AN: Welcome (back)! Are any of the OG readers still reading this anyway? We're also curious about the new readers who might have a better memory of what has happened in this story than we do! This story has been up for like 6 years, we don't remember a lot of the plot… (we might also be a little too lazy to read everything again). Why did we invent a sister for Finnick? Dunno. Why did Percy have that dream about Finnick's mum? Dunno. It's best not to analyse it too much. Just enjoy the ride

Disclaimer: Same old, not ours. The rights belong to Rick Riordan and Suzanne Collins. Yep. No profit being made here.

Chapter XV: Chocolate-noodle sandwich, what?! (Not clickbait)

Percy's P.O.V.

After Finnick so helpfully passed out, I managed to drag him through the fire and into a clearing. Thanks to Hestia, even our clothes and bags were now fire resistant.

With a heavy groan I lay down on the grass beside the still unconscious Finnick, resting my head on folded arms. Staring into the night sky, the embers were just as numerous as the stars. It felt weirdly comforting as it licked against my skin, like a warm embrace alternated by the first cool drops of rain.

I don't know how long I lay there, staring at the sky, but it was long enough that the rain had put out most of the fire. I considered getting up and getting our bearings at that point, taking stock of what we managed to escape with. Sleep also sounded appealing, but somehow it didn't seem wise for both Finnick and I to be lying with our eyes closed in a clearing during the Hunger Games.

A light beam fired across the sky before I'd made a decision and it was closely followed by the awfully-catchy fanfare of the Capitol. I leaned up on my elbows to get a better view. Beside me, Finnick stirred.

I shook him fully awake. "It's the announcements for today."

I felt the moment Finnick's mind made the connection about Tracey possibly being a Fallen. He sat up to lean against me.

The first one didn't come as a surprise to us, the haunting image of Poriona Locke flashing on the screen. Her menacing smile a stark contrast to how we'd last seen her, falling mortally wounded before her brother's eyes. I was surprised she'd managed to survive another day.

Then a girl from district 5, with wild hair. I couldn't remember her name, but I thought it might have been based on some god. Then came Woody, from district 7. I had seen him during training sessions a few times. He was good at throwing axes. Next was someone from district 8 that I didn't recognise.

And that was it.

"Tracey is still out there," Finnick spoke for both of us. He sighed. "I know I'm not supposed to feel relieved, that this only means she will have to die later if we want to win, but still…"

"I know. I feel the same."

I turned my head to face Finnick, and for the first time I noticed the subtle changes. The little specks of orange in his eyes weren't just reflections from the dying embers. His hair had a subtle fiery glow to it. "It seems like Hestia's blessing has left some permanent changes."

"To us both. Though back then, in the woods, you were almost glowing. I guess it might be more noticeable in firelight," Finnick said, his eyes lingering.

"Speaking of, it is actually getting a bit dark now. We might need to build an actual campfire now. But we should find somewhere else to do that, this is too open."

So it was that we got off our asses and found us a new piece of campsite. We weren't very picky. It's been a long day.

With all the… fire around us, it wasn't too difficult to make a fire. We shared some food - fruits and cucumbers - too tired to discuss anything important.

"I can't believe we've only met Tracey yesterday. And that the flying pigs happened last night. They better not wake us again tonight," Finnick said, taking another bite of his cucumber.

"Well at least we've both got weapons now." I responded, mouthful of berries. I put my hand in my pocket to feel the familiar weight of Riptide.

"True," he swallowed. "But still. I would really love to wake up peacefully again. Maybe even more than I would like to have a chocolate-noodle sandwich right now." He swallowed the cucumber remorsefully.

"Chocolate-noodle sandwich?" I repeated credulous. "Doesn't sound very tasty to me. I'll have a pizza, if we're taking orders now."

"What's that?" Finnick asked, to my horror.

"What kind of dystopia is this! You don't have pizza anymore? It's like a flat and round dough with tomato sauce and cheese, and all the toppings you want. And sometimes, when my mum makes them for me, they can be blue." I smiled.

"She sounds wonderful. Not sure about the pizzas, though I'd like to try them if I can someday."

I bit my lip. A moment passed in silence, both of us unwilling to think about our future. Finnick's movement broke the trance as he rummaged through our stuff and pulled out the sleeping bag. "I can take the first shift tonight. Only fair," he offered. "The flying pigs won't catch me unawares again."

I was too tired to refuse. I got comfortable in my sleeping bag as I cuddled up against Finnick.

The tall thrones of the Olympians loomed in the background. My dad's voice, restrained though it was, echoed through the room. "I do not like it when other Gods interfere with the quests I send my children on. Tell me, what have you done?"

A melodious chuckle cut through the tension. "I merely brought two lovebirds together by changing one little thing. Just a small detail."

My dad's face appeared to me, his expression like a calm before the storm. The wrinkles on my dad's face tightened slightly. "For what reason? Your entertainment? This is not a game, it's Percy's life."

"What can I say, he is far too adorable. And so is your grandson." Aphrodite sighed wistfully, before continuing. "You have no reason at all to worry about my meddling. After all, I'm not like your sister! I wouldn't do something to him that could actually put him in danger." Aphrodite pouted. "Or at least not in direct danger.

And just like that the wave hit the shore. "What are you referring to? My sister, Hera?"

The goddess smiled sweetly, glad to have distracted the God of the Seas with this latest bit of gossip. "Oh yes, she is still very much involved in this quest of yours. Quite angry at you as well."

The scene changed to one I'm more familiar with, Camp Half-blood. Annabeth walked into the clearing between the cabins, clearly looking for someone. She locked her eyes on Chiron as he was walking by and approached him.

"Have you heard anything from the party ponies about Percy? He has been missing for three weeks, two days and 3 hours now, he can't just suddenly vanish without telling anyone anything."

Chiron gave her a sorrowful look "They haven't seen him or heard anything about him, I'm so sorry."

I haven't ever seen Annabeth look this tired before, the bags under her eyes made it seem like she hadn't slept for the last three weeks.

"He couldn't have straight up left me after that goodnight kiss at the campfire. He could've been kidnapped or hurt or else."

"You shouldn't worry this much, Percy still has the curse of Achilles, he will be fine." said Chiron.

I woke up gasping, arms flailing around me and grabbing hold of something. Instead of fighting my grasp, the thing went with me willingly when I pulled. It turned out to be Finnick's arm, with the rest of Finnick attached to it. I stared at Finnick's furrowed brow unblinkingly for a moment, as he leaned over me in concern.

"I tried to wake you up. Didn't seem like you were having a nice time."

I exhaled a shaky breath and ran my hand through my hair. I let the memories of the dream catch up to me. "Sorry if I scratched you," I mumbled as an after-thought. I couldn't let any detail slip away now. There was a serious conversation between his dad and Aphrodite, and then Annabeth had suddenly popped up. What did they say? "I never get used to demigod dreams, not really."

"That's alright." Finnick backed away again so I could sit up straight in the sleeping bag. He looked dead tired. "You didn't miss much, by the way. Boring night shift, which is good."

"You better get some rest now, not like I'd get any more sleep done tonight." I got out of the bag and we switched places, Finnick taking the sleeping bag and me taking up his post against a tree.

A theory started to form in my head. Somehow my invincibility is gone, I didn't even have to touch the small of my back to know it. I have been injured before on this quest, but it hadn't really stood out to me as weird in this already weird situation. Could it be that Hera had somehow stripped it away from me?

And although this was definitely not a good piece of information, my mind keeps drifting to the other part of the first dream. Aphrodite has done something to me as well. What if what Finnick and I feel is only because of the Gods messing with my life?

Annabeth is worried about me. It seems so obvious now, but how had it not crossed my mind that she might now know where I am and if I am okay? I have barely thought about her since coming here, only mentioning her to Finnick a few times.

When my dad came to me with the quest, he said that Hera had kidnapped me and that he would see me again in six months. Does that mean that I will remain here until then? And that Annabeth and everyone will have to worry until then?

My mum's going to kill me.

AN: Theeeere it is aa-gain. Hope you guys know what the fic's about better than we do, cause next year it's probably gonna be the same problem… Our notes are very confusing as well, apparently Finnick and Percy together are called Wall-E in them? Only one mention of wall-e. We could've just said Fincy. See you next year!

Small extract from our notes on the previous chapter:

Cornucopia

Thunder, feel the thunder

Oops metal

(…)

Tuuurn around

Look at what you seeeee

Destruction (:(

They see fire? I AM FIRE, I AM DEATH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH!and tiny Martin Freeman

Rip wood-related people AND FEMALE THOR

(Translation: Groot and Woody, and Thora)

Zeus is mad, again!

FLOOr POWDER