A fate worse than death~~A Finnick Odair story~~

39. Goodbye Ian

Elizabeth Whitmore would never forgive Coryolanus and the damned bastard president for ruining her last few minutes with her brother before his game. Convincingly enough, Cory had needed Elizabeth emidiatly that morning, just long enough for her to not be able to say goodbye to Ian, but still make it to the mentoring room before it all started. She would always wonder if it was another sick show of power from the president, just to assure her that he could. He could do whatever he wanted to her and those she loved without enny consequences.

So now she was sitting there next to Finnick waiting for all the tributes to get on their pedestals. Biting her newly pedicured nails, she was hoping Ian would be okay. Then she saw him. He stood there looking so thin and small, almost just a child compared to some of the other tributes. But when it came down to it and the clock ticking down, she had no doubt that her brother would be able to do the right thing.
Run for his life, the one thing she had practically begged him to do.

But her heart skipped a beat when, for some reason, the cameras zoomed in on her brother. She practically wanted to die when she saw his hand with three fingers raised in the air, and when he took a step back she was sure she did.

Her heart-wrenching scream was something that all past victors in the room would remember forever.
It was louder than even the cannon fired for her brother. Just the mere sight of the empty pedestal where only seconds ago a young boy had stood was enough to make even the tuffast victor shudder, but for Elizabeth this was what broke the camel's back. Her brother hadn't even made it past the timer and she was damn sure it was president Snow's fault. He had, with hardly even a blink of an eye, killed her brother. As if he was nothing more than an insect that you squash with your shoe. But one thing she was sure of, whether that day was going to be beautiful or horrible, one day she would make them pay.
For everything.

~~~

The only thing that even gave the heartbroken girl the strength to breathe was her brother leaving on his own terms. She would forever miss him, but maybe, just maybe, someday she would be able to find comfort in the fact that at least he escaped experiencing all the horrible secrets the arena could hide.

She had been filled with even more hate for the Snow family when she was forced to continue watching the game on the first day, and slowly began to recognize it.
This cursed place, where those bastards had murdered her brother, was the same place they had built and designated for her proposal.

She had escaped continuing to watch the other days when, in an extremely short period of time, she had destroyed not one, not two, but three TVs.
Cause fuck them.

The only things she knew were the ones Finnick dared to tell. He was the only one she allowed into her room, she'd even dared to refuse interviews, something Cory had thrived on when he'd had to play hurt and grieving boyfriend. Something that the capital ate up and made them love him more. But honestly, she couldn't care less. Her brother was gone, the one who made her smile every time she got up in the morning was gone, and she hadn't even gotten enough back of him to give a decent funeral.

Her eyes once again began to fill with tears and she did nothing to stop them. Not even when Finnick knocked and stepped in to give her a report on the day's events could she stop.
And he didn't blame her, after all she had lost her brother and if she needed to cry for ten years and five more he would be there for her.

"It's okay Lizzy, I'm here for you."
She didn't answer, was too busy crying her eyes out. A hobby she now more frequently issued, for better or for worse. But he was so patient with her, no one was so patient with her anymore, no one in her intire world. Not even the man who would call himself her fiance.
All he'd done for her lately was send her a folder of potential future wedding dresses so she wouldn't have to bother with them all in a dressing room.
So thoughtful of him.
She hadn't evan opend it, just thrown it at a random chair to be forgotten, and hopfully never returned.

Only the touch of Finnick's arm against hers brought her back from her thoughts, and then she felt herself being seized by the desire to know. "How are they doing?"
"He's just split up from the careeres, and she . . ."
He hesatated making me expect the worst.
"She's alone."
"Ohh noo, Rue, she's--?"
"Yes."
"And so young."
He just put his arms around me and nodded.

"At least Katniss is still alive."
"Indeed she is. You know, I wonder if Haymitch is starting to fear new neighbors."
"Really?!"
We both talked now with a little joy in our voices.
After all, that was Finnick's goal with these visits, to make me laugh, or just feel something. He was determined not to let me sink into the same dark hole I was in after mom.

Yes mom, they were all gone now, mom, Ian, and dad, sometimes I wonder if they're waiting for me...

My mind wandered, but still I could speak, not that I understood what I said, but Finnick did, and for the moment that was all that mattered. "I'm happy for Haymitch, he needs some company. Maybe he'd start drinking less too."
"Yeah, maybe.....But how about we stick to realistic goals for now."
"Aha."
"But Lizzy, I have an important question."
"Mhhhh."
"Are you listening."
"Sure."
"Lizzy you're not!!"
"Sure I am."
"No you're not-."
"Yaha."
"Naha."
"Yaha!"
"Nah-, ugh listen to us we sound like two toddlers!!"
He shook his head slightly, bringing  me back from the memory my brain hade taken me to.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to, it just came so naturly, please continue."
"Well, I was thinking, and..."
"And??"
"Now that we have none left."
A small stabe of pain shot through me with those words, at the riminder,  but I didn't interrupt him.

"Would you like to sponsor them, or at least her??"
"Finnick I--."
"Of course you can say no, I just mean if we could help someone else and--." "I think that sounds like a good idea, we have influence and, if it leads to Haymitch getting some forced company I'm all for it."
"Okay, good, that's good."

A small smile spread across his lips, and was taht, relief in his eyes? Something told me that Finnick had already made up his mind about what he was going to do, but he had still asked me, seeing my opinion as important enough to ask for.

I loved him for that, he saw me, despite my sadness and he refused to let me cave into myself.
God I really loved this man.