If we burn } Finnick Odair

Chapter 14 ~yes to the dress~

Daphne's pov

I don't think Finnick nor me move all night once again. It kind of makes me anxious because I know the more peaceful nights the worst the next nightmare will be. A knock at the door wakes us both up.

"Daphne we need to head to twelve." Effie calls from outside. A part of me is a little sad because Jezebel doesn't get to see this. Hopefully one day if she's still alive.

I kiss Finnick on the cheek carefully getting out of bed. He stirs so I know it wakes him up. "I love you I'll be back soon." "I love you." He mumbles back. I check the clock. A little earlier than what either of us are used to.

"Can Mags come?" I ask. "Of course. We'll go get here." Effie smiles.

I spot Katniss by the hovercraft that's supposed to take us to twelve, "Thank you for offering your wedding dresses." "Of course. I hope you can find something you like out of them." "I'm sure I will. It's just a dress anyway."

Effie comes back with Mags. "Are you all ready?" We all nod. Looks like it's just me, Katniss, Effie, and Mags. No Johanna either. I focus on my own breathing when we take off. The last time I was in a hovercraft was when I was rescued from the capital. I thought about Finnick that whole ride back. Now it feels a little riskier. The capital has nothing against thirteen right now.

Mags sit's beside me taking my hand in hers. "Are you alright?" She asks. I nod. I don't know why I'm anxious.

The ride to District 12 isn't a very long one event though it feels like it.

All of twelve is destroyed. My eyes tear up at the sight of it. I knew it happened but I didn't actually realize. This is their home. And it's all destroyed. All of their people dead. It all just goes through me. I hum to myself to keep myself calm; closing my eyes to keep the vision of all of those bodies out of my head before walking into Katniss's victor's house. It's crazy how all of twelve was destroyed yet this still stands.

"You can go through whatever you want dear. And don't worry if it doesn't fit we can get it adjusted." I nod looking through some of the dresses. I should probably pretend to be into this. That way Effie can get some footage for 13. I know she's not exactly thrilled about the job she'd much rather live in the moment rather than broadcast it.

I pick up one dress. I'm not it's biggest fan but I have to pretend like this search was hard. It has a cupcake ruffle bottom and a bejeweled top.

"Pass." Katniss says when she sees me in it. I can't help but laugh. Even she knew how ugly this thing is.

I try on another one. Mermaid bottom with yet another bejeweled top. "Eh.." is all I say. I look over at Mags who shakes her head. As much as I can't believe I'm admitting this..this is actually kind of fun.

I take another dress off the rack. Off the shoulders floral flow bottom. "Maybe if I lived in District 11." I say.

Another dress. It's almost silky but it's a plan white with not much shimmer. It's simple and elegant. The vail is what really catches my eye. It flows like the ocean. I try it on. I think I'm in love. I walk out to show them. "That's the one." Effie says from behind the camera. I nod with a giant grin on my face. It really is beautiful. I look at Mags. She wipes a tear from falling down her cheek with a smile and simple nod. "Beautiful." She signs. I smile back at her. It's genuine too.

"There's some boxes of shoe if you want to look through them too. If they don't fit tell us." Katniss says. I look through them. I find a silver sandal that laces up like the shoes Rowan had me grow so fond of over the years. I try them on and low and behold they fit. "Katniss you have no idea how much this means to me that you let me do this." I say. "You deserve it Daphne."

Peeta has a suit made for every dress option Katniss had. That way it corresponds perfectly. We pick up the one that matches this one. Peeta's smaller than Finnick so it definitely needs some adjustments but all in all this is perfect. A part of me wishes this was our real wedding just because of how beautiful these outfits are.

Finnick's pov

I faintly remember Daphne leaving early this morning to go to District 12. I wonder what she picked out. If it's something she genuinely likes or if it's something to just give the capital a show. I wonder how twelve looks. How she reacted to it. In a way it worries me. I don't want to be one of those kinds of men who are like "women need me to survive." but the thing is Daphne does need me just as much as I need her. We all seen how we fell apart being away from one another. We're each others shelter. Just the fact she's seeing something that traumatic in twelve right now.. I just hope it doesn't affect her too greatly and that she can keep her focus on dress shopping and getting ready for this wedding.

Daphne's pov

We fly back from twelve with our belongings in hand. My mind goes back those helpless bodies that lie in the ruins of twelve now. I don't even know those people and it feels as if I can hear their screams. I cover my ears with my hands closing my eyes hoping to block out the sight of them until I feel a hand on my arm. It's soft and gentle. It's definitely Mags. I open my eyes to see the old woman giving me a look of sympathy.

"Are you alright flower?" I nod. "I just didn't realize how bad they got twelve. I never thought about how lucky we got. Unless District 4 was bombed and nobody told me." I force a laugh. What happened to me? Just an hour ago I was laughing and having fun now I'm back to mentally unstable Daphne. "District 4 is safe. Everything there is just as it was when you left." I believe her. I do. Mags would never lie to me.

"You looked absolutely gorgeous in that dress." "Thank you Mags. You know I wish that was my real wedding dress." I whisper. "You can always wear it again just add a different touch to it. I can sew it for you." "You would do that?" "Of course." I hug the woman.

I wonder how fifteen year old Daphne would feel about all of this. Would she think she'd be getting married in an underground district to the love of her life just to prove to the capital that they can't take away our happiness? I mean the getting married for the capital to see sounds kind of on brand I guess. Now would she have expected to have her marriage to Finnick be broadcasted? No. Maybe some random suitor that Snow set up but not Finnick, however I'm forever grateful it is Finnick.

Finnick's pov

Daphne's landing in around five minutes. I start making my way to the loading docks. I wish I could see the dress right away. I know she looks absolutely beautiful in it.

"Fish stick." The voice almost makes me jump. "Drunk." "Try sober. Waiting on Daphne?" I nod. "So how do you feel about this big wedding?" "I'm happy to a point. They only want us do it to get some footage to fire at the capital. They kind of went against our wishes but this wedding planning stuff with Daphne is like a dream come true." "Do you think you'll have a wedding back in four after all of this. You know a real one?" "How did y-" "Finnick how long have I known you two? Like a decade? I'm not an idiot you guys don't like having your lives on camera why would you want to ACTUALLY get married for the whole world to see." "You're good." "I know. I'll see you at dinner kid. Don't worry. The secrets safe with me."

Just as he walks away I hear them land. First Katniss then Effie Mags and then Daphne. She comes running to me as if we haven't seen each other in years. "You're going to love the dress. I just know it. It's going to all look amazing!" "Pigeon you look amazing in anything." "You're so pretty." Her sarcasm would make me laugh if she wasn't insulting herself. "How do you think Peeta is to do a cake?" I ask." She hesitates. Her eyes zoning out on the floor. It's like she's lost.

Daphne's pov

"How do you think Peeta is to do the cake?" My mind flashes to my conversation with Peeta not so long ago. You know the whole shebang about his family being dead. His parents were in that pile of ruin trying to escape. They were burned alive. Despite not being there long I smell like District 12. I'll feel better with a shower wont I? WONT I?

AN- i hope you all like this chapter. i noticed in this chapter some of the things Daphne does to block out the visions of 12 annie does in the mockingjay book in general and i found it kind of funny cause i literally just realized. the weddings gonna be soon. not next chapter MAYBE the chapter after?? idk i'm hoping because i have so many ideas for their wedding. i'm happy i get to write two. can we also talk about haymitch though fr. like he's literally such an inspiration. anyway thank you all so much for reading!