Awakening to an empty bed sent a jolt of fear through Dahlia's body as she frantically searched for Finnick's reassuring hold. Her heart only calmed when she heard muffled chatter echoing from the kitchen. It may have been too difficult to understand what was being said, but she could recognise Finnick's voice anywhere. He was still here, he hadn't left her.

Filled with relief, Dahlia flung herself out of the bed and let her bare feet pad along the cold floors to lead her back to the safety of Finnick's arms. She felt like a little girl who'd just had a nightmare seeking out the comfort of her guardians to protect and soothe her, to tell her that there's nothing to be afraid of. But both her parents were gone and Alaric knew better than to lie to her. They both knew she'd experienced too much to try and believe that there were no monsters in the world. The monsters they knew just happened to look a lot like humans.

The conversation became clearer as she grew closer to the kitchen and she found herself pausing in the corridor outside the entrance at the words being exchanged. She could hear the fury in Finnick's tone as he growls out, "I can't just let Snow get away with hurting her like that. She's not his plaything to torment."

"What could you do, Finnick?" Alaric asks calmly, acting as the voice of reason between the two despite his own anger. "Maim him... Kill him? You know it's impossible to retaliate against Snow without facing consequences."

"I'm willing to face those consequences if that's what it takes." Finnick retorts defiantly, his features hardened in determination. "I don't care what happens to me--"

"But what about her?" Alaric interrupts sharply, knowing Finnick's words are dangerous while they reside in the midst of the Capitol. Anyone could be listening in on them. "Are you willing to let her face the consequences of your actions?" That silences the District Four Victor, who finally allows the gravity of the situation to sink in. Snow has a habit of punishing people for the mistakes of others, allowing feelings of guilt to take root in their minds. That's what he'd done with Dahlia and he could easily do it with Finnick. Snow would take his revenge on the one person Finnick loved more than anything, his little flower. "You care about her, Finnick. I know you do... But so do I. And I won't let you do anything that could get her hurt."

"I would never hurt her." Finnick snaps, his anger growing at the image of Dahlia suffering because of him. Now he understands the crippling remorse she feels for her actions in the past and the fear that takes hold of her if she ever considers rebelling. It's horrible knowing that someone he loves might suffer for his actions.

"Which is why you won't do anything that might backfire on her." Alaric instructs sternly, leaving no room for Finnick to argue back. The two men may not see eye to eye on everything, but when it comes to Dahlia, they will always put her first. Which is why Finnick's shoulders deflate as he gives in to Alaric's strict orders.

"I just... I feel so useless." Finnick sighs quietly, a twinge of disappointment evident in his voice. Dahlia's heart falls at his despair, yearning to comfort him just as he had done for her. But her curiosity gets the better of her as he continues to talk. "All I've ever wanted to do is protect her and, so far, I've failed every single time."

Alaric remains silent for a moment, stroking his beard in deep thought as he eyed the distraught boy. Eventually, he decides to put the boy out of his misery and admit the truth that had been plaguing his mind for a while, "I've failed her as well, Finnick. Maybe I should've done more to stop Snow from targeting her, maybe I should've taught her that words can kill..." The older man's head hangs low as he reflects on things he could've done to make Dahlia's life easier. But he can't change the past, only shape the future. "She's experienced so many hardships that she's not sure who she is anymore. But I know she is most like herself when she's with you. The two of you bring out the best in each other."

Finnick's body flushes with warmth at those words, doing his best to disguise the dopey grin fighting its way onto his face. "She makes it easy to be a better man." He murmurs truthfully, remembering how smug and unpleasant he could be before that black dahlia landed at his feet. That one interaction with a fearless girl made him see that he could be so much more than what the Capitol wanted from him. He could be someone worthy of a girl like her.

"You're a good man, Finnick." Alaric states gruffly, reluctant to compliment the man with a supposedly over-inflated ego. "If you weren't, I wouldn't let Dahlia anywhere near you." The two men share soft chuckles before Alaric's face becomes serious once more, implying that he wasn't joking. "You want to help her? Make her happy?"

"More than anything." Finnick replies quickly, eager to do what he can to ensure Dahlia's life is free from any more grief and suffering.

"Don't let her face life alone." He advises with the wisdom from years spent on his own, no one to comfort or support him while he faces his fears. Alaric was determined for Dahlia to live a better life than the one he'd had and Finnick could give it to her. He could be the one to hold her hand when times are tough, the one she could rely on to always be by her side. Finnick could give her the love she needed.

"She deserves much more than I can give her." Finnick mutters, sounding disappointed in himself for how little he can offer her. Dahlia couldn't disagree more. If anything, she knew she was the one who didn't deserve him. "I wish the world had been kinder to her. I wish her past had been easier. But I promise I will do whatever it takes to make her future better and brighter."

That answer satisfies Alaric who bobs his head in appreciation and claps the boy on the shoulder. A tight-lipped grin settles on his weathered face as he mumbles in a devious tone, "I know you will."

Now that their conversation had reached a conclusion, Dahlia decided to make her presence known by stepping into the kitchen. "Look at my two boys finally getting along." She quips teasingly, snickering as the men jump at her sudden appearance. They immediately leap away from each other, eliminating any signs of civility that had once been on show.

"Lia." Finnick breathes out, reaching her side in a few short but hurried strides. His hands reach up to cup her face, staring deeply into her eyes while his thumb traces circles on her cheeks. He notices the red tinge to her eyes and the puffy swelling of her skin from the emotions of the previous day. But Dahlia was determined not to worry him. She was embarrassed enough that he'd witnessed her in such a state, she never wanted to cause him more stress. "How are you, little flower?"

Forcing a smile on her face, Dahlia pushes any hint of fear back into the depths of her mind and shakily replies, "I'm alright."

Finnick shakes his head disapprovingly at her response and lowly mutters, "Don't do that."

"Do what?" Dahlia feigns ignorance, feet shuffling nervously as she stares down at the ground.

"Pretend like you're fine when you're not." Finnick retorts, not letting her off easily while she avoids all eye contact with him. "Lia, look at me." His stern tone compels Dahlia to glance up, staring deeply into Finnick's gaze of concern. "I thought we had an understanding that we don't need to pretend around each other."

Silence followed in the wake of his words, neither Victor backing down from the intense eye contact nor willing themselves to speak. Eventually Alaric sighs and pushes himself away from the kitchen counter, causing the pair to remember the other presence in the room and break eye contact. The older man does not bother to hide the smirk on his face as he grips his mug and drinks a loud slurp of coffee.

"I'm gonna leave you two to... whatever it is you are doing." He announces finally, enjoying the way their expressions turned bashful and cheeks flushed with colour. "Have fun, kiddos!" He cheers, brushing past them with a dismissive wave to exit the room. Just when the pair thought they were left alone, Alaric sticks his head back through the doorway with a warning glare and demands, "Not too much fun."

"Al!" Dahlia exclaims, matching his glare with equal ferocity and a shake of the head. The man chuckles tauntingly and ducks out of the room for good this time. A deep exhale escapes Dahlia's lips as she pulls away from Finnick and wanders further into the kitchen. "I don't know what you're wanting to hear, Finn. I had one moment of weakness. I'm fine now."

"I want you to open up to me." Finnick declares forcefully, following Dahlia as she busies herself with fetching a glass. "I can't help you if you won't let me."

Dahlia freezes slightly as she goes to fill the glass with water, her hand hovering over the tap with shaking fingers. She doesn't want to see the water. She doesn't even want to hear it. Covering up her momentary lapse of fear, she slams the glass back down on the countertop and snaps sharply, "This is precisely why I didn't want you to know. I am not some broken doll that needs to be fixed. This is my battle to fight, my burden to bear. I can do it on my own."

"But you don't have to, Lia. That's the point." Finnick retaliates, becoming more frustrated as Dahlia refuses to turn and face him. Sick of talking to the back of her head, he surges forward to seize her hips and whirl the girl round in his arms. He traps her body between his chest and the counter, fingers gripping her waist to ensure she can't slip away. "I want to help because I care about you. And I'm with you, through good times and bad. So stop pushing me away and tell me how you really feel. I'm listening."

Eyes filled with hot angry tears, Dahlia's resolve crumbles away and exposes her true raw vulnerability. "You want the truth?" She scoffs scornfully, trying to blink away the tears while biting her lip to prevent any sobs. "I feel like I'm spiralling out of control. I'm still fucked up from the Games and I don't know if it's ever going to get any better." Finnick doesn't say anything to interrupt, just holds his girl steady and listens to her well-needed rant. "I've gotten so used to the pain that I don't know how to live without it anymore. The permanent ache in my chest reminds me that I'm still alive and I don't feel real if I'm not hurting in some way. I can't look at the flowers without thinking of my sisters. I can't even hear the sound of water without fearing I'll drown in a flood. I can't trust my own mind anymore because it's still haunted from those stupid Games! You are one of the only good things left in my life but I'm terrified that you'll end up seeing me the way everyone else does because I truly have gone mad. But really, the only time I am granted any fucking peace is when I'm with you!"

Her chest rises and falls with rapid breaths as her relentless rant finally draws to a close. Though she fears that she has overwhelmed Finnick with her flurry of emotions, a weight seems to have lifted from her shoulders now that her feelings are no longer bottled up inside. Glancing down in embarrassment and guilt at her sudden explosion, Dahlia mumbles a whispered apology under breath. She's surprised when Finnick's body rumbles with laughter.

"Don't apologise. That was good." He murmurs, squeezing her hips with a proud gleam in his eyes. "Do you feel a little bit better now?"

Dahlia nods in surprise and replies, "Yes, actually."

Finnick grins down at her as an idea pops into his head. "Good... Now come with me."