unforgivable ➸ finnick odair

T H I R T Y T H R E E

Despite Sean's optimism, seven relatively unremarkable years went by. Electra visited the Capitol regularly, smiling for the crowds of adoring fans during the day and smiling for the men and women who paid for her company at night. At home in Five, she threw knives at the shadows which lurk in her house and lost herself in the gaze of the stars in the sky. They had no name for them in Panem, but she liked to draw patterns between the scattered pinpricks of white.

Travel between Districts was banned, even for victors, so Electra settled for regular phone calls and meetings whenever she and Finnick ended up in the Capitol at the same time for appointments. He introduced her to Johanna, the vicious victor from Seven who tricked the whole nation, and the two girls became fast friends.

Although, standing with her back leaning against a kitchen countertop and listening to her speak through the phone, Electra wished otherwise.

"Come on, Lectra. I'm your best friend." Johanna stressed the last two words pointedly, and Electra couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Well, best friend, I hate to break it to you, but I don't have a crush on anyone. Anyone." Johanna let out a disgruntled huff.

"Star-girl, this denial thing you've got going on is really getting on my nerves."

"I'm not in denial! And stop calling me Star-girl," Electra added.

"You're like, obsessed with them, so you can't really blame me. Last time we were all in the Capitol you dragged me and Finnick up to the bloody rooftop just to look at the stars. I nearly froze to death!"

"Stop whining," Electra said, giggling. "It wasn't that cold. Finnick didn't complain."

"That's cause he likes you," Johanna deadpanned. "Of course he wouldn't complain. Loverboy would probably freeze his bollocks off just to spend some extra time with you."

Her face bloomed with colour. "You're seeing things, Johanna," she said. "I don't like Finnick and Finnick doesn't like me. We're just friends."

"You think he's pretty though, right?" The victor from Seven pushed.

"I - I mean, yeah, he's good looking, but that's not - "

"And you think he's got a nice personality, right?"

"Well, obviously, but I - "

"And your heart gets all jumpy around him, right?"

Electra froze. "Yeah," she said, after a long thoughtful pause. "Yeah, it does. But that's, that's just friend stuff. That's me not knowing how to do friendships. I don't have a crush on Finnick."

"Sure you don't." Johanna sounded impatient. "Look, I'm like, the worst person to talk to about relationships and whatnot, but even I can see the way you two lovebirds look at each other. And you, my friend, look at Finnick Odair like he's the bloody sun. It's disgusting. What's even more disgusting is that he looks at you the exact same way, like you're one of the stars you're so obsessed with. You have no idea the number of times I've seen you two eyefuck each other, honestly - "

"I've gotta go now," Electra interjected, face resembling a ripe tomato. "I promised Des and Sean I'd watch the Quell announcement with them. Sorry. Bye!"

"Electra fucking Reine, the announcement is in fifteen minutes, get your ass back here - " she swiftly disconnected the line and set the phone back into its holder, leaning her palms on the table.

It had been seven years since her fateful victory. In those seven years, she and Finnick had of course grown closer. Unless either of them were occupied, they spoke over the phone every night before going to sleep, and when they found themselves in the Capitol simultaneously it was rare for them to be separated by anything other than the calling of clients. She felt safe with Finnick, in a way she didn't quite know how to describe.