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seasonsofeverlark · 4 years ago

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Heated

Author: @hutchhitched

Prompt: Bonfire [submitted by @endlessnightlock]

Rating: E

Summary: Peeta Mellark left home at 18 for college at his girlfriend’s request. He hadn’t seen her since, but one night, a decade later he joined his high school friends for a bonfire on the beach and found her again in a very heated way.

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Peeta checked the time and pressed harder on the gas pedal. He was running behind, and he hated being late. Unused to having a chance to take time during the fall for anything personal, he felt a little out of sorts as he wound along the ocean highway on his way to meet his friends for a seasonal bonfire. He hadn’t been to the event for ages, not since he’d left for college and spent the bulk of his time back east. He’d missed Oregon autumns and nights on the beach with crisp air and changing leaves. It was good to be back, even if he was going to be late.

Darkness fell as he steered the car, passing slower traffic when he could and wondering exactly who was coming. Finnick, his best friend from high school, invited him several weeks ago, and Peeta had put him off until his calendar opened up for a few days during his business trip to the west coast. As wind blew in through the car windows and ruffled his hair, he admitted accepting the invitation was the appropriate action. He needed this break from the regular stress of his job.

By the time he exited the highway and pulled onto the dirt road that led to the beach, it was dark, and the stars twinkled above him. He smiled at the forms sitting around the fire, friendly figures from his past who called out for him to join them.

“Peeta!” Finnick shouted, his cheeks rosy from merriment and drinking. “We were just about to go skinny dipping.”

“Before I even had a chance to say hello?” Peeta observed drily. “That’s…just great, man. Seriously, great.”

“You can stay,” he offered. “Katniss is planning to.”

Her name washed over him, friendly and comforting. Katniss Everdeen. His first love, high school sweetheart, best friend for years until he made the difficult decision to leave and pursue his education from halfway across the nation. It had broken his heart to leave her, but she’d insisted, refusing to allow him to give up anything for her. And now, here she was, in the flesh, and flashing a tremulous smile his way.

“Hi,” Peeta managed to say. “Good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too, Peeta.”

Her melodic voice soothed him, working its way into his joints and spreading out in warm waves that swelled through his bones. His body relaxed, inch by inch, until his limbs loosened and grew peaceful. All his usual twitching and extraneous energy stilled as he sank down next to her. He was too lost in her to even notice as the others slipped into the darkness. The sound of their laughter swept in from the waves, but he didn’t bother to pay any attention.

“How have you been?” he asked, eager to hear her speak again. “It’s been so long.”

“Okay. Still here. Put my sister through college. She’s in med school in California now.”

Peeta nodded, memories of Prim Everdeen’s infectious grin danced in front of his eyes. “Good for her.”

“She’s doing great. My mom’s okay. Better mentally. Always takes her medicine,” she added, referring to her mother’s mental health issues that had forced Katniss to grow up much too fast and parent her younger sibling. Peeta’d tried to help out as much as possible to ease her load, but he’d had his own problems to worry about. He still wasn’t sure if he would stop by to visit his own mother before he left town.

“What about you?” he asked, curious about her reticence to talk about herself. “What’s happening for Katniss Everdeen?”

She shrugged and twisted her braid around her index finger before pulling the tie free and nervously unbraiding her hair. Once it was free, she plaited it again, all the while biting her bottom lip.

“I mean…”

“I always loved your hair down,” he said softly. “I know you like it tucked back, but when it’s loose around your face, you’re gorgeous.”

She flushed, pleased but bashful, and shook out her hair. “Thanks.”

“You’re always gorgeous.”

He held her gaze, shining molten silver as the fire reflected in them. She stared back at him, uncertain, and he scooted closer to her. There weren’t words enough to explain how much he’d missed her, how the dull ache of wanting and not having her had left him empty inside so that his victories felt hollow and his losses hurt even more. He’d only been with her for a few minutes, and he already felt like he was reborn.

“Things haven’t been so great for me,” she admitted, barely audible over the crackle of the fire and the rush of the surf. “I… I think I got lost after you left.”

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

She smiled sadly and stared out over the ocean. “I know I told you to leave, and I don’t regret that at all. I thought I was prepared to stand on my own, and I did. I’m proud of that. I took care of myself in addition to helping my mom and supporting Prim in her success.” She curled her hands into fists for a split second, but then forced them to relax. With a rueful smile, she turned to him and admitted, “You weren’t here to remind me to take care of myself first, and I forgot. I figured I’d worry about me later, but now… It’s been a decade, and my life’s at a standstill.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? You should have.”

“Why? What could you do about it? We drifted apart. You had your own life. You deserved that. You still do,” she argued. “I wasn’t going to take that away from you. I wouldn’t ever.”

“What if that’s what I wanted? What if you’re what I want now—who I want now?” Agitated, he thrust his fingers through his hair, shoving his curls off his forehead in exasperation.

“You don’t even know me anymore. I doubt you would.”

Peeta opened his mouth to protest, but their friends returned at that moment, giggling and sopping and partially clothed. Finnick and his fiancée were lip locked, and other couples were paired together as they grabbed bare skin and donned their discarded clothing. It took only a few minutes before they descended into complete debauchery and peeled off for more private surroundings. Peeta could hear vehicles starting and driving away, leaving him alone with Katniss again.

“So much for reunions,” he muttered, slightly irritated and simultaneously thrilled with his remaining company.

“Well, maybe it’s time to go,” she mumbled and made to get up, but Peeta grabbed her arm. Squeezing it gently, he looked at her, pleading silently, until she settled back onto the beach blanket where they sat.

“You know,” he mused, “I hated that you told me to leave. I didn’t see it as you doing what was best for me so much as you giving yourself a chance to have a life without me. I thought maybe I’d been too overbearing, too serious, too concerned about settling down when you deserved a chance to make your own choices. I missed you, and I couldn’t admit it because my heart was broken, so I cut you out, concentrated on school, got my MBA, started working, received a promotion or two. I did all those things, but none of it really mattered to me. Not without someone to share it with, and there was no one I wanted to do that with but you.”

“I could have fought for you. I could have, but I was scared. I loved you so much, and I knew what that kind of love had done to my mom when my father died,” she admitted hoarsely. “It was almost a relief when you gave up on me.”

“I never gave up on you. Never.”

“Almost a relief,” she repeated, “but not really. I always felt like part of me was halfway across the country with you.”

Her admission washed over him, flowing like warm honey and sweetening the world around him. She felt the same way. She must, and that meant he had a chance. He finally had another shot to be with the woman he’d loved since he’d first seen her the day they started Kindergarten.

“Come with me, then,” he whispered. “Or let me come back to you. Whichever way works, just let us be together.”

It was too fast, too ridiculous to expect their reunion in one night, but that didn’t stop him from wanting her. I couldn’t keep him from imagining the future he’d not allowed himself to believe he could have. He could see it all so clearly—them together, marriage, children, building a life he wanted so badly he ached for it.

She raised her face to his, wistful and cautious. Carefully, he tilted her chin and brushed his lips against hers. A delicious whimper fell from her, and Peeta almost crushed her to him. The feel of her in his arms was nearly too much to bear after the years apart. She was oxygen to air-starved lungs, and he craved her. He swept into her, eagerly chasing her taste, practically swallowing her whole. A warning tickled at the back of his brain—don’t come on too strong. Take it slow. Let her make the move. Don’t beg her to agree.

Pulling away reluctantly, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. That was a lot. I’m back on my best behavior.”

“That’s too bad,” she answered hoarsely, licking her lips. “That’s really, really too bad.”

“What is?” he whispered, afraid to burst their bubble. It was safe there, warm and affectionate and full of possibility. He willed her to feel the same.

“I was hoping maybe you’d want to be a little naughty.”

Katniss stood, then, and held out her hand. Head spinning, he rose and watched as she took a step back and shrugged off her button down. His mouth fell open as her olive toned skin lit up golden in the firelight. She licked her lips and slid a strap over her shoulder, exposing the curve of her breast.

It was too soon. This couldn’t be happening. He attempted pinching himself to wake up, but what he saw was real. His first love stood before him, baring herself to his eager gaze, and he swore he’d gone to Heaven.

“Katniss.”

Her name came out as a prayer, but her body was the gospel. Acres of gilded skin emerged as her clothes fell, and he observed the ritual reverently. When she stood before him, exposed and waiting, he joined her. Disrobing, he breathed in the ocean spray as cool breezes caressed his feverish skin.

Peeta stared, unable to tear his eyes away from the glow of firelight on her smooth body. Pert nipples graced perfect breasts, and her waist curved into swayed hips and lithe legs adorned with a strip of dark curly hair that practically invited him to dive in. Stepping forward, he pulled her into his arms and jumped.

The combustion was spontaneous. No, even that was too slow for the flagrance between them. He was on fire, burning brighter than the sun with his skin melded to hers. Collapsing onto the beach blanket, she wrapped her legs around his waist and rutted against him.

“You have… no idea… the effect you have,” he whispered between breaths as he worshipped her body with heated open-mouthed kisses. “Sweetheart.”

She arched her back and opened for him. He dipped his head slowly, giving her time to protest if she wanted. When she did nothing more than moan his name, he nudged his nose against her slit and licked a stripe along her skin. Grinning at her reaction, he shook his head and prodded deeper. Her flavor burst on his tongue, simultaneously tangy and sweet, and he savored and devoured at the same time.

“Peeta,” she cried, desperate but eager. “Feels so good…”

Her approval convinced him to raise his expectations and give her what she really wanted. Tilting her hips, he spread her open and dove back in. She bucked against him, her hips growing wilder while her cries became wanton. Groaning her name, his voice was muffled against her slick skin. Latching onto her clit, he sucked, while she twisted under his mouth and cried his name to the night. Milking her with his tongue, he worked her through a climax, grunting as writhed under him.

She went limp, shivering, although her skin scorched his, heat radiating from her in the wake of her orgasm. He shifted on the blanket, moving her from the moisture captured in the blanket beneath her and draped her over him. Her breath puffed on his chest as her limbs tangled with his, clumsy and pliable as he traced her spine with the pads of his fingers. She mouthed against his chest, painting him with sloppy kisses, and nuzzling his chest.

“You want more?” he asked hoarsely. “You need to come again?” She nodded and snuggled into him, so he maneuvered her limbs so she straddled him and guided her onto his cock. “That’s it,” he groaned. “Feels so good.”

She moved, and he slanted his head back as she began to ride him. Stars flickered overhead, twinkling cheekily at the bonfire. The fire crackled, flames leaping to the heavens, dancing happily in the breeze and cheering their coupling, years in the making.

He burned from the inside out, embers filling his belly, until he was coming, spilling deep into her, pouring the very essence of contentment from him to her and connecting them in a way that he knew would change him forever.

Peeta watched her—beautiful, graceful, powerful. He surveyed her as she tightened, her face peaceful, her hair wild. He steadied her when she threw back her head and shouted, spasms wracking her body. When she was done, she slumped against him, sated and drowsy, her skin dewy and fused to his.

“I’m never going to be able to let you go after this,” she murmured into the sweaty crook of his neck and shoulder.

“Don’t. Don’t do it.” She shriveled, and he realized how that must have sounded. “No, sweetheart. I mean, don’t let me go. I don’t plan to let you get away after finally finding you again.”

“It’s not practical.”

“Love’s never practical. Fuck practical. Come with me, or let me come here. I’ll make it happen,” he insisted.

She didn’t speak for several moments, and he realized what he’d implied—that he loved her, that he’d move for her, that he’d upend his life if it meant he could spend the rest of his life with her. After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke.

“I’ve kind of been ready for a new adventure.”

A smile split his face, and he rolled them over so his body blanketed hers. He accepted her offer with a deep kiss as the bonfire lit their future.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #autumn #autumn 2020 #hutchhitched #submission #prompt

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captainseaweedbrains · 4 years ago

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The Dance of the Color Guard, Op.64 Chapter 1

Katniss and Peeta used to be best friends when they were kids, but now in high school, they're barely on speaking terms. It isn't until they are forced together as the titular star-crossed lovers for their marching band's field show that they will have to face their past mistakes and try to get along if they ever hope of defeating the notorious Capitol Height's Imperial Marching Crusaders in competition.

It's all about winning and if that means pretending to be in love with Peeta Mellark, so be it.

But a lot can happen in six months.

Tumblr: x

Ao3: x x

April—Six Months Earlier

“Don’t be so obvious,” her music stand partner Leevy whispered in amusement, “but Peeta Mellark is staring at you again.”

“What?” Katniss looked straight up, not even pretending to be subtle, and locked eyes with the first chair trumpet player sitting directly across the room from her. His eyes widened for a moment, probably assuming she wouldn’t catch his stare with the clarinet section in front of him, but instead of looking away like a normal person would after being caught, Peeta Mellark smiled at her, his right eyebrow raising suggestively in question. Katniss gripped her flute and pointedly turned back to her music, knowing her section would be criticized next on their sloppy runs.

He liked to do that every so often during rehearsal, look at her like she was some kind of joke that amused him. Get her all flustered with those stupid eyebrows and smiles. Leevy enjoyed pointing it out all the time, drawing kissy faces with their initials in hearts on their shared music that Katniss would then furiously erase because what if someone saw that? People in band were gossipy enough with who was dating whom and who broke up with whom.

She didn’t want anyone thinking she had a crush on Peeta Mellark.

Mr. Abernathy, their band director, stepped between them on his podium, breaking any eye contact Peeta could make on her, and tapped his baton on his stand to grab everyone’s attention. “Okay, listen up, ya mangy teens! A few announcements before you all age me once more with your apparent lack of practicing. First being, next season’s field show—”

“Oh, can I say it?” Miss Trinket, their assistant director, asked, already pushing Mr. Abernathy off the podium. Miss Trinket was a small wispy woman, her height mainly due to the massive heels she sported no matter the season, but despite her title and small stature, it was clear to anyone with eyes who was in charge of any decision making for the band program.

Miss Trinket cleared her throat, smiling brightly as the room waited with anticipation.

Marching season was one of the biggest things they did in the school year. Everyone looked forward to it and a strong field show could finally mean getting Athens Ridge High’s Marching Gladiators to finals and beating the crap out of their arch rivals: the rich snooty Capitol Heights Academy’s Imperial Marching Crusaders.

Every year they always came so close to beating them, but Capitol Heights had the money for large expensive props and Athens Ridge did not. They were lucky enough to have been able to afford new marching uniforms a few years back, replacing the threadbare grey ones with sleek black and gold. Mr. Abernathy always reminded everyone that he didn’t care about winning, nor did he give a rat’s ass about Capitol Heights and all their achievements. All he cared about was that they performed to the best of their ability and marched off the field with pride, but Katniss wanted their band to be the best. Everyone in the Athens Ridge band did.

“Can I get a drumroll, please?” Miss Trinket asked, looking pointedly to Gale in the back.

Gale rolled his eyes, but started the roll on his snare drum.

“This year’s marching show is…” Another dramatic pause.

“Will you just tell them, woman? This ain’t the Oscars,” Mr. Abernathy snapped, sick of all her flairs and dramatics. “We’re doing Romeo & Juliet. There. Now get off my podium.”

Miss Trinket held her ground, her pale features brightening under her anger, making her purple-streaked hair stand out more than usual. “Haymitch—!”

Everyone watched, entertained by yet another round of the two directors going at it once more. Katniss turned to look back at Gale, the head keeper of the betting pool, and he signed another two months before their directors would go at it like rabbits. She shook her head, laughing quietly to herself, and turned back to watch as the directors duked it out.

“I’ve heard the music to this field show,” Leevy said after practice, cleaning out her flute. “It’s really pretty. I can see why Miss Trinket picked it.”

Katniss carefully tucked her flute back in its case, giving it one final shine before locking it shut. “You think Miss Trinket picked it?”

Leevy laughed and threw a pointed look over to where Mr. Abernathy sat slunk in his chair, stained coffee mug in hand as he scowled at some piece of paper. “I highly doubt Mr. Abernathy would choose a show like Romeo & Juliet without some heavy outside persuasion.”

She had a point there.

As they waited by the door, ready to book it the second the bell rang, Katniss and Leevy rolled their eyes at the chaos in front of them. Thresh Armstrong, a tuba player known for sneaking in toys from home, had brought out a foam football and had tossed it over to Johanna Mason, one of the smart ass percussionists, who almost crashed into the chimes trying to catch it. She held the ball up in victory and the guys around her hooted and hollered in applause. With a dramatic bow, she tossed it to Gale behind her, who caught it and called out for his girlfriend Madge to catch. Madge squealed in shock when the ball hit her in the back of the head, throwing the ball back at him in protest.

“You’d think Abernathy would put a stop to that,” Leevy commented, laughing despite herself when the ball nailed Marvel Baxter in the face. “People can get hurt.”

“Maybe he wants to see assholes like Marvel get hit in the face, too,” Katniss snorted, glad she got to witness it. “Do you think we’ll get to see Cato get hit in the face?” she asked, eyeing the bulky blond in the far corner with interest.

“Doubt it.” Cato Martin was that stereotypical asshole who thought he walked on water and expected everyone to treat him as thus. And the sickening part was that people did. The school’s star quarterback was praised constantly in their school paper for his dedication to both the school’s athletic department and music department, despite being last chair in Symphonic Band and always being hounded for how bad he played by Mr. Abernathy. Despite his assholery, though, he always had a gaggle of followers around him, probably praising him for breathing.

Katniss hated him so much, and it wasn’t just because they were locker neighbors and she was constantly having to shove him and whatever girl he was making out with off her own locker to squeeze in. Or that, since the 7th grade, he’s only referred to her as “Katnips Everslip” after a very unfortunate wardrobe malfunction at the community pool. Or even that time he taped rubber baby bottle nipples all over her locker sophomore year and only received a slap on the wrist by their dean, Mr. Flickerman, because he didn’t realize how offensive it was and he was so so sorry. Yeah, Cato sucked and she hated him for all those things and more, but she hated him most because Cato Martin was that entitled ass who just expected things to be given to him. He never faced any consequences and those were the worst kind of people.

Laughing at Marvel and his botched up nose, her eyes briefly caught Peeta’s and the amusement she felt seeing Marvel get nailed in the face vanished instantly. Every bully had that one lackey who wasn’t really an asshole, but was kind of one by association because he just went along with anything the bully did. Yeah, that lackey was Peeta Mellark. Which somehow made it even worse. She knew Peeta. Used to be friends with him in elementary school, back when your neighborhood friends were your whole world and nothing could come between you. Now he was just one of Cato’s goons who blindly followed whatever Golden Ass commanded.

“Are you auditioning for color guard again?” Leevy asked, snapping Katniss’s attention back to her friend.

“Huh?”

Leevy’s eyes followed where hers had been and Katniss pretended not to notice the knowing smirk on her friend’s face, picking at a loose thread on her sleeve instead. “Are you trying out for color guard this year?” she asked again.

“Of course.” Katniss flushed at her sure answer, but she always did color guard. It was kind of her thing, especially since Miss Trinket had singled her out freshman year, snatching 14-year-old Katniss off the practice field where she had been marching with her fellow flute players. “You’ve got the perfect arms,” Miss Trinket had told her and she’d been part of color guard ever since.

“I’m hoping for captain, actually,” Katniss admitted, looking down at her beat-up sneakers. She hadn’t told anyone but Prim that, afraid she’d jinx it by putting it out in the universe too much, but going into senior year next season, she’d be the most experienced one auditioning. The odds were definitely in her favor, but the universe also had a tendency of fucking things up when she least expected it and she didn’t want to chance it.

Leevy sighed. “I wish you’d stay with the flutes. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to deal with that”—she pointed at the giggly flute players who were now fawning over Cato like lovesick puppies—"all by myself.”

Katniss gave her friend a sympathetic pat on the arm. “I’d rather shoot myself in the eye than have to deal with Golden Ass’ fan club. Why don’t you try out? You’re small, like me. I bet Miss Trinket would love that.” Their assistant director would be beside herself with joy at having another petite person in guard she could have tossed around. Miss Trinket was always complaining how there were too many tall girls nowadays and that it limited her “vision.”

Leevy shook her head. “Oh, no. No, I don’t think I could ever do what you all do. Who would trust me to throw something in the air and expect me to catch it? And the way you did those handsprings for last year’s show?” She shook her head again in amazement. “I can’t even balance on one foot without falling. I’m nowhere near as talented as you.”

Katniss’ cheeks darkened again at Leevy’s appraisal. Those handsprings were a bitch to grasp, she remembered, and the only reason she was the one doing them wasn’t because Trinket saw her as some talented goddess. No, it was just because everyone else was too afraid of doing them without any type of mat underneath them and Katniss wasn’t. She was about to tell her friend this—that yeah, she was pretty good with a flag and rifle, but all that can be taught and Leevy’s lack of gymnastic talent shouldn’t stop her from auditioning—when the foam football smacked her hard on the side of her head.

“What the hell?” She scanned the chaotic room for the culprit, rubbing at the spot where the ball hit. “Who threw that?”

The culprit in question raised his hand apologetically and jogged over to pick the blue ball off the ground. Her hands balled into fists.

Peeta Mellark.

Of course.

“My bad!” he apologized, smiling down at her in that totally non-assery way that just pissed her off more. “I was trying to throw the ball to Glimmer and—” he started to explain, casually pointing behind him with his thumb.

“Your aim sucks that much?” she fumed, interrupting him. Glimmer was clear across the room by the other French horn players, far from where she and Leevy stood. “That could have hit my eye!”

There was a time, long ago, when she was once taller than him. She used to jokingly lean on Peeta while they waited in lines at school or the grocery store, calling him squirt and messing up his curly blond hair like his dad did, laughing when he’d scowl and pull away, hating that nickname. He always vowed he’d reach his growth spurt someday soon, just like his brothers, and she’d be sorry she ever called him squirt. Peeta stood almost a foot taller than her now, but she stood her ground. Glaring up at him, she considered using the old nickname, just to see if it rattled him

There was no way his aim was that bad. They’d had the same gym class for almost six years now and she knew he wasn’t terrible. Peeta was one of those guys things just came naturally to, especially sports. For years she has watched as he made the winning pass in basketball, smacked a volleyball down to score like nobody’s business, swiped the puck in during hockey. She smelled bullshit.

This was probably some stupid dare Cato or Marvel put him up to. She eyed Marvel off to the side, still rubbing his nose. He was probably pissed at her for laughing at him and thought it’d be funny watching her get nailed in the face, too. Let’s see how hard the ball can bounce off Katnips Everslip’s tiny head! she could hear the idiots snickering. Marvel always did have a small ego. And of course, like always, Peeta just went along with it because that’s what Peeta did. Just go along with anything his friends suggested, even if meant injuring an innocent bystander.

“So why’d you throw it at me?” she point-blank asked, crossing her arms. “Did Marvel put you up to it? Cato?”

His face quickly went from apologetic smiles to annoyance, rolling his eyes at her sneer. “You know, Katniss, believe it or not, accidents do happen.”

“Accident? Please,” she scoffed. “I know you, Peeta. You don’t do accidents. Everything you do is strategically planned and executed with exact precision. So who dared you? It was Marvel, wasn’t it?”

He looked back at his buddies and laughed, shaking his head incredulously. “I’m touched that you think I’m so robotic, Katniss, truly, but believe whatever the fuck you want. I said it was an accident because it was an accident.”

“Just answer the question.”

“I already did.” He leaned toward her, his dark blue eyes mocking, and tapped the football on her nose with a smug smile, walking back over to his friends. Some of the guys made kissy faces at his return, laughing when Peeta shoved them to quit it, but he was laughing along with them.

Katniss’ nails dug into her palms as she watched them, briefly wondering if someone could be glared to death. God, they were the worst.

“Wow,” Leevy breathed, watching the trumpet players, too. “The sexual tension is strong today. Felt like I was in a movie just now.”

She turned to her friend, incredulous. “Sexual tension? With Peeta Mellark?” She gagged at the thought. “Did you not just see him be a complete ass to me? He hit me with a football!”

“Yeah and apologized for it.” Katniss rolled her eyes at the low standard bar Leevy had for apologies. Peeta’s apology was obviously fake and what about that annoying ball tap to the nose? Did she not see how condescending that was? “You two are so going to bone by the end of this year.”

The bell rang before Katniss could choke out a rebuttal.

#Everlark fanfiction #The Hunger Games fanfiction #Everlark fanfic #Everlark #The Hunger Games #My writing #Marching band fic #The Dance of the Color Guard Op. 64 #I hope you all enjoy #Let me know what you think!#:)

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hockeysweetheart · 4 years ago

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Hunger Games Characters I picture in Disney Characters.

Katniss I Put her with Merida ( Brave) Belle ( BATB) Meg ( Hurcules) Elsa (Frozen).

Why Merida. Well shes good with the bow and arrow ( I actually haven’t seen Brave fully so I don’t know much about her).

Belle. Both are strong willed women Willing to do anything for family. Both have no choice but to stay where they are “captured” both are like if I have a will to live through this I’m not gonna go down without a fight. Both have 2 men after their hearts, Both know how to survive on their own if needed. She learned to fall in love with a beast.

Meg. This is more the love side for Katniss. The Song I wont say I’m in love is basically Katniss’s theme song. Like she wont admit it she loves Peeta but girl we all know..

Elsa. In a way Katniss did shut out Prim to protect her. She didn’t want to hurt her sister strong willed to protect her sister at all cost. Plus I know Cinna is to credit for this but her mockingjay outfit *Chefs kiss* plus they wear their hair the same.

Peeta. Hercules Kristoff ( Frozen) Kovu ( Lion King 2) The Beast (BATB)

Hercules he’s strong. But he literally gave up everything for love. Which is so Peeta.

Kristoff. Okay this one both have such a charm that attracts everyone. Tho both have obessions and flaws So they are a bit of fixer uppers. But both are somewhat accpecting to the fact I will wait until you make your choice. Both have kind and sweet hearts. Both are kultzy but pull it off like a champ. ( And Katniss didn’t fall in love with a man she just met. They knew each other since the age of 5) But Never truely met until the games.

Kovu. Hes the sexiest damn thing. In Disney characters I freaking swear He has a way with his words. Charming. Loyal tho. He is willing to go against his families ( whos kinda a bunch of ya know bad guys) for Love and whats right. So Peeta.

The Beast. This is Peeta in Hijacked Form ( Some parts). Besides the totally Hitting on Belle part. We all know deep down the love he had for Katniss never left. He never stopped loving her. Not based on how good she looked but who she is. Plus A Kiss broke the spell. Also he had a bit of charm in his hijacking but so much anger and Katniss was the only one who could truely break him outta it. Also I was hoping that He would of said so you came to look at the beast have you.

Finnick King Triton ( Little Mermaid) Maui ( Moana) Flynn Rider ( Tangled) Aladdin.

Kin g Triton. Well for that Trident comes in handy. ( The king is kinda a jerk why are most fathers in disney movies total jerks I’ll never know) But I hope that Finnicks son at least knows what a fork is compaired to a freaking trident ( and doesn’t use it as a hair brush) man that was stupid. Both are basically the big shot of where they live. Both love water live near or in water... ( What they hell do they eat under the sea ?)

Maui. Okay Finnick is a bit of a show off a little. Not his fault hes so damn good looking. Both have that sarcasm that makes you laugh but your like oh my god please stop. Both have there if Finnick had a song It would be your welcome. But still so much we never know about them both.

Flynn Rider. Okay well both just have the certain personality that is strangely Alike. Both know how to fight if needed. Both are like well the ladies are okay but not intrested until they find the one.. Both have their charm. ( Plus I love Flynn rider).

Aladdin. We know that Finnick has a huge part of him he never opened up. Before when he spilled what the real price to winning is. That was not everything. There is a part that Beetee said If you knew Finnick it’s amazing he’s still with us at all. So hes been though it.

Johanna Bo Peep ( Toy Story 4) Mulan and Mulans Grand mother ( Mulan) Tiana (Princess and the Frog)

Bo Peep. From the first toy story to the 4th one Bo peep has changed a lot. ( Kinda like Johanna from after her games to who we met in Catching fire) Tho a lot of them is still there that hasn’t changed. But their will to fight. and that they dont take BS as an answer. That they both may look weak but inside them so much more then that. ( I was shocked to see Bo Peep kinda like Johanna in toy story 4). Not scared of a little fight and blood. Frankly I’d be worried that they both would try to kill someone in their sleep.

Mulan. I love in movies where the weakest person goes to the strongest like that. Totally Johanna. And they are the girl worth fighting for I see more of her in Johanna then Katniss because Johanna went from faking being weak to deadly like that. Where as katniss she didn’t hide it at all really. Plus if this wasn’t a disney movie i would of love to say what Mulan would of said when they found out shes a girl really. But both are bad ass females. Who really had no choice to go into this ( Mulan had to save her father Johanna got picked to be in the games)

Mulans Grandmother ( I didn’t realize I did this) But I Johanna’s humor she says what she wants and no damage. They don’t ruin the moment they make the moment 100 times better.

Tiana. She was totally fine not finding love ( But its disney she did) I really like her will to not give up no matter how many changes are thrown at you. and tolerting her best friend but I freaking love Charlotte She is the one who knows what to say in a moment where no one else would understand basically the girl talk that Katniss hates but we all have it in us.

Prim Repunzel ( Tangled) Baymax ( Big Hero 6) Anna ( Frozen)

Lets Ignore the fact that I brought up 2 of these lovers before to other characters

Repunzel The healing part Prim has it is in her born with it. and she has a nack of many talents. And In a way is locked up in District 12 ( But Protected by her sister)

Baymax He is the cutest thing out there. Caring knowing when you need a hand ( Like katniss) a healer ( I might of went out to look for the healer of disney). Not much of a fighter ( But I swear if you did what Hiro did if you did that to prim oh my god the fight in her but the healing will always be apart of her)

Anna. Okay I basically but Anna here because she is Elsa’s sister. Simlar hair styles but.. Both are willing to do anything for each other. Prim had a knack to see if the fence was on to see if Katniss was gonna be late coming back from hunting. Both are gental who wont hurt a fly (Unless your almost husband is a total jerk)

Effie Charlotte ( Princess and the Frog) Dory (Finding Nemo ) Yzma ( The emperors New Groove)

Charlotte. Oh my god If this isn’t effie I have no clue what is. She does stuff to get a better district. But then Truely cares about her district 12 tributes 74th Games. She would almost do anything in her power to make them on time and for her victors.

Dory Okay Effie is a bit clueless in her own little world. Telling them about the pearls lol and whitty. Effie doesn’t have short term memory loss she has I’ve been living in the capitol and this is what I know.

Yzma This is the effie we dont wanna see Frankly I am happy we didn’t see this side of her. It’s the one who gets really pissed off I’m sure it would be something else tho to see.

Cinna. Fairy God mother (Cinderella) Genie ( Aladdin) Nick ( Zootopia)

Fairy God mother. Cinnas out fits are like bibbidi bobbidi boo I make an awesome outfit for you. Also He takes good care of Katniss.( Like sent from up above) On her side beyond his end. A bit of a rebel but over all a really good guy

Genie. Cinna is like the Genie without 3 wishes. But he is there and supports Katniss fully. And just helps her out when se needs it. and Is a friend in Katniss. Basically the one she trusts first and fully,

Nick Okay this is an odd one But he rebeled from his bad guy character to help Judy ( Police officer) with a crime. Cinna helped out katniss and pretty much a rebel to go beyond to help her. To show shes the symbol of this war... To show that she should go a head fight for it all its worth. Plus I got your back making your costumes not only good looking but you wont have to worry about death yet your costumes prevent that.

Haymitch. Mushu ( Mulan) Lumiere ( BATB) Crush (Finding Nemo)

Mushu He is that reality check that Katniss and Peeta needed but also will do almost anything to protect them ( Even lying for there own good) But also oh my lordy funny.

Lumiere. It’s his carefree side where Katniss shot an apple at the gamemakers and just like oh well. That happened... Plus not playing by the capitol rules and He is just like a good mentor to Katniss and Peeta hell the best. He really wants them to try to win this thing.

Crush. Okay that turtle was the most stoned turtle I’ve met. To this day. And as for Disney Characters this might not be the most drunk but It’s one i can Find.

Gale Robin Hood Hans ( Frozen) Gaston ( BATB)

Robin hood Umm he shoots I think he hunts thats about it

Hans Not only did he confuse Anna for a love But we see his true colours too. I mean they were not even friends first but still. Like so Gale.

Gaston. He’s a hunter after his girl Katniss ( But shes already taken) Really wanted her once she was gone also is strangly after Katniss and only katniss ( when shes around) when he has plenty of takers.

Okay I realized this is very long. So these are the last picture.

Snow. Evil Witch ( Snow white) Scar ( Lion King)

Evil both are totally okay with murder and poison. At least she only poisoned Snow white enough to put her in a coma.

Scar. If you read the newest Hunger Games book ya know. What snow did to a certain someone... And like wont take the blame but he will tho at the same time

Coin Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) Mother Gothal ( Tangled)

Maleficent I am deeply scared of her just saying and Coin as well

Mother Gothal. Totally Coin. They both dont want there golden Flower to leave protection if it was really up to Coin she would never let Katniss go. But she had little control over her Frankly Katniss never trusted her at all. But like Mother Gothal we all knew she was bad going in but Coin first time Reading I said I bet you will be bad lol.

Annie Hei hei (Moana) Jane ( Tarzan)

Hei Hei ( Sorry Annie ) But kinda crazy. Kinda out of it...

Jane I have no idea why but I see this crazy girl from 4 Jane. Just going a bit crazy at everything like Jane

Wiress Clogsworth ( BATB) Okay simple very smart but Kinda out there and has a thing for clocks

Mags (Grandma from Moana) A little crazy but alright. I mean better then alright down right awesome.

Beetee Wall’e I have actually never seen this movie but I am like hell robot Beetee.

Careers Bruce and the other sharks (Finding Nemo) Scary yet the biggest idiots on the planet. Sure they get the best of best as districts go but damn who doesn’t know how to climb a tree or knowlage to idk chop it down burn it down..

The Claw

Not Sure who this is ( Monters inc) I just thought Plutarch at Katniss’s propo attemps lol.

Caesar Flickerman Kuzco ( Emperors new groove) If this isn’t him I have no idea what is. Total Kuzco vibes the but also somewhat caring but most of the interviews is how he does. Its beauty and its grace its Caesers face. But He does try to help out to the best of his ability.

Boggs Mattias. Frozen 2 Basically he actually cares for Katniss doesn’t want to see harm done to her. A rebel against his leader. ( I think he would of honestly be proud of Katniss for Killing Coin). But Only hopes for the best.

Cato Prince Eric ( Little mermaid) No offence but holy crap hes an idiot lol ( Eric I mean). Cato is smart but clueless. If he beileved that 2 could win. ( I honestly have no idea why I chose him for Cato)

Katniss’s Mother ( Iduna) Frozen ( Anna and Elsas mother). Yeah Mrs Everdeen did leave her daughters to fend for themselfs but bits of her came back to life every day. and if she had a choice she would of died with her husband but she is the strongest damn person because she could of died if she wanted to but she stayed for her daughters sakes. I would like to think Iduna would of done the same if she had that chance.

Game Makers (More monster inc dudes_ This is their faces when Katniss blew up the arena)

Madge Moana. Okay I will admit stange but Madge is pretty bad ass like Moana tho she doesn’t leave she is very family is everything quiet. But not a sas for a village leaders daughter Moana isn’t bad at all. I could see her being the Madge we don’t get to see.

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everlarkficquestions · 6 years ago

Text

Sunday Stumped Day 24 (on a Saturday)

It’s another Sunday Stumped Day (on a Saturday).

Sometimes we straight out get stumped. So each week on Sunday we’ll post of a list of asks that we need your help on.

If you have an answer to any of these shoot us a message/ask/reply with the Post number and the fic number and we’ll add it and give you a shout out with our thanks. Any links you can provide will also be super helpful.

Thanks!

Post 1 , Post 2 , Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7, Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, Post 12, Post 13, Post 14, Post 15, Post 16, Post 17, Post 18, Post 19, Post 20, Post 21, Post 22 , and Post 23 can be found here - and there are still fics we need your help with.

383. holisticfansstuff said to everlarkficquestions:

There's this gorgeous Hunger Games fic where Katniss and Gale are scholarship students at a swanky prep school and Peeta is a student there. Haymitch is a teacher. There's Hurt! Peeta in there too. And I can't find it. If anyone knows what it might be, please let me know. Thank you.

FOUND!

Always Rivals by hitchhitched

Thank you @jennagill!

384. betweenbooks98 said to everlarkficquestions:

Hello, I was wondering if you know what this fanfic is where Katniss and Joanna work in a store that I believe wraps gifts, there Peeta meets Katniss and he falls in love with her, he tries to go out with her but I think she rejects him, though. appears on Christmas day. Then I think Gale likes katniss and in the new year Gale and Peeta fight or something like that

FOUND!

Twelve Days of Katniss by Peetabreadgirl

Thank you @eggplant8!

385. southernclassact said to everlarkficquestions:

Hello! I used to read this story on Mibba called “Seven For A Secret Never To Be Told” and it followed an OC who was Gale’s sister named Wolf. Haymitch is in love with her and she has a crush on Peeta. She goes to the capitol to work as a behind the scenes force in the hunger games with a group of others from the other districts. When the rebellion comes around she is known as the pheonix. She was also married to President Snow and was poisoning him. I haven't been able to find it for years now.

386. lavenderloisblue said to everlarkficquestions:

Hey! I'm looking for two fics. The first one is about katniss and peeta working in an airline and she is an air hostess and he is a pilot but she doesn't like him. The second one is about katniss working in a fair and she starts dating peeta but she breaks up with him and confesses her love for him in front of his entire class. Thanks

387. amazinglovers747 said to everlarkficquestions:

Any Everlark fics based on the song Gorgeous by Taylor Swift?

388. quickenthesehands said to everlarkficquestions:

Just want to say I love this page! I was wondering if you guys could help me, this fic is where K lives in Hawaii with her dad. Her mom left them when she was little to go to New York. Years later K works at a hotel and sings while Madge plays piano. But while she is singing her mother walks in with her”New Family”and they are on a vacation. She’s married to Mr. Mellark and P is her step son. When her mom sees her she starts to cry and I think runs to her hotel room in tears. Thank you!

FOUND!

Beyond the Horizon - Sunkissed Pages

Thank you buttercupbadass and @katnissdoesnotfollowback!

389. txdora said to everlarkficquestions:

Hi, I'm looking for a fic I read a long time ago. Here is what I remember. It was a college AU. Peeta was kinda geeky and Katniss was his crush. They finally had a date (it might have been a study date) at his apartment and they ended up having sex. Then the next morning it's a funny-ish situation because Peeta 'can't get it down' and Katniss finds him on the balcony talking to himself. I don't remember what happened next. Thank you ahead of time for whatever you can do.

390. loverme11 said to everlarkficquestions:

Hey! I was wondering if you knew the fic where peeta asks katniss to marry him after the reaping And she rejects but he starts sending her gifts and letters and her mom forces her to talk to him and she agrees to marry him

FOUND!

Nothing Owed for a Gift by midnighteverlark

Thank you @sunsetsrmydreams & @geekymoviemom

391. anonymous said to everlarkficquestions:

Do you know of fics where Katniss and Peeta don’t go into the Quarter Quell?

FOUND!

Epiphany by SFCBruce

Thank you @queenlawrenceskingdom!

392. galesucks said to everlarkficquestions:

Hi do u know of any fics in which peeta teaches katniss sexual stuff think he is dating madge

TWO POSSIBILITIES!

Crush by atetheredmind (Madge is Peeta’s sister)

With A Little Help From My Friends by maktub (Peeta is dating Cashmere)

Thank you @jennagill, @ally147writes, @lovely-tothe-bone & @sunsetsrmydreams!

393. d1163 said to everlarkficquestions:

Is there a fic that has a scene where K&P go to a club but Katniss can’t get in because she’s young and Peeta didn’t know?? And he gets angry and she tells him he never asked how old she was and he had just assumed she was his age??

394. catof-the-canals said to everlarkficquestions:

I'm looking for a fic where Katniss has a nightmare and when Peeta wakes her up, they have sex but she refuses to tell him what the dream was about. The next day Katniss gets drunk and tries to sleep with him again and when Peeta tries to talk about her nightmare, she kicks him out. The next day she tells him she had a nightmare that he left her for another woman because she wouldn't have kids. Then they make up. Any ideas?

395. sakuramum-blog said to everlarkficquestions:

Hi :) I'm searching for a fic set in Catching Fire. It is pretty canon in that they are on the island but Peeta and Katniss consummate their relationship prior to the quarter quell and it is possible Katniss is pregnant. Any ideas? Thx!

FOUND!

The Sharp Edge of Memory (formerly known as Persuasion) by titania522

Thank you @sunsetsrmydreams!

396. gina2-2 said to everlarkficquestions:

So there is this one fic that I can't remember but it has Gale's pov but we don't know it yet. And he's like in love with Peeta and tries to keep girls from him so he distances himself and then Peeta has Katniss then its reveiled that it was Gale's pov all along. Thanks!!

FOUND!

Secrets I Have Held In My Heart by flythroughflames

Thank you @ally147writes!

397. werenotbadboys said to everlarkficquestions:

Hi! I've been searching everywhere for this fic but cant find it. Katniss' dad owns a store that she works at sometimes cashierring, Johanna is in it, too. Peeta also works there in the bakery and he stares at Katniss a lot. Finnick also works at the bakery with Gale and tells him to go for it, but Peeta knows he can't shoot his shot because no one is allowed to date the boss' daughter.

FOUND!

Stupid Cupid by slagheapwhore

Thank you @sunsetsrmydreams!

Do any of these fics ring a bell? Please let us know!

#ssd #sunday stumped day #mod post

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porchwood · 7 years ago

Text

SSS/Writing Check-In: The One That Got Away

(Jude/Madge with the possibility of endgame Gale/Madge and Jude/Columbine, plus every other couple from my fleet of ships)

For all seven of you who are interested, here’s my favorite scene from this week’s onslaught of modern AU hogwash (7,642 words and another 3,000ish words of notes): a prom flashback. Because Jude as Madge’s prom date melts my heart. A lot of stuff here was originally intended for Head Over Feet and may turn up there eventually.

***

Peeta and Katniss skipped the school-sponsored after-prom party, unsurprisingly, while the rest of us splintered off into contemplative pairs. Finnick and Annie and Luka and Johanna both seemed as good as engaged to me, but the announcement had rattled them as well, and Jude and I wound up watching the smarmy stage hypnotist by ourselves in a subdued sort of silence.

It wasn’t that either of us was unhappy at the news, exactly. While I considered Katniss my best friend, we had never been chatty in typical girlfriend-fashion, and yet her impending marriage struck my stomach like an icy stone. You’ll be going to college anyway, I reminded myself, and you’ll stay in touch, but none of this served to soothe.

Jude absently wrapped his tux jacket around my shoulders and then his arm, resting his cheek on the top of my head. He’d barely spoken since the engagement reveal and I couldn’t begin to guess what his uncharacteristic silence meant.

It sounds really nice, he said suddenly, softly. Staying right here, getting married, coming home to a wife and babies.

I wanted to retort something dry and mildly caustic but couldn’t find the words for any reply at all because it was nice, this future Peeta and Katniss were setting up for themselves. I wanted to continue with music as long as I could; to study abroad, to live in the capitol and maybe other cities in due course, but that wasn’t the future either Katniss or Peeta wanted, and why should they force themselves through the college mold, going eyes-deep in debt for degrees they had no interest in and possibly jeopardizing their relationship with the distance and other, inevitable, obstacles when the future they both craved was easily within their grasp?

Madeline, Jude continued in that same soft tone – I was always Madeline or, affectionately, mädchen to him – if Columbine and Gale marry other people, will you go on a date with me?

Almost as long as Jude and I have been friends, we’ve been aware of each other’s hopeless longing for an oblivious sweetheart and openly commiserated about it, with no fear – or even thought – of annoying each other or hurting feelings. Butcher’s son Jude was in love with Columbine Wilhearn, all black curls and lovely voice, whose mother was a small-scale – if highly in-demand – clothing designer and I was in love with broody, breathtaking Gale, whose mother managed the local laundromat and who despised my very existence because, as the mayor’s daughter, I had surely been born to privilege – never mind that my father had been a music teacher before his election and that as mayor he served a rural town of some 8000 people and dealt with weighty matters like dog waste ordinances and ribbon cuttings for tiny antique shops.

We’d both made periodic, futile attempts to elicit our respective crush’s attentions, but somehow for the course of that year – the year of madrigal seat partners and Jane Eyre and getting married on-stage in Fiddler – the longing had felt a little less pressing. Jude still ordered flowers for Columbine on opening night – she was playing the female lead, after all – but in other circumstances he would’ve done so for every performance, not just the first, and he brought me flowers too – a vaseful of red tulips from his mother’s garden to brighten my corner of the greenroom. And while I knew he’d asked Columbine to prom their junior year – and been turned down, of course – I don’t think he even tried the next time around, just cheerfully stepped up to escort me when the opportunity arose.

In fact, to the outside observer, Jude and I probably appeared to be dating for the past year.

The realization left me cross, embarrassed and oddly weary. Jude and I were just friends, everybody knew it, but could we have inadvertently sabotaged each other’s crushes by spending so much time together? Would Gale have emerged to ask me out if I hadn’t been so immersed in the Mellark circle this year – and in Jude’s company in particular?

We’re at prom, I reminded him, my tone shorter than he deserved. I’m wearing an evening gown and your tux jacket. How much more of a date do you want?

I want to pick you up at your house, he replied without hesitation, a brush of lips against my lilac-threaded crown braid. Just you and me and maybe your dad on the porch, to shake hands and talk about the weather and remind me to have you back by 10:00, and I’ll tell you how beautiful you look as I slide an orchid on your wrist. We’ll go to a fancy restaurant and trade bites of our entrees and steal a pepper shaker when we leave, just to see if we can get away with it. We’ll hold hands under the table and slow-dance like it means something, not just because we came together and it’s obligatory, and when I drop you at home, you might let me kiss you under the porchlight.

I pulled away to look up at him, at those gentle smoky eyes – gray like Gale’s and yet absolutely, utterly, nothing like Gale’s – and tried to decide whether to throttle him or burst into tears, because I knew he didn’t mean any of this the way it sounded but it was still the sweetest thing I’d ever heard – and remains so to this day. But I didn’t want Jude – I didn’t, I was sure of it – and he didn’t want me, he was just getting broody – in the hen fashion, not the Gale fashion – because of Peeta’s engagement and Columbine had remained stubbornly indifferent to him, even in a tux or stage makeup or a doublet and tights.

Please, can I go home? I whispered. I’ll call my parents so you don’t have to leave.

Don’t be daft, he said lightly, but his eyes were sad. There’s nothing left to stay here for anyway.

#six sentence sunday #(ish)#jude and madge are this heartbreaking combination of sweetness and angst #swangst?#they're not supposed to get together #but you can't quite think of a good reason why #and i have wanted an everlark high school production of fidder on the roof for AGES #with perchik!peeta and hodel!katniss #this was pre-jude #and then jude happened #and it was like #holy crows!#motel!jude and tzeitel!madge #:)#prom flashback #the one that got away #jude/madge #jude tolliver

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ellanainthetardis · 7 years ago

Note

i have a Prompt for the queen : Jo asks Effie for advice about a man she likes or a crush or something

Here you go! [X] or [X]

Always Love

Plutarch’s house was impressive and everythingEffie would have aspired to once upon a time. Five years after the war though,she found it… lacking. It was tooostensibly grand, not quite as cold and soulless as her parents’ house had beenbut close enough that she felt uncomfortable in it.

The crux of the matter, she decided as sheslipped away from the room where everyone was gathered to get some air on thebalcony, was that she missed Twelve and their home even if they hadn’t beengone for more than two days by that point.

It would be a long week, she mused. A very, very long week.

She just hoped they would survive this fifthanniversary of the rebellion.

The garden at the back of the house was small,which was not surprising given that the house was in the heart of the city, andthere wasn’t much to see in the dark aside for the high hedge that separatedthem from the neighbor’s property.

She leaned against the stone balustrade andlistened to the echoes of voices inside. Plutarch’s and Fulvia’s dominated, ofcourse, trying to pretend everything was fine just like they had been from thestart of the evening. The tensions though…

Katniss and Peeta had remained in Twelve,declining to attend on the condition that they would make a filmed apparitionat the local celebrations. Annie had been spared the chore on account on herson but she would be expected to show up on camera in Four too.

The rest of them hadn’t been granted the sameliberty. Well, aside for her whohadn’t been invited and strongly advised to stay as far away from cameras asshe could manage. It had enraged Haymitch to the point he had clearly statedthat he would come with her at his arm or not at all. Apparently, they weremore interested in parading Haymitch around than in keeping the last breathingescort from the public.

Still, Haymitch hadn’t wanted to come in thefirst place, had dragged his feet all the way and she could understand him.

Cressida and Polux, at least, were happy to bethere and to see everyone. Gale Hawthorne seemed equally content to seeeveryone again – except for her, who he had not only ignored but been as rudeto as he could get away with when Haymitch was glaring at him. It suited Effiejust fine, she didn’t really like him. Beetee’s behavior was awkward both withher and Haymitch but she figured it had to do with the Hummingbird Operationthat Twelve’s victor had never forgiven the rebels for. The two of them hadalways been good friends but Effie had the feeling that this friendship wasforever damaged. For the same reasons, Haymitch was cold and distant withPlutarch, treating him more like a colleague than a friend, and in turn it madeFulvia defensive and passive-aggressive. And since she and Fulvia had no lovelost for each other, it made for a tense situation.

“I still say you’re a cheater and one day I’mgonna find out how you do it.” Jo declared, joining her on the balcony.

Effie flashed her an amused smile, glancingback at the sliding doors before fishing a cigarette from the packet Johannawas offering her. Haymitch was busy nodding at whatever Cressida was tellinghim, clearly bored given the way he was making his whiskey twirl in his glass.What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

Johanna seemed unconcerned by the less thanstellar evening they were all having – and if Effie had found a way to decline Plutarch’sinvitation to dinner she would havebut, just as he was impossible for the Secretary of Communications not toinvite them, it was impossible for them to refuse without insulting anyone. Thepool table in one of the smallest drawing rooms had been a nice surprise thatthe two of them had jumped on. It had brought back memories. She and Johanna hadhad a habit of playing pool whenever the possibility arose…

… and of Effie kicking her butt – which she hadbeen pleased to notice was still a thing.

“I am simply that good.” she grinned, wedging the cigarette between her lips andcupping her hands around it so Johanna could light it despite the small breeze.

It was a bit too cold to be standing out therewithout a coat for too long but it beat going back inside and facing theawkwardness so she wrapped an arm around her stomach and stomped her right heelto warm her foot. She was glad she had opted for the high-waist dove greytailor pants instead of a skirt even if the lilac blouse she had paired it withwas a little too thin for the weather. The brand new purple shoes she hadbought that afternoon – because there was noway she would come to the city and notdo some shopping, to Haymitch’s utter despair – were killing her and whileit was a familiar sort of ache, it wasn’t one she had felt in a while. Wintersin Twelve required boots to travel through the snow and in summer… Thelandscape wasn’t exactly heels-friendly.

“It’s weird, right?” Johanna cringed aftermaking sure the sliding door was closed and nobody could hear them. She perchedherself on the stone balustrade, her back to the garden, watching what wasgoing on inside. “Too much like before.”

“I know what you mean.” she sighed, flickingashes and resolutely keeping her back to the room.

She didn’t want to see.

Haymitch had been good at keeping his alcoholconsumption to a minimum during the last couple of years. She hadn’t asked himto stop and he had never promised he would but she liked to think they hadfound a compromise that worked for everyone. He went on binges sometimes, baddays happened, she understood that, but for the most part, he kept to two orthree glasses a day. Enough to stop the shakes, not enough to get drunk. It hadbeen a painfully slow process to reduce his daily amount and she was only tooaware of how fragile a balance it was.

They had been back in the city only two daysand already he was compulsively refilling his glass. And tonight… Well, tonightwasn’t helping. By her count, this was his fifth glass of whiskey that evening,not counting the wine at dinner, and she was fairly sure he had already downeda couple before they arrived at Plutarch’s.

The problem, as Johanna had pointed out, wasthat the whole thing was too reminiscent of the Games. A special train had beencommandeered for them by the government, the hotel they had been directed towas as lavish as the penthouse had been, prep teams and stylists had beenassigned to them, there were schedules to follow, a ridiculous amount ofevents, red carpets and parties to attend, people they were expected to knowthe names of… Haymitch hated all of that with passion.

The fact that Effie had been more or less toldto keep a low profile wasn’t helping.

He had stubbornly – and loudly – told Plutarch that he would go nowhere without her and thus the government’s half-cooked plan towhisk her in and out by side doors had been tossed through the window. Effiedid her best to satisfy everyone by staying close to Haymitch but not beingtoo… flamboyant.

“What’s the deal with Haymitch and Beetee?” Joasked.

Effie took a long drag of her cigarette andblew out the smoke, watching it being carried away by the wind. She wasn’t surewhat Johanna knew or not of what had really happened with the Capitol childrenat the City Circle and it wasn’t her place to reveal it. The information wasconfidential for a reason. “They had a disagreement about something. Do notconcern yourself with it.”

Johanna watched her with clear suspicion butthen shrugged and focused on her cigarette for a while. Silence didn’t lastlong though. “Gale doesn’t like you much.”

“You don’t say.” she deadpanned. “It completelyescaped my notice.”

Seven’s victor chuckled. “Can’t blame him. Idon’t like you much either.”

“You like me a little.” she accused with somefondness. She didn’t think she and Johanna would ever manage to be friends inthe traditional sense of the word but… Sharing a cell created bonds that werehard to undo or deny. Sharing a family also made it difficult not to getsomehow closer.

Annie, Johanna and little Finn visited Twelveevery winter so the boy could enjoy some snow and they all spent a week in Fourin summer. It had been a thing for the last four years and if Effie hadanything to say about it, it would continue to be.

“You’re not the worst bitch.” Jo admitted witha wince, as if it was physically painful for her to say as much.

“Why, thankyou.” she replied, rolling her eyes. She took a quick drag before going on.“I am not very fond of him anyway. Not only is he a rude young man but hishistory with Katniss alone…”

“What kind of history are we talking here?”Johanna cut in. “She fucked him?”

Effie hesitated, watching the red glow of hercigarette. “I do not think so. And reallymust you be so vulgar all the time?”

“Then, what?” the victor insisted. “’Cause hewas following her around like a puppy in Thirteen. It was sickening to watch.He had it bad. Maybe not worse thanPeeta but bad.”

“She never discussed it with me.” shecountered. “From what I know he was her best friend and from what I gatheredfrom Haymitch and Peeta, she might have had feelings for him at some point.They had a fallout during the war.”

“And she chose Peeta.” Jo snorted. “Must suckto be the default guy.”

“Peeta is notthe default guy.” she frowned. “And why are you so interested in this all of asudden?”

“Just making sure I’m not stepping on anytoes.” Johanna dismissed. “Not that I care much but I like to know what kind ofmess I’m going in for.”

Effie blinked and then groaned. “Please, do not tell me you plan on seducing GaleHawthorne.”

“Won’t tell you, then.” Jo snickered, crushingher cigarette on the stone balcony only to immediately tug another one from herbattered packet.

“This is a terribleidea.” she warned, crushing the bud of her own cigarette in a similar fashion.She glanced back at the room because she wasn’t sure where to dispose of itproperly but since nobody was paying them any attention and Plutarch had astaff waiting hand on foot on him, she simply tossed it on the floor and nudgedit toward the edge of the balcony. “Truly, Johanna…”

“Not thatterrible.” Seven’s victor cackled and Effie was startled to realize herbrown eyes were sparkling. Johanna’s eyes neversparkled and certainly not like that.“That guy knows how to use his cock.”

“Jo!”she exclaimed in outrage. However her curiosity won over her offended sense ofpropriety. “How do you even know…”

“After the whole execution disaster.” Johannashrugged. “We were stuck here for weeksbefore we were cleared to go to Four, remember?” She remembered little thatdidn’t have to do with Katniss’ trial. That and trying not to let her demonsget the better of her had been her only focus at that time. “He was waiting tobe transferred to his command in Two. He was pissed, I was bored.”

“You slept with him.” she stated just so it wasclear and out there.

“Oh, yeah.”Jo confirmed with a salacious grin and a wriggle of her eyebrows. “Saw himaround a few times too. He came to Four for work a couple of years ago. Istopped in Two on my way to Seven once or twice…”

“You are having an affair with Gale Hawthorne.”she heard herself squeal like a teenager, her eyes wide. She couldn’t have beenmore stunned if Haymitch had come out right there and had asked her to marryhim.

“Not an affair.”the victor denied with a growl. “We just fuck.Sometimes. Used to, at least.”

The happy spark in Johanna’s eyes vanished andthe more familiar scowl was back on her face. The way she took a drag of hercigarette could only be described as angry.

Effie had knownthis meant trouble. Gale Hawthorne was trouble. She was ready to bet he hadbroken up whatever had been going on and had sent her on her merry way now thathe had had whatever he wanted. Men were cruel like that. They grew bored. Theygrew stupid.

Not everyone could be lucky enough to find aHaymitch.

“What happened?” she asked, careful to keep hertone neutral. Much like Twelve’s victor, Johanna had a thing for sympathy. Theyboth tended to mistake it for pity.

“Went to his room last night.” Johanna saidafter a few seconds. “Naked.”

Effie pursed her lips in disapproval becausewhile she admired the tactic – had in fact used it a few times herself – shewas pretty sure that the victor hadn’t bothered hiding under a dressing gown ora coat and had trounced around the hotel corridors in her birthday suit. “Of course, you did.”

Jo shot her an annoyed glare but continued herstory. “He opens the door, looks at me and tells me we’re not doing thisanymore. You believe that? I was there. Naked.And the guy has the nerves to tell meto pack it?” Effie turned around to glare at Gale through the sliding doors. Hemust have sensed that he was being the target of very angry stares because he looked at them, still talking toPlutarch, and lifted – far too cocky –interrogative eyebrows. Johanna actually growled. “Asshole.”

“We can make him pay.” she immediately offeredbecause that was what you did when a man hurt a friend. “I can… Oh, I can start rumors about him havinga micropenis.” She didn’t have the influence she used to but a word here and ahint there should do the trick. There were a ton of journalists following themaround for the celebrations after all. “Orwe could trip him down the stairs at the ball tomorrow. Falling in front of ahundred cameras might bruise his ego.”

Jo didn’t appear to have heard her, too busybeing locked in a staring down contest with the young man. “He’s such an ass. Fuck him. Why can’t he be happy with what he’s got? Any other manwould be glad to have that much. Asshole has the nerves to turn me down when Iknock on his door naked?”

“I toldyou I did not like him.” she huffed, shocked by the smug smile Gale was nowtossing Jo. “Handsome men always feelthe need to collect conquests and he looks arrogant too.”

Seven’s victor spared her a brief look beforegoing back to her glaring. “You’ve got it backwards.”

“I beg your pardon?” she frowned.

Jo’s foot kicked the stone pillar of thebalustrade with obvious frustration. “Okay, so maybe it happened more than just a few times.”

And Effie’s mind flashed back to Anniementioning Johanna had been going away for a few days at a time now and thenthe last time they had visited them. Seven’s victor had claimed she needed thespace and Annie had just beamed proudly because she was doing alright alone withher son. And since Finn had always been the main focus, nobody had spared athought for what Johanna had been doing away from Four.

“So… It is a relationship?” she hesitated.

“No.”Jo spat. “I’m not the relationship kind of girls. It’s justsex. Awesome sex. At least it was until he went and fucked everything up.”

“By telling you he wanted to put an end to whatseems to me like a casual relationship regardless of the label you want to puton it?” she teased a little.

“By telling me he fucking loves me.” Seven’s victor growled. “Didn’t ask for it, didI? Told him I just wanted the sex and he went on and on about how he couldn’tdo this another time… Like I care what sort of twisted thing he had going onwith Katniss.”

Effie was starting to get a full picture andshe cleared her throat, choosing to inspect her manicure.

“You just asked me about it.” she pointed out.

“Not ‘cause I care.” Johanna denied. “Just toknow. Whose side are you on anyway?”

She ignored that last accusation. “Thisconversation about his feelings… Did it happen last night?”

While the victor was naked in the corridor…

“Last month.” Jo grumbled. “The asshole said hewasn’t going to sleep with me anymore until I figure out what I want. I commitor no more sex.” Seven’s victor made a face. “I told him to go fuck himself. That I was done.”

“But you went to his room last night.” shegrinned.

“I thought maybe he was done being an idiot.”Johanna muttered. “Clearly, I was wrong.”

Effie briefly bit on her bottom lip, restingher hip against the balustrade to study the younger woman. “Do you like him?”

“I like his cock.” Jo retorted crudely. And toofast.

“To the risk of you trying to behead me with anaxe…” She let her sentence trail off but when she only got a glare and noactual threat, she went on, deciding that Johanna had only been seeking heradvice the whole time without actuallyasking. “It seems to me you do havesome feelings for him.” Seven’s victor opened her mouth and Effie hurried inspeaking before she was interrupted. “I am not saying you are in love with himbut perhaps… Perhaps you do like him?Might he be more than just a sex-friend?”

“People don’t go from fuck buddies to… Whatever he wants us to be.” Jo scowled.

“Haymitch and I did.” she offered.

“Please, Trinket.” the victor scoffed. “You’vebeen in love with him for how long?”

“And he did not want anything to do with that.”she shrugged. “Because he was scared of what would happen if we left the casualfor something more serious and, at the time, he had his reasons but now we are safe, Johanna. If you are afraid of…”

“I’m not afraid!” Jo snarled, raising her voiceenough that it carried inside through the closed door. Effie was aware thateveryone had frozen to glance at them.While most of their friends were good enough to pretend nothing was amiss, Galewas still staring. And now Haymitch was too. Seven’s victor didn’t seem tonotice, too busy glaring and sneering at her. “I’m not afraid and if you everaccuse me of that again, I swear…”

The threat in the victor’s voice was real andEffie probably should have heeded it because, unlike Haymitch, she wasn’t allbark and no bite. She had long moved past her fears for Jo’s abrupt mannersthough. Compared to what Peacekeepers could do…

“You lost people you loved and you feel guiltyabout it.” she interrupted in a soft voice. The first time the Capitol hadtried to sell her, Johanna had stabbed the man, which had resulted in her wholefamily being murdered. In the victor’s mind, she was the one who should be deadand Finnick alive. Never mind the fact that she had been forced to see hermentor, the man who had supported her and helped her after her family’s death,die right in front of her eyes. There was plenty of guilt to go around. “Andyou are scared it will happen again. You feel that way about Annie and Finn toobut you do not have a choice in keeping them with you, do you? At least you donot feel that you have a choice because you think you oweit to Finnick to take care of them. A lover, now… Letting him in would be your choice ultimately. Openingyourself to that possible pain…”

“You’ve become a head doctor?” Jo mocked butEffie didn’t let herself be distracted.

“It isscary, Johanna.” she granted. “But it can be wonderful too. If that man loves you… If he truly loves you…”

“Maybe I can’tlove.” the victor spat. “Ever thought of that?Maybe I don’t even want to. Maybe Ijust…” Johanna shook her head. “What do I even talk to you for? You’re no fucking help. You can’t understand…”

“Oh, I think you can love.” Effie countered. “You love Finn and Annie. And I thinkyou might be a little bit in love with that man too. You cannot let fear ruleyour life or you are letting Snow win. It does not matter if he is dead. If yourun away from something good because you are too scared to lose it… Then youlet him win. And you know what Finnick would say about that…”

Johanna had jumped on her feet at some pointduring her little speech, hands balled into fists and dangerous scowl on herface. For a second, Effie wasn’t sure she wasn’t going to get punched and shewas only too aware that Haymitch and Gale were both making a beeline for thebalcony.

“Fuck you.” Jo spat and then stormed out,bumping into Gale’s shoulder in the process.

“You’re okay?” Haymitch grumbled, immediatelyreaching for Effie’s arm.

“I think Johanna would like an escort back tothe hotel.” she told the younger man firmly. Gale stared at her and then noddedbefore taking off after the victor, to the puzzlement of everyone left in theroom.

“What’s going on?” Haymitch insisted, a frownon his face. “Since when does Jo need an escort anywhere?”

She chuckled and wrapped both arms around hisneck, watching him grow red with embarrassment because they were in public –and not the familiar audience of the children either. Still, she was pleasedwhen he held her waist, pulling her against him.

“Love, darling.” she offered mysteriously,kissing him before he could figure it all out. “Always love.”

#hayffie #effie trinket #haymitch abernathy #galana #johanna mason #gale hawthorne #prompt #post mj #funny one #book!verse #established #protective haymitch #jo

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allonsysilvertongue · 7 years ago

Text

Wiping History

“What will happen when we get to your arena?” she demanded. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.“ 75 arenas and one colossal task for Effie Trinket. Hayffie. Post-MJ. Previously

7. Sapphire

Walking home, an ominous sense of dread began to coil around her heart. She realised that she might have been a little harsh and cold with the way she treated him.

Right after the rescue, she justified her reaction as a necessity for her own protection and preservation. Except in doing so, she had built a wall to keep him out, not giving him a chance to explain himself, using the overwhelming sense of betrayal and abandonment to attack him at every opportunity. Even though deep down within the recess of her heart she knew Haymitch would have tried his best where she was concerned, she couldn’t dig deep enough to hold that feeling in her hand when it was too filled with anger.

It took two hands to clap and she had not tried to hear his side of the story - that was true. Soon after she learnt of his vote, it truly felt as if she had reached her limit with him and she had let her emotions cloud her judgment.

He always had a reason for doing the things he did, and she had been afraid to hear his reason for that vote – that a part of him wanted to see the Capitol children suffered the same, as ridiculous as that sound.

She stopped, her hand gripping the back of the bench. She felt disgusted with herself. She felt dirty that she would think that of him. He wasn't like that. He wasn't. She knew him and the person he was.

It was just the treacherous need to not be let down and left disappointed again that was making her irrational.

She had been in that cell, crushed by the weight of realisation that the soldiers were not going to take her with them. She had watched them freed Peeta, Johanna and Annie, and when she pleaded, one had sent an apologetic glance her way, claiming her name wasn't on the list. Johanna had had enough strength in her to claw a soldier's arm, demanding that Effie be taken with them and cursing when they didn't.

After they left and she was once again alone with her thoughts in that dark, depressing cell, she had hated Haymitch. It was easier to hate him for not including her name like she meant very little instead of making excuses for him.

But now..... Now, she was in a better place. She wasn't hurting physically; she wasn't in pain or on medications and she could think rationally.

The man she knew would never have allowed that to happen. There must have been something in District Thirteen that had prevented him from making sure her name was on the list.

Effie sat on the bench until her breathing was under control, and she unclenched her fist slowly. Her eyes scanned her surroundings to remind herself of where she was. The panic attacks while still present had lessened over the months, but she was always fearful of experiencing one in public.

Not wanting to be alone with her thoughts, and knowing that going back to Haymitch's apartment would not be a wise decision right now, Effie made a call to Plutarch asking if he could please extend his generosity by sending her to District Four via a hovercraft.

It took some manner of persuasion but by mid-afternoon, she was enroute.

"I had a sense that … that he is willing to work things out," Effie admitted, swirling her glass of wine absent-mindedly long after Annie had tucked Finn to bed.

"Are you?" Annie asked gently.

"I don't know," Effie sighed. "When we parted, we were both so bitter and angry, and how does anyone move past that?"

Annie smiled softly, taking Effie's hand in her own. "You forgive each other. Haymitch... I don't believe he was angry with you. It was himself that he was angry with. Have you thought of it that way, Effie?"

"What are you on about, Annie?" Johanna scoffed.

"Effie was his responsibility and he failed you. He must have been angry, he must have hated himself for that," Annie spoke quietly. "He just wants to do right by you when he asked that you come with him. It was … It must have been his way to make sure that no more harm will come to you, don't you think? Not bringing you with him to Thirteen, not telling you everything he knew, and keeping you an arm’s length away was his way of protecting you but that didn’t quite work out well the first time round so could it be that he was still trying to do the same by keeping you close? You know him better than any of us.”

"He could be trying to make up for what happened to me," Effie countered.

"Yes," Annie hummed in agreement, "he couldn't protect you once, now he is trying to do exactly that by insisting you come with him."

"You know exactly what you were getting yourself into when you went to get those tokens," Johanna pointed out. "Your damn gold wig... That's not exactly subtle."

"I do know," Effie said indignantly. "It was a statement I chose to make by aligning myself with the Mockingjay. I do not blame him for that. I was just – I was left behind in that cell, Johanna. I was left behind again when he left for Twelve."

Johanna frowned. "He fucking asked you to Twelve, Trinket."

"After I found out his vote!” Effie let out a trembling breath. It was bad timing on his part. “How could I go with him then? How could you expect me to? If my nephew wasn't killed during the bombing, he would have been part of the Games, do you understand? You and him and Katniss voted for it."

Johanna clenched her jaws and crossed her arms.

"Why the fuck are you here then if you still haven't gotten over the fucking votes?"

Effie deflated. She was so tired of arguing.

"You're a fucking mess, Trinket," Johanna went on.

"Stop it, please," she whispered.

"You can't sit there and be okay with me when you're not with him. We voted for the same fucking thing. So tell me," Johanna sneered, "you mad at me, too?"

"No," she shook her head.

"So it's just you holding a double standard," Johanna went on mercilessly.

"No! I didn't love you the way I loved him! You never knew about my family. You didn't know about my nephew. He did, Johanna. He knew about Emmanuel when he made the vote."

"Your nephew's dead and he probably fucking knew that too by the time Coin called for the vote. Get over yourself," she spat. "The Games didn't happen in the end. You're stubborn and he's stubborn. Nothing's gonna change if one of you ain't willing to change it. Fucking forgive him already. The world doesn't revolve around you and if you can't get over that, maybe he should stop pining for you and find someone else."

It was stupid and it sounded downright petulant but she said it anyway, "He's not pining for me."

"He came to the Capitol for you. Look, Effie," Johanna sighed and like Haymitch, she very rarely used her name that it made Effie raised her head. "We all have things we're mad about but it's got to end at some point, y'know? I like you and I like him. You're all..." Johanna swallowed, "family. He's as close to a dad as I can get, and I'm not saying you're like my mum or anything, but fucking work it out, man. If it comes down to it, I'm not choosing between you and him."

"It's alright," Effie blinked rapidly, trying to clear the tears pooling in her eyes. "I wouldn't fight custody over you."

"You bitch," Johanna muttered, grabbing the bottle of wine Effie was reaching for.

It made Effie laughed at least, as did Annie. Effie knew the entire conversation had her on edge. She never liked it when they fought.

"Your heart is not made of stone, Effie. I – I know you can find it in you to forgive him," Annie rubbed clutched her hand. "Maybe not now right away, but slowly, yes? Don't let what happened in prison change you. Don't let them win."

Johanna's tough method and Annie's gentle ways were exactly what she needed, and she would always be grateful for their friendship. She might need time to come to terms with all that had transpired between Haymitch and herself, but she was determined to stop holding him at an arm's length away. He would have an explanation and she should hear it.

Monday morning saw Haymitch leaning against the wall at the steps up to the Parliament house, hands buried deep in his pocket. At the sight of her, he pushed himself off the wall and waited until she climbed the stairs.

“Where were you?” he asked

“I beg your pardon?”

“I called Saturday night and on Sunday – you didn’t pick up.”

Effie looked his way, a little surprised by that information. He reached forward, pressing the button for the elevator when it was clear she wasn’t going to do it.

“I was not home,” she informed him. “I visited District Four.”

“Right,” he nodded, holding the lift door open to allow her to enter. “How are they?”

“They are doing quite well. Finn is growing so big by the day. Soon, he’d be able to walk,” she shared that information with him. “Anyway, is something the matter?”

“Nothin,” he shook his head and it was only when he rubbed the back of his neck that it occurred to her that he was feeling uncomfortable. “You – uh – you said back in Twelve that I could try calling. Shouldn’t have chased you outta the house.”

“You didn’t,” Effie assured him. “I – We needed …. It was a heavy conversation and we both needed a little space.”

“That’s the reason you went to Four?”

Her silence was answer enough. The elevator chimed, signaling their arrival. They walked down the corridor side by side when Effie remembered.

“Oh,” she stopped in her tracks. “I nearly forgot. I got you this.”

Effie handed him the paper bag she was holding. He shot her a curious look before extracting the bottle of Bombay Sapphire from the bag, a brand that could only be found in Four. He seemed a little wary as he studied his gift.

“Are you tryin’ to pay me off so I’d drop this and go home?”

She gasped because that did not even cross her mind.

“No, of course not,” she exclaimed indignantly. “I – It is for you, simply so.”

“Thanks,” he muttered.

He still sounded skeptical.

“My behavior toward you has been very appalling,” she said. “You were right. I didn’t listen to you to understand. I get my information from others instead but it wasn’t your facts.”

He nodded and perhaps it was where they were – in the middle of the corridor outside of the conference room – because he lifted the bottle to inspect it instead of addressing the elephant in the room.

“Blue, like your eyes,” he commented with a lopsided grin.

“Perhaps one day, you’ll make me a drink and we’ll talk,” she offered him a smile and left it at that.

He would recognise the tentative olive branch for what it was and they would have plenty of time to smooth out the wrinkles in their relationship, if one could call it that, but for now, the 12th arena was waiting for them.

and to Effie, I say: progress.

Let me know what you think of this chapter with Effie & Haymitch, and Effie with Jo + Annie. Leave your reviews and it'll be the best present especially on my birthday today ehehe.

#hayffie #effie trinket #haymitch abernathy #johanna mason #wiping history

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thegirlfromoverthepond · 7 years ago

Text

At the Zoo - Chapter 5

The road's been quite bumpy for Peeta in this story, right ?

Maybe it's time for a bit of healing ….

My endless gratitude goes to my dear friends for their help in this rather heavy story... No rainbows and unicorns in this one, right ?

To @xerxia31 – you are a precious gift. Your friendship means a lot to me – and you know it:)

to @dandelion-sunset – without your help at these difficult moments, (the ones I wanted to delete), this story wouldn't be there.

To @akai-echo – your art is just so so so … beautiful – that doesn't even start to describe it !

There will be one more chapter and an epilogue after this one:) Hope you'll stay till the end:)

Here on AO3 // FFN

As usual, reviews, comments are welcome

5.Saimiri sciureus sciureus.

Peeta woke up to the sound of voices, muffled by some distance, or walls, or both, he couldn’t really say. His head was hurting, his muscles were sore. Opening his eyes, he was blinded by the light.

He sat up, looking around him. Last he remembered, he had been outside of a diner, having an episode in front of all the crew from the zoo, and he could tell the place he was now was far from being the pavement of a street. It looked more like the living room of a house or an apartment, if he could trust the comfortable couch he was sitting on.

He could still hear the voices, more clearly even, as if their owners were fighting. Standing up, he assured both his legs were steady enough to walk, before making his way towards where the sounds were coming from, only to find Gale and Katniss.

Apparently arguing.

“He’s dangerous, Catnip!”

“He isn’t! Don’t your remember your dad?”

“It’s not the same!”

“Of course it isn’t… because it was a mine, right? The suffering is different? Because only your dad had the right to suffer from PTSD?”

“I swear, Katniss, you’re -”

“Insufferable? Stubborn? Thank you, I know. I can handle myself, Gale. You don’t need to protect me.”

“Of course I do! I …”

Peeta turned away, not wanting to hear the rest of the conversation, walking slowly back to the living-room. He spotted his jacket, carefully draped on the back of a chair, his wallet and keys placed on the table in front of him.

He eased into the familiar leather he had carried around the world, grabbed his keys

“Stay, please.”

Katniss’s voice surprised him, stopping his motion. He closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe the power her voice had over him.

How two little words could warm him, soothe him, calm him.

He knew too that he couldn’t let his heart get in the way of his head. He felt her hand on the sleeve of his jacket.

“Let me go, Katniss.” His voice was pleading, begging her to release the grasp she had on his arm, on his life, on him.

He opened his eyes, finally meeting the silver of hers.

“I can’t,” she answered

Peeta shrugged, trying to get away from her, trying to get away from her, from her smell, from her eyes.

The grip she had on his arm was too strong. Or maybe he was too weak.

Or maybe both.

He didn’t know.

His mind suddenly caught up with her words.

“What- What do you mean?” He couldn’t fathom what she could have meant with those two words.

He watched as she closed her eyes, as she took a breath. He was sure the silence between them lasted for two eternities, at least.

“Just what I said. I won’t let go. Unless you really want me out of your life....”

Did he? Did he really want to get out of Katniss’s life, forever? Did he really want to never see the brightness of her eyes, the grey shining like diamonds? Or know how her skin felt under his lips? Or never be by her side, just walking?

Peeta could feel his heart shrieking at the thought of never seeing Katniss again.

Could he?

“No…”

That’s all his mind was capable of saying.

But for once, the torment in his head wasn’t one he feared.

It was amazing, the course a simple leaf took just to fall from its branch. It never fell straight down, rather choosing a complex route made of twists and turns, falling before rising a little, as if it never wanted to touch the ground.

Peeta was watching, captivated, as a leaf tried to fall, even so silently.

“So, Peeta. What happened after your passed away?”

Episode. That’s what Dr. Aurelius always called his attacks. As if the word “dissociation” was too heavy, too dangerous to handle, as if there was a risk of contagion when saying it. So he used “episode”, like it was a part of a tv show.

Peeta shrugged. “I woke up?”

He saw the small smirk the shrink tried to hide behind his mask of seriousness. He knew it wouldn’t last long. Dr Aurelius was a consummate pro, had helped him throughout most of his PTSD.

Peeta sighed, watching another leaf start its journey downward.

“I was at a friend’s place… She, well, she told me things that made my mind go all fuzzy.”

“You had another episode?” Aurelius immediately asked, concerned.

“No… not exactly, I can’t explain. It was... strange? Weird? Like I didn’t expect what she told me, and didn’t know how to handle it? I mean, I was speechless. And that never happens, doc.”

“What did this friend of yours say that made you so?”

Peeta shifted in his seat, not sure he wanted to share that level of detail with the doctor. It was like an intrusion in his and Katniss’s privacy.

Even though he needed answers.

Desperately.

He could feel the sweat on the back of his neck, slowly dripping down his spine.

Dr Aurelius was still looking at him, patiently waiting.

Gathering all his courage, Peeta took a deeper breath, before speaking. “She told me she couldn’t let me go.” He avoided the doctor’s gaze, suddenly feeling like a thirteen year old teenager confessing his crush. “I have no clue why she said so, or what she means.”

“Maybe she only means she doesn’t want you out of her life, Peeta.”

“That doesn’t make any sense! Can’t she see I’m damaged goods? She should run away from me!” Peeta stood up, walking straight to the windows, not wanting to see the look in Dr. Aurelius’s eyes. “Twice, doctor. Not once, but twice! She saw me fall apart two times! Sobbing like a fucking child!”

He was hanging on the edge of the windowsill, clutching it with both hands, anger taking over.

“I think this is the first time I’ve seen you angry, Peeta. I’m so proud of the progress you’re making.” Aurelius said, surprising Peeta once more, making him turn to look at the good doctor. “I’ve seen your fear, your disgust, your tears over the year we’ve worked together, but lately, you’ve let me see your sadness, your joy, and now your anger? I hope you realise you’re making progress.”

“Wait.. What?” Surprise, shock were etched all over Peeta’s face as he tried to understand the meaning behind Aurelius’s words. “It’s good to be angry?”

“Well, of course. It’s a basic emotion, like fear, disgust, sadness or joy. You cannot have one without the other. It’s a part of what makes you, you.” The doctor paused before taking off his glasses, cleaning them carefully on his shirt. “And as for what your friend told you, maybe she doesn’t want to let go of you because she cares for you. Maybe she even likes you.”

“That’s not possible ….”

“Why? Because you lost a leg in the war, because you have PTSD, you must suffer an eternity of loneliness? It’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to let people in.” Aurelius put his glasses back on. “It all depends on whether you allow yourself to move on. Now don’t get me wrong, Peeta. You’ve been doing an amazing job and made so much progress since the first time you came in, there shouldn’t be any doubt in your mind. None.”

Peeta looked straight at the doctor, feeling the words sinking into his mind. He knew he had made some kind of progress, but felt like it wasn’t enough.

“I still have attacks, doctor! How can that be progress?”

“You really expected everything to be healed in a few months? You’ll likely have episodes for the rest of your life, and you know that, we’ve talked about it. Now, you have to choose whether you start living with them as part of your life, or let them guide it.”

Peeta fell into his seat, the words difficult to hear, difficult to bear.

“Now, will you tell me what happened after she told you she couldn’t let you go?”

Peeta sighed. He knew there was no way to get out of it, that when Dr Aurelius had an idea, he followed it until he had all his answers. He shrugged, though, not wanting to give too much away.

“I hugged her, said goodbye, then left.”

“Well, that could have been worse,” The doctor said, leaning back in his armchair.

Peeta felt a smile creeping up his face. “I didn’t know you provided advice for friendship.”

“My boy, you don’t know what this job entails. So, now, this friend has a name?”

It was strange for Peeta, to be wandering the paths of the zoo freely. No heavy camera to haul everywhere, nobody to follow around, no rushing to film Annie saving an animal, or Gale chasing a bird.

He felt relaxed. Filming had ended a mere two weeks ago, two weeks during which he spent his free time thinking about what happened at the diner, at Katniss’s, at the zoo. He was never far from the zoo, though, as he started working with the production crew on the images, on the show. The first episodes were done with editing, and to Peeta’s surprise and joy, it ended up completely different from what he thought it would be.

For one, it wasn’t focused on the keepers, their interactions with each other, but rather on their real day to day life. Their love for the animals shone through the screen, the care, the respect, the joy at working with them radiated. He couldn’t help but smile at a scene where Johanna, the fearsome keeper, answered a little girl with such patience and passion.

One thing Peeta had been sure of while watching the first episodes was that he could be proud to have been a small part of it.

He was watching the little squirrel monkeys - which he knew now were called Saïmiris - chasing each other in their large pen, enjoying themselves. He quickly found Glue, the small monkey whose tail had to be removed by Annie - the little monkey had broken it in a fall, cutting off the circulation to the lower part of it - when he had another thought.

The show had shown the life of a zoo. Never cowering from anything. Not from the hurt or death of the animals. Not from the joys or tears of the keepers.

They had filmed life. Real life. With its ups and downs, its laughs and tears, the hurt, the pain.

The recovery.

They had filmed the healing, both literally and metaphorically. The healing of the animals bodies, the soothing of the human's souls when an animal had passed.

They had showed him how to heal.

And he haddn’t noticed.

He hadn’t seen it, too focused on his pain.

Too focused on himself to notice life around him hadn’t stopped.

The thought made his mind spin, spin, and spin with all the moments he had missed, too afraid by his PTSD and the repercussions it could have. His niece’s birthday, Christmas with his family, holidays by the lake.

He gripped the wooden fence, straightening his hold, breathing deeply. His head was spinning.

This time, though, he wouldn’t let the darkness invade him.

He thought of the animals. The smile on Annie’s face when she had first seen the red panda babies. The awe on the children’s faces when they were given branches to feed the giraffes. Finnick’s laughter while playing with the otters in their pool. A big hawk flying into the sun, before landing on a leather gauntlet. The polar bear playing with his huge bucket of ice. A braid dancing in the wind.

Katniss’s smile in the sunset, as she watched the red pandas babies with their parents, completely focused on them, while he couldn’t get his eyes of her. Sparkling eyes, tendrils of hair flowing in the evening air, mud on her face, hands dirty. Smiling.

Annie’s shy laugh, echoing in the afternoon, after Finnick had thrown her into the otters’ pool.

The keepers losing it at Pelican Day.

He could recall the sound of his own voice that day, when he had laughed along with them.

That’s what he wanted. To laugh again.

To live again.

He opened his eyes, amazed by the colors he could see around him. The green of the trees, the blue of the sky, the white-grey of the clouds passing by, the grass, greener or lighter depending on the rays of sun.

He suddenly realized the darkness in him didn’t stand a chance as long as there were so many colors surrounding him.

That fear had no hold on him as long as there was life around him.

The cries of the monkeys made him turn, returning him to the here and now - the Zoo, the animals, the crowd around him. He looked at the pen where the saïmirs were jumping from branches to hammocks, clearly enjoying chasing one another, when he realized he could recognize some of them.

“Mommy? Do they have names?” a little girl asked her mother next to him.

“I don’t know, sweetie. Maybe?”

“They do, actually,” Peeta heard himself chime in, turning to face the mother and her child before looking back at the monkeys in front of them. When he found what he was looking for, he pointed one of the animals. “See that one, with the shorter tail? She’s Glue. And the one running after her is Maurice.”

“Why is he running after her?” the little girl asked.

“Maybe they are playing tag? And can you see that one, hidden in the tree?” Peeta asked, again, shifting the child’s attention to another monkey. At her nod he added, “he’s Gino. He’s a bit shy.”

“And he doesn’t want to play tag?”

“Suzie…” the mother chimed in. “You can’t bother this man….”

“She’s not bothering me at all. See, this one can’t really play tag anymore.” Peeta said, trying to hid a smile from showing on his face.

“Oh, he’s too old?”

“Something like that.” Peeta exchanged a look with the mother, not really keen on explaining the mating rituals of the small monkeys.

“Say thank you to this gentleman, Suze, we have to find your father!”

“Thank you mister gentleman!” the girl told him, waving one hand at him while her mother held the other.

He couldn’t help his mind forming an image of another little girl, with dark braids and dancing blue eyes, running to him.

#Everlark #everlark fanfic #everlark fan fiction #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #at the zoo

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seasonsofeverlark · 4 years ago

Text

Operation Push Katniss Over the Cliff of Love

Author: @mega-aulover

Prompt: The crunch of frost when the mornings first start to become crisp ❄️❄️❄️ [submitted by anonymous]

Rating: T

A/N: There are no games. The districts won the war and the seat of power rested wherever the District Tribute won the candidacy for President. The current president is from District Eight. Katniss takes Peeta out to see nature on a dare or is it a dare? - special thanks to my beta and best friend @norbertsmom who is more than just a beta, she’s amazing.

KPKPKPKP

The light from the Everdeen front porch spilled outside, lighting the three figures that huddled together near some trees. It was safe enough for them to gather outside and talk about their important subject: getting Katniss Everdeen married. Each one had their own reason for being present. One other member, Delly Cartwright, had sent word she would be late. She was roped into planning a fall festival with Effie Trinket, the district liaison.

Delly wanted Peeta and Katniss to get together. She was the one who inadvertently brought the group together. Gale wanted to prove that Katniss was human, Rigel Everdeen, Katniss’ father, wanted Katniss to be happy, and Prim, her sister, had her own selfish reasons. She’d recently turned sixteen and she wanted her own room. Katniss was always in her business. Prim loved her sister and wanted her to be happy, so when Delly mentioned Peeta had the hots for Katniss, and that they should do something about it, it didn’t take Prim long to realize there was a way to satisfy everyone’s needs.

“It’s cold outside,” Prim whispered.

The chilly air indicated winter was finally on its way. They had had an unusually warm fall. It kept the trees from uniformly turning right away. Some trees in the district were now displaying the bright beautiful colors, while some of the trees toward the edge of the district were bare. It was as if nature was warring with itself.

“You sound like your sister,” Gale snickered.

Prim’s pale blue eyes gleamed in the darkness. “Mama always said never trifle with an Everdeen.”

“Careful Gale, Prim is sweet and lightness until provoked,” Rigel said, winking at his youngest. He leaned on his cane. “Now how are we, as Prim said, pushing Katniss off the cliff.”

All three of them had been trying to figure out how to get Katniss and her secret crush, Peeta Mellark together. Peeta worked everyday at the bakery from sunup to sundown since his sixteenth birthday. His father was slowing down. He had had a massive heart attack last year, and Peeta took on more responsibilities at the bakery.

Katniss not only traded the game she caught, but she also made it into jerky and sold it down at the Hob. Both she and Peeta were very busy people.

“If Prim hadn’t clued me toward the Merchants I wouldn’t have figured it out,” Gale said stuffing his hands in his pockets.

“I knew she liked someone in the Merchant quarter,” Prim rubbed her arms. “Whenever you guys go to Merchant quarter to sell, she always stops here to wash her hands and change. Katniss isn’t one for dressing up unless she has too.”

“I can’t believe I never picked up on that,” Gale rubbed the back of his neck.

“That’s because you, too, were getting gussied up for all of the ladies,” Prim said. “You take longer than Katniss to get ready. Also, let’s talk about your abuse of the orange extract in your aftershave.”

Gale turned bright red.

“That’s enough Prim,” Rigel admonished. “We’re getting off topic. How are we getting them together?”

A loud ruckus could be heard as Delly speedily walked toward the group. “Sorry I’m late!”

“Shhh…Katniss is a light sleeper. She’ll hear you and want to come downstairs and find out why you are here,” Prim admonished.

“Sorry,” Delly whispered, but in reality Delly didn’t know how to whisper. Her version of whispering was using her inside voice.

“Okay where were we, how to get those two together?”

Delly shot her hand up in the air. Her blue eyes sparkled and she hopped with barely contained excitement.

“What?” Prim rolled her eyes. She couldn’t understand why Gale was so smitten with Delly. She was like that annoying little lap dog Effie had. Delly was sweet, but sometimes her exuberance could be annoying. Though Delly was loyal and kind. And if anyone said anything about her, Prim would be the first to defend Delly.

“Well you know how Katniss hates the cold,” Delly said smiling.

“Yeah,” Rigel said.

“And you know last week Gale and Katniss were bickering about Katniss being late.”

“She claims she wasn’t late,” Gale said, taking his gloves out of his jacket pocket and putting them on Delly’s hands.

Delly smiled at Gale.

“I remember. She was spitting mad and she’s made it a point of going to bed early,” Rigel said.

“Well,” Delly said, looking at all three of them as if they understood where she was coming from. “You can use Katniss getting up late to get them together.”

Prim’s mind worked quickly. “Delly’s right, we can use this to our advantage. Delly, you said Peeta uses nature as one of his inspirations right?”

“Yeah,” Delly responded.

“Well, what if we make Katniss take Peeta into the woods.”

“She can take him by the lake. When it’s cold enough, the water condensation freezes and it latches onto the trees and leaves.” Rigel grinned. “I took your mom up there once when we were courting. She called it a winter wonderland.”

“Peeta would love that.” Delly sighed. “A romantic trip into the woods with the girl he’s had a crush on forever.”

“I can goad her in front of Peeta,” Gale said. “Make her angry enough to fall for a bet. She takes Mellark out to the forest if I win, and I have to do something dumb if I lose.”

“Yeah, you know how to push all of her buttons at once,” Prim snickered. She turned her focus onto Delly. “When is the best day for Katniss to take Peeta?”

“Sunday. Sometimes he closes down early or doesn’t open at all.”

“Okay, Gale do you think you can switch out one of your days off on Thursday?”

Gale gave Delly a look.

“Gale!” Delly exclaimed, and the others shushed her. “Sorry,” she whispered, then continued, “You can switch, it’s not like we’re going to do anything romantic other than hanging out with your mom. You can switch your Monday for a Thursday.”

Haymitch Abernathy from District 12 had won the Presidency after the explosion that Gale’s father caused. One of the things Haymitch did when he was President was make the working conditions in the mines better. He also ensured all miners got two days off, as well as yearly pay increases and a paid time off. They also had paid holidays off and they also promoted within. Gale was poised to move up in the mining company. He was pretty smart and had a lot of ideas.

“Fine,” Gale muttered.

“Thanks Gale, I am proud of you, son,” Rigel said, patting Gale on the shoulder.

Gale looked up to Mr. Everdeen. They had developed a bond, especially since Gale helped his mom raise his three younger siblings.

“Gale, you can use that you don’t get up early argument,” Prim said.

“Katniss will fall for that. When she gets angry she forgets about being shy,” Rigel chuckled.

“Right, but how are we going to make sure Katniss is late?” Gale asked, frowning.

“Easy,” Prim grinned like her cat Buttercup when he’d trapped his prey. “I put sleep syrup in her favorite drink.”

“I will distract her enough to make sure she’s really late,” Rigel said.

“Great, then next Thursday operation push Katniss over the cliff of love, begins.”

Thursday Morning Katniss was surprised when Gale showed up to hunt with her. He said he switched days with his buddy George, who needed the day off. His eldest was Toasting.

They were approaching one of their last trading stops. Katniss nervously tugged on her shirt sleeve.

“You like him,” Gale said out of nowhere.

Katniss nearly tripped on the stairs she was climbing up. “Woah…”

Gale easily reached out and caught her.

Katniss straightened up and firmly gripped her game bag. “What are you talking about?”

“You like him,” he pointed to the bakery back door right before he knocked.

Katniss was left speechless, her mouth hung open. Her face felt hot from all of the blood rushing to it. She wanted to refute it, but she didn’t have a chance. The ‘him’ Gale spoke of opened the door. Gah, Katniss thought as her heart thumped against her chest at the sight of his flour covered forearms, and sparkling blue eyes that rivaled the color of the lake in the woods.

There were no words to describe why Katniss found Peeta Mellark so appealing.

He was freakishly strong, with gorgeous blue eyes, broad shoulders, large hands. She shivered when she thought of those hands. Supple hands that were strong enough to rip apart timber and yet delicate enough to create the most intricate of frosting flowers for the cakes he decorated. Katniss recalled the day she caught him ripping wood in half by hand to take out his frustrations at something his mother did. She had stood by the fence staring at him, her mouth ajar and drooling.

“Hi, Gale and Katniss, here to trade?”

Even his voice did funny things to her. His voice was not soft or hard, it was smooth and she died a little when he said her name. Her palms became sweaty and her ability to think rationally went out of her head. Katniss couldn’t even formulate a ‘hello.’

Next to her, Gale cleared his throat. Glancing up at him, she saw his shoulders shake, and his lips formed a mocking grin. She realized what Gale said was a trick to get her to show her true emotions.

Katniss wanted to punch him in the arm.

“Yeah, Katniss caught some fat squirrels for you,” Gale’s voice taunted.

Katniss wished the ground would open up and swallow her. How in the hell did Gale know that she had a thing for the baker’s youngest son?

“Oh, great. You guys want to come inside? It’s getting chilly out.”

“Sure,” Gale said.

No sooner did Peeta turn his back than Katniss punched Gale in the arm, hard.

“Ow!” he grunted.

Katniss scowled at him.

“You didn’t have to hurt me,” Gale said with a grin while rubbing his arm.

“You deserved it, you big oaf!”

Ever since Katniss turned down Gale’s invitation to run away into the woods a few years back, he’d been trying to get her to admit that there was someone else she liked. Gale had been methodically trying to eliminate the possibilities. He tried several guys from the Seam, then he turned to their own group, the Covey.

The Covey lived on the outskirts of the district. When the war began the Covey, a group of traveling minstrels, settled in District Twelve. Katniss and Gale’s families were descendants. One of their own became the tenth President. During her brief stint as President she fell in love with a man from the Capitol and ran off. It caused a huge uproar, thankfully her vice president, Undersee stepped in and took the spot.

The Covey had a tradition of singing and dancing. They mostly lived on their own. Katniss had family that were touring throughout the other districts singing. Katniss had been invited because of her voice, but she turned it down. Firstly, her family needed her, and secondly, she didn’t want to leave because of him. She couldn’t leave Peeta behind. There was a bond between them, an electrical force that drew her to him.

It began with the bread.

When her father got hurt in the mine explosion, Peeta came over with a basket of bread for her family. The mining company’s compensation toward the injured miners ran out quick. The only source of income was from her mother’s healing business. But with her father’s medical bills, they were drowning and necessities became expensive. They were living off of meager rationings when Peeta brought them a basket of bread and canned goods.

Peeta must have done it behind his mother’s back because she hit him so hard he missed two days of school. It was this act that caused Mr. Mellark to petition to divorce his wife. Peeta had risked it all to help her family. Katniss could never forget what he did, nor could she repay him for the kindness he bestowed upon her family.

Through the years she looked for ways to repay him, but one day it dawned on her, she was keeping track of him for more than just the repayment of the food. The more she saw him interact with other people, the more she liked him. She nearly swooned when she saw him in those darned wrestling tights.

Katniss thought her secret was safe. Until her sister, the little traitor blabbed one New Year’s Eve that Katniss wasn’t into the Seam look. Gale was surprised, but then began trying to look at all of the men in the Merchant side, including the Peacekeepers. He often said Katniss had a hankering; someone she would give her eye-teeth for, like a miner lusting for a cool breeze in the mines.

Katniss wasn’t sure what he meant by eye-teeth, but using his analogy made her think it meant hungry for Peeta, which in a way she was.

“Look, just admit you like him,” Gale whispered, elbowing her.

“Grr,” Katniss growled with all of the fake venom she could muster.

“Why don’t you get all of those juicy squirrels you hunted for him.”

“Gale,” Katniss whispered. “Stop.”

She wanted to pummel him with her fist but he walked into the bakery.

“GALE,” she squeaked. “Come back here!”

Katniss wondered why the hell they were friends. He was annoying, angry, petty, and infuriating. His one redeeming quality was that he was a good hunting partner, and those were hard to come by. Before partnering with Gale, she had tried to hunt with another hunter named Jed, but it was disastrous. A lynx attacked her and Jed did nothing. He didn’t warn her nor did he try to stop the lynx from attacking her. Katniss was lucky she was such a good shot. She got it in the eye as it leapt in the air.

Gale saw her shoot the lynx and approached her about joining up with him. Leery, she wasn’t sure she should. His dad was the reason the mine collapsed. He drunkenly set some TNT on fire, blew himself up and caused many miners to be injured, including her dad.

Her dad told her that Gale’s family was hurting. Katniss didn’t want to give in, but then she saw one of his intricate traps and slowly they became friends. Now she wished she’d never accepted his request for friendship.

“Aren’t you coming? Your bread boy is waiting.” Gale winked at her.

Katniss stomped inside, furious at being found out. Gale was going to pay, she hadn’t decided how, but she was going to make him pay for his betrayal.

“So I know how much you like our nut and raisin bread,” Peeta said good naturedly.

“Yeah, she just loves your bread,” Gale said.

“Do you?” Peeta settled his eyes on her and Katniss didn’t know where to look. By the heat that was radiating off of her cheeks, she was sure she was redder than a ripened tomato.

“Yeah, she loves your buns,” Gale kept on talking and Katniss wondered if a court would convict her for killing him. “Your cheesy ones.”

“You mean my cheese buns?” Peeta’s eyes brightened. “I didn’t know. I’ll add some into the pack.”

“Delly told me you decorate all of the cakes.” Gale changed the subject and Katniss was grateful.

“I do.” Peeta was busily packing things. Katniss took the opportunity to take out the squirrels she shot for him, and then she added a rabbit.

His brothers moved away to other districts, leaving Peeta as the sole owner of the bakery. Since his parents were divorced, Peeta lived in the bakery with his dad. His father favored rabbit meat.

“Some of those cakes are complicated,” Gale said.

“Yeah, a cake can take me up to a week to decorate.”

“When are you and Delly going to toast?”

Gale hesitated, turning pale while looking at a dozen leaves in different shades of red, green, gold, and orange before changing the subject. “Do you get the inspiration for the cakes from nature?”

Katniss noticed Gale never answered the question. This was a bone of contention between Peeta’s best friend and her hunting partner. Gale wanted to marry, Delly wasn’t ready. She wanted to date a little bit more before settling down.

Gale and Delly were such an odd pair. She was this round faced plush girl. She wasn’t beautiful like Madge, who Katniss thought he would have gone for. Before Delly, Madge and Gale used to flirt. It was a little gross to witness. It’s so funny how life worked. When Gale and Delly were introduced Gale couldn’t stand Delly’s bubbly nature. He said she grated on him like a tone deaf canary. Though slowly her generosity won Gale over. Gale told Katniss Delly crept up on him.

“Yeah. I always walk around with my sketchpad and pencil. Though, as you can tell, ever since my brothers left I don’t have time to walk around and observe as much as I used to.”

“Man, you should go to the woods,” Gale said. “The woods get frosty. It’s unlike anything you’ll ever see.”

“Frosty?” Peeta said with wonder.

“Yeah, the frost in the woods is amazing, like a winter wonderland. Katniss here doesn’t appreciate it.” Gale shook his head. “It’s a struggle to get her up on cool mornings.”

“Gale, the animals are still sleeping when you want to go out there,” Katniss grumbled.

“You know that’s not true. The early bird gets the worm. Nature’s teeming with life. They get busy living while you’re all wrapped up warm in your blanket.”

“You know I get up plenty early to hunt and make ends meet for my family.” Katniss forgot for a moment she was in the bakery. She was still upset with Gale over his trick.

“Sure you do,” Gale said.

“I’m there before you are,” Katniss growled. Gale was a foot or more taller than her, but Katniss stood up to him.

“You want to make a bet?”

Katniss poked Gale’s chest, “I can handle anything you can dish.”

“Fine,” Gale said.

“If tomorrow I don’t get up on time,” Katniss wasn’t going to let Gale get the best of her. “I’ll…”

“Take Mellark out into the woods.”

“What!” Katniss sputtered, disbelieving what Gale was proposing in front of Peeta.

“What, you didn’t hear me?” Gale smirked.

“You guys don’t have to-” Peeta said.

“Mellark, wouldn’t you like to go out there in the woods, and see nature in its purest form?”

“Well,” Peeta said, sneaking a furtive glance at her.

“See, he doesn’t want to,” Katniss harrumphed. The prospect of having to take Peeta into the woods and talk to him was frightening as hell. Anyone who knew her knew she was awkward with people. District Twelve’s old President, Haymitch Abernathy, claimed she had the personality of a dead slug.

“I didn’t say no,” Peeta said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“He didn’t say no, so what’s it going to be, Everdeen. If you wake up early and are in the woods before me, I lose.”

“And you have to tell everyone we trade with I’m the better shot,” Katniss said, narrowing her eyes. She knew Gale hated to admit it. He liked to boast how handy he was with a bow.

She saw the nerve in his jaw tick right before he answered, “Fine! But if I’m right and you get to the woods late, you have to take Mellark here to the woods to observe the frost.”

Confident she wasn’t going to lose the bet, she came home from trading with Gale, convinced she was going to be fine. Yet out of an abundance of caution, she went to bed early after sharing a cup of tea with Prim. Katniss made sure she was dressed so all she had to do was slip on her boots and get out the door. But when she woke up the following morning, the sun was already in the sky.

“Crap,” Katniss said. She jumped out of her bed, grabbed her boots, quickly combed her hair with her fingers and put her cap over her head.

“Good morning, Katniss,” her father said from the table.

“Hi dad.” Katniss sat down briefly to put on her boots.

“You’re late today,” her father said as he wrote something in his plant book.

“Ugh, I don’t know how. I know I went to bed early.”

Her father coughed. “Maybe you were tired.”

“Ugh,” Katniss groaned. She didn’t catch her father’s smile.

“Don’t you want some toast, Katniss?” Her father asked.

“Sure,” Katniss said, taking a slice of bread from his plate. “Thanks daddy. I’ll see you in a little while.”

“Sure, Kitten,” her father laughed, shaking his head.

Katniss left and headed to the woods, not noticing her sister Primrose hiding in the corner laughing. Katniss was more concerned about beating Gale. She climbed over the gate to the fence. It had a sticky latch and she didn’t want to waste time fidgeting with it to open the gate. She ran to their spot in the woods, pausing only once to grab her hunting gear. She saw Gale sitting on the rock with a piece of grass in his mouth.

“Darn it!”

“You’re late, Everdeen,” Gale said in a singsong voice.

Katniss wished very much she hadn’t let her anger get the best of her yesterday. Now she had a date with the boy she’d fancied since the tender age of eleven.

KPKPKPKPKP

Sunday morning Peeta nervously slipped on his jacket. His hands shook. He was nervous about meeting Katniss this morning. He thought her to be the most beautiful girl in the district. Katniss was also the most courageous and strongest person in the district. When her father was injured, Katniss went out into the wilderness to hunt. There were a lot of qualities that he admired in her. It made him fall deeper for her.

This opportunity to actually have the time to speak to her was unforeseen. Peeta wanted to make an impression on her. He wasn’t sure what was out there in the woods and he didn’t want to act like a fool in front of her. Peeta didn’t consider himself a tough guy like Gale; he was more of a pacifist. He could fight if he had to, but he preferred to talk things out before resorting to hurting people. His mother had often called him soft.

There was a point in time he was bullied for being pudgy as a boy. Peeta learned how to talk his way out of situations, and in doing so he learned that a physical altercation wasn’t always the right course of action. He was worried he wasn’t good enough for someone as dynamic as Katniss Everdeen.

“Stop quakin’, chicken legs,” Delly said.

“Dell’s this is Katniss. What if I act like a total doofus and say something wrong and make her not like me>” Peeta said in one breath.

“Nonsense,” Delly said, packing up a thermos. “Believe me, you can’t screw this up.”

“It’s Katniss,” Peeta insisted.

“I know, I know. it’s the girl you’ve had a crush on since the Valley song way back in grade school.” Delly grinned, “Believe me Peet, Katniss has noticed you.”

“I don’t know,” Peeta doubted it. “She’s never talked to me.”

“What if she’s shy?” Delly asked.

Peeta blinked.

“Do you know how hard it is to walk up to a guy you like and say ‘I think you’re cute, do you want to go on a date’?”

“Well…”

“When was the last time you saw a girl do that?”

“Never.”

“Exactly.” Delly said triumphantly. “Now let’s look at the evidence. She went to all of your wrestling events.”

“Yeah, but those were mandatory.”

“You and I both know your brother’s matches were mandatory, and she skipped all of them. She also went with the Mayor’s daughter to see you practice. I’ve caught her hanging around the train station on delivery days.”

“She could be trading,” Peeta said.

“Nonsense,” Delly said. “You and I both know she shows up magically every time you have to unload the stuff from the train station. The girl doesn’t ogle every guy in the district.”

“Speaking of ogling.” Peeta turned to Delly. “What’s going on with you and Gale? I asked him when you and he were going to have a toasting. He looked wounded. He actually turned pale.”

Delly made a face. “He wants to get married.”

“So, isn’t that what you want?” Peeta was confused.

“It is, it’s just…” She sighed. “Gale is such a womanizer. I am the only girl who has refused to sleep with him. I want to make sure he loves me and is willing to settle into a committed relationship. It took me forever to make him understand that intimacy meant more than just sex.”

Peeta understood.

“Okay, so I packed a few blankets and the food you made. You are all set,” Delly said.

“Thanks Delly.”

“Go out there have a great time, and just be yourself.”

Delly watched him leave. She quickly ran over to the Hob where Gale was waiting.

“He just left,” Delly said, giddy.

“Great, then it’s all up to Prim and Rigel now.” Gale nodded.

KPKPKPKPKP

In her home Katniss slipped on her warmest jacket. She wasn’t sure if she looked alright. This meeting was more than just a scenic walk through the woods. She frowned and then it melted into a scowl. No thanks to Gale’s big mouth, she had to take Peeta into the woods.

What could she, Katniss Everdeen, talk to the most popular boy in school about? When they were in high school Peeta was always surrounded by his friends.

“It’s kind of late for you to be going out into the woods with Gale,” her baby sister said from the bed.

Katniss had hoped to avoid speaking to her sister. She knew Prim would have all sorts of questions Katniss wasn’t sure she had answers for. “I’m…”

Prim sat up, her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders. “You’re not wearing your normal smelly hunting shirt and pants to go out into the woods.”

“Prim, go back to bed,” Katniss said, turning around. She hoped that her sister would listen. At sixteen her sister was strong willed.

“What’s going on here?” Prim walked over to her, her eyebrow shot up.

“Ah,” Katniss said nervously.

Prim sniffed the air and gasped, ‘You’re wearing perfume!”

Katniss felt her cheeks burn. There was nowhere to hide.

Prim cornered her. “Katniss Everdeen, you tell me what’s going on this instant!”

Katniss sighed, “I’m meeting someone in the woods, okay.”

“You are?” Prim clapped her hands.

“Shhh,” Katniss said, grabbing her sisters hands. “You’ll wake mom and dad up.”

“Okay, okay,” Prim whispered. Then her face looked horrified. “Katniss you can’t go out into the woods looking like the bride of a sasquatch!” Prim turned to their dresser. “Let me see, what do you wear for a clandestine meeting in the woods. How does one look pretty in the woods?” She muttered to herself. Then began the questions, “What are they like? Are they tall, handsome? Where do they work? Are they young or is it someone older?” Her sister waggled her eyebrows.

Katniss groaned this was one of the things she was trying to avoid. “Prim. He won’t care what I look like. Look I’m showing him the wooda so that he can use it for the bakery.”

“Eeewww,” Prim exclaimed. “You’re going out on a date with Mr. Mellark?”

“What?” Katniss grabbed her sister before she flew off the handle. “No, that’s just ew, no. It’s Peeta. I’m going to show Peeta the forest. I’m ah…going to show him what the frost looks like.” Katniss let her sister go. She looked down. “He’s not, well, he’s a nice person and…”

“And?”

“And…he’s cute.”

“Cute?” Prim’s eyes danced. Her grin was wider than the lake in the woods.

“Okay, okay,” Katniss said, lifting her hands in the air. She might as well let Prim make her look pretty. Her sister did have a way with clothing. “What do you think I should wear?”

“Ohhh, this is going to be great. First off those pants are way too baggy. Lets get you into dark jeans, oh and one of mom’s grey sweaters…”

Katniss allowed her sister to dress her up. When she finished she was wearing one of their father’s old orange checkered shirts underneath their mother’s knit grey sweaters, dark jeans, and her boots. Prim gave Katniss her navy coat instead of her own. Prim was taller than Katniss and it hung loosely around her frame. She had to admit she looked nicer than before.

They both snuck to the door. Once outside Katniss looked to the path that led to the meadow.

“Okay remember, just let the conversation flow. Don’t try to force small talk. You’re not great at that. One more thing, he’s probably more nervous of you than you are of him.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Katniss, you do know you’re known as the huntress around here right?”

Prim words caused Katniss to take a moment and think about what she was saying. “What does that mean?”

“Besides the fact that you have the ability to shoot someone through the eyes?” Prim joked.

Katniss blanched at the idea of killing someone.

“It means you’re a legend in our district. Dad’s super proud of you. When he got hurt and couldn’t work, you stepped up and helped out our family. Believe me, he knows you’re not someone who can be easily swayed or impressed with dumb pick up lines. Peeta knows he’s got to work hard to get into your good graces. He probably has a crush on you but is too shy to tell you. Not to mention, you’re always with Gale and he’s pretty intimidating.”

Katniss hadn’t thought of that. “You think he likes me?”

“Oh Katniss, I know he does.” Prim smiled warmly. “You’re great.”

“Thanks Prim,” Katniss breathed.

“Now get out there and show him the forest.”

Katniss smiled and walked away.

“So did you plant the seed?” Rigel said quietly when Prim re-entered the house.

“Yup,” Prim sat down. “She’s going to meet him with the knowledge that he likes her. That should help Katniss warm up to him.”

Katniss reached the meadow in good time. She waited for Peeta to meet her by the gate. It was a cold morning outside. Her breath came out in puffy little clouds. Katniss gazed up at the heavens, the clouds were gathering, a storm was brewing.

Prim’s words circulated in her head. What if he did have a crush on her, but didn’t know how to articulate it? She could imagine how it looked to Peeta with Gale hanging around her all of the time.

She heard his heavy steps approaching before she saw him. The crunch of his boots set several sparrows into the air.

“Hi,” Peeta said.

She waved shyly.

He wore a dark orange knit hat. His wavy blond hair peeked out from the sides and he looked adorable. He also had a knapsack with him.

“There’s frost on the ground,” Peeta said, coming up to her.

“A sure sign winter’s on its way.” Katniss looked at the meadow. There was frost on the ground. It was pretty, but it was nothing compared to what lay in the woods. It was colder today than in the past days.

“Ready?”

“Sure,” Peeta said.

Opening up the gate they made their way inside. They stopped only once to get her bow and arrows from their hiding place.

As they walked deeper into the woods, she couldn’t help but smile. The woods was her home, she felt alive here. In the woods, Katniss did not have to worry about society’s demands. Often people found it strange that at the age of 20 she hadn’t married or had a boyfriend.

Her close-knit family and friends accepted her decision to stay alone. Those outside her circle often talked behind her back. Everyone was expected to have a companion. Everyone would be shocked to know Katniss did have someone in mind and he only walked a few feet away from her.

She snuck a quick look at him and her heart fluttered and her stomach flipped. There could very well be someone that Peeta Mellark was seeing and kept quiet about it. Yet even as she thought this, her sister’s words played in her head. People also gossiped about him. Katniss couldn’t understand why he wasn’t taken. Peeta was compassionate, smart, funny, and selfless. He was perfect, but none of the women in 12 wanted him, and that was okay by Katniss. Peeta never had a girlfriend and by the looks of it, he wasn’t going to get married anytime soon. Maybe he did like her in secret. She wished there was a way for her to know for sure.

“It is very cold out here. I can understand why you want to stay in bed a little bit longer.”

Katniss shrugged. she didn’t intend to talk to him, but then it dawned on her this was the perfect situation for her to get some answers about questions she had. “Gale is so over dramatic. I’m usually awake before he is and waiting for him. What about you, how early do you get up?”

“Well to be honest, I’m downstairs in the bakery before four in the morning. Ever since my dad had his heart attack, I’ve had to do the morning prep work.”

Katniss whistled. “Why don’t you take on someone, an apprentice?”

“Because it’s expensive. We were finally making a profit when my dad had his health scare. His medical bills cleaned us out.”

Katniss understood where he was coming from. “When my dad got injured we had the same thing. Thankfully my mom was his caretaker. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through.”

“I had to hire a nurse to help my dad recuperate. Thank goodness your mom helped out, with all of those free resources and the menu for a lower salt diet.”

“I’m glad my mom could help.”

“She did it for next to nothing, for that I’m eternally grateful.” Peeta stopped walking, he took a look around the forest.

“I’m glad to hear your dad is feeling better.” Katniss stopped moving. “It must get really hot in the bakery. How do you deal with the heat in the summertime?”

“I sleep with the windows open.”

“Oh,” she said. Katniss didn’t imagine it would be such a simple solution.

Peeta stopped walking. “Wow! Look at all of these colors.”

Katniss saw a tree with red, gold, and yellow leaves. It was warmer closer to town, and the woods that surrounded the perimeter still had some of their leaves. The heat from the mines and the factories warmed the area. The further they got away from the district the colder it got.

“I can see why you love it out here.”

They were having an unusually warm autumn.

“What’s your favorite color?” Peeta asked her.

“Green. Why, what’s yours?”

"Orange, not like an in-your-face-orange, but muted, like that leaf over there, or your orange checkered shirt.“

Katniss couldn’t help but smile. It occurred to her that talking with him was easy. She thought whoever Peeta dated was a lucky girl. Her curiosity about whether or not he was with someone grew. They walked some more. He asked various questions about how she knew the direction they were heading, and other things that to her came naturally, but that someone who had never been to the woods would be curious about.

“So,” Katniss was working up the courage to ask if he had a girlfriend.

“Yes?” Peeta asked.

“Ah…” Katniss closed her eyes momentarily before blurting out, “Do you have a girlfriend?”

She watched him turn red before answering, “I don’t.”

“Really?” The word slipped from her mouth before she could stop herself.

“You sound shocked.”

“It’s just that,” Katniss stopped to face him. “In high school you were so popular, I was sure there was a girl that you fancied.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, then shyly said, “There is this one girl I like.” He looked her in the eyes. “She’s amazing and I draw her constantly. But I’ve never had the courage to tell her anything. There was a time I thought she liked someone else, but it turned out they weren’t a thing. I guess I chickened out after that.” He shyly said, “I don’t think I’m good enough for her.”

Katniss felt like she was suddenly a fire that was doused with torrential rain. Of course there was a girl he liked, an amazing girl he held a torch for. “Oh. Okay.”

“What about you, is there anyone you like?”

Katniss couldn’t smile, she couldn’t even formulate words. Mutely, she nodded.

“Are you thirsty? I packed some hot chocolate for us.”

She looked toward the path. “We really should get going.” Moving was the only thing she could do. Katniss kicked herself the entire route. Of course there was someone special. Why did she have to listen to her sister? Prim was sixteen. Prim knew nothing about affairs of the heart. Katniss wanted to cry for the loss of hope. She held it together the rest of the trek.

When they came to the lake Katniss stopped walking and Peeta gasped.

Everything was coated in little ice particles. The cold breeze here was noticeable. The condensation from the lake had frozen and latched on to the areas surrounding the lake making it look like freshly fallen snow. Ice crystals hung from the branches, crawled up the tree bark, coated the tall grass. A mist floated up from the center of the lake making it look mystical.

“It’s beautiful, amazing.”

Katniss smiled watching Peeta get up close to a tall blade of grass. “It’s like they’ve been brushed with ice. It has little ice particles.”

“My dad calls it silver thaw.”

Peeta examined the fallen leaves on the forest floor. His face was flushed and his eyes glowed with excitement. “I never get to see this. I mean, I am sure this happens on the inside of the fence, but I’m inside the bakery most of the time.“

“My dad says no two snowflakes are alike.”

“Wow,” he said. Peeta whipped out his sketchpad and pencil, and quickly drew what he saw. Loose papers were sticking out between the pages of his sketchpad.

Katniss was amazed by how quickly and accurately he could draw. He was unrivaled; there was no one in the district like him, and she quietly mourned for the loss of what could be. His curiosity and childlike glee at the majestic picture nature presented him would be one of her favorite memories.

“Do you think we’ll get snow soon?”

“Possible,” Katniss shrugged looking up at the sky. “It’s getting colder out. When it gets really cold out here the lake makes snow. It gets pretty dangerous out here. The snow can accumulate quickly.”

As he stood up, pages fell from his book. Peeta tried to contain his sketchbook, but various pictures fell down. One of them floated over to her.

Peeta dived to get it, but was too late. The drawing fell at Katniss’ feet.

Picking it up, she was curious as to whom he had drawn. What she found drawn stole her breath away. The girl in the picture was gorgeous. Then Katniss saw the long braid, the cap she wore on her head. She looked to the other pictures and they were all of her. Peeta had drawn a picture of her, as if she was beautiful.

“You drew this?”

Peeta tucked his sketchbook under his arm and stuck his hands in his pockets and couldn’t look up at her. He shyly gave her a nod.

Her heart thundered in her chest. “Is this me?”

Peeta’s eyes widened and his mouth hung slightly open. He cleared his throat. “I ah…”

She picked up another one. There were pictures of her laughing, others of her eating, one of her sitting by Madge in school. Another showed her with Prim, another with her dad. It dawned on her he said he drew the girl he liked constantly. But she needed to be sure. She didn’t want to make assumptions. Maybe this girl looked a lot like her.

“Katniss,” Peeta said.

“Can I keep it?” she asked.

Her questions seem to baffle him because he gave her a look of wonderment and at the same time puzzlement. “You want to keep it?”

“I mean, if this isn’t me?”

Peeta walked up to Katniss and stared longingly into her silver eyes. As if he was looking for something. Finding it, his face broke out into one of his legendary smiles. “Of course this picture is you. You’re the only girl that I’ve…well…liked.”

“You like me?”

“Ever since we were in kindergarten, when you sang the Valley song. I was a goner then and I’m a goner now. You’re the girl I was describing. I just didn’t know if you felt the same way about me. I was afraid I was projecting what I feel on you. You don’t have to feel any which way about me. I’m okay with that, I just can’t help the way I feel.”

Katniss didn’t know whether she wanted to jump or laugh or run. Instead she took his hand, leaned up on tiptoe, and kissed him on the cheek.

His smile was crooked and his cheeks were flushed. “I think we better get you out of the cold.”

Katniss nodded. It wouldn’t have mattered to her if it was 30 degrees below zero outside. All she knew was she was on cloud nine.

Together, hand in hand, they made their way back to the bakery. They sat down in front of the fire to snack on the cheese buns and hot chocolate he packed for them. They talked and laughed, and for Katniss it was like finding a kindred spirit. It was the start of a beautiful relationship.

As she left the bakery Peeta held her hand, “When can I see you again?”

“Silly I’ll be back in the morning to trade with you.”

“No I mean,” he shyly gave her a smile, his fingers brushed over her knuckles and Katniss thought she would melt. “When can we spend more time together.”

“How about we have lunch tomorrow? We can meet here at the bakery.”

“Great, we can stroll in the meadow afterwards. It’ll be nice to see the daylight. I’m always stuck inside of the bakery.” He smiled and kissed the back of her hand, and Katniss knees wobbled at the contact of his warm lips brushing up against her skin. Katniss couldn’t wait to see him tomorrow.

When Katniss finally came home she was grinning from ear to ear. Her mother was out attending a birth with Prim.

“Hello,” her father said. “Where have you been?” He was carving a cane for one of her mother’s patients.

Katniss froze. She wasn’t sure what to say to her father.

“You look like Buttercup when he gets a bowl of cream.”

The heat rose to her face. There was no way she could keep this away from her father. “I was meeting with someone.”

“Oh,” her father said, putting his knife down.

She sat down. Katniss and her father were close and if she wanted to see Peeta, she needed to sit down and talk to her dad about the boy, no, scratch that, man, she’d had an unbreakable bond with since forever. Squaring her shoulders, she said, “Dad, I was with Peeta Mellark. I took him to the woods and we had a fine time.” Katniss sighed. “We spent the rest of the afternoon at the bakery talking. His dad was an earshot away.” Her eyes pleaded with her father’s matching silver eyes.

“You were with Buck Mellark’s youngest son?”

“Yes.”

“And do you like him?”

Katniss didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Her father smiled. “I have only one piece of advice Katniss. Just follow your heart as you take the metaphorical leap off the cliff of love. If your heart tells you to stop or you have doubts, just walk away. All I want is for you to be happy.”

“Thank you, dad,” Katniss smiled and walked away. She didn’t know her father gave her baby sister a detailed report on their conversation. Nor did she know Prim was determined to make sure her sister took that final leap and toasted with Peeta Mellark.

Prim and Gale were on chaperon duty, to make sure the lovebirds stayed in love. Katniss for her part went to lunch with Peeta. Each time she and him were together, she did just as her father said. She and Peeta took it slowly. As she and Peeta grew closer Katniss fell deeper in love with Peeta, while the relationship of others cooled.

Katniss stood with Peeta watching Delly slap Gale in the face.

“Delly, I swear I didn’t kiss her!” Gale ran after Delly.

“I saw you!” Delly cried and ran inside. Her brother stood by the door arms crossed not letting Gale enter the house.

“What can we do?” Katniss whispered.

“I don’t know Katniss,” Peeta answered back. Gale rushed past them in the direction of the meadow. Peeta held her closer. “What we can do is promise each other to be honest and talk to one another.”

Katniss nodded, what Peeta said was true. Delly and Gale weren’t communicating with one another. Her parents talked all of the time, even about trivial things. Communication, as Prim pointed out one time to her, was the key to a successful relationship. She vowed she would talk to Peeta. And so she did, when she got angry at him, she let him know why. When they didn’t agree, they still talked.

It helped them get to know the other. Adversity could do one of two things, draw couples apart or bring them together. The intimacy between their words caused her hunger for Peeta to grow. They abstained and strained from physical intimacy but it was getting harder for Katniss to walk away. Peeta always seemed to be able to hold himself in check, it was Katniss who craved more.

It was hard for her to keep her hands off of Peeta. It was during this time Katniss decided to take the leap. Though she waited for the right moment, it never came. So she contented herself with simple things like taking long walks. There were many trips to the lake. Many trips to behold the wonder of the woods and it’s majesty. When it got cold and the snow coated the earth they walked hand in hand together facing each new adventure together. Slowly, the cold air became warmer and spring kissed the earth. The snow melted and Katniss and Peeta’s relationship heated up.

They were at her father’s cabin, lying in each other’s arms.

“Are you okay?” Peeta asked.

Katniss was warm and blissful. Her body still coming down from the flight of pleasure she had within Peeta’s care. “Yes.”

Peeta pushed tendrils of hair away from her face. “I love you,” he whispered.

Words of love and adoration were no longer hard for her to express. “I love you, too.”

He sat up and reached into his pack. He took out a small necklace that had a silvery gem on it. “It’s a pearl.”

“It’s beautiful.” Katniss had never seen such a beautiful thing before in her life.

“It reminded me of your eyes.” Katniss sat up and he slipped it around her neck. As he fastened it he said, “Marry me, be my partner in life. I pledge my love and loyalty to you. I promise to honor, obey, and love you with my heart and soul. I know there will be hard times, but I’ve found that when faced with things together, the burden becomes easier.”

Tears streamed from her face. “Of course I’ll marry you!” She rushed at him and they fell back into bed, a tangle of arms and legs.”

On the day they married, Peeta made a cake that looked like the wintry wonderland of the forest.

It was as they toasted that Prim and Gale and her father were looking all too much like the cat that got the cream.

“What are you three grinning about?” Katniss asked.

Her father coughed, but said nothing. Gale avoided looking at her. It was Prim who spilled the beans.

“Katniss, don’t get mad at us, but we were tired of seeing you make moon eyes at Peeta. So we came up with a plan. Gale was supposed to get you to make a bet to take Peeta out into the woods. I was in charge of slipping you sleep syrup that night, and in case you woke up on time, dad was in charge of making sure you were late getting to the woods.”

Katniss couldn’t believe what Prim said. She wasn’t sure if she should be angry, but then a strong pair of arms wrapped around her middle and she didn’t care. This, after all, was the happiest day of her life.

When Gale walked away Katniss turned to Peeta and together they asked, “Okay Prim, how do we get Gale and Delly hitched?”

Prim grinned, “Well I have a plan…”

The End….well maybe?

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #autumn 2020 #submission #prompt #mega-aulover #autumn

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captainseaweedbrains · 4 years ago

Note

Did I already send you the ask about which book is your fave of the trilogy and which characters?

Nope! But I am happy to answer. 😁

Choosing a favorite book in the trilogy is hard! My immediate answer used to be Catching Fire because I absolutely adore all the development we see in Katniss, Peeta, their relationship with each other and with Haymitch. It has my favorite moment in the entire trilogy and many more of my top faves come from that book.

But after my first 2020 reread (I finished that, read the prequel, and jumped back to the first book), Mockingjay really surprised me! During my initial read of it, I hated it and thought it really dull, but I think that was 18-year-old Terri’s gut reaction to what happened to Peeta (and he not being present for a good chunk of the book) and not getting Katniss’ character on how she treated him because of it. Well I’m singing a different tune now because I’m in love with that book and all its glorious angst. Someone I know once said how Mockingjay is the most romantic Everlark-wise out of the series and they weren’t wrong! Katniss literally thinks she may be having a heart attack after seeing his attack on television because her heart hurts! COME. ON. *Chef’s kiss* I love it.

I still think Catching Fire is my favorite, though, because of the different sides of Peeta that we get to see as Katniss gets to know him better. I love that we get to be there with her as she slowly falls in love with him, despite the threat of Snow hanging over her head. Then we get a whole fun cast of characters like Finnick, Johanna, Mags. Catching Fire not only flushes out the characters we already knew, but also Katniss’ world as we learn more about the uprisings. It feels more character-driven compared to the first and last book due to its focus on the rising rebellion.

As for favorite characters, in this order: Peeta Mellark*, Katniss Everdeen**, Effie Trinket, Haymitch Abernathy, Finnick Odair, Gale Hawthorne, Johanna Mason, Boggs, Cressida

*Peeta has been my absolute favorite in the trilogy since his entrance. I fell in love with his character and was very annoyed with Katniss during their first Games because I thought him genuine (WHICH HE WAS! 💗). I consider him one of my favorite characters of all time. He’s so kind, selfless, and human. Plus that dry sense of humor? Yes. No wonder Katniss had a low burn crush on him since the bread.

**Katniss is basically tied with Peeta now. She’s always been my second favorite, but my 2020 reread really let me take a step back from Peeta and just bask in how wonderful and funny she is as a narrator. We stan a queen who loves being petty to her sister’s cat because she it makes him look stupid. She’s so fantastic and flawed and my heart breaks when she’s upset. She’s now on the list of favorite characters of all time.

I could honestly gush about those two for days. 😍

Thanks for asking!!

#lovely-tothe-bone #asks #The Hunger Games #Books

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hutchhitched · 7 years ago

Text

Consolation

Once upon a time, my lovely friend @xerxia31 had a birthday. That time happens to be today. For putting up with my inability to find my writing fingers again and for giving me the desire to try, I present to you enemies to lovers (or something) Everlark. You know why. <3

“I fail at life.”

Katniss glanced sideways at her best friend and snorted. “You don’t fail at life.”

“Okay, fine. I don’t fail. I suck at life. What a damn nightmare.”

“Peeta, you were trying to be nice,” she argued patiently. “It’s not your fault that girl is ten ways to bizarre.”

“She screamed ‘Happy birthday!’ at me, and I spilled my drink on her feet,” he groaned. “Can we please watch mindless TV and forget tonight ever happened?”

“I think we should talk about it some more,” Katniss teased, her silver eyes twinkling at Peeta’s discomfort. “It’s not often I get to see you embarrassed.”

He blinked at the softness in her gray eyes and the way her dark braid fell over her shoulder. When her lips curved into a smile, he swallowed as his heart skipped a beat. He couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than to spend the rest of the night cuddled on the couch under a blanket with his roommate—the girl he’d loved for the past two decades.

“I guess I was too knocked off my feet by her good looks to control myself.”

Katniss flinched, and Peeta blinked as he heard himself speak. What in the world was that about? Katniss is the good looks girl. Katniss. That other girl is… Well, I’m sure she’s lovely, but I love Katniss.

“That’s an interesting thing to say,” she ventured quietly, and he gulped. It was time to backtrack.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a date,” he snapped and internally cringed.

What is wrong with me? Backtrack, Peeta. Do not keep going. Do not be a dick to her. You adore this girl. Even if she won’t give you the time of day outside of your friendship.

“Maybe we should work on fixing that,” she offered.

“Oh, and how are you going to do that? Find me a consolation prize?”

Her mouth hung open as she studied him. His blond curls fell over his forehead, and his stormy blue eyes flitted away from hers. She wasn’t sure what had caused his sudden mood swing, but he’d gone from self-conscious to mortified to angry in seconds.

“There’s nothing wrong with a consolation prize,” she reasoned, but that didn’t seem to be the right answer either because his eyes blazed as he leapt from the sofa.

“Really? Is that why you settled for Gale for so long?” he asked, his voice cold with a hint of malice. “I mean, after you tried out Cato and Marvel and Darius and every other guy who treated you like crap. Was he your consolation prize?”

Katniss’ face flushed, and she tried to quell her roiling stomach. His anger seemed to have boiled up for no reason, and she wasn’t sure why he’d turned on her when she’d only been trying to console him.

“Why— How could you bring all that up, Peeta? You know how hard I tried to get through all that pain, and how much I’ve worked to figure out why I was drowning all of it in bad relationships. How could you… How could you do that to me?” Her voice was plaintive, beseeching, and colored with a deep hurt.

A wave of longing washed over him, but he couldn’t seem to reign in his frustration. He’d cared about her for so long, and he was tired of knowing she looked at him like a kid brother instead of someone who adored her.

“Maybe I’m the consolation prize. It just took me this long to turn into an asshole like the rest of them.”

“I can’t believe I put up with you,” she sputtered, her chest heaving as she sucked in air. “You’re an insensitive, snarky, arrogant…” She ground to a halt as she wracked her brain for the appropriate insult.

“Yes?” he drawled. His tone was so filled with snide mocking that she saw red.

“Bastard. An insensitive, snarky, arrogant bastard,” she spat and turned to storm down the hall to her bedroom.

She didn’t make it more than a few steps before he caught her by the shoulder and spun her around. Her eyes widened in shock in the seconds between him catching her and his mouth crushing against hers. His eyes blazed with fury, and his cheeks glowed pink with anger. His body slammed against hers as his mouth ground into her lips. The kiss was bruising, punishing, and insanely powerful.

Peeta forced her head back as he thrust his tongue into her mouth. Their lips and teeth snapped and snarled at each other as they vented their anger. She swallowed a rasping moan as he grabbed her left leg and tugged it over his hip so he could push her harder into the wall. Her skirt slipped upward on her thighs, and his palms dragged along her burning skin. His hips slammed into hers, and she moaned at the feel of him pulsing against the scrap of lace covering her clit. She felt every minute throb deep in her core.

“Peeta,” she groaned, irritated beyond words that the feel of him around her made her want to rip off his clothes. “You asshole.”

“Shut up,” he snapped and sucked on the pulse point in her neck. His lips suckled against her skin until her nipples puckered, and she lost the battle to keep her hips still. She bucked forward, and they both grunted at the contact.

“What are we doing?”

She didn’t know if she asked or he did, but the question didn’t need to be answered with words. Their bodies burned together. The fire between them couldn’t be quenched by anything but what they were doing.

His hands clutched at her, frantic with need, and she grappled with his zipper. His skin scorched hers as she freed him and wrapped her palm around his erection. She wanted to look, but she couldn’t focus. Time rushed past and stood still at the same time. He tugged her shirt over her head and laved his tongue over her lacy bra until she could do nothing but beg him to keep going. He bit her nipple, causing her to scream and involuntary jerk on his cock so hard he yelped.

“I want to fuck you so bad, Kat,” he confessed. “I want to make your eyes roll back in your head and you beg me to make you come. I want to watch your tits bounce while I pound into you and hear you scream my name.”

“I’ll never beg you,” she grunted but squeezed her eyes shut when he tugged her braid at the nape of her neck.

“I bet you will,” he growled as he slid down her body so that her leg was hitched over his shoulder instead of around his waist. He shoved her skirt up around her waist before tilting his head until his nose settled in the juncture of her thighs. He inhaled sharply, and she felt a rush of warmth that quickly turned to slickness.

“Oh, hell,” she muttered before biting her bottom lip. He shoved her thong to the side and flicked the tip of his tongue into her crevice. She fought to control herself as he found her nub and began his assault there.

Her head fell back as heated jolts radiated through her limbs. He knew what he was doing. It wasn’t gentle or loving. It was hard and desperate, but it made her want to sing his praises. She hummed in the back of her throat as he nuzzled deeper into her, and she prayed he’d keep her upright as he hauled her to the precipice.

Just as she thought she would explode, he pulled away, leaving her bereft and confused. She cursed loudly, but he was standing and his tearing his jeans off before she could say more.

He captured her mouth with his, and she tasted the tang of her arousal. He tilted her hips toward him as he kissed her, and she groaned as he pressed into her. She opened for him, spreading her legs wider around his hips as he pushed into her, his movements uneven and halting, as if he couldn’t maintain control.

“What are we doing?” she whimpered, but he smothered her mouth again in another bruising kiss before pulling his hips back and thrusting toward her again.

At her yowl of pleasure, he tugged at her earlobe and whispered, “What I should have done three boyfriends ago. What I should have done the night that fucker broke your heart. What I should have done when you told me you had a date tonight—on my birthday—for my party. I shouldn’t have let you go. I shouldn’t have gone with you. I should have slung you over my shoulder and carried you to my bedroom instead of trying to celebrate my birthday when the woman I love was with another guy.”

“Peeta… What? I don’t—”

But she did. Somehow she knew. She’d always known. As he slammed into her, she concentrated on the feeling of him between her legs, the way his blonde hair curled around her fingers, the sound of his grunts and moans, the way his hands ran over her skin in a way that made her feel completely overpowered and cherished at the exact same time.

How many times had he watched her leave for a date, fuming and grouchy because she refused to acknowledge the way he glanced at her over the breakfast table? How many times had he blushed as he ran into her in the hall after she’d finished her shower and was covered only in her skimpy bathrobe with water droplets still clinging to her skin? How often had he proven how important she was to him with his constant friendship and sweet good nature? She’d helped drive him to this frenzied state with every sly look she’d tossed his way, knowing full well that he loved her, but not wanting to admit how he felt.

“Tell me you want this,” he begged. “Please tell me.”

She laughed at the absurdity of his request. He was inside her, pumping in and out frantically, and dangerously close to orgasm. If she didn’t want it, it was past time to ask. Instead of answering, she wrapped both legs around his waist and bit his collarbone. She clenched around him, stroking him as he bucked his hips.

“Kat, please. Please.”

She squeezed tighter and felt his control snap. His shoulders shook as he pulsed and shot into her. She reveled in his incoherent groans as he emptied himself. She took everything he had to give before slipping her hand between them and rubbing herself. The feel of him pulsing inside her as she stroked her clit was amazing. It took only a few seconds before her walls fluttered and she gasped as a wall of fire flooded through her.

He held her as she rode out her climax, words of encouragement falling from his lips as her skin flushed with pleasure. A sheen of moisture misted their skin as they clung to each other, both spent from their respective climaxes.

He pressed his forehead to hers, and their breath mingled while they gasped for air. His blue eyes, still hazy with passion, flooded with vulnerability as he struggled to regain his composure. He’d lost it, and he was terrified he’d lost her as well by failing to wait for her to realize how he felt about her on her own.

“Please,” he pled one last time as a sob threatened to choke him.

“I wanted it. I would have stopped you if I didn’t.”

He sagged against her, his relief so strong he almost fell.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m so sorry for saying those things to you.”

“I’m sorry for asking a date to your birthday party.”

He shook his head at her, unable to explain that he realized how inconsequential what she’d done was compared to criticizing her choices and manhandling her in the hallway. His shame threatened to overtake him, until she cradled his cheek in her palm.

“Look at me, Peeta,” she ordered, and he raised his eyes to hers. “Happy birthday.”

He started to protest, but she interrupted him before he could say anything else.

“Things got a little off track tonight. That might be an understatement since we’re half-clothed and you’re kinda still inside me.”

“Oh, good lord,” he sputtered and pulled away from her. “This is…”

“Not the worst thing to ever happen to either of us,” she said and fought to keep her face straight.

He tried not to laugh, but the absurdity of their situation washed over him. He bit his bottom lip in an attempt to stay quiet, but he snorted instead. Within seconds, he was laughing, and she joined him as she pulled him back to her.

“This isn’t the way I would’ve expected this to happen,” she giggled, “but I’m not sorry it did.”

Shaking his head, he kissed her cheek. “We should clean up, and then maybe I can start to recover my dignity.”

“We could,” she said. “Or…”

“Or what?”

“Or we could eat some of that cake your dad sent, and then shower. That whipped cream icing would probably look good smeared across your chest. Or mine.”

He gulped at her suggestion. Things had changed too quickly tonight for him to comprehend, but he decided to forego his usual cautious nature and enjoy the night. Tomorrow they could figure out what this meant. Tonight he wanted to celebrate, even if he was only as a consolation prize.

#xerxia31 #everlark fanfiction #everlark #Peeta Mellark #katniss everdeen #hutchhitched loves you

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ohlovelyvampires · 7 years ago

Text

Force and Faith

Hello everyone. I’m sorry I disappeared for so long, but to be honest I didn’t have the time or the motivation to write anything. Things have been tough in my country, and it’s taken an emotional toll from me, you have no idea. My eyes are filling up just by writing this. For those of you who don’t know, I live in Venezuela. If you have no idea what’s been happening over here, I suggest you do some research about it.

Last Sunday (July 9th, 2017) was our 100 day mark in continuous rebellion against Nicolas Maduro’s regimen. I will offer you more information below the cut at the end.

Writing this was especially hard, so I hope you enjoy it.

I don’t own The Hunger Games, but all mistakes belong to me.

Peeta Mellark was a political leader in the troublesome country of Panem –which had been ruled by the tyrant Coriolanus Snow for the past 19 years–. Peeta had earned several degrees in Sociology and Economic sciences, and years later, he received a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University, and then an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.

He’d also been in prison for the past three and a half years.

Katniss woke up with a start, unaware of her surroundings. She looked around, eyes wide, until she recognized her bedroom, then tensed up again when she felt someone’s arm heavy on her chest. Instantly, the figure pulled her closer and gave a pleased sigh on her shoulder. Yesterday’s events came back to her.

Peeta was home.

She burrowed deeper into his chest and tried to keep the tears away as the memories of the past three years overwhelmed her, almost crushing her. She was so, so tired, but she felt that if she closed her eyes he’d disappear. Earlier, she had been unwilling to go to sleep, but after hours of making love with Peeta, and noticing the deep, purple bags under his eyes, she wouldn’t deny him taking a nap with his wife for the first time in three years.

His breaths were steady, and they kept her at ease. They made her realize that it was real. He was here with her. She had never been so thankful for his snoring in her life.

She tried not to move, so he wouldn’t wake, but the moment she shifted in his arms he went stiff and instantly sat up, looking around nervously until his eyes focused on her. Her heart broke. He’d always been a deep sleeper, but now, every little movement would wake him. It outraged her, knowing that due to all the tortures he received in that place he felt he needed to be alert even in his sleep.

“I’m sorry I woke you,” she spoke silently in the dark.

He rubbed his eyes, “It’s okay. Why were you up?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t sleep,” he didn’t have to ask her why. He knew why.

Instead he lay back on the bed and opened his arms to welcome her in. She didn’t need to be told twice.

She crawled back into her safe place, but instead of settling on his chest she reached up until she found his lips, devouring him. Peeta groaned and shifted, pulling her on top of him as his hands caressed her nude back.

He moaned, “Katniss,”

She didn’t answer, only moved his hands from her back to her breasts as she explored his mouth confidently, both their bodies already naked from their previous activities in the early afternoon. He gripped and squeezed and kissed every part of her he could reach, while she moaned to encourage him on.

She could feel his urge straining against her belly. His face was barely visible to her, her eyes still adjusting to the dark, but she didn’t need to see him, feeling how right his form fit against hers was enough.

She reached between them and stroked him, their mouths still fused together. She wasted no time in sliding him inside her, and she pulled back to keen loudly, Peeta now nipping the pulse point on her neck.

When they –unfairly– took him and threw him in jail she vowed she wouldn’t break. She needed to be strong. She had to move and influence the masses and do her best to get him out. She swore she would get him out.

She knew that if she let herself fall, she’d never get back on her feet. So she travelled and reached to the international community. She directed political movements. She did everything she could, but it still wasn’t enough. They didn’t get him out because of what she did, but because the most important political figures of the world were breathing down Snow’s neck about the past 100 days of violence in the country.

Peeta was still a prisoner, though. They gave him house arrest for the next eleven years (that if they didn’t change their minds and threw him back in that fucking prison), but this was a step closer, a brim of hope. Hope that the end was close.

She didn’t care why or whom they did it for, all she cared about was him, being right where he belonged: with her.

So now, with him moving inside her and breathing her name in her ear, she let her body fall over the cliff.

…

The next morning when she woke she found the bed empty next to her, the sheets cool.

She panicked. “Peeta?”

Then she screeched: “Peeta?!”

She ran from the bed and took her robe from the closet where she’d left it the day before –not noticing Peeta’s clothes thrown haphazardly across the room– hastily tying it and running down the stairs… Only to collide with her husband, making him fall with her on top of him.

He groaned, then looked up at her alarmingly, “Are you okay?” he ran his hands over her, checking for injuries.

She didn’t answer, only stayed on top of him, hugging him closer.

“Katniss?”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. I just…” she sighed. “I thought everything had been a dream. You weren’t there when I woke up, so I thought…”

He felt her shiver. “I’m here. I swear I’m here.”

They stayed there for a few more minutes. Not talking, just lying on the floor, holding each other.

He broke the silence, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke up. I woke up a few hours ago and couldn’t go back to sleep, and you looked so peaceful I didn’t have the heart to wake you up for another round,” he smirked.

It’d been a while since she’d seen him looking so amused.

She snorted, “You know I’m never too tired for that,” she joked, rejoicing in the sound of his humorous laughter.

“I’ll keep that in mind,”

She pulled herself up, then tended her hand to help him stand. As soon as he was up she tugged him closer and joined their lips together. They kept kissing for minutes (hours?) until her stomach rumbled loudly, and they broke apart. He laughed against her lips and then pecked her forehead lovingly.

“C’mon,” he took her hand in his and led her into the kitchen. Katniss couldn’t help but notice the ease with which he moved in their home.

They’d been married two years and living in a small and stuffy apartment before buying and moving into this house. He’d barely spent a year in their new home by the moment he was imprisoned.

He pulled her into the kitchen, and she noticed the dough rising in the counter. She knew he liked to bake when he was stressed. She made a mental note to call Haymitch and ask him to move some contacts so she could buy Peeta a few bags of all-purpose flour so he could bake all he wanted, although that might be difficult, and expensive. The severe shortage of food increased every day, as did the number of people eating from garbage cans on the street.

After making breakfast and eating together, Katniss decided to take a look at her phone. She’d forgotten the damn thing since yesterday morning after she was informed they were bringing Peeta home. The phone was almost dead, and it was exploding with notifications. She noticed a big number of missed calls were from Finnick.

She’d call him back. Someday.

She knew she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t shut the country out. She knew just because her husband was home that didn’t mean the war was over, far from it. They still had to fight for his full liberation, and for the liberation of the 2000 people imprisoned unfairly. They had to make it right, for the 95 people who lost their lives, fighting for the freedom they deserved. For the mothers who lost their children. Because that’s what they were: children. Most of the dead had been kids between 17 and 22 years old. They didn’t get to know any government other than the scumbags that had been ruling the country for the past 19 years.

Her traitorous mind whispered in her ear, saying it wasn’t Katniss or Peeta’s responsibility to take the rails in the war. Katniss was ashamed to admit that if Peeta had been fully released she would have already bought their plane tickets to leave that inferno behind.

They were kids when they got married, fresh out of college and with a head full of dreams. Before he proposed, Peeta told (warned?) Katniss how much he loved their country, how he would always fight to make justice, how he’d never leave, and he’d help recover it from the hands of those who sucked the life out of their mother land.

It’s okay, she’d said, because she loved their country as much as he did, and she’d vowed to fight alongside him. But now, years later, how could she feel the same after so much had been taken from them?

Her train of thought broke as she heard voices outside. Curious, she got up from the table and walked to the curtain-covered window. She smiled when she looked at the crowd outside.

Peeta was released from prison before dawn the day before, and by 7 in the morning the big news had spread like wildfire. By 10 in the morning their front porch was crowded with at least 500 people, everyone wanting to get a look of the newly released Peeta Mellark after being held captive for the past three and a half years. Katniss was afraid of him going out; she was scared that there would be some Snow-sympathizer that would hurt Peeta as soon as they had him in clear sight.

But Peeta, being the leader he is, couldn’t ignore the calls from his people.

He’d climbed to the roof of their house where everyone could see him, a Panem flag tied around his neck like a cape. The crowd went wild as soon as they saw him. They instantly started taking pictures and intonating the national anthem. She even saw many of them crying, and she started crying herself. Peeta was on the roof, waving the flag around and singing with the crowd. As soon as the song was over he gave a short speech, encouraging everyone to keep protesting. We’re close, he’d said, and everyone cheered.

“I didn’t negotiate my way out. I don’t mind going back to jail if that means freedom for my people and my country. I’ll do whatever it takes,” he promised.

He was a sign of hope for the citizens.

And today, again, there was another crowd in front of their house as large as yesterday’s. Maybe even larger.

She didn’t notice Peeta was next to her until he spoke: “So they’re here again,”

“Yup,” she confirmed. “Are you going outside?”

“They came to see me, it’s the least I can do,” he went upstairs to change.

A few minutes later, still looking on from the window, she heard the crowd roar and saw them look up. She Peeta was back on the roof. Once again they sang the anthem and took many pictures. He stayed up for about twenty minutes, and then she heard his heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. She quickly drew the curtains back.

“They love you,” she pointed out.

And they should, they really should. Peeta turned himself in on February, 2014, during a set of violent protests, so the streets would rebel even more. He thought once everyone saw their political leader turned himself in for the wellbeing of his people all hell would break loose. But he was wrong.

A month later everything went back to normal. People died. People went to jail. And still everyone went back to their old lives as if nothing had ever happened. People would complain all the time, but no one did anything whatsoever. Peeta went to prison so the government would reconsider. He offered himself in exchange for the country’s freedom, but they kept him and the country, too.

Katniss begged him many times not to do it. She knew it wouldn’t be worth it, but he wouldn’t listen. Once Peeta had something stuck in his mind no one could rid him of it, so she had to watch from the sidelines as the guards took her husband away, as if he was a criminal, in the middle of a concentration of people, in front of millions watching. She saw when they threw him in the worst prison of the state, alongside murderers and rapists and serial killers. She saw when they isolated him, kept him a room so small and secluded he couldn’t even tell whether it was day or night.

They kept him in jail for a whole year without a trial, and when he finally had a trial he was charged for terrorism and committing vandalism, then decreed guilty and sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in prison.

Once everything was over, she’d kill the bastards who incarcerated him with her own bare hands.

Rapid successions of knocks were heard through the house, coming from the front door. She went to answer quickly before Peeta could, in case it was the press. Instead, when she opened the door she found Finnick Odair’s distraught face looking back at her. She feigned innocence.

“Hey, Finnick, uh, come on in.” he did. “Would you like some water?”

“Katniss!” he almost whined. “Damn it, it looks like all Panem is in your front yard.”

He shrugged his coat off, “Anyway, I’ve been calling you for hours. What do you have a phone for if you don’t answer the damn thing?”

Peeta came to her rescue. “It was my fault. We were busy,” he smiled innocently at Finnick.

Finnick smiled widely at him and crushed him in hug so fierce Katniss could see Peeta turning a little purple.

“It’s okay, man, you saw me yesterday, remember? Don’t choke me to death,” Peeta patted Finn’s back.

Finnick Odair was the vice president of the National Parliament, and alongside Katniss, he’d been the one to run most of the political actions in the past few years, especially in the past few months, ever since Peeta went to prison. Also, he’d been Peeta’s best friend since they were in high school. They both got involved in politics at the same time.

“Sorry,” Finnick sniffed. “I just… can’t believe you’re here,” he said in awe.

During Peeta’s incarceration, no one was allowed to see him; sometimes they wouldn’t even let her in. They only allowed immediate family and spouses, so Finnick hadn’t seen Peeta in the three years since he’d been gone. She’d always give him Peeta’s regards but it wasn’t the same, obviously.

“Well, I’m here, but I’m not free yet,” Peeta lifted his jean so the electronic cuff around his ankle was visible. The bright, read light flickered annoyingly back at her, as if taunting her.

“And neither is Panem.” He rolled his jean back down.

“Better than being in that shithole,” Finnick took him by the shoulders, “This is a step closer, my friend. Can’t you feel it? We’re so close I can smell it. Snow is totally shitting his pants right now. He’s more scared than a baby. The whole country is in rebellion, and has been for 100 days. Even his own minions are turning against him after he announced that constituent assembly bullshit,”

Ah, the cherry on top.

Initially, the protests began 3 months ago because Snow overran a decision of the Parliament, and the country rebelled, calling it a coup. Then, about one month later, he announced he was changing the Constitution. He was going to eliminate voting, and private property would no longer be private, it would belong to the State, the government would decide what kind of education kids would get, and every worker –workers of any kind, no matter their specific area of work, would now earn a minimum wage, which wasn’t enough to support economically a single person, let alone a family.

After his announcement people went crazy, and the protests intensified. The installment of the new Assembly would take place two weeks from now, and Snow was still in charge. Everyone seemed to believe they were in the final stages, and Katniss hoped so. She wasn’t sure how much longer the citizens would resist. It was now or never.

“I said the same thing three years ago,” Peeta claimed silently.

Finnick ignored him and sat in the dining room. “Anyway, as much as I love you, Peet, I’m not here to see your charming face.” Katniss and Peeta sat down too. “I’m here to talk to your lovely wife because someone isn’t answering her phone,”

His face softened. “I’m sorry to bother you two, as I’m sure you want to be alone, but we’re at war here, Katniss, and you’re a leader. People look up to you. You haven’t even made a statement on social networks about your husband being back home. Everyone’s on their toes waiting for you to say literally anything,”

She felt guilt running through her body like liquid fire. Finnick was right. She couldn’t expect the war would stop for a few days just so she and Peeta could go on their back-from-jail-honeymoon.

“I’m sorry,” she looked down ashamedly. “You’re right. We need to do this now while we still can,” she shot up from her seat and quickly grabbed her iPad, since her phone was dead, and published a statement on every one of her social networks, saying, yes, Peeta’s home, he’s physically okay, she’s relieved he’s home, but they’re still at war, there are many more out there who’re still unjustly imprisoned. They need to keep fighting.

“So, you two made up for lost time yet?” She looked up from the screen and saw Finnick wiggling his eyebrows suggestively at her outfit. She’d forgotten she was still in her silk robe, bare underneath. She groaned and flipped him off, sprinting up the stairs to change while Finn cackled behind her. Peeta was silent, but she’d seen the mischief reflected on his face.

When she walked down the stairs after changing into a more appropriate outfit she heard the two men talking quietly from the staircase.

“… Told her yet?” Finn asked.

“Told her what, exactly?” Peeta mumbled.

“I don’t know, what they did to you in that hell hole, maybe,”

She heard a loud sigh. “I just got here yesterday, besides, Katniss’s not completely in the dark about what they did,”

Yes, she knew: Torture.

A few weeks ago she’d gone to visit Peeta with his two brothers, but the guards wouldn’t let any of them in. She’d refused to leave until someone explained why they wouldn’t let her in, and, of course, no one would offer any credible excuse, so they stayed there for hours, trying to get in. At one point, she became so desperate she started yelling for Peeta as loud as her lungs would give, and his brothers joined her. They had no idea whether Peeta could hear them or not, but they still tried.

It’d been over a month since she’d last seen him. 35 days to be exact. 35 days since no one knew anything about him, not her, not his lawyers, no one. They kept him isolated and wouldn’t let him receive any visitors. She was going crazy with worry.

After minutes of consistent shouting, they’d heard someone yelling back. At first she couldn’t make sure whether it was his voice or not, but when she recognized it, she heaved a deep sigh of relief. He was alive.

The relief lasted a few seconds, until she understood what he’d been yelling back. His brothers quickly pulled out their phones and started recording his screams. They could make out exactly what he was saying: Katniss!! They’re torturing me!! Help me, they’re torturing me!! Katniss!!

After that, the guards quickly sent them packing and forced them to leave. She didn’t remember much after that. One of Peeta’s brothers had to help her into the car, as she went practically into catatonic state. They quickly launched the video, and it went viral, making sure the whole world knew what they were doing to their brother. She remembered breaking down so badly they had to take her to the hospital and give her some tranquilizers, because she wouldn’t stop screaming bloody murder.

Her skin went up in goose bumps just thinking about it and her eyes filled up. She still heard his screams in her nightmares.

When they brought him in yesterday she quickly shed him of his clothes and looked him up and down, studying him closely, looking for any new scars he may had. He had lost a considerable amount of weight, and his skin was paler, the bags under his eyes almost black, and she noticed some bruises already vanishing. She also noticed how he suddenly favored his right leg.

Katniss had been dying to ask him what exactly they did to him, so she could complain to the international community, but she knew right now wasn’t the time. He’d just gotten back home. It wasn’t fair to corner him, asking for the details of his traumatic experiences. She knew he’d talk when he was ready.

“Katniss already has been through enough. I don’t want to burden her or overwhelm her,” Peeta continued.

“And haven’t you been through enough?” Finnick insisted.

“It’s different, I chose this. It’s my own fault,” Peeta protested and she swallowed back a sob.

“Katniss is a big girl, Peeta, and she’s you wife. She might be giving you time to adjust now, but eventually she’ll ask. She’ll want to know. She won’t want you to carry that burden on your shoulders by yourself for the rest of your life,”

She could imagine Peeta running his hands wildly through his hair. “I know,” he admitted, and Finnick let the subject drop.

She quickly composed herself and walked loudly down the stairs to make her presence known.

“So,” she said casually. “What’s our next move?”

…

During the meeting, Peeta remained quiet. His eyes flickered from Finnick to Katniss, then down to the documents spread across the table.

As Finnick talked, he spoke confidently, but looked at Peeta as if for confirmation, but Peeta didn’t acknowledge his gaze, just kept studying everything in silence. They encouraged him to participate several times, but he declined. After their planning was done Finnick left under her oath to answer her phone.

“Are you okay?” she asked Peeta once they were alone.

“I guess,” he began, “I just feel like I’ve missed so much,”

“You’ve been… away for three years. A lot of things have changed. The situation gets more critical every day. The shortage of food and medicine is worse than you can imagine. We closed in last year with an inflation of 700%, and currently the inflation is over 1000%, barely 7 months into the year. The guards keep getting more violent with every day that passes. They want a bloodbath.” she recited, “It’s a nightmare.”

Peeta cursed, “I can’t believe Snow’s still ruling, even after all that shit,”

She curled her arms around him. “I know, but you heard Finnick: we’re close. I know we are. We just need a little more faith, and we need to get more resilient on the streets, which is exactly what we’re going to do for the next 14 days,”

He looked down to her big eyes, glimmering with hope. He melted.

He kissed her temple, “You’re right. I know the end is close. Do you have to go the Parliament today?”

“Finnick, Boggs, Messalla and the whole crew will be transmitting live in a few hours to tell the country about this week’s actions, but they said I didn’t have to be there if I didn’t want to,”

“You should go,”

She frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t want to leave you alone,”

“Katniss, I’m not a baby. I can take care of myself. And you heard Finnick: the people need to see you. You’re their leader.” Peeta insisted.

I’m not their leader; you are, she thought. “Fine,” she scowled.

Peeta grinned from ear to ear, “You don’t know how much I’ve missed that scowl,”

A couple of hours later she was getting ready to leave. Since she was a diplomatic figure she had a driver –Chaff– that would take her everywhere. At first she wasn’t comfortable, but then she’d grown used to it.

She hesitated, her hand on the door knob. Peeta hugged her.

“I’ll be fine. Go on and do your duty. I’ll be waiting for you naked when you get back,” he joked, trying to lighten her mood.

She laughed. “I’ll be looking forward to it,” she kissed him deeply for a couple minutes until her phone started ringing.

“Goddamn Finnick, I’ll block him,” she mumbled. She gave him one last look and a small smile before going out the door.

He became bored pretty soon. The live broadcast wouldn’t begin for at least another hour, but Katniss had to get there earlier to talk with the crew and rehearse what they were going to announce.

When they bought their house they converted the small basement in a training area and gym, so that’s where he headed to.

He trained for 45 minutes until his watch beeped loudly to remind him of the press conference his wife would be leading.

Still sticky with sweat he went to the living room and quickly fired up Katniss’s laptop. He searched in YouTube and typed up Panem’s Informative, clicking on the live streaming broadcast.

The camera showed a large rectangular table full of empty seats, and a small podium by the right end of the table. They hadn’t begun yet.

To get official and real information the citizens of Panem had to reach out to the public social networks such as YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. This because Snow had gotten off air all the news channels that transmitted the reality of what was happening in their country: hunger, deaths, negligence and violence. He’d only left on air two “news” channels that favored the government and made everything look like they lived in a magic land, where absolutely nothing was going on.

But the international community knew better than to believe that.

About ten minutes later the empty seats at the table were being occupied by most of his old partners. He recognized Plutarch Heavensbee, Boggs, Cressida, Messalla, Castor, Pollux and of course, Finnick. Katniss wasn’t occupying a seat on the table; instead she was standing behind the small wooden podium. The room clapped when everyone took their respective seats, and after the claps died down Katniss started speaking.

“I thank everyone for being present. As you all know, my husband, Peeta Mellark, was given house arrest yesterday before dawn. He’s physically getting better, but his moral and hope remain as strong as ever,” the room went up in cheers. His friends stood up and cheered with everyone. After a few minutes, Plutarch –President of the Parliament– stood and motioned for everyone to sit back down.

Katniss spoke again: “I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re relieved Peeta is back home where he belongs, but let’s not forget that he’s not free yet. He’s still a prisoner. Let’s not forget there are other 1500 civilians unjustly detained, along with other 500 political prisoners, over 2000 imprisoned in total, all of them enduring different tortures for pursuing their civil right to protest pacifically on the streets. So I make this call to everyone out there who’s listening: we must not abandon the streets!

“We must remain in rebellion until Snow is overruled. We have only 14 days left until Panem’s future is sealed with the establishment of a new Constitution. We must continue fighting, stronger than we’ve ever been before. The following couple of weeks will be tiresome and tough, but we must not lose hope. We must not forget what we are so close to achieving: freedom. Now, stronger than ever, we stand and fight together against tyranny,” she announced.

“Tomorrow is our hundred day mark. One-hundred days fighting for the cause. Tomorrow morning, all over the country we’ll reunite on the main square in each district, and then we will block all the streets for 12 continuous hours as is our customary action of protest. When protesting, please be safe. Remember this is not a game. Lives are at stake. Tomorrow on our hundred day mark we will take over the streets of Panem once again,” she concluded.

She retreated from the podium and moved to sit down just as Finnick stood up to give out more details about tomorrow’s actions.

Peeta knew the crowds would be pleased. Katniss mentioned the citizens had been asking for riskier measures for days now. Everyone was either exhausted or hungry or sick. They wanted to take bigger actions to bring Snow down once and for all. Peeta couldn’t blame them.

The conference ended as soon as Finn finished giving out the details, and the camera stopped transmitting in there and moved to a live concentration on the street. He could see the green-uniformed men throwing tear gas bombs at the people present. He felt pride wash over him once he noticed some kids picking up said bombs and throwing them right back at the guards, detonating them and expelling the gas. Peeta smirked.

He pulled up Google and searched as much information as he could of the past few months. Katniss informed him what little she could during her visits in prison, but he was still in the dark about many things. He opened link after link, the information overwhelming him. Pretty soon he got to the list of the people who were murdered while protesting. 95 people dead, either shot or blown up.

He rubbed his eyes and shut the device off after almost two hours of gathering information. Katniss would be home soon, and he was still sweaty from exercising. He went to their bedroom and took a shower. After dressing up he went downstairs to get started on dinner, just as Katniss walked through the front door, her phone glued to her ear and her arms full of folders and papers.

“No, no, Plutarch, I know, but what choice did I have? Finnick asked me to come forward and I did. I don’t have something to regret, do I? Cressida has been showing me the citizens’ responses, and everyone seems to agree with tomorrow’s schedule,” she walked further into the house, dropping her belongings on the dining table. She still hadn’t noticed him following her.

She pulled her phone from her ear and stared at the screen, “Listen, Plutarch, I’ve gotta run. I have the head of edition of the World’s on the line. See you tomorrow on the main square,” she hung up without another word and quickly put the phone back on her ear. “Rue! Hi, thank you for waiting for me, oh, yes; I’ve got the file you sent me right here.”

She ran through the mess of papers and pulled a sheet up. “Yes, I did check it and it was mainly fine. I made some corrections though. I’m faxing the document forward to you right this second,” she ran off into the studio. Peeta followed silently behind.

“Yes, thank you so much for your help. Okay, bye,”

He put his arms around her and she jumped. “Shit! You scared me,”

He kissed behind her ear, “Sorry. What was that all about?”

She sighed, “Plutarch nagging me, as usual. The World’s newspaper is going to launch a reportage about your ‘release’ tomorrow morning, and since the head of edition is a friend of mine she wanted me to check it beforehand,”

He frowned. “Reportage?”

“You’re the most famous political prisoner in Panem. When they brought you here the new went viral in minutes. Everyone wants coverage,” her phone started ringing again and she groaned.

“See why I hate this thing?” she took a look at the screen and let it go to voicemail.

“It’d better not be Finnick, otherwise he’ll be here in minutes knocking our door down, bickering about you not answering your phone,” he claimed.

“It’s not,” she assured and gave him a kiss. “I’m sorry I took so long to get back. Things have been crazy. Another kid was killed this afternoon,” she went quiet. “16 years old.”

He pulled her close, “I’ll run you a bath,” she shook her head against his chest.

“I just want you,” she proposed. Of course he agreed.

…

Hours later, they lay in the same spot, naked as newborns, until their rumbling stomachs forced them up.

They made sandwiches with the bread he’d baked that morning. Katniss had work to do, so after dinner they sat together and he helped her. He noticed how tired she’d become. He had visibly lost weight while he was in prison, but Katniss had too. She still had a toned and lithe body, but her bones were becoming more visible to the eye, her skin sun-kissed from spending so many hours protesting under the sun.

“I think we both need some sugar to brighten up,” he brought up. “I’ll bake you a cake,”

Katniss arched a brow. “Um, sure, but you have to make sure you have all the ingredients first. Flour and sugar have been disappeared from the supermarkets’ shelves for years now, and eggs have become a luxury,”

He kissed her forehead, “Don’t worry, I’ll manage,”

He hadn’t baked in more than three years, but it still came naturally to him. He decided to bake Katniss’s favorite dessert: carrot cake. Thankfully, he found all the ingredients necessary, although he ran low on sugar. He pondered the thought of asking some to his neighbors, but he knew no one in their right mind would hand out sugar for free. Sugar was scarce, and when you did find it, it was ridiculously expensive.

The same happened with flour, bread, oil, butter, salt, powdered and liquid milk, and many more. If you didn’t buy the products for exorbitant prices you’d have to hunt for a bag of whatever exclusively in the supermarket closest to your living place, with a special permission, nowhere else, once a week, and endure extremely long lines.

He took the cream cheese from the fridge for the frosting and cringed at the price embedded on the carton. Three years ago he could buy groceries for a month for that same price.

He sighed deeply. This would be over soon. He was sure of that.

…

Next morning he roused from sleep due to the lack of warmth next to him. He rubbed the crust from his eyes until they focused on Katniss in front of the closet. She was fastening a pair of jeans on her hips. The mattress squeaked under him when he moved to sit up, the sheet barely covering his morning erection. Katniss turned back to look at him and blushed.

“Good morning,”

He stood up and went to her in all his naked glory. He nuzzled her neck and placed soft kisses there.

“Where are you going so early in the morning?” it was barely 7:00 am.

She joined their lips. “Hundred days, remember? I have to go to the main square of the city,”

“Oh, right.”

They stayed up late last night, but she still woke up early, prepared to do her duty. She wasn’t wearing a shirt, only a black bra. He reached behind her to caress her back and playfully tugged the hooks, getting them undone. Katniss groaned.

“Peeta… I have to go,” she complained quietly as he leaned down and took one breast in one hand and a nipple in his mouth. Katniss moaned and his tongue circled harder around her nipple. When his other hand moved to unzip her jeans she quickly stopped him.

“As much as I want to do this, I have no time,” she brushed her lips against his. “But, I can do one thing before I go.” She sank to her knees and put him in her mouth.

After he came, she finished getting dressed and planted a sweet kiss on his mouth, her wedding rings burning a mark on his cheek as she held his face.

“I love you,” she vowed.

“I love you more,” he promised.

Once again he had to watch her leave while he stayed behind.

His feet itched. He wasn’t used to letting everyone else go in the front line while he did nothing. He was itching to get out of the house and go fight next to his wife and his people.

He decided to check in YouTube and Instagram to see what was going on, at least to make some time until Katniss got back.

There were an incredible amount of videos, not only from the Capitol but from the districts, too. He saw the sea of people who had gathered to demonstrate, once again, that most of the population wanted a change. He clicked on a video of the Capitol, and saw Finnick giving out a speech, Katniss by his side. As was customary, he encouraged everyone to remain strong. He finished his speech with a pointed look that said “You know what to do,” directed to the masses.

And just like that, the whole country was on lockdown.

After a few minutes, pictures of all around the country started popping up in the computer. The Capitol was on lockdown from head to toe, every main street barricaded.

Many people chose the opportunity to deliver some food, as a thank you, to the kids of the Resistance, since most of the members of the movement had serious financial problems.

The Resistance was a group of people –mostly young men and women– that fought directly on the streets. They were the ones that stood up to the guard when they were attacked during pacific movements.

Katniss had given him a phone yesterday so he’d call her if he needed anything. Said phone was now ringing obnoxiously in their bedroom. He ran up the stairs and took the call before it went to voice mail.

“Hello?”

“Hi,” Katniss’s voice said through the line. “What are you up to?” it was hard focusing on what she said since there was so much background noise.

“Uh, not much, just watching the news,”

“Oh, well, I just called to let you know that I won’t be home for a few hours. Finnick and I are going to support the lockdown. We’re going downtown for a few hours, and then North. We might be swinging back and forth, just going where they may need us,” she announced.

He smiled. He was so proud of her. “Go on, then,”

He looked through the living room’s windows and noticed his own neighbors barricading the street.

He could feel her hesitating on the other side, “Will you be okay?”

She’d been treating him like a baby since he got home. He knew she didn’t mean to do it, but it still annoyed him a little bit. She treated him like he was a glass figurine. Like if she made a wrong move or said the wrong thing he might break.

“Yes, Katniss,” he said stiffly.

“Well, okay, um, I’ll be home in a few hours.”

“Please be safe. I love you,”

“I love you too,”

They hung up. He knew they’d have to talk once she got back. So far they’d been pretending everything was okay, making up for lost time and having sex every chance they got, but they needed to talk about how uncomfortable he felt with her babying him.

…

After a couple hours he felt like he was suffocating.

The same four walls were closing in on him, and he was going crazy just by looking at the news of the districts. The guard had already started to dissipate the people gathered in different zones, throwing them tear gas and raining them in bird shots.

He hadn’t talked to Katniss in over two hours, and he was about ready to crawl up the walls. The repression that day had been especially brutal. By midday there were several wounded and asphyxiated by the gas. He even saw a photo of a pregnant woman being aided by members of the Red Cross because she’d been affected by the gas. He felt like throwing up.

Videos and pictures kept coming throughout the whole afternoon. Several videos of kids who blew up military tanks with homemade bombs, pictures of people hurt and people getting detained. It was devastating.

By 4 in the afternoon he still hadn’t heard a word from Katniss. He knew she’d be busy going all around the city, but he was going crazy. He’d tried to call several times, but the phone would go straight to voice mail. Finnick wouldn’t pick up either.

Faintly, he could make out the sounds of bombs going off in the distance, followed by a round of shots. The whole country was a warzone.

As if a voice had whispered it in his ear, he decided to check Twitter again, only to be greeted by dozens of pictures of Katniss and Finnick from earlier that day.

“The wife of the political leader Peeta Mellark, Katniss Mellark, resulted hurt in the afternoon of the 100 day mark during the city’s 12-hour lockdown in upstate Capitol, –”

His. World. Stopped.

He viciously continued reading faster.

“…Along with the vice president of the Parliament, Finnick Odair. The witnesses of the scene claimed that both political figures were attacked by members of Panem’s National Guard. A video taken with Cressida Miller’s –deputy of the Parliament– phone shows clearly how a member of the Guard walked directly to Mellark (wife) and Odair and sprayed pepper gas on both the diplomats’ faces, giving them no chance to recover as the attacker’s companions threw tear gas bombs in their direction, followed by shooting. The video quickly went viral. Thankfully, paramedics arrived at the scene quickly and transferred Mellark and Odair to the closest Health Center…”

He jumped from his seat and reached for his phone. He dialed everyone he knew: Plutarch, Cressida, Boggs, Castor… but no one picked up. After his 20th call finally Cressida picked up.

“Cressida!” he stammered. “Where are you? Do you know where Katniss is? I read she and Finnick were attacked. Are you with them? D-do you know anything?” he sputtered.

“Peeta, slow down! Yes, I’m with Katniss, and Plutarch’s with Finnick. We’re at Panem General.” Her voice faltered. “Katniss is with the doctor right now, and I’m not supposed to go in, otherwise I’d put her on the phone,”

“Are they okay?!”

“Well, they gave them what little they had to ease the irritation in their faces caused by the pepper gas. Thankfully they didn’t swallow much tear gas, although they received some nasty bird shots,”

“Motherfuckers,” he roared.

“Indeed.” Cressida agreed. “Listen, I’ll call you back as soon as I can get Katniss to talk to you; my phone is exploding with calls.”

He mumbled a half-hearted agree and called Plutarch several times until the bastard picked up, but it was Finnick’s voice that answered.

“Ahoy mate,” Finn said.

“Thank God. Are you okay?”

“Eh, I’ve had it worse,” and he truly had.

Earlier that week, 3 days before Peeta’d been released, the Parliament was attacked during a session. An armed group of government sympathizers barged in and started attacking the deputies. They pushed some of them to the floor and started kicking them, Finnick included. They even bashed one’s head so hard they cut it open.

Thankfully everything was recorded and photographed for the whole world to see.

That wasn’t the first time it had happened. That had just been one time of many throughout the years. The event even made it to the front page of The Wall Street Journal.

“I’m glad you’re okay, buddy,”

“You know me, man; you’ll need more than those fucking pussies with their tear gas to bring me down,” Finn assured him. “Have you talked to Katniss yet?”

He sighed deeply. “Not yet. I’m going crazy with worry. Cressida told me she was with the doctors. She promised to call me back soon,”

“Well, I’ll let you go then. See you soon, Peet,” they said their goodbyes and hung up.

Soon after, Haymitch, Katniss’s uncle and their lawyer, started calling him.

“I assume you already know about Sweetheart?” Haymitch greeted.

“Not about her condition, I only know she’s in the hospital.”

“Well shit.”

“You don’t know anything either?”

“Not a thing, kid,”

“Haymitch,” he swallowed. “I need to see her. I need to know about her condition. I’m going crazy! I need to go to the hospital,”

Haymitch’s tone darkened, “You better wait until she calls you or until she gets home. You are not leaving that house,”

“But–”

“No buts!” his lawyer fumed. “Sweetheart will kick your ass if she finds out you left the house to go to her. If you leave the house it’s Game Over, kid, they’ll put you back in a cell so small you won’t be able to spread your arms,”

Hadn’t they already? he thought.

Haymitch must’ve read his mind. He sighed, “I’m sorry, boy. That’s just how it is. Don’t give Snow any more reasons to throw you back in jail,”

“I won’t,” Peeta conceded.

He heard Haymitch mumble. “Fucking paparazzi they’ll blow my phone up. As soon as you know something about my niece ring me up,” he ended the call.

Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long.

“Peeta?”

He nearly sobbed. “Oh God, Katniss, I’m so happy to hear your voice. Hi, love. Are you okay?”

“As okay as I can be, I guess,” she sniffed. “They’re keeping me here for another hour, until they’re sure it’ll be safe for me to go home. I’m sorry I couldn’t call you. I must have dropped my phone sometime during the riot,”

“It’s fine, don’t worry. I’m just insanely happy to hear you’re okay,”

“It could’ve been worse,” she assured. “Finnick was with me though. Cressida told me he’s doing fine too,”

“Yeah, I talked to him a few minutes ago. He’s okay,”

He heard voices in the background. “Peeta, I’ve gotta go. Cressida’s phone is dying and the nurse is here for a final checkup before my release. I’ll be home soon,”

“I’ll be waiting,”

He quickly texted Haymitch to let him know Katniss would be coming home soon.

He waited another hour until he heard movement coming from the porch. He watched through the windows and saw Katniss getting off a motorcycle, while a guy he didn’t know helped her off, her body stiff and her face still red and splotchy. He ran to the front door and sprinted outside to meet her halfway.

She looked up at him alarmingly. “Peeta, you can’t–!”

He picked her up and held her against him, breathing her scent. She was sweaty and smelled like gas, but she still had that characteristic Katniss smell. He didn’t realize how hard he was hugging her until she grunted, “Ouch.”

“Shit. Sorry, baby. Did I hurt you?” she shook her head and looked around, eyes wide.

“Let’s go in.” she nearly dragged him inside the house, waving Chaff goodbye.

Once inside, she pounced.

“Peeta! Do you know what they could do to you if they saw you outside, even on our porch? I called Haymitch. Don’t think he didn’t tell me about your brilliant idea of going to the hospital. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you leave this house under the threat of going back to–”

He pounced back, shutting her up with his lips. Katniss didn’t falter. She kissed him back right away, her fingers curling in his hair. He was due for a haircut.

He pulled away. “I don’t want to fight. You were attacked today. I’m just thrilled you’re home,”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just… god, I don’t want them to have it easy against you,”

“Let’s not talk about those scumbags now. How hurt are you?” his eyes scanned her body thoroughly.

“I was lucky. I got a few bird shots in my leg, nothing too bad. Worst thing was the pepper gas. I thought I would go blind,” she trembled. He instantly led her to the living room and sat her in front of the hearth with his arm around her. “Finn took many in the back. Thank God he’s okay,”

“Thank God you’re both okay,” he corrected. “Everyone’s going crazy about your condition. You’ll need to make an announcement soon,”

“Haymitch told me he’ll take care of it for now. I’ll show my face later tonight or tomorrow morning. Right now I just want to take a bath,” she rested her forehead against his temple.

He carried her bridal style up the stairs and sat her in the vanity while he got the water running. He took off her clothes and once she was naked threw his own clothes away. He tried not to stare too long at the forming bruises and red splotches covering her thigh and belly. His body tensed. She tilted his head up by the chin and ran her hands over his own –vanishing– bruises.

She smiled tightly and got in the shower, Peeta following obediently behind.

He washed and rinsed her hair while Katniss lathered her body with soap. There was nothing sexual about the action, just him taking care of her. He was surprised when she turned around and started washing his hair the same as he had done to her. She rubbed his scalp and pulled him down in a gentle kiss.

After they were both clean, he toweled her dry and led her to their room.

“Coming back here was difficult; almost every street in the city is barricaded, so I couldn’t get back in a car. One of the protestants that had been in the scene during the attack and later transported me and Finnick to the hospital offered to give me a ride home after I was free to go. The people made way for us to pass through the streets like we were Moses in the Red Sea,” she explained.

He ignored the tinge of jealousy. It should’ve been him there instead of some stranger.

Peeta eyed her wounds quietly. “What did the doctor recommend for that?”

“He suggested some kind of antibacterial ointment for the bruises and eye drops to prevent eye irritation. We went to several drugstores that, shockingly, were open.”

She scoffed. “Even on days like these some people won’t close their businesses for a few hours to support the cause. Anyway, surprise surprise, nowhere we went to did they have what the doctor prescribed, or anything alike,” Katniss explained calmly. This was a regular thing.

He bit back a curse.

Besides food shortage, there was also medicine shortage. Medicines of any kind were difficult to acquire in the country. Medicines for chemo, radiation, anticonvulsants, diabetes, blood pressure, even the most common things such as eye drops or cough syrup. Whatever it was, you name it; they didn’t have it, no matter how many drugstores you went to. People died every day due to the lack of medicines. Newborn babies couldn’t be vaccinated because there were no vaccines of any kind.

Regular products for personal hygiene had also disappeared years ago. Basic products like shampoo, soap, razors, deodorant, condoms, tampons, birth control pills and toothpaste. Since they were so difficult to get, people were starting to neglect their own hygiene, which caused the regeneration of diseases that had been eradicated years ago, like scabies and malaria.

It was hell.

He cleaned and later redressed her wounds with gauze while she brushed her hair. They lay back on the bed under the sheets, still naked. Her eyes closed almost instantly, but she didn’t fall asleep.

“What do you want for dinner?” he asked quietly.

“I’m not hungry. I want you to stay here with me,”

He knew they had to talk about her worry for him, but that wasn’t the night.

Instead, he did as she asked and stayed with her. She succumbed to sleep not long after. He held her close.

Next morning the bags under his eyes had taken again a purple-bluish color. He hadn’t slept a wink. Every time he closed his eyes he only saw images of Katniss being taken away by the guard, getting beaten and tortured in unimaginable ways. He woke up several times with a scream stuck in his throat. He only relaxed when he made sure she was sleeping by his side.

Thankfully he didn’t wake her up. She slept like a log last night. He hoped it was because his arms made her feel safe.

They stayed in bed until 7 am until Katniss had to get up to take several calls of their fellow politicians to discuss their planning. He heard her talking anxiously to Heavensbee. She was biting her lip and her eyes drifted around nervously.

“Do you think they’re ready, Plutarch? What if it’s too soon?” she paused. “Yes, I know people keep asking for more but what if–” she saw Peeta looking at her from the doorway and put the phone on speaker.

“Katniss listen,” Plutarch said, “after yesterday, everyone is flipping out. The whole country has you on a golden pedestal. Imagine the horror and rage when they saw their brave warrior woman get assaulted by the uniformed forces, and then the darling of the Capitol, Finnick, too! Your bloody faces are on the front pages of the most important newspapers of the world.” He praised.

Peeta knew the entire country loved and looked up to his wife. Before he’d gone to jail she had just been Katniss, Peeta Mellark’s trophy wife, just another pretty face. But once he was incarcerated everyone saw her for what she really was: a fighter. She did everything in her power, and more, to demonstrate he was innocent. Before everything, she’d been an athlete.

“I’m not a politician; Peeta is. I’m just a human-rights activist,” She’d said years ago. Now, she fought daily in the streets alongside their people. She’d earned their respect.

“They’re angry as hell. We need to use that to our advantage. Focus that fire somewhere useful and make sure this’ll actually change something. We can’t fight forever. It’s time,” Plutarch stated.

“It’s time for what?” Peeta questioned.

“Hour Zero.” She responded, “Indefinite civic strike. They’ll decree it tonight,”

He gulped. The day Finnick had been in their house he’d briefly whispered about discussing the date of the strike. Apparently, the high command of the Rebellion was sure it needed to be soon, but no one wanted to say when. During these past hundred days they’d been preparing the citizens for this very moment, but they were still scared. This was their last move. If this didn’t work, things would surely die down.

But now it seemed Plutarch had taken the wheel and made the decision himself. No one dared to oppose. They knew it had to be done.

“I’ll see you later this afternoon for the official announcement, Katniss. People will want to see you and make sure you approve of this decision,” Plutarch spoke calmly but with authority.

They all knew that if Katniss admitted to the citizens she wasn’t following the strike because she believed they weren’t ready, many would support her decision and back down, and that for sure wouldn’t work. They needed the whole country to be on board if they wanted success. They needed Katniss to convince them.

She talked to Plutarch but looked at Peeta, “I’ll be there.”

She and Plutarch quickly hung up, and she burrowed in Peeta’s arms. He nuzzled the top of her head and placed soft kisses.

“Do you not agree with their decision?”

“No, I do!” she quickly retorted. “I’m aware this is something we absolutely have to do, and we all have to stick together. We need to sum up our forces, not subtract. I’m just…” she went quiet.

“It’s okay to admit you’re scared, you know. I know everyone sees you as this indestructible person and you want to live up those expectations, but you’re human too, Katniss. You don’t have to be brave all the time,”

Her gaze never weakened. “I know. But I will be. I will not be the woman who stays home crying instead of going out and fighting,”

“You’re so much more than that, and we both know it. Everyone out there knows it,” he gestured to the street.

“I’m not scared of going out to fight. I thrive in it. I’m worried about what will happen if it doesn’t work,” she admitted. “I’m scared Snow’ll think it was your idea and he’ll throw you back in jail as a punishment. I don’t want to fear him, but he has so much leverage on us,”

“Not as much as you think.” he looked at her deeply. Gray met blue. “I told you: I’ll go back to prison if I have to, but I won’t fear him. He’s nothing but a murderer,”

“How can you say that?!” she growled and pushed him away roughly. “He already kept you away for three years. I won’t let him take you back there even for one more day! You’ve got to stop playing hero!”

“I’m not!” he sputtered indignantly.

“Yes, you are!” Katniss argued. “You already did your part. Now, don’t think about opening your mouth and let someone else take charge!”

“Isn’t that what I’ve been doing?”

“No! With your show up there,” she pointed to the roof. “Practically begging Snow to put you back in your cell! Like you want to be tortured again,” she cried.

“Katniss–”

“Don’t think I didn’t talk to Haymitch. Psychological and physical torture? You’re crazy if you think I’m letting you offer yourself as bait,”

“Fuck! Would you let me talk?” he roared. “What do you want me to say, Katniss? Yes, they toyed with my fucking mind, okay? They isolated me in a 8-square cell with no windows whatsoever, so I’d lose track of time. Sometimes I wouldn’t see daylight for days! When I was so tired I would pass out the little bastards would turn all the lights on and make all kinds of noise so I couldn’t sleep.

“One time they even…”

“What?”

“I was a fool to believe them, but it’d been so long since the last time you’d visited me, so…” he faltered.

“They told me you were dead, Katniss. They showed me a picture of you spread out on the floor, blood on your face and I just–” his voice broke.

She remembered that day. It’d been almost two months ago. She was hit on the face from behind with a helmet, and it caused blood to flow like a torrent down her nose. The shock knocked her down to the floor. Someone must have taken a picture and it got to his captors. That must have been the picture he saw.

“That’s when I lost weight. I stopped eating.” He confided.

“Imagine the look on my face when some time after they told me my wife was there to see me. It must have been fucking funny because they wouldn’t stop laughing all the way down from my cell.

“So, yes, it was devastating, but I’d probably do it again if I had to, and even though I know you do it because you love me, I don’t like it when you treat me like a porcelain doll. You don’t even say ‘jail’ around me, as if just by listening to the word I’m going to crumble. I’m not going to break, Katniss. They could only break me through one thing: you.”

She looked down ashamedly, her eyes watering.

“I’m sorry, Peeta, I didn’t realize my worrying affected you that way.

“But why would you decide to go through all that again for the people who abandoned you and left you to rot for three years?” she lamented.

“They’re my people.” he stated simply.

“They don’t deserve you, and neither do I,”

“That’s not true. Shut up now,” he ordered and slanted his mouth over hers. He explored every part of her oral cavity his tongue could reach. It didn’t take long for his dick to get rock hard. Katniss thrust her center against him and pulled away from his mouth to moan out loud.

“Fuck me, Peeta,” she implored.

They started taking the other’s clothes off until both were completely naked. He instantly picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his hips.

He didn’t think they could make it to the bedroom, so he supported her against the wall and thrust his fingers inside her. “You’re so wet,”

“Only for you,” she promised.

He altered from fingering her to rubbing her clit until he felt her walls constricting around his fingers and she gave out breathless moans. While she was still coming he entered her swiftly.

“Fuck,” he grunted while Katniss whimpered.

He fucked her roughly against the wall until he felt her walls tightening around his cock and her head thumped back against the flat surface. She let out a string of curses and moans, which triggered his orgasm. He kept thrusting inside her until she milked him completely. Afterwards, they slumped to the cold floor with Katniss on top of him. Suddenly he remembered her wounds from yesterday.

“Shit. Was I too rough? Are you okay?”

He only felt the movement of her head. “It was perfect.” she caressed his chest.

They lay in silence for minutes, until she asked: “What do you think?”

“You’re always amazing,”

She snorted and flicked at his chest. “Not about sex, Peeta. About the strike,”

“Does it matter what I think?”

“Of course it does! You’re their leader,”

“Nah, I’m not. You said so yourself,”

She shifted uncomfortably on his chest and he held her down to him.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know. I also know what you meant. I’m not sure I can tell you whether they’re ready or not for this step since I’ve missed everything.” When he was in jail he wasn’t even aware the protests had begun.

“What I can tell you is that we need to do anything that’ll help us get Snow off our backs, so let’s do it,”

She smiled.

…

Hours later he had a sense of déjà vu as he, through the computed of course, watched Katniss and the rest of the diplomats announce to the country their latest decision, only this time it was Plutarch who spoke while Katniss and the rest remained dutifully by his side.

“Starting tomorrow, we encourage the entire country to join us in an indefinite civic strike until Snow and his whole bunch leave Panem for good. Otherwise, we, the citizens and real owners of this land, will come for you,” he threatened.

Peeta was sure the end would come soon.

…

After Katniss got home they watched quietly in the computer screen as the whole country rose and started preparing for the strike.

Supermarkets and drugstores were crowded, people desperately buying what little they could find and pay for. They saw extremely long lines of people trying to pay for their products.

“It seems they’ll really go through with it,” Katniss commented.

“Of course they will.” Peeta assured.

She took his face in her hands. “No matter what happens after tomorrow, will you stay with me?”

“Always,” he promised.

This was inspired by Leopoldo Lopez’s “liberation” on Saturday, July 8th, 2017. He was incarcerated in 2014 and sentenced to thirteen years in prison. On Saturday he was given house arrest, and you can’t imagine how much hope and joy this brings my people. Unfortunately, he’s still a prisoner, and my mother land is too. Peeta’s character is Leopoldo, and Katniss’s is Leo’s wife: Lilian Tintori.

All big events, every one as exactly described in the fic (except the private scenes and Katniss and Finnick’s attack) were inspired by real events in my beloved Venezuela that have happened in these past few months. I basically just changed the names and wrote the story, but everything you read up there has happened and is happening in real life.

We really have been in continuous protest for over a hundred days. There really are 95 people dead, mostly between ages 16 and 23. There really are over 2000 people imprisoned for literally no reason, receiving inhuman tortures. We really are being forced to a new constitution without the citizens’ consent. We really do have an inflation of over 1000%. We don’t have food or medicines. There’s no money. There’s no security. We’re dying.

If you want to know a little more about the subject, drop by my Tumblr post explaining the situation a little bit more specified by clicking on this link.

PLEASE RESEARCH MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN VENEZUELA AND SPREAD THE WORD. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEE WHAT’S GOING ON AND HOW OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE BEING STEPPED AND SPIT ON. Thank you for reading.

Find it also on FFN and AO3

#katniss everdeen #Peeta Mellark #The Hunger Games #THG #fanfiction #everlark #otp #Leopoldo Lopez #lilian tintori #Venezuelan protests 2017 #Venezuela 2017

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