Breathe in, Breathe out • F Odair² •

IV

"I haven't managed to undo that fucking knot you made,"

•∘♔∘•

Athena and Finnick ended up back at Athena's house hours later, when they both decided they were ready to rejoin the world again. Neither Finnick nor Athena wanted to be away from each other that night, and Athena did not want to worry her mother and Calypso any more, so the only thing to do was go to her house.

As soon as Athena and Finnick stepped into the house, Calypso and her mother burst into the hallway from the sitting room, relief spreading across their faces at the sight of them. Athena was a little surprised to see them still awake, but when she thought about it, she understood why; had one of them run off after an announcement like the one Snow gave, she would be nearly sick with worry too, she wouldn't be able to sleep until she knew they were okay too.

"Oh, thank God!" said her mother, rushing forward to hug her tightly. "After that announcement... and then when you ran out... we were so worried..." She pulled away, holding her daughter's face in her hands. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mom," Athena said, as firmly as she could say something that was such a lie. When her mother looked uncertain, she said, putting on a brave smile. "Really. Fine," she said again, this time to Calypso, when her mother moved away and her younger sister approached her instead, pulling her into a tight hug.

They turned their attention to Finnick, with the same sort of concern on their faces.

"How are you, Finnick?" her mother asked, placing a hand on his shoulder gently.

"Fine," he said bracingly. "Really, I am."

Athena's mother and Calypso looked distinctly like they knew they weren't really being honest, but they simply nodded, the former saying, "We didn't see or hear any sign of anyone, and then you were gone for so long..."

"I'm sorry," Athena said, feeling guilty for worrying them so much. "I should've come back sooner, I know, but after the announcement, I just... I needed to be alone. And then I got caught up in making sure everyone else was okay. I lost track of time at some point."

Understanding washed over their faces, and Calypso said tentatively, "And? How is everyone?"

Athena and Finnick exchanged looks, before the former took a deep breath and said, "Penelope and Talisa killed themselves." Shock and horror crossed Calypso's face, and their mother clamped her hand over her mouth, horrified. "Sometime after the announcement. I ended up getting to their house last, I didn't make it in time, I couldn't save them..." Athena sensed that her voice was about to break, so she stopped herself abruptly. She paused, took a deep breath, and continued, as steadily as she could. "I called in Peacekeepers to take them away. I'll be taking care of the funeral. Everyone else is alive and well - as well as they can get, anyway. I'm going to check on everyone tomorrow, though."

Calypso and their mother nodded in understanding, before the latter said, sighing heavily, "It's... it's been a long night. We should all... we should all try and get some sleep."

Calypso and their mother did not question it when Athena and Finnick both trooped upstairs, nor did they question it when they collapsed into Athena's bed together. Had it been anyone else, it would've caused raised eyebrows at the very least, but Finnick was the exception to the rule when it came to Athena and men, so nobody said anything of it.

Neither Athena nor Finnick slept much. They simply lay in her bed together, watching the sun slowly come into sight, flooding her bedroom with warm light.

"I'll help you," Finnick said finally. "You said you're gonna check on everyone today. I'll help. You shouldn't have to do it alone."

"Are you sure you're up to - ?" she began.