PREY.
( 09 )

The name rang in Ansel’s ears. Finnick. He was okay. He was alive. Ansel ran as fast as he could along the sandy beach, still soaked in blood from the previous rain. His heart was beating faster than it ever had in his life. “Finnick!” He screamed as soon as he saw the blonde tribute.

As soon as Finnick heard his name in that oh-so-familiar voice, he ran towards it. He grabbed Ansel and pulled him in close, tears running down both of their faces. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” Finnick sobbed, hugging Ansel tightly, never wanting to let go. “Are you bleeding? Are you hurt?” Finnick asked worriedly once he pulled away, frowning as he looked over Ansel’s slim figure. “God - you’ve gotten thinner. You need to eat something…”

“I’m fine, it was just the blood rain. Brutus fucked up my arm a bit at the bloodbath, but I’m fine. And we couldn’t find any food, Finn.” Ansel reassured the male. “Are you alright?” He frowned, gently running his hand over Finnick’s cheek, some blood transfering from Ansel's hand to Finnick's face as he did so.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about me. Mags, though - God, we lost her last night.” Finnick choked as he remembered the elder tribute. He hadn't fully gotten to mourn her death and he probably never would be able to. You couldn't mourn in the Hunger Games. You simply acknowledged the death and waited until the next one came along. It was quite terrible and for someone like Ansel who didn't deal with death well, severely messed with his head.

“I’m so sorry, Finn.” Ansel frowned, pulling Finnick in for another hug, wrapping his arms around the male tightly. “Do you want to go help me wash off? I think it would be nicer to hug you, that way.” He murmured, a small smile finding its way onto Ansel’s lips as he attempted to lighten the mood. Plus he really would like to get the blood off of him. Ansel didn't even want to try and figure out whose blood exactly it was, he simply wanted to rid himself of it.

“Of course.” Finnick nodded, grabbing Ansel’s bloody hand and leading him over to the water, where the liquid immediately began to wash away. It took about five minutes or so for the blood to completely leave Ansel’s skin, Finnick having to scrub at it with a lot of force. The two boys giggled as they delayed a bit by splashing one another with water. In these dangerous times when you didn't know how much longer you would survive, happy moments were to be treasured. Once they had finished, Ansel and Finnick sat in the shallow waters as they watched the sunrise together.

“It reminds me of the beach you took me to, when I went to District Four to visit you.” Ansel hummed, resting his head on Finnick’s shoulder. The older boy welcomed the touch as he leaned his own head on top of Ansel's.

“You hated the water.” Finnick chuckled fondly as the memory replayed itself in his mind. He remembered how Ansel had squealed at the coldness while almost crying at the feeling of something brushing his leg. It had just been seaweed and Finnick had laughed his off that day. He still enjoyed teasing Ansel about that moment. “What made you suddenly love it?” He asked, not for the first time curious. It had been a sudden change within their first few visits to the beach and Finnick always wondered what had sparked Ansel to like it.

“I think it’s what makes you happy, and I enjoy seeing you happy.” Ansel murmured, a blush rising to his cheeks as he admitted the reason to the boy from District Four. Finnick smiled softly as he wrapped an arm around Ansel, pulling him in close. “Plus, now that I know how to swim helps.” He chuckled, looking back out at the water. Even though their blue jumpsuits had come with a floating device which acted as a belt, knowing how to swim definitely helped. Also, seeing as Johanna had used the belt to tie up his arm, his swimming knowledge would really have to be used now.

Finnick’s voice fell quiet as he looked over at Ansel, watching as a gentle  breeze blew a lock of Ansel's caramel hair from his forehead. “If we do end up making it out of here, would you like to live with me? In a quiet little beach house in District Four?” Finnick whispered quietly so that the cameras wouldn’t pick it up. That was essential as if the Capitol caught wind of their conversation, the two tributes would sure to be dead the following morning.

“I’d love to, Finn.” Ansel grinned happily. He had to admit that the idea of living with Finnick had entered his mind more than once, however, he simply thought it to be a far off dream, therefore I he never thought too much on the subject. Yet, as Finnick suggested it, Ansel's heart warmed with love for the man. He gently rested a small palm against Finnick’s cheek before kissing him softly, unable to hold back from doing so any longer.

Finnick smiled as he kissed back, pulling back just enough to stare into Ansel's beautiful brown eyes. Finnick was constantly taken aback by just how beautiful the man in front of him was. “I love you to pieces, Watts.”

Ansel beamed and nuzzled into Finnick’s arm. And there the two stayed for a few moments, as they stared out at the water in silence. Suddenly, a horrid thought was entering Ansel's mind as he glanced over at Finnick. “Did you kill anyone?” He asked worriedly.

“Yeah, the man from District Six and a couple of baboons.” Finnick answered hesitantly, knowing how Ansel felt about death. He paused as he know Ansel would most likely never kill anyone if he could help it, however, he thought he should ask just in case. “What about you?”

“I haven’t, no. Johanna killed a few people to defend me, though. I owe her my life.” Ansel frowned as he thought about the woman. No matter how much she seemed to dislike him, Ansel couldn't deny that he would not be there on the beach with Finnick if it hadn't been for her.

“Speaking of her,” Finnick began, suddenly remembering what he should do, now knowing how much he had helped Ansel. The blonde haired male leaned back as he searched for the woman.“Jo!”

Johanna glanced over at the pair before walking over to the boys, her axe, which she had been cleaning, still in hand. “You called?” She asked in disinterest. Not enjoying the feeling of being a third wheel around a very loved up couple.

“Thank you, for helping him and keeping him alive. It means the world.” Finnick grinned at the woman before kissing the top of Ansel's head, the boy blushing at all of the attention.

“Of course, Finn. Anything for you.” Johanna smiled. Her and Finnick had been close friends for a while and she would do anything for the man as she knew he would do the same. “And Watts here isn’t bad company.

“What happened to Blight?” Finnick suddenly asked, noticing the absence of Johanna’s district partner. Ansel looked down sadly as he remembered the District Seven tribute.

“He died in the blood rain.” Johanna explained bluntly, no emotion seeping into her voice therefore it was hard to decipher what she was feeling. “He ran into one of the force fields, he didn’t make it.” She told him, a hint of sadness making itself known in her expression before she was quickly looking away.

“I’m so sorry, Jo.” Finnick frowned, empathizing with the girl. Both of them had lost their district partners and although Finnick had been much closer to Mags than Johanna and Blight, it was still a hard thing to go through.

“He wasn’t much, but he was from home. And he was much better than Nuts and Volts.” She snorted, glancing over at Wiress and Beetee (whom she had been referring to) as Katniss helped them wash up.

“Hey.” Ansel frowned as defensiveness rose up in him. He quite enjoyed the company of the District Three tributes and Johanna had treated them unfairly since the beginning. “They’re just as useful as you are, don’t shame them. They have intellectual strengths, not physical.”

“You know, Watts? I should have killed you when I had the chance.” Johanna scoffed, running a finger over the blade of her axe. She smirked at the boy threateningly, causing Ansel to whimper in fright as he cowered into Finnick's embrace.

Finnick immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Ansel, pulling the boy even closer in his arms. The blonde haired tribute scowled up at Johanna angrily. “Seriously, Johanna?”

“I was just joking, you know that.” Johanna frowned, dropping her axe into the sand. She sighed in annoyance as he noticed how genuinely scared Ansel appeared. He was much too weak for this competition.

“That was in no way funny. Leave him alone, alright?” Finnick ordered sternly, rubbing his hands up and down Ansel's arms soothingly as he whispered down to him, “Its okay, Watts. I would never let her hurt you.”

“Fine.” Johanna mumbled, defeated. No one seemed to enjoy her honour around here. “I think Beetee wants us to go talk to him.” She told them, glancing over at him as he sat with Peeta, Wiress, and Katniss. Ansel and Finnick nodded silently, both still not all that happy with Johanna, before they proceeded to walk over to Beetee as they looked down at the map he had drawn into the sand.

“Ah, Finnick, Ansel. Thank you for joining me.” Beetee spoke once he saw that he had gained everyone’s attention. “Now, I’ve constructed a plan for us to successfully kill the careers. But first, let me tell you all how the arena works. It’s made up like a clock - each segment has a different threat. Blood rain, poisonous fog, the baboons, the wave. But the most important threat is the lightning tree, and that’s exactly what we’ll be using to kill the careers.” Beetee explained. “I plan on wrapping a coil around the tree, and when the lightning strikes, anyone on the beach or in the water will he killed. Knowing the careers, they’ll be staying on the beach, where it’s safe.”

“Not to be the bearer of bad news, but you don’t have a coil.” Ansel frowned as he noticed the slight hitch in Beetee's plan.

“I was hoping you would all escort me to the cornucopia. We could gain weapons while we’re there, and most of you are fine swimmers, while I myself am not.” Beetee continued.

“I’m in.” Ansel nodded, glancing over at Finnick who also nodded in agreement. “I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? We die?”

“I guess.” Finnick spoke softly, placing his hand over Ansel's. He didn't like when the boy so often spoke about death as if it were nothing.

The rest of the group agreed hastily, knowing that Beetee's plan was their best chance of survival. They took a few more moments to gather up their things and then, they were leaving for the cornucopia.

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AUTHORS NOTE : this chapter was written by -diggorys. We hope you guys are enjoying this story so far - there's only a few more chapters until this story is finished!

What do you guys think of this chapter? Of Ansel and Finnick's reunion? Of Johanna? What do you think will happen next? Let us know!