As Jackson and Boggs explained the situation to Katniss, Gale, Mitchell, Homes and the film crew, Finnick and Dahlia were temporarily put on Peeta-watch with the Leeg sisters. Dahlia didn't protest against her orders, but she wasn't sure it was wise for her to be one of the first people Peeta saw out of confinement. The last he remembered of her she was a Capitol soldier, a stern imposing figure in charge of keeping him in line during interviews. She was proven right the second Peeta's eyes landed on her.

His entire body went rigid, the colour quickly draining from his face as his eyes began to water. It was clear that he was absolutely terrified of her, despite the kind smile she attempted to plaster on. His bottom lip trembled as he shakily muttered, "The-- The Black Dahlia."

"No, Peeta." Finnick swiftly assured him, noting the hurt in Dahlia's eyes at the mention of what she used to be and the fear she used to inspire in people. "That's not who she is."

"It's-- It's not?" Peeta repeated, glancing back and forth at the woman he thought he recognised in confusion.

Smiling softly at the seated boy, Dahlia carefully sank to her knees in front of him and introduced herself, "My name is Dahlia Odair. It's nice to meet you, Peeta Mellark."

The boy didn't seem to fully register that the name she had said was his own, despite his manic mutterings to remind himself of who he was. But he noticed that the first name was one he hadn't heard before. Dahlia... Odair? He vaguely remembered another person with that last name. Brows scrunched harshly as he fought to recall his memories, he timidly mumbled, "There was a wedding... in District Thirteen."

Dahlia beamed at the recollection of her marriage and explained, "That was my wedding. To Finnick."

From where he hovered behind her, a grin of adoration spread on Finnick's lips at the pride Dahlia displayed for their union. It was also a beautiful sight to see her being so gentle and understanding with Peeta, almost like a mother would comfort her child. It was unusual to see her let her guard down in front of a group of strangers, especially after everything she had been through. But it seemed her experiences only served to make her more empathetic. After all, no one understood what Peeta was enduring better than her.

"I made the cake. Decorated it, too." Peeta muttered in realisation, his features brightening up just at the memory of icing the cake. It was almost therapeutic for him, getting back to his roots and what he knew was real.

"Thank you for doing that." Dahlia murmured her appreciation, watching a look of surprise spread on Peeta's face at the gratitude and respect she was showing him. He had grown used to people treating him like a dangerous mutt or a ticking bomb ready to explode. But Dahlia and Finnick treated him like he was an ordinary man. Like he was just a normal human being. "It was beautiful."

A small smile tugged at the edge of Peeta's lips in response to the compliment, his eyes darting between the two people who had shown him kindness. But just as his body started to relax in their company, Katniss strolled past the group and his shoulders tensed once more. Dahlia could see the resentful thoughts swirling in his mind about the girl, battling hard with what he thought he knew and what he had been told was true. She knew the struggle he was going through because she went through the exact same thing. And controlling the urges that the Capitol had programmed into them was a difficult fight to win alone. Peeta couldn't do this without Katniss, just like Dahlia couldn't have done it without Finnick. No matter how much they tried to deny it, those two needed each other. They just couldn't see it yet.

•——————•°•✿•°•——————•

Night descended quickly and the soldiers were rotating the shift of who was keeping watch over Peeta. Katniss was the one on duty at the time while the rest of the squad tried their best to ignore the sound of bombing in the distance and get at least a few hours of rest. Though the cold concrete floor was not the most comfortable sleeping arrangement, Dahlia and Finnick made it work by snuggling as close as they could to each other. One hand still gripping their weapons in precaution, Dahlia had her head resting against Finnick's chest while he secured her to his side. Even in their sleep, they would protect each other to the very end.

They had managed to doze off for a little while before Finnick jerked awake as Peeta's voice grew louder with rage. The sudden movement of her husband had Dahlia fearing the worst, making her lurch upright in a panic and prepare for an attack. As she went to unsheath her blade, Finnick placed his hand comfortingly over hers.

"It's alright, Lia." He assured her in a quiet whisper, brushing the hair out of her face as she attempted to calm her racing heart. Guiding her to put her sword away, he rubbed his eyes tiredly and mumbled, "Sorry for waking you."

Dahlia waved the apology off dismissively because she wasn't actually in a deep sleep, only drifting off into a light slumber. It was difficult to truly find peace in a war zone. She imagined enemies everywhere, eyes gleaming at her in the darkness like lasers. She would never be able to sleep properly until she knew for certain that they were safe.

Their attention was soon drawn to the source of the disturbance, who was staring down at his feet in shame and confusion. "I'm sorry." Peeta mumbled meekly, avoiding eye contact with everyone around him. "I just can't tell what's real and what's made up anymore."

"Then ask." Finnick spoke up, feeling Dahlia's hand slip into his and her head droop against his shoulder. Placing a delicate kiss against her hair and smiling softly down at her, he explained, "It's what Lia did to help her remember."

"Ask who?" Peeta questioned bitterly, feeling alone and isolated despite being surrounded by people. He didn't think any of them wanted to be close to him. All they saw was a traitor and a mutt. They didn't care what he had to say. Or so he thought.

"Us." Dahlia replied simply as Finnick and Jackson nodded their heads in agreement. "We're your unit now. We've got to stick together."

Katniss' head seemed to slump at those words of unity, guilt overpowering her mind as she remembered her plan to leave with Gale. Dahlia and Finnick always had her back. Going through with the plan felt like a betrayal of everything they had sacrificed for her. They risked their own lives to protect her during the Quarter Quell, lost each other in the aftermath and now they had followed her into the middle of a war when they could've remained safely hidden in District Thirteen. She couldn't abandon them after all that.

While Katniss wrestled with herself over what the best course of action was, Peeta's mind was racing with dozens of unanswered questions he was desperate to know the truth behind. There was so much he wished to ask, so much he wanted to know. In the end, he settled on a detail he had never been able to forget, "Your favourite colour is green." Katniss' head turned to the boy in shock, not expecting him to have remembered that nor ask her about it. "Is that real?"

Dahlia noticed the girl's eyes soften at the question, nodding slowly as she replied, "Yeah. That's real." Then the next words escaped her lips before she had the chance to stop them, "Yours is orange." Peeta glanced up in surprise, watching Katniss carefully as she elaborated, "Not bright orange. Soft, like the sunset."

"Thank you." Peeta mumbled, staring off into space as his eyes glazed over in recognition.

Katniss observed his reaction, spirit lifting with hope once she saw the glimmer of remembrance. Spurred on by that one tiny moment of optimism, she continued, "You're a painter. You're a baker." Peeta lifted his head to listen as Katniss' eyes filled with tears of melancholy. "You always sleep with the windows open. You never take sugar in your tea. You always double-knot your shoelaces." But the emotions became too overwhelming for her, a lump appearing in the back of her throat as she shook her head despairingly. "You were right." She muttered to Jackson in defeat, gathering up her bow as Peeta watched her go and Dahlia and Finnick sighed in disappointment. "I can't do this."

As Katniss threw her stuff to the ground beside Gale and slumped down beside him, Dahlia turned to Finnick. "Coin wants to use Peeta against Katniss the same way Snow tried to use me against you." She whispered to him, glancing at Peeta out of the corner of her eye to find him staring longingly at the spot where Katniss once sat. "Now that the end of the war is in sight, she doesn't need the Mockingjay anymore. She wants Katniss out of the picture."

"Coin sees Katniss as a threat." Finnick murmured in realisation, immediately seeing exactly what his wife was talking about. Both Coin and Snow were underestimating the powerful effect love could have on a lost soul and instead relying on the devastating pain such a strong emotion can cause. By destroying Katniss with something she loved, Coin hoped to weaken or even kill her off before the Mockingjay's influence grew too strong to compete with.

Nodding in agreement, Dahlia grumbled, "She must've realised that no one outside of her own district actually likes her that much."

Finnick snorted under his breath in amusement and sarcastically commented, "Wonder which brave soul had the courage to tell her that to her face."

But as Finnick chuckled quietly to himself, a pang of horror suddenly struck Dahlia. "Me." She answered through her shock-filled daze, bringing Finnick's laughter to an immediate halt. "It was me."

Who do you think the districts will believe?

She had taunted Coin with her diminished popularity compared with the Mockingjay's and now the President was taking action. Dahlia knew the woman wouldn't want to yield her power, but she never thought she would use Peeta as a weapon to help her keep control. That kind of exploitation was something she had only come to expect from a different president. One they were currently trying to overthrow. And it occurred to Dahlia that maybe they were swapping out one heartless dictator for another.

"We can't let Coin succeed in this." Dahlia declared passionately to Finnick. "I won't let her turn Peeta into her scapegoat."

"I promise we won't let that happen." Finnick assured her, smoothing his hand along her hair as he felt her grow distressed by the idea of Peeta being used like she had been. "We'll protect both of them, alright?" At Finnick's consoling words and softened gaze, Dahlia calmed under his touch. "But nothing is going to happen tonight and you need rest, little flower."

"So do you." Dahlia retorted with playfully narrowed eyes, pointing at him with stern reprimanding look.

Chuckling at her adorable insistence on taking care of him, Finnick nodded his compliance and flopped down with his arms outstretched. "Come here then." He beckoned her into his hold, refusing to sleep without her cuddling him. And Dahlia was more than happy to oblige.

Meanwhile, across the the expanse of their temporary shelter, Gale was muttering to Katniss in disappointment, "Guess we're not leavin' anymore."

"We're not going anywhere without that Holo." Katniss responded with determination before her eyes flickered over to where Dahlia and Finnick were resting. "And I'm not leaving Finnick and Dahls behind."