𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒕𝒖𝒔; 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒊𝒓

𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝑴𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔

When Lilith feels adjusted enough to join in with the District Thirteen society, the first stop she wants to make is to see Katniss. Lilith heard that the Mockingjay had been helping out in Two when she got shot. It might be selfish of Lilith to want to see Katniss purely because she wants to know the state that her District is in, but frankly, she doesn't care.

Finnick walks with her to Katniss's hospital room, holding her hand to comfort her. When they reach the doorway, someone else is already visiting Katniss.

"Johanna?" Lilith mumbles. It's strange to see her friend very thin looking with a shaved head. She remembers the times where she had to choose who to harm. Some of those times she chose Johanna. She can't help but feel at fault for the way Johanna looks. Lilith's also been so occupied with her own recovery, that she completely forgot about the fact that other people were held hostage too, and they probably suffered far worse.

Johanna's eyes flicker to the door. She clicks her teeth and clears her throat. "Looks like you've got another visitor."

Lilith takes this as an opportunity to walk into the room, leaving Finnick in the hallway. Katniss looks at the girl. It's hard to decipher what Katniss is thinking when she looks at her, but she's certainly not welcoming her with open arms.

"She's all yours," Johanna mutters under her breath. She unhooks the morphling drip from herself and reattaches it to Katniss. Then she walks to the door, sends Lilith one look, and leaves. 

Lilith walks deeper into the room, standing right next to Katniss's bed. For a moment, neither of them say anything. Lilith doesn't exactly know how to begin a conversation with the girl, and suddenly forgets why she even came here.

"What do you want?" Katniss finally asks.

"I..." Lilith pauses. She seems at a loss for words. She didn't expect Katniss to look like this. Physically, she looks alright. Nothing more than superficial wounds. But her eyes look so sad, so defeated. Lilith doesn't think she's ever seen the girl look so down. "I heard you got shot."

Katniss purses her lips and looks away. She doesn't seem too thrilled to see Lilith, regardless of what that reason may be. "Yep. Bruised ribs, bruised lung. I got off easy."

"You were in Two, right? When you got shot?" Lilith asks. She doesn't want to make Katniss angry, but she has to know the state her home is in.

"I was," Katniss answers dryly. "Two's no longer controlled by the Capitol."

Lilith doesn't say anything. She doesn't know what to say. So instead, she sits down on the edge of Katniss's bed and looks down at her hands. For a while there's this strange tension in the air. Neither of the girls say anything. But, Lilith doesn't want to leave. Somehow, there's a small understanding between the two of them, even though they've never connected. It's a weird feeling.

"You seem to be doing better," Katniss says with a sigh. "I mean, you're not acting like a raging psycho anymore."

Lilith lets a small chuckle escape her lips. Katniss has always been brutally honest. Not holding back what she has to say just because someone wants her to. "Yeah, well, it took time."

There's more silence. Lilith glances over at the small table next to the head of Katniss's bed. She sees the pearl that Peeta gave her in the Quell. Lilith gently picks it up and holds it in her palm. She also feels guilty about Peeta.

"Have you seen him?" Lilith asks softly, still admiring the pearl in her palm.

Katniss sharply inhales. This must be a sore subject for her. "Once. When he first got here. He attacked me."

Lilith looks at Katniss sadly. She swallows as she remembers all of the harsh things she said before she came to her senses. Although Katniss is acting like it doesn't affect her that much, Lilith can see the pain begin her eyes.

"It'll get better," Lilith says, placing the pearl back on the table. Katniss scoffs lightly. Lilith takes a hold of Katniss's hand and places the pearl in her palm. "It will. You just need to give him time."

Katniss looks thoughtfully at the pearl in her hand. Lilith and Katniss sit together in silence, both of them just comfortable with each other's presence. No talking was necessary, and it lifted a weight off of both of them. Although they have very different backgrounds, they're able to bond through shared experiences. Some call it trauma bonds, but Lilith prefers not to believe she has trauma.

It may take more, but sometimes, time is the only treatment a person can be given. Katniss was able to give Lilith time, and eventually it became a regular thing for them to be seen together. Whether they'll admit it or not, they helped each other in ways words can't explain.