Twenty-one
Her reception at the Capitol for the Victory tour was even more spectacular than the feast she had had as a winner. The cold didn't exist inside Snow's mansion, nor did boredom or hunger. Showing off their impressive technology, they had recreated a starry night on the roof, there were several performances to liven up the night and all the drinks and food Katniss could imagine were in abundance. After a short interview, she had been introduced dozens of times, exchanging names, professions, unwanted kisses on the cheek and many photos in her path. She had come across several people wearing a copy of her mockingjay pin or a braid similar to the one she used to wear, which had made her feel more horrified than flattered.
She had to try to hide how much she rejected all of this the best she could, along with the attention they were paying to her, which was too intense for her liking. The dress Cinna had designed for her was helping a little, though. In intense red and black tones, the shoulder pads look like feathers, along with an embroidered bodice and black tulle that fell down to the floor in the skirt. It was a clear nod to the mockingjay, but she also felt close to wearing some kind of armor. After being left somewhat alone, she allowed herself to grab a drink. Just one, which she justified as being useful for remaining calm.
She was walking away from the waiter who had served her the drink, her gaze darting between several groups of people, when he saw him approaching, right in front of her. Finnick was already holding back a smile, perhaps even before she had spotted him. He appeared to be too shirtless for Katniss, too unbuttoned no matter how hot it was inside, although she guessed he was used to that attire.
"You look spectacular. Very fierce."
There was something about the way he looked at her that made her blush immediately. And her, she was still standing there, almost unable to believe he was truly there, after months of nothing but his voice on the phone. She looked at him in silence, rather amazed at herself for thinking he looked very elegant, tanned and well...pretty handsome too. She took a step forward, intending to hug him, perhaps, or greeting him in some way that wasn't so cold and impersonal, but she stopped dead when she remembered they were being watched.
"Finnick," she greeted, keeping a safe distance. "You don't look...very bad either."
His hair was shining and suddenly his green eyes were intimidating. Why was she feeling so awkward about it? Maybe it was because they hadn't seen each other for a long time.
"Have you eaten?"
Katniss shook her head a little and followed him, looking for something to grab among the table with different appetizers.
"Try the salmon one."
She imitated him and chewed one with little enthusiasm, until she realized that it was quite good and gave him a slight smile. She noticed that not far from the two of them someone was looking up in their direction. Or maybe she was too paranoid.
"No hiding this time?" she asked him in a whisper.
Finnick discreetly turned around and shook his head a little, looking amused.
"I can already imagine the headlines: Finnick Odair seduces the Girl on Fire."
Katniss took a sip from her glass and raised her eyebrows.
"Or the other way around."
"Maybe. With that dress...I would let you."
The comment, equally unexpected and embarrassing, made her blush again. She had almost forgotten how he liked to tease her. Finnick laughed as he noticed her disgusted expression.
"How was 4?"
"Interesting."
"Interesting. Come on, Everdeen, you can do better than that."
Katniss breathed a little and tried not to look around her. What difference did it make what they thought? It was the first time on the entire tour she could feel a little safer, at least being with someone she knew other than Cinna or Haymitch.
"It's a different world, and the smell of the sea... it stays inside you, somehow" she admitted. "It's strange."
"Yeah, it's the best feeling in the world. It was a bad time to see you, you know? But I was there."
"I imagined. It wasn't...a good day for that."
It wouldn't have been the greatest idea and she didn't feel like seeing anyone either. She had gone from one district to another with the sole motivation of getting to the Capitol as soon as possible and returning home for the last celebration.
"I know, I've heard what happened. Next time, we could go swimming."
Katniss frowned.
"Next time? There's no way they'll let me go anywhere again."
"We're winners, the rules are a little different for us. You can take a train if you want, although you need to ask for permission."
"That easy?"
"Not really, I mean the paperwork is a bore, but Johanna and I visit each other from time to time anyway." Katniss remembered him mentioning it before. "They were only quite insistent the first time. They followed me to her house to see if what I had declared I would do was true."
And what would she do in 4? What would she say to her family? Still, the idea was appealing. On the other hand, imagining Finnick in District 12 seemed absurd to even picture.
"It'd be nice," she whispered.
«Even if it doesn't seem very likely to me after what happened in 11», she didn't say. Like Finnick, she had some more bites now that she was regaining her appetite.
"Well…and life at home? I've seen your family before you left on TV, there were a lot of people saying goodbye."
Yes, and it had been a bit overwhelming, moving and at the same time very sad.
"We're ok. I don't know, it's strange to be that calm," she explained, with a small smile. "We've been living day to day for years, now we have to find what to do with our lives."
Finnick turned to look at her.
"And your father's consultation?"
Katniss' smile grew with surprise. Finnick remembered everything, it seemed.
"He's just opened it at home. Prim can study now too. She doesn't have to worry about whether we're going to have something to eat tomorrow or not, and I...I'm not doing much. I go out for runs."
"So someone is listening to me," Finnick commented, also pleased.
"It worked. Now I think I'll teach my friend Madge how to shoot, it'll clear us both up."
"Associating that bow with another environment is smart."
"it should've been your idea, right?" Katniss joked. "Don't you have anything new to tell me?"
Finnick shook his head, still smiling.
"No, and I hope it stays that way. I prefer a boring life these days. I admit it keeps me entertained when you call."
As he said it, Katniss turned and looked into his eyes as well. For a moment, what made her feel warmer was his presence next to her and not the drink. That was the feeling she wanted to treasure.
"You're not so bad, Finnick Odair. Once one gets to know you..."
"Once one gets to know you," Finnick repeated, laughing. "If you keep talking like that, you're not going to seduce me, Everdeen."
"A loss I won't be able to bear."
When they fell silent, Katniss noticed the soft music slowed down even more and someone began to address everyone.
"Must be the fireworks," Finnick said. "You should go out and see them, they're in your honor."
Katniss imitated him although as they moved, she noticed Finnick separating himself from her.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll be around, I can't monopolize you all night. I'll see you later," he promised, then squeezed her shoulders lightly before leaving.
Katniss made her way outside following the others, with Haymitch in her sights. She watched, intrigued and a little uncomfortable with so much noise around every time those fireworks, or whatever they were called, exploded. As the sky turned blue, green, and many other colors, among the stars, she pondered if she was becoming dependent on him. She didn't trust anyone other than Finnick, Haymitch or Cinna, not there, the others were mere strangers and only meant danger. The crowd began to cheered and applaud when they finished, although Katniss reserved her praise for something more important. Had she been there, Prim would have thought they were beautiful, but her heart was still pounding. It was stupid to be afraid of something supposedly designed for entertainment, but the people of the Capitol had never had to hear a cannon shot in the Arena, of course. She just clapped a few times and smiled at Cinna, who had appeared right next to her.
"Katniss, I'd like to introduce you to Sylvie."
A young woman, with dark skin as beautiful as Cinna's, darker than her own, stepped forward to shake her hand. The enormous headdress she wore and the heavy makeup threw her off but Katniss realized right away she knew her face. She was one of the singers on the show that Prim liked so much.
"Nice to meet you."
"Oh, dear," she murmured, still holding her hand. "You were so brave and generous, saving your sister like that. They must be very proud of you at home."
"They are."
"Tell me, how do you like it here? You must be amazed."
She felt a certain urge to laugh, but she managed a smile that surely seemed somewhat fake.
"It's very... special," she managed to say.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cinna seemed to be holding back a smile, which made his own a little more natural.
"Would you mind signing an autograph for me? It'd make Prim very happy."
The woman smiled delightedly, as if she had been given the greatest compliment in the world. She assured her she would do it immediately and they would send it to the train so she called her agent, who was following her as if he were a servant and she disappeared into the crowd.
"Are you alright?" Cinna asked her.
"Yes," she told him sincerely. "I'm quite comfortable."
They both knew well that Katniss wasn't just talking about the dress. Cinna nodded slightly and stood by her side while more curious people approached to try to introduce themselves or congratulate her, names and faces she would barely remember in a few minutes. She paid as much attention as she could and also watched discreetly from a distance at Finnick, who moved from one group to another effortlessly, speaking, listening and laughing with an ease completely foreign to her. Neither of them crossed paths again until the party was already dying down and Katniss found an empty stool at the bar from which she watched Haymitch dying of laughter with 11's mentor, Chaff. At least they had had a happy night without any further incidents. Finnick appeared out of nowhere, a little more disheveled than before, and a little short of breath as well.
"Am I too late?," he asked. "I hadn't noticed, but I'm sure you'll be leaving any moment now."
Katniss rolled up her sleeves to check the time on her wrist watch.
"We have to be on the train by one."
"Can I walk you?"
She got up.
"Sure."
Finnick spared her mentor a look before leaving, to which he nodded a little and followed her.
"Were you having a good time?" Katniss asked him. "I've seen you very busy before."
Although they were already leaving the mansion behind and the lighting outside, towards the train tracks, was dim, she noticed that Finnick's eyes were shining slightly.
"It was better than other nights. I shouldn't have drunk so much, I think."
Katniss didn't even want to think about what kind of nights he had experienced before in the Capitol, so she figured if he had gone a little overboard, he couldn't blame him if he felt like it. Katniss smiled slightly.
"So, you're a happy drunk?"
Finnick looked back at her in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Haymitch's a sad drunk. I'm not judging him either," she clarified. "You don't seem like it."
"I suppose not…what about you?"
"I have no experience with that."
Just with the glass and a half she had drank that night she noticed each step was lighter but it wasn't like her head was spinning or anything similar. That was enough.
"Following your theory, I think you would get even grumpier."
"Probably," Katniss admitted, and they both couldn't help but laugh.
"I didn't know you were a fan of reality shows. I've seen Sylvie Vanon with you."
"Not really, it's because of Prim."
"Sure?" Finnick stopped walking. "If I remember correctly Estee asked you to sing once, for the mockingjays. And you're a mockingjay, aren't you?"
Katniss felt a pang in her chest at the same time as Finnick's smile faltered as he became of the memory he had unearthed. For a few seconds the silence was heavy, but Katniss composed herself and rolled her eyes before walking away.
"I don't sing."
"What a liar, you've turned red and everything."
"I don't know any happy songs, Finnick. It would ruin the mood."
She wasn't even lying about that.
"If you watch the program, you must know some songs, c'mon."
"Remind me not to talk to you again when you've been drinking," Katniss protested under her breath, which only served to make Finnick insist and insist again without stopping walking.
As much as she wanted to, Katniss was unable to contain the smile that crept onto her face. It would be months before she saw him again, in even worse circumstances, in her first games as a mentor, and she thought that at least she could go home with another good memory, when Finnick was already breaking into song.
She stopped dead when she heard him, somewhat surprised because he sounded better than she'd imagined and was also very amusing to watch, since he was exaggerating every gesture. When she resumed walking, still singing, Katniss followed him singing lightly, but loud enough for Finnick to look just as close.
"I knew you could sing. Why else would you refuse?"
"You can sing too, Finnick."
He smiled smugly.
"Of course, everything I do I do well."
They were already at the station, almost deserted except for a couple of workers at the entrance who didn't even blink when they saw them enter. It was getting colder, but not even that bothered her now. It had been a good idea for him to accompany her there. They advanced to the train with Finnick already silent, but still smiling.
"You're not just a happy drunk, you also turn very annoying, you know that?"
Finnick shrugged, as if he didn't care in the slightest.
"They've told me before. Should we wait for Haymitch?"
Katniss nodded, and they advanced to the door of her carriage.
"Next time we meet I'll be a mentor, with Haymitch." At least she wouldn't be alone, which was a relief. "Will we be…enemies?"
Finnick looked down a little.
"Something like that. But we both know who the enemy is. I'm sure you'll do the best you can," he encouraged her. "Sometimes it's the only thing we can do, try."
"Sometimes that's enough," Katniss spoke.
It had been, with her.
"And I'm glad," Finnick said, with a smile more sincere and less tipsy than the previous ones. She liked that about him, that he could cheer her up, laugh at her expense and know when to get serious at the same time. "Because it has given me a friend."
Katniss took a step forward and, without thinking much, gave him the hug with which she should have greeted him upon seeing him. Finnick wrapped his arms around her tighter than expected and when she pulled away from him he looked content.
"Next time I see you, you'll have to buy me some cake for your birthday. It's getting close."
He once again left her speechless.
"Who told you when my birthday is?"
"Dear, I know everything before you do, haven't you noticed already?"
«There are a lot of things you don't know, Finnick Odair. I don't even know what they mean yet», she thought. She didn't know what to feel about that new life under a microscope, or what make of him, of that unexpected friendship, of how he was able to turn around such a horrible trip in a single night. It was easy to feel guilty about it, to think she didn't deserve a little moment of celebration, but the guilt was corrosive and would get her nowhere. «We both know who the enemy is», indeed. She was only doing her best given the circumstances.
"I guess so. Do you also know that it's my eighteenth birthday?"
"Obviously. A special day."
"We could eat something, yeah. When I see you...when is your birthday, anyway?" she asked him.
Katniss began counting in her head. He had to be 23 years old, if she was counting right from the year of his games.
"In the summer, there's still a long way."
"I could say you owe me a cake for this summer, then," Katniss replied.
It was Finnick who rolled his eyes that time.
"As you wish, Everdeen."
They settled the deal by shaking hands, although for a moment it seemed more like they were holding them. Katniss smiled and climbed into the carriage. It was time to go home.
Hello! Thanks to everyone who has been reading, reviewing and following this fic. I hope you've a had a happy Christmas Day. Happy New Year too!