CHAPTER 11
CHANGE OF SCENERY

SHE didn't believe her eyes as she busted through the door.

Slinging a duffle bag over her shoulder, Bex shoved open the front door, trying to save herself from the downpour outside. It was useless, of course, considering she was absolutely drenched after walking from the train station to the Victors' Village. She kicked her boots off and shucked the wet hood from her head before walking to the threshold of the kitchen. Her eyes almost bugged out at the sight before her.

It was Keaton, drinking a beer in the kitchen, but someone else joined him. The dark-haired man twisted around and revealed himself to be Nico. As in, the Nico Cadoc that hardly ever left his house, even to buy necessities.

"Hi," Keaton beamed, abandoning Nico and rushing over to his sister. He hugged her tightly, despite how soaked her clothes were. "I didn't expect you home this early."

"Well," she sighed into his shoulder, "I ended something a bit early, so I was able to come back sooner."

Her eyes hadn't left Nico's. His mouth was a permanent frown; his eyes dark and distant. His whole face was sunken-in now, so different from the young man who mentored her eight years ago. He had never been as handy as other District Seven Victors, but he was confident enough, yet quiet. And then Blight offed himself, and everything went to shit. He was even more of a homebody, more than grateful when Johanna won her Games so he didn't have to mentor with Bex anymore.

He didn't look like himself now, but she wondered if he could say the same about her.

"Nico," she cleared her throat, "what a surprise."

Nico bowed his head and replied, "Yeah, for me too."

Keaton traveled back into the kitchen and picked up his beer. He placed a hand on Nico's shoulder after taking a swig. "I saw Nico actually sitting on his stoop today before the rain started, so I invited him in for a beer. We have a lot in common, surprisingly, but I don't see you a lot –"

"No one does," Nico cut in.

Everyone was quiet. The tension was suddenly so awkward. Bex clicked her tongue and felt all the rainwater from her clothes seep into her skin. She shivered and rubbed at her tired eyes. "I think I'm gonna –"

"Haven't seen you a lot either, Bex," Nico added, stare pinned to her. They sported similar bags under their eyes. "You've been visiting the Capitol a lot lately."

"It's my job, Nico. I'm the Flower Girl, remember?" She huffed as a pool of water began to form at her feet. "I'm going to shower and go to bed. I'm too tired."

Nico frowned, looking to Keaton. Her brother, however, already sensed Bex's discomfort and followed her out of the kitchen. She was a few steps up the stairs, the ends of her pants sloshing against the floorboards, when Keaton approached, eyebrows raised. "Are you okay? I feel like something is wrong."

"Nothing is wrong," she said, adjusting the bag yet again.

"Did Nico's question make you uncomfortable? I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it –"

Bex sighed, longing for the feel of a warm shower and her own bed. After enduring another Capitol party, having Atlas scream at her, only for her to scream back – she didn't want to talk right now. She was exhausted. Bex turned on her heel and looked down at her brother, waiting by the foot of the stairs. His expression was perplexed.

"It's okay, Keat," she said, trekking up the stairs once more. "I'm just tired."

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And truth be told, Bex had been extremely tired. She slept for almost three days straight, only managing to get up in the late hours of the night to eat a sandwich or drink water. The constant conversing with Capitol elite and the glitz and glamour ... it was enough to make her brain rot. Her whole body was exhausted, and she wanted to take whatever little time she had at home to make up for it, even if that meant sacrificing time with her brother. He allowed her to sleep though; he knew she needed it.

Finally, the bright sun filtering through her curtains became too intense to ignore, and Bex sat up from her mattress and threw her hair up. She opened the curtains and the window itself, allowing the sun to warm her skin. The scent of fresh wood and burning fires entered her nostrils, and Bex smiled. The scents of home would never not make her happy, even when she was in her worst moods.

Keaton turned abruptly at the sound of feet padding down the staircase, and within seconds, his sister stood in the entrance to the kitchen, sending him a lazy smile. He was cooking eggs. She could practically smell them all the way from upstairs. Keaton hardly ever ate breakfast, but the sight of him up so early and cooking at the stove reminded her of when they younger, when their mom would fashion the best breakfasts. All the food she'd make would rival a Capitol buffet.

Keaton looked back at the pan in his hands. "I didn't expect you up."

"I'm up now," she said, pouring herself a glass of grapefruit juice. "Can you make me some eggs too?"

He nodded as she leaned on the counter next to him. "Sure," he murmured, and then glanced at her. She looked well-rested, but ... "Are you okay, Bex?"

Her eyes were fixated on the TV in their living room, which she could see from the threshold of the kitchen. Caesar Flickerman was giggling along to playback footage of Peeta Mellark proposing to Katniss. The ring he was giving her was obviously donated by the Capitol: a pure gold band with a large, shiny diamond situated in the middle. It looked too gaudy for Katniss' taste, but she pretended to be surprised, her face lighting up like a starving kid getting his first meal in days. She really needed to work on her acting.

Bex blinked, bringing herself back as her brother repeated his question. She looked to Keaton on her right. "I'm okay now. I was just tired."

Keaton cracked a few more eggs into the pan and began to scramble them. "You're tired all the time," he said, throwing the eggshells in the trash. He sent her a perceptive look. "When can we go back to old times?"

Bex's brow crinkled as she took a long gulp of juice. "Old times? Like when we lived in a one-bedroom shack with mom and dad and could hardly afford to eat in warm weather because people weren't buying dad's wood?"

"No." He rolled his eyes at her dramatics. "When can you go back to just being a person?"

Never, Bex thought, but didn't voice it.

Her expression was pinched, but her mouth stayed in a thin line. Bex didn't reply, and instead, began to take out plates and utensils for their breakfast. Keaton didn't push his question. He finished the eggs and filled their plates. They both stood on opposite sides of the large kitchen and ate until Keaton looked up from his half-empty dish.

"Do you want to go into town with me after this?" He asked cheerfully. "I want to walk the wheel barrel around town with the extra wood I chopped over the past couple of days. Maybe I'll be able to sell more that way than at the market."

She'd never get tired of the normal routine in Seven. Everything had its purpose and everything had its place. Visiting the Capitol always made her more excited to be back home with the forest surrounding her instead of the mass of buildings and the smell of gasoline.

Bex's lips lifted into a smile. "Yeah, I'd love that."

After breakfast, Bex put on her first pair of pants in days. She was practically itching for them once she ran upstairs and threw off her fleece pajamas. What replaced that comfy sleepwear was brown cargo pants, a black Henley top, and her favorite pair of leather boots. She brushed out her tangled waves and threw it up once again before heading back downstairs.

Spring was in full swing outside, perfect for what they wanted to do today. Her brother was already packing up his wheel barrel when she found him outside. Bex laughed at his natural way to overdeliver and she bent down to help him. "Are you sure you'll be able to carry this the whole way?" She asked as they finished their pile. Keaton arched a brow. "What? It's a genuine question."

"Are you doubting my own strength?"

"Well, no, but –"

Keaton held up a hand and then grabbed both handles of the barrels. "I got this. I've been chopping for years. Remember when dad used to force us to walk with him out in the forest?"

They walked down the path circling the Victors' Village, heading for the gates. "When he told us about how each time you cut down a tree, a soul rises from it and into the sky? Far too well. What a load of horse shit."

"'We respect the earth,'" her brother mocked their late father's voice, and Bex giggled, "'but we also take.' Why do they teach that to every kid from Seven?"

Bex shrugged and kicked the small pebbles that lined their path. "Who knows? Probably some earthy-crunchy way to describe all the bullshit we send to the Capitol. So kids don't know the truth." She glanced at her brother. "It's probably better that way –"

"Wait, who the hell is that?"

She turned her head back to the path before them. There was a figure pacing by the open gates to the Village, covered head-to-toe in black: hoodie, jacket, pants and all. Keaton tensed and dropped the wheel barrel, but Bex didn't show any fear. She'd survived through way too much to be scared of some creepy guy in dark clothing.

If anything, this person should be scared of her. She was the killer.

"Hey!" She shouted, stalking up to the gates with determination. "Whatever stupid shit you plan on doing, you better get –"

The figure turned, but they weren't scary at all. They were familiar.

"Bex Nassar," Finnick grinned brightly, "fancy seeing you here."

Bex's stare went wide. She stomped over to the gates and with a mighty tug, she yanked him inside the Village, brows crossed. Keaton was still waiting several feet away with confusion wracking his brain.

"Hey, hey," he warned, "watch the hood. No one's noticed me with it on."

"Nobody cares about Victors in District Seven!" She whispered loudly, leaving Keaton to take a few steps forward, but still maintain his distance. Bex's grip on Finnick's arm got tighter as she started to ask herself if she was losing it. But the constant scent of fresh saltwater and citrus reminded her how real he was.

She searched his eyes, looking for silent answers, as he continued to smile down at her. "You can't be here," she whispered, knocking one of the gates open with her foot. "This is completely forbidden. What the hell are you doing here?!"

Finnick laughed. He laughed at her concern. "Might I remind you that the President isn't watching us outside the Capitol. No one would ever know I was here."

She pursed her lips, realization dawning on her. Slowly, her hand slipped off his arm, and for a second, she almost missed the heat radiating through his several layers of clothing. She couldn't imagine how much he was sweating in this nice weather.

But still ... "You didn't answer my second question," she reminded. "I'm guessing you're here to see Johanna?"

"Ah, no," he chuckled, ruffling the back of his head as he pulled down the black hood. "I'm actually here to visit you."

Bex gawked at him. She wouldn't be surprised if she looked exactly like the Capitol women that lusted for him constantly.

Sticking his hands in his pockets, Finnick said, "I realized in the Capitol that I selfishly enjoy your company a bit too much. Maybe more than you would like me to."

She blinked, unaware that her mouth was open. Before she could come up with a response, Keaton appeared at her side with his wheel barrel. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?"

Finnick flashed her brother that charismatic smile and put out his hand. "Finnick Odair. District Four Victor. Nice to meet you ..."

"Keaton," her brother finished and shook Finnick's hand. He then nudged Bex's side. "I'm this one's older brother. It's good to meet you, Finnick." Keaton's stare flickered to Bex. "So I'm guessing you two are friends?"

Finnick opened his mouth to reply, but Bex said before him, "I guess so."

"I came here to see you, didn't I?"

She sent him a tight-lipped smile. "You sure did."

"Well ..." Keaton looked between them awkwardly. "Bex, how about you show Finnick the house and I'll go into town on my own." He slapped Finnick on the arm, so hard that he flinched. Finnick wasn't sure if it was a threatening gesture or not. "Stay as long as you want."

With a grin, her brother strode off past the gates, heading to the center of town as the barrel clunked in front of him. Bex inhaled heavily through her nostrils and looked to Finnick. "Is this weird?" He asked suddenly. "You're giving me weird vibes."

"I'm not the one who showed up at someone's District out of nowhere." She huffed, turning back to the path that led inside the Village. "Follow me."

They walked side-by-side into the Victors' Village, and Finnick seemed to be in awe at the trees that stretched towards the sky, or the scent of a fresh fire in the early morning. As they neared Bex's estate on the corner of the Village, Finnick glanced over at her, those sea-green eyes filling with worry. "I'm sorry for showing up unannounced," he murmured. "I thought – well ... Since we got along so well in the Capitol, that maybe it would be –"

"No need to apologize," she interrupted, holding up a hand. "I guess I'm always just worried about Snow and what he sees. Keaton and I haven't had someone over in a while, so ..." She sent Finnick a soft smile, but only for a second. "Maybe this will be a good thing."

She held the door open for him as he entered, and he muttered, "Looks so different from the estates in Four." Bex kept quiet, only sending him a smile while he took in the whole house. She'd hardly been to Four – except for when she made that speech during her Victory Tour – but the Village houses couldn't be that different. However, she imagined there were a few distinctive qualities from Seven in her home, like the polished, hardwood tables and floors, and even the walls painted different shades of grey and green.

He followed her up the stairs, running his hand along the homemade wooden railing. Bex could only guess that he would be staying in her room. Their only guest room in this house was turned into Keaton's room, and she wasn't about to have him stay in their parents' room. Her shoulders tensed up while gesturing to her bedroom on the top floor. As Finnick stepped near the threshold, he looked down the hall at the closed door and asked, "What's that?"

"My parents' old room," she answered.

Finnick nodded slowly, but didn't pressure her to continue. From the look on her face, it seemed like a wound was still fresh in her system. He stepped inside the bedroom and spotted an old photo of her family on her bedside table. Turning around in a circle, he took in the bare walls, the messy vanity, which contrasted with the clean and put-together bed sheets, and then the Victor crown that laid idly on the edge of one of her windows. Finnick wondered if she cared if it fell out of the window or not.

"You can stay in here with me, if you want," she added, lacing her hands together. "There's also the couch, but –"

"This is fine," he chuckled. "No stress. I'm just here for ..."

Finnick trailed off, leaving Bex to raise a brow.

"A change of scenery," he finished.

He had no idea.

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Bex wasn't entirely sure what they could do together. They came from two different walks of life, and she was too hesitant at the moment to take him around her part of District Seven or invite him down to the lake. Instead, she tried to make the best of a situation: she taught him to chop wood.

Finnick wasn't an expert by any means, but he soon got the hang of it – somewhat. "I'm more used to handling a trident," he chuckled to hide his embarrassment. He almost took her head off while swinging, and missed the chopping block at least ten times. But eventually – after two hours – he split his first piece and threw it off the side. He was a sweaty mess by the end of it, but he never looked more proud of himself.

At the end of what felt like the longest day of her life, Bex invited Finnick to the kitchen to have dinner with them. The two still reeked of sweat, but they decided to ignore it while paying more attention to the grumbling in their stomachs. Much to Bex's surprise, her brother had set the table for dinner. They hadn't eaten there since mom and dad ...

And she almost asked him why now was the time, but from the look Keaton sent her as he placed each plate on the table, she kept quiet. They had a visitor over. It was time to get over their fears and give their guest a good experience. Finnick hardly noticed the exchange between the two siblings and instantly ran over to the table to sit down. Bex hesitated before taking the seat at one head of the table. Her mother's seat, which now belonged to her.

She'd never felt so connected to her mom since her vanishing until that moment. Bex debated on crying, but as she turned to noticed the excitement on Finnick's face, she decided to laugh instead.

They were having leftover meat pie for dinner. Bex had made it right before she left for the Capitol and there was still enough to feed an entire family. The Nassar siblings were grateful that they finally had another person to finish it. Each piece was steaming hot as Keaton plopped it on their plates. Finnick met Bex's eyes as he received his piece, and they were lit up with more excitement than she could ever fake.

"This looks awesome," he commented when Keaton took his seat at the other head. Picking up his fork, he began to tear through his slice. "I'm so used to fish pie where I'm from. This is a welcome change."

"Feel free to take some when you leave. We have plenty," Keaton said, mouth full of pie, and sent a glare towards Bex. She rolled her eyes. He always thought her portion size was off. "This is Bex's own recipe."

Bex savored the smoky taste of the gravy and wiped the corner of her mouth. "Adapted from an old one of mom's. I can't take all the credit."

Finnick loaded more into his mouth. Bex laughed, meeting Keaton's stare from across the table, and he smiled. Not because of Finnick's actions, but for the change. Sitting back at this table felt right.

Eventually, Finnick wiped his mouth with a napkin, looking in between the siblings. "I don't know if it's my place to ask," he said, "but is it just you two living here? Where's the rest of your family?"

Bex's had been chewing, but stopped immediately. She glanced at her brother. His blue eyes sent a silent message, one she couldn't quite decipher. Keaton set down his fork and laced his hands together in front of him, elbows bent on the table.

Clearing his throat, he began, "Well –"

"Gone," Bex replied, ignoring her brother's warning. "They're gone."

Silence echoed through the house. All they could hear were the crickets that lived inside the walls. Bex's brow shot up as she looked to Keaton once again, and then finished eating her slice, pretending that the subject hadn't been brought up in the first place. Finnick pursed his lips and dropped it. After everything, it seemed that they all found comfort in silence.

Their plates were clean in a matter of minutes. Both Keaton and Bex leaned back in their chairs. Finnick chuckled and pointed to his dish. "Now, that was fantastic. I never would've pegged you for a chef."

"I've always been good with a knife and cooking," Bex remarked. Finnick laughed, understanding the dark humor in it.

Keaton, however, didn't find it funny at all. He shot his sister a wide-eyed look and she grew quiet, wiping her mouth again. He turned to Finnick on his left – sitting in the chair Keaton used to occupy as a kid – and asked, "How long are you staying, Finnick? There's no time limit. Just wanted to know."

It was a good question, one Bex wanted to know as well. And for once, it wasn't because she was counting down the days for his departure. No – she realized today how comfortable she was around the Capitol's Golden Boy. Maybe more than she would've liked, as he said hours ago. He was a change they all needed.

His presence caused her to feel human for the first time in a long while.

Finnick's eyes flickered to her. She sent him a hint of a smile as she took in his sea-green eyes, and she could so easily understand why everyone was in love with him. His grin was infectious.

"Well," he replied in her direction, "however long Bex wants me to stay."

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A/N: I toooooold you guys that more drama was coming 😋 having finnick in district 7 is gonna be so much fun hehehehe