.Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, its characters or its world. Non-canon characters, Allie and Phoenix belong to RandomNerdyKilljoy (here and on Wattpad) and Phoenixsword24 (here on Fanfiction) respectively. Go check them out! And happy reading.

Chapter Twelve: Confession and a Change.

"Phoenix? I need to talk to you," Johanna declares, looking worried.

Allie protests "But we're not done with his hair and makeup!"

Johanna snaps "Only a minute, chill out! Possessive, much? Phoenix, can we have a word?"

Phoenix looks to Allie, whose mouth opens in protest. "Allie, I think we can give them a few minutes," Cat stage-whispers, pulling Allie gently to the bathroom, amidst her protests.

Johanna looks at Phoenix, suddenly feeling nerves overtake her. "What is it, Jo?" Phoenix asks, knowing it's huge if she's hesitating.

"I guess I should just come right out and say it... Phoenix, I... I l... I... God, why is this so difficult?! Phoenix, I like you. Differently to how I like the girls who are hiding in the bathroom. I figured it out in Seven when we nearly... You know," she stammers, finally getting it out. "Well, there it is. Please proceed to let this be awkward."

"No, Jo, it's okay. Honestly, I'm glad you said it. You spared me thinking up how to do it," he tells her, smirking a bit.

"Then in that case..." she says, leaning in.

At that moment, there's a sharp rapping on the door and a very Capitol voice announces "Half an hour, everyone!"

"Always ruining the moment," Johanna mutters. "We'll continue this after Snow's dead, yeah?"

"Yeah," Phoenix says, giving her his signature smirk.

"You get what you wanted, Johanna?" Allie asks.

"You were listening, you should know!" Johanna snaps.

Cat asks "So is it okay if we come in, now?"

Johanna snaps "Yeah, whatever!"

Allie walks in, a golden tattoo on her wrist in the shape of a mockingjay. "Okay, time to get to business."

Allie begins sorting out his hairdye, while Cat sorts through her makeup. "Heads up," she calls to Allie, then throws her the tube of golden eyeliner.

"Thanks," Allie acknowledges.

"No problem, how's that dye coming?" she asks.

"Fantastically, almost done, you got the shadow?" Allie asks, focused on Phoenix's dye.

"As always," Cat mutters, sounding preoccupied.

"What's going through your head?" Johanna asks, studying the Capitol girl.

Cat looks up, her eyes wide. "Oh, nothing," she says vaguely. "Allie? The dye?"

"Done," Allie announces. "Shadow time."

Cat gets up and takes out an eyeshadow brush, then ti!ts Phoenix's face to hers and quietly says "Look here, please. And could you please shut your eyes?"

Phoenix blinks at her, then asks "You sure you're okay?"

Cat nods and quietly murmurs "Yeah, I'm sure. We're on a strict schedule, please close your eyes."

"You sound like Trinket," Johanna mutters, amused.

"Fifteen minutes, people!" Effie calls throughout the mansion.

Haymitch bellows "God, Eff, shut up and come for us when it's time!"

Johanna mutters "Speak of the Trinket-"

Phoenix mutters back "The Trinket will appear."

Allie stifles a laugh and Cat smiles slightly, definitely not all there right now. "You know she could be right outside, right?" Allie asks, her voice quiet.

Johanna grins and asks "Do I really care if she hears me?"

"Probably not," Cat mutters, then looks up. "Allie? Eyeliner time."

Allie moves to put the eyeliner onto Phoenix's eyelids. Johanna tilts her head at him. "I honestly did not think you'd be able to pull that off, but wow," she states in approval.

"Thanks, Jo," Phoenix says, sounding slightly flattered, though he's feeling his stomach do weird things at her compliment.

"Time to go!" Effie's high-pitched voice announces.

Allie finishes Phoenix's eyeliner and stands. "Let's go watch the death of a tyrant," she says, joy filling her voice.

The crowd is thick and tightly packed. Cat holds on to Allie and Phoenix, whose hand is linked with Johanna's. "Come to the front," Effie encourages them, tugging them all along, relying on their linked hands and Cat's death grip to keep them together, her free hand locked in Haymitch's. She pulls them all to the front, seeing Snow tied to the stake.

Snow mouths at the four Capitol rebels, Johanna and Haymitch "Traitors."

Haymitch and Johanna each lift their spare hands, Effie having dropped Johanna's, and both Victors raise their middle fingers to him. Just to irritate Snow further, Haymitch turns Effie to him and kisses her gently. She kisses him back, then pushes him back, protesting softly, smiling a bit.

That's when the crowd parts and Katniss Everdeen makes her way down and President Coin takes the podium. Time slows for Allie, Phoenix, Johanna and Cat then. Not one of them notices anything, prepared for the end.

A/N: Next chapter is the last of this story! Sequel is already in progress, though. Hope this was up to standard. xoxo