Finnick had always thought Annie was pretty, but in her parade outfit, no one could deny that she was gorgeous. Suki, Annie's stylist, had truly outdone herself this year. She had created a long, flowing gown for Annie in shades of blue and green that complemented Annie's dark skin. The movement of the chariot caused the fabric to shift, creating the illusion of flowing water. Annie's long brown hair had been allowed to flow freely, and a simple pearl tiara had been placed on her head. She was breathtaking.
With the exception of Finnick, the crowd took little notice of Annie. Instead, most of their cheers directed at Seannan or Luster, the female tribute from District One. Finnick was glad. It would be useful to have sponsors, but Annie would be better off after the Games if the Capitol did not notice her beauty.
He forced himself to stop staring at Annie in order to size up the competition. As always, all of the tributes from Districts One and Two looked strong. Both from Three were little, but if they were anything like Beetee or Wiress, they could be a serious threat. The boy from Five seemed to have a broken arm, but his district partner was tall and muscular. Unsurprisingly, Six, Eight, Eleven, and Twelve did not have a single decent tribute among them. Finnick was wary of Seven's tributes, as even small children in that district could wield axes, but neither of them looked very strong. The boy from Nine was enormous, dwarfing the girl next to him. Finnick estimated that he was well over two meters tall and had twenty-five kilos on even the next largest tribute. If he gained any weapons skills during Training, he would be a very dangerous opponent. The girl from Ten had an aura about her that Finnick didn't like. He didn't know if it was just confidence, or if she had a skill she was hiding, but he mentally noted her as someone to watch out for. He should talk to Haymitch. The older mentor knew that none of his tributes ever stood a chance, and was generally willing to give Finnick some insight into the competition.
The parade never lasted long, and soon they were all back in District Four's quarters in the Training Center. Annie and Seannan disappeared for a few moments to change out of their parade outfits. Once they were gone, Mags turned to Finnick. "Careful, boy," she said, staring directly into his eyes. Her face, usually so unreadable, betrayed her concern for Finnick.
Finnick nodded. His actions during the parade had been dangerous. If Snow suspected how much Annie meant to him, he could choose to have her targeted. Finnick was most attractive to the Capitol's citizens, and therefore most valuable to Snow, if he was unattached. A girlfriend or boyfriend back home would make his clients feel guilty or uncomfortable about what they did to him. As long as he was single, they could believe that this was his choice. If he were in love, his clients would have to face the fact that they were raping him. Finnick had no problem with his clients feeling guilty about their encounters with him, but he did want to keep Annie safe. He needed to be less obvious in his feelings towards her.
Mags understood his gesture and looked relieved. She patted his thigh gently, turning as Annie came back.
"We should talk strategy," Finnick said to Annie. She nodded.
"I already have one." That was surprising. Annie noticed his expression and smiled before she continued. "I just have to kill the other people without getting killed myself, win, and come home. It's really just an outline now, but I'll work out the details as I go along."
Finnick chuckled. "Those are generally good steps to follow." His voice became more serious, "are you planning on joining the Career pack?"
Annie nodded. "I think so – I'll have to see tomorrow if any of them seem like decent allies, but right now I'd say yes. Even if I decide not to join the Pack, I think I'll stick with Seannan. We were talking before the parade, and decided it would be safest to do this together."
"Okay, sounds good. Let me know, okay?" Annie nodded. "Tomorrow, you start training. Try to keep to the things you're good at. Impress the other tributes, but don't show them everything you can do. It's always good to have a few surprises ready during the Games."
"I think I'll show them how I can throw knives. I've been studying some basic healing and first aid with my grandmother, but I'll keep that to myself for now."
"Excellent plan. I'd also take a look at edible plants area. It's important for the obvious reasons, but it can also sometimes reveal hints about the environment in the arena. I think the trainers have some idea what you'll be going into, and if we can identify the types of plants they're focusing on, we might be able to get a feel of the arena before you go in. Okay?"
"Yeah," Annie replied. She was glad to have a plan for the next day.
Finnick turned to check the clock. "I've got to go … meet with somebody tonight. I think I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow. Good luck if I don't."
"See you tomorrow." Annie looked hurt, but she did not try to stop him from leaving.
He had hoped that Annie would somehow understand that he didn't want to leave, but she had not picked up on his reluctance. Finnick never actually wanted to see his clients, and tonight more than ever he wished he was free. Annie wanted his comfort in her last few days before the Games, but Finnick knew that it was more important that he fulfill his obligations to the president so that she would have a chance in the arena. To keep her safe he needed to do as Snow demanded.
As appointments went, that night wasn't bad. The man who had hired him seemed more interested in being able to tell his friends that he had slept with Finnick Odair than the actual act itself. Finnick always felt emotionally bruised after an encounter with a client, but at least this one had not physically injured him as well. Finnick returned to the fourth floor a bit later than he had expected. All he wanted to do right now was curl up in a ball in the shower and try to wash off any trace of the man from his body, but he decided to check on Annie first. No light was visible through the crack under her door. Finnick assumed that like any sane person at this hour, Annie was asleep. He showered and changed into the Capitol's too-soft pajamas before falling asleep.
Finnick slept through breakfast the next morning, and by the time he woke up, Annie and Seannan were already gone. Camille left him alone, but the look on her face told Finnick that she was disappointed in him. He should have been up to see his mentee off on her first day of training, even if that meant giving up his party boy lifestyle for an evening. Finnick tried not to let Camille's disapproval bother him, but it still stung that she believed he cared so little for the tributes he mentored.
Finnick had another appointment that afternoon, so he wasn't able to see Annie again until dinnertime. "It went very well," Annie said before he had even said hello. "I'm definitely joining the Career pack. I don't think that giant from Nine likes me at all, and I want to be safe with a group if he's around."
"The other Careers are good," Seannan said. Finnick was surprised to hear him talk. He didn't think Seannan had spoken since they got off the train. "I think we can beat them though," he finished. That was probably the most that Finnick had ever heard the boy say. Even when they were in school together, Seannan had always been shy. He wondered how the man's interview would go. Right now, though, he needed to think about training.
"Sounds good. Have you figured out what to do tomorrow?" he asked.
"I'm going to go to the edible plants section while Seannan works on camouflage in the morning. Then we'll both work on weapons training in the afternoon," said Annie. Seannan nodded to signal his agreement with his partner's plan.
Mags smiled. She was pleased with Annie's enthusiasm.
"If it has Mags's approval, it must be a great idea. You two seem to have it all under control. Why do you need me again?" Finnick said.
"We don't. You're just decorative Odair," Annie replied jokingly. "But don't worry, you're a cute decoration. We'll keep you." Even Seannan had to smile at that barb.
They fell into a routine over the next couple days. Mags, Finnick, Annie, Seannan, and Camille would all eat breakfast together, during which they would discuss their plans for training that day. Finnick had an appointment every afternoon, but he managed to be back in time for dinner each night. For the first few minutes at the table, they would talk about the day's events, trying to formulate a plan for the Games. However, after the second course, any discussion of the Games was taboo. They instead talked about anything and everything else, doing their best to ignore the horrors in store for Annie and Seannan.
All too soon, the day of the interviews came. The night before, they had learned that Seannan and Annie had both received training scores of nine. The tributes were pleased with their scores, and Finnick could now tell potential sponsors that his tributes were among the top favorites to win this year. That morning, Camille gave Annie lessons on posture and how to walk in high heels. Finnick watched for a while, but Annie got annoyed when he laughed after she fell for the fourth or fifth time. She and Camille then banned Finnick from the room while they finished. He tried to spy on them by watching through the keyhole in the door, but Mags found him and scolded him. All three women had laughed at the shade of pink he turned after being reprimanded by the old woman.
After lunch, Finnick and Annie were supposed to prepare a persona for her interview. Instead, they went up to the roof and watched the clouds. To Annie, laying with Finnick and trying to spot fish in the clouds was a far better way to spend her last day of freedom than preparing for an interview she didn't want to give. She did her best to not be nervous, but she knew that tonight could decide whether she lived or died in the arena.
"Finnick?" she spoke softly, "How do you think I should act tonight? What should I try to be?"
He studied her for a moment. "Just be you. I'm sure the audience will love real Annie just as much as I do." Finnick was surprised by his own words. He did love Annie, he had just never thought about his feelings in those terms before this moment. He looked back at her face. "Annie Cresta, you are smart, funny, strong, and beautiful. The audience will see that and want to save you."
Annie smiled back at him, content. "I love you too, Finnick," she whispered. He put his arms around her then, bringing her close for a kiss. Their lips barely brushed each other at first, but soon the kisses became more insistent. Annie wanted more, but she contented herself with holding him tightly and stroking his hair and face as they kissed. She hoped this moment never ended. She wanted to stay here with Finnick, not worrying about the nightmares that she would face during the Games.
She looked at the clock that hung on the door to the roof. "Finnick," she asked, "what time are we supposed to be back to get ready for the interviews?"
"Four. Why?"
"It's four twenty right now." With that, her friend bounced up. They could not be more than twenty minutes late if Annie were to succeed in her interview. Finnick helped Annie up before they walked back to the fourth floor together. There, they found Suki waiting for them impatiently. She glared at Finnick, upset that he had kept her waiting for Annie. Suki grasped Annie's hand and pulled her into the elevator that led to the Prep Room. Annie gave him a little wave goodbye before the elevator doors closed.
Finnick was not left alone for long, as his prep team was expecting him at five fifteen. He used his time to eat a snack and check the betting odds for the Games. Seannan was favored to win, but Annie was also considered a strong contender. One, Two, and the boy from Nine seemed to be the only other tributes that this agency believed had a chance. A glance at the clock informed him that it was time to go to the Prep Room. He threw away his apple core and got onto the elevator.
Finnick could not sit still in his auditorium seat. Luckily, the woman he was escorting this evening had not gotten upset yet. She was far too busy running her hand along his arm, leaving thin lines down his bicep with her claw-like nails. He continued to shift in his seat, silently dreading Annie's interview. Finnick did truly believe what he had told Annie earlier. The Capitol would love her sharp wit and sense of humor. He was terrified that they might also lust after her. Annie was a beautiful woman, and if she won, she would surely be a popular victor. He was scared for her, afraid that the Capitol would break and hurt her like they had done to him.
Caesar stepped onto the stage to a deafening round of applause. He gave his usual opening remarks, and then it was time for the tributes' interviews. Finnick barely heard the first six interviews. He squirmed, checked his watch, and tried to name the colors that the audience members in front of him were wearing, anything to distract him from the fact that Annie would soon come out onto the stage.
There she was. "Oh my," the woman next to him breathed. Finnick was both entranced and more worried than ever. Annie looked gorgeous in a long purple dress. Her hair was pulled up and the sleeves of the dress began on her upper arms, revealing her shoulders, neck, upper back, and cleavage to the audience. Someone in the audience whistled a catcall at her. Annie blushed, but walked confidently up to the stage.
"Annie Cresta from District Four, yes?" began Ceasar.
"Hello Ceasar. It's very nice to meet you." Annie extended her hand, which Caesar brought up to his lips to kiss.
"And you as well, my dear. So, tell me how you managed such a marvelous training score."
"You cut right to the chase don't you?" Annie's frankness earned a couple chuckles from the audience. "Well, I ummm, I showed them my knife throwing. They must have liked it, I suppose." Annie looked nervous. She was twisting the fabric of her dress with her fingers and bit down on her bottom lip whenever she paused.
They chatted back and forth for a while, Annie becoming visibly less nervous as they talked. Her answers became wittier, and the crowd clapped and laughed after almost every sentence she spoke.
Close to the end of her three minutes, Caesar leaned in. "Annie, is there a special boy at home watching you tonight?"
Annie blushed."Yes, there's a boy," she admitted after a short pause.
"Well, that can't be the end of the story. Surely you can give us more detail than that!"
"Ummm … okay. Well, he's kind and sweet and gentle. He's smarter than he'll admit to, and he's the best friend anyone could ever ask for. I'd like to say he's perfect, but I know that's not true. He's just perfect for me."
The woman next to Finnick sighed at that remark and wrapped her arms around Finnick. Even Caesar's mask slipped for just a second, as though he had been honestly moved by Annie's words. "Can you give us a name?" he asked.
"Oh Caesar, I don't play kiss and tell," she laughed. With that, her time was up. "Thank you so much for having me," Annie shook Caesar's hand, then got up and waved to the audience as she left. Finnick felt like jelly in his seat. Annie Cresta never failed to amaze him.
"Lucky girl," the woman next to him, Alicia he thought, said. Finnick jumped, worried that she knew Annie had been talking about him. "I wish I knew a man like that." Finnick breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She did not know.
"I'm sure you'll find someone," he purred in her ear. She blushed and giggled, a high pitched and annoying sound. They paid polite attention to the other interviews before it was time to go back to her apartment.
As they stepped into her car, she turned to him. "I'll drop you off at the Training Center, all right? I do love seeing you, but I know that you'll want to say goodbye to your tributes tonight." Finnick smiled and thanked her for her kindness. So few people in the Capitol even seemed to consider that the victors had feelings that this type of consideration from a client was very special.
He rushed up the stairs to the fourth floor, not wanting to wait for an elevator. When he reached their quarters, the rest of the group was just finishing their goodbyes. Mags and Camille retired, Camille fighting off tears at losing at least one of the tributes. Finnick and Seannan embraced. They had never been close, but Seannan was only a year younger than Finnick and they had gone to training together. It was hard for him to reconcile the redheaded boy he'd known during his time at training with the man that he was embracing now. "Good luck," Finnick wished Seannan, giving the other man a clap on the back. Seannan thanked him, then went to his room.
Saying goodbye to Annie was more difficult. They held each other for long moments, both crying, never wanting to let the other go. "It'll be okay," Annie whispered, stroking his hair. She leaned up to place a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you, so much. I'll come back to you."
"I know you will," said Finnick. He stared into her green eyes, committing every detail of her face to memory.
"Come on," she said, grabbing his hand. She led him into her bedroom. Finnick just looked at her for a moment, unsure of her intentions. "Is this okay?" she asked. "It's just … if I, if I die in that arena, I don't want to be a virgin."
Finnick paused for a moment, considering what she had just asked. For him, sex was a nightmare. He hated the feel of other people's hands on him, seemingly taking little pieces of him away for their own pleasure. But … he hadn't hated it earlier when he and Annie had cuddled on the roof. Annie's embraces were pleasant, gentle and giving instead of harsh and demanding like his clients'. Maybe with Annie, sex could be more than it was with the people Snow sold him to. He looked into her eyes and nodded, putting his hands at her waist.
The leaned in for a long, passionate kiss, pressing their bodies against each other. Annie moaned as Finnick splayed his hand across her back. When they separated, Annie reached down to untuck his shirt from his pants. He bent forwards and lifted his arms so that she could remove his shirt. The feeling of Annie's hands against his bare chest was electrifying. He grasped the straps of her gown, waiting for her permission to continue. She laughed. "I don't think that's going to work." She lifted up an arm, revealing a long zipper. He grinned sheepishly, then unzipped the dress. Together, they removed the fabric.
Finnick gazed at her breasts. They were fairly small, not surgically altered to the 'perfect' size like the Capitol womens'. He thought they were the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. No, not the most beautiful. He looked up at Annie's face again. That was the perfect sight. Her pupils were wide with arousal, and she was already slightly flushed from his kisses. They embraced, falling onto the bed in between kisses. Finnick rolled so that Annie was beneath him.
"Tell me what you want" he said, kissing her neck between words.
"I want you inside of me," she replied before bringing his face down for another kiss. When they separated, Finnick quickly removed the rest of his clothes. Annie looked down his body appreciatively. She slowly pulled down her panties, removing the last barrier between them. She put a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him onto his back. Annie kissed down his chest, teasing a nipple with her teeth before licking at his navel. She paused at his erection, unsure of what to do. She placed a soft kiss on the head before returning to his mouth.
Finnick cupped her breasts in his hands, his thumbs gently flicking over the nipples. He pushed her back so that he was on top of her, then began to suckle on her left breast. Annie moaned underneath him, fisting her hands in his bronze hair. Finnick moved his hands lower, making little swirls on her stomach with fingers before gently separating her legs.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked, holding himself up on his forearms above her. Annie nodded. She had never been so sure of anything in her life. He reached between her legs, rubbing gently at her clitoris for a moment before slipping a finger into her womanhood. He looked at her eyes, watching carefully for any signs of pain. When he saw none, he began to move his finger in and out, eliciting little gasps of pleasure. Finnick slipped another finger inside, aware that she would need preparation to take him. The stretch between her legs felt incredible, Annie thought. She looked up at him, his brow creased in focus as he prepared her. She moved her hand down to stop his movements. Finnick immediately withdrew, afraid that he had hurt her.
"Finnick, it's okay. I'm ready." He studied her for a moment, then nodded and aligned himself at her entrance. He kissed her and began to push inside. She was so hot and extremely tight. Annie gasped in a mixture of pain and pleasure. He stilled for a moment, looking into her eyes to see what she wanted from him. Annie grabbed his hips, then pushed him the rest of the way inside. They set a slow rhythm at first, both wanting to drag out their pleasure as long as possible. Soon though, they lost control, slamming their hips together as the pressure built inside of them. Annie came first. She squeezed around him and half-shouted his name as she orgasmed. Finnick followed her a moment later, collapsing on top of her.
After a few moments, Annie pressed at his shoulder, wanting him to roll off of her. He flopped onto his back, and pulled her close. "Are you all right?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Yes, better than all right," she answered. Finnick noticed the small bloodstain on the sheets and went to grab a towel. After she cleaned up, they embraced again, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking.
"I love you. You know that, right?" he said just as they began to drift to sleep.
"Well who wouldn't," Annie teased. She looked up at him and winked, settling more comfortably into the mattress. Her eyes drifted shut. "But for the record, I love you too." They fell asleep together, neither of them dreaming of what tomorrow held.