Warriors ("Allies" Sequel)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

It takes me a few minutes to calm down after what happened in the cafeteria. Finnick walked me out of there after the transmission was over and we went inside one of the pipe rooms.

"Are you okay?" He asks, when he sees that my shoulders aren't bouncing up and down anymore.

"Yes. No... I don't know." I hadn't even realized it but my eyes are full of tears. "He's alive, he's alive."

"Yes, and well. He looked healthy, which means they're not torturing him."

"Yet." The word escapes my mouth but it's what we were both thinking anyway. "Maybe that interview was recorded a while ago and they have been torturing all of them since then." I regret saying that as soon as I see Finnick's face wince.

"I could be wrong, I mean-"

"It's fine. I've thought about it too. I've had plenty of time alone to do so." He says, looking down.

I know his words aren't meant to make me feel bad but they do. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, they're just speculations. They could be alright, they might not torture them if the cooperate." He says, patting my shoulder.

"No, I mean, sorry for not talking to you, being there for you... just, everything."

Finnick's eyes soften and I see a bit of the old Finnick in them. "You had your motives."

"I needed you too I just, didn't know how to tell you or even tell myself." I say, and I'm relieved that the room is dark enough for him not to see my face redden.

"Well, now that I know, I won't be that easy to push away." He says, as he gets closer to my face. And there I see him: the flirty Finnick Odair that offered me a sugar cube the first time I met him.

My palms begin to sweat and I realize he's not looking straight into my eyes, he takes turns looking at them and then at my lips. My heart is beating faster and I know that, as much as I had craved a kiss from him since he kissed me for the first time, I can't do it right now. I have too many things on my head and this would just mix up my mind even more; so instead I just bury my face in the crook of his neck and take a deep breath, even here in District 13 he smells like salted water.

He wraps his arms around my waist and mine go around his neck. I can feel both of our hearts beating together and I swear I could stay here for the rest of my life, but my thoughts drag me back down into reality.

I back away a little so that my hands are now resting on his chest. "I'm scared." I tell him.

"Of what? Peeta is alive, Katniss. We can rescue him." He says, his thumb brushing my cheek.

"I know but, you saw how people reacted in the cafeteria. Even if they rescue him, they might imprison him for treason."

"Not if you tell Coin not to."

"I can't tell her what to do!"

"You can demand things. She and Plutarch want you to be the Mockingjay so badly, they'll do anything for you. If you demand immunity for Peeta, they'll have to give it to him."

"What if they agree but then take it back once I'm the Mockingjay?"

"Make it public. It'll be harder for Coin to take it back if that many people know about it."

I take another deep breath and smile at him. "Would you go with me? To tell Coin?"

"Of course. Maybe you should have a list of things you want to ask for, just in case."