IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE BABY𓂃 𓈒 ❀
finnick odair x fem!tribute!reader
synopsis – forced back into the 75th hunger games, finnick decided to play his role for the audience better than ever, staging one last trick to save you. but do you wanna be saved?
caesar flickerman beamed as he welcomed finnick onto the stage. the moment he stepped into the spotlight, the audience exploded—men roared his name, and women called out for his attention, their voices a symphony of the admiration they had for him.
―thank you, thank you so much, ―finnick smiled and waved to the audience who had welcomed him so warmly. the capitol had always adored him, but tonight, their adoration felt almost feverish.
he was especially handsome that night. his stylist had dressed him in a flowing white shirt, its fabric so light it clung to his frame like a second skin. the deep neckline plunged nearly to his navel, just daring enough to tease without crossing into vulgarity. the lower half of his ensemble was a long, fluid skirt that brushed his ankles, swaying effortlessly with each step. around his neck, layers of necklace made from shells, a subtle yet powerful reminder of where he came from.
from your place backstage you could appreciate how finnick's green eyes shone under the spotlights. they also had that lovely glow when he saw you arrive at the back of the stage with your outfit. he wanted to tell you how beautiful you looked but more than that, he wanted to ease the tension he knew was tightening in your chest. he knew better than anyone how uncomfortable these interviews could be, how caesar’s questions often dug too deep, exposing things meant to remain unspoken.
it had been days since you last spoke to finnick—not on camera, not for the capitol, but for yourselves. and now, with the roar of the crowd filling the space between you, it didn’t seem like that silence would break tonight.
you took the moment to let your eyes wander over him when he wasn’t looking. his posture was relaxed, confident, but there was something almost vulnerable in the way he carried himself when he thought no one was watching. but the instant his gaze shifted toward you, you were careful to maintain your composure, keeping your expression unreadable. you didn’t give him even the smallest sign that you had noticed him.
―you look great, ―finnick dared to say, his hands clasped behind his back, the minutes ticking by before he was called onto the stage. he didn't receive an answer from you. you kept your attention fixed on the tributes being interviewed, your face impassive.
now you were backstage, watching him with your arms crossed and with still no expression on your face. the trip had been suffocating, the weight of it all bearing down on you with every passing moment. the capitol had always been a place of cruelty and spectacle, but this time it felt different, more personal.
your attitude hadn't made things easy for fnnick, your mentor mags, not even for yourself. from the instant your names came out through your stay at the tribute's hotel up to that moment, you had been avoiding finnick. mags had tried to bridge the gap, tried to pull you back from the edge, but your anger was like a fire, too fierce to be extinguished. you were pissed off—pissed off at the capitol for forcing you back into the arena with finnick, pissed off at finnick for acting like everything was fine when you both knew it wasn’t, and pissed off at yourself for somehow surviving your first games.
you turned your head when you saw movement, a flash of white fabric. the girl approached you with effie trinket flitted around her, adjusting the layers of the dress with manic precision. you couldn’t help the roll of your eyes.
―a wedding dress. of course, ―you pointed out loud enough for the girl to hear you.
you and that girl liked each other. very similar personalities, highly challenging to the capitol, difficult to contain for president snow. you’d crossed paths a few times during training, exchanging glances that said more than words ever could. you wouldn’t call it a friendship, though. not in the traditional sense but there was a certain understanding between you, a shared rebellion against a system that treated you like pawns. you knew she felt it, too.
―snow made me wear it, ―katniss confessed.
you looked up and down at her and nodded.― make him pay for it.
you turned your attention back to the stage.
―finnick, it is an honor to have you here with us tonight.
they both sat and caesar grabbed both FInnick's hands into his own, shaking them. finnick’s smile remained steady, practiced.
―we thought we would never have you back but we're so glad that we get to see you once again. let's show some love to finnick odair, ladies and gentlemen!
the people in the audience applauded and shouted for him again. you didn’t flinch; you didn’t even blink. your eyes remained fixed on finnick. he looked so... relaxed. you couldn’t deny how well he played the part, the charming victor, the adored tribute who could do no wrong in their eyes. he was so good at pretending.
for a moment, it felt like the air itself was thickening around you. the tightness of the dress, the suffocating fabric pulling uncomfortably at your ribs. was it the capitol’s processed, tasteless food? was it the dress that made it hard to breathe? or was it the deeper disgust at seeing finnick so effortlessly slipping into the role they wanted him to play? even knowing he was faking it, it still made you uneasy.
―the pleasure is always mine, caesar.
―finnick, we saw that dramatic reaping day that took place on district 4 and i think i speak for everyone when i say that we lived it very intensely, ―murmurs of agreement swept through the capitol audience. finnick’s lips pressed together as he nodded. ―first, your name comes out, ten years after your first victory, and then her name comes out and we can see how your expression changes completely. look, look at that. ―the images from that day played on the big screens for the people to watch and you had to look away.
you swallowed and tensed your back, all the memories of that day came to your head unwanted. his name. your heart feeling heavy inside your chest. finnick walking to the center of the stage with a smile on his lips. his eyes on you telling you to not worry. your name. gasps from the people of district 4. finnick's jaw clenching. it became difficult for him to breathe. you walking to the center of the stage next to him with no smile on your lips. you shook hands. people clapped for you two.
―are you okay? ―katniss placed her hand on one of your shoulders and you nodded, closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing.
―people in district 4 love drama, ―a familiar voice chimed from behind you, cutting through the moment like a sharp knife. the girl in her tree and wood-inspired outfit approached you and katniss with a devilish smile on her lips. ―it's already done, girl. your name came out already and you are here. get yourself together. snow is watching, don't embarrass yourself like this.
the relationship you had with johanna mason was complicated—one moment you could almost call her a friend, and the next, she was pushing you to the edge. finnick, on the other hand, seemed to have mastered the art of dealing with her.
―we have been informed that she has expressly asked not to be here with you tonight, how does that make you feel?
―well, it makes me feel sad, obviously. as everybody knows, she is a very special person to me and i think we could've handled this situation much better together. things have been difficult but i strongly believe we are the best allies, in and out of the arena. the love i have for her keeps me from having any negative feelings about her not wanting to sit with me here tonight, caesar. i just hope that you all can enjoy her later.
―i'm sure we will have the best time with her. she's lovely, very lovely.
people clapped. they loved Finnick. you could see it on their faces every time the boy opened his mouth, how they nodded their heads to everything he said. in a way you were grateful for it, when the time came you knew they would rather save him.
―as you said, she'll be sitting here later and we know she's back there now, probably watching us and waiting for her moment. finnick, is there anything you'd like to say to her?
finnick nodded and acted for a few seconds as if he was looking for the words. as if he hadn't had this planned. ―my love, you have my heart. all eternity. and if i... if i die in that arena, my last thought will be of your lips.
―oh, finnick! you're going to make our hearts melt! when did you became such a loverboy?
―i've always been, caesar.
johanna's laughter echoed in the space, mocking sound that you could never quite ignore. you ran your hand over your face, trying to hide the frustration. maybe johanna was right, maybe the people of district 4 really did thrive on drama. and the capitol? they just couldn’t get enough of it. katniss was left speechless, him and his ability to make those things sound natural surprised her. finnick reminded her of peeta.
―forgive me but i must ask because i know people are dying to know. is everything okay between you two? has the quarter quell been the cause of any couple crises?
people in the audience laughed again and so did finnick. he didn't find it funny but laughed anyway which made you angrier.
―no, that has not happened, no. we have had our ups and downs since that day, as you said, there have been a lot of emotions going on. we had plans for the future but we are trying to get through it.
―i'm sorry, finnick, but you can't leave us like this. plans for the future? tell us more about that.
―we were trying for a baby.
that statement hit you like a big wave and swept you breathlessly to the seashore. you heard johanna chuckling and katniss, on the other hand, was as surprised and as confused as you were. people in the audience got up from their seats, demanding more information, asking if there was a wedding planned, and questioning if you were already pregnant.
the world froze around you, the noise from the audience growing distant, muffled, like the roar of the ocean in a storm.
―no, we weren't, ―the words escaped your lips before you even had time to stop them. the two girls beside you turned to look at you, startled by the intensity in your voice. ―no, we weren't! ―you tried to go on stage, angry like the sea during a storm and about to do something foolish that you would regret later and for which mags would tell you off.
johanna was quick to step in front of you to prevent that from happening. effie let out a little scream, seeing the scandal that was being made. ―whoa, easy there
she shook her head at you, smirking. that smirk. she knew all along.
―i'm not asking, johanna. move.
johanna, again, shook her head at you.
behind you, effie let out a nervous little laugh,―ladies! let's mind our manners and a let's calm down. please.
―he knows snow is not canceling the games. he's saving you.
―i do not need him to save me. i do not want him to save me. if i have come all this way, it is to save him.
johanna smiled. ―well, he beat you to it.
―what's going on? ―peeta appeared and effie jumped on his neck to fix the white suit he was wearing.
―she's pregnant, ―johanna answered him.
―congratulations, ―the boy from district 12 told you.
the chaos in the audience refused to die down. the capitol loved a scandal, and finnick had just handed them one wrapped in gold and tied with a ribbon. the murmurs had turned into full-blown shouting. you could see caesar lean in towards finnick, whispering something in his ear. whatever was said, finnick didn’t argue. he simply nodded, his face unreadable, and allowed himself to be led toward the back of the stage.
―girl from 4, you're next, ―one of the capitol staff said. his fingers tightened around your arm, already trying to drag you toward the stage as caesar worked to redirect the audience’s attention.
you yanked your arm free with a sharp twist of your body, stepping back before they could grab you again. ―get off of me. i'm not going anywhere.
finnick said goodbye to the audience, his smile faded the moment he stepped off the stage. he knew what was waiting for him there, an even angrier you who would not understand why he had done that. all this time moving around the capitol and with much of your relationship on display for everyone, and you still hadn't learned how to play the real game.
―i'll go for her. i'm ready, ―peeta offered instead of you. the man seemed satisfied and before walking peeta to the stage, he warned you that you would go after the boy from district 12 whether you liked it or you didn't.
finnick walked with his head down. you were no longer interested in Johanna but you were surprised by the way she and finnick shared a look of complicity when he passed by your side. his eyes never landed on you but they did on his friend. you turned around and walked after him. your fists were close, your jaw was tight.
you pushed him by his shoulders, now it was finnick who seemed unbothered. you shoved him again, harder this time, but he barely reacted. he just kept walking, his face unreadable. he was calmed, he did what he thought it needed to be done.
people in the capitol will have mercy on you, you will have plenty of sponsors and you will make it out alive. but you didn't want that. you wanted him to be the last one standing, you had already discussed that with mags. the woman assured you that she'd do anything in her power to get finnick out alive.
―why did you do that to me?! who gave you the right to do that?! finnick i swear to god if you don't speak to me right now!
―oh, now you want to talk, don't you? what happens if now i don't feel like it? would you like that? would you like me ignoring you like you've been doing with me for the past days?
by the way his eyes looked at you and the way he had said it, practically spitting the words in your face, you knew he had been holding it in for days. you shook your head. ―it's not the same.
―oh but it is. trust me. you just don't want to see it. and for your information, it was mags. she gave me the right, ―he turned around and answered your previous question. ―you didn't expect that? did you think you were the only one she made promises to?
you clenched your jaw. you did think that. whatever she'd promised finnick would contradict the promises she had made to you, so she was clearly fooling one of you two. and you knew it wasn't finnick.
―but you're not so why do you care? right now you have more than half of those people in the palm of your hand. you could need the stupidest thing in the arena and they would send it to you without even thinking about it. they will make you the victor.
―i didn't want that! i didn't want that and you don't even care!
―you bastard, ―you threw yourself against his chest, hitting him with your small hands compared to his body. he was still standing on the spot while you beat him with tears in your eyes out of anger.
―come on, come on, give him a break, ―haymitch, who went backstage to be with katniss when he saw peeta on stage, tried to separate you from finnick by grabbing you around your waist.
―why don't you save all that anger for when we're in the arena? it'll be better.
―finnick! ―effie said, shocked.
―i fucking hate you, ―you mumbled. while Haymitch managed to get you away from finnick, your hands grabbed his shirt, he wasn't going to get off that easy, not after that comment. your body shook against district 12's mentor.
―i could really use a helping hand right now, you know? ―haymitch struggled to hold you. katniss and Johanna freed finnick from your grip and he left. you tried to go after him but obviously, you couldn't do anything against three people. as you continued to fight to free yourself from his grasp, peeta's voice sounded louder over the loudspeakers, getting your attention.
if it weren't for the baby.
you looked at katniss and she looked at you, still trying to process what had just come out of peeta's mouth and trying to find a way of not going into that stage and choke him to death. now you were going to be the one who was going to hold her down.
―qell, congratulations to you two. you are going to be amazing moms if you make it out of this one alive.
