"Sometimes, the truth may be more startling than a lie."

Finnick Pov:

Today's the day. Snow's execution.

I should be happy that the monster will cease to exist, but my mind is preoccupied.

It has been a couple of days since my conversation with Snow. Even though I wanted to talk to Katniss sooner, I had no idea what to say. Once again, Snow's words have swayed me from what I thought to be true.

Last time he did that, I lost Annie.

I shake my head to remove those thoughts as I approach the guest bedroom that belonged to Katniss. No use in thinking about something that heartbreaking when you are trying to find the truth about things, especially with how Katniss is right now. Anything less than levelheaded would be a detriment to her.

Just as I am about to knock on the door, Gale abruptly swings the door open and nearly runs me over.

"Oh, hey Finnick…" Gale vacantly looks at me while mumbling in a voice that sounds like a combination of discomfort and slight anger.

What the hell happened in there?

"You okay Hawthorne? You look a little out of it."

"Yeah… Yeah… Peachy…" He mumbles as he shifts his weight back and forth while locking his eyes onto the floor between us.

"No offense Finnick, but I'm not exactly in a talking mood right now. Katniss isn't exactly either. But if anyone could make her feel better, it would be you…" Although Gale initially sounds uncertain, his tone changes to one of sarcasm and jealousy with that last sentence. It is obvious that whatever happened in there has put Gale on edge.

Since I am so focused on talking to Katniss, I let the insult slide. There is only a couple minutes before Snow's execution, and I know that this conversation has to happen beforehand.

"Okay… See you Gale."

"Yeah."

Gale exits the doorway, leaving it open for me.

As I enter the room, I spot Katniss looking down, staring at what appears to be a unique looking arrow. Must be what Coin wants her to use to kill Snow. Coin really seems to enjoy the pomp for all this.

I walk into the room and close the door behind me, keeping my eyes locked on the female before me.

Once the door shuts, the room is filled with a suffocating silence. I don't want to say anything until Katniss is ready, but she seems intent on slowly spinning the arrow on her index fingers. The poor girl looks like the weight of the world is resting on her shoulders.

But it seems like it always is these days.

She deserves better.

"Hey Katniss."

"Hey Finnick…" She whispers defeated. Her voice makes my heart break even more for her.

"So I talked to Snow after you finished…"

"And he told you the same thing about Coin being the one who dropped those bombs."

It wasn't a question. It wasn't even phrased that way. She knew, but she still sounded lost.

"Yeah…" I answer as I nervously rub the back of my neck.

Katniss keeps her attention toward the arrow as she whispers, "What the hell is the truth anymore? It seems like only yesterday that Snow was a distant problem from me. Prim was still alive, sprouting like a weed. And Gale… Gale was my best friend who would always tell me the truth. And now? Now none of these things are truth anymore. Tell me Finnick, since you seem so under control during all this. Even when you were tortured, you were under control. Johanna wouldn't shut up about it when she was on one of her Morphling trips. Please tell me…"

By the end of her statement, her eyes slowly raise to mine. Her eyes look even more lost than her voice betrays. Her eyes show that rare moment of vulnerability that very few people can honestly claim to have seen. My heart aches for her pain, but vulnerability makes her even more beautiful.

I move to sit next to her as I try to figure out what to say. Once I am seated, I feel her eyes burning into the side of my face. Afraid that I will lose control of my own emotions, I close my eyes as I sigh and say,

"I just know how to hide it well. Being a Victor who has had everything taken away from you changes you. Some turn to alcohol to deal with the pain, other turn to drugs. I on the other hand? I was never that lucky. I never really cared for the taste of liquor and I made an oath to my mother that I would never resort to drugs. Not after how it killed my father. So, I did the only thing that I could think of at the time, hide the emotions and put on a persona that would successfully mask my pain."

I pause to take another deep breath in order to prevent myself from losing control before I continue.

"I was so good at it, people didn't know any better. Even after the Quell, I still had a role to play. I had to be the strong one, especially when Johanna was falling apart at the seams from the torture. Even after the rescue, I still had to be the strong one, especially when everyone was scared shitless. So, what is the truth? I honestly have no fucking idea. I'm just as lost as you are."

I open my eyes to see Katniss lean towards me and rest her forehead against mine before she closes her eyes. I keep mine open as I marvel at her strength. My hand slowly raises to the back of her neck, pulling her in as close as humanly possible. She and I have both had to stay strong for others for far too long.

We stay that way for a few moments before a knock interrupts us.

"It's time…" She whispers sadly.

I say nothing. Rather, I separate from her to place a kiss on her forehead.

"I know that you will do the right thing."

I get up to leave the room but turn around to say one more thing.

"Katniss?"

She opens her eyes and looks at me in response.

"Whoever you don't kill, I'll take care of them. Don't worry about that."

She gives me a tiny appreciative smile, before I turn around and exit the room.