Querencia | Finnick Odair

Chapter XXX

Katniss and Peeta find each other. Well she finds him and after a long painful looking procedure they hide in a cave. And then nothing happens for a long time, except for Peeta getting worse.

Finnick and I act like always, we go out to eat with Johanna, go swimming and meet on the rooftop. We kiss from time to time, when we know that there are no cameras around, for example in our rooms or on the roof in the tub. But just as we said, no labels, no expectations and I feel comfortable with the situation we are in at the moment.

We cuddle in the morning and hold hands when Katniss is fighting against Clove and after Thresh kills her, and we continue to discuss Katniss and Peetas love story. Because it seems like Katniss does care about Peeta more than we originally thought.

The following days we spend most of our time in the mentors lounge and on each other's floors as well as on the rooftop. The night of the final showdown, we are sitting on my couch, Johanna and Silas on the armchairs, our hand entwined underneath the blanket covering us. Right now Peeta and Katniss are sitting at the edge of the lake and are waiting. What they don't know is that Cato is running for his life.

I squeeze Finnicks hand when the mutts are shown and the star crossed lovers run after Cato and I shiver as the memories of the polar wolves flood my mind. Finnick inches closer and I feel a hand brush over my side, over my scars and my tattoo.

I smile and take his hand once again into mine, his thumb drawing circles as I stare at the screen, where Katniss is in a real dilemma, with Cato holding Peeta in a headlock.

"They will never let them both live", I mumble once they pushed Cato off the cornucopia. But first Cato would have to die and he doesn't. The mutts maul his feet and try to bite his neck, his torso, but he has body armour there, so while he is protecting his head, they are not very successful at killing him. And Peeta is bleeding out and both of them are freezing on the cold metal cornucopia. So all that they and we can do now is wait. Around midnight Finnick falls asleep, his head now in my lap and me smiling softly down at him. Silas and Maggs left some time ago to sleep and only Johanna is still there, dozing in the seat, but is stirring awake right now.

"Did anything happen?", she asks, looking at the screen, where Ceasar and some Capitol Celebrity are discussing our favourite couple.

"Nothing much, except Katniss urging Peeta to stay awake."

Johannas eyes flitter to Finnick and my hand playing with his hair. No use hiding it now. Especially from her.

"You and him?"

"It's complicated. So kind of, but with nothing official. And no labels and stuff. Since Snow and you know...", I explain and she nods.

"He deserves you. You made him happier you know?"

"I hope so. He makes me happier too."

Johanna gives me one of her rare smiles.

"I can watch and wake you guys if something happens", she offers and I smile.

"Thanks"

I move, angling my legs slightly without waking Finnick up and lean my upper body back, my head now resting on Finnick's upper body. It's not the most comfortable position, but I fall asleep nonetheless.

It is about 2 hours later that Finnick stirs awake, waking me up along with him.

"Sorry love"

"No problem. It got uncomfortable anyways."

Finnick throws the pillows behind us and scoots back.

"You can lie down here if you want", he pats on the space in front of him.

After a short hesitation, I lay down. I trust him.

"Johanna knows. We'll with her we were kind of obvious."

He puts his arm around me, hovering over my waist shortly until I take his hand and cuddle into him. Sleeping soundly until around 6 am,  when I trash around, waking Finnick and Johanna up and then hurry to the toilet.

After that, I rejoin Finnick and Johanna, who don't ask questions. Johanna just goes back to sleep and Finnick sits up and I put my head into his lap. Like me, he plays with my hair, which is a lot harder since they grow really fast and I keep them at about waist length and his fingers get tangled from time to time. I don't fall asleep again, but his motion soothes me and calms me down.

Katniss shoots Cato in the morning and it is an action I give her real credit for because it was mercy, not anger.

"We should go, see where Haymitch is. Because one of his darlings is going to die and I don't want him to kill himself with alcohol tonight."

Finnick nods and gets up, Johanna claims the couch the instance we leave it. The elevator ride is silent and as suspected we see Haymitch with liquor in his hand and Effie, District 12s escort walking up and down as Katniss and Peeta are seen on the screen, waiting by the lake once again.

I take the whiskey out of his hand and Finnick tries to get Effie to stop pacing.

"Hey, that is my whiskey", Haymitch protests and I take a swing.                                                                    "Mine now. I have to keep you halfway sober since you might get back two tributes or one very traumatised one. And Snow or some of his lackeys will want to chat with you. So, since I consider you a friend, this bottle is now mine."

"Friends don't steal", Haymitch pouts and I chuckle. "You can thank me later. Now let's see what your guys and the Capitol are making out of this situation."

Finnick managed to gently shove Effie into a seat and we settle down on the couch. While Katniss and Peeta are still waiting, Peeta getting worse by the minute. Maybe the gamemakers just want him to die, which would be unusually boring, compared to other finales.

And then the announcement is made. Only one victor is to be crowned.

Of course. The star-crossed lovers, fated to die after all. One dying in the other's arms. The ultimate end for the couple.