The Capitol had never looked so lifeless and dull. Dahlia could hardly recognise the place. No colour, no buzz of activity... One could almost mistake it for just another ordinary district of Panem. Without the threat of war looming over her head, Dahlia might've found it oddly peaceful. But they had a mission to fulfil. There would be time for peace when the war was won.

Stalking the decimated Capitol streets with her trusty twin blades strapped to her back (courtesy of Beetee's vigilant preparation) and clothed in a familiar combat suit of the darkest black, Dahlia refused to let her guard down. Sometimes the air stilled before a storm, and Dahlia knew not to underestimate the tranquillity of the silence.

The gentle hum of the Holo in Boggs' hand was their constant companion as Dahlia and Finnick traipsed behind their leader, the occasional rumble of bombs up ahead assuring them that they were travelling in the right direction. Katniss was the first who dared to voice their thoughts aloud and interrupt the tense atmosphere, "I've never seen this place so empty."

"Just keep your eyes open." Boggs ordered gruffly from his place at the front of the pack, Holo outstretched dutifully as he scanned the area. Finnick glanced to his side where Dahlia was already staring up at him with an uneasy look in her eyes. Yearning to assure his wife that everything would be fine, Finnick moved his trident to the other hand and interlocked his fingers with hers. The physical connection between them was enough to settle the nerves that had risen within them both.

And connected they stayed as the squad continued to move through the city, the devastation left behind in the wake of the bombings becoming more clear the deeper they went. Some of the majestically tall buildings had crumbled to the ground, nothing left standing but the deteriorating foundations. A once great city reduced to rumble, a once indestructible metropolis weakened by defiance.

As they passed by a blasted truck, the Holo's beeping increased rapidly and Boggs held his hand up to bring the squad to a halt. Using the device to accurately locate the booby trap, he declared to the members, "Got a pod. Let's take cover." Following orders, the squad jogged over to a large spiked monument in the centre of square as the cameras were prepared and Katniss briefed for another big onscreen moment. "Shoot through those two buildings."

Cressida directed Castor and Pollux into prime position to capture the shot, Katniss growing irritated by the long wait and lack of action. Dahlia and Finnick surveyed the area warily, nodding to each other when they believed the coast was as clear as they were going to get. Then they crouched down with the rest of their squad behind the Mockingjay.

"When you're ready, Katniss." Cressida announced, watching the scene play out on her screen as Katniss carefully selected an arrow from her quiver and drew back the string of her bow. "Hold it. Pollux, tighter." Dahlia could see the way Katniss' shoulders deflated at the delay, relaxing her hold on the bow as she contained a frustrated huff. She knew how the girl was feeling. The urge to properly fight and actually feel useful in this struggle was growing stronger amongst the members of the squad the longer they spent acting as glorified propaganda. "Okay."

With Cressida's confirmation, Katniss drew the arrow back once more and, this time, allowed it to fly through the air. The second the arrow zipped through the gap in the two buildings, jets of hot fire were blasted down upon the mercifully empty expanse of rubble. Dahlia could feel the scorching heat of the flames even from the safe distance of their cover, watching the smoke cloud billow from the searing inferno.

Just as the flamethrowers seemed to be running out of fuel, a large explosion rang out which had Finnick and Dahlia flinching back in surprise. Out of nowhere, an armoured truck was flung through the blaze, landing upside down in the middle of the chaos. The fire only intensified after that, consuming the vehicle in incinerating flames. By the time the activated pod had stopped spitting fire, the truck was cremated all the way to its mechanical skeleton.

Finnick and Dahlia immediately turn to each other in horror at the bullet the squad had just dodged. If they didn't have that Holo, there would be nothing left of them. They would be reduced to ashes. This was much worse than any arena they had encountered. At least in the Games, Snow wanted one person to emerge alive. In this war, he was willing to destroy everyone and everything in his path. There would be no Victors. Only survivors.

•——————•°•✿•°•——————•

Squad 451 took shelter in an abandoned building, gathering their thoughts and recovering their nerves in the ruins of the Capitol. Dahlia and Finnick remained among the other members, but never left each other's side. Unlike Katniss and Gale who immediately settled themselves away from the group and huddled together in hushed conversation.

Dahlia eyed them in suspicion as Finnick made small talk with the soldiers and film crew. She watched their eyes dart over to Boggs every now and then, darting down to the Holo gripped in his hands. Her eyebrows furrowed at the sight, speculating about what the pair could be up to.

Upon noticing his wife's distracted state, Finnick nudged her with his elbow and sent her a look of concern. In response, Dahlia discreetly motioned her eyes in the direction of the two former District Twelve citizens. Following her line of vision, Finnick too showed scepticism at the close proximity and shifty behaviour. Subtly nodding to each other, they wordlessly agreed to keep an eye on the pair but not mention it to anyone else.

The squad was roused from their blissful rest by the sound of an approaching vehicle, immediately putting everyone on high alert. Heads lifted and weapons were brandished as one of the District Thirteen soldiers asked, "Is that Peacekeepers?"

Dahlia unsheathed one of her blades for precaution as she and Finnick followed Boggs out of their temporary refuge. Jackson picked up her radio and made contact with headquarters, "451 to base. We've got a truck coming in from the south. Over." They all trooped their way outside, prepared to fight back if it was the enemy growing near. Thankfully, Jackson received a reply from base and called out, "Stand down, everyone. It's friendly."

Reassured that it was one of their own, the squad continued on their way to make contact with the newcomers. Dahlia and Finnick headed up the stone steps behind Boggs, Katniss, Gale and Jackson as the army truck rumbled to a stop. The vehicle shifted as the people inside moved around and hopped down off the back. The group tracked the movement curiously before a familiar figure stepped round the side.

Peeta Mellark.

Katniss tensed immediately, grasping an arrow and slotting it onto the string of her bow. No one could blame her for being on edge around a man who had actively tried to kill her, but Dahlia knew how confused the poor boy must've been feeling. She raised her hand up to Katniss calmly, motioning for her to stand down. The younger girl lowered her bow obligingly at the woman's pleading expression but refused to place her arrow back in its quiver.

As Peeta grew closer, his quiet mutterings became more audible. Dahlia could hear him repeating his name and district with his eyes trained on the ground, fighting hard to remind himself of who he was and what was real. Her eyes softened at the sight, remembering a time when she had once done the same thing while stuck in her isolated prison cell. It was clear to her that he was still recovering and wasn't healthy enough to be sent into a war zone. So what on earth was Coin playing at by placing him here?

"Okay, stop." Gale demanded, holding his hand out to halt the boy as Katniss once again raised her bow.

"Hold up." Finnick stated firmly, stepping forward to pacify the situation while Dahlia placed her hand on Katniss' arm. "Everyone relax."

"Katniss." Dahlia hissed into the girl's ear, shuffling in front of her to block any view of Peeta. "Stand down."

Gale turned to Boggs and bitterly asked, "What are we doin'?"

Finnick ignored the question, continuing to move closer to the mumbling boy. He remembered how skittish Dahlia had been when she was rescued from the Capitol, how quick she was to lash out. Back then, he'd had to approach her like she was a wild animal squirming in a trap, cautious with every step to ensure she didn't spook and do herself more damage by trying to escape. So that's what he was trying to do with Peeta. And it seemed to be working as the boy was yet to feel cornered or ambushed.

While Finnick dealt with Peeta, Dahlia was standing steadfast in Katniss' way and refused to back down until the girl lowered her bow. But both women were as stubborn as each other, and the stalemate would've lasted all day if Boggs hadn't made a decisive conclusion, "Jackson, cuff him."

The second-in-command followed her orders obediently as Dahlia once again talked Katniss down, "Lower it. He won't hurt you, Katniss. I promise."

The Mockingjay's eyes shifted to meet Dahlia's determined stare, noting the sincerity behind her gaze. Katniss made the decision then and there to trust Dahlia unconditionally. The woman who had walked on either side of the war and knew more about the enemy's capabilities than anyone else. The woman who had lost so much but still loved with every inch of her heart. The woman who would stand in front of the Mockingjay's arrow to protect a broken boy she barely knew. That was a woman that Katniss wanted by her side in such difficult and uncertain times.

Slowly lowering her bow, Katniss nodded at Dahlia in acknowledgement and the woman returned the gesture. But as Dahlia stepped aside and Katniss' eyes swept briefly over Peeta, her gaze darkened at the mutt he had become. That wasn't her Peeta... That wasn't the man she loved.