Black & Blue || Finnick Odair

14

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Venus stood numbly as a Capitol stylist moved around her, working on the outfit she had been placed in. It had been a week full of pure hell, millions of questions and shots; the girl wasn't even sure she knew who she was even more. A large amount of makeup had been placed in her face to try and hide the purple bags from under her eyes, the numerous scars and bruises she had been given through lashings and the paleness of her usual tan face. She was dehydrated, famished and overall tired; having not slept for days.

'Venus... Venus, sweetheart. It's time to go on,' The short woman stated.

The Hereford girl nodded, showing no emotion as she was led from the room and into the hall. She walked slowly, her eyes sitting straight ahead. If she had learnt anything whilst being in the Capitol, it was that the rebels were bad. Katniss was bad. Finnick was kind of bad. Venus sighed in relief as she saw Peeta up ahead, sitting in one half of a white chair next to Caesar. The boy was much worse off then she was, but not by much.

He sent her a tight smile as she was sat down, before he looked away; going back to looking just as numb as she felt. People were talking to the pair but they were hardly listening. As a camera rolled in front of them, they both knew it was time. Their stylists hurried over, fixing their posture and hair one last time before the live stream began playing.

'Hello. Good evening. And a big welcome to all in Panem. I'm Caesar Flickerman. And whoever you are, whatever it is you're doing, if you're working, put down your work. If you're having dinner, stop having dinner,' Caesar stated; 'Because you are going to want to witness this tonight. There has been rampant speculation about what really happened in the Quarter Quell. And here to shed a little light on the subject for us are two very special guests. Please welcome Mr. Peeta Mellark and Miss Venus Hereford.'

Everything in District 13 seemed to stop at the sight of the two victors on the screen, everyone gathering around the nearest screen. Finnick stood in the hospital lobby after Katniss' mother came and got him, telling him he had to come see. He stood with tears rolling down his face as he saw Venus sitting beside Peeta, he could tell she was skinnier and not well; he could tell the Capitol was destroying her and Peeta.

'Peeta, a lot of people feel as though they are in the dark,' Caesar began.

'Yeah, I know how they feel,' Peeta replied monotonously.

'Now, so set the stage for us. Talk us through what really happened on that final and controversial night.'

'Well, first off, you have to understand that when you're in the Games you only get one wish. It's very costly.'

'It costs your life.'

'I think it costs more than your life.'

'How do you mean? What's more than your life? Venus, would you like to answer?'

'To murder innocent people, that costs everything that you are,' She replied.

'Yes.'

'So you hold on to that one wish. And that night my wish was to save Katniss,' Peeta continued on for her; 'I should've just run off with her earlier in the day like she'd wanted.'

'But you didn't. Why? Were you caught up in Beetee's plan?'

'No, I was caught up trying to play allies. And then they separated us and... That's when I lost her. And then the lightning hit... And the whole force field around the arena just blew out.'

'Yes, but, Peeta, Katniss is the one who blew it out.'

'No.'

'You saw the footage.'

'No, she didn't know what she was doing. Neither of us knew there was a bigger plan going on. We had no idea.'

'You had no idea? Venus, did you?'

The girl shook her head, simply looking at the camera; wondering in the back of her mind if Finnick was watching. She didn't know why she thought about the man, he was on the bad team; but the nagging thought in the back of her mind wouldn't stop. Venus ignored the rest of interview, her mind clouded over with thoughts.

'Venus? Venus, can you answer for me?' Caesar cooed.

'Yes, sorry. I want everyone who's watching to stop and to think about what a civil war could mean. We almost went extinct once before. And now our numbers are even fewer. Is this really what we wanna do? Killing is not the answer. Everyone needs to lay down their weapons immediately,' Venus stated before she paused for a moment; 'Finnick, if you're watching this, please make them stop. Make them, or you'll die. Think about it!'

Finnick tried to ignore the arrogant yelling from around him as he stared up at the now black screen, his heartbreaking even more than it had already done. Now knowing that Venus was alive only made him feel worse. She was stuck in the Capitol with Peeta and Johanna, along with every other surviving Victor that wasn't picked up by the District. And there was no way the District was going to rescue them all, only Peeta because it got Katniss to be the mockingjay.

Numbly, the man walked back to his room with the help of a nurse. He didn't even notice the little boy standing in the corner of the room beside Prim, his long hair matted and his skin bruised. Tommy watched as Finnick got into his bed, not even looking his way once but he didn't mind; for, he knew what had happened. He was just as heartbroken as the man, losing his only living sister to the Capitol was scary.

Though Tommy was glad he had been rescued from his District, the place having been bombed because of the ever rising rebellion. He hadn't been able to save Sylvia, but saved Jackson; letting the grey horse free into the surrounding bushland knowing he would find his way home when it was safe. The boy had seen just as much terror as if he were in the Games, the death of Zyra and her children being the first; some of his friends from up the road being the next. They were all dead, along with half of the District.

'Finnick... There's someone here to see you,' Prim said softly.

'I don't want to see anyone,' Finnick muttered in reply.

'You'll want to see him. Please, he needs a familiar face after all the terror he's been through.'

Slowly, the man's head rolled to the side on the pillow; his gaze instantly meeting Tommy's as he watched him with hope in his eyes. Finnick instantly sat up when he recognised the boy, his feet instantly hitting the ground as he stood before crouching down with his arms wide open. The little boy ran straight into his arms and instantly began cry into his shoulder, glad to have someone until his sister got rescued.

'Hey Tommy,' The man from Four sighed as he wrapped his arms around the boy and stood.

'H-Hey F-Finnick,' Tommy replied.

'It's going to be ok, you're safe now.'