Calm Before The Storm {Finnick Odair}

Worry

When the two mentors finally made it back to the apartment, they couldn't help but feel exhausted. They had been stuck answering so many questions that their throats felt hoarse by the end.

But, nevertheless, Hebe gave her sister a warm smile as she spotted the girl sitting on the sofa beside her district partner, the pair clearly waiting for the return of the two mentors.

"Sorry it took so long." She laughed, striding over to greet them both while trying to wrestle her hair out of the messy updo.

"You two were great." Finnick grinned, plopping down beside her and stretching out across the couch.

"Thanks." Annie smiled back, while Victor nodded appreciatively.

"Sorry they talked about me so much Ann." Hebe grimaced, while Finnick nudged her.

"Yeah! And you try to say I'm the self-obsessed one!"

Hebe rolled her eyes, "Shut up. Victor, you were very good too." She continued politely, fixing her gaze on the boy.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks." He responded, shock coating his face just like it had when she'd wished him luck for his assessment.

"Anyway," Finnick interjected "Where's Ambrosia?"

"Gone to bed. Says she needs an early night."

"Huh." Hebe said, "That's a new one."

"Yeah well, she's not wrong," Finnick began, his voice suddenly more stern and authoritative, "You two should be off to bed too. You won't get much sleep in the arena."

The two tributes nodded, forcing determined expressions onto their faces, and Hebe couldn't help but notice the cracks in their facades.

"Night." Victor said, and walked away, not bothering to elaborate past that. She couldn't say she blamed him.

Finnick stayed seated on the sofa as Hebe rose to bid goodnight to her sister. She carefully wrapped her arms around the girl, giving her a kiss on the head and scanning her expression.

She looked sad, and her eyes began to swim with unshed tears.

"Hey, it's alright. You don't need to say goodbye right now." The mentor soothed, running a hand through that mess of red curls, "If you can't sleep tonight, come find me, yeah?"

Annie nodded, patting her sister on the shoulder, before walking away.

Hebe watched her retreat into her room, sighing sadly and turning back to Finnick, who had a similarly pained expression on his face.

"You good?" He asked, standing up beside her.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"C'mon then." He responded, jolting his head towards the door and beginning his walk towards it.

She followed quickly behind him, laughing slightly at him as he practically ran out the door. He turned to give her another bright grin, and she allowed her worries to melt away, if only for a moment.

They were silent as they took the elevator up to the roof, but not in the same way as last time. Before it had been a silence filled with an unresolved tension, caused by so many unanswered questions and unspoken anger. But now it was comfortable, and full of kind smiles and understanding.

Hebe yet again wondered how she had gotten so lucky to call this man her friend.

Before she realised it they were at the roof again, and she was still standing in the elevator, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about, huh?" Finnick asked, his voice soft with worry that she was having another flashback.

"Oh, uh, nothing." His fears were quickly alleviated as she smiled genuinely, stepping out of the elevator onto the roof.