Never In Your Favour

Reunion

The next morning carried a feeling of adrenaline, not unlike the start of a day off, where our family might go to the meadows for a picnic with the Odairs. Due to this, I was of course up at the ridiculously early hour of four; which was before Finnick would probably even be awake, let alone on the train ride home.
By the time the seven o'clock departure eventually came, there was, naturally, footage covering his boarding of the train. He was wearing a loose white tunic with drawstring pants: the traditional garb of district four. Everyone was commenting on how he still managed to look breathtakingly attractive. God it made me sick. He gave a charming wave, wink, and the usual dazzling smile, before turning the corner into his carriage, and evading the cameras, at least until he reached home that evening.
I was practically counting down the seconds until his predicted arrival time of eight in the evening. They liked to take the ride back slowly, so the Victor had a little time away from the cameras, to leave the Capitol audience on the edges of their seats. I kept having different thoughts lurching around inside my head. I wondered if he would be alright mentally if I proved I was there for him, if he would even still spend time with me. Would he kiss me again? Would he pretend I was just a friend until he was sure I was safe from the Capitol? I guess I would know at eight. As usual, I spent the day by the coast. I had decided to help out by doing some fishing for my family, as most people in the district had taken a day off to celebrate. I only managed a small catch, but anything was always better than nothing. I stored the fish I had caught in the unit at home, before making my way to the train station at seven, arriving as one of the first people there, miraculously.
By the time eight o'clock arrived however, there was no sign of the train, and I was more than a little worried. The platform was thronging with people and peace makers, trying to get a glimpse of the victor, and trying to keep the masses at bay respectively.
Nine and ten came and went, and yet there was still no sign. This was very out of the ordinary. I wondered if there had been a crash. Just the thought of it made me sick and dizzy, and I felt like I was going to pass out, what with the claustrophobia and the heat. I pushed my way past crowds of people, for what seemed like miles, and ran and ran until I reached the coast.
As I plunged into the ocean I felt the cool release of some of my anxiety, and breathed as I paddled out to the area of the reef I knew was safe from mutts. I dove to the sea bed a few times, before resurfacing, and swimming swiftly back to shore. My muscles were suddenly unusually tired, probably from the tension in the last weeks, and I fell onto the beach, exhausted. By now it was around midnight, judging by the position of the stars. It was Finnick's birthday, and were was he? On some stuffy Capitol train, instead of here with me, where he was meant to be. I drifted into an agitated yet somehow deep sleep for the next four hours.

~~

The unfamiliar sensation of a slightly itchy blanket being draped over me, roused me from my slumber. As I began to open my eyes, I simply heard the words:
'Oh no, I didn't mean to wake you, you look so peaceful when you sleep!'
I knew that voice. That was Finnick.
Suddenly, I was fully awake, as I leapt up and launched myself into his arms in the early morning darkness.
'Finnick!' I yelled as I held him tightly in my arms. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and lifted me high into the air, spinning me round like he did when he returned from training.
'There's my Annie. My one and only Annie Cresta.' He said, with a grin so wide it seemed to wash away everything in the games.
'Happy birthday!'
'Oh I forgot, I'm fifteen now. Look, I've only managed to get away from the cameras for about half an hour, so I have to leave soon. I'll also need to go to my new house in Victor's Village later, but you're welcome to join me there. I need to find some way to justify your family living with me anyway, so it will be a good time to talk that over.'
'Live with you? That's... Finnick that would be amazing! I'm guessing you don't want people to know that we.. that you..'
'That I love you? No, it's far too dangerous what with how desirable the Capitol views me. Anyway, after my conversation with Snow, in a couple of years we can't... well never mind that now. Don't I get a kiss on my birthday?'
'Well I didn't know that you... you love me? What did snow say? You want to kiss me agai-'
He silenced me by pulling me close to him, and pressing his lips agains mine. My hands settled on the back of his head, running my fingers through his hair, then up and down his arms. He held my face in his hand, and pulled away, before kissing my nose and then holding me like he was afraid of what would happen if he ever let go. I felt him sob convulsively: he had clearly been holding in his emotions to save face in the games, and now he was letting out all his grief and anguish. I held him until there were no tears left, just letting him know that I would be there for him no matter what happened, and that, of course, I loved him too.
After he had cried all he needed to, he looked down at me with a shaky laugh, before kissing me again.
'I have to go, Mags will be waiting. She's wonderful you know. You'll meet her properly at dinner tonight. You'll love her. I think she'll love you too... I mean, who wouldn't.'
He seemed to struggle to let me go, but finally, he had to, and I watched him run up the coast path, back to where Panem watched his every move.