One-shots/Short Stories

Finnick Odair

Not What He Seems

Charmer. Player. The Capitol's Darling.

That's what people call Finnick Odair.

When you see him he's all charming and smiling, winking at those lucky women. You'd think he has everything he needs; wealth, the looks, women. . .
But he doesn't have all. He doesn't have. . .love. An emotion that comes true from the heart. He doesn't have someone to cherish, to love, to protect. . .

But that's where you're wrong.

He does have someone to go home to. More than one, actually. And all his secrets are revealed during the Quarter Quell.

***

"Every time that cannon goes off, it's music to my ears." Finnick told Katniss bitterly. "I don't care about them."
"Good to know." Katniss said dryly, pulling out her machete. Sensing the tension, Peeta and Mags went to their District partners.
"Come on, we need to find some fresh water." Peeta told the two. Mags nodded, sending Finnick a warning look. She patted her chest and then pointed at his. A look of sadness and pain swept over Finnick's face momentarily, making the District 12 tributes curious. But that look was gone as soon as it showed up, his face now showing a blankness.
"Yeah, let's go." Finnick mumbled. He easily got Mags onto his back, leading the way. Katniss and Peeta shared a look.
"What do you think that meant to him when Mags did that?" Katniss asked him. Peeta shrugged in reply.
"Maybe he has people waiting for him at home as well."
"Him? People waiting for him?" Katniss scoffed at the idea. "Can't see anyone waiting for that player."
"Who knows?" Peeta shrugged, following after the other two. "Maybe he's not what he seems to be."

***

Finnick walked out of the jungle in a daze, absentmindedly stabbing his trident into the sand before sitting in the water. The others followed close behind. Katniss watched him with concern and curiosity, jumping in surprise when Johanna appeared with some water for her. When Johanna sat beside her, that's when she asked her a question that's been bugging her ever since the Jabberjay hour.

"Who's Rosalie?"

"Rosalie?" Johanna flickered her eyes to Finnick momentarily. "Not much people know her, but she's Finnick's wife."
Katniss choked on the water she was drinking, coughing madly. Johanna smiled in amusement, not even moving to help her with the coughs. "Didn't see that coming, hey."
"That poem -" Katniss coughed out.
"It was for Rosalie." Johanna nodded. "Yeah, he's definitely not what he seems."
"I thought the Capitol women -"
"You know, he's not that bad when you actually talk to him." Johanna snapped. "Don't believe whatever nonsense people say about him. Just know, that what he does, he does in order to protect his loved ones." She gave a small sad sigh. "The last thing Rosalie said to him was, "No matter what happens, just know that we are always there with you"." While explaining what his wife said, she patted her chest and then pointed in front of her as if someone was there. Now Katniss realised why Mags did that; to remind him about his wife.
It was silent for a while when Katniss spoke up again. This time, Johanna didn't have the answer for it.
"I heard kids screaming out as well. They were calling for their father."

***

They sat together in the bunker, every once in a while the room shook from the bombs that were attacking them. Finnick paid no mind to it, busy creating knots onto the rope given to him, unravelling it afterwards to start over again. Katniss watched him the whole time.
"They don't just have Rosalie at the Capitol, do they." Katniss eventually spoke up. He froze at her words. "Back at the arena. . .I heard kids as well. Screaming. Screaming for their father -"
"Peyton and Emanuel." Finnick whispered. His hands began to shake. "My little twins. . ."
"Twins?" her eyes widened at the new facts. "Y-You have twins?"
"They're only four." he sobbed. "Th-They don't deserve th-this."
"Oh Finnick. . ." she brought the broken man into her arms, allowing him to cry on her shoulder. She never realised how different he was compared to what they say about him at the Capitol. He's not heartless. He has a wife and two kids. He isn't a player. He just needed to do whatever Snow told him to do to protect his family. He was kind, he was generous, he was caring and selfless. And he was broken.

***

Haymitch barged into Katniss' room, interrupting her and Finnick's small chatter. "They're back." was all he said before he was pushed aside by Finnick, who ran like the wind. Katniss and Haymitch were surprised by how fast Finnick was running, for someone who was weak and had not done anything physical for ages. I guess when you hear that your kidnapped family is back, you want to see them as soon as possible.
Finnick barged into the hospital wing with a bang, looking around with wide eyes. People passing by would think he was crazy.
Katniss and Haymitch finally caught up to him, panting from their run. "Rosalie?" Finnick called out. "Peyton? Emanuel?"

"Finnick!"
"Papa!"

"Rose! Peyton! Emanuel!" Finnick cried, spotting them from across the room. The three family members ripped off whatever medical equipment that was on them and ran towards Finnick.
Finnick met them halfway with a cry, falling to his knees from their hug. "Oh, Rosalie!" he sobbed, cupping her face in his hands. He placed kiss after kiss on her face, before turning his attention to his twins. "Peyton! Emanuel! My little babies!" He brought his family into a hug, the kids in between the adults. He placed kiss after kiss on his children, telling them how much he loved them and would protect them from then on. He felt so relieved when he saw that no harm came to them.
"I love you," he told the three, "I love you three so much. We're not going to lose each other again, I promise you."
"Pwomise?" Peyton looked up at her father with wide eyes. Eyes that were the same shade as his. Finnick nodded, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"I promise." Finnick murmured.
Katniss, Haymitch, and Gale watched their reunion, a weak Johanna coming to their side. "Not what he seems to be, hey." Johanna said to them weakly.
Katniss shook her head with a small smile, watching as Finnick easily lifted his children into his arms, leading his family out of the hospital wing. "He isn't," Katniss agreed, "he's way better than what the Capitol says."

The End