Calm as the Ocean <Finnick Odair>

Running in Place

I wake with a start, only to realize I'm safe on Finnick's lap once again. I settle back down and stare at the ceiling. I look back at him and see his eyes are closed and breaths are even. I listen to the calming waves of the nearby ocean and close my eyes also. I breathe in the salty air from the ocean and it paints a picture in my head.

I see two young kids, a boy and a girl, playing in the sand. One is a dirty blonde and the other a dark brown. The young girl giggles at the boy when his sand castle falls down. They boy stands up and walks fearlessly into the ocean, signalling for the girl to follow. She shakes her head no but he grabs her hand and tells her it's safe. She reluctantly walks into the water with the brave young boy.

That's when my memory ends, leaving me in tears. We were so young, so clueless of the terrible actions taking place around us. If you haven't picked it up yet, that memory was about me and Finnick.

I was young to be picked for the games, way too young. When I went into the games, I was innocent, when I came out, I became a fearful killer. Not that I didn't feel anything during the games, I cried the first three times I killed someone but I soon got used to the sound of my weapons sinking into flesh. I became the most wanted and dangerous tribute in my games, killing more than half of the tributes.

I didn't go on a killing spree, never. I killed for survival, wanting to get it over with. During the games, I developed a new side of me. An aggressive, ruthless, killer side of me. But I never use that side of myself anymore, only if there's an attacker.

"Are you ok?" I hear Finnick ask.

I jump in surprise at his deep voice. I didn't know he was awake.

"I'm fine." I say.

"Then why were you tearing up a few seconds ago?" He asks, concerned.

"Um, I wasn't." I lie.

"Yes you were, I saw you." He tells me.

"I just remembered something, don't worry." I say.

"Ok." He says.

He lays his head back against the couch with a sigh and I curl up in a ball, laying my head on his lap again. He drapes a fuzzy blanket over me and I snuggle up to him, thankful for his warmth. I feel him brush hair off of my face and I close my eyes again.

"Aww is Alyssa sleepy?" Finnick says in a baby voice.

I nod my head with my eyes closed. I can picture his smug smirk even in my head. I start to smile a little, holding back my incoming laugh while Finnick starts cracking up.

"Your face it turning red Aly." He says while snickering.

I giggle a little bit, my eyes still closed. He laughs lightly at my giggle.

"How do you giggle like that?" He asks with a smile.

"What do you mean? It's easy." I say giggling, again.

He tries to imitate my giggle but ends up sounding like a drunk, possessed chipmunk. I laugh my ass off at his attempt. My face heats up as I laugh and I gasp for air between laughs. He is doing the same. For once, I'm actually not, crying, fighting, or scared. I'm completely comfortable right now, cuddled up on Finnick's lap while laughing really hard with him.

After we finish laughing at his miserable attempt to copy my giggle, he gets up to make a small dinner for us. I take the whole blanket and cuddle up with it, turning my body away from the kitchen so I can hear the ocean.

I hear him chopping something with a knife and then tossing dishes in the sink, making a loud clanging sound. I roll me eyes with a smile at his loudness. I close my eyes and relax, listening to him cook.