Chapter Ten
Finnick staggered back, feeling shock shoot through his entire system. Peeta for his part stared at Finnick as though he was seeing a ghost. "But you're-" Peeta choked slightly and cleared his throat. "How are you alive?" Peeta reached out to touch him and Finnick instinctively jumped back, his hand going to the severe scar on his neck.
"I-" Finnick started as he watched Peeta cautiously enter the house. Finnick just couldn't catch a break, could he? How much else was going to go wrong before things smoothed out again? He longed for his days of simplicity, of afternoons at the lake watching Katniss glide through the water after him, of home cooked meals with his new family, of cuddling with Katniss in bed. "What are you doing here?" he finally managed.
Peeta frowned at Finnick. "I'm here for Katniss," he said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Where is she?"
"Sleeping," Finnick replied automatically.
Peeta sighed and ran his hand over his face, his stance relaxing. "I'm sorry. I'm glad you're alive," he said earnestly. "It was just such a shock, and it's been a rough few months." He glanced at the stairs and Finnick stepped to the side, gesturing to the couch. Peeta reluctantly headed to the living room and plopped down on the couch. "So," he said, clearly wanting to just leave Finnick and find Katniss but trying to maintain some level of politeness, "what happened?"
Finnick cleared his throat, rubbing his neck self-consciously. "Well, I don't know. I mean, I don't remember. I woke up in the hospital after some time. Didn't know who I was or where I was. Trinia, my nurse, didn't know who I was, which is pretty amazing I take it. Katniss had to remind me of my…reputation."
Peeta frowned. "You didn't have a choice. Snow forced you, like he forced all of us into doing these things."
Finnick smiled slightly at the man before him. "Thanks, Peeta."
There was a long silence in which Finnick knew Peeta wanted to know how he ended up in District Twelve, but Finnick didn't cave until Peeta brought it up. "So. District Twelve? Why didn't you go home?"
Finnick bristled slightly. He was home. District Twelve was literally the only home he knew. "I am home."
Peeta frowned at him again. "Does anyone else even know you're alive? Does Annie?"
Finnick gulped but refused to say anything. Who was Peeta to interrogate him anyway? Finnick frowned back at the man before him. They were locked in a battle of wills until Finnick heard the front door opening.
"Heard you were back, Loverboy." Haymitch stumbled through the front door, coming to a stop in front of the men on the couch. "I see you and Finnick are catching up."
"Haymitch." Peeta stood and reached out to clasp the man on his shoulder. "I just got here."
"Oh, so you haven't seen Katniss yet eh? Figured she'd be in your arms the moment you walked through the door." Haymitch cast a smirk in Finnick's direction. "Though of course, things have changed quite a lot since you've been gone."
"Yeah I've noticed," Peeta agreed with a small frown, glancing at Finnick.
"Finnick," Haymitch said turning to him. "I need some booze. Help me will you?" There was an underlying note of authority in Haymitch's tone, and though he was loathe to, Finnick obliged.
"Be back soon," Finnick said, somewhat curtly. Peeta looked ready to bolt upstairs and into Katniss's room. He could hear it happening the moment he and Haymitch were out the door. "Thanks," Finnick said sarcastically.
"No use trying to stop the inevitable," Haymitch told him with a shrug. "He was bound to come back, just like you're bound to go back to Annie."
Finnick faltered in his step. "You don't know that."
Haymitch shot him a sardonic smile. "Just looking at her in the video brought all your feelings back. Imagine how it will be in person."
He said it with such an ominous air that Finnick got suspicious. "Haymitch," he said warningly, feeling the skin on the back of his neck prickle.
Haymitch hummed at him, opening his front door and kicking a bottle out of the way. "Want a glass?" he asked Finnick carelessly. Haymitch poured two, not even waiting for a response. "You'll need a glass."
Finnick downed his shot, feeling it burn his throat. He blinked away the tears that marred his vision. "What?" he asked somewhat desperately. He had sense of foreboding that didn't sit well with him.
"It's gonna be a real reunion," Haymitch told Finnick, pouring himself another glass. He filled Finnick's glass up again. "Gale's coming for a visit from his important political work," he said with an affected Capitol air, "and you know that Katniss's mother is working as a Doctor in Four?" Finnick nodded, swallowing a mouthful of his alcohol. "Well, she's there, living with Annie and helping her out. Gale's stopping by to escort them here for a visit."
Finnick felt the air rush out of him and he wobbled slightly, reaching out to grab the counter. "When?" he whispered.
Haymitch shrugged. "Sometime soon I'd guess."
Finnick slumped to the floor. "I'm not ready," he said quietly to himself. Haymitch sat opposite him as though he sat on the floor all the time.
"You'll never be ready," Haymitch said. "You just gotta do it."
"You think she'll choose him then?" Finnick asked sourly.
"Loverboy? Whose to say. Knowing Katniss, she'll choose the one she decides she can't bear to lose more. At this point I'd say you got a fair chance."
Finnick sighed, tipping his glass back and draining it. "How do you know all these things?"
It could have just been the alcohol, but Finnick thought he saw the color in Haymitch's cheeks rise a bit. "Effie. Still talk to her from time to time. I've known her for almost ten years, after all. Anyway, woman doesn't stop talking. Hard not to know what's going on."
Something stirred in Finnick's memory, but it was hard to place Effie with the scores of Capitol women that paraded through his memory. Finally Finnick shrugged and continued to wallow in silence. There was something nagging on him, but he was almost too afraid to form the words his fear shouted at him. Instead he reached for the bottle again and poured himself another glass, choking it down and feeling himself grow progressively more light headed.
"Does she know?" he finally asked the man across from him. "Annie. Does she know I'm alive?"
Haymitch took a large gulp from his glass, watching Finnick carefully over the glass's rim. "If she doesn't know by now she will soon."
Finnick nodded his head and stood up, weaving slightly on his feet. He uncorked the bottle and took several long drinks. "Thanks," he said setting his glass on the counter. Finnick turned to walk away and Haymitch called after him. "Just going for a walk," Finnick replied, not stopping. Evening was fast approaching and Finnick felt the air grow colder as he walked towards the forest. His feet knew where to go even though his mind was a haze. Finnick hadn't had any alcohol since he'd woken up in the hospital, and it was hitting him hard. He stumbled a little on the roots that shot up out of the ground, and Finnick felt sharply how his fake leg unbalanced him.
In his haze of half drunkenness it took Finnick much less time to arrive at the lake than normal. The moon was becoming more visible in the sky, and it gave a shimmery glow to the lake. The water was still and Finnick could see his reflection quite clearly gazing back at him. He knew he probably shouldn't swim in the state he was in, but he couldn't help the yearning he felt deep in his bones, for the coolness of the water against his skin, being able to glide effortlessly, to feel weightless and free. Finnick dove into the water, clothes and all and the chill sobered him up somewhat. It was freezing now that Autumn had come, and the lake was no longer warmed by the heat of the sun.
Finnick broke through the surface, his lungs on fire and was startled by the presence of another person. "Katniss," he mumbled. He swam to the edge of the lake and stepped out into the cold air, clenching his jaw against the uncomfortable feeling. "What are you doing here?"
"You're wet," she said, shrugging off her coat. "And drunk." Finnick took the coat from her, his fingers numb. He stripped off his shirt and pulled on the coat she gave him. It was large on her but a tight fit on him. A man's hunting jacket, not her own.
"Where's Peeta?" he asked her.
"Home," she said. "His home. I saw you stumbling down here from Haymitch's house. It wasn't hard to guess that you might have been influenced by his bad habits. I wanted to make sure you didn't hurt yourself."
Finnick wrung out his shirt and noticed the goosebumbs on Katniss's arms. He traced her arm lightly with his real hand and he saw her shiver. "You're freezing."
"I'm fine."
Finnick tried to remove her coat to return it to her but she shook her head. "Let's get back. I'll start a fire." They walked in relative silence through the woods for a while before Finnick could screw up his courage. "Haymitch told me that-" Finnick's voice failed him and he cleared his throat. "Your mother, and Gale, they're coming to visit." Finnick heard Katniss's sharp intake of breath and he turned to face her. "Kat?" Finnick slowed her to a stop with his hand on her shoulder. "Katniss."
She looked up at him and he could see the turmoil in her eyes. He could see the walls she was building up and he was desperate not to be left out. "Don't. Don't block me out." But that wasn't all, and Finnick knew he had to tell her now. He tugged her to him and buried his nose in her hair. "Annie is coming too." He could almost feel the tension pass through him to her. "I don't know what to do."
Katniss was silent for a long while, and Finnick felt the warmth between them growing. He combed his fingers through her hair gently and squeezed her closer to him. At last she pulled back and reached up to kiss him softly on the lips. "You have to do what's right." Katniss turned away from him but interlocked their fingers and tugged him to start walking.
Finnick wanted to say something, to protest or argue, but he didn't. He knew Katniss was right. He was married to Annie for fuck's sake, he couldn't abandon his wife. Finnick looked down at the woman walking next to him, the way her hair just now brushed her shoulders and waved softly from the short braids she usually kept them in. Her dark lashes brushed her cheeks whenever she blinked, and her eyebrows were drawn together slightly to complete the frown on her face. He wanted to kiss her frown away, tangle his fingers in her hair and feel her naked body pressed against his.
Finnick buried the desire burning through him and focused on not stumbling on the walk home. He focused on the cold that was assaulting him and frosting his remaining limbs. It was too long before they reached the house, but true to her word Katniss collected some tinder and firewood and started a fire in the fireplace. Finnick changed his wet clothes to dry ones and settled on the couch closest to the fire while Katniss rummaged around in the kitchen. She returned with two mugs of hot chocolate and gave one to Finnick before sitting next to him on the couch.
"Mavis isn't home yet?" he asked her as they stared silently at the fire.
"She's on a date," Katniss replied.
"What!" Finnick cried sharply.
"She's old enough to go on dates. Besides, they're just in town getting dinner."
Finnick grumbles under his breath a moment more but didn't raise any further objections. "So what did you and Peeta talk about?"
"Nothing. Everything." At his look, Katniss continued, "About his therapy. He's a lot better now." The way she said it sparked some memory in Finnick. He remembered the murderous look in Peeta's eyes and bruises on Katniss's neck. It was such a shocking memory compared to all the others he had of Peeta and Katniss together and Finnick choked on his drink.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Finnick asked her.
"Of course it is. He's not going to hurt me." Again, Finnick thought sourly. "Besides, I can handle myself."
"I know you can," Finnick agreed. "Doesn't make me feel any better though, knowing there is a possibility he could-."
"Peeta won't hurt me," Katniss reiterated.
Finnick let the subject drop and drank some more hot cocoa. The fire was slowly thawing him out and Finnick stretched his fingers and toes, trying to get feeling back in them. Katniss reached behind Finnick and tugged the blanket off the couch. She draped it over them and snuggled in close to him.
"It couldn't last forever," Katniss said softly. "Good things never do."
Finnick woke to the sound of the door shutting closed. He groaned a little, his limbs sore and something heavy pressing down on his chest. He rubbed his eyes, clearing the sleep from them and squinted down to see Katniss strewn across him sleeping soundly. Finnick smiled down at her until someone clearing their throat caught his attention.
Peeta stood there, frown on his face, carrying a basket full of rolls and pastries. "Morning," he said, louder than Finnick thought necessary.
Katniss stirred in her sleep, grumbling and shoving her face closer against Finnick's chest so as to block out any distractions. "Morning," Finnick replied, carefully sitting up. He hated to wake Katniss, but this was sure to get more awkward as the seconds went by, and he didn't feel up to fighting. Katniss struggled against him, trying to force him to lie back down, but Finnick prevailed in sitting upright.
"Well, I just wanted to come over and warn you," Peeta began. He paused for long enough, staring – no glaring – at Finnick and Katniss that Finnick felt he might have to force the warning out of him, before clearing his throat again. Finnick's heart beat fiercely in his chest, waiting for whatever Peeta was going to say next, thinking that Gale and Annie were already here, that his time with Katniss was already over. "I just wanted to warn you that Effie – "
"Katniss!" came the sing song voice of a woman with lavender hair. Finnick recognized her immediately somehow. Effie strode in, her overly complex matching lavender and gold outfit and heels hindering her only slightly as she forced her way through the door. "Oh Katniss, I – " Effie stopped when she saw Finnick and Katniss sprawled together on the couch. For her part, Katniss jumped awake at the loud calling of her name and was sitting up with her hand pressed over her palpitating heart.
"Effie," Katniss cried, but Effie was staring at Finnick, completely oblivious to the girl she had just been so excited to see. Effie crossed the room, ignoring Peeta and Katniss, and stopping close in front of Finnick. She walked back and forth in front of him a few times, studying his face from different angles.
"Well I'll be," she muttered softly. "Finnick Odair. But you're dead. We had a funeral for you and everything."
"Effie," Katniss called, standing up and touching the woman slightly on the arm.
Effie twirled around and squealed, throwing her arms around Katniss and exclaiming. "Oh look at you, Katniss. You look so much better. A bit too thin, we should do something with your hair, but oh, the natural look is in right now. I've just made an appointment to get a makeover myself, go back to my natural hair color and all. Everyone's doing it."
"What are you doing here?" Katniss asked when Effie took a breath.
"Oh, I'm here – Oh there he is. Haymitch!" Effie waved to the man out the window. Finnick watched as he slowly made his way to the door and stumbled in. To Finnick's shock, Haymitch looked cleaned up. He seemed to have showered and shaved, and he was wearing new pants and a nice shirt – one not stained with booze or vomit. Effie air kissed Haymitch on both cheeks and peeked out the door behind him to call out, "Octavia, Flavius, Venia, in here." Effie motioned them in with her hands.
"Katniss!" Octavia squealed, brushing past Haymitch and Effie and throwing herself at the girl. "Oh look at your hair, it's so in! Natural is in now, you know."
"Yeah, I've heard. What are you all doing here?" Katniss asked, tugging her hands out of Octavia's.
"OH haven't you heard, darling? We're here to get everyone ready for the press," Flavius said, stepping up to Katniss and kissing her on both cheeks.
"Press?" Katniss demanded. "What are you talking about? What press?"
"For the reunion, of course," Effie said, taking center stage again. "Oh, and what a reunion it will be," she said excitedly, turning to Finnick. "The Finnick Odair, somehow alive, reunited with his one true love, Annie Cresta. Sorry, Annie Odair." Effie sighed happily, hand over her heart. At his name, the three makeup artists whipped around until they spotted him and gasped loudly, huddling close together and whispering excitedly.
Finnick started to nervously play with a string hanging off his shirt and he looked to Katniss then Haymitch for help. "And we need press for this?" Katniss asked, stepping closer to Finnick and taking his hand.
"Of course," Effie said. "This will be the first reunion the nation will see of you and Peeta. Despite everything that's happened, most of the Capitol still holds onto your love story like their own."
Katniss shot an uncomfortable look at Peeta who just sighed and stared at the floor. "Well," Haymitch said, stepping in, "let's get you all settled in first. I'm sure Katniss will love to catch up later after she's had a chance to make herself decent, hm?" Haymitch took Effie gently by the arm and steered her around. "Come on Loverboy." Haymitch shot a look at Katniss before herding the crowd out.
Katniss dropped Finnick's hand and turned away. "Well, looks we won't have to make a decision after all," she said softly. She walked upstairs without a look back, leaving Finnick standing alone in the room where they'd grown to love each other so well.
A/N: So, sorry it's been forever. In the spirit of the holidays (and thanks to my time off work) I finally finished this chapter. Also writing an outline for the story so I have a direction and you hopefully have updates more.