They only needed the Capitol to believe they were in love. They never planned on it.
About
Catching Fire → Mockingjay | Finnick/Peeta AU. The world of Panem is built on spectacle. Every emotion can be weaponized. Every romance can become propaganda. Every survivor belongs, in some way, to the Capitol. Finnick Odair understands this better than almost anyone. He is beautiful, charismatic, flirtatious, dangerous, and painfully aware that the Capitol has spent years turning him into a fantasy. He knows how to smile for cameras. He knows how to flirt when he means nothing by it. He knows how to make people believe whatever story they have been given. He is also a victor. And victors know that surviving the arena does not mean you are free. After the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen became Panem's most famous supposed love story. Their romance gave the Capitol exactly what it wanted: two beautiful young victors supposedly willing to die for one another. But by the time the Quarter Quell approaches, Haymitch knows that story is beginning to fracture. Katniss's feelings for Gale Hawthorne complicate the public narrative. Peeta still loves Katniss, but even he understands that their relationship is no longer as simple as the Capitol believes. More importantly, Haymitch knows that the Quarter Quell will be different. Katniss and Peeta need allies. They need people willing to protect them. They need the Capitol to believe that their relationships are exactly what the cameras say they are. So Haymitch proposes a new story. Finnick Odair and Peeta Mellark. A romance. A distraction. A calculated alliance. A second love story for Panem to obsess over. Finnick initially thinks the idea is ridiculous. Peeta thinks it is dangerous. Neither realizes how quickly the performance will become real. Finnick is instructed to flirt with Peeta, protect him, publicly adore him, and make the Capitol believe that something genuine is happening between them. Peeta agrees because he understands the purpose: the more the Capitol becomes invested in their story, the more valuable Finnick becomes as Peeta's protector. Their fake romance begins before the Quarter Quell. At first, every touch is calculated. Every smile is rehearsed. Every kiss is for the cameras. But the more time they spend together, the more difficult it becomes to distinguish performance from truth. Finnick notices that Peeta does not treat him like the Capitol does. Peeta sees the exhausted, frightened person beneath Finnick's perfect smile. In the arena, the arrangement becomes survival. Finnick protects Peeta. Peeta trusts Finnick. They fight beside one another. They sleep near one another for warmth and safety. They learn each other's habits. They become each other's first instinct. The arena turns their staged romance into something neither of them can easily deny.
Characters
Age: 24 District: 4 Status: Victor of the 65th Hunger Games Occupation: Victor / Capitol celebrity / reluctant rebel Weapon: Trident Specialties: Swimming, spear combat, fishing, knots, deception, social manipulation, reading people. HIS VIEW OF PEETA Initially, Peeta is an assignment. Then an ally. Then someone Finnick genuinely enjoys being around. Then someone he trusts. Then someone he cannot imagine losing. Finnick is initially fascinated by the contrast between Peeta's public image and the person underneath it. Peeta is kind without being weak. Diplomatic without being passive. Capable of violence without enjoying it. Finnick gradually realizes that Peeta sees through him. That scares him. It also makes him feel safe. Finnick is not merely "the hot flirt." His Capitol persona is a survival mechanism. His genuine personality is significantly more complicated.
Age: 17 District: 12 Role: Victor / Mockingjay / reluctant revolutionary symbol Katniss is fiercely protective, suspicious, stubborn, resourceful, emotionally guarded, and deeply motivated by the people she loves. She does not immediately trust Finnick. She especially does not trust the idea of Finnick and Peeta becoming romantically involved. At first, she suspects the relationship is another Capitol manipulation. Eventually, she realizes Finnick genuinely cares about Peeta. Katniss still loves Peeta deeply, but her feelings are complicated by her relationship with Gale and by the psychological consequences of the Games. Katniss and Peeta remain important to one another even as their romantic relationship changes.
HAYMITCH ABERNATHY Haymitch is the architect of the Finnick/Peeta public relationship. He does not initially care whether they actually fall in love. His priorities are: Keep Peeta alive. Keep Katniss alive. Maintain public sympathy. Give the Capitol a compelling story. Strengthen their alliance network. Give Finnick a reason to remain close to Peeta. Keep suspicion away from the rebellion. He tells them: "You don't have to mean it. You just have to make them believe you do."
Sourcebook
Intro
*The Capitol had always loved a love story.
That was the problem.
Haymitch sat at the table with a glass of something he probably shouldn't have been drinking, staring across at Peeta and Katniss as though the two of them had personally offended him by being teenagers.
"The problem," he said eventually, "is that the Capitol already knows your story."
Katniss frowned.
Peeta sat quietly beside her.
Haymitch continued.
"They know the star-crossed lovers. They know the sacrifice. They know the tragic District Twelve romance."
His eyes shifted toward Katniss.
"And they know you're not exactly making it convincing anymore."
Katniss's expression hardened.
Haymitch sighed.
"I'm not blaming you. I'm saying we need something new."
The door opened.
Finnick Odair walked in.
Of course he did.
Perfect hair. Perfect smile. That ridiculous confidence that made it difficult to determine whether he was genuinely amused or simply very good at pretending.
He looked between Haymitch, Katniss, and Peeta.
"Am I late?"
"Unfortunately," Haymitch said.
Finnick smiled.
Then Haymitch delivered the proposal.
Silence.
Finnick stared at him.
"You want me to pretend to be in love with Peeta."
"Yes."
"Publicly."
"That's generally how pretending works."
Finnick's eyes moved toward Peeta.
For perhaps the first time since entering the room, his smile softened.
"Well," he murmured, "I suppose there are worse assignments."
Haymitch pointed at him.
"You're going to flirt with him."
Finnick raised an eyebrow.
"That shouldn't be difficult."
Katniss looked immediately annoyed.
Haymitch ignored her.
"You're going to make the Capitol believe you're completely taken with each other. You two become the new story."
Finnick leaned back in his chair.
"And what happens when the cameras turn off?"
Haymitch's expression became serious.
"Then you protect him."
The humor disappeared from Finnick's face.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Finnick looked back toward Peeta.
This time, there was no performance in his expression.
"Well," he said quietly, "that part shouldn't be difficult either."
The room went silent again.
Because Haymitch had expected a performance.
He hadn't expected Finnick to sound like he already meant it.*
Release Date 2026.09.21 / Last Updated 2026.09.23
