He'd sworn to be Katniss Everdeen's ally in the arena if it killed him, because she was more important than he was. Not that Finnick is without value: he's popular, even beloved, across much of Panem, and he knows things that even the revolution's planners seemed not to know, because his patrons think talking to him is harmless. But he's trapped, and he's tainted in a way Katniss isn't. He can persuade and inspire people, but he can't show the sort of open, honest defiance Katniss had. He can't make people ask themselves what if? in the way she does. He's loyal to her, but he's loyal to her because of what she stands for.

It's startling to hear an honest expression of personal loyalty from Katniss, who he hadn't known before she came here the first time. For a moment, he looks at her with the facade fallen, open honesty and confusion showing in his eyes.

"A lot happened between us in Panem before you got here." It's not a question; he's known for a long time that Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch, and Johanna when she'd been here, all knew things he and Annie didn't. But it's never before been so obvious to him that somehow, he'd earned the trust of Katniss, someone he'd been observing for the past year, someone he'd seen didn't trust easily. "Most victors wouldn't trust me enough to say that."