grundyscribbling: dawn summers (buffy - dawn)
[personal profile] grundyscribbling
Title:  New Places, Old Faces
Author: Grundy
Rating: FR13
Crossover: Hunger Games
Disclaimer: All belongs to Whedon & Tolkien. No money is being made here, it's all in good fun.
Summary: Katniss isn't entirely pleased to see the new arrivals to District 12.
Word Count: 835
Note: Sorry, I know everyone was hoping for Anariel, but after a day on the road, I'm not in the right frame of mind. Have something from the Dawn and Spike in the Hunger Games 'verse I started several years back.

Dawn looked around as she stepped off the train.

District 12’s rail station was a cross between old-timey freight depot and quaint rural Appalachia circa the mid-twentieth century.

She supposed the residents had enough other things to build, fix, or renovate that so long as the station was functional – which clearly it was – this wasn’t a priority.

You.”

Katniss Everdeen sounded anything but happy to see her – not that Dawn had any idea why she was at the train station. She thought Peeta was supposed to be meeting them.

“Look who’s talking for a change,” Spike grinned, depositing their luggage next to her.

“Katniss,” Peeta began soothingly.

“He said he was coming. He didn’t say anything about hauling a sponsor with him!”

“She helped,” Peeta reminded her. “Haymitch told you what that medication cost.”

“That was part of the feast,” Katniss protested, but everyone could hear there was less bite to it.

“You think the gifts at the feast weren’t all bought and paid for?” Dawn asked with a laugh. “The Gamesmakers aren't that generous. You’re just lucky I could motivate enough people to go in with me on Peeta – Districts One and Two contributed handsomely to Cato’s gift, as did quite a few less sentimental types in the Capitol.”

The star-crossed lovers had been a great story – but they hadn’t been the only one. And plenty of people who had things to lose had preferred Cato’s mindset, the traditional Tribute eager to serve. They counted on being able to use that after the Games.

Katniss stood very still for a long moment – to the point that Spike shot Dawn a glare.

But what else was she supposed to do? They couldn’t very well avoid the topic entirely. She had been a sponsor for a good many eventual Victors over the years. There had been a few long shots that hadn’t worked out in the mix, but she’d gotten good at recognizing who she could actually keep alive.

Katniss had been one of them – and Peeta with her, since Peeta had been vital to keeping her in the game. She hadn’t foreseen how high the full cost to Katniss would be. But there was no going back now.

And if things went according to plan, they’d be seeing more of the ‘star-crossed’ lovers. Dawn was ready to spend more time outside the Capitol, and it didn’t get much more outside than District 12. Getting the title to one of the vacant houses in the Victor’s Village had been trivial – it was beyond the means of most citizens of 12, and those with that kind of cash were generally not looking to move to what one of Dawn’s Capitol acquaintances had referred to as ‘back of beyond’.

Her choice of 12 wasn’t entirely without ulterior motive, though. Having gone through such trouble to keep Katniss alive thus far, she didn’t intend to see it go to waste. Haymitch had not told her that there was still a faction of Capitols who had lost substantially enough in both money and prestige who might be willing to take it out on the Mockingjay – if they thought they could reach her and get away with it.

Getting away with it would be very difficult with Aurora Estiva’s granddaughter right there keeping an eye on things. Besides, it was about time “Aurora” died. Time to freshen her identity, while it was still easy to do with so much in flux - and with only a handful of people who knew what she looked like, all of whom had incentive to keep quiet about it.

As the only surviving heir of her ‘grandmother’, Dawn’s access to her money and properties would continue uninterrupted – and if it didn’t, there was always pointed words with Heavensbee and the new President. She hadn’t just buttered bread over the years – she knew where everyone’s skeletons were buried.

Spike needed to relocate almost as urgently. Not to mention, he was subtle security for 12’s Victors – all three of them. Peeta would be less of a target, but he might easily end up collateral damage in any attack on the other two.  The Mockingjay’s role had been obvious, but now that the dust had begun to settle, more people were realizing that Haymitch had a larger role in both the rebellion and the war than they had credited a drunk with being capable of.

Katniss didn’t need to like it, but it would be easier if she got along with her new neighbors - and not just the one she believed was nothing more than her doctor.

“You could have said,” she told Spike resentfully. “I don’t do well with surprises, remember?”

“Yes, it would have been much better had I told you and you had time to work up a good rage, as opposed to just making a minor scene at the train station,” Spike snorted. “Come on, Bit, Bird, and Boy.”

“If he’s Boy, what’s Haymitch?” Dawn asked curiously.

Katniss and Spike answered at the same time.

“Bastard!”

Date: 2021-08-28 01:26 am (UTC)
sulien: Are you reading fanfic? By reginabellatrix, credit her if you take it. (Reading fanfic)
From: [personal profile] sulien
LOL! At least they don't have to worry about Haymitch causing problems and I'm sure Katniss will settle down after a bit. Especially if Dawn shares stories with her about her "cousin", Cinna. Thank you again for writing this series of stories, by the way; I'd never have read the Hunger Games trilogy without the catalyst.

Date: 2021-08-29 11:32 am (UTC)
lferion: Art of pink gillyflower on green background (Default)
From: [personal profile] lferion
I love Dawn’s train of thought here.

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