➳❦

FINNICK WAS SAT ON THE EDGE OF THE BED, a rope in his hands as he tied a knot on it.  He was quiet as Arya was beside him still asleep. Well, he didn't know if she was really asleep, but she was facing away from him. Finnick hoped him being there was giving her comfort but she wasn't really saying whether she's been sleeping or not. He has been getting a good night most days, except for a few where he's woken up quite abruptly.

That would end up waking Arya or at least alerting her because his body would jolt. She would get concerned but of course, he didn't want to worry her about himself. Not when she already had so much on her plate. So, Finnick kept it all to himself. He thought tying knots in a rope reminded him a lot of home and also just kept his mind clear.

"What are you doing?" He hears from beside him. Arya placed her chin on his shoulder as she gazed down at his hands. Finnick glances toward her and he met her eyes.

"Tying a knot." Finnick answers her, bringing his eyes back to it. Arya furrows her eyebrows as she moves to sit beside him.

"Why?" She asks him, placing her hands in her lap. Finnick shrugs his shoulders as he finished tightening it.

"Keeps me busy." He admits before putting the make shift noose around his neck. He meets her eyes again, holding the end of the rope toward her. "Wanna take me for a walk?" Finnick teases, sending her a wink.  Arya blushes brightly as she tried to laugh to hide her clear embarrassment.

"You trust me with a rope around your neck?" Arya jokes, raising an eyebrow at her. Finnick makes a hissing sound as he shakes his head, clearly in a playful manner.

"Ooh, you're right. We're not quite there yet. It's a bit too kinky for us." Finnick states, taking the rope off of his neck and she could see the devious glint in his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up." She says as she pushes him slightly. Finnick only chuckles a bit, a light smirk on his face as he just goes back to tightening the knot. Arya watches him, her eyes running over the man.

"Finnick?" Arya asks gently. Finnick looks back at her curiously. Their eyes lock and she stays quiet. She had completely forgotten what she was gonna say. She could see Finnick's lips pull up a little bit, an eyebrow raising.

But before either of them could do anything, the door opened causing them to look at it. Matthew stood there, his eyes flickering between them before landing on Finnick. "Hey, uh, can I speak with you?" He asks. Finnick seemed a bit annoyed but mainly because he was still angry at the man.

"Yeah, fine." He mutters, squeezing Aryas knee before standing up. Finnick leaves the rope on the bed as he heads toward the door, closing it behind him. "Come to snap at me again?" Finnick asks, glaring at the man in front of him. Matthew sighs as he glances around for a second.

"Look, I shouldn't have said what I did to you." Matthew regretted what he said. Not all of it because he did believe it would be good for Arya to do things on her own. But he was way over the line. "I'm just frustrated." He admits. Finnick bites his tongue a bit.

"And I understand that. You don't have to take it out on me though." Finnick points out. He understood Matthew's anger. Although he didn't have to attack everyone who was just trying to help.

"How is she?" Matthew asks him curiously. Finnick sighs, crossing his arms against his chest.

"She's more talkative." Arya was speaking to him more and more. Not about the Capitol, but he didn't care about that. He just didn't want her to curl into herself anymore.

"That's good." He responds, looking away for a moment before taking something out of his pocket. "Look, uh, I'm not sure if she'd want it but..." Matthew stops for a moment, just staring at what was in his hand before holding it out to Finnick. "I took it from home. Just something to remember her family by." Matthew explains to him.

Finnick takes the photo from him, looking at it. His eyes flickered over the photo. He saw a younger Arya, maybe a few years younger than she was when they had first met. Matthew was beside her and then there were two younger boys in front of them. Finnick did recognize the younger boy and little bit from the 67th hunger games. Although back then, he didn't know there was any relation.

"These were her brothers." Finnick says, running his finger along the picture. Matthew nods his head, clenching his jaw as he tried not to get emotional.

"Yeah." Matthew responds. "Jacob and uh, that one is Ash." His voice cracks a bit as he points to them. Finnick had a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"They looked so happy." The way Arya had a beaming smile on her face as her arms were wrapped around her brothers, it was definitely a better time even though they were still under Snows control.

"They were." Matthew states, his eyes looking down at the ground.

"I'm sorry." Finnick says as he looks at the man. He could see the clear pain in Matthew's eyes, not just because of the deaths of the two young boys, but because of the loss of Arya. "I can't even imagine how it must be like for you. All these memories and none of them matter." He didn't mean to be rude by the way he said it, it just was the truth. No matter how many memories Matthew had, they didn't matter because Arya didn't remember them.

"What can you do?" Matthew responds with a small sigh, his eyes going to Finnick. "Still don't like you, by the way." He states. Finnick can't help but laugh as he rolls his eyes a little bit.

"Feelings mutual." Finnick says before Matthew leaves him standing outside the room alone. He takes another glance at the photo. Arya really did look happy back then. And look how much Snow had taken from her. From all of them.

He makes his way back into the room, seeing Arya with the rope in her hand, trying to tie her own knot. He smiles gently as he closes the door behind him, heading over to her. "Someone brought you something." Finnick tells her as he sits back down. Arya looks a bit confused, looking at him and stopping what she is doing.

"What is it?" Arya asks curiously. He hands over to photo to her and she takes it from him. When Arya looks down at her, she felt her heart stop. Her breath hitched in her throat as she could only stare down at it. Looking at her family, the one that she had lost.

Finnick saw the tears brewing in her eyes as her fingers tightened around the photo. "You miss them, huh?" He asks her, placing his hand on her knee in comfort.

"Everyday." Arya's voice was small and quiet as the tear dripped down her cheek. Her finger runs over her brothers before her eyes stop on the man next to her. She recognized him from earlier, the one who had come to her when she had first arrived in thirteen. "I don't remember him." She denies, glancing toward Finnick.

"He took care of you for a long time." Finnick says, not really knowing much else to say. He didn't truly know the relationship between them. "Hes a good friend to you, Arya." He states, knowing one thing for sure, Matthew really cared for her. Arya nods her head slowly.

"I wish I could know that myself." She mumbles as she stares down at the picture. Arya wished she could remember the man standing next to her in the photo, but no matter how much she tried, there wasn't even a glimmer of her past and there wasn't even a glimmer of him in her mind.

➳❦

ARYA DECIDED TO WALK AROUND DISTRICT THIRTEEN WITH FINNICK BY HER SIDE. She knew she couldn't stay in her room forever, especially if she ever wanted to leave. She needed to know her surroundings, how many people they had, how to get out of the bunker. Right now, she had to rely on Finnick for all of that information. She knew she needed it for herself.

Finnick was practically acting like her bodyguard. Glaring at anyone who even looked at Arya funny, especially the guards who had dragged her. Arya found it quite amusing but also appreciated that he hadn't left her side. She felt his hand brush on her lower back a few times but she didn't mind. Honestly, she was kind of hoping he would leave his hand there.

She had grown quite fond of finnick. Even in the arena when she tried to hate him, be annoyed by him. There was still an inkling of affection for the man. Definitely not when they first met, but it had grown slowly over time. And now she couldn't deny it. Not that she would admit it to him. She wouldn't grow his ego anymore. Especially since he would probably flirt with her even more and she felt like her blushing would give it all away.

Finnick was the opposite. He always had a soft spot for Arya. It's why he never went for her in the arena, it's why he kept his distance outside of it. Finnick felt something for her, but he knew it would never be reciprocated. Especially since he believed she had hated him for the first few years they knew each other. If it was different now, that didn't necessarily matter.  He just cared that she was okay, even if she eventually became well enough to move on with her life. She wouldn't always need him.

Arya noticed Katniss and Gale heading down the hall and it seemed they were dressed to go beyond the walls. This made Arya curious because she wondered what they were up to. If they were going far, if they were going to Snow. "Where are you guys going?" She calls out after them. Gale seemed to be reluctant to stop but Katniss instantly turned toward her and Finnick.

"To twelve." Katniss responds. Arya had heard what happened to twelve. It was heartbreaking, knowing Snow had the power to just destroy peoples homes like that. Without even a second glance or a care in the world.

Arya fiddles with her fingers, her eyes dropping to the ground momentarily.
"

Can I come?" She asks cautiously. Finnick and Katniss shared a glance with each other. It's not like they didn't want her to go, they were just worried. Especially because she hadn't even left her room very much. But maybe this was an opportunity to help her open her mind.

She sensed their hesitation. "I can't stay here." Arya denies. Being so contained, not really being able to leave the bunker. It just seemed so claustrophobic, the same gray walls surrounding her as they did inside the Capitol. "I-i need to be outside." She states. Gale looks toward Katniss, not really wanting to bring Arya along.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Gale denies as he shakes his head, although Katniss had a different thought than him.

"No, she can come if she wants to." Katniss states, looking over at Gale who just stares at her. He grabs her arm, bringing her a bit away from the others for a moment.

"Katniss, she's unstable." His voice wasn't as hushed as he had tried to make it. Although, he probably wouldn't have even cared if Finnick or Arya had overheard him.

"She's scared." Katniss retorts. Arya wanted to go probably because she didn't want to stay where she was unfamiliar. Even though she wasn't from twelve, she would still be outside and away from the people speaking about her behind her back.

"She had a freak out just going into the cafeteria." Gale points out. Katniss just scoffs as she rolls her eyes a little bit.

"Well, there won't be many people out there now will there?" She tells him. Gale didn't seem amused by her comment as he crosses his arms against his chest.

"She should be cuffed then." He suggests, mainly for everyone's safety or more so for himself.

"Absolutely not." Katniss denies as she shakes her head.

"Kat--" Gale doesn't get to say anything else as Katniss had made herself back over to Finnick and Arya.

"Come on, Finnick can come too." She says as she grabs a hold of Aryas hand and brings her toward the exit where the others were waiting for them.

➳❦

ARYA FLINCHED AS THE AIRCRAFT JOLTED ONCE MORE. She felt like she was stuck in a death trap with no escape. The noise didn't help either even with her trying to block it out. Finnick was trying to comfort her, holding her against him or rubbing his hand along her back or thigh. But nothing was helping in the slightest and Finnick started to worry. Especially when she closed her eyes and put her hands over her ears.

"You okay?" Finnick asks in a soft tone as he head leant down to her ear, slightly moving her hand. The others were glancing over at them, no one really judging, well except maybe Gale. They were more concerned for her.

"Mhm." Arya hums as she rocks back and forth a bit. Finnick brought his hand back to her knee, squeezing it as he kept his lips near her ear so she could actually hear him. There was no doubt that she was trying to block everything out.

"I'm right here." Finnick assures her. Arya finally lifted her head after a moment, nodding at him and moving to rest against him. Finnick immediately wraps his arm around her, holding her tightly.

"Just keep your distance. Don't touch her unless she allows you to. Unless you want a broken arm." Cressida warns her associates. She didn't need them getting hurt because they want to provoke the woman who is scared out of her mind.

"We know that." Castor responds. None of them were stupid. They had been there when she was brought into Thirteen. Snow did a number on her and it was safe to say that she wasn't going to trust them easily.

"Just saying." Cressida responds with a shrug of her shoulders before her eyes go back to the woman. "Arya." She says, catching the womans attention. Arya looks over at her from where her head was resting on Finnicks shoulder. "I'm really glad you made it out okay. I'm not sure if you remember but we met a few times in the Capitol." Cressida wasn't sure what Snow messed up in her mind and what he let her keep. So it was just a safe assumption that she didn't know.

But Arya nods her head slightly. "Cressida?" She asks curiously and Cressida put a light smile onto her face.

"Yeah."

"I remember." She admits as she nods her head. Cressida and her never talked too much but when they did, she was always nice to Arya. Most people who were deemed outsiders in the Capitol usually were. But none of them talked to her more than Tigris did.

"We're here." Gale tells them as the hovercraft lowers down toward the ground. Arya stands up, Finnick grabbing a hold of her arm in order to steadily get off with her. They bend down as the hovercraft flies away and the wind gust hits them.

As Arya stands back up, she notices the glance that Gale gave her before moving over to katniss. Arya narrows her eyes as she places a hand on her hip. "He doesn't like me, does he?" She asks curiously. Finnick looks at her before looking over at Gale.

"He... is cautious of you." That was a word for it. He seriously wanted to punch Gale for what the man said about a clearly traumatized woman who was just trying to cope.

As Arya looks away from Finnick, she finally sees the destruction that was in front of her. Most of the building's were reduced to rubble, the smoke that drifted in the air filled their nostrils. Katniss had explained to her about what happened but I guess seeing is believing. Arya couldn't even imagine this happening to district five. Even though her people didn't like her, she wouldn't wish this upon anyone.

"Oh, my god." She mutters out, barely even knowing what to say. What do you even say in this kind of situation? Seeing the clear vile act that was sent by someone who remains in the safety of his palace.

"Snow seriously deserves what's coming to him." Finnick mutters, anger in his tone as he shakes his head. Arya glances toward him, taking his hand in hers. Finnick let's out a small sigh, pulling her close to him before moving to walk over to the others.

"So, I want to start with you in front of the justice building, okay?" Cressida tells Katniss as she gestures to the building. Katniss starts to walk over to it but even being here before, it still never settled with her. Seeing her home reduced to Ash. "Katniss, tell us what happened here." She says, pointing toward the camera. Katniss just turns to them, staring blankly ahead.

"We were all standing right here." Gale starts to say as he noticed that Katniss wasn't going to say anything. Everyone turned their attention to him. "Watching the games when you fired that arrow. The screens just went dark. Nobody had any idea what happened." He tells them. Arya hadn't even thought about what it would have been like for the people watching. "Peacekeepers forced us back into our homes. For maybe an hour the town was just dead quiet. Little past nine we heard the trucks pulling out. All of them, every single peacekeeper. And I knew what it meant." He turns his head in the direction of the road before beginning to walk.

Everyone follows after them, Finnick staying behind Arya because it just felt natural. "Me and a couple guys from the mines, we started pulling people from their houses and tried to get them to the fence line but a lot of people were scared of the forest. So they headed up onto the road. Make a break for it that way." He says as he gestures to the road they were walking toward.

Arya felt herself become nervous as she followed along. She could already see a few bones scattered around. "Nine hundred and fifteen of us made it to the fence. Then we watched as bombers circled back towards the road. They firebombed them as they ran away." Arya felt her whole body go numb as she stood at the start of the road. Her eyes could barely believe the scene that she saw in front of her.

Thousands of bones scattered the road. Some still scorching which made it even worse. She stumbled back a little bit, hitting Finnicks chest, the man also a bit shocked by what he was seeing. No one really expected this, although they should've. Snow was a cruel man and this was only a small length he was willing to go to regain control.

"Nine hundred and fifteen out of ten thousand." Gales voice cracked as he bent down, shaking his head. Arya looked toward him and then at Katniss. Most of these people they grew up with. And now they were nothing but part of Snows long list of victims. "I should've grabbed people, I should've dragged them with me. Some of the kids I could have carried." It was clear he blamed himself but this was an impossible situation.

"You saved so many people, Gale. Without you, there would be no district twelve. Not even the memory of it." Cressida tells him as she places a hand on his shoulder. Arya glances at Katniss who was just staring into the distance.

She walks over to the woman, grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. "I'm so sorry." Arya apologizes. Even though there was no real thing that could be said, that could be done. The only thing that would even slightly make up for it would be to get Snow off of his throne. And most of them had already been coming up with a plan.

Katniss nods her head as she squeezes the girls hand back, her eyes going back to the many people from her district who unfortunately became bodies to add to Snows bloodshed.

➳❦

SITTING ON THE GRAVEL OF THE CLIFF THAT LEAD TO THE WATER, Arya peeked her head over, looking down at the rocky surface. "How far do you say that is?" She asks as she turns her head back to Finnick who was sat beside her. He moves forward a little bit to get a better look before she sees a mischievous look in his eyes.

"You wanna see?" Finnick jokingly put his hands on her sides and Arya just gasps as she pushes away from him, instantly pointing a finger in his direction.

"Don't even joke about that." Arya warns him, narrowing her eyes a bit. Finnick just sits back on his hands, raising his eyebrows a little.

"Can't swim?"

"You know I can, you idiot." She retorts as she hits his arm. He literally saw her swim off in the arena. Finnick just smirks back at her.

"Not very well." He teases. Arya rolls her eyes playfully, glancing back toward the quarry. She loved seeing the water, the calm sounds it made.

"There was a lake by my house, I would always take Jacob and Ash there when they were feeling down." Arya admits. Although they had to go through the fence, it was worth it when she saw the smiles on her brothers faces.

"I'm sure they had a lot of good memories of you." Finnick states with a gentle smile, looking at the woman who's eyes turn sad.

"Yeah."

"You know, they'd be proud of you." Finnick assures her. Although they weren't here with her physically, he knew they were here with them in spirit.  He believed that they would support everything that she has had to go through in order to survive.

"I wouldn't." She mumbles as she fiddles with her fingers. Arya didn't think anything she's done since they've died they would be proud of. If anything, they would hate the person she's become. But it was all because of Snow. He changed her.

"I know you feel guilty for escaping, but you shouldn't." Finnick denies as he grabs a hold of her hand. But Arya just moves hers away, shaking her head as she felt a wash of pain move over her.

"You have no idea how I should feel, Finnick." Arya states. He didn't understand what her escaping really meant. Meant for the others still stuck in the Capitol. What would happen to Ceila if they find out she was the one who helped them. Not that Finnick knew of Ceila's involvement.

"Yeah, that's a mockingjay." Arya hears Katniss say. She glances over, seeing her and pollux looking at the birds flying above them. Pollux whistles a tune causing them to copy it.

"Well, now they'll never shut up." Gale mutters as he shakes his head. Arya rolls her eyes a bit. She didn't have any actual problem with Gale, but Finnick has told her what he's been saying so she wasn't the biggest fan.

"Just like you." She mumbles underneath her breath. Finnick chuckles beside her, nudging her side a little bit.

"You want me to sing?" Katniss asks the man who nods his head. She looks back up at the mockingjays for a second.

"Are you, are you.. coming to the tree." Arya glances over at Katniss curiously. "Where they strung up a man, they say who murdered three. Strange things did happen here no stranger would it be. If we met at midnight in the hanging tree." She thought Katniss had a nice voice. The lyrics were a bit.. mood dampening but Arya knew this was one of Lucy Gray's songs as well. "Are you, are you coming to the tree. Where a dead man called out, for his love to flee. Strange things did happen no stranger would it be. If we met at midnight in the hanging tree." Arya wraps her arms around her knees as she brings them to her chest.

"Well.... that's depressing." She states in a joking manner as she looks over at Katniss. The brunette laughs as she rolls her eyes a little bit.

"If I knew Katniss could sing nursery rhymes, I would've had her stay with you." Finnick teases Arya as he looks over at her. Arya scoffs, shaking her head as she meets his gaze.

"Oh, please. You love me." Arya responds with a smile, resting her head on his shoulder. Finnick chuckles but his eyes rest on the ground in front of him. The way his heart fluttered at her words, even the way he felt relaxed when he felt her touch, he knew he felt something deep for her. But it wasn't something that he could allow to happen.

Because she was his friend, and that was all it would ever be in her eyes.

➳❦

Authors note;
Ugh they should have left that scene with katniss and finnick in catching fire.