"TAIYA!" they heard Tyler yell from the next room.

Gloss and Taiya were chilling in Gloss' apartment playing a violent game of slaps while Finnick sat in the corner staring into space. All three of them sat up straight at the yell and looked at each other wide-eyed.

"What did you do?" Finnick immediately asked.

"Nothing," Taiya shrugged.

"AMBERSNOW!" Tyler barged into the room. "Are you serious?"

"What?" she asked, glancing at Gloss with confusion.

"This is my third tube of toothpaste this week," he held up the empty tube. "They said this is the last one they'd issue me and it's gone already. And you know Buck won't let me use his."

"And you think your lack of toothpaste moderation is my fault?"

Tyler merely put his hands on his hips and tapped his foot against the floor. "Who else would do it?"

"I don't know man," she shrugged. "Maybe you like to brush your teeth in your sleep? I don't know. But I didn't do it. Did you?" she asked Gloss.

"No, I haven't done anything since you told us they'd be checking the cameras since Beetee left with Gale to join Katniss," Gloss shook his head.

Tyler looked between them. They both seemed to be genuine, but he looked over at Finnick for confirmation.

The boy was like a deer in the headlights, but he shook his head. He hadn't seen Taiya do anything.

"Maybe Buck did it?" Taiya suggested. "You want to hang out with us?" she offered.

"I have a meeting in command soon so I can't," he sighed. "I'm just going to steal some of Buck's toothpaste. What can he do anyway," he muttered as he left the room.

"Did you do that?" Finnick had to ask.

"Oh absolutely," Taiya nodded.

"You're making him think he's insane. You know that right?"

"Yes I do," Taiya smirked. That was exactly hers and Gloss' plan. Tyler was on the verge of self-imploding. "He tripped me in the cafeteria the other day remember? I need my revenge. OW!" she yelled as Gloss smashed his hands down on hers. "What the hell Gloss!" she snapped, leaning forward and shoving his forehead back.

"Not my fault you were distracted," he reached forward to shove her head in retaliation.

Taiya stared at him with a look of outrage before aggressively pushing his shoulders. He didn't move too much.

"You can't take me on Ambersnow, your muscles atrophied in captivity," he taunted.

"You jerk," she tried to shove him again.

Finnick was just ignoring them. He'd interfered in an argument earlier and they'd both turned against him for ruining their fun.

"You're making a dangerous enemy Gloss," she warned.

"I'm not afraid of you," he scoffed.

"Whatever you say… lip Gloss," she teased.

"What did you call me?" he froze.

"Lip Gloss," she crossed her arms. He hated nicknames, but she loved them.

"I'm going to give you one chance to take that back and never call me that again," he offered.

"Nope," she shook her head.

"Right then," he nodded before he leapt off the bed and grabbed her legs, lifting her up so she was hanging upside down.

"FINNICK HELP!" she yelled as Gloss held her in the air.

"Take it back."

"Never!"

"You don't come down until you take it back."

"I'll never give in! FINNICK!"

"I tried to help earlier and you told me off," Finnick shrugged. Karma was going to get her now.

"I take it back. Help me!" she thrashed around, trying to get out of Gloss' grip.

"Just don't drop her on her head," Finnick requested of Gloss before he turned back to a rebel document he'd been reading earlier.

"I think she's had enough head injuries for a lifetime. Can't afford to lose any more brain cells now, can we Ambersnow?" Gloss smirked down at her.

"Hey!" she whined, swinging out her arms in an attempt to hit his legs, but he just held her further away. "Finnickkkk, pleaseeee."

"Alright. Let's put her down now," Finnick finally relented.

"Yeah, lip Gloss. Put me down."

"Well you're not going down now," he denied.

"Finn!"

"Put her down lip Gloss," Finnick lowered his document to look at them.

"Are you serious?" Gloss glared, completely unimpressed by Finnick's adoption of her new nickname.

"Put her down and I won't call you that again," Finnick offered.

"You're not the problem man, she is," Gloss waved her legs to make a point.

"I'm getting dizzy!" she snapped.

"I have no control over Taiya," Finnick scoffed. "Be serious lip Gloss."

"Please never call me that again," Gloss scowled, dropping Taiya onto the bed next to them so she bounced twice.

"That was not very gentle," she sat up, shooting Gloss a glare.

"You'll live, move over," he shoved her legs so he could sit down.

"Knock it off," she kicked out at him.

"Well don't hog the space," Gloss retorted, grabbing a pillow and swinging it so it hit her in the face.

"Alright, I'm done," Finnick stood up. "You're going to send both me and Tyler mad," he shot Taiya a quick smile. "I'm going to go get Tyler some new toothpaste. I'll be back in a few minutes," he walked out of Gloss' compartment.

"That took way too long," Gloss sighed when the door closed. "That boy of yours has a patience I've never seen the likes of before!"

"You're telling me," Taiya sighed. "I thought he'd crack after our first argument."

"I always did wonder how he could stand to hang around you and Johanna without going insane."

"Nerves of steel," Taiya smiled.

"You've got the boy whipped. Anyway, now that we got rid of him what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" he asked.

Taiya sat up straight. She kept her promise to Haymitch and Buck by not telling Finnick about their conversation, but she wanted to discuss it with Gloss. The only way she could think of to get a private moment with Gloss and avoid suspicion was to annoy Finnick until he left. Which turned out to be harder than it seemed. But Gloss was all too happy to play along.

By the time she'd run him through everything Buck and Haymitch had warned her about, he didn't even look surprised.

"I told you this you know."

"When did you tell me this?" Taiya demanded, glaring at the man she thought was blatantly lying.

"The first night you stayed here. When you got sent back to the hospital. The day after you moved in with Finnick. Two days after you moved in with Finnick. Yesterday. Need I go on? Because there's more."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes," he deadpanned.

"Oh. I thought this would be news to you."

"It's not. Sorry kid. I told you it was a war zone here. I meant it."

"I thought you were just being a snob because it looks so different from home."

"Huh?" Gloss scoffed. "No. You've just been too lost in your little peacock's eyes to pay attention."

"Have you been hanging out with Haymitch?" Taiya smirked.

"Yeah, I guess. They gave us the exact same schedule. Guess I'm not trusted on my own either."

"Well, that's fair enough. You've got problems, my friend."

"Can I ask you something though? And I want a serious answer."

"Maybe…" Taiya hesitated, not knowing what he was going to ask.

"Why didn't you invite Cash and me to join the plan?" he asked, not able to make eye contact with her. It's been on his mind since he found out what went down in the arena.

Taiya just sighed. She knew this conversation was coming, it didn't make it comfortable though.

"I wanted you involved…" she sighed. "But it wasn't up to me. I didn't even want to join. I was pushed into it by Finn. He really wanted to get involved. Peeta and Katniss weren't even told what was going on. Made it very hard to keep them onside. It was made very clear to us at the meeting we had that Plutarch's priority was 12, not us. He basically said if it was convenient they'd get the rest of us out, and if it was a hassle they'd abandon us. I heard abandon, Finnick heard they'd save us. Pessimistic, optimistic. Would you have been able to make the commitment though? Put your life down for Katniss and my lil baker boy? Finnick took the role very seriously," Taiya bit her lip to keep her emotions in check. "He kept running back into the poisonous fog to help them. I kept screaming at him, pleading with him not to do it, but he left me to go back and help them. I think I was only invited because of him. I would never have been able to consider putting them over myself and Finn. And I think you and I are the same there. Self-preservation runs too high. I really wish you were included, Gloss. But it wasn't my call."

"I get it," he nodded. "It would've been too suspicious if too many people held back. You tried to warn us, told us to stay away. Maybe if we'd known though we could've kept Brutus and Enobaria away, and we wouldn't have gone to the Cornucopia to break up your alliance. Maybe then…"

"I know," Taiya took his hand. Maybe Cashmere would be alive.

"So I went down to the store room and they absolutely knew I was getting toothpaste for Tyler," Finnick said as he walked back in. "They said that he's on his last chance and they took this tube of toothpaste off my allotment, so can you guys find a different form of torment for him please?"

"We probably should," Taiya nodded at Gloss. "Finn eats enough sugar for about 100 people, we need all the toothpaste we can get our hands on. And why is that Finn?"

"Because cavities are not hot," Finnick rolled his eyes, finishing her favourite lecture phrase.

"I've trained you well," Taiya leapt up from the bed and flung her arms around his neck.

"Trained," Gloss snorted. "Sounds about right."

Both Taiya and Finnick directed the same glare at the man.

"Alright, both of you get out now," Gloss ushered them out. "Now that we're getting along again you're boring me," he closed the door in their faces.

"So what do you want to do now?" Taiya asked Finnick.

"I can think of one thing," he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

Taiya didn't even hesitate, she just grabbed the collar of his jumpsuit and brought his lips against hers.

Finnick reacted immediately, trying to take advantage of her open lips and claim control over the kiss. Taiya was all too happy to take a metaphorical step back and let him.

She wound her arms up from his neck and into his curls. Finnick held her hips and slowly walked her backwards so they were pressed against the door of Tyler and Buck's compartment, not detaching himself from her for even a moment.

A groan broke free from him as Taiya gave his curls a small tug and nipped his lower lip. Her chest was rising up and down rapidly as she quickly lost control of her self-control.

This sort of thing wasn't exactly a rare sight in District 13 lately. Ever since Taiya realised they wouldn't be punished for the simple act of just being in a relationship, they hadn't held back and were expressing as much affection as they felt.

Taiya ran one hand down from his curls to caress his jaw, before she followed the path she'd laid out with her lips. She'd kissed a line down his neck before his hand moved from her hip to cup her throat and return her mouth to his. He had to put a stop to her boldness slightly, they were in public after all.

But he was still insatiable, his grip on her derriere tightening as they battled for dominance with their tongues, both staking a claim on the other. Each kiss between them was just as exciting as the last, fireworks sparking from their head to their toes. They were each other's whole world (co-dependency be damned).

Finnick yanked her even closer if that was even possible, any residual concerns about what passersby's saw were gone and were replaced solely by the thought of getting inside a room with his girl. His hand slid up her back to mingle with her hair and grasp the back of her neck as he gently pulled her head back and trailed his lips down her throat, to her collarbone, his fist scrunching in her hair with yearning.

He was everything she could ever imagine needing. As long as they were together, she'd never be unhappy. She couldn't survive without his touch and his love.

Taiya's hand had a mind of its own as it worked its way through the buttons on his jumpsuit, and rested skin-to-skin against his chest. District 13 certainly hadn't damaged his physique. She needed as much of him as she could get.

Taiya let out a gasp as he hit that sweet spot on her neck. He knew how to get this reaction every time. And every time it was like music to his ears.

Somewhere deep within her mind, she thought she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. But she didn't care. They could walk around. No one was going to get killed because the couple was making out in the corridor, so who cares if they were spotted?

Taiya's hand spun a curl around her fingers before she gave it a light pull as she felt Finnick's hands adventure further on her body, while his lips continued to pepper their way around her neck. His hands worked their way up his thighs, up to her waist, stopping halfway up for a squeeze.

She could feel his smile, even as he kissed his way over her collarbone, settling in the hollow of her throat. She didn't need to see him to know the smirk that sat on his face.

"HEY!" a voice yelled.

Taiya's eyes burst open as she looked to the side to see a wide-eyed Buck staring at them in disgust.

She quickly moved her hand from Finnick's hair to his face as she pulled him up so he was no longer attached to her throat, and she rushed to pull her hand out of his jumpsuit, accidentally popping a few extra buttons open in the process.

"Hey!" he repeated, although this time he sounded slightly more traumatised than his first outraged yell. "3-inch minimum in public!" he ordered. "Now!"

Finnick and Taiya quickly split apart, pulling their hands off each other sheepishly.

"Oh no!" Buck quickly looked away. "Stand in front of him," he waved Taiya to block his view of Finnick. "3-inch minimum, but cover him up."

Taiya blushed as she quickly stepped in front of Finnick, protecting Buck's eyes from the very obvious sign of how into that makeout session Finnick had been.

"3-inch minimum in public I've told you that before. No one should have to see that when they come around a corner. You have your own compartment for a reason."

"What can we do for you, Buck?" Finnick coughed awkwardly as he tried to suppress a snigger. The mix of rage, despair and irritation on the man's face was almost comical.

"Tyler wants you," Buck directed to Finnick with a glare.

"Is everything okay?"

"No," Buck shook his head. "It's about the tridents."

"The tridents!" Finnick's eyes widened. "What happened to the tridents? Are they ok?"

"No, I don't think so," Buck shook his head. "You better hurry and go check."

Finnick nodded, alarmed thinking about what harm could have befallen his beloved weapons. "I'll be back in our compartment soon," he kissed Taiya's cheek before he hurried off, hands conveniently placed to try and preserve his modesty.

"There's nothing wrong with the tridents is there?" Taiya scowled.

"No of course not."

Taiya just rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. She and Finn had been having a great time until Buck interrupted. Note for next time, move immediately to their compartment. This had happened way too many times.

"Want to help scare someone?" Taiya asked.

"100%."

"Don't make it suspicious. But get Plutarch into meeting room 2. I think he and I are long overdue for a little chat."

"Don't do anything stupid. Please," Buck frowned, unsure if this was something he should be helping her with.

"Oh please," she just waved her hand, brushing off his concerns. "This will be a productive chat."

She'd been sitting in the meeting room for a while waiting before Plutarch finally walked in. Taiya had no idea how Buck had managed to convince the man to go there with no one accompanying him, but he had. And he obviously was not expecting to have Taiya greet him.

So when he walked in, he had no concerns at all. He was happily whistling as if he had no problems in the world.

How abruptly that whistling ended when he spotted Taiya sitting there in the command room, smirking at him.

"Miss Ambersnow," he stuttered. He had absolutely not been expecting to see her sitting there so nonchalantly. His nerves immediately jumped. No one else was in the room with them. Buck had lured him there. There were no witnesses.

"Relax Plutarch. You'll pop a blood vessel," Taiya tapped her forehead where the vein was currently popping out on Plutarch's head. "Take a seat," she leaned over to slap the spot opposite her, encouraging him to join her.

He did. Hesitantly. But he did.

"So… what can I do for you?"

"I'm here to play ball," she smiled. "Without stabbing you if you come up with another shitty idea."

"I'm listening," he nodded.

"I'm willing to discuss filming one of your lame-ass videos."

"We call them propos," he grumbled. The propos were HIS project and he was very proud of them.

"Whatever you want to call them," she brushed him off. "I'm willing to discuss doing them. But I'm going to want things in return."

"How about for the betterment of Panem?" Plutarch leaned forward. Her mood today was in stark contrast to how it was last week. She was open to negotiating, so he had to work with her while the opportunity was there. "These propos get us that little bit closer to winning over the districts and the Capitol. Every video we put up with Finnick increased support in the Capitol."

"Increased support amongst Capitol women," Taiya looked at him glumly. Plutarch was weaponising what Finnick had gone through, it may not be causing him distress, but Taiya didn't love it.

"That… is one demographic, yes," Plutarch hesitated to agree. "But with you, we can win over some of the more affluent citizens. You've spent time with them. You're not just someone from the Districts to them."

"They were only nice to me because Seneca forced them to be," Taiya mumbled as she crossed her arms. She didn't believe they actually liked HER, they tolerated her for the chance to join in the power and affluence Seneca enjoyed.

"At the start, yes," he nodded. "But every party you went to humanised you to them. You spent years by Seneca's side. I worked with the Gamemakers. They were upset when you volunteered for Annie Cresta, you mean something to these people. Even if they don't acknowledge it. You're a victor, so they idolise you for that. You were connected to one of the most affluent men in the Capitol, so they wanted to be around you. I've heard what they would never say directly to your face, they like you. You said it yourself in your interview. They thought you were going to move to the Capitol to be with Seneca, you're part Capitol to them. And we need the affluent people to turn away from President Snow."

Taiya just stared at him. Seneca had assured her time and time again that they liked her, but she never actually believed him. How could they think so little of the people in her District and yet like her? They'd never kept it secret that they thought District people were savages. But somehow victors were relatively immune from this opinion. The power of celebrity.

"So say you do these propos," Plutarch tapped his pen against the table, ready to get his negotiating hat on. "What are you wanting in return?"

"Well, before I film anything, I want to see the propo Finnick filmed for you. About what they did to him."

"Are you sure?" Plutarch frowned.

"He filmed that to help me, I need to watch it. And also I have some secrets of my own," she smiled softly. "Wouldn't want any double-ups now would we?"

"No, we would not," Plutarch smiled. "Ok, I can agree to that."

"I also want to be able to see Peeta. Every time I ask I'm turned down. And I don't want any restrictions on my visit, that's non-negotiable."

"We're working hard on treatment methods for Peeta every day," Plutarch tried to explain. "Your seeing him before the doctor's work is complete might affect his progress."

"Oh please," Taiya snorted. "I talk with Haymitch. You and I both know there's been very little progress. I was with Peeta in those cells. I know how to talk to him. He needs a friend, someone who will visit him just to see HIM, not to study him."

Plutarch contemplated this for a moment, his finger on his chin. "It's an interesting point that I'm willing to test," he nodded, writing it down on his notepad. "But I won't agree to no restrictions. How about you see him when you like, subject to there being no negative outcomes to your previous visit? If he regresses we reserve the right to cease the allowance?"

"Seems fair enough," Taiya reluctantly agreed. "But I want Johanna to be allowed to come."

"Miss Mason's mindset is one we are trying to keep away from Peeta. We're trying to give him a more positive environment."

"Johanna can be positive," Taiya defended. Plutarch didn't even answer that. He merely raised his eyebrows and Taiya had to huff. He wasn't wrong, Johanna was a small ball of rage lately. "Peeta likes Johanna, she amuses him. Put her down for visits."

"Alright," he agreed, adding Johanna's name. "Same restrictions though. If the visit doesn't go well we'll revoke them."

"Ok," Taiya nodded.

"I truly believe you want to help Peeta," he said seriously. "If you think at any point Johanna will not be a good visitor, please, don't take her."

"I won't," Taiya shook her head seriously. She took Peeta's recovery seriously. She wouldn't let Johanna and her rage jeopardise that.

"Is there anything else?" he asked.

"I want permission for Gloss and me to use the training room." "Taiya," Plutarch laughed slightly, his hand brushing over his bandaged shoulder.

"Oh come on," Taiya sulked. "Ask Tyler, it's actually very therapeutic for me. Good for my recovery. I'm not joking," she assured as Plutarch smothered his laugh. "It channels my rage away from people and into targets," she smiled widely at him. "You can revoke my privileges if I act out," Taiya rolled her eyes.

"Agreed," Plutarch reluctantly nodded. "Now, about the propos."

"Yep. I'll do the one you mentioned last week. But I want to do it my way. I don't want you coaching me on what to say."

"Can you be open to pointers?" he tried to hold back the concern on his face. They had to get usable footage, they couldn't just have her go rogue on camera.

"I can," Taiya agreed with a frown. "Any other brilliant ideas?"

"There's one idea I had the other day," Plutarch suddenly got nervous.

"I'm listening," she nodded.

"I noticed the ring on your finger, congratulations by the way."

"Thanks, it's been a year," Taiya moved her hands under the table, hiding her ring from his sight. "Kind of hard to get married when you're mourning a fiancé and not meant to be in a visible relationship."

"Well," he swallowed. "I was thinking we could remedy that. Everyone loves a wedding after all," he smiled at her.

A wedding propo.

Taiya's heart stopped.