A.N: Remember of where we are timeline wise, 72nd Hunger Games and Katniss is 14!

Chapter 21: You're Dangerous

The capitol's sky was illuminated with the many lights of the city creating a low dim on the streets and a slight sheen in the sky. Katniss watched as the force field shimmer for a second almost completely invisible to the human eye. The roof was the only place where she would breath at all these days. She came to this time two years ago to make sure their losses were at best minimum but every day Katniss felt like she was failing everyone who helped to send her back. So far, she has done nothing but become the capital's darling, but by doing so she saved one life perhaps that was something.

Here she was once again allowing others to die with this upcoming game. Everyone else was fast asleep, yet one could practically feel the tribute's tossing and turning in their beds. She could hardly stand to think of them knowing that she was allowing them to die. Katniss sat on the roof listening to the vast sounds of the city underneath. She could hear the muffled sound of voices, the rum of vehicles roaming past causing the vast amount of city lights to reflect the colors passing by. Surrounded by such vanity Katniss felt even more out of place and missing the comfort of District 12's silence.

The silence of twelve was missed when one was forced to deal with a constant hammer of sounds.

The lone victor thought about how Johanna had already perfected her mask, her anger keeping potential issues away now. Katniss knew they were helping but the strained relationship with her family was almost visible to those who knew the newest victor. Her thoughts soon strayed toward her 'slow burn relationship' with Finnick.

It was all too similar to what she went through with Peeta it was heart wrenching. She hated to admit that being with Finnick was rather easy. Easy was dangerous Katniss could get lost and forget that it was for his benefit that their feelings remain platonic. Groaning Katniss tied her hair back into her normal braid. The girl had to admit secretly to herself that the previous relationship between Fin and Annie would never occur. The bronze haired victor was no longer Annie's sole protector from the start. She saw neither starred at each other in any way other than pure friendship. They no longer

clung to each other when things got tough, they had people now. Where Annie used to be in his heart Katniss feared she had taken up that spot.

"Girl on Fire" A familiar voice whispered into her ear with a shit eating grin.

Katniss closed her eyes, "horrible luck to sneak up on a victor you know Mason."

"You heard me coming" Johanna countered back her voice light in attitude as she sat down next to her.

"Why are you here and not sleeping?" Katniss asked watching the way the other girl moved side to side. Johanna gave her a rather dark look, "as if you don't know."

The Girl on Fire shook her head, "Johanna just don't expect it to get any easier." If Johanna was listening she did not give any indication that she was. The two settled into a comfortable silence. Listening to the sound of their breathing evening out comforted them. It meant that they were alive. It was almost a relief that Johanna was not much of a talker.

It allowed for Katniss to delve deep into her thoughts. Two more years until it would be

Peeta's turn. Yet Katniss knew District 13 would be reluctant to do anything. At least not until they were sure she was the one. They preferred waiting until the last possible second after all. A behavior Katniss knew would lead to far more deaths than necessary. The problem she faced now was how to overthrow the capitol sooner while not allowing District 13 to take over. It was beginning to dawn on her that avoiding war was impossible. The hatred ran to deep in both the Districts and 13 for anything else to ease their pain let alone overthrow Snow. She hoped they did not have to burn along.

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Katniss found herself observing the tributes training dragging along Finnick with her. Her male counterpart stood beside her, she found it hard not to be at least a tiny bit impressed. She watched as his eyes scanned the room missing no detail. Her hand slipped into his, her gaze not leaving her own tributes.

"The outer districts seem to get worse each year" Finnick grimaced as one of her own dropped a sword multiple times.

"That's what no training does to you."

Finnick turned his gaze toward her, the corner of his eyes narrowing at the sponsors in the room. He pulled her closer tucking her head under his chin holding on so tight she could not push away.

"Shh don't let them win. They were beginning to stare" He whispered in her ear.

"Stare at what exactly?" His partner grumbled back.

"Ahem, Ahem." The two victors turned toward the sound to face the newly made Gamemaker Seneca Crane.

"Ah Congratulations on the promotion Head Gamemaker Crane" Finnick shook the man's hand. Katniss refused to let it show how tight his grip on her waist had become.

"Thank you, it is such a pleasant sight. It does our country good to see our victors comingling." It was Katniss's turn to be polite, smiling as she forced complimentary words out of her mouth, "I've found a very good friend in Finnick Odair, Sir."

"I would have to agree with you Miss. Everdeen. I must confess Odair, you seem to get all the luck with the ladies. I would keep this one close if I were you" Crane joked, his eyes scanning the both to the protective hand Finnick had on her back.

"Finnick what does he mean?" Katniss asked pretending to have no idea of the poorly hidden meaning behind those words. Nodding in their direction he excused himself. The victors inwardly sighed in relief as Finnick loosened his grip.

"Sorry" He mouthed.

Katniss grabbed his hand, "You promised me a proper tour Fin."

He raised an eye at her inwardly pleased at her growing skill.

"Milady please forgive me. Shall we go to dinner?" He perfectly mimicked her tone causing her eyes to lighten in what Finnick knew as pure amusement. The couple ignored the looks they received. All that mattered was that people saw them together and would beg for them to become a fairytale couple. Katniss was forced to admit the plan was brilliant, at her physical age while selling her was distasteful, Snow could do it without anyone be none the wiser. By letting a few rumors slip and their

already established friendship the citizens were buzzing at the idea of them being a couple. Katniss allowed Finnick to play gentleman, earning multiple awes as women saw them enter a sleek town car. Once the car door closed, Finnick sat next to her as she leaned into his chest.

"You're dangerous Odair."

Finnick smirked, "Dangerous?"

"Yes dangerous" Katniss elbowed him.

Finnick winces, "Damn Everdeen."

Katniss smirked his way. Finnick pulled her back whispered in her ear, "How am I dangerous Everdeen?"

"I often forget when I'm with you" She whispered tucking her head onto his shoulder. Honesty was always what they were best at no matter what timeline.

"Forget?"

"Forget all the losses, my goals and your son."

"My son…" He repeated.

"Finnick Odair Jr, you died before we knew Annie was even pregnant." The bronze haired victor felt his companion pull away. Not physically but rather mentally so Finnick did the only thing he could. Finnick Odair pulled her close and kissed her forehead. Her reaction was immediate, she didn't shake out of her inner thoughts but she pulled herself closer to him laying her head on his chest. After a while Finnick felt Katniss move to pull away.

Releasing her with a peck on the forehead he spoke quietly, "You never mentioned a son."

Her glare delighted him, "I thought it was in the letter."

"Yet I never mentioned it."

"Denial. That's a victor specialty is it not?"

Finnick chuckled, "God you still are so naïve it's adorable."

Her hand went to strike but was caught by Finnick's fact reflexes. "Now back to how I am dangerous Everdeen."

Sighing," and your son?"

His eyes met hers, "You and I both know Annie is now smitten with Peeta."

Katniss snorted, "I think it's cute."

"You are not going to stop it?"

"Annie isn't ready"

"Yet a crush does not bother you?"

Katniss shrugged, "I let go of my Peeta a long time ago."

"You know nothing could come of it" He stated.

"Yes. Either way it's okay."

"Your something else" Finnick chuckled.

"I want them to be happy. Maybe this time they won't be doomed dragged down by…"

"Us" He finished.

"No…"

"I am just as damaged if not more so than you Everdeen. Us" He pushed her against the car door gently. Katniss he could see remained unafraid despite the fact he was on top of her. His hand pulled a stray hair out of her face. Their eyes met, "Katniss it's okay to live."

Grey eyes closed, "Losing you once was enough."

"You won't lose me."

"This is only to stop…"

"Snow. I know but Katniss we…." The car pulled to a stop and their door opened before he could finish. Katniss gave him one last real smile.

"Let's give them a show Odair."

"Better keep up Little Girl."

The crowd outside roared in delight at seeing Finnick Odair lead Katniss Everdeen out of a car into a small diner, with some guards standing at the front door keeping reporters out of the diner. Lights flashed as camera's snapped their photos. Photos that will appear across the news tomorrow. Finnick never let his arm leave her shoulders, "Finnick did you clear this with anyone?"

"I didn't ask for anyone's permission if that's what you mean" Finnick answered looking at the guards with suspicion.

"Then why are there guards at the door?" Katniss hissed, as they were being led toward the door.

"Do you trust me?"

"With my life" Her answer held no hesitation. Her grey eyes widened as Finnick dropped his arm from her shoulder and held onto her wrist quickly turning them from the door and running past their guards.

"Finnick!" Katniss almost winced at the childlike tone her voice took just as the cameras and the guards attempted to run after the two victors. The clicks of the camera could be heard, snapping the view of Finnick Odair running off with Katniss Everdeen.

"Oh, come on this will be easy to spin, but they will catch us if you don't hurry up!"

"Your legs are longer than mine!" Katniss growled pulling her wrist away to use the tug to pull her right next to him, just so she could use her free arms to push him into a bush. They stared at each other in shock for a couple of seconds before even Katniss was pulled into laughter.

"Well aren't we popular?" She snickered.

"Those guards… they were Snows. Which means he found out about this little outing" Finnick growled.

"So, you did plan this" Katniss laughed bending down to help pull him back off the ground. Finnick laughed, "The only thing I planned was to take you out for a small dinner in the city with your very handsome best friend."

"So, all the cameras would have been fine but the guards were what spooked you?" Katniss purposely kept a light tone knowing that it would annoy Finnick just enough to spill something he clearly knew.

"They were Snows men, Katniss we will always have to deal with cameras especially if we want to pull this off" Finnick said softly pulling her along, pretending not to notice that the people around them were snapping photos. "But that does not mean that it's still early anything could make our plan irreverent, they were put there to make sure we seemed too intimate. The citizens might love buying time with us but if they thought we were…."

"They would never allow us to be intimate declaring me to be too young but they would buy me for themselves and have bought you when you were my age."

"Exactly, we have a fine line to live on until…" Finnick paused.

"I'm 16 then they can say we are dating but nothing can be twisted until we both hit the marrying age if we have to put on this front that long."

Unnoticed by Katniss but they had just reached the sole park in the city of Panem, light up with fairy lights due to the growing night sky. "And Haymitch said you were hopeless at this…'

"That Drunk! Maybe when I was actually 16…." Katniss held her breath as she took in the park with a few food-stands still parked around.

"When I saw the guards, I thought this would be just as good of a time out. I figured it might be similar enough to home…"

Katniss pulled Finnick into a tight hug almost choking him as she whispered, "Thank you."

"Your welcome" He choked, causing her to mutter a slew of minor insults his way.

Their night was spent walking around to the various food-stands and trying most of the menu. Katniss occasionally felt the flash of a camera or heard a snap of a shutter but most of her attention was focused on not spilling her food as Finnick regally told tales of his childhood once more to her.

"How are we doing?" She whispered.

"Snow will be furious at how well we are doing."

"Wonderful especially considering we did run away from his spies" Her comment caused her bronze haired friend to snicker, "He won't do anything not with all the wonderful citizen taken photos floating around. It will be considered a boon to the capital."

"I know, we are prizes to the capital after all" She replied.

Finnick sighed, "Katniss…"

She turned to him grasping his hand.

"This can't be real and you know why" She whispered fear swelling deep inside her. Forcing her to focus so much on her breath she barely caught his reply.

His eyes narrowed, "That's bullshit Katniss."

"It's the only way to survive Finnick."

"That's not living"

"Who said we get to live Finnick."

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Later that night Katniss lay in her bed unable to sleep. She counted every tile on her ceiling, every piece of clothing and every inch of her well attempting to get Finnick Odair out of her head. The way his eyes lit in determination, the way he fought for the chance to live, really live. He wanted them to be real, to feel their connection strengthen.

Katniss almost could believe it possible. Yet she knew the undeniable truth. As long as Snow was in charge no one would be free to live. She could let nothing come before her mission. As long as she had a mission she could never even admit to herself the way she was starting to feel. Feelings such as theirs would only get them killed.

She already cost Finnick his life once. Cost him a chance at raising a family with Annie in district 4. Katniss would not be the cause of it this time around. The click of her door opening alerted her to the intruder as she felt for her knife that lay hidden under her pillow. Slowly she grabbed the handle remaining quiet pretending to have just moved in her sleep.

"I know you're awake Everdeen."

Sitting up she met Finnick Odair face to face. It was a strange sight indeed. His hair was messier than during daylight hours and his breathing was shallow and rough. She noted that he must have been down at the training grounds.

"Finnick."

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