THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

56 ~ the girl who is perfectly fine

Finnick kept his head down, focusing more on his shaking leg than the people talking around him. He was only half paying attention when Fletch put a hand on his shoulder.

"What?" Finnick jumped, looking around the room.

Katniss's words slowed as everyone in the room turned to look at him.

"Something you would like to add, Finnick?" President Coin asked sternly.

"No," Finnick shook his head, turning to see Fletch staring at him with widened eyes. "No, sorry."

Coin stared at him for a moment before nodding to Katniss.

"Continue."

"When the war is over, if we've won, Peeta will be pardoned," Katniss said. "No form of punishment will be inflicted."

Finnick's head shot in Katniss's direction.

"Just Peeta?" Fletch asked.

"No, the same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Cashmere."

"No," Coin said flatly.

"Yes," Katniss shot back. "It's not their fault you abandoned them in the arena. Who knows what the Capitol's doing to them."

Coin shook her head.

"They'll be tried with other war criminals and treated as the tribunal sees fit."

"They'll be granted immunity!" Katniss's voice grew louder. "You will personally pledge this in front of the entire population of District 13 and the remainder of 12. Soon. Today. It will be recorded for future generations. You will hold yourself and your government responsible for their safety, or you'll find yourself another Mockingjay!"

The entire room went silent.

"That's her!" Fulvia Cardew, Plutarch's assistant, whispered. "Right there. With the costume, gunfire in the background, just a hint of smoke."

"Yes, that's what we want," Plutarch said under his breath. He turned to Coin. "What do you say, President? You could issue an official pardon, given the circumstances. The boy... he's not even of age."

Everyone stared closely at President Coin as she thought for a moment.

"All right," she said finally. "But you'd better perform."

"Just the tributes?" Fletch asked. "Annie and Mags were captured, but they weren't tributes in the 75th games. Will they be pardoned?"

"Who are they?" Coin asked.

"They're women from our District," Fletch said, motioning to himself and Finnick. "Victors of the 11th and 70th Hunger Games."

President Coin thought for a moment until a look of recognition lit up her face.

"That's not really necessary," Coin said. "We don't make a habit of punishing anyone that frail."

Fletch sighed with relief, but Finnick sat up in his seat.

"And Lina?" he asked. "You mentioned protecting Johanna and Cashmere, but what about Lina?"

"Carolina Snow?" Coin asked.

"Seymour," Finnick corrected quickly, causing Fletch to place his hand carefully on his shoulder. "Yes, her. She was taken by the Capitol just like the rest of them. She deserves to be pardoned too."

Coin stared at Finnick for a moment before turning to Plutarch.

"Turn on the interview from today," Coin said.