The streets outside Finnick's apartment were mildly busy. Renata watched his door from across the street, sipping at her tea. She had been assured by Haymitch that he could handle watching the games without her so she could do the business that she had to.
She reached in her bag and pulled out the envelope with Finnick's name written on it, swallowing and debating on ripping it up. What would happen if someone else read it and word got back to Seneca? She pursed her lips and shoved the letter back in her bag, standing up and slinging the bag over her shoulder. It would be better this way, him being able to read it all instead of her attempting to say it to his face. A car honked at her when she dashed across the road and she took a deep breath as she walked up the stairs to Finnick's door.
The mailbox creaked when she lifted the lid, and she put the letter in. There, it was done. When she turned to leave, the door opened.
"Can I help you?" Finnick asked, his voice low and lazy.
Renata froze and slowly turned to him, taking off her sunglasses. "I didn't know you were home."
Her bright hair was covered with a silk scarf, but he knew it was Renata. He'd known from the second he opened the door. "What are you doing here?" he asked, frowning and opening his mailbox. His brows furrowed deeper when he grabbed the envelope with his name on it. "Do you want to come in for a minute?"
A shiver went down her spine and she nodded, not looking around before going into his house. She undid the knot under her chin and pulled the scarf off, her scarlet curls tumbling down her back. "I'm sorry, I didn't…I know you didn't want to see me, but-"
"You know it wasn't like that, Rini," Finnick mumbled as he set the envelope down on a small table. "I had good reason."
She held her hand up to stop him. "And I didn't really want to say any of this to your face. But maybe it's best that I do."
He raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to have a seat. He made no move to sit, but instead stood motionless by the front door.
"I'm going back to the country once the games are over. I thought that maybe this would go on forever, this…me and you. But Seneca, he-" She took a breath, calming herself. "I'm married to him, and this was only a distraction. Both our lives are going to go on separately after this." Tears had started to creep into her voice, and she shook her head when he started towards her. "I think what you and I had was a mistake."
Finnick felt his insides turn to ice and his face paled. "What do you mean?"
"Sneaking around behind his back, saying that we loved one another…why did we do that? Why did you tell me you loved me? And why did I say it back? Was it just because I was being selfish? If he had caught us, if he had somehow found out…" She made a quiet huff of a laugh. "Maybe he does know. He found out about the birth control. I used you like your other lovers, and I'm sorry for it. I wanted to tell you that I think you're right. We shouldn't see one another anymore. It isn't right for me to string you along when I'm married. I have to accept it, Finnick. You can't rescue me. I have to do it myself."
"Rini, you didn't-"
"Please, let me speak. I just…We don't know each other, Finnick. You helped me through a crisis and you were my crutch. Maybe we mistook that for love."
"Stop," Finnick pleaded her, closing his eyes. He felt like she was twisting his insides the more she spoke.
"I have to move on past this. I have to learn to become whole without you." Tears had begun to trickle down her face and she didn't bother to wipe them away. "I'm sorry for hurting you. That's what I regret the most."
"You can't tell me that you didn't feel any of the things I felt," he said, looking up and staring into her eyes. "You wouldn't be this upset if you hadn't." He stepped over to her and looked down at her, his hands shaking. "But if this is what you need to say to convince yourself to let me go, then hurry it up. I have places to be."
Renata closed her eyes and she pressed her lips together tightly. Why couldn't he have just gotten her letter? "I'm sorry. This is the only way I can ever go home again," she whispered.
He closed his eyes when she breezed past him, the soft scent of her perfume reaching his senses. "Mrs. Crane?" he called when she reached the door, and she had put her sunglasses and scarf back on. "No matter what you say, I do love you. And no matter where I was, as long as I was with you, I was home." He opened his eyes when he heard the door close and he had never felt so hollow.
The silence in Renata's apartment was deafening as she walked inside, feeling drained. She dropped her bag on the floor and pulled her scarf off, glad for once that she was alone. There wasn't really any point in going back to the viewing complex; she'd left Haymitch with a generous sum of money, but she couldn't stay out in public right now.
You're trying to get them home, remember? A voice in her head reminded her and she shook her head. What more could she do? Seneca had waived the one victor rule and instated the new one, now it was just up to Katniss and Peeta. Well, Katniss at least. Peeta's leg was still mangled pretty badly.
She turned on the television and went to get herself something to drink, her ears perking up when she heard a familiar noise. A quiet ping came from Seneca's desk and she slowly turned around, swallowing. When had she heard that before?
"Seneca?" she called out, furrowing her brow when there was no answer. Slowly she approached the desk, seeing that there was an incoming call. She glanced over her shoulder once more and touched the screen, crying out when a familiar face popped up.
"Cecil!"
"Rini, oh my god!" He gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "Is it really you?"
She put her hands on the screen as if she could just reach through and touch him and the coarse stubble that covered his cheeks. "It's me," she whispered, tears blurring her vision. "H-how did you know to find me here?"
"Seneca has contacted me a couple times, and I…oh, Rini," he whispered, tears in his eyes as well. "You look good, kid."
Renata blurted out a little cry and she shook her head, "You don't."
He laughed and scratched his face. "Things are tense here; more Peacekeepers than ever. After the riots in Eleven, it's no wonder," he murmured. "I can't believe that they're actually allowing two victors to go home. What is he thinking?"
Her lips turned up in a weak smile. "That was me, actually."
His brows rose and he smiled, nodding after a moment. "Huh."
"After the games are over, Seneca said that he would take me back to Four to see you," Rini swallowed, her chest aching. She hadn't seen or heard from any of the Learys in months. "I miss you so much, a-are you okay? Is Leona okay, the kids-"
"Fine, we're all fine, sweetheart," Cecil shushed her, his heart breaking at how red and puffy her eyes were. "The kids ask about you every day…It isn't the same without you here."
Renata's lip quivered and she broke down in tears, covering her eyes with a hand. "I want to come home, daddy," she wept.
"I know, baby," he whispered. "I'm so proud of you. Look what you've done…there hasn't ever been a Games with two victors before. Not once."
She sniffled, uncovering her face. A couple of tears had slipped from her face and pooled on the screen. She wiped them away and took a breath, sucking on her lower lip. "It wasn't a big deal. I-I just-"
"Not a big deal? Rini, the games have been around for 74 years. And every year there has only been one person to come out alive. And you," He chuckled, scratching his chin. "You just breeze in there like you own the place and you change it. I just knew that you'd do something amazing."
She felt a warm glow in her chest and her cheeks as he spoke.
"Your parents would be so proud of you," he whispered. "Knowing how strong and brave their daughter is. How tough and smart she is. I know I am." He smiled and Rini could see a sadness behind his eyes. Why was he saying all of this?
"Cecil…"
"And know that whatever happens, I will be proud of you. No matter what." He nodded firmly, his eyes flitting to something that was off screen. "You'll always make me proud, baby girl."
"Stop!" a voice rang out from the television. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present…the victors of the 74th Hunger Games."
Renata's eyes grew wide and she looked back to Cecil. "I-it worked! Cecil, they're both going home!" she exclaimed, a grin lighting her face.
"Rini, I love you," Cecil said, reaching up and pressing something. The screen went black and she could hear some kind of scuffle taking place.
"Cecil?!" she exclaimed, pressing her screen and trying desperately to bring him back. "Cecil, what's going on?!"
"Rini!" She heard him yell before the line went dead.
She sat there in shock for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. The roaring of the Capitol celebrating roused her from her shock and she stood up, running to the door. She yanked it open and ran out, her heart pounding. Something was terribly, terribly wrong.
"Mrs. Crane." A peacekeeper blocked her from getting to the elevator. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Let me through!" Rini yelled, trying to go around him. Her blue eyes flashed with anger, and she wasn't going to let anyone stop her. Not even Seneca. "I'm getting on a train and I am going home!" She shoved him back and spun on her heel, looking for the door to the stairs.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, ma'am," he murmured.
Rini ignored him and she reached for the doorknob. She was going to leave; she was going to make everything alright. She uttered a small cry as the butt of the Peacekeeper's gun hit her in the back of her head and she felt to the ground, her eyes fluttering before they closed.
kdfgafkjl I am experiencing a lot of emotions rn. RINI! CECIL! FINNICK! GAH! Here were are at the close of the games, and we shall soon see what the consequences are to be for both Seneca and Rini.
UGH man I watched the livestream of the london premiere yesterday and I can't get over how lovely Sam Claflin is. Such a ham, and soooo cute! He was carrying his wife on the red carpet, I mean come on. Precious. I'm so so so excited to see the movie finally next week, and I've seen nothing but praise for Sam's performance :') UGHHH ITS SO CLOSE IM GETTING HEART PALPITATIONS SEND HELP
Now if only we could get a Rini in the movie...teehee :) Apparently we may get a glimpse of Annie, so that's almost as good, right?
Anywho, thanks for reading you precious babies and I shall get to work on the next chapter!
-Kelsey