➳❦

FINNICK MADE HIS WAS INTO THE ROOM THAT CONNECTED TO WHERE THEY WERE KEEPING WESLEY. His eyes lit up as he looked through the glass, seeing Wesley smiling at something his sister had said. Finnick let's out a sigh as he made his way to stand next to Arya. She glances at him momentarily before resting her head on his shoulder. "He's talking." Finnick says. Honestly he thought he didn't hear it right when Haymitch had told him what had happened.

"Yeah, he is." Arya answers as she nods her head, her eyes resting on the window in front of her.

"What did you say to him?" Finnick asks her curiously, wondering what was said that had gotten through to him. But Arya hadn't said anything special, she had just said what she was feeling in that moment.

"The truth." She tells him, feeling her emotions rile up inside. "He's not gone, Finnick." Her voice cracks as a tear slips from her eyes. Finnick sees this, instantly wrapping his arm around her and bringing her against him.

"Hey, come here." He mutters as he rubs her back, feeling her cling onto him.

"I couldn't lose him too." Arya denies. She didn't know what would've happened if Wesley hadn't come back to her. She probably would've blamed herself forever. She still did. Arya believed that if she hadn't escaped that night, no matter what would've happened to her, Wesley wouldn't have gone through what he did.

"You didn't."

"God, I thought Snow broke him." She admits, sniffling as she pulls away from him slightly. "Well, he is broken but at least he's not emotionless, right?" Arya points out and finnick nods his head.

"Has he talked to you?" Finnick questions and although Arya would like that, it hadn't happened yet.

"Not yet. But when I brought Violet in, he finally spoke for the first time in weeks." Arya tells him. Violet was ecstatic to hear about her brothers development, especially since he hadn't so much as looked at anyone in a long time.

"She seems happy." Finnick points out as he watches the siblings interact with each other.

"I'm just glad she didn't lose him." Arya says. She knew Violet was dreading these past few weeks. She hadnt even so much as looked at Wesley until Arya herself said that he was still in there. Finnick saw the pain in her eyes so he only held her closer, bringing his lips to her ear.

"They would be so proud of you." He whispers into it before pressing a kiss to the side of her head. The door opens beside them causing them to pull apart slightly.

"Hey, I heard about Wesley. He's okay?" Katniss asks as she enters the room. She realized she was interrupting a moment as she saw Finnicks hand leave area but decides to ignore it since she couldn't exactly walk it back.

"He's okay." Arya answers with a nod making Katniss smile.

"I told you he'd be fine." Katniss responds. Arya tilts her head a bit.

"And Peeta is gonna come back to us too." She knew Peeta talked to her and laughed with her but he still wasn't even fully back for her. There were parts of him that were missing, parts of him that were broken and that needed to be put back together.

"Well, you already have him back."

"But I won't stop until you have him back as well." Arya denies but Katniss just frowns as she looks down at the ground.

"I don't know if that's possible for me." Katniss admits. Peeta hadn't even budged in his mind about her and Katniss feared that it was permanent. Arya takes her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"I'll make it possible." She assures the woman. Katniss was grateful, but even then, she didn't know how far Arya would get.

"What about you?" Katniss asks, deciding to change the subject. "Any recollection of your lost memories?" She questions, referring to the ones she lost of Matthew. Arya sighs as she shakes her head. She had been trying her best but nothing had come up yet.

"No." She denies, frowning lightly. "I feel bad, I mean, he has been nothing but nice to me but I just... I just can't remember him." Arya explains to them. Finnick rests his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sure you will." Finnick tells her with a soft smile on his lips.

"And even if you don't, you'll never lose him. He cares too much about you to toss you out." Katniss teases her and Arya only rolls her eyes playfully before she just laughs and rests her head back on Finnicks shoulder, feeling him wrap his arm around her, pulling her closer.

➳❦

ARYA WAS LAYING ON THE BENCH, her eyes staring up at the ceiling. The room she was in was barely used so she knew there wouldnt be people coming in and out. She just needed to think to herself. Arya was glad that Wesley was at least talking, she was glad everyone was safe. But she knew that wasn't going to last long. They still needed to defeat Snow and with how her past went, she knew they'd lose someone, or multiple people. And she didn't want to lose anyone. Not when they were this close. Not when everyone deserved to survive this.

"Thought I'd find you in here." She hears a voice and when she looked toward the door, she saw Xander. Arya sighs as she sits up a bit, placing her hands behind her.

"It's peaceful. Quiet." Arya admits as she runs a hand through her hair.

"Away from Gale?" Xander asks in a teasing tone as he made his way over toward her and she smiles lightly.

"That too." She says with a nod. Arya tilts her head back, a long groan leaving her lips. "I just want this to be over with." Arya admits. She wanted to actually be free instead of worrying every second that someone was going to hurt her or someone she loved.

"I think we all do." Xander admits as he sits down next to her. Arya stares in front of her, her eyes darkening slightly.

"He deserves a lot more than just death." Arya states. Xander sighs as he shakes his head.

"Revenge isn't always the answer. Especially when it will only consume you." Xander knew a thing or two about getting revenge. And no matter how you may feel in the moment, it never helped. It never relieved any of the pain you felt.

"I'm really not up for a lecture right now, Xander." Arya denies as she groans slightly. She had heard enough lectures from her games, she really never wanted to hear one again.

"Don't give up the life you made for yourself." Xander tells her and she just covers her face with her hands.

"What life?" She retorts. Arya didn't think she had a life right now, not only with the Capitol but with being held in thirteen. "He controls everything." Arya points out and Xander frowns.

"Not Finnick." He points out and Arya just fiddles with her fingers.

"And what can we do when he's still in charge?" Arya asks him. They couldn't leave because they'd be captured and they couldn't do anything here because of Coin. "We can't live our lives until he's dead." She states and Xander nods his head slowly.

"His death and your revenge are two different things and we both know it." Xander responds. Arya just looks at the man. She knew what he was insinuating.

"He's dying either way." Arya says with a shrug of her shoulders. Xander let's out a sigh.

"And what about Coin?" He asks her curiously. Arya was quiet, just staring back at him before her eyes move to the wall. "Don't do anything stupid." He tells her, already seeing a plan she's probably thought up in her head.

"I'm not doing anything." Arya denies and Xander didn't believe her for one second.

"You'll never allow Coin to take charge once Snow is gone." Xander points out and she just scoffs.

"Who would? She's evil, just like him." She points out. Anyone who didn't see that was just dumb. "I'm not going to do anything, Xander." She denies with a roll of her eyes.

"Does that mean you'll get someone else to do it?" Xander asks her as he raises an eyebrow.

"It means, I'm done with this conversation." She says, getting up and storming out of the room. Xander sighs as he just rests his arms against his knees. He knew Arya and he knew that she often did things without thinking of the consequences first. He wanted Snow dead, he didn't want Coin in charge but he knew there was a specific way of going about it.

But it seemed Arya had a different idea.

➳❦

ARYA WAS JUST BACK IN THE SAME ROOM SHE WAS IN EARLIER, her eyes on Wesley as he spoke to Haymitch. She wasn't really listening, not wanting to invade. She just wanted to be close to him. And she was glad that Finnick was with her, his arms wrapped around her from behind. He was whispering sweet words in her ear, pressing the softest kisses on her skin. Arya enjoyed the comfort he gave her, especially after a stressful moment.

She sighs as the door opens but when it was only Johanna, she somewhat relaxed. Johanna moves to stand beside her, crossing her arms against her chest. "You know, I was getting there with Wesley." Johanna points out and Arya lightly smirks as she turns her head to face the woman, raising an eyebrow.

"Were you?"

"Yeah, it was probably just a late reaction to what I did." Johanna says with a laugh before her eyes look toward Finnick, it shifting to how he was holding Arya. "Oh, hi finnick." She says with a knowing look on her face and finnick saw that.

"Please don't start." He whines, tilting bis head back. Johanna looked amused.

"I didn't even do anything yet." Johanna retorts and Finnick grumbles as he looks back at her.

"Exactly. Yet." Finnick responds. "I don't need your teasing." He denies, moving his arms off of Arya much to her own dismay.

"What that i was right?" Johanna asks him and he just rolls his eyes. "God, you two would have boned on the beach if we didn't get out when we did." She teases them and Aryas eyes widened.

"Johanna!"

"Just saying the facts." Johanna says with a shrug as she smirks at them. Finnick shakes his head as he rubs his face a bit.

"Tell me again why you're friends with her?" Finnick asks Arya as he looks down at her. Arya only giggles as she rests against him.

"Oh, please. I'm your favourite friend, Finn." Johanna says with a wink and Finnick glares back at her.

"You're his only friend." Arya points out with a snort and Finnick looked offended, pulling away from her.

"Hey!" He says with a pout and Arya tilts her head as she grabs his hand.

"Kidding." She replies and he only narrows his eyes.

"You don't have many friends either." Finnick retorts and Arya raises an eyebrow.

"Peeta, Katniss, Ceila, Xander, Matthew--"

"You don't even remember him."  Finnick says as he cuts her off. Arya points her finger at her boyfriend.

"Technically we're still friends." She says as she shrugs her shoulders. Finnick looked a bit annoyed but it was all in a playful manner.

"Peeta, I'll give. Katniss is both our friends. Ceila was your stylist and Xander was your mentor so they don't count." Finnick explains and Arya scoffs as she narrows her eyes.

"They do."

"Nope."

Arya thinks to herself for a moment before her eyes brightened. "Tigris." She says, remembering the woman that she was pretty close to in the Capitol.

"Now you're just saying names." Finnick says with a roll of his eyes. Arya places her hands on her hips.

"Tigris is my friend, ask anyone." Arya says firmly. Finnick raises an eyebrow but Johanna nods her head in agreement.

"It's true."

"Fine. You have one more friend than me." Finnick says, shaking his head but she only smirks.

"Two." She states and Finnick just stares back at her. "You said Peeta counted." Arya points out. Finnick clicks his tongue as he glances between the two women.

"You know what? You're both annoying." Finnick admits as he turns to head toward the door. Arya smiles to herself as she shakes her head.

"But you love us." Johanna states causing finnick to glance back at them momentarily as he opens the door.

"I wish that wasn't true." Finnick grumbles and all he heard was their laughter as he shut the door behind him.

➳❦

ARYA HAD HER HEAD RESTED ON PEETA'S LEGS AS HE PLAYED WITH HER HAIR. She knew he was getting restless in the same room everyday. And she was sure they'd be able to let him out soon. Arya just had to get Coin out of the picture. "We're gonna kill Snow and then we'll get you out of here." Arya tells him with a smile on her face. Peeta sighs as he shrugs his shoulders.

"I'll believe it when I see it." Peeta responds and she just glances up at him, narrowing her eyes a bit.

"You doubt me, Peeta Mellark?" She asks him and he just chuckles as he meets her eyes.

"I whole heartedly put my full trust in you." Peeta tells her with a hint of sarcasm. Arya gasps as she sits up, pushing him back slightly while he only smiles.

"You ass." Arya says, crossing her arms against her chest. Peeta shakes his head.

"I don't doubt you for a minute, Ry." He assures her and she presses her lips together tightly.

"Mhm." She lets out a hum before bringing her hand up to run through her hair. "Honestly, I wish I could stay in here forever. No one bothers us." Arya points out and Peeta just shrugs his shoulders.

"Cause they think I'm crazy." Peeta responds, only earning a slap on the shoulder from Arya. "Ow!" He complains, pouting a bit and she gives him a stern glare.

"Don't say that." Arya warns and he nods, rubbing at his shoulder.

"I heard about Wesley. It's good news." Peeta points out with a smile. Arya nods her head.

"Yeah. Honestly, I would've been fine with screaming too, at least he would've communicated." She says with a small laugh. She didn't care if Wesley would've came for her again, that would've been progress.

"I'd rather him not attack you again." Perta responds with a playful roll of his eyes. Arya nods before her eyes land back on him.

"How are you doing?" Arya asks him curiously and Peeta just glances around the room.

"Still locked up." He points out. Peeta felt like he had been in here forever. It really wasn't that much different from the Capitol.

"Yeah but..." she trails off for a moment. "Peeta, you become distant sometimes, especially when Katniss is mentioned." Arya says, knowing she was walking on eggshells when she said Katniss's name.

"Why do you keep bringing her up?" Peeta asks, his voice turning angry all of a sudden. Arya sighs as she tilts her head.

"Because you get triggered and you need to realize she's not a bad person." She responds. Peeta clenches his jaw as he shakes his head.

"So, you're taking her side?" Peeta questions, his eyes turning hateful.

"Peeta." Arya says, reaching over and taking his hand which he hesitantly allows. "You know me. You know I would never side with the enemy." She assures him but he just moves his hand out of her grip.

"You already did." Peeta responds, glancing away from her. Arya sighs as she moves closer to him.

"Can we just--"

"Leave." Peeta's voice was harsh as he didn't even look at her. Arya frowns as she doesn't move an inch. She just wanted him to see that Katniss wasn't the bad guy, but she knew it wouldn't be easy. Peeta clenches his fists together as a glare meets her eyes. "Now!" He screams, pounding on the metal beside him.

The door opens, a guard walking in. Arya could barely process anything as she was pulled from the bed and Peeta was strapped down again. She was just brought out of the room, hearing Peeta fight against the guards.

➳❦

FINNICK STANDS IN ARYA'S ROOM, feeling unsure as he watches Arya pace back and forth. They had been informed that Katniss had been shot while trying to rally district two to join the cause. But luckily she had been wearing a bulletproof suit so it didn't penetrate her skin. That didn't mean he wasn't worried about what could possibly happen now. "Are you sure you wanna go? After what happened to Katniss, I don't want to risk it." Finnick denies. They had been informed that they were needed near the front lines for Coin.

That alone made Finnick not want to go but Arya didn't want to let Katniss go alone. She wanted to be there with her and honestly, she wanted to get as close to Snow as she could. "And Katniss is fine." She points out but she could see that Finnick was reluctant. Arya sighs as she stops pacing, making her way over to him. "Finnick, I want to see this through to the end." Arya admits as she rests her hand on his cheek.

Finnick gazes down at her. He would follow her anywhere, and he would do what she wanted because he sure as hell wasn't letting her do it alone. "Then we will." He tells her as he grabs her free hand. "Together." Finnick says with a nod. Arya smiles as she leans against him.

"He's gonna pay for everything he's done." Arya tells him. Everything he's done, every single person he's taken, he's going to feel that pain. And he's going to finally get what has been coming for him since he became president. Arya knew he's always been a bad guy, only ever caring about himself. And this was him meeting the consequences of all those actions.

"I won't let you get hurt again, okay?" Finnick assures her as he would rather himself get hurt than her. He didnt care about himself, he just needed her to be okay. But Arya frowns, her eyes dropping.

"If something happens, if something goes wrong... promise me you won't let him take me again." Arya pleads. Finnick furrows his eyebrows as he shakes his head.

"That's not gonna happen." He denies.

"But what if it does?" Arya asks him. It was a very real possibility. If this whole plan failed, if Snow succeeded, she didn't want to live through it, live through the torment again.

"It won't." Finnick was stern, not wanting to talk about the possibility of losing.

"Finnick." Arya says softly, tilting her head. "If it came to it.... could you kill me?" Arya barely got the words out before Finnick was pulling away from her and turning around, shaking his head.

"I'm not talking about this." He denies. He was not about to even think about that. He didn't want to. Finnick wasn't even sure he could kill her, no matter what the reason may be.

"I-i can't go through it again, Finn. I just can't." Arya tells him, her voice full of pain as it cracked. Finnick stares at the floor as she made her way back over to him. "I need you to promise me." She says as she lifts his head to meet his gaze. "Promise to be there with me, and possibly kill me." Arya pleads. Finnick stays silent, trying to fight the tears back in his eyes. "If you don't then I'll just ask someone else." She admits. She knew katniss could do it but she also didn't want Finnick to hate Katniss if it came down to it.

Did Finnick want to do it or even think about it? No. But she was right. There was the possibility of Snow getting her again. And as much as it would pain him to lose her, he also didnt want her living in torment again. Especially in his hands. Especially when she would die a worse death in the capitol. "Okay." He says, nodding his head and Arya sighs in relief. "But I'm not letting it get to that point. We're gonna get through this together." He assures her as he brings his hands to her cheeks.

Arya nods her head, a smile forming as she leans in, pressing a kiss to his lips. This kiss was different, the intensity, the passion wasn't the same as the other ones they had shared. Arya could barely last one second without his skin on hers, without his touch. And it seemed he felt the same way as he was clawing at her hips, trying to pull her closer. Her fingers pull at the bottom of his shirt before lifting it over his head. Her hands run down his chest as the kiss increases.

Finnick falls back against the bed which didn't make him falter in the slightest. But the thing that made Finnick hesitate was the moment she straddled his waist. Their lips were frantically meeting as they clung to each other's bodies. Finnick pulls back from the kiss reluctantly only for Arya to pull her own shirt off. His eyes roam her for a moment and as she just leans back down, he stops her.

"Are you sure?" He asks softly, not wanting to rush her into anything. But Arya smiles as she wraps her arms around his neck, moving as close as she could to him.

"I've never been so sure of anything." Arya admits, gazing into his eyes. Finnick still seemed a bit hesitant but that went away when her lips were back on his. They were kissing each other like they were the oxygen the other needed to breath. And honestly, they were. Arya didn't know where she would be if she didn't have Finnick beside her.

He moves them so she was laying on the bed and he was on top of her. He slightly grinds down against her, his lips moving from her own to her jaw, making their way down her neck. "Finnick..." She gasps as she tilts her head back. Finnick just allows himself to suck at a sensitive spot in her skin causing her to moan, squeezing her eyes shut as her thighs tighten around him.

His hand drops to her waist, gripping it before he was pulling down the leggings she had on. Finnick pulls back from her skin, glancing back at her to make sure it was still okay. But she just brings his lips back to hers, her hand roaming down his bare chest in order to unbuckle his belt. Finnick kisses her deeper as he kicks his own pants off before moving more on top of her causing their bodies to friction together slightly.

Both of them let out breathy moans, their lips parting from each other. Finnick looks down at where his fingers lingered on her underwear. Arya notices this, just gripping his shoulders as she moved her legs up a bit more, wiggling underneath him. Her lips meet the skin of his shoulder and she just leaves heated kisses along it, making her way up to his jaw.

This seemed to give Finnick the security he needed because he was suddenly taking their underwear off and hooking her legs firmer around him. She gasps as she felt his finger skim her inner thigh. A small whimper leaves her lips as she desperately awaits any touch that he gave her. Finnick lines himself up with her, one of his hands on her hip as the other one rests on her thigh.

Thrusting into her, Aryas head drops back against the pillow, a slight discomfort coming over her. Finnick adjusts himself a bit to get in a better position but he doesn't move as he noticed the tense look on her face. Arya scrunches her face up as she tried to get used to the feeling. Once she was okay, she nods her head for him. Finnick leans back down, kissing her lips softly. Arya gives into it but it kind of blindsided her as he started to thrust into her deeply.

She tried to keep her focus on the kiss but as his pace increases in speed, all she could do is hold onto him as her head fell back. It seems Finnick was focused on what he was doing as well, one of his arms coming to rest beside her head as he moves her leg further up his side, his movements becoming quicker but staying precise.

It wasn't rough, Arya was sure he would ask if she would be okay with that if he wanted to increase the intensity. But the precise movements of his hips, the way he was bottoming her out every single time he entered her, he was hitting the spot inside of her where she desperately needed him. And this caused a chorus of moans to leave her lips as she allowed her fingers to rake down his back.

Finnick groans against her skin, leaving small but hot kisses on her chest as he thrusted into her. The bed was rattling with their movements but it was probably as old as they were anyways. Arya didn't know sex could feel this way. Maybe because she's never actually had it with anyone she's cared about and it's never been her choice.

But this was infinitely better. It felt natural. The way their bodies moved together, the way he was making her feel, the passion that eas created between them. Arya wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. And she was honestly glad that Finnick was her real first. She felt safe with him, she felt loved and she felt properly taken cared of.

A knot in her stomach formed as she felt Finnick's thrusts falter a bit and his head fall against her shoulder. His grip on her hip tightens as he drives his hips into hers quicker. Arya could barely process anything, one second she was a moaning mess and the next, she was screaming Finnick's name as this wave off complete euphoria fell over her.

And it didn't take long for Finnick to follow in her footsteps, a strangled moan leaving his lips as he thrusted into her until he completely bottomed her out. And as if he couldn't get hotter in her eyes, the way he shouted her name in such a needy way made her stomach swoon with butterflies. Finnick had to use his arm to keep him up so he didn't completely crush her.

He just stayed on top of her, his dick softening inside of her as their sweaty skin pressed against each other. Finnick was trying to catch his breath, barely able to lift his head, or his whole body for that fact. Arya squeezed her thighs around him a bit, closing her eyes momentarily in order to soak up the moment.

Eventually, Finnick was able to lift himself up but he doesn't move, simply hovering over her. Their eyes meet again as their breathing slows down. Finnick only smiles toward her, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek. He leans his head down, pressing their foreheads together as they just come down from the bliss. They enjoy the moment together, Arya feeling Finnick running his fingers through her hair before their lips were hovering over each other's.

He leans down, connecting their lips in a soft kiss, arya wrapping her arms around him and pulling him back toward her.

➳❦

Authors note:

Not me listening to the ballad of songbirds and snakes soundtrack to get back into the vibe of writing this book.