PAWNS | FINNICK ODAIR

LOSING YOU

"We need to talk."

It was strange for Lara to be the one to say that. Usually it was Finnick who had encouraged her to open up. But he was unusually quiet after things had settled down.

Peeta and Katniss were on the shore of the beach talking while Finnick fished for food. Lara tried to stand guard for both.

But she could sense that Finnick was more than upset. So she trudged through the knee deep water to meet him where he stood and waited for a fish to pass by.

When she spoke to him, he stayed silent. His trident was held tightly in his hands and his chest tightened.

"Finnick."

Her tone was sharp and firm. Here she was trying to make an effort and actually talk to him but he wasn't opening up. She didn't like the switch in their dynamic but she had to try.

She sighed as he ignored her once more.

"Look, I get it. Mags was special," she stated, "She was more than a mentor and a friend. She was your family and your hope."

His shoulders slumped forward and he slowly turned to face her. She paused and waited for their eyes to meet. But before she could say anything encouraging, he spoke.

"We have responsibilities," he reminded, "I already lost Mags because of it. What else am I gonna lose?"

"We know what we agreed to," she murmured.

"I didn't agree to losing my friends!" he shouted.

His voice became so loud that even Peeta and Katniss could hear him. But as soon as Finnick saw their stares, he lowered his voice again.

"I didn't agree to losing you."

That was the first thing that truly clicked in Lara's brain. Despite everything they'd done together, that was the moment where she knew.

She placed her hand on Finnick's shoulder.

"Listen to me very carefully: I am not gone," she said firmly, "And as long as we're fighting together, neither of us will lose the other. Got that?"

Before he could nod, she did the unexpected. It was a gesture he always had to initiate before, and even then it was never long.

She hugged him.

He went rigid for a moment. Having her arms wrapped around him wasn't something he was prepared for. But after his initial shock wore off, he slouched down and broke.

His body went numb and he slumped into her shoulder, reciprocating the hug. Unbeknownst to her, Lara was great at giving physical affection when she actually wanted to. Finnick always loved her rare hugs.

She heard him sniffle softly into her shoulder to keep from full out sobbing. She didn't speak anymore; she simply held him close.

They stood like that in the water for quite awhile. The only reason they let go was because Peeta called out for them, wondering what happened to their fishing mission.

Finnick picked himself back up emotionally and quickly speared a few fish for them. Lara picked up some oysters as he did so. Together, they brought back the meal to the other pair.

They couldn't risk a fire smoke so they ate the fish and oysters raw. It wasn't ideal, but at least they weren't starving.

In the midst of eating, a high pitched scream erupted. They instantly stood up and drew their weapons. Their worry only grew when they saw a huge tidal wave of water roll through the jungle on the opposite side of the beach.

The water came sweeping forward until it hit the center of the cornucopia. The remaining wave dispersed into smaller waves, which ran all the way up to their feet.

Lara scrunched her nose as it soaked her recently dried clothes. The small issue wasn't thought of for long since the cannon went off once more. The four looked up as a aircraft came to pick up the dead tribute's body.

Before they could dwell on it more, Katniss held up her bow and arrow to the right of them.

"Someone's here."

Finnick and Lara stood in front of Katniss and Peeta. But as soon as they saw who the approachers were, they relaxed.

"Johanna!" Finnick shouted.

Both of them ran forward without caution towards the group. And while Lara was happy Johanna was there, she was also relieved to see Octavian limping along the sand behind them.

Once they saw the pair, Johanna and Octavian sighed in relief. Finnick hugged Johanna and simply nodded to Octavian. But Lara kept her distance and only checked over their injuries.

She saw they were covered in blood.

"What happened?" she asked worriedly. She noticed that Octavian's leg was slashed open by his calf and she went to put pressure on the wound, gently pushing him to sit down.

Johanna crazily laughed at the question.

"We were deep in the jungle where I thought we'd be safe. That's when the rain started," she chuckled bitterly, "I thought it was water, but it turned out to be blood. Hot, thick blood. We were stumbling around choking on it."

She took a deep breath and her nostrils flared.

"That's when Blight hit the force field...he wasn't much but he was from home."

Lara sympathetically looked up. But she quickly refocused on tying off the makeshift bandage on Octavian's leg. He groaned when she tightened it.

"What happened?" she asked.

He exhaled sharply to keep himself steady, "We ran into another tribute. We took him down but he managed to get in a few good hits."

She nodded in agreement, seeing the various slashes on his body. Her focus was redirected as she heard Wiress muttering words behind her. Everyone else heard it too.

"What's wrong with her?" Katniss asked.

Beetee, who had also made it out with the other group, replied, "She's in shock. The dehydration probably isn't helping. Do you have fresh water?"

"We can get some."

Wiress reached out and grabbed Johanna tightly, still uttering words of nonsense. The latter was not up for dealing with the riddles though. She tried to shove off the older woman's grip, which only made Katniss angry.

"Hey! Leave her alone!"

Katniss tried to pry Wiress and Johanna apart but ended up fighting with Johanna. That's when Finnick and Lara intervened, pulling them in opposite directions.

"I got them out for you!" Johanna screamed.

Lara and Finnick dragged her through the sand and into the water before she could say anymore. It was too risky and it exposed them.

But it was too late, because Katniss had already heard them. She furrowed her brows and glanced at Peeta in confusion.

"For me? What does that mean?"

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