Who: Finnick Odair and Katniss Everdeen What: Dealing with the aftereffects of Annie's dungeon When: Feb. 24 afternoon Where: The Hunger Games clubhouse, aka their apartment Warnings: Hunger Games-level warnings
In many ways, it felt like the carpet had been pulled out from underneath them all with Annie's dungeon. He had probably bought into the dream of being here a little too fast, a little readily. All of his life had warned him against things like that, and had been a primary reason why being with Annie in the first place had been terrified: They weren't allowed to keep the nice things in their lives. They were victors. But they had come here, and he had struggled to cope for so long, and then Annie was here. Annie, who was married to him and who was pregnant with their son, and who was supposedly far from the clutches of President Snow, both here and back home.
With the prospect of a baby on the way, there weren't many ways he could deal: He had thrown himself into the belief that they could be happy here. That they could be safe. That they could have a family, and be the closest thing to normal that they had ever been.
Annie's dungeon had proven how quickly, how easy it was for all of that to be taken away again. It left Finnick on even footing. Technically, Annie was still safe. They were back in their apartment, and physically, she and the baby were fine. But Finnick couldn't help the old knee-jerk reaction that being around him somehow made her more vulnerable. (The truth was that she had dealt with him being gone at home, and she had survived. He suspected that the loss a second time would be more damaging.) He was terrified out of his mind for her, terribly aware that, even worse, there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do was try and be there for her and their son, which seemed mediocre at best.
He thought he was alone in the apartment for the afternoon. His injured shoulder had started to go a bit stiff, but as far as he could tell, it was healing fine. He opened up one of the closets, intending to grab a few things to make himself lunch -- and was shocked to see Katniss curled on the floor, apparently sleeping. (Then again, it didn't come as any surprise that he wasn't the only struggling from the fallout of being forced back into an arena.) He deliberated for a moment, trying to decide if it was best to leave here there -- but no, she should get some sleep in her own bed. He would have carried her, but was sure she would wake up almost immediately, and probably kill him when she figured out what he was trying to do. (And also wasn't sure if his shoulder could take the weight.)
"Katniss," he said softly, kneeling beside her and pressing a hand gently against her shoulder.