Masked Enemies

Chapter 19

Katniss

I walk Finnick down to my new room. The room I have in the Estate. It is tiny, but cozy. There is one bed in the room, a large one, with thick comforters and a giant headboard.

"Wow." Finnick says. "Your deal was way better than mine. I got one of those smaller rooms with a single person bed."

I feel like teasing him, so I say: "Well, I am way cooler than you are."

Finnick pouts. His bottom lip sticks out just a little bit. I love it when he did that. He smiles again, his white teeth showing. They are glowing in the light of the Capitol.

My hand, for some crazy reason I am not aware of, reaches out to brush his shirt. This reminds me of the encounter with the mutts. "Hey, how are your wounds?"

"I got checked out of the hospital a couple days ago. The cuts however, still sting. You're the doctor. Wanna take a look?" Finnick asks me.

I am uneasy. I want to say no, but I say yes, because I cannot say no to this boy. I am not a healer, unlike what Peeta used to say. I nod anyway.

Finnick takes off his shirt and throws it on the bed. He faces me, the scars on his back showing. I can somewhat see his ribcage, small and discreet. His arms are slightly more muscular, and his shape slightly slimmer.

I can't look at him anymore, so I tell him to put his shirt back on. He does so.

I yawn, and I realize I am tired. I go into the bathroom and wash up before I come join Finnick on the bed. I fall asleep quickly, my head against his chest, just the way I used to do it with Peeta.

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"Katniss." A voice whispers into my ear. "Katniss, wake up."

I open my eyes and groan. I roll over on the bed and barrel into a hard stomach. Closing my eyes again, I lay there, warm air coming in small puffs out of my mouth. I can feel the shirt I barreled into getting warmer every time I exhale.

I start to drift back into sleep, but this time the stomach that I am sleeping on moves, jerking me awake. I look up, and see Finnick standing over me. He is smiling, as if something amusing had happened when I barreled into him.

"You can't stay asleep forever. The train back to District 12 leaves today." Finnick tells me.

"I can if I want to." I retort sleepily. "And where will you be going? Are you staying in the Capitol?" I ask him. There is a small pang of hope in my chest. Maybe Finnick will come to 12 too.

"I'm going back home. My people will probably be worried sick. It'll be nice to be by the sea again." Finnick says. "Oh, by the way, they're electing a new president today. I should've told you earlier. Slipped my mind, most likely."

Great. Finnick was going back to 4, Johanna was going back to 7, and Gale was going to 13. Which meant that I would be alone with Haymitch, who was really, really trying to be sober.

"Get dressed. The train leaves at noon." Finnick orders me. It sounds harsh, almost sad. I suspect that it has to do with home.

"Finnick... do you really want to go back to 4?" I ask him.

Finnick looks uncertain, nervous, even. "I'm afraid." He starts.

I stare at him, confused. The great Finnick Odair, youngest ever victor of the Hunger Games, scared?

He must have seen my confusion, because he continues. "I-I'm afraid of what they'll think of me. Finnick Odair, the guy that could save his friend but not his wife!" Finnick throws his hands up in agitation. His face seems lost, and very, very angry. His eyes sparkle angrily, glistening with tears.