CHAPTER ONE
The Parade

          The train ride to the Capitol was never long considering they weren't far from it, it probably took hours or so. During the whole ride, Victoria's eyes were stuck on the window in front of her as Finnick and Violet's voices faded into the background. Victoria couldn't care less about their conversation, all she wanted was to see her father again and the sea. Oh, the beautiful and blue sea. As she focused on her old mentor, she couldn't help but feel angry at how composed he seemed while eating his sugar squares that were usually made for horses.

"There we are!" Violet squealed, spotting the Capitol. "Victoria, love, will you please put on a smile? The cameras might be here."

Victoria always found it so interesting how massive the Capitol looked and how futuristic too. Getting out of the train, she followed the people from her prep team as they needed to prepare them. There was nothing more humiliating than stripping down in front of strangers, and letting them work on your body. They always found a way to mock her which made her blood boil.

Once the pair was done, they went straight to the room where their stylist was supposed to come. Weirdly, this year, District 4 had one stylist instead of two. Tiberius appeared, bringing a smile on Victoria's face. He was a long time friend and her stylist during her game.

"Tiberius!" She squealed, wrapping her arms around him as he returned the hug. "I thought they changed stylists every year."

"I asked to have District Four, sweetheart," he said with a wink, then greeted Finnick with whom he was also familiar. "No one can dress you like I do. Am I wrong?"

"Never."

Truth was Tiberius was never wrong–after hours of hard labour, Victoria finally spotted herself in the mirror. Her hair was loose, cascading down her shoulders, almost appearing as the waves they had back in District Four. The blue dress covered her body from neck to ankles and she gaped at her reflection in her mirror–the last time she had been so nicely dressed was at her victor's tour.

"Blue for your eyes that are as blue as the sea in District Four," he offered a toothy smile, letting out a dreamy sigh before focusing on Finnick. "Now, let's work on you."

Victoria had the time to nap before Finnick was ready, as usual he was chewing on his sugar cubes, making her groan in annoyance, "Why do you have to chew this?"

"It's delicious," he replied with a slight shrug as Violet led them to the room where the other victors were. "Want one?"

"No."

"That's a shame," he smirked, nudging her before spotting Katniss from District Twelve. "Ah, I'm going to see her. Have fun, Vicky!"

"Finnick, you do know I hate Vicky!" She exclaimed loudly as he laughed, walking towards her. Turning on her heels, her eyes laid on Peeta making his way to Katniss. "Peeta."

"Victoria," he greeted, a little taken back by her. "How are you?"

"Angry," she muttered, her lips forming a thin line. "You fought well in the arena last year. I watched you and Katniss."

He snorted softly, "I don't know if we can say fight but thank you."

"Fighting is not only about violence. You're smart, Peeta," she smiled as he thanked her. "You'd make a good ally."

"Thank you," he said once again, clearly lost for words.

"Nice outfit, by the way," she winked with a smirk as he flushed lightly, watching her leave. She joined Finnick, smiling at Katniss. "Katniss," she greeted.

"Victoria," Katniss said, her tone flat and bothered. Finnick simply snorted, wrapping an arm around Victoria's shoulders to lead her away from them.

Shakily, she stepped in the chariot, she let out a breath trying to relax. Victoria had never thought she would parade in front of the Capital again, as if she was a mere animal in a zoo. Finnick seemed to be nervous too but he always appeared better than she did. The song started and the screams got louder as District 1 and 2 appeared. Soon, the dark of the room was replaced by a blinding sun.

"Smile, Vicky," Finnick reminded her, waving at them as if he had done this his whole life but he was so loved by everyone. Forcingly, her lips twitched upwards and she started to wave back. Finnick intertwined their hands and she tried her best to escape his grip but he brought their hands up in the air, earning yells and shouts from the people of the Capitol. "They love a good show," he whispered in her ear.

"Don't you too?" Victoria queried once their chariot was making their way back.

He shrugged, "Only when it is really good," he said as she rolled her eyes while he stretched his hand for her to hold so she could get down off the chariot. "You look beautiful, by the way," he commented, his voice almost shy.

"Thank you," she said after a moment. "I can't return the compliment because that golden net is..."

"Don't you like the knot down there?" He smirked as she shook her head with a grimace. "Oh, come on! I'm representing our district, Vicky."

"I'm sorry but this is the worst costume I have ever seen," she laughed. Victoria hadn't paid attention when the parade started because of her stress, but now that it had come down–she couldn't help but laugh. "Even Johanna's tree dress is better!"

Finnick rolled his eyes, shoving another cube of sugar in his mouth, "Now you are just being awfully mean," he said softly. "Tiberius never seemed to like me."

Before any of them could utter another word, Violet's voice echoed through their ears, "You two were magnificent!" She exclaimed dreamily, a hand on her heart as the other caressed Victoria's cheek. "Blue always seemed to fit you."

"Tiberius did a really good job with me."

She glanced at Finnick, grimacing a bit as he gaped at the two women, his arms falling on each side of his body, "As he always does," Violet said, agreeing with her. "Alright, follow me. Tonight, we are eating dinner all together and we will discuss the other tributes. Yes?"

"Alright."

As they walked in the elevator, the old winner of District Twelve–Haymitch stepped into it. He smirked, his eyes darted between Victoria and Violet, "Hello, Violet," he then said, earning a breathy chuckle from Violet.

"Haymitch," she greeted back. "Why aren't you with your tribute?"

"Ah," he clicked his tongue, sighing as he leaned against the bar. "Katniss is too annoying. Had to get away for a few," he said, making Violet laugh. "Very nice of you to volunteer for Mags," he added, looking at Victoria. "It was...touching."

"If you've stepped into this elevator to make fun of us, it was useless. Besides, you reek," she muttered angrily as he chuckled loudly. "Maybe you're the one being too annoying. I'm sure Katniss is perfectly fine."

"And she bites!" He exclaimed, smiling at Finnick who hummed. Finnick out of everyone knew how much Victoria didn't like being pleasant. "Katniss is a lot like you actually. Maybe you two would make good allies in the arena."

"We'll see," Victoria mumbled. "It was awfully not pleasant to talk to you, Haymitch," she said, batting her lashes at him and offering a toothy smile.

"Always a pleasure!"

Victoria walked out, directing herself towards the apartment and releasing a breath as soon as she closed the door behind her. If there was one thing she hated, it was definitely the parade. She recalled her first parade and how overwhelmed she had been by the act, how she had no idea why people were shouting her name and crying when she returned a wave. It would be a lie to see that she still didn't get it to this day.

For some reason she didn't care to know for now, Finnick and Violet hadn't followed and she took the opportunity to head towards Finnick's bathroom that had been blessed with a bathtub. After all, he was the Capitol's darling. Taking her clothes off, she stepped in the bathtub and let the water submerge her. Victoria always felt safer in the water. The foam covered her whole body as she closed her eyes, relaxing. She didn't know when Finnick came back but his gasp was the sound that brought her back to the harsh reality.

"Victoria!" He shouted, his hand on his chest as he let out a breath. "What are you doing here?"

"I don't have a bathtub in my room," she said softly, looking at him. He was still wearing his costume though some accessories seemed to have disappeared already. "And since you weren't there, I thought I'd use it," she then added with a shrug.

"Right," he mumbled, starting to strip down as well and Victoria hid her eyes rapidly, making him snort. "Try to keep your eyes closed, I'm going to have a shower."

Victoria sighed, moving in the bath as she hoped the foam would go anywhere, "I will just face the other way..."

"Fine," he told her as she heard the water running, and the soft melody he started to hum. "What is that scar on your back?"

"Went fishing with my dad and one of his old friends who was half blind ended up throwing his fishing hook at my shoulder and somehow thought it was a fish that he had caught," she explained, chuckling at the memory. Despite the pain, Victoria and her dad laughed about it now.

Suddenly, she felt his finger grazing the scar and her eyes widened. How did he walk that fast there without her hearing anything?

"Must have hurt," he whispered, his hot breath tickling the back of her neck.

Victoria shrugged gently, "It was alright. Nothing some stitches can't fix," she admitted with a small smile.

"You're right," he said, facing her. "Hurry or Violet is going to be mad again. There are some towels in the cabinet for you, Vicky," Finnick added, smiling.

For once, Victoria didn't bother correcting Finnick about the use of the nickname and thanked him quietly. That evening, they talked about other tributes as Finnick proposed some allies to Victoria. Thankfully, they both agreed on Peeta and Katniss, though Victoria wished to see them at the training centre first as she was also interested in Beete and Wireless; Finnick agreed without uttering a word.

"Why did you stay outside after I left the elevator?" Victoria found herself asking as she leaned against Finnick's door frame. He was sitting in bed, facing the window as he had put some kind of screen on the windows that were a copy of the sea in District Four. So calming.

Finnick sighed, "Haymitch wanted to talk. We're old friends, him and I," he said to her. "Don't you find it..."

"Peaceful?" She finished as he nodded his head. "It is."

"I asked Annie and Mags to take care of Otto," he then said quietly once they were both focused on the window. Victoria couldn't hide her surprise when she glanced at her. Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips formed a thin line. "Just thought you should know."

"Why?"

"Why? Well, if something goes wrong, I want you to know that he's being taken care of," he said softly. "He's safe in Victor's village."

"Is he?" Victoria queried, her voice strained and she could feel the lump forming in her throat. The wellbeing of her father was a touchy subject.

Finnick nodded his head, a small smirk drawing on his face, "There are tunnels underneath. President Snow doesn't know about them. They lead to somewhere safe."

"That's..." she paused. "That's smart."

"Thank you, Vicky," he chuckled and she groaned at the nickname. "What are you going to present at the private session?"

Victoria sighed, shrugging, "I've always been bad at this."

He raised an eyebrow at her, "You were good at your last private session. I watched you," he mumbled. "I mean...showing how to dissect a person was different but good different."

"It's the same as dissecting a fish," Victoria told him. "Maybe I will show them how to tie a knot to hang someone," she then added, making Finnick snort.

"Do it."

Victoria smiled softly, still against the doorframe, "I will."

"Good," he nodded his head with a smile. He watched her, smiling lazily. "Go to bed, Victoria. We have to be up early tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Finnick."

"Night, Vicky."

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authors note, currently still dying over the bathroom scene because why is there so much tension??! omfg 🤭🤭

yall can't tell how much i am excited to write this, like BEYOND excited.