Request: Can you do one with Finnick and Katniss in 13 together?

Over and Under

Over, under, and pull it tight. Make a bow, pull it through to do it right. I think over and over again at the old nursery rhyme my Mother used to sing when learning how to tie a new knot.

I hear my hospital door slide open as I'm working on untying a constructor knot. Easy to make but a real pain to take apart. I make these a lot here because they keep me easily distracted and frustrated.

"Is it quite time pills already." I say offended. They have been giving me pills to knock me out recently. I keep running away so I can't blame them… much.

"Is that supposed to mean something?" I hear and look up to see Katniss. The last time I saw Katniss was when she told me Beetee made me a trident. He did and it was amazing. Having a trident that can come back to you with a push of a button is awesome but they didn't like me using it. Especially after I had a 'relapse' which is what they call when I start to break down and cry.

"No." I say not really meeting her gaze. I wouldn't tell her anyways. I pick at the rope and did it just at the right angle because I can feel a cut form on my calloused fingertips.

"Okay well I-" Katniss starts

"Katniss what do you want?" I say annoyed. "I'm not going to say sorry anymore because you obviously don't want it."

"I didn't come here to hear you apologize." She says and cautiously takes a step closer to me.

I roll my eyes.

"I'm not going to attack you." I say.

"I know." She says. "You know your hand is bleeding." She says and walks closer towards me.

"Just leave it. It's not dangerous." I smirk. "Besides since when are you a healer?"

She backs away with a scowl.

She looks on my bed and sees my rope.

"How do you tie things like that?" She asks and looks at the complex knot.

"Easy. Being a fisherman or sailor you need to know how to tie things for the sails or anchors. I knew how to do this by the time I was seven. Although it still is tricky untying. It's supposed to be almost impossible."

"Then why tie it?" She asks.

"Because it wastes time." I say.

She nods.

"I wish I had something to waste away my time." Katniss says and I feel angry. She does have something. She's the mockingjay. I'm sure that's a big time eater. They don't even want me to leave the hospital.

They don't want my help.

"At least you know people who are here." I say and pull vigorously on the rope causing loops to disappear.

"Yeah well they try to help-"

"But they don't understand, yeah I know." I say annoyed and I do. I think every Victor does.

"I mean they are just-"

"Too close to you to see the situation clearly, yeah I know." I say and turn towards her angrily.

She sighs.

"Okay I know you probably understand which is why I wanted to talk to you. You the most because well… Annie." She is still talking by I just focus on the rope again.

Don't think about Annie. Don't think about what they are doing to her. Don't think about what Snow might be doing. Don't think that she is dead.

I feel the rope get pulled from my hand and feel rope burn but don't care.

I see Katniss is holding it.

"Give that back." I say like a child when their Mother takes their favorite toy.

"I'm tying to hold a conversation with you." Katniss says. I can't tell if she is kidding but it is pissing me off to no end.

"Katniss I need that!" I end up shouting at her.

She looks at me strangely and hands it back.

"They took it away when I started making nooses, they thought I would kill myself."

"You're not going to-"

"No. Not until I find out about Annie." I say and my fingers start working automatically.

"That's why I wanted to see you actually." She says softly. "I mean they showed Peeta on television so I know he's-"

"If you think he's okay you're a bigger idiot than myself." I say softly.

"Well at least I know he's not dead." She whispers and I pull harshly on the knot. "I mean Johanna and Annie, I know they're your friends and you don't know anything about them."

"I haven't even thought about Johanna." I whisper to myself. I feel bad about that because I did leave her there too. But Annie, she isn't like Johanna.

"Well Annie then." Katniss says.

I put the knot on the bed and my hands over my face.

"Please stop." I say angrily. "You don't know what you're talking about." I say.

"Finnick-"

"So stupid. So stupid." I say upset.

"I just-"

"I thought you'd be safe. I thought you'd be safe." I say and can feel myself rock back and forth.

"Finnick-"

"I thought I hid you well enough. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. I thought they wouldn't look for you in 4. I thought they wouldn't look for you because they think you're useless and insane." I say and start to pull on my hair.

"Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Now you're hurt. You're getting hurt because of me. Stupid. You might be dead. You might be dead-"

I feel a thump on the back of my head.

"Finnick." I hear Katniss say and remove my hands from my face and look back up at Katniss.

"Snap out of it." She says looking at me with that same look all the doctors give me. The same look people would give Annie.

"I'm not insane." I say.

"I know." She says.

I look at her strangely.

"Why are you here?" I ask because she never did answer my question.

"Because I just wanted to see if you were, thinking like I was. I can tell from your… outburst that you are." She says.

"I'm fine." I say and rub my eyes.

"Finnick you think it's your fault too."

"With me it is." I breathe in and out deeply. I'm not going to cry in front of her. Not again. "Katniss you didn't know anything. I did. You even said it yourself, I'm the reason Peeta isn't here."

She looks at me with sorrow and then back down at the bed. She picks up the rope and places it in my hands.

"Show me." She says.

"Show you what?" I ask confused and annoyed.

"How to make a knot. If I remember correctly you were very eager to at the training station." She says and smiles a little.

"That's because I was trying to get you to like me." I mumble.

"I don't care. Just show me. It might come it handy one day." She says. I know what she's doing. She's trying to make me feel better or at least make me feel useful for something. She isn't doing it very well either. Then again she is a terrible actress.

"Okay then. There is a song or rhyme that can help with almost ever knot."

"And what would that be?" She asks a little too eager.

"Over, under, and pull it tight. Make a bow, pull it through to do it right."

"Sounds like something for a child." She smirks.

"That's because it is. My Mother would sing it to me." I say.

She nods I'm glad she doesn't question that.

I take her hands and put mine over to show her how to do it.

"You're shit at this." I mumble.

"Excuse me?" She says.

"Tying ropes." I say but that's not what I truly mean.

"Making you feel better?" She smiles

I don't answer so we sit in silence.

"I wish this could all go away." I whisper.

"Hopefully it will." Katniss says and looks at me intently. She has the same dead look I have in my eyes.

"When exactly did they say they would get them?" I ask.

"What?" She asks confused.

"You know on your rider." I say and she looks at me confused. "Your list of demands to be the mockingjay. Coin said the victors would be pardoned of all crimes when they return." I say.

"I know." She snaps

"So? When are they going to get them?" I ask.

"I-I don't"

I shake my head at her.

"You weren't specific enough." I say and she looks at me angry.

"Excuse me?" She says.

"I know my way around deals Katniss, I've done quite a few ,especially dirty ones, and you have to be very very specific." I say thinking of my protection agreement with Snow. I didn't say it closely enough so he ended up 'allowed' to kill my Mother. I didn't make that mistake again with Annie or Mags.

"They'll get them Finnick, when the time is right." She says unsure.

I roll my eyes.

"They will." She says and holds my hand. I look into her eyes. "There going to come back with Peeta and… A-Annie." She says Annie's name softly and slowly. She has probably figured out that Annie's name is some sort of trigger for me. "We'll get to be with them again. Soon." She says.

I nod.

"I want to believe you." I say.

"Then trust me." She says.

"Do you trust these people Katniss?" I ask.

She hesitantly nods.

"Then I guess I trust you." I say and hug her. It takes her by surprise and me as well.

"Good. Now show me how to make that knot again." She says and I let go.

I do and she isn't trying as hard to be nice. She isn't really listening just watching. I wonder if she is supposed to be doing some mockingjay duty but I don't really care. I like the company. Even if Katniss is just sitting next to me.