Finnick and Annie

We are Fine!

I regretted giving my rope to Katniss as soon as it had left my hand. My fingers ached for its rough familiar texture and the comfort of mindlessly and endlessly tying knots, but I knew she needed it more than I did. Be strong, Finnick. God, you're pathetic.

I pulled my blanket over my head to block out the dull glow of the emergency lights that lined the walls of the huge cavern. I ordered myself to sleep, and perhaps it was the fact that without my rope I had nothing to do, or maybe it was just the accumulation of the exhaustion I'd been feeling after days of sleepless nights, but before too long I was asleep.

I woke to a girl shaking my arm. There weren't too many kids in Thirteen but this girl had been living with her family in the compartment next to mine. "Mr. Finnick, Sir," she mumbled shyly. "We're leaving." I thanked her and sat up and realized that we were indeed leaving. People were moving around the cavern, picking up their things and cleaning up after themselves like a colony of very organized, grey ants.

I followed the current of marching people towards the door, but Boggs called me over and I joined him, Gale and Katniss. Katniss was gripping my rope in her sore right hand and she gave me a grateful look when she saw me staring.

We followed Boggs through the intricate maze that was District Thirteen, towards an elevator that took us to a room identical to Command. Coin, Plutarch and the rest of them were waiting around the table, looking as if they hadn't slept in days, which they probably hadn't. When I walked into the room the strong scent of coffee hit me like wave.

"We need all four of you suited up and aboveground," said Coin. "You have two hours to get footage showing the damage from the bombing, establish that Thirteen's military unit remains not only functional but dominant, and most important, that the Mockingjay is still alive. Any questions?"

"Are you always this lovely and welcoming?" Crossed my mind, but instead I said, "Can we have some coffee?"

They handed each of us a steaming mug and I held it near my face, cherishing the warmth it spread through my finders. The smell reminded me of Mags and of my father. Katniss didn't seem quite as excited. I chuckled and sloshed some cream into her cup, then I reached into the sugar bowl and flashed her my winning Capitol smirk. "Want a sugar cube?" I said seductively. To my surprise, she smiled, and I smiled back, thinking back to our time pre-Quarter-Quell-arena when we'd met by the chariots. She hadn't been very impressed by me back then. "Here, it improves the taste," I said and dropped three sugar cubes into her cup.

I caught a glimpse of Gale, glaring at me like I'd offended his mother. And I thought I was gloomy and depressing. I shrugged and returned my attention to my coffee. I didn't think I'd taste it again in a long time.

The best thing about not being Katniss was the lack of concern for my physical attractiveness. For years it was all that mattered at the Capitol, so I had plenty experience with hair and makeup, but here in Thirteen Katniss had their full attention. I waited patiently as they prepped her and followed Boggs and the rest of the camera crew when she was ready.

We climbed up some staircases and up a trapdoor into the open. "What day is it?" asked Katniss.

"September begins next week," answered Boggs.

I could tell we were thinking the same thing. Peeta and Annie had been in the Capitol for about a month and a half, but I forced myself to think about something else. I looked around the woods, which were unusually quiet. I felt bad for the animals that hadn't been able to hide underground.

After minutes of walking we reached the first crater. It was big and the ruble littered the forest floor. Boggs and Gale talked about the damage and how anybody within the first ten levels would have been killed.

"How much of an edge did the boy's warning give you?" asked Haymitch.

"About ten minutes before our own systems would have detected the missiles," said Boggs.

"But it did help, right?" Katniss looked at Boggs almost desperately

"Absolutely," he said. "Civilian evacuation was completed. Seconds count when you're under attack. Ten minutes means lives saved."

I sat at the edge of the crater near the old Justice Building as Cressida and her crew figured out the best angle to shoot the Propo. I was beginning to wonder what they'd even brought me along for. "Guys," Gale called. I turned to look as the crew gathered around the entrance of the building.

"Don't touch them," yelled Katniss. "They're for me."

The cloying smell hit me before I even realized what they were all staring at. Pink and red roses were strewn across the ground as a final "Haha, fuck you," from Snow. Katniss explained what the Roses meant as a crew picked them up for inspection, but the only damage the flowers could cause was psychological.

Katniss hands shook, from the shock, or maybe the coffee. "So, what exactly do you need from me again?" I could tell she was trying to keep it together for the sake of the video but when the camera started rolling she went blank. "I'm sorry, I've got nothing."

"You feeling okay?" Cressida asked, blotting the sweat of her forehead with a small piece of cloth. "How about we do the old Q-and-A thing?"

I knew she wasn't okay. How could she be? Even though the roses weren't meant for me, they still brought back tons of bad memories. The rose Snow left when my father died, or when Annie was reaped for the Hunger Games... but Katniss stayed strong. "Yeah. That would help, I think." She glanced at me and I gave her an encouraging thumbs-up. I was dragged there, I realized, for moral support.

"So, Katniss," started Cressida, "You've survived the Capitol bombing of Thirteen. How did it compare with what you experienced on the ground in Eight?"

She answered with a shaky voice. "We were so far underground this time, there was no real danger. Thirteen's alive and well and so am¾"

"Try the line again," said Cressida encouragingly.

It was hard to watch. It was as if the harder she tried to deliver the line, the harder it was for her to swallow, until finally she snapped and started to cry.

"Cut," mumbled Cressida.

"What's wrong with her?" Plutarch asked under his breath. I felt like punching the guy. What's wrong with her? They took everything that mattered from her to use it against her.

"She's figured out how Snow's using Peeta," I said.

The crew sighed collectively. Katniss was pretty much useless with that knowledge. A lot of people tried to comfort her but she searched for Haymitch. He hugged her and had her sit down on a collapsed marble pillar. She sobbed and talked incomprehensively and Haymitch reassured her, but she went into a fit of hysteria so much like Annie's that I nearly choke. I looked away as a man pressed towards her with a needle, as if she were a wounded animal he was afraid to approach. Her protests grew louder for a moment before they stopped altogether, and that's when I started to sob.

They carried her away, unconscious. Sedating her was the kindest thing to do, so when they started towards me with another needle I welcomed the sharp pain on my arm and the grogginess that followed it.