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seasonsofeverlark · 3 years ago

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Cupcake Love, Part 2

Author: @mega-aulover

Prompt: Katniss Everdeen is the best swimming instructor Camp Panem’s ever seen. Fellow camp counselor Peeta Mellark can’t even doggy paddle, but he’s got to figure out some way to get her attention. Just maybe not the way he actually tries. [submitted by @hutchhitched]

Rating: T - mentions of bullying

Summary: Cupcake love is a sweet crush that can turn into love. Peeta’s secret cupcake is Katniss but he’s never had the courage to stare at her for more than seconds much less talk to her. Until one day fate steps in and now he has a date with Katniss. Will he be able to tell her how he feels, or will the odds be against him?

Author’s Note: Special thanks to @norbertsmom for quickly betaing this story. Please note, I use the Panem Map @fanficallergy and @rosefyrefyre created. First Part Can Be Found here. Word Count: 4747 ___________________

The day after the Reaping, they boarded the train early in the morning. Thanks to Delly’s squeals, everyone knew they both were headed to the Capitol. Peeta glumly watched the scenery pass by quickly.

Madge invited them to travel in the private train car her father was gifting her for graduating. Peeta apologized about the dress that got ruined at the ill fated picnic. Madge laughed it off, letting him know that her staff managed to get the strawberry and chocolate stains off of the dress.

He still was smarting over his failed date with Katniss, his longtime cupcake. Peeta sighed thinking of the code word he and Delly came up with when talking about their crushes.

“Thank you for inviting us to sit with you in your compartment,” Delly said giddily.

Peeta was seated next to Delly. The luxurious private car was attached to the end of the train. It contained a bar, a galley kitchen with three attendants, a seating area that converted to a dining area and a hallway with sleeping bunks. Madge’s generosity saved him the need to purchase his ticket to the Capitol. Peeta’s leg shook nervously, his eyes darted about the room. His cupcake was sitting diagonally from him.

“It’s no problem,” Madge smiled. “Where were you Reaped to work?”

“I am going to work as an assistant to a fashion designer named Cinna,” Delly said brightly.

“I’ve heard of him, he is Panem’s up and coming designer. You’re so lucky.��

“Where will you be working, Madge?” Delly asked.

“I’m going to work for the President’s office as a Presidential Aid,” Madge replied.

“What about you Katniss?”

Peeta was desperately trying not to make eye contact with Katniss. After their disastrous way their date ended, there was no way Katniss would ever give him a chance again. He thought he was never going to see her. However fate had a way of working in mysterious ways.

That morning, Peeta was surprised to find Katniss standing next to her family at the train station. He watched from afar as her family tearfully said goodbye, her father and mother didn’t want to let her go.

It was sad that his own mother and father got into an argument while at the train station to see him off. They didn’t even notice when he got on the train. When the train pulled away they were still arguing. Ryan didn’t even bother coming. On the most exciting day of his life he felt abandoned. He felt unwanted, unneeded, and Ryan’s words about him messing up the date because he was a loser still rang true in his head. It was all so surreal.

“I am going to work as a Camp Counselor,” Katniss responded.

Delly said brightly, “Can you believe the odds? You and Katniss are going to be working together.”

Peeta nodded numbly. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. They were going to work in the same place.

“Well it isn’t so much of a coincidence,” Madge said. She gave everyone a mischievous smile.

“What do you mean?” Katniss asked.

“I asked my dad to help get Katniss a job in the Capitol with me, I’m guessing because of her skills with the outdoors my father secured her a job with the Arena. I never knew Peeta was going to be Reaped to work at the same place.”

Peeta slouched low in his chair, dreading the prospect of seeing her everyday knowing he had ruined her friend’s dress with his insistence to cover her with the blanket when it began raining. True, Ryan had removed the umbrella, but his brother wasn’t responsible for accidentally knocking Katniss on the muddy ground, or having the strawberries and chocolate stain her dress. That was all Peeta, and he felt foolish.

For the next two years he had to work side by side with Katniss. Peeta kept quiet for the rest of the trip and in the morning when they arrived in the Capitol his mood got worse as none other than Delly’s cupcake stood at the platform waiting for them.

“Gale,” Katniss called, smiling.

“Great,” Peeta and Delly said simultaneously.

Gale Hawthorne stood there, with his imposing height, tanned good looks, and aviator sunglasses. He caused Peeta to feel small and insignificant.

“You guys shouldn’t look so upset,” Madge said while standing behind them, “to be honest Katniss doesn’t see Gale in a romantic light. They’re very alike and that’s what keeps them apart.”

“How did he know she was here?” Peeta asked.

“No doubt her father sent him a telegram.”

“Does he work for the Arena Camps?” Delly asked.

“Looks like it, he’s wearing the Arena Camp logo on his shirt,“ Madge said.

“I’m guessing her father likes Gale,” Peeta said, knowing he now had no chance after what happened. Her father would see Gale as the only potential suitor for his daughter.

“Well that is his friend’s son, but he doesn’t ship them together.” Madge’s voice turned frigid, “ Gale’s too much of a player to be in a serious relationship. and Katniss’s father knows this.” She shrugged, “Besides, Gale sees Katniss like a kid sister.”

“See, nothing to worry about,” Delly said brightly, but Peeta could see that his friend was worried. Gale was Delly’s cupcake. Seeing how close they were opened up a whole host of insecurities.

"Yeah,” Peeta replied. Not only did he have to figure out a way to work with Katniss but he also had to watch her with Gale Hawthorne as well.

“Peeta, you really shouldn’t worry,” Madge said.

But even as Madge spoke, a tall, young, impeccably dressed man approached them. He held a device in his hand and kept on glancing down at the screen and looking at them.

“Adeline Cartwright?”

“Yes,” Delly said, standing straighter with her small suitcase in hand.

The young man smiled looking relieved, “I’m Cinna. Your picture does not do you justice.”

“Hello sir,” Delly greeted politely. The apprehension in her voice confirmed that it finally caught up with her; she was going to be working for the next two years with this virtual stranger.

“Please call me Cinna, not sir,” he said in a friendly voice. “I thought I would pick you up, to help you get settled in before you start tomorrow. The Capitol can be overwhelming.”

“Thank you Cinna. My family and friends call me Delly.” She looked down at herself and in typical Delly fashion blurted out, “I’m afraid I must be a disappointment. I’m not fashionable, but I am a hard worker. I can clean, wash the floors, and do the windows if you desire. My mom says I’m sturdy as an ox. She also told me the manual labor found in the mines is the only thing I’m good for and that it is ridiculous that I would be Reaped to work in fashion.”

“I don’t think you’d belong in the mines. I think you were Reaped to the right place. I’m excited, actually,“ he lifted the device, "I read your bio, you’re a cobbler’s daughter?”

“Yes, I am,” Delly said.

“I want to learn how you manufacture shoes.” Cinna turned to Peeta and Madge. “Are these your friends?”

“I’m Madge Undersee, I’m going to work as a Presidential Aid.”

“Congratulations,” Cinna said, just then a man holding a sign with Madge’s name came into view.

“Looks like I found my contact,” Madge said. “Good luck Delly, and Peeta don’t give up hope,” Madge winked before walking to where Katniss and Gale stood. She hugged Katniss and then gave Gale a dirty look, before walking away.

Cinna turned his attention to Peeta. “And you are?”

“I’m Peeta, her best friend. I got Reaped to work at the Arena as a Camp Counselor.”

“You’ll be working with Haymitch,” Cinna said.

“Haymitch?” Peeta said.

“He’s also from District Twelve, he’s a friend.” Cinna reached into his pocket and removed a card, “Here’s my card. If you ever want to talk to Delly you’re more than welcome to speak to her.”

“Thank you,” Peeta said.

“Ready to go Delly?” Cinna took her suitcase from her.

“Yes, I’m nervous,” Delly said.

“No need to be nervous. I look forward to working with you.”

“Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?” Delly said.

Cinna laughed, “I think we are going to be great friends.”

Peeta watched them walk away.

“Hey Mellark!” Gale called, waving him over.

Peeta picked up his half empty duffle bag and made his way to where they stood. "Hey,” he greeted.

“Come on, I’m your ride.” Gale took off his aviators and looked in the direction where Delly and Cinna walked in. “Who was that who picked up Adeline?”

“Cinna, her employer.” Peeta thought Gale sounded strange as they exited the train station. He paused taking a look at the Capitol with its steel and glass high-rise structures. The brightly colored people moved about the city, their skin hues of green, pinks, purple and dressed in vibrant fabrics.

“The guy who designs frilly stuff.”

He was stupefied by the city. He missed Gale’s statement. He bumped into Gale who stopped by a car. He was looking at Peeta expectantly. “Yeah."

Peeta felt his cheeks were warm when he caught Katniss looking at him. She turned her face away but it wasn’t quick enough and Gale caught the look, he raised his eyebrow but didn’t say anything. This wouldn’t be the first time it happened.

They developed a game of sorts. He would stare at her when she wasn’t looking at him and she would look at him when he wasn’t looking. A few weeks into his assignment Peeta had settled into his job.

Camp, Peeta discovered, ran all year round. There was Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall camp with a different arena for each one. The camp makers spent an entire year designing each seasonal arena, for the two month camps. School in the Capitol ran year round with a two month break, so while one group of kids were in school another group were on vacation.

The residents of the Capitol sent their children to day camps. The wealthy sent their older children to stay at the sleep away campgrounds for two weeks. The outlying districts were never given those jobs; only the people from District One, Two, Four got those jobs.

The Camps they worked in were day camps. The kids arrived at 8AM and left at 3 PM, which meant they needed breakfast and lunch. Haymitch assigned Peeta to help Greasy Sae in the kitchen. He baked bread early in the morning, then he helped out in the kitchen. Some days he ran the arts and crafts projects. Other days he helped Gale with some sports since he was in wrestling and nimble.

In the time he was at the camp he had not heard from Delly but he also had not had the guts to approach Katniss. He was currently standing by Gale as they were putting away the cones from the field racing they did with the kids.

Katniss was speaking to Annie, a swim instructor from District Four.

“Come on Mellark,” Gale said next to Peeta.

Peeta looked at the taller tanner guy that all of the camp counselors went gaga over. Gale had the kind of face that Capitol Residents went crazy for, handsome, rugged, with grey eyes that were often described by the women as stormy. Delly once described him as too delicious to be true.

There was a time Peeta was a little jealous of the man because of his friendship with Katniss. In the two years Gale had been working here he had made a name for himself. He decided to stay. With the money he made he was able to live in the Capitol and help his family back home. Gale was made the Camp Activities Coordinator and he also took care of the counselors.

After a week of hard work Peeta was glad it was Friday, Peeta relished not having to get up early on Saturday.

“Just go over there and give Katniss that panty dropping grin you Mellark’s have on tap,” Gale said as they walked toward the equipment shed.

Peeta stopped abruptly at Gale’s words. “What the H E Double Hockey Sticks are you talking about?”

“Your brother was right, you’re a boy scout; you can’t even say HELL!” Gale frowned. After peering at Peeta he said, “You’re probably still a virgin.”

Peeta felt heat warm his pale cheeks. That wasn’t something he was willing to discuss.

Gale laughed as he put the cones in the shed. “You should see your face. You’re redder than a lobster.”

Peeta wished the ground would swallow him alive.

"I’m going to go out on a limb here. You believe you somehow committed some faux pas that landed you in the doghouse with Katniss,” Gale said, closing the door to the shed.

“How’d you know?”

“It’s the way you look at her, part wounded puppy dog mixed in with copious amounts of regret.”

“You can see that?” Peeta was a little freaked out. He thought he’d been doing a better job of hiding his feelings.

“Nah,” Gale jokes, hitting Peeta on his shoulder. “You do look like a wounded puppy though when you stare at Katniss."

"Do not,” Peeta pushed him back for that last remark.

“Do too!” Gale proceeded to imitate Peeta. He laughed, then said, “All joking aside, I’ve seen the way you look at each other when you think the other isn’t looking. So when I met up with Madge last weekend I asked her what was up between you two. She told me you two went on a date and that it was a disaster.” As of late Gale was seeing Madge almost every weekend.

“Great,” Peeta muttered. “Katniss will never go out with me again.” They took the path to the dining hall.

“Hold on there little buddy. Don’t spiral out on me and lose all hope.” Gale opened the door to the staff room where they were going to have the evening meal. “I think you can salvage this.”

Peeta nearly tripped over his feet as he tried to ascertain if he had overheard correctly. “Wait, you want to help me?”

“Look, Katniss is hard to read generally, but whenever you come around it’s like she lights up with happiness. I’ve only seen that smile whenever her father is around or when she is in the woods."

Gale’s revelations were mind-blowing, but years of people telling him that he wasn’t good enough had him doubting Gale’s words. It was hard for Peeta to believe that his cupcake smiled when he was around. He still felt guilty about the fact that he accidentally pushed her into the mud.

"Gale, I blew it.” Peeta said, thinking of Katniss with loss and longing.

“I don’t think so. In some weird way I think you remind her of home. I know she’s homesick. So I figure maybe you becoming her friend will help her cope with the next two years.“

“What the heck are you talking about?”

“Go be her friend, see what develops,” Gale said, pushing him toward Katniss.

Peeta’s sneakers squeaked as he stopped inches away from Katniss. “Katniss,” he blurted. Peeta felt his face heat up.

“Peeta.”

Her voice was even, she didn’t look flustered. He was and his hand rubbed the back of his head. “How’s your summer so far?” His voice sounded weird.

“Good, I’m doing archery and swimming.”

“I’m helping Gale with, um, a lot of stuff,” Peeta said, not remembering the name of what he did. His heart beat so hard in his chest that he was afraid she could hear it.

“Hey Peet,” Gale said behind them.

“Yeah,” Peeta was glad for the interruption. He needed something to focus on that would allow him to calm down.

“Do you know how to swim?”

“Ah no, actually.”

“Katniss, I need you to teach Peeta how to swim,” Gale said.

Both of them were quiet as they started blankly staring at Gale.

“What?” Gale said, raising an eyebrow.

Katniss scowled at Gale.

“He needs to learn. He’s going to show kids how to row in the fall. Peeta’s got a strong back, the kids like him, plus he’s the only one that likes getting up super early. For him to teach the kids I need him to learn how to swim.” Gale walked away before either of them could protest.

“I hate when he does that,” Katniss and Peeta said simultaneously.

“What has he done to you?” Katniss asked.

“A few days ago he wanted me to climb a tree to get a ball that got kicked up there. He knew I didn’t know how to climb a tree. So I made it a game for the kids to see how they could get the ball out of the tree without climbing.”

“Wow,” Katniss said, her eyes widened. “That’s creative.”

“I have to be around Gale,” Peeta shrugged. He shifted his feet. “So I wanted to once more apologize about the date.

“Peeta,” Katniss began speaking but he cut her off.

“Wait, let me get this out.” Peeta took a deep cleansing breath before he launched into his apology, “I don’t want us to go on like this, during our time in the Capitol. We’ve been ignoring each other, so if I stop acting so you know, guilty about, well the dress and the mud, maybe we can become friends.”

She shifted on her feet before saying, “Okay.”

“So when should we start swimming lessons?”

“Why don’t we start in the morning? Wear some shorts, bring a towel, and waterproof SPF.”

Peeta nodded.

That night he couldn’t fall asleep. He was thinking all night on how to get Katniss to be his friend. He finally did fall asleep, but he then woke up late. He rushed to get to the pool.

“You’re late,” Katniss said.

“Sorry, I couldn’t sleep. I was so nervous.”

“Afraid of the water?”

“Well yeah, what if I sink to the bottom like a brick?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Katniss said.

Peeta nervously took off his shirt and slipped out of his long jeans to his shorts underneath and he caught Katniss watching him. He really didn’t mind her looking at him, but he didn’t want to ham it up. “Okay what’s first.”

“First you learn how to float,” Katniss said, clearing her throat. She briskly walked to the shallow end of the pool and easily slipped inside.

Peeta followed her, and stood just a few feet away. “So I want you to wear these,” Katniss said, going to the edge. She handed him arm floaties. Her eyes went to his arms and then cleared her throat. “I hope these fit.”

The floaters only fit on his forearms.

“I found these goggles, they look silly but they will help to keep your eyes open and away from the chlorinated water.”

Good naturedly he put the goggles on, and gave her a goofy smile.

Katniss laughed at him, before she said, “Okay, first thing you should understand that you will be very buoyant; you will float if you remain calm. So the first thing I want to teach you is to float on your back.”

“How do I do that?”

“Okay so what you’re going to do is lie back on my arms.”

He lay back but his feet were planted on the floor of the pool.

“Peeta you’ve got to let your feet float.”

“What if I sink?”

“You won’t…trust me.”

Peeta stared at her knowing that to become her friend he had to trust her. Taking a breath he let go. His body was weightless, but he could feel the gentle lapping of the water against his exposed skin. He felt light. "This is what it must feel like to float in space.”

“Space?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Haven’t you ever wondered how planets and stars float up there? Or the satellites?”

“Huh,” Katniss said. “Never had time to think about that stuff. ”

“When I can’t sleep is when I think of random stuff.”

“Like what?”

“Well like how did we come up with the name sandwich? A sandwich doesn’t have sand and there’s nothing mystical or questionable about a sandwich. It’s just meat, cheese, or both between two pieces of bread. Well, you could add some greens, maybe a tomato, or cucumber…” Peeta stopped speaking because Katniss stood with her hands over her mouth. Her eyes were bright with mirth, they looked silvery like twinkling stars. Her shoulders shook before a peal of laughter escaped her covered mouth.

Peeta couldn’t help the smile that spread on his face and worked its way inside and spread out like a warm blanket within his body. It was in this bliss he noted Katniss was not holding him. He lost control, panicked and sank into the water.

“Peeta,” Katniss exclaimed. She grabbed his wide shoulders and ordered, “plant your feet on the floor of the pool.”

Peeta quickly planted his feet on the tiled floor. He came up gasping for air.

“Are you okay?” Her voice was filled with concern.

Looking down at his hands he saw they were red just like the rest of him. “Guess I should concentrate.”

Katniss gave him a brief smile before the swim lesson continued.

When they finished the lesson Peeta was tired, but at the same time elated. Other than his near drowning they had a pleasant morning.

He was waiting for her to lock up the pool. When she turned to him and said, “So tomorrow meet me here at the same time.”

“Sure,” Peeta said, trying to sound cool. He was trying to not look at her toned legs in her shorts. Katniss was modest, she always wore shorts with her swimsuit. “Sure.”

“See you tomorrow.” She gave him a small wave before leaving him standing there sighing softly.

The next morning she was there waiting for him.

“Okay Mellark, let’s get to work.”

Before long Katniss had him in the pool. Katniss was quiet but concentrated and precise. He could imagine her in the woods, patiently waiting for her prey. Every time she shot her arrow she always got them in the eye.

Learning how to swim afforded him the ability to have conversations with Katniss. He learned to be her friend.

They laughed and shared stories. No matter what story he told Katniss about his brother Ryan, Katniss always said Ryan sounded like a jerk.

He was surprised to learn that her sister was sassy. And not a quiet girl. Prim was boy crazy and her poor father was trying to figure out a way to keep her from dating.

Gale was right, Katniss did miss home. She also didn’t make friends easily, so after their swim, they struck out on their own to get to know the city. Sometimes on rainy days they stayed inside and watched movies.

As the summer slipped by, Delly called. She was working just as hard as them.

“How close are you and Delly?”

“She’s my best friend."

Katniss sat next to him at the edge of the pool. She bit her bottom lip. "What other things do you think about at night?”

Peeta wasn’t sure where Katniss was going with this. He turned to look at her. “Lots of things, it helps me come up with decorative ideas for birthday cakes.”

“So do you think we can go out and,” her voice shook as she spoke, “talk about that stuff and other stuff people do on dates.”

Peeta stood in front of Katniss, mouth agog. He couldn’t believe Katniss Everdeen, his cupcake, was asking him, Peeta Mellark, out on a date.

He was about to speak when Katniss quick as lightning pressed her lips to his. Her lips were warm and they tasted of cherries. She lifted her head away, her soulful eyes glittering like the way water danced on water. The kiss was brief but Peeta swore it took everything within him not to jump around like a fool.

“So?”

“Y…yes.”

Katniss smiled one of her rare smiles, before she leaned in and kissed him again.

Peeta couldn’t believe his Cupcake liked him.

A few weeks later he and Katniss had just finished their swimming practice. Katniss was late to call her family so Peeta told her that he would lock up.

“AHA!” Delly shouted, making Peeta jump.

“DELLY!”

Delly tackled him to the ground and proceeded to tickle him.

“Okay, I give up,” he said between bursts of laughter.

Delly sat next to him. “So was that a date?”

“No, that was her teaching me how to swim. I take her to nice places when we go out on dates.”

“At least you’re with your cupcake,” Delly said.

“Yeah,” Peeta said standing up. He helped Delly stand. She wore a dress that was really flattering on her. “You look nice.”

Delly turned pink. “You really think so?”

“Yeah.”

“Cinna helped me. He picked this out for me.”

“Is my Cupcake around?”

Peeta shrugged. He didn’t want to tell Delly that Gale was hanging around Madge.

“What are you hiding?”

“Your cupcake has been hanging out with Madge.”

Delly’s face fell as she said a soft, “Oh.”

“I’m sorry Dells.” Peeta gave Delly a comforting hug.

Delly’s lips thinned, her eyes closed, and after a second she shook her head as if to ward off the sadness. “It’s okay, Madge is prettier and worldlier than I am. Good for her.”

“Come on Dells I can offer you the best turkey club sandwich this camp has to offer.”

“Did you make the bread?”

“Yup, I did.”

“Good, I’ve been missing your bread.”

They went to the cafeteria and lo and behold there was Katniss sitting by herself.

“Delly, I didn’t know you were visiting?” Katniss greeted warmly.

“I came to see what my best friend was up to."

Delly was all smiles. Peeta could tell that Delly was trying desperately to keep things positive.

"Well he’s Gale’s assistant, he’s been helping out in the kitchens, and he’s been learning how to swim.”

“Wow, it looks like he’s been busy.”

“What about you, you look great!”

“Thank you. Cinna, the designer who made this, dressed me. He calls this a wrap dress and says it’s flattering for all women of all shapes and sizes.” Delly then said, “What are you guys doing tonight?”

“We were going to hang out and watch a movie.”

“You both should come to Cinna’s party tonight.”

“I’ve got nothing to wear,” Katniss said.

“I’m sure I can get Cinna to lend you something. Same with you, Peeta. Well you wouldn’t get your clothes from Cinna, but you would get if from Portia. She’s Cinna’s neighbor and she designs beautiful clothing for men.

That night they were at the party. They were having a great time when Delly suddenly turned pale. Not even 15 ft away was Gale, but he wasn’t with Madge, he was with a woman who’s just so gorgeous.

Katniss and Peeta surrounded Delly.

"It’s okay Delly,” Katniss whispered. “One of these days he’ll know that you’re alive.”

Delly shook her head. “No.”

Peeta helplessly watched his best friend disappear into the crowd.

“So how are we going to help Delly?” Katniss took his hand and squeezed it.

“I’m not sure, to be honest,” Peeta said. All he wanted was for Delly to have her cupcake in the flavor that she’s most desired. He wanted her to be as happy as he was, but he wasn’t sure how to get to that point.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #summer #summer 2021 #mega-aulover #submission #prompt

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wildgirlcinna · 2 years ago

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FFXIVWRITE 2022 - Prompt #10: Channel

“So… using Void energy in my spells is negatively affecting my aetherial channels?” A nervous shiver raced through Cinna’s body, followed by another heated wave of deep, aching need. She’d felt drained, even more so than usual after a hunt, and so instead of tele’ing back to her new house, she’d sought out the lala woman who’d mentored her in black magery. These new symptoms she’d been experiencing, so different from her Echo-related headaches, felt too personal to bring to Master E-Sumi and the conjurers.

“Unfortunately so,” Lalai replied to her. “It’s happening very slowly, but it’s burning you, from the inside out.”

“But this heat is different. There’s a hunger with it, that has nothing to do with food.” Cinna felt her cheeks flush, remembering a bit of the extremely lewd dream she’d had the night before.

“Of course there is,” said Lalai with a knowing smile. “That’s not just any Void energy you’re infused with – from my understanding, you fell through that Void portal and straight into the arms of a succubus. The effects of that particular type of Voidiness have been dormant until now, but I believe your encounter with the Roe woman activated it. She must have been extra special!”

“...Oh.” Cinna blinked a few times, and was not at all surprised to hear that voice ringing through her head again, this time with a quietly triumphant chuckle. She hadn’t heard it again since her battle with Ifrit, and had begun to think it a product of her overactive imagination. And of course, that imagination got straight to work on this new problem, arriving at the obvious solution in rapid time – since, paradoxically, the problem pointed to its own solution. “I… I need to fuck, don’t I? And often? To fight the burning and renew my energy?”

“Exactly!” Lalai’s chuckle echoed that of the miqo’te’s strange headmate, a saucy twinkle in her eyes.

“And… and I’m guessing there’s no way to scrub all this lewd energy out of me…? and do I even want to? Somehow I doubt I could fight the other Void horrors without it.”

“Not if you prefer to be on this side of the Lifestream, and I would much rather have you here. Who else would I discuss Ul’dah’s juicy gossip with?”

That brought her own giggle from Cinna’s lips. “Yes, I agree,” she replied. “All that tea can’t sip itself. So now, I just need to figure out where – who – to start with.”

“Don’t go to the Quicksand,” Lalai said quickly, raising her eyebrows in almost-mock horror. “People there can be… a little much. I’m sure any of your adventuring friends will be more than happy to help. Just be careful, and remember to respect yourself and your partners. Also, I’d recommend a visit to my friend Laryn; she’s a chirurgeon here in Ul’dah, and she specializes in helping sex workers. You may not be taking gil for this – although if you do, I won’t judge – but you’ll probably be giving your body just as much of a workout. I can send word to her now, so she’s aware of your unique situation. She has extensive experience in not only physical, but also aetherial issues.”

“Ah. Yes, I’ll go see her.” Cinna rose from her chair on slightly trembling legs. It seemed her life had entered a strange new phase, one that seemed exciting and intimidating all at once. She bent down to enclose her friend in a warm hug. “Thank you, Lalai. You continue to be amazing; I truly don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Excellent!” Lalai returned Cinna’s hug, then stepped back to look into the miqo’te’s eyes. “And it’s my pleasure. I feel like before long you’ll be bringing me some gossip of your own!”

“A lady shouldn’t kiss & tell,” Cinna replied with a sneaky smile. “But fortunately, I’ve never considered myself a proper lady!” She trusted Lalai completely; anything she told the other black mage would remain in confidence. “I already have someone in mind; I should go pay him a visit now. I’ll tell you all about it later!”

#ffxivwrite2022 #channel #oh myyyy

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cinnabun-faerie · 2 years ago

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Pairing: WoL × Haurchefant/Cinna × Haurchefant

A/N: this little blurb just came to me. It's hurts me honestly.

Edmont knew immediately who she was when she walked through the door of Fortemps Manor with Haurchefant, eyes shining with wonder as she looked around. Her brothers, the lot of them, weren't too far behind. And even they seemed to give Edmont a feeling of familiarity. Perhaps it was the auburn hair or the facial features they shared with old and dear friends. There was no doubt in his mind.

"Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to know of a Beatrix & Victor Rosewood, would you?"

Naturally, her eldest brother spoke up. "They were our parents."

They were their parents. Yes he had heard that correctly. Dread settled in the pit of his stomach. While he wanted to reveal more, it was only their first meeting. He did not want to speak on such sensitive matters so soon.

"A long time ago, I knew them. And how curious it is that my son has reunited with you, Lucinda. Or should I say, Cinnamon."

Cinna and Haurchefant were as shocked as the others in the room. Emmanellain who had never seen these people in their life was bewildered. Artoirel seemed to have recalled past memories and nodded in agreement.

"How did you know about that nickname?" she asked.

Without another word or explanation, Edmont excused himself. There was a box he had tucked away until the time was right. No time was better than now. The box was beautifully hand-crafted oak wood with a quarter moon on the lid. He smiled upon seeing it, holding it tightly in his hands as he rejoined the ground in the entrance hall. He approached Cinna and held out the box to her. Confused, she took it, muttering a small thank you as she opened it.

"It's just a bunch of letters." Haurchefant stated as he curiously looked over Cinna's shoulder. He noticed that the letter on top addresses her by the nickname he'd given her. "To my dearest Cinnamon..."

"Curious are we?" Cinna teased, smirking when she caught his eye. "So am I. Shall I read it aloud then? I trust there's nothing scandalous written in these."

While no one objected, Edmont did invite them all to rest in the sitting room as they listen to the reading.

My dearest Cinnamon,

I eagerly await you. Of course, I am not the only one. Your mother & father too as well as your older brother Josiah. He annoys the neighbor boy with his going ons. They're good friends, but I assure you that young Artoirel would love to just bop your brother on the head to keep him quiet. Charlie on the other hand is still an infant, but surely he is curious about you as well. Please come soon and be healthy. You are too precious to lose. That being said, I have many things to teach you about this world once you are here. There are many places to adventure and explore. And a place that I love dearly is Ishgard, our home. It is a relief to have good friends here thanks to your father. He was born here just as you will be. And surely you'll be as close to the Fortemps as we are. Speaking of, Edmont has a son named Haurchefant. Once you are born, you're sure to meet him. He's barely a year old but I'm sure that you two will be as thick as thieves. It wouldn't hurt to have someone liven up the world for a change.

-Grandma Rae

Cinna folded up the letter and moved onto the next without a word.

To my dearest Lucinda. No, it sounds better to go with the name that my mother-your grandmother Rae, gave to you. Cinnamon.

You are here at last. And while your birth brings me great joy, I cannot help but feel sorrow. Your grandmother had passed just hours before you were born. But yet it feels as if she is still here. You remind me much of her. I can't explain it, but it is comforting. She would have adored you. She might have even bragged to the ladies and lords of Ishgard that she finally had a granddaughter to dote on. As I do not want you to go on without memory of your her, I have tucked away a few photos for you when you are older. Please keep these memories safe and pass them on when you too have children. There's a phrase in which she said often and it sticks to me even to this day. It is uncertain of when you may lose those closest to you, so cherish them while they are living, but honor their memory when they are gone.

Haurchefant took the envelope from Cinna's hand and pulled out a few older photos. His gaze would flicker back and forth from the pictures to her.

"If I wasn't aware that these were of your grandmother, I would have sworn they were you."

"They are a bit uncanny aren't they?"

My Dearest Cinnamon,

You have finally mastered walking. It took you no time at all ever since Sir Edmont's young son has been helping you. As your grandmother predicted, the two of you are practically glued at the hip. If only she could see it. Such an unbreakable friendship is so rare these days. A sweet moment took place today between the two of you. Young Haurchefant decided to share a special beverage with you. Hot chocolate. He brought two mugs, one for you and the other for himself. He instructed you to be careful and not to touch the mug as it was too hot. He even taught you how to blow on the liquid to cool it down faster. It was amusing to watch you copy his every movement with slight clumsiness. And when he took a drink so did you. It was your first time ever tasting anything so sweet. He had so eagerly watched for your reaction. And to his delight, your eyes did ever light up with joy, as if there was nothing better. He then told you about marshmallows and handed you one. You were so curious of it, squishing it between your fingers before you stuffed it into your mouth. And when you saw him put some in his hot chocolate, you too wanted some in yours. He said that he would bring you more to drink together tomorrow. I'll expect this to be a daily routine from now on.

Cinna did not speak a word once she was finished reading. She instead turned her head to stare at the nearest wall. Her hand gripped the letter tightly. Haurchefant saw the stray tear that slipped down her cheek. He reached out and freed the letter before holding her hand tightly in his.

"I don't understand. I knew you as a child but yet I don't remember. Siah, did you know?"

Her brother shook her head.

"I don't remember either." Haurchefant said. "But I knew as soon as I heard your name to call you Cinnamon. But I did not know why."

"It makes sense that neither of you would remember. You were both barely 2 and 3 years old. It wasn't long after that had your family disappeared. All that was left was Lady Maxton." Edmont told them.

"Grandma Ko?"

"Indeed. But that is a story for another day. For now, you need a good rest."

As most retired to their rooms or left the manor, Cinna stayed, reading the letters over and over. Haurchefant stayed by her side, wanting to be a comfort for her.

"This has been quite the day." she finally says as she puts the letters back in their box before leaning her head against his shoulder. He was quick to wrap an arm around her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"I'd say its been quite the week."

"Yeah, but at least I got to learn some things about my family and how I'm really from here."

"And how two clueless childhood friends find each other years later and engage in romantic ventures?"

His words and goofy grin caused her to groan and roll her eyes. He pulled her into his arms and just held her close. She only snuggled close to him.

"Oh? You're not going to deny it?"

She sighed. "No, cause you're right."

#ffxiv #my wol #cinna x haurchefant #haurchefant greystone

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everlarkficexchange · 5 years ago

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All the World's a Stage

Prompt 31: “We never see you two so much as kiss in public but last night we all heard you having sex.” Submitted by Buttercupbadass

Rated E (Explicit): Mainly for language because Johanna is a potty mouth and so are other certain characters whilst mid coitus okay I don’t make the rules here so there’s more than one f-bomb therefore we rate it E. Also sexual content.

Written by: @katnissdoesnotfollowback

Beta reading by: @stjohn27

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Act 1

Johanna Mason loves her neighbors. That is to say, she loves the entertainment they provide her with. It’s a rotating show of fabulous, ridiculous, and delicious drama, and she has a window to each and every one of their lives. Literally.

Victor’s Square is not exactly a square. It’s more of an elongated rectangle shaped building consisting of thirteen apartments, a workout room, a community center, and an office, with a hollowed out central area for a pool. Honestly, the pool is the reason she picked this place instead of The Arbor, which is pretty damn swanky but somehow they forgot to include a pool, of all things, when they added their five thousand luxury amenities. Since Johanna likes sunbathing and not golfing (ugh boring!), Victor’s Square won out.

The three story design of the building, and her luck in snagging the single apartment on top of the office, means that at some point in the day, barring sun glare on glass or inconvenient curtains, she can see directly into every other apartment on the rectangle. Hence the entertainment.

She’s been privy to all sorts of great shit, and none of them seem to know exactly what they’ve given her. The best part is, they’re clueless. As soon as she realized they were basically living their lives on a stage for her, Johanna started parading around her own place with the curtains wide open…while naked. Stark fucking naked. Just to see what would happen.

And nothing changed. No one complained. Which granted, she’s got a banging body. Axe wielding will do that, but she can think of at least half a dozen residents who’d be put off by her exhibitionism. And yet… nothing. No one started suspiciously keeping their curtains or blinds closed when they hadn’t before. Since they’re all too dumb to figure out that their lives are her parade, she just popped the popcorn and settled in for the show.

Tonight, however, Johanna is in no mood for the show. After a late night shift ending a bitch of a week, all she’s in the mood to do is swim a few laps to get the grime off of her skin then lay back in one of the lounge chairs around the pool, listening to the hum of the air conditioners in the sweltering Carolina night, swatting at the mosquitos because she’s too damn lazy to light the citronella torches, and stare up at the rectangle of starry sky she can see.

It’s quiet tonight. She swims her laps, and it works wonders to relax her tired bones and even more tired soul. After, she lays out on one of the squeaky lounge chairs. The hum and the warm air make her drowsy. Inevitably, she begins to doze, with only a vague awareness of the passage of time and the sounds around her.

It’s the loud click and the whoosh that wakes her. Just for a moment. Not long enough to place it at all before she fades back out into half slumber.

Her psyche is a bitch tonight, dropping long breathy moans into her dreams. The sex so good you can’t quite keep it in kind of moans, even though you’re trying. Completely aware that she messed up a truly great thing just days ago, she tells her subconcious to fuck off and stop reminding her of the one she let get away. Because she was stubborn. Unfortunately, her subconscious is not listening to her. Stupid fucker.

Scrunching up her nose, she refuses to move. She’s sticky with sweat and pretty sure that she’ll lose two layers of skin off her back and thighs when she goes to stand up from the lounge. Besides, there’s a low moaning noise that makes her wonder if maybe she wasn’t actually dreaming those sex sounds.

The moans in her mind grow louder and slightly more frantic until she can place the heavy feeling in her limbs. She’s awake after too little sleep.

Damn it. She’s not actually dreaming this shit. Which means one of her neighbors is on the brink of a seriously great orgasm. She’s not sure if she’s annoyed by the fact that she herself hasn’t had decent sex in far too long, or if she’s amused at yet another dramatic chapter in life at Victor’s Square.

The real question is… who’s doing the nasty tonight?

Act 2

A slight shiver and a thrill goes through Johanna as she finally opens her eyes and stares up at the canvas of stars above her.

Another moan ends in a slight squeal and fuck it, Johanna is hooked on the mystery. Shame she doesn’t have any popcorn down here, because given the sheer volume, and the way the sounds are magnified by the shape of the rectangle around the pool, she’s pretty sure whoever it is, they’re fucking with the windows open.

Kinky.

And a lot more interesting than her job. She does a happy little shimmy and settles in to guess who it possibly could be. First things first… she glances around the pool and discovers to her dismay that every apartment has at least one window open, but they’re all dark. Not surprising given that it’s well past midnight. But it’s unfortunately unhelpful. The air conditioner must be out again. That’s probably what that loud noise was earlier.

She closes her eyes again, hoping to pinpoint the direction of the sounds to figure out which of her neighbors is getting lucky tonight. But the shape of the building makes it impossible. Sounds just carry weird in this rectangular bullhorn. They could be coming from anywhere.

“Ung, yeah, right there… oh-oooooh!” The last sound is hitched and breathy. That’s a woman’s voice, Johanna thinks.

“Yes. Don’t — don’t stop! – I –” The word is pinched off in a desperate sort of ecstasy and Johanna smiles. This could be fun.

It can’t be Caesar and Claudius, the two radio talk show hosts who live in apartment 6. They’re gay. And men. And a couple. But truthfully, she’s not at all disappointed that she can rule them out. She already knows more than she’d like to admit about their sexual habits. Usually she’s not one to kink shame, but electrodes on nipples is a little too close to the realm of torture for her tastes.

“Yes! Please!” the woman begs and Johanna feels her body flush with the erotic sounds, she’s half aroused but fully invested in figuring out who this is. She could of course, get up and walk around to triangulate the sound, but what’s the fun in that?

She quickly rules out Mags in apartment 5. She’s the sweetest old lady, surprisingly spritely. From what Johanna has seen from old pictures of her, Mags was a fucking dish in her youth, but now she’s gotta be pushing ninety. Besides the wrinkles (shudder), Johanna would be worried about heart failure if Mags were the one getting her boots knocked around with this much vigor.

The long moans shift to the choppy, catch breath ones that mean she’s close, whoever the lucky bitch is.

Cinna in apartment 3 is out. He’s ace. Asexual and aromantic. Claims that he’s in a love affair with his work. Well if she could design clothes like the ones Cinna does, Johanna would be willing to give up sex too. She snorts a little and turns her ear, hoping for a better angle on the sound. She’s pretty sure it’s coming from one of the upstairs apartments, but can’t be sure.

Whoever it is, she lets fly a single high pitched note. And then a long stuttering moan that just sounds exactly how it feels to come back down from a really good orgasm. Satisfied, relieved, a little sleepy and a whole lotta euphoric.

Lucky bitch, Johanna thinks again. Her legs feel heavy and her toes tingle in empathy.

Now if only she could catch something of the partner’s noises…unless the woman is masturbating. Possible, but the directions to not stop earlier make it less likely.

A low pitched murmur and a deep masculine laugh helpfully nix that thought almost as soon as Johanna has it.

Not flying solo, but also Johanna can now rule out Enobaria and Lyme from apartment 2. She’s never understood them exactly. On the surface, you’d think they’d be perfect for one another. Their personalities mesh in a weird kinda way. Enobaria is louder while Lyme is more dignified, but they’re so often bickering about politics… and the truth is, they have an open relationship.

Or at least Johanna assumes they do based on the number of not-Lyme women Enobaria has entertained shoved up against the glass door leading to their balcony…but if not, Johanna is perfectly willing to offer up herself as a rebound to Lyme when the inevitable shit hits the fan. That woman is built like a house and fucking sexy in a domineering sort of way. Like Brienne of Tarth hotness.

She can order me to submit anytime she wants, Johanna thinks with a smirk.

As if confirming her thoughts, a long deep moan drifts down to her ears, slow and almost silky. Delighted and yet a little astonished, like he can’t quite believe his luck. Definitely a dude. Blowjob or penetration? Either way, this guy’s pent up, she thinks. She’s also guessing that the girl’s orgasm was from fingering or cunnilingus, which means the show is not anywhere near to being done.

There’s only so many people left who it could be…

Her phone vibrates on her chest and she finally opens her eyes again, lifting it above her face and squinting at the overly bright screen.

Finnick: I can’t believe you’re sleeping on this. Do you hear this?!

Johanna frowns. The time stamp is right now. Which rules out Finnick and Annie in apartment 4. Damn it. They were the most obvious choice for a man-woman pairing going at it with this much abandon, and while Johanna is pretty sure they have mind numbingly, porn worthy good sex, they’re unfortunately discreet about it.

It’s maddening.

Whenever she talks about Finnick and Annie, Johanna’s therapist always hums that way therapists sometimes do when they know you’re engaging in something destructive or unhealthy — such as a minor obsession with your best friend’s love and sex life — but the therapist wants you to figure it out on your own. Johanna can’t help it. Finnick’s a walking sexual fantasy for almost every woman out there. Even her lesbian friends find him hot. And Annie’s gorgeous. Johanna can’t help it if she not so secretly wants them to sandwich her. She’s got a good strap on that Annie could borrow to get it done.

But alas, or maybe fortunately, Finnick’s text eliminates them as the current lucky couple. Pity. She was hoping for something new to add to her spank bank.

Johanna: Where are you?

Finnick: Well we were asleep.

Johanna: Boring. You could be giving them competition.

As if to punctuate her point, a steady cadence of low, slow moans begins filling the air. They weave through the humidity and now Johanna is just angry.

Johanna: Do you know who it is?

Finnick: Nope. I have my theories…

Johanna: Ugh spare me.

There’s three potential couples left, and of those three, Johanna’s got a good guess who Finnick thinks it is, or at least wants it to be.

Johanna: I’ll gouge out my eyes if it’s them.

Finnick: Say it. Call them the name.

Johanna: I’m not using that stupid nickname, you absolute child

Finnick: Like you’re any better.

“Fuck fuck fuck, stop. You’re gonna make me come,” the lucky man gasps. The woman must say something because he chuckles and whispers back to her, the tone traveling if not the words. Johanna sets her phone down then, perked up by shuffling noises that sound maybe like a position change.

So who is left…

There’s Haymitch and Effie. Those two… residents of apartments 9 and 11 respectively…they pretend like they hate one another, and maybe they really do. While Johanna enjoys their epic fights, she’s not overly fond of their making up sessions. She’s pretty sure Effie was some kind of tantric goddess or pretzel in another life with the way that woman can bend.

It’s…unnatural.

Her phone vibrates again and Johanna lifts it in front of her face, this time it’s a notification from Facebook, sent out to all the residents in the group.

Effie: I have already filed a complaint with Mr. Heavensbee in regards to the broken a/c. He says there will be a repairman here first thing in the morning. In the meantime, we should all attempt to be cordial in our behaviors and not disturb the other residents since all will likely have the windows open for the night.

A text almost immediately after let’s Johanna know what her friend thinks of that.

Finnick: Where’s your sense of fun, Effie?

Johanna bites back a snort. Although the notice does rule out the exuberant woman as a candidate for Porn Queen tonight, so Johanna texts Finnick again.

Johanna: My money is on Cashmere and Gloss

Johanna sends the text and waits for the response. She’s not disappointed. She cackles internally at the flood of barf emojis and angry exclamations she gets back. Cashmere and Gloss of apartment 1, or as Johanna likes to call them, The Lannisters. Because they may be brother and sister, but they’re totally doing the nasty. Really nasty.

No one believes Johanna about this, though, and she’s not about to tell the other residents how she knows it’s a fact, not just some cockamamy theory of hers. People get pushed off walls for things like that.

Not to mention then they’d all figure out that she can see into their apartments as well and there goes that bit of fun.

“Fuck,” the lucky dude draws the word out into almost a croak, and there’s a soft sigh from her.

Finnick: Something is wrong with you

Johanna: Do you think he’s well hung? Whoever he is?

Finnick: Who cares as long as he knows how to use it?

Johanna shakes her head at this, easily able to picture her friend wiggling his eyebrows.

Johanna: He sounds well hung. It could still be Haymitch, sans Effie

After all, Haymitch isn’t officially tied down, and at the last residence brunch, Peeta’s good friend Delly was visiting and wasn’t at all subtle about her attraction to Haymitch. The girl was deceptively sweet, bubbly and innocent, but with those knockers on her chest and the way she kept laughing at Haymitch’s worst jokes, Johanna is pretty sure Delly has a thing for the much older man.

Finnick: I’m going to ignore your obsession with Haymitch’s junk for now. And also nope. Annie says she can see Haymitch through our window, sitting on his balcony, drinking.

Finnick: Alone.

Well damn. There goes that theory. Just to be sure, Johanna turns her head and cranes her neck. Sure enough, Haymitch sits on his balcony, lounged back in his chair with a glass in hand. After a second or two, he must feel eyes on him because he looks down towards Johanna and lifts the glass in toast.

Which is when the wall pounding begins and the lucky man’s moans start to grow out of control. Damn. They’re really into it now.

Finnick: You know I’m right

Johanna: You’re ridiculous.

Finnick: It’s Peeniss. How much you wanna bet?

Johanna rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Finnick has some crazy theory that Peeta Mellark, baker and all around way too nice guy of apartment 8 is somehow secretly dating Katniss-I-Will-Shoot-You-If-You-Touch-Me-Everdeen of apartment 12. Not that the girl doesn’t need a good fuck. If anyone is desperately in need of a body shaking, mind blowing, toe curling orgasm, like the one currently building in the summer night, it’s that perpetually scowling and uptight bitch.

Johanna just seriously doubts that the woman now moaning in cadence with the steady headboard thumps and the increasing volume is Katniss. She sounds way too into it, relaxed. Whoever she is, she’s getting nailed five ways to Sunday and is ecstatic about it.

It could be one of Katniss’ lovely roommates. Katniss lives with her younger sister and one of her best friends, Madge Undersee, in apartment 12. They’re crammed into it somehow… but before Johanna can suggest it to Finnick, she dismisses the idea.

Prim’s at college, left three days ago…so it won’t be her. Shame. She’s been living under her big sister’s overprotective arch so long that the poor girl has got some catching up to do in the sex arena. College will be good for that, but it means she’s not the woman–

“Fuck yeah.” A resounding slap and the accompanying whimper make Johanna’s eyes go wide. “Lift that ass for me. Fuck yourself on my cock. Love it when you do that.”

Whoa. Okay.

It could be Madge. Or Gale who lives right next door in apartment 13, but they’re almost as unlikely candidates as Katniss. Johanna is pretty sure Madge is a lesbian. Closeted still, unfortunately, because Johanna wouldn’t mind burying her face between those creamy thighs. And Gale… well it could be Gale, Johanna supposes, with some lucky girl who doesn’t live in Victor’s Square.

Maybe Delly.

Shame it’s not me, Johanna thinks and risks stretching a little. It has been her before, in her own apartment, because while Gale is usually down to fuck, he’s never down to doing it in his apartment.

That’s because he’s got a massive boner for Katniss and isn’t willing to risk her knowing that he fucks around with at least half a dozen girls that are not Katniss. Masochist. That’s what Gale is. But it’s also why Johanna doubts that Gale is the guy currently balls deep in ecstasy. He’s too loud for someone who wants to keep his sex life secret from his neighbor.

As for Peeta…well it could be Peeta with a girl who isn’t Katniss. He’s handsome and sweet enough to get plenty of pussy, if he tried—

“No! Don’t stop!”

“You don’t get to come again just yet,” the man growls and Johanna automatically clenches her thighs at the commanding tone.

More shuffling and grunting. One yelp from her, then the pounding resumes. And doesn’t let up.

“Harder!”

Faster and faster, his moans keeping pace. The resounding slapping of skin.

“Gonna – gonna!”

A chorus of “yes’s” and desperate pleas.

“Fucking yes! Peeta!”

Her phone goes off with a stupid amount of speed.

Finnick: I TOLD YOU!!!!

Johanna types madly at this.

Johanna: So it’s not the Lannisters, but that doesn’t mean it’s Katniss up there with Peeta.

Finnick: Oh come on! Who else could it be? You know he’s got it bad for her!

Okay yeah, there is that. There’s also the fact that Johanna shouldn’t be so bitter about this. Just like Katniss is in dire need of a good fuck, so is Peeta. But based on the sounds and the things they said…

Whoever she is, she’s still squealing and the thumping hasn’t let up yet. Damn that’s a long orgasm, Johanna thinks with more than a little jealousy.

“Come for me. Fucking come inside me. Now. Peeta!”

Those aren’t the words of a sexually frustrated prude talking, Johanna wants to say. Nor are they words of a couple going at it for the first time. Nope. This couple is way too comfortable with each other for it to be a first time. This couple has fucked before. Maybe often.

Go baker boy, Johanna wants to say, but she can’t imagine who he’s with. He hasn’t so much as brought a date home in a year.

A series of texts from Finnick crop up on her phone. Flame emojis and winking faces. An eggplant or two and the three drops of water people use to represent cum. Johanna slouches in her chair, a little miffed that she can’t shut Finnick up yet until…

There’s a deep growling, animalistic sound. A long string of curse words mixed with moans and then—

“Katniss. Fuuuuuuuuck.”

The curse word takes him about a minute to get out all the way. Damn it, Johanna thinks. Now Finnick will be impossible to live with. She can’t even look at her phone as it blows up again, knowing that he’ll be gloating. Instead she turns it off.

As carefully as she can, Johanna peels herself off the lounge chair and tiptoes towards the stairs, intent on reaching her own balcony. Not because it sits caddy corner to Peeta’s apartment and if they’re in his room, it’ll be easier for her to hear any pillow talk. Not at all.

She hurries and nearly gives herself away with the door, but manages it. She stands in the shadows of her balcony and nearly chokes on her tongue at the first thing she hears, besides the unmistakable sounds of coming down thrusts or sucks, maybe kissing, quiet aftermath moans.

“Hold still. I’m not done.”

“Feels too good,” he pants. “Can’t take much more, Katniss.”

“Mmm, you’ll take it and you’ll like it.”

“Yeah, I will,” he says and she giggles.

“Are you braiding my hair?”

“Can’t help it. You look so gorgeous sucking yourself off my dick… I can stop…”

“No… go ahead.”

Another few seconds of suction noises and then Peeta sighs in relief.

There’s the fwump and creak of a bed under weight. Johanna can practically see them all cuddled up like a cute little couple in his bed. Sighing and kissing and caressing in their afterglow.

Disgusting.

“Such a cute ass, and all mine,” Katniss says and there’s a slap then a gasp.

Fucking hell, Johanna thinks, eyes bulging out of her head.

Who would’ve thought the two of them would be so wild in bed? Who would’ve thought they were actually fucking each other?

Johanna wrinkles her nose then, finally forcing herself to go inside her own place. Just out of curiosity, though, she chances one last peek at Peeta’s place. The curtains are drawn, but a helpful gust sucks them out the window just long enough for Johanna to catch a glimpse of two naked bodies on his bed, illuminated in the soft glow of a lamp. Katniss with her head tipped over the edge in the direction of the window and a smile on her face as Peeta kisses a lazy path over her body. Her fingers plucking absently at the tangled sheets.

Well damn and fuck.

Johanna heads to bed after that and prepares a salvo of taunting for tomorrow morning. There’s no way she’s letting something this juicy go unremarked upon, especially since literally everyone who was home would’ve heard it.

Act 3

In the morning, Johanna is up early and down at the community center well before the once a month residents’ brunch that Effie insists on hosting. Poor thing is pinch faced and pale this morning, flummoxed when Johanna offers to help set up.

“I suppose. Since no one else appears to be out and about yet. Nothing funny with the vegetables this time,” Effie chastises and Johanna salutes. She’s got better things planned than erotic displays with the produce.

Honestly, she couldn’t care less about the flower arrangements or the energy inherent in the order of food laid out on the table. Helping Effie this morning affords her a prime view through the community center windows of each stairwell and of everyone arriving this morning.

And not just for brunch, she thinks with a smirk as she spots Gale, still wearing his work shirt, sneaking up a stairwell towards apartment 13.

Where have you been all night? Johanna wonders. Not with Katniss, the girl he’s so obviously got the hots for. Even better for the impending drama. She wonders if he’ll find his neighbors present or if Katniss is still cozied up with Peeta in post coital bliss. They’re probably totally morning sex people, Johanna decides.

Slow, sweet morning sex with loving words. Ugh, gag me, Johanna rolls her eyes at her own thoughts.

Preparations move swiftly after that, even with Effie on her case every few minutes. The pending drama is just too great to dampen her mood.

Peeta’s one of the first to arrive, conspicuously alone. He chats with Johanna for a few minutes, friendly as always, and then moves off as more of the residents arrive.

It takes everything in Johanna’s energy reserve to not throw something at the back of his head. He acts like he didn’t have the fuck of his life last night. It befuddles her and also infuriates her because it means Finnick could be right.

Oh my god, Finnick could be right about them! They might actually be dating. Who’s to say they aren’t if they can keep their sex life together such a secret. If the air conditioner hadn’t failed…

Peeta’s nonchalance this morning throws all her arguments against Finnick’s stupid Peeniss theories out the window. How is that even possible? She had Peeta pegged as a total softie. Hand holding, nose rubbing, and obnoxiously cute, borderline clingy PDA type of guy, not a rail you into the bed then pretend I don’t even know you the next morning type of guy.

Huh. Pegging. Wonder if he’s into that, Johanna thinks then has to forcibly shake the image out of her head. Because not only does it make sense in a way, but the image is also…sexy as fuck. And she doesn’t need yet another happy dappy ass couple to fantasize about and maker her therapist hum at her in that knowing way.

Fuck Finnick and his stupid theories.

When the tenants of apartments 12 and 13 finally arrive together, Madge splits off to talk to Mags. Gale and Katniss are both suspiciously wet haired. If Johanna didn’t know any better, she’d guess that they were the culprits last night, especially when Katniss doesn’t even so much as look in Peeta’s direction.

Her cheeks are flushed, but she’s avoiding her fuck buddy, talking to literally everyone else, twisting the damp ends of her braid around her finger.

“What do you make of it?” Johanna asks Finnick, bumping her hip into his. He shrugs, with that insufferable smirk on his face that he always gets whenever he’s right.

For two people who were so clearly intimate last night, Katniss and Peeta are doing a pretty good job of acting like the other one doesn’t even exist.

“They’re just… both very private people. But the signs are all there for anyone paying attention.”

“But that’s the thing… the signs aren’t there!” Johanna protests. What game are they playing, she wonders.

“I just don’t get it,” Johanna says and Finnick glances down at her.

“What?”

She waves her hands at Peeta, who looks for all the world like he’s fascinated by whatever Caesar is talking about. But why would he be when Katniss is literally right there.

“They act like nothing happened.”

“Well we know something happened,” Finnick says conspiratorially. Then his smile slips. “Actually, everyone here knows about it.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah. Apparently everyone was home last night…”

“Not Gale,” Johanna adds and lifts one eyebrow. Finnick’s eyes go wide and his mouth turns round.

“Oh my. Delicious.”

“Isn’t it?”Johanna says. “But still… you wouldn’t guess it from the way they act.”

“They can’t stop looking at each other.”

Johanna turns her head and motions at them. Absolutely not looking at one another.

“Are not.”

“You missed it. Gotta be quick with these two.”

Johanna shakes her head as she watches Katniss, and Gale who is placing some kind of food on her plate. She’s nodding and listening to him but subtly shifting the food off to the side of her plate while picking up something else and nibbling on it straight away.

And finally, Johanna can’t take it anymore. She stomps over to the tables and loads up her own plate, absolutely not eavesdropping on their conversation.

“Thought you were gonna text me when you got off work?” Gale says.

“Oh. Something came up… Prim. Prim needed to talk.”

“Everything alright?” Gale asks.

And this time, Johanna just catches the quick dart of gray eyes towards blue. Peeta’s shy smile. Katniss’ swift flutter of lashes and nibble on her bottom lip before returning her attention to Gale.

“It is now.”

“Usually is after a seriously good orgasm or two. And by the way, that’s low, using your baby sister as an excuse,” Johanna snorts. She doesn’t mean to, but it just sort of slips out.

Katniss whips around to face her. Dark rouge staining her high cheekbones and her lips pinched together.

“My sister isn’t an excuse.”

“Oh please. Cut the crap.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Katniss hisses.

“I’m talking about the fact that we never see the two of you so much as kiss or even hold hands in public, but last night, I heard you having sex. Loud sex. Phenomenal, shake the rafters loud, sex.” Johanna smirks at the pair of stunned faces looking at her. And the dozen curious faces plus Peeta’s mortified one. All of them focused on her. Center stage, she thinks with a grin and waves a half eaten croissant around at the gathered crowd. “We all heard you. Except for Gale here who was probably out getting consolation tail since you didn’t text him. Really, Brainless, what do you expect if you and baker boy are gonna bang with the windows open?”

There’s ten seconds of stunned silence before Finnick shouts, “I figured it out first, by the way!” Then he grunts as Annie elbows him in the gut.

“Baker boy?” Gale practically growls and Johanna sashays away as Peeta steps over to stand behind a now scowling Katniss. Her hand clenches into a fist as she faces Gale. She leans back against Peeta’s chest, as if she knows he’s there before she even sees him. Good for her. At least she’s not going to shy away from it. But now they’re going to be every bit as insufferably disgusting as Finnick and Annie are.

Love’s a bitch, oh well. Time for that popcorn, Johanna thinks.

#Springtime Edition 2020 #katnissdoesnotfollowback #buttercupbadass #Prompt 31 #early submission #submission

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katnissdoesnotfollowback · 5 years ago

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Love in the Time of Corona

A/N: I should be working on my prompts for efe, but this is what I’ve managed to write because well honestly it’s all that’s on my mind, and I imagine almost every one else’s as well. Inspired by THIS article, sent to me by the lovely buttercupbadass. Hopefully, reading this helps serve as a pleasant distraction for you all like writing it has for me. This is only part one of probably a four part story. Mostly fluff and such so rated T for mild language. Text messages from Katniss are in bold.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So are you going?

Katniss stares at the text from her friend, biting her lip in uncertainty, glancing at the dress hanging up in her bedroom doorway with the plastic sheath from the cleaners still covering it, the tag still looped over the strap and stapled to itself. She’d been over the moon when she found it in a thrift store. In such good shape. A new dress from that label would have cost half a month’s salary and as it is, she only spent $40 on it. Cinna practically screamed over the phone at her when she sent a picture.

BUY IT NOW!!!!! He’d yelled in text. I don’t care if you have somewhere to wear it that it is steal get it now, girl.

From the other room, the news station hums with updates and predictions, suggestions for ways to keep yourself and your family safe.

I don’t know.

It feels like such a frivolous thing to even be thinking about at this point, you know?

It’ll be a nice distraction

Until one of us gets sick

You can’t think like that

Why the hell not?

Okay. Good point. What does Prim think?

Setting the phone down, Katniss walks away, into her kitchen to make herself a mug of tea. She ignores the chimes from her phone, probably work, tugging on the loose shoulder of her favorite old hoodie and chewing on her thumb nail. She’d thought she’d kicked this bad habit after years of therapy and excruciating relationship repair with her mother. Now it’s returned with a vengeance with the world all in a frenzy over pandemic.

After she drops a sugar cube and a tea bag into the hot water, she shuffles back to her room and picks her phone back up, scowling at the short cord. Maybe she should invest in a longer one next time she’s out...just in case. If she’s going to be stuck inside for almost a month or longer, then she wants more than three feet to work with while she’s glued to the couch and her phone.

A few taps takes her out of her conversation with Finnick and into the one with her sister and mother. She scrolls back through all the messages from Prim and finally decides to interpret rather than asking her baby sister. Prim already has enough on her hands as a nurse in the heart of New York City. She doesn’t need Katniss pestering her for an opinion on whether or not Katniss should go on a blind date tonight. No matter how much Katniss has actually, weirdly, been looking forward to this one.

She’s the main reason I don’t think I should go.

Understood

Finnick answers with a thumbs up emoji and then quickly asks the question really weighing on Katniss’ mind.

What are you going to tell him? You’ve already put this off three times now.

She scowls at this. It wasn’t just her putting off meeting him. They were both being more cautious lately.

...or do you want me or Jo to tell him instead?

I’ll tell him

That much she’s confident about. As anxious as the world is making her, she wants him to know she’s still very much interested in meeting him. Katniss can’t remember ever being this excited about a date. Not even her high school prom.

She waits for the follow up thumbs up from Finnick and then switches to yet another text thread, staring for a moment at the name at the top.

Peeta

She’s never seen his face or heard his voice. She doesn’t know if he’ll smell like laundry soap or aftershave or something else. But she knows that he’s funny and sweet...or at least he has been in their texting conversations. She knows that he works for an online news station, writing articles, and that tomorrow he’ll start working at home rather than following candidates around on their campaign trails.

She knows he went to college with Johanna and plays flag football in the park with Finnick. She knows that after her awful break up with Gale, which was long overdue, her two remaining closest friends were patient and wonderful and supportive, even on the day Katniss said she was maybe thinking about dating again, but that she was terrified of online or app dating. Finnick had grinned and placed her coffee order in front of her then elbowed Johanna.

“Don’t sweat it,” he’d said. “I’ve got the perfect guy for you, Kat. And even if he’s not, going out with him will be a great soft entry back into the dating pool.”

“Who?” Johanna had asked skeptically.

“Peeta,” Finnick said, and Johanna’s eyes had gone comically wide.

“Holy shit! Why didn’t we think of this sooner?” she’d practically crowed. “Can you imagine their kids?”

“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself there,” Katniss had said with a scowl.

But when they’d given her his number, and convinced her to let them give Peeta hers, Katniss hadn’t been so scared. If they shared two mutual friends, he couldn’t be too bad...right? Then he had texted her a few days later, sounding almost shy, even through typed words.

Hey. I’m a complete stranger texting your phone, so I won’t be surprised if you block me, but my name is Peeta Mellark and my favorite color is orange

What’s yours?

It was such a simple question and yet it had made her blush in a funny kind of way and actually want to answer. So began a texting courtship of sorts. They talked about their jobs and the basics like how many siblings, what college they went to, and so on, in a way dispensing with the small talk that so often made first dates awkward in Katniss’ opinion, but in a non threatening manner and spaced out over weeks.

They’d just gotten to the point where they felt ready to meet in person when the coronavirus arrived on the country’s shores. And now...now Katniss takes the dress down from where it’s been hanging, waiting, for at least a week, and tucks it into her closet. She unplugs her phone and heads back into the kitchen. Carefully removes the tea bag, wincing as she burns her fingers a little and then pouring a tiny bit of milk into it before taking a sip and finally deciding on what to say to Peeta.

Important question...how do you take your tea?

She only has time for one more soothing sip before Peeta answers her.

Milk no sugar. You?

No sugar? You animal.

Well that answers that. At least I’ll still be able to drink my tea without making THAT face, you know the one, when the sugar runs out…

Which may be very soon here.

Are they hoarding sugar now?

It appears so.

The next thing that comes through is a picture of more empty grocery store shelves. Fully stocked chocolate chips and baking chocolates to the right, mostly stocked spices to the left, with a gaping void of product where the sugars and flours would likely go. Katniss feels her heart sink again and the now familiar thought that this is like something out of a nightmare floating through her head.

Also do you have any idea where I can acquire a live chicken since eggs seem to be in high demand as well.

Asking for a friend. ;)

She laughs at the winking face and slumps in her chair. Damn it all to hell. Of course she manages to snag a date with someone who makes her laugh even when the world is falling apart, only when the world actually feels like it’s falling apart.

I’ll poll my coworkers and see if they have a spare.

Thanks. I’m planning on baking myself to distraction if we’re put under stay-at-home orders.

Sounds like a good plan. Wish I could benefit from the baking frenzy.

Katniss winces as she breaks skin at her nail bed. She can’t put it off any longer.

About tonight…

There’s a long pause and then finally the ellipses show up. Katniss holds her breath until the gray bubble pops up.

Yeah. I was kind of expecting that.

It’s okay, Katniss. I don’t want either one of us to be taking risks we don’t need to.

She lets out a great puff of air, not entirely surprised at his response and yet still grateful for it.

But I have an idea. If you’re okay with our first date being over FaceTime. What do you have at home that you can cook for yourself?

A slow smile curves over her lips and she tugs up her hoodie to cover the ridiculous expression. It isn’t exactly what she wants, but it’ll be enough for now. It’ll have to be enough for now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell me what you think! Stay safe my friends and know that I am sending every last one of you a socially distant, virtual hug. Love you!

#words are peetas thing not mine #everlark fanfic #oh my god they were quarantined

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cinna-vanilla · 4 years ago

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s i g h s. hi. i wrote over 1k words on what was supposed to be a quick drabble. it’s really bad and i’m very rusty but w/e !!!!

media : darkman (bc im hyperfixating babey !!!!)

warnings : violence, body horror (briefly mentioned / implied), negative thoughts / self talk, a really fucking bad ending (lmao)

“where is he?”

a shaky wheeze was the only sound the young adult made as the hand around their throat tightened. tears welled in their blue eyes as they trembled in the strong grip of the thug. their luck tended to be slim and in all twenty-two years of their life, they couldn’t help but wonder how such an occasion as this hadn’t happened up until this point.

they had only wanted to go for a walk. maybe choosing the seedier part of town wasn’t exactly an...intelligent decision, but nonetheless, their intentions hadn’t been bad. the main streets were typically always crowded and they hadn’t wanted to deal with it. clearly, their decision was an incorrect one.

“where. is. he?” the man shouted before shoving the young adult away in frustration. they cower pitifully on the gravel road.

“stupid, pathetic, idiotic--” the man hisses and swears as he kicks their curled-up form.

a deep, primitive growl startles the thug mid-kick, causing him to stumble...which would have been hilarious to them if they weren’t being in the process of being treated like a human punching bag.

they weakly inched backward and away from the fist-fight that started to occur between the two men. the thug was very quickly overpowered and fled with his metaphorical tail between his legs.

which left the second man alone with them.

the first thing they noticed was the bandages that wrapped around the majority of his face and hands. the second thing they noticed was how tall the man was. he was practically a giant compared to their petite height of five feet, even as he slowly knelt down in what could be assumed as a way to be less intimidating.

“who are you?” his voice was gruff, but attempted to sound gentle nonetheless.

“c-cinna,” was their shaky, hoarse response. “i’m- i’m cinna.” they attempted to stand, not wanting to inconvenience the man any further, only to whimper in pain.

he moved closer at their cry of pain. “you’re injured.”

bandaged hands softly felt around forming bruises to check for any broken bones. their gaze was distant, dissociating from the pain, as the man worked. every touch, no matter how gentle, ached badly. they were rather used to feeling like a burden for being in pain.

some pain was a bit too much to hide.

a single hand brushed their right knee, causing cinna to flinch sharply and curl away painfully from the touch. a loud popping noise was heard from the offending joint from their quick movement.

“s-sorry, i- i didn’t mean--” they whimpered apologetically. they knew that the man was only trying to help.

he merely shushed the young adult as he finished assessing their physical state. “i don’t believe there is anything broken, cinna, however, i’d still recommend seeing a doctor.”

by the time they stood up and turned to thank the man to his face...he was gone as if he had never even been there in the first place.

“thank you,”

even if only spoken into empty air, they wanted their appreciation to be known. simply thanking the man felt dull and insincere, however. he had saved them from whatever unfortunate fate the thug had for them.

they decided that they owed him.

---

two weeks later, cinna wandered their way back into the very same place they had been attacked. truth be told, they didn’t know if he was actually going to be there...but they were going to take a chance. they had to, they told themself.

they awkwardly wandered down the uneven road, gawking at abandoned buildings as they walked. a large gift bag was clutched between their hands.

“h-hello? s-sir?” they nervously called out.

they didn’t have to wait very long for a response to echo from amongst the buildings.

“are you mad?! what are you doing here?!” he yelled.

cinna flinched from the angry tone, but explained themself nonetheless. “i-- i wanted to thank you...i brought you gifts...” they shakily held the bag out in front of them. “i know it’s dangerous i just...i needed to thank you properly.”

there was silence. moments later the man came out of one of the buildings and approached the young adult. he hesitantly took the bag, probably worried it was a trick, and reached a shaking hand inside.

the first thing he pulled out was a large ziplock bag full of cookies.

they blushed nervously at the confused look the man gave them. “they’re homemade. i dunno what you like so i ended up making a whole bunch...”

“i--thank you, cinna.” he replied, surprised. he reached his hand into the bag again and his eyes widened as he pulled something very soft out.

cinna watched him hold the bundle of material in his hands curiously. “it’s a scarf!” they explained, voice undeniably proud, “i crocheted it myself. those bandages on your face can’t be comfortable so i thought maybe that could help.”

the man eyes went from the scarf to the young adult in front of them.

“this is- oh, child,” he sounded close to tears as he spoke, “i don’t--”

cinna stepped forward, worried. “i’m sorry, please don’t cry, sir!” they wrung their hands nervously, afraid they had messed up somehow.

he shook his head, quiet sobs escaping as the young adult continued to stutter out unnecessary apologies. they felt like they had made some great mistake to have made him cry.

“you are a very sweet child,” he murmured in between tears, “and please, call me darkman.”

the worried expression remained on their face as they nodded. a heaviness grew behind their eyes and they began to rapidly blink in an attempt to prevent any tears from falling.

“...cinna?” darkman questioned, head cocked slightly to the side.

“i’m- i’m fine- i’m--” they stuttered and stumbled. trembling, they turned away, refusing to let themself cry.

darkman...was such a sad-sounding name. it sounded so cold, so cruel compared to the actuality of the man in front of them. it was embarrassing, but they couldn’t help but tear up when they thought of how such a kind man could have ended up with such a name. not that they wanted to, by any means. they didn’t want to end up burdening him with their emotions, with their thoughts or, anything else. they had already done so enough at this point.

they flinched as a hand brushed their shoulder, jolting the young adult out of their thoughts.

“sorry- i- i have to go!”

embarrassment flooding through their veins sent them running, even as the man yelled after them. right now, all cinna wanted to do was to hide for a long, long time. they felt like they had ruined everything. they felt...a lot of things, a lot of things they pretended not to feel.

even still...the young adult couldn’t help but feel as if this wasn’t going to be the last time they came into contact with darkman, and truthfully, they didn’t know how to feel about that.

#cinna.txt #fae writes #wowzo i get 2 use that tag again #also please don't feel obligated 2 read this it's really really long and bad skflhsdl

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kriscme · 4 years ago

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One Life to Live

Hi, sorry for the delay if you’re following this story on Tumblr. The chapters that have been put on AO3 have at last caught up with the chapters here. New chapters will go up weekly from hence on. You might find it easier to read on AO3 though. I’d link if I knew how. I’m Kris22 over there.

As always thanks to Ronja for allowing me to write fanfic of her Hunger Games fanfic “The Chance You Didn‘t Take” available on AO3 and FanFiction. Chapter 30 “Marcus presents well on TV, doesn’t he? You wouldn’t guess how much he hates it.” My hand stills as I focus on the screen and Buttercup nudges his head beneath my palm in protest. I absently go back to scratching him behind the ears and his chest rumbles in contentment. “Yeah, well, you soon learn to fake it,” replies Johanna from the other end of the sofa. “You should know that better than anyone.” “Yeah,” I say. Fake or not fake, real or not real, on television who can tell the difference? “That’s where Gale and I used to meet to go hunting,” I tell her. Cressida had Marcus stand with his back to the valley, using the mountains in the distance as backdrop. The sun was directly behind him and it shone through his golden-brown hair and set it aflame as if it were a halo. Man-on-fire, I can almost hear Cinna say. He’s the darling of the media now. I don’t envy him. I nervously wait for the moment Cressida interrupted the interview to ask me how I feel about a national park but it’s like it didn’t happen. It’s been edited so seamlessly that no one would guess there’d been a break in the dialogue between Marcus and herself. True to her word, there’s not even the slightest glimpse or mention of me anywhere. And nothing either in the separate feature she did on District 12 that had aired immediately before.

I let out my breath in a long exhale and feel the tension ebb from my muscles. I imagine Marcus in District 13 having the same reaction. We felt sure that if there were any compromising footage it would come out either before the interview was broadcast or during. And apart from that . . . um . . . incident in the woods, what else could they have on us? Only that Marcus was a guest in my house but that was a very reasonable arrangement given the circumstances. Otherwise, it was all very circumspect. No public displays of affection, no chaining naked to trees, no fights with logging companies. Only Johanna knew the extent of our relationship, and I doubt she’d have told anyone. Peeta’s engagement to Lace would have made a juicy story, but thankfully he’s protected, having done nothing to attract publicity to himself – either through his own actions or through association with another. “Looks like you’ve dodged a bullet,” says Johanna. She reaches for the remote to switch off the television and then settles back onto the sofa. A plate of Peeta-made cookies is on the coffee table delicately iced in Peeta’s signature style. She takes one and scrapes off the icing with her teeth. Johanna likes the icing best. If you let her, you’d end up with a plate of cookies that look as if mice had been at them. “It would seem so,” I reply. I wish I could feel more certain, but if I’ve learned anything from my experiences is that life seldom is. In fact, feeling safe almost guarantees that you’re not. I forget to stroke Buttercup again, and tired of my erratic attention, he decides it’s time to move on. He drops to the floor and ambles over to his favorite lounge chair, tail swishing. He leaves behind a layer of cat hair on my dark green trousers. “I told you nothing would happen,” says Johanna. “Wouldn’t want to ruin the fantasy they’d put so much effort into perpetuating, would they? I stand naked against a tree for a good cause and the media goes berserk. You get caught shagging against a tree with the current golden boy and then nothing.” “You know that’s not true,” I say, exasperated that she still thinks like this. “Maybe at one time, when it would have made the Capitol look stupid if the truth came out, but not now. They’ve had no compunction giving Marcus bad publicity in the past so I can’t see why it would be different just because I’m involved. We were mistaken about what we heard that’s all, and then we let paranoia take over.”

I’d agonized over whether I should tell Marcus about Remus and the knowing look he gave me when I returned to camp. In the end, I decided that he should have all the information just in case he needed to be prepared. That was a mistake. Between Cressida’s return to the Capitol the following day and Marcus’s for District 13 a week later, our waking hours were spent alternating between optimism that we had nothing to worry about and then dread that we had everything to worry about. Marcus was petrified that another scandal would put his mission in jeopardy. As there’s no official mandate from the central government to establish national parks, he depends on the goodwill and co-operation of individual districts and a negative association with me – any association with me, actually – could have that support withdrawn. Especially in 13 where my name is anathema. For me, it was the terror of a media onslaught, that what had happened before could happen again – my private life no longer private but entertainment to be analyzed and exploited. That the careful re-building of my life as plain Katniss Everdeen would all come to naught. That it might impact on Peeta, who’s only just now finding himself after what Snow did to him. We had our first ever real argument. I told him it was his fault for breaking his own rule and luring me into a clandestine meeting with him for sex. And he said it was my fault for . . . he couldn’t quite articulate why it was my fault but it had something to do with being Katniss Everdeen. It seems if I’d been a nobody we could have fucked in the main street (his words) and while it would likely have had us arrested in 12 it wouldn’t have merited even the smallest mention in the Capitol. Because, you know, we’re just ignorant hayseeds and they are so much more sophisticated than we are and they have no morals (my words). Oh, and he wasn’t exactly a nobody either. In fact, that was the problem. We did calm down and apologize to each other and had make-up sex, which was nice, but it wasn’t how I imagined we’d be spending our final days together – tense, fearful, with each blaming the other for our predicament. It wasn’t until the night before he departed for 13 that we came to a mutual understanding. Neither of us were at fault. We were victims of our celebrity – a celebrity that neither of us had sought. Mine was thrust upon me, and his was a regrettable consequence of his life’s work. But I did tell him he was partly to blame. If he had been fifty, pot-bellied and bald instead of young, handsome and with eyes the color of maple-syrup that could melt any women’s heart, he wouldn’t attract a fraction of the media attention that he does. And then he told me that if I had been a scraggy, wrinkled old bat instead of young and nubile with eyes like silver moons and hair evocative of midnight, all the Games prowess in the world couldn’t have made me the cultural icon I’d become. We were just too good looking for own good. And then we laughed and had sex – playful, affectionate, I-want-to-remember-this-forever sex.

But the worry was still there when we lay in each other’s arms that night, and the next morning when we said our goodbyes. It was a bitter-sweet ending to what had been an unforgettable interlude but as I watched him pass through the Village gates for the last time, rucksack piled high, long legs in hiking boots striding purposely towards the next wilderness to be saved, I was struck by the rightness of it. It was how it was always going to end; how it always should have ended. Johanna tosses a denuded cookie back onto the plate and picks up a fresh one. She ignores the pained look I send her way. “Would you have gone with him?” she asks. “If you could?” I brush cat hairs from my trousers to give me a few seconds to think about it. I’d honestly never considered it since I can’t leave 12. But there was a time when I could have happily left everything behind and followed him around the country, hiking mountain trails and making love at every opportunity. It was at the concrete house by the lake, the morning after we’d made love for the first time and there weren’t enough superlatives in the world to describe how wonderful I thought he was, although now I find it hard to determine exactly what I did feel for him.

“No,” I say eventually. “Even if didn’t mean being in the public eye again, I still wouldn’t. We don’t want the same things.” I hesitate, wondering if I should say anything, but then blurt it out. “I don’t think I’m normal.” I brace for the sarcastic response I’m sure to get, but to my relief it doesn’t come. “None of us are,” she says grimly. “You don’t go through what we have and come out normal at the end of it.” She’s silent for a moment, but then rouses herself. “But if you want me to comment further, you’ll have to be more specific,” she adds. I sigh. I don’t know to explain it to myself, let alone to someone else. “Well, it’s about how I felt about Marcus. I mean, it wasn’t that long ago when I would have done almost anything for him. He made me feel so . . . so . . . “ “Turned on?” she smirks. I feel my face grow hot. I should have known the real Johanna couldn’t be too far from the surface. “Yes, but more than that. Wanted. Desirable. And we had so much in common too. But when he left, I didn’t feel much of anything. I should have been devastated, shouldn’t I?” “Rebound.”

“What?” “It was a rebound. It’s when you haven’t got over one relationship and you dive straight into another. Marcus gave you the validation that Peeta didn’t. It’s not so complicated. Pretty simple, in fact. Happens all the time.” “It does?” “Yep. It goes like this. You feel like shit because you’re still hung-up on your ex so you’re looking for a distraction – something or someone to make you feel better. So along comes Marcus who is clearly attracted and you transfer the feelings you don’t think Peeta wants on to him. Only it doesn’t last because it’s not based on anything real.” But some things were real. I really did like him, felt a connection with him, even. And I liked the sex, but maybe that’s just a physical thing. I haven’t been with enough men to know if it’s different when it’s with someone you truly love. “A rebound is bad then?” I ask. “Depends,” she says. She takes another cookie from the plate. “Has it made you feel better or worse? And then there’s the person on the other end of it. It’s generally considered not fair to them. But, if you had to pick the ideal man to have a rebound with, you couldn’t have done better than Marcus. I told you at the beginning– one track mind. Nothing competes with saving the forests for him.” Gale. He was like that. The cause is more important than any relationship. As soon as Gale heard about the uprisings in the Districts, he no longer wanted to escape with me into the woods when just minutes before, he’d been so keen. But Peeta, he would have gone with me, even though he knew it was a bad idea. “He told me he doesn’t keep girlfriends for very long. I guess that’s why,” I say. He’d also have figured out what a liability I’d be to him. And I certainly wouldn’t want the kind of life a relationship with him would entail. That final week had been an eyeopener for us both. But at least it ended well, all things considered. I put out my hand for a cookie but change my mind when I can’t find one that hasn’t had the icing scraped off.

“You’re disgusting,” I tell her. But I can’t keep from laughing. It’s part amusement, part relief. No repercussions from that lapse of judgement in the woods and an explanation that makes sense to me about my feelings for Marcus. I feel a sudden rush of affection for the woman who’s helped me through this – and more besides. Once I compared her to an older sister who really hates you. I guess I have to revise it to an older sister who sometimes seems to hate you but really doesn’t, and you can always depend on to have your back. “I’m going to miss you,” I say. “Yeah, I know,” Johanna replies casually as if she were picking lint off a sweater. “But my reason for coming here in the first place was to help Marcus out and he’s gone. Peeta doesn’t need me anymore either. So even if I hadn’t been asked to, it still would have been time for me to go home.” “You’re going to be great mayor.” “Thanks, but I’m not mayor quite yet. I have to be elected first. It’s the way it’s done now.” Before the war, District mayors were appointed by the Capitol but now all governing roles are decided by vote. It’s the republic Plutarch had talked about, just like in the history books. The people elect their own representatives. “You’ll get it,” I say confidently. “They love you in 7. They wouldn’t have asked you to run, otherwise.” Who’d have guessed that Johanna would be destined to be Mayor of District 7, but when you think about it, it’s the perfect fit. She’ll bring passion, commitment and integrity to the role. And essential for a career in politics, a thick skin. “So, have you thought about what you’d like to do on your last night here and to celebrate your candidacy?” I ask. “How about drinks first at the pub and then dinner at that restaurant you like or maybe see a movie. Or we could do all three. Anything you like. “ “Anything I like?” she asks ominously. Images of pub crawls, strippers and naked sprints through the streets flash through my mind. “What I’d like is dinner with just the four of us. You, me, Peeta and Haymitch.” I groan. This is far, far worse. “You more than anyone know the circumstances – “ “I don’t care,” she says flatly. “Ever since I got here, I’ve been stuck between the two of you. Haymitch has too. Why don’t you think of other people for a change and how it affects them? You and Peeta are Haymitch’s family! What do you think it’s been like for him?” “He hasn’t said anything,” I say, on the defensive. “How can I know if – “

“It should be fucking obvious! How brainless can you get?” She gives me a look filled with contempt. I guess she’s back to being the older sister who hates you. I hadn’t considered it from Haymitch’s perspective. He’d have missed the dinners, I suppose, but it’s not as if they could continue forever. They were only intended to help us establish a routine. And besides, it was Peeta who showed the first signs of breaking from them. “It’s not like I started it.” As I say it, I realize how false that is. I was the one who put a complete stop to the dinners and made things awkward between Peeta and me. All because I couldn’t handle him being with Lace. “I don’t care who started it,” she says, but less angrily than before. “It’s time for it to stop. Is this how you’re going to live the rest of your lives? Forever trying to avoid being in the same place at the same time? You’re neighbors, for fuck’s sake. You’ve been in two Games and a war together. You don’t throw away a bond like that because he fucked another woman when his brain was mush. And now that you’ve fucked another man, you’re even. There’s nothing standing in your way now. So, what’s stopping you? It can’t be Lace. She’s gone.” Gone, but not forgotten. Not by me, and not by Peeta either. But Johanna does have a point. If Haymitch is a kind of father figure to us both, then that makes us his children. And having two children who don’t get along and won’t join in any family activities if the other is there too, can’t have been easy. For my own part, it has been a strain avoiding Peeta when we live so close, work similar hours, and have Haymitch in common. But it hasn’t been just me. Peeta stopped seeking me out like he used to when he found out that I’m in love him. Nothing about our situation has changed, Lace or no Lace. He stays away from me because he knows that I’m in love him and he feels bad that he can’t love me back. And I stay away from him because I know that he knows, and feel humiliated that he does. But if . . . “You’re right,” I say. “It is ridiculous. You make the arrangements and I’ll be there.” “And now that Marcus is out of the picture – “

She stops suddenly, confused. “You will?” “Yes. In fact, I can hardly wait. It’ll be fun.” I rise from the sofa to gather the cups and the plate of ruined cookies to signal that the visit is over. Johanna looks stunned as if she can’t believe how easy that victory was. She was probably all primed to go into battle and then it failed to materialize. How disappointing that must be.

“Oh, Johanna!” I call out cheerily just as she’s about to walk out the door. I’ve just remembered something Haymitch told me. “Maybe we should let Peeta do the cooking. He likes to do it. He’d always take over when we had our dinners.” If I have to do this thing, I at least want the food to be good. “Sure,” she says, still dazed. And then she’s gone. I wonder if Peeta has already agreed to it, or that she still has the job of guilting him into it too. I decide that it doesn’t matter either way. Peeta will be motivated by the same reasoning as me. The present situation can’t continue. It’s funny, in the way that’s weird rather than amusing, that mine and Peeta’s situation is now reversed. In the days following the Games and before we embarked on the Victory Tour, he avoided me for pretty much the same reasons I avoid him now. And, in turn, I avoided him for the same reason he avoids me. It’s the discomfort of being around someone whose feelings you don’t return. But there’s one crucial difference. Peeta had hope. I know that now from what Haymitch told Peeta before the prep teams arrived. He could afford to wear his heart on his sleeve knowing that there was a good chance that if I was given the space I needed, it was only a matter of time before I felt the same way. I have no hope. Therefore, my strategy will have to be different. This is about survival, not about capturing Peeta’s heart.

Peeta will have to believe that whatever I felt for him, I no longer do. That’s the only way we can be at ease with each other. I may never stop loving him, but I know how to bury my feelings so that they don’t show. I’ve had plenty of practice at it. After my father died. When I was reaped. When he started going out with Lace. I can do this. I can put on a show. I don’t even have to be good at it. In the Games, Peeta was convinced I was in love him because he wanted to believe it. So now I do the opposite and he’ll believe because he wants to believe. And if he can’t do that, he’ll pretend. We’re both very good at pretending. Chapter 31 Venia purses her lips at the state of my nails. “There’s not much I can do with these apart from a polish. If you want artificial nails, you’ll have to come back when Octavia’s here.” “It doesn’t matter,” I say. “I mostly just wanted my hair trimmed.” The shape Flavius had cut into my hair has nearly all grown out. Working at the school during the week, and out in the woods with Marcus on the weekends hadn’t left much time for trips to the beauty salon. I ask, “Where’s Octavia? Not sick, I hope.”

It’s unusual not to see Octavia at her station, her auburn head bent over her task. Since Venia re-united with her coworkers, each has settled into their former specialties as beauty therapists. Flavius is hair and makeup. Octavia is the nail expert. And Venia is skin treatments and waxing. “She left work early,” smirks Flavius. “She has a date.” Venia collects a few tools from the nail station and returns to my side. While Flavius cuts, Venia smooths and buffs. It reminds me of my days as a tribute when all three of them would be working on various body parts at the same time. “We weren’t busy, anyway,” says Venia. “You’re the last customer for the day.” I know. That’s the reason I chose to come at this time. I didn’t want to take the chance of running into Lace when she’s having her roots done. “Anyone I know?” I ask. “Possibly,” replies Venia. “He’s from 12. Thom something. Bick? Hick?” “Hickory?” “That’s it. Hickory. Octavia’s had crushes before but she’s got it really bad this time. I caught her looking through wedding catalogues.” Venia pauses mid-buff. “I’m worried for her.” “How come?” Thom is a nice guy. He was a friend of Gale’s who helped with the clean-up of 12 and gave me a ride home in his cart when I was too weak to walk home. That was the day Peeta came back. “Because of . . . you know, of what we did before the war.” I don’t miss Venia’s use of “we”. If Octavia is accused of being a facilitator of the Games, they all are.

“But doesn’t Thom already know? He was in 13 at the same time as you.” All the survivors from District 12 actually. But Venia shakes her head. “Octavia didn’t know Thom then. We didn’t mix very much with the people there. We thought it safer to keep to ourselves. Especially after the bread.” I suppose being shackled to a wall and beaten for simply taking an extra portion of bread wouldn’t exactly endear the populace to you.

I try to reassure them. “You do know that I’d vouch for you if it ever came out? And tell them how you helped prepare me for the rebellion propos and Snow’s execution?” “I know you would. And maybe we’re worrying over nothing. But we risked a lot coming here and 12’s our home now. Flavius has met someone too – he’s from the Capitol, so that’s not a concern but if we had to leave . . . And Lucia is settled in school and has made friends and Cicero has a good job at the medicine factory . . .” And so Venia goes on. Flavius chimes in too. He tells me they’re set to take on two apprentices and once the tailor has moved out, they want to expand the salon –

“What? Arthur’s leaving?” This is the first I’ve heard of it. But maybe that’s not so surprising. I haven’t seen much of Arthur lately. It’s been only been Max, Johanna and me at pub nights. Arthur is obviously spending his Saturday nights elsewhere. “Oh, he’s not going far,” says Venia. “Just to another store on the main street. He says it’s better situated for passing trade and with the dressmaking shop next door it will likely bring more business to them both.” “I don’t think more business is the only thing those two want from each other,” says Flavius with a suggestive wink. “Flavius!” chides Venia, but she can’t conceal a smile. “It’s true, though. We misplaced the stone we use for sharpening scissors and Octavia went to ask Arthur if we could borrow his. But no one was there even though the door was open. So, she went through to the back, thinking that’s where he’d be, and she caught them red-handed, kissing, and his hand was up her skirt. Octavia forgot all about the stone.” The two of them collapse into giggles. “We didn’t think he had it in him,” says Venia, when she’s able to speak. Neither did I. I can’t laugh about it though. Peeta will be devastated when he hears that Lace has moved on. And so soon after their break-up too. But as badly as I feel for Peeta, I also can’t help feeling happy for Arthur. If there was ever a man who deserves reward for long devotion, it’s him. I only hope that Lace proves worthy of it. One thing I do know is that Peeta isn’t going to hear of it from me. I’m done being involved in his love life. It’s brought me nothing but trouble ever since he made that confession to Caesar Flickerman years before. My only objective is to get over him if I can and make sure that he thinks I have. And that makes this dinner tonight so important. It will set the stage for our relationship going forward. We’ll be friends. Not necessarily close friends. But at least friends who can enjoy social occasions together and feel comfortable in each other’s company. Johanna wants us to dress up so I guess that means I’ll have to wear a cocktail dress. I have one already in my closet. It’s the emerald green dress I wore to the party in 8. But it’s long sleeved and in a heavy fabric and that makes it too hot for this time of the year. I’ll have to go down to the basement where most of the Cinna clothes are stored. There’s a whole rack of cocktail dresses to choose from. But what do you wear when you want to show that you’ve made an effort, but don’t want to appear as if you’ve set out attract anyone in particular – and by anyone, I mean Peeta.

I begin by eliminating colours that are evocative of sunsets or flames. That takes care of anything orange, red or yellow. And then anything that Lace might choose. If Lace is Peeta’s idea of feminine allure then I should make sure to do the opposite. Therefore, no pastels, ruffles and especially any kind of lace. No. No. No, I think as I reject one dress after another. And then I find it. The perfect dress. And so different from the girlish or jeweled frocks that Cinna usually dressed me in that it’s almost as if he knew that one day, I might have a need for a dress such as this. It’s in unrelieved black. Simple and unadorned in slinky silk jersey. I really like it, but Peeta, who loves colour, probably won’t and it’s sure to send a message that I didn’t dress to please him. I accessorize it with black high-heeled sandals and silver and jet earrings. The dress comes to just above the knee with a deep halter neck. It’s impossible to wear a bra without it showing, so I leave it off. I turn around to check how it looks in the mirror from the rear. The clinging fabric does set off my best asset, but since it’s a dinner and I’ll be sitting on it, no one will see it. The burn scars, although much improved from the skin treatments, are still noticeable on my back. I decide to draw attention to it by putting my hair up in a kind of messy bun. This will contrast with Lace’s unblemished skin and immaculate hair and will surely show Peeta that I don’t care at all about being attractive to him. I arrive at Peeta’s door at the same time as Haymitch. He’s wearing a dinner suit, but his white shirt has already untucked from the waistband and his tie isn’t around his neck but dangling from his breast pocket. His eyebrows rise as he takes in my appearance and his lips curve in a sardonic smile. If I needed any confirmation of how incongruous I look in this get-up, I just got it. Johanna answers the door, elegant in a wine-red fitted dress with matching shoes. She appears to have paid a visit to the salon too, because her hair is now a uniform color and has been restyled to lie flat against her skull and frame her face instead of the usual red-tipped spikes sticking up all over her head. “I like your new look,” I tell her. “Yeah, it’s more conservative than I usually go for but I figure I have to start looking the part of mayor sooner or later. But what about you? What have you done with Katniss Everdeen?” I smile and shrug. I’m unsure if not looking like myself is a compliment or not. Peeta stops short when he sees me, his mouth gaping, but he collects himself quickly. “You look beautiful,” he says.

“Thanks,” I murmur. He sounds sincere but I know how easily Peeta can fake it. “You look good too.” And he does, in a cream suit designed by Portia. We move into the dining room. Johanna’s gone to a lot of trouble. I can almost imagine we’re at one of those fancy restaurants in the Capitol. Fresh flowers, dim lighting, the furniture polished to a high sheen. The table is resplendently laid out with the finest dinnerware and gold cutlery. These came with the house. I have them too but I’ve yet to use them. I wonder if Peeta recognizes the pattern on the plates as the same as those that accompanied our feast in the cave. Johanna and Haymitch take seats at opposite ends of the table. That leaves Peeta and me to sit across from each other.

White wine is poured into cut-crystal glasses and starched linen napkins are laid across laps. I wait for either Johanna or Peeta to start bringing in the food but they stay seated. How are we to eat if the food never leaves the kitchen? I eye the woven gold basket filled with soft rolls in the center of the table. Is that all we get? Just then, Cass enters the room carrying a large silver tray. “Good evening,” he says, as places a bowl of soup in front of each of us. “I hope you brought your appetites with you. Don’t forget to save room for dessert.” And then he’s gone. Presumably back to the kitchen. “What was that?” I say to no one in particular. “Cass is doing all the cooking tonight. He’s a qualified chef. He can cook all sorts of things - not just pastries and desserts,” says Johanna. “Yes, I know that. But what’s he doing here?” Peeta answers. “Johanna thought it would be nice to have a professional do the cooking so we could relax and enjoy ourselves.” Right. I just wish Johanna’s idea of relaxation was drinks at the pub, or a barbeque in the backyard. Any place where I didn’t risk locking eyes with Peeta at any minute. We can scarcely look at each other. Every time his eyes chance to meet mine, they flit away. It’s like being back at school. We’re doing a very poor job of acting at ease with each other so far. I’m a lousy actress at the best of times but I expected better of Peeta. Clearly the knowledge that I’m in love with him freaks him out to the extent that he’s forgotten all his acting skills. The food is a welcome diversion and I tuck in. The soup is creamy pumpkin sprinkled with slivered nuts and little black seeds. Sublime. I recognize it as one of the soups at the Capitol feast. It’s followed by those delicious little roasted birds filled with orange sauce. Then fish swimming in a green sauce flecked with herbs. And then, oh, I don’t believe it! Lamb stew with dried plums! On a bed of wild rice!

That makes me think of our feast in the cave, of course. It’s even served on the same patterned plates. My eyes instinctively search out Peeta’s. Do you remember it? You must, surely. How excited we were when that parachute arrived. How careful we were to eat only small portions so we wouldn’t be sick after so many days of hunger. And then how we whiled away the time until we could eat again – snuggled together in the sleeping bag, my head on your shoulder, your arms wrapped around me, imagining our life together if we survived the Games. You, me and Haymitch, you said. Picnics, birthdays, long winter nights around the fire retelling old Hunger Games tales. You must remember it!

But Peeta doesn’t look my way. His gaze flickers between Johanna and Haymitch without it ever landing on me even though we’re sitting directly across from each other. And he laughs just a little too loudly at Johanna’s poor taste joke about prunes and how we’ll all shit well tomorrow. He remembers our feast in the cave, all right! I’m certain of it. He just doesn’t want me to know that he does. To spare me the humiliation, probably. I want to kick myself. Gawping at him like a love-sick idiot – practically begging him to remember one of our most intimate moments together. At least Peeta has his wits about him, not letting on that the stew holds any particular significance.

I quietly return to my stew. It’s not as good as I remember it and I can only manage a few mouthfuls. Saving room for dessert, I tell Johanna, when she comments. Unfortunately, there’s a long break between this course and the next. I suppose Cass wants our stomachs to have a rest before he brings out the dessert which is sure to be spectacular. But it makes the pressure to appear congenial and unaffected by Peeta’s presence that much harder when I don’t have the food to distract me.

Since I got here, Peeta hadn’t spoken a great deal, and me even less. The conversation has been carried mostly by Johanna and Haymitch. She’s been picking his brain about the challenges of town planning and the provision of services such as garbage collection and road maintenance. Johanna had better get this job for mayor. She already acts as if it’s hers. That’s why it’s a surprise when the focus of attention turns to me. I’d been occupied twisting my crystal glass around by the stem watching the colours change across its facets. Anything to keep my mind off the person sitting opposite me. “You’ll step in, won’t you, Katniss?” Johanna asks. My head jerks up. “Hmm? What – “ “She doesn’t have to,” says Peeta quickly. “Step in for what?” I ask, directing my question to Johanna. “To watch the tapes with Peeta.” says Johanna. Before I can respond Peeta interjects again. “There’s no need to bother Katniss. I’ll be fine with Haymitch.” “You won’t,” says Haymitch. “The tapes labeled ‘to be watched with Katniss’ are all that’s left. It’s probably why the content has become repetitive lately. Aurelius has obviously run out of material I can help you with.” “You need to watch all the tapes,” Johanna adds. “You don’t know what memories are missing until you do.” “Katniss has already done her share. I’ll be fine watching on my own,” says Peeta. Johanna shakes her head. “You know that’s not how it works. You need someone to put it into context. Besides, the tapes were her idea to begin with. She should see it through.” Peeta turns to me for the first time. “There’s really no need.” He’s almost pleading with me. I really want to accept his offer to not watch the tapes with him. I know he’s giving me an escape but if I go along with it, it gives the impression that I’m afraid and that’s not good either. It has to appear as if I have nothing to hide. Which I don’t. Except the part that I’m still in love with him, of course. I can see where he’s coming from. After my slip-up with the stew, he’s worried that if I’m compelled to watch the tapes with him, I’m sure to give myself away. He’s protecting me from myself. I look coolly into the blue eyes of the person who is now my greatest opponent and I promise myself I will defeat his plan. Johanna is right. I should finish what I started. Remember that my primary objective was for Peeta to find himself. And if those tapes hold the final pieces, then I’m determined that he shall have them. I will watch those tapes, no matter how bad they are, and he will never guess from my reaction that I still carry a torch for him. It’s the only way we’ll ever be able to act normally around each other. “I’m happy to help,” I say. “Same time and place?” All eyes are on him. He’s trapped and he knows it. Peeta’s nod is almost imperceptible. What a timely moment for Cass to bring out the dessert. It’s a tower of pastries filled with different flavored custards, welded together with chocolate and studded with raspberries and sugared violets surrounded by an immense web of delicate spun sugar. There’s enough for at least a dozen or more people. But the best thing about it is that its position in the center of the table effectively blocks out my view of Peeta. So, Dr Aurelius has sent tapes that he wants Peeta to specifically watch with me. I wonder if I was ever going to be told about them. Probably not if it had been left up to Peeta. He’s obviously anxious about what’s on them. That makes me think that he has most, if not all, of his memories back. Enough, at least, to guess at how I feel about him. It seems that the tapes have progressed from those which showed me either indifferent or acting a part to when I began to return his feelings. And the irony is that it’s made not a scrap of difference. I’m glad now that Dr Aurelius sent the compromising tapes first. I had never stood a chance with him, even without Lace.

Cass comes out to clear away the dessert plates and the remains of that pastry thing. He frowns at how little impact we made on it. But it really was huge. To make him feel better, I ask if he can wrap it up for me to share around the staff room tomorrow. Max will probably make some joke about chocolate covered balls and phallic symbols. We finish with tea for Peeta and me and coffee for Johanna and Haymitch. Haymitch takes from his pocket a silver flask and pours a generous slug of whatever’s in it into his cup.

The dinner finally comes to an end. I pull Johanna aside before I go, ostensibly to say goodbye to her. I won’t see her tomorrow. The train for 7 leaves very early and Peeta has offered to walk her to the train station.

“The whole night was a setup, wasn’t it? To get me to watch the tapes with Peeta again?”

She doesn’t bother denying it. “Yep. Someone had to give the two of you a nudge in the right direction.” She gives me one of her stern big sister looks. “Don’t waste it.”

“I won’t,” I say. She doesn’t have to know that I have something completely different in mind to her.

I hug her goodbye and wish her luck. I don’t know when we’ll meet again. Not with me stuck in 12 and Johanna busy being mayor but maybe she’ll find time in her schedule to visit at some point.

“Don’t be a stranger,” she calls out as I leave. Where have I heard that expression before? Ah yes, Plutarch. They were the last words he spoke to me before he left the hovercraft that brought me back to 12. Thankfully, even after that scare with Marcus, that’s exactly how it’s stayed.

“Never,” I call back. No one could ever be the little sister that Prim was. But maybe I’ve gained a pretty good substitute for an older one.

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hockeysweetheart · 4 years ago

Text

Shotout to Katniss.

Basically me telling the hunger games

Hi this is a long thing so Under the read more it will be a few parts.

Who lives in the poorest district. Lost her father at the age of 11. Almost died 3 months later until A boy helped her out Peeta ( hes kinda important) who threw Katniss bread after her mother abandoned her and they were hungry. Then the day after the bread was given she saw a dandelion ( also kinda important) because right then she was like

Then the next day she was back in the woods new for her on her own without her father. Now hunting is illegal can be punished by death but since everyone is hungry they turn a blind eye.6 months into her in the woods she met another hunter Gale they became best friends it took a while for that to happen. But Gale was to pretty for her. Now when she turned 12 she could sign up for extra grain and oil in exchange your Names get put in more for the Hunger Games ( no they are not fighting over who gets over the last drum stick) no they have to kill eachother Children ages 12 to 18 fight to the death last one standing becomes victor. So 5 years Later her Sister who happened to be 12 and Katniss 16. Prims name was called.

So Katniss volunteers to take Prims place...(cough...this is what the Capitol planned...cough). Excuse me a little tickle in my throat. So Katniss volunteers and the one and Only Peeta Mellark is called ( see I told you he was important) no one Volunteered for Peeta so both of them are going to the games Peeta had a secret tho... one to be reveled later on. So this games The district usually ignored is the talk about. But thanks to the Help of Katniss and Peeta showing their mentor.

And their stylists Cinna and Porta together they made district 12 the talk with their sparking outfits for Katniss and Peeta. Then during this Katniss is convinced Peeta is trying to kill her... but oddly allowed him cover for her when Katniss was about to announce " Guess what I hunt in the woods" to their little group. ( for recognizing an avox). It's not like her Hunting skills are shown in front of all panem... oh wait... Anyways literally the next day Katniss says to Haymitch I hunt...but im not that good. Peeta is like she's amazing but I'm not. Katniss is like okay mr stocky build

I've seen you lift 100 pounds of flour and you can wrestle thats something. Then peeta is like Even my own mother thinks you will win over me... owch...even Buttercup back home heard that one. So Haymitch wants them to train together. ( oh yeah in his agreement to be sober Katniss and Peeta must do everything he says). So anyways they Agree.

So they do training together whatever. Then on the 3rd day they have private sessions. Katniss shoots an arrow an apple in a pigs mouth at the gamemakers feast. Shocking everyone and like the badass she is leaves without being dismissed. So Katniss is like oh shit my family will pay for this now. Haymitch is like

Totally chill about it. Now at scoring Katniss gets the highest score. What else could their be to sell her sponsors into these games I wonder... anyway the next day Peeta requested to be trained alone. The day happened to be where mentors and escorts spend time prepping tributes for the intreviews another selling point for Sponsors Katniss is basically this

Peetas is approachable. Anyways Cinna really helps Katniss the next day for the interviews. Anyways Katniss interview goes some flames ect. Then Peetas he drops a bomb confessing he's in love with Katniss to All of Panem now the problem is only one tribute out of 24 can be crowned victor. So then Katniss is like How dare you say you love me you made me look week ended up pushing Peeta into a vase which makes his hands bleed. Then shortly later she understood after her group tells her he actually saved you Again... so then Katniss feels bad

And then is like "sorry about your hands. Ya know we are going into a arena where we are supposed to kill each other and idk never been in love before tho I noticed you more then id admit". They have a talk that evening where Peeta is like I don't want to be turned into something I'm not.

Anyways more talking Happens nerves ya sure. Can we just appreciate the fact that Katniss isn't against this whole love act. I mean up until then she was like your trying to kill me I'll do the same. Then shes worried she didn't react good enough denied she has a boyfriend which at the time true. Talks to the is like sorry about your hands. And other stuff in a thank you for saving me back their again.... Okay so the next day is the Start of the Games. So the games are like in a forest (basically this arena was built for Katniss) and their is a lake a stream to the lake and a field of wheat. So they have to stand on these plates for 60 seconds if they step off before they get blown to smithereens.During the 60 seconds tributes have a Time to look at the arena. And in the middle there is a cornucopia and around it are the plates in the cornucopia is the the good stuff of weapons. And on the outskirts is stuff but not that quality. Katniss noticed the bow her weapon. But she is going to go in for it...then in the corner of her eye she noticed Peeta he nods his head it's not worth it. And by the time that happened it was to late to go for it. So Katniss settled for a plastic tarp and backpack fights for it wins by a long shot then a knife comes at her and she blocks it with the backpack. And runs off into the woods. And Peeta got the hell out of there .

So into the woods Katniss finds out Peeta has joined the careers how in the hell did he make that work... god knows. Anyways Katniss is like Peeta I kill you.

So anyways the lord works in mysterious ways because Peeta actually joined the careers to save Katniss but shh she doesn't know that yet. So anyways Katniss has this death wish for Peeta and hes saving her. Not like that sounds oddly familiar.

Okay so I am out of gif space so part two will be linked below. Part 2 coming soon.

#catching fire #the hunger games #mockingjay #hunger games #katniss everdeen #katniss #cf #peeta mellark #peeta #catchingfire #thg #everlark #katniss and peeta

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my-emotional-self · 5 years ago

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The Mission Chapter 8

Pairings: Ari Levinson x Reader

Warnings: swearing, mild smut, fluff

Summary: Ari Levinson tries to recruit you for Operation Brothers. While you weren’t ready for any kind of mission, you obliged after much consideration. You didn’t plan on falling in love along the way. But will Ari return those feelings? Or will his heart only be on the mission?

That night, Ari lay awake in bed; his mind not only on your past, but on you and the way you kissed him back. He had never been kissed so passionately and he yearned for more. He was moved by your story, impressed even after what you had endured, decided to come out and be a part of this mission. Smirking to himself, he knew you had a good heart and wanted to help those in need; thankful for Ethan telling him about you.

He stiffened as he heard you moving about your room. In truth, he was hoping you invited him to bed that night; not to have sex, but to just sleep together and so he could hold you. That night he slept in your bed had been the only night he slept well since being here. He loved having you in his arms because he missed being close to someone while he slept.

Over the course of the last few years, he had a feeling his wife would be leaving him. She wanted him to be home with her and Maya, but he couldn’t leave those facing war and famine to fight by themselves; he knew he had to do something, or nobody else would.

He knew that there was a chance the mission could last years, and you were a beautiful woman, no doubt about that. And he wouldn’t mind having someone here with him, someone to relieve some stress with. But he knew his mind needed to be on the mission and to not fray too far from it. His main priority were the refugees and saving as many as he could.

From the corner of his vision, he saw the curtain, illuminated by the moon, open and he quickly closed his eyes, pretending to sleep. He heard you creep to the door, opening and closing it before he opened his eyes and looked out the window to see you walked towards the beach.

~~~

No matter how hard you tried, you just couldn’t fall asleep. You figured with crying so much that night to Ari, that sleep would easily come, but you were wrong. Deciding to give up, you got up from your bed and made your way to the dresser, finding your bikini and slipping in on; throwing your hair up into a high ponytail and twisting it around so it wouldn’t get wet.

With your hand on the curtain separating your room with his, you slowly pulled it to the side and tip toed through his room and to the front door. Holding your breath, you grabbed the knob and twisted, blowing out your breath as no noise was made when you opened the door. Shutting it quietly, you walked through the sand and towards the beach, smiling at the breeze before you.

You had intended to do some late night swimming, but for the moment, you just wanted to take in the peaceful night. Placing your fingertips to your lips, you closed your eyes and hummed in satisfaction, remembering Ari’s lips to yours and how wonderful the kiss was.

“Y/N?” Ari’s voice broke you from your thoughts as you turned around to face him. “What are you doing out here?”

Giving him a soft smile, you returned your eyes to the sea. “I couldn’t sleep. I was thinking about going for a late night swim.”

“Would you like some company?”

“That’d be great Ari.”

He never bothered to go back into his room to change his shorts, instead, walking into the sea by your side with his pajama shorts on. The water was warm, but the breeze from the sea had you breaking out in goosebumps and you shivered at the delightful feeling of cold mixing with warmth.

The two of you waded a little farther out until you were chest deep in water. Another gust of breeze rippled through the water, this time Ari noticed you shivering.

“Cold?” he asked with a hint of a smile.

You nodded, dipping further into the water as to expose less of your wet body to the wind. “A little,” you chuckled back your reply.

“C’mere,” he said, moving closer to you and bending down to grip at your legs. You let out a yelp, nearly losing your balance in the water as he helped you wrap your legs around his muscular torso. “Better?” His hands were on your back, your chests touching together and you could feel the warmth radiating off his body.

“Much,” you answered as your eyes locked with his. Just a few hours ago, right before you two shared a kiss, you didn’t think Ari could have been more handsome, but you were wrong. Now, out here in the open sea with the moon illuminating the water, you could clearly see just how truly magnificently beautiful he truly was.

Your heart began to beat faster as Ari’s eyes roamed across your face, finally settling on your lips. Using your right hand to drag into his hair, you pulled his head closer to you and claimed his lips with yours. The kiss was different from your first kiss. Your first kiss was a bit more slow, more passionate and sensitive, but this kiss was purely raw passion. His tongue pried your lips apart in a kiss so demanding, you felt tingles throughout your entire body, all the way to your toes.

Ari’s lips left yours, instead igniting a fiery trail across your cheek and down to your neck.

“Ari,” you gasped breathlessly as he bit down on a particularly sensitive spot above your collarbone, making you thrust your hips into him as your arm snaked around his neck.

He growled at your ministrations, continuing to slaughter your neck with kisses and nibbles. Your clit began to throb, yearning for touch as you bucked your hips into him yet again. Another growl escaped his lips as he bit down under your collarbone. You wanted to badly to scream in pleasure but you were too close to shore; to the tourists and crew.

Ari’s right hand snaked around to the front and in between your bodies. He began to slowly descend his hand into your bikini bottoms; your arm tightening around his neck as you loosened your legs from his torso so he could have more room.

His fingers teased the small patch of curls above your mound before dipping lower, sliding through the silky lips of your pussy; your breath hitching in your throat.

“So warm,” Ari breathed into your ear as his fingers slid along your entrance before moving up to circle your clit.

Your head fell back as an onslaught of pleasure ripped through you. “Yesss,” you moaned out softly as he teased your nub back and forth; your mouth placed at his neck.

He slid a long thick finger into your core and you latched onto his neck to hold back your cries of pleasure. He slowly pumped his finger in and out of you before adding a second finger. It was pure euphoria for you, being too long without a man’s touch, and Ari knew exactly what he was doing.

His palm caressed your clit as he fucked you with his fingers; your body on overdrive from all the sensations. “Are you going to come for me?” Ari huskily groaned into your ear, his fingers caressing that spot inside of you that made you quiver.

“Mmmhmm,” you whimpered, feeling that familiar coil in your stomach tightening; that feeling you hadn’t felt in well over a year.

Your legs began to shake around his frame as your right hand gripped his hair; your mouth to his, kissing him fervently. Just a few more strokes over your sweet spot and you were flying over the edge into pure blissful oblivion as Ari swallowed your cry with his mouth.

Ari held you tightly in the water as your body came down from the most amazing orgasm of your life. Your limbs felt like jelly after his pleasurable onslaught; your eyes tired.

Pulling away to gaze into his eyes, there was no doubt about your feelings for him. Spending day in and day out with him for two weeks straight, you were truly starting to fall in love with Ari.

Forever Tag List: @badassbaker @guera31 @tanelle83 @xjjlex @chrisevansfanfic @princess-evans-addict @joannie95 @pumbibaby @patzammit @brastrangled @mrs-captain-evans @notyourtypicalrose @sfreeborn @esoltis280 @xxloki81xx @bornfortherainydays @poerebel @livslookingforloki @raveviolet @southerngracela @the-wayward-robot @scuzmunkie @cinna-minseok @laura-gzz @beautifulrare4leafclover @emogeographics @chocolate-cutting @capslut2014 @songforhema @allsortsofinterests @firstangeldragonranch @bval-1 @softbibby @troublermalik @space-helen @zsuzstyina

Ari Tag List: @angrybirdcr @beautifulbashfulblackqueen @itssweetprison @thiccstuxky @writerwithfluffysocks @ohmyevans @ari-levinson @jennmurawski13 @rimbougrine @littlemaatta @thisisjeany @capsbooty7 @anjana-fandoms28 @thepriestessofavalon @ladybugsfanfics @xchrisxevansx @draeluna @mgosal43 @mustangshelby04 @technicallykawaiisoul @symonlyjen5 @chibi-crazy @capamericaevans @peach-acid @whitequeenasitbgan @diariesoftheunwritten @emmalbg @iizabxlla @mamaragebear @janeyboo @rainbowkisses31 @capsiclesdoll @torntaltos @mrsevansthefirst @itsallyscorner @nthepianogirl @shmaptainshmericaaa @puddlejoy @random-shit-for-you-all @31shadesofbrown @naturalavenger @nanibon

#ari levinson #ari levinson fanfiction #ari levinson fanfic #ari levinson smut #ari levinson x reader #ari levinson x you #ari levinson x y/n #ari levinson series #ari levinson imagine #chris evans #chris evans fanfiction #chris evans fanfic #chris evans smut #chris evans x reader #chris evans x you #chris evans imagine #chris evans one-shot

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cs-discourse · 5 years ago

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it is my dream to unlock all of the cs & discourse mods backstories. why is juice box filled with hatred? why does phe hint vaguely at a sad angst backstory? ( legit tho phe, you ok? ) why do rando anons dislike cinna for super petty reasons? why did I think phe and peach were the same mod? why does raey suck so much? actually, why do all the rp mods suck so much? these are some of the questions I hope will be answered by the unlocking of the mods backstories.

fjjvhdhhche honestly, if you really wanna know, sit tight for a second. Youve unlocked my sad anime backstory by asking 😔😔😔😜 But yeah tw for abuse and suicide ig.

So to keep this as short as I can, my mom yeeted basically as soon as I was born, my dad went off to war and when he came back he couldnt hold any jobs so me and him lived w my grandparents (who were taking care of me when he was gone too). My grandmother (bitchma from now on) hates him (and i hated him for a while, but now I see why she did and I love him) and kicked him out bc he had no job and major ptsd.

So I lived with gparents up until I was 18. In that time I was basically subjected to gaslighting, manipulation, all types of mental and physical abuse, mostly by bitchma. They believed in spanking (ofc. which is fucking horrble. do not spank your child) and I would legit have panic attacks??? anxiety attacks? (not sure which. i bever figured it out) where I couldnt breathe and I hyperventilated and sobbed and it was horrible, and bitchma would just tell me to “Stop that, you can breathe” while im sobbing and gasping for air. She’ll get mad at anything and everything, screamed constantly, blamed me for everything. Always said “Well (insert other child) didnt do this” or “I bet your friend (only friend i talked about) gets good grades”. Would scream at me about clothes I would wear, even if she backhandedly approved them earlier. Would hurt my feelings and when I would cry or feel the courage to tell her she hurt me she would just say “the world doesnt revolve around you”. Never apologized. Got mad at me for bad grades when I was in such a bad mind state because I had to live there with her. Said “I’ve never had a child that’s failed before, even your dad got good grades. But it seems like the only thing you can do.” That hurt me a lot. I remember it so clearly. I tried to kill myself that day, and other days, but by then I had friends I cared for. And I loved my friends as my family. If I did it, they would hurt and I never wanted to do that to them.

But coming back to my dad hate, she hates him because she couldn’t mold him into a perfect little child and was realizing she couldn’t mold me into a perfect child either. My dad and I have such similar personalities and likes it’s insane. Most likely because we were raised by the same tyrant with the same mindset of “I hate her”. He’s told me that even though he’s literally been deployed in war, some of the shit she’s done has given him more ptsd than it. I moved in with him when I turned 18. This is the happiest I’ve been in my entire life, escaping that hellhole. There’s so much more she’s done, but honestly I don’t have the willpower and don’t want to drone on, this is very long.

But yeah. She’s the only person that I’ve ever had no mercy for. When I heard she may have cancer, I was so fucking happy. But she didn’t, sadly. With the shit bitchma subjected me to, I honestly wish her the worst with her growing age. That’s how much fucking pain she’s caused me. Sorry to dump, but 1: you did ask and 2: it feels nice to vent

.phe

You probably thought we were both the same because I tend to keep to myself and both mod names start with P and I was signing as MP for a while when I started typoing Peach a lot and wanted to save myself the trouble.

Also, here’s my backstory LOL.. o<-<

I was born with a tumor disorder called infantile myofibromatosis and all that means is that I had self-resolving tumors all over my body at about age 3. As a result of the tumors going away, I spent a lot of years 8-12 in the hospital getting spinal transfusion work and checkups due to a destroyed vertebra, which would have resulted in paralysis from the waist down if untreated. I’ve got some pretty neat scars from all of this and I kinda want to get them turned into tattoos but I can’t because of MRIs scheduled for every 10 years.

Thankfully, the surgeries worked and I could resume “normal” activity approved by my surgeon at about 16. I have pictures of my before and after spinal x-rays if anyone wants to see. I think they’re kinda cool.

I tend to be a shut book about everything unless we’re friends and usually when I tell people everything they’re like D: I’m so sorry. So I just skip the guilt of sharing and don’t.

I’ve got a lot of nostalgic interests because I feel like I’m always trying to make up for lost time but I’m working on letting some things go.

My family tries to be supportive most of the time but my father is manipulative and tries to gaslight everyone. He kinda treats everyone in the house like we exist to serve him like a king and my brother’s frustrations often wind up being exploded all over my mother and I. It’s very a toxic household situation and I was happier before COVID when I could party and club and avoid my family with my college friends but I think that ship has sailed.

I’m currently in the process of trying to save money for future rent and new clothing, take my GRE again to raise my score above 160 and then fly the coop for good. It’ll probably take a year for all of this at least, if not longer. We’ll see. // Mod Peach

#tw #tw abuse #suicide tw #medical tw

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jlalafics · 5 years ago

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Rent Control-Part Two

Happy Friday y’all! Just leaving this here...also, it gets slightly steamy...

If you haven’t read Part One, here’s the link.

Summary: Katniss Everdeen has found the perfect home in San Francisco—great neighborhood, an easy commute and, best of all, it’s rent controlled. There’s only one problem; the landlord will only rent to a married couple.

Enter Peeta Mellark.

_______

Rent Control

Part Two

It was stupid that they didn’t think about this earlier.

Katniss and Peeta stood in the bedroom, eyes on the mattress in front of them. It was covered with a plush comforter—soft blue with grey tones—purchased by Katniss in all her excitement. The dresser adjacent to it was whitewood and atop was a flat screen television, brought from Peeta’s former apartment.

“Why did we never talk about sleeping arrangements?” she asked.

“Maybe because we’ve been so busy concocting a fake marriage that it slipped our minds?” Peeta responded.

“There’s always the couch,” Katniss said. “I can bring my blankets there.”

“No, I can sleep on the couch,” Peeta told her. “Only…”

She turned to him. “Only what?”

“Do you have a couch?” he asked. “Cinna is taking ours.”

“Shit!” Katniss smacked her palm to her forehead. “My couch didn’t belong to me…it was part of my apartment. Just another thing that we forgot.” She crawled onto the bed and laid back. “Let’s get a sofa next Saturday. We’ll rent a van and go to IKEA.”

“And, until then?” Peeta questioned from where he stood in front of her.

“The bed is big enough,” she told him. “If you promise to not sleep naked, fart, or snore—you can just sleep here. It’s not a big deal. I used to share a bed with my little sister, Prim.”

“Yeah…Prim doesn’t get morning erections.” Peeta scooted himself into bed and laid back next to her. “But damn, this is comfortable.” Their eyes met and he flicked her chin. “Are you sure? I can sleep on the floor.”

“No, we’re a team now.” Katniss twisted to meet his eyes. “We have to take care of each other as all fake couples do. Also, beautiful as this place is, sleeping on the floor sucks.”

“Okay, as long as you’re not weirded out,” he relented. “So, out of curiosity and because I should probably know this, why did you come to San Francisco?”

“Don’t laugh at me,” Katniss warned. “I followed a boy here. He went to San Francisco State while I went to University of San Francisco. I thought I was in love and, for a while, so did he.”

“USF, huh?” Peeta mused, his eyes on her laid out form. “Then, what happened?”

“Gale realized that there was more out there than the girlfriend that followed him all the way from their little Connecticut town. He told me he needed to find himself…aka date other girls.”

“Was this recent?” Peeta asked.

“No. That was years ago during my Freshmen year.” She sighed; it had been a long time since she thought of Gale. “Thank goodness there are so many crevices in this city to avoid your ex in.” Her eyes met his and Katniss smiled ruefully. “And, what’s your story?”

“My family owns a pretty prominent bakery in D.C., and I wanted to expand the business here,” Peeta explained. “I have a business degree from State and I’m still trying to convince my mother that opening a Mellark Bakery in San Francisco will be profitable.”

“Any nightmare exes that I should know about?” she questioned.

“I dated Delly,” he said.

“Delly from the bagel shop down the block from Johanna’s?” Katniss frowned. “Their bagels are shit! I don’t know if I’m more bothered by you dating her or by the bagels.”

Peeta guffawed. “Why would you be bothered?”

“I literally got the runs from there and Delly was not very nice when I told her about my bagel poisoning.” She grimaced, remembering her frequent trips to her not-so-clean commode. “I’m only telling you this because every husband should know about his wife’s one-time food poisoning.”

“Yeah, I think she was very insecure about you,” he explained. “You know Delly didn’t get that job at Johanna’s and then you swooped in. Me and you were…are pretty tight and she didn’t appreciate me giving you coffee for free.”

“I’m guessing that she thought ‘coffee’ was code for your penis,” Katniss said. “Can’t imagine what she thought cream was code for.”

Peeta snorted. “That’s been over for a long time. However, I’d avoid the bagel place now that we’re ‘united’ as man and wife.”

++++++

It had been a long time since Katniss had slept so comfortably.

The morning light was still low, just barely shining threw the bamboo curtains, and the room was still comfortably warm. In her last apartment, her nights were usually stuffy and warm while her mornings were frigidly cold.

Here in her new apartment, Katniss felt like the Goldilocks of San Francisco—this place was just right.

There was a shift and her gaze went to Sleeping Handsome, peacefully dozing next to her. Peeta shifted, an arm going over his eyes, and her own wandering eyes went to the small expanse of skin that had been exposed in his stretch.

Right above his belly button and just above his hips was smooth skin except for one bit—the happy trail leading down…

This arrangement was going to be harder than she thought.

It had also been way too long since anyone, including herself, had touched her lady bits.

Katniss, against her better judgement, lifted the comforter for a quick glance. “Huh.”

True to his word, Peeta did indeed have morning erections.

“Keep looking at it and I’ll have to charge you.” Her eyes met his sleepy smirk. “Good morning, wife.”

“Good morning…you,” she managed to stammer. “Just wanted to see if you were just bluffing about the morning wood.”

“Nope,” he responded. “Just a little factoid; it’s a bitch to pee with.”

Katniss rolled her eyes. “You’re making my mouth water.”

Peeta sat up and growled. “It likes your voice.”

She chuckled and ruffled his already mussed locks. “I’ll turn around so you can go to the bathroom first.” There was a shuffle and quick steps heading to the bathroom. Katniss turned back around when she heard the bathroom door close. “Any plans for today?”

“I took two days off for the move so pretty much opening up the rest of the boxes,” Peeta called out from behind the door. “Can’t wait to get all my baking stuff into the kitchen.”

“Does this mean that I can expect breakfast pastries every day?” she asked.

“Maybe if you’re a good girl,” he told her.

Katniss laughed. “Ohh…kinky.”

Peeta suddenly let out a shout. “Damnit!”

“What happened?”

“I told you,” he replied. “It likes you.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him that she might be getting fond of it herself.

++++++

“So, this is your sister?” Peeta stared at the teenager with the sunny hair and even sunnier smile, hugging a newly graduated Katniss in the photo. “You two look like you’re close.”

“Yes.” Katniss placed the freshly cleaned frame to the side before reaching into the box for another framed photo. “These are my parents when they first met in the 70s.”

She handed the frame to Peeta, who sat next to her on their newly placed living room rug.

“Your dad had a killer moustache…and those bell-bottoms!” He peered at the photo before looking to her. “You look a lot like your mom, except for the coloring.”

“I have that crochet halter top that she’s wearing,” she told him. “It’s kind of how I got into fashion. My mom kept all these great pieces from when she was a teenager. I used to rework them for me to wear. That halter I kept the same because it was the top that she wore when she met my dad.”

Peeta smiled, his blue eyes warm.

“The more I hear about your life, the more fascinated I am with you,” he said. “Why haven’t we really talked the whole time we’ve known each other?”

Katniss shrugged. “We’ve been so busy trying to survive that I guess we just never thought to.” She went back to organizing her photos. “I like getting to know these little bits of you.” Her hands reached for the plate of scrambled eggs and bacon to her side. “I like that you spent a whole summer with your dad trying to make the perfect scrambled eggs…and that you go to the deli to get your bacon.” Then, her gaze went to the beautiful watercolor hanging on the wall adjacent to the fireplace. “I like that you learned to paint to impress a girl but ended up just loving to paint.”

“Just one of my many quirks.” Peeta stood up, taking her frames, and going to the mantle to place them. “I have a box with some photos of my family, too.” He paused for a moment. “My mom and I…well, we’re not exactly as close as you are with your parents.”

She joined him at the mantle. “Why not?”

He placed the photo of her parents on the mantle distractedly, his gaze somewhere else.

“I’ve always been trying to prove myself to her,” Peeta explained. “I’m not the smart one. That title belongs to my oldest brother, Bran and I’m not as successful as my lawyer brother, Alex. I’m just…me—and that doesn’t seem to be good enough for her.”

Her hand reached for his shoulder, squeezing it gently. “You, Peeta Mellark, are the good one.” He turned to her. “You offer free coffees to a girl because you know she can barely afford bread and you pretend to be her husband so she won’t sleep on the streets. Those are all the qualities of a good heart…and a good husband, even if it’s not real. You’ve saved me in so many ways.”

Suddenly, Katniss found herself in his arms.

Peeta pressed his nose into her hair. “Thank you, Katniss.” He took a deep breath and she shivered at the sensation. “You saved me, too.”

“How exactly did I do that?”

Peeta sighed into her skin. “I’m not sure yet…but I can’t wait to find out.”

++++++

“Katniss! We have to get going!” Peeta buttoned his lightweight flannel before suddenly stopping halfway up. It was a bit warm for a San Francisco afternoon which was fortunate for this welcome party, but annoying on the clothing front. “Do you think I should button this?”

“No, just leave it open,” Katniss replied as she entered the room. “I love the V-necks on guys nowadays. The manbun however—what?”

“You’re wearing that top?” he managed to sputter.

Katniss twirled, allowing him to enjoy the sexiness of the top on his pseudo-wife. The burnt-orange linen skirt she wore danced around her ankles, and on her feet were a pair of camel-colored sandals.

“We were talking about it and how it really got me into fashion, so I pulled it out of my closet,” she replied. Katniss caught his wide eyes and her smile fell from her lips. “What?”

“It’s just…wow.” Peeta circled her closely, taking in the cream crochet top that covered everything that needed to be covered quite strategically. “You just look beautiful. Shit—I really can’t stop looking at what that top is covering! I’m really sorry I’m such a perv—”

Katniss chuckled. “No, this top is just made to be looked at. How do you think my mom got my dad?” She grinned wickedly. “Thank goodness for the NuBra…because my mom didn’t wear anything under this—”

“Way too much information on my fake mother-in-law,” he told her. “And what the hell is a NuBra?”

“It’s basically like bra cups with some stick.” Katniss held her hand up like cups to demonstrate. “And you’d just lean over—”

Peeta put his palm up. “Okay, stop. I’ll never be able walk down there comfortably.” He let out a breath. “Just give me a minute.”

“It’s not horrible for us to look like we’re sexually into each other,” she informed him carefully. “It’s human nature to be attracted…to feel heat when people are so close together. Trust me—we’re going to have a lot of these moments.”

His hand went to her shoulder and a shock of electricity rushed through her.

Then, she felt that telltale twist in her pelvis and her knees suddenly felt weak.

Her throat felt dry. “Peeta…” Her voice came out low, that last syllable trembling as it escaped her lips.

His mouth suddenly replaced that spot on her shoulder, that roughness of his lips exciting her to the tips of her toes. “Katniss, you’re making this really hard on me.”

She closed her eyes. “I’m trying not to.”

Fingers played with the strings tied at the nape of her neck.

Just one tug and it would all fall down…

There was a knock on the door.

“Katniss! Peeta!” It was Effie. “We’re just about ready. Come down soon!”

It was Peeta who found his voice first. “We’ll be right down!” His eyes went to Katniss’. “This isn’t over.”

She found a smirk rising on her lips.

“God, I hope not.”

++++++

They stepped into the backyard and Peeta’s hand reached to clasp hers. “Whoa.”

“It’s like we’re in a secret garden!” Katniss practically squealed as they walked under the flowered archway. The scent of roses immediately danced on her nostrils. “This is gorgeous.”

“I’m glad you like it.” They turned and found a dark-haired man with tortoise-shell glasses at the grill. He walked towards them and Katniss couldn’t help but admire his elegant gait. “I’m Beetee Latier. I tend to this garden and I also live right above you.”

Peeta reached to shake his hand. “I’m Peeta Mellark and this is my wife, Katniss.”

Beetee looked to her, a small smile on his lips. “Katniss…interesting name.”

“You know your plants, obviously.” She turned to Peeta. “In case you forgot, my name comes from an edible plant in wetlands.”

“So, I can eat you,” he responded bluntly.

Katniss had the good grace to blush.

“Ah, young love,” Beetee interrupted with a light laugh. “I’ve known Effie and Haymitch even before they bought this building and you both remind me of them—spunky.”

“And we love spunk.” Haymitch walked over, meat patties on a plate. “Here you go.” He handed them to Beetee. “I see you’ve met our resident genius horticulturist. Don’t let his soft-spoken nature fool you. He’s done a lot for the city of San Francisco.”

Katniss looked to him in interest. “Really?”

“Nothing illegal and also I’m not at liberty to say. What Haymitch didn’t mention is that I’m retired now,” Beetee added, taking the plate and placing some of the patties on the grill.

Haymitch grinned. “Yes. Now, he sings Motown to the flowers to make them grow.”

“Hello, hello!” Effie rushed over to them giving them each a kiss on the cheek. “Finnick, Annie, and Jack are on their way down. Annie’s just walking a little slower these days.” She looked to Katniss and Peeta. “They’re having twins.”

“Sorry we’re late!” A handsome man with a shock of red hair entered the archway, a bowl in one hand and a dark-haired toddler under his opposite arm. “Here’s some potato salad, Effie.” Their landlord rushed over, taking the bowl. The man then went over to Katniss. “Here’s Jack.”

He held out the little one and instinctively Katniss took him into her arms.

The man chuckled. “I can’t believe you actually fell for that. Now he’ll never let you go,” he told her. “I’m Finnick Odair and the craziness in your arms is Jack.”

“Katniss…Mellark.” She nodded over at Peeta. “Peeta, my husband.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Peeta said, shaking Finnick’s hand and waving at Jack, who had now settled in Katniss’ arms, playing with the delicate design of her top. “Careful with that, Jack. One tug and that thing will dissolve into dust.”

“So, you’ve had experience with that top,” a light voice said. A pretty brunette in a cerulean maternity dress waddled over, a bright smile on her face. “I’m Annie Odair—and this is my huge stomach.”

Jack pointed at his mother’s tummy. “Twinsies.”

Finnick went to his wife, helping her into a lawn chair.

“Careful, love. One move and you might jostle them out.”

“Sometimes, I wonder how they even happened,” Annie groaned before looking to Effie.

The older woman was suddenly very interested in the buffet setup at the far end of the yard.

“What did Effie do?” Katniss asked as she settled into the seat next to Annie, Jack in her lap.

“We moved in seven months ago,” Annie explained. “Effie offered to watch Jack so we could unpack…and christen the apartment.” She waved her hand over her belly. “And, here we are.”

++++++

“So, Effie and Haymitch told us how you got engaged,” Finnick said, a sleeping Jack in his arms. “How did you guys meet?”

It was later in the day and they had just finished eating. Beetee was a whiz at the grill, explaining that he once worked at a Mel’s Drive-In. Annie, who owned her own restaurant, had been the one to make the potato salad, which was delicious, and Katniss had her fill. Effie and Haymitch were currently preparing dessert—homemade sorbet with assorted fruits.

“Well, I work at a boutique nearby and Peeta works at the coffee shop next door,” Katniss said. She turned to Peeta. “But for some reason, I can’t recall…”

Peeta grinned at her. “She was so distracted since she was training. I just kind of waltzed into her life,” he told her, taking her hand. “I do remember the first time I saw her.”

Katniss shifted in her seat. “You do?”

“Of course. How could I not remember the day my world turned right side up?” he replied, not quite meeting her eyes. Peeta turned back to their neighbors. “I was heading to my shift and my eyes caught the display window of her store…and there she was. Katniss was, of course, distracted because she was changing the mannequin into these really wide pants—”

“Gauchos,” Katniss supplied. “My first window display.”

That was nearly two years ago—had it been that long?

“Oh right—and I just thought to myself that if I could get this beautiful girl to just look at me—maybe even smile at me—then life would be nothing less than perfect,” he told them.

Katniss remembered that day; she had been setting up the display when the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood up. Her eyes went to the street only to find no one, just the backside of a blond heading into the coffee shop next door. She brushed it off, thinking that she was nervous about what Johanna would think.

Later that night, Katniss headed into the coffee shop for her 15-minute break. Peeta had been at the counter to take her order.

And, she remembered—that same electricity happened, her hairs stood on their ends at the sight of him.

“Thank you for telling me that,” she murmured, her eyes feeling misty.

Peeta blushed. “My pleasure.”

“I love that,” Annie said, her green eyes glazed at the romantic tale. “It was meant to be.” She nodded at Finnick. “I met old what’s-his-face because he was one of my waiters.”

“I was a horrible one,” Finnick explained. “It was only because Annie as a chef is really scary…but sexy. I just got so nervous around her.”

“Finally, I had to fire him,” she told them.

“And, when she did, I asked her out.”

They all chuckled at Finnick’s words as Effie and Haymitch approached, trays on their hands.

“Everyone seems to be getting along,” Effie said as she placed dessert on the table in front of them. She looked between the group as Haymitch and Beetee settled into their own chairs. “I’m just so happy that we all found each other…that Katniss and Peeta have completed our little family.” Her eyes shone and Effie wiped her eyes hastily. “So, before Haymitch tells me to quit with the waterworks, I’m just going to say welcome home, Katniss and Peeta. We hope one day you’ll think of this place as your own and us as your family.”

++++++

“I feel like the shittiest person alive,” Katniss said, later that night. She shifted in bed, turning to Peeta. “Are we the worst?”

Peeta sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe? The thing is that I do like it here. I like everyone.”

“You know that Annie and Finnick offered their old couch to us?” she told him. “They’re getting a sectional so that Jack and the twins will have somewhere to lounge around. Finnick even offered to help you bring it down here. Beetee said that he’ll help when the cable-and-internet guy comes over next week.” Her head went to his chest. “I like them, too.”

He put an arm around her, pulling her close. “Worst of all, lying to Effie and Haymitch…”

“They’re like our cool Aunt and Uncle,” she added. “Maybe we should move. I can beg Johanna to let me stay at her house—”

“No,” Peeta interrupted. He suddenly looked to her; his expression anxious. “Katniss, everything I said out there…it was real.”

“What do you mean?”

He reached, brushing a tendril of her hair away to tuck it behind her ear. The sudden gesture was so familiar yet so tender.

“Seeing you look at me—even smile at me that first time we met—it made me feel like life was nothing less than perfect,” he told her thickly. “And, it’s been that way ever since. Life is perfect when you’re with me, Katniss.”

Her hand found his cheek, her thumb grazing the stubble on his chin. He closed his eyes, savoring the sensation of her caress.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Peeta shrugged. “I was afraid. Afraid you would reject me…afraid to lose your friendship. I would have rather had you as a friend than not have you at all.”

Katniss let out a breath. “Peeta, why don’t we just admit that there is something here?”

His lips found home against her temple. “Because we don’t want to break…us.”

“We should give us a chance,” she admitted quietly.

Pushing up on his elbow, Peeta looked down at her, his eyes glowing in the dim light of the room. He leaned forward before suddenly stopping and chuckling softly.

“What?”

“I was just thinking about that crochet top,” he told her.

Katniss raised her a brow. “What about it?”

“Just wondering if I’ll get a chance to see it on you without that damn NuBra.”

She couldn’t help but laugh.

“Of course! Now, get over here!”

Without another word, Katniss pulled him down so their lips could finally meet.

End of Part Two

So, this seems pretty fast…but this was almost two years in the making for them.

Not like I’m going to make this easy on them, though.

Just an FYI—the boutique is based on one that I worked at many years ago. I loved the store and the product, but I hated the whole cutthroat aspect of trying to earn commission.

Mel’s Drive-In is a diner created in San Francisco that was originally a car hop. It’s mostly associated with the movie American Graffiti. Or, if you love older movies as I do, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn visit one in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

Anyway, I digress.

I’m not sure, but there might be a small time jump.

Also, I bet you’re wondering how this will end. I have three scenarios in my head and I’m not quite sure which it will be.

Till I decide, LaLa

P.S. They did end up “christening” the apartment.

#Rent Control #Part Two #Everlark #Everlark Fanfiction #fakemarriage!au

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justanotherwriter280 · 6 years ago

Text

The Things We Beg For

Pairing: Haymitch Abernathy x Effie Trinkett

Warnings: mention of torture

What if Effie had been tortured with the other victors in the Capitol?

“If you’re someone else who’s come to tell me I’m safe and I’m okay, I can assure you I really can’t stand to hear the words again.” The words fall out of Effie Trinket’s mouth as hollow as possible. She just doesn’t know how to deal with it. Joanna’s drugging herself to forget it all, Annie has Finnick to cling to, and Peeta will never be the same. Effie has always known exactly what to say, exactly what to do, how to feel. But that’s all gone now. These things tend to happen when the people who have been telling you what to do so long you almost forget who you are (almost…) begin to beat you so mercilessly that you really do forget. Peeta, Joanna, Annie…they really didn’t deserve this. They had spent a lot of time simply trying to do what’s right and what will get them through to the next sunrise. But she, Effie Trinket, had she really not done anything to deserve the wounds the Capitol had inflicted upon her, or was she just as much a piece in their game as the next unwitting citizen?

“You’re no more okay than anyone else is.” His voice was not the one she was expecting at all. She turns to see none other than Haymitch Abernathy – sober Haymitch Abernathy, no less – in the doorway of her room. He invites himself in and sits down on the corner of her bed. She has a thought and smiles weakly, silently allowing a chuckle to escape her lungs. He smiles back. It’s small, but there’s a genuine feeling behind it that’s a far cry from anything she’s felt in a long time.

“What?”

“I get it now,” she replies vaguely. He cocks his head.

“Get what?”

“Why you hate them so much. The Capitol. I thought I knew how awful they were when Katniss and Peeta were forced into a second games. I was wrong.” She wanted to ask him if he was happy now. Happy that she had suffered the way that he had. Happy that she was finally a shell of the person he had always hated. Happy that her whole world had fallen on top of her and that she had been trapped in its wreckage.

“The Capitol personally victimizes everyone. They just handpicked you and the others to give their worst to. I’m –” He’s cut off by her audible bark of laughter. It’s cold, unyielding. There is no humor behind it. Only the most vicious and unforgiving kind of self-hatred.

“I hate that word so much.” The venom in her is evident. This is a whole new Effie Trinket. One Haymitch has never met. And he has no idea how to deal with her.

“What?” He has no idea what she means – or where she’s going with this line of thinking. But he lets her get there so he can understand. She deserves at least that much, especially from him.

“I hate that word. ‘Victim’. Peeta was hijacked. I heard him mumble and rock himself back and forth at night muttering the things they taught him about Katniss. Even in his sleep. They soaked Joanna with water and shocked her till her heart nearly gave out. Sometimes it did, and they had to get her back. I listened to Annie scream so much.” She looks at him. “So much, Haymitch. They beat her almost every day. She couldn’t even tell them anything. She had no idea. They just enjoyed it. I heard at night how she laid in her bed and sobbed for Finnick. They are victims. The Capitol put them through the Games and then they paid for their victory with blood and tears and pain. No one ever wins; I thought I knew that before. I do now. They were supposed to get to live the rest of their lives in peace – what was left of them after the Games, anyway. I always said what they wanted me to say, did what they told me to do, and was what they wanted me to be for so long, Haymitch.” She pauses again, partly for breath, and partly to see his face. Check for any signs of agreement. She can’t find any. She must not be making it clear enough. “I just got what was coming to me. I deserved every bit of what they did to me. I earned it. So don’t call me a victim. We both know I’m not. You of all people must understand that.” He looks as though she’s slapped him. Little does she know that it would’ve hurt him less if she had.

“Effie…” He takes a breath. “I used to think you were just another piece of Capitol trash on their payroll. I haven’t thought that for a long time. Peeta told me about the locket you made for him. I knew when you said that Katniss and Peeta deserved better that you knew how evil the Games were. I knew you were different. I never for a second thought that you deserved what was happening to you. You were doing what you had to to survive just as much as those kids in the arena were. You just had to do it differently. You never had to kill anyone, but you had to watch the kids you helped reap die in that arena more times than anyone could count. You heard how they beat Cinna to death for that dress, and they probably laughed about it. You are a victim, Effie. No one thinks any less of you.” She scoffed.

“I do.” They both let that hang in the air for a moment. Effie looked down at the hospital bed she lied in. She wanted to believe Haymitch. She believed that he thought what he was saying was true. It warmed her heart to know that someone she thought that much of at least liked her. She had missed him.

He watched her as she finally leaned back on her pillows, shoulders sunk in defeat. She stared into the blanket that lay over her body. He stares at her face. It’s a bit sunken in – from starvation, no doubt. Her skin looks unhealthy. Lack of exposure to the sun, he supposes. Then he studies her arms. They are no longer clad in the latest fashions of Capitol designers, but instead with burn, cut, and other various wound scars that make her look so delicate, so breakable. He’s been where she is – quite recently, too – and he knows that underneath all of the hate, all of the blame, she is hurting so much that she wishes it would just kill her and get it over with. But it won’t. He understands her better than anyone else now. He has for a long time. He doesn’t notice that she’s been watching him until he catches a glimpse of her once famously made up eyes, now barren in so many ways. In a moment of instinct, he reaches for her hand. It’s cold, thin, but soft. She jumps at the sudden touch, and it strikes him right in the heart. But when he looks into her eyes, she doesn’t pull away from him. Her fingers grip his as tightly as they can. He stares at their hands for a moment. The next he hears the quiet tears begin to fall in her breath, and he lays down on the bed with her. To his surprise, she turns into his chest and finally allows herself time to fall apart. He wraps an arm around her back, and she moves closer to him, breathing in his scent. He smells of disinfectant from the room where he sobered up and of the light soap everyone uses here in 13. There’s something about it, though, that is unique to Haymitch himself, and that’s what she can’t get enough of. She’s confessed everything else to him. Given what’s going on, telling him the rest of what she wants him to know doesn’t seem like that big a deal. She eventually calms down enough that her tears stop, and she’s able to look at him.

“Haymitch?” He looks down at her.

“Yeah, sweetheart?” He replies in a whisper.

“Everyone begged for something. Peeta wanted to be free. Annie wanted Finnick. Joanna wanted Snow dead. And her ax.” She smiles, stopping short of her feelings for a moment – but only for a moment. “Everyone begged for what they thought would end all of it – what could heal them. I begged for you.” It hits him like a ton of bricks what she means. He had been trying to sort out his feelings for Effie for a long time. Evidently she had been trying to do the same.

“I’m not going anywhere.” That’s the last thing she remembers before falling asleep in his arms.

#the hunger games #haymitch abernathy #effie trinkett #haymitch x effie #haymitch abernathy x effie trinkett #suzanne collins #hayffie #tw torture mention

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