saving serena , finnick odair (ON HOLD)

chapter seven

After dinner ends, Finnick and Serena head straight to training as the girl would prefer to get it done sooner rather than later. Kai and Roman also decide to do this so follow them until they stop at their own training room.

Although it's, technically, illegal to train before the reaping's, the law has seemed to've been looked over for the career districts. They're the favoured districts, which is why floor 1,2 and 4 of the tribute centre have two extra rooms for the careers to train before going into the games. Serena expects the other floors have them but they've never been touched.

"Change into this." Finnick states as he chucks a tighter training shirt at her. Serena's bottoms are already good for training - leggings - but her yellow jumper won't do. She catches it easily and immediately pulls the soft jumper over her head and chucks it on the floor. Finnick has turned his body so that she knows he won't look, and the gesture shocks her. Serena would have thought he'd be the type of person to watch her slowly and let his eyes roam across her body. But he's not.

"You can turn around now." Her voice cracks the awkward silence that suffocates the pair as Serena tugs the tight training shirt to straighten it. Finnick turns around and looks at her, his face void of any emotion.

The girl finds it difficult to figure out Finnick Odair. One moment, his arrogant facade will lay upon his face perfectly as it fits as easily as a glove. But the next, it will crumble to dust underneath her shoes as he gazes at her or avoids her eyes in fear of the hatred that will be inflicted on a heart that can't bare anymore pain. She knows, however, it's not just her trying to figure the other out. Serena's kindness has often switched into a burning rage in a matter of seconds. The games constantly taunt her and remind her of the only real thing left in her life: her inevitable death.

"Here," Finnick passes her a light sword, sculpted by careful and considerate hands. He picks up her jumper and places it on a bench, where he strips his own top off and switches it for a training top. Another thing that catches Serena off guard. As he works the top onto himself, he never once turns around to show off his body. It may be because Serena has already seen it, or that Finnick isn't someone that will show himself off unless forced to.

Serena turns away from him and starts to weigh up the sword by placing it in different hands, throwing it slightly in the air and letting it land back in her firm grip. Her mentor steps in front of her just as she's figured out the exact weight and swiftness of the blade. "I want you to get to know the sword first." Finnick tells her as he crosses his arms in front of him.

"Already done." The mentor raises his eyebrows in surprise. Serena gives a slight smile as she flips it in her hand and eyes him curiously.

"Okay, great." He moves towards one of the dummies stood in the small room. Finnick gestures to it with a sturdy hand. "Show me what you've got."

Her movements aren't as swift and skilled as her spear work. In fact, to Finnick, they look slightly clunky. Serena swings her arm in an arc to slice open what would be a gash in her enemy's shoulder. She then twists her body slightly and takes a jab at the stomach, wedging the weapon into the tough dummy material.

"Not bad." Finnick comments. He brings his hand up to his chin and starts to scratch it thoughtfully. "There's a lot to work on, but you've already got a lot of the techniques and swings right." With his identical blade, the victor steps forward and towards the dummy. "Watch and take note."

Serena nods her head slowly and focuses on Finnick's body as he does the same movements as she did, but with so much more precision. He looks how Serena feels when she uses a spear: like they are one. When he's finished, the mentor turns to his tribute with a reassuring smile. "You got it?"