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He hated being here.
Finnick knew he was being a brat but he couldn’t help himself this time.
He was just seventeen and had been to celebrate his birthday at the Capitol away from his family before the games even started. It wasn’t until the tributes had arrived that he met the boy he’d be mentoring.
Every spare moment he had was spent with a client and he had so many different things in his system at this point keeping him alert.
Snow was punishing him; he was sure of it, only he didn’t know why.
Up until this point he had been behaving, living his life in district Four quietly… but maybe that was the point, maybe he needed to be reminded that Snow still owned him.
He didn’t want to entertain, he didn’t want to ‘put on a show’, and he certainly didn’t want to be mentoring anyone for the games this year.
But that’s where he found himself, mentoring against his will and fighting the urge to fall asleep in the corner on a chair that he had unofficially claimed as his own.
All of his frustration with Snow, with the Capitol, even the games, it was only natural that he would be upset.
So far he was thankful; the other victors seemed to pick up on the fact that he wasn’t in the best headspace to talk to at the moment and they had left him alone.
He had gotten a few looks ranging from vague disinterest (Enobaria) to a small flash of uncertain pity (Beetee) but thankfully nobody came anywhere near him.
That was until he was getting ready to leave for the evening.
It was the first night in what seemed like forever that he would have to himself, Mags had been kind enough to say she would keep watch over the night on the (volunteers). He was itching to sneak out, unnoticed, and make his way back without a scene.
He turned back by the door hoping to get one last look at the games when he was shoved to the side by Gloss.
“What the fuck?” Finnick huffed, barely containing his rage.
“Maybe don’t stand in the way like an idiot and it wouldn’t have happened.” Gloss shot back, his arms crossed defiantly.
“Prat.” Finnick mumbled under his breath as he rubbed his arm.
Gloss was normally fine but it was clear he was determined to be an ass tonight.
“Aw, did I hurt your baby skin?” Gloss jeered. “Why are you even mentoring anyway when it’s clear you can’t even take care of yourself?”
People were definitely watching them now.
If he was in a better mood he would have tried to end things there, but as it was…
“You know what?” Finnick scoffed. “At least I’ve managed to keep my kid alive… but then, I’ve actually cared enough to be here and do my job.”
It was a low dig. Finnick knew why Gloss hadn’t been there to watch over his volunteer, it was the same reason why he was pissed in the first place.
That seemed to get Gloss and he angrily grabbed Finnick by the shoulders and pushed him against the door frame.
Finnick flinched as the hard metal shoved into his back at an awkward angle. It would definitely leave a bruise.
“Hey, that’s enough.” The voice of a peacekeeper-
They always kept a few in or by the area in case things like this happened, fights between the victors. By the looks of the guy it would seem they sent the largest one to break up the fight.
In a way he was flattered. As though he and Gloss would be allowed to do any real damage to one another.
The thought was laughable.
The whirring sound of a machine though cued him in on why.
There were cameras.
Of course there had been cameras, and he was an idiot.
The games had been slower for the day and he was sure the Capitol was looking for any sort of scandalous story they could use as a conversation piece.
And here he was giving them one.
Snow would know now that he had been emotionally affected by his other jobs. The President would probably have him working more just for spite. Hoping to watch him break under the pressure of it all.
He looked back at Mags who seemed displeased, she nodded towards the door.
He got the message. Leave now before you make a bigger scene.
“Whatever.” He rolled his eyes and huffed irritably, pushing Gloss’ arm away from him. “I was on my way out as it is.”
“Yeah, I think it’s past your bedtime anyway.” Gloss smirked, “Better listen to grandma.”
If he had been pissed before he was livid now.
He didn’t even think, blinded by his anger toward the older boy.
He turned back and grabbed Gloss with a growl, bringing them both to the ground.
Gloss grunted as he hit the ground, Finnick on top of him.
Gloss got in a fairly good hit before Finnick grabbed his wrist and bit down on his arm hard.
Gloss yelled angrily, continuing to hit Finnick with his other fist but Finnick wasn’t going to give in, he just bit down harder.
In the end it took two peacekeepers to separate them and by the time they were on opposite corners of the room cameras were everywhere.
He could taste Gloss’ blood in his mouth, even feel it as it ran over his lips.
He was sure he looked a sight.
He gave Gloss a victorious grin as he was escorted back to his room. It was a pretty good bite and he would inevitably have to visit medical.
The peacekeeper had been ordered to stand guard in the main area of the apartment until further notice.
Finnick had thrown a vase at the wall in frustration. He felt like a child being sent to their room.
He supposed in a way he was.
He glared at the impassable peacekeeper and shut himself in his bedroom.
The first thing he did was wash the bloody taste from his mouth then followed by changing his clothes.
He didn’t want to think about Gloss, the other victor was sure to garner some sympathy from the display even though he had been the one to start everything.
He laid on his bed and tried to think of anything else to get his mind off of the ridiculous altercation.
‘So much for a quiet evening’ he thought bitterly.
It was barely even the next morning when he received a message from Snow that his schedule had changed.
The President still horrified him immensely and any message from him was enough to instill fear.
Oddly enough, there had been the same number of clients as before only the names had changed.
He didn’t like where things were headed.
He arrived at his first appointment impeccably dressed and very much on time. No need for Snow to be anymore upset with him.
“Ah, there he is. The boy of the hour.” An older man greeted with a sardonic smile, ushering Finnick past the foyer and into the grand main room of his Capitol mansion.
Finnick stilled when he saw Gloss, already undressed with his hands against the wall.By the look of his wrist he must not have had time to go by medical and get the bite taken care of, it was still there.
“We have a day full of activity ahead of us boys.” The man continued, his eyes seemingly glowing as he looked from Finnick to Gloss.
“Finnick, undress and stand by our friend.” He ordered, speaking as though he were talking to a young child.
Finnick found himself standing side by side with Gloss, facing the wall. He carefully mimicked the others' stance and placed his hands against the wall.
“Very good, good indeed.” The older man hummed.
“Now, I think we need to address our naughty behavior from last night.” The client continued.
Finnicks heart dropped when he saw the riding crop out of the corner of his eye and he’d bet anything that Gloss did too.
The man took his stance behind them both.
“I think by the end of this we’ll all be good friends again.” He whispered between them, running his fingers through Finnicks hair and kissing him on the shoulder.
“Just remember.” The client continued with a husky breath, taking a step back once again. “This will hurt me far more than it will hurt you.”
Finnick closed his eyes the second he heard the tool crack through the air.
The first hit wasn’t even the worst one. It was by the fourth that Finnick let out a whimper of pain.
The client had alternated between the both of them every few strikes.
“Oh, I know. I know it hurts.” The man cooed, sadistically running the end of the crop over where he had just struck Finnick. “Such pretty boys, it’s a shame I have to punish you.”
Finnick watched as the man ran a hand over Gloss’ injured wrist, he had leaned in, his whole body almost covering the other victors.
“But I saw you both last night, so naughty, and I knew right away what had to be done.”
Finnick was certain that this crazy man had spent the entire evening planning out how he would ‘punish’ the both of them.
The thought that there were others on the list that had been switched made him shudder as to what this trip to the Capitol would end like.
Maybe Snow would end up breaking him after all.
The man started anew and continued until Finnick had tears streaming down his face and neck.
Finnick was sure Gloss didn’t look much better but he could swear that this man was focusing a majority of his attention on himself and not Gloss.
His hands shook as he tried to steady himself against the wall.
“Now, did we have time to reflect?”
Finnick quickly nodded his head, knowing that he really hadn’t been given permission to talk. He winced when he felt hands running over the bruise on his back.
“Too much fighting. I think you boys need to face each other and apologize.” The man walked across the room to a sitting area and took a seat in a golden armchair.
“Both of you over here.”
Finnick turned and looked at the man, who by now had removed himself from his pants and was grinning obscenely like the cat who got the cream.
Since he had won, Finnick was acutely aware of just how perverse some people could be. Yet, ever so often, he got reminders that they could always get worse.
“Turn to face each other.” They were both directed.
Thankfully, Gloss seemed to be as uncomfortable as he felt if the look he gave in Finnicks direction was anything to go by.
The man from the Capitol started to stroke his erection as he looked between the two of them.
“Now.” He stated, his breath catching as he undoubtedly tried to reign in his lustful thoughts to prolong his pleasure. “Finnick, I want you to apologize to Gloss.”
Finnick was already looking the other victor in the eyes, his mounting embarrassment took away from the pain on his ass and legs.
“I’m sorry.” He declared impassively, his voice wavering from the previous tears.
The client chuckled.
“Now Finnick,” He tutted. “I think we can do better than that.” His hand moved slowly over his erection.
Finnick looked at Gloss’ arm and reached out, taking it in his hand.
Gloss looked on, not entirely trusting of the other blond.
Finnick lifted the irritated flesh to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the red mark.
“I am sorry.” He tried again, feigning shame as another tear fell.
His lips lingered momentarily on Gloss' fingers and he cast a wide eyed glance at the man in the chair; all the while hating that he knew what would work to please this crazed individual.
It seemed to do the trick and the client went so far as to clap twice before focusing his attention on Gloss.
“And what do we say to our friend, hmm? After all Finnick came so far as to visit us on our special night”
Finnick was hit with the realization that this client was someone that Gloss frequented. He wondered if the others that had been added to his list were ones that favored Gloss as well. After all he had clients that he was required to see on a regular basis, why wouldn’t Gloss.
“I forgive you.” Gloss replied, taking Finnick away from his previous thought. “And I’m sorry too.”
Finnick believed, with certainty, that gloss was referring to events that hadn’t yet happened when he made his apology.
And as much as he had been angry at the other victor, he didn’t think he could find it in himself to resent him for his actions last night.
In the end, they were both slaves to the Capitol. There were no winners.