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

46. Dad would have hated you

It had been a while since our little dinner, a good while to be exact. A couple of months, but we are still waiting, just for something new.

We had decided to watch the brodcast separately, but even so I had ended up on Finnick's couch in front of the TV.

I didn't know why we first decided to watch the broadcast ourselves, or I knew why I did, I knew very well that I could have strong reactions, but if the last six months had taught me anything, it was better to be surrounded by those you love in moments of sadness, than being alone.

My train of thought was interrupted when Finnick splashed down on the couch next to me with a bowl of popcorn. Honestly, it wasn't the time for popcorn, we both knew that, but we hadn't been alive for the past quarter-quill, so what else were we going to do, it wasn't like we could somehow affect the decision that was surely made long ago.

But then the TV litt up and President Snow's face filled the screen. I resisted the urge to outright spit on the screen at the sight of him, but I could see the disapproving look forming on Finnick's face, and I couldn't help but start chuckling. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, nothing, now listen!"
I couldn't even keep a straight face while saying that.
"No, tell me!!"
"It's nothing, now listen to your president!!"

The expression that turned into one of pure disgust when I said those words only made my giggles turn into pure laughter, and that didn't make it any better.
"Lizzy tell me, tell me otherwise....." "Otherwise what?!"
"Ehhh, I'll pick you up right here and now and throw you into the ocean!!" "You would never!!"
I was sure of my words as I uttered them, but when Finnick stood up and effortlessly slung me over one shoulder, I howled in reluctance.
"No no Finn I didn't mean, Finn put me down!!"
But when he started walking towards the balcony door, I couldn't find any more solutions, so I pinched his ass and in sheer shock, he dropped me to the ground.

I was about to joke about how he couldn't just drop me and I'd get bruises all over my ass, but I didn't have time to open my mouth before Finnick raised a silencing finger to his lips.
"I hereby announce that this year's tributes for that quarter-quill will be drawn from the pool of existing victors from previous games!!"
I didn't hear shit after that.

I became num. I knew I might be fine myself, after all there were three female victors in District Four, but male, there was only one, and I knew I couldn't let eader Annie or Mags set foot in another arena.
So there was only one option left, Elizabeth Whitmore and Finnick Odair would be the tributes representing District Four in the 75th Annual Hunger Games.
How. Fucking. Could. They.

I turned around to, well for what?
Did I want to see how Finnick would take the news, no, that was just stupid, he basically had a death sentence handed to him, no one could take that well, but Finnick was nowhere to be seen.

I heard footsteps upstairs, then rummaging through drawers, but I didn't want to go up, not jett.
Maybe he needed a moment to digest this news, and I would give him that, but I could never have imagined his real reason fore going upstairs.

He came down a few minutes later, holding something tightly in his hand. "Elizabeth, I need you to promise me something."
"Wha, why?"
"Just promise, it's important!" "Promise what?"
"Promise me that whatever happens you will not volunteer to enter that arena. I can stand the thought of you--."
His voice broke at the end, and I knew I would have to break more than just his voice now.

"Finnick, I, I..."
"Yes?"
"I can't, I can't promise you that, I wouldn't be able to watch if Mags or Annie became.....I just can't."
He smiled a little, not a happy smile, but a smile.
"I know. I knew, but can you promise me now, just for this second that you wouldn't?"
"Just for this second?"
"Just for this second."
"Then, okay, I promise you that right now, this second, I wouldn't volunteer for, for anyone."
"Good."
"Good?"

"That little hope gives me enough courage to do this."
He opened his hand to reveal a small simple gold ring with a pearl in it, then he got down on one knee. "Elizabeth Whitmore, would you do me the great honor of marrying me." And I was completely speechless,
until I wasn't.

"Finnick, I, I can't."
"But you can!!"
"No Finnick I can't."
I brought out the hand I had held behind my back revealing the engagement ring he already knew was there.

"Finnick, I can't, I'm already engaged." "Do you love him?"
"What?"
"Do you love him?"
"You know that has nothing to do with the matter..."
"Okay then, do you love me?"
"Of course!!--"
"Then marry me!!"
"I can't!!"
"Why not??!!"
"Because, because..."

"Because nothing, Lizzy what I'm asking is a marriage for love, the only reason I see for you to say no is because you don't love me, but you just said you did!!"
"He's going to kill us all!!"
"Who said he needed to know!!"
I didn't know if he was referring to Snow or Cory, didn't know who I was referring to, but did it matter?

"How?"
He smiled, sure he could convince me. "You can wear the ring around your neck, like the one from your mother, we have a little private sermon, maybe on some island, just me and you--."
"What about Mags and Annie?"
"Do you want them there?"
I nodded.
"Then they're there."

He made it sound so simple, so easy, and maybe for a moment I wanted to believe him.
"If I said yes, what would happen after the games?"
"The way I see it, only one will get out alive, in which case death will do us part soooo...."
"That was dark Finnick."
"But true. No matter the end result, I want to know that I lived a life where I got to marry the girl I love!"
"You really thought of everything." "Was that a yes?"
"Naha."
"Ohh you sure? Cus I'd say yaha"

We both smiled, Finnick as happy at the old memory as I was.
"I'm going to take that as a yes."
"Then Mr. Odair it was a yes."
He smiled widely when I let him hang the ring on my necklace, but maybe I smiled a little wider.

"You know, my mother always said to save the ring for someone special." "Uhhu?"
"I think she would have been happy with my choice."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Because I'm positive my dad would have hated you!"
We both burst out laughing at the same time.
For a while we let ourselves forget the news we had just received, we easily forgot what would eventually be the beginning of our end.