➳❦

JOHANNA WAS JUST SAT ON THE HARD BED AS SHE LOOKED AT ARYA. Neither had spoken yet, more just enjoying the others company. But johanna could tell that she wanted to say something but was holding herself back. So she just narrowed her eyes, her arms crossing against her chest. "So, are you gonna tell me why you haven't said anything or am I supposed to read your mind?" Johanna asks Arya curiously. Arya lifts her gaze slightly.

It wasnt that she didnt want to tell Johanna, or that she wouldnt find out on her own. Arya just knew she would make such a big deal about it. "Promise you won't gloat?" She says with a slight groan. Johanna raises her eyebrows, already intrigued to find out what it was.

"I can make no promises." Johanna denies with a slight smirk OK her face which made Arya hesitate even more. "Come on, just tell me. It'll help distract me." She points out with a groan as she gestured to the multiple machines around her.

Arya sighs as she glances around the room for a moment. "Finnick told me he loved me and we may have kissed." She states and she could see that Johanna was smirking but there wasn't an ounce of surprise in her eyes. "Multiple times." Arya adds, a low blush spreading on her cheeks.

"Did I not call it? I so called it." Johanna says loudly as she claps her hands. Arya covers her face, wincing at the thought of anyone else overhearing them.

"You said you wouldn't gloat." She groans and Johanna just furrows her eyebrows.

"No, I didn't." Johanna responds. She said she might not, not that she wouldn't. "Geez, it took you two long enough. He's been in love with you forever." She points out. Maybe Johanna was just good at seeing those things, or maybe Finnick had been a lovesick fool forever.

"No he hasn't." Arya denies although she heard what Finnick had said about liking her since they had met.

"Oh, please. If he didn't have feelings for you, he wouldn't have taken it so easy on you in the arena." Johanna tells her.

"I took it easy on him." Arya points out. She could've killed finnick if she really wanted to. But really, she couldn't be bothered when she was in the arena.

"Mhm." Johanna hums, seemingly not believing her. Arya bites her bottom lip as she was quiet for a second.

"Was it really that obvious?" She asks curiously but by Katniss's reaction as well, Arya could tell that they all already knew about it.

"We all had a bet going how long it would take you both to just admit it." Johanna admits and Arya wanted to roll her eyes but it was honestly kind of cute how they were all rooting for them. "Technically Wesley won but we don't need to tell him that." She says with a laugh before it diminished, seeing the saddened expression on Aryas face at the mention of the man.

"Have you seen him?" Arya questions, not knowing who Coin was even allowing in the room.

"Seen him? Yeah. Talked to him? Thats a different story." Johanna says with a sigh. She tried talking to Wesley but he wasnt really talking to anyone right now. "It's not permanent.." She denies as she shakes her head.

"How do you know?" Arya asks. From what everyone else was saying, there wasn't any certain way to get him back right now. Same with Peeta. But then again, the regular trauma was also still creeping up inside of them.

"It can't be." Johanna denies. She wasn't going to lose hope, especially since she knew Arya would beat herself up over it forever. "Wesley is still in there." She assures the woman, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. Arya nods her head, trying to put a smile on her face.

Johanna was silent for a moment before she spoke up again. "Was it with tongue, or...." She trails off, wiggling her eyebrows and Aryas eyes almost bulged out of her head. She wasn't expecting that type or question.

"Johanna!" She scolds as she hits the woman on the arm gently. Johanna laughs as she holds her hands up in defense.

"What? It's an important detail." Johanna points out and Arya shakes her head, standing up from the bed.

"I'm leaving." She states, not needing to hear any more inappropriate questions that Johanna wanted to ask her.

"Right, going to smooch your lover some more?" Johanna teases her with a wink to which Arya could only groan, tilting her head back.

"Oh, my god. Shut up." Arya mutters as she quickly makes her way over to the door, desperate to escape the situation she was in.

"Him and his eight pack better know that I come first!" Johanna shouts after her and Arya can't help but laugh as she shuts the door behind her.

➳❦

ARYA WAS SAT ON THE BED WITH PEETA, Finnick nearer the door because neither of them knew Peeta's feelings toward him yet. She was quiet as she let her eyes linger over Peeta for a moment.
"They still have the restraints on you, huh?" She didn't think having him chained up like an animal was going to do much to getting him to trust them. Well, they weren't chains but it was the idea of it all.

"Yeah." Peeta just stared at his hands and Arya could only let out a sigh as she reaches toward the restraints.

"Well, you don't need them on when I'm in here." She denies. Really just wanting to put some restraints on Coin because she really needed to be taken down a lot. "You remember Finnick?" Arya asks as she looks over toward the man. Peeta doesn't look up though. "You get much sleep?" She questions, just wanting him to speak so that she could maybe get his mind off of everything.

"No." He denies as he shakes his head, his fingers rubbing at his wrists. "My mind won't shut off." Peeta admits. Arya nods her head slowly.

"I get that." Arya responds. "I barely slept since I got here." She explains to him. "The only time I've really gotten any rest is when I've been with Finnick."
She says as she looks back at Finnick who gives her a soft smile.

"Do you have nightmares?" Peeta asks her and Arya blinks a few times. It's not like she wouldn't talk to him about it, it's just the fact that Finnick was also present in the room.

"Mhm." Arya hums as she felt her body tense slightly. She could feel Finnicks eyes on her. She wanted to talk to him, about the nightmares, about why she could barely slept. He knew some of it but it was just easier to talk to someone who experienced the same thing.

"I just keep remembering those guards." Peeta admits and Arya frowns. Those two guards who would continously torment them like it was some game. It would've been different if it was a bunch of different ones, but the fact that Snow kept only those two watching them said a lot.

"Yeah, it's hard for me to forget them." Arya responds with a small nod. Peeta finally looks toward Finnick, as if actually now seeing that he was real.

"I told you he would be okay." Peeta says as he nudges Arya slightly. She smiled as she nods, biting her tongue.

"I guess you did." She replies with a breath. Finnick furrows his eyebrows.

"What?"

"When we were... uh, Peeta kept assuring me that you'd be okay. That I'd see you again." Arya tells him, stopping herself as she didnt want to bring up bad memories for Peeta.

"So, I was just constantly on your mind?" Finnick teases, trying to keep the air light. Arya rolls her eyes but she couldn't help but laugh a little bit.

"I forgot how big your ego is." She retorts as she narrows her eyes. Finnick just smiles as he leans against the edge of the bed. Arya looks back toward Peeta but he was just running his finger slowly through her hair.

"Your hair got long." He points out, as if trying to focus on that one thing, to get his mind off of everything else.

"Yeah. I didn't feel like cutting it." Arya admits. She knew Ceila would be more than happy to help her out but cutting it didn't seem right in this moment. "Are you okay?" She asks, seeing the distant look in Peetas eyes.

"I don't wanna be here." His voice cracks as he shakes his head. She sighs as she knew going from a foreign environment in the Capitol to yet another, it was hard. Especially when it was nothing but strangers surrounding you.

"I know." She says as she tilts her head, bringing her hand to his. "Just between us, we don't either." Arya whispers with a small smile. Peeta looks up at her, although his face remained the same. Hurt and afraid.

"Can we leave?" Peeta asks her, not wanting to stay in this room any longer, not wanting to be interrogated any more.

"I'll get you out of here soon. I promise." Arya assures him as she squeezes his hand. Peeta nods, believing her entirely as he rested his head on her shoulder. Finnick was glad they had each other, that Arya still had Peeta and that they helped each other in the Capitol. He hated knowing that either of them went through so more torture under the guards, probably even under snow.

And he just hoped that they could finally get the justice that so many victims deserved.

➳❦

ARYA WAS LEANING AGAINST THE WALL IN HER ROOM, her eyes on Finnick who was just tying a rope in his hands. Neither had spoke, just enjoying each other's company. But Arya wanted to speak to him, to explain why her feelings were so complicated for her to figure out. She didnt want him to think she was leading him on in any way or that she didn't care for him because she did. She cared about him a lot, more than she wanted to admit.

"Finnick?" She asks softly, catching his attention and causing him to glance over at her.

"Hm?" He hums as his gaze was gentle. Arya moves over toward him, sitting beside him.

"I don't mean to be so... I know you're only trying to look out for me." Arya tells him as she felt awful that she hurt his feelings before. But finnick shakes his head.

"People heal in different ways and we don't all share the same process with our emotions." Finnick responds as he puts the rope down, placing his hand on her knee.

"I've lost people since i was little so I guess I just became so numb to it." Arya states and he nods, frowning a bit.

"You're not gonna lose me." Finnick knew that was one thing she was worried about. But he wasn't going anywhere.

"It's not just that." She denies as she shakes her head. Yes, she was terrified to lose Finnick as well, but she was more afraid to open up to him. "A lot of people think I haven't been open to love because of what I went through, because I was so closed off to everybody. But that's not true." Arya admits and she could tell Finnick was curious. "There was someone." She tells him.

"You don't have to tell me if you're not ready." Finnick assures her. He didnt mind being here for her but if it was going to just bring you painful memories, he was okay for her to keep it to herself.

"No." Arya shakes her head. "I-i need to share this. For you to understand." She admits and Finnick was silent for a second before he nods.

"Okay."

"When I got selected for my games, I was so ready to make one of two choices. Just let the games take me, or to fight like hell and survive just so I could see the downfall of Snow." Arya starts as she leans back against the wall. "I chose option two obviously." She mumbles underneath her breath. "I went into my games with one mentality. To eliminate everyone, no matter what because nothing can stand in my way. Of course you know I didn't kill everybody." She states and Finnick nods.

"The kids and that one tribute a career killer." Finnick remembered who she killed. Or more specifically who she didn't because the list was short. "And uh, one of them stepped off the pedestal?" That was the biggest shock to most of them, the one dying before the games even started.

"Yeah." She says with a slow nod. Arya remembered the girl stepped of the pedestal because she was so afraid to fight. "She was terrified." Arya admits as she fiddles with her fingers. "I didn't really have any reluctance killing the others because I never bothered to even have a long conversation with them." She explains to finnick who understood because there really wasn't any point in getting close to anyone if you're just gonna kill each other. "Except one. Nova."

"She was one of the careers, wasn't she?" Finnick did remember some of the tributes from Aryas games, but everyone mainly focuses on the winner.

"At first, I hated her guts. Because she had the special privileges, the training, and that stupid smile." Arya mutters the ending with a small scoff. "In some ways, you reminded me of her when we met. Both of you were as cocky as they came and you both had such a mesmerizing smile." She says as she looks toward Finnick who raises an eyebrow.

"Is that an insult or a compliment?"

"A little bit of both." Arya responds with a small smile before a sigh leaves her lips. "I never meant to get to know her, get to know who she really was." She admits as she bites her bottom lip. Her whole strategy was to keep everyone away from her, to not let emotions get in the way. "But I did, and I fell for her." She states as she still felt Finnicks eyes on her but he didn't say anything.

"She was one of the kindest people I have ever met. And the way she spoke to you, the way her eyes glistened when she looked at you, it had me falling every single day we were in the Capitol." Arya smiles just thinking about Nova and how excited she was to see her every day they went for training. "And I think Snow could see that. He didn't want the two people who were supposed to be mortal enemies, befriending one another." He tells her, feeling her smile drop slightly. "He poisoned her before the games. She never even had a real chance." She felt like it was her fault that Nova died. If she wouldve just kept her head down, maybe Nova would've had an actual chance.

"I didn't know that." Finnick denies with a small frown. The fact Snow went that out of his way to make sure they had no one in that arena, showed even more how cruel of a person he was.

"No one did." Arya states. Snow had been very delibrate about it, most people believed Nova had just turned on the alliance. "She was fine at first and we actually had an alliance, although we kept it under wraps for most of the games." She admits as she shakes her head. "But I could tell something was wrong. We made a plan to kill everyone until it was just the two of us but when that cannon went off, she spaced. She barely even attacked anybody." She explains to the man. Finnick narrows his eyes.

"That's why you killed everyone." Finnick tried to think back to the 69th games. He did watch them all, he just had trouble remembering what exactly happened. "Wait, I do remember it. Vaguely. Anytime a tribute went near Nova, you would kill them." He states and she nods her head slowly.

"When I took her into the woods, she was paranoid, hallucinating." Arya tells him as she leans forward. "She thought I was going to hurt her." She remembered how Nova would stare at her, like she was an enemy. It pained her to know that Nova was losing her mind. "I tried to keep her with me, to make sure she got to the end. But the poison got so deep into her system that her personality completed changed. She didnt know anything that was going on. And she attacked me." She explains as she relives the painful memory of her games. Arya didn't like to think back to that time, this being one of the main reasons.

"I didn't want to, i-i could barely even--" Arya cuts herself off and she could feel the comforting touch of Finnicks hand on her knee. "I killed her." Her voice was numb as she just stared off into the distance. "Because in the end it was her or me." It always was. No one had ever gotten lucky until Peeta and Katniss came along. And even then, look how that turned out. "And even if I had let her kill me, she would've died anyways and then Snow wins in that ending." Arya says as she moves her eyes back to finnick.

He could see the pure pain in her eyes. Arya had given her all to Nova, only to lose her as well. It made perfect sense why Arya was so skeptical to let someone into her heart. "I loved her so much." She admits, her voice cracking as she takes a shaky breath. "The first person I truly let in after my brother's deaths. And i lost her the same way. Because of Snow." She finishes as she fiddles with her fingers.

Finnick didn't really know what to say. What do you say to all of that? Knowing what she had been through, there was no comforting her, there was no changing it. "I'm so sorry." He apologizes, taking a moment to recollect his thoughts. "Knowing that now and looking back, I understand why you acted the way you did after your games." Finnick didn't truly know why she acted the way she did. But now it all made sense to him.

"I do like you, Finnick."  Arya tells him as she takes his hand in hers, squeezing it. "I just..." She trails off, her eyes dropping to the ground. Finnick understood and he didn't blame her, he wasnt mad at her.

"You can't love me yet." Finnick responds making Aryas eyes fill with pain. She wanted to be able to, she wanted to return everything that he had given her. But she couldn't, not right now

"No." She responds, becoming silent. But finnick only brings his hand to her chin, lifting her eyes back to his. Finnicks gaze was soft and caring and she knew he wasn't going to hold it against her.

"That's okay." Finnick responds, stroking her cheek. "We have time." He tells her. He didnt expect her to just reciprocate his feelings immediately. Finnick wasn't trying to force them on her.

"We're in a war." She points out. They didn't really know how much time they really had.

"That doesn't matter to me." Finnick denies. "Besides, I'm very charming, I'll have you in love with me soon enough." He tells her in a teasing tone, sending her a wink. She just shoves him back playfully as he laughs.

"What did I tell you? Cocky asshole." Arya responds with a shake of her head. Finnick smiles back at her and she returns it before he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. She melts into it, resting her hands on his chest as the kiss deepens.

➳❦

ARYA WAS WANDERING THE HALLS, really just wanting to get out and get fresh air but that wasn't possible. Coin had guards on the only exits out of the place and she hated it. It seemed more like a prison than a sanctuary. And honestly, she hated Coin and that was only going to get worse. Arya wanted to leave and if Coin kept trying to stop her, she would definitely get what was coming to her.

She notices Violet sat on one of the ledges, swinging her legs back and forth as she just stared down at her hands. Arya sighs as she walks over to the younger girl. "Violet." She calls out, catching her attention. Violet looks toward her, forcing a smile onto her face but all it showed was her pain.

"Hi, Arya." Violet responds before her eyes drop again.

"Are you doing okay?" Arya asks, not knowing if the girl went to see Wesley again. What kind of man gets joy in making someone forget their own family?

"Me? I should be asking you that." She admits, knowing what Arya has been through. Violet just had a bit of grief, nothing compared to Arya.

"I know things are hard... with your brother and all." Arya points out.

"It's like he's just a shell." Violet states. When she had gone in there, he hadn't even looked at her, hadn't reacted at her voice. He had just stared absent-mindedly at the wall the whole time.

"He just needs to heal." Arya hoped that was what it was. Otherwise, she would need to have a very different conversation with Violet.

"Why did Snow do it? Why did he hurt my brother like this?"

"I don't know." Arya admits, although it was most likely a punishment for trying to escape, and for helping her escape.  "He's just a vile person." She states. She was honestly just glad they didn't take Violet and harm her.

"I don't know anyone here and i-im scared." Violet admits, her voice shaking as she looks at Arya.

"I'm here." She assures Violet, taking the girls hand. "I know we don't know each other that well but you can always lean on me." Arya states. She wasn't going to leave Violet alone. "Finnick Odair and Katniss as well." She knew if she asked, they would both keep an eye on Violet for her.

"My problems seem small in light of theirs." Violet mumbles, not wanting to bother anybody else.

"They understand what you're going through." Arya tells her. She would never be a burden, especially since there were few people in the bunker they actually trusted.

"Are you and finnick together?" Violet asks and she could see the blush form on Arya's cheeks. "You are, aren't you?" She teases the woman who just nudges her. Truthfully, they hadnt officially stated anything so Arya didn't want to say anything just yet.

"Why don't you go get something to eat?"
Arya suggests as she gestures down the hall. Violet only smirks as she stands up.

"You know that's the gossip around here." She admits which causes Aryas eyes to narrow.

"Hm, and who started it?" She asks, wondering who had told Violet in the first place. Violets eyes go wide as she takes a step back.

"No one..." Violet trails off, biting her bottom lip. Arya closes her eyes momentarily, already having a suspect in mind.

"Who did Johanna tell?" Arya asks her, more demanding an answer but Violet let's out a nervous laugh.

"I'm actually starving, you're right, so I'm gonna--" Violet points behind her, not even finishing her sentence before rushing off.

"Who did Johanna tell?" She calls out after the girl but Violet had disappeared. Arya groans as she tilts her head back. Great, now she had to find out who Johanna gossiped to. Especially since there wasn't many people she could even talk to in thirteen.

➳❦

THE LIGHT SHINED DOWN ON HER SKIN AS ARYA OPENED HER EYES. A sigh leaves her lips as she moved onto her side, reaching out her hand. But to her dismay, she found an empty sheet beside her. She furrows her eyebrows, looking around the room but she didn't see Finnick anywhere. But as her eyes go to the end of the bed, she sees a figure sitting there. "Hi sunshine." She says as she smiles back at Arya.

Arya blinks a few times before she closes her eyes momentarily. "I'm dreaming." Arya admits, bringing her hands up to rub her face. The familiar laughter meets her ears as the bed creaks.

"I'm as real as you want me to be, my love." Nova says and as she feels a hand on her cheek, Arya opens her eyes. Nova was now in front of her, hovering over her.

"I can even feel you. That's a bad sign, isn't it?" Arya didnt know if feeling someone within a dream was normal. If it meant something more. But she felt like it would be bad if anything.

"You're trying to cope." Nova tells her, tilting her head.

"Can you see me? When you're not here?" Arya always wondered what you saw when you died. If you could watch over the ones you loved, or if it was just a big, black, empty nothing.

"I'm always watching over you." Nova says with a sweet smile. Arya smiles back, her eyes running over the woman.

"I think you would've liked him." She admits, referencing Finnick. If Nova truly watched over her, she would know finnick, she would see how he was with her.

"Mm, I think our personalities would've clashed." Nova teases with a small laugh.

"Maybe." Arya says, sighing gently. "But you'd still be here." She points out. Nova frowns, shaking her head.

"And maybe you wouldn't be." She responds. "We could go through all of these different scenarios and go back and forth but this is reality. You're here. And I wouldn't have it any other way." Novw explains to her. Arya felt tears prickle her eyes.

"I want to let him in. But I can't let go of you."

"I know you miss me, but missing me can be happy. You can think of the memories we created together and be glad we had those moments." Nova tells her as she brushes Aryas hair behind her ear.

"I love you." Arya admits and Nova smiles softly at her.

"I love you infinitely more." She responds. Arya narrows her eyes gently.

"Even in my mind you have to outdo me."

"To be fair, I'm what you perceive me to be." Nova points out with a small laugh. Arya missed her. She'll probably miss her forever. But there was something could somewhat fill that hole.

"I'll kill him." Arya assures her, her eyes darkening slightly. "I swear to you, I'll avenge you." She states as she stares at Nova who nods her head.

"I don't doubt you for a minute." Nova responds with a soft smile on her face, seeing Arya's eyes begin to flutter closed. "Rest, my love. You need it." She says, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead before disappearing into the void.

➳❦

Nova deserved better. Again, who's with me, IT SHOULDVE BEEN GALE.