Hunger Games -- Double Drabble - Annie/Finnick (Spoilers for Mockingjay!)
Just one of many heartbreaking storylines in The Hunger Games world. Annie Cresta, ladies and gentlemen. :(
The first time she sees him is the Reaping of the 65th-his Games. She remembers him from later, though, from the 70th-her Games. He mentors her in the latter because of his performance during the former. Everyone tells her she's so lucky to have him on her side. He's a true Victor. He looks the part, acts it too, but it takes her awhile to see that that's all it is-an act. She's almost embarrassed not to have recognized it sooner, would be if not for the fact few others ever see the truth.
He goes and comes back, is 14 when he wins, and in some ways he's forever that tanned teenager who takes everyone's breath away, but in more ways he never was.
He goes and goes.
Together, they go, and he comes back, carrying the parts of her that didn't drown in the Arena.
Years and years, and he always comes back, and it's not him sometimes who returns, but sometimes it is. He starts coming back for her-to her.
Then he takes one more trip to the Capitol, volunteers. He and the others leave without saying goodbye.
And he never comes back.