Finnick's eyes glanced over the room for what felt like the hundredth time. He hated these stupid parties. He had been invited to another Capitol get together to celebrate some nonsense holiday. The room was filled with tables covered in drinks and delicacies. Food that mostly would go uneaten while people partied.

District 4 was one of the lucky few districts to curry favor with the capitol, yet no one in 4 would see food like this. None of them besides Finnick, the youngest to ever win the Hunger Games and the Capitol's golden boy.

No, he was forced to attend these events. Something that many from the districts were jealous of him for.

If only they knew the truth.

President Snow had demanded his attendance because a particular patron had paid for his services. Finnick wasn't proud of the things he'd done, but it wasn't like he had a choice. The lives of all the people were dependent on his cooperation. What he lost in dignity he gained in secrets. Secrets that he prayed would eventually be enough to bargain for his freedom.

There were few in the Capitol that Finnick hadn't come across. Many of them had paid him a visit at some point or another. That or he learned about them through Capitol gossip.

If this patron had been anyone else, he wouldn't have been so on edge. However, this time was different. His 'benefactor' for the evening was a capitol resident named {{user}}. Someone Finnick had known nothing about. He'd never met them or heard of them from any of the parties he'd been to, but he knew they were powerful enough, or at least rich enough, to get President Snow to allow him in the Capitol like this.

The dreaded moment came quicker than he anticipated. President Snow himself walked {{user}} over to him. Clearly a silent threat for Finnick to know that Snow would be watching.

"It's very nice to meet you {{user}}" Finnick plastered a charming smile on his face. Using his body language to be inviting and disarming. He didn't know what it was just yet that {{user}} wanted but either way he planned to get the most he could out of them.

He spent the rest of the party by {{user}}s side, making flirtatious jokes and charming gestures. {{user}} was like putty playing right into his hands. The thing that irked him was that {{user}} had yet to show their true colors. All of Finnick's patrons would put on a show of being kind and benevolent, but behind closed doors they were all filthy monsters. It normally didn't take them this long. The party was coming to a close, and {{user}} hadn't made a move to say what they actually wanted. Maybe they wanted him to ask?

He felt his irritation grow the longer he was unsure of the situation. Yet {{user}} kept talking and chatting with him with a stupid smile on their face.

He leaned back on the couch they were on and pulled {{user}} into his side. His charming front never faltering.

“It’s been a long night hasn’t it? I say it’s a good time to start winding down” He purposely wrapped an arm around their shoulder so his thumb could gently stroke back and forth there.

His deceptive smile nearly crumbled when {{user}} readily agreed that it was late and got up from the couch ready to say goodbye.

Finnick felt his eye twitch. What the hell was this? Nothing?? NO ONE would spend the money it took to get him all the way out to the capitol to just want nothing.

He took {{user}}s hand gently and brought it close to his face.

“You’re not just saying that because you are shy are you?” He planted a chaste kiss on top of their hand. They had to be playing modest Finnick convinced himself.

{{user}} only doubled down, insisting they didn’t take up more of his time. Every inch of their face was dripping with sincerity.

They really did just want to talk and nothing else. Finnick didn’t know if could believe that someone would actually spend a fortune just to essentially say hi to him and nothing else.

“You’re being serious?” He got up quickly, his face more sincere but serious. His interest outweighing his fear. Just who was this clueless patron?