VICTORS' VILLAGE WASN'T WHAT SAGE HAD IMAGINED IT TO BE. Despite the bigger houses, the trimmed green grass and small flower gardens wrapping around the front of the home– it looked like it was part of the nicer areas of Twelve. There was nothing at all that estravagent, the fountain at the entrance was dry, and the gate had overgrown grass and weeds growing below it. And it looked as if the road leading into the village had a fresh layer of gravel put down since the only one really using the road had been Haymitch, so the upkeep had been brushed aside.

Sage had imagined smooth paved roads, clean sidewalks, and flower beds at the base of every street lamp. When he had thought of Victors' Village, he had imagined fresh air that didn't smell of the mines, crystal blue skies, and even music coming from some of the houses. But instead it was a ghost town that was big enough to help a good hunk of the families from the Seam with shelter and supplies in general. Instead all of the furbished homes sat empty, gathering dust. With the exception of the home that Haymitch had to himself, and now the home that the Everdeen's would be living in. Despite Sage being eighteen, because he was technically still supposed to be in school and wasn't married, his family was able to move there with him. Which Katniss, Prim, and their mother seemed pleasantly happy with. Sage knew that being there would be good, even for him. Enough room to move, plenty of food, heat in the winter, a place to actually escape the blazing heat in the summer months– and the fact that Katniss and Prim would never have to enter more than what was required of them...all were things that Sage was grateful for.

But how they got it was something he wasn't sure he could ever be used to.

"It really is amazing to have you back," his father said as he stepped into the living room that had been arranged for them before he arrived back in twelve. Sage had made himself comfortable after dinner, which he barely touched, as soon as his mother whisked Katniss and Prim away to give them proper baths for once. "everything feels like it's going to be okay now." he said, sitting down on the opposite side of the soft couch that Sage had seated himself in.

Sage nodded, "Doesn't seem real to be honest." Sage replied, "I feel like I'm still in the Capitol at least." he said, motioning around to the nice things in their new home.

Soren was quiet for a moment, "Well, you aren't. You're back where you should be. With us, in twelve."

"Yeah."

"Sage," his father started, "I know that we are the last people you want to talk to about things, but if you have to..." he paused, "we just worry about you, that's all. We always have, always-"

"-always will. I know." Sage muttered, rubbing his eyes. "But I'd rather not bore you with anything if it comes up. I'll talk to Haymitch about it." that wasn't a complete lie. It wasn't a matter of if anything came up. It was a matter of what else, and his parents were the last people that he wanted to talk to about it.

"Are you sure you're alright with Prim asking you about the Capitol?" Soren questioned, "We could ask her to stop, to at least give you some time to get settled."

Sage shook his head, "No, it's okay."

"Katniss has been excited for you to get back, I think she was biting her tongue to not ask you about when you'd be going hunting with her again."

"I won't be." Sage answered sharply, "She shouldn't be either. None of us have to anymore." he stated while in his head he remembered vividly the look in President Snow's eyes when he came to 'wish Sage luck' before the games. He had been there because Katniss had been spotted and Katniss wasn't old enough. But come next year, she would be. Sage winning assured Snow that he would come back and keep her inside the fences. There would be no reason for Katniss to go out there anymore.

"She'll understand that," Soren assured him, Sage's tone must have come off as more angry than he had intended it to be.

Silence filled the room around them and Sage could feel it almost on his skin. It felt like pins and needles were pricking him all over the place. The only sound came from down the hall where it was Prim's turn in the bath, Sage could hear Prim singing the old childrens' song Hickery-Dickery-Dock, occasionally egging Katniss on to join her. She was enjoying her time, enjoying the new bathtub that had running water.

"I'm going to step outside." Sage announced, cutting the silence and beginning to push himself up from the couch. As soon as he began to put weight on his leg, he had to bite his lip to keep himself from wincing too much in front of his father. "Where'd mom toss that sweater I had when I got home?"

"You didn't have one," his father reminded him, "just that t-shirt you have on."

Sage stood there for a moment, racking through his memories from that morning. Had he grabbed the sweater that Marcel put him in before he left? He could have sworn he did. But when he thought about it, he couldn't remember if he had picked it up from where he dropped it on his bed. "Dammit..." meaning the bottle of morphling tablets had been left on the train.

"What is it?" Soren asked, pushing himself to the edge of the couch.

"Nothing, it's just I wish I had that sweater."

"I'm sure there is something in the coat closet you could use. But I don't think it should be that cold out tonight-"

"No, I need that sweater." Sage replied, his words coming out much sharper and angrier than he had wanted them to. He let out a long huff of air, "I'll be outside. I'll be back to say goodnight to Kat and Prim in a bit."

Soren didn't try to stop Sage. Sage wasn't sure what he would have ended up saying if he had, he could feel his hands tensing up, and it felt like there was a knot in his stomach that tightened every single muscle in his body. His leg had a dull throbbing sound, and he hoped that Haymitch was right– soon his leg would be just fine. But until then, he knew the throbbing and sometimes stabbing pain would be something that kept him on edge. Being in that house would keep him adgitated until who knew when. He couldn't imagine ever being happy there. He wished when he had come home he could have at least just gone back to their small house, and simply knew they would have the supplies they needed. This felt like some sort of sick way to just remind him of the games. Seeing and hearing everyone else enjoy the house didn't help. In fact, it made it a whole lot worse.

Sage made his way out of the house, and instantly felt like a weight was lifted off of him. The pins and needles were gone, and the knot in his stomach shrank with every step he took. Until he found himself walking across the street and towards the only other house with a light on in the village. Sage's house wouldn't be properly stocked until the following afternoon when they were able to bring the first batch of supplies that Sage had won, but Haymitch had years worth of supplies probably being the only person in the house.

Sage knocked on Haymitchs' door, once, twice– four times before he finally heard heavy steps walking towards the door. And once the door was pulled open, Sage say the same Haymitch he had seen walk onto the stage every year since he could remember. "Can I help you?" he questioned, clearly trying hard not to let his words slur together and trying not to huff any of his whiskey covered breath in Sages' face. 

"Do you have any morphling?" Sage questioned simply. 

Haymitch chuckled a little bit, "Nope, but I have something that won't give you yellow skin and eyes." Haymitch stated, stepping aside slightly to let Sage in his home. As soon as Sage was inside, he shut the door behind him, and threw an arm around his shoulders, practically leaning on him as he lead Sage across the dinning room and into the kitchen set in the back corner of the house.

          Unlike the rest of the village, Haymitchs' home seemed to be exactly what Sage had anticipated. His kitchen alone was a cluttered mess that would have sent Sages' mother into a frenzy of lecturing and cleaning all at once. The counters were cluttered, besides a portion of it that was lined with whiskey bottles. Haymitch released Sages' shoulders and grabbed a glass from his sink, rinsed it under some water before setting it on the counter and grabbing the opened bottle he had been drinking and filled the glass just over half way before turning, allowing the amber colored drink to slosh over the side a bit as he held it out to Sage. 

"Trust me, the Capitol won't love you so much if you turn into a yellow eyed morphling like the two from six." Haymitch told him.

"I need it for my leg."

"Oh, bullshit, Sage." Haymitch huffed, holding the glass out closer to him. "I know it hurts and all, but you don't need to be dosing yourself up every time it bugs you a bit." 

Sage sighed heavily, reluctantly taking the glass from Haymitch. Nearly dropping it thanks to the water and whiskey that covered the outside of it. "As if this is better?" Sage questioned as Haymitch grabbed the bottle, his own glass that was still full and then led the two of them into the dining room. 

"How's settling in going for you?" Haymitch questioned, disregarding Sage's pointed question. 

Sage shrugged as he basically fell into one of the chairs, relieved to be off of his leg. "It's a nice house. My sister's like it."

Haymitch nodded, "It gets easier once you keep yourself busy." Haymitch told him.

Sage scoffed, from what he knew of Haymitch before ever really meeting him, this is how he kept himself busy. But now, knowing how Haymitch had gotten there, Sage didn't entirely blame him.

         Sage looked at the glass in his hand. He and his friends had gotten whiskey from the Hob a couple of times, but it wasn't like this. Usually it was made right there in twelve and sold in jugs that had been used for milk or oil before they were repurposed. And it wasn't as clear, the amber color was much more murky. 

"Well," Haymitch huffed, "congratulations on staying alive." he said, holding his own glass up towards Sage and offering him a toast before he tipped the glass back and easily finished what was in his glass, while Sage only took a sip and hoped he was able to mask the fact that he wasn't exactly thrilled with the strong cinnamon taste. 

          Sage only humored Haymitch for about an hour before he decided to leave. By that time, Haymitch had finished a few more glasses, and had convinced Sage to finish his first along with one refill. But if it had been up to Haymitch, Sage would have stayed until the bottle was entirely empty. Despite not wanting to go back to his own house, he knew that if he wasn't there to say goodnight to his sister's they would begin to catch on that he wasn't as happy as they were to have the new house. So Sage made his way back across the street, trying to practice hiding his limp as much as he possibly could before he walked inside.

          That night Sage had gone to his room and slowly got changed out of his clothes and into the clothes he had always used at night before he was reaped for the games. Like the shoes, they made him feel a bit more normal again. He wished for his old, lumpy bed and pillow from their house in the seam though once he was laying down. He laid there for what felt like hours, but in reality was less than one. He tried to imagine that he was in his small room, just below the window that didn't shut all the way and would let in a draft all year round. He tried to imagine the sounds and smells that came from the seam too. But it was hard to do with the nice blankets he had and new mattress and pillows that he sunk into. Despite feeling like it was hard to fall asleep, once he did he fell asleep he was down for the count. 

But like in the arena, he was easy to wake up. 

         It must have been the early morning hours, like usual– but Prim had found her way from the room she shared with Katniss, to Sages'. She must have had trouble climbing up onto his bed since it was much higher than her own and his old one because she lost her footing and her entire body crashed to the floor. Filling the room with a loud thud, and causing Sage to jolt awake. His heart was racing and he was already out of breath when he shot up into a seated position. For a second, he could have sworn that the sound had been a cannon filling the night air in the arena.

"Ow..." Prim muttered, drawing Sage's attention to the side of the bed facing the door. Sage leaned over on his elbow and flipped on his bedside lamp so he could see her. 

"Can I help you?" he asked grogily.

"Sorry..." she muttered, rubbing her elbow as she started to stand up. "I tried not to wake you up."

Sage chuckled, "I was barely asleep." he lied, "What's wrong with your bed?"

"Katniss snores." she replied simply, "And she said if I woke her up again she'd punch me."

Sage scoffed, "I doubt that she'd actually hit you." he stated, "Eventually you'll have to sleep in your own bed, you know."

"I did when you were gone. Mom let me use yours, she said it could be mine until you got back." Prim told him when she was back on her feet. 

"Well, I'm back and you have your own bed."

"But Katniss snores." Prim repeated, "Real loud too, she sounds like a pig."

Sage chuckled, "I bet she gets it from dad." he told her before holding out a hand, "Come on, if you fall again you might wake up the whole house."

"I don't think so," Prim stated as she grabbed his hand and let him pull her up as she started climbing up. "this house is so big I bet I could start yelling and nobody would hear me."

"I would. So don't."

Prim laughed, "I won't."

          Sage slid out of the middle of his bed and let Prim make herself comfortable. Despite having a bigger bed now, he knew that wouldn't matter to Prim. She'd still end up being a bit of a bed hog. So Sage figured he'd give her as much of the bed as he could to begin with. Once she was under the covers and comfortable, he reached over her and flipped off the light before rolling towards the window on the far side of the room to try and go back to sleep.

"Sage,"

"Hm?"

"I'm glad you're home."

"Me too."

"Did you always think you were gonna come home?"

"Course I did."

"How?"

Sage was quiet for a moment, "Because of Mrs. Allen's advice."

"Chin up and stand up straight?"

"Mhm."

"She started crying when I went to school the day after the reaping and told her that you liked her advice." Prim told him, "Remember? You told me to tell her you liked her advice."

"Mhm. I remember." 

"I'm gonna tell her that you used it too." Prim said as she yawned. 

"Great."

"Sage?"

"Yes, Prim?"

"Will you have to leave again?" she questioned, she shifted in the bed. Sage assumed she was propped up on her elbow to face Sage as she spoke. "They were talking about a tour that winners have to go on."

Sage sighed heavily, "Not for awhile. But yeah, I will."

"Will you have to go back in the arena?" 

"Nope."

"Will me or Katniss?"

Sages' eyes popped open and he rolled over onto his elbow to look at her. "No." Sage stated, "The only reason I had to was because I entered my name extra times. You and Kat will never have to do that. Ever."

Prim nodded a bit, "Good." she said laying down. 

Sage sighed heavily as he rolled over again.

"Sage-"

"Yes, Prim?"

"Are you glad to be home?"

Sage rolled onto his back, "Prim, go to sleep."

"Are you?"

"Of course I am." Sage told the partial lie to her in hopes it would satisfy her. 

He much rather would have just left them with the supplies he got them from the tessera he took out instead of a house in Victors' Village.

AUTHORS NOTE;
I'm on a roll with this story. I'm hoping to have it finished in the next week or so! Please be sure to let me know what yall think! ALSO, the playlist  code is now on the TITLE PAGE! Use your phone to scan the image in spotify! PM me if you would like the direct link or if you read on your phone and cant scan it!

Stay classy!