Hunger Games ficlet: Mirrors (not rated, Finnick Odair)
(I saw a prompt on Tumblr, open for anyone, and had to write something for it.)
All of the mirrors in the house were covered.
When Annie first saw the interior of Finnick’s house, all the mirrors were covered. Covered with sheets. Covered with scribbled notes. Covered with dried flowers or seaweed. Covered with photographs. Of family. Of friends. Advertisements from magazines and newspapers. There were no openly, cleanly reflective surfaces anywhere.
When she asked him why, all he said was, “The house belongs to the Capitol. I can’t remove anything from it.”
It wasn’t until later that she understood just how much he hated the unexpected sight of himself. He hated how he looked. He hated how others looked at him. Hated how his looks made him a thing to be coveted rather than a human being worthy of respect. Mostly he hated how he had to accept it all, how he had to be complicit in his own abuse to protect those he loved.
It took her a while, but Annie understood Finnick’s hatred of mirrors. It was either that, or hate himself.
All of the mirrors in the house were covered.
When Annie first saw the interior of Finnick’s house, all the mirrors were covered. Covered with sheets. Covered with scribbled notes. Covered with dried flowers or seaweed. Covered with photographs. Of family. Of friends. Advertisements from magazines and newspapers. There were no openly, cleanly reflective surfaces anywhere.
When she asked him why, all he said was, “The house belongs to the Capitol. I can’t remove anything from it.”
It wasn’t until later that she understood just how much he hated the unexpected sight of himself. He hated how he looked. He hated how others looked at him. Hated how his looks made him a thing to be coveted rather than a human being worthy of respect. Mostly he hated how he had to accept it all, how he had to be complicit in his own abuse to protect those he loved.
It took her a while, but Annie understood Finnick’s hatred of mirrors. It was either that, or hate himself.