Finnick

Finnick Odair || 19 || Victor of the 65th Games

[gideonprewett]

Annie Cresta, Victor of the 70th Hunger Games

screencaps from Abduction (x)

[district4annie-blog]

The small smile tugging at Annie’s lips grew wider when Finnick said he liked her, too. She believed him, even if she wasn’t sure why he liked her. He could have stopped being her friend after the Tour, and he hadn’t. He could have given her anything for Christmas, and he’d chosen two things that couldn’t be interpreted as anything but personal. Her smile widened that much more when he slid into the seat beside her, and a warmth she hadn’t realized she’d lost flooded over her. She let out a soft chuckle at the story he told; it hadn’t escaped Annie’s notice that Finnick rarely talked about his father, and he spoke of his mother even less. She didn’t push him for more, instead poising her fingers over the piano keys again. “I like that one, too. Too bad I can’t dance to it and play it at the same time. I won’t stop you from showing off your Christmas moves, though, if you want,” she teased him, giving him a soft nudge before she started to play the song.

[district4finnick]

There were very few things Finnick guarded fiercely, especially since becoming nothing more than property of the Capitol, memories of his parents were at the very top. Finnick rarely offered anything real when it came to them and those rare times he was always acutely aware of what he was sharing. The few times he’d shared with Annie had not been exceptions to that. This time though mention of his parents had happened without him thinking about it. The memory had just slipped out. He wasn’t sure what that meant except that maybe he was just tired or overly emotional because of the day and their previous conversation. Normally it was just Mags and him, which probably had something to do with it too. Annie’s words kept him from dwelling too much on the reason why, making it easier just to accept those and move on. “My Christmas moves? I dunno that I have those. Maybe if Mags comes in, I’d just look dumb dancing alone.” He realized as he talked that he wouldn’t mind dancing with Annie and it was a little disappointing that she wasn’t going to dance. To get rid of that weird thought he threw himself into singing the cheerful tune. His feet refusing to stay still so he ended up tapping them and clapping along.

[district4annie-blog]

“I try to be with you.”

The words caught Annie by surprise, left her with memories of the young man she’d met the first time she boarded the train who she hadn’t liked at all. But that hadn’t been Finnick, not really. “I’m glad,” she answered him just as softly. “I like you.” And she meant that, though she was certain he must know it. Annie offered him a small smile, struck by the fact that this sort of discussion was not the kind you were supposed to have on Christmas. Christmas was for joy, for laughter, for forgetting about all of their problems for a day. She scooted over on the piano bench, leaving a space next to her. “Come here,” she told him, patting the empty space. Although she didn’t want to think about why, she didn’t like the space between them. Things always seemed to be nicer when Finnick was closer. “What’s your favorite carol?”

[district4finnick]

Finnick didn’t let himself think about if she’d still like him if she really knew him. Instead he was too surprised that she would say that after the victory tour. His smile became more natural with that and he couldn’t stop himself from replying. “I like you, too.” He wished she hadn’t had to go through the games but he was glad that somehow the two had become friends after all of that. Glad she’d let him get to know her a little. Her scooting over was surprising but he was happy to oblige and slid down beside her quickly. “Mine? Um….Fisherman’s Christmas I think. I’ve always liked how it’s more upbeat than a lot of the other carols. My mom used to say it was the only carol you could dance to.” Finnick didn’t actually remember his mother saying that but his father had told him plenty of times when he was younger and he’d beg his dad to sing it again.

[district4annie-blog]

It occurred to Annie that Finnick had been there for her every moment following her Games. Maybe he hadn’t been so much before the Games – or at least he hadn’t been open with her – but maybe he had a good reason for that. It was hard enough watching children from her district die on television each year. It had to be worse from Mags and Finnick’s position. And the truth was – Annie shouldn’t have won. She had been a fluke. An accident the Capitol wanted to brush under the rug. But Finnick had not given up on her. Except for the Victory Tour, maybe, but that was Annie’s own fault. She was too broken for that. It was her turn to shake her head. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she told him quietly. “I…you gave me something to hold onto. You…you’re always real. You’re never part of the nightmares.”

[district4finnick]

Finnick didn’t know what to say to Annie. He thought she could have done it without him. Even if she couldn’t have done it alone had he not been there Mags would have. Mags might have even be able to have done more. But she hadn’t been there because she’d been trying to protect him, shield him as much as she could. “I’m glad I could help,” he told her softly knowing as he said it that it wasn't enough. He just didn’t have anything else. Once again he was out of words when it came to Annie. Finnick couldn’t use lines and such with her. She demanded real from him which was something he didn’t know how to do. Making her statement that he was always real ironic. “Real,” the word felt foreign on his tongue, “I try to be with you,” he finished softer than before. This was starting to get way too heavy for something that was supposed to be a joyful, happy day. Finnick smiled at her and nodded before talking again, this time his voice was his normal volume, “I’m glad the song helped you.”

[district4annie-blog]

The voice faded away when Annie started singing and she was worried she’d chased it away, back into nothing more than a memory. But it returned, soft and warm and gentle, so Annie continued with what she was doing. More than once the voice slipped away before she was finished playing, but she pressed onwards, warmed every time it joined back in to mix with hers. For all the times her mind had played tricks on her for the Games, presented her with sights and sounds that were not real, this was the first time she was appreciative of it. The first time she didn’t want it to end. The memories were always awful, and while this one was bittersweet, all she could think was that it was the only thing she’d had to cling to. The thing that had saved her. It was not until she struck the last note, the music echoing through the room a moment after her fingers left the keys, that Annie remembered she was not alone. And in that moment, she realized the voice had not been in her head. He had been here. Standing behind her. And he had been with her on the train, too. Even when she was healing from the Games. Slowly she turned around to face him, her eyes wide as the truth sunk in. “It was you.” Her voice was nothing more than a whisper, but it was certain. “You sang to me. After –” Annie couldn’t bring herself to say it, afraid that the memories might come back to assault her. So she said something else. “You saved me.”

[district4finnick]

As drugged up as Annie had been after her games he hadn’t thought she remembered anything that happened in that room. Finnick remembered them because he wasn’t drugged so they were seared into his memory. But Annie, she’d been so drugged. So it was a surprise to hear her words. To hear that she remembered him singing. But he had no doubt that she was thinking of then. Before he could acknowledge it she was saying more and Finnick’s words died on his tongue. He hadn’t saved her. All along he’d done nothing but underestimate her. And then when she’d finally gotten home broken and battered he’d just helped build her up enough to parade her around the Districts. Helping them drug her so she could be propped up and distracting the crowds with his ‘brilliant smile and tanned abs’ so they wouldn’t notice that she was out of it. All so she could spend the rest of her life plagued by nightmares that didn’t go away when the sun came out. Finnick shook his head at her words. “I just sang. You, you did the rest. That was, that was you.”

[district4annie-blog]

“Hey! You’re not allowed to be mean to me on Christmas,” she answered quickly, but the wide smile on her face made it clear she wasn’t anything but amused at his comment. If anything, the memory of Mags kicking the pair of them out of the kitchen put her in an even better mood. Lessened the small, dark cloud that had appeared at the memory of her mom and the fact she could not be here. Annie had her dad, and she had Finnick and Mags, and she was grateful for each of them. And she was glad for this chance to share a part of herself with Finnick, even if it was something as simple as a song on the piano. It was important to Annie, carrying with it memories of her mother – memories that had saved her, when she’d heard that soft voice singing to her right after the Games, when she’d been drugged up and so lost in her nightmares she could not make out anything that was real. Except for the voice, and suddenly she heard it again. Singing along softly, and then slightly louder. Slightly closer. Her fingers wavered on the keys, but Annie closed her eyes and forced herself to continue playing, afraid of what she might lose when the song was finished. This time around, however, she allowed herself to sing along softly as well.

[district4finnick]

“Oops,” Finnick told her lightly with a shrug and a laugh. It was clear that she had not been really upset by his words. The mood was far less light when she started playing. The tune had so many bittersweet memories. Vague, probably not actual memories of his but more his father’s memories, of his mother singing it. Sharper memories of his father singing it. Those terrible days he’d spent locked up with Annie as she healed from the games. When Annie’s playing wavered slightly Finnick picked up on it and stepped back a little thinking he’d disturbed her. But then she started singing along and Finnick smiled, forgetting to sing along a few times. And then the tune was over, the spell broken, and Finnick felt a vague sense of awkwardness that felt out of place. “I’d never heard it played before, only sung.” He spoke up hoping to rid himself of that awkward feeling before it settled over him like some uncomfortable, itchy sweater.

[district4annie-blog]

It was much easier to forget the odd, unsettling thoughts that had momentarily popped into her head now that there was some distance between her and Finnick. Easy to attribute them to a little too much holiday cheer, and nothing more. Her smile came easily at Finnick’s words, and she quirked an eyebrow at him. “I don’t have to promise you dessert?” Annie couldn’t help asking, nor could she help that her smile widened slightly with the thought. She didn’t answer his question right away, pausing a moment to consider it as she slid onto the bench in front of the piano. “Well…” she began, resting her fingers lightly on the keys and suddenly wishing very much that her mother could be here, too. “I don’t think it really counts as a Christmas carol. But my mom would always play it, anyways.” 

Annie smiled sadly at the memory, glancing down at the keys before she continued, “It’s an old song a lot of the fishermen sing, you might know it.” Annie still didn’t know a lot about Finnick’s life before the games, except that it sounded like he’d been alone for far too much of it. But she didn’t ask, instead letting her fingers move over the keys, beginning the song soft and slow and unable to keep from smiling slightly as the familiar music filled the room. 

[district4finnick]

Finnick chuckled at her question, feeling back to normal finally. “I’ve seen you cook remember,” he teased back. Their bread baking session had ended with more flour on them then in the bread. A memory that was one of his favorites. Mention of her mother reminded him of the little she’d told him about the woman. It’d been her that had taught Annie how to play the piano and Finnick wondered what she might have been like. The tune she started playing roused him from those thoughts and he was surprised at her pick. It had been the same song he’d sung her on the train. Finnick listened for a moment a soft smile on his face. He’d never heard the tune played on a piano before but the melody was so familiar to him that he knew it was the same one. Softly he started singing along more accident than on purpose. His feet moving him closer to the piano but the desire not to distract her kept him from going too close.

[district4annie-blog]

It was hard to say what drove her to kiss Finnick on the cheek. Maybe it was he fact that he’d seemed to like the gifts she gave him, despite her worry that the scarf was too silly and the compass was something she’d had for ages. Maybe it was the gifts he’d given her in return. The ring he’d made for her himself, fashioned after all their conversations of mermaids – though Annie still was not convinced his comparison was correct. And the bracelet, the secret message inside that meant more than she could say, a secret just for them fashioned out of something else that had once been rendered useless. Half of her was braced for him to push her away immediately. In fact, she almost wished he had, because it suddenly felt as if the room had become ten degrees warmer. Her cheeks flushed, his words making her heart flutter oddly in her chest. “I –” She looked up at him, unsure of what to say and struck by an odd, overwhelming warmth. “Thank you,” she whispered. And then she was struck by the tiniest flicker of a thought. That maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to kiss him again, only not on the cheek.

But that was not where she wanted her mind to be going – not at all – so she stepped back from him quickly. “Um,” she cleared her throat, her eyes downcast as she searched her head desperately for anything that might distract her from that thought she was trying to forget. “Oh!” She smiled, relieved as a thought came to her, and she quickly made her way over to the piano. She paused a moment, letting her fingers glide gently over the keys without sitting down, and looked over to Finnick. “Do you think Mags will mind if we start the carols without her?”

[district4finnick]

Their closeness surprised him now that they were face to face, still so very close. Normally being this close to someone made Finnick feel ill. But Annie wasn’t like them. She was kinder, softer, she was safe. Despite that his pulse was still racing and there was a strong urge to leave the room in a panic. Except the panic wasn’t because of the Capitol, wasn’t because he felt dirty and wanted nothing more than to drown it all out. Finnick didn’t understand what he felt but he knew it was something new, different. Just when he thought he might finally raise his eyes to look at her again as he struggled with what he was feeling she stepped away. Suddenly it was easier to breath.

Her exclamation had him finally looking back up at her. It was much easier to smile back at her now that she was so far away. Easier to just dismiss what had happened in those brief seconds as some sort of weird panic attack that didn’t belong on this happy day. “I’m sure the sound of carols being sung will lure her to us. She’ll be happy she’s not having to coax me into it with promises of dessert after.” It wasn’t that Finnick disliked singing carols, or singing in general. He just felt a little awkward doing it. But Mags had never had to try very hard to get him to sing and now that he’d spent so many Christmases with her any reluctance was just habit anymore. “Do you have a favorite?” he asked as he took off the scarf, way too warm for one in the house, and put it and the compass carefully back in the box so they wouldn’t get lost. He was already feeling better, all the weirdness: overheating, racing pulse, trouble breathing; where fading fast.

[district4annie-blog]

Annie couldn’t help the flurry of nerves that settled in her stomach as she watched Finnick read her card. It had taken her at least ten tries to get it right, and suddenly she found herself wishing she’d just gone with a simple ‘Merry Christmas!’ and been done with it. But Finnick didn’t seem put off by what she’d written, so she offered a small smile back and watched in mildly nervous anticipation as he opened her gift. She laughed at his teasing, smiling widely when he didn’t hesitate to put on the scarf despite the fact it was not perfect. “No, you just made a mess of my yarn,” she teased back. “Told ya you were getting it for Christmas.” She just hoped he liked it, though the more important part of his gift was the one he came to next. “Do you like it?” She couldn’t help asking, tacking on a further explanation before she could stop herself. “It’s from a shipwreck, I think. I found it a long time ago, when I was out on the fishing boat with my dad. It was so old and cool I held onto it, but – …well, I thought maybe you like it even more.” Her smile turned shy, and she hoped he wouldn’t mind that his gift had come from her own personal treasure collection rather than someplace else. 

Fortunately she didn’t have to dwell on that too long, because then Finnick was offering her a small box. She took it with a smile, opening the card first. The words gave her pause, just as he did every time he said she was strong, but it was his mention of smooth seas that had a small smile tugging at her lips again. She peered up at him, eyes shining with curiosity as she carefully unwrapped the gift and opened the box. She saw the ring first, a wide smile spreading over her face as she took in the mermaid tail. “Oh, wow,” she breathed, pulling it out and sliding it onto her right hand. “You made this?” It was one of the prettiest things she’d ever seen, and it meant even more that he’d remembered their conversations as well as she did. And then there was the bracelet. She picked it up, curious, to examine the message hidden on the inside, and once again she felt her breath catch in her throat. Her eyes flickered back up to Finnick, a lump suddenly settling in her throat. The words were beautiful, and coming from Finnick they meant more than she could say. Because she knew without a doubt he meant them. “Thank you,” she whispered, a smile pulling at her lips as she slid it over her wrist, admiring it for a moment and appreciating all the more that the message was hidden. Something that only they knew, and that was all Annie needed to step forward and pull him into a tight hug. “It’s perfect,” she whispered into his ear. And then, overcome by something she could not put a name to, she turned her head slightly to the side and pressed a quick, gentle peck to his cheek.

[district4finnick]

He laughed at her joking. As much as he’d teased her about getting the scarf for Christmas, and she’d teased back the same, he was still surprised and touched she’d given it to him. Her first scarf. Though maybe it was just meant to be a joke. Still Finnick wore it happily. “I’m glad to see you keep your word,” he teased back. The explanation for the compass was an interesting one. Finnick looked at it again with even more appreciation. He wondered how long she’d held on to it and what made her choose to give it to him. Even if there was no real reason behind it other than she wanted to give him something besides the scarf he still appreciated it. Finnick liked things with history and a story to them. New things were too much like the Capitol for him to really enjoy them. “That’s awesome, Annie. I love it. Thank you,” he told her clearly touched but as much as he was tempted to give her a hug or even just a quick peck on the cheek he didn’t.

Instead he’d thrust his own gift at her. Best to do it before he lost his nerve. Giving jewelry had seemed like a good idea till he was face to face with her wondering if she’d like it or not. At least she seemed to like the card, he’d been so uncertain what to say in it. He shrugged at her question before nodding. “Yeah, I um had some wire left over from Mag’s gift and it kinda happened while I was fiddling with it. Glad it fits.” That wasn’t exactly the truth. He had used wire left over from the necklace he’d made Mags but it hadn’t been accidental. Finnick had carefully shaped it into the shape of a mermaid’s tale. At the time it seemed fitting, a mermaid’s tale for a mermaid without one. But now he felt embarrassed about it. The bracelet was another worry. The words in it felt personal and the fact that they were on the inside like a secret message between the pair was very personal. He breathed a small sigh of relief when she liked it. “You’re welcome. It’s um actually made from some silverware they found, maybe it’s from the same shipwreck as the compass.” He’d barely gotten the words out before she was pulling him into a hug. A hug he returned happily. Her whispered words made him smile but it was the kiss on his cheek that had him suddenly feeling way too warm. Or more likely the scarf. “I’m glad you like it,” he managed to whisper back despite the fact that he felt like it was suddenly a lot harder to breath. “It was made for you.” The last words tacked on softly. Even though he’d bought it at the market Finnick felt it was meant for her. The only one with the message on the inside instead of the out, special, just like Annie. That thought he kpet to himself.

[district4annie-blog]

It was impossible to feel anything but warmth and content today. Although it was her first Christmas since the Games – her first Christmas away from her old home, from the friends who had stopped coming by to see her – she was comfortable. That was what Christmas had always been about, really. Not about the festival on the docks or being able to go out on her dad’s boat. It was about being around the people who made her happy. And this year, those people were her dad, Finnick and Mags. She wasn’t going to let herself dwell on the friends she had lost, on her mom and Owen and his family. And it was easy enough, when she was talking and laughing over lunch with the people she cared for most. 

The day had not been perfect. Annie had woken in a nightmare, and she’d nearly slipped back into her own head once more during lunch. But she was okay. A touch from Finnick and she’d been able to ground herself and stay that way, even as they were shooed from the kitchen by her dad and Mags. Annie knew better than to protest, and the truth was she was happy to be left alone with Finnick for a little while. As soon as they were in the living room she took his hand and led him over to the Christmas tree. “C’mon, you’ve gotta open your present!” She smiled widely at him, leaning over to pick up the small box and hold it out to him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

[district4finnick]

Christmas felt a little cheerier this year. Finnick supposed that was on account of there being two extra people instead of just Mags and him. It had started off the same, with Finnick spending some time in the water thinking of his parents. This year he hadn’t stayed in the water as long. Mags would need time to get whatever he dragged out of the ocean ready for their company. He might have spent a little more time getting ready for lunch too. Though most of that time was spent debating his gift to her. Was it too much? Too little? Too personal? Gift giving was a whole lot easier when it was just Mags he was giving stuff to.

Lunch had helped take his mind off his worries about her gift and he’d strolled into the living room with her with a full stomach and a clear mind. Before he had a chance to suggest anything or say something to her Annie was taking his hand and leading him to the tree. Her excitement and smile were contagious and he found himself smiling back at her. Finnick read the card first and smiled at her words, wishing he’d wrote out something a little nicer for her. He didn’t waste too much time before opening the gift, just gave her a smile after he’d read the card. It was a little surprising to see the scarf she’d been working on, the one he’d teased her about a lot, in there and he chuckled. “Didn’t I help make this?” he teased her as he put the scarf around his neck. Realizing the box wasn’t empty he looked back in and saw the compass. “Oh wow! This is cool.” He kinda wanted to ask where she’d gotten it from but that was bad manners so he didn’t. But it was so old and cool looking he couldn’t help wondering. “Here’s yours,” he told her handing over the small box. The worry very much back on his mind now.

[district4annie-blog]

Dear Finnick,

Did you know you’re really hard to get gifts for? Next year I am just going to give you a hug, but since this is our first Christmas together I thought I should give you a little something more. That said, I hope you like it.

I really do, because you are a wonderful person. Thank you for being my friend. Thank you for making me laugh. And thank you for not giving up on me. I’m so glad to know you. 

Merry Christmas, Finn.

With love,

Annie

[district4finnick]

Annie,

I’m sorry we didn’t meet under better circumstances but I’m real glad we’re friends. You’re one of the strongest people I know. I saw this bracelet at the market and thought you might like it. The ring is just something I fiddled with.

I hope you get some smooth seas your way soon. 

Merry Christmas,

Finn

*the bracelet says ‘a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor

[district4annie-blog]

Christmas in District 4

[district4finnick]

Finnick and Mags :’)

[district4finnick]

It was hard to be disappointed that he’d woken her up when she was so cute peeking over at him. Finnick’s smile grew before he answered her. “Morning.” He stared for a moment before realizing it and looking away as he scooted over. Sitting so close to her in the light of the day seemed a little less okay then it had in the dim light of night. “I uh think Mags might be making breakfast if you’re hungry.” This wasn’t the first time they’d fallen asleep but Finnick suddenly felt very awkward and he wasn’t sure why or what to do to get unawkward. 

[district4annie-blog]

For a few seconds Finnick just smiled down at her, and Annie felt her own smile growing as she looked at him, content to do nothing else. His hair was mussed up from sleep, and she was struck by the odd desire to reach out and touch it – but then the spell of the moment was broken as Finnick looked away from her suddenly, scooted away as if he no longer wanted to be near her. And maybe he didn’t. Maybe he really hadn’t wanted her here, and now she’d more than overstayed her welcome because she’d actually fallen asleep. And this wasn’t the first time she’d done this to him. Suddenly she remembered the night on the train, the last night before the rest of the Tour had turned into a nighmarish haze she couldn’t escape, and for the first time since the night before Annie heard the screaming echoing in the back of her mind once again. She sat up quickly, brows pulling together as she brought her hands up to cover her ears, as if she might wish away the sounds she didn’t want to her. “Breakfast,” she repeated, trying desperately to cling to reality even if Finnick didn’t want her here anymore, and she managed a small, almost mechanical nod as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to fight off the demons that were forcing their way back into the forefront of her mind.

[district4finnick]

Finnick’s smile fell when he turned to see how with her hands over her ears. That was always a sure sign that she was slipping away. Without thinking about it he reached out and grabbed one of her hands. “Mags makes the best breakfast so you’re in for a treat. Maybe since you’re here she’ll make waffles. You like waffles right? I mean who doesn’t like waffles.” Maybe if he kept talking she wouldn’t slip away. He didn’t understand how it all worked for her but talking seemed to help her. Sometimes. “When they have blueberries down at the market she puts those into the waffles and it’s like magic.” Continuing talking about food Finnick couldn’t help wonder how much of an idiot he sounded prattling on and on about the types of waffles Mags could make. He was running out of waffle related things to say though, there was only so much he could think of about waffles. They weren’t even his favourite breakfast food. “We can have hot chocolate too. That one I know we can get no matter what else she’s making.” He smiled over at her hoping his talking was working.

[district4finnick]

Finnick wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep at first. The light streaming into the windows had him blinking in surprise. His neck felt stiff like he’d just slept in an awkward position and he straightened out a little to roll it. It was in moving that he realized he was in the living room. His eyes quickly darting down to find he’d fallen asleep on Annie’s shoulder. That hadn’t been the plan when he’d invited her over. He’d just intended to keep her company a little longer. The room had just been so cozy and warm after the cold, windy beach. Soft noises from the kitchen answered his next question before his mind even had a chance to form it. The blanket over them must have come from Mags. If Mags knew then this couldn’t be that bad. She’d have woken him up if it was. That thought kept him from panicking. Slowly, carefully he sat up rolling the kink out of his neck. He glanced over at Annie’s sleeping form beside him and couldn’t help but think how cute she looked sleeping peacefully. Hopefully he could get up without waking her. 

[district4annie-blog]

Annie had slept more deeply and peacefully than she had in a long time, and it was only the feeling of something shifting beside her that finally caused her to stir. For a few blissful seconds, the sunlight on her face and the warmth beside her felt like a wonderful dream – and that was all they could be, for this was not how Annie woke up. She woke up in fits of panic, coated in a cold sweat and unsure if she had really managed to escape her nightmares. She didn’t wake up feeling warm and cozy and rested – and with a dull pain in her neck? That certainly felt real, but why did she…her eyes opened slowly, and it was with sleepy surprise that she took in Finnick’s face gazing over at her. A smile tugged at her lips without her thinking about it, though a moment later she realized what had happened. Registered the couch she was curled up on, the blanket spread across the pair of them. She’d fallen asleep here, and there was nothing she could do for the redness that was slowly spreading across her cheeks. “Morning,” she mumbled, unsure of what else to say.

[district4finnick]

It was hard to be disappointed that he’d woken her up when she was so cute peeking over at him. Finnick’s smile grew before he answered her. “Morning.” He stared for a moment before realizing it and looking away as he scooted over. Sitting so close to her in the light of the day seemed a little less okay then it had in the dim light of night. “I uh think Mags might be making breakfast if you’re hungry.” This wasn’t the first time they’d fallen asleep but Finnick suddenly felt very awkward and he wasn’t sure why or what to do to get unawkward.

[district4finnick]

Finnick bit his bottom lip trying not to laugh at how cute Annie was being. His own eyelids were feeling rather heavy but how could he fall asleep and miss any of this cuteness, it just wasn’t possible. “Something nice?” He thought for a moment before smiling. “My first Christmas here Mags let me pick out the tree. She said I could have any tree I wanted. The one I picked was so big we couldn’t put a star on the top because it was too tall the top hit the ceiling and bent a little like so,” Finnick curved his hand in the shape the tree had taken. That had been a nice Christmas. He could still remember the look on Mags face when he’d found that tree. She’d known it wouldn’t fit and had still said yes. Finnick’s eyes slid closed for a second thinking about it. His head gently fell to the side and when it landed on Annie’s shoulder he cracked his eyes open just the smallest bit. “Brilliant Christmas,” he whispered sleepily as his eyes started slipping closed again. “M not sleeping,” he mumbled despite not being able to open his eyes again.

[district4annie-blog]

“Mmhm,” Annie hummed softly in answer without opening her eyes. And it was lucky she didn’t, for she wouldn’t have known what to make of the way Finnick was looking at her. Fortunately she was spared, and a smile pulled at her lips as he told his story. She opened one eyes when it sounded like he was giving her an explanation, and her smile widened at the thought of a crooked Christmas tree stuck in the middle of the living room. Her eyes were too heavy to stay open longer than that, though, and once more they slipped closed. It did not startle her, though, when Finnick’s head came to rest on her shoulder. Her smile widened as she was flooded with warmth that felt distinctly different than the warmth from the fire, but she gave it little thought as she allowed herself to lean over, taking Finnick’s weight with her. “Me either,” she mumbled back, sinking more comfortably into the couch as sleep continued to pull her from the conversation, but she was not quite ready to let herself drift all the way away from this moment.

[district4finnick]

Finnick wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep at first. The light streaming into the windows had him blinking in surprise. His neck felt stiff like he’d just slept in an awkward position and he straightened out a little to roll it. It was in moving that he realized he was in the living room. His eyes quickly darting down to find he’d fallen asleep on Annie’s shoulder. That hadn’t been the plan when he’d invited her over. He’d just intended to keep her company a little longer. The room had just been so cozy and warm after the cold, windy beach. Soft noises from the kitchen answered his next question before his mind even had a chance to form it. The blanket over them must have come from Mags. If Mags knew then this couldn’t be that bad. She’d have woken him up if it was. That thought kept him from panicking. Slowly, carefully he sat up rolling the kink out of his neck. He glanced over at Annie’s sleeping form beside him and couldn’t help but think how cute she looked sleeping peacefully. Hopefully he could get up without waking her.