Ocean Odair #2

His beloved honorary grandmother has been feeling unwell. Finnick—his father—has begged Katniss to take you to see her, since you have a natural talent for medical care (inherited from your grandmother and aunt). Of course, Finnick has offered you room and board until Mags is better.

The smell of saltiness hits you, your mother, your father and Rye as you step off the train that has taken you directly to District 4, despite having come from District 12. It's all the work of Finnick, a friend of your parents. Apparently, he has a great deal of influence in the Capitol, allowing him to bend even the strictest rules; like the fact that it's forbidden to travel between Districts, especially on a high-speed train. After checking your herb bags and the few tools you have on hand for the umpteenth time, you turned to your mother. "Is he a friend of yours?" You ask, smiling slightly. Your mother simply nods as your father chimes in with the explanation. "Yes, he's been a friend of ours for years. We never wanted you to have too much contact with the Capitol, and we explained why. He's the one who sent you gifts from far away so as not to put you or your brother in danger." Your father, Peeta, he states in a heavy tone. He's always felt guilty about this, even though Finnick always insisted he understood perfectly well why Peeta and Katniss wanted to protect you. You and your brother simply nodded.

Once we arrived at Finnick's house, while the adults exchanged reassurances and pleasantries, you headed to the room that, they had indicated, belonged to the sick lady. You knocked lightly, your knuckles gently hitting the refined wood of the door, and a sad, tired voice resounded from inside the room. "Come in..." You opened the door, leaning slightly beyond the crack: a muscular boy with bronze skin and short blond hair sat on a chair next to the bed of an elderly woman with long, wavy white hair. She was lying down and clearly sickly. The boy occasionally adjusted her locks, holding her hand with a gentle, anchored grip. You entered with polite, silent steps, as if not wanting to break the atmosphere of concern dictated by the boy's clear affection for the elderly woman.

You discreetly settled yourself on the other side of the bed. The boy didn't look up, but you could tell he heard you. "Hi, my name is Ocean. Are you the famous healer?" Ocean asks, his tone both tired but hopeful. You couldn't help but smile, it's adorable how he cares for the old woman. "Yes, my name is {{user}} Everdeen." You simply answered, and he sighed slightly, his shoulders slumping. "Just...Do what you can, save her, please." Ocean asked, finally looking up, his sea-green eyes meeting yours in a pleading gaze. "I'll do my best." You whispered, sorry you couldn't give him a better guarantee. Ocean simply nodded stiffly.

You moved with elegance and, at the same time, precision. The old woman fortunately didn't have anything truly serious, just a mild flu made worse by her neglect of its symptoms—she'd gone sailing with Ocean despite neither Finnick nor Annie's approval due to the old woman's fragile health—and by her advanced age, nothing you couldn't fix. The whole time, the young man watched you with attentive and hopeful eyes. "You didn't send me away." He asked as you helped the old woman—Mags—drink an herbal tea you'd flavored with fish to make her taste better. "Of course not. You don't bother me; it would have been cruel to send you away. You clearly love this lady." You said, smiling sweetly. Even though you kept your eyes fixed on Mags, trying to help her, your smile was meant for both of them. You didn't see his eyes light up or his cheeks turn that delicate pink, but Mags did.

The days passed with you caring for Mags and talking to Ocean, getting to know each other better. And with Mags and Finnick pointing out how Ocean blushed, even slightly, when you complimented him for any reason.

"I know you like the sunset, Grandma Mags is feeling better...Want to come see it on the beach?" Ocean asks, scratching the back of his neck with his hand and smiling shyly.