BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

30

Ember

It's late. That much I know for sure.

The hands on my body shove me into my cell so roughly that I can't catch my footing and collapse onto the cold, concrete floor.

I'm still in my outfit from before. Except I know sections of my hair had fallen out of the updo and the black liner was smeared to my cheeks.

The door slams shut and I flinch.

Now that I'm alone, I allow myself to crumple up into a ball, head stuck in between my legs in an attempt at hiding and covering myself up.

Finnick.

It felt wrong to not have him here waiting for me.

By now, he had a bath drawn, a robe hanging on the hook, and tea brewing on the stovetop. And if it was his turn that night, vice-versa.

Unless it was one of those occasions where we were both occupied and would meet on the rooftop...

...the place where we shared our first kiss.

Now I'm spiraling.

My thoughts full only of him.

Our first meeting, the way I used to hate him, and even the time he carried me out of my victor's party. He's always taken care of me.

"Ember," a voice calls.

Leave me alone.

"Are you okay?"

I lift my head just high enough off the ground to peak through my arms. Peeta is staring at me, eyes full of concern.

"Em," Johanna says from behind me. She already knew the answer. "Do you want to talk?"

I shake my head, tucking it back in between my arms and legs. My whole body aches. But not from the beatings.

Those would've been much more tolerable.

"Here," says Peeta. "Take my suit jacket."

With one hand covering my exposed flesh and the other pushing me forward, I reach over and pull the jacket through the hole.

"Thank you," I say, wrapping myself up in it.

I don't want to think about the rough hands anymore.

"Peeta, what did they have you do?" I ask, diverting the attention from me.

He fiddles with his fingers for a moment before he says, "Snow ordered me to call for a ceasefire."

Jo's snarky laugh vibrates off the concrete walls.

"I bet Katniss sure loved that one," she spits sarcastically, in true Johanna form.

Peeta's eyebrows furrow. Accompanied by fists clenching at his sides.

"I protected her," he immediately protests.