➳❦

KATNISS SAT AT THE TABLE IN THE CAFETERIA, moving her fork around her plate as she glanced around the room. Arya hadn't appeared since she had arrived. They gave her the all clear to join everyone but she was no where to be seen. She was most likely scared, not wanting to be around so many strangers. Especially because she really didn't know who she could trust. Katniss wanted to go and talk to her, but she also wanted to give the woman her space just like Haymitch said.

The only one who had really spoken to her was finnick. But he wasn't saying anything about it. His eyes were on his plate, but he too wasn't eating it. "How is she?" Katniss decides to ask, looking at the man. He didn't seem to hear her but he could feel her gaze on him. Finnick looks confused, meeting her eyes.

"What?" Finnick asks, being taken out of his thoughts. All he could think about was Arya and how she seemingly didn't know anything that had gone on when she was in the Capitol.

"Arya. How is she?" Katniss questions,  wanting to know if she was okay. But finnick only shrugs his shoulders, placing his arms on the table.

"Oh, I don't know." Finnick denies with a small sigh. She still never opened up to him. Although she allowed him near her, she was barely speaking.

"Weren't you with her last night?"

"She doesn't really talk about it." Finnick denies. He wished she did talk to him about it, but he wasn't going to force her. That would just make her not trust him. But katniss understood.

"She went through a lot, she just needs time." Prim suggests, knowing everyone was worried but they really shouldn't demand she tell them. It would only male matters worse.

"I still don't trust it." Gale denies, shaking his head. Everyone looks toward him.

"What do you mean?" Katniss asks him.

"How come she won't just say how she escaped?" Gale questions, raising an eyebrow. If she wasnt a spy, then she should just tell them. "Maybe because they let her go." He points out. Katniss was angry that he even suggested that.

"Gale, she's traumatized." Katniss retorts. Maybe she wasn't talking because she didn't know what they would think, or maybe she believed she was still in the Capitol. It was hard to know what her brain was thinking.

"Or maybe it's all an act." Gale states, clearly the only one who thinks that.

"She would never willingly help Snow." Katniss denies, shaking her head. She didn't know why Gale was so driven to try and call both Arya and Peeta out for things they have no control over. Katniss hated how he thought Peeta was weak for doing the interviews.

"Right, that's what she said before she tried to kill you." Gale says with a scoff, rolling his eyes. He never understood why Katniss let her live after she held a knife to her throat. But Katniss knew why she did that, she didn't hold it against Arya.

"She did that because she had to." Katniss responds, getting angry at the man. Gale looks around the table, seeing that no one was really agreeing with him. Arya had killed most of the tributes in her games and they expected him to believe that she was not going to attack them too?

"Why are you protecting her?" Gale asks her. When Katniss entered the arena, she hated Arya. She barely even wanted to talk to her and now she was defending her.

"Why are you treating her like she's the enemy?" Katniss retorts. Just because she came from the Capitol, didn't mean she was going to harm them. She just wanted to escape. And from her injuries when she arrived in Thirteen, she was right to escape.

"She's not dangerous, she's hurt." Finnicks voice comes quietly from beside Katniss. Gale glances over at him, seeing Finnick was glaring at him. He just rolls his eyes, not wanting to have this conversation anymore. So he leaves. And finnick was glad he did. Otherwise he would've punched him himself.

Katniss glances at Matthew who had also not said a thing. A frown forms as she didnt want him also thinking Arya might be a weapon sent by the capitol. "She's not here to attack us." She denies, wanting to make sure that Matthew knew that. If Arya was really going to hurt them, she wouldve done it already.

"Well, I'm not planning to stick around anyways." Matthew mutters, finally looking over at her. Katniss was confused by what he meant.

"What are you talking about?" Katniss asks him.

"I'm not just gonna let Snow do what he did to Arya to others."  Matthew denies. He knew other victors were still in the Capitol. How many was unsure. But he knew Peeta, Johanna and Wesley were there for sure. Why did they even want to stop him?

"So, what? You're gonna try and get inside the Capitol?" Katniss asks him, wondering how that would even be possible. It was easier to escape than it was to get inside.

"Her way out could be my way in." Matthew points out, shrugging his shoulders.

"And what happens if you do get in? Snow is protected." Finnick tells him. Snow was protected even before the rebellion started. It would be fortified by now. No one could touch him.

"I have help." He replies. Finnick and Katniss share a glance with one another.

"Help where?" Katniss questions, crossing her arms against her chest. If it was in the Capitol, she didn't know how much he could trust that.

"On the inside." Matthew says.

"Who?" Finnick asks. He didn't think many people within the Capitol, who would help the rebels, were still there. Many had already left or escaped. So, who did Matthew know that would help him?

But Matthew did know someone. And he knew for a fact she wouldve helped Arya look presentable for her interview. Matthew also knew this person wouldn't just sit back and watch her get hurt. Which was why he believed the reason Arya escaped was because of her. Because of Ciela.

"Let's just say, Arya didn't escape by herself." Matthew tells them, staring at the pair before getting up. Finnick was still confused, his eyebrows furrowed. He understood why Matthew wanted Snow dead, but he wasn't thinking rationally.

"Katniss." Finnick says, gaining her attention as she just looks at him curiously.

"What?"

"Aren't you gonna stop him?" He asks, gesturing to the man who had all but left the cafeteria already. Katniss just lets out a small sigh. Why would she? If Matthew truly got to the capitol, maybe he could help Peeta. Seems Coin wasn't going to follow through on her promise to rescue them anyways.

"He's right. Snow needs to be stopped." She states, fiddling with her fingers. Katniss wanted to be the one to kill him, god knows it should've happened years ago.

"He'll get himself killed. We need to make a solid plan before we attack." Finnick points out. Nobody went into the Capitol without a death wish. It was a suicide mission if he just went in, especially alone.

"Well, sometimes the best laid plans go awry. Maybe it's best to wing it." Katniss states with a shrug of her shoulders as she gets up from the table. Finnick just watches as she walks away, going in the direction that Gale went.

Finnick knew that plans didn't always work out the way you wanted them to. But with this, with what they wanted to do. They had to be strategic. They couldn't just go walking into the Capitol. They probably had bounty on their heads. Finnick wanted to avenge the victors, to avenge what they did to Arya, but he also knew that Snow wasn't an easy target. They would have to form a team, make a solid plan and if all went well,

The president wouldn't last till the new year.

➳❦

FINNICK KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, waiting a few seconds before opening it. He notices Arya sat on the bed, her arms wrapped around herself. She didn't even glance toward him until he started walking over to her. Her eyes met his, and he could see the fear disappear as she saw him. "I brought you something to eat." He tells her, holding out the tray. He knew she wouldn't go get it herself.

He sits down next to her, passing the tray toward her. Arya carefully takes it, looking down at the food. She was hungry, she just was wary about eating the food. "Thanks." She responds softly. Her eyes go back over to the door since he had left it open slightly.

Finnick saw her panicked eyes. He lifts his hand to move it over to hers but he hesitates. He didn't know if it would startle her or not. So he brought it back to his lap. "Hey, are you okay?" He asks her. Arya takes a shaky breath, looking back at him.

"Are you sure we're safe here?" Arya asks him. She felt unsafe in the environment, especially when she was first brought in. The way they tried to handle her, pull her, it set the wrong tone.

"I promise you." Finnick assures her. It was understandable why she felt unsafe. She was in a space that she didnt know, surrounded by people who stared at her. "Coin is a bit... well, I don't like her. But you have all of us here with you." He says. He didn't really want Coin talking to Arya. He just felt like she would use Arya for her own gain.

"I tried sticking my head out but they all just stared at me. I don't trust them." She denies, shaking her head.

"I know." Finnick says, nodding. "But you can stick by me." He would stick by her if that's what she needed. "Katniss, Haymitch-- we've got your back." He tells her but he could see she was hesitant.

"I know you do." Arya states. She didn't know why she allowed herself to trust Finnick. Honestly, it baffled her. But she did. He was the one person here that she knew would never hurt her, would never lie to her.

"I assure you, Katniss and Haymitch don't wanna hurt you." Finnick assures her.

"I want to believe that." She admits. She wanted to trust Katniss and Haymitch, but even before, she never fully trusted either of them. So, it was really on the edge right now.

"Do you really not know who Matthew is?" Finnick didn't know whether he shouldve asked it or not. But he did. And he could see her mind trying to figure it out.

"I-i..." Arya truly didn't know. She tried to think about him, his face seemed familiar but she couldn't place it. "I remember slight things but they're all a blur. It's jumbled and I can't put the pieces together." She explains to him and he nods his head. He leans forward, slowly moving his hand to hers.

"Look, if you do eventually want to speak about what happened, I will never say a word. Not unless you want me to." Finnick would be there to just listen if she wanted. Or if she wanted to have a conversation, he'd do that as well.

"They just push and push. They don't actually care." Arya didn't believe that anyone really cared what happened to her. They just wanted to know something for their own gain. But her brain was scrambling at this point, nothing made sense to her in her mind.

"They just want to know how to get the others." Finnick tells her. They needed more information on the capitol. But she wasnt saying anything. "Arya, if there's anything you know. You have to tell us." He again didn't want to push her but it just was something they needed to know. If she was willingly holding back, that was something else.

"Finnick, I'm trying." Arya admits, trying not to get upset. She couldn't think straight.  The only thing she could really think about was the fact she knew no one in Thirteen. For all she knew, there could be people working for the Capitol.

"Maybe try getting some sleep." He suggests. Finnick knew she hadn't slept yet and that was probably interfering with her ability to think straight.

"I can't." Arya denies, shaking her head. Finnick frowns as he stared at her. "My brain won't turn off. I'm in pain. I-i..." She stops herself, sniffling as she stares down at her hands. "Everytime I close my eyes I fear someone's gonna come in and hurt me, that--- No." She can't fall asleep. No matter how hard she tried.

Finnick understood that it was impossible to sleep after something so traumatizing. He remembered after his games, it was hard to sleep. The first few times Snow sold him, that was hard as well. Arya had been tortured and had god knows whatever else done to her. If she couldn't sleep, there really wasn't much else she could do.

"Well, at least eat something, okay?" Finnick suggests, gesturing to the food. She nods her head slowly. Her eyes go back to him, gazing at the man. Finnick looks back at her, trying to analyze her expression. But the moment he got a glimpse of it, she looked away.

He lets out a sigh, reluctant to do it but leans toward her, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. Finnick was sure she would snap him in half, that's what she wouldve done before the quarter quell. But she allowed it. And he even felt her soften underneath his touch.

Finnick was honestly so relieved she felt so comfortable around him, more than anyone else. But his mind couldn't stop going back to Matthew. The man had been there for Arya her whole life. And now it's like that all just disappeared. Finnick knew Matthew wasn't his biggest fan, and this wasn't exactly going to help that.

He just hoped that it was just due to her lack of sleep, her brain hasn't had much time to rest. Because if it was the alternative, there wasn't much any of them could do to help.

➳❦

KATNISS AND FINNICK SAT IN THE MEETING ROOM. Neither of them wanted to be there. Especially because neither of them were big fans of Coin. Just the woman's actions and what she said, none of it sat right with them. Luckily they weren't the only ones but it was definitely putting a damper on the room. And the way she kept asking about Arya, it was clear it was not out of a place of concern.

"I want to talk to her." Coins voice brought her back. Katniss looks over at her. No way was anyone allowing her to speak with Arya, not in the condition she was in.

"Madam President, I don't think that's a wise choice." Plutarch denies, shaking his head. Even he saw the delicacy in the situation.

"We need to know what she does."

"She doesn't know anything." Finnick denies, staring at the woman. Coin scoffs as she leans forward, resting her arms on the table.

"Do you expect me to believe this whole damsel act?" Coin asks him. Finnick was speechless, a scoff leaving his lips.

"It's not an act." Katniss denies. "She's scared. She's full of fear... she won't tell you anything." She denies. Hell, katniss wouldn't tell the woman willingly if she was Arya.

"Maybe she will if she knows what's on the line." Coin points out.

"You've had plenty of chance to rescue the others, how about you tell her that?" Katniss snaps back, crossing her arms against her chest. How would Arya feel knowing that Coin did nothing to rescue them? Leaving them in torment.

"Ms Everdeen, whether she's your friend or not, keeping information from us isn't helping either." Coin states, staring at the woman. Katniss looks away from her, rolling her eyes.

"She's trying her best. She just needs to be able to sleep." Finnick tells her. Wanting to sleep and being able to were two very different things.

"Then we'll give her some sleeping pills." The president states. None of them could even fathom that was even a suggestion.

"Inducing sleep will just set her off." Katniss points out. That will just get her to trust them less. And she may even try to escape district Thirteen at this rate.

"Give me another idea then." Coin says with a sigh, raising her eyebrows at them. It was annoying how they kept shooting her ideas down.

"Give her space and time." Haymitch states, staring at her. That was all she needed. And she needed to know she wa safe.

"We don't have time. The rebellion won't just wait for one girl to get her mind straight." Coin denied with a shake of her head. Katniss couldn't believe that Arya was being labeled as just something for the rebellion.

"You have plenty of information on the Capitol from Beetee. You don't need her." Katniss points out. Beetee had inside information on how the Capitol ran and how to get through their security.

"That'll be for me to decide." Coin responds. Katniss just clenches her jaw before standing up, walking out of the room with Finnick and Haymitch.

"She doesn't even see it." Finnick mutters. Coin didn't understand that Arya truly couldn't rack her mind for answers.

"Finnick, you're the only one she trusts. Get her to talk." Haymitch says as he looks toward the man. Finnick just furrows his eyebrows. How many times did he have to say it?

"She doesn't remember anything."

"Make something up. Otherwise Coin may do something to force her to talk." Haymitch states as he stares at Finnick. The man nods, understanding what Haymitch meant.

"Okay." Although Finnick didn't even know what to say, because he had no clue where the victors were being held. If he told a lie, it would have to be small and simple so it didn't confuse anyone or jeopardize the rescue mission.

➳❦

ARYA STARES IN THE MIRROR, just staring at the water droplets that were littering her skin. She had decided to take a shower of all things. She felt dirty. And she hadnt really had that privilege within the Capitol except for before her interview. As she stared at herself, her eyes ran over the numerous scars and wounds that were on her body.

She takes a shaky breath as she runs her finger along them gently. Arya winces as one of them stings as she presses on it. She closes her eyes for a moment. Arya saw flashes through her mind making her crack them open again. A bang made her jump and she could practically hear the cell door close. But in reality, it was the door behind her and she hadn't realized Finnick had knocked until he had opened the door.

Finnick's eyes widen as he sees the woman standing near the mirror in nothing but pants and a bra. She hadnt responded so he thought it had been okay to go in. "Oh, sorry." He immediately apologizes, turning around and putting a hand over his eyes.

Arya almost screamed at the sudden voice. She swirled around quickly and noticed Finnick by the door. She turns red as she quickly grabs the shirt she had next to her, putting it on in a hurry.
"Um, just came to check on you." Finnick tells her.

She buttons up the shirt, pressing her lips together tightly. Arya felt embarrassed, especially not knowing how much he saw. Especially if he saw any of her wounds. But if he did, he most likely wouldn't say anything about it. Arya turns back to him, clearing her throat as she fiddles with her fingers.

"You can look now." She tells him. Finnick hesitates, opening his fingers before completely dropping his hand. He didn't really look her in the eyes, mainly searching her room.

Mainly because he didn't want to think about what he saw. It almost made him sick to his stomach seeing the wounds that scattered her body. He never wanted to see her hurt like that. And it clearly made her uncomfortable too because she was trying to cover every inch of her skin. He hadn't meant to see her like that, it was just a lack of communication.

His eyes land on the tray which was on the table. The food was still exactly how he gave it to her. "You didn't touch your food." Finnick points out, finally looking toward her. Arya just shrugs her shoulders.

"Wasn't hungry."

"You gotta eat something." Finnick tells her but she doesnt say anything. "Look, I need to tell Coin something. I'll lie, but I... I can't just make something up completely. It may get people killed." He explains to her. He didn't want that to be on him but it would be if she didn't give him something real.

"I told you-" Arya goes to say but he cuts her off.

"You can't remember." Finnick finishes for her, nodding his head. He sighs as he looks around the room momentarily. "Beetee said that it may be because you don't want to remember." He tells her. Arya could only stare at him, getting a bit irritated.

"Cause I'm traumatized?" She asks, crossing her arms against her chest. "Finnick, if you're just going to keep asking me to remember, then leave me alone." Arya tells him, sitting down on her bed. Finnick didn't mean to hit a bad spot with her, honestly he was annoyed by the others as well.

"I'm sorry. I won't." He apologizes, moving over to her. He grabbed the bread roll while on his way over, sitting down next to her. "But you still gotta eat." Finnick tells her, holding it out toward her. Arya sighs but takes it from him, reluctantly taking a bite from it.

"Look how far we've come. You could barely stand me and now I'm the only one you can talk to." Finnick points out with a small laugh. Arya swallows the bread that was in her mouth, narrowing her eyes at the man.

"That can change." She warns him and he just smiles, glancing at his hands. "I never hated you, Finnick." Arya denies. Finnick didn't fully believe her though, looking a bit suspicious.

"Really?" He asks her, raising an eyebrow at her. Arya bites her bottom lip.

"Okay, maybe a tiny bit." Arya says, holding up her fingers to show it. Finnick rolls his eyes playfully, pushing her arm a bit. "Your personality just rubbed me the wrong way." She admits. If he wasn't so cocky when they had met, maybe she would have at least talked to him more often.

"You mean the one I put on for the Capitol?" Finnick asks her.

"Yeah..." Arya never even thought of that when she had first met him. She thought that was really what he was like, so she didnt bother to really get to know him. But it was more because of what happened in her games. She didnt want to get close to anyone else. But times have changed. "You're not so bad." She admits, nudging his shoulder a little bit.

"Wow, I need that recorded." Finnick says with a smirk on his lips. Arya playfully rolls her eyes as she glances away from him. His smirk slowly drops as he looks down at his hands. "I really am sorry." He states. Arya furrows her eyebrows, meeting his gaze again. "I shouldn't have left you behind." He knew he didn't have to keep apologizing but he felt like he had to.

"That wasn't on you." Arya denies, shaking her head a little bit. Her hand slowly moves to his. "I promise you, Finnick. I don't blame you." She tells him. Finnick nods, clenching his jaw a bit.

"Do you ever wish that you were born in the Capitol?" Finnick asks. He wondered if it was an easier life. No fear of getting reaped, not having to worry about food or your family dying of disease.

Arya hadn't really thought about it. But looking at it now, there were pros and cons to it. Especially since she didn't know how her life would be if that was the case. "Yes and no." She says, biting her tongue as she takes a deep breath. "Yes, because I would be closer to Snow. Closer to the fact I could change things. But I also wouldn't want to be part of that society. How they bet on us... laughed... pretended to be apart of the hunger games." Arya explains to him, looking at Finnick who just listens to what she says.

She truly wasn't sure if she'd want to be part of that. She hated the people in the Capitol with a passion except for a select few. But those few made her realize that people in the Capitol weren't all stuck up and thought they were better than people in the districts. "I don't know. I wouldn't want to be another sheep in the herd that was under Snows control." That was one thing. Being in the Capitol, Snow controlled you more. What job you had, how much power he gave. He could also take it away.

Arya brushes her hair out of her face, laying down on the bed. "How about you?" She asks, wondering if he felt the same. Finnick shrugs his shoulders, just staring in front of himself at the wall.

"Maybe my family would still be alive." Finnick admits. Arya hadn't even thought about that. If she grew up in the Capitol, there was a bigger chance that none of her family would have died. Finnick sighs as he stands up. "Uh, I'm gonna let you try and rest." He says, giving her a smile before starting to walk toward the door.

"Wait." Arya says quickly, causing him to stop. Finnick looks back at her. "Can you stay with me?" She asks him, worried he'd say no or think it was weird. But finnick gave her a soft smile, nodding his head.

"Of course." Finnick responds, moving back over to her. She moves over on the bed, allowing him to sit down next to her. Arya rests herself back against the pillow,  gazing up at him.

He clears his throat a bit as he lays down next to her. Moving his arm behind his head, he lays there silently. Finnick didn't think this was where he'd end up. In a bed with the woman who seemingly despised him when they met. Especially since the same woman was someone who he'd had his eye on. He would never admit it, especially to Johanna, but Arya had caught his eye.

Finnick did find her attractive and he would be lying if he said there was no feelings on his part. But he knew it would never be reciprocated, hell he believed she didn't like him up until this point. So, he never made a move. And now it just felt like there would never be a right time after what happened. All he could do was be there for her.

And he would. Always.

➳❦

Not me on a roll with these updates.