Finnick loves the way he can act completely stupid with Sky, laugh and joke about dumb and sexual things without feeling self-conscious or judged in the slightest. It's very rare that Finnick feels his silliness is appreciated.
As soon as the two enter the woods in the dark, Finnick is set on edge. He grips her hand more tightly and nods. He's about to rummage in the backpack for a light source, until he remembers she can just make one.
"Mmn." A contemplative hum. Night Sky adjusted her bag to sling over her shoulder instead, keeping a firm grip on his hand as she used her free one to conjure a torch from her palm. "There's matches in your bag. Can you get them, baby?" She asked, her voice soft and, she hoped, soothing enough to quell whatever fears he had.
"Oh, right yeah." He takes off the backpack and searches around in it. It's hard to find the matches without light. He tries to breathe evenly, but his hands shake a little and there's a rushed quality to his movements. Finally, he finds them, lights one and carefully lights her torch. He looks around immediately to take on their newly-lit surroundings and make sure there's no danger around. Seeing nothing amiss, he tries again to steady his breath.
It was so easy to forget that most people did not enjoy the darkness of the woods; the silence save the occasional rustling of a nocturnal beast; the fluttering of leaves in a soft, whispering wind. Night Sky held the torch in front of them, looped her arm around him, and gently kissed his cheek. "We're almost there, sweetness. You're safe. Nothing can get you."
And if it tried, well, shame for it, then.
She continued moving them along, light flickering over rocks and trees, casting shadows that might spook her poor lover but she did not notice initially. Night Sky whistled to alert her dogs as they approached the open area where her camp resided, both hounds hurrying through the brush to meet them to walk alongside the pair and keep watch. Added protection, if Finnick wanted it.
The campsite itself was small, surrounded by trees in a circle Night Sky had clearly carved out herself. A tent was set up, the front wide open and the inside looking almost akin to her bedroom in the castle — blankets and pillows galore. A small campfire was set with wood stacked nearby, along with a bucket and a few other odds and ends for when she stayed out for days. "See? Nothing to worry about." And promptly lit that campfire with her torch.
Finnick holds tight to her. Her assurance of safety and her presence is what he tries to focus on, but the shadows are irregular shapes that are too easy for his brain to interpret as human figures about to leap out and kill them both. He yearns for a trident in his hands, or any kind of weapon he could use to protect them.
The dogs are somewhat of a comfort, but the campsite is lit strangely by the torch, and his uneasiness builds again as she starts a fire. Lighting a fire at night, the ultimate blunder for a tribute, sure to signal to the careers your exact location so they can easily hunt you down.
This feels like a bad idea. Cognitively, he knows he's safe, but in his body all he feels is dread and fear. Like something horrible is going to happen imminently. His eyes still dart around, and he fails to settle or make himself comfortable in the campsite, still standing near her.
Impossible not to notice his unease. Not only for her own obvious comfort while in the campsite, but because it was so unlike Finnick to be so... quiet. So hesitant.
She set everything down, took his bag from him and settled it with the rest. Only then did she stand before him, hands on his cheeks, smile soft.
"Sorry," he says reflexively, a little short of breath. He feels guilty; he wants to be happy to be here with her, because it's such a special place for her, but the fear is in the way.
"I--"
His words are gummed up in his chest. He can't seem to call the right ones to mind or get them out of his mouth. He's freezing up a little, disassociating slightly, unable to focus on much except the sick feeling in his stomach and the way his heart is pounding so fast.
"It's just- a lot like the arena..." He wishes he had more words available to explain, but hopefully that's enough for her to understand what he means.
She frowned. That explained it well enough. Night Sky looped her arms around his neck and pulled him close, leaned up on her toes to gently bump their noses together.
"I'm sorry, baby." She murmured, swaying with him slowly; soothingly. "I won't let anything even come close to hurting you, Finnick. You're safe here with me. I promise." She smiled. "Why don't we try making new memories for you, hm? No arena. No games. Nothing but you and me and nature — and s'mores." She chuckled.
"It's not me I'm worried about," he murmurs. Annie, Mags, Katniss, Peeta, Daeleth. His strong urge is to protect them all. He couldn't bear to fail at it again-- for Sky to disappear into the fog... That thought alone almost drags him completely into despair.
Words of safety don't seem to make a dent in his fear, but he pulls her close and places his hand on her back, rubbing her warm skin. That brings him back to the present ever so slightly.
"I'll try. I'll try. I'm sorry," he whispers. He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to focus on her skin on his, ducking his face into her shoulder. He shivers, his clothes still wet in the cool night air.
Her hands splayed across the back of his head, the nape of his neck, kneading soft and soothing into scalp and skin. Night Sky laid another kiss to his temple.
"It's okay, baby. Don't be sorry." It was enough she almost suggested just going back. This camping trip would work just as well within the safety of the garden. But she didn't, if only because she thought he might fight against it. "What can I do, sweetness? What do you need to make this easier?"
Her hand on his scalp feels nice, and the one on the nape of his neck helps him feel calmer- a product of conditioning from his relationship with Eren. He puts his hand on the nape of her neck as well; a promise of protection. He tries to breathe deeply.
What does he need? He has no idea.
"Ah... Touch is good... Can we... Lay with the dogs a minute?"
All that body heat would hopefully warm him up and help the feeling of security to build.
"Oh, they'll love that." She chuckled. Night Sky turned her head and growled something to the dogs. Bear Heart excitedly bounded into the tent, knocking over a few pillows in the process, while Hank patiently waited just outside of the opening.
Night Sky grasped both of Finnick's hands and walked backwards toward the tent, ducking down and flopping back into the little nest inside and urging him down between her legs, arms wrapping around him as Hank took up his post at their feet and Bear Heart bullied his way up into Finnick's space.
Finnick allows himself to be lead into the tent, on the verge of tears but hoping this will help. As he sits between her legs, he starts to remove his damp clothing, and Bear Heart comes up in his face, making him exhale a tiny, silent laugh. He allows the dog to kiss his face, which lightens his mood considerably and forcefully grounds him into the present.
He finishes getting his clothing off and leans back into Sky's arms, trying to get Bear Heart to settle on top of him or at least between his legs.
Sit on him? Say no more. Bear Heart, the big lug, flopped onto Finnick with a gleeful huff, snuggling close enough he was borderline smothering the poor guy.
Night Sky whistled softly and Hank shifted closer, curled more around their legs than posted up in front of them. Finnick was stuck between bundles of fur and Night Sky behind him, who laughed at the sight of them all. She kissed the top of Finnick's head.
Finnick laughs softly too. The weight of the dogs, the tickle of their soft fur, the warmth and secure hold of Sky behind him... There's no way he can't feel comforted and grounded now. He hums, nods. His breathing evens, and he pets Bear Heart.
After a little bit, he says:
"Never had tents or dogs in the arena, so that's different at least." Or pillows or blankets or anything of comfort.
Night Sky propped her chin atop his head, watching the fire crackling just beyond the entrance of the tent. Finnick couldn't understand Bear Heart, but Night Sky sure did — snorting out a laugh while he gushed over how much he loved pets from Finnick. He's been great since he showed up!
"You'll get used to it in time." She said confidently, fingers kneading into his chest. "I know it's scary, but you're safe with us, okay? Bear Heart especially won't let anything happen to his new best buddy, right?" On cue, Bear Heart lifted his head proudly and actually nodded, lapping his tongue across Finnick's cheek.
Bear Heart made a few odd little noises and leaned into the touch. "He says you're welcome, and also — suggests coming hunting with us sometime. He thinks it would be fun." Night Sky said.
Meanwhile Hank, her more subtle companion, shifted to gently rest his head on Finnick's leg. He's here for you too pal.
After a moment of silence, Night Sky spoke again. "I named Bear Heart after my dad." A little fun fact for him. "Acts nothing like him, but we used to go out hunting together a lot. Seemed fitting."
"That does sound fun, buddy." Finnick can certainly kill things, and he's sure Sky can teach him a lot about it.
He rests his other hand on Hank's head. Yes, this is curing him very quickly. He can't help but be calmed by the comfort, the crackle of the fire, the seemingly secure nest she's built.
"Oh, that's nice." Finnick hasn't had a dad in a very long time, but he thinks people naming things after their parents is sweet. "Protects you too, which hopefully your dad did..."
Not Finnick! His parents signed him up for the Hunger Games! Ha ha!
"Yeah, he did." She said with a soft sigh. "Been a long time since then, though. And I like to have reminders — terrible memory and all." She chuckled, the sound less mirthful than she would have liked. Her parents were... long dead. But Bear Heart could be eternal for how he came to be in the feywilds.
"And Hank was actually my boyfriend's back in Faerie. Named him after his friend and I — I'm sure you know me well enough. Couldn't just leave him when Connor left. Now he's stuck with me forever."
With her lifespan, he imagines it must have been a while, and must be hard to keep track of events and people after so many years. It makes sense that her memory isn't the best- the brain can only hold so much in it.
"It's nice that you kept him. I'm sure Connor would have wanted him to have such a good mom, and it's a good way to remember him."
He leans back into her, tugging on one of her curls and tilting his head up for a kiss.
"I'm feeling better now, if you wanted to make s'mores or-- Whatever it is you wanna do."
"He would have. And you would have loved Connor. Experienced the world mouth first, that one." She laughed.
She leaned down with the tug, lips pressed softly to his until he pulled away. Her eyes lit up. "S'mores. Yes." she squeezed her arms around him. "Up, boys." Talking not only to the dogs, but Finnick too, urging him to his feet so they could move toward the fire. She grabbed the supplies along the way and plopped down next to him.
"Mouth first?!" Finnick laughs. He's never heard that expression.
He obeys her and gets up slowly, his muscles a little stiff from how tense they were before. He picks up one of the fuzzy blankets and wraps it around himself, sitting next to Sky near the fire. It's nice and warm, and also beautiful to watch.
"Had to put his mouth on everything. I never complained." Duh.
Anyway! Smores! Night Sky excitedly pulled out everything they needed, kissing the top of Finnick's head as she handed him a stick with a marshmallow at the end. "Okay. You're going to roast that over the fire until it starts browning. Not too much."
"Sounds like your kinda guy. And mine." He smirks.
He takes the stick and starts roasting the mallow. It's hard to see exactly how brown it gets, but he is used to roasting things.
Unforutnately, the things Finnick usually roasts are not nearly so flammable as the little ball of sugar, and he almost immediately holds it too close to flame and catches it.
"Ah!" He brings it toward him, trying to blow it out but a bit too busy laughing.
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As soon as the two enter the woods in the dark, Finnick is set on edge. He grips her hand more tightly and nods. He's about to rummage in the backpack for a light source, until he remembers she can just make one.
"Please."
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And if it tried, well, shame for it, then.
She continued moving them along, light flickering over rocks and trees, casting shadows that might spook her poor lover but she did not notice initially. Night Sky whistled to alert her dogs as they approached the open area where her camp resided, both hounds hurrying through the brush to meet them to walk alongside the pair and keep watch. Added protection, if Finnick wanted it.
The campsite itself was small, surrounded by trees in a circle Night Sky had clearly carved out herself. A tent was set up, the front wide open and the inside looking almost akin to her bedroom in the castle — blankets and pillows galore. A small campfire was set with wood stacked nearby, along with a bucket and a few other odds and ends for when she stayed out for days. "See? Nothing to worry about." And promptly lit that campfire with her torch.
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The dogs are somewhat of a comfort, but the campsite is lit strangely by the torch, and his uneasiness builds again as she starts a fire. Lighting a fire at night, the ultimate blunder for a tribute, sure to signal to the careers your exact location so they can easily hunt you down.
This feels like a bad idea. Cognitively, he knows he's safe, but in his body all he feels is dread and fear. Like something horrible is going to happen imminently. His eyes still dart around, and he fails to settle or make himself comfortable in the campsite, still standing near her.
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She set everything down, took his bag from him and settled it with the rest. Only then did she stand before him, hands on his cheeks, smile soft.
"Talk to me, sweetness. What's wrong?"
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"I--"
His words are gummed up in his chest. He can't seem to call the right ones to mind or get them out of his mouth. He's freezing up a little, disassociating slightly, unable to focus on much except the sick feeling in his stomach and the way his heart is pounding so fast.
"It's just- a lot like the arena..." He wishes he had more words available to explain, but hopefully that's enough for her to understand what he means.
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"I'm sorry, baby." She murmured, swaying with him slowly; soothingly. "I won't let anything even come close to hurting you, Finnick. You're safe here with me. I promise." She smiled. "Why don't we try making new memories for you, hm? No arena. No games. Nothing but you and me and nature — and s'mores." She chuckled.
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Words of safety don't seem to make a dent in his fear, but he pulls her close and places his hand on her back, rubbing her warm skin. That brings him back to the present ever so slightly.
"I'll try. I'll try. I'm sorry," he whispers. He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to focus on her skin on his, ducking his face into her shoulder. He shivers, his clothes still wet in the cool night air.
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"It's okay, baby. Don't be sorry." It was enough she almost suggested just going back. This camping trip would work just as well within the safety of the garden. But she didn't, if only because she thought he might fight against it. "What can I do, sweetness? What do you need to make this easier?"
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What does he need? He has no idea.
"Ah... Touch is good... Can we... Lay with the dogs a minute?"
All that body heat would hopefully warm him up and help the feeling of security to build.
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Night Sky grasped both of Finnick's hands and walked backwards toward the tent, ducking down and flopping back into the little nest inside and urging him down between her legs, arms wrapping around him as Hank took up his post at their feet and Bear Heart bullied his way up into Finnick's space.
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He finishes getting his clothing off and leans back into Sky's arms, trying to get Bear Heart to settle on top of him or at least between his legs.
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Night Sky whistled softly and Hank shifted closer, curled more around their legs than posted up in front of them. Finnick was stuck between bundles of fur and Night Sky behind him, who laughed at the sight of them all. She kissed the top of Finnick's head.
"Better?"
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After a little bit, he says:
"Never had tents or dogs in the arena, so that's different at least." Or pillows or blankets or anything of comfort.
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"You'll get used to it in time." She said confidently, fingers kneading into his chest. "I know it's scary, but you're safe with us, okay? Bear Heart especially won't let anything happen to his new best buddy, right?" On cue, Bear Heart lifted his head proudly and actually nodded, lapping his tongue across Finnick's cheek.
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"Thanks, buddy." He scratches behind the dog's ear.
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Meanwhile Hank, her more subtle companion, shifted to gently rest his head on Finnick's leg. He's here for you too pal.
After a moment of silence, Night Sky spoke again. "I named Bear Heart after my dad." A little fun fact for him. "Acts nothing like him, but we used to go out hunting together a lot. Seemed fitting."
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He rests his other hand on Hank's head. Yes, this is curing him very quickly. He can't help but be calmed by the comfort, the crackle of the fire, the seemingly secure nest she's built.
"Oh, that's nice." Finnick hasn't had a dad in a very long time, but he thinks people naming things after their parents is sweet. "Protects you too, which hopefully your dad did..."
Not Finnick! His parents signed him up for the Hunger Games! Ha ha!
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"And Hank was actually my boyfriend's back in Faerie. Named him after his friend and I — I'm sure you know me well enough. Couldn't just leave him when Connor left. Now he's stuck with me forever."
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"It's nice that you kept him. I'm sure Connor would have wanted him to have such a good mom, and it's a good way to remember him."
He leans back into her, tugging on one of her curls and tilting his head up for a kiss.
"I'm feeling better now, if you wanted to make s'mores or-- Whatever it is you wanna do."
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"He would have. And you would have loved Connor. Experienced the world mouth first, that one." She laughed.
She leaned down with the tug, lips pressed softly to his until he pulled away. Her eyes lit up. "S'mores. Yes." she squeezed her arms around him. "Up, boys." Talking not only to the dogs, but Finnick too, urging him to his feet so they could move toward the fire. She grabbed the supplies along the way and plopped down next to him.
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He obeys her and gets up slowly, his muscles a little stiff from how tense they were before. He picks up one of the fuzzy blankets and wraps it around himself, sitting next to Sky near the fire. It's nice and warm, and also beautiful to watch.
He leans over, resting his head on her shoulder.
"Alright, teach me the ways of the s'more."
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Anyway! Smores! Night Sky excitedly pulled out everything they needed, kissing the top of Finnick's head as she handed him a stick with a marshmallow at the end. "Okay. You're going to roast that over the fire until it starts browning. Not too much."
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He takes the stick and starts roasting the mallow. It's hard to see exactly how brown it gets, but he is used to roasting things.
Unforutnately, the things Finnick usually roasts are not nearly so flammable as the little ball of sugar, and he almost immediately holds it too close to flame and catches it.
"Ah!" He brings it toward him, trying to blow it out but a bit too busy laughing.
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wrapping this for our sanity