#but nope! he took peeta

[thesweetnessofspring]

When even infamous dictator President Coriolanus Snow can see that Katniss loves Peeta, but some people still insist that they're Just Very Good Friends...

[skyewritesstuff]

greedy | p. mellark

my masterlist.

summary: after months of being in what you think is a situationship with peeta, you finally confront him about whether or not there's anything truly there or if you're just another girl who has fallen for his kindness and misinterpreted the signs.

pairing: peeta mellark x reader (college!au, fratboy!peeta if you squint)

fandom: the hunger games

warnings: nothing too serious. implied nsfw at the end. afab reader. sorta ooc peeta...it's mostly environmental because we all know peeta's a flirt.

notes: based on greedy by tate mcrae even though the verse at the end gives me everlark vibes. also, this has been beta read. :)

word count: 2.8k

He’s here. Are you coming?

You looked at the blue and gray text thread, Clove’s name, and contact picture with a little clover emoji sitting right on top of it. A sigh escaped you as you looked up from your phone at the fraternity house that was positioned in front of you. You’d been leaning against the fencing that surrounded the yard for what felt like an hour, but in reality, it’d only been a few minutes.

As of late, facing Peeta Mellark has always been an unpredictable situation. While he was kind, polite, and charismatic, that charisma oftentimes led to him getting entangled metaphorically (at least you hoped) with other girls. You couldn’t tell if he didn’t know how to say no, was weighing out his options, or if he was what Clove often referred to as a “fuckboy”. 

Fuck it. You rolled your eyes, stuffed your phone into your jacket pocket, and made your way across the cement walkway leading to the house. Having second thoughts, you pulled your phone back out, pulling up the same conversation with Clove.

Is she here?

The person you were speaking of was none other than Katniss Everdeen. She was the most recent girl that Peeta had been hanging around with and was simultaneously the cause of your latest installment of confusion. According to some of your other friends, she’d been friends with Peeta for a while and the study date you ran up on in the library was nothing but a platonic catch-up amongst busy friends.

However, one Madge Undersee had more than the opposite to say. All it took was one group mirror shot in the bathroom at a nightclub posted on Instagram, featuring you and Peeta in the outskirts of the photo, his arm wrapped securely around your waist, for her to send you a heated DM saying that he and Katniss had been a thing for forever and that you were coming between them.

You very quickly sent back, “Funny how the alleged ‘other girl’ always gets shit while the dude gets to slide by.” with a sarcastically placed upside-down smiley that was left on read still to this day.

A typing bubble appeared in Clove’s thread.

I don’t think so!

You let out another sigh, relieved that for now, Katniss wasn’t a worry. You walked into the house, looking around. There was a cloud of smoke in the air, presumably from various substances and/or a smoke machine, and bright lights coming from various directions. You squinted, trying to make out anyone you knew, but specifically trying to find Clove.

“Hey!” The greeting was slurred, long, and drawn out as an arm was all but dropped onto your shoulders. Finnick Odair was standing beside you, laughing at what appeared to be nothing. Finnick was a grad student that you’d met while waiting in line for coffee, quickly discovering that you two had mutual connections.

“Y/N…Y/N…you look…beautiful, stunning, ravishing…Have you seen Annie?” 

You chuckled at how rapidly his thought process changed. “Nope, I just got here! Maybe try calling her?”

“Ha,” he let out, “I don’t…I don’t know her number…”

“But she should be in your… never mind, you’ll find her I’m sure.” you grinned, shaking your head.

“Alright, sweet!” Finnick started to walk away, but then quickly turned on his heel back to you, pointing in your direction.

“Almost forgot…Peeta’s looking for you!”

“What?”

The question was ignored as he walked away, approaching another male at the party the same way he’d approached you. Peeta was looking for you? Was he serious or just on another planet from the amount of alcohol in his system?

You kept maneuvering through the crowd, trying to locate the kitchen, knowing that’s where most of the snacks and drinks were. The kitchen also usually served as a good place to wait around if you were looking for someone. 

You pulled out your phone, shooting a text to Clove to meet you in the kitchen. You stared down at the screen, hoping for a speech bubble to pop up saying she was either on her way or giving you simple directions to wherever she was located. You then felt yourself collide with someone in a way that wasn’t painful, but most definitely was going to lead to an awkward exchange.

“Oh shit…I’m so sorry…”

You were met with blonde hair and a black hoodie and then a beautiful set of oh-too-familiar blue eyes.

“Don’t be!” Peeta smiled, “I was looking for you! I sent out Finnick to look for you and everything.”

You rolled your eyes with a smirk, “Well, you might want to find someone sober enough to complete the mission next time, just saying.”

“You are probably absolutely correct…but it’s fine. Why send someone else when it’s something you can do on your own way better, right?” he smiled, leaning on the wall, taking a sip from his cup, “Do you want something to drink?”

“What is that?” you gestured to the cup, raising a curious yet somewhat fearful eyebrow.

Peeta shrugged, “I think it’s some kind of jungle juice. The base has to be Hawaiian Punch because of the color if that helps.” He extended the cup towards you, “Want to see for yourself?”

You nodded and took the cup, taking a sip. It was definitely Hawaiian Punch, and it wasn’t as strong as you thought it would be, which could either be a help or a hindrance. 

“Pretty good, right?” he asked. You nodded in response, handing the cup back to him. “Do you want me to get you some of that…or I can try to mix you something myself?”

“Whatever that is, that’s fine.” you answered, following him over to a large orange Gatorade dispenser that had the word “NOT” written on a piece of tape, stuck above the label. You chuckled under your breath as you watched the blonde grab a cup, scoop out some ice, and then fill the drink. As he did this, you took the time to take in his appearance as your brain had been busy keeping up with the conversation instead of taking a good look at him.

He was in a black hoodie with a small logo on the chest; his blonde hair falling into his face a little. He also was wearing gray joggers with his university lanyard sticking out of the pocket, falling onto his leg with a pair of somewhat beaten-up sneakers. Despite his relaxed appearance, he looked put together. He looked good.

Peeta turned back to you, handing you the cup, which you took with a smile. “Do you wanna go somewhere quieter?” he asked, gesturing to the surroundings before refilling his cup.

Your stomach turned with nerves. He probably just meant to talk, but what if he didn't? You knew for a fact that your bra and underwear were not fancy, nor did they match, and you probably had the lowest body count in your friend group. You took a hard swallow.

“...To talk…” Peeta laughed, his tone sounding a little nervous as he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and took a sip from his cup. The lights well-hid the red flush on his face.

“Oh…okay, yeah!” you laughed back, watching as he extended his hand. You took his hand, noticing how he immediately laced your fingers together as he walked you through the main hallway that you’d just walked through and up the stairs. 

Someone at a distance must’ve seen you both making your way upstairs, because someone wolf-whistled and then called Peeta’s name, causing him to sharply turn over his shoulder to try and identify the person. He quickly stuck his middle finger up at no one in particular, given the culprit was never identified, and then sped up a little as you both got up to the top of the stairs.

“I'm sorry. People are dumb and make ridiculous assumptions…like I’m really not trying to…”

“Peeta, it’s okay.” you reassured him, “If Clove had seen me, she probably would’ve been ten times worse and reminded me of one of her ridiculous tips to supposedly eliminate your gag reflex that she learned on TikTok.”

Peeta somewhat choked on the sip of his drink that he was taking, laughing at your comment, “Who said you couldn’t learn something off of the internet.”

He led you down a shorter hallway to a door. He knocked twice before opening it, finding it just as he must’ve left it, as you quickly put two-and-two together that this was his room. He shut and locked the door behind him, took another sip from his drink, and sat it on his bedside table before flopping on the bed as you leaned against the wall.

You took a big sip of your drink, hoping the alcohol kicked in sooner rather than later to get some control of the nerves that were bubbling up across your entire body. You watched as the blonde turned on his side and looked over at you.

“I'm not gonna bite, sweetheart…unless you’re into that.” 

You couldn’t refrain from rolling your eyes at his cheesy line before you walked over to sit your drink next to his. Then, you removed your jacket, hanging it from his footrest. Before you could even turn your attention back to him, you could feel his eyes on you. It was like he was bearing a hole into the exposed skin on your back that was left uncovered from your dress now that your denim jacket had been discarded.

When you turned back around, he rolled onto his back with his hands behind his head, smiling up at you. “You’re gorgeous.” 

It was spoken so matter-of-factly as if he was telling you the most basic of observations…as if it were obvious to anyone who looked at you. You could feel your chest swell slightly at his words. Your instinct was going to be to tell him to stop or to refute what he said, but you took a breath and let out a small, “Thank you” in response as you sat on the edge of his bed and then slowly inched your way back onto the bed, laying next to him.

The room was silent, aside from the bumping music that was playing behind the door and down the stairs, and your eyes were fixed on the ceiling fan, watching it spin to avoid meeting Peeta’s eyes, fearing the burning blush that would overtake your body if you did.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, breaking that silence.

“Nothing…” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the full truth either. You weren’t giving your full thought process to anything. Instead, your brain was in several places at once. You’d thought about the makeup tutorial you’d seen earlier set to the song that was playing downstairs. You’d thought about how close Peeta was to you. You’d also thought about Katniss and Peeta’s study “date” from a while back too.

“Baby, if something’s bothering you, you can tell me.” he said. You finally glanced over at him. He was on his side, facing you, leaning against one hand while the other played with his hoodie string.

Baby.

Before you could stop yourself, the bigger question tumbled out of your lips, “What’s up with you?”

His features scrunched together in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“You take me on dates. You kiss me. You hold my hand. You call me baby.” you paused, “But then, I see you at the library with Katniss Everdeen and I have one of her stupid little friends in my DMs accusing me of being a homewrecker because you have your arm around me in a photo I didn’t even post…and I’ve seen you talking to other girls too, Peeta. You do the same thing, leaning against the wall, standing close to them. You’re smiling and laughing and the girl is playing with her hair and laughing back at you. What is all of that? Am I just the one you know will answer your random texts and calls to hang out…go to the club… make out in your car? Am I some weird escape from reality like…who…”

You were quickly silenced by his lips on yours, one hand coming up to your cheek, pulling you in closer to him. It was almost second nature at this point and your body quickly betrayed you despite your frustrations and melted into the kiss as it deepened, your hand coming to rest on his ribcage, progressively snaking onto his back and then upwards into his blonde locks as he moved over top of you.

The motion of him nudging your leg with his knee so he could position himself knocked you back into reality like a harsh slap to the face. You put both hands onto his chest and applied just enough pressure to jerk him back into the present as well. He looked confused. His chest was rising and falling rapidly and his lips were slightly swollen.

“Did I do something?” 

You propped yourself up, causing him to move, rolling back onto his back, his arm dropping across his chest as he rather obviously tried to cool himself down. You sat up, looking down at Peeta, whose eyes met yours.

“You never answered my question.”

“Yes, I did.” He looked at you like you’d missed the most obvious sign in the universe, but you already knew he meant the kiss, and that was not the answer you were looking for.

You shook your head, “A kiss isn’t an answer. If anything, it just proves my point. I don’t understand you. You clearly, in some way, want me. So, what is it? Are you just playing the field…fucking a bunch of random girls…Are you in love with Katniss still?”

“Katniss?” Peeta looked like you’d slapped him clean across his handsome face.

“Yes, Katniss…” You repeated, glancing from him to the door, wondering if it’d just be better to get up and go home. You knew fully well that he’d follow you. There was no getting out of this.

“I get it. You’re hot. You’re nice. I genuinely don’t think you’d try to intentionally hurt anyone, but…”

“That’s it, right there.” He pointed toward you as you spoke, “You talk about me and my mixed signals…what is that? You go from basically saying I’m some piece of shit heartbreaker to saying I’d never hurt anyone. You do that a lot. You’ll go from dancing with me and kissing me…letting me hold you while you’re sleeping to acting completely disinterested in anything outside of a friendship. I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. Girls are usually pretty forward with me…regardless of whether I feel the same or not. I don’t know if it’s intentional…like you think it’ll make me want you more or what, but it’s driving me crazy. Other girls may want me...I don't know for sure, but I know for sure that I want you, not them. I’m trying my best to show you that…but you just keep pushing me away and I wish you’d stop.”

Your eyes dropped to the floor, suddenly hyper-aware of a scuff on the toe of your boots. Your heart pounded as you tried to process what he’d said. He was usually so confident and sure in his abilities to keep sucking you back in, but the wavering tones in his voice indicated otherwise. He was serious.

You turned back to him, “I…I like you a lot…a lot more than just a friend…which is why seeing you with those other girls drove me fucking insane. I want you and for you to only want me. I don’t want to just be some kind of convenience for you. I’m either your girlfriend or nothing at all.”

His lips curved into a smile as your arms crossed over your chest, waiting for a response from the blonde. Peeta sat up and moved in closer to you, his forehead resting against yours, lips inches from your own.

“As you wish, girlfriend.”

His lips were on yours as soon as the title was spoken, moving slowly and sensually. His hand came to your waist as you fell back onto the bed, pulling him down with you as you finally let him move over top of you. The kisses grew needier and more passionate as your hands moved to the hem of his hoodie, pulling it and his white undershirt over his head and allowing for him to toss them behind him.

The articles of clothing caught your jacket, bringing it to the floor as well. Your phone slid out of the pocket as it vibrated, going completely unnoticed next to the clothing.

Where are you?

Hello?

Oh my god, Cato just said he saw you going upstairs with Peeta. Good luck. ;) Remember what I told you about spelling your name. Trust me, works every single time.

[mrsnancywheeler]

the lakes (4) // finnick odair x f. reader

summary: it's supposed to be over, you and Finnick are supposed to spend the rest of your lives helping each other heal. living as peacefully as possible, but the the third quarter quell throws a wrench in your domestic bliss.

previous chapter / next chapter

midnight rain

2.6k words

warnings: angst, fluff, mentions and allusions of trafficking and sexualization of reader/finnick by capitol, manipulation of someone's feelings, allusions of past break up, allusions to death/violence, playful banter, no use of y/n, UNEDITED, me trying to write peeta, trauma, allusions to mental illness, survivors guilt

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

The couch in all its neon greeness had been the same over the last 6 years. With the same garishly neon blue pillows in obnoxious shapes and as you stared at it it brought back when you and Conway had anxiously sat on it. When you began nervously sucking up to him, playing his sensitive side.

“I'm worried about you." Finnick popped a grape into his mouth as he sat on one of the velvety seats at the table. Honesty was his new approach, to tell you exactly what he was thinking especially if it was about you to force you to do the same. You were only a couple hours into the morning and this was evident.

“Why, Finnick?" You sighed, not in annoyance, well maybe a little bit in annoyance, but mostly the sigh had been one of love.

“I know we've both been back before, but not as tributes. You're going to start thinking about your games again as we go through the same steps. I'm worried you won't stay grounded."

“Yeah, well, I have you and as long as I can be in your arms I'll be okay."

He nodded observing you carefully, to make sure you weren't repressing anything deep within you, but he seemed satisfied for now. “It's not just you, I'm sure we're all going to be thinking a lot about the first time we were in this position." Finnick shrugged, grabbing another handful of grapes.

“Are you gonna be able to stay grounded?" You asked, putting down the knife you were using to butter your toast.

"I've managed this long.” He smirked, leaning forward, "Plus I've got you, angel.” 

You rolled your eyes,"You're so cheesy.”

"What? So it's cheesy when I do it, but not when you do it?”

"Exactly.” You laughed. "Second day of married life and you're already catching on!”

"I'm a fast learner.” He raised his eyebrows, grinning.

The door opened and in came your escort. “Good morning, you two! Glad to see you've broken no more glasses, Finnick." She tutted, her dress was an eyesore to look at. You loved color, but her clashing bright ones made your head hurt.

“Nope, I've remembered my manners, Koalema.” 

"Well that's good! Oh look, we're so close to arrival.” She kept babbling about something probably nonsensical. Koalema, why had you never been able to recall that name? You felt bad for not remembering, but it was so hard when she was flurry of chaos and overstimulation. 

Finnick stood up and held his hand out for you, “Well here we go, angel. Be ready to put on that beloved smile and have those tears ready to spill. They love that about you." You took his hand and pulled yourself out of your seat.

“You don't need any instruction from me, always the charmer."

“Yeah, well I've had longer." The two of you prepared to greet the vultures waiting to eat up upon arrival. Standing in front of the window, hands tightly clasped together ready to gracefully swoop up your audience in their desired fantasy for the final time. 

To smile at the people who had taken everything from you and completely controlled every aspect in your life. How people saw you, your relationship with Finnick, your relationship with yourself and your body, anything that you could think of they had somehow pulled strings in it. All of your life was under their thumb and you realized the lengths you would go to stop that, what would life be like when all you had left was memories that never needed to be reopened?

              𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

It was beautiful. There was more food than you'd ever be able to eat and not a single scent of the salty seafood you were used to. Bright colors etched into your brain and everything was so modern, so clean. You had no idea what you'd expected, but it blew you away.

“This is where you two will be staying on our way to the Capitol! Isn't it beautiful? No expense has been spared, District 4 has a pretty good reputation of course and we'd like to keep that! So be in awe, but not so much that you forget about that." The garish woman said so cheerfully you were convinced you misheard her.

“No we wouldn't want that." Conway muttered and the woman gave him a sharp smile.

“Make yourselves at home, I do believe the two of you are very lucky and get the one, the only Finnick Odair as one of your mentors this year. Let me check on that and possibly, Odine." Her heels clicked out the room which inexplicably opened just as she stood in front of it.

Home. You'd never see home again, never swim in the comfort of its waters, see your family, lay in the warm sand. Yes, you would if you could win this, but you couldn't. And Finnick, how were you supposed to think about strategy when he would be right there?

“Are you okay?" A soft hand landed on your shoulder and Conway's deep, brown eyes spoke as much comfort as they could for you. Of course you weren't okay, how could you be? But saying that wouldn't endear him into you, so you melted into his touch.

You shook your head, closing your eyes, and sniffling. “What about you? How was your family?" 

“Well at least I'm here with you and they'll be okay, at least they have each other too." Yes, at least you had someone you knew, yet also didn't that make it more difficult? He didn't ask about your family though, maybe if you kept a tally you'd feel less guilty by the end.

“Yeah, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone I trusted. I'm just so scared, Conway.” With that you'd erupted into tears and he pulled his arms around you. They weren't stiff, but weren't comforting, not that you really needed his comfort.

“It's okay, we've got each other."

You already hated yourself.

With that the automatic door slid open, but you didn't tear yourself away. You knew who it would be, but he wouldn't believe you if you jumped from him. So you slowly moved your hands to wipe your face and made your voice shake as you let out your sweetest, “Thank you."

He nodded eagerly, he didn't say of course but you could see it in his eyes. A warm, but brisk voice interrupted the moment. “Glad you've already decided to ally with each other, makes it much more difficult when the tributes won't talk to one another." Finnick’s honeycomb sweet voice finally drew your eyes to his.

“Yes, it's an easier angle to work with." A tall woman beside him agreed, you recognized her from the screens, Ondine Afron, she sounded more tired then you'd remembered.

“We’ll be your mentors, teaching you with our experience the best ways to survive, how to get sponsors, and whatever else could help." Finnick grabbed a sugar cube from the bowl by the teapot, examining it before tossing it into his mouth.

Yes and him being a mentor could throw a wrench in your plans. Conway had heard every bit of the emotional rollercoaster that had been Finnick Odair, how could you convince him you loved him instead when the man of all your affections was right there.

“Nice to meet you both." Conway said curtly, he let himself glare slightly at the other man. Usually you'd scold him for this, you weren't the type to want tension, but you needed him to trust you. So you leaned into his side, looking up at him as innocently as you could. Willingly him with every molecule to believe you and for Finnick to leave you alone enough to make your performance more outstanding.

Later that night when you'd wandered the train's halls in a nightgown with a softness like you'd never experienced before, you'd passed by Finnick who had nothing but praise for the plan we could tell you were hatching. Of course he could tell, he knew every morsel of your being. 

“You're so smart, angel, the way you came up with that in a matter of seconds. Being good on your feet like that could save you in the arena." He'd whispered, softly above the mechanical noises your brain had hyper fixated on since your arrival. 

“Don't call me that." You muttered.

He sighed, looking down, “I'm sorry. I'm just-"

“Yeah, I know."

“You know I'd do anything to keep you safe, even if I haven't always been able to tell you what and now I've failed, but here you are, I mean the way you manipulated your eyes like that was brilliant. The audience is going to be under your finger just keep doing what you're doing." Suddenly his hands were around yours, a movement so familiar it made you shudder.

“Finnick, please don't." You tugged your hands, half-heartedly, not really letting them escape his loose grip.

“I'm sorry, I know you don't understand why I hurt you, but it'll all make sense once you win this thing."

“Yeah, sure." You rolled your eyes, this was a tiring waltz between the two of you. Him claiming it was to protect you while you couldn't know from what, even now when you were on the brink of inevitable death.

“I promise." He stilled all his shifting and movements, sea green eyes boring so deeply into the depths of your heart there was no choice but to trust him. You couldn't help yourself and leaned in, delicately letting your lips graze his cheek.

“I have to go find his room. You know, do what I can." There was slight laughter behind your tone and Finnick nodded, softly smiling.

"My smart girl.” He muttered, glowing in the lamp light. I miss you, your brain screamed as you gazed at him, suddenly the tears you were trying to force up to sell your act were easier to conjure up. So you left him in the dim lights of the train car to convince Conway of how badly you needed his comfort now that you were away from home.

               𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

“Secret wedding is all anyone can talk about." Your designer, Cambrie, sounded like bright citrus, drinking orange juice for breakfast. “Especially those seaweed rings, so bolstering for my ideas to run their course!" She smiled, clearly full of anticipation for her idea to be revealed to you.

Truthfully you couldn't care less about it, you wanted to be back at Finnick's side. As the years passed being alone with people from the Capitol no matter who they were or what they intended nauseated you. “Oh come on, Cambrie, I'm going to die of anticipation!" You proclaimed with as much drama as you could, pouting.

"Oh you're adorable.” She clapped like you were some sort of performing dog and pinched your cheeks, actually pinched your cheeks. The infantilization made you want to retreat but that would never be an option. “Reignbaugh was going to go with a fishing net to look for Finnick to pay homage to the District of course, and similarly with you I was thinking to draw it together, but the seaweed combined to call back to the rings. Everyone will eat it up, and oh I have a lovely pearl headdress you are going to be stunning!” 

You gushed to her, but internally felt your stomach turn. This really meant she was going to try and show as much as you off as she could. Of course this turned out to be true. The outfit could have been beautiful if in reality it wasn't so dehumanizing. The seaweed running through the fishing net dress that adorned you barely covered your nipples and much of your body was clearly visible to those who stood close enough.

"And of course for the Capitol Princess.” Cambrie announced, placing her elegantly made crown, you had to admit it was beautiful. The way each pearl shined between the seaweed. Although you did think the seaweed usage was over the top, the choice of it for the rings hadn't really been significant, it was just there in a place you both loved. It was marketable though. Her and your other stylists had also gone to great effort to make your eyes look as watery as possible, even adding pearly effects to make it look like you were crying them. It was too all too much, but you oohh’d and awed which they adored you even more for. 

“Don't you look handsome." You remarked all too sarcastically as you approached Finnick and his bare chest. 

“Oh just smile and wave, angel, they're savoring the last time they'll see either of us like this.” It was lighthearted and he pressed a kiss to the side of your head, but it did comfort you. Eventually your body would simply be yours again." There she is.” He whispered, your eyes followed him to her, Katniss Everdeen.

“Well you better go make your introduction then."

“Well ladies first." He gestured, expectantly.

“No, I don't think my first introduction should be like this." You pointed up and down the outfit. "You go, it'll seem perfectly on brand for you.”

Finnick nodded, you could tell he had more he wanted to say, to lecture on but there wasn't much time. You looked around the room, toying with the fishnet nervously before you heard someone call your name and looked in the direction.

"Didn't expect you to be the type with nerves.” A voice quickly caught your attention. Peeta Mellark.

"Only at the worst times.” You grimaced, shaking your head. 

Peeta smiled, "Well I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who gets them.” 

"Oh far from it, I bet you 75% of the people in here are trying not to throw up right now.” 

“Which one's are fine then?" He stood by you observing the occupants.

“While obviously it's neither of us, I'm thinking District 11 too many years in for either of them to be worrying."

“1 & 2?"

“Bingo!" You announced, tilting your head.

“Surprised you didn't say Katniss." He remarked.

"Surprised you didn't say Finnick.” You countered.

"The thrills of pretending to not be shaking.” He shook his head with a smirk.

"Masters of that game. In fact she looks like she might just kill him now.” You tried not to laugh at how Katniss looked at Finnick who you knew was trying desperately to work his charms.

"Well, I'd best go save him then.”

"Oh, yes it would only be mildly entertaining.”

"It was nice meeting you, considering the circumstances.” Peeta exuded kindness in a way you could only aspire too, it genuinely hurt your soul.

“Yes, a mind numbing extravaganza thrown here would have been much more enjoyable, as horrendous as that is to say." 

"I only ever attended one and just from that, I ever so gravely attest to that. I better go break the two up before she attacks.”

"Oh please do, can't have him squabbling already.” Peeta smiled and soon enough Finnick was stalking back your way.

"She'll come around.” He assured before you could even open your mouth as the two of you stepped into the carriage.

"I'm sure she will. Peeta and I could feel the tension from a room away.”

"Everybody likes me.”

"I'm sure talking like that is exactly why she doesn't.” You nudged him playfully.

"Oh shut up.” He rolled his eyes.

"That's no way to talk to your wife, Mr. Odair.” 

“I apologize, Mrs. Odair." He pulled you in for a kiss just as the carriage came into the bright sunlight, the screaming proved its effectiveness to you. It was sure to leave an impact on them when they looked back on the tribute parade. 

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

thank you all again for your continued reading and support, especially since I feel like this is so slow paced but there's so much I want to get in there. if you enjoyed feedback, comments, likes, reblogs are all much appreciated, as always my inbox is wide open for any thoughts y'all have! so excited for getting into the training parts and some rebellion planning in the next part. love y'all so much, thank you again 💕💋

taglist: @imaegonstargaryenswife0 @avoxrising @artsyaquarium @jennaaaaaaaaaaaa @secretsicanthideanymore @darlingsoulbeautfulthoughts @thatonegayloser616 @kybermp3 @meri-soni-meri-tamanna @ravensinthedaylight

[byhuenii]

⊱☆⊰ COFFEE STAINED SHIRT

prompt— couples truth or drink with bf gojo satoru. (WC: idk) pairing— gojo satoru x fem!reader warnings— MINORS DNI! not proofread, fluff, maybe ooc gojo, typos, suggestive, maybe more im missing. a/n— these videos get me through boring days lol, i love these and yeah MINORS DNI. gojo’s questions are in blue and yours are in purple

“ are we already recording orr… ” satoru’s blue eyes squint at the camera crew who put up their thumbs as a yes now start the video.

YN : “ hi. my name is yn ln! ”

GOJO : “ and im satoru gojo, and this is truth or drink couples edition! ”

“ how long have you two been together and how did you meet up? ”

a sly smirk rolled onto satoru’s lips causing you to groan outloud. “ well if you insist~ she actually spilled coffee on my white shirt that i gifted myself for my own birthday! and 2 1/2 years ”

“ it didnt even look expensive ”, she mumbled under her breath, a few staff giggled

GOJO : “ what? ”

YN : “ nothing anyways.ill go first! ”

a small chuckle escaped her lips, “ oh wow starting off stong. okay what is your favorite part of my body ” her eyes deadpanned to the camera “ i already know what he is gonna say, and its gonna be my ass and boobs .”

GOJO : “ wrong its your heart, i love the way it beats and brings me comfort ”

the silence was evident, gojo tried not to laugh causing little hee hee tee hee slip out. you stared at the camera blank expression.

GOJO : “ it is your boobs and ass though. ” a wide smile plastered on his face

“ have you liked any of my friends? ” satoru happily placed the card down staring beams against you, you hesitated at bit your hand rested against the cup, “ see! she only had eyes on me—“

you took a shot eyes squinting at the bitter and hot aftertaste lingering on your tongue

GOJO : “ WHAT ?? ” “ WHO?? WHAT ??? ”

YN : “ nope i took a shot im not saying shit! ”

GOJO : “ …do any of them know..? ”

YN : “ well i wanna say both of them. ”

GOJO : “ BOTH? AS IN TWO?? ”

you cleared your throat “ anyways, what were your first impressions of me ”

GOJO : “ i thought you were really cute especially when you apologized after spilling the coffee on my shirt.. ”

YN : “ is that it? ” you smiled at how sweet he thought of you

GOJO : “ …and that i wanted to fuc— “

YN : “ OKAY OKAY FUCK. NEVERMIND I ASKED. JUST GO. ” your face turned red flipping off satoru who blew you a kiss

“ what is the one thing you wouldnt change about me? ” satoru rested his head in his hand kicking his feet from under the chair

YN : “ your beautiful big blue eyes. ”

GOJO : “ i was expecting you to say like my big dick or something but awww ”

you kicked his foot under the table “ yeah i guess i love that too. ”

GOJO : “ no no you do love it, you tell me all the time ”

“ okay shut up satoru. how many people did you have sex with while we were talking? ”

GOJO : “ zero, after you spilled that coffee on my shirt i only wanted you. ”

“ whats the meanest thing you said about me to your friends? ” gojo smiled, “ it cant be that bad ”

you sighed taking a shot, debating if you should pour yourself another shot.

GOJO : “ okay im hurt ” he exclaimed dramatically,

YN : “ you may of not had sex with other girls when we were talking but you flirted with them toru. ”

GOJO : “ ..hey i said i was sorry! ” his pout was evident

“ if you could change one thing about me what would it be? ”

GOJO : “ nothing. ”

YN : “ all quick.. ”

“ me or peeta mellark? ”

YN : “ both? ”

GOJO : “ no pick thats not fair! “

YN : “ okay well you obviously! i love my boyfriend more than some fictional man.. ” you looked over at the camera ans whispered peeta mellark,

GOJO : “ HEY I SAW THAT NO NO— “

“ have you ever faked an orgasm? ”

YN : “ no. ”

GOJO : “ im just that good ladies never settle for anything lower! ” he winked at the camera

“ have you ever thought of breaking up with me or taking a break? ”

GOJO : “ honestly once i did, but that was just because my job is so demanding i didnt want you to constantly be alone waiting for me ”

“ would you of dated me STILL if i had a child with another women? ”

YN : “ oh hell yeah i would, kid no kid it dont matter to me ”

“ what is my biggest flaw? ”

YN : “ you are very cocky and some times act like nobody can touch you or you think youre alone basically. ”

GOJO : “ well..damn ”

YN : “ its okay i still love you ”

“ have you every considered having an open relationship? ”

GOJO : “ i have thought about it BUT i don’t like the idea of open relationships. whats the point of being im a relationship if you are going to date another person? it doesn’t make me feel right either.. ”

YN : “ okay good cause i would’ve killed you if you said yes. ”

“ whats the nicest thing you’ve said about me to your friends? ”

GOJO : ww had meanest so obviously we need the nicest now spill.

YN : okay well, this was when we were in our talking stage. i already knew he liked me but i was trying to figure out my feelings and he waited for me and was so supportive. i think i cried and ranted to my friends about him the next day—

GOJO : i mean nobody should pressure nobody into a relationship

YN : see ladies NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS KEEP THOSE EXPECTATIONS HIGH.

GOJO : in the wise words of taylor swift “in a world of boys hes a gentleman!”,

YN : since when did you know tswift…

GOJO : …

“ if i was a leech would you still love me? ”

GOJO : “ aww yes, id put a cute little bow on you! ”

YN : “ really? id love a glitter bow— “

GOJO : “ i would keep you on my arm ans let you suck the shit out of me— “

YN : “ okay bye this video is over. MAKE SURE LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE— ”

GOJO : “ WHAT ALREADY? I WAS JOKING WAIT PLEASE, ”

A/N: :3 gojo :3

[mellarked-katnisseverdeen]

I very deeply headcanon, maybe a few years after they are married and Peeta first brings up children, and how he is considering what it would be like to have one of their own actually Katniss who like jumps like she is burnt. Instantly is like 'Nope, no no no nope..." and Peeta actually recoginizes this as Katniss, on some small level, wanting children. Even if it's not something she can allow herself to want, if that makes sense.

He knows her well enough to know that reaction. To know when something makes her so happy, it petrifys her. It happened early in the time after he came back, during the time she was learning allows herself to remember Prim, ther friends, and loved ones and smile. The months it took to really open up to her mother again. He can see the moment he even brings up the mention children, the idea of allowing herself that and potenally losing it is what causes her such a negitive reaction.

Canon, narriated through Katniss's PoV says Peeta wanted them so badly. But we aren't actually TOLD how much he actually expressed this to her, and if she picked this up herself. I like to think he did, but he never would have mentioned it more than once if he genueinly read that she didn't have an interest in becoming a parent with him. But he knows she does, so he never presses or even asks. But always makes sure she knows he'd love to be a father when and if she ever was ready too.

Add this to my never ending WIP list *cries*

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

99% sure that actual penetration took place on that QQ beach. Change my mind.

It didn’t, Anon. You can wishful think all you want but nope. Too OOC for them both. Too OOC for it to happen and Katniss or one of the other characters to NOT say something. To include Peeta’s confusion about nights on the train in MJ. Pretty sure he would’ve brought up the beach instead of the train if this were what happened…

[itcanbegoodagain]

Gentle Love

More Everlark fluff, because, really, is there ever too much?

Word Count: 1821 (not really proofread)

Now that the need isn't so dire, it's harder for me to rise before the sun does. And, most times, it isn't a problem. There's no need for me to be up so early in the day. Summer, though, was a different story.

The sun was too damn hot!

So, with heavy and unwilling limbs, I rolled out of bed, straightening the sheets before washing up.

Minutes later, when I crossed into the kitchen, Peeta was already there, finishing breakfast at the table. He broke into a grin, making my lips lift into a smile back. He stood and grabbed the warming teakettle off the stove, filling a mug and placing it at my spot on the table.

Then he took a step over to me and gave me his customary good morning kiss on the crown of my head. At first, I teased him about doing it everyday, but now I wrap my arms around Peeta's stomach, not-so-secretly craving this gentle love every morning.

"Hi," I said softly, grinning and pressing a kiss to his shirt. He hugged me back, resting his cheek on my head. My eyes fell shut again, craving to return to sleep, while I basked in Peeta's steadiness. This little ritual we do always starts my day off on the right foot. The beat of his heart had almost lulled me back into a light sleep when he quietly said my name.

I squeezed him tighter, holding him close for another moment, and unwound myself from his embrace. One of his hands came up to rest on the side of my face. "I gotta head to the bakery now." His thumb lightly ran down my cheekbone. "I'll see you later. Have a good day," he added, and I replied in kind.

I heard the door shut behind Peeta as I sat down to my now cooling tea. Sipped it and, ah yes, the perfect temp. He even remembered to add the extra mint leaf. Quite a spoiled wife, I am.

By the time I finally deemed myself alert enough not to fall out of a tree, the sun was already climbing high in the sky. It was going to be a very hot day.

--

The animals are much smarter than I am, evidently. They were staying home, in their cool dens and nests, as one should on a day as blistering as this. Sweat was pooling in, just, all of everywhere. I was tired and uncomfortable, to put it lightly. The added bonus of nothing to show for the day really topped it all off.

It was a relief to finally return home, dumping my bow and bag as soon as I entered the door. I peeled my shoes off next, leaving them in the entryway. I'm usually the one fussing at Peeta for doing just that. When I reached our bathroom, the first thing I did was turn the shower on. My clothes were quickly shucked to the floor, the tie from my braid promptly following.

I closed my eyes as I stepped into the cool stream of water, running my fingers through my hair to get it thoroughly soaked. I spun in a slow circle, grateful for the simple luxury of a shower. Still, not one to be wasteful, I indulged in a few more minutes of sitting in the steady stream, then I stood and shut it off.

With the towel wrapped around me, I pondered what to wear as I looked at my closet. I tend to favorite pants, but there is no way. I decided on instead wearing my soft dressing gown, the thin fabric only brushing my knees surely going to keep me cool.

--

I sighed, pulling the fridge open. My lack of kills from this morning's hunt became glaringly evident, what with all these vegetables staring back at me. I reached in and grabbed a few different things, shutting the door with my hip as I turned around.

Then I got to work, cleaning and chopping as necessary, and put together a pretty nice salad, if I do say so myself. Light, fresh veggies from our garden out back, with a squeeze of lemon juice and cracked pepper sprinkled on top.

Air conditioning has yet to make it out to many places here in Twelve, so all of our windows were thrown wide open, the curtains moving in the summer breeze. I could hear Haymitch's geese honking over in his yard, and I grinned to myself. Geese, of all things to raise.

Peeta came in as I was setting my plate into the rack to dry, using a towel to wipe my hands. I leaned back against the counter, looking him up and down. Took in his sweat-soaked shirt, his flushed cheeks, his damp hair. I rose a brow. "Hot day in the bakery, was it?" I asked, breaking into a grin.

He rolled his eyes as he nodded, shooting me a snarky grin as he grabbed a glass of water. He quickly downed it, filling the glass up again before reaching over to snag my arm and bring me closer.

I backed up a step, his arm falling into the space between us. He sent me an exaggerated pout. "Nope, not until you take a shower. I'm already rinsed off, so no touching until you are, too."

Peeta tried to reach out again, this time for my other arm, and I evaded it. I gave him a look, and he held his hands up in mock surrender. "Okay, I give. I'll go shower." Then he grinned, and I knew that look. "But not before I do this!" he said, quickly darting in and pressing a kiss to my cheek.

Before I even reacted, he took off for the stairs, yelling behind him, "Okay! Going! Love you!" as he went. I watched him go, touching my cheek as a flush spread its way across my face. His casual show of love sometimes still makes me shy, but I'm learning to take in every little moment he tells me that he loves me in a different way. I try to do the same for him in return -- he deserves that at the very least. At most, more than anything I could ever give him.

But I'm too selfish to let anyone else have him. And nobody else compares to me in his eyes, so there's really nothing to worry about at all, is there?

My smile slipped off my face over the next few minutes, but it easily returned when I caught Peeta's eye as he came down the stairs. He was wearing his undershorts and a t-shirt on top, also doing his best to stay cool. I stood and made my way over to him as he followed me with his eyes.

He took his hand and ran his fingers up my neck, over my jaw. Cupped my cheek, pulling my head closer as he slowly, deftly, kissed me. My breath caught in my throat, just for a moment. "Am I clean enough for you, now?" he asked, pressing his lips to mine again, gently biting at the bottom one. "I missed you almost as much as I melted in the heat."

I threw my head back and laughed. "Oh, I know. It's merciless out there. I don't even want to think about how hot it is in front of all those ovens."

"Precisely why I closed up early, my dear." He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "I said to hell with selling what was left in the case, so I shut off the ovens and passed it out on the way home. Knowing you were here may have aided in my decision, but really, who's to say?" He smiled at me again, a hint of mischief playing on his lips.

My heart swelled at his words. How I ended up with such a generous man as my husband, I will never know. Everything he does somehow makes me love him more, and I don't know how there can be much more room in my heart for it to keep growing.

"It's gonna be a meatless day today - no luck hunting this morning," I told him. It's not a problem if I don't get anything out on my hunts; we don't rely on what I bring home, but we vastly prefer it over the butcher's cuts. "There's also a salad in the fridge if you're hungry."

"A personal chef, just for me," he said, pulling the door open and taking the plate out. "Thank you."

I joined Peeta at the table, resting my chin in my hand as I looked out the window. Took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. The need for sleep returned now that I had a full belly, and I closed my eyes. Oh, perhaps it's okay not to do anything the rest of the day. I could give myself this day of doing nothing. Perhaps I could convince Peeta to do the same.

I opened my eyes, turning my head to look back at Peeta. He was already watching me, his features soft in the sunlight. Yes, I thought, tilting my head, he will be easy to convince.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "What are you scheming up over there?"

I hummed. "Oh, nothing, really." Then I stood, walking around the table, and planted myself in his lap. One of my arms rested on his shoulder, my hand easily finding its place in his damp hair. Peeta's eyes fell shut as I lightly combed my fingers through his curls. He let out a small sigh. One of his hands traced back and forth on my thigh, the other one twining with my free hand in our lap. We stayed like this for a while, comfortable in the other person's company.

At some point, he began bestowing the lightest and softest kisses along my neck, his closest access point. Using the hand already in his hair, I brought his face up to mine, kissing his lips. He tasted like lemon.

"What do you say," I started, "to lazing around the rest of the day?"

He grinned. "Way ahead of you, my love." Kissed me again, this time with more pressure, my heart racing in response. "Well, maybe not exactly nothing...." he added, pulling me ever closer to him.

I laughed, feeling the warm pressure of our bodies against each other. "I thought that was a given in the term 'lazing around.'"

"It is. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of it."

I bit my lip, holding back a sarcastic response. My thumb tilted his chin up, our lips meeting in the middle for another kiss. He made a noise in the back of his throat when I lightly scraped my nail along his skin, and I grinned against his lips.

A good day to laze around, indeed.

[jlalafics]

things fictional couples do that make me lose my mind + writing prompts: n 14.

Hope you enjoy anon! This is totally unbeta’d as I have just finished it this morning! Happy Saturday!

14. when one of them has never had a proper birthday party for whatever reason, and their lover makes it their mission to give them the best day ever, followed by “you didn’t have to do all this for me. just being with you is enough.” “i know. but i thought you deserved?’’ and their lover smiles, a kiss is shared

_____

“I just never thought it was big deal.” Katniss picked at her plate of spaghetti. “To me, it’s just another day except I’m one year older.”

Peeta reached over, his hand covering hers from across their dining room table.

“That can’t be true,” he reasoned. “There must’ve been a time when you were actually excited about your birthday.”

Katniss sighed, looking at him warily before placing her fork down.

“Truth?” Peeta nodded and straightened himself so he could fully listen to her. “When I was seven, I decided I wanted to have a birthday party. So, my mom and I had invitations made and I handed them out during class. My parents decorated our apartment with streamers and a huge banner that my dad hand drew himself. We even got my favorite strawberry cake from a nearby bakery—a treat for us—since we didn’t have a lot of money.”

Peeta smiled, imagining a young Katniss, waiting excitedly for her party start.

“Then the day came…and no one showed up,” his girlfriend continued. “I waited for hours…until I fell asleep and my parents tucked me in bed. The next time I went to school, no one mentioned it. I cried all through lunch and finally, my teacher called my parents…it was a mess.”

“I’m so sorry.” Peeta stood and rounded the table, kneeling before her chair. “That’s horrible.”

“Later, I found out that some of the parents had an issue with bringing their kids to such a rough neighborhood,” Katniss told him. “I was a financial aid kid in a preparatory school. I didn’t belong and I learned that early. I also learned that birthdays are just another day and there is no need to make a big deal.”

“That is not true,” he declared. “And I’m going to prove it.”

Katniss looked to him suspiciously. “How?”

Peeta kissed the top of her head. “You’ll see.”

“Oh boy.” His girlfriend couldn’t help but grin. “That can’t be good.”

++++++

May 8th

Katniss awoke slowly, her eyes adjusting to light filtering through the blinds in their bedroom.

“Peeta—”

She turned to find her boyfriend’s side of the bed empty, his pillow cool. It wasn’t unusual. They had been living together for six months and even though it was a weekend, Peeta still got up early to pick up breakfast or even do a quick jog while she slept in.

Getting up, Katniss went to their adjoining bathroom, going through her morning ablutions. Her eyes closed in on her reflection, looking to see if there were any differences now that she was a full-fledge twenty-five-year-old.

Other than the slight line between her eyes—she glared way too much, according to her best friend, Johanna—Katniss found nothing different.

“Sweetheart, you awake?” Peeta called out from the living room. “Breakfast is ready!”

She smiled to herself, hearing the endearment. They had been together for a year, meeting at her friend Gale’s birthday party. Madge, Gale’s girlfriend, had invited her cousin to the party and that cousin was the man currently calling for her to join him for breakfast.

Was it love at first sight?

Perhaps.

Her breath might’ve caught slightly when Peeta had walked into the room. She had also briefly wondered if her outfit smelled like the coffee shop she was working at as Madge made the rounds to introduce Peeta to everyone.

As their eyes met during Madge’s introduction, Katniss knew that this man would change her life.

By the time they shook hands, she was a goner.

“Coming,” Katniss called out as she headed out and towards the living room. “I hope that you have coffee ready—” She froze, stopping at the archway leading into the front rooms. “What is this?”

Their living room was decorated in purple and yellow streamers connected by unicorns. Matching balloons floated on their ceiling while right above their couch was a weathered banner with ‘Happy Birthday Katniss!’ written on it.

“Happy birthday, love.” Peeta smiled tenderly at her, giving her a kiss, before placing a tiara with ‘Birthday Girl’ written in rhinestones atop her head. “Pancakes or waffles?”

“How did you know how my birthday party was decorated?” she cried out and her eyes widened at the banner. “And is that the actual banner that my dad made?”

Peeta guided her to their dining table. “I called your parents, and your mom sent a picture along with the banner. They kept it with all your other belongings.” He pulled out her chair and help his stunned girlfriend to her seat before pouring a cup of coffee, putting in a splash of milk and a spoonful of sugar—just how she liked it. “Also, she invited us for 4th of July at their place.”

“You called my parents?” she asked in surprise. “They haven’t even met you yet.”

“I went by Gale and Madge’s so I could Zoom them and introduce myself,” he explained. “Your mother looks really young for someone who has a grown daughter.”

“Why did you do this?” she asked, still in shock.

“Because you need a birthday do-over,” Peeta told her simply as he forked waffles onto her empty plate. “Eat up. We need to get going.”

She had already stuffed a waffle in her mouth.

“Where?”

++++++

“I thought you and I could try something new,” Peeta said as they walked through the park. “Your Dad mentioned that you used to do this together.”

“Why can’t I remember what it was?” Katniss said as he led her down a side road. “We did do a lot of things together…” He guided her into a gated enclosure, closing it behind them. “What is this? Are we about to run around here?”

“Nope.” Peeta walked over to a nearby tree—and pulled out an archery target. He came back with a bow and quiver of arrows. “We—or more appropriately, you—are going to shoot.”

“I haven’t done this in ages!” Katniss replied. However, her hands were already itching to get the bow. “This was something me and Dad used to do every weekend in the backyard.”

“But you had fun, right?” her boyfriend reasoned. “Birthdays are all about fun!”

Katniss chuckled at his exuberance thinking how adorably handsome he was.

And how hot that made her.

She took off her jean jacket, tossing it to the ground.

“Give me that bow.”

Peeta handed it over easily along with the quiver, watching as Katniss strapped the container to her back. He admired the strong line of her back as she walked away from the target and wondered for the millionth time how he even got a woman like her.

The moment Peeta saw Katniss at Gale’s party, he was a goner.

Peeta could barely get a word out as they shook hands, his eyes square on the beautiful woman before him. However, it wasn’t just her dark hair and smoky almond eyes that had him shook. There was a confidence in her that made her stand out like no other person in the room.

He was intimidated but also enamored.

Even now, Peeta was shocked that he even had the guts to ask her out on a date.

However, he thanked his lucky stars that he did and that Katniss accepted.

Katniss pulled back the string of the bow, hand firm on the grip before she released it with an exhale.

She grinned seeing that she managed to hit the bullseye.

“Thank you,” she breathed out. “I forgot how much I loved this.”

“Anything to see that smile on your face,” he told her.

“Get over here,” she called out.

“What?”

“You didn’t think that you were just going to watch me, right?” Katniss put a hand to her hip, her stare expectant. “You have to shoot at least once.”

Peeta shook his head as he joined her. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Then, I’ll teach you.” She cocked her head at him playfully. “Come on.”

Katniss handed him the bow before removing the quiver and placing it on the ground.

“You’re going to hold here��” She held the bow, hand in the middle. “—this is the grip. The head of the arrow is positioned in the middle of it. You’ll line it up from head to the end of the arrow—the nock. Then you aim, pull back, and shoot. Easy, right?”

“Not even close to easy,” Peeta pointed out.

“I’ll help you.” Katniss reached for an arrow, helping him line it up to the nocking point. She moved behind Peeta, her hand moving over his to where he held the string, pressing her front against the line of his back. He smelled of juniper and she breathed him in. “Now, aim as you breathe in and pull the string back. Now exhale and let go.”

Peeta shivered at her words. However, he held firm, listening to her instructions.

“Breathe in—” He pulled the string back, her hand guiding him, his eyes on the target. “—and exhale.”

Peeta let go, his eyes shutting as he did.

It was silent, the only sound being the twittering of nearby birds.

“Well, fuck that!” He opened his eyes to find Katniss at the target. “You are closer than I am!”

Peeta joined her, examining his work, before beaming at his girlfriend.

“What do you think?” she asked, breathless at the sight of him.

He dropped the bow, gathering her in his arms.

“I think that—” His mouth brushed against hers. “—I need to have you right now.”

Katniss shook at his words. “Now?”

“Yes.” Peeta was already lowering her onto the grass, his lips traveling along the opening of her top. “Now.”

++++++

By late afternoon, they managed to make it to their next destination.

“I still have bits of grass in my hair,” Katniss said as Peeta parked their car.

“But do you regret it?” he asked her, his gaze sated.

She shook her head. “Not one bit.”

They both got out of the car, making sure their clothing was fixed and in place before Katniss looked up at their newest destination.

“Our first date.” Peeta wrapped his arms around her waist as they gazed up at the neon sign: Greasy Sae’s. “I had prepared myself to take you on a fancy date.”

“Instead, you got a girl who loves a greasy spoon,” Katniss replied. “I’m starving, let’s go—”

“Before we go in...”

Peeta cupped her face in his hands before kissing her fully.

Katniss fell against him, her palm to his chest to steady herself. She could already her knees getting weak; it happened the first time they kiss and a year later, it continued.

She knew then that he was the one.

“…I just wanted to get one more in.”

“What do you mean?” Katniss asked as they headed towards the entrance. Peeta pulled the door handle, ignoring her question and her glare. “Peeta Mellark—”

“SURPRISE!”

She gasped, her eyes moving over the crowd of people—just about every person that she and Peeta knew—before settling on the three in front of her.

“Mom? Dad? Prim?”

Her parents dove in first, both pulling her into their embrace.

“Happy birthday, baby,” her mom said, kissing her cheek.

“Growing more beautiful every year,” her dad added gruffly.

They pulled apart so Prim could jump into her arms.

“Happy birthday, sis!” Her younger sister held her tightly. “I’m really glad I get to spend today with you.”

Katniss stared in shock. “How did you even get here?”

“Peeta,” Prim informed her. Katniss looked over to her boyfriend who was chatting with Gale, Madge, and Johanna. “He flew me, Mom, and Dad in. It was all arranged last week.”

“He is unbelievable,” she said dazedly.

“Peeta is crazy into with you,” her sister declared softly. “I wouldn’t mind having him as a brother, you know.”

Katniss grinned as her eyes met Peeta’s. “I know.” He smiled; eyes soft at the sight of her. “One day.”

++++++

“First off, thank you for all coming,” Peeta said, as he stood in the seat of the booth.

His eyes looked over the crowd for people all grinning up at him. Katniss’ parents stood to one side along with his own parents, who come into the city to attend the party and meet her parents. It seemed like the quartet were getting along, agreeing to brunch together the next morning. Prim was at a table with Gale, Madge, and Thresh, his co-worker at the office. The man was obviously into Katniss’ golden-haired sister.

Johanna, Katniss’ best friend, was also in attendance. She sat with Annie, who was Johanna’s cousin, and Finnick, her husband. Katniss along with the two women often went on girls’ nights while he and Finnick would hang out at the apartment playing video games or watching a movie.

Peeta realized that he and Katniss lived a full life together.

“Just make babies already!” Johanna called out, a wide grin on her sharp face.

“Also, I just wanted to say that we wouldn’t be here—eating diner food and drinking milkshakes—if this amazing, beautiful woman sitting before me wasn’t born,” Peeta continued, his eyes looking to Katniss, who shone brightly before him.

“But not before putting a ring on it!” Annie added, before toasting her milkshake glass against her cousin’s.

Peeta’s complexion reddened at their words though he couldn’t help but wink back at the women.

“Anyway, before Katniss goes running for the hills, I just wanted to toast to my beautiful girlfriend.” Their eyes met. “Thank you for being born and for making my life nothing short of spectacular.” He raised his soda glass. “To Katniss!”

The crowd echoed his sentiment: “To Katniss!”

Peeta stepped down and went to his girlfriend, holding out his hand.

“Dance with me?”

Katniss stood. “There’s no music.”

“Tonight you're mine completely…”

“You were saying?”

They went a clearing in the middle, Peeta wrapping an arm around her as her arms circled his neck.

Katniss grinned. “I can’t believe that you remember the song—”

“The song that played the first time we kissed?” Peeta pulled her in closer. He placed a soft kiss on her neck. “Of course, I remember. I remember every single moment since we’ve met.”

“I can’t believe you did all this for me,” his girlfriend replied, her grey eyes shining. “You didn’t have to do all this for me. Just being with you is enough.”

“I know, but I thought you deserved to have a birthday that gave you good memories,” he told her. “This is the birthday that we’re going to remember. The one that we’ll look back on when we’re old and grey. The one that we tell our children about.”

Peeta dared to look into her eyes. They had never discussed their future; he could only hope that’s where they were heading.

Katniss was grinning, tears rolling down her cheeks.

“The one we tell our children?” She nodded. “I like the sound of that.”

Then, their lips met and there was nothing else but their dance and the sound of The Shirelles from the nearby jukebox.

“I'd like to know that your love

Is love I can be sure of

So tell me now and I won't ask again

Will you still love me tomorrow…”

++++++

Katniss’ mouth ran along the line of Peeta’s neck as she slammed him against the surface of their front door. Her hands ran along the hem of his shirt, moving underneath to feel his bare skin.

“Baby…” Peeta groaned, his knees almost caving at the rush of pleasure hit him. He shakily reached for his keys, attempting to unlock the door. Katniss wrapped her arms around him, breasts pressed against his back, and her hands already unbuttoning his jeans. “…oh fuck…”

He turned the knob and they fell into their apartment in a rush of limbs.

“I made a strawberry cake…” Peeta pushed off her jean jacket, his mouth pressing to hers. “…just like the one you had for your birthday.”

“That’s so sweet—” Katniss yanked her dress over her head. “—let’s have it after I thank you for the best birthday ever.”

“The cake can wait.” He scooped her up and her arms wrapped his neck as she kissed up to his ear. “This cannot.”

A platinum diamond ring sat in the drawer of his side table.

He guessed that would have to wait for after as well.

FIN.

Music: “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”-The Shirelles

[katnissmellarkkk]

Oh I love this part ngl. I have the exact section right here but since I’m bored atm I’ll also annotate it for fun!

I want to ask them more, but lunch is announced. I look for Peeta, but he's hanging with a group of about ten other victors, so I decide just to eat with District 3. Maybe I can get Seeder to join us.

(Katniss being like “my fiancé is too popular for me, I guess I’ll just sit with the weirdos”)

When we make our way into the dining area, I see some of Peeta's gang have other ideas. They're dragging all the smaller tables to form one large table so that we all have to eat together. Now I don't know what to do. Even at school I used to avoid eating at a crowded table. Frankly, I'd probably have sat alone if Madge hadn't made a habit of joining me. I guess I'd have eaten with Gale except, being two grades apart, our lunch never fell at the same time.

(I love how Katniss just casually accepts and is content with the fact that they’ll be eating separate but Peeta’s group is like “nope” and she’s like “great 🙄 I’d rather have eaten without you at all than in a crowd, Peeta”. Also it’s my headcanon Peeta suggested dragging the tables together 😂 idk why)

I take a tray and start making my way around the food-laden carts that ring the room. Peeta catches up with me at the stew. “How's it going?”

“Good. Fine. I like the District Three victors,” I say. “Wiress and Beetee.”

“Really?” he asks. “They're something of a joke to the others.”

(Peeta : “babe, can you not bond with the weirdos please? Bad for my rep”)

“Why does that not surprise me?” I say. I think of how Peeta was always surrounded at school by a crowd of friends. It's amazing, really, that he ever took any notice of me except to think I was odd.

(Lolololol Katniss suddenly remembering she’s engaged to the prom king jock.)

“Johanna's nicknamed them Nuts and Volts,” he says. “I think she's Nuts and he's Volts.”

(Peep Peeta’s already budding friendship with Jojo)

“And so I'm stupid for thinking they might be useful. Because of something Johanna Mason said while she was oiling up her breasts for wrestling,” I retort.

(The last part is so unnecessary??? Like Katniss are you jealous??? Girlllll)

“Actually I think the nickname's been around for years. And I didn't mean that as an insult. I'm just sharing information,” he says.

“Well, Wiress and Beetee are smart. They invent things. They could tell by sight that a force field had been put up between us and the Gamemakers. And if we have to have allies, I want them.” I toss the ladle back in a pot of stew, splattering us both with the gravy.

(Katniss : “stop picking on my little weird old blorbo people!”)

“What are you so angry about?” Peeta asks, wiping the gravy from his shirtfront. “Because I teased you on the elevator? I'm sorry. I thought you would just laugh about it.”

(Peeta finally snapping lololol “what’s your problem, bro/babe” but for real, Katniss’ still being butthurt over the elevator scene is super relatable)

“Forget it,” I say with a shake of my head. “It's a lot of things.”

“Darius,” he says.

“Darius. The Games. Haymitch making us team up with the others,” I say.

(Not mentioned here but this part reminds me, I find it interesting that Katniss said the night before that “Darius and all the sadness towards him being made into an avox belongs to her and Gale and maybe Haymitch but not Peeta. Peeta doesn’t get to be upset because he didn’t know Darius that well because Peeta was a merchant kid.” Because after Mockjngjay, after Peeta is held captive with Darius and witnesses his and Lavinia’s brutal murders, I’d say Peeta is more connected to Darius than Katniss or Gale or Haymitch ever could be.)

“It can just be you and me, you know,” he says.

(Peeta : always can be counted on to charm her attitude away)

“I know. But maybe Haymitch is right,” I say. “Don't tell him I said so, but he usually is, where the Games are concerned.”

(“Let’s listen to Haymitch. Let’s not tell him we’re listening to him though.”)

“Well, you can have final say about our allies. But right now, I'm leaning toward Chaff and Seeder,” says Peeta.

(A little sidebar but I love how Katniss and Peeta both somehow separately grew a fondness for Seeder. They’re both attracted to good people. 🥹🤧 I mean, obviously. That’s how they found each other.)

“I'm okay with Seeder, not Chaff,” I say. “Not yet, anyway.”

“Come on and eat with him. I promise, I won't let him kiss you again,” says Peeta.

(Okay, on one hand, adorable how Peeta says he’ll protect her 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹. We love to see it. 🥰 On the other hand though, I always hated how Chaff kissed her that one time and no one, including Peeta, did anything about it? Or even said it wasn’t okay or it was creepy? Idk that’s one incident where I’m annoyed with even Peeta. Like babe, cute that you say you’ll protect her here but you didn’t last night??? Anyways, I digress)

There’s a lot of things that I love about the hunger games but one of them is that the main romance, at its core, is the ‘weird girl/cool guy who’s obsessed with her’ trope

[mtk4fun]

It took Katniss a couple of days to realize that something was amiss with Peeta. He barely spoke and ordered a bowl of Sae’s soup of the day with a small side salad for three days straight.

Is he starving himself? “Have I been babbling too much about my new place?” she asked him after she took his order on Wednesday. “You’ve hardly said a word in days.”

Peeta shook his head. “Nope. Just thinking. You gave me a lot to consider this weekend.”

“I did,” she agreed. “But keep in mind, it’s not your responsibility to fix your mom’s life. She can do that on her own.”

“I know that. But still, I worry about her. She’s invited my brothers and their wives over this Saturday for a barbecue because she wants to tell us something important. I don’t have a clue as to what her announcement is.”  He gave Katniss a beseeching look.

“I don’t know what it is either,” she replied, ripping his order from her notepad.

Chapter 12 of Taking Care Of Mom is now posted on FanFiction.net and Ao3.

[sparklingdust4612]

"You are mine"

I really loved this cute oneshot. I was so happy to see that they found their way to each other without even knowing it and the effect they had on each other was amazing, those two really are perfect together. I loooove Teen Idol!Peeta and Teen fan!Katniss

AND THE MUFFIN REFERENCE WAS DAYYUM!

Faves:

1- “We’re all heading out to a club later. Wanna come?” Katniss met Johanna’s laughing stare with exasperation. “I didn’t think so. One day, you’re going to want someone to plow through that your garden, if you know what I mean. You’re never going to find a ‘gardener’ if you spent your nights at home!”

Katniss reached over to her desk and tossed her apron at the woman with a laugh.

“Back to work! And, anyway—whoever wants to get to this garden has to bring pruning shears and fertilizer.”

2- At 18, she became assistant manager when Lena got pregnant—thanks dad—and Lena and her dad got married.

3- “Maybe you can try asking again for my sake,” Lena urged, giving Katniss a quick wink. “Poor girl hasn’t been out in a while. I’m not really sure what’s going on with her…muffin.”

“Lena!” Katniss twirled around just in time to see Peeta covering his mouth so she wouldn’t see him laugh. “You are on thin ice, Peeta! Don’t you dare take her side.”

“I wouldn’t know much about your muffin…” Peeta’s eyes drifted downward toward her jeans. “…unless you’ll let me take both of you out for dinner.”

4- Finnick walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. “We don’t shake hands. We tell embarrassing stories.” She could already tell Peeta was giving him the finger based on Finnick’s booming laugh. “Let me tell you about the time that Peeta had diarrhea during a camping trip—”

“No, she’s already slept with him. Bathroom issues aren’t a big deal,” Annie said as they led Katniss into their house. There were still a lot of unopened boxes from their move but the large entryway was enough for her to know that it might take some time for them to get their home decorated. “How about when he got bit by that spider and we had to take him to the hospital with an ice pack on his ass?”

“I don’t know if that’s going to deter me,” Katniss told the couple. “He’s unbelievably cute.” Peeta took her hand, pulling her to his side. “Also, he knows how to butter my muffin.”

Finnick snorted, shaking his head at the two. “You two are perfect for one another.”

5- “Where the hell are your panties?” Peeta asked as she easily sunk unto his length.

He groaned and she tightened around him as they began to move in harsh eagerness, the door being used as solid foundation for a hard fuck.

“In my pocket,” she replied breathlessly, her eyes rolling back as he thrusted harshly, hitting her cervix just enough. “That way if you’re too loud, I can just stuff them into your mouth.”

6- Downstairs, Marvel and Johanna looked up at the dark-tinted windows of the office.

“Yes, Peeta! Fuck! I’m coming!”

Prim joined them, emerging from the back employee entrance as her eyes went up to the office windows as well.

“Do they know that the overhead speaker is on?” she asked, trying to keep her laughter in.

A loud moan punctured the air—Peeta.

Johanna shook her head. “Nope.” She took off her apron. “I’m clocking out early.”

7- Johanna was, not surprisingly, sitting on Cato’s lap. They had met when Katniss moved into Peeta’s apartment and spent two days in Johanna’s apartment, ‘purging’ her presence.

That’s what Johanna called it when she called in sick, anyway.

@jlalafics You said that "You are mine" is an original song written by you, did you or anyone ever sing it? I would love to hear it if you/someone did :D

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

@matt-lock: #i think the choice aspect is part of why i usually dislike soul mate fics#also many of them assume no polyamory or aros and all soul mates are romantic#also i really like how romance was handled in animorphs book canon in general#the romance we get is good but its clear there could have been other choices#and its always a war story that sometimes has romance and stuff#not the other way round

This ^ This this this.  I find the concept of romantic soul-mates a massive turn off.  So many such AUs assume that each person must have exactly one exactly perfect romantic partner, and that no one can be happy unless they’re monogamous.  Even leaving that aside, it’s a concept that takes away much of the characters’ ability to consent, because it adds at minimum social pressure and at maximum biological imperative to date one particular person.

By contrast, love triangles — when done right — are all about one person winning the other with selflessness and devotion or even just sexiness.  I don’t mean nonsense with characters cheating on each other.  I mean when a character has multiple options, knows they have options, and then chooses.  Like the love triangle in the Hunger Games trilogy, summed up as “Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can’t survive without.” Gale says that to Peeta — and he means literal survival, in the pragmatic sense.  When she’s deciding, Katinss even asks, “Did you love Annie right away, Finnick?” and he says “No.”  Finnick does unspeakable things, allows unspeakable things to be done to him, to keep Annie safe, and a love that strong took time to grow.  To be honest I was rooting for Gale to win — fake dating is also on my “NOPE tropes” list because it also smacks of consent issues — but I love how thoroughly Catching Fire earns us Peeta and Katniss’s love.

Hi! I just finished reading #27 and I have all the feels about Rachel and Tobias. Could you give some of your excellent insight into their relationship?

I love them. So much. One thing that stands out to me in #27 is how much they sacrifice for each other. I'm not talking about the literal "I'd give my life for you" stuff, because honestly they're both the type to give up their lives for anyone. I'm talking more about the long-term stuff, the kind of life-changing sacrifice you have to make again and again every single day.

Rachel, more than anyone except maybe Marco, wants balance. She wants her life to still be there at the end of the war. She wants to go on dates, with "a ninety-minute movie, and pizza afterward" (#27). She wants "someone to hold my hand" (#13). She wants to have a life outside of the war, "college and stuff" (#7).

And Tobias lives in the war twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He wakes up with last night's blood still in his feathers, spends all day following controllers, beds down miles from civilization. He doesn't get to eat lunch across from Rachel like Jake and Cassie do. He chose, however indirectly, to give up every molecule of normal life during their first battle. And when the Ellimist gives him an out in #13, he chooses to go right back in.

And then Rachel chooses him. She chooses, again and again, to go for the "mouse-eating freak" who knows every part of an "unrepeatable word" like her (#27), and loves her anyway. This, even though she knows she's giving up her afternoons and her civilian friends and some of her chance to hold hands now or go to college later. Because she weighs her options, and knows that T.T. isn't right for her. He might be cute, he might be charming, but he's not what she needs.

What Tobias chooses to give up for Rachel is much the opposite, and much the same. He values the ability to "fly free" (#3), he values "being left alone" (#13), he values "you can't lock me up" and "I can't be pinned down" (#23) so much so that he's willing to give up beds and warm meals and all connection to humanity to achieve those things. Only Rachel keeps pulling him back. She's his kite string, ensuring that no matter how far he flies he'll never entirely lose sight of the ground, and he'll never be so free he's out of control. In #3, in #33, even in #54 after she's gone, she keeps pulling him back in, keeps getting him to care about humanity in spite of his own best interests.

That's part of why — much as I hate most classic romance tropes — a part of me really likes love triangles. Because they involve choice, and choosing one's true love from among viable options. If Rachel is actively choosing between Marco and Tobias (MM4), between Bailey and Tobias (#32), between T.T. and Tobias (#27), then she's actively choosing Tobias. If we get to see Tobias be less happy with Melissa (MM3), if Tobias wonders what it would be like to just be a hawk with a fellow hawk (#3), then he's actively choosing Rachel. They're not soul mates bound together by the narrative; they're fiercely independent young adults who have options, and yet they choose to sacrifice for each other.

[mellarked-katnisseverdeen]

Do you think Katniss settle for Peeta in the epilogue?

Thank you,

@everlarkshipper

Nope! Not even a little bit.

Just because Katniss doesn't use the word 'want' and instead uses the word she is more familiar with at the ending of Mockingjacy -'need'- doesn't mean her choice was based on anything other than the fact that she took stock of her options, and decided what would make her the happiest, healthiest and most stable was choosing Peeta and making a life with Peeta.

And I've said it before but Katniss has SO many options, so many paths she could have taken and different things she could have done as she is healing and putting her life back together returning to 12 after the rebellion. Peeta was far from her only choice in anything even if he was the only one who comes back and engage with her (which, he isn't). And I do genuinely feel sorry for any reader who sees it that way. Cause Katniss, despite the traumatizing price she pays for it, is free at the end.

It's the fact she decides to put in the effort to grow back together with him when she didn't have to that makes Everlark coming back to one another beautiful!

[ellanainthetardis]

1, 4, 9, and 25 for the salty asks pls 💖 (for 25 if you could answer for hunger games and/or the 1OO that would be fun, along with any other fandom you want pls)

1 and 4 I just answered in a previous ask ;)

9 Most disliked character(s)? Why?

I hate Coin. XD I think MJ is self-explanatory about why but yeah that's the one character in thg I reaaaaally do not see a redemption side for. I'm sure she has one and hasn't shared with me yet but yeah... She's just so... black and white... She's just the bad guy masquerading as a good guy. It's obvious from the start and I have nothing against bad guys, I think Snow is an interesting (if horrible) character. Coin, I just... Nope.

Also I am not very fond of Gale but while I disliked him in the books I think my real dislike of him comes from the fandom's view of him (it played on my own opinions) and also because he gave me suuuuch a writer block for KTVS I might never forgive him for it XD

I used to not like Plutarch either. I still don't like him as a character but I found him really interesting so I wouldn't say he's my most disliked. I just think he's the ultimate slytherin and a real piece of work who has no morals XD I kind of enjoy writing him though.

In HP, one of the characters I can easily dislike is Dumbledore. It took me a long time to get there but with age and with every re-read it seems so obvious the whole thing is a huge set up for harry and... Yeah. It doesn't change anything that he loves harry, in teh end he's still raising him up for slaughter and I'm not a Gryffindor so I can't appreciate he does it for the right reason or the "greater good". I mean, at one point, I was known to enjoy some Dumbledore bashing fics XD

25 How would you end XXX/Would you change the ending of XXX?

For thg: I think the ending is solid. I wish she had remembered about Effie and obviously if it were me, the epilogue would have included hayffie but... XD I think the only change I would have liked was the mention of children. Or at least the way the children are mentioned. I would have either just made clear Kat and Peeta get together and leave to the reader's imagination if they had kids or not or maybe change the wording so it doesn't sound so... forced. Because ultimately, I don't think Peeta would force her into having them but the wording does make it look that way a little hence the whole decade old debate and yeah... But other than that I think the ending is coherent with the rest of the books you know...

It's not the perfect ending, none of the main characters have an immediate happy ever after but eventually they get to find peace and happiness and that's a good reflection of life. It's full of hope.

For HP: *singsong* I would have gotten rid of that epiiiilogue.

I hate the epilogue. I hate that everyone ends up with their childhood sweetheart as their forever partner. It's unrealistic.

Also, I'm not saying I'm an angst person, but i'm an angst person. And I think maybe if we wanted a more "adult" slash "realistic" ending one of the golden trio should have died. There are pleeeenty of heartbreaking death in HP but I can't help but feel like some of them were there as window-dressing. Idk. I hated how they did the final showdown in the movies too, it has to be said. and a part of me wished they had kept the scene with Draco handing Harry his wand but that's the shipper in me haha

I also hate one thing a lot in the HP ending. When Dumbledore alters his quote saying help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it to those who deserve it... This felt... Meh. Because I think it's doing a 180 to the original quote. Also there was a lot of slytherin bashing that goes against the general message of cooperation and unity but... Ok. XD

I mean... HP had its problems XD I would go so far as to say that while it's iconic, it's the fandom that made it that way. There are plenty of fictions that are better than hp out there. That's the thing JK never got. The fandom made HP what it is from what she gave us. She's not the ultimate queen anymore. I know lots of fics that are better than canon.

And now for the 100. Oh boy where should I start. Do I like the ending... I never saw the last of S6 and I never saw the last season although I am thouroughly spoiled. Let that be clear. My last episode has been the Marcus Kane demise. XD

How i would have end it...

Well, you know what? If I had to be realistic, I would say at the end of S5. S4 was meh even though it gave us Abby/Kane but S5 had a good ending with the Harper and Monty' s very emotional send off... That was a good end. Send the heroes toward a possible future... Leave it here.

Alternatively, what I was hoping for/would have loved to see is for a complete whipe out of S5. Get back to the end of S4, forget the bunker, send everyone back into space (with a viable solution maybe like the end of S5) and have Abby/Kane stay behind to launch the ship and die together. Reverse of S1 of a sort. *

What I would not have done is have Abby become what she's become, let Raven get soooo judgmental it wasn't even funny, force Abby to watch Marcus die the same way Jake did, have Clarke kill Bellamy, or, for that matter, destroy octavia's whole character development...

Last but not least: stargate. What was even Unending? XD That show deserved a better ending and I cannot lie. So yeah... Anything else but THAT episode. A good thing we got the movies...

[captainseaweedbrains]

Yoga Poses

@a-catgirl-universe asked for the prompt: I’d love to read Everlark doing yoga. Weird craving I know!

Not weird at all! This was a lot of fun to write! I hope you enjoy! 

Summary: Katniss and Peeta try yoga for the first time. One of them is good at it and the other...not so much.

“I feel ridiculous,” Katniss muttered, trying to touch her foot to the back of her head while pointing her front foot down and balancing all her weight onto her right arm. “How is this supposed to be relaxing again?”

“Are you even focusing on your breathing?” Peeta asked, somehow succeeding in this destroyer pose they were both trying to follow from the Youtube video Madge sent them with the promise of 30-minutes of pure relaxation. He took in a deep breath and slowly let it out as the woman on the screen instructed before unrolling himself from the position. “Do you need help?”

She wanted to say yes, but his smirk was far too amused and he did a poor job hiding the amusement from his voice. Falling on her stubborn ass was preferable to Peeta helping her untangle herself.

“I’ve got it,” she snapped, trying once more to wrap her free arm behind her torso. The woman in the video made it look so easy. She even had the audacity to be smiling, acting like this was the best thing in the world! Katniss’ arm felt like it was going to fall off, that her pointed toes would be crushed under her weight. Her arm wavered, despite all her years of archery, but she refused to give in to the pain. She gritted her teeth. “This is personal now.”

“Personal?” Peeta did laugh at her now, his curly blonde hair hanging loose in his face. He pushed back said curls and sat down on the couch in front of her, taking a swipe from his water bottle. “Against who? You and Youtube yoga lady? She’s a professional, Katniss. It was a losing battle from the start.”

“Me and you.” Just a little longer, she willed her arm. Just hold it out a little bit longer.

“Me?” he asked, incredulously. “How did I make this personal? It was your idea to try this. I wanted to go swimming.”

“I’m the flexible one,” she said, the strain in her voice evident, even to her. Little beads of sweat pricked at her temple, stinging her eyes. “I’m supposed to be good at this.” Her muscles screamed, calling for defeat. Two more breaths and that was it.

Deep breath in…deep breath out. One.

“I can definitely vouch for that,” Peeta winked.

She chose to ignore that quip, focusing on her breathing instead. “Trying to breathe here, Peeta.” He mimed zipping his lips and she glared at him for a moment before taking her last breath in and releasing it in a quick rush, the muscles in her arm folding in as gravity took her down.

“I win,” she proudly proclaimed, detangling herself and rolling on her side, smiling up at him.

He smiled fondly back at her, teasingly poking her in the hip with his foot. “Wasn’t aware this was a competition.” He helped her up off the floor and handed her her water bottle.

“Everything is a competition, if you try hard enough,” Katniss said before accepting the bottle and downing half of its content in one go.

Katniss had to admit, now that her body wasn’t screaming in pure agony any more, she felt pretty relaxed. Maybe this was the relaxation Madge was referring to. Content and well-hydrated, she kicked up her feet, giggling when Peeta dragged them onto his lap, tracing the bottoms of her feet and causing her to kick and squirm when he found her tickle spots.

 “Shall we inform Madge she has two new yoga pals?” Peeta asked, still tracing along the bottom edge of her foot.

Katniss snorted and took another sip of water. “God no. Gale’s told me how those classes go. I refuse to subject myself to that torture in public. Our living room was bad as is.”

“Until you won.”

“Until I won,” she smiled, pecking him on the cheek. “But seriously, that was the longest thirty minutes of my life. Let’s never do that again.” She stretched her body like a cat, groaning when her joints popped. “I think I learned about some muscles I didn’t even know existed.”

“Hm.” Peeta tapped on her toes in thought. “So you wouldn’t try yoga ever again?”

“Nope.” She stretched again, yawning. “Not if you paid me.”

He slowly nodded, frowning slightly. “I guess there goes my afternoon plans.”

“Afternoon plans?”   

He pushed her feet off and stood, nonchalantly collecting his computer off the floor and turning it off. “Yeah, I figured once we learned a few poses from this, we’d want to test our flexibility elsewhere. Guess I was wrong.” He shrugged, heading to the kitchen. “I’ll see if my brothers still want to head to the pool. Maybe get a few laps in before it closes.”

“Peeta, wait!” she called, leaping from the couch and jumping onto his back, her arms and legs wrapping tight around him. “I’m totally open to your first plans,” she said, peppering his neck with kisses. “Let’s do that, instead.”

“Thought you were done with yoga?”

“A girl can change her mind.”

[onlymollygibson]

Part 2:

Haymitch spent his lunch on Monday eating a couple of microwave burritos and grading his History class's essays on the post-Civil War reconstruction.

Someone knocked on his door. He looked up, and it was Katniss Everdeen from his AP History class. The girl didn't say much in class, but her work was decent. Also, she'd been at every wrestling match this year.

"Now, now, I haven't even graded your essay yet. You'll get it back by Friday," he told her.

"No, this is about Health class," she said.

Oh and she was in his brand new headache as well.

She continued, "Mrs Odair said something about an alternative assignment."

He checked through her lesson plans. "Yep, if students don't get a parent's permission to participate in class, they can write a five page essay on why teenage pregnancy is a bad idea."

"Okay, I'd like to do that."

He leafed through the permission slips and there was one for Katniss Everdeen, signed and filled out.

"You've already turned in your permission slip."

"Right but my mother is a nurse," she replied, "So I already know all about that stuff."

"Uh-huh," said Haymitch, "You'd rather write a five page essay - single spaced by the way - and sit in the library for the next week than do a couple easy worksheets and a half page about a love song."

"Yes." She was scowling at him. He liked it when she turned that scowl on the refs if they made a bad call. Didn't appreciate quite as much when it was directed at him though. Oh well. She was sixteen. What was the worst she could do?

"'Fraid I can't let you do that." He might have let it slide, but he figured she could use all the help she could get.

"Why not?" Katniss asked.

"Well for starters the alternative assignment is mainly for - don't tell Principal Trinket I said this - religious nut jobs who think learning about condoms will somehow turn their precious babies into devil worshippers. And secondly, how many AP classes are you in, kid?"

"Three," she muttered, still scowling.

"Bet you're taking pre-calc too."

"Yep."

"For cryin' out loud, health class is supposed to be an easy A. Don't do a five page essay if you don't have to."

"But its not relevant to me-"

"Nope," Haymitch responded. Like hell it wasn't relevant to her. Between the way that Hawthorne kid on the basketball team spoke about her in the locker room and the way Peeta always looked to her spot in the stands after every single bout, that girl was knee deep in romantic messes, whether she wanted to be or not.

"Fine!" She stormed out of his classroom.

Haymitch went back to his burrito.

E period rolled around and the students put their completed assignment into Annie's color coded turn-in box.

Haymitch took attendance and then leafed through the assignments to find one to start the discussion with. Thom's was relatively benign. "I'll Be Watching You by The Police," he read for the class, "This is my mom's favorite song, but I just think it's creepy. Well, class, let's see who's right, this student or his mother."

He pulled the song up on YouTube and let the class watch while he looked through the rest of the papers. Delly Cartwright had a decent one. Cato's submission was... definitely worth discussing.

After the class agreed not to be creepy stalkers, he went with Delly's song choice: Kid Rock's All Summer Long.

During the song, Principal Trinket slipped in and took an empty seat in the back of the classroom.

Meanwhile he kept reading through the papers. He got to Katniss Everdeen's submission. Instead of her usual precise penmanship, the assignment was submitted in an angry scrawl. It read "I chose Someone Like You by Adele. She was correct when she said "Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead," but she missed the part where if your love dies you'll just stare at a wall for two months and leave your eleven year old to keep your life from completely derailing. Like I said, this assignment isn't really relevant to me, because I'm never ever going to fall in love."

Well shit. That certainly explained some things. He made a mental note to email the school counselor and get her some professional help, but for now he had to go on with the lesson.

When the song was over, he told the class, "I have a small correction to my lecture from last time. It has come to my attention that I should only be using anatomically correct terms in this class. Last time I told you 'It's all fun and games until your dick falls off.' Please correct that in your notes to 'It's all fun and games until your penis falls off.'" He smirked at Effie. "The sentiment stands. STDs are no joke, kids. Anyway, we just finished this lovely tribute to teenage stupidity. Anyone wanna tell me where Kid Rock went wrong?"

Delly Cartwright raised her hand and brought up consent, which was the point she'd made in the paper too. One of the dipshits in the middle said something stupid that made his buddy laugh.

Haymitch called out, "Now if you two chuckleheads need whiskey to get a girl to sleep with you, that says more about you than it does about the girl. But we'll be talking more about consent later in the lesson. Anyone else?"

Someone brought up that it was illegal to have sex in a public place, which was an excellent point, but they missed on the main problems with that song, "Location, location, location," he told them, "If it doesn't have a good place to go to the bathroom and clean up a bit afterwards, the girl could end up with a UTI, which are a pain. Then of course there's the sand that gets everywhere. I mean, it's better than the wrestling mats, which is a ticket to a staph infection in a very uncomfortable location, but not by much."

"Anyway," Haymitch continued, "Next up is the worst submission by far. I will not be playing the song for the class, see Ms. Trinket I can be reasonable, but it's WAP by Cardi B." A few of the wrestlers high fived each other. Time to wipe that smile off Cato's face. "Now, the problem isn't the song selection it's that this guy wrote, 'Girls don't actually get wet like that it's just a myth.' While the song is definitely exaggerating in terms of volume, it is factually correct. There is some accounting for variation in partners, but in general, vaginal dryness is a sign that the partner isn't very good at what he's doing."

And he'd done it again. Absolute silence; even the morons paying perfect attention. Time to move on to consent.

The Hunger Games modern AU where Haymitch is the gym teacher and has to teach sex ed. He starts the week by playing Girls, Girls, Girls by Motley Crue. Then he says, "Don't you ever go to a 'dollhouse' in Fort Lauderdale. You know who does that? Florida men. It's a surefire way to get syphilis. And you know what happens with untreated syphilis? Your dick falls off. Your assignment this week is to bring in a popular song that mentions sex and tell the class exactly what's wrong with it."

Effie Trinket is the principal.