finnick

FINNICK STEPPED into his and Liberty's shared room, his movements halting as his gaze landed on her. She was standing in front of the mirror, something he hadn't seen her do in years. She seemed lost in her thoughts, her fingers lightly tracing her reflection. He stayed silent, leaning against the wall, waiting to see if she would speak.

"It's always there," Liberty murmured, her voice quiet but heavy with emotion. Her eyes didn't leave the mirror, though he could see her gaze shift to his reflection. "A reminder of everything—every horrible thing they did to me. The way the Capitol used me. But it's also a reminder of the first time I defied Snow...before he killed my parents." Her voice broke slightly, but she held her composure, her shoulders stiff.

Finnick's jaw tightened, his expression darkening as her words sank in. He pushed himself off the wall and moved closer, his presence deliberate but gentle. Standing behind her, he placed his hands on her waist, pulling her into the warmth of his embrace. Their bodies fit together like pieces of a puzzle, offering a small measure of comfort amidst their shared pain. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder, their eyes meeting in the mirror.

"When Snow had my family killed," Finnick began, his voice low and raw, "it was my first act of defiance too. I hated myself for thinking, 'At least now he can't use them against me.' But the guilt... it never left. And then he turned his sights on you and your family." He paused, his hand tightening slightly on her waist. "He knew how much you meant to me. He knew exactly how to twist the knife."

Liberty's reflection showed the glimmer of unshed tears, but she stood strong. Finnick's voice grew more resolute, his eyes burning with determination. "This is going to end, Liberty. This era—the Capitol, Snow, all of it. They won't get to keep playing with our lives. I swear to you, this will be the end."

His words hung in the air, heavy but filled with an unshakable resolve. Liberty turned slowly in his arms until she was facing him, her hands reaching up to cup his face. Her touch was soft, yet it grounded him, brought him back to her in that moment. A faint, bittersweet smile touched her lips as she gazed into his eyes.

"Then we'll make sure of it," she whispered, her voice steady despite the weight of her emotions. She leaned up, bringing her forehead to rest gently against his, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the room. "We'll win, Finnick. Not just for us—but for everyone."

For a long moment, they stayed like that, their shared pain, love, and determination intertwining in a way that no words could fully capture. Together, they knew they had a chance—not just to survive, but to change everything.

That night, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Finnick and Liberty found peace in their sleep. The usual torment—the vivid nightmares of the arena, the faces of those they couldn't save, and the suffocating weight of the Capitol's control—didn't come.

Their room was silent, save for the soft rhythm of their breathing. Finnick had his arm draped protectively over Liberty, his fingers loosely intertwined with hers. She rested her head against his chest, lulled by the steady beat of his heart. It was a quiet reassurance, a reminder that amidst the chaos of their lives, they had each other.

Neither stirred through the night. No abrupt waking, no gasps for air, no frantic grasping at reality to escape the horrors of their dreams. Instead, there was a stillness—a fragile kind of calm that neither of them dared disturb.

For Finnick, it was a reprieve from the endless memories of the arena and Snow's manipulations. For Liberty, it was a night without reliving the Capitol's cruelty and the loss of her family. It was as if, just for a few hours, the world outside their door didn't exist.

When morning came, the sunlight streaming through the curtains felt softer, and warmer—less like an unwelcome intruder and more like a quiet promise of hope. For once, they had rested. For once, the weight of their pasts had eased, if only for a night.

As Finnick stirred awake, his hand instinctively tightened around Liberty's. She shifted slightly, her eyes fluttering open to meet his. Neither spoke, but the look they exchanged was enough. A silent understanding passed between them, one that spoke of shared strength, love, and determination to keep moving forward.

It wasn't much, but it was enough. Enough to remind them that even in the darkest of times, they could still find moments of light.

...

The second day of training began quietly but with a sense of purpose. Liberty and Finnick, already dressed in their training attire, exited their rooms to find Calypso and Vicente seated at the dining table. Neither of the mentors was eating yet, clearly waiting for their tributes to join them.

"Hey, you two! This might be the first time I've seen you both sleep in," Calypso greeted with a wave as Finnick and Liberty took their seats.

Liberty smirked, brushing her hair back. "Well, I guess our minds decided to give us a break for once," she teased, earning a snort of laughter from Finnick.

Vicente, already digging into his plate, raised an eyebrow. "So, how's the alliance-building going?"

Liberty sighed, leaning back slightly. "I think I've got Peeta to trust me—at least somewhat. Now, I just need to focus on Katniss. I'll probably try to work on her today," she admitted, her tone thoughtful as she glanced at Finnick. "Any tips?"

Finnick chuckled knowingly, leaning his arms on the table. "Just don't bite her head off, Liberty. Katniss isn't someone who responds well to the Capitol personas. She'll see through any pretence, so... maybe avoid snapping if she says something that gets under your skin."

Liberty rolled her eyes with a groan. "Ugh, I was afraid of that. Well, here's my advice for Peeta: he reads into everything. If he asks questions, they'll be blunt. But he's a lot more open to the idea of allies than Katniss."

Finnick nodded, absorbing her insight. He could already sense how different today's strategy would be. They had decided to switch their approaches—Finnick focusing on Peeta and Liberty on Katniss. It wasn't exactly an easy swap, but they both knew it was necessary.

Still, Finnick couldn't help but hope Liberty's fiery nature wouldn't clash too much with Katniss's. The two girls had too much in common when it came to their stubbornness, and that could easily spell disaster.

Liberty seemed to sense his thoughts. She playfully nudged him. "Relax, Finnick. I'll be on my best behaviour, I promise," she said with a smirk.

Calypso scoffed, a grin tugging at her lips. "You two are so annoying sometimes. Always reading each other's minds," she teased before shoving a bite of food into her mouth. After swallowing, she added, "Oh, by the way, we got confirmation on who's part of your alliance. They already know you two are on board."

Liberty raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh, good. So, who do we have to make sure not to kill?" she asked dryly.

Vicente began listing off names, ticking them off with his fingers. "Beetee, Wiress, the Morphlings from District 6, Johanna, Blight, Cecelia, Woof, Seeder, Chaff."

Finnick whistled softly. "That's a bigger group than I expected," he noted.

Liberty nodded, visibly relieved. "Johanna's on the list," she said softly, more to herself than anyone else.

Finnick caught her glance, his expression mirroring her relief. They both shared a deep bond with Johanna and knowing she was part of their alliance brought a small but crucial sense of reassurance. For all the chaos and uncertainty, it was one less thing to worry about—for now.

"Well, at least we have some people we can trust," Finnick said, leaning back in his chair. His gaze shifted toward Liberty, his smile faint but genuine. "Let's hope today goes just as smoothly."

Liberty chuckled, though the fire in her eyes hinted at the challenge ahead. "Smoothly? With us? That's wishful thinking, Odair."

The group lingered at the table for a while longer, going over strategies and quietly enjoying the rare camaraderie. For Liberty and Finnick, moments like this—ones that felt almost normal—were fleeting, but they gave them a strange sense of strength.

As the conversation wound down, Calypso leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table. "Remember, today's the second day, so some of the tributes are going to start sizing up their competition. Stay sharp, especially with those who aren't part of the alliance."

Vicente nodded in agreement, his gaze serious. "Enobaria and Brutus, especially. They'll be watching you two closely, testing to see if you're a threat."

Finnick smirked, his trademark confidence slipping back into place. "Let them watch. They won't know what hit them when the time comes."

Liberty shot him a look, her lips twitching in amusement. "Cocky much? Let's not give them a reason to target us early, yeah?"

"Fine, fine," Finnick said with a dramatic sigh, though the playful glint in his eyes remained.

Calypso rolled her eyes but smiled. "All right, go. Don't do anything stupid."

With that, Liberty and Finnick stood, ready to tackle the day. As they walked out of the apartment, Liberty adjusted her training gear, her expression hardening with determination. "So, Peeta's yours today, and Katniss is mine?" she confirmed, glancing at Finnick.

"Yep," he said with a nod. "Try to keep your temper in check, Bird."

She laughed dryly. "Try not to charm Peeta too much, Odair. He's really observant."

Finnick grinned but said nothing as they stepped into the elevator. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable—it never was—but it was heavy with unspoken thoughts. They both knew what was at stake. Trust wasn't something easily earned in the Capitol, especially not in the arena. But they were determined to make it work. They had to.

When they reached the training centre, the atmosphere was already buzzing with energy. Tributes were scattered across various stations, some sharpening their skills, others assessing their competition. Liberty's eyes immediately landed on Katniss, who was near the camouflage station, her focus intense as she experimented with colours and textures.

Finnick nudged Liberty lightly. "Good luck," he said with a small smile before heading toward Peeta, who was practising at the weightlifting station.

"Same to you," Liberty replied, her gaze lingering on Finnick for a moment before she squared her shoulders and strode toward Katniss.

This was it. Time to see if they could bridge the gap and secure the alliances they desperately needed.

Finnick made his way toward Peeta, who was stationed at the weightlifting area. The younger tribute had his back turned as he carefully stacked weights onto a barbell, his movements precise and deliberate. Finnick took a moment to observe him, noting the quiet intensity in Peeta's expression. It was clear he wasn't here to show off—he was focused, and methodical. That was something Finnick respected.

"Mind if I join you?" Finnick's voice was casual as he approached, resting his trident on the rack nearby.

Peeta glanced up, momentarily startled but offering a small nod. "Sure. I could use the company."

Finnick crouched next to him, grabbing a smaller weight and spinning it lightly in his hand. "You've got a solid technique. Makes sense, considering the strength it takes to toss around hundred-pound bags of flour."

Peeta smiled faintly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I guess it has its advantages. Though I doubt flour sacks will be much help in the arena."

Finnick chuckled, setting the weight down and leaning back against the rack. "Strength is strength. And honestly, in this arena? Sometimes it's not about what you can do but how you use what you've got."

Peeta adjusted the barbell, testing its weight before lifting it effortlessly. "And what do you use? Charm? Or is it all about that trident of yours?"

Finnick smirked, leaning forward slightly. "A bit of both. Though I've found charm gets me farther than any weapon. People underestimate you when you're smiling."

Peeta set the barbell back down with a soft clink, sitting up to face Finnick. "Is that why you're here? To charm me into trusting you?"

The bluntness of the question caught Finnick off guard, but he recovered quickly, his expression softening. "I'm here because I want you to stay alive, Peeta. You and Katniss. That's the truth."

Peeta studied him for a moment, his gaze steady and searching. "Why? You barely know us."

Finnick's smile faded slightly, replaced by something quieter, more serious. "Because I know what it's like to be thrown into a game you didn't ask to play. To have people back home who matter more than anything, and to feel like every step you take could hurt them more than it helps. I've been where you are, Peeta. And I don't want you to end up like me."

The honesty in his words seemed to disarm Peeta. He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "And what do you think I am?"

Finnick tilted his head, considering the question carefully. "I think you're a good man trying to survive in a world that doesn't deserve you."

Peeta's lips twitched in a faint smile, though his eyes held a trace of sadness. "That's generous of you."

"It's the truth," Finnick replied firmly. "And if you trust me, I'll make sure you have a fighting chance to get out of here."

Peeta nodded slowly, his guard lowering just slightly. "And Katniss? What about her?"

"Liberty's working on her," Finnick said with a smirk. "And don't worry, she's as stubborn as Katniss. I'm sure they'll figure each other out."

Peeta laughed quietly, shaking his head. "I'll believe it when I see it."

Finnick clapped him on the shoulder. "Fair enough. For now, how about you show me just how strong those flour-sack-lifting arms are? I might need to borrow some of that strength when things get messy."

Peeta smirked, standing and motioning to the weights. "Only if you can keep up, Odair."

Finnick grinned, rolling up his sleeves. "Oh, I'll do more than keep up. Let's see what you've got, Mellark."

The two fell into a rhythm, the air between them lighter now, though Finnick's mind was already strategizing. Trust wasn't built in a day, but this? This was a good start.