FAILURE TO COMPLY ┃ f. odair

5.10 the honeymoon

Being back in the Capitol was far less frightening to Calypso with her strapping golden boy husband on her arm. He followed her through the rebel camp like a lost puppy, that signature smile upon his face all the damn time. And, for the most part, she believed it to be real. Infectious, at that, because she found herself smiling more times than she cared to admit.

"I like her," Calypso hummed thoughtfully as they wandered in search of their newly assigned squad. Unit 541. "Commander Paylor. She's inspiring, and actually seems nice. That's a rarity among political leaders nowadays."

"Wow," he mused, nudging her side gently. "We've been married a day and a half and your eyes are already straying. I'm hurt, Odair."

"Odair," she echoed with a smile. "You don't have to worry. If I was going to stray with anyone it wouldn't be her. It'd probably be someone like Cressida."

Finnick narrowed his eyes, shook his head but laughed at his wife's teasing. It was the freest either of them had felt in so long, and neither was about to put a stop to their light-hearted banter. The same could not be said for others, in fact happy to see their fellow victors in the battle.

"Finnick! Calypso!" Katniss called out as the couple approached. She reached out without hesitation to hug Calypso first. "Are you with us?"

"Looks like it," Finnick replied, hugging Monica.

"That was a short honeymoon," their fellow victor said.

"You're mistaken," he joked, hugging Katniss next, while Calypso pulled her cousin into a warm embrace. "This is the honeymoon."

"Incorrect," Calypso disagreed. "I expect better from the likes of him. Maybe we'll have it in Snow's mansion once we kick his wrinkled ass out."

"Wow..." Monica laughed. Being back in the Capitol, or perhaps just enjoying the gossip, her voice had regained some of its high-pitched tone, and she did not correct it like she'd been doing for a long time now. "Marriage has really done wonders for your sense of humour, cousin. I missed this abrasive but rather amusing side of you."

"Gather 'round," Boggs interrupted the reunion. Calypso regarded the rest of their group. For the most part, it was people she'd already met around District Thirteen: Jackson, Homes, Mitchell, the Leeg twins, the film crew... and Gale. To him, Calypso was public enemy number one, and he made that clear with the way he was grinding his teeth while looking at her. "Squad 451, you're my unit. Lieutenant Jackson is my second-in-command. Each one of you is elite in some form of combat, but we are a non-combat unit. So we'll be following days behind the frontline troops."

"You're to be the on-screen faces of the invasion," Cressida spoke up next. Calypso almost wanted to make a joke to Finnick about keeping his eye on his wife now that she'd revealed her girl crush, but Boggs' words were the only thing she could focus on now. Non-combat? Days behind? "The Star Squad. It's been decided that you're most effective when seen by the masses."

"So we're not gonna fight?" Gale questioned.

"Yeah, I feel like we of all people should be at the front of all this," Calypso agreed. "We've been seen on screens enough. This is our war more than anyone's."

"You'll do whatever you're ordered to do, soldiers," Boggs warned them both. "It's not your job to ask questions."

"Yes, sir," Gale resigned himself. Calypso shook her head in disapproval but stayed quiet. When Boggs looked to her for an answer, a confirmation, she gave him nothing.

"Our instructions are to shoot propaganda footage on the battle-scarred streets of the Capitol," he continued, eyes not leaving her despite addressing the whole group. "You are hand-picked to intimidate their forces and inspire surrenders. Even though we'll be working on abandoned streets miles behind the front lines, I guarantee you, wherever they put us, it will not be safe. This is a war zone. It is likely that we will encounter both active pods and Peacekeepers. You're considered high-value targets to the Capitol. In the event of capture, you'll be given a nightlock pill. A poison that acts immediately. Lieutenant Jackson, do the honours."