overrun.

She pushed him first into the tunnel before an explosive arrow blew up in the room behind them, dispelling the mutts long enough to give them enough chance of making it.

The shrieks of these mutts were louder then her panic of getting Finnick out of here, pushing him to run as he could on his hurt leg.

Turning around long enough to slice into another mutt's face as they lead with it, making it an easy target but it didn't melt like she thought it should, the vials in her claws are small after all, so for good measure she pulled out its throat and threw the body back into the masses before catching up with Finnick.

This room was much smaller and Athena almost died then and there, the ladder looked in an even worst condition.

Finnick could barely pull himself on so Athena grabbed the other side and the ladder step broke in her hand.

She just hiss and jumped, grabbing a higher one and pulling herself up before grabbing Finnick and pulling him up too as another step broke under her.

She looked up in mounting horror at the creaking, the ladder holding on with only one side, the other holding only by one rattling nail.

"AAH!!" She was yanked, the third step she was holding breaking out but Finnick grabbed her arm.

She kicked into the mutt's face as she hung there, Finnick hugging the vertical part of the ladder as the steps kept giving away.

"Finnick!!" He looked up, Pollux and Gale holding Johanna as she shoved passed them and reached a hand down while Athena screamed as the mutt latched on her leg and another climbed up it, punching hard in the face, the whole ground of the tunnel covered with mutts.

"Johanna!" He tried to let go and grab but he almost fell because of the weight as Athena finally shrugged the first mutt off but was grabbed again. "NO!!" He held her hand really tight when he felt her let go.

She glared at him but on the inside she was scared too.

"DON'T YOU DARE TO LET GO!!!" He screamed, struggling to not let go as she was not holding herself anymore, his grip slipping. "DON'T YOU DARE!!!"

"THEA!!!" Johanna's voice pierced her heart but if Finnick doesn't let go, both of them will die!

She yanked on her hand, making Finnick only hold her fingers and the ladder to swing out, the nail giving out.

"DAMMIT KITTEN!!!"

In one last adrenaline fueled attempt, a scream of desperation, he pulling his arm up to his chest and threw the other one higher to grab closer to Johanna but just out of her reach.

The victor of 7 shoved on her human restraints and almost fell down but Gale grabbed her legs, wedging his legs on the side of the hole as Pullox did his best to help.

With another pull, feeling his own muscles on the edge of tearing, Finnick lifted Athena's hand when she kicked the one of the new mutts off her into Johanna's.

Johanna grabbing her with two hands just as the ladder's swinging brought an end too the fight, the mutt Athena kicked ended up latching onto Finnick and the extreme swing of the metal tore it from the ceiling.

Athena screamed as much as she could as her oldest friend, the one that knew her pain and struggles, the one that suffered the same as her, plummeted down into the mass of maws and claws.

"KATNISS!!!! ATHENA!!!" Came the desperate screams as his body was swallowed by the white mass while Athena was pulled up in the tunnel.

"Don't!!" Johanna pushed on her chest when both were pulled up, Athena trying to be pushed back away from the hole as she was trying to get too it.

"HEEEEEELP!!! AAAAAAH!!!"

"Nightlock, nightlock, nightlock." Katniss whispered as the holo took a red hue and made an ear piercing scream of death when she dropped it down the hole and hid as the explosion shook the whole tunnel.

Athena looked in horrified awe before one of the few remaining people pulled her up.

"Come on, come on run! Let's go! Keep moving!" Gale yelled as Athena followed almost numbed by the agony, she failed Finnick, she failed him.

"Fuck!" Johanna yelled when they exited the tunnel into what looked like an underground train station just at the same time as peacekeepers who started firing at them.

Athena shoved them both behind a pillar as the tiles were blown off it by the bullets.

Katniss fired another exploding arrow from her hiding spot behind another pillar, blasting the peacekeepers but some arrived from their left.

"Go! Go!" Cresida screamed, running the only way she saw no peacekeepers from, not caring if others followed since they would anyway.

A light turned on right in front of them and someone walked under it, not expecting much but his body fell apart, burnt to a crisp.

Athena felt like she was lacking air despite panting, this can't be happening! This can't be happening!!!!! Why is everyone dying?!!! She is supposed to protect them!!!

"Thea!" She was snapped out by Johanna grabbing her wrist and pulling her to sprint. "Come on!"

"Keep going! Keep going!" Gale screamed again as it was a dead sprint through a deadly hall, the burning light turning off and on, trying to catch another person to burn away, the rebels just sprinting and hoping that they weren't the next ones to die.

And then the ground started breaking up in chain explosions that revealed a deadly drop off, pods activated one after the other in their haste to escape, Athena feeling the ground fall away under her feet, not running as fast as she could because of injuries.

The only reason she didn't die was Johanna holding her wrist kept her from falling too it, Cresida tackling Johanna so that she didn't get pulled into the void too.

Athena swung her claws into the concrete and pulled herself up.

"I know where we are!" Cresida yelled, running ahead, now leading them again. "I know a place, up those stairs." She ran up them.

Katniss ran ahead, being the first up, face to face with wanted poster holograms of her own face.

"Keep going!"

Gale pushed her to follow the group ahead as Athena stared at the picture of Finnick before she was pulled along.

Cresida ran to a door and knocked frantically on it, it looked like a clothing shop.

"Someone's coming." Peeta whispered as the door opened and Cersida barged inside, everyone following her lead..

"Shut the door, shut the door!" 

Katniss pulled an arrow and aimed at the tiger looking woman that opened the door for them.

"No, Katniss, It's okay, it's okay, It's okay.... Tigris, do you remember me? I'm with Plutarch's underground. We need your help." Cresida took over once again, calming the tense situation.

"I know you." Tigris said, not feeling that threatened or at least not looking like she felt threatened, calm despite the arrow.

Athena looked at her before her wide eyes turned at the ground, still gasping for breath as she grabbed her knees, wheezing shakily, trying to hold herself together as her limbs shook.

They died.

She let the die.

She failed.

She failed them all.

Athena failed them all.

Chapter Text

https://youtu.be/8PBbZKOHvGw

Athena stared blankly ahead.

Cato, her mother, her father, Jackson, Brion, Castor, Finn-- Everyone, everyone dying because of her.

Because she couldn't protect them.

Because she failed at her role.

"Thea." She didn't react much as Johanna looked at her with a frown. "I'm sorry." She hugged her.

Finnick.... She lost Finnick.

The only person to know what exactly she went through, how her body was used.

The only person to have gone out of their ways to become her friend and not leave her alone and feared by the other victors.

The only person that has consistently been here for her in her life in this cruel hell.

The only person to call her Kitten and not perish for the nickname.

...

The only person she could have called her best friend.

And now he was gone.