unforgivable ➸ finnick odair

T H I R T Y F I V E

KATNISS POV

"Remember, Katniss, today's about making allies," Peeta said as they walked into the training room. Katniss opened her mouth to reply but instead grimaced as a man in front of them leant over and retched loudly.

"So far I'm not overwhelmed by our choices," she said, exchanging looks with her district partner.

"Guess we just try to figure out who we trust least and work our way backwards from there."

They nodded at each other and split up, Katniss wondering the room and observing her fellow victors. Everyone in the room had already handled these weapons in their own Games, so at the weapons stations, there was no one fumbling around. These people already knew their strengths.

Gloss from One was throwing knives at the glowing orange humanoid holograms with vicious brutality, grunting with each lunge and throw. His sister approached him, casually tossing him a knife, and they destroyed the last two holograms in sync. Johanna from Seven was swinging her axe at an invisible opponent, face contorted with rage, and she shot Katniss a dark smirk when she embedded the blade of the axe into the floor. Brutus from Two used one spear to destroy two holograms, timing his throw with calculated precision. Peeta was stood at the same station, and Katniss threw the two one last glance before moving on. Enobaria, Brutus's district partner, was sparring with one of the trainers, fake swords clashing with loud thuds as they fought. She hissed at Katniss when she walked past them, baring her sharpened teeth and no doubt wanting to rip her throat out. A shiver went down Katniss's spine.

They were not just random names picked from glass bowls. They were trained killers. They would not hesitate.

"Hey, Fire Girl." Katniss blinked as she was broken out of her thoughts. Electra Reine was standing in front of her with a smile on her face, looking amused. Her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail. "Told you I'd see you at training, didn't I?"

"You did," Katniss said slowly. "Uh, what's your weapon of choice then?"

They'd come here to make allies, and despite her numerous misgivings, she knew that in these Games, she did need them. There were people Katniss particularly didn't want to ally with, but Electra Reine was not on that list. The victor from Five wasn't a Career, seemed nice enough, and if Haymitch was to be trusted, she was skilled. But more than that, he called her loyal to a fault - protective. Katniss wanted her protective instincts to lie with her and Peeta, not with any of the others.

Electra's smile widened. "I'm partial to throwing knives," she said. "But just give me a blade that's not outrageously heavy and I'm set." The two of them began walking towards the throwing knives section, which thankfully Gloss and Cashmere had left. Katniss sat down and watched as the simulator whirred into action.

While Gloss had been loud and forceful, Electra was neither. She tilted her head up and took deep, steady breaths, knife held securely in her hand. The holograms weren't stationary, but Electra seemed to know where they were going to go before they did, and each blade she threw brought on a shower of orange sparks. Her grey eyes were narrowed in focus, but otherwise, she looked surprisingly relaxed and at ease, moving with a sort of feline grace.

When the final charging figure burst into glowing pieces, Katniss stood up and approached the other victor. Electra blinked several times and seemed to slip out of her concentrated state, offering Katniss a grin.

"You're really good," she said. "How can you be so relaxed?"

Electra laughed. "I don't know, I guess I just get in my zone." She blinked again and smiled, but it looked strangely fake. Katniss hoped she didn't say anything wrong.