The Hunger Games fic - Alternate Lives (gen)
Title: Alternate Lives
Author: Dimity Blue
Rating: teens
Genre: gen, alternate reality
Characters: Katniss, Gale, Cato, Snow
Word Count: 514 words
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: 4 differences caused by Prim never being chosen.
Trigger warning: A very brief mention of rape.
Click on the cut or read on AO3.
Alternate Lives
By Dimity Blue
1. The Reaping
Katniss sighed with relief and pity as Madge Cartwright stumbled towards the stage where the Capitol Escort was waiting for her. At least it wasn't Katniss who was chosen. At least it wasn't Prim! For all her soothing words to Prim that morning, Katniss had been genuinely terrified her lovely, gentle sister would have her name called and be sent to die in the arena. What Katniss would have done in that case, she didn't know.
But it didn't happen. Prim was still standing with the rest of the twelve-year-old girls as a white-faced Madge waited for her male counterpart to be chosen.
Katniss could breathe easy for another year.
2. Ten Days Later
"Did you know him?"
Katniss looked up at Gale. "Peeta Mellark? Not to speak to. Did you?"
Gale shook his head. "A little." His eyes turned to the forest around them. "Let's go this way."
Katniss followed on, her mind on the baker's son. She hadn't really known Peeta, that was true, but he'd saved Katniss's life once. He'd given her burned bread when she was starving; two precious loaves she'd carried home to Prim and their mother. His gift had fed the three of them, kept them going until Katniss was able to hunt food for them to eat. Katniss had never understood why, nor had she ever had the chance to ask him. Now she never could.
"He lasted longer than anyone expected."
Gale turned, surprise on his face. "Yeah. He never could have won though. The only victor we have is Haymitch Abernathy, and can you imagine what kind of a mentor he'd be?"
"A drunk one!" Katniss retorted. For all her dark humour, she felt genuinely sad for Peeta Mellark. His mentor couldn't have been any good, and that was assuming Mr. Abernathy sobered up long enough to realise he was supposed to be mentoring anyone.
3. The Last Night
Cato was exultant. There had been a few moments when he'd considered he might lose. That huge black kid from District 11 had been a particular challenge, but the rest of them had been easy. Even Clove, though she'd almost done him in with that knife of hers. Well, here he was on stage again being interviewed by Caesar Flickerman. Cato threw back his head and grinned at the camera. He was the triumphant Victor of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, and the Capitol was at his feet. It felt great to be alive.
It wasn't until Cato's eighteenth birthday that he discovered the hidden price for being a Victor.
The disgusting old man who'd paid to fuck Cato had paid in more ways than one. Cato wasn't sorry he'd killed him, nor was he sorry he killed so many guards in his attempt to reach Snow.
So this was how dying felt.
4. Snow's Fall
President Coriolanus Snow died in his sleep at the age of 121 having never having heard the name Everdeen. He had no idea how grateful he should have been for that.
The end.
21st April 2022
Author: Dimity Blue
Rating: teens
Genre: gen, alternate reality
Characters: Katniss, Gale, Cato, Snow
Word Count: 514 words
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: 4 differences caused by Prim never being chosen.
Trigger warning: A very brief mention of rape.
Click on the cut or read on AO3.
Alternate Lives
By Dimity Blue
1. The Reaping
Katniss sighed with relief and pity as Madge Cartwright stumbled towards the stage where the Capitol Escort was waiting for her. At least it wasn't Katniss who was chosen. At least it wasn't Prim! For all her soothing words to Prim that morning, Katniss had been genuinely terrified her lovely, gentle sister would have her name called and be sent to die in the arena. What Katniss would have done in that case, she didn't know.
But it didn't happen. Prim was still standing with the rest of the twelve-year-old girls as a white-faced Madge waited for her male counterpart to be chosen.
Katniss could breathe easy for another year.
2. Ten Days Later
"Did you know him?"
Katniss looked up at Gale. "Peeta Mellark? Not to speak to. Did you?"
Gale shook his head. "A little." His eyes turned to the forest around them. "Let's go this way."
Katniss followed on, her mind on the baker's son. She hadn't really known Peeta, that was true, but he'd saved Katniss's life once. He'd given her burned bread when she was starving; two precious loaves she'd carried home to Prim and their mother. His gift had fed the three of them, kept them going until Katniss was able to hunt food for them to eat. Katniss had never understood why, nor had she ever had the chance to ask him. Now she never could.
"He lasted longer than anyone expected."
Gale turned, surprise on his face. "Yeah. He never could have won though. The only victor we have is Haymitch Abernathy, and can you imagine what kind of a mentor he'd be?"
"A drunk one!" Katniss retorted. For all her dark humour, she felt genuinely sad for Peeta Mellark. His mentor couldn't have been any good, and that was assuming Mr. Abernathy sobered up long enough to realise he was supposed to be mentoring anyone.
3. The Last Night
Cato was exultant. There had been a few moments when he'd considered he might lose. That huge black kid from District 11 had been a particular challenge, but the rest of them had been easy. Even Clove, though she'd almost done him in with that knife of hers. Well, here he was on stage again being interviewed by Caesar Flickerman. Cato threw back his head and grinned at the camera. He was the triumphant Victor of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games, and the Capitol was at his feet. It felt great to be alive.
It wasn't until Cato's eighteenth birthday that he discovered the hidden price for being a Victor.
The disgusting old man who'd paid to fuck Cato had paid in more ways than one. Cato wasn't sorry he'd killed him, nor was he sorry he killed so many guards in his attempt to reach Snow.
So this was how dying felt.
4. Snow's Fall
President Coriolanus Snow died in his sleep at the age of 121 having never having heard the name Everdeen. He had no idea how grateful he should have been for that.
The end.
21st April 2022