A/N: So I am starting this Finnick fic. It is kinda slowburn but hopefully worth the wait. I started writing this on a bender, but have now written some new chapters and rewritten the entire thing. Hope you enjoy.
Also I only own OC and original story, universe and all the other is susannes.
Also also: All is written in Nova's P.O.V. So unless I say otherwise. It is still in her POV.
I had never felt sorry for myself. I was an orphan, but I did not feel sorry for myself. My mother had died during childbirth. My father got sick off radiation and died when I was only 6 years old.
I was broken down for a while there, but I learned to cope.
After my father died I was sent to a ragged orphanage and went to school with those kids. I felt sorry for them, they had it though. But I barely talked, I could not bring myself to it. I remember showing up there all snot and tears on my face. I had heard that it was a nice home, and the lady from the capitol who brought me there, raved about how happy I should be about going. That was far from reality, once that lady left my sight I was no longer embraced by an employee, but rather pushed aside and told to shut up.
I had snuck out one night when I met part of who I consider my family today.
They barely fed us at that orphanage, and I had always been quick on my feet. I snuck into town to steal from a shop in there. I did that for a few days in a row, without being caught and the girls at the orphanage were grateful for it.
The fourth day someone had narked on me, because when I came back to the orphanage the door and windows were locked. I was forced to go the only place a child with no family and money could go. The bad part of town, there were an area with a few fires and some addicts and other homeless people. I was by far the youngest there. Out there it was very much jungle law, I had a small blanket that was covered in dirt but it got me through the night. I stole essentials from the other bums and survived. It was hard, there were wild animals, and the other bums could easily kill me if they figured I took up too much space or supplies.
I was on the streets for about a month before one day, I was especially hungry, I decided to sneak into the bakery for some food.
I quickly grabbed a bun and was luckily not seen. I walked a few steps away before someone I caught my arm. I was scared shitless that I was caught. The peacekeepers as I later learned, did not give a shit whether I was an orphan or starving, they would whip me no matter age or situation. He held tightly on my arm and smirked down at me.
"Well well well Charlie, look what we have here." Dodger as I later learned he was called said, Charlie, a bit bigger brute turned to look at me. He bowed down a little and smirked as well.
"What have you got there Dodge?" He said menacing, it sounded like that to my scared 6 year old self.
"A little thief, thats what I found Charlie." He said, I felt like I was about to cry, two boys who were bigger and much scarier than I was had just caught me. I was sure I was about to die.
"That can't be right Dodger, everyone knows this is our corner." He said and I looked at them horrified.
"Please sir, I am so sorry, I will give it back. Just please don't hurt me. I had no idea this was your corner. Please sir." I pleaded and they chuckled and Dogder shoved me forward.
"Sorry pipsqueak, but that is not what we do with bread-thieves on our corner. Come on." He said and kept shoving me.
They walked behind me imitating me calling them sir and stuff. I had no idea why that was funny to them. I was raised to address people well, up until there that is.
I thought I was toast for sure as these two guys dragged me through town. Well the slump that was the bad part of town. At first I thought they were bringing me to the peacekeepers. Maybe they were just looking for an ally to kill me in themselves. I was told to crawl through a broken window, in the house that looked worst of them all. It was made of wood, and almost looked like it was tilting. I was shoved up to a door, where Charlie cleaned some dirt off my cheek with the words:
"You gotta look nice for the boss, pipsqueak." I cringed but let it happen.
When they pushed open the creaking door, I imagined what horrors I would face in there. It was instead 5-6 other children, some young some older, some even older than Charlie and Dodger. They went silent during their supper, as they all sat around a table in the middle of the room. This room made up almost the entire house. With a kitchen to the side, beds on all other corners and a little door leading to the bathroom. It was small, decorated in loads of small cloths, but ultimately pretty cosy. A fireplace at the end of the room keeping it nice and warm in there.
I was used to stares and annoyed looks from the other kids, these just starring at me a few of the older boys nodded at me once with a smile and then went back to supper.
I was pushed into the kitchen where a man in his mid 50s stood cooking. Charlie cleared his throat and he turned around. He first smiled at the boys, then me. I looked up at him scared. He was probably gonna punish because of the bread thing. Which I had not realised I was clinging to like a teddybear.
"What is this you bring me boys?" He said, his voice was warm and smooth, but his almost rotting teeth and long hair made him look intimidating.
"We caught her stealing some bread on our corner." Dodger said and he looked down at me, I was expecting a smack but he just nicked and lifted his finger at the boys and not me.
"You boys really should learn to share." He said. He then looked from the boys and down at me.
I was used to smacks from the adults and being yelled at for merely existing. He did something I had not expected from an adult. He got down to my level and smiled kindly at me.
"What is your name pipsqueak?" He asked and I was confused by this. But I cleared my dry throat slightly and answered.
"Nova." His smile got wider.
"Why did you steal the bread Nova?" he asked, he sounded so kind, so I had no idea what to do. Why was he not madder at me? I would later in life learn what happened when Loke got angry.
If you stepped out of line he would smack us or make us sleep on the street for a night. Just so we knew what we were losing if we ever tried anything.
"I was hungry, and so were the others in the orphanage. I know stealing is wrong. I am so sorry sir." I answered innocently, as I was back then. They all laughed at my statement, but it died down as soon as he stopped laughing. This of course confused me, stealing was wrong in my young mind.
"Don't worry Nova, I am not mad. I am actually very impressed with you. You were very brave stealing food for your friends." He said kindly. I released a breath now that I knew I was not in trouble anymore. From this I gained a bit more courage.
"What is your name then mr.?" I asked and he chuckled.
"No need to call me mr. sweetie. The name is Loke."
From there on he asked if I wanted some dinner, to which I of course accepted.
I sat down with the boys who all introduced themselves to me. We were laughing and talking around the table. I felt like I was part of something here, and I did not want it to end.
At the orphanage we sat in complete silence and ate our food. Not that the others liked me very much, there was only a few girls who would actually talk to me. This was a total different atmosphere. I was sat next to the eldest Bill whom I liked very much. He was a big brute who I could imagine looked scary to anyone else. But he was sweet and encouraged me to speak when he could see me shying away.
They offered me I could stay the night, if I could stand Charlie's snoring. I slept right next to Bill, since he had treated me the nicest.
The next day they offered me to stay and hang out, and so I stayed. Until I broke into the orphanage and moved to the shack that would become my home.
They ended up becoming the family I never had. Normally Loke did not like girls in his crew, but because I was a natural I was more than welcome. Once I was friends with most of them, Charlie and Dodger took me out on the street and taught me how to pickpocket and other stuff.
I still run with those two the most, them being my best friends. Dodger a bit arrogant, but very funny, and Charlie nice as the day is long.
Once I was old enough to be drafted Bill, taught me how to throw knives. He taught all of us every year, when we had time, because you would never know.
I had my most precious memories of my life with them.