The Princess of Panem | Finnick Odair x oc

X

The bright lights of the stage flicker behind the heavy velvet curtains as the crowd roars with anticipation. My heart pounds as I stand with Katniss, her hand clasped tightly in mine. She's tense, more so than I've ever seen her. Even in the arena training, she wasn't this rigid. This is a different kind of battle—a battle for the hearts of the Capitol, for sponsors, for her survival.

"Katniss," I whisper, leaning closer so only she can hear. "Just trust Caesar. He knows what he's doing. He'll guide you through it."

Katniss glances at me, her gray eyes wide with nerves, but she nods. Her grip on my hand tightens, and for a moment, I see the young girl she really is, hidden behind the fierce exterior. I wish I could do more for her, but this is all I can offer—this tiny reassurance before she steps out into the lights.

She takes a deep breath and lets go of my hand, smoothing down the red fabric of her dress. Then, the curtains part, and she steps onto the stage. The crowd erupts into applause as Caesar Flickerman greets her with his signature warm, charming smile. I watch from behind the curtains, my hands still trembling with the nerves she left behind.

Caesar starts with the basics, easing her into the interview with questions about her life in District 12, her family. Katniss answers cautiously at first, but I can see her starting to relax as Caesar works his magic. He's an expert at this, guiding her through the conversation, making her feel at ease even in front of the hundreds of Capitol citizens watching her every move.

From my hidden vantage point, I see her smile—tentative at first, but real. She's doing it. She's winning them over, bit by bit, moment by moment. Caesar leans into her story about her dress, about the twirl she does for the crowd, and they eat it up.

My chest tightens with a strange mix of pride and fear. She's holding her own, but I know this is just the beginning. The real fight is yet to come. I clutch the curtain tighter as I watch her navigate this delicate dance.

Just as the applause swells for Katniss' moment, my attention is drawn to a scene nearby. Finnick is kneeling beside his tribute, Reef, who is visibly upset. Reef's interview didn't go as planned—his nerves got the best of him, and it showed. Finnick's voice is low, soothing, as he speaks to the young boy, but I can't make out the words. Reef looks up at him with wide, tear-filled eyes, biting his lip as if he's trying not to cry.

Finnick gently places a hand on Reef's shoulder, and after a moment, he pulls him into a hug. It's a soft, tender embrace, and something about it feels so out of place in the sterile, glittering world of the Capitol. Finnick, the Capitol's golden boy, showing this kind of vulnerability, this kind of care, for a young boy who's about to be thrown into the deadliest arena imaginable—it's almost too much to bear.

I watch them for a long moment, feeling a lump rise in my throat. Finnick's gentle nature, the way he reassures Reef despite the boy's obvious fear—it's incredibly wholesome. So different from the image he projects to the world. And it makes me realize that maybe, just like me, Finnick is more than the Capitol sees. Maybe we're all just trying to survive in our own way.

Katniss finishes her interview, and as she steps backstage, I rush to meet her. Her face is flushed from the adrenaline, but she looks relieved. I pull her into a quick hug, my heart still racing with pride and worry.

"You were amazing," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "Truly. You did so well."

Katniss smiles, though it's tired, and I can see the weight of everything bearing down on her. She nods, but her eyes are already searching for Cinna. I lead her to him, and he greets her with the same quiet calm he always carries, his presence like a balm to her frayed nerves. We stand together in the wings, watching as Peeta takes the stage for his interview.

I watch the screen as Caesar starts with his usual charm, leading Peeta into the conversation. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Caesar asks Peeta if he has a special girl back home. The change in Peeta's expression is subtle, but I catch it. He hesitates just for a moment before answering, his voice low and steady, "There is this one girl."

I feel a shift in the room as the audience leans in, captivated by his words. Caesar, ever the showman, presses for more details, and Peeta obliges, spinning his story with a quiet intensity that makes my chest ache. He talks about how he's admired her from afar, how he never stood a chance because she came here with him.

And then, the bombshell: "Because... she came here with me."

The crowd gasps, as do I. The impact of Peeta's confession hits me like a freight train. Katniss stands beside me, her face a mask of shock, disbelief flashing in her eyes. She doesn't say anything, but I can see the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. She turns away from the screen, her movements stiff as she walks off to blow off steam, leaving me and Cinna behind.

I watch her go, feeling a pang of sympathy.It's a mess of emotions, of survival and fear. And now, she has to navigate this new twist, this unexpected complication.

Haymitch approaches from the shadows, his eyes following Katniss before landing on me. "Quite the twist, huh?" he says, his tone dry, but I can hear the edge beneath it.

I turn to face him, my mind still swirling with everything that's happened. "It's a good plan," I admit, surprising myself with the honesty of my words. "I just wish you'd told me sooner."

Haymitch raises an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by my response. "Didn't think you'd be one for strategy, Ophelia. Figured you'd be more on the emotional side of things."

I let out a small, humorless laugh. "Maybe I am. But this... I can see the logic in it. And I think there's more to it than just strategy. Peeta—he cares about her. I don't think this is just a game to him."

Haymitch studies me for a moment, as if trying to gauge whether or not to argue. Then, he just nods, his expression unreadable. "Maybe you're right. We'll see." With that, he walks away, disappearing into the chaos of backstage.

I stand there for a moment, watching the crowds move around me, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on my shoulders. Then, I retreat to the penthouse, collapsing onto the sofa, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. I close my eyes, trying to piece everything together, to make sense of this new development.

Peeta loves Katniss. Or at least, that's what he's claiming. But is it just a ploy to win over the Capitol? To gain sponsors? Or is there something real beneath the strategy? Something that even Haymitch and Katniss aren't fully aware of?

I wish I could ask him. I wish I could know for sure. But all I can do is wait and watch, hoping that whatever this is, it's enough to keep them both alive.