Beta-Read by: gkmoberg1
In my City by Ellie Goulding
If I ever had a wish in the whole world
I would've listened to my brother when he spoke to me
And I never would've played with my conscience
in the fields where I was in their company
Chapter 6
Winnow pouted as she stood beside Kai just after the parade had ended. "Oh, lovely Goddess of the Sea, stop pouting because District 12 overshadowed you," Finnick teased her, playfully pinching her cheek.
She slapped at his hand, scowling at him. "If we had been in the last chariot, we would have outshined them," She retorted. Kai chuckled at her vanity, earning a glare.
"Sweetheart, at least admit their costumes were fantastic," Pyrrhus requested.
Winnow sighed and rolled her eyes. "They were good," she offered. "But Artemisia's were better," She added instantly with a sniff, before Finnick could praise her for her modesty.
"Little Minnow has some bite," her mentor mocked her, jumping out of her reach when she swatted at him again. "I'll meet you all later," Finnick called, trotting away.
She turned to Pyrrhus, Mags and Kai. "Do any of you have a piece of paper? I've had a thought that I don't want to forget," She requested.
"Of course, darling!" Pyrrhus volunteered, rifling through his pockets. Mags tugged on his sleeve, her other hand on Kai's arm. She pointed at the elevator, then at herself and Kai, who took it upon himself to explain what she meant to the Capitolian man.
"Mags is tired, I'm taking her up to our floor," he told Pyrrhus who nodded indulgently. Mags mumbled softly, catching Kai's attention. "She says she wants Winnow up there very soon, too," he added.
"Of course! Don't you worry, Mags, I will have Winnow on her way up as soon as she finishes her note," Pyrrhus assured the old woman, gesturing to the tribute hastily scrawling on a scrap of paper.
Mags nodded and waved at them, letting Kai guide her away. Winnow handed the pen back to Pyrrhus, folding the scrap hastily. "Let's go, Pyrrhus…but let's take the long way around. I just want to get another look at the other districts' costumes. I arrived so late that I didn't get a very good look," She lied, hoping the deceit was not obvious in her eyes.
But Pyrrhus seemed to be oblivious. "Oh, nothing would please me greater, darling," he twittered, offering her his arm. Winnow took it, smiling genuinely at the older man.
They walked leisurely around the grounds, peering at the other tributes who were preparing to leave. As the pair neared the elevators, Winnow seemed to trip and collide with one of the other tributes. A male tribute wearing a gold Romanesque costume. "Oh, Winnow!" Pyrrhus cried in concern, as she regained her balance by holding onto Cato.
"Watch your step, Four!" his district partner barked at her, but both Cato and Winnow ignored her.
"A thousand pardons, Two," Winnow remarked, bowing theatrically while Cato felt a tickle of something stiff in his costume. When the District 4 girl and her escort had left and the focus shifted from him, Cato reached into the back of his costume, pulling out a hastily folded scrap of paper. As he unwrapped and read over the short note, a smirk lightened his features.
Once Winnow and Pyrrhus had reached their floor, Phedre and Pandora were there to help Winnow get out of her costume. As the twins dragged her towards what was supposedly her room, she heard Pyrrhus muttering about 'that terrible beast of a boy from 2'.
Phedre and Pandora quickly stripped Winnow of her golden ornaments and helped her out of the skin-tight dress. "Go ahead and get cleaned up, Winnow," Phedre instructed.
"And we'll set something out for you to wear," Pandora added. Winnow agreed easily, moving into the bathroom quickly.
While the thought of being naked in front of others did not particularly perturb Winnow, she also didn't particularly want to prolong the experience. Unless, of course, it was for a romantic encounter…And Winnow planned to have one of those tonight.
As Winnow stepped into the shower, she was frustrated to see that it was even more complicated than the one on the train. She sighed, fiddling with the controls to figure it out. She let out a little shriek when cold water showered down on her.
Winnow punched at the buttons, the water turning warm finally. She sighed blissfully, before scrubbing at her face vigorously to get rid of the heavy layer of make-up. Then she idly lathered up her hair, and then her skin.
Winnow left the shower refreshed and relaxed, continuing into the bedroom. On the bed lay a small pile of garments, and she moved to draw them on. She had been provided with a sleeveless, soft cotton summer dress. It was a soft periwinkle color, extending just above her knees. On the floor was a pair of brown sandals, quite similar to what Winnow had owned at home in District 4.
She twisted her hair into a plait off to the right side of her face, tying it off with a golden ribbon that twins had errantly had left behind. Then Winnow left the bedroom in search of a late dinner as her belly rumbled.
"Winnow, darling!" Pyrrhus called to her the moment he caught sight of her. "Come join us for a late snack," he requested, gesturing her over to the table to join them.
"Oh I will," she answered, crossing the room quickly to sit beside the Escort. Only Kai sat at the table along with Winnow and Pyrrhus. "Is Mags resting?" she asked as Pyrrhus piled food onto her plate. Kai nodded. "Where's Finnick?" Winnow then added.
Kai shrugged and Pyrrhus hesitated to answer. "He will be back later," the Escort answered vaguely. Winnow raised an eyebrow, glancing to Kai, who merely shrugged again. Pyrrhus placed his hand on her shoulder and gestured to her plate with his other hand. "Eat, darling. Let's have a nice meal together,"
She nodded to him, and began to eat slowly. "Do you have any ideas for training tomorrow?" Pyrrhus asked, looking to each tribute.
Kai shook his head. "A little." Winnow answered.
"Do tell," Pyrrhus prompted her.
She glanced at Kai. "I was thinking Kai and I would practice with daggers." She suggested. Kai's eyebrows rose at her words.
"And then I can teach Winnow how to treat herself if she gets hurt," he said in response.
"Oh, that sounds lovely!" Pyrrhus trilled, clapping his hands together in glee. "When I first met the two of you- oh, the meeting was so chilly! But look at the two of you now! Oh, just a day later, and we're working together! Oh, I'm so happy!" he sang.
Winnow rolled her eyes and Kai expressed a similar expression of exasperation. "I'm tired. I'm going to turn in," Kai remarked, nodding at both his district partner and then to their escort.
"Sleep well, darling," Pyrrhus said gently, nodding in response. With his nearest elder's approval, Kai rose from his seat and strode towards his room- but not without glancing back at Winnow- his expression conflicted.
With Kai gone, Pyrrhus' attention focused on Winnow alone. This she didn't mind so much. From Pyrrhus anyway. She would never admit it, but she had become rather fond of the flame-haired man. "Pyrrhus…If I win…will you be with me?" she asked hesitantly.
His expression immediately softened, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Every moment that I can, darling. Every moment that I can." he assured her.
"And that means…specifically?" Winnow questioned.
"If you won, I would be here waiting for you the moment you were lifted out of the Arena. I would be with you to take you home, and for the Victory Tour. Every moment, we would be together. It would be some time before the Reaping, and then you would be a Mentor- and we'd be together again," Pyrrhus explained to her gently.
"Oh," she breathed. It was the only thing that would make it tolerable, if she won. Having Pyrrhus with her…It was a presumptuous though, the thought she would win.
"Darling, I don't want you to think on this. I will be there to support you, know that for certain. But you have to get through this week first, and then the Games." Pyrrhus remarked, touching the teenager's face gently. "It's getting late. I'm going to bed. I clearly need the beauty sleep," he said, giving a little false laugh.
Winnow rolled her eyes at the man. "Ugh, come on Pyrrhus. If you're gorgeous. If you weren't so obviously out of my league, I'd…well, do something," she teased. A wide grin spread over his face.
"Oh, you are just the sweetest thing, aren't you, darling," Pyrrhus cooed, leaning over to pinch her cheeks. "You eat, and then get a good night's sleep," he instructed her before prancing off to his own room.
Winnow shrugged and idly ate. Tonight, she indulged. The desserts on the table called to her sweet tooth, and she could do nothing but answer the call. She waited to see if anyone would emerge from their rooms; or if Finnick would return.
When all had been quiet for half an hour, Winnow left their apartments and took the elevator up to the roof. She stepped out from the doors and looked around. After a few moments, a large figure broke away from the darkness. Cato stood before her, a deep-set frown on his lips. "I've been waiting." He remarked.
"I see that," Winnow responded. He returned her statement with a dark look, taking her hand and leading her towards a small garden on the rooftop. "I had to wait for the others to fall asleep," she gave as explanation.
Cato sighed but seems to accept this answer. He dropped her hand and spun to face her. Gripping Winnow by the back of the neck and towed her in for a harsh kiss. She was quick to respond, crushing her lips back to his. As his tongue invaded her mouth, she fought back- beginning a quite pleasurable battle.
Cato's hands- his hands were everywhere. As were hers. It was oh-so-very soon that they were horizontal- laying on the ground in the garden, his hand up her skirt and the other clutching her breast. Winnow's own hands clutched at Cato, one digging into his very firm backside, the other dragging along the skin of his back underneath his shirt.
But there was a noise. The sound of a door opening. And then footsteps. Winnow and Cato both bolted up, eyes wide. They took one glance at each other and started straightening their clothes sheepishly. There was a short moment where the pair wondered at how to leave each other- Cato moved in to kiss her, but Winnow did not take his movement for such. She turned and walked away from him, sneaking down a flight of stairs before trying for an elevator.
She saw no one as she made it to an elevator, and thought she had gotten away scot-free until she entered the District 4 apartment. Finnick sat on one of the couches facing the elevator doors, swirling a glass of scotch in his hand. "You were sighted again." He remarked idly.
Winnow's shoulder slumped and she sighed. Finnick gestured for her to sit beside him. She did as instructed without hesitation. "I suspect Enobaria will be notified as well. Something will come of this, Winnow." He told her quietly.
Her brows furrowed and a ball of nervousness twisted in her belly. "I'm sorry," she says quietly.
Finnick stood, pacing back and forth in frustration. "There will be no more clandestine meetings, Winnow! You are drawing too much attention to yourself!" he said sharply. It was clear Finnick was angry, but he wouldn't shout at her. "You are putting yourself in danger, Winnow!"
"But you said- you said it was good!" she exclaimed.
Finnick ran his hands through his hair before throwing them up in the air. There was distress, fear, in his eyes and Winnow didn't understand why. The phone rang. Finnick sighed, moving to answer it. "Yes, I am speaking with Winnow right now. No, no, of course I did not condone this." He lies. "Eno- Eno- Enobaria- we will discuss this in the morning. Perhaps we will be able to find something we can actually use in this shit situation," Finnick tells the District 2 Mentor before he hangs up the phone.
He sits down on the couch heavily next to Winnow. "What did you mean about using the situation?" She asks suspiciously.
Finnick's sea-green eyes slid to look at her for but a moment before they slide past her. "I think it's time you get to bed. You have training in the morning." He says quietly as a dismissal. It took a few moments for his words to sink in. She simply looked at him until it had. Then Winnow stood and walked away without a word.
Finnick pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a swallow of the drink he'd poured himself so long ago. It wasn't until this moment that it occurred to him to drink it.
Soon he pours himself another.
A/N: It took me forever to write this chapter. Show me some love for it, please? Review your ass off.