That evening, Finnick made his way up to the roof with little knowledge of what was waiting for him at the top. When he arrived to discover an assortment of Tributes gathered around with just as much confusion on their faces as he had, he found more questions than answers.

"Lia, do you know what's going on?" Finnick asks the girl quietly, leaning down from behind to muffle the words in her hair.

"No more than you." Dahlia mutters out of the corner of her mouth, warily eying the people around her. "Alaric wouldn't tell me anything with the Capitol listening in."

Hushed chatter is exchanged amongst the group, but everyone is still glancing around in suspicion. Most were reluctant to mingle with those outside of their districts, however Finnick and Dahlia remained faithfully by each other's side, hands gripped tightly to bring them a sense of comfort. They were soon joined by Johanna, who was still riding off the high of irritating Katniss in the elevator, with Blight lingering nearby. Wiress and Beetee stuck together as did Seeder and Chaff. Mags and Woof were struggling to converse with each other as one could only communicate in hand gestures and the other was hard of hearing. Cecelia was watching the pair with a faint hint of amusement, occasionally stepping in to help but mostly just enjoying the entertainment. The Morphling pair, although looking as though they were knocking on Death's door, were also present and surprisingly alert among the group.

The attention of every Tribute was captured by the appearance of Alaric and Haymitch as they joined the crowd on the roof.

"Sorry I'm late. Had to put the kids to bed." Hamitch excuses himself with a slight jesting tone as the pair position themselves at the front of their audience. "Is everyone here?" He calls out, receiving nothing but silence in return. "Well, don't all shout at once."

"We have everyone that we can trust." Alaric mumbles, scanning the faces staring up at them.

"What's this about, Alaric?" Blight questions, folding his arms across his chest. "Why are we up on the roof?"

"This is the only place the Capitol haven't bugged with cameras and microphones." Alaric answers calmly, making the tributes look around in confusion. None of them had been aware of just how much the Capitol were watching their every move. Dahlia had been warned by Alaric beforehand but that was to ensure she wouldn't say anything to piss them off any further. "It means we can speak freely up here." Exchanging a quick glance with Haymitch, the two men nod in agreement before Alaric continues, "It means we can talk to you... about the Rebellion."

Gasps ripple through the crowd and low whispers are traded between tributes. Haymitch holds his hands out to soothe the group while saying, "Alright, settle down." The small audience silence their chatter but still stare at the two men as if they've grown two heads. "The Rebellion is very much real and it's growing by the day."

"So, what does that have to do with us?" Chaff inquires, stepping forward in curiosity as some other tributes nod to back him up.

"Well..." Haymitch starts before becoming unnerved by the numerous pairs of eyes staring at him. "I'll let Alaric explain it to you."

Patting his friend on the shoulder, Haymitch shoves Alaric forward like a sacrifice to appease the Gods. Shaking his head with a light-hearted glare aimed at his alcoholic friend, Alaric nevertheless starts to explain, "As many of you know, the whole reason for these Quarter Quell Games is to remove Katniss Everdeen from the equation. But she is a vital asset to the Rebellion." Everyone listens intently to Alaric's words, eager to hear where this is going. "She is a symbol of hope for the people. She is their Mockingjay. Which is why it is essential that she survives these Games and continues to inspire the districts into rebellion."

"So you want us to sacrifice ourselves for her?" Johanna exclaims with an irritated huff. "Shall I just throw myself on my axe now and be done with it?"

"That is not what we're suggesting at all." Alaric is quick to nip that idea in the bud as he feels the anger rise among the Tributes. "The girl needs protection until she can be extracted from the arena... along with anyone else who wishes to join."

Perking up at that statement, Dahlia is the next to interrupt, "You're saying there's a chance that more than one of us can escape the arena?"

"Yes, Flower. There is the possibility." Alaric responds, watching the hope spread on his little girl's face. "What I'm asking of you is not easy. You must be willing to give your own life to protect her."

Haymitch adds on a quiet, "And Peeta. She won't co-operate without him."

"Plutarch Heavensbee, the Head Gamemaker, is on our side." Alaric reveals, shocking many members of the crowd. A Head Gamemaker plotting against the Capitol is unheard of. "We just need some Tributes on board to pledge themselves to the cause. Not everyone will make it out alive, but we will rescue as many as we can." Hesitant glances are shared between district partners and friends, none quite ready to speak up. "I know it's a lot to ask. But I wouldn't be asking if I had any other choice." Dahlia can feel Alaric's pleading gaze piercing her eyes, willing her to be the first to take the leap. "My friends... My family. We have suffered for too long at the hands of the Capitol. They have taken too much from us. It's time for us to fight back. Even if we don't live to see the fruits of our labour." The air is heavy amongst the cluster, the decision between life and death toying with their minds. "Who will stand with me?"

Silence settles once more, everyone avoiding eye contact and remaining reserved. They weigh their choices up internally, trying to ponder whether a chance at freedom is worth the risk. But someone must take the first leap and, thankfully, a volunteer steps forth.

"I will." Dahlia's voice rings out as strongly as it did on the day she volunteered in place of her sister. Despite the bad blood between her and Katniss, she knows the Rebellion is a lot bigger than petty disagreements. After everything Snow has taken from her, he deserves a taste of his own poison. "If I'm gonna die, I might as well die serving a purpose."

"I'm in." Finnick declares, stepping up next to Dahlia with a determined expression. He would follow her to the ends of the earth. Of course he would trust her with this. And he couldn't pass up the chance for both of them to escape and live life without the fear of Snow hovering in the back of their heads. Dahlia smiles up at him in gratitude and he returns it with a wink.

"So are we." Johanna announces on behalf of her and Blight with Wiress and Beetee joining not too long after. Soon enough, Alaric is grinning proudly at the crowd of new recruits, each one promising to do what it takes to secure the Rebellion. It revived his hope that so many were willing to give up everything to free Panem from tyranny. But what filled his heart with a warmth he hadn't felt in years was the fact that his little girl was the one to encourage them into the fray. His courageous daughter was the spark of this Rebellion and he would do anything to ensure she gets out safely. But finally, it looked like the odds were tilting in favour of the Rebellion.

Alaric claps his hands and rubs them together in eagerness. "All right, here's the plan..."

•——————•°•✿•°•——————•

"Why're you still up here?" Dahlia asks as she joins Finnick at the edge of the roof. Leaning her forearms against the railing, she finds herself gravitating towards his warmth but not close enough to touch. "We've got training in the morning."

"I could ask you the same question." Finnick retorts with a tired smile, his hands fiddling with the shell necklace resting above his heart. "I'm savouring the little things while I still can."

"I'm going to get you out of there, Finn." Dahlia vows passionately, the determination blazing bright in her eyes. "That's the only reason I agreed to this plan. I hold no love for Katniss or the Mockingjay. I care about getting you out of there alive."

"And what about you?" Finnick questions sharply, turning to face the girl with an expectant gaze. "You need to get out alive too."

Dahlia shakes her head dismissively and mutters, "That doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does, Lia." Finnick insists, heart breaking as he sees the doubt on her face. "It matters to me."

"It shouldn't." Dahlia retorts bitterly, refusing to look up at Finnick as her grip on the railing tightens. "After everything I've done... All the innocent lives I've stolen... I don't deserve to leave that arena alive." Her knuckles turn white from clenching so tensely, eyes focusing intently on the Capitol skyline. Finnick's stare on the side of her face feels invasive, as though he's studying and reading every emotion. "Nothing can change what I've done. But this time, at least I have the chance to do some good with my life."

"We're Victors, Lia." Finnick sighs, fingers twitching as he yearns to reach out and comfort her. "We've all done things we're not proud of in order to survive. We've all got blood on our hands from the Games."

"Not all the blood on my hands is from the Games." Dahlia reminds him as memories flood her mind of her family's demise, Lavender's cruel end and Annie's fragile state. All situations that could've been avoided if Dahlia hadn't let her anger get the best of her. She felt no remorse for Yarrow's death or Wyatt's brutal killing. It was the lives she hadn't taken with her own hands that she regretted the most.

Finnick tries to soothe her destructive thoughts, "You did what you had to do to protect your family."

"And look where that got them." She snaps harshly, internally blaming herself for everything that had gone wrong in her life. "I've buried every single one of them and what's left of my family is coming with me into that arena. I don't know how much more loss I can cope with."

"Then you understand that I won't survive if I lose you." Finnick murmurs mournfully, making Dahlia's head snap to face him in shock. "You are the only reason I'm still here. You are my reason to keep fighting. Without you, I have nothing else."

Dahlia stammers for a response before finally spitting out, "That's not true. You have--"

"I have what?" He exclaims in anguish, the desperation evident in his gaze. "Fame? Fortune?" The words are scoffed like they are worth less than dirt. "I don't care about any of it. They mean nothing to me. The only thing I care about is you, Lia." The tears fill up his eyes as he pours his heart out to a broken girl. "You are everything to me."

As he reaches his hands out to finally pull her into his arms, she flinches away and shuffles backwards. "I'm a murderer, Finnick! A cold-hearted killer. That's all I am and that's all I ever will be." She cries out, hugging her arms to her body like she's terrified her touch will only bring him harm. "The Black Dahlia should die for the Mockingjay to live on."

"That isn't true." Finnick protests fiercely, disheartened by how little she thinks of herself. "All those Victors dedicating their lives to protect the Mockingjay did so because you inspired them to. No one would've agreed if you hadn't stepped forward. We're not choosing to follow the Black Dahlia or the Mockingjay, we're choosing to follow you." Dahlia freezes up at his words, thoughts whirling in contemplation over the truth. Finnick takes her moment of hesitation to leap forward and cup her cheeks in his grasp. "You are not the monster they made you out to be. But you are a fighter, Dahlia Blossom. And you've inspired all of us to be the same." Craning his neck, Finnick connects their foreheads and gazes deeply into Dahlia's eyes as he whispers, "I fight for you, little flower."