Chapter Forty: The Presidential Mansion (pt3)
Seeder found her almost immediately. Her mentor's expression was stricken before the woman carefully smoothed over her expression when one of the ignorant partygoers approached her. Maize shot her a smile when their eyes caught one another's once more. She could see Chaff slowly making his way over to her when someone grabbed the crook of her elbow, making Maize lose track of him to look at the interloper. Maize honestly felt more startled at seeing Finnick Odair than she had throughout the entire conversation she'd just had with President Snow.
The Victor from 4 was wearing a smart-looking suit and his hair was slicked back with gel, a coy smile was plastered across his face, "May I have a dance with the newest Victor?"
A strained smile formed on her face, "Of course."
He led her onto the dance floor, a few faces in the crowd seemed thrilled to see newest Victor interacting with the Capitol darling -she did not like the considering looks being exchanged by a few as they eyed her, no, them with open interest- as they turned to one another and pointed at them. Odair gently placed a hand on the small of her back as his other hand brought her left hand up and began leading her on the dance floor.
"I never got to congratulate for winning." he started softly a small smile on his face even though his eyes were serious.
She hummed softly, a demure smile painted on her own lips, as she whispers out, "No one ever really wins the Hunger Games."
"No, they don't." Odair agreed in a murmur before asking in a louder tone, "They have you in the Training Center again don't they?"
Maize nodded.
"Have you ever gone to the roof?" he asked, although he knew very well the answer to that, "It has one of the most beautiful views of the Capitol from there. I suggest you check it out before you leave."
"Can you see the stars from there? I love looking up the stars." Maize asked in what she hoped was a naive manner when another dancing couple got too close.
Finnick nodded, "The stars look beautiful from up there."
As soon as the song ended Chaff cut it. "Maize, mtoto, I've been wanting to dance with you all night!" he claimed, "I'm cutting in now fish boy."
The blonde Victor chuckled good-naturedly as he bowed out, "It was nice talking to you, Maize. Chaff."
A shiver ran down her spine at the way Odair had drawled out her given name... as if it were liquid gold, before leisurely walking away. Maize resolutely ignored her weird reaction and instead shot Chaff a tired smile, "Long time no see Chaff." she greeted blandly as he began leading her in a dance.
"It's been days." he agreed, "Goldie was about to start searching for you. Time to start heading back to the Center. Orion wants to get you out of this dress before we head home."
She nodded, "Then what are waiting for?"
Chaff grinned as he stopped and instead offered her his arm, "I'm not sure. Let's go."
A small snort escaped from her throat as Chaff expertly led her through the crowds, nodding or saying brief goodbyes to some of the people he recognized as he went. Goldie and Seeder were at the town car by the time they finally arrived at the vehicle. Seeder placed a warm hand on her shoulder as they boarded the car before pulling Maize into a hug once they were seated. Maize melted into her mentor's arms.
Chaff chuckled and explained it away to Goldie, "Our little Victor is all tuckered out."
The escort tittered, "It was an excellent party! Oh, wasn't it just wonderful!"
Chaff took one for the team as he kept Goldie entertained the entire drive to the Training Center. It was when the elevator finally stopped at their floor that Maize stopped moving forward. Seeder sent her a concerned look as she motioned to lead her out of the elevator. Maize shook her head.
"I just wanna look at the stars for a moment." she whispered tiredly, "The, um, Victor from 4 told me that the view of the night sky is pretty spectacular from up there. I just want to take a quick peak and then come back down- get all this stuff taken off."
Seeder looked like she wanted to protest, but the woman gave in and nodded firmly after I sent her a pleading look, "No more than ten minutes Maize, we're on a schedule."
She bobbed her head before pressing the button for the rooftop, the door slid shut slowly but the cart quickly moved up the last two floors before reopening. Maize walked out onto the roof and headed straight for the banister. Deja vu whacking her all over again.
Just six months ago she'd gone up here in a fit of restlessness to vent for a little while and had gotten the shock of a lifetime when Odair had started clapping. Now, here she was again. Except, this time she was waiting for him. Hopefully not in vain either. Not that it looked like the older teen had been messing with her at the party. He must have been pretty desperate to confront her since he'd all but verbally asked her to meet him here before she left the Capitol. He'd probably been waiting to confront her since the dam broke in the arena. Since the arena flooded... and Annie drowned.
Quiet footsteps approached her from behind. Maize's entire body tensed before relaxing somewhat as Finnick Odair leaned against the banister.
"Six months ago," he started without preamble, "you told me that your Games would end in a 'flood of sorrows' and then- the dam broke."
She didn't look at him.
"How? How did you know that?"
Maize sighed, looking at the much taller teen from the corner of her eye, "I told you last time. I know things. Things I shouldn't possibly know."
"Yeah." he hummed, "You did say that. But you never told me why or how you know these things."
She shrugged, "I don't know. I was just... born this way. Mama calls me her 'beautiful strange child' for a reason."
"See." Odair crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm not buying that-"
"Finnick." she interrupted him, "I'm sorry that you've been suffering alone these last few years. What they, he, makes you do keep Capiolites happy... is beyond infuriating. I would gladly step on the head of the ruse snake a million times over if it meant that you were free."
The male Victor was pale though anger was quickly bleeding onto his features. "How do you know about that? Did Seeder tell you? Why the hell would she have told you that six months ago before you won the Hun-"
"Nobody wins the Hunger Games." Maize spoke over him firmly as she faced him, "But the Games won't go on forever. They've won this round but they won't win the war."
"You're speaking in riddles again!" he huffed frustratedly.
Maize rubbed her face tiredly, "I'm sorry. I want to tell you- it's just not safe."
"I- Do you-" Odair groaned loudly before hissing, "I was supposed to get answers not more questions!"
"Sorry." she offered, "It doesn't make sense right now. But it will one day."
"When?"
She sent him a sad smile before ignoring the question altogether as she looked up at the sky, "I wonder if they'll house me here when the President calls for me, or if they'll give me a more permanent residence?"
Odair sucked in a breath, "W-What?"
Maize nodded, "It looks like we might see each other again before the next Hunger Games starts."
"Sn- President Snow orde- offered you a job?" he whispered.
"It was more like a choice." Maize admitted, "My brothers and sisters will never be tainted by this place. I think I made the right one."
"I-I'm sorry."
She shook her head, "I have to go now. Goldie's probably cursing my name right now for making her go behind schedule."
The other Victor bobbed in acquiescence, even though she could tell all he wanted was to ask her more questions... to get the answers he craved, "I'll see you around then."
He'd have time to ask her later. Maybe, even, in the not-so-distant future.
Maize nodded back as she entered the elevator before freezing when Odair called out to her, "Hey, 11! You really do have a pretty voice!"
A blush quickly heated up her cheeks, "Thanks." before Maize pressed the button for the eleventh floor shooting him another smile as she ignored the cracks breaking his teasing facade.
After all, he'd been kind enough not to poke holes through her own.
Words 1512
(I apologize for the long wait! I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter! There was some Finnick/Maize interaction in this one, and more to come in the future! I can't believe that there are over 200 followers for this fic! Thank you to all the wonderful people who've been FAV/FOLLOWING and leaving wonderful reviews, it always makes my day! Someone asked me to please leave the names of the songs I used in the story, I promise to do so in the future, although if anyone is interested I do have a 'Panem' playlist on YouTube that I can give you the link for!
Someone PM'd the other day with an interesting question, it went along the lines of 'if Maize didn't know about the future, would Maize have volunteered or had a chance of winning her games?' and I thought the question was interesting enough that I'd just give you all my reply here. I think that Maize, who values her family more over that of her own life, would have absolutely still volunteered in Amla's place. After all her older cousin was really like her big sister/best friend wrapped up into one, plus Amla was newly pregnant and about to get married.
Now, over whether or not she would have survived the games depends on whether or not I had written Maize as a reincarnate or not... if it was still my Maize who had the memories of someone living on an island her whole life -of being a marine biologist, that Maize would have survived. No question about it. She probably would have avoided the dam anyway, thinking that other tributes would flock to it for water. She wouldn't have known to go to higher ground, but she still would have climbed a tree when it broke and then swam when she lost her grip...
Now a Maize without any previous knowledge might have drowned when she lost her grip... and that's how Annie would have won. Which, believe it or not, had been a possible ending for this fic when I first started writing it. Maize would have been talked a little less in riddles and told Finnick what she remembered in hopes that he would remember that when the time came... and then the epilogue would have been Finnick's POV in the future, standing in the sewers of the Capitol thinking back about that strange girl from 11 and her prophetic words.)