Finnick POV
"Finnick, meet my boyfriend, Peeta Mellark," my co-star tells me and I narrow my eyes at the couple, glaring at Peeta pointedly.
He starts looking at his shoes and I smirk.
"Nice to finally meet you, Peter," I drawl and he scowls for a brief second and the next, he smiles and shakes my hand. Is this guy always this nice? How the fuck will he last with Katniss Everdeen, queen of scowls?
"It's Peeta actually, Peetah Mellark, with an "a" at the end and two e's" he exaggerates the 'ah' for my sake.
I scowl at him again and stand at my full height, trying to look intimidating and it must work because he straightens up as well. But then I make the mistake of looking at her and the small twitch of her lips is enough to let me know what she's thinking.
'Trying to intimidate the guy I love, asshole?' and she raises an eyebrow at the same time I think of what's going on in her mind right now. Seriously? I am trying to be a protective older-brother figure here!
"Nice to finally see you're real, because me and the crew were thinking this Peeta dude is some sort of fantasy guy Katniss fingers herself to-"
"Lalalalala I can't hear a thing you're saying Finn, lalalalala" Katniss yelled, covering her boyfriend's ears who had a self-satisfied smirk.
"Seriously though dude, welcome to our crazy family, come let's help introduce you to everyone." I tell him and drag him inside the studio.
"This raging bitch is Jo, Johanna Mason, head choreographer and backup dancer. This here is Madge Undersee, back up dancer number two and you already seem to know Delly Cartwright, Katniss' social media girl," he introduces and they all look at him with huge smiles. Yea, I know. Our baby is grown up… and has a fucking boyfriend!
"That old drunkard is Haymitch Abernathy, the manager and honorary drunk father to our Kat here." I point towards Haymitch who's glaring daggers at Peeta with his bloodshot eyes.
Peeta smiles and shakes his hand, hiding a grimace as Haymitch squeezes his hand too hard and gives him a once over. Smart guy.
"Okaaay, will you all stop terrorizing my boyfriend," Katniss yells and pulls Peeta away from Haymitch with a glare.
"Aww young love," I fake swoon and faint and Johanna barks out a laugh.
"Shut up, Finn!"
"So, let's cut straight to the chase. Katniss has been our girl since Cray went to jail. We don't want anyone hurting her in any way which is exactly why you're meeting us all today, so we can remember your face if we have to trace your ass and beat the shit out of you. For her, we'll gladly go to jail, too," Haymitch tells him with narrowed eyes and Peeta smiles at him and nods.
"I'll keep that in mind. It's nice to meet you all though. You don't have to worry, I would rather cut off my leg before I even think of hurting her," Peeta says earnestly and pulls her close.
I narrow my eyes at Johanna who makes a puking gesture. Yea, those two are disgustingly adorable.
"Now, kid. We want you to impress us. Show us you're good enough for our little mockingjay here and we'll give you our blessing to 'date' her. Dating only, you still don't have permission for sleeping with her yet," Johanna says and Katniss fake gags.
"My sex life is none of you guys' concern but thanks Jo," Katniss quips and we all laugh. Peeta looks uncomfortable. Good.
The Mellark kid ends up impressing us by inviting us to dinner. There's so much food and even two different types of desserts. And Li'l Prim is there too.
"They have been obliviously in love with each other for years. They're the only ones who didn't know it. It's good to see her acting her age for once," Prim tells me and Haymitch. I trust Prim's judgment and we all agree to, begrudgingly, trust Peeta Mellark too.
And we see our mockingjay flourish. She sings with more emotion, dances with more confidence and models with such an ease you'd think she was born to be on the runway.
She asks us and after a secret meeting, we all agree to let Mellark tag along with us to her tours and live performances. She has never looked happier and more beautiful. And even her sales and fan following increases.
Her song 'Looking at me' became the most heard song of the year and the music video, which she did with amazing ol' me, was the second most viewed and liked on the internet.
Peeta and Katniss went public with their relationship and #Everlark became the most trending tag and favourite ship of the year.
Haymitch (a year later)
She performs brilliantly, as if thousands of people aren't watching her sing and dance on stage.
In the front row, Peeta Mellark waits anxiously. The boy looks so nervous even I feel pity for him. Beside him, Prim is jumping excitedly. I wonder if she's excited about the live performance, proud of her sister or enjoying the seemingly perfect Peeta's nerves. He's a good boy and he makes her happy, but he's also an insecure one.
I've spent one too many nights with him lamenting how he's not good enough and can't give her all the goodness she deserves. I agree she deserves so much, but I am sure he can give her that.
Which is why he asked Prim, me, Finnick, Johanna, Madge and even Delly to give him permission to propose to her. We all did, but Finnick, the little shit he is, told him to do it onstage after her next performance otherwise he'll tell Katniss some embarrassing shit he did.
As soon as Katniss finishes the song, she starts moving off the stage but Johanna pulls her back.
A very nervous Peeta Mellark climbs on-stage and walks towards her. He looks at her for a short moment and falls to one knee making the crowd gasp and Katniss covers her mouth.
"Katniss Everdeen, I have loved you for so long that I didn't know when I fell in love with you. But it took me a while to realize that I fell in love with you when you were seventeen. I was stunned by your strength and the love you held for those you hold dear. I didn't just fall in love with your pretty face, or your sexy body but I did when I saw what an amazing person you were and I promised myself I'd always take care of you and be there for you." The crowd starts oohing and aahing loudly and he gulps and continues,
"I know we wasted years before realizing how much we love each other, but I don't want to wait anymore; life's too unpredictable anyway. What I am trying to ask, but got interrupted by nervous rambling," the crowd laughs and Katniss chuckles too,
There is eerie silence now as we all wait with baited breath for him to finally say the magic words.
"Will you marry me Katniss and make me lucky enough to spend my entire life loving you, cherishing you, supporting you through everything. Will you become my Katniss Mellark?" he asks and opens the box to reveal a custom made pearl and diamond engagement ring. I have to admit, I had to wipe away a tear myself. Damn that boy! Turning me into a sentimental fool.
"Yes yes yes, Peeta, I'd love nothing more than to start my life with you. I don't care if people think I am too young. I want no one but you, end of story," she says, pulling him up and kissing him passionately as the crowd starts applauding and whistling.
I look away, feeling like I am interrupting something private which is ridiculous since they're being watched by thousands of people now, but they only have eyes for each other.
There's cheering and clapping and shouts of "Everlark forever!" and congratulations.
He puts the ring on her finger, and they thank the crowd together before leaving the stage hand in hand.
Finnick pulls me along and we all have our own private celebration with the newly engaged couple.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see them looking at each other with so much love it's sickening. He says something that makes her blush and laugh and I am glad I didn't hear whatever he said to her. I am pretty sure even drunk, I could punch the living daylights out of that boy.
And months later as I see them running off from the court house together as a married couple, I throw my bottle of whiskey away. I know I don't need it anymore because no matter how bad the past was for any of us, it will always get better.
And I don't want to be drunk when they give me grandkids anyway, so better start practicing now.
"Congratulations sweetheart," I whisper to myself. She has come a long way and I am insanely proud of her. The fun is just beginning.
Characters and place names belong to Suzanne Collins. Looking at me is originally a song by Sabrina Carpenter originally and the mentioned music video for it is all fictional. When Katniss dances to the song 'Looking at me' alone or with Madge and Johanna (no Finnick needed), I imagine them following the choreography by "Marissa Heart" on youtube cuz hot damn!