#gale hawthorne x katniss everdeen

[mitsuki91]

@hamriceagenda this is for you! You inspired me.

Enjoy my Katniss/Gale for you 💖

@tumblingghosts I tag you too since you reblogged my post!

What remains

Summary:

"They’re not coming back, Katniss."

Peeta? My mother? Snow, or Coin to destroy my life from beyond the grave?

Prim?

"No one's coming back."

Stressing the obvious has always been his prerogative, and my lips curve into a bitter smile.

"But you're staying."

A moment's pause, as the icy wind rattles the bare branches above our heads.

"I'm staying. Like you."

Link on ao3:

Author notes: I can't format on tumblr. This is visually better on ao3.

It happened after the first incident.

Peeta had only been back a month. A month since I had seen him planting primroses for me, him and his sun-flavored smile.

It seemed like a day like any other, me returning from hunting and him tending the garden. The sun at its zenith and Haymitch's geese quacking. Someone had dropped something heavy just down the street and the noise had made both me and Peeta jump with fright.

Suddenly I had his hands on my neck again, his horrified expression inches from my face. Someone screamed, someone ran and snatched him away from me - someone saved me. From Peeta's murderous fury.

And so it happened, exactly one day, two hours and twenty minutes after Peeta tried to kill me a second time.

Gale came back.

***

"I thought you were in Two, immersed in your military career."

"But you needed me, Katniss."

***

Sometimes I wonder what I did wrong to deserve this.

I know my life doesn't belong to me - I knew this from the first moment Prim's name was drawn in the Hunger Games - but I wonder what the point of fighting any longer is. After all, I have fulfilled my function in this world. I have been a Mockingjay, I have been the Girl on Fire, I have been the Face of the Revolution. The last arrow shot, the end of the Games. Why am I not allowed to escape even from myself now? Why am I forced to stay, why am I not allowed to slip over the edge?

Peeta has been taken away.

'Unstable', so Capitol City declared him. How they found out is a mystery - or perhaps one of the many things I don't want to admit even to myself. A suspicion, an unspoken thing, lurking in the shadows behind me.

Because now I am no longer alone.

I am not and - I would like to abandon myself, but I can't. I cannot because he looks at me.

Gale.

And when Gale looks at me, everything about me tenses by instinct - it's the sadness in his eyes. That magnet that is impossible to ignore. A center of gravity that pulls me along, preventing me from drifting.

An anchor.

And I hate him for it, too.

***

"That's not true. I never needed you."

The flash of a smile, cruel.

"My only quality was taking care of your family. And you are what remains."

 ***

The sun burns high in the sky as July sets, even in the early morning.

Gale is with me in the woods, like every day.

In silence, like every day. He can no longer speak of injustice and revolution now - they are no longer imaginary dreams, but lived nightmares.

I ignore him, as I have become good at doing. But he does not give up. He has turned into my shadow.

I just have to not look him in the eye.

The anchor is always there, keeping me clinging to myself even as Peeta's absence burns in my soul. I can always pretend he doesn't exist, though.

If I don't look at him, he doesn't exist. If I don't talk to him, he's not real.

I know he knows it hurts me. I know he knows that what I had with Peeta was real, and that the loss of what we could have been is destroying me to the core.

Killed before I can even taste life.

But Gale is too much like me and uses the same techniques against me.

If his eyes do not let me go, I cannot disappear. If his mouth is sealed, he cannot lose to Peeta.

The world won't change until one of us gives in. And, deep down, we both know it'll be me who surrenders.

***

"We're too similar to make it work, Gale. You know that. I don't need that in my life."

A step forward, one foot crushing a dandelion.

"I won't believe you until you tell me by looking at my face."

***

The beginning of November brings a week of uninterrupted rain and a sudden frost that turns the primrose bed into a muddy, dead mush. 

I feel myself dying a little with it, watching it through the window and feeling helpless.

It is like losing her a second time. Will this torment ever end? 

Gale comes back into the house at that moment with a handful of wood in his arms and does his best to light the fireplace. I close my eyes for a second and inhale deeply, because I know that if I do it now, I won't be able to go back. But the decision is already made. It is only a question of coming to terms with what I want to do - no, what I need to do. To not lose Prim. To never let her go again. 

"Gale" I call softly, in a whisper, and I hear him stand up and turn to me.

I turn as well.

And I stare him straight in the eyes.

Because I know Prim is there. She is the ghost that inhabits those gray irises, consumed by guilt. And if I look into his eyes, I can almost see her.

If I look into his eyes, I already know that I will have to surrender.

Because nothing breaks my heart more than seeing Gale sad, and I know only one viable solution to erase the torment from his soul.

I try to resist, anyway. I enjoy my sister dancing devoured by the fire at the bottom of his eyes, and I postpone the inevitable to a new day.

***

"They’re not coming back, Katniss."

Peeta? My mother? Snow, or Coin to destroy my life from beyond the grave?

Prim?

"No one's coming back."

Stressing the obvious has always been his prerogative, and my lips curve into a bitter smile.

"But you're staying."

A moment's pause, as the icy wind rattles the bare branches above our heads.

"I'm staying. Like you."

***

'A complete separation is necessary for the serenity of the subject' is the last line penned by one of Capitol City's most renowned doctors, in a graceful and elegant handwriting.

I clasp the letter in my hands as snowflakes fall placidly around me. I didn't even go back into the house before I tore open the envelope, I just stood by the mailbox reading.

It was devastating to discover how, despite all the months that had passed, I still had hope. My mind had long since given up; my heart and soul, however, had different ideas.

I return home feeling almost light, drained while everything around me seems unreal.

It is not real. It is not real. It cannot be real because I, because I...

The letter slips through my hands and I advance towards the sofa, where Gale is taking a nap. I watch him for a moment, trapped in that suspended realm where illusion still dominates over reality, and then I realize. Enlightenment hits me.

 I never kissed Gale because I wanted to make him feel good in the past.

I kissed him because if I could become the right girl for him, even for a moment, then it meant I no longer had to be Katniss Everdeen.

I kneel beside him and grab his face. Before he can fully wake up, my lips are already on his. He won't mind coming back to the world like this, I hope.

If by kissing him I can become whoever I want, then that means I can also be the girl who was never in love with Peeta - the girl who never lost him.

***

"You're the one who wanted it."

Both of our breaths are broken, his cheeks are red and his gaze is hard as steel.

"You can't regret it now, Katniss."

***

There is an aspect of fire that I had never considered before. That destructive force that animates us, that ignites us with its desperation, can be channeled in many ways.

It was with Gale that I discovered passion.

Pain is best expressed when you can carve flesh with your nails, then lick the trails of ferruginous blood returning from orgasm. Guilt is best borne when you can at least partially atone for it when it all comes down to an irrational instinct to grab, to have, to suffer - and only the dark bruises remain, which you look at with a satisfied smile the next day.

You no longer feel the guilt of being alive during the day, if in the night you season your nightmares with sex, which seems to erase all sin.

Even Gale seems more relaxed.

There is always Prim in the back of his eyes, dancing on skulls and ashes. But she smiles, for once. She is serene and watches me live with a mysterious smile.

To have Gale is to have her and that I can never give up.

Gale smiles much more often. When we go out hunting together; we don't speak, but sometimes he holds me in his arms and the world thins out around us.

Understanding each other with a glance and without making noise has always been a prerogative of us hunters. We have known each other almost all our lives and, after all, we both live with the same ghosts.

Since I have had the courage to look, everything seems to have fallen into place.

I'm not saying my life is perfect, not this, never this. But Gale is my rock.

And with him, I know I can live one more day.

***

"Where are you going?"

He smiles, amused by the hint of panic in my voice.

"Just to the market, to buy bread."

"I'll go with you. Wait for me."

"As you wish, Katnip ."

[ringtoned]

suzanne collins is such a genius... the cultural phenomenon of her series leading to the hanging tree house remixes, mockingjay being milked for two (bad) movies, the capitol-inspired makeup palettes, the halloween costumes, the explosion of the market for dystopia, the butchering of her characters and removal of disabilities, disfiguration, and racial tension + representation to sell more tickets, the extra gale scenes to fuel discourse, and the audience showing up to cinemas to watch what was pretty honestly marketed to them (the jacob vs edwardification of the symbolic love story and also to watch children fight to the death) it's just so ridiculously ironic i would say you can't write this shit, but she did write about it... in The Hunger Games published 2008

[fantasybuff96]

I will never get over Gale’s stupid ass thinking that Finnick wanted Katniss at the beginning of Mockingjay, when the entire time that man was breaking down and longing for Annie. Like the whole reason Katniss and Finnick became close friends was their joined love and longing for Peeta and Annie who were both imprisoned in the capital together.

[sincerethoughtsblog]

katniss being the person who gave hope to everybody during the rebellion but peeta being the person that always gave katniss hope and strength since the moment they met is so poetic lord

[little-lynx]

underneath my scars

My only one My smoking gun My eclipsed sun This has broken me down

My twisted knife My sleepless night My winless fight This has frozen my ground*

———

But what you did was just as dark Darling, this was just as hard As when they pulled me apart*

———

You knew the hero died so what's the movie for?*

———

Stood on the cliffside screaming, "Give me a reason" Your faithless love's the only hoax I believe in Don't want no other shade of blue but you No other sadness in the world would do*

Hoax by Taylor Swift

[introcoryo]

botany major!katniss, who isn’t so good with her words, so she gifts you flowers that correlate with what she’s feeling. you walk hand in hand through the woods as she points out different plants, rambling on about how to recognize various species and their distribution patterns.

fine arts major!peeta, working tirelessly at his family’s bakery, making personalized latte art which leaves him with huge tips at the end of the day. all of his peers recognize you as the inspiration for all of his assignments, your features taking up every bit of his sketchbook.

mechanical engineering major!gale, his schedule so full and busy but always making time to see you daily. you’re always the first to hear about how he did on a particular exam, cuddled up as you watch nature documentaries.

aquatic biology major!finnick, known around campus as the university heartthrob. he spends most of his free time at the docks or the beach, feet always bare and buried underwater, occasionally splashing you playfully. suntanning and writing your initials in the sand is how your dates usually go.

athletic training major!johanna, who caresses your sleeping features and plants a small kiss on your forehead before leaving for her morning run. she teasingly flexes her muscles while you’re applying kinesiology tape on her body.

[nickeverdeen]

The Hunger Games characters reacting to you wearing their hoodie/jacket and being asleep on bed when they come home

Katniss Everdeen

Katniss is really surprised to see you in her hoodie as that never really happened before

She quickly softens, a rare gentle smile spreading across her face

Katniss feels a surge of tenderness, appreciating the sight of you in her clothes

She moves quietly, not wanting to wake you

Her protective instincts kick in, making sure you’re comfortable

Lets you keep the hoodie

Katniss is real grateful to have you in her life

She sits on the edge of the bed, brushing a strand of hair from your face

Katniss leans in to kiss your forehead gently

“Sweet dreams, love.”

Peeta Mellark

Peeta is happy to say the least to see you in his jacket

He can’t help but smile warmly

The sight warms his heart and makes him fall in love with you all over again

He moves carefully to avoid waking you just like Katniss

Peeta makes sure you’re properly covered with a blanket and comfortable

He decides to bake something for you when you wake up (‘cause why not, you deserve it)

He admires your peaceful sleeping form, but doesn’t stare at you the whole time ‘till you wake up

Peeta kisses your cheek gently

He sits beside you, realizing how lucky he is to have someone like you

“You look adorable. Rest well, my love.”

Cato Hadley

Cato is surprised but quickly feels a swell of pride seeing you in his jacket

His protective instincts heighten, ensuring you’re okay

He smirks, loving how you look in his clothes

Despite his rough exterior, he approaches you gently

He doesn’t need to win The Hunger Games in order to feel like a winner around you

Cato admires your vulnerability and trust in him

He brushes your hair back with a surprisingly tender, but a bit firm, touch

He lays down beside you, watching over you

Cato kisses your forehead caressing your shoulder

“You’re safe with me.”

Clove Kentwell

Clove is curious and slightly amused to see you in her jacket

She smirks, finding it kidna funny seeing you like this

She approaches quietly, not wanting to wake you, but she’s not that quiet

There’s a touch of the common mischief in her eyes as she watches you

Her usually tough demeanor softens at the sight

Clove gently adjusts the blanket over you

She feels a strong protective urge all the sudden at seeing you vulnerable

She whispers something playful yet caring not minding that you can’t hear her

Clove stays close by, watching over you

“You’re lucky you look cute in my jacket”

Gale Hawthrone

Gale feels a rush of warmth seeing you in his hoodie

He smiles, appreciating how natural and right it feels

His protective instinct kicks in immediately

He moves quietly to avoid waking you

Gale admires how peaceful you look

He gently touches your hair, feeling a sense of calm

Gale sits beside you, watching over you

He kisses your lips tenderly

“I’ll keep you safe, don’t you worry.”

Finnick Odair

Finnick is immediately charmed by the sight

He grins widely, finding it adorable

He approaches you softly, not wanting to disturb your peaceful sleep

Finnick gently caresses your cheek

He admires how peaceful and beautiful you look

He makes sure you’re comfortable and adjusts the blankets and pillows

Finnick whispers sweet nothings in your ear

He kisses your forehead lovingly

Finnick sits beside you, content to watch over you

“Sweet dreams, my love. You’re everything to me.”

Johanna Mason

Johanna is surprised but quickly feels amused

She smirks, finding it kidna funny and cute

She approaches carefully, but normally, not wanting to wake you

There’s a touch of playful mischief in her eyes

Johanna gently places a blanket over you

She feels a strong protective urge not to let anything bad happen to you

Johanna stays close by, watching over you

She whispers some playful yet caring comments while putting your hair out of your face

Johanna kisses the top of your head tenderly

“You’re lucky you look cute in my jacket, princess. Sleep well.”

Haymitch Abernathy

Haymitch is initially surprised to see you in his jacket

His usually gruff exterior softens at the sight

He approaches, not wanting to wake you, but he almost did

Makes sure you’re comfortable

Definetly teasing you a bit about it later

He feels a surprising tenderness towards you

Haymitch sits nearby, watching over you while he does things that needs to be done

He kisses your cheek gently

“You make me feel something, you know that? Sleep well.”

Cressida

Cressida is initially surprised but quickly feels a warm amusement

A soft smile spreads across her face, finding the sight perfect

She approaches quietly, after some time

Cressida takes a moment or two to admire how peaceful and gorgerous/handsome you look

Her protective instincts kick in a bit

She gently adjusts the blanket over you to ensure you’re warm enough and if not she places another one on you

Cressida gently brushes a strand of hair away from your face, her touch tender

She sits on the edge of the bed, watching you with a content and affectionate gaze and later on lies down next to you

Leaning in, she kisses your forehead gently

“You look perfect, princess”

[finnicks-elbow]

[phefics]

how ticklish do u think the hunger games ppl you write for are? asking for a friend🫣

my brand...thank u

coryo: unpopular opinion maybe but like a solid 7/10. will get very huffy and pouty if you try to tickle him though, he is not a fan. has this really cute, uncharacteristic giggle. ribs and underarms are the worst spots and he will curse at you and threaten ur life.

finnick: he's one of those ppl that can turn being ticklish on and off like a superpower, but if you catch him off guard, he's like a 6/10. thinks it's a cute way to flirt so he'll let you get away with it but then he will turn the tables later. snorts when he laughs too hard and is a lil embarrassed about it.

gale: not that ticklish, like a 4/10. only ticklish in a few places like his ribs. will immediately turn the tables if you try to tickle him.

johanna: idk she genuinely strikes me as someone who is not ticklish at all, like a 0/10 but maybe she has one or two sensitive spots. if you try tickling her, she is immediately going to pin you down and destroy you. proceed with caution.

katniss: also doesn't have very ticklish energy to me?? like, she is, most people are, but she's like a very normal amount of sensitive, like a 6/10 probably. her neck and ears are ticklish and she will flail and kick if you try.

lucy gray: i don't know why i, the person who normally has to headcanon every character i like as being extremely ticklish, is not getting ticklish vibes from these characters but lucy gray is just...not that sensitive either!! she's ticklish on her sides mostly and has this adorable, melodic laugh, but i also think of all these characters, she's the one i picture would like being tickled.

peeta: okay, now peeta is definitely very ticklish, like a 7 or 8/10. his stomach is his worst spot and he has this adorable laugh that just makes people melt. is very squirmy but will try to stay still so he doesn't accidentally whack you.

sejanus: officially dubbing him the most ticklish hunger games character, coming in at a 9/10. just look at that cute face and tell me he isn't ticklish, i dare you. gets very flustered and giggly. sensitive everywhere, absolutely adorable i lvoe him.

[thebluemallet]

The Hunger Games + The Onion: "Things to Never Say to Someone That Just Came Out"

I'm thinking of doing another round of Hunger Games and satire article titles before the release of Songbirds and Snakes. But this was begging to be done.

Runner-up for Finnick was "Are you queerbaiting me?"

Runner-up for Peeta was "Your mother and I still love you."

more of the onion in panem:

the hunger games

catching fire

mockingjay part 1

mockingjay part 2

the ballad of songbirds and snakes

[shut-up-hope]

katniss describing her first kiss with gale as feeling entraped vs katniss describing her kisses with peeta as warm and stable

[tetheredfeathers]

Can we talk about how beyond messed up it was for Gale to suggest leaving Peeta and Haymitch behind.

“I have to, Gale. I can’t leave him and Peeta because they’d —” His scowl cuts me off. “What?” “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how large our party was, ” he snaps at me. “They’d torture them to death, trying to find out where I was,” I say.

The audacity he has to snap at her, we're talking about life and death here. The way he openly disregards Peeta and Haymitch's lives is so disturbing, and he out of all people is very much aware of the Capitol's capabilities. Imagine how hurt Peeta would've been if he knew about this, I get that they're not all buddy buddy but that doesn't mean wishing pretty much death upon him just because your jealous.

I get it. He was in love, god knows love makes you blind but this is above and beyond. Especially since Gale is a fairly compassionate person, at least for his own people. I'm saying this because of how many people he rescued in MJ and still felt guilty.

Whereas you have Peeta willing to die for Katniss even if meant for her to go back to Gale, her happiness is all that mattered to him. These are things that really infuriate me when it comes to Gale, while his bomb and kisses with Katniss' are grey areas this selfishness when it comes to love is clearly a fatal flaw.

And then after all this he goes on further switching the scenario in this immature competition of who do you love/care more.

“And me, would you leave me?” Gale’s expression is rock hard now. “Just if, for instance, I can’t convince my mother to drag three young kids into the wilderness in winter.”

And the thing is he's scenario isn't even valid or realistic because Hazelle wouldn't have refused to go with them. Peeta's family is understandable being merchants and all. But Hazelle has suffered and more than knows what the Capitol can do.

There are some things that Gale does that are just unforgivable, and I get that all character's have made huge mistakes but most if not all have some excuse for it ( For example Katniss not talking to Peeta for 6 months, it was wrong but understandable due to the circumstances) while this was just plain selfishness.

[beautyofattolia]

Me, every time Katniss mentions Gale when she's with Peeta:

[erwinsmithsmissingleftarm]

Who fell first and who fell harder?

Includes: Peeta, Katniss, Gale, Haymitch, Finnick Coriolanus, Sejanus, Lucy Gray & the Career pack

Peeta Mellark:

He fell first and harder

Katniss Everdeen:

You fell first but she fell harder

Gale Hawthorne:

You fell first and harder

Haymitch Abernathy:

He fell first but you fell harder

Finnick Odair:

He fell first but you fell harder

Coriolanus Snow:

You fell first but he fell harder

Sejanus Plinth:

He fell first and harder

Lucy Gray Baird:

You fell first and harder

Cato Hadley:

You fell first but he fell harder

Clove Kentwell:

She fell first and harder

Glimmer Belcourt:

She fell first but you fell harder

Marvel Sanford:

He fell first andl harder

[cece693]

It Should've Been Me (Peeta Mellark x Male! Reader)

I don't know why there isn't much male reader fanfics for the Hunger Games, but I aim to change that. Especially when there are interesting characters such as Finnick and Johanna, but I'm playing it safe and beginning with Peeta.

Summary: M/N Evergreen didn't feel like a victor, especially when it cost the life of his sister, Katniss. Forced to wear a smile and continue living life as 'normal', the only person who seems to recognize his brokeness is the boy with the bread, Peeta Mellark.

M/N Evergreen didn’t feel like a victor, not when winning cost the life of his sister, Katniss. It was supposed to be her. She was the one with the spark, the one who inspired others to believe in something more. But now she was gone, and all that was left was him—a hollow reminder of what should have been. He knew he should be grateful; the Capitol's train pulling into District 12 meant he got to come home. But what kind of home was it when the only person who ever made it feel that way was dead?

Effie Trinket’s voice was a distant hum, urging him to “put on a happy face, darling.” Smile for the cameras, for the sponsors, for the charade of a victory tour that awaited him. He didn’t smile. He didn’t move. Even if he forced the corners of his lips upward, the emptiness in his eyes would betray him. The train doors slid open, and all he could do was stare blankly as the frigid air of District 12 rushed in, filling his lungs with the sharp scent of coal dust. The lenses of dozens of cameras zoomed in, capturing the haunted look that had become a permanent fixture on his face.

He heard Effie clear her throat nervously as she stepped out ahead of him, trying to drum up some semblance of a greeting from the sullen crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, our victor, M/N Everdeen!” Her voice rang out with all the bubbly enthusiasm she could muster, but the words fell flat.

As the Capitol’s cameras continued to click and whir, M/N forced himself to walk through the motions of the victor’s return. He let Effie guide him onto the stage, his limbs moving mechanically, as though they belonged to someone else. He could hear the rehearsed speech forming on her lips, filled with empty praise and hollow encouragement. He heard his own voice, flat and monotone, echo her words when prompted, thanking the Capitol for its generosity and the people of District 12 for their support.

But the truth was, he didn’t feel like a victor, and he never would. He was just another casualty of the Hunger Games—only, he happened to still be breathing.

The days passed in a blur for M/N Everdeen, though he barely noticed the shift from one to the next. Returning to District 12 should have felt like a relief—home, where things were familiar. But the place seemed alien to him now, like he was wandering through a ghost town where all the buildings and people were merely pale shadows of what they once were. Even the Seam, which always bustled with life despite its poverty, felt quieter, as if the town itself was grieving. Maybe it was.

At home, his mother had returned to the land of the living, as much as she could. She moved around the house with a new purpose, cooking and cleaning with a mechanical precision that betrayed the emptiness in her eyes. M/N knew it wasn’t for him; it was for Prim. Their mother clung to her youngest, constantly checking on her and making sure she ate, slept, and stayed warm. M/N could see her fighting against the hollowness, desperately trying to appear whole for Prim’s sake. For him, too, though he wasn’t sure why she bothered.

M/N hadn’t eaten since he stepped off the train. Every meal placed in front of him felt like an insult to Katniss’s memory—he shouldn’t get to eat, shouldn’t get to live while she was gone. His mother and Prim had seemed to silently agree on a pact not to let him waste away, though. If he refused breakfast, his mother would leave it on the table for him to find later. If he tried to hide in his room during dinner, Prim would seek him out, dragging him to the kitchen. They were relentless in their quiet determination to keep him alive.

Today, he couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to get out, to escape the house where Katniss’s absence hung like a shroud over everything. He slipped out the back door and walked toward the edge of the district, to the fence that separated District 12 from the woods. It was supposed to be electrified, but the power rarely ran this far out, and he easily found a gap to slip through. The forest beckoned to him, promising solitude and silence—two things he desperately craved. For a few moments, he felt the faintest hint of peace as he wandered deeper into the trees, letting the thick canopy above dim the harsh sunlight.

But he wasn’t alone for long.

“M/N.” a voice called softly from behind him.

He froze, recognizing the voice before he even turned around. Peeta Mellark was standing there, a few paces back, watching him with that same quiet intensity he’d had since the day M/N returned. He wasn’t smiling, wasn’t wearing that charming expression he often showed in public. Instead, his face was open, unguarded, as though he’d stripped away all pretense.

“What are you doing here?” M/N asked, his voice raw from disuse.

Peeta stepped closer, careful not to startle him, as if M/N were a wounded animal. “I saw you come out here,” he replied. “I was worried.”

M/N let out a bitter laugh. “You shouldn’t be,” he muttered, turning his gaze back to the forest. “If I don’t come back, I’m sure everyone would understand.”

“Don’t say that,” Peeta said sharply, the sudden firmness in his voice cutting through the quiet. “You don’t get to give up. Not after everything…”

“Everything?” M/N scoffed, spinning to face him. “What did I survive for, Peeta? There’s no victory here. I’m alive, but she’s gone. And now I have to pretend like any of this is okay?”

“You survived because Katniss wanted you to,” Peeta said, stepping closer again. “She fought for you—”

“I don’t need a lecture about my own sister,” M/N interrupted, his voice rising. “You don’t know what it was like! You weren’t there! I should have protected her, but I couldn’t even do that. All I could do was… was watch as she—” His voice broke, the words dissolving into a choked sob.

He turned away from Peeta, trembling as his chest tightened painfully. He had spent every waking moment since returning home forcing himself not to break, swallowing back his grief until it clawed at his throat, but now it surged forward like a flood. He didn’t know how to stop it.

“It's not your fault,” Peeta’s voice was gentle, and when M/N felt a hand on his shoulder, he flinched but didn’t pull away. “You did everything you could.”

M/N shook his head, tears streaming down his face. “It wasn’t enough,” he whispered. “It’ll never be enough. She’s gone because of me.”

Peeta’s arms wrapped around him, pulling him in close. M/N’s legs buckled, and he collapsed into Peeta’s embrace, his sobs breaking free in jagged gasps. Peeta held him tightly, steadying him as he sank to the forest floor. He murmured soothing words, though M/N couldn’t make out the exact phrases—only that there was a calm, reassuring rhythm in the sound of Peeta’s voice.

For a long while, M/N cried in Peeta’s arms, clutching at his shirt as if afraid to let go. It wasn’t fair, not to Peeta, not to anyone, to have to bear the weight of his grief like this. But Peeta stayed, anchoring him through the storm of emotion until, at last, M/N’s sobs quieted, leaving him drained and hollow.

When he finally pulled back, Peeta’s shirt was soaked with tears, but he didn’t seem to mind. He looked down at M/N with an expression so full of understanding it hurt. “You’re not alone, you know,” he said softly. “You don’t have to go through this by yourself.”

M/N shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know how to keep going.”

Peeta’s hand found his, squeezing gently. “One step at a time. That’s all you need to do for now.” The words weren’t a solution, but they were something—a fragile thread of hope in a world that felt impossibly dark. And for the first time since returning to District 12, M/N didn’t feel completely lost. He still didn’t know how to live without Katniss, but with Peeta’s arm around his shoulders, guiding him back toward the fence, he thought maybe, just maybe, he could figure it out. One step at a time.

[tenaciousmoneymuffinzine]

I'm rereading The Hunger Games trilogy with a lot more insight on it and the characters than 14yo me did

Updates and lots of unnecessary commentary to come