Title: The Odds Were Never in Our Favor
Characters: Basically everyone from Catching Fire.
Pairings: Odesta, Everlark
Genre(s): Romance, Action, Drama
Rated: High T
Summary: What if Annie hadn't seen her district partner die? She'd be a mentor and a tribute for a second time in the 75th Annual Hunger Games.
Disclaimer: The lovely Suzanne Collins owns The Hunger Games Trilogy, not me. I only own this fic and any original characters I come up with.

A/N: This chapter is rated M for a vague sex scene or two, mentions of prostitution, and language. I hope you like it! And please review!

Prologue

The 71st Annual Hunger Games had been going well enough, or at least that's what Annie gathered from all the hoots and hollers of the Capitol citizens. She hadn't been picked as a mentor, and she supposes that will benefit the tributes more to have an experienced mentor, not one who only won her games the year before. Not one who is only a year older than them. Both tributes this year are volunteers, and she wonders why they hadn't volunteered last year. Annie won, no matter how much she sometimes wishes she hadn't. She's a victor, a survivor.

She's only in the Capitol because Snow requested her. He told her that there were a few people who wanted to meet her. Her velvet magenta platforms click against the marble floor of the Victor's Hotel and she stops to look at herself in the large mirror in the lobby area. Her stylist did good, very good in fact. Annie knows that by the end of the night the pretty multicolored dress will be lying on the ground in some clients- she hates the word, the way it leaves a sour taste in her mouth- home. The dress is pretty, though, with it's above the knee flare hem and crossed halter neck which forms a triangle of skin on her chest. The five-inch heels don't bother her as she's gotten used to them. She thinks that if the circumstances were different, maybe she'd wear it to an actually date, not one where she's being forced to attend.

As always, Annie was to meet with Snow and learn about her date first. Waving her hand out, she hails a cab and instructs the driver to take her to Gerda's Pub, a small hangout that victor's are known to inhabit. Gerda's is also only a block away from Snow's mansion. She figured out a few months ago, when she was first forced to do this, that she shouldn't tell the drivers to take her to Snow's unless she had a good cover. The first, and only time it happened, she told the driver that Snow wanted to discuss her recovery from the stresses brought upon by her games. It hadn't been the whole truth, but it hadn't been a complete lie either. Snow wanted to make sure that she was sane enough to work. Ha, work.

After paying the cab fare, Annie makes her way up the street and to the President's Mansion. There is a code on the gate that she doesn't know, so she presses the intercom button.

"Who is it?" A nasally voice inquires.

"Anais Cresta, President Snow wanted to talk to me." She is required to say her full name instead of her prefered "Annie", which she doesn't mind because it helps her distance herself from the Capitol. The gate opens a second later and an Avox opens the door for her.

"Thank you." She's always been polite to them, and even though the young woman can't speak, she smiles and nods.

"Welcome, Ms. Cresta! Welcome!" The same nasally voice that had spoken to her over the intercom greets here. All Annie can see if a moving fluff of feathers as a hand protrudes from the bundle. Annie goes to shake it, and a few feathers fall off at the movement.

"President Snow would like for you to meet him in his office." Annie can't see the woman's face but she thinks she can hear her smiling.

"Thank you, which way is that again?" Whenever she comes to the mansion, she'll ask for someone to escort her even though she knows where Snow's office is. She doesn't like going alone. The woman, who Annie presumes is a secretary, tells the Avox to escort Annie to the President's office, and Annie's just glad that it's an Avox and not the secretary herself.

The two women walk down the corridors and up the stairs and down more corridors before they make it to Snow's office. The smell of roses and blood are so strong that she thinks she might suffocate. Or maybe it's just her, since the Avox doesn't seem to have a problem. The Avox curtsies, then leaves Annie alone in front of Snow's office. She knocks once before she hears him say, "Come in."

"Ms. Cresta, what a pleasure. Please, do sit down while we wait for our other guest." He smiles at her and it takes all she has not to cringe. Annie sits down as she is told and they wait for two minutes before his phone rings.

"Hello? Yes, I understand. Send him up." Snow looks at her again with that artificially plump smile and she feels goosebumps. "Our other guest will be up shortly."

"I see." That's all she says because that's all she can say without her voice breaking in fear or anger. Most likely both. There's a knock on the door, but Annie doesn't turn around.

"Come in." Snow says loud enough for the other person to hear. The door creaks open and Snow smiles that venomous smile again.

"So is this our lucky lady?" The voice is strangely familiar and Annie almost snorts because, of course, she's the lucky one. How full of it could this ass be? The man sits down next to her and when she finally faces him, both of their eyes widen in shock. She now understands just why his voice was so familiar.

Sitting next to her, about to receive her services, is Finnick Odair. Her district partner's mentor from last year, Finnick odair. The golden boy of the Capitol, Finnick Odair.

"Finnick?!"

"Annie?!"

They're both shocked and confused, and Snow is sitting across from them looking impatient.

"We don't have all night." Snow's voice pulls both victors from their shock. The man folds his hands together on the desk in front of him, expensive rings on both hands. "Now as for your client-"

"Wait, we have the same client?" Annie asks, not caring for once if she interrupts.

"Yes, you do. Now as I was saying, your client is a very wealthy citizen of the Capitol and is a big fan of the both of you. His name is Yves Resbin and he has contributed a more than generous amount money into the making of the games." Snow pauses, a small but wicked smile creeps onto his face and he baits them. "Satisfy him and you are both free until the Victory Tour for this year's victor."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Snow." There's barely controlled anger in Finnick's voice, and Annie guesses that he only has this type of courage because he has been doing this longer.

"I speak the truth. If the two of you can satisfy Mr. Resbin, you'll both be client-free for the next six months." Annie can tell that Snow is hiding something, but freedom for the next six months sounds too good for her to pass up. Apparently, it sounds good to Finnick as well.

"What does he like? He must have left a list or something. Are we just going to go in and try to figure out this guy's kinks?" Finnick runs a hand through his bronze hair.

"He did leave a list but rest assured, you will not be doing anything with Mr. Resbin." Snow shakes his head, chuckling. He gives Finnick the list and Annie immediately understands what he means.

"Mr. Resbin is a voyeur, isn't he?" Annie sighs. She hates these types, because as if being forced to have sex with someone wasn't enough, there's someone watching her as she gets touched in ways she doesn't want these people to touch her. She doesn't even want to be near them most of the time.

"You catch on quickly Ms. Cresta. I suppose that is why you are so popular amongst your clients." Annie thinks that if anyone could win an award for "Creepiest Bastard", Snow would win every year.

"Since neither one of you are mentors this year, you do not need to be at the training center. So, if you two could now visit Mr. Resbin's home? Wouldn't want to keep him waiting, now would you?" Snow stands and hands Finnick a pair of keys with an address attached to them.

"Go into the garage and give this to whichever chauffeur is there. He'll bring you both to Mr. Resbin's. When you are done, I will have someone escort you both to the victor's hotel."

"Will do." Finnick says with a harsh undertone. It's probably not the best thing to do but he feels like shit already, and right now he really doesn't need this. Well, actually he could use the sex, and he suspects it'll be better than his other appointments because 1) He is sleeping with Annie and not some barely human Capitol citizen, and 2) Annie gets as many requests as he does meaning that she knows what she's doing. He gets up to walk out the door and to the garage, but stops when Annie doesn't get up.

"Will Mr. Resbin be filming this… interaction?" Finnick hadn't even thought of that possibility. Snow gives her a sadistic smile and sighs.

"It is more than likely."

"Will you be selling it afterward?" Her voice is livid while her face is calm.

"If it satisfies Mr. Resbin, yes. At a steep price, of course." Snow assures her equally calm.

"Of course." Annie gets up and walks out the door, Finnick following her hands in his pockets.

They walk down to the garage and hand the keys to the chauffeur. The man gestures for them to follow him as he leads them to a black town car. The chauffeur gets into the front and Finnick holds the back open for Annie, letting her slide into the back first.

"Thank you." She smiles.

"No problem." Finnick slides in after her, closing the door, and pressing a button that pulls up the privacy divider.

"You seem… distraught." She notices how pissed he looks as he stares at the leather upholstery.

"Rough night." Just last night Finnick had quite the adventurous client. Annie grabs his wrist and pushes back the sleeve of his blazer to reveal light bruises. "You seemed pretty pissed back in Snow's office."

"I hate this." She says, ignoring his question, and Finnick turns his head to look at her.

"Bondage or Prostitution?" Finnick asks with a humorless laugh.

"...Both..." This time Finnick genuinely laughs a little.

"I suppose we should get this figured out before we show up to our appointment." Finnick adjusts his seatbelt so that he can turn to Annie. "Top or bottom?"

"What do you think?" He takes her in for a moment and it hits him that he's about to sleep with his tribute from last year's games. Well, technically half-tribute, he and Mags dual mentored. Annie is only a year younger than he is and winning the games at age 18, with a pretty body and a prettier face meant that she got offers before she could even get back home.

"Bottom." Annie has never been overly aggressive, even in her own games, she only killed when she was attacked. To Finnick's surprise, she shakes her head.

"Top." She says it so nonchalantly, as if they're talking about the weather.

"Not for long." She turns to him, considering him. They had flirted a bit during her victory tour, but since Annie was, still is, recovering from post traumatic stress, neither had acted upon it. It had been harmless enough, too, nothing serious. Finnick is handsome, that's a fact, and she's recently discovered that she is just as desirable to the Capitolites, so the thought of someone requesting them together shouldn't have surprised her. His implication hits her hard, though. They are really about to do this, she is really about to sleep with Finnick Odair, her ex-mentor.

"You keep thinking that, Odair."

They spend the rest of the trip discussing what's good and what's not, and this actually helps them both, because for once they aren't being forced to do anything that makes them uncomfortable, well, except for the fact that they will be watched. The car pulls up to the big double doors and Annie knocks on it. The man who greets them smiles and lets them in.

"Ms. Cresta, Mr. Odair, you both look stunning. I am Mr. Resbin, however, you may call me Yves."

"Pleasure to meet you." Annie says with a forced smile.

"Would either of you like something to drink before we get started?" Yves asks pleasantly. He doesn't seem like a bad person, then Annie remembers that he is paying Snow to watch them fuck.

"No, thank you." Finnick and Annie say at the same time. Yves tilts his head a bit to the side, then gestures for them to follow him.

"Well, then. Let me show you the room." The victors follow Yves down a large corridor and through a door which leads to a bedroom with a large bed and no visible cameras. There is a large mirror on the wall parallel to the bed and a few paintings in the room, overall it's nicely decorated. Finnick wonders for a second if he'll be in the room with them, which unsettles him. Yves, however, nods at them and slips out the door.

"How is he going to watch?" Finnick asks, not that he's complaining. Annie walks over to the mirror and puts her finger on it. Her fingertip touches its reflection.

"Two-way mirror." She takes off her shoes and sets them against the wall. Finnick walks over to her and snakes his arms around her waist.

"Well then, I guess we should get started." Neither seem overly thrilled about this, but they are both thankful that they don't have to be touched by some Capitol citizen with modifications that have morphed their bodies.

"I guess so." Finnick leans down to meet Annie halfway and once their lips meet, they both know that this cannot end well for them. Instead of pulling back like they should, they only deepen the kiss, battling for dominance. Suddenly Annie feels herself being thrown onto the bed and Finnick climbing on top of her. He presses kisses onto her neck and she takes the pins out of her hair, letting it loose. She notices his tie on the ground and how the first few buttons of his shirt are undone.

After a flurry of limbs and flying articles of clothing, Annie finds herself being pressed into the soft sheets of the bed as Finnick's breath dances over her neck. She can hear the headboard hit the wall from time to time as she grabs his face and kisses him hard and long because she no longer cares that some creep is watching them. She only cares about those little sounds coming from his lips, the way one of his hands are in her hair, and how every now and then, he'll let her name slip out. She sees stars and she's saying his name and she can hear him doing the same.

She knows this is being filmed and she knows it'll be sold, but truthfully, she doesn't care.

The ride back to the victor's hotel had been more than awkward. How were you supposed to tell someone that you really just want to grab them and ravish them into oblivion, but this time preferably without anyone watching? Finnick really didn't know how. He almost feels ashamed for wanting to just take her right then and there on the leather upholstery of the car, but he lost most of his shame four years ago. They walk into the brightly lit hotel and step into the elevator.

"This is going to change everything, isn't it?" Annie doesn't look at him but he can tell she is a bit panicked.

"It doesn't... have to." He can tell that she doesn't believe him. The elevator brings them to the lobby of the District 4 victor's suite. All of the visiting victors stay in this hotel unless they are mentoring. Every suite has multiple bedrooms with separate bathrooms, a common room, a dining room, kitchen, and a lobby before entering the suite itself. This was so no one could come directly into the suite, without a key or authorization code.

"But it will." She looks him in the eye. Her hair is a beautiful mess and her lipstick is no longer on her lips. Finnick doesn't know why he feels like he needs her, but ever since they first spoke on that train ride to the capitol, he's felt something just a little more for her than like. Maybe it was lust, and getting it now only made him want her more. All he knows is that he wants her. Bad.

"Then let's not let it." Finnick has this determined tone in his voice that makes Annie stand still.

"What do you mean?" Annie asks, velvet shoes hanging off her finger tips.

"We treat it as if it's a normal thing." He takes a few steps closer to her. She doesn't still move.

"How so?" He takes another step, now only a few inches away from her.

"We could keep doing it." She meets his eyes, now only an inch away from her, and against her better judgment she stands on her toes, her lips touching his.

"Like this?" She pulls back only a little, never meeting his eyes, only looking at his lips. Finnick tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear and brushes his thumb up her cheekbone.

"I was hoping it would be something more like this." Finnick picks her up and pushes her against the wall, capturing her lips in his. Annie snakes her arms around his neck and pulls him closer for a second time that night. It's two in the morning and both of them doubt that the other two victors are still here and not out at a bar, so for a second time that night, Annie takes Finnick's breath away, and this time it's against a wall in the lobby of district 4's victor's suite.

For the next six months, that's all they do.

They sleep with each other and never question the underlying feelings pushing them to do this. Neither one of them realizes it until Finnick gets his first call from the Capitol in six months. Snow wants him to come to the Capitol. Snow wants him to do to strangers what he's been doing to Annie for the past six months. And when Finnick looks at Annie's naked sleeping form next to him in his home in the victor's village, he knows. He knows why he doesn't have nightmares when he's with her, why he always wants to smile when he sees her. She got him to fall in love with her the second he met her and he's only now realizing that Annie Cresta has crept up on him and made him do something he never thought possible.

Fall in love.

A/N: I don't really like writing romance since I don't know how to, but this was essential to the story. There won't be any more sexy time things in this story, that's why the rating is T. The rest is going to have more violence, rather than romance. There will be fluff at some points but nothing quite like this! Review please!