𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒖𝒔; 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒓

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒓 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒍

When night falls, everyone sets up their own sleeping spots. Finnick holds Lilith securely while they lay on their makeshift bed. In his arms is the only place where she truly feels safe. It's the only place where she can let her guard down because she knows that Finnick would do anything and everything to protect her. Although she feels safe, sleep eludes her. She lays with her eyes wide open, tracing circles with her pointer finger on Finnick's arm that's draped over her side.

Peeta is still cuffed from earlier and he is sprawled across a plush chair, not too far from where Lilith and Finnick are. They're determined to keep their promise to him and be his protection. Near Peeta, Katniss sits up in another chair similar to his, watching him. Her eyes are focused and sharp.

"We've been here before, you know," Peeta suddenly speaks up.

Katniss blinks in surprise. "What?"

"That look. I've seen that look." Peeta sits up. "You're trying to decide whether or not you should kill me."

"I never wanted to kill you," Katniss states simply. She turns her head away from Peeta. "And that's not what I'm doing."

"I saw it with my own eyes. In the first Games," Peeta says, his eyes never leaving Katniss's face.

"In the first Games, I thought you were trying to help the Careers kill me," Katniss retorts, returning her gaze to Peeta.

Lilith sits up slightly, watching the scene unfold between the two star-crossed lovers. She focuses her full attention on them, ready to step in if it gets too heated.

"After that, I always saw you..." Katniss pauses, trying to think of the right word. "...as an ally."

Peeta nods his head ever so slightly, taking in her words. "Friend, lover, Victor, fiancé, enemy, target, mutt. And now ally? Yeah, I'll add that to the list of words I use to try to figure you out." Peeta's voice rises towards the end of his sentence, and that's when Finnick stirs and sits up beside his wife. "I'm sorry. I just can't tell what's real and what's made up anymore."

"Then ask," Finnick's voice rings out. Lilith turns her head and looks at him. "That's what Lilith does." His eyes flicker over to hers and then back at Peeta.

"Ask who?" Peeta says. He sounds hopeless. He doesn't believe that anyone will listen. But, he's wrong.

"Us. We're your unit now," Jackson speaks up.

There's a long, quiet pause. Lilith leans back onto Finnick, and he instinctively wraps an arm around her waist.

"Your favorite color is green. Is that real?" Peeta asks softly.

Katniss turns her head towards him. "Yeah. That's real," her voice echoes in the same tone. "Yours is orange. Not bright orange. Soft, like the sunset."

"Thank you," Peeta murmurs. The conversation could have ended right there, with Peeta showing his gratitude. But, the words continue to flow out of Katniss's mouth.

"You're a painter. You're a baker. You always sleep with the windows open. You never take sugar in your tea. You always double-knot your shoelaces..." Katniss strains to get the last few words out before sighing. She stands and begins walking away. "You're right. I can't do this."

Lilith watches her sit by Gale. Lilith turns her head to her husband. He sighs and tucks some stray hairs behind her ear.

"Let's get some sleep," he whispers.

Lilith doesn't say anything, she just nods. He plants a soft and loving kiss on her forehead, then lays down. Lilith follows him down, her head landing on his chest.

The following morning, the Star Squad quickly readies themselves for the long day of walking ahead of them. Just like the day before.

Lilith straps her swords onto her back securely. Boggs approaches the group with an extra gun in his hands as she tightens her holster.

"Listen up," he says. He holds the empty mag up for everyone to see. "Mag's empty. It's only for the propo." Boggs then puts the gun back together and hands it to Peeta.

Lilith stations herself at Peeta's side and is determined to stay there.

"Let's move. We're headed five blocks north," Boggs says. He begins walking out of the building, and the rest of the squad follows.

Finnick twirls his trident with his fingers beside Lilith as they walk. The rhythmic beeping of the Holo is the only sound that is made. Until, that is, Finnick is handed a script that Peeta must memorize for a propo.

"To the citizens of the Capitol, our war is not with you," Finnick reads off of the paper.

"To the citizens of the Capitol, our war is not with you," Peeta repeats.

They go back and forth like this until Peeta has memorized the script.

"You got it," Finnick says with a smile.

"Good job," Lilith says encouragingly.

It's not much, but Lilith can tell that Peeta's confidence is getting better the more he's encouraged. He's still unsure about a lot of things, but Lilith is hopeful that with time he'll get back to his old self.

"Lilith?" Peeta's voice says softly.

"Yeah?" Lilith turns her head towards him.

"Why are you so nice to me? I've done bad things and betrayed a lot of people—"

"Peeta," Lilith stops his rambling. "You're my friend, and promised I would protect you. That didn't stop when we left the arena. And... I've done a lot of bad things too, so I kind of know what it's like."

"We're friends?" Peeta questions.

"Yes," Lilith says smiling. "And you're one of the best."

Peeta nods contently at that.