Author's note: Deer god is this couple fun to write for. Anyways, a bit before the Quarter Quell. Enjoy!
"Now this just isn't fair."
Annie stopped sniffling and looked up at Finnick. Despite his words, he was grinning as he looked down at her, and the hand that was stroking her hair never faltered. There was a smirk curving at the edge of his lips, but he didn't speak. She gave a small sigh and asked what he was waiting for. "What isn't fair?"
"I'm the one going back into the arena. You're supposed to be stroking my hair and telling me that everything's going to be alright, not the other way."
She gave a watery scoff and rolled her eyes at him. This wasn't exactly the time for him to be making jokes and she had to look away, lest she break out into tears again.
Finnick's arms tightened around her and he brought her up more fully onto his chest. His hand slipped from her hair to wrap around her waist and he pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. "Bad taste?"
"Bad taste," she agreed. Annie shifted in his grasp so that she was lying out over his stomach, and she put her arms around him, much in the same way a child might hug a teddy bear. His bare chest was warm and if she placed her ear over his chest, she could feel the strong heartbeat. He skimmed his hands up her back, to her shoulders, before settling them both in her hair. Finnick placed his fingers under her jaw and shifted her head so she was looking at him, and not merely sniffling into his chest.
"I'm not going to lie babe, this is not the best you've looked." She reached up and swatted at his ear, which only made Finnick's grin widen. He held her face as he leaned forward to kiss her. It was just the briefest of contacts, a ghost on her lips, and then he was leaning back, head on the pillow and hair sprawling out, wherever it wanted to go. "That's alright. I can imagine the way you looked some other time. Like last week, when we went to the beach." Annie turned red. Last week, at the beach, a rather harsh wave had knocked her over and taken her bikini top right off.
"You know, I don't want to hear it. You're as vain as anything I've ever met. I'd rather not be perfect than spend thirty minutes on my hair because I've got a cowlick."
"That was once. Besides, I did end up having to go out with the cowlick. I seem to recall a certain someone messing up my hair the moment I stepped out of the bathroom." Annie giggled at the memory and reached out to ruffle his hair again.
"I did do that, didn't I?"
"You did." He smiled and moved one hand to trail down her arm, so he could draw intricate patterns with his finger on her skin. "Annieā¦"
His tone was more serious this time, and she sat a little so she could see him better. "Yeah Fin?"
"I'm coming back. I promise. I'll come back for you. You know I always do."
"I know."
