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The first time, he's making fun of her. He sauntered into the dining area with a glass of some clear alcohol before plopping onto the couch next to his tribute.
"So is it A·nuh·stay·zhuh or" He clears his throat to switch to a snobby capitol accent when he says, "Ah-nah-stas-SEE-ya?". But even his capitol accent has a bit of district in there on account of the way his 'ya' sounded too much like 'ja' and Annie knows that's the District 4 in him.
While this revelation may be a cause for head turns in his hometown (because they think their latest victor has gone 'all capitol' on them) , it means nothing to Annie at the moment.
To be fair, it was dumb to make fun of an almost-aged-out-tribute-with-practically-nothing-to-lose-at-this-point.
…Which is how Finnick ends up with an ice pack pressed against his cheek. But despite that, he still smiles like an arrogant, satisfied, asshole when Annie guiltily bids him 'good morning' the next day.
He decides he likes her. Maybe in another life, another universe, they could've been friends. But as it stands now, it would be in his best interest not to get attached: they all end up dead in the end. Even if he desperately wants to believe otherwise. They're either in a grave or they end up a caricature of themselves- which may as well be death anyway.
But Finnick has a nephew to look after, so he shoves all that, and Anastasia, to the back of his head and heads out to
earn
himself more sponsors.
The second time, he's begging for her to wake up. The doctors had spent hours working on their new victor, erasing her body of superficial wounds and more importantly, pumping water out of her lungs. They had all sorts of sophisticated machines to do the job of what would've required CPR. Vaguely, he wonders the amount of lives this could've saved in District 4, where half the population is out at sea. The capitol boasts this machine as if 4 children didn't just drown in the arena.
"Annie, you've gotta wake up".
But despite the needles and monitors and bandages and salves, Annie hasn't so much as opened her eyes. And Finnick bounces his leg anxiously at her bedside like Mags had 5 years before for him.
"Anastasia-"
That gets her to wake up, if only just to cringe and Finnick chokes on the breath that just got caught in his lungs.
"Seriously?"
He coughs out, raising a fist to his own chest before the fit calms down.
Annie manages a glare, "Do
not
call me that again, Odair.".
"Seriously!?"
He stresses in exasperation because
is this for real?
"Were you just ignoring me!?"
"Sorta" She admits, and Finnick sighs cause at least she's honest right? "It was kinda funny."
Finnick doesn't think so, but Mags laughs near soundlessly at his side and he figures he's outnumbered. He drags a hand down his face with a groan, then closes his eyes.
It almost helps loosen the knot in his chest, the one that worried his tribute- no, his
victor-
wouldn't wake up. But he needed her to, because then it would've been for nothing: selling his soul would have been for nothing, his nephew dying in that cursed arena would've been for nothing.
It's the only way he'd live with himself.
The third time, he's in a sour mood. Sand and salt water has been tracked all over the floor by a waterlogged Annie who took his boat out to sea against his warnings.
"Anastasia Cresta! " He's tapping his foot impatiently against the wooden floors with his arms crossed, occasionally pinching his temples and huffing in frustration when he can't find the damn mop. But Annie's parents are coming today, and Finnick just wants everything to go perfectly. 80% of the district thinks he's a selfish asshole and he doesn't want to give Annie's parents a reason to despise him more-
"Couch."
That shakes him out his spiraling thoughts, "What?"
"You're sleeping on the couch" She clarifies, standing at the top of the steps with nothing but a towel wrapped around her soaked hair. Nudity wasn't really a big, scandalous thing in 4.
But sleeping on the couch was. Because they always slept together these days.
"Wait!-"
But Annie simply walks back into her room and Finnick begs for a change of heart. Annie takes him back in the bed. He has a feeling she would've done it anyways, even without the puppy-dog-eyes.
If Annie's parents don't like him how he is, they never will. Annie tells him to stop worrying and Finnick feels the tension leave his shoulders as Annie tenderly massages the knots out of them.
The fourth time, he's in ecstasy. He's sweaty and flushed and Annie is a goddess above him- even though she's arguably as much of a mess as he is, if not more.
"Say my name, " Annie demands.
"Annie" He sighs out reverently, nuzzling his head into her thighs.
"No Finnick" Annie scolds, the gentle fingers that had been carding through his hair moments before now become a vice grip that forces his attention to her face, "Say my name" Emphasizing each word with an insistent tug on bronze locks.
He whimpers. Then gasps when she tugs hard enough to bare his throat and smirks down at him in that way that sends heat straight down to his core.
"Anastasia," And it comes out like a prayer. She sucks a purple mark against the pulse point on his neck.
"
Anastasia, Anastasia, Anastasia
" He can't stop breathing out her name between sighs of pleasure. It's her name filling and exploding out his tongue as he trembles and topples over his high against her leg.
"Good boy" She coos afterwards, "You're so good for me," Her nails gently massage at his scalp as she continues showering him with praise.
The fifth time, he's desperate. His pupils dilated and sparing only slits of sea-green. He's exhausted, sweltering, and burnt out. He only came to this section because Katniss had taken off by herself in this godforsaken arena. And they need Katniss safe for the revolution. But all thoughts of revolution and 'the plan' drop from importance immediately when he hears Annie's voice crying out to him. His body operates on pure adrenaline as he pushes past Katniss and bolts.
"Annie! Annie!" He calls, bursting through the greenery like a man on a mission.
"Anastasia!
ANA-
"
"Finnick!" The screams morph with the ones calling his name from above but this one is accompanied by a hand on his shoulder that he harshly slaps off on reflex.
Katniss puts her hands up in placating fashion before pointing a dislodged arrow at the jabberjay on the jungle floor.
"
Finnick!
It's not real! It's not her, it's
just a jabberjay!
" Katniss tries to reason, yet she's not in the best shape either, pupils still dilated and she's winded from having chased him thus far.
He looks back at the dead bird. He hadn't even noticed it stopped screaming. His gaze flits around fearfully when he does. Because if she's not screaming anymore, he has no shot of saving her.
As backwards as it sounds, a part of him wishes the bird would start making those haunting sounds again, if only so he could know she's alive. Then again, being tortured wasn't
living.
"Well, where do you think they got that sound, Katniss?" He asks, condescension creeping into his tone without him meaning it. He may cynical but it's pretty fucking obvious to him. "Jabberjays
copy.
"
A sick, vindictive sort of satisfaction washes over him when the color drains from the teen's face and realization sets in. He didn't truly mean to drag someone into his mental hellscape and spiral of thinking but he couldn't stand the optimistic thought she was trying to give him. Maybe she was too new to know how the capitol worked, but he's 10 years in.
The screams start back up. They run. And run and run till they crash into an invisible wall that dooms them to an hour of suffering with their loved ones cries as the omnipresent soundtrack. His hands press against his ears as he curls against the floor and he prays to any higher being out there that they end him here and now.
"I give you this ring as a sign of our covenant. And just as this circle is without an end, my love for you is eternal and my commitment to you shall never fail. With all that I am, I will cherish you." He promises as he slips the golden band onto Annie's ring finger. He couldn't stop smiling the entire time as Annie ran her thumb over the ring now adorning her finger.
"And I give you this ring in a not-as-poetic fashion, as a symbol of my unconditional love," Annie starts, earning a few chuckles from the crowd as she slides the ring onto his awaiting finger. "With it, I promise to walk by your side and share both joy and sorrow."
The officiant, a cattle guy from District 10 named Dalton, nods in approval before moving onto the vows, clearing his throat.
"Do you, Finnick Odair, take Annie Cresta, to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish each day and to always be united with one life, one purpose, one destiny, for as long as you may live?"
"I do". He'd say it a thousand more times and Annie knows it.
"And do you, Annie Cresta, take Finnick Poseidon Odair to be your lawfully wedded husband-"
Finnick shakes his head out of his lovestruck daze, mouth agape.
"Wait wait wait-" Because it may be his wedding but he thinks manners just flew out the window. "Did you-" looking between the priest and Annie, "Did you tell him that?"
When he gets no answer (he doesn't wait for one), he turns to Dalton and explains that no, his name isn't Poseidon. He doesn't even
have
a middle name. And, he got it right just 2 seconds ago!
"No, keep it" Annie pipes up and Finnick looks back at her with that same shocked expression before she gently taps under his chin with the warning not to let flies in his mouth.
Finnick straightens back up and slowly crosses his arms, raising a brow, "Ohhh, so we're doing this now? I'll call you ‘
Anastasia’
in front of the entire country" He threatens as if he hadn't done it in that very same sentence.
"Big words coming from you, darling" Annie smirks. And she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, her chipped but painted nails brushing against the lightweight net adorning her head.
"And what is that supposed to mean
Ms Anastasia Annemarie Cresta?
" and he says the name with that stuck up capitol type voice that Annie always glared at.
Anastasia was such a 'prim and proper' name that Annie often complained about. Only her family calls her that nowadays, and she cringes every time it's shouted in public and especially at the market. Unfortunately, Annie had a tendency of getting lost, which led to her father calling out her name like a siren till she wound up by his side. Seeing how much she was embarrassed by the name, she usually made it back before he could yell a third time.
The corner of Finnick's mouth lifts in a smirk as Annie scrunches her nose in that cute way that reminds him of a kitten. He resists the urge to tap her nose to spare her some dignity.
But there's a glint in her eye that tells him he won't be spared.
Dalton sighs.
"It means I just find it funny that someone named Salmon is talking about
my
name" The woman teases and someone in the audience coughs. It may have been an attempt to hide a laugh in all honesty. With all the names in the capitol and districts, maybe someone was evaluating whether it would be disrespectful to laugh. Finnick wishes the ground would cave below him and swallow him up.
"Annemarie." He tries, because that's the name he's had to use when Annie's in trouble. The equivalent of bringing out the full name except last time he tried the full name he was nearly kicked to the couch.
"Okay Corral" She continues, raising a challenging brow.
"That's not even my-"
"Sure Michael. " And somehow that gets a rise because it doesn't suite Finnick at all.
"Annie please-"
"Okay Tortoise"
His interjections go ignored and he knows there's little to no use but still.
"Okay Sandbar,
Okay Treasure"
There's a loud burst of laughter. He'd recognize Johanna's unhinged cackle from anywhere.
"Okay Whirlpool;
Okay Dale"
For better or worse, the crowd officially loses the composure they were trying to maintain. Even the stone face soldiers from 13 crack smiles at the now one sided exchange.
"Okay Seashell"
Finnick accepts defeat.
"Okay Boa,
Okay Cresta"
"That's not even close to-" And he pauses because it's a record scratch moment, his eyes shooting open and landing on Annie's. Her smile is soft as she offers her hand, asking the question without saying it.
"I'd like that.” Finnick answers anyways, “I'd really like that actually."
"I do too" Annie smiles before dragging Finnick down into a kiss. And for a moment, the world disappears and it's just them again. Just Anastasia Annemarie Cresta and Finnick 'Poseidon Michael Dale Treasure Boa Corral Tortoise Whirlpool Salmon Sandbar' Cresta. Just Annie and Finnick, and the taste of salt water on their lips.
"You've gotta drop the Poseidon" Finnick whispers against her lips when they pull apart.
"Of all the names you choose to have a problem with: Poseidon? "
Finnick hums as she giggles and he can't help going in for another kiss as Dalton begrudgingly pronounces them husband and wife and gives up on telling them when to kiss because they've already skipped to that part.
Their wedding is unique and truly them.
Coin's probably pissed, which means he may get swapped for some menial duty instead of freetime, but he couldn't really care less. He does feel a bit bad for the propo team who's probably losing their shit about how to edit this into Plutarch's vision though.
Yet in his mind, them goofing off is an even bigger fuck you to Coriolanus ‘Disgusting Asshat Cunt’ Snow than the wedding vision they planned. Finnick couldn't imagine it any other way, not with Annie beaming at him and dragging him to the center of the forming dance circle, fits of laughter in their wake.
"So, Poseidon ey?" A voice catches him when he's spun Annie off into Katniss' arms.
"Oh shut up Jo", Finnick groans but Johanna slaps his arm before doubling over laughing and Finnick will take it because he hasn't heard her laugh like that in a while. He does insist that she has to give him a dance though, which she protests but ultimately accepts without much of a fight because she's a softy at heart. For him at least. She's practically skeletal in his arms but she insists on leading their dance. He follows easily.
"I'm glad you could make it Johanna" He says, lowly enough so it can only be heard by the two of them.
"Yeah yeah, whatever" But she lets him spin her and he knows she returns the sentiment:
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
Except if it was 'for the world', she
would
miss it. For him? Never, even if she grumbled about it.
The only thing that would make this wedding better would be the beach. But thinking about that makes him spiral and consider everything that's been going down the past months, the last year. The destruction, the torture of his loved ones, the pointless deaths and punishments, the doctors, the white roses littered in the crater formed by capitol missles, the-
"Finnick" Annie's voice comes like a breath of salty ocean breeze as she pulls him into her body, Johanna stalking off to 'eat up their cake before it's gone'.
"Annie" And he's breathless because she's beautiful.
She's always beautiful.
But she's
glowing
when she laces their fingers together and kisses his knuckles reverently.
There's no need for words to express how they feel, but he says it anyway "I love you". And even that doesn't feel like enough.
She gets it though. She always does: "I love you too, Finnick".