Sweetheart // F.O

16

It was late at night when she woke up to her dad slamming her bedroom door open. Since her games, she'd been plagued by nightmares and tonight was no different. Only tomorrow, she'd be moving to district 4's victors village.

"Can't y'be any quieter?" Percy snaps at the girl as she wipes tears from her cheeks. "Y'r keeping your mother and I up. How're we meant to get any sleep with you across the hallway?"

"I- I'm sorry... I'll try be quiet." Niamh apologised despite her nightmares being no choice of her own. Softly she put her teddy down when he left, It was nearly 3 in the morning but somehow she found herself pulling on a pair of trainers with her pyjama shorts and tank top.

Tying her hair in only a low side ponytail, she quietly left the house. Niamh knew it was stupid to be out so early in the morning but she softly made her way to her favourite beach, it was just outside of victors village and she'd been going for years.

Only the sound of waves and distant birds filled her ears as she sat only 10 metres from the coast. She couldn't help the thoughts that plagued her and the loneliness didn't help that case.

"You should've died in that arena."
"You're nothing."
"Morgan deserves this more than you."
"Don't disappoint us again."

Niamh can't stop herself as tears fall, remembering how often her own parents had said similar words to her since growing up. Marina and Percy Murphy may not have liked any of their children but they hated Niamh Murphy more than anything.

A part of her tempted to just walk into the water and never come back. At least then she wouldn't be such a burden on people. It was when she stood up and took steps closer to go towards the water, she heard a voice and froze up.

"Niamh?"

It was the familiar voice of her once mentor turned fellow Victor that made her look up. Finnick moves to stand beside the girl with an exhausted look across his still handsome face.

"H- hi.." she murmurs, wiping the tears from her face in fear that he'd notice them. She notes how he holds a short piece of rope in his hands and keeps tying it then untying.

"Y'okay, sweetheart?" He asks quietly, watching as she wipes the tears. It was obvious she wasn't okay but he didn't know how else to comfort the younger girl.

"Peachy." Niamh says sarcastically, attempting to make a joke of her feelings despite the fact she was just on the verge of drowning herself. She'd done that since childhood and even after going through the trauma of the games, she continued to.

They stand in silence on the soft sand, his arm wraps around her as she leans against him. Finnick could tell she was tired and quickly realised it must've been something to do with her nightmares. Finnick may not know it but by deciding to go to the beach that night, he just saved her life.

Since his own games, he'd been haunted by nightmares of the arena. In the past months, he'd been haunted by the trauma of losing his family. Though he'd never tell anyone, Finnick knew it was President Snow's fault they were gone.

4 years of being used by the Capitol broke him so he snapped. He remembered the night vividly, it had been his 18th birthday; 17th May. After a night of faking happiness and getting drunk amongst more Capitol assholes, he'd found himself storming to President Snow's office.

4 years of blackmail and rage caused him to yell at the man. He'd been fourteen when Snow threatened his family if he didn't comply. He'd been sixteen when Snow first sold him. He'd been eighteen when he'd rebelled and had it thrown in his face.

The next morning, Finnick had a call from Caspian explaining there'd been a boating accident and there was no survivors. Jordan and Rosemary Odair would never spend a picnic with their children again. Isla Odair would never get to see thirteen. Finnick would forever be alone.

Their deaths meant he was free from Snow forcing him to sell not only his body but also his morals. Then shy Niamh Murphy was reaped and President Snow realised he once again had someone to hold over Finnick.

"Sweetheart?" He murmurs against her hair as they watch the waves hit the shore. When he heard a soft hum in response, Finnick quietly asks the hard question.

"D'ya wanna stay with me?" The Victor asks, keeping his voice low and calming. A part of him wanted to stay with the girl forever but he knew one night would have to do.

"Yes please." Her voice is barely a whisper as he leads her from the deserted beach and towards victors village where she'd soon reside. Her fingers link with those of the older boy's as they walk towards his house once he puts the bit of rope in his pocket.

As they walked inside, her gaze moved to the many pictures. Everyone in District 4 knew of the Odair family's accident. Water helped their son win his games but it ended their lives as tragically poetic as it sounded. Their funerals had been broadcasted throughout Panem and made a national mourning but no one realised exactly what happened the morning of May 18th.

No one thought to consider foul play when it came to their deaths and the fate of the Capitol's Darling. He was their golden boy after all, why would anyone think to question his happiness?

She follows him up the stairs quietly. A part of Niamh still felt in disbelief that he cared enough about her despite the weeks they'd spent together. Why would anyone care about her?

"Thank ya." She whispers, too scared to speak loudly in fear this was all some dream.

Finnick gives her hand a reassuring squeeze before she sits down on the pale blue bed and pulls off her shoes. "Try get some sleep, sweetheart." He says, his voice quiet and calming as he walks towards the door. The Victor wanted to stay and comfort her but didn't want to assume she was fine with sharing a bed, even after the night before the arena.

"St- Stay with me?" Niamh asks quietly, terrified of being alone but not wanting to disturb his sleep more than she already had. "Please.."

That's all it took for him to get into the bed with her. Neither of them said a word as she moved to rest against his chest, craving his comfort. She couldn't help but wonder why he was awake in the first place.

"Finn?" She murmurs against his shirt as he soothes patterns against her back.

"Yeah, sweetheart?" Finnick says quietly in the dimly lit bedroom. It was obvious that he was exhausted. Only hours ago he'd arrived from another trip to the Capitol. It had been one of the many since Snow had now taken to using the most recent victor against him after finding out how Finnick was threatening Capitolites over how they attempted to dress and treat Niamh.

"Why were y'up so late?" Niamh asks, looking up from her place in his warm arms. She could see the marks that littered his neck like before her games and wondered how he'd gotten them.

"It isn't important." Finnick mutters against her hair, almost bitterly. A part of him would always believe he wasn't important so whatever is going on with him isn't important either, right?

"Yes, it is."

The older boy's sea-green gaze turns to her. It confused him how someone who'd barely spoken to him for more than a month, could actually care about him.

"Nightmares." He admits quietly, not daring to mention how they were about his time in the Capitol. For a few days after his visits, Finnick would struggle to sleep as the thoughts of what they made him and others do hurt him.

"Oh.. 'm sorry. I- I get 'em too.." Niamh whispers softly to the boy. She knew it wouldn't stop his but she could only hope that he'd take solace in knowing that he wasn't alone.

Neither of them said a word as he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle embrace, burying his face against her long hair. "Try and get some sleep, okay?" Finnick murmurs.

As Niamh slowly closes her eyes, for a moment she swore she felt him press a kiss to her forehead. "G'night, Odair." She whispers, finding a sense of relief from his touch.