After dinner ends, Finnick and Serena head straight to training as the girl would prefer to get it done sooner rather than later. Kai and Roman also decide to do this so follow them until they stop at their own training room.

Although it's, technically, illegal to train before the reaping's, the law has seemed to've been looked over for the career districts. They're the favoured districts, which is why floor 1,2 and 4 of the tribute centre have two extra rooms for the careers to train before going into the games. Serena expects the other floors have them but they've never been touched.

"Change into this." Finnick states as he chucks a tighter training shirt at her. Serena's bottoms are already good for training - leggings - but her yellow jumper won't do. She catches it easily and immediately pulls the soft jumper over her head and chucks it on the floor. Finnick has turned his body so that she knows he won't look, and the gesture shocks her. Serena would have thought he'd be the type of person to watch her slowly and let his eyes roam across her body. But he's not.

"You can turn around now." Her voice cracks the awkward silence that suffocates the pair as Serena tugs the tight training shirt to straighten it. Finnick turns around and looks at her, his face void of any emotion.

The girl finds it difficult to figure out Finnick Odair. One moment, his arrogant facade will lay upon his face perfectly as it fits as easily as a glove. But the next, it will crumble to dust underneath her shoes as he gazes at her or avoids her eyes in fear of the hatred that will be inflicted on a heart that can't bare anymore pain. She knows, however, it's not just her trying to figure the other out. Serena's kindness has often switched into a burning rage in a matter of seconds. The games constantly taunt her and remind her of the only real thing left in her life: her inevitable death.

"Here," Finnick passes her a light sword, sculpted by careful and considerate hands. He picks up her jumper and places it on a bench, where he strips his own top off and switches it for a training top. Another thing that catches Serena off guard. As he works the top onto himself, he never once turns around to show off his body. It may be because Serena has already seen it, or that Finnick isn't someone that will show himself off unless forced to.

Serena turns away from him and starts to weigh up the sword by placing it in different hands, throwing it slightly in the air and letting it land back in her firm grip. Her mentor steps in front of her just as she's figured out the exact weight and swiftness of the blade. "I want you to get to know the sword first." Finnick tells her as he crosses his arms in front of him.

"Already done." The mentor raises his eyebrows in surprise. Serena gives a slight smile as she flips it in her hand and eyes him curiously.

"Okay, great." He moves towards one of the dummies stood in the small room. Finnick gestures to it with a sturdy hand. "Show me what you've got."

Her movements aren't as swift and skilled as her spear work. In fact, to Finnick, they look slightly clunky. Serena swings her arm in an arc to slice open what would be a gash in her enemy's shoulder. She then twists her body slightly and takes a jab at the stomach, wedging the weapon into the tough dummy material.

"Not bad." Finnick comments. He brings his hand up to his chin and starts to scratch it thoughtfully. "There's a lot to work on, but you've already got a lot of the techniques and swings right." With his identical blade, the victor steps forward and towards the dummy. "Watch and take note."

Serena nods her head slowly and focuses on Finnick's body as he does the same movements as she did, but with so much more precision. He looks how Serena feels when she uses a spear: like they are one. When he's finished, the mentor turns to his tribute with a reassuring smile. "You got it?"

"I hope so." She mumbles as she stands in front of the poor dummy that's awaiting yet another round of slashings. The girl grips the sword tighter than before and arches her arms how her mentor did. Before she goes to swing, a warm hand catches her arm.

"No, like this." Finnick shows her again but she still struggles to master the perfection of his structure. After many attempts she gives out a long huff of exhaustion.

"It's no use, I just can't do it-"

"Yes, you can. That ethic will get you nowhere in the arena." Finnick explains harshly. He places his sword on the floor and a loud clattering echoes through the room. He stands behind Serena and hesitantly places his hands on her hips. "Is this okay?" He questions and his whispers tickle Serena's neck. She swallows and nods her head.

Finnick impossibly steps closer to the girl and begins to move her body with his own. As he twists his lower body, he uses his hands to guide Serena's lower body to match his. He does this until he reaches her hands. "When you're in the arena, you need to make sure your technique is flawless." He begins. He's still stood against Serena and her breathing picks up at the close proximity he has created. "One wrong move and it'll cost you your life."

"How do I remember everything you teach me?" She asks, desperately trying to grasp onto the small wisps of attention her mind holds. Being so close to Finnick makes her forget everything she's ever known.

"Well, that's something only you can decide. Practice would probably be the most effective, but maybe..." Finnick is hesitant and his grip on her becomes tighter. "Maybe you could remember me. Remember this position and how I guided you."

His voice so close to her ears feels so right, that Serena feels like screaming. The carefully picked words flow through her body, tingling her skin and tying her stomach in knots to try and contain a flurry of movement threatening to burst inside her. "Okay." She manages to say. "What's next?" And just like that, Finnick removes himself from her and guides her to another dummy.

When private training finally ends, Serena is panting lightly in result of the 3 hard-core hours. Her clothes are soaked through with sweat and so are her mentor's. She collapses onto the small bench in the corner of the room and takes a long swig from the bottle of water. A clang echoes through the room as she lets the bottle bang against the bench then she heaves out a long breathe.

"You finished with that?" Finnick asks as he slumps beside her. Serena just nods and passes Finnick the bottle, who chugs the remainder left. When he finishes and wipes his mouth with the back of his arm, he gives Serena a dazzling smile. "You did good. Amazing, really."

"Thanks." She manages to say and then focuses on her breathing once more. The air cleanses the inside of her and forces out the impurities that have developed in her system whilst training. She starts to feel slightly light headed with the sudden change of oxygen capacity she can take in. Overwhelmed by the faint feeling, Serena reaches to Finnick for support and clasps his thigh shakily.

"Woah," Finnick says quickly as Serena starts to fall on him. He helps her sit up and keep her sturdy by wrapping a secure arm around her waist and the other on her shoulders. "You okay there?" He says with a cheeky smile and Serena snorts lightly.

"Oh yeah, I'm great." She wants to laugh but the splitting pain drumming against her head tells her to do otherwise. "Just feel like I'm going to faint." She manages to breathe out and grips Finnick's leg tighter.

"I'm sorry, I pushed you too hard." The mentor begins. He can almost hear the heavy banging of her heart against her ribs.

"Don't apologise. At least..." Serena heaves in a small breathe, bringing her spare hand up to her forehead as she looks at the floor dizzily. "At least I know my...my limit." Finnick shuffles closer to her so that their legs are touching and tightens his arm around her.

"Lean on me." He mumbles and she doesn't need to be told twice. She's relieved that he's giving her his hard structure to relax on and catch her breathe. Even with the extra support, Serena keeps her hand securely on his thigh and just hopes it doesn't make him feel uncomfortable.

Finnick moves his hand so that it touches her hair and, without asking, he runs his fingers through it and twirls them in a simple pattern. At the caring touch, Serena sighs - from the numbness it spreads to her chaotic mind or from genuine relaxation, she's not sure. "How come you always do that?"

"Do what?" Asks Finnick.

"Play with my hair." As Serena says the words, his fingers halt like they have been caught doing an unforgivable deed. "Don't stop." She adds quickly as her throbbing headache begins to come back to her.

"Does it bother you?" He questions as he lets his fingers slide through the silky texture once more.

"Obviously not if I just told you to not stop." She laughs lightly and is relieved to find the joyous action does not kill her brain. "But..." She whispers and suddenly moves off Finnick to actually look at him. The sudden movement causes black spots to cloud her vision and Finnick's familiar palm grabs her neck quickly to stop her falling back wards.

"But what?"

"I guess it bothers me to know I'm not the only one you do it to. And I know I shouldn't be feeling like that, but I can't help it." Admitting this to Finnick falls so freely out of her mouth, Serena has to blame her exhaustion for the stupid action.

"You should know that you are the only person I do it to." If Serena were in control of herself, she would've shaken the remark off and listened to it as a lie. But she isn't thinking straight, so she smiles softly at her mentor. "Now come on, let's get you to your room so you can shower. You okay to stand?"

"Only one way to find out." She replies lightly. Finnick stands first then sticks out his hand for Serena to take. Once she's slowly pulled up, Finnick securely places his arm around her waist. Her shirt, which is soaked with sweat and sticks uncomfortably to her body, has pulled up slowly so Finnick's palm is settled on her bare skin. The touch sends surprisingly comfortable burns through her body, warming her up with tingles of heat.

They make it to her room with only one stumble from the disorientated tribute. When the door closes behind them, Finnick sits them down on the comfy bed with lime green, silk sheets. "I'm gonna clean myself up, you can too whilst I shower." She says after a long catch of breathe.

"Okay," Finnick replies and stands up. When Serena goes to follow him she has to stop suddenly and place her palm against her forehead. "Why don't you wait a bit?"

"No, I'm fine." Serena argues as she walks towards her bathroom. She pauses again.

"You're not. At least let me help you in and I'll wait out here until your done." Finnick says after a moment of thinking as he watches her with worry laced into the creases on his forehead. Serena can't bring herself to tell Finnick not to worry, because her head is still throbbing.

"But what about you?" Is all she can bring herself to say. Is unfair that her mentor will be sat waiting for her as she showers.

"I don't want to leave you until I know you're safe. When you're finished, I'll go shower." For a moment, she hesitates but then thanks him politely and let's him grip her hand to lead her into the bathroom. When she starts to strip her clothes off, Finnick dismisses himself and makes sure that Serena doesn't lock the door in case she falls over and needs help.

When she finally steps under the warm flowing water and is sprayed with an array of soaps, Serena Seymour sighs. Finnick really is making it impossible for the young girl to dislike him. It's really not ideal that he cares deeply for his tribute and mutters sentences in a soft voice when they're alone. She can't go into the arena with developing feelings for someone she'll never see again, it'll get her killed.

But Serena's afraid her feelings have already developed - and she's pretty sure she likes Finnick Odair.

word count: 2183
a/n: who thinks they'll be any action before Serena goes into the arena?