Just Imagine: Multi-Fandom Imagines

Just a Kid: Finnick Odair Imagine

It was the 64th Hunger Games. Both you and Finnick, your best friend, were old enough to be drawn, but the chance was one and a million. You were only 13, so your name was in there twice.
The day of the reaping you and him hung out for a while before hand, procrastinating and nearly being late. You laughed and talked, and for a while it seemed like old times, before Annie was reaped and won, but not quite the same, too insane, not herself. She had been your best friend before Finnick's, although he was as close to her as you were. You tried to move on from it, focus on Finnick and your friendship with him. If you spent all of your time mourning Annie, the old Annie, you wouldn't get anything done. It was you who helped Finnick grieve and then look on the bright side-she wasn't dead.
"Hey, y/n," he says, drawing you out of your trance. You turn just in time for a grape to hit you in the face.
"Hey! What's with the assault?" You threw some sand at him, which disappeared in his equally sandy hair.
"You went off to La La Land, and I find it my personal duty to pull you out," he says, throwing another grape at you.
"Is that it? Well, Aquaman, I'm just defending myself then," you threw more sand at him, and as he got ready to through some at you, you dove into the water, swimming out. He joins you, swimming below you and pulling you down.
When he finally releases you, you swim up, bursting through the air. "Drowning me? Are you really that desperate to get rid of your competition?"
It was common knowledge that you and he were the fastest swimmers, always tying in races. You'd beat him, though, and that had wounded his pride, so he immediately demanded a rematch that you wouldn't give.
"You're no competition! I can beat you. If you'd let me prove it," he swam closer to you, treading water as you shook your head.
"Never in your wildest dreams, ODair," you were about to speak again when you heard the distant bells. "Crap! The reaping! We're late," you quickly began swimming to the shore, drying yourself off.
He joined you, rubbing his hair in a towel before drying the rest of himself. "I wish that we could stay here forever and never go there."
You nod in agreement, throwing your shoes on. "I know. It's awful. Up until last year I thought it would never happen to us, but then Annie..." You trail off. "We just need to hope. The likelihood is one in a million."
"Technically, it would be four in a million. Two of us, two votes each," Finnick reason as you ran to the square.
"Shut up," you laugh.
"Make me," he says, and raises his eyebrows in a suggestive way. Even though you were so young, he was very cocky and egotistic. But you didn't care, you'd grown used to it.
As you reach the square, you're among the last ones in line. You receive a few odd looks, your dress soaked and sticking to you, your hair plastered to your forehead. You prick your finger standing in with the other girls your age. You wave your hand to Finnick, who shouts, "See you later, y/n!" You start to shout it back, but then the video begins.
Everyone settles down, watching the footage of horror. You sigh, but don't say a word. Finally, it's the part you were dreading. The women who always draws the names is standing up there, prim and perfect as usual, not a hair out of place. "Here we go! May the odds be ever in your favor," she strays from tradition by drawing from the guys first, and you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding when it's not Finnick. Your eyes wander to the reserved section where Annie is sitting, her eyes in her own world. Suddenly you snap back from your world. "Ladies!" She fishes a name out, digging down and pulling a name from the deep pits. "The lucky girl is...y/n y/l/n!" All of the blood leaves your body, and you feel like you could faint at any moment. One after another, your legs force you up onto the podium.
Once up there, for a moment, you made eye contact with Annie. For real. You could see her, and you knew that she saw you, because she screams out loud, standing up as if she's going to run up to you. "Y/n!"
They have to restrain her as she sobs hysterically.
Your eyes find Finnick in the sea of people, who looks stricken, as if a harsh breeze could push him over.
The next little bit is a blur to you, allowing yourself to be led off the stage and into a back room. "Wait here. Your loved ones will be here soon to say goodbye."
You nod blankly, staring. Your parents goodbye is very tearful, as if they didn't consider being strong for you. Then Annie comes in, a little more aware than before, but still not the Annie you knew.
"Y/n," she says, her voice like a croak. "Will you come back? Or will you-" her eyes get a far away look, and you grab her shoulders.
"Annie, listen to me. Really listen," you shake her a little and pull her out of her mind.
"I'm always listening," she says, her voice low.
"I need you to be strong. Don't go to your own world, even if it's nicer than here. Stay strong for me, for Finnick, but for yourself, okay? You can't dream forever," you instruct. For a brief moment, she just stares at you like you're alien, then nods.
You pull her into a crushing hug. "Thank you," you whisper.
She is told to leave, and almost as soon as she does, Finnick's in. You two look at each other, and you feel a pang of guilt. Finnick would be all alone.
"Well..." You swallow.
"Here we are," he continues for you.
"It's been a long time going," you say. "This-this has got to be a record. Two people in a group of friends, both being..." You look down.
He grabs your hand, and you look in his eyes. "You could come back. Annie did," he points out, but you shake you head.
"She's a year and a half older than us. Besides, she always was stronger than me," he looks downcast, so you say, "I'm sorry Finnick. I really wish I could say otherwise, but-"
He pulls you into a breath crushing hug. You breath in his scent, trying to remember it. When he pulls away, you look at him, this time through teary eyes.
He's just as sad, his eyes watery and angry. "I promise, I won't ever stop missing you. You're my best friend," he says, and you feel a tug at your stomach. He had said the same thing to Annie before she left.
"You said that to Annie," you remark. "But it's true. I'll talk to you when I'm on screen. And you can keep training. You've never beat me, and don't slack off just because I'm not here to taunt you."
He laughs, which you try to preserve in your memory. "I will. Promise," he hugs you one last time, the last time, before he leaves.