Black & Blue || Finnick Odair

23

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'Different People. Same Issues.'

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Venus pulled her hood up over her head with her free hand as Finnick lead her through the huge crowd of District Eight, pushing his way through. She kept her head low as she held his hand tight, anxiety building in her stomach at the fear of being taken away again. Her hand was constantly checking the boomerangs that sat in holsters on her hip, before her eyes flickered to her staff that Finnick carried with his trident. But they were soon out of it, letting them walk side by side through the barracks that had been built. The girl raised her head slightly, but not enough for her face to been seen clearly when she heard a familiar voice.

'Finnick?' Katniss' voice sounded in the air.

She scrunched her nose up at the sound, her husband's hand leaving her as he hugged the Everdeen girl.

'Are you with us?' Katniss inquired.

'Looks like it,' The blonde replied.

'That was a short honeymoon.'

'Yeah, well, I guess we're gonna have to have one in the capitol. After we take it.'

'Venus?'

'Don't get big headed,' The Hereford girl drawled as she finally pulled her hood back.

She looked at Katniss for a moment before her head snapped around to look at Boggs as his voice hit her ears, scaring her slightly. Venus looked up at Finnick as he took her hand again, handing her the tall staff with a comforting smile.

'Gather round,' The man command as he entered the tent with Katniss' film crew; 'Squad four-five-one, you're my unit. Lieutenant Jackson is my second-in-command. Each one of you is elite in some form of combat. But we are a non-combat unit. So we'll be following days behind the front-line troops.'

'You're to be the onscreen faces of the invasion,' Cresta spoke up; 'The star squad. It's been decided that you're most effective when seen by the masses.'

'So we're not gonna fight?' Gale spat.

'You'll do whatever you're ordered to do, soldier. It's not your job to ask questions,' Boggs sent him a pointed look.

'Yes, sir.'

'Our instructions are to shoot propaganda footage on the battle-scarred streets of the Capitol. You were handpicked to intimidate their forces.'

'And inspire surrenders,' Cresta added.

'Even though we'll be working on abandoned streets miles behind the front lines, I guarantee you, wherever they put us, it will not be safe. This is a war zone. It is likely that we'll encounter both active pods and peacekeepers. You're considered high-value targets to the capitol. In the event of capture, you'll be given a nightlock pill. A poison that acts immediately. Lieutenant Jackson, do the honours.'

The Hereford girl watched as the dark haired woman took the box from Boggs, opening it before handing a pill to Katniss. She swallowed at the thought of what it could do, the voices in the back of her mind chanting for her to take it as one was placed into her hand. Finnick looked at his, studying it, before he noticed Venus' intense stare on her own. He lightly squeezed her hand, bringing her gaze up to look at him. He took the pill from her palm, tucking both of them away into his pocket as Boggs spoke.

She closed her eyes as Finnick leant his forehead against her temple and whispered, 'I'm right here.'

She nodded, letting out a long breath before she opened her eyes again; keeping them set on the floor as she pulled her hood up again.