"People fight all the time," Leona murmured as she sat with Rini. "You've given him some time to cool down, and you collected yourself. You needed a little break, that's okay."
"Did Cecil ever throw you out of the house?" She asked, looking at the little boy sleeping on the rug in front of her. "Things just feel different. I don't know if he wants me like this, but I feel good for the first time in a long time. I don't want to be weak, I like feeling strong." She sighed and absentmindedly rubbed a hand over her stomach. "It's not like we thought this would ever happen. He was coming around to the idea of me going in."
Leona made a face; she'd been told all about what Rini had been doing. "But now that you could be pregnant…I understand why he's upset. You can't make this decision for yourself anymore."
"Yeah," Rini murmured and she wiped her hands on her shorts. "I can't even think about staying put, though. Not after everything that I've done. I've worked so hard…"
"You don't have to explain it to me," she shook her head and watched the redhead debate with herself, having missed her presence in the house. The week she stayed was a comfort she didn't know she needed. "I'm with you. We're with you, no matter what." She reached over and placed her hand on Renata's knee, smiling.
Rini looked up at her and smiled, her face softening. "Thank you," she whispered, giving her hand a squeeze before getting up. "I'll be back, I have to go-"
"I know," Leona stood and followed her to the door, stopping her before she opened the door. "I just realized…isn't it your birthday today?"
She furrowed her brows and thought for a moment, giving a short laugh. "Yeah…it is."
She smiled and patted her shoulder. "Happy birthday, Rini."
Finnick sat up in bed, his hair a mess from what must have been trouble sleeping. "Renata?" He asked, his eyebrows knit in confusion. The room looked like it had a week ago, and it looked like he hadn't changed clothes since then. "How did you get in?"
She bit back a smile, slowly going and sitting on a wicker chair in the corner of his bedroom. "The front door was unlocked. If you were serious about kicking me out, you should have at least locked the doors. I'm not driven enough to try and climb in a window." She watched him stare back at her with tired, uninterested eyes and sighed. "I'm offering an olive branch here, Finn."
"How's that?" He threw his legs over the side of the bed and faced her, scratching at the patch of stubble that covered his cheeks. "You took the test? You're staying out of the arena?"
"Well…no. I wanted to sit down and talk. Actually talk, not yell at each other and then you throw me out."
Finnick chewed on his lip and he sighed heavily. "Fine. I don't really know what there is to talk about."
"Do you want a baby? With me?"
When he looked up at her, he saw the Rini he fell in love with. Her bright eyes watched him with gentleness, not the hard stare she'd acquired lately. "I…I do. That's why I want to know, why I want you to stay out-"
"We both know that I'm pregnant. I've been nauseous for weeks. It makes sense. Marielle wasn't and I had the higher chance, anyway." She swallowed before continuing, "When I found out, I was so happy. I want this. I knew I did, I didn't think it would ever happen and especially so soon, but…" She sighed and chewed on her lip. "If I go to the doctor and have the test, they're going to take it out of me. We wouldn't have a choice." She risked a look at him and relaxed when she saw that he had softened a bit. "If you don't want this, I understand. You've been waiting a lot longer than I have for a chance to rebel. But I want this."
Finnick took a breath and he closed his eyes. "I want this too." He opened his eyes and smiled a little. "Who says this isn't a rebellion in of itself?" He patted the spot beside him and turned towards her when she sat down. "I love you, Rini. So much that I would lay down myself for you to live."
She smiled faintly and set her hand on his leg. "You have that little faith in me? Wait till we get in there, I'll show you what I'm made of."
He sighed and stared into her eyes for a moment, feeling himself caving into her once again. "I know you will." He wanted desperately to kiss her until her breaths were soft and quick, but settled for a kiss on her forehead. "So we're doing this? Really?"
"Yes. I guess so," She laughed, leaning against him. He was so warm, all the time. How did he never get cold? She closed her eyes and murmured, their distance melting away. "If it's okay with you, I don't want to talk about it. I want to worry about one thing at a time. So…I'm just going to pretend that everything is normal."
Finnick pursed his lips but he nodded. He was going to be a parent, but he needed to get through the Quarter Quell alive. They both did, they couldn't afford to be distracted.
Rini leaned on the railing of the boat, watching the sun as it hung low in the sky. Things were really about to change. She felt like she had one foot in the door and the rest of her body was scrambling to catch up. She was ready. She wasn't ready. With a sigh, she closed her eyes and tried not to focus on the gentle lolling of the boat.
"You alright?" Finnick asked, standing beside her.
"Yes." She opened her eyes and shivered, "So as soon as the arena blows, the hovercrafts will come? Leona and the kids will get taken to Thirteen?"
He nodded, "That's what Heavensbee said. Once everything is down, they'll move a group to Thirteen. And then we'll be right behind them."
Renata nodded as well and she sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. "I need to lie down."
"What's the matter?" He asked, panicking. "Is it-"
"Please don't tell me that you're going to ask me if the baby is okay every time I complain," she raised a brow at him and smiled when he bit back a smile. "I'm gonna go down. Come with me?" She asked softly, her eyes bright with eagerness. She laced her fingers with his and led him below the deck, crawling onto the small bed while he lit a couple of lanterns. "Come lie down with me."
"I don't think I'd like getting puked on, thanks," He chuckled and turned over a bucket to sit on. His curls hung in his eyes as he bent over her, hidden in shadow. "Do you feel better now?"
The little treasures Finnick kept hidden away clinked and clacked as the ship rocked and she nodded, happy to be witness to this little trove. "Are you going to shave anytime soon?" She asked, reaching out for his stubbly cheeks.
"Are you?" He grinned, biting his lip when Renata looked away sheepishly. "That wasn't supposed to embarrass you. But hey, I'll take it," he winked, eyes wandering down her body before he could stop himself. "I'm sorry I didn't have anything to give you for birthday." He looked over his shoulder and got up, perusing the jars and empty bait cans for something while she watched him with a smile. After a moment, he made a triumphant noise and returned to his bucket, holding out a speckled seashell. "This is a Junonia shell, I think it's pretty rare. It's the only one I've ever seen. It must have washed up on the beach after one of the hurricanes we had a few years back." He watched her turn it over in her fingers and feel how smooth it was.
"It's got freckles," she giggled, looking up at him.
"Almost as many as you," he grinned. "If you like it, you can have it."
Renata smiled and she nodded, sitting up. "Thank you." She hesitated before leaning in and brushing her lips over his, her heart fluttering when he didn't pull away. Her lips pressed against his, gently at first like she was testing the waters, and then deeper. The tip of her tongue traced his lower lip and a small murmur escaped her when he parted his lips and allowed her tongue to slide over his. She slowly moved her hand up his thigh and Finnick grunted when she slid her hand across his lap, breaking the kiss.
"Don't do that," he grunted, flustered. He licked his lips and moved his arms to cover himself.
"Why not?" She purred, carefully setting the shell down on a shelf and putting both her hands on his thighs.
"Because I-"
"You're afraid I'll have another seizure? Finnick…" She sighed and slid her hands up until his arms blocked her. "I haven't gotten any more birth control since last time. I don't really need it, remember?"
Finnick swallowed, trying to will his body to knock it off, but it wasn't listening. "Yes, I know. I…" He trailed off as she began to undress in front of him, eyes going to her bare breasts. They looked a little bigger than he last remembered, but he couldn't be sure. Maybe if he held them in his hands, he could—He clenched his hands into fists, internally smacking himself. "It's not that."
"What is it?" She asked, standing up and unbuttoning her shorts. She pulled them down and then slid her thin underwear down her legs, standing naked before him. "Do you not want to make love to me anymore?" She raised a brow, putting a hand on her hip.
He sighed heavily and held his head in his hands, shaking his head.
"If this is really unbearable for you, I'll put my clothes back on. I'm sorry."
"Don't," Finnick grunted, looking up from his hands at her. "I think about this all the time, but I can't remember anything except the last time. I want to. I want you." He swallowed and sat up a little when she tilted his chin up and kissed him deeply. When she pulled away she took his hand and led him towards the mattress. Her fingers were gentle as she undressed him, leaving light caresses on his skin that made the hair on his arm stand on end.
"It's just us now," Rini whispered, unbuttoning his pants and sliding down the zipper. "And I love you."
"Lie down," he whispered back, licking his lips. He stood up and pulled off the rest of his clothes before getting back on the bed. His whole body was tingling and he looked over his shoulder like he was expecting someone to be there watching them. A gentle grip on and tug of his jaw brought him back to Renata, who's cheeks were flushed pink from arousal. That was right, he remembered the way she would suck on her lower lip like she was afraid to ask for him to do it. His hands, strong and warm, brought her knees up to her stomach and then parted them. It was already hot in the cabin and he felt beads of sweat rolling down the back of his neck, the sweet smell of her arousal mixing with the smell of the wood and salt.
Rini turned her head to the side, making a quiet whine. The anticipation was so great she felt like she would burst! "F-Finnick."
"Look at me," he said in a low voice, moving closer to her. He braced himself on the mattress with one hand, his fingers exploring her warmth. He groaned and the need for her was so intense, he was afraid he would lose control of himself. With her urging, he covered his thick length with the wetness on his fingers and moved to her, unable to hold in the groan that burst from his throat when he entered her. "O-oh god," he breathed, his hips connected with hers and her legs splayed open to accommodate him. "Rini…"
She responded with a hard kiss on his mouth, grabbing his hair in her hands and holding him tightly. "I'm fine, oh god, I-I-" She whimpered and let go of his hair, letting her nails drag lightly down his back.
He didn't need any more urging from her. The funk he was in was over and he felt himself again. His hips changed rhythm to suit both their needs, the only sound filling the cabin being their cries of pleasure and the soft slapping of their hips meeting.
Renata held tightly to him, having no intention of letting him go. She'd missed feeling like this with him for a long time. Their lovemaking came to an intense climax too soon for Rini's liking, but she was nevertheless content. As he laid beside her to catch his breath, he had the biggest smile she'd ever seen on his face.
"Give me a few minutes and I'll go again," he panted, his hair a sweaty mess.
She laughed and kissed him briefly, breathing heavily. Laying like this with him make her feel warm inside. She allowed herself to think about her pregnancy for a moment, and how they could be a real family after this. They could live without fear of their actions leading to drastic consequences. Her hand moved over her bare stomach and Finnick saw this, a smile tugging up his lips. He had been right, this was a rebellion.
Rini's heart was pounding as she and Finnick approached the Justice Building hand in hand. Reaping Day was finally upon them. She felt scared and strangely excited at the same time, quite different than she had her first time going in. There was still that fear of the unknown, fear of being out of control. It would be completely different than just planning. The moment her name was called, the show was on. They had a slight idea of what was to come, but the advantage was so small that they might as well have been going in blind.
"It'll be okay," Finnick whispered in her ear as they walked inside. "No matter what." He stopped walking and pulled her close, holding her elbows. People stared, peacekeepers and former victors alike, but it didn't hamper Finnick as he bent forward and kissed Renata for a prolonged moment. When he pulled away he flashed her a big, dimpled grin and wiggled his brows at her. It was amazing how easily he could slip into his character; she watched in awe as he strode over to where the other male victor stood, looking haggard compared to the peacock that stood beside him.
Renata went to stand beside the other female victors, smiling faintly at them. Her eyes went to the front of the room and met the eyes of someone she hadn't seen in a long time. "Salvatore," she breathed and started to move forward, but stopped when the peacekeepers behind her cleared their throat.
"We're ready," The mayor muttered and Salvatore cleared his throat, going to stand between the bowls.
"Hello, everyone," He said, his peppy voice having lost some of its enthusiasm. The announcement that previous victors were going in the arena had not been well recepted; by both the victors and their families and by the Capitol citizens that adored them. "I think we all know the speech by now. It's been a long time since we last had a Quarter Quell…twenty five years, to be exact."
Renata raised a brow. Was he trying to speak from his heart rather than a card?
"So welcome to the reaping for the 75th Hunger Games! I don't think we ought to waste any time, the sooner we send off our tributes, the sooner one will come back to us." He swallowed and met Renata's eyes before going to the bowl for the males. "Let's have the men first." He reached in and picked up one of the two slips of paper and opened it, taking a breath before reading. "Finnick Odair."
He smirked and walked forward, standing beside Salvatore and looking straight ahead with unblinking, intense eyes. Of course his name was called. His name was probably written twice on the cards.
Her throat tightened as Salvatore went to the female bowl and stuck his hand inside, pulling out one slip of paper. This was it. He would either read her name or she would volunteer. She felt Mags slide her hand with hers and she gave it a squeeze.
Salvatore sighed with relief and he smiled, "Muscida-"
"I volunteer," She said, not sounding weak but not particularly strong either. She let go of Mags' hand and moved up towards Salvatore's devastated face, her heart pounding. She felt sick. Her steps faltered and she swallowed, seeming to just now realize the magnitude of her actions. Finnick came to her and he held out his hand, helping her walk forward. He kept hold of her hand as they stood before the people in the Justice Building and Panem, and there was no way she could freak out right now.
She was going back into the arena.
Yay for updates! Yay for finally getting to the action of the story! Yay for awesome readers! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, let me know how you liked it pretty please!
-Kelsey xx