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dewdewick · 4 months

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Shadows in the dust | Prologue

Pairing/s: undecided. Possibly Finnick Odair x fem reader

Summary: At the age of 18 you thought you’d soon be free of the hunger games, unfortunately fate has a different plan. You are picked as a tribute for district 2 and thrust into capitol life.

Warning/s: Angst, Hurt/comfort, Trust issues, Death, Torture, Mental illnesses, Weapons, Swearing, Mentions of readers family, Canon typical violence, Mentions of psychological distress, Use of Y/N, Fem reader, possible grammar/ spelling mistakes, mentions of Avoxes, bad descriptions of capitol technology, (if I missed anything please tell me)

Word count: 6.0k

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She stood in line, waiting for her turn to sign in. She was 18 this year. It was her last year until she could break free and resign death in the hunger games to her mind as simply a fearful memory. The line moved slowly, a few tearful 12 year olds calling for their mothers and fathers ahead of her. She remembered being that age, her first games reaping was a terrifying one as the girl next to her was picked. She could still remember her name “Lilac Hiddleswoft.” The 12 year old girl had died minutes into the 64th hunger games, the boy from 6 had killed her in the cornucopia. She was shaken from her thoughts as she was pushed forward, the peacekeeper at the front of the line pricking her finger and signing her in quickly.

She walked to stand with the other kids her age, admiring the sullen faces of those around her. She walked in line with everyone else, stopping a few spots from the middle of the pack of teens. The morning sun was blindingly hot, the desert breeze of district 2 blew dust into the lungs of its occupants. She looked to the stage, minimalistic with a few chairs and a microphone. She wondered what the escort would wear this year. A new skin color? More jewelry embedded into her skin? Anyway, she thought it seemed silly. Her mother had undergone many “enhancements” she always found them pretty but unnecessary. She liked her body well enough, a few improvements could be made but nothing too drastic.

The mayor and a few important people walked onto the stage, mainly victors with hollow eyes or so many surgeries they looked chronically surprised. She had always thought Enobaria was attractive in her own right….minus the teeth situation. She sat together with Brutus as always on the right side of the stage.

Finally the escort came to the stage, her hair shining rainbow in the heat like an oil slick. Y/N wondered how she had gotten it that color. She would admit the woman was pretty, her dark ebony skin always flawless with the embedded gems next to her completely white eyes. Her name was furisha la’fleur, a nepotism pick from the higher ups in district 2.

Furisha finally spoke after a beat “Hello district 2!” She exclaimed in her sickly sweet voice “happy hunger games!” District 2 was more or less the lapdogs of the capitol, their support ran deep. The crowd cheered and applauded, the sudden noise almost frightening. Furisha spoke again “First we have an exciting video from our capitol and beloved president!” She smiled almost too wide as the screen flickered, playing the same video it played every year. Y/N could quote it by this point, she focused on smoothing out any wrinkles in her dress. The white fabric soft against her fingers.

The video ended with a bang, more applause thundering throughout the town square. Furisha waited a moment for the applause to calm, clapping herself while walking to the spherical bowl to her right. “May the odds be ever in your favor!” She cheered into the microphone. She looked down at the bowl, doing her signature wrist flick “Ladies first!” She announced, reaching into the bowl and stirring her hand around. She soon pulled out a thick card stock, it was tinted grey with gold embossing as an extra flourish.

She read the name and the crowd fell silent, Y/N looked around for the chosen girl. Everyone around her stared, her brows furrowed. “It’s you” the girl beside her tapped her shoulder.

It couldn’t be her, this wasn’t the plan.

Her eyes widened in horror as she was quickly pulled out of line. Two peacekeepers herded her to the stage as she stared ahead blankly. Her ears rang as she walked up the steps next to furisha. Her only hope was a volunteer now, a braver soul. Her hand unconsciously went to hold her necklace, a gift from her step father on her first reaping day. Her stare was blank and hollow, as if she had nothing behind her eyes. Her hands shook and her vision filled with static. She felt like she could pass out and never wake up.

The crowd was silent still as furisha waited a moment for any volunteers. She looked around for her siblings, once she regained herself. a safe face to stare at as the impending doom set in. Nobody spoke up to take her place, furisha gave a simple nod and moved on. Her fate was set and she could do nothing about it. A boy was chosen next, age 12. He was skinny and tall for his age.

He started towards the stage fearfully before a boy shouted from the crowd. “I volunteer as tribute!” Her eyes turned to the voice, an academy boy jogged toward the stage. He was her age, she remembered him from her play group as a child. Finch Glenn was a tall boy, at least twice her size in width. His mop of curly dark hair flicked out of his eyes as he smiled and waved at the crowd. His bronze skin covered in freckles was similar to the rest of district 2, although he was obviously the pick of the litter.

Furisha told them to hold hands as they waved to the crowd and she did as she was told, unlike her companion however she did not smile or scream to the crowd. She simply waved, still in disbelief of her situation.

After a few moments of cheering the peacekeepers finally deemed it enough. They were led into the justice building and into separate rooms. Y/N’s family wasn’t poor but they certainly weren't rich either, she had never seen such fine furniture and decor.

She absentmindedly ran her fingers across the blue velvet couch, the buttons on the cushions were gold and caught her eye. She looked around the room, it was made of dark wood with marble floors. Paintings of different men hung on the wall, peacekeepers? The capitol elite? She had no idea who they were. She walked to a cabinet by the door, a plant sat atop it with luscious green vines hanging the edges. She gently examined one of the leaves, the vibrant green was beautiful.

A knock came from the door and it opened, 4 people rushing inside. All at once her mother and sister were hugging her, the former crying hysterically. They pleaded for her to stay alive, petting her hair and kissing her cheeks. It didn’t feel real, was this really happening?

Her step father stood in the corner of the room, it was clear that he had been crying. Their eyes met and he crumpled into himself a bit. Her mother captured her attention next. “You can be my brave girl can’t you baby?” She asked, talking to her like a small child. She couldn’t blame her mother, she knew the situation must be torture. Her mother had already seen the death of her husband and she couldn’t imagine the dread of losing a child.

Her brother hugged her next “you can win” he whispered simply to her, kissing her cheek for the first time in either of their lives. Her mother clung to her side, just wanting to hold her hand until the end of their time together.

Her stepfather walked to her, a sad smile on his face. “I can’t promise I’ll see you again so I need to tell you this now” he spoke softly “I need you to know how loved you are. You aren’t mine biologically but you’ll always be mine in here.” He pointed to his heart. “Your mother, your brother and sister and I will always be cheering you on. We love you more than anything.” *he said as tears came to his eyes.

He reached around her neck, unclasping the necklace he had once given her and putting it in his pocket. He then brought out a spherical pendant, it looked as if it was made from bronze. He stuck his nail under a small seam and it unfolded, a locket showing all 4 members of her family, her late father and herself. “We might not see you again” he repeated, closing the locket and holding it up to put it around her neck. “But I wanted you to be able to see us” he explained, fastening the clasp. “I had this made in case this ever happened and I’m so sorry you have to be the one to receive it sweetheart.” He said as tears fell from his cheeks.

Her sister let out a small whimper, tears prickling at the corner of her eyes. She was hanging back a bit from the rest of the family as Y/N was saying goodbye, no usual biting comments or banter. “you…. you better come home.” She choked out. she was trying to play off her emotions as usual, “who else am i supposed to fight over dumb stuff with?” She said with a sob. Y/N’s brother hugged her sister tight as she broke down.

Y/N’s family surrounded her, hugging and kissing her. She was determined to stay strong, she knew if she cried now it would only make things worse.

After a few minutes a few peacekeepers arrived at the door, it was time to say goodbye one final time. She kissed her mother’s cheek and hugged her siblings tight. She gave her step father a kiss on the cheek as well and as suddenly as they arrived they were gone.

She broke down seconds after the door closed, sobbing into the cushions of that blue velvet couch. She wanted her mother to come back, she wanted her sister to tell her to “man up” like usual. She sobbed for as long as tears could fall from her eyes and longer.

She had no idea how long she’d been in that room. 15 minutes? An hour? It didn’t matter. She was soon taken out of the room and down a long hallway. Finch joined her quickly and walked with confidence. His goodbye was not one of tears but of encouragement and words like “see you soon.” They set foot outside and were led to a train that would take them to the capitol. It was sleek and silver, just a long tube without any inclination that there were separate cars.

People screamed and cameras flushed as they walked, her senses overwhelmed. Finch waved and preened while she just walked quietly and quickly to the entrance. She stepped on and was in awe, it was beautiful. Crystal chandeliers glittered and food was spread over the redwood table in the center of the car.

She walked in further, Furisha sat in one of the chairs chatting with Brutus and Enobaria. They stood up at the entrance of the tributes, smiles on their faces. “Congratulations!” Furisha said in her usual almost condescending manner, Enobaria nodded at her with pity and Brutus simply ignored her in favor of Finch.

She was ushered to sit down, food being placed in front of her. “Eat, please” Furisha motioned. “You’ll need your strength for the games” she smiled. Finch dug in immediately and she grabbed a fork. This food was frivolously and immaculately decorated but delicious nonetheless. She ate her fill of the pasta in front of her, the sauce was purple and the noodles were green. It tasted of chicken and some sort of seasoning she couldn’t quite describe. It was cheesy and rich with a few leaves of spinach sprinkled throughout.

She sat back when she had finished, the table was filled with chatter. She listened a bit but soon grew tired of the unimportant conversation about the wig Furisha wanted to wear to the tributes parade. “could I be excused to go to bed please?” She interjected at a moment of silence. Furisha smiled and motioned for an avox to lead her to her room. “Of course you can, my darling” she replied, “but meet here in the dining room so you can strategize in the morning alright? We have a schedule to keep.” She requested. Y/N nodded quickly, standing and looking at the awaiting avox.

He led her to a large room, so large in fact that she wondered if it took up a whole car. The bed was covered in pillows and blankets, a canopy of thin silk like material covering it. The avox opened the closet, setting a black fluffy towel on the dresser in front of her. She presumed this meant he was asking if she wanted to shower. “Yes please” she answered softly, earning a nod from the man. He led her to the bathroom, it was made of sleek pink marble with bronze metal used for any trimmings. She took the towel in her arms and the man bowed at the door, closing it and leaving her alone once more. She took her shoes off, the heels clicking together as she picked them up off the floor and set them on the shelf by the door.

Next she unzipped her dress, stepping out of it and hanging it up neatly before stripping the rest of her underthings as well. She looked at the shower before her curiously, it was operated by a panel of buttons instead of a dial. She pressed a button, selecting hot water and a mode that reminded her of the monsoon rains back home. Stepping in she instantly relaxed as she felt the boiling water, closing her eyes she stood under the spray and took a moment to breathe. The water burned her skin in a comforting way, she smiled to herself as she enjoyed the small luxury.

She took her time, washing her hair with the expensive shampoos and conditioners and choosing the scent of peaches to scrub her body. After she was satisfied she stepped out, wrapping herself in the warm embrace of the towel she was given. She looked in the mirror pondering momentarily that it had no fog before it lit up with options.

“Electric hair dryer?” She said aloud to herself, touching the option. Immediately a small current of electricity flowed through her arm, drying her hair into a silky smooth texture. She smiled as she marveled at the technology, touching another option that popped out a small mouth guard that would supposedly brush her teeth.

A moment later she deemed she had truly enjoyed what used to be a simple bathing experience, walking out to the room she was provided in her towel. She saw a new outfit laying on the covers of the bed, black Satin pajamas, new underwear and thick socks. She ran her fingers over the fabric for a moment before putting the outfit on, it was incredibly comfortable.

She climbed into the impossibly soft bed, swaddled in warmth. She was physically the most comfortable she had ever been, but that didn’t stop the thoughts from racing around her head like jabberjays fighting over a worm. She picked up the remote from the nightstand, dimming the lights. she also pressed a button that had a cricket on it out of curiosity, the sound immediately playing quietly throughout her room along with wind and the sounds of swaying foliage.

Somehow that night she managed to sleep, the exhaustion and excitement of the day lulled her to unconsciousness.

The next morning she awoke early, sliding out of the bed and tidying it up out of habit. She was exhausted but sleep avoided her grasp for any longer, the stress making it impossible. After a few moments of trying to perfect the messy covers she padded over to the large closet. The small room was full of elegant and colorful clothes, she ran her hand across one of the racks and admired the different styles.

She chose a comfortable forest green sweater with gold buttons and wide leg black pants, she slid on comfortable ballet shoes before deciding she looked well enough to go to breakfast. She grabbed the mouth guard-like device and let it brush her teeth before fluffing her hair in the mirror. The door to her room slid open automatically as she stepped up to it.

She walked down the long hallway to the dining room car, her hands wringing themselves together anxiously. Brutus sat in the car alone, sipping a steaming mug. “Oh it’s you” he muttered as he noticed her presence “I didn’t expect you to be up this early” he remarked as She stood awkwardly in the doorway “I can come back later if you want” she offered, uneasy at the thought of disturbing him. He had always made her a bit nervous, his gaze was sharp and unsettling.

He shook his head “No it’s ok, come sit” he motioned to the soft plush chairs around him “coffee?” He asked, setting his cup down. She shook her head, Her mother had let her have coffee a few times during celebrations but she had never liked the taste, it was definitely acquired. “It’s not my thing” she said as she walked across the car, sitting a few seats away from him. “I’ve never been able to get over how bitter it is.” she recalled, her nose scrunching a bit at the memory.

He gave a small chuckle, picking up a tablet and pressing a few buttons. “Do you like chocolate?” He asked as he presumably ordered a drink for her on the device. She nodded her head, she had had it a few times but it wasn’t a staple in her home. “You’ll like this then” he concluded as he set the device down again, looking at her once more.

She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “You’re pretty” he observed “you look like you might be quick too” he said while studying her. “Can you run fast?” She was a bit taken aback by the question but quickly replied “I-I think I’m average” she stuttered out. He narrowed his eyes at the reply “what weapons have you trained with?” He pried, trying to get a good picture of her strengths “I'm not an academy student” she said, almost embarrassed. she chewed her lip nervously and continued “I have no experience with anything besides helping my mama chop vegetables for dinner”

his head tilted a bit at that point “So long range is better for you” he concluded. “Spears or pitchforks maybe” he sipped his coffee again, sitting back in his chair. “You won’t have to get close to kill, no hand to hand combat.” She didn’t know much about fighting, a few squabbles with her siblings and friends sure but she wasn’t a born killer. The thought of fighting other people scared her a bit, murder was a thing that had never occurred to her to commit.

Soon an avox appeared with a mug of her, the creamy hazelnut colored liquid swirled with cream. It smelled wonderful and she quickly took a sip. It was warm and rich, with a smooth cocoa flavor and a hint of cinnamon that reminded her of home. “Oh my god” she said, a delight present on her face as she sipped. At that exact moment the door slip open and Enobaria sauntered in “you gave her hot chocolate didn’t you?” She smiled as she sat next to her colleague. He nodded with a faint grin and she seemed pleased to watch the young girl enjoy herself.

“How are you feeling today? Are you nervous?” Enobaria asked, she had a commanding presence about her, reminding Y/N of an older sister or that aunt that scares you a bit. Y/N nodded slowly “I’m…..scared” she said softly and Enobaria nodded understandably. “It’ll be a lot I won’t lie-“ she stated, her own coffee being brought to her by a female avox “but as your mentor I’ll be right here with you. I’ll teach you to dismember with the best of them” She said as she smiled, a glint of mischief in her eye.

The morning went by quickly after the interaction with Finch waking up and breakfast being served. They ate their fill in pastries, assorted meats, cheeses and especially hot chocolate. Brutus and Enobaria began their mentorship discussions with their tributes after their meal. They closely studied both their strengths and weaknesses determining what they should and should not do in specific scenarios. Furisha fluttered about the train at the same time, throwing in bits of opinions and comments about decor and manners. Y/N was almost overwhelmed by the time lunch was served, thoughts swirling around her head of strategies and sponsorships. Unfortunately the reward of a break would not be provided.

The train sped into the Capitol, the tall buildings dwarfing the train she had thought was gigantic just moments prior. She was glued to the window taking in the sights around her, the glistening statues and sleek structures she had read about in book. The train soon turned into the station, crowds of people gathered at the platform. Some smiled at her with artificial golden or black teeth while some shouted and screamed.

All she could do was stare at the crowd until a voice interrupted her thoughts. “They’d like you better if you smiled and waved, gotta make a good impression.” She whipped her head around only to see Finch, the broad boy walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, waving and smiling. “I don’t want to be enemies ok?” He told her “We might die in there and it’s better to have a friend” he said looking at her with a soft gaze. He had never been mean, he just knew what he wanted and would do anything to get to his goal even as a child, they didn’t know each other very well anymore but she could tell he was still a kind young man.

“Ok…friends” she agreed quietly, plastering a fake smile on her face to wave to the crowd. She didn’t know him well enough to consider him a friend or anything close but she couldn’t afford to turn him down. There could be a time that the choice between her life and death came to his loyalties to her. She had no idea that playing the game started so much sooner before she went into the arena when she was reaped, a shame she had to learn.

After lunch the two disembarked from the train, the crowds throwing smiles and flowers their way. They were driven to a large building soon after and surrounded by their own separate groups of people. Y/N knew these were the famed stylists, they were notorious for their taste and trend setting. They took her to a cubicle and stripped her clothes, starting their work instantaneously. She was doused in warm water and scrubbed with scratchy fabric and a grainy substance that made her skin feel raw.

“Time for the best part!” One of the so far anonymous stylists said to another. He pulled out what looked like a glob of honey and some paper strips. The hot gooey substance was spread on her legs, it felt strange but kind of good, the warmth sinking into her cold skin. Out of nowhere another stylist placed a sheet of the paper on the goo and ripped it off. She let out a shocked pained noise and the male stylist rolled his eyes. “Lay back and let us wax you ok? Aerith doesn’t like hair on her tributes” he snarked

She decided she hated this man, she gave him a dirty look as he continued to rip the hair from her entire lower half, then including arms and eyebrows. She wondered if Finch was being given the same treatment, probably not. Men were allowed to be hairy or hairless, a fact she despised at the current moment.

She was slathered in thick lotion, her body feeling a bit sticky and her hair was washed once again. They remarked amongst themselves that coming from a district like 2 she shouldn’t have as many split ends as she did. She rolled her eyes at the chatter as her hair was trimmed and dried, they curled it just a bit and then turned their attention to her face. They pinched, rubbed and poked at her; her pores slathered in a mask to make them unnoticeable.

She furrowed her eyebrows in discomfort as they brushed her eyelashes and washed her face. It had been hours when finally at long last the torture was over, she was put in a thin cotton gown and corralled to a darkened room with a steel table. What more could this stylist “Aerith” do to her? She wondered, cringing at the thought of any more preening from the anonymous stylists.

She layed on the table and waited, closing her eyes and listening to the hum of the fluorescent lights above.

After a while she was starting to doze off, the lack of sleep and quiet of the room calming. The door was suddenly flung open, a small woman entering. Her eyes flew open and she sat up, her eyes turning to meet the woman’s gaze. “Oh yes you are a fine piece” the woman said as she walked closer and combed her wrinkled hands through Y/Ns hair.

“Thank you?” Y/N spoke, unsure of what “piece” meant, and still a bit disoriented from the entrance. The woman looked over her face, muttering about her nose and lips before their eyes met. “I am Aerith” the old woman stated, her hand falling to her side. The woman was small in stature, her skin an almost translucent white. She had bright orange hair and lavender bangs, the short curls flipping up at the nape of her neck. Her long fingernails tickled Y/Ns skin as she let them follow the lines of her neck, her unsettling yellow eyes lighting up with a smile.

“I am here to make sure you make the best impression possible and can get as many sponsors as it takes to win these games.” She smiled almost eerily “you’ll make a beautiful impression my pet, if everyone in panem doesn’t want to kill you, be you or sleep with you by the end of this week I haven’t done my job.”

Y/N gave her a bewildered look, this old woman wanted people to think that?

She didn’t have the time to ponder long as Aerith took her hand with a grin “Let's start” she stated.

She was fitted into many outfits, The dresses, suits, rompers and leotards tight on her body to show off what Aerith called “assets.” She was exhausted by the conclusion of the never ending fashion show. Her skin chafed from the sequins and gems on the garments. Luckily her outfits were finally chosen and she could be taken to her temporary home to rest. She spotted Finch as she was escorted to the car, he looked good. His hair was a bit shorter, his face clean shaven and his eyebrows plucked to perfection.

“They got to you too huh?” She asked jokingly to which he laughed “It was horrible” he remarked “I thought my skin was gonna fall off when they scrubbed me with that sugary stuff” he laughed. She grimaced “that’s all? They tore all the hair off my body except on my head!” She exclaimed and he recoiled. “Uh god that sounds awful!”

The ride back was mostly silent, Furisha meeting them as they pulled up to what they where told was the “tribute quarters.”

“You two look wonderful!” She chirped, her stilettos clicking as she motioned for them to follow. A crowd was once again cheering as they walked into the building, held back by peacekeepers. She plastered on her biggest fake smile and blew kisses to the people, walking quickly into the building. Did these people ever sleep? Would it be like this every time she left from now on until she entered the arena?

Finch was right behind her, not stalling like he had before. Y/N could tell he must be a bit tired of the fanfare, she looked back as he waved. The fatigue was evident on his face to her, to the citizens howling in the crowd however? They screamed louder and she could tell they didn’t pay any mind. Furisha led them to the elevator and pushed the button for 2. “You two are so lucky to be here this year, we just got brand new heated floors!” She cheered excitedly.

Y/N couldn’t wait to eat and get to bed, this woman was beyond exhausting. Y/N knew she meant well but the constant cheery behavior was a lot to put up with. The elevator soon stopped and revealed an oddly decorated room. The chairs looked like they were made of children’s building blocks and the couch had a strange plush roof on it.

Furisha told them they could go to their rooms or explore until dinner, their stylists would be joining them. Y/N almost groaned when she heard the statement. Aerith was not exactly the most warm and cuddly person. She wished she could have someone to talk to, she missed whispering jokes to her brother at the dinner table and the way her sister would pick out her clothes because she had “bad tastes”

She was shown to her new room by an avox, a dinner outfit already in her arms. It was a simple black dress, long enough to reach her knees with tulle sleeves. She asked politely for the mute woman to place the dress on the chair by the vanity in the room. The woman nodded, draping the dress over the chair and bowing before leaving the room.

She flopped onto the plush bed face first, sighing and contemplating what to do until dinner. She looked around the room she occupied. The walls were a red oxide color, a common color in her district. The bedspread and sheets were black and all of the metal in the room was gold. She looked to the window in the room, watching the people walk around outside. She wondered if she could be seen but quickly realized she definitely could not. She spotted a remote on the nightstand, a small smile coming to her face. She plucked it off the table and looked at the buttons like the night before. She pressed one and the window suddenly changed to a cityscape, another and she saw the forest. She grinned wider as she fiddled with the small electronic, nearly dropping it as the scene changed to a desert plane. Her heart jumped as she heard the familiar sounds of soft winds and animals skittering.

A knock sounded on her door a moment later. “Come in!” She said loudly, sitting up on the bed and pressing the button to turn the window back to normal. She willed the tears away from her eyes and pushed the homesickness down in her stomach. The Cotton gown she wore bunched up around her knees as she sat and watched the door open.

Finch poked his head in and waved “Hey” he said simply. She offered a small smile “Hi” she said in return.“Wanna come explore the bookshelves before dinner?” He asked, opening the door wider, revealing his dress shirt and black slacks. She nodded and stood, brushing her hair out of her eyes. “gimme a second to change and I’ll meet you by the freaky couch” she affirmed as she walked to pick up the dress that lay in waiting. He smiled wider and gave her a thumbs up, closing the door again.

She quickly changed into the black dress, the sleeves were a bit itchy but otherwise it was quite comfortable. She put a black headband in her hair that had been sitting on the vanity, assuming it went with the dress. Looking down at her feet she wiggled her toes, searching through one of the drawers and finding a pair of black ankle socks. She took the cotton gown she had been wearing and draped it on the bed. With how much she was attended to she was sure it would probably be gone by the time she returned.

The door slid open upon her approach and she walked into the living room area, the lights outside the window sparkling like stars. She spotted Finch lounging on the strange couch, giggling to herself. “You look like a villain in a book” she remarked with a small smile “but I think that couch would do that to anyone” she chuckled.

He laughed loudly, standing to meet her. “Better not say that to Brutus” he whispered teasingly and she smiled again. “Because it’s kinda true” He smiled as she laughed. He led her to a few large bookshelves that were filled to the brim. Cloth bound and leather books lined the shelves with different titles shown on the spines.

She traced her fingers across the spines, looking up at the large shelves. She had never seen so many fine books, district 2 had books yes but many were tattered or dirty. Finch looked to where her gaze had settled, speaking quietly “they’re pretty huh?” He observed. She stood on her toes, reaching for a book she recognized. Her fingers grazed the leather of the green spine and she hopped to reach it. Suddenly she was up in the air, face to face with the book. She let out a startled noise, looking down and seeing Finch. He smiled as he held her on his bicep and she stared at him with wide eyes.

“What are you doing?” She asked, astonished at his strength. She hadn’t had someone pick her up so easily in a while. “You looked like you needed a hand” he stated simply, motioning at the book. She grabbed the book quickly, looking back down at his smiling face. He set her down as gently as he scooped her up, taking care to make sure she was steady on her feet.

“What is it?” He asked, his fingers barely brushing the book she held. She showed him the title “ Edible plants and where to find them.” It read in gold embossed cursive writing, little flowers and leafy greens surrounding it. “My siblings and I studied this in school” she started “we all had the same teacher and she taught us where to find a few things” she said, a soft smile on her features from the memory.

“Read it to me?” He requested, nodding his head to the strange shaped couch. She looked over and thought for a moment, was this him trying to be her friend? Trying to be an ally? It didn’t matter, she needed a small comfort in this place. She walked to the couch and sat, opening the book and looking at the pictures.

The two read for a few moments, discussing their favorite spices, fruits and vegetables from home. They discovered how much they had in common, they both loved summer fruits and how the plum trees would bloom in spring.

Soon enough Furisha called them for dinner, they were served a chicken dish on a bed of rice. It was smothered in a spicy red sauce and had just the right amount of herbs. The sides where just as immaculate, a mix of salads and sautéed vegetables. Furisha explained the next day’s schedule over dinner, the tribute parade and their first opportunity for sponsorship. Y/N felt nervousness bubble up in her chest. The thought of so many people watching her was exciting and terrifying simultaneously.

Dessert was served while the conversation progressed, a chocolate cake with fruit and vanilla ice cream. Y/N felt goosebumps when the sweetness hit her taste buds. Finch groaned in delight at the flavor and they looked at eachother with small smiles. Furisha clapped rapidly “Oh you two are so cute! I can already see how great the alliance will be in the arena!” She chirped. The comment made the two teens frown, they silently ate their sweet treat.

The stylists talked with furisha for a while after that, talking about what looks the two would wear the next day. They planned their hair and makeup, their entrances and everything in between.

The tributes were sent to bed early that night, told they “had a big day tomorrow” as they were handed off to avoxes and sent to their rooms after dinner. Y/N was glad to be allowed a bit of silence, she took the book to her room stealthy. A set of silk pajamas was laid out for her, thick socks on the side.

She changed out of her dinner dress and got into bed, setting the window screen to the desert scene. She snuggled into the soft bed and cracked open the book, soon falling into sleep with the pages open on her lap.

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#thg #thg series #thg fanfiction #fanfic #the hunger games #catching fire #mockingjay #finnick odair #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #joanna mason #finnick x reader #finnick odair x reader #x reader #x yn #yn #what do i even tag this as #cant wait to write my blorbo #no beta we die like men

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