Chapter Three
It stirred within him. Finnick. That was his name. Finnick Odair. Clumsily he tried it out. "Finnick. My name is Finnick." After having been Caspian for the past few months the name felt both strange and intensely right. She was crying. "Hey," he soothed, "Don't cry."
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "I thought you were dead. You were dead." It took a while before she was able to calm down. She stared at him uncomprehendingly. "What...?"
He explained what he knew. About waking up, being in the hospital, his new life here. "Trinia says I have amnesia. My memories haven't been coming back that well. But I remembered you." He didn't feel inclined to tell her about the image of the brown haired woman. "You look terrible."
Katniss laughed a little, tears still on her cheek. "I feel terrible," she said quietly. "Amnesia," she mused. She touched his real hand, holding it tight. "Come over to my house? It's lonely there."
Finnick nodded. "I have some rope," he told her. She half smiled.
"I haven't been practicing my knots," she admitted.
"Me neither," he agreed. Together they walked back through the forest to his house.
"So you really don't remember anything? The war? District 13? The Games?" At each shake of his head she grew more troubled. "What do you remember then?"
"I remember the ocean. Swimming, catching fish, tying nets. I remember some of my childhood, and I remember bits and pieces of what might have happened before this." Finnick shook his head. "I don't know who I am."
Katniss furrowed her brow. "I'm not sure you want to remember it all," she muttered.
Finnick nodded pensively. "I'd like to know some things," he admitted. "I must look very different?" He was still self conscious about his look, his extensive scarring.
Katniss nodded. "You look...less handsome," she told him with a shrug. He didn't know whether or not to be offended. "If I had only known you for your looks then I wouldn't recognize you. But I know you better than that."
Slightly mollified, and turning onto his lane, Finnick said, "Well, I can't say I remember you all too well, but I seem to remember someone that looked better than this." Katniss shrugged her shoulders again. She seemed to be retreating into herself.
"This is my house." Finnick let Katniss inside, leaving her in the living room as he went to the bedroom to grab some rope. He paused long enough to rub the cream on his face. Returning to the other room, he tossed Katniss a small length of rope. She clumsily started to tie a knot and Finnick couldn't help the small smile that snuck onto his face.
"Do you want to eat dinner with me?" Katniss asked him.
He nodded and she led the way towards her house. Along the way Katniss let Finnick ask her questions and she responded to the best of her ability. He learned about the Hunger Games, and that he had been a Victor. He learned about the Quarter Quell, and his part in the war. She became terse towards the end, though, refusing to talk much about the war itself, what happened afterwards, and about District 13.
It wasn't until they were seated at her kitchen counter, Katniss heating up some left over food, that he asked her how they met.
"You were naked and you offered me a sugar cube."
"What?" he exclaimed, dropping his bread.
Katniss laughed loudly then. "Okay, you weren't naked, but you may as well have been. It was during the Opening Ceremony for the Quarter Quell. Your stylist had you dressed in a net. Just a net, with one knot right over your...Well, anyway. You came over and offered me a sugar cube. I was about ready to punch you." At his bewildered look Katniss continued, "You were a bit of a playboy to the Capitol. Not of your own choice," she hastened to explain, "It just sort of happened that way. You were just so handsome they went crazy for you."
They ate in silence for a while as Finnick tried to adjust to his new identity. "You said there are some things I don't want to remember?"
"If you could forget all the bad things, wouldn't you prefer it that way?" she asked him quietly.
He took a moment to think. "I don't think so," he said slowly. "Everything that I've experienced has shaped me. The bad memories are as important as the good ones."
"I wish I could forget," Katniss whispered.
"Earlier, you said you thought I was dead. What happened?"
Katniss sighed heavily. As much as she didn't want to explain things, Finnick deserved an explanation. So she told him about the assault on the Capitol and how in the tunnel the mutts overcame him. As she talked, Finnick remembered bits and pieces. He remembered the vicious look of the mutts as they came at him with gaping maws. Feeling sick he closed his eyes and breathed heavily.
"I don't want to talk anymore," Katniss said.
Finnick nodded his assent and let her lead him to the couch. She gave him a piece of rope to fiddle with while she opened a window. The night was hot and Finnick was grateful for the cooling breeze of the evening. They didn't talk any more that night, but curled next to each other on the couch, alternately challenging each other with knots they had made or trying to solve them.
Morning found the two of them tangled together, rope still clutched in hand.
It was the banging of the door that awakened them. Finnick's eyes shot open and he and Katniss disentangled themselves. Greasy Sae entered, granddaughter in tow. "What time is it?" Finnick asked quickly.
Katniss twisted around to better look at the clock on the wall. "Half past six"
Finnick jumped up, nearly tripping. His bionic leg wasn't as stable as his natural one, and he hadn't yet gotten used to doing such sharp movements. "I have to go," he said quickly. "Work," he explained at the hurt look Katniss gave him. She nodded and got up to walk him to the door. At the door he grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it. "Thank you Katniss. I'll be back later." It wasn't a request, but Katniss didn't mind.
Finnick ran home, quickly brushed his teeth, slathered some cream on his face, and headed out the door. He arrived just on time, though he regretted not getting anything to eat. However, it was imperative that they start early in the day so as to avoid as much heat as possible. They usually took a two hour break around noon when the sun was blazing down on them.
They were laying the floor for the school house today. Right around break time, Hazelle stopped by to check on the progress. "It looks great," she commended them.
"We're ahead of schedule," the foreman answered. "Should be done by the new year at this rate."
"So quick?" she asked.
"Got more volunteers than we counted on."
Finnick finished his section and headed over, wiping the sweat from his face. "Hi Hazelle."
"Hello Caspian," she greeted.
"Finnick," he corrected, ushering her further away from his coworkers for some privacy.
Her mouth dropped slightly. "Finnick?" she asked.
He nodded. "I remember my name," he told her.
"As in Finnick, Victor of the sixty fifth Hunger Games, Finnick? Finnick Odair?"
He laughed inwardly, wanting to close her mouth. He nodded instead. "The very one. I saw Katniss yesterday," he told her as way of explanation.
Hazelle's cheeks reddened. "I can't believe...Finnick?" She was scrutinizing his face, and self consciously he touched it.
"Extensive scarring, Trinia told me. I've been using a cream to help with it," he said quickly.
Hazelle regarded him quietly. "The scare are fainter now than when you first arrived," she remarked. "Finnick. Yes, I see it now. I'm so ashamed I didn't see it before..."
Finnick shrugged. "I didn't know who I was myself," he told her. "Can't expect others to know if I don't."
"Katniss did."
Finnick smiled. "She's already seen me at my worst...this isn't that far off from it."
"Have you told the others?" she wondered.
"No," he said quickly. "I've already set Caspian up here pretty well. And I don't want people to change their behavior to me if they know who I am. Katniss sort of filled me in on that part too. 'Capitol Playboy.' " Finnick frowned. "She wouldn't say much more though. She's not inclined to talk much."
Hazelle raised a brow. "She actually spoke to you?" He nodded. Hazelle shook her head. "Five months she's been here and she hasn't even said a word to Sae. Didn't even recognize me when I went to visit her."
"What happened to her?"
Sighing Hazelle motioned him to follow her. "Let's have lunch together and I'll tell you." He followed her back to the Hawthorne residence where she made some sandwiches. "Bread," she smiled. "We can finally afford it."
"I'm not sure how much you remember about the war, or Katniss for that matter," Hazelle continued. "Katniss volunteered for her Games in place of her younger sister Prim. She and Peeta, another boy from our District, ended up winning them, but it sparked rebellion. I guess that's not quite fair. Rebellion had been brewing, and Katniss gave them the courage and hope to do it. The next year was the Quarter Quell. Previous Victors from every District had to compete. I'm guessing that is where you and Katniss met.
"Sometime during the rescue mission for the remaining Victors on our side from the Arena, the Capitol bombed District 12. My son, Gale, did his best to help her most of us to safety, but much of our town and its people were destroyed. Not everyone made it to District 13, but Prim and Mrs. Everdeen did." Hazelle paused for a while, thinking. "Eventually a team was dispatched to infiltrate the Capitol. You were among that team, along with Katniss, Peeta, Gale and some others.
"There was a lot of confusion there are the end. President Snow had gathered children around his building, offering 'refuge', but really using them as a shield. A team of our doctors landed, rushing to aid the children, but bombs were dropped. No one knows for sure, but they said that Katniss witnessed Prim being blown up. It's all very hard to remember what exactly happened, but it was over for Snow then. He was taken to prison, and Coin seized power to become the new leader.
"There were days of uncovering bodies and the hospitals were full. It didn't matter then what side you were on. People were destroyed. There were broadcasts of the dead on all the televisions. It was easiest for the families to find out that way. You were among those declared dead." Hazelle sighed heavily.
"After some weeks, Katniss was called forth to execute Snow in public. She ended up shooting Coin with her arrow instead, killing her. In the resulting chaos, Snow also died. But then Katniss was locked away and put on trial. They said she tried to kill herself multiple times. Finally she was released back to District 12, though she's never allowed to leave here again. Losing Prim destroyed her."
Hazelle was silent then, drinking some of her water. "Mrs. Everdeen and I both lost our husbands in a mining accident. Just as Gale became the provider for our family, so too did Katniss become her family's provider. They used to be such good friends. Anyway, everyone knew that Prim was the only one in the world that Katniss really cared about. She did everything for her, to protect her..."
Hazelle wiped some tears from her eyes. Finnick reached out to take her hand. "Thank you for telling me," he said quietly.
Hazelle swallowed the lump in her throat and let out a big exhale. "Alright, enough heavy stuff for now. Let's eat before you have to return to work. I still can't believe I'm having lunch with Finnick Odair," she said to herself, laughing.
Finnick was exhausted by the end of the work day. He stopped by the General Store and was greeted by Keand. Keand had slowly been selling more groceries, and Finnick bought a little snack. He ate it as he walked to Katniss's house. He knocked on the door twice before she answered. Her hair was dripping wet and she looked, well...clean. She tugged self consciously at her short, damp locks, and he got the impression that she hadn't put so much effort into her appearance the whole time she'd been here.
"Hi," she greeted, letting him inside.
"Do you want to go swimming?" he asked her.
"Not unless you have something to swim in."
Finnick struck what he thought was a sexy pose. "You mean, you don't want to see this again?" he asked, gesturing to his body.
Katniss merely laughed. "You flatter yourself too much Odair. Besides, I've already seen that plenty of times. You might not remember our hospital gowns, but I do."
Finnick stuck his tongue out at her. "Come on," he wheedled. "It's part of my daily schedule. I'll wear what I have on."
Katniss gave in. "Alright, already. Just a minute." She went to her bedroom and returned several minutes later dressed in shorts and a tank top and holding some towels. "Okay, let's go."
They spent the walk to the lake with questions and answers.
"So I was incredibly handsome?"
"Yeah. Well, everyone else used to think so. I thought you were ridiculous. You and the other Victors used to make fun of my modesty."
"What District am I from?"
"District Four. It's the fishing district mainly. That's why you're so good at swimming and tying those damn knots." Of course he would be from District Four. How else would he feel so natural in the water. "In the Quarter Quell, the arena featured a large ocean. You were so graceful every time we went in the water, it was spectacular."
"How old am I?"
Katniss paused. "I'm not sure. You won the sixthy-fifth Games when you were fourteen. We were in the seventy-fifth Games together...Twenty five or twenty six, I'd say."
"How old are you?"
"Eighteen. I'll be nineteen in May."
"We were friends?" Finnick had yet to determine his relationship with Katniss. From her attitude towards him he thought they were just friends. But then why did he remember her so clearly? Did he love her?
Katniss paused. "You were the best friend I ever had. I suppose apart from Gale. There was so much lying and deception going on, sometimes it's hard for even me to keep straight. But you were the first person I could really be myself with. I didn't have to put up any shields; it was just me and you. I think I got to know the real Finnick, not the Capitol made one."
"I wish I could remember our time together better."
Katniss didn't respond, and they spent the rest of the walk in contemplative silence. They reached the lake none too soon, and Finnick immediately stripped off his shirt and dove in. Katniss took time to lay out the towels on some rocks before she tiptoed into the water.
"That's the worst method," Finnick teased.
"There's no point in rushing. It feels nice like this," Katniss disagreed.
Finnick paddled near her, watching with exasperation as she slowly made her way in. When she wasn't looking he dove under the water and swam to her, pulling her legs and dragging her into the cold water. Her scream was muffled by the water, and she came up spluttering.
"Finnick!" she cried in dismay, thumping his chest with her hands. "You're such a jerk!"
Finnick laughed, merely pulling her by the hands deeper into the water. "I promise not to let you drown," he teased. Katniss shot him a dirty look and pulled free from his grasp, but nevertheless followed him to the deeper water. "I've been practicing tricks, watch me," he exclaimed with childish glee. He went on to perform some twists and flips underwater and Katniss smiled, her irritation melting away.
When he surfaced she commended him. "You look like a merman," she chuckled. "I just hope you don't lead me to my doom."
Finnick stuck his tongue out at her. "I've been wanting to try some things with a swimming partner," he confessed. "I remember I used to practice swimming with some of the village children when I was young. I remember we used to toss each other in the air."
"I don't know..." Katniss hesitated.
"It'll be fun," he wheedled. When she still refused, Finnick swam close, pressing himself against her. "Please Katniss," he whispered in her ear.
She flushed hotly and pushed away from him. "Are you sure you don't remember the old Finnick Odair?" she accused. "Because you sure act like him sometimes."
Finnick just laughed and gave her puppy dog eyes until she agreed. "Okay, so first I'm just going to practice lifting you out of the water straight. You practice on balancing so you don't fall back in. Ready?"
Finnick dove under the water, then grabbed Katniss by the legs and hoisted her up. Once her torso was out of the water, however, she fell sideways and splashed back in. Finnick laughed. He hadn't had so much fun forever. "Let's try again."
It took at least twenty minutes until Katniss was able to balance perfectly, and then they worked on Finnick throwing her. After the tenth belly flop Katniss demanded they stop. "I'm tired," she admitted. "I haven't had this much exercise for a while."
They swam over to the rocks and Finnick helped her climb out before joining her on top. They stretched out on their towels and let the sun warm them. "I'm sorry about Prim," Finnick said softly.
Katniss went rigid and turned away from him. "Who told you?" she asked quietly, her voice wavering.
"Hazelle."
"Hazelle?" Katniss asked. "Hawthorne?"
Finnick nodded but then remembered she couldn't see him. "Yes. She was actually the first person I talked to here. She's very nice." Katniss stayed quiet, so he went on, "She said you don't go out much."
"No," Katniss agreed.
"You don't talk to anyone?"
"No," she said again.
Finnick decided not to push his luck right now. "I'm glad you talk to me," he told her. "I'm glad I found you."
She finally turned back around to him. "Me too," she agreed. "I'm glad I found you." She tentatively touched his hand and he grabbed hers back. It helped alleviate the loneliness just a little.
As the sun was beginning to set Katniss decided they should head home. "Greasy Sae cooks dinner for me," she explained. "I told her this morning that I'd have company."
Finnick nodded, slinging the towels over his shoulder. "Shouldn't keep her waiting then."
They walked back to the house, Katniss pointing out different fauna along the way. "I want to hunt again," she finally said. "For a long time I didn't want to do anything. Yesterday was the first time I was out of the house since I got here."
"I want to fish," Finnick responded. "Now that I know, it seems only natural. We could sell our game," he joked. "There is a sore lack of sea food in this area."
Katniss gave him a half smile. "The lake isn't the easiest place to catch fish," she told him.
He shrugged. "I've already caught a fish there, I'm sure I could catch more."
He made them detour to his house on the way so he could apply some cream to his face. When Katniss asked him about it he explained it was for the scarring. Not wanting to assume, but also wanting the option of brushing his teeth, he grabbed his toothbrush to bring along with him.
Greasy Sae was waiting for them in the kitchen when they returned. They immediately took some plates from the cupboard and served four plates - Sae's granddaughter was already sitting at the table. Dinner was a fairly calm affair, with Sae's granddaughter asking questions of Finnick, and generally yammering about things the others didn't understand. Sae quickly cleaned up and put the left overs away and bid good night to Katniss and Finnick, holding her granddaughter's hand on the way out.
Katniss and Finnick sat again on the couch with the window thrown open. They talked of their time in the Quarter Quell and District 13 to some extent, but Finnick found himself almost afraid to ask more of Katniss than he did. Whether it was his own fear of discovering things, or her fragile state, he wasn't sure. But morning again found the pair curled together on the couch, limbs entangled.
