Requested by smilebrightsweetheart: Could you maybe continue the 'Meeting Finnick Odair' in the next chapter of Between Lives? Haymitch playing chess wirh Finnick is something I really want to read, it sounds adorable! And also them dealing with the 'fans' Thank you :D

"Meeting Finnick Odair" is in Chapter 9!

Checkmate, Finnick

(31 years old)

Haymitch ran a lone finger on his lips, strategizing and calculating his move. Finnick was struggling but he was learning.

"You use your Queen so carelessly," Haymitch pointed out.

Finnick's eyes swept over the chessboard, taking the pieces in but he wasn't seeing the game the way Haymitch was. Haymitch saw moves and counter-moves; he saw power shifting from one piece to another but was always mindful of the Queen. Finnick didn't; he saw a possible step and he took it.

"Am I? I'm not," Finnick denied.

"You're doing all you can to keep your King safe and for what? It's powerful, yeah, but it's also one of the weakest pieces. And look at that," Haymitch gestured, emphasising his point, "you block off all access routes for your Queen. How is she gonna move? Her power's wasted over there."

The teenager frowned, still intently studying his pieces. "I don't understand," he mumbled under his breath. "Each time I move a piece forward, you beat me to it."

"I beat you two steps to it," Haymitch gloated with a maddening, self-satisfied smirk. "You got to think ahead, anticipate my moves before I make them."

"And in chess, the pawns always go first – you should sacrifice them," Effie piped in from where she was sitting with her legs crossed and a fashion magazine on her lap.

"Not necessarily," Haymitch countered. "Pawns can be useful. You shouldn't discard pawns as if they meant nothing."

"Like us," Finnick said bitterly, breaking the tone of the game to route it back to a topic that hit too close to home. "We're the pawns, aren't we, Haymitch? President Snow's playing - "

"Hey, sweetheart, where did you say Mags was?" Haymitch asked loudly, drowning Finnick's voice out.

Haymitch saw the confusion on Finnick's face and the slight surprise that he would abruptly cut him off mid-sentence in that manner. Effie raised her head, looking at Haymitch but she had worked with him long enough to know his paranoia about hidden bugs that she let the change in subject slide.

Effie stood up, putting the magazine away. "I will send Mags over. I heard she was out for lunch, thanking the sponsors that had pledged their money for you," she turned towards Finnick. "I should go. I need to pick up my dress and Haymitch's suit for the Victory Party, and I'll have to meet Finnick's escort for to choose her dress."

"I didn't know you were friendly with Tabitha!" Finnick's eyes lighted up. "She's a bit air headed but she's nice to me."

"Yes, charming girl," Effie smiled before she addressed Haymitch directly. "You will return to the Penthouse soon after, won't you?"

Haymitch shrugged.

"Well, please try not to be too drunk, Haymitch. Finnick's Victory Party – "

"Is in three days," Haymitch cut her off. "I don't see why you're up my ass about it now."

Effie pursed her lips.

"You'll be there - both of you?" Finnick seemed relieved, looking at Haymitch and Effie.

"This year, yes," Effie nodded. "Usually, on any other year, Haymitch would already be back in Twelve by now but Mags asked him to stay for your sake. If Haymitch is attending the party, and if Chaff is going to be there with him, then it follows that I would need to. Remember what I said? He needs constant supervision."

"You attend the party every damn year," Haymitch grumbled just as Finnick teasingly ask, "You sure? Or is it because Haymitch needs you to be his date since he can't find one?"

Haymitch scoffed. "I think you meant the other way 'round – how she desperately wants to be my date and since this is the rare year that I gotta attend, she's not letting the chance pass."

"You don't have to attend if you don't want to," Finnick said quickly, desperate to be on Haymitch's good side. Aside from Mags, Haymitch, Chaff and Effie were the only other people he knew and he quite liked them. "It'll be great if you're there but – "

"Checkmate," Haymitch declared.

"What - No!" Finnick groaned.

"We'll be there, Finnick. I'll make sure Haymitch attends," Effie promised before closing the door quietly behind her.

Having lost three times in a row, Finnick sighed and settled back in bed. He pulled out the rope that Mags had left him, unravel the knots he had made earlier before Haymitch and Effie arrived, and knotted them all back again.

"Is your life better after your Games?" he asked out of the blue, fingers moving deftly around the rope. He was worried and fearful. "Was it just like how the Capitol promised?"

"Is my life better…?" Haymitch mused. His voice was layered with a tinge of bitterness. If Finnick had been looking at him, he would have seen the cloud that passed over Haymitch's eyes. "If I'm hungry, I know I can get food. Never had to starve since I won the Games… Guess that's an upgrade," Haymitch chuckled.

Finnick paused and shot him a disgruntled a look. "You're just messing around with me, Haymitch. I can tell – I'm not stupid."

Haymitch let out a breath. For a long while, he said nothing except to watch Finnick frantically work on his rope as if his life depended on it. It was an odd coping mechanism but who was he to say when he relied so heavily on alcohol.

"It's not what it looks like," Haymitch crafted his words carefully. He could not speak freely in this room but he also didn't want to lie to the kid.

"What's not?"

"What you see 'bout Victors on the television… What they show you 'bout our life especially those who live here in the Capitol when the Games aren't in session… It's just that - something for the television. It's what they want you to see."

"An image… So there's more?"

"There's always more," Haymitch folded his arms and slouched in his seat. "What you get from this place, you have to give in return."

Finnick wrinkled his brows and tilted his head to the side before he said, "I don't know what you mean."

"You will sooner or later," Haymitch shrugged.

"Stop patronising – "

Finnick broke off. Whatever he wanted to say died on his lips when a nurse entered. Her eyes flickered to Haymitch and then remained fixated on Finnick sitting on the bed. She smiled at him and proceeded to read his charts.

She stepped closer to Finnick telling him that she needed to check his vitals and give him a once over. The nurse tilted Finnick's head carefully and gently brushed his hair back to check his eyes. Her hand lingered briefly on the side of his cheek and Haymitch frowned. Finnick squirmed when the same hand trailed down his arm. Still, she smiled at him.

"I'm the nurse on duty for today and I have never been this excited for my shift when I heard that I'll be on your hospital floor. I'm a big fan. It's such an honour," she gushed. "You were truly marvellous in the arena and the way you work with that trident…"

Finnick grew uncomfortable at the mention of his arena. His grip on the rope tightened and he glanced at Haymitch, silently asking for his help.

But Haymitch was worried about something else. The nurse was standing far too close and she was toying with the hem of Finnick's shirt. When she took his pulse, Haymitch knew the nurse was just buying for more time to be in the room with the newest victor because it was a ridiculous excuse. She could simply check Finnick's heart monitor.

"I saw you playing chess earlier," she spoke. "If you're bored, I can keep you company. I wouldn't mind. Like I said, I'm really a fan."

"A little less chit chat," Haymitch growled. "Do what you need to do and leave us."

She startled, taking a step back and Finnick exhaled. "I was just – "

"You done or what? Get out," Haymitch waved her off.

Finnick said nothing but his eyes tracked the nurse's every move until she disappeared from the room. Then he turned his gaze towards Haymitch.

"That's only one," Haymitch told him, his expression was serious. "You have hundreds of screaming fans outside and they all want your attention. This is what the Capitol promise anyone who won the Games, didn't they? What happens when you can't give them your attention or if you won't? Glory isn't what you want, yeah? You just wanted to survive but this is what you're going to get, and kid, winning isn't all that it's made up to be."

Finnick looked away.