SAGE HAD NO INTENTION OF LEAVING THE HOUSE THE NEXT DAY, OR EVEN VICTORS' VILLAGE. He didn't want to be where people could look for him or gawk at him. So once they were done eating breakfast, despite Prim and Katniss' pleas for him to walk them to school, he returned to his room while their mother went with them.

Despite the stabbing pain in his leg, he stood before his closet sorting through everything that Marcel had sent back with him. He was surprised at how much of it actually looked like something he'd wear. None of it was too flashy, he had been intending to toss out anything that was but none of it was. So he grabbed a pair of jeans and a new shirt that he could pull on. Once he was dressed, he sat down on his bed to give his leg a bit of a break since the throbbing had become more consistent.

The rest of their supplies would be delivered in a few hours once the peacekeepers could bring it. However, Sage decided to make his way down stairs. In hopes of finding perhaps a bottle of whiskey that the house already had stowed away in the kitchen. That sounded like something that would have made it to the house in the first batch of supplies– as if they would all have a celebratory drink. However, before he could turn to go into the kitchen, by the time he was at the bottom of the stairs he had a clear view of their front door. Which his mother had left open, leaving the screen door to be the only thing keeping anything outside.

On the other side of the door, he saw Ella. Her back was turned to the door, and she looked like her arms were folded in front of her. Sage felt relieved, in all honesty since he had gotten back he hadn't given much thought to when he'd finally venchor out of the Village to go see her. He was actually worried about seeing her. For the same reason he had been worried about seeing his family for the first time.

"Ella?" Sage called out as he stepped off the last step and walked towards the door, as he reached the screen door he felt the corners of his mouth turning upwards into a smile. However, when she turned around she didn't have a smile on her face until she saw Sage. As soon as he pushed the door open her arms were firmly around his neck as she let out a sigh of relief.

"I can't believe you're really back." she said simply, not even loosening her grip around his neck. 

Sage sighed heavily, "Me either." he stated, hugging her tightly back. 

Ella took a small step back, placing a hand on either side of his face and taking a good look at him before hugging him again. "And it's actually you." she added, "I'm sorry I didn't come to see you at the train station. I...I thought you'd want to see your family first."

"I wouldn't have minded seeing you too." Sage replied, taking a step back and stepping aside. "Come on, I think there's still some breakfast in the kitchen."

"Don't mind if I do," she replied stepping into the house.

         Ella's eyes scanned everything she could see as soon as she stepped inside. As much had Sage hated everything in the house, he couldn't help but smile a bit seeing her wide eyes take everything in. 

"This is amazing, Sage," she smiled as she followed Sage into the kitchen.

"Yeah, it's nice." Sage replied, hoping his words didn't come out to unenthusiastic.

       Sage opened the refridgerator and pulled out the bowl of fruit that they hadn't finished that morning and found the already sliced bread before taking two pieces and popping them into the silver toaster they had. As he waited he grabbed a plate, and moved a glass jar or peanut butter to the table where they had eaten breakfast before returning to the counter to wait for the toast. The throbbing his leg began to worsen, so he braced himself with his hands on the counter. His eyes scanned the kitchen, hoping to see what he had initally come downstairs to find. 

"Sage?"

"Hm?" Sage quickly looked over his shoulder to where Ella's voice had come from.

"I asked how you were feeling," Ella stated, "since you got out of the arena?"

"Oh," Sage paused as he quickly pulled the two pieces of toast out and dropped them on the plate, "fine. Good actually." he lied as he turned and set the plate down and moved it towards Ella before he eagerly seated himself across from the chair that she was pulling out for herself. 

Ella didn't at all seem that convinced by his response, "You sure?" she questioned as she began to spread a thin layer of peanut butter on the toast. "You were limping-"

"Oh that's nothing." Sage said quickly, waving a hand dismisvly. "The graft they put on my leg is just healing still, Haymitch said in a week or two I'll be good as new."

"So I take it Katniss will be following me for a bit longer?" Ella questioned, "She's actually gotten pretty good with your bow."

Sage forced out a chuckle, "No, uh, she won't be." Sage stated, "We don't have to hunt anymore." Sage told her, but as soon as the words left his mouth he knew it hadn't been the right thing to say to Ella. "Neither do you, Ella." Sage added quickly.

Ella was quiet.

           Hunting had alway's been something they did. Whether they actually hunted or not, going beyond the fence had been their pass time. Sage saying they wouldn't be doing it anymore meant everything was going to be different. Sage had no intention of going outside the fences ever again. The next time that happened would be the next time he got on the train. Hunting, scavenging, everything he had grown up doing– he wouldn't be doing anymore. As far as he was concerned, Katniss wouldn't be either. 

"I'm serious, today they're bringing the rest of my supplies. We can bring whatever you need to your family. You don't have to worry about hunting or trading at the Hob." Sage assured her leaning against the table.

Ella sighed heavily, "That would be great, Sage," she replied, "but you love it out there. Katniss does too."

"I liked it out there because it was what I had to do, Ella. We don't have to anymore." Sage replied. He wanted to blurt out the exact reason why he didn't want anyone setting foot outside the fences. The Capitol knew about it. It was the entire reason that he had gotten reaped in the first place. Hunting was what got him put in the arena. 

"Have you told Katniss that?" she questioned, "She's been excited to show you how much better she's gotten since you've been gone." she informed him.

Sage sighed heavily, his eyes landed on top of the fridge, and seeing a similar bottle as the one that Haymitch had shared with him. "Not yet. But I will."

        After Ella ate her toast, and they both picked at the bowl of fruit Ella suggested going to the Hob. Or to just take a walk and to get some fresh air, but Sage declined both offers. So they ended up going through what was already in the house and set it aside for Ella to take back to the seam when she left. Then they made themselves comfortable in the living area on the plush couch. 

       Despite the lack of complaints from Ella, it was clear that it wasn't how she intended on spending the day. When she had brought up hunting, Sage was sure she had hoped the conversation would end up with the two of them heading out beyond the fence. Just the two of them since Katniss wouldn't be around to tag along. Sage was glad she didn't suggest it though, even if that was what she wanted to do. It meant he didn't have to shoot down yet another suggestion she had. 

"Are you glad you won?" Ella questioned suddenly, "Genuinely glad?"

Sage's eyebrows furrowed as he glanced down at Ella's head on his shoulder, "Yeah?" he replied slowly, "I'm glad I'm home."

"But are you glad you won?" Ella questioned, "I know you're happy to be home, but are you happy that you won?"

"If I hadn't won, I wouldn't be home. So yeah, I guess I am."

"I'm not," she replied, "of course I'm happy you're home. But you seem miserable being here."

Sage sighed heavily, "Ella, I'm just tired. That's all. I'm glad I'm home. I'm glad I won."

Sage couldn't tell who he was trying to convince. Ella or himself.