finnick & liberty

THE CANNON blast reverberated through the arena, a grim reminder of another fallen tribute. It pulled them all together on the beach, each one instinctively searching the others' faces for reassurance. In the distance, the hum of a hovercraft grew louder as it descended toward the six-to-seven o'clock section of the jungle.

All eyes were fixed on the metallic claw as it lowered into the trees. Five times it dipped, retrieving what could only be described as scattered pieces of a body. No one could tell who it had been—man or woman, young or old. The remains were too torn apart to distinguish.

"That's it," Johanna muttered, her voice taut with barely suppressed rage. "I don't care what's in there. I'm not going anywhere near six o'clock."

No one argued. Whatever nightmare had unfolded there, they all silently agreed they never wanted to find out.

Peeta crouched down, brushing sand off a large leaf. With steady hands, he began sketching a new map. "We'll mark four to five with 'JJ' for the jabberjays," he said, his voice even despite the tension. He pointed toward the section they had just seen. "And this one... Beast."

"Beast?" Katniss repeated.

Peeta nodded grimly. "Whatever it was that could do that," he gestured toward the remnants being carried away by the hovercraft, "it's a fitting name."

Seven hours of horrors. Seven deadly traps accounted for. Despite the chilling events of the day, the jabberjay attack had at least provided them with a crucial detail: they knew their position on the clock face again.

Katniss turned her gaze to Liberty, who was sitting a little apart from the group. She was visibly shaken, her hands clasped tightly with Finnick's as if he were the only thing anchoring her.

Katniss could empathize; the jabberjays had been torturous for her as well. But Liberty had heard Finnick's voice, and despite seeing him alive and well, the attack had shaken her deeply. Katniss couldn't help but think that if she'd heard Peeta's voice among the cries, she might have been unable to hold herself together, even now. And Katniss knew, deep down, that if she had heard Peeta's voice in the midst of it all, she might have broken completely.

Time passed slowly. Finnick, always busying his hands, wove yet another water basket and a fishing net. Liberty, sitting nearby, worked on crafting fishhooks from small scraps of bone and metal. She leaned closer to Beetee, showing him how to twist and shape the hooks.

Beetee, usually so composed, seemed distracted and agitated, his hands trembling slightly as he fumbled with his wires. Liberty leaned in closer, her voice low and soothing.

"You're doing great," she said, nudging his hand lightly. "These hooks are tricky, but once you get it, it's like tying your shoes. Muscle memory."

Beetee gave her a faint smile but shook his head. "I don't know why I'm struggling with this. It's not the hooks. It's..." He trailed off, his gaze dropping to his lap.

"It's Wiress," Liberty finished gently.

He nodded, his expression heavy with grief.

"She was brilliant," Liberty said softly, her fingers deftly shaping another hook. "I always admired the way her mind worked. She had a way of seeing things no one else did."

"She did," Beetee murmured. "And I didn't even—" His voice broke slightly. "I didn't even get to say goodbye."

Liberty placed a hand on his arm, her touch light but grounding. "She knew. You don't have to say it for someone to know how much they mean to you. She knew, Beetee."

He exhaled shakily and nodded. "Thank you."

Later, Liberty joined Finnick in the water to fish. The two moved easily as if they had fallen into a natural rhythm of working together. Finnick cast his newly woven net with practised ease, while Liberty tested out her hooks.

"First to five wins," Finnick called out, his tone light.

"You're on," Liberty shot back, her competitive edge sparking to life.

It wasn't long before the sound of splashing water and playful banter filled the air. Despite Liberty's determination, Finnick emerged victorious, holding up his net with a triumphant grin.

"Better luck next time, Liberty," he teased, his sea-green eyes twinkling.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," Liberty retorted, smirking. "Next round, I'm taking you down."

On the shore, Katniss sat at the water's edge, cleaning the fish they brought back. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting hues of orange and pink across the horizon. The moon rose in the distance, its pale glow illuminating the arena in a surreal twilight.

As they settled down to their meagre meal of raw fish, the anthem began to play. All heads turned toward the sky as the faces of the fallen tributes appeared.

Cashmere. Gloss. Wiress. The woman from District 5. The morphling who had sacrificed herself for Peeta. Blight. The man from District 10.

Seven dead.

"They're really burning through us," Johanna said, her voice edged with bitterness.

"Who's left? Besides us six and District Two?" Finnick asked.

"Chaff," Peeta answered without hesitation. Katniss suspected he'd been keeping track because of Haymitch.

A parachute drifted down from the sky, landing softly on the sand. Peeta retrieved it, revealing a pile of small, square rolls.

"These are from your district, right, Beetee?" Peeta asked.

Beetee nodded. "Yes. From District Three."

Finnick counted them, turning each one over carefully. "Twenty-four," he said.

"An even two dozen," Beetee noted.

Finnick, Liberty, Johanna and Beetee—all shared a quick look between each other. The plan had changed—it was day three not four.

Johanna crossed her arms, smirking. "Let's each take two. Whoever's still alive in the morning can vote on the rest."

Katniss couldn't help but chuckle at Johanna's morbid humour. When she did, Johanna gave her a look that was almost approving.

They waited for the wave to recede from the ten-to-eleven-o'clock section before setting up camp on the beach. Theoretically, they had twelve hours of safety before the cycle reset.

From the jungle came the unsettling sound of clicking insects, but whatever was making the noise stayed within the trees. None of them dared to venture closer, keeping to the sand.

Johanna stood at the edge of their makeshift camp, her silhouette sharp against the moonlit beach. Her axe hung loosely in one hand, her other resting on her hip as she kept her eyes trained on the jungle's shadowed treeline. Behind her, Finnick and Liberty lay side by side, their breathing soft and steady in the rhythm of sleep.

From their watch post a few feet away, Katniss and Peeta exchanged quiet glances. The firelight between them flickered against the tension that lingered even in their brief moments of rest.

"She hasn't moved from that spot," Peeta murmured, his voice barely audible over the gentle lapping of waves.

Katniss tilted her head toward Johanna, her gaze thoughtful. "She's guarding them."

Peeta leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. "It's strange, isn't it? How close they are—Johanna, Finnick, and Liberty. Like they've known each other forever."

Katniss considered this for a moment, her eyes lingering on Johanna's figure. "It makes sense in a way. They've been through so much. Maybe they've found some kind of trust in each other."

Peeta let out a quiet sigh. "That's more than most of us have. Trust. I mean, I trust you, and I think I'm starting to trust them... But Johanna? I'm not sure I'd trust her if it weren't for how she's always sticking close to Liberty and Finnick."

Katniss nodded slowly, her gaze shifting to the two sleeping figures. "I wasn't sure about Finnick at first, either. But now... I trust him. I see the way he protects Liberty, the way he keeps her steady. And Johanna—she's sharp, unpredictable. But if Liberty and Finnick trust her, maybe we should too."

Peeta chuckled softly. "It's funny, isn't it? The way Liberty seems to pull them all together. Johanna's only soft around her, and Finnick..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I've never seen someone look at another person the way Finnick looks at Liberty. Like she's the only thing holding him together."

Katniss folded her arms, her expression distant. "They've been through things we can't even imagine. Maybe that's what it takes—going through hell together. It's not just survival. It's connection."

Peeta leaned back, his gaze lifting to the stars scattered across the dark sky. "Whatever it is, it's strong. Stronger than anything the Capitol's thrown at them so far."

Johanna shifted slightly, glancing back toward the sleeping pair. Her expression softened for a fleeting moment, a rare glimpse of something unguarded. Then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by her usual hard-edged demeanour.

Katniss caught the look and leaned closer to Peeta. "See that? That's why I think we can trust her. She'd die before she let anything happen to Liberty or Finnick."

Peeta nodded. "And maybe... just maybe, that means she'll watch out for us too."

As the night wore on, Johanna remained at her post, unyielding and vigilant. Whatever history bound the three of them together, it was clear to Katniss and Peeta that it was unbreakable—and, perhaps, the key to their fragile alliance surviving another day.

The sharp crack of lightning split the sky, illuminating the beach in an eerie flash of white light. The bolt struck the great tree in the jungle's centre, a deafening boom following seconds later. Liberty startled awake, her breath shallow as the sound tore through the quiet night.

"It's okay. I've got you," Finnick murmured, his arms already around her as if he'd been waiting for this moment. His hand gently ran up and down her back, his voice low and soothing. "It's just the storm."

Liberty nodded, her cheek pressed against his chest. "I know. It just... it startled me."

Nearby, Johanna stirred but didn't rise to her usual sharp remarks. She only glanced at them, the faintest flicker of concern in her eyes. She might have lived to mock, but even she knew when to hold back. She settled back against the sand with a quiet huff.

Peeta and Katniss sat on the other side of the campfire, bleary-eyed but still on watch. Beetee was sprawled near them, unbothered by the noise, his deep sleep undisturbed even by the thunder.

Finnick exchanged a glance with Liberty before speaking. "Peeta, Katniss—why don't you get some rest? We can take over the watch."

Katniss frowned, her eyes darting between them. "Are you sure? You've barely gotten any sleep yourselves."

"We're sure," Liberty said firmly, brushing the stray strands of hair from her face. "You two need it more. We'll handle it from here."

Peeta hesitated, but Katniss relented with a sigh. "All right. But wake us if anything happens."

Finnick gave a small nod. "You'll be the first to know."

Liberty turned her attention to Johanna, who was still lying on her back, arms crossed defiantly. "You too, Johanna. Get some rest."

Johanna scoffed. "Please. Do you think I'm just going to roll over and let you two play hero? Not happening."

"Johanna," Liberty said softly, her tone full of understanding. "You've been standing guard over us all night. Let us take care of things now. Trust us."

Johanna grumbled, sitting up just enough to glare at them. "You're lucky I like you, Liberty. And you, Finnick. Don't make me regret this."

Finnick smirked. "Noted."

With an exaggerated sigh, Johanna lay back down, muttering something about being "too soft these days" before closing her eyes.

Once the others had drifted off, Finnick and Liberty made their way down to the water's edge. The storm continued to rumble in the distance, its light illuminating the waves in brief flashes.

"I can't believe they actually listened," Liberty said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Finnick chuckled. "Even Johanna has her limits."

Once the others had drifted off, Finnick and Liberty found themselves alone under the pale light of the moon. The waves lapped at the shore with a rhythmic hush, and the air carried the cool scent of salt and seaweed.

"Come on," Finnick said, holding out his hand to her.

"Where?" Liberty asked, her lips curving into a small smile as she took his hand without hesitation.

"Just for a swim," he said, tugging her gently toward the water.

The two waded into the sea, the cool water lapping at their legs and eventually enveloping them as they swam further out. The moonlight shimmered on the surface, casting an ethereal glow around them. Finnick floated on his back, his eyes on the stars, while Liberty treaded water nearby, her gaze fixed on him.

"This feels almost normal," she said quietly, her voice carrying over the water.

Finnick turned to look at her, his expression soft. "Normal doesn't exist for us anymore, does it?"

She smiled faintly. "No, I guess not. But... maybe this can be something. Something we call ours."

He moved closer, brushing a strand of wet hair from her face. "Something like... this?" he asked, his voice dipping lower.

She tilted her head, her lips twitching with amusement. "Are we finally giving it a name?"

"Maybe we don't need one," Finnick said with a smile. "This is enough. Whatever this is... it's real."

Liberty's heart swelled at his words. She leaned forward, and Finnick met her halfway. Their lips met in a kiss that was tender and filled with an unspoken promise.

When they finally pulled apart, Finnick grinned. "Was that real enough for you?"

Liberty laughed softly, shaking her head. "You'll have to try again. Just to be sure."

He obliged, kissing her again and again, each one deeper than the last. The world around them faded until there was only the two of them, the sea, and the moonlight.

After a moment, Liberty pulled back and smirked. "Well, if this is this, I think I can live with it."

Finnick chuckled, pulling her close as they floated together in the gentle waves. Their moment of peace was interrupted by a sharp whistle from the shore.

"Oi!" Johanna called, her voice carrying with a teasing edge. She leaned against her axe, grinning wickedly. "If you two are done playing mermaid and merman, maybe you can let the rest of us sleep without the kissing noises."

Liberty groaned, her cheeks flushing, while Finnick simply laughed, shaking his head. "Go back to sleep, Johanna!"

Johanna gave a mock salute, smirking as she laid back down; instantly sleeping.

Liberty buried her face in Finnick's shoulder, laughing softly. "She's never going to let us live this down."

Finnick smiled, his arms wrapped around her. "Let her talk. We've got this."

And in that moment, Liberty couldn't help but feel that, despite everything, he was right.