Nightmares And Seashells

chapter eleven

An hour later as Avery made her way outside with dry clothes, and a pile of her blankets in her arms she bumped into Finnick.

"Easy there Aves." He said grabbing her elbow to steady her.

"Need a hand with that?" He asked motioning to the tipping pile.

"If you don't mind, then yes please!" She squeeked back.

With a chuckle he took about half leaving her the rest. It was the she noticed the box of fancy cupcakes in his hands.

"Those for your mom?" She asked looking at the expensive treat.

"Yeah they are. Raising Cas and I she never really had the money for them. My dad used to get her one on her birthday." He said smiling sadly over to the girl.

"Now that I'm a victor, I thought she'd appreciate the treat. My blood money has to be good for something right?" He asked jokingly before resuming walking across the street.

"Right.. Speaking of, have you had any nightmares recently?" She asked as she caught up with him.

"Yeah they've been getting worse as the games get closer." He admitted as they got to his yard.

"Would you like me to make you some tea tonig-" She was cut off when a blast knocked the two of them to the ground in the front lawn.

Looking up at the flames engulfing the Odairs home she screamed.

"CASPIAN!"  Running up to the house she tried to look for a way in and she heard Finnick screaming behind her

"CAS?! MOM?! NO NO NO!"

as she realized there was no possible way in and that no one was coming out Avery felt her knees buckle as she dropped to the ground sobbing.

Watching as Finnick cut himself trying to rip open the busted out window. Screaming again.

"Fucking open damnit! Caspian! mom!"

Once the fire was out Avery watched, tears still streaming down her face as two bodies covered in while sheets were wheeled passed her.

Her gaze followed them until stopping on Finnick, the last Odair swatting away the medic who was trying to tend to his cut on his hands and arm.

After walking over she motioned to the medic to hand her the bandages.
She then knelt down in front of Finnick grabbing his wrist pulling hand and pulling his arm closer.
Silently getting to work wrapping his ands and arm. He should have stitches but she didn't know how and the medic couldn't get close.  She assumed she would ask mags to do it when she was done talking with the peacekeepers.

"I should've said yes." He said looking up to Avery's tear stained face.

The shock was wearing off and all he could think about were snows final words.

"When snow asked me, I shouldn't have said no. He said I'd be sorry and he was right. He did this. He took my family! They didn't DO anything and he took them!" He said getting worked up again as the tears fell freely down his face.

To stop his shaking Avery pulled him into the tightest hug she could.

"Finny you can't put this on yourself.. if it was snow then it's on HIM not you.. not you.."

She said her voice cracking as she choked back her own sobs.

Finnick just clung to her, like his life depended on it. staring over her shoulder at the smashed cupcakes in the grass.

Avery Winters was all he had left and he'd be dammed if he let snow take her too.

Later that night after Mags had managed to get the two to come back home with her, a Avery laid out all of her blankets and pillows in the middle of their living room and pulled Finnick down to sit with her.

"Caspian.." She said choking up again at the thought of her best friend.

"He told me he was proud his big brother stood his ground, against the president no less. And I am just as proud. If this was snow, that disgusting excuse of a man will get what's coming to him..." she said pausing when he just laid down not saying anything.

"We can go see if anything can be salvaged at your house tomorrow after the reaping.  I'll be right by your side every step of the way. You're not alone Fin."  She said settling down next to him, and rolling on her side so she could see his face.

"Okay.." was all he could respond not trusting his voice. When he finally turned to his own side too look at the younger girl she gave him her best attempt of a smile and wiped the stray tear off his cheek.

It was in that moment he realized that what he was feeling for the girl with eyes as green as emeralds was moving well beyond a silly crush, and with that realization came a storm of emotions. Snow couldn't have her too..

A/N
I loved writing Caspian as a character . I wanted his death to have impact, so when I go back to edit this I may add more Cas moments. I need to flesh everything out more in general. Right now I'm just trying to get everything out as I think of things. Give me patience 🙏

Also side note Caspian's "evil smile" is definitely stiles from teen wolf when he sits down next to Jared on the bus