A L T H E A

Althea was the first tribute of her District to the chariot. Attached to it were two, beautiful, huge horses with fur darker than a moonless night with white lightning painted into the black. Paprika paused.
"I forgot one thing, which is not my choice," the woman looked pained as an Avox handed her a white crown of roses. Althea stilled as the woman placed it on top of her hair, securing it with a couple pins. The two women parted with a kiss on the cheek and Althea approached the horses, rubbing their fur softly. The chariot itself buzzed and crackled with energy.
"I don't believe we've met officially, but I have definitely seen you before," a voice called, startling her slightly. The horses huffed at her jump, becoming jittery themselves. She turned around to come face to face with an almost naked man. But not just any man, no, of course not any man.
"Finnick Odair," Althea breathed with a smile, "What brings you this far back in line?" She strained to keep his eyes on his face rather than his body. He laughed at her sarcastic question. His green eyes were teasing, playful.
"I was going to meet Girl on Fire, but then I realized I didn't know the name of the prettiest girl here," he smirked, popping a sugar cube into his mouth.
Althea rolled her eyes. "Even I know that her name is Katniss, get with it, Odair." His blue eyes addressed her frame, taking his time. For some reason, though, she wasn't bothered by his outright checking-out. Maybe it was because it would make her a hypocrite. She also noticed the way his eyes hardened at the sight of the crown of roses atop her dark hair.
Finnick's smirk dropped a smidge and he just stared at her like she was one of the dumbest people he'd ever met. But his eyes held a curious mischievousness that set the hair on the back of her neck standing. "I was referring to you, love." She took that same time to look him over as well. His skin was tanned, having been kissed by the sun for many years. Dark blond waves darted over his forehead and curled in wisps of honey heaven. When she looked at his eyes again, she found that the pools of unrelenting and endless water were already staring back at her.
Her mouth popped open quietly. "Oh." It had been a long time since anyone had truly flirted with her, before her reaping, even. It wasn't her fault she was rusty. Finnick was always flirty, but she never took it seriously. An arm slid over her shoulder, but the familiar scent caused her not to jump or startle in any way.
"Finnick," Thatcher greeted.
Finnick's grin came back onto his handsome face. "Thatcher Golsbane as I live and breathe, how are you, man?"
"I am doing as well as one can. What brings you to our humble chariot?"
Althea scoffed. "He's trying to learn my name, apparently." She looked playfully at him for the first time and was stunned at how cleaned up and attractive he looked. He wore a dark suit with a blue shirt, black tie, and blue shoes, obviously matching his female counterpart. He smiled at her with his majestic eyes sparkling brighter than any Capitol building.
"And have you given it to him?" The glint in his green eyes was mischievous and it intrigued the Hawkforge girl.
Raising a brow, she replied with a smirk, "No."
"Good, make him work for it."
Althea looked at Finnick to gauge his reaction, but the man was already watching her with twinkling eyes. "I do like a challenge." His voice had gone down considerably, face turning into a seductive smirk. "You two look ravishing, your stylists have done well. I'm afraid that I must go now if I wish to speak to Twelve before my chariot leaves." He softly took Althea's hand in his, placing a kiss on the back of it. "Until tonight," he said. His eyes stayed on her shaking hand momentarily before dropping it tenderly and turning.
"Until tonight," Althea echoed, watching as he left.
   When Finnick was out of earshot, Thatched shot his elbow into her side playfully. "Like what you see, huh?"
   Deciding to counter him with equal playfulness, she untucked herself from his arm and appraised his body with her eyes. "Hmm, I believe I do. You clean up well, Golsbane," her teasing made him flush slightly.
   "Thank you, but you know that's not what I meant," his tone turned serious and he leaned in, so close that her lips brushed against her ear. It was her turn to flush now. "Haymitch is speaking to your father." Althea nodded once, struggling to restrain her blush with such an attractive man so close to her body. She was used to having little personal space, after all, she did have three siblings, but this was different. He stepped up into the chariot first, holding a hand out for her. Using it to stabilize herself, Althea hauled her body into the chariot.
When Finnick passed by the chariot again, he shot a breathtaking smile her way, one of which she returned. Casting her eyes forward, the victor connected eyes with Mags, who waved sweetly. A shock of pain went through her body. Mags was a kind old woman who deserved nothing but peace for the rest of her life. A terrible gut feeling told Althea that Mags' death would be anything but peaceful.
The drums, along with the deafening roar of the crowd, filled Althea's eardrums. Chariots ahead of them began to move, the duo from District Five soon blinded by the bright sun of the Capitol. Drummers lined the way, behind them brightly colored citizens that screamed their names. Working a new strategy in her head, the Hawkforge pulled her best watery smile. Grinning at the crowd adoringly, she caught the kisses they blew and the flowers they threw. Thatcher seemed to be confused, but played along to some extent.
The chariots approached a roundabout, parading the Victors in front of the President like the prized cattle they were. Althea continued to smile and wave, but her insides froze when Snow's pale eyes connected with hers. The vivid memory of her mother's body hitting the ground separate from her head hit her like a bolt of lightning. Keeping the smile on her face, the brunette focused on breathing. His sickening smirk was the last thing her eyes truly saw.
In. One, two, three, four, five.
Out. One, two, three, four, five.
It became so unbearably hard to breathe.
They finally made it to the stopping point, the chariot not even fully stopped when Althea was darting off and towards the elevator, past her father and the other tributes. Finnick moved slyly but quickly after her, sliding in just as the doors were nearly closed.
The roses felt like a million pounds. She ripped at the white petals, feverishly trying to rip it off of her skull. He grabbed her hands, holding them fast to his chest. She found his eyes. Tears filled her own rapidly.
"Baby, tell me-"
"Get it off, get it off, get it off-" her voice was quiet, raspy, and growing in panic. Finnick nodded calmly. He moved his hands to hold both of hers with just one, locating the pins in her hair with the other. She still couldn't seem to calm down. It still felt like the aroma of the flowers were suffocating her. He tossed the roses to the side, pulling her to his chest. The shaking had spread to the rest of her body, as it always did when she was upset. The elevator dinged, signaling their arrival at Level 5.
"I need to get this off. I can still feel it. Finn," it was a pitiful plea, he knew exactly what she meant. Leading to her room, and consequently her bathroom, he helped her out of the romper, jewelry, and heels. She wasn't much help with her seemingly vibrating hands. Still in her undergarments, he turned the shower onto a warm stream. His hands were warm on her skin as he placed them on her waist. Moving her into a sitting position on the shower floor, he sat behind her, still in his fishing net. If she wasn't in the middle of a panic attack, she would've blushed. Her back was pressed against his chest.
The water and his body heat helped her focus on the reality. Warmth seeped into her bones. Finnick's strong arms were wrapped around her, holding her tightly to him. The coldness of Snow's stare and her mother's lifeless eyes faded, pushing onto a back burner. Still there, but never gone.
"Finn," she started. Other than calling her baby, which she had registered while struggling to breath, he hadn't said a word.
"Yes, Thea?" His chest rumbled against her back.
"Tell me a story, please," she turned sideways a bit, snuggling into his chest.
Although she couldn't see, he watched her the entire time. "There once was a boy, aged fifteen. He was at a party, surrounded by people he didn't know, but they seemed to know everything about him. At least they claimed to. He'd never felt more alone in his life."
Althea frowned. "This is a depressing story, Finn-"
He squeezed around her middle. "Hush, I'm not done. He'd never felt more alone in his life. Then enter a girl, aged sixteen. Without knowing it, she'd owned everyone in the party simply by walking in. Including him," Althea smiled, suddenly recognizing the possible origin of this story. "She didn't want to be there, much like himself, and he admired her for that. And then she spilled her punch all over her pale pink dress," Althea snorted, both of them laughing.
"If Pap didn't love me so much, I think she would've killed me for ruining that dress," she added, sighing. Exhaustion was creeping up on her. The water was still warm, a luxury most in Panem couldn't afford.
Finnick used one of his hands to brush through her hair, the action making her even drowsier. "Do you remember what you said to me?"
She did. He'd been surrounded by so many Capitol citizens that she could barely see him. Seeing through his near-perfect exterior was a talent she'd always possessed, so that's what she told him. Sixteen year old Althea waited until he was alone before approaching her fellow Victor.
   "I see you, you know," he barely looked at her before answering.
"I'd hope so, it would be a certain shame if our beloved Victor lost her vision," she could tell it was a jab, but the way it fell out of his lips like a charming spell, one could think that he was sincerely complimenting her.
She maneuvered herself to be in front of him on the balcony. "No, I see you. Not the Capitol's plaything. I see a boy who wants to run to the sea, hop on a boat, and never return."
His eyes pierced her like the spear that had nearly ended her life in the games. "Then you would be seeing a lie. I love it here."
She nodded, pretending to accept his answer. "Alright, Odair. But when you board that boat, take me with you."
"I'd been so angry that someone so seemingly innocent and naive could've seen right through me when I'd spent the past year fooling others," he continued to run his fingers through her hair. "I never would've thought you'd be my best friend." He put some face wash on his hands and gently scrubbed the makeup off of her skin, carefully rinsing it off.
Her eyelids felt heavy, and Althea was oh so comfortable on Finnick's chest. He noticed this, turning off the faucet. She was immediately cold. Sticking their hands on the drying cube, the duo were dry in an instant. Finnick's arms swept under her, not struggling a bit, despite her curviness. He placed her on the bed, covering her with the thick blankets.
"Finn, will you stay please?" she was shocked at the words as they fell out of her mouth, but not really. As soon as his hands left her body, she'd felt her heartbeat rise again. The noise of her drawers opening and closing intrigued her, but she didn't turn in the bed. She heard the sound of Finnick's net hitting the floor, and fabric rustling.
"I see you brought my sweatpants and my sweater," there was a chuckle hidden in his voice. Althea flushed tiredly.
"They're comfortable, and I figured we would have at least one sleepover. I didn't think we would only be spending four nights in this building, though," it was true, she thought they'd be mentors, and that they would have a lot more time together. He crawled in behind her, wearing his sweatpants.
"Arms up, Thea," she did as she was told and sighed in bliss when his sweater covered the top half of her body. Underneath the sweater, she took off her bra, because who sleeps in those? She tossed it at the opposite wall, earning a laugh from Finnick. The brunette faced the window, which was showing a mountain scene. Finnick wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her to his chest once again. Twisting in his arms, she snuggled into the crook of his neck.
"Thea."
"Hmm?" She answered sleepily. He was so warm and snuggly.
"I'll take you with me, I promise."
The words made her heart flutter. On the brink of sleep, eyes still closed, she pressed a soft kiss to his neck. Finnick stilled, arm tightening around her.
That most certainly changed things up a bit, didn't it?

hi lovelies! Been a hot minute, huh? Since it's Christmas Break, I'd like to get some more chapters in on all of my works, but I make no promises! So please enjoy this beautiful Finthea moment and let me know what you think!
Xoxo,
Hadley