PREY.
( 11 )

Finnick carefully watched as Ansel helped Beetee to shore, making sure the boy was alright. He didn’t want to interrupt whatever the two tributes were doing, mainly because it looked like Ansel was simply comforting Beetee after losing his long time friend and district partner. This was one of the many reasons why Finnick loved Ansel. It didn’t matter if Ansel actually knew someone, if he saw that they were struggling, he would help them. The boy had the sweetest heart with the purest intentions and Finnick found himself wishing he could be more like him.

Finnick was almost one hundred percent sure that Ansel had barely uttered ten words to Beetee before Wiress had been killed. However, that didn't matter to Ansel as he patted Beetee on the back as he consoled him. From afar, the two seemed rather close and Finnick thought that perhaps Beetee would be a good mentor or father figure for Ansel. He knew the boy needed one. Finnick stared at the boys for a few more moments before he was being drawn out of his thoughts by Johanna, who stepped up to where he was sat on the sand.

“Why do you love him?” She asked randomly, quickly glancing over at Ansel as she looked away from Finnick. Johanna could tell that the male loved the boy very much, yet she had no idea why. Feelings didn't come very easily to her and she was sure that she had only been in love once before. Although that hadn't worked out well for her.

“You ask me why I love him?” Finnick began, looking over at Ansel as he laughed at something Beetee said. To Finnick, Ansel's laugh was like the chiming of bells: soft, delicate, and so, so beautiful. “Ansel is like the water, to me. He’s so refreshing, but I know I wouldn’t be able to live without him. And he’s like the sun, too. He’s a bright, bright star in my life and I have no idea where I’d be without him. Ansel is what keeps me down to earth, he’s what keeps me sane. That’s why I love him.” Finnick explained. “And look at him - he hardly even knows Beetee and he’d doing more for him than anyone else has done in the entire arena.”

The air between Johanna and Finnick was silent for a few moments as they both stared at Ansel for different reasons. Finnick, because he was simply admiring his boy. And Johanna, because she was trying to see in Ansel all that Finnick had described. She couldn't figure it out, yet she supposed that beauty was in the eye of the beholder. Johanna only wished someone saw beauty in her; that someone would love her as much as Finnick loved Ansel. Yet, that was simply a dream and there was no time to dream in the Hunger Games. She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts.

“I’m sorry, for treating him badly. I guess I didn’t realize how much he meant to you. I just thought he was some last minute fling before we all die.” Johanna frowned sadly, genuinely sorry for her past actions. She wouldn't have treated Ansel amazingly as she simply wasn't that person. However, she would've been kinder to him had she'd known - well, as kind as Johanna Mason could get.

“I’m worried about him, you know? Even with everyone’s protection, he’s still a target. I mean, the strongest career is after him. At any given time, he could die, just like Wiress did.” Finnick sighed sadly as he cursed Ansel for being given such weak genes. If only they could switch bodies, Finnick would do so in a heartbeat. But only for this games, he wouldn't want Ansel having to suffer through what Finnick did everytime he visited the Capitol. The male repressed a shudder even thinking about all the horrible things President Snow made him do and how vile it made him feel. No matter how repulsive it was, Finnick was glad that Ansel already knew of his past. Otherwise, he would've felt as though he were hiding something from Ansel and Finnick never wanted to do that - especially when he knew it would hurt the boy. Finnick hoped that after they escaped and took down the Capitol, he could finally be free from their grasp and be able to live in a normal life (well as normal a life as someone who has been traumatized since being a teenager due to having to kill others).

“I’m going to go find him some food, he needs it.” Finnick spoke up once more as he watched Peeta and Katniss look for oysters. He patted his legs twice before pushing himself off of the sand.

“He’s like a twig, your boy.” Johanna chuckled, glancing over once more at Ansel. When the male stood to the side, his profile didn't have a whole lot of shape to it and lying down, one would probably mistake him for a wooden board.

Finnick laughed as reached down for his trident. “Believe me, I know.” Finnick grinned, before he was walking away from Johanna and down into the water, searching for any signs of fish.

Eventually, he managed to find a large, tuna like fish swimming around in the deeper areas of the water. He stabbed his trident down into it, and watched as blood rose up into the visible waves. He pulled the trident (with the fish on the end of it) out of the water, and waded back to shore, where he cleaned and gutted it quickly.

“Watts!” Finnick called out once he was done, easily pulling Ansel away from his current conversation with Beetee and over to where Finnick sat. Ansel could easily pick Finnick's voice out of a crowd, seeing as it was the only one that could make his heart pound (well besides Brutus’ but that was for a completely different reason). “As you know, I’m a man of my word.” He grinned, handing Ansel an entire, perfectly cut, fish.

“That’s why I love you.” Ansel smiled, pressing a chaste kiss to Finnick’s lips before taking the fish and devouring it quickly and easily. The boy moaned softly as he ate the seafood, not having had it in quite some time. He forgot how delicious it was and warmth and comfort spread through him as not only did the fish cure his hunger, but it always reminded him of Finnick and with the male beside him, it felt like home. If at home they had to kill one another or be killed until only one survived, then exactly like that.

Finnick smiled as he ate his own fish. Ansel, despite being cut up and bruised from the previous attack, still managed to look absolutely beautiful. The sun hit his hair in just the right way, causing it to transform itself into a shiny bronze tone; his brown eyes lit up whenever he looked up at Finnick; his skin was golden from the constant sun; and his lips were a rosy pink, just the color Finnick liked.

“I’m going to go and find us some water, if that’s alright.” Ansel spoke once he had finished his fish. He was very much dehydrated, especially since he and his group hadn't found water when they were split up and the blood from the rain was still prominent in his throat from when he had choked on it. Finnick nodded his head and Ansel smiled in return, before walking off into the shallow forests, just out of sight from Finnick and the rest of the group.

It must've only been about five minutes later, that’s when they heard it. It was a young girl, screaming. And by Katniss’s reaction, Finnick automatically knew that it was her sister. Katniss immediately ran into the forest, screaming her sisters name, until the group realized it was just a bird. Katniss quickly shot it down, but as soon as that one had died, another one appeared, and another one, and another one, until there were hundreds of jabberjays screaming ruthlessly at the tributes.

Finnick suddenly heard Ansel screaming. “Ansel? Ansel!” Finnick screamed in response, desperately searching for the boy as he ran hurriedly through the jungle. “Please, Ansel!” He choked out, falling to his knees as a flock of birds surrounding his head. “Fuckfuckfuck…” He desperately sobbed, covering his ears. He couldn’t help but assume that Brutus had gotten to Ansel while he was alone in the jungle and that Brutus was torturing him ruthlessly.

But he was suddenly drawn out of the fearful stance as he felt the presence of a soothing hand on his back and a few soft kisses on the back of his neck. “It’s just a jabberjay, Finn.” Ansel whispered, pulling Finnick into his arms. “I’m right here, baby. It’s alright.” He murmured, embracing tightening around the boy he loved who was crying in fear that Ansel had been hurt.

Finnick sobbed loudly into Ansel’s arms as the jabberjays persisted. But finally, after what felt like hours, they fell silent, and the only noise Finnick could hear was Ansel singing quietly. Ansel always did have the loveliest voice. At least Finnick thought so.“I thought it was you. I thought they hurt you. You were gone, and I just -” Finnick rambled.

“I’m here. It wasn’t me - screaming. Well I mean it was, but not now. They were just tapes from my games, that’s all.” Ansel whispered reassuringly as he stroked Finnick's head. Finnick nodded hesitantly in response, and Ansel cut in once again. “Do you want to go back to the beach? I think Beetee would like to review the plan.” Ansel murmured, wanting to distract the boy. His heart ached at the fact that Finnick was in pain and there was nothing he could do about it. The boy was actually in pain because of Ansel.

“Yeah, yeah.” Finnick whispered, eyes teary as they looked far off into the distance. It was clear that he was still being haunted by Ansel's screams and that he hadn't yet returned back to the present.

Ansel smiled softly and then helped Finnick up from the ground who complied silently.

“Tonight’s our last night, huh?” Finnick asked quietly, attempting to make conversation and break through the awkward air that hung around the pair.

“Yeah.” Ansel smiled softly as they walked towards the beachy shores of the arena, hand in hand.

“I do hope you are all okay, but we have to begin carrying out the plan. Time is running short.” Beetee said as soon as he saw the pair step out onto the beach. It seems that he hadn't mourned Wiress’ death too long, as even though he was sad, he was also smart and knew that there was a job that needed to be done.

“Sounds good to me.” Ansel shrugged, wanting more than anything to get Finnick and himself out of the arena once and for all - and hopefully all in one piece.

“There’s one thing I’ll hope the both of you will be okay with - I’m going to have to split you up.” Beetee told them hesitantly, knowing that the idea was probably the last thing the boys wanted to do.

Ansel and Finnick paused as they stared at one another, a silent conversation passing between the two. Finnick squeezed Ansel's hand gently, and Ansel was reminded of the ring that resided on his finger from Finnick. It had been a promise that no matter what, the two would always find a way back to each other; that Finnick wouldn't allow Ansel to die and that he would always protect him. Ansel knew what was necessary for the plan to be executed properly and therefore, nodded minutely at Finnick who also understood, speaking to the group and Beetee on their behalf. “I’m sure it’ll be okay. As long as I know Ansel will be okay. That's all I ask.”

━━

AUTHORS NOTE (ANGIE) : this chapter was written by -diggorys. This is the second to last chapter guys! We hope you guys are enjoying this story as it comes to its end.

Let us know what you thought of this chapter and what you think/hope will happen in the final chapter!