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Chapter Text

Before she'd realized exactly where she'd been born, Maize Nettle Galloshire had always adhered to the concept that life was an unexpected journey and -much like a certain Headmaster had stated in her once favorite book- that death was only the next great adventure. Even then, it was still a great surprise for her to seemingly 'wake up' following her death.

Before she was Maize Galloshire, the eldest daughter of two hard-working manual laborers, she was a simple young woman named Juliana Santos- the only beloved child of a Puerto Rican family.

But that was before.

Before she had died.

What a strange concept it was to acknowledge. That she had died once. That her first parents had been forced to mourn the untimely death of their only child. That she could come to love her new parents, Libra and Alder Galloshire, as much as her first parents. And as time passed on, the memories she'd had of her first life began to fade around the edges as new ones began to replace them until she could only remember the basics of that life. Of the passions that she still clung to.

Her infanthood had been a truly strange and terrifying moment of her new life as Maize. She'd been so confused. By everything really. The language spoken by her new family was different from her first language and nothing like the ones she'd been forced to learn during secondary school back on her island. It vaguely resembled English, if she was forced to compare it to any language from her old world.

Because essentially that's what it was, her new life had to be occurring in a whole new world. Once she'd finally begun to piece together the language -and actually understand the conversations being held by the adults in her new life- she quickly realized that it wasn't anything like the world she had grown up in the first time around.

She doubted that the superpowers of her old world, like the United States, would have let such a country like the one she lived in continue to exist without there being war. Panem, a name that would tickle the recesses of her memories for years until she'd finally make the horrifying connection when she was five years old, was unlike any other nation she'd ever imagined actually existing.

The power balance between its subjects and rulers -because that was essentially what it was- was truly disgusting. It faintly reminded Maize of the many failed attempts of Communism in her old world- but worse, since there wasn't even a vague attempt of equality and shared commerce between the Districts and the Capitol. Panem was separated into twelve distinct Districts that each specifically manufactured different goods for the Capitol to flourish.

Maize was born into one of the poorer Districts.

Ironically District 11 was known throughout Panem for its Agriculture.

She hadn't really understood when she was younger why it was that she would see her parents go hungry some nights, after all, they were farmers! Couldn't they simply harvest some crops and eat them? Maize soon realized -after her vision cleared and became sharper as she left infanthood behind and traded it for toddlerhood- that the men-in-white (that she'd once compared to Storm Troopers from the Star Wars movies that her papi had been obsessed with) or Peacekeepers as she would come to know and fear them as, would viciously discourage thievery of the groves.

The first time Maize saw a man, no child -because the boy couldn't have been older than sixteen- whipped to death she was two. The Peacekeepers had made it a public spectacle, forcing almost half of the District to witness the event, including the boy's emaciated and heartbroken family.

Her mother, with little Maize attached to her back in a sling wrap, had been pulled out of the line to receive the weekly amount of grain assigned to their family and dragged into the square with other scared women and young children.

The teen's shirt had already been ripped off and his arms had been bound in the manacles attached to the post as he'd been forced to kneel before them on the podium. His younger siblings had been crying helplessly- the youngest one pulled into the chest of an old woman, their wrinkled and pleading Bibi.

Once a 'sufficient' crowd had been gathered, the Head Peacemaker had made a quick speech about it being the 'offenders' third and as a result last offense against the Capitol.

The two Peacekeepers that had been standing on the side had then moved towards the shaking teen and proceeded to flay the boy's skin over and over again... until his screams of pain and heaving chest stopped altogether.

Maize had been so horror-struck that she couldn't turn away from the gruesome sight, even as her mother had unwrapped her from the sling and turned her young eyes away from the tragedy occurring in front of them. Even the hushed sobs of the other young children in the crowd couldn't help drown out the sounds of the whips digging- breaking the teen's skin open and the subsequent shouts of pain, nor the horrified wails from the boy's family.

It wasn't until Maize and her mother returned home that evening that she'd come out of her shock. Even a week after that event, whispers had continued to follow. The boy, Kudzu, had been desperate to get food for his starving siblings following the death of their parents. Their grandmother hadn't been making enough money to feed the five young children and Kudzu's stipend hadn't been enough to barter for even one pound of grain. He'd paid dearly for getting caught.

Kudzu's story was a common one. It was a tragedy that clung like a fog over the people of 11, invading their lungs, blood, and perspiring against their skin.

Her family's poverty wasn't their own doing. The poverty of her District wasn't their own doing. It was because of the Peacekeepers. It was because the Capitol had made it so.

Her hatred for them was born that day.

And her horror and hatred only continued to grow from that day as she continued to see whippings or hear whispers of children starving to death in the night.

It was when she was five years old that she realized exactly where she'd been reborn. Her oldest cousin Aloe, a sweet and caring twelve-year-old boy with kinky gravity-defying locks who had a knack for telling the most fantastic stories as they helped pick fruits in the orchard, was reaped for the 57th Hunger Games.

Yes.

Hunger Games.

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Aloe's name was reaped and Maize was horrified.

Before then, she had been obliviously unaware of the Games. Her parents had never mentioned the accursed events in the house... and many of the adults purposefully avoided the subject around young children in an attempt to preserve the innocence of the kids for as long as they could. The Games were taboo to speak of. Especially around the Orchard and other farming areas where Peacekeepers practically breathed down their backs as they supervised their work for any dissent.

It was the first reaping she had witnessed; Maize had been so confused as the colorful and flamboyant Capitolite man introduced himself and the event before screening the small clip about the Dark Days and the War that had led to the creation of the Games. Maize had stared up at the screen in acute horror as the events of a trilogy she'd once read as a child in her first life started to come back to her and realization dawned upon her mind.

This was real.

It wasn't simply a twisted post-apocalyptic Game from a book series she'd once read.

It was real.

Aloe was in the crowd of children.

Dread had crawled up her spine and she'd gripped onto the hand of Aloe's six-year-old sister and her favorite playmate, Amla. Her female cousin was only physically a year older than Maize and hadn't understood why everyone was so afraid of what was happening around them... but even fear hadn't managed to pass over her as the reaping continued. Her cousin, a boy who had yet to even become a teen, was in a crowd of children waiting- praying not to be reaped for a gladiator-style match to the death.

Maize's mother had originally gone to bring silent comfort and support for her sister and brother-in-law as they waited in the crowds with other concerned parents, and ergo so had Maize. She'd been watching in silent despair as her mother had to hold her sister back and bury the woman's face into her collarbone to prevent her Aunt's sobs from gaining the attention of the Peacekeepers when Aloe's name had been called. Her Uncle had just stared rigidly at the Panem insignia, his hands balled into furious fists as he trembled in visible rage. Maize couldn't prevent the tears brimming in her eyes from falling as Amla also burst into tears.

No one volunteered to take his place.

They were allowed a measly five minutes filled with hugs and kisses, sobs and soon-to-be broken promises of return, before the Peacekeepers dragged them away and Aloe boarded the sleek futuristic train to what was sure to be his death.

Aloe had looked so small compared to the other tributes chosen for the Hunger Games.

Aloe never came back home.

Her parents had allowed her to watch the beginning of the Games. Seeing the crowds in the Capitol go wild as twenty-four children were paraded around in fancy costumes being pulled by chariots, it had disgusted Maize. Aloe's interview with Caesar Flickerman was painful to watch, but not as painful to witness the brutal death of her cousin in the blood bath during the first five minutes of the Games. Her parents hadn't let her watch the rest. Not that she had complained too much, her grief and sorrow consuming her much like the rest of her family.

It was two weeks later that her mother had dragged her sister's family to live with them in their home. The small family had broken with the death of their first child. Her mother had whispered to her during one of the sleepless nights following Aloe's death that family was a precious commodity, even more precious than the grain and fruit they needed to eat to survive.

Family was all one really had in the end, and to be able to care and hold that family was the biggest gift one could have. In a world where children could be ripped away from the arms of their families and forced to fight... Maize understood, she understood something that a real child her age couldn't have possibly understood. Her mother had held her tight that night. And the following night, and every night after that for months.

Amla didn't have that comfort for very long.

When the winner of the Games, a sixteen-year-old from District 10, visited during the Victor's Tour six months later, Maize had stood stoically by Amla's side as her cousin sobbed in her arms. Maize's Auntie had fallen ill soon after her son's death and never recovered, nothing her mother could do helped, and Amla was forced to watch her mother wither away and die soon after her brother had.

-And Maize had silently promised then that she would be the strong tree her cousin needed to lean on from then on.-

Her heartbroken Uncle Banyan had been held in the comforting arms of both her parents as he'd struggled to stand on the podium out of grief. His tears were silent in nature, streaming unashamedly down his dark skin. Her mother's cries were also silent as her chest rose, her rounded belly pressing into her Uncle's side. Maize's father showed no visible emotion as he held onto them, but his eyes were filled with resigned grief.

The new Victor had refused to look at the podiums with families of the fallen tributes. She hadn't killed Aloe, but she had been allied with the teen who had, and she had killed their female tribute Azolla. Despite the role she'd played in the death of her cousin, Maize couldn't find it in her to hate the girl. Grief seemed to cling to the Victor's form. Her voice had been monotonous and without inflection.

Dead, despite being alive.

The brief eye contact she'd had with the Victor had made the teen almost flinch away, the girl's green eyes screamed that she was broken and remorseful. That's when Maize learned possibly the most important lesson in her new life.

No one really won the Games.

They just survived them.

Everything that followed after that was still survival in a different seemingly less dangerous setting.

No matter how seemingly arrogant or self-assured the Victor seemed to pose on the camera to the nation as they were paraded from District to District... they were still simply surviving it.

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The humid air clung to the light cotton material of Maize's plain grey work shirt, her shorts were made of this strange almost spandex material that gripped onto her sweaty skin and didn't allow for the light breeze circulating through the orchard to grace its presence.

"A young man walked through the forest/ With his quiver and hunting bow../ He heard a young girl singing/ And followed the sound below." Maize sang softly under her breath as she nimbly climbed the tree in front of her.

She had long grown used to the weight of the peck basket on her back and it made no difference to her as she made it to her destination and began to pick the ripe apples hidden in the upper branches before depositing them in the basket behind her.

"There he found the maiden/ Who lives in the willow../ He called to her as she listened/ From a ring of toadstools red.." Edelwyse, a girl who had been her friend since they were in diapers, sang along from where she was picking on the tree next to her.

It was a long-standing tradition for the fruit-picking children to sing folksongs as they worked. Each song was unique to their District and held hidden lessons for them to learn. Soon a symphony of children began to sing together the tragic tale of 'The Willow Maid' and the greedy man who coveted her for himself. Mockingjays, a hybrid bird of a mockingbird and the genetically modified jabber jay created by the Capitol, flying above them began to whistle the tune alongside them.

As soon as her peck basket was full she scampered back down and handed the full one to Amla, her cousin would inspect each fruit by hand before separating them into groups. The most beautiful ones were bound to go to the Capitol while the others would be distributed to the Districts. Amla would then hand her an empty peck and Maize would climb up the tree once more.

Their work song continued to fill the air.

The Willow Maid's home had been desecrated by the man and was being forced to leave.

"She followed him out the forest/ And collapsed upon the earth.../ Her feet had walked but a distance/ From the green land of her birth..." she sang morosely along with the voices of her fellow workmates, the images of children- tributes- human sacrifices being forced to leave their homes and compete in the Hunger Games flashed across her mind. Aloe's scared face as his throat was-

"She faded into a flower/ That would bloom for one bright eve.../ He could not take from the forest/ What was never meant to... leave..."

The mockingjays continued to whistle the haunting melody above them as they finished singing their tale. It had been a little over five years since Aloe had passed in the 57th Hunger Games. Maize herself had turned ten years old last month and was already silently dreading the next two years before she would be forced into the reaping pool.

Her mother had given birth to three more children since then and was even expecting once more. Though Maize's new sibling would not be born for another eight months. Her brother Birch had been born three months after the Victor's Tour. And the twins had been born two years ago. Brier and Piper were absolutely adorable, even if her brother had been initially disappointed that they were girls.

Maize absolutely loved having siblings. It was something she'd never got to experience the first time around, and she found herself growing extremely overprotective of them.

Even then she couldn't believe that her parents would bring more children into this cruel world. It didn't really make sense to the logical part of Maize's mind. How could her parents have more children if they knew that their fate was to eventually partake in the reapings? Not to mention that they had struggled to make ends meet and feed themselves when it was just the three of them.

It all came down to the lack of education that was available in District 11. Birth control didn't exist, the Capitol probably wouldn't condone it either if her District knew of its existence or the possibility of it. After all, every child born was either a potential tribute or a new worker to care for the fields.

It wasn't easy for Maize to internally come to terms with the idea that she actually knew more about how things functioned -especially body-wise- than her parents. In her first life, her dad had been the smartest man she'd ever met. He'd been a successful surgeon. And even then, he'd never stopped wanting to learn more and widen his knowledge.

Birch was berry picking along with their mother today, while their Nyanya watched the twins at home. Their Nyanya was her father's mother, she had come to live with them the year after her Uncle Banyan was executed by Peacekeepers.

He'd been caught planning a revolt against the Peacekeepers during a particularly bad harvest, a truly foolish endeavor according to a hushed and devasted conversation Maize had overheard her parents have. Amla had been destroyed by the death of her father... but surrounded by the love of her remaining family she'd stood strong. Maize felt for her cousin. The girl had experienced true tragedy at such a young age.

Before then, her Nyanya had been living with her father's sister, Calla, and her family. Maize loved having her Nyanya living in the house. The old woman had been alive for seventy years and could still vaguely remember the years before the Hunger Games came into fruition and the Rebellion that led to the destruction of District 13. The woman would tell her whispered tales in the dark of the night after a particularly grueling day of working on the plantations.

"When you walk through the storm/ Hold your head up high/ And don't be afraid of the dark..." The small but powerful voice of Orchid Thresh sung out from a couple of trees away, calling out for all of them to join her.

The sun continued baring down upon Maize's shoulders, her muscles began to protest tiredly under the strain of her workload. But she knew better than to stop. It may have been nearing three in the afternoon but if a Taskmaster, a Peacekeeper in charge of making sure that they were completing a job, noticed that she was taking an undeserved break she'd get three lashes before being forced to climb once more.

"At the end of the storm/ Is a golden sky/ And the sweet silver song of the lark/ Walk on through the wind/ Walk on through the rain..." more voices joined in with the eight-year-old's choice of inspiration.

Maize breathed in wetly, ignoring the sweat coating her body and the sun's rays kissing her olive tanned skin, and let her voice join her District partners in song, "Though your dreams be tossed and blown/ Walk on, Walk on/ With hope in your heart/ And you'll never walk alone!"

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Her first reaping was in a word terrifying. She'd spent the week leading up to the Games in a panic and generally sleep-deprived, waking up with screams trapped in her throat every night. Her parents were no help either. They kept shooting her and Amla worried and sorrowful glances when they thought she couldn't see. Maize's mother, in particular, was prone to randomly bursting out into tears for a month before the reaping took place.

Amla took her second reaping like a champ, considering that she'd signed up for the tesserae and her name was signed up four times. Her cousin had quietly confessed to her the evening prior that Maize had nothing to fear when it came to the reapings. That for Maize, Amla would always volunteer and take her place. If anything, it only made Maize even more apprehensive about the Games.

-She couldn't protect Amla if the girl volunteered for her. Hell, she couldn't protect anyone now under the cruel hands of the Taskmasters and Peacekeepers.-

Maize wasn't too afraid of death.

After all, she'd died once. But that didn't mean she wasn't afraid of suffering. There were worse things than death after all. And what she could still vaguely remember happening to the Victors of the Hunger Games fell under that category. Maize couldn't help but feel in her heart that what had happened to her was an anomaly. Remembering one's previous life had to be a fluke, an error in the grand scheme of things.

But her cousin wasn't like her.

Amla really was just an ordinary child compared to Maize. A thirteen-year-old who'd been forced to grow up much too fast because of the harsh environment around them. That child had promised to volunteer for Maize, who while physically a twelve-year-old was already mentally in her thirties.

That would never be allowed to happen.

She didn't care if Amla would never forgive her, but Maize refused for her beautiful sweet cousin to die for her in such a brutal Game being staged by their government.

The only thing she really feared when it came to the Hunger Games was losing herself. Death was nothing in comparison to killing children in the manner that was expected in the Games. She had done things in her first life that she hadn't been proud of, but there was something about the very concept of having to take a life that made Maize's skin crawl.

Something that felt unforgivable.

It was strange.

She didn't blame or hate the Victors of the Games.

Except maybe pity the Victors/tributes from the Career Districts, since some of them genuinely didn't seem to understand why the Hunger Games were inherently bad. They'd been raised to be bloodthirsty and that it was an honor to represent and even die for their District.

They didn't ask to be reaped- none of the tributes had. They didn't ask to be placed in the arena. When it came down to it, the Victors were children who'd only been given two options.

Fight or die.

Most of them just wanted to go home.

So, no. Maize didn't judge or begrudge the actions that they'd chosen in order to go home.

But when it came to herself, the idea of taking a life just so that she could prolong her own... simply felt wrong and unforgivable. She was already living a prolonged life as it were. Maize had her chance at life when she was Juliana. And she'd squandered it away and died. Maize hadn't stood apart from the masses and deserved to have another shot at life. She hadn't.

In a way, deep down buried under all the forgetaboutit's, she'd always felt like she'd body-snatched her life as Maize. Like she'd stolen the life of a little curly brown-haired girl. Like she'd already killed the soul that originally inhabited this body. If she was to take a life under Maize's hands, she'd truly be damned...

Anyway, Maize was getting ahead of herself. After all, her name and Amla's hadn't been called to participate in the 65th Hunger Games. Thank any deity that existed that they hadn't. That was the year that the youngest tribute to ever win the Hunger Games became a Victor. Finnick Odair, a handsome fourteen-year-old from District Four, decimated his competition with his trident -a gift from an infatuated Sponsor- and skillful use of nets.

Finnick Odair who would become a Capitol Heartthrob and Golden boy.

Finnick Odair who would be forced to give his body over to the Capitol's highest bidder under the guise of a willing lover by the President.

Finnick Odair, who despite his suffering and hatred for the Capitol, would use the opportunity to learn as many Capitol secrets as he could.

Finnick Odair, who would be vital for the Mockingjay and revolution to win against the Capitol.

Finnick Odair, who would never taste the true freedom he craved from the Capitol.

Finnick Odair, who would be murdered by mutts in the bowls of the Capitol.

Yes. That Finnick Odair won.

When the broken teen with a wide –fakefakefakefake- smile had been paraded into her District for the Victor's Tour, Maize had been close by to the stage amongst the other twelve-year-old's. She'd only locked her hazel eyes with his sea-green ones for a moment, but Maize could only hope that her eyes had reflected her sorrow and hope, that he could see how sorry she was that he'd had to continue on with the charade.

By the flinch and widening of his eyes, perhaps Odair had picked up on something. He was the youngest Victor ever produced by the Hunger Games, and perhaps, he would suffer the most because of it.

Maize promised herself when the rumors of his lewd exploits with Capitolite women began to reach the ears of the Districts, that if she ever found herself in a position to speak with the blonde Victor, she'd warn him.

If there was one thing that her mind had latched onto after she realized where she'd been born, was that Finnick Odair hadn't deserved the ending he'd been handed at the end of the series.

"So hear my battle cry/ I'm out for blood to claim what's mine..." she cried out loudly in song, ignoring the tears threatening to fall as she picked fruit after fruit.

Chapter Text

Maize had never experienced starvation in her first life.

She didn't care for it.

Her District hadn't had a Victor since the 45th Hunger Games, and the people were beginning to feel it. Whenever a District's tribute won, the District was gifted with bigger rations of food and materials, but it'd been so long since they had gotten that relief in the form of a Victor. There were times when she was younger that her parents would go without food, but only one missed meal a day.

Now all of her family was missing meals. She hadn't eaten anything for the last two days. That combined with her heavy workload had Maize feeling extremely weak. Her hands trembled violently even as they hung listlessly at her side. Maize's knees felt weak under her, but the blame couldn't be solely put upon her starvation.

She was going to sign up.

Maize could do this.

She was no coward.

Her siblings would not go hungry today.

The Hunger Games would be starting in two weeks and she was finally old enough to sign up for the tesserae. She technically should have been allowed to sign up last year during her first reaping, but her twelfth birthday had missed the cut-off date to sign up for the tesserae. Her parents and grandmother had forbidden Maize from signing up, but they hadn't applied the same rules to Amla who had signed up nine times. Amla's name was in the pool a total of thirteen times this year. Apparently, her cousin's life wasn't as important as hers.

It had angered her how her baba was so willing to risk Amla's life, but not the life of his first daughter. Even if it meant that they would all continue to starve.

They needed the grain and oil provided to survive.

Her baba, who hadn't eaten in five days, had collapsed in the berry-picking fields yesterday and earned himself five lashings. Her grandmother was practically invalid at home, stuck in bed as she watched the twins and her baba. Maize's mother was in the fields, with tiny Hibis strapped onto her back. Even Hibis was suffering from the lack of food, their mother wasn't producing enough milk to keep the youngest Galloshire from the effects of malnutrition. His tiny belly was distended and his limbs thin. All of her siblings looked like that.

Hell. Maize looked like that.

Baby fat was nonexistent on her face, her arms and legs thin and built with compact muscles from all of her work. Her stomach would've been flat and even toned if she wasn't suffering from malnutrition. Maize wasn't as bad off as some of the other children in her District, there were poorer families, but her tummy did poke out a bit in the front. It was strange. And she often just felt like a balloon filled with helium. Bloated and yet empty all at once.

Maize stood in the line filled with other desperate children waiting to sign their lives away for food. How depressing. Amla was working in the orchard with Birch and had already signed up the day before on the opening day for the tesserae, so she wasn't afraid of running into her cousin. She kept her head down anyway, looking at her dirty sandal-clad feet and playing with the loose threads of her work shirt. There were only five others left in front of her.

She wanted to cry.

Her mind was often at war with her body's reactions. But she swallowed up her fear and forced herself to be strong. This was for her family.

Maize would never regret it.

She signed her name up nine times, one for each of the people in this new life that Maize couldn't live without. Her parents were furious when she'd come home with the new rations. But no one went to sleep hungry that night. Maize counted it as a win.

Her second reaping was much like her first. Uneventful compared to what happened after the Games were over. At least for her and the rest of the District.

The harvest has been particularly bountiful that summer. The Capital was lucky that the outbreak hadn't occurred until then. No one would have wanted for the poor Capitolites to miss their lovely strawberry jams with their breakfasts just because the outlying Districts can't drag themselves out of their sickbeds to harvest the crops.

Brier was sick.

As was her Nyanya.

They had come down with the pox, much like half of the District. But like others, her family could not afford medication. There had been whispers before the outbreak that the population in District 11 had grown at an alarming rate. More males had been born in their District in the last fifteen years than there ever had been. It had made the Peacekeepers...anxious. Her baba was convinced, as were more than half their neighbors as more bodies began to drop, that the pox outbreak was no accident. Even Piper was starting to feel feverish.

Amla and Birch had taken Hibis to their Auntie Calla's home since her family was being spared from the disease. Her mama was at home, vigil over the sick beds of their family while her baba went to his shift at the food processing factory. Maize was supposed to be working in the orchard, pruning branches and collecting any missed fruit, before heading off to the berry fields to do the same there.

But not today.

The Med-Bay was full of dying residents, crying family members, stressed doctors and irate Peacekeepers. The medicine to help cure the pox was expensive, three months' worth of rations for two, too expensive for most of the District to buy. Too expensive for Maize to buy. She only had one option. Maize would have to wait until a harried a nurse or a doctor left a cart unattended and take the meds. It was the only way that she would be able to get the lifesaving drugs back to her family.

Her heart was pounding in her chest and her knees threatened to buckle underneath her when a Peacekeepers blank mask seemed to trail after her form. She made herself busy by passing bandages to the nurse closest to her and then a green jar of ointment when asked. As soon as the eyes passed over her form, she prowled cautiously between cots and bodies until she could spot the cart full of meds being handed to the doctors in the waiting line. The administrator cursed when one bottle dropped onto the ground and rolled underneath some shelves but turned back to the line of doctors and continued to hand out meds.

This was Maize's chance. As slyly as she could, Maize passed by the line and pretended to trip over some discarded bandages. With her chest on the ground, she groaned while peaking under the shelves to see where the medication had rolled. The bottle had rolled on towards the back of the shelves, hidden behind dirty cobwebs and mothballs. Maize sat herself up, leaning against the shelves, as she stretched out her scraped knee in front of her and hissing exaggeratedly in pain. She bowed her back, leaning forward as if she was examining the wound more closely, before slyly letting her hand reach for the meds and stuffing it into her sleeve.

"Are you hurt girl?" a doctor asked as he walked by.

Maize shot her head up with a sheepish grin painted on her face, "I'm alright, tripped and scrapped ma knee."

The man stared at her now bleeding knee before nodding and ignoring her once more. She held back a relieved sigh before standing up gingerly. Maize couldn't just run out of here like the hounds of hell were upon her. She'd be caught for sure then. She carefully made her way back to the entrance of the Med-Bay before slipping out of the building and making her way to the living quarters.

Chapter Text

As soon she was out of sight from any wandering eyes, she began sprinting towards their shack. Maize couldn't believe that she'd done it! She had successfully stolen the medication her sisters and Nyanya needed! Her heart was soaring, and her breaths came out giddily.

They already had a measuring device to calculate how much medication she needed to give everyone at home. Maize had spent her time in the Med-Bay carefully observing how the doctors administered the lucky few the medication, and she knew that the twins would need to get a smaller dose than their Nyanya. Her mother would be ecstatic! She burst into her home, ignoring her mother's surprised shout, and went straight into the cabinets to find the measuring device before grabbing it and running into the bedroom.

"What are you doin' child?" her mother exclaimed as Maize kneeled beside her.

"I got it mama!" she whispered excitedly as she pulled out the bottle from her sleeve, "I've been at the Med-Bay an' got the meds we need!"

The woman gasped softly, her red-rimmed hazel eyes wide with hope and disbelief, "H-How?

Maize carefully measured out the first dosage, "I saw a bottle roll under some shelves and took it when no one was looking. Here," she gestured as she handed it to her mother, "this is for Brier."

She sat up her weak little sister and supported her head as her mother pressed it onto the toddler's lips and commanded for her to drink it. Brier only whined for a moment before complying. They proceeded the process once more for Piper who had broken out into the characteristic boils known for the pox while Maize had been gone. It was only when Maize turned towards her sleeping grandmother that her mother stopped her.

"She passed away Maize." her mother whispered softly, "Happened this morning after ya left. I've been waiting for the diggers to arrive and collect her body."

Maize felt as if she were on fire.

"What?" she shuddered.

Mama pulled her into her arms before beginning to gently pet her hair, "It'll be fine, we'll be okay. Your Nyanya has gone to a better place. She was too sick. Was hurting. She's fine now."

A small sob escaped from her throat as tears began to seep down her face. She'd been too late to save her. She had failed.

It was evening when they came.

Her baba had taken the death of his mother as well as he could have. Though he was grateful that the twins were still among them. The diggers had taken her Nyanya's body soon after she'd arrived with the meds. It was the Peacekeepers that had stolen their grieving solitude from them.

Maize had been able to hear the marching feet of the Capitol's soldiers before she'd seen them. With those brief few seconds, she'd been able to grab the medicine they had left out and handed it her frightened mother, "Hide it." she hissed moments before the Peacekeepers barged into their shack.

A Peacekeeper grabbed her arm before dragging her out, ignoring the shouts and cries from her family, "Is this the girl Doctor Wheatway?"

The man in question was of average height and build for a District 11 man, but it was his face that caught Maize's attention. It was the doctor that had stopped and asked if she was alright when she tripped and stolen the medicine. She was in trouble. It was with that realization that the man in front of her stopped examining her and turned back to the Peacekeepers.

"This is the one."

Those four words were damning her. Maize's mother cried in the background in fear, "What has she done!?" her baba protested in an attempt to distract the men.

"Maize Galloshire you are being detained for stealing medical supplies from the Med-Bay." one Peacekeeper spoke up without inflection behind their voice. "How do you plead?"

Maize almost swallowed her tongue in fear before responding, "Not guilty."

The Peacekeeper holding onto her arm tightened his grip before growling out, "Guilty. We have all the evidence we need!"

Her mother broke out into sobs as her father was tackled by another Peacekeeper as he struggled to get to her. Only two things would be happening now, either she would be shipped off to the Capitol and become an Avox -slaves for the Capitol that had their tongues removed after a crime against the ideals of Panem- or she'd be whipped to an inch of her life or to the death.

Maize couldn't figure out which fate was more terrifying.

"Where are the meds!?" the Peacekeeper holding onto her bellowed.

"I-I don't have 'em!" she lied fearfully, keeping her head low and eyes locked onto the ground.

"Twenty lashes!" the Peacekeeper bellowed, "For stealing from the Capitol and lying!"

She felt numb as she was dragged into the town square where she'd once seen a teen be whipped to death as a child. Peacekeepers were dragging families out of their homes behind her and forcing them into the square to watch. Her parents were dragged to the front, with the twins sobbing into their clothes, and forced to kneel. The Peacekeeper holding onto her kicked the back of her knees, forcing her onto the ground roughly and her arms were bound to the whipping post. Another ripped her shirt, forcing her bare back to be naked to all eyes watching.

Fearful tears began to slip down her face. She was so afraid. But Maize couldn't find it in herself to regret her actions. Because of her, the twins would live. And that- that was enough. That was good.

"As penance for stealing supplies from the Med-bay, and lying for her transgressions, Maize Galloshire will receive twenty lashings! Let this be a warning to all! Thievery is forbidden!" the Head Peacekeeper declared before nodding to the man holding the whip behind Maize.

"One!" the man proclaimed, as he lifted the whip up and sliced the air and her skin with its force.

She couldn't hold back a scream, "Ahh!"

Her back was on fire!

"Two!"

The smack was loud and wet.

"Three!"

Tears were streaming down her face and onto the ground.

"Four!"

Each breath was gasped out between screams.

"Five!"

Blood was beginning to drip down her sides and cloud around her.

"Six!"

The cuffs around her wrists dug in painfully onto her sensitive skin as she arched her back and shouted.

"Seven!"

Her vision was beginning to cloud over.

"Eigh-"

Chapter Text

It had taken Maize two months to fully recover from being whipped. After she had passed out from the pain, and her punishment dueled out, her distraught father had carried her on his back to his sister's home. Her Auntie Calla had been a nurse in the Med-Bay before the birth of her children and was the only one willing to help her after Maize's public whipping. Her back would forever bear the marks of the Peacekeeper's whip, but Maize found herself caring very little for it.

Brier and Piper were alive. That was all that really mattered.

During those two months of rest, she watched over her three youngest siblings while the rest of her family worked the fields. It was Blooming season (or flower picking season) and the northern fields were full of beautiful waves of different colorful flowers. When Maize was young and had first accompanied her mama to the fleur fields, she had felt as if she'd been dropped into an ocean of flowers and wonder. Now it was time to start harvesting the eastern fields once more and Maize was more than ready to escape from the suffocating hut and get to work.

Amla was of the opinion that she'd gone mad under the hands of the Peacekeepers and that was the reason why Maize was so eager for work. It wasn't true, obviously. If anything, spending one more day inside of the shack she called home would definitely send her off the deep end.

All Maize really wanted to do was forget. Forget that she'd been so publicly punished. Forget that her baba now looked at her with shame... not at her for bravely stealing the medicine to save the twins, but at himself for not being able to protect Maize like a father should. Forget the reason her mother couldn't stand to look at her back. To forget that Maize hadn't stolen the medicine fast enough to save Nyanya.

In a way, the marks on her back were battle scars.

She was proud of saving her sisters.

But they were also a testament to how she had so utterly failed her beloved grandmother.

The years continued to pass by quickly with each passing season. Her mother had born three more children in the last five years... when her parents had the time to even have relations was a mystery to not only Maize but Amla as well. A girl, Lilac, that was now three almost four, and more recently another set of twins. Two identical little boys named Balm and Gilead. Her mother was at her wit's end with all the little ones in the house, considering that Hibis had turned five last month... well, Maize could only hope that her parents would finally stop reproducing- or at least take a break until Balm and Gilead are out of diapers. 

Birch had only looked at her in silent despair when they'd found out. Her sweet obedient brother would never complain to their parents, but when their mother had announced she was pregnant the last time with the boys... well, he was of the opinion that their parents had enough children to care for. Though he had been relieved that the second set of twins were boys. Piper and Brier, now nine, often drove him crazy with their girly antics. After all, flowers were not meant to be braided into the hair of a boy!

The only break between each harvest were the reapings, the damned Hunger Games and the Victory Tour that occurred six months after the Games. It was going to be Amla's last reaping this year, thank the heavens for that. Her sweet cousin had fallen in love with a sweet processor from the factories named Thorn Wheatgrove. Normally, Maize would have never been so accepting of the dark-skinned nineteen-year-old's advancements on her cousin, but even she could see how Amla's eyes shined with love and wonder whenever Thorn was by her side. Her baba had already given the couple his blessing and both of their families were preparing the young couple their own shack to live in after their wedding.

The ceremony would be taking place two weeks after the reaping's, and not soon enough in the words of her besotted cousin.

Maize couldn't help but fear for her cousin's life even more this year. She was the only one Amla had confided in when the eighteen-year-old had broken down in panicked tears, her sweet cousin was pregnant.

It wasn't uncommon for people in the District to marry young, often immediately after their last reaping, but it was another matter altogether for a teen to risk a pregnancy while still of reaping age. Maize's baba may have even rejected Thorn's request for her hand in marriage. It was a matter of shame for the bride's family if the young woman in question wasn't pure before the wedding. Maize's inner twenty-first-century persona from her first life had been infuriated when she had found out about the stigma.

-As if people's lives weren't complicated enough as it was.-

So, Maize had stood loyally by her cousin's side and promised her silence and support. In her first life, teen pregnancy had been frowned upon but not in the same way it was viewed in her new life. She also didn't fear her baba's wrath or disappointment in the same way the Amla did. Maize's father loved her something fierce, but he'd always been strict with Amla

-Maize blamed it on the way her Uncle Banyan had just thrown his life away, Amla's father had once been his best friend after all-

The only other soul that knew of the secret pregnancy was a very dedicated and besotted Thorn. Amla was nearing the second month of her pregnancy now, and with the wedding in two weeks, they would be able to pass off the birth of the child as premature. Maize had attended many births after she started shadowing her Auntie Calla, including the births of Lilac and the twins, so she would be the one attending to her cousin when they officially announced the pregnancy.

Amla was not the only reason why this reaping was even more stressful for the Galloshire's than others. Birch had turned twelve this year, making him now an eligible contender for the Hunger Games. Her little brother was terrified under his mask of indifference and Maize had spent the night with the pre-teen sleeping restlessly between her and Amla. Her poor little brother had woken up from nightmares twice during the night, only calming when they would softly sing him back to sleep.

Her mother had cried herself to sleep this year.

Now he was standing in a sea of twelve-year-old boys waiting for a poor soul to be called and the reaping to end. Both of her parents had made it to this year's reaping and were standing corralled with the other worried folks. Even Thorn was in attendance. Maize stood solemnly in the crowd of her peers. Edelwyse, had been reaped the year before for the 69th Hunger Games. Her childhood friend had not fared well in the Games and had died not long after the bloodbath.

So now Maize stood by herself in the sea of other seventeen-year-olds.

Chapter Text

The escort for District 11 was a pink-skinned woman (literally pink, somehow the Capitol had a way to actually permanently dye the color of one's skin and labeled it as a fashionable endeavor) with fuchsia-colored hair, wearing some scary-looking stilettos (that Maize would rather be caught dead than wear) in a vibrant gold monstrosity of a dress. Her voice was high-pitched and breathy as she spoke in the patented Capitol accent. It was grating. At least in Maize's humble opinion.

Tapping on the mic with a long colorful fingernail, a large plastic smile pulling on the corners of her golden lips the escort began, "Welcome, welcome! Welcome to the 70th Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!" the woman paused, probably waiting for excited applause or cheers that would never come, "Let us all turn to the screens to view a very important clip coming straight from the Capitol!" she ended with a little squeal as the reel started.

The clip was the same as last year. Damn Capitol propaganda, promoting the bloody Games and the failed revolt by District 13 leading to the creation of the Capitol's favorite televised program, narrated by President Snow. Maize did not really struggle to make herself look interested and not disgusted (something that she couldn't help but feel no matter how many years had passed since she was born in this universe) when the camera filming the event passed over her section. She briefly locked eyes with another teen when Maize turned her face away from the camera, her fellow seventeen-year-old's eyes reflected boredom and hatred. Maize was positive that her own were as well.

"Beautiful! What a wonderful message from our President!" she chirruped gleefully, "Now let us get on with the reaping's, shall we? It is time to see who will have the honor of representing this District! Ladies first!"

The escort approached a clear fishbowl-looking container filled to the brink with the names of the girls in her District. The woman fingered a few of the envelopes before grabbing one decisively and teetering back to the mic. How the Capitolite simply didn't fall and break her neck wearing those shoes was beyond her. Maize hated this part. The escorts in an attempt to build up the suspense for the viewers in the Capitol would open up the envelopes tauntingly slow. And this time was no different.

"Amla Ludwig!"

Maize choked on a scream, making a gargled "Wha?" emit softly from her lips. The girl next to her gave Maize a pitying glance. Of all the names! Why did it have to be her Amla!

"Amla Ludwig, where are you my dear?" the escort asked as she blindly searched the faces in front of her. Maize turned around and locked eyes with her shell-shocked and terrified cousin. Amla's vibrant chocolate eyes were already screaming sorrow and defeat. Before her cousin could even move, Maize shot her arm up and shouted.

"I volunteer!"

Amla's eyes were impossibly wide in her disbelief, and it only fueled Maize further as she confidently stepped out of the row and into the clear where Peacekeepers were waiting. The escort looked like she was about to wet herself in excitement. It was disgusting.

"A volunteer!" the woman gushed as Maize was marched up to the podium in front of the camera next to her. "We haven't had a volunteer in ages! Tell me, dear! What is your name?"

Maize wasn't sure what kind of expression was on her face, she could only pray that she didn't look terrified or worse full of contempt or hatred because that wouldn't win her any Sponsors or supporters in the Capitol, "Maize Galloshire." her voice was surprisingly strong and steady.

"What a wonderful turn of events! Ladies and gentlemen, District 11's female tribute: Maize Galloshire!"

No one clapped, but the escort -Maize really needed to learn the woman's name- didn't let that pierce through her excitement. "Now for our male tribute!" the woman tantalized the anxious crowd of male teens once more before plucking out a card, "Cana Fairgrovel!"

A –familiar- horrified looking fourteen-year-old stumbled out before being escorted over. Cana lived in the neighborhood over from her own. He had three younger brothers, one of which (Ollie) was Brier's best friend and four older sisters that worked in the processing factory with Amla.

Cana wasn't like his siblings. He'd always been sickly, the first to fall under the spell of any illness going around the District. He'd come really close to death during the pox outbreak that had taken her grandmother. The only reason his mother had been able to get the medicine was because she'd gained the favor of a Peacekeeper.

-And, though years had passed since then, Maize still heard the judging whispers from other women on how the mother had sold herself to Capitol scum, even if it was to save her child... people could be so cruel-

Even so, Cana was thin and gangly. And unlike many of the teens in their District, he was free of any of the lean muscles gained from working in the fields.

Aloe's scared face overlapped Cana's.

He wasn't going to come home.

Maize silently promised herself, she would help the boy to the best of her ability. His family didn't deserve to see him go like this. Hell, Cana was a good boy. He didn't deserve to be ruined by the Hunger Games.

(Finnick Odair's face flashed behind her eyes. 'No one won the Games' rang out in her mind like a mantra).

The escort placed a dainty hand on both of their shoulders, "Shake hands."

Cana stiffly raised his hand towards her, and Maize gripped it in what she hoped was a comforting manner, shooting him a small smile in the process. It must have reassured him somehow since he lost some of the tenseness from his shoulders (though he still looked like was going to be sick) before they were made to stand apart once more with the escort between them.

"Our tributes for District 11! Maize Galloshire and Cana Fairgrovel!"

The last thing Maize saw as she was ushered into the Justice building was Amla's tear-stained face, as her cousin clutched the fabric of her dress clinging to her stomach. As if she was shielding her unborn child from the cruelty of the reapings.

"Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

No matter what happened...

It was worth it.

Amla would live.

A small secret smile tugged onto the corners of her lips.

Chapter Text

Maize had been led to a beautifully furnished room, one of the like that she hadn't seen since her first life, as she waited for her family to arrive. Tributes were given an hour to say their goodbyes to their loved ones, before being marched to the train station where even more camera crews would be waiting to film their departure.

The door opening made her whip her head around to see who was entering. Her mother's tear-stained face rushed toward her. "Maize! My sweet baby!" she cried out as wrapped Maize into her arms. Maize was careful as she wrapped her arms around her mother, in an attempt to not bother the sleeping twins wrapped against her mother's back.

"Why would you volunteer Maize?"

Maize looked up at the familiar gruff voice of her baba. He looked... heartbroken. Her eyes burned but Maize would not cry. She wasn't afraid of death, but she had come to love her second family and she worried for their future. For their impending heartbreak.

"How could I not baba? It was Amla."

He pinched his eyes shut, "I know. But Amla is older than you Maize and you- you are just a child."

She stepped out of her mother's arms before tentatively hugging her father, "Everyone that goes into the Hunger Games is a child, baba. Besides, Amla is getting married. She has someone that loves her." he grunted angrily, "Baba, you can't get mad at her. It was my decision. The moment I heard her name... The Games took Aloe, her whole family, they shouldn't take Amla too. Not her."

Her mother choked on a sob behind her.

"Mama, don't cry. We have to be strong for Birch, Brier and Piper, Hibis, Lilac, and the twins. Don't let them watch the Games mama. It will kill something inside of them." she whispered, knowing intimately from experience what it'd been like to see her cousin die on the screen. Her mother raised her hand to cup Maize's cheek before pressing their foreheads together.

"My wise strange child." she murmured making Maize giggle wetly.

It was practically an inside family joke that Maize was strange and often knowledgeable about random things. They'd labeled it as a weird tic of Maize's personality when she was a child, when she'd had less control over her mouth as she did now. And, heavens, if that didn't make Maize love her family even more for accepting her oddities.

Her father enveloped them both in a warm hug, "You can't give up Maize. You are strong. And you have what it takes to come home. Use that big brain of yours to make your way back to us."

A shudder ran through her body, "Yes baba."

The door opening ended the hug as a Peacekeeper announced that their time was up, her parents were reluctantly escorted out before Maize's tearful siblings burst in.

"Maize!" Birch wailed as he ran into her arms, followed closely behind Brier and Piper.

She wrapped them all up in a hug, gently rubbing their backs, "Lay me down gently, lay me down low/ I fear I am broken and won't mend, I know/ One thing I ask when the stars light the skies/ Who now will sing me lullabies..." Maize sang softly until their tears stopped.

"Why'd you do that Maize?" Brier asked with a sniffle as she gripped her twin's hand.

Maize smiled softly at her sisters, "I would do it for you too if I could... so that you'd never have to go."

"But why did you have to!" Birch snapped, rubbing away angry tears.

"Amla is pregnant." Maize stated calmly before speaking in a graver manner, "You cannot tell baba. He wouldn't understand like you three would."

Their eyes widened comically, "Really?" Piper gasped as Brier grabbed her arm.

Maize nodded, "You have to take care of Amla for me, just like she has always taken care of us. Promise me?" she demanded softly as she locked eyes with her conflicted little brother.

"I promise Maize." he spoke softly before his eyes hardened, fight barely hidden in his hazel eyes, "But you have to make me a promise too."

A lump formed in her throat. Maize wouldn't promise her brother something that she couldn't control. It was very likely that she would be dead in less than a month and she wasn't the type of person to throw out empty promises. Especially not to Birch.

"What?"

"You have to try." he demanded, "Really try to come home. Even if you have to kill other tributes. I need you to come home."

A small pained gasp escaped from her lips. Maize shut her eyes, not wanting to meet her brother's, it killed her that Birch's innocence was taking a hit right before her eyes. He was growing up right in front of her. It wasn't fair.

She wasn't afraid of death.

She was afraid of how the Games would change her.

How they would change her siblings.

But Maize had a feeling that not making this promise... that not showing Birch that she tried would break her brother. 

"I promise Birch."

The Peacekeeper opened the door once more, making her siblings clutch onto her desperately.

"No! Let go!" Piper shouted as she was lifted.

Brier cried out, "Please! No!"

Maize pressed one more fevered kiss onto Birch's forehead, "Take care of them for me Birch! You're their big brother! Don't lose your temper! I love you!"

"I love you too!" he sobbed as he was dragged out, "Just keep your promise!"

The room was silent for a minute. Maize had to breathe in and out deeply five times before she was able to force the tears into stopping. The door opened again and she was suddenly 'eating' curly black hair.

"You stupid idiot!" Amla sobbed, "Completely stupid! Self-sacrificing imbecile!"

Maize hugged her cousin tighter, taking comfort in her presence, "All this stress is not good for the baby... It'll be alright Amla."

"No it won't!" she snapped before peppering her face in kisses, small sobs escaping from her lips as she whispered fervently, "Thank you! Thank you!"

She smiled brightly at her cousin as Thorn kneeled down beside them and let Hibis and Lilac go from his arms. The five-year-old was quick to throw his arms around her neck, while her youngest sister shuffled closer.

Hibis was afraid, it was plain to see on his little face, but he was also clueless about the events around him, not fully understanding what it meant for Maize to volunteer in their cousin's place. To go to the Capitol. To participate in the Hunger Games. Maize peppered him with kisses. Lilac was even worse, fear wasn't quite present on her features but her confusion and frustration was palpable. Maize pressed sweet kisses onto the girl's cheek making the toddler smile up at her widely.

-Lilac wouldn't remember her at all... Hibis might, but mostly her youngest siblings would only know her through the stories others would tell them until slowly Maize's memory would be erased.-

"You have to be good for mama and baba, promise me Hibis." Her little brother simply nodded. "I'll be going away, so you need to be extra good, be nice to Lilac and look out for her. I have a very special mission for you: Birch, Brier and Piper might be a little short with you but that's because they are sad, so I need you to make them smile for me. Can you do that for me little fleur?"

Hibis sniffled before nodding seriously, "Yeah."

That only seemed to set Amla off into another round of sobs, startling Lilac into tears of her own, "Maize I can never repay you for this." Thorn spoke softly, his voice full of tearful gratitude.

Maize smiled at him, "Just keep doing what you're doing. Take care of my cousin. And watch out for my brothers and sisters for me if I don't make it back."

"You have my word."

His voice was strong and eyes uncharacteristically hard as they drilled into her own.

She believed him.

Chapter Text

Maize sat silently by the window. Her eyes trailed the scenery passing by as the train zoomed through the land. She was in her room now, well temporary room until they reached the Capitol, after being shown to it by the escort, Goldie Bell. The Capitolite was still annoying in Maize's opinion, but the woman couldn't be blamed for how she was raised. Maize could, however, hate Goldie's blindness to the pain and suffering of the tributes and the twelve Districts.

Their mentors for the Games couldn't be more different from one another. Seeder and Chaff had won back-to-back Hunger Games. Seeder was rather serious compared to the male Victor. Chaff spent the first hour on the train getting shit-faced drunk, but he was the only one who could make Seeder smile and relax somewhat.

Cana had taken the time to gorge himself on all of the food he could get his hands on in the car, despite her warnings not to, and as a result, had decided to try to go to bed early for a nap after he vomited the majority of the contents in his stomach. Maize would go check on him in a while with lighter food for him to eat that wouldn't upset his stomach. For now, though, Maize just watched the scenery pass her by through the window as she tried not to think back on the morose goodbyes she'd shared with her devastated family.

It was only a knock on her door that was able to pull Maize away from her thoughts and back to the present. "Come in."

Goldie poked her head in cheerfully, "Good! You're up! Come, come! The reapings are airing!"

Maize ignored the dread blooming in the pit of her stomach and stood up to follow the –annoyingly- joyful Capitolite into the 'den' or lounge car where the two former Victors and her fellow tribute were waiting. It looked like poor Cana hadn't been able to turn in early for the night after all. She plopped herself down beside Cana and threw her arm over his shoulder so that the younger teen leaned on her frame.

"How're you feeling Cana? Did your stomach settle?"

Cana smiled sheepishly up at her, "A little."

The fourteen-year-old seemed to soak up the silent comfort she was giving him like a sponge. Maize hadn't been close to the younger teen, but with their little brothers as close friends as they were, it was impossible to not be dragged into each other's lives occasionally. The last time she was half-hugging him like this was when Maize had been giving Cana some advice over a girl he was crushing on. Apparently, instead of helping Cana, his older sisters were set on heckling and teasing the awkward teen rather than helping him. Maize let herself sink into the comfortable cushions of the couch, and heavens it was soft -it was the softest thing she had ever sat on in this life- before turning her attention to the screen to watch the reapings unfold in the other Districts.

The tributes for the Career Districts looked particularly bloodthirsty this year and three of them were volunteers. That was going to be a problem. But they were also extremely arrogant, and that would be their downfall. There was one particular tribute that did catch Maize's attention. The female tribute from District 4, Annie Cresta.

The name rang bells in her mind until she finally made the connection. It was that Annie Cresta. The one that married Finnick Odair during the Second Rebellion in the series. All she could remember about Cresta's games was that there was a flood and that the Victor had gone mad after she had won the Games.

Maize wanted to cry.

She now knew what the arena would most likely be, probably a huge dam that would break during the 'finale' of the games, but now Maize knew... knew that she wasn't supposed to come home. Amla! Poor Amla! What would have happened to her dear cousin if she hadn't been born in this world? It would be Amla in her place, destined to die either at the hands of the other tributes or drown. Because Amla didn't know how to swim, no one in District 11 knew how to swim. They didn't have any large bodies of water in their District -though there was a lake outside of the District's borders that was used for irrigation- so there was no way for the people of her District to learn.

-But Maize hadn't always been a farmhand in District 11. She was once a young woman from an island in the Caribbean. She had grown up chasing olas, and diving under the warm and salty water of the ocean. Maize knew how to swim, even if she hadn't had the chance to in the last sixteen years of her life. She was going to have to train her lungs again to hold her breath for long periods of time.-

Annie Cresta was supposed to live. Maize didn't know what role the woman played behind the scenes but Finnick Odair had loved the woman in the series, he'd married her the moment they escaped from the Capitol. Annie Cresta needed to live.

Didn't she?

For that to happen Cana had to die.

Hell, Maize had to die.

It was selfish.

Unbelievably so.

But Maize didn't really want to die.

She wasn't afraid of the great beyond or what would happen to her following death. But she loved her family. She loved her life, no matter how desolate and backward it could be at times, Maize loved it with all of her being.

And while she would do everything in her power to save Cana and try to bring him home... if, and only if, her District partner fell, Maize would fight with all of her being to go home. To go back to her family. Maize had made a promise to her brother, after all, she was many things but Maize had never made it a habit to directly lie to her siblings. Especially not to Birch.

-He was her first-ever sibling in the world, and she was prepared to fight all the Peacekeepers in Panem to make him happy.-

Maize would try to come home.

Annie Cresta was the Victor for the 70th Hunger Games.

But Maize had a lot to fight for.

Maize wants to go home.

She wasn't going to roll over and die because Annie Cresta was supposed to win the Games. Maize knew already that no won the Games, and Cresta hadn't come out unscathed originally, but Annie Cresta wasn't going to win the Hunger Games this time around.

Screw the consequences.

The rest of the reapings were rather... unnoticeable in comparison to that revelation.

Chapter Text

Once she was able to get past the whole Annie Cresta debacle, and the fact that she really didn't want to die -wasn't that just a kick in the face, she hadn't been afraid of death throughout her entire new lifetime and now she found herself fearful of never seeing her family once more- Maize was grateful for how her reaping was portrayed to the nation. The girl on the screen was confident -it was evident in her straight spine and even walk- as she volunteered, her eyes unafraid as she walked up onto the podium and spoke her name clearly. Maize was only happy that she hadn't made a fool of herself like she'd thought she had. However, it was the small comforting smile, which hadn't been as private as she'd hoped, that Maize had given Cana that seemed to have endeared her to Caesar Flickerman.

Apparently, she was a strong but caring girl, and the host of the Hunger Games wanted to know what had made Maize so confident to volunteer especially because she was a part of the outlying Districts- where volunteers for the Games were practically non-existent. Cana on the other hand was barely a blip on their radar. As if they had already written him off.

-Not on her fucking watch!-

When the train arrived at the Capitol's terminal, it was full of excited -colorful- Capitolites waiting to catch a glimpse of the 'lucky' tributes. Maize approached the window with her head held high before shooting the crowd a smirk and a wink before moving a curl out of her face delicately. The crowd seemed to go wild as they crowded the space, pushing each other to get closer to her.

Seeder's response was to pat her back in pride, "Good job, that's a good way to start getting some Sponsors." the woman praised before turning to look at a pale Cana, "Why don't you come and tease the citizens of the Capitol as well?"

"I-I don't think that's a good idea." Cana mumbled, "I feel like I'm gonna be sick."

Maize immediately moved to the teen's side to rub his back, "Hey, hey, Cana it's okay. Deep breaths, you don't want to lose your breakfast."

His brown eyes filled with tears before he whispered softly... bitterly, "It's not going to be okay."

She gripped the back of his shirt tightly, as Cana rubbed his face- a resigned look already making home on his face. "I know."

No one wins the Games.

And Cana was already losing.

Cana was ushered away by their disturbed-looking escort as she began to brag about the wonderful sights of the Capitol. Seeder and Chaff only looked at Maize's District partner with pity and acceptance. They were already counting the skinny teen out too. It filled her with rage. She was careful to keep it off her face.

Maize's mind was a million miles away from where her body physically was.

She was currently being poked and prodded at by the stylist group assigned to her District in the Remake Center. Her prep group consisted of two flamboyant men -that were so feminine compared to the men in her District that it had taken her a moment to realize that they were in fact men- and one shyer woman. Of course, the three of them were extremely colorful and odd in their choice of fashion compared to the style of dress she'd gotten used to. Even when comparing the strange bubble/glass dress that Circo -one of the male stylists- was wearing to the strangest fashions she'd seen in her first life... it didn't even touch upon the craziness that Capitolites found beautiful or fashionable.

-Lady Gaga, that American singer, came to her mind when she tried to establish an accurate point of reference for Capitol fashion.-

In comparison to Amla, Maize's hair was less kinky and wild to control. Even then, her mama always did her -and Amla's- hair into intricate braids for the reapings, this year hadn't been any different. Now though the prep team was undoing the braids, fixing her nails, while another poured wax onto her legs and began ripping the hair off her skin. Maize couldn't hold in some of the random yelps of pain at the sensation as Yurida started moving up and waxing other areas that were even more sensitive.

By the time the woman was done, Maize was hairless everywhere except for her head. It was strange. Shaving wasn't something that was common in her new life, people were too busy working in the fields to think about something as extra as body hair. The only moment in a woman's life where shaving was even an option was their wedding night. Maise hadn't felt the sensation of smooth skin in years. So it was strange but also weirdly nice.

In all honesty, the most awkward part of the whole thing was the fact that Maize was naked. Bare for the prep team to view and prod at. Of course, after three hours of them bathing, waxing, polishing and rubbing creams onto her skin... she wasn't as mortified as she was the moment they had taken away her robe.

-She had been angry however when they judged her body. From the stretch marks on her hips when they expanded rapidly during puberty or around her chest which was ample for someone who had suffered from malnutrition constantly, to her pretty pathetic height of five feet, or how giddy/jealous they were that her ribs were visible, to the marks on her back, she refused to reveal how she'd gotten them.-

It helped a little that Maize had internally labeled -because she would never say it to their face even if they were Capitolites- them as unfeeling drones when it came to her body. Perhaps it was mean, but it made her feel better and as a teenager that was days away from her death... Maize felt a little entitled to dehumanize the people -and the others like them- prepping her for her death. After all, that's what they did with the tributes and Victors of the Hunger Games year after year.

It was only after Tesoro finished applying her makeup, while Circo and Yurida added the final touches to her re-braided -and infinitely more complex- hair, that she was presented to her stylist Orion Ambersen. The man was wearing an interesting suit that played upon his namesake, with different constellations that were lighting up with some sort of tiny/minuscule lightbulbs where the stars were supposed to be. His skin was dark and reminded her of home, but his hair -a stylized afro- was white as snow, but his eyes were a piercing gold color that seemed to absorb all that they concentrated on. And now they were focused entirely on her.

A small smirk pulled onto the corners of his gold-painted lips, "Hello Ms. Maize, I am Orion, and you darling are my muse for these Games." Maize looked at him with curious and slightly suspicious eyes, "The moment you volunteered in a manner so self-assured, I had to make you an entire new outfit to reflect this persona."

Orion led her to a small podium for her to stand on so that he could circle around her figure. Maize stood still, the only indication that she was nervous being that her thumb was repeatedly running over her green glossed nails. But the man only seemed pleased with what was in front of him. People in the fashion industry had always confused her.

"Have you ever heard of Demeter?"

This was going to be interesting.

Chapter Text

She had never seen a horse in person, at least not in her first life and it would no longer apply to her second one. Joergeon was one of the two humongous horses that would be pulling the District 11 chariots this year for the Tribute Parade. Maize kept all her attention on the beast in front of her, gently petting his black muzzle and feeding him sugar cubes as she ignored everyone around her. Cana was carefully sitting on the chariots as they waited for the parade to start, the younger teen had taken one awe-filled look at the beasts before deciding to stay as far away as possible from the horses.

Keeping all of her attention on the horse helped Maize keep her mind off the dress she was wearing. Orion had dressed her as the Greek goddess of agriculture -and fertility, though that wasn't what her stylist was trying to emphasize with her outfit- Demeter. She was wearing a beautiful green toga, the fabric itself was so soft and smooth against her skin like the softest silk. The toga had two slits on the sides going almost all the way up to her hip where it was tied with a golden braid of rope.

A transparent green shawl had been thrown over her shoulders to tease the viewers from seeing the bare skin of her shoulders and back, considering that the back of toga was practically nonexistent and started at the small of her back, and Orion didn't want people to gawk at the scars marring her back, even if they had been caked with makeup. Gold Greek sandals adorned her feet ending at mid-calf, she had gold accents all over her person, bangles on her arms, wrists, around her neck, and even around her thighs. She was wearing a crown made of real plants- with red, pink, and white strawberry flowers in full bloom... much like they had been at home a month ago before they turned into the juicy fruit, and was given a cornucopia to carry filled with actual fruits that were harvested from her District.

Cana was dressed as Dionysus the Greek god of wine, vegetation and festivity -which was apparently appropriate here in the Capitol since the Hunger Games were a wonderful festivity- grapevines formed a crown around the fourteen-year-old's head. He also had matching gold accents in the form of the Greek-styled sandals and gold bangles. Despite his awkward stance on the whole situation, not to mention the grief that was beginning to envelop him, he looked handsome. Maize, on the other hand, was trying to ignore the looks and attention that the dress was giving her, from the tributes and all of the attendants backstage. Seeder's warm hand gently touched her shoulder bringing Maize out of her daydreams.

"The parade is starting in five, let me help you onto the chariot." the female Victor's presence was calming, and her help was honestly appreciated. Maize was one of the shortest girls in her age group, and it was looking like that trend was continuing even in the Capitol, and help to get onto the chariot with her dress would have been necessary even if Seeder hadn't offered... Cana probably wouldn't have been able to help her get on. She really needed to help him build up some muscles.

"Thank you, Seeder."

The woman smiled before regaining a stern facial expression and locking eyes with both of them, "Remember, you are both confident and united District partners from 11." Seeder locked eyes with Cana, "Boy, you must put on a brave face. Be strong and supportive of your partner. And you Maize, you enthrall all of the Capitol once more as you did at the terminal. Be mysterious, saucy, confident and unattainable. You two are gods and goddesses of the harvest in our District. Be them." she commanded, as all three of them ignored the three-minute warning.

Maize straightened her spine and elongated her neck elegantly, her eyes hard and confident, before turning to the reins of the chariot. Cana locked his gaze onto her figure before mirroring Maize in a convincing manner, his back straight as he gripped the adorned chariot. Cana's face was blank except for the small –false so incredibly false- smile tugging on the corner of his lips. Maize hooded her eyes under the fake eyelashes that the stylist had added onto her lids to make them stand out even more -honestly, Maize thought that had been unnecessary- and allowed a small taunting smirk to tug onto her plump lips. She held onto the woven gold cornucopia with her left arm and held onto the front of the chariot with her free hand as the chariot began to move and music started playing loudly

For all the sophistication the Capitolites proclaimed to have, they were like writhing animals as they howled and thrust themselves forward in excitement from the stands. She couldn't really discern any specific words from the crowds, but she could occasionally hear a Capitolite shout out her name. She turned to face the crowd with sly smirks and coquettish winks in the direction of the area where her name was shouted, at one point she even kissed the tips of her fingers before 'blowing' the kiss out onto the adoring fans. It earned her enamored high-pitched screeches and flowers being thrown their way.

Cana let out a bitter chuckle from beside her, but his smile didn't change as he wrapped his arm around her waist. Despite being underfed and two years younger than Maize the teen was still two or three inches taller than she was, so Maize allowed herself to lean on him a bit before gingerly grabbing one of the strawberries from the cornucopia, kissing the fruit gently before taking a small bite and then offering the rest to Cana. The fourteen-year-old didn't even blink and ate the strawberry whole.

The crowd cheered.

It reminded her of the cackling Hyenas from the movie 'El Rey Leon.' But these people felt even more malicious than the caricature hyenas from one of her favorite childhood movies. The chariots began to slow down as the horses came to a stop in a semi-circle in front of where the President was standing regally before a silver-white podium above the balcony in the District Circle. The national anthem played as the camera cut to showcase the faces of the tributes onto the big screens for the Capitol citizens, hell all of Panem, to view.

President Snow reminded Maize of a snake. There was a wild poisonous garden snake that likes to roam the orchards during the spring and summer seasons, they called it the ruse snake because it looked like an ordinary green garden snake at first glance unless one noticed the darker scales of the snake's underbelly. The bite could kill a young/small child within ten minutes, and an adult within twenty. That was what President Snow reminded Maize of. The ruse snake. A seemingly innocent and harmless-looking 'garden' snake until it struck with a blind and precise fury. He was poison in itself. Even the seemingly warm and honeyed words slipping from his lips were dripping with it as he welcomed them to the Capitol and to the 70th Hunger Games.

It disgusted her. And the feeling lingered on her skin even as the chariots pulled away once more and led the tributes into the Training Center.

Chapter Text

The moment that the chariots entered the Training Center, Maize allowed the fake smirk and delighted expression to fall from her face. She wrapped an arm around Cana and squeezed her District partner in a half hug. "That was smart. Wrapping me in a hug."

Cana his arm tightened around her, "You too, that strawberry thing... I saw one of them fall right outta their chair."

Maize nodded, "It just came to me. I hope that it didn't make you uncomfortable Cana."

"Nah." the boy locked eyes with her as the chariot finally came to a stop and the other tributes began to disembark and reunite with their Victors, "You remind me of my sisters, it's comforting to have someone from home with me."

She smiled up at him softly, ignoring the delighted crows coming from Goldie as the excited escort approached them, "Same."

"Oh, darlings!" she squeaked, "That was absolutely wonderful!" The fourteen-year-old shot the woman an uncomfortable smile before jumping down and offering Maize his hand, she grabbed it gratefully and shot him a smile before jumping down as well.

Chaff threw his arm around Maize's shoulder and chortled softly, she could smell the booze on the man's breath but it wasn't overwhelming, "That was more than wonderful! It was fantastic! Marvelous!" he crowed as the group began leading them towards the elevators, "Wasn't it Seeder!"

The female District smiled proudly, "It was perfect, you guys are getting a lot of attention from Sponsors. They were rather excited that District 11 had a volunteer this year and then with that display during the Tribute Parade... well you're a hot commodity."

There was a dark and scared look hidden in Seeder's dark brown eyes that were buried by the pleased smile and front that she was putting on in front of the others, it made the hair on the back of Maize's neck rise, but there wasn't anything she could do about it now. Later.

The ride up the elevator was an interesting experience. They didn't have to share the space with another tribute or their posse, and the entire time was spent with Maize listening to the excited chatter of the stylists and Goldie. Cana was leaning heavily on the back wall of the elevator and his eyes drooped occasionally. She could relate, Maize was exhausted. She couldn't wait to hop into a shower and wash away the makeup and perfume that'd been sprayed onto her body -honestly, why did she even need to wear perfume, it wasn't like the Sponsors could smell her- and undo the tight ornamental braids in her hair. But they would probably be corralled into having dinner with the whole 'team,' as Goldie referred to themselves as.

Maize hated being right.

Orion and his crew helped her undress from the toga and remove the bangles, before sending her off into the shower. The most confusing, and if she was honest with herself anxiety-inducing -why were there so many freaking options- shower she'd ever had. There were at least a hundred different settings for the shower, from the temperature, scent, soap... and even drying off was otherworldly with a device that simply air-dried her in moments. Hell, there wasn't even a comb, her hair was untangled completely by another futuristic device.

As soon as she was out, she picked a simple blue cotton dress -not unlike one she would wear at home- and white leggings -like the ones she used to love to wear in her first life- before making her way to the stylish dining area where everyone else was waiting. Cana was looking more than a little overwhelmed at the large selection of food in front of them, and she didn't blame him. It looked as if the table had enough food to feed her family for a week rather than just act as their dinner for one evening.

The adults at the table chatted with gusto as they celebrated the positive outcome of the Tribute Parade. Maize ate as many carbs and fatty foods as her body could handle, she would need to gain some weight before the Games began in case the arena didn't have an abundance of options for food. After recommending Cana to do the same, the boy immediately moved to serve himself another spoonful of mashed potatoes rather than fruit, she relaxed somewhat. It was then that Maize noticed that their Mentors were looking at them.

"Yes?" she asked softly, silently praying that they hadn't asked her a question while she was daydreaming.

"I know we already established that you two want to be trained together, correct?" Seeder asked seriously.

Maize peeked at Cana from the corner of her eye before nodding, "We do."

"Alright." the woman nodded as she looked at the others sitting at the table, "I know that tonight was a victory, but I want to make sure that we do this tonight before the training begins tomorrow."

"We have time to do this in the morning don't you think-"

Goldie never got to finish her sentence before Chaff, uncharacteristically serious, interrupts her, "No. Seeder is right." before turning to look at them, skillfully ignoring Goldie's offended look, "What are your skills? Things that will help you survive in the arena?"

Cana looked at Maize imploringly, the poor kid didn't know what to say. Maize only hesitated for a moment before speaking, "I'm fast, I'm really good at climbing: trees, rocks you name it. I can identify poisonous plants and I know what plants are edible. My Auntie was a nurse, so I know how to do first aid and how to suture wounds, I was gonna be a doula not that is going to be useful... I'm pretty flexible and I'm good at using a bō staff that belonged to my Uncle Banyan..."

"Umm, I guess... I'm also really good at climbing trees." Cana piped up after a beat, "I can identify edible plants and poisonous ones. I'm really good at hiding... I don't really have any other skills." he trailed off nervously as he began to tug at the end of his shirt.

Seeder was analyzing them thoroughly, "What about some other survival basics? Can you start a fire? How to find water? Poisonous animals? What happens if you two are stuck in a desert? How would you survive? Or the opposite, what if you're in a marshland or area with a lot of water? Can you swim?"

They were quiet.

"Well, we can both start fires." Cana piped up, "It's something you have to learn if you ever want to eat lunch when we're in the fields. And I-I don't know about Maize, but I can tell which snakes are poisonous. My little brother Ollie got bit by a ruse snake once so mama made us learn which ones were okay and which ones are poisonous."

"Me too." Maize confirmed, "Learning about poisonous snakes was a part of my first aid training... I do have some experience with swimming... Back before the pond that was near the outfields dried out, my cousins and I had a chance to swim in it... it was shallow, but it's something." she fibbed. The pond that had once been in the outfields was a real place, but Maize had never gotten her parents' permission to go swimming with her cousins or any other the older kids. They'd been afraid that with her small stature she would drown, but now it would serve as a good cover story for why she knew how to swim.

"Hmm, well that is what we want you to do tomorrow is go to the survival stations. You have an equal chance of dying of natural causes as you do at the hand of another tribute. Scope out the other tributes and figure out who's dangerous and who can be a potential ally, stick together but don't be afraid to try out different stations." Maize simply nodded in understanding once the woman finished speaking but a tired sigh from her District partner made her turn to face the younger teen.

"Any more advice?" Cana asked wearily.

"Yeah." Chaff snorted as he sipped (more like downed) his glass of wine, "Don't die."

Seeder whacked the back of the man's head in reprimand, "Chaff your drunk."

Chapter Text

Despite all of the internal fears and worries plaguing Maize's mind, she had been able to enjoy a full night's sleep without any interruptions. She figured, and perhaps her subconscious had as well, that she'd soon be living in an actual nightmare, so her imagination had let her be. The same could not be said for poor Cana who had slumped his way over to the dining room table like a sloth. He shot her a tired smile before digging into breakfast and spent the rest of the time quietly playing with his food. Maize spent that hour asking questions to their Mentors in between bites.

Thankfully the two Victors didn't seem annoyed by her questions, rather they -mostly Seeder, since Chaff was nursing what she realized was actually a permanent hangover based on the new glass of scotch in hand- answered her questions honestly and in detail. Advice on what to expect and some survival tips for the arena.

Seeder's Games had taken place in a dessert-like environment and the only reason she had won her Games was because of the woman's love for desert plants and for being able to hold off from dying of starvation the longest in comparison to the other tributes. The majority of the tributes that year had died from 'natural causes.' Which, if one cared to think about it, was actually kind of sad. Seeder had won because she could handle starvation and hold on until the others had died.

Chaff's Games were more brutal in manner, a true blood bath. More than half of the tributes had perished during the first few minutes of the games during the bloodbath and those that had survived spent the next two days hunting each other down. Chaff hadn't come out of it unscathed either, he'd lost his left forearm before winning.

After breakfast ended Maize and Cana were instructed to quickly change by the stylists into matching tracksuits with the number '11' pinned to their backs. Before they were walked to the elevators with Goldie -apparently, she would be escorting them everywhere- and sent downstairs to the basement where the training rooms were located.

They weren't the first tributes there, but they weren't the last as they waited for ten to hit and the instruction to begin. Maize took that moment to survey the large room. There were different kinds of stations available for them, filled with various weapons and obstacle courses. Above them, in elevated stands that surrounded the gymnasium, the Gamemakers could be seen tittering around as they ate from a banquet that'd been set for them. Maize only observed them for one more moment before deciding to pretend that they weren't even there.

They only had to wait seven more minutes for the rest of the tributes to arrive, before a tall athletic Capitolite woman introduced herself as the head trainer. The woman, Atala, went on to explain the training schedule and what each station has to offer. There were experts assigned to each station to help them and the tributes were allowed to move from station to station as they pleased. The biggest rule seemed to revolve around the 'no-in-fighting' between tributes. Which made sense, they would have plenty of time to kill each other in the arena.

The moment that they were allowed to explore the large gymnasium-like space, the Career tributes sprinted to the deadlier-looking weapons before beginning to handle them with a certain amount of ease that made jealousy and pity burn in her stomach. Cana stood by her side as she surveyed the stations before she dragged the younger teen to the shelter station that was free of other tributes. They spent an hour there learning from the expert and making their own shelters before Cana asked if they could move to the snare-making station. Maize was happy to follow him, she knew how to make some basic snares to catch lizards and small rodents in their gardens -it was one of the main ways that her family was able to access meat- but she was excited to learn what other kinds of snares she could make.

The rest of the morning went by in a similar manner, as the two of them rotated from station to station -as long as it was free- and learned what they could about surviving. Maize and Cana flew by the edible plants' station, and they both did well on the poisonous plants and animals. Although, Maize was a little better than her District partner with her medical background, but he was a quick study. Maize was even praised by the expert in the first aid/med station, much to her embarrassment and Cana's amusement. It was around one in the afternoon when escorts started collecting their tributes for a thirty-minute lunch before training commenced once more.

It was after they had come back from lunch, while Maize and Cana were watching a demonstration on how to make fishhooks, that she got her first real close look at Annie Cresta. Her fellow sixteen-year-old was struggling and failing to start a fire while her District partner, a cheeky blonde-haired thirteen-year-old, laughed softly at her attempts. Cresta had a shocking mane of silky red hair, bright green-blue eyes, and soft creamy looking skin, even with frustration clouding over some of her features she still had a pleasant face. She was pretty. A real looker. But overall, Cresta's body language practically screamed KIND. It was obvious now to Maize why Annie Cresta had lost her mind after the Games in the books. She was too kind, her eyes innocent and naïve despite the place they were in.

Maize turned to look at Cana, he was completely focused on the task on hand and was using his nimble fingers to create a fish lure. Annie Cresta was good, important even in the grand scheme of things, but Cana was more important to her than the integrity of the possible timeline. If it came between Cresta and Cana, Cana would always win. With that thought in mind, she informed Cana that they would be going to the water/pool station next.

Swimming was like riding a bike, a skill that you never really forgot no matter how many years passed by. The expert at the station looked grudgingly impressed that a girl from District 11 knew how to float, let alone swim. It had taken quietly promising Cana that she wouldn't let him drown for the teen to enter the water. Cana did surprisingly well after he learned to float when he got too tired of treading water. They spent two hours in the water, after Maize had whispered her urgency in his ear. Cana had looked confused, but perhaps her fear-filled face convinced him to stay put and continue practicing this new skill.

After drying off, Cana led her to the rock-climbing station and that was where they spent the rest of the afternoon before Goldie came to pick them up for dinner. The training rooms, while still open after dinner could only be accessed as long as a tribute had a chaperone -either their escort or Mentors- with them since the head trainer and other skilled experts wouldn't be present. Maize would get down on her knees and beg if she had to, to convince her Mentors to chaperone her. Apparently, most tributes -even the Careers- didn't take advantage of that.

Idiots.

The whole lot of them.

Chapter Text

It wasn't as hard as she had thought to convince Seeder to chaperone her and Cana... that is after convincing the exhausted boy that more training couldn't hurt them in the long run. During the elevator ride after lunch, she had asked Goldie about nutrient-rich shakes that Maize and Cana could drink, in order to gain weight and get their bodies healthy before the Hunger Games began.

The woman had looked at her as if she was insane, apparently, Capitolites preferred to look like sticks with no figures and rarely purposefully tried to gain weight, but she had acquired the shakes for them. They were surprisingly good and came in different flavors. She had downed two vanilla shakes before dragging Seeder and Cana -he was enamored with the chocolate shakes- downstairs for more training.

Like Maize had predicted the training room was empty and ready for their own personal use. It was perfect. Seeder immediately led them to the knife-throwing station and started instructing them. Making Maize and Cana throw the knives again and again, drenched in sweat and muscles burning until they were hitting the center with a satisfying 'thunk.' After Seeder was pleased with their ability to hit stationary targets, she made them move on to the moving targets.

It took Maize a few tries to get it right and start hitting the humanoid targets, but it wasn't as difficult as Maize had thought it would be. In fact, the most difficult part was just how disturbingly easy it was for her to do it. She blamed it on the lizards who would find themselves hiding in the family garden, Maize would never throw stones at them again.

They practiced with knife throwing for three hours until Seeder decided that it was time for them to go upstairs to eat dinner and wind down. After all, they would be having their regular scheduled training in the morning. It was in the elevator ride that Maize saw Finnick Odair in person once more. The older teenaged Victor looked exhausted as he entered the elevator car but had plastered a wide fake smile onto his face when he saw that it wasn't empty.

"Evening Seeder." he greeted.

Seeder eyed the other Victor for a moment, not quite able to mask her concern, "Finnick."

Cana had gripped onto her arm the moment that Finnick Odair had stepped into the elevator, but she couldn't find it in herself to comfort her District partner right at that moment. An internal promise she'd made when Maize was only twelve-years-old, after her first reaping, was now at the forefront of her mind. This could be the only chance she ever had to warn the dirty blonde teen -because despite all of his exploits in the Capitol and his manly physique, Finnick Odair was still only a teenager- of his fate. But she couldn't do it here in the elevator of the Training Center, she didn't want to give the damn Capitol any more ammunition against Odair, or even Cana and herself.

The Victor's stormy blue-green eyes met her own hazel brown ones for a brief moment as he surveyed Maize and Cana, "These your tributes this year Seeder?"

"Hmm," The woman turns to look at them with a warm smile, "Yes. My tributes are strong this year, I have faith in them."

Warmth floods behind her chest, and Maize knows that her cheeks were pink enough to be visible. Cana ducks his head in embarrassment, a small pleased smile on his face as he grips onto her hand. Odair raises his brows in surprise, Maize suspects that this is a rare occurrence where Seeder is confident in her tribute's ability to come back home.

-Her heart aches for all of the fallen tributes Seeder had mentored in the past, and for Seeder herself who had to see these children sent to their deaths time after time.-

"Mags has been asking for you Seeder, she's missed you." Odair changes the subject as the elevator comes to a stop on the Fourth floor.

"I'll be seeing her soon." Seeder promises as Odair steped off and the elevator continues to make its way up to their floor. Maize rubbed Cana's knuckles softly as he untensed. Seeder turned to look at them, "That was Finnick Odair, he's one of the mentors for District 4. You may not have a chance to see him again but he won the Games when he was your age Cana. He's a good man."

That, unfortunately, was not the end of that conversation. As soon as Goldie and the stylist heard that they had met the Finnick Odair, the rest of the evening was filled with gossip about the youngest Victor to ever be produced by the Hunger Games. It was disgusting to hear about how explicitly they fantasized about someone even when Odair had first come out of the Games at fourteen... Maize was happy when she'd finished eating dinner -and downing another shake- and was able to make her escape to shower and sleep.

Even if her heart clenched, she didn't get to warn him.

The next morning fell into a similar routine as the previous day. She had woken up early, much like she always did at home -after all the workday in the fields started early- and stretched out all of her sore muscles before going into the dining area and drinking two heavy strawberry and banana-flavored shakes in lieu of eating the eggs and bacon being served that morning.

After a groggy Cana sat himself down beside her, Chaff instructed them to continue visiting the survival stations in the training room and keeping to themselves before the man poured a generous amount of alcohol into his morning coffee. Seeder was talking up potential Sponsors that morning, but she had promised to chaperone them once more in the evening. As soon as she and Cana were dressed, Maize opted to go down early. The Training Center was open from eight in the morning for the tributes, but most showed up around ten like on the first day.

As soon as the elevator doors opened Cana dragged her to the snare and trap-making station. They spent the majority of their morning there before Maize decided that they needed to work on their cardio and ushered the younger teen to the treadmills. They ran and ran until Cana's legs were trembling and he was short of breath, Maize felt a hitch in her side but couldn't find herself to stop running even when her partner took a much-needed breather and drank water. They were both drenched in sweat, and much to her surprise, it was Cana who led them to the pool area for another swimming lesson so that they could cool down.

Soon after it was time for lunch, this time Maize ate light foods like fruits along with one chocolate shake- so that she wouldn't throw it all up during the training later. Cana followed her lead. Once they were released to go train once more, they immediately made their way to the obstacle course and did it over and over again -ignoring the jeers from the Careers when they failed or wiped out- until they were able to go through the whole thing without stumbling under seven minutes.

That evening when Seeder brought them down for more specialized training, she had them throw knives while running through the course as the Victor threw blunt objects at them. The rest of the week flew by in a similar manner.

Chapter Text

It was evaluation day.

Today the tributes would be called one by one in order for the Districts, the boys first, to be evaluated by the Game Makers. This evaluation was extremely important to attract the attention of Sponsors, and the scores would be revealed later in the evening by Caesar Flickerman. The hard part about it was that District 11 was always called second to last, she would be the twenty-second person evaluated and by that point, the majority of the Game Makers wouldn't even be bothered to pay attention. Seeder had made it clear to them that they absolutely had to grab their attention in any way possible. Their mentors wouldn't be able to get them Sponsors this year unless they had scores above seven.

Maize wasn't too worried about what she would be demonstrating. Her knife-throwing skills had progressed wonderfully, she could run the obstacle course in under five minutes without tripping or messing up, build deadly snares for animals and humans, hold her breath underwater for a whopping five minutes -something that she had been practicing for hours out of the training room- identify edible and poisonous plants/animals, apply first aide like it was nobody's business, and successfully knock over the trainer with her bō staff. Cana, on the other hand, was like an exposed nerve. His knee bounced up and down non-stop as he sat beside her. She hadn't been able to calm him down once since early in the morning. Maize could only hope that he didn't spaz out during his evaluation or his scores would suffer.

When Cana's name was finally called, his whole body flinched. Maize barely had time to place a comforting hand on the younger teen's shoulder and wish him luck before he made his way into the training room. After about fifteen minutes they finally call her name, she left behind two anxious and sickly-looking tributes from 12.

"Maize Galloshire, District 11!" she announced loudly as she entered the training room, making the eyes of the Game Makers track her movements.

She immediately makes a beeline to the knife-throwing station and after moving a considerable distance away states what area she's going to hit before throwing the knife. Each throw met its mark. She dragged a couple of dummies into various positions around the obstacle course, grabbed a couple of knives and did the course all the while throwing the knives into the targets. She completed the course in six minutes, it wasn't her personal best record but she had hit all of her targets so she considered it a win. As soon she jumped off the platform she made her way to the plant identifying section, the hologram's unearthly blue light illuminated her face as she completed the quiz it generated of a two hundred different edible and poisonous plants in under two minutes.

Maize took a moment to glance up at the Game Makers and nearly jumped when more than half of them were looking down at her in consideration. She quickly grabbed the bō staff from the rack and got onto the fighting platform where the trainer was waiting for her, the woman's own staff clenched in her hand. What followed was a brief beat down between the two of them. The hard smacks of the staffs' hitting one another and the occasional grunt of pain when the staffs hit body parts. Sweat clung to her back making the exercise shirt stick to Maize's skin. She ducked under a swipe of her opponent's staff before smacking the woman's hand with her own bō, making her opponent drop the staff before bringing her bō up to the trainer's neck.

"Yield." she stated as hard breaths panted out of her. The trainer raised her hands up and backed away. Maize let her stance fall before jumping off the platform and walking to the elevators without glancing back at the Game Makers.

She was too afraid to even see them.

Maize hit the button for her floor.

She was greeted by the excited and anxious voices of the stylists and Goldie before Cana ran to her side for a hug. Maize wrapped her arms around her District partner as the younger boy practically sagged into her.

"I tipped during the obstacle course." he mumbled. Maize rubbed his back softly before pulling the boy out of her arms.

"That's okay." she reassured him, "How did the swimming go?"

He sighed, but a small smile quirked onto his face. "Good."

They were ushered onto the couch before being handed their pre-dinner shakes by Seeder as they waited for the results to be announced. As soon as Caesar Flickerman appeared on the screen they quieted down. They started off by showing a picture of the tribute by Flickerman's head before the Capitolite read out the score and it flashed under the tribute's picture. The scores for the Career tributes were in the general nine-ten range except for District 4 this year. Annie Cresta only scored a six and her District partner, who was a year younger than Cana, scored five.

They probably weren't going to be welcomed into the Career Pack this year and instead would be viciously hunted by them. Everyone else seemed to score between a five and seven, except for the poor girl from District Six that scored a three. Cana scored a seven, to their delight, and Maize scored a surprising eight.

Around them, their mentors, escort and stylist began celebrating their scores as they prepared to sit and eat dinner. Their meal was a lively affair as conversation flowed from one end of the table to the other, talks of Sponsors and what they would be wearing for their personal interviews with Casar Flickerman were the main subjects of the conversation.

Cana made his escape soon after the meal ended, deciding to go to bed early and relax for a change. Maize, on the other hand, was too restless to sit still. Seeder was kind enough to point her to the elevator and tell her to take out her frustrations on the roof. The woman had shown her the roof during the third training night when Maize was too hyped up on adrenaline to sleep. Maize took the chance of escape as it was and practically sprinted to the elevator.

The moment the doors opened onto the roof, Maize let out a pent-up sigh she hadn't known she'd been holding. The breeze felt nice on her skin as she leaned on the railing, her eye locked on the horizon- the bleeding colors meshing on the skyline as the sun set in the distance.

"Shady grove, my little love/ shady grove I know./ Shady grove my little love,/ I'm bound for the shady grove./ I wish I had a piece of thread/ as fine as I could sew,/ I'd sew much love to my side,/ and down the road I'd go."

The words bled out of her mouth as the song filled up the otherwise empty silence. It had been so long since she had sung anything. It was probably the thing she missed most about home. There wasn't a day that she hadn't sung in the fields. Work songs were what kept them busy and connected them with one another as they tended, tilled, harvested and boxed fruit and vegetables. She missed hearing the warbling timber of mockingjays copying their songs from the canopies, and the lisped notes from young children as they learned the lyrics of songs, the camaraderie of hearing her voice joined by her peers as she sweats under the sun's ray while picking fruit...

She missed hearing the occasional crack in Birch's voice -he absolutely hated puberty- Brier and Piper's sweet tones, Hibis' attempts to finish at least one song without messing up the lyrics, Lilac's adorable mess-ups as the toddler sang her favorite lullaby, and her infant twin brother's wide eyes and smiles when Maize held them to her chest and snag them sweet nothings. She missed Amla's strong voice, her mama's familiar and soothing song and her baba's sure and steady way as he held a note.

She missed her family.

With that in mind, the ditty she'd been singing ended and the more somber notes of 'Fare thee well' filled the air.

"Hold on steady and strong,/ Here's the dawn coming on/ won't be long,/ Then the sun will come shining through,/ To show me the place I once knew" her eyes burned with tears that would never fall as she imagined the soft sound of flutes and whistles from mockingjays, "Fare thee well,/ Fare thee well and adieu,/ Fare thee well,/ With this song I'll be gone,/ Fare thee well..."

She had barely finished the chorus when clapping made Maize's head snap back in surprise.

Chapter Text

Finnick Odair was lazily leaning against the wall on the other side of the rooftop, his eyes locked onto her form as his hair was teased by the breeze. The shadows played with his figure and the little sun left highlighted the older teen's face. He was handsome, there was no doubt there, but his whole posture screamed SAD to Maize. Sad and defeated. Her heart clenched painfully behind her breast.

"You have a wonderful voice. You're one of Seeder's tributes this year, right?" he asked.

Maize nodded, "Yes and you're Finnick Odair... Seeder's spoken highly about you."

He shot her a boyish grin as he approached her and leaned against the railing beside her, "Did she now?" he asked rhetorically.

She hummed under her breath in agreement. This was her chance, possibly the only chance she would have to warn him. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like when this is all over?" Maize whispered softly, barely audible over the howling wind. Maize didn't turn to look at him as Odair's head turned to look at her own.

"The Games?" he asked, "I assume I'll still be here and you have a one out of twenty-four chance of making it out."

"No. When this is all over." she emphasized softly, "When there are no more Hunger Games, and the Capitol no longer controls us."

This time Maize did peer up to look at him. His eyes were locked onto hers, his expression grim and voice firm, "No. You probably shouldn't be talking about this either you know. The audio may not work up here, but it's never a good idea to speak anti-Capitol ideals, especially before going into the Games." Odair warned.

Maize didn't avert her gaze, "I'm not. Just stating a fact."

If anything, Finnick Odair only looked even more confused.

"Soon, very soon, it's going to end. The people are restless and angry. Like a mockingjay, they will be filled with and carry the tune of rebellion." she promised softly. Odair was now looking at her intrigued.

"Do you have a secret worth my while 11?" he whispered softly, his entire posture cautious.

She turned her gaze back to the almost blank horizon, the sun barely visible now, "I was in the front row when you visited my District during your Victory Tour." Maize stated, "I made a promise to myself then, that if I ever had the chance to warn you that I would."

"Warn me?" Odair looked confused, wary and suspicious even as hints of fear swirled in his eyes, "Warn me of what?"

"I know things." she confessed, "I know things that I shouldn't, always have. The same way that I know that this year's Hunger Games will end with a flood and tributes drowning in their sorrows. The same way I know what they make you do."

Odair flinched away from her, "What are you-"

"When the time comes and you find yourself following her into battle, be prepared, do not stay behind. The bowels of the Capitol are a dangerous place to find yourself in. Don't die before you're free." Maize whispered urgently, "You, of all of them, deserve to see it. To see Snow fall from the sky."

Maize used the Victor's confused state to sprint to the elevator and go down to her floor before he could even move.

She did it.

She warned him.

Only time would tell if the youngest Victor to survive the Games would make it through the rest of adulthood.

That morning Maize was greeted by an excited Goldie. Tomorrow evening would be the live interviews with Caesar Flickerman, their last chance to truly entice the Capitol and win Sponsors before the Hunger Games began. It apparently was also Goldie's favorite part of the Hunger Games routine. After a hearty breakfast and a mango-flavored shake -which was now officially her favorite of all the shakes she'd tried- Goldie had ushered her into the bedroom and helped her change into a constricting floor-length ball gown and high-heeled stilettos. Then the escort began instructing her on how to walk, sit properly, how to address the audience and play coy. While she hadn't worn heels in this life, Maize had enjoyed wearing some low heels to parties during her first. It had taken her about half an hour to feel comfortable enough to strut, swinging her hips in a seductive manner, from one end of the room to another.

Apparently, her dress for the interview was going to be provocative -Maize was already dreading it- so Goldie was trying to impart some 'wisdom' down upon her on how to be sexy and make all of Panem want her! Goldie's words, not her own. Maize wanted all of Panem to look away when it came time for her to have words with Caesar Flickerman. She internally cursed the fact that she'd been born a girl and had to suffer wearing heels and 'sexy' outfits.

By the time it was the afternoon and lunch was served Maize's feet were killing her. Throbbing in time with her heartbeat. Hopefully the heels Orion made her wear weren't going to be that high. The one-on-one time with her Mentors after lunch wasn't too bad. They mainly went over her strategy for the interview. They were going with the sexy approach, Maize was trying not to gag. Apparently, Maize had all the right curves in all the right places, and when she was wearing heels... well height was no longer a problem then.

She had gained more healthy weight and muscle in the last week than she had in probably her entire life. And it looked good. Maize had a pretty face and a nice voice, apparently, it was a cocktail of wonderful qualities to help her ensnare the love and attention of the Capitol and more importantly Sponsors.

Seeder and Chaff took turns pretending to be the interviewer and asking her various questions. She created a coy but gentle character, with just a smidge of the sexy that her stylist was trying to impart, that answered any and all questions about herself that would endear Maize to the -selfish, empty, soulless- people of the Capitol.

Maize had perfected her role by the time it was dinner.

Now all that was left was tackling the real thing.

Chapter Text

Maize and Cana are barely able to eat their breakfast and down a shake before they are dragged off by their respective prep teams to prepare for the interviews. Before they begin working on her body, Tesoro redid her measurements -had Maize mentioned that she'd gained weight? She'd never been more proud of herself in her life- and sent them off to Orion.

Yurida and Circo had no problem scrubbing her body clean and once more waxing off all of the hair from her body. Circo happily painted her nails a dark forest green before adding intricate little rhinestones in different patterns, Yurida and Tesoro rubbed lotion all over her body before applying a light green powder that made her body shimmer under the light. Tesoro concentrated on Maize's face, erasing her face with makeup and then redoing her features the way he wants. It was about then that she'd been handed a shake with a straw in place of lunch by Circo.

She could feel the 'smokey eyes' he was drawing onto her face and the color lipstick he was applying on her was a bright blood red that stands out. Yurida was styling her hair, untangling it and applying product to it so that it became soft and malleable. The female stylist was letting the majority of Maize's hair go free, each stand curling beautifully, except for the hair in the front that she pulled away from Maize's eyes and into two tiny braids that met at the back of her head. The woman kept adding a few odd feathers and beads into Maize's hair until she was satisfied.

The most painful part was probably the green gem -hopefully not real emerald, because Maize doesn't ever want to be responsible for anything that expensive in any life- belly button piercing that Circo gifts her. She'd already had her ears pierced for the Tribute Parade so Circo only had to clasp pig golden hoop earrings as he placed green and gold bangles onto her arms and little gold bells around her ankles.

As soon as the prep team steps back to view their final product, Maize steadily ignored the feeling of being a bug in a glass box for people to gape at, Orion walked into the room with the bagged outfit. Maize was allowed to stand up for the first time in three hours, shut her eyes per Orion's instruction, and let the four of them tug it onto her body before helping her step into her shoes- which thankfully weren't heels. Even with her eyes shut, Maize knew that she was displaying more skin that she was strictly comfortable sharing. She felt so unbelievably naked, only wearing a thin thong under it all.

"Open your eyes, dear!" Orion chirruped, "We are finished!"

The girl staring back at Maize from the mirror barely looks like a girl at all. She was like a tantalizing gypsy, with a beaded green brassiere covering her assets -some of the beads going off the brassieres top to hang down over her exposed torso- with a belly button ring on full display surrounded by Maize's smooth looking toned stomach -that for once didn't look like she was half-starved or bloated from malnutrition- and hanging from her waist was a beaded flowy green chiffon gypsy skirt with a slit on the left leg... because, apparently, she wasn't showing off enough skin in the first place. Maize was once more wearing Greek-style sandals except that this time they were adorned with beads to match with the outfit.

She felt like gagging at the amount of skin visible for people to see. Maize wouldn't be reacting so harshly if she didn't know about the consequences of dressing as provocatively as she was now. If she won the Hunger Games, by some miracle or curse really, Maize was screwed.

She'd be the next Finnick Odair.

Maize resolutely looked away from the image, swallowing bile, and plastering a –fake- smile on her face. "I love it!"

And maybe she would have if she was wearing it for any other circumstance. Although, Maize sincerely doubted it would have ever seen the light of day unless she was going to a costume party during her first life where others would be wearing equally embarrassing or revealing outfits. The stylists gushed to one another about a job well done as they tweaked the outfit a little- as if it wasn't already uncomfortable enough.

The minute that they escorted her out she was bombarded by compliments from the rest of District 11 team as she reunited with a flustered Cana. The steady amount of healthy food and exercise had been kind to the fourteen-year-old, he was wearing a fitted suit and looked rather handsome as the light overhead bounced off his cheekbones. They are led into the elevator for a quick ride down, the interviews were taking place on a stage constructed in front of the Training Center, and as soon as the doors open she can see where all of the other tributes have been lined up to wait for their turns.

Music began playing as they announced the host, she could see Caesar Flickerman -his hair an annoying shade of neon yellow this year- already perched in his customary spot under the headlights, a wide plastic smile on his lips as he addressed the live audience of Capitolites seated in front of him. Each interview was three-four minutes long, where Caesar attempted to make each tribute shine in front of the audience.

Maize watched each interview with a blank expression on her face, only averting her gaze when Annie Cresta was called up. She rolled her neck and shoulders languidly once the male tribute for District 10 was called and got ready for her turn. She squeezed Cana's hand in reassurance once -this was the only moment that females actually went first instead of the males- before a stagehand came to escort her.

"This next tribute surprised us all when she volunteered! She surprised us once more in that stunning get-up as the goddess of harvest during the Tribute Parade! Coming to us from District 11! Maize Galloshire!"

The applause was deafening and as the crowd got a view of her outfit turned into catcalls and appreciative whistles. Maize let her red painted lips curl up into a coy smile as she sashayed across the stage towards Caesar, her hips swinging sensually from side to side and the movement was only emphasized by the little bells and beads. She shot a coquettish wink at the audience as she finally made it to the interviewer's side.

"Oh my!" Caser gasped as he went around her, "Look at you! Don't you look positively stunning! Doesn't she folks?" he asked the audience, he was met by claps and cheers of affirmation. Maize simply allowed her smile to widen somewhat and cocked her hip to the right before letting her left leg peak out through the slip in a teasing manner. She waved absentmindedly to the crowd with one hand as Casear grabbed her other and led her to the chairs. She sat primly on her seat, her back straight and her left leg completely out of the slit as she crossed it sexily over her right, showing off the skin of her upper leg.

"My, oh my!" Caeser gasped once more as he took in her figure, "You are certainly one of the most stunning young women to ever grace our presence on this stage!"

Maize smiled at the man, "Why, thank you Caesar!"

The man laughed, "Well now, onto a more serious topic, I've just been dying to know! Who was that girl you volunteered for?"

Maize let a genuine dreamy and loving look appear on her face, "I volunteered for my cousin Amla. She's getting married this coming week, Amla's completely besotted with her betrothed." she gossiped in a teasing manner.

Caesar had leaned in as well and laughed once more, "How wonderful!" he congratulated, "Was she there to see you off?"

"Oh yes!" Maize confirmed as let her fingers play with one of the beads, "My whole family came to see me off. I have seven younger siblings, so it was a bit chaotic, but with my family that's not unusual!" she laughed.

"Marvelous! Imagine that! Seven siblings!" Caesar commented, "And was there anyone special there to see you off, a boyfriend or even admirer?"

Maize giggled, "Oh no!"

"No?" Caesar gasped, "How is that possible? You are a stunning young woman!"

"My baba would have had a fit!" Maize confessed conspiratorially as she leaned in, as if whispering a secret, "He's a tad overprotective!"

Caesar laughed before stating curiously, "I think we were all surprised by that score you received! Is there anything you can tell us as to how you achieved such a score!"

-The for your District wasn't said but Maize could feel it all the way down to her core.-

Maize smiled tauntingly, "Wouldn't you like to know?" The crowd cheered, "I can tell you this, growing up in my beautiful District has taught me many things about surviving and plant life... I'm more than ready for these Games to start!" she finished with a coquettish wink, as if she was sharing a private detail of her life, to the audience. Cheers and catcalls filled the air once more.

"I think it's safe to say that we are all ready to see what you have to bring!" The yellow-haired man grabbed her hand and ked her up, before raising her arm into the air in mock victory, "Ladies and gentlemen, from District 11! Maize Galloshire!"

Maize smiled coyly out to the audience once more, before exiting the stage with confidence.

Chapter Text

Cana's interview with Caesar went wonderfully as well. His 'angle' was to be boyishly charming and humble, which wasn't too far from the younger teen's actual personality, only emphasized for the Capitol. Her District partner did end up disclosing that he saw Maize as an older sister and was grateful for her presence, it earned more than a few "Aww's" from the audience.

It was brilliant.

The only downside she could really think of was that now the other tributes knew for a fact that they were each other's weakness... which, if hadn't been made obvious by their lack of communicating with other tributes or making alliances, was now more than evident.

It didn't really matter anymore.

What was done, was done... besides Maize was rather proud of herself and Cana.

-Even if she had cringed when she saw herself walk across the stage in her provocative outfit, she didn't even want to know what her baba's reaction was to that.-

Tomorrow she and Cana would be woken and dressed for the arena. The Hunger Games would truly start in the morning. Cana was quiet at dinner, even if he did follow her instructions food-wise. Maize listened to any advice she was able to pry from her mentors and, surprisingly, Goldie. She ate the lamb and seasoned potatoes with gusto, gingerly ate slices of caramelized mango and orange slices -her absolute new favorite dessert- and drank her vanilla flavored shake.

This would be the last time she'd see Seeder and Chaff. Avox's would wake Maize up at dawn to get ready to travel, while Seeder and Chaff would be brought to the Games Headquarters where they would schmooze Sponsors to their side.

Maize took a long hot shower, scrubbing the paint and makeup from her skin. She undid the beads from her hair and rubbed shampoo into the strands. Letting herself completely relax. The rest of her evening followed the same pattern, she dried off, brushed her hair, rubbed lotion onto her skin and got rid of the nail polish from her nails. Maize changed into the softest nightgown in the closet before turning in for the night. She was asleep for maybe only an hour when the bedroom door creaked open.

"Maize?" Cana whispered, "Are you awake?"

She sat up, "Yeah."

The teen moved to her side and sat on the edge of the bed, "I'm sorry for... well this. I-I just can't sleep." Humming softly, Maize moved over and patted the now empty spot. Cana awkwardly laid down beside her, his back facing her, "Thank you."

"It's fine." she murmured as he tugged the blanket over his shoulders, "It was strange when we first came here, I'm so used to sleeping by Brier or Amla that it was hard to sleep. So, this is nice."

"Me too." Cana piped up, "I usually sleep between Ollie and Terra." it was silent for a moment, just a symphony of relaxed breaths, "I miss mama's songs. Even Terra's and Uba's lullabies."

Her eyes shut without her accord, her heart constricting in her chest, "Which lullaby do you miss the most?"

"Catch a falling star." he shared shyly.

It took a moment for Maize to remember the lyrics but once she did she began humming the tune under her breath, "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket/ Never let it fade away/ Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket/ Save it for a rainy day..." she ignored the shaking shoulders and muffled sobs from her District partner, "For love may come and tap you on the shoulder/ Some starless night/ Just in case you feel you wanna hold her/ You'll have a pocketful of starlight.../ Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket..." Maize sang until the sobs and tears stopped. Until Cana finally fell into a fitful sleep before joining him.

Dawn came faster than Maize would have liked. Cana was still half asleep when Maize requested two shakes, a mango and chocolate-flavored shake, from an Avox. The moment that she had the shakes in hand she chugged hers down after prompting the sleepy teen next to her to do the same.

Just before he was led out of the room by his stylist, Maize hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Remember the plan?"

Cana looked at her seriously, "Yes."

She only nodded seriously before allowing Orion to manhandle her into a simple shift to wear until they arrived at the arena and up onto the roof where a hovercraft would appear to bring them. The moment that Maize is pulled into the futuristic plane a man in a white lab coat -a doctor perhaps- approaches her with a large-looking syringe. Maize doesn't allow any distaste to show on her face as the man injects a tracker into her left forearm. Apparently, it would be used by the Game Makers to keep track of the tributes in the arena.

After Orion makes his way to her side once more, an Avox boy comes in and directs them to a room where breakfast has been laid out. She eats leisurely, enjoying the taste of fresh fruits, smoked hams and cheese. Maize is even fortunate enough to spy more of the mango nutrition shakes she'd become obsessed with. She downs two more before the windows in the room darken as they approach the arena. When the hovercraft lands they are directed to a tube that would lead to the catacombs underneath the arena and lead into her Launch Room, as it was called in the Capitol. She rather preferred the name it was given in the Districts. The Stockyard. A place animals are herded into before they are slaughtered.

She tries not to think about what happened to the arenas after the Games end. Instead of destroying the arenas or abandoning them, they are turned into glorified 'historic sites' where Capitolites can vacation leisurely to. They could visit the catacombs and even reenact the deaths of tributes. It was disgusting. Then again, most things that the esteemed residents of the Capitol liked or celebrated disgusted Maize. She forced herself to focus on other things as she showered and brushed her teeth. It would do her no good to linger on things she couldn't change.

Orion untangles her hair gently before separating her hair into four tight braids and tying it up in a ponytail. When the clothes arrived, they both opened the package curiously before the man helped her into them. Every tribute would be wearing the same thing, and the clothes often reflected what kind of arena it would be. Maize already knew that there would be a dam from her distant memories, so she was assuming that the rest of the arena had to be some sort of forest... maybe even mountain-like.

The brown pants are made of the same stretchy breathing material that the tracksuits she had worn for training were, and she'd been given a black cotton tank top to wear over her sports bra, thick calf-length brown socks to be worn under brown combat boots. The boots themselves while chunky looking were easy to move in and didn't weigh as much as she thought they would, they also had a fair amount of traction on their soles making her whole mountain/woodland theory more plausible. To complete the look she'd been given Orion handed her a cameo jacket that fell down her thigh. The jacket was light and reminded her of a rain jacket but the inside was lined with warmer material... so the nights would probably be colder than the day.

It was the moment that she was finally finished dressing that Orion handed her a small wooden ring that Maize had thought she would never see again. Her Nyanya's death, though years had passed, was still a sore subject for Maize. She had loved the old woman dearly, and despite all the woman's time on earth, they did not have a single picture of her. The only thing that they had left of her was the varnished maple ring that had served as her Nyanya's wedding ring. Baba had given it to her soon after Maize had come out of her healing coma, the whipping she had endured had left her unconscious for two days. She had worn it on her right ring finger every single day... when she'd been forced to undress for the Tribute Parade, Maize had thought that it'd been lost to her forever.

That the ring would just be another causality to the Hunger Games.

A wide smile tugged on the corners of her lips, "Nyanya's ring!" she gasped out, "I thought it had been lost! Thank you, Orion!"

The stylist smiled softly at her, "I thought that you could have it as your District token. Nyanya? Who is that my dear?"

Maize marveled at the small ring in her hand as she slipped it onto her right ring finger, "Nyanya means grandmother in my District. It was all I had left of her, she died during the pox outbreak when my family couldn't afford medication. Thank you so much, Orion! I thought I'd lost it, it was her wedding ring!"

Orion looked perturbed. There was a mixture of pity and concern on his face as well as a good dash of surprise, this was probably the most the man had ever heard her say in one go, "You are welcome my dear."

The P.A. system above announces that the tributes should stand on the circular metal plate located in the center of the room. The Games were about to start. As the glass cylinder began lowering around her, Maize shot the man another soft smile. "Thank you for everything."

A countdown started around her as the cylinder started to rise.

Chapter Text

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventieth Hunger Games Begin!"

The light from the artificial sun was so bright that Maize was blinded for a moment. There was a strong breeze kissing her cheeks carrying the smell of pine, dirt and water with it. She had sixty seconds before the gong would go off and the tributes would be allowed to run. Maize quickly looked left and right, trying to catch a glimpse of Cana. Brown fearful eyes locked onto her hers.

Cana!

The younger teen subtly lifted three fingers to her, Maize smiled before giving him a thumbs up and looking at his version of three o'clock. That was the area he would be running off in.

Thirty seconds to go.

Maize gazed at the prizes lying in and around the giant golden Cornucopia. She ignored the obvious items, containers filled with food, water, medicine and more, and instead looked at the items strewn across the lawn. There were a couple of backpacks that Maize could grab on her way towards meeting Cana, she ignored the obvious trap left to her by the Game Makers in the center of the Cornucopia. She was not getting caught up in the bloodbath and killed by the Career Pack just for a bō staff.

No.

Maize would make her own.

Ten seconds.

She stretched her limbs before getting into a runner's pose. Her destination already locked in the back of her mind as Maize readied herself for the gong.

The sound of cannon fires above her, but Maize doesn't pay it any attention as she sprinted to the first pack, barely even stopping as she snagged it with her right hand and pulled it onto her back before reaching down once more to grab the next one. Screams have already begun to fill the air. She does the only thing she can do in this moment. Ignore it. Cana's back had already disappeared into the foliage and so would she.

A body crashed into her's causing the both of them to tumble onto the ground from the momentum, she pressed her knee up into the other's groin before striking up into the neck of the District 6 boy's tribute and clapping her palms over the teen's ears in an attempt to disorient him. The fifteen-year-old groaned as he stumbled off her, Maize shimmied backward grabbing the pack she'd dropped before kicking the teen in the nose causing red blood to spurt from his nostrils.

Maize quickly took off into a run once more, only pausing to look back once she had cover in the foliage. While the teen had been attending to his nose, the District 1 female had come up behind him and slit his throat. Maize needed to put the teen's death out of her mind for now, she had a District partner to find and protect.

She ran once more for another three minutes in the direction that Cana had signaled her to go in before catching her breath to look at the ground and surroundings around her to pick up his track. The screams from the Cornucopia could no longer be heard, and Maize was internally grateful for the reprieve. There! Maize crouched to look at the boot-shaped mark in the ground, she followed the trail until it came to a stop in front of a tree. She let out a low inquisitive whistle that everyone from 11 knew meant 'are you there?' Maize only had to wait a brief second for the 'I'm here!' response.

A relieved smile tugged onto the corners of her lips before she began to expertly climb up. More than halfway up the tree, perched on a thick sturdy branch hidden by the leaves of the tree sat Cana, he was hugging the thick trunk in front of him.

Maize joined him by pulling herself up on the branch closest to him, "Hey." she whispered, "You okay."

The younger teen was pressing his forehead into the bark of the tree, his eyes shut as a small tremor worked throughout his body, "No." he croaked back in a quiet voice before adding. "I'm so glad you're not dead."

"Me too." Maize bit her bottom lip in concern, not knowing how to help her terrified District partner before deciding that getting busy would be more productive of their time and might even help Cana keep his mind off the blood bath occurring at the Cornucopia.

She had clipped the second pack she'd grabbed onto the first one before beginning the climb up the tree, now unclipping it she pulled it in front of her to inspect its content. A thin blanket that reflected body heat laid on the top- hiding underneath what looked like coiled up rope, underneath that was a pack of jerky and crackers, matches, a bottle of iodine, and an empty flask for water. The side pocket of the pack had a nicely hidden set of throwing knives that she knew between the two of them would be put to good use. She carefully pulled the rope out before handing it to Cana. Maize wasn't sure when the teen had snapped out of his panicked state, but she was glad to have curious and determined brown eyes locking with hers once more.

"Tie yourself to the tree, we'll be here for a while." she murmured.

Cana simply nodded, doing as she instructed before gesturing to the pack in her arms. Maize handed it to him wordlessly, before shrugging off the other pack from her back to rift through its content. There was more climbing gear in the pack, so she immediately used it to tie herself onto the tree before turning to the pack once more. There was another empty flask for water some dried fruits and an assortment of nuts, a thermal blanket, some fingerless gloves, a small sewing kit, some water purifying tablets, and a large knife that Maize was going to use to carve herself a bō staff.

Overall, Maize was rather pleased with their haul. They would stay up in the tree for another hour or so before venturing down in search of water, after all, it was the only thing that hadn't been provided and the one thing that they absoluetely couldn't live without.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The cannon fire was loud and deafening above them. Each one signaling the death of a tribute. They usually went off immediately when a tribute fell, the only time it didn't was during the blood bath because the body count was so high and often confusing. Maize counted thirteen cannon shots. Thirteen teenagers dead at the hands of one another. That meant that there were eleven more tributes still living.

A terrified scream filled the air before it was cut short.

Chapter Text

BOOM.

Ten tributes left.

Cana looked at her nervously as he opened his mouth. Maize simply pressed her index finger to her lips in the universal sign for 'QUIET,' that scream had sounded too close for comfort. Raucous laughter could be heard below them as this year's Career Pack trumped through the foliage without care.

"Did you see his face!" the District 1 boy crowed, making the others burst out into laughter once more.

"Oh no! Please don't! Ahhhh!" the female from 2 mocked.

Laughter wafted up to their ears from below as the tributes continued on their blood-lust-filled trek. This year the Career Pack only contained the tributes from 1 and 2, Maize had overheard the cruel jeers and pain-filled promises that they would bestow upon the District 4 tributes if they encountered them. In the recesses of her mind, she hoped that the bloodthirsty Pack wouldn't catch Cresta or her younger District partner.

Maize and Cana were silent, hidden in the canopies of the trees, and even after the Career Pack was long gone they stayed silent. It wasn't until Cana kissed his palm before making a fist and rubbed it gingerly on his chest over his heart that Maize felt tears burn behind her eyes. Maize copied her District partner.

It was a gesture that members from their District used to express their grief for fallen family members, and it was something that they did during the cremation process. A last 'kiss' goodbye before promising to guard them in their hearts.

"Cana..." she whispered, her voice choked up, "It's my fault someone died in the bloodbath."

Her confession felt heavy and liberating all at once.

"You made it here." Cana spoke back softly, "You kept your promise. Thank you."

She simply nodded. It didn't really help alleviate much of the guilt, a teenager was dead, but it made her feel better that Cana was relieved to have her by him. Maize breathed in deeply. Cana was the most important person to her now and until the Games ended or she died. Whatever came first.

"We have to find water, don't we?" Cana whispered.

Maize nodded, "We'll have to look for animal tracks in the morning. There has to be a stream somewhere down here below the dam for wildlife to survive."

The younger teen simply nodded, "Are we bunking here for the night?"

"Yeah." she whispered back, "We'll leave at dawn."

Morning came faster than Maize would have wanted. She and Cana had taken turns sleeping throughout the night, neither one fully trusting their environment and the other tributes roaming around in the dark. It didn't help that two more cannons went off during the night -eight tributes left, six not including herself and Cana- before three of the Career Pack members trudged underneath their tree and back towards the Cornucopia.

It looked like one of them had fallen. They were even more bloodthirsty now. Plus the Death Recap that started when evening first set in hadn't done anything to ease their nerves either.

-Cresta and her District partner had still been alive then. Maize wouldn't know anything until the next recap.-

The tributes from 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 died either during the bloodbath or soon after. All that life. Just gone. Maize internally prayed for them and their families. That left the Career Pack -minus their one missing member- and the tributes from 4 or from 10. She wasn't sure which group had lost a member since the cannon went off in the morning, which meant Maize wouldn't know which tribute had passed until nightfall.

The moment Maize had spotted the artificial sunrise on the horizon of the arena she had gently shaken Cana awake. They had carefully put away the goods they'd used during the night -the thermal blankets had definitely come in handy the night before when the temperature had dropped- before untying themselves from the tree, storing the rope away for later use, and carefully climbing down.

The moment that they touched the ground Maize was quickly scanning their surroundings while Cana looked for animal tracks on the forest floor. Maize allowed herself to be tugged by her District partner when he spotted a trail, but kept herself from relaxing, grasping the large knife she'd found in her pack tightly in her hand.

Cana had found a rabbit's trail that led to the small animal's burrow, but not water, much to the boy's disappointment. Maize, on the other hand, was pleased with his find either way when she found the rabbit's defenseless sleeping babies inside. Food was food. She quickly snapped the necks of the baby rabbits while Cana guarded her back. He was rather squeamish about it, and Maize wasn't... it wasn't the first time she'd had to snap the neck of animal for food, images of the rare chickens her mother instructed her to kill for dinner dancing in her memories. They weren't going to eat the rabbits now. Instead, she stashed two of the rabbits into Cana's pack and one in her own before pulling out some of the jerky and dried fruit.

They would eat a portion of their supplies as they walked through the forest in search of water. Maize did not want to start a fire so close to where the cornucopia was. They'd been walking for around an hour when they heard the first signs of life other than them. Maize had quietly, at least she hoped she was considering how hard her heart was pounding behind her chest, dragged a compliant Cana behind a tree as a delirious-looking Annie Cresta stumbled out of the foliage.

Alone.

The teen looked nothing like she had before the Games started. Her face was blank, but her eyes were manic and crazed. Blood was splattered on her face and clothes, but Annie didn't really seem to notice it as she walked without meaning. Maize pressed her eyes closed for a moment as grief for Cresta's younger District partner, the small thirteen-year-old with blond hair and a bright smile, flashed through her mind. Cana gripped his own knife, looking ready to strike the girl himself out of fear. Maize was quick to press a gentle hand on his forearm and lower the knife before shaking her head at his questioning look.

Annie Cresta wasn't a danger to them.

"Waverly. Waverly's lost. Gotta find..." the female tribute for 4 mumbled under her breath as she continued to stumble away from them.

The girl had already been lost to the Hunger Games.

Chapter Text

Maize quietly led Cana away from the direction Annie Cresta had been ambling towards, not caring that it meant they would have to find another trail to follow. She ignored his meaningful glances as she picked up a stong-looking branch from the ground and began to peel off the bark with her knife. The moment that Cana felt they were far away enough to talk he opened his mouth.

"Why?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"I'm making a bō staff." she stated bluntly, purposefully ignoring the real question he was asking.

Cana huffed, "Not that. I already knew that. I mean why did you let her go?"

Maize hesitated for a moment before deciding to just be honest with the younger teen, "Waverly is- was the name of Annie's District partner. He's younger than you. Or was, I guess. I think he must have been one of the cannons we heard last night."

The fourteen-year-old nodded carefully, "Okay. So, we let her go because..."

"She's grieving Cana. She's walking wounded. Cresta's not a danger to anyone anymore." Maize's voice had a finality to it.

An end to her District partner's questions.

Walking wounded was a colloquial term that they used to describe people in their District that had nothing to live for anymore... they were just moving around and working because it was routine. No one was ever really surprised to find them hanging in the deeper parts of the orchard if they'd been missing for a few days.

The only person that Annie could harm was herself at this point. 

And that was if she came out of her denial over Waverly's death. Maize didn't think that the Game Makers or the Capitol for that manner would be patient enough for the redhead to come to terms with the grieving process before the dam broke.

"I understand." Cana whispered back in a soft and understanding manner. Back home, everyone knew someone who was a walking wounded. She knew that Cana would understand.

They kept walking.

It took roughly another hour before they finally found a small stream. Based on the mud around the stream the only visitors to the area had been animals and not any other tributes, which made the knot that had tightened behind her chest unwind somewhat. They were quick to fill up their bottles and drop in the water cleansing tablets to do their job. Maize sat down on smoothed boulder as she continued to carve out her bō staff while Cana built some small unnoticeable traps in the foliage to act as a warning system around their perimeter.

Despite knowing how all of this would end, Maize did not have a set time limit for when exactly the dam would break. She knew that the longest that the Game would last was approximately five days. After all, there wasn't going to be a lot of bloodshed anymore with the small number of tributes left... and it would be like finding a needle in a haystack at this point for all of them to find each other without the Game Makers interfering and pushing them together. The smallest amount of time would be about three days...

And considering that it was already mid-day during their second day in this miserable arena, Maize was feeling more than a little antsy. She wasn't a lucky person. Maize didn't think that she would be getting away without directly shedding blood herself.

As soon as she finished the staff, Maize unzipped her pack and pulled out the baby rabbit they had caught earlier and started to gut and skin the animal. Cana began to build a very small fire on the dry sandbank using only dry wood from a tree that had fallen two yards away from the stream, he started off by using some dried-out twigs that he lit with one of their matches before building a teepee shape with his collected logs to promote airflow and decrease the likely-hood of leaving a smoke trail indicating their location to anyone watching the skies.

The rabbit took only twenty minutes to finish cooking, considering how small it was, and was nicely filling. By that point, the water had finished being cleansed and the both of them took careful sips of the cool liquid, not wanting to throw it up because they drank too fast, until it was all gone.

This time Maize made their little area disappear, leaving no trace that she and Cana had used the stream as a rest stop, while her District partner refilled their canisters and plopped another water cleansing tablet inside of them. They would not be making camp near the stream, after all, if they found the stream it was likely that someone else would encounter it as well, and they would probably never return to it. She wanted to continue to get as far away from the dam as possible. This time she chose the direction that they would be taking, south from the dam, before they once more began trekking through the forest, only stopping when one of them needed to use the restroom.

The sound of two cannons firing in the distance made them pause as they looked at one another anxiously. Two more tributes dead. Six tributes left. The Career Pack was probably going to be splitting up about now. She knew that Annie wasn't one of those cannons, she could only hope that it meant two more of the Career Pack was dead, but the more logical explanation was that the tributes for 10 were dead now.

She was barely able to convince Cana to continue climbing up the hill they were scaling with the promise that they would be resting for the night in a tree above. The arena was like a valley with the cornucopia located in the lowest part of the valley. Maize didn't know much about dams, but she had loved everything about the ocean during her first life.

-She's been studying to become a marine biologist but had even debated becoming an oceanographer before she'd eventually decided that wanted to work with marine life more... The ocean was probably what she still missed the most about her first life.-

The best place to be when a tsunami warning has been issued was above high ground and at least ten miles away from the coastline. They were already about fifteen-sixteen miles away from the dam. Even then Maize did not feel very confident with the distance between them and the impending flood.

After all, this wasn't going to be a natural event, this would be an induced "tragedy" by the Game Makers. Who knows how many gallons of water they are going to drop onto the tributes, they were sadistic enough to not even give a fuck about the laws of nature -or common sense- and just flood the whole arena anyway when the dam breaks. Maize was still inwardly planning on climbing the tallest tree on hand the moment she heard the dam crack.

The moment that they reached the top of the hill, they took a quick water break, Cana had been quietly pleading her for over an hour already, before scaling a sturdy-looking tree and tying themselves to the trunk for the night. It wasn't too difficult to convince Cana to break open the last of their dried food for dinner tonight. They ate in companionable silence as they got themselves comfortable before they began to drift off into Morpheus' realm.

The peace was only briefly interrupted at what she assumed was midnight for the Death Recap: Waverly's young face was projected onto the false sky first before both of the tributes from 10 grace the screens. Maize inwardly prayed that their deaths weren't painful and that they were in a better place as she subtly kissed her palm and rubbed her fist over her chest.

.

.

.

Maize bit her lip to the point where it bled, as she muffled the broken sobs from escaping her lips and alerting the last two remaining members of the Career Pack where she was. She clutched Cana's bloody District token in her hand, its weight leaving an imprint in the palm of her hand. Either way, she wept.

Chapter Text

"Psst." an annoying sound hissed quietly making Maize frown in her sleep, "Maize, mavi, wake up. I really have to pee."

She groaned softly in annoyance before blearily cracking her eyes open to glare at Cana through her eyelashes, "Really Cana? I told you to do your business before we scaled the tree."

Cana looked at her sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck before whispering back, "I drank too much water. Are you coming down to watch my back or not?"

Maize sighed before stretching out her limbs languidly, "You know I am, dummy. And watch your mouth, no one needs to hear that kind of language when they are half asleep..." she half-grumbled as they both untied themselves from the tree and their respective branches, Maize made sure that her knife was strapped to her leg before beginning to climb down.

At the bottom of the tree, she had hidden her newly carved bō staff underneath leaves and other similarly colored roots. She gingerly lifted it up with her foot, the palm of her hand lightly smacking against the wood as she gripped it confidently. Cana only rolled his eyes at her fondly before leading the way. They never did their business at the base of their 'home tree.'

Not only would it be gross -and possibly unsanitary- but the smell could possibly attract people or animals to where they were sleeping. Instead, they took a five-minute walk in whatever direction the person who needed to go wants. So in the end, Maize guarded Cana's back as he urinated on a tree. It was awkward at first but it was better than the alternative of one of them being literally caught with their pants down by a bloodthirsty tribute.

"Done." he whispered as he pulled up his zipper and they quietly began to make the walk back.

They were two minutes away from their tree when everything went to hell. Suddenly leaves were loudly being crunched as the sound of beating footsteps made their way towards them. A deep battle cry poured out of the mouth of the boy from District 2 as he wielded a heavy-looking sword over his head in the direction of Cana's vulnerable neck.

"Cana!" his name is ripped out of her throat as she managed to shove him slightly to the side... but Maize isn't able to prevent her District partner from taking some of the blow as blood spurted from a new gash in Cana's side. The fourteen-year-old let out an anguished cry, but Maize couldn't afford to keep her eyes off the older teen in front of her.

At seventeen-years-old, Tiberius Shimmer was a huge bulky mass of muscle... who had probably been bred for the Hunger Games since it was often seen as an honor for the tributes from District 2 to attend and volunteer for the Games.

His eyes were wild and cruel as he swung his sword once more in Cana's direction. Maize whacked his leading forearm with her bō before jabbing him in the center of his chest and neck in quick succession. While he gasped for air she smacked him as hard as she could across his head, ignoring the horrible sounding crack as Tiberius stumbled to the ground, before whacking him again in the same spot before he could defend himself and then once across his windpipe for good measure.

BOOM.

A cannon fires above their heads.

His chest wasn't moving.

Maize had just killed someone.

She wants to scream. To yank at her hair until she has clumpfuls in her hands- but Maize doesn't have any time to contemplate it before she begins to hear the sounds of feminine shouts in the distance. It seems that the Career Pack hadn't quite split up yet and the female members were now heading in their direction. She turned to Cana who was pale from blood loss and began tugging his uninjured arm. They needed to leave the scene of the murd- they needed to go now before the others found them.

"Move." Maize whispered with panicked urgency, in her left hand she held her bō while her left pulled Cana along before coming to a thicket that would cover both of their bodies and began pushing Cana down first before crawling under beside him. The thicket was like a small cave made out of a dense group of bushes and two small trees where the ground underneath the foliage was hollowed out, kind of like a makeshift trench or small borrow.

Cana was panting beside her as he made a small pained sound, "Kutomba, it hurts." he hissed, cursing at his pain.

"Let me see?" she demanded as she gently tugged onto his hoodie to get a look at the wound. It was deep. And it looked like Tiberius had cut through the muscle of Cana's shoulder. Tears were freely streaming down the younger teen's face. He was in pain, and she couldn't do anything about it. Maize helped him pull off the rest of his sweater before ripping off the torn sleeve and putting it to the side for now and using the rest of the fabric to press down onto the wound despite Cana's pained groans in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

-"It's not going to work. Blood loss will kill him before the infection even sets in. You don't have the supplies necessary to help him." a voice that sounded suspiciously like her Auntie Calla whispered in her mind. She resolutely ignored it.-

"Inauma..." he whispered in pain, "Hurts too much."

"Shhh, it's going to be okay." she hushed him, trying to calm him down.

He grabbed her hand firmly. "No Maize it's not going to be okay."

-The words echoed around in her mind, reminding her of the outburst Cana had on the train when they first pulled into the Capitol.-

"Shut up. That's not an option." she said firmly, ignoring the burning behind her eyes and the tightness in her throat.

A small sob escaped from Cana's throat, "Maize please." he implored her, "I'm not gonna make it, I can feel it..."

"No, no, no nononono. It's okay, I'm not going to let you-"

Cana lifted the leather necklace from around his neck and placed it in her hand. His District token was a necklace with a small wooden charm in the shape of a star. It was his mother's. "Give it back to her for me." he pleaded softly, all the fight gone from his voice.

Maize had to swallow her tongue to keep a shrill distressed scream from escaping her throat, "Give it to your mama yourself." she protested weakly, as she caressed the dying boy's cheek to wipe away his falling tears.

He snorted, a wet pained giggle escaping from his bloody lips before it turned into a small cough. "Don't give up. You gotta wi-"

"Cana?" she whispered softly as tears streamed down her face.

BOOM.

"Nononononononono." Maize clutched Cana's still body to her chest, "Usiende!" she pleaded. "Please don't go."

Cana's brown eyes were staring blankly up at her, his face left in a permanent expression of pain and hope with his death.

Nononononononononononono.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She was supposed to save him.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" a female voice shrieked, "Tiberius!"

Maize would hear the hovercraft arriving to take the bodies of Cana and Tiberius. She had to leave before the crane lowered to take Cana away or it would give her hiding place away to the remaining two members of the Career Pack. But she didn't want to leave. She didn't want to leave Cana alone. He deserved more than that. She gently shut his eyes before pressing a watery kiss on his still warm forehead.

"Requiescat en pace my dear friend." she whimpered into his temple, quickly pressing another kiss to his head before laying him down gently on the ground and bringing Cana's token to her lips kissing it gently before fisting it roughly in her hand and rubbing her fist on her chest in grief. Goodbye.

She ran out of the thicket as the crane lowered.

"There!" she heard a shout in the distance as the sound of pounding footsteps approached her location.

Maize bolted from her spot before running towards a group of tightly packed trees and began to climb desperately. She bit her lip to the point where it bled, muffling the broken sobs that wanted to escape from her lips as the crane began to lift the corpse of her District partner in the air and the last two remaining members of the Career Pack appeared below. She clutched Cana's bloody District token in her hand, its weight leaving an imprint in the palm of her hand.

Chapter Text

The sun had risen an hour ago. Maize couldn't find it in her to move. She sat listlessly in the same tree she'd been sitting in since the hovercraft had collected Cana's body. The two remaining members of the Career Pack had killed one another after breaking out into an argument over the death of Tiberius.

It was just Maize and Annie left in the arena. She wasn't planning on killing the redhead. Hell, she wasn't planning on doing anything. Maize didn't want to move. She didn't think she even could.

Cana's pain-filled expression and groans of pain kept looping constantly in her mind.

Cana was dead.

He was never going to wake up again. Cana was never going to smile shyly down at her or request another chocolate shake. Cana was never going to join in the work song while tending to the groves. Cana was never going to see his mama again. Cana was never going to his sisters and brother again. Cana was never going to go home. Cana would never live this life again.

Cana was gone.

Gone.

Gone.

Gone.

Gonegonegonegone.

Maize pressed her eyes closed as another bout of sobs shook her frame. She was supposed to protect him, she was supposed to make sure that he got home! He wasn't supposed to die! He wasn't supposed to get struck by Tiberius's sword. TIBERIUS! She'd killed him too. Tiberius may have been from 2, a part of the Career Pack, but he was just a teenager. Someone with a family. A family that would never see their son again because of her.

She climbed down the tree with shaky legs, before stumbling in the direction where she had killed Tiberius. His body was long gone, but blood still decorated the ground where the fight had occurred. Most of it was probably Cana's, poor Cana why hadn't he moved out of the way faster- why hadn't she covered his body with her own. Maize kneeled down by the patch of blood. He was really gone. Once more she displayed her grief by kissing her palm before balling her hand up into a fist and rubbing it over her heart.

"I'm sorry Tiberius." Maize whispered before sniffling morosely, "I- You- I didn't want to- You hurt Cana... and Cana's dead." she whimpered as tears streamed down her face, "I'm sorry. So-so sorry. Just trying to live too."

The smell of the earth and the metallic tinge of blood filled her nostrils as she pressed her face to the ground morosely. She wasn't sure exactly when she had face-planted into the ground as her sobs shook her entire frame, but she couldn't really be bothered. In her grief, Maize had even momentarily forgotten that she was being watched, that her entire breakdown was being televised for all of Panem to see.

A bitter quiet part of her mind wanted to laugh at the Capitolites watching the screens, they had to be bored out of their minds now that the last two remaining tributes had gone off the deep. Was this why they broke the dam the first time around? Were they tired of waiting for the loony tributes to kill each other?

Turning her face a little so that she could breathe properly, Maize startled before turning her head completely to the side where a pinging sound was ringing in the air. A small parachute landed close by. Maize sat up and half-heartedly pulled the parachute with the silver-looking container attached to it closer to her. It looked a bit like a thermos, although it was larger and more similar to the size of a small metallic lunch box- except that it hissed when she opened it.

"Don't give up. Eat. He wouldn't want to see you this way. -Seeder" was written on a small white card at the top, a small water bottle and a grilled cheese sandwich had been delicately packed inside. Her stomach roared with hunger and her throat suddenly felt parched. Maize pressed her cracked lips together before deciding to take a sip of the cool water being provided by her Mentor.

She'd forgotten really, that Seeder and Chaff were watching her.

That they wanted her to survive.

That Seeder believed in her.

Her hands shook as she picked up the grilled cheese and took a tentative bite. It was good. Her eyes burned again with tears, but Maize wasn't going to cry anymore. Her baba and mama were probably watching. Amla. She was glad that she had volunteered in her cousin's place. Her cousin was too gentle for a place like this, it would have killed her. Maize hoped that the baby would be born healthy. God, she prayed that her parents had done as she asked and not let Birch and the others watch the Games...

It was sad. Terribly so. That even with so many people watching and counting on her to come home, the grilled cheese sandwich filling her belly felt like a last meal.

She drank the remaining water with gusto after chewing the last morsel of sandwich before shakily standing up. Her legs had unfortunately fallen asleep, so she had to deal with the annoying prickling under her skin as she walked. Maize patted the zipped-up pocket where she had hidden Cana's token for safekeeping to double-check that it was still on her. It was. Maize wasn't going to be trying too hard to survive, but she wouldn't let her family see her just wither away on the screen either. Seeder didn't deserve to watch her tribute just give-

The ground shook menacingly.

~CR~A~CK~

Maize's head whipped around to look at where the dam was, her eyes grew large with fear as adrenaline pumped throughout her body. Water was flooding at an alarming rate towards her. Maize bolted in the opposite direction before scaling the first tall and sturdy tree she could find. She climbed and climbed until her weight couldn't be supported anymore, not that it mattered much as the wave hit her tree with a fury. Coldwater crashed into her back, leaving bruises and scrapes behind. The tree held strong for a moment before it was uprooted and began to be carried by the wave.

She gripped the bark with all of her strength before the wave caused her to crash with another still-rooted tree and dislodged her. Her lips were pressed shut as Maize became completely submerged under the freezing water. She fought with the strong current to poke her head up to the surface, air-filled her lungs with a loud desperate gasp as Maize struggled to tread water with such strong currents and debris underneath her.

"Ahhhh!" she screamed in pain, accidentally gargling water when she opened her mouth in pain when a part of the deadwood in the water punctured her side. Red blood surrounded her in the water as she was pulled under once more. Water was filling her open mouth and choking her, but Maize was able to break the surface once more, coughing and gasping for air. She needed to keep swimming. The cold was making her whole body feel numb. A tree that had been uprooted by the flood floated by her and she made a last-ditch effort to hang onto it. Groaning in effort and pain she tried to haul the top half of her body over it.

BOOM.

The tree hit debris harshly throwing her off and back under the water. Maize could barely keep her eyes open under the water, not that it helped her much as a branch hit her in the back of her head and she began to lose consciousness. Water filled her lungs painfully. The water burning her insides as it froze her out.

The whole world was muffled around her.

The last waking thought she had was relief that it was all over. She was dead.

Above the water, the host for the Hunger Games announced the winner.

Chapter Text

One moment she wasn't and the next she was.

And wasn't that the most jolting and terrifying thing that she had ever realized.

A purple-tinted nurse smiled widely –fakedangerous- at her, "She's awake!" the woman announced.

Maize Galloshire was alive.

Nonononononononononononono.

Someone was screaming. It was a high-pitched ugly thing. The sound an animal made when it was mortally injured and dying.

"Sedate her!"

Someone was attacking her face, nails biting into her cheeks, no doubt drawing blood from how much it stung. Hands grabbed at her, trying to restrain her flailing limbs. The screaming sounded more desperate now, shrill and unforgiving.

Nonononononononononononono.

A man in white jabbed her in the leg. Injecting her with something. The screaming was tapering down and Maize's throat burned something awful.

-Ah. It was Maize. She was screaming.-

The world turned black.

The second time Maize woke up she was restrained. It didn't go much better than the first time around and would have probably been worse if Seeder hadn't been there beside her.

Maize wailed.

At times almost choking on her tears as she mourned. Mourned for Cana. Mourned for Annie Cresta who wasn't supposed to drown. Mourned for all of the tributes that had died in the arena. Mourned for all the tributes who had ever died because of the Hunger Games -Aloe's young face blurred across her vision- and those that would in the future. She mourned for Seeder and Chaff. Maize mourned for Finnick Odair. Mourned for all of the so-called Victors of the Games.

Maize mourned for herself.

They sedated her again.

The third time was the charm.

She woke up feeling numb.

Her eyes were crusty with its unnatural sleep, and she'd blinked languidly before staring up at the white ceiling. The room was bare of personality and lacked any visible windows or doors while smelling strongly of antiseptic. Maize was probably in a recovery room. She was naked underneath the silky sheets covering her frame, her right arm had an IV inserted into the crook of her cubital in the most visible vein. Her side, where she'd been stuck with debris still ached something awful and the skin surrounding the wound was puckered under her gentle fingertips. With her left hand, she pressed her palm to her eyes.

Maize would not cry again.

-At least not right now.-

But it did not mean that she wasn't tired or even morbidly displeased with her apparent survival.

A male Avox entered the room when a portion of the wall slid open, holding a small tray of food in his hands before placing it on her lap and pushing a button on the bed to raise her into a sitting position. Just as silently as he had appeared he disappeared, the door shut silently behind him. Maize looked down at her lap to find a creamy-looking bowl of tomato soup and a small plate with mango slices on the side.

Mechanically she ate the soup, spoon by spoon, until it was all gone. The mango was sweet and juicy, leaving trails of sticky yellow fluid to drip down her fingers and onto her hand. When all the slices disappeared, she licked the juice from her hand in a manner that Maize was sure would make Goldie cringe. Absently, she thinks of Seeder. Maize may have been somewhat out of it earlier, but she knew for a fact that her mentor had been by her side when she'd previously woken up. She could practically feel the shadow of the woman's gentle hands on her skin as she caressed Maize's face and rubbed her back while she sobbed.

Her hand was bare.

Panic filled Maize's body. Where was her ring? Where was her Nyanya's wedding ring? Where was Cana's token? She had to bring it back home! A scream was building up in her throat as Maize breathed in and out harshly as if she'd been running for miles without pause. The world was darkening around the edges of her vision once more.

When she woke up again, it is to the frustrating knowledge that they kept sedating her whenever she displayed any form of emotion. As if to punish the newest Victor for being human. Victor. God, she was a Victor. The Games were over. Maize would go home. She would be enveloped in the arms of her baba and mama. She would hold Birch, Piper & Brier, Hibis, Lilac and her infant twin brothers in her arms once more. Amla would throw her skinny arms around Maize's waist in a hug. Life would go on.

Except that in a way, it wouldn't.

Cana would never go home.

Cana would never be embraced by his mother or his sisters.

Cana would never play with his brothers again.

Cana was gone.

Maize was also gone. The girl that had been taken from her District was gone and in exchange, a broken individual wearing her face would come back.

When the same male Avox came in once more she numbly ate the food before once more sinking into the welcomed oblivion of the drugs being pumped into her arm. The next couple of days followed the same pattern. Wake, eat, sleep. Until she woke up to find that the needle that had been housed in her elbow crease was now gone. Her skin was strangely clear of any imperfections that had been gathered over the years- with a smoothness reminiscent to that of a newborn babe's. Her side didn't bare any marking from where the debris had ripped through her, and her hair fell into perfect little silken curls around her face like a curtain. There, at the end of the bed was a replica of the outfit she'd worn in the arena. Free of tares, dirt, and blood that had clung to her during those last hours.

She stared at it blankly before standing, her legs surprisingly strong under her, not caring that Maize was now completely naked in the room. All of Panem could be watching her right now and she wouldn't give a single flying fuck. Her hand was already grabbing the jacket before she even consciously thought of getting it before nimble fingers unzipped the pockets. There!

Like a marionette with its strings cut, Maize sank to the floor in relief.

She clutched the wooden star bound to a thin leather band in her hand along with her Nyanya's ring. Maize shakily slipped the ring onto her right index finger before lifting the necklace over her head and letting it fall onto her collarbone.

She would wear it at all times until she could personally give it Cana's mama.

Standing up once more she pulled on the underwear that'd been laid out before letting the uniform mold onto her body like armor, zipping up the hoodie all the way like a shield. The wall-door slid open and Maize walked out unafraid for the first time in what felt like a long, long time.

Chapter Text

Maize stepped out into a deserted hall that only went in one direction. Her clothed feet moved quietly against the marble floor, aimlessly making her way down the hall until she arrived in front of a big chamber at the end of the hall.

She could see this world's version of the paparazzi swarming the room in addition to her Mentors, escort, and stylists. Maize stopped for a moment at the edge, none of them had spotted her yet, to observe. Chaff was charming a Capitolite with a camera while Seeder stood proudly at his side. Goldie was flittering around in excitement with Tesoro, Yurida, and Circo as they all puffed their chests with self-importance. Orion was having his hand shaken by an enthusiastically dressed woman, most likely congratulating him on his elegant designs.

The moment she gathered up her nerves and stepped out of the hall, the cameras would be on her and Maize would never go back to a time before becoming a Victor. To being just Maize. She would be forever marked by the Hunger Games spiritually as she was physically.

A part of Maize wanted to stay in that hall forever. To be permanently on the cusp of- but Maize also knew that it was impossible. She couldn't freeze time to the moment... nor did Maize really want to. What she really wanted was for this all to be over. To go home.

None of that would happen if Maize didn't move.

So she did. 

"Seeder!" Maize shouted, her voice taking on a tinge of hope and sheer gratitude just to be in the woman's presence, "Chaff!"

And there went her element of surprise.

Seeder's smile was wide and genuine on her lips when she turned to look at her and Maize found herself practically flying to get into the woman's arms. Her arms wrapped tightly around the woman, the older Victor returning the gesture with just as much force as the chamber exploded into noise. A genuine smile tugged onto the corners of Maize's lips, despite the nauseating artificial smells that the Capitol preferred, Seeder still smelled like home.

"I'm so proud of you, mtoto. Go now, Orion will take care of you." the woman murmured softly into her ear, the sweet endearment for a child almost made Maize want to cry. Almost. Before long she was being led by Orion out of the chamber and into the tribute elevator to the eleventh floor.

Her stylist crew was quick to lead her into the dining room where a small feast had been laid out. She picked gingerly at the lamb and hearty potatoes but did end up tearfully downing the mango nutrition shake, before being led back into 'her' room by the prep team. Circo, Tesoro, and Yurida made small talk as they prepped her for Orion and the event that was to follow. She learned that the medical team that'd attended to her had completed a procedure called the 'full body polish' and now there wasn't a single 'flaw' left on her skin.

That included her back.

The once-raised scars from her whipping were just gone... as if they had never marked her skin to begin with. Maize had lost some weight during her three days in the arena, but even then, she didn't look nearly as bad as she had when she first arrived in the Capitol.

The prep team was quick as they bathed her, worked on her hair, nails, and makeup. They didn't even have to get rid of any 'unwanted' body hair either, another thing done unwillingly to her unconscious body while she was down in medical. Yurida explained at her prompt that it was an advanced form of laser hair removal that would prevent any hair floccules from growing in the applied areas again.

Maize was annoyed that she would never grow back leg or armpit hair again if she wanted to... but was eternally grateful that they had more-or-less left her bush alone. It shouldn't have bothered her as much as it did, it was just freaking hair, but... it made Maize want to scream. It was just simply yet another choice taken from her by the Capitol.

Orion walked in chirpily with a dress thrown over his shoulder as the prep team finished. The dress was a beautiful pale sage color with lace around the bodice and sleeves that came below her shoulders. Pretty beaded patterns in the form of flowers and greenery covered the bodice, while the skirt was flowy and modest coming down to her mid-calf. She wore some plain silver heels showing off her painted toenails, and her hair was pulled into intricate little braids around her head like a headband and was decorated with tiny flowers between strands. Her jewelry followed the same modest but beautiful pattern and her makeup wasn't over the top and simple compared to what she had worn during her interview.

The dress made her look and feel somewhat like she was just Maize again. It did not reveal her skin or make her uncomfortable. It made her look like the teenager she was, rather than the 'sexy goddess' that had made the Capitol's eyes look upon her. She'd been quick to shoot Orion a grateful look and was simply given a knowing one in return. Orion had quickly realized that despite her false smiles and platitudes that Maize preferred a simpler and more elegant look that revealed little to no skin rather than the more scandalous looks that the Capitol embraced.

The stylists declared her 'finished,' and Maize was once more led to the tribute elevator where she was reunited with her Mentors and an enthusiastic Goldie. "Oh, darling! You look radiant!" the escort had crowed when the trio had gotten their first look at her.

Seeder had simply taken Maize's hand in her own with a gentle smile while Chaff grinned widely as the elevator began to move. It was customary for the Victor of the Games to rise from beneath the stage with their support team. The prep team would exit the elevator first followed by Goldie and then Orion, her Mentors, and then finally herself.

Even before the elevator doors opened, Maize could hear the raucous cheering of the crowds echoing all around her loudly. Goldie and her prep team were already peacocking in importance as they allowed wide pompous grins to paint across their faces, even Orion looked ready to bask in the 'glory' of the moment.

The anthem boomed across the speakers before Caesar Flickerman started to greet the impatient audience. The elevator doors opened and the prep team stepped out as they were introduced one-by-one, making the crowd break out into applause once more. Goldie was then introduced, to the woman's eternal joy, followed by Orion who was welcomed with booming cheers by the enraptured audience. Seeder gave her hand one more comforting squeeze before she and Chaff took the stage, the crowd went wild for about five minutes as the Capitolites lavished their Victors with praise.

It was time. She breathed in.

"Now our Victor for the 70th Hunger Games, Maize Galloshire!"

Maize breathed out.

Chapter Text

The cheers for her team are nothing compared to the screams Maize receives when she walked out onto the stage.

Despite the dread clinging to her back, she smiled warmly at the crowd- giving a small wave towards the audience as Caesar came to her side and offered his arm like a gentleman before leading her to the ornate chair-like throne that she would be occupying during the rest of the show. For the next three hours, she would be forced to relive -in her opinion- the worst moments of the Hunger Games. The highlights of the Games usually depended on the winner, but the most important parts were generally the death recaps of each fallen tribute.

It was almost like a spit on the face of the grieving families. To have to relive the death of their child once more for the Capitol's entertainment. But... Maize inwardly acknowledged that this wasn't the time to contemplate that. Not when she was still performing for the Capitol and had at least five cameras fixed on her face.

"My dear, how does it feel to be the Victor for this year's Hunger Games?" Caesar asked her joyfully, his neon yellow eyebrows waggling in delight.

Maize smiled gently at him, hiding the disgust she felt not only for the Hunger Games but for the Capitol and its citizens behind pretty painted lips, "Relieved," she answered semi-honestly, "Relieved that I get to go back home to my family, and of course that I get to see you all once more on this stage." Maize added coyly as she flashed the cheering crowd a smile and a wink.

The interviewer laughed gaily, "And we are more than pleased to have you with us here! Aren't we?" he asked the audience as they erupted in cheers and catcalls. The man turned to look at her once more, "Now we are going to be viewing the highlights of this year's Hunger Games and your rise to victory!" he proclaimed enthusiastically, "Are you ready my dear?"

She didn't let her smile strain, even though the only thing she wanted to do was writhe on the ground and howl at the injustice of it all, "Am I ever Caesar." Maize responded in mock enthusiasm.

Numbness fell over her once more as the lights dimmed and the Seal appeared over the lowering screen. This year's Hunger Games was one of the shortest in the last seven decades of the events, but that only meant that the Capitol could emphasize the gory deaths at the bloodbath and the ones following after it. They practically sped through the Tribute Parade and the interviews –CanaCanaCana- before beginning to play the clips of the bloodbath.

All the while a story was being spun on the screen.

Maize and Cana -ithurtsithurtsithurts- working together in a gentle camaraderie as they flourished in the arena despite the struggles others were facing. Until that partnership came to an end at the hands of the District 2 tribute. Her fight against Tiberius was seemingly glorified by the Gamemakers as was the killing blow she'd dealt the other teenager –she had actually caved his head in, like a fucking monster- before dragging her dying partner away to safety. Maize's battle against the flood was capitalized, even as they showed the brief clip of a deranged Annie –she was supposed to live- drowning after getting whacked face-first into a rooted tree.

Her small smile was still painted across her lips even as her –deadunfeelingmonster- eyes stared up at her triumph as the hovercraft lifted her unconscious body in the air.

The audience, once more displaying their aggressive animal-like habits, howled and cackled in excitement as they cheered for their -she wanted to claw off her skin and scream, dirtydirtydirtydirty- newest Victor.

Because Maize wasn't Maize anymore.

She was a Victor.

The Capitol's little Victor.

Nothing more.

The anthem played once more over the speakers, audience members practically swaying with the beat, as President Snow graced the stage and made his way to her seated form. From far away it was easy for Maize to understand why so many Capitolites were quick to fall under his spell, his seemingly grandfather-like gentleness as he smiled indulgingly at the audience, as if they were young naïve children, set her skin prickling. But his eyes –windows to the soul that they were- were black, cruel and unforgiving like a predator as he surveyed her up and down, measuring what she was worth in his eyes.

The little girl that had trailed after him was young maybe five or six years old, like Hibis, smiled widely up at her from her place as she carried the Victor crown on a small pillow. Snow turned to the child grabbing the crown before gently placing it upon Maize's head with a –fakefakefake- smile on his lips. The crowd once more erupted into loud screams of exaltations.

Maize knew better than to focus on the President, not when he was that close to her. Not when she wanted to make someone hurt. Not when she could barely choke down her hate as his nauseating rose perfume was strong enough to whirl around her nose. Instead, she smiled at the crowd, giving small gentle waves at their enthusiasm- as if she didn't want to hurt each and every audience member cheering her name for the part they played in Cana's suffering, for the deaths of all the children that had suffered in the last seven decades because of their perverted version of entertainment and punishment. With that, Caesar finally bid the crowd a fine evening, pointing out that it was late and that they should all tune in for the final interviews the next day.

Goldie was quick to escort her to the President's mansion for the Victory Banquet, Seeder and Chaff quietly praised her for her quiet demeanor and overall good attitude during the interview. The banquet was spent with very little eating despite its name -not that Maize was feeling very hungry after having to watch her peers die on the screens for the last three hours- and schmoozing Capitol officials and the Sponsors that had provided for her last meal in the arena.

Flash after flash of the cameras went off as seemingly every member in attendance wanted a picture with her. Maize was relieved when they returned back to the Training Center and she was allowed to sink into her bed and just close her eyes. -She never wanted to wake up.- But the final interview would be at two in the afternoon and then Maize would finally be allowed to board the train home.

Without Cana.

She ignored the wrongness brimming behind her chest and fell into a fitful sleep. Maize was woken three hours before the interview by the prep team to help her get ready. They had arrived from the Victory Banquet early in the morning, hell the sun had risen by the time Maize had finally plopped onto the soft bed provided in the Training Center. She downed two shakes for breakfast, deciding to avoid solid food completely for her post-morning meal before they got to work. Thankfully, there wasn't much that they had to get done, they re-painted her nails and gave her a fresh coat of makeup before pulling Maize's hair out of the braids from the previous night into a different style before Orion appeared once more to help her into the new dress.

It was a pastel pink color that clung to her shape like a second skin with buttons going down from the front all the way to the slip in front of the dress so that she would be able to walk easier. The sleeves were long but puffy at the top and had a matching button at the wrist, she wore simple matching pastel heels to match and the -her- Victor crown was perched on her head delicately by Orion.

The interview thankfully took place down the hall, the crowning chair -she'd like to set it on fire- from the previous night had been moved inside and Caesar's comfortable-looking seat had been arranged across from her's in a 'tasteful manner.'

Maize was just relieved that the interview wouldn't have a live audience this time.

Chapter Text

The interview had been going well overall, the easy repartee that she had established with Caesar carrying over. The man seemed genuinely thrilled that she was alive and had been crowned this year's Victor. Maize swallowed the guilt behind a blank expression, refusing to dwell on Cana or Annie Cresta while the cameras were on her face.

"So, my dear, I've been so curious since you first came across Annie Cresta during the arena and said that phrase: 'walking wounded.' Would you care to explain it to me, dear?"

Of course, he would ask that.

Maize smiled softly as she let a pondering look bleed onto her face, "Walking wounded is a phrase we use back in my District to describe someone that has nothing left to lose, only themselves. When I saw A-Annie walking through the forest, her face and demeanor just screamed that she was walking wounded. I remember her and Waverly during training. They were very close."

"Ah, like you and Cana?" Caesar interrupted as he made the connection.

She swallowed a lump in her throat, "Exactly. Waverly was Annie's Cana. When he was killed, she must have lost her mind."

"But not you!" Caesar proclaimed, in an attempt to change the morose subject, "No not you! You persevered through your grief and were able to overcome adversity to be here today!"

Maize shot the man a smile, "Yes, I was surprised when I woke up. I didn't think that I would survive the flood."

"But you did!" Caesar chirruped, "Now that you are going home, what are you most excited about?"

"Well definitely seeing my family again. I've really missed them," she answered honestly.

Caesar hummed for a moment, "Ah yes, you've spoken of them before! You have a large number of siblings. And you are the oldest among them correct?"

"Yes." Maize confirmed, "But that is only if you don't count my cousin Amla, she is a year older than me and has been living with my family since she was six. She is like the older sister I have always wanted and loved, I am proud that I volunteered in her place for the Hunger Games and would do it again in a heartbeat."

Caesar laughed, it was not unkindly, "You are a very loyal person Maize, I admire that! I really do! I hope one day, we get to meet this family you speak so highly of!"

Hell no.

"As do I." she responded gently even though the lie seemed to burn her throat on its way out.

The back and forth continued for a while, Caesar asked her what she would miss the most about the Capitol and she responded the mango nutrient shakes- which was true. Caesar asked what she found the most fascinating about the Capitol and she would respond the citizens- also true, but not for the same reason she gave Caesar, Capitolites were fascinating in the same way a strange bug was under a microscope, everything about them was strange and abnormal from the fashions to their culture and customs. And it went on like that for another half an hour before Caesar gave her a hug and congratulated her once more for her Victory and signed off.

It was finally over.

Seeder threw her arm over Maize's shoulder as Goldie chattered on in excitement about the interview and the Victory Tour that would be occurring in six months, as if Maize wasn't already completely dreading it. They did allow her to collect anything she wanted from her room when they stopped by in the apartment for the last time, Maize ended up deciding to take the nightgown she had been wearing since her arrival at the Training Center before making sure that Cana's necklace was firmly tied around her neck and that her Nyanya's ring was in its place around her index finger before striding out once more of the room.

She was peppered in hugs and kisses from her prep team in goodbye, before they were escorted to a car with blacked-out windows to the station where the train was waiting for them. Orion hugged and planted a kiss on her cheek before Goldie looped her arm with Maize's and led her onto the train. Seeder and Chaff seemed to visibly relax once the train finally took off.

So did Maize.

Despite still being in the dress Orion had made for her, Maize was slowly starting to feel like herself again as she sat down for dinner. Goldie had apparently instructed the Avoxes on the train to keep a supply of the nutrient shakes she'd come to enjoy in the Capitol, she thanked the naïve escort for thinking of her- earning a bright smile from Goldie as she tittered happily. After their meal, they all sit together in the lounge car and watched the replay of the interview. Seeder once more complimented Maize for keeping her head and for how calm she was during the whole process.

It made Maize feel better to know that the role she had created for the public was solid and that she was as good at acting as she'd hoped to be during the interview process. Seeder said she was believable, that her mask was almost perfect. Only her eyes, occasionally, didn't reflect the emotions her face and smile portrayed. Seeder promised that not many people would be able to spot it, but the woman would help Maize perfect her mask before the Victory Tour.

Once the recap ended, Seeder told her that it would be better not to change out of the dress until after they arrived back in District 11. It didn't bother her too much. Maize was too tired, mentally and physically, to put up a fuss and only sipped on another shake –chocolate, because that was Cana's favorite- as she lounged on the couch with her Mentors. Even now they were still mentoring her, telling her what she should expect when they arrived at the station and what the Victor's Village is like, how it felt to have the eyes of people on you at all times.

The grimy station for District 11 had been decorated with the extra flowers that had bloomed during the season and the platform itself was full of cameras waiting to get a picture of the newest Victor in her home District. Even her homecoming couldn't be something for just Maize, no it had to be for all of Panem. Cheapening the feelings of love and relief in her heart as bitterness stung her.

She retouched her lipstick, and Chaff being uncharacteristically stoic and gentle pulled an errant curl behind her ear before he offered both of his arms to Maize and Seeder. Maize locked her arm around his and Seeder did the same on his other side as well before they were escorted by a self-important Goldie onto the platform. Flashes and clicks filled the air as Maize smiled -falsely- softly for the lenses.

Maize was home.

Well, almost.

Chapter Text

The mayor had welcomed her enthusiastically at Maize's return. But it was nothing compared to screams of joy coming from her family. A cold unfeeling thing that had built up in her chest unfurled and melted as Birch jumped over the fence separating them and ran into her arms.

"You're here! You're here! You're really here!" he cried into her shoulder.

Maize pressed her lips to the top of his head in a loving manner as more little arms wrapped around her, Brier and Piper gripped onto the back of her shirt as Hibis and Lilac ran into her legs. The ugliness from the Hunger Games and the Capitol was being washed away by their tiny hands and genuine gratitude for her return. She felt the strong and comforting arms of her baba wrap around all of them as her mama started to pepper kisses onto her face.

"My baby is home." she murmured in overjoyed disbelief into her ear. A wide genuine grin tugged onto the corners of mama's lips. For the first time since she volunteered, since Cana died in her arms...

Maize felt present. Truly alive.

"Maize!" Amla crowed over the noise. Her curly black hair was wild in a sophisticated manner that only her cousin was able to pull off. Amla's smile was wide and her eyes were full of unshed tears. A choked-off whine escaped from Maize's throat. One moment Amla was on the other side of the line and the next she was on her. Wrapping her smaller frame into her arms. Maize could feel the forming bump of her future niece or nephew pressing against her own flat stomach. Joy. So much joy and love filled Maize's very essence as she returned the embrace.

She had saved Amla.

She had saved that unborn baby pressed between them.

She let out a glorious and triumphant relieved laugh.

Not all was lost.

The whole District had been cleaned up and made to look 'nice' for the Capitol's cameras. Around her, all of the members of 11 had been gathered for her arrival. The crowd cheered at her arrival, as the mayor and Goldie escorted her to the stage. It eerily reminded Maize of her send-off during the reaping. Except, instead of pitying and haunted glances in her direction, her people were looking at her with relief and gratitude. Because of Maize, no one in her District would go hungry. The mayor briefly introduced her to the crowd as the winner of the 70th Hunger Games, making the crowd burst into enthusiastic cheers before they were dispersed by the Peacekeepers.

Maize held hands with Birch on one side and Amla on the other, as her cousin regaled her the tale of her wedding. Thorn smiled lovingly at his wife from Amla's side as he occasionally spoke up once in a while to add to the story, while Hibis got a piggyback ride from the man. Piper and Brier were walking backwards in front of her so that they could watch Maize while they walked. Lilac ran around them on her short legs, giggles pealing out of her mouth every once in a while as Maize's parents led them home.

Of course, the shack that she had grown up in wouldn't be her home for much longer. Seeder had explained to her that directly after the Welcoming Ceremony, Maize and her family would be moving into the Victor's Village. The woman was walking calmly alongside her parents, making small talk to the people that raised the new Victor. They would be collecting anything that they wanted to keep from the house and hand it over to the Peacekeepers in their entourage to carry it over to their new home. Goldie -was uncharacteristically- making up the rear with a curious Chaff as she observed Maize's family.

To the Capitolite woman they probably made a strange sight. From what Maize had observed in the Capitol, couples rarely had more than one child and even then Maize still hadn't seen family units spending much time together.

The walk to their shack didn't take them too long, and despite the curious glances their group was getting from bystanders they were still giving the group a wide berth. Goldie eyed Maize's childhood home with barely concealed horror and disbelief, it was probably a wake-up call for the woman that poverty was a real thing that the Districts suffered from.

Her family was quick to gather all of the essential items that they wanted, clothes and other items with sentimental value, like the molinillo that her Nyanya used to use to grind grains. Maize herself went to the small wooden chest in her shared bedroom before grabbing the small stack of photographs that their family owned, it was the only thing she really wanted. Anything else she found herself missing could be retrieved at a later date. After all the shack she had grown up in would still belong to her family. In the event that she passed away her family would have to leave Victor's Village and move back to the outcropping.

Amla and Thorn kept her company as they watched the chaos from the door. Her sweet cousin wasn't done regaling Maize the story of her wedding -and the party after it- and her new home. Amla and her new husband wouldn't be coming with them to Victor's Village, it filled Maize with sadness that she wouldn't share a room with her cousin anymore, but it was expected. She was a married woman now. Amla and Thorn were excited to start their lives together, though they promised to come visit them often. Finally, they were on their way to the Village.

Her siblings skipped around her in excitement throughout their track, as her baba carried all of their clothes over his shoulders. Mama's back had been hurting her something awful, so Maize had strapped her infant brothers to her chest, cuddling them gently as they walked. Thorn helped carry some of the heavier items, like the cradle for the twins. It was the same one Maize had been rocked in to sleep.

Victor's Village was beautiful, with ten mansion-sized homes with well-tended gardens and yards split up evenly into two rows. Brier and Piper were running around in awe while Hibis and Lilac cheered as they pointed at everything.

Goldie had taken the lead now as they approached the fourth house on the left side, before opening the door and turning to look at them in excitement, "Welcome to your new home!" she chirruped.

Maize's siblings were not shy as they barged into the beautifully styled home and began exploring. Her parents looked as uncomfortable as she did inside the house. It reminded Maize of the Capitol with its sleek and modern furnishing, it was clean, too clean for a simple family from the borders. Goldie helped them settle into the house as she showed them where all the rooms were. The largest room had been gifted to Maize, much to her discomfort, and was on the second floor with large wide windows that faced a wild meadow in the back of the house.

Her parents had been settled into the second largest room and Goldie was only too happy to help them order new and in-style nursery items from the Capitol. Her baba had only looked at the woman with wide eyes -disgust barely concealed from his features- as Goldie babbled about the wonderous items available in the Capitol. Mama was, thankfully, able to steer the conversation away from the Capitol and back to some nursery 'essential' items, before Hibis crashed into Goldie's legs and started asking the Capiolite woman why her skin was pink. Chaff was quick to find humor in the situation and burst out into laughter despite Seeder's stern expression.

By the time night settled, Maize was exhausted.

Her mama had made them a simple dinner in their new kitchen, it had taken them a couple of minutes to figure out how to actually use the complicated stove, before Maize showed them how to use the showers -which were infinitely easier to use than the ones in the Capitol- before they all went to sleep.

Seeder promised to come back early in the morning with Goldie to help her get ready for the Parcel Day Ceremony -it would be the first of twelve, in which food packages were to be delivered to every person in the District, people in her old neighborhood would not be going hungry- before the District 11 Victor's Banquet where only the most high-ranking people in her District would be invited to attend.

It was quiet and Maize finally gave into her exhaustion.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" a gruttle scream ripped itself out of Maize's throat.

Sleep didn't last long.

Chapter Text

After a few weeks of obligated ceremonies and events, the cameras and reporters documenting Maize's every move finally packed up and left. Goldie had left with them, and slowly Maize's life was returning to as normal as it could be.

Her family was trying.

Baba and mama could not help or protect her from the night-terrors that plagued Maize's sleep, nor could they really take away the pain that the Hunger Games had inflicted upon her. Birch had taken to guarding her everywhere she went since Maize refused to just sit in the house -that didn't feel like home and probably never would because of what it represented to her- and instead started going back to work in the groves.

Her mama didn't work anymore, finally having the option to stay at home and care for her young children the way that they needed to be. Her baba was still working as well, mostly because he didn't feel right depending on his daughter, and because he'd been doing it all of his life and felt strange not working. Amla's pregnancy was progressing very well and it was now public knowledge that she and Thorn were expecting, though they were still hiding the date of conception.

Her sweet cousin had come to visit her various times since Maize had arrived home. Amla was still working even though her hours were a lot more flexible and less intense since Maize was giving them a nice amount of wages to help supplement Thorn's income. He'd protested at first, they both had, but Maize was stubborn. Stubborn enough to guilt them into accepting on behalf of their child.

Birch, Piper, and Brier had also taken to shadowing her every step. Maize's siblings had missed her, and she them. But that didn't stop Maize from forcing the three stubborn children to wait for her at their old shack while Maize made the short trip to the shack where Cana had grown up in. Maize clutched the wooden star in her hand tightly, taking comfort in the necklace that her District partner had worn throughout their whole ordeal until his unfair death.

She hadn't had the opportunity to visit Cana's family until now.

The copious ceremonies and non-stop video coverage had made it impossible for Maize to break away from the chaos until now. She was going to give a grieving family their son's/brother's token.

It wasn't something that Maize wanted to be televised for the Capitol -his real murderers- to see. If she had, it would have turned into a spectacle. It would have been like spitting in Cana's face. He didn't deserve that and neither did his family. By the time that Maize was in front of his door, her heart was pounding furiously behind her chest, and she already wanted to cry. To run and never look back. She knocked anyway.

Ollie, Birch's best friend, answered the door. He looked just like Cana, only smaller and younger. Her heart panged with grief. The twelve-year-old looked exhausted and grief practically cloaked his whole frame. His eyes were wide and glassy as he looked up at her with disbelief.

"Maize..." he gasped, before throwing his skinny arms around her waist. She quickly wrapped her arms around him as well, internally grateful that the boy didn't hate her like Birch had promised.

"Is your mother home?" Maize asked him softly as she rubbed his back gently. Ollie simply nodded, without moving before stepping back and shouting.

"Mama! Maize's here!"

She allowed herself to be pulled by the preteen into the living quarters of their shack. Cana's mother looked at her with disbelief, her face sagging with grief and gratitude as she took in Maize's presence.

"I'm sorry." Maize blurted out before the woman could say something. "I'm so sorry. I tried so hard to- he wasn't supposed to- Cana should've come home." she stuttered out as tears began to escape from her eyes. "I'm so sorry that I came back- that he's not here. I'm so sorry. Sorrysorrysorry."

Cana's mother wrapped her up into a warm hug as Maize broke down in her home, "It wasn' your fault Maize. Thank you. Thank you for tryin' so hard to bring him back to me. For being there for my baby. Thank you." she murmured into Maize's hair.

Real, body-shaking sobs began to escape from her lips as Maize released a month's worth of guilt and grief into the arms of her friend's mother. By the time the tears had stopped coming and Maize was able to breathe in without letting out any more whimpers and cries, they had ended up on the dirt floor. She pried her fingers open and pressed the carved star into the woman's hand.

Cana's mother let out a surprised gasp as a tearful Ollie approached them to stare at the wooden star in disbelief.

"Cana's nyota." the woman whispered almost reverently as she brought it to her lips and placed a gentle kiss. "Thank you, Maize. Thank you."

Maize smiled wetly at the woman, "I promised I'd bring it home. Cana wanted you to have it. We, uh, we made a promise that whoever made it out would take care of the other's family... There is nothing I would not do for you."

She was pulled into a hug once more. Guilt that she'd been steadily carrying with her since Cana's lifeless body had been taken by the Capitol slowly began melting away from the care Maize was receiving at the hands of her deceased District partner's family.

"Asante. Thank you, Maize. Call me Auntie Cress, you will always be welcomed here."

Ollie pulled her into his own hug before she left and whispered gratefully, "Thanks for bringing a part of Cana home to us. Thank you for living Maize."

A weight had been lifted from her shoulders, even breathing was easier as she walked back to the Victor's Village with her siblings' hand in hand as they chatted about asinine things. For the first time since she had arrived back home, Maize slept throughout the entire night without a single nightmare starring in her dreams.

Chapter Text

Maize dreamt of her last moments in the Arena last night. Of the crashing waves and how the water had burned her throat and lungs as it invaded her. Of Cana's hopeless expression when... The mornings were difficult for Maize now in a way that they'd never been before. It was hard for her to snap out of her nightmare-driven state and actually move in the mornings. Being around her family usually helped dissipate the horrors she'd experienced in the Capitol, but sometimes their company only made Maize feel even more broken.

It wasn't their fault.

Maize was just different now.

The concept of PTSD and even not-so-mild depression could easily explain away the majority of Maize's new issues... that is if people in her District knew what it was. To her family, Maize was jumpier and quick to try and defend herself. She didn't react well to screams anymore because sometimes Maize couldn't differentiate a cheerful scream from an anguished one. Nowadays, random objects would send Maize off into flashbacks of her times in the Capitol and in the Arena, which would make her irritable and crabby for the rest of the day.

The future always felt like it was looming over Maize's shoulders like an eternal black cloud of poisonous smog trying to suffocate living things. Maize was constantly aware of the fight on the horizon... so she trained.

Every morning Maize ran until she felt a stitch in her side and her legs trembled for relief, and every morning the time she ran increased. She did yoga in the morning for an hour and was often joined by all of her siblings now, before working on her strength. In the privacy of her room or with Seeder she trained with her bō staff. Seeder didn't really understand why Maize was still acting like was training to enter the arena, but she never turned Maize away or asked her why. Maize loved that woman.

Training with the bō was something that Maize had even started teaching Birch and the twins to do. Just because Maize was a Victor and would no longer be reaped didn't mean that her siblings were immune to the Capitol's barbaric Game. Her brother and sisters were sworn to secrecy, after all their Uncle had been killed for doing what Maize was teaching them now. Baba had silently approved of the training even if mama fretted over getting caught. In the end, they decided not even Amla would know. There was no need to stress out the soon-to-be mother even more.

Working in the orchard was probably Maize's favorite part of her day. Despite no longer working the same grueling hours she'd been doing for most of her life, Maize would make her way to the grottos after lunch and work beside her peers until the evening. Joining in song with her District as she'd fill her peck bucket until the dismissal bell rang.

The biggest difference so far was in how others treated her.

She got side-eyes from mostly everyone that walked by her. Some cautious and some grateful for the reprive her win brought to the people. Adults, in general, were warier of Maize now, as if she would bring death upon their children by just walking too close. Younger children were curious, most not knowing the reason why she'd become infamous, only that she was the reason why they weren't going to bed starving every night. The adolescents she knew would nod their heads in her direction when they saw her coming, but all those of reaping age would mostly stare at her with envy and awe.

Maize privately thought that it was because she had lived where many others had failed. While her Victor status ensured that she would never be reaped again -well until the Mockingjay appeared, but it wasn't like that was common knowledge- and that her family would never go hungry as long as she lived. Maize represented what they wanted to be if the worse came to pass and they were picked as the tributes for the District. Victorious. Immune to the worse labors of 11. A safety net for her family.

The sun was slowly starting to set over the horizon, the orange and red hues bleeding into the normally pale blue skies. A soft breeze tickled Maize's face and loose curls. Mama was inside making dinner as her siblings ran around the house merrily, while her Baba was probably still on his way home from work.

"All I want is nothing more/ To hear you knocking at my door.../ Cause if I could see your face once more/ I could die a happy girl I'm sure." Maize sang morosely as she sat in the field behind her home, "When you said your last goodbye/ I died a little bit inside/ And I lay in tears in bed all night/ Alone without you by my side."

The tale depicted in the song was an old one- of a pair of sweethearts torn apart by the Hunger Games. A betrothed pair that never got to marry because the boy had been slain. While she and Cana hadn't been in a romantic relationship at all, Maize missed him constantly. In a way she hadn't known was possible. She couldn't see Ollie playing with her brother without seeing Cana's face overlap his younger brother's. Climbing the trees in the orchard reminded her of Cana. The stars at night reminded her of him.

Home reminded her of him.

Sometimes the younger boy's last painful moments on earth cut her deeply and stole the breath from her lungs. The way his eyes had stared unseeingly and blank. Sometimes she couldn't help but feel that he'd left her behind.

"But if you loved me/ Why'd you leave?/ Take my body/ Take my body..." the chorus came out in a pain-filled whisper. Maize rubbed the errant tears from her eyes and took a deep breath in before deciding another song may be easier to sing at the moment since she couldn't get the words out her lips without crying.

"I walked across an empty land/ I knew the pathway like the back of my hand/ I felt the earth beneath my feet/ Sat by the river, and it made me complete..." Maize's smile was full of nostalgia as she lightly swayed, "Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?/ I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on/ So tell me when you're gonna let me in/ I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin..."

The sun had disappeared more than halfway on the horizon now, its last golden rays barely kissing the earth. "I come across a fallen tree/ I felt the branches of it looking at me/ Is this the place we used to Love?/ Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?" Birch joined in as he sat down by her side.

"Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?/ I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on/ So tell me when you're gonna let me in/ I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin..." the siblings harmonized together, smiles painting both of their expressions before Maize pulled Birch into a teasing hug as danced her fingers across his sensitive ribs.

"Stooop!" Birch laughed as she tickled his ribs one final time, "Mom says dinner's ready."

Maize smiled, "Well, then what are waiting for?" she asked as she stood up and hauled Birch up onto his feet, "Race ya!" she shouted before sprinting for the house, leaving her brother behind.

"That's not fair!" Birch shouted behind her, "Cheater!"

Her bō staff smacked harshly against Seeder's own as the force forced them apart. They'd been sparring for the last fifteen minutes and Maize was already starting to feel winded, though that could be blamed on all of the exercises she'd done before going to Seeder's home for a spar.

"Time!" Seeder called as she lowered her bō and downed a glass of water.

Maize stretched out her limbs and grabbed her own glass before wiping away the sweat from her face with the bottom of her shirt. Her mother was probably making lunch now and would send one of her younger siblings to fetch her for the afternoon meal soon. All of the constant meals had really improved her family's health. Her siblings no longer went to bed hungry some nights and they were gaining the weight they needed to be healthy. The youngest twins would never suffer from the effects of malnourishment, while Lilac and Hibis were already resembling the toddlers she remembered from her first life... all pudgy and carefree.

"I heard you singing last night."

"Oh?" Maize hummed somewhat embarrassed, "Sorry, was I too loud?"

Seeder shook her head, "No, but it got me thinking."

Maize eyed her Mentor curiously, "About what?"

"The Victory Tour."

She didn't even try to keep the distaste from her face, "Why?"

"Because," the woman sighed, "that can be your skill. Music."

Chapter Text

"Music?" Maize murmured, "What- I, how would that work?"

Seeder gestured for Maize to follow her into the kitchen, "Every Victor needs to showcase a special skill or talent. Because of our status as Victors, we are no longer required to work, the Capitol has come to expect that we take up an activity. You'll be interviewed on it during the Tour. And you do have a beautiful voice Maize..."

"But singing?" the teen reiterated nervously, "Would that be enough?"

The woman nodded, "My talent is poetry Maize. With your voice, singing would be more than enough." Seeder eyed Maize's nervous form, "If you would like, we can try and find someone to teach you an instrument."

When Maize was Juliana her papi had shown her how to play his guitara after an evening of lively music. Her first parents had been in charge of providing the music during mass and it was something they'd done with great love and gusto. Her younger self had loved learning to play the instrument and she'd even brought the acoustic guitar he'd gifted her everywhere. That was perhaps one of the things she'd missed the most from her first life. Strumming the strings as her fingers moved across the elegant neck to form chords.

"Wh-What kind of instruments?" Maize blurted out.

Seeder eyed Maize curiously, "Any that you want."

She rubbed the bridge of her nose shyly, "Do you think that I can play the guitar?"

The woman shot her a warm smile, "I'll make sure of it."

And Seeder did. Three days after their conversation Seeder presented Maize with an acoustic guitar and sheet music for beginners. In a few weeks, someone from the Capitol would come to give her some in-person lessons that would eventually turn into some sort of video-call music lessons. For now, though, Maize needed to get her fingers used to the unique pain forming on the tip of, well, her fingertips so they'd form calluses. She practiced in the few moments of her day where she was alone, rediscovering songs from her first life and adapting others from her new one.

By the time her teacher, a gold-skinned man named Leto, arrived Maize's fingers had mostly stopped hurting when she formed chords. Leto had been impressed by Maize's self-study, something he fawned over in addition to her status as a Victor. He showed her new techniques that'd been developed and introduced pieces that were popular in the Capitol.

Maize was more than happy when Leto left two weeks later. It had been more than a little uncomfortable to house a Capitolite in their home. Baba had quietly seethed the entire time the man was in the house, her mama hadn't really known how to handle the strange man in their presence either. Birch had been decisively bitter with Leto's presence, he'd told her that for a moment he'd forgotten that Maize would have to leave once more. Brier and Piper gave Leto a wide berth whenever they saw him and often joined Birch in his endeavor to avoid the man. Her youngest siblings only eyed the man like he was one of the most strange individuals they'd ever met, much like they had treated Goldie before she went back to the Capitol.

Leto, while passionate about his music and craft, had been Capitolite through and through. The fake gold tint of his skin was but a small part of his overall appearance, his hair was neon orange, and his eyes, somehow, an unnatural shade of burnt orange. He was very effeminate in nature and had bragged about his conductor boyfriend -Baba had not looked happy when he'd heard- waiting for his return in the Capitol. Apparently, Leto's man, Iggy, was very jealous and proud that Maize was being taught to play the guitar by his paramour.

The guitar instructor's overall personality was similar to that of Maize's prep team... Passionate, overly touchy, patriotic, enthused with the Hunger Games, blind to the suffering of the Districts, naive, and a bit of an airhead. Harmless. A bit annoying, but harmless in the end.

Somehow, slowly, the rest of the District learned of Maize's new talent. Maize blamed Birch and Ollie. The two preteens could not be trusted to keep their mouths shut. Even Brier and Piper could be trusted more... Although, if Maize was being fair, Birch did know how to keep a secret if he'd been instructed to, after all her brother had never said a word to anyone about Amla's pregnancy and had helped their cousin like she'd asked when Maize volunteered for her. And it wasn't like Maize had explicitly asked the boys to keep it quiet.

Still, it had thrown Maize for a loop when a month and a half after she picked up the guitar Fern, the younger sister of her childhood friend Edelwyse, asked her to bring the instrument to the grotto. Hand-carved flutes and homemade drums were the more common instruments in District 11, there was maybe one other guitar player in the entire District and he was a part of the mayor's family. Apparently, the other fruit pickers had decided that it would be wonderful if Maize played the guitar whilst they sang. And Maize, being Maize, couldn't tell Fern 'no.' Especially when Birch, her sisters, and Ollie had all looked up at her hopefully.

That was how Maize found herself sitting on a stump and nervously tuning the acoustic guitar as the other fruit pickers on lunch break surrounded her excitedly. Maize eyed the two taskmasters in the vicinity, though the men wouldn't raise a hand to stop them since it wasn't like anyone was putting off work to hear her.

"So, what song did you all have in mind Fern?" Maize asked the curly-haired girl.

Excited dark brown eyes locked onto her own, "Have you learned any of the working songs?"

Maize sent the younger girl an amused grin, "It was the first thing I tried to learn."

"What about 'Wolf,' can you play that one?" a thirteen-year-old boy that her brother played with when they were younger named Moss asked excitedly.

She hummed the tune under her breath as her fingers quickly found themselves in the right positions. That was one of the songs she'd learned to play first since it was one of Amla's favorites. Yarrow, a teen a year younger than Maize, grabbed an empty peck basket and turned it upside down and began beating against it rhythmically to the beat.

"Wolf mother, where you been?/ You look so worn, so thin," Maize started before being quickly joined in by other enthusiastic voices, "You're a taker, devil's maker/ Let me hear you sing/ Hey ya, hey ya!/ Wolf father, at the door/ You don't smile anymore/ You're a drifter, shapeshifter/ Let me see you run/ Hey ya, hey ya!"

Chapter Text

The acoustic guitar became a permanent fixture to Maize's afternoons after that. Maize would bring her guitar to the groves every day. She would play a couple of song requests during their lunch break, always careful not to go over the time so that the taskmasters would not get involved with them. Yarrow and two other boys ended up bringing their homemade drums to the groves to accompany the guitar, while fourteen-year-old Harvest Dawnbloom would bring her beautifully crafted wooden flute. It was needless to say that their afternoon jam sessions became somewhat infamous for all of the fruit pickers.

With every session, Maize lost any lingering shyness when it came to performing. Playing for her fellow peers had become something that Maize could immerse herself in and forget her troubles for a while. Seeder and Chaff had both been impressed when Maize actually sang and played them a song with the guitar. The Victory Tour would be in another three months, around the time in which Amla was supposed to give birth. It was something that made Maize nervous over, especially since her cousin was still set on her being present during the birth and coaching Amla through it.

Maize's training was also going well. She'd built up a considerable amount of muscle compared to how skinny and malnourished her body had once been. Baba had actually confronted her the day before over the matter, the answer he'd received surprised them both, for different reasons.

-"You are no longer in the Games, Maize. I don' understand why you are doin' this?" her father sighed as if the weight of the world were resting on his shoulders. Maize knew that it had been bothering him and mama for a while, she'd seen it in the way that they watched her.

"Because it's not safe." Maize blurted out in a whisper, despite her siblings and mama being asleep.

The head of the Galloshire family eyed her warily, "What are you talkin' about? You've won your Games, Maize, after the Tour you will be safe. Much safer than your brothers and sisters."

Maize shook her head, "I'm sorry baba... but they'll never leave me alone now." a small tired sigh escaped from her lips, "Things will never be the same, the Capitol will always own some part of me. The Hunger Games was only the beginnin'. It's like this for all of the 'Victors' of the Games." she stated bluntly before adding in a softer tone, "Some suffer more than others."

"What do you know?" his dark eyes felt like they were piercing through Maize's soul.

"You can't tell mama."

His eyes narrowed, "Speak to me, Maize."

"Promise me first." Maize insisted, "Promise me. Promise me that you won't tell mama."

The man breathed out slowly, from experience Maize knew that he was trying not to yell at her, "I promise. Now, what do you know?"

"More than I should." Maize admitted before whispering in a quieter voice, after all, they may be in their house -their new home- but the Capitol could have it bugged, "They will make me do things, baba. Seeder says they always make the pretty ones do it... like that Victor from 4, but for girls they- we don't have a choice."

Her baba's expression was enraged as he breathed out heavily, "Maize. Tell me it is not what I am thinkin'?"

Maize looked away from him for a moment, "Baba, when he calls me I will have to go and do what he says. If I don't... I will not let them hurt you, or our family... Not like they did to Seeder's."

Alder Galloshire, her baba, practically wilted in defeat though his clenched fists still trembled with his anger. His dark brown eyes were shut and his brows furrowed as a scowl painted his lips. Maize stared at the man who had been dutifully raising her alongside her mama, through no fault of his own he was not on the same level of intelligence her papi had once been, but he was just as clever and loyal. She couldn't imagine how painful it must be for a parent to hear that he cannot prevent the suffering of his children. That he must sit idly by while his child sacrifices herself to protect the rest of their family. How powerless he must feel.

Was it wrong of her to pity her father? There is so much he doesn't know, so much she will never tell him -to protect him and the rest of her family- secrets that would die with her.

"Keep trainin'." he spoke finally, "Do the same with your brother and sisters. It may give them a fightin' chance if the worst comes..." her baba paused before bringing Maize into a hug, his arms were warm and comforting around her, "Do not let them- you will always be my baby girl. My first child- my sweet, strange, smart girl."

Maize returned the hug just as fiercely as stinging tears trickled down her cheeks, "I love you, baba."

A bearded kiss was pressed onto her forehead, "I love you too..."

When Maize walked away, shadows bouncing off the walls and floors with every step she made towards her bedroom, she heard her father's broken whisper, "Forgive me, nisamehe... I'm so sorry, motto. Samahani, samahani..."

Her heart... it felt like it was shattering with his.-

It had never really been Maize's intention to actually come clean to her parents about what would happen to her after the Victory Tour. She'd wanted to shield them from the pain of not being able to protect her, to keep the illusion that they could keep their children safe even after almost losing their eldest child to the Hunger Games. That was why Maize couldn't help but feel some sort of selfish relief that her baba now knew. Knew what may be in Maize's future. That she wasn't alone carrying that burden on her shoulders -she was already carrying so much guilt as it were, she'd murdered a child, a teenager, a boy who would never go home- her father was shouldering the weight beside her.

She felt so much less alone now.

When Maize was little, and whined over her lack of height, baba would proudly carry her on his shoulders as if she were his tiny queen reaching her place amongst the clouds... For the first time since the initial realization she'd had after winning the Hunger Games, Maize felt like she could breathe. Like she was her baba's weightless child, one that even with all the foreknowledge she'd had, couldn't even mentally conceive of the sins she was carrying now.

Chapter Text

The dreaded day had finally arrived.

She'd barely managed to get any sleep the night before, something that seemed to have also plagued both of her parents. Brier and Piper had crawled into Maize's bed around eleven and Birch not even an hour after that, though they had slept through the rest of the night. Her youngest siblings had picked up on the apprehension wafting off the rest of them and were a bit cranky this morning. Amla and Thorn were equally antsy as they flitted about the kitchen and spoke softly to one another.

Seeder had joined them for breakfast, giving Maize and her family the support they would need to handle the incoming Capitolites. Chaff would be making his way over soon and was probably still getting dressed, her male Mentor had been very good to Maize's father. Inviting him over every Saturday evening for drinks and answering any questions her baba had about the Capitol.

Maize was prepared. She knew exactly how this would go down. Still... the nerves ate at her. She just wanted to get the whole ordeal over with... and it was just the fucking beginning! After presenting her talent she would still need to go to every District and address the families of the fallen tributes.

Breathe. Maize was fine. Just fine. Seeder and Chaff will be by her side the entire time. She wouldn't be facing the wolves on her own. Still, Maize jumped when the doorbell began ringing insistently not three minutes into clearing off the table.

Breathe. Seeder was the first to move, the entire Galloshire family seemingly frozen in their places, as she opened the door.

"Oh! Seeder, dear! I've just missed your company so much, my dear!" Goldie's exuberant tones wafted from the door as the pink-skinned Capitolite barged through the foyer like she owned the place. "Maize! Oh, you look wonderful!" the escort crowed when she caught sight of her. The woman's hair was a dark green color now and was up in a complicated looking do as she sashayed her way over to Maize. The woman pulled her into a small hug before blowing Maize air kisses as she smiled her glittery green lips in the direction of the weary-looking family.

"Oh my!" Circo gasped as he walked in behind the escort, "How quaint!"

Her prep team was as colorful as she'd remembered them. The three Capitolites were quick to surround her, mostly ignoring her family in favor of inspecting Maize for flaws. Tesoro sighed despairingly at Maize's 'crocodile skin' before complaining that she hadn't been keeping up with the moisturizing routine. Circo eyed Maize's less than perfect nails and shook his head, while Yurida quietly despaired over the split ends in Maize's hair. Maize only internally sighed and sent her parents a reassuring smile over the Capiolites heads... though her mama did look slightly offended at the comments, her baba did not look happy about the two strangely dressed men crowding his daughter and touching her as they pleased.

Thankfully Orion was more respectful about the whole matter as he cleared his team away before pulling Maize into a quick gentle hug, "Hello darling, you look wonderful! Very fit!" The man's eyes, an unnatural golden shade she saw Birch blanch at, were still as piercing as Maize had remembered them as his gaze took in her form. "Though you haven't grown at all." he teased lightly, his pale grey-painted lips pulled up.

Maize mock glared at the stylist, "We both know that I won't be getting any taller Orion, it's nothing a pair of heels can't fix right?" she threw the words the man had once told her back at him with a cheeky grin.

Orion let out a joyful laugh, "Oh, darling, you do listen!"

The next hour or so was spent in a way similar to that of her time in the Remake Center, though this time, her entire family was subject to the unwanted makeover as well to make them 'presentable.' Interviewing the new Victor's family was a pretty standard procedure during the tour, and apparently all of the Capitol was enamored with Maize's siblings after witnessing their reunion six months ago. That was also the reason her heavily pregnant cousin and her husband were in their home.

"Alright," Goldie tittered, "let's go over it once more my dear, you'll sit right here," the woman indicated to the beautifully decorated living room where Maize's guitar was waiting to be played, "introduce your talent and then sing your... song. Cupid's crew will be conducting the interviews in the study. Remember, my dear, wide smiles, and don't forget to enunciate! Seeder's told me all about how you've been practicing, oh, this is so exciting!"

Maize nodded robotically as she tried to arrange herself in an elegant manner on the chair. It was a bit difficult since she was wearing a short black dress with silver stars printed on it that flared at her waist, and Maize would rather die than accidentally flash all of Panem while she played the guitar. At least the black boots she was wearing went all the way up to her knees. Maize's hair and nails had been immaculately done by the enthusiastic prep team followed the same theme of stars. Chaff had snorted softly before whispering in her ear that Orion was sure that Maize would become an actual star after performing... Maize would rather that she not.

Cupid, the cameraman, and director in charge of filming her during the tour gave her the three-minute warning -it really only served to send Maize's heart into a panic than actually get Goldie and the prep team out of the shot. Orion was the one who eventually had to shoo them out of the way since Seeder and Chaff were coaching her nervous family through their interviews.

"Oh, it's time!" Goldie chirruped as a hologram of Ceasar Flickerman came to life on the wall and began to narrate to the cheering crowds in the Capitol in front of the glowing phrase 'VICTORY TOUR' with Maize's image by it. Great. Maize breathed in and out before plastering a soft excited grin -that she'd practiced for hours with Seeder- as Cupid motioned that they were 'live.'

"Here she is ladies and gentlemen!" Ceasar announced joyfully, "Our Victor of the 70th Hunger Games! Maize, my dear, how are you!?"

A demure giggle escaped from her lips, as if Maize couldn't contain her mirth, "Oh, just wonderful Ceasar! I'm so excited to show everyone what I've been working on!"

Cesar let out an excited laugh, "Not as excited as we are! Right folks?" the man gestured to the audience that let out a roaring cheer, "So, tell us, Maize! What wonderful talent will you be showcasing for us, on this historic first day of your Victory Tour?"

Maize smiled shyly as her face pinked, "Well, Ceasar, how about I just show you instead? Just go easy on me, I'm still a novice." she added with a mischievous wink before gently lifting the guitar, that up until that moment had been out of the screen, onto her lap.

She could hear the crowd in the Capitol gasping in excitement and see Ceasar's eager expression from the hologram image as Maize hummed the first note of the song before strumming the first chords and singing.

"I close my eyes and I can see/ A world that's waiting up for me/ that I call my own.../ Through the dark, through the door./ Through where no one's been before./ But it feels like home..." Maize allowed her eyes to shut as she let the music wash over her, "They can say, they can say, it all sounds crazy./ They can say, they can say I've lost my mind./ I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy./ We can live in a world that we design."

She smiled opening her eyes and staring right into the lens of the camera as if the words to this song were dedicated to the Capitol alone, "'Cause every night I lie in bed./ The brightest colors fill my head./ A million dreams are keeping me awake./ I think of what the world be./ A vision of the one I see./ A million dreams is all it's gonna take/ Oh, a million dreams for the world we're gonna make!"

Cheers erupted from the other end of the line, but Maize ignored them and continued on, her fingers dancing across the neck of the guitar and her voice strong. "There's a house we can build/ Every room inside is filled./ With things from far away./ The special things I compile./ Each one there to make you smile,/ on a rainy day./ They can say, they can say, it all sounds crazy./ They can say, they can say we've lost our minds./ I don't care, I don't care, if they call us crazy./ Runaway to a world that we design!"

Maize looked off towards the room where her family was being interviewed, the recordings would air in the morning. She would miss them all terribly, especially with the journey she was about to embark on.

"Every night I lie in bed./ The brightest colors fill my head./ A million dreams are keeping me awake./ I think of what the world be./ A vision of the one I see./ A million dreams is all it's gonna take/ Oh, a million dreams for the world we're gonna make!" she sang the chorus out passionately before her voice tapered off into a quieter tone, "However big, however small./ Let me be part of it all./ Share your dreams with me./ You may be right, you may be wrong./ But say that you'll bring me along./ To the world you see./ To the world I close my eyes to see./ I close my eyes to see!"

Her fingers danced as she changed the chords before repeating the chorus once more in a wistful tone before repeating the last phrase twice without the accompaniment of her guitar, "For the world we're gonna make."

The applause would have been more than deafening if she had actually been on that stage with Ceasar. Maize smiled, panting softly out of breath. Goldie, Orion and his prep team stared at Maize with wonder and wide smiles as they clapped quietly to themselves.

"WOW!" Ceasar crowed, "Just WOW! Absolutely amazing! Wasn't she folks! Just beautiful! I think we'll want a repeat performance once she gets here, won't we folks!" the host asked as he faced his crowd. The Capitolites cheered wildly.

Maize was just thankful that the nerves hadn't gotten to her and that she hadn't forgotten the words to the song.

Chapter Text

The second Ceasar signed off and the cameras were out of Maize's face she finally relaxed, well for a moment since Maize found herself surrounded by her 'team' of Capitolites as they praised and gushed over her talent. Goldie was the first to get ahold of herself as she started to usher everyone out of the house, they were on a schedule after all. Maize gave brief goodbyes to her family, the real ones had been said the night before, before letting herself be corraled by Seeder and Chaff towards the train station.

"Dear, I made sure that the train was stocked with those shakes you're so fond of, nothing but the best for our star!" Goldie chirped as she flitted around the train car, "I know the schedule is a bit daunting, Maize, but not to worry-"

"Yes," Seeder interrupted, her voice calm as ever, "you did exceptionally well during the showcase, mtoto." the woman praised.

Chaff chuckled as he gestured to Maize with his half-empty glass of whiskey, "Serious set of pipes this one has!"

"Young Miss Galloshire is full of surprises." Orion agreed. Maize fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat, smiling awkwardly at the adults staring at her consideringly.

"Thank you." she murmured before quickly changing the subject, "We're starting in 12 right?"

Goldie bobbed her head eloquently, "Yes we'll be there in three hours or so, a car will take us to the square. The mayor will introduce you to the crowds, and then you'll say a few words."

Maize nodded. This wasn't the first time she'd gone over what would happen during the Tour, after all, Maize'd had months to bombard both of her Mentors with questions, but she'd rather go over it for the millionth time than talk about her talent any longer. Singing was something she loved and enjoyed, making it her talent tainted it a little since she now had to share it with the Capitol. But that didn't mean that she had to talk about it when she didn't have to.

"I believe the tributes from 12 both died during the bloodbath." Goldie pondered carelessly, "What were their names?"

"The male's name was Dustin." Chaff offered, "Haymitch complained about him more than once. The girl's name... Ivory, I think."

Seeder nodded, "Ivory Hearth and Dustin Keenlock."

"Yes, well, it's customary to give a brief eulogy for the fallen tributes... but you don't really need to worry about that. You'll just need to read the cards I've prepared for you, dear, oh, and wave, don't forget to smile and wave!"

"Right." Maize smiled tensely.

Orion stood up and stretched before extending his hand towards her, "Come, darling, it's time to start getting you ready."

She was tired already.

It was only the beginning.

"Ladies and Gentlemen the Victor of the 70th Hunger Games, Maize Galloshire!" the Mayor of 12 announced as the doors of District 12's Justice Building was opened by Peacekeepers. Maize walked out onto the small stage more confidently than she actually felt, taking in the sea of pale faces staring up at her.

The residents of District 12 looked like the paler counterparts of her own District, thin and bony faces with haunted -sunken- eyes. Just like in 11, children had been gathered towards the front of the crowds while the families of the deceased were fenced off to the side in a separate area with banners indicating which tribute the family had lost. Ivory Hearth had left behind a broken-looking woman that she assumed had been her mother and a frail sobbing little brother. Dustin Keenlock's family was a bit larger, with two grieving parents an older teen girl, and a tiny pale brown-haired boy that resembled the fallen tribute greatly.

Maize looked at the two families for a moment longer as the very mild applause the crowd had -most likely been forced to- released faded, compassion and guilt enveloping her before glancing down at the cards Goldie had given her on the ride to the bleak-looking Justice Building.

"Thank you." Maize stated clearly as she spewed out the Capitol propaganda on the cards, "I feel honored to be standing here with you on this auspicious today. To the grieving families and friends of this District's fallen tributes, Dustin and Ivory," Maize spoke softly as she eyes both families respectively as she ignored the more flowery and Capitol bullshit that Goldie had prepared, "I offer my sincerest condolences. Though I did not know your children very well, their loss will forever be remembered by the people they touched and interacted with in life."

She paused for a moment smoothing down the silky pantsuit she was wearing with one hand as she swallowed the bile rising up in her throat and looked away from the grieving families to the crowds, "Thanks to the generosity of the Capitol and it's beautiful citizens, I am able to stand before you today in Victory." withholding a pained sigh, Maize stretched a fakefakefake grin on her face as she ended the small speech with the signature phrase, "Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever."

As the crowd gave their false applause Maize froze as her eyes made out the slim form of a brunet girl, probably around Birch's age, with piercing grey eyes locked onto her form. The thin girl's hair had been done up in intricate braids as she leaned against an equally olive-skinned boy with similar dark hair and eyes. A tiny blonde slip of child, with beautiful braids of her own, was clutching the older girl's hand tightly as she eyed the peacekeepers nervously. Maize shot the tiny blonde a kind smile when the girl made eye contact with her before allowing the sleazy-looking mayor of 12 to escort her inside.

In the privacy of her mind, Maize wondered if the grey-eyed child that had been staring her down was the Mockingjay attending the ceremony with her little sister... Maize put it out of mind as she was corraled by slightly chastising Goldie -"Really, dear, what was wrong with reading from the cards?"- to her proud-looking Mentors. Orion and her prep team seemed to be patting themselves on the back for their beautiful designs as they prattled about what they would be dressing her in for the party.

Joy.

Chapter Text

The next five days follow the same pattern. Wake up, be fussed at by the prep team before being dolled up and dressed, step off the train, be greeted by falsely cheering crowds, give pretty much the same speech before being hauled off by her team to change her outfit once more and attend the fancy dinners being hosted by the 'elite' members of each District.

When the train slowed to a stop on the sixth day Maize was nauseous and more than a little anxious about this particular stop. She'd had an active role in the death of the male tribute of this District. Her nightmares were plagued by his face and the canon that'd gone off after she kicked him off her. Maize was terrified to see the boy's family today. To see their accusing glares and hatred because she had lived where their son had been murdered.

She'd barely slept the night before, maybe only an hour or two in total. Maize had only relaxed when Seeder had come in to check on her and the woman had joined her on the bed. Promising to keep watch and wake her if it looked like a nightmare was plaguing her. Even now Seeder stood by her side. Still, Maize felt anxiety thrumming through her veins as she waited behind the heavy-looking doors of District 6's Justice Building.

With -fakefakefake- confidence Maize approached the mike on the stage as the mayor finished introducing her to the unenthusiastic crowd. A fake smile pulled on the corners of her lips as she began her speech, though her eyes never seemed to stray too far from the podium where Gear Lowdust's small family was sobbing. An unbelievable amount of guilt was choking her from the inside, though Maize refused to let it show on her face. It was a relief when Maize was escorted back inside and the doors were closed since she practically collapsed onto the ground.

Silent sobs shook her frame as her eyes burned with unshed tears. Maize allowed the weakness to take her for another moment as Goldie flitted around nervously while Seeder pulled her into a comforting hug. "I'm fine..." Maize croaked out as she excused herself, "I guess the stress is finally hitting me."

Goldie bobbed her head as if she understood, "No worries my dear! We're at the halfway point now!"

That didn't really help.

At all.

At least Goldie attempted to comfort her in the only way the woman knew how. Maize sent the escort a strained smile as she carefully rubbed the tears from her cheeks.

"Come, let's freshen up your face!" Circo chirruped as Seeder helped her up. Maize sent Seeder a look as she allowed herself to be dragged by the prep team into another room. Orion quietly commented that Maize would simply love her dress for the party in the evening in his attempt to alleviate the mood.

Her trip to District 5 wasn't nearly as difficult. From what she'd been able to see of District 4 had been beautiful. She'd missed the ocean with a ferocity that'd initially surprised her for a moment when Maize -finally- caught a whiff of the intoxicating smell of the sea. Though she'd had to swallow any guilt when she saw that there was only an ancient-looking grandmother standing under the banner with Annie's name. The old woman had a wrinkled old hand clutched to the front of her dress and an infinitely sad expression on her aged face.

Annie should have lived but Maize's family would forever be grateful that she had come out of the arena, Cana's family was grateful that she'd come out alive. Maize had carefully avoided looking at Waverly's family after catching a glimpse of an identical boy to that of the deceased District 4 tribute. District 3 had been... different, she hadn't seen that much technology out of the Capitol, though she spent the majority of the evening silently dreading the next day.

District 2 was beautiful in a very unique way. There was very little green in the form of plant life since it was located in a mountain range, the mountains themselves were very eyecatching as opposed to the bleak colored stone buildings of the District. The people were so very different from those of her own District, none of them looked as if they'd ever gone hungry a day in their lives, they were all clean and well dressed as some of them stared up at her admiringly or with clear distaste.

Tiberius Shimmer's family stared at her with thinly veiled contempt and hatred from their spots. Maize refused to flinch or falter under their glares as she recited the speech Goldie had prepared for her. Tiberius had gotten his strong and intimidating build from his father and the more delicate features of his face from his mother. The only member of the family whose grief was evident on their face was the teenage girl standing in between her parents. Maize didn't even bother looking at the other podium where the deceased female tribute's family was watching her with piercing eyes.

The amount of Peacekeepers in the District rivaled with the number in her own, though for vastly different reasons. District 2 was known for having the training facility for Peacekeepers within its borders, some of the Peacekeepers were even volunteers from the District. Meanwhile, the large amount of Peacekeepers in her own District had been strategically placed there to oppress and better control her people.

That didn't absolve the guilt or self-hatred in her heart.

Tiberius had killed Cana.

And Maize had killed him in return.

She'd committed the grave sin of taking another's life. A child's, no matter how misguided he'd been. She was a murderer. The one thing that Maize would never be able to forgive herself for... even if it had been in self-defense and in an attempt to protect Cana... because in the end her hands were stained red -in a way that would never wash off- and she'd utterly failed her District partner as well.

Seeder and Chaff had practically guarded her away from the merry party-goers that evening. Something that Maize would be eternally grateful for since she wouldn't have been able to keep her mask up if the elite of District 2 had bombarded her with questions on her time -and how it felt to take the life of one of District 2's strongest cadets- in the arena.

When she finally finished her tour in District 1 the next day, Maize allowed herself to relax for a moment. At least that part of her nightmare was over and done with. Of course, her relief was quickly chased away by Goldie's and the stylists' glee at finally getting back to the Capitol.

Chapter Text

Maize felt a wave of deja vu engulf her. A plastic grin stretched across her cheeks as she waved at a raving Capitolite screaming her name at the platform of the train station. The other colorful residents of the Capitol on the platform writhed against one another, pushing each other out of the way to get a better view of the newest -victim- Victor. Six months ago, Cana had been panicking, feeling sick to his stomach really, about the crowds waiting for them outside of the train. She could hear his fervent claim -"It's not going to be okay."- ringing in the recesses of her mind.

Six months later and she was still quietly agreeing with Cana.

She moved leisurely away from the window and to Seeder's side. Her mentor looked so unhappy. The older woman had become Maize's pillar of inner strength for months. She and Chaff had helped Maize rebuild herself from her experience in the arena. They were the only ones that could truly sympathize with her over the horrors of the Capitol. The only people in her District who had truly experienced the full-fledged "glory" of the Capitol -lived- and were still standing by her side today. Maize would not be here without them.

She'd had more than one late-night conversation with Seeder over the last six months over what to expect when they reached the Capitol at the end of the Victory Tour. The woman had looked completely hopeless -as if Maize were a sacrificial lamb being primed for the slaughter- while explaining what would most likely happen when the grand party at President Snow's mansion started in the evening. Seeder and Chaff hadn't wanted anything to surprise Maize, especially not in front of the piercing eyes of the Capitolites that would be watching her every move.

Chaff had taken over explaining the ins-and-outs of the 'celebration.' He gave detailed descriptions of the banquet hall and gardens that the party would be hosted in. Chaff described the sheer amount of attention that would be on Maize with horrifying clarity, even if a twinge of sympathy and pity were present in his tone, never downplaying what he'd gone through or seen other Victors experience. Maize would be pulled into countless dances by the most elite members of the Capitol, and Maize would have to dance with them. Lest she accidentally offends the wrong person. People would carelessly touch her, as if she were an object with no autonomy, with reverence and it would be in Maize's best interest to smile and pretend like their touch wouldn't make a curl of disgust pulse through her.

Maize had barely been able to hold off the scream of anger when Chaff had explained the purpose of a special drink called defaeco. The clear liquid would be in shot glasses at the end of all the banquet tables, their purpose was to purge, making the consumer vomit almost immediately, the food from one's stomach after they got full so that the partygoers could continue eating. Where people in the Districts were starving to death every day, the Capitolites would drink defaeco to eat more. It disgusted Maize to no end. Chaff had heavily sympathized with her anger -and sadness- which was one of the reasons why he'd told her about it before they would even arrive at the party. Apparently, Chaff had not taken it well at the party at all, one of his siblings had died from starvation when they were children. He'd made a... scene, and the remainder of his family had paid for it with their lives.

Seeder. Seeder's conversation leaned more toward what would eventually happen at some point during the festivities. President Snow would eventually call for her presence in his private office and Maize would allow herself to be led inside. He would ask for her services, whatever it was that he wanted, and Maize would say 'yes.' She would say 'yes.' She would say 'yes.' And her family would live.

Numb. Maize felt numb as she climbed down the steps of the train, one hand being braced by Chaff's before he offered his elbow like a gentleman. Seeder was at his other side, her arm around the stump in a natural way that spoke of the years that her mentors had played this game. Maize smiled demurely at the crowds, winking coquettishly once at the camera filming the event before ignoring the cameras altogether and following her stylist crew into the Remake Center.

Her stylists were quick to retouch all of the work they'd done over the last week. Applying creams to her skin after washing off the makeup caked to her face, before redoing the makeup in a more pale blue shade and her lips a soft glossy pink color. This time she was wearing a pale blue tulle lace dress -something that she only knew because Circo and Tesoro had repeated the phrase a million times over the last half hour- that had a flower pattern with buttons going up from the waist up to the collar. A fancy anklet that looked like a vine with flowers in the same shade as the dress was perched around her left ankle, and a matching bracelet on her right hand. Yurida had done her hair in half braids so that while her hair was out of her face her curls still bounced around with every step she took.

Orion was more than pleased with the overall look as they were escorted to town cars to take them to the Training Center. After all, they didn't want anyone to catch a glimpse before Maize had her interview with Caesar. Seeder and Chaff were also looking fancy in their new outfits as they sat down in the expensive-looking vehicle. Seeder shot her a small smile as they got comfortable, making some of the tension on Maize's shoulders dissipate. The car drove all the way into the Training Center, the driver expertly avoiding the crowds.

Goldie had quickly taken the lead as she led them through the familiar building and towards the stage area where Caesar Flickerman was eagerly waiting for their arrival. There was a small live audience that Maize could already hear tittering excitedly while the stylists and Orion took their seats in the crowds. Chaff and Seeder would get on the stage first. Caesar would have a ten-minute interview with her mentors before she would be given her cue to go on. The Capitolite must have coordinated with Orion since his hair color was in the same shade as Maize's dress. Maize leaned against the wall in an almost peaceful manner as she watched Caeser finish up his interview with Seeder and Chaff.

A man wearing a headset approached her side and motioned for her to get on the stage as Seeder and Chaff exited, waving off cheers from the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, our Victor of the 70th Hunger Games, Maize Galloshire!"

Maize languidly made her way across the stage, her gaze firmly on Caesar as a small smile played on the corner of her lips. She only looked at the crowd once to send them a 'secretive' smile and wink before gently hugging Caesar in greeting and allowing herself to be led to the comfy couch and sit.

"Maize, darling, how are you?" Caesar grinned widely as he patted her hand in an excited manner, "I just need to tell you how much I loved your performance, my dear!"

She sent the man a demure grin as her cheeks colored, "Oh, thank you, Caesar! I was so nervous to share my talent with you all!"

The host chuckled good-naturedly, "No reason to be nervous with us, dear, right?" he turned to the crowd who cheered wildly, "Darling, I just can't believe that you picked up the guitar in six months. Did you hear that folks! Six months! It looks like we may have a musical prodigy on our hands!"

Her grin took on a more shy look as she peered up at Caeser from under her lashes, "Oh, I wouldn't say that. I still have a long way to go, but with practice, I hope to one day play as well as my teacher Leto."

"So modest! I love it!" Caeser gushed, making the crowd titter, "Leto must be very proud of you! Not to mention your family!" he emphasized, "Darling, tell us, how is your family? We all saw that adorable reunion you had with your brothers and sisters six months ago... I don't know about you-" he turned to the crowd, "but my heart just about melted when your brother jumped over the fence and threw his arms around you."

Cheers of agreement and "Aww's" filled the air as a short recap clip of the reunion played on a screen behind them. A genuine smile graced Maize's face.

"They are just wonderful! I missed them so much when I was away, I miss them even now! Though, I missed your wonderful company as well Caeser!" she teased with a wink.

The man threw his head back with a laugh as the audience copied his jovial mood, "So cheeky, my dear! And your cousin, darling? Sweet Amla, whom you volunteered for? We were all thrilled to learn she was expecting during her interview."

"Amla is well!" Maize bobbed her head happily as she pictured Amla in her mind, "I'm just hoping that I'll be by her side soon! She asked me to be her midwife. I'm so excited to become an Auntie!"

The crowd "Aww'd" predictably.

Caeser let out a chuckle, "I can only imagine! How does it feel like to be back at the Capitol my dear? Here where your status as a Victor was cemented?"

A -false- gentle smile pulled on the corner of her lips as she faced the audience, "I'm just so happy to be here with you all once again!"

Chapter Text

Maize was relieved for a grand total of two minutes after the interview was over. All it took for the tension to seep back onto her shoulders was for Goldie to squeal on the elevator ride up to the eleventh floor -the space she'd shared for a small amount of time with Cana- about the party in the evening. Seeder and Chaff had exchanged a frustrated look over the oblivious escort's head. Maize only let out a weary sigh before nodding and humming absentmindedly so that she wouldn't have to verbally respond to the giddy woman.

Lunch was a light meal, where no one really spoke of anything of any real importance. The stylist crew spent the whole time gossiping over who was invited to the party in the evening and -in their words- more importantly, who wasn't attending. Orion interjected every few moments to either correct them or add his own two-cents on which stylists were going. Goldie was so excited that the woman was practically vibrating in her spot as she babbled. Seeder and Chaff spoke in soft tones about anything but the party in the evening. They'd gone over the incoming events so many times with Maize back home that, despite her discomfort, she was just ready to be over and done with the party already as impatience settled over her bones.

After eating, well Maize only downed a mango nutritional shake and tried some of the breaded calamari at Goldie's behest, she was ushered by the stylists to get started on her look for the evening. The braids were carefully undone before Maize took a long soothing shower, working out all the knots in her back, and came out feeling refreshed before the stylists pounced. Oils and creams were rubbed into her skin while one of them got rid of the fresh coat of blue nail polish that they'd painted for the interview this morning and replaced it with a soft white color. Her outfit for the evening was as beautiful as it was unique. It also wasn't something that Maize would have ever worn by choice because of its revealing nature. At least not in public. Where people she didn't like or trust would be there.

She didn't really know how to describe it. Orion claimed that it was a style called bohemian, and he promised that despite the holes in the fabric caused by the pretty patterns, no one would actually be able to see anything. The white color of the dress was emphasized by Maize's natural dark olive coloring. The skirt started at her mid-drift and covered her feet where there was a slip going up to mid-thigh so that she could still walk around comfortably. The top came to an end three inches away from her breasts so that some skin on her stomach showed and ended at her collarbone. Empire-like sleeves with a slit passed her and ended below her hips aligned with the top at her collarbone, and there was a fancy accent piece that covered her neck and laid gently on the top of her shoulders.

Her brown locks had been carefully styled so that the top of her hair laid mostly flat so that it wouldn't entangle with the beautiful and delicate piece, while the rest was left in a tamed curly wave with sparse tiny immaculate braids intermingled with the loose strands. The weirdest part was her footwear.

Circo had coated the bottom of her feet with what he described were 'spray-on shoes' that would last for ten hours before naturally dissolving or until a solution was sprayed. They would basically form a hard clear substance that would cover the soles of her feet and her toes to protect them while she walked--because what they wanted her to wear was a white pair of beautifully made crochet barefoot sandals to go with the white bohemian themed outfit, without Maize accidentally hurting herself because she'd stepped on something sharp or hard. Not that it would hurt Maize too much. She'd gone barefoot in this life more times than not. Even in the orchards where there was a much higher chance of stepping on gnarly roots than miraculously avoiding them.

Honestly, despite being one of the seemingly most revealing outfits Orion had dressed her in... Maize felt almost, beautiful. Like she was walking on air. It sort of reminded her of the beach-themed wedding dress one of her cousins had worn in her first life. Maybe it was the barefoot sandals. She'd worn many of them in her previous life as she walked along the beach. Yurida retouched the lipstick one more time before spritzing her face with a special spray to prevent the makeup from rubbing off before Orion declared her to be finished.

Maize spent the next half hour sitting on the couch in the living area with Chaff and Seeder in comfortable silence while the others finished getting themselves ready. Goldie... was particularly colorful. Her hair was still green, and her makeup, though it was a more muted pastel color now and she wore a matching ruffled green dress with white flowers. Actually, now that Maize was paying attention to what everyone else was wearing, they all had something white to tie them together with Maize's outfit. Well, that was intentional.

Goldie excitedly escorted everyone downstairs and back into the town cars before the driver pulled out of the Training Center and to the Presidential Mansion.

Overwhelming.

That was the word that came to mind as Maize struggled to follow behind an excited and self-important Goldie through the very touchy-feely crowd of Capitolites. Seeder and Chaff had arrived separately from Maize and Goldie, and were probably intermingling with the other Victors by this point since Maize and her escort had to walk down this special red carpet for new Victors before entering the party. Honestly, Maize's eyes were still recovering from the incessant flashes of the cameras.

Just as Chaff had told her, the crowd around her disregarded Maize's personal space and took any chance to touch her skin or dress as she walked through them with her head held high and confidently. Even if each touch felt like the Capitolites were taking the chance to claim a piece of her for themselves as she passed by. By the time they finally made it inside the mansion, it felt like a million years had gone by. Goldie happily made small comments about faces she recognized in the crowds or about the large mansion as they walked. The escort was truly basking in all the attention.

"Only the most elite are invited." she tittered conspiringly, "And they'll all be lining up to meet you."

The sight of the packed and beautifully decorated banquet room was also overwhelming. Maize smiled politely at all the partygoers that caught her eye as she followed Goldie into the room. The escort quickly lead them over to Orion and the stylist trio -who were equally basking in all the compliments over the various outfits they'd fitted her in- by one of the many tables that lined the walls laden with an overabundance of food. Maize eyed the nicely arranged glasses of defaeco with clear distaste as people started coming up to her and introducing themselves. Each bizarrely painted face blurred into another, along with their names. Seeder and Chaff would tell her if someone actually important approached her.

It was at some point after the Presidential Welcome -the only time in which the President would actually be present during the festivities- when the party truly hit full swing.

Still, Maize found herself anticipating being called away as every moment passed.

Chapter Text

A couple of hours must have passed by now. The countless mediocre interactions with the partygoers had all blended together now into obscurity. She'd nibbled on a few of the numerous delicacies on the banquet tables, mostly re-exploring the seafood she hadn't ever eaten in this life. Maize had missed tuna. But probably not as much as salmon.

Maize got asked to dance by almost every brave male partygoer and one starstruck female. She complied with all of the dance requests with a shy smile and peered up at them through her thick eyelashes, as if Maize couldn't believe that they would choose to dance with a tiny thing like her. It made her dance partners fluster and bristle up with pride as they promised to show her the most popular dances of the Capitol.

At one point Seeder led Maize to one of the many tables with food, a wide proud smile on her face as she leaned in and whispered, "Mtoto, you are doing splendidly." before introducing her to some of the older Victors from the other Districts.

Chaff was the one to introduce her to the only living Victor of District 12, that is after she finally escaped from a rather drunk and handsy Capitolite on the dance floor. Haymitch Abernathy was similar and yet different from what she'd vaguely expected. He was drunk, much like Chaff was, his dirty-blonde hair was at chin-length and his gray eyes were piercing as he kissed the back of her hand.

"Chaff's told me a lot 'bout you." he murmured.

Maize smiled at him awkwardly, "Only good things I hope. He's talked about you before too."

Haymitch nodded, "True." he drawled slowly, "But he also told me 'bout how you growled and almost bit him once when you fell asleep in his living room."

She shot Chaff an embarrassed and frustrated look -her face flushed- that made her male mentor chortle good-naturedly, "That only happened once. And in my defense," Maize added weakly, "he was taking my blanket..."

"Funniest thing I e'er saw!" Chaff chortled.

The eyes of 12's Victor were shiny with mirth as he slurred, "Chaff can' talk though, he punched me once for tryin' ta shake him awake." Both of the male Victors broke out into raucous joyful laughter over the memory... as if it were a completely normal reaction anyone would have to being woken. Their joy was contagious as a giggle escaped from her lips.

A colorful servant in a red suit tapped onto Maize's arm before leaning in and whispering, "Follow me please, President Snow wishes to speak with you."

It takes all of the countless hours of training she'd done with Seeder not to pale at the words and collapse into herself. Instead, she smiled softly at the servant before turning to the now tense and wary male Victors, "I'll be back soon, Chaff. Tell Seeder not to worry. It was wonderful to meet you Mr. Abernathy."

Chaff nodded. Maize ignored how his -only- fist clenched angrily as he turned to glare at the wall in order to avoid making a scene.

"Haymitch, please, Ms. Galloshire" Haymitch responded in a sad but teasing voice, as he purposefully tried to ignore what they all knew would happen now, before kissing the back of her hand once more.

"Then you should call me Maize, Haymitch." Maize returned with a cheeky grin before her expression melted into a more neutral -plastic- smile as she hooked her arm with the servant's, "Lead the way."

The servant doesn't speak as he expertly winded her through the crowds and passed by some cleverly disguised guards into the part of the mansion where the partygoers were banned from entering. He led her to a closed intricate wooden door. Maize released her hold on his arm so that he could knock politely on the door three times.

"Come in."

The nameless servant opened the door for her with ease that she found herself envying. Maize strode into the room with the same numb confidence she had while standing on the podium in the arena, not paying any mind to the servant as he closed the door behind her. Maize's eyes don't really wander around President Snow's office. All of her attention was focused on the ruse snake in her presence as he played the role of an old benevolent and traditional President. The man hadn't looked up from the journal he's been writing in yet, but she didn't let that bother her as she waited for him to speak first.

Cold -serpentine- blue eyes flicked up and locked onto hers as he snapped his journal closed, "Ms. Galloshire." he greeted before gesturing to the chair in front of his desk, "Please sit. Make yourself comfortable."

Maize delicately sat on the indicated chair, "Thank you, President Snow."

"My pleasure, Ms. Galloshire. Can I offer you something to drink?" the man questioned politely. The smell of roses in the room was almost suffocating. Maize shot him a demure smile.

"Oh, no thank you, President Snow."

The man nodded. His cold gaze never straying from her seemingly submissive form. "I hope you are enjoying the festivities."

The politeness game was already boring Maize.

"Yes. You have a lovely home, President Snow. It's simply beautiful inside and out." she responded without hesitation.

The white-haired man's eyes narrowed, "Correct me if I'm wrong Ms. Galloshire, but you are seventeen? Yes?"

Maize nodded, "My birthday always falls either a few days before or after the reapings, President Snow."

"I see." he hummed before his brows furrowed, "Ms. Galloshire, you strike me as the type of person who prefers to face things head-on and without societal niceties. Am I correct?"

"Yes." she stated bluntly leaning back into her seat, crossing one leg over the other in a practiced careless manner.

"Good, see I have a proposition for you Ms. Galloshire." a cruel smile was beginning to tug on the corner of his lips, "You see the people of the Capitol are enamored with District 11's brave volunteer. The outlying Districts rarely enrapture this much attention from the Capitol. To say the least, the citizens of the Capitol are simply taken with Maize Galloshire, the 70th Victor of the Hunger Games."

Maize hummed softly under her breath in mock contemplation, as if this were an issue that truly concerned her as well, "I can see how that could happen President Snow, tributes almost never volunteer from 11."

"Exactly my dear. You have made yourself quite a hot commodity." he agreed, "It is for that reason that I wish for you to keep the citizens of this fine Capitol happy. Can you make a prediction as to where I'm going with this, Ms. Galloshire?"

She hummed under her breath once more, "Keeping the Capitol happy is of the utmost importance." Maize agreed demurely, "How may I be of service?"

A wide almost genuine smile stretched across the President's face. It was unsettling. "That is what I love to hear."

Maize left the meeting feeling a million years older.

Haggard and weary of life.

A little more broken.

More done with everything.

But... relieved.

Triumphant.

Her family was safe.

Maize had ensured that her brothers and sisters would never suffer the same fate she was.

And that... that was all Maize really needed.

Chapter Text

Seeder found her almost immediately after Maize returned to the party hall. Her mentor's expression was stricken before the woman carefully smoothed over her expression when one of the ignorant partygoers approached her. Maize shot her a smile when their eyes caught one another's once more. She could see Chaff slowly making his way over to her when someone grabbed the crook of her elbow, making Maize lose track of him to look at the interloper. Maize honestly felt more startled at seeing Finnick Odair than she had throughout the entire conversation she'd just had with President Snow.

The Victor from 4 was wearing a smart-looking suit and his hair was slicked back with gel, a coy smile was plastered across his face, "May I have a dance with the newest Victor?"

A strained smile formed on her face, "Of course."

He led her onto the dance floor, a few faces in the crowd seemed thrilled to see the newest Victor interacting with the Capitol darling -she did not like the considering looks being exchanged by a few as they eyed her, no, them with open interest- as they turned to one another and pointed at them. Odair gently placed a hand on the small of her back as his other hand brought her left hand up and began leading her on the dance floor.

"I never got to congratulate you for winning." he started softly, a small smile on his face even though his eyes were serious.

She hummed softly, a demure smile painted on her own lips, as she whispered out, "No one ever really wins the Hunger Games."

"No, they don't." Odair agreed in a murmur before asking in a louder tone, "They have you in the Training Center again don't they?"

Maize nodded.

"Have you ever gone to the roof?" he asked, although he knew very well the answer to that, "It has one of the most beautiful views of the Capitol from there. I suggest you check it out before you leave."

"Can you see the stars from there? I love looking up the stars." Maize asked in what she hoped was a naive manner when another dancing couple got too close.

Finnick nodded, "The stars look beautiful from up there."

As soon as the song ended Chaff cut it. "Maize, mtoto, I've been wanting to dance with you all night!" he claimed, "I'm cutting in now fish boy."

The blonde Victor chuckled good-naturedly as he bowed out, "It was nice talking to you, Maize. Chaff."

A shiver ran down her spine at the way Odair had drawled out her given name... as if it were liquid gold, before leisurely walking away. Maize resolutely ignored her weird reaction and instead shot Chaff a tired smile, "Long time no see Chaff." she greeted blandly as he began leading her in a dance.

"It's been days." he agreed with a tiny smirk, "Goldie was about to start searching for you. It's time to start heading back to the Center. Orion wants to get you out of this dress before we head home."

She nodded, relief draining some of the tensenesses in her muscles away at the very thought that they'd soon be on their way home, "Then what are waiting for?"

Chaff grinned as he stopped and instead offered her his arm, "I'm not sure. Let's go."

A small snort escaped from her throat as Chaff expertly led her through the crowds, nodding or saying brief 'goodbyes' to some of the people he recognized as he went. Goldie and Seeder were at the town car by the time they finally arrived at the vehicle. Seeder placed a warm hand on her shoulder as they boarded the car before pulling Maize into a hug once they were seated. Maize melted into her mentor's arms.

Chaff chuckled and explained it away to Goldie, "Our little Victor is all tuckered out."

The escort tittered, "It was an excellent party! Oh, wasn't it just wonderful!"

Chaff took one for the team as he kept Goldie entertained the entire drive to the Training Center. It was when the elevator finally stopped at their floor that Maize stopped moving forward. Seeder sent her a concerned look as she motioned to lead her out of the elevator. Maize shook her head.

"I just wanna look at the stars for a moment." she whispered tiredly, "The, um, Victor from 4 told me that the view of the night sky is pretty spectacular from up there. I just want to take a quick peak and then come back down- get all this stuff taken off."

Seeder looked like she wanted to protest, but the woman gave in and nodded firmly after Maize sent her a pleading look, "No more than ten minutes Maize, we're on a schedule."

She bobbed her head before pressing the button for the rooftop, the door slid shut slowly but the cart quickly moved up the last two floors before reopening. Maize walked out onto the roof and headed straight for the banister. Deja vu whacking her all over again.

Just six months ago she'd gone up here in a fit of restlessness to vent for a little while and had gotten the shock of a lifetime when Odair had started clapping. Now, here she was again. Except, this time she was waiting for him. Hopefully not in vain either. Not that it looked like the older teen had been messing with her at the party. He must have been pretty desperate to confront her- since he'd all but verbally asked her to meet him here before she left the Capitol. He'd probably been waiting to confront her since the dam broke in the arena. Since the arena flooded... and Annie drowned.

Quiet footsteps approached her from behind. Maize's entire body tensed before relaxing somewhat as Finnick Odair leaned against the banister.

"Six months ago," he started without preamble, "you told me that your Games would end in a 'flood of sorrows' and then- the dam broke."

She didn't look at him.

"How? How did you know that?"

Maize sighed, looking at the much taller teen from the corner of her eye, "I told you last time. I know things. Things I shouldn't possibly know."

"Yeah." he hummed, "You did say that. But you never told me why or how you know these things."

She shrugged, "I don't know. I was just... born this way. Mama calls me her 'beautiful strange child' for a reason."

"See." Odair crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm not buying that-"

"Finnick." she interrupted him, "I'm sorry that you've been suffering alone these last few years. What they, he, makes you do to keep Capiolites happy... is beyond infuriating. It's dehumanizing. I would gladly step on the head of the ruse snake a million times over if it meant that you were free."

The male Victor was pale now, though anger was quickly bleeding onto his features much like the red on his skin. "How do you know about that? Did Seeder tell you? Why the hell would she have told you that six months ago before you won the Hun-"

"Nobody wins the Hunger Games." Maize spoke over him firmly as she faced him, "But the Games won't go on forever. They've won this round but they won't win the war."

"You're speaking in riddles again!" he huffed frustratedly, his hands clenching as if to stop himself from shaking her.

Maize rubbed her face tiredly, "I'm sorry. I want to tell you- it's just not safe."

"I- Do you-" Odair groaned loudly before hissing, "I was supposed to get answers not more questions!"

"Sorry." she offered, "It doesn't make sense right now. But it will one day."

"When?"

She sent him a sad smile before ignoring the question altogether as she looked up at the sky, "I wonder if they'll house me here when the President calls for me, or if they'll give me a more permanent residence?"

Odair sucked in a breath, "W-What?"

Maize nodded, "It looks like we might see each other again before the next Hunger Games starts."

"Sn- President Snow orde- offered you a job?" he whispered.

"It was more like a choice." Maize admitted, "My brothers and sisters will never be tainted by this place. I think I made the right one."

"I-I'm sorry."

She shook her head, "I have to go now. Goldie's probably cursing my name right now for making her go behind schedule."

The other Victor bobbed in acquiescence, even though she could tell all he wanted was to ask her more questions... to get the answers he craved- needed, "I'll see you around then."

He'd have time to ask her later. Maybe, even, in the not-so-distant future.

Maize nodded back as she entered the elevator before freezing when Odair called out to her, "Hey, 11! You really do have a pretty voice!"

A blush quickly heated up her cheeks, "Thanks." before Maize pressed the button for the eleventh floor, shooting him another smile as she ignored the cracks breaking his teasing facade.

After all, he'd been kind enough not to poke holes through her own.

Chapter Text

The train ride home was almost... dull compared to the events of the last few days. It was glorious. Maize pretty much spent the entire ride in her 'room.' Goldie seemed to have actually picked up on Maize's morose mood and instead of trying to cheer her up was actually giving her space. Her only -welcomed- company was Seeder. Her mentor had laid with Maize on the bed and held her when the eventual tears finally came.

And they had come.

The only other person to interrupt her was towards the end of the ride. After all, Orion hadn't spent the last week or so dolling her up so that Maize would finish up the Tour dressed in 'rags.'

When the train finally pulled into 11, Maize knew that she wouldn't get to hold her family in her arms until after the party in the evening for the Harvest Festival. It was mandatory for all of the Districts to celebrate the Harvest Festival at the end of the Victory Tour. It was all filmed, though the focus was obviously on the winning District's festivities, however, the screens would occasionally jump to see how the others -that is the elite members of each District- were celebrating the end of the Tour.

For the first time in decades, it would be a public affair for her District. The Capitol would be throwing the party and all of 11 would be invited to celebrate. No one would hungry tonight. The thought alone was almost enough to banish her heartache.

Maize waved at the cheering crowds waiting for them at the station. She winked at a camera before allowing Goldie to usher her inside a car. The ride over to the Mayor's home was quick.

The dinner party was just as long and as boring as they had been in the other Districts. The only saving grace was when her family was finally invited inside after dinner. Seeing her excited brothers and sisters, all of them adorably dressed up, probably by her stylist crew, flitting around the elite of 11 and asking inquisitive questions was hilarious. Her mama looked gorgeous in a long ball gown and modest jewelry, her baba had also cleaned up very nicely in a matching suit.

The only members of her family missing were her youngest twin brothers. Mama quietly assured her that Balm and Gilead were being watched by a trustworthy babysitter that hadn't wanted to come to the festivities.

Where her siblings gaze made Maize feel like she was soaring... Baba's felt like they were piercing into her skull. Dark brown orbs searching her endlessly for answers that Maize didn't want to give him. But she knew her baba. He would hold his tongue for now, while they were in public, but once they were in the privacy of their home he would confront her. He wouldn't be able to handle not knowing. But knowing could possibly even be worse.

-It could destroy him-

Still, Maize didn't think she would be able to hide this from him.

Or even her mama at this point.

Because it wasn't just a vague possibility anymore.

It was happening. Real.

Still, the festival had finally started unwinding and people started making their way out of the Mayor's home and the square. Goldie, Orion, and the stylists gave their tear-filled goodbyes and promised to get in touch with her soon before heading toward the town car for the train. She walked home with her family and mentors. Her brothers and sisters were tired but still filled with the excitement from the festivities as they danced around her, giggling about the things they'd seen and eaten. Baba was carrying her youngest sister in his arms, she had conked out half an hour ago, Lilac's now unruly curls bounced against his cheek with every step. Mama had entwined her arm with Maize's while her free hand held onto Hibis's so that he wouldn't wander away.

Chaff drunkenly made up the end of their entourage, while Seeder confidently led the way home... Maize felt safe for the first time in two weeks.

Three hours after finally laying down in her own bed, a nightmare woke her up.

Maize crawled out of her sheets, wrapped herself up in the fluffiest one and stumbled through the dark house until she made it to the back door. The door barely even creaked as she opened and shut it behind her before sitting on the porch to stare out into the meadow. The sky wasn't nearly as dark as it had been when she'd gone to bed. The sun was only starting to hazily peak out on the horizon.

A cold draft blew against the house, it went right through the blanket and into her bones making her body rattle with shivers. She tightened the blanket around her frame though, she really wasn't in any hurry to move just now. Her eyes stayed locked onto the horizon- admiring the soft pinks and oranges blending into the blue. The backdoor creaked open and close. Maize peaked up and was captured by her baba's eyes. Hunched over, he looked as if he were carrying the burden of the world on his shoulders. Baba quietly joined her on the floor before putting his arm around her shoulders to pull her into a hug.

The smell of the earth and the spicy undertone that was purely her baba tickled her nose. It was familiar and comforting. Maize nuzzled under his chin and breathed out shakily. His grip tightened comfortingly.

"What happened?" baba's strong voice whispered, "Did they ask-"

"I have to report to the Capitol in one month." Maize interrupted.

Baba shuddered. She could see his free hand tremble angrily before balling into a fist, "Did they tell you why."

Maize shut her eyes, "One of my biggest S-Sponsor's became completely enamored with me during the Games. She begged for an evening alone with me." she whispered, "Her name's Blip, I think she's going to buy me dinner first. Something about showing me off to the public."

From where her ear was pressed up against her baba's chest, she could hear his heartbeat pick up furiously. "And after dinner."

"You know what will happen after dinner."

"Jamani!" he cursed angrily under his breath, "H-How dare- ujinga. Is it too late to refuse? I'm not going to let-"

"I'm going baba." Maize started strongly, "I'm going. It is my decision."

"You are my child." Baba spoke strongly, "My first baby, my daughter. Mine-"

"He promised." she interrupted him once more, "President Snow promised that they would never draw one of their names during the reapings."

"What?" he whispered brokenly.

"Birch. Brier, Piper... Hibis, Lilac, Balm and Gilead... we will never lose them to the Games." Maize stated serenely, "They still have to show up on Reaping day, but baba, their names will never be called."

A sob broke out of her baba's throat making Maize tense as her father wrapped both of his arms around her and buried his face into her wild hair. "Ma sweet mtoto. There is always a chance that they would not be called-"

"Baba if I don't do this, you will all die. He would make sure of it." she said strongly.

He shuddered. His breaths raspy and broken.

"I- I am so sorry. I can- cannot protect you." he muttered tearfully, "I have failed you."

Maize shook her head as she pulled out his arms and cupped his tear-stained cheeks, "Baba, without you- without you I wouldn't even have had the strength to leave the arena. Without you all, I would be nothing."

"You shouldn't have been in that arena in the first place." baba murmured, haunted and aged by this conversation even more than he had on the day Amla had been reaped, "Our children shouldn't have to be in that arena in the first place."

"I know baba." she whispered before leaning in towards his ear, "Things won't always be this way. Change is coming. I'm only, I only have to hold on for a little while three- four years at the most baba." Maize promised as she moved away and locked eyes with him once more, "This way, we can all live to see it together. Understand?"

"My beautiful, strange, brave, strong baby girl." he sighed wetly before pressing a kiss onto her forehead. She knew he didn't. But he loved her anyway and that was all she needed. Maize returned his embrace and closed her eyes.

In her baba's arms, nothing could hurt her

Chapter Text

In twenty-nine days Maize would be back in the Capitol.

She was going to enjoy her every waking moment until then.

It just so happened that babysitting her younger siblings was a part of that joy.

Balm giggled up cutely at her. Maize's lips broke out into a wide besotted smile as she tickled his ribs- making a new peal of laughter erupt from her youngest sibling. Gilead grunted jealously as he crawled over to them from where he'd been playing with wooden blocks on the other side of the rug. The older twin smacked his hand on Maize's thigh for attention.

"Oh, you feeling jealous Gil?" she asked him rhetorically before running her fingers under his chin in a teasing manner before moving down to his ribs. He broke out into immediate giggles, it was a shared weakness of the twins, she gave Gilead a break by tickling Balm before switching. The innocent babyish cackles warmed her heart.

"Zee! Bébé's laughin'!" Lilac chirruped delightedly as she plopped down beside her on the rug.

"That's right." she agreed. Her youngest sister was adorable, her kinky hair flying wildly around her head as she nodded. Lilac leaned over and pressed a wet kiss on Gilead's cheek.

She could hear Hibis running around in the other room while peals of laughter escaped from his throat. The thundering footsteps of Brier and Piper were hot on Hibis's heels. Her only sibling not in the house right now was Birch, he'd gone over to Ollie's home with goodies for the entire Fairgrovel family. Maize made care packages for the family of her fallen District partner every other day, she would usually deliver them personally -though Birch often accompanied her- but after the insanity that had been the last two weeks... She was just too tired -exhausted mentally and physically- to go anywhere right now. Her tolerance for social interaction was currently in the negatives.

Mama was in the kitchen preparing something for lunch while Maize lent a hand by entertaining her youngest siblings. After her early morning chat with baba, he'd decided to work off his heartbreak and anger by putting in some hard hours in the factory. Mama seemed to have realized that something was wrong, but it didn't look like she was in a hurry to actually confront her just yet. Which worked for Maize. She really wasn't in any hurry to tell her mother what was bothering her, or what was mentally tormenting her baba.

-She knew for a fact that her mama's reaction would be more imminently explosive than her baba's. Maize was more than happy to continue putting that off for as long as possible.-

The front door suddenly slammed open, her infant brothers flinched before they started wailing in unison while Lilac sniffled in distress. Maize jumped up to her feet, heart pounding as her eyes roamed around the living room for a weapon-

"Maize!" Birch shouted frantically, relief coursing through her body as she recognized the culprit, "Maize!"

"Birch Galloshire!" Mama chastised angrily, "Wha' are you doing slamming doors like that! You scare' the life out of me!"

"Mama! I can't- Maize!" Birch ran into the living room. He was drenched in sweat, a panicked look on his face as he doubled over with his hands on his knees while he panted. Maize felt the relief drain out of her body.

"Wh-"

"It's Amla!" he blurted out, "Thorn tol' me ta come get you! She's been h-having contractions all morning."

Oh.

OH!

"Get my med bag from the closet." Maize barked out before running upstairs to grab her shoes. She grabbed the first pair of suede boots in sight and shoved them on before barreling back downstairs where Birch was anxiously waiting for her by the door. Maize threw the strap of the bag over her shoulder, "Let's go."

The siblings raced out of the Victor's Village and through the town toward their cousin's home. The walk was usually a good fifteen minutes away, but they made it there in five. Maize was barely out of breath -thanks to all of the exercise she'd been doing, something of which she needed to start up again now that the Tour was over and done with- as she knocked on the door. Thorn practically ripped the door open, though his face almost instantly clouded in relief as he took in their figures.

"Maize..." he breathed out her name like a prayer as he beckoned them inside.

"Thorn." Maize greeted with a small grin as she made her way past him and towards the bedroom. Amla was curled up on her side in pain, a low moan escaping from her lips, as her body was rocked through another contraction. A bowl with water was by the bed, she grabbed the cloth dipped it in before straining it and placing it on her cousin's sweating forehead. Amla's eyes snapped open, a tight but relieved grin bloomed across her face.

"You're here."

"Of course." Maize whispered back.

Amla shuddered as she grasped her hand, "Binamu, ninaogopa."

"Don't be afraid, binamu, women have always been havin' babies. I will be here every step of the way." Maize cooed, "C'mon let's get you onto your back, need to check on your bébé's position."

It took four hours.

Four grueling, tear-filled hours later... Milho Ludwig Flatcreek was born. Tears streamed down cute chubby cheeks while her limbs flailed and distressed cries escaped from plump lips. She was perfect. After rinsing off the afterbirth, Maize swaddled the infant in a soft blanket and handed her over to Amla. Her cousin was flush, sweat clinging to her forehead as a tired but entirely joyful smile stretched her cheeks as she held her daughter for the first time.

She could hear Thorn and her brother celebrating in the other room before the new father asked if he could come in. Maize rolled her eyes before covering the lower half of her cousin with a thin blanket and telling the man to come in. The only reason Thorn had been kicked out of the room earlier was because he'd fainted rather dramatically when the baby's head had started crowning. It wasn't the first time she'd seen a man be utterly useless during birth. It probably wouldn't be the last either. At least Thorn hadn't cracked his head on the floor like one of the husband's she'd seen do before when she was still shadowing Auntie Calla.

Now with both of the new parents in the room, Maize felt her heart soar in her chest as they cooed lovingly down at their new bundle of joy like she had become the light of their lives... She absolutely made the right choice volunteering for the 70th Hunger Games, because if she hadn't, well- then, Milho would not be here.

Everything that would come after this, all of the pain she would be subjected to, all of it would be worth it.

Her cheeks burned from how wide her smile was.

(Extra scene that didn't really fit but does happen)

An hour or so later, as Milho was happily sleeping off the excitement of her own birth in the arms of her mother -Amla was a mother now, and wasn't that a thought that would have sent her down a fit of laughter a few years ago- while Thorn crowed up and down the street that he had a daughter, and after Maize had helped her cousin deliver the afterbirth and dispose of it... She was cleaning off the equipment and getting fresh sheets for Amla's bed. Maize had already taken a small blood sample from Milho -it was just a tiny pinprick at the heel of her foot- that she would drop off at the hospital before going home. Birch had long run back home to tell their family the good news.

Amla was still awake, not able to take her eyes off her newborn. Maize smiled at the scene as she packed away the last of her equipment in her med bag. The same smile that hadn't left her face since Milho's first pitchy cry broke the air.

"Why did you name her Milho?" she asked her cousin curiously after a moment. Amla and Thorn had kept the name a secret until now. Milho guzzled loudly, a tiny fist jerking into Amla's cheek. It wasn't a family name, that was for sure. Thorn didn't have any siblings and neither of his parents were called that.

Her cousin let out a snort, "For someone so smart, binamu, you can be so slow." she teased looking up at her for the first time, "Milho means corn, does it not? What does your name mean again?"

An embarrassed flush colored her cheeks as realization hit her, "You- You named her after me?" Maize whispered, choked up for the millionth time since she'd entered her cousin's home.

"Of course." Amla stated seriously, small tears building up in the corners of her eyes once more, "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

"Oh." Maize hummed, blinking rapidly, before shooting her cousin a teasing smile, "You sap."

Amla giggled, "Not as much as you, I'm not the one crying."

Well played, binamu.

Well played.

Milho was beautiful.

Chapter Text

The week following the birth of Milho was a busy one. Maize would stop by at her cousin's home twice a day -once in the morning and in the early evening- to see how Amla was recovering from the birth or to see if she needed any help with the baby or around the house. The day after Milho was born she even stopped by with Auntie Calla, the more experienced midwife had been rather pleased with how Amla and Maize had handled the birth... and Auntie Calla had murmured her gratitude towards the skies more than once that all of Maize's midwifery training hadn't gone down the drain during her time away.

Maize had also been making her daily appearances back at the orchard and greenhouses during the lunch break as well, her guitar always on hand to accompany the songs her fellow fruit pickers wanted to sing.

Baba was working long hours at the factory again. It made Maize feel more than a little guilty since her father seemed to be doing it just so that he could avoid her. Mama wasn't too concerned over it just yet. They all knew that her husband was a stubborn man, but he always came around after a while.

She'd jumped right back into training. Even though her siblings weren't in danger of being reaped anymore -although, Maize honestly didn't trust anything that came out of President Snow's mouth so she was going to keep drilling the knowledge she'd learned into her siblings- she still insisted on training with them. Birch, Brier, and Piper ran in the mornings with her, Ollie often joining them, before they'd eat a healthy breakfast. Maize would then instruct her siblings to copy her as she fell into various exercise routines -that worked all the muscles of their bodies, from abdominal's to their glutes- until they were too tired to copy her before they'd do some yoga to cool down.

After that, she'd help her mother make lunch for everyone and clean up. From there Maize would walk Birch -and Ollie, who had only missed the first two days she'd been back- to the Fairgrovel home with food and some money before going to the open orchards. Her little brother, and Cana's, were slowly filling in. Healthy weight gain making it so that their skin no longer stretched onto their cheekbones, and visible muscle had started to build up on their arms and legs. It made Maize insanely happy to see both boys completely healthy and looking the way children should from her memories.

-Would Cana be happy that she was taking care of his family in this way? That she was making sure that his little brother ate healthily and his mother and sisters had money to buy food, clothes and gas for the stove? Would he resent her for teaching Ollie how to run and how to fight, or be grateful? Would he be angry that she wasn't doing enough?-

When lunch ended at the orchard, Maize would walk back home with Birch. She'd go over to Seeder's home and practice with her bō until Seeder urged her to take a break... Which usually meant that Maize would wander back home and make Birch practice for an hour. Maize would go on another run, stopping at Amla's house on her way back, before checking up on Chaff to make sure that he hadn't passed out from over-drinking and go home. Mama always made enough food for her to bring over to her Mentors' homes. Sometimes Maize could even convince them to come over to her place to eat. But when they couldn't bring themselves to leave their homes... well, Maize knew what that felt like and instead would place their plates at their doorsteps and ring the bell before leaving.

With her new Victor status and all of the money that came with it, she'd been able to purchase and read books for the first time in this life. The written language of Panem was very similar to that of the English and Spanish alphabet, it was fun learning the differences between them and then reading some -since a lot of it held Capitol propaganda- of it to her siblings. Though... Birch, Brier, and Piper seemed to prefer the stories she'd "made-up" over the years more than the written ones from the Capitol.

Not that Maize blamed them.

After all, she preferred the watered-down version of "Harry Potter" she'd created for them over the Capitol's warped and disturbing version of "Little Red Ridinghood"... Instead, Maize poured over the medical books she could now afford and shared their knowledge with her enamored Auntie Calla--who was adamant that Maize start shadowing her once more on house calls to expectant mothers as soon as possible. Maize promised that she'd think about it, even if her mama seemed to like the idea of her daughter following in her sister-in-law's footsteps.

Midwifery was one of the most honorable jobs a woman could go into in their District... after all, large families were the norm--and of age married women were often more pregnant than not. It was why the rumors of the cull that took place -the disease robbing her family of their beloved Nyanya- had more validity than not... their District's numbers had grown to an alarming size. In all honesty, it was a number that District 11 was starting to close in on once again. Something that quietly terrified Maize... even if she now had the monetary means to protect her family from illness.

Still, even with everything going on, the date on which Maize was required to go back to the Capitol felt like a noose slowly tightening around her neck as each day got her closer and closer. She had told mama that morning that she would be going back to the Capitol at the end of the month. Despite not telling her the reason why -Maize had simply stated that President Snow required the newest Victor of the Hunger Games to make their presence known in the Capitol- mama was absolutely furious.

So were her siblings.

She promised them that this time it wouldn't take her two weeks to get back to them. Only two or three days. That was how long her assignment was. But she could see the bitterness and anger hanging over brothers and sisters' faces.

Her family was finally learning what she'd known for a long time.

No one really won the Hunger Games, and the Games never really ended in the Arena.

For now, Maize would let her mind drift, her fingers forming chords and strumming her guitar, eyes shut in bliss as she sang along with all of the enthusiastic voices of the fruit pickers. "To all of my children in whom life flows abundant/ To all of my children to whom death hath passed his judgment/ The soul yearns for honor, and the flesh the hereafter/ Look to those who walked before to lead those who walk after."

Mockingjays hummed the tune above their heads as a flute helped them carry the song, "Shining is the land's light of justice/ Ever flows the land's well of purpose/ Walk free, walk free, walk free, believe/ The land is alive, so believe."

Voices began to overlap beautifully, "Suffer -feel- promise -think- witness -teach- reason -hear-/ Follow -feel- wander -think- stumble -teach- listen -speak-/ Honor -speak- value -tell- whisper -tell- mention -hope-/ Ponder -hope- warrant -wish- cherish -wish- welcome -roam-/ Witness -roam- listen -roam- suffer -roam- sanction -sleep-/ Weather -sleep- wander -sleep- answer -sleep on-"

The song itself was morose and haunting. The voices of young children and adolescents intermingling with one another only emphasized how unjust their world was. How terrible it was that the children of their District had never not known hunger. Never not known the whip of a Taskmaster or the brutality of Peacekeepers. That all of the children in the Districts had never not known or experienced the consequences of the First Rebellion. Never not known the perverse cruelty of the Capitol and her denizens. 

"Now open your eyes while our plight is repeated/ Still deaf to our cries, lost in hope we lie defeated/ Our souls have been torn, and our bodies forsaken/ Bearing sins of the past, for our future is taken."

Chapter Text

From the little Maize could still remember of her first life, she'd never been in a relationship. No, as Julianna she'd been too in love with the ocean and marine life to really give any thought to relationships. Especially not like the one her parents had lovingly cultivated. As Maize, well, she also hadn't put much thought into it. Always too busy working in the fields or groves, trying to find food, shadowing Auntie Calla, caring for her younger siblings, or simply just trying to make it to the next day.

Romance or relationships hadn't even begun to cross her mind.

At least not until Amla had gushed over Thorn -"Oh, Maize! He's so handsome! Look at his build and those muscles... Can you believe that he's actually looking at me!"- to her the first time. Then again, she'd only found her cousin's crush amusing and adorable. That is until Thorn started to actively pursue her cousin. Then it became real.

Still, a part of her couldn't help but feel like she couldn't connect to anyone in her current 'age' group... so Maize had just put it out of her mind once more. After all, it wasn't like anyone had shown an interest in her.

Now though, now, Maize wished that she'd at least gone to a few of the matchmaking festivals with Amla before her cousin had fallen in love with Thorn. The small-scaled festivals for the 'of age' teenagers -or young adults interested in looking for a partner- were practically famous for bringing together permanent couples in her District... in fact, Maize's parents had met at one of the festivals when they themselves were teenagers.

If she'd gone to one at least once with Alma, Maize would at least know someone who'd be willing to help her with her current problem. Her current problem being that Maize did not want to lose her virginity to some Capitolite bitch that had bought her company for the night.

Honestly, if Maize had her way she wouldn't be losing her virginity to anyone. At least not until she had fallen for someone and decided that she wanted to be intimate with them out of her own volition... Which brought her back to her first issue, she hadn't ever felt any sort of connection to the boys in her physical age group... well, ever.

She would be leaving for the Capitol in three days and Maize did not have a lot of time left before... well, before. It wasn't like she was looking for a love connection, more like any willing connection where her first time with another person wouldn't be because of forced prostitution.

"Amla, my sweet binamu, I need your help."

Her cousin looked at her with barely concealed amusement, "Maize, th' last time you said that to me we had to get stitches. I'ma mother now, I shouldn' get involved in your shenanigans." she teased with a wry grin.

"Haha. Very funny." Maize deadpanned before shooting her a look, "But seriously, Amla, I need your help."

Amla's bright smile disappeared. With Milho on her shoulder, Amla rubbed her infant's back gently to prompt her to burb, "What's wrong?"

Maize buried her face in her hands for a moment as she felt her cheeks burn--she took a shaky breath in and out before blurting, "I want to not be a virgin anymore."

"Maize!" her cousin gasped in genuine -almost scandalized- surprise.

"Ugh, don't- don't look at me." she grumbled in embarrassment, "Just, do you know anyone that might be interested in... me?"

"Well, yes- but let's go back for a minute. You want to have sex?"

"No!" Maize denied immediately before backtracking, "Well, yes, it's complicated, Amla."

Her cousin laid the now sleeping infant down in her cushioned basket, "Uncomplicate it then. Talk to me, Maize."

"I, this isn't somet'ing I really want to tell anyone about Amla," she admitted reluctantly.

Amla pulled her into a gentle hug and Maize melted in her hold, tucking her face under Amla's chin as if she were a young child hiding from their fears, "I know you. Maize, you always said that you wanted to wait for marriage, so what's changed binamu?"

Ah, right.

She told her cousin just about everything.

Before the Hunger Games, Amla had been Maize's greatest confidant. They'd been drifting apart since Maize had volunteered for the Games, but it wasn't either of their faults. Maize had been preoccupied with all of the changes that came from becoming a Victor, and Amla had gotten married and moved in with her husband. Her cousin had just given birth to a beautiful little girl... and Maize was still busy coping with her new reality.

"I'm going back to the Capitol." Amla gasped, "Three days from now, and I don't want to be a virgin when I get there."

"Why?" her cousin asked, fear making her voice quiver as she pulled Maize away from her hiding place to stare into her eyes... even if the expression on Amla's screamed that she didn't actually want to know the answer.

"Because Amla, I- I just don' want that to be my first time." Maize spoke in an equally soft voice as if to shield her cousin from the words escaping from her lips.

Amla flinched as she pulled away completely, her eyes searching Maize's face for the truth, "You don' mean-"

"I do not want to get into what I'll be doing in the Capitol binamu, just that it can't be avoided. I don' want the first time I have sex to be like that, so if you know someone who's interested in me, binamu, please do not keep it to yourself." Amla was silent, her face turned away from Maize. "Amla, please say something. Anyt'ing?"

"Are they forcing you?" her cousin whispered in a horrified tone.

Maize sighed, "I don't have a choice." she agreed, "But by going willingly, I'm keeping everyone safe."

"But you don' want to."

"No."

Amla mumbled something too softly for Maize to understand.

"I- What did you say?"

"It's not fair." Amla spat out angrily as her eyes locked onto Maize's. Angry tears were streaking down her cousin's cheeks, as the older adolescent stood up, "I- not fair! You won their stupid Hunger Games! They're suppose' to leave you alone now! They can' just- this is wrong! You don't have to do anyt'ing-"

"Amla!" Maize hissed warningly as she eyed the infant now shifting in her basket because of her mother's loud voice, "You're gonna wake up Milho at this rate."

Hands on her face made Maize's gaze lock onto her cousin's tearful hazel eyes once more, "I- I'm so sorry." a shudder wracked through Amla's frame, "This is all my fault."

"Hey, no!" Maize immediately protested as she placed her hands over the ones cupping her face, "I wouldn' change the last seven months at all! Even knowing what I know now, I'd volunteer all over again!"

"Still..." Amla whispered as she pressed their foreheads together, probably knowing that she would never be able to change her cousin's mind on the matter, "I'm so sorry this is happening to you."

"Me too."

The hut was quiet for a moment. Only the sounds of their breathing and the faint rattling of warm wind hitting the shutters swirled around them. A deep sigh -that did not muffle a sob- escaped from Amla as she backed away. A strained smile pulled on the corner of her cousin's lips, one that Maize reciprocated immediately.

"Sill has been interested in you for a long time."

Maize couldn't help the genuine surprise that filtered across her face, "Really?"

"Definitely." her cousin nodded, "He hasn' been able to look away since you pushed him in the mud."

A snort escaped from her throat, "We were seven!"

Amla's lips pulled up into a wry grin, "You held your ground. I think you're still the only person to ever tell him 'no'."

"Okay, well how do I- you know, ask him to have sex with me? Will he even want to-" she asked awkwardly.

Giggles erupted from Amla, "I don't think any boy, or man, has ever turned down sex."

Maize's cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg on.

It turned out, Sill was more than willing to partake in the horizontal tango with her. Maize had only had to approach the older teen for one dance at the festival -after downing two cups of homemade mead so that she'd had a pleasant buzz numbing her nerves- before Sill started whispering lewd suggestions in her ear.

She allowed the dark-skinned teen to lead her on to -what was considered a bachelor hut in their District- his home after emphasizing that this was a one-time-only deal. Sill had only laughed good-naturedly and agreed before pressing a kiss on her cheek.

Sex... was interesting. It had definitely hurt when Sill had initially pushed in and broken her hymen, but the older teen was experienced enough to know how to distract her from the pain by doing- other things. It was a bit awkward since she didn't really care for Sill beyond the 'ah, we grew up in the same neighborhood and have played with one another since we were in diapers' kind of way, but it wasn't totally horrible either.

-Leaving an hour or so after they'd had sex had been a lot more awkward now that she thought back about it. Though, Sill had understood. After all, she still lived with her parents and they would be expecting her. Maize had washed herself at Amla's home to get rid of any of the more obvious evidence of what she'd been up to, and her cousin had made her swear that she would stop by there before heading toward the Victor's village so that Thorn could walk her home- a task that the man took very seriously.-

She could see why the act itself was considered pleasurable and why couples chose to be together in that way... still, Maize had a feeling that she would have enjoyed sex even more if she'd actually had feelings for her partner. Still, she was just happy that she wouldn't be going to the Capitol as a virgin.

They wouldn't be able to take that from her.

Chapter Text

The evening before she left for the Capitol, Amla and Thorn had spent the night in her home.

Her cousin's husband slept in one of the spare rooms with their daughter -only bringing Milho to them when she woke from hunger- while Amla herself cuddled with Maize in a way that they hadn't done since before their last reaping. It was a massive comfort to Maize even now that she was on the train back to the Capitol. She could still feel the remnant of Amla's body heat warming her to the bones like a security blanket on her flesh.

At her request, baba was the only one -though Seeder had protested and even tried to convince Maize to let her come along on the trip- to escort her to the train station. Her father had pulled Maize into a long tight embrace as if he was trying to prevent the inevitable by never letting her go. When Maize had pulled out of his arms, her baba had pressed one more kiss onto her forehead before the Peacekeeper waiting at the steps of the train informed them that they needed to pull out of the station. In return, Maize had pressed a quick peck onto her baba's peppered beard before climbing on board with her spine straight and head held high.

-Despite every feeling, every smothered instinct, screaming at her to not look out the window, Maize couldn't resist the temptation as she watched the figure of her father crumble at the station even as it got smaller and smaller over the distance.-

This time the trip to the Capitol went by extremely quickly. She'd arrived in the early evening to an excited Goldie who kissed her cheeks before looping their arms together and leading her into a town car. Apparently, President Snow had gifted Maize with an apartment in the Capitol, wasn't that just wonderful, for her to stay at when she visited.

Goldie was excited to show Maize around the high-end apartment -though it really wasn't too different from the apartment in the Training Center, besides the smaller size- before asking her all sorts of questions. Apparently, the escort had only found out the day before that Maize would be visiting, she'd also only been told that Maize had a date the following evening and that Goldie was to help her get ready.

Despite Goldie's age, the woman had naively not picked up on either Maize's mood or the real reason behind the 'date'. Goldie had left her an hour later, promising to come back in the morning. According to Goldie, Maize had a medical appointment at ten, and afterward, the escort would take her out to lunch before bringing her back to the apartment where her stylist team would help her get primped up for the date.

Sleep didn't come so easily to Maize this time.

By the time Goldie had steamrolled through the apartment Maize had been awake for a few hours. She drank a nutrient shake while listening to Goldie prattle on about- well, something before the pink-skinned woman led her downstairs back into the town car.

The doctors and other medical professionals that had attended to her were just as impersonal as the ones that had put her back together when she 'won' the Games. The nurse had been kind enough to softly explain what Dr. Nero was doing after doing a quick vaginal examination. The doctor had injected a device into her left thigh that would act as birth control. Honestly, she was just happy that they hadn't seemed angry or surprised when they realized that she wasn't a virgin. Another cultural difference between the Capitol and her District.

The nurse, after Dr. Nero finished the examination and left the room, had instructed Maize to come back in the morning so that they could re-examine her and give her anything for pain if she required it after tonight's date. Maize had only nodded and walked out of the room with her back straight, though she was barely holding back bile from escaping her lips at the very thought that she would need pain medication.

As it was, Maize barely touched the lunch that Goldie had bought her.

Orion and the stylist crew had seemed excited to see her, though it looked like Orion was the only one to have an inkling as to what this night was really about. The pitying looks and gentle words gave him away. The next two hours went by in a mindnumbing fashion as the stylists bathed her, applied lotions to her skin, did her hair and nails before Orion helped Maize slide into a tight red dress before zippering it up the back.

Not five minutes after she was dressed a man rang her doorbell and introduced himself as Sven, who would be acting as Maize's personal chauffeur for the evening. Goldie and the stylists giggled, wishing Maize 'luck' on her date before she left. Once Sven and Maize were settled inside the town car, the man handed Maize a laminated white envelope and instructed her to open it as he turned the car on and began driving to the restaurant. Maize only eyed the envelope blankly for a moment before ripping it open. Her eyes roamed across the short message from President Snow with trepidation before numbness settled inside her once more.

Her client's name was Blip Gans. The woman was in her early thirties and had bought Maize's time for the next seven hours. They would be meeting at the 'Vie en Rose' restaurant for an early dinner, Maize was to eat and drink whatever Mrs. Gans ordered for her, before they retired to her client's home. After the seven hours were up, Maize was free to leave though she was to do so in a professional manner that wouldn't anger her client.

Maize didn't have to wait at all for the client to arrive, the second after Sven had opened her door a loud squeal erupted from one of the Capitolite women by the entrance of the restaurant. The woman was tall, much taller than Maize was, reaching up to what she guessed was six or seven more inches even without the monstrous heels on her feet. Her client had dolled herself up in the latest Capitol fashions, her hair neon blue and dress a soft coral pink.

The woman was quick to press two kisses -one on each of- her cheeks with bright pink lips, though the woman's most captivating feature had to be her unnatural neon green eyes. Maize smiled demurely up at the older woman and blushed at her sweetly, which only made her client squeal before proclaiming that Maize was 'just the sweetest little thing' she'd ever seen.

The dinner went by slowly. Mrs. Gans -"Call me Blip darling, I long to hear my name come from your lips."- was determined to romance Maize before they sealed the deal. Pictures were taken of them, and other patrons of the restaurant whispered jealously that it was not them feasting with the newest Victor. Maize ate her food slowly and drank whatever the older woman poured into her glass, she flirted coyly at her client between blushes--since it seemed that being flustered was a kink of some sort for the client. She allowed herself to be led onto the dance floor since Mrs. Gans hadn't had the opportunity to dance with her a month ago. It didn't take too long before the client began whispering lewdly in her ear that they should continue their date back in her apartment.

The ride to the woman's place was enshrouded with -fake- giggles as the client practically seated Maize on her lap and whispered 'sweet things' into her ears, every once in a while the woman would run down her fingers on Maize's sensitive ribs which would elicit said giggles because she was 'ticklish' there. Maize wasn't quite sure how they'd gotten into the woman's apartment or how they'd ended up on the couch sipping on sweet wine while Mrs. Gans heavily flirted with her.

"I've never laid with a woman before." Maize had whispered -wanting desperately to just get the night over with- in a sultry manner as she leaned in provocatively -even as disgust warred heavily throughout her mind and body- the slightly buzzed Capitolite tittered as an excited squeal escaped from her throat at that admission.

Unnatural neon green eyes were practically shrouded by dilated black pupils as the woman leaned in, her manicured hand moving from Maize's knee up to her thigh, "Well then darling, let me show you what you've been missing." the client purred before capturing Maize's lips with her own.

Maize wasn't sure exactly how she'd gotten back to her apartment. Only becoming aware sometime later as the never-faltering water pressure of the shower continued to pour burning water into her skin. The dress that she'd worn the night before had been haphazardly shoved back on in an improper manner and was clinging onto her, now, reddening skin. Maize's head felt heavy under the onslaught of the water as her curls were straightened by the pressure. Despite the heat clinging onto her flesh Maize's hands trembled fiercely, as if the coldest winds were blowing through her body. A strange choking sound made its way to her ears before Maize realized that it was coming from her.

Ah.

She was crying.

She couldn't help but wonder how long she'd been sobbing. Maize decided that it'd probably been a while. After all, her throat was burning, her nose was clogged with snot and her eyes felt incredibly swollen from all the tears she'd been shedding... She absently concluded that she should probably get out of the shower now, or at the very least slip out of the clothes from last night and properly wash herself.

When Maize tried to stand, a moan escaped from her lips as her thighs and netherregions flared with pain intensely. It made her shaking legs give out underneath her and slide back down onto the tiled floor of the shower. Maize cataloged an array of bruises that hadn't existed on her skin before last night with apathetic eyes.

Couldn't that bitch have at least taken it easy on her body?

Wasn't it enough that Mrs. Gans would be the first -from the Capitol at least- to ever have sex or go on a date with her?

Hadn't it been special enough that Blip was the first woman -because she'd never, in any life, had ever been attracted to her own gender- Maize had ever done anything with?

No.

It hadn't.

Honestly... Maize wasn't even that surprised.

People were selfish -UGLY- creatures.

None more so than Capitolites.

Chapter Text

Maize lost time again.

She wasn't quite sure when or how she'd gotten out of the shower, only that she'd ended up in the same wet clothes from the night before and was curled up into a miserable ball on top of the bed--soaking the silky sheets. Maize couldn't be bothered to move. The cramps in her lower stomach were painful and her back twinged with every minute movement.

It was still dark out.

Maize had never closed the blinds this morning. Tears were no longer streaming down her face, she'd probably just run out since her eyes were definitely swollen... but sleep just wasn't coming to her.

Absentmindedly, Maize realized that someone was calling her name. But her limbs felt heavy and she didn't have the will to call out. Her voice stolen. Footsteps approached the bedroom before the door was quietly pushed open.

"Maize?"

It was a man's voice, not one that belonged to her stylists, but a somewhat familiar one all the same.

"Maize- there you are." the man whispered softly before coming closer and carefully kneeling down so that they were face to face, "Seeder's been trying to get a hold of you. She's been really worried for you. She- She asked me to come and check in on how you're doing." he explained as he pushed one of her errant curls behind her ear and out of her face.

Maize blinked up at Finnick.

So that was what the noise had been.

Some time ago she'd started hearing a ringing sound, it was what had brought her out of her head the first time. It'd been Seeder. Her Mentor had been calling her... Maize wished that she hadn't been so stubborn and allowed the woman to accompany her, but she hadn't wanted the older Victor to see her like this.

Broken.

Used.

Tired.

Empty.

"Hey," Finnick called out softly, "there we go. Lost you for a moment."

A raspy hum escaped from her throat.

"Thirsty?"

She nodded, though the motion caused her to put more effort into it than it ever had before.

Oh, he disappeared.

Nope, he was back.

And this time he had a glass of water in his hands. Finnick placed the cup down on the night table before helping Maize sit up against the headboard, hissing commiseratingly when she squeaked and moaned in pain, before pressing the glass to her lips. Maize took a few sips, the cool liquid felt wonderful on her dry and parched throat before he placed the cup back down.

"-irst client?"

Oh. He was talking. When had he sat down on the bed?

"Was that your first client?" he asked again when she focused on his face. Maize nodded.

Finnick sighed as if the world were solely resting on his shoulders, it looked like a heavy burden to place on one person's head, "It gets easier. Some nights will be more difficult than others, but it won't always be like this." he whispered as if to reassure her, but it sounded more like he was promising himself that than her.

Poor Finnick. He'd been doing this for so long... since he was a child. -He was still a child.- It was wrong. Maize's once listless hand twitched, Finnick was staring off into space, looking trapped in his own mind much like she was in hers. She let her fingers slowly trail against his weathered palm,  making Finnick flinch for a moment in surprise before remembering where he was as she grasped his hand with hers. He looked every bit like the awkward teenage boy he was supposed to be for a moment.

"Coming back now?"

"Y-Yes." she croaked, "Hurts."

The older Victor hummed with empathy, "You got an appointment tomorrow? For the doctors?" when Maize nodded once more he continued, "They'll give you something for the pain, if- if anything got torn down there they'll fix it."

"Kay." she whispered. When it looked like Finnick was about to get up and leave Maize tightened her grip on his hand, panic thrumming through her veins at the very thought of being left alone. Of being left to get lost in time once more. The word "S-Stay." was blurted out of her lips as her heart pounded harshly inside of her chest. "Please. Jus' till I fall asleep."

The nineteen-year-old looked startled before realization bled onto his features and he settled down beside her, "Okay, move over." Maize scooched towards the empty left side of the bed -ignoring the way she throbbed and swallowed down a scream because somethingwasnotright- so that the older teen could lean against the headboard. "Just until you fall asleep. I got a client in the morning." she squeezed his hand gratefully as the admission tugged on her heart.

"Thank you, Finnick."

Feeling infinitely safer with the older Victor watching her back.

Maize was asleep within minutes.

When she woke up again, Finnick was gone. Maize would have chalked up the whole thing as a strange hallucination if it weren't for the abandoned glass of water on the nightstand and the blanket now wrapped around her scantily clad form. Gratitude and embarrassment briefly clouded her features before she schooled her face as she heard Goldie burst through the apartment.

"Maize, darling? Where are you? Don't tell me you're still in bed at this hour?" a loud gasp escaped from the Capitolite's lips as she got to the doorway, "Wh-What on earth happened!"

Maize shrugged as her lower back twinged, "She was too rough."

"I- Well, I never-"

"What time is my appointment? The nurse said they'd give me something for the pain."

Goldie looked confused and a little disgusted as she twittered closer, "Oh, darling. That savage-"

"My appointment Goldie?" Maize interrupted her as another flare of pain struck when she sat up, "Please. I jus' wanna go home."

The honest admission surprised her and Goldie. The older Capitolite seemed at a loss for words at the situation. Maybe her escort really hadn't known what Maize would have to do with the client from the night before. Maybe Goldie was starting to see what exactly her precious President Snow had just forced her to do. Either way, Maize was tired. Maize was hurting. Maize just wanted to home. She didn't have the heart or patience to coddle the older woman.

"T-The appointment is in half an hour." Goldie murmured after a moment. Maize nodded as she forced herself to stand up on shaky legs. The world seemed to be spinning on its axel. The hangover from all the alcoholic drinks she'd downed the previous night was starting to hit her now.

"Good." a grimace pulled onto her lips when even trying to undo the zipper of the dress proved to be painful, "Could you help me, Goldie? Please?"

The escort quietly assisted her, a small disbelieving whine escaped from the older woman when the dress slipped off and the marks -bruises littering Maize's flesh like a battlefield- made themselves known before she cleared out her throat. The Capitolite didn't say anything when Maize asked her to bring her a comfortable outfit, she didn't say anything when Maize hissed in pain or let out a cry and blinked back tears when the escort helped her redress either.

"Thank you." Maize murmured in genuine gratitude.

The colorful and usually opinionated woman was still uncharacteristically quiet.

Maize only sighed softly as she tamed her wild curls into a tight braid, "Do- Are there any shakes? I'm a little hungry."

That seemed to snap Goldie out of her funk as a plastic grin stretched across the pink-skinned woman's face, "Oh, of course, darling! Anything for my favorite Victor!" The escort led her to the small kitchen in the apartment with gusto and demonstrated how to work a complicated-looking smoothie dispenser with trembling hands. Goldie filled the air with nonsense chatter about the latest Capitol gossip as Maize languidly sipped on the mango shake until it was time to head downstairs for her appointment.

Maize moved around in a trance-like state. Not really becoming self-aware until she was back on the train heading for District 11. Heading for home. She could vaguely recall the medics treating her, smearing special creams onto the raw flesh of her thighs and wrists so that the marks on her skin from last night vanished as well as the spray they'd aimed at her privates that made it so that it finally stopped pounding painfully with each breath or movement. She'd torn something, the doctor's offhanded comment confirmed that... but the spray made it disappear like it never existed in the first place. Like it was never real. But Maize still felt wrong so it must have been. One of the nurses had given her a shot for the pain when she walked in needing Goldie's assistance and then gifted her a small baggie with medicine on the way out with the explicit instruction to take a pill in the morning if the pain somehow persisted.

She also vaguely recalled answering a phone call from President Snow during the car ride to the train station. The vile man had congratulated her for a job well done before promising to contact her for her services in the future sometime soon. Maize couldn't remember the conversation word for word, only that she demurely agreed.

But none of that mattered right now.

She was going home.

-Maize still felt wrong.-

Chapter Text

It took a full week for baba to be able to look her in the eye once more. Maize tried not to let on how much it hurt her, how dirty and unwanted it made her feel... but the presence of her gleeful siblings -their open smiles, tight hugs and sweet kisses- had helped ease that ache.

-The truth was very simple. Maize had been naïve. Naïve to think that her brief exploit with Sil would prevent... She hadn't even been able to conceive the very ache that had now settled over her like a death shroud... the sort of sorrow, horror and shame that only seemed to grow--building up in her throat like a scream that could never be released. It was one thing to know what an unwanted sexual advance was in theory and another to actually live through it. Was it rape when she agreed? She was complicit. To know that it would happen again. And again. And again. It had taken something from her. Leaving a hollow dead sensation behind that was only really comparable to how she'd felt during her own Games. Would it take something from her each time? Take and take and take. Take until there was nothing left... The anticipation was already driving her half mad.-

Her mama had been slowly growing suspicious of the strange tension between her husband and daughter... but Maize was only grateful that the woman had decided not to confront her on the matter, preferring to let Maize come to her of her own volition when she was ready. Maize wasn't sure she'd ever be ready to tell her mama. She'd already broken the heart of one of her parents... and she really didn't want to be responsible for hurting her mama with the truth.

Amla had been around a lot more, of course with little Milho in tow. Her binamu would head over to the Victor's Village every morning after Thorn would leave for work and help around the house. It eased something in Maize's heart to have her cousin sharing space in her home once more. Especially since Amla knew what Maize had done to protect her family. Amla didn't treat her differently, if anything, she was always quick to plop Milho into Maize's willing arms and claim that the infant wanted to be held by her favorite auntie.

-But sometimes... sometimes Maize would catch a look on Amla's face. A glint in her eyes that screamed retribution. Like she'd seen something in Maize and it had made something hard and unforgiving burn in her chest. Amla was a flower child no more. The last of her childhood snuffed out, leaving a very different woman in her place. Sometimes it made Maize feel safe. Sometimes it terrified her.-

Seeder had been extremely helpful in getting Maize out of her head, her Mentor always seemed to know when the memories of the arena or of the Capitolite woman started plaguing her too much. Seeder had helped Maize come down from a panic attack more than once over the last week. Even Chaff had been extra gentle in his mannerisms. The both of them gracing the Galloshire dinner table every evening with little fanfare, as if it were an extremely regular occurrence for them to venture out of their self-exile.

Though, their greatest help came from how they included her baba.

How Chaff had taken it upon himself to save Maize's baba from himself. Taking him under his wing as he must have done for countless tributes since his victory.

-Maize had unashamedly broken down when, seven days after her return from the Capitol, her baba finally pulled her into a warm comforting embrace--enveloping her entire form like they always had since her childhood. It didn't matter that she could still see self-hatred swimming in his eyes every once in a while, because at least he was looking at her again. At least he wasn't avoiding her presence like the plague, at least he was speaking to her once more. At least he was still acting like her baba. A broken version, but still her baba.-

It took another week before Maize was even vaguely comfortable enough in her own skin to venture out of the Victor's Village once more and start up the training exercises with her siblings and Ollie again. Having a steady routine seemed like the only thing keeping her afloat anymore.

Breakfast, training, chores, lunch, playing guitar in the orchard, training, playing with her siblings, dinner, repeat.

She even started up her studies with Auntie Calla again. There was a baby boom in her District after her victory--and her auntie was adamant that she couldn't handle all the pregnant women on her own, especially when she only had one novice apprentice just starting out under her wings.

She felt human again.

Like Maize.

Of course, that was when the President called for her services once more.

Two weeks of learning to live. That was her respite.

The fury that had passed over her baba's face when she informed him that she'd be leaving for the Capitol once more in a week had been nothing to scoff at, but he hadn't reverted back to his ways... only pulled her into another fortifying hug and promised to drop her off at the train station once more. Mama had been more verbally furious about the matter than her baba this time--much like Birch whose anger had been explosive for two days.

Amla had been close to tears when Birch had spat out the news the next morning at breakfast, but her binamu was strong and only pulled Maize aside later with a promise to make the children continue their training in the mornings until she came back... which had strangely filled Maize with longing and gratitude, because she would need to assess her siblings and Ollie the second she got back from her trip, and well, it gave her something to look forward to.

It had taken her the better part of three days to convince Seeder that she did not need to accompany Maize to the Capitol. Maize wanted to lick her wounds in private now that she knew what would follow... even if a part of her did long for Seeder's presence, Maize wasn't sure she could handle having the woman see her after being used like that. The woman only backed off the night before her departure because she'd learned that the male Victor from 4 would be at the capitol for similar reasons as well.

Seeder had made Maize promise that she'd let Odair help her if she needed it again after meeting with her client. Apparently, Odair had promised to look out for her if needed as well... Something that Maize found more than a little strange, but then again, they were both pawns in the grand scheme of things. Both forced to hand over their bodies for the pleasures and whims of others, they had that much in common now. It couldn't hurt to, well, try and support one another if they found themselves in the Capitol at the same time.

To be allies.

-And if Maize was weirded out about her interactions with Odair because she kept remembering the blank empty look on Annie Cresta's face as she stumbled through the bush... because she kept remembering that Annie was supposed to live and fall in love and marry Odair... well, Maize would just have to come to terms with it.-

Goldie appeared to have somewhat recovered from Maize's last visit, though the woman seemed to have enough tact this time not to gush over her 'date.' This time her client was a man. At her assigned medical appointment before the date, Dr. Nero had to reinsert the birth control device into her left thigh before once more instructing her to come back in the morning. This time the nurse, the same blonde and red-eyed one from last time, was kind enough to give her a small jar of the vanishing cream and vaginal numbing spray ahead of time so that if Maize was in a lot of pain before she saw them next, she could at least find some sort of relief before seeing them.

Her date that evening started once more at a fancy restaurant, where Maize had once more been dressed to the nines by her stylist team. The man, Fastus Overman, was portly in nature with blue-painted lips and greedy eyes that drank in her figure.

Maize, who'd been numb since she boarded the train in 11, ignored his covetous fingers and pride-filled arrogance as he strutted around with her at his arm.

Overman, she learned quickly, was a man of indulgence, from the way he dressed in all of the most expensive and fine goods -something that he'd taken the time to deliberately point out within seconds of meeting her before babbling on and on about how he'd come to own them- to his eating and drinking habits. By the time Overman had dragged her into his hotel room, for he was married and didn't wish to share Maize's company with his wife, at least not this time, the Capitolite had been fairly drunk. In fact, Maize barely had to be in prolonged contact with him before he orgasmed and promptly passed out.

Maize had only slipped out of the bed, pulled up her lacy panties from where they'd been flung onto the bedroom floor, before scribbling out a coquettish message on a notepad and leaving a lipstick imprint of her lips on it by the nightstand and slipping out to the car where Sven was waiting.

After all, Overman, in his indulgence, had made her go over time... and Maize had absolutely no obligation to stick around.

Chapter Text

This time when Maize arrived at her apartment in the early morning, Odair was already at her door--his hand paused in its raised position to knock.

This time Maize was almost unbearably coherent.

This time she could see that he was not.

She could see his slumped shoulders and harrowed expression, the way his eyes were both infinitely alert as they bounced around the hall but also held endless amounts of exhaustion... a certain blankness that seeped in and out of him. As if he were there, but not. She could see smudged lipstick littering his neck and collarbone, his messy hair as if someone had been running their fingers through it nonstop for hours, the indent of teeth in his lower lip, and the small amount of crusted blood going down his chin. His shirt was barely closed, buttons misdone and allotted in the wrong places, the skin she could see was covered in hickeys... battle wounds from his own encounter with his opponent- client.

Maize had moved quietly out of the elevator, so very aware of his piercing eyes as she moved towards him. Her bare feet barely made a sound on the carpeted floor as the heels she'd worn swung in her hand, she shot the older teen an understanding grimace smile before opening her apartment door and inviting him inside wordlessly. Finnick followed her into the living room, it was automatic--as if his feet moved on its own accord without consulting his head. Neither of them paid any mind to the door closing behind them, and headed towards the surprisingly comfortable red leather couch Goldie had picked out. Maize tossed the heels onto the floor and plopped onto the couch, letting her eyes close briefly in exhaustion--her legs curled underneath her as she leaned against the armrest. She could feel the older Victor quietly join her as the couch indented with his weight and heard the bone-tired sigh escape from his lips unwittingly.

She rolled her neck, trying to alleviate some of the tension that had seeped onto her shoulders, before eyeing him from underneath her eyelashes. Odair was leaning his head back, staring almost blankly up at the ceiling as his chest rose and fell with each deep breath. From this angle, his shirt revealed a more savage-looking bite over his nipple that looked red and unbelievably sore enough that it made Maize's own pulse in sympathy.

Maize rubbed her face tiredly before quietly standing back up, ignoring the slightly questioning look that the other Victor shot her as she headed for her bedroom with a quiet, "Wait here."

It only took her a few seconds to reappear in the living room with the care package that the nurse had put together. She sat down once more, though much closer to him this time, as she rifled through the bag and pulled out the jar of vanishing cream. It didn't smell like anything, something that Maize was infinitely grateful for since she already had a headache from having to inhale the copious amount of cologne that her client had bathed himself in, but it was definitely the same one she'd used last time. She scooped up some of the neon orange substance with her fingertips before turning to inspect Finnick-

He was watching her, eyebrows somewhat scrunched up in concentration as he observed her. Traces of disbelief bleeding onto his features as it warred with his practiced nonchalance. He looked a little more awake now.

"It helps with bruises." Maize whispered, breaking the silence that had enveloped them, "And some cuts. Your lip- It should help."

A small humming sound escaped from his throat, but he didn't protest as she carefully leaned in and lightly dabbed it onto his torn lip. A small pained hiss escaped from his clenched lips, but Maize only moved onto a dark purpling bruise on the junction between his neck and shoulder. She gently rubbed the cream, and couldn't help but admire the effects of the substance as the once vicious bruise receded. What she wouldn't give to be able to bring giant tubs of this stuff back to her District. Her fingers itched, wanting to reach for the injury she'd glimpsed underneath his shirt, but Maize held firm as she locked gazes with him once more.

"Do you have any more injuries?" Maize knew he did, but if he didn't want her hands on him, she would leave it alone. No matter how much the idea of not aiding someone in need chaffed her. Maybe she could just give him the jar so that he could apply it on himself, yeah, he'd probably like that better than Maize's intervention-

"Yes." he whispered as he clumsily unbuttoned his shirt. Maize could smell the alcohol wafting from his breath, but he must not have drunk so much that he'd been left unaware of his surroundings. No his eyes were clear now, no hint of inebriation in his intense gaze. Maize hissed in sympathy at the oozing bite that'd been left a few paces below his swollen nipple. Fucking animal.

She scooped more of the cream, rubbing it between her fingers to warm it up before eyeing him once more, silently asking for permission to reach out and touch--once he nodded slightly, Maize carefully dabbed the mark. Maize tried to ignore the pained hitch in his chest when she gently applied the cream onto his abused nipple, but she couldn't help but let out a low rhythmic hum under her breath to distract him. Under his steady gaze, her hands carefully rubbed away the aches that'd been left on his torso, and the long trail of nails on his back that he revealed with the cream until she'd run out of visible hurts to soothe.

Fingers gently rubbed her collarbone, snapping Maize out of her reverie as she looked at the hickey that Overman had disgustingly sucked on her flesh earlier vanish under Finnick's ministrations. Huh, she'd forgotten that the Capitolite pig had even placed his greedy lips on her skin as he'd chased after his own release.

"Thank you." Maize mumbled as she closed the jar and dropped it onto the carpeted floor. Her eyes were drawn in once more by Finnick's, his gaze was warmer than it had been at the start as more green seemingly bled into them than blue.

He shook his head softly, "Thank you."

Maize shrugged as she averted her eyes, silently cursing her cheeks as they warmed under his gaze.

A small snort escaped from his lips, "And Seeder wanted me to look after you."

"You did." Maize hummed as she looked back up at him, "Last time." she hesitated for a moment before confidently stating, "I can look after you this time."

After all, that was what allies did. And... well, she knew that there would be more times to come for both of them.

Chapter Text

Maize's life now had a new... routine.

Her time was split almost evenly between her home and the Capitol. For every two or three weeks that she was at home, she spent four or five days in the Capitol. Going from client to client, sometimes with a 'break-day' in between them. The early mornings and whatever free time she had in that snake pit, was spent with Finnick. It was... nice having someone there. Someone who knew of the sacrifices she paid for with her body and did not pity her for it.

Someone who understood.

Someone who could not compare the Maize of now with the girl she'd been before.

Her fellow Victor spent most of his time in the Capitol, as she'd learned over the last two years, being infinitely more favored with the Capitolites than Maize was. He rarely got to go home to see the crystal oceans and beautiful beaches he loved describing to her. It was hard for Maize to leave him there. It had made her physically ill more than once on her train ride home whenever it occurred.

In fact, whenever the opportunity cropped up, Maize would extend her visits as long as she could to keep him company. Something that wasn't too difficult for her to do without arousing much suspicion since they both had apartments in the same building. He 'lived' three doors down from her, after all. Finnick had explained it to her after her fifth personal 'visit' to the Capitol that the complex was for all Victors that offered their services for the Capitol. It was mostly women that had been chosen, but there was that older male Victor from 1 who occasionally shared an apartment with his sister when they were summoned.

But none- no one was as popular as Finnick.

Even during the Hunger Games, when all of the Victors were supposed to be focused on Mentoring, he had clients. Something he tried to use to his advantage to help his tributes, but still. The depravity of the Capitolites was truly something of horror stories.

The end of the Games usually marked the most busiest time for Maize.

The first year -something that had been truly horrible to experience for herself even with all of Finnick's warnings- Finnick had stated bitterly that the leftover violence and aggression that the Capitolites fed off of during the Games always spilled out onto them in the bedroom. As if they truly can't hold back all these urges and taking them out on their 'favorite' Victors was the most erotic and pleasurable solution that they could ever experience.

-He'd come to her that first evening. He'd come to her when she was bloodied and so very broken because her client wished to erotically recreate the death of Maize's tribute... her tribute who had only been thirteen years old, little tiny Gardenia, she'd been caught by a particularly sadistic career tribute that had taken the time to slowly carve into the child's flesh over and over and over and over. Maize hadn't bled so much since she'd been taken from the arena. Her stomach and thighs had been littered with carefully lined drags...

She'd wanted to kill that bastard Sadus... but he'd drugged her at dinner. It took so long for the effects to wear off. Maize'd had to crawl out of his damn bed after he'd finally passed out. He'd made Maize wish that she'd died in the arena for the first time in so long. She'd wished that if it couldn't have been Cana, that Annie Cresta had lived like she was supposed to. That the pain could just fucking stop for a minute. 

Then, there he was.

Finnick.

He put her together again. Physically and mentally as she fell apart in his arms... and she could finally breathe.-

Her family had been slowly growing more and more bitter with each trip she made back to the Capitol. Her mama had found out the truth right before her first trip to the Capitol as a Mentor... her sweet mama, who had broken down in a truly spectacular manner as she'd always feared.

-She'd screamed as if someone were stabbing her, sobs shuddering out of her heaving chest as she pulled at her own hair until baba grabbed her hands. Then she just turned her weak fists to him.

Screaming.

Begging.

Maize had been paralyzed when she turned to her, begging her to stop.

Begging. Her. To. Stop.

The dead look on her face when Maize explained that she couldn't. Her bitterness that baba had kept it from her. Her rage that Maize smiled at them on the days that she had to leave without ever letting on her sorrow.

Mama's hatred for the Capitol was an ugly terrifying thing.-

It hurt Maize to break the heart of her soft-spoken mother. It took mama so much longer to come to terms with Maize's services. So long, that Birch had almost discovered the truth. The bloody shameful truth that Maize had sworn she would never allow her brothers and sisters to learn. Never. She'd never allow for their innocence to be tarnished in such a manner like her's had been.

They were good kids.

And so she knew that if they ever found out, they might hate her for it. Hate her for deciding their lives were worth her body. Her honor. Her virtue. It was something so abhorrent to the people of her District. And Maize loved them too much to see such hatred turned her way.

She wouldn't be able to handle it. Not from them.

Amla was a huge help. She'd been the one to drag mama out of her depression, out of her bed, and out into the District once more. Beautiful, beautiful Amla who had given birth to another little girl just five months ago. Sweet little Miwa, who'd been named in honor of Cana. Thorn was beyond besotted with both of his daughters, though Amla had whispered to her in the dead of night that she hoped the next one -because, apparently, her binamu had no intention to stop reproducing any time soon- would be a little boy.

A little boy that she could name after her fallen brother. Maize hadn't thought of Aloe in years, her older cousin had been twelve when he'd been reaped and killed. Sometimes it felt like ages had passed since then. Since Maize had been physically a child. A child witnessing the -brutal- death of a loved one for the first time.

Birch had been acting like Maize's de-facto leader with all their siblings. Her baby brother was now the same age Cana had been when he was reaped, but he was muscular, well-fed, and healthy in a way that her District Partner had never been.

Even Ollie, who'd sprouted up and surpassed his brother's height last year, was a million times healthier and stockier than Cana had been at his time of death. Something that his mother and sisters were forever thanking her for when they were able to corner her.

-The first time they had thanked her, Maize felt sick. Something still curdled in her stomach when they shot her grateful glances. Cana's death would forever be a noose hanging from her neck. A failure etched permanently in her soul. And the gratitude from his mother and sisters often felt like the opposite. Like lemon juice on an open wound. Maize didn't understand it herself, why it was easier to look at Ollie than the Fairgrovel women.

Maybe it was because Maize knew for herself now what it was that Cana's mother used to do to ensure the survival of her child... she knew of the sacrifice Cress Fairgrovel put herself through, of the added humiliation that everyone in their District knew it as well, only for her beloved first son to perish under Maize's watch. Maybe it was because Maize had seen the desperation and humiliation of his sisters... of how difficult it'd been for them to find life partners because they refused to turn away from their mother. Of their devotion to their mother and brothers.

With Ollie it was much simpler. Looking at him didn't make her want to hide.-

Birch -and Ollie- had taken to the secret training with gusto, taking over instructing their younger siblings whenever she was gone. Even Brier and Piper had come to love moving and play-fighting with their bō staffs, to her mother's ever-growing consternation since they somehow always ended up breaking something even when they were practicing outside. 

Finnick liked hearing about her family. He liked the chaos of it. The closeness she shared with them.

Maize couldn't help but think that it was partially because his was all gone.

His mother and brother were both killed on President Snow's orders when he was fourteen and had first refused to sell his body... when he'd been too young and naïve to think that he'd ever actually had an option.

And Maize, well, she could never deny Finnick's wishes.

On nights when the silence was too heavy, and regrets were suffocating them in the worst ways, Maize talked. And talked and talked. But most of all, she sang her work songs until only images of the orchards could fill her mind, and Finnick's breathing slowed down enough until sleep stole him away.

Sometimes, Finnick sang back.

Chapter Text

Maize bit down on her bottom lip as dread and helplessness crawled down her spine. A terrified shriek turned into a pained gargled shout... and then into silence as a cannon boomed. Maize averted her eyes from the screen. Her last tribute. Dead.

Bua's her forth.

-Four children, five really--because she never stopped counting Cana, under her care, now dead. No matter what Auntie Calla said, the seventeen babies she'd helped bring into the world did not help wipe Maize's hands clean. If they'd ever been clean to begin with.-

Bua had been one of her only tributes to really have a chance. The sixteen-year-old had been one of the fruit pickers from the orchard, and he was stronger than most. His body hardened from labor, and well fed. His little sister had one of the most beautiful singing voices in her age group. So did- had Bua. He hadn't had the best start in the Games, he'd hurt his ankle on the second day, and it'd been what held him back. But... his suffering had ended now. She shut her eyes in silent grief for the family who had now lost their oldest son.

The male Career tribute from 1 was merciless. Though, he was nowhere near as lethal as the Victor from the previous Game.

Johanna Mason had surprised everyone last year. The now eighteen-year-old from District 7 had skirted under everyone's attention by playing a weak coward in and out of the arena, until there had only been three other tributes left. Mason had killed them all with a vicious prejudice that had left most of the Capitol speechless.

Not that Maize was necessarily judging... the only ones left had been from the Career tributes, and they'd been particularly mentally unsound last year. In fact, the tribute from 1 this year was the younger brother of the boy from last year... which was probably why he'd targeted 7's tributes from the get-go and eviscerated them with extreme prejudice.

Quiet conversations had broken out in the viewing area. She could hear the Mentors for 1 this year whispering heatedly not too far off before one of them got up and headed toward the party room with some of the more elite Sponsors. Their male tribute had probably earned enough favor now to merit a gift.

A large hand on her shoulder snapped Maize out of her daydreams. Chaff patted her back in a tired fashion as he stood up, "Let's get drunk."

She shook her head, a morose smile tugging up on the corner of her lips at his characteristic response, as her eyes sought out where Finnick was plotting with Mags--the much older female Victor from 4 was probably the sweetest woman she'd met other than Seeder that was a former tribute, "You go ahead... I have to take care of something."

Chaff snorted under his breath as he followed her gaze, "Hmm, you sure do. Ever gonna put tha' kijana wa samaki out of his misery?"

Embarrassment immediately flooded her features, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Mhmm. You're baba's startin' to ask questions, mtoto." he teased softly.

A small groan escaped from her lips, "I knew I never should have mentioned our frien- acquaintanceship." Maize grumbled under her breath.

"Uh-huh, but then where would I get all this entertainment from?" Chaff's grin would be infectious if it wasn't about this particular subject, "Heard your mama interrogatin' Seeder before we left."

"There's nothing to know." Maize hissed softly so that no one could overhear their conversation.

Chaff's eyes were practically sparkling as he agreed. He didn't give her a chance to retort as he announced that he was going to 'drink away today's failures' with Haymitch, who had been exceedingly grumpy until someone refilled his glass. The other man's tributes had died the first day during the bloodbath, to his District's escort Effie-something's very vocal disappointment.

Maize only sighed as Chaff slipped out the door before looking back towards where Finnick was sitting with Mags, sympathetic blue-green eyes locked onto hers. She shot the older man a tired smile before subtly signing 'Roof. Tonight.'

'Meet. 11.' was his simple reply.

Maize nodded in understanding as she stood up and made her way out of the room and towards the elevators. After all, Finnick and Mags still had a tribute contending in this year's Games. Maize spent the next four hours in the seclusion of her bedroom. With Chaff out drinking, Goldie moping about the lost opportunity of having heralded another victorious tribute, and the stylist crew dispersing to bug other designers... well, Maize was able to simply lounge on her bed in silence and wait-out the clock.

Half an hour to eleven, she slid out of bed and took a five-minute shower before tugging on a pair of leggings and a long-sleeved dress, since the rooftop was always windy, before grabbing a small pineapple shake and heading out the door without a backward glance at the empty room.

The sun had long set on the horizon, and despite the cloudless sky, Maize had a hard time making out any stars. Like she predicted, the wind tugged on her loose brown curls and lightly chilled her cheeks as she finished off the last of her shake. Lost in her thoughts as she was, Maize didn't realize Finnick had arrived until he gently knocked his shoulder against hers. She shot him an annoyed look from the corner of her eyes when he laughed at her jumpiness, but Maize couldn't help the small smile from tugging on the corner of her lips at his pure joy. Finnick ruffled his hair before leaning against the railing like she was.

"I'm sorry about your tribute," he mumbled after a moment.

Maize banished away Bua's terrified expression from her mind, "So am I. How's yours doing?"

"So-so," he sighed, "But... I don't think he's going to last much longer, frostbite is starting to set in on his toes and fingers."

"I see." she hummed before hesitatingly placing her hand on top of his. Finnick shot her a tired grin as he flipped his hand up so that he could entwine their fingers together. Maize steadily ignored how her heart instantly started pounding in her chest and the butterflies shooting nervously across her tummy at his touch. She averted her gaze towards the dark horizon in the hope that he would not notice her darkening cheeks.

"Do you remember the first time we were up here?" Finnick asked after a moment of companionable silence.

Maize hummed under her breath, "You scared the merde out of me."

He let out a low chuckle, "Not as much as you drove me nuts with what you said after."

"True." Maize could still vividly remember his panicked and confused expression as the elevator doors shut, blocking him from getting the answers he wanted. Answers that he still didn't understand... answers that she was too afraid to divulge in the Capitol. Even on the roof. Something he fully understood in spite of his endless curiosity.

"What was that song you were singing?" Finnick asked instead of needling her for secrets, though Maize knew very well that she'd sung it for him in full many times since then. He was looking at her. His expression was soft and tired, but his eyes- they were as bright as ever and locked completely onto her own.

"Fare Thee Well," she murmured softly as a small shiver wracked through his frame. His grip tightened on hers.

"Sing it for me."

Maize can never tell him 'no.'

She wasn't sure it was a problem just yet.

Although... it'd surely come to bite her in the butt someday.

Chapter Text

He was here with her again. Laying beside her in the bed that had been 'gifted' to her two years ago. It was a rare day in which they both had off from attending to clients and could just be, well, themselves.

Maize had made some flatbread from scratch for breakfast that Finnick had insisted they eat with smoked salmon and cream cheese, not that she'd protested too much. Smoked salmon was as amazing in this life as she had remembered. It was also a delicacy that she could only really indulge in when she was in the Capitol. Even with her wealth and Victor status, it was rare for her District to ever have a supply of fish, much less fresh fish.

They'd spent the rest of the morning just lazing around, mostly on the leather couch in the living room, as they reminisced about their respective Districts before moving back into her bedroom when Finnick started complaining about back pain--teasing her for her small stature as an excuse over why the couch was comfortable for Maize but not for him... They'd ended up taking a little nap before migrating back into the living room after stopping by the kitchen for a smoothie.

Over the last two years, Finnick had been teaching Maize some of the traditional songs from 4. It was both amazing and somewhat expected how different their Districts were from one another. For one, the people in 4 didn't do much singing in their daily lives, only during festivals and get-togethers. Their songs almost always referenced the ocean, sea life, or sailing in some manner, even their love songs.

Life in 4, seemed less stressful overall. His people were less starved and beaten down. They weren't under as much strict control as those from 11. Sure, 4 still had their fair number of Peacekeepers, but Finnick had been horrified to learn of the Taskmasters that corralled Maize's District in the fields and orchards, of the brutal public whippings that some unfortunate people had received in the past... including her own.

Still... every tale Finnick weaved of the salt-tainted breeze and the rhythmic ocean waves sent Maize's heart yearning to see it for herself. To taste the sea in the wind, feel sand wiggle between her toes before it inevitably wound up in more annoying places... to hear the pitchy cries of gulls, and feel the sun reflect off the waves and bake her skin.

A low chuckle filled the air, "You're making that face again. What are you thinking about?"

Maize steadily ignored how her cheeks heated up as a small pout formed on her lips, "Nothing."

"Come oooon." he whined, "You can tell me. I won't laugh."

Her eyes narrowed, "Liar."

He clutched at his heart dramatically, "Oh, that hurt. Come on, out with it. If you don't fess up, I'll never stop bugging you."

Rolling her eyes as she bit back a smile, Maize quietly admitted, "The ocean. And, well, how badly I want to see it."

"I should've guessed." Finnick snorted, "You only make that face about two things. The groves and the ocean."

"I do not." she shook her head, making her loose brown curls bounce across her vision, "What face?"

A soft smile tugged onto the corners of his lips as he physically waved her off, "Just a face you make."

"You can be really annoying sometimes." Maize huffed when it became apparent that he wouldn't elaborate.

"Thank you." Finnick shot her a boyish grin as he stretched, "I try."

Maize sighed in defeat and slumped over on the armrest she'd been leaning on before shutting her eyes so that he couldn't blind her with another one of his smiles. She could hear clothing shifting and the heat of his skin brushing against hers as he got closer. Maize resolutely kept her eyes shut.

"Are you ignoring me?"

Maize refused to respond, even if her lips were trying to twitch in amusement.

A finger poked her cheek. "Hey, don't ignore me. I'm needy like that."

She could not have prevented the snort from escaping her throat even if she'd really tried, "Now that we can agree on."

Pearly white teeth were flashed at her, "What can I say? I'm worth the attention." he teased as he slumped against her so that the majority of his body weight was resting on her stomach as he peered up at her.

Her tummy swooped. His eyes were warm and hooded as he looked up at her from underneath prominent eyelashes. The dimples in his cheeks were visible even if the smile on his face was more soft than wide at the moment. He was too pretty. Much too pretty. Her face had to be on fire right now as her teeth dug a hole into the inside of her cheek.

"Maize."

"Y-Yes?" she squeaked. More than a little embarrassed to have been caught lost in his features.

"Do you remember when you told me that I had to hold on?" Finnick whispered in a low voice that did not help quell the butterflies traitorously fluttering in her stomach, "That only good things are heading my way as long as I can endure the bad right now?"

Maize had to hold back a twitch, that was so long ago now. During one of their lowest moments over a year ago. Finnick had been- in a not-good place. He'd been desperate, really. And hopeless to the point where Maize had been so utterly terrified that he'd do something irreparable and permanent. That she'd lose him.

"Yes." she responded in a stronger tone.

Because Finnick would find happiness, even if it killed her. Maize hadn't been able to save her District Partner, but she was more than determined not to let Finnick become a victim of events that had yet to come. Events that were right around the corner. This coming Hunger Games would be the 73rd, and if Maize's vague memories were correct, then it would be during the 74th Games when Katniss Everdeen -the Mockingjay- would be reaped... or was it volunteer?

Either way, change was on the horizon.

And Finnick Odair was going to live to see what happened beyond that.

"Are you a part of that?"

What.

"If we keep- if, will you be a part of the good things coming my way?"

Her confusion must have been painted all over her face since he let out a deep sigh from his chest and sat up. There was a mix of fondness and frustration clouding his expression as he gingerly moved one of the curls in her face behind her left ear.

"You do realize- I can't really imagine my life without you in it anymore," he stated in a blunt manner.

She couldn't breathe.

"Like, um, family?"

A disbelieving snort escaped from his lips, though his gaze was intent as his eyes seemed to drink in her face, "No. Like something more."

Oh.

Oh.

WHAT.

The words, "Since when?" were ripped out of her throat incredulously before she could even attempt to stop them.

He shrugged, "A long time now." nothing was nonchalant about that. Even if he was valiantly trying to play it off. She knew him too well for that.

"O-Oh."

This.. this was wrong. Wasn't it?

Finnick was supposed to fall madly in love and marry Annie Cres-

Annie Cresta had died.

A fact that Maize had been very aware of for the last two and a half years. Did that mean that Maize had somehow replaced the redhead? But, despite having been in the 70th Hunger Games, Maize was not like Annie Cresta.

And that was after discounting all of their physical differences. Maybe it was simply because she had taken over the spot that Annie Cresta should have filled in Finnick's heart by keeping him company whenever they were both in the Capitol... but hadn't Annie Cresta been something of a recluse... because she had never recovered from seeing Waverly gruesomely killed in front of her. Annie Cresta hadn't been one of President Snow's special Victors, at least not to her knowledge... crazy Victors, in general, were pretty much 'repugnant' to the high members of Capitol society and, ergo, useless to Snow. So how-

A finger poked her forehead, "Stop thinking so much."

"I-I just don't understand..."

"What?" Finnick asked softly, his eyebrow raised in a challenging manner, "That I'm in love with you?"

Chapter Text

If Maize had been drinking water she would have choked.

As it was, she choked anyway.

Like a damn fool.

Finnick's expression was at war with itself, eyebrows scrunched up and serious, but his mouth quirked up into a lopsided grin that always made a lump form in her throat when it was directed at her. His thumb lightly brushed against her cheek, "Chaff was right, you're pretty clueless sometimes."

A small squeak escaped from her lips as Maize's face started burning until the flush must've reached all the way down to her toes, "Yo-You love me?" she whispered breathlessly.

"Have been," he confirmed as he cocked his head to the side, "I think I've been in love with you for over two years now, Maize."

Her heart was exploding behind her breast as her stomach did freaking somersaults.

Finnick loved her.

Has been loving her.

Maize.

Hurt clouded Finnick's face as he pulled away from her, the warm hand that'd been on her cheek leaving her skin almost chilled despite her flush. "D-Do you not- Maize do you not-"

"Yes!" Maize blurted out before she could stop herself, grabbing his calloused hand into her own, "I-I mean," almost impossibly, she felt herself grow even redder. Maize forced herself to stop looking at the dimple on Finnick's chin and into his eyes instead, "I, when I'm with you, I feel safe." she whispered as her eyes burned, "Like I'm just Maize, an-and you're just Finnick. Like nothing can hurt me when I'm with you."

The shy smile tugging on his face was heartbreakingly beautiful as insecurity flashed across his face, impossibly thick eyelashes fluttered nervously as he eyed her lips, "Does that mean you love me?"

Maybe Maize was strangely replacing the redhead that Finnick Odair had fallen for in that story she'd once read as a child in another life. But Finnick wasn't just a character derived from pages of ink; he was of flesh and bone.

He was real.

He was her friend.

He was the only man who'd ever made her heart pound and yearn for his presence.

Finnick, who was afraid of thunderstorms but loved falling asleep to the sound of rain.

Finnick, who snored softly in his sleep and liked being held when he had nightmares.

Finnick, who liked making her little jewelry out of the seashells he'd bring from home and whisper legends in her ears.

Finnick, who was really grumpy in the mornings before drinking his tea.

Finnick, who only wanted to be given hair scritches when he was sick and read poems from his little brown book.

Finnick, who got addicted to her shakes shortly after she'd introduced them to him, but never drank the chocolate one, even though it was his favorite, because it made her think about Cana.

Finnick, who loved hearing her sing.

Finnick, who sang back to her even though it embarrassed him.

Finnick, who would cry for her when Maize shut down and always made her feel human again.

Finnick, who she'd been in love with so long that she couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when she stopped thinking of him as Odair.

So maybe Finnick Odair had once been a tragic character in a book she'd once read. But Finnick, her Finnick, wasn't him. He was her person. That Finnick may have been destined to a short life with Annie Cresta, but the man in front of her... he would be happier and more whole than him. This Finnick was in love with her. This Finnick was looking at Maize like she was the reason he got up in the morning.

Maize wasn't supposed to exist.

But maybe she was.

Maybe saving her family wasn't the only reason why she was born having memories of another life... of knowing things.

Maybe Finnick was.

Maybe they could be happy.

Actually happy.

Her hand trembled as she reached for the short hair on the back of his neck, her nails lightly raking on his scalp and sending shivers down his spine. She looked into his ever-changing blue-green eyes and whispered, "Yes." like the word itself was breathing life into her body, "I love you, Finnick."

Their noses briefly bumped together when he leaned in to press his warm lips against hers, making both of them smile against one another at the blunder because it was perfect.

Everything and nothing changes.

They still had clients, but Maize could no longer find herself dreading her visits to the Capitol. She hated what she had to do to ensure the safety of her family; the toll on her body and mind was sometimes suffocating and brutal, but she had Finnick. And Finnick had Maize when his demons were dragging him under.

When they were together, sequestered from the world as they holed up in one of their apartments, they were just Maize and Finnick.

A girl from 11 who was madly in love with a boy from 4 who loved her in return.

She hadn't been able to keep her feelings and new relationship with Finnick a secret from her family.

No, her mother had known immediately that something had happened when she'd returned home after their confessions. Maize wasn't sure how, but her mama had taken one look at her face and done a double-take before grabbing her hands and dragging Maize into her bedroom.

"You're in love." she'd stated bluntly after shutting the door behind them.

Maize had flushed immediately, but couldn't find it in herself to lie. Not again. Not when her lies had almost broken her parent's marriage once before. Besides. Maize had not wanted to lie. Not about this. Never about Finnick.

Her mother had looked nervous when she asked, "And who's this man that has stolen my baby's heart?"

A shy smile had tugged on her lips as she'd whispered his name, "Finnick."

Her mother had softened, something like relief flashing across her face for a moment before she'd pulled Maize into her arms, "Oh, mtoto, and does this boy love you back?"

"Yes."

A wide, impossibly soft smile had tugged onto her face, making her look years younger as her eyes practically twinkled when she pulled Maize into a longer hug, "I'm so, so happy for you, little one."

Relief had thrummed through her body; sometimes it was so simple with mama. Libra Galloshire always took your word as it was; there were no ifs, ands, or buts with her. She'd always take you at face value, and that was that. It was why Maize had been able to get away with hiding the truth regarding her 'trips' to the Capitol for so long in the first place. Her mother had never had a reason to distrust Maize before then. It was also partly why her lies had broken mama's heart.

Maize was in love with Finnick, and he loved her--that was all mama needed to hear, to know for her to be happy for Maize and give her blessings.

Baba had a lot more questions... Even if he had grumbled under his breath more than once that he'd not given Odair -because he wasn't Finnick to her baba- his permission to court her, but he seemed grudgingly accepting that there was a man he didn't know who was now holding his daughter's heart in his hands.

Still, her parents hadn't been too surprised overall... then again, Maize had often spoken about Finnick when she was home, so it mustn't have startled them much in the end. As if it had been an inevitable conclusion that the boy from 4 would win their daughter's heart. The way her mama looked at her sometimes made it feel like it'd been a foregone conclusion. 

Birch was another story. He'd only learned the truth because he'd been sneaking around, a terrible habit he'd recently picked up on, and overheard her conversation with baba. Her brother had wanted to have words with Finnick immediately.

Something about how it was his job as her brother to vet any man who deemed himself worthy enough of her attentions, Ollie had apparently taught him that, since he had vetted the men in his older sisters' lives as well. Maize had argued herself hoarse with Birch to get him to back off... but in the end it'd only taken one stern talking to from their mama before her little brother begrudgingly retreated. In all honesty, it made Maize a little afraid to ever introduce her brother to Finnick out of fear that he would outright attack him... if only because she was trying to keep him away. The boy had grown even more stubborn over the years; it was practically becoming his most defining character trait. It was that same stubbornness that led him to disclose the relationship with their younger siblings, most likely in an attempt to keep needling her without breaking his word with mama.

Brier and Piper had been a bit more curious about the new development because they'd recently reached the age where boys were now something interesting... but since Maize wasn't game to being interrogated, they soon left her alone. -Maybe they pitied Maize after seeing her showdown with Birch and decided to take the higher road by not pestering her for information... or maybe they didn't want to be yelled at by their mama like he'd been. Either way, Maize was happy with their compliance.- Her other siblings hadn't been very interested in the situation, not really understanding what the big deal was when Finnick was just a name they'd heard in passing and not really an actual person to them.

Amla was.

She was extremely interested.

Her cousin had squealed like a young child, holding Maize's hand tightly in her own, practically trembling in place -earning wide, delighted looks from her young children- before demanding to know absolutely everything. So Maize did. Blushing and uncharacteristically shy as she divulged her feelings and the way Finnick made her heart sing... the way he'd looked at her when he said that he loved her.

It earned Maize and her niblings another very comical display from Amla.