CHAPTER FIVE
those green eyes

THANA FATALE MUST HAVE READ THOSE CARDS WRONG, FINNICK ODAIR TRIED TO REASON THE MOMENT THE NAME 'ELEANOR EVES' ECHOED IN THE OPEN GROUNDS. Surely, the escort read wrong, he tried assuring himself. His heart thundered as he watched the crowd, his hands involuntarily twitching as he tried finding her.  It seemed as though everyone was thinking the same thing, that Thana Fatale had misread a name, until the familiar brunette appeared from the crowd, mouth agape, eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly. Finnick's eyes remained fixed on her solemn figure, a sight he never thought he'd ever see in his entire life.

He had done everything he was supposed to do, but now he was going to lose everything.

What else could he have done though? He tried thinking of every moment where he nearly slipped up, when the mask nearly fell and shattered on the ground, but all he could remember was refusing to give himself to the Capitol for the first time.

Was he still paying the price for that act of defiance? Surely Snow knew he was willing to listen to protect her? Why would he jeopardise everything just to punish Finnick further?

Then it hit Finnick; Snow wanted to see him fall.

The nightmare he had last night was a nightmare Finnick refused to tell Eleanor about, but now they seemed to be repeating themselves right in front of him. He watched with wide eyes as Thana Fatale grabbed onto Eleanor's shoulders. She pointed the microphone in front of her, a grin painted on her lips as she smiled.

"How old are you, sweetie?"

Eleanor swallowed, posture straightening as she replied. There was a faint smile making its way to her lips, her fear almost evaporating as she spoke. Finnick could feel Mags' grip on his hands, not so obvious that everyone would notice, but still there. Ever so often, Viola and Greer would give him a quick glance, seemingly acknowledging the close connection he had to Eleanor.  "Sixteen."

Thana Fatale grinned. "Wonderful! Do we have any volunteers?" It seemed as though not everyone thought the same thing, some of the older girls debating on whether they volunteered or not. Finnick could see the girls conversing, one egging the other girl on to volunteer for her. Though, the other girl shook her head. Finnick knew why the girls weren't eager to volunteer this year, since Career training was a lot more strict on volunteering in 4. There wasn't allowed repeated volunteers back to back, nor could two kids volunteer in the same year.

But, in that moment Finnick wished those girls were cocky and wanted the fame and riches. He watched as Eleanor stared blankly at the crowd, her eyes glossing over with wonder on whether someone would try and take her place.

Thana cleared her voice. "Very well," Finnick watched as Eleanor's shoulders dropped ever so slightly, defeat clear. Then, they tensed once more and she looked ahead, her jaw clenched ever so slightly. "now the boys!" She giggled once more, dipping her claws into the bowl. As she had done with Eleanor, she pulled a name out and read it eagerly. "Kai Vains."

A young boy with soft bushy black hair and wide fearful eyes emerged moments later, shaking as he was marched up to the stage by the Peacekeepers. Anyone from a mile away could tell he was from The Cove, one of the poorest regions in 4. It seemed to hit a nerve in Cas, who clenched his jaw tighter at the sight of the child. Finnick watched as Eleanor's eyes snapped with pain, softening remarkably.  When Thana urged him to tell her his age, he stuttered out his reply, though it was obvious to every person watching. "Twelve."

And when Thana Fatale asked if there were any volunteers, there was none. People gave up on the kids from The Cove. Most died way before they turned eighteen, from starvation or some other disease they contracted during their youth. The surviving lot spent the rest of their days in solitude, hidden away in their huts. The Academy was adamant that some kids would have to die for the strongest to win and Kai was yet another sacrifice. 

Though, everyone could tell the 67th Hunger Games would be different the moment Eleanor Eves pulled Kai Vains' arms into the air with hers, a faint smile on her face as she held her head high. 

Though, Finnick knew that the apparent 'smile' was a scowl. 

 If you hadn't watched her get reaped, you would have assumed Eleanor Eves volunteered for the games. 

It wasn't out of character for people to act the moment they were reaped, but it felt absurd seeing it from Eleanor Eves. However, she knew how the games were played, how important public image was, and so she acted.  Finnick would have laughed if this was anyone else, but it was Eleanor. 

Finnick knew he wouldn't be permitted to see Eleanor in the Justice Building. He had watched as Annie immediately went to go see Eleanor, bumping into kids left, right, and centre. though he had noticed the absent look in Eleanor's mum, who simply walked away with a blank face.

Mags had turned to him the moment the cameras were away, pulling him close. Finnick could feel some tears already fall on his cheeks, flinching ever so slightly when Mags' wrinkled fingers nimbly wiped them away. "It'll be okay." Her voice was so soft, though it cut into Finnick even more than it should've. It was as though every memory Eleanor Eves cut him deeper than a knife, hot and searing and leaving boils which tortured Finnick.

This had been Finnick's nightmare ever since he was twelve. Nights before the reaping would always be spent tossing and turning, eyes refusing to shut for they imagined painful deaths that all held Eleanor's face. Last night had been worse, he had barely slept and all morning he received ridicules from his prep team on the importance of beauty sleep for such a desirable victor.

Yet, the bad feeling of what could happen washed over him consistently as the minutes passed. Snow had visited him, days prior, with his proposal yet again. The last time the proposal had been delivered to him, Finnick was freshly out of the arena and just weeks later, he was stood at the sudden funeral of his family, then at Eleanor's father's.

Finnick knew what he wanted from him, more specifically what the Capitol citizens wanted from him. The thought of what potentially awaited him in the Capitol made Finnick's insides churn with disgust, so he asked Snow to give him time.

He was sixteen now, that's what Snow had said. But, he was sixteen.

One lazy night, Finnick was laid on Eleanor's lap while she played with his hair. They were fifteen at the time and the reminder of the games became so painful to Finnick that he sought the comfort of Eleanor Eves' heartbeat. He did not know why it comforted him, but it did and so he sought it with every opportunity he could. His head was pressed against her chest, listening to the continuous thuds that reminded him that she was alive.

He had been crying over yet another nightmare and naturally came to Eleanor. Eleanor would never know what that nightmare was, but the dream haunted Finnick, even in the very moment it became a reality. He already felt enough guilt with burdening her with the lost fragments of his games, so he refused to ever share the nightmares he dealt with. Those fragments would cut him, not her.

But, Eleanor Eves was always there throughout it all. From the moment he stopped shutting her out, the brunette stood by his side and Finnick didn't realise just how hyper aware she was on things he wasn't even aware of. How she was dainty when touching him, her touch gentle and always pre-mentioned before skin met skin. It didn't matter what it was, whether he was dazed, or quiet, Eleanor Eves always noticed.

Though, now it was Finnick Odair's time to notice every ounce of Eleanor Eves' character. How she gently held her fellow tribute, how she gave him a solemn smile, but a smile nevertheless. It wasn't like the smile he had always noticed, perhaps the realisation that she had been reaped finally settled in. But, the smile was solemn at the twelve year old, not for her.

The haunting giggle from Thana Fatale was unsettling enough as she brought attention onto both Finnick and Mags. The pair turned and Eleanor immediately locked eyes with him, the wound of his nightmares reopening as reality finally set in.

Just two years prior, he was in Eleanor's position, though without the compassion Eleanor Eves possessed in her very being. Finnick Odair doesn't remember if his district partner even spoke to him before she tried stabbing him at the Cornucopia and the only words he had ever spoken to her were a brief apology as she laid in her own blood, sobbing as blood escaped her lips. Yet, here Eleanor Eves was, holding Kai Vains' hand, eyes filled with reassurance.

He knew she wouldn't even try and kill him, not like how Finnick and his district partner did. 

"Now, my lovelies, your mentors!" She bounced over to Finnick, ignoring his slight flinch as she grabbed onto his arms, pulling him closer. "The sexy," Finnick watched Eleanor cringe, her nose scrunching upwards at the Capitol woman. No doubt she found it odd for Finnick to receive such a comment, though after a while, the comments seemed normal to him. He didn't like the chills that always ran through his body when he received them though. "-Finnick Odair. And, of course, Mags."

"We know." Kai replied shortly, nodding towards Eleanor. The young boy gave a slight grin as he spoke. "Everyone knows he's best friends with Ellie and everyone knows who Mags is."

"Ellie?" Finnick eyed Eleanor, who simply glared, shaking her head slightly. It wasn't unusual for him to hear the nicknames people dubbed the freshly reaped girl. It was odder to hear someone actually refer to her by her actual name. 

Thana rolled her eyes. "I was being friendly," she scowled at the younger boy, her almost black eyes judging him clearly. Kai shrunk back ever so slightly into Eleanor's form.  "An attitude like yours is displeasing."

Kai frowned. "Attitude?" He turned to Eleanor, asking almost timidly, "I have an attitude?"

Eleanor gave a small shrug. "Debatable," She gave him a small grin, which he seemed to reciprocate. The sight made Finnick's heart clench, an unwritten vow in Eleanor's eyes which Finnick feared. "I've heard from your brother that you're always like this, apologies Thana!" 

Thana gave an almost grateful grin at the girl, brushing a loud black curl behind her ear. "Well," she took a moment, sounding breathless at how polite Eleanor appeared. "that is very much okay, my darling! Now, as I was saying, these are your mentors. Everything and anything you need to know will come from them!" She moved over the counter, grabbing some lemonade and pink gin. She poured some into a glass, swishing her cup around before taking a sip. "Now, my darlings, eat up! Gotta put some pounds on your bones before the games!" 

Finnick nodded at the pair, easing them into the Capitol luxuries already placed on the counter. Eleanor grabbed a plate, placing a waffle on her plate, along with strawberries and raspberries. He watched as her face lit up the moment she took a bite, immediately turning to Kai and prompting him to eat some. 

Finnick Odair knew, in that moment, that Eleanor Eves would never be a threat to Kai Vains.

giving eleanor her little lucy gray moment ever so slightly

ok eleanor is defo scared but she also knows how the games are meant to be played from what she's seen of finnick. she defo understands the importance of public image and attracting an audience. not to mention, she's extremely sociable and extroverted, so its not difficult for her to pull herself together like this. 

eleanor and lucy are quite similar as in they're performers thrown into the hunt - though eleanor is more a healer thrown into the blood bath.

I really wanna draw more parallels on eleanor with lucy, especially with how she is with kai. 

And also parallels to sejanus 

sobbing i miss my baby 

i also love writing her being affectionate with kai the moment he is reaped. their dynamic makes me cry thinking about it.

it only gets worse from here on out 

rip to our mental stability