Cinna and Katniss. Mockingjay AU. Post-war. [Closed]

[setfires]

He doesn't feel like a man anymore. Something deep inside of him is broken. He doesn't even really remember how that happened. When he tries to think back to the moment when Cinna ceased to be he only comes up with a vague haze and memories of intense pain. There had been questions, so many questions. They hadn't even cut out his tongue because they had been so desperate for answers. His answers. He didn't have any more to give them and he had thought they would let him die.

Instead he's here, staring blankly at what he suspects is carpet. It's soft, plush and a deep, deep green. The color distracts him for a moment, the way that colors used to, only now it doesn't bring with it images of cloth and shape.

He's standing, he knows that. These are different people than the ones he was with a month ago, days ago, seconds ago? Time is so hard to keep track of now. This is a different room than the cell that he had been kept in. There are colors here. Something big has happened, but he can't remember what.

His arms are folded close to his chest as he instinctively protects his hands. They had targeted them so much that his fingers are twisted into inhuman, monstrous shapes. Broken, re-broken, broken again, they had healed incorrectly and now constantly hurt as the bones were forced into shapes that made them impossible to use.

It was supposed to stop him from creating anything ever again, but what had they been afraid of? He couldn't even think properly anymore, what creation would come to his mind when it was surrounded by fog.

He doesn't know that he's in Snow's home. That people who brought him here are from District 13. That they're purposely reuniting him with the one person left in this world he cares about in an effort to give her something to do. Something that will get her out of her slump but won't involve ruining Coin's plans.

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[inciting]

"This is."

The outside, put back together with science bordering on magic.

Magic that couldn't put Prim together.

[setfires]

"But something's not?" Cinna looked at her face. Her eyes seemed to clear his vision. "Something happened. Are you okay?"

[inciting]

Are you ok?

Had anyone asked her that? Maybe, but not so sincerely. Still, such a simple question was far to big right now. She opened her mouth to tell him. About Prim, the bomb, Peeta, Gale, her mother, District 12, Finnick, Effie, Coin, Prim, Prim, Prim...instead it closed again and she hung her head, shaking it.

No. No she was not ok.

[setfires]

"Oh, Katniss," Cinna came closer to her and wrapped his arms around her. He would have just put his hands on her shoulders but with them so twisted he could only hug her and hope it wasn't too weird. "They broke me too," he said quietly.

[inciting]

He was broken.

She was broken. Everyone she cared for was broken.

She leaned forward, hesitantly, before pressing her face against his shoulder. Her tears just slid out, her body too tired to sob anymore.

[setfires]

Cinna felt his entire body tense for a moment as she touched him, but he forced himself to relax. He held her, letting her cry against him.

"Katniss..." he said after a while of quiet but he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. He thought he should find a way to comfort her, but words were failing him.

[inciting]

Word weren't that important to her right now. She jut leaned there, sucking up the human contact for a long moment, before stiffening up again, pulling back to look up at him.

Except her eyes didn't really meet his, focusing on his hairline, his cheeks, not his eyes.

"How?"

[setfires]

"How...." Cinna asked, tasting the word in a strange, faraway way. He wasn't sure what she was asking.

[inciting]

"How are you alive?"

She looked up then, finally, too curious not to. She had seen him....and none of the others...

[setfires]

"Am I?" he asked, looking back at her. "Are you sure?" He didn't seem to be certain of that fact himself. "I might believe if it you do."

[inciting]

"Your heart beats. It's a start."

The corner of her lip twitched up, but to call it a smile would be far too generous.

[setfires]

"It does... Oh..." Cinna said, as if the thought actually surprised him.

[inciting]

She had to remember that, as well. This wasn't the end, there could be more.

It was like a little spark of hope, and she didn't know if she could keep it lit.

" It's more than a lot of people have."

[setfires]

"Sometimes I'm not certain anymore. I don't know who I am or what I am..."

[inciting]

She swallowed, fighting back the emotions trying to drag her away.

"You're not alone."

[setfires]

"You too?" he said. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help."

[inciting]

"You did."

She wished she could say more, could elaborate on what she meant.

But she was too tired, her brain was too twisted up.

[setfires]

"Did you see the things I made for you? So many things that I thought you'd like... but I don't remember them anymore."

[inciting]

Her Mocking Jay suit. She nodded.

"It was beautiful. Brilliant."

She felt a pang of guilt as she realized she had no idea where it was anymore. If it even was anymore.

[setfires]

"I won't be able to make any more," Cinna said softly. "I don't know if I can. It's all gone."

[inciting]

She reached out suddenly, laying her own scared hands on top of his, a feather soft touch.

"We can..." Fix things? This couldn't be fixed. Nothing could be fixed. She trailed off there, staring at their hands.

[setfires]

"What?" he asked, focusing on her again.

[inciting]

She shook her head, trying to find what she wanted to say.

"We'll find a way."

[setfires]

Cinna was still for a moment. At first it wasn't clear if he had heard her. Finally he said, "I'm still betting on you."

[inciting]

Her lip twitched up.

Calling it a smile would be a bit much. But it was the closest thing she'd had in a long time.

"Betting isn't allowed."

[setfires]

"I do things I'm not allowed. That's why..." He trailed off as his memories filtered in and threatened to take over.

[inciting]

Opps. Shit. She has no idea what to do, how to make anything better from that.

Instead she just pressed her lips together, shaking her head. "Sorry."