Tear It Apart⇸Finnick Odair [2]

17

Traditions were passed through the districts, manners of speech, behaviours, beliefs, and she had taken to learning them as best she could.

District One would present shiny things, something from there own hand, collected for their one specifically. Three would propose formulas and problems to solve, testing the compatibility of the mind before anything else.

Johanna had once told her of the carefully wittled, incredibly detailed, unique pieces that they would have gifted. It was a display of skills, a present that was only accepted if you found yourself loving them in return.

Terra learned as many as she could, tried to view as many ceremonies that was allowed. District Ten wasn't so special in their courting or their proposals. It depended on how one would treat the animals, on how their hands were either smooth or toughened through work. There were no sweet gift giving or romatic proposals - that was saved for the ceremony.

She could tell it frustrated him, that throughout the past few days he would glance her way, brow furrowed as he spoke with some random spul from her district, murmuring under their breaths about animals and pelts, something normally handed between families to merge during a sharing of vows. Finnick would find no skins here, and he would have none of his own to share with her.

District Four involved a meal prepared only with items made from your own hand. Fish caught with a woven basket or net, clams, crab or any other sea food you could retrieve on your own - it would all be layed out by the shore away from the boats under an early dawn or late sunset.

Gifts could be given as well. Intricately woven bracelets full of painted beads and delicate shells. Finnick had given her gifts before, necklaces and bracelets alike, little things she knew he wanted to lead up to his proposal, and she wasn't certain if either of them were ready for something so public, she knew it was something she had been waiting for such a long time.

It gave her the courage to wander from their now chared room alone one day, bringing herself to her check up early so she could leave before he need return to tbe room, hoping to catch her as she came by as she always had to check on Peeta.

Katniss arrived exactly as she expected that day just as Terra was finishing her slow physio, groaning and shuffling toward the girl that looked like she dread going to see him. She didn't blame the younger girl for her hesitance, but it pained her all the same to see that the true love they had shared was disappearing all the same. It didn't exactly make Terra fear for what she and Finnick had, but it made her nervous all the same.

She followed behind, making more than enough noise that Katniss wasn't startled and settled near her by the window, frowning at the restless sleep Peeta was having. She always thought that if two people were meant to be together they would find a way, that all things would work out, but she couldn't stand doing nothing even if it called for postponing her own plans.

"He talks about you in his sleep sometimes," Terra says. "If I'm not with Finnick then I'm normally down here getting checked up or spending time with Johanna or Peeta."

"Why hasn't Johanna left yet?"

"They think she might have some nerve damage from the electrocution. They want to keep her under obsevation."

"They didn't want you to stay?"

Terra snorts. "Of course they did. But the infections gone and I don't appear to have lasting damage so I'm free to go as long as I restrict myself and come for my appointments."

"You just stay with Finnick then?"

"Or Annie when I'm not here. It's weird, actually, not being around them all the time. It's like there's this absence around me that just," she trails off, shaking her head and closing her eyes.