Authors Note: this chapter has been heavily edited(: Hope you enjoy x

They pick up her sobbing form and inject an anesthetic. They get to work on her shoulder and all of her other minor injuries.

"She should be good to go within the next few days" A doctor says, clearly pleased.

Her body lays motionless, unaware of what will happen, and as to what is happening.

"I just couldn't be happier, District One has yet another victor and from our family" Cashmere boasts. She's off the walls for how things turned out, almost as if she hadn't seen the look of absolute pain and dismay on her nieces face when she had realized she won. As if she hadn't heard the heart-shattering scream.

Gloss is less optimistic, "She's going to end up just like us though Cash, she'll have the terrible nightmares, and the even worse obligations. She's beautiful, Snow's going to have a field day with her. Or worse Finn might make a move." Finnick rolls his eyes at him, as if he would be that stupid. Cashmere would kill him herself. Calm now, but he watched her games.

"He's right Cashmere, not about me trying to seduce here, that takes no effort" She doesn't seem to find his joke funny, "I'll help you two, protect her the best I can."

Cashmere is every bit as beautiful as her niece, she wouldn't be forced into the position she's in if she wasn't. Long blonder hair, green eyes the colors of the ocean at home, and her stylists use every inch of her body to boost her sex appeal. A look of contemplation falls on her face, and dare one say worry?

"She's so young and next year she'll take my place as mentor. I don't know how she'll handle it." For the first time since Glimmer won its noticeable that her aunt is seeing what this could really mean. Glimmer isn't as strong as Cashmere, the games nearly broke her. You could see it in every look she gave the camera, in every word she spoke. In losing the boy from Two, she lost what seemed to be her first love.

They can only wish for the best.

"Cashmere and Gloss Vipointe? You can come to see your tribute now."

Snow was ready to sell her. He advised to her prep team they play to her sex appeal.

They understood what this meant, lining her eyes, giving her a haughty look, and a body tight, glimmering dress. She looked twenty-five instead of seventeen. Her aunt and uncle hugged her tight when they saw her.

"Oh Glimmer honey you made it, you're okay, you're here," Cashmere reassured, "Don't cry honey, you'll mess up your makeup!" The two blondes smiled. Glimmer knew she owed this win to them, she owed them her life. She owed too many people her life, maybe that's why she felt so empty.

"Go now, we'll have plenty of time to talk!" Gloss encourages, shooing his niece to go on stage to greet the ever-enthusiastic Caesar.

The crowd was alive, there was energy Glimmer hadn't felt since she went into the arena. They scream her name and that they love her. It's intoxicating, she walks with the smile Cashmere taught her, a look of fierce confidence, and a quick wave to the crowd, causing them to become even louder.

"Welcome our victor, Glimmer! You look striking!" Caesar exclaims, his Cheshire grin wider than ever.

She smiles slyly and twirls her blonde locks, "Thank you Caesar, I told you I was prepared!" This seems to please him and he takes her hand, leading her to her seat. All eyes are on them, they adore her though, but why adore a murderer?

"So Glimmer, your games, well I know they broke my heart, what about everyone else's?" The crowd nods sympathetically. Sickening. "But here you are, what went thought your mind when you realized, that you had won?"

She swallows deeply, scared of saying the wrong thing, "It hit me hard I think, I couldn't wrap my mind around it all. It was so quick that I couldn't even comprehend it. That after all I lost, that I might actually be going home."

"And home you are," He places a hand on her delicate ones in what is supposed to be a comforting manner, "I think I speak for everyone when I ask, what went through your mind when you realized Cato had been killed?"

She has to force herself not cry, to keep her shit together for just a little longer. "I had grown quite fond of him, he had said he loved me." She quickly blinks back tears, "I wouldn't have made it throughout the games without him. He was my rock, and in the end it was enough. I will never stop owing him, and my thoughts go to his family." The audience is teary eyed; Caesar is showing some kind of mock emotion.

"And Kai Odair, another of your alliance, as well as your cousin Platinum, I have to ask how will their deaths impact you?"

She leads off with a sad smile towards the audience, and takes notice of Finnick Odair, the capitols sex symbol, sitting in the front row. "Kai was my friend, had I met her outside the games I feel we could have truly been the best of friends. She was strong and so kind, she saw the games differently than I did, I thought she deserved so much better. I will never not mourn her death, again my thoughts go out to her family." She's staring right at Finnick, he seems to recognize this and nods. "As for my cousin Platinum, he was family, I'm just glad it didn't come down to the two of us, or he'd be sitting here instead of me."

He seems to be done with his questions and they show her games, the highlights, from the beginning, to the mercy killing of the small girl from Nine, to showing her kisses with Cato, to finding out about Plats death, to finding Cato once again, to the finishing of the games, and then showing her as the Victor. She's reduced to tears as they show it all. Caesar thanks her graciously for her time and wishes me luck, it takes all she has to not race off stage.

"How do you even tell someone that they're going to be the capitols whore? Gloss how'd you tell me I forget." The blonde haired aunt worries, pacing the room filled with fellow Victors who have come to the same fate. Finnick, Cashmere, Gloss, Johanna Mason of District Seven who does it for "the refreshments", Valerie Steele of District Two, Blight of District Seven, and Marble Undertake of One.

Finnick rolls his eyes, President Snow has made an appointment for Glimmer to meet with him next week, they all know this will seal her fate. "Just let Snow tell her, it's simplest that way."

Gloss and Blight nod in agreement, "I told you just because I knew you would freak out Cash, Glimmer will be ok."

"She'll be ok? You really believe that load of shit?" Cashmere takes her glass and slams it onto the floor, no one flinches as it shatters this is her known behavior. "She is seventeen Gloss, they will sell her body! They're going to break her, she's extravagant she won't have two minutes to herself! Would you call the life we live ok? Are we all fine? God, it's just so messed up!"

Finnick as the youngest in the room acknowledges her pain and motions for her to sit next to him. She's a mess, of course why wouldn't she be, she'll have to watch as her niece is sold to every man rich enough for to pay for the pleasure of her time.

Cashmere sits next to Finnick shaking her head in dismay, "She'll be just like you Finnick, she's every bit as desirable, she's young and they'll devour her."

"I'll help her, just don't let her tell Snow she's a virgin, he'll sell that first night as the highest bid." He knows this, as it's what they did to him. They sold his first time as if it was a side package.

Cashmere knows this too though, "I know, Snow did it to me. I wasn't as young as you when I won but I was just as naive. I was raised as we all are in One, to love the capitol, to volunteer to bring pride to our district, to train every day to be the best. After Gloss won his games he warned me not to do it, I volunteered anyways, always having to keep up with him. After I won I expected the world, what I got was a bitter taste or reality. Watching your games the next year was, painful, to say the least. You were fourteen and they were already playing up how "sexy" you were which was fairly disgusting. I knew you'd be right behind me to get on board of this train." The room was stunned, Cashmere never spoke ill of the capitol or of her life, she usually just humbly accepted it. For the first time many in the room really see her, see how she's been broken down and changed. "We all know this isn't fair, and I don't want this for my niece."

"Hello Miss Vipointe, seems just eight years ago I was having this same talk with your aunt. Lovely woman how is she?"

Glimmer knew this wasn't just a chat, that this was going to be something more, for now she was just going to have to play along, "She's fine, homesick I think, she doesn't go back to One a bunch as she's chosen to live here."

He nods, "And how are you? Adjusting well?"

"I would like to go home to see my parents, and of course my little sister, but the capitol is lovely. I can see why my aunt and uncle have chosen to stay here." It's a lie, she doesn't understand it one bit, coming and going at strange hours leaving her with either Finnick Odair, Marble or an apartment full of strange victors who have also choose to stay here.

Snow purses his lips studying the young girl, she'll be a fine seller. "That's expected, but I'm afraid I have a proposition for you that might just keep you here as well, more permanently." Her mouth goes dry, why would he want her to stay? "See in exchange for a home here, and your family's safety, you would stay here and keep company with citizens who pay for the indulgence of being in your presence." She goes completely pale. That's why they come and go, he's selling them for sex and they stay so he wont kill their loved ones. What choice does she have?

"I suppose I don't have much of a choice," she's looking at her shoes, her lip trembling.

He smiles, glad she isn't putting up a fight as many do, "No, no you do not. You'll be staying in Mister Odairs apartment it's a two room. You'll have two weeks to prepare yourself for this. Good luck Miss Vipointe, do not mess this up."

"Do not touch my brothers daughter, got it?" Cashmere has her finger on his chest, looking like a deranged killer, haha oh wait.

"I won't fuck your niece god Cash lighten up!" Though he might have thought about it after finding out they'll be living together, but he wouldn't dare act on it. She's seventeen, and he's twenty-three, and not a pervert, or much of one.

She looks pleased enough with his answer, "The only reason I would ever let you is if she asks you, I'd rather you be her first than some random capitol man. But don't you dare put the idea in her head!" Finnick chuckles at Cashmere. She's a good friend, and a protective aunt. Who would have thought?

"I promise, now let the poor girl in she might want to get somewhat comfortable." Cashmere doesn't want to have to mentor Glimmer through, well, prostitution so Finnick had volunteered. He certainly wouldn't mind getting his hands on her. Again, not a pervert. Legal age in Panem is sixteen, in the eyes of Snow it's fine. And Snow is sure to have had his reasons for rooming them together.

Cashmere lets Glimmer in, who practically falls over, must have had her ear against the door. The bronze haired man chuckles and smiles his most charming smile. "Hello Glimmer, welcome to our ever humble home" She smiles shyly, a blush on her cheeks. Adorable.

Cashmere lets out a sigh, "I'll leave you in his care for now Glimmer, your uncle and I are just down a few floors. Call me if you need me ok?" She pulls Glimmer in for a hug and kisses her head affectionately. Cashmere would have been an amazing mother.

"Ok, now go I know you have things to do," Glimmer replies, she's not the child Cash makes her out to be. She's an adult, hell you become one after the games, you have to.

Cashmere leaves, closing the door softly. The two stand in a comfortable silence.

"Thank you so much for the trident you sent," she blurts out. He nods, knowing Cash wrote the note from him. He needed her to know he had been rooting for her.

He walks forward to the short girl, and smiles sadly, "And thank you, for keeping my sister alive as long as you did. You have a good heart, not something many victors can truly say. I sent you that as a thank you, and you went a step further and killed her killer. I'll always admire you for that." When Caesar had interviewed her she had looked so fond of his sister, she would have protected her to the end and he couldn't ask for anything more.

It's clear Glimmer is close to tears, so he pulls her into a hug, already breaking Cashmeres wishes, oh well.

Finnick shows her around the apartment, her bedroom a bit bigger than the one she had slept in before and after the games. Grander, the bathroom was as well. Her prep team had already filled her walk in closet with clothes that the capitol saw fit. He showed her where he slept in case she ever needed anything.

The kitchen is fairly untouched as Finnick has minimal culinary skills, Glimmer laughs at this and assures him she can cook.

He finished in the living room where he usually just watches TV or ties knots in his stupid rope, something he hides from her.

"Can I ask you something?" Glimmer says suddenly as they sit on the couch.

Finnick, caught a bit off guard responds, "Anything."

She appreciates the answer of anything, "Do the nightmares ever get better?" Her voice is almost a whisper. It tears Finnicks heart to shreds, knowing she's already so distressed by her time in the games.

"Honestly," he leads, "No, you just get better at handling them."

It's her third night living in an apartment with Finnick Odair of all people, and Glimmer just can't seem to sleep. Every time she gets close, she's woken with nightmares of the games. It's excruciating, having to resort to lying there deduced to tears in the fetal position. Its not as if she wanted to win the games so why is she being punished? Doesn't she deserve just a little peace of mind? No, you don't. You're a killer, a monster, a freak, and now you're a whore.

There's a knock at her door, forcing her to dry her puffy eyes, "Come in."

Finnick slides the door open, his eyes filled with concern, "Are you okay?" His voice holds every emotion she needs to hear, it says everything with just three words.

"I can't sleep" She has an awful habit of whispering but he manages to hear and nods. "The nightmares are driving me mad."

He walks over and the mattress dips as he sits. He's only wearing boxers, which is kind of distracting; Glimmer can certainly appreciate the rage over Finnick Odair. "They will, I know it's hard. Your Aunt helped me a lot getting through all this even though she's really not that much older than me." He seems lost in his thoughts, she has been wondering what exactly they are, but has settled on good friends. "It helps having someone to talk to, and I'm willing to be that someone if you'd like."

Their eyes are locked, she doesn't feel seventeen anymore, she feels forced into her twenties before she even got to live her teens. "I'd like that, will you stay? For tonight?" She has no idea where it came from but he nods. She pulls back the sheets for him and he gets comfortable.

"Would you mind if I put an arm around you or would that be over stepping?" A blush creeps up her cheeks, she can't believe someone as gorgeous as him feels the need to even ask.

She nods though, trying not to look to incredibly eager. He pulls her thin form close allowing her to lye her head on his chest, she decides he's intoxicating. She closes her eyes, and finally drifts to sleep.

Cashmere will slaughter him if she learns he engaged in a cuddle session with her niece last night. Finnick woke up with her still tight in his strong arms, her blonde hair in his face, but hecertainly didn't mind it, it's been a very long time since he had fallen asleep with someone who didn't pay him to be there. A very beautiful, very vulnerable girl.

He doesn't move, not wanting to wake her. She hasn't been sleeping at night, but last night he just couldn't take hearing her cry, she fell asleep fast in his arms.

He feels her shift a bit in his arms and mumble something among the line of what time is it.

"It's just a bit before ten." He murmurs into her hair. She smells so sweet, like flowers.

They stay like this for a while before they can hear a knock on the front door, Finnick all but jumps up because if it's Cashmere she'll skin him alive. Glimmers eyes are wide open looking at him. "Your aunt would kill me if she saw that." He quickly explains, padding to his room to find actual pants to cover his slight problem that arrives when sleeping in the same bed as a beautiful woman. He can hear Glimmer open the door and greet Johanna Mason. Johanna stays in the capitol simply because she chooses to, she has no one left at home, her friends are all here so here she stays. With a slight smile he pulls a grey t-shirt on and goes to greet their guest.

"To what do I owe the pleasure Johanna?" He jokes she rolls her brown eyes and bear hugs him.

"I'm heading home for a bit so I came to bid you farewell for now, won't be here to protect you from the crazy."

Finnick can't imagine why she's going home other than because Blight is on vacation. He's her only friend from Seven, so it gives her an excuse to visit. "Well be safe and all that, how long are you staying? Until after the victory tour?" All victors get sent home to be present in their own district for when the victory tour comes though so they will be present at the diner.

She nods to answer his questions, "See ya in District Seven Glimmer, I'm sure you'll detest it as much as everyone else!" She gives Glimmer an unexpected hug before waving goodbye and heading out. He looks Glimmer up and down, her long blonde hair is braided in those two loose braids, and she's in one of his t-shirts he had given her to sleep in instead on the lingerie her prep team provided. How that must have looked to Johanna. She looks sexy but dammit it's not looking good for him.

"Does it hurt?" She most likely noticed my lustful gaze on her, its clear she's talking about sex.

Finnick licks his lips out of habit, "For girls yes, or so your aunt told me, frankly I don't have a clue."

She laughs at his words, "I don't want my first time to be with some man President Snow sold me to."

It's understandable, he can't help but wonder if she's going to ask what he's been hoping she would. Or maybe she'll ask to hook her up with Marble, god forbid.

"I lost mine to some random capitol woman, so I can understand why you feel that way."

She nods, looking pensive. "I never wanted this, ya know. I never wanted to win."

Her admission shocks me, she was a career, same as her aunt and uncle, who were the first to admit that they had both at the time wanted it. "I thought I loved Cato. I wanted him to win, and if not him then your sister. I knew I wouldn't handle this well and I feel like a waste of a victor. Every morning since the games I've woke up wanting to die, I'm not thankful for the life I've been given, I just loathe it. It hurts Finnick, it hurts with every breath I take, every moment I know I've taken from others."

It felt like she was trying to make him understand, like she felt she owed him that. "I'm glad you're here though, Glimmer." He blurts, without thinking. "You deserved it. I didn't want to live either, at first. I think we all learn to mend ourselves, we break ourselves down but we build ourselves right back up. I'll be the first to admit I still haven't found that peace, but I suppose it might be because I haven't found someone to help me like others have. I'm here for you Glimmer." It's as if they've been gravitating towards each other, and Glimmer throws herself into his arms, allowing him to pull her close. He can feel her small frame shake with sobs.

They stay like that for awhile, until her tears dry, and she rests her head in the crook of his neck.

"Thank you, for all this." She lets out meekly, "I can make us breakfast now if you want."

He lets out a small chuckle, because of course she would try to make up for her lapse of emotion. "We can just order something Glimmer."

"Ok," she murmurs, green eyes on the floor, bottom lip caught in between her teeth.

They fall into a simple routine; they lounge about during the day, watching movies on their television, accommodating her aunt and uncle when they feel the need to have their presence made.

At night they've taken to sharing the same bed, to ward off their nightmares. Sleeping in one and others arms has seemed to do the trick.

They do this for quite a few days, getting comfortable around each other.

Finnick learns Glimmer is a neat freak, and that's she's rather funny when she's not attempting to pull her own hair out from stress. He enjoys spending his mornings sipping coffee with her while her hairs a mess, and they can just talk before anyone attempts to burst their bubble for the day.

Glimmer studies Finnick as well. He's sloppy which drives her absolutely mad but she tries to stay one step ahead of his messes. He's self confident, hilarious, and downright sweet. Not to mention not half bad to look at, he prefers to roam their apartment shirtless, whether he intends to drive her completely crazy, she'll never know.

Finnick was blessed with not having any appointments up until the victors tour, which truly is a luxury he has to thank Glimmer for.

"Finnick, I know why they… why they placed me in an apartment with you."

It had started off as any other day, coffee, television, and now they were lounging on the couch reading together.

Well or he had thought anyways.

"Oh?" He lets out lamely.

"Yeah. Johanna called me earlier and not so subtly asked if we were, well ya now. She seem surprised when I said no, it kind of hit me then. They want you to teach me or whatever, to be sexy."

Her eyes are filled with intensity, he stands up, trying to pull himself together because yeah they're having this conversation now. "How do you feel about that?"

She stands, coming to meet him. She runs her tongue over her bottom lip, "I would rather it be you, than anyone else."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Finnick leans down and kisses her softly, giving into the tension he's felt since she's moved in. A week of tension is enough to kill Finnick Odair. He wants to ravish her, to make her feel but he's her first and he wants it to mean something, even though it doesn't have to. Cashmere can kill him later, he's going to make this amazing, make it memorable. Make it feel the way it should.

He wraps his arms around the thin girl and pulls her as close as he can. Her hands are paced on his chest. She trusts him.

They're laying in bed, side by side, hands intertwined.

She doesn't regret it, it hurt, but it was so much better than some random man taking that from her.

He doesn't regret it either, it was the connection he has searched for, for years now. With a woman who understands what he is, and he understands her. He hopes this meant something to her, it certainly meant something to him. He hoped it wasn't just a one-time thing, he could never get enough of her.

"Thank you" She whispers to him, turning to face him, seeing he was already looking at him.

It truly was his pleasure, "Of course, I'm always here." He hopes she understands.

They confided everything in each other, they learned everything there was to know about the other. They shared stories of their games, of Kai, of the loved ones they lost.

Glimmer had lost Cato, and Finnick had lost his friend Annie when she had gone into the game, not from death but to the madness.

He told Glimmer about how he could never hold Annie the same way, she wasn't the same, she had simply gone mad, she didn't understand why he stayed in the capitol with all the women, it could just never work out

Glimmer shared with him stories of her cousin Platinum how he had never been too strong in training, but had volunteered to protect her, on his mother's requests.

Finnick told her stories of the ocean, he asked if she'd ever been but she hadn't. His victors home was on the beach, he'd take her there while she was in Four on the victory tour.

She asked about the victory tour and what it's like, he described it as rubbing salt in a wound. That you just go to kill their hope, to make them hurt. The only districts that will be friendly to her will be One, Two, Four, and Nine.

She understood this, she confided in him that she wanted to run away, he agreed that he too wished they could.

Cashmere saw them grow close, she approved of it only because she knew it was the capitols will.

Gloss however warned Finnick not to hut the girl and they would be fine.

Finnick knew that her first appointment was to come soon and it made him livid, at the capitol, at President Snow, and at the man who bought time with a seventeen year old girl.

She only had one day of it before leaving for the Victory Tour, and then she'd have some peace for a while. He'd leave to go home to Four when she left and she'd be able to stay the night with him while she was in Four.

She came home from her 'customers' home in tears, she opened the door quietly hoping Finnick wouldn't hear her.

He had been waiting up on her though and when he saw her he rushed to her and enveloped her in his arms. She took his comfort and broke down in tears.

He carried her bridal style to her room, "Take a shower, it'll help."

He wiped her tears away with his thumbs, before getting up he places a kiss on her head.

The hot waters pouring all over her quaking body, tears lost in the water.

Finnick warned her it'd be bad, they slept together a few time but this man had hurt Glimmer on purpose over and over, hitting her and reducing her to nothing.

She let the water take away his touches and scrubs her hair as well as her body until she can feel at least a little clean.

I want to go home and have my mom tell me it's ok, that I'm safe. She thinks, I want Cato to hold me, I want Platinum to protect me, I want Kai to talk to. But I have none of them anymore.

Eventually she turns off the water and towels herself down, settling on a pair of sweatpants and one of Finnick's shirts. She loosely places her hair into a fishtail braid and forces herself to look into the mirror.

This isn't the same Glimmer Vipointe that left District One over a month ago. This is Capitol Glimmer and she wants nothing to do with her.

Except maybe her roommate/lover/friend, that'd be it. Her mum is gunna love that, I mean how do you even tell your mom you're living with THE Finnick Odair, who is ya know twenty-three. Only a six year difference but enough that it'll freak her out.

"Glim are you okay?" Finnick says, obviously leaning against the door, he cares about her and he will never know how much she appreciates it.

Considering her first love of sorts is dead, she can only hope this relationship goes a bit better. "Yea, I'll be out in a sec." Placing her hand on the door, his presence is strong enough she swears she can feel it.

She opens the door eventually and hes leaning against the doorframe as expected. "Hey you," she says softly.

He presses a kiss to her forehead, "Hey yourself."

He picks her up and carries her to bed, he knows how to make a girl smile.

"Your smile is just so beautiful Glimmer, brighter than a thousand suns, its contagious." His arms encircle the small girls waist, causing her to blush bright red, and burry her head in his chest.

This is her home now.