Dahlia's hands caress the smooth material of the dress adorning her body. The royal blue fabric feels foreign under her deadly fingertips, like the calm waves of the sea meeting the untameable force of a storm. Still, she'd never felt so emotionally connected to an outfit since her first reaping dress. It was like Cove herself had wrapped her arms around Dahlia's form, squeezing her proudly for how far she had come.

Cove had worn this dress with more grace and elegance than Dahlia could ever muster up, but she would do her best to honour the friend who was taken too soon. With Cove's courage and determination flowing through her blood, Dahlia strides confidently through the backstage area with her head held high.

Despite conversing with Mags at the time, Finnick's gaze found her the moment she entered the room, as if finding her was his sixth sense. Just when he thought he couldn't fall any further in love with her, she nestles herself deeper inside his heart and proves him wrong. The whole world seems to fade into insignificance as he stares at her. His demons are silenced and all his doubts are washed away. He doesn't need anything else when she's looking at him with such devotion and passion.

"Hi, Finn." Dahlia greets softly, feeling more exposed under his gaze than she ever did in her revealing costumes. He stares at her like he could see her heart rapidly beating out of her chest, see her mind whirring with thoughts of him, see her soul burning for him.

"H-- Hi." Finnick blurts out nervously, eyes still wide at her enchanting beauty. He only ever fumbles for words around her because she's one of the only people he truly feels himself around. "How do you manage to leave me speechless every time you walk into a room?" He manages to gasp out breathlessly, leaving Dahlia to melt under his tender gaze. Finnick's fingers twitched at his side, longing to reach out and engulf her in his embrace. But his senses are suddenly flooded with the chatter around them, reminding them of the eyes watching their every move. Never breaking eye contact, he mutters lowly, "It is torturous to be so close to you yet feel so far away."

"I wish to free you from your torture." Dahlia murmurs back, eyes hooded as she inhales the salty sea aroma lingering on Finnick's body. "Soon."

Nodding in agreement, Finnick echoes her words, "Soon, my little flower."

"Finnick Odair." An attendant calls, breaking the pair from their lovestruck daze. Finnick tries to repress the groan threatening to escape his lips as he is ushered away towards the stage. He just manages to turn around, pressing his fingers to his lips before extending his arm in her direction, one hand clutched over his heart. His own silent way of expressing his love to her.

Even as he disappears from her sight, the soft and rarely seen smile remains on her lips. She only moves from the spot when Alaric leads her over to the screen so she can watch Finnick's interview. The cheers from the audience are deafening as Caesar chats with the beloved Victor but Dahlia doesn't focus on them. How can she when her Finn is the only sight that matters.

"Finnick..." Caesar begins, pausing for dramatic effect as he quirks a brow in interest. "I understand that you have a message for somebody out there." Finnick struggles to contain the grin on his face as Caesar adds on, "A special somebody." The host chuckles in delight but Finnick's thoughts are too occupied with the words he needs to say. "Can we hear it?"

The microphone is thrust into his face and Finnick takes a deep breath before gazing deeply into the camera lens. "My little flower," He states lovingly and Dahlia knows these heartfelt words are meant only for her. "You have my heart for all eternity and if..." He swallows harshly, not at the thought of dying, but leaving his beloved behind. "If I die in that arena, my last thought will be of your lips."

Many ladies of the Capitol screamed and swooned, delusionally believing that they were the subject of Finnick's message. But Finnick and Dahlia knew who they were truly meant for, and that's all that matters to them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome..." Dahlia hears Caesar introduce, feeling the fear flood through her body as Alaric steps up behind her. Exhaling shakily, Dahlia blindly grasps around for Alaric's hand, finding relief when his hands envelop hers.

"You can do this, Flower." Alaric whispers encouragingly into her ear, squeezing her hand three times before they are forced to separate.

"... The Black Dahlia!"

For the first time in years, it is not the Black Dahlia that steps onstage. Dahlia doesn't let herself become the ruthless, cold woman she's known as. If these are her last moments on this earth, she will spend them as Dahlia Blossom, not the monster Snow had molded her into. So, as the lights shine down on her and the roar of the crowd hits her ears, she glides onto the stage with poise that would make Magenta proud. The blue dress flows behind her, sweeping along the floor like waves rolling over the rocks. And just for a moment, while she's nearly blinded by the spotlight, Dahlia swears she sees Cove smiling down on her from above.

"Not the type of outfit we are used to seeing from you, my dear." Caesar points out, allowing his eyes to wander down the dress in intrigue. "It's very lovely, yet... oddly familiar."

"This was the dress worn by my ally, Cove Cresta, during her interview for our Games." Dahlia reveals emotionally, feeling her heart clench in pain at the memory of her friend. But her anger is sparked when the audience lets out loud noises of sympathy, some even going so far as to dab away at their tears.

"Ah, yes. We miss her dearly in the Capitol." Caesar replies sadly, placing a hand on Dahlia's shoulder in an attempt to bring her comfort. But just as soon as the host's words of pity left his mouth, it morphed into euphoric delight and he exclaims, "Her death was just thrilling." Rapturous applause follows his enthusiastic cheer. Dahlia can only stare in disbelief as the crowds whoop for how tragically Cove's life came to an end. "It was so unexpected, so dramatic, so..."

"Unnecessary." Dahlia interrupts sharply, shocking Caesar for a moment as he is rendered uncharacteristically speechless. "Her death was unnecessary. Like so many other innocent children who've been sent into the arena to die for your entertainment."

As the audience recoil in shock, Caesar tries to regain control of the derailed interview that has begun to spiral out of his command, "W-- Well, I don't think--"

"None of us have to die in these Games." Dahlia states harshly, knowing each of the tributes will be trying their hardest to stop the Games from going ahead. She will speak her truth because none of it matters now. Either she'll die in that arena or escape to become a warrior of the rebellion. "Our deaths will be unnecessary."

"Alright, Dahlia. Alright." Caesar holds his hands out to stop her from saying anything more, trying to mask his discomfort with an awkward chuckle. "Such strong words from our heartless Victor."

Dahlia scoffs in annoyance, her jaw ticking as she shakes her head. Of course they would only ever see her as a cold-blooded killer. "I may be heartless but you're naive. All of you." She spits out venomously, revelling in the way the crowds audibly gasped at her audacity. They were so used to her playing along with Caesar's words in her interviews. But Dahlia was sick of giving them what they wanted. "Too naive to see beyond what is right in front of you. Too naive to realise that the odds are never in our favour!"

Caesar forces out an uncomfortable laugh and mumbles through gritted teeth, "I think we're getting a little off topic here. We want to know about your preparations for these Games."

With a roll of her eyes and a tilt of her head, Dahlia replies bitterly, "I've been preparing to die." This is so unlike the young tribute who had stood before the Capitol and declared herself the Victor. "Only one of us will leave that arena alive and it won't be me."

"And why is that?" Caesar questions softly, holding the microphone in front of her face to capture the answer.

"Everyone I love is coming with me." Dahlia replies simply, no longer bothering to pretend that she is as heartless as everyone thinks. "Without them, there is nothing left for me here." Her eyes skim over the extravagant faces of the crowd, each colourful feature fading in comparison with the golden boy she loves. "I will die fighting for them, not for the Capitol."

"I see." Caesar nods unsurely before returning to his usual theatrics. "Well, it is always a pleasure to witness the madness of our very own Black Dahlia in person." The audience laughs along at Caesar's taunting ridicule as he manages to dismiss her serious words as nothing but folly. "Ladies and gentlemen, Dahlia Blossom!"

As Dahlia takes her place next to Finnick on the platform overlooking the stage, a pit of disappointment settles in her stomach. She had failed Cove once again. "I tried." She whispers dejectedly to Finnick, whose eyes have glued to her face ever since she stepped onstage.

"We all did our best." He mutters lowly in an attempt to ease her mind. He can see how much Caesar's words are weighing on her mind and wishes they all know that she isn't unhinged, she's just exhausted. "You aren't mad, Lia."

Dahlia raises her gaze from where it's been focused on the ground to look at Finnick. The sincerity in his eyes could fool anyone into believing he speaks the truth, even a girl who's lost her mind. Her eyes dart across his features, trying to commit every detail to memory before she settles her stare on his lips. How she yearns to forsake all of the Capitol's expectations of them and show everyone how much she loves the man at her side. But as long as they reside in the Capitol, Snow holds the power. They can't risk it. Not when the future of Panem could be at stake.

"If love be madness," Dahlia murmurs softly as her eyes flicker to meet Finnick's tender gaze. "I pray I never find sanity again."

Finnick inhales deeply, willing himself to remain strong under the watchful eyes of the Capitol. But it takes more self-control than he possesses not to feel her skin on his. So under the darkness of the stage's shadows, while Alaric preaches about his many years of loyalty to the regime, Finnick's little finger slowly inches its way closer to Dahlia. After an agonising few moments of waiting, their fingers tentatively weave together as a temporarily hidden link between them.

They remain joined even as Alaric reaches Dahlia's side. They remain joined throughout Johanna's enraged rant. They even remain joined when Katniss Everdeen appears onstage wearing a wedding dress. They would not be forced apart by Snow and the Capitol.

"But, Peeta... The wedding, the marriage, never to be?" Caesar questions Peeta Mellark, the final tribute, once Katniss has joined the others above the stage.

"Well, actually, we got married." Peeta reveals as the microphone is tilted towards him, making the audience gasp loudly in shock. "In secret."

Dahlia notices that Katniss doesn't seem aware of this union and tries to hide her sniggers at the girl's attempt to act nonchalant.

"A secret wedding?" Caesar echoes with a badly contained laugh. "All right. Do tell."

"We... We want our love to be eternal." Peeta explains, making Dahlia nearly vomit at the cringworthy words. Of course, the audience don't mirror her reaction, sighing adoringly at their favourite couple.

"Of course." Caesar nods along, urging Peeta to spill more details.

"You know, Katniss and I, we've been luckier than most. And I wouldn't have any regrets at all, if it weren't..." The boy stumbles over his words, doing a very convincing job of stringing the crowd along. "If..."

Caesar desperately tries to pull the rest of the sentence from the boy's lips, "If it weren't for what? What?"

Peeta takes a deep breath before delivering his best attempt at halting the Games, "If it weren't for the baby."

The audience clamours excitedly, jumping out of their seats like they'd just been shocked with electricity. Caesar attempts to calm them, "All right. This is news! Let's find out more." Before the people of the Capitol start to shout in protest at the thought of a pregnant Katniss fighting for her life.

As the demands for the Games to be called off ring out across the stage, Finnick mumbles in an impressed tone, "Maybe there's more to Bread Boy than we initially thought."

Peeta joins the Victors above the stage, embracing Katniss with a hug as they reunite. Caesar's words do little to extinguish the audience's outrage so the tributes decide to deliver a final blow. Locking hands with the people next to them, they form a united front, only fuelling the anger of the Capitol even further. With her hands tightly held by the two most important men in her life, Dahlia raises her arms high for the rest of the Victors to follow suit as Katniss does the same. Maybe the two aren't as different as they might assume.

The Tributes' unification is met with the screams of the Capitol for a cancellation of the Games. Dahlia smirks at the chaos, feeling Finnick and Alaric squeeze her hands in hopeful defiance. Could they have actually put an end to the Quarter Quell?

Then the lights are turned off and the tributes are plunged into darkness. But still, they stand strong. United, if only for one evening.

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