Game Of Survival

6- Missing And Together

"Where'd he go?!" Moa hissed as she got off of the phone with Finnick, who hadn't seen the missing victor since everything went dark and they were rushed back to their suites, though when Bo arrived, he said he did't see Banz in his district Suite when he went to get the oldest

"I dunno, Moa!" Cedric said for the twentieth time, equally as worried for the victor. "But it isn't a good idea to worry about it this much!"

"He bad mouthed the Capitol." Bo said, frowning "So he's either being given a stern talking-to, or he's thinking over life."

Banz Bonsai was doing the latter, up on the roof, his legs swung over the building's low barriers, you could trip on them, if he was being honest, but he couldn't jump, the special force-field prevented it from happening, though it would probably injure him anyway.

"Ah, look, it's Banz." He didn't look up from staring down at the colorful streets, the unrest from earlier forgotten, most of the Capitol people were probably drunk by now, mingling with each other and calling upon other unlucky victors that had to come here for... Company "Why're you up here?"

"I could ask the same to you." Banz replied with a quiet yawn "What could Katniss Everdeen and Haymitch Abernathy want to speak about up here?"

"Just normal stuff." The younger female replied quickly "Don't worry-"

Haymitch interrupted his friend "Katniss, he's fine. Banz is the guy Peeta trusts." He said, trying to make sure the female wouldn't murder Banz for whatever he'd sass back.

"Just because Peeta trusts him, doesn't mean I do." Katniss muttered

"If your other allies trust someone unfamiliar to you, it is a good idea to trust them as well." Banz said, yawning again

"Go get some sleep, Banz." Haymitch ordered the male "You'll need your strength for the games tomorrow."

"Eh, I enjoy worrying my friends before something big, helps prepare them." Banz said, looking at the stars before getting off of the ledge, standing up "I'll be over in the greenhouse so you both can talk in private." he said, walking over to to small glass shed that housed overgrown plants, some starting to make the glass crack under it's weight.

It was clear that nobody really took care of them and only watered them, it was probably because there were no white roses, the President's favorite flower and plant. It was strange, coming home the first time to see a white rose with a little note with it, but it didn't affect Banz in any way, not like the threats were able to be followed through on.

A feeling of Nostalgia hit Banz twice as he entered through the rickety old door, rotting on it's hinges and the only wooden door around. This place held a large significance to Banz, as if he'd forget everything if this place was destroyed. It was where he came the first time he was in this building, it was where he'd went to deal with the losses of his first tributes, where he'd met Bo and Cedric and later Moa, and then where he'd met Finnick. This was where he'd gone to deal with the urges he'd felt to get wasted after a particular bad games. This was sort of like his safe space, plants with vines gripping on wooden beams that were placed just for them to grab on to, there were flowers of every color, blooming in uneven spaces, the dirt packed down from the water that was poured onto them, He watched as a cat stalked through the space, somehow having gotten up to the greenhouse without anyone seeing. Banz wondered how it ate, and he guessed not well seeing as it was so scrawny.

The small amount of stars shone through the clouded glass, and the temperature was humid and warm compared to the cold, windy night. Banz watched as clouds passed by the full moon, which calmed him down. He heard the muffled, quiet talking that was happening outside of the small glass greenhouse, but he didn't really listen in until the old door opened, almost slamming into the glass wall, but it was stopped frantically, as if to not break the glass, which would be a good idea, it would probably destroy the rest of the shack and the roof would collapse on whoever was inside. Though when the person closed the door again, Banz couldn't help but turn around to see who it was.

His face was met with a chest and arms, which wrapped around him tightly in a fierce hug, almost cutting off his airflow. The smell of the ocean and rope calmed him down from the previous panic due to someone random grabbing him, but it was obvious that this person wasn't a stranger now.

"Hey." Banz said, his eyes drooping more and more now that he was in someone's arms.

"You scared the shit out of us, Banz." Was the frustrated and worried response he got back "Don't disappear after you bad mouth the Capitol again, got it?"

"You say that as if I'll manage to live to see the actual sun again." Banz said "We both know I'll die for this to happen."

"As would I, but you'll have me to protect you there." The male responded, a clear frown present in his voice. "We'll be safe together."

"My luck will put me in the middle of the Careers when we're put there." Banz frowned when he felt the other squeeze him tighter "Finnick-"

"Don't say anything." The other responded, a sorrowful shuddering sigh leaving his lips "Just... Please stay alive."

"No promises." Banz said "I can't say that I'll live when it's uncertain, that's not how I work."

"Just tell me you won't die before I see you again." Finnick said "Please."

Banz sighed, this time wrapping his own arms around the district four victor, hugging him tightly. "I can't." Came the broken whisper from Banz, sounding more sad then Finnick had ever heard "Because I don't want to lie to you."