AN: Alright, I guess I'm posting two one-shots today because I spaced out and didn't post any yesterday. Oops. Anyway, enjoy!
"Annie."
Annie looked up to see Finnick standing in the doorway of their shared living quarters, wearing a rebel soldier's outfit and an achingly gentle expression. It was time for him to go. She tried to wipe her eyes nonchalantly, hoping he wouldn't notice.
Of course, he did. He noticed everything. He walked over and sat beside her on the bed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying valiantly to choke back another round of tears. He rested his head on hers and soothingly rubbed his hand up and down her arm.
"It'll be okay, Annie," he whispered. "Don't worry. It's going to be fine."
"You don't know that," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "You can't g-go off on a dangerous mission and t-tell me it's going to be okay because you don't know that." She sniffed. "What if you don't come back?"
Finnick wrapped both his arms around her and held on tight, wishing he never had to let go. "I'm so sorry, Annie," he said, his own voice shaking. "I'm so sorry. I wish it didn't have to be like this. More than anything, I wish we could pack up right now and go back home to District Four and live the rest of our lives without having to be afraid of the Capitol. But this…this is the only way that can happen. Katniss, Gale, Plutarch, these guys are terrific fighters. We're going to get this done. I don't know what's going to happen. But I need you to know how much I love you. I can't explain in words how much I love you, Annie Cresta, and that's why it's going to be okay."
Annie took a deep, shaking breath and nodded bravely. She knew that this war had to be stopped. She never wanted to watch another Reaping Day again; she never wanted to see another family drown in grief as their child was shipped off to slaughter and then forced to do the Capitol's bidding if they managed to escape. She never again wanted to see the tortured, heartbroken look on Finnick's face as he left their house in District Four to take "appointments" in the Capitol. It all had to stop.
So, one last time, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss, savoring the feeling of his lips on hers, wishing she could freeze time right where it was. He returned it in full, still holding onto her as though she were a lifeline, a light in the darkness, a breath of fresh air to a drowning man.
"Finnick! Let's go!"
They broke apart, still resting their foreheads together. Katniss' voice still carried down the hall. It was time for the rebel soldiers to report for their mission.
Finnick placed one more kiss on Annie's forehead before forcing himself to get on his feet and walk to the door. He was stopped once more by her voice.
"Finnick?"
He turned to look at her. "Yeah?"
"I love you too," she said. "And when you get back, I have something to tell you."
He flashed her one of his famous, light-up-the-room smiles. "I can't wait to hear it."