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      LUX had thrown her arms around Jupiter when she had arrived at the Remake Centre in the Capitol. The display of affection was most unusual for a Victor and their head stylist, but it seemed that neither of them cared. Jupiter had returned the embrace, but only for a second before they pulled away and Lux had taken in her face.

    "I'm going to make you look unforgettable," Lux told her, holding her face in her hands. Jupiter wasn't sure if she meant for the Capitol, or for Lux herself, who knew Jupiter better than most.

    Jupiter had only nodded, as she had been ushered off the station and into the Remake Centre, where the stylists met the Victors and dressed them for the chariots. Usually, Jupiter did not stop there. She was a part of the crowd and her only job was to make sure her tributes for the year were going where they were supposed to.

    She had done this for almost ten years, but she had never thought she'd be returning to the Capitol as a tribute again.

    Jupiter was glad, in a way, to be separate from Brutus for a moment. She found that she couldn't unsee her brother in him, and it was nice to talk to someone else for a moment. Her prep team had always been rather annoying and shallow, but it was almost welcome to listen to their first world problems as they dressed Jupiter up how one would dress a dish.

    "Masonry is the hardest to do this for, I swear," Lux huffed as she helped Jupiter into the costume for the chariot ride.

    It had been seven years, of course, since Jupiter had been a part of the parade and needed to be styled in a way that represented their District. The easiest way to do that was always to dress them according to the industries they represented, which meant District 1, Luxury, always caught the attention first. Masonry had always been difficult to dress up for District 2, and it progressively got harder. Jupiter believed that District 7 had been trees for as long as she could remember. And Finnick's home District was always quite easy for their stylists.

    Jupiter let out a huff as Lux tightly did up the back of the costume. Finnick had scarcely left her mind the entire train ride over. She had struggled to sleep, despite the Capitol's comfiest silks and scents, she had kept replaying in her head meeting Finnick in the arena and what it would mean to her. She had looked almost corpse-like when she had met Lux at the station, but standing in the mirror, Jupiter knew why she had chosen her stylist all those years ago.

    "You still did a good job," Jupiter told Lux softly.

    It looked like armour made of stone, but it bent easily against her figure. Beneath the torso and hip 'armour', there was the softest fabric Jupiter had ever felt, that rippled with the dark pattern of marbled rock and clung tightly to her arms and fell loosely around her hips. Her hair had been pinned back.

    "Have to give them something," Lux sighed, trying to adjust the gaping keyhole left by Jupiter's chest. She was more than used to it, and only looked at her stylist with appreciation.

    "Thank you," Jupiter said quietly.

    Lux only nodded. "Everyone's meeting on the ground floor. You should go say 'hi.'"

    Jupiter left the styling room, holding up the fabrics of her costume as she moved to the ground floor of the centre, where it was far more social than most years. Jupiter would often use the time to greet other mentors she knew, but that day, mentors and tributes overlapped, and there were groups gathered to talk and catch-up.

    The 68th Victor scanned the scene, seeing the chariot and horses in second place that would be hers. Brutus was standing there waiting for her, almost as tall as the horses. His costume matched hers, but the armour and fabric only covered his arms and coiled around his neck, leaving his chest exposed.

    "Hey, kid," he greeted.

    She only looked up at him, before looking around for anyone she knew. As expected, District 7 were trees again, Johanna looking incredibly annoyed by it. Normally, Jupiter would have gone up to her, but Brutus was standing over her shoulder and already thinking about who would be worth making an ally of.

    Cashmere and Gloss greeted them first from the chariot up ahead, dressed in matching pale costumes. Cashmere even moved to hug Jupiter, which was an unusual choice, as Brutus began to catch up with Gloss like the old friends they were. Jupiter had nothing in common with the District 1 Victors, except that they had all gone through an Academy of some sort and were considered Careers. That had never stopped her from being a disgrace before.

    And then she saw him, down at the furthest chariot, District 12, unmistakable from the revealing outfit he had been slipped into.

    "I'll be right back," she told Brutus.

    She moved off across the ground floor, passing by District 4 where Mags waved at her. Jupiter waved back at the elderly woman, who had volunteered in Annie's place when she had been reaped for the Quell. Jupiter found herself feeling incredibly bleak if she thought about the situation too much.

    Further down the line of chariots, she saw Fawn and Johanna catching up, both girls deep in conversation, so Jupiter didn't feel like interrupting as she finally made out Finnick. He was talking to the single District 12 Victor, the girl on fire from the year before, who was looking more uncomfortable by the second.

    When Finnick turned around, his face shifted at Jupiter, but only for a moment before he grinned and stepped up to her. "Sugarcube?" he asked, holding one up from the other hand which was carrying many.

    Jupiter glanced down, and then back up. "That was mean," she chastised, looking over his shoulder where Katniss was talking to Peeta.

   "Seeing what she's made of," Finnick responded. Jupiter narrowed her eyes, knowing there were hundreds of cameras on them and any real reaction had to be limited– even without a crowd, they were not in a safe area.

    "Still mean," she said simply.

    Finnick pulled her into a quick hug in greeting, and the pair pulled away far quicker than she would have liked.

    "It's good to see you again," Finnick said passively, looking her up and down. "You look beautiful."

    "I'd say the same but," Jupiter said lightly.

    "Nothing you haven't seen before," Finnick pointed out.

    Heat crept up Jupiter's nape. All she wanted was to embrace him the way a real couple might, bury her face in his chest, but she knew that wasn't an option. Even though there was not a crowd there, and everyone knew everyone, she couldn't. Her mouth felt very dry, as she looked at Finnick, practically half-naked, in the same tribute parade as she was.

    "You didn't volunteer, did you?" Jupiter asked directly.

    "No," Finnick said, shaking his head. "People in 4 have given up on playing the Game." Jupiter nodded, swallowing thickly. "You didn't, either," Finnick pointed out.

    "Enobaria and Brutus were chosen," Jupiter told him tightly. "I don't know why I'm here."

    Finnick placed a hand on her upper arm, tracing with his finger gently through the fabric. "We'll be okay," he told her. He sounded so believable, that Jupiter once again had the feeling that he knew something she didn't, but it was so refreshing to be in his company after so long and such uncertain circumstances, she was almost blind to it.

    "I need to go," she sighed, hearing the music begin to play from the front of the line.

    "I know," Finnick said. "I'll see you tonight?"

    "Of course," she responded. "As usual."

    "As usual," he repeated.

    "What'd Odair say?" Brutus asked as she climbed into the second chariot beside him.

    "What do you mean?" Jupiter asked, straightening the dress fabric around her legs. The wide doors were opening now, and she could hear the roar of the ensuing crowd.

    "This is like any Games," he told her firmly. "We need the Careers."

    Jupiter sighed, as the chariots began to move forward, Gloss and Cashmere leading the way of the Tribute Parade. Jupiter often only watched, but now she was once again a part of it, paraded from the Remake Centre, through the City Circle, finishing outside the President's Mansion where he would give a speech of some kind.

    Sometimes Jupiter would think about her first opening ceremony when she was a teenager, gold-eyed and staring up at the President as someone to impress. She had treated the ceremony the way she had been taught in the Academy, as a first impression that might have saved her life. They were taught to put on a performance.

    But that year, at twenty-three and warped by the Games she had killed to win, Jupiter only looked around if she were disinterested. As they broke out into the Capitol, surrounded by stands of screaming people, knowing somewhere there were commentators discussing each of their introductions, Jupiter only raised her chin and clenched her jaw.

    Beside her, Brutus grabbed her hand and lifted it again, met with screams as they were followed by the District 3 chariot. Brutus squeezed her hand, drawing her attention as he turned to the crowds and yelled incoherently– a violent roar. Almost like a battle cry. Jupiter joined in, if only because she felt that shouting might help the tightness in her chest.

    Everything felt more real, as the attention from the crowd passed onto District 12, who had shown everyone else up a second year in a row. Jupiter didn't mind, she felt they deserved the extra attention after only getting one year of freedom. The parade slowed in the City Circle, in front of the President's Mansion, where he made a televised speech.

    Jupiter only half-listened, because she knew there was a one in twenty-four chance she'd ever be pinned beneath his thumb again. A rather morbid thought, but one that was starting to become her new reality.

    As the tributes were finally dropped off at the infamous Training Centre, Jupiter almost jumped down from their chariot. Lux and Brutus' stylist were waiting there, and ran over to gush over the pair. Lux was speaking very fast, holding both of Jupiter's hands, but she was hardly listening. She was looking over the woman's shoulder at Finnick helping Mags down.

    "Let's go, kid," Brutus said firmly, putting a hand on her back and ushering her away as the Capitol attendants arrived to force them off. It was clear they did not appreciate the camaraderie between the Victors, as the ones who had grouped off were firmly broken apart and split to different elevators.

    Brutus and Jupiter were lumped in with Gloss and Cashmere, who had been up the front as well. Brutus was much older than all of them, but Gloss and Cashmere, despite also being in their 20s, felt very far away from Jupiter. She was grateful for when they left, and Jupiter could at least relax slightly more. At least Brutus was glad to have her beside him.

    "How old were you when they won?" Brutus asked as they got off on their floor– a place Jupiter knew well from her years as mentor.

    Jupiter paused to think. "About eleven– I remember studying their techniques."

    Brutus nodded, looking proud. "Our brother District has always been treated as an equal."

    Brother District, she wanted to scoff. In the 68th Games, Jupiter had been told what to do by the District 1 male tribute, who had been eighteen and wanted to act like it. She wished she could understand how the Careers had become a system over the years, how District 4 had been lumped in, and why they were taught not to do what Jupiter had done. All for the Game, she supposed.

    "I'm going to get out of this thing," Jupiter told Brutus, looking down at her chest.

    "Lux will be heartbroken," Brutus jeered.

    "She'll live," Jupiter scoffed.

    She found her usual room like muscle memory, but it was the first time in seven years she would be a tribute rather than a spectator. It was hard to stop thinking that, as she stripped the costume from her body, stretching out her arms above her head. She folded it as neatly as she could for Lux's sake, and then dressed in cream pants and a fitted black shirt.

    The makeup was still lining her face as she left the room, evening light glowing through the windows. Aurelia had arrived now, having a very animated conversation with Brutus when Jupiter returned.

    "Oh, you looked lovely!" Aurelia gushed.

    "Thanks, Aurelia," Jupiter said passively, inclining her head.

    Dinner on the Fourth Floor dining room commenced shortly, with both Victor-tributes, their stylists, and Aurelia there. The table felt emptier than usual without an extra two mentors, but as the Council had decided, Victors did not need mentors. The whole thing felt very intimate, as Jupiter did her best to fit in amongst people who hated how she had survived.

    "I'd say we did a very good job," Brutus' stylist piped up. "Masonry is always such a hard one."

    "I'd say it helps that we have two very well-fitted clients," Lux added. "Some of the tributes out there have not aged well."

    It wasn't an unfair comment. When there were people like elderly Mags or the Morphling addicts from District 6, those who were younger or in good shape stood out. Jupiter felt it unfair, almost, to look through the Victors that had been Reaped. Many were still exceptionally young– between Johanna, Fawn, Finnick, Jupiter herself. Not to mention, the star-crossed lovers from District 12.

    "It's such a shame," Aurelia tsked as they rewatched the ceremony over dinner. Her eyes were– like many people –on District 12, in their glowing get up, strong features and indifference to the crowd. "To be young and in love."

    Jupiter felt like her mouth was very dry.

    As dinner drew to a close, and the Avox cleared the table, Jupiter moved her stylist to the side.

    "Lux," she said. "I have an idea for the interviews."

    "Oh but they're so far away," Lux said.

    "A week, if that," Jupiter pointed out. Lux frowned. "Something backless," Jupiter told her. "Hair pinned back." Lux looked puzzled, but nodded nonetheless. Jupiter glanced back at the other District 2 representatives chatting over dessert. "I want to talk about my father, and my brother."

    "Oh, the planets!" Lux realised. Jupiter nodded, smiling weakly. "Can I do something silver?" her stylist added, as if asking for permission. "A big send off."

    A send off.

    Jupiter swallowed thickly, but nodded.

    After the ceremony recap finished, and the final dishes were cleared, Brutus and Jupiter departed for the night.

    "What were you saying to Lux?" Brutus asked, almost accusingly.

    "Suggestions for the interview outfit," Jupiter replied honestly.

    "Already thinking that far ahead?" Brutus pointed out. She didn't respond. "You're still from the Academy."

    She waited for Brutus to disappear behind his bedroom door, before turning in the opposite direction from her own. She knew the way to the fourth floor like a homing beacon, and nobody stopped her as she moved, the elevator feeling as if forever for only two floors.

    Finnick pulled her inside before she could even process his face. He was wearing a loose pair of pants now, but he still smelt of Capitol body spray, and had bronzer on his cheeks. Jupiter found she didn't care as she buried her face against his chest, and she felt his cheek rest atop her head.

    "I'm so glad you're here," he breathed. She could feel his heartbeat. "You know what I mean," he added.

    Jupiter laughed, because she couldn't think of how else to respond, pulling away to take in his face. He did the same, a large hand cupping her cheek before leading into a kiss, Jupiter accepting it without hesitation.

    "This wasn't supposed to happen," Jupiter murmured. Finnick paused. "What I said at the Remake Centre– it's true."

    "Enobaria's always been cruel," Finnick sympathised.

    "But she wasted no time in telling me I'd never be allowed to represent 2 again," Jupiter sighed. "It just doesn't make sense."

    "A lot of things have stopped making sense," Finnick sighed. They had moved to his bed, sitting against each other. "Except you."

    Jupiter smiled at him, but it didn't meet her eyes. "I haven't seen you since–"

    "I know," Finnick cut in.

    She blinked at him with wide, golden eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked softly, hand finding his. It was a stupid question, but it was all she had been thinking of since she had left District 4 in chaos.

    Finnick nodded, squeezing her hand. "Are you?" he asked.

    "My brother found out I left," Jupiter told him. "He blackmailed me for the last three months but... doesn't matter now."

    "Doesn't matter now," Finnick echoed.

    "I keep thinking I'll figure out a way to get out of this," Jupiter told him. "Like always. Find a way to survive, find the small things that matter. Everything I've been doing for the last few years, everything the Academy taught me to do. But I can't."

    She exchanged a sombre glance with Finnick, who could offer her no real words of encouragement, as he brought her back into his arms and pressed a kiss to her temple. Jupiter could only return the embrace she had not stopped thinking about since the Quell was announced, and tried not to think about it being the last time that one, or both, of them would be present.

    In a week, they would return to that arena, and regardless of whatever happened, Jupiter would lose everything. To die, to live but without Finnick, to live but with more blood on her hands– to live and see a changing world. To die.

    Once, Jupiter had found comfort with Finnick. She wasn't sure where it was going, and that had been okay because it had been worth it, in the small moments they stole and the flickers of warmth she made the most of. But now she knew it would go nowhere– it wasn't a question anymore, it was the end of the road.

    Maybe that was why Jupiter threw caution to the wind and didn't leave his room that night. They were quieter than usual, but Jupiter felt there wasn't much else to say. Simply being present with him was enough. It could have been any other year, twisted in the sheets of the Training Centre, expensive Capitol makeup streaking each other's skin as Finnick's hands gripped at the planets running down her spine– but it wasn't.

    On some level, Jupiter knew this was the final act of whatever she had been doing since she was born. The 75th Parade was only the beginning, and Jupiter knew that whatever outcome would arise, it was still the end. To volunteer, was to die, and Jupiter had sealed her fate the second she had stepped forward when she was sixteen.

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in a world of slowburns, i do love some jupiter/finnick

i know i disappeared for a minute there, but if anyone could comment their thoughts on the relationship and finnick in general <3 this relationship is slightly different to others i've written in that it's slightly already-established, and also that finnick is very hard to characterise as he is often putting on a front in canon