#coworkers everlark

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

any completed everlark workplace au? please 🥺 and thank you!

Hello Anon!

Below is a masterlist for co-worker aus! I've added this topic to a list for future masterlists! Hopefully these are new to you-happy reading!

After Hours-SoThere (ao3) Summary: An unexpected late-night text from her co-worker makes Katniss reflect on her relationships and reassess her definition of happiness. Everlark Modern AU Brighter Than Angels-sohypothetically (ff) Summary: Katniss Everdeen has a quiet life as a Phys. Ed. teacher. She volunteers to chaperone Fairfield Junior High's ninth grade trip to Washington D.C. and ends up finding an unexpected ally in Home Ec. teacher Peeta Mellark. Will sparks fly between the pair? An Everlark A/U But You Wear It so Well-Abagail_Snow (ao3) Summary: Katniss Everdeen has never been a fan of Peeta Mellark, but when she’s called into work on her day off, she gets to know him better than she ever imagined through an “innocent” game of Truth or Dare? Modern Day Don't Talk To Me-hutchabelle (ao3) Summary: Katniss Everdeen hates people. Well, that’s not exactly true, but she doesn’t exactly like them either. They’re too…human or whatever. Too many acquaintances. The last thing she wants to do is get close to any of them, especially after the events of the past few months. She’s barely holding it together as it is, and introducing people or, even worse, friends could tip her right over the edge. She values her sanity. That’s probably why the new, sweet, disgustingly optimistic, overly friendly hire at the coffee shop where Katniss works irritates her so much. He’s just so nauseatingly earnest. It makes her want to punch him in the face. Employee Training-Abagail_Snow (ao3) Summary: During orientation for a new job, Katniss learns to lighten up with another new hire. F.M.K.-c_r_roberts (ao3) Summary: A modern AU one shot in which Peeta and Katniss are co-workers. Until an after-work happy hour and a silly little game changes that dynamic. Holidate Me-JHsgf82 (ao3) Summary: Lonely hearts Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark attend the office holiday party together as each other’s holidate. How will the night come to a close? Holiday Havoc Ensues-katnissdoesnotfollowback (ao3) Summary: Johanna and Finnick despise the holiday parties that their boss throws. This year, they've decided to throw a holiday party worthy of their coworkers. There will be music, dancing, games, creative insults, rebellion, food, and even a gift exchange. Hopefully there won't be any murder or arrests, but you never know what's going to happen when you pack this many victors into one house… Indulgence-SavvyLark (ao3) Summary: Katniss is dating healthnut Gale and has adapted to his g-free, plant based ways. Unfortunately, her co-worker, carb loving Peeta has reminded her what she's been missing, and she's so hungry for him --er his food. Learn Your Song-ashyblondwaves (ao3) Summary: Modern Day AU: Katniss Everdeen had spent the last three years working at the only electronics and office supply store in District 12, and it was time once again to prepare for Christmas. The rapid changes always brought new sights, new sounds, and this year it brought Peeta Mellark — the new seasonal hire.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to shoot me an ask!

[gurindeen]

Rant time!

I have just finished watching Catching Fire after rereading the Catching Fire book and???? WHERE IS PEETA. Where is Peeta the whole time in this movie? He just kind of sits there with quizzical looks on his face. I get it, it’s a long story to condense into 2h26min, but. Peeta is such a central character in this book. I’m upset.

I may be overfangirling this but if I didn’t know the story I guess I’d be really confused as to why Katniss wanted Peeta to be the one who lives so badly. I just feel like he wasn’t given much depth in the CF movie. Which is weird considering I think the movies did a pretty good job with that in THG. Peeta is so brilliant, kind and present this entire book.

On top of that, Katniss and Peeta don’t really seem to share what is going on, or even support each other that much. Aside from the scene where Peeta’s heart stops, which is very good, they feel distant. When they talk on the beach, it feels off. Why do you even need him, movie!Katniss? You look like coworkers or something. Weird. Where is everlark understanding and leaning on each other so much that Katniss wouldn’t risk Peeta removing his goddamn makeup in his own room because they might lock him away from her for the night? You know what I mean?

And what’s with Katniss kissing Gale before the reaping, while he’s fully awake and well? That is substantially different from kissing him when he was passed out and wishing him to not remember it the day after. (not me whining because evethorne got this and we didn't get the picnic scene)

What irks me the most about all of this is: why? I’m pretty sure it was of knowledge when the movie was made that Peeta mattered quite a lot to the story and to Katniss - because if he didn’t, if he was just some cute teammate with a crush on her, who she gives only one and a half fuck about - none of it would have happened. No berries, no defiance, no Snow using Peeta to hurt the Mockingjay and deeply as he could. No reason to have hope, no dandelion. No revolution!

With Peeta, I feel like this movie stripped him down to ill assorted bit of the love triangle. Which is not only annoying, but downright Capitol level of treating love as marketing. And stupid, because, as I hinted above, the books where already fully out, right? Before rewatching CF, I was just talking to a friend who hasn't read the books and she said - oh, I didn't think Katniss actually liked Peeta, thought it was just the shared trauma. Yes. That's what it looked like in this movie. And not because they were trying to not focus on love, because they've amped the love triangle thing up. So I don't get it. Why do you always have to take a nice character and treat them like less just because they’re nice? (Ron Weasley I'm talking about you) Tell me, am I exaggerating? Do I just love Peeta too much?

[everlarkficquestions]

hi I'm looking for an everlark!coworker trope where they are secretly married where katniss doesnt wear her ring and peeta does and peeta is the new hire and when others see him and katniss interact they think something is going on between them but when asked about what peetas wife thinks about their friendship I think he replies why would she mind

I know I’ve read this one, and it’s bugging me that I can’t find it. I was convinced that it was one of @muttpeeta ‘s drabbles, but I haven’t been able to find it on her tumblr, so I may be way off.

If anyone can identify this story, please let us know!

[whimsofavim]

Master Post

Don’t F*ck Your CoWorkers - WIP, Lucy Gray becomes a mentor AU, hayffie, slow SLOW burn, 59th - The reaping of the 74th Hunger Games

All Each Other Has - Planned but not yet written, Lucy Gray becomes a mentor AU, Second Quarter Quell, Prequel to DFYCW

God Damn Grandkids - A concept with sporadic scenes but not yet written, Lucy Gray becomes a mentor AU, Hayffie, Everlark, 74th Hunger Games - Epilogue, Sequel to DFYCW

Two for Two - Working title, currently rotting my brain, lavishing in notebook, so many gifs so little time, likely not posting until GDG is finished

The 58th - What it says on the tin, I’m not sure when exactly I’m going to write this but I’ve been wanting to for a WHILE

The 64th - As above, so below, but instead of this being on my brain for a while it’s been on my brain for a couple of hours at most and it’s mostly because I want to write some ANGST

[stardust948]

For the fandom ask game 7, 10, 12, and 15

Fandom ask game 📚

7. What is your favorite fanfiction (can be yours or someone else’s)?

Sunset in a Dark Sky by VanillaCottonCandy Everlark Fic. Both Katniss and Peeta are captured by the Capitol and trafficked by President Snow. It's pretty dark but also has a lot of touching Everlark moments.

Fire Dance by HomeAgainRose Zutara fic. Zuko joins the Gaang after Book 2 and pretends to be Aang's parent along with Katara in The Headband. It's so cute. I would absolutely love it if this author wrote a full Book 3 AU.

The Prince of the Fire Nation by HarrisonHolmes2014 Zutara fic. A Prince of Egypt AU that's fantastic.

My favorite fic I've written is Let beauty come out of ashes, a Zutara Cinderella AU. It was fun to write and I find myself rereading it often.

10. Do people offline know about your tumblr/AO3/etc.?

My coworkers know I read Zutara fics. That's the extend of it.

12. Favorite character of all time?

Such a hard decision but I think it comes down to Zuko.

15. Describe your favorite crackship

Megatron x Pinkie Pie. It's so random but I love it.

Thanks for the ask ❤️

[everlarkedalways]

✺THG Series Exploration: Catching Fire✺

27: Our fandom is filled with amazing and talented writers. We're celebrating THG Alternate Universe Fanfic today. We've read so many versions of Panem, the Games and Everlark, and it gives our favorite characters a new life that perpetuates our love for them.

I'm sharing my favorite stories today. Tag me in your faves or stories you've written, and I'll share them on here.

[savvylark]

I’m Late

A bite size Everlark drabble for you. Have a great weekend! Shout out the my friend @katnissdoesnotfollowback for being an inspiration and extra set of eyes. Rated M for mild language, sexual situations and implied smut.

Part 1

*Click clack click clack click clack*

“Damn heels.” I mutter. As I rush, each step I take echos throughout the building.

It sounds like a nagging. “You’re late, you’re late. Click clack.” Announcing my tardiness to all who have ears.

I hate these early morning monthly meetings. I had to drop my sister off especially early and traffic was infuriatingly unpredictable getting downtown. “I'm late again. I can't believe I'm late again!” I berate myself, rushing through the lobby.

“Hold the elevator?!” At the sound of his warm voice I light up. I wedge my arm through the narrowly closing metallic doors.

“Thanks,” he breathes out.

We have this unspoken way of looking out for each other. Ever since that first morning, we were racing down to the same 7am meeting.

I’ll never forget the image and the feeling of comically rushing down a hallway, looking to my left and someone was rushing beside me at the same speed. A common goal. Our eyes met, we exchanged a knowing embarrassed smile. “Glad I'm not the only one running late,” he said with that charming smile and those mesmerizing blue eyes.

I thought about him a lot after that day. My eyes gravitate toward his in crowded meetings. My thoughts migrate to what he might look like out of that suit more than I would ever admit.

He surges through the elevator doors looking amazing in his navy suit, tailored to fit his broad shoulders, thick arms, and stocky build.

“Thanks Katniss.” He smiles and I try to hide the way my heart flutters and knees grow weak.

“No problem.” I answer, but my voice sounds more raspy than I meant it to. I quickly spin to push the button for the 12th floor. When I turn I think I catch his eyes lingering on me. His head ducks rather quickly, his cheek are a little red. That could be from rushing down the hall but the way he’s rubbing the back of his neck makes me wonder.

My own cheeks feel hot suddenly and I bite my lip.

These dangerous thoughts are all Finnick’s fault. He told me he caught Peeta staring at me when I wasn't looking. I dismissed the thought. I'm plain, quite forgettable and a little brash when I do speak. He's charismatic, smooth with his words, and effortlessly gorgeous. Every carefully coiffed woman in our office has taken notice.

Peeta sets his briefcase down and balances two boxes of doughnuts in one hand while straightening his tie with the other, then runs his fingers through his ashy blond hair. Styled but a little unruly, just like his personality. A straight shooter in the workplace, knowing just where to push and use his words for positive changes.

He once told me his loft is above a bakery. He thinks he has enough time pick up baked goods before these monthly meetings but always ends up rushing.

“Hey Katniss. I was thinking,” I turn to look at Peeta. “Um,” he pauses when our eyes meet and his tongue gently trails over his lips. My gazes lingers there a beat longer than it should. I hold my breath and wait for him to speak. My eyes flick back to his clear blue ones.

“A few of us are meeting up at the Hob for drinks after work Friday. Annie and Finnick mentioned that you’ve joined them a time or two…” and he’s trailing off with reasons why I should come and my heart is beating faster. I don’t have any words so I just flash a weak smile and nod.

“You will? You’ll come Friday?” He asks earnestly. His large hands grip the side of the bakery boxes.

My smile spreads, more genuine. “Yes. The Hob. Friday.”

The elevator pings and the doors open. We fly out in a dead sprint. Click clacking away. Laughing as we abruptly slow our pace to a casual stroll in front of the windows to our conference room.

Peeta enters the meeting before I do and makes a big show of handing out doughnuts, French Crullers and Apple Fritters and smooth talking the department heads while I slip in unnoticed. Bullet dodged thanks to my ally.

“Thank you, Mellark, for the treats. Now let’s start our first order of business, are you ready with The Minutes, Ms. Trinket?” Plutarch asks.

I look down and the napkin in front of me has a Cheese Bun on it, my favorite. But how would he know? Our eyes meet and I mouth “Thank you.” Peeta flashes a smile and winks at me.

I bite my lip to hide my grin as I turn my attention to my notes.

Part 2

“Wow!” He gasps.

“Mmm. Yeah,” I moan as I we catch our breaths.

His fingers are tangled in my hair. He smiles up at me, blue eyes glistening, cheeks flushed. He has sweaty tendrils at his temples. He leans up and kisses me, slow and toe curling. He pulls away with a grin.

“Tease.”

“Never,” his hands slide down my back, around my hips and grip my ass. Every touch shoots heat and desire from the point of contact and spreads through me. He leans into my ear and whispers, “I always follow through.”

My giggle stops short as he nibbles my earlobe.

Our kisses grow heated and hungry. “What time were we supposed to be at The Hob? Do we have time for round two?” He purrs into my ear.

I shift us and lean over to my nightstand. Peeta takes advantage of my distracted state and kisses down my neck and chest.

“That asshole Marvel was drooling over you earlier today as you were bent over the copier,” he growls through gritted teeth then he kisses my breasts.

“Peeta!” I moan as I lean further to check the time. He's reached my nipples and my mind can't quite register what the numbers on the clock mean. I arch into him, “Oh. Yes.”

I've lost all coherent thought. His fingers slide up the inside of my thighs massaging up and down, sliding higher with each pass, making his intent clear. I’m growing even more wet as he sucks and licks my nipple. Peeta flips me over and kisses lower down my body before teasing me until I'm dangling off the precipice. “Mmm, OH. Yes. Yes. Oh Peeta! Just like THAT. Oh PEETA!!”

We’re laughing between sloppy kisses as we scramble around picking up our clothes and haphazardly throwing them on. We share another kiss before we rush out the door wearing stupid dopey grins on our faces.

We’ve kept things between us for the past few months. We weren’t overtly hiding anything, just low key about it. After our friends kept nudging us to get together, it seemed to just annoy me all the more, realizing they were right. “You and Peeta are a great pair, you would be good together.” Well they finally stopped bugging me about Peeta, but Madge and Finnick have caught on that I’m dating someone. My happiness has been a dead giveaway and it’s only a matter of time before they figure it out.

“Uh, Peeta. How do I look?”

“You’re beautiful.” He beams, just before hitting the brakes. He pulls up to the sidewalk to drop me off at the entrance before he parks his car.

I roll my eyes but smile. “No I mean, do I look freshly fucked?” I flip the visor down to inspect my reflection. I grit my teeth and wrinkle my nose, “Yup.”

“No you don--” then he cups my jaw, turning my face to him and tries not to laugh. “You kind of do.” He gently runs his thumbs under my lower lash line and fluffs my hair a little. But we’re laughing now because there’s just not much we can do.

We’re late. We’ve arrived together. Our clothes are rumpled. Hair wild. Faces shiny. Grinning like idiots.

“See you in a few.” Peeta tells me and leans in for another kiss which I get lost in, softly moaning. I pull back blushing and blink a few times, back to reality. I throw my beanie on, button my coat, and enter the winter air.

*click clack click clack click clack*

My heels pound the pavement as I rush to the door.

Madge flags me down, waving me over to our booth in the corner of The Hob near the pool tables, with a smile. “Hey, better late than never.”

Clove is concentrating on her phone and without looking up mumbles, “Anyone heard from Mellark? He said he was coming.”

“Doesn't he come with Katniss sometimes?” Finnick responds a little too eagerly.

I shrug off my coat and wince when Madge reaches to pull off my beanie. “Hat hair.” I mumble.

“Hat hair, more like sex hair.” She says with a laugh. I must react and give myself away because Madge's laughter quickly turns to wide-blue eyes full of curiosity. “Katniss?” Madge whispers.

Of course Peeta walks in at that moment, hair a mess, flushed cheeks, lips red, and an unsightly something purple on his neck that is barely hidden by his collar. Ugh, what are we teenagers?

Peeta stands next to me as Gale asks, “Where ya been, Mellark?”

It takes five whole seconds of silence while their eyes take in the sight of Peeta and then me. I feel a little flustered and twist my coat in my hands. Then our group of friends erupt in loud mixed reactions.

Madge keeps exclaiming “I knew it!” To which Glimmer and Clove pester her with questions in a snooty tone. “How? Since when?”

Finnick whoops and hollers. A few slap cash in front of Finnick, which he pockets with a smug smile. Annie high-fives him. Thresh pulls me into a hug, saying he's glad to see me so happy. Gale is a little grumpy about it.

Peeta squeezes my hand and I feel like everything is right with the world.

Part 3

“I’m Late.” I shake my head, not sure what to do or think. I’ve put it off long enough, pretending I don’t know why I’m late. I know why...at least I think I know why.

I hold answers in my hands. Two minutes stretch out like two years. I clench the plastic in my shaking grip.

Peeta knocks on the door, “Katniss?” I jump back. He wasn’t supposed to be home this early. I thought I had more time.

I hesitate, take deep breaths, my resolve breaks when he says, “I brought home crackers and ginger ale. Are you doing okay?”

The gentleness in his voice calms the storm in me.

*tap tap tap tap*

My flats lightly slap the linoleum under foot as I move to let Peeta in, metaphorically and literally.

I open the bathroom door and meet Peeta's eyes, full of concern. My heart pounds, as he looks down at the test in my hands. His eyebrows shoot up as I hold my breath.

“I'm late.” I tell him, far calmer than I feel. A million thoughts and fears cycle through my head but before I can voice any of them I'm engulfed in a tight embrace. A calm steady chest anchors me in place. His large soothing hand strokes my back and I breath in his comforting scent. “You tell me what's next. Are we having a baby Katniss?”

[mrspeetamellark]

The Wager

An Everlark Drabble

Read it on AO3 HERE

[jlalafics]

Made-up fic title game: Spice Spice Baby

(that's what popped into mind 🤷🏻‍♀️😂)

Katniss and Peeta play against one another during a Spice Girls trivia night.

The winner gets to make the loser do anything they want.

And I mean anything.

[sparklingdust4612]

(It's 4 am here but...) Everlarked! Enjoy 😁

Today is a typical day in the monotonous life of Katniss Everdeen. Everything is always the same, predictable, a little soothing but ultimately boring as fuck. The thought makes her snort. Who am I kidding, I wouldn't mind some excitement...

She walks towards the corner, focusing on her email when someone runs by her, making her stumble. 'Thank god I am not wearing heels today!' she thinks before steadying herself.

"Hey, I am so so sorry," comes a breathless voice, making her look up into a pair of shocking blue eyes.

"I didn't mean to um...shove you or anything but you were ahead of me and I've been winning for two months so I can't stop now..." he trails off, a flush creeping up his otherwise pale face.

"Um, well, have a good day, I'll see you tomorrow," he finishes, nods, and starts walking away.

"Hey, what's your name?" Katniss doesn't know where that even came from because asking a strange man what his name was, while smiling is NOT something Katniss Everdeen does.

"Peeta, Peeta Mellark. I er, work in that firm," Peeta says, sounding shy and awkward as he points towards Abernathy Advertising, the firm she herself works in.

"Oh, which department?" Katniss asks, mentally screaming at her traitorous mouth to shut the fuck up already.

"I am an HR specialist," he says, running a hand through his messy blond curls.

"Katniss Everdeen, R&D manager," she smiles and extends her hand making his eyes widen. Probably thought the woman he runs ahead of every day wouldn't be working in the same firm...she thinks before he takes her hand in a firm grasp.

"I'll see you tomorrow then, wearing my running shoes because there's no way in hell you can win fairly," she tells him, trying to sound haughty like Effie Trinket from Marketing. He must recognize what she was trying to achieve because he chuckles.

"And why is that," he asks, sounding genuinely interested as they walk towards their destination.

"Oh you know, I used to chase after my over-excited sister before bedtime every day. That kind of experience sticks with you," she smirks and he smiles at her. It's not a forced, or lascivious smile, just sweet with a touch of shyness...

And just like that... Katniss Everdeen is a goner

So every morning I get off the train and start my 20 minute walk to work, and there’s this guy who’s always like 3 steps ahead of me and always beats me to the street corner bc I get stopped by the light and he passes it. but today I was ahead of him for the first time and he RUNS in front of me, turns around and goes “I’ve been winning for 2 months now, can’t stop now, have a good day, see you tomorrow.”  tmrw I swear i’m wearing running shoes to work. 

[javistgs-ficlibrary]

When your office faces the windows of a Hotel. You see the darnedest things.

By Buttercupbadass

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

CoWorker!Everlark Fic Masterlist (2)

Part 1 /

Created: Sept 12th, 2024

Last Checked:---

Match Play-Diana_Flynn (ao3) Summary: There is nothing like a disastrous double date to make you realize what you don’t want and who you really want. For Katniss Everdeen that was realizing that all she ever wanted was right in front of her all along - her co-worker Peeta Mellark. She’s just afraid she may be too late.  Office Affairs-Pagedancer87 (ao3) Summary: AU-Modern Everlark Story done for birthday prompt for @everlarkbirthdaydrabbles on Tumblr for the prompt: fluffy coworker everlark Office with a View-Buttercupbadass (ao3) Summary: When your office faces the windows of a Hotel. You see the darnedest things. One Date Can’t Hurt-hutchabelle (ao3) Summary: Katniss doesn’t do first dates with anybody, but Peeta’s just a little too persistent for her to resist. Party To A Kiss-hutchabelle (ao3) Summary: Written for the prompt: Katniss and Peeta are both in denial about their feelings. At a Christmas party, they're trying to avoid mistletoe at all costs. However, all their friends or co-workers are trying their best to get the two of them to just kiss already. Policies & Procedures-Peetabreadgirl (ao3) Summary: Katniss and Peeta have a hard time maintaining a professional relationship at work. Spiked-JHsgf82 (ao3) Summary: Modern AU. Coworkers/roommates/best friends-to-lovers. Haymitch catches sight of Peeta bringing Katniss home drunk from a holiday party. Spotted. Everlark Falling in Love-JavisTG (ao3) Summary: Katniss and Peeta are teachers. Their classrooms are across from each other, so they eat lunch together every day --which leads to some of their students shipping them. Stupid Cupid-slagheapwhore (ao3) Summary: Working at Everdeen's Grocery Store can get really interesting when a few workers want to play cupid. Everlark. Modern AU. Sweetest Dreams-Cutelily05 (ao3) Summary: Katniss, a budding photographer gets a chance to work at the wildlife channel alongside wildlife channel presenter, Peeta Mellark . Does she have a choice of getting a shot of his heart too?

[lemonluvgirl]

In the Clouds

An Everlark Birthday fic for Sparkling Stella

I wrote this fic for the wonderful, funny, amazing, and talented @the-sparkling-way !!! It’s her birthday today so don’t forget to send her well wishes! Hope you like it my friend! And a special thanks goes out to @pookieh​  for helping me with the Canadian phrases and slang. LOL you helped me so much! And also to @jhsgf82​ for helping me beta read and giving me feedback! Part 2, with smut, coming soon!

“Get your head outta the clouds boy,” Captain Abernathy barked at Co-Captain Peeta Mellark. 

Peeta grunted in annoyance and looked away from the retreating form of the beautiful woman who had just come in to let them know they were ready for take off. 

“Sorry, Captain,” Peeta replied, fighting a flush at being caught staring at one of the flight attendants. 

She was the newest stewardess to start with Panem Airlines in recent weeks, and her name was Katniss. 

“Don’t be such a keener, Mellark,” Haymitch said as he barked out a laugh at his younger co-captain’s expense. “You should make your move, kid. Those American girls are less aggressive than our women. A lot of them wait for the man to initiate things. And you’ve been drooling over that bittie like a puppy eyeing a box of Timbits for weeks now,” Captain Abernathy said. 

Peeta scoffed, but didn’t reply. He disliked that his crush on Katniss was being compared to a dog eyeing a box of donuts. 

Even if it was slightly accurate. 

He had noticed Katniss right away when she started working at Panem Air because she was very pretty, exotic-looking even. Being Canadian, from Toronto, he had grown up around a mix of different people from different places. He had always had a penchant for olive skin and dark hair. But so far none of the women he’d tried dating had left any kind of lasting impression.

Unlike his new coworker. 

One thing he never knew about himself until he met Katniss was just how affected he was by steely gray eyes, or long dark hair braided into a thick plait. She hardly even wore makeup. But he’d never met a girl so understatedly beautiful. 

 He also noticed other things about her. Like how she was quiet, hard-working, and not one of the pilot-chasers. A good portion of stewardesses and pilots were known to carry on interpersonal relationships despite company regulations discouraging such things. It often made for awkward workplace tensions. For that reason alone, Peeta had tried to steer clear of getting involved with any of the stewardesses he’d known before he met Katniss. 

She had changed his ideas about whether dating a co-worker was worth the hassle, and he had developed a serious crush on her. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to take notice of him, or any other pilot. 

Which was good, considering on certain days he flew with guys like Cato Anderson as his co-pilot. He was a typical cocky young buck, who thought his license to fly a plane also gave him license to chase stewardesses. Those kinds of pilots were assholes who’d sleep with anything in a skirt, and Katniss always ignored their flirting and innuendos. 

And while he was glad she didn’t fall for their tactics, Peeta was disappointed to learn she wasn’t open to dating him either. 

On their last flight, a connecting one from New York to Edmonton, his sometimes co-captain Finnick Odair had asked her to go out for drinks, and she had turned him down saying, “I don’t date pilots” dismissively before turning around and going back to her duties. 

Peeta had been happy that she’d turned Finnick down, even if the man was his friend and ultimately a good person under his playboy personna, but he had been crushed to hear about her dating policy -because it meant he was automatically barred from dating her as well. 

So, the only thing he could do was admire her from afar. 

Peeta returned his attention to the controls and the readouts coming from the displays on the cockpit circuit board. 

“All clear, Captain. Let’s give’er,” Peeta told the older gentleman, and Captain Abernathy nodded before he clicked on the announcement mic and began his rehearsed spiel about how clear the skies were and how smooth their flight would be to ease the passengers into take-off mode. 

~

Halfway through the flight, the same stewardess knocked on the cabin door and poked her head in to let the pilots know there was a couple who had snuck into the lavatory together and were causing a disturbance to the other passengers. 

Peeta grimaced as Katniss told him that the door had been locked for twenty minutes and there were all manner of strange sounds coming from inside. 

Katniss’ face had been an embarrassed shade of crimson when she had to ask for Peeta’s help in removing the couple from the washroom. 

“Yeah, no, don’t worry; I’ll get them outta there in two minutes flat,” Peeta assured her before setting his controls on standby and unbuckling from his seat. 

“Don’t go too hard on ‘em, boy. Young love knows no bounds!” Captain Abernathy chuckled in amusement as Peeta vacated his co-pilot seat. 

Peeta rolled his eyes and muttered, “Young love, eh? Probably just two hosers looking to join the mile high club.” 

Katniss apparently had heard his comment and looked back at him with a curious expression on her face. 

“Hosers. It’s Candian for idiots. Do you all still say idiots in the States?” Peeta asked her with a tilt of his head. 

Katniss pursed her lips like she was fighting off a smile. Peeta wondered what it would take to make her let go and laugh. 

“Yes. I know about the term hosers. I’ve been working around you Canucks long enough to pick up on that one,” Katniss said with a subtle arch of her left eyebrow and a twinkle in her eye. That fact that she’d picked up on the slang word for Canadians made Peeta smile, which in turn made Katniss smile back. Her expression lit up her whole face with gentle beauty. 

 It made Peeta want to lean in to get a better look at the shades of gray in her eyes, framed by thick, dark lashes. But he held back, out of politeness. After all, it wasn’t very Canadian to invade a woman’s (or anyone’s for that matter) personal space. 

Katniss cleared her throat and started over, looking away from him. “I meant the mile high club? What’s that?” she asked quietly. 

Peeta had to do a double-take to make sure he’d heard her question correctly. 

“Uh, well, you know. The mile high club. I think-er-the term was actually invented in The States…..” Peeta said, too dumbfounded by her innocence to answer her question correctly. 

Another stewardess, Johanna Mason, who had three years working for the airline under her belt, snickered when she heard Peeta struggle to answer Katniss’ question. 

“How can you be a stewardess and not know about the mile high club, Brainless?” Johanna teased, and Peeta shot her a look. He knew Johanna was virtually harmless; the girl was all bark and no bite, but he didn’t appreciate the way Johanna teased Katniss sometimes and called her Brainless. 

Katniss was an adult (22 years old, to be exact; Peeta had found out from some of the other stewardesses by asking some discreet questions), but she had this quality about her. She wasn’t naive per se; it was more like she was pure. 

“Don’t worry, give it a couple of months, and the things you’ll see on some of these planes will educate your virginal mind,” Johanna added with a smirk. 

“I’m not a virgin!” Katniss exclaimed angrily, seeming to have spoken first without thinking. 

Peeta couldn’t help but look at her in that moment. She seemed to realize what she just said, and her cheeks flushed with a dark cherry-red stain while she closed her eyes in an embarrassed wince. 

“Whoa, I didn’t say you were. I just said your mind was virginal. It would be a crying shame if a grown woman like you didn’t know about‒” Johanna started to say. 

“That’s enough, Ms. Mason. That kind of talk isn’t appropriate in the workplace,” Peeta cut Johanna off, and this time she actually clammed up and looked mildly contrite. 

Peeta snuck a look at Katniss and saw that she was scowling; because of her embarrassment or because he had intervened on her behalf, he didn’t know which one it was. 

Peeta shook his head and cleared his throat, returning his attention to the matter at hand. 

“Let’s go get those passengers back in their seats,” Peeta said sternly, and Katniss nodded before following him towards the back of the plane where the lavatory was located. 

The passengers in question, Glimmer and Marvel Jones (newlyweds, who apparently couldn’t wait until they got to their honeymoon suite) were easy enough to wrangle back into their seats after Peeta had a stern word with them through the lavatory door. 

They stumbled from the washroom pink-cheeked and disheveled and slunk off after muttering some apologies to Peeta and Katniss. 

Katniss thanked him quietly, and Peeta returned to the cockpit without further ado. 

~

“I’m really not as stupid as Johanna makes me out to be.” Katniss’ voice surprised him. Peeta turned around in the empty plane to see her standing there, determined-looking but also slightly apprehensive. 

They had just finished landing and exiting procedures at Edmonton International, and most everyone including the other stewardesses were rushing off to their next assignments.  

“I don’t think you’re stupid, Miss Everdeen, I think you’re a class act,” Peeta replied, and then he winced because he thought that sounded like something a geriatric citizen would say. He wasn’t that much older than Katniss. He got his pilot’s license at 21 and had been flying for the last four years. He was usually a lot smoother with women, but there was something about Katniss Everdeen that made him feel like a tongue-tied teenager. 

“Thank you, sir,” Katniss said in a careful tone, and Peeta groaned internally. 

She definitely thinks I’m a deadshit. He thought to himself ruefully as he tried to scrounge up a piece of conversation that wouldn’t be boring. 

“How many times do I have to ask you to call me Peeta?” he said with a sigh, because it was the only thing his brain could come up with in response. 

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just used to a more formal work environment. Back in the States there were stricter rules,” Katniss said with a huff. 

Peeta noticed her dissatisfied grimace. 

“Well, you’re in the Great North now, beautiful, and us Canadians are known for being very polite and friendly, no matter what you do, or where you’re from,” Peeta told her, and then he gave her one of his friendliest smiles. 

Katniss bit her lip and nodded. 

“I think I’m starting to understand that,” Katniss said quietly. It looked like she was biting back a smile. 

Peeta looked up with hope in his eyes, wondering if Haymitch had been right and he should just go ahead and ask her out, even if she didn’t want to date him right away, maybe they could start out as friends. 

“What you sayin’ tonight?” Peeta blurted out. 

“Huh? Where am I staying?” Katniss asked and gave him a bewildered look. 

“No! That's not what I meant, or, actually, that’s not what it sounded like. ‘What you sayin’ is a Canadian way of asking, ‘What are your plans for tonight?’” Peeta rushed to explain, and then he turned scarlet when Katniss gave him a blank, disbelieving look. 

“I’m not one of those kinds of girls!” Katniss protested, narrowing her eyes at him. 

Peeta felt like she’d slapped him across the face. 

“No! What? Of course not! I just—I thought we could grab something to eat, if you’re done for the day,” Peeta clarified nervously. 

Katniss blinked at him, still suspicious and disbelieving. 

“As friends. I know you don’t date pilots,” Peeta said in a slightly sullen voice. 

“Oh,” Katniss replied, her eyes widening in realization. But she made no other attempt to speak or answer, and after a few seconds Peeta was even more embarrassed. 

“Yeah, no, it’s fine, if you don’t want to,” Peeta said, holding up his hands. “Sorry I asked! My friends all tell me I can be a real doughhead,” Peeta said with a laugh that was supposed to come out self-deprecating and humorous but instead sounded brittle. He moved away sharply, to escape back to the cockpit since he didn’t feel like trying to get past her in the tight airplane aisles. 

“No, wait!” Katniss called after him. 

.

.

.

.

To be continued…

[lovely-tothe-bone]

Someone please write this 🥺🥺🥺

[everlarkficexchange]

The Barrier

Author: @hutchhitched

Prompt 77: Married Everlark are coworkers and their marriage is on the rocks. They’ve been sleeping in separate rooms. Divorce looks inevitable. On a business trip, there is *dramatic pause* only one bed. Does the forced closeness lead them to really talk for the first time in months or does it drive them further apart? Smut not required. [submitted by @katnissdoesnotfollowback]

Ratings/Warnings: M; allusions to infertility, divorce, self-loathing

  “What do you mean there’s only one bed?” Katniss hissed at her husband. “We were supposed to have our own rooms, and now you’re telling me we have to share a bed? Did you do this on purpose?”

Peeta glared at her, fury flaring in his blue eyes. If she weren’t so furious herself, she’d push a little harder, but the flint-like nature of his glower convinced her that she needed to steer clear, if only by shutting her mouth once she’d voiced her opinions.

“What kind of idiot do you think I am?” he practically spat at her. “It’s not like I want to spend time with you. I get enough of that at home.”

“A big one.”

“A big one, what?”

“You asked what kind of idiot I think you are. I think you’re a big idiot.”

“Enjoy sleeping on the street,” he said with unnatural calm and turned sharply on his heel. He’d only taken three steps before she crumbled. She had no interest in sharing a bed or a room with the man she’d married a decade ago, but she definitely didn’t have any desire to sleep in the hotel lobby, or worse.

“Oh, come on!” She called after him and hurried to catch up before he made it to the elevator. “You’re not going to leave me hanging. We’re here for work, and neither of us can afford a bad performance review this year.”

“It’d be worth it,” he groused.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Peeta stood to the side so those inside the elevator could clear out and then stepped into the box with his suitcase. He punched the button for their floor and leaned against the wall without bothering to glance her way as she struggled to get inside with her bag.

“Can we not?” he asked tiredly. “You can yell at me all you want in the hotel room, but it’s unseemly in public.”

“Unseemly?” She almost said more, but bit the inside of her cheek instead. She could wait until they reached their room to see how bad the situation was going to be before she said anything else. This whole thing probably wasn’t fair in any way, but she couldn’t help but feel like this was somehow all his fault.

The elevator ride concluded in silence, as did the walk from the elevator to their room. Peeta fiddled with the lock for a full minute and cursed as the red light flashed several times before finally figuring out how it worked and popping the door open to allow them to enter. He flipped on the lights as he entered, and she almost smiled at the familiarity of him scanning the corners for someone hiding in the shadows. He’d started that habit on their honeymoon when they’d not bothered to look before going at it against the door as soon as they closed it behind them. An errant cleaning lady who’d only been dropping off extra towels and pillows had gotten quite a show, very likely one she’d had absolutely no interest in viewing.

The honeymoon was a long, long time ago. So long, in fact, that Katniss wasn’t even sure if she even liked her husband anymore, let alone loved him. They hadn’t been intimate in forever, it seemed, and she hadn’t missed it at all. Well, that wasn’t true. She did miss it. She just wasn’t interested in doing anything with him. All the sexual tension, passion, and lust that had existed between them had simply dried up as real life got in the way. They’d taken out their frustrations and irritations on each other instead of looking for comfort in the other’s arms.

“Do you want to use the bathroom first?” Peeta asked as he set his bag on the edge of the bed and unzipped it.

“First, yes. If it’s okay with you.”

“I don’t care. Knock yourself out.”

He turned his back on her and stripped off his tie before unbuttoning his shirt. He got it over his shoulders and was working on his belt before she shook herself out of her daze and closed the door to the bathroom behind her. Taking her time, she showered and re-braided her hair before brushing her teeth and applying moisturizer. She was just about to pluck her eyebrows when a pounding sounded on the door.

“Can you hurry it up? I’d like to go to sleep sometime tonight.”

Irritated, she jammed her beauty products back in her toiletry bag and ripped open the door. Haughtily, she glared at him and swept by to head to the bed. When she saw what he’d done, she froze.

“What’s this?”

“What’s what?”

“Why are all these pillows in the middle of the bed?”

“They’re making a barrier.”

“Yes, I can see that, jackass. Why is there a barrier of pillows in the middle of the bed?”

“To separate us.”

“But you’re sleeping on the floor.”

“Why the hell would I sleep on the floor?”

“Because we’re not sharing a bed right now. We don’t even sleep in the same room at home anymore. Why would you think we’d do that here?”

Peeta gaped at her, completely dumbstruck. It took a while for him to put words together, but when he did, she wanted to smack him.

“Katniss, I don’t know how to tell you this, but you’re crazy if you think I’m going to sleep on the floor of a hotel just because you decided you don’t want to be married to me anymore. I’ve tried to be understanding, but this is bullshit. I’m not a puppy you can kick.” Peeta shook his head and squeezed his eyes closed and his lips together. She knew that expression because it was one he’d shown much too often in the past several months. That was the look he made when he was about to lose his temper. “Now, I’m going to shower. If you have shit to do, I’d suggest taking care of it while I’m in there because I’m tired, and I’m going to sleep once I’m done.”

She waited until he’d closed the door to the bathroom before ripping the pillows off the middle of the bed. Hell if she was going to sleep in the same bed with him. He’d made a mistake to leave her alone if he thought that was going to happen. She piled the pillows back up against the headboard and then climbed into bed. Once she was directly in the middle, she pulled the covers over herself, set an alarm, and turned off the lights. If she tried, she might actually be asleep before he came back out, and then he’d have to take the floor. They’d barely seen each other in the past few weeks, let alone touched. She certainly didn’t want to start that the night before a big meeting.

It felt like she’d hardly closed her eyes when Peeta exited the bathroom and walked over to the bed. Smirking to herself, she rejoiced in her petty victory. Except… The mattress dipped under her, and she jumped as her husband climbed in behind her. With a shriek, she sprang from the bed and stood clutching the sheets in front of her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Indignant, she wanted to smack his face. His eyes shone wide and blue with faux innocence that quickly shifted to a self-satisfied sneer.

“I’m going to bed. I told you that before I went into the bathroom. Really, Katniss. You should pay closer attention when I tell you what I’m planning. Someone might think you don’t listen. Not very good for a relationship, you know.”

“I was there!”

“And I put up a barrier, which you demolished. Seemed like an invitation.”

“You are such an asshole,” she sputtered. “Get out the bed.”

“And you’re being a total bitch. Get back in bed, and we’ll stick the pillows back between us. I’m not sleeping on the goddamn floor because you’re too stubborn to actually talk about what’s wrong between us.”

“I’m not sleeping in the bed with you!”

“Then, have fun on the floor.”

Infuriated, she fumed at him with a slack mouth and a hollowed out chest. He knew exactly what to say to hurt her, and maybe that was the problem. He knew her too well, knew all her vulnerabilities and insecurities and disappointments. Because of that, she could hardly look him in the face. If she did, she’d have to admit all the flaws she had, and if she did that, he’d know the same way she does that she doesn’t deserve him. Not in a million lifetimes.

Gutted, she ducked her head as tears pricked at her eyes. He reached for her, but she flinched away from him. She couldn’t handle his compassion, which he offered even when they were at their worst.

“Don’t touch me,” she ordered as strongly as she could, which was a pathetic attempt at regaining control. “Don’t touch me. Just put the pillows back. Please.”

He nodded, and it was almost her undoing. Turning her back, she waited until the rustling stopped before climbing back under the covers and settling on her side. The silence was louder than any noise she’d ever heard. It was matched only by the rush of blood in her ears. She stifled a sob and squeezed her eyes closed as tightly as she could. It wasn’t until she was almost asleep that she heard him.

“Goodnight, Katniss.”

She didn’t bother to answer.

****

Katniss woke to a streak of sunlight on her face and a warm fuzzy feeling that stretched from the pit of her stomach to the tips of her fingers and toes. Safe and warm, she nuzzled into the pillow, only to realize it was hard muscle covered in soft cotton, and there was something stiff poking into her thigh.

She didn’t want to move, didn’t want to risk losing the feeling of being loved and protected and cherished. There’s been so little of that in her life. Since her father died, the only person outside of her family who loved her was Peeta. Peeta Mellark, her childhood sweetheart turned fiancé who became her husband way too young, loved her. Maybe he still did, but it was hard to cling to the possibility. More likely, he wanted a divorce. She’d probably face the rest of her life alone.

She closed her eyes and floated in the sensation of being cared for by someone who didn’t have to want her. The press of muscular thighs and cut hips and…hell, she wanted that. She needed it. Desperate, she ground against the thick shaft and moaned low in her throat. It was matched by one just as frantic and eager.

“Katniss,” he whispered, and she tipped her head back to accept his kiss. He’s a dream, someone who could see past everything she couldn’t accomplish, every failure, every disappointment. “Sweetheart, you feel so good.”

He rolled on top of her and hitched her legs around his waist. They rutted against each other, groaning and whimpering at the pleasure they received from their connection. He made her feel so much better. He made her feel like she wasn’t a failure. He made her feel worthy.

“I’ve missed you so much. Missed you so much.”

Hands scrabbled at her sleep shorts. Heat flooded between them and deep in her gut. She wanted him, craved him inside her, longed for acceptance. Something about him—

“Stop!”

Peeta froze on top of her. His reaction was immediate, which only made her feel worse. She’d lost herself, forgotten who it was in bed with her. She’d led him on and allowed him to think their marriage could survive this when he’d be a million times better off leaving than staying with someone who couldn’t give him what he wanted.

“Katniss?”

“Don’t,” she warned. “Don’t talk to me like you can fix things if you only talk slowly and calmly enough. I’m not a child.”

“Sweetheart, please. Please let me in. I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered fiercely. “Please don’t do this to us.”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Tell me what’s wrong. Tell me what I did. Why did you pull away from me? What did I do that was so terrible?”

She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to breathe evenly, but sobs choked her. He hadn’t done anything. He’d only ever been a wonderful husband, and all that did was remind her that she couldn’t ever live up to what he should have. He was loved and respected and admired by everyone, and she was suspicious of the world. He could make anyone laugh, while she stood by awkwardly with an uncomfortable expression on her face. There were a million things like that, but the worst was what she couldn’t quite process enough to allow herself to embrace what he wanted to give her.

He wanted children, and she couldn’t give them to him.

She burst into tears, which she knew was the only guaranteed way to get him to back down from the brewing confrontation. He wasn’t so much of a masochist that he’d purposefully provoke a weeping woman, particularly not his wife, no matter how strained their relationship. Like she knew he would, Peeta released her and flopped onto his back on the mattress next to her. He didn’t try to comfort her. Instead, he allowed her to sob as her tears quickly converted from fake cries to full-fledged howling.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed, and he accepted her apology without even demanding to know anything else. She knew he was frustrated, but he held the space for her, without pushing, as she worked through her outburst. Finally, she quieted, and he rolled onto his side and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

“Better?” he asked with such gentleness in his eyes and voice and touch that she broke again.

“No!” she wailed. “It’s not better. It’s never going to be better.”

Exasperated, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Without a word, he stalked to the bathroom, and she heard the shower turn on and the unmistakable sound of him stepping into it. Embarrassed, she closed her eyes and tried to still her rapidly beating heart. Nowhere in her plan for this trip did she anticipate break down in front of her husband, but she also hadn’t foreseen that they’d have to share a bed. It wasn’t like they’d been doing that at home. Not for months.

“Shower’s free,” he announced as he re-entered the room with a towel slung low on his waist.

His hair, usually ashy blonde and wavy when it was dry, clung to his head as water droplets traced down his chest. A jolt of lust shot through her, something she hadn’t felt for a long time. Without a word, she passed by him to get ready. When she was done, he’d already left for their meeting. The day passed quickly, and too soon they were back in the room together with an awkward silence hanging between them. Peeta didn’t even bother to talk. He simply got ready for bed and curled up on his side with his back to the wall of pillows between them.

Katniss attempted to fall asleep for what felt like ages, but the only thing she could do was listen to the steady in and out of Peeta’s breath. The sound was so familiar to her, and it was even more dear than that. She missed him so much, and, if the morning was any indication, he wanted her as much as she needed him.

“Peeta,” she hissed. When he merely grunted, she moved one of the pillows that separated them and reached across the barrier. “Peeta, wake up.”

“What do you want?” he grumbled without turning toward her. “Sleeping.”

“I want you.”

Peeta rolled over, but he didn’t make any effort to touch her. Pillows still separated them, but the wall they’d built between them was much worse than the temporary barrier. They needed to talk, but she didn’t intend to. She could distract him, she knew. She’d always been able to with a smile and a kiss and her body.

“Talk to me first.”

“Why? What good will it do?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it would fix everything. Maybe, just maybe, we could save our marriage. If nothing else, it might make me think you want me and not just a night of meaningless sex. It’s not like we’ve exactly been jumping each other for the past several months.”

She sniffed at his sarcasm, although she couldn’t blame him. He’d put up with a lot from her, but he’d been kind of awful, too. His kindness earlier in the day didn’t make up for some of the cutting remarks and nasty actions he’d resorted to when he was frustrated. Still, his desperate plea for her to let him in struck at her heart, and she didn’t want to lie to him anymore. If she could just get started, the barrier between them could be dismantled.

“You wanted a baby.”

Her voice waved, but it was out there now. She knew it wasn’t her fault, had gone over the medical issues repeatedly, had processed all of it. Still, she felt like a failure. Knowing and feeling were almost never the same thing when it came to pain and disappointment.

“So did you.”

“It’s not the same.”

He signed loudly. Shifting away from him, she curled into herself at his irritation.

“Sweetheart, I love you. I’ve always loved you. Yes, I wanted a baby, but I want you more.”

“You don’t mean that,” she protested.

“I really, really do.”

“How am I supposed to believe it?”

Peeta sat up and grabbed the pillows between them and tossed them to the floor before grabbing her arm and tugging her toward him. He put his mouth next to her ear and hissed, “I want you more than anything else in the world. Do you feel that? Can’t you tell how much I crave being inside you?”

She shivered at the feel of him hard and plastered against her thigh. How he’d gotten there so quickly, she had no idea, but it gave her ideas, especially since she did some quick math in her head and realized it had been over six months since she’d slept with her husband. They still had a million things to talk about, a thousand misunderstandings to navigate, and a ton of baggage, but the removal of the barrier had begun.

“Peeta?”

When he hummed, she leaned in to kiss him. They had one more night in their shared hotel room. Katniss decided to take full advantage of it, and it didn’t take long before Peeta let her know how enthusiastically he agreed with her plan. Maybe they couldn’t fix what was between them, but it couldn’t hurt to try.

[shesasurvivor]

My Hunger Games Story

I debated whether or not I wanted to do this. I wasn’t asked to share this, but my Hunger Games story is important to me. My story began during a dark period in my life. Those of you who have been following me for a while are probably already familiar with it. I’ve come a long ways since then. But The Hunger Games dramatically changed my life, and who I am, and with the new story out there in the world, maybe it’s time to tell it again.

Five months after my oldest sister passed away from a horrorific battle against cancer, I was alone in a city, trying to figure out who I was now that my old world had ended, and things would never be the same. Who was I now? What kind of a person was I? The illusion of safety was gone forever. The naivete of childhood was gone, and replaced with an existential crisis. This was in March 2012, and in the backdrop of my life, as I dealt with this, the media was abuzz with the news of the film adaptation of The Hunger Games. I knew nothing about it, aside seeing the books on Best Seller displays frequently at bookstores. I had liked Harry Potter, but skipped the Twilight craze, and figured it would be the same thing with this new pop culture fixation. I literally remember walking past a display window at Barnes and Noble that promoted the books and upcoming movie, and thinking, “Now there’s a movie I’ll never see.”

A couple weeks later, my cousin, who was also my coworker and only real friend near me, physically, at the time, was reading something on her break from her work. I asked her what she was reading, and she told me it was The Hunger Games. I was a little surprised, and asked her if she liked it. She summarized the story, and said all though it was “a little bit teenybopper” it was good. When she explained it was a dystopian tale, my interest was finally piqued. Dystopian had alwasy been a favorite genre of mine. Reading 1984 in my teens scarred me for life.

That same night, my (other, living) sister posted on Facebook that she had just finished the first book. I was surprised that she and my cousin were both reading this book, and seemed to like it. Then, the next day, my mom calls me, and says, “ I just finished reading The Hunger Games; you HAVE to read this book!” I went home and bought the Kindle version that night. 

Not going to lie, it took me a little bit to get into it. But I knew I already liked it. I was looking up fanfiction before I was even done with part 1. I’m ashamed to admit that I started out looking for Gale, but when the rule change occured, and Peeta told Katniss to, “Remember, we’re madly in love, so it’s all right to kill me any time you feel like it,” I threw my head back in laughter. That was the moment I fell in love with Peeta, and that was the moment that turned me into an Everlark shipper.

By the time I finished the first book, it was Easter, and my mom had flown out to spend the holiday with me. The Saturday before, we went to see the movie. I hated it from the first viewing. I remember having to fight the urge to stand up and yell at the screen, I was so disappointed in it. After the movie, we visited the local Target, and I bought Catching Fire and Mockingjay, where I started reading immediately.

Catching Fire was even better than the first book, and made the shipper in me so happy. Mockingjay, on the other hand, changed me. It was so moving, and heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. When I finished the series at last, I remember hugging the books to me, and wondering if I could somehow find a way to convince Suzanne Collins to write more books. Which was why, when she announced she was writing a new book, I felt like my one greatest wish had finally come true.

The series stuck with me, and I was obsessed. I began reading as much analysis on the series as I could find. I began reading about trauma and PTSD, and their role in the series.

And that’s when I realized I had symptoms of PTSD. 

It was another year before I got help. During that time, my mental health declined significantly. On top of the horror I went through watching my sister slowly waste away, I also had an abusive boss who only aggravated things for me. Even after I started getting therapy, it took a while to climb my way out. I started drinking to deal with the massive hyperarousal I was dealing with. I started having dissociative episodes, that terrified me. I had no idea what they were at the time, and truly thought my mind had broken completely. I finally realized I was at a point where I either needed to check myself into a mental hospital, or quit my job and move back in with my parents while I put myself back together. I chose the latter. 

It wasn’t fun living with my parents again, but it provided the sanctuary I needed. Slowly, I began to heal. I found a new job in my new city. I met a guy there, and one of our first exchanges was when he told me he loved the books so much, he was upset at what the movies had done to them. I thought I had found a Peeta, but unfortunately, neither of us were really in a place where we could be in a healthy relationship. Still, the experience helped me heal, and it was because The Hunger Games had brought us together.

At some point, I was finally put on medication to handle my PTSD symptoms, and my life changed signficantly for the better. It’s been (mostly) uphill ever since, and today, you would have no idea that I have PTSD, save for the occasional jump at a sudden loud noise. But The Hunger Games... it started that change in me. It gave me an outlet for the heavy emotions of grief. Reading Mockingjay was the only time I could truly get myself to cry after losing my sister, because I’m not very outwardly emotional. 

The exploration of ethics, morals, and philosophy in The Hunger Games really helped cement my own values as well. I feel like that could be a whole other post, though. But just as Katniss learned to be more compassionate, and that kindness and humanity mattered more than basic survival, I learned this as well. 

The very first thing my mom told me when she finished Catching Fire, was, “I just finished Catching Fire; you are SO Katniss!!” I think I grabbed onto this a little too much back in 2012-2013, because it helped me work things out. But the similaries were definitely there, almost to a scary degree. I’m still protective of this series, and Katniss, because it feels so much like it’s a part of me. It’s a part of my soul. I can’t begin to describe how important these books are to me. It transcends a normal fandom love. Even with as much as I love Star Wars, it’ll never be what The Hunger Games is to me. THG is deeper, and far more profound in my life. That’s why I get a little miffed sometimes, when I feel like I’m, I don’t know, being overlooked in the fandom? This is so deeply important to me, and I just want a voice to make it known that it is so. I think, as I’ve gotten older, I’m not exactly lke Katniss anymore, but the similarity is still there, and these books will always be with me. 

Oh! And before I wrap this up, I should probably mention that it’s because of The Hunger Games that I met my best friend, @triplebigday! We live in two different states at the moment, but we’re still practically inseperable. She is family at this point.

I also met another friend, who was active here arouuund 2012-2013 (parachutesfromhaymitch). She’s long since left the fandom, but she’s brought out some of the best in me. Her influence is another reason I am where I am today.

Nothing has ever impacted me the way this world has, and I suspect nothing ever will again.