#been thinking a lot about the people of district 4 and in finnick's life so here's the first person to get their little debrief post! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

mrsnancywheeler · 4 months

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the lakes (13) // finnick odair x f. reader

summary: it's supposed to be over, you and Finnick are supposed to spend the rest of your lives helping each other heal. living as peacefully as possible, but the the third quarter quell throws a wrench in your domestic bliss.

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4.9k words

warnings: angst, lots of it, fluff, mental illness, self hate, self destructive behavior, paranoid, scared, unreliable reader, gore, death, violence, cursing, bad familial dynamics, mentions of drinking and partying, unedited, no use of y/n, terms of endearment, allusions of dissociation

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

You don't know for how long you'd been sitting in the water when Beetee and Johanna joined you. Their presence startling you out of the bliss of just holding Finnick in the water, as if it was a night back in District 4. But, this would never be that, this was just something Capitol citizens would cry over until they eventually forgot, moved on to new victors.

“We're going to head to the tree where the lightning strikes, so I'll have enough time to set up. Johanna will go with Katniss to the beach and take care of her after they get off the sand.” Beetee adjusted his glasses, you all had to be so careful with your words. To the people watching it had to seem like allies turning against allies, not a cleverly thought out escape plan for the rebellion. You nodded, but not a single molecule of your body wanted to move from where the ocean could rise and fall on you while Finnick's warmth shielded you from any chill.

“With the sun setting, we better start heading that way, then." Finnick began to stand, much to your chagrin, but the sooner this was over you could be safe with each other in District 13. At the very least out of the dangers of the arena. "C’mon, sweet girl.” He pulled you up from the water without a second thought, pulling you comfortably back into his side.

The trek to the tree felt long and grueling from the time you'd spent in the water, you couldn't stop yourself from thinking about your bed back at the house in District 4. That lovingly, delicately made bed where you'd processed the worst and best moments of your life before you slept. “I love you." It was unprompted, but it felt right for you to say to him as he walked, arm firmly around you.

Finnick tilted his head down at you, a soft smile on his handsome face, “I love you too, angel." He kissed your forehead, "Don't ruin the moment by telling me some plan you have of sacrifice.” Although it was playful, you knew he was somewhat serious, he knew you.

You lightly elbowed him and he exaggerated his wince, "I just spend a lot of time proclaiming how I can't live without you and not enough just say I love you, so yeah, I love you.” It felt almost embarrassing to admit, but your brain always felt like a cesspool of anxiety and fear, it had been too long since you'd been able to just be the two of you without a care.

"You know how complicated it is to be married to someone when their way is to live and die for someone when you love them so much all you want is for them to live an eternity?” The smile is still on his face and so’s that playful tone, but it fits where it needs to. If the world was a better place it would never have been a problem that you would follow him to the ends of the Earth. That you refused to wait for him when asked and followed him to the battlefields, but the world was not a better place and you'd dug your own grave in blissful acceptance.

“Yes I do, I'm actually married to him right now." He rolled his eyes at you with a scoff. As the sun faded the more thankful you were for Finnick’s warm touch that made it feel like there were a thousand fireflies under your skin. The closer you were to the tree, the closer you were to Beetee blowing the arena open, so you could live in some semblance of peace for at least a little while.

“Oh, be careful, angel." Finnick steadied you when you almost tripped over a stray root, a reminder that even if you'd been focusing your energy on not losing him, you were injured. The faster you could be in a hospital bed and without a lightness in your head, the better.

“Thank you." The words had barely rolled off of your tongue when you were suddenly in the presence of the lightning tree, which was monstrous as it towered over the other greenery.

“Minimal charring, it's an impressive conductor. Let's get started.” Beetee's voice is clear in the crisp night air, the fluttering and chirps of birds filling the air. Finnick’s warm hand guides you towards the tree, which you would consider to be rather intimidating. Beetee is instantly wrapping coils of the wire around the tree's branches. While he works you let yourself fall into the comfort of Finnick's neck, his scent, the warmth he exudes onto you. His free hand thrumming against your hip and you feel your brain leaving the moment before it's slightly occupied by Beetee's voice once again, “Typically a lighting strike contains five billion joules of energy, we don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when this hits.” He's seemingly finished with his circles around the tree as he begins walking towards Katniss with the coil. “You and Johanna can go together now, take this, unspool it carefully, make sure the entire coil is in the water, you understand? Then head to the tree at the two o'clock sector. We’ll meet you there.” He's so precise, like a typewriter as it clicks out each letter.

From the look on her face Katniss seemingly does not understand, even in your slightly cloudy state you can tell she's unhappy with the letters clicked out. Peeta must feel the same way as he insists, “I'm gonna go with them as a guard." Johanna and Katniss would be just fine as each other's guards, and you can tell the so-called star crossed lovers plan to flee as soon as they can, not that you blame them. If there was no certainty you could survive with Finnick you would beg to do the same.

“No." Beetee instantly replies, his plan has made it through every cog in his brain. Peeta cannot be the wrench in the system that leads to freedom. “No, no, no, no, you're staying here to protect me and the tree.” The cloudy state is dissipating, if there's a plan you believed in it was Beetee’s and this stopped it from going off without a hitch you could feel the spiral around the corner.

“No, I need to go with her." Peeta stood his ground and you felt Finnick stand up straighter. Your own heart felt like it would thrum right out of your chest if the delay continued.

“There are two Careers out there, I need the guards."

Peeta pointed at you and Finnick, “They can protect you just fine on their own, two for two Careers." You cursed Peeta Mellark for trying to make holes in a plan he didn't even know about, but what he was aware of was irrelevant when you were all so close.

“If you want three, why can't Johanna stay with them too and Peeta and I will take the coil." Katniss interjected, the air was now tense.

Beetee walked closer towards her, “You all agreed to keep me alive until midnight, correct?”

"It's his plan, we all agreed to it.” Johanna chimed in, her voice still full of its usual blunt aggression, but you can sense the anxiety involved in keeping the plan on track.

“We should just stick to the plan and after we'll all meet up in sector two anyways." You try to say it softly enough as to not imply some sort of scheme worked out against the couple.

“Is there a problem, here?" Finnick tilts his head in Katniss' direction. She stares back at him for what feels like hours, like she's pondering her own response.

"Excellent question." Beetee has taken another step forward.

“No, but it should be three and three." Katniss eventually says, looking firmly at Finnick and then at Beetee. “She comes with me and Johanna." Katniss nods to you and suddenly your fogged state is truly gone.

“No." Finnick says too quickly.

Katniss shrugs, “Then we find another way to split it, but three and three is fair." She's trying to use you as leverage to keep Peeta safe, if any cannon goes off she'd attack you, you're sure of it.

The familiar sensation of nausea has once again nestled itself inside of you. How could you leave Finnick after you'd sworn to stay by his side as a reminder of your mutual safety, of you future together? Yet the plan needed to be executed in even less time now, regardless of what the cost may be. Your nose felt congested with the panic, but slowly you forced your heavy head to nod. “It's okay, I'll go."

The way Finnick looked at you for that you're sure will forever stay etched in the darkest caverns of your memory, like you've betrayed him. “Great, there's no problem then.” Katniss has already moved on to say her farewell to Peeta, but the pit in your stomach makes it almost impossible to look at Finnick.

"You said-” You have to stop him before he begins because you know you'll fall into a ball on the ground if the tensions rise anymore.

" I know what I said.” You croak out, "Finnick, there's no other way. We have to do it and I'll be back as soon as it's over. I really, I'm telling you I wouldn't do it if there was. Please, please, Finn believe me. And I'll find you right after.” You imagine you must sound somewhat incoherent in the way you can feel your own voice rushed and shaking, trying desperately to affirm your words. “Please." It's a plea for him to know you're doing it for him, for both of you, not because you didn't sincerely mean what you said. He nods slowly and you almost gag when you can't read the expression in his eyes.

Softly and slowly he taps part of your arm, ‘don’t forget,’ he's trying to say as he kisses your forehead before pressing his own to yours. He's shallowly breathing through his nose as he grips your shoulders.

Your voice is breaking as you beg for his trust, “Please, Finnick."

"It's okay.” He whispers and your brain screams that he's a liar. You don't deserve to have your feelings protected and you'll gladly spend the rest of your life making up for this. Then Finnick’s lips are on yours, the honey, the saltwater overwhelming your senses and you wish you could pause like this forever.

“We have to go." Johanna's gruff voice leads Finnick to pull away and you wish you could cry, grovel at his feet, and refuse to go with them. It's like weights are on your body when you begin to walk away, go back, go back, go back you tell yourself repeatedly. Yet you can't and you have to force your voice back to a normal volume, give a small smile. You've had years of training to act okay, but people from the Districts have always been more perceptive of the acts then those in the Capitol. At least you assume so, other victors at the very least know, the possibility that Katniss could fall into either category means you have to be extra careful. Make sure that she doesn't sense what has to be done to get them out of this wretched jungle.

“Yes, we're on a schedule.” You follow the two of them away from the lightning tree, your saving grace, Katniss is looking back at Peeta, but you know if you look back at Finnick the never ending, nagging self-reproach will make itself known. “We can trade off the coil if it feels too heavy, it's been a long day."

The rocks you're having to climb through don't make the trip any easier and the wounds still untreated in your back get increasingly sore. There's no telling how much distance you've actually put behind yourself and the tree, but it feels like an eternity. Which could just be due to the awkward silence that settled between you all. Apparently Johanna wasn't pleased with however much distance you had made in the time because her voice broke the quiet air, “Come on, I want to put as much distance between me and this beach as possible. Frying is not how I wanna go.”

You murmured out an agreement, somehow in the muggy air your body was still finding ways to be cold. You must just run cold because you could swear there were goosebumps taking over with every slight wisp of the wind. It made you miss having Finnick there with you, to keep you warm. Katniss seemed put off by something you couldn't see, “There's something…” She trailed off, pulling at the coil of wire that refuses to move. With a sudden jerk the wire bounced back, someone had cut it, Katniss dropped the coil behind her. You had less then a second to be caught off guard when Joanna shot you a look and you grabbed the coil, using all your force to knock out Katniss. There was no longer time to wait until after you'd taken the wire to the beach.

Katniss fell over and you tossed Johanna one of your knives, she swiftly was cutting the tracker out of Katniss' arms. Katniss was crying out in pain, you crouched over her shushing her as you saw Brutus getting closer. Johanna's bloody hands surrounded Katniss’ neck, if you were lucky she'd look close enough to death they wouldn't bother checking. Enobaria was in view now too and you took the knife from Johanna, throwing it in their direction which missed miserably, you were off your game.

“Stay down." Johanna hissed at Katniss before throwing her ax which also missed. Then the two of you were running the other direction. Brutus and Enobaria chasing you through the darkened jungle trees.

You could hear, far off, Finnick calling your name. “Where are you?" Yet before you could reply a spear was whizzing past your ear, you ducked, falling into the ground to keep you safe. Maybe if you buried yourself deep enough into the forest floor they would no longer be able to see you, but that was wishful thinking. You could hear grunting that just be fighting and your eyes searched in the dark for where the spear might have been, but you couldn't find it. Then there was a yell, your brain took a moment to register who it must have been, Chaff. A cannon echoed, your brain flashed with memories of how kind he'd been, drunk, reckless, how he could always make you laugh and loosen up at Capitol parties. You didn't know who'd killed him, but he was gone. Another reminder of what you needed to fight for, to escape for.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

District 4 was the same as you remembered it, while almost, even though the attitude was celebratory everything seemed much more bleak to you. You'd stared out the windows as you arrived at the outskirts, the waters were still glittering with the sun, no one was out working though, they must all have to be waiting for me, you told yourself. Sandy beaches and fields rushed past, you were excited to feel the heat underneath your feet once again.

“What's going on in that head of yours, sweet girl?" You'd nearly forgotten that Finnick was sitting not far off, letting you absorb the silence of the train car.

“Just ready to be home.” You allowed yourself to smile, to be excited, you felt like a pendulum of remorse for any positive thing happening, to elation that it was you who'd get those things. Maybe there would be no expected future of a crabbing business with Conway in a small, rickety beach house, but there was a grand home in Victor's Village now waiting for you, its own backyard being the expanses of the beach.

“You won't have much free time for a while, but I'll find time for us." Finnick scooted closer to you, “To picnic and swim as long as we can.” His ocean eyes are so talented at pretending to be okay, it hurts to think about it too hard.

"I'd love that.” He kisses you so softly you feel like the waves are slowly rippling around your body. You want him to consume you like the waves would, for your struggles to be washed away, and to live in the facade of a carefree, partying life he portrays for Panem. Even when you'd dated, sometimes he'd let it slip when it was the two of you, be resigned to his emotions, but most of the time he was full of adrenaline, excitement, laughter, and smugness. Maybe that's what you found so comforting, he could be the highest of highs and the lowest of lows which is how you felt. Conway was peaceful in a way that was almost dull, Finnick's chaos gave you, the peace that you supposed Conway would have given anyone else.

His hands, always radiating the heat of the sun and a thousand other stars, cradled your face when he pulled away to smile at you, “I'll be right by your side for the roughest parts and everything else, we can pretend it's just us, partying and thriving.” You didn't know if you could thrive, but you trusted him, if playing pretend made it easier you'd gratefully live every day in a fantasy.

You were both still young, if you could push away the dread thinking about what your actions had caused, then it would be a cake walk to act like you were still innocent on top of being young, dumb, and fun. Maybe it was true that there was nothing a few drinks couldn't fix, something you'd get to try out tonight, at the party where District 4 welcomed you back as their glorious, crowned victor. When you stepped off the train into the warm breeze made you smile at its familiarity, and the smell of fish that could sometimes reek simply made you ecstatic to be back, especially with the hints of salt water. It was hot and you were so blessed, the train had been blasting cool air as you sat in your tiny sundress, you would've sworn they were doing it on purpose, keeping you cold to remind you of how they'd nearly brought you to death and could do it again if they wanted to. You had no reservations of the Capitol’s cruelty, yet here you were so ready to lap up the rewards for being such a good puppet.

The train station was filled to the brim with familiar faces from all across the districts, school mates, buyers and sellers from the markets that you'd also missed so much, fellow crabbers your father was in competition with, cheering, smiling. Your win meant Parcel Day, meant pride for the District, it had been years since they'd won, not since Finnick, and here you were. You let yourself smile and wave back, trying to not let it falter when your eyes finally grazed over them. Conway’s family, it definitely must have been a requirement to come because they could not have been more than a cloud of complete darkness, a cloud that seemed like it would drag you in if you looked any longer. Some of them with their anger, seething as they started, others with a heartbreaking look of betrayal, and worse of all was his mother. Her numbness that you recognized from yourself that made you want to revert back into it. A voice you recognized called out to you, so you slowly peeled your eyes away from Mrs. Delmare.

Your sister, any feeling of dissociating into yourself fled when you saw her, helping your sickly mother stand. For what felt like the first time in years, they were all smiling. Of course they were, you'd saved them, you could give endless medicines, medical treatments, no one needed to worry about work anymore, not when you'd ensured it for them. Conway's family, the Delmares had a better off business, they had each other to stay afloat. If your sister took your place in the markets, trying to charm buyers, your mother would wither away and so would your shy sister. Maybe you weren't a part of their tight-knit group, but you still loved them and they needed you. Conway had said it himself, had validated that reason.

“Avonlea!" You smiled brighter, waving until your arm hurt. Eventually the Peacekeepers indicated it was time for the train station to empty out, you'd finally get some time with your family before rushing to get ready for a party with District 4’s finest, richest members. When the station had cleared of everyone except them, and of course your escort chatting excitedly with your designer team who'd been dragged along, Finnick and Ondine whispering something amongst themselves you'd run to your family.

You were shocked by your fathers hug, so loving, “Welcome back home, sweetheart." He whispered gruffly, voice deep and scratchy, the last time he'd hugged you was before you left for what he probably assumed was your certain death, and you couldn't remember one from before that. He pulled away from you, "I love you, we all do.” He said firmly.

You hummed out some sort of confused noise, "Everything was televised so when you talked to Conway about…” Your mom's frail voice trailed off into a cough that had you wincing.

"You're an important part of this family, we're sorry if you don't always feel loved, but you are.” Your father finished, gripping your shoulders like you'd slip away. It was sweet, but you'd never had any reservations about them not loving you, it wasn't just about love. It was the way you were never a part of them, whatever things they did together, was for them to do together, you'd go off, find Conway, find a party, and eventually you'd even found Finnick to keep your attentions occupied.

“I love you too." You kept smiling sweetly, “Mama, the new house is gonna be perfect for you, no leaks in the ceiling, the windows will stay shut at night regardless of the wind, the beach in our backyard, and I've already heard of all these new medicines."

“You're a sweet girl." Your mom smiled, reaching out for her cold hands to grab yours, “People might think differently around here after what they watched or think they saw in you, but you've always been caring to the core.” It meant a lot, you'd always envisioned your sister as the caring, compassionate one, not you with your days spent talking at the market as you sold your father's catches, before running off to find the excitement of other people. You felt like you were endlessly selfish, but maybe she was right, maybe your downfall would always be wanting to take care of someone else.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

It was more painful to get up than you'd anticipated, rocks scraping your hands, but you couldn't just lay there and play dead. In the faint light piercing the darkness you could make out Brutus fighting with what seemed to be Peeta. Where had he come from? Finnick was supposed to be keeping him safe, when had that all gone out the window?

Johanna and Enobaria were also in hand to hand combat, with one swoop Enobaria could knock Johanna over and rip out her throat with those formidable teeth. The part of you that yearned for Finnick, to listen to him, told you to run, call out, find him, apologize more for leaving once again, but you couldn't leave them like this. You'd have to resign yourself that no matter what you did, you lived in a tragedy of eternal guilt. You threw your remaining knife and it landed on Enobaria's shoulder. Her screech was almost animalistic, she turned to you and that was when Johanna had her swept onto the dirt.

In a mess of grunts Peeta had tackled Brutus. With the way Peeta presented himself it was shocking to see the brutality of his strength especially against someone who you would've ranked among the stronger of the tributes. What looked to be a rock was in his hand, crushing itself into Brutus’ skull, over and over until another cannon went off. Quickly followed by the rumbling of thunder, “Finnick!" You screamed instinctually, you needed to find him. Weren't you all supposed to be far from the tree and in sector two? You didn't even know what sector you were in or where to go from there.

“Where's Katniss?" Peeta asked, his voice rushed.

“She's okay, she's safe." Johanna responded, to the citizens of Panem it would seem like a clever lie, but it was at its core an honest reassurance. Suddenly your body hit the ground again, head hitting a rock, the way it seared made you think it tore open the wound that must have been trying to scab. Your assailant is almost growling, Enobaria trying to rip your throat open. You screech scratching at her hands when what you assume is Peeta throws her off of you.

Johanna helps you stand, but you feel like passing out as she pulls you up. There's something you're forgetting, something that needs to be done, Finnick needed you to do it. The pain burning into your head makes it nearly impossible to focus on what, “Johanna, there's something, god, I can't think of it."

“What do you mean, there's something?" Peeta asks when suddenly there's a buzzing noise, you think it's your head, but the others look up. Something pulses through the dome and suddenly the sky, the real sky is shining through. It's not night, it's bright as day.

“We have to go, sector two." Johanna pulls at your arm, you're excited, this is it, freedom, but you pull away from her.

“Finnick! Finnick!" You yell as loud as you can, stumbling forward when suddenly debris starts to fall from the sky. A tree catches on fire, quickly engulfing those around it in flames.

“We have to go." Johanna urges again, Peeta is confused, stunned.

“No, I told him, I promised." You insist, trying to forge on ahead although you feel like you're going to faint. “Finnick, Finn, where are you? It's me!"

Johanna grabs you again, her pulling is harsher this time, “He'll find us, let's go." But his lack of a response has your blood fused with anxiety, what if he was standing to close when the lighting struck? You had to find him, to make sure he was okay. She pulls you away and you lose balance as another piece of the dome falls. You're forgetting something, you all are, something on the tip of your tongue and you need to find Finnick, he'll know, he'll remind you. It has to be figured out now, he has to be found now, so later he can joke about how helpless you are, how glued to each other you are. A hovercraft, Plutarch should have a hovercraft, but that's not the missing thing.

Tears are filling your vision, fuck, fuck, fuck, you're so stupid, he told you something or showed you something. Why isn't Johanna more concerned, has she forgotten too? You've thrashed out of her grasp when this time a beam falling from the sky is about to fall on you. There's an attempt to move, but before it had you somewhat trapped beneath it, screaming in agony when the pressure hits. “Finnick!" Your screeching is out of breath, but you need him to find you. You're sobbing, too overwhelmed, this is not how it's supposed to go, back aching, head throbbing, burning pressure laying on top of you, and without the one person you need. This is why he didn't want you in here, why you should've resisted Katniss and stayed close.

You were stubborn and now you're going to die here, Finnick's going to spend eternity cursing your name for refusing to just listen to his needs, to his love. You can't hear what Johanna and Peeta are saying, you think they're trying to move the metal, but you can't feel your legs. All the pain is too much that it's suddenly like you can't feel too much of anything, except the fact that your eyes are begging to close. To fade into the darkness, to welcome death, at least you won't have to see his anger, his grief.

Oh your Finnick, the way he tasted like honey when he kissed you, how he smiled and it blinded you, the way his touch was like sunshine. Your Finnick who took care of you at your weakest moments, who took care of you in your best moments. The Finnick you read to, the Finnick who'd always remembered how much you loved peaches, the Finnick who owed you a proper wedding. Your last thoughts would be of him, his brightness before the darkness entrapped you forever.

You woke up to a blinding light, white walls making it even more grievous on your eyes, it was freezing, when you went to move your hands they rattled to the sides of the stiff bed you lay on you realized that death would have been a much kinder master. The vase of white roses already told you your fate would be a lot worse than then the death would have bestowed. When your mind finally caught up with itself, the surroundings had been properly recorded, the first thing you did was to pray for death.

𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

thank you to all of those who've read and supported this series so far, I'm so excited to start the river and explore finnick's perspective during the events of mockingjay. in the mean time feedback is appreciated, comments, likes, reblogs all make my day! I'm always excited to answer asks and requests are open, I'm working on some right now for you guys. thank you all so much for all the support and I love you all 💋

(also lmk if you guys want to be on my normal taglist as well, I haven't been tagging anyone because I'm just running under the assumption most of you just want to be tagged for this, so lmk if you want to be tagged in my one-shots too! you're all so appreciated, I genuinely can't believe people want to be notified to read this little series I made up anyways ❤️)

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shes-homeward-bound · 1 year

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Visions of Burning Skies | Chapter 1: The Reaping

Pairing: Finnick Odair x Reader

Chapters: 1/?

Warnings: violence, depictions of death, swearing

People protect who they love, even if it means dying for them. This is one of the many things Y/n Dovecote thinks about when her little brother gets called up to the stage with her. She's fierce and determined. She'll do anything to protect him, but sometimes, the odds are never in your favor

Read in A03 (I have more chapters updated in ao3)

Chapter 1: The Reaping

The air is hot and stagnant, the only reprieve the crowd gets is when the cool sea breeze wafts into the makeshift stage in front of the justice building. Once Ophelia Gaul in her ridiculous sparkly teal wig opens her mouth to say the opening remarks, you tune her out. This is your last year to be eligible for the games and you certainly weren’t going to miss standing amongst a sea of anxious children. Last year you watched the tributes from your district freeze to death and you knew this terrified all the people who wanted to volunteer. Their deaths had nothing to do with how good of a fighter they were, District 4 tributes were ill-equipped with survival skills and the majority realized that.

Scanning the stage, you notice the victors who were seated on the stage. The victors consist of Mags an elderly lady who was the only female victor and a couple of male victors next to her. Two of them were middle-aged and the other two were younger but it was the youngest who caught your eye. Finnick Odair. You used to go to school with him and would see him working in the docks. You used to be friendly with each other but after he won he completely changed and didn’t keep in contact with his old schoolmates. Naturally, he stopped working in the docks after his win and spent a lot of time in the capitol. He was still as handsome as ever but from what you’ve heard about him, his ego, and endless lovers, it was probably better if you didn’t have a character like him in your life.

You scan the crowd to see where your parents were standing and you could see your father wringing his hands. He hates the games, and he used to think that being a tribute was an honor but when his best friend was killed in the arena, he hates the Capitol for taking him away. Your family wasn’t wealthy enough to send their kids to the academy but he made sure his children worked hard and knew how to fight with spears, knives, and a trident. You look at the boys’ section and almost immediately you catch the eye of your younger brother Alon. Even though he was a strong and sturdy 15-year-old kid, the moment he looks at you with big doe eyes, your older sibling instincts kick in.

“It’s going to be okay,” you mouth at him. “I promise.”

“I hope so,” he mouths back.

You turn your attention to the big screen and catch the ending of the video the capitol shows every year that recites the history of Panem and why the districts were punished for rebelling. Ophelia applauds and the crowd politely claps back.

“Now for the moment we’ve all been waiting for, it is time to pick this year's female tribute!” said Ophelia as she briskly walked to the giant bowl that held our names. With a flair, she plucks a card and walks back to the mic stand. Everyone around you holds their breath as Ophelia painstakingly opens the card.

“Y/N Dovecote!”

You feel like you got punched in the gut, you couldn’t tell if you weren’t breathing or hyperventilating. The girls around you give space as peacekeepers approach your shocked figure, seeing the state you were in, one of the peacekeepers put a firm hand on your arm as they led you toward the stage. You whip your head toward the direction of your parents and you could see your mother with her hands over her mouth and your father standing stoic, you know he was fuming on the inside.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let us give Miss Y/N Dovecote a round of applause!” said Ophelia. Now walking towards the glass bowl that held the male names, your stomach lurches as your reality is finally settling in. You never thought you would get reaped in a million years, you scan the crowd hoping that some proud girl with a giant ego was going to volunteer for you but no one dares to move or raise their voice. Just like you predicted, there weren’t going to be any volunteers this year.

Clearing her throat, Ophelia slowly opens the card. “Alon Dovecote!”

Your jaw drops as you look at Ophelia who also looked between you and the card in shock. You see the peacekeepers moving in to escort your brother to the stage. Before you could think about it, you were already screaming. “No! Someone volunteer for him! Someone volunteer!”

Your pleas for help were ignored as the older boys put their heads down to avoid making eye contact. You start stomping over toward the boy's side of the stage but are quickly stopped by peacekeepers. Realizing your actions may affect you badly in the future, you calm yourself down as you helplessly watch your brother walk up to the stage and stand next to you.

Taken aback by the announcement of someone who shares your last name, Ophelia snaps out of it and enthusiastically introduces Alon to the crowd and cameras. “If I’m not mistaken, you two are siblings!”

You numbly nod.

Taking your hand and Alon’s hand on her other, Ophelia raises her arms triumphantly. “May I present to you the tributes for the 69th Hunger Games, District 4’s Y/N Dovecote and Alon Dovecote!”

You look over at your little brother and he looks at you with glazed eyes, he was in shock. Steeling yourself and fighting back the tears, you gave him a firm nod. You did promise him that everything was going to be okay and you were prepared to make that his reality.

—

The peacekeepers bring you inside the justice building and put you and Alon in separate rooms. After a few minutes of waiting you could hear your older cousins' frantic voices outside the door. It bursts open and you fly into their arms as you start to sob, you couldn’t believe the bad luck your family was experiencing.

“Where’s my mom and dad?” you ask through your tears.

“They’re with Alon right now, the peacekeepers said we could switch in a few minutes.” you nod as Mariana looks at you with pain in her eyes. You knew exactly what she was thinking as you watched her memorize the details on your face. Her twin, Marlo stood next to you shaking his head in disbelief with tears threatening to stream down his face. You, Alon, and your cousins Mariana and Marlo grew up with each other and were basically your older siblings. Even though you were already family, the 4 of you were tight-knit and had a bond that only the best of friends could share.

Grabbing both of their hands, you command their attention. “I’m going to make sure Alon wins. No matter what, I will make sure he comes back home.”

“It’s not fair! You have a chance of winning the games, you’re strong and good with knives, but with Alon getting reaped…” choking up, Marlo couldn’t finish the sentence.

You can only nod. “I know.”

“Make strong allies, learn survival skills, practice new weapons… I don’t know! I just need you guys to make it till the end,” said Mariana as she clenches her fists. “They can’t just put two siblings in the arena, that’s too much!” her voice rose to a yell. “Maybe the mayor could speak to Ophelia or the president!”

You shush her. “You’re going to get in trouble if you talk like that in public! The only way out of this was for someone to volunteer for Alon and that didn’t happen. They’re going through with it, after all, we just made the hunger games much more interesting.”

A peacekeeper knocks on the door and tells you to finish up. They hug you tight knowing it was the last time. Your cousins knew you were going to fight to the death to make sure your younger brother comes back home.

“Just in case something happens, I need you to promise me you’ll take care of my parents,” you requested.

“Of course,” replies Mariana tearfully.

Shortly after they leave, the door opens to reveal your mother's splotchy red face, the moment she makes eye contact with you, sobs wracked her body. Your father was behind her and also looked like a mess. They had just said goodbye to their only son and now they were going to say goodbye to their daughter. As they hold you in their arms, you relish the warmth they provide you.

Now firmly holding your shoulders, your father looks at you sternly. “You’re smart and a good fighter. Use your wisdom and skills and the other tri-”

You cut him off. “Dad, you don’t have to do that, I know what I have to do. I’m going to make sure Alon gets back to you and mom.”

Your dad falters. “We can’t ask you to do that, it’s not fair.”

“It’s not fair but I’m the eldest and I will make sure Alon gets out of that arena alive. I will use everything you taught me and I will do everything I can to make Alon a victor,” you said bluntly.

“It’s so cruel,” whispers your mother as she strokes your face. “My babies don’t deserve this.”

Not knowing what to say you just hug your parents tight. No one said anything as you held each other knowing that this was the last time you would be together. You cried freely with your cousins but with your parents, they were already devastated, you couldn’t let them see you like this. Your father and another peacekeeper have to pry you and your mother apart, as they lead you out of the room to a car that would bring you to the train station.

Seated next to Ophelia was your brother Alon. You lunge to hug Alon and Ophelia shrinks back to give you space, she wasn’t used to her tributes wanting to interact with each other. After arriving at the train station, you are ushered inside, and Ophelia gives you a little tour. District 4 was one of the wealthiest districts and you never went hungry but the level of opulence this train held was something you have never experienced. Ophelia offers you refreshments but you don’t have the appetite, you just need to sit down and process everything that happened.

Sinking into one of the velvet blue chairs, you press your palms over your eyes trying to relieve the tension that was building. After a few moments of silence, you look over at your brother. “How did this happen to us?”

Shrugging his shoulders, Alon curls onto your side just like he used to do when he was younger. “It’s not fair. Mom and dad don’t deserve this, we don’t deserve this!” he starts crying and you have no idea what to say so you just pat his arm.

The train doors open and the sight of Finnick, Mags, and a man in his 40s make you and Alon stand up to greet them. With a flourish, Ophelia presents your mentors.

“These are your mentors Mags Flanagan, Finnick Odair, and Nyle Monti. They are going to help you train and hone your skills for the games. They will be the ones to gather sponsors that will help you in the arena.” says Ophelia. Gesturing towards you and your brother, she looks hopefully to the mentors. “They’re a strong pair this year, I can tell.”

Finnick sticks his hand out towards Alon and introduces himself to your brother. His eyes meet yours and you notice that spark in his eye that he had when you were younger. “Y/n. You’ve changed since I last saw you.”

You arch your eyebrow as you give him a firm handshake. “I can say the same about you, Finnick.”

“You two know each other?” asks Ophelia.

“We used to go to school and work in the docks together,” you answer. Finnick looks into the distance as if he unlocked a memory of his life before the games.

Unexpectedly, Mags gives you and Alon a warm hug that you greatly appreciated. You didn’t realize it was dinner time until avoxes started setting the table and bringing in the dishes. Ophelia waves you over to the table and sits you next to Alon and Mags with Finnick sitting in front of you. Once the food is served, you force yourself to eat knowing that you need to keep your strength because who knows what you would face in the arena. You urge Alon to do the same and you see Finnick and Mags nod in approval.

“If you two are ready I think it’s a great time to start talking about our strategy,” said Finnick.

Alon looks at you and you nod.

“First of all, I would like to say how sorry I am that a brother and sister were reaped together,” says Nyle. You quickly peek toward the Capitol resident but you see Ophelia nodding in sympathy. Even Ophelia the Capitol resident knew that putting a brother and sister at the same time was the worst scenario possible.

“This is the first time siblings were reaped together so you’ve already gained national attention and we’re going to use that to your advantage,” says Finnick. “Being from District 4, people expect you to be strong and deadly and the tributes already see you as a threat. What skills do you have?”

Alon knew that the training we got from our father was technically illegal but the Capitol seems to turn a blind eye when it came to Districts 1,2 and 4. Alon hesitates and you gesture for him to continue. “Y/n and I have been working in our father’s fishing boat since we were old enough to haul things, so I guess we’re strong. I’m good with a spear and Y/n is great with knives and she can beat me up with no problem.”

For the first time since the reaping, you crack a smile. “You’re 3 years younger than me, you’ve got a lot of learning to catch up on.”

Alon laughs. “I’m serious, she’s good and will kick the shit out of you. She can take down our cousin Marlo and he’s a big guy!”

Finnick smiles at Alon’s enthusiasm. “That’s good to hear, we’ll make sure you get trained in hand-to-hand combat. Throwing a spear from a distance is a good offense but knowing how to defend yourself will help you in the arena.”

Alon’s smile falters as he understands what Finnick was implying. “I guess we’re going to have to hurt people in the arena. I mean, I knew we had to do that but I think it just hit me… I don’t know how I’m going to kill someone.”

Nyle wracks his brain trying to come up with the right words to say. “To win the games, it is almost inevitable. Unless you can hide and wait it out, it’s hard not to kill anyone. When the games start, people will change and they will be ruthless. They want to live just as much as you do.”

Alon nods. “I guess so. I mean one of us has to win, our parents can’t lose both of their children.”

Upset by the conversation, Alon excuses himself from the table and starts heading to his room. You contemplate standing up to console him but you decide it was better for him to just sit and process the situation. Once Alon leaves the room, you slump down on your chair and stare at your plate blinking back tears.

Mags places her hand on top of yours. “Maybe you should go and rest, we can talk about our strategy over breakfast.”

You sat up straight as you will yourself to focus on the plan you had set for you and Alon. “I have a plan.”

Finnick raises an eyebrow and looks at the other mentors and Ophelia.

“I will do anything to make sure my brother comes out as the victor and you’re going to help me. I can fight and I’m good with knives but I’ll need to train, I’m not going to be as good as District 1 and 2 so I have to be better. Alon was downplaying himself, he’s great with a spear and if he can hit a moving fish in the water, I know he’ll be good with bigger targets. He’ll have to learn more hand-to-hand combat but he’s a fast learner. Alon has a chance of winning this and I’m going to make sure he comes out of this alive.”

“Y/n,” said Finnick softly. “What will happen when it comes down to you, Alon, and a couple of other tributes? Or worse, just you and Alon.”

You steel yourself and you look Finnick dead in the eye. “Then I’ll throw myself off a cliff if I have to. Alon is going home as the victor. Period.”

Taken aback by the ferocity, your mentors let out a breath. They aren’t used to their tributes being so concise about their plan this early on but they could see your desperation. Your eyes were wild and they couldn’t argue with you. You were an older sister protecting her little brother and from the looks of it, nothing was going to stop you.

“Will you help me? Please?” your voice cracks as you look at Ophelia and the mentors surrounding you. “Promise me?”

They grimly nod. The mentors had never had to deal with a situation like this, putting most of their efforts solely on one tribute seems worse than focusing on two tributes. It would almost feel inhumane. They’ve never had someone so capable of winning accept their demise so fast.

Finnick examines the girl he once saw sitting a few rows from him in school or the girl that helped him unload that day's catch onto the trucks. You were the same age as Finnick and the thought fills him with sorrow. He was 18 years old and a victor, he was safe from the games, and here you were laying down your life for your brother.

“I promise,” says Finnick.

He hates the Hunger Games.

*******

The sound of loud chatter and utensils clinking against glass plates rouse you from your sleep. You rummage through the drawers and find that they are filled with brand-new undergarments and clothes. After taking a shower you slip on linen pants and a simple blue shirt that you stylistically tucked into your pants. You make your way to the dining room and see that everyone else has started eating the extravagant breakfast spread. Full of energy, Ophelia greets you a good morning and pats the space between her and Finnick. Alon, who was in much better spirits, smiles at you.

“Y/n! Nyle and Finnick were telling me that if we try hard enough and learn more survival skills, one of us would have a shot at winning!” says Alon.

Smiling at him, you silently thank them for boosting your brother’s confidence. “We can’t be too cocky though, we still have to make it out of the bloodbath and survive in the wild.”

“She’s right,” says Finnick. “You must learn survival skills, you can’t depend on the cornucopia because it’s different every year. If we play our cards right, we can get both of you sponsors that will buy you food, water, and medicine.”

“How do we get sponsors?” you ask.

“You have to get people to like you and win over the Capitol. You two will have a slight advantage because you’re a sibling pair and people will be sympathetic but that’s not enough. You need to adopt a persona, and that persona depends on our strategy. Yesterday, the entire nation saw you scream for volunteers for your brother. They saw you as bold and commanding, we can work with that but we need you to be charming.” said Nyle.

“Y/n is attractive so that’s already a huge advantage and they know she’s District 4 so they expect her to be a good fighter. ‘Y/n Dovecote, beautiful, bold, and lethal’ I can already hear Caesar saying it. The Capitol will love her,” said Finnick as he strategizes with Nyle.

Ophelia nods as she bit into her breakfast. “I agree, the Capitol will be intrigued by her natural beauty.”

It wasn’t even directed toward you but hearing Finnick say that about you gave you a shock. You fought hard to keep the blush that was crawling up your cheeks by busying yourself with dousing the french toast with syrup.

“What about Alon?”

“I think it would be best to appear like a dynamic duo, it will help you gain popularity. Y/n will be the fearless and captivating older sister while Alon will be the endearing yet deadly little brother,” suggests Nyle.

Mags and Finnick agree.

“Last night we discussed how we’ll work as a team, Nyle will work with Alon because he’s the best at hand-to-hand combat and they’ll work on it at the tribute apartments. Y/n, you’ll be working with me. I’ll show you how to win over the Capitol and Mags is going to bounce between you and Alon.” said Finnick.

“We’ll do whatever you think is best, thank you for your help,” you say sincerely.

After breakfast, the mentors bring you to the couches so you could watch other districts' reapings and scan for potential threats and allies. The people who caught your attention were Districts 1, and 2, and a couple of the kids from the lower districts like 7, 10, and 11. Nyle points out the male district from 10 and said that he’s probably been working with livestock for a couple of years and that would make him strong. Some of the tributes from the other districts didn’t even seem like a threat to you, some of them were only 13 and 14 years old and were skin and bones. District 12 reaped a 12-year-old boy and you hope you wouldn’t have to be the one to kill him. You watch the District 4 reaping and seeing yourself on television was strange, at the moment when Alon’s name was called and you started pleading to the boys’ it was captivating to watch. You were scared you looked weak but you gave the opposite effect of looking angry and determined, it was perfect for the persona they wanted you to convey for the games.

Daylight darkens as the train passes by the mountains that surround the Capitol. Once the train moved away from the shadows of the mountains, you could see the Capitol in the distance. You gasp at the sight of the city filled with skyscrapers and gold and silver adorning the city. You never thought you would see the Capitol in your life. Captivated by the view, you and Alon sit in silence with your jaws dropped, Ophelia smiles at your reactions.

After running around and making Alon change out of his pajamas, the mentors made sure their tributes looked presentable because many people were going to be at the station to catch a glimpse of this year's tributes. They want you to smile, wave and present yourselves as a strong team. Ophelia lines the both of you at the train’s door and as she fusses over Alon’s hair you feel Finnick get close to you.

“Remember the plan Y/n, be radiant and charming and they will love you,” whispers Finnick.

You turn your head surprised that his head was still close to your ear. “Got it,” you whisper back.

His proximity makes you blush and once the train doors slowly open, you roll your eyes at yourself. You couldn’t believe you were blushing over Finnick Odair, it wasn’t the right time or place. The doors fully open and you snap out of your thoughts as you place a protective arm over your brother. You step out and flash the crowd your biggest smile as you wave at the horde of people dressed in the most ridiculous fashion you’ve ever seen. You always thought Ophelia dressed like that for the reapings, but from what you saw, it must be the norm.

As Ophelia leads you out of the station, you notice a group of young men cheering as you get closer. Feeling the need to be captivating, you give them a sweet smile as you wink at them. Thankfully, the message was properly conveyed and you found them screaming your name hoping to get your attention one more time. The car ride is overwhelming as people line the streets and wave when they notice it was a car transporting tributes to the training center.

When you arrive, you get whisked off to different rooms and get bathed and prepped for the tribute parade. The prep team congratulates you for getting reaped and proceeds to harshly scrub you down with a lemon-scented soap and you had never smelled so good in your life. Giving you a robe, the prep team left the room and called in your stylist who was named Daimon. Even though Daimon had green hair, his outfit was relatively simple, wearing a dark gray suit. Looking at you up and down, he simply nods and shakes your hand in greeting.

“I was told by that delicious mentor of yours that you aim to charm the people of Panem. I’ve got the perfect outfit for you and your brother,” says Daimon as he pulls out a garment bag from the clothes rack. After he helps you into the dress, he moves you over to the mirror and you gasp in surprise.

“It's beautiful,” you whisper as you smooth your hand over the scale-like skirt that hugged your figure. “I look like a mermaid.” The bottom half of the dress was this iridescent pattern that mimics fish scales while the top half of your dress was a corset that had shells and jewels sewn on.

As Daimon places a crown made of shells on your head, a thought makes you laugh. “If I’m a mermaid what’s my brother wearing? Don’t tell me he’s shirtless!” you said as you laughed harder.

Daimon smiles, “He’s almost shirtless… his stylist and I wove an intricate net and he is wearing something that resembles a well-clothed merman.” explains your stylist. As Daimon fixes your hair you notice his demeanor change. “I’m sorry about you and your brother. I couldn’t believe it when I watched the reaping, what a horrible coincidence,” whispers Daimon.

“Do you have any siblings?”

He nods. “I’m the youngest and I have three older sisters.”

You smile at the thought of your green-haired stylist being the baby of the family. “You’re the youngest like Alon,” you said softly. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure my brother is victorious.”

“I was afraid you were going to say something like that,” he says somberly. He quickly inspects your makeup and gives you a final tap under your chin. “I’m going to help in any way that I can. You know clothes make a powerful statement in Panem, especially in the Capitol.”

You thank him for his offer to help and thank him again for the beautiful dress. As Daimon did the finishing touches for the tribute parade, you stare at yourself in the mirror. Now that you were in the Capitol, you felt the gravity of the situation as you dressed to impress sponsors. Your impending doom is terrifying but you know you have to do it for Alon, he deserves better than this.

#finnick odair #finnick x reader #finnick x y/n #finnick odair x reader #finnick odair x you #finnick odair fanfic #hunger games fanfiction

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heavensbeehall · 4 months

Text

"Catching Fire", Chapter 15

Part 2: The Quell

Chapter 15: The Preps keep crying when Katniss arrives in the Capitol. Cinna's new costume turns her into a burning ember. She goes down to the chariots and meets Finnick Odair. Katniss thinks he's creepy but I have read these books before so I know she's wrong. They do the Tribute Parade. Chaff kisses Katniss and she doesn't like it. Johanna strips naked and she doesn't like it. Peeta tells her they are teasing her and she's mad. Also. Darius is their new Avox.

Thoughts:

-- Katniss thinks she "has" to console the Preps and that it's annoying. But she could also just cry with them, but I don't think she can allow herself to be vulnerable in front of them.

-- How ugly do we think the District 10 costumes were? I'm picturing one of those inflatable cow Halloween costumes.

Quotes:

"Don't worry. I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don't hurt anyone but myself."

D: D: D:

Cinna knows exactly what he is doing with the Mockingjay costume. In addition to designing "dozens" of wedding dresses, he then remade the winning one with an entire other dress underneath it. And I can't help but feel that--if he got the preps away safely--he could have gotten himself away, but he chose to stay. I am assuming he wanted to be with Katniss at the launch room. (Either that or he treats his life as nothing but a performance art piece?) Didn't want her to go in alone. But she did anyway. D: D: D:

"Portia and I spent a lot of hours watching fires," says Cinna.

Are they together? Or just work partners?

Finnick Odair is something of a living legend in Panem. Since he won the Sixty-fifth Hunger Games when he was only fourteen, he's still one of the youngest victors. Being from District 4, he was a Career, so the odds were already in his favor, but what no trainer could claim to have given him was his extraordinary beauty. Tall, athletic, with golden skin and bronze-colored hair and those incredible eyes. While other tributes that year were hardpressed to get a handful of grain or some matches for a gift, Finnick never wanted for anything, not food or medicine or weapons. It took about a week for his competitors to realize that he was the one to kill, but it was too late. He was already a good fighter with the spears and knives he had found in the Cornucopia. When he received a silver parachute with a trident--which may be the most expensive gift I've ever seen given in the arena--it was all over. District 4's industry is fishing. He'd been on boats his whole life. The trident was a natural, deadly extension of his arm. He wove a net out of some kind of vine he found, used it to entangle his opponents so he could spear them with the trident, and within a matter of days the crown was his.

I am getting tired of people trying to tell me Finnick and Annie weren't Careers. Finnick definitely was and Annie probably was. It taking a week for his competitors to realize how popular he was suggests that going in at 14 was a ploy to make him less threatening to the others. Possibly he didn't join the Career pack because of his age (though it doesn't specificy.) This passage also hints at Mags, his mentor, having another skill besides making fish hooks. She must have squeezed a lot of money out of Capitol citizens for that trident and timed it's arrival strategically.

I really want a District 4 book because I want to know about their Career training system. It seems slightly different from the other two, more individualized perhaps.

Because of his youth, they couldn't really touch him for the first year or two.

The Capitol won't sex traffic a 14-year-old kid. But once he's sixteen, that's fine, right?

(It's actually kind of sad that multiple people tease her for being "pure"--as Peeta says--uncomfortable with nudity and kissing. They must have all had fucked up sexual awakenings.)

He's draped in a golden net that's strategically knotted at his groin so that he can't technically be called naked, but he's about as close as you can get.

I hope Mags' costume isn't matching!!!

Probably this drives most people crazy. But for some reason all I can think of is old Cray, salivating over some poor, starving young woman.

Cray is not far off from the aura he is giving off. Maybe I shouldn't bring up my dark Finnick headcanons. But... his persona must be mimicking people he knew, right? So... was he exposed to sexuality before he was 14??? Or did this Finnick not emerge until after the Games?

"Do you think we'd have ended up like this if only one of us had won?" he asks, glancing around at the other victors. "Just another part of the freak show?"

"Sure, especially you," I say.

I think Katniss would've ended up like Johanna or Haymitch if she had won alone, actually. Though if Prim survived she would try to keep it together for her sister. I don't know about Peeta. Katniss seems convinced he'd be worse than her. I could see him ending up like the Morphlings, maybe, since they have so much in common (and also the only way I see him winning alone is by hiding in his rock). But I could also see him being a really good mentor, like Mags.

The woman, Seeder, looks almost like she could be from the Seam, with her olive skin and straight black hair streaked with silver. Only her golden brown eyes mark her as from another district. She must be around sixty, but she still looks strong, and there's no sign she's turned to liquor or morphling or any other chemical form of escape over the years. Before either of us says a word, she embraces me. I know somehow it must be because of Rue and Thresh. Before I can stop myself, I whisper, "The families?"

This is a small moment but it's important to me and I'm sad it was cut from the film.

#finnick odair #tribute parade #peeta mellark #mags flanagan #cinna #rue #seeder #chaff #johanna mason #darius

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promenadewithme · 3 years

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Heyy, congratulations on 50 followers! Could you write something for Finnick Odair (fluff with a little bit of angst?) based on the lyrics "How would you feel, if I told you I loved you? It's just something that I want to do, I'll be taking my time, spending my life, Falling deeper in love with you, So tell me that you love me too" from 'How would you feel' with a female reader. Please make whatever changes you want, absolutely adore all your writing :))

Ok so I loved this request because I love Finnick so much!! I really hope you like this! I'm sorry I took a bit longer to write this, I had a lot of uni work and studying to do this week.

requested by @boxofsilentwords

This is my first Finnick fic, so I'm nervous... Any and all feedback is more than welcome!

Pairing: Finnick Odair x Female! Reader

Song: How Would You Feel - Ed Sheeran

Warnings: Mentions of killing (nothing graphic), swearing, the hunger games, pining, fluff. Just before the 75th Hunger Games (Catching fire book/movie), but I changed the plot a bit so it would fit the story, Mags doesn’t go with Finnick, the reader does.

Word Count: 1,2k

Divider made by me on @promenadewithme-graphics

How Would You Feel

There were soldiers surrounding all the victors as you got up on the platform. Your whole body was shaking. ‘Why is this happening? I already won! I’m not supposed to be here’. You looked to your right and saw your best friend, Finnick Odair, and 3 other male tributes. To your left was Annie Cresta and Mags, who was squeezing your hand.

“As always, ladies first!” said the district 4 escort with a wild grin. You don’t understand how they slept at night, sending people off to fight to their deaths every year, watching like it’s fiction. These were real people, who had families, lives, dreams. You had dreams.

The escort grabbed one of the envelopes and walked back to the microphone.

“Let’s see...” he opened it and with glee he exclaimed “(y/n) (y/l/n)! Come on over, dear!”

You looked at Finnick with desperation in your eyes before giving Mags’ hand one last squeeze and walking away. You felt like the world around you was shrinking, like there was no air to breathe. The escort’s voice was but a whisper until your heard what you dreaded more than your own death.

“Finnick Odair!” you looked at your best friend with fear in your eyes. Most would be happy to go into the arena with an ally, but this was Finn. This was your Finn. Well, you couldn’t exactly call him yours, you two were just friends. But you have always loved him. Despite his many lovers, you always stood by him, hoping he would see you. He never did.

“May the odds be ever in your favour.”

‘And let the hunger games begin’ you thought, looking over at Finnick. He was looking back at you with a plain face, but you could see the pure terror in his eyes. ‘The arena messes with all of us, no matter how tough or brave you are. What happens when you go in twice?’

“And those two are Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark from District 12, they won last year’s game.” depicted your escort. You and Finnick were staying at the tributes building. Fourth floor for district 4, as per usual. Over the past days you had come to terms with the fact that you were going back into the arena. That didn’t mean you weren’t scared shitless.

“What else do you know about them?” asked the man. You had watched the games last year. For the first time, you actually liked the victors. So you exposed what you knew.

“Katniss is a hunter, excellent with a bow and arrow, great survival instincts. Peeta is very strong and good at camouflage. The two of them are getting married. Well... at least they were before all this.” you frowned and Finnick scoffed.

“Do you seriously believe that they are in love? They must be jumping with joy that they get to call it off.” he shook his head.

“What do you mean? You saw the games last year, they are obviously in love. They were going to die together.” you refuted, turning to face him.

“Please! The two tributes that are chosen are actually secretly love each other to the point that they would die for one another, they both win the game and live happily ever after? This is the real world, (y/n). These things don’t happen.”

Your heart tightened, but he was right. The couple had given you hope that maybe Finnick would love you too, that even the worst situations could bring some sort of happiness. You now realised it wouldn’t happen. Your love was unrequited, the two of you were going to the arena, but only one of you would come out. If both of you weren’t killed, that is.

“You’re right, they don’t.” you frowned. Your escort continued to talk about the games and how to look good in the eyes of the public, but you didn’t care. It’s not like you’d make it out alive a second time. You barely did the first, in the 66th hunger games.

You went in a year after Finnick, you were so young and so was he. Maybe that's why the two of you bonded in the first place, having to be strong so early in life isn't something easy. Having to carry the weight of killing that young isn't either.

"Excuse me." you muttered before going to your room, Finnick following suit.

"What's wrong?" he demanded.

"What's wrong? Are you seriously asking me that? What's wrong?!" you exclaimed. "What's wrong is that we already went through this. What's wrong is that this happens every fucking year and no one does anything to stop it. What's wrong is that I am terrified that I'll die, or even worse, that you'll die. Because I don't think I can live without you." tears were streaming down your face as you continued, voice getting lower with each sentence "What's wrong is that I am head over heels in love with you, have been for years now by the way, and you never even noticed me."

You gasped and covered your mouth. What have I done? you thought as Finnick looked at you in shock.

"What?" he mumbled.

"Nothing, just please forget I ever said anything." you begged, going into the bathroom. Yet again, Finnick followed you.

"You love me?" he gawked.

"No?" you tried answering, but it came out sounding like a question. You wanted to dig a hole where you could hide, you were mortified. But when you looked at Finn, he was grinning.

"You love me!"

"Oh God." you hid your face in your hands "Please don't tease me about this."

You felt a pair of hands on yours, removing them from your face.

"Look at me." he whispered. You hesitated for a second, but did what he said. He was smiling softly at you.

"How would you feel if I told you I loved you?" he asked and it was your turn to be shocked.

"What?"

"It's just something that I want to do. Well, I've been wanting to do it for a while now. I just didn't know you felt the same." he confided and you grinned, but it quickly turned into a frown.

"What do we do? The games- We..." tears were forming in your eyes again. He put his arms around you in a tight hug.

"I'll get us both out, I swear I will." he vowed.

"You can't promise me that, Finn. There can only be one victor."

"There was an exception last year, why can't we do it again? But that's no what I'm planning. There's- " he stopped for a second "I can't tell you right now what I know, but I promise we will get out. And after that," he smiled at you, caressing your face "I'll be taking my time, spending my life, falling deeper in love with you. So tell me that you love me too."

You wanted to argue with him, make him tell you, but you didn't want to ruin the moment. So, you put your head on his chest and let him hold you.

“I love you, Finnick.” you mumbled into his chest, wishing it could last forever. Wishing you didn't have to go back to the arena or at least that the odds would truly be in your favour.

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theartofdreaming1 · 3 years

Photo

Katniss, Peeta, and Haymitch are slowly becoming a proper team! No more secrets! (for the most part)

As usual, my thoughts regarding this week’s prompts and (many) random thoughts on chapters 4-6 are below the cut.

heart

Losing that comfort of sleeping in each other’s arms after the Victory Tour must have been hard for Katniss and Peeta! Up until Katniss hurts her ankle, they probably didn’t really do much about it, just trying to make it through on their own... After she hurt her ankle and Peeta’s spending more time over at her place, I can easily imagine him staying over, at least until she’s fallen asleep, which might help a little... Since they are living only three houses apart from each other, I like to imagine that they can see each other’s bedroom windows from their bedroom (how else would Katniss know that Peeta sleeps with the windows open? I can’t really imagine that they would be able to open the windows of the train they were on - y’know, for “safety reasons” (i.e. making sure nobody can escape)); maybe they’d both light a candle and put it by their window, as a signal they are going to sleep... It’s not the same, but it helps a little

mind

I mean, aside from the systemic rigging of the reaping system (i.e. poorer people generally having more entries, so they can have some food), I can easily imagine there being a manipulation of the “odds” when someone becomes too vocal or troublesome for the local authorities, such as someone trying to unionize a district’s workforce, for example

soul

In the districts, their impact has to be big - their win alone was a huge defiance of the Games as they used to be... sticking together and sticking up for each other ultimately led to them defeating the Capitol’s rules! In-between the Games and the Victory Tour I don’t think there was much noteworthy going on (although maybe the fact that, so far, none of the new victors’ loved ones had been hurt - Prim, Mrs. E., but also Gale and his family would be visible during the celebrations, I’m sure, same probably goes for the Mellark’s - might tell the people in the district that Snow and his cronies were aware of the attention any assassination attempt would gather and that this, in turn, might actually could become the last straw that would spark a revolution. In a way, that was proof that the people on top were at least a little afraid of what the people in the districts would do...) And then, especially during the visit of D11, with Katniss expressing her thanks and Peeta reaching out to share their winnings with the people from D11, another district than their own - it must have provided a lot of inspiration, I’m sure.

As for the Capitolites, maybe some of them would notice for once how unhappy/riled up the people in some of the districts were... or at least stop to think about how this time, a show of love and companionship actually provided more “entertainment” and intrigue than the brutal gore and bloodshed from previous Games (also, longer lasting - there is actually much more “story” to be had from the star-crossed lovers from D12 than from any individual winner of previous Games, if you think about it... Their “love story” is still on-going, with an upcoming wedding and the promise of a family... it’s still creepy and voyeuristic as hell, though)

Chapter 4

Everything he [Haymitch] said was true about the Capitol’s expectations, my future with Peeta, even his last comment. Of course, I could do a lot worse than Peeta. That isn’t really the point, though, is it? One of the few freedoms we have in District 12 is the right to marry who we want or not marry at all. And now even that has been taken away from me. - God, this sucks so much! As Katniss rightly points out, her misery isn’t about Peeta at all - it’s about her (and also his, just pointing that out) agency being taken away! She’s being stripped even of that little sliver of agency that inhabitants of D12 usually have (choice of whom to marry, or whether to marry at all)

I wonder if President Snow will insist we have children. - Eugh, just the idea of Snow being the one to have the last word on that subject... 🤢 The invasion of privacy here... - The only person who should get to decide whether Katniss should have children or not is Katniss herself! Period!

My mind searches frantically for a way out. I can’t let President Snow condemn me to this. Even if it means taking my own life. Before that, though, I’d try to run away. - Boy, Katniss is even contemplating taking her own life, rather than to submit to the life the Capitol wants to force on her; it’s not her first choice (she’d rather run away), but it shows the desperation she’s feeling

Could I even manage to take everyone I love with me, start a new life deep in the wild? Highly unlikely but not impossible. - Later we will see that Peeta and Haymitch also belong into the category of “people Katniss loves” 😊(as well as her family, Gale, and his fam, of course)

“And Peeta’s team is probably still asleep.” “Doesn’t he need prepping?” I ask. “Not the way you do,” Effie replies. What does this mean? It means I get to spend the morning having the hair ripped off my body while Peeta sleeps in. I hadn’t thought about it much, but in the arena at least some of the boys got to keep their body hair whereas none of the girls did. - Gotta love that everlasting sexism that, even far into the future, still won’t allow women to have frickin’ body hair (y’know, like most humans do 🙄)

I can remember Peeta’s now, as I bathed him by the stream. Very blond in the sunlight, once the mud and blood had been washed away. Only his face remained completely smooth. Not one of the boys grew a beard, and many were old enough to. I wonder what they did to them. - Katniss seems to have committed every single detail about Peeta to her memory, including how his body hair looked when she cleaned him in the last Games... okay 👀😏 On a more somber note, what is it that the Capitol is doing to these poor kids?! The boys couldn’t grow beards and - I’m assuming - the girls wouldn’t get their periods while in the arena (since the Games can last for weeks, it would be a huge disadvantage if any of the girls also had to content with cramps + periods - aside from worrying about getting murdered, I mean); it’s such a violation of one’s autonomy over one’s own body, yikes

Flavius tilts up my chin and sighs. “It’s a shame Cinna said no alterations on you.” “Yes, we could really make you something special,” says Octavia. “When she’s older,” says Venia almost grimly. “Then he’ll have to let us.” - Eeek, no thanks!😦 And frankly, it really shouldn’t be Cinna’s call to make but, y’know, Katniss’s!!! I don’t know, I get real panick-y just reading this exchange (I have never even gotten my ears pierced - my mom wouldn’t let them be pierced until I could make my own decision on that subject matter and as someone with skin issues and bad experiences with needles, I really don’t feel the need to have any unnecessary metal inserted into my body, so... I’m good)

His [Peeta’s] apology takes me by surprise. It’s true that Peeta froze me out after I confessed that my love for him during the Game was something of an act. But I don’t hold it against him. [...] “I’m sorry, too,” I say. [...] “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You were keeping us alive.” - That apology of Peeta’s... *chef’s kiss*; it was totally understandable that Peeta was upset and needed some time apart from Katniss after her confession, which had caught him completely by surprise, not even Katniss blames him for that... But his apology shows that he really made use of their time apart to work out his emotions and to reflect on both their situations - that’s some emotional maturity to be envious of! Plus, his apology is a good move to get their communication channel opened up again

It would be nice if he’d come to me with this earlier, before I knew that President Snow had other plans and just being friends was not an option for us anymore. But either way, I’m glad we’re speaking again. - Come on, Katniss, cut this boy some slack! He can’t read minds - how is he supposed to know about these things if you don’t tell him anything? It’s nice that you’re glad that you guys are on speaking terms again, but communication isn’t a one-way street, y’know?

I remember the tiger lily cookie and, now that Peeta is talking to me again, it’s all I can do not to recount the whole story about President Snow. But I know Haymitch wouldn’t want me to. I’d better stick to small talk. - Katniss really should have listened to her instincts here - Haymitch might have a better idea of how the Games/Capitol works, but he knows little about teamwork, which is an important factor in their specific (and unprecedented!) situation; I’m not blaming Katniss for relying on her mentor here, but this entire approach is going to crash and burn in the next chapter

It’s good to feel his fingers entwined with mine again, not for show but in actual friendship. We walk back to the train hand in hand. - Not to say that you can’t have friendships where you frequently hold hands - you totally can - but it is noteworthy that I don’t think I can recall Katniss holding hands with any of her other friends... (somehow, I can’t really picture Katniss holding hands with Gale casually like that... nor with Madge or Finnick later on)

At the door, I remember, “I’ve got to apologize to Effie first.” “Don’t be afraid to lay it on thick,” Peeta tells me.- There is something about this exchange that speaks to me... maybe because it reads like some sort of an inside joke between them? Or because it shows that, despite being on good terms with Effie, Peeta’s totally aware of how high-maintenance/over the top Effie is... I dunno ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Peeta has painted the Games. Some you wouldn’t get right away, if you hadn’t been with him in the arena yourself. Water dripping through the cracks in our cave. The dry pond bed. [...] Others any viewer would recognize. The golden horn called the Cornucopia. [...] And me. I am everywhere. [...] “What do you think?” he asks. “I hate them,” I say. I can almost smell the blood, the dirt, the unnatural breath of the mutt. - These are the pieces Peeta meant to exhibit in the Capitol, right? I wonder if he hoped that these paintings of his impressions/memories of the Games might actually connect with some Capitolites and might even move them to feel some empathy for the Tributes? Maybe he hoped that they would be more receptive for that kind of thing if he packaged it in art?

“All I do is go around trying to forget the arena and you’ve brought it back to life. How do you remember these things so exactly?” “I see them every night,” he says. [...] “Me too. Does it help? To paint them out?” “I don’t know. I think I’m a little less afraid of going to sleep at night, or I tell myself I am,” he says. “But they haven’t gone anywhere.” - I do wonder, whether and how painting out these moments could have therapeutic value for Peeta - on the one hand, the act of painting out specific intrusions/flashbacks might be helpful because he’d end up focusing on the more technical side of painting, y’know? Focussing on mixing the right shade of a certain color might help create some emotional distance from the moment itself... also, since painting usually takes some time, Peeta would actually spend a considerable amount of time facing these moments head on, rather than trying to avoid them (avoidance tends to increase the frequency of flashback/intrusions) and maybe spending so much time on them could also help him contextualize them within the broader narrative of his life, which is the basic principle behind Narrative Exposure Therapy, which is said to be pretty effective at treating PTSD... just my two cents

I can’t believe the size of District 11. “How many people do you think live here?” Peeta asks. I shake my head. In school they refer to it as a large district, that’s all. No actual figures on the population. - Perfect example of how tightly the Capitol controls the information the people in the districts have about the other districts... which is basically nothing. Let’s keep them in the dark so they are less likely to connect with each other and band together...

Cinna comes in with a pretty orange frock patterned with autumn leaves. I think how much Peeta will like the color. - Lol, Katniss bringing everything back to Peeta because she definitely hasn’t a crush on the guy, I see 😉

And then he [Peeta] hesitates before adding something that wasn’t written on the card. Maybe because he thought Effie might make him remove it. “It can in no way replace your losses, but as a token of our thanks we’d like for each of the tributes’ families from District Eleven to receive one month of our winnings every year for the duration of our lives.” - Peeta, the rebel! Talk about an act of radical kindness! I’m so proud of him. But also, I think this is another excellent example of how he and Katniss are on the same wavelength (this took me some time to find, but here you go): I silently say good-bye to Thresh and thank him for my life. I promise to remember him and, if I can, do something to help his family and Rue’s, if I win. (Ch. 23, THG)

I look at Peeta and he gives me a sad smile. I hear Haymitch’s voice. “You could do a lot worse.” At this moment, it’s impossible to imagine how I could do any better. The gift... it is perfect. So when I rise up on tiptoe to kiss him, it doesn’t seem forced at all. - Peeta: does anything that exemplifies his sense of morality; Katniss: *swoons* - but honestly, it is so beautiful how Katniss is so attracted to Peeta’s goodness and kind heart - it also tells us a lot about her (she is quite pure, as Peeta will point out later in this book) and what she values

“Wait, please.” I don’t know how to start, but once I do, the words rush from my lips as if they’ve been forming in the back of my mind for a long time. - And then Katniss launches into one of her spontaneous, heart-felt, and inspiring speeches/acts, expressing her thanks, sympathy, and a sense of kinship with people beyond the borders of her district, beyond the superficial barriers the Capitol has been trying to maintain in order to weaken the ‘common folk‘ and keep the exploitation going

The full impact of what I’ve done hits me. It was not intentional - I only meant to express my thanks - but I have elicited something dangerous. An act of dissent from the people of District 11. - Again, Katniss has done something that will solidify her as a symbol of the revolution without intending to do so and that’s the point, I think - she inspires people through her genuine displays of caring for others (which, in Panem, is already rebellious on its own)

Chapter 5

“We’re going!” says Peeta, shoving the Peacekeeper who’s pressing on me. “We get it, all right? Come on, Katniss.” His arm encircles me and guides me back into the Justice Building. - Protective Peeta! Also, I think it’s interesting to note the wording of Peeta’s arms “encircling” Katniss and then “guiding” her - his arms surround her, and he’s leading her away from harm (at least to the extent that is in his power - can’t really be safe from harm in Panem, can you?), but it doesn’t seem smothering or oppressive to Katniss in any way -”guide” has more of a connotation of giving direction without force, imo; in contrast, when Katniss talked about her kiss with Gale she mentions she’d never imagined how those hands [...] could as easily entrap me. (Ch. 2, CF); granted, these are two very different situations - the phrasing just stood out to me

“What happened?” Effie hurries over. “We lost the feed just after Katniss’s beautiful speech, and then Haymitch said he thought he heard gun fire, and I said it was ridiculous, but who knows? There are lunatics everywhere!” - Very telling how a clueless Capitolite like Effie wouldn’t register the rebellious aspect of Katniss’s speech; by keeping the Capitolites in the depths of sweet, sweet ignorance while simultaneously harshly trying to curb any spark of rebellion by cutting off the feed, the government is actually drawing the attention of the ignorant Capitolites to the act of rebellion itself (and also letting the people in the districts know that there was something censor-worthy going on); kind of shooting themselves in the foot here

As far as I know, Haymitch has only been here once, when he was on his Victory Tour decades ago. But he must have a remarkable memory or reliable instincts, because he leads us up through a maze of twisting staricases and increasingly narrow halls. [...] Eventually we climb a ladder to a trapdoor. When Haymitch pushes it aside, we find ourselves in the dome of the Justice Building. - I wonder how Haymitch has come to know this part of the Justice Building? Has he been to District 11 more often than Katniss supposes (he is friends with Chaff, after all), did his mentor take him there for some private conversation, or was there a moment during Haymitch’s Victory Tour where he felt so overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and powerlessness that he fled to the most desolate, solitary place he could find?

“I was supposed to fix things on this tour. [...] Calm things down. But obviously, all I’ve done today is get three people killed, and now everyone in the square will be punished.” I feel so sick that I have to sit down on a couch, despite the exposed springs and stuffing. - Obviously, all of this is awful and no one - especially a traumatized, 16-year old girl - should have to suffer carrying such a burden... But also, here we see one of the downsides of Katniss taking sole responsibility for everything - she totally forgot that Peeta might feel responsible too, only that he didn’t even know what’s at stake - which leads us to-

“Then I made things worse, too. By giving the money,” says Peeta. Suddenly he strikes out at a lamp that sits precariously on a crate and knocks it across the room, where it shatters against the floor. “This has to stop. Right now. This - this - game you two play, where you tell each other secrets but keep them from me like I’m too inconsequential or stupid or weak to handle them.”"It's not like that, Peeta-" I begin. "It's exactly like that!" he yells at me. - When kind, gentle Peeta’s mad, you know shit has hit the fan 😳 But also, being passed over/kept out of the loop seems to hit pretty close to home for Peeta (while I would like to know what his home life looked like before the Games, I have to admit that at this point, I’m somewhat afraid I might not be able to handle the truth...). I just think this scene is an important moment that leads to an end of (most of) their detrimental secrecy (hello end-of-CF-Haymitch!) and establishes their little team as such (hence the drawing)

“You’re always so reliably good, Peeta,” says Haymitch. “So smart about how you present yourself before the cameras. I didn’t want to disrupt that.” “Well, you overestimated me. Because I really screwed up today.” - Remember the last time someone overestimated Peeta (Foxface and the berries)? That ended in someone’s death as well... And, Haymitch? ‘Never assume’ applies to you, too!

“Do you think I gave them [Rue’s and Thresh’s families] a bright future? Because I think they’ll be lucky if they survive the day!” Peeta sends something else flying, a statue. I’ve never seen him like this. - Considering that his rebellious act of kindness is now threatening to become a sword of Damocles, hanging over those towards which he wanted to extend his kindness - simply because he’s been kept out of the loop (again)- Peeta’s anger is quite understandable

“Look, boy-” Haymitch begins. “Don’t bother, Haymitch. I know you had to choose one of us. And I’d have wanted it to be her. But this is something different. People are dead out there. More will follow unless we’re very good.” - Peeta doesn’t really care if it’s just his life on the line, but if other people’s lives are at risk? He takes no shit (it’s admirable in one way and deeply concerning in another); also, Peeta is right - while there still is a game to play, it’s not the Games, so different circumstances and rules apply

“From now on, you’ll be fully informed,” Haymitch promises. “I better be,” says Peeta. - Peeta generally is a very cooperative fellow, but don’t ever think he can’t be forceful and stand his ground when it matters!

“Did you choose me, Haymitch?” I ask. “Yeah,” he says. “Why? You like him better,” I say. “That’s true. But remember, until they changed the rules, I could only hope to get one of you out of there alive,” he says. “I thought since he was determined to protect you, well, between the three of us, we might be able to bring you home.” “Oh,” is all I can think to say. - This is such a quiet, sweet moment and also shows that Katniss, Haymitch and Peeta have been some sort of team from the start (also, in their team effort they actually managed to get the both of them back home!)

Everything is happening too fast for me to process it. The warning, the shootings, the recognition that I may have set something of great consequence in motion. The whole thing is so improbable. And it would be one thing if I had planned to stir things up, but given the circumstances... how on earth did I cause so much trouble? - Lol, you’re giving yourself a little too much credit here, Katniss ;) Frankly, the Capitol has been the one to create this powder-keg they are sitting on in the first place - all it needed was a little spark... All these injustices, the humilitation, the pain inflicted... it’s like an elastic rubber band that’s been stretched and stretched - until it snaps

“I’m something of an expert in architectural design, you know?” “Oh yes, I’ve heard that,” says Portia before the pause gets too long. - Bless Portia’s heart, making sure they avoid that awkward silence 😂

Effie looks so distressed that I spontaneously give her a hug. “That’s awful, Effie. Maybe we shouldn’t go to the dinner at all. At least until they’ve apologized.” - Aww, Katniss doing something nice for Effie!😊

Peeta and I join hands. “Haymitch says I was wrong to yell at you. You were only operating under his instructions,” says Peeta. “And it isn’t as if I haven’t kept things from you in the past.” - Peeta sorta apologizing, even acknowledging that he also had kept secrets from Katniss? We love to see it👍 - [...] “I think I broke a few things myself after that interview.” “Just an urn,” he says. - Peetaaa... stop diminishing your own physical injuries! Good thing that Katniss won’t let him: - “And your hands. There’s no point to it anymore though, is there? Not being straight with each other?” I say. “No point,” says Peeta. - Gasp! Honest, open communication as a good basis for a successful relationship? It’s more likely than you think!

“Was that really the only time you kissed Gale?” I’m so startled I answer. “Yes.” With all that has happened today, has that question actually been preying on him? - Peeta, you sly dog! Your priorities 😂

Some crowds have the weary-cattle feel that I know District 12 usually projects at the victors’ ceremonies. But in others - particularly 8, 4, and 3 - there is genuine elation in the faces of the people at the sight of us, and under the elation, fury. - I do think that it’s interesting how D4 is one of the districts being elated to see Peeta + Katniss and displaying such fury, despite being a Career district; just goes to show that, just because their odds are better at winning the Games, doesn’t have to make them more simpatico with the Capitol’s cruelty... (Considering how Finnick knows how to perform CPR, it’s highly likely that people in D4 are also used to awful and precarious working + living situations... maybe that’s exactly why they generally are so robust and do well in the Games; and maybe they are simply not that above joining the other Careers as long as it improves their chances of survival, like Katniss or Thresh had been... worked for a while for Peeta, too)

Effie starts giving me pills to sleep, but they don’t work. [...] Peeta, who spends much of the night roaming the train, hears me screaming as I struggle to break out of the haze of drugs that merely prolong the horrible dreams. He manages to wake me and calm me down. Then he climbs into bed to hold me until I fall back to sleep. After that, I refuse the pills. But every night I let him into my bed. We manage the darkness as we did in the arena, wrapped in each other’s arms. - 😭 Also: Very telling how Capitolite Effie just throws pills at the problem (with the best of intentions, I’m sure), which is an immediate, unpersonal, and superficial solution at best, whereas Peeta holding Katniss, offering comfort, understanding, a sense of safety, and human connection is so much more personal, intimate, and effective (for both of them!)

I personally killed the girl, Glimmer, and the boy from District 1. As I try to avoid looking at his family, I learn that his name was Marvel. How did I never know that? - You know why, Katniss - I suppose that before the Games I didn’t pay attention and afterward I didn’t want to know. - Still, not knowing his name didn’t stop you from humanizing him, Katniss, and that’s important, too

Whatever we do seems too little, too late. Back in our old quarters in the Training Center, I’m the one who suggests the public marriage proposal. Peeta agrees to do it but then disappears to his room for a long time. Haymitch tells me to leave him alone. “I thought he wanted it, anyway,” I say. “Not like this,” Haymitch says. “He wanted it to be real.” - Come on, Katniss, don’t be so callous; Peeta’s just as much of a prisoner here as you! Also, it’s all about being real or not real with these two, isn’t it?

Chapter 6

... you would think that at this moment, I would be in utter despair. Here’s what’s strange. The main thing I feel is a sense of relief. That I can give up this game. [...] That if desperate times call for desperate measures, then I am free to act as desperately as I wish. - Honestly, I think it was pretty short-sighted of Snow to let Katniss know so clearly that she didn’t succeed in her task; she did her utmost and it wasn’t enough - might as well fling caution to the wind now. All bets are off. If there had been still some small chance she could have ‘made things right’, she probably would have been trying harder to comply to his expectations. (I’m sure Snow thought the upcoming implementations of his stricter regime would be enough to keep Katniss in check, but pride comes before a fall ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

It’s essential to get back to District 12, because the main part of any plan will include my mother and sister, Gale and his family. And Peeta, If I can get him to come with us. I add Haymitch to the list. - For such a ‘loner’, Katniss sure has a lot of people that are important to her... And how ironic that Peeta, who she isn’t sure she’ll be able to convince in following her will be a much more willing participant that Gale, who Katniss is pretty much banking on joining her

“You’ll probably have to pass a new law,” I say with a giggle. “If that’s what it takes,” says the president with conspiratorial good humor. Oh the fun we two have together. - The dynamic between Snow and Katniss is so strange; despite the obvious antagonism there is definitely some vibe of interacting with each other at eye level and it’s weird (Sidenote: Is there any law in Panem preventing minors from marrying?)

“I want to taste everything in the room, “ I tell Peeta. [...] “Then you’d better pace yourself,” he says. “Okay, not more than one bite of each dish,” I say. My resolve is almost immediately broken at the first table, which has twenty or so soups - couldn’t have happened to me; I hate soup (like, thick soups I maaaybe can get behind, but clear soup/broth is just flavored water to me, no thanks - then again, I’m a picky eater)

Peeta and I make no effort to find company but are constantly sought out. We are what no one wants to miss at the party. I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food. - Well isn’t that a mood for every social gathering ever (one person I enjoy talking to and lots of food I like? Perfect.)

I pick up a small roasted bird, bite into it, and my tongue floods with orange sauce. Delicious. But I make Peeta eat the remainder because I want to keep tasting things - Katniss seems to like the combination of meat and fruit, huh? (the lamb and plums, now bird and orange sauce) Personally, it’s a combination that’s on thin ice for me; there are only a few dishes with that component I actually like and it took me forever to tolerate them (I don’t know if it’s the texture or the taste, but something makes me apprehensive about it); anyway, Katniss making Peeta eat the rest is such a casual, couple-y thing to do (or at least something you do with someone you feel very comfortable with, I think)

Peeta looks at the glass again and puts it together. “You mean this will make me puke?” My prep team laughs hysterically. “Of course, so you can keep eating,” says Octavia. “I’ve been in there twice already. Everyone does it, or else how would you have any fun at a feast?” I’m speechless, staring at the pretty little glasses and all they imply. - Oh boy, I have a lot of thoughts on this part: A) I just noticed how this is the second delicate/fancy glass/drink that’s bringing about a jarring revelation: first that orange juice with the frilly straw in THG, now these tiny wine-stemmed glasses, B) “Everyone does it” + “how else would you have fun?” are the shittiest reasons I’ve ever heard at a party for doing something stupid you probably don’t want to do (I’m having flashbacks to all the times I had people trying to pressure me into drinking alcohol as a teen - it was even legal, btw - although I insisted that I didn’t like the taste (which I still don’t, to this day); it was tiresome 😑), C) “everyone does it” - the people in the Capitol must have some messed up teeth if that’s a regular occurence (sure, they probably bleach their teeth all the time, but also... they’d really need to, D) the obvious: how effed up that they just puke to stuff in more food when in the districts people literally are dying from starvation?! (and yeah, unequal distribution of resources sadly isn’t just a thing in Panem, I know... but there is something about actively purging yourself just for funsies that’s just extra, well, sick)

All I can think of is the emaciated bodies of the children on our kitchen table as my mother prescribes what the parents cannot give. More food. - God, how awful! How powerless they must feel 😟

And here in the Capitol they’re vomiting for the pleasure of filling their bellies again and again. Not from some illness of body or mind, not from spoiled food. - Ooh, I’ve never noticed before how this passage not only recognizes physical reasons for purging, but also mental reasons! Wouldn’t have necessarily expected Katniss to acknowledge eating disorders like that, tbh... She has become a lot more cognizant and sensitive when mental health issues are concerned

One day when I dropped by to give Hazelle the game, Vick was home sick with a bad cough [...] he still spent about fifteen minutes talking about how they’d opened a can of corn syrup from Parcel Day and each had a spoonful on bread and were going to maybe have more later in the week. How Hazelle had said he could have a bit in a cup of tea to soothe his cough, but he wouldln’t feel right unless the others had some, too. - Aww, Vick is such a sweetheart! Hazelle is raising her kids right!

“Peeta, they bring us here to fight to the death for their entertainment,”I say. “Really, this is nothing by comparison.” “I know. I know that. It’s just sometimes I can’t stand it anymore. To the point where... I’m not sure what I’ll do.” He pauses, then whispers, “Maybe we were wrong, Katniss.” “About what?” I ask. “About trying to subdue things in the districts,” he says. - Peeta’s rebellious nature coming through again!

“Sorry,” he says. He should be. This is no place to be voicing such thoughts. “Save it for home,” I tell him. - I know Katniss means D12, but her phrasing of “home” evokes a more domestic, couple-y connotation again 😊

I don’t want to dance with Plutarch Heavensbee. I don’t want to feel his hands, one resting against mine, one on my hip. I’m not used to being touched, except by Peeta or my family, and I rank Gamemakers somewhere below maggots in terms of creatures I want in contact with my skin. - It’s telling that, while Katniss is not big on being touched aside from her family (does that include Gale? probably? although they hadn’t even really hugged until Katniss had been reaped, so... I dunno), she’s totally fine with Peeta touching her (more than that: remember how good she felt holding his hand again in Ch.4 and how she’s feeling safe in his arms when they are sharing a bed), it says a lot about how comfortable she feels around him

Plutarch steps back and pulls out a gold watch on a chain from a vest pocket. He flips open the lid, sees the time, and frowns. “I’ll have to be going soon.” He turns the watch so I can see the face. “It starts at midnight.” - Honestly, this very subtle hint/foreshadowing of the clock setup of the Quarter Quell arena is simply brilliant! And also, midnight is going to become an important point in time as well from here on out (lightning tree, in the hanging tree song, saving Peeta and the others from the Training Center in the Capitol)

It’s another mockingjay. Exactly like the pin on my dress. Only this one disappears. He snaps the watch closed. “That’s very pretty,” I say. “Oh, it’s more than pretty. It’s one of a kind,” he says. - The disappearing mockingjay on the clock is interesting because A) Plutarch can’t really be flaunting the symbol of rebellion as Head Gamemaker, duh, but also B) the clock arena will be the place where the Mockingjay will disappear (until the rebellion will be able to use her for their cause); and that last comment by Plutarch clearly is aimed at the Mockingjay (Katniss) herself

When I open my eyes, it’s early afternoon. My head rests on Peeta’s arm. I don’t remember him coming in last night. - Okay, Katniss must feel hella safe and used to Peeta joining her in her bed, because apparently she didn’t even wake up when he did, like... I’m a fairly heavy sleeper, but I can’t imagine sleeping so deeply that I wouldn’t jerk awake if someone crawled into my bed while I was snoozing

“No nightmare,” he says. “What?” I ask. “You didn’t have any nightmares last night,” he says. He’s right. For the first time in ages I’ve slept through the night. - Telling how the first time Katniss sleeps through the night is after Snow let her know her performance wasn’t enough; she’s must have been so tense and on edge, desperately trying to calm down the districts and convince Snow, that she hadn’t been able to sleep properly, aside from the obvious sleeping issues she’d have from the PTSD (I’m often that way before an important exam - especially if it’s an oral exam; I get tense just thinking about it 😓)

“I had a dream, though,” I say, thinking back. “I was following a mockingjay though the woods. For a long time. It was Rue, really. I mean, when it sang, it had her voice.” “Where did she take you?” he says, brushing my hair off my forehead. “I don’t know. We never arrived,” I say. “But I felt happy.” - Interesting how in Katniss’s dream, the mockingjay is Rue - lending further credence to the hypothesis that maybe Rue was originally meant to be the Mockingjay (would make Plutarch’s comment of the mockingjay being “one of a kind” a bit more hypocritical/exaggerated/dramatized, which still fits with his flair for propaganda/showmanship... and ultimately, Katniss as the Mockingjay was unique, but that doesn’t mean that the rebellion couldn’t have made someone else their symbol if they needed to); also, Peeta brushing Katniss’s hair off her forehead is so sweet and intimate 😊

After I got home, we [Madge and I] started spending time together. [...] It was a little awkward at first because we didn’t know what to do. Other girls our age, I’ve heard them talking about boys, or other girls, or clothes. Madge and I aren’t gossipy and clothes bore me to tears. But after a few false starts, I realized she was dying to go into the woods, so I’ve taken her a couple of times and showed her how to shoot. She’s trying to teach me the piano, but mostly I like to listen to her play. - Honestly? I’d love to read a fanfic about Katniss and Madge figuring out their friendship (let me know if there already are some!); it’s cute how they end up including each other in their hobbies 😊 Ah, the classic “I’m/We’re not like other girls”, which often is especially prevalent during your teen years (I’d be lying if I said that I haven’t been gulty of this in my past 😅)... Katniss might actually would have benefited from talking with Madge about her boys’ troubles, though... And it’s so funny how Katniss admits that she has no interest in clothes, despite it being her supposed “talent”, while she also admits that she does admire Cinna’s work

... there’s a mob scene. The square’s packed with screaming people, their faces hidden with rags and homemade masks, throwing bricks. Building burn. Peacekeepers shoot into the crowd, killing at random. I’ve never seen anything like it - I... I have. At least on tv... In different places, at different times, but... yeah...

#thgagain #thg #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #haymitch abernathy #everlark #thg meta #my sketches and drawings #honestly there were so many scenes in these 3 chapter that I wanted to draw... but I barely had the time for these 2 #Catching Fire is just chock-full with interesting/important moments... my book is more post-it notes than pages at this point

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hockeysweetheart · 3 years

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Thoughts on the Careers...

So I am unsure of other thoughts on them as I don't see a whole lot on them beside " Clato" but other then that really nothing.

I don't hate them. Like how I cannot hate certain Captiol residents.

District 1,2 and 4 are the Careers Districts. ( Yes even tho 4 is a Career district when I see people talk about Finnick and Annie I don't see a whole lot of Careers added to their name). ( Interesting as Mag did win the 11th Hunger Games the Careers prob not there quiet yet).

The exceptions are the kids from the wealthier districts, the volunteers, the ones who have been fed and trained throughout their lives for this moment. The tributes from 1, 2, and 4 traditionally have this look about them. It's technically against the rules to train tributes before they reach the Capitol but it happens every year. In District 12, we call them the Career Tributes, or just the Careers. And like as not, the winner will be one of them.

Typically also something else that they tend to Become and alliance in the games.

Now I don't think they are all the bad. They have been treated better their whole lifes it's what they are used to. Now the Mentors. Once you win the games. Snow basically sells you as a prize or kills your loved ones.. Happens to every Victor who left a lasting impression. Or if they " cheated" in the games. This happens to Career Victors too. ( For Sure District 1 and 4)

District 2 is the favourite one. They are as much as we know ( the ones who are outta the your life will be basically hell if you win agreement). Also you can see their winning as Pride... Also they were the last District to join the rebels. The living Victor from the break out was relesed with no harm done to them. They were this is all I've known. If I have to die in an arena I will die with honor. They are blinded by what really goes on in the rest of the Districts. But experance the winning we are told. and not the reality of it.

Very intresting is that District 1 was one of the first ones to join the Rebels. And they had no knowleage of plans to get out of the arena. The Symbol/ leader of the Rebels literally killed 3 of their tributes sent in. Both of her games. They had every damn reason to not join the rebels but the fact they joined almost right away. Tells me maybe they were ready for this to happen. Not okay with how the Districts run. Or how the victors get treated. Also in the interviews in Catching fire they knew it was unlikely that card was there. The Victor tibutes were apart of the " cancel the games" plot too. They were not happy about going back in... Another thing that struck me was a quote when Haymitch said He had to be the example for the Cashmeres. Finnicks and Johannas... He said Cashmere which made me think the Captiol sold her... I personall think they know but play the well I'll show you I'm worthy. and then at the same time get them selfs in situations like kill me now...

Another note. Yeah I think the movies dumb founded them a bit. but again really the 74th and 75th games. District 1 tributes both died almost to easy. Where as the District 2 ones well 74th games was their long ass speeches. But they were not going without a fight. Clove could have killed Katniss and Cato could have killed Peeta. And could have taken Katniss out as well. Where as Marvel he threw his weapon hitting the only 12 year old in the games and got killed by a tribute with a bow and arrow. And Glimmer. ( who basically gave her the bow and arrow). Couldn't run from the tracker jackers. In the 75th games. Gloss was basically saying shoot me now after he slit Wiress throat and Cashmere couldn't just go duck behind the cornucopia no she got the ax to her. Where as District 2 is like gone real freaking fast. I still wonder how Peeta killed Brutus tho. But Enobaria was captured. Really its not that different from the books their deaths. or what happened.

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nightlock-1989 · 3 years

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Side-Parts and Skinny Jeans

A short story about what happens when Millennials find out Gen Z is ripping on their precious side-parts and skinny jeans.

Context: I am a 31 year old proud Millennial. I graduated in 2007. One day, scrolling through Tik Tok, I kept seeing things about old people and their side-parts and skinny jeans. I googled it and what do you know? Forget the Boomers because the Zoomers are targeting us now. Thought it might make a good Everlark story. You can also find it on AO3 here.

Takes place in September so that school could be in person again. Enjoy!

September 2021

The first week back when school begins is always taxing on both the students and staff. Add in 18 months of virtual learning at home and it’s a surprise that everyone isn’t already passed out in Haymitch Abernathy’s yard a victory.

It’s always been a tradition. The principal hosts the school staff the first Friday after the school year begins for a barbeque and alcohol. Normally alcohol is always aplenty since it’s Haymitch but this year everyone is a little even more stressed.

Effie Trinket, the school secretary is walking around with a tray of Jell-O shots.

“Thanks, Trinkie,” Haymitch gruffs before slurping down a green one and handing one to the English teacher Peeta Mellark. He hesitates briefly before Delly Cartwright, pulls it out of his hands and slurps it down.

“Very nice,” Haymitch remarks.

“Thank you, Mr. Abernathy,” she responds.

“You know you can call him, Haymitch; right?” Finnick O’Dair, history teacher, reminds.

“HA,” Peeta responds.

“He’ll always be Mr. Abernathy,” Delly tells.

“You’re 28,” Finnick says

“Doesn’t matter,” Katniss Everdeen, biology teacher and Peeta Mellark’s lifelong crush strides forward.

“Sweetheart,” Haymitch gestures.

“Mr. Abernathy,” Katniss greets.

Peeta and Delly both point fingers at Finnick.

“Grill’s ready,” Effie hollers.

Katniss takes a Jell-O shot and sighs before tipping it back.

“Is this the first time we’ve all drank together?” Delly asks gesturing between Peeta and Katniss.

Katniss, Peeta, and Delly were in the same grade at District 12 high; however, only Delly and Peeta hung out. Katniss kept to herself for the most part, having a difficult life. Katniss was the newest hire at District 12, having transferred over from 8 last year. She didn’t attend last year’s barbeque to Peeta’s sadness.

When Peeta saw Katniss in the auditorium for in-staff training, he nearly fainted and when he realized she lived in the same apartment village, he thought he would have a heart attack. Although she still sports her signature braid every now and then, she’s taken to wearing her hair down and walks with a new-found confidence that has only made her sexier. Everyone knows how much he likes her, except Katniss.

“Probably,” Katniss answers heading over to the kiddie pool filled with beer. She bends down to pick one up, giving Peeta the perfect view of her ass. Her jeans fit like a second glove and Delly smacks Peeta in the chest to get him to stop gawking.

The food is ready, and everyone dishes up. The alcohol and conversation flow generously.

Haymitch begins telling a story about how for seniors, they have alternatives for the seniors who have a lot of detentions left to serve. Instead of serving one detention at a time, they can pick up trash or volunteer for a student event.

“So, we needed someone to remove the gum from under all the auditorium seats.”

Katniss groans.

“All 896. I offer to free up 4 detentions. Sweetheart had 12. No one is taking it, but I can tell that I’ve got some interest peaked. I get up to 7 and Katniss sees Johanna about to pounce. She screams, “I volunteer, I volunteer.””

“Well, I wasn’t the only one who volunteered,” Katniss reminds before looking at Peeta.

“Sweetheart, you aren’t even the butt of this story. Then, the boy over here,” he says while gesturing to Peeta who puts his face into his hands, “also volunteers. I was only looking for one.”

“You let us both though,” Katniss says.

“The deal was for seven detentions total,” Haymitch emphasizes.

“But seven of mine did get wiped out,” Katniss says.

“Exactly,” Haymitch points out. “The boy didn’t even have any detentions.”

Everyone but Peeta and Katniss roar with laughter.

“Wait, what? I’m so confused,” Katniss says more to herself because she’s at that point of intoxication.

“You really always have been Brainless,” Johanna Mason, physical education teacher teases. “Let’s get another beer,” she says, pulling Katniss with her.

Delly’s phone chimes so she takes a look. Peeta, still mortified is keeping his eyes on the two girls but he stops staring when he hears, “Miss Cartwright, Miss Everdeen, Miss Mason.”

“What’s that,” he asks looking towards her phone. Delly has open the Tik Tok app and the short video shows video of the respective teachers at the same time as their name.

“Side parts and skinny jeans…….so old,” the voice in the video adds.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!” Delly shrieks as she chucks her beer bottle into the yard.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Johanna asks.

Delly is in such a mini-rage that she picks up her fold up chair and also chucks that off of the deck. She reaches for the outdoor end table before Finnick grabs her wrist and pulls her into him.

“Are you okay, Delly?” Katniss attempts to rush forward but trips in the process. Peeta rushes to help her up.

“We,” Delly emphasizes by pointing to all the young teachers, “have all had to deal with fucking everything. School shootings, terrorist attacks on live TV, two fucking wars, the housing market crashing, a great fucking recession, $4.00 gallons of gas, a global pandemic, ANOTHER FUCKING RECESSION….and now THIS. I’M NOT EVEN 30,” she finishes before letting out a guttural moan. Katniss leans in closer to Peeta, obviously scared before Johanna marches up to Delly who is holding up her phone.

They all crowd around and watch the offending video. It is showing the various female teachers and on the bottom is a tally marking all the women who have a side part and skinny jeans.

Johanna is first to break the silence by grabbing her folding chair and hurling it off the deck.

“Those little Tide-Pod eating Zoomers can go rot in hell.”

“Yeah, why can’t they just nearly succumb to alcohol poisoning in the cornfield like we did?” Delly cries.

“I like my side part,” Katniss says to herself.

“I have full-bodied hair. A middle part is boring,” Delly whines.

“Do they want us to wear the stupid mom jeans that they’re donning?” Johanna volleys back.

“Would they like it if we just went back to fucking ultra-low-rise jeans and had our thongs on display again because I’m not going back to that, Finnick,” Delly sobs into his chest.

“I didn’t say anything,” Finnick interjects staring cluelessly at Peeta. “Wait, wasn’t this like a thing in the spring?”

“They didn’t make a fricken Tik Tok that specifically targeted us then” Johanna states.

“Does this mean I have to give up my skinny jeans?” Katniss asks to the empty space next to her.

“Don’t even think that, your ass looks fantastic in them,” Peeta answers.

Everyone goes quiet and stares at Peeta. He is perplexed before he realizes he actually said that out loud.

“No—I didn’t mean that,” Peeta begins before backtracking, “You know what, I didn’t mean that either…. I’m just going to go over there.” He heads down the deck stairs and grabs one of the chairs and plops down on it.

There is an awkward silence before Finnick says, “you should just side part your hair even harder.”

All three girls light up before agreeing. Katniss looks out and sees Peeta sitting alone. Delly tilts her head in a “go talk to him” motion, Finnick smiles and nods, and Johanna mimics a blow job.

Katniss orders an Uber before she heads over to Peeta.

“Peeta,” Katniss begins. He looks up with such sadness that Katniss interrupts him before he can even start, “Why’d you volunteer?”

“Um,” he stalls. “You know what, fuck it,” he resigns. “I had a huge crush on you growing up and I just wanted a reason to hang out with you.”

“So, you volunteered to remove chewing gum off hundreds of seats during our spring break?”

“Yep,” he answers with a pop.

“You know you only said like four words that whole time we were cleaning up?”

“That’s because when I’m around you, I feel like a mumbling idiot. Even now, 10 years after high school, you make me feel like- “He is interrupted by Katniss’s lips. She pulls back and smiles.

“Um, how drunk are you?”

“Definitely Ubering……. but I’ll definitely remember this in the morning.” She leans in again. He breaks apart long enough for him to stand and continue the kiss. Cheering can be heard from the deck causing both of them to laugh.

“Did you mean what you said about how good I look in these skinny jeans?”

“They look amazing on you.”

She leans up and whispers in his ear, “I think they’d look a lot better on your bedroom floor.” An alert sounds on Katniss’s phone. “Uber is here.”

Peeta wastes no time in grabbing her hand and practically dragging her to the car.

Effie comes out with another round of Jell-O-Shots while Haymitch grabs one.

“To young love,” he says.

“To side parts,” Delly adds.

“To skinny jeans,” Johanna finishes.

“We’re going to tease them mercilessly on Monday; right?” Finnick asks.

“Duh,” Delly states while everyone laughs.

Monday morning comes around and true to what Finnick suggested, their side parts are more pronounced, and they are all donning skinny jeans, their own form of mini rebellion.

And once again, Katniss’s pair ends up on Peeta’s floor that night.

#everlark

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yandearest · 4 years

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May The Odds Be Ever in Your Favor (Hoseok x Reader Hunger Games AU) Chapter 1: The Reaping

Summary - Living in District 4 you never thought you would have to worry about being selected for the Hunger Games. With a training centre right near the dock of the houseboat you lived and fished from, your district was known for volunteers who trained their whole lives for a shot at glory and riches. But at age 18, your name is called and no girls volunteer to take your place. Your devastation is answered when Kim Namjoon volunteers for the males shortly after. Tall, muscular, highly intelligent and charming, the years of diligent preparation have bestowed Namjoon with the expectation of being the next District 4 champion after Finnick Odair last won 3 years ago.

Fishing for a living has granted you skills with a knife but, as your mentor Finnick is quick to describe, your beautiful face may well be your best asset.

Upon arrival in the Capitol you are quickly faced with the reality that Namjoon may not even be the biggest danger inside the Arena. Especially when you capture the obsessive attention of District 2′s own volunteer, and killing machine, Jung Hoseok. Hope soon fades from ‘survival’ to ‘the mercy of a painless death’ but Hoseok certainly has other plans.

Pairing - Hoseok x (fem)Reader

Genre - thriller, angst, yandere

Word Count 4.6K

Warnings - [in later chapters] major character death, graphic depictions of violence, swearing, obsession, dubcon-smut (smut will be marked so reading is optional), gore, unrealistically beautiful oc because I’m a sucker for that shitty trope and want to live vicariously through my writing (sue me)

The following is a dark fic featuring a yandere character, violence, obsession, and coercion. By no means does writing about this in a fictional setting condone any of those behaviours, much like Stephen King writing horror doesn’t mean he approves of psychotic killers in reality. Please avoid reading if any of these warnings makes you uncomfortable.

Cross posted on A03 so people can subscribe for updates/notifications

What little shred of hope for survival you may have had, after hearing your name announced from the reaping, was immediately squashed minutes later by two simple words. “I volunteer”.

Volunteers from District 4 were not uncommon. There was a not-so-secret training complex the capitol turned a blind eye to, in a warehouse near the docks. During your time in school you knew of several kids who trained before and after classes. At the age of twelve some of them dropped out all together, with the sole purpose of training every waking second of the day so they could volunteer at eighteen. There was no need for an education if your only purpose in life was to compete in a death match that offered a lifetime of rewards to the winner.

After the misfortune of having your name drawn you looked around, silently begging for one of the girls to come up and replace you, only for no takers. But when Kim Namjoon eagerly announced his intentions of volunteering (the reaped twelve-year-old boy on stage immediately bursting into grateful tears and rushing back to his mother in the square) it was easy to understand why no one had stepped up this year. Back when you had attended school, before dropping out to assist your father on his fishing boat after your mother died, Namjoon had been in some of your classes –although he very rarely showed up. He was immensely popular with everyone; in part because of his handsome physique and model like dimples, partially because of his superior intelligence, but mostly because it was well known he was by far the leader from all the kids in training.

You had never attended a training session (more fool you for thinking you would never be unlucky enough to have your name drawn, and banking on one of the girls who did train to take your place if you did) but the center near the wharf was close to where your family’s boat — that functioned as both a fishing ship and your house — was docked. During the many occasions you had walked past, you sometimes stopped to peer through a crack in the doorway and watch. A majority of the times you had seen Namjoon inside amongst the group of around twenty regulars; working out with weights, sparring with an array of weapons, or climbing the rope attached to the ceiling that was surely 30 feet high with nothing but cement to drop back down to. The years of work had turned the dimpled twelve-year-old you once shared a math class with into a lethal killing machine. And now you were going to be stuck in an arena with you as one of his targets.

You stood frozen as Namjoon strode up on stage, a grin on his face, waving to the camera before shaking the hand of the capitol’s representative — a pastel blue haired woman by the name of Periwinkle Eveweather. You could tell Periwinkle much preferred Namjoon to you from the twinkle in her eye at how well he was playing up to the camera. There would be no need for her to have to force him to act like being slaughtered like an animal was an honor, like she would for you. The next moments passed far too quickly in a blur, being lead off stage to bid farewell to your families. As you sobbed in your father’s arms, an only child saying your last goodbye, Namjoon was getting a pat on the back from his older sister, a previous volunteer and victor. Shortly after you were ushered on board to the train where you now sat, Namjoon at your side and your mentor sitting across the table.

A small part of your brain found it difficult to take Finnick Odair as a mentor seriously given he was younger than you. But your rational side was quick to silence that judgment with a reminder that exact dismissal of his age was a major contributing factor to his win three years ago. The feeling of despair ate away at your insides as Finnick took an immediate liking to Namjoon. You couldn’t blame him for it, Namjoon was by far the more likely of the two of you to survive, so it only made sense for him to put more attention on the candidate with the best chance, but it still made you feel awful none the less.

“And what about you YN?”

You jumped feeling Namjoon’s hand tapping your leg softly under the table, his head wordlessly nodding in Finnick’s direction without making any eye contact to you. You had become so distracted by the mug of tea in a decorative porcelain cup in your hands, you failed to recognize your mentor’s piercing sea green eyes were now focused on you.

“Sorry, what about my what?” you mumbled dumbly, feeling incredibly insecure at Finnick’s sigh.

“Your skills, what do you bring to the games?”

Well that explained why you had tuned out, there was no need for you to listen to Namjoon describing all the potential ways he was going to kill you within a week or so. And there were a hell of a lot of ways.

“I don’t know really, I’m not someone who’s trained like Namjoon,” you paused to think, pretending not to notice Namjoon’s smug smirk in the corner of your peripheral vision as Finnick frowned slightly.

“Neither was I, and that caused a lot of the careers to underestimate me,” Finnick replied, shooting Namjoon a pointed look which caused his smirk to disappear. You tried not to smile at that, settling instead for relaxing slightly into your seat.

“I can fish, so depending on the arena I can potentially find food, but more importantly I know my way around with a knife,” you declared, feeling a little more confident. The hopeless despair was still overwhelming but the least you could do for yourself, and your father, was to go out with honor.

“Very good,” Finnick nodded “don’t underestimate your face either.”

“My face?” You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. “How am I supposed to kill anyone with that?”

Finnick sighed, leaning further back into the lounge he was occupying on his own, pinching the bridge of his nose on his handsome face in exasperation.

“Both of you listen, this is potentially more important than all of those little training sessions or fishing catches the both of you have ever made combined. You’re clearly genetically blessed to continue District 4’s reputation of having the most beautiful tributes, you in particular” He paused to lazily point in your direction. “If you actually want to win the games, you want the people of the capitol to adore you. And they’re a city of shallow cunts,” another pause to shoot a charming smile in Periwinkle’s direction “no offense”.

“Offense taken!” Periwinkle gasped indignantly but Finnick was already speaking over her without a care.

“And as shallow cunts what these people love, more than anything in their pathetic little vapid lives, is beauty. You,” a point to Namjoon, “have been training your whole life for this and will have a body to represent that. Show it off. They love flair, they love confidence, they love a show. Flex those biceps for them, they’ll go mad. Flash your abs and they’ll fall in love. And work those dimples, cause these suckers sure worked for me, got me a trident,” Finnick grinned to show off his smile and twin indents on each corner of his mouth, Namjoon mirrored the gesture and you felt your heart clench at how easily he seemed to turn on his charm. Tall, well built and handsome, he was just as gorgeous as Finnick. Too bad he was very likely about to be the literal death of you.

“And you,” Finnick turned his attention to your direction and you felt Namjoon’s eyes burning into you from the side “you’ll be the prettiest thing they’ve seen in years, possibly in the history of the games”

Your face flushed at the comment, even though you knew it wasn’t intended as a compliment. There was no point in sweet little lies to butter you up and the fact of the matter was you knew you had an aesthetically pleasing face. Your facial features were in perfect balance, skin clear, thick hair that fell to the middle of your back and eyes that you had been told sparkled like stars in the night.

“They’ll love that shit,” his finger lazily circled around pointing to your cheeks that were flushed in embarrassment at his candid assessment of your appearance.

“These people are so used to artificial, that something so beautiful and pure will be coveted like the fattest diamond they could possibly hang from their necks. You ever fucked a guy, sweetheart?”

“Excuse me?” you balked at the invasive question, earning a sharp laugh out of Namjoon, a scandalized shriek from Periwinkle, and an eye roll from Finnick.

“I’ll take that for a yes and don’t worry I’m not interested. The capitol thrives on corruption, greed, and a need to claim rare treasures for their own. Put an innocent little dove like you, with a face like yours, in front of them and they’ll go insane. Act right at the parade and in your interviews and you’ll have sponsors gifting you everything you could ever need in that arena”.

You sat wide eyed not even knowing how to respond. You didn’t bother with arguing over the status of your supposed virginity because whether it was true or not didn’t actually matter, it was all about the perception. If getting dolled up and fluttering your eyelashes could potentially result in a knife being dropped from the sky in the arena, you could suck it up and give these disgusting people what they wanted.

The train ride to the capitol took just under three days in total. During that time Finnick and Namjoon spent a lot of time together, which you weren’t surprised with in the least. It was only natural to favor the tribute with the better odds, as much as Finnick’s little speech on the first day tried to make you think you could have a chance. Finnick still made some time for you though, which was mostly spent on guiding you how to attract sponsors. You spent a majority of the time in your room, a lot of it crying, most of it sleeping, and some of it playing around with technologies you had never had access to before in your life. The only time you really saw Namjoon was during breakfast and dinner where you ate together with Finnick to discuss district strategy. You weren’t surprised at all by Namjoon’s plan to join the career pack, but you were slightly surprised when he spoke of you as a part of that plan. You were a little annoyed he didn’t even think to ask your opinion, but logically speaking it’s not like you had any option. It was either join them or make yourself an easy target. Plus, any alliance with Namjoon reduced your need to have kill any other tributes personally. The only thing now was to hope districts 1 and 2 were as receptive to the idea as you were.

When you arrived at the capitol you were immediately ushered into a clinic that was like a fusion between a spa and a hospital. You were stripped, examined, and assessed by a doctor before being dressed in a paper thin hospital gown. After a painful injection (“that’s your tracker dear, so the capitol can monitor you in the arena”) you were passed over to the beauty department who scrubbed, exfoliated, waxed, showered, moisturized, treated, conditioned and polished your entire body from head to toe. But at the end when you were standing before a mirror, you could see the results were worth it.

As Finnick had stated, you were already beautiful to start with, but it was like taking an uncut gem and polishing the stone to make it shine. Your hair was a couple of inches shorter with all the damage from years of saltwater being trimmed off. A treatment of conditioners you couldn’t care to remember had tamed your thick locks into smooth waves that had been layered to frame your face and flow prettily down your back. Whatever impurities that existed on your skin before had been entirely lasered away, and your whole complexion was now soft and glowing. Your eyebrows had been plucked into identical manicured arches and some sort of needled gun had permanently filled them in. A gel had been applied to your lips to boost their plumpness, without overly inflating them or drastically changing their shape, giving your mouth a cherubic quality. Staring at your reflection you raised a perfectly manicured finger to poke at your cheek, feeling the new silky smoothness beneath your fingertip, watching as your mirror image copied the action. It was surreal. You recognized the person in front of you as yourself, all of your features were still the same, but just somehow perfected?

You mostly ignored the gushing of your newly assigned stylist team — a set of triplets named Ruby, Garnet and Quartz — as they picked out garments, stretched measuring tape across and around your body and argued over what colors would bring out your eyes the best. They were sweet and well meaning with their compliments, but the growing nerves over being prepped for the chariot parade in a few hours made you unreceptive.

The concept they eventually decided on for your fishing district was ‘Rulers of the Sea’ and you were dressed in a Grecian inspired gown. The iridescent blue and green material, that sparkled like the sun reflecting off the ocean, was clasped at the top of your left shoulder with a silver broach in the shape of a starfish. Intricate embroidery was patterned around around the waist where the fabric was cinched tightly to create an overly enhanced hourglass silhouette. The bottom half flowed to your sandal clad feet and seemed to sway with the slightest of moments, a split on the right ran to the middle part of your thigh. Your eyes were a smoky combination of the colors from your dress, lashes coated in extensions and a layer of mascara to give you a seductive yet doe eyed appearance. There was a strange dichotomy in your styling where they were attempting to preserve your ‘natural’ and ‘innocent’ traits whilst simultaneously taking full advantage of the fact you were eighteen in order to market sex appeal.

Your favorite part (that you hated to admit even liking given the circumstance you were even in) was your hair. A section from each side had been pulled away and pinned at the back in a princess style, with numerous tiny clips of glowing sea shells and starfish holding it in place. Glittery extensions had been clipped in tastefully creating an appearance as if your hair was literally shining. This was then finished off by an ornate tiara placed on the top of your head.

By the time you were finished your stylists were practically in tears, fawning over you and calling you’re their greatest masterpiece. They mistook your eyes watering as pride in their work and not disgust at their pride in dressing a cow off before sending it to the slaughterhouse.

“No dear, you can’t cry and ruin all that make up we just spent so much time perfecting” Ruby chided, dabbing at your eyes with a tissue as Quartz and Garnet guided you out the door and into the small vehicle which was about to take you from the clinic to the parade. You didn’t dignify her with a response, merely grabbing the tissue from her hand as you were forced into the car. As soon as you were inside the car sped off, arriving at the destination very shortly after. From behind your tinted windows you could see horses being lead to empty chariots and your first sight of the other tributes, the people you were either going to have to kill or be killed by.

When the car stopped, Finnick was the one to open your door and offer you a hand to get out, which you accepted. As you stood up he appraisingly ran his eyes over all the details of your make-over, before nodding his approval.

“They did well,” he stated and you nodded your head in passive agreement as he dropped your hand to press his to the small of your back and guide you towards your chariot. Namjoon was already there, dressed in his own Grecian toga of the same fabric with a crown on the top of his newly styled hair. Sensing your arrival, he turned to look at you. Namjoon’s eyes widened comically before quickly composing his features almost as instantly as he had reacted. “Very well,” Finnick whispered, and you allowed an amused puff of air out.

“Your chariot awaits my dear,” Finnick said with a mock bow as he nudged you towards Namjoon, who extended his arm for you to hold on to. Not sure what else to do, you placed your hand delicately on his forearm, his other hand then coming to rest over the top. For a brief moment as Namjoon guided you both into the chariot, you could almost imagine you were a princess being taken to a ball by a handsome prince, but any such delusions were ruined by what Namjoon whispered next.

“It’s such a shame there can only be one winner, you really look good by my side.”

Your jaw clenched and you moved to rip your hand off his arm but his grip over yours instantly tightened with a laugh, as if expecting that exact reaction.

“Calm down princess, I don’t plan on killing your pretty little face for a while yet.”

You looked up at him like he was insane as the chariot began to move forward. He thought your reaction was from fear he was going to kill you now? And not that he perceived your life as only having value from being pretty enough for him? You were furious and about to rip into him before you heard the approaching roar of the crowd ahead at the end of the tunnel. Namjoon was oblivious to your rage, a perfectly poised smile, flexing his dimples that Finnick would be proud of, already painted on his face. You paused, for all you knew that could be an attempt to psych you out before facing the crowds, potentially losing you sponsor opportunities. Turning away from Namjoon, you took a deep breath to try and compose yourself. You plastered the docile soft-smiled wide eyed expression on your face that you had practiced with Finnick on the train, as your carriage emerged form the tunnel and onto the road lined with screaming spectators.

The entire parade was a blur of flashing lights, fireworks, thunderous cheering and echoes from the microphone that distorted whatever message the president greeted you with. By the time your chariot returned to the tunnel your mind was entirely blank but with the satisfied nod from Finnick as he waited to welcome you both back, you knew you had done well.

“If District 2 is anything to go by then you’ve won yourself a lot of admirers tonight” Finnick practically sang as he helped you down. Confused by his words you turned around looking for the other district to see the duo from two, the carriage over from yours. Dressed in gladiator styled garments, that was common from them every year, the girl was fiddling with a ruby dagger (you hoped was just a prop) whilst the boy was staring straight at you. ‘Boy’ was the wrong word to describe him, as he definitely had to have been the same age as you, if anything he looked slightly more mature than the legal age to even be here. He was tall, though not as tall as Namjoon, and lithe. Beneath a decorative breastplate you could see his sun kissed golden skin adorned with the toned definition of his pectoral and abdominal muscles. His face was incredibly handsome, by far the most handsome of any of the male tributes. Rich copper hair had been styled to frame his aristocratic features; a high bridged pointed nose, high cheekbones, sharp jawline and rich dark chocolate brown eyes that were intently focused on you.

“Speaking to other tributes before training is technically not allowed, but it’s enforced the same way as your training centers are, so not at all. You’ve got five minutes until those cars arrive to take you to the living quarters, go talk to the careers and work out an alliance,” You broke the eye contact to look at Finnick as he spoke, clearly having witnessed your little interaction.

Namjoon took the lead, confidently stepping off the carriage with a winning smile and striding towards the pair from two. With a sigh you hitched up the long material of your dress and followed behind him. You could still feel the male’s eyes burning into your skull as you looked across to notice the pair from District 1 also making their way over — their own mentor likely having given them the same advice as your own.

“I’m Namjoon and this is YN,” you weren’t particularly pleased by Namjoon deciding to speak on your behalf, but chose to roll your eyes behind him rather than interrupting. “We’re interested in continuing a long standing tradition of successful career pack alliances. I assume from you joining us over here, that you are as well.”

“I would typically say that to assume only makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’, but in this instance you are correct,” the other male from District 1 spoke. You tried to stifle a laugh, but the warning glare Namjoon shot you from the corner of his eye told you that it wasn’t successful. You merely smiled back and blinked innocently with a shrug.

“My name’s Yoongi, and an alliance would be in all of our best interests.” He was shorter than Namjoon and District 2, only an inch or two taller than yourself, but somehow still just as intimidating. His pale skin was contrasted by pitch black hair and sharp coal like eyes that were openly assessing the group of you.

“Krystal,” his district mate offered by means of introduction, and you wondered if the two were siblings. She shared his light complexion, dark eyes and her sleek midnight hair was dead straight down past her waist. Both were dressed in black, their outfits embodying the luxury their district was known for; Yoongi in a tailored suit with subtle embroidery detail, Krystal in an elegant fitted gown made of the same fabric, both topped off with luxurious fur capes draped over their shoulders.

“I’m Athena and he’s Hoseok,” the girl from two spoke. She appeared to be the same height as Yoongi but you noticed a heel on her sandals giving her an extra few inches. You couldn’t bring yourself to look across to Hoseok, knowing his gaze still hadn’t broken since staring at you from the carriage.

“Is that real?” you asked, gesturing towards the dagger Athena had been playing with before that was now held limply in her right hand.

“Why don’t we find out,” she replied with a smirk, instantly flipping the dagger in her hands to point the tip between your eyes.

“Athena!” Hoseok hissed dangerously, slapping the dagger from her hands and cause it to fall onto the ground below. The lack of metallic ‘clang’ revealing it as fake.

“Calm down, it was a joke!” Athena snapped back, reaching down to pick it back up, whilst shaking her head in annoyance. Before you could assure her it was fine, Hoseok stepped forward to present you with his own version of the prop. Reaching out he grabbed your wrist to place the ‘dagger’ in your hand.

“See, the material is just a type of fiber that gives the illusion of metal, but is really not hard at all.” Gently he ran the blade along your palm, and true to his word there was no edge at all. But the image still looked real and seeing a blade dancing across your skin, knowing someone was going to try to kill you with a real one very soon, made you feel ill. Sensing your discomfort from the trembling hand, Hoseok immediately pocketed the knife, but still maintained his hold on your wrist.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt you, angel,” he spoke softly and you frantically looked to the others to see if they could hear him. Namjoon who was the closest merely looked amused, Athena was showing Yoongi the fake dagger, whilst Krystal had her eyebrow raised in your direction.

“I hope not,” you awkwardly tried to joke, pulling your wrist slightly to subtly try and break the hold, but he only tightened his grip forcing you to look up and back into his eyes again. His gaze from a distance had already been intense but up close it was heart stopping. There was a passion in his eyes you had never seen before in your life and it was solely focused entirely on you. It was frightening, you couldn’t imagine what you had possibly done to warrant being on the receiving end of something so intense. You tilted your head down and away from the others, humiliated over being so easily intimidated. If an attractive man holding your wrist and making eye contact with you was all it took to fluster you, you may as well just sign your own death certificate now.

“Hey, look at me,” he whispered, dropping your wrist to place his finger on your chin and raise your head back upwards, though you kept your eyes lowered, staring at his jawline to avoid direct eye contact again.

“I’m promise I won’t hurt you, love. Not now, not ever.”

You were about to ask him how he could possibly say something like that given you were about to become direct competitors in a battle to the death, when a sharp whistle stole your attention. Snapping your head to the side you saw Finnick jerk his head, indicating for you and Namjoon to return. You exhaled in relief, grateful for the reprieve.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Namjoon said to the group, moving next to you and causing Hoseok to pull his hand away. You nodded to show your agreement with Namjoon whilst making eye contact with the other three you barely had a chance to speak to. You hoped they didn’t think that you were somehow forming something just with Hoseok based on his actions. You were going to need all the help you possibly could get if you wanted a chance to survive.

“Tomorrow,” Krystal agreed, making proper eye contact with you for the first time. She was smaller in height than you, thinner too, but somehow carried a cold and intimidating aura. You offered her a polite smile in return and a nod, relieved when she nodded back, before you returned to Finnick with Namjoon.

“How did it go? Looked pretty good” Finnick asked just as the capitol vehicle pulled up to take you to the tribute quarters.

“It seems our little dove here won’t just have the capitol for an admirer,” Namjoon smirked, getting into the car.

“So I saw,” Finnick muttered as a reply to Namjoon’s back, then turned to face you.

“Don’t let him psych you out,” he said, stepping aside so you could follow Namjoon into the vehicle.

You glanced at Namjoon before turning back to see Hoseok standing by his car but staring directly at you again. His eyes were still radiating the same intense passion from moments ago, you had no idea what to make of it.

“Who?” you whispered back to Finnick, ducking your head as you stepped inside. Finnick moved to shut the door.

“Both of them”

This is basically an introductory chapter to gauge reception. Future updates should be longer. I have the whole fic plotted and the outline itself is 5.9K words and this chapter was only based on the first paragraph. The next update will focus on the training sessions/interview with Caesar and the update after should be the one where they actually enter the arena.

Feedback is much loved, but please avoid asking for updates. I don’t have a schedule but I do have crippling depression so I write when the motivation hits lol

#yandere hoseok #yandere bts #bts x reader #hoseok x reader #yandere bts fic #hunger games au #hoseok fic #hoseok au #hoseok x you #yandere jung hoseok #yandere #dark jhope #dark bts #dark bts au

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kahans · 3 years

Text

(so the background behind this is basically that it’s the night before/of finnick’s 16th birthday and a week before snow held an auction to see who would get to sleep with him first. don’t ask me for that scene because it hasn’t been written yet)

title: victor’s crown book ii: lover’s war (title is a wip shhhh) status: incomplete word count: 1284 fandom: the hunger games characters: finnick odair, mags flanagan, random capitol ocs warnings: nonexplicit allusion to child prostitution other notes: don’t be expecting a whole lot from this lol it was not beta-ed and it was written in like a half hour

o-o-o-o

They come for him at midnight.

Finnick is lying on the couch with his head in Mags’ lap, doing his best to calm his unsettled nerves. He feels a little foolish, curled up next to his mentor like a small, frightened child, but he can’t bring himself to move. His proximity to Mags, the one person anchoring him to his composure in a storm of anxiety, is no longer a privilege. It is a necessity. Her hands, thin and lined with sinew, card through his hair. He tries to focus on the sensation of her fingertips against his scalp instead of the vicious whirlpool of trepidation stirring in his gut.

An hour earlier, Aurelia had come in bearing an armful of supplies to prepare Finnick for his big night. While she assembles her station of makeup, she gives Finnick a list of exercises to perform, for which he is grateful if only because it gives him something to do. He runs a couple of laps around his quarters. He does a few pushups. At Aurelia’s behest, he lugs a few weights up from the gymnasium and works with those until she tells him to stop. He isn’t quite sure what the point was if she wasn’t going to let him get in a full workout, but he suspects his first admirer won’t want to meet him smelling of and drenched in sweat.

While his flesh is still warm and his blood quick, Aurelia begins applying makeup with a swift but deliberate hand. She lines his eyes with a dark pencil and dusts his eyelids with brown. To Finnick’s dismay, she pinches his cheeks and instructs him to bite his lips. When he protests, she says, “I could apply lipstick instead,” and he hurries to comply.

Once his skin has been sufficiently prepared, she gives him an outfit to don: An elegant evening jacket dyed the deep blue-green hue of the sea hangs neatly over a crisp white dress shirt, accompanied by a pair of black pants. His shoes are equally shiny and also look brand new.

“Calliope sends her regards,” Aurelia says. Of all the outfits Calliope has stuffed him in in the past, this is certainly not the worst. Nor the best. Finnick wonders who ordered this made; surely this suit didn’t spring from her wild imagination.

His question is answered when Vesper arrives exactly at midnight. Unlike Aurelia, he is almost glowing with frenetic excitement, bouncing on the balls of his feet like a child who just won a prize. His expression crumbles when he spots Finnick curled up on the couch, suit rumpled, hair in disarray, eyes shadowed and hollow with worry and lack of sleep.

“What in the world are you doing?” he demands, scurrying over to where Finnick is sprawled. Mags’ hand moves from his head to his shoulder, innocuous to Vesper, but protective to Finnick.

“It’s late, Vesper,” Mags says coolly. Something about her countenance must warn Vesper that arguing could end very badly for him, so he rounds on Aurelia instead. “Why did you let him lie down?” He flaps a hand at Finnick. “Get up! Get up before your suit gets wrinkled!”

Finnick doesn’t obey immediately. He glances up at Mags, who looks down at him, expression ever unflappable but indubitably compassionate.

Head up, my boy, she reminds him, not with her voice but with her eyes. You are victor, and you wear the victor’s crown.

“There’s my beautiful grown up victor!” he crows at the sight of Finnick, gleaming and adorned like some kind of relic. They do not allow statues to be erected of anyone except notable Capitol figures in the districts, where their only legal objects of worship are Snow and the ideology his administration represents. But in the Capitol, Finnick has seen dozens, if not scores, of figurines and synthetic replicas of past victors, bronzed and painted and perfect, in every corner and cove of the city. “Aren’t you excited?”

It’s my birthday, he thinks somewhat dumbly. I’m sixteen years old. He should be home right now, celebrating with his family. His father should be letting him try his first taste of District 4′s prized champagne. His mother should be sewing on an official sailor’s patch onto his uniform to designate him as a full crew member of the fishing fleet. Perhaps she would make him the lovely fish-shaped cookies he once so loved, one for each year of his life.

“Well done, Aurelia,” Vesper says. “It’s just what Miss Poppywright wants, I’m sure. Is he ready? Have you gone over expectations with him?”

“Expectations?” Finnick echoes, at the same time as Aurelia says, “Of course.”

Vesper shoots Aurelia a scathing look, but her defiant expression remains unchanged. “He’s already frightened enough, Vesper. Why make him more nervous? He’ll figure things out when he gets there.”

“Yes, and have him be the laughing stock of the Capitol,” Vesper replies sarcastically. He turns and fixes Finnick with an appraising glare. “Finnick, it is your duty to make this night spectacular for Miss Poppywright, do you understand? No mistakes. Just pure charm from you and absolute enjoyment from Miss Poppywright.”

Mags makes a noise of protest in the back of her throat, half rising from her spot on the couch. “Vesper--”

“Margaret,” Vesper interjects, and Finnick coughs back a noise of surprise at the use of Mags’ full name. “I hope you remember that Finnick’s conduct tonight, and for every night after this, will reflect back on all of us.” He makes a little circle with his finger to illustrate his point.

It takes a moment for the implications of Vesper’s warning to sink in, but when they do they sit in Finnick’s gut like an anchor and do nothing to quell his mounting dread. Whatever he did tonight would have an effect on everyone from Aurelia to Mags to his loved ones back home.

A familiar sense of apprehension flutters in him now, of a weight and intensity he has not experienced in years. The last time he knew this kind of panic, he was playing for his life in an arena, where his every decision had been like dipping a single finger in surface of a still pool of water: Even though the initial point of contact was small, the ripples, the effect of the action, could still be clearly seen. From simple disquiet, alarm rises unbidden, a tidal wave gathering out to sea. He instinctively looks to Mags.

“It’s all right, Finnick,” she says, rising from the couch. She stands in front of him, and even though he’s been taller than her since before she became his mentor, he’s never felt smaller. “You’ll be all right. Just remember what Aurelia told you. Listen to what they have to say, and say what they want to hear. That’s all they want.”

Be who they want you to be, not who you really are. The advice offered from Finnick to a nervous tribute seemed to have been spoken a lifetime ago. Look at how much good it did him, a little voice in his head pipes up.

“It’s after midnight,” Vesper says, breaking Finnick’s reverie with a wave of his manicured hand. “It’s not like he’s going off to war or something. He’ll be back tomorrow.”

Mags swallows, inhaling a deep breath through her nose. “Go on,” she says softly. “I’ll see you soon.”

Though it’s almost painful to muster, Finnick manages to put on a confident smile. “Don’t worry about me, Mags,” he tells her. “These people can’t help but love me.”

With a goodbye wink to Aurelia and a half-hearted salute to Mags, he turns and follows Vesper out the door.

#thg #lit #mine

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mrsnancywheeler · 4 months

Text

silver springs

finnick odair x gn!reader

2k words

masterlist

summary: finnick's cycle of self destruction stops for no one, even if it tears the two of you apart, but you refuse to fade into the past.

warnings: angst, lots of it, self destructive behavior, mentions of trafficking, allusions to consensual smut, reader values their virginity, arguments, break ups, trauma, unhealthy relationship dynamics, unhappy ending, but could be interpreted as hopeful if you want it to be, unedited, no use of y/n

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

Finnick knows he should just fall asleep, let himself rest and turn his brain off from overthinking, but he can't. You deserve better, so much better than the broken boy from District 4 who will forever be playing his role in the puppet show. Where you've fought the demons off with compassion for each person you've come across, it shames him how easily he can fall into the facade of the egotistical Capitol darling. Eventually his outlook will consume the joy you've harvested to forcefully in the depths of your heart and he knows not a minute will pass that he can look at himself in the mirror knowing he did that to you. So he has to end it, to let you be free for a much happier life, at least that's what he tells himself as he prepares for you to wake.

You're so beautiful in the moonlight that glows on your sleeping face and he's even more enthralled when the sun begins to rise and it's like you're an angel in the colors. He's not sure when he let a few tears shed thinking about how when you wake up it'll be the last time he sees you like this, but it's for the best. When you do hazily wake up, blankets falling off your bare body as you sit up, all your sleepy smiles make his heart clench even more, but his brain more certain.

“Good morning." You mumble out, leaning in for a kiss which he scoots away from and your incoherent brain snaps to attention. No matter how long it's been since you've been in the arena, you doubt that instinct will ever go away, the need to be constantly on edge if something seems slightly off, and he is. Finnick is usually the type to be just returning from a swim with some fish he caught in the morning or arms wrapped around you. “What's wrong?" You can feel a defense mechanism settling in with the numbness of your voice, had you really finally had the courage to let someone have your body only for them to pull away from your love the very next morning? What a cruel master the universe seemed to be no matter what cards you played.

Finnick's eyes were glossy and he rubbed his face as he sniffled, forcing the words out of his reluctant throat, “I don't think we should see each other anymore." Before the words have even finished tumbling out of his mouth you've pulled the blanket back up to cover your exposed chest. How could you be so cautious of something only for it to come from the person you least expected, apparently you weren't cautious enough.

“Oh." It's humiliating, if you could just disappear into the air you would give anything to do so. You can't cry, it would only further that humiliation, so you robotically move to the side of the bed to grab the panties that had been so lazily thrown off by him the night before. “Congrats on the score, Finnick, hopefully I'm worth a good amount of points." Your voice can't be allowed to crack or shake, but it's fighting against your willpower.

“It's not like that." Finnick quickly says, observing you, and he'll never say it, but he's scared. He doesn't want you to hate him, to break your heart, he just wants you to be free of his chains.

You scoff and have to force yourself to stand without the protection of the blanket so you can find the rest of your strewn about clothes. “I’m sure that's what you tell all of them.” All of us, he's always been a rumored playboy, but with what the Capitol did to him that was what you'd placed it on. Not that he played people, but that he was unfairly used, now you reasoned, two things could be true at once. Him having past partners had never bothered you when he began talking to you, but now you wondered how he left them. You glance back for less then a second when you see he's buried his head in hands, not answering.

He knows this isn't true, that he's doing this because he cares too much to let his darkness eat you alive. Maybe he'll even have to say that to you, so he won't have to live with the additional weight of your resentment.

“I just-" Your throat breaks on a sob you're holding back, “I know it's not important to everyone, but it was important to me, Finnick. I gave you something that I wasn't ready to give anyone else because I thought…” You sighed, "It doesn't matter what I thought, but it's so fucked that you took that away when you knew.” A stray tear has forced its way through which you're wiping away as soon as you can. Your pants are in a pile at the end of the bed which you quickly grab.

“I'm sorry." His voice isn't hiding the tears as he looks up from his hands, he's genuine and you can tell as much from his voice, but it doesn't stop the internal berating of being so stupid to finally share that intimate part of yourself when he would leave you hours later. “I didn't plan it like that, honey, I didn't."

“Please, don't call me that." He nods his head in retreat after your request that was meant to be more forceful, preferably he'd never speak to you again.

“You deserve better, so much better." You agree, the bare minimum would be a day before he broke the news not hours after you'd slept with him. “Better than me, I need you to have better.” He feels like a child, knees pulled up to his chest as he gives you up so you'll be far away from his destruction, but you feel more like a toy he's gotten bored of playing with. Like a hurricane it hits you that he means being with you, a sentiment he’s murmured many times in your relationship even if you insisted otherwise at each utterance. Yet you can no longer find it in you to assure him otherwise, no matter how much you disagree.

“Oh my god, this is the ‘woe is me, I'm Finnick Odair, so unlovable’ act again!” You could tear your hair out, "I could love you, Finnick! That's who could and I'm so sick of this push and pull thing you play at. But we are all dealing with things inside and you refuse to be, not even helped, but at least cared for!”

He's gotten up from the bed, shaking his head with as much intent as he can muster, "If you loved me it would kill you.”

"Says who?” You no longer care about whether or not you're keeping composure or yelling, you've spent every moment you can trying to assure him and within the hours you slept he decided to tear it all apart. "Oh right, just you! You and your endless piles of self doubt, I'm not asking for that to go away, but you could at least be open to hearing others out."

“It's for you, honey, I couldn't live with myself if I put you through that."

Any movements you were making stop as you stare at him, he's so honest, so eager, and you radiate an anger he despises himself for making, but wants to catch the last few sparks of before he leaves forever. “You are so selfish. Have you ever even considered the fact that I would suffer more without you, then with you, or were you too busy trying to punish yourself for not spending every moment of your life in a pile of guilt?”

He doesn't answer and you know it's a no. Part of you says it's wrong to tell a man who's always eating himself up from the inside that he's selfish, but you feel like you're on autopilot.

"I'm a person, Finnick! Everyone you've ever dated is. You do not get to play house for a year to live in a fantasy and then push us away whenever your thoughts are too much, that's why it doesn't work, you won't let it. And everyone who puts in the effort to love you, to care about you, has it all swept away when you're ready to wallow again. That way when you briefly decide it's over you can do it all over again.” You're pulling on the pants before you can look around for the shirt in some hidden spot.

Finnick feels like he's running cold, part of him knows you're right that his cycle is neverending, but you can understand, he tells himself. Even if you're a fellow victor, no one can help him, he's resigned himself to it and you're too light of a bubble to let you pop. So he has to live in denial, that he has to protect you from himself even if that is really what's attacking you now, “I care and I can't do this to you. You don't understand, I'm like a whirlpool waiting to suck everything in with me."

“You have." You find the shirt and button it up with fumbling fingers, blood pulsating in anger, sadness, and the want to beg him to change his mind and let you sit with forever. But you know you can't subject yourself to his cyclone of self-destruction any longer, not when you have your own struggles to deal with. The things you couldn't tell him about because of the constant pressure to be the light in his bleak outlook of the world, even when you were so tempted whenever it seemed like he was in his true state. The Finnick that was sweet and giving, or maybe you were an idealist wishing for a man that he could truly never be. “I won't fade into obscurity over you.” Your voice has become considerably softer and you gaze at his shaking body.

"What?” He asks, he knows that you won't understand why he has to do what he's convinced himself he must, but that doesn't prevent him from wanting to take it all back, embrace you, and promise to do better even if he knows he won't.

"I'm a victor too, Finnick. Every party, I'll be there, when you have to watch required programs on the television, I'll be there. I won't take a step back just because I'm hurt, we're all wounded dogs, Finnick, some of us just handle it better and I won't quiet myself just because it might remind you of another person you've pushed behind.”

“I'm not asking you too."

“No, but it's what you're used to. I'm not just someone else from home, you will always hear my voice, see my face, and I need you to know that. I want you to get better, Finnick, because I care about you more than you can even fathom, but I will be a hitch from what you're used to. You deserve to know that, I'm sorry if that makes it more difficult for you or maybe it's what you need. A wake-up call that whatever you're doing is what's actually hurting people not whatever fucked up fantasy it is you're listening to in your head.”

Finnick wanted you to know how much you cared, but said nothing as he pushed down more tears when you left, never to be in his room again. The mornings spent in your comfort are officially gone. You'd been right of course, he couldn't wallow and move on because you were everywhere. Your laugh in his ears at every party, your saccharine voice on the screen, your presence around every turn. Maybe you'd even been right when you insinuated this was what he was missing, he couldn't forget about you long enough to fall into his routine, especially not when the echoes that once told him he had to let you go sang a different tune. How destructive he was for letting the one person who could even attempt to anchor his tortured soul go.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

Thank you for reading, as always feedback, comments, likes, reblogs, is all super appreciated! I was going to write another chapter of the lakes but I had this idea in my brain presenting so here it is. 💋

#finnick odair x reader #finnick odair #finnick odair x y/n #finnick odair angst #finnick odair x you #finnick odair x reader angst #finnick odair fanfic #finnick fanfic #finnick x reader #finnick imagine #finnick x you #finnick odair fluff #finnick odair x reader fluff #thg #finnick odair imagine #hunger games finnick #thg finnick

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miaouerie · 3 years

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[coda] a pyrrhic victory/an elpidian daydream

this coda marks my first multichapter fic wrapped up and completed!!! so here’s some more related ramblings as a way for me to commemorate this milestone n___n

with the nonlinear narrative I thought I’d include a linked timeline for the chapters in case anyone (like me lol) wants to read the story in chronological order. then there’s some further explanation of what I’ve dubbed ~the jeron’s death conspiracy~ and notes from characterization I wasn’t able to include directly in the story, but were still important regardless...

furthermore, I want to thank @ninelanterns, @atthelamppost, and @sadieandor for following along with this story, as well as anyone else who came along for the adventure. this is definitely a darkfic as far as rebelcaptain goes but I hope that both endings were satisfying in their own ways !!

1. an actual chronological table of contents

Before Cassian is reaped:

day 15

Cassian’s time in the Games:

days 2, 9, 5, 18

What came after that:

days 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 22, 26◆

Jeron dies:

days 20, 8, 25

Jyn is reaped and Cassian mentors her:

days 1, 3, 4, 12, 10, 16, 17◆, 19◆, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30

After Jyn wins her Games:

bonus chapter, day 31

◆ = chapters that are about trauma concurrent to most of the story, and loosely placed chronologically

2. the Jeron conspiracy

I decided to do a summary for this because I changed my plan slightly after posting day 8: “don’t say goodbye”/abandoned due to some inspiration from @ninelanterns; originally I was going to have snow have cassian brainwashed into genuinely believing that irga and his father were killed by someone with a grudge against them and the capitol (aka someone closely related to a tribute who died under their mentorship) in order to use him as a mouthpiece against those plotting against the capitol; the angst would’ve been from him finding out the truth and hating that his dad’s suicide was used for the capitol’s means. but then I got the idea to have snow brainwash cassian into believing that the “accident” his father and irga died in was actually his fault, because he told jeron the truth of what snow was doing to him in the capitol:

Snow sells Cassian “under the table” until he turns 19, which is when he has Cassian adopt a new persona that can be better capitalized on. Jeron realizes that Cassian’s faking it, suspects that Cassian has been hiding his victimhood this entire time, and when he confirms it realizes there’s no other way to get Cassian out of it; Snow certainly won’t let him sub in to mentor. Suicide is his solution to both Cassian’s problem and his guilt over not being able to protect his son.

Snow has Irga killed in the same way that Jeron kills himself to let Cassian and Lila know that Snow knows it was a suicide. Suicide is the ultimate refutation of Snow’s power—as well as the complete antithesis to any victor’s innate clinging to survival—so Snow has it covered up: Cassian, as one of two people to know the truth about Jeron’s suicide and Irga’s death, is tortured and brainwashed into believing that Jeron and Irga were killed in a power plant explosion as retribution for him disobeying Snow. Doing so serves two purposes: installing the cover-up and guarantees Cassian’s submission.

Before his death Jeron wrote a suicide note, knowing that he couldn’t kill himself and leave Cassian without an explanation. He knows that Snow will have their house stripped and searched, so he hides the note in what was designated to be Cassian’s house. He couldn’t have known it would be the one thing that would break through the brainwashing; if Cassian hadn’t found it, he would have continued to believe that it was all his fault.

Draven does his own investigation into Jeron and Irga’s deaths after witnessing the whiplash that was Cassian’s first three years as an unwilling victor whore, his outrageous personality flip after turning ninteen, and how his demeanor changed after undergoing “therapy” to cope with Jeron’s death. He finds out that Jeron’s death was a suicide, Irga’s death was retribution, and that Snow has an entire program to monetize and exploit victors after their Games.

3. getting from day 1 to 31?!

when I originally thought of this AU it was more about the angst that growing up in the limelight of the capitol as the son of a victor would be like, with constant camera crews as cassian was growing up, betting pools on when he was going to be reaped, etc. and more of an emphasis on the issues that cassian (as part of the pseudo-celebrity class that victors occupy in the capitol) would have trying to promote this fake relationship with jyn during the games to save her. there was also going to be a straight downer ending, with the closing scene being cassian telling jyn that they have to fake a relationship now in front of the cameras and jyn having a “what have you done?” moment

I deliberately did not go in depth with what jeron’s life as a victor was like, partly because plotting both jyn and cassian’s hunger games was already a Lot (I found out pretty quickly that you have to start with planning the arena first, in order to plan tribute deaths and sponsor gifts...) but jeron was an underdog winner, as are most of the victors from non-career districts. lila was pregnant around the time that jeron was reaped and esperanza, their first child, was born some time before jeron’s victory tour. snow had their daughter killed because of something jeron did/didn’t do on the tour; even though jeron and lila are shaken from the loss they agree to be open to having another child, provided that jeron doesn’t do anything to put the child at risk ever again.... but cassian would’ve gotten reaped regardless because there is no way snow wouldn’t have exploited the family drama!!! but cassian’s reaping creates a rift that is referenced in day 15: accidents. and even though jeron is successful in saving cassian that isn’t the end of it; while lila isn’t privy to what cassian is going through she can feel a marked difference each year he comes back in the way that mothers do, as well as the tension between father and son (cassian’s fear of jeron finding out as he’s dragged deeper and deeper vs. jeron’s suspicion that something wrong is happening that has to do with cassian), which all culminates in the year that cassian turns nineteen with jeron’s death. when her husband arrived in district 5 before cassian did he didn’t tell lila about their son being a horndog in the capitol, but lila seeing cassian after he finally gets back five weeks later confirms her worst fears. then she’s the one that discovers jeron’s body and is present when the peacekeepers come to take cassian back to the capitol. her son is gone for a month....... then when he comes back he’s spouting lies about jeron’s death even though both of them saw the body??? yeah, that’s why she nopes on out of victors’ village. after jeron’s death her and cassian don’t see each other for four years until cassian brings jyn home from the games

jyn’s backstory came together quickly but I had considered having bodhi be one of the tributes who died under cassian’s mentorship. bodhi and jyn would’ve been close friends so jyn would have already had that vendetta against cassian; it would’ve made hitting that original ending easier but having jyn be against cassian from the very start would’ve made it less plausible that they could earn each other’s trust before the start of jyn’s games............. while I wanted this story to be dark and depressing I still wanted it to have a reciprocated rebelcaptain end game, so :’)

it wasn’t until day 28 (the cassian/finnick noncon) that I got an idea for a not-so-horrible ending, and I blame the completely depressingly hopeless whump in that chapter for making me think “hmm maybe this shouldn’t end terribly” :’D btw, if anyone noticed I forgot annie cresta is in canon the 70th hunger games victor. for someone who’s neurotic about looking up details I have no idea how this fact escaped me because I didn’t notice until at least halfway through whumptober, so we’ll just say in this AU she’s the 71st victor. this weaves in nicely with my headcanon that after snow saw how easily cassian was manipulated when someone he loved was on the line, he had annie reaped to exert more control over finnick (which happens to be my favorite kind of odesta fic tbh). anyway after writing 3k of depressing andair (andor/odair ship name? ok i’m shutting up) cassian/finnick I had a lovely mental image of cassian and jyn cuddling on the train back home to district 5, relieved and alive, and thought that would be a more uplifting note to end on. then I remembered that I was writing this for whumptober, and decided to write the terrible ending too :’)

4. some chapter commentary because why not

[ETA later!]

5. is there no escape?

yes!!! yes they do escape:

in a pyrrhic victory, post-day 31, draven succeeds in absconding with cassian and meeting up with jyn, saw, lyra, and the rest of their resistance cell (an underground, pan-panem organization fittingly called.... the alliance). draven has to cut out cassian’s implant before they rendezvous with the group, which he ropes a medical professional into doing (he may or may not kill them afterwards); it’s the only mark cassian bears on his body until he starts getting freckles from being in the sun again. similar to mockingjay in how peeta’s hijacking was treated with therapy in district 13, cassian undergoes actual, legitimate therapy after he and draven settle in with the alliance HQ. draven hovers anxiously for the first several sessions because “therapy” in the capitol has a stigma, even before he read the term “extensive in-patient therapy” in cassian’s intendance records, and it does take a good while before they make any remarkable progress. but unlike katniss and peeta cassian is alright in jyn’s presence, and in fact prefers it. they’re almost always seen together, and while jyn has a good amount of guilt for leaving him behind the first time her motivation for staying with him is out of a genuine desire to help him get better so they can be with each other the same way they were in an elpidian daydream again.

in happily ever after!an elpidian daydream, cassian and jyn are able to escape together in between arriving home in district 5 and what was supposed to be jyn’s victory tour. jyn was never aware of what snow did with desirable victors because it’s really only the top 1% of panem and the victors who know about it; she and cassian escape after he tells her that he wants to leave with her, but he doesn’t tell her the real reason why he wants to escape until much later and jyn never sees the recording of cassian and finnick (but he does tell her it exists when he’s explaining the details of how snow exerts his control over the victors). their relationship progresses steadily, but the secret doesn’t come out until jyn points out that cassian is extremely passive in bed and only mirrors her desires. there’s varying attitudes towards sex in the districts vs. the libertine views in the capitol but cassian’s shame stems from his powerlessness in what he had to do Before. he receives therapy for it but jyn is patient and firm with reminding him that he had absolutely zero choice in the matter, and that she could never hate or be disgusted with him for it. there’s a lot to work through there as a result of cassian having to lie to himself about it for the first couple of years of it happening and then willingly choosing to engage with it when he was trying to save jyn, but their relationship comes out all the more stronger for it. as for what happens to draven?.... because this is the happily ever after ending I like to think he’s able to stay in the capitol and work as an agent codenamed fulcrum 🤪🤙 and that after his extraction when things get too dangerous for him in the capitol he and cassian are able to reunite again as part of the alliance/rebellion !!

#sacchi writes #i still cannot believe i did it #not only finished a multichapter but wrote 35k+ in seven weeks #and it was a 31 day challenge to boot!!!#anyway we'll be back to sacchi's regularly scheduled fluffy modern AU rebelcaptain in a bit o/#sacchi says #i'll add to this later but gotta upload these last two first!

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babieyangyang10 · 4 years

Text

violent ends (chapter 3)

(chapter 3)

series masterlist

genre: hunger games!au

pairing: huang renjun x oc, na jaemin x oc

warnings: language, violent deaths, fighting, angst, fluff, + possible nsfw.

previous | next

"Holy mother of fuck!” I whimper quietly as the Capitol woman waxes my legs. Meanwhile, another vibrantly-dressed woman is tweezing my eyebrow hairs. Clad in only a plain blue gown, it almost feels like I'm being prepped for surgery. My mind goes to Renjun and wonders if they have to do as much work on him. With every fiber of my being, I pray and hope that they're making it as painful as humanly possible.

"You are ready to go see your stylist now." stated a woman with long pink eyelashes, breaking me out of my evil thoughts. I stand up and follow her to a room containing a metal bed. She gestures for me to lay down before leaving me by myself.

Not very long after, a stunning woman with green streaks in her black hair walks in, surrounded by assistants. She is dressed chicly in all black, perfectly contrasting all the others I've seen from the Capitol so far.

"I'm your stylist, Seulgi. I'm going to do my very best to help you in any way I can." She greets before jumping straight to the point, "Keeping in mind your district, I've designed for both Renjun and yourself pieces inspired by armor typically worn in battles. The purpose is to showcase your power and strength."

Immediately, her minions began to swarm me. I could feel pieces of my hair being tightly braided and also curled into waves. Meanwhile, my eyes were being painted on with a gold shadow.

Seulgi handed me a gown that had armor pieces on the neck and shoulders. The glittering fabric is fitted and resembles chainmail. There is cutouts displaying where my chest and right leg are supposed to be.

After putting the garment on, I looked in the mirror placed on the wall. For the the first time I felt like a true woman. Being in this dress makes me feel the same as getting a perfect score during training back home. Powerful and unstoppable.

Seulgi looks me over one last time before announcing, "She's ready." Then, she escorts me to a large room where I see the other escorts. Beginning with twelve in the back of the line, I pass all the tributes dressed in costumes showing off their districts. I remember what Taeyong told us about watching out for Districts 1 and 4.

As I pass District Four's chariot, I lock eyes with Na Jaemin, himself. I noticed he was dressed in a loose, white shirt with a very, deep neck. I look up to see the blonde-haired boy also looking me up and down before meeting my eyes. Before I can process it, he throws the most enticing and charming smile I have ever seen in my life. Speechless and bewildered, I quickly tear my eyes away and try to sped up my pace.

Pulling myself together, we finally reach our chariot. Another stylist does one last finishing touch on Renjun before walking away with Seulgi. I join him, stepping onto the completely-black chariot. Now alone, I analyze that he's wearing a intricate set of gold armor. On his face, there are flakes of gold framing his right eye. I suddenly noticed that he was softly laughing to himself.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I just can't believe you have even been here for a full day yet, and you're already making fuck-me-eyes with fish boy over there." He nods towards Jaemin.

"And what about it?" I ask like it's nothing. He just shakes his head and looks ahead of him. It shouldn't matter to him, anyways. It's mostly silent for a while, before I hear him mutter something incoherent.

Curious, I implore, "Did you say something?" He pauses, almost like he's thinking it over in his head.

"I just didn't know you were capable of looking like this..." He trails off, before quickly adding, "Those poor people sure did have to do a lot of work on you."

Suddenly I hear the sound of music playing, followed by the sound of a excited crowd. The midnight black horses attached to the chariot start moving. A bright crowd of rainbow appears before my eyes.

"Make an impression." I think to myself.

"Are we going to hold hands? I think they'd go crazy." I continue flashing my smile to the crowd. He just looks at me in shock.

I roll my eyes, and laugh, "What, are you scared of women or something?"

In record breaking speed, Renjun harshly grabs my hand and yanks it up into the air. Immediately, the crowd began roaring in excitement and awe. I turn to Renjun and see that even though he is smiling, his eyes are conveying the loathing and distaste felt to only me. Not affected by the slightest, I slyly wink before we come to a stop.

The crowd becomes silent as President Snow begins his speech, " Welcome! Tributes, we welcome you and salute your courage and your sacrifice."

At this, the crowd once again begins to applaud with joy.

"We wish you a happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor." He finishes.

I let out a deep breath, happy that it's finally over. I look down and see that Renjun is still holding my hand. Alarmed, I snap my hand to my side and refuse to look at him as the horses begin making their way back.

When the horses have all made a complete stop, I turn to step off the chariot.

"Please, let me help you." I am stopped by Na Jaemin. I reluctantly offer him my hand, before stepping down.

"Oh, uh-thank you." I shyly nod.

"For the love of God, please move out of the way before you make me throw up." whined an annoyed, Renjun.

"I'm Na Jaemin from District 4." He shakes my hand after we moved to the side. I noticed that his hands are extremely soft. A wonderful contrast to Renjun, who's were calloused and hard from his years of training. I wonder if mine feel the same.

Politely, I respond with, "I'm Lee Athena from two.”

His eyes widened before asking, "Are you in anyway related to Lee Taeyong from the 64th games?”

“Yeah, he’s actually my older brother.” I smile.

A voice interrupts us, “Jaemin!” I turn to see Finnick Odair shouting in our direction.

“I better get back. Hope to see you around, Lee Athena.” He cheerfully grins, before making his way over to his mentor.

Man, I think this kid could literally be the death of me.

#nct series #nct smut #nct au #nct dream imagines #nct dream au #nct dream #nct #renjun #jaemin #jeno #haechan #nct 127

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aerialflight · 4 years

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Storm the World with Reckless Abandon

Snippet #16

District 4 was a close-knit, viciously friendly place. They share the mindset of you’re whether with them or against them, sharks of the sea who follow the scent of spilt blood, especially if it’s theirs. They bare their teeth into grins and laugh with bubbly enthusiasm to mask the sharp canines ready to bite. They can be gentle, kind. But they’re a picky bunch, and don’t have much thought for outsiders.

There’s a reason they’re one of the Career districts. Their whole livelihood depends on being fearless, to be able to jump into the water and take on whatever creatures they face. To be hunters, patient with their nets and waiting for the right time to strike with their fishhooks.

Thrill seekers, every last one of them. If it weren’t for the fact the world around them was contaminated and limited, they’d eagerly explore more dangerous waters, discover another world beyond the shallow reefs.

Brea has been told her entire life she’s far too practical for any of that nonsense. Her father would run a hand through her hair and affectionately tease her for her strict nature. Her refusal to go in the water other than to fish had kids deeming her as boring. She gets her chores done on time, weaves out blankets with fabric traded from District 8, and repeats the day like clockwork.

Being chosen for the Hunger Games was a death sentence for a girl like her.

She wasn’t blind or stupid, she knew her chances were slim to none. And even if she did survive, she wasn’t sure she would want to in the end. To have that much blood coat her hands and never be able to scrub them off was a concept she didn’t want to understand.

In that train leading to her death, the older victor Mags had pulled her aside with deadly serious eyes, and slowly enunciated four words with absolute care, determined to give this one advice to her among the many she already had given through gestures and written word.

“Ally with the outsider.”

Personally, Brea thought the older woman was completely unreasonable to ask that of her. Because it was never going to happen.

The outsider – Ichigo she recalled, the name strange and foreign on the tongue – was the very definition of insane.

He didn’t understand the silent rules everyone followed, spoke out when it could get him killed, and treated killers like they were merely human. He moved too quietly and was wilder than anyone she’s ever met. As strange as he was, he fit right in with the Victors he hung around more with than with his fellow tributes. Not that it was encouraged for the tributes to interact or get close to one another, but it sometimes couldn’t be helped when training together.

But it didn’t seem to matter either way. The orange haired enigma acted untouchable to his surroundings and even if Brea did take Mag’s advice into consideration, it would mean having to watch her own back even more than she was now. The strong belonged with the strong, and Brea didn’t belong in that category. It would mean putting herself in the line of fire.

No matter how kind and gentle the old woman Mags looked, how dazzling and shallow Finnick Odair acted, they wouldn’t be standing here today if they didn’t have a streak of ruthlessness in them. Brea heard the stories, seen the clips. Living in a district so aware of how food chains didn’t just extend to the food they ate, Brea was rightfully wary of those who proved to be more than how they appeared. Blending in or standing out were methods of a predator, or a very clever prey capable of surviving.

Either was a dangerous combination and the Capital was pack full of such people.

She could see it in the other Careers who smirked in her direction with arrogant disdain. See it in all the other tributes whose eyes glinted with determination or desperation to live.

Human beings hunting down human beings in this game that Ichigo seemingly refused to play in. Like he was better than them.

That was what truly made him infuriating. He was a predator who didn’t bother to hunt, content in watching the rest of them struggle and not lifting a damn finger to take advantage of it. Brea knew it was irrational. She knew Ichigo as an ally would be a boon, but in some ways, he was even worse than the Careers. His above-all attitude was implied by his inaction and refusal to train.

It made her grit her teeth, resentment building by the day as he sat by and did nothing.

All of that, however, changed on the second day.

It was the District 2 Career who instigated it. The boy, Lance if Brea remembered correctly. He had been casually hefting the spear at the weapon’s section of the training room with Panthea, the blonde tribute of his own district, when his gaze was suddenly resting on the unmoving, sitting form of the outsider like a shark smelling blood in the water.

Hair at the back of Brea’s neck stood up as Lance swaggered towards Ichigo with Panthea gleefully grinning next to him. The District 1 tributes, who seemed to have formed an alliance with them to the surprise of no one since day one, trailed behind with a caution that Brea found to be rare in Careers. Thad and Ace weren’t such terrible people as Brea expected them to be. A lot quieter than the blond pair, that’s for certain. Still, the way they moved screamed dangerous as their footsteps were quiet and their countenance confident.

She didn’t know what to make of them yet. Their true colors would be revealed in the games though, Brea had no doubts about that.

The whole room was suddenly quiet as all the tributes started to notice the impending drama that was about to occur. Brea would bet her District’s entire food storage that the sponsors behind the walls were watching as well, holding their breaths and waiting to see what would happen.

Ichigo, who seemed absolutely oblivious to all of this, remained relaxed and sitting with his eyes closed. If it weren’t for the deep breaths the cavity of his chest were taking, Brea would be tempted to think he was peaceful as death. He remained so even as Lance loomed over him, grinning bloodthirstily.

“Hey, Outsider. Having a good nap?”

Ichigo opened one eye by a fraction, the color gold underneath the lighting. Taking in the sight of the Career, Ichigo closed it once more in a dismissing gesture that spoke volumes of what he thought of his fellow competitor.

“I was until you showed up brat.”

Everyone stared.

Brea didn’t know whether to gape or laugh in shock.

Lance stood motionless for a full second before swinging the spear he was still incidentally holding up to Ichigo’s neck, his movement quick as a viper and face red with rage. Everyone immediately tensed, the atmosphere turning strained to the point of suffocation.

“What did you call me?” Lance spat out, looking enraged and incredulous at the same time. Like he never imagined someone would be stupid enough to insult him while he was holding a weapon.

Like the maniac he clearly was, the outsider didn’t even flinch as he slowly reopened both eyes. He looked unimpressed.

“I called you what you are.” Ichigo shrugged, unconcerned how the movement jolted the blade so it would scrape against his neck. “If you’ve got a problem with it, then stop acting like one. Brat.”

He’s crazy, Brea thought somewhat deliriously. Or he has a death wish.

Lance seemed to think along the same lines, his grip on the spear so tight to the point one could see his knuckles turning pale.

“Do you want to die? Is that it? Cause I can make that happen for you.” He pressed the blade harder, just barely not breaking the skin. “It would be a mercy for someone as crazy as you.”

At that, the outsider’s inhumanely golden eyes opened fully, wide and unsettling as they pierced through the boy with a sharpness even more threatening than the blade on his neck. A feral grin was overtaking his features, for once not looking apathetic or what Brea now realized was boredom. He looked every bit as insane as Brea and everyone suspected him to be, untamed and animalistic with how sharp his canines suddenly looked.

“You can’t cut me. You’re afraid.” Ichigo said with utter certainty. His accusing stare dared Lance to deny it. “When you attack, you’re thinking “I’m afraid to cut them.” When you dodge, you think, “I’m afraid to get cut.”” Ichigo reached out a hand and tapped the blade pointedly. “There’s nothing but fear in your blade. And because of that, you can’t beat me. I called you brat because your resolve is weak.”

Without hesitation, Ichigo pushed the blade away from his neck with an ease that spoke of how little he thought of the boy, yes, boy in front of him. He stood up, his eyes never leaving Lance’s frozen figure. At that moment, the outsider looked so much older than he actually was. Never has he looked so separate, so much of an outsider than in this very instance.

In the dead silence, Ichigo took his leave, walking out of the room with his head held high and looking like a Victor already.

It was official. No way was Brea allying with a crazy who practically painted himself as a target after this stunt.

Notes: So, I'm alive? For anybody who's still interested in this fic, thank you for your patience and really sorry it took so long to update hahaha. Final exams are kicking my ass and this just somehow came out. Do I regret not studying instead? Absolutely. Would I take this chapter back? Hell no. So, at least there's something good about exams. It's the best time to stress write lol. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and thank you to those still following this fic!

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9,Part 10,Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15

AO3

#Fanfiction #AO3 #Snippet #aerial snippet #Crossover #The Hunger Games #Bleach #Fic Idea #Crack!plot #Kurosaki Ichigo #Storm the World with Reckless Abandon

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everlarkficexchange · 5 years

Text

Springtime Edition 2019.

These are the prompts we’ve received so far.

Crossed out prompts have already been selected and are being turned into fics!

I’d like to thank everyone who’s taken the time to come up with an idea and send it our way. Your prompts are the heart of the Exchange. Without them our lovely authors wouldn’t get to write all those beautiful fics. So, please, keep them coming!

You haven’t sent anything yet? Don’t worry, there’s still time. We’ll be receiving prompts until March 3. Don’t be afraid to inspire us!

Prompts:

Prompt 1: Peeta calls Animal Control Officer Katniss for help with something in his attic. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 2: Struggling artist Peeta is a licensed cosmetologist attracted to gorgeous girl Katniss posting a makeup artist job he assumes is for stage actors but turns out is for her family's funeral home. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 3: When students are forced to squeeze together and share seats because of water damage in classroom, Peeta and Katniss spend hours pressed against each other, like in cave, whispering, sharing... [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 4: I loved this from papofglencoe‘s Bros Before Ho!Ho!Hos! and wondered if it could be everlarked so Katniss has an epiphany like Finnick did when he released himself from past hurt and opened his heart to Annie: “People died every day, whether or not you let them go.” [submitted by @567inpanem] Bros Before Ho!Ho!Hos! by @papofglencoe is HERE

Prompt 5: In the Seam, you can’t do what you want. You just do what you can to survive. When Mrs Everdeen, who never wanted children as long as there were Games, gave birth at home to identical twins, she did what she could: kept one of the girls hidden at all times. And, she taught them to keep the secret when they took turns leaving the house for school or hunting or the reaping. Genre? Drama, romance, comedy, tragedy? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 6: Cupids are the guardian angels of the heart. Cupid Katniss is sent to answer Peeta’s prayers that he finds a girl before his mother picks one for him. If she fails one more time, she’ll lose her bow privileges forever. Peeta notices every girl. But as Cupid Katniss spends time with him becoming his friend and confidant, she starts feeling jealous of these unworthy girls. Time is running out. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 7: Peeta opens his bakery back up after the war. There are, as expected, lots of female customers who would like to get a little to close to Peeta for Katniss's comfort. Sensing her jealousy, Peeta sets out to prove she has nothing to worry about (can be rated M, if you please!). [submitted by @albinokittens300]

Prompt 8: I have an Everlark music prompt, use the song Animals by Maroon 5. Rated E/smut is a must 😏😉 [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 9: Fic based on Tim McGraw’s “Angry All the Time.” Not necessarily Everlark, but could be. [submitted by @butrfac14]

Prompt 10: Based on "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift music video: Katniss is Lucas Till's character, she has a relationship with Gale, but she doesn't really like being with him. Peeta is pining for her, like Taylor Swift's character, observing them and think he and K belong together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 11: Based on Aladdin [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 12: canon compliant, except Gale isn't pining for Katniss and actually try to support her after the Games, helps her with Peeta and become friends with Peeta. He makes fun of her with Peeta and Prim and all three of them kind of find a peaceful refugee in this awful world where they can act like the teenagers they are. I would love to see how this would affect the war and the quarter quell too. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 13: Peeta is rescued with Katniss, so they're sleeping together even in the hospital (after in Katniss' family bunker too, like her dream in the movie), P helps K find her place as the Mockingjay, they are late at night talking about how they don't trust those 13 people, they visit D12 together, Katniss sing to him, Peeta is working in the kitchens, Katniss sometimes have crisis of anxiety bc she can't believe her family, Peeta, the Hawthornes are there with her... they're together through it all. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 14: High school AU based on High School Musical films. Katniss is finally singing after her dad died, Peeta is in love with her the moment they sing together in the New Year. K goes to his school and they've these cute moments like each others photo in theirs lockers and rooms at home, they sing together in drama's club plays, Katniss is at Peeta's games, he's touching her every second, especially when they sing (watch HSM2's everyday), his father and brothers laugh at him blushing when she calls... [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 15: You wanna marry me?” Everlark arrangement marriage AU based on true story. Madge’s essay submission wins contest on importance of family. Prize: be reunited with family from home, on stage! She invites best friend Katniss to be there for the big big big event. Madge’s cousin Peeta packed for short visit, but once there finds that his manipulative mother set him up with a job and orders him to marry before he gets deported home for overstaying. Poor Katniss has no family, no other friends... [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 16: The baker hires Katniss to make his deliveries as she walks her trade route. She gets eye opening glimpses of town life and especially of the Mellark family relationships as her job responsibilities grow and she spends more time in the bakery. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 17: "We’re always making stupid bets like ‘bet you can’t drink this whole bottle of BBQ sauce’ but then you did and now you’re sick and I feel really bad here let me look after you" prompt? Pretty please? With extra Everlark fluff on top? :) [submitted by Anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 18: we’ve never met but our showers are on opposite sides of the same apartment wall so sometimes we’re showering at the same time and we sing duets AU? [submitted by Anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 19: I wish you would write a fic where… katniss and peeta are rivals chefs dating in secret [Submitted by Anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 20: Gale returns and he and Katniss patch things up. Peeta seems to feel he's lost her to Gale even after they healed together. Katniss won't stands for this, and explains that no matter what, they would have happened anyways. "I'd chose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a a hundred worlds, in any version of reality. I'd find you and chose you." [submitted by @albinokittens300]

Prompt 21: Prompt! One of them struggles to tell the other that they can read minds. [submitted by @sandyeyes]

Prompt 22: Student/Professor. Katniss is stressing out about an assignment and decides to go and talk to Professor Mellark about it, as he’s always been understanding and patient in class. However things turn awkward when Katniss stumbles upon him in his office after hours watching porn on his laptop. Is it deliberate, maybe he needed to relieve some stress or did his brother/friend send him a link to something that he shouldn’t have opened?? It’s up to you writer :) [submitted by @peetaspikelets]

Prompt 23: I would love to read an In-Panem AU fic/this would have happened anyway story where we see the beginnings of an Everlark relationship and how it slowly turns into puppy love [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 24: Canon Divergence. Through the years Katniss can't stop paying attention to Peeta and she's actually aware of it. When they settle as victors in district 12 or when the time for the victory tour comes (whichever you prefer) she can't keep herself away from him and the line between friendship and something more becomes blurry until it disappears. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 25: I have a song prompt based on Maroon 5's Maps. It fits Everlark so much. Peeta was there for Katniss in her dark times while she almost gave up on him when he was at his worst down on his knees. But eventually he followed the map that led to her and they got back together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 26: An everlark fic based on the start of Brooklyn 99 where Jake and Amy were 'rivals' and had a bet going on who will get more arrests. Peeta's end of the deal will be getting Katniss on a date while Katniss' prize would be getting to use his car just like the tv show. You can add twists to make it more everlark if you like. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 27: Gale plans on proposing to Katniss and asks for Peeta's help since he's her best friend and he helps Gale plan everything. What Gale doesn't know is that Peeta is in love with Katniss. How everlark gets together is up to you. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 28: Everlark fic based off of 13 going on 30. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 29: Katniss and Peeta are heartbreakers who are afraid of commitment. When they meet they get a bet going with their friends on who will fall in love first. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 30: One night stand everlark and an awkward morning after. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 31: everlark on the brink of a divorce, but then they remember all of the things they've gone through, the sacrifices they made for each other, that they can't live without the other and end up not getting the divorce. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 32: katniss and peeta are best friends who have a biological child together (how they ended up having a kid is up to you and how they'll get together is up to you) [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 33: "Where's my engagement ring?" [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 34: Peeta offers to teach Katniss how to bake thinking it'll be a great laugh, but? She's actually kind of amazing at it? [submitted by @ally147writes]

Prompt 35: Katniss and Peeta teaching each other a skill. [submitted by @themiffywrites]

Prompt 36: A fic where katniss and Peeta are on a day cruise that ends up in a storm. Katniss and Peeta end up on a small island by themselves - basically a Blue Lagoon kind of story. [submitted by @spoonlicker817]

Prompt 37: Pre-med student Katniss, who hopes to be a radiologist because then she wouldn’t have to actually speak with patients, cleverly registers for what looks like an anatomy course but fulfills the dreaded fine arts requirement for her biology major. She expects to sketch articulated skeletons in various poses, maybe draw muscle groups and systems. Nope. News flash: it’s daily nudes. Peeta is teacher or model or student? perhaps as an amputee? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 38: A modern AU Everlark dealing with mental illness. Angst, laughs, anything possible. 😁 I'm leaving it open but it's something I'd appreciate seeing. [submitted by @aihodineverlark]

Prompt 39: Pick some memorable fanfics. Write about Peeta so confused, pops in and out of different realities from those fanfics, living lives not his own, yet Katniss is always there or was before he popped into that plane of existence. He wants to “go home” but what is that anymore? Will he ever settle into a life? Will anyone believe him? Is he crazy? Cursed? Dreaming? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 40: Everlark in the Court of Thorns and Roses universe - maybe Katniss/Feyre, Gale/Tamlin and Peeta/Rhys, preferably with everlark smut! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 41: Everlark based off the Hallmark Christmas Movies Meme: I still going to watch them and act surpsied when she falls in love with the small town baker who only wears sweaters instead of falling for the big city CEO? Yes! Does not need to be Christmas time, but definately end game Everlark! [submitted by @historywriter2007]

Prompt 42: Everlark based off the Coke and Delta Airlines marketing fail of passing out napkins with "Because you're on a plane with interesting people and hey … you never know" featured on one side. The backside featured a spot for one to write a name and phone number. [submitted by @historywriter2007]

Prompt 43: Prompt: I would love anything the "there's only one bed" trope.[submitted by @booksandchocolatesmears]

Prompt 44: Their love was forbidden in more ways than the obvious one (older!Peeta). Their love conquers all even with revelations that destroys other person relationships. AU. Toast babies for extra cookies. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 45: They fell in love young, they married young. People kept telling them that it’s not gonna last. Well they are proving them wrong. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 46: Peeta, the Greek god Apollo, hears the most beautiful voice at his temple so he comes down to earth to find this beautiful maiden. Follows how this god falls in love with a mortal and withstand the trials the other gods put them through. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 47: Modern. Peeta is back home on his time off from the Air Force or army. He meets the newest employee in the bakery, a younger Katniss, who’s working hard to help her family while still going to school. They fall for each other and they didn’t even know when it happened. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 48: Their people had a period of peace that stared to crumpled when bad choices and bad people started to destroy that. With a war in the horizon, there is only one choose to keep the peace. The chief’s daughter needs to marry the crown prince. Werewolf!Peeta Humans and wolves. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 49: He has spent centuries coming at night and sleeping with as many humans as possible, many dying from childbirth with no child to bear, or because his lust overpowered them. He needs to find a women that can live through his lust and birth an healthy offspring and after centuries, he thinks he found the one, the sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen. Dark incubus!peeta Angst Old times. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 50: In an ancient time, grief-strickened 17-yr-old Katniss (fatherless, emotionally abandoned by her mother, just lost beloved sister) walls off her heart, curses the gods for taking Prim, and is severely punished with immortality = unending days of mourning and emptiness in which life has no meaning, until she meets Peeta and learns it’s not years but love that makes a good life. In loving him the curse breaks, she is mortal again, and together they live a HEA. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 51: Fantasy: “Buttercup” (ironically named “Freedom Cat” by Capital scientist who created him) is an intelligent mutt designed to infiltrate rebel groups and sabotage uprisings, but after being healed by Prim and seeing the impact of Mr. E’s death, he turns on the Capital. “This whole operation was your idea.” [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 52: Everlark Game of Thrones AU! @albinokittens300

Prompt 53: Everlark have been friends for a long time. Then this exchange happens. Person A: Why Do I even like your dumb ass? Person B: Huh? Person A: *panics* I SAID YOU HAVE A NICE ASS. [submitted by @iliveilaughiloveiread]

Prompt 54: Katniss, for some reason, using a car's window as a mirror not knowing there was someone inside the car because of the window being so heavily tinted. Until Peeta, the owner of the car, rolls down the window. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 55: everlark fic based on 'the proposal'. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 56: Katniss is damaged beyond repair when Peeta comes back highjacked so she impulsively goes farther with gale in 2 (becasue we all know he wouldn’t have stopped and didn’t do so bc of any altruistic impetuses) Then, of course, Peeta gets better and regret and bad choices lead to angst. Madge is alive and in D13 too. Thank you for continuing this! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 57: prompt "hey, you're that asshole that closed the elevator when i yelled at you to hold it!" [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 58: Katniss trying to hate Peeta because she thinks he's the absolute worst but he did something really nice for her little sister and it doesn't hurt that he's also really hot [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 59: "The 'caution floor is wet' sign was there, so it's not my fault you can't read." [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 60: Katniss and Peeta are both in a very crowded train when suddenly Katniss falls onto Peeta's lap and they don't know each other but Katniss finds Peeta really attractive. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 61: everlark prompt "You're the asshole who's been using my wifi!" [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 62: Everlark getting matched in an online chat roulette. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 63: Katniss walking out of the dressing room wearing only a bikini to ask her friend if it suits her but it isn't her friend standing on the other side of the door but Peeta (who she doesn't know yet). [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 64: Katniss and Peeta both have high positions in one company (they're the boss) they despise each other but every employee in the office are secretly pining for them and do everything to get them together. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]

Prompt 65: Dialogue prompt “You did all of this for me?” [submitted by anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 66: Dialogue prompt ”I could, uh…I could give you a massage.” [submitted by @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 67: How about everlark recalling their "reunion" in 13? I imagined it to be intense considering how Katniss was expecting kisses and whatnot and what happened instead was totally heartbreaking [submitted by anonymous via @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Prompt 68: Katniss had to have her gallbladder removed and her husband Peeta is there to take care of her. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 69: Peeta finds out that Haymitch fathered a child when he was being tortured. He isn’t sure if it’s real or imagined. He asks Haymitch ..... [submitted by @ealaatnara]

Prompt 70: No one Katniss knew got reaped, and after the 75th the games stopped, hunting became easier, she’s looking forward to graduation, and she feels a growing attraction to boy with bread but she’s clueless as to what to do after 1 1/2 decades of acting role of son her father never had and man of the house. She approaches problem like stalking game: observe. She learns a lot but realizes she needs help from only one person: popular merchant and Peeta expert Delly who’s thrilled to help in manhunt <3 [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 71: Dialogue prompt: "Hey! You're the one who knocked me over!" [submitted by @creamytinydays]

Prompt 72: A Legally Blonde crossover, with Peeta inspired by Elle Woods and Katniss as Emmett. [submitted by @creamytinydays]

Prompt 73: Katniss marries Gale before he’s sent to fight WWII. Gale sends home his buddy Peeta to break the news to his wife and family that he’s fallen in love with someone else in Europe and is staying there after the war... Peeta is under the impression Katniss is a cold woman that only married his friend out of obligation but finds out the other side of the story soon enough. [submitted by @alliswell21]

Prompt 74: In Panem AU (no reapings): Katniss miscalculated how soon a snow storm was supposed to hit D12, and gets stuck in town while trading with the merchants. Peeta comes out in the snow to get her to come into the the bakery... she thinks he’s either crazy, up to something or simply dumb... whatever happens next is up to you! [submitted by @alliswell21]

Prompt 75: after work playing games like truth or dare, spin the bottle, etc. that for some reason brings everlark together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 76: historical au where katniss and peeta are bethrothed since birth and peeta's mom is actually nice. they grow up to be best friends neither of them knowing about the bethrothal until something breaks their friendship and they become enemies. when they finally turn the right age, they find out about the bethrothal and are forced to marry and consummate their marriage even if they despise each other. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 77: super drunk katniss and peeta who are exes wake up together hungover, naked, and... married. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 78: forced to share a bed and building a pillow barrier but still waking up tangled together. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 79: Bounty hunter Katniss thought she was prepared for anything. Then she goes after Mellark, wanted dead or alive. (innocent? alibi? excuse? or fall in love and nothing else matters? or is she getting played by him? what’s real? does it matter if she needs the money?) [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 80: Really can’t keep hands off each other: Students of massage therapy Peeta and Katniss are partnered up in intensive 16-wk course for hands-on experience. (Final project? Homework? Or is final exam show us what you learned? Or does Peeta have a girlfriend? Think Katniss has a boyfriend?) [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 81: Dr. Abernathy convinces Katniss to work with new VA hospital patient Peeta who is there for treatment of? But of the two, is she the damaged one that needs help with what’s crippling her? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 82: Young Prince Peeta gets the attention he craves and the revenge on his mother he desires by fucking all her friends’ and acquaintances’ daughters then dumping them quietly or publicly but always chipping away at her manufactured reputation as the perfect powerful Queen. Then he meets Katniss who is pure in every way. What will he do? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 83: A witch is more powerful and safe when they join a coven, in danger without one. But there’s a saying that’s been passed down through generations that’s everyone thinks is just a myth; A witch finds their true powers when they find their true love in their coven. [submitted by @animekpopxx]

Prompt 84: Katniss tells Prim bedtime stories about a clever, brave duckling’s many adventures. With her good friends cat and goat. Who love baked goods. Maybe Peeta finds out. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 85: Katniss makes unsettling discovery that everyone in her close and extended group of friends has dated at least once and sometimes even each other. Except for her. The “late bloomer” teasing (b/c she’s never even been kissed) stings. Older boy Gale crosses paths with group, finds he shares common interests with Katniss, they get together to hunt, leads to him casually inviting her out for a real dinner date. Not feeling desire but pressure to “get it over with,” she accepts. Peeta has regrets. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 86: Everlark meet on Survivor. Maybe they are contestants? Maybe one works the cameras and keeps following the other around? One is the host and the other a contestant? They compete against and hate each other? Maybe they form an alliance, but end up thinking the other backstabs them? who knows. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 87: Katniss and Gale are about to get married and while Katniss isn't entirely sure if she really wants to marry Gale, she does nothing to stop the preparations. While Peeta, realizing he can't just let Katniss go, does everything to stop the wedding and tell Katniss his feelings for her. Peeta thought he's a hopeless case the day before the wedding until... (it's up to you how it will end, but hopefully it's hea) [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 88: Historical Katniss and Peeta hate each other. They attend a masquerade ball and for some reason end up kissing each other. Sparks fly everywhere. Katniss tries to find the man behind the mask but Peeta knows it was Katniss though he doesnt say anything. They end up bethrothed even if they 'despise' each other. How they fall in love is up to u and how katniss figured out it was peeta is up to u [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 89: Canon divergence. Katniss and Peeta talk when they return to District 12 after the first games and grow closer.... [submitted by @thestuckinbed]

Prompt 90: Peeta seizes the moment his mother is gone to dash out and quickly give the burnt bread to Katniss in person. Does this more personal interaction change anything? [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 91: I have a personal headcanon that Peeta was involved in drama, and participated in school plays. Unsurprisingly, he is an excellent actor, often receiving lead roles. This can make two prompts. Canon-compliant: Katniss goes to see Peeta perform. AU: Katniss can’t help but get herself involved behind the scenes, and things spiral. (Perhaps Peeta also helps paint props, and sees Katniss working there? It’s up to you!) [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 92: Modern AU: Katniss is present when her father dies a traumatic death. She doesn’t just stop singing. She stops speaking completely. Desperate to help her daughter heal/express herself, Mrs. Everdeen enrols her in art therapy where she meets Peeta Mellark. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 93: Strangers or not. Katniss and/or Peeta hired as trade show model (for ?) to draw traffic to booth. Does the one who hired the other get crazy jealous over all the ogling by strangers? Or perhaps a competition between them to attract more people ends in melee when they go way way way beyond what is appropriate? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 94: Smut. Hot, sweaty, passionate, loving, smut. Everlark has to be married and it can only be the 2 of them. No three-somes or switching partners. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 95: Modern a/u: Katniss and Peeta are personal assistants to overzealous bosses Effie and Haymitch. They try to coerce their bosses together in order to get some relief themselves. Meanwhile they start to fall in love as their plan backfires. [submitted by @ra3lynn3]

Prompt 96: Based on "Crazy Rich Asians". I would love to see all the amazing fluff crazines that was that movie everlarked. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 97: Katniss and Peeta’s new PE teacher sets up competition to motivate class, but things quickly get out of hand when students begin placing all kinds of bets on outcomes of events. Winning is all that matters. Lines are crossed. Mind games played. Risks taken. People hurt. Supporters engage in dirty tricks and pressure favorites to win at any cost. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 98: Cannon compliant except Petra isn’t hijacked. What their reunion should have been. [submitted by @spoonlicker817]

Prompt 99: Peeta banks sperm (maybe before chemo; maybe eldest bro infertile, asks Peeta & Rye to donate samples to be mixed so no one can say who bio father is, but never go through with procedure). Katniss needs $, becomes surrogate BUT impregnated with Peeta’s sample by mistake! Client backs out, facility shut down, Katniss broke, Peeta wants baby. Age Gap? [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 100: Mistaken Identity. (Maybe Peeta or Katniss makes gesture to express feelings for other who doesn’t realize it was him/her, receiver then goes on to accept date from wrong 3rd party. [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 101: You're my best friend's relative, (maybe Finnick is Katniss's cousin?? Maybe Annie/Madge/Johanna is Peeta's relative??) And I've convinced myself you're off limits and not interested anyway. But now we're in very close quarters (group trip to the cabin? Vacation? Roommates for the summer? Snowed in?) and I'm having a hard time denying the chemistry between us. Every. Single. Time. I try to bring it up or kiss you we get interrupted. [submitted by @7-ah]

Prompt 102: There's only ONE bed! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 103: An AU where Katniss's father is a victor. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 104: Peeta is on the short side, hasn’t joined the wrestling team yet, is known to be artistic, in other words “soft,” and is all around going through an awkward period of puberty. While he is well-liked within his own circle, Peeta is in no way a part of the “in-crowd.” Katniss is infuriated when she discovers a gang of boys bullying him and steps up to his defense. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 105: Katniss was naked when Peeta first saw her. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 106: When Katniss and Peeta talk it out after the first Games, they get close and spend their nights together. Mrs. Everdeen, is not the happiest about this and she much face the fact that as far as her daughters are concerned, she abandoned them when their father died. And she can't blame them. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 107: Peeta leaves notes, sketches, drawings, paintings, (maybe even parts of his allowance if it’s a bad winter?) etc. in Katniss’ locker. It’s the only way, given their circumstances in twelve, both social and familial, that he can realistically show her affection, even if she doesn’t know who it’s from. At least she’ll know, she’s admired/not alone. Katniss initially is resentful of the gesture, but over time grows fond of her secret admirer, and looks forward to her next gift. What happens next? [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 108: Katniss, or at least Peeta, isn't reaped AU: Peeta decides to become involved with the rebels in 12. He realises the victors are the best chance at unifying the districts, and finding Capitol sympathizers, since they all go to the Capitol once a year, then return home. Suspecting he isn't the only person to have thought of this, he approaches Haymitch who brings him into the fold. Peeta uses his talents as an artist, (graffiti?), and orator to inspire rebellion. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 109: Rated E Everlark story where Virgin!Peeta affectionately describes Virgin!Katniss's uhh... Woman hood between her legs as a beautiful flower. Everlark has to be end game. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 110: A time travel AU: Katniss from Mockingjay, (any part of the book, it's up to you), winds up back the day before her sister's first reaping. What does she do now that she knows what's coming? Now that she knows how Peeta feels about her, and she knows how desperately she needs him, and what they could share? What on earth could she, or should she, even do/change? And what is she should lose it all again? [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 111: Write me a good enemies to lovers, Hogwarts crossover, where Peeta is a Slytherin, Katniss a Gryffindor... extra points if Finnick is a Hufflepuff and somehow is best friends with both of them. [submitted by @alliswell21]

Prompt 112: I was hoping for one bed, but there are actually two, so now I have to find a way to naturally end up snuggling with you. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 113: Little mermaid prompt. Or something along those line where one of them is a mermaid and the other isn’t. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 114: Katniss is sick ( could be an injury, disease, or the common cold! Whatever you want) and Peeta freaks out over it and tries to take care of her. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 115: Peeta‘ s mother dies shortly after Peeta tosses bread to Katniss. 11 months after she dies, Peeta’s dad remarries the “plain” younger daughter of the Hardware store. No one ever expected her to marry, she’s quiet and “not very pretty” according to some merchant women. She is kind, caring and doesn’t care if your seam or merchant. She and Mr Mellark have a daughter together a year or so after the marriage. What will happen when this happens and what of Peeta and Katniss’ future? [submitted by @ealaatnara]

Prompt 116: Katniss and Peeta are recently married, and Katniss is teaching Peeta how to drive. Peeta has never learned how since he could always either walk to where he needed, or take the bus. Why go through the expense and hassle of driving school when you can be environmentally friendly, enjoy the scenery, relax and not have to worry about the wheel, and otherwise avoid uncomfortable things like road rage? Katniss has had enough of this nonsense. YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DRIVE, PEETA! [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 117: Fairy Tale AU: Katniss and Peeta as Beauty and the Beast. Katniss would go looking for her missing father, and absolutely trade places with him. The ominous rose is from Snow who rules the land, and whom Peeta has offended for some noble cause. Gale as Gaston, because he is a hot-headed hunter who would, of course, rush in to KILL THE BEAST! for Katniss. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 118: katniss and peeta seeing each other again years after the last time they saw each other which was their senior prom where they slept with each other. in high school were they best friends? maybe lab partners? or were they just drunk off their asses? [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 119: Everlark friends, one is a writer of romance or smut (novels, fanfiction, whatever) and uses the other as inspiration. What happens when they find out? [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 120: “Whatever happened to Pretty Baby contest winners Peeta and Katniss who did that commercial for baby food? She was the scowling ‘before’ and he was the adorable happy ‘after’ baby delicately eating a spoonful of orange? Then she rips the bowl away and makes a mess? Remember that? Whatever happened to them?” [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 121: Post mockingjay everlark based on this post and its hashtags. “oh this would absolutely be them every single morning lol trying to be productive and get things done and then this happens peeta trying to bake things/prep things for his day at the bakery or trying to make breakfast katniss trying to get ready to hunt/gather in the woods and then passing kisses and caresses turn into full blown makeouts only to have peeta cave and hoist katniss up into his arms which after a while 1 imagine would turn into habitual morning sex/makeout seshes lol like they'd be like okay we're not even going to try getting ready first we're going to focus on each other first before anything else at least for the first few years they live with each other lol rabbits ra b b i t s.” Also, it would be awesome if Katniss noticed how Peeta's body grows with time, like he is even more hot and this makes Katniss is even more horny. [submitted of anonymous]

Prompt 122: Hi would like to submit a prompt where a young Prim starts posting sticky notes on her bedroom door as a sort of wish list when things like her birthday or Christmas are coming up. The Everdeen’s think it’s incredibly endearing and all start doing it, eventually it sort of becomes a tradition. Later on when Katniss and Peeta are together they do it too and Peeta uses the sticky notes to propose and Katniss uses them to tell him she’s pregnant, etc for important and sweet moments in their life. [submitted by @persephoneprim]

Prompt 123: Everlark - Instant Family inspired where they end up deciding to foster a child but end up with three children. [submitted by @que-sera-sera88]

Prompt 124: Drunk Katniss can’t take her make up off so Peeta does it for her. Fluffy everlark! [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 125: Happy, fluffy Newlywed!Everlark, please? [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 126: Peeta doing a lap dance/stripping for Katniss. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 127: Everlark plays April Fools pranks on each other, but not just on the day, they do pranks throughout the week of April Fools up to the day and one them, I'd say Peeta, takes it too far and puts a fully naked picture of themselves on the front of the other's phone and when they discover the prank they're not the only one who sees it. [submitted by @amazinglovers747]

Prompt 128: Everlarked Superheroes (Bonus points if one is the hero, the other the villain!) <3 [submitted by @thelettersfromnoone]

Prompt 129: Modern AU inspired in the song ghostin by Ariana Grande. [submitted by @lavender-evelopes]

Prompt 130: Katniss works as a park ranger. Peeta is a photographer/artist coming to said park to find inspiration. [submitted by @wingletblackbird]

Prompt 131: I’d like to submit THIS as an Everlark prompt. [submitted by @amazinglovers747]

Prompt 132: Please tell me about the night before the 74th Games at the homes of the Mellarks, Everdeens and Hawthornes; and what it’s like the next night after the reaping with Peeta and Katniss gone; and how Rye bonds with Prim over the days following; and how they celebrate the win cautiously; and how they help Peeta and Katniss to heal and to bond and to love. Thank you 😊😘 [submitted by @567inpanem]

Prompt 133: Visual prompt [submitted by @amazinglovers747]

Prompt 134: Visual Prompt. [submitted by anonymous]

Prompt 135: Peeta has baby fever, Katniss on the other hand, not quite. [submitted by anonymous]

Feeling inspired?

Choose a prompt from the list and tell us about it. (Chosen prompts will be removed from the list so that there will only be one fic/artwork per prompt.)

Write a fic or create some artwork. Fics can be as short as 500 words or as long as you like. They can be one-shots, new chapters from your current WIPs, or out takes from any one of your fics. As long as your work covers the details provided in the prompt, you can create whatever moves you.

Submit your finished fic or artwork. We’ll be posting finished works from March 24 to April 7.

Got questions, comments or suggestions? Click here. We’d love to hear from you!

Don’t forget to follow @everlarkficexchange to stay on top of any and all updates!

#prompt list #available prompts EFE 2019 #1st draft 2019

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softpeetabread · 6 years

Text

University Life part 6

I’ve noticed I’ve kept Katniss’s and Peeta’s relationship very platonic and innocent, but I think that’s the beauty of how friendship can develop into something more. In addition, this au wasn’t supposed to be this long, but I’m not complaining since it’s turning out to be a lot more fun now. I hope that I’ve been keeping them in character, too. That’s always been tough for me to do, but I’m still holding out for the ability to be able to do them justice. Thank you once again for all the support this story has been getting! It’s a joy to continue writing it!

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5]

The televisions that hung from the walls in the science building had been showing alternating versions of various news reports about Katniss and Peeta’s encounter with Caesar Flickerman. It was, apparently, a big deal for District 12 to have two of their own having an interaction like the one they had, but it only made Katniss cringe. She wondered if she was overreacting about it, but then she remembered there were people that had been asking her about the situation all morning. Her damn classmates were far more excited about it than she was and it was getting on her nerves. She rolled her eyes as she walked away from the television she had been watching, but was met by a couple of students, followed by a small group, followed by a larger group. It was happening again and they were all talking at the same time—talking to her—overwhelming Katniss once more. Their comments were about how amazing she looked, how great it must have been to meet someone like Caesar, and how she and Peeta looked great together.

She covered her ears and hoped her desperate expression tipped off a few people that she was getting nervous, but that didn’t work. She didn’t even notice the crowd part because she was just trying to keep herself together in hopes she could magically escape.

“Alright, move it!”

That voice sounded familiar and Katniss wanted to feel relief, but instead it added a new layer of anxiety. She’d hoped Peeta would meet her, but instead it was Johanna who was making her way towards a disgruntled Katniss.

“Don’t crowd Brainless. She’s valuable cargo—hey, don’t touch her!” Katniss heard a swatting sound and a punch just as she felt someone brush their hand against her arm, and she could vaguely picture Johanna’s angry face with that tinge of mania in her eyes. “If you break it, you pay for it!”

Katniss gulped and turned to find her friend as Johanna took a hold of her wrist to drag her away from the crowd.

“Out of the way,” Johanna yelled. “I swear if one of you follows us, I will break your face!”

The crowd parted for Johanna—really, she was ramming into people—and she led Katniss out of the building, slamming the door in people’s faces. Once they walked a decent distance away where there were less people, they stopped and Katniss was able to breathe again. She hated people, but she loathed being stuck in crowds. They suffocated the life out of her.

“Thanks, Jo,” she said with a sigh, although she didn’t want to owe her anything even if they were friends.

“Yeah, whatever,” Johanna said with a wave of her hand. “Peeta couldn’t come meet you because he was stuck in a crowd himself and sent me in his place. I just so happen to be close by.”

When her class ended, he wasn’t outside in the hallway to meet her and Katniss felt his absence thanks to an ache in her chest. She hadn’t even gotten a text from him explaining why he hadn’t shown up, but this made sense. She wished she’d known so she wouldn’t have waited and allowed a crowd to form.

“So you’re the ‘Girl on Fire’ now, huh?” Johanna asked after a while. Her tone was mocking when she referred to Katniss by her new nickname.

“Apparently,” she said with a shrug. “Caesar gave it to me.”

Johanna sneered as she said, “Great” and looked away, but Katniss wasn’t sure if she was annoyed with her or if she was searching for someone. Probably the former.

“Why are you so moody about it? You’re not the one getting chased,” Katniss pointed out, her patience thinning quickly.

“Just don’t want it to feed your ego. You’re already pretty hard to swallow at times,” Johanna answered.

“You’re not exactly the most pleasant person in the world, either,” Katniss shot back.

“Damn right I’m not.” Crossing her arms, Johanna continued to look around before she focused on Katniss. “That would probably be Peeta.”

‘He’s pretty great,’ Katniss thought. She nodded in agreement before saying, “Yeah, probably the friendliest person as well.”

“As much as you hate the attention, I bet it’s exciting for him,” Johanna said. She looked like she was trying to drill a hole through Katniss’s forehead with the glare she was giving her. What did Katniss do to piss her off?

This confused her, though. “He didn’t seem so happy about it, either.”

“Because you’re upset about it. You’re literally killing the mood. Not everything is about you, you know.”

There was so much venom in Johanna’s words. Katniss had felt like this when she first started to hang out with Peeta, Finnick, and Johanna, and she thought they were starting to be friends…until now.

“I wouldn’t be ‘upset’ if people weren’t following me around.” Katniss thought that was obvious enough. “And I never said this was about me.”

“Of course it’s not about you. It’s about Peeta.” Even though Katniss was angry with Johanna, she couldn’t deny she was right. “Have you even congratulated him?”

It hadn’t occurred to Katniss that that was something she had to do. She had been so absorbed in the fact that people were literally crowding her that she hadn’t even considered that this meant something positive for Peeta. She felt shame wash over her as she questioned what kind of a friend she was to Peeta. Her silence was enough of an answer to Johanna because she started laughing in disbelief. This only lasted a moment, though, because Johanna’s mocking grin shifted into a frown.

“I don’t think you realize how much this means to him, Katniss.”

“He wasn’t making a big deal about it,” Katniss tried to argue, but she was cut off by a scoff Johanna gave her.

“Again, he didn’t do that because you were upset. He was so concerned about your feelings that he didn’t even think about his.”

Katniss’s mind registered how selfish she had been. She normally thought about herself and her needs first before everyone else’s, but she hadn’t realized she had been neglecting the closest person to her. Peeta’s feelings mattered, too.

“Is this why you’re so angry with me?” Katniss asked, but it was a miracle she could even say that many words with her throat beginning to constrict.

“I’m more pissed at the fact that he’s your friend, but you aren’t excited for him. He’s my best friend. I know him. I know he wants nothing more than to celebrate, but he can’t do that because you’re whining about not wanting attention. Honestly, this is one of the best things that’s happened to him. He deserves the recognition.”

Johanna’s words reflected Katniss’s thoughts, but she hadn’t been aware of how she hadn’t showed how she felt. Of course Peeta deserved it. She had thought the same thing back at the gallery show when Caesar was gushing about Peeta’s work. Johanna didn’t know that, though. Still, she felt awful for the way she had been acting and the last thing she wanted was to ruin Peeta’s time to shine.

“Did he say all this to you?” Katniss asked.

“No, he said you were put off by people following you. He wasn’t excited about his own achievement. He didn’t have to say anything for me to figure out how much of a piss baby you were being.”

It dawned on her that her friends were talking about her behind her back, or at least Johanna was. Maybe Finnick, too, since his loyalty rested with Peeta. She knew Peeta would never say anything negative about her.

“Anything else?”

“When I talked to him, he started getting happy about it. I threw up a little in my mouth when he mentioned he was going to draw you again, though,” Johanna said with annoyance.

“Maybe he should draw you instead since you’re so irritated about it,” Katniss suggested, her words equally as biting as Johanna’s.

“I would, but he doesn’t want me. He wants you.”

“Caesar asked him to paint me again.”

It looked like Johanna was about to walk away from Katniss, or maybe she got tired of seeing her face and just needed a break before turning back. After a moment, she sighed in exasperation.

“You know…Peeta’s a great guy and a great friend,” Johanna nodded, as if she were reassuring herself instead of Katniss.

“I know,” Katniss answered. After spending months’ worth of time with him she had that idea clear in her head.

“Well, then you better start acting like you know. Don’t take him for granted. He’s too good a person to lose.”

Johanna’s last sentence left Katniss questioning the meaning behind it, though she knew what she was saying. What was the secondary significance? The pixie haired girl began to walk away from Katniss this time, but she wasn’t finished talking.

“He’s stuck in the architecture building. Might be late for lunch.”

Katniss raised an eyebrow at her even if she wouldn’t see it. “Will you be joining us?”

“With you sitting across from me? Not today. I’ve looked at your face long enough.” Johanna’s voice grew louder as she continued to get away.

Even though Katniss’s eyes stared at the back of Johanna’s head, she admitted she made a couple of good points. She was happy for him, but she didn’t find it fair that she was being painted as the ungrateful one. Maybe Peeta sent Johanna because he was now angry with her attitude, but she had to set things straight with him, even if he may be annoyed with her, too. Somehow, seeing this range of Peeta’s emotions stung Katniss. She hadn’t annoyed him with anything she’s done, not even when he pretends to be bothered when they joked around.

She texted Peeta to ask him for his location and once he told her he was in the cafeteria, she bolted towards it, ignoring how people stared at her. Once there, she searched for his blond head and found him across the room. With so many people, she was surprised none of them were paying much attention to them given the fact they were close to being celebrities. She figured the call of food was far more important than them, so Katniss was thankful for the distraction. They walked towards one another when he spotted her, but he was taken aback by her sudden embrace for a moment before he returned the gesture, securing his strong arms around her small frame while she held on tightly to him and buried her face in his chest.

“I need to talk to you,” she said when she had the courage to look at him.

She led him out of the rowdy room, holding onto his hand and dreading letting him go, into the quaint ambience of the outside dining area where birds could be heard singing. At least there, they wouldn’t be interrupted.

Katniss was able to find her voice after a minute and was finally able to face him. “I’m so sorry, Peeta.”

“For what?” Confusion laced his voice, which made it soften. She didn’t know how he found the strength to want to comfort her.

“For taking away the excitement from what happened,” Katniss explained. “I’ve been selfish, making it about me when it’s about you and your talent.”

She expected for him to be angry with her—she had gotten that idea from Johanna—but he didn’t look the slightest bit upset.

“No, you haven’t,” he stated. “You’re uncomfortable with people following you. That’s a pretty legitimate reaction to me.”

When he said it like that—justified her feelings—she didn’t feel like such a shitty friend. However, this wasn’t entirely the case.

“Still…I haven’t been very supportive about you being recognized by Caesar. You were on national television. That’s a pretty big deal, Peeta.”

He took a moment to process what she was saying. Maybe he was starting to see what she saw, or acknowledge what he already knew.

“Are you happy about it?”

Katniss slumped her shoulders in disbelief. “Of course I’m happy about it. I’m excited for you! You deserve the attention and exposure plus more!”

There was that shy smile on his lips again, the one that made Katniss’s stomach flutter with butterflies and made her heart swell.

“That means a lot, Katniss.” He was so sincere about it, but Katniss didn’t know how so much goodness existed in a single person. Was Peeta even capable of feeling bitterness towards someone else? She knew she would have felt antagonistic with someone if she was treated the way Katniss treated Peeta. Yet here he was forgiving her and even being modest about it. No wonder Johanna was so peeved with her. She really didn’t deserve him as a friend.

She hugged him again, her fingers holding on to the back of his shirt as she pressed the side of her face against his chest. It was always soothing to hear his heartbeat drum against her ear. The only thing that rivaled it was how his arms felt around her.

“It’s a great opportunity for you to be known, too,” she added, her voice a bit softer.

“True. It’s good to make connections…and money,” Peeta added.

“That’s right.” She had forgotten Caesar actually paid Peeta for his painting. “Especially if you have people from the Capitol commissioning you.”

“I mean, Caesar was generous with his payment. With two more of those, I could pay for a semester’s tuition.”

Katniss’s eyes widened at Peeta’s words. She felt rude asking him for the exact amount of money so she kept the question to herself, but she still felt curious.

“You say it’s generosity. I think it’s fairness,” she said.

Peeta shook his head. “I didn’t even think my art was worth so much. They’re just paintings.”

“You spent time and effort in your pieces in addition to paint. I think it’s more than well deserved for someone to pay you for your talent.” There was no way Peeta was going to undermine how valuable his skill was and Katniss would not allow him to do so.

Her words seemed to bring a smile to his face. “Who knew my little hobby would go such a long way?”

“I think it depends on how far you want to take it,” Katniss answered.

Peeta shrugged. “I guess for now it would be like a side job, or something along those lines. That is, if people want to commission me.”

“Maybe Caesar has friends who want beautiful art.”

“Maybe…but I don’t want to get my hopes up yet. People may not be interested.”

Katniss’s mouth gaped open at what he said. “Peeta, I’m certain there’s people that would buy your art.”

“How are you so sure about that?” he raised an eyebrow at her.

“You’ve just come out in the news and there’s already people swarming you,” Katniss pointed out.

“Did Johanna tell you about it?”

“Yes, and you don’t know how much I want to kick all of their asses for getting in your face. Crowds are awful,” Katniss frowned as she crossed her arms.

“Hm, you have a point. But who wants to buy paintings besides older people? Would you buy a painting?” Peeta asked.

Katniss nodded. “I’d request you to draw someone…like a book character.”

“Of course you would,” Peeta said teasingly. “Like Parker from Game of Survival?”

“And Kohl…she’s an archer.” Even though she didn’t like it when people poked fun at her, Peeta’s knowing expression almost cracked her pout. Almost.

“I wouldn’t charge so much for something like fanart, though,” Peeta laughed.

“Then, don’t. College students would probably like their own Peeta piece…even if I’m not too keen on sharing,” Katniss smirked.

Peeta snorted at the face she made. “Katniss Everdeen, possessive?”

“Me? Never.”

Relief washed over Katniss when she felt the resolution to her issue. Peeta wasn’t mad at her and she had even encouraged him to open up commissions to the general public. The rest of the day went on as it usually did, with the addition of people coming up to him and even asking for autographs. Katniss swore they were exaggerating with how much they were viewing her and Peeta, but she didn’t want to be negative about it anymore. She didn’t want to ruin the experience for Peeta.

On the drive back to their apartments, Peeta brought up his phone call with Caesar and his request for another painting of Katniss.

“Does he want something in specific?” she asked.

“He let me have full reign on it,” Peeta answered. “So really anything I want would be alright with him. He just wants for you to be in it, with some kind of fire somewhere.”

“We’ll think of something,” Katniss said as she began to think.

“One more thing, though. He wants for me to bring up the painting to the Capitol.”

Somehow, Katniss felt suspicious of the arrangement. “That’s a really long trip to make to just drop off a painting.”

“Well…that’s not the only thing he asked me to do.” She felt an explanation coming on so she prompted him to continue. “He wants to interview me…and he wants you to come with me.”

It took all of Katniss’s concentration not to crash into the car in front of her. Did she hear him correctly?

“Why me, though?”

Peeta’s expression spelt out ‘Really?’ to Katniss as if it were obvious. And it should have been. And it was. But Katniss didn’t want to process what he said. Then, she remembered this was Peeta’s opportunity and she didn’t want to be the one to dampen it for him.

“Okay…I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure? You don’t have to feel obligated to go.”

Katniss managed to give him a half smile. “I want to go with you.” The truth was that she was being honest about it and she really did want to go just because she would be with him. If she had been invited to go alone, she would have declined, but in the company of Peeta, everything was always better. Far more relaxing, too.

“I’ll let him know then,” Peeta said with a smile.

Somehow, seeing him happy filled her with joy, and then, Katniss knew she had made the right decision.

I had forgotten I’d written this until I was pondering on how their trip to the Capitol would turn out. Hopefully, I was able to keep Johanna in character. I absolutely love her and she’s so blunt and brash and so ‘fuck-you’.

Also, did you guys catch that thing I did? That Game of Survival thing? And that thing with the spoof names Parker and Kohl? I had to keep Parker because it made me laugh and I suggest putting his and Peeta’s names together since I tried to keep his and Katniss’s spoof names consistent with the same first letters and all. I don’t mean kohl as in the make-up, but rather kohlrabi, which is part of the cabbage family. I did, in fact, research vegetables that started with the letter K.

I don’t want to make it sound like ‘Ohmg, Peeta is overrated with his art’, but no, you don’t get it, he is that good. I wish I could commission him. (I wish I could draw what I imagine he’d paint, but I am but an amateur artist, unfortunately, lacking the skill he possesses. But it’s okay to dream, right?) Let me know what you think!

#everlark #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #the hunger games #everlark fanfiction #fanfiction #fran writes #university life #i too would react like katniss

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