CHAPTER TEN
eleanor the pacifist

NOT TELLING FINNICK OF THE NEWLY FOUND ALLIANCE ELEANOR MADE WITH MARLENE WOODS AND SAGE CROSSLEY PROVED TO BE MORE CHALLENGING THAN SHE ANTICIPATED. Of course, Finnick had asked Eleanor multiple times if she had met anyone who peaked her interest for an alliance, but Eleanor simply brushed away with a slight shrug. She pretended she had only noticed individuals, putting everything on the fact this was only day one of training.

Finnick was too busy studying every aspect of Eleanor, watching her as she ate. He had placed his cutlery on the table, his head tilted ever so slightly as he frowned. "You've not made any allies?" Finnick asked incredulously, raising his eyebrow ever so slightly as though he doubted Eleanor.

Eleanor cut into her chicken, stabbing it with her fork, plopping it into her mouth and chewing. She swallowed before nodding. "The girls from 7 and 5 are interesting, but they didn't seem to notice me." 

Finnick frowned, as though he didn't believe her. It's easy to see through someone when they've always been an open book to you.

Mags hummed, her eyes closed momentarily, before she directed the conversation onto Kai. "What about you, Kai? Anyone interesting?"

Kai excitedly nodded. "The kids from 12 seem nice! Jaime and Genista." He informed them, smiling happily as though he was simply imagining making a new friend. It was a dull moment when in reality, he was making allies he would most likely have to see die.

Eleanor vaguely recalled the two he spoke about. Jaime Ashers, from District 12, was a small twelve year old boy with a plump round face. His eyes were big and blue, hair a blond bush with a slight curl, and he had a small stature. His counterpart looked to be the complete opposite of him. Genista Garnet was a rather tall girl of seventeen. Though, Eleanor always felt skeptical that she was seventeen simply because she didn't look that old. She looked so frail at times, sometimes staggering as she walked. She had deep olive skin and dark straight black hair which was always braided into two braids. It seemed to be the only aspect of herself that she was allowed to keep from her district.

Thana scoffed. "Those aren't allies," she remarked bitterly, stabbing into her steak. She pointed the fork that held the meat to Kai, rolling her almost black eyes at him. They were sharp and almost snakelike, making Eleanor's knee bounce under the table as she watched. "Unless you want to be killed, you'd be wise to not ally with either of them. Scrawny pair they are."

Eleanor frowned at Thana, her eyebrows furrowing together ever so slightly. "He only said they were nice," She glanced over to Kai, giving him a comforting smile. Underneath the table, her knee continued to bounce. "That girl, Genista, she seemed to know plants well."

Kai nodded excitedly, agreeing with Eleanor. "She was telling me how she likes plants a lot. She seemed really good at memorising them."

It seemed as though Eleanor's encouragement brought new understandings to the group and everyone seemed to support Kai's endeavours with being close to the two tributes. Mags seemed rather happy that Kai was explaining in detail what he had noticed about Jaime and Genista.

Finnick, however, seemed to focus more on Eleanor. "No allies? Really?" He asked once more, still skeptical. His eyes narrowed down on the brunette, trying to crack down on her.

Eleanor nodded. "Noticed that the girl from 5 struggles with her hands though. Her hands constantly shake and seem unsteady. Probably won't use a weapon." She watched as his lips turned upwards in a small smile.

"And the girl from 7?"

Eleanor took a sip from her water. "Axe maniac." She simply stated, grabbing a napkin and wiping her lips with it. "Though she only uses her left hand, so probably not right handed and therefore most likely will go for the right."

It seemed as though those comments satisfied Finnick enough for him to stop prying for any information on potential allies.

It definitely hurt for Eleanor to lie to him.

"Eleanor, I totally respect you're a pacifist, but if you want to make it far, you have to fight." Eleanor definitely did not like the physical part of training. Eleanor and Kai wanted to train together, though Finnick decided against it since he couldn't focus on both of them at the same time. It had been decided quickly that they'd alter between sessions with Mags and Finnick, not that Eleanor minded. She enjoyed learning how to weave intricately with Mags, who seemed to enjoy practicing in the quiet. There was something so beautiful about watching her wrinkled hands move rope as though her hands had been fashioned for that only purpose.

Finnick was another story. He seemed dead set on making Eleanor try and fight and Eleanor did not like it whatsoever.

She rolled her big blue eyes at him, sighing with a small huff. "Fine." She reluctantly replied. The only motivation Eleanor had was that this was the only way she could ensure Kai won. Sure, it would mean genuinely listening to Finnick's 'combat' advice, but at least it could help increase Kai's odds. She was going to die anyways. "Turn me into a violent killer then."

Finnick rolled his eyes at her, a small smile on his face as he watched her. "Fat chance, you'd not even kill a fly if it had killer stings on it."

"Then why do you insist I know how to fight?" She placed her hands on her waist, glaring at him ever so slightly. It was typical for Finnick to mock her about these sorts of things.

He gave a short laugh. "If you get caught up with a tribute, at least you'll fight your way away from them." Eleanor shrugged, cringing ever so slightly but ultimately agreeing that fighting is far better than killing. "So, hit me."

Eleanor laughed as he put his hands up, almost in defence. "You serious?" She raised her eyebrows up at him, looking him up and down. She grinned ever so slightly. "Anywhere?"

"Anywhere," He confirmed, but stopped her before she could strike. He took a small step back, his eyes narrowing down on the way Eleanor positioned her hands as she held them in a fist. "Ah wait!"

"What?"

"If you punch me like that," he gestured to her hand. Finnick stepped closer, unravelling her hand. He held it flat, before explaining. "If you put your thumb," He grabbed her thumb for effect. "Inside your hand, you'll break your thumb. Put it on the outside," He rested it on the outside of her hand. "And you won't break it. You're literally medically trained, surely you know this?"

Eleanor scoffed, deadpanning at him. She withheld the urge to place her hands on her hips. "We don't learn fighting medicine, Finnick." She flexed her hand, tightening it in the position he showed her. It made a lot more sense than what she had anticipated and Finnick seemed pleased she took note easily. She cocked her head to the side playfully. "Now what?"

"Punch me." He saw her hesitance and reassured her, "I won't hit back. Just give me your best shot and we'll work from there." It took a moment for Eleanor to consider, which didn't surprise Finnick whatsoever. He shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet, amused out of his mind. Though, it seemed Finnick did not anticipate Eleanor to immediately go for his nose, knocking him back ever so slightly as he cried out. His hands naturally ran to cover his nose, clutching it with a gasp. Eleanor immediately recoiled at the sight, both her hands snapping up to cover her mouth, though after gaining a footing, Finnick simply laughed at her. It hurt like a bitch, but from Eleanor? Finnick couldn't stop laughing. "Guess I won't have to teach you exactly how to punch."

"Shit," Eleanor immediately moved closer to him, checking his nose, though Finnick simply laughed. He put his hands in front of him and pushed her back slightly, grinning so widely that his nose crinkled ever so slightly. He held back a groan at the pain, revelling at the sight of her smiling.

"Come on," he grinned once more. "I'll teach you defence first."

"No hitting you in the nose?" Eleanor teased lightly.

Finnick laughed. "Unless you're doing it defensively."

It seemed to be a ritual for Kai to sleep in Eleanor's room now. Nights were harder to sleep through for both of them and Kai hated being alone in a bedroom. They had laid out pillows on the floor, wrapping themselves in blankets and sneakily eating random treats they had found in the kitchen when no one was looking. It helped relax both of them, though Eleanor seemed more aware of what awaited them in just under three days.

Kai was munching on a cookie when he finally started his small interrogation on Eleanor. "Why didn't you tell Finnick and Mags about Sage and Marlene?"

Eleanor quirked her head to the side. "Hm?"

"The girls from 7 and 5?" Kai gave a small grin Eleanor's way, wiping away the crumbs from his lap. He tilted his head to the side and a loud laugh echoed the moment Eleanor scowled. "You three keep exchanging smiles and looks. Have you got an alliance?"

Eleanor relucted. "Yes." She decided to explain everything to him and eventually forced Kai to promise to not tell Mags and Finnick of any of these plans. As much as Eleanor wished she could give them a heads up, she couldn't risk breaking the alliance before it even got started. She would not forgive herself if her stupidity was the exact reason the odds were turned against Kai.

Though, now whenever they were training, Kai always seemed to give Eleanor a shit faced grin whenever he saw her look Marlene and Sage's way. Sometimes Eleanor did it unconsciously, attentively watching their every move as though their alliance had begun. It seemed he enjoyed knowing exactly what was going on between the trio, though now his confusion was directed to the way that August Hasting seemed to linger close to Eleanor.

"Need me to help you with the knives?" August Hasting was just inches away from Eleanor, their hips nearly touching. Eleanor finally got a good view of the Career tribute and she stomach turned. But, not in the way that made her feel sick with worry. It was something else. Her eyes focused on August's face, their eyes locked together in an unbreakable look. The black haired girl leaned into Eleanor ever so slightly, a hand reaching to grab the knife, and ultimately breaking the eye contact. Their skin touched and all Eleanor think about was how soft her hands were, despite August's harsh exterior. She turned ever so slightly to meet August's eyes once, welcomed in by a beautiful steel shade which seemed almost haunting to look into. It was as cold as steel yet as delicate as ash, practically collapsing into a heap as Eleanor stared into her intently. "You aren't holding it right, pretty girl." Her voice was a soft tease and Eleanor could not help the light blush coating her face and the soft feeling of butterflies erupting in her stomach. She shifted on the spot to ignore them, but the feeling was painfully obvious. "The most you'll cause is a paper cut with that angle."

"Paper cuts hurt." Eleanor defended herself, her voice slightly higher as she laughed.

August rolled her eyes, but her soft pink lips were turned upwards in a smile which made the butterflies feel even more painful. "Yeah, but they don't kill." She placed the blade in Eleanor's hand again, this time adjusting her fingers in the exact same way Finnick had adjusted her hands prior. But, something about it felt almost nauseating and August too seemed aware of it. Her pale cheeks flushed a light shade of pink, though Eleanor pretended not to notice. "Now, if you want to hinder someone, shoulders are always a good place. You won't kill them directly, maybe from blood loss, but not from the stab wound. Now, if you want to kill-"

Eleanor cut her off. "No."

"No?"

"I'm not planning to abandon my morals." Eleanor was adamant on that. Her statement was firm, voice cold as she tilted her head up. "I'd rather die with my morality than live with my shame."

August tilted her head to the side, studying Eleanor. She remained quiet for a moment, pursing her lips together as her eyes scoured Eleanor's entire being. She passed the knife back to Eleanor, their hands brushing together once more. "You're a mad one."

Eleanor's eyebrows furrowed together. "Is that bad?"

August shook her head, a smile already on her face. She looked down at Eleanor's lips. "No... I do like mad girls."  Finally her eyes settled on Eleanor's eyes.

me: eleanor and finnick are endgame. eleanor is totally in love with finnick and has been for ages. her soul is dedicated to him

august simply existing and eleanor's bisexuality appearing

August and Eleanor are rebounds okay. just wait until next chapter because
believe me i could not help myself writing some gay shit