CHAPTER FOUR
the fall of victors

KATNISS EVERDEEN WAS A SPECTATOR IN THE FALL OF VICTORS. Destined for glory, it seemed they were also destined for tragedy. The sixteen year old had been reaped yet again, a single tear marking her anguish before she was finally stolen away from her family. The Capitol's iron grip seemed to forever be clasped around her, choking her to her final breath. The cries of Prim and her mother were haunting, a mark the Capitol burnt her with.

The idea of returning to the very place that left her bruised and battered terrified the teenager, but the idea of being with other Victors, men and women she had watched prior and cried over, horrified her. She masked her fear though with a stoic face, ignoring the glances Peeta would give her.

"Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister. District 1. They won back-to-back Games. Capitol favourites. Lots of sponsors. They will be lethal." Haymitch's elaborations on each Districts Tributes didn't ease Katniss whatsoever. The fact they needed this debriefing scared her more than anything.

Haymitch continued enlightening the Victor turned Tributes. "And the other half of the Career pack, Brutus and Enobaria."

"What's with her teeth?" Katniss scowled every so slightly as she looked at the sharpened teeth that reminded her of how her father used to describe shark.

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out."

"She's committed. I'll give her that." Peeta commented, shrugging every so slightly.

"Wiress and Beetee." he moved on. "Not fighters, but brilliant. And weird. Real tech-savvy. He won his games by electrocuting six Tributes at once. The Morphings: Masters of camouflage. Basically won their games by hiding until everyone else was dead. Self-medicating ever since, which I applaud. Not a threat." He switched to the next Reaping.

Recognition flooded Katniss immediately. "Finnick Odair, right?" Katniss questioned. She stared at the screen as it panned on the overtly cocky looking man. Every ounce of him seemed pleased on being reaped, but anyone who knew him knew it was an act. People who really knew that smile knew how deceptive it was.

But Katniss didn't know Finnick Odair.

"Yes. He won his Games at 14. Youngest ever. Extremely humble."

"You're kidding."

Haymitch waved his hands at her. "He's a peacock. A total preener. But he's the Capitol darling. They love him here. Charming, smart and very skilled in combat. Especially in water."

"What about weaknesses?" Peeta asked, leaning forward in interest.

"Two. First is Mags. She volunteered for Annie Cresta.
Mags was his mentor and basically raised him. If he's trying to protect her in anyway, it exposes him." Haymitch explained.

Katniss failed to notice the distaste evident when he mentioned Mags. "A guy like that had to know she's not gonna make it. I bet when it really comes down to it, he won't protect her." Katniss muttered, earning a warning glance from Peeta and slight glare from Haymitch.

"Well, Katniss, I just hope when she goes, she goes quickly. She's actually a wonderful lady." he told her sternly, evident that he had a fondness for the old victor.

"The other weakness?" Peeta asked again, leaning back.

The screen changed and Katniss was forced to watch as a young woman walked onto the stage besides the oddly dressed Escort, stoic expression clearly on her face as her black dress swayed in the cool breeze. She eyes traces every small detail on her face, most noticeable being her abundant braids and defining facial features. Her face seemed permanently fixed in a defining frown, her eyes bare yet strong to all near.

"Clio Royce: Finnick Odair's second weakness. Volunteered for her mentor, Cecilia Zhao, who took her in after her game."

They watched as the camera panned on a much older Asian woman with tanned olive skin and wide, fearful eyes, being clutched onto by three young girls. The youngest, who couldn't be older than four, was sobbing into her mother's neck, while the other two clutched the woman's dress tightly; Katniss' eyes softened as she saw the grief in the woman's eyes, holding her children close.

Then, they watched as the attention was brought onto the 67th Victor, who kissed Cecilia on the head, before breaking away from her embrace. It was very clear Cecilia Zhao was placed in even more agony as she watched the girl walk forward, her daughters reacting in a similar way.

Then a much older man joined the girl, his eyes filled with rage as he stared. Katniss Everdeen watched with slightly softened eyes as he pressed a small kiss on her forehead, staring angrily.  Clio Royce's brown eyes seemed lidded with defeat as she stared forward, her jaw clenched ever so slightly. It wasn't noticeable, though it wasn't secretive.

Katniss knew as much as the average person did about Clio Royce's Hunger Games. She knew it was the 67th Games, that she had been reaped alongside her older brother, Azrail, and that against all the odds, she managed to win. She was one of the youngest victors, just age 15, and throughout her games she appeared as a weak and fragile kid, too scared of her shadow to defend herself. Then, the canon's cried out for Azrail Royce and the kid died, murdered by the murderer that they all knew as Clio Royce.

"Wasn't she the one who turned on her district partner?" Peeta had asked, pointing at the brown skinned woman which an inkling of distaste in his mouth. She looked stoic as she stared forward, though Katniss could see the almost inhumane beauty in her. She had heard of all the rumours on Clio Royce, and if those rumours held any truth, then it was clear that her beauty was unmistakable in the Capitol.

Haymitch gave him a pointed look. "No, she was just forced to watch her brother get brutally killed. He had killed the District 1 tribute, some girl, and her fellow tribute wanted revenge. Brutally gutted Azrail out in front of Clio, gouging his eyes out and stashing them in his pocket. Rumour has it, when they collected his body, Azrail's eyes were still stashed there." He replied almost nonchalantly, although both Katniss and Peeta were very aware of the scowl he had mustered. The emphasis on brother made both of them uncomfortable, both shuffling slightly on the spot. "Very intelligent girl, she is. A surprisingly good fighter, despite how she acted for the first two days of her games. She's easily attached to people and will do whatever it takes for them, even murder believe it or not. Went a bit, you know," Haymitch whistled a bit, clearly insinuating Clio's mental state to the pair. They both got the hint. "After her games. But, regardless, she is lethal and won't be afraid to kill either of you if you hurt any of the people she loves."

Peeta whistled lowly. "Well that's comforting."

Haymitch sighed at the pair. "An alliance with her means a dual package alliance with Finnick Odair. Rumour has it the two have some sort of love affair going on, although it's just a rumour. It wouldn't surprise me though, I may be a drunk but I'm not blind when it comes to the puppy dog eyes Odair gives her whenever she's with him."

"Why would we want an alliance with them? Especially her?" Katniss questioned, crossing her arms at Haymitch. "You said it yourself, she's crazy, probably psychotic, and will probably kill us if she wants to."

Haymitch glared. "Well, Katniss, like you said: she will kill you if she wants to. Get on her good side though, and believe me you won't regret it."

"Well what about her? What are her weaknesses?" Katniss responded, crossing her arms at the screen. The eeriness of the woman with dull eyes haunted her, an allusive warning that she shouldn't try getting near her.

"Only one: Finnick."

JAZ SPEAKS
haymitch: become friends with clio, she'll be attached and protect you and you'll have finnick on ur side
katniss: i think the fuck not.

peeta being judgey over clio is funny tbh, i know it seems more like a katniss thing but keep in mind some people see clio as someone who left her brother to die and obviously peeta would have distaste for that

anyways

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