Wrote this before Mockingjay came out. Just saying.

He could blame a variety of people for him meeting Ceteria and having the child he never wanted in this kind of world. But he would not do that.

(Well, maybe a little).

Haymitch was the one that forced him to be the guy every woman in the Capitol wanted.

"Alright you've been heartbroken for two years now. It's time to change things up," Haymitch said as they traveled by train to the Capitol for the 78th Games.

"I am heartbroken," He said with those eyes of his that had been so empty for so long.

Haymitch sighed at that. "I know you are, boy, but the Capitol is bored with it and the only way to keep us safe is to keep them entertained."

He covered his face with his hands and muttered. "I hate this." (He hated them, the Capitol).

"Yeah, well, we all do."

A silence passed, both of them feeling miserable. He knew he would have to do whatever they wanted. Keeping the Capitol happy was the only thing keeping him and Haymitch alive and safe from President Snow. Slowly, he lifted his head from his hands.

"Well, what's the plan?"

"You're making a new friend once we get to the Capitol."

Finnick Odair was the 'new friend' Haymitch had been referring to. He knew immediately what Haymitch wanted when he was introduced to Finnick. He was to be just like him. He'd be the next gorgeous, golden boy of the Capitol.

(He hated/loved this idea most of all).

He was distracted, going to all the Capitol's parties at the side of Finnick Odair. Finnick taught him all his tricks from flirting and schmoozing to gaining access to any part of the Capitol he wanted. They wore the fancy clothes and were seen at all the right events and the Capitol loved it.

He took no pleasure in his new lifestyle (at first). His actions felt forced and they felt wrong, like he was cheating or something. Which was a ridiculous thought - he had no one. But he soon convinced himself he could enjoy his time. He deserved to be happy; he was allowed to move on. (Or at least try to).

So he tried to have fun and some nights he did. However, those nights usually involved a lot of alcohol.

(His drinking was almost equal with Haymitch. (And that worried him)).

And after Haymitch had suggested it, he also tried to find someone new to love, but that was pointless.

It was too late when he learned that Finnick never went home with any Capitol women. This threw him so much that he confronted the bronze-haired man one night after Finnick had begun to slur and stumble.

"Why do you do this?"

"Hmmm?" Finnick mumbled, slouched against a plush armchair in some ritzy hotel.

"The partying? I always assumed you did all of this for the women, but you don't. Is it the popularity you love?"

"Personally, I could care less what these people think of me. But it's not up to me."

"Who then?"

He watched Finnick stare off into space, as if contemplating his next words, selecting them very carefully and cautiously.

"Y'know, I'm in love with a girl back in my district."

"I am too," He murmured though surprised with Finnick's confession.

Finnick gave him a skeptical look. "I'm the only person you know from District Four."

"I meant in District 12."

"Ah." Finnick chuckled to himself. "But my girl didn't run off with her cousin."

He would have been hurt (maybe he was a little) by the words if they had not shocked him. That was supposed to be a secret. He knew what had happened, Haymitch knew, and he assumed that President Snow knew, but that was all.

"How do you know that?" He whispered.

Finnick only shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

"Yes. It does-"

"So," Finnick interrupted, "I may be in love with this girl, but the Capitol is in love with me. And the problem is that the Capitol loved me first. So even though I'd like nothing more than to stay in District Four with my Annie, I can't. Because that would break the Capitol's heart and the President wouldn't want me breaking their hearts."

This piece of information was another shock to him. He knew President Snow had given threats before, but he never thought other Victors were forced to act for the Capitol. But then again, everything in the Capitol was just a big, flashy show put on for its own entertainment.

A time passed as he contemplated what Finnick had told him. One part still bothered him. "Finnick, how do you know what really happened?"

But Finnick was out cold.